Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Shanghai: A City of Openness People's Daily Online) 09:48, March 06, 2025 Shanghai, standing at the forefront of reform and opening-up, is the benchmark of China's high-quality development and a global metropolis connecting the world. Since its inception, the city has embraced a spirit of openness and strived for prosperity. Openness is not just an attitude of Shanghai, it is more a spirit and a force of the city. The Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, in collaboration with People's Daily Online Shanghai, launched a promotional short video titled "Shanghai: A City of Openness," showcasing Shanghai's journey of reform and opening-up through a micro-documentary format. Documentary photographer Lu Jie has captured the rapid transformation of Shanghai through his lens, witnessing the legendary journey of Shanghai's opening up. Photo shows a view of the Bund in Shanghai in 2000. Lujiazui in Shanghai in 1987. In 1990, development and opening up began in Pudong, with Lujiazui becoming a symbol of China's reform and opening-up, endowing the city of the future with unlimited opportunities. The China Pavilion under construction at the World Expo site in 2008. Qiantan in Shanghai at present. In 2010, the World Expo was held at Qiantan, turning Shanghai into a grand stage for cultural exchange among countries across the world. A European exhibitor who has participated in the CIIE for seven consecutive years. In 2018, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) extended an invitation to global exhibitors, inviting them to tap into the Chinese market, sharing prosperity and shaping the future together. The North Bund International Passenger Terminal in Shanghai in 1995. North Bund in Shanghai at present. Today, the North Bund serves as a global reception room, gathering talents and dreams from around the world, amplifying Shanghai's voice and strength. East Bund in Shanghai in 1990s. The "industrial rust belt" in the city has now been transformed into a "vibrant lifestyle belt." Shanghai continues to renew itself, bringing vivid and dynamic improvements to everyday life. Hand in hand with the world, Shanghai, a city of openness, is moving towards a brighter future with an even more inclusive attitude. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe A Klickitat County renewable energy megaproject planned for a site sacred to the Yakama Nation inched closer to reality late last month, Washington Department of Ecology documents show. The Goldendale Energy Storage Project won an appeal against a trio of environmental groups and the Yakama Nation to secure a water-quality certification. The permit, which was first reported by the Capital Press, is a crucial step because its needed before federal regulators can rule on the $2 billion project. Opponents of the project say the proposal stands to repeat the regions history of putting electricity generation above the lives and treaty rights of Native nations, as well as species including salmon. What is pumped-water storage? The project would be built on 680 acres overlooking the Columbia River, a few miles east of Maryhill. It would generate power by releasing water stored in an upper reservoir downward about 2,000 feet to spin power-generating turbines. If completed, it could produce up to 1,200 megawatts of electricity enough to power 500,000 homes, according to the developers website. Thats about a fifth of Grand Coulee Dams capacity. New capacity is crucial because Washingtons 2019 climate law requires the state to phase out coal-generated power from its grid by the end of this year. Coal makes up about 3 percent of the power generated in the state. Washington produces about 25 percent more power than it uses, supporting regional power needs. But massive increases in demand mostly from power-hungry data centers riding the artificial intelligence boom will likely upend that, pushing the region into an energy shortfall. History repeating itself? The permitting win brings us one step closer to advancing Washingtons first pumped-storage facility and creating a more sustainable and reliable energy future for our region, said Erik Steimle, chief development officer of Rye Development, which is leading the project. But Elaine Harvey an environmental policy manager and member of the Yakama Nations Kamiltpa/Rock Creek Band, which is from the project area wonders why Native people and salmon must be the ones to bear the consequences of a regional energy transition, again. Its like losing Celilo Falls again, she said, referring to when The Dalles Dam drowned the regions preeminent Native fishing site. The salmon and the Indigenous people are still carrying the burden of all the hydro(power) systems that are on the Columbia and the tributaries, Harvey continued. Now, were in this new energy transition time, and its like tribes have to carry the burden. The site known as Pushpum or Mother of all roots has been a tribal food and medicine gathering area and seed bank since time immemorial, Harvey said. The location also is an important Yakama site because of its role in ceremonies and fishing, along with being the site of a historic village. The energy-storage site lies on the Yakama Nations traditional land that is part of about 12 million acres ceded in an 1855 treaty made with the federal government before Washington became a state. Article 3 of that treaty promised the nation the right of taking fish at all usual and accustomed places together with the privilege of hunting, gathering roots and berries, and pasturing their horses and cattle upon open and unclaimed land. If theyre going to be permitted and construct this pump storage project at our sacred site, theyre going to drill a 30-foot-diameter tunnel into our sacred mountain, and to us, thats a total desecration, Harvey said. It could never be replaced. In late 2022, a state environmental and tribal impacts review for the project found it would cause significant and unavoidable adverse impacts to Traditional Cultural Properties, archaeological sites, culturally important plants and other tribal resources. Harvey said many of the important species there cannot be found elsewhere. Rye Development did not respond to questions about the environmental impacts on the Yakama sites. In a statement, project spokeswoman Becky Brun of Weinstein PR said the project owner, Denmark-based renewable energy giant Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, has committed $10 million to cleaning the contaminated former brownfield site before the new megaprojects construction. Columbia Gorge Aluminum Smelter operated at the site from 1971 to 2003. Brun also highlighted the fact that the project would be in a wind-power project area and would use existing roads and transmission lines, an advantage over many energy projects around the country that face significant battles to secure transmission infrastructure. Future of the site The project will need more than two dozen permits before it can move forward. Rye Development said it expects a decision from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on crucial federal approvals by the end of the year. Project leaders plan to start construction in 2027 and be operational by 2032. But opponents including Simone Anter, an attorney with Columbia Riverkeeper who worked with the Yakama Nation to fight the most recent permit, have no plans to give up the fight. When were looking at a project of this magnitude, with this level of cultural resource destruction and environmental issues to boot, we are looking to stop the build of the project, she said. Its just a project that should not have been proposed here and should not be built here full stop. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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Agoras Conversational AI Engine provides developers with the flexibility to use any AI model, whether custom-built or from leading LLM providers, and any text-to-speech (TTS) voice solution for their AI agent. The Engine is designed to optimize real-time conversation flow. It enables faster, low-latency responses and intelligently pauses for interruptions in real time, enabling more natural dialogue with users. Most AI models dont yet offer the ability to interact via voice, and those that do havent optimized the experience, said Tony Zhao, CEO of Agora. Agoras solution will help drive the adoption of conversational AI by enabling seamless, natural voice interactions. With effortless integration and real-time, voice-driven experiences that have near-zero lag, we are removing barriers and unlocking new possibilities for businesses and end users alike. Top Breaking News Of The Day With built-in background noise suppression, AI-driven acoustic algorithms, and real-time speech-to-text (STT), Agoras Conversational AI Engine ensures clear and accurate voice interactions in any environment. Powered by Agoras global Software-Defined Real-Time Network, the Engine dynamically handles packet loss and minimizes latency, delivering exceptional performance across devices and networks. The solution is built on top of the TEN framework, an Agora-supported community project for building conversational AI. The Engine allows businesses to deploy natural and engaging real-time voice agents with maximum scalability and minimal effort. Agora also plans to extend the capabilities of the Conversational AI Engine to its App Builder product, enabling a no-code approach to creating conversational AI experiences. App Builder allows users to create a simple UI and seamlessly integrate Agoras Conversational AI Engine without extensive coding, making it possible to deploy voice-driven AI experiences even more quickly. Zhao continued, Our goal is to bridge the gap between AI and human interaction, making conversations more intuitive, expressive, and impactful. We are dedicated to democratizing voice interactions between humans and AI models, making them a fundamental part of how people connect, communicate, and innovate. To further enhance its Conversational AI Engine, Agora is partnering with Oracle as a key AI infrastructure provider, leveraging the scalable Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) solution to optimize performance, security, and efficiency. Agoras Conversational AI Engine solves two of the biggest hurdles in human-to-AI voice conversationlatency and wireless last mile challenges, said Hua Jiang, Alliance & Channel Director, Oracle APAC. We are proud to collaborate with Agora to provide the infrastructure that enables more natural, responsive, and reliable voice-powered conversational AI. Agoras Conversational AI Engine is designed for a wide range of applications, including: 24/7 Customer Support: Create AI-powered voice agents that provide instant responses, troubleshoot issues, and guide customers through processes. IoT Integration: Enable seamless voice control for smart devices, wearables, robots, and connected applications. Virtual Shopping Assistants: Help customers find products, compare options, and make purchasing decisions in real time. Live AI Hosts: Leverage AI agents to host live events, equipped with automated content moderation and the ability to respond to viewers in real time. Mental Health Support: Offer mental health support agents that can listen, provide advice, and connect users with professional help if needed. Live Tutoring: Offer AI tutoring that can speak with students to offer real-time feedback and guidance when learning specific languages or subjects. AI-Powered NPCs in Gaming: Build more immersive virtual worlds with AI-controlled characters that can interact naturally with players via voice. Employee Onboarding: Guide new hires through training and provide instant access to a 24/7 resource to answer questions. Agoras Conversational AI Engine is now available in public beta, allowing businesses and developers to start building advanced voice AI applications. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Architect Masoud Akbarzadeh and research assistant Boyu Xiao of the Weitzman School of Design, along with collaborators including Yao Lu of Jefferson University, defied conventional engineering by constructing a 30-foot-long bridge entirely from 16 millimeter hollow glass units. Their effort is now showcased at the Corning Museum of Glass. Credit: Corning Museum of Glass With more than 500 bridges crisscrossing the city of Philadelphia, they are an integral part of daily life. In a city defined by its rivers, bridges make possible the connections between people. Where traditional bridges connect two sides of a chasm, architect and structural engineer Masoud Akbarzadeh has taken this challenge further, constructing one out of a material that conventional wisdom says should not be used for a bridge at all: glass. The result is a breathtaking 30-foot-long structure composed entirely of interlocking hollow glass units. At first glance, the bridge appears impossibly delicate, an ethereal span of translucent polygons that shimmer under light. "Bridges are more than mere structures spanning rivers and chasms; they symbolize physical and metaphorical connections," says Akbarzadeh, an associate professor of architecture at the Weitzman School of Design. "As pathways between two points, they embody the human endeavor to overcome distances and unite disparate realms. Yet, beyond their practical utility, bridges serve as potent symbols of solidarity, understanding, and collaboration." The Glass Bridge eliminates the need for traditional reinforcements like steel, instead harnessing glass's strength within a compression-dominant structural form. "All these pieces alone, hollow glass units, might seem quite brittleand they are," Akbarzadeh says, "but depending on how you design to put these glass units together, they start relying on each other, and the units' assembly establishes a path for the load to be transferred efficiently. Thus, the bridge gains strength as a whole." Akbarzadeh likens this notion of the pieces forming a greater, more powerful whole to human society, noting that "for a better-functioning society, we need to rely on each other. We need to trust each other, and together, only with transparency, we can work and unite to create an advancing world that serves the people in it." He and his team fabricated the bridge over the course of three weeks in 2024. According to Boyu Xiao, a 2024 Weitzman Master of Architecture graduate who currently works as a research assistant in Akbarzadeh's Polyhedral Structures Laboratory, "the process was a test of both engineering ingenuity and sheer physical endurance." The work is published in the journal Engineering Structures. The bridge, formally known as "Glass Bridge: The Penn Monument for Hope," stands tall, on display at the Corning Museum of Glass, where it will remain until Sept. 1. Leading up to its unveiling at the Museum, Greenhouse Media met with members of the team and documented the process of fabrication for an upcoming documentary. But its journey to completion was anything but simple. It took six years of planning, drafting, revising, and negotiating with vendors around the world to get the blueprints ready. And in just 21 intense days last November, a rotating team of architects, engineers, researchers, and fabricators converged in Corning, New York, each playing a crucial role in bringing the structure to life. Building on millennia of intuitive wisdom and scientific precision In the summer of 2017, a year into his tenure at Penn, Akbarzadeh began the initial conceptualization and design of what would eventually become the Glass Bridge. "At the beginning, it was just an idea about using thin sheets of glass to build a super-efficient structure," Akbarzadeh says. "But it very quickly grew into a larger study of structural resilience." Physicist and mathematician Giovanni Poleni's drawing (left) of Robert Hooke's analogy between an arch and a hanging chain, and (right) his analysis of the Dome of St. Peter's in Rome. Hooke famously discovered that a hanging chain forms a curve known as a catenary in tension under its own weight, formalizing ancient design and engineering principles seen in structures dating back to the Mesopotamians. Credit: Giovanni Poleni The bridge and its prototype, he explains, draw on millennia-old engineering and architectural principles, particularly those associated with funicular designstructures that follow the natural flow of forces acting through them, primarily harnessing compression to achieve stability and strength. The use of these principles exists as early as 4000 BCE, when the Mesopotamians constructed arches and domes, and later with the Romans through aqueducts, bridges, and monumental structures like the Basilica of Maxentius that were designed to balance forces through arches and vaults. However, while ancient builders relied on empirical intuition, the underlying mechanics remained largely unformalized until the 17th century. It was Robert Hooke, an English physicist and mathematician, who articulated a foundational principle of structural design in 1675: "As hangs the flexible line, so but inverted will stand the rigid arch." Hooke's observation, though elegantly simple, revealed a profound truth: an inverted version of a hanging chain naturally follows the perfect compression curve of an arch under uniform load. "If you have the right form," Akbarzadeh explains, "you can reduce the material and work with efficient and elegant forms." Hooke's insights informed the work of Akbarzadeh's major influences, James Clerk Maxwell and William John Macquorn Rankine. These 19th-century engineers, he says, "formalized the mathematical foundations of graphical statics, providing methods for visualizing and analyzing the internal forces within structures." Akbarzadeh extended the methods of graphic statics from two dimensions to three, expanding Rankine's 1864 proposition, since his Ph.D. thesis in 2012, at Penn since 2017, and outlined it in his new book, "Polyhedral Graphic Statics." Akbarzadeh and his team designed the bridge's geometry to channel forces along ideal compression paths. Every glass unit, joint, and angle was optimized so that the bridge's arch would carry the load primarily through compression rather than bending forcesa method as ancient as the Sumerian U arches, now realized through cutting-edge computation and fabrication technologies. Bridging the gap: Going from the prototype to production The first step in realizing their concept, beyond sketches, calculations, and simulations, was a modest but crucial nearly 10-foot prototype. This model was a critical proving ground, a physical manifestation of the team's digital machinations. "Every flaw, every misalignment, and every unexpected failure was logged, studied, and resolved in preparation for a full-scale bridge to come," says Yao Lu, a core member of the design team and a 2024 Ph.D. graduate of the Weitzman School's architecture program who is currently an assistant professor of architecture at Thomas Jefferson University. Lu had just started his Ph.D. at Penn when he designed the prototype. He notes that it was built from the same basic components envisioned for the final bridgemodular hollow glass units interlocked by precision-engineered acrylic connectors and one of the earliest hurdles was determining how to join the glass modules without inducing stress points that could lead to fractures. Lu explains that the team initially experimented with male-and-female key joints, which are interlocking geometries that would physically prevent the modules from slipping apart, however, "the male and the female shapes were really, really difficult to make out of glass." Members of the Polyhedral Structures Laboratory at the Weitzman School and collaborators from neighboring institutions fabricated the Glass Bridge over the course of 21 days. Their plans necessitated a wooden support designed by research assistant Boyu Xiao to hold the hollow glass units in place during assembly. Credit: Polyhedral Structures Laboratory Glass materials are mostly planar, or two-dimensional. The team's attempts to mold the glass into a three-dimensional structure using heat and formwork failed to produce the necessary precision, instead introducing new structural weaknesses. Eventually, Akbarzadeh says, structural double-sided tape was used to assemble the small module, and the unit was sent 12 miles west to their collaborator Joseph Yost at Villanova University for stress testing, where it endured up to 41.6 kilopounds of compression. "The test data was just super exciting because it showed us that this humble, cheap material could have a lot of load-bearing capacity," says Lu. For their prototype, the team settled on flat plates of glass bonded with precision-cut acrylic connectors secured using structural VHB tape, an industrial adhesive known for its strength and flexibility. "This approach permitted the necessary tolerance and ease of assembly without compromising the integrity of the glass," Lu says. "The team over at Villanova worked to identify an interface material that could prevent catastrophic glass-on-glass contact between adjacent modules during assembly and under increased load." Their testing ultimately led them to polyvinyl butyral (PVB), a laminate material traditionally used in safety glass, which acted as a buffer between the glass modules. PVB offered just the right balance of flexibility and rigidity, allowing the forces within the bridge to distribute evenly without causing localized stress concentrations. "But with these connectors, every cut, every angle, every dimension had to be accurate within 0.1 millimeters," Akbarzadeh notes. "When you're dealing with 124 separate glass units, even the tiniest misalignment can multiply across the entire span. If we didn't maintain that level of precision, the whole structure could have collapsed under its own weight." To achieve this degree of accuracy, the team collaborated with several firms from Germany and China. The logistics of assembling the bridge in Corning presented yet another layer of complexity. Each hollow glass unit had to arrive on-site unblemished and intacta challenge given the delicate nature of the materials and the thousands of miles each piece traveled to the United States. "Shipping was one of our biggest nightmares," Xiao admits. "We had to ensure that the glass wasn't damaged in transit, that customs clearances went smoothly, and that every part arrived on time. Even a small delay could have jeopardized our construction schedule. Which is exactly what happened." A leap of faith Xiao took the lead on the project's day-to-day operations after Lu graduated, and became the logistical linchpin, coordinating everything from part shipments to team scheduling. As he describes it, "We didn't just have to build a bridge. We had to figure out how to build a bridge that had never been built before." The bridge components arrived in Corning in early November, but the team immediately faced a logistical setback. The shipping company had deprioritized their freight, delaying the arrival of the glass units by two weeks. The exhibit's opening schedule, however, was immovable. That meant the team had a matter of daysnot weeksto get everything in place. "I was there from November 12th to the 15th for the first phase, where we installed the metal supports and wooden formwork that would support the bridge during construction," says Xiao. "That was just laying the groundwork. The real push came when the full team arrived on November 21st." From that point forward, it was all hands on deck, Akbarzadeh says. He joined the effort, along with Amir Motevaselian, a newly-arrived research assistant who had been thrown into the deep end of the project, and the rest of the team from the Polyhedral Structures Laboratory. Unlike a typical bridge construction, where materials like steel and concrete allow for some margin of error, Lu says the glass bridge demanded an almost unfathomable level of precision. Each hollow glass unit had to fit perfectly with its neighbors, and the tolerance for error was a mere 0.1 millimeters of accuracy, barely perceptible to the human eye. "The museum staff were nervous about us taking up so much space, coming in with large tools," Xiao notes. "It's a museum of glass, so everything around us was insanely fragile. And there we were, sweating, lifting these massive crates, moving heavy machinery, sawing plasticsit looked like chaos." By the time the last shipment arrived in Corning, the team had carefully choreographed every step of the assembly process. The structural supports had already been installed to brace the arch during construction. A temporary wooden formwork was designed to hold the bridge steady until the final keystone glass modules could be locked into place, allowing the structure to support its own weight. Still, the assembly would test both the physical stamina and emotional resilience of everyone involved. "We had days where we worked from sunrise until the museum closed, lifting heavy glass units by hand, triple-checking measurements, and holding our breath during every installation," Xiao notes. "We had to physically lift and position each unit by hand. The museum crew helped with the heavier pieces, but there were moments when it felt like we were building this thing with our bare hands." At one point, an improperly calibrated support caused a misalignment in the arch, forcing them to painstakingly disassemble and reposition several sections. At another, a miscalculation in the placement of the wooden formwork meant that the bridge couldn't be properly supported as it was assembled. "The worst part was that the whole structure had to be self-supporting by the end," Xiao says. "It's an archuntil you put in the last keystone piece, the whole thing is unstable." The final days of construction were particularly tense. The placement of the last few units was critical; any error would compromise the structural integrity of the entire span. But as the keystone unit clicked into place, there was a collective sigh of relief among the team. On Nov. 30th, after a week of long days and late nights, the bridge stood tall. The months of calculation, fabrication, and logistical coordination converged into something extraordinary: a shimmering arch of glass, delicate in appearance but solid in structurea physical testament to the harmony of engineering precision, aesthetic beauty, and human collaboration. "This bridge shows that we can rethink materials, that we can push the boundaries of engineering, and that we can build in ways that are both efficient and elegant," Akbarzadeh says. Xiao, who had spent months juggling logistics, material constraints, and sleepless nights, had a more succinct reaction. "We did it," he says. "Against all odds, we actually did it." More information: Joseph Robert Yost et al, Experimental investigation of the bearing capacity between short hollow glass columns and a transparent thermoplastic interface material, Engineering Structures (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.119407 Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (3/7) uoc du bao co the giam tu 6,8 - 7,5% so voi ky ieu hanh truoc o. Cu the, gia ban le xang E5 RON 92 co the giam 1.412 ong (6,9%) ve muc 19.118 ong/lit; xang RON 95-III co the giam 1.440 ong (6,8%) ve muc 19.670 ong/lit. Trong khi o, dau hoa co the giam 7,5% ve muc 17.631 ong/lit; dau mazut co the giam 7,2% ve muc 15.730 ong/kg; dau diesel co the giam 7,1% ve muc 17.977 ong/lit. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Bilateral trade between Trinidad and Tobago and India reached a record TT$1.2 billion (US$368.96 million) in the last fiscal year, according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She disclosed this as she announced that her Government aims to expand exports to tap into Indias market of 1.4 billion consumers, and will pursue a Partial Scope Trade Agreementthe first from a Caricom countrywhile laying the foundation for a new Bilateral Investment Treaty. This years Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) results have revealed a concerning learning gap among primary school students, Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath has said. Speaking at a recognition ceremony for the top five performers in the 2025 SEA yesterday at the ministrys head office in Port of Spain, Dowlath said the data will be analysed for better performance moving forward. Last Tuesday, Gwynne Dyer headlined his Express column Stupid old men. You could substitute all sorts of adjectives before the words, old men, to describe the characteristics of the cohort that has had the most influence on the world we inhabit. Greedy, self-righteous, racist, arrogant, selfish, a multitude of negative words readily suit the clique. At first, angrily thinking about the subject of todays column, I was focusing on Caribbean men in leadership positions who have been sleazy lechers, foisting themselves on hapless females and males with impunity. Authorities have released the identity of two people who died in a plane crash last month at the Marana airport. Michael Reinath, 70, and Linda Gifford, 76, were killed Feb. 19 after two small planes a Lancair 360 MK II and a Cessna 172 collided midair at Marana Regional Airport on West Avra Valley Road, west of Interstate-10, Marana police said. Reinath, a former NASA engineer, and Gifford lived in Rio Vista, California. The Lancair involved in the crash was registered to Reinath, according to the FFA registry. A plane occupied by a flight instructor and a student landed uneventfully after the collision. Reinaths aircraft, however, hit the ground near a runway and caught fire. The investigation continues. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says he is not participating in a new state task force aimed at border security recently announced by fellow Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs. The departure of Nanos, along with Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway, came after a contentious online meeting about the creation of the joint border task force called Operation Desert Guardian. Its aim is to combat drug and human trafficking in Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties. It would partner officials from federal and state agencies with local sheriffs departments to address border issues including identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities along the border, combating border-related crimes perpetrated by transnational criminal organizations and dismantling their supply chains and operating networks, a news release from the governors office said. Both Nanos and Hathaway, however, said they were surprised to be invited to the joint meeting for the task force without being asked to give input prior to it being created. It was like them trying to come up with the concept during the phone call, Hathaway said. It was very apparent that it was kind of an attempt to put together a task force. Even if there was a framework put in place for Operation Desert Guardian, Hathaway said he doesnt have the staff to dedicate to the project. With 44 sworn officers and 1200-square-miles of land to cover, it is more advantageous to Santa Cruz residents to have deputies on the streets, not at the border where Hathaway said federal agents are doing a fine job combating crime. Its just not doable from my perspective, Hathaway said. Sheriff Nanos has made his stance on the task force quite clear on Tuesdays task force call. He made it through less than 15 minutes before he left the meeting and signed off. I left because I didnt see any value in (the call), Nanos said, adding that he felt talked at instead of being asked about his countys needs. Tell me what it is youre going to do and well sit down and decide whether or not its a benefit and value to my constituents, he said. In my opinion, this is nothing more than a political issue that has very little to do with public safety. Hobbs has proposed spending $28 million on the border task force, in addition to the $100 million her administration has previously given to local agencies near the border. The funds will come from Arizonas border security fund. Nanos and Hathaway both suggest that this federal money be divided among the four counties on the Arizona-Mexico border and be used to address each departments immediate needs. That money would have gone a long way towards helping with my staffing issues to deal with things like, oh I dont know, violent crime, homicides, Nanos said. Weve had, in the Pima County area, well over 100 homicides last year, yet none of them were on the border. We had some 400 shooting incidents just in the city of Tucson itself ... none of them were on the border. Being already involved in several task force efforts, and assisting neighboring counties and cities with their public safety problems is plenty to have on deal with, Nanos said. I dont need to solve the federal governments problems, he said. Its not as if Sheriff Hathaway is against targeting drug and human trafficking. But Hathaway said he is involved in task forces addressing those issues already. As the largest border county, with two ports of entry, its up to federal agents to confiscate illegal drugs and contraband at border crossings, he said. Hathaway said he and his deputies have their own duties, like spending 24/7 targeting violent and properties crimes, as well as traffic offenses throughout the county. This is an expectation of Santa Cruz County residents. With 30 border patrol agents for every one sworn deputy, its difficult for Hathaway to see the benefit of buying into a state plan that seems half hatched, he said. They are trying to make state agencies or sheriff offices become border agents in a way, he said. But, for Hathaway, the task force proposal goes beyond that. He said the new task force suggests there is a crisis in his border community some sort of war zone where things are out of control. It alludes to these counties being crime-ridden and crazy. Thats not the case, Hathaway said. People will say, Do you have running gun battles going through your front yard?!. No. Thats all hype and folklore and negative perception about the border. Thats not reality. The creation of a new taskforce also makes little sense to Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmont, a Republican, who previously told The Arizona Republic that the funds would be wasted on something that does not need to be rebuilt. He told the Republic he worries that Operation Desert Guardian will duplicate, and not complement, the work already being done in his department. Instead, he welcomed state police and personnel to join his team, which has already established infrastructure, knowledge of the countys geography and needs, as well as specialized challenges. They need to come in and be a partner, Wilmont said. Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels previously told the Star that he feels differently than his law enforcement counterparts in regards to Hobbs task force creation. In fact, he said hes looking forward to the collaboration. Im a big believer in the regional partnerships, with state, local and federal working together, Dannels, a Republican, said. The criminals are held accountable when we do that. Cochise County already has a state-funded border operations center, which opened last fall, through which local officials assist in border surveillance and share information with federal agencies. Its already up and running, Dannels said. Whatever the operational plan is (for the new task force), I want to make sure it complements and partners with that center. PHOENIX It hasnt happened in any Arizona city. But that didnt stop a Senate panel from voting Wednesday to financially penalize any city that cuts funding for law enforcement. What it came down to is a claim by the bills sponsor, Rep. David Marshall, that it could happen here. The Snowflake Republican told colleagues to look at what happened in prior years in places including New York, Seattle and Portland. They allowed all these different groups to run amok and terrorize their towns, he said. Marshall said the result was many of these communities reduced the funding for their police departments. Some of those departments have yet to get back to their original strength, he said. As to why hes pushing House Bill 2221 in Arizona: We have a lot of activists that are still screaming about defunding the police here in Phoenix, defunding the police in our state, he said. He said that is occurring as many police agencies are operating below authorized capacity, including the Department of Public Safety, which he said is 500 officers short. If we defunded the police in our state, we would be in the same position, the same condition, a lot of these other states such as New York, Chicago, L.A., Seattle, Marshall said, saying he is taking proactive action. HB 2221 would enforce its provisions through a financial hit. It would cut an offending citys state aid by a dollar-for-dollar basis equal to whatever cut the city made to its police budget. That concerned Marshall Pimentel, a lobbyist for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. He told lawmakers he didnt want the opposition to be construed as opposition to police. But we do view this as a fundamental issue of local control, Pimentel said, saying it undermines the ability of cities to responsibly manage their public safety budget. Local officials are in the best position to assess community needs and make budgetary decisions that balance public safety priorities with fiscal responsibility, he said. Beyond that, Pimentel said there might be reasons it makes sense to reduce a police departments budget. For example, he said, some cities have civilian employees within the department handling everything from code enforcement to public records and community outreach. Pimentel said there might be legitimate reasons to move those workers to another agency with the commensurate shift of their costs out of the police department. He also said there could be technology-driven efficiencies that would result in the need for less money for the department without affecting staffing levels. And then, Pimentel said, theres the fiscal reality that public safety is the largest portion of any citys budget. Local officials must have the ability to adjust spending based on actual community needs, just as the Legislature does when crafting the state budget, he said. Marshall said his legislation does have an escape clause of sorts for cities in financial trouble. What it says in the bill is that if youre going to be cutting budgets, that you cut the budgets equally, he said. But we ask, in this bill, that you cut law enforcement and fire last. That is our front line to crime in our community. Democratic Sen. Lauren Kuby, a former member of the Tempe City Council, asked Marshall whether there was really a need for Arizona lawmakers to enact a new law, with financial penalties, when there is no evidence of a problem here. Marshall never got a chance to answer, as Sen. Jake Hoffman, who chairs the panel, responded instead. He said this is a proactive bill, looking across the country at trends that have occurred and the damage that its caused, said the Queen Creek Republican. Because there are activists advocating for this, including some city council members, hes trying to be proactive here, Hoffman continued. Our job is to look across the country and see where the political winds going, whats good, whats bad, what the worst practice, and then view those here so that we dont run into issues that other people have seen. The measure, already approved by the House, now awaits action by the full Senate. Earlier this week Seven News reporter Hayden Nelson was reporting on crime in South Australia. when a cheeky passer-by decided to nick a light from a light stand, while he was on air for Sunrise. Police have released an image of a man wanted for robbing a @sunriseon7 crew in Rundle Mall. https://t.co/N6BQltaGjP #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/9H18l4lo1S 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 6, 2025 Cast of Ten Pound Poms headed to Bondi Beach today for a promotional event ahead of International Womens Day. Season 2 written by UK writer Danny Brocklehurst incorporates restrictions women endured in 1950s Australia, from bikini bans to being barred from pubs. Cast members Stephen Curry, Tina Bursill, Cheree Cassidy, Maya Stange and Grant Lyndon reimagined a 1950s Bondi bikini protest joined by 35 women in 1950s bikinis and swimsuits, who stepped off a vintage red double decker bus. Stephen Curry said: To bring these characters and this rich part of our history back to our screens for season 2 is pure joy. Ten Pound Poms is a timeless piece of television and Im thrilled to be part of an incredible cast. Ten Pound Poms returns Monday on Stan, as the signs helpfully indicated. From staff reports The National Weather Service in Shreveport has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down Tuesday in Harrison County while another EF-1 caused injuries in Franklin and Camp counties. The Harrison County tornado began in Scottsville, traveled about a mile and had estimated peak winds of about 90 mph beginning around 8:46 a.m. Tuesday No injuries or fatalities were reported. This weak EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 90 mph began at Harkins Lane and traveled eastward for approximately 1 mile just north of FM 1998, meteorologists said. Nearly all the damage was to softwood trees in the form of uproots and snaps. The highest concentration of tree damage was in the neighboring Scottsville and Rock Springs Cemeteries near the start of the path. It is possible the tornado was on the ground a bit longer than one mile, but the lack of ground access hindered the ability of the severe team to confirm this. Fortunately there were no injuries in association with this brief tornado and the maximum width was only 100 yards. The tornado in Franklin and Camp counties started north of Winnsboro at 7:15 a.m. and traveled 18.79 miles east. It had a peak wind speed of 104 mph and a maximum width of 858 yards. It ended at 7:35 a.m. Three people were injured when RVs overturned at the Barefoot Bay RV Park near Lake Bob Sandlin, KETK reported. More than 58,000 East Texans were without power as a result of Tuesdays storms, including over 10,000 in Smith County. As of 1:50 p.m. Thursday, 80 customers in Smith County were still waiting for their power to be restored. A restoration time wasnt known Thursday afternoon. Oncor said in a statement its employees made substantial progress thanks to crews working 16-hour, around-the-clock shifts. Oncor employees have nearly completed power restoration following Tuesdays severe storm system and high winds, Oncor said on Thursday. Lineworkers and support teams are fully engaged in restoring power as quickly and safely as possible to all homes and businesses that can safely accept it. Restoration for most of Oncors service area was substantially completed Wednesday night. Exceptions include: areas of Fort Worth, which were expected to be substantially restored Thursday morning; areas of Dallas County and the immediate surrounding cities, which are expected to be substantially restored Thursday night; and eastern regions of Tyler and Lufkin, which are expected to be substantially restored Thursday night. These locations include pockets of outages resulting from the most significant damage. Customers without power are encouraged to check their home or business electric equipment, such as the meter base or weatherhead, to make sure it has not been damaged or pulled off as the result of yesterdays severe storm or winds. If this equipment is damaged, customers will need to contact a licensed electrician to make the necessary repairs. Oncor will not be able to safely reconnect or restore power until these repairs are completed and is unable to repair electric equipment it does not own. A city inspection may also be required before service can be restored, the company said. Nearly all of the remaining outages are the result of isolated equipment damage from the severe straight-line storm winds from Tuesday morning and the continued high winds that followed later in the day and throughout the night, with customer impacts localized to individual homes or businesses or small clusters in neighborhoods, Oncor said on Thursday. These outages are more complex in nature and affect a smaller number of homes or businesses, instead of entire neighborhoods, making the overall restoration process longer. To report an outage, text OUT to 66267, call 888-313-4747, use the MyOncor app, or select Report an Outage located above the map. Customers can receive updates by registering for MyOncor text alerts by texting REG to 66267, downloading the MyOncor App, following Oncor on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), or by calling 888-313-4747. If you see a downed power line, keep yourself and others away, and call 911 immediately. To report property damages caused by the storm, visit: https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/ HA NOI The domestic stock market has seen an impressive performance of mid- and small-cap stocks, outperforming the market average. However, experts warn investors to assess valuation levels against the growth potential of these companies for informed decisions. Post-Lunar New Year, there has been a notable improvement in market liquidity, with funds spreading across various sectors, leading to an overall increase in stock prices. The VN-Index has risen for five consecutive weeks, surpassing the significant 1,300-point threshold, a level it struggled to breach throughout 2024. Average trading value since early February has reached approximately VN17.5 trillion (US$684.5 million) per session, marking a 36 per cent increase compared to January. In the most recent week, liquidity exceeded VN20 trillion per session. However, when compared to the same period last year, February's liquidity was down by 25 per cent, and year-to-date figures show a 28 per cent decrease. During this period, mid- and small-cap stocks, particularly in sectors like mining, building materials, construction, rubber and chemicals, have experienced significant price increases. The market surpassing the 1,300-point threshold, driven by mid- and small-cap stocks, is seen as a positive signal, especially amid global market volatility. In February, the top ten best-performing stocks were dominated by the mining sector (Yen Bai Industry Mineral JSC, Fecon Mining, Becamex) and financial services sector (Icapital Investment JSC, APG Securities, Ocean Group JSC). The recent surge in mineral stocks can largely be attributed to escalating trade tensions among major economies, said Lam Gia Khang, Head of Market Strategy at VietinBank Securities. With China tightening export controls on key raw materials, particularly strategic metals and minerals, supply chain disruptions have driven investors toward these stocks. However, after a strong rally, investors should be cautious. Despite the price surge, profits after tax in this sector have remained low in recent years, making valuations less attractive and raising the risk of short-term corrections. Meanwhile, some non-life insurance stocks have been gaining momentum, partly due to a recovery in insurance demand after the crisis of confidence at the end of 2022. Viet Nams insurance market still has substantial growth potential. By the end of 2024, the insurance penetration rate (measured by premiums as a percentage of GDP) is expected to range from 2.3 per cent to 2.8 per cent, which is still lower than the ASEAN average of 3.35 per cent, Asias 5.37 per cent and the global average of 6.3 per cent. However, with many insurance stocks rising sharply and even reaching new highs, there is a risk of a market correction, especially as companies face pressure to cover claims from Typhoon Yagi, which struck in early September 2024. Cautious approach The stock market is expected to see strong divergence in 2025, creating opportunities for portfolio restructuring and new investments. According to Khang, investors should focus on mid- and small-cap stocks in sectors benefiting from Government and Central bank policies aimed at achieving at least 8 per cent GDP growth, such as civil construction, infrastructure and public investment. Stocks like Tradico, which maintained over VN110 billion in annual net profit (20222024) despite industry-wide losses, and PV Coating, which is set to gain from the Lo B - O Mon project, are worth considering, he added. The project could generate over VN3.14 billion in revenue and VN471 billion in profit after tax, a significant jump from previous years. However, Le uc Khanh, Head of Research at VPS Securities, notes that the recent rally in mid- and small-cap stocks is largely a recovery after prior declines. For sustained market growth, blue-chip stocks must regain momentum. He expects capital to shift back to these larger stocks. Bui Van Huy, Head of Investment Research at FIDT, agrees, arguing that large-cap stocks with stable price consolidation offer a more reasonable investment strategy than overheated smaller stocks. The 2025 market will revolve around economic growth, public investment and market upgrades. Sectors with strong potential include banking, construction, building materials, retail and consumer goods. Huy expects clearer opportunities in late 2025, as neither global nor Vietnamese markets have undergone significant corrections despite macroeconomic uncertainties. Recommended long-term picks include banking, steel and construction, attractive options if prices adjust, he said. BIZHUB/VNS HA NOI Cuban Minister of Domestic Trade Betsy Diaz Velazquez has expressed a strong interest in fostering joint ventures with Vietnamese partners in manufacturing and trade within Cuba's domestic market. During a meeting on March 4 with Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long, Diaz Velazquez said Cuba will provide optimal conditions for Vietnamese investors to establish joint ventures in manufacturing and trade, aiming to meet the Cuban population's essential goods needs. The Cuban minister also underscored interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, consumer goods manufacturing and the import of energy-saving equipment. Ambassador Long reassured that his embassy would assist Cubas Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN) by providing information and connecting it with experienced Vietnamese businesses in these fields. Both sides acknowledged the immense potential for multi-sector cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to implementing high-level agreements, strengthening the enduring friendship and comprehensive partnership between Viet Nam and Cuba. MINCIN manages the countrys domestic trade system, focusing on state-owned enterprises to ensure the supply of essential goods, control prices and improve market access for the Cuban population. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam has not seen significant impacts from the US's new trade policies, as its exports are not in direct competition with American companies in their domestic market, said Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan at a recent government press conference. In contrast, [Viet Nams exports] allow US consumers access to more affordable goods from Viet Nam, he added. Viet Nam has closely followed the USs policies since the presidential election, to actively prepare for possible changes in trade. The Southeast Asian country is expected to be affected by several of the new US tariffs, but not as severely as many other nations, said the deputy minister. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has worked with other ministries and sectors to compile a report for the Government, which will hold a meeting in March 2025 to discuss specific responses, said Tan. Through the US embassy in Viet Nam and the Vietnamese embassy in the US, the MoIT has conveyed a message on Viet Nams willingness to maintain and develop harmonious, sustainable and mutually beneficial trade and economic relations with the US, while stressing that Viet Nam does not have any policy that can cause adverse impacts on US workers or national security. The Vietnamese trade and industry minister is scheduled to hold a meeting with the US trade representative on March 13 to discuss enhancing the positive relations between the two countries. The MoIT views the Vietnamese and US economies as complementary to one another, said deputy minister Tan. The two countries have established a policy dialogue mechanism under the US-Viet Nam Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. The Vietnamese Government has also proactively tasked its departments with reviewing and addressing the concerns of the US based on fair and reciprocal trade, in alignment with legal regulations and the balanced interests of both sides, Tan added. Authorities will also facilitate investments from the US for emerging key industries in Viet Nam, especially in the energy sector. This will be the basis for increasing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), fuels, machinery and technology from the US to improve the balance of trade between the two countries. VNS QUANG NAM Certificates for six investment projects and four proposals for key infrastructure items worth more than VN40 trillion (US$1.6 billion) have been granted to local and foreign investors to begin construction at industrial parks in the central province of Quang Nam. The provincial Peoples Committee said these projects include five FDI investments in the supportive automobile industry, automobile R&D, household goods, ready-built factories, flexible hoses and valves, expansion of industrial parks, dredging on marine routes and resorts. Hoi An South, a major property developer, has committed to developing the second phase of the Hoiana integrated resort project with an investment capital of $1 billion. Multi-industry manufacturer and automobile maker Thaco Group has proposed a dredging project on a waterway at the Lo Estuary for vessels up to 50,000 DWT in Nui Thanh District with an investment of VN7.2 trillion. Thaco Auto Company, a member of the Thaco Group, will invest VN292 billion to build an R&D facility at its automobile mechanical industrial complex. Meanwhile, Viet Phuong Group plans to invest VN6.5 trillion in infrastructure on two industrial parks in Thang Binh District. Two Korean investors, Kyung Rim Tech and Oriental Commerce Vina, are set to start construction on the Wiring Harness automobile spare parts assembly project and supportive industrial packaging plants. Chinas Standard Track Co., Ltd. and Hong Kongs Portillo Estudio Limited will build factories for household items and ready-built factories for rent. Spains Tucai Company plans to build a manufacturing plant to produce flexible hoses and valves for water, gas, and oil connections. The province said it aims to create favourable conditions for 233 key high-tech industrial projects, which will achieve sustainable economic growth and generate more revenue. Thaco Group has been in discussions with the province on developing a duty-free zone and logistics projects in Tam Hoa. The province reported that it has drawn in 1,347 domestic and foreign projects, with an accumulated capital of $15.4 billion. Truong Hai Group alone has invested $95 million to develop a series of plants to manufacture auto parts in the Chu Lai Automobile Industrial Zone. China supports Gaza reconstruction plan endorsed by Palestine, Arab states Xinhua) 09:51, March 06, 2025 BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China supports the post-war governance plan for Gaza that is endorsed by the Palestinian people and agreed upon by Arab countries, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday. At an emergency Arab summit in Cairo on Tuesday, Arab leaders approved Egypt's reconstruction plan for Gaza, which is estimated to cost 53 billion U.S. dollars and aims to avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave. It was also agreed at the summit to form a non-factional technocratic committee to administer Gaza for at least six months under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority. China supports the efforts made by Egypt and other Arab countries to promote the continuous and effective implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, facilitate humanitarian aid and restore security and stability in the region, Lin told a regular news briefing. The principle of "the Palestinians governing Palestine" should be upheld in the post-war governance of Gaza in line with the two-state solution with the ultimate goal of achieving peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel, as well as long-term peace and stability in the Middle East, the spokesperson said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) HA NOI The Mekong Delta is bracing for heightened saltwater intrusion, as dry season water flows continue to decrease, according to the latest report from the Viet Nam Mekong River Commission. The phenomenon threatens agricultural production and freshwater supplies in one of the countrys most important rice-producing regions. Authorities have urged localities to optimise saltwater prevention measures and proactively store freshwater to mitigate the impact on farming and daily life. Hydrological forecasts from the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting and the Mekong River Commission suggest that total rainfall across the Mekong Basin in March will remain close to the long-term average, with variations of 5-20 per cent across different sub-basins. While upstream areas are expected to receive rainfall at levels similar to previous years, the Mekong Delta and northeast Thailand may experience a slight increase. Reservoirs along the Lancang River are currently at approximately 75 per cent of their total capacity, while those in the lower Mekong Basin are at about 60 per cent. Hydroelectric generation is expected to continue, further influencing downstream water levels. At Kratie Station in Cambodia, flow is estimated to decline, with total discharge in March estimated at 6.4-8.2 billion cubic metres. Meanwhile, the Tonle Sap Lake, which plays a critical role in regulating water levels, currently holds about 2.2 billion cubic metres, limiting its contribution to the main Mekong River. According to the Viet Nam Mekong River Commission, water levels in key monitoring stations will fluctuate but remain below average. At Tan Chau Station in Tay Ninh Province, peak daily water levels in March are expected to range from 1.1 to 1.6m. The average daily discharge is estimated between 3,000 and 4,500cu.m per second, which is comparable to historical averages, but five per cent lower than in 2024. At Chau oc Station in An Giang Province, water levels are forecasted to range from 1.2 to 1.6m. The average daily discharge is expected to be between 250 and 480cu.m per second, representing a 24 per cent drop from historical averages and a six per cent decline from last year. Flow levels at Chau oc in March are projected to fall between 1.0 and 1.1 billion cubic metres, down by 18-29 per cent from historical norms and 0-11 per cent lower than the same period in 2024. Based on flow and tidal projections, the one gramme per litre salinity boundary is expected to push 3-13 kilometres further inland along the Hau, Tien, and Vam Co Tay rivers, compared to the averages in the past. The four grammes per litre salinity boundary, a critical for agriculture, is also forecasted to extend 3-10km deeper inland. Local areas are being urged to closely monitor water sources, store freshwater and implement proactive measures to counteract the worsening saltwater intrusion. Areas at high risk should stay updated on salinity monitoring and forecasts to adjust their mitigation strategies accordingly. According to the Head of the Central, Central Highlands, and Southern Hydrological Forecasting Division at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Phung Tien Dung, the 2024-2025 dry season is expected to see above-average saltwater intrusion, although not to the extreme levels experienced in 2015-16 and 2019-20. Saltwater intrusion is shaped by upstream flows, tidal patterns and shifting environmental factors. Peak intrusion at the Mekong Rivers estuaries, Vam Co and Cai Lon rivers is anticipated this month and across April. Several districts are particularly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, including Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang and Hau Giang provinces. VNS HCM CITY Drama theatres in HCM City have recently put on reality-themed plays, achieving notable success despite the traditional challenge of attracting audiences to serious dramas. This resurgence has brought to the stage a variety of works that not only carry high ideological values but also also entertain, reflecting a blend of thought-provoking content and engaging performances. One of the standout plays is ong Chi (Comrades), written by Le Thu Hanh and directed by Tran Ngoc Giau and Quoc Thinh. This play has deeply moved audiences with its unique portrayal of comrades who once bravely faced the battlefield, now struggling with harsh peacetime realities as money influences their conscience. The steadfast spirit of Party members who maintain their political stance and serve as role models for future generations has brought many to tears. Notably, the play was highly acclaimed, prompting Lee Jung Nam, Chairman of the Busan Theatre Association in South Korea, to invite the cast to perform it at the Busan International Performing Arts Market (BPAM) this year. Similarly, the Trinh Kim Chi Drama Stage has introduced two significant plays, Hai Nguoi Me (Two Mothers) by Le Thu Hanh and directed by Trinh Kim Chi, and Ngay Ay Cong Troi (The Then Heaven Gate) by Nguyen Khang Chien, also directed by Chi. The stage previously premiered Khat Vong Ngay Mai (Future Inspiration) by Tran Van Hung, directed by Tran Minh Ngoc, which won top honours in a writing competition organised by the HCM City Party Committee. These plays were also critically well-received and popular with audiences, showcasing the strong influence of dramatic works in the city's theatrical life. Critics have praised these productions for providing fresh perspectives on contemporary individuals reflecting on the past. The plays transform pride and revolutionary spirit into motivation for contributing to the nation's progress. They skillfully blend strong propaganda content with relatable details, creating genuine laughter and empathy that resonate with audiences. Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong, a member of the Artistic Council of HCM Citys Department of Culture and Sports, highlights the exploration and creativity in staging techniques that have made political plays both appealing and engaging. The HCM City Drama Theater's production of Khat Vong Hoa Binh (Inspiration for Peace) by Ngoc Truc, directed by Tran Ngoc Giau, left a lasting impression at the 1st HCM City Theatre Festival last November, adding a relatable yet profoundly meaningful legitimate theme to the stage. The Small Stage Theatre also presented the play Dau Xua (The Old Mark) by Nguyen Thanh Binh, directed by Tran Minh Ngoc. This play received the Creativity Award and was performed not only at the 5B Theatre but also organised over a hundred performances at cultural centres, organizations, and schools, catering to audiences of all ages. The Hong Hac Theatre premiered Neu Anh Con uoc Song (If I Have Another Life) by Viet Linh, directed by Viet Linh and Le Chi Na, at the Thanh Nien Cultural Centre, making a significant impact with its fresh perspective on war. The Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre has continuously attracted attention with plays like San Ho o (Red Coral), Tieng Ho Song Hau (The Chanting on Hau River), and Nguoi Ven o (The Urban People). Young director Tran Ngoc Nha Thy is set to premiere the serious-themed cai luong (reformed opera) play Nuoc Mat Tham Tinh (Tears of Love) by Hoang Song Viet, following her graduation in directing. Elevating serious dramas is a challenge, as noted by Peoples Artist Tran Minh Ngoc. Refreshing serious dramas and transforming seemingly dry scripts into compelling performances requires serious and meticulous investment in staging and innovation in execution. Ngoc is pleased to see an increasing number of spoken dramas and cai luong plays exploring political themes about war, revolution, and the people of the city within the context of building a new urban area. Even stories about the newly operational metro line have been mentioned, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences of all ages. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, deputy head of the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports, emphasised the importance of communication and promotion in attracting public awareness. Both public and private art units are building professional communication teams to help their works reach wider audiences. Following the success of the first HCM City Theatre Festival last November, the department plans to further promote award-winning works, bringing these types of shows to a wider public. VNS HCM CITY A new collection of ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) by well-known fashion house Lien Huong will be released in HCM City. The collection, called Hoa Tren Tuyen Lua (Flowers in Fire), celebrates International Womens Day on March 8. It includes ao dai designs for women in Vietnamese fabrics, such as silk, satin, velvet, chiffon and taffeta. Ao ba ba, the traditional southern Vietnamese blouse, especially in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region, is also included. Southern women began wearing ao ba ba in the 19th century. During the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival, they use ao ba ba from quality fabrics with printed or embroidered patterns of beautiful images based on folk culture. Lien Huong designers use vivid colours, such as red, green, light blue and lotus pink to feature the beauty of women and their characters. Our designers are inspired by Vietnamese women living in different periods, who have contributed to the countrys independence, freedom, and development today, said fashion designer and creation director Trisha Vo of Lien Huong fashion brand. Each of our designs from the collection Hoa Tren Tuyen Lua is linked to Viet Nams history and culture, and features stories, hopes and dreams that women want to share to the world. Lien Huong is famous for its ao dai designs for women and men in different ages. The brand is owned by famous designer Lien Huong, who has more than 20 years in the industry. Her collections feature Vietnamese folk culture and lifestyle. Ao dai designs by Lien Huong have been seen on the catwalk at fashion shows throughout the country and in Australia, China, France and the US. The designs from the collection Hoa Tren Tuyen Lua will be displayed at the opening ceremony of HCM City Ao Dai Festival 2025 on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, District 1 on March 7.VNS The Government News spoke to Dr oan Thi To Uyen, head of the Department of Administrative Law under the Ha Noi Law University on a changing mindset in the law making process. How do you evaluate the current process of law making and legal reforms in our country? Over nearly 40 years since the oi Moi (Renewal) period began in 1986, the law-making process has undergone significant changes in both quantity and quality. Previously, very few laws were enacted, with most regulations being issued in the form of ordinances to govern social relations. Today, the number of laws passed by the National Assembly has expanded to cover almost all aspects of social life, with increasing quality, providing a legal framework for economic and social development. Before the oi Moi period, law making was not given due attention. In some phases, the Communist Party's policies were directly implemented to address emerging issues in social governance. After the 6th National Party Congress, the transition from a centrally-planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy required a shift in legal frameworks to accommodate new social relations. As a result, the legal system has gradually improved in both quantity and quality. Today, with rapid changes in reality, advancements in science and technology and global fluctuations, it is essential to reassess our legal system to ensure it remains relevant. Compared to the past, the approach to law making has become more defined, with legislative procedures continuously improving. Policy formulation and codification have become more professional and the training of legal professionals has been prioritised, laying the foundation for effective legal enforcement. Addressing the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, Party General Secretary To Lam emphasised the need for strong reforms in legislation, advocating for a shift in legal thinking to ensure both State management and the promotion of creativity, unlocking productive potential. He also called for abandoning the rigid mindset of "if it cannot be managed, then ban it'. What is your perspective on this? I strongly agree with the Party General Secretarys view on the need for a fundamental overhaul of the legislative process, as several limitations in law-making have become bottlenecks for development. The quality of legal drafting and revision has not always met practical demands, with some laws requiring immediate amendments after enactment. Regulations sometimes lack coherence, overlap, or pose difficulties in enforcement, leading to resource waste and missed opportunities for economic growth. Additionally, administrative procedures remain cumbersome, and law enforcement remains a weak link. Delegation and decentralisation of authority have not been implemented thoroughly, with unclear accountability, bureaucratic overlaps between legislative and executive functions, and inefficiencies in governance. These longstanding issues need urgent resolutions to prevent further obstruction to national development in the new era. Indeed, there has been a persistent mindset among some State agencies that 'if it cannot be managed, then ban it', which manifests not only in policymaking but also in legislation. Many legal provisions have been drafted to address immediate concerns without considering long-term implications, making enforcement difficult and necessitating frequent amendments. Some regulations even hinder social developmentfor example, certain provincial-level rules once prohibited street vending on major roads. The purpose of the law is both to regulate social relations for State management and to provide long-term direction for societal development. However, this second function has not been fully realised, as legislative and policy-making bodies have not given it sufficient attention. To remove institutional bottlenecks, a strategic solution is to reform legal thinking to ensure that legislation supports both state management and innovation, thereby shaping social progress. Despite ongoing reforms, many bottlenecks in law making remain. What are the main obstacles to changing the legal mindset today? The first obstacle is a narrow view which regards laws as a mere management tool. Many still perceive law as a mechanism to address immediate governance challenges rather than a framework for long-term societal development. Some officials remain stuck in outdated thinking, resistant to change and lack the confidence to advocate for progressive legal reforms. Secondly, that is the weak power control in law making. Oversight mechanisms in legislative processes are still inadequate. In some cases, discipline and accountability in law making have not been upheld, leading to interest-group influences in legislation. The third barrier comes from fragmented law-making processes. These challenges stem from an incomplete understanding of the laws role. Many still see law primarily as a tool for maintaining order, rather than as a foundation for development. The competence of legal draftersespecially at local levelsremains insufficient. While legal training has improved, many officials still lack the necessary analytical, forecasting and legislative drafting skills. The current incentive system does not attract highly skilled legal experts, further limiting capacity. Moreover, financial resources allocated for law making, particularly for policy analysis and impact assessments are inadequate. International cooperation in legislative development has provided some support, but funding remains limited and largely reliant on constrained State budgets. Finally, legal education and training do not fully align with practical needs, resulting in a disconnect between legal professionals and real-world legislative demands. What reforms in legal thinking do you propose to meet the demands in the new era of the nations rise? First, I propose shifting legal thinking to balance governance and innovation. The legal system should not only serve as a regulatory framework but also as a catalyst for development. This requires a renewed understanding of the laws nature, role and function, emphasising its role in fostering development, reforming legislative procedures for greater efficiency and coherence and increasing financial and human resource investments in law making. These reforms are crucial to ensuring that our legal system aligns with the demands of the modern era and supports the nation's sustainable development. Second, we must ensure that laws are stable and have long-term value. We must only regulate framework issues and issues of principle. Practical issues that fluctuate frequently are assigned to the Government and local areas to regulate to ensure flexibility in management in accordance with the spirit of the Government. The legal making mindset must be changed to keep up with reality and respect objective reality. To achieve this, in the law-making process, it is necessary to invest resources and attach importance to policy analysis, assess the impact of policies in a substantive manner and ensure the long-term predictability of laws. Third, focus on controlling power in law making, tighten discipline, promote responsibility, especially the responsibility of leaders and resolutely fight against negative phenomena and group interests. Then we must urgently build a legal corridor for new issues and new trends, especially those related to the fourth industrial revolution, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, green transformation to create a legal framework to successfully implement the digital transformation revolution, creating a breakthrough for the country's development in the following years. Finally, we should train and foster a team of civil servants to carry out the law-making process professionally. VNS JAKARTA The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Indonesia, held a briefing on Wednesday unveiling the signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime scheduled for July in Ha Noi. In his address, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong described the convention as a historic milestone in crime prevention and criminal justice and the first global treaty tackling the multifaceted challenges of online crime. It also holds particular significance for being the first of its kind to be open for signature in Asia, specifically in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. For Viet Nam and ASEAN, this moment represents a shared aspiration to foster a safe, secure, and inclusive digital environment. In this context, it is crucial to underscore the collective ownership of this effort, he said. Viet Nam has thoroughly prepared for this event, ensuring that all logistical and financial responsibilities are met to create an environment conducive to productive discussions and maintaining the highest organisational standards. The signing ceremony in Ha Noi will be more than a ceremonial event and serves as a continuation of the international communitys collective efforts to combat cybercrime. Building on years of collaboration and progress, the event will serve as a platform to promote dialogue, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships among key stakeholders, including the Governments, international organisations, private enterprises, and civil society. Viet Nam is committed to making this event a meaningful forum to advance the implementation of the Convention and enhance global cooperation against cybercrime, he said, adding that the signing ceremony will stand as a testament to the success of multilateralism and the global communitys collective determination to build a safer and more resilient cyberspace. It presents a crucial opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and reaffirm Viet Nams commitment to a secure digital future. UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia Gita Sabharwal stressed that the UN stands ready to assist Viet Nam, Indonesia, and all regional countries to build a safer and more resilient digital future. Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, the Convention aims to enhance international cooperation, establish common standards for criminalising cyber offenses, and provide a framework for technical assistance and capacity-building. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony for his Kyrgyz counterpart Adylbek Kasimalyev who is paying a two-day official visit to Viet Nam. This is the first visit to Viet Nam by a Kyrgyz prime minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. The trip is expected to develop the Viet Nam Kyrgyzstan friendship and cooperation in a more substantive and effective manner across all sectors. Following the ceremony, the two PMs started their talks. Before the meeting, they toured a photo exhibition showcasing the landscapes, people, and positive relations between Viet Nam and Kyrgyzstan, which was jointly organised by the Government Office and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). Over the past years, Viet Nam and Kyrgyzstan have maintained robust friendship relations through bilateral delegation exchanges and close coordination in international organisations and multilateral forums. Despite these positive political ties, economic cooperation remains modest. Two-way trade reached only US$7.5 million in 2023 and expanded to $13.5 million last year. As of October 2024, Kyrgyzstan had only one investment project in Viet Nam with registered capital of $5 million, indicating substantial untapped potential for enhanced partnership. PM Kasimalyev's visit represents a significant milestone, marking a new development phase in the bilateral relations while providing a catalyst to deepen the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation in areas where both countries possess potential and strengths. During his stay, besides talks with PM Minister Chinh, the Kyrgyz PM will meet with other high-ranking Vietnamese Party and State leaders. Both sides will discuss ways to enhance relations across political-diplomatic and economic-trade-investment spheres, while exploring cooperation in promising fields such as transport, agriculture, culture, education, tourism, local partnerships, and people-to-people exchanges, towards elevating bilateral relations at an appropriate time to match the new situation. VNA/VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the visit of Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev marks a significant milestone, ushering in a new phase of cooperation in the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Kyrgyzstan to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership. Speaking on Thursday during talks with PM Kasymaliev, following a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, PM Chinh warmly welcomed the Kyrgyz leader and his delegation on their first official visit to Viet Nam since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992. PM Kasymaliev admired Viet Nams socio-economic achievements and praised its growing role in Southeast Asia. He reaffirmed Kyrgyzstans commitment to prioritising its relationship with Viet Nam and expressed a desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual strength and potential. In response, PM Chinh emphasised Viet Nams readiness to act as a bridge for Kyrgyzstan to enhance cooperation with ASEAN. He also encouraged Kyrgyzstan to leverage its regional position to connect Viet Nam with Central Asia and called for its support of Viet Nam and ASEANs stance on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue. The two leaders discussed ways to advance bilateral relations and agreed on concrete measures to create new momentum for deeper, more substantive cooperation across multiple fields. They underscored the importance of maintaining high-level exchanges and fostering bilateral engagement at international forums, particularly within the United Nations. Both sides also agreed to establish direct communication channels to ensure the effective implementation of high-level agreements. Reaffirming their tradition of close coordination and mutual support in multilateral forums, the leaders acknowledged that economic and trade cooperation remains underdeveloped and has yet to reach its full potential. They stressed the need to better capitalise on the opportunities provided by the Viet Nam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement to boost bilateral trade. To enhance the effectiveness of cooperation, both sides agreed to support the establishment of coordination mechanisms between economic, trade and investment agencies, as well as the early formation of an intergovernmental committee. They also welcomed direct business-to-business engagement and participation in promotional activities and specialised trade fairs held in each country. The two PMs instructed relevant ministries and agencies to accelerate negotiations for agreements on double taxation avoidance, investment encouragement and protection and economic cooperation. They also discussed exchanging lists of exportable goods with strong potentials, such as wood and wood products, electronics, textiles and garments, seafood, fruits, cashews and tea. Both agreed to expand cooperation into promising fields, including agriculture, defence and security, education and training, culture and tourism, local-level collaboration and transportation connectivity, particularly in aviation and railways, to open new avenues for cooperation. These efforts aim to facilitate mutual understanding between the peoples of both nations and strengthen bilateral relations comprehensively. PM Chinh suggested that the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan assign relevant agencies to explore opportunities for cooperation in the production and export of Halal products to the Kyrgyz and broader Central Asian markets. He also urged the Kyrgyz government to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in Kyrgyzstan, ensuring favourable living conditions for them. Following their talks, the two leaders signed a joint statement on the outcomes of Kyrgyz PM Adylbek Kasymalievs official visit to Viet Nam. They also witnessed the signing and exchange of bilateral cooperation agreements, including an Agreement on Cooperation in Education, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Legal Cooperation between the Ministries of Justice of Viet Nam and Kyrgyzstan, and an MoU between the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Construction of Viet Nam and the Civil Aviation Authority of Kyrgyzstan. On this occasion, Kyrgyz PM Kasymaliev extended a formal invitation to PM Chinh to visit Kyrgyzstan for further discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation, an invitation which the latter gladly accepted. VNS HA NOI National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man held a meeting in Ha Noi on Thursday with full-time female NA deputies, female officials of the NA Standing Committee, NA committees, agencies, and NA Office. The meeting was held on the occasion of the 115th Vietnamese Womens Day (March 8, 1910-2025) and the 1985th anniversary of the Hai Ba Trung Uprising. Highlighting womens contributions to community development as well as national construction, defence and rapid, sustainable development, the top legislator said that NAs female deputies and officials have made great efforts to complete the legislatures tasks. He noted that from the beginning of the 15th tenure, the NA held 17 sessions, while the NA Standing Committee organised 82 meetings, during which 65 laws, nearly 200 resolutions, 5 ordinances, and nearly 1,400 resolutions were passed. NA Chairman Man said that the Party has issued many resolutions and directives focusing on the female workforce, both in terms of material and spiritual support, creating favourable conditions for women to contribute and participate in social activities. He urged NA female deputies and officials to continue promoting the glorious tradition of Vietnamese women, amplifying the achievements of previous NA terms, and further doubling the accomplishments already made. Reflecting on the current efforts to streamline the NA organisation, he said he hopes for continuous support from female deputies and officials in creating consensus in the work. On this occasion, he asked the NA Committee for Deputies Affairs to pay greater attention to increasing the engagement of female officials in leadership activities while drafting a plan for the election of deputies to the 16th NA and Peoples Councils. He expressed his hope for NA women deputies and officials to continue their efforts to build their units, becoming role models of compassion, selflessness, perseverance, and progress, and inspiring women across the country. The Chairman encouraged the NA female deputies and officials to give more proposals in law building and execution, especially amid greater NA workload in the coming time with higher requirements. VNA/VNS HA NOI State President Luong Cuong on Thursday received Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev, who is paying an official visit to Viet Nam from March 67. During the reception, the host leader affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam always remember the support and assistance from people of the Soviet Union, including Kyrgyzstan, for its struggle for national liberation, construction, and economic development. He emphasised the significance of this visit, which opens up a new chapter in the relationship between Viet Nam and Kyrgyzstan, helping to realise the determination of the two countriess leaders to further enhance bilateral cooperation in all areas. PM Kasymaliev informed his host about the productive and substantive talks with PM Pham Minh Chinh, and noted that he is greatly impressed with the strong development that Viet Nam has achieved in recent years. Kyrgyzstan always treasures the relationship with Viet Nam and highly values the Southeast Asian nation's role in the region and the world, he affirmed, expressing the wish to further promote the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides. Given the outstanding achievements in political diplomatic and economic trade cooperation in the recent past, President Cuong and PM Kasymaliev agreed to continue strengthening political trust while increasing delegation exchanges and high-level meetings across all channels, including the Parties, States, Governments, parliaments, ministries, sectors, localities, socio-political organisations, as well as peoples of the two countries. The countries will create favourable conditions for their businesses to seek investment opportunities in each other's markets, and perfect legal frameworks to bolster bilateral relations in all fields. Acknowledging the growth of bilateral trade in recent years, President Cuong noted that the trade remains modest compared to the total trade volume of each country, as well as their potential and strengths in this regard. He emphasised that ministries, sectors, and relevant agencies of both countries need to enhance coordination to materialise the determination and agreements of Vietnamese and Kyrgyz leaders, thus fostering all-round cooperation, particularly in trade investment, education training, science technology, transport, energy, mining, and cultural exchange. Discussing international and regional issues of mutual concern, both sides agreed to maintain close coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The host affirmed that Viet Nam supports and is ready to act as a bridge for Kyrgyzstan to expand its relations with countries in Southeast Asia, along with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) issue, the State leader of Viet Nam emphasised the importance of maritime security and safety, calling on Kyrgyzstan to support ASEAN and Viet Nam's stance on this issue, with respect for international law, especially the UN Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). On this occasion, the Kyrgyz PM conveyed greetings and the best wishes from Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to President Cuong. He also delivered President Japarov's letter inviting the Vietnamese leader to visit Kyrgyzstan. President Cuong thanked his Kyrgyz counterpart and tasked the two countries' foreign ministries to arrange the visit at a mutually convenient time. He also thanked the PM and Government of Kyrgyzstan for their attention and support for the Vietnamese people in the country, asking Kyrgyzstan to continue assisting the community so that they can contribute to bilateral ties. VNS HA NOI Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man met with Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev in Ha Noi on Thursday, saying the guest's official visit will create a new impetus for the countries traditional friendship and win-win multifaceted cooperation. The top legislator commended the productive talks between the guest and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, along with the agreements inked between the two sides, which provide a framework for promoting comprehensive and fruitful cooperation. Appreciating the enormous support from people of the former Soviet Union, including Kyrgyzstan, for Viet Nam's liberation and development efforts, Man stated that Viet Nam treasures the traditional friendship with Kyrgyzstan, highly values the latter's role in Central Asia, and hopes to join Kyrgyzstan in exploring new avenues for bilateral collaboration. He pledged that the Vietnamese NA will continue working closely with its Kyrgyz counterpart to support the efforts by the two countries' Governments, ministries, and sectors in enhancing cooperation effectiveness. The NA leader stressed the vast potential and advantages for economic collaboration between the two countries. He proposed stepping up joint work in trade, investment, tourism, transport, education, and culture to further strengthen the ties toward effectiveness. Kasymaliev, who is on an official visit to Viet Nam from March 67, stated that Kyrgyzstan values bilateral cooperation and wishes to join hands with Viet Nam in elevating it to new heights. Recognising Viet Nam as a long-standing and important partner of Kyrgyzstan in Southeast Asia, he underscored his countrys interest in reinforcing the traditional friendship and win-win multifaceted collaboration with Viet Nam, as well as through Viet Nam, improving its relations with ASEAN and Southeast Asian nations. Kyrgyzstan is also ready to serve as a bridge between Viet Nam and Central Asia, he continued. Both host and guest agreed to deepen parliamentary connections, noting the two parliaments will maintain close coordination and mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries Parliaments (MSEAP). The two sides will also exchange and support each others stances on regional and international issues of common concern, increase bilateral exchanges of high-level delegations, parliamentary committees, and friendship parliamentary groups, and also attend and develop joint initiatives at multilateral parliamentary events hosted by each country. On this occasion, Man expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz Government for supporting the Vietnamese community in Kyrgyzstan, helping them integrate into the local society and contribute to both countries socio-economic development along with bilateral ties. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam performs over 1,000 organ transplants annually, the highest rate in Southeast Asia, however, the countrys organ donation rate from brain-dead donors remains among the lowest in the world. Thousands of patients are still waiting for transplants, with many unable to receive one due to a lack of donated organs. Deputy Minister of Health and Chairman of the National Medical Council, Prof., Dr. Tran Van Thuan, highlighted the issue during a seminar on strengthening the role of communication and advocacy for organ and tissue donation from deceased or brain-dead donors, held by the National Coordination Centre for Organ Transplantation and the Viet Nam Organ and Tissue Donation Advocacy Association in Ha Noi on Wednesday. According to the health official, organ and tissue transplantation is a major medical achievement that has saved and improved the lives of thousands of patients with end-stage organ failure. Since Viet Nam's first kidney transplant in 1992, the country has mastered the technology, performing more than 9,300 successful transplants in 28 hospitals nationwide. Vietnamese doctors have also undertaken highly complex transplants, such as lung transplants at the National Lung Hospital and simultaneous heart-liver transplants at Viet Nam Germany Friendship Hospital, demonstrating that the countrys medical expertise is approaching international standards. Deputy Minister Thuan noted that the Party, State and Ministry of Health have been implementing various policies and programmes to encourage and facilitate organ and tissue donation. Following the Prime Ministers call on May 19 last year, dozens of hospitals launched campaigns to encourage organ donation after brain death, leading to the establishment of donation advocacy chapters in both public and private hospitals. By 2024, 16 such chapters had been created. Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, from the Viet Nam Organ and Tissue Donation Advocacy Association, also a former health minister, said that a national network of donation and transplant hospitals has been established and is starting to play an active role. Several hospitals have begun advocating for organ donation from brain-dead patients for the first time. The number of people registering for organ and tissue donation after death has increased significantly, surpassing the total number of registrations from previous years. In 2024 alone, Viet Nam recorded 41 actual deceased organ donorsa record high. This figure exceeds the total number of deceased organ donors from the previous three years (2021, 2022, and 2023 combined), which was 36 cases, said Tien. As of October 14 last year a total of 102,759 people had registered for organ donation nationwide. Registrations can be completed online at vnhot.vn or via the hotline 0915060550. In 2024, the health ministry issued technical guidelines for organ donation, retrieval, transplantation, transportation, preservation and post-transplant care for liver transplants from living and brain-dead donors. Additionally, at the end of 2024, Circular No 48 was issued to regulate the registration, coordination, retrieval and transplantation of organs from deceased donors, providing clearer guidance and encouraging more organ donations. Despite these efforts, Deputy Minister Thuan acknowledged that organ donations from deceased and brain-dead donors remain scarce while the demand for transplants continues to rise. The primary reason is limited public awareness and ineffective communication and advocacy efforts. Several gaps still need to be addressed. Currently, Viet Nam lacks clear policies and mechanisms for counseling families about organ donation from brain-dead or cardiac-dead donors. Only a few hospitals have established organ donation counseling teams, due to the absence of appropriate incentives. While awareness campaigns have intensified, they remain insufficient. Many people are still hesitant or have limited knowledge, with some expressing concerns related to spiritual or ethical beliefs. To enhance transparency and efficiency, Deputy Minister Thuan underscored the need to leverage technology in coordinating organ transplants. In many developed countries, hospital-based organ donation counseling is an essential part of the healthcare system, with well-trained professionals who receive adequate compensation. These specialists help families understand the humanitarian significance of organ donation and make informed decisions. Viet Nam should study and adopt suitable aspects of these models, he noted. Some other solutions he noted include specific policies to support and facilitate the establishment of hospital-based organ donation counselling teams, ensuring they receive appropriate incentives. strengthening international cooperation to learn from countries with advanced organ donation systems and developing specialised training programmes for counselling. On the outreach side, there is a need to expand public awareness campaigns using diverse media, including digital platforms, social media, television and newspapers, to change public perceptions about organ donation, as well as establishing a network of transplant hospitals to share information and experiences while collaborating with religious and community organisations to broaden outreach efforts. VNS HA NOI The policy of exempting tuition fees for public school students at all levels nationwide from September this year has brought joy to millions of families. It is also considered an important step forward, investing in the future of the country and especially in reducing the financil burden on low-income workers. Mai Tri Cang, a resident frin Ninh Thuan southern province, said that he has two children studying in primary and junior secondary school. The income of his and his wife as State workers is about VN12-13 million (US$460-500) per month, so the couple need to have additional jobs to stay solvent. Cang said that the tuition for his two children is about VN2 million ($78) per year. In addition to direct education costs, there are many other expenses, so exempting tuition will help a bit. "I have to pay for many other things every year such as buying books, equipment and clothes. I am very happy with the Governments policy, he said. Thanh Hien, from Binh Duong Province's Bau Bang District, said that each month, the cost for her two children was about VN2 million, not to mention other expenses. With the State's decision to exempt tuition fees, the family can save VN200,000 ($7) per month. Hien said that although the amount might seem minimal, for a mother who had to raise two children and pay for house rent, even small amounts were to be welcomed. At least giving my children a carton of milk, for example, is very good," she said. Le Anh Huu, a worker at the Viet Nam Singapore Industrial Park in Binh Duong Province, has a child studying in grade seven in Thuan An City. When he heard the news that his child would not have to pay tuition fees from September, he was very happy. "The tuition fee may not be much for those who can afford it. But for poor working families like ours, it is not a small amount of money. Or there are families with three children who are studying and are exempted from tuition fees, it will certainly reduce their burden," said Huu. Nguyen Thi Nhat Hang, Director of the Binh Duong Department of Education and Training, said that previously the province had reduced tuition fees by half compared to those set by general regulations. The Poliburo's decision to exempt tuition fees for students up to high school, Hang said, was a decision that had a very positive impact on the children in the province. "We are very happy and joyful. Local people, especially migrant workers, will feel secure in their work and more students can go to school because they no longer have to worry about tuition fees," she said. Fairness for all students Exempting tuition fees for public school students at all levels is considered the first step in a series of humane policies for education, towards a fairer education system and is also seen as a long-term investment for the future. Cao Thanh Binh, Head of the Culture Society Committee under the HCM City People's Council, said that the Politburo's policy of exempting tuition fees from the school year 2025-2026 had received support from many people. It shows the Partys and States concern and their wish to put education first. Binh added that previously, HCM City itself had exempted tuition fees at all educational levels. The city is also asking the education sector to review the student situation, research and propose additional support policies other than tuition fees for poorer students. For provinces and cities, this is a very positive policy so that each locality, depending on its budget and economic conditions, can have more humane policies to support disadvantaged students, aiming for equal education quality. Thanh Son, a retired teacher in HCM City, said that the policy contributed to a more equitable education system. Those who can afford can choose to study at private schools, and those who cannot, will all be taken care of by the State. As science, technology and artificial intelligence continue to develop, improving people's knowledge will help Vietnamese people keep up with the world. This requires people to have at least a general level of knowledge to approach the new life, apply it to their lives or they will fall behind. I think it is very necessary for everyone and future generations," said Son. VNS HA NOI After State agencies streamline their workforce, many individuals will need to change their jobs, so they need to be equipped with suitable vocational skills to adapt to the new working environment. Early this month, Vu Thi Hanh, 36, who lives in Ha Noi, went to the municipal Employment Service Centre to complete procedures for unemployment insurance. She had just left her job at a public service unit due to organisational restructuring. Im planning to learn a trade to get another job. I have registered on the job exchange and submitted my application to several positions. I know that finding a job at this age is difficult because businesses are now rejuvenating their workforce. Therefore, I need to update my skills and learn a new trade, said Hanh. Nguyen Hoang, who lives in Bac Tu Liem District in Ha Noi, decided to find a job related to communications and media. Previously, when I was working in the public sector, I did the assigned work. Now that I am in the freelance labour market, I feel unfamiliar. I must try to adapt to the new situation, he said. Currently, a few units need to recruit for communication position. I will discuss specifically with them to find out a suitable one, said Hoang. Regarding the workforce that will be laid off from the public sector, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Employment Service Centre (HESC), Vu Quang Thanh, said that the centre will provide consultation and job referrals for those in need. Assessing the present labour market through registration documents, the HESC found that the recruitment needs of the business sector have increased and are recruiting across a very diverse job criteria. This is an opportunity for workers to access new jobs and return to the market soon, he said. The HESC will receive unemployment insurance registration according to the procedures and organise job counselling and referrals based on each individual's need. "This is a workforce with qualifications, experience and practical skills. They are also an abundant resource to supplement the market moving ahead, said Thanh. To make this group of workers a good fit for the non-State environment, specific survey and assessment are needed based on the actual needs of workers in each job position they are interested in, he added. Livelihood support It is estimated that about 100,000 public employees will leave the public sector during the process of restructuring and streamlining the apparatus, including many ones quitting before retirement age. Deputy Chairman of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Ngo Duy Hieu said that restructuring the personnel work was considered a revolution. In addition to the number of capable and qualified people who are retained, a group will leave the apparatus because they do not meet the present requirements. For cases not meeting the requirements, Hieu suggested agencies to determine specific criteria for streamlining. The VGCL will study to recommend and advise competent agencies so that public employees who have finished working in the State environment have opportunities for employment in other working environments. To support the group of downsized public workers to quickly adapt to the non-State working environment, Le Quang Trung, former Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Employment, proposed to strengthen connection between training institutions, enterprises and employment service centres. Those organisations should work together in training, retraining, improving professional qualifications in each local area, region and the whole country to support workers especially those who are no longer working for the State. Trung also suggested enhancing the role of employment service centres and promoting labour market information, especially short- and medium-term labour supply and demand forecasting. VNS HA NOI The Ha Noi People's Committee has backed a proposal to demolish the commercial centre building in ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in the historic Hoan Kiem District, commonly known as the Shark Jaw (Ham Ca Map) building. The six-story commercial centre at No.7 inh Tien Hoang Street, completed in 1993 and currently hosting a range of cafes and restaurants and clothing shops, will be replaced with underground space extending beneath the existing square and its expanded area. This initiative aims to enhance the planning, organisation and architectural landscape of ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, a symbolic landmark of Ha Noi in this downtown centre and tourist hot spot. Vice Chairman of Ha Noi People's Committee Duong uc Tuan emphasised that ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square holds high historical and cultural value, serving as a crucial link between two key areas of the Special National Monument of Hoan Kiem Lake (to the north) and the National Historic Site of the Old Quarter (to the south). The Ha Noi People's Committee supports research and investment in the renovation, beautification, and redesign of this space. This project will be implemented alongside other public space improvements around Hoan Kiem Lake. Ha Noi People's Committee has endorsed the Department of Planning and Architectures recommendation to finalise a dedicated urban design framework for the project. The scope includes inh Tien Hoang Street; key surrounding streets of Cau Go, Hoan Kiem Street; the facades of major buildings, including Long Van Hong Van, Ho Guom Cultural Information Centre and Thuy Ta Building. The Hoan Kiem District People's Committee has been tasked with developing an urban design plan for the square and nearby streets, following Viet Nams Urban Planning Law, Architecture Law, and relevant government regulations. After finalising the proposal, it will be reviewed by the city's Architecture Council before implementation. The committee has approved the demolition of the Shark Jaw building and its replacement with a three-level underground structure. The new underground space will include cultural and commercial spaces in the first basement, and parking areas, with the possibility of using them for multipurpose functions if parking is not required in the second and third basement. The layout at the corners of inh Tien Hoang Street and ong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square will be adjusted to comply with urban planning and design standards. Alternative access to the underground levels will be explored from inh Liet Street to minimise disruption to the squares connection with Cau Go Street and the pedestrian zone. Mechanised lift platforms, potentially combined with staircases, will be introduced at key entry points to improve accessibility. The committee has also requested additional studies on the impact of the project on the surrounding landscape and public spaces. These include an assessment of how the changes will affect the facades of surrounding buildings, including the Long Van-Hong Van Building, the Thuy Ta Building, the Ho Guom Cultural Information Centre and nearby residential areas; the strategic placement of a stage within the square and along the radial streets leading to the square; a comprehensive plan for greenery in the square, with special provisions for preserving heritage trees; and a detailed lighting system design, including the placement of lighting towers and the overall illumination plan. This project represents a significant step toward preserving Ha Nois historic character while modernising its public spaces for future generations. VNS JAKARTA Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong has reaffirmed Viet Nam commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across ASEAN, and emphasised the importance of building stronger partnerships between the bloc and the UK in this field. Huong made the statement at a conference in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday to introduce the study Regulatory reform for businesses and consumers in ASEAN countries understanding potential impacts on gender equality and MSMEs. The study was jointly conducted by the UK and the UK-based Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services (CSES). She noted that strategic reforms, such as streamlining business registration processes and promoting financial inclusion, can encourage the growth and success of women-led enterprises. UK Ambassador to ASEAN Sarah Tiffin stated that empowering women is essential not only for society but also for encouraging their participation in business, innovation, and economic capacity-building. The UK places women at the focus of its work with ASEAN and is committed to supporting the region in promoting inclusivity in business, which will, in turn, drive economic growth. She further noted that the country is implementing six key programmes in ASEAN to ensure the rights and opportunities of women in the digital age, with all having a broad scope, and aiming at ensuring the advancement of women across the region. According to Nguyen Khang, a representative of the UK Embassy in Ha Noi, women entrepreneurs in Viet Nam and ASEAN often face challenges related to complex legal policies, and limited access to legal resources as well as intellectual property (IP) management systems. Therefore, the conference focused on solutions to help women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) utilise and protect IP rights, shape an effective regulatory reform framework to enhance MSME performance, and advance Womens Economic Empowerment (WEE) initiatives in ASEAN. Across the region, MSMEs account for 99 per cent of all businesses and 85 per cent of total jobs but contribute only 18 per cent of exports. Women lead most micro-enterprises, many of which remain in the informal sector, facing additional barriers such as limited access to finance, digital tools, and regulatory information. VNS Returning to his hometown of uong Lam Village (in Ha Nois Son Tay Township), artist-craftsman Nguyen Tan Phat has dedicated himself to revitalising traditional lacquer art. The rich culture of the Son Tay region continues to nourish his soul, fuelling his creativity and inspiring unique, folk-culture-infused artworks. Locals affectionately call him the "lacquer wizard" for his exceptional craftsmanship. Uong Ngoc and Quynh Hoa report. Inner Sanctum: You have recently completed the Thach Ong Gam Xa (Lacquered Laterite Snake) collection to welcome the Year of the Snake. Could you introduce this? The snake -- one of the 12 animals of the Eastern zodiac -- symbolises not only agility and intelligence but also prosperity, longevity, and balance in folk culture. My Thach Ong Gam Xa collection consists of 45 sculptures depicting coiled snakes rising high, representing vitality and the spirit of a new era for Viet Nam. The snake motif has been modernised, elegantly entwined around laterite stone, a material deeply embedded in Vietnamese cultural heritage. This collection celebrates both natural beauty and the artistry of traditional craftsmanship. The intricate gold, red, black, and brown lacquer details symbolise prosperity and good fortune. The meticulously painted snake scales mimic the fluidity of life itself, evoking adaptability and flexibility. Laterite, known for its solid structure and warm material, serves as a robust foundation, echoing the resilience of the Vietnamese people. Snake sculptures can be challenging to market due to common fears associated with the animal. To address this, I have stylised the design with geometric elements, making the figures more approachable and suitable for modern interiors. Inner Sanctum: You plan to have your lacquerware showcased at an exhibition in Paris. Could you share more about this? Lacquer is one of Viet Nams most distinctive art forms, developed from traditional son ta (natural lacquer) into a refined craft. Beyond lacquer itself, the art requires a specialised adhesive formula passed down through generations. My dedication to Vietnamese authenticity is reflected in my choice of materials, such as eggshell, coconut shell, laterite, and jackfruit wood, all of which add unique character to my works. The more meticulous the material selection and craftsmanship, the greater the artistic and cultural value of the final piece. In addition to aesthetic appeal, I integrate narratives of Vietnamese culture into my work. Each piece is not merely an art object but a vessel carrying the soul of Viet Nam. Recently, some of my lacquer sculptures were selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for an exhibition in Paris, France, showcasing contemporary Vietnamese lacquer art on an international stage. I hope to gain more opportunities to bring Son Tay lacquerware to global audiences, promoting both the craft and Vietnamese culture. Inner Sanctum: Why did you choose to return to your hometown to develop traditional crafts? I studied and built my career in Ha Noi, but my heart always longed for my hometown. First, I wanted to give back to the land that nurtured me, shaping my artistic vision. Second, I believe in redistributing creative resources. Ha Noi is a hub of skilled professionals, but rural areas, including Son Tay, lack traditional craft villages. The handicraft sector is underdeveloped. I wanted to use my skills to establish a new craft industry and contribute to my community. Much of my success stems from the tranquillity of village life. Here, I find peace and depth necessary to reflect on ideas and focus on my work. The slower pace allows me to fully immerse myself in my art, channelling my thoughts into each creation. Inner Sanctum: How can buyers better understand the intricate process behind lacquer art and appreciate its true value? Lacquer art is not just about selling a product, it is about elevating it into an artistic experience. Each piece should convey a story through written descriptions, spoken narratives, and visual documentation of its creation. This helps buyers connect with the product on a deeper level, understanding the skill and passion embedded in each work. Inner Sanctum: You have been offering free lacquer painting classes. What insights have you gained from younger generations and visitors? I have been teaching free lacquer classes for more than a decade. Being in a tourist area has allowed me to engage with many visitors and young locals eager to learn. It brings me great joy to preserve a traditional craft and inspire the younger generation. Some students, even those pursuing different career paths, have found renewed motivation through this art form. Inner Sanctum: Every traditional craft must evolve with modern influences. How do your works balance cultural heritage and contemporary aesthetics? One of my guiding principles is constant innovation. My goal is to create unique, original works rather than follow conventional patterns. I do not chase profits; my focus is on cultural and artistic values. Some of my pieces are created solely for donation or community service, yet they have significantly helped spread awareness of lacquer art. I believe that valuable creations should come not only from individual artists but also from skilled artisans in traditional villages. Beyond fostering creativity and aesthetic refinement, handcrafted works should embody humanistic values, bringing joy and positive inspiration to peoples lives. Inner Sanctum: You have expressed a desire to bring Vietnamese lacquerware to the international stage. What does this mean beyond simply exporting products? I want Vietnamese lacquer art to gain greater global recognition. While Vietnamese lacquerware has already made an impression on the international market, it needs further expansion to solidify its place. My goal is not just for people to recognise Vietnamese lacquer products, but to see them as a reflection of Vietnamese culture. I want international audiences to view these pieces and instantly connect them to Viet Nams rich heritage, envisioning the stories of our land and people. VNS ASEAN states unite for future economic stability At last weeks ASEAN Future Forum 2025 in Hanoi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim stated that member states need to further cement cooperation, especially in trade and investment, amid ongoing global risks such as the US-China trade war and the USs new tariff policies. Overdependence on any single market will cause risks to ASEAN member states, he said. One of the solutions heard at the event is that efforts are to be made to agree the upgrade of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) this year. ASEAN ministers tasked the negotiating committee for the upgrade with expediting and concluding discussions on the outstanding issues by March 31. Following this, a legal review process will commence, aiming for ASEAN countries to sign the upgrade agreement during the ASEAN Summit in November. Vietnam became an ASEAN member in 1995 and began following what became the ATIGA soon afterwards. Under the deal, ASEAN member countries grant each other preferential treatment equivalent to or more favourable than the benefits given to partner countries in the free trade agreements ASEAN has signed. Beyond tariff commitments, the agreement also covers a wide range of areas, including the elimination of non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, trade facilitation, customs, standards and conformity, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. However, though the ATIGA is being upgraded to help facilitate intra-trade and investment flows, the US governments decision to impose punitive tariffs on major trading partners will impact Southeast Asia, and the regions export-dependent economy could face long-term repercussions, experts said. Wider impacts US President Donald Trump has already inflicted an additional 10 per cent on imported Chinese goods, and is seeking to place 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico after originally stalling the plan for a month. While ASEAN members will not be directly hit by such tariff increases, the plans could slow down global trade, reducing export revenues and investment inflows for ASEAN. According to ASEAN Briefing, under consultancy firm Dezan Shira & Associates, a potential resurgence of tariffs could disrupt global supply chains, prompting Chinese firms to relocate production to ASEAN markets. This strategy would protect Chinese exports while boosting ASEANs role as a global manufacturing hub. However, ASEAN exporters, especially in electronics, textiles, and consumer goods, could face tariffs if perceived as conduits for Chinese-made products, ASEAN Briefing said. Vietnams electronics and textile exports, Malaysias semiconductor production, and Indonesias automotive parts sector may come under scrutiny. To avoid such risks, ASEAN economies must diversify export markets and strengthen regional trade agreements. Carlyle A. Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, said that there are two types of Trump tariffs that could affect Vietnam. The first is a direct tariff on Vietnamese goods exported to the United States. The second is massive US tariffs on China that depress Chinese consumption for Vietnamese exports and/or lead China to dump goods on the Vietnamese market, Thayer said. Vietnam has already indicated it is amenable to buying more goods from the United States, including liquefied natural gas, aircraft and aircraft engines, and military aircraft and unmanned platforms. ASEAN ministers have introduced 14 priority economic deliverables in various sectors, embracing agriculture, tourism, energy, intellectual property, small- and medium-sized enterprises, digital transformation, as well as initiatives to strengthen supply chains and narrow the development gap among ASEAN member states. When it comes to trade, the ministers have agreed to further open markets to ensure food security and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the regional supply chain; not use new non-tariff measures; build up foundations for intra-bloc trade facilitation to support supply chain connectivity; and utilise digital technology and commerce to support businesses. According to Singapores Ministry of Trade and Industry, an upgraded ATIGA will ensure the agreements continued relevance amidst emerging trends, better facilitate ASEAN trade flows, advance regional economic integration, and maintain ASEAN centrality amidst a shifting global environment. The updated version will cover tariff liberalisation, rules of origin, non-tariff measures, trade facilitation, customs, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and trade remedy measures. The EU-ASEAN Business Council (EABC) has suggested that, regarding trade liberalisation under the ATIGA, specific measures should be explicitly included on the tariff-free treatment of reused, recycled, repaired, and remanufactured goods to speed up movement towards a circular economy in ASEAN. Remaining tariffs on some goods in some member states should be further eliminated to bring the ATIGA on par with other agreements that have been entered into subsequently, the EABC said. Under the existing ATIGA commitments, ASEAN member nations removed tariffs on 98.6 per cent of total goods and products in 2021. Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia have eliminated 99.3 per cent of tariffs, while Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam have eliminated 97.7 per cent. So far, the entire region has seen trade liberalisation. It is suggested that balanced relationships with both the US and China position the region to attract steady foreign funding. In 2023, ASEAN recorded $230 billion in foreign direct investment, with Singapore ($159.6 billion), Indonesia ($21.6 billion), and Vietnam ($18.5 billion) as top destinations. Strengthening regional supply chains and easing business regulations will further enhance ASEANs attractiveness to investors. In addition, a robust consumer base supports domestic consumption and intra-ASEAN trade, fostering resilience against external shocks. Attractive to investors At last weeks ASEAN Future Forum, it was reported that as ASEAN progresses towards becoming the worlds fourth-largest economy by 2030, the region presents unmatched opportunities for investors and businesses. Proactive reforms, strategic positioning, and a growing consumer class ensure ASEANs continued growth despite global challenges. Vietnams total two-way trade with regional nations hit $83.9 billion in 2024, with the country suffering from a $9.9 billion trade deficit. Vietnams export turnover from ASEAN member states stood at $37 billion, up 13.7 per cent on-year, while the countrys import turnover reached $46.9 billion, up 14.7 per cent on-year. In the first month of 2025, bilateral trade reached $6.8 billion, with Vietnams exports at $2.8 billion, down 14 per cent, and imports at $4 billion up 10.5 per cent. This means a trade deficit of $1.2 billion. ASEAN is Vietnams third-largest trade partner. The ASEAN Secretariat has commended Vietnams investment facilitation, which will help draw in more investment both inside and outside ASEAN. Vietnams government has continued to reform and take steps to further improve the countrys investment environment, including implementing resolutions and regulatory directives on strengthening information provision, simplifying processes, and reducing administrative requirements, the secretariat stated. According to Vietnams former Ministry of Planning and Investment, cumulatively as of late January, ASEAN nations have poured a great deal of investment into Vietnam, including Singapore with total registered capital of $84.14 billion, followed by Thailand ($14.35 billion), Malaysia ($13 billion), Brunei ($981.4 million), Indonesia ($670 million), the Philippines ($624.6 million), Laos ($102.5 million), and Cambodia ($76.8 million). Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister The ASEAN Future Forum 2025 is of great importance. It is held at the time of the 10th anniversary of the formation of the ASEAN Community, the 30th anniversary of Vietnam joining ASEAN, and also the year that it will adopt the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 to bring the bloc into a new era, towards a community that is self-reliant, innovative, and people-centred. From the five original founding members, after 60 years of development, ASEAN today has become a community of 10 countries united in diversity. It is the fifth-largest economy in the world, with the leading growth rate; the centre of regional and global integration processes; and a bridge of dialogue and cooperation for peace and development, actively contributing to shaping a new world order. In order for ASEAN to maintain its strong development momentum and realise its set goals, we propose three strategic priorities: strengthening ASEANs strategic autonomy through enhancing ASEANs solidarity and centrality; building an economically resilient ASEAN by renewing traditional growth drivers while encouraging new growth drivers, especially in sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation; and upholding ASEANs values and identity, such as the spirit of harmony, unity in diversity, and respect for differences. In addition, ASEAN also needs to make breakthroughs in action. Specifically, it is necessary to build a more flexible, effective, and responsible decision-making mechanism; encourage public-private cooperation to mobilise all resources for regional development; and further enhance connectivity within ASEAN, particularly in infrastructure connectivity, people-to-people exchanges, and institutional harmonisation for transparency. Its three-decade participation in ASEAN has asserted Vietnams correct strategic vision. ASEAN has become a strategic space and a natural development environment for Vietnam. For its part, Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member in consolidating solidarity, enhancing the central role, and encouraging the sustainable development of ASEAN. There is a proverb in Vietnam: One tree alone cannot make a hill, but three trees together make a mountain. It is necessary to underline the solidarity, unity, cooperation, vitality, and strategic value of ASEAN. Vietnam will continue to work with member countries, partners, and international friends to continue to write new, proud pages in ASEANs development journey. The world's future belongs to the youth: PM Clarifying his viewpoint regarding self-resilience and strategic autonomy, PM Chinh emphasised that every country and organisation must prioritise the issue of strategic autonomy. In foreign relations, this means a balance, fair treatment, and rules-based development. PM stresses need for ASEAN to embrace new technologies PM Pham Minh Chinh emphasised the importance of embracing new technologies, sharing that the development of science and technology is an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority of Vietnam. Education a major cog for semiconductor advances The government last week approved a scheme on developing a system of excellent training centres and talent for Industry 4.0 before 2030. This will contribute to realising the countrys plan to produce 50,000-100,000 high-skilled workers for semiconductors over the next five years. The scheme aims to establish at least one or two networks of centres of this type. Particularly in the sectors of AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology, at least 2-3 networks in the countrys three main regions will be founded. Each network is to be led by one major university, and participated in by at least five universities and a number of domestic and foreign enterprises. Efforts are to be made for each network to attract at least 100 scientists or experts from abroad, Vietnamese or not, to partake in teaching and scientific research in higher education institutions, state Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long, who signed and enacted the scheme. In particular, the scheme proposes amendments and supplementation to the states investment support policies on constructing facilities and equipment in service of training activities, scientific research, innovation, and startups based on investment cooperation between businesses and higher education institutions. The government will expand international cooperation and integration in training, science and technology, and innovation, particularly in a number of priority technology areas in order to proactively participate in Industry 4.0, DPM Long stated. The government has assigned relevant ministries to formulate and implement relevant policies. It will also encourage and support domestic higher education institutions to cooperate with foreign ones to deploy scientific and technological tasks on priority technologies of Industry 4.0. The governments new move is in line with its strategy for breakthroughs in sci-tech development, innovation, and digital transformation. Two weeks ago, the government submitted to the National Assembly some solutions on the issue, in line with the country aiming for economic growth of 8 per cent or more this year. The government will urgently issue solutions to effectively promote science and technology funds, encourage the formation of venture capital funds, angel funds, startup funds, and innovation funds, it said. It will also build mechanisms to apply private and public models that will ensure the initiative of scientists in research and technology application. New advantages are to be created for experts, especially talented foreign experts and overseas Vietnamese, to work and develop science and innovation for Vietnam, stated Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The government will also allocate resources and have specific policies to immediately implement the countrys programme on developing semiconductor human resources. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), one of the best solutions for Vietnam to realise its goal of becoming a high-income economy by 2045 is to boost innovation and conduct an overhaul of its higher education system. This is aimed to increase labour productivity (LP) one of the decisive factors for the country to grow and improve competitiveness, as well as attract high-tech investments, especially implement the governments dream to turn Vietnam into an attractive destination for semiconductor investment. Vietnams labour market still suffers from high skill mismatches and excessive employee churning partly underpinned by the high informality, said Paulo Medas, division chief and mission chief for Vietnam at the IMF. For example, Medas said, university-level and vocational-technical skills are under-supplied, and on-the-job skill acquisition does not fill the gap, as few firms provide formal training given the high churning. These inefficiencies have contributed to the relatively low LP growth and limited the technological and productivity spillovers from foreign firms operating locally to domestic ones, Medas stressed. Efforts to improve the functioning of the labour market, including further investing in human capital and improving vocational training, skill upgrading, and job matching would increase labour market dynamism and LP. Under the International Labour Organizations calculations, GDP per hour worked in 2025 for Vietnam will hit just over $12, far lower than Singapores $97, South Koreas $50, Chinas $20, Thailands $19, and Indonesias $16. The World Bank said that if Vietnam were to solely rely on higher productivity, it would need to sustain a much higher 2 per cent productivity growth every year by 2030 to achieve the countrys high-income ambitions. On the other hand, relying solely on higher investment would require an unsustainable investment ratio of 49 per cent of GDP, even higher than Chinas exceptionally high investment, the World Bank said. An illustrative pathway to high-income status by 2045 would require reaching a combined 1.8 per cent annual productivity growth and an investment ratio of 36 per cent by 2030, an ambitious but reachable goal. Government incentives are helping to drive a tech boom The National Assembly has agreed on the pilot of a number of policies that will smooth the path for sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation activities through a new resolution. Article 17 of the resolution underscores an incentive on financial support for constructing microchip manufacturing factories. The state budget will provide no more than 30 per cent of the projects investment and no more than VND12.8 trillion ($512 million) for a small-scale semiconductor chip and high-tech manufacturing factory in service of research, design, production, packaging, and testing semiconductors presided over by the Ministry of Defence, directing Viettel to implement under the countrys semiconductor development strategy, Article 17 stated. This financial support shall come from the investment development capital source from the state coffers under the Law on State Budget. This policy will take effect until late 2028. According to Article 6 of the resolution, organisations and individuals engaged in scientific research and technological development activities are exempted from civil liability when causing damage to the state in the process of performing state-funded sci-tech tasks, though they have fully implemented relevant procedures and regulations in the process of implementing such activities. Organisations and individuals shall not have to refund the state budget used for carrying out such tasks, with a well-prepared implementation process failing to produce desired results, it continued. What is more, the resolution also underlined financial support for enterprises to quickly participate in 5G network infrastructure development. Article 14 said that the state provides financial support to encourage telecommunications businesses to quickly deploy 5G infrastructure in 2025, reaching at least 20,000 5G base transceiver station (BTS) stations. This support shall come from the revenue from radio frequency licensing fees collected in the period 2024-2027. The support level for a 5G BTS station is calculated at 15 per cent of the average equipment investment cost for a 5G BTS station implemented in 2025 by telecommunications enterprises. The number of 5G BTS stations supported is the total number of 5G BTS stations that enterprises have accepted and put into use within 2025. Vital to add investment The resolution is in line with the Politburo issued Resolution No.57-NQ/TW last December on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation. Party General Secretary To Lam stated that Resolution 57 will lay a firm foundation for the countrys robust development in the new era. It is crucial to invest more in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, and consider this a long-term strategy. We must accept delays and risks in this work, the Party chief stated. Innovation is a key to sustainable prosperity, with scientists holding the central role. Developments must be pursued in both natural and social sciences - vast and boundless domains with untapped potential, offering opportunities for intellectuals, scientists, and labourers to unleash their creativity and maximise their capabilities, he added. In late 2024, the government began to establish utilisation of an investment support fund, demonstrating Vietnams commitment to fostering innovation and establishing itself as a hub for advanced technology. It will provide initial investment support and cost support, and eligible businesses may choose only one type if they qualify for both. Enterprises investing in research and development centre projects in sectors like semiconductors and AI that meet specific criteria can receive support of up to half of the projects initial investment costs or other levels as determined by the government. The fund also provides financial assistance for enterprises for many kinds of costs including training and human resource development, investment in creating fixed assets, manufacturing of high-tech products, investment in social infrastructure works, and other cases as determined by the government. Quality workforce required According to the World Bank, the semiconductor market has been steadily increasing in Vietnam, and the country is now the third-largest exporter of semiconductors to the United States with a value of $562 million in 2023, after experiencing a 75 per cent on-year growth in exports to the country. However, the bank also stated that in Vietnam, the limited supply of skilled workers presents a significant constraint to upgrading into more skill-intensive, higher value-added activities. The bank cited its recent surveys stating that a third of employers encounter a dearth of applicants for open positions, while 22 per cent of managers consider the greatest challenge to be finding a workforce with appropriate education. According to the Central Economic Commission, Vietnams startup ecosystem ranks 56th out of 100 countries globally, while Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are among the top 200 global cities for innovation. In 2024, Vietnam ranked 44th out of 133 countries on the Global Innovation Index and 71st out of 193 countries on the E-Government Development Index. The digital economy accounted for an estimated 18.3 per cent of GDP, while the digital technology industry achieved $152 billion in revenue, with hardware and electronics exports hitting $132 billion. Last year, the total revenue of the digital technology industry is estimated to have reached $152 billion, an increase of 35.7 per cent compared to 2019. Vietnams value in the total revenue of the digital technology industry reaches 31.8 per cent, up from 21.35 per cent in 2019. In 2024, Vietnam boasted five digital technology industry products ranked among the top worldwide - second in exporting smart mobile phones, fifth in computer components, sixth in computer equipment, eighth in electronic components, and seventh in software outsourcing. According to the International Labour Organization, about 70 per cent of jobs in Vietnam are at risk of automation. Sectors affected most include garments and textiles (85 per cent at risk), wholesale, retail, and repair of motor vehicles (84.1 per cent), agro-forestry-fisheries (83.3 per cent), electronics (75 per cent), and manufacturing (74.4 per cent). Vietnam currently has over 38 million labourers with no primary training. Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy, National Assembly deputy Danang Local practice in Danang has shown that in order to utilise the rapid development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, especially attracting high-quality human resources to work and master new and future technologies, what is the most important is to have mechanisms to quickly invest in infrastructure. Such infrastructure works include workspaces, modern exhibition galleries, laboratories, international-standard pilot production for design and training work, building testing and packaging factories in AI and semiconductors, and biotechnology research laboratories, along with infrastructure for energy, clean water, digital infrastructure, fiber optic data centres, and 5G and 6G transmission stations. However, currently, the legal regulations do not exist or are only mentioned in general terms, especially the procedures and processes for construction investment are very cumbersome. There are also no specific technical standards, failing to meet the requirements. Hoang Minh Hieu, National Assembly deputy Nghe An province The policy of attracting and developing high-quality human resources for the development of science and technology is a very urgent issue. To develop new sci-tech, personnel is the most fundamental issue. We are currently in critical need of high-quality workers. For example, in the IT industry, according to research by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association, in 2025 alone, Vietnam is lacking 150,000-200,000 IT engineers, especially in such sectors as AI, big data, and cybersecurity. To have enough of this number, it is necessary to have experienced international experts to train domestic staff, but we also need foreign staff to come to Vietnam to work. Therefore, it is suggested that there must be a policy to facilitate businesses and research centres to recruit Vietnamese experts abroad and international experts to participate in training and nurturing Vietnamese talents in the country through policies, such as visa support, tax exemptions, and other policies so that they can partake in working and training in a stable and long-term manner. We need to promulgate this policy in a timely and competitive manner because currently, countries in the region have also enacted having very competitive policies in attracting high-quality people. For example, Thailand issued a golden visa policy in 2024 and Indonesia is also expected to issue a similar policy in 2025. I suggest that it is necessary to study and implement this policy immediately to promptly meet practical needs, striving to make Vietnam a destination for advanced technological knowledge of humanity. Japan-Vietnam tie-ups evident in semiconductors Strengthening Vietnam-Japan cooperation in training personnel and developing the semiconductor supply chain is expected to significantly accelerate the growth of the industry. Speaking with VIR in Ho Chi Minh City on March 5, Lars Wittig, vice president of Asia-Pacific North, IWG, said that in the last 12 months alone, eight new centres were opened by IWG in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Danang. Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing business ecosystems in Southeast Asia, with an increasing number of international firms and startups adopting hybrid work models. IWGs expansion aligns with this trend, providing businesses with world-class flexible workspace solutions, said Wittig. With at least four more to be added in 2025, IWG will be bringing the total of centres to 24 nationwide. The development of the flexible working space market in Vietnam through exploitation capacity and price is considered by us to be equivalent to other markets in the region such as Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. However, with the growth rate of Vietnam with 8 new centres in the past 12 months, we can see that the development of the Vietnamese market is faster than other countries, he added. We're keeping up with all the other countries, and we are growing even faster here in Vietnam. This is really a success story that we are very proud of, and I think it is also a strong reflection on the business sentiment of the Vietnamese market. The new centres will add 4,000 square metres of premium flexible office space, offering affordable solutions for enterprises, startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking for high-quality work environments. The addition of the latest locations in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Danang comes on the heels of the business achieving rapid network growth, signing 465 new locations in the first half of 2024 alone, he said. Furthermore, the diversity in approaches for each of the eight new centres is a showcase markets hybrid work needs. Nguyen Quynh Anh, countrys head of IWG in Vietnam said that with the current development of the Vietnamese market, developing 10 to 12 new centres per year in the Vietnamese market was feasible. In addition to the central areas, IWG is also planning to develop new centres in non-CBD (central business district) areas of major cities and second-tier cities such as Haiphong, Vinh Phuc in the north and Binh Duong, Long An, Dong Nai in the south, said Quynh Anh. We are very confident in the business performance of newly developed centres in the non-CBD area, especially after the Vietnamese government put a series of public transport systems such as metro, ring roads, and expressways into operation. In Ho Chi Minh, the one which occupies more than 60 per cent of IWGs market share, is continuing its efforts to meet sharply rising demand for high-quality flexible workspaces. Throughout the year 2025, the Group will open the doors to two centres in the vibrant city, including one Regus centre in Binh Thanh district, and one HQ centre in District 4. Meanwhile in Hanoi, Regus Epic Tower, set to open in July 2025, will be strategically located in the heart of Hanoi's emerging financial hub - Cau Giay district. With explosive market growth as companies of all sizes adopt hybrid working for the long-term, it is predicted that 30 per cent of all commercial real estate will be flexible workspace by 2030. Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder of IWG commented that the company was establishing a stronger and much-needed footprint in Vietnam with this latest announcement. As an important business hub in Southeast Asia, the cities Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Danang are incredible locations for us to boost our expansion plans and the demand for high-quality flexible workspaces will continue to rise," said Dixon. Our new centres in Vietnam come at a time when more and more companies are discovering that flexible working boosts employee happiness and satisfaction, while helping the environment. Our workplace model is also proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs, he added. IWG now offers top-class facilities in a wide variety of locations as hybrid working becomes a reality for more workers, includes of Spaces, Regus and HQ brands, in nearly 4,000 centres in more than 120 countries. Co-working space at Regus Deutsches Haus in Ho Chi Minh City Hybrid working proves to be new partnership frontier The boom in hybrid working is proving to be a boon to investors and entrepreneurs seeking new partnership opportunities. And IWG is leading the way. Following a highly positive year for Vietnams hospitality market, marked by a strong rebound in tourist arrivals, the sector is now poised for further advancements. Meet The Experts Ho Chi Minh City 2025 will be held on March 18 at the Landmark 81 Autograph Collection Hotel Vietnams tourism industry continues to gain momentum, supported by favourable visa policies, enhanced tourism infrastructure, and strategic marketing efforts by local authorities and businesses. Its reputation as a welcoming and safe destination further strengthens the country's appeal. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed nearly 17.6 million international arrivals, a 39.5 per cent on-year increase, finally reaching pre-pandemic levels from 2019. Asian markets continue to dominate as the key sources of inbound tourists. South Korea remained the leading source market for the third consecutive year, contributing nearly 4.57 million visitors. Meanwhile, Chinas tourism market rebounded significantly, ranking second with 3.74 million arrivals, a 114.4 per cent on-year increase, albeit this figure still lags far behind 2019. Mauro Gasparotti, senior director, head of SE Asia Hotel Advisory, Savills Hotels, and creator of the Meet The Experts (MTE) series, commented that 2024 was a strong year for tourism. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi led the country in tourism revenue. At the same time, key coastal destinations such as Nha TrangCam Ranh continued to see significant growth in accommodated international arrivals, increasing by 125 per cent. Phu Quoc also experienced a significant tourism surge in the final months of 2024, fuelled by the growing number of direct international flight routes. This momentum is expected to continue, especially as Phu Quoc has been selected as the host city for the APEC Summit 2027, Gasparotti said. Ho Chi Minh Citys hotel market demonstrated a strong recovery in 2024, with a solid performance in both occupancy and room rates. On the supply side, the number of new openings in the upper-mid scale and above segments is very limited, while tourist arrivals have grown at a double-digit rate. This indicates that Ho Chi Minh City still has room for further supply expansion. Uyen Nguyen, head of consultancy at Savills Hotels, shared that infrastructure developments are reshaping the hotel landscape in Ho Chi Minh City. Once Long Thanh International Airport and its metro connection are completed, the city will become even more accessible for domestic and international travellers. This enhanced connectivity will likely encourage longer stays and increased hotel demand in non-CBD locations, while strengthening the citys MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism sector. Hotels near metro stations, particularly in key commercial and tourist areas, are likely to see increased demand potential for higher room rates. As a result, new hotel developments may cluster around major metro stops, said Nguyen. Regarding capital markets, Vietnam attracts strong interest, particularly from Asian investors and family offices. However, the number of transactions remains limited due to ownership complexities, regulatory challenges, and prolonged negotiation processes. Properties in key cities with prime locations and strong infrastructure connectivity are the most sought-after, as investors prioritise assets with long-term value appreciation and stable demand. The evolving legal landscape and upcoming infrastructure projects may further shape investment trends, potentially unlocking new opportunities in the hospitality and real estate sectors. Gasparotti noted that the hospitality market has demonstrated remarkable global growth, resilient to crises and an excellent sector for future investment and development. Emerging technologies, such as AI, are set to revolutionise travel by simplifying processes and personalising experiences for both leisure and business travellers. Now is the perfect time to reassess the industry as a long-term investment opportunity, he added. Products such as branded residences, ultra-luxury residential developments, rooftop bars, beach clubs, wellness resorts, and exclusive membership clubs exemplify the seamless fusion of real estate and hospitality, and will be discussed at the incoming MTE. These concepts will drive the next evolution of Vietnams real estate and hospitality industry, with more top-tier brands expected to enter the market. Additionally, Vietnam may see an increase in branded residences within the upscale segment, a distinctive trend compared to other markets. While this diversification enhances offerings for buyers, it also presents risks; projects that fail to meet brand standards could negatively impact buyer perceptions of branded residences. The MTE conference aims to strengthen connections among hospitality and real estate players, foster collaboration, and provide valuable insights to developers, hotel owners, and industry partnersempowering them to seize opportunities and prepare for the next cycle in the real estate and hospitality markets, Gasparotti emphasised. This highly anticipated event will take place in Ho Chi Minh City on March 18 at the Landmark 81 Autograph Collection Hotel. The conference will offer a platform for foreign investors to connect with local stakeholders and gain market insights. This years topics will cover Vietnams real estate and hospitality landscape, investment opportunities, risks, wellness, sustainability, ultra-luxury, and emerging technologies that are shaping the industry. Beyond the main conference sessions, MTE Ho Chi Minh City 2025 will feature an experience room showcasing hotel technology, the HoSkar Night networking event, food and beverage experiences, and various activities on the second day. These immersive experiences will give attendees practical insights, valuable connections, and collaboration opportunities. For further information, please contact Nhung Pham at Pthithuynhung@savills.com.vn Promoting tourism and hospitality with sustainability Vietnam continues to pull in travellers from all over the world. Albert Lafuente, general manager of Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City, shared his insights on Vietnams tourism and hospitality industry with VIRs Quyen Chi. Vietnams hospitality landscape poised for growth Vietnams hotel management and tourism sector holds exceptional growth potential, according to Rati Romanadze, founder and managing director of management and consulting firm Aspecture Global. Romanadze spoke to VIRs Thuy Nguyen about the future of the industry. Food & Hospitality Hanoi 2025 to serve up latest F&B trends Food & Hospitality Hanoi 2025, at the Hanoi International Exhibition Centre from March 18-20, is gearing up to welcome over 170 businesses from around the world. A report from JLL Vietnam pointed out that in 2024, the ready-built factory and warehouse market in both the south and north regions recorded high absorption and increased rental prices. The southern ready-built warehouses and factories segment in Q4 last year recorded a positive net absorption rate, reaching nearly 19,600sq.m. Leasing activities improved significantly thanks to demand from tenant groups serving the domestic consumer market, which is often vibrant at the end of the year. Accordingly, the net absorption rate for the whole year reaches about 199,500 sq.m, 40 per cent higher than in 2023. Ready-built business sees advances, Photo Le Toan The segment did not receive new supply, maintaining the same size of two million sq.m but still increasing by 5.2 per cent over the same period last year. The largest market share still belongs to investors BW Industrial Development and Mapletree, accounting for 30 and 20 per cent of total existing supply, respectively. The southern market is preparing for scale expansion in 2025, with approximately 684,000sq.m of new ready-built factories and warehouses being built across key provinces. The northern market remained stable in Q4 of 2024 with net absorption reaching 41,000sq.m, lower than the previous quarter but still maintaining a stable level. New projects in 2024 were mainly concentrated in Yen Phong and Thuan Thanh districts in the northern province of Bac Ninh. This trend is expected to continue this year with prominent projects under construction, JLL said. Accordingly, Bac Ninh continues to lead the supply in the region. The Hung Yen and Haiphong markets are also expected to become more vibrant thanks to the participation of new investors entering the market. In addition to projects of current large investors such as BW Industrial Development, LOGOS, SLP, and KCN Vietnam, the market expects to welcome completed projects of two new investors of MEA with Logicross Haiphong and Daiwa House-WHA Group cooperation with DPL Vietnam Minh Quang. According to Le Trang, newly appointed country head of JLL Vietnam, many investors have converted functions or integrated diverse business models, from factories to manufacturing plants or combining factories with distribution centres and warehouses. The goal is to make the most of the space and meet diverse needs, while maintaining an advantage in the market. This is expected to be an effective solution to improve rental performance and maintain the attractiveness of ready-built factory projects in the medium term, Trang said. In addition, increased investment in ready-built warehouses and factories also boosts demand for supporting infrastructure services such as logistics, transportation and related services. This means that Vietnam not only attracts large investments in the industrial real estate industry but also creates a strong support ecosystem, creating opportunities for domestic and foreign businesses to exploit maximum development potential, said Trang. Truong An Duong, general manager North Vietnam and Residential Frasers Property Vietnam In the context of increasingly fierce competition in the real estate market, especially in the industrial real estate segment with strong growth rates, investors need to constantly innovate and adapt to attract large manufacturers. Frasers Property Vietnam has been implementing pioneering solutions to meet the increasing needs of the market. One of our significant solutions is to develop a high-end industrial real estate model called the Premium Estates concept. This model not only focuses on building modern infrastructure but also providing comprehensive business support services, life-cycle support, creating maximum conditions for customers during the operation process. A special feature of the design model of industrial projects is the diverse and flexible design, meeting the needs of many customers, from small- and medium-sized enterprises to large industry-leading enterprises with a build-to-suit solution that allows customers to customise the space and functions of the factory. We also pay special attention to sustainability and social responsibility, with the goal of all projects achieving green building certification. Hardy Diec, COO, KCN Vietnam After achieving significant progress in market supply, Vietnams industrial property sector must now prioritise higher-quality and sustainable developments to bolster growth momentum and position the country as a leading manufacturing hub in the region. To achieve this, industrial developers should focus on several key factors. Sustainability is no longer just a trend, it has become a fundamental requirement for industrial developers. Implementing green building standards such as LEED and EDGE is essential to ensuring long-term viability and enhancing their competitiveness. Developers should integrate energy-efficient solutions to optimise operations, reduce environmental impact, and align with global sustainability trends. Secondly, investors demand a diverse range of industrial solutions in terms of size and also product types. The ready-built model is increasingly preferred, particularly among foreign investors, as it enables a faster setup process, reduced initial risks, and quicker operational readiness. Simultaneously, adopting the eco-industrial park model and offering comprehensive support and consulting services can further enhance the competitiveness of industrial real estate developers, providing investors with sustainable and well-integrated solutions. Ready-built factory market on the up In the first half of 2024, the industrial real estate market continued to show positive developments. Multidimensional benefits created with KCN Vietnam KCN Vietnam Group, a developer in ready-built warehouses and factories for rent, is currently managing 10 high-quality industrial projects across Vietnam. Company COO Hardy Diec talked to VIRs Binh An about the factors for the group to achieve important achievements after four years of development. Industrial property rental prices set to rise CBRE Vietnam forecasts that industrial land rental prices are expected to increase by 4-8 per cent per year in the north and 3-7 per cent per year in the south in the next three years. The US-China trade war is expected to intensify, as the US recently announced an additional 10 per cent tariff, bringing the total to 20 per cent, on goods imported from China from early March, in addition to a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada. Firms need to take flexible measures amid growing trade tensions globally. Photo: baodautu.vn This casts significant impacts on countries around the world, including Vietnam, especially regarding import-export business. Nguyen Kim Thanh, CEO of Sa Ky Foods JSC- a big seafood exporter in Mekong delta region, opined that the US decision to raise import tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico, along with the risk of a global trade war, could present both challenges and opportunities for Vietnams export businesses. From a positive perspective, when Chinese products become more expensive due to higher tariffs, US importers would look for alternative suppliers, with Vietnam being a potential choice. Specifically, for the seafood industry, if China faces higher tariffs, Vietnamese companies, including Sa Ky Foods, could bolster exports of tra fish, tilapia, tuna, shrimp, and other seafood items to the US. If we proactively approach US importers who are seeking new sources, we could secure significant contracts from this market. For Sa Ky Foods, since the end of last year, we have received many orders from US partners for the first and second quarters of 2025. Our target for the US market this year is to grow by 40-60 per cent. Additionally, we continue to effectively avail of advantages from trade agreements like Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and EVFTA to increase our market share in the US, Thanh said. According to experts, not only Vietnam but also India, Indonesia, and Thailand will seize this opportunity to boost exports to the US. Therefore, if businesses couldnt offer competitive prices or produce items on par with US standards, they could lose market share to their competitors. Hoang Danh Huu, founder and CEO of Ede Farm Trade Service Co., Ltd. (Miss Ede), a coffee business in Vietnams Central Highlands region, said that the risks of tariffs and trade tensions were high. Additionally, the constant increase in raw coffee prices over a long time would cause more volatility in exports in 2025, especially for agricultural products and coffee to key markets such as the US and the EU, said Huu. Thai Anh Tuan, CEO of Simexco Daklak, said that the US was one of the companys key markets, and the company was monitoring information and preparing as best as possible for any disadvantages. We are confident in meeting the strict requirements of the challenging market by working with 45,000 farmers and leveraging more than 50,000 hectares of sustainably developed growing areas. In light of global volatility forecasts, aside from the EU and the US, this year we aim to increase exports in other markets to reduce risks from dependence on key markets, Tuan said. In addition to continued market focus, technology investment solutions execution, and production cost optimisation to reduce prices and increase profits, most businesses choose to diversify their markets and adopt the strategy of not putting all their eggs in one basket to avoid risks from import markets. Like-minded Sa Ky Food executive Nguyen Kim Thanh assumes that if the US tightens imports, local businesses can boost sales to other markets such as Canada, Japan, and the EU, thanks to preferential tariffs. Firms can also take advantage of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement to source raw materials from the EU to reduce production costs. Additionally, since Vietnam has a bilateral trade agreement with the US, businesses will optimise their HS Codes- internationally standardised classification codes used in global trade to categorise products and determine applicable tariffs and trade regulations, to reduce import taxes and increase competitiveness. However, as the trade war continues to escalate, especially between major powers like the US and China, or among large economic blocs, most businesses predict that Vietnams exports could be significantly affected. In such a case, the role of the government becomes crucial in helping firms overcome challenges and seize opportunities. Firms expect the government support such as through reducing import taxes on raw materials, waiving export taxes on some strategic products, giving preferential loans for production investment, lowering logistics costs, developing direct transportation routes between Vietnam and the US, and joining new FTAs for market expansion, Thanh said. Sustaining growth in coffee amid global shifts Global coffee markets are entering a pivotal phase, shaped by fluctuating prices, climate challenges, and evolving regulations. As Vietnam navigates these dynamics, Laleska Rossi Moda, analyst at Hedgepoint Global Markets, spoke with VIRs Khanh Linh about its ability to sustain competitiveness and drive growth. Production serving as a crucial driver for growth Domestic industrial production has continued its recovery, reflecting the governments effective pro-business policies and its efforts to generate more employment. The seminar 'Vietnam: A New Destination for Global Manufacturing' aimed at attracting investment from Chinese businesses to Vietnam and highlighting the role of technology in enabling businesses to confidently transition their production chains. Photo: FPT Corporation As one of Vietnams leading technology firms with 36 years of experience and a diverse digital ecosystem, the seminar was organised by FPT Corporation in collaboration with Sunwah Vietnam, with Yonyou Network Vietnam as the Gold Sponsor and ShanghaiMap Vietnam as the Silver Sponsor. In attendance was Vu Van Chung, deputy director general of the Foreign Investment Agency under the former Ministry of Planning and Investment, along with 50 representatives from Chinese companies. The event provided a platform to discuss investment opportunities and collaboration strategies, not just for Chinese firms but also foreign investment in general, as part of Vietnams digital manufacturing development strategy. Opening the seminar, Do Son Giang, senior executive vice president and deputy general director of FPT IS, FPT Corporation, emphasised Vietnams role in the global supply chain shift. "Vietnam is solidifying its position as the third-largest economy in ASEAN, due to its strategic location and open policies, but also thanks to its technological capabilities and high-quality workforce," said Giang. With an estimated GDP growth of 7 per cent in 2024 and an economy worth more than $400 billion, Vietnam continues to prove itself as an attractive destination for manufacturing investment, particularly from China, which currently ranks as the third-largest investor with close to $32 billion over more than 5,000 projects. Giang believes Vietnam has the potential to become a regional centre for high-tech and electronic component manufacturing, particularly in AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, with its Industry 4.0 market expected to be worth $30 billion by 2030. "With our more than three and a half decades of developing a comprehensive technology ecosystem, FPT is committed to serving as a bridge to help Chinese investors leverage Vietnams market potential fully and establish modern, sustainable manufacturing models," he said. Vu Van Chung, deputy director general of the Foreign Investment Agency, Photo: FPT Corporation Representing the government, Vu Van Chung, deputy director general of the Foreign Investment Agency, provided updates on Vietnams Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) landscape, including positive results, policies, incentives, and government initiatives to entice more investment from overseas. "Attracting FDI goes beyond tax incentives, financial benefits, and infrastructure improvements, it is also closely tied to strategies for scientific and technological development and innovation," said Chung. According to Chung, Vietnam is aiming to become a manufacturing and innovation hub for the region, and Resolution No.57-NQ/TW has made science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation the top priorities for enhancing national competitiveness and attracting high-quality investments, particularly in industrial manufacturing. "To achieve this, the Vietnamese government is committed to streamlining administrative procedures, implementing financial support policies, and enhancing logistics and industrial park infrastructure. We are ready to support businesses, especially those from China, in expanding their production here through high-tech applications, digital transformation, and sustainable development," added Chung. FPT experts provided in-depth insights into how technology and smart digital transformation can accelerate business growth in the digital economy era. A comprehensive suite of technology solutions tailored for the manufacturing sector, enabling businesses to enhance operational efficiency and optimise supply chains, were also introduced. Le Minh Quan, director of Manufacturing Digital Transformation at FPT Corporation, presented key technological solutions such as Enterprise Resource Planning systems to streamline operations, Robotic Process Automation to reduce manual task processing time, AI for data analytics, demand forecasting, and production optimisation, as well as cloud computing solutions to help businesses scale their operations seamlessly. Quan also highlighted FPTs smart factory model, which enables real-time data connectivity, equipment performance monitoring, and production process optimisation through IoT technology. FPT experts and Chinese business representatives addressing the seminar. Photo: FPT Corporation The seminar also featured insights from Chinese experts regarding the potential of manufacturing investments in Vietnam. A representative from ShanghaiMap- an influential business consulting firm for the Southeast Asia region, highlighted Vietnams advantages, including its rapidly growing industrial park network, improved investment climate, and the increasing trend of digitalised operations. Ma Bang Fei, manufacturing advisor at ShanghaiMap, pointed out the rising demand for industrial real estate investment as FDI manufacturing expansion surges, meanwhile Wang Jing, business director of Yonyou Network Vietnam, shared his experiences in assisting Chinese businesses in Vietnam, emphasising the importance of localisation in management and operations. He advised companies to leverage technology to optimise operations, mitigate risks, and enhance competitiveness. The panel discussion at the end of the seminar covered investment incentive policies, industrial park infrastructure, and technological solutions, providing Chinese businesses with a comprehensive view of the Vietnamese market. The seminar successfully facilitated opportunities for businesses to network and reaffirmed FPTs role as a supporter of foreign-backed ventures in unlocking the market potential of Vietnam and establishing the country as a leading digital manufacturing hub in the region. Digital twins reshaping Vietnam's logistics and supply chain landscape Digital twins virtual replicas of physical systems are emerging as a game-changing technology in the manufacturing sector. While the technology is still in its early stages here, several pioneering companies, including ABeam Consulting Vietnam, are leading the way. Supply chain optimisation key to mitigating high oil prices Amid soaring oil prices following unprecedented US sanctions against Russia, the global logistics industry faces significant challenges with rising fuel costs. However, this situation opens opportunities for Vietnam, a vital link in the global supply chain. After voters rejected a referendum to fund elementary school improvements in November, but the Baraboo School District is trying again this spring with a smaller version of the proposed funding measure. District residents will vote April 1 on a $69.9 million capital referendum to fund upgrades and replacements at East, Al Behrman and Gordon L. Wilson elementary schools. An $85.7 million referendum for the same purpose, which would have covered more projects at Wilson and some at North Freedom Elementary School, was rejected on Nov. 5. The initial referendum would have added roughly $138 to the property tax bill for the owner of a $250,000 home in the district. After tabling the North Freedom and additional Wilson projects, the district is now proposing the $69.9 million measure, which would not increase annual district taxes, but would add 10 years of referendum payments. The district is currently paying off referendums for Baraboo High and Jack Young Middle schools. The Board has worked diligently to develop a revised elementary facilities plan that addresses the districts critical elementary needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility, School Board President Kevin Vodak said in a statement. District residents can attend a community information session at Al Behrman at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Information regarding the referendum, including videos of the schools and their potential changes, is on the Baraboo School District website. According to district projections, the referendums for the secondary schools will be paid off by the end of the 2035-36 school year, and if approved, the proposed elementary referendum would be paid off by 2045-46. Given that this project is tax neutral, Im hopeful voters will see this as a responsible and necessary step forward, said interim Superintendent Steve Considine, who took over the role following the Feb. 21 resignation of Rainey Briggs. Briggs was a finalist for superintendent positions in Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, but was not selected for the jobs in the Gresham-Barlow, Erie and Bay City districts. The April 1 referendum vote coincides with the election for two seats on the Baraboo School Board. Vodak is running for another term, along with candidates Ken Ziegler, Eleanor Vita and Karen Nelson. The top two vote-getters will serve three-year terms on the School Board. If the referendum passes, West Kindergarten Center, the districts oldest elementary school building, would close, and the six classes that take place at West would be divided among the four other elementary schools. Needed improvements Increasing classroom spaces, adding new group spaces, replacing outdated boilers and other heating components, enhancing safety and security equipment, and building new gyms at East and Al Behrman and converting the current gyms to cafeterias are among the projects that would be funded with referendum dollars, according to Mike Pisani, the districts director of elementary teaching and learning. Our elementary schools are in desperate need of attention, Considine said. We have exceptional students and staff who deserve facilities that match their level of excellence. New group spaces would replace areas that are now set up in hallways and other places for various uses. Classrooms would be added at East, Al Behrman and Wilson, and current classrooms at East and Al Behrman would receive expansions along with new windows and doors. The district added a full-day 4-year-old kindergarten program last fall, and referendum funds also would add new classrooms with adjoining bathrooms for those students at the three schools slated for projects. Considine said that the districts elementary schools are currently over capacity and the upgrades would meet future enrollment needs. Approval of the referendum would create safer, more modern learning environments for current and future Baraboo students, Considine said. Some of the boilers at Wilson, Al Behrman and East are the same age as the buildings. Wilson was built in 1970, and Al Behrman and East were built in 1956 and 1954, respectively. The boiler original to Al Behrman was powered by coal when the school first opened, Pisani said, adding that the three schools would receive a complete (heating) system upgrade with referendum funds. Approving this referendum would allow us to upgrade heating, electrical components, windows, roofs and plumbing that are well past their projected lifespans, Considine said. New gyms Students at East and Al Behrman currently eat breakfast and lunch in the school gym, which Pisani said forces staff to quickly transition the areas to be used for gym classes. New gyms separate from cafeterias would allow for more gym class time, as well as time to set up and clean up from breakfast and lunch periods, Pisani added. The converted cafeterias could also serve as educational spaces for entire grade levels and additional extracurricular programs. Its not really a want, its a need, and then we could maximize that space, Pisani said. Security upgrades could include magnetized doors, as well as a switch that could automatically lock classroom doors if an intruder enters the buildings, according to Pisani. Pisani said East and Al Behrman would receive the same amount of upgrades under the smaller referendum because they are in areas that could see higher population growth on the citys east and south sides from new and existing housing developments. Projects originally planned for Wilson and North Freedom under the $85.7 million proposal on Nov. 5 would be deferred to a later time . Wilson would receive bathroom renovations and roof repairs with the April 1 measure, along with the new classrooms. Deferred projects would include additional equipment replacement and traffic facility and playground improvements at Wilson, as well as roofing, doors, boilers and electrical work at North Freedom. Wrexham developer challenging negative perception of HMOs with high-end development This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 6th, 2025 The developer behind plans to turn one of Wrexhams most historic properties into a HMO has opened its doors in a bid to counter the idea that tenants would be squeezed in. Grade II listed 61 King Street an original building on the first planned street in Wrexham is being turned into a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO). Attention turned to the development last month when, during Wrexham County Borough Councils Planning Committee, Grosvenor Ward councillor Marc Jones expressed his concerns at an application to increase the number of tenants at 61 King Street from six to 10. I have concerns about the numbers being squeezed into some of these properties and I will be taking that up with licensing, he said at the time. I do have concerns that were not providing amenity space for 10 people. They dont have any communal living space in the house, theres a back yard which is going to suffice for bins, for parking, for bikes and drying clothes. Councillors did approve the application and work is now almost complete. Now Lee Chaloner, director of Wrexham-based developer Passive Property which is behind the project, has challenged the idea that HMOs are just poor-quality housing run by unscrupulous landlords. Passive Property runs 10 HMOs in North Wales and an AirBnB in Llangollen. It has invested 152,000 in the renovation project at 61 King Street, eliminating damp, insulating the property and fitting it out as a high-end HMO. Lee said he understood why critics were worried about these types of applications but said his firms approach was very different to the way people think of HMOs. Theres no getting away from it, HMOs have a bad name, he said. So I appreciate when we were applying to increase the capacity that the reaction to that on paper was negative. In fact the reality is very different. We have created a high-standard living space for tenants. Had we put in the application and called these studio flats, I doubt we would have had the same reaction. Lee, a former Army electrician who has been renovating and running HMOs for five years, opened the doors to his King Street property before it was let out to show just what kind of living space was on offer. We are used to getting a negative reaction when we start work on a property, he said. People get concerned about who will be living here and the impact on the community. During the project here one member of the public approached the team and asked why are you spending so much on a dosshouse. Its a common misconception, as most HMOs have drifted into the sector over time, with landlords adapting their properties on the fly before specific planning permission was required and creating some of the problems people think of. But I dont want people to tar us all with the same brush. Our properties are mostly rented by professionals people who may be working in the area on long term contracts or extended temporary contracts. Many are temporarily in the NHS, at HMP Berwyn or anywhere where they may be spending an extended period of time here but not long enough to have to be registered on the electoral roll and such. Outside of that we get some students and sadly we do also get people who are going through family break-up. They need something affordable and close to their families to have contact with their children. We also get a lot of local young adults. With house and rental prices skyrocketing and people finding it harder to move out of mum and dads house a HMO can be an affordable transition to gain a little independence and still save for a deposit. The ground floor of 61 King Street which was most recently an accountancy firm will remain a commercial office space in keeping with the rest of the street with its own kitchenette and bathroom. In the residential part of the building a large communal kitchen area offers a place to both store and prepare food and socialise with other tenants. It also features a dishwasher, washing machine and tumble-dryer. On the first floor landing there is an installation of artworks by local Wrexham artists plus the first three rooms. According to UK regulations the minimum size of a HMO room is 6.5 square metres for a single occupant and 10.5sq m for an adult couple. At 61 King Street room sizes range from 10.5sq m up to 17.5sq m. All bar two rooms have an en-suite with toilet, shower and washbasin with an additional communal bathroom available for tenants without en-suites. There are three spacious bedrooms on each floor, all fitted with the latest sprinkler systems and ventilation plus secondary double glazing, which keeps in the heat and keeps out the noise. There is no outside communal area, which was one of the councillors concerns, admitted Lee. But there are many people living in blocks of flats across the city that dont have outside areas either. That is what the parks and public areas are for. All the work has been completed by tradespeople from Wrexham and north Wales, with interior design by Lewis Knox Interior Design in Farndon, Cheshire. We try to ensure as much of the work we do on all our projects uses local tradespeople, said Lee. Its all part of the same idea. We want to create good quality living spaces for people, not just get as many people in as we can. With the housing crisis as it is, HMOs are an important part of the mix. If they are done right, they give people an easy, affordable way to enjoy living in the city. By Alec Doyle BBC Local Democracy Reporter Welsh Government allocates 120m to fix potholes and local road repairs This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 6th, 2025 Local councils will soon be able to access up to 120m to repair more local roads over the next two years. The funding for pothole repairs has been allocated as part of the Welsh Governments final budget for 2025-26. The new local government borrowing initiative will provide an extra 10m of revenue funding to local councils to enable them to unlock an additional 120m of capital funding to accelerate the process of fixing local roads and pavements. It will be designed in close partnership with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and will be open for applications by the end of this financial year. Wrexham Council recently came under fire for the condition of the road network in Glyn Ceiriog after frustrated residents launched Pothole Land. It came amid years of frustration at the lack of resolution to years of damaged, and worsening, roads resulted in the spoof creation to draw attention to the problem they felt has been ignored in the Guildhall. Although some of the worst potholes in the community were fixed, Council Leader Mark Pritchard pointed to a previous lack of Welsh Government funding for road repairs. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said the funding will help to improve the future resilience of roads across Wales. I am delighted that we are able to help local councils access the necessary funding to enable them to accelerate some of the much-needed repair work on local roads across Wales, said Ken Skates MS. Connecting our communities by fixing our roads is a key priority for us and we will continue to do all that we can to improve the future resilience of roads across Wales. Cllr Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of WLGA and transport spokesperson said: I have been working closely with the Welsh Government on this initiative over recent months and I am really pleased to see it come to fruition. A previous initiative between 2012 and 2014 was highly successful and showed what can be achieved by councils when the right level of funding is available. This funding will enable significant improvements to roads, pavements and bridges across Wales. Last month Mr Skates also announced a funding boost of 25m to renew an extra 100km of Wales major roads and prevent around 30,000 road defects and potholes in the new financial year. Over $1,000,000 from the sale of NV Lake Tahoe license plates (NV-LTPL) will be used to support sustainable recreation and stewardship, aquatic invasive species removal, and other initiatives in the Tahoe Basin. The Nevada Division of State Lands (NDSL) is pleased to report that the following significant environmental improvement projects are supported by the over one million dollars in NV-LTLP earnings this year. Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Fish Management Structure: NDSL will work with the Nevada Department of Wildlife to build a permanent fish passage structure in Third Creek, Incline Village. This will enhance fish conservation efforts, including the restoration of the native and endangered Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, supporting sustainable fishing practices in the region, while fostering community engagement through educational outreach. Construction is currently slated for summer 2026. Tunnel Creek Backcountry Alternative Trail: The Nevada Division of State Parks will construct approximately 1.7 miles of natural surface, sustainable multi-use trail within Nevada State Parks on the Tunnel Creek Trail. The Tunnel Creek Trail is the primary access point from Incline Village to the backcountry of Spooner Lake State Park and is highly popular with visitors. Trail construction is planned to be completed in summer 2025. Sand Harbor Portable Waterless Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Machine: To combat the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), NV-LTLP funding will allow Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to purchase a user-operated vessel cleaning machine and mobile trailer for use at Sand Harbor State Park. The CD3 machine is part of the effort by TRPA, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, and park staff to educate users of non-motorized boating equipment, such as kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, in how to properly clean, drain, and dry their recreational equipment to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS. The CD3 machine will make its appearance at Sand Harbor in summer 2025. Spooner Lake State Park Backcountry Facilities: To address the growing numbers of recreational users, the Nevada Division of State Parks will use NV-LTLP funding to install modernized restroom facilities in the backcountry of Spooner Lake State Park. Installation of the new facility is scheduled for Summer 2025. According to the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, projects that contribute to the preservation and restoration of Lake Tahoe's distinctive natural environment are funded annually by the proceeds from the sale and renewal of Nevada Lake Tahoe license plates. More than 34,000 Nevadans have renewed or bought a Nevada Lake Tahoe license plate, supporting this important work. The NV-LTLP program has raised over $14 million and provided funding for more than 186 preservation and restoration projects on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe since the first license plates were sold in February 1998. If you want to purchase a Lake Tahoe license plate and contribute to Lake Tahoe's protection, click here for more information. Additionally, NDSL is happy to report that it will receive $1,400,000 in Navigable Water Fees to support a significant park infrastructure project. The current boat ramp will be extended farther into the lake as part of the Cave Rock State Park Boating Access Enhancement Project, enabling year-round use of both lanes and accommodating boats up to 30 feet in length. This will improve boating visitors' access to recreation. Along with extending the current rock jetty and stabilizing the shoreline, the project will construct a new ramp walkway for tourists. The construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2026. Law enforcement agencies are cracking down on speeding on the Reno side of the McCarran loop. As we've reported, both Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and Reno Police Chief Kathryn Nance addressed these concerns to the Reno City Council last week. On Wednesday morning, Nevada State Police and Reno Police hit the McCarran loop for a more in depth effort towards speeding enforcement. Our crew went on a ride along in a Reno Police car. While we were out several tickets were given. "Our goal is simple, saving lives," said Anthony Munoz, Nevada Highway Patrol Major, Nevada State Police. Both officers and troopers clocked people doing 65 and 70 in a 50 mph zone and also caught some drivers doing more than double the speed in a school zone. "Speed is a huge problem in the Nevada area and we are here to combat it," Major Munoz said. "We're conducting proactive speed enforcement in and around McCarran as well as the city," said Chris Johnson, Public Information Officer, Reno Police Department. "We've had four fatal traffic accidents and collisions on McCarran in the last two months." In three out of those four deadly crashes, police say speeding was a huge contributor. "So had speed not been a factor those accidents may have not occurred, and the individuals may have not died in those accidents," Johnson said. Drivers should expect to see these two agencies working together a lot in the future. "Yeah, so this collaboration will be taking place regularly throughout the upcoming months," Johnson said. "We will be conducting a lot of speeding enforcement around the city of Reno." Deadly crashes have been trending in the wrong direction in the Silver State over the years, which is why law enforcement agencies are doing what they can to change that trajectory. "We've seen far too many crashes already and it's only March and we need to really slow down, and we can all do our own part to make sure that we're safer on Nevada's roads," Johnson said. Reno Police says it's important to drive the speed limit because other than yourself, you're putting others at risk. Johnson says people should especially keep this in mind when we have wet conditions. MARCH 7, 3:38 P.M. UPDATE: The newest outbreak numbers have been provided by the Washoe County School District. As of 3:24 p.m. on Friday, there continue to be eight full schools on outbreak - the status doesn't appear to have changed from yesterday, with four schools having respiratory illness, two having gastrointestinal illness, and two schools dealing with both. The number of classrooms under outbreak has gone down to a total of 18 - with 12 classrooms having respiratory illnesses, three suffering gastrointestinal illnesses, and three classrooms dealing with rashes from hand, foot and mouth disease. --- MARCH 6, 5:40 P.M. UPDATE: Updated outbreak numbers from the Washoe County School District show that the number of schools on outbreak status has remained steady, while the number of classrooms has decreased by one. There are currently eight schools and 20 classrooms on outbreak status. Four of the schools on outbreak status are dealing with respiratory illness, two with gastrointestinal illness, and two with both. Meanwhile, 12 classrooms are reporting respiratory illness, while five are reporting gastrointestinal, and three are reporting hand, foot, and mouth disease. --- MARCH 5, 3:15 P.M. UPDATE: The Washoe County School District has released updated numbers concerning schools and classrooms in the district on outbreak status. As of 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, there are eight schools on outbreak status and 21 classrooms. Of the eight schools on outbreak status, two are reporting respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, two are reporting only gastrointestinal illness, and four are reporting respiratory illness. Of the classrooms, 13 are reporting respiratory illness, five are reporting gastrointestinal illness, and three are reporting hand, foot, and mouth disease. --- MARCH 4, 2:56 P.M. UPDATE: The Washoe County School District has sent out updated outbreak numbers for today. As of 2:45 p.m., they are reporting 8 whole schools on outbreak; four for respiratory illnesses, two for gastrointestinal illnesses, and two schools suffering both. 20 classrooms are in outbreak status, with 13 classrooms suffering respiratory illness, four dealing with gastrointestinal illness, and three classrooms still dealing with hand, foot and mouth rashes. MARCH 3, 2:52 P.M. UPDATE: Updated outbreak numbers have been reported by the Washoe County School District. As of 2:30 p.m. today, they are reporting a total of seven whole schools on outbreak status: three for respiratory issues only, two for gastrointestinal issues only, and two for respiratory and gastrointestinal issues. The number of classrooms in outbreak status remains at 21, with 14 classrooms suffering respiratory illnesses, four suffering gastrointestinal issues and three suffering rashes due to hand, foot and mouth disease. The district recommends that all families and staff use the WCSD Screening Tool before coming to school - you can find that on the WCSD website. FEBRUARY 28, 3:16 P.M. UPDATE: The Washoe County School District reported updated numbers on Friday afternoon, stating that as of 2:45 p.m., the district increased to six schools on outbreak status, and although there was a decrease to 22 classrooms in total, three of those classrooms are now on outbreak status for a rash known as Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. Five schools were initially reported on Tuesday before the number jumped to six on Wednesday afternoon, was dropped to four Wednesday night, and then back up to five on Thursday. On Friday afternoon the district announced that there are now six schools and 22 individual classrooms on outbreak status. Of the six schools, two are on outbreak status for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, one is for gastrointestinal only, and three are for respiratory only. The Washoe County School District says before arriving at school, all staff members and families should use the WCSD Screening Tool at WashoeSchools.net/SelfScreening. Families of impacted classrooms or schools get direct notifications and are advised to adhere to outbreak-specific instructions from NNPH and the school. For more information, visit: WashoeSchools.net/StudentHealth. The district offered some tips for families: If you're not feeling well, stay at home. Handwashing should be done often. Use your elbow to cover your cough. FEBRUARY 27, 3:20 P.M. UPDATE: The Washoe County School District is reporting a return to five schools on outbreak status and an increase to 23 classrooms. Five schools were initially reported on Tuesday before the number jumped to six on Wednesday afternoon and was dropped to four Wednesday night. On Thursday afternoon the district announced that there are now five schools and 22 individual classrooms on outbreak status. Of the five schools, two are on outbreak status for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, one for gastrointestinal only, and two are for respiratory only. FEBRUARY 27, 6:25 A.M. UPDATE: Northern Nevada Public Health is speaking out on the recent outbreaks in multiple Washoe County schools. We've been trying to get answers and learned the number of schools impacted increased on Wednesday afternoon before the Washoe County School District reported a slight decrease on Wednesday night. As of 6:42 p.m. on Wednesday four Washoe County schools are on outbreak status, down from six reported Wednesday afternoon and five reported on Tuesday. Two are dealing with respiratory illness outbreaks, one with gastrointestinal, and one is dealing with both. An additional 20 classrooms are now in outbreak status. 15 of them for respiratory and five for gastrointestinal illnesses. We've been pressing the school district all day, but they tell us they will not release the names of the schools affected at this time. Northern Nevada Public Health tells us that's due to HIPAA policies. However, they say the families of the schools impacted have been notified. Liliana Wilbert, an epidemiologist for NNPH, says, "In order to protect the confidentiality of the schools and the families that are impacted we do not share that type of information." However, some of those affiliated with affected schools have reached out to 2 News Nevada to share that schools attended by their children have been affected. An email obtained by 2 News Nevada that was sent to parents at Van Gorder Elementary School said that the school has seen an increase in the number of students and staff members who have been absent or sent home due to diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, and fatigue. Another email obtained by 2 News Nevada confirms that a STEM Night planned for Van Gorder Elementary on Tuesday was canceled and will be rescheduled due to the school being placed on outbreak status. Parents at Rollan Melton Elementary reached out to 2 News Nevada about multiple instances of children suffering gastrointestinal issues, with more than a dozen said to have been sent home. While parents have reported illness at Rollan Melton, we have not been able to obtain any notice from the district formally naming it as a school on outbreak status. The Washoe County School District wants to make it clear that if families have not heard from them about their schools, then that means those schools are not impacted by an outbreak. Wilbert says right now the respiratory illnesses they are seeing are RSV, influenza, and general influenza-like illnesses that are more commonly reported. Northern Nevada Public Health is practicing its clean-up procedures for these illnesses. That includes removing all nearby individuals, cleaning and sanitizing contaminated areas, and keeping sick students and staff away from others. Wilbert says if your child is starting to show any symptoms of illnesses they should stay at home. So far, region-wide and not limited to schools, NNPH is reporting there are 187 RSV cases reported, 36 hospitalizations due to flu, and 19 deaths due to flu, two of those deaths being under the age of 24. --- FEBRUARY 26, 3:15 P.M. UPDATE: The Washoe County School District is reporting an increase in the number of schools and classrooms on outbreak status. On Wednesday afternoon the district announced that there are now six schools and 20 individual classrooms on outbreak status, up from five and 19 on Tuesday. Of the six schools, one is on outbreak status for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, two are for gastrointestinal only, and three are for respiratory only. Of the 20 classrooms, 15 are on outbreak status for respiratory illness and five are for gastrointestinal illness. --- ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Several schools and classrooms within the Washoe County School District are on outbreak status as of Tuesday. Five entire schools and 19 classrooms are currently on outbreak status according to a WCSD spokesperson. One of the schools is on outbreak status for both respiratory and gastrointestinal illness while there are two on outbreak status for respiratory illness and two for gastrointestinal illness. Of the 19 classrooms listed on outbreak status, 15 are for respiratory illness and four are for gastrointestinal illness. Details on the specific schools and classrooms on outbreak status were not provided by the School District. Today SilverSummit Healthplan held a grand opening event for a new telehealth space at the William N. Pennington Life Center in Fallon. Churchill County Social Services partnered with SilverSummit Healthplan to provide this dedicated space at the Life Center, offering telehealth service and access to valuable resources for all residents of Churchill County. This new free space offers a place for telehealth medical appointments between residents of all ages and their physician. The new hub will help locals living in rural communities connect with health care providers outside of Fallon. Cheri Glockner, the Director of Marketing and Government Relations for SilverSummit Healthplan says the quality of your healthcare should not be dependent on where you live in Nevada. They're calling this new telehealth space 'The Hub' and it will be available to the community Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. In the space they have a tablet in the room to connect the patient with a physician. Glockner says The access to primary care providers and specialists, its really hard to live in rural Nevada and have to drive a long time, a long way, to get these services. So, the more we can do to bring those to these rural communities, were really excited to be able to do that. Telehealth technology has been around for a long time, but Glockner says being able to provide the actual equipment to conduct the appointments has been the challenge. Myles Getto, the Chairman for Churchill County Commissioners tells us about the space. I got a chance to go in there and its very nicely built, nicely put together," he said. "Theres two different tablets, so one for the general public and theres one for anyone who needs resources in our community to go to and look on there and figure out what they can find in the community. They say the tablet itself is very user friendly as it walks you through your appointments step by step. Getto says Its very exciting, especially in rural Nevada its hard to find good reliable healthcare and this offers the opportunity for anyone of all ages to come in here and get reliable healthcare. He adds The rural aspect is the biggest thing. We dont live in Reno or Las Vegas where theres a magnitude of hospitals and especially being located in the William N. Pennington Life Center senior citizens have easy access to it so it makes it convenient. A Reno man was sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of assaulting a federal officer with a gun, while the officer was trying to serve an arrest warrant. The Department of Justice says Matthew Nason fired a gun in the direction of a deputy U.S. Marshal while that officer was trying to serve a warrant for him and his girlfriend. Prosecutors say Nason had an outstanding arrest warrant for drug and firearms violations out of North Dakota. The DOJ says the 10-year sentence is to run consecutive to the sentence Nason received in the District of North Dakota. Nason was found guilty after a three-day trial last November. UPDATE - NOVEMBER 7, 2024: A Reno man has been convicted of assaulting a Federal Officer with a gun, while the officer was attempting to serve an arrest warrant. According to evidence presented at the trial, 38-year-old Matthew John Nason, fired a handgun in the direction of a Deputy United States Marshal while the Deputy was trying to serve a valid arrest warrant for Nason and his girlfriend at Nason's home on February 16, 2022. The jury found Nason guilty of one count of assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. Nason is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2025, by a Federal District Judge, he faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. ORIGINAL STORY - FEBRUARY 16, 2022: The two suspects arrested in Wednesday morning's standoff on Grant Drive have been identified as fugitives from North Dakota wanted on federal drugs charges, police say. The U.S. Marshal's Office says 36-year-old Matthew Nason and 25-year-old Jaida Scaife were wanted on multiple federal drug charges. Authorities say when the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force tried to serve the arrest warrant before 6 a.m., a gunshot was fired at law enforcement gathered nearby. That's when Reno Police and SWAT were called in. As a precaution, neighbors were asked to shelter in place. Police say the duo finally surrendered about two hours later and were booked into the Washoe County Jail where they are awaiting extradition to North Dakota. Authorities say no officers were hurt in the incident. Nasons warrant was for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Scaifes warrant was for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substance. If you have any additional information that can help authorities, call or text your anonymous tip to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900. ABP News, Indias leading Hindi news channel, is set to relaunch its flagship show Ghanti Bajao in a bold new avatar, featuring an engaging and dynamic format that reinforces the channels core philosophy, Aapko Rakhe Aagey. Premiering live on March 8, 2025, at 10:00 PM, the revamped show is designed to empower viewers and amplify their voices, embodying the spirit of inclusive nation building. Since its inception, ABP News Ghanti Bajao has been in the spotlight for its unique format of public engagement, bringing to light critical social issues and pressuring decision-makers to act. The show presents comprehensive reports on real issues, ensuring that unresolved matters are addressed by the concerned authorities. A key aspect of the show is its commitment to human interest stories, shedding light on local issues that have been overlooked despite government promises. This revamped edition will have a strong audience engagement component, allowing viewers to participate actively in the discourse. A distinctive feature of ABP News Ghanti Bajao is its ability to not only amplify citizens voices but also support them through in-depth reporting and investigative content. When ABP News Ghanti Bajao was first launched, it quickly became a game-changer, offering a direct avenue for citizens to spotlight unresolved issues and pressing concerns that impact their everyday lives. With its relaunch, the show is poised to go beyond just highlighting problems - it will actively engage viewers, giving them a voice to demand real solutions from the authorities responsible for addressing these issues. The show will be a 30-minute program, anchored by Pratima Mishra, airing on Saturdays at 10:00 PM, with a repeat telecast on Sundays. At its core, ABP News Ghanti Bajao is about more than just sharing stories, its about inspiring action. With Ghanti Bajao ABP News remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering viewers, ensuring they have the tools and the platform to shape a more accountable, transparent, and responsive society. Authored By Anubhav Sharma, Founder & CEO, SYNCMEDIA and ADTECH India's digital advertising market is expanding at an unprecedented pace; but this rapid growth brings increased risks of ad misplacement and brand safety concerns. Advertisers must take proactive measures to safeguard their campaigns and ensure maximum return on ad spend (ROAS). With the right strategies and technological advancements, brands can navigate these challenges effectively. The Rising Threat of Ad Misplacement in India Ad misplacement has become a growing concern due to the complex digital supply chain and automated media buying processes. Without proper safeguards, brands risk appearing alongside inappropriate or low-quality content, damaging their reputation and wasting advertising budgets. To counter this, advertisers should leverage brand safety tools, real-time verification technologies, and trusted media partnerships. Additionally, cross-media measurement is crucial in determining which media channels drive actual conversions. Fraudulent clicks often get wrongly attributed, skewing campaign performance metrics. Techniques like match-market tests and incrementality measurement can help advertisers identify and eliminate low-impact media, ensuring effective budget allocation while minimizing brand safety risks. For instance, a premium hair care brand using SYNC OS was able to optimize its narrative-based CTV (Connected TV) ad spends. By deploying a match-market test and eliminating long-tail served impressions, the brand improved ROAS by 23%, demonstrating the effectiveness of advanced measurement techniques. Should India Implement Stricter Ad Verification Guidelines? Stronger regulations are necessary to address misinformation, ad fraud, and brand safety risks. However, a balanced approach is keyone that fosters compliance without stifling innovation. India could benefit from adapting global best practices such as Media Rating Council (MRC) standards and Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) guidelines while tailoring them to local market dynamics. A data-driven approach to verification can significantly enhance ad effectiveness while ensuring a safe advertising environment. For example, SYNC PULSE provides cross-media panel data, offering advertisers real audience insights across both linear and digital platforms. This currency-grade data helps brands make informed decisions, allowing them to choose high-engagement placements that align with their brand values and audience preferences. In today's ever-evolving media landscape, traditional measurement metrics are becoming obsolete. Simply adopting outdated verification methods with visible flaws may not fully address the complexities of new-age digital advertising. Collaboration and AI: The Future of Brand Safety Transparency in digital advertising requires collaboration between ad tech firms, verification companies, and advertisers. Standardized measurement, data-sharing agreements, and blockchain-based audit trails can help ensure a more accountable ecosystem. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a critical role in brand safety. AI-powered tools can detect fraud, analyze content sentiment, and prevent ad placements in unsafe environments in real time. Cross-media measurement further enhances transparency by offering independent verification of ad placements across both digital and traditional media. For instance, SYNC PULSE insights provide real-time engagement data, helping brands optimize their ad strategy and ensure their content reaches the right audience in the right context. Building a Safer, Smarter Digital Advertising Ecosystem The future of digital advertising in India hinges on industry-wide collaboration, AI-driven safeguards, and advanced cross-media measurement techniques. By embracing innovation and adopting rigorous brand safety practices, Indian advertisers can create a more transparent, effective, and brand-safe digital ecosystem. Britannia Industries' Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Rajneet Singh Kohli, has submitted his resignation. The company formally announced this development through a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on March 6, 2025. According to the official statement, the Board of Directors has acknowledged Kohlis resignation through a circular resolution passed on March 6, and he will be relieved from his duties effective the close of business hours on March 14, 2025. Kohli, who joined Britannia Industries as the Executive Director and CEO on September 26, 2022, addressed his resignation letter to Varun Berry, Vice Chairman & MD of Britannia Industries Limited. In the letter, he cited his decision to pursue an external opportunity as the reason for stepping down. He expressed gratitude for his tenure at the company, stating, "It has been a privilege to work alongside you and as part of Britannia Leadership for over 2.5 years. I am grateful for the opportunity and humbled to lead the largest and most loved iconic Britannia brand, work with a talented team, and contribute to the company's success." Kohli also thanked Britannias Chairman, Board Members, and Executive Leadership team for their support, emphasizing that the company is well-positioned for continued growth. Rajneet Singh Kohli has decided to resign from the services of the company to pursue an external opportunity. We thank him for the contribution during his tenure as the CEO and member of the Britannia board, and wish him the best in his future endeavours. - Varun Berry, Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Britannia Industries PhonePe, one of Indias leading digital payments platforms, is reportedly bringing Amit Doshi on board as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) as it prepares for its much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO). Doshi, who recently stepped down from his role at Britannia Industries, is expected to play a crucial role in shaping PhonePes marketing strategy and strengthening its brand positioning in the fintech space. During his tenure at Britannia, Doshi led key product categories, including biscuits, creme wafers, and salty snacks. His focus was on driving brand equity, expanding market reach, and introducing innovative products to accelerate business growth. He was also instrumental in enhancing operating income and boosting the company's market share. With a career spanning over two decades, Doshi started as an area sales manager at Perfetti Van Melle. He later held leadership roles at Lenovo before joining Britannia Industries, where he spearheaded brand marketing and innovation efforts, particularly in the health segment. He played a key role in managing and expanding brands like NutriChoice and Milk Bikis. The breakup of Standard Oil was a defining moment in anti-trust history. In 1911, the US Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling that shattered the dominance of Standard Oil, one of the most powerful corporations in history. Found guilty of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, the company was deemed a monopoly that unfairly restrained trade and suppressed competition. As a result, it was ordered to break up into 34 to 43 smaller entities, a move that reshaped the oil industry and set a precedent for future antitrust enforcement. The court found that Standard Oil had engaged in unlawful stock transfers and employed anti-competitive tactics to eliminate rivals and maintain its stranglehold on the market. By dismantling the behemoth, regulators aimed to restore fair competition, allowing smaller players to thrive. This decision not only redefined the oil industry, but also laid the groundwork for modern antitrust policies, influencing how monopolies are challenged to this day. More than a century after the historic breakup of Standard Oil reshaped the American economy, Google finds itself at the heart of what could be the most consequential antitrust battle of the digital age. As the US Department of Justice (DOJ) pushes for a forced divestiture of Googles sell-side ad tech toolsarguing that the tech giants market dominance stifles competition and disadvantages publishersthe echoes of 1911 grow louder. With a verdict looming, the stakes couldnt be higher. If the DOJ succeeds in forcing Google to spin off its sell-side advertising assets, including AdX and Google Ad Manager, the digital advertising ecosystem could face a seismic shift. Publishers, long reliant on Googles vast infrastructure, are caught between concerns over monetization disruptions and hopes for a more competitive landscape. Meanwhile, advertisers brace for uncertainty, questioning whether a restructured market will truly level the playing fieldor merely redistribute power among a different set of industry titans. Beyond the immediate implications, the case raises critical questions about the future of Googles data dominance. Its Privacy Sandbox initiativedesigned to enhance user privacy by integrating ad-serving functions within Chromecould be fundamentally altered if a forced sale of the browser is on the table. Furthermore, even if the DOJ succeeds in dismantling parts of Googles ad empire, the companys grip on essential measurement tools across Android, Chrome, and YouTube ensures it remains a formidable force. Will breaking up the ad tech stack be enough, or will regulators need to go even further to curb Googles influence? As history has shown, the breakup of monopolies rarely ends with a clean resolution. The Standard Oil case may have dismantled a corporate giant, but it also birthed the modern oil industrys most powerful players. Now, with Googles future in the balance, the question remains: Is this the beginning of a fairer digital marketplaceor just the start of a new power struggle? The latest development in this ongoing battle is that Google has reportedly engaged with the Trump administration, urging officials to reconsider plans to break up the company, according to a Reuters report. Industry insiders are closely monitoring Trumps next move, as he remains concerned about Chinas growing dominance in the tech sector. A Google spokesperson confirmed the discussions, emphasizing that the company regularly communicates with regulators, including the DOJ, regarding the ongoing legal proceedings. Google has raised concerns that the proposed regulatory measures could have adverse effects on the US economy and national security. Striking parallel The 1911 Standard Oil case was landmark in terms of potentially reshaping industry dynamics and influencing future antitrust enforcement. The parallels between the Google antitrust case and the 1911 Standard Oil breakup are striking, observes Meher Patel, Founder, Hector. Patel believes that just as Standard Oils dissolution led to increased competition and set a precedent for antitrust enforcement, a ruling against Google could have long-lasting effects on the digital advertising ecosystem. The potential breakup of Googles ad tech stack may redefine how ad inventory is bought and sold, promoting greater market transparency and competition. This case could rejuvenate global antitrust enforcement, particularly in the tech sector, where monopolistic tendencies have been under increasing scrutiny. The ruling may also encourage regulators worldwide to take a firmer stance on digital market dominance, setting new compliance standards and enforcement mechanisms for future cases, he adds. Googles antitrust case could redefine digital advertising, says Rahul Tekwani, Founder and Managing Partner, Branding Edge Strategic Communication and Advisory. Unlike Standard Oil, he adds, Googles ecosystem spans global search, ads, and cloud services, making a breakup complex. According to him, Judge Amit Mehta may favour behavioural remedies, as seen in Microsofts 2001 case. However, the DOJ is pushing for divestitures, and political factorsincluding Trumps opposition to breaking up Googleadd uncertainty. If enforced, this decision could weaken Googles dominance, opening the market for competitors. Advertisers and publishers must prepare for potential shifts in data access, targeting capabilities, and ad pricing as the industry faces a new competitive landscape. If Googles ad tech tools are split, advertisers may face reduced targeting precision, disrupting hyper-personalized campaigns, adds Rahul Tekwani. Without Googles seamless ecosystem, brands will need to reassess strategies and explore alternative platforms. For publishers, decentralization could mean negotiating better revenue terms but also adapting to multiple ad networks, increasing complexity. In the short term, ad management costs may rise, but long-term innovation and competition could benefit the industry. A less centralized market might provide advertisers and publishers with more options, yet they must be ready to navigate an evolving digital ad space with new measurement and targeting strategies, adds Tekwani. Profound impact If the US DOJs proposed divestiture of Google's sell-side ad tech tools, including AdX and Google Ad Manager, is enforced, publishers and advertisers could face far-reaching consequences. Celine Gauthier-Darnis, EVP MENAT & APAC at Equativ, notes that as the DOJ proposes divesting Googles sell-side ad tech tools, the implications for publishers and advertisers are profound. She forecasts that publishers may face rising costs and operational hurdles as they move away from Googles integrated systems, which many currently rely on for ad revenue. This shift could disrupt established revenue streams. However, she adds, it may also pave the way for independent ad tech providers, fostering competition and innovation that could offer publishers more diverse options in the future. For advertisers, the immediate fallout may involve higher costs and increased complexity in data management as they adjust to new platforms. Yet, this potential upheaval could eventually lead to a more competitive ad tech landscape, resulting in lower advertising costs and enhanced services over time. As the digital advertising ecosystem undergoes this significant regulatory shift, both publishers and advertisers will need to adapt strategically to seize new opportunities while addressing the challenges ahead. The long-term effects of this divestiture could lead to a more vibrant and competitive environment beneficial to all stakeholders involved, she adds. If the DOJs proposed divestiture is enforced, Meher Patel foresees a fundamental shift in how digital advertising operates. Here are some key implications: Increased Competition:The removal of Googles dominance in sell-side ad tech could open the door for more players, potentially leading to lower ad costs and increased transparency. Greater Innovation:A diversified ad tech landscape could encourage new and existing players to develop innovative monetization tools for publishers, allowing them to regain control over their revenue streams. More Equitable Market:Advertisers may benefit from a more competitive ecosystem where alternative platforms can offer comparable or even superior ad targeting and delivery mechanisms. He believes that while there could be short-term disruptions, in the long run, a less monopolized ad tech industry could enhance market efficiency and choice. Googles Privacy Sandbox, which eliminates third-party cookies, is already reshaping digital ads, says Rahul Tekwani. If Chrome is divested, he adds, first-party data and contextual advertising will become crucial. Advertisers will lose cross-site tracking but can benefit from more engaged audiences and privacy-first marketing. Publishers with strong user relationships (logins, subscriptions) will thrive, while smaller sites relying on programmatic ads may struggle. This shift will push brands toward AI-driven contextual ads and first-party data collaborations, making advertising more relevant yet less intrusive. To stay ahead, advertisers must adapt to new targeting models that prioritize privacy, engagement, and audience trust, Tekwani adds. Beyond breaking up Google, Tekwani points out, regulators could mandate search index access for competitors, ban exclusive search deals with Apple and Mozilla, and potentially divest YouTube. According to Tekwani, an independent regulatory body should enforce fair competition through audits and penalties. Governments could support smaller ad tech firms with grants, fostering innovation. One-click browser switching could further reduce Googles dominance. However, overregulation could weaken US digital leadership, benefiting Chinese tech giants like Alibaba. The challenge lies in balancing competition with innovation, ensuring advertisers and publishers gain alternatives without compromising the industrys global competitiveness, Tekwani concludes. Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) as part of its CSR initiatives has partnered with the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and Utkrisht Society for Safe Haryana (a Society belonging to Haryana State Police) to implement an Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) in the city. The ITMS will be installed and maintained at 23 junctions across 4 road stretches covering 40 kilometers in Gurugram aided by ~400 cameras and radar system. This project is funded as a CSR initiative by MSIL. The ITMS for these cameras will be set up by Maruti Suzuki and integrated with GMDA system. Maruti Suzuki, GMDA and Utkrisht Society for Safe Haryana signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) today for this initiative. Shyamal Misra, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority said, With the rapid development of Gurugram, the challenges associated with traffic have increased multi-fold in the city. I am sure that Maruti Suzukis initiative will be helpful in effectively detecting traffic violations, improving law enforcement, and enhancing road safety. Recognising Maruti Suzukis road safety initiatives, Vikas Arora, IPS, Police Commissioner, Gurugram, said, The stretches identified as part of this initiative have high traffic density and proportionately high traffic violations. The advanced technology solution by Maruti Suzuki will help us digitally capture the violations and eliminate subjectivity. This will help enhance surveillance on these road stretches and improve road safety in Gurugram. In addition, it will also be useful in detection and prevention of crimes. Rahul Bharti, Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, We thank GMDA and Gurugram police for entrusting us with this responsibility to strengthen the traffic enforcement process in Gurugram. Our initiative will support the Gurugram Police to promote road safety and create a culture of compliance and safe driving. Bharti added, Road accident is an area of grave concern in India. Over 1.7 lakh lives were lost in road accidents in 2023 in the country. This translates to one death every three minutes.[1] Human errors are a prominent cause of road accident fatalities. Electronic traffic surveillance and subsequent enforcement of road safety regulations will discourage dangerous driving and traffic violations. Over time, this will lead to improved compliance in the city. Also Read: Maruti Suzuki delivers Jimny to ITBP for tough border operations In every industry, there are trailblazers who challenge the status quo, break barriers, and redefine success. Adgully has been turning the spotlight on women are at the forefront of this movement fearlessly innovating, leading, and inspiring change with our special IP Women Disruptors. In the run-up to the Women Disruptors event this year, Adgully is featuring women thought leaders from diverse industries to explore the journeys of these remarkable women who refuse to settle for the way things have always been and share their valuable insights because true progress happens when bold individuals dare to disrupt. In this thoughtful article, Jyotsna Dash Nanda, AVP, Corporate Communications, DS Group, writes as International Womens Day approaches on March 8, 2025, with the theme Accelerate Action, it is a poignant moment to reflect on the mental health challenges Indian women face and the urgent need for systemic change. This global day of celebration and advocacy reminds us that while progress has been made, achieving gender equalityand by extension, mental well-being for womenstill demands decisive action. Consider the story of Meera, a 32-year-old teacher in Delhi. Despite excelling professionally and managing her household, she often feels crushed under the weight of societal expectations. From being a dutiful daughter-in-law to an ideal mother and a high-performing employee, Meeras life is a balancing act that leaves little room for her own emotional needs. Like many Indian women, she battles anxiety and burnout, exacerbated by cultural norms that glorify self-sacrifice over self-care. Indian women face mental health struggles rooted in deeply entrenched patriarchal structures. From early childhood, they are conditioned to prioritize others needs over their own, often at the expense of their emotional well-being. This pressure manifests in various ways. For instance, women are often expected to conform to traditional roles as caregivers and homemakers, even when they hold full-time jobs. Single or divorced women face additional stigma, with societal narratives framing them as incomplete or failures. Gender-based violence, including domestic abuse and harassment, remains pervasive, leaving survivors with depression or PTSD, but hesitant to seek help due to fear of judgment or ostracism. Economic inequities also play a role, as women frequently earn less than men for the same work and are underrepresented in leadership roles. This financial dependency can lead to feelings of helplessness and exacerbate mental health issues. The double burden syndrome is another reality for many working women, who bear the dual responsibility of professional duties and household chores, leading to chronic stress and emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, the stigma surrounding mental health issues discourages women from seeking professional help. For example, postpartum depression is underdiagnosed due to cultural taboos around discussing maternal struggles openly. To address these challenges, workplaces and society at large must take proactive steps to support womens mental well-being. This includes implementing flexible work policies, providing access to counseling services tailored specifically for womens needs, and enforcing zero-tolerance policies against workplace harassment. Cultural shifts are equally essential. Society must redefine success for women beyond traditional milestones like marriage or motherhood. Celebrating diverse achievements can alleviate undue pressure on women to conform to rigid roles. Encouraging men to participate equally in household chores can reduce the disproportionate burden on women, fostering healthier family dynamics. Grassroots initiatives can create peer support networks for women dealing with mental health challenges, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited. Schools should incorporate gender sensitivity training into curricula to challenge stereotypes from an early age and promote emotional resilience among young girls. The intersectionality of caste, class, and geography complicates Indian womens mental health landscape further. For instance, rural women face barriers such as limited access to healthcare services or psychiatrists, leaving many conditions untreated. Urban slum dwellers often describe their struggles using culturally specific terms like tension, reflecting distress linked to poverty and domestic conflict rather than clinical diagnoses. Understanding these nuances is crucial for designing effective interventions tailored to different contexts. Additionally, life stages such as puberty, perinatal periods, or menopause bring unique stressors for Indian women that require specialized support systems. This International Womens Day calls on all stakeholdersgovernments, organizations, communitiesto accelerate action toward gender equality by addressing systemic barriers that hinder women's mental well-being. By fostering supportive workplaces, challenging societal norms, and building robust community networks, we can create an environment where women like Meera no longer feel crushed under societal expectations but empowered to lead fulfilling livesmentally healthy and emotionally resilient. As we celebrate the achievements of women this March 8th, let us also commit to ensuring their mental health is no longer a silent struggle but a shared responsibility across society. Together, we can accelerate progress toward a future where every woman thrivesnot just survivesin every aspect of her life. Moneycontrol, Indias largest financial platform, is set to host the Global Wealth Summit on March 7, 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. With the theme Next Wave of Wealth Creation: Indias $10-Trillion Market-Cap Opportunity, the summit will be a high-stakes gathering of Indias top market strategists, global investment stalwarts, top business leaders and policymakers shaping the nations financial future. As India remains the worlds fastest-growing major economy, it now faces new realitiesfrom global market turbulence and geo-economic fragmentation to a post-boom stock market environment. Against these dynamics, Moneycontrols Global Wealth Summit, presented by IDFC First Bank, co-powered by PhonePe, and with associate partners World Gold Council and Reliance Industries, offers a rare opportunity to engage with some of the sharpest minds in finance, business, and investmentleaders whove weathered market storms and emerged stronger. Among the eminent speakers headlining the summit are Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra; Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairperson, SEBI; Neelkanth Mishra, UIDAI Chief & Member, PM Economic Advisory Council, Chief Economist, Axis Bank and Head of Global Research, Axis Capital; Ananth Narayan, Whole-Time Member, SEBI; Ashish Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE; David Tait, CEO, World Gold Council; and May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India & Sri Lanka. Joining them are top industry leaders such as Prashant Jain, Founder & CIO, 3P Investment Managers; Anish Shah, Non-Executive Director, Tech Mahindra Limited and MD & CEO, Mahindra and Mahindra; GV Ravishankar, MD, PeakXV; Morgan Housel, Author, Psychology of Money, Same as Ever; Director, Markel Group; Mark Coombs, CEO, Ashmore Group; and V Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC First Bank, among others. The event will explore market trends, investment strategies, policy framework to accelerate growth, and emerging opportunities across asset classes, with a special focus on equities. Attendees will gain insights on navigating economic uncertainties and crafting winning investment strategies. Nalin Mehta, Managing Editor, Moneycontrol said, The Moneycontrol Global Wealth Summit is more than just a conference, it is a premier platform for wealth creation and investment insights. In an era of rapid economic transformation, understanding the complexities of investing has never been more crucial. With the best minds in business, finance, and policymaking sharing the stage, the summit offers unfiltered insights, sharp strategies, and exclusive networking opportunities to help investors navigate and capitalise on the evolving financial landscape." News18 Odia, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Bhubaneshwar Elite, hosted the Healthcare Summit 2025 on 28th February in Bhubaneshwar. The event served as a prestigious platform to recognize the extraordinary commitment and invaluable contributions of the states healthcare professionals who have been instrumental in shaping the states medical landscape. The summit was attended by Odishas leading medical professionals, policymakers, and industry experts, including Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Odishas Minister of Health, and Padma Shri Dr. Randeep Guleria, former Director of AIIMS, New Delhi. Through thought-provoking discussions and exclusive one-on-one conversations, the event explored critical healthcare challenges, policy reforms, and the future trajectory of Odishas medical sector. With a focus on honouring the relentless service healthcare professionals and driving meaningful dialogue, the summit celebrated achievements of key decision-makers and stakeholders in Odishas healthcare sector. A defining moment of the event was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Dr. Bidyut Kumar Das, Professor in the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at SCB Medical College, Cuttack, acknowledging his outstanding contributions in the healthcare sector. Odishas medical fraternity plays a vital role in serving society, often going beyond the call of duty to achieve extraordinary outcomes that deserve greater recognition. The News18 Odia Healthcare Summit 2025 reaffirmed its commitment to recognizing excellence, fostering innovation and shaping a stronger healthcare ecosystem for Odisha. Watch the event live on News18 Odia on 8th and 9th March 2025 at 3.00 PM Indias leading dairy company, Paras Dairy (VRS Foods Limited), has introduced its premium cheese brand Galacia at the AAHAR 2025 exhibition, marking a significant milestone in the Indian dairy industry. This launch reflects the companys commitment to quality, innovation, and fulfilling consumer expectations. Galacia Cheese is produced at Paras Dairys state-of-the-art facility in Maharashtra, using high-quality milk sourced from carefully selected farms. Its rich texture, creaminess, and exceptional taste make it an ideal choice for both home consumers and food service professionals. As part of its commitment to excellence, Paras Dairy has invested over INR 100 Crore to meet the evolving tastes of Indian consumers and the rising demand for high-quality cheese. For 60 years, Paras has set dairy benchmarks, empowering farmers and bringing Bharats purity to the world. With PARAS Dairys Galacia Cheese, they uphold their commitment to quality, delivering international standards to Indian kitchens and beyond. Mr. Rajendra Singh, Managing Director, Paras Dairy (VRS Foods Limited), added, "Galacia Cheese is a significant step towards enhancing the consumer experience. Its superior texture and taste make it perfect for a variety of culinary creations." Initially, Galacia Cheese will be available in Mozzarella, with plans to expand into a diverse range, including: Cheese Blocks Cheese Dip Cheese Slices Cheddar Dice Cheese Fillers Cheese Dressing Galacia Cheese will be available across North, West, and South India, starting with key cities such as Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. With over six decades of expertise, Paras Dairy has set new standards of quality and reliability in the Indian dairy sector. Partnering with 300,000+ farmers across 7,000 villages, the company ensures the highest standards of dairy production. Beyond India, Paras Dairy exports its products to over 45 countries, taking the richness of Indian dairy to the global market. Sony India has announced renowned music sensation Karan Aujla as the new brand ambassador for its audio product category, reinforcing its commitment to delivering premium sound experiences. The collaboration kicks off with a multi-faceted campaign launching today across digital platforms, outdoor activations, and retail touchpoints. Expressing his excitement, Karan Aujla said: Music has been at the heart of my journey, and having the right sound is essential to creating and experiencing it the way its meant to be. Sonys dedication to top-quality audio perfectly aligns with my passion for music and the standards I believe in. Im thrilled to collaborate with a brand that shares my vision of delivering powerful, high-quality sound to audiences. Sunil Nayyar, Managing Director, Sony India, shared his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating: Sony India is committed to delivering best-in-class audio products that resonate with music lovers nationwide. We are excited to welcome Karan Aujla as our brand ambassador for the audio category. His global appeal, deep connection with fans, and passion for high-quality sound make him the perfect fit for this collaboration. Together, we aim to enhance the way people experience music, bringing immersive sound that truly connects. This announcement comes as Sony India expands its portfolio under the ULT Power Sound sub-brand, launched in 2024. Designed for music lovers, ULT Power Sound productsincluding premium headphones and wireless speakersdeliver powerful, deep sound enhanced by advanced noise cancellation, deep bass, and high clarity. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with the category witnessing 2X year-on-year growth. With Karan Aujla on board, Sony India aims to redefine the music experience for its audience, setting new benchmarks in audio innovation and immersive sound quality. Babbar Khalsa Terrorist With ISI Links Held in UP; Wanted to Target Maha Kumbh 2 An active terrorist of Babbar Khalsa International with alleged links to Pakistans ISI, who had planned a terror attack during the Maha Kumbh, was arrested from Kaushambi early Thursday, police said. The terrorist identified as Lajar Masih was nabbed in a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh STF and Punjab Police. Addressing a press conference, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar said Masih had planned a major terrorist attack during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. However, due to intensive security checks at the religious gathering, he failed to execute his plan, he said. The Maha Kumbh was held at Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26. The DGP said the arrest of the terrorist also verifies smuggling of arms and drugs from Pakistan into India. Masih, a resident of Kurlian village in Ramdas area of Amritsar, Punjab, was nabbed around 3.20 am. The operation was carried out in the Kokhraj police station area of Kaushambi, Additional Director General of Police (UP Special Task Force, Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said earlier in the day. As per available information, the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the Germany-based module of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is in direct touch with Pakistan-based ISI operatives, Yash said. He added the UP STF succeeded in recovering some explosives material and illegal arms from the terrorist. Among the seizures made are three active hand grenades, two active detonators, one foreign-made pistol and 13 cartridges of foreign make, the officer said. Besides, a white coloured explosive powder, an Aadhaar card with a Ghaziabad address, one mobile phone without SIM card was also seized from his possession, he said. This terrorist had escaped judicial custody in Punjab on September 24, 2024, the ADG added. BJP's Double Victory in Telangana MLC Polls Shakes Congress, Sparks Controversy 2 BJP-backed candidates have secured two out of three MLC seats in Telangana, delivering a major setback to the ruling Congress. The elections, held on February 27, saw Ch Anji Reddy, supported by the BJP, defeat Congress candidate Narender Reddy by over 5,000 votes in the Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar Graduates constituency. The result was announced early Thursday morning. Elections were conducted using a preferential ballot system for the Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar Graduates and Teachers constituencies, along with the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Teachers constituency. Counting, which began on Monday, was a lengthy process due to vote segregation and preference-based tabulation. Malka Komaraiah, another BJP-supported candidate, won the Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar Teachers constituency, while independent candidate Sripal Reddy Pingili, backed by a teachers union, claimed victory in the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Teachers constituency. Results for the two Teachers constituencies were declared late Monday. The BJPs triumph in two MLC seats serves as a significant morale boost for the party in Telangana. While BJP fielded candidates for all three seats, Congress only contested the Graduates constituency, and the BRS refrained from participating. The saffron party deployed top leaders, including Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, for an aggressive campaign, while Congress saw Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and state party president B Mahesh Kumar Goud canvassing for their candidate. Reacting to the victory, Union Coal Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy declared it a triumph for the states youth and teachers, claiming they rejected Congress due to its governance failures. Despite deploying its ministers, MLAs, MPs, and heavy spending, Congress lost the Karimnagar Graduate seat. This result is a clear message to Congress, which came to power by making false promises, Reddy posted on X. ! BJP secures 2 out of the 3 MLC seats, Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak (Graduate) and Medak-Karimnagar-Adilabad-Nizamabad (Teachers'), with a commanding margin. pic.twitter.com/x7IPBCMbDj G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) March 5, 2025 With the elections covering 13 districts, 43 Assembly constituencies, six parliamentary constituencies, and 270 mandals, BJP leaders assert that the win signals the partys growing strength in Telangana. Reddy credited the victory to the developmental politics of BJP and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has previously raised concerns about electronic voting machines (EVMs). This election used ballot papers, so what excuse does Rahul Gandhi have now? he remarked late Wednesday night. He also alleged that the result was a lesson for Congress for favoring a particular section of society. Adding to the controversy, a statement from his office described the BJPs victory as a Ramzan gift given by Hindu society to Congressan assertion that is likely to spark political outrage. The results mark a turning point in Telanganas political landscape as BJP eyes a stronger foothold in the state. Centre Plans to Extend Shelter Stay for Domestic Violence Survivors to 10 Days 2 The central government is set to extend the stay duration for domestic violence survivors at One-Stop Centres (OSCs) from the existing five days to ten, with special cases permitting an extension of up to 15 days. Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi confirmed the plan while speaking at an event in New Delhi on Wednesday night. Currently, OSCs provide temporary shelter for up to five days to women facing violence, including those with daughters of all ages and boys up to eight years old. The proposed extension aims to offer better support and stability to survivors during their recovery. For those needing long-term assistance, OSCs collaborate with Swadhar Greh shelters run by the government or NGOs. The initiative is part of the governments broader effort to strengthen support systems for women affected by violence, whether in private, public, or workplace settings. The final decision on the extension is in its concluding stages. Annapurna Devi, an MP from Jharkhands Koderma, made the announcement while hosting a dinner for women panchayat leaders and sarpanchs from Jharkhand, who are in the national capital for International Womens Day celebrations. She lauded their contributions, emphasizing that recognizing their efforts is crucial in the journey from womens development to women-led development. Maharashtra Govt to Track Media 24/7: 10 Crore Centre to Monitor News Content 2 The Maharashtra government is set to establish a media monitoring centre to track, analyze, and respond to news content across print, electronic, and digital platforms. With a budget allocation of 10 crore, the initiative aims to ensure factual reporting and counter misleading or negative narratives in real time. According to a government resolution (GR) published on Wednesday, the centre will systematically collect and assess news reports, categorizing them into positive, negative, and neutral segments. Misleading content will be promptly clarified, while negative reports will be addressed expeditiously. The centre will operate daily from 8 AM to 10 PM under the Directorate of Information and Publicity. A professional consultant, to be hired via an e-tender process, will compile government-related news in a structured PDF format. This data will be sorted by departments, issues, incidents, and individuals. Additionally, electronic media content will be monitored hourly, with alerts provided on trends, mood, and tone. The consultants tenure will initially be for one year, with the option of an extension up to three years if performance is deemed satisfactory. The move comes as the state government seeks to streamline the monitoring of media coverage on its policies and schemes amid the growing influence of digital news platforms. A Bessemer man has pleaded guilty in the shooting death of another man who was found dead outside the Midfield Police Department in 2018. Horace Earl Jackson, 39, was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Tuesday to await transfer to the Alabama Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to robbery and murder in the killing of 38-year-old Jeremy Davis. Court records show Jackson entered his guilty plea in January. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Thomas Thrash sentenced Jackson to 20 years in prison with five years to serve in each case. The sentences will be served consecutively. Jacksons wife at the time of slaying, 31-year-old Courtney Danielle Carson Jackson, is set to go to trial on the same charges in May. Jefferson County sheriffs deputies were called to the Midfield Police Department shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 2018, on a report of a dead person in a car in the parking lot, sheriffs officials said. They arrived at 7:41 p.m. to find Davis in the passenger seat. He was pronounced dead at 7:44 p.m. In previous testimony, a sheriffs sergeant said Davis, also known as JD, was found slumped over in a vehicle. The driver of the car was not harmed and was talking to police. There were bullet holes in the passenger door of the car, and there was blood down the side of the door. Investigators learned the shooting took place in the 5300 block of Salina Avenue, near McCalla. One witness told authorities he had been in the car with Jackson and another man looking for Davis. He said they intended to kill Davis if they found him, because Jackson believed Davis had broken into his home. Jackson was armed with an AR-15 rifle. The witness told detectives the group didnt find Davis and went back to Jacksons home. He left the scene shortly after, and did not witness the shooting. A woman told investigators she was at Jacksons home when the shooting happened, but she didnt actually see the gunfire. She said Jacksons wife, Courtney, gave her a handgun that she had taken from another mans car and directed the witness to sell it. The witness did, but police recovered that gun. The man who drove Davis' body to the Midfield police station also talked to police. He said earlier that day, he went to Davis' home to buy marijuana, and the two men smoked in his car. He said Davis got a phone call, and said he needed a ride to a nearby house. The man said they went to the Salina Avenue home, and that a man wearing a ski mask and armed with an AR-15 started arguing with Davis and ordered both men out of the car. He said the masked man shot Davis and robbed him of a cell phone and wallet. Authorities said the witness put Davis' body in the car and drove off. He felt like someone was following him and, believing Davis was dead, headed to the police station. He passed a hospital and another police station on the way to Midfield but said he felt safer going to the Midfield Police Department because it was on a main road. Another man who said he was at the scene when Davis was killed reported he was with Jackson that afternoon when Jackson thought his home had been broken into. He said Jackson talked to several people, and developed information that Davis was the culprit. Jackson called Davis, and later Davis showed up with another man. The witness testified in that earlier hearing that Davis exited the car while arguing with Jackson, and that Davis pulled a gun on Jackson. Jackson was able to disarm Davis and pulled his own gun out. During the incident, the man said, Courtney Jackson pulled the second man out of the car and ordered him to the ground, taking his gun as well. The man said at some point during the argument, Jackson picked up his AR-15 and fired at Davis several times, while Davis begged for his life. The U.S. Department of Education building is seen in Washington, Nov. 18, 2024. President Donald Trump reportedly plans to close the federal agency. AP Alabama schools and colleges are preparing for possible impacts if President Trump moves to close the U.S. Department of Education. Trump is set to sign an executive order as soon as Thursday that would direct his newly confirmed secretary of education, Linda McMahon, to close the department she leads, according to reports. That would shift any federal regulations, programs and funding currently managed by the department to another agency. Alabama receives a total of about $2.6 billion in revenue from the U.S. Department of Education for K-12 schools and colleges, according to an AL.com analysis of the most recent federal data. No matter what happens, state leaders are encouraging schools and colleges to brace for changes. In the short run, I encourage all those currently supported by the Department of Educations funding and services to prepare for disruption, Jim Purcell, of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, told AL.com Thursday. He said he believes its likely that the department will be dissolved. That funding currently is mandated by Congress. If the Education Department closes, another agency would be in charge of distributing those funds. The Education Department also plays an important regulatory role in services for students, ranging from those with disabilities to low-income and homeless kids. The most concerning scenario would be one in which the regulations remain in place with reduced funding, State Superintendent Eric Mackey said in a statement. So far, we have no indication that might be the case. Nevertheless, we are closely monitoring developments. How much federal funding do Alabama schools and colleges get? Public colleges and universities in the state rely the most heavily on federal funds, with about a quarter of revenue, $1.98 billion, coming from government grants and contracts in fiscal year 2023. In 2021-22, Alabama colleges received the 10th highest allocation of federal funds in the country, according to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics. (Cant see the chart? View it here.) In Alabamas K-12 schools, federal funding accounted for about $615 million, or 9% of the total $6.7 billion allocated in fiscal year 2024. Funding varies widely by institutions missions, locations and the students they serve. Community colleges typically rely the most on federal funds, with some earning more than half of their revenue from the federal government. On the K-12 side, rural, high-poverty districts like Perry County can get as much as $8,000 per pupil in federal funds, while Mountain Brook and Orange Beach spend under $1,000. (Cant see the chart? View it here.) What will happen to programs for high-poverty schools, special education? In discussions with state and federal officials, Mackey said leaders were committed to keeping IDEA and Title I funding in place, which support special education programs and high-poverty schools. Alabama received $193 million in IDEA funding and $301 million in Title I funding for fiscal year 2024. State lawmakers said the shifts would possibly give the state more power to determine how funds are spent. The funds will continue to come, its just I think we would have more flexibility, Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, told reporters in February. The moneys not going to go away. Mackey, meanwhile, said he plans to stay focused on reading and math improvements, as well as graduation outcomes. The state has put record amounts of funding into reading and math reforms, and is currently working to reconfigure its school funding model to better serve students with disabilities, English learners and low-income students. As we focus on these core issues, we do rely heavily on federal funding for our schools to maintain specialized supports, especially special education, Title I, required assessments, English Language Learners, and child nutrition, Mackey said Our schools depend on these funds, and as long as the funds continue to be made available for our schools, less federal regulation and burdensome paperwork we would welcome. State higher education support has dwindled over the years, making Alabama one of the most expensive states to attend college, according to recent reports. Purcell said state officials need to work to make institutions less dependent on federal funds. Federal support for K-12 schools and colleges was in place prior to the creation of the Department of Education in 1979, and Purcell said he expects many of its components, such as student financial aid, to remain in some form. The biggest impact, he said, could come from non-department contracts such through the National Science Foundation and the National Institute for Health. Some estimate that Alabama could lose as much as $46 million in indirect support from NIH for research initiatives from recent rate cuts, Purcell said. The Trump Administration has already eliminated thousands of federal positions, including at the departments Office for Civil Rights and Institute of Education Sciences, which collects data on academic progress. The effort to cut the National Center for Education Statistics is also a major concern, Purcell added. Data collected from colleges and universities helps campuses and state leaders in managing and planning higher education efforts. Can Trump close the Department of Education? A draft of the executive order circulated on Wednesday recognizes that the president does not have the power to shutter the Education Department, according to reporting from The Washington Post. It would take an act of Congress and 60 yes votes in the Senate, which is unlikely given that Republicans hold only 53 seats. That takes 60 votes in the Senate, and it takes the majority of the House, and we just havent heard that the Congress really wants to do that and completely reorganize the cabinet, Mackey told reporters in February. Rather, the draft calls on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the department to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law. Officials including McMahon have suggested that might include trying to shift some of the agencys functions to other parts of government - though that would also face legal hurdles because the agencys major programs are assigned by law to the Education Department. More likely is a continuation of what has already begun at the agency: deep cuts to staff, programs and grants. The department has already warned of a very significant reduction in force in the short term. The Associated Press contributed reporting. Birmingham native Courteney Cox is in the neighboring state of Georgia to portray her most iconic big-screen character for the seventh time Gale Weathers in the Scream franchise. That role and her portrayal of Monica Geller in the popular TV sitcom Friends place her in two of the most iconic series in pop culture history. Cox will be the only actor to star in all seven Scream films, other than Roger L. Jackson, whose face is not seen in the films because he plays the man behind the Ghostface mask. The new installment is expected to be released in February 2026. Variety announced in December 2024 that Cox would reprise her role as the callous and ambitious reporter-turned-author who has been injured various times over the franchise by the Ghostface killers. Cox, who was born in 1964, was 32 when she first played the role and is now 60 years old. Cox told Variety reporter Emily Longeretta in a 2023 interview how she landed the role in the first Scream, which was directed by the late Wes Craven. Courteney Cox attends the world premiere of "Scream VI" at AMC Lincoln Square on Monday, March 6, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Thats a really fun character, especially at the very beginning when she was so ruthless, Cox said. I was known from Friends and Family Ties, known as the girl next door and sweet. I had to talk to Wes Craven and write him a letter and say, I know that you dont think of me as this person, but trust me, I really can be an absolute b----. It was over the top in the perfect way. Filming on Scream 7 began in January. According to IMDb, the shoot will continue at Great Point Studios and on location in Georgia through March 11. IMDb listed Marietta and Douglasville as filming locales, and atlanta_filming (a fan account on Instagram) reported that the Scream 7 crew was filming at a historic home in Smyrna, Ga. The 1890 Taylor-Brawner House is a wedding venue restored in 2009, according to Smyrna.gov. Kevin Williamson, creator of the Scream films, is sitting in the directors chair for the first time. He posted on Instagram in January about the filming experience: What an extraordinary day I had working with an amazing and talented cast and crew. They brought their A game and had my back every step of the way. Im so very grateful for this opportunity and to Wes Craven who was on my mind through it all. The profound impact he has had on my life and career is endless. What a day! People behind the production are tight-lipped on what kinds of peril Gale Weathers may face in this installment, but we do know she will be joined by original Scream castmates Neve Campbell (who portrays Sidney Prescott), Matthew Lillard (Stu Macher) and David Arquette (Dewey Riley), according to Deadline. Another Scream alumnus will pop up in this film, Scott Foley (Roman Bridger). Macher, Riley and Bridger were all believed to have been killed off in previous films: Macher in Scream 1, Bridger in Scream 3 and Riley in Scream 5. Other actors in the cast are Isabel May, Makenna Grace, Sam Rechner and Anna Camp, according to IMDb. Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown return from Scream 5 and Scream 6 as twins Chad Meeks-Martin and Mindy Meeks-Martin. Wally Goose dances with a particularly enthusiastic fan at the grand opening of the first Wawa store in Alabama. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com News that convenience store chain Wawa is set to open its fifth Alabama store this week generated some excitement, but also some questions such as, Whats a Wawa? and Why are people getting excited about a gas station? Heres a guide to Wawa: Whats a Wawa, how to Wawa, why to Wawa, where to Wawa. As a bonus, theres also an answer to the ever-popular Is it like Buc-ees? A sign on the new Robertsdale Wawa shows its opening date: Aug. 29, 2024. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Whats a Wawa? Wawa started out as a humble dairy market that opened in 1964 in the Pennsylvania town of Wawa. Over the following decades it grew into a chain of more than 1,000 gas station/convenience stores stretching all the way down the East Coast. As such, it offers much the same range of services as countless other gas/convenience businesses. But Wawa has generated a raving fan base where those other stores generally havent, and there are a few specific reasons for that. Firstly, Wawa puts a big emphasis on the cleanliness of its stores, the friendliness of its service and the quality of its groceries. Secondly, its deli offerings particularly those made-to-order hoagies have a huge following. Thirdly, its a privately held company that has a reputation for treating employees well and letting them share in an employee stock ownership plan, so theres a bit of a Costco goodwill effect. At left, Wawa's Honey Hot BLT Club. At right, a dressed up cheesesteak hoagie. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Why to Wawa In addition to the factors just cited, Wawa has something else going for it. It was a big and thriving chain, so lots of people in Mobile had encountered it in their travels and been favorably impressed, and lots of people whod moved from Wawa territory to Alabama missed it dearly. Until quite recently, the closest Wawa to Mobile was six hours away in Crystal River, Fla. All of this added up to a forbidden-fruit dynamic. So when the company announced in 2022 that it planned a major expansion across the central Gulf Coast, it was big news for a lot of folks. The fervor was on full display when Alabamas first store finally opened. Some patrons drove for hours to be there. Most gas stations just dont inspire that kind of dedication. Maybe youre thinking there are plenty of places where you can tank up and get a bag of chips. Maybe youre thinking that theres no shortage of sandwich shops in your neck of the woods, both chains and local operations. Thats all true. If youre locked in on a favorite sandwich elsewhere, Wawa might not change your mind. But it does put some fresh new flavors within reach. At Wawa, the path to hoagie heaven starts with a proprietary touchscreen ordering system that makes it easy to navigate a lot of decisions. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com How to Wawa Making the most of Wawas food offerings means making peace with its fancy touchscreen ordering system. Fortunately, this is easy. Start with the hoagies. There are cold ones and hot ones, different bread options and alternate form factors such as wraps and club sandwiches. There are lots of toppings to choose from (in Wawa-speak, a dusting of salt, pepper and oregano is called spo) and there are variations that might come with a surcharge, such as extra meat, extra cheese or caramelized onions. If you were exploring all this via a conversation with the person behind the counter, it wouldnt be a brief chat. Our experience showed that it pays to take the plunge on the touchscreen system. Its all about finding the right balance of seasonings, toppings and extras. If you hold back, youll be left with an overly basic sandwich that leaves you wondering about the might-have-beens. You can also overload that breakfast bowl if youre not careful. But youll get the hang of it quickly and begin finding new favorites. Its a brisk process thats completely under your control. And if you really have qualms, you can explore it at Wawa.com before walking into a store. Also, its not all about the hoagies. There are bowls, wraps, quesadillas, burritos, soups and salads, and you also can order some drinks via the screens. Wawas menu is varied and the chain features a regular rotation of seasonal specials and coffee beverages. Right now theyre promoting a breakfast deal that gets you a Sizzli sandwich, hot or iced coffee and a hash brown for $5. The Sizzlis come on croissants, bagels, and for a limited time, French toast. Teams from the Mobile Fire Rescue Department (foreground) and Mobile Police Department (background at left) competed in a "Hoagies for Heroes" event at the opening of Mobile's first Wawa store. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Where to Wawa As of Thursday, Alabama has five Wawas with more on the way. The open locations: 18968 Greeno Road, near Fairhope High School. 21022 Ala. 59 in Robertsdale, on the south side of the city. 10040 Encounter Dr. in Fairhope, near the intersection of Ala. 104 and Ala. 181. 7095 Cottage Hill Road in Mobile, at the intersection of Cottage Hill and Sollie Road. 664 Schillinger Road S. in Mobile, a short distance south of Airport Boulevard. Wawa takes its seasonal offerings seriously, especially when it comes to coffee-based beverages. The fall 2024 lineup included, from left: Wawa's pumpkin cheesecake milkshake, pumpkin brulee iced coffee and pumpkin-spice iced latte. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Wawa vs. Buc-ees How much do Wawa and Buc-ees have in common? Not a whole lot, honestly, aside from clean restrooms and fervent fans. A Buc-ees is a gas-and-grub superstore built along an interstate, designed for maximum brisket throughput but also stocking a bewildering array of kitschy merchandise. Wawas are much smaller and sites are chosen on a more wholistic community basis. A Wawa is a nice place for a pit stop on the way to your destination. A Buc-ees is a destination on the way to your destination. The reason were comparing them at all comes from a cultural and geographical convergence. Buc-ees is a Texas chain expanding eastward, Wawa is an East Coast chain reaching westward. The Buc-ees that opened in January 2019 off I-10 at the Baldwin Beach Express was the first one outside Texas. When Fairhopes first Wawa opened in April 2024, it was the first one in the companys Gulf Coast expansion. Buc-ees opened a couple of Florida stores in 2021, so Alabama missed out on being the first state to have both. But its still one of just a few states that do and for many, the novelty hasnt worn off. The circuit clerk in Jefferson Countys Bessemer Cutoff Division cited with contempt of court for her alleged failure to help find missing evidence in a 1974 rape case said she believes she has absolutely complied with the court and continues to do so. Circuit Judge David Carpenter issued the citation against Karen Dunn Burks, saying she has repeatedly and willfully refused to comply with multiple court orders to locate the missing evidence. This court has been exceptionally patient with the clerk and exceedingly lenient, Carpenter wrote. No party to any case before this court would ever receive the deference and tolerance that has been bestowed on the clerk in this case. Karen Dunn Burks has been a faithful public servant for many years and comes from a family of highly respected public servants, her attorney, Martin Weinberg said Thursday. This has been more than disruptive for her and her hardworking staff and an attack on her character, Weinberg said. The ordeal has been going on since 2021, when the Conviction Integrity Unity launched by District Attorney Lynneice Washington began to look into the conviction of Ervin Harris. The unit is designed to remedy wrongful convictions within her jurisdiction Harris was convicted of rape in 1975 and served more than 40 years in an Alabama prison. Though he has completed his sentence, Harris to this day maintains his innocence and is seeking a pardon, and an expungement of his criminal record. He is represented by The Innocence Project in New York. Burks was set to appear in court next week for a show cause hearing, to show why she should not be held in contempt. Weinberg said that hearing has been postponed at Burks request. We also have questions as to the validity of the courts citation or need for any additional hearings, Weinberg said. We have and will address that concern with the court. Prosecutors believe there is clothing evidence that was introduced at Harriss trial that could now be tested for DNA, technology that was not available during Harriss trial. Those items are believed to contain blood and semen evidence. They contend Burks office has repeatedly thwarted their efforts to find that evidence, a years-long effort chronicled in Carpenters contempt citation. In April 2024, Carpenter issued a citation for civil contempt against Burks and set a show cause hearing for May. The judge suggested she have legal counsel with her, and to bring any keys or card keys or any other devices that are necessary for accessing the requested search locations. We are talking about a case that was tried 50 years ago and an incident that occurred some time before that, Weinberg said. That poses a number of practical difficulties. We have had numerous clerks, district attorneys and judges and their staffs in the Bessemer courthouse since this trial, the attorney said. We have a new courthouse. We have new security and new security measures. We simply have endless possibilities on evidence being destroyed or lost, Weinberg said. None of the original cast of characters involved in this original matter are working in their positions. Most, if not all, are retired or deceased. Weinberg said Burks respects a conviction integrity unit and the need to right wrongs of the past. However, at this time, this matter seems to be no more than a fishing expedition that has gone on since 2021, Weinberg said. Theres absolutely nothing pending before the court from Mr. Harris or his legal representatives. Hes no longer incarcerated. Weinberg said there are many possibilities as to the whereabouts of evidence that was collected stored 50 years ago when the current clerk was still a child. Karen has complied with the initial order while at the same time being mindful of her duties to preserve and not contaminate evidence in the other hundreds if not thousands of other cases and disrupt the safeguards for those cases, he said. We are confident that this matter will come to a final resolution, he said, and that our public officials can focus on their duties as it relates to current matters. Members of the community gather at the newly named Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore Liberty Hall at American Village on Monday, Feb. 15, 2010. Lt. Gen. Hal Moore holds his hand over his heart during the musical selection "America! Medley" performed by pianist Denise George. AL.com/file The family of a Vietnam War hero who lived in Alabama expressed sadness and anger that his and his wifes names are being stripped from an Army base in Georgia. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that Fort Moore, the Columbus, Georgia installation near the Alabama state line named after the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Compton Moore, will be switched back to Fort Benning. Hal Moore, who was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film We Were Soldiers and lived in Auburn, is considered a national hero for his actions at the Battle of Ia Drang. Moore lived in Alabama for many years, dying in Auburn in 2017 at age 94. He saved the lives of most of his men despite being heavily outnumbered by North Vietnamese forces. At the time, he was Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. Julia Compton Moore, a longtime Auburn resident, is credited with changing how the Army notifies military spouses of members killed in action. Their son, retired Col. David Moore, who continues to live in Auburn, criticized Hegseths decision. Were saddened; Im personally angered that the secretary of defense in choosing the characteristics and qualities he wanted of the renaming, he chose to reject Hal and Julia Moore, and those very qualities and characteristics that they already represent, David Moore told Task & Purpose on Tuesday. He said the Defense Department has not consulted the family after Hegseth ordered the Army to find another way to honor his parents. They had what they needed, David Moore said, according to the outlet. All they had to do was do nothing, and I think over time, we would have used the example of Hal and Julia Moore to raise great soldiers in the Columbus, Fort Moore area. So, if they have anything else in mind, the family hasnt been contacted. Fort Benning had been named after Confederate Gen. Henry L. Benning. In the wake of the George Floyd protests, a congressional naming commission recommended changing the names of military bases tied to Confederate leaders. As for Fort Benning, the commission recommended changing the installation to Fort Moore. Then-Defense Secretary and Mobile native Lloyd Austin accepted the recommendation and changed the name in 2023. Now Hegseth is nixing the change while removing Fort Bennings Confederate connection. The new name pays tribute to Corporal (CPL) Fred G. Benning, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in action during World War I with the U.S. Army in France in 1918, the Defense Department said in a statement. This change underscores the installations storied history of service to the United States of America, honors the warfighter ethos, and recognizes the heroes who have trained at the installation for decades and will continue to train on its storied ranges. The Army awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to Benning for extraordinary heroism in action during events that took place Oct. 9, 1918, south of Exermont, France. After the enemy killed his platoon commander and disabled two senior non-commissioned officers, Cpl. Benning took command of the surviving 20 men of his company and courageously led them through heavy fire to their assigned objective in support of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Hegseths memo reads, adding that Benning continued his selfless service after returning home from the war Sept. 3, 1919, and ultimately going on to serve as the mayor of Neligh, Nebraska. Benning died in May 1974. Jamarcus McIntyre usually did it up big on his birthday. The outgoing Birmingham man would have a few drinks and celebrate with his friends and family. Those who loved McIntyre had to do it for him, and without him, this year. McIntyre, a father of two who would have turned 33 on Wednesday, was gunned down Sept. 22, 2024, during a robbery of his backpack. Accused mass killer Damien McDaniel and five others are charged with capital murder in McIntyres killing. When he died, I died, said his mother, Ada Jones McIntyre. He was my baby. Friends and family held a balloon release and dinner Wednesday at the home Jamarcus shared with his mother. He would have celebrated, so thats what were going to do, Ada said. Friends and family held a balloon release on March 5, 2025, to celebrate what would have been Jamarcus McIntyre's 33rd birthday. The Birmingham man was fatally gunned down during a robbery on Sept. 22, 2025. (Carol Robinson) McIntyre died in a hail of gunfire that Sunday night in the 700 block of 81st Place South. The deadly shooting happened less than 24 hours after the Five Points South mass shooting. Along with McDaniel, Crishawn Jamel McLemore-Bruce, a 23 of Pleasant Grove man, Larry Rollins, 32; NyQuan Lollar, 22; Demarco Beck Jr., 29; and Zachary Holmes, 31, are also charged. Jefferson County prosecutors contend in court documents that McDaniel and Lollar were among three shooters who opened fire on McIntyre in the horrific ambush that was captured on home surveillance video. Investigators have not yet been able to identify the third shooter. McIntyres killing was caught on chilling home surveillance video and showed gunmen killing McIntyre and stealing his backpack. Authorities say the suspects waited roughly two hours outside the residence until McIntyre was gunned down. Text messages from the suspects phones showed multiple, and simultaneous, conversations were taking place in the hours leading up to McIntyres slaying. It was just before 9:30 p.m. when the citys gunfire detection system - Shot Spotter - alerted officers to shots fired in the South East Lake community. Shot Spotter registered at least 30 rounds fired, and there were multiple evidence markers placed in the middle of 81st Place South. Once on the scene, they found McIntyre unresponsive on the sidewalk. Two others were also wounded, including a woman who, too, was found unresponsive but survived. Both the surviving gunshots victims, one of whom is Adas grandson, attended Wednesdays balloon release. He was my baby. He was sweet. He was Jamarcus, Ada said. McIntyre left behind a 13-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old boy. He loved his family and his children, Ada said. Two months before his death, McIntyre had pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and was given probation. He had been working to turn things around, his family said. He changed his life around and got closer to God, Ada said. He had really turned his life over to God and we were doing family stuff, going out to dinner. We did a lot of stuff together that we didnt do before, she said. That extra time family in the months leading up to his death were a gift. I think God let him out of jail so we could spend more time and bond before this happened, Ada said. Ada said she watched the brutal home surveillance video of the killing. It was over-violent, she said. From what I saw, they just stood over him and shot him and shot him. I hate I watched it, but I wanted closure. I watched the video to make sure he didnt suffer, Ada said. They dragged him like a rag doll. She said she doesnt yet know why her son was killed. I ask myself all the time, she said. I dont know what was in the backpack but thats what they were after. Two of the suspects Holmes and Beck were cousins of the McIntyre family. The shooting happened at Holmes house. For them to do something like that to him was very hurtful, Ada said. We (the suspects families) havent talked since. Ada said she plans to be at every court proceeding to make sure justice is served. Im going to make sure they pay, she said. Wednesday was an especially tough day for Ada. Ive cried all day, she said. But he loved life, and I wanted to celebrate his life. Asked about a future without McIntyre, who was the youngest of Adas three children, Ad said, I dont even see a future. Every day I wake up to him not here. When I pass by his room, thats the hardest thing. She said some good has come out of Jamarcuss death she believes evidence in that case led to charges against McDaniel and others in other cases. I hate my son had to die for them to catch him, she said, but I look at it as he brought closure to other families, and Im happy for them that they got closure. A cat found its way into this abandoned house in Tarrant and died after owners say police refused to help them rescue the pet. Greater Birmingham Humane Society The starvation death of a pet cat in an abandoned house in Tarrant has animal welfare advocates and some city officials calling for a clear policy and a common-sense approach when it comes to entering private property to save animals in distress. The incident that occurred in February has reawakened a debate among city leaders, the police department and animal rights advocates. A pet cat became trapped inside an abandoned house. Unable to retrieve the cat, its owners called the police who refused to enter the building. The animal then died after several days. The manner in which this cat suffered is hard to comprehend, and the pets death was preventable, Allison Black Cornelius, chief executive officer of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, wrote to Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton this week. Adding insult to injury over several days, the owners of the cat could see their pet next door to their own home, in the window of a vacant house, trying to get out and loudly crying for help. Cornelius said the pet owners were forced to watch as their cat suffered and died because police would not help. While the incident occurred in last month, Cornelius said she recently learned of the details and contacted Tarrant leaders seeking reform. In this case you could look in the window and see that this cat is clearly deteriorating, Cornelius told AL.com. Its a plain view issue. Youre not removing furniture. Its a cat that has been identified by neighbors as their cat. The issue was a dominant discussion point during the city council meeting Monday where Mayor Newton read Cornelius letter seeking an independent investigation into what happened and why the cat was left to die. Newton and Cornelius say that there is already a good-faith provision in the state law that allows people to enter private property in emergency situations. On the other hand, Police Chief Wendell Major doubts that police could extend their authority when it comes to encroaching on private property. Are we going to expect police officers to assess the health condition of an animal, because were asking them to do what veterinarians do, he said. If the Legislature comes up with some standards, Id be happy to follow them. Were trying to accomplish a goal without recognizing its potential abuses. Both Newton and Major are lawyers, but each has a different interpretation of what is and what is not allowed by law. Newton calls the issue a simple one that is already covered by existing law. There doesnt need to be a policy. They just need to follow the law, Newton said. This happens in every other jurisdiction. The chief has to realize that this is something he needs to do. Newton said it is up to the council to mandate a change in Majors procedures. The council has long supported the police chief over the mayors numerous attempts to remove him over various disputes. The council is going to have to see to it that he follows the law and that he works with our partners as it pertains to helping animals that are in distress, Newton said. Major said an easy solution is already available. He said another incident involving distressed animals occurred Tuesday where dogs were inside a home and were believed to be in danger. In that case, Major said private individuals went inside the home as police stood by. That procedure removed liability from police or accusations of illegal search and seizure, Major said. The issue of abandoned animals in houses and whether police can or will enter the premises is not new in Tarrant. An emaciated dog clung to life in a Tarrant basement in 2023 during a debate between the police, the mayor and animal welfare workers. A Humane Society worker finally intervened and entered the building and rescued the dog. The dog was later adopted. A dog in the basement garage of an abandoned Tarrant house was severely underweight and just days from death, said officials with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Some critics of Newton dismissed Cornelius letter as a political stunt in the bitterly divided city. One resident Monday evening even accused Newton of writing the letter himself. Still, at least one council member broke from politics and agreed a policy change is needed. Put yourself in the pet owners shoes and have some empathy, councilwoman and mayor pro-tem Tracie Threadford told AL.com. There is no need to blame the police, but I also think the police should use some common sense. Threadford agreed that conversation is needed to gain a clear understanding of what police can and cannot do. Regardless, she called it unacceptable for officials to allow a distressed animal to die if reasonable efforts could be made to save it. Its a living, breathing organism. We need to be cognizant of that, Threadford said. We dont want to see any living, breathing pet die just because of what you perceive to be a policy and what you perceive to be law. Rescue these pets. Cornelius, who grew up in Tarrant, stressed that she was not part of any political alliance at city hall. Its about saying we need to figure this out and we need to find a solution, she said. Because this isnt the Tarrant I know. Cornelius said she would come before the council to make her case for a third-party examination of the citys policy. And shes not afraid to come before a potentially hostile audience. It wont be the first time, she quipped. Ive been eaten alive in Tarrant before. Im just a little older now. A Birmingham 24-year-old is charged with capital murder in a deadly shooting that happened one day after he was released from the Jefferson County Jail. Malik Quintawn Austin is charged with capital murder in the Feb. 15 killing of 21-year-old TreVon Nyheim Douglas. The Birmingham Police Departments Crime Reduction Team arrested Austin Monday in the 7700 block of Crestwood Boulevard on an unrelated outstanding probation violation warrant. He was taken to police headquarters where he was interviewed by homicide detectives and then booked into the city jail on a 48-hour hold, police announced Wednesday. Earlier today, the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office issued the capital murder warrant. Douglas, who was expecting his first child, was killed just before 4:30 p.m. that Saturday in the 1400 block of 33rd Street. Neighbors reported hearing a loud bang and found Douglas on the ground in the backyard of the house. They then called 911, said Sgt. LaQuitta Wade. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced Douglas dead on the scene at 4:46 p.m. TreVon Nyheim Douglas, 21, was killed in a Feb. 15, 2025, shooting in Birmingham's Ensley community. (Special to AL.com) Douglas had left home that day with Austin and another man. His girlfriend became concerned when she couldnt reach Douglas and then she, Douglass mother and brother all began trying to reach him, to no avail. Douglass girlfriend reached out to Austin, but he told her only that he had dropped him off somewhere and was going back to pick him up. Douglas grew up in South Carolina. The family moved to Birmingham in 2018, and he lived in Bessemer and worked detailing cars. He was out on his own and doing something for himself, his mother, Sheree Hayes, previously told AL.com. He was my baby. He wasnt a trouble child. He didnt hang out in the streets. The day prior to Douglass killing, Austin had been released from the Jefferson County Jail after Judge Stephen Wallace had continued his probation on a previous robbery conviction. Birmingham police investigate a Feb. 15, 2025, homicide in the 1400 block of 3300 Street in Ensley. (Carol Robinson) Austin on Sept. 29, 2024, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery. He was sentenced to 20 years with three years to serve but was granted credit for 1,123 days served. He was placed on supervised probation which Wallace later amended to unsupervised probation. On Nov. 4, 2024, Birmingham police arrested Austin for being a convicted felon in possession of two pistols. Court records show Austin was arrested again on Jan. 29, 2025, for being in possession of a stolen pistol. On Feb. 13, records show, the judge issued an order continuing Austins probation. A probation review was set for March 10 before Wallace. Austin was released from jail, at 11:37 a.m. Feb. 14. Douglas was killed just over 24 hours later. A previous listed address for Austin was the same house where Douglas was killed. Jefferson County prosecutors on Feb. 20 filed a motion to revoke Austins probation since a basic requirement of probation is that the defendant refrain from committing new crimes. Wallace set a probation revocation hearing for March 10. Austin will be held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. Tom Llamas appears on NBC's Today show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York on Sept. 3, 2021. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File) AP Tom Llamas, who left a prominent anchor-in-waiting role at ABC News for one at NBC News in 2021, is no longer standing in queue. Llamas will take over as anchor of NBC Nightly News at some point after Lester Holt steps down from the venerable evening newscast in early summer. Llamas, who has been hosting an early-evening program on the NBC News Now live-streaming service, will continue to do so, meaning that each weeknight, he will lead Nightly from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. eastern, then immediately move to the hour of his streaming program, Top Story. Anchoring NBC Nightly News is a profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility. I look forward to working with the world class journalists at Nightly News and Top Story to bring viewers the most important stories every night, Llamas said in a statement. Lester Holt is a great man and one of the most trusted broadcasters of our time. Just like Lester, I promise to be devoted to our viewers and dedicated to the truth. Holt is expected to take a full-time role with NBC News' Dateline, which he has anchored for years. The move has been one of the most poorly kept secrets in TV-news circles. When Llamas joined NBC News in 2021, he is believed to have done so with the understanding that he was in line for the Nightly job. His exit from ABC News was predicated on the notion that Llamas, then the weekend anchor for World News Tonight, would not get a chance to lead that program during the week, when David Muir holds sway over the nations most-watched evening-news option. Llamas' ascension will pit two former colleagues against one another in a never-ending battle for audience. While fewer people watch the broadcast networks' evening newscasts than the group that assembled to see past anchors like Walter Cronkite or Tom Brokaw, the shows still attract a sizable crowd. During the week of February 24, World News Tonight captured an average overall audience of nearly 7.92 million, according to data from Nielsen, compared with 6.37 million for NBC Nightly News and nearly 4.28 million for CBS Evening News. In past decades, evening anchors could devote all their energies to their mainstay program, but the decision to have Llamas stay with live-streaming suggests thats no longer possible. Approximately 86% of U.S. adults say they at least sometimes get news from a smartphone, computer or tablet, including 57% who say they do so often, according to a 2024 survey from Pew Research Center. The figures are almost identical to the share who got news from digital devices in 2023. Pew found that 63% get news from television at least sometimes. The percentage of Americans who often get news from TV has remained steady in recent years, according to Pew, and has hovered around 33%. Before, television viewers used to have to find you, Llamas told Variety in 2021. Now, we have to sort of find the viewer. Others have embraced similar change. John Dickerson, who co-anchors a version of CBS Evening News that was recently retooled, moves immediately after the half-hour linear program ends to a streaming counterpart that is known as CBS Evening News Plus. Llamas is in his second stint with NBC. Earlier in his career, he worked for the NBC News specials unit, and then for MSNBC. He held forth at WTVJ, NBCs Miami, Florida, station, between 2005 and 2009, then worked for WNBC in New York. He jumped to ABC News in 2014. Since his return to NBC, viewers have also seen him making appearances on Today and other programs. His seasoned background -- both in the field and at the desk -- uniquely positions him to carry forward the legacy of Nightly News, said Janelle Rodriguez, the NBC News executive vice president who oversees both the evening newscast and streaming operations, in a statement. 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC A bill has been filed in the Alabama Legislature requiring the state to reimburse citizens who have had their food stamps stolen. SB230, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Davis-Figures, D-Mobile, states that residents would be reimbursed equal to the amount of stolen SNAP benefits. Figures told AL.com individuals who were victims of SNAP fraud deserve to be reimbursed since it was no fault of their own and was due to Alabamas lack of cyberspace security. People who were affected by the fraud that happened as a result of the cyberspace insecurity for the state of Alabama are not to blame for them being defrauded, Figures said. And I mean, this is a program that people survive on, and it provides food for their families...think about, if your budget for your food was gone and you were not getting that money back from anywhere. Figures said the state would have to budget some money to cover the reimbursement program. In November, Alabamas Department of Human Resources was reportedly working on security upgrades for the states SNAP system after thousands of users were scammed out of millions of dollars in benefits. DHR handled the reimbursement of SNAP benefits and returned over $5 million dollars to scamming victims in November. The funding for reimbursements came from the federal government after Congressional authorization in 2023. But in December, Alabama stopped processing SNAP theft claims after Congress did not reauthorize federal funding used to reimburse the stolen benefits, according to Alabama Daily News. Low-income families and individuals are harmed the most in the food stamp scams. DHR has said that scammers use several methods to steal SNAP benefits including placing skimmers on top of credit card devices at businesses and phishing calls to drain peoples EBT accounts before they can access the money. Richard Scrushy and wife Leslie raise their hands as defense attorney Donald Watkins, right, looks on, after Richard Scrushy was acquitted of all charges, June 28, 2005, in Birmingham, Alabama. It was a stunning acquittal on charges of leading a $2.7 billion earnings overstatement at HealthSouth Corp. (Joe Songer | jsonger@AL.com) The wife of former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy claimed Thursday the prosecutors who convicted the once-successful businessman of bribing ex-Gov. Don Siegelman were agents of the devil as he did little to back up claims he uncovered evidence that will reverse his conviction. During a news conference Thursday in front of the federal courthouse in Montgomery alongside her husband, his attorney and two of their nine children, Leslie Scrushy said her faith helped her power through her husbands trial. In order to get through this, I had to look through the spiritual aspect of all of it. On the day that he was arraigned here he was charged with [federal] Statute 666. So that was very clear to me where this attack was coming from," Leslie Scrushy said. The connection to the devil did not end there, according to her. And then, when the prosecutors rested their case, they rested their case on June 6 of 2006. 6-6-6. From my perspective, it was a conspiracy that required Franklin, Feaga and Fuller all to accomplish, Leslie Scrushy said, referring to then-Acting U.S. Attorney Louis Franklin, then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Feaga and then-U.S. District Court Judge Mark Fuller. If you look at their names, they all start with the letter F, which is the sixth letter of the alphabet, Leslie Scrushy said. So that was part of how I made it through, was to continue to pray to God to thank him for all of the blessings that we seek. Richard Scrushys bribery conviction came after he beat unrelated charges involving HealthSouth. Prosecutors said Richard Scrushy directed high-level employees to falsify the books for Birminghams HealthSouth when its earnings didnt meet Wall Street expectations. About $2.7 billion was at issue, overstated in financial reports from 1996 through 2002. Scrushy was again tried in federal court - this time for bribery involving ex-Gov. Don Siegelman. Scrushy was accused of bribing Siegelman with $500,000 in exchange for a seat on the Certificate of Need Review Board, the state agency with oversight over HealthSouth. In 2006, a federal jury convicted Siegelman of bribery for appointing Scrushy to that board. Richard Scrushy held the news conference to announce what he claimed was newly uncovered evidence that would exonerate him. We found concealed exculpatory evidence that revealed corruption within the Department of Justice that caused wrongful imprisonment of both me and the former Gov. Don Siegelman, Scrushy said. Prosecutors, he claimed, knowingly withheld voluminous amounts of information related to exculpatory evidence that would have proven both my innocence and Gov. Siegelmans innocence. Scrushy claimed former Siegelman aide-turned-prosecution witness Nick Bailey told him he had 24 interviews with FBI agents but prosecutors only provided him with nots on five of the interviews. His testimony warped and changed over time, Scrushy said, referring to Bailey. Its exculpable. Scrushy did not provide a statement or affidavit to back up his claim. He also did not say what Bailey said in those interviews that would have proved his innocence on the bribery charges. Along with his request for Trump administration officials to look over his case, Scrushy unveiled a website with a bombshell press release and evidence exposing weaponization, fraud & corruption within the U.S. Department of Justice. Two sets of documents were uploaded to the site but they are not new and did not back up Scrushys statements from the news conference. The uploads included a whistleblowers report from 2009 filed by Tamarah Grimes, who worked on the team prosecuting the corruption case. She accused prosecutors of mismanagement, failure to report improper contact with jurors and initiating a criminal investigation against her in retaliation for filing an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint. A DOJ investigation rejected the accusations. In a Sept. 29 letter to President Barack Obama, Associate Special Counsel William E. Reukauf said the findings appeared to be reasonable, and the office has closed the case. Grimes called the DOJ report on her complaint one-sided and incomplete. The second upload was a 2016 declaration from former Alabama Power CEO Elmer Harris that he recommended Scrushy for the CON board and that he believed Scrushys and Siegelmans prosecutions were politically motivated. Harris died in 2019. An Alabama steelworker who received a standing ovation during President Donald Trumps congressional address Tuesday has met with U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt and Rep. Dale Strong, the Alabama representatives announced. Jeff Denard, who was a guest of first lady Melania Trump when Trump addressed the joint session Tuesday, has worked as a steelworker at Nucor, a steel company in Decatur, for 25 years, serves as the captain of his local volunteer fire department, is a ranch manager with his wife, and has fostered more than 40 children. Denard and his wife, Nicole, exemplify the very best of Alabama, from hard work to generosity and servant leadership, Britt said in a release Wednesday. Jeffs inclusion is emblematic of the hardworking men and women the Trump Administration is fighting to protect, she added. I am proud to be a partner to President Trump in his efforts to onshore critical supply chains, drive up real wages for U.S. families, and usher in a new era of American prosperity. I was honored to meet Jeff Denard, an Alabama steelworker & one of @FLOTUS' special guests at last night's Joint Session. Hardworking Americans like Jeff know @POTUS is putting them first & ensuring our people can compete on an even playing field globally. pic.twitter.com/2wKjHfxpWe Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) March 5, 2025 In his Tuesday address, Trump mentioned Denard while drumming support for his administrations tariff policy. Nucor, headquartered in North Carolina said it is North Americas largest steel manufacturer and recycler. And I have also imposed a 25% tariff on foreign aluminum, copper, lumber and steel because if we dont have, as an example, steel and lots of other things, we dont have a military and frankly we just wont have a country very long, Trump said in the address. Stories like Jeff remind us that tariffs are not just about protesting American jobs, they are about protecting the soul of our country, the president added. Hardworking Alabamians like Jeff Denard are who were fighting for. This is about the Renewal of the American Dream. pic.twitter.com/WnUuTq7uQY Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) March 5, 2025 In posts on X, formerly Twitter, Tuberville said Denard exemplifies the American spirit and the best of Alabama, while Strong, who represents Alabamas 5th Congressional District, which covers Decatur where Denard resides and works, said the steelworker embodies the very best of North Alabama. Honored to meet Decaturs Jeff Denard who was in D.C. as a guest of @FLOTUS for this weeks joint address to Congress. Jeff is a hero who exemplifies the American spirit and the best of Alabama. pic.twitter.com/EZCye1UUWg Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) March 6, 2025 It was a pleasure to meet Jeff Denard, one of my constituents and a special guest of First Lady Melania Trump for President Trumps joint address to Congress. Jeff is a dedicated steelworker at Nucor in Decatur, a volunteer firefighter, and a foster parent. He and his wife, pic.twitter.com/1UQUHroOm2 Dale W. Strong (@RepDaleStrong) March 5, 2025 In a post on the White House account on X, Denard said, The things that President Trump has done to make Nucor successful has definitely been an honor for me and my family. Amelia Boynton lying on the ground after she and other civil rights marchers were beaten and gassed by state troopers on Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama 1965. Alabama Media Group Alabama Media Group This is an opinion column. Its the blood for me. You dont see it in the black-and-white photos. Or the grainy video footage of that horrific day 60 years ago. Sixty years ago, only minutes after hundreds of men and women stood on the sidewalk beyond the peak of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Stood and stared. Stared at the phalanx of gas-masked Alabama state troopers and local police gathered at the foot of the bridge. Gathered and waiting. Some on horseback, some shoulder-to-shoulder blocking U.S. Highway 80 the route to Montgomery, the state capitol. All were armed with Billy clubs, guns, or tear gas. Some even carried whips. The men and women stood and stared toward them, knowing there could be blood. Still, they began walking again, still orderly, still peaceful. Still intent on traversing 54 miles for the right to vote as American citizens. To vote without being taxed or taking an insipid test. To vote with dignity. They walked until the bridge ended and they were on land again, only feet from the troopers. There, they stood and stared. Turn around, they were told. Go home. But on this day, werent nobody gonna turn them around. So, the men and women stood, knowing there could be blood. Their own. Hosea Williams and John Lewis leading marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on Bloody Sunday 1965. Albert Turner and Bob Mants are walking directly behind Williams and Lewis. Alabama Media Group Alabama Media Group They stood behind true leaders, including a proud young man from Pike County who would go on to become a U.S. Congressman, John Lewis. They stood among teachers, preachers, maids, and laborers. They stood as the troopers began to march toward them. They stood until many of them began to fall beneath the tsunami of hate. Fall trying to defend themselves. To survive. Fall and bleed. You dont fully see it in the photos or video. Black-and-white doesnt give due honor to the redness dripping from head wounds and broken limbs. Yet the stark images still make me squirm. They still reveal what kind of nation we were, one that so easily, viciously and blatantly attacked its own. They still reveal the courage of those men and women who stood and stared racism in the face, knowing they could bleed. They bled for a righteous cause. They bled to secure full enforcement of the 15 th constitutional amendment ratified 95 years before, granting the right to vote to all men regardless of race, color or and I love this part previous condition of servitude. Ratified yet their descendants were still being denied. Or worse shot, killed and lynched for simply trying to vote. Salute Selma 2025: Click here for event calendar As we honor six decades since Bloody Sunday, Americans are bleeding. Theyre bleeding from a new erosion of voting rights. From the closing of post offices and other polling places, making voters travel farther than may be comfortable. From the outlawing of humanitarian provisions like curbside voting that make it easier for seniors or the disabled to vote. FILE - People protest during a rally outside the Treasury Department in Washington, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) AP From Alabamas refusal to consider early voting, even as a former secretary of state says it should be explored . Thousands of federal workers are bleeding after losing their jobs from indiscriminate cuts that have yet to reveal to us the fraud and waste bull-horned by the new administration, cuts that have not created the savings it claims . Americas working and low-income families are bleeding as cuts in benefits yank food from their tables. Children are bleeding . American farmers , nonprofits , research centers, universities and several industries are bleeding. The world is bleeding as the U.S. suddenly decides, sadly, it will no longer lead or support humanitarian quests for global solutions to life-threatening diseases and conditions . Brown men and women are bleeding as they are deported for the crime of daring to seek a better life for their families and children as did the ancestors of those now seeking to ship them away. Were bleeding as the administration seeks to erase the mosaic we are and I mean all whove benefited from the true tenants of diversity, equity and inclusion (hint: primarily white s) out of fear theyd lose if the game wasnt rigged in their favor. Were all bleeding as we pompously transform our international friends into enemies and our enemies into chest-bump buddies. As we levy tariffs that are likely to make everyday living more expensive . As we demonize physicians, librarians and .05% of the population under the disingenuous and dehumanizing guise of protecting girls sports . The best way to honor those who shed blood six decades ago on that bridge is to stand once again. Stand, stare down and resist. Resist these new attacks on our own and beyond before we bleed out. FILE - In this March 7, 2015, file photo, President Barack Obama, left, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., center, and former President George W. Bush, right, hold hands for a prayer near the location where marchers were beaten by Alabama state troopers in 1965, during a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" events at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. Philadelphia's Liberty Medal is being presented to Lewis during a Sept. 19, 2016, ceremony honoring his dedication to civil rights, National Constitution Center CEO Jeffrey Rosen announced Thursday, June 2. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) AP Lets be better tomorrow than we are today. My column appears on AL.com, and digital editions of The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Tell me what you think at rjohnson@al.com, and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, Instagram @roysj and BlueSky. A Birmingham-area Mexican restaurant is closing, with its owner citing several contributing issues. Con Huevos, located at 201 Main St. in Trussville, announced on social media that it is closing. All furniture, kitchen and bar equipment, and other items are available for sale. The restaurant opened in 2023. In a post, owner Daniela Trucios said she was making the announcement with a heart full of gratitude and sadness. Recent political events, the increase in tariffs, the rise in the prices of essential goods such as eggs and avocados, supplies, alcohol, etc., along with new laws impacting our beloved migrant workers, have made it unsustainable to continue with this business, the post reads. And the human quality and quality of our products has always been a priority and we are not willing to sacrifice it for price. Dear friends, customers, and team members, It is with a heart full of gratitude and sadness that We announce the sudden... Posted by Con Huevos Restaurant on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 Just after midnight Tuesday, President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, with some carveouts announced later on automobiles and energy. Trump also doubled a tariff on Chinese products to 20%. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced her country will adopt a schedule of retaliatory tariffs, which it will announce Sunday. In addition, egg prices have soared over the last year due to the effects of Avian flu. In the post, Trucios said she and workers will take with them many fond memories. Every plate served, every smile from our customers, every conversation shared has been an invaluable experience, she said. Thank you all for being a part of this journey. We feel fortunate to have been part of this wonderful community, and although this may not be the ending we hoped for, we will always cherish everything we experienced here. Construction of the new Cougar Crossing habitat at the Birmingham Zoo was completed in January and now has its first resident prior to a mid-March opening. Birmingham Zoo The Birmingham Zoo is the new home of an orphaned cougar from Montana that arrived in the South by FedEx. The Birmingham Zoo worked with FedEx to safely transport the female cougar kitten via plane from Great Falls, Montana to Memphis, Tennessee, where staff from Birmingham picked her up on Feb. 11. A veterinarian working with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks accompanied the cub on the FedEx flight from Great Falls to Memphis. FedEx donated the transportation costs. The kitten appears to be around four to five months old and weighs between 30 and 40 pounds. Cougars are also known as mountain lions, pumas, catamounts, and panthers. Construction of the new Cougar Crossing habitat at the Birmingham Zoo was completed in January and now has its first resident prior to a mid-March opening. Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing has been in the planning stages for several years and the arrival of this first cub is a major step towards us opening in mid-March, said Chris Pfefferkorn, president and CEO of the Birmingham Zoo. As the Birmingham Zoo celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025, the new Cougar Crossing is a significant milestone in the zoos overall history. We would like to thank Larry and Phyllis Wojciechowski for their generosity to help make this exhibit a reality. This has truly become a community initiative with hundreds of people, companies, and other organizations joining together to help us be successful. Cougar Crossing is expected to open on March 19, in time for Spring Break. I would like to thank FedEx for facilitating and donating the transport of this female cougar cub, said Pfefferkorn. The transformation of this cougars life from being orphaned in Montana to now living in a new exceptional habitat is remarkable. Thank you to all the people who have played a role in this project, he said. As a result of this generosity, zoo visitors for generations to come will enjoy and learn about the cougars and bobcats in the Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing. Its not unusual for zoo animals to be delivered by FedEx planes. FedEx has a long history of working closely with zoos and aquariums to provide safe travel for animals using our extensive global transportation network and logistical expertise, said Heather Harshbarger, communications advisor for FedEx Cares. Our skilled team of logistics experts, pilots, and drivers, as well as a fleet of trucks and airplanes, enable FedEx to deliver precious cargo like this orphaned mountain lion. FedEx is committed to connecting the world in responsible and resourceful ways through in-kind shipping donations, charitable contributions and through volunteering with local organizations and we are proud to donate the cost of this mountain lion cub delivery. Em McNeilly, the Montana veterinarian who accompanied the cougar on the airplane, said the cougar has spunk. She is very feisty and very smart, McNeilly said. I think she is going to be very trainable in the right environment. I hope she is comfortable in her new home and can live out a happy life. A landowner near Billings, Montana found cougar kittens on his property. The next day he found this female kitten stuck in his fence but had no sign of the other cubs or adults. He removed the cub from the fence and contacted Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on December 14, 2024. The cub was emaciated but sassy. She appeared to be in good health overall despite her situation. The cougar kitten is now at a healthy weight. The Birmingham Zoo staff is continuing to work with the new cub to help her acclimate to her new home. Her curiosity grows each day. She enjoys her hammock and high climbing on structures. The animal rescue staff in Montana started some training to help in her care. This training will continue and expand in her new Birmingham home. The veterinarians and animal staff at the Birmingham Zoo plan to do a full exam in the coming weeks and will continue to assess the cub and address any health concerns. The public will be involved in helping determine a name for her in the near future. Since she was part of a group of kittens from birth, the Birmingham Zoo is diligently working to find another orphan cub around her age to join her in the new Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing habitat. Cougars typically live from 8 to 13 years in the wild and they can live as long as 20 years in captivity. A 2015 murder case was the inspiration for a bill currently before the Alabama Legislature that would require people under 21 who are charged with murder to be tried as adults. HB146 by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, would take away that discretion for judges if the charge is for capital murder or intentional murder. The bill passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday after several lawmakers spoke in opposition to the legislation, including a retired circuit judge. Pettus, a retired state trooper, said the bill was inspired by the case of 18-year-old Jolee Nicole Callan, who was shot to death in 2015 by an ex-boyfriend who was first granted, then denied, youthful offender status. The body of the Vincent teenager was found just off the Pinhoti Trail near the bottom of a rock cliff in a densely wooded area just south of the state park in Clay County on Aug. 30, 2015. Pettus also noted that suspects in the 2023 mass shooting in Dadeville were eligible for youthful offender status, although none had it granted. In July 2017, Loren Daniel Bunner, of Vincent, pleaded guilty to Callans murder and was sentenced to 52 years in prison. Bunner, now 31, will not be eligible for parole until 2032. On Aug. 30, 2015, Bunner called 911 in Oxford from an area off exit 179 of Interstate 20, which is in Oxford polices jurisdiction. Investigators said Bunner told dispatchers he needed to talk to police because he had murdered his girlfriend on the trail. However, the victims father, Michael Joe Callan, said Bunner was no longer Callans boyfriend at the time of the murder and had trouble moving on with his life. At a November 2015 hearing, Shanon House, lead investigator for the Clay County Sheriffs Office, testified investigators found Callans body at the bottom of a 40-foot cliff with her backpack. Bunner said he threw her body off the cliff, House said. An autopsy revealed Callan had been shot twice - once from behind and once between the eyes. Police recovered a Bear Claw .22 from Bunner, and observed a large amount of blood at the area where the shooting apparently took place. There was also blood on Bunners steering wheel. Bunners Instagram account showed several pictures of Callan from the day of her death, but the last few are related to a hike with Callan appearing in four photos. The final two photos posted before his arrest showed Callan from behind, looking out over a mountain view. In one, she held a dog with her back to the camera, while in the next, she appeared to be taking a picture of a cloudy mountaintop. Bunners case was bound over to a Clay County grand jury in November 2015. In court filings, Bunners attorneys argued he might have Aspergers Syndrome. Bunner was granted youthful offender status on May 24, 2016, meaning the case would not count as an adult conviction and documents in the case would not be public. A youthful offender also cant be sentenced to more than three years in a prison. However, that was later rescinded by December of that year, and another motion for youthful offender was denied. The city of Huntsville and the Alabama Department of Transportation are merging traffic light systems in hopes of moving traffic more effectively through the states largest city. The Huntsville City Council approved the agreement at its Feb. 27 meeting. Before the agreement, two systems run by artificial intelligence have been operating in the city, We want to merge those two together into one intelligent traffic system so we can better manage peak demand, that morning peak, that afternoon rush, Urban and Economic Development Director Shane Davis said. The state-run system has been operating on U.S. 72, U.S. 231, Memorial Parkway and other federal and state highways. All of those traffic signals are connected with fiber, and they intelligently speak to each other, Davis said. Its what we call platooning traffic through a corridor. The citys system controls all other local roads and streets, Davis said cameras are deployed at city-controlled intersections. He said the city often fields phone calls from residents concerned they are used for ticketing purposes. Davis said that is not the case. Its actually for the computer system to count cars, he said. As they see that traffic build, they make more green time to let that traffic disperse through that intersection. Davis said both systems have worked well but they dont talk to reach other. A lot of time Bob Wallace, or Drake, Oakwood or Winchester, where weve got heavy movement, those are local roads and theyre approaching Memorial Parkway, he said. Those two, interacting and connecting with each other. Its almost like a single point of failure. We may be able to move traffic on Winchester Road approaching the Parkway, but when we get there, because they are not communicating, that movement is slowed down and vice versa. The agreement allows the city and ALDOT to blend those two together to operate as one system, Davis said. It will not be the first time the two systems are merged, but the first time they will be merged citywide. Weve got intersections and roads, Governors Drive, for example, Davis said. Thats a state road, but that has been in our intelligent traffic system forever because of going through the Medical District. Things happen, we want to be able to flush that traffic through. There will be no cost to the merger, Davis said. Were really just blending all of our technology together, so they work more effectively for our traffic, he said. Under the agreement, ALDOT or its consultant will supply the city with monthly performance measurement reports in regard to traffic light management. The victim in a fatal Mobile crash on Sunday was identified by family, according to a GoFundMe started to assist with funeral and legal expenses. Victoria Martin said her daughter, Arkeshia Martin, was killed by a drunk driver and now has left their family with unimaginable grief. On March 1st, 2025, my beautiful daughter, Arkeshia Martin, was tragically taken from us by a drunk driver, Victoria wrote on GoFundMe. She was 44 years oldfull of life, love, and dreams that were stolen far too soon. No parent should ever have to bury their child, especially under such heartbreaking circumstances. As we navigate this unimaginable grief, we are also faced with unexpected expenses, from funeral costs to legal matters. According to the Mobile Police Department, Martin was traveling along Airport Boulevard near Florida Street when she was struck by a pickup truck. The driver of the truck was identified as Shana Magbee, 23, who allegedly ran a red light. Magbee was charged with manslaughter and first-degree assault following the crash. According to court documents, Magbee was allegedly, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Magbee has bonded out of jail under the condition she is not allowed to drive. The bond amount was set at $60,000. A bill to rewrite Alabama law on civil and criminal immunity for police officers, one of the priorities for Republican legislators and Gov. Kay Ivey, passed the Alabama House of Representatives today after three hours of debate. More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers spoke in opposition to the bill, with some saying that police already have enough legal protection and they do not want additional cover for bad actions by cops. Supporters of the Back the Blue legislation say it is needed to help recruit and retain law enforcement officers during a time when some Alabama city police departments, notably Birmingham and Montgomery, are understaffed. The bill, HB202, is by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, a former police chief for Huntsville. Reynolds, who worked in law enforcement for 30 years, opened the debate by saying that recruiting and retention of police is at an all-time low. Reynolds said he remembers in the 1970s that Huntsville police would have 1,000 applicants for 35 or 40 jobs. He said the city is now lucky to get 75 qualified applicants. Reynolds said it is harder to recruit and retain police partly because of the concerns they have about being accused of wrongdoing for making on-the-spot decisions that sometimes involve life and death. We recruit these men and women sometimes at the age of 21 years old, Reynolds said. We train them. And when we train them they have discretionary authority. And sometimes that involves the use of force. And sometimes that can turn to deadly use of force in a split second. HB202 will provide a sense of support from Alabama to these law enforcement officers when they make that decision. On the other hand, Reynolds said the bill also outlines when officers act recklessly or outside the scope of their duties. Rep. Russell Bedsole, a Republican who is a major with the Shelby County sheriffs department, said the bill is needed to update Alabamas law on immunity and align it with U.S. Supreme Court rulings on officer immunity. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said she supported police but not the bill. I respect the men and women in blue, Givan said. Every time I see one I say thank you. But Givan, an attorney, said she did not think police need another layer of immunity in the court system. Rep. Ontario Tillman, D-Birmingham, also said he supports police and said most do their jobs well but said he does not want citizens who are harmed in an encounter with a bad cop to have undue barriers to seeking legal recourse. Tillman said adding more immunity for police who commit wrongdoing on the job would erode public trust in law enforcement. Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said it is already rare for a police officer to be prosecuted for deadly use of force and said those cases happen only when the facts are extreme. What is the standard? England said. Is the standard that we cant prosecute you at all? Thats what this bill is designed to do. You can call it expanded immunity if you want to. England said he understands that people need to support police. If were truly trying to back the blue, make it more difficult for people to get firearms, England said. Thats how you back the blue. If you want to back the blue, make it easier for them to get the resources to protect themselves. Reynolds said the expanded immunity in the bill was not intended to cover wrongdoing by police. The bill says police are justified in any use of physical force against a person if the use of force is within the law enforcement officers discretionary authority and does not constitute excessive force. The bill says police are not justified for any use of physical force against a person if the use of force violates that persons rights, under the Constitution of Alabama or the Constitution of the United States, to be free from excessive force. Under the bill, a police officer facing a criminal charge for excessive use of force would be entitled to a pre-trial hearing to determine whether the use of force, including deadly force, was justified or was unlawful. The hearing would take place before the criminal prosecution could proceed. That is similar to a hearing already available to all citizens, including police, who are charged with a crime and claim they acted in self-defense under Alabamas stand your ground law. Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, said she was concerned that immunity could provide cover for bad acts by police that happen because of racial profiling. Hollis, who is Black, said she has had family members pulled over and questioned just because they were driving a luxury car. We have to continue to worry about our boys and girls that look like me, Hollis told Reynolds. So thats what my issue is. Youve never been pulled over because of the car youre driving or because of the color of your skin. The bill passed by a vote of 75-26. It moves to the Senate. A much-debated bill to give the governor more authority over the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs quickly won final passage in the Legislature today. Under current law, the State Board of Veterans Affairs has authority over the ADVA and appoints the commissioner. Under SB67, by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, the governor would appoint the commissioner, who would run the agency and be a member of the governors cabinet, and the boards role would be reduced to advisory. The Senate changed the bill in response to opposition from some veterans organizations, although some opposition remained. The House passed the bill today after a short discussion with no one speaking in opposition to the bill. The vote was 56-39. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey, who can sign it into law. Ivey supports the bill and said it was a priority during her State of the State address a month ago. Ivey posted on X about her appreciation that the bill passed. SB67 to further elevate veteran needs in Alabama has received final passage! Thanks to Sen. Andrew Jones and Rep. Ed Oliver for their awesome work. Alabamas 400,000 veterans deserve our very best, and we are well on our way to being the #1 state for veterans. #alpolitics Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) March 6, 2025 The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, and American Veterans (AMVETS) endorsed SB67 after changes made in the Senate. But opposition remained among veterans and veterans groups. Pete Riehm, a retired U.S. Navy commander and president of the Alabama Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America, was at the State House on Thursday, along with other veterans who opposed the bill. Riehm said he was extremely disappointed that the bill passed. Im also very disappointed that the vast majority of these people have no idea really what the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs is doing or has done, Riehm said. Or how the State Board of Veterans Affairs operates and what it has done. They have done major surgery on a patient that they dont even know who that patient is, the history, or what they have done. Riehm said the ADVA has functioned well with the State Board of Veterans Affairs in control, a system set up by the Legislature and veterans groups after World War II. This structure has existed for 80 years. And it was created to be apolitical. So that it would be accountable and responsive to the veterans over whatever fickle-pickle political winds would blow on this Goat Hill here, Riehm said. Riehm also questioned the speed in which the legislation passed, about one month into the legislative session. How does a law get passed in two or three weeks and all the stakeholders are not allowed to have an input or a fair hearing? Riehm said. So, our battle now begins to rescind and repeal this abomination. The bill came a few months after Ivey overruled the State Board of Veterans Affairs and fired ADVA Commissioner Kent Davis in a dispute that played out publicly over a couple of months. Davis, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral who lead the ADVA from 2019 until he was removed by the governor in October, opposed SB67 and was at the State House on Thursday. Theres going to be a lot of eyes on this, on what happens from here, Davis said. And Ill tell you what, folks better be careful because the entire veterans community is going to be looking to the promises that were made on this. Promises were made that this would help improve services on veterans. They better be prepared to deliver on that. Because if they dont, were going to be right back where we started and youll have the whole veteran community in Alabama really concerned about that. Davis said he saw a bright side to the controversy. I see the last few weeks as a positive thing, Davis said. Because Ive seen more unity and more action in the veteran community, in Alabama at least, than any time Ive ever seen before. Ill be honest with you. One concern Ive had is the lack of unity in the veteran community. The last few weeks has been a unifying period for veterans in the state. A public hearing was held Wednesday to discuss a bill that would require school districts to adopt policies giving students academic credit while attending religious schooling outside of class. The bill, HB342, would change current state law language concerning religious release time programs to mandate that schools extend elective credits for religious instruction. Religious release time programs allow public school students to attend religious instruction as long as it is privately funded and outside of the school. Sponsor of the bill, Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, told the House Education Policy Committee that the goal of the bill was to ensure that parents could decide whether they wanted their child to obtain religious education or not. The goal of this bill is clear, to guarantee that the choice of whether to participate in religious release time belongs to the parent, DuBose said. By requiring districts to adopt a policy while allowing them the flexibility to tailor it to their communitys needs. The bill states that students participating could not be released from core curriculum classes, could only be away from school an hour and transportation would not be the responsibility of the public school. During the public hearing several people spoke both in support and in opposition to the proposed legislation. Derek Stemen, Vice President of LifeWise Academy, was the first to speak in support of the bill stating his organization believed parents should have the choice for their children to receive religious instruction. LifeWise Academy is an Ohio-based nonprofit organization that provides Bible education to public school students during school hours, according to its website. The non-profit is lobbying for HB342 and has lobbied across the country for similar RTRI bills, which then leads the organization to expand by launching religious programs under the new laws. In 2024, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law requiring public schools districts to adopt RTRI policies. According to IRS filings published on ProPublica, in fiscal year 2023-2024 LifeWise raised over $35 million in revenue and profited over $17 million. Stemen said the organization currently serves over 500 schools and 40,000 students across the country. According to Stemen, 12 school districts in Alabama currently participating in religious programs. Two of those are programs administered by LifeWise. Scott Suttle, President of the St.Clair County Board of Education, spoke in opposition to HB342 stating school boards do not oppose RTRI but are against governmental overreach takin away the possibility of choice. Suttle called out LifeWise Academy saying the push for the legislation was manufactured by the organization and not part of any grassroots effort for RTRI policies. At the state level, we have not seen any type of grassroots effort that is clamoring for religious release time, Suttle said. What we have seen is a $35 million nonprofit that hired an Alabama lobbyist to come in and find a sponsor for the bill to push it in this state, as well as several other states. Both Republican and Democrat lawmakers voiced concern about the legislation forcing school boards to adopt religious release policies. Questions were also raised about LifeWise Academys curriculum and Steven said the non-profit took a three fold approach focusing on the, head, heart and mind. We are teaching character values and things like respect and discipline and forgiveness and love for these students as we teach the lesson, Stemen said. However, according to the Toledo Free Press, critics have argued that LifeWise teachings are discriminatory toward LGBTQ+ people, those who teach non-Christian religions and single, unmarried or divorced individuals. The committee did not take a vote on the DuBoses legislation this week but intend to do so next week. A bill to require Alabama public schools and colleges to post the Ten Commandments was the topic of a public hearing in the Legislature today. Opponents denounced the bill as an effort to promote state-sanctioned religion, while supporters said it would recognize the historical importance of the commandments in American law and education. The bill is the latest development in a controversy that has surfaced off and on in Alabama for more than two decades, going back to Roy Moores removal from the Alabama Supreme Court over his refusal to follow a federal court order to remove a monument he had installed in the state court building. Senate Bill 166, by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, says all local school boards must display the Ten Commandments in every school no later than Jan. 1, 2026. The displays must be in an entry way or other common area, such as the school library, and must be at least 11 inches by 14 inches. The bill would make the same requirement for public colleges and universities. The bill says schools and colleges would not be required to spend public funds on the displays. Its not promoting any particular religion, Kelley told the Senate Education Policy Committee at todays hearing. As we all know, the Ten Commandments are found in numerous religious doctrines. All it is doing is promoting those Ten Commandments as a foundation of western cultural law and the founding of our country from a historical perspective. The bill sites several U.S. Supreme Court rulings, including the case Kennedy v. Bremerton in 2022, as building the argument for constitutional displays of the Ten Commandments. The bill includes a version the Ten Commandments identical to the text on a monument upheld in a Supreme Court ruling in a 2005 case, Van Orden vs. Perry. The bill also includes a context statement on the historical role of the Ten Commandments in American education. The statement would be posted with the Ten Commandments displays. Rabbi Steven Silberman of Mobile spoke in opposition to the bill. He said it would wrongly involve government in matters of faith and could cause harm. Placement of displays in our schools is intrusion to the minds and the hearts of our students, Silberman said. Thats big government in every sense of the word. Silberman said state endorsement of a religious viewpoint could have negative consequences those who practice other faiths. Faith and religious matters belong to each and every one of us and are best served by private reflection or personal worship of a chosen faith and the expression of conscience, Silberman said. Please take a stand for conscience. And allow our people to broaden and enrich their lives themselves without government interference. Bishop Jim Lowe of Guiding Light Church in Birmingham, spoke in favor of the bill. Lowe is part of a group of pastors in the Gatekeepers Association, which says its goal is To Extend the Influence of Gods Kingdom into the Governmental Realm. Lowe said the Ten Commandments have been a moral compass to promote justice and harmony in America. However, as these values have been increasingly removed from our public spaces, including our schools, we have seen a trouble rise in societal issues, like crime, disrespect and a lack of personal responsibility, Lowe said. Lets be clear. Displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools is not about promoting a specific religion, but about reinforcing the fundamental universal values that were a part of our nations greatness. The knowledge of them will benefit all students. Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl spoke in favor of the bill. This is not about forcing religion on anyone but recognizing the historical value and the moral values of the Ten Commandments and their impact on our legal system, our state and our country, Wahl said. Theres a reason that the Ten Commandments are displayed at the front of the Supreme Court building. It is because they are fundamental building blocks of the legal system and our laws. Rev. Eric Clark, minister of community engagement for the Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham, urged the committee to reject the bill. When we try to legislate religious practice, we distort the very heart of the gospel, Clark said. I know many of our state legislators hold their faith dear. But taking this legislative path is a dangerous road. It can corrupt both the churchs spiritual integrity and the governments impartiality. True Christian witness has never been about power-mongering, but rather the profound redemptive love embodied by the cross. A love that gently draws people in and does not force itself on others. Rev. Lynn Hopkins of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Montgomery, opposed the bill. It is necessary that an act of worship be entirely voluntary, Hopkins said. Otherwise it is just state-sponsored idolatry. If you truly wish to destroy the system of conscientious religious tradition in Alabama, this is the way to do it. Alabama voters showed strong support of Ten Commandments displays in 2018 when they approved an amendment to the state constitution public schools and public bodies can display the Ten Commandments. Seventy-two percent of those who voted supported the measure, which is Amendment 942 to the Alabama Constitution. Louisiana became the first state to mandate Ten Commandments displays in public schools last June, but a federal judge blocked the law in November. The case is now before the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. After todays hearing, the Education Policy committee did not vote on the bill. The chairman, Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, said he expects a vote to come later in the legislative session. Pattie Boyd has branded her choice to have Botox as one huge mistake. Pattie Boyd regrets having Botox The 80-year-old model and photographer recently went under the knife for the first time while on holiday in Morocco, North Africa, but she has still been left unable to raise her eyebrows and slap some makeup on her face. She is quoted by the Daily Mail newspaper's Eden Confidential column as saying: "In the excitement of going away, I decided to have some Botox. "It was one huge mistake. "One party has followed another, and I still can't raise my eyebrows, let alone apply any make-up. "It's the most stupid thing I've ever done. "And what's worse, I did it in a delicious environment and felt miserable about myself. "Never again." Despite regretting the cosmetic procedure, which temporarily improves people's looks, the fashion icon - who is the ex-wife of the late Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison, and rock and blues singing legend Eric Clapton - she found going out on a drug trip at 80 to be "absolutely freeing and fantastic". She said: "I went out on a limb to try the Peruvian hallucinogenic drug ayahuasca. "It was absolutely freeing and fantastic, and reminded me of my heady younger days when we experimented with LSD." Pattie - whose drug of choice is an age-old plant drink, which contains a psychedelic component that makes it a Class A drug in the UK - added the experience reassured her that she is not scared of anything. The icon continued: "Though dabbling in hallucinogenic drugs after 60 is pretty disgraceful, it reassured me I was neither rigid nor fearful, like so many oldies. "After all, it wasn't that different from drinking too much champagne after a party - and why not if I'm having a blast?" Speaking about her confidence, Pattie said: "Once I found my confidence in myself, I was able to do wonderful experimental things." The Montgomery Bus Station, which houses the historic Freedom Rides Museum, was included in a list published Tuesday by the U.S. General Services Administration of more than 400 federal buildings and properties to be sold as a result of ongoing cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The station became a historical landmark in 1961 after Freedom Riders were attacked there by white supremacists during the civil rights movement. The administration had said it was seeking to offload other federal buildings bearing the names of civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta and Rosa Parks in Detroit, according to The Associated Press. The list of buildings published to the GSA website was deleted less than a day later, AP reported. Representatives for the museum told AL.com Thursday that they had not been contacted by anyone from the GSA regarding its sale. In a letter sent to the GSA on Thursday, U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham and Shomari Figures, D-Mobile urged the agency to remove the museum from the list. The museum serves as an essential historical landmark that not only honors the legacy of the Freedom Riders but also educates the public about our nations struggle for equality and justice, they wrote. Given its historical and cultural significance, we strongly encourage the GSA to remove the Freedom Rides Museum from the list. It is crucial that we preserve such landmarks, which are integral to understanding our shared history. Earlier Thursday, Sewell said the rumored sale was an outrageous move by DOGE in a post to X on Thursday. Our civil rights history is not for sale! NEWS: Elon Musk and his DOGE bros have ordered GSA to sell off the site of the historic Freedom Riders Museum in Montgomery. This is outrageous and we will not let it stand! I am demanding an immediate reversal. Our civil rights history is not for sale! https://t.co/zCpPkQYNc2 Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) March 6, 2025 Sewell has been an outspoken opponent of recent DOGE cuts and their impact on Alabama residents. Elon Musks reckless power trip is directly threatening the livelihoods of my constituents, she wrote in a post to X after cuts to Social Security offices impacted at least 100 federal employees across multiple states, including Alabamas Birmingham office. Similar to this weeks confusion regarding GSA sales, many of DOGEs claims of terminated leases for federal buildings in the state have been difficult to verify. Doug Howard, public affairs officer for the United States Attorneys Office in Montgomery said, normal operations are continuing at our usual location, and we remain fully committed to serving the Middle District of Alabama without disruption, after DOGE claimed it had terminated the offices lease this week. Kenneth Stripling, district director of the Wage and Hour Division in Mobile, also said he was not aware of any lease termination and added this week that their offices remain open and ready to serve the public. Congressman Robert Aderholts office recently told Alabama Daily News that the Jasper and Cullman Social Security offices are open and will remain open. The adjustments being made involve the cancellation of lease agreements covering hearing spaces, not the areas used for day-to-day operations, Aderholt, R-Haleyville, told Alabama Daily News in a statement. These changes will not affect the ability of residents to access Social Security services at these locations. And Dustin Gautney, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District also told AL.com previously that without an address, the Corps real estate division is unable to pinpoint what lease is referenced on the DOGE website. Gautney later reached out to clarify that the Corps did not say DOGE didnt terminate a lease of which it may have been the initial leasing agent. We just cannot confirm or deny based on the data provided, he said. The Corps of Engineers Mobile District manages real estate for the military all over the Gulf Coast region, Gautney said, so its difficult to know what the lease is related to. Around a year ago, the Corps did terminate a lease with the U.S. General Services Administration for the second story of a federally owned building on St. Michael Street in downtown Mobile. The approximate square footage the Corps leased was 24,000 square feet. The building was used by the federal court system until 2020, and since then has been used by several federal agencies, Gautney said. But the lease was terminated prior to the creation of DOGE, which was created via executive order after President Donald Trump was inaugurated last month and therefore could not have been involved with the lease termination. A recent NPR analysis found that the site overestimates DOGEs $105 billion government spending slash, which has more than doubled since last week, by several billion dollars. Six other current and former federal contracting officers who spoke with NPR on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation say that the DOGE savings page is misleading the public with the data it includes like overemphasizing the maximum possible value of contracts cancelled as well as with what it leaves out, they say, like how much has already been budgeted and spent to fulfill the contract," NPRs Stephen Fowler writes. A bill brought forth by state Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, to regulate hemp-derived THC products was carried over in committee on Wednesday for the second time after another round of updates. The latest tweaks were added to increase labeling and safety standards for products like delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10, according to Melson. The sales tax on these products had been bumped up to an additional 10% on top of state and local sales tax, Melson said in this weeks Senate Committee on Healthcare meeting. Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, said Wednesday that he would like to see an even higher tax. Melsons original version of the bill would have classified these psychoactive cannabinoids as Schedule I controlled substances, in the same class as LSD or heroin. In Alabama, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance is a Class D felony, which carries a standard sentence of 366 days to 5 years, according to state code. Last week, Melson introduced major updates to the bill that would make the products legal but provide for their regulation. Im not here to close any shops down, he told the committee this week. If youre an adult and you want to go to these stores, go buy it. ...But if were going to have it, lets make sure its pure, we know where its coming from, and its grown in a safe environment, he continued. With delta products now legal under his proposed law, Melson has made multiple substitutions in the bill to keep them away from minors, such as restricting sales to residents that are 21 and older and requiring that they are kept out of reach from children in gas stations and grocery stores, according to the senator. Retailers who sell delta products to minors would be fined $1,500 on the first offense, $2,500 on the second, and $5,000 on the third under SB132, Melson previously told the committee. On the fourth offense, retailers would lose their license to sell any age related products such as tobacco, alcohol, or delta products. SB132 also stipulates that the products must be manufactured in Alabama and undergo testing to ensure their safety. The bill was carried over, but Melson requested the Senate Committee on Healthcare meet to discuss it again on Thursday morning in the hopes of getting it on the Senate floor for a vote. Its time for us to find an answer and get this done to protect our kids, he said. Melsons updates are not currently available for viewing on the Alabama Legislature website. The Alabama Senate on Wednesday passed a bill establishing parental leave for state and public education employees. Currently, state employees must use a combination of sick leave and unpaid time off if they wish to stay home after a childs birth or adoption. SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile would provide up to eight weeks of maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave to state employees in most cases. When a woman has a child, her body goes through a lot, Figures said after the bill passed. She has to heal. And its not just the physical part of it, but its also the mental part of it as well Its very important that that woman has that support. Its also a time that she gets to spend with the father, and they can bond. For adoption, either the mother or father would be eligible for eight weeks and the other for two. The bill passed 28-3. It moves to the House. More from Alabama Reflector In her State of the State speech last month, Gov. Kay Ivey endorsed legislation to provide parental leave to state and education employees. Shortly after the speech, the Alabama Education Association (AEA) also came out in support of the legislation. The bill also provides eight weeks of leave for stillbirths after 20 weeks or miscarriages after 12 weeks. Abortions would not qualify for parental leave unless they were done to save the life of the mother. Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, spoke in support of the bill, saying that he appreciated the opportunity to co-sponsor the bill. I have had a number of emails from my constituents, and they were actually my constituents, not spammed from all over the state, and my simple response was, Im a co-sponsor, and I wasnt trying to be short, I just let them know I was for the bill, Givhan said. Figures introduced a bill last year that would have provided parental leave to education employees while Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, introduced a bill providing parental leave for state employees. Budget chairs indicated they wanted to combine the two bills, but it was too late in the session to do so. We put the two bills together, which was suggested by Sen. Arthur Orr, (R-Decatur) whos chair of the Education Trust fund committee, and now we have this bill, Figures said, adding that she also worked with Iveys office. According to the bills fiscal note, the state would see an average increase of $8,600 per employee for eight weeks of leave or $2,100 for two weeks. Local boards of education would also see increases, with potential costs of $4,800 for eight weeks and $1,200 for two weeks of paid leave. Employees would not be required to use existing sick leave or vacation time before using paid parental leave. Leave will also not impact retirement calculations. If employees dont fulfill their agreed-upon return-to-work period, they would have to repay the wages received for the missed time. The State Personnel Department and the State Board of Education would be responsible for creating and enforcing the new rules and procedures associated with this paid parental leave policy. Figures said after the bills passage that, based on her nearly 30 years of experience in the Senate, women usually get the short end of the stick and that its the right thing to do. So many women go through this, and they need that time to heal. They need that time to get themselves together, and they need that support from their partners, Figures said. The Alabama House Committee on Judiciary approved a bill Wednesday that would exempt nursing mothers from jury duty for up to two years. The bill will now go to the House floor for its final vote. If approved, it will be sent to Gov. Kay Iveys office for signature. SB76, otherwise known as Parkers Law, was brought forth by Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, to codify what was established by an administrative order passed down from the Alabama Supreme Court earlier this year which states that a nursing mother of an infant child clearly qualifies for the excuse from jury service under state judicial code. We know that administrative rules can be easily reversed with the stroke of a pen, Weaver said previously. We just feel that this gives them [nursing mothers] the protection that they need. This legislation comes in response to claims from several Alabama mothers that they were harassed and threatened by Jefferson County judges for bringing breastfeeding babies with them for jury duty. Kandace Brown said earlier this year that she was even threatened with DHR for bringing in her three-month-old daughter Parker. And this issue is not confined to Jefferson County, according to Weaver. She recently said that she had received at least 40 calls from nursing mothers who were going to be made to serve on a jury in Alabama. Under SB76, if a mother can provide to the court a written statement certifying that she is a nursing mother, she would be exempt for up to 24 months, according to the bills text. It was amended in the Senate to only require a written statement, instead of a written statement from a healthcare provider. Sen. Bobby Singleton, D- Greensboro, said he appreciated Weaver working with him on the amendment to not require a medical certification so that the legislature could remove a tedious step that could cost some mothers money they cant afford. After the two years are up, the mother may be called to reappear for jury duty, per the bills text. Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, has filed a similar bill, HB209, that was recently approved by the House and now moves to the Senate. Brown has thanked Weaver and DuBose for their work on this legislation. Im thankful that no other mother will have to experience this in the future, she said. Former President Donald Trump prays with pastor Mario Bramnick, third from right, and others at Versailles restaurant on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami. AP Photo/Alex Brandon President Donald Trumps senior aides held a closed-door meeting Friday with faith-based charities at the State Department where they touted the administrations success in zeroing out foreign aid and forecast a future where church groups and billionaires would replace the government in caring for the worlds most vulnerable. Do you want the country to get credit for foreign aid or do you want the Creator to get the credit? asked Albert Gombis, a State Department political appointee, according to two people who attended the meeting. Most of the aid groups in attendance - affiliated with evangelical Christianity - had viewed the Trump administration as a political ally. But the leaders of the groups relayed painful impacts on their organizations stemming from Trumps cancellation of 90 percent of all foreign aid contracts at the U.S. Agency for International Development, the termination of more than 1,600 positions, and the placement of almost all of USAIDs 10,000-strong workforce on administrative leave. The vice president of World Vision, Edward Brown, said that his Christian charity would have to lay off a few thousand workers if the administrations policies werent reversed, people in the room said. Other leaders of charities said the Trump administration never paid them for providing lifesaving assistance that was supposed to be exempt from the freeze under a waiver issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Some had secured exemptions for their aid programs only to be informed last week that Rubio had canceled the programs altogether, a major source of frustration. One by one, the aid leaders artfully explained the benefits of foreign assistance and what is being lost by ending it, said one person in the room, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential meeting that has not been previously reported. The gathering of about 35 people included a whos who of faith-based groups including World Relief, Samaritans Purse, Christian Aid, Food for the Hungry, Compassion International, and National Association of Evangelicals. It also included the Muslim charity Islamic Relief. The U.S. officials, led by USAID deputy administrator Pete Marocco, said they could not explain the rationale behind the terminations of any given program but insisted the cuts had been a success. Some of us looked at each other in disbelief, said an attendee. We care about poor and hungry people and dont know how you can claim this as successful. The polite objections of faith-based humanitarian executives pale in comparison to the fiery reactions of others in the aid community where concerns over the future of foreign assistance are existential. On Wednesday, demonstrators on Capitol Hill shouted blood on his hands, as Marocco, Trumps chief dismantler of USAID, met with lawmakers in a closed-door briefing. Inside the room, Marocco told lawmakers USAID was a money-laundering scheme that had lost its way and said he was examining whether foreign assistance was even constitutional, according two congressional aides present in the meeting. He said he was considering making multiple criminal referrals to the Justice Department for alleged and unspecified crimes. He also accused USAID of pushing LGBTQ issues in the developing world and fomenting the so-called Color Revolutions that toppled authoritarian governments in former Soviet states, a critique shared by far-right politicians in Russia and Hungary. One lawmaker asked Marocco where he was on Jan. 6, 2021, a nod to unconfirmed reports that he was among the rioters in the Capitol building. Marocco declined to answer, saying it was not the topic of the meeting. The State Department, USAID, Marocco and Gombis did not respond to requests for comment. Rubio, who empowered Marocco and approved his directives, was once a big proponent of foreign aid, but since becoming secretary of state has harshly criticized USAID, saying it acts as a global charity irrespective of whether it is in the national interest and is guilty of insubordination. He has sought to allay concerns, telling critics and his own employees that the United States is not walking away from foreign aid, but it is hard to square that assurance with Maroccos closed-door claims of zeroing out U.S. foreign aid and relinquishing responsibilities to the private sector. The dissonant signals within the administration have angered Democrats, including Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who asked how the administration could claim to be conducting a measured review of USAID while also moving to gut the agencys workforce, of which he said 94 percent had been fired or essentially permanently furloughed. I just dont think you can have it both ways, Murphy said during a nomination hearing for officials including Christopher Landau, Trumps pick for deputy secretary of state. Landau, who served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico during Trumps first term, said he believes that Trump wants to make sure that we are doing the American taxpayers bidding by looking carefully at these programs and making sure that we separate the baby from the bathwater. Murphy chided Landau for saying he did not know what percentage of the U.S. humanitarian workforce had been eliminated or sidelined. In an astonishingly short amount of time, Trump has radically transformed Americas foreign assistance apparatus in ways even his staunchest critics never imagined. Last week, teary-eyed aid workers packed up their desks at the now-shuttered USAID headquarters in the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, while thousands of USAID personnel stationed overseas remain in limbo, unsure when they will become unemployed, when families will be forced from their homes and schools, and if they will be compensated for a move back to the United States. The impact of the cuts on Christian aid groups, which receive millions of dollars from the U.S. government every year, have been stark. Catholic Relief Services anticipates layoffs and reductions to programs of up to 50 percent, according to a February report in the National Catholic Reporter. The same month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops laid off 50 staffers in its migration and refugee services office, attributing it to a delay in reimbursements from the government. World Vision declined to comment on future staffing changes. A person familiar with the matter said the organization is continuing to assess the full extent of the impact based on a fluid situation. If grants for lifesaving aid are not reinstated soon and the organization doesnt receive pending payments, it will be forced to furlough or terminate many staff across more than 40 countries, the person said. The Supreme Court provided some hope to aid groups on Friday in a 5-4 ruling clearing the way for the Trump administration to restart nearly $2 billion in payments for aid work already done. But Marocco made clear in his meeting with lawmakers that the U.S. government should get out of the philanthropy business, raising expectations for future showdowns at the Supreme Court. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are also awaiting a notice from the Trump administration that it intends to collapse USAID under the auspices of the State Department, which has already taken over some of its functions, including public affairs communications. Only a few hundred people remain active in their jobs at USAID and not on administrative leave. Career officials say those bureaucratic adjustments are much less important than the impact on the worlds most vulnerable. A draft memo written by Nicholas Enrich, USAIDs acting assistant administrator for global health, estimated that ending programs to fight Ebola, polio, malaria and drug-resistant tuberculosis would result in the deaths of millions of children and cost the U.S. billions of dollars for the treatment of citizens infected with diseases that had been at bay in foreign countries. The USAID suspension would lead to 71,000-166,000 malaria deaths annually, the memo said. Polio - on the cusp of being globally eradicated - would surge back, paralyzing around 200,000 people per year and rebounding to hundreds of millions of cases over the next 10 years, the memo added. Deadly hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola or Marburg could spread to around 28,000 cases. The youngest would suffer most. Around 1 million children would not be treated for severe acute malnutrition, when the lack of food becomes so severe the body starts digesting its own tissues. And between 2-3 million children would die of completely preventable diseases because they would not receive vaccines, the memo said. The memo foresees more communicable diseases reaching U.S. shores, causing health costs to spiral. Treating one patient with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis - the prescription when a patient interrupts their drug regime - costs more than $154,000, and can reach around half a million dollars if the strain is extensively drug-resistant. The dramatic impacts have alarmed the elder statesmen of the GOP, who want to preserve the partys legacy on programs like PEPFAR, the George W. Bush-era HIV prevention program estimated to have saved tens of millions of lives in Africa. In February, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a phone call with Rubios top aide Mike Needham, her former student at Stanford, expressing concern that the evisceration of foreign aid wasnt just impacting USAID, but a range of lifesaving programs both Republicans and Democrats care about, said a GOP official familiar with the call. A spokesperson for Rice declined to comment on the private call. Unlike older Republicans, Marocco is much more skeptical of PEPFAR and has told lawmakers the program squanders billions of dollars through waste, fraud and abuse, but he did not provide examples or evidence. While Marocco took heated criticism from Democrats during Wednesdays meeting, many of the leaders of faith-based groups praised the intent of the Trump administrations reforms, particularly Ken Isaacs, vice president at Samaritans Purse, who said they were long overdue, according to two people in the meeting. Many aid organizations that receive funding from the United States have declined to speak out about Trumps cuts for fear of being targeted for further program terminations. When asked if Isaacs could explain his comments at the meeting, he told The Washington Post he had been taken out of context and referred the reporter to a spokesman. When asked for the proper context, a spokesman for Samaritans Purse, Mark Barber, declined to provide it and said he may need to consult legal regarding defamation. Other attendees said Maroccos presentation left clear the scope of the Trump administrations ambitions. It was abundantly clear that they are reframing the entire enterprise of foreign aid as a kind of philanthropy the government doesnt need to be involved in, said a senior aid executive. - Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, arrives for a hearing of the Health, Education, and Labor Committee on her nomination, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP President Donald Trump is set to issue an executive order as soon as Thursday directing his newly confirmed education secretary to work to close the department she now leads, two people familiar with the situation said. A draft of the executive order that circulated on Wednesday recognizes that the president does not have the power to shutter the Education Department. It would take an act of Congress and 60 yes votes in the Senate, which is unlikely given that Republicans hold only 53 seats. Rather, the draft calls on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the department to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law. Officials including McMahon have suggested that might include trying to shift some of the agencys functions to other parts of government - though that would also face legal hurdles because the agencys major programs are assigned by law to the Education Department. More likely is a continuation of what has already begun at the agency: deep cuts to staff, programs and grants. The department has already warned of a very significant reduction in force, or RIF, in the short term. The draft was labeled predecisional. One person familiar with the matter confirmed that the draft was legitimate but cautioned that its details could change before it is issued. The White House declined to comment. The department administers federal grant programs, including the $18.4 billion Title I program that provides supplemental funding to high-poverty K-12 schools, as well as the $15.5 billion program that helps cover the cost of education for students with disabilities. The department also oversees the $1.6 trillion federal student loan program and sets rules for what colleges must do to participate. The executive order is cast as returning power over education to states and local communities, which Trump has repeatedly promised to do. It does not recognize that K-12 education, as well as public universities and colleges, are already controlled almost entirely by states and local communities. The federal government, by law, may not control school curriculum. Trump suggests the federal government is doing too much on education, but he has also demanded it do more. The executive order is expected to amplify Trumps call for schools to excise illegal discrimination in the guise of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs or risk losing federal money, which accounts for about 10 percent of K-12 public school dollars and a significant share of higher-education funding. Trumps second presidency The aspiration to close the Education Department is no surprise. Trump campaigned on closing the agency and, hours after being confirmed by the Senate on Monday, McMahon emailed staff about their final mission - a clear reference to the end of the department. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, denounced the administrations entire approach to the department. Trying to abolish it - which, by the way, only Congress can do - sends a message that the president doesnt care about opportunity for all kids, she said in a statement Wednesday night. No one likes bureaucracy, and everyones in favor of more efficiency, so lets find ways to accomplish that. In her confirmation hearing, McMahon agreed with Democrats that the administration cannot close the agency on its own, but she suggested some of the agencys functions could move elsewhere in the government. However, even those moves would require congressional action, experts said. The 1979 law that established the department specifies that the agency shall include many of its major responsibilities, including an Office for Civil Rights and an Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. A separate statute, the Higher Education Act, specifies that the federal student aid office be housed in the Education Department. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., waits before former President Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) AP U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., could be on the brink of making a decision with ramifications for two elected offices in Alabama. Alabamas senior senator said he is considering running for governor in 2026, with a final decision to come in May. If Tuberville, who enjoys wide popularity in Alabama, pulls the trigger on a gubernatorial run, it could cause other candidates for governor to exit the race and lead to a mad dash for the Senate seat, which would become open for the second time since 2017. While the Alabama governors race will be open in 2026 because of Gov. Kay Ivey is term limited, Tuberville will be seen as the overwhelming favorite. One political pundit boldly predicted Tuberville could win a crowded Republican primary race for governor without a runoff. In a Republican primary, he could slaughter everybody else, Alabama political consultant Jonathan Gray told AL.com in January. There could be 10 people in the race and there wouldnt be a runoff. Both the general election for Alabama governor and Tubervilles Senate seat will be held on Nov. 3, 2026, meaning there wont need to be a Senate special election -- like in 2017, when then-Sen. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as President Donald Trumps attorney general -- if Tuberville runs for governor. Before we get into five potential candidates, one caveat: the idea of an open Senate seat in Alabama in 2026 is fairly fresh, so the speculation has not ramped up as much as there has been for governor. Weve always known Ivey could not run for a third term. With that said, heres five potential Republican candidates for Tubervilles Senate seat, should it become open: Steve Marshall and Tommy Tuberville address reporters as Trump stood trial in New York. screenshot Steve Marshall Marshall, the Alabama attorney general, was seen as a top contender to succeed Ivey before announcing on New Years Eve he was definitely not running for governor. While he wont be in the governors race, Marshall left open the possibility of running for another office. Former VP Joe Biden campaigns for U.S. Senate candidate Doug Jones at an event at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama Tuesday October 3, 2017. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com). al.com al.com Doug Jones Tubervilles predecessor in the Senate won the seat in 2017, when Sessions vacated the office to become Trumps attorney general. However, Jones beat former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore by 22,000 votes as Moore was dogged by by claims from several women who said they were sexually assaulted by him. Jones lost to Tuberville 60% to 40% in 2020, a margin of around 470,000 votes. Jones continues to be politically active, whether its criticizing Tuberville or President Donald Trump on social media or raising money for Democratic candidates across the country. If he runs, Jones would be the frontrunner in the Democratic primary but would face an uphill battle against any Republican in the November general election. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) greets supporters while campaigning during a "Save America" rally at York Family Farms on August 21, 2021 in Cullman. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images Mo Brooks The former congressman representing Huntsville ran for the Senate seat in the 2017 special election and in the 2022 Senate election, where he lost in the runoff to eventual winner Katie Britt. Like Jones, Brooks has not stayed on the political sidelines since leaving office, calling out Trump for being the most dishonest elected official that...the public has ever had to interact with. Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, President, Alabama Public Service Commission talks with Huntsville/Madison County Leadership Class 26 in Montgomery March 6, 2013 (Bob Gathany / bgathany@al.com) HVT Twinkle Cavanaugh Cavanaugh, president of the Alabama Public Service Commission, is the highest-ranking female state officeholder after Ivey. Cavanaugh would have higher name recognition among Alabama voters than other potential candidates who may not have run statewide before. Prattville businesswoman and attorney Jessica Taylor announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District seat on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. Jessica Taylor The Prattville businesswoman and attorney has set her sights on elected office in Alabama before. Taylor ran for Congress in the newly-drawn 2nd Congressional District, She also ran for Senate in 2022, dropping out before the primary, and for the 2nd Congressional District in 2020, when the district encompassed the Montgomery area. An earlier version of this story said Twinkle Cavanaugh is the second-highest ranking state officeholder after Gov. Kay Ivey. She is the second-highest ranking female state officer after Ivey. A chilly night is in store for Alabama, and temperatures are expected to fall below freezing in the northern part of the state. National Weather Service The higher elevations of north Alabama may see a little snow tonight, according to forecasters. It wont be enough to cause major travel issues, and no winter weather advisories are in effect for the state. However, the National Weather Service in Huntsville said a dusting to as much as a quarter-inch of snow will be possible for higher-elevation areas in northeast Alabama. Here's where there could be a few snowflakes tonight. NWS Temperatures in north Alabama will be cold enough to squeeze out a few flakes, according to the weather service. Low temperatures tonight will fall into the upper 20s or low 30s overnight. The weather service expects precipitation to end from southwest to northeast this evening but could continue past midnight for the northeast corner of the state. 10 1 / 10 Snowfall in Alabama 2/19/25 The weather service said the higher ridge tops in northeast Alabama could see anywhere from a dusting to as much as a quarter-inch. Winter precipitation is not expected elsewhere in Alabama. March 06, 2025 By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU Alabama State University will serve as the host for the upcoming ACHIEVE Transfer Student Success Conference (ACHIEVE Conference), March 5-6 at ASU's Ralph D. Abernathy College of Education, located at 1625 Harris Way. Attendees must register for the event - see the QR code in the flyer below or email keith@alabamatransfers.com. Dr. Tanjula Petty, the University's vice president for Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Initiatives, and Transformation, led the initiative and organization of the on-campus event. "I am proud that ASU has served as the host institution for the ACHIEVE Conference. After all, it allowed us to share what ASU has to offer with our colleagues from across the state. This empowering event propelled us to focus on developing strategies for transfer student's success," Petty stated. "Importantly, the ACHIEVE Conference has also allowed us to help professionals develop the skills, mindset, and strategies necessary for academic and personal success of transfer students. The conference featured concurrent sessions with keynote speakers including Manny Smith, Dr. Omega Wilson, Dr. Matt Newlin, a transfer student panel, and networking opportunities. ASUs President, Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr, opened the conference on Wednesday (March 5). Petty explained that this conference is important because it streamlines the processes across the state to ensure these students have a seamless transition from two-year to four-year institutions. By fostering collaboration between community colleges and universities in Alabama, this conference plays a vital role in enhancing accessibility, affordability, and the overall educational experience for students pursuing higher education within the state. ABOUT ALABAMA TRANSFERS Alabama Transfers is a valuable resource for students in the state of Alabama who are seeking a smooth and efficient transition from a community college to a four-year institution. This program offers a comprehensive guide that outlines the transfer pathways, including course equivalencies and requirements, between Alabama's two-year colleges and its public universities. It is designed to ensure that students can seamlessly transfer their earned credits, reducing the risk of duplication and loss of academic progress. Alabama Transfers not only simplifies the transfer process but also helps students make well-informed decisions about their academic journey. English News AI technology boosts efficiency of government services in China Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 4 Mars 2025 As algorithmic solutions increasingly reshape institutional frameworks, policymakers confront the imperative of harmonizing operational automation with inherently human competencies in ethical discernment. This delicate symbiotic equilibrium, analysts suggest, could potentially redefine public sector effectiveness by merging computational precision with psychologically attuned service paradigms. By Du Yifei, People's Daily In Shenzhen's Futian district, a cohort of 70 artificial intelligence systems designated as "digital personnel" has initiated a paradigm shift in administrative operations. Engineered with DeepSeek's cognitive architectures, these systems achieve document processing precision exceeding 95% while reducing processing times by up to 90%, concurrently optimizing interdepartmental coordination through 80% improvements in task distribution efficacy. Operational parameters extend across 240+ governance scenarios, encompassing document management, civil services, crisis response protocols, and economic development initiatives. This technological implementation reflects China's accelerating adoption of generative AI solutions, with multiple municipalities now integrating neural network systems to refine bureaucratic processes and elevate civic service standards through automated governance frameworks. Beijing's Economic-Technological Development Area has implemented neural network systems for market supervision, tripling operational throughput in regulatory enforcement. Hangzhou's healthcare insurance AI interface manages approximately 70% of citizen inquiries through voice recognition protocols, with its textual counterpart resolving 90% of written consultations through semantic analysis frameworks. Nanjing's emergency management platform demonstrates 95% regulatory adherence in producing incident documentation within 300-second operational windows. Many provincial-level jurisdictions including Shenzhen and Guangzhou now operationalize DeepSeek's cognitive architectures within administrative ecosystems, establishing automated content generation pipelines to optimize administrative responsiveness. This nationwide integration of neural networks signifies China's systematic transition toward data-driven governance models, with intelligent systems progressively replacing manual workflows across regulatory enforcement, public health coordination, and crisis mitigation operations. China's intelligent governance frameworks now extend beyond administrative optimization to reengineer metropolitan management paradigms. Guiyang, a topographically constrained municipality historically burdened by chronic road network saturation, has implemented a cognitive traffic orchestration platform showing operational efficacy. The system synthesizes municipal surveillance infrastructure with commercial navigation telemetry, utilizing predictive analytics to model vehicular movement patterns. During peak transit intervals, this architecture enables automated signal timing recalibrations across 31 arterial junctions. Preliminary metrics indicate measurable reductions in congestion metrics, with one urban dweller noting "tangible improvements in roadway fluidity." Professor Wu Yiping of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics' School of Public Economics and Administration hailed the initiative as a pivotal advancement in administrative innovation. "Embedding generative AI systems such as DeepSeek into civic operations could revolutionize service delivery through optimized content production and responsive digital interfaces," he asserted, emphasizing the technology's potential to recalibrate urban management frameworks for contemporary demands. While acknowledging these operational benefits, analysts caution that workforce implications require rigorous scrutiny. Industry observers concur that although AI-enhanced governance may streamline repetitive functions, persistent limitations surround dataset reliability, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and implementation scalability. Crucially, they stress that human competencies in strategic innovation, empathetic engagement, and nuanced policy adjudication remain irreplicable assets in public administration. "AI systems function as administrative instruments operating within defined human oversight protocols rather than autonomous policymaking entities," clarified Gao Zeng, deputy director of Futian District's Government Services and Data Administration. In Shanghai's Putuo District, official Lu Yao noted a persistent preference for interpersonal engagement despite technological advances. "While algorithmically generated responses demonstrate technical proficiency, constituents consistently value the irreplaceable interpersonal rapport cultivated through direct human exchange," Lu observed, underscoring the enduring significance of empathetic dialogue in civic affairs. Lu maintains that AI's principal contribution to community governance resides in its capacity to alleviate bureaucratic redundancies. By automating administrative workflows, public servants gain critical bandwidth to prioritize participatory neighborhood initiatives and resolve complex societal challenges, he argued. As algorithmic solutions increasingly reshape institutional frameworks, policymakers confront the imperative of harmonizing operational automation with inherently human competencies in ethical discernment. This delicate symbiotic equilibrium, analysts suggest, could potentially redefine public sector effectiveness by merging computational precision with psychologically attuned service paradigms. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Low-altitude economy lifts off as Chinese automakers enter the eVTOL era China expands efforts to boost global e-commerce cooperation Legacy of Tea-Horse Road lives on at China-Laos border Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Deputy safeguards treasured pine tree 09:56, March 06, 2025 By Zhu Lixin ( China Daily At 7 am on Feb 28, as the first group of tourists arrived at the peaks in the Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area, Hu Xiaochun, a deputy to the National People's Congress, put on a thick cotton coat, slung his tool bag over his shoulder, and headed toward an iconic pine on the Yuping Peak. The ancient pine, over 1,000 years old, extends its branches on one side, resembling an outstretched arm welcoming visitors, hence its name Yingkesong, or the Guest-Greeting Pine. Born in 1980 and an army veteran, Hu started working with the scenic area as a fireguard in 2006. Four years later, he became the 19th guardian of the pine, a position established in 1981. Huangshan Mountain, located in Huangshan city of East China's Anhui province, is a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, a World Geopark, and a World Biosphere Reserve. "For me, guarding this pine, a symbol of Chinese etiquette culture, makes me feel proud and honored," he said. After inspecting whether the trunk was stable, the branches were regular, and the support frames were intact, he opened his diary and wrote: "Feb 28, no abnormalities." "No abnormalities are the happiest thing," Hu said with a smile. "It means the pine is safe and healthy." In the past years, his diaries for the pine have totaled approximately 1.6 million Chinese characters. On Feb 20, the snow depth on the mountain reached 20 centimeters. Before the heavy snowfall, Hu and the emergency protection team had set up support frames in advance to provide physical support for the pine. "We need to carefully check the snow depth on the canopy, the pressure on the branches, and whether the support frame is secure," he said. "Sometimes, we use snowblowers to blow snow off the branches, reducing the pressure on the pine." During moments of abrupt severe weather, Hu reminisced about the time he and his colleagues transported bamboo up the mountain to construct a support platform for the pine tree years ago. His professional dedication earned him the "Good Samaritan of China" title in 2021. In 2022, President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from Hu and Li Peisheng, a cleaner of the scenic spot and another "Good Samaritan of China", expressing the hope that they shall continue to play their roles as role models. "Over the years, you have been working to keep Huangshan Mountain clean and beautiful, and tending the millenary Guest-Greeting Pine with care and love day after day, fully demonstrating the spirit of dedication and professional ethics," wrote Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, in his letter. Hu not only assists passing tourists but also educates them on the protection of the Huangshan pine, a unique species that originated in the area. He was elected as a deputy to the National People's Congress in 2023. To actively fulfill his duty, he visits and surveys the local residents, engages in dialogue with tourists, and listens to their opinions and demands regarding ecological civilization, tourism development, and economic and social progress. For the ongoing two sessions the annual gatherings of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference he brought forward some proposals to promote the internationalization of Huangshan tourism. China's visa-free transit policy was extended to 240 hours over that time span and to more cities for ports of entry, including Hefei and Huangshan, two cities in Anhui, by December. Hu sees this as an opportunity for the development of Huangshan. To support opening more international routes at the Tunxi International Airport in Huangshan, he suggests that the Civil Aviation Administration of China strengthen its support for small and medium-sized airports in infrastructure planning, flight route approvals, and general aviation development policies. "I will base myself on my position and actively offer suggestions and strategies for the integrated development of the ecology and the economy," Hu said. "I will contribute to help my hometown achieve a win-win situation of beautiful ecology and prosperous people." (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Dozens of mourners gathered Wednesday in Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel near Gaza, to bid farewell to Ohad Yahalomi, whose body was returned by Hamas last month. The nature guide was seized during the Palestinian Islamist movement's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, when nearly a quarter of Nir Oz's residents were killed or taken hostage. "We've lost a formidable person," his friend Yael Lotem told AFP. "He was a part of our family for many years, he was a part of our lives," said the 64-year-old resident of nearby Gvulot kibbutz while waiting for the funeral procession. Yahalomi, a French-Israeli national, was 49 when he was abducted. His body was not returned until February 27, in a hostage-prisoner exchange under a ceasefire deal that began on January 19. More than 100 mourners watched silently as his coffin, wrapped in an Israeli flag, was lowered into the sandy soil of the kibbutz cemetery. Tulips and sunflowers covered his grave in a mound as high as the mourners' thighs. During the October 7 attack that triggered the war in Gaza, the Yahalomi family tried to take shelter in their home's safe room, according to his widow Bat-Sheva Yahalomi. The door wouldn't lock, so Yahalomi stood in front of it with a pistol. He was wounded in a shootout before being abducted. Their family home remains riddled with bullet holes from the attack. His wife and their three children were also taken hostage but attempted to escape. Only the mother and two daughters managed to flee, leaving behind 12-year-old Eitan. He was released in November 2023 during a brief truce. Ohad Yahalomi was declared dead in January 2024 in a video released by a Hamas-affiliated group. The Israeli army confirmed his death only after his body was returned. A nature enthusiast, Yahalomi worked for the Israel Parks and Nature Authority. An expert on scorpions, he had even written a guide on them. "I find it very hard that the country still hasn't managed to bring all the hostages home," said his friend Lotem. "It was possible to bring them all back alive, but that didn't happen," added Lotem, whose daughter and grandchildren were also taken hostage on October 7 but released after 51 days in captivity. Moshe Lotem, 69, struggled to hold back tears as he spoke about the man he considered "like a son". "Ohad was someone very special. He didn't distinguish between people; he helped anyone he could," he said. "When I learned he had been taken, I was relieved, because I thought he would be able to look after my daughter and grandchildren. "I was sure that with his magical personality, he could soften Hamas a little, show them human kindness," he added. "I couldn't believe he wouldn't come back." Yael Mitzafon, 51, another family friend, also believed he would survive. "I felt like he could come back alive. That didn't happen, and I was deeply shocked," she said. "It's important for his family to see their friends present here and elsewhere," she added. She thought about her own son, the same age as Eitan Yahalomi. "And if it had been the other way around? It's really hard." English News China's two sessions: bridging public voice and policy action Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 4 Mars 2025 As the "two sessions" unfold, NPC deputies and CPPCC members carry with them the voices and aspirations of all sectors of society. Their discussions will help shape national development and public policy, ensuring that the concerns of citizens are heard at the highest levels of government. In this dynamic exchange between policymakers and the public, China's governance model continues to evolve, translating suggestions and proposals into tangible progress. By Xu Jun, People's Daily As China's paramount legislative and advisory assemblies convene this week for their annual sessions, the global spotlight shifts to Beijing. The "Two Sessions" the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) commence on March 5th and March 4th respectively, providing a crucial insight into the nation's policy directions. These gatherings serve as pivotal indicators of China's political and economic course. This year's "two sessions" bring together nearly 3,000 NPC deputies and over 2,000 CPPCC members to deliberate on state affairs, exemplifying the country's commitment to whole-process people's democracy. A pertinent question arises: Do the recommendations and proposals put forward by NPC deputies and CPPCC members actually influence policy? The data speaks volumes. In 2024, China's government departments addressed 8,783 suggestions from NPC deputies, accounting for 95.1 percent of all submissions, and 4,813 proposals from members of the National Committee of the CPPCC, representing 96.1 percent of total submissions. More than 5,000 recommendations were formally adopted across ministries, resulting in the enactment of over 2,000 targeted policy measures. These efforts have accelerated progress in key areas: fostering high-caliber economic growth, advancing the national strategy to revitalize China through science and education, driving comprehensive rural modernization, and safeguarding and elevating public welfare. Each motion, suggestion, and proposal underscores meticulous research and resolute commitment. Legislators and political advisors not only benefit from structured avenues to articulate insights but also observe concrete policy impacts stemming from their contributions. As new energy vehicles (NEVs) gain traction among China's younger demographics, post-purchase servicing has risen to prominence as a critical challenge. NPC deputy Cao Jingfang dedicated six months to scrutinizing the issue, conducting site visits to maintenance facilities and engaging industry specialists before formally proposing heightened policy backing for NEV aftercare infrastructure. In a decisive response, China's Ministry of Transport pledged to establish a robust regulatory framework encompassing 32 standards spanning technical certifications, service benchmarks, and inspection protocols. Concurrently, the ministry is spearheading efforts to formally classify "NEV maintenance technician" as a state-recognized profession, thereby institutionalizing workforce development for this burgeoning sector. State mechanisms, as evidenced here, continue to serve as pivotal conduits for translating deliberative input into actionable governance. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs processed and formally responded to 313 legislative recommendations from NPC deputies alongside 174 advisory proposals from CPPCC members in 2024, with priorities centered on eldercare systems, social welfare modernization, and administrative governance reforms. The ministry implemented a three-phase protocolpreliminary stakeholder consultation, real-time progress briefings, and outcome accountability reviewsto systematize policymaking. To deepen alignment, officials institutionalized direct participation by inviting NPC deputies and CPPCC members into ministerial forums, joint research task forces, and draft policy deliberations, ensuring expert input directly informed regulatory agendas. This structured engagement yielded 24 codified regulatory actions over the past fiscal year, with more than 220 recommendations integrated into operational or strategic frameworks. For NPC deputies and CPPCC members, participation in the two sessions is both an honor and a responsibility, with their performance subject to evaluation. Many regions have introduced evaluation mechanisms for NPC deputies based on their attendance, constituent engagement, and the quality of their motions and suggestions. This year, the NPC will review the draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses at Various Levels, further defining their responsibilities and requiring regularly performance reports. During the NPC, deputies will deliberate the report on the work of the government, and the work report of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court, and Supreme People's Procuratorate. They will also review the government's annual budgets and national development plans. These reports, which outline legislative, administrative, and judicial developments, as well as how government funds are allocated, undergo rigorous scrutiny before final approval, ensuring the smooth operation of state institutions. Besides, NPC deputies and CPPCC members also engage in inspections, research projects, and law enforcement oversight, submit motions, suggestions, and proposals, engage in deliberations, make inquiries, take part in elections and voting, and attend biweekly consultative sessions. They fulfill their duties in accordance with the law and serve the people wholeheartedly. As the "two sessions" unfold, NPC deputies and CPPCC members carry with them the voices and aspirations of all sectors of society. Their discussions will help shape national development and public policy, ensuring that the concerns of citizens are heard at the highest levels of government. In this dynamic exchange between policymakers and the public, China's governance model continues to evolve, translating suggestions and proposals into tangible progress. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Low-altitude economy lifts off as Chinese automakers enter the eVTOL era China expands efforts to boost global e-commerce cooperation Legacy of Tea-Horse Road lives on at China-Laos border Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) For weeks, President Donald Trump has said that Canada should be Americas 51st state. He has mocked Canadas economic dependence on the United States. He has condemned Canadian tariffs and trade restrictions. He has scolded Canadas free riding on American defense. He has knocked Canadas porous borders and drug dens. He has accused Canada of colluding with hostile foreign powers and global institutions. He has trolled our prime minister. Its delightful. Many Canadians are enjoying the show. Up here in the cold white north, Trump has set the cat among the pigeons. Canadas chattering classes are wringing their hands and gnashing their teeth. He has challenged their sense of entitlement. He has exposed their patriotism of convenience and knee-jerk anti-Americanism. He has exposed their haughty righteousness. He has identified rot that Canadian leaders refuse to acknowledge. Here is some friendly advice for the president. The 51st state will not be Canada. The Canadian political establishment, largely centered in Ontario and Quebec, will fight it tooth and nail. Their vested interests depend upon the existing federal order of things. Big fish in small ponds will steadfastly refuse to abandon the pond. Canada will not join the United States as a single unit. But the countrys provinces are a different matter. Some parts of Canada might be persuaded, one or two at a time, to come stateside. If there is to be a 51st state from north of the border, the best bet is Alberta. Even better would be to adopt two provinces, Alberta and Newfoundland, to start. Canada has always been an unlikely country. It looks huge on the map, but most of its people live in a ribbon from east to west, close to the U.S. border. Canada is a layer of icing on the American cake. Trade and traffic travel primarily north-south across the border, not east-west within the country. Canada has long had tariff-like trade restrictions even between its own provinces. The country is a collection of regions in permanent conflict. Some have legitimate and longstanding grievances. The strongest, wealthiest, and most aggrieved of these is Alberta. The quest for liberty is Americas origin story. Its revolution against the British king lies deep in Americas cultural DNA. Canada does not share that foundation. In fact, the Canadian story is the mirror opposite. When the Americans rose up, the Canadians resolved to remain loyal to the king. If you like, Canadas raison detre is to oppose the American spirit. But Canada also depends on the United States for its security and fortunes. The result is a fragile national psyche. Americas best friend and ally is also its shrillest critic. So it is understandable why politicians in Canada even in Alberta have decided, at least for the time being, that their political fortunes depend upon rejecting Trumps solicitations. Instead, they have elected to wrap themselves in the Canadian flag. Albertans, or at least a good number of them, disagree. Some want to become an independent country. A nascent movement to leave Canada has been bubbling in Alberta for a long time. They could start from scratch to draft a constitutional order that would preserve their liberty for the foreseeable future. They could even use the American constitution (not the Canadian one) as a model on which to improve. But many of these Albertans are interested in the potential of joining the United States, too. Two weeks ago, I published a declaration of independence for Alberta. There is nothing official about it. Im not even from Alberta; Im an Ontario boy. Who am I to draft an Alberta Declaration of Independence? The answer is, Im Canadian, and my compromised, complacent country needs shaking up. If Alberta and other parts of this huge country resolved to separate from Canada, who could blame them? I believe that Alberta would be better off on its own, or as part of the United States. Many Albertans appear to agree. On X and on my Substack, they have written the equivalent of I am Albertan, and I endorse this message. Of course, that sentiment is not universal. Some strongly oppose any suggestion of leaving Canada. Still more, I would guess, are those in between unhappy Albertans dissatisfied with the status quo but wary of launching into the great unknown. Trump has opened the door. He should invite Alberta in. He should make the people of Alberta an offer, even an informal one, to tell them what potentially lies before them should they support American statehood. He might start with these two promises: 1. A State, Not a Territory America would welcome Alberta as its 51st state, not as a territory. Trump would urge Congress to pass legislation pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the United States Constitution to provide for Albertas direct and immediate entry to the Union. It would have all the rights and status of a state of the Union, including two seats in the United States Senate and representation in the House of Representatives in proportion to its population. 2. Dollar for dollar Upon Albertas entry to the Union as a state, the federal government of the United States would recognize, transfer, and exchange Canadian dollars for American dollars on a one-to-one basis, notwithstanding the difference in the value of the currencies. All accounts, financial assets, and legal instruments in Alberta expressed in Canadian dollars would be recognized and honored as American dollars. (Some transitional plan would be necessary to avoid Canada-wide free riding on this windfall.) President Trump can make Alberta America not again, but for the first time. Image via Pexels. President Javier Milei has agreed to cooperate with an ongoing investigation into previously undisclosed and unknown Nazi assets at Credit Suisse and its predecessor banks, according to a February 18 letter from Rep. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Argentina has long been linked to Nazi escape routes, known as ratlines. Mileis involvement represents an opportunity to confront and resolve lingering consequences of WWII-era crimes. Ratlines were established to help Nazis and Nazi sympathizers escape punishment for their crimes. South American politicians, U.S. and British intelligence, and a Vatican official allegedly helped Nazi war criminals flee Europe to numerous countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and even the U.S. and Canada. In an article dated April 18, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported the Senate investigation was prompted by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which in 2020 said it believed that there were accounts at Credit Suisse holding money looted from Jewish victims, based on a list it had of 12,000 Nazi party members and a Nazi-affiliated labor union in Argentina. [snip] The Senate investigation reopens a painful chapter: Credit Suisse and other Swiss banks paid $1.25 billion two decades ago to settle claims and return money to families of Holocaust victims, as part of a period of soul searching in Switzerland that stirred up latent antisemitism and forced a around the countrys wartime behavior. The Senate Budget Committee became involved in 2023, when it realized that lawyer Neil Barofsky had allegedly been sidelined by Credit Suisse while only partway through his investigation. Barofsky had been hired by Credit Suisse in 2021, but the bank stopped cooperating in the summer of 2022. During his investigation, Barofsky reported that Credit Suisse began to demand that he exclude certain subject areas from his investigation. He refused to comply and was subsequently fired in December 2022, when the bank replaced its general counsel. However, in December 2023, Credit Suisses acting general counsel reinstated Barofsky as independent ombudsman as a result of the committees investigation following UBSs June 2023 takeover of Credit Suisse. In his ongoing investigation, Barofsky has uncovered evidence suggesting that Credit Suisse either concealed files or has not been entirely forthcoming about its connections to Nazi ratlines. A press release from Sen. Grassley from January 4, 2025 confirmed Barofskys allegations of a Credit Suisse cover-up. In his press release, Grassley reassured the public that he and his colleagues would fully investigate the matter, affirming he would leave no stone unturned in pursuit of justice for those wronged by Nazi atrocities. The investigation has revealed more than just stones weve uncovered boulders. Credit Suisse hid additional evidence of Nazi ties for years, and even tried to conceal information from our congressional investigation. However, Barofskys independent interim update, dated December 17, 2024, states that Credit Suisse is now fully cooperating with his investigation under the new UBS leadership. Barofsky says he now has more than 50 people working on his team, including a team of consultants and forensic accountants. Barofsky and his team have dusted off archival documents and microfiche records from the 1930s and 40s, with historians working to study the financial relationships between Nazi Germany and the Swiss banks. According to Barofsky, The archives span approximately 300,000 linear meters of archival shelving. For perspective, 300,000 meters equals about 186 miles, roughly the distance between New York City and Philadelphia. Barofsky has also identified about 3,600 boxes of physical documents and approximately 40,000 microfilms that came from the research department at Credit Suisse known as the Inf Department. Many of the Inf Department files are key documents that had allegedly never been included in prior reviews. Barofsky shared that he had found numerous client files marked with a stamp stating Amerikanische schwarze Liste meaning American Black List. The Black List was maintained by the Allies and included individuals and companies that were directly financed by, or were known to regularly trade with Axis powers. Barofsky says he has not seen the same stamp in any other location during his investigation. Referencing some of what he has found, Barofsky shares why the Black Listlabeled material is so significant: This is potentially an important marker for relevant accounts. One file bearing this stamp relates to an entity that was involved in selling looted Jewish assets. Although the Investigation previously had indicated that this entity held an account in the 1950s, the Inf Department documents demonstrate that the account was actually open during World War II, when assets were actively being looted. Another relevant example found in the Inf Department archives is a document that identifies a Credit Suisse client acting as a front for certain Nazi financiers, at least one of whom, according to our research, escaped Europe after the war. It appears that neither of these documents were previously identified by Credit Suisse. Barofsky later added that he and his team have already begun to identify previously undiscovered connections and relationships between Credit Suisse and prominent Nazis through intermediaries. He also revealed that some of the Nazi SS allegedly had a banking relationship with Credit Suisse. Documents describe how this account was used to receive the funds of an Hungarian Jewish businessman, August Wild, and that the account holders were a combination of SS officers and a Swiss citizen named Alfred Kurzmeyer, an intermediary for Nazis during the war. ... The funds in the account were obtained from Wild in exchange for sparing him from the gas chambers. Some of those sensitive documents were destroyed, according to an investigation dating back to 2001. Barofsky has also found evidence that Credit Suisse may have sanitized certain information in response to earlier probes. Barofsky shared that Credit Suisses general approach to the outside investigations was to share only information that was specifically requested and not to respond actively with offers of information. Barofsky provided one such example of this approach: One example we were given is that if the outside researchers were in the Banks archives looking for something and a researcher knew where it was located, the researcher would not tell the outside investigator where to look unless specifically asked to do so. We were told a variety of reasons for this approach, Barofsky continued, including a desire to protect the Bank, a concern that the outside researchers were biased against the Bank, and a belief that outside researchers did not want assistance from Bank employees because the outside researchers wished to be strictly independent. As of December 2024, more than three dozen individuals have been connected to the ratlines as a result of the Credit Suisse probe. Some allegedly operated from a base in Switzerland with funding that paid for bribes, false identification documents, and transportation of war criminals and Nazis. Additionally, the investigation has yielded several hundred alleged Nazi intermediaries who helped Nazis to hide gold, camouflage illicit transactions to purchase war materials, loot Jewish assets, including through the aryanization of Jewish businesses, and generally support[ed] the Nazi war economy. Image: Javier Milei. Credit: Ilan Berkenwald via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. Dear reader, before you proceed, I need to make a confession. I supported Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. As a libertarian, I strongly oppose the leftist agenda of infringing on property rights, collectivizing consciousness, and redistributing wealth. During the 2016 election cycle, I actively criticized Marco Rubio on social media. I labeled him Little Marco, following Trumps lead, and compared him to a community organizer for the Republican Party. My criticism focused on how Rubio, like Obama, built a political career from his youth without holding what many would consider a real job outside of politics. I believed that Rubios rise was arranged by the Republican National Committee to fill the demand for Hispanic representation within the party. I dismissed him as a political lightweight called him a Zero, a product of party engineering rather than merit. Over time, Rubio proved that my early perception was overstated. As a senator, Rubio developed political experience and demonstrated that he was not just a figurehead or a convenient representative for the Hispanic community. He became an active and effective legislator, particularly focused on foreign policy. His record of co-sponsoring legislation aimed at condemning aggressor nations such as Russia, Iran, and China showcased his commitment to defending U.S. interests on the global stage. Rubios stance on China was notably assertive. He co-introduced the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, S.3176, on January 9, 2020, which became law on December 23, 2021 as Public Law No: 117-78. This legislation aimed to block goods made with forced labor in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from entering the U.S. His consistent warnings about Chinas geopolitical threat, its economic expansion, and Wall Streets role in amplifying Chinese influence over U.S. markets clarified his view: China is not a benign partner, but an adversary challenging American dominance. On Iran, Rubio maintained a firm line. He co-sponsored the bipartisan MAHSA Act, S.2626, introduced on August 1, 2023, named after Mahsa Amini, whose death in Iranian police custody sparked global outrage. The bill sought sanctions on Iranian officials for human rights abuses and passed the Senate in October 2023, though it awaits enactment. Rubio also pressed for stricter enforcement of existing sanctions, especially amid reports of Iran acquiring materials from China to boost its missile capabilities. Russia has been another key focus of Rubios work. He backed the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, H.R.3364, signed into law on August 2, 2017, as Public Law No: 115-44, targeting Iran, North Korea, and Russia for actions undermining U.S. security. Rubio was outspoken in supporting Ukraines sovereignty and opposing Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, recognizing the Kremlins expansionism as a direct challenge to Western security and U.S. leadership. His IMPAIR Russia Act, S.3733, introduced on March 2, 2022, aimed to impose sanctions after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Though it didnt pass independently, its measures shaped broader sanctions efforts. Likewise, S.4937, introduced on September 22, 2022, barred U.S. recognition of Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian territory, reinforcing Kyivs integrity; it stayed in committee but influenced Senate views. Rubio co-sponsored the Ukraine Security Partnership Act, S.3522, introduced by Senator Jim Risch on February 3, 2022, offering military and economic aid to Ukraine before Russias full-scale invasion. It fed into larger aid packages, signed into law on April 21, 2022, as part of Public Law No: 117-128. Trumps decision to appoint Rubio as secretary of state came as a surprise to many. Yet his nomination received overwhelming bipartisan support unlike many of Trumps other appointments. Rubios record and experience made him a reassuring figure for both allies and those concerned about the direction of U.S. foreign policy. His confirmation reflected recognition of his competence and knowledge in foreign affairs, even by those who had once dismissed him as inexperienced. Despite his strong credentials, Rubio now faces the complex reality of serving in the Trump administration. The America First approach often clashes with Rubios established foreign policy views. The administrations leniency toward authoritarian regimes like Russia and its disregard for traditional alliances place Rubio in difficult positions, where his personal convictions frequently conflict with the directives coming from the Oval Office. The Russia-Ukraine war is a prime example of this tension. Despite Rubios consistent support for Ukraines sovereignty, as secretary of state, he has been forced to echo the administrations calls for both Russia and Ukraine to make concessions. This stance, aligned with Trumps preference for ending the war quickly, risks legitimizing Russias territorial ambitions. Observers noted Rubios visible discomfort during meetings with Russian officials, signaling his internal struggle with policies that contradict his core principles. The strain became even more evident when the administration instructed the U.S. representative at the United Nations to align with nations like North Korea and Belarus in opposing a resolution supporting Ukraine. Rubio, who had spent years condemning Russias aggression, now finds himself standing by policies that undermine his previous positions. Rubio also faces challenges from the administrations combative approach toward Americas allies. Trumps trade wars and punitive tariffs on traditional partners like Canada likely appear counterproductive from Rubios perspective. As someone who understands the strategic importance of alliances, he likely views alienating Canada as a strategic error that weakens U.S. influence and undermines collective efforts to confront global threats. Regarding European nations, there is no doubt that they must contribute more to common defense. However, the U.S. should demand this without humiliating its partners. We are all representatives of Western civilization, and no treaty with Russia or China can replace these alliances in the foreseeable future. Rubios legislative work has consistently reflected this understanding. Rubio co-sponsored S.J.Res.4 on January 17, 2019, requiring Senate approval for NATO withdrawal, enacted on December 19, 2023, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law No: 118-31, affirming his NATO stance amid Trump-era doubts. Rubios journey from a young senator to secretary of state reflects his personal growth and political evolution. However, surviving within the Trump administration will require balancing political loyalty with personal integrity. Rubios future depends on how he navigates these challenges. Will he adapt to Trumps policies, setting aside his previous beliefs to remain in line with the administration? Or will he choose to voice his concerns, risking political consequences even resignation if the conflict between his convictions and Trumps agenda becomes irreconcilable? It will be interesting to see whether he quietly conforms, prioritizing political survival, or takes a stand, demonstrating that some principles outweigh career ambitions. I once saw Trump as a master strategist, a 4-D chess player whose provocative moves concealed true intentions that ultimately took enemies by surprise and advanced American interests. I no longer believe that, though Id be pleased to see evidence to the contrary. My hope now is that Rubios core principles will fuse with Trumps bold style to form a good cop, bad cop partnership that restores Americas greatness on the global stage and reinforces Western civilization. Allen Gindler is a researcher and author specializing in Austrian Economics and libertarian philosophy. He has published academic and opinion pieces in The Independent Review, Journal of Libertarian Studies, Mises Wire, American Thinker, and other outlets. Image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. It is a sad commentary when the lawmakers we elect into office to represent us not only fail to understand the laws of our land but also fail to understand who it is they actually represent. Providing a case in point of such failures is Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). She has made a name for herself promoting progressive policies and recently has even been ridiculously touted by her party as a potential future presidential candidate. She is so far to the Left she makes former President Joe Biden look conservative. If voters believe that Ocasio-Cortezs previous progressive rants and faux pas are insufficient evidence of her lack of qualifications for any political office -- let alone the presidency -- her February 27th communication with the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Attorney General Pam Bondi should put the final nail in her career politician coffin. The first two sentences of her letter to Bondi state the purpose of the communication, providing evidence of her total failure to understand the law of the land: I write to request clarity on whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) has yielded to political pressure and attempts to weaponize the agency against elected officials whose speech they disagree with. Over the past two weeks, Border Czar Tom Homan has gone on multiple forums threatening political prosecution against me, citing resources I distributed informing my constituents and the American public of their constitutional and legal rights." [emphasis added.] The constituents to whom AOC refers is none other than immigrants who have violated U.S. laws by entering our country illegally. She has been conducting Know Your Rights seminars explaining how they can evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents seeking to perform their duties. Ocasio-Cortez clearly fails to grasp three important facts: 1) such criminal immigrants are not her constituents; 2) as illegal immigrants, they lack constitutional right entitlements American citizens enjoy; and 3) despite her own First Amendment rights, actively advising evasion of law enforcement raises legal concerns. Thus, focusing on a constitutional rights theme inapplicable to illegal immigrant criminals, the congresswoman says Homans actions undercut core Constitutional rights and further transparency is necessary. She then decides to lecture Bondi about the First Amendment, citing Vice President Vances recent observation we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square. She ends her lecture with Threatening criminal proceedings for exercising the First Amendment is itself a violation of the First Amendment. Again demonstrating her naivete concerning those who elected her into office, Ocasio-Cortez justifies her actions in advising immigrant criminals on how to evade ICE enforcement as follows: Educating the public about their rights, especially in a time of rising uncertainty, is a key part of our responsibility as elected officials. A government that uses threats of DOJ investigations to suppress free speech is a threat to all, regardless of political ideology. Left unstated is that the public she references is composed only of criminals. She fails to recognize that by advising illegal immigrant criminals who are not her constituents, she is violating the rights of those to whom she has a duty to protect from the criminal element, from a safety or other standpoint -- i.e., those who are her actual constituents. The letter concludes with a request to know by March 5 as to whether my office or myself is actively under investigation for exercising their First Amendment rights and executing on our congressional responsibilities. Well, Duh! Two phrases are often used to emphasize a persons lack of intelligence. Dumb as an oyster suggests ones silence reflects a lack of intelligence; Dumb as a rock suggests ones proficiency to repeatedly say dumb things is a clear indicator. If we are stuck with dumb as a rock Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, we can only hope, with time, she transitions into becoming dumb as an oyster! Image: AT via Magic Studio Attorney General Pam Bondi told us that the FBI met the 8 am deadline last Friday. According to her, the DOJ received a truckload of evidence, in the form of Jeffrey Epstein files from the office of the Southern District of New York (SDNY), to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC, which, taken literally, sounds like a lot of paper. Figuratively, the evidence was delivered electronically or on hard drives. In any case, Bondi said the DOJ received thousands of documents from the SDNY on Friday morning. At least a portion of this truckloadif not the entire thingmust represent phase two of the Epstein files. This should be the motherlode, with no redactions or missing documents. Otherwise, a phase three will be necessary. After all, subordinates delivered the files to their bosses, Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, for review. A juxtaposition of how the delivery of this very explosive batch of files was handled (very low key) compared to how the phase one dump was presented (very publicly) raises questions. YouTube screen grab. The American people didnt need to know the details of what comprised the truckload. However, what raised questions was that we didnt even learn of its delivery until well over 72 hours later. That delay was an explosive development to say the least. Phase one clearly demonstrated Bondis ability to understand and employ optics. In that instance, it was all hype, no substance. Fridays delivery demonstrated her conscious decision to avoid optics for days. The delivery of the documents on Friday deserved far more attention than rehashed documents received the day before. Yet, it received none. An actual truck being unloaded at DOJ would have made for great optics. Holding up a hard drive at a press conference would have been arguably as effective. In fact, the deliveries of phase one and the later truckload were both anti-climactic, for completely different reasons. Phase one represented the insignificant being presented as explosive. The truckload represented the explosive not being presented at all. Instead of the phase one theatrics, Bondi should have tipped off the same conservative commentators of the truckloads arrivalbut she didnt even acknowledge it until Monday night. The establishment media is always magically aware of events beneficial to its narratives beforehand, so they can be on hand to record it. Roger Stone raid, anyone? Instead, during a Saturday appearance on Life, Liberty, and Levin, Bondi gave no indication that the truckload had been delivered. She wouldnt do so for another 48 hours. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL13) is bringing the right amount of skepticism to this situation. That skepticism should not be construed as anything other than what it isa demand for accountability and transparency. Bondi and Patel should welcome such reproof. In politics, people are inclined to take the path of least resistance. Luna is simply doing her part to make that path much more resistant; theres nothing wrong with that. In Bondis interview with Levin, she pledged that a specific individual involved in withholding the Epstein files will not be working for us anymore. On Monday, we learned the name of someone who may fit that profile. James Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs New York field office submitted his resignation. Dennehy says his superiors informed him on Fridaythe same day the truckload was deliveredthat he must resign. Had the American people been told of the truckload and of Dennehys expulsion on that day, the dots would have been much easier for them to connect. Earlier last month, Dennehy pledged to dig in as a show of resistance against his boss (Patel). This is brazen insubordination on its face. Bondi and Patel should not be shy about making this apparent and obvious connection even more obvious by underscoring it. If there is one thing that entrenched, establishment bureaucrats dont like, its the public spotlight. They thrive on anonymity. This is how they are able to usurp authority and commit gross insubordination without accountability. They remain hidden in the shadows. They silently imply that the collective to which they belong is the boss. Individuals with this mindset view their literal boss as a placeholder. If Dennehy was responsible for stonewalling the release of the Epstein files, Bondi and Patel sent the right message. They must continue to send similar messages. The American people must also start getting answers to that truckload full of questions. Todd Baumann is the Director of Operations for Special Guests Publicity www.specialguests.com For years, groups like the Heartland Institute, CFACT, and other climate and energy realists have been accused of receiving large amounts of money from Big Oil to promote traditional energy sources. This is not the case, of course, but you know who has been getting big bucks from Big Oil? So-called renewable energy companies and sundry climate alarmist groups. In fact, about $1 billion annually flows to green groups from oil and gas companies via the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), which includes contributing members like BP, Chevron, Equinor, Exxon Mobil, Occidental, and others. It has been constantly irritating to see these companies toe the line for Big Green, a trillion-dollar industry itself that is costing the rest of us rather than helping. Moreover, the entire renewable energy industry is built on falsehoods and alarmism, and, lest we forget -- a ton of taxpayer dollars. Recent news that BP and other multinational energy companies are cooling their affections toward renewables and green investment is causing a panic among the usual climate scam pushers. Hopefully, this marks a permanent shift towards sound science and climate realism from our largest energy producers. However, only time will tell. According to a BMI report sent to Rigzone by Fitch Group, these cuts are substantial. BP abandoned their oil reduction targets, and is divesting its U.S. onshore wind business. Likewise, Shell is considering new oilfield projects while weakening its carbon dioxide emissions reductions targets. In other news, Equinor slashed its decarbonization investment in half, from $10 to $5 billion. Although this is still $5 billion too much, I will say it is at least a decent start. BPs comments have been the most interesting. The Telegraph suggests that pressure from hedge fund Elliott Management convinced BP to abandon its focus on net-zero because the company has wasted too much money on renewables, leading to declining corporate value. With President Donald Trump back in the White House, subsidies for wind and solar may soon dry up, and big oil companies know they will not have that cushion of protection for their green projects. Trump has already paused offshore wind lease sales and paused approvals for onshore wind. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin is working to claw back money from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which threw billions of dollars at various questionable green projects. Oil companies certainly received money from these subsidies and funds for green energy projects and pledges. If that cash flow ends, it would be difficult for them to maintain the grift. Another key phrase in many reports now is energy security -- and it is about time. The premature closure of reliable energy like coal, nuclear, and natural gas plants have had grid operators and even individuals from federal commissions sounding the alarm; wind and solar just cannot fill the gap left behind. They are simply too unreliable. Granted, BP and the others still talk about the so-called energy transition on their websites. However, it is hard to believe that they are not aware that there is no energy transition occurring at the global scale. Electricity production data show that while wind and solar are being added to the overall mix, traditional sources of energy are still growing as consumption in general increases. Whether or not this shift represents an earnest change of heart from major oil companies, or a simple recognition that the Trump administration is unlikely to subsidize their forays into renewables is not clear. What is clear is that a positive embrace of oil and gas would be a very welcome change. Linnea Lueken (llueken@heartland.org, X: @LinneaLueken) is a research fellow with the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at The Heartland Institute. Image: RawPixel.com Bravo to President Trump for instituting, this week, English as our official language. By his executive order, Trump took a hugely important first step, among others, toward reclaiming a seriously inadequate primary education for our children and youth. It is at the primary level that our children and youth best properly learn the English language for lifeor dont. Its far past time to recognize and defeat the multi-generational effort by the Department of Education to scuttle the basics in teaching English literacy and, furthermore, to undermine even our public and personal speech at its core. By abolishing English grammar and memorizationmost critically in primary educationour children and youth are condemned to a lifetime of partial or entire illiteracy in English, both read and spoken. My husband is a Latin teacher in a small Catholic seminary college in Louisiana. He and all of his colleagues in teaching have found, for years now, that most of the young men who enroll in his class have no grounding in English. The majority do not know what syntax or grammar, or parts of speech, even mean. His students generally do not read beyond what they are forced to read, and they certainly have no clue as to how to tackle Latin, the primary linguistic descendant of English, to include grammar. My husband is forced to teach, on the fly, primary English in his own class concurrently with Latin. Is this hard? Is this even possible for post-secondary teachers? Are the older students not already set in their ways of learning (or not)? English grammar, once the instructional baseline in our language, had been traditionally taught in America as a proven method and vehicle for individual and civic communication. But now, grammar is moribund in most public, and in the majority of independent, schools. Essentially, this English language expertise purge is the fruit of the federal governments political take-over of primary education. In the political context, the redaction of English grammar by the educational establishment, the U.S. Department of Education, was a first step in a gradual, now inter-generational effort to weaken our popular literacy and render our public and political communications inchoate. What a supreme power play! And at such expense! A good example of what is happening with our English grammar can be easily seen and heard in the current use, or misuse, of parts of speech. To dive deeper: the busy-as-a-beaver cancel culture has even caught up with destroying competency in English speech. Take the part of speech identified in English grammar as a preposition. As prepositions are one of the eight principal parts of English speech, they have a hefty share of relevance in our speech and writing. And, as prepositions go, so goes our national language. Also, prepositions deploy heavily idiomatic usages that also must conform to the syntax at hand. Therefore, if you havent memorized (become familiar with) prepositions as idioms, that is, known them beforehand as habitual phrases, you wont get them right: Prepositions in English are highly idiomatic. Although there are rules for usage, much preposition usage is dictated by fixed expressions. In these cases, it is best to memorize the phrase instead of the individual preposition. Keeping our prepositions in good usage is now under general cultural abuse. To illustrate, confusion over prepositions is now commonplace even in professional advertising campaigns. Picture this type of statement (look at home renovation networks or even car ads) as an egregious instance of prepositional dysfunction: I am so excited with my new faux marble backsplash. Or even, I am so excited for my new faux marble backsplash. Is your backsplash excited, too? Are you excited on behalf of your backsplash? Has your backsplash won the lottery? If you havent memorized idiomatic prepositional phrases (as was ever the case, in correct repetition to school children), you wont make sense. Or hear this, from a du jour advertisement on your tube, tablet, cell, or monitor: the happy couple are in love with their new EV. He/she says: I am so excited for this car! She/he chimes in, I am excited for it, too! Are they excited for their car because it is a happy car, about to get a drive with its prospective owners? Correction, please: he/she is excited about their car. The above illustrations may sound trivial, but the danger is not; my examples of prepositional dysfunction represent a much greater weakness: the literacy level for US adults is below the sixth-grade levelour children used to have English grammar down by the sixth gradefor over 54% of US adults: On average, 79% of U.S. adults nationwide are literate in 2025. 21% of adults in the US are illiterate in 2025. 54% of adults have literacy below a 6th-grade level (20% are below a 5th-grade level). Low levels of literacy costs the US up to 2.2 trillion per year. 34% of adults lacking literacy proficiency were born outside the US. Massachusetts was the state with the highest rate of child literacy. New Mexico was the state with the lowest child literacy rate. New Hampshire was the state with the highest percentage of adults considered literate. The state with the lowest adult literacy rate was California. On average, nationwide, 66% of 4th-grade children in the U.S. could not read proficiently in 2013. The reintroduction of grammar and memorization in elementary education would be a basic step in reversing the illiteracy trend. Sarah Morris, a Doctoral Academy Fellow for the Department of Education Reform at The University of Arkansas argues for memorization, as Its not realistic to look everything up. English literacy was ever-presumed in America to be a fundamental civil/human requirement; that is, presumed by our ancestors. In literacy, they succeeded, whereas we have not. If we cant command our own language, we will lose any battle. Let Trumps dismantling of the DOE begin in 2025. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Imagine kicking Churchill out of the White House in 1940. Thats what President Trump did to Zelensky on Friday. So claim Ukraine enthusiasts. In their view, we must defend Ukraine at all costs. Permitting Putins Russia to defeat Ukraine would be like permitting Hitler to defeat England. But is this comparison sound? Hardly. By the end of 1940, Hitler had successfully conquered Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and France. If England fell to the Nazis, Hitler would have effectively controlled Europe in its entirety. What then? Many Americans actually werent concerned. They believed that the Atlantic Ocean would protect them. But others saw dire consequences. With England defeated, the British navy would no longer rule the waves. Rather, the Nazi navy would. The Nazis might even conquer parts of the British navy whole and turn it against the U.S. Some feared a frontal invasion of the East Coast. Others believed that the Nazis would first establish themselves in South America and head north. In her book Those Angry Days, historian Lynne Olson writes: Life [magazine] ran a story [in 1940] that described in hair-raising, hypothetical detail how fascist forces could occupy Brazilian ports, raid the Panama Canal, bomb Caribbean Islands, destroy Americas Atlantic fleet, occupy Cuba, and invade the U.S. mainland. The article, complete with illustrations, envisaged a victorious Fascist Army marching up Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware, while Fascist tanks and infantry overpowered small, underequipped U.S forces near Pittsburgh. After the fall of Washington, New York, and the major East Coast industrial centers, U.S. envoys, in the Life scenario, would meet with Fascist officials at Philadelphias Independence Hall to sue for peace. Some pundits, like aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, believed that the Nazis could never successfully invade the Western Hemisphere and thus opposed U.S. aid to England. But a military invasion wouldnt have been the U.S.s only concern had the Nazis defeated England and dominated all of Europe. In testimony before Congress, influential columnist Dorothy Thompson argued that Hitler could conquer South America by economic means alone. If Britain collapses, in all probability the South American countries will say to us, Gentlemen, we prefer to go along with you; but will you please take our 2,000,000 bales of cotton ... our 200,000,000 bushels of corn, our 100,000,000 bushels of wheat? And since the U.S. was in no position to buy these quantities of goods, South America would have to trade with Hitler. ... And, inasmuch as it is Hitlers system when he becomes a buyer also to become the dominant partner in the concern, it follows that no navy in the world could prevent him from becoming the master of South America without firing a single shot. In a July 4, 1941 address to the nation, President Franklin Roosevelt warned that the U.S. simply could not survive as a happy and fertile oasis of liberty surrounded by a cruel desert of dictatorship. Secretary of State Cordell Hull explained why: if Hitler were to conquer Europe, our national security [would] require the continuous devotion of a very great part of all our work and wealth for defense production, prolonged universal military service, extremely burdensome taxation, unending vigilance against enemies within our borders, and complete involvement in power diplomacy. Let us return to the present day. Putin is not a maniacal mass killer like Hitler, but lets suppose for a second that he were, and lets suppose further that he conquers Ukraine. What then? Exactly how would Russia threaten the U.S. with this new territory? England, France, Poland, Germany, Austria, Czechia, Italy, and other countries in Europe would all still be free. Russia would not control the seas or have the ability to sail across the Atlantic Ocean unimpeded. And that would remain true even if he were to be so mad as to invade the Baltic states and Poland. Only a Europe entirely controlled by Russia should concern us. So if Russia attacks France, Germany, or England, the U.S. should indeed arguably arm these countries to the teeth. These countries would then become our first line of defense, just as England was our first line of defense in World War II. But Putin has not invaded Western Europe (and will never invade Western Europe). That means that Zelensky is not Churchill. Hes not the leader of the only remaining free country in Europe. Hes merely a comedian-cum-president trying to get others to pay for his countrys defense. I dont blame him. Hes looking out for Ukraine. But we should look out for America. From a strictly American point of view, the outcome of the war in Ukraine is of little significance. Elliot Resnick, Ph.D. is the host of The Elliot Resnick Show; the former chief editor of The Jewish Press; and the author of five books, including America First: The Story of Sol Bloom, the Most Powerful Jew in Congress During the Holocaust. He is also the creator of a new online course: Ten Tips to Drastically Improve Your Writing. Follow him at @ResnickElliot. Image via Raw Pixel. In his electrifying joint address to Congress on March 4, 2025, President Donald Trump unfurled a vision as audacious as it is essential: to resurrect American shipbuilding, a once-proud industry now languishing in the shadow of foreign giants. With the creation of a White House Office of Shipbuilding and a pledge of tax incentives to bring this craft home to America, where it belongs, Trump ignited a clarion call to restore our nations industrial sinews. This is not mere nostalgia for a bygone era of Liberty Ships and bustling yardsits a conservative blueprint for national sovereignty, economic vigor, and a defiant stand against Chinas maritime hegemony. For those of us who cherish limited government paired with purposeful action, this initiative is a masterstroke worth championing. The stakes could not be higher. Americas shipbuilding capacity has withered to a skeletal frame20 major yards where hundreds once thrived, a commercial sector holding a paltry 0.13% of the global market, and a Navy fleet of 295 vessels dwarfed by Chinas 370 and counting. The Office of Naval Intelligences 2023 revelation that Beijings shipyards churn out 232 times more tonnage than ours is a gut punch to national pride and security. This isnt just about ships; its about the arteries of trade, the muscle of defense, and the soul of a nation that once ruled the seas. Trumps pledge to act very fast, very soon is no hollow boastits a recognition that diverts disaster. Conservatives rightly recoil at government overreach, but here lies a rare case where strategic intervention aligns with our core tenets. Shipbuildings decline stems not from market purity but from decades of neglectsubsidies axed in the 1980s, skilled workers lost to apathy, and yards left to rust while Chinas state-backed behemoth gorged on $20 billion annually. Trumps plan isnt more bloated bureaucracy; its a lean, targeted striketax incentives to unleash private enterprise, a White House office to cut red tape, and a tariff shield to level a playing field warped by foreign mercantilism. This is Adam Smith with an American twist: government as a catalyst, not a crutch, empowering free markets to reclaim what globalists seized. Picture revived communitiesMobile, Alabama; Pascagoula, Mississippi; Bath, Mainewhere welders and engineers reclaim the dignity of work. Tie this to Trumps Alaska gas pipeline, luring Japanese and South Korean contracts, and youve got a commercial shipbuilding renaissanceLNG carriers rolling off American lines, not Chinese ones. This isnt welfare; its wealth creation, rooted in the conservative creed that prosperity flows from production, not handouts. National security seals the argument. A Navy hobbled by backlogsVirginia-class submarines years late, Constellation-class frigates stalledcannot deter a China that builds warships at an eye-watering pace. Trumps pick, John Phelan, as Navy Secretary, gets it: rusty warships arent just a personal peeve but a strategic liability. A White House office unifying the Pentagons fragmented efforts (think Deloittes $2.4 billion submarine deal and BlueForges $980.7 million industrial boost) could slash delays, aiming for 12 ships a year by decades end. Add a commercial fleet to choke Chinas grip on 59% of global shipping, and youve got a double-barreled riposte to Xi Jinpings maritime empire. Sovereignty demands strength, and strength demands ships. Criticssome on the rightwill balk. Tariffs, set to hit April 2, could spike steel costs, they warn, negating tax breaks. Fair point: shipbuilders import 30% of their materials, and a 25% duty might sting. But heres where Trumps genius shines: calibrate those tariffsexempt steel bound for U.S. yards, target Chinese goods that undercut our producersand youve got protectionism with precision. Others decry the workforce gap200,000 welders short, an aging trade. Yet conservatives have the answer: a Shipbuilding Corps, a voluntary, industry-led push through trade schools and unions, training 50,000 patriots by 2028. No mandates, just opportunitya GI Bill for the industrial age. Skeptics might also cry boondoggle, pointing to the Government Accountability Offices jab at the Navys lack of strategy. True, executions the rub. But Trumps track recordlove it or loathe itshows a knack for bulldozing inertia. His new office isnt another layer of fat; its a battering ram to align DOD, MARAD, and private yards under one banner. Pair this with the bipartisan SHIPS Acts $15 billion trust fund, and youve got a fiscal lifeline free of annual budget brawls. This isnt blind faithits faith in a system jolted awake. The conservative lens sharpens the vision further with an original twist: make shipbuilding a proving ground for deregulation. Slash EPA rules that choke yard expansionsemissions caps that sound noble but kneecap progress. Offer freedom zones around key ports, where tax and labor laws flex to lure investment. Imagine a Bath Iron Works unyoked, doubling output by 2030, or a Bollinger Shipyards reborn as a small-yard titan. This isnt cronyism; its competition unleashed, a laboratory for Reagans get out of the way gospel. Let China drown in its central planningAmerica thrives when ingenuity breathes free. Balance demands candor: risks loom. Tariffs misfired could price U.S. ships out of global markets$60 million here versus Chinas $20 million. Workforce training lags without ruthless focus; a single lost year cedes ground. And yes, $100 billion over 15 years to match 1980s glory isnt chump change. But conservatives dont flinch at hard choicesshort-term pain for long-term gain is our stock-in-trade. Trumps little disturbance from tariffs is a wager worth taking if it births a fleet to secure our shores and trade. This isnt just about shipsits about who we are. A nation that builds asserts its destiny; one that doesnt decays. Trumps vow echoes the Arsenal of Democracy, when yards churned out 5,777 vessels to crush tyranny. Todays tyranny is subtlereconomic strangulation, strategic encirclementbut no less real. By 2035, we could see 350 Navy ships, 100 commercial hulls, and a heartland humming with purpose. Fail, and Chinas 600-ship armada rules the waves, our allies drifting to Seoul or Beijing. Patriotic readers know the score: liberty isnt cheap, nor is greatness. Trumps shipbuilding gambit is conservatism at its boldestgovernment as a spark, not a smotherer; sovereignty as a shield, not a slogan. Its a fight for the soul of a nation that once sailed the world unbowed. Lets back it, refine it, and build it right. The seasand historyawait. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. South Korean and U.S. troops will commence their large-scale annual joint military drills next week, South Korea's military announced Thursday. The exercise comes just days after North Korea warned of potential high-profile provocations in response to what it perceives as escalating U.S.-led aggression. The Freedom Shield exercise, a computer-simulated command post training, will take place from Monday through March 20. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the exercise will also include related field drills aimed at addressing evolving threats, including North Korea's deepening military ties with Russia. North Korea has long viewed such South Korean-U.S. military training as rehearsals for an invasion and often retaliates with missile launches and aggressive rhetoric. While Pyongyang has yet to respond to the latest announcement, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, recently accused the U.S. of intensifying hostilities. She warned of escalated measures "threatening the security of the enemy at the strategic level," citing the temporary deployment of U.S. strategic assets, such as an aircraft carrier and long-range bombers, in South Korea and other military operations involving the U.S. Experts anticipate that North Korea could conduct test launches of nuclear-capable missiles designed to strike the U.S. mainland and American military bases in the region. Since his inauguration on January 20, President Donald Trump has expressed interest in reengaging with Kim Jong Un to revive diplomatic negotiations. However, North Korea has not directly responded, arguing that U.S. hostility has only intensified under Trump's new administration. Kim and Trump previously met three times between 2018 and 2019 to negotiate a possible denuclearization agreement. Talks ultimately collapsed after Trump rejected Kim's proposal to dismantle North Korea's primary nuclear complex in exchange for extensive sanctions relief, deeming the offer insufficient for meaningful denuclearization. On Tuesday night, March 4, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) delivered a ten-minute response to the one hour and forty-minute speech given by Pres. Donald J. Trump as a summary of goals and accomplishments of his presidency. She took a couple of small pellet shots that entered the airspace as drab, useless verbal attempts to somehow criticize the president. If this were a mixed martial arts fight in the ring, the referee would after about three minutes of weak delivery and intellectual pathos have stopped the fight, declaring Sen. Slotkin unfit to continue. You see dear reader, the president was born to lead us at this time. To use a term rarely used since the presidency of George Washington, he has been selected by Divine Providence to lead us to a better place economically, internationally, morally, and politically. The usurpers of the American Dream are being revealed for their many decades of deficit spending, global bribery and sycophancy, erosion of family values, and diminution of our leadership as English-speaking bearers of a great tradition of knowhow, courage, and responsibility. Incredibly, the president revealed that DOGE had uncovered that we had one citizen listed on Social Security who is more than 300 years old! We have become cluttered with institutional, financial, and moral lies and administrative clutter. The following day, Sen. Bernie Sanders presented his criticism and rebuttal of President Trumps speech, and his critique of the president lasted for twenty-minutes, twice as long as Slotkins. The tone was much angrier than the tone of Sen. Slotkin. She was mired in banalities and word salads that Kamala would have been proud of, but still managed to project self-control and a temperate sense of the opposition. However, Sen. Sanders maintained an angry, even outraged, tone throughout, and his comments were replete with repeatedly pointing at the viewers with his right index finger to emphasize how disappointed and angry he is with President Trump and his speech. His main criticism is just what we might expect from a Marxist. He was insistent that Trump showed no interest in nor compassion for the working and poor people of our society. He repeatedly stated that Trump was supported by an oligarchy consisting of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. Behind those three he claimed there were another thirteen billionaires (unnamed) who were supporting the Trump program of governance. This has been the theme of the communists since my father was growing up in the 1920s, and of the communists that he encountered while helping form the Transport Workers Union in the 1940s. He joined with the Irish Catholic union workers in public transportation in Philadelphia to oust the communist element within the union. They rejected God and so-called bourgeois morality, and for that reason were repudiated by the largely Irish and Italian Catholic leaders of that union. Also, those early unionists on the front lines of workers interests and rights understood that management had some legitimate claims even as the unionists demanded a greater say for the employees. Sen. Boynee seemed in his comments to collapse the interests of the working poor with those of the homeless and utterly impoverished. This in itself reveals his commie mindset because the laboring people in this country do not see themselves as identified with the unemployed indigent who are living on the streets. Identifying them or even those on welfare with the needs of the working class is partially what makes Boynee an ideologue rather than simply a caring citizen. Further, any realistic person would ask, What has this cranky sourpuss done for the poor? Has he even scooped out soup at a Salvation Army soup kitchen? Was his decision to take his honeymoon in the 1980s in the U.S.S.R. proof that he cared about the indigent in the U.S.A.? It is likely that he thinks so, but the proof is in the pudding. What has he personally done to show his caring for the well-being and uplifting of the indigent? Has he even visited homeless encampments that line the sidewalks of some of our major cities? Has he spoken to the homeless, to poor elderly people, or drug addicts and jailbirds about their personal lifestyles, commitments, values, and needs? My father was a city trolley operator and later a bus driver in Philadelphia's transit system. We were a classic, blue-collar family. My father briefly had a grocery store in an all-black neighborhood during the last three years of WWII, and kept a gun in a drawer behind the counter which, thankfully, he never had to use. Other than that brief stint in business, he was in public transportation in Philadelphia doing a blue-collar job for twenty years. We were far from billionaires, but we had a house, a car, medical care (when I was a kid the doctors still performed house visits at a reasonable cost), a T.V., decent furniture, and many good times (although we could not afford vacation trips). What the hell is this bitter old man, Bernie, ranting about?! Without billionaires like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller, or Andrew Carnegie, there would not have been a thriving blue collar working class in our country. The billionaires and their success stories and viable family lives of Americas workers go hand in hand. There were rich guys in the nineteen thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies, but more people are dying in the streets today, more kids are fat, more babies are killed, and more bribes are being accepted by governmental officials along with insider trading in stocks for federal legislators. More babies are born out of wedlock, more divorces riddle the landscape of our mores, and more mental illness is unquestionable. Also, we see more autism and more people like Boyneeee including the intensely leftwing administration of Joe Biden (many Dems dont even realize that their party has moved radically leftward since Obama and the 2020 pact between Biden and Sanders). Bernie without quoting Karl Marx directly is and was speaking unashamedly for a radical leftwing agenda to replace the most successful capitalist country in the history of the world! His attack on President Trumps speech to a Joint Session of Congress is part of his lifelong but ultimately futile attempt to promote the implementation of communism in the U.S. Image: Screen shot from Sen. Bernie Sanders, via YouTube The executive orders President Donald Trump has signed since taking office authorizing tariffs against Mexico, Canada, and China cite fentanyl production and smuggling concerns as their rationale. The extension granted to Mexico and Canada caused many observers to hand-wave these tariffs as an empty negotiating tactic, but the implementation of the Chinese tariffs and revocation of expedited customs handling for Chinese small parcels shows that President Trump has a clear picture of the recent realities of U.S.-bound smuggling. Chinese companies are increasingly engaging in fraudulent shipping behavior to sneak dangerous and illicit goods, such as vaping devices banned in China and restricted fentanyl precursor chemicals, past customs inspections and directly into the United States. Chinas state-owned tobacco monopoly (CNTC) generates $200 billion annually. The overwhelming majority of that figure comes from domestic cigarette sales. CNTC, which also serves as Chinas tobacco regulatory agency under its parallel identity as the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, has been aggressive in protecting its domestic market against e-cigarettes. After being granted regulatory authority over e-cigarettes in a 2021 decision, CNTC cracked down on Chinas burgeoning e-cigarette market and banned domestic sales of many products. The explosive growth in the U.S. of disposable vapes, particularly the Lost Mary and Elf Bar brands produced by Shenzhen iMiracle, occurred as Chinese manufacturers scrambled to find a new market for their products paying no regard to the laws of foreign countries. Our own laws, banning the sale of candy and fruit vape flavors designed to entice children, are among those routinely violated. Most of the Chinese-origin vapes entering the United States are prohibited under federal law, yet still represent 30% of the U.S. e-cigarette market. Not only that, but a Shenzhen iMiracle spokesperson allegedly admitted that all Lost Mary and Elf Bar products now in the U.S. are counterfeit and subject to no standardized health and safety controls. Illegal e-cigarette smuggling is extensive. ImportGenius worked with the Associated Press on research for an article which noted that Elf Bar, the small vaping device favored among teenagers, has repeatedly dodged customs and avoided taxes and import fees. Many of the shipments of these products are mislabeled as battery chargers and flashlights. Earlier this year, the FDA joined forces with the Department of Justice, pledging a crackdown on these illicit imports. Law enforcement is hard at work on this issue, and this past December the Chicago Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office announced the seizure of over $80 million in illegally imported vaping devices. Another $18 million worth was seized by customs officers at the Los Angeles Airport. Combating this will require providing more resources to the CBP, closing loopholes which give air freight shipments lower customs scrutiny, and mandating that air freight customs records are held to the same standard of public disclosure as maritime shipments so that journalists and companies in the private sector can pitch in. The FDA has worked to approve the sale of some American products, but a federal agency known as the International Trade Commission (ITC) is actively making it more difficult to protect the American people. The ITC just moved to block the sale of the FDA-approved vaping devices, giving the illegal smugglers a near monopoly of the flavored e-cigarette market. Make no mistake: this represents a multi-billion dollar giveaway to illegal Chinese manufacturers and smugglers who refuse to play by the rules. iMiracle brands alone were estimated to generate $3.5$4 billion globally by ECigIntelligence, an industry analyst. Some members of Congress understand the threat. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking Democrat member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has highlighted the recent phenomenon of Chinese-made e-cigarettes flooding the US marketplace. The vast majority of the new vapes that have entered the market are being illegally imported from China, and these vapes, we have no idea what they contain because theyre being manufactured in facilities that are not in any way being inspected by the FDA, Krishnamoorthi said. President Trump gets whats at stake too. He understands the threat posed by illegal Chinese vapes, and has cautioned against bans of FDA-approved American vape devices, stating, If you dont give it to them, its going to come here illegally They could be selling something on a street corner that could be horrible. Now, hopefully the president will stand strong and veto the ITCs decision within the 60-day window that he has to do so. Its time for the White House and Congress to recognize the gravity of this crisis and act decisively. Strengthening border enforcement, enabling public oversight of China-originating shipments, and ensuring access to American-made FDA approved vaping devices are not just matters of trade policytheyre vital steps to safeguarding our nations health and security. Anything less is a surrender to those who profit at our expense. William George is the director of research for ImportGenius, a US-based trade data aggregator that provides businesses with detailed insights into global trade activities. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. TECNO breaks boundaries with its new ultra lightweight MEGABOOK S14. Ever since Apple came out with the MacBook Air, theres been a race to make laptops thinner and thinner. Well, not to be underestimated, Chinese tech brand TECNO walked onto the stage with the thinnest 14-inch laptop on the market at MWC. People not too familiar with TECNO might think that its just another budget company making cheap products. However, thats not the case, as its on its way to becoming a true tech giant. At MWC, the company unveiled its latest MEGABOOK laptops to the world. Among the line, theres the base MEGABOOK S14. This is a 14-inch computer with an emphasis on thinness. This computer comes in at only 31.7oz (899g). So, you wont have any issues with carrying this computer around. Its super lightweight and able to be slipped into a carrying bag. Powering this computer, theres the powerful Snapdragon X Elite processor. This is the most powerful processor that the company offers, so you know that the MEGABOOK S14 will just fly. Youll be able to easily use it as your work or content creation computer with no issues. Along with that, you should expect powerful AI performance. The TECNO MEGABOOK S14 comes with Microsofts Copilot+ AI platform out of the box. This means that youll have access to a ton of AI tools to help you be productive. With this combination of powerful hardware and powerful AI, theres no limit to what you will be able to do with this computer. A screen for the ages When you use this computer, youll be looking at one of the best screens on the market. It will come with a 14-inch 2.5K OLED display. With a spectacular 91% screen-to-body ratio, youll have an engrossing viewing experience. Thats a ton of screen real estate to view the fluid 120Hz refresh rate. We dont doubt that the MEGABOOK S14 will have a gorgeous display because its phones displays are absolutely jaw-dropping. So, theres no doubt that youll love this screen. Because TECNO was able to pack so much power into such a thin package, the MEGABOOK S14 has earned our award for Best of MWC 2025. The power of the sun in the palm of your hand. There are few things cooler than devices that charge with solar energy, which is why we decided to award Infinixs Solar Energy Reserving Technology at Mobile World Congress 2025 this week. While this is still a concept, its also a practical idea that would be very beneficial to have. The process of creating something like this was surely anything but easy, but it is technology that would easily fit into your everyday life. Infinixs Solar Energy Reserving Technology came in more than one form at Mobile World Congress, but what grabbed our attention the most was this phone that had integrated solar cells. Thats just like it sounds. Its a phone with a panel made up of small solar cells on the back that can charge via sunlight. Solar charging tech has been around for a while, but its never really been incorporated into things like smartphones. Infinix envisions a world where your phone could charge from the light of the sun while youre doing things like walking down the street or sitting by a window. This would be a great way to charge your phone when its not being used. Thats a very exciting thing to think about. Because it could eliminate the need to bring backup chargers everywhere. The solar cells can apparently take in light from really bright lights Charging from sunlight is pretty cool to begin with, but its even cooler if a device can charge from regular lights. Thats one thing that surprised us about the Solar Energy Reserving Technology that Infinix brought to Mobile World Congress. According to the company, the cells on the back of the phone are potentially capable of charging with light that isnt sunlight. It wouldnt be a fast charge. Again, though, it should be enough if your phone is just sitting around and youre not using it. Then, all you would need to do is leave it alone under those lights for a bit. Infinix told us that the phone was able to charge via heat from other phones in the same bag as this concept phone. So there are some seemingly good possibilities here for how this phone could charge up throughout the day. Infinix is putting this tech into cases too Infinix isnt stopping at phones with built-in solar cells for charging. It also took this same technology and incorporated it into a case for an upcoming phone itll be launching. So, even without this solar charging phone, you could still end up with a phone that can charge through solar power. This is the kind of cool innovation that wed love to see more companies working on. Theyre useful solutions to the ever-present issue that is smartphone battery life. Keep your laptop battery topped off without plugging it in. Weve said it before, and well say it again Lenovos Yoga Solar PC Concept is one of the coolest devices weve seen at Mobile World Congress 2025. If the name didnt give it away, this is a laptop that can charge up its internal battery with nothing but sunlight. Lenovo incorporated a solar panel into the lid of the laptop so it can passively charge while you use it. Solar charging isnt incredibly fast, but that isnt the point. The point is this is a laptop that you wouldnt always need to have a charger for. You wouldnt even need a power bank. All you need is a sunny day and for the light to hit that solar panel. Imagine taking your laptop with you to your favorite coffee shop. Oops! You forgot the charger, and the battery is lower than you thought. With this laptop you wouldnt have to worry. You could just sit by the window and let the sun beat down on it. That is a very cool feature, which is why we gave the Yoga Solar PC Concept an award during Mobile World Congress this week. This laptop has a 24% solar conversion rate This might not sound impressive if you arent really familiar with solar conversion rates. We werent, but after reading about what Lenovo did here, were convinced this is something special. According to the company, the Solar PC Concept and its 24% solar conversion rate is one of the highest in the industry. Thats impressive. Its also exciting to think about how quickly the laptop would be able to charge up. Now, this is just a concept device, so it might not ever be something you can buy. Having said that, the use case of something like this is completely practical. We could see it become something Lenovo pushes into production and eventually sells. It seems like a laptop that people would actually buy. 20 minutes of charging gives you about an hour of video playback I cant even begin to count on my ten fingers how many times Ive been in a situation where I had low battery life on my laptop and forgot the charger. All the while, I just wanted to enjoy some free time watching videos on YouTube or somewhere else. If only I had something like this to allow the laptop to charge up with sunlight. In just 20 minutes, according to Lenovo, the laptop would provide an hour of video playback. Think about how cool that would be. Youd never have to worry about forgetting your laptop charger again. Well, as long as theres sunlight to keep the laptop juiced up. Whats also impressive is that Lenovo says this laptop weighs around 2.29 lbs., so its not heavy. Thats some extreme utility. A laptop that charges via sunlight and doesnt weigh down your backpack. For some time now, Elon Musk has been trying to stop OpenAI from switching to a for-profit organization. This has led to multiple lawsuits filed in court. However, the owner of X (FKA Twitter) has not succeeded in any of the cases. In a new development, Elon Musk has received a new setback in his attempt to prevent OpenAI from switching to for-profit. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is the main face of the artificial intelligence company. However, you may not know that Elon Musk was a co-founder of the firm along with Altman and nine other people. Musk contributed up to $45 million in funding since 2015 but left OpenAI in 2018. Musk claimed in his lawsuits against OpenAI that the company tricked him into funding it. Judge rules against Elon Musks lawsuit requesting the halt of the OpenAI for-profit transition Elon Musks latest lawsuit against OpenAI was filed in a federal court in California. The owner of X claimed that OpenAI betrayed its original direction by seeking to transform itself into a for-profit organization. He claims that his funding was contingent on the company committing to being a nonprofit organization. Musk attached emails discussing the matter as part of the evidence. His goal was to obtain an injunction halting the ongoing transformation of OpenAIs management model. That said, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled against Musk. Whether Musks emails and social media posts constitute a writing sufficient to constitute an actual contract or charitable trust between the parties is debatable, reads her ruling. This implies that the owner of X was unable to conclusively demonstrate OpenAIs unwavering commitment to maintaining a nonprofit model. So, Sam Altman has a clear path to continue with the transformation of the AI-focused firm. According to Altman, the change of model is a necessary step for OpenAI. Developing artificial intelligence is quite expensive, especially for those who want to stay on top. Being a for-profit organization will allow OpenAI to get more funding to stay on top of the segment. Currently, OpenAI has a hybrid structure where a nonprofit division manages a for-profit one. A few weeks ago, OpenAI confirmed that its nonprofit branch will continue to exist even after the model change. However, now its for-profit counterpart will make the important decisions in the company. Musk has his own AI company Its noteworthy that Elon Musk has his own artificial intelligence company. xAI, founded in 2023, was born as an extension of X, and its product is Grok, the AI-powered chatbot. Recently, xAI introduced Grok 3 with advanced reasoning capabilities and deep research options. The implementation of artificial intelligence has brought big advances to the tech industry. However, in recent years, some prominent names in the segment have shared their views regarding the aggressive development of the technology. In line with that, Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, is warning, along with other experts, about the risks of pursuing a Manhattan Project for AGIs. Former Google CEO and other experts share their vision on a US Manhattan Project for AGI Eric Schmidt, Alexandr WangScale AI CEOand Dan HendrycksCenter for AI Safety Directorsigned a policy paper where they warn about potential retaliation against the United States in a scenario where they try to lead the technology of AGIs (AI agents). According to the paper Superintelligence Strategy, technologically powerful countries like China could respond to the United States in the form of potential cyber-attacks. These situations would lead to the destabilization of international relations and escalations in conflicts. [A] Manhattan Project [for AGI] assumes that rivals will acquiesce to an enduring imbalance or omnicide rather than move to prevent it, reads the paper. What begins as a push for a superweapon and global control risks prompting hostile countermeasures and escalating tensions, thereby undermining the very stability of the strategy purports to secure. The paper appears to refer to an American initiative that suggested a kind of Manhattan Project for the development of AGIs. The program would be similar to the one that led to the creation of the atomic bomb decades ago. Energy Chris Wright, US Secretary of Energy, recently expressed the idea together with Greg Brockman, OpenAI co-founder, on a supercomputer site. This is not the first time that Eric Schmidt has warned about the risks of AI in todays world. The former Google CEO voiced his concerns in mid-February regarding the potential use of AI platforms for biological weapons-based terrorist attacks. Paper suggests a defensive stance by disabling threatening AI projects through cyberattacks The paper suggests that the US should take a defensive stance regarding AGIs. That is, keep an eye on the development of the technology by rival countries. The co-signers suggest that the US should disable threatening AI projects if detected. They say that the country should expand [its] arsenal of cyberattacks to prepare for such situations. They are also in favor of the US limiting access to advanced AI chips and its open-source AI models. The view is a bit fatalistic but in line with what Schmidt has expressed recently. However, the paper contradicts some of the former Google CEOs advice. Previously, he advocated for the US to actively compete for dominance in the AI field. But when talking about AGIs, Eric Schmidt seems to advocate a more defensive than aggressive stance. Recently, Samsung confirmed that it will begin the stable rollout of One UI 7 in April. So far, only the Galaxy S24 series has received beta versions of the long-awaited Android 15-based firmware. So, we can assume that these phones will be the first to get the OTA. Meanwhile, Samsung is sending out the latest March 2025 security update to the Galaxy S24 lineup. Samsung today unexpectedly released the March 2025 patch. While it was due to arrive at some point, the South Korean giant had promised that it would open the One UI 7 beta program for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 today. However, instead, the firm sent the latest security update to its 2024 foldables. Now, the Galaxy S24 series is receiving the same update. Samsung sends March 2025 security update to Galaxy S24 series According to reports, the March 2025 patch is now reaching the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra units in South Korea. The firmware has the build number S92xNKSS5AYB1 and a size of around 280 MB (it could vary slightly depending on the model). Samsung shouldnt take long to begin the rollout to other regions and countries. Dont expect any impressive new features after installing the update. Samsung is reserving them all for One UI 7, so youll have to wait a few more weeks. However, the March 2025 update will make your Galaxy S24 device more secure. There are over 40 vulnerabilities resolved, with Google contributing most of the fixes for the Android core. Meanwhile, Samsung included seven fixes of its own that only affected Galaxy and One UI hardware/software. This will likely be the last stable Android 14-based update for the Galaxy S24 series before the stable rollout of One UI 7. The company recently sent One UI 7 beta 5 to users enrolled in the program. The long-awaited Android 15-based firmware should arrive before the end of April 2025 if Samsung keeps its word. Googles March 2025 Pixel Feature Drop is here, bringing Pixel Camera 9.8 along with new capabilities for photography and video recording. While this update is smaller than the December 2024 releasewhich introduced Quick Access Controlsit still comes with some useful changes and improvements, particularly for Pixel Fold users and those taking advantage of Googles new Connected Cameras feature. So, whats new in Pixel Camera 9.8? The latest Pixel Camera update brings a few tweaks and clarifications over the previous Pixel Camera 9.7 update. This includes a toggle for Astrophotography Animation. Google will now let users disable animations for Astrophotography shots with a new Turn on animation for Astrophotography toggle. Users can find this under Settings > Advanced. By default, this remains enabled, preserving earlier behavior. Google is also clarifying some information about the Palm Timer for Rear Camera. The company says that the raise your hand gesture for the Palm Timer works not just on the front camera, but also the rear camera. Pixel Fold users also have some new features and changes they can look forward to in the update. This includes video functionality, such as Dual Screen Preview for video recording. This is where both the internal and external displays can be used while capturing video. Google is also bringing the Add Me feature to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. For those unfamiliar, Add Me mode uses AI to insert people into shots and can now appear on the external display to help with better framing. Connected Cameras One of the biggest additions in the March 2025 Feature Drop is the Connected Cameras feature. This isfor nowexclusive to the Pixel 9 series, which includes the base Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold. This feature lets users seamlessly capture or live stream using remote cameras from supported apps. According to Google, the cameras currently supported include the Pixel 6 and later and the GoPro Hero 10 and newer. Just make sure to update to the latest software version and you should be good to go. Users can use Connected Cameras with apps such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Setting it up is also relatively straightforward. On your Pixel 9 phone, go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connected Preferences > Connected Cameras. After that, the Camera Picker allows you to easily switch between your phones camera and a remote camera. That being said, keep in mind that you can only connect to devices signed in with your Google Account. Secondly, only one remote camera can be connected at a time. Lastly, the audio comes from the active camera, so your mileage may vary depending on the quality of the devices microphone. Back in 2024, thieves stole over $500,000 worth of phones, tablets, and other devices from UPS shipments meant for T-Mobile stores. Authorities say the T-Mobile thieves targeted high-value phones and tablets from UPS shipments meant for the carriers stores. However, the authorities are close to putting this case to rest, thanks to the arrest of a fourth suspect. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office (PBSO), Samuel Drummond, 38, turned himself in on Wednesday. He is facing charges related to larceny, fraud, and dealing in stolen property. Drummond was the owner of GoalMind Studios, a recording studio and cell phone repair shop in Lantana, Florida, which apparently doubled as a front for selling stolen electronics. Thieves stole phones, tablets, and more The thefts began in July 2024 when UPS shipments intended for T-Mobile stores in Palm Beach County, Florida, started disappearing. According to investigators, this was allegedly orchestrated by UPS supervisor Giffton White, who worked with delivery drivers Sheldon Brown and Christopher Palmer. They removed high-value packages from a Riviera Beach UPS hub and sent them to Drummonds shop, where the items would be resold. However, these disappearances didnt go unnoticed. T-Mobile caught on when the carriers internal audit revealed unexplained losses at two locations in Lake Worth, Florida, amounting to over $504,000. To track down the missing shipments, the carrier embedded GPS tracking devices in some packages. This led investigators to a UPS facility in Riviera Beach. The evidence also led them to California, where some stolen devices were discovered. T-Mobile and UPS then alerted the police, prompting an investigation by PBSO and the Florida Attorney Generals Office. Arrests and charges On February 25, 2025, police executed search and arrest warrants and took White, Brown, and Palmer into custody. At the time of his arrest, Palmer was actually using one of the stolen phones. They then conducted a search of Drummonds GoalMind Studios. They found stolen Apple iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and other electronics, many of which were still in their original packaging. Unfortunately, by that time, Drummond had fled the state. However, perhaps feeling the heat or burdened by his conscience, Drummond surrendered to authorities on Wednesday. Right now, all four suspects are facing a multitude of charges. This includes conspiracy to commit racketeering, grand theft over $100,000, organized scheme to defraud over $50,000, dealing in stolen property, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. A 1-year-old baby died from dehydration and was "found with very little evidence of food in the stomach" after their mother neglected them for nearly two days because she allegedly "had a migraine." Alyssa Wehmeyer of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, found her deceased baby on Feb. 28. When she was questioned by police, the 21-year-old mother revealed she last fed her baby on Feb. 26, about 36 hours before the child died, according to a probable cause affidavit. When questioned about the child's "severe blisters" caused by a diaper rash, Wehmeyer told police she last changed the baby's diaper then put them to bed on Feb. 27, "nearly 19 hours" before the child was found. The last time she picked up the baby was around 2 a.m. on Feb. 28, when she tended to them for about 30 minutes. The suspect told police she should have taken her child to the hospital on Feb. 27 but she "had a migraine" and took a nap instead. Prosecutors accused Wehmeyer of neglecting her child "for approximately 43 hours," per the arrest warrant. Wehmeyer was arrested and charged with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, a felony charge. She is being held on $100,000 cash bond and will appear in court on March 6. Originally published on Latin Times OpenAI is currently the main face of artificial intelligence in the tech industry. The firm was ahead of everyone by launching ChatGPT, a product with impressive capabilities and unique in the market. Other companies took years to launch something similarwith questionable initial results. However, the company has not been exempt from controversy. One of the incidents even triggered an antitrust investigation in the UK. However, the UK competition has dropped the probe against OpenAI. Background of the investigation The investigation by the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) wanted to dig deeper into whether there was any change in the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI. More specifically, the entity sought to determine whether Microsoft gained more power in the AI-focused company after pushing for the return of Sam Altman following his controversial dismissal. 2023 brought probably the most high-profile controversy surrounding OpenAI. In September of that year, the then board members decided to fire Sam Altman as CEO of the firm amid doubts about his leadership. This included conflicting positions regarding policies such as AI security and safety. The board also said that Sam Altman had not been consistently candid in communicating with them. However, Sam Altman had a lot of approval among key members of the company. Several lobbied for Altman to return to his position, which happened shortly after. Microsoft, which has invested billions in OpenAI, also lobbied for Altmans return as CEO. UKs CMA drops probe over suspicions of Microsoft increasing control over OpenAI The move by the Redmond giant and its large investments in the company triggered the watchful eye of the UKs CMA. They saw signs of a potential increase in Microsofts control over the artificial intelligence company. In view of Microsofts potentially important role in securing Sam Altmans re-appointment, the CMA believed there was a reasonable chance that an investigation would reveal that Microsoft had increased its control over OpenAIs commercial policy, stated the CMA. That said, the CMAs findings are now in, and they favor the Microsoft-OpenAI relationship. The CMA found no conclusive evidence of increased control by Microsoft over OpenAI following the Altman incident. So, there is no need for a full review under the UK merger rules. However, the entity added that the findings should not be read as the partnership being given a clean bill of health on potential competition concerns; but the UK merger control regime must of course operate within the remit set down by Parliament. Critics believe the decision was taken for political reasons Critics believe the decision was influenced by recent political changes. The UK government recently urged local regulators to promote economic growth in the country. This implies less interventionism from watchdogs. In line with that new policy, Doug Gurr, former head of Amazon UK, replaced Marcus Bokkerink as head of the CMA. Microsoft expressed satisfaction with the conclusions of the CMAs investigation. Our OpenAI partnership and its continued evolution promote competition, innovation, and responsible AI development, and we welcome the CMAs conclusion, after careful and prudent consideration of the commercial realities, to close its investigation, reads the statement. An aid worker from Britain has said this is not the moment for crying after surviving a Russian missile strike in central Ukraine, which left four people dead. Karol Swiacki, founder of charity Ukraine Relief, from Bournemouth, Dorset, shared his disbelief after an air strike in Kryvyi Rih hit the Central Hotel on Wednesday night his accommodation for the duration of his stay. The aid worker and his team said they felt lucky they were able to flee their rooms at the hotel before the strike happened. I dont how we survived this. It was an incredible and shocking moment for all of us, Mr Swiacki told the PA news agency. Aid worker Karol Swiacki captured pictures and video of the rubble and debris moments after a missile struck a hotel in Ukraine (Karol Swiacki/PA) If we were in our rooms, we would be dead. It is a huge disaster. Four people died in the strike, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Mr Swiacki and his team travelled to Ukraine to distribute generators and supplies to a local school and orphanage, and he said he felt broken after the aid was destroyed by the attack. The charity founder said he and his team visited the school on Thursday morning to continue aid efforts in Ukraine. We went to the school today, we didnt give up, he said. We are not crying. This is not the moment for crying. This is the moment for getting things done. If they (the Russians) want to frighten us, put the fear into our minds that we shouldnt be here but Im not going to be doing that. We need to help Ukraine. He praised the people of Ukraine for their bravery and said his experience highlights the daily plight of Ukrainians. Karol Swaicki and fellow aid worker Marc Edwards the day after they survived a missile strike on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine (Karol Swiacki/PA) What brave people and what a country they are fighting for survival. Day by day these rockets are falling here and killing and injuring people, he said. Mr Swiacki hopes that sharing his experience in Kryvyi Rih will remind the public about the ongoing conflict. We need to send the message of truth. People need to see what is really happening, he said. We are an example of those whove been under attack and we survived it. We need to be ambassadors of this situation and use this to give people an example of what is happening. This is what (the people of) Ukraine are surviving. Mr Zelensky said on X that rescue operations in Kryvyi Rih continue. All night, a rescue operation continued in Kryvyi Rih at the site of a Russian missile strike. A ballistic missile struck an ordinary hotel. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom had pic.twitter.com/XTfcRprBsE Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 6, 2025 He said: All night, a rescue operation continued in Kryvyi Rih at the site of a Russian missile strike. A ballistic missile struck an ordinary hotel. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organisation citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom had checked into the hotel. They survived because they managed to get down from their rooms in time. Unfortunately, four people were killed in this attack. My condolences to their families and loved ones. He went on: Rescue workers are still on-site, and all emergency services continue to operate. Kryvyi Rih is Mr Zelenskyys home town and has been attacked frequently from Russia, including a missile attack in January that killed four. Barclays could pay out up to 12.5 million in compensation to customers affected by technology outages over the last two years, a new letter to MPs has revealed. There has been more than 33 days worth of unplanned tech and system outages in the last two years for nine of the UKs biggest banks and building societies, according to new data published by the Treasury Committee. The committee a cross-party group formed of 11 members asked the lenders UK chief executives to reveal the scale of recent IT failures and estimates for how much customers might be paid in compensation. It comes after an outage led to days of disruption for Barclays customers at the end of January, coinciding with payday for many workers and the deadline for self-assessment tax returns. Barclays confirmed that, during that incident, more than half of attempts to make an online payment failed. Barclays UK: 15 incidents 2023-2025 3.3m customers affected (excluding most recent outage) Up to around 12.5m compensation Lloyds: 12 'material' incidents 2023-Feb 2025 1.5m customer payments & 3.8m log on attempts affected 160,000 in compensation Nationwide Building Society: 18 incidents 2023-2025 2m payment transactions affected 77,452 in compensation NatWest: 13 'material' incidents 2023-2025 348,000 in compensation across 1,855 complaints The bank estimated that it expects to pay out between 5 million and 7.5 million in compensation for the specific outage, adding to an estimated 5 million for other incidents between January 2023 and January 2025. We acknowledge that through no fault of their own, some of our customers and clients may have suffered loss or distress and inconvenience, UK chief executive Vim Maru wrote in the letter published by the Treasury Committee. The outage occurred because of a software problem in a part of its UK mainframe operating system, and was not triggered by a cyber attack, Barclays told the committee. The system provider which is a third-party company that Barclays did not name has since put through a software fix which is undergoing thorough testing, it said. Across the nine banks and building societies, there have been at least 158 IT failure incidents between January 2023 and February 2025, according to estimates they provided. That figure does not include Barclays recent outage, nor disruption to other banks online services in more recent weeks. Common reasons given for the incidents include problems with third-party suppliers, disruption caused when systems were changed, and internal software malfunctions. Lloyds said it has paid around 160,000 in compensation to customers because of disruptions experienced over the last two years while NatWest said it had paid out about 348,000 to customers who complained about incidents. Like Barclays, compensation is paid out on top of money spent by the banks to cover any charges that customers face as a result of outages, such as late payment fees. MP Dame Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Treasury Committee, said: The fact there has been enough outages to fill a whole month within the last two years shows customers frustrations are completely valid. The reality is that this data shows even the most successful banks and building societies hit technical glitches. Whats critical is they react swiftly and ensure customers are kept informed throughout. She added: I am particularly thankful to those who are compensating their customers well for the stress they endure and would encourage all to reflect on whether they are doing enough in that regard. The Culture Secretary has accused the BBC of failing to show enough urgency in its review of a controversial documentary on Gaza as she demanded answers from the broadcaster by early next week. Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone was removed from BBC iPlayer after it emerged that the child narrator, Abdullah, is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamass deputy minister of agriculture. The broadcaster apologised for the making of the programme, about children living in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war, after conducting an initial review and it has now launched a further internal probe. But speaking to the PA news agency on Wednesday, Lisa Nandy said she was yet to see anywhere near enough action and that she expected progress to have been made by early next week, when she plans to update the Commons. What I havent seen from the BBC yet is anywhere near enough action to grip the problems that have emerged, she said. There isnt enough urgency and Ive been absolutely clear with the BBC leadership about that. We need proper explanations about what went wrong in this case, why due diligence wasnt done on the people that were featured in the film, people who worked on the film, and also on the use of language. Ive been really clear with the BBC leadership that I expect answers to those questions and I expect progress to be made by early next week when I intend to update the House of Commons again. She added that it would be very difficult to see a scenario in which it would be acceptable for the film to made available again after BBC director-general Tim Davie declined to rule out the prospect of it returning to iPlayer. The BBC said it is seeking additional assurance from production company Hoyo Films after it admitted they paid the boys mother, via his sisters bank account, a limited sum of money for the narration. Other accusations have been made that parts of the documentary were mis-translated, and more children who appeared in it were linked to proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas. In a written statement to MPs, Ms Nandy said she has been deeply shocked and disappointed, after the BBC and its board recognised a number of serious failings in their commissioning and editorial processes. She added that this damages vital trust in an organisation which must retain the confidence of the public, and said she spoke to the BBC chairman Samir Shah, and told him of her concerns on Friday. While I appreciate that the BBC apologised for its failings, and the BBC board acknowledged that the mistakes were significant and damaging, it is vital that the BBC now takes action so that trust is restored and a serious error of this magnitude is not repeated, she said. Reflecting the concerns of (the) House (of Commons) I sought assurances from the chair that the fact-finding review the BBC has commissioned will be swift and rigorous. I emphasised that it must include a robust financial audit and address concerns raised (by MPs) on translation. I made clear that the chair and his board must lead and hold the BBC robustly to account for resolving the issues already exposed, and implementing the reviews recommendations. She also said the BBC has provided me with further information on their approach to enhanced compliance procedures but I have not yet received the full range of assurances and have requested further details and assurances and expect to be provided these by the BBC leadership urgently. The duty to report on what is happening to people in Gaza is absolutely fundamental, Ms Nandy also said. That is why the Government believes that the BBC and others have a responsibility to exercise utmost care and due diligence in the way in which they report on this conflict. It is in no ones interest for the public not to have confidence in the information that they are receiving. Mr Davie told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday he was very sorry to the audience, because we dont want to be in a position where we have flaws in the programme-making. He added he had overall been proud of the way were covering some of these polarised, fiendishly difficult events. He also said that there had been around 500 complaints about the film being biased against Israel, and around 1,800 complaints wanted the film put back on iPlayer, and he is not ruling anything out on it returning to the BBCs online streaming platform. In a letter to the BBC on Monday, Ofcom chairman Lord Grade said the regulator could step in if an internal inquiry into the making of the documentary is not satisfactory. Presenters Gary Lineker and Anita Rani, and actors Riz Ahmed and Miriam Margolyes, are among more the 500 media figures who had condemned the withdrawal from iPlayer. Former BBC One controller Danny Cohen, who was among those wanting the BBC to pull the programme, has called for a full independent inquiry. A BBC spokeswoman said: We take these issues incredibly seriously which is why we have commissioned (director of editorial complaints and reviews) Peter Johnston to lead a full fact-finding review. That work has commenced. It is vital that this work moves quickly, but it must also be thorough and get to the answers we are seeking. Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference on the guilty plea of Axel Rudakubana - Henry Nicholls/AFP How would Sir Keir Starmer fare behind bars? I only ask, because were justice to be equal, the Prime Minister ought to be braced for a dawn raid, followed by a long spell at His Majestys pleasure. That is what happened to scores of men, women and even children who played shameful roles in last summers riots. Among the earliest arrests were two boys aged just 11 and 12. Some of those who received the harshest sentences were not even at the scene of any demonstrations but were found guilty of fuelling protests online. Having encouraged the courts to show no mercy to those who did stupid things in the wake of the Southport murders, Starmer now stands accused of much the same. In a supreme irony, his Governments own terror watchdog has declared that the Prime Ministers failure to disclose basic facts about child killer Axel Rudakubana led to misinformation that stoked the ensuing riots. For others, that has meant criminal records and jail time. Writing in the Telegraph, Jonathan Hall KC criticised what he describes as failure of the authorities to spell out basic and sober facts about the Southport murderer. Among the information that was covered up was the terror element to the crime. In one of the most egregious examples of government propagated misinformation, Starmers Deputy, Angela Rayner, originally dismissed any links to terrorism as fake news. For good political measure, she went on to accuse Nigel Farage who was at the time raising what turned out to be more than valid questions about the case of stoking conspiracy theories. Yet Rudakubana would go on to be charged with the production of a biological toxin (ricin) and possession of an Al Qaeda training manual. It turned out that the person spreading fake news was not the leader of Reform UK, but the Deputy Prime Minister herself. The authorities then released a wholly misleading photograph of the killer, looking like a choir boy. As we now know from his infamous police mug shot, the real Rudakubana looks little short of demonic. At the highest levels of Government, the dishonesty over the Southport murders went on and on: from the appalling fiction that the subsequent riots were all the work of far-Right thugs to the impression given that the killer was from a nice Christian family from Cardiff. In fact, his parents are Rwandan refugees, and Al Qaeda manuals are produced by, and for, Islamic extremists. Starmers wearyingly predictable justification for all the secrecy and lies surrounding the case was that a more open approach might have jeopardised Rukukabanas trial. How convenient! Time and again, both police and politicians use this ruse the supposed need for all manner of investigations and inquiries to run their course before anyone in any position of responsibility says anything meaningful to avoid awkward questions to which they might need to give even more awkward answers. No wonder trust in public institutions and parliamentarians is so low! According to Hall, so far from helping to ensure that the case against the killer did not collapse, the information black-out actually increased the risk of the killers defence team claiming he would not get a fair trial, as dangerous fictions that could have been far more prejudicial to the prosecution filled the void. Far better, the watchdog argues, for the authorities to have come clean. Absolutely! While theyre at it, please can they make it a habit? For while ministers pontificate about fake news from disreputable social media sources, the Government klaxon is repeatedly used to deceive and dissemble. Only a few days ago, the Prime Minister himself was at it again, pretending that his Government champions free speech when it demonstrably does the opposite. Sitting in the Oval Office, the prime minister did not blink as he told Vice President JD Vance that he is very proud of this countrys history on this front, when he knows full well that there have been outrageous infringements on his own watch. No wonder voters searching for the truth do not know where to turn. As dozens of individuals with none of Starmers mighty power and influence continue to languish in prison for their bit parts in last summers trouble, perhaps the Prime Minister should have his own collar felt. Scott Bessent addresses the Economic Club of New York on Thursday. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images Buying cheap products is not the essence of the American dream, Donald Trumps top economic official has declared, amid warnings that the US presidents trade wars risk increasing prices. The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, defended the new administrations aggressive trade strategy on Thursday, two days after it imposed sweeping tariffs on Canada and Mexico and hiked duties on China. Top retail CEOs have cautioned the move would swiftly lead to higher prices for US consumers. Trump, too, has acknowledged there would be a little disturbance as a result. During an appearance at the Economic Club of New York on Thursday, Bessent conceded there could be what he referred to as a one-time price adjustment as a result of Trumps tariffs. Access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American dream, he said. The American dream was the concept that any citizen can achieve prosperity, upward mobility, economic security, he added. For too long, designers of multilateral trade deals have lost sight of this. It comes a few days after Bessent said he was laser-focused on high prices in the US. At the weekend, he announced the treasury would recruit an affordability czar to help address the issue. I think President Trump said that hell own the economy in six or 12 months, but I can tell you that we are working to get these prices down every day, Bessent told Face the Nation on CBS. The US president has already watered down key parts of this weeks US trade onslaught, suspending tariffs on Mexico and Canada for carmakers on Wednesday, before temporarily halting tariffs on many other goods from the two countries on Thursday. Trump has repeatedly pledged to rapidly bring down prices for consumers, and declared during a joint address to Congress on Tuesday evening that he was fighting every day to make America affordable again. Gwynne Wilcox. Photograph: National Labor Relations Board A federal court ruled that Donald Trumps abrupt firing of a former senior official at the top US labor watchdog was illegal, and ordered that she be reinstated. Gwynne Wilcox was the first member of the National Labor Relations Board to be removed by a US president since the boards inception in 1935. The framers of the US constitution made clear that no one in our system of government was meant to be king the President included and not just in name only, the judge Beryl A Howell, wrote in the ruling. Howell presided over the hearing held on Wednesday on a motion for summary judgment in the District of Columbia. The President does not have the authority to terminate members of the National Labor Relations Board at will, and his attempt to fire plaintiff from her position on the Board was a blatant violation of the law, she wrote. A president who touts an image of himself as a king or a dictator, perhaps as his vision of effective leadership, fundamentally misapprehends the role under Article II of the US Constitution, wrote Howell. Article II of the US Constitution outlines the executive powers and responsibilities of the president. Howell continued, in our constitutional order, the president is tasked to be a conscientious custodian of the law, albeit an energetic one, to take care of effectuating his enumerated duties, including the laws enacted by the Congress and as interpreted by the Judiciary. Wilcox filed the lawsuit early last month, alleging her removal was a blatant violation of the National Labor Relations Act, which stipulates that members of the board can only be removed for negligence or misconduct. Her removal left the board with only two members, lacking the quorum of at least three members required to rule on cases. Im ready to get back to work, said Wilcox after the hearing in a speech outside the courthouse today. Its not just about me, but Im glad to be the face of this fight. Her attorney, Deepak Gupta, noted this was the beginning of a long fight. Wilcox was confirmed by the Senate in September 2023, and set to serve until August 2028. She sought a declaratory judgment ruling her removal unlawful and an injunction to permit her to complete her appointed term. The White House has defended her removal, and that of the NLRB general counsel, claiming that these were far-left appointees with radical records of upending longstanding labor law, and they have no place as senior appointees in the Trump administration. During the hearing, Howell noted that in court, the Trump administration claimed the law prohibiting removal of board members was unconstitutional. Similar arguments have been made in recent lawsuits against the NLRB by SpaceX, Amazon and other employers in response to labor law enforcement actions pursued against the corporations. Howell explained the US supreme court precedent of Humphreys Executor, a 1935 case in which the court ruled that a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission had been unlawfully removed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Related: Trump usurping rule of law after agency firings, say former US labor watchdogs Former NLRB chairs and labor leaders criticized the removal of Wilcox, claiming it violated that precedent set by the supreme court, undermined the independence of the NLRB and in effect halted federal labor law enforcement in the US. The AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the US, held a rally in support of Wilcox outside the courthouse during Wednesdays hearing. A week after taking office, President Trump effectively shut down the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and jeopardized the NLRBs independence by illegally firing Wilcox, the first Black woman to serve on the Board, said the AFL-CIO. Residents in the path of a cyclone face an anxious wait hours ahead of its expected landfall. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images Millions of people are sheltering from Tropical Cyclone Alfred as it crashes into the coast of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales bringing destructive winds and heavy rain. The slow-moving weather system was finally expected to make landfall after speeding up overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning as it moved towards Brisbane. The storm was downgraded to a category one as it crossed North Stradbroke Island late on Friday night and headed into Moreton Bay. The latest update from the Bureau of Meteorology was that it would make landfall around Bribie Island north of Brisbane on Saturday morning and drop to a tropical low system before heading inland. Related: Cyclone Alfred live updates: Brisbane, Queensland and NSW BoM path tracking map; landfall time and category; weather forecasts TC Alfred rain and flooding warnings latest Australia news Destructive wind gusts of up to 150km/h are possible around the exposed island coasts and coastal locations. At 3am AEST Alfred was 50km north-north-east of Brisbane and 100km north of Gold Coast, according to the bureau. Residents in Brisbane were advised by the city council to take shelter, while people in parts of the Northern Rivers of NSW were told to seek higher ground because of the risk from flooding. Gold Coast residents have been urged to stay home and take shelter, potentially for days, in a string of alerts from Broadbeach to Jacob Well and South Stradbroke Island. As a search continued for a man washed into flood waters in northern New South Wales, more than 200,000 homes in Queensland and NSW were without power on Friday evening as Tropical Cyclone Alfred crawled towards the coast. Telecommunications were also knocked out for many. Energex, south-east Queenslands electricity distribution network provider, said there were 227,000 customers affected by outages in the region. The slow-moving system is actually worse for our city, the Gold Coast acting mayor, Donna Gates, said. It increases the risk of heavy rain over an extended period. So this again is a concern in relation to flooding. A string of emergency warnings were sent out on Friday afternoon. Emergency alerts were issued for the entire Redland city area, and in the Gold Coast from Broadbeach to Jacobs Well and South Stradbroke Island. An alert issued by the Redland city council for islands in Moreton Bay ordered residents to take shelter now in the strongest part of the building you are in. Meanwhile, thousands of people in parts of the NSW northern rivers were told to leave their homes on Thursday night, including residents in Lismores CBD, north and south. The community was devastated by flooding in 2022. A man is missing after his four-wheel-drive was washed off a bridge by fast-moving flood waters north-east of Dorrigo in northern NSW on Friday afternoon. He left the car and secured himself to a tree but was swept away about 3pm, NSW police said. He is still missing. The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said there had been rainfall totals of about 200mm in the last 24 hours in some parts of south-east Queensland and much more was expected. Major flood warnings have been issued for the Logan and Albert rivers. Expected rainfall totals over 24 hours are upward of 300mm to 400mm as the system crosses. The acting Queensland police commissioner, Shane Chelepy, said there had not yet been loss of life or missing persons in Queensland. Some Gold Coast suburbs have lost telecommunication coverage after 26 mobile base stations lost power and ran out of battery, he said. Those locations include Bilinga, Bilinga North, Binna Burra, Burleigh Waters, Coolangatta, OReillys, Parkwood, Bundle, Reedy Creek, Mudgeeraba, Karumba and Springbrook. Related: Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches the Queensland coast in pictures The moment it is safe to do so, our telcos, which we have been engaged with, will get into those errors and try to get generation to those stations, he said. Matthew Collopy, a senior forecaster with the bureau, said Alfred would most likely cross the mainland coast as a category 1 cyclone. Destructive wind gusts up to 150km/h are possible about the exposed island coasts and coastal locations near and to the south of the system, he said. As the cyclone moves across Moreton Bay islands, it is expected to weaken from a category 2 to a category 1 system. That will mean that destructive winds are unlikely for Brisbane itself, but damaging wind gusts to 120km/h are expected and they will develop quickly as the system approaches. Flood watches remain in place from the Mary River through Sunshine Coast creeks and rivers, the Pine and Caboolture rivers, Gold Coast creeks and rivers, as well as the upper and lower Brisbane and the Condamine, McIntyre and Weir rivers. A major flood warning is current for the Logan rivers. Read more of Guardian Australias Tropical Cyclone Alfred coverage: London gangster-turned-author Dave Courtney described his pain and how he did not want to waste having a wicked life in videos he made before his death, an inquest has heard. Courtney, 64, who claimed to be an associate of 1960s gangland criminals the Kray twins, swapped an earlier life of crime for writing books in his later years. He was found dead by his friend, actor Brendan McGirr, at his home on Chestnut Rise, Plumstead, south-east London, on October 22 2023, with a gunshot wound, Southwark Coroners Court heard. Senior coroner Dr Julian Morris concluded after a short inquest on Thursday that he took his own life. Detective Sergeant James Robinson earlier told the court about videos Courtney made in the months before his death. In one of them he spoke about his rheumatoid arthritis and how he was disguising a lot of pain, the court heard. Im having to hide the fact that I cant get up and down the stairs and in and out of the car and Im not enjoying it at the moment, he said. Thats really it. I dont want to go waste having a wicked life like Ive had. Absolutely superb. In a 35-second video in the early hours of October 22 2023, Courtney apologised to the people in his life, adding: Theres people that are going to be upset. I didnt mean to hurt you. A police investigation into his death concluded that there was no evidence of third party involvement, Mr Robinson said. Giving his conclusion, Dr Morris said he asked himself two questions: whether Courtney took his own life and if he intended to do so. The answer to both those, having heard the evidence, I consider to be yes, the coroner said. He had recorded many videos over several months stating he could not go on due to the pain, he added. Courtneys wife and daughter sat arm in arm at the front of the court for the duration of the hearing. This roundup of claims has been compiled by Full Fact, the UKs largest fact checking charity working to find, expose and counter the harms of bad information. Is the UK projected to be Europes fastest-growing economy? Industry minister Sarah Jones MP last week told Parliament: The International Monetary Fund and the OECD predict that the UK will be Europes fastest-growing economy over the next few years. But as weve written a number of times in recent weeks when other government ministers have made similar claims, this is not what the latest projections from these organisations show. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have both projected a number of European countries will have higher GDP growth than the UK in 2025 and 2026. Ms Jones has now corrected the Parliamentary record after Full Fact contacted her about her claim. Figures published by the IMF in January project that the UKs GDP will increase by 1.6% in 2025 and by 1.5% in 2026, but that both Spain (2.3% and 1.8%) and Poland (3.5% and 3.3%) will have higher GDP growth in both years. The Netherlands is projected to have similar GDP growth to the UK in 2025 (1.6%) and higher growth in 2026 (1.8%). In December, the OECD also projected that several European countries, including Spain, Denmark and Poland, will have higher GDP growth than the UK in both 2025 and 2026. A formal written correction has now been published in Hansard. The corrected transcript says: The International Monetary Fund and the OECD predict that the UK will be Europes fastest-growing major G7 economy in the coming years. This is indeed what IMF and OECD projections show. Ms Jones is the first minister in the current government to have corrected the record in Hansard after being contacted by Full Fact about a misleading or inaccurate claim. Has the Government delivered two million extra NHS appointments? At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday Sir Keir Starmer said the Government had delivered over two million extra appointments to get the NHS back on its feet, in a reference to one of Labours manifesto pledges. Although Sir Keir didnt explicitly talk about the pledge on Wednesday, the Government last month claimed it had delivered on its NHS appointments pledge seven months early. Full Fact has been following this pledge via our Government Tracker, which is monitoring the Governments delivery on its promises so voters can judge what progress it has made. It is true there were 2.2 million more NHS appointments in England between July and November 2024 than in the same period in 2023. On a weekly basis that amounts to about 100,000 more appointments per week during this time. However the original pledge in Labours manifesto appears to have been set as an annual target, it was to deliver an extra two million NHS operations, scans, and appointments every year. That means we will not be able to say for sure that the Government has hit its target until we know the figures for Labours first full year in office, though it currently appears on track. Some reporting of the Governments claim last month that it had hit its target mentioned that the same period in 2023 was affected by strikes in the NHS, which would have reduced the level of hospital activity at the time, making subsequent years look higher by comparison. While it is true that NHS England was affected by strikes in 2023 between July and November, this doesnt necessarily make it an unfair comparison, since strikes over pay are at least to some extent within each governments control. Could the whole British Army fit into Wembley Stadium? In recent days weve seen various different claims about the size of the armed forces, amid increasing debate about defence spending. There are a number of ways to measure the number of personnel, which can make comparing the size of the armed forces, either historically or internationally, difficult. As of 1 January 2025, there were just over 180,000 service personnel in the UKs armed forces, according to the most comprehensive measure of manpower. This figure, which counts trained and untrained service personnel in the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force, was down by 1.3% on the year before. One claim weve seen circulating is that the whole British Army could fit into Wembley Stadium. Whether this is true depends on whether or not you count the Army Reserves. Wembley Stadiums seated capacity is approximately 90,000. While there are different measures of the Armys strength, the number of UK Regular Forces trained and untrained Army personnel, just under 74,000, would be able to comfortably fit into Wembley with room to spare. However, there are also 25,742 Volunteer Reserves in the Army. The Armys total personnel, counting trained and untrained personnel, and including Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Volunteer Reserves and other personnel, is 108,413, which is above Wembleys capacity. The rise in female doctors was hailed as a milestone by the head of the General Medical Council. Photograph: Sturti/Getty Images Female doctors in the UK now outnumber their male peers and there are more medics from an ethnic minority background than white ones, new figures show. Both major changes in the make-up of Britains almost 330,000-strong medical workforce are outlined in an analysis released on Thursday by the General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates the profession. The number of women practising medicine surpassing the number of men for the first time has been hailed as a milestone, given the profession has traditionally been male-dominated. The shift should make it easier for female patients to see and be treated by a doctor of their own sex. GMC figures show that on 28 February, 164,440 female doctors were licensed to practise medicine across the four home nations, 245 more than the 164,195 male medics on its register. That means that women make up a slight majority 50.04% of the countrys doctors and men, 49.96%. It represents an astonishing change from the situation that existed in 1858, when Britains first medical register was created. It contained just one female doctor Elizabeth Blackwell from the US because no British woman in the country had acquired the necessary degree in medicine to be included. Medicine has historically been a male-dominated profession. In order to earn their rightful place within it women have endured bias, harassment, lower pay and often made huge sacrifices within their maternal and family lives. So this is indeed a day to celebrate, said Dr Claudia Paoloni, a consultant anaesthetist who is the vice-president of the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA). This is a significant milestone, said Prof Dame Carrie MacEwen, the chair of the GMC, who is a consultant ophthalmologist. The demographics of the medical workforce are rapidly changing and that diversity will benefit patients, she added, in a reference to the fact that 50.7% of the UKs population are female. The first British female doctor, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, did not join the medical register until 1865. Talks with Blackwell convinced the mould-breaking medic and suffragette to overcome opposition from within the profession and become a doctor. Register staff refused to recognise her degree, which she obtained in Paris after being rejected by British medical schools. Women finally became eligible to join the profession in 1876. Related: Female NHS consultants are closing the gender promotion gap Female doctors outnumber male ones by the widest margins in obstetrics and gynaecology, where they make up 63% of the workforce, paediatrics (61%) and general practice (58%). However, they are a minority in surgery (17%), ophthalmology (35%) and emergency medicine (37%). Leading female doctors warned that, despite a dramatic advance over time, medics who are women still face an array of challenges to their progress in the profession, including unequal pay, sexual harassment, lack of childcare and an inability to work flexibly when they have a child. What is essential now is to confront the continued sexual harassment we see in the NHS. We need to finally address the gender pay gap through proactive measures rather than just waiting for the continued decline in male numbers to leave the playing field. And we need measures to enable women to balance their family lives reasonably in addition to their careers, said Paoloni. An HCSA survey found that four in five female doctors had experienced sexual harassment mainly perpetrated by colleagues such as receiving comments about their appearance, dress or body, or unwanted physical touching or being told sexual stories or jokes. The GMC first reported in November that the UK now has more ethnic minority doctors than white ones. The number of those from an ethnic minority jumped by 78% between 2016 and 2023 almost eight times higher than the 10% rise in white doctors. In the years since the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016 there has been a huge increase in the number of doctors coming to work in the UK from India, Pakistan, Egypt and Nigeria. Dr Latifa Patel, the chair of the British Medical Associations representative body, said the profession and NHS needed to understand why so few female doctors go into certain fields, such as surgery. These disparities are not acceptable for career progression, or for patient care, as all patients should be able to benefit from the skills and expertise of a female doctor as well as a male one. England centre Fraser Dingwall wants to be the glue that helps Steve Borthwicks side beat Italy at the Allianz Stadium after being selected for the first time in a year. The Northampton number 12 won the last of his two caps during the 2024 Six Nations but will start alongside four of his club team-mates in the backs on Sunday after Marcus Smith and Henry Slade were dropped. Smiths demotion to the bench came as a suprise on Wednesday, particularly after he had acquitted himself well at full-back during the wins over France and Scotland that got Englands title challenge back on track following defeat to Ireland. Jamie George is set to make his 100th England appearance Head coach Steve Borthwick has named his match day squad to face Italy at @allianz_stad on Sunday.@O2 | #WearTheRose England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 5, 2025 Elliot Daly has been drafted in to play 15 while Dingwall, who was part of 10 England camps prior to his senior debut against Italy last February, has been asked to be in Borthwicks words the glue that holds the backs together. Hes said that to me before, said Dingwall. Ive been told that a lot to be honest and I dont really see it as a negative thing. One of my aims for this weekend is if I can go in and help everyone in that team play better than thats a success for me. Thats how I see the glue element of it, how I can tie everything up and bring out the best in other people. Its understanding who is around you and the strengths that people have. At times it could be doing some ugly stuff to open up space for other people. Its what you see and how you talk, if you can feed as much information to the people either side of you then hopefully they can make really good decisions. Marcus Smith has been dropped to the bench for Sundays game (Mike Egerton/PA) A curveball selection given his long spell out of the side, Dingwall has long been seen as more of a facilitator for those around him than an impact player at Northampton. He is tasked with greasing the gears of victory over Italy that would keep England in contention to catch leaders Ireland who enjoy a four-point advantage ahead of next weekends final round. Theres loads of elements to it, but largely it comes down to knowing whos around you, knowing what theyre good at, he said. There are five Saints in @EnglandRugby's starting backline to face Italy this Sunday Northampton Saints (@SaintsRugby) March 5, 2025 Ive always felt like Ive been tracking up, Ive always been progressing. Flash back a year, I played for the first time, came out of it when Ollie (Lawrence) was back fit and since then I feel like every campaign Ive still been on an upwards curve. It would be very easy for me to sit back and say I havent played again, its not moving how I want it to, but Ive felt like Ive been moving closer and closer towards this since then. Dingwall will be in familiar company on Sunday, with Northampton team-mates Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme starting on the wings, as well as Fin Smith at 10 and Alex Mitchell at scrum-half. Having five of us in there is pretty cool for us and also the club, said Dingwall. Connections you have off the pitch massively helps how you communicate with each other and how you can review things very quickly. Theres understanding how each other plays and how to bring out the strengths that each other have. Hunter Biden says wildfires and dwindling sales of his artwork have left him in debt - Anna Rose Layden/Reuters Hunter Biden is millions of dollars in debt and lost his home in the California wildfires, he has told a judge. The son of the former president has asked a district judge to throw out a lawsuit he filed against Garrett Zegiler, who he accused of illegally accessing his laptop, according to documents filed in federal court in California. The former first son, who was pardoned by his father before he left office, blamed the wildfires as well as dwindling sales from his artwork for the debt which he says precludes him from continuing to pursue the case. [Hunter] has suffered a significant downturn in his income and has significant debt in the millions of dollars range, according to a motion filed in federal court in California on Wednesday. Like many others in that situation, I am having difficulty in finding a new permanent place to live, he claimed in the motion. While I was aware that my financial position had significantly deteriorated over time, it was not until the past month that I realized I had to take drastic actions to alleviate this situation. Hunter Biden first filed the suit against Mr Zeigler, who worked as an aide to president Trumps trade adviser Peter Navarrob during the last administration, in 2023. He sued the former aide for allegedly illegally accessing and circulating the embarrassing contents of his infamous laptop on Zieglers right-wing nonprofit website Marco Polo. Mr Zeigler has published much of Hunters laptop data on his site in the years since it was first exposed in 2020. One of thousands of pictures of Hunter Biden discovered on the laptop Detailing flagging profits from his art sales, Biden said that he had sold 27 pieces for an average 42,265 ($54,500) in the two or three years leading up to the lawsuit. Since then, he has sold just one piece for 28,000 ($36,000). In the two to three years prior to December 2023, I sold 27 pieces of art at an average price of 42,243 ($54,481.48), but since then I have only sold one piece of art for 28,000 ($36,000), he argued in the motion. Similarly, for my book sales, in the six month period before the statements (Apr 1, 2023 through Sept 30, 2023), based on the Sept 30, 2023 statement, 3,161 copies of my book were sold, but in the six months after the statements, only approximately 1,100 books were sold. Given the positive feedback and reviews of my artwork and memoir, I was expecting to obtain paid speaking engagements and paid appearances, but that has not happened, he continued. Separately, Biden has also been tied up in litigation with former Delaware computer repair shop owner John Paul Mac Isaac over the leaking of the data. He was found guilty of federal gun charges last year and pleaded guilty in a federal tax case. However he was pardoned by then-president Joe Biden in an 11th hour intervention before leaving office. International Women's Day is on March 8, but did you realise there is also an International Men's Day? (Getty Images) (Mikolette via Getty Images) International Women's Day is almost upon us. While most of us have heard of and may celebrate the annual event, which takes place on March 8 every year, many will not know that there's also the equivalent awareness day for men. The aim is to celebrate male cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements, while also shining a light on the issues that around half of the population face. International Men's Day (IMD) was created just over a decade ago, in order to give men an equivalent to the century-old IWD, but some are opposed to the idea of a day dedicated to celebrating men, arguing that it in some way waters down the female awareness day, which continues to shine a light on the very real problem of gender inequality. Others, however, fully respect the importance of IMD in addressing the issues facing men that also need highlighting and tackling. Whatever your view, here's everything you need to know about the annual event. When is International Men's Day? IMD in the UK is on 19 November every year. It is marked across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and across 90 countries internationally. According to the International Men's Day website, the month of November was chosen because it "is important for the masculine soul because it gathers several events that are important to men, including Movember, which focuses on raising money for men's health. There is some debate about whether we need an International Men's Day. (Getty Images) (Getty) What is International Men's Day? IMD is an international awareness event celebrated annually. Every year people are encouraged to come together to support and celebrate men and boys in all their diversity. The awareness day is said to focus on six main pillars: highlighting discrimination against men; supporting male health issues; improving gender relations and promoting gender equality; celebrating male contributions to society; promoting male role models and creating a safer world for everyone. In the UK, it is organised by the Men and Boys Coalition. How did International Men's Day come about? While there were calls since the 1960s to establish International Mens Day, the idea didnt gain popularity abroad until Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a Professor of History at the University of the West Indies established IMD in 1999. He chose 19 November for IMD to commemorate the birth anniversary of his father. He urged people to take advantage of this day by bringing up issues concerning boys and men. One of IMD's aims is to help raise awareness and funds for charities helping men. (Getty Images) (SolStock via Getty Images) What are the themes for International Men's Day? Last year's theme for IMD was Positive Male Role Models, while other previous themes include Zero Male Suicide and Better Relations Between Men and Women. "Positive male role models are crucial for personal and societal growth," Warwick Marsh, International Mens Day global digital coordinator, said of the 2024 theme. "They shape identity by teaching young men that masculinity is a wonderful gift and that there is no such thing as toxic masculinity. "No gender has a monopoly on vice, only the reality of either good or bad people. Positive Masculinity is dedicated to the service of others. During wartime men give their lives in massive acts of bravery. During peacetime men give their lives working hard day and night. We all benefit from the selfless sacrifice of courageous men." In the UK, there are core themes, which have been highlighted over the years including: Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys wellbeing Other subjects the awareness day often hopes to shine a light on include men's health, shorter life expectancy and workplace deaths. Challenges surrounding men as parents, particularly new fathers and separated fathers is another important topic event organisers hope to spark conversations about. The day also hopes to raise awareness in support of male victims of violence, including sexual violence. In short, IMD provides men and those that support them the opportunity to discuss problems relevant to men, such as fatherhood, boys education and the worldwide epidemic that is male suicide. International Men's Day offers an opportunity to shine a light on male issues, including mental health. (Getty Images) (Getty) How has IMD been marked in previous years? With a Parliamentary debate, gigs, charity promotion days, book launches, mental health discussions, film showings, comedy nights, get-togethers, award announcements and charity fundraisers. During a debate in the House of Commons last year, on 21 November 2023, members drew attention to a range of issues, including the outcomes for boys living in challenging domestic circumstances, high levels of male suicide stemming from hidden traumas, or the pressure to conform to societal notions of masculinity, and the importance of a cross governmental focus on issues which negatively affect mens health and educational outcomes. Last year the Loose Women panel was replaced with an all-male panel in celebration of the male-specific day. Former Loose Men Jordan Banjo and Brian Conley were joined in the studio for the first time by Jeff Brazier and Craig Doyle, who made their debuts. The panel tackled some taboos surrounding mens health and discussed the topics that matter to them. People were also encouraged to post info about the day on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram using hashtags like #internationalmensday #celebratemen #menshealth #stopmalesuicide #thankamantoday. To find out more about how to get involved and stay tuned about how it will be celebrated in 2025, visit the International Men's Day website. Read more about men's health and wellness: Giorgia Meloni attended the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday with Volodymyr Zelensky - Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP photo European leaders have welcomed Frances offer to protect them with its nuclear shield, inciting fury from the Kremlin. Poland, Denmark and Lithuania were among countries keen to explore the proposal, which was formally discussed for the first time among EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday. In a move that will likely require a change to Frances constitution, Emmanuel Macron sought to take the lead on European defence at a time when there is deep unease about Russias aggression and Americas reliability. It could see French weapons housed in other European countries. The offer came after Friedrich Merz, Germanys chancellor-in-waiting, said Berlin could ask for shelter under France and Britains nuclear umbrella, if the US pulled out of Nato. The decision on whether to use the deterrent would remain in French hands. It will increase pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to offer up Trident after he and Mr Macron took a lead role in Europes response to Donald Trumps peace talks with Russia at a summit in London on Sunday. Vladimir Putin warned the French president to remember the fate of Napoleon, whose 1812 invasion of Russia ended in a desperate and deadly winter retreat. There are still people who want to go back to the times of Napoleon, forgetting how it ended, Putin said. Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, viciously condemn Emmanuel Macron, likening his speech to nuclear blackmail - Pavel Bednyakov/Reuters Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, branded the offer a threat and compared Mr Macron to Adolf Hitler, while Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, said Micron posed no threat at all. Mr Lavrov said: Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight against Russia Napoleon, Hitler Mr Macron does not act very gracefully, because at least they said it bluntly: We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia. Mr Macron said in a televised speech on Wednesday night that Russia was a threat for France and Europe and reminded the world that the war in Ukraine was already a global conflict. You are, I know, legitimately worried about the current events, which are disrupting the world order, he said. To watch and do nothing would be madness. He added: I want to believe that the United States will stand by us. But we need to be ready if that is not the case. Credit: France TV The summit in Brussels represented the first formal discussions among EU leaders of his idea. Diplomatic sources warned that the plans were at a very early stage and that any negotiations on issues such as hosting French nuclear jets would be most likely bilateral between individual countries, rather than a full EU agreement. Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said: This topic has come up in conversations with me several times. This is something worth considering. Mr Merz was in Brussels for a meeting of centre-Right political leaders before the European Council, where Germany was represented by Olaf Scholz, the current chancellor. Mr Merzs Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) is in talks to lead a coalition government with Mr Scholzs Social Democratic Party, and the two parties have already agreed to reform Germanys constitutional debt brake on public spending to free up billions for defence spending. Friedrich Merz has made it his priority to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible - Lisi Niesner/Reuters A diplomat in Berlin suggested the CDU were ready to talk about sharing the deterrent and were willing to pay for it, if Mr Trump pulled out of Nato. My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve, step by step, real independence from the US, Mr Merz, who hopes to form a government by Easter, said after his election victory last weekend. Like Mr Merz, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, is a staunch transatlanticist who is convinced of the need to build a joint European defence capable of acting independently of Washington. She has clashed with Mr Trump over his repeated demands that the US take over Danish-owned Greenland one way or another. Its not something we are working on, but you wont get me to stand here and say no to others ideas. Everything has to be on the table now, she told reporters after being asked if Denmark could host French nuclear weapons. Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuanias president, called Mr Macrons potential plans very interesting, saying on Thursday: A nuclear umbrella would serve as a really very serious deterrence toward Russia. The US and Russia possess approximately 88 per cent of the worlds inventory of nuclear weapons, with about 5,000 each. France has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads, while the UK has 225, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Frances force de dissuasion programme has weapons with sea and air-based launch capabilities. Britains Trident nuclear deterrent consists of four Vanguard-class submarines, which can carry up to 16 warheads each. Questions had been raised about whether the UK and US were too tightly interlinked for British weapons to be used independently of America. But a No 10 spokesman said: The UKs nuclear deterrent is completely operationally independent. Only the UK Prime Minister can authorise the firing of our nuclear weapons. The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that the US is a reliable ally. Downing Street maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity over what conditions Trident could be used. It comes as Mr Macron prepares to host European army chiefs next week in Paris to discuss sending troops to Ukraine after an eventual ceasefire with Russia. Sir Keir, who hopes to sign a defence pact with the EU, has offered troops to police the peace deal and called for a coalition of willing countries to join the British and French-led plan. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has defended Mr Trumps plan - Tierney L. Cross Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order aimed at his long-held goal of abolishing the United States Department of Education, according to the Wall Street Journal. The order from the US President may come as soon as Thursday, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter whom it did not name. The White House and the department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mr Trump has repeatedly called for eliminating the department, calling it a big con job. He proposed shuttering it in his first term as president, but Congress did not act. His fellow Republicans have long sought to chip away at its funding and influence, and his education secretary, Linda McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate on Monday, has defended Mr Trumps plan to abolish the agency. The department oversees some 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the US, although more than 85 per cent of public school funding comes from state and local governments. The departments defenders said it is crucial to keeping public education standards high and accuse Republicans of trying to push for-profit education. An immediate closure could disrupt tens of billions of dollars in aid to K-12 schools and tuition assistance for college students. Mr Trump said last month he wanted the department to be closed immediately but acknowledged he would need buy-ins from Congress, which determines its funding, and teachers unions. Ms McMahon told senators that unwinding the department would require congressional action and repeatedly promised the federal school funding appropriated by Congress to assist low-income school districts and students would continue. Mr Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk have attempted to dismantle government programs and institutions such as the US Agency for International Development without congressional approval, but abolishing the Department of Education would be his first shutdown of a cabinet-level agency. Instead, it provides federal grants for needy schools and programs, including money to pay teachers of children with special needs, fund arts programs and replace outdated infrastructure. It also oversees the $1.6 trillion in student loans held by tens of millions of Americans who cannot afford to pay for university outright. Under Mr Trumps Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, Republicans particularly criticised the department over student loan forgiveness and policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Our world is built on interconnecting systems, and when one gets rattled, the others do too. Illustration: Angelica Alzona/Guardian Design; Photos via Getty Images Two months into 2025, the sense of dread is palpable. In the US, the year began with a terrorist attack; then came the fires that ravaged a city, destroying lives, homes and livelihoods. An extremist billionaire came to power and began proudly dismantling the government with a chainsaw. Once-in-a-century disasters are happening more like once a month, all amid devastating wars and on the heels of a pandemic. The word unprecedented has become ironically routine. It feels like were stuck in a relentless cycle of calamity, with no time to recover from one before the next begins. How do we make sense of any of this let alone all of it, all at once? A number of terms have cropped up in the past decade to help us describe our moment. Were living in the anthropocene the era in which humanitys impact is comparable to that of geology itself. Or were in the post-truth era, in which we no longer share the same sense of reality. Were facing a permacrisis, an endless state of catastrophe. Related: There were never any climate havens: floods in the midwest, hurricanes in Appalachia But perhaps the word that best describes this moment is one that emerged at the turn of the millennium, picked up steam in the 2010s and has recently been making the global rounds again: polycrisis. Not to be confused with a perfect storm or the perhaps less scientific clusterfuck, polycrisis a term coined by the authors Edgar Morin and Anne Brigitte Kern refers to the idea that not only are we facing one disaster after another, but those messes are all linked, making things even worse. Or, as Adam Tooze, a Columbia University history professor and public intellectual who has championed the term, put it: In the polycrisis the shocks are disparate, but they interact so that the whole is even more overwhelming than the sum of the parts. Our globalized world is built on interconnecting systems, and when one gets rattled, the others do too a heating climate, for instance, increases the risk of pandemics, pandemics undermine economies, shaky economies fuel political upheaval. Theres a kind of larger instability, or a larger system disequilibrium, the researcher Thomas Homer-Dixon says. To illustrate the situation, Homer-Dixon uses a video of metronomes on a soft surface. Though theyre all started at different times, they end up synchronized, as each devices beat subtly affects the rest. When people see it for the first time, they dont actually see whats happening properly. They dont realize the forces that are operating to cause the metronomes to actually synchronize with each other, Homer-Dixon says. In much the same way, its often unclear even to experts how global systems interact because they are siloed in their disciplines. That limits our ability to confront intersecting problems: the climate crisis forces migration; xenophobia fuels the rise of the far right in receiving countries; far-right governments undermine environmental protections; natural disasters are more destructive. Yet migration experts may not be experts on the climate crisis, and climate experts may have limited knowledge of geopolitics. Thats why Homer-Dixon thinks better communication is essential not just to create consensus around what we call our current predicament but also how to address it. He runs the Cascade Institute, which is fostering a community of scholars and experts and scientists and policy makers around the world who are using this concept [of polycrisis] in constructive ways. Constructive is a key word here. Youve got to get the diagnosis right before you can go to the prescription, he says. Finding that diagnosis means looking at how stresses on various systems climate, geopolitics, transportation, information, etc intersect and identifying what his team calls high leverage intervention points: places where you can go in and have a really big impact for a relatively low investment. The Cascade Institutes proposals target what they have identified as key drivers of the polycrisis, such as polarization and climate change, by, for instance, improving school curricula to bolster students understanding of disinformation and expanding the use of deep geothermal power. In addition to bringing people with disparate expertise together, the Cascade Institute, part of Royal Roads University in British Columbia, has developed an analytical framework for understanding the polycrisis, and it operates a website, polycrisis.org, which serves as a hub for the latest thinking on the issue including critiques of the concept, Homer-Dixon says. The site contains a compendium of resources from academia to blogposts that explore the polycrisis, reflecting, for instance, on whats already happened in 2025 (a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza, California wildfires, Trump upending the global order, an AI-bubble selloff, and the outbreak of bird flu). There has been some backlash to the idea of the polycrisis. The historian Niall Ferguson has described it as just history happening. The political scientist Daniel Drezner says its proponents assume the existence of powerful negative feedback effects that may not actually exist in other words, when crises overlap, the outcome might not always be bad (for instance, the pandemic lockdowns might have had some short-lived environmental benefits). Some point to past crises as evidence that what we are experiencing is not new. Homer-Dixon disagrees. Weve moved so far and so fast outside our species previous experience that many elites dont have the cognitive frame to grasp our situation, even were they inclined to do so, he wrote in 2023, when the term was the talk of Davos. Its all a bit overwhelming, as Homer-Dixon acknowledges. If youre not really scared by whats going on in the world, youre braindead, he says. On the other hand, the crisis can actually be a moment for really significant change, he says, because it kind of delegitimizes the existing way of doing stuff, the existing vested-interest stakeholders who are hunkered down and dont want anything to change. For instance, while Homer-Dixon sees Donald Trump as an abominable figure, he also notes that, like an acid, the president dissolves norms around him. That creates the risk of disaster but also offers opportunities to change the world for the better. This really is a critical moment in human history and things can be done, Homer-Dixon says. We dont know enough about how these systems are operating to know that its game over. And the term itself, as terrifying as it is, can also be a strange comfort. I think thats useful, giving the sense a name. Its therapeutic, Tooze told Radio Davos. When the world feels like a nightmare, identifying the condition gives us something to hold on to a kind of understanding amid the chaos. Michael Ivory Fletcher is alleged to have used the same method in each theft. Photograph: Richard McDowell/Alamy A man in California has been charged with nabbing about $25,000 of Lego in two state counties, according to officials. Michael Ivory Fletcher, 32, is accused of stealing the Lego products from Target stores in Walnut Creek and San Ramon between 15 August 2024 and 15 February 2025, according to the Contra Costa district attorneys office. He faces multiple charges of commercial burglary and grand theft. Fletcher is alleged to have used the same method in each theft: he would enter the store alone, load his cart with Lego items and leave quickly, all within a matter of minutes. He then supposedly placed the stolen toys in a vehicle parked in a designated accessible parking spot. According to the district attorneys office, Fletcher carried out this scheme at least seven times. Its unclear whether he targeted specific Lego sets. Fletcher is also suspected of thefts in several other counties, including Solano, Alameda, San Joaquin, Sonoma and Santa Clara. Besides the charges in Contra Costa county, Fletcher has been charged by the Alameda county district attorney for stealing $1,881 worth of Star Wars Lego sets in Fremont, according to KTVU. Fletcher was arrested at a Target store in Walnut Creek and is currently being held at the Martinez detention facility on nearly $500,000 bail. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to nine years and four months in county jail. Lego products have become a popular target for theft in the Bay Area. Last year, a man led police on an 11-mile chase after allegedly stealing $900 worth of Lego sets in Solano county. Additionally, in June 2023, four people were arrested for stealing more than $3,500 worth of Lego bricks from a San Mateo store. Lego sets, which range in price from $100 to $1,000, are easy to resell, with used sets in decent shape going for 50% of the original price. The Athena probe is thought to have landed closer to the south pole than any previous lunar mission. Photograph: Intuitive Machines LLC/AFP/Getty Images The Athena robotic spacecraft touched down on the lunar surface on Thursday in the second moon landing for the US space company Intuitive Machines in little more than a year. An as-yet-undiagnosed problem following its descent, however, left the craft at an incorrect attitude, with mission managers telling an afternoon press conference that they were unable to predict to what extent the operation of Athena and its various payloads will be affected. In February 2024, the companys Odysseus spacecraft became the first private mission to reach the moon, but the probe skidded across the surface, broke a leg and toppled over. Athena has the same tall, thin design that some experts fear makes it prone to falling over. On Thursday, Steve Altemus, chief executive of Texas-based Intuitive Machines, suggested that a similar fate might have befallen Athena, but that engineers needed more data to be certain of whether it had come to rest on its side. We dont believe were in the correct attitude on the surface of the Moon, yet again, he told reporters. We are charging on the surface. We have command of uplink and downlink from the vehicle to our ground network so we are communicating. We have powered down and done some power conservation steps as prudent measures to see how long and what objectives we can accomplish in the mission. When we get that full assessment, we will work closely with Nasa to identify science objectives that are the highest priority, and well figure out what the mission profile will look like. It will be off nominal, because were not getting everything that we had asked for in terms of power generation, communications. The nearly 5-metre-tall probe set down shortly after 12.30pm ET (5.30pm UK time) on Thursday after a tense descent to Mons Mouton, a high and relatively flat mountain about 100 miles from the moons south pole. But while Athena sent back data and began to charge its batteries on the surface, it soon became apparent that its orientation on the rugged terrain was not as expected. As engineers in Houston peered at the landers data for clues, Tim Crain, the mission director, urged his team to keep working the problem, an acknowledgment that all was not well. Were shedding power as fast as we can to keep the vehicle in good health. We are generating power. We are communicating through our telemetry radio, and we are working to evaluate exactly what our orientation is on the surface, he said. Athena is one of 10 missions contracted by Nasas $2.6bn commercial lunar payload services (CLPS) programme to encourage private industry to fly experiments and other equipment to the moon in advance of humans returning before the end of the decade. Under Nasas Artemis programme, the US intends to put the first woman and the first person of colour on the moon in mid-2027. On Sunday, another robotic lander funded by CLPS touched down on the moon in the most successful private landing yet. Built and operated by Firefly Aerospace, also in Texas, the Blue Ghost lander settled in Mare Crisium, a 300-mile-wide impact basin filled with frozen lava. The Athena probe is thought to have landed closer to the south pole than any previous lunar mission. The south pole is attractive for human exploration as its permanently shaded craters harbour frozen water that would be crucial for visiting astronauts. One of Athenas key objectives is to deploy Nasas Trident drill to dig beneath the moons surface. Any soil it excavates will be analysed by a mass spectrometer to detect essential constituents such as water. The lander carries three robotic rovers, with gear to test a cellular network on the moon, depending on whether the lander is operational. If Athena works properly, it may join Blue Ghost in witnessing a lunar eclipse as the Earth moves between the moon and the sun on 14 March. Days later, the sun will set on the moon and both probes will shut down. Mapp, developed by the Colorado-based company Lunar Outpost, is the first commercial rover to land on the moon. Among the missions objectives is the sale to Nasa for a symbolic $1 of a small sample of rocky lunar regolith recovered by the rover. The transaction, which will mark the first time a section of a planetary body has changed hands for money, is intended to set an important legal precedent for future space commerce, according to Justin Cyrus, chief executive of Lunar Outpost. Lunar Voyage 1 is not just about exploration, its about proving that private industry can operate, sustain and create economic value on the moon, he said ahead of the missions 26 February launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Nasa is preparing to launch two missions from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The SPHEREx and Punch spacecraft are due to blast off on the same SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 3.09am UK time on Saturday. The Punch mission will deploy four suitcase-sized satellites to map the suns outer atmosphere, or corona, to understand the solar wind, the stream of plasma that flows from our parent star. Meanwhile, SPHEREx will observe hundreds of millions of galaxies and other objects to create an infrared map of the cosmos. Overall, Nasas moon missions face an uncertain future with speculation that its own Space Launch System rocket programme could be canceled in favor of heavy-lift Starship rockets developed by Elon Musks SpaceX company, and the reported laying off of 10% of the space agencys workforce through Trump administration cuts ordered by Musks department of government efficiency. The most famous image of the Loch Ness monster was published in 1934, although it is now generally agreed that it was an elaborate hoax - AP The Loch Ness monster has forever remained elusive but now one of Britains leading universities has found that the best time to spot the mysterious creature is on a sunny summers day. A study by the University of St Andrews used a database of Nessie sighting reports to translate anecdotes about the creature into data and identify patterns of when it seemingly appeared. Researchers found sightings of the monster spiked during the summer months when weather conditions were excellent, with the most taking place during August around midday. The number of people claiming to have spotted the creature significantly dipped during the winter months and in the evenings. In addition, the vast majority of sightings took place when weather conditions were calm and still, with no wind or very light winds. The researchers also found second-hand reports of sightings tended to be exaggerated, with the monster being closer and larger compared with accounts given by people who had claimed to have seen it themselves. Excellent summer weather, when there is little or no wind, has coincided with a spike in sightings of the Loch Ness monster - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images A team from the universitys Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling collaborated with Adrian Shine, of the Loch Ness Project in Drumnadrochit, for the study. They analysed 1,433 alleged Nessie encounters from 1850 onwards, including 641 first-hand reports, with their findings published in the Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education. The average duration of the encounters was surprisingly long at four-and-a-half minutes, suggesting that the monster is not contrary perhaps to popular belief, generated by misperception or misinterpretation caused by a brief glimpse of an object. While the researchers admitted that their study did not prove the monsters existence, they said it highlighted the power of statistical thinking in evaluating anecdotal evidence. Dr Charles Paxton, of St Andrews, said: We cannot reach conclusions about Loch Ness monsters from these collected accounts, but we can draw insights about the wider population of Loch Ness monster reports. Nessies are mainly reported in the summer months, during the day as opposed to the night with a dip at lunchtimes and under excellent weather conditions. Referring to the conclusion that second-hand reports tended to be exaggerated, he said: These patterns might be generated by the monsters themselves, but more likely reflect the availability of witnesses and the tendency for stories to be distorted in retelling. The first recorded sighting of the monster came in the 6th century, with an account of a Loch Ness water beast in a biography of St Columba, the Catholic missionary. It was spotted again in the 12th century by Walter of Bingham, a minor English cleric, who drew a picture of a bear-like sea creature with fire coming from its eyes. There were several sightings in the 1930s, which were covered relentlessly by newspapers, with interest becoming global. The most famous image of the monster, showing a serpentine head and neck emerging from the water, was published in 1934, although it is now generally agreed that it was an elaborate hoax. Earlier this week, the first potential Loch Ness Monster sighting of 2025 was reported, with images showing a black mass under the water. It appeared for several minutes in absolutely perfect conditions at the lochs Dores Beach. Seven iPhones and a black balaclava were recovered from the 14-year-old and all of the stolen items were found - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg A 14-year-old iPhone robber will pay 200 compensation from his pocket money after taking part in a terrifying 50,000 masked raid on an Apple store. One of the guards backed off when he was threatened with a shank after the gang of five males entered the shop in Brent Cross on Jan 5 and stripped 50 iPhones worth 49,550 from the displays, Croydon Youth Court in south London heard. District Judge Sushil Kumar told the boy, who was not the gang leader nor the robber who threatened to stab the guards, that he had taken part in very serious and planned offending which, had he been an adult, could have resulted in a number of years in jail. The teenager, who cannot be named, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery. He was given a nine-month referral order and told to pay 100 compensation to each of the security guards within a year. The boys mother, who was sitting next to him in court, said his income was his pocket money. The judge told him: Bearing in mind your pocket money, Im satisfied that compensation of 100 each, 200 in total, would be appropriate. Terrifying for customers He ruled that compensation should be paid to the security guards who were faced with serious robbery, saying the payment would act as an additional punishment for the teenager but it is something that is manageable. Over the course of the year, you can budget for it and pay compensation for these two persons. The court heard the teenager pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, and understands the raid must have been a terrifying and scary thing for the customers and bystanders who witnessed it, including a young family with children. The judge also told the boy: It was a very serious and planned offending. Two young people, and it is not suggested that it was you, entered earlier in the day to conduct a reconnaissance of the store. Thereafter, a number of young males entered the store en masse to conduct the robbery. This was a robbery of a busy store in a busy shopping centre and there were very serious threats of violence made. It is not suggested that you made these threats. It is clear to see that security was overwhelmed by sheer fear and the number of people attempting to get in and commit the robbery. Frozen in fear The crime was witnessed by members of the public, including a young family with young children who were holding their hands and they were no doubt frozen in fear as all this took place, the judge said. The security guards were immediately alerted that something was wrong after the group, who were masked and wearing black, entered the store. Prosecutor Suleman Hussain said: They looked suspicious. Security told them they could not stay while they were wearing masks. They pushed the guard and intimated they had knives. One said I will bring it out and intimated he would push it towards the security guards. They grabbed the telephones, damaging the store demonstration equipment as the guard backed away. Some seven iPhones and a black balaclava were recovered from the 14-year-old and all of the stolen items were found. A very serious offence The teenager was described as the youngest member of the gang and details of mitigating factors relating to his background were not given in court. Referring to his positive pre-sentence reports, the judge warned the boy: You have two options you can continue to make good on the positive things I have read about you. I believe that you are able to do that. If you continue as you have started, with criminality, that can only get more and more serious. He added: Whilst this has been a very serious offence you have been sentenced for, I hope you take advantage of the help that has been given to you. The number of people living with Parkinsons disease worldwide could more than double by 2050, a study suggests. The predicted rise is largely down to an ageing population, researchers said. A modelling study led by academics in Beijing used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to estimate the prevalence of Parkinsons disease from 2022 to 2050 in 195 countries. The findings, published in the BMJ, suggest the number of people living with the condition in 2050 will be 25.2 million, a 112% increase compared to 2021. By 2050 Parkinsons disease will have become a greater public health challenge for patients, their families, care givers, communities, and society, researchers said. The team suggests the upward trend is more pronounced in men, in East Asia and in countries with middle socio-demographic index, which is a scale that measures a countrys level of development based on the likes of average income, education and fertility rate. According to their estimations, cases in the UK could climb from 230,000 by 2030, to 272,000 by 2040 and 307,000 by 2050. Researchers said population ageing was estimated to be the leading contributor to rising cases, adding that their projections can be used to plan control measures and call for urgent actions in meeting the increasing healthcare demands of patients with the illness. Parkinsons is a progressive condition that affects the brain. Symptoms include involuntary shaking known as tremors, slow movements and stiff muscles, as well as psychological problems like depression, loss of balance, trouble sleeping and memory issues. Academics suggest public health interventions could be promising in slowing the universal rise in cases. They added: Given the inevitable population ageing, population growth, and disability experienced by individuals with Parkinsons disease owing to its chronic nature, an urgent need exists for future research to focus on the development of novel drugs, gene engineering techniques, and cell replacement therapies that are aimed at modifying the course of the disease and improving patients quality of life. David Dexter, director of research at Parkinsons UK, said: This very welcome study reminds us that Parkinsons is growing quickly across the world. Yet, in the UK today, our investment in research is failing to respond to this anticipated growth and people with Parkinsons are not getting the healthcare and services they need to live well. Until we find a cure, its vital that people with Parkinsons, regardless of their location, socioeconomic group or race, have access to research opportunities, good quality care and support that enables them to live well with the condition. An archive of items relating to writers including Agatha Christie and JRR Tolkien has been announced as part of the new offices and distribution centre of publisher HarperCollins. The 550,000sq ft site at Robroyston, Glasgow, will employ 400 people and handle 110 million books a year, and up to three million books a week during its busiest periods. Writers including Jeffrey Archer, Jung Chang, Nigel Slater and Adele Parks will gather with politicians and business leaders to celebrate the launch of the premises on Thursday, which is World Book Day. Ahead of the launch, HarperCollins chief executive Charlie Redmayne highlighted the publishing sectors 11 billion contribution to the UK economy, and called for action to tackle the crisis in childrens reading. He said: Were currently seeing a real crisis in childrens reading recent studies reveal that fewer than 25% of children read for pleasure frequently, and perhaps most worryingly that only 40% of pre-schoolers are read to frequently. This is a problem for publishers children who dont grow up loving reading become adults who dont love reading but also for the country. Children who read do better in life, its as simple as that. They are not just our future customers, they are the countrys future. The new site will house the HarperCollins Archive which includes rare first edition books, original artwork, correspondence and contracts relating to literary figures including Boris Pasternak, AA Milne and Paddington author Michael Bond, as well as Christie and Tolkien. The original Paddington illustrations are among the pieces in the collection. There is room to store and display items, which was not the case in the previous site at Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire. Items relating to Paddington author Michael Bond form part of the archive (Nick Ansell/PA) The site will also be home to most of the education and reference division of Collins, which publishes dictionaries, atlases, general reference, language learning resources and childrens non-fiction, and Leckie, the education publisher for Scotland. The publisher said it will move over fully to the new site later this year, and that its Bishopbriggs site currently remains operational. HarperCollins was founded as Collins & Co in Glasgow 206 years ago. Scotlands Culture Secretary Angus Robertson, Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill and Glasgow Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren are among those attending the launch. Mr Robertson said: Built with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind, this facility is a very welcome investment that will support more than 400 local jobs, illustrating the creative industries indispensable contribution to Scotlands society and our economy. The new archive is also testament to the major role that HarperCollins has had in educating, entertaining and employing people in Scotland over the past two centuries. The next chapter of that remarkable legacy now begins with the opening of HarperCollins Robroyston, and I am delighted to be able to mark that on behalf of the Scottish Government. To coincide with the launch, HarperCollins teamed up with Glasgow Life to donate a pack of 50 childrens books to every primary school in the city. Ms McNeill said: I congratulate HarperCollins and the broader publishing industry for its significant contribution to the UK economy and for its ambition and commitment to equipping pupils with literacy skills that will serve them and the country throughout their lives and careers. The MP for Salisbury has called on the Government to resist appeasement of Russia on the seven-year anniversary of the Novichok poisonings which left one person dead and more than 80 people in A&E. Commons Leader Lucy Powell said the attacks were evidence of what a terror the Russian regime is on our soil. Sergei and Yulia Skripal and former police officer Nick Bailey were all poisoned by Novichok in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in March 2018. Police bag items as they conduct searches of Queen Elizabeth Gardens, Salisbury, where Dawn Sturgess visited before she fell ill after coming into contact with Novichok (Ben Birchall/PA) Eighty-seven members of the public presented to the hospital and Dawn Sturgess, 44, died on July 8 2018 after exposure to the nerve agent, which was left in a discarded perfume bottle in nearby Amesbury. During business questions in the Commons, Conservative former minister John Glen spoke of the impact the attacks had on his constituency and asked for a debate on the role of Russia in the world. Mr Glen told MPs: Seven years ago this week on the orders of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin in the Kremlin, my constituents faced Novichok, which had an enormous impact on the way of life in Salisbury for several months and in the end Dawn Sturgess died. Please could we have a debate on the position of Russia in the world at a time of changing geopolitics, because its absolutely clear to the people of Salisbury, as it is to the people of this country, that an enduring peace can only be achieved if we resist appeasement and ensure that we have a secure arrangement with Europe and the US hopefully fully engaged. We need to discuss that urgently and discuss the role of Russia in the world going forward. Conservative former minister John Glen spoke of the impact the attacks had on his constituency (James Manning/PA) Ms Powell replied: Can I thank him for that important reminder that, in fact, in this country we have seen what a tyrant, what a terror the Russian regime is on our soil. This is not some separate or foreign incident just affecting Ukraine. It has directly affected this country and direct consequences for us, and thats why as a whole House, we stand steadfast in our support for Ukraine. We are working as a Government night and day to build those global alliances to ensure that there is that long-lasting security and peace, not just in Ukraine, but across Europe and elsewhere in the world, because we have seen first hand what Russia does when Russia is not kept in check. In November last year Jonathan Allen, director general of defence and intelligence at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, told the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry that Mr Putin would have authorised the assassination attempt on Mr Skripal because of the enormous reputational risk the Novichok poisonings would have posed to Russia. Also speaking at the inquiry, Michael Mansfield KC said the threat to Mr Skripal from Russia was manifestly obvious and there had been an abject failure by the United Kingdom government to protect the United Kingdom public. Strikes by marine workers at Royal Navy bases have been suspended following talks with the Ministry of Defence. Unite the Union said 300 of its members at Devonport in Devon, Portsmouth in Hampshire, and at Faslane, Great Harbour Greenock and Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland had been expected to walk out amid claims they were locked out of consultations between their employer Serco Marine and the Royal Navy. The union said many workers are seasoned seafarers with decades of experience working on tugboats and marine services, with some involved in the movement of nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers and other naval vessels, and that excluding them from the consultations had posed a risk to fleet safety. However consultations will now go ahead and three days of planned strikes have been called off. The crews are employed by Serco Marine, which the union said is currently in talks with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) about renewing its 10-year, 1.2 billion contract with the Royal Navy. Unite said officials have indicated they want to reduce the contract by 250 million, which the union said would put 100 jobs at risk. The union also claims service changes would impact their ability to provide a 24/7, 365-day service, including for the nuclear submarines which maintain the UKs continuous at-sea deterrent. Strikes planned for Thursday, Friday and Monday are off, and Unite said Serco has agreed to delay signing its new contract with the MoD to allow for 30 days of union consultations. However the union said other industrial action will continue, with working to rule and an overtime ban starting on Thursday. Unite national officer John McGookin said: Unite is pleased that the MoD and Serco have acknowledged the concerns of our members, whose expertise and decades of experience are fundamental to the running of the Royal Navys afloat services. There will now be a consultation period to ensure the service is fit for purpose under the new contract. During this period, strike action will be suspended but action short of strikes will continue. The Prospect union has also suspended industrial action at Serco Marine following the agreement on the 30-day pause on contract signing, it is understood. A Serco spokesperson said: We are pleased that Unite members have stood down their planned strike action. We remain committed to regular engagement with both trade unions in relation to the MoDs requirements for the next generation in-port contract. Our priority remains to provide vital services to the Royal Navy. An MoD spokesperson said: We welcome the proposed strike action being suspended and will continue to work with Serco to resolve this dispute with their employees as soon as possible. US President Donald Trump speaks during an address to Congress in Washington DC on Tuesday. Photograph: Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock Donald Trump posted a fresh ultimatum to Hamas, telling the group to release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Shalom Hamas means Hello and Goodbye, he wrote in a social media post on Wednesday, in an apparent reference to the beginning of direct talks with the group. The post came just hours after the White House confirmed that the US had entered direct negotiations with Hamas, potentially to bypass Israel in securing the release of the remaining US hostages. Trump tells Hamas release all of the hostages now Trump posted a fresh ultimatum to Hamas and reinforced his support for Israel on Truth Social on Wednesday. He also referred to a recent decision to provide billions more in support for Israeli arms sales. I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say, Trump wrote. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance, he wrote. Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER! Read the full story US stops sharing intelligence on Russia with Ukraine The US has stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine after Donald Trumps suspension of military aid on Monday, in another serious blow to Kyiv in the war with Russia. White House officials indicated that both bans could be lifted if progress is made on peace talks. Ukrainian officials suggested the US would no longer provide information about targets inside Russia, hindering Ukraines ability to carry out effective long-range drone strikes. Read the full story Trump exempts carmakers from Canada-Mexico tariffs Donald Trump has temporarily spared carmakers from sweeping US tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, one day after an economic strike on the USs two biggest trading partners sparked warnings of widespread price increases and disruption. The decision came after companies appealed to the White House. A separate call between Trump and Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, did not lead to any larger breakthrough, however. The tariffs were predicted to raise US prices almost immediately, raising questions about Trumps promises to make America affordable again. Read the full story Agriculture workers to get jobs back The US Department of Agriculture has been ordered to temporarily reinstate nearly 6,000 employees who were fired as part of Donald Trumps efforts to downsize the federal workforce. The probationary employees are to be reinstated for a period of 45 days while a federal board continues to investigate the firings. Read the full story White House rejig of Biden internet plan may benefit Musk The Trump administration is preparing to overhaul a $42.5bn Biden-era program designed to connect tens of millions of rural Americans to reliable and affordable high-speed internet, in a move that is expected to benefit billionaire Elon Musk. Read the full story Immigration hearing backfires on Republicans A congressional hearing designed to criticise sanctuary city policies unexpectedly shifted on Wednesday, as a planned attack by Republican lawmakers instead dissolved into a platform that amplified Democratic mayors arguments about immigration and urban safety. The House oversight committee sought to portray sanctuary cities which protect undocumented migrants as havens for criminal activity and foreign gangs. But instead of cornering the mayors, Republican lawmakers seemed to inadvertently provide them with a national megaphone to sell their approaches to immigration. Read the full story Greenland hits back at Trump takeover comments Donald Trumps claim in his address to Congress that the US will acquire Greenland one way or the other was widely condemned in Nuuk as disrespectful and was said to present an unacceptable view of humanity. Read the full story Pentagon official condemned over tweet about historical lynching of Jewish man The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has condemned a past social media post by Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson that disputed the innocence of Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman whom most historians agree was wrongfully convicted of killing a 13-year-old factory worker and lynched in 1915 during a wave of antisemitism in the US. Read the full story Hundreds of US diplomats decry dismantling of USAid in letter to Rubio Hundreds of diplomats at the state department and US Agency for International Development (USAid) have written to the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, protesting against the dismantling of USAid, saying it undermines US leadership and security and leaves power vacuums for China and Russia to fill. Read the full story Canada goose fights off bald eagle in rare, symbolism-laden battle on ice For the second time in weeks, a Canadian icon has emerged as the unlikely victor in an existential battle on the ice. Read the full story What else happened today: Senate Democrats introduced resolutions condemning Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, and daring Republicans to object. A statement from the office of Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said: The senators resolutions are statements of fact and principle, backed by evidence and long-standing American foreign policy. Trumps veterans affairs chief has defended extraordinarily difficult plans to cut 80,000 staff. Doug Collins said the cuts were necessary to make the agency more efficient though they are likely to affect healthcare for veterans as the largest federal employee union denounced the plan in a stinging rebuke. The administration is dropping an emergency abortion case in Idaho in one of the administrations first moves on the issue. The justice department filed a motion to dismiss the Biden administration lawsuit in a reversal that could have national implications for urgent care. The lawsuit had argued that emergency-room doctors treating pregnant women had to provide terminations if needed to save their lives or to avoid serious health consequences in Idaho, which has one of the countrys strictest abortion bans. The US court of appeals for the District of Columbia sided with the administration on Wednesday, in a ruling that allows the immediate removal of Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel to proceed while the court battle continues. Dellinger is likely to appeal to the US supreme court. I want to believe that the United States will stand by us. But we have to be ready if that is not the case, French president Emmanuel Macron said in a TV address on the eve of an EU defence summit in Brussels. In a sign of the gravity of the moment, Macron said France was open to discussing extending the protection offered by its nuclear arsenal to its European partners and said European forces could be deployed after a peace deal was agreed. Catching up? Heres what happened on 4 March. Harvesting avocados in San Gabriel Jalisco, Mexico. Donald Trump has temporarily shelved tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada. Photograph: Medios y Media/Getty Images Donald Trump pulled back from his trade war with Canada and Mexico on Thursday, temporarily delaying tariffs on many goods from the two countries once again. Two days after imposing sweeping tariffs on all imports from his countrys closest trading partners, the US president announced that duties on a wide range of products would be shelved until April. Related: Cheap goods not essence of American dream, Trump official says amid tariff price fears There are no delays at all, he told reporters in the Oval Office, signing an order that postponed the tariffs. Trump has already softened the attack on Canada and Mexico, granting carmakers a one-month reprieve after they warned of widespread disruption. Top retail CEOs have also been bracing customers for significant price increases in grocery stores within days. After a call with Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president, Trump declared: Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under an existing trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada known as USMCA. Tariffs are not paid by countries, but importers in this case, US companies that buy products from businesses in the targeted countries. Hours later, Trump signed an amendment which extended the same relief to Canada until 2 April. Earlier in the day he had pointedly attacked Justin Trudeau, his Canadian counterpart, claiming he was using the Tariff problem to stay in office. Trump said the reversal has nothing to do with turbulence in the stock market in recent days, as investors weigh his economic plans. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 1.8% on Thursday. Im not even looking at the market, he claimed. During the presidents joint address to Congress on Tuesday evening, he acknowledged that tariffs would cause disruption. There will be a little disturbance, but were OK with that, he said. Trump had initially pledged to target Canada and Mexico with tariffs on his first day back in office. Upon his return, however, he said he was considering imposing the tariffs at the start of February. Last month, he offered Canada and Mexico a one-month delay at the 11th hour. Only on Tuesday did he pull the trigger, imposing 25% duties all goods from Mexico, and 25% duties on most goods from Canada, with 10% duties on Canadian energy products. He also doubled a tariff on Chinese exports from 10% to 20%. Trump and his allies claim that higher tariffs on US imports from across the world will help make America great again, by enabling it to obtain political and economic concessions from allies and rivals on the global stage. But businesses, both inside the US and worldwide, have warned of significant damage to companies and consumers if the Trump administration pushes ahead with this strategy. The president has repeatedly vowed to reduce the US trade deficit the gap between what it exports to the world and imports from it which hit a record $131.4bn in January. Trump blamed the trade deficit on Joe Biden, his predecessor, on social media: I will change that!!! Dr Jay Bhattacharya testifies during his Senate confirmation hearing. Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP Donald Trumps nominee to run the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Jay Bhattacharya, told senators he was committed to ensuring scientists have the resources they need even as the $48bn agency he hopes to lead has become a focus of the administrations ideological war and cost-cutting efforts. At a confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Bhattacharya made a pitch for free scientific inquiry and an examination of the chronic disease epidemic, now a cornerstone of Republican health rhetoric, while hoping to serve in an administration that has frightened scientists into self-censorship. Science should be an engine for freedom knowledge and freedom. It shouldnt be pushing mandates for vaccines, said Bhattacharya, referring to pandemic-era mandates, and articulating a vein of libertarian thinking that has rejuvenated Republican health rhetoric in the time since. If science is a force for freedom and knowledge, it will have universal support. Bhattacharya ignored the Republican partys role in sowing distrust of the scientific establishment, argued good data would change minds and, in the words of one senator, strained credulity by asserting the US president would not ask him to do anything illegal. For a man whose pandemic-era rise was built on questioning authority, some assertions landed between wishful thinking and willful blindness. But for all of Bhattacharyas remarkable answers, dissent was muted. Some in academia now see Bhattacharya as the least bad option to run the NIH. And, after confirming Robert F Kennedy Jr, the nations leading vaccine critic, to lead the department of health, there is little doubt Republicans have the votes. Maybe Im naive, senator, Bhattacharya said in response to a question about vaccine skepticism, but I believe very fundamentally that research, if replicable, if done right, is so persuasive will move people to take actions. Bhattacharya was at one time a low-profile researcher at Stanford University, himself receiving $3.7m in NIH grants, according to an agency database. His star rose among conservatives when he advocated against lockdowns in 2020. He was ostracized by the scientific establishment and blacklisted by Twitter only to be invited to the platforms headquarters by the billionaire Elon Musk. In turn, he became a darling of the right: hosting his own podcast devoted to questioning medical consensus, working as an expert witness in courts (even if courts did not always find him convincing) and often appearing on Catholic radio programs. But Bhattacharyas pitch for free scientific inquiry is in striking conflict with the administrations actions. His nomination comes as the research world has been rattled by mass firings, funding freezes, censorship and a measles outbreak that claimed the first American life in nearly a decade. Some of the most pressing questions came from the Republican senator Bill Cassidy, a physician from Louisiana who has steadfastly refused to engage in the anti-vaccine conspiracy theories peddled by some colleagues. There is now a child who died of a vaccine preventable disease in Texas, Cassidy said about the measles outbreak. Would the nominee spend even more taxpayer dollars to research a link between vaccines and autism when the idea has been exhaustively debunked? I dont think theres a link between the [measles, mumps and rubella] vaccine and autism, said Bhattacharya. The only reason Im not saying wholeheartedly yes that federal dollars could be better spent elsewhere is there are people who might disagree with me. There are people who disagree that the world is round, Cassidy retorted. People still think Elvis is alive. My sense, my inclination is to give people good data, said Bhattacharya. Thats how you address those concerns. Im not sure at what end point we say we have good data, said Cassidy, appearing unsatisfied. At the NIH alone, the Musk-led department of government efficiency (Doge) fired roughly 1,200 workers. Bhattacharya characterized this as personnel decisions to which he was not privy. The administration has also frozen grant funding in a probably illegal scheme, is still gumming up orders to thaw funding and is seeking to cut $4bn from grants that primarily go to universities and colleges. Trump touted his campaign to end the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government in his state of the union speech only the evening before a policy that in practical terms is an ideological review of NIH grants. I wasnt involved in any decision making at the NIH up to this point, was a common refrain for Bhattacharya when questioned about whether he would protect research funding. More broadly, the funding freezes and proposed cuts have sown chaos in the research world academic institutions have frozen hiring, postgraduate researchers are struggling to find placements amid budget cuts, and delayed funding has many researchers worried their projects are on the verge of shuttering. Arguably the most pointed question of the hearing came from the Democratic senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire: If directed by the president to take action that would break the law, would you follow the law or would you follow the presidents directive? Senator, I dont believe the president will ever ask me to break the law, said Bhattacharya. Hassan said: Well, that strains credulity given, especially the last few weeks, and its a disappointing answer. Trans mouse illo Donald Trump on Tuesday told Congress Elon Musk had rooted out hundred of billions of dollars worth of government waste thanks to Doge. Reeling off a long list of examples of apparent misspending, Mr Trump said that $45 million had been spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion scholarships in Burma, $20 million on the Arab version of Sesame Street and $8 million for making mice transgender. This is real, he said. Left-wing media outlets were quick to dismiss the claims as misinformation. After the White House released a statement branding CNN fake news losers, the outlet issued a correction to its fact check of Mr Trumps speech, stating that an earlier version of this item incorrectly characterised as false Trumps claim. The president was referring to an investigation by the White Coat Waste Project, a non-profit campaigning to stop animal testing, which investigates taxpayer-funded experiments on the effects of gender-affirming drugs in rodents. Justin Goodman, senior vice-president for the lobbying group, claimed it has documented over $250 million spent on transgender animal experiments over the last couple of decades. He added that there are over two dozen active federal grants funding transgender animal experiments, worth a total of $64 million. These include a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded project at Duke University that allegedly received $455,000 to study how HIV vaccines work in male mice subjected to female hormones to imitate human gender transitions. In another experiment, scientists at the University of Michigan allegedly spent $2,588,000 of an NIH grant investigating the effects of hormone treatment in mice to imitate gender transition. A further experiment at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre allegedly spent $300,000 investigating breast cancer risk for transgender people by looking at tumours in mice. A study at Emory University funded by NIH also allegedly spent $735,000 evaluating the contribution of the gut microbiome towards gender affirming hormone therapy in mice. A researcher at Emory said: We study the effects of the hormone treatment used by transgender people on skeletal development. We want to know if these hormones impair skeletal growth and increase the probability of osteoporosis later in life. They added that the experiments are conducted in normal mice. Male sex hormone treatment on female mice Meanwhile, scientists at the University of California are alleged to have spent $1,229,000 of NIH money looking at the effects of male sex hormone treatment on female mice. A final experiment at Indiana University, funded by $3,100,000 of NIH money, looked into the effects of feminising hormone therapy on the lungs of rodents. Representatives for the White Coat Waste Project testified at a February House Oversight Committee meeting chaired by Nancy Mace, in which the South Carolina congresswoman used the examples of gender experiments on animals to underscore concerns about government waste. The watchdogs representatives alleged that 95 per cent of the federal funding comes from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Mr Musk recently called government spending on research into the effects of hormone treatment on animals demented in an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. The Tesla billionaire said the scientists were mutilating animals, describing the experiments as the worst thing you can possibly imagine from a horror show. Elon Musk said the scientists were mutilating animals - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America During his first term, Mr Trump moved to restrict animal testing, with the Environmental Protection Agency announcing plans to end the practice by 2035. However, the agency reportedly abandoned its plans last year amid concerns that testing chemicals on animals remains the safest means of reducing harm to humans. Mr Goodman said: Were absolutely thrilled and honoured that the president highlighted our investigation during the state of the union and helped us expose wasteful government spending thats torturing animals in grotesque experiments. I think that these experiments are a great example of DEI programmes run amok, where programmes that claim to be intended to help marginalised people are being exploited to torture animals in sick experiments that only benefit the mad scientists conducting them. I think most taxpayers agree that money should not be spent to perform hormone therapies on lab animals to make them transgender. In a statement on its website, CNN said its story had been updated with context about the spending, which was for research studies on the potential human health impacts of treatments used in gender-affirming care. Some scientists have raised concerns that Mr Trumps comments have misled the public into believing that the studies on mice are only for modelling transgender hormone replacement. One scientist said that experiments on mice have improved our understanding of the impact of sex hormones on a whole range of conditions. They pointed to raloxifene, a medication used to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, which they said would not have been available without years of studying the effects of hormones on rodents. Duke University, the University of Michigan, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, the University of California and Indiana University were approached for comment. Yulia Tymoshenko, the Ukrainian opposition leader, has twice served as prime minister - JULIAN SIMMONDS Donald Trumps administration held secret talks with some of Volodymyr Zelenskys top political opponents, it has emerged. Four senior members of the presidents entourage spoke with Yulia Tymoshenko, the opposition leader, as well as senior members of former president Petro Poroshenkos party, Politico reported. Discussions centred around whether Ukraine could hold quick presidential elections, according to the report. A rift has been growing between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky, culminating in a public shouting match in the Oval Office last week and the US withdrawal of military aid and intelligence to Ukraine. Mr Trump has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine hold elections and labelled the Ukrainian president a dictator for not holding a vote, despite it being banned under martial law in the countrys constitution. Ms Tymoshenko is ruthlessly ambitious about reaching the presidency after having served as prime minister in 2005, and again between 2007 and 2010 the only woman to hold that position. She finished second in two presidential elections in 2010 and 2014, spending most of the interim period in jail in what was thought to be a politically motivated prosecution. After being elected to Ukraines parliament in 2019, she has led her party in opposition. However, she is not thought to pose much of a threat to Mr Zelensky, who she defended after his row with Mr Trump and JD Vance in the White House last week. Ms Tymoshenko, as Ukraines prime minister in 2009, met with Vladimir Putin - RIA NOVOSTI/Reuters She said: Elections during a war are impossible and immoral, because our military will not be able to participate in them. And without them, elections will never be legitimate. Oleksiy Goncharenko, an MP from the Peoples Deputy of Ukraine and who is also in opposition to Mr Zelensky, said it was physically impossible to hold elections in the country amid reports that the US had sounded out the presidents opponents. He told The Telegraph: I am no fan of Zelensky but it is just not possible given our current security circumstances. The law forbids it. What would happen if people who are voting are being attacked? And youre not just speaking about voting day, elections occur over a campaign, its impossible. Mr Zelenskys ratings have declined throughout the war but remain far above any of his opponents. The Ukrainian president has a 44 per cent approval rating, according to the Europe Elects latest poll aggregator, more than 20 percentage points ahead of his nearest rival Valery Zaluzhny, a former army commander who is now Ukraines ambassador to Britain. The Chocolate King Mr Poroshenko, whose poll ratings stand at 10 per cent, recently claimed he had been hit with politically motivated sanctions by the Zelensky government. The former Ukrainian president has been accused by the countrys security service of making deals that pushed Kyiv into energy dependence on Russia. Dubbed the Chocolate King, Mr Poroshenko owns Ukraines largest confectionery manufacturer. He was elected as president in 2014 after the countrys pro-Russia leader fled a popular uprising. He has been highly critical of Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine but recently said the conflict could be ended in 24 hours, which, on the surface, may appeal to the US presidents desire to end the war quickly. However, the former Ukrainian president said the only way to stop the war so quickly would be to invite Ukraine to Nato, which Mr Trump has suggested is unlikely. We can stop the war in 24 hours, as President Trump promised, and without a single shot [fired] or a dollar spent. We need just one signature for [Nato], he said. Mr Trump gave Mr Zelensky a public dressing down in the White House on Feb 28 - Andrew Harnik/Getty Both Mr Poroshenko and Ms Tymoshenko backed a ban on elections until peacetime after the reported talks. In a statement on Thursday, Mr Poroshenko said that his team has always been and remains categorically against holding elections during the war. We have said, and continue to say, that elections can only take place after a ceasefire and the signing of a peace agreement with security guarantees for Ukraine, he said. Ms Tymoshenko, meanwhile, said her team is negotiating with all our allies who are able to help ensure a just peace as soon as possible. Until then, and I have said this more than once, holding any elections in Ukraine is out of the question, she wrote. Earlier this week, Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary, was forced to deny that Mr Trump was weighing into Ukrainian politics and said the US president only wanted peace. However, a number of senior politicians have criticised Mr Zelensky for not holding elections, a prominent Russia talking point. Positive movement Tulsi Gabbard, Mr Trumps intelligence chief and a prominent critic of Ukraine, falsely accused Kyiv of cancelling elections, despite them being banned under martial law. Ms Gabbard said: Churches are closing in Ukraine, elections are cancelled, and the government fully controls the media. Elon Musk, one of Mr Trumps closest advisers, has repeatedly attacked Mr Zelensky on social media, labelling him evil in one post and a dictator in another. He previously said: Either Zelensky holds an election to prove that he represents the will of the people or he is a dictator. On Wednesday, there were signs that strained relations between Kyiv and Washington could be mended after Mike Waltz, Mr Trumps national security adviser, said the US president would consider restoring aid if Mr Zelensky came to the negotiating table. Mr Waltz said: If we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations and put confidence-building measures on the table, the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause. Mr Zelensky said there had been positive movement with the United States despite the White House severing surveillance data used to hold off Russian attacks and strike targets behind enemy lines. Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday - LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP Twenty countries could join Sir Keir Starmers plan to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement. British officials said the group of countries, made up largely of European and commonwealth partners, held a fresh round of talks over the strategy. Britain and France are leading efforts to form a so-called coalition of the willing prepared to put boots on the ground to uphold any agreement to end the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, held talks over the scheme and the need for new, substantial steps with Frances Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. We have an absolutely clear shared vision that real and lasting peace is possible through co-operation between Ukraine, all of Europe, and the United States, Mr Zelensky said. Mr Zelensky discussed how to achieve peace with Russia at the EU headquarters following his difficult White House visit - LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP Mr Macron and Sir Keir will hold their own talks on Friday following the discussions in the Belgian capital. Officials have refused to reveal the countries joining the broadening coalition, although several governments have publicly expressed their interest. Australia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkey have indicated they would be prepared to join a troop deployment in Ukraine. Bart De Wever, the Belgian prime minister, branded Donald Trump a real bully as he announced it would be logical to send troops. Canada, Denmark and Sweden have not ruled out taking part. Defence chiefs from the countries are set to meet in Paris next week to continue their discussions. Sources have indicated that not all governments involved in the talks are fully committed to supplying manpower, but want to play a role in the push for peace in Ukraine. Others, such as Poland, first want to secure commitments to boost defences on Natos Eastern flank. Ukrainian officials are likely to discuss the European strategy when they hold peace talks with their US counterparts in Saudi Arabia next week. Sir Keir and Mr Macron have not ruled out making a joint trip to Washington to present their plan directly to Mr Trump. The Prime Minister was also said to be working closely with Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, on the plans. Ursula von der Leyen, right, and Antonio Costa, left, spoke with Mr Zelensky - CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK In Brussels, European Union leaders put on a united front in support of Mr Zelensky, after the US president cut the supply of weapons and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. They said their support for the war-torn nation would be enduring in a statement signed by 26 countries excluding Hungary, a Kremlin ally. Diplomats and officials managed to convince Slovakia to drop its own threat of a veto by promising to urge Ukraine to restart the supplies of Russian gas to the central European nation through its territory. Dear Volodymyr, we have been with you since day one, Antonio Costa, the European Councils president, told Mr Zelensky. We continue to be with you now, and we will continue in the future. Ukrainians are not alone The Ukrainian president went to great lengths to thank the EU for its support, in what appeared to be a riposte to JD Vance accusing him of not showing appreciation for American backing. It is very important that Ukrainians are not alone. We feel it and know it, he said after joining EU leaders for lunch. European leaders also agreed on plans to boost the blocs defence spending by up to 800 billion after the US signalled it would step away from its role guaranteeing the continents security. Ms von der Leyen set out plans for 650 billion to be freed up by excluding military expenditure from EU debt rules. She also proposed a 150 billion loan to buy new military equipment, such as air defence systems and missiles, for European armies. Some of the money could be channelled into Ukraines armed forces as part of a strategy to turn the country into a steel porcupine which is indigestible to a future Russian invasion. Mette Frederiksen, Denmarks prime minister, said the bloc had to spend, spend, spend on defence in light of Americas diminished role on the continent. That is the most important message, and at the same time, of course, continue to support Ukraine, because we want peace in Europe, she added. Donald Tusk, Polands prime minister, said: I am convinced that Russia will lose this arms race just as the Soviet Union lost a similar arms race 40 years ago. A chef who is helping to feed hundreds of displaced people in Calais is adapting his menu to support refugees observing Ramadan. Ben Cottam, from Exeter in south-west England, has been based in northern France for the last eight months cooking for Refugee Community Kitchen. The charity, which was set up by four friends in 2015, has been serving nutritious food without judgment to those fleeing war, poverty, persecution and climate change for a decade. Ben Cottam has been working in Calais since July on a volunteer visa, managing the kitchen operations for Refugee Community Kitchen (Refugee Community Kitchen/PA) The food organisation, which operates both in London and northern France, distributes hundreds of meals a week and has won a number of prestigious awards, including the Observer Food Monthlys outstanding achievement award. Mr Cottam, 36, whose career has varied from working at private members clubs to running his own catering company, took a break from Londons food scene to head up the kitchen in Calais. Part of the reason I kind of quit my last job and needed a break was because every job Id had in London kind of came with this sense of doom and fear and pressure and stress that was unavoidable with that kind of work, Mr Cottam told the PA news agency. Living with that kind of feeling is what kind of breaks me in the end. I cant do it forever. Here theres none of that stuff I would consider the negative side of working in kitchens. The kitchen usually has a team of 15 to 20 volunteers (Refugee Community Kitchen/PA) Mr Cottam, who runs a team of up to 20 volunteers, is responsible for preparing 700 to 800 meals daily for displaced people sleeping rough in and around Calais and Dunkirk. Its a pretty slick kind of operation, he said. Its been nearly 10 years now, so theyve kind of got it down to a fine art. The daily menu consists of a main dish, which is usually a type of curry or chorba, a Middle eastern soup, rice or pasta, salad and an array of condiments. In Calais there are usually two services per day, one at lunchtime and the other in the evening. Mr Cottam said he is starting to adapt his menu to support community members observing Ramadan, by preparing food that can be stored for later consumption. Refugee Community Kitchen is also fundraising to provide a special Eid meal to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Many Muslims will spend a period of 30 days abstaining from food and drink including water during daylight hours, as a means of celebrating and reflecting on their faith. After sunset, the fast-breaking meal iftar is taken. Refugee Community serves nutritious meals to displaced people living in Calais (Refugee Community Kitchen/PA) Ive got a kind of wild idea about making fresh pita bread that well either bake really early in the morning or late at night. And then well fill them with falafel and salad, he said. Well take some that well wrap and people can take away and also fried things like bhajis and pakoras, stuff that is going to be nice to eat later on. Most people dont have access to fires or any way of reheating food later on. Mr Cottam added that a lot of thought goes into the nutritional side of things to help support gut health. If youre living like people out here are living and have been living for a long time, you often, your immune system is going to be quite weak, he said. Calais has been a transit point for refugees and migrants for decades. People live in poor conditions, including makeshift camps, and are at risk of police brutality and regular evictions. Theres very much still a humanitarian crisis going on not very far from London, said Mr Cottam. Its important for people to know about whats happening in Calais and the brutality of the police here. A total of 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in 2024, which was an increase of 25% from the 29,437 who did so in 2023, according to the Home Office but down by 20% on the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022. To learn more about Refugee Community Kitchens work in Calais you can visit its fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/rck-eid The Prime Minister and the Irish Taoiseach are set to announce closer collaboration on energy production at a joint summit on Thursday. Sir Keir Starmer and Micheal Martin will agree to a new data-sharing programme, with the aim that commercial developers will be able to increase offshore energy production. Officials hope the new deal will speed up investments and developments in infrastructure. The first in a series of UK-Ireland summits will take place in the North West on Thursday, after Sir Keir and Mr Martin co-hosted a cultural reception on Wednesday evening. The leaders are due to host a roundtable meeting with industry figures from a number of sectors across the UK and Ireland, including tech and energy. Sir Keir said: Energy security and national security are two sides of the same coin, that is why we must work with our allies and partners across the world to protect the hardworking British people from external factors driving up household bills. As our closest neighbour, our partnership with Ireland is testament to the importance of working with international partners to deliver for people at home. Now more than ever we must work with like-minded partners in the pursuit of global peace, prosperity and security. Mr Martin will be joined by Irelands deputy premier Simon Harris, who is also the countrys defence and foreign affairs minister for the summit plenary meeting on Thursday. The Taoiseach labelled the summit one of the most significant bilateral engagements between the two governments in a generation. He said it shows the resolve of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I to put in place the building blocks to bring strategic co-operation between our two countries to a new level. As part of the summit, Ireland has announced new investments into the UK worth 185.5 million, which the Government says could create more than 2,500 jobs across the country. Among the other British ministers expected to attend the summit are Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. The new data-sharing arrangement will lay the groundwork for connections between offshore windfarms and onshore energy networks. Photograph: Tom Little/Reuters The UK and Ireland have announced closer collaboration on subsea energy infrastructure to harness the full potential of the Irish and Celtic seas as part of ongoing efforts to reset post-Brexit relations. The countries will enter into a new data-sharing arrangement to lay the groundwork for connections between the growing number of offshore windfarms and onshore national energy networks. They say it will cut red tape and minimise the burden of maritime and environmental consent processes for developers. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the taoiseach, Micheal Martin, are expected to outline the deal on Thursday morning at an inaugural British-Irish summit in Liverpool intended to reduce the trade barriers that Brexit created. Starmer said: As our closest neighbour, our partnership with Ireland is testament to the importance of working with international partners to deliver for people at home. Now more than ever we must work with likeminded partners in the pursuit of global peace, prosperity and security. Martin said the cooperation would also include a joint initiative to map the sea basin to improve the interoperability of energy interconnectors. There is good cooperation between us on energy, and I am particularly delighted that, following this summit, in recognition of critical importance of the Celtic and Irish seas, we will take that cooperation to a higher level, he said. He also announced closer cooperation on the EUs Horizon Europe science research programme to identify joint initiatives with Northern Ireland on energy, climate, water and food sustainability research. Starmer met his Irish counterpart on Wednesday night before the summit. The meeting followed Starmers promise after his election last year to improve relations and bring ties with Ireland to a new level. The two premiers were expected to discuss trade, migration and energy supplies across the islands of Britain and Ireland, but the latest crisis in the transatlantic partnership, one held dearly by both countries, was likely to be a prominent part of the conversation. Martin told a reception on Wednesday night that he was delighted Liverpool had been chosen as the setting for the summit, adding: While we gather here this week, we are conscious also that this is a changing and uncertain world and, in that context, the case for an active, engaged and close partnership between our two countries has never been greater. He will go straight from the summit to a special European Council meeting on defence and Ukraine and described the UK-Ireland meeting as a timely moment for both premiers to reflect on their solidarity with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a crucial moment for European security in a rapidly evolving context. Next Wednesday, Martin is heading to Washington for a meeting with Donald Trump as part of a St Patricks Day diplomatic push. He will hope to get some tips from Starmer on how to handle Trump and his unpredictable vice-president, JD Vance, after the catastrophic White House meeting involving Zelenskyy last Friday. While Starmer is, along with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, attempting to act as a bridge between Europe and Washington over Ukraine, Martin will also be expected to land messages on behalf of the EU on the damage trade tariffs could have on both sides of the Atlantic. Martin will be the first EU leader since Macron to meet Trump and he is already under mounting pressure over Irelands trade surplus with the US. It emerged on Wednesday that the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, had raised Irelands trade imbalance with the deputy prime minister, Simon Harris. Roman Abramovich at Stamford Bridge in 2015. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images UK ministers are preparing to take Roman Abramovich to court in a final attempt to free up more than 2bn from the sale of Chelsea FC to spend as aid in Ukraine, the Guardian has learned. Officials say ministers have become increasingly frustrated by the failure to reach an agreement with the Russian oligarch about how the money should be spent and are now ready to fight him in the courts. No final decision has yet been taken but the British government is so desperate to access the money that it is ready to fight a public court battle with one of the worlds richest people in order to do so. Ministers are looking for ways to keep money flowing to Ukraine after Donald Trump decided to freeze US military aid to the country and cut off intelligence sharing. One source said: The sense within government is that we are heading towards the courts over this. There is a fundamental disagreement with Abramovich himself over where the money can be spent, and it seems the law is going to be the only way to resolve that. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: This government is working hard to ensure the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as quickly as possible. The proceeds are currently frozen in a UK bank account while a new independent foundation is established to manage and distribute the money. UK officials continue to hold discussions with Mr Abramovichs representatives, experts and international partners, and we will double down on our efforts to reach a resolution. Abramovichs representatives did not respond to a request to comment. The Russian billionaire sold Chelsea in 2022 for about 2.5bn under pressure from the British government after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich was under sanctions at the time and was granted a licence from the government to sell Chelsea as long as the money was spent supporting the victims of the Ukraine war. Since then, the government has been in deadlock with Abramovich over whether the money should be spent exclusively in Ukraine, as ministers want, or whether it can go outside the country as well. The proceeds, which are now worth an estimated 2.7bn, were placed in a UK bank account controlled by Abramovichs company Fordstam. The government has promised to establish a foundation to disburse the money, headed by Mike Penrose, the former head of Unicef UK, but has not yet done so. Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to free up the money as a way to make up for his recent decision to slash the aid budget to pay for defence spending instead. The Labour MP David Taylor told the Commons on Thursday: The sooner we can get [the Chelsea money] into Ukraine and humanitarian aid the better, because it should, in theory, free up ODA [Official Development Assistance] money for other situations around the world. Members of the House of Lords European affairs committee last year described the failure to spend the money as incomprehensible. Sources say David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has now invited Penrose to a meeting in Whitehall for the first time since Labour entered government, to discuss freeing up the money. Lammy has been advised that a court case is likely to be the only way to break the impasse with Abramovich, though he has not definitely decided to go ahead with legal action. Sources say any decision to do so would have to be taken in conjunction with the chancellor, Rachel Reeves. Government officials say the decision has not yet crossed the desk of Richard Hermer, the attorney general, who has been criticised by some for holding up government decision-making, though it is likely to do so soon. Ministers are differentiating between the Abramovich money and a broader pool of Russian assets that have been frozen across Europe and are worth about $350bn. Lammy has been pushing to seize the assets and then use the money elsewhere, such as for aid for Ukraine or to buy weapons from the US. However, France and Germany oppose such a move over concerns that it would break the legal principle that sovereign assets should remain untouched. The Treasury is understood to share those concerns, with officials warning that seizing the assets could also deter future investment from other countries. Some in government believe they could still win a legal case to seize Russian assets by arguing they should be treated as proceeds of crime and therefore used as reparations for the victim of those crimes in this case, Ukraine. However, such a legal argument is relatively untested and could involve a lengthy legal process. Starmer told the Commons this week: We are using the interest on the assets to help fund Ukraine and we are looking, with others, at whether it is possible to go further. Many office workers know how frustrating it can be to be short-staffed. The workflow can completely suffer when there are not enough hands-on deck to get everything done. Some offices come up with creative solutions to being short a few workers. Just take this veterinary office, for example. They were short-staffed and decided to put their orange office cat, Bob, to work. Well, as it turns out, Bob is a natural, and we think he should get Employee of the Month for all of his valuable contributions in this adorable video. Just look at Bob carefully reading and sorting through all of those files. We dont know how he does it, LOL. But hey, better him than us. We mean, this looks like a pretty tough job, but some cats got to do it, and we're glad its a feline as capable as Bob. Related: Easygoing Orange Cat's Adorably Unique Bath Time Ritual Is Utterly Precious The jokes were just flying in the comments section on this one. Some people said that Bob was really great at cat-egorizing, while other people humorously remarked how Bob was working his tail off. All joking aside, there is no denying that Bob is clearly one very impressive kitty. But this is not too surprising, considering the impressive history of office cats. Office Cats Did you know that cats once served a very important role in post offices? Thats right. Our beloved felines had the very important task of keeping post offices mouse-free. Believe it or not, the London Post Office actually hired three felines to take care of its mouse problem in 1868. By 1969, they had made great strides in significantly reducing the London Post Offices rodent problem. The most famous of these Post Office kitties was Tibs the Great. Weighing in at 23 pounds, Tibs was a mighty feline, indeed. He more than earned his moniker by keeping the London Post Office completely mouse-free during his 14 years there. However, the last time the London Post Office employed a cat to keep rodents away was in the 1980s when a cat named Blackie was under their employment. They have not employed a post office cat since. Nowadays, office cats tend to be therapy animals as opposed to rodent-repellent specialists. Conclusion While Bob may not serve this office in the same capacity as his feline forefathers, he still clearly plays a very important role. There are still some places that employee cats as mascots, like the Amsterdam police force that employs a black cat named Nimus, for instance. There are also veterinary clinics that have clinic cats. Sometimes, these cats just like to hang around and keep pets parents company in the waiting room as they wait for the vet to examine their fur babies. We think thats a good idea. Waiting to find out how your beloved animal companion is doing can be stressful. So, being able to hang out with or be entertained by a cuddly office cat is a blessing in these instances. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Staff look at a map showing Tropical Cyclone Alfred at the national situation room in Canberra on Thursday. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Millions of people in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales awoke on Thursday expecting a day of damaging winds and rainfall as Tropical Cyclone Alfred bore down. But overnight the system slowed down, with forecasts that it might not make landfall until early Saturday. So whats been happening to Tropical Cyclone Alfred? What has changed? On Wednesday morning the various models the Bureau of Meteorologys cyclone team analyses were suggesting that Alfred would probably make landfall early on Friday morning. But by Wednesday evening the eye of the storm was slightly further away from the Queensland coast, after performing a full loop during the day instead of continuing to move towards the coast. Alfred basically stalled and almost did a loop-de-loop back on itself, said a BoM meteorologist, Christie Johnson. Why has Alfred slowed down? The movement of a cyclone is down to the steering flow the average wind speed between about 2km and 10km in the atmosphere. On Tuesday Tropical Cyclone Alfred ran into a high-pressure ridge that is sitting over the Tasman Sea which pushed it off its south-east trajectory and turned it towards the Queensland coast. Prof Liz Ritchie-Tyo, a cyclone expert at Monash University, said: When it took that sharp turn, it came under the influence of that ridge and they tend to have much lighter winds associated with them. But why didnt the models pick up that the cyclone would slow down? Ritchie-Tyo said the cyclone had taken its turn to the coast slightly further north than many of the models expected, and this meant the steering flow had been slightly weaker. This is like the butterfly effect, where a small error in a model means the prediction farther out is error-prone. But now the model runs are picking this up pretty well. How fast is the cyclone moving and when might it reach the Queensland coast? On Thursday morning Alfred was moving at about 7km/h relatively slow for a cyclone, according to Ritchie-Tyo. Related: When and where is Tropical Cyclone Alfred likely to hit? Heres what you need to know Theres no suggestion its going to pick up much speed, she said. So that means the winds and rain will stay over the same area for longer. Johnson said Alfred was expected to move slowly and there was a suggestion it could stall as it approached the coast. Cyclones can get steered by other influences and can be a bit like a leaf in a storm, with eddies pushing this way and that, she said. Another area of low pressure over the north of the country could interact with the storm, causing it to slow and stall again off the coast. There was even a suggestion that for a short time it could speed up overnight Thursday into Friday, before slowing again. On Thursday the Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said the most likely scenario was a coastal crossing Saturday morning pretty much 24 hours later than communities had been preparing for. When might people start to feel the impacts? Coastal communities on the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales were already feeling the effects and these would continue to intensify, according to Johnson. Much of the south-east Queensland coast, from Gympie to the NSW border, was under a severe weather warning on Friday for intense rainfall and damaging winds. What intensity will Alfred be when it makes landfall? Johnson said on Wednesday that some models were suggesting Alfred could intensify into a category-three system before it made landfall, with even more destructive winds, but the chances of that had fallen away. The chances of it intensifying has reduced and its now expected to be a category one at landfall but for much of the approach it could still be a high-end category two, she said. On Friday morning, the cyclone was forecast to weaken slightly to a category one storm in the final hours before landfall, expected around 10am on Saturday in an area between Double Island Point and just south of Brisbane. Cyclone categories only reflect wind speeds and dont account for the amount of rainfall or flooding. Johnson said while the landfall was expected to be in the vicinity of Brisbane city, with one US model having it slightly north, it was important people did not focus on that aspect. Destructive winds, extreme rainfall, flooding and coastal impacts were likely to occur over a wide area, from the Sunshine Coast to northern NSW. Read more of Guardian Australias Tropical Cyclone Alfred coverage: Mother's Day is celebrated on different dates around the world. (Getty Images) (Getty Images) Mother's Day is fast approaching with the annual day to celebrate all mums and mother-figures being marked at the end of March this year. But mums in the US will have to wait a little longer for their messages and gifts. That's because America, as well as some other countries, celebrate the occasion in May (on 11th this year), rather than in March like us Brits. But why is the date different in various nations and how did Mother's Day come about in the first place? When is Mother's Day held in the UK? In the UK Mothers Day is always held on the fourth Sunday of the Christian festival of Lent. The custom came about because this was traditionally when those who had moved away for work would come back and visit their mother church and their own mothers, which is also why we often refer to it as Mothering Sunday. As the dates of Lent vary each year, so does the date of Mothering Sunday. As well as the UK, Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Nigeria all have the same date for Mother's Day. This year Mother's Day falls on March 30 2025 in the UK. The date falls later in the year in America, with the celebration falling on the second Sunday in May each year. This year in America, Mother's Day falls on May 11 2025. The UK celebrates Mother's Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent. (Getty Images) (Getty Images) In the US, Mother's Day is held on the second Sunday of May, which last year fell on Sunday 12 May. The celebration does not have religious links and, according to History.com, was in fact started when an activist called Anna Jarvis held a service in May 1908 to honour the sacrifices individual mothers made for their children. "Jarvis then began writing letters to newspapers and politicians pushing for the adoption of Mothers Day as an official holiday," the site reveals. The idea took off and many other churches and areas started celebrating the day with her campaign paying off in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mothers Day. Interestingly, however, despite originally establishing the day, Jarvis is believed to have started disapproving of the subsequent commercialisation of the occasion, which she felt went against its sentimental origins. She even said she regretted starting it and at one point, sought to abolish it. When do other countries celebrate the day? Many other countries celebrate Mother's Day at different times of the year. Australia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and Belgium all use the second Sunday in May as the date for celebrating mothers. But in Mexico, and many parts of Latin America, Mother's Day is celebrated on 10 May each year, with Mexicans marking it via the "Dia de las Madres" every year. In the Middle East, the celebration first started in Egypt in 1956. It is now celebrated on the first day of spring. Meanwhile in Thailand, Mothers Day is always celebrated in August on the birthday of Queen, Sirikit. The US celebrates Mother's Day in May. (Getty Images) (Getty Images) Mother's Day by numbers In 2024, retail spending on Mother's Day in the United Kingdom was projected to reach 1.4 billion, increasing compared to the previous year. According to the British Retail Consortium, around 45 million is spent on Mothers Day Cards with around 30 million cards sent, and around 55 million is spent on chocolates, with around four million people buying a box for their mum. Around 260 million is also spent on flowers for the mother figure in your life, with experts from the Flowers & Plants Association, claiming Mother's Day is the biggest event in the UK's cut flower and indoor plant industry. Around the time of the celebration in the UK sales of cut flowers and indoor plants increase by an average of 40% on a normal day's trading. As well as flowers and chocolates, 1.8 billion is spent on personal service gifts for mums including spas and manicures. Read more about Mother's Day: Phil Goff also compared recent Ukraine peace efforts with the 1938 Munich Agreement a pact that allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia - Ricky Wilson/STUFF via AP New Zealand has sacked its top diplomat in London after he made a deeply disappointing remark questioning Donald Trumps grasp of history. Phil Goff, the High Commissioner to the UK, asked whether the US president really understands history during a panel discussion about Russias invasion of Ukraine. A spokesman for Winston Peters, New Zealands foreign minister, said the comment was deeply disappointing, adding that it did not represent the views of the New Zealand government and make his position as High Commissioner to London untenable. Mr Peters later said he would still have fired Mr Goff had he made the same remark about any other world leader, telling reporters: Its seriously regrettable. Mr Goff, a former foreign minister, compared recent efforts to establish peace in Ukraine with the 1938 Munich Agreement a pact between European powers that allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of what was then Czechoslovakia. Some have expressed concern that Mr Trump could push Ukraine towards accept a peace deal that allows Russia to hold on to large stretches of captured territory. Mr Goff said at Londons Chatham House this week: I was re-reading Churchills speech to the House of Commons in 1938 after the Munich agreement. He turned to [the then prime minister Neville] Chamberlain and said: You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour yet you will have war. President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office, but do you think he really understands history? The comments came as the US paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine on Wednesday after a dramatic breakdown in relations between Kyiv and the White House. Mr Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, had a public falling out in the Oval Office last week, which was then followed by the US suspending crucial military aid to the country. Kimberly Guilfoyle at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images Kimberly Guilfoyle has become a prominent figure within the Republican Party. She began dating Donald Trump Jr. in 2018, but they split in 2024. Her outfits at public events have included bold, business-casual looks and peplum-style dresses. One of the most public-facing female members of the Republican Party is Kimberly Guilfoyle, the ex-girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., former Fox News host, and President Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle, who dated the president's eldest child from 2018 to 2024, has had some ups and downs in her style journey. In fact, People even reported in December 2024 that her style was an issue between father and son. Around the same time as their breakup became public news, Guilfoyle was nominated to be the next ambassador to Greece, with the president calling her "a close friend and ally" in a Truth Social post. Here's a look back at Guilfoyle's best and worst style moments since she became involved with the Trump family. Guilfoyle did not respond to a request for comment from BI. At a March 2018 event, Guilfoyle kept it simple with a robin's egg shift dress. Kimberly Guilfoyle at a March 2018 event. Manny Carabel/FilmMagic/Getty Images The vibrant shade of this knee-length, short-sleeved dress was a strong choice for Guilfoyle, who accessorized with snakeskin pumps. One month later, Guilfoyle started dating Trump Jr., Page Six reported. They went Instagram official in June, and she joined him at the Montana Republican Convention that same month. Her navy dress at a 2018 movie premiere could've been great if she'd lost the belt. Kimberly Guilfoyle at a 2018 movie premiere. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Guilfoyle loves a knee-length dress, and while this one was largely elegant, the belt made it seem old-fashioned. The look would've been more streamlined without it. Her red heels also blended with the red carpet. The polka-dot high-neck blouse wasn't a good match with the low-rise red trousers. Kimberly Guilfoyle at an event in Bridgehampton, New York. Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images This look, which she wore to an event in the Hamptons in May 2018, had too much going on. The blouse clashed with the trousers, which in turn clashed with the geometric-patterned heels. Her necklace, which appears to feature a chili-pepper pendant, also didn't gel with the rest of the look. There was also too much going on with this dress, which she wore for one of her first public appearances with Donald Trump, Jr. Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump, Jr. in 2018. Shannon Finney/Getty Images A slightly less plunging neckline or a subtler mesh overlay would've made this look more cohesive. Instead, the illusion of a vest and skirt made it look like menswear or officewear, which, in Guilfoyle's defense, Gen Z now loves. While it was refreshing to see Guilfoyle stepping away from her typical closed-toe pumps, it's a fashion faux pas to wear pantyhose with open-toed shoes. This appearance in August 2018 to attend the Washington, DC, premiere of political documentary "Death of a Nation" was one of Guilfoyle and Trump's first public appearances as a couple. The furry part of this dress was confusing. Matt Rich and Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2018. Patrick McMullan/Getty Images In August 2018, Guilfoyle attended the annual summer party for New York's Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where she was pictured with publicist Matt Rich. She wore a red dress for the event, but the look would've been much better without the fur across the chest the red lace overlay was enough of a statement. The black-and-white dress she wore in 2019 is one of Guilfoyle's best looks. Chiara Boni and Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2019. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows For a New York Fashion Week event for designer Chiara Boni (pictured left) in 2019, Guilfoyle wore one of Boni's designs. Guilfoyle accessorized with long diamond earrings and later added a black cape to her look. The outfit could've been improved with black pumps white heels are a tricky thing to pull off although Guilfoyle's Valentino heels did complement the white in her dress. She had an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction at a Fashion Week event in 2019. Kimberly Guilfoyle at a 2019 fashion show. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows You might not be able to tell, but this Zang Toi dress Guilfoyle wore to the designer's fashion show in 2019 was almost completely see-through underneath bright lights and flashing cameras. If it weren't for that unfortunate design flaw, it wouldn't be too bad though we could do without the butterfly embellishments on the shoulder. It happens to the best of us, but this is a good reminder: always do a flash test before going to an event with lots of cameras. Guilfoyle took part in the color-blocking trend during 2019 New York Fashion Week. Kimberly Guilfoyle at a 2019 Fashion Week event. JP Yim/Getty Images for Mira Zwillinger The slit in her orange skirt is subtle, and it pairs well with the yellow ruffled blouse. While the look could've been elevated with different shoes why leopard-print heels? this is a solid look. Guilfoyle wore a bright-red dress to the 2020 Republican National Convention. Kimberly Guilfoyle at the 2020 Republican National Convention. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Guilfoyle wore the knee-length, Republican-red dress to deliver a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention. The dress, which has an orange undertone, was a striking look for Guilfoyle. The only improvement to the look could've been a simple necklace. One of Guilfoyle's favorite styles is a peplum dress, and she selected a mint-green version for a 2020 Trump rally. Kimberly Guilfoyle at a 2020 Trump Rally in Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images While another striking color to help Guilfoyle stand out on stage, the shade of green made this dress look dated. That was also the case for the business-casual peplum, which hasn't been on trend in years though some designers are trying their hardest to bring it back. Guilfoyle needs to leave the peplum behind. Kimberly Guilfoyle in April 2022. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Guilfoyle wore this dress to CPAC in February 2022 and again in April for a meeting with the House Select Committee investigating the attack on January 6. While navy blue works better with this peplum style, we can't ignore the crystal-encrusted heels, which feel out-of-place for the setting. Guilfoyle wore this patterned minidress in 2024, 10 years after it was in style. Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2024. Justin E Palmer/GC Images This geometric minidress by Balmain wouldn't have been out of place in season one of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," but it doesn't fare as well in London in 2024, where she was spotted with Donald Trump, Jr. Once again, we would've preferred to see her pair this with black heels, not bright-white ones. The red dress with a capelet she wore to the 2024 Republican National Convention is on trend. Kimberly Guilfoyle at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images This Badgley Mischka dress is an understated, elegant look from Guilfoyle. She also didn't over-accessorize, choosing just a pair of chunky silver earrings. Read the original article on Business Insider Five New York City police officers opened fire on an armed man, fatally wounding him Thursday, after police said he pointed a weapon at them. New York Police Department Assistant Chief at Patrol Borough Staten Island Melissa Eager said officers responded to a 911 call at 5:19 a.m. about a man with a firearm inside a vehicle and "officers ran toward gunfire and bravely confronted danger." Police in both marked and unmarked vehicles arrived, heard multiple shot fired in the area, Eager said, and encountered 55-year old man armed with a firearm on Staten Island. Police verbally engaged with the suspect and Eager said multiple officers instructed him to drop the firearm. When the suspect did not comply, gunfire was exchanged, and five officers opened fire on the man who was shot multiple times, Eager said. At the scene, police located a Smith and Wesson as well as ammunition. Shooting suspect taken to hospital and pronounced dead Officers performed live-saving measures on the suspect before he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The suspect's identity had not been released by police as of early Thursday afternoon. Eager said the incident was captured on police body camera footage. The shooting remained under investigation Thursday, police said. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 NYPD officers kill armed man on Staten Island "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Amanda Seyfried is back on the red carpet, and more radiant than ever. The actor made an appearance at the premiere of her crime series Long Bright River, in New York Citys Metrograph. For the occasion, she slipped into a shimmery golden minidress that had her beaming. The mini had a short V neck, ample midi sleeves, and a subtle hourglass silhouette. It was entirely covered in sequins, and was adorned with a single black rosette at the center. John Nacion - Getty Images The Mamma Mia star finished the look simply, with pointed black slingback heels, chunky gold and diamond hoop earrings, a dainty gold chain bracelet, and a gold ring. John Nacion - Getty Images Her warm-blonde hair perfectly complemented her golden dress, and for a pop of color, she added on a light pink eyeshadow and a bold raspberry lip. Peacock - Getty Images The Peacock show Long Bright River follows as a Philadelphia police officer (played by Seyfried) searches for her sister, an addict who has gone missing. It is based on the novel of the same name, by Liz Moore, and the first episode will be released on March 13. John Nacion - Getty Images It's not just a TV thriller; its about what sex workers and addicts go through. It is about humanity and empathy. It also features police corruption, and then, of course, theres a tie-in with this cop who is missing her sister, who is a severe addict, Seyfried told LOFFICIEL in her March 2025 cover story. When you go to Kensington, you see a place where people struggle. Sitting in the back of a car driving through for the first time was eye-opening. It was quite a world to jump into. I feel so glad to have learned more about it. I never knew about harm reduction programs. There are so many blind spots in my life as a 39-year-old. This is why I love acting; I can take jobs and grow from them. You Might Also Like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking on Andrew Tate. The state attorney general has launched a criminal investigation into the British-American manfluencer and his brother Tristan, both of whom arrived in Florida last week after being released on human trafficking charges in Romania. The announcement led Tate to brag that investigators will not be able to convict him because he deletes all the data off his electronics. Come get me, arrest me, perp walk me, put me on the news, he angrily said during an interview with Candace Owens posted on Wednesday afternoon. Tell everyone Im a human trafficker. An angry and fiery Tate spoke out to Candace Owens. Youtube/@RealCandaceO You think Im not ready? he continued. Fing come get me, raid my house, take my stuff. You think I sleep with a phone full of evidence? You dont think I wipe my phone every night? You think Im dumb? Tate, 38, told Owens that Florida authorities seized his electronics as they investigate him for unspecified wrongdoing and that he is innocent of any crime. Tate claimed that DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier are targeting him because theyre afraid of him. They fear me so heavily, he told Owens. They fear me because of my political influence. I can galvanize the masculine youth in any direction that I believe fit. He also speculated that DeSantis, in particular, was concerned that Tate would oppose the upcoming candidacy of his wife, Casey, who is rumored to be eying a run for governor. A source in DeSantis office tells the Post that he is not afraid of Andrew Tate. AP But a source in DeSantiss office tells The Post that the governor is unmoved by Tates taunts. If Andrew Tate believes that the governor has some sort of personal fear or vendetta against him, hes delusional, says the high-level source. The governor doesnt give a damn about his supposed influence. He is just trying to make sure justice is served. Uthmeier launched a criminal investigation into the widely-condemned conservative influencer and brother Tristan, announcing on Tuesday that hes sought subpoenas and search warrants in the brothers case. A preliminary inquiry was conducted into the Tate brothers. Andrew and Tristan, 36 who have together amassed millions of fans among boys and young men on social media are accused of putting together a criminal ring that exploited women in the European country and were arrested in late 2022. Andrew, a former professional kickboxer and proud self-professed misogynist, was also accused of rape. Andrew and Tristan Tate returned to Florida last week after the Trump administration influenced Romania to let them go. Backgrid/MEGA The duo have denied wrongdoing. After pressure from the Trump administration, travel restrictions were recently lifted by Romanian officials that allowed the Tate brothers to reach the US, but they will need to return if summoned by judicial authorities. One of the alleged victims in the Romanian case is from Florida. She has accused the Tates of luring her to Romania under the false pretense of a romantic relationship. When she arrived in the country, she says, she was pressured to work as a pornographic model. Its unclear if these allegations are part of the Florida investigation. In a Tuesday press conference, Uthmeier declined to give details, but pledged to use every tool to bring the Tates to justice. These guys themselves have publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, and preying upon women around the world, he told reporters. They can spin it however they want, but in Florida this type of behavior is atrocious. Were not going to accept it. The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the University of California system over allegations of an antisemitic work environment on its campuses. Officials will examine whether a pattern or practice of discrimination against Jewish professors and staff existed on the University of California's 10 campuses last year as student protests erupted over the Israel-Hamas war. The investigation marks the latest effort from President Donald Trumps administration and other conservative leaders to look into how universities responded to some student protests targeting U.S. support for Israel. It follows the administrations announcement that it would review Columbia University's federal contracts over similar allegations of antisemitism. May 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; A flag is waved during a sit-in outside of a pro-Palestinian encampment at the campus of UCLA. Violence broke out early in the morning at the encampment, hours after the university declared that the camp is unlawful and violates university policy. More: President Trump says he will stop funding for colleges that allow 'illegal' protests This Department of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Antisemitism in our nations universities, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement Wednesday. University of California spokesperson Stett Holbrook told Reuters the school was notified about the investigation and was "unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting everyone's civil rights." Demonstrations exploded on college campuses across America, including on multiple University of California locations, last spring as students pointed to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The protests called for a ceasefire in the war and urged their schools to stop investing in Israeli firms involved with the war. The investigation, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, will focus on how the protests affected the working environment for campus staff and whether any employment discrimination occurred, Leo Terrel, senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights and a member of the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, said in a statement. "The impact upon UCs students has been the subject of considerable media attention and multiple federal investigations," he said. "But these campuses are also workplaces, and the Jewish faculty and staff employed there deserve a working environment free of antisemitic hostility and hate." Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump admin investigates UC system after Israel-Hamas war protests A 14-year-old boy who had been missing for the past seven years was found in late February in Colorado, the Douglas County Sheriff's Department announced on Wednesday. The seven-year kidnapping case, which was featured in Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries," finally came to an end on Feb. 23 when Abdul Aziz Khan was found after being missing since Nov. 17, 2017, police said. Police said they responded to a call from a homeowner in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, for a possible burglary or trespassing at approximately 3:37 p.m. on Feb. 23. This home was for sale, but the owner saw via surveillance cameras two people entering through the back of the residence. PHOTO: In this photo released by the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, Rabia Khalid is shown. (Douglas County Sheriff's Department) When two deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered a vehicle parked in the driveway with two children inside the car. Two adults, one man and one woman, came out of the house and identified themselves as "associates to the realtor," Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly told ABC News. Deputies continued to ask questions because "they felt like something was up," Weekly said. The man gave deputies a driver's license that belonged to a deceased person and the woman said she "never had any type of ID," which concerned police, Weekly said. MORE: A look into one of the most twisted kidnappings in US history A quick scan of fingerprints revealed the woman to be 40-year-old Rabia Khalid, the missing boy's mother, who already had a kidnapping warrant issued for her arrest. "Once Rabia was identified, we realized we had a possible kidnapping case here," Weekly said. "Our deputies ended up separating the two adults and trying to get interviews with them to figure out what exactly was going on." The other adult was identified as 42-year-old Elliot Blake Bourgeois, who is Khalid's husband, but not the boy's father. Both Khalid and Bourgeois were arrested and charged with second degree kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities and trespassing, the sheriff's department said. PHOTO: In this photo released by the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, Elliot Blake Bourgeois is shown. (Douglas County Sheriff's Department) Both children were taken into protective custody, and the older one was identified as Abdul, police said. The name of the younger child is not being released at this time. Decisions about where the children will be placed will be determined by the court, police said. "The deputies got them food, they watched 'Blue's Clues' at one of the neighbor's houses to try and keep the kids comfortable and calm while we conducted this investigation," Weekly said. Weekly told ABC News he is "extremely proud" of his staff for bringing a resolution to this yearslong kidnapping case. MORE: 'Gone Girl' kidnapper charged in home invasions from years earlier "Lord knows over the last seven years how many law enforcement contacts these two potentially would have had," Weekly said. "For my deputies to be able to solve this mystery, I am pretty proud of the work they have done." The boy's family released a statement on Wednesday, applauding the work of the Douglas County Sheriff's Department. "We're overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found," his family said in a statement. "We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. Now, as we navigate the next steps, we ask for privacy so that we can move forward as a family and heal together." Rabia Khalid and the boy's father, Abdul Khan, separated in 2014 and had been dealing with years of custody disputes, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Khalid moved from New Orleans to Atlanta with her son for a new job shortly before the kidnapping, making it more challenging for the boy's father to see his son. Then on Nov. 17, 2017, the mother did not show up for a custody hearing in Atlanta, and she and the boy were not seen until this year. ABC News reached out to the public defenders listed for Rabia Khalid and Bourgeois, but has not heard back. Boy kidnapped by mother 7 years ago found in Colorado: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The still-at-large suspected murderer accused of stabbing to death her California fire captain wife allegedly texted a pal saying she hurt her for dumping her, according to an arrest warrant. Yolanda Marodi, 53, texted the known associate soon after she was seen on surveillance footage chasing her wife, Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, who was heard begging, Yolanda! Please I dont want to die, according to the arrest warrant from San Diego County The message stated, Becky came home and told me she was leaving me, she met someone else, all the messages were lies. We had a big fight and I hurt her Im sorry,' a sheriffs deputy wrote of the suspect, who is also known as Yolanda Olejniczak. The 49-year-old fire official was found inside their Ramona home with stab wounds to her abdomen, chest and neck. Her wife is still at large and is suspected of having fled to Mexico. Yolanda Olejniczak sent a chilling text to her friend after allegedly stabbing her wife to death. San Diego Sheriff's Office The warrant stated that the slain captain had told Yolanda that she was leaving her and ending their marriage about a week before the Jan. 17 murder. Door cam footage appears to show her wife chasing her across the patio of their home just after 8 p.m., as a voice believed to be the fire captains is heard pleading for her life, the warrant notes. Yolanda! Please I dont want to die, the voice says, before Marodi is seen in the frame with what appears to be blood running down her back, according to the arrest warrant. You should have thought of that before, another voice, believed to be Olejniczaks, replies, as she is seen standing over her wife holding a knife with blood apparently on her arm. Olejniczak (L), is accused of stabbing to death Cal Fire captain Rebecca Marodi (R), at their home in Ramona, California. Olejniczak demands her wife go back inside while Marodi repeatedly begs for her to call 911, according to the warrant. Eventually, the pair go back into the house, the last time Marodi is seen in the footage. Shortly afterward, Yolanda is seen gathering pets, random items, and some luggage and loading it into a silver Chevrolet Equinox SUV, the warrant states, adding that she was seen wearing different clothes than she was at the start of the video. Olejniczak allegedly text her friend to say the pair had had a fight, after she reportedly fled to Mexico. CBS8 San Diego Her vehicle was spotted crossing into Mexico several hours later, according to the Department of Homeland Security. At this time, Olejniczaks whereabouts are not known. Out of an abundance of caution, the Sheriffs Office has alerted authorities on both sides of the border about this suspect, the San Diego County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick speaks with reporters after President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump on Thursday postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war. The White House insists its tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of fentanyl, but the taxes proposed by Trump have caused a gaping wound in the decades-old North American trade partnership. Trump's tariff plans have also caused the stock market to sink and alarmed U.S. consumers. In addition to his claims about fentanyl, Trump has insisted that the tariffs could be resolved by fixing the trade deficit. He emphasized while speaking in the Oval Office that he still plans to impose reciprocal tariffs starting on April 2. Most of the tariffs go on April the second, Trump said before signing the orders. Right now, we have some temporary ones and small ones, relatively small, although its a lot of money having to do with Mexico and Canada. Trump said he was not looking to extend the exemption on the 25% tariff for autos for another month. Imports from Mexico that comply with the 2020 USMCA trade pact would be excluded from the 25% tariffs for a month, according to the orders signed by Trump. Auto-related imports from Canada that comply with the trade deal would also avoid the 25% tariffs for a month, while the potash that U.S. farmers import from Canada would be tariffed at 10%, the same rate at which Trump wants to tariff Canadian energy products. Roughly 62% of imports from Canada would likely still face the new tariffs because they're not USMCA-compliant, according to a White House official who insisted on anonymity to preview the orders on a call with reporters. Half of imports from Mexico that are not USCMA-compliant would also be taxed under the orders being signed by Trump, the official said. Mexico's response Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has planned to announce any retaliatory measures on Sunday, but Trump credited her with making progress on illegal immigration and drug smuggling as a reason for again pausing tariffs that were initially supposed to go into full effect in February. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum," Trump said on Truth Social. "Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border. Trump's actions also thawed relations with Canada somewhat, after its initial retaliatory tariffs of $30 billion Canadian (US$21 billion) on U.S. goods. The government said it had suspended its second wave of retaliatory tariffs on additional U.S. goods worth $125 billion (US$87 billion). Trumps on-again, off-again tariff threats have roiled financial markets, lowered consumer confidence, and enveloped many businesses in an uncertain atmosphere that could delay hiring and investment. Major U.S. stock markets briefly bounced off lows after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick previewed the monthlong pauses on CNBC on Thursday. Significant declines already seen this week resumed within an hour. The S&P 500 stock index has fallen below where it was before Trump was elected. Asked whether the stock market decline was due to his tariffs, Trump said, A lot of them are globalist countries and companies that wont be doing as well because were taking back things that have been taken from us many years ago. Sheinbaum said in a post on X that she and Trump had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results. Mexico has cracked down on cartels, sent troops to the U.S. border and delivered 29 top cartel bosses long chased by American authorities to the Trump administration in a span of weeks. At a press conference, Sheinbaum elaborated on her call with Trump Thursday, saying she told the president that Mexico was making great strides in fulfilling his security demands. I told him were getting results, Sheinbaum said. But the U.S. imposed the tariffs, so she asked Trump how are we going to continue cooperating, collaborating with something that hurts the people of Mexico? She added that practically all of the trade between the U.S. and Mexico will be exempt from tariffs until April 2. She said the two countries will continue to work together on migration and security, and to cut back on fentanyl trafficking to the U.S. From January to February, the amount of fentanyl seized at the border dropped more than 41%, according to Sheinbaum, citing data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. She cited the dip as meeting a commitment made to Trump. A chill between US and Canada Still, relations between the United States and Canada remain frosty because of the tariff pressures. A senior Canadian government official said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's call on Wednesday with Trump became heated. The U.S. president used profanity while complaining about protections in Canadas dairy industry. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the call, said Trudeau did not use profanity. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the leader of Canadas most populous province, said that starting Monday the province will charge 25% more for electricity shipped to 1.5 million Americans in response to Trumps tariff plan. Ontario provides electricity to Minnesota, New York and Michigan. This whole thing with President Trump is a mess, Ford said Thursday. This reprieve, weve went down this road before. He still threatens the tariffs on April 2. Fords office said the tariff would remain in place even if theres a one-month reprieve from the Americans. Ford has said that so long as the threat of tariffs continue, Ontarios position will not change. Lutnick said that will be watching fentanyl overdose deaths in the U.S. as a key metric when evaluating Canada and Mexico's efforts to combat the synthetic opioid. In his speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, Trump portrayed tariffs which he has has also levied on China at 20% due to their role in fentanyl production as a source of increasing wealth and power for the United States. Early Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China will retaliate and accused Washington of meeting good with evil. No country should fantasize that it can suppress China and maintain good relationship with China at the same time, Wang said. Such two-faced acts are not good for the stability of bilateral relations or for building mutual trust. Most economists expect the import duties to send U.S. prices higher, slow the economy and potentially cost jobs. The Yale University Budget Lab has estimated that the tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico would increase inflation by a full percentage point, cut growth by half a percentage point and cost the average household about $1,600 in disposable income. Trump appeared to acknowledge Tuesday night that there could be some pain: Therell be a little disturbance, but were okay with that. It wont be much. _____ Associated Press writer Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City. Gillies reported from Toronto. (Reuters) -Logitech International will buy back $2 billion worth of shares over the next three years, and will increase its current buyback program by $600 million, the computer parts maker said on Wednesday as it confirmed its 2025 outlook. The company also forecast fiscal year 2026 sales to range from $4.53 billion to $4.71 billion, indicating potential growth in the range of 1% to 3% in U.S. dollars. The Swiss-American company, which enjoyed a sales surge during the pandemic lockdown, previously said it expected its 2025 sales to grow by 5.4% to 6.4% to reach $4.54 to $4.57 billion. Logitech raised its full-year forecast in late January, boosted by higher sales and profit for its important pre-holiday quarter. Logitech announced the figures at its investor day in San Jose, California, where it said that it aims for long-term annual sales growth of 7% to 10%, with a non-GAAP gross margin above 40% and operating margin of 15% to 18%. "We are market leaders in our core categories with a clear strategy to extend that leadership, a credible plan to enter new verticals and adjacencies, and AI as a force multiplier," said CEO Hanneke Faber. The company has returned to sales growth after a pandemic-driven boom was followed by a downturn. Logitech now aims to sell its products in areas such as education and healthcare to expand its traditional consumer base among home computer users, gamers and businesses. Logitech wants to sell more of its products directly to businesses in future. Its recent products include a computer mouse with a prompt builder button which connects the user to artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT. (Reporting by John Revill and Bipasha Dey; Editing by Varun H K) President Donald Trump departs after addressing a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) WASHINGTON (AP) A federal judge ruled Thursday that President Donald Trump acted illegally when he fired a member of an independent labor agency, and the judge ordered that she be allowed to remain on the job. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C., found Trump did not have the authority to remove Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board. An American president is not a king not even an elected one and his power to remove federal officers and honest civil servants like plaintiff is not absolute, Howell wrote. She acknowledged the administrations argument that the Supreme Court may be inclined to overturn a 90-year-old decision restricting the presidents power to remove members of independent agencies. But the judge said that until and unless the high court acts, current law clearly supports keeping Wilcox in her role. The Trump administration quickly appealed her ruling, Wilcox sued Trump after he fired her and the agencys general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, on Jan. 27. Wilcox's attorneys said no president previously had tried to remove an NLRB member. They argued that board members can only be fired for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office and only after giving notice and holding a hearing. Trump's only path to victory in Wilcox's case would be to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt a new, more aggressive vision of presidential power that would effectively abolish independent agencies in the U.S., her lawyers wrote. During a hearing Wednesday, Howell jokingly referred to herself as a speed bump for the case on its way to the Supreme Court. Government attorneys argued that NLRB members should be removable at will to ensure democratic accountability. Reinstating Wilcox to the board would be an extraordinary intrusion on the executive branch, they added. The President cannot be compelled to retain the services of a principal officer whom the President no longer believes should be entrusted with the exercise of executive power, Justice Department lawyers wrote. Wilcox was the first Black woman to serve on the five-member board in its 90-year history. The Senate confirmed Wilcox for a second five-year term in September 2023. Congress created the board in 1935. Its primary purpose is to resolve disputes over unfair labor practices. It adjudicated hundreds of cases in the last fiscal year. __ Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story. Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS, during a news conference in Singapore on Feb. 10, 2025. (Suhaimi AbdullahBloomberg via Getty Images) Piyush Gupta, who has led DBS for over 15 years, will take home 17.6 million Singapore dollars ($13.2 million) for his last paycheck from the regions largest bank. It's 57% larger than the 11.2 million Singapore dollars ($8.4 million) he received in 2023. According to the banks annual report released on Thursday, Guptas pay for 2024 is split between his base salary of 1.5 million Singapore dollars ($1.13 million), a cash bonus of 6.6 million Singapore dollars ($4.96 million), and deferred remuneration of 9.36 million Singapore dollars ($7.03 million). For the deferred pay, about 17.1% will be in cash while the remainder will be in the form of shares. Gupta took a 30% pay cut to his variable pay in 2023, which represented about 4.14 million Singapore dollars ($3.1 million), following a series of disruptions to the banks services that year. Other members of the management committee took a 21% pay cut. Gupta's increased salary for 2024 follows the banks stellar all-round performance as well as its improved technology resiliency." DBS's CEO isnt the only banking head to get a big pay bump in recent weeks. Standard Chartered revealed in late February that CEO Bill Winters was getting a 46% increase in his salary. Winters will take home 10.7 million ($13.8 million) for his 2024 salary, his largest paycheck ever since he took over the British bank almost a decade ago. DBS's 2024 Besides increased pay for Gupta, the bank also revealed in early February, when it released its quarterly results, that its paying a 1,000-Singapore-dollar bonus on top of regular performance bonus to all staff except senior managers following the banks stellar year. DBS reported 11.4 billion Singapore dollars in profits for 2024 ($8.56 billion), up 11%. Shares of DBS have risen 51% over a one-year period to reach 46.17 Singapore dollars ($34.64). Gupta became DBS CEO in 2009, and helped expand operations at Southeast Asia's largest bank. He will step down later this month at the banks annual general meeting and be replaced by deputy CEO Tan Su Shan. Under [Gupta's] stewardship, DBS has evolved into one of Singapores most iconic institutions and a global financial powerhouse, with an ROE that places us among the top-performing banks globally, the banks chairman Peter Seah wrote in its annual report. He continued that the bank's strong performance reflects Gupta's decisions as CEO, particularly its digital transformation. Yet he added that DBS is looking forward to a "new chapter" under Tan, who he called the "standout candidate" to be Gupta's successor. Tan previously worked in major financial centers like Hong Kong and London, and will become the first female CEO in DBSs history. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Demonstrators raise cutout portraits of Israeli hostages during a protest calling for the implementation of the second phase and the completion of the agreement for the release of all hostages held captive in Gaza, in Tel Aviv on March 6, 2025. CAIRO, March 6 (Reuters) - Hamas said on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated threats against Palestinians constituted support for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back out of the Gaza ceasefire and intensify the siege of Gazans. Trump demanded in a social media post on Wednesday that Hamas "release all of the hostages now, not later," including the remains of dead hostages, "or it is OVER for you". His threats came on the day there was news that a Trump envoy has held secret talks with Hamas, signaling a departure from a decades-old U.S. policy of not negotiating with the Islamist Palestinian faction deemed a terrorist organisation by Washington. "Trump's repeated threats against our people represent support to Netanyahu to evade the agreement and tightens the siege and starvation against our people," Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said in a text message to Reuters. "The best track to release the remaining Israeli prisoners is by... going into the second phase and compelling it (Israel) to adhere to the agreement signed under the sponsorship of mediators," he said. More: Trump gives Hamas new ultimatum to release hostages or 'it is OVER for you' The Gaza ceasefire deal that took effect in January calls for the remaining hostages to be freed in a second phase, during which final plans would be negotiated for an end to the war. The first phase of the ceasefire ended on Saturday, and Israel has since imposed a total blockade on all goods entering Gaza, demanding that Hamas release remaining hostages without beginning the negotiations to end the war. Palestinians say the blockade could lead to starvation among the 2.3 million people living in Gaza's ruins. Trump made his new threats after a White House meeting on Wednesday with a group of hostages who had been released in the first phase of the ceasefire deal. "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say," he said in his social media post. "Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!" What news about the Middle East means for Americans: Sign up for USA TODAY's Israel-Hamas War newsletter. Fighting in Gaza has been halted since January 19 and Hamas has released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israeli authorities believe fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive. Showing the fragility of the ceasefire, Palestinian health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed one man in eastern Gaza City on Thursday. The Israeli military said several suspects were identified planting a bomb in the ground near where the forces operated and struck them to remove the threat. Israel's assault on the enclave has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. It began after Hamas-led Islamist fighters raided southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage, according to Israeli tallies. TALKING TO HAMAS On Thursday, Gazans criticised Trump's latest remarks, which followed his call last month for Palestinian residents of the tiny coastal enclave to be resettled elsewhere and for the territory to be developed as a "Middle East Riviera". "(Trump's) work (should be) more to spread peace... by exchanging hostages between the two parties, and not to throw around threats, blame and intimidation at the people of the Gaza Strip, who are suffering... as a result of this war," said Ahmed, a resident of Khan Younis in the Palestinian enclave. Egyptian security officials told Reuters on Thursday that Egyptian and Qatari mediators attended talks between the Trump envoy and Hamas. U.S. hostage affairs envoy Adam Boehler has the authority to talk directly with Hamas, the White House said when asked about the discussions. Boehler and Hamas officials met in Doha in recent weeks, two sources briefed on the negotiations said. It was not clear who represented Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Thursday it had nothing to add to a brief statement issued on Wednesday night that said Israel had "expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas". The two Egyptian security officials who spoke to Reuters said Hamas had insisted during the talks on sticking to the original phased ceasefire agreement. Israel wants to prolong the ceasefire, securing the release of hostages but without reaching a final agreement with Hamas on ending the war. Hamas wants to move to the second stage of the ceasefire where the sides would hash out an end to the fighting. Egypt, according to the two Egyptian sources, stressed the need to uphold the ceasefire agreement till the end of the war, saying this would facilitate implementation of a Cairo reconstruction plan for Gaza that Arab leaders endorsed at a summit on Tuesday. The Egyptian sources said talks ended in a positive spirit, indicating the sides may soon move towards negotiating the second phase of the deal. (Additional reporting by Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Mohamed Ezz and Jana ChoukeirEditing by Peter Graff, Gareth Jones and Frances Kerry) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's threats encourage Netanyahu to evade Gaza ceasefire: Hamas Editor's note: The man's cause of death has been released. Click here for the latest update as of Thursday, March 27. The remains of a man who went missing while ice fishing on a Minnesota lake Tuesday evening have been recovered, authorities announced this week. The man, identified as 58-year-old Troy Allen Krenz, went ice fishing around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on Cannon Lake in Faribault, about 50 miles south of Minneapolis, according to the Rice County Sheriffs Office. Krenz didnt make it home, so family and friends began to search for him, the sheriffs office said. Loved ones found a body floating in the lake at 10 a.m. Wednesday and called authorities shortly after, the sheriffs office said in a press release. Agencies including the Faribault Fire Department and Rice County Sheriff's Office arrived and used cold water suits to enter the open water and pull the body out of the water. The Rice County Sheriff's Office described the death as a "drowning incident," but the office noted it is working with the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office to determine his cause of death. The investigation is ongoing. According to the sheriffs office, Rice County was under a blizzard warning from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 3 p.m. Wednesday. Weather officials called for 7 to 9 inches of snow and winds above 40 miles per hour during that period. Calling it "a powerful winter storm," the National Weather Service said there was heavy snow, and as northwest winds strengthened, gusts reached 50 miles per hour. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing ice fisherman found dead at Minn. lake after blizzard warning Lawyers for the man accused of killing four Idaho college students are asking the judge in his capital murder case to ban a key witness from using the phrase "bushy eyebrows" to describe the assailant she saw the night of the bloody attack. That request was included in roughly 100 pages of court filings unsealed Tuesday as preparations continue in advance of the August trial of Bryan Kohberger, who's charged in the November 2022 killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. A roommate of the victims, who lived at the off-campus Moscow, Idaho, home where the killings occurred originally told detectives that the masked male intruder she saw on the night of the killings had a singular physical attribute: "bushy eyebrows." That phrase has rocketed around the world as the headline-grabbing case has moved slowly toward a trial in Boise, Idaho. PHOTO: In this June 27, 2023, file photo, Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for a hearing at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. (August Frank/Pool via Getty Images, FILE) MORE: Judge tells attorneys to stop being so secretive in quadruple murder case Kohberger's defense attorneys argued the superficial description will unfairly point the finger at him and potentially bias the jury. "The description provided by [the roommate] is unreliable and should be excluded," defense lawyer Elisa Massoth wrote. "Although she has never identified Mr. Kohberger, testimony by [the roommate] from the witness stand, describing bushy eyebrows while Mr. Kohberger sits as the accused at trial, will be as damning as her pointing to him and saying, 'he is the man that did this.'" The roommate's varying accounts and self-confessed sleepy intoxication that night make her memory fickle, Kohberger's lawyers have argued. And, they argued, she seemed preoccupied with bushy eyebrows even before her friends were killed. When police photographed the crime scene right after the killings, her room was found to have "many pictures of eyes with prominent eyebrows" on the walls in her room, Kohberger's lawyers said. "Many of which she had drawn. Some of the eyebrows are heavy, voluminous, puffy, or perhaps subjectively bushy," and there was "artwork of human figures with an emphasis upon the eyes and eyebrows were pinned to corkboards," they said. Kohberger's defense attorneys have also asked the judge to bar words like "murder," "psychopath" and "sociopath" during the trial. "To label Mr. Kohberger as a 'murderer,' the alleged weapon consistent with an empty sheath as a 'murder weapon' or to assert that any of the four decedents was 'murdered' by Mr. Kohberger denies his right to a fair trial and the right to be presumed innocent," the defense said. PHOTO: In this Nov. 16, 2022, file photo, flowers were left at the house where four University of Idaho students were found dead, in Moscow, Idaho. (Idaho Statesman/TNS via Getty Images, FILE) MORE: Idaho college killings: Judge denies Bryan Kohberger request to exclude DNA evidence Prosecutors allege that in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, Kohberger broke into an off-campus home and stabbed the four students to death. He was arrested in late December, after a six-week manhunt, at his parents' Pennsylvania home and indicted in May 2023. He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. At his arraignment, he declined to offer a plea, so the judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty. But not if his lawyers get their way. Defense attorneys cite autism in bid to strike death penalty Among the flurry of new filings, the defense also argued his life should not be on the line because he has been diagnosed with autism, and so his impairments in communication, problems with social skills and impulse control mean he is "insufficiently culpable to be executed." His diagnosis however should not be wielded against him, the defense said arguing prosecutors should not be allowed to use it "by criminalizing his status as a disabled person." Even if this does not work to strike the death penalty, his diagnosis could resurface in the sentencing phase if Kohberger is convicted, where his lawyers will likely raise it again as a mitigating factor. This is not the first time his lawyers have attempted to get the death penalty taken off the table. MORE: Idaho college killings: Prosecutors push back against Kohberger requests to exclude key evidence In their argument about his condition now, Kohberger's lawyers shed new light on what has been a heretofore little-known person to the public. "Mr. Kohberger displays extremely rigid thinking, perseverates on specific topics, processes information on a piece-meal basis, struggles to plan ahead, and demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions" and "his tone and cadence are abnormal, his interactions lack fluidity, and his language is often overinclusive, disorganized, highly repetitive, and oddly formal," they argued. He "frequently shifts the topic back to himself even when it is inappropriate. He uses abrupt, matter-of-fact phrases that would be considered rude. He carries on about topics in a circular manner and perseverates about specific, non-essential details," they said, adding his autism is "also accompanied by obsessive-compulsiveness, and an eating disorder. Since childhood, Mr. Kohberger has exhibited compulsions around getting things in his eyes, hand-washing and other germ avoidant behaviors." Idaho college killings: Kohberger lawyers seek to block talk of 'bushy eyebrows' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Jacqueline Ailet Meza was vacationing with friends on the coast of Mexico at the end of February when she vanished. "My daughter disappeared last night on a beach in Huatulco, called Zipolite, Mezas distraught mother reportedly wrote on Facebook on Feb. 28, according to El Pais. They took her and until now we know nothing about my daughter. Meza, who had two young children, ages 5 and 3, "waiting for her, was taken from a food place near the same beach, her mother wrote. Days later, on Sunday, March 2, authorities made a grisly discovery when they found the remains of four women, including one believed to be Meza, and five men from Tlaxcala, in central Mexico, inside a dark gray Volkswagen Vento, El Financiero reported. The abandoned sedan was found on the side of the highway in San Jose Miahuatlan, near the border of the states of Puebla and Oaxaca, on the coast, according to El Financiero. Attorney General of the State of Oaxaca Facebook Angie Lizeth Perez Garcia's Car Authorities are investigating, but have said little about the horrific slayings. Mystery continues to swirl about how these young people ended up dismembered in a car on the side of a highway in Mexico. Heres What To Know: What Exactly Did Authorities Find? The car had four bodies in the trunk, Central Puebla Irreverente reports. On the side of the car was a blood-stained tarp covering five more bodies, per the outlet. Another terrifying discovery: a bag containing eight pairs of hands, according to El Pais. Two more hands were found in the trunk. Removing the bodies took several hours, Central Puebla Irreverente reports. Attorney General of the State of Oaxaca Facebook; Attorney General for Missing Persons from Tlaxcala Facebook Angie Lizeth Perez Garcia; Lesly Noya Trejo Who Were the Victims? At a press conference on Monday, March 3, Idamis Pastor Betancourt, head of the State Attorney General's Office (FGE), declined to name the victims. Two of the bodies were identified from their ID cards, according to Central Puebla Irreverente: Angie Lizeth P.G., 29, who was reported missing from Santa Maria Huatulco in Oaxaca on Feb. 28, and Leslie N.T., 21, reported missing from San Pedro Pochutla in Oaxaca on Feb. 28. Angie Lizeth P.G. was previously identified by the Oaxaca Attorney General as Angie Lizeth Perez Garcia. According to reports received, Angie Lizeth Perez Garcia and Brenda Mariel Salas Moya were last seen on February 27, 2025, in Santa Maria Huatulco, the Oaxaca AG said in a Facebook post. They were traveling aboard a 2016 Ford Fiesta vehicle, with Yucatan State license plates. Moya was later found alive in Puebla, according to the post, which did not include any more details about her. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Raul Emmanuel Gonzalez Lozano and Noemi Yamileth Lopez Moratilla, both 28, were last seen on February 28 at Zipolite Beach, in San Pedro Pochutla, according to the Oaxaca AG. Others reported missing are identified as Ruben Antonio N., and Rolando Armando N, per Central Puebla Irreverente. What Happened to These Young People? The circumstances surrounding the grisly discovery remain mysterious. The Volkswagen was captured on CCTV footage on Feb. 24, driving along the Atlixcayotl highway near the town of Atlixco, approximately 90 miles west of where the remains were found, per Central Puebla Irreverente. Bullet holes and visible signs of torture were found on the bodies, according to local media. What are authorities doing? Local authorities continue to investigate. They have not discussed motive. No suspects have been arrested. At the press conference on Monday, Betancourt said, "All relevant investigations are being carried out. When we have a response and the investigation is complete, we will be in a position to provide more information. In an update on Thursday, March 6, the Oaxaca Prosecutor Generals Office wrote on Facebook, that it is investigating the potential involvement of local police in the missing persons case. The shocking crime has only increased concerns for tourists' safety in Mexico. Mexicos national guard did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Read the original article on People Amy Coney Barrett is nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Donald Trump at the White House in 2020. WASHINGTON MAGA activists have turned against one of President Donald Trump's own appointees to the Supreme Court: Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Appointed by Trump in 2020, Barrett is a staunch conservative who has joined major rulings in which the court has moved U.S. law to the right, including on abortion and affirmative action. But that's not enough for some of Trump's most aggressive supporters, who think the former Notre Dame Law School professor has been a disappointment. MAGA supporters see what some call an independent streak as a sign she isn't sufficiently aligned with or loyal to Trump. "She is a rattled law professor with her head up her a--," said Mike Davis, who once clerked at the Supreme Court for Justice Neil Gorsuch and described Barrett as "weak and timid." Barrett defenders have dismissed the attacks, scoffing at the idea that the justices conservatism is defined by how her decisions align with Trump and insisting Barrett wont be affected by outside criticism. Barrett, reached via the Supreme Court, did not respond to a request for comment. The anger from Davis and other right-wing personalities with large online followings stems mostly from a couple of recent high-profile, 5-4 decisions in which Barrett has been the deciding vote against Trump's side. Swift and vicious reviews poured in from right-wing, Trump-allied figures this week when Barrett and other justices rejected a Trump administration attempt to avoid paying U.S. Agency for International Development contractors as ordered to by a federal judge. "DEI judge," influencer Jack Posobiec posted on X, suggesting that Barrett was a "diversity, equity and inclusion" hire, presumably because she is a woman. Trump at the time promised to pick a woman to replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "Amy Coney Barrett was a DEI appointee," another far-right influencer, Laura Loomer, wrote. Her X post featured a photo of Barrett's family. Barrett and her husband have seven children, including two they adopted from Haiti, who are Black. Even Barrett's brief interaction with Trump earlier this week, when he delivered an address to Congress, has been scrutinized by the online MAGA set. "Look at how Justice Amy Coney Barrett looks at our duly elected President, the man who put her on the Supreme Court. She looks very bitter," Rogan O'Handley, an influential MAGA figure on X known by his handle DC_Draino, wrote in a post containing a video of the encounter. Photo Composition: Posts about Amy Coney Barrett on X (NBC News; X) One law professor, Josh Blackman at South Texas College of Law Houston, suggested that Barrett should step down from her lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court so that Trump can pick a replacement. The White House did not respond to a message seeking comment. Barrett defenders have fought back, with Derek Muller, a Notre Dame law professor who studied under Barrett, saying in an interview he doubted she would be affected by the negative reactions. "She has the resolve to be on the court just like the other justices do," he said. The justices know that "unpopularity is not a measure of what a judge is doing," he added. The conservative National Review also weighed in, posting a column Thursday titled In Defense of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, deriding the criticism as nonsense. Barrett's USAID vote followed a decision in January when the court, once again split 5-4, rejected Trump's request to block a sentencing hearing in his criminal hush money case in New York. The decision prompted angry reactions from pro-Trump voices including Davis. In both cases, Barrett joined fellow conservative Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority, aligned with the three liberal justices. Even before those cases, Barrett has increasingly shown a willingness to separate herself from the right flank of the court with a considered and cautious approach. What the online critics fail to address is that Barrett has consistently cast key votes in favor of conservative causes, including when the court overturned abortion rights landmark Roe v. Wade, ended affirmative action, expanded gun rights and undermined the power of federal agencies. "It seems to me there is this impulse where personal loyalty to Donald Trump in an unquestioned way is seen as a requirement for a sitting justice on the Supreme Court. It doesnt matter how conservative that person might be," said Anthony Kreis, a professor at Georgia State University College of Law. The harsh criticism of Barrett comes amid a stream of similar and sometimes more violent rhetoric aimed at judges who have stymied Trump's agenda. Roberts recently warned that threats of violence and intimidation against judges have been increasing in recent years. Barrett has spoken previously about how her appointment to the Supreme Court and the security concerns that go with it has affected her and her family. Like all justices, she has protection not just at the court but also at her home in Virginia. At a judicial conference last year, she recalled one of her sons asking her why she owned a bulletproof vest. Security of the justices was in the spotlight three years ago following the leak of an early draft of the abortion ruling. Then, it was activists on the left who were angered by the decision. An armed man was arrested outside the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and charged with attempted murder. Protesters also gathered outside several justices' homes, including Barrett's. "After the attempted assassination of Justice Kavanaugh, we need to be vigilant about potential threats," Blackman said in an email. But he stood by his criticism of Barrett, saying that some conservatives feel like they were misled about what kind of justice she would be. "I think conservatives feel like there was a bait and switch," he added. Lindsey Boylan, who helped drive Andrew Cuomo from office in 2021 when she came forward as the first woman to accuse the former governor of sexual harassment, speaks during an interview in New York, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) NEW YORK (AP) Lindsey Boylan helped drive Andrew Cuomo from office in 2021 when the former aide came forward as the first woman to accuse the governor of sexual harassment. At the time she had allies in high places: Every New York Democrat in Congress, the state's legislative leaders and then-President Joe Biden all condemned Cuomo's behavior and said he should resign. But now that Cuomo is back as a serious contender in the race to be mayor of New York City, many of those top Democrats have little to say about his candidacy. To Boylan, that feels like a betrayal one that can't simply be explained away as an easing of #MeToo outrage. If anything has changed, momentarily, its that across our country, across issues, people who should be speaking up, arent," Boylan, who served in the Cuomo administration for three years, said in an interview with The Associated Press. I dont think anything has specifically changed with women being angry about how our rights are being taken away," she said. "But the fact that most of our leaders are more interested in staying comfortable and staying in their jobs than actually protecting us and defending us. Thats gotten much worse. Cuomo resigned in 2021 after a report released by the state attorney general concluded that he had sexually harassed 11 women, including Boylan. Now, Cuomo is a frontrunner in the mayoral race, even as state and party leaders, while not warm to his candidacy, havent condemned it either. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who as Cuomos lieutenant governor had called his alleged behavior with women repulsive and unlawful, said Tuesday she stood by those comments. But, she added, she had to deal in the reality today." I have to go forward in light of where we are today and deal with whatever the voters decide to deal with, she said, adding that she would work with Cuomo if he was elected. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said on the NY1 television station that Cuomo made mistakes, but was also a talented executive who did good things as governor. It was up to New York City voters whether he deserved a second chance, she said, declining to give her own opinion on his candidacy. U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said last week that he would not endorse a candidate until after the citys June primary. The office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, declined to comment. Cuomo comeback linked to disorder in New York City Hall That Cuomo is a credible candidate is likely due to a mix of factors, experts said. These include the former governor's aggressive effort to discredit his accusers and his deep record of accomplishments as governor, as well as a field of mayoral candidates with little name recognition and an ongoing sense of disorder at City Hall. Mayor Eric Adams, the incumbent, was indicted in September on federal corruption charges and is now dealing with a tempest of criticism after President Donald Trumps newly installed Justice Department leaders asked a court to drop the case so Adams could assist with the federal governments immigration crackdown. In a statement, a Cuomo spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, said multiple prosecutors have dug into the allegations the former governor sexually harassed women and none have sought to pursue the cases. He accused Boylan of making false accusations during a failed run for a local political office in 2020, and accused her of bullying behavior Three years, five district attorney reviews that resulted in zero cases and civil cases that were either dropped or are dying on the vine, Azzopardi said, calling that a clarifying dose of due process. New York City "is in crisis and everybody knows that Andrew Cuomo has the experience, the record and the skill to help save it," he added. Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University, said the current mayor's legal and political troubles help place Cuomo at the front of the pack of candidates. New York is in such a state of chaos and the government needs someone to come in and take charge and run the show. He is well-matched for that moment," he said. Not to Boylan, though, who joined a demonstration outside a Cuomo campaign fundraising event on Tuesday. His path to victory is to destroy the women he abused, she told the AP. Ill do everything within my power and my sense of ethics to make sure it doesnt happen. Boylan, who said she was subjected to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments from Cuomo, was disappointed but not surprised that other Democrats in New York had not spoken out more forcefully. The most powerful people in New York politics are afraid of him," she said. Other female ex-aides described fielding kisses sometimes on the lips and sexually charged questions and remarks from him about their personal lives and appearance. A staffer at a state-related agency said he groped her rear while they posed for a photo. A state Health Department doctor was affronted by his comments, such as you make that gown look good, while she gave him a COVID-19 test at a news conference. Another woman described Cuomo planting an unwanted kiss on her face when she met him at a wedding. One aide, Brittany Commisso, filed a criminal complaint accusing Cuomo of groping her breast while they were alone in an office at the governor's mansion, but a local district attorney declined to prosecute, citing lack of sufficient evidence. Cuomo apologized for having offended the women with remarks he said were intended to be collegial, and allowed that he sometimes had been too familiar with people. But he denied touching anyone inappropriately and said the investigation of his conduct was flawed and politically motivated. Attorney General Letitia James, the Democrat who commissioned the sexual harassment investigation, herself briefly ran for governor in 2021 after Cuomo resigned, but dropped out after two months. Trump helps reshape idea of what is acceptable Cuomo's lawyers and representatives have since fought to vindicate him amid multiple lawsuits from his accusers. Cuomo even has indicated he plans to file a defamation suit against one of the women, former aide Charlotte Bennett. Despite the accusations, Cuomo has lined up some endorsements from women in politics. City Council Member Kamillah Hanks, a Staten Island Democrat, said in her statement endorsing Cuomo that the unprecedented times called for a strong, unapologetic leader. Trump, who has himself been accused of sexual misconduct and was found liable in 2023 by a New York City jury for sexual abuse, charges he denied, has also reshaped the idea of what is acceptable conduct for public officials, said Leigh Gilmore, a professor emeritus at Ohio State University and author of The #MeToo Effect: What Happens When We Believe Women. The political winds have shifted with Trump being in office, where its not agreed anymore that those are disqualifying allegations, she said. What Cuomo is betting on is that New York City will say, We need a strong man, she said. ___ Associated Press reporter Jennifer Peltz contributed. Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection Megan Fox and Bruce Willis in 'Midnight in the Switchgrass' (2021). The 2021 film Midnight in the Switchgrass stars Megan Fox and Bruce Willis as FBI agents working an operation to catch murderers who use highways and truck stops to find their victims. When their investigation crosses paths with a sadistic serial killer in Florida, they must race against the clock to find him before its too late. Though it's not based on a true story, the murders committed by fictional truck driver Peter Hillborough (Lukas Haas) were inspired by real events. Emile Hirsch, who plays Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent Byron Crawford in Midnight in the Switchgrass, told AMFM Magazine that screenwriter Alan Horsnail purposely never named the real-life cases he based the movie on. But, theyre eerily similar to those associated with Texas truck stop killer, Robert Benjamin Rhoades. The Houston-born truck driver has only ever been convicted for three murders since his arrest in 1990. But the FBI believes that at one point, Rhoades was kidnapping, torturing, raping and killing anywhere from one to three women every month, per GQ. When he was caught, the convicted killer reportedly told police that he had been doing this for 15 years. Although Rhoades' case is very similar to the plot of Midnight in the Switchgrass, which is now streaming on Netflix, another broader initiative by the FBI to solve killings on American highways also inspired the movie. Heres everything to know about the inspiration behind Midnight in the Switchgrass and the real-life serial killer whose crimes match those depicted in the film. Warning: Midnight in the Switchgrass spoilers ahead! What is Midnight in the Switchgrass about? Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection Megan Fox in 'Midnight in the Switchgrass' (2021). Midnight in the Switchgrass is a crime thriller that follows FBI agents Rebecca Lombardo (Fox) and Karl Helter (Willis), who get pulled into an investigation involving a string of missing and murdered women from a small Florida town. Even though his bosses arent convinced, local cop Crawford (Hirsch) believes it to be the work of a serial killer. After Helter quits the case because of Lombardos risky investigative methods, she teams up with Crawford to find the killer who most recently kidnapped a teenager named Tracey Lee (Caitlin Carmichael). The stakes get even higher when Lombardo who often goes undercover to nab her targets gets abducted by the killer, revealed to be a trucker named Peter Hillborough (Haas). While filming the movie, Fox met her future partner MGK, who acted as a pimp named Calvin. The musician said on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2021 that he only took the role to meet Fox. How did Midnight in the Switchgrass end? Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection Emile Hirsch in 'Midnight in the Switchgrass' (2021). After being drugged by Hillborough, Lombardo finds herself chained in his shed with Lee, who she helps escape. When the serial killer returns, he interrogates and tries to hang the FBI agent but fails to see her concealed knife, which she uses to stab him while shes choking. Crawford finally pieces together the killers identity and, thanks to a helpful tip from Hillboroughs daughter who saw Lee running through their backyard, finds Lombardo in the shed. She later wakes up in the hospital where Helter praises her for her bravery. Is Midnight in the Switchgrass based on a true story? Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection Sistine Rose Stallone in 'Midnight in the Switchgrass' (2021). Hirsch told AMFM Magazine that while the movies screenwriter, Horsnail, intentionally chose not to name a specific case as inspiration for Midnight in the Switchgrass, he did pull from two or three real-life serial killers. [Horsnail] never actually named the real-life cases that he based it off of, Hirsch told the outlet. He wanted to take from the real events but still make his own separate narrative. Which I think was smart because as soon as you do something that is totally a true story then theres a certain pressure to get it right or to stay accurate. The film's log-line, of being "based on the true story of Texas' most dangerous serial killer," may point to the influence of Robert Benjamin Rhoades, though, who was known as Texas' truck stop killer. Who is Robert Benjamin Rhoades? Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle via Getty View of Interstate 10 in Houston, Texas. Robert Benjamin Rhoades is a convicted murderer known as the truck stop killer. He was arrested in April 1990 after an Arizona state trooper noticed that his tractor-trailer had a blinking light. The officer found Rhoades inside the cab with a woman chained to a wall, and he was charged with aggravated assault, sexual assault and unlawful imprisonment, per The Telegraph. After his arrest, investigators linked Rhoades to three murders. In February 1990, he kidnapped 14-year-old Regina Walters in Illinois, who was hitchhiking to Mexico with her 18-year-old boyfriend, Ricky Lee Jones. Her body was discovered after Rhoades was in custody, and he was sentenced to life in prison for her murder. It is unclear what happened to Jones but investigators said in 1992 that the remains of a man who had been shot in the head may have been Walters' boyfriend, per The Marshall News Messenger. In 2012, the killer pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder in Texas for the 1990 slayings of Douglas Scott Zyskowski and Patricia Walsh, who were hitchhiking from Seattle to Georgia, per ABC News. Both of their bodies werent identified until years later. How many people did Robert Benjamin Rhoades kill? Though Rhoades was only convicted of three murders, authorities believe hes responsible for more. Vanessa Veselka wrote about Rhoades for GQ in 2012 and claimed she had almost been abducted by the killer after she accepted a ride from him in 1985. She wrote that he must have seemed okay or she wouldnt have gotten into the truck but once she did, he changed. He stopped responding to my questions, Veselka wrote. His bearing shifted. He grew taller in his seat, and his face muscles relaxed into something both arrogant and blank. She continued, A few minutes later, he pulled the truck onto the shoulder of the road by some woods, took out a hunting knife, and told me to get into the back of the cab ... Then he said one word: Run. Without looking back, I ran into the woods and hid. I stayed there until I saw the truck pull onto the interstate. Veselka said that she never went to the police and didnt tell anyone about her encounter with Rhoades for years. What is the Highway Serial Killings Initiative? Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection Caitlin Carmichael in 'Midnight in the Switchgrass' (2021). In 2021, Midnight in the Switchgrass actress Carmichael told ComingSoon that the FBI's Highway Serial Killings Initiative was the framework for the movie. The government organization launched the initiative in 2009 after noticing a pattern of women being murdered and dumped along the Interstate 40 corridor in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. I was really interested in reading about the actual highway serial killings initiative started by the FBI and seeing the frameworks that our story was based upon, Carmichael told the outlet. It gave me definitely a new perspective on the research and prep for this role, as opposed to just researching similar kidnappings or abductions for my character. In his 2024 book Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers, former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi claimed that of the 850 murders that have happened on highways in the U.S. since 1980, around 200 of them are still unsolved. Read the original article on People Seabrook NH Police Department/Facebook John Giarrusso III A Seabrook, N.H., police officer is facing child sexual abuse charges for allegedly possessing and distributing explicit sexual content involving children. Officer John Giarrusso III, 48, who lives in Haverhill, Mass., was arrested on Monday. He allegedly uploaded graphic videos and sent explicit text messages through the Kik app discussing sex abuse with children as young as seven, according to WMUR, which cited the Seabrook police's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Hes also accused of sending messages to Kik users who said they were underage, and he allegedly claimed he was known as Officer Sexy to the girls in town," according to the task force. Seabrook NH Police Department/Facebook John Giarrusso Giarrusso allegedly took part in explicit conversations on Kik about arranging to have sex with [other Kik users] wives, young daughters and stepdaughters,according to a criminal complaint viewed by WCVB. Some of the videos the officer is accused of uploading to the app allegedly portray young children being raped by adult perpetrators, WCVB reports. Giarrusso is charged with felony counts of possession of child pornography, as well as distributing material of a child in the nude and disseminating obscene matter to a minor, per Boston.com. In his role as a police officer, the ICAC investigation allegedly found that Giarrusso had participated in fundraising for treatment programs for sexually abused children, according to reports. On Monday, the officer pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has since been placed on administrative leave from his job in Seabrook. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In a statement, the Seabrook police department wrote, While the Seabrook Police Department adheres to the principle that those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty, given the nature of the accused crimes, the Department immediately placed Ofc. Giarrusso on administrative leave. The department stated that it would not comment further at this time and noted that allegations of criminal conduct against a law enforcement officer are taken seriously and will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately. Giarrusso was released from jail after posting bail and is slated to return to court next month. PEOPLE was unable to reach his attorney for comment. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. Read the original article on People By Che Pan and Brenda Goh BEIJING (Reuters) - Alibaba Group's release of an artificial intelligence (AI) reasoning model, which it said was on par with global hit DeepSeek's R1, drove its Hong Kong-listed shares more than 8% higher on Thursday. In a post on X, the e-commerce leader's AI unit said its QwQ-32B, with 32 billion parameters, can achieve performance comparable to DeepSeek's R1 model that has 671 billion parameters. As the world races to adopt AI models, the Chinese government on Wednesday pledged increased support for industries including artificial intelligence, humanoid robots and 6G telecom. Alibaba said its new model is accessible via its chatbot service, Qwen Chat, for which users can choose various Qwen models including Qwen2.5-Max, the most powerful language model in the Qwen series. The QwQ-32B demonstrated capabilities in mathematical reasoning, coding and general problem-solving in benchmark tests, performing close to top models such as OpenAI's o1 mini and DeepSeek's R1, Alibaba said further. DeepSeek has emerged as the poster child of China's AI prowess, rivaling top models from OpenAI for a small fraction of their cost with less powerful computing. Another AI release that attracted significant attention on Thursday was the release of an AI agent called Manus by Chinese startup Monica, which said it beat ChatGPT maker OpenAI's Deep Research on a benchmark for AI assistants. An AI agent is a more advanced version of a chatbot and according to use cases listed on its website, Manus can help users to make a travel plan to Japan, or conduct a comparative analysis of insurance policies. The AI agent is for now by invitation only. A video released by the Chinese startup on X late on Wednesday demonstrating how it worked received over 280,000 views by Thursday, with many users asking for invites. (Reporting by Che Pan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Barbara Lewis) Steve Woods | Unsplash (The Center Square) New Hampshire would join other states in sharing mental health information about potential gun buyers under a bipartisan proposal moving through the legislative process, but the move faces opposition from Second Amendment groups. The legislation, which was approved by the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, would require New Hampshire to begin sharing mental health data about potential gun buyers with the National Instant Criminal Background System, which is overseen by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The bipartisan bill was filed in response to the shooting death of Bradley Haas, a security guard at the New Hampshire Hospital, who was killed by a man with a history of mental health issues who had been allowed to purchase a firearm despite being deemed by a judge to be a threat to himself and others. Rep. Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, the bill's primary sponsor in the House, said the legislation has been "carefully crafted" to respect the constitutional rights of gun owners while ensuring that people struggling with mental health issues can't access firearms. New Hampshire is one of a handful of states that doesn't report information about mental health commitments to the FBIs background check system. Gun dealers use NICS to check whether buyers are legally allowed to possess firearms. Federal law prohibits anyone whos been "committed to a mental institution" from possessing a firearm. But the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition said the "well-intentioned" bill would authorize "gun confiscation without crime, uses confidential mental health data in troubling ways, and chips away at fundamental due process protections. The coalition said the bill "goes far beyond background checks" and would set a "dangerous precedent that threatens Second Amendment freedoms in New Hampshire." "Gun rights advocates recognize HB 159 for what it is: part of a larger government overreach into our private lives and constitutional rights," the coalition said in a statement. "Yes, mental illness is a serious issue but handing over lists of New Hampshire citizens who sought psychiatric care to the federal government is not the solution." A similar bill passed the Republican-controlled House with bipartisan support last year before it was rejected by the GOP-led Senate. Roy and other backers of the plan refiled the bill for consideration in the new legislative session after stripping the bill of provisions that were criticized by other Republicans as gun confiscation" requirements. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who was sworn into office in January, has said she would support sending mental health records to the national database if there are adequate due-process protections. STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -NATO's newest member Sweden plans to contribute up to eight Jas Gripen fighter jets to the defence alliance's air policing in Poland, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said on Thursday. Stenergard said a day before the one-year anniversary of Sweden's accession that its government proposes to participate in NATO air policing, and the protection of logistics operations for support to Ukraine, in Poland. "We propose that Sweden contribute a maximum of eight JAS Gripen with associated personnel, including combat command and support units," she told a press conference. "In addition, the government proposes that Sweden contribute air and maritime surveillance capabilities and airborne transport capabilities," she added. It would be the first time Sweden contributes fighter jets to NATO operations stationed in a country other than Sweden. Sweden joined NATO on March 7, 2024 as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by Simon Johnson, Anna Ringstrom, editing by Louise Rasmussen) By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -Switzerland has cancelled a conference on the application of the Geneva Conventions to the occupied Palestinian territories for want of participants, its Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed on Thursday, after some countries expressed dissatisfaction. The country had invited 196 parties to the conventions to participate in the March 7 conference in Geneva on the situation of civilians living in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, but then told them the gathering had been cancelled, four diplomatic sources told Reuters earlier. "In the absence of a consensus between the High Contracting Parties, (Switzerland), as depositary State, decided not to convene the meeting," Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Nicolas Bideau said on X. The conference was set to address the Fourth Geneva Convention, part of a series of international treaties agreed in 1949 after World War Two, which defines humanitarian protections for civilians living in areas of armed conflict or occupation. The cancellation amounted to a diplomatic blow for neutral Switzerland, which prides itself on conflict mediation and frequently hosts summits and peace talks. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, told Reuters earlier that his delegation did not plan to attend the event, criticising a draft declaration circulated among participants. "We want the international community to take concrete measures and this fell short of expectations," he told Reuters, saying such measures could include economic or diplomatic steps against Israel. "What we want is for the Geneva Conventions to be implemented." A member of The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said that the group had also planned to miss the event, saying the document "did not reflect the gravity of the situation". Israel, whose war with Palestinian militant group Hamas has devastated Gaza, and which has been expanding settlements in the West Bank, stirring fears of annexation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It also criticised the Swiss conference, calling it "part of the legal warfare against Israel". Britain felt that, along with many other states, it could not fully support a proposed declaration as a precondition for attending the conference, according to a statement from its diplomatic mission. Diplomats from other Western states that back Israel also privately expressed concerns about the meeting, although at least some European countries were planning to attend. (Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Toby Chopra and Mark Heinrich) By Lisa Baertlein and Andrea Shalal LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. plans to levy fees on imports arriving on Chinese-made ships and offer tax credits to resuscitate domestic shipbuilding and reduce China's grip on the $150 billion global ocean shipping industry, a White House document seen by Reuters shows. President Donald Trump is drafting an executive order that would also establish a Maritime Security Trust Fund as a dedicated funding source and create shipbuilding incentives through the use of tax credits, grants and loans, according to a draft fact sheet of the 18-point plan. "The White House is standing up an office at the National Security Council to lead a whole-of-government effort to strengthen the maritime industrial base," the document said, following Trump's announcement of the plans during an address to Congress on Tuesday. The Republican president's initiative won rare praise from Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to former President Joe Biden, who said decades of unfair trade practices by China had negatively affected U.S. commercial and military shipbuilding. "American shipbuilding is critical to protecting our national and economic security. Now is the time to act to address the impact of Chinas policies and to replenish American maritime capacity and power," Sullivan told Reuters. Republican and Democratic U.S. lawmakers for years have warned about China's growing dominance on the seas and diminishing U.S. naval readiness. The pending executive order appears to be influenced by existing proposals, including legislation with bipartisan backing. Trump's initiative comes two months after the Biden administration concluded a nearly year-long probe requested by the United Steelworkers and other unions, which found that China uses unfair policies and practices to dominate the sector. Michael Wessel, president of the Wessel Group, who helped coordinate that investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, said Trump's announcement was an encouraging step forward after years of efforts by unions to revitalize the industry. "We can still be the industrial leaders of the world but only if we act," he said, adding that a range of tools was needed, including investments, tax credits and efforts to strengthen both supply chains and the workforce. Mike Waltz, Trump's national security adviser and a former House Republican from Florida, last year introduced a bill with Democratic Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona to reinvigorate commercial and military shipbuilding in the United States. The U.S. Trade Representative's office last month proposed charging up to $1.5 million for Chinese-built vessels entering U.S. ports as part of its probe of China's growing domination of the global shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors. Trump on Tuesday hailed an unrelated deal led by U.S. firm BlackRock to buy most of the $22.8 billion ports business of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison. The deal will give the U.S. consortium control of key Panama Canal ports amid White House calls to remove them from what it says is Chinese ownership. "My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it," Trump told the U.S. Congress. That BlackRock announcement followed last month's reintroduction of bipartisan legislation that would require the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy to monitor China's efforts to build, buy, or own strategic ports. Other measures in the draft document would direct Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to review government procurement processes, including at the U.S. Navy, increase wages for nuclear shipyard workers and develop a security strategy for the Arctic. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Alistair Bell and Jamie Freed) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States imposed sanctions on Wednesday on seven senior members of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, the Treasury Department said. The individuals smuggled military-grade items and weapon systems into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and negotiated buying weapons from Russia, Treasury said in a statement. Treasury also designated Abdulwali Abdoh Hasan Al-Jabri and his company Al-Jabri General Trading and Investment Co for recruiting Yemenis to fight in Ukraine on behalf of Russia and raised money to support Houthi military operations, it said. "The U.S. government is committed to holding the Houthis accountable for acquiring weapons and weapons components from suppliers in Russia, China, and Iran to threaten Red Sea security," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. On Tuesday, the State Department said it was implementing the designation of the Houthi movement as a "foreign terrorist organization" after President Donald Trump called for the move earlier this year. The move, however, triggered concerns it could impact regional security and worsen Yemen's humanitarian crisis because importers fear being hit with U.S. sanctions if supplies fall into Houthi hands. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Susan Heavey) The parents of two of three deceased Kansas City Chiefs fans, whose bodies were found frozen in a friends backyard, expressed mixed feelings following the arrests of two men charged with manslaughter on Wednesday. Ricky Johnson Jr., 38, David Harrington, 37, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, were found dead in their pal Jordan Willis backyard on Jan. 9, 2024. Harringtons mom, Theresa, claimed shes been kept out of the loop in the 14 months since the trios bodies were discovered. David Harrington with his father, Jon Harrington. Facebook / Theresa Harrington They wouldnt tell me anything, she told the Daily Mail. She said Kansas police officials continuously stated they werent investigating the deaths as homicides. [The statements] made it easy to think they had already made up their mind and there wouldnt be any further investigation, Harrington added, saying she pushed away any hope for criminal charges. On Wednesday, Platte County prosecutors charged Willis and another man, Ivory Carson, each with three counts of manslaughter and two counts of delivering a controlled substance. Johnsons father, Rick, has since vowed to attend each hearing involving Willis and Carson. I am happy with the Platte County Prosecutors Office and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department for filling charges, he told Fox 4 Kansas City. Its been a long time. And Ill be at every court date. David Harrington, Claytoon McGeeney and Ricky Johnson were found dead at Jordan Willis home on Jan. 9, 2024. Ricky Johnson / Facebook David Harringtons parents, Theresa and Jon. Facebook / Theresa Harrington The trios bodies were found on Willis property by McGenneys fiancee two days after they gathered to watch the Chiefs final regular season game. They died from a deadly cocktail of fentanyl and cocaine, Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd revealed during a press conference streamed on KMBC. Willis, an HIV researcher, claims he went to bed in the early hours of Jan. 8 and didnt know the three men were outside. He also claimed he didnt hear the relatives of the men knocking on his door before their bodies were discovered because he was wearing headphones. Police recovered two bags of drugs, one containing cocaine, the other fentanyl. DNA samples from the bag of cocaine were mostly from Willis, while Carsons DNA was found all over the bag of fentanyl, Zahnd said Wednesday. Police say they found texts on Willis phone alleging Carson supplied David Harrington with cocaine. Carson later admitted selling cocaine to the trio. Jordan maintains that he is not responsible for purchasing or supplying the drugs that led to the deaths of his three friends, Willis attorney John Picerno told the Kansas City Star after the arrest. We are very much looking forward to the day a jury gets to hear all of the evidence in this case. Jordan Willis was charged with involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance. Platte County Sheriff's Office Ivory Carson and Willis were booked into Platte County Jail Wednesday and held on $100,000 bonds. Platte County Sheriff's Office The arrests did little to clear any speculation surrounding the deaths. [I] still dont know anything about how my son died or his last moments, Harrington said. The grieving mother isnt convinced any outcome in the mystery will come soon, claiming the trial wont start for more than a year. Police say they found texts on Willis phone alleging Carson supplied David Harrington with cocaine. Family Handout Theresa Harrington had acknowledged her sons drug use but believed he didnt do it to harm himself. He didnt take that to die, she in February 2024. If he took the drugs on his own, he took them to get high. It just means that theres more to the story, theres more to it than just that. Harrington assured her son wasnt a drug addict and pointed blame at peer pressure. Police recovered two bags of drugs from Willis house, one containing cocaine, the other fentanyl. LP Media Willis and Carson are being held at the Platte County Jail on $100,000 bonds each. No court hearings were scheduled for the two men following their arrest Wednesday afternoon. The security scare that led to a diverted flight in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday was a threatening handwritten note that turned out to be a hoax by two young children, the FBI said. Sun Country Airlines Flight 593, with 156 passengers on board, was headed from Minneapolis to Mazatlan, Mexico, when it was diverted Wednesday evening to El Paso International Airport in response to a "security threat," the low-cost airline said in an initial statement about the matter. The handwritten note -- which read "You Are All Going to Die, Help Me" -- was reported by other passengers to the flight crew, according to the FBI. "During interviews, it was uncovered the threat was a hoax initiated by two young children on the flight," the FBI said in a statement. PHOTO: Luggage from the diverted flight is seen on the tarmac at El Paso International Airport on March 5, 2025. (Courtesy Bethany Jacob) The exact age of the children was not provided. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas declined to prosecute the matter, the FBI said. It's unclear where exactly the note was written. MORE: Couple arrested for trying to board American Airlines flight without authorization After the plane safely landed in El Paso, passengers, photos provided by a passenger on the flight showed luggage being removed from the plane and spread out on the tarmac. "Each threat of violence is taken seriously as your safety is paramount," said John Morales, FBI El Paso special agent in charge, in a statement. Security scare that led to diverted flight was hoax by 2 young children: FBI originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance broke down Friday, March 3, over disagreement on next steps for the Russia-Ukraine war. The White House | YouTube (The Center Square) The White House on Thursday denied a Reuters report that President Donald Trump is planning to revoke the legal immigration status of nearly a quarter million Ukrainians who fled to the U.S. since Russia invaded. Reuters reported that a top administration official and other unnamed sources informed them of the plan to revoke their immigration status by April. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted the report as "fake news" Thursday morning. "This is more fake news from Reuters based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about," Leavitt said on X. "The truth: no decision has been made at this time." The Reuters report comes after a meeting between Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week devolved into a public spat that derailed a mineral rights deal and soured the U.S. relationship with Ukraine. However, Reuters reported that the revocation was planned before that meeting. Trump has now said Zelenskyy does not want peace and that he was canceling U.S. aid to the country and sharing intel. Zelenskyy then publicly expressed his gratitude for Trump and said he was willing to sign the mineral rights deal. The White House has argued that Zelenskyy is not interested in signing a ceasefire with Russian President Vladamir Putin and is using U.S. support to prolong the war. Zelenskyy seemed to bolster those claims when he said in a speech over the weekend that peace with Russia was very, very far away. This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer! Trump said on social media in response to Zelenskyys remarks. It is what I was saying, this guy doesnt want there to be Peace as long as he has Americas backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking? Zelenskyy met with Ukrainians in Washington, D.C. during his visit to the U.S. It is crucial for us that Ukraine's voice continues to be heard and that no one forgets about it both during the war and after, Zelenskyy wrote on X. Now those Ukrainians in the U.S. capitol could potentially face deportation, according to Reuters. People in Ukraine must know that they are not alone, and that their interests are represented in every country, in every corner of the world, Zelenskyy added. Roy Ayers, the legendary jazz vibraphonist known for his hit Everybody Loves the Sunshine and sampled by countless artists, died at the age of 84. In a statement shared with Variety, the Ayers family said that he died yesterday after suffering from a long illness. It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on March 4, 2025 in New York City after a long illness, they said, describing him as highly influential and sought after as a music collaborator. Throughout his career, Ayers established himself as a pioneer of jazz-funk and was largely influential on the neo-soul movement. As a solo artist, he released dozens of albums over the years, dating as far back as 1963, and scored his biggest hit Everybody Loves the Sunshine with his group Roy Ayers Ubiquity. The musicians songs have been sampled by everyone from Mary J. Blige and Common to Tyler, the Creator and Kanye West, and he collaborated with musicians including the Roots, Guru, Fela Kuti and Rick James. Ayers was born in Los Angeles in 1940 and grew up in a musical household. He was inspired to take up the vibraphone after seeing Lionel Hamptons Big Band at the age of five, and took piano lessons and sang in the church choir. At 17, he was gifted his first vibraphone and attended Los Angeles City College to study advanced music theory. He made his recording debut with saxophonist Curtis Amy in the early 1960s, and signed his first contract with United Artists to release his debut album West Coast Vibes in 1963. He teamed with jazz flutist Herbie Mann to record three albums for Atlantic Records Virgo Vibes, Stoned Soul Picnic and Daddy Bug before partnering with Polydor, where he continued to release music. In 1973, he wrote and produced the soundtrack for the blaxploitation film Coffy starring Pam Grier. During this era, he formed Roy Ayers Ubiquity and scored his biggest hit with Everybody Loves the Sunshine, the title track from their 1976 album. To date, that song has more than 130 million Spotify streams, and has been covered by a range of artists including DAngelo, Jamie Cullum and Robert Glasper. In the decades that followed, he released records and formed two labels, Uno Melodic and Gold Mink Records. His last solo album Mahogany Vibe, came out in 2004, and featured guest appearances from Betty Wright, Kamilah and Erykah Badu. In 2015, he made a guest appearance on Tyler, the Creators track Find Your Wings and two years later performed at the rappers Camp Flog Gnaw festival. He teamed with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad for Roy Ayers JID002, a collaborative album released through Jazz Is Dead in 2020. Part of his enduring legacy can be credited to the significant influence he had on hip-hop and R&B musicians. His solo songs and records he produced were sampled for decades, adding a warm, mellifluous tone to tracks including Mary J. Bliges My Life, A Tribe Called Quests Bonita Applebaum and Junior M.A.F.I.A.s Get Money. Ayers is survived by his wife Argerie, and their children Mtume and Ayana Ayers. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A Russian drone strike on a shipping facility here killed one civilian worker early Thursday, just 18 miles from where Ukrainian forces continue to hold territory in the Kremlin's Kursk region. SUMY, Ukraine A Russian drone strike on a shipping facility here killed one civilian worker early Thursday, just 18 miles from where Ukrainian forces continue to hold territory in the Kremlins Kursk region despite the US pausing military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. It was the second attack by an Iranian-made Shahed drone against civilian infrastructure in Sumy after Russia hit a childrens hospital near the towns center early Tuesday, local authorities told The Post. Both Shaheds had been made in the past two months, officials said, a sign that Russia has largely run out of its own ammunition and is relying heavily on other American adversaries for weapons. A Russian drone strike on a shipping facility here killed one civilian worker early Thursday, just 18 miles from where Ukrainian forces continue to hold territory in the Kremlins Kursk region. via REUTERS In addition to the Sumy attack, another four people died and more than 30 were injured in a Shahed strike on a hotel about 325 miles south of Sumy in Kryvyi Rih, hometown of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom had checked into the hotel, Zelensky said in a post to X. They survived because they managed to get down from their rooms in time. There must be no pause in the pressure on Russia to stop this war and terror against life, he added. The shipping facility was torn open and still smoking when a Post reporter visited about 10 hours after the strike, and police were checking the rubble for additional casualties. It was the second attack by an Iranian-made Shahed drone against civilian infrastructure in Sumy, according to reports. Caitlin Doornbos / NY Post Pieces of the drone could be seen, including its internal electronics, wings bearing Cyrillic and a heavy steel structure. Bits of the Shahed that struck the childrens hospital which did not explode, but caused damage to the building and started a fire remained on the roof of that facility two days later. Air raid alarms sounded intermittently, warning of ongoing threats from above. In addition to the Sumy attack, another four people died and more than 30 were injured in a Shahed strike on a hotel about 325 miles south of Sumy in Kryvyi Rih. Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images This time last year, the Sumy region had largely been untouched by the three-year-old invasion by Russian forces. That changed in August 2024, when Kyivs forces launched a surprise offensive across the border into Kursk, shocking the world. The incursion forced Moscow to redirect forces from its assault on the strategically important southeastern region of Ukraine, stretching the front lines thousands of additional miles. However, this weeks pauses of US intelligence sharing and already-paid-for military aid have shaken Kyivs strength, particularly its ability to strike into Russia, Ukrainian intelligence and military insiders said. After the cessation of US intelligence support, we will lose the ability to strike deep into enemy territory, Ukrainian reconnaissance officer Denis Yaroslavsky said, though he added that the pause will not affect the situation at the front. But defense experts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War say the pause will encourage Russians to use more powerful weapons because Moscow can now move their planes closer to Ukraine. Ukraines inability to conduct ATACMS and HIMARS strikes against Russian air defense systems within Russia and occupied Ukraine will likely impact how close to the frontline Russian pilots are willing to operate and expand Russias ability to effectively use glide bombs against both frontline areas and near rear Ukrainian cities, the institute said on X late Wednesday. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization had checked into the hotel, Zelensky said in a post to X. Caitlin Doornbos / NY Post The suspension of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine will damage Ukraines ability to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks against military and civilian targets. Officials in Moscow are openly discussing using the intelligence-sharing pause to their advantage. On Wednesday, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said the Kremlins main task is inflicting maximum damage on Ukraine before US weapons deliveries most likely resume. Most Ukrainians who spoke to The Post have expressed confusion rather than outrage at the seeming about-face. A shipping facility was torn open when a New York Post reporter visited about 10 hours after the strike. Caitlin Doornbos / NY Post I dont know what [Trump] is doing. I like him, but this doesnt make sense, one Sumy local said of the pause. I can only hope he has a larger, secret plan he is using against Russia. Others, including Yaroslavsky, said the current tensions could have been avoided if Zelenskys team had conducted the negotiations properly instead of getting pulled into last weeks shocking Oval Office spat with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Many mistakes were made, which led to Trump making this decision, he said. We foresaw this and suggested to President Zelensky that after Trumps victory, he should replace the negotiating team with one that would be more mentally suited to the new administration. Celebrities like Halle Berry, Timothee Chalamet, Miley Cyrus and Chris Rock attended Sundays glamour-defining Vanity Fair Oscars Party. But Selma Blairs tawny-haired Labrador her service dog is the star that shone brightest. Patricia Clarkson lay on the floor in her gown gleefully cuddling Scout. The Legally Blonde actress says she didn't get one word from acquaintance Michael Keaton. He's just like, Hey, can I get a picture with Scout? The next thing I know, they're kissing, and Batmans gone in the night. And all I have is my dog to prove that he kissed Batman. Scout, who Blair jokes is the best boyfriend, strictly platonic, helps her manage symptoms of her Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms can manifest differently in each person, and there are multiple types. Blair has relapsing-remitting, which can result in a flare-up of symptoms for a period of time. Those with relapsing-remitting MS can experience trouble with their vision, extreme fatigue and numbness, according to Johns Hopkins. Blair, 52, has partnered with pharmaceutical company EMD Serono on Express4MS, an effort from the pharmaceutical company to build a community where those with MS can share their experiences. Christina Applegate, Selma Blair and John King have it. MS is more common than you think. Selma Blair attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party with her service dog Scout, on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Beverly Hills. Connecting with others who have MS has proved 'really cathartic' Scout assists with Blairs balance and eases her nerves about being in public. When I have to kneel down to be able to talk more clearly or to just kind of get my circulation on track, it made a lot more sense to have a dog by my side than constantly just dropping and squatting and talking to people, she says. He helps me just move forward, past it because once I start getting nervous or self-conscious, it all kind of devolves. In the early days of Blairs diagnosis, shed research her symptoms online or attempt to connect with others who have the disease to no avail. It was actually really cathartic for me to hear other people's stories and to make sense of my own because I wasn't even connecting some dots, she says. Once when Blair had difficulty swallowing, she panicked. It started snowballing, like, Oh, God, I'll never swallow again. Its just going to get worse, she says. Hearing that others experienced the same symptom for a period helped quell her frenzy. I couldn't understand why (being in) the sun would take away my speech and give me the dystonia, Blair says. And it was through other people that I had found that. Moving from 'a crisis space' to being 'relapse-free': 'I have really built stamina' Blair talked to USA TODAY in 2021 for her documentary Introducing, Selma Blair" that chronicled a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation performed in the summer of 2019. By removing and replacing stem cells and providing chemotherapy in between, the process aims to reset ones immune system. Before I had gone in for that aggressive treatment in Chicago, I was really in a crisis space, Blair says. But that treatment didn't work as well as I had hoped. It definitely slowed the progression and allowed me to catch my breath, but when Blair switched doctors her new physician told her shed relapsed. Today shes doing really well, she says, and I've had so much time relapse-free that now I have really built stamina. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Selma Blair talks MS progress, service dog 'boyfriend' Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty A Jetstar Airways plane in June 2021 A teenager was detained by crew and passengers on Thursday, March 6, after allegedly breaching a security fence and boarding a flight with a gun at Australias Avalon Airport. According to a press release from Victoria Police, officers were called to the airpot around 2.20 p.m. local time "after a male had entered a commercial flight armed with a firearm. A 17-year-old boy was detained by crew and passengers on the flight, the release continued. At this stage officers believe the teen managed to get onto the tarmac after breaching a security fence. Police added that they "located two bags and a vehicle belonging to the boy" and the "Bomb Response Unit were called to assist with the bags as a safety precaution." The teen is still in custody and will be interviewed by police, authorities said. Michael Currie/Speed Media/Shutterstock Avalon Airport in Australia The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that the boy boarded a Jetstar flight before being tackled to the ground by passengers. The boy was detained by three passengers before police arrived, according to U.K. newspaper The Guardian. Victoria Police superintendent Michael Reid said, per the outlet, As hes approached the plane, hes mounted or climbed the front stairs, to the front of the plane. At that point, passengers have identified the male was carrying a firearm. The male was overpowered by three of the passengers at least, he continued. And shortly afterwards, police have arrived and taken that male into custody. Jenny Evans/Getty A Jetstar plane at Sydney Airport in January 2024 Police added that no one was injured during the incident, per their release. "The investigation into the incident is ongoing but there is no ongoing threat to the community," they concluded. According to ABC, the teen from Victoria was dressed in hi-vis clothing, similar to what the airport ground crew were wearing. Barry Clark, the first passenger who reportedly tackled and disarmed the boy, told ABC Radio Melbourne, per the outlet, that he noticed the boy being questioned by a flight attendant. "He was dressed up as a worker and he got agitated and before we knew it there was a gun shotgun appeared and I was worried about there being shots so all I could do was get the gun out of the way, threw it down the stairs try to and then put him in a hold and throw him to the ground til the police come," Clark said. He continued, "He had other apparatus on him so I didn't know what his full intention was." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In a photo shared ABC, the teen was snapped lying on the ground while being held down by other passengers. The outlet reported that the boy is likely to be charged with federal and state offenses. Police are reportedly not treating the case as a terror incident. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Jetstar Airways said, "We are working with police and airport authorities as they investigate a security incident at Avalon Airport earlier today." "The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there were no reported injuries," the statement continued. "We know this would have been a very distressing situation and we are sincerely grateful to the customers who assisted our crew to safely manage the situation." Read the original article on People A recovery effort was underway Thursday after an avalanche buried at least three skiers in Alaska this week. Alaska State Troopers reported multiple skiers had been trapped in an avalanche near Anchorage on Tuesday. The disaster took place about 3:30 p.m. near the West Fork of 20 Mile River near Girdwood. Using avalanche beacons, guides identified the likely area where skiers were buried between 40 and nearly 100 feet deep. The guides were unable to recover the three skiers due to the depth, troopers reported. This May 5, 2023, file photo shows a view of a boreal forest trees in front of Alaska Range mountains during the snowmelt season on near Delta Junction, Alaska. Poor weather conditions in the area prevented helicopter flights and kept crews from assessing the area on Wednesday, state law enforcement said. "Troopers are optimistic that weather conditions will improve on (Thursday) March 6th to allow for flights in the area," the statement reads. Who went missing in Alaska avalanche? Troopers have identified the three missing people who were caught in the avalanche as: David Linder, 39 of Florida; Charles Eppard 39, of Montana; Jeremy Leif, 38, of Minnesota. Crews were slated to attempt an aerial assessment of the slide area on Thursday to determine additional avalanche danger and recovery options. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 missing skiers caught in Alaska avalanche; recovery effort underway During his address to Congress Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he wants to make interest payments on loans for vehicles made in America tax deductible, but experts are unclear which cars that policy would apply to since all automakers rely on parts from outside the U.S. "I also want to make interest payments on car loans tax deductible, but only if the car is made in America." Trump said during the speech. "And by the way, we're going to have growth in the auto industry like nobody's ever seen." The automotive industry has been global since its inception and won't be able to adapt its years-long production cycles to produce vehicles entirely in the U.S. quickly, according to Jennifer Newman of Cars.com, an online automotive marketplace. No cars sold to American consumers are fully made in the U.S. as they require imported parts that need to cross the country's borders, sometimes several times, during the assembly process. The marketplace's American-Made Index ranks the "most American" cars and none of them are made with parts fully sourced in the U.S. "Even for the most American-made vehicle, you're still looking at 30% worth of parts that are not produced here," said Patrick Masterson, Cars.com's lead researcher who oversees the index. "Assembly, that part of the process, can happen here. But the parts, the raw materials like steel and aluminum, that sort of thing, would be harder to source entirely from the U.S." More: Trump's tariffs: What does it mean to be made in America? In order to advertise a product as being "Made in USA," it must be all or virtually all made in the U.S., according to the Federal Trade Commission. In the case of a car, that could mean the majority of its parts were sourced domestically and that it was assembled in the U.S. The FTC notes that a product made with a substantial amount of parts sourced internationally should be labeled "Made in USA with imported parts." A Cars.com report analyzing data from early February found that 51.4% of new inventory vehicles had their final assembly in the U.S. Meanwhile, 18.9% were assembled in Mexico, 4.2% were assembled in Canada, and 1.4% were assembled in China. General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis all build cars in Canada and Mexico that they sell to American consumers. Ford and General Motors also build vehicles in China that they sell in the U.S. On Wednesday, the president allowed a one-month delay on 25% tariffs for cars imported from Mexico and Canada. When and If enacted, they along with 20% tariffs on China could risk job cuts for automotive industry workers and price increases for consumers, experts said, as American automakers have to absorb the costs imposed by the taxes. "Even though there is a reprieve, it's not over," Newman said. "Clearly it seems as though the president is using this as a tool for negotiations... So even if this is all resolved this year, it could come back in the future and it's something I think automakers are going to have to take into consideration." What are the 'most American' cars? The Tesla Model Y is the most American-made car, according to the index. The product from billionaire and DOGE lead Elon Musk's company has ranked first three years in a row. The list is created using five criteria: assembly location, parts content, engine origin, transmission origin and U.S. manufacturing workforce. While the Tesla Model Y consistently ranks first in those categories collectively, Newman noted that electric vehicles face a unique challenge because they require batteries and therefore minerals that are not sourced in the U.S. Below are the top 10 "most American" cars according to Cars.com's American-Made Index. Whether purchasers of these cars would qualify for Trump's proposed tax deductible interest payments on their loans remains to be seen. Tesla Model Y, assembled in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas Honda Passport, assembled in Lincoln, Alabama Volkswagen ID.4, assembled in Chattanooga, Tennessee Tesla Model S, assembled in Fremont, California Honda Odyssey, assembled in Lincoln, Alabama Honda Ridgeline, assembled in Lincoln, Alabama Toyota Camry, assembled in Georgetown, Kentucky Jeep Gladiator, assembled in Toledo, Ohio Tesla Model X, assembled in Fremont, California Lexus TX, assembled in Princeton, Indiana Reach Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com and follow her on X @rachelbarber_ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump wants benefits for cars made in USA. None fully are The Wisconsin teenager who was arrested in Iowa hours after his mom and stepdad were found slain back home was known as a diligent student who won praise from at least one teacher for his "great work ethic." Donald Mayer, 51, and his wife, Tatiana Casap, 35, were found dead in their home in Waukesha on Friday. Sheriff's deputies found the couple in law enforcement welfare checks requested by Mayer's mother, who hadn't heard from her son recently, and by the school Casap's 17-year-old son attends, according to a warrant seeking the teens arrest on suspicion of car and gun theft. The boy "had previously had perfect school attendance but had not been present at school for two weeks," the warrant said. In December 2022, the teenager was honored as one of Waukesha West High Schools students of the month. Physical education teacher Derrick Amrhein praised the teen for having a "great work ethic," saying he "does not hesitate to find clarity when needed." "He is a strong advocate for his success and works diligently to maintain a high level of rigor," Amrhein added in the honor posted on the school's website. "He is very polite and works well both in a small and large group setting." Amrhein could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. A School District of Waukesha spokesperson declined to comment Wednesday when asked about Waukesha truancy policies. The spokesperson directed NBC News to the school board's attendance policy, a 3,000-word document that doesn't detail the district's policy for how long a student can miss class before it investigates. State PTA President Andi Krizan-Burns said most public schools wouldn't panic over 10 days away. "It's a question of resources," Krizan-Burns said. "It'd be a lot to go after every one of them [an absent student] who may be out for two weeks because they have meningitis." Krizan-Burns said the teen's dedication to school also might have played a role in the school's not checking in so long. "It's the kids who are habitually truant, then that's when they'll [more likely and more quickly] go after them," she said. Timeline of Donald Mayer, Tatiana Casap slayings, according to teen's arrest warrant Feb. 18: Last known conversation between Mayer and his sister as Victim A stated that he had been pretty sick and was going to take some time off of social media. Feb. 23: -Judith Mayer received suspicious or weird text purportedly from" her adult son. Also that day, neighbor Paul Frantz recalls seeing Mayer's son driving the victim's car. Feb. 24: Pings from the teen's cellphone show he left Waukesha at about 10 a.m. as he took a general route through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado. Then, from 2:25 to 2:50 p.m., the young driver visited The Worlds Largest Truckstop in Walcott, Iowa, as the camera shows him in his dads car with the family dog. Feb. 25: Mayer's boss said he received a text from the victim, stating that "he was sick and couldnt talk on the phone. Friday: Deputies enter the family house to find Casap's body at 1:52 p.m. and then come upon Mayer's remains at 5 p.m. Their teenage son was pulled over in WaKeeney, Iowa, 800 miles away, at 11:25 p.m. The husband-and-wife victims had been married for nine years after they met online when she was living in Moldova, said the mans mother, Judith Mayer. She said she was always impressed with how quickly Casaps son picked up English and acclimated himself to an American school. The teenager was arrested Friday after he ran a stop sign in WaKeeney, Iowa, WaKeeney Police Chief Michael Romero said in a statement. "The subject was taken into custody with no further incident. The subject was identified and found out to be a juvenile wanted out of Wisconsin," he said. "The subject is a person of interest in a double homicide that this Wisconsin sheriffs office is still investigating." Chinese youngsters pursue joy via emotional value consumption 09:59, March 06, 2025 By Li Sibo ( Xinhua Consumers select blind boxes at a Pop Mart store in Xidan Joy City, a shopping mall in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Shi Yifei) CHONGQING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- In a bustling mall in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, 21-year-old Xu Yuxi carefully shakes a colorful blind box, her eyes narrowed in concentration. The college student is hunting for a "hidden edition" figurine, a weekend ritual she calls her "little escape" from academic stress. "If I get the rare one, it feels like I have won a tiny lottery," she said. Xu is part of a growing wave of young Chinese consumers fueling a cultural shift -- spending not for practicality but emotional value. From collectible blind boxes and anime merchandise to AI-powered companionship apps, China's Gen Z and millennials are investing in products and experiences that offer psychological comfort, identity expression, or fleeting moments of delight. Referred to as "emotional consumption" by industry analysts, this trend emphasizes mental satisfaction over functionality. The China Consumers Association reports that a growing number of young consumers view "mood enhancement" as a crucial factor in their purchasing decisions. In a shop popular among anime fans in downtown Chongqing, shelves overflow with character-themed goods, referred to as guzi in youth slang, while teens and young adults dressed up as fantasy protagonists gather to trade tips on rare finds. "The younger generations grew up with material abundance but emotional scarcity," said Shi Xiumei, a psychologist at Chongqing Technology and Business University. "These purchases fill a void. They're about self-expression and coping with loneliness or pressure." Retailers are capitalizing on this craving. Chen Xin, general manager of an anime-themed mall in Chongqing, noted that during this year's Chinese New Year, peak visitor traffic hit 65,000, while over 5,000 anime-related sales were made in a single day. The mall where Chen works hosts cosplay photoshoots and fan meetups, thereby transforming shopping into social gatherings. "We're selling a sense of belonging," Chen said. The economics of emotional consumption is evident in the spending habits of young collectors. "The rarer, more exquisite, and more popular an IP-derived collectible is, the more sought-after it becomes," said 24-year-old Hu from Nanjing in east China's Jiangsu Province. As a devoted fan of collecting photo cards known as xiaoka, Hu said, "simply admiring my collection fills me with joy and eases my fatigue." Meanwhile, startups like Monster Tribe are building communities around shared emotions. The platform, headquartered in Chongqing, organizes 500 monthly events, ranging from therapeutic book clubs to rage rooms, attracting more than 10,000 participants. "Modern loneliness is a market," said Monster Tribe co-founder Yang Zhengpeng. This sector's growth is staggering, with Pop Mart, China's top blind-box brand, projecting that its 2024 sales would surpass 10 billion yuan (around 1.39 billion U.S. dollars), up 60 percent year on year. In addition, Jellycat CAFe's Shanghai pop-up quickly became a must-visit spot after opening. "We look forward to the emergence of more high-quality emotional consumption products and business models that convey more positive values, promoting mental well-being and emotional fulfillment in society," said Chen. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Dr. Leila Myrick had only read about measles in medical school before a girl with the telltale rash turned up in her West Texas emergency room in late January. The child, who had no immunity to the highly contagious disease but had an underlying respiratory condition, would become one of the first known cases in Gaines County, the epicenter of the nations largest outbreak, in six years. Nearly 160 known people have been infected since, including 22 people who have been hospitalized. And last week, a school-age child with no underlying conditions died, marking the first measles death in a decade. The outbreak spread across rural counties and is now suspected to have caused an outbreak nearby in New Mexico. Myrick, a 38-year-old family medicine and obstetrics physician in the tiny town of Seminole, looked back to medical texts to learn more about the disease, once thought to be nearing eradication in the United States. Now, she's treated nearly a dozen cases and counting. In just over a months time, the rural doctor has become one of the nation's only doctors with firsthand experience of how infectious, and serious, measles is. And she is an unwitting expert in a disease she never thought she'd treat. Now were literally seeing when you dont vaccinate, this is what happens, Myrick said. Since vaccination rates have dropped across the United States, doctors and health staff across the country are rethinking preventable diseases such as measles that hadn't been seen in generations. The United States declared measles eliminated in 2000. But American immunization rates have decreased in schools which normally require vaccines for attendance below the 95% herd immunity threshold needed to prevent outbreaks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drops have been attributed to distrust and misinformation around public health and vaccination that led to increases in medical or religious exemptions. Measles is the tip of the iceberg, said Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of the infectious diseases division at Brigham and Womens Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School. There are other vaccine-preventable illness that we could see recurring, which could also have catastrophic consequences. In Gaines County, just over 80% kindergartners were vaccinated against measles last school year. In the county, Loop Independent School District, with about 150 students, had less than half of students vaccinated. As of Tuesday, over 100 of Texas' 159 cases were in Gaines County. Most cases are in children, predominantly among those who are school-age. All but five cases were among people who weren't vaccinated or had no known vaccination status. Dr. Leila Myrick, a family medicine and obstetrics physician in Seminole, Texas, is on the frontlines of the country's largest measles outbreak in six years. From Atlanta to rural health Five years ago, Myrick moved from her hometown of Atlanta after studying at Emory School of Medicine and earning a doctorate in neuroscience in addition to her medical degree to Seminole, where peanuts, oil, natural gas and cotton dominate the Texas plains. Instead of Atlantas famed research institutions, including CDC headquarters, Myrick sought to practice treating families as a rural doctor. She moved her family to Seminole, population 7,231, where she liked the diversity. It is a mix of white, Mexican and Mennonite families and sits about 80 miles southwest of Lubbock. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 5 and 8, who attend local schools. Her in-laws live across the street. Seminole is like a village, she said. People look out for each other and their children. Her commute to work is a 3-minute drive with one traffic light short enough that she doesn't even bother to turn on the radio. At her local grocery store, people stop her in the aisles with medical questions. She urges them to schedule an appointment so she can examine them. Before the outbreak, Myrick heard many concerns about vaccines, including in Gaines Countys Mennonite community, where the measles first appeared in late January. At the family clinic, parents told Myrick that no one got measles anymore, so there was no need to vaccinate their children. And it only caused mild illness, they said. Others argued vaccines cause harm, despite the vaccine showing decades of safety. As their family doctor, she recommended they get the vaccine, which is safe and effective. Hesitancy, misinformation on measles vaccine Such claims have helped to allow measles to return with force. Health experts cite statements made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously advocated against the measles vaccine for years and has contradicted guidance from his own health agencies. In the current outbreak, Kennedy has downplayed measles outbreaks and the severity of disease and has made incorrect statements about the current outbreak, said Dr. Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC who is now president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. A recent op-ed by Kennedy called for parents to consult with health providers about vaccination, adding the decision to vaccinate is a "personal one." We have conditions here that are so, so highly preventable that we're going to see come back because we have some leaders who don't believe in science, Besser said. Pediatricians and family doctors now should learn about diseases relegated to history, Besser added. They should ensure they know what measles, polio and different types of meningitis look like. They should also understand isolation protocols for these illnesses. Around a fifth of unvaccinated people who get infected with measles end up hospitalized. Children who contract measles can develop pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles, or brain inflammation that can lead to hearing loss or developmental delays. Death occurs in around 1 to 3 in 1,000 infected children. The best defense against measles, by far, is vaccination, said Besser, a trained pediatrician. The full two-dose series, first administered around a year old, is 97% effective against measles. Just one shot provides 93% protection. Measles is highly infectious, spreading through contact with droplets released from coughing, sneezing or talking. Measles can stay in a room or on surfaces two hours after a sick person has left. One contagious person can infect 18 others around them who arent immunized. What's the truth? Sign up for USA TODAY's Checking the Facts newsletter for all the answers. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addresses a Cabinet meeting held by President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 26, 2025. With a measles diagnosis, timing is critical A fever, cough or a rash can be a variety of different issues. But doctors can't afford to miss a measles diagnosis, said Dr. James Cutrell, an associate professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. Given how contagious measles is, he said, the importance of identifying it early in order to isolate the patient, test them and confirm if its measles is crucial to stopping the spread. Another concern is that symptoms develop typically a week or two after exposure. People can spread measles even when theyre not showing symptoms. Myrick saw this firsthand. In late January, the infected girl arrived in the emergency room with an underlying respiratory condition that put her at increased risk from the potentially deadly virus. After an emergency physician diagnosed her with measles, Myrick went to her medical texts to look up the disease to treat the girl. She recalled the blotchy, red spots covering the girl's body from head to toe. The child was placed in isolation, with hospital staff in full gowns and masks. Through the course of the child's stay, her rash changed to smaller red dots. Myrick thought she would be the only case. Dr. Leila Myrick, a family medicine and obstetrics physician in Seminole, Texas, treated one of the first known measles cases in an ongoing outbreak that's the largest in the U.S. in six years. We took every precaution we could to try to contain it and keep it isolated to just that one patient, she said. And it didnt work. It didnt work at all. At first, the outbreak centered in the regions Mennonite community, which had been under-vaccinated with entire families infected. Myrick and staff have now seen cases among Latino infants too young to be vaccinated but facing serious illness. Pregnant women, who are at particular risk of miscarriage or premature birth from infection, are also at risk. She expects more cases in the community. Many families call describing measles symptoms, but they won't get tested, and they won't get treatment unless infections worsen. Outside of Gaines, the outbreak has spread in eight other counties, with exposures hundreds of miles away in and around San Antonio. Officials in New Mexico suspect their outbreak, among nine people infected, is linked to the Texas outbreak just across state lines. A sign reading "measles testing" is seen as an outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has raised concerns over its spread to other parts of the state, in Seminole, Texas, U.S., February 25, 2025. Hope and prayer won't end outbreak Beyond Texas and New Mexico, nearby states have much lower vaccination rates than herd immunity needed to prevent outbreaks. By comparison, Texas and New Mexico had two-dose vaccination rates among kindergartners at 94.3% and 95%, respectively. But surrounding states including Arizona, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma had immunization rates below 90%, CDC data from last school year showed. A hope and a prayer doesnt just make it go away, said Dr. Kisha Davis, a board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a health officer in Maryland. Her health department, in Montgomery County, saw one measles case a year ago in an unvaccinated person. Thanks to high immunization rates, an outbreak didnt occur, she said. We need to continue to be vigilant. In Seminole, a wooden sign read MEASLES TESTING across from the local health department. In addition to testing, officials have expanded vaccination sites. More people are showing up to get vaccinated, including those that once swore off the shots, said Myrick, who recently became chief medical officer for the town's hospital. Others still dont believe in vaccines. Myrick said her children worry about catching measles. Their classmates have contracted the disease, and her children are scared about getting a rash. Both of her children are vaccinated, she reminds them. They dont need to be afraid. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas measles outbreak: Young doctor quickly becomes' nation's expert All of these are stressors and, unfortunately, if you cant switch off this response, you develop chronic stress, she said. Over weeks to months, this stress accumulates and takes a toll on your body. Youre more likely to get high blood pressure, become sick and have a weakened immune system. Your cells age faster too across your entire body. She explained that for the brain, stress causes brain cells to disconnect and changes how we behave. The brains priority is survival and chronic stress consumes a lot of energy, which helps to maintain that survival instinct. [This] comes at the expense of our most sophisticated behaviors: our personality, problem-solving abilities and short-term memory, she said. A chronically stressed person will be forgetful, less clear-headed and make bad decisions burnout is essentially a severe case of chronic stress. As for what can business leaders do about it, Dr Landowski said they need to keep making strategic decisions, especially in high-stress situations. There are ways to build resilience and reverse the effects of chronic stress, she said. The key is to show your body some love and its easier than you might think. Our nervous system has two arms the fight or flight system, which is activated during stress, [and] the rest and digest system, also known as the parasympathetic nervous system. These systems are like a seesaw; you can only have one active at a time. The fight or flight system is responsible for survival, while the rest and digest system help you relax and recover. The solution, Dr Landowski explained, is to activate the rest and digest system, which helps turn off the fight or flight response and exercise is one of the best ways to achieve this. Exercise releases endorphins, makes you feel good and even promotes brain growth by releasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a sort of fertiliser for your brain, she said. Its also the best way to stimulate the creation of new brain cells. Meeting up with peers According to Dr Landowski, another aspect thats really important is socialising. Socialising with people buffers stress, she said. When were hanging out with people that we like, were releasing things like oxytocin, which makes us feel close to that person, but also oxytocin reduces cortisol. Thats why when you hang out with people you like, it makes you feel good and protects your brain. Nathan Lowe, managing director of ASI Solutions, has used socialising as a way of counteracting stresses of owning a technology solutions provider business. He told ARN that when the business is doing well, its great. However when the business faces some uncertainty, thats when the stress levels rise as a business owner or CEO. Im part of YPO [Young Presidents Organisation], which is a peer-to-peer C-level group [and] gives me the ability to talk about three aspects in life; hows your business, hows your family and how are you personally, he said. For me, its been a really powerful experience. Lowe explained that having the ability to talk to a group of individuals in different industries but with the same stresses has been huge and has given him an outlet. Even just saying it out loud to someone like that helps, almost relieving a bit of that stress from you as a person, he said. You try to be fit, exercise and eat healthy and thats a given. I think most people would say that. He explained if he has a business challenge that he is trying to solve, being able to talk to like-minded individuals, where theres no real conflict, has been helpful. I can say, My business is doing XYZ. Are you seeing this as well? he said. Having a global network has been relatively rewarding as well, but thats probably the one thing thats helped me. When the business is facing those challenges or even burnout, being able to articulate that has been key. As a male, traditionally were not great at talking about that space, but Ive actually felt its improved my ability to communicate, particularly with my family. Lowe said he talks about attaching emotions to what he is thinking or feeling and how it makes him feel. When you say something, it can be misconstrued as something else, he said. What does it actually mean to feel that way because it can mean different things to different people. If you attach emotion to it, at least you get some context and then you can continue the dialogue down that path. Im not a shrink or anything, but I think its definitely helped me from a family front. Id recommend it to other business-level execs to engage with one of those forums, he added. by Arundathie Abeysinghe From April, the Sri Lankan government will introduce a 15% tax on income from the export of services, affecting freelancers and companies that work with foreign clients. The measure aims to increase tax revenue and strengthen control over foreign currency flows, but it also risks incentivising informal transactions. Colombo (AsiaNews) Starting in April, Sri Lanka will introduce a new 15% tax on income from the export of services, affecting professionals in the technology sector, financial consultants, accountants and software experts who work with foreign clients. While the government aims to increase tax revenue to address the economic crisis, the taxation could push professionals to seek alternative solutions, reducing the official flow of foreign currency into the country. The measure, introduced in the budget law upon approval by Parliament, marks the end of a tax exemption that had been introduced in 2020. Although it was then progressively abolished between 2022 and 2023, it remained in force for external services. The new tax legislation will affect freelancers, companies and YouTubers with foreign currency income, who will now have to register with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). According to Nihal Wijewardana, deputy commissioner of the department, only those who provide services from Sri Lanka to foreign clients will be subject to the tax, adding that freelancers must be aware that their income from multiple organisations is classified as business income, but they are entitled to deduct a portion of the expenses incurred to carry out the activity. The tax authority will be able to monitor financial flows through the International Transactions Reporting System (ITRS), a mechanism already in use by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). Through this system, banks are required to report foreign currency transactions, including those of freelancers, to monitor spending levels and identify potential tax evaders. A regulatory update on 21 May 2024 also granted the IRD the power to monitor a whole series of financial activities. However, the introduction of the new tax has also generated concerns among professionals in the sector. Menuka Tennakoon, Harshani Wickramasinghe and Ashen Kodippily, three computer engineers, expressed their fears to AsiaNews: With the current economic crisis and the high cost of living, we cannot survive on our salary. We provide our services to foreign clients precisely to earn foreign currency, which we can save and use when we need it. If this tax system is introduced, we have no choice but to resort to informal transaction methods because we may not have much income left after paying a hefty tax. The adoption of unofficial payment channels, such as the hawala and undial system widespread in South Asia to avoid bank records thus risks increasing tax evasion. Lawyers Achini Mendis and Dinuk Samarawickrama have warned that attempts to evade taxes using cash transactions are considered criminal offences under various provisions of the Penal Code. Furthermore, tax evasion does not fall under the statute of limitations and the penalties are extremely high. For the first time since 2012, Malala Yousafzai has returned to Barkana, in the district of Shangla, under tight security measures. The Nobel Prize winner visited the school and the girls' college she founded, meeting students and their families. Her return comes at a time of great instability for Pakistan, marked by continuous attacks by the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State, in competition with each other. Islamabad (AsiaNews) - For the first time since 2012, Malala Yousafzai has returned to her hometown of Barkana, in the district of Shangla, in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The visit, which took place yesterday under strict security measures, was a symbolic moment for the Nobel Prize-winning activist, who survived an attack by the Pakistani Taliban because of her commitment to female education. At the time, Malala was only 15 years old: she was shot in the head by armed men belonging to the extremist Islamic group the Taliban for defending girls right to education. She was rushed to the UK and went on to become a global icon in the fight for girls education. As a child, I spent every holiday in Shangla, Pakistan, playing by the river and sharing meals with my extended family, the activist wrote on social media. It was a joy for me to return there today, after 13 long years, to be surrounded by the mountains, dip my hands in the cold river and laugh with my beloved cousins. This place is very dear to my heart and I hope to return here again and again. Accompanied by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, her husband, Asser Malik, and her brother, Malala arrived by helicopter in Barkana, where she met her family and visited her family's cemetery. She also stopped at the girls' school and college that she herself founded in 2018, an institution that today provides free education to about a thousand students in an area where, until a few years ago, there was no government institute for higher education for girls. Malala met the students, inspected the classrooms and encouraged them to study to build a better future, said a school official, emphasising that the Malala Fund will continue to ensure high educational standards to promote female education in Pakistan. During the visit, which lasted three hours in total, Malala also stopped at the home of her maternal family and met the activist Shahzad Roy, who runs the Shangla Girls School and College. Her visit was kept secret to avoid any incidents, a senior local official told Agence France Press on condition of anonymity. Even the locals were unaware of her plans to visit. Malala's arrival in Pakistan comes at a time of growing instability. Just one day before her visit, a double suicide attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed 18 people, including civilians and security personnel. I hope for peace in every corner of our beautiful country. The recent attacks, including the one in Bannu, are heartbreaking, Malala commented in a message shared on social media. After her brief visit to Barkana, the activist returned to the capital, Islamabad. A life-size replica of the shroud of Turin is on display in the newly inaugurated Museum of the Holy Face of Jesus. Created in 1978 by photographer Barrie Schwortz, the item is housed in a convent in Quiapo district, the heart of devotion to the image of the Black Nazarene. Manila (AsiaNews) A life-size copy of the Shroud of Turin will be exhibited in a new museum in Manilas Quiapo district, also home to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, which holds the statue of the Black Nazarene. Shrouded in mystery, the original sheet which according to tradition wrapped the body of Jesus after the crucifixion, has been venerated for centuries in Turin. The work of American photographer Barrie Schwortz in 1978, the life-size replica of the Shroud is kept in the new Museum of the Holy Face of Jesus, which is located inside the convent of the homonymous congregation. Schwortz, who died last June at the age of 77, worked for the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STuRP). As the official photographer, he was part of the team that carried out the first in-depth scientific examination of the item, whose existence is first documented in 1353. The photographers life was deeply marked by the encounter with the Shroud. The image exhibited in Manila is 4.4 metres long, like the original, and consists of a print on cotton with laser technology, which faithfully reproduces the linen cloth held in Italy. The photographer provided us certification that its an authentic replica and we are permitted to display it publicly, said Mother Annunciata Mendoza, superior of the Sisters of the Holy Face of Jesus (HFJ). Card Jose Advincula, metropolitan archbishop of Manila, blessed the museum, which is located on F.R. Hidalgo Street. The facility was inaugurated on Tuesday. The Philippine congregation received the copy in 2019, but exhibited it only on the feast of the Holy Face of Jesus, which falls on the Tuesday before the start of Lent. In addition to the copy of the Holy Shroud, the new museum also contains relics that belonged to the late founder of the order of religious sisters, Mother Mary Therese Vicente, a Philippine nun who passed away in 1995 whose remains lie in Quiapo, where she lived. The devotion to the Black Nazarene has lasted for centuries in this neighbourhood. The wooden statue made by a Mexican artist in 1606 depicts a life-size Christ dying on the way to Calvary, while carrying a massive cross. Its peculiarity is its black skin, unusual in this kind of representation, and attributed to the smoke of votive candles. It is carried in procession three times a year: on 9 January, the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus; on Good Friday; and on the last day of the year, 31 December. With this final arrangement, the replica of the Shroud has found a final home in an area of strong devotion. Starting next week, it is expected to draw legions of faithful and the curious, attracted by its mystery, but above all by its testimony. Today's news: the Hong Kong Supreme Court overturns 4 and a half month sentences of some supporters of the pro-democracy movement; China revises upwards the number of people affected by the earthquake in Tibet in January; In Indian Punjab farmers arrested for protesting against the government; Burmese junta head calls Putin the king of mice. SOUTH KOREA At least 15 people have been injured in a bombing that mistakenly hit a church and houses in Pocheon, a town about 40 kilometres north of Seoul. Two KF-16 fighter planes belonging to the air force dropped two bombs outside the training range. The authorities have announced that they expect the number of injured to rise, while the air force will launch an investigation into the incident. RUSSIA MYANMAR During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the head of the military junta that staged a coup in Myanmar, General Min Aung Hlaing, compared the Russian head of state to the king of mice, referring to a Buddhist story. A mouse named Thoma made offerings to the Buddha, who prophesied that Thoma would become king of Russia more than 2,000 years after the Buddha's death, would have unrivalled knowledge of weapons and would become friends and allies with the kings of Myanmar. This prophecy has come true, said Min Aung Hlaing. HONG KONG The Hong Kong Supreme Court has unanimously overturned the convictions of three members of a pro-democracy group (now disbanded) that organised an annual vigil to commemorate the Tiananmen Square crackdown. The group members had been sentenced to four and a half months in prison. In their sentence, the five judges of the Court of Appeal stated that the government prosecutors had censored the key facts. CHINA The Chinese authorities have reported that more than 120,000 people, double the initial estimate, were affected by the earthquake that shook Tibet in January, killing at least 126 people, a figure that could in reality be much higher. The figure was made public during a ceremony in the village of Gurum, in Dingri county, to commemorate the beginning of the reconstruction by China of eight villages seriously damaged by the earthquake. The authorities have stated that they want to transfer over 120,000 displaced persons to new homes by the end of the year. INDIA Hundreds of farmers from the state of Punjab were arrested while trying to march towards Chandigarh in protest. The demonstrators burned images of the chief minister Bhagwant Mann and the governing party, the Aam Aadmi Party. The farmers are demanding a guarantee that the government will buy their harvest at the so-called minimum support price. SYRIA Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani has declared to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague that the new government is committed to destroying the weapons and devices inherited from the regime of Bashar al-Assad, adding, however, that it needs the support of the international community, probably in an attempt to obtain a lifting of sanctions. KYRGYZSTAN TAJIKISTAN After finalising border demarcation agreements, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan intend to increase the balance of their mutual trade to 500 million dollars by 2030, as agreed by the heads of the two governments, Adylbek Kasymaliev and Kokhir Rasulzoda, in a meeting in Dushanbe, within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, and by re-establishing direct flights between the two countries. by Nirmala Carvalho After 33-year-old Shahzadi Khan was executed last month, reports indicate that two men from Kerala were executed in the Emirates last week. India's Ministry of External Affairs said it provided its citizens legal assistance. More Indian nationals await on death row in the Gulf country. New Delhi (AsiaNews) After the execution of Shahzadi Khan, a 33-year-old Indian domestic worker, two other Indian nationals from Kerala working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were executed recently. This leaves 28 other Indians on death row. According to UAE authorities, Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil were executed on 28 February after the Indian Foreign Ministry was informed of the decision. The two had been tried and convicted of murder in separate cases. Rinash, employed in a travel agency in al-Ain, was convicted of killing an Emirati citizen. Muraleedharan, on the other hand, had been found guilty in the murder of a fellow Indian. According to local media, 28 Indian nationals remain on death row in the Gulf country. In an official statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had provided Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil all possible legal assistance during their trial. The MEA also assisted family members take part in their funeral. The Ministry also contacted Shahzadi Khan's family to arrange for relatives to attend the funeral, which took place yesterday in Abu Dhabi. However, Shahzadi's older brother, Shamsher Khan, reported that the family declined to attend but asked local authorities to provide photos of the rite. by Mathias Hariyadi Extremists target a facility built by a Catholic priest in Arcamanik claiming that it should be exclusively for social purposes, not religion. In fact, it has been used for some time for weekly services, although it is open to other activities. As the local Catholic community grows, so do its needs, which is why local Church leaders want the building to be officially designate as a place of worship. Jakarta (AsiaNews) Islamic radicals held a mass rally yesterday, Ash Wednesday, in Arcamanik, Bandung (West Java)), following a proposal to turn a social centre into a place of Catholic worship, a step they strongly oppose. Protesters claim that the facility, GSG Arcamanik, was purposed for social functions, not religion. Local sources told AsiaNews that venue was originally built on land owned by Fr Y. Gandhi, parish priest of St Odilia Parish Church in Bandung City, with ownership later turned over to PGAK Santa Odilia, a Catholic body, which now owns and runs the place. Although it is mainly used for weekly religious services, the owners have allowed the local community to use the venue for various social activities. Over time, with the growth of the local Catholic community, which now numbers more than 1,400 members, its leaders want to register the building as an official place of worship, going by the book. We have used this venue since the 1980s, and we are currently in the process of requesting a building permit (IMB) to designate it as our place of worship, explained Mr. Joseph, a church representative. However, many residents oppose the plan, arguing that GSG Arcamanik is public property and should remain available for general use by all. In reality, we have been holding weekly worship activities here, but local hardliners have consistently protested, Joseph said. While we have engaged in friendly discussions, some remain unsatisfied with our explanations. Despite the controversy, PGAK Santa Odilia said that if local authorities approve their request, the place will continue to be available for social events, provided that no one books ahead. Loca Christians want to keep the venue open to the public and make sure that it is used by everyone. St John Apostles Arcamanik Station operates under the umbrella of St Odilias Parish Church and is legally part of the Bandung Diocese in West Java, central Indonesia. The building permit issued by the authorities is another matter since church construction requires the consent of Muslims living near any planned new Christian place of worship. For this reason, Muslims often turn violent against Christians by the absence of building permits, as was the case with Yasmin Church, which had to wait several years before it could open due to pressure from radical groups. Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 6 March 2025 21:03 (UTC+04:00) During a court session held on March 6 at the Baku Military Court, Davit Manukyan, a former member of the Armenian Armed Forces who served as a major-general, spoke about the weapons found in his home. During his free testimony, the accused stated that he had two weapons in his apartment in Khankendi: "One is a pistol, and the other is a rifled hunting rifle. Both weapons are registered with the Armenian Police Department." It is important to note that the trial, concerning the crimes committed by Armenian citizens in connection with Armenias military aggression, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and conduct of aggressive warfare, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other numerous crimes, will continue on March 10. 6 March 2025 21:43 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Spanish MP Jon Inarritu has once again emerged as an ardent propagandist for Armenia, this time advocating for the EU to support Yerevans bid for membership and falsely portraying Azerbaijan as an aggressor. I am saying 'again' because he made statements on February 26ironically, the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide that served as yet another example of his deep-seated bias and deliberate misinformation. This time, in his interview with Armenpress, Inarritu defended the extension of the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA), claiming that its presence is essential to preventing "Azerbaijans renewed aggression." He further alleged that parts of Armenia remain under "Azeri occupation" and accused Baku of violating international law. These remarks are not only factually incorrect but also serve Armenias ongoing campaign to distort the realities of the South Caucasus conflict. First, there is no "Azeri occupation" of Armenian land. What Inarritu fails to mention is that Azerbaijans army is positioned along its internationally recognized borders, with ongoing delimitation efforts complicated by Armenias persistent refusal to engage constructively. Second, his framing of EUMA as a peacekeeping force is misleading; it has no enforcement mandate and has instead emboldened Yerevan by giving it a false sense of security against fulfilling its regional obligations. Meanwhile, on March 4, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense reported that Armenian armed forces opened fire on Azerbaijani positions in the Gorus region. As Inarritu speaks of "Azerbaijani aggression," he conveniently ignores Armenias continued provocations that actively undermine regional stability. On February 26, instead of acknowledging the anniversary of the Khojaly genocideone of the darkest chapters of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflicthe chose to call on Brussels to back Armenias EU accession bid. In his statement, he claimed that Armenia has always "belonged in Europe, both culturally and historically," despite overwhelming economic, political, and military ties linking Yerevan to Russia. Spanish MP's unwavering support for Armenia is neither new nor coincidental. When we did a little research, we discovered that back in December 2022, he was awarded the Mkhitar Gosh medal by the now-disbanded Garabagh separatist regime. He proudly accepted this honor from Arayik Harutyunyan, the so-called "president" of the separatists, who is now facing trial in Baku. At the time, Inarritu vowed to defend the so-called "right of Armenians to live in Artsakh" and even pushed for international recognition of the separatist entity. Today, with Azerbaijans full sovereignty restored over its territories, his past statements seem not only absurd but also reflective of his personal investment in the Armenian cause. His latest statements reinforce his loyalty to Armenian interests. On February 26, while the world remembered the Khojaly massacrewhere Armenian forces brutally slaughtered Azerbaijani civiliansInarritu instead chose to advocate for Armenias EU accession. His comments about Armenia's "historical belonging" to Europe are another baseless assertion, ignoring the countrys deep economic and military ties with Russia. Inarritus alignment with Armenian separatism is unsurprising given his own political background. As a representative of the Basque pro-independence party Bildu, he is part of Spains separatist movement, which has long sought greater autonomyand even independencefrom Madrid. His party has consistently pushed for sovereignty, mirroring Armenias own irredentist ambitions in the South Caucasus. His selective activism is also revealing. While he champions Armenias sovereignty, he simultaneously supports separatist movements in Spain, showing a clear double standard. His deep ties with Armenian lobbying groups, especially within the Basque Country and Cataloniaboth home to influential Armenian diasporasfurther explain his motivations. False champion of democracy and European values One of the absurd things that the Spanish MP also claims is that Armenia is a beacon of democracy, European values and its integration has fallen apart under scrutiny. We are talking about a country that currently either incapable or doesnt want to free itself from political and economic dependence on Russia. Besides, it shouldnt be forgotten that, Armenian statehood was built on ultranationalism, idea of Miatsum and war crimes. Former president Robert Kocharyans infamous remarks about the "genetic incompatibility" of Azerbaijanis and Armenians, as well as Serszh Sargsyans chilling justification of the Khojaly genocide, should raise alarm bells for any true advocate of human rights. Yet, he conveniently ignores these realities while pretending to be a champion of European values. Jon Inarritu is not a neutral observer of South Caucasus affairshe is a deeply compromised politician serving Armenian interests. His history of receiving honors from Garabagh separatists, his vocal support for Armenias EU accession despite clear contradictions, and his own ties to separatist movements in Spain all disqualify him from being taken seriously on regional matters. Best of luck trying to manipulate European policy in favor of Yerevan while demonizing Azerbaijan. Fortunately, the facts speak for themselves, and no amount of pro-Armenian rhetoric can alter the geopolitical realities of the South Caucasus. 6 March 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more For over a century, Azerbaijan has faced profound challenges in its quest to restore territorial integrity and sovereignty, driven by both external forces and regional tensions. The historical rift between Azerbaijan and Armenia, originating in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, has resulted in Azerbaijan losing control over a significant portion of its land, including the Zngzur region and the disputed territories of Qarabag. This division has been a thorn in the side of Azerbaijani national unity, undermining economic development and regional cooperation. Zngzur corridor: a critical geographic link between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan From the 1980s onward, the severance of communication lines between Nakhchivan a vital part of Azerbaijan and the rest of the country has had severe economic consequences. The isolated status of Nakhchivan, coupled with Armenias strategic positioning along the corridor, has hindered Azerbaijans regional integration, stalling major infrastructure projects that could have revitalized South Caucasus economies. The Zngzur corridor, once a critical geographic link between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, has been particularly central to these disputes. In the 1920s, the separation of Zngzur from Azerbaijan by Soviet authorities represented a calculated geopolitical maneuver aimed at undermining the integrity of the Azerbaijani state. In 1929, Levon Mirzoyan, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia, ceded Zngzur to Armenia, thus creating a corridor between Armenia and Iran. This act not only isolated Nakhchivan but also set the stage for the further disintegration of Turkish unity in the South Caucasus. The reality of Zngzurs history stands in stark contrast to the claims of Armenian revisionists who argue that the region has been historically Armenian. The evidence overwhelmingly points to Zngzur being populated by Azerbaijani villages, particularly along the Iranian border, which contradicts Armenias present-day narrative. From the Ottoman archives to the records of the Russian Empire, historical documents confirm that the Zngzur region was once a critical part of Azerbaijans territorial and cultural fabric. Today, the legacy of Zngzurs annexation remains a deeply political issue, one that continues to shape Azerbaijans foreign policy and regional strategy. Azerbaijans role as energy supplier to Europe and Middle East bolsters regional stability As Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev noted during the opening ceremony of the Igdr-Nakhchivan gas pipeline on March 5, 2025, the historical isolation of Nakhchivan has long hindered the countrys economic revival. This pipeline, which connects Azerbaijans Nakhchivan to Turkiyes Igdr province, is a monumental step in re-establishing Azerbaijans connectivity and energy security. Beyond its immediate economic benefits, this project symbolizes a broader vision of reintegration for regions long separated by geopolitical tensions. The Zngzur corridor, which was once a pivotal artery for Azerbaijan, is slowly being restored through projects like the gas pipeline, opening up new trade and cooperation opportunities between Turkiye and Azerbaijan. These efforts are not merely infrastructural; they represent a larger political statement against the forces that have historically sought to fragment the Turkish-speaking world. As President Aliyev emphasised, the energy projects, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and TANAP pipelines, have not only cemented the ties between Azerbaijan and Turkiye but have reshaped the energy landscape of Eurasia. Azerbaijans role as an energy supplier to Europe and the Middle East has expanded dramatically, bolstering regional stability. In the face of historical adversity, these strategic moves signal a new chapter for Azerbaijani sovereignty, one that is deeply intertwined with the future of Turkish unity. The legacy of Azerbaijani independence, once imperiled by imperial forces, is now being fiercely protected. The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as President Aliyev notes, is not just a symbol of Azerbaijans territorial integrity but a living testament to the enduring strength of the Turkish bond. This strategic alliance, embodied in the partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, is reshaping the geopolitical realities of the South Caucasus and the broader region. Azerbaijani leadership, inspired by the vision of national founder Heydar Aliyev In many ways, Nakhchivans resurgence is the final piece of a larger puzzle. For decades, the Azerbaijani leadership, inspired by the vision of national founder Heydar Aliyev, has worked tirelessly to overcome the political and economic barriers that separated Nakhchivan from Azerbaijans core. Today, under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan is not just reclaiming lost territory but also restoring a historic and irreplaceable connection. The Nakhchivan-Azerbaijan reassertion is more than just a territorial dispute; it is a reaffirmation of national pride, unity, and resilience. With the partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkiye solidifying, the forces that sought to divide and weaken the Turkish world are being outmatched by the enduring strength of the people and their leaders. The road to Zngzurs restoration is not that long, and the momentum is undeniable. Certainly, the future of this crucial link, and its place in a broader regional context, depends on these two brotherly countries' unwavering commitments to preserving unity, and unbreakable ties. 6 March 2025 15:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in November last year concerning land use in territories liberated from occupation. The decree provided instructions to relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture. In line with these instructions, the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan approved the rules for leasing land plots around villages for the population resettled since December 28. Azernews reports, citing the Trend that this was stated by Firudin Tagiyev, Head of the Land Use Control Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. He explained that, under this framework, the Ministry of Agriculture has identified suitable areas according to the new rules and equipped a 110-hectare land area with the necessary infrastructure around Agali village in Zangilan district, the first settlement in the liberated territories. "The land areas are irrigated plots of at least 5 hectares, located around the village and prepared for planting. Applications for agricultural land allocation have already begun. In this regard, relevant Ministry departments have been dispatched to Agali village to inform the residents about the process," he noted. Tagiyev also highlighted that planning has started in other areas where resettlements are taking place. "These issues are being closely monitored under the guidance of the relevant departments of the Administration of the President of Azerbaijan. The Ministry is currently identifying land plots within the administrative boundaries of 44 villages designated for resettlement, and planning is underway to bring these areas into infrastructure development," he added. 6 March 2025 14:39 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The YASAT (YASHAT) Foundation held a meeting with representatives of banks in Azerbaijan yesterday, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Banks Association, Azernews reports. Elvin Huseynov, head of the Foundation and a Garabagh war veteran, highlighted the Foundations initiatives supporting martyrs families and war invalids. He outlined the goals and projects aimed at addressing their needs. The meeting focused on exploring cooperation opportunities and support for ongoing projects under the Foundations activities. The primary mission of the YASAT Foundation is to enhance civil society initiatives that complement state efforts in the social protection of martyrs' families and war veterans, ensuring transparency, accountability, and public oversight. 6 March 2025 18:47 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Azerbaijan has significantly increased its exports of crude oil and crude oil products to Portugal, according to the latest data from the State Customs Committee, Azernews reports. During the first ten months of the current year, Azerbaijan exported more than 20.57 million tons of crude oil products, totalling approximately $12.76 billion. Portugal ranked sixth among the importing countries in this category, accounting for 4.88 per cent of the total export volume. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 6 March 2025 14:18 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The Culture Ministry's Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center of Culture (MEMIM) has initiated an exciting new project titled "Behind the Scenes of Culture: Secrets of Journalism," Azernews reports. This initiative, commemorating the 150th anniversary of National Press Day, aims to spark the interest of young journalists in cultural journalism, enhance their skills in this domain, and provide them with valuable practical experience. The first seminar for "Behind the Scenes of Culture: Secrets of Journalism" took place with the support of the Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture. The event featured Vugar Imanov, the head of the Culture Department at Trend News Agency and a recipient of the esteemed "Tereggi" state medal. At the seminar's opening, Vugar Humbatov, the acting director of the Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center of Culture Vugar Humbatov emphasized the importance of hosting discussions with seasoned journalists and prominent figures who have significantly contributed to the advancement of cultural journalism. During his presentation, Vugar Imanov addressed both the advantages and challenges that contemporary technological advancements have introduced to journalism. He highlighted the essential role of journalism in upholding national and spiritual values and its educational and enlightening responsibilities within cultural contexts. He also stressed the importance of engaging the youth in the profession and nurturing them into dedicated and skilled journalists while discussing current trends shaping the field. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the enhancement of Azerbaijani culture, Imanov was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Ministry of Culture, alongside a commemorative gift. The event also featured a performance by Hamaya Bakhishova, a talented student from the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts and laureate of several national and international competitions. She delighted the audience with musical renditions of "Prelude No. 2" by F. Guliyev and "Caprice" by L. M. Gottschalk. Moderated by Rafiga Nasirova, the seminar adopted a discussion format, allowing Vugar Imanov to address various questions raised by the attendees. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az. 6 March 2025 17:08 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Baku Book Center has solemnly celebrated the 160th anniversary of the educator and intellectual Habib bay Mahmudbayov, who made unparalleled contributions to the development of the Azerbaijani culture and education, Azernews reports. The anniversary event, organized by the Technical Humanitarian Lyceum No. 2 named after Habib bay Mahmudbayov, was attended by the country's well-known intellectuals, scientists and cultural figures, educators, deputies of the Azerbaijani Parliament, graduates of the lyceum, and members of the teaching staff. First, a video clip was shown about the life and pedagogical and educational activities of Habib bay Mahmudbayov. Director of the Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics Misir Mardanov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Union of Architects Elbay Gasimzade, Chairman of the Science and Education Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament Anar Isgandarov, People's Artist Nuraddin Mehdikhanli, Head of the Baku City Education Department Narmina Huseynova, Director of Technical Humanitarian Lyceum No. 2 Turana Majidli, and researcher of the life and work of Habib bay Mahmudbayov, Doctor of Philosophy in Philology Sharaf Jalilli, spoke about the life and pedagogical activity of Habib bay Mahmudbayov. They pointed out that the life and work of Habib bay Mahmudbayov is an important source of inspiration not only for his time, but also for today's generations. Habib bay Mahmudbayov, together with Sultanmajid Ganizade, created the first Russian-Muslim school in 1887. Throughout his life, Habib bay Mahmudbayov, who was engaged in great public education activities, was an active participant in the development of new directions in the development of public education in the republic. As a member of the Baku City Duma and a member of the school commission, he chaired the congress as an active participant in the preparation and holding of the First Congress of Azerbaijani Teachers in 1906. When the Higher Pedagogical Institute was established in Baku, he became its deputy director, and then its director, and also organized evening courses. Along with science and education, Habib bay Mahmudbayov rendered great services in the development of theater in Azerbaijan, and was the head of the first professional theater troupe. The speakers expressed their gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their work in promoting and recognizing the legacy of the educator and intellectual Habib bay Mahmudbayov. Eldar Azizov, a representative of the great personality's generation, shared his thoughts about his great-grandfather with the participants. At the event, Honored Artist Rza Afshar presented a portrait of Habib bay Mahmudbayov, his author, to the lyceum staff. At the end, a small scene from one of Habib bay Mahmudbayov's favorite works, "Haji Gara", was presented, and classical songs were performed by musicians. 6 March 2025 10:21 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Renovation works have officially begun in the Qayg settlement, located in the Lacn region, Azernews reports. The renovation will include the ongoing repair of internal roads and the installation of new street lighting systems within the settlement. Reports indicate that the Lacn District Executive Authoritys Representative Office for the Qayg Settlement Administrative Territory completed the preparation of project and cost estimate documents for the aforementioned works some time ago. The authority has entrusted the renovation project to Avtoyoltikintiservis Limited Liability Company (LLC) and signed a contract for the work. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will receive a payment of 696,200 ($409,529) for its services. It is worth noting that, based on the tripartite declaration signed on November 10, 2020, Lacn district was returned to Azerbaijan on December 1 of the same year. Following local anti-terror operations on September 19, 2023, the Qayg settlement, along with the villages of Aganus, Dyirmanyan, rb, Malxlf, Mlikpy, Mgdr, and Unannovu, also came under Azerbaijans sovereignty once again. 6 March 2025 14:31 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev concluded his working visit to the Republic of Turkiye on March 6, Azernews reports. A guard of honor was arranged at Ankara Esenboga Airport in honor of the Azerbaijani President. President Ilham Aliyev was seen off by Turkiye's Minister of Finance Mehmet Simsek and other officials. 6 March 2025 18:19 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Kazakhstan will continue its cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to fully complete the investigation into the AZAL plane crash in Aktau, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev stated, Azernews reports. At a meeting with Nicolas Rallo, Director of the ICAO Bureau for Europe and the North Atlantic, Bozumbayev expressed gratitude for ICAOs support and thanked the organization for promptly dispatching independent expert Tormodur Tormodson to the crash site. "We will continue cooperation with ICAO to fully complete this investigation," Bozumbayev emphasized, as reported by Trend. The crash occurred on December 25, 2024, when an Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 and operated by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), was en route from Baku to Grozny. The aircraft crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan, resulting in the tragic loss of 39 lives, including the captain, co-pilot, senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers. Despite the devastating accident, the professionalism and bravery of the pilots and flight attendants enabled the survival of 29 passengers. Emergency response teams in Kazakhstan swiftly mobilized upon receiving information about the aircrafts emergency landing, ensuring the evacuation and medical treatment of survivors. Preliminary findings of the investigation The initial report on the crash has confirmed several key findings: The aircraft was fully airworthy at the time of takeoff and throughout its flight to Grozny, with its control systems confirmed to be functional by flight data recorder (FDR) analysis. Both engines operated without technical issues until the moment of the accident, as verified by the FDR. The aircraft encountered a loss of GPS signals while operating in Russian airspace, including over Grozny airport. After failing to land in Grozny due to poor weather conditions, the captain decided to return to Baku. During this time, cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data recorded two unexplained sounds over Grozny, 24 seconds apart. Four seconds after the first sound, the third hydraulic system failed, followed by failures of the first and second hydraulic systems within 21 seconds. The aircrafts fuselage exhibited numerous penetrating and blind damages, particularly in the rear fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, left wing, and left engine. Investigators identified foreign object damage on the fuselage but found no evidence suggesting a bird strike. Foreign objects unrelated to the aircraft were found embedded in the wreckage, and their photographs were included in the report. Further examinations are planned to determine their exact origin. At 05:13:32, the aircraft lost its main control systems. By 05:21:42, air traffic control in Grozny was informed of operation "Kover"an emergency procedure. No evidence was found of an oxygen cylinder explosion. According to ICAOs Chicago Convention, a final report on the crash must be completed within one year of the incident. The Republic of Kazakhstan, along with other investigating states, has already begun working on this comprehensive report. 6 March 2025 19:33 (UTC+04:00) First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, along with her daughter Arzu Aliyeva, visited Ganja city secondary school No. 37 to review the ongoing reconstruction efforts carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov and Head of Ganja City Executive Authority Niyazi Bayramov provided updates on the latest developments. Originally commissioned in 1969, the school was designed to accommodate more than 700 students. However, due to its deteriorating condition, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation launched a comprehensive renovation project in September 2024. The reconstruction is expected to be completed by September this year, in time for the new academic year. As part of its ongoing commitment to education, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation plans to complete the construction and renovation of several schools in Baku and across the regions for the upcoming academic year. Since its establishment, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has prioritized the development of education, implementing programs such as New School for a Renewing Azerbaijan and Support for Education. These initiatives, alongside state-led efforts to enhance school infrastructure, aim to improve the quality of education across the country. 6 March 2025 20:48 (UTC+04:00) The court hearing on the criminal case against Armenian citizens Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Gukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Babayan, Lyova Mnatsakanyan, and others, who are accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, unlawful retention of power, and other numerous crimes, continued on March 6. Azernews reports, citing Azertag that the hearing was held at the Baku Military Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with Judges Camal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev, and with Judge Gunel Smdova as an alternate. Each of the accused persons was provided with an interpreter in their native language and legal counsel for their defense. The defendants, their defenders, some of the victims, their legal heirs and representatives, as well as the prosecutors defending the state prosecution, attended the hearing. At the beginning of the hearing, the presiding judge informed the defendant Bako Sahakyan that an additional defense lawyer would be appointed at the state's expense. Sahakyan did not object to the new lawyer. The presiding judge then invited each defendant to make a statement regarding the charges they face and other matters relevant to the comprehensive, complete, and objective examination of the charges. During the hearing, defendants Davit Manukyan, Qurgen Stepanyan, Davit Allahverdiyan, Melikset Pasayan, Qarik Matrosyan, Levon Balayan, and Madat Babayan made free statements. Defendant Davit Manukyan, who was born in Armenia, served in the Armenian Armed Forces as a major general and held various senior positions, including as a commander of the illegal armed groups under the self-proclaimed regime, acknowledged fighting against the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. He mentioned that during the First Garabagh War, he was a regular soldier and participated in combat operations, including being injured in the Agdere direction on February 28, 1993. Manukyan emphasized that he was not involved in the decision-making of the so-called "Security Council" of the regime and was not informed about its meetings. He also mentioned that during the 44-day war, his car was hit by a Bayraktar UAV, causing his driver to be injured, while he himself was unharmed due to his distance from the explosion. Defendant Qurgen Stepanyan, who served in the military from 2005 to 2007 and later participated in combat in 2023, described his encounter with Azerbaijani forces while attempting to flee the post and subsequently surrendering to them. Defendant Melikset Pasayan explained his participation in defense operations in the Agdam region during the First Garabagh War and his involvement in protecting positions during the 2020 44-day war. Defendant Madat Babayan admitted to being in Khojaly in 1992 and mentioned his role in burying bodies there. Defendant Bako Sahakyan briefly addressed the court, speaking about his role as the "president" of the self-proclaimed regime under Armenia's control and noted the extensive opportunities provided to him during the preliminary investigation to answer questions. Subsequently, the court moved on to the examination of documents. The Chief Prosecutor's Deputy Vusal liyev presented historical documents confirming that Garabagh is Azerbaijani sovereign territory and Armenia's intent to annex it, including: The February 20, 1988 decision of the Garabagh Autonomous Oblast People's Deputies Soviet requesting the transfer of Garabagh from the Azerbaijan SSR to the Armenian SSR. The June 15, 1988 decision of the Armenian SSR Supreme Soviet on the annexation of Garabagh to Armenia. The July 18, 1988 decision by the USSR Supreme Soviet Presidium declaring the above-mentioned decisions unconstitutional. The August 30, 1991 declaration of the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Other documents regarding the declaration of the "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in September 1991 and other related legal acts. Additionally, the court examined the creation of illegal armed groups such as Big Tigran, David Sasunski, Archiv, and Sasun, formed in the 1980s in Garabagh and Armenia. These groups, organized and led by Armenian authorities, carried out activities aimed at destabilizing the region. Defendant Arkadi Gukasyan was questioned regarding his involvement with these groups, their leadership, and his connection to the criminal ideologies of "Greater Armenia" and "Miatsum." He denied his involvement with the "Krunq" organization and claimed that the arrests of those linked to the organization were not connected to their activities. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 10. The session will continue with questioning the accused. It should be noted that these individuals, including Harutyunyan Arayik Vladimiri, Gukasyan Arkadi Arshaviri, Sahakyan Bako Sahaki, Ishkhanyan Davit Rubeni, Manukyan David Azatini, Babayan Davit Klimi, Mnatsakanyan Levon Henrikovic, Beglaryan Vasili Ivani, Qazaryan Erik Roberti, Allahverdiyan Davit Nelsoni, Stepanyan Qurgen Homeri, Balayan Levon Romiki, Babayan Madat Arakelovic, Martirosyan Qarik Qriqori, Pasayan Melikset Vladimiriy, are charged under various provisions of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code for crimes including planning and conducting an aggressive war, genocide, terrorism, and war crimes, among others. They face charges for direct or indirect involvement in the crimes committed during the war in Garabagh and beyond. 6 March 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva uCloudlink, a company known for data transmission solutions and wireless communication services, introduced a unique gadget at the MWC 2025 exhibition the world's first PetPhone smartphone, Azernews reports. The PetPhone is an artificial intelligence device designed to monitor an animals health and track its location. It supports GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth and provides two-way communication. The device can be programmed to recognize specific actions, such as a dog barking. If the gadget detects signs of anxiety in the animal, the owner receives a notification and can "call" their pet to help calm them down. According to uCloudlink, the PetPhone allows animals to make calls in real-time using certain gestures and voice commands. Additionally, it attaches to the animal's neck and monitors its health and activity levels. As a bonus, the device features six different location-tracking technologies, ensuring the owner will instantly receive a notification if their pet strays too far. PetPhone is expected to appeal to people who must leave their pets alone during the day due to work or study commitments. However, the device has not yet been given a specific release date or price. Interested buyers can stay updated through the manufacturers official website. Interestingly, the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona showcased a range of unique smartphones. German telecom operator Deutsche Telekom, in collaboration with Perplexity, unveiled an AI-powered phone that operates without third-party applications, relying solely on an intelligent companion. Samsung introduced the concept of a highly unconventional Asymmetric Flip folding smartphone that bends in two places simultaneously. In addition to the PetPhone, uCloudlink presented several other innovations at MWC 2025. These included the eSIM TRIO SIM card solution, combining OTA SIM, eSIM, and CloudSim technologies, and the MeowGo G50 Max, a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot built on HyperConn technology. Lenovo also had a strong presence at the exhibition, showcasing several laptops such as the Yoga Solar PC, featuring a solar panel, and the ThinkBook Flip, a laptop with a folding screen. The MWC 2025 is proving to be an exciting hub for cutting-edge tech and novel concepts in the smartphone and gadget world! 6 March 2025 22:26 (UTC+04:00) By News Center The "Agriculture in the Century of Turkiye" Summit, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and led by Albayrak Media, took place at the Istanbul Finance Center (IFM). The summit, attended by experts in the field, focused on the future of Turkiyes agriculture for the next 100 years. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakl made a speech at the Summit. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakl stated that Turkiyes agricultural output is approximately 74 billion dollars. "Export figures were about 31 billion dollars in 2023, and we have reached 32.6 billion dollars in 2024. All of these are the figures of agriculture that were said to be finished, he said. The Minister noted that Turkiyes economy grew by 3.2% last year, while the agricultural sector grew by 3.9%, surpassing the countrys overall economic growth. We are first in agricultural output in Europe, and we are in the top 10 countries in the world, he added. Minister Yumakl stated that no country in the world can be 100% self-sufficient. "But what is important is whether you have the capability and capacity to meet your citizens basic needs for the future of your country, and this is what matters, yes, Turkiye is like that. As of today, if we closed our borders, Turkiye would have no problem with food security, he underscored. Yumakl reminded that by the end of 2024, Turkiye will have achieved a plant production of 137 million tons and emphasized that Turkiye is one of the leading countries in all categories of agriculture. Yumakl also made comparisons with the Netherlands, saying, "They are mentioned, but it is not about production, it is about sales." He reminded that Turkiyes agricultural sector serves a population of 86 million and also caters to 60 million tourists, and that Turkiye has exported agricultural products worth 32.6 billion dollars. "Turkiye exports agricultural products to approximately 186 countries. Therefore, saying agriculture is finished in our country means either ignorance or has a different purpose," he noted. Yumakli added that Turkiye started planned production last year, a dream that had been in place for 40 years. "We have determined which crops to produce, in which environments, how, and in what quantities, together with all sector stakeholders, through an extensive working period, and we have implemented it," he said. Emphasizing the effects of climate change on all countries, Minister Yumakl said, "Considering that resources are becoming limited, we have to make this planning." As for the progress in agricultural production since 2002, he said, the land is the same, but the production has increased significantly. What is the reason for this? First, mechanization, agricultural technologies, efforts to consolidate lands, especially investments in water and irrigation, and the awareness of our farmers; all of these and many more have been the most important factors in the development of agricultural production in Turkiye," he said. Yumakl also assessed the interest of young farmers in agricultural production, stating that the Abundance in Rural Areas, Support for Livestock Project received nearly ten times more applications than expected. Minister Yumakl pointed out that Turkiye is an authority in the world in combating forest fires. Having the necessary tools and equipment, being able to intervene within 11 minutes, and being one of the two countries in the world using unmanned aerial vehicles for forest fires or forest activities is, although prideful, always the same; yes, we are successful in fighting forest fires, but the real success is preventing them, he noted. Yumakl stated that citizens showed great interest in the publication of counterfeit and adulterated products, adding, In 2024, inspections reached approximately 1.3 million, and nearly 1.5 billion lira in administrative fines were imposed. We filed criminal complaints against 610 businesses for punishment. We started inspections on the most consumed products during Ramadan with 8,000 personnel. Minister Yumakl shared information on pesticide consumption, saying, "In the last three years, the residue rate on products has decreased by 35%. The return rate of exported products has also decreased by 60%. In our country, the amount of pesticide used per hectare is 2.3 kilograms. In the European Union, it is 3.2 kilograms. Some countries use more than 10 kilograms. The global average is almost the same as Turkiyes." Regarding water efficiency, Yumakl mentioned that 11,000 facilities were established since 2002, with an investment of 3.3 trillion lira. By 2025, we will add another 381 facilities. We are trying to complete irrigation investments. We have a budget of 106 billion lira, he stated. Nurettin Canikli, Vice Chairman of Albayrak Group, also had a speech and he pointed out that wheat was used as a sanction tool in the Russia-Ukraine War. He stressed that Turkiye needs to become self-sufficient in basic food products. "As Albayrak Group, we use all the elements of modern agriculture, and we support farmers in every way. We have carried this experience to the African countries where we operate port management, he said. Canikli added that they increased productivity in Guinea by using agricultural tools equivalent to 150 tractors, boosting yield per decare from 2,000 kilograms to 6,000 kilograms. Kemalettin Bayat, Agricultural Group Chairman of Ziraat Bank, said that Ziraat Bank will continue to support producers. "In the last 5 years, we increased our share in the agricultural sector from 64% to 72%. By the end of 2024, we provided 72% of the total agricultural banking loans amounting to 889 billion TL, meaning we provided more than 645 billion TL for the agricultural sector," he said. During the summit session titled 'Strategic Importance of Food Supply Security,' Osman Yldz, General Director of Agricultural Reform at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized that agricultural production should be done in a planned manner. "We will first produce to meet our own needs. We are a country with limited water resources, and we are working on efficient water use, he said. Erkan Tek, Head of Strategy Development at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, also shared information about food supply security. He noted, "The pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have made this issue more urgent. According to a study by OECD a few years ago, in the last 50 years, the world population has doubled, food production has tripled, but total agricultural land has decreased by 15%. In such conditions, ensuring supply security both in the world and in Turkiye is only possible through increased efficiency." Ulku Karakus, President of the Turkiye Agriculture Council at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkiye (TOBB), stated, "As agricultural areas shrink every day, we are countering this. In the 21st century, it is not 100% possible for countries to be self-sufficient, but during the pandemic, we saw that Turkiye was able to meet all its needs with its resources. Turkiye has no dependency on seeds from abroad. Eyup Demir, General Manager of Mezra Ziraat, shared that they had implemented a 'New Farmer Program' for young people, and nearly 300 young people had started farming. "We continued these trainings in Mezra and SUKKAR. We achieved an increase in productivity," he said. Abdullah Eris, Board Member of MUSIAD, stated, "Farmers and we have things to do. We can succeed in this together 6 March 2025 23:30 (UTC+04:00) By News Center President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted a joint press conference with North Macedonias Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, following the signing of a Joint Political Statement at the Presidential Dolmabahce Office. In his speech, President Erdogan emphasized the high level of cooperation established through the joint statement, stating, We have established a high-level cooperation mechanism with this joint declaration. I also want to visit Skopje. The steps to be taken for economic relations were a significant part of todays discussions. Our companies are continuing their operations with investments nearing 2 billion dollars in various fields. We are working to double the trade volume, which currently stands at nearly 1 billion dollars. The free trade initiative will contribute to this effort." President Erdogan also touched on the ongoing defense industry projects, mentioning that Turkiye was one of the first countries to recognize North Macedonia's independence. "We are two friendly nations contributing directly to peace in the Balkans. Our relations have become as solid as the Stone Bridge in Skopje. One of the most important ties is the Turkish community in North Macedonia. Our brothers who migrated to Anatolia in the past have made significant contributions to our country and have strengthened the bond between us and North Macedonia," Erdogan said. He further highlighted the ongoing fight against FETO (Gulenist Terrorist Organization) and emphasized the shared commitment to tackling the organization. The two leaders also exchanged views on global issues, particularly focusing on Ukraine and Gaza. Erdogan reaffirmed Turkiyes support for Ukraines negotiations and expressed shared will for a two-state solution for Palestine. Prime Minister Mickoski, speaking at the press conference, expressed his pleasure at visiting Turkiye for the first time. We have many common ties. There is a cooperation between the Macedonian and Turkish nations. Our meeting with Mr. Erdogan was very important. This meeting serves as an endorsement of the cooperation. We especially emphasize the economic aspect, Mickoski said. He went on to praise Turkiyes strength and influence in the region. Turkiye is an economic and commercial friend for us. It is a very powerful country with a significant impact in this region. We must mobilize all our knowledge to encourage Turkish firms to invest in North Macedonia. We have strong cooperation in the energy sector, especially regarding gas. In terms of education and culture, and security, given that we are both members of NATO, our cooperation is robust. We addressed these matters and signed agreements with Mr. Erdogan. The establishment of the cooperation council is an important step. This step is crucial as we aim to establish strategic cooperation at the highest level. Mickoski emphasized that the strategic cooperation with Turkiye was of great importance for North Macedonia, particularly in the defense industry, energy, and infrastructure sectors. He noted that strengthening these ties on economic, political, and cultural fronts was key to their mutual success. "Our relations are very good. The Turkish community in North Macedonia is very important to us. Mr. Erdogan is my friend, and his past, Turkiyes past, is closely tied to my country. He is always welcome to visit us, and I believe he will come to Skopje in the near future, Mickoski concluded. 1. Florida: Discussions have recently intensified surrounding the states tight limits on who can sue for medical malpractice. Current medical malpractice law, written in 1990, states that if someone 25 or older dies because of a physicians mistake, only a spouse or child under 25 can sue for pain and suffering. In 2024, five total or partial repeal bills were proposed but all failed to gain traction, according to the Orlando Sentinel. State Rep. Johanna Lopez was the first lawmaker to file a bill to end the restrictions. 2. Georgia: Gov. Brian Kemp has forwarded an initiative to limit lawsuits and tackle tort laws in the state. While his proposal has faced some criticism from Democrats, the second part of the bill passed the state Senate Feb. 21, according to U.S. News and World Report. Proponents of the bill argue that limiting lawsuits would help physicians and small businesses, while opponents say there is no proof that the bill would lower insurance rates. 3. Montana: Several bills have been proposed in the State Legislature to strengthen legal protections for medical professionals, healthcare systems and insurance companies faced with malpractice claims. The proposed changes are backed by powerful players in the regional healthcare industry and have passed through the initial phases of the legislative process, according to Montana Free Press. 4. New Mexico: State senators in New Mexico introduced a bill Jan. 28 to cap attorneys fees in medical malpractice lawsuits, end lump-sum payouts from the patient compensation fund and send 75% of any punitive damages awarded in malpractice cases to a new public fund designed to improve patient safety. The bill, proposed in early February, is sponsored by Ohio Sens. Louis Blessing, a Republican, and Bill DeMora, a Democrat, and would ban noncompete agreements broadly. The bill includes several exceptions for employees with individual legal representation, such as executives, and provisions to ensure it does not conflict with student loan repayment programs. Opponents, largely represented by business and industry groups, argued that without post-employment restrictions, small employers would face a disadvantage with large ones, particularly rural employers. They also noted that employers who offer benefits like relocation, tuition reimbursement or visa sponsorship may be more hesitant to do so if the bill becomes law. Hospital representatives said that it could be more difficult to offer specialty care due to front-end investments in equipment and support staff, according to the report. Payers argued that noncompetes are needed when an agency sells its business to ensure the seller does not immediately open a competing agency. Supporters of the bill argued that noncompetes stifle mobility and entrepreneurship. Last month, Mr. Blessing argued that noncompete contracts reduce wages and suppress a free market. The report, The Cost of Physician Turnover and the Economic Impact of Physicians, analyzes the economic contributions of patient care physicians at the state level. Here are five stats to know: 1. Each office-based physician generates an average economic output of $3.1 million. 2. On average, each physician supports 17 jobs. 3. The average physician contributes $1.4 million in wages and benefits. 4. Physicians also generate $126,129 in local and state tax revenue, a significant increase from $90,449 in 2012. 5. Here are the 10 states with the highest average per capital economic output of patient care physicians: Here are five things that ASC leaders have told Beckers they look for when forging partnerships with hospitals and health systems: 1. Shared culture and values. Many ASC leaders have emphasized a need to ensure that patient care is top priority in any strategic partnership, whether with a hospital, health system, or outside investment or management group. As a clinician, administrator and industry consultant, private equity-acquisition groups need to keep their focus equally on three important principles for success: patient care, organizational culture and bottom-line business processes, Robert Nelson, PA-C, former executive director of Island Eye Surgicenter in Westbury, N.Y., told Beckers. Neither of them should take precedence over the others. Historically, the acquiring company usually places the most emphasis on business processes and operations, resulting in a significant impact on patient care and organization culture. Yes, the merger needs to have an upside for all stakeholders. But never at the expense of patient care, patient safety and the morale of our important team members. 2. Reimbursement rates. Financial stability and improved rates with payers are one of the central reasons that ASCs seek out partnerships with hospitals and health systems, and ASC leaders should be adequately prepared during negotiations to ensure that the hospital partnerships can provide this leverage. Weve been able to get better reimbursement rates by having a hospital be the majority stakeholder, Bruce Feldman, administrator of Eastern Orange Ambulatory Surgery Center in Cornwall, N.Y., told Beckers. They have a whole contracting department at their disposal. So that was one of the biggest reasons why the hospital became involved here in the first place, and the partners decided to sell their shares to the hospital. 3. Quality enhancement through collaboration. Gina Taylor, quality and accreditation program manager at Bellaire, Texas-based Harris Health, told Beckers that hospitals can bolster ASC quality initiatives by providing access to critical resources that independent ASCs may lack. We have access to resources that independent ASCs typically dont, and weve been able to collaborate with different departments within the healthcare system like pharmacy, lab teams, radiology, medical staff services and health information management, she said. These collaborations improve quality and patient care. 4. Bolstered staff recruitment and retention. Some hospital-ASC partnerships may also include access to resources that can strengthen staffing and recruitment efforts, a particularly desirable facet of the relationship as many facilities face staffing shortages. Many physicians have the opportunity to invest and become owners, which gives them more freedom to be involved in day-to-day operations and the care they provide to patients, Ms. Taylor said. They are more engaged at that level. 5. Access to new technology. Hospital or health system partnerships may offer the financial support needed to acquire and operate new technology, like surgical robots, which can be cost-prohibitive for independent centers. More than 35 ASC leaders recently highlighted the role of technology in ASCs future growth to Beckers. Mr. Matthews stopped practicing in May 2023 after facing date rape charges. He had been practicing medicine in the state since 2021. His license was taken away six months after a jury convicted him of rape. Two months later, he was sentenced to prison for raping women he met on online dating sites. In October, Mr. Matthews lawyer said he plans to appeal the conviction. However, in agreement with the Colorado Medical Board, Mr. Matthews agrees not to apply for reactivation, reinstatement or issuance of a new license to practice medicine in Colorado at any time in the future. Despite high survival rates among patients who regularly undergo screenings, approximately 38% of Americans older than 45 have not had a colonoscopy, despite 45 being the new recommended screening age. In addition, CRC rates are on the rise among young patients. Early stage research has found that colorectal cancer rates have risen between 45% and 500% for people too young for routine screenings. Since we started colon cancer awareness month during the Clinton administration, weve seen a drop in CRC each year for 20-30 years overall; but the issue is were seeing a rise in CRC among young patients, Peter Senatore, MD, a colon and rectal surgeon at Inspira Health in Vineland, N.J., told Beckers. For people over 55, rates are dropping about 1% a year. Unfortunately were seeing a dramatic increase in the rates of colon cancer and death rates in people under 55. Patients all the way down to their 20s. Thats the concerning thing. Dr. Senatore has been a practicing colon and rectal specialist for more than 36 years, and in that time he has continued to witness more concerning gastrointestinal symptoms in younger patients. We are seeing a lot of people in the young age group, and the biggest issue that weve been trying to emphasize with primary care providers is dont take any symptoms lightly. In the past, someone in their 20s or 30s would present with some light rectal bleeding and wed say, Oh dont worry, its probably hemorrhoids. Now, we never assume that, he said. And I have seen people in the younger age groups where they just have minor complaints and we end up finding an early tumor. Were not sure why were seeing these growing numbers, this rise. A lot of it has to do with risk factors, and we see that risk factors are the same for colon cancer at any age. More sedentary lifestyle, higher obesity rates, smoking a lot of these things seem to be risk factors, but we dont have a good handle on exactly why were seeing a dramatic rise since 2014-2015. A 2024 study found that in people 20 to 24 years old, GI cancer cases increased by 185% from 0.7 to 2 per 100,000 people between 1999 and 2000. For people older than 25, the increases were smaller, with those ages 40-44 seeing the smallest increase of 45% (from 15 cases per 100,000 people to about 21 per 100,000). Around 26% of adults older than 45 do not have any plans to ever undergo a colonoscopy. Close to one-third (29%) of patients cited feeling fear or anxiety about the CRC screening process as a reason for not getting screened. When I talk to people and give lectures, colon cancer is one of the most common cancers and is the second leading cause of cancer death, and its still puzzling to me why its that much of a problem we know the vast majority begins with beginning polyps and theres a significant lead time between finding a polyp and having cancer develop like 10 years, Dr. Senatore said. It should receive more attention, and the real reason is a lot of people arent getting any type of screening. And now when you talk about rising rates in younger people, its even more important to push people to get some screening and not ignore symptoms. There is a great deal of fear and anxiety for patients when it comes to the invasive nature of a colonoscopy. Around 20% of Americans said they are still putting off colonoscopies due to the preparation required leading up to the procedure. Recently, new blood and stool-based CRC tests have hit the market, giving patients less invasive screening options. While physicians emphasize that these options are not as accurate as traditional colonoscopy, most agree that getting some form of screening is better than none at all. Obviously colonoscopy is the gold standard of screening, but any tool is important, Dr. Senatore said. Doing something is important. The big test thats been coming down the pike is blood-based tests, which are basically looking for DNA from cancer cells in the blood, what we call circulating tumor DNA. Thats something that has been around for a few years, and were trying to use it in people that have had colon cancers. Now this test is being used as a screening tool. Its something that hasnt made its way into widespread use, but is very interesting and as more refinement of the blood test and parsing out DNA in the bloodstream occurs, it will make it a lot easier. A blood draw is something you can do with an annual physical and its very easy. Its harder to get people to come back for another test or send in stool. That testing will hopefully provide another layer of protection when it comes to catching CRC cases. In addition to fear surrounding screenings, there is a lack of education. Dr. Senatore and Inspira Health are aiming to change that in New Jersey. Currently, around 79% of Americans do not know the recommended age to get a colonoscopy. In addition, only 9% of patients know how to identify the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer. Inspira Health has partnered with the New Jersey Cancer and Early Detection program, which is designed to provide patients below the poverty line free screenings for the four most common U.S. cancers. It provides cost-free screening for low income people, and weve been working with them with new stool tests, and anyone who comes back positive we get them in for a colonoscopy. I have been doing a lot of colonoscopies for these patients, Dr. Senatore said. The NJCED program picks up costs of the procedure, so the state has done a great job reaching out to people who are financially strapped and trying to get healthcare. Its still tough to get these people in the door, but the program is there and Inspira works hard to get people qualified and in and screened. Inspira also previously partnered with the American Cancer Society for a project, attempting to get 80% of patients in the at-risk age group screened. While the system fell short of that goal at the time, Inspira is still pushing toward that mark. The main thing is getting people some screening of any kind. Its been a hard sell, which is strange considering the statistics, Dr. Senatore said. We know this cancer is completely preventable if we do screening and catch it, but its hard to understand why people arent. Some might be economic, some might be education. Weve been working with the state, with the NJCED program, trying to do what we can. Jeffrey Flynn, administrator of Gramercy Surgery Center in New York City and president of the New York State Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, spoke with Beckers about the contrasts between ASCs and hospitals, particularly in their approach to accountability and patient care. While hospitals function as large bureaucratic institutions, ASCs are typically independent businesses with a more direct, personal approach to problem-solving, he said. This difference in structure impacts not only patient care but also workforce dynamics. For Mr. Flynn, running an ASC means taking direct ownership of challenges. We started [our ASC] its my business, and I want to make sure that problems stop with me, he said. I dont care who did what in the organization; its my responsibility. But its also that there isnt that in hospitals. Theyll often push it off to somebody else. This culture of accountability extends to daily operations. In ASCs, administrators and staff work closely with physicians to optimize efficiency, particularly in scheduling. Unlike hospitals, where departmental miscommunication can often cause delays and finger-pointing, ASCs emphasize direct engagement and swift resolution. If something gets messed up timing-wise, or whatever else, I encourage physicians to point to us, he said. Well have somebody walk over to the patient and apologize. Theres more of a bond in the office suddenly. By contrast, hospital interactions can sometimes feel impersonal and adversarial. Hospitals just push back and forth, he said. This inefficiency not only frustrates physicians and staff but also adds unnecessary stress for patients navigating an already complex system. Here are 10 things to know about the bill and the surrounding legislative discussion: 1. SB 951 is the states most recent effort to place restrictions on private equity activity in healthcare. 2. Oregon law currently requires physicians to hold a majority stake in medical practice. Supporters argue that many independent practices are sidestepping the current regulations to align with private equity firms and national healthcare conglomerates. 3. The bill passed through the House with bipartisan support but is stalled in the state Senate. 4. The good news of that outcome was that we were able to pull together a very comprehensive process to engage stakeholders and make it a better bill, Rep. Ben Bowman, a sponsor of the bill, told the Oregonian/OregonLive. This isnt a partisan issue. Its about ensuring that when a patient walks into an exam room, their doctor and not a corporation is making medical decisions. 5. A March 4 hearing showed divisions within the legislature. It drew 108 written statements 101 of which were in support of the bill but live testimony was split. 6. Rep. Cyrus Javadi, a co-sponsor of the bill, said it wouldnt ban independent practices from partnering with MSOs, but would prohibit MSOs from influencing medical decisions and restricting employment arrangements. 7. The bill would also nullify most noncompete and nondisclosure agreements between MSOs and healthcare providers. 8. This version of the bill would also allow the Oregon Health Authority to halt pending and future mergers and acquisitions that would give corporations excessive influence over medical practices, according to the report. 9. Under the bill, violations would be treated as consumer protection infractions under the states Unlawful Trade Practices Act, giving the attorney general the power to take legal action against these cases and allow physician practices to sue MSOs for overreach. 10. The bill includes a phase implementation, giving practices more than three years to fall into compliance with the law. Dr. Nguyen serves as chief medical executive, director of minimally invasive valve surgery and Barry T. Katzen medical director endowed chair at the institute, which is part of Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida. A crucial part of building the program included partnering with Florida International University, also in Miami, to recruit renowned cardiac surgeon Makoto Hashimoto, MD, in December. Drs. Hashimoto and Nguyen recently spoke to Beckers about the program and what they see for the future of robotic cardiac surgery. Editors note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length. Question: What role does robotic-assisted surgery play in your overall vision for the Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute? Dr. Tom Nguyen: Within the short amount of time since Dr. Hashimoto has started, the robotic heart surgery program has exploded. Were now the largest, highest-volume robotic heart surgery program in the state of Florida and were only going to continue to grow. The vision is to continue to support Dr. Hashimoto, to continue to scale and grow, and for some of our other surgeons to adopt and learn robotic heart surgery. We believe in scalability, scaling and training others. So another part of the vision is to eventually become a robotic heart surgery training center so that other people can learn this technique. Eventually, as an institute, we want to be a Mecca for the least invasive way of doing complex operations while still achieving excellent outcomes. Thats ultimately our goal and I think robotics will clearly play a role. Q: What barriers are currently preventing wider adoption of robotics for cardiac procedures? Dr. Makoto Hashimoto: Robotic cardiac surgery was not widespread until 2020. The number of procedures was not expanding like in other fields such as urology, thoracic surgery, general surgery or gynecology. I think this is because of the difficulty and complexity of cardiac surgery itself along with the lack of training facilities. With the current generation of robots, called the Da Vinci system, the number of robotic cardiac surgeries has grown by about 15% every year since 2020. In 2024 the total number of robotic cardiac surgeries performed in the world was around 13,000, but the total number of robotic surgeries was nearly 3 million. The number of robotic cardiac surgeries still accounts for less than 0.5% of all robotic surgeries. Regarding education, not everyone in Europe is allowed to use robots right now. But with the newest Da Vinci robot, they are planning to expand the robotic cardiac surgery field. There is a huge opportunity to work with those surgeons in Europe. Education will be a very real priority in the next five years, and we should take the initiative in that field too. Q: How can robotic cardiac surgery contribute to better long-term patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs for hospitals and health systems? TN: The robot is expensive. Its about a $2 million-piece of machinery which some hospital systems might be reluctant to purchase and embrace. But the data seems to suggest that the investment will have a return on investment several times over. One, the patient will have a faster recovery and spend less time in the hospital, and we know that time in the hospital costs a lot of money. There are also things that add to the cost of a hospital stay, one is blood utilization. Using blood is expensive, but with a robotic approach compared to a sternotomy approach, you use less blood because its a smaller incision. There is also less ventilation time and less ICU time because youre in the ICU for a shorter period. We know that by having the robot and establishing a high-volume center, the program will grow and bring in patients from different areas. Then, probably most importantly, we know that in experienced hands, by doing it minimally invasively with a robotic approach, its just better patient care. Q: How do you see robotic cardiac surgery evolving over the next five to ten years? MH: The Da Vinci 5, the newest robot, has not yet been approved by the FDA for cardiac surgery, though I think within a year it will be. Im particularly excited about an instrument called the endo-stabilizer, which can be used for TCAB, totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting. It will enable the most minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery. The next five years will be a major transition period for robotic cardiac surgery, more hospitals will start robotic programs and the number of cases will increase. For the next 10 years, I think telesurgery will probably become more prominent. Im not sure how it will be made possible, but I know telesurgery is something all surgeons are interested in. A cybercrime group known as Vanilla Tempest is among the most financially motivated hacking organizations targeting the healthcare sector, according to a new report from Microsoft. Here are five takeaways from the event, according to Beckers interviews with executives on site: 1. The AI race. Many health system leaders discussed their enterprise rollouts or pilots of ambient AI technology to document patient visits. Ive been in this business 30 years and nothing has come close to being this impactful, this quickly, at the right time, said Eric Poon, MD, chief health information officer of Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Health System, which turned on Abridge for 5,000 providers and trainees in January. But he noted that a lot of AI solutions look promising but dont end up working, for reasons both technological and human. With AI, you need to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince or princess, he said. At a panel, Veena Jones, MD, vice president and chief medical information officer of Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health, called implementing ambient AI one of the highlights of my career so far. Next week, Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham plans to offer it to 7,000-plus providers. Its not cheap, but its transformative, said Rebecca Mishuris, MD, chief medical information officer and vice president of digital at Mass General Brigham, during the panel. Burnout really is a crisis. It is costly to replace a physician or APP [advanced practice provider] or when they pull back on their time. The ultimate goal of healthcare AI is to make me a better doctor, said Brian Hoberman, MD, executive vice president of IT and CIO at the Permanente Federation, part of Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente. Ambient AI, he said, has done that for him and his colleagues. Many health system leaders are excited about the technology moving on to nurses (with some trialing it for nursing documentation). 2. Agentic AI. AI agents have arrived in healthcare. An AI agent at Charleston, S.C.-based MUSC Health is completing 40% of prior authorizations without human intervention. Epic is among the companies developing AI agents to, say, identify and close care gaps. 3. Doing care at home differently. Mass General Brigham is expanding hospital at home to post-operative and oncology patients. The health system is also developing a care orchestration platform with Best Buy Health to streamline the at-times overwhelming logistics needed to run the care model. Stephen Dorner, MD, chief clinical and innovation officer of Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home, said he envisions a role for AI in not just detecting falls, but preventing them, by learning about each specific patients movements and habits at home. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Stanford Health Care wants to do inpatient treatment in the home, but California regulations dont allow it. So the health system plans to launch advanced care at home May 1, using AI to identify patients and wearables and remote patient monitoring technologies to treat them. Stanford aims to become a statewide brand for home care as its academic medical center serves patients from Fresno to the Oregon border. Were not trying to take a population health approach, said Gretchen Brown, MSN, RN, vice president and chief nursing information officer of Stanford Health Care. Were trying to send pretty complex patients home. 4. Beyond ROI. Emerging technologies like AI might not have immediate financial returns. We need to be OK with not worrying about ROI. Were not going to have ROI right away, said Crystal Broj, chief digital transformation officer of MUSC Health. The AIs learning. Were learning. For instance, when MUSC Health started testing Microsofts DAX Copilot AI scribe a year ago, it didnt work all that well. By the end of the pilot, providers didnt want MUSC Health to take it away. You have to go through the bad to get to the good, Ms. Broj said. 5. Dont forget about cybersecurity. The focus has shifted to AI, but lets not forget about cybersecurity, said Zafar Chaudry, MD, senior vice president and chief digital, AI and information officer of Seattle Childrens. I truly dont believe that in 2025 were any safer than we were in 2024. AI can both help improve cybersecurity, by detecting threats, and make health systems more vulnerable, like if an employee accidentally uploads malicious code, Dr. Chaudry said. Nurses represented by National Nurses United held a rally March 6 outside the hospital to highlight what they describe as a patient safety crisis. Nurses said the ED was short at least six nurses at the start of their shift Feb. 10, when a patient experiencing chest pain died in the bathroom. Medical staffers who were working that day previously told the Asheville Watchdog that an electrocardiogram test was ordered for the male patient, who had asked to use the bathroom before the test was performed. The patient had pulled a cord for assistance in the bathroom and was found about 15 minutes later by a triage nurse, at which point his heart had stopped beating. One staff member was terminated after an internal investigation. Patient safety is being compromised, Gabby Taylor, RN, who works in the hospitals cardiovascular ICU, said in a union news release. Hospital administrators have refused to take meaningful action to fix the staffing crisis, leaving nurses overburdened and putting patients at risk. On Feb. 28, Reclaim Healthcare a coalition of physicians, nurses, elected officials and other local advocates held a press conference urging Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA to boost staffing levels, saying the patient death could have been prevented, the Asheville Citizen Times reported. Advocates also pressed the hospital to share more information surrounding another patient death that occurred in January. Formed in 2024, the group has been pressing HCA to either improve staffing and care services, or relinquish its ownership of Mission Hospital. Mission Health spokesperson Nancy Lindell said claims about staffing levels at the hospital are incorrect, noting increases made over the past several months. Our commitment to providing safe, exceptional care remains steadfast, especially since we have historically high numbers of patients with respiratory and flu-like illnesses, she said in a statement to Beckers. To help us during this surge in ER volume, we have provided additional resources and support, including a significant number of contract nurses from outside the area. We continue to prioritize our hiring and recruitment efforts adding more than 240 members to our team in January and holding more than 36 recruitment events over the last two months. We are proud of our clinical outcomes, and the daily feedback we receive from our patients confirms the excellent care they receive, even in these busy periods, she said. Ms. Lindell also stated that the February patient death was the result of hospital protocols not being followed by certain staff members and not the result of staffing levels. An investigation into the January incident confirmed that there were no delays that impacted the outcome, she said. HCA acquired Mission Health in 2019. HCA has since faced growing criticism from state officials, clinicians and community advocates who claim quality of care has declined since the for-profit system purchased Mission Health. In February 2024, CMS issued Mission Hospital an immediate jeopardy citation surrounding three patient deaths that occurred in 2022 and 2023. The citation was lifted after the hospital submitted a plan of correction. HCA also faces ongoing legal challenges over its ownership of Mission Health. In 2023, North Carolinas then-Attorney General Josh Stein sued the health system, alleging it failed to uphold its contractual obligations to maintain certain services at Mission Hospital. Additionally, Buncombe County has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that staffing cuts have led to longer ED wait times, forcing EMS workers to care for patients in ambulances and hallways until hospital staff can take over. But for a select group of hospitals and health systems, these relationships extend beyond the occasional opinions or consultative guidance. About three years ago, Cleveland Clinic created the Connected program, which involves a deeper level of collaboration that enables partner hospitals to utilize Cleveland Clinic branding. Through the program, the health system aims to build a global network of independent, like-minded, quality-focused organizations to improve patient outcomes worldwide. The program currently has two U.S. members Columbus (Ind.) Regional Health and Titusville, Fla.-based Parrish Medical Center and two international member hospitals in Vietnam. If you talk to me next year, youll see that this program has evolved very rapidly, said Tommasso Falcone, MD, Cleveland Clinics executive vice president and president of emerging markets. The program is in expansion mode, with several additional health systems in the U.S. and abroad that have recently signed on as members. Beckers recently connected with Dr. Falcone to learn more about the strategy behind the program and its impact. Four things to know: UAMS completed the 500th robot in November, co-director of spine Hector Soriano-Baron, MD, said in the release. The first robot spine surgery was completed four and a half years ago using the Excelsius GPS robot. UAMS spine program includes the Excelsuis GPS, Medtronic Mazor and the DaVinci robots. The move will save customers in the area on average 136 a year (stock image) The company said that from April 1 it will be slashing domestic tariffs for customers in the Ten Towns Network Area by 11.84%. It will save customers in the area on average 136 a year. The area includes Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Coleraine, Craigavon (including Lurgan and Portadown), Limavady, Londonderry, Newry and more than 25 other towns and villages in the surrounding areas. The company also said it intends to bring further competition to the Greater Belfast Market and that announcement would follow. The price cut follows a review of regulated gas tariffs by the Utility Regulator. Announced in January 2025 the review looked at tariffs for domestic and small business customers of Firmus Energy and SSE Airtricity Gas. Colin Broomfield, Director of Markets at the Utility Regulator said: "Following our analysis, we have determined that Firmus Energys regulated tariff will decrease by 11.84%, and there will be no change to SSE Airtricity Gas Supplys regulated tariff. Firmus Energys decrease of 11.84%, or 136 per year, will come into effect from 1 April 2025. Mr Broomfield said the decrease means NI customers will receive a greater discount than their GB or ROI counterparts. Following the conclusion of our review of the gas tariffs, the combined regulated gas and electricity tariffs in Northern Ireland will be lower than the Price Cap in Great Britain and Republic of Ireland combined tariffs, from 1 April 2025. Power NIs regulated tariff was reviewed in October 2024 and a 4% increase came into effect on 1 December 2024. When the Firmus Energy tariff was set in April 2024, this included an allowance to recover higher than forecast wholesale gas costs from the previous tariff period. Mr Bloomfield added that the company has now recovered these costs and therefore a tariff reduction was possible. It is important to note that the wholesale energy market continues to be volatile, he added. "We will continue to monitor the regulated suppliers tariffs to ensure that regulated tariffs reflect the actual cost of providing gas and electricity to consumers. However, Mr Bloomfield recognises energy costs are still expensive for many customers. We do recognise that many households and businesses are still struggling with their energy costs. If you are worried about paying for your electricity or gas, we would encourage you to contact your supplier in the first instance, to make them aware of your circumstances, and discuss the options available. "In addition, there are a number of agencies who can provide free and independent advice to households, including Advice NI, Christians Against Poverty, the Consumer Council and Money and Pensions Services MoneyHelper. Reacting to the announcement, Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy at the Consumer Council said: This gas tariff decrease is very welcome news but gas wholesale markets still remain very volatile due to various factors. "We have worked closely with the Utility Regulator and regulated supply companies over the past few years on providing additional support and protection for consumers facing high energy prices. "This work to support and protect consumers will continue, he added. The move will save customers in the area on average 136 a year (stock image) Watch: One of a kind Primark Home store comes to Belfast Author Carol Drinkwater discusses her new novel and life in Provence: Its important for me to open myself to the page every day Inside the pages of Belfast bars innovative new cocktail menu where a drink could set you back 1,000 But a true original at the Merchant costs less than 15... The eye-catching ruby red colour of the Beetroot cocktail Gary Law Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 14:00 A celebrated New York bartender once wrote that the key to mixing memorable drinks is originality. Make a change to the usual recipe, he urged, and introduce it to your guests instead of being taught by them what to do. A bartender ought to be leading and not be led. Alan Vial and Nikita Burns have both been found guilty of murdering 66-year-old Robert 'Robin' Wilkin from Co Tyrone, whose body was thrown over the cliffs at Sliabh Liag, one of Donegal's most popular tourist attractions. The jury of seven women and five men at Dublins Central Criminal Court returned their majority, ten to two, verdicts in respect of each accused. Following the verdict, Mr Justice Paul McDermott exempted them from further jury service for ten years. A domestic abuser was remanded in custody today after a judge told him he will receive a "significant'' prison sentence for threatening to kill his ex. James Samuel Clarke (38), of Edenvale Crescent in Belfast, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of threats to kill, assault on police, and impeding a female PSNI constable in the execution of her duty. Joe Kennedy pictured in Belfast on his last visit to Northern Ireland as US Special Envoy A former US special envoy to Northern Ireland has been appointed to an honorary role at Queens University. Dr Joe Kennedy III will serve as an Honorary Professor of Practice in International Relations and Global Leadership He previously served as Americas special envoy to Northern Ireland from 2022 to 2024 under the Biden administration. Mr Kennedy is excited to take on the new role and is eager to work with Northern Irish scholars. Throughout my career, Ive witnessed firsthand the power of education, collaboration, and community-driven solutions in creating lasting and meaningful change, he said. "I look forward to working with the universitys talented students, faculty, and partners as we continue to advance social justice, peace, and sustainable progress both locally and globally. Joe Kennedy previously served as Americas special envoy to Northern Ireland Queens Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer said Dr Kennedy has had an exceptional career with unwavering commitment to public service. "His expertise in international relations and global leadership will be invaluable to our academic community, particularly our students, who are shaping the future of leadership and diplomacy, he said. "His insights and vision will enrich our collective efforts to address global challenges and nurture a new generation committed to creating a more inclusive and peaceful world. "We look forward to working closely with him to further strengthen the important relationship between Northern Ireland and the United States. Mr Kennedy III is a grandson of murdered senator Robert F Kennedy. Joe Kennedy pictured in Belfast on his last visit to Northern Ireland as US Special Envoy Watch: One of a kind Primark Home store comes to Belfast New legislation is aimed at cutting the cost of school uniforms. Stormonts education committee has been told there will be no immediate price cap on school uniforms, despite the minister bringing new legislation before the Assembly to cut the cost for parents. A bill was introduced by Paul Givan last month, but will have to be scrutinised and debated by MLAs before it becomes law. Members were told there are doubts on the ability to legally introduce price controls, with the onus remaining on schools to make their uniforms affordable. Department of Education official Margaret Rose McNaughton told the committee that a recent consultation on proposals showed a widespread support for measures to reduce the cost of uniforms. She said the bill, when passed, will place an explicit duty on the department to introduce statutory guidelines and that schools will have to address unfair aspects. But while any initial legislation will enable a process for a cap to be set on either the cost of individual uniform items, or the total cost, she said there are further complexities in being able to do that. Ms McNaughton added that the department had taken legal advice and spoken with the Competition and Markets Authority. Yes, you could have a cap as a short-term measure, but in this instance the costs are being driven by the design from and behaviour of the schools, she added. Our hope is that we can change school behaviour, that they choose designs that are more cost effective. We would need to be really clear how we have come to an amount if a cap is put in place. There is such a variation in the cost of uniform. Some have very low cost, some have very high. We have started drafting a consultation process on a price cap. Also giving evidence to MLAs, Shirley Sweeney, head of the departments school uniform policy team, added: We have to be careful not to get into competition law. Thats where it becomes particularly complex. The cap would not be on retailers, it would be on schools. There is a desire to get this right. Other than what England and Wales are currently doing, there is no provision anywhere for a price cap. England and Wales are not looking at a monetary cap, it is on a limit to the number of branded items required. With this legislation, schools here must adhere to it. In other jurisdictions, they have to have regard to it. We have taken the legal advice. There has been a lot of engagement and work in this. There are challenges if we are overly prescriptive and get it wrong. We want this to have the desired effect. Ms McNaughton said she didn't mean to sound negative about a price cap. We just want people to be aware of the risks. We have to get across that the changing behaviour of schools is the one thing that can bring down costs, she said. We have started drafting a consultation document. We plan to take that forward over the coming weeks as the bill goes through the scrutiny stage, with a view to go out to consultation within a couple of months. Issues over the uniform allowance that some parents are entitled to were also raised, with parents elsewhere in the UK receiving much more towards the cost. The allowance is very much dependent on the budget we have at any time, said Ms McNaughton. We did increase this by 20% two years ago and we are going through that process again, but it is all very much dependent on budget. She added that schools should already be preparing for the new law to come into force. Schools should be discussing with suppliers now as they have been made aware this legislation is coming, she said. There will need to be a bit of a lead in time for children currently going through school so parents dont have to change a uniform until another certain point in time. We will hope, though, that implementation will be from 2026. They will need to be clear by then what their requirements are. We will be expecting schools to show this from this summer. This is spelling out that action is necessary here. Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan and the SDLPs Cara Hunter said they would like to see the bill extended to allow female pupils to wear trousers at school. Mr Sheehan said: One of the complaints we hear from girls, in particular from co-ed schools, is about boys running around pulling skirts. I believe that is something we should look at in the bill. Ms Hunter added: Young women being allowed to wear trousers is a matter of dignity. A Belfast Council committee has voted to erect Irish dual language signs on four streets in the city despite the numbers of residents opposing the Irish signs outnumbering those who support them in each street. Wynchurch Avenue in east Belfast, Sunningdale Park North and Ben Madigan Park South in north Belfast, and Wellington Park Terrace in south Belfast were all previously deferred as applications for Irish dual language, after they all met the threshold for signage erection, but at the same time had greater numbers opposing the new signage than were in favour. A fifth street, Malone Valley Park, was also deferred but was closed as an application earlier this week at a full council meeting on Monday. At the March meeting of the councils People and Communities Committee on Tuesday, elected members were asked to agree a proposed mechanism for dealing with deferred applications, after several years of wrangling about what to do in cases where applications met the threshold of 15 percent, but were outnumbered by residents in opposition. Since 2022, when the new dual language street signage policy was introduced, all applications deferred on the basis of opposition outnumbering support were put at the back of the queue to be reconsidered after those in the considerable waiting list were dealt with. At the People and Communities Committee, Sinn Fein Councillor Rois-Maire Donnelly proposed moving forward with erecting dual language street signs in Irish for four of those deferred Wynchurch Avenue, Sunningdale Park North, Ben Madigan Park South and Wellington Park Terrace. She said it was in line with the minority rights guidance we have signed up to in this policy. On a poll in the chamber, 11 voted in favour of Councillor Donnellys proposal, from Sinn Fein and the SDLP, while nine voted against, from the DUP and Alliance. The matter will go to the full Belfast Council meeting at the start of April, where it could face another knife-edge vote. In terms of figures, Wynchurch Avenue in its first survey had 18 percent in favour of Irish street signs and 26 percent opposing (20 residents to 30 residents) while in its second survey had 15.04 percent in favour and 28.31 percent against (17 residents to 32 residents). Sunningdale Park North had 22 percent in favour and 33 percent in opposition (22 residents to 33 residents), Ben Madigan Park South had 23.18 percent in favour and 26.08 percent against (16 residents to 18 residents), while Wellington Park Terrace had 17.14 percent in favour and 31.42 percent against (6 residents to 11 residents). DUP Councillor Fred Cobain said at the committee meeting: In terms of Sunningdale Park North it is quite clear the vast majority of people who live in that street dont want a dual language sign. It doesnt matter how many times you survey it is a clear indication of the views of the people in that street. DUP Councillor Sarah Bunting said: This is costing money, it is causing division amongst settled communities. I have had a woman on the phone with me for an hour and a half telling me she does not want signs and she is not a DUP voter. She is really opposed to these signs because it is such a settled community, and she really feels there is an impact in forcing these signs through whenever the majority on the street do not want them. In 2022 councillors agreed a new policy on dual language street signs. Sinn Fein, Alliance, the SDLP, the Green Party, and the People Before Profit Party all support the new street sign policy, while the three unionist parties, the DUP, UUP and PUP, are against it. The new policy means at least one resident of any Belfast street, or a councillor, is all that is required to trigger a consultation on a second nameplate, with 15 percent in favour being sufficient to erect the sign. Non-responses will no longer be counted as against votes, and there will be an equality assessment for each application. Before that the policy required 33.3 percent of the eligible electorate in any Belfast street to sign a petition to begin the process, and 66.6 percent to agree to the new dual language sign on the street. At the People and Communities Committee on Tuesday, councillors also voted in favour of new recommendations by council officers to deal with back of the queue applications where opposition was greater despite the threshold having been met. Currently, the applicant for the street that was deferred is written to and advised of the committee decision. Their application is marked as deferred and another application in their name will be created at the end of the queue, when all other applications up to that point were dealt with. Once the deferred application is reached, it will be brought back to committee to consider how it is to be progressed. The council report on the matter states: In addition to the above, we will write to applicants of all applications for the same street and for any second language and advise them of the committee decision for that street based on a previous application. All the applications are marked on hold noting that further processing of the applications is on hold pending the outcome of the deferred application. Any subsequent applicants for the street would be informed that a decision has already been made to defer an application for consideration in the initial language, but that applications would be taken and marked on hold until the time a decision is made on the deferred application. Elected members previously decided to defer consideration of two applications for Ebor Street in East Belfast and Ballysillan Road in North Belfast prior to survey, based on adverse impacts identified at the initial assessment and based on elected member notifications. At the People and Communities Committee on Tuesday, the DUP proposed closing these applications altogether. They failed, with five votes in favour of the proposal from the DUP, and 15 votes from all the other parties against the proposal. The Ebor Street and Balysillan Road applications will go to the back of the queue under the new recommendations. Oasis thank their fans as they close their first gig together in 16 years Frostbit Boy calls in police alleging fraud over competition he promoted online Ruari McSorley in headlines again as Irish police probe cancelled prize raffle on TikTok Ruairi McSorley - aka Frostbit Boy - has filed a report of fraud with An Garda Siochana over an online competition Liam Tunney Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 07:18 A Co Londonderry man who went viral as a teenager after featuring in a TV news bulletin has made a report of fraud to the Irish police after becoming embroiled in a scandal relating to an online competition. Zhenhao Zou studied at Queens University from 2017 to 2019 Detectives from the Met Police plan to visit Northern Ireland on a search for any victims of a serial rapist dating back to when he studied in Belfast. The PSNI is working with colleagues in London who investigated the case of Chinese national Zhenhao Zou believed to be one of the most prolific sexual predators ever seen in the UK. The 28-year-old was convicted this week of drugging and raping 10 women in London and China. However, it is feared the real number of victims targeted could be more than 50. Zou was convicted of the harrowing attacks involving two women who have been identified and another eight who have yet to be traced. The PhD student attended Queens University in Belfast between 2017 and 2019. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Policing Board, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the PSNI had been in touch with the Met and were working closely with them to establish if there are further victims. Zou moved from China to Belfast in 2017 to study mechanical engineering at Queens before heading to London in 2019 to do a masters degree and then a PhD at University College London (UCL). Investigators first charged Zou in January 2024, but waited for more than a year until he had been convicted before making public appeals for further victims to come forward. Sinn Fein Policing Board member Linda Dillon asked Mr Boutcher to outline of what work was being done to identify victims of this prolific offender from his time studying in Belfast. Mr Boutcher responded: Our thoughts go to the victims and survivors of this awful offending. The Met lead on this, they have been in touch with Queens also. The Chief Constable said he had been in touch with the senior Met detective in charge of the investigation, adding that they planned to visit Belfast in the wake of Zous conviction. Thus far, we havent seen that there was any offending here, he added. However, the fact we now have the publicity, which we couldnt have before because that would have prejudiced the trial, is again an opportunity to appeal for anyone to come forward who may have any concerns and have known this man. The issue is that many of the victims do not know they are victims. I would appeal to anybody who met him, or in any way was alone with him, in any circumstances or been in his accommodation, that they come forward and speak to us. Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck added that the Public Protection Branch of the PSNI has been liaising with the Met. We view this very much as still a live investigation it is important we use this opportunity to appeal to anyone, anyone who thinks they have impacted by this case or by this offender to please make contact with ourselves, he said. "They will be supported by specially trained detectives from public protection branch. Womens Aid has urged anyone in Belfast affected by the Zou case to contact them. In light of recent reports around serial perpetrator Zhenhao Zou, who was a student at Queens University Belfast and lived in Northern Ireland for two years, we want to reach out to those who may have been affected by this case, the organisation said. If you or someone you know may have been impacted please know that you are not alone. An appeal for more victims of Zhenhao Zou to come forward (Metropolitan Police/PA) Zou filmed nine of the attacks as souvenirs, and kept a trophy box of womens belongings, jurors in his trial at Inner London Crown Court were told. Judge Rosina Cottage said he is a dangerous and predatory sexual offender and warned him he faces a very long jail term when he is sentenced on June 19. Most of his victims didnt even realise they had been drugged. Met Police seized hundreds of hours of disturbing videos and photos that he kept, around half of which are thought to have been filmed in the UK and half in China. After a month-long trial, Zou, who was most recently living in Elephant and Castle, south-east London, was found guilty of raping three women in London and another seven in China between September 2019 and May 2023. He was convicted of 11 counts of rape two of the offences related to one victim. Zou was also convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and three of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offence, namely butanediol. He was cleared of two further counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image, and five counts of possession of controlled drugs to commit a sexual offence, namely one count involving MDMA, three involving ketamine, and one of alprazolam. Prosecutors said Zou appears to be a smart and charming young man but is in fact a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist. Derek Johnson is accused of befriending vulnerable victims online before travelling to meet them and then committing offences. UK police have launched a manhunt for suspect who is wanted in connection with multiple sex attacks after he skipped bail and went on the run. Derek Johnson who is described as having links with Northern Ireland is accused of befriending vulnerable victims online before travelling to meet them and then committing offences. Last month, Johnson (58) was arrested by Hertfordshire Police following a major police investigation. However, he later absconded from bail and a police manhunt has now been launched.. The public have warned if they see Johnson, do not approach him but call 999 immediately. According to police, Johnson has links to Gloucestershire and Devon in the South West and Stevenage, Hertfordshire, West Midlands Yorkshire, Wales, Ayrshire, Northumbria, Northern Ireland and Kent. Gloucestershire Police said: "We are appealing for help in locating a man wanted in connection with a number of sex offences. Derek Johnson, aged 58, is believed to have committed offences in Gloucestershire, Kent and potentially elsewhere in the UK, befriending vulnerable victims online before travelling to meet them in person. "He was arrested by Hertfordshire Police last month at our request before later absconding from bail. It's believed he could now be anywhere in the country. "Johnson is believed to have connections in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, West Midlands, Devon, Yorkshire, Wales, Ayrshire, Northumbria, Northern Ireland and Kent. The public are advised not to approach him." PSNI U-turn on Noah Donohoe spying allegations as it denies intrusive surveillance Five days after we broke story, Chief Constable ends policy of not commenting to accept that police did take an interest in Donal MacIntyre but only using publicly available material PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher addressing the Policing Board this morning Sam McBride Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 14:30 The PSNI has broken days of silence on alleged surveillance of a journalist investigating the death of schoolboy Noah Donohoe, confirming it did take an interest in the journalist but denying it involved intrusive techniques. A young girl who died in an accident in Co Londonderry was an outgoing, bubbly and caring child, her school has said. Caitlin-Rose McMullan (11) was struck by a car after exiting her school bus near Castledawson. The schoolgirl was rushed to hospital in Belfast following the accident on Wednesday afternoon, but passed away. Caitlin-Rose was a first year pupil at St Pius X College in Magherafelt. The school said: It was with profound sadness that we were informed this morning about the loss of one of our pupils. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Caitlin-Roses mother and father, her brother, Shea, who is also a pupil at St. Pius X College, and the wider family circle during this incredibly difficult time. Caitlin-Rose was a very popular pupil who was always smiling. "Her form teachers described her as a joy to teach due to her kind and fun-loving nature. She was an outgoing, bubbly and caring child, who will be greatly missed by fellow pupils and staff alike. "Over the course of Year 8, Caitlin-Rose earned numerous accolades for excellent effort and outstanding classwork, approaching every assignment with interest and enthusiasm. Caitlin Roses friends and classmates are heartbroken by her untimely passing, and they are receiving support from our staff and relevant professional services. Caitlin-Rose McMullan (11) Very Rev John Gates, the parish priest in Magherafelt, said the community has been left distraught. I havent been speaking to the family yet, but the community has once again been left devastated and distraught by a terrible family tragedy, he said. The thoughts and prayers of everyone in this community are with the family. Education Minister Paul Givan said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the news. "As a parent, when we set our children off to school in the morning, none of us ever expect to receive such devastating news, he said. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this young girl and the wider school community following this tragic incident. "I have spoken to the principal at St Pius X College and assured him of my support. A spokesperson for the Education Authority (EA) said staff were deeply shocked and saddened. Our sincere condolences are with the family, friends, fellow pupils and staff at the school, and all those affected by this tragic incident, they said. The EAs critical incident response team are supporting the school during this difficult time and will provide emotional support to both students and staff. They said the family, school and wider community will need time and space to grieve this unimaginable loss. The accident happened on the Hillhead Road shortly before 4pm on Wednesday. The PSNI has appealed for witnesses to the accident to come forward. Inspector Adair said: There was a large number of people in the vicinity at the time who may have recorded video footage of the scene. "I would ask anyone with footage not to share it on social media, but instead forward it to police through the Major Incident Public Portal. This footage will be of great assistance to officers investigating the collision. The Hillhead Road in Castledawson has reopened following this serious collision and our investigation continues. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call just before 4pm. NIAS despatched one emergency crew, a rapid response paramedic, and an ambulance officer. The charity air ambulance with HEMS on board were also tasked to the incident. Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children by Ambulance. Local SDLP councillor Denise Johnston said it was the second tragedy to hit the Castledawson community in recent weeks. The community is in absolute shock at this tragedy, she said. Our children are so precious to us, there is no pain greater than losing them. This is every parents worst nightmare and I cannot even imagine what they are going through at this time. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this girl and everyone who knew her. I know the good people of Castledawson will rally around them in the days and weeks ahead to support them as they come to terms with this devastating loss. At the start of February Imogen Cleary-Vong (15), a pupil at St Marys Grammar School in Magherafelt, passed away in hospital after being reported missing in the water of Moyola River in Castledawson. Ms Johnston added: Just a few weeks ago this community was learning of the death of another young schoolgirl. "To be here again in the midst of another family tragedy is hard to believe. Local Sinn Fein councillor Ian Milne said the community has been left in a state of shock. My heart goes out to the parents, family and friends of the young schoolgirl, he said. The local Castledawson community are completely devastated at the loss of life of the young girl and I know the community will rally to support the bereaved family in whatever way they can. Caitlin Rose McMullan. Photo: McCusker Bros Funeral Directors News Catch Up - Tuesday 4 March A woman has been taken to hospital by Air Ambulance following a serious road collision at Coleraine Bus and Rail Centre. The incident occurred at approximately 9.30am in the Railway Road area of the town. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue service said two appliances were sent and they used specialist cutting equipment to remove the casualty from the vehicle. Police have confirmed one woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries but are not believed to be life threatening. The PSNI are now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed or recorded the incident to come forward. Sergeant Moody said: At approximately 9.30am, police received a report of a single vehicle collision in the Railway Road area. Officers along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended the scene and a woman was taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment for her injuries. I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or to anyone with CCTV, dash-cam or other footage that could assist with enquiries, to contact police on 101. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it received a 999 call at 9.24am following reports of a crash. NIAS despatched one emergency crew, a rapid response paramedic and the Charity Air Ambulance with HEMS on board were also tasked to the incident. Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, the woman was taken to Royal Victoria Hospital by Air Ambulance. Coleraine Bus and Train Station. Credit: Google maps Watch: One of a kind Primark Home store comes to Belfast Taylor Sederquest lashed out after being detained and then urged an associate to kick the PSNI sergeant in the head. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph. A would-be bicycle thief who tried to bite and spat in the face of a police officer on a south Belfast street has been jailed for four months. Taylor Sederquest lashed out after being detained and then urged an associate to kick the PSNI sergeant in the head. A judge was told that the 23-year-old addict was completely out of it when he launched the attack last month in front of onlookers. Sederquest, of Dismas House Hostel on Ormeau Road in the city, pleaded guilty to attempted theft, assault on police, disorderly behaviour and resisting police. Belfast Magistrates Court heard CCTV operators identified him trying to steal a bicycle at Botanic Avenue on February 3. He was detained at the scene but became violent amid efforts to put him into a police vehicle. Prosecutors said Sederquest tried to bite a PSNI sergeants ear and spat on his face during an initial outburst. As police requested assistance the defendant lashed out again after being taken to the ground, making a further attempt to headbutt the victim. He was shouting at his friend to kick that c*** in the head, a Crown lawyer said. Members of the public were watching the incident and subjected to all of this. Sederquests legal representative told the court he has long-term addiction issues. He was completely out of it when he was standing around the bike, the solicitor submitted. The court heard Sederquest has been recalled to prison since the incident. Sentencing him to four months immediate custody, District Judge Anne Marshall told him: You lasted such a short time in the community, these offences are dreadful. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram met at a reception at the Museum of Liverpool (PA) The UK and Ireland are set to agree a new programme of enhanced co-operation at a summit in Liverpool. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin will lead delegations of their respective Cabinet colleagues in the first of a new series of annual UK-Ireland summits. It is expected that they will agree a wide-ranging programme of new and enhanced strategic cooperation between Ireland and the UK, entitled UK-Ireland 2030, to be taken forward by both governments through to 2030. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content This is set to include closer collaboration on energy with a new data-sharing programme to enable commercial developers to increase offshore production. The two leaders will also host a roundtable meeting with industry figures from a number of sectors across the UK and Ireland, including tech and energy. Sir Keir said: As our closest neighbour, our partnership with Ireland is testament to the importance of working with international partners to deliver for people at home. Now more than ever we must work with like-minded partners in the pursuit of global peace, prosperity and security. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke during a reception at the Museum of Liverpool, ahead of the first in a new series of annual UK-Ireland summits (PA) Mr Martin said the summit is one of the most significant bilateral engagements between the two governments in a generation. He said it shows the resolve of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I to put in place the building blocks to bring strategic co-operation between our two countries to a new level. As part of the summit, Ireland has announced new investments into the UK worth 185.5 million, which the Government says could create more than 2,500 jobs across the country. On Wednesday night Sir Keir and Mr Martin co-hosted a reception to celebrate cultural links between the UK and Ireland. The summits were announced by the Prime Minister and then Taoiseach Simon Harris during a meeting in Dublin last September. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted a European leaders summit on the situation in Ukraine at Lancaster House, London, over the weekend (Justin Tallis/PA) Russia has hit out at Sir Keir Starmers plan for British troops to form part of a peacekeeping force if there is a deal to end the Ukraine war. The Prime Minister, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, has been seeking to build a coalition of the willing to defend a peace deal. But Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the move would amount to the direct, official and unveiled involvement of Nato members in the war against Russia and it cant be allowed. Meanwhile, the Defence Secretary said he was fixed on seizing the opportunity for securing peace and Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine and the US will hold talks ending the war in Saudi Arabia next week. John Healey was meeting with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth on Thursday and said ahead of their talks that Donald Trump has asked Europe to step up, and we are. Officials from around 20 largely European and Commonwealth countries took part in the latest talks about the peacekeeping coalition, it has emerged. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the idea of peacekeepers from Nato members was unacceptable (Pavel Bednyakov/AP) The talks on Wednesday involved more countries than the summit called by the Prime Minister in London over the weekend. Not all the countries interested in the plan would necessarily provide troops to a peacekeeping force, but they could potentially contribute in other ways. The UK has signed a deal with an Anglo-American security firm to provide Ukraine with more advanced attack drones as Sir Keir stressed the need to help Volodymyr Zelenskys troops keep fighting. The deal comes as Ukraines forces have seen President Donald Trumps administration pause supplies of US military aid. The Prime Minister said: The fighting is going on and its a big mistake to think that well all weve got to do is wait for a deal now. Weve got to make sure that if they are fighting on theyre in the strongest position and even if they go into negotiation that theyre in the strongest position. The agreement with Anduril will see cutting-edge Altius 600m and Altius 700m systems designed to monitor an area before striking targets that enter it being supplied to Kyiv to help tackle Russian aggression in the Black Sea. The new contracts total nearly 30 million and are backed by the International Fund for Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence said. The announcement comes amid concerns that the US move to halt intelligence-sharing with Ukraine will affect the countrys ability to use western weaponry and deprive it of advanced information about incoming threats. Mr Healey said: The UK has already provided more than 10,000 drones to Ukraines armed forces, which have proved vital in disrupting Russian troop advances and targeting positions behind the front line. With a 2.26 billion loan from seized Russian assets, plus 1.6 billion worth of air defence missiles announced for Ukraine in the last week, the UK is continuing to show leadership in securing a lasting peace for Ukraine. In Brussels, European Union leaders met Mr Zelensky for talks about support for Ukraine and increased defence spending. The Ukrainian president said he had a productive day in a post on X and that his first priority could be to establish a ceasefire in the sky and at sea. This would mean stopping missile, long-range drone and bomb strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure as well as halting all military operations in the Black Sea, he wrote. He also said he would meet the Saudi Crown Prince on Monday and that his team would stay on for talks with US partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace. As we told @POTUS, Ukraine is working and will continue to work constructively for a swift and reliable peace, he wrote. Steve Witkoff, a Trump administration envoy, had earlier confirmed that senior US officials were arranging talks next week Ukraine next week in Saudi Arabia. European leaders meanwhile backed new defence spending plans aimed at freeing up billions of euros as it grapples with the prospect of Mr Trump reducing security assistance for Europe. The 27 EU leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen had put forward proposals for an 800 billion euro (670 billion) defence package for the bloc. She said it was a watershed moment, adding: Europe faces a clear and present danger and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace. More female doctors than men are now registered with the UK medical regulator (Alamy/PA) The UK has more women doctors than men for the first time, according to new figures. While there are differences across the four nations, the UKs medical regulator said the number of women on its register has surpassed men for the first time. The General Medical Council (GMC) said there are 164,440 women registered with a licence to practise, compared with 164,195 men. This means women make up 50.04% of the medical register. (PA Graphics) The GMC has released a stark graph showing the gender split over time, with hardly any female doctors when the medical register first opened in 1859. The figure remained static for decades until it started creeping up from the turn of the century. There was a rapid increase in the number of women doctors on the register from the 1970s, which has now led to more female doctors than men on the UK register. The GMC said one of the driving factors has been more women joining medical schools in the UK. Since 2018/19, there have been more female than male medical students in all four UK countries, the regulator said. More women than men work as doctors in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with fewer female doctors in England and Wales. The split across the UK is: Scotland (54.8% female, 45.2% male); Northern Ireland (53.5% female, 46.5% male); England (49.7% female, 50.3% male); and Wales (47.3% female, 52.7% male). The medical specialties with the most women doctors are obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatrics. The GMC said there are also more female GPs in the UK, with 57.7% of the workforce made up of female doctors. The specialties with the lowest proportion of women are surgery, ophthalmology and emergency medicine. The GMC, British Medical Association (BMA) and Medical Womens Federation (MWF) have called for healthcare leaders to consider the changing demographics of the medical workforce. The regulator highlighted figures from its training survey about discrimination in the workplace, with 9% of women reporting unwelcome sexual comments, or advances causing embarrassment, distress or offence, compared with just 4% of men. Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen, chairwoman of the GMC and a consultant ophthalmologist, said: This is a significant milestone. The demographics of the medical workforce are rapidly changing, and that diversity will benefit patients. It is vital that every doctor is valued, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic. But women training for careers in medicine continue to face challenges that must be acknowledged and tackled. And for those women already working as doctors there is still work to do to create supportive and inclusive workplaces, and to ensure they have access to progression opportunities, including leadership roles, so that they can have long and fulfilling careers in medicine. Dr Latifa Patel, chairwoman of the BMA Representative Body, said: To have more female than male doctors in the UK is a significant milestone for the profession and for patients. Retaining women doctors in the workplace, in the NHS, and happy and fulfilled in their roles, must be a priority. Professor Scarlett McNally, president of the Medical Womens Federation and a surgeon, said: This huge change should be celebrated. The UK has signed a road map agreement with France aimed at bolstering co-operation to tackle people smuggling as small boat crossings continued in the Channel on Thursday. Border security commander Martin Hewitt met French special representative on migration Patrick Stefanini in Paris after Home Office figures showed 210 people arrived in Britain on Wednesday. Migrants wearing life jackets were also brought ashore in Dover, Kent, on Thursday after disembarking from a Border Force boat. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel (Gareth Fuller/PA) The Home Office said the road map agreed by Mr Hewitt and Mr Stefanini identified four top priorities for border control. These were disrupting criminal gangs, deterring illegal migrants from taking the dangerous journey, ensuring the effective and prompt return of irregular migrants to source and transit countries, and tackling the root cause of irregular movement, the department said. The two men set a date for a plenary meeting between British and French representatives due to take place in May as part of the new agreement to strengthen partnership between the two countries on migration. According to latest official figures there have been 3,434 crossings so far this year, up by 15% on the same period in 2024 (2,983), 16% on 2023 (2,953) and 55% compared with 2022 (2,212). The highest number arriving in one day this year so far stands at 592 people who crossed the Channel in 11 boats on March 2. Some 1,378 people have arrived after crossing the Channel in the first five days of the month, data suggests. A Home Office spokesperson said: We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. We are delivering real change in our approach through legislation to create new tools, powers, offences and enforcement action which will keep us one step ahead of the people-smuggling gangs. Downing Street has said it is to be expected for ministers to make representations on national security matters after it was reported that David Lammy wrote to Angela Rayner advising her to take responsibility for the decision over a new Chinese embassy. A Number 10 spokesman suggested it was usual for ministers to make clear if they think decisions should be taken at a ministerial level rather than by local councils. The go-ahead on the proposed embassy will be offered or refused by ministers, having been called in by the Government, after it was rejected by local council Tower Hamlets. The decision to call it in was taken by Angela Rayner in October, and the Telegraph reported on Thursday that Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy had written to her the previous month asking her to do so. There have been concerns that the new embassy planned for near the Tower of London could be used for spying purposes. Asked about the report, a Number 10 spokesman said on Thursday: Weve always been clear that national security is the first duty of Government and its been a core priority throughout this process. Of course, youd expect ministers to submit written representations on issues where there are national security ramifications, where in their view it would be more appropriate for a decision to be taken at ministerial level rather than by local government. According to a letter obtained by the Telegraph under freedom of information, Mr Lammy asked Ms Rayner in her position as Housing Secretary to consider calling in the application for a decision. As a new Embassy, I consider that this application is clearly in the interest of a foreign government, and of more than local importance, Mr Lammy said. The embassy development comes as the UK Government seeks to forge closer trade links with Beijing, amid concerns over Chinese interference in the UK. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: As has been widely reported, both the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary submitted written representations on this issue given the national security ramifications. Elijah Gavin, also known as Timothy OReilly, is alleged to be part of a gang that defrauded home owners of over $1 million An Irishman on the run from Magilligan Prison in County Londonderry has been arrested in New York on charges of conning $850,000 from an elderly woman in a home repair scam. Elijah Gavin flew to the United States from Dublin in October 2022 when he was unlawfully at large and facing charges in Northern Ireland over an attempt to trick an elderly woman out of 40,000. Gavin is due before a judge next week in Rhode Island after being indicted by a jury for his part in a multi-state construction and money laundering fraud scheme. Also known as Timothy OReilly, he is now alleged to be part of a gang that defrauded home owners of over $1 million in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. Details of the organised crime gang and their alleged activities are described in an affidavit by a Homeland Security special agent filed with the court. Elijah Gavin's photo used in a Dept of Justice (NI) unlawfully at large notice Gavin has convictions for assault, burglary and theft which led to his visa being cancelled in May 2023, according to the court document. One of the victims was a 78-year-old woman who handed over $850,000 for unnecessary repairs to her foundation basement. After one member of the gang talked her into paying a deposit for arrears, the costs began to escalate and there were requests for more cash to pay for specialist machinery. The woman identified one of the supervisors as Timothy Kelly from a photograph of Gavin first published by the Belfast Newsletter in an article about him being at large from Magilligan Prison. Video grab of Elijah Gavin allegedly using a bank account linked to fraud While the men disappeared after a neighbour came in to inspect the work another attempt was made by the gang to defraud the woman. A caller told her the workers had been fired for their shoddy work and the firm wanted to refund her the money. However, the cheque had mistakenly been made out for $950,000 and she was asked to repay the difference. Investigators later linked the phone number being used by the caller to locations where Gavin had stayed in various hotels. They also used footage from an ATM to link Gavin to a bank account, opened with his UK passport, they say was used in the alleged scam. Another victim, of Irish heritage, paid a $3,500 cheque to "Thomas" - who he later identified as Gavin and challenged him over his claim to be Australian. A total of six victims were able identify the Irish-accented Gavin to investigators who also described the organised crime gang of which they allege Gavin is a member. Video grab of ID cards allegedly used by Elijah Gavin from a police body-camera during a vehicle search In his affidavit the special agent said: I am aware that the Traveling conman fraud group or travellers has been recognised by the Federal Bureau of investigations terrorist screening centre as a transnational organized crime group. While not a centrally organized group the travellers are groups of Irish or UK nationals who entered the United States on pleasure or tourist visas and overstay their visits or more commonly entered the United States illegally. Once in the United States travellers go to different cities and states soliciting construction work. This is sometimes done door to door by knocking and introducing themselves to homeowners usually elderly individuals claiming to have extra materials left over from a prior job or noticing a defect or damage to the home that needs to be repaired immediately. He added that small jobs can then escalate into major repairs and gang members overcharged homeowners and sometimes intimidate people into paying them upfront for work that isn't finished. Elijah Gavin's New York driver's licence photo In statement last week the US Attorneys Office in Rhode Ireland said: Gavin has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in New Jersey on January 29, 2025. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in U.S. District Court in Providence on March 10, 2025. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Rhode Island State Police, and US Diplomatic Security Service, it was added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country will hold talks with the US next week about ending the war against Russia. In his nightly address, Mr Zelensky said he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday and his team would stay there to hold talks with US officials. I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the crown prince, said Mr Zelensky, referring to Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne of the oil-rich kingdom. After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace. He added: As we told President Trump, Ukraine is working and will work exclusively constructively for a quick and reliable peace. US President Donald Trump said he believed his administration had made a lot of progress in recent days with both Ukraine and Russia (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP) In an exchange with reporters on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he believed his administration had made a lot of progress in recent days with both Ukraine and Russia, but did not specify how. I think whats going to happen is Ukraine wants to make a deal, because I dont think they have a choice, Mr Trump said. I also think that Russia wants to make a deal because in a certain different way a different way that only I know, only I know they have no choice either. Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that senior administration officials are arranging to hold talks with top Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. Mr Witkoff noted that Mr Zelensky has been apologetic in recent days about the White House blow-up and expressed gratitude. He was circumspect about whether a minerals deal would be signed during the meeting in Saudi Arabia. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen,speaks to Volodymyr Zelensky (Omar Havana/AP) Well see if he follows through, Mr Witkoff said. The announcement came as European Union leaders held emergency talks about ways to quickly increase their military budgets after the Trump administration signalled that Europe must take care of its own security and also suspended assistance to Ukraine. In just over a month, Mr Trump has overturned old certainties about US reliability as a security partner, as he embraces Russia and withdraws American support for Ukraine. On Monday, Mr Trump ordered a pause to US military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press Mr Zelensky to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. The US has also paused intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Earlier French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine. American intelligence is vital for Ukraine to track Russian troop movements and select targets. Speaking to France Inter radio on Thursday, Mr Lecornu said France is continuing its intelligence sharing. Our intelligence is sovereign, Mr Lecornu said. We have intelligence that we allow Ukraine to benefit from. Mr Lecornu added that following the US decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron asked him to accelerate the various French aid packages to make up for the lack of American assistance. Mr Lecornu said that in the wake of the US decision, shipments of Ukraine-bound aid departing from Poland had been suspended, adding, however, that Ukrainians, unfortunately, have learned to fight this war for three years now and know how to stockpile. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content In Ukraine, a Russian ballistic missile killed four people staying at a hotel in President Zelenskys home town during the night. Mr Zelensky, who was attending the EU summit on defence in Brussels, said a humanitarian organisations volunteers had moved into the hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, just before the strike, including Ukrainian, American and British nationals. He did not say whether those people were among the 31 injured. Russia fired 112 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as two ballistic Iskander missiles, at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Later on Thursday Russias Foreign Ministry rejected a peace proposal from France and Britain, describing it as an attempt by Kyivs European allies to offer a break to the embattled Ukrainian army. The ministrys spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said the proposed break in air and naval attacks is an attempt to secure a pause for the agonising Kyiv regime, the Ukrainian armed forces and prevent the front from collapsing. She said Ukraine would use any pause in fighting to strengthen its military, which would lead to prolonged conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaking during a news conference (Pavel Bednyakov/AP) And Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov harshly criticised Mr Macrons claim that Russia threatens Europe. This is a threat to Russia, Mr Lavrov said at a briefing in Moscow, noting Mr Macrons plan to convene a meeting of top European military officers to discuss purported aggressive plans by Moscow. Mr Lavrov dismissed the allegations that Russia was hatching plans to attack European nations as stupid and delirious nonsense. For any more or less sane person it is completely clear that Russia does not need this, he said. Business Eyewear company Warby Parker will open its new location at the Old Mill District on Saturday. The company Chilean influencer and fashion designer Javiera Ortiz has died as a result of a surfing accident off the coast of her home country. The accident took place when she collided with a fishing boat near Rinconada Beach in Cobquecura, Chile. The incident occurred as Ortiz was surfing near the shore. A fishing vessel, approaching at a high speed, struck her, causing severe injuries to her head and arms. The incident was captured on video and despite immediate medical attention, she was pronounced dead en route to the hospital. 24 Horas reported that the 60-year-old driver of the boat had been arrested but was later released. Ortiz was engaged and just weeks away from her wedding at the time of her death. While emergency response teams showed up to the scene quickly, her injuries were too severe. Ortiz was a prominent figure in the surfing community and had amassed over 63,000 followers on Instagram, where she shared her passions for surfing, photography, and knitting. Originally from Rancagua, Ortiz relocated to Cobquecura to be with her partner. In early February she had shared her excitement about incorporating wind spirals, crafted by her followers, into her wedding decor. The local surfing community has expressed profound sorrow over her passing. Club de Surf Rinconada de Taucu released a statement on social media urging enhanced safety measures to prevent future tragedies. "With deep sorrow, we announce that a surfer has died in an accident on Rinconada de Taucu beach, Cobequecura today. The surfing community and locals are mourning this tragic loss... This accident has created turmoil and sadness within the community and has reminded us of the importance of precautions in aquatic activities." Originally published in The Latin Times Opinion Here are some questions the candidates for the interim Deschutes County Sheriff should answer: Is there anything in If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. "Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret" returns to Lenox, blending classic rock hits with Shakespeares words in a high-energy, genre-bending performance that kicks off the 2025 summer theater season. Days prior to the change in administrations in January, Frank Kendall III stepped down as the 26th U.S. secretary of the Air Force, a Pentagon job he held since President Biden appointed him in 2021, and capped a distinguished and varied career as a lawyer, engineer and military officer. Quote '[The Judge Advocate General officers] are all very capable professional people. They have a history of doing the right thing for the country. I knew the Air Force advocate general very well. He worked for me for three years. This is, to me, part of a pattern in this administration of doing everything possible to avoid, to reinterpret, or even to defy the rule of law.' Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III The secretary of the U.S. Air Force is the top civilian leader of the Air Force and Space Force. Think of this role as the CEO of these military branches, responsible for running the business side of things while the top generals handle battlefield strategy. He was the budget boss, policy maker, people manager, liaison and planner for the countrys Air and Space forces. And he is from Berkshire County. Kendall, 76, was born in Pittsfield, raised in Richmond and graduated from Pittsfield High School. Kendall wrote an opinion piece in the Feb. 24 New York Times titled America has a rogue president (republished recently in The Eagle) that criticized the Trump administration for removing Judge Advocate General Officers (JAGs), who are essential for maintaining legal standards in the military. Dalton Delan, the host of the Eagle Reels vodcast (a video interview), spoke with Kendall on Monday about the JAGs and more, such as his concern about the administration's pattern of avoiding the rule of law, citing the dismissal of Gen. Charles Brown and other senior officers, which he linked to racism and sexism. Kendall highlighted the potential global repercussions of the U.S. abandoning its alliances and acknowledged the risk of the Trump administration declaring martial law to stay in power. He emphasized the importance of democracy and public reaction to the administration's actions, expressing hope in the American people's ability to restore values and integrity. What follows is a Q&A, abridged for length, from that discussion. DALTON DELAN: You wrote a strong opinion column in The New York Times recently about a rogue president and a rogue administration waging war against the rule of law. Given your experience as a lawyer and secretary of the Air Force, what is happening? SECRETARY FRANK KENDALL: What I was reacting to specifically was the removal of the Judge Advocate General officers. These are the top military lawyers in each of the military departments: Air Force, Army and Navy. These are the people who establish legal standards for people in uniform. Essentially, they would be able to tell an officer that an order given by the secretary of defense or the president was not lawful and should not be obeyed. To put people who are going to be more compliant in those jobs, which seems to be the intent, was disturbing to me. [The Judge Advocate General officers] are all very capable professional people. They have a history of doing the right thing for the country. I knew the Air Force advocate general very well. He worked for me for three years. This is, to me, part of a pattern in this administration of doing everything possible to avoid, to reinterpret, or even to defy the rule of law. DELAN: A lot of us saw 10 seasons worth of the JAG TV series. Those men and women were heroes. Secretary Pete Hegseth is treating them like criminals. It seems like banana republic behavior. KENDALL: I don't know if I go quite that far, but I'm afraid we're approaching that. What Secretary Hegseth has said is he doesn't want JAGs who will prevent military people from doing things that they need to do. Well, that's what we have JAGs for in some cases. An example I give is if you were fired on by a sniper from a village, and your platoon and you decided to destroy the entire village and everyone in it, that would be excessive use of force. It's a violation of the laws of armed conflict. JAGs are the people who would tell you where those limits are. Secretary Hegseth has served at a relatively low level. He's been a major in the Army. And I think you need to take a perspective which is broader than that. When you look at what happened in the first Trump administration, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Mark Milley, was asked to lead soldiers against protesters, and he refused to do that. It was an unlawful order. We don't need JAGs who are going to misinterpret the law or interpret it in a way which bends or even breaks it on behalf of the president. DELAN: Among those dismissals was Gen. Charles Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Black man. There have been so many frankly racist signals from our president, from his press secretary, others in the administration, that I have to ask, is this [just like] those other dismissals, or is racism involved in the case of Gen. Brown? KENDALL: You're asking me to get inside somebody's head, and I don't know how to do that. Gen. Brown's a fine officer. He's one of the finest, if not the finest officer I've ever served with. He was chief of staff of the Air Force for me for two years, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs for about a year-and-a-half. I see no reason for him to be relieved. There is a war going on against what's called DEI or wokeness right now. I don't know what the intent there is, but the perception they're creating is this is based on some combination of sexism and racism. Now, what they're saying is that everybody should be treated the same. But they've relieved two women, they've relieved Black men in general, another black woman. The impression they're creating, intended or not, is not very favorable to people who are not white males. I think that's concerning. It's going to have an effect on retention. It's going to have an effect on recruiting. DELAN: You were heavily involved with technology deployment. We witnessed recently the unbelievable events dealing with Ukraine in the Oval Office. I sat there thinking that Xi Jinping [president of the People's Republic of China] was watching, with the possibility of a 2027 attempt to take back, in their perspective, Taiwan. KENDALL: I am very concerned about the impression we are creating, first of all, that the U.S. cannot be trusted. We have provided a security umbrella and led a system of alliances for the last 80 years that has served us and the world very well. We have gotten huge benefits from this. Nuclear weapons have not proliferated. There's not been a major war between great powers. Our assurances with our partners, that aggression will be met and not tolerated, has been incredibly beneficial to the United States and everybody on the planet. Walking away from that because we're not getting a good enough deal is what seems to be happening here, and it's creating a crisis of confidence around the world. DELAN: You are a native of Richmond [born in Pittsfield, raised in Richmond]. You went to high school in Pittsfield. Your story was covered in The Berkshire Eagle back when, at 10 years old, your father died, and the community came together in an unbelievable way to help build your house [which Sec. Kendalls father had been building]. It was the kind of story that America and our belief in our values is built on, that made us great. Now, under the guise of Making America Great Again, we seem to be ripping the heart out of the rule of law and separation of powers. KENDALL: I was an Army officer originally. I've served my country as a civil servant. I've served [the country] as a political appointee. I'm a lawyer also, and I've done work on human rights. It's incredibly disappointing to see our government behaving this way. It's not the America I believe in. It's not the America I grew up in. My father fought in World War II. Its a betrayal of everything I've always believed about our country and why we were exceptional. It's why our military men and women serve and sacrifice as much as they do. It's not just about self-interest. It's not just about getting something that matters to the United States. It's about something much bigger than that. DELAN: Its what my dad fought for in World War II; what might he be thinking up there right now? KENDALL: I think that's true of an awful lot of people. I don't understand how we got here. I'm hopeful that America didn't realize what it was doing when it put this administration in place, and as it becomes clear what their intent is, what they stand for, there'll be a reaction to that. DELAN: You knew well some of these individuals that were recently dismissed. Have you spoken with them? KENDALL: I have. They're resilient people. They would have to be, to be where they've been and do what they've done. They'll do fine. These are tremendous Americans. They have served their country with honor and distinction. They've risen to the very top of their profession, and this is no way to treat them. DELAN: I grew up as a boy in the 50s. Later, as a journalist. I did a lot of work on the so-called McCarthy era, and the famous Army-McCarthy hearings, with Army lawyer Joseph Welchs famous response to Joe McCarthy, Have you no sense of decency? KENDALL: Absolutely right. I've thought about that, too. DELAN: Is it paranoid to be concerned whether something as seemingly far-fetched as martial law to preserve a presidency is out of the question if replacements for the JAG officers are compliant people? KENDALL: I don't think it's paranoid. At this point, we have a president who sat by for hours while the Capitol was overrun and ransacked, an assault on the most central function of our democracy. I'm shocked that the American people were willing to put that person back in the White House, but that's who we have. I don't know if there is any limit on what he would do to stay in power. DELAN: Does anything give you hope in the midst of what we're observing? KENDALL: Yes. I think at the end of the day, the American people didn't want what they've got, and as they understand it more fully the abrupt reversal on Russia and Ukraine has got to be shocking to an awful lot of people as Elon Musk and DOGE ravage our government, and fire a lot of civil servants who have done a lot of valuable services for us, as these things become more visible, I think there'll be a reaction. I think it's already started. At the end of the day, democracy is a gamble on the average citizen, and we're rolling the dice right now, but I have a lot of faith in the American people. NORTH ADAMS Local shelter providers are worried changes within the Department of Housing and Urban Development could gut their response to housing insecurity and homelessness in the Berkshires. President Donald Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, an entity known by DOGE and overseen by Elon Musk, is planning sweeping staff cuts at HUD and promising to root out so-called spending inefficiencies within the agency. HUDs Office of Community Planning and Development faces a staff reduction of 84 percent, the largest in the agency. That office recently awarded Louison House, a shelter and transitional housing nonprofit, almost $600,000 to address homelessness in the Berkshires. But now, staff at Louison House are worried the check will never come. And yet, the rent, utilities and programming still need to be funded. HUDs Office of Community Planning and Development oversee hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed to communities across the country, including here in the Berkshires. Most of those grants are reimbursed monthly, and federal workers must regularly review each grantees budget and conduct in-person visits to ensure they are spending the funds properly. With a skeleton crew left behind, shelter providers in the Berkshires and across the country are worried the reimbursement of their awarded funding will be delayed or held up. There's also concern that DOGE could terminate their funding entirely. HUD awarded $3.6 billion in annual funding to shelter providers on Jan. 17, three days before Trump took office. But recipients in Western Massachusetts have yet to see the official grant agreement, the formal contract between HUD and grant recipients like Louison House that outlines the terms and conditions for receiving and using federal funds from HUD programs. Louison House may be paying bills that well never be reimbursed for, said Kathie Keeser, executive director of the nonprofit. 'SERVICES GOING UNPAID' As housing insecurity deepens across the Berkshires, more people are experiencing homelessness and seeking shelter and support services. Louison House, which serves Northern Berkshire County and Pittsfield, is the only HUD-funded nonprofit offering these services. ServiceNet, the other shelter provider in the Berkshires, receives state and private funding. Last year, 397 people in the Berkshires were experiencing homelessness, according to the annual Point in Time Count. Louison House shelters between 50 and 57 of those people at any given time. HUD awarded $3.6 billion in grants on Jan. 17 nationwide to support agencies like Louison House that provide housing and services to homeless people. The funding is first directed to Continuums of Care, regional organizations that coordinate the funding for people experiencing homelessness, which then distribute it among local agencies. The Three County Continuum of Care, which serves Berkshire, Franklin and Hampden counties, was awarded about $3.7 million. Louison House is supposed to receive almost $600,000 of that award, Keeser said. But a month after the funding cycle began on Feb. 1, Shaundell Diaz, the program director at the Three County CoC, has yet to hear from HUD about if and when she will receive grant agreements for the awarded funding. Historically, it can take HUD a couple of months to send out grant agreements, Diaz said. But with DOGE planning to cut staff and $260 million in alleged wasteful contracts, Diaz is worried those grant agreements will never arrive. Despite the uncertainty, Diaz and Keeser have little choice but to start spending their awarded funding. Neither the Three County CoC nor Louison House have funding left over from last year, and both rely heavily on the HUD grants to run their programming. But theres a chance anything they spend could be money they will later have to pay from their own pockets. We cant draw down funds, which means that right now our services are going unpaid until we receive those grants," Diaz said. "With these layoffs and cuts were seeing, were not sure of when we are actually going to see agreements, if at all." AN UNSTEADY ENVIRONMENT Federal funding accounts for about one-third of Louison Houses budget, Keeser said. The remaining two-thirds are composed of state funding, foundation grants and individual donations. The federal funding contributes to covering staffing, maintenance, insurance, utility and rental costs for three programs at Louison House transitional housing for people who need long-term shelter, permanent supportive housing and the Bracewell Youth Project. During the last funding cycle, HUD awarded Louison House around $578,460, Keeser said; $134,531 of that award went toward operating costs for the nonprofits transitional housing program, which provides people with long-term around-the-clock shelter. The program has received federal funding consistently since the early 1990s, making it the nonprofits oldest running program. This would be interrupting something that has close to 30 years of being paid as a HUD program, Keeser said. Another $335,445 of the award funded Louison Houses permanent supportive housing programs in Pittsfield and Northern Berkshire County, Keeser said. About $250,000 of that goes to covering rents and utility costs for 15 apartments housing 30 people. Louison House has run the permanent supportive housing program since 2009. It houses people who are "chronically homeless," meaning they have experienced homelessness over a prolonged period of time and face barriers that make it difficult for them to access housing, Keeser said. The program provides long-term housing accompanied with services like mental health support, job search assistance and financial education. Leases for those 15 apartments are up, but Keeser is dragging her feet on renewing them. Uncertain about her budget, Keeser has started negotiating with landlords to bring lease terms down from a year to six months so that if the nonprofit doesnt receive federal funding, it is only liable for six months worth of rent. We have some savings, so we are taking chances and we are signing leases, Keeser said. The final $108,685 of last years award funded the Bracewell Youth Project. Construction on the project is ongoing, but once it is completed in late spring the new building will house six or seven young adults aged 18 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness, Keeser said. Together, the three projects provide business for six landlords in the county and house about 57 people, including families with young children. If HUD moves forward with the planned layoffs and spending cuts it would gut these programs, said Keeser. The federal funding Louison House receives annually already cant keep up with the demand or the rising rents and utility costs. The federal cuts are destabilizing what is an already unstable environment for folks, Diaz said. If the grant agreements never arrive or if the reduced staff holds up reimbursements, Keeser said she could tap the nonprofits savings and use individual donations in the short term. But without federal assistance, she could only keep programs running to scale for a few months. Wed have to stretch staffing," Keeser said. "Wed have to slowly eliminate apartments. Wed do the best we could to keep people in the program as long as we can." 'HOUSING NEEDS CERTAINTY' Uncertainty about the future of HUD staffing and funding is also felt among members of Congress. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said changes at HUD are part of the strategy Trump has assumed since returning to office "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks." "Housing needs certainty and people need to be able to depend upon quality and quantity of housing units," Neal said. Neal said he has and will continue to vote against federal staffing and funding cuts, but to effectively halt those proposals a handful of Republicans in Congress must break with the president. That likely won't happen for at least a few months, Neal said. On Feb. 20, 25 Senate Democrats, led by Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, and Chuck Schumer, D-NY, sent a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner requesting transparency on DOGEs involvement at HUD and its potential impact on housing programs. Axing these offices will handicap the Departments ability to serve the American public and exacerbate the housing crisis we currently find ourselves in, the letter reads. It goes on to say that it is critical that the secretary provides more information about the wasteful spending DOGE has allegedly identified within the agency. This is particularly important because, even before implementing any cuts, HUDs DOGE Task Force is already interfering with the departments future planning and funding, which is critical to boosting our nations housing supply, the letter reads. The attorneys for Stockbridge plan to file a motion at Berkshire Superior Court to dismiss a court filing by an attorney representing two neighbors of the development at the former DeSisto Estate because the town clerk was not notified ahead of the deadline required by state law. Stewart Edelstein, a Stockbridge resident, is author of several books, including Dubious Doublets: A Delightful Compendium of Unlikely Word Pairs of Common Origin, from Aardvark/Porcelain to Zodiac/Whiskey, The Covid-19 Zeitgeist: Fifty Essays, and An Alphabetical Romp Through the Flora of Berkshire Botanical Garden from Agave to Zinnia. Many people avoid reading the book of Numbers because it seems like a repeat of Exodus. However, 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, meaning both Numbers and Exodus are in the Old Testament for a reason, and both of them require our attention. Numbers might reinforce some of the teaching of Exodus or they might shine a light on each other, helping readers to absorb something new about certain texts. But scholars also argue that the central theme of each book is different, and there are powerful lessons to be learned from reading Numbers. Lets take a look at five important lessons Numbers has for readers today. 1. We Need to Prepare for Promise Jay Smith says that the purpose of the book of Numbers is to tell about how Israel prepared to enter the promised land, but sinned and was punished. All Christians are headed towards a land of promise which is the Kingdom of God. We hope to live eternally with him, enjoying and worshiping him forever. Although that Kingdom is waiting for us, and we can do nothing to make it better or to defile it, there is still some preparation required on our part. God ordered a census in Numbers (which we also see in Leviticus) as part of their preparations. He wanted his people to be ready for battle. This applies to our modern-day spiritual battles too, although our head count is more of a spiritual shoring up. We are to remind ourselves of what God has told us about his power, and the power that resides in us by his Holy Spirit. We prepare by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11). Why should we prepare? We are still at war with Satan and with our sin, and we cannot arrive at the front lines without putting on our armor. We also prepare because we trust God. When the Israelites failed to behave as though they trusted the promise, they sinned. When we believe Christ has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:3), we behave like people who have received the promise with joy, gratitude, repentance, and obedience; we put on the spiritual armor that we know is more than sufficient to protect us. He has already saved us, but we demonstrate to our Lord and to a watching world that we trust in the hope of Christs eternal, glorious presence. We demonstrate that we believe he is holy and trustworthy to receive our obedience. 2. God Counts on His Glory Moses took a census assigned to him by God. "You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions everyone who can serve in Israels army" (Numbers 1:3). One scholar explains that this census was not just for record-keeping; it was to prepare the Israelites for battle. Perhaps you remember another head count, in 2 Samuel, where David wanted to know how powerful his nation was among the other nations. Compare his prideful census with that of Moses which was the first major census recorded in the Bible [...], crucial for organizing the tribes for military purposes and for the distribution of land. By way of this census, God showed concern for order and preparation as the Israelites journeyed toward the Promised Land. David, however, did not wait on the command of God. Worse, he intended to reveal his own power apart from God. His inquiry was seen as an act of pride and self-reliance. David knew he had done the wrong thing and went straight to God afterwards, asking him to take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly (2 Samuel 24:10). God gave him a choice of discipline and David chose pestilence. The same action can be right or wrong, according to our motives, especially when that action is designed to either reveal Gods glory or our own. Are our good works motivated by our love for Christ and for others, or do we hope to gain fame? If we achieve something that seems impossible, do we give credit to God or take it for ourselves? We are at war with Satan right now, and pride is a chink in our armor. 3. God Gives Second Chances If your preparations are going poorly and you fear you will be shut out of the Kingdom due to your continual war with certain sins, remember that although Moses generation did not enter the Promised Land, Gods anger subsided. Moses and the people of Israel were deeply disappointed at having to roam the wilderness instead of entering the Promised Land, but the Lords plans were for the nation of Israel, not for a generation in particular. He was thinking ahead, and he wanted that nation to understand that he deserved their worship and honor. God disciplined Israel in a variety of ways, and the Promised Land, though frustratingly close, remained out of reach for Moses and his generation. Yet, Joseph led the people forward, destroying the enemy by Gods power according to his direction. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever (Psalm 103:9). The Lord provides opportunities to correct our mistakes, and as we see with Israel, although he disciplines, he is patient and loving as long as we confess, repent, and ask for his help. 4. God Gathers Us In Miriam was disciplined for her grumbling against Moses; the Lord struck her with leprosy and separated from the others (Numbers 12:10-15). Leprosy was highly contagious. Although treatable today, the disease would maim and even kill a person in Moses day. Leprosy was also symbolic of spiritual impurity throughout the biblical writings, according to one writer. The condition serves as a powerful symbol of sin, spiritual decay, and separation from God. [...] Leprosy, which disfigures and spreads, represents the insidious nature of sin it creeps into every aspect of life, causing moral and spiritual disfigurement. Like the encroachment of pagan ideas into Israel, Miriams grumbling spread through the camp, inspiring dissatisfaction and sin. Leprosy was not always a divine punishment, but in Miriams case it was. But Miriam was brought back into the camp after just seven days. Scripture states that the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again. Miriam was restored to her people. She was part of the march toward the Promised Land. When Jesus healed the woman with the 12-year bleed, he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease (Mark 5:34). By calling her daughter, Jesus welcomed her into his family. She was to be included and embraced, no longer unclean. He restored her to society before he healed her, because isolation devastates the spirit. Miriam was disciplined, but she still belonged to Gods family. He showed her (and us) that, as a loving but also righteous Father, he cannot ignore sin: discipline is a sign of his love. (Proverbs 3:12). But he also wants us to be restored to him; to know that we need him to hold onto and transform us, and that we belong with our Father and our brothers and sisters in Christ. 5. We Must See with New Eyes Transformation is ongoing. We are being changed, but this is slow and continuous work. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). To this end, we have to remember that a believing community is essential to our growth. We must, of course, spend some time with unbelievers who need to hear the gospel; however, our spiritual well is filled by time spent with Jesus and strong believers. Otherwise, we see without seeing. Michael LeFebvre comments: It is one of the great ironies of Scripture that the generation that saw Gods works most vividly became the epitome of those who refuse to believe him. They witnessed the great miracle of Gods parting the Red Sea for his people, yet they were quickly influenced by paganism. Their hearts were hardened, and one reason for this was the influence of surrounding cultures. This is not to say that Gods people should be cut-outs of each other. The nation and family of Israel was not homogenous: one writer describes Israels tribes as diverse, each with its own leader and characteristics, yet they were united under God's command. Their ability to unite under Gods command is a powerful lesson for us today. We are all different, yet we are called to work together in harmony, using our unique gifts to glorify God. And the good news is that, with the help of Gods Spirit, we glorify God with our lives. One encouraging fact LeFebvre shares about the Book of Numbers is how it describes a remarkable twist in the story. The subsequent generation which grew up in the wilderness became the epitome of faith and obedience! They did not see, but they believed. The same can be true of us and of the future generations in our own families. We can pray for them to know God even if their mothers and fathers reject him. There is always hope, originating not in the strength of our faith but in the power of our God. Related article: Do We See Any Gospel Connections in the Book of Numbers? Sources https://biblehub.com/summary/numbers/1.htm https://biblehub.com/top10/lessons_from_numbers_1.htm https://www.hisfeet.com/leprosy-in-the-bible-meaning-symbolism/?source=ads&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAw5W-BhAhEiwApv4goI2G8kRTbtjgWK7THL7buf5nVqYU3EOQiWEn1cHW1R4JyCbjNzQfTRoCL3sQAvD_BwE https://www.crossway.org/articles/why-study-the-book-of-numbers/ Photo credit: Getty Images/Givaga Candice Lucey is a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. Find out more about her here. 'Emilia Perez' star and Best Actress nominee to the Oscars, Karla Sofia Gascon took jokes from host Conan O'Brien about her recent controversy in stride. In his opening monologue, which began with a sketch that parodied acclaimed film 'The Substance,' O'Brien addressed the elephant in the room directly. "Little fact for you, 'Anora' uses the f-word 479 times. That's three more than the record set by Karla Sofia Gascon's publicist. 'You tweeted what?!'... Karla Sofia Gascon is here tonight. And, Karla, if you're going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel." Gascon took to social media in kind to reply to O'Brien's light jab at her recent troubles in the court of public opinion. "Thanks to the members of @theacademy for the nomination for best leading actress, for the invitation to the gala; I really enjoyed it, very amiable and funny, especially your fabulous host Jimmy Kimmel, he is fantastic, every day he looks more like the great Conan O'Brien." When the camera cut to the 'Emilia Perez' star for her reaction, she let out a laugh before turning to her friend, presumably to translate the joke in Spanish. Her graceful response to O'Brien's comments is a sharp contrast to her previous response to the situation. After several social media posts of hers that were seen as racist and Islamophobic resurfaced, the Spanish actress faced intense backlash online. She posted a half-apology on social media, claiming that she had changed as a person since making those comments and that some were fabricated. Gascon then went behind Netflix's back to do an unfiltered, tearful interview with CNN en Espanol in which she claimed that she was not a racist and that she has not been given a fair chance to defend herself. After Netflix removed her from their promotional campaign for the film after the controversy regarding her past social media posts, many speculated whether or not Gascon would attend the prestigious ceremony, with some calling for her nomination for Best Actress to be rescinded. Originally published in The Latin Times BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. TCS partners with Danish Academy of Technical Sciences to combat dengue through technology March 06, 2025 | Thursday | News Piloted in Bengaluru, the project can be implemented worldwide to combat outbreaks of dengue fever image credit- shutterstock Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has collaborated with the echo network, a global social innovation initiative hosted by the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV), to combat outbreaks of dengue fever and other viral diseases. This collaboration aims to harness digital technology and citizen engagement to address pressing public health challenges. As part of this initiative, TCS will provide technology support to echo networks I am OneHealth programme in Bengaluru. Leveraging its TCS TECH4HOPE programme a pro bono initiative that provides technology solutions to non-profit organizations TCS is driving impactful change by enabling communities to combat dengue through data-driven insights and citizen participation. The echo network is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which supports public health and sustainability worldwide. Utilising an interactive and free WhatsApp-based chatbot, the project engages school and college students to map hyperlocal environmental conditions impacting dengue transmission. This citizen-generated data is then enriched with TCS advanced IT solutions that analyse humidity, temperature, and other location-specific parameters. The integrated data is transformed into real-time insights in collaboration with several Bengaluru-based organisations, contributing to a Vulnerability Index and an innovative Dengue Prevention Dashboard. Dengue, a rapidly growing health concern, is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in many countries, including India. In 2024, the Bengaluru region alone reported over 14,000 cases. The I am OneHealth programme in collaboration with the Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster, an initiative by the office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India of India, unites local communities, academic institutions, and health authorities to fight viral diseases through technology and collective action. Development agenda lauded as a global win 10:02, March 06, 2025 By Xing Yi ( China Daily China's commitment to high-quality development and its efforts to foster "new quality productive forces" should contribute significantly to the government's common prosperity agenda, a goal that, if achieved, would be a "big win" for the world, according to an emeritus professor at Oxford University. James Crabbe, a supernumerary fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford University, whose research spans biomedical and environmental sciences, has collaborated with Chinese scientists for two decades, loves reading Chinese literature, and follows the country's societal and economic development. Crabbe has come to appreciate China's "common prosperity" initiative and believes it is an essential topic for discussion at the two sessions. Chinese lawmakers and advisers should discuss how to "bring the common prosperity agenda with the latest elements of high-quality development and new productive forces, and make sure that they can work in harmony", he said. Since his first visit to China in 2005, Crabbe has collaborated extensively with Chinese researchers. Over the past two decades, he has traveled to the country once or twice a year, witnessing improvements in rural living standards and rapid urbanization in major cities. "The common prosperity program has helped because it's raised the standard of living of people in the Huaihe River basin and elsewhere in those sorts of rural areas," said Crabbe, reflecting on his observation while working with Chinese scientists in tracking pollutants in rivers. Crabbe also praised entrepreneurship in China but emphasized that the key is ensuring a socialist framework that profits benefit everyone. "People everywhere whether in America or China want this. If China can achieve it, it will be a big win for the world," he said. Regarding China's science and innovation capability, Crabbe lauded its fast development as "fantastic" and said he has "seen it firsthand". As a former editor-in-chief of an international academic journal, Crabbe recalled that early submissions from China were often of lower quality. However, over time, he observed a remarkable improvement in both the quality and quantity of Chinese research papers. "There are now more scientific papers published by authors from China than in the United States, which is wonderful. And I think that's a tremendous testament to the value China has given to the world in our science understanding," he added. To further advance China's new quality productive forces, Crabbe stressed the importance of international scientific collaboration. "That's what I try to do with my Chinese colleagues. We can all help each other, as we can feed our different cultures and how our minds work differently in our collaboration and then get something out of that," he said. One of Crabbe's key Chinese collaborators was Zhong Yang, a renowned botanist and professor at Fudan University. The two met during Crabbe's first visit to China in 2005 and worked together until Zhong's passing in 2017. Crabbe continues collaborating with many of Zhong's former colleagues and doctoral students. Amid rising geopolitical tensions between China and the West, which have begun to affect scientific cooperation, Crabbe emphasized the need for mutual trust and understanding. To better understand the Chinese way of thinking, Crabbe has read all four great classical novels of China, his favorite being Outlaws of the Marsh. "Geopolitics operates at one level, but scientists are individuals. Guanxi (connections) linked me with Zhong Yang on a personal level, and we worked well together," he said. "A lot of my friends go to international academic conferences, both in China and in the West. We have that rapport and sing the same hymn all the time, 'We can't give up collaboration.' "It's got to happen. Because without it, we're all sunk," he added. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) HARRISBURG In over five hours of questioning, House lawmakers drilled down on a vast array of issues under the purview of Pennsylvanias largest and most expensive agency, the Department of Human Services. Armed with a binder containing hundreds of pages of details and statistics, DHS Secretary Dr. Valerie Arkoosh and her team fielded questions about the care the state provides to its vulnerable populations, including seniors, those living with disabilities and low-income families. According to Republican Chair Jim Struzzi, the departments total budget request is about $21.1 billion, an increase of $1.96 billion. With potential federal budget cuts looming, many are concerned about the future of social programs like Medicaid. Republican congressional leadership has proposed a cut of $880 billion through 2034, which is largely expected to come from Medicaid and CHIP. The health care programs are administered by the Arkooshs department but largely funded by the federal government. Estimates from the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy organization, indicate an average $2 billion reduction per congressional district over nine years, with enrollment reductions ranging from 25,000 to 84,000 people per district. According to Arkoosh, nearly 3 million people are currently on Medicaid throughout the state and over a third of that number are children. Medicaid is the payer of last resort, meaning that it only covers costs third party insurance wont. She says cuts to Medicaid would result in hospitals, who cannot refuse emergency services, incurring a huge uptick in uncompensated care. Especially in rural areas where hospitals are already struggling to keep their doors open, this could rapidly lead to reductions in services and even closures. Even without federal concerns, legislators are in a tight squeeze. Arkoosh says this was a lean budget year when hard decisions had to be made about where to request funding and where to make cuts. Several times legislators expressed disappointment over programs with flat funding in the proposal. For instance, Rep. Emily Kinkead, R-Bellevue, inquired about rape crisis centers which have been flat-funded for the sixth year in a row despite a 28% increase in cost and an increase in demand for the services. Arkoosh shared her concerns and assured her that they were doing what they could to leverage options like telehealth in the absence of further funding. Yet, Struzzi noted that the budget has continued to rise from years past. The lions share of the increase is going toward maintaining Medicaid coverage, which necessarily rises as costs do. I understand the important role that human services play in our communities for our families, for our young people, for our elderly people, but I think we have a fundamental math problem with this budget, said Struzzi. The state has no choice but to provide the necessary funding for Medicaid, and the $150 million in additional proposed spending for department programs represents a very small increase relative to the big picture. Arkoosh noted that the programs her department is asking the legislature to fund and support are aimed at ultimately reducing costs. One major example of this is home care aimed at keeping seniors in their communities. Federal regulations explicitly prohibit states from using Medicaid for room and board, but nursing care is nevertheless an entitlement the state must cover in the event someone can no longer live at home. The costs of assisted living or nursing home care are far higher than those of home care, so ensuring the availability of these services is a top priority. The state has struggled to get other services it sees as essential to 21st century medicine covered by Medicaid. Covering doulas who provide support during pregnancy and childbirth has been a success of the administration, while covering community health providers who build trust and are effective in navigating healthcare alongside individuals remains a work in progress. Bending federal systems like Medicaid, which was established in 1965, to a new model of care focused on prevention and holistic approaches, remains a challenge for the department. Help Our Community Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You! Take The Survey (TNS) Heres some more good news from nature. A species that went missing (so to speak) more than a century ago has recently been spotted in the wild again. According to The Cool Down, the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit was lost to the forests of Mexico about 120 years ago. This, of course, led researchers to believe that the species had gone extinct. However, the same Cool Down article reports how to the extreme delight of the countrys scientists locals around the animals home of Sierra Madre del Sur have claimed for years that theyve regularly hunted the species. So, a team led by ecologist Jose Alberto Almazan-Catalan set up numerous cameras in the region in the hopes of finding one. And after five years, it finally happened: A member of the species was at long last captured on video. I was completely amazed and very happy to have had the opportunity to see one, Almazan-Catalan informs the publication. Found only in the conifer forests of Mexicos Sierra Madre del Sur mountains, these little rabbits have smaller ears and short black tails, much different from other cottontails, whose tails are fluffy and wait, explains a Re:wild Instagram post of the video. The post adds: Scientists hope to continue to work with local communities to protect Omiltemi Cottontail Rabbits and ensure this species is never lost to science again! The Travel states how the Omiltemi is just the latest in a series of recently rediscovered species: A separate Travel article notes how a mammal not seen since 1914 was spotted in South Americas Atlantic Forest. HARRISBURG Pennsylvania is looking for outstanding school employees who go above and beyond for their students. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is now accepting nominations for the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award, a national honor from the U.S. Department of Education that celebrates non-teaching staff who make a difference in pre-kindergarten through high school. School employees whether teachers, librarians, custodians, counselors or paraprofessionals play a critical role in the health, wellbeing and development of young learners, said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. Pennsylvania is proud to recognize the individuals who dedicate their time and care to their communities, and we encourage schools across the Commonwealth to nominate an exemplary professional who is making a difference. The RISE Award was created to recognize and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by classified school employees. Each state is invited to nominate up to two individuals to be recognized. One of last years Pennsylvania RISE recipients, Officer Jim Green from Butler Area School District, was named the national RISE Award winner for his exemplary service to his school community. Recently, Officer Green lent his voice to the Youve Got a Friend in Pennsylvania pep talk phone line, directing callers to select from menu options to hear advice, encouragement and jokes from early elementary through high school students. To be eligible for the RISE Award, an individual must be a full- or part-time non-teaching school employee, including paraprofessionals, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services and skilled trades. Nominations may be submitted by local education agencies, school administrators, professional associations, labor organizations, educational service agencies, nonprofit entities or parents and students. To nominate someone for the RISE Award, complete the online Nomination Form by June 30, 2025. More information can be found on the PDE website. PITTSBURGH University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel has selected Dr. Tony Gaskew, professor of criminal justice at the universitys Bradford campus, as a 2025 recipient of the Chancellors Distinguished Public Service Award. Gaskew, who is also associate dean of academic affairs at Pitt-Bradford, has taught criminal justice at the Bradford campus since 2006. The distinguished public service awards emphasize the use of faculty expertise to address social problems through public service. Gabel recognized Gaskew for his work with incarcerated people at the Federal Correctional Institution McKean and State Correctional Institution Forest. That work includes founding Pitt-Bradfords Prison Education Program and successfully reaching more than a thousand students since the programs inception; teaching postsecondary courses inside the federal and state prisons; and, in 2019, creating a first-of-its kind Life Support program, a prison education program for people incarcerated for life while still juveniles. Throughout his distinguished academic career, Tony has established programs that not only benefit our students but also improve the lives of incarcerated individuals in our region, said Pitt-Bradford President Richard Esch. His work has made an important impression on his field, his colleagues and the hundreds of Pitt-Bradford alumni whom hes prepared for careers in criminal justice. In November, Gaskew received the Larry E. Davis Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship from Pitt for his extraordinary contributions to the understanding of Black male studies and criminal justice through his pioneering research, including the creation of the FBI Counterintelligence Program Pittsburgh Collection and his leadership of the Prison Education Program at Pitt-Bradford. The collection is a special digital archive of the FBIs counterintelligence operations targeting the 1960s Black Power movement in Pittsburgh. He has been the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Federal Correctional Institution McKean for his decade-long collaborative efforts with incarcerated educators and students. In 2016, Gaskew was invited to The White House, and served on the Presidents Committee on Prison Education. He has authored more than 50 publications, including three books, book chapters and journal articles and is editor of the book series Contemporary Issues in Race, Crime and Justice. Gaskew will receive the award April 3 during Faculty Honors Convocation at the University of Pittsburgh. Gaskew is the first member of the Pitt-Bradford faculty to receive the Distinguished Public Service award and the fourth recognition from the Chancellors office. Three other Pitt-Bradford faculty members have received Chancellors Awards for Teaching: Dr. Tammy Haley, former associate professor of nursing; Dr. Lauren Yaich, associate professor of Biology; and Dr. Rick Frederick, professor emeritus of history. Weather Alert Take action to protect yourself and others extreme heat can affect everyones health. Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day. Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1 or your emergency health provider if you, or someone around you, is showing signs of heat stroke which can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness. While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body. Drink water often and before you feel thirsty to replace fluids. Close blinds, or shades and open windows if outside is cooler than inside. Turn on air conditioning, use a fan, or move to a cooler area of your living space. If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library or shaded park. Follow the advice of your regions public health authority. Plan and schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day. Limit direct exposure to the sun and heat. Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Never leave people, especially children, or pets inside a parked vehicle. Check the vehicle before locking to make sure no one is left behind. Humidex values reaching 40 are expected. A heat event is expected this weekend. What: Daytime highs of 31 to 33 degrees Celsius and a humidex of 40. Overnight lows of 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, providing little relief from the heat. When: Today to Sunday, coming to an end Sunday night. Additional information: Hot and humid air can also bring deteriorating air quality and result in the Air Quality Health Index approaching the high risk category. ### For more information: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/climate-change-health/extreme-heat/how-protect-yourself.html https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/climate-change-health/extreme-heat/who-is-at-risk.html Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or post reports on X using #ONStorm. A man who wielded a knife in front of a busload of young children has been sentenced to three years in prison. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Oisin Peavoy (39) of Granby Row, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to two counts of production on an article at locations in Parnell Square and Gardiner Street Upper on May 28th, 2024. Advertisement This charge carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison. Peavoy has no previous convictions. Passing sentence on Thursday, Judge Martin Nolan said this defendant had a knife, which he produced on one occasion and pointed to it on the other. He said people were very nervous. Judge Nolan said Peavoy has no record of conviction and has mental health difficulties. He also said Peavoy was meandering during the [garda] interview and making irrational statements. The judge said, this is a serious matter, and noted that Peavoy has some delusions and some delusions relating to children. Advertisement Judge Nolan sentenced him to three years in prison and suspended the final two years for two years. He also placed him under the supervision of the Probation Services for 18 months post-release and directed Peavo carry out all directions they deem necessary, including his living arrangements. The judge backdated the sentence to May 28th, 2024, when Peavoy went into custody. Detective Garda Paul Griffin told Oisin Clarke, BL, prosecuting, that on the morning in question, an employee in a creche was getting children on a bus to travel to school. When the last child had boarded the bus, the worker noticed a man walking towards her. She thought the man was intoxicated as he was mumbling. She asked him if he was okay. Advertisement The man, later identified as Peavoy, asked the woman if she was in charge of these children, to which she replied, Yes. He then said, You shouldnt be. The court heard that the woman then boarded the bus, and she then heard one of the children say, he has a knife. The bus driver saw Peavoy stick his fingers up to the woman and then walk backwards; he then pulled out a knife and held it by his side. The bus driver then began to drive off, and Peavoy gave him what was described as a military salute. CCTV footage of this incident was played to the court. Det Gda Griffin said a short time later, at 9:10 am, Peavoy went to Gardiner Street Upper and approached a second busload of children on their way to the zoo. The bus driver saw Peavoy approaching the bus. Advertisement Peavoy indicated that he had a knife, which he pointed to in a holder. The driver became concerned for the children and drove off. A short time later, the driver flagged down the gardai and made them aware of what happened. Peavoy was arrested at 10am. The court heard that gardai were immediately aware that Peavoy had mental health issues. During his interview, he told gardai that he was Captain Peter Gramby from the arm of King Charles III and that Putin was listening. He then said that he was a soldier in the British Army and was reporting to King Charles and said he had been signalled. Peavoy was remanded into custody but later transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. A victim impact statement from the creche worker was handed in but not read out. Advertisement Ireland Conor McGregor ordered to pay legal costs in court... Read More Det Gda Griffin agreed with Michael Hourigan SC, defending, that Peavoy was in the throws of a significant mental health issue at the time and that he also has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The garda agreed with counsel that his client had been non-compliant with the taking of his medication at the time. Mr Hourigan said this case had first been before the District Court, but they refused jurisdiction, and his client was sent forward to the Circuit Court. Counsel said there was mental health staff present in court who believe that upon Peavoys release, he should be assessed and should live in a residential facility with trained staff who will be able to help him. Ireland is still not at the point of dropping its interstate case against the UK over the Legacy Act, the Tanaiste has said. The Irish Government launched an interstate legal case against the UK Government over the laws which halted scores of civil cases and inquests into Troubles deaths. Advertisement The Act was brought in by the previous Conservative government. The case remains active, with ministers in Dublin wanting to see how Labour resolves its concerns over the legislation before any decision is taken to withdraw the action. While the Labour Government is repealing parts of the Act, including the offer of conditional immunity for perpetrators of Troubles killings, it has decided to retain the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. The Legacy Act has also faced opposition from political parties in Northern Ireland and victims organisations. Advertisement Tanaiste Simon Harris met with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Liverpool on Thursday, as part of the first in a series of UK-Ireland summits between now and 2030. They had also held a meeting in Dublin last week. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn (Ben Whitley/PA) Mr Harris said he was confident the summit marked a new chapter in the Irish-UK relationship, rooted in the commitments as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. He said Ireland wants to be in a position where the case is no longer necessary but said there was a requirement to get to that point first. Advertisement The Tanaiste told reporters: Ireland never wanted to find itself in a position where it had to take its nearest neighbour to an international court. Of course we didnt and of course we exhausted every diplomatic and political avenue before having to take that case. Ive been very clear since the election of the still relatively new British government that we want to be in a place where we can no longer need to have that case alive. Of course, we have to get to that point first. There is a sequence to all of this. He said it was very welcome to see a commitment to repealing and replacing the Legacy Act included in the Kings Speech on the House of Commons legislative agenda. Advertisement But of course, as with anything, whats in that legislation matters. Weve got to make sure that we can bring victims with us, bring victims families with us, bring the representative groups with us, that we can engage with the parties in Northern Ireland. A meeting of the UK-Ireland summit on Thursday (Peter Byrne/PA) Mr Harris added: I want to try and get to a point in the weeks ahead where it will become clear, is it possible for the two governments to take a joint approach to legacy. One that is, of course, human rights compliant, and one that can, of course, win the confidence of people in Northern Ireland. Advertisement And and when we get to that moment, and well obviously then review the future of the interstate case. Asked specifically if he supported the ICRIR, Mr Harris said he was very aware of the deeply held views of Northern Ireland political parties and victims groups on the matter. He said: I dont want to cut across conversations that the Secretary of State and I are having in good faith, because we want to allow a period of time to have intense engagements between the Irish and British governments. I instinctively approach this issue from the perspective of believing that when the Irish and British governments work together and particularly work together on tricky, difficult and painful issues that that offers the best opportunity to make progress. That can only happen if theres an agreed landing zone. He added: The Irish position, though, has always been very clear in relation to any mechanism thats put in place obviously having to be human-rights compliant. The current legislation obviously wasnt going to work. Theres a recognition from the British government in relation to that, and also, crucially, trying to gain the confidence of those most affected in terms of the process. So I dont want to be overly prescriptive, because I dont want to be unhelpful to the process, but I do know this: I believe in the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, we have an honest and honourable interlocutor. Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana on Thursday marked her 68th independence anniversary with the President of the West African country, John Dramani Mahama, stressing self-reliance and rallying the youth to take advantage of opportunities presented by his government's policies especially to boost agriculture and manufacturing A man has been found guilty of raping a Spanish tourist in Dublin city centre during New Year's Eve celebrations six years ago. Christopher O'Grady (33), formerly of Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth, had denied the single count of raping the then 19-year-old woman on January 1st, 2019. He was homeless at the time and is in custody. Advertisement It was the State's case that O'Grady raped the woman on a street in the Dublin Castle area and that the woman didn't consent and was unable to consent due to the effects of alcohol. The Central Criminal Court jury returned the verdict on Thursday after starting their deliberations Wednesday afternoon. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs thanked jurors for their service and the attention they gave to the case. She adjourned the case to June 19th for sentence hearing. In his closing speech to the jury this week, Tony McGillicuddy SC, prosecuting, said O'Grady led (the woman) in a menacing and predatory way into an area off the normal streets of Dublin City Centre on New Year's Eve to have sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old Spanish student with hardly any English, against her consent and when she was in a bad state as a result of alcohol. He said the complainant's account of what happened that night was honest, sincere and accounted for, and he urged jurors to find the man guilty of the charge. Advertisement The trial heard the woman had been in town to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks that night when she got separated from her friend and came into contact with O'Grady outside a shop. She told the court she was trying to find a bar to meet her friend and the man walked her through town to a car park area where the alleged rape occurred. The woman said she felt like a doll and didn't have any strength in her body during the alleged incident. Afterwards, the court has heard she walked with O'Grady back through the city centre for about 40 minutes, where she got talking to a couple a man and woman - outside a shop and parted ways with O'Grady. The woman ended up in a B&B with the second man after the woman went home, where they had anal sex before the woman went home to her accommodation. She told the court it was painful, and she persuaded the man to stop. The trial was played CCTV footage of this encounter, which occurred in the hallway of the B&B. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs warned the jury that they may find this footage intrusive and distressing, but she said she had made the decision that it needed to be shown in court as O'Grady had a constitutional right to put the evidence before them. Advertisement When the complainant woke up the next morning, she told the court she realised I had two rapes and there might be a medical issue with that. She went to hospital. The court heard no charge has been brought against the second man, who gave evidence in the trial. In his closing speech, Mr McGillicuddy said he had not dwelt on the woman's sexual encounter with the second man that night, because the charge before the court related to the O'Grady only. He said what the jury had to consider was whether the woman was capable of consenting to sexual intercourse between 1.40am and 2.17am on the morning in question. In his closing speech to the jury, Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said there were bizarre elements to the case and huge similarities between the two sexual encounters the woman had that night, including that they both took place in a semi-private/semi-public place. Advertisement He said that if it weren't for the fact that the jury had watched video evidence of the woman's sexual encounter with the second man, he would also have been on trial. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. A man who filmed hundreds of men and some children urinating in public toilets has been jailed for two years. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Colin Brady (35) of Kilgraigue, Kilcloon, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography, one count of exposure in a public area and recording videos of another without their knowledge or consent on dates between May 2021 and September 2022 at different locations within Dublin. He has no previous convictions. Advertisement Passing sentence on Thursday, Judge Martin Nolan said this was an unusual case, noting the court hasnt encountered this particular type of misbehaviour in its experience. He said Brady's behaviour was prolonged and repeated. He said the court inferred from the evidence that Brady's intent [was] to video the men and the children were recorded by accident, but the judge noted that Brady did not delete this footage. Having considered the mitigation and Brady's personal circumstances, the judge imposed a two-year prison sentence. Advertisement Detective Garda Kevin Bold told Jane Murphy, BL, prosecuting, that Brady was seen acting suspiciously in the toilets of a pub in Tallaght. A man who had entered the toilet noticed that Brady was standing at one end of the urinal with his phone sticking out of his pocket. The man returned to use the toilet a time later, and Brady was again in the toilet now at the other end of the urinal with his mobile phone still sticking out of his pocket. The man then went and told a member of security working in the pub. The court heard that Brady was found a short time later in a different toilet within the pub, his phone was taken, and he was detained until the gardai arrived. Advertisement He was arrested and said, my job is gone. A second phone was found on his person and seized. Both mobile phones were sent for analysis, and Brady gave them the pin codes for both. Det Gda Bold said Brady's home, which he lived in with his parents, was also searched. Electronics, along with a number of SIM cards and several SD cards, were seized. Brady told the gardai that they would find material of a similar nature on these devices. 1,355 videos were found on the SD cards. Brady took these videos of men using urinals in different public toilets around Dublin. The court heard that 25 videos depicted children using urinals. Videos of Brady masturbating other males were also found on the SD cards. The garda said that the videos of children fell into category one, which is the lowest level when categorising child pornography. Advertisement The offending occurred in Brady's workplace, pubs, shopping centre toilets, and petrol station toilets. The garda told the court that seven men were identified in the videos, one of whom was an off-duty garda. Brady made a voluntary interview to the gardai. He said that hundreds and hundreds of men had been videoed in total. Det Gda Bold agreed with Geraldine Small, SC, defending, that her client entered a very early guilty pleas and that Brady comes from a very respectable family. The garda agreed with counsel that Bradys father was present when his home was searched and told his son to write down the phone passcodes, which he did. He also agreed that when items were seized from Bradys home, he admitted that material of a similar nature would be found. Ms Small said that 1,365 videos were found in total, but only 25 contained videos of children. She asked Detective Bold if it was fair to say that his focus was on adult males, to which he agreed. Advertisement Ireland Man (39) and woman (23) found guilty of murder of... Read More Det Gda Bold also agreed that there is no question of Brady sharing or distributing any of these images to which he agreed. Counsel said her client is a man with a good work ethic and history. She said at the time, he was in a very bad place and had struggled with his sexuality. The court was told that Brady had engaged with counselling since his arrest, and documents to show this were handed into the court. Ms Small handed documents into the court, which contained a letter from Bradys mother, describing her shock and horror. She also noted the hurt and stress caused to the injured parties. She asked the court to take into account the category of the material found and the percentage of videos that contained children from the total. She asked the court to be as lenient as possible and said her client is a man who would find incarceration very difficult. A male security guard at a Circle K filling station pulled up a 14-year-old girls T-shirt and that of her 12-year-old sister, looking for stolen goods, a judge has heard. The evidence was presented before Judge Jennifer OBrien in the Circuit Civil Court today, Thursday, when barrister Rosalynn Mc Veigh disclosed that the two sisters had brought claims for defamation, assault and trespass on the person. Advertisement Ms Mc Veigh, who appeared with Enda P. Moran Solicitors for Margaret and Ellen Casey, of St Aidans Close, Tallaght, told Judge OBrien that Circle K and Bidvest Noonan Security had offered both girls damages of 10,000 each to settle their cases. Judge OBrien heard that in April 2023, the girls mother, Angela Casey, had stopped her car at the Circle K filling station in Citywest, Dublin, and had given her daughters money to go into the attached convenience shop to buy themselves Easter eggs. When they had been unable to find what they were looking for, they attempted to leave the shop when accosted by the security guard who asked if they had taken anything and had detained them in the shop for a few minutes. Margaret, who was then just under 15 years old, and Ellen, who was 12 at the time, sued both defendants through their mother. When they had returned to their mothers car, they told her that the security man had lifted up their T-shirts, looking for stolen products. Advertisement Mrs Casey had then gone into the store and demanded to know why the man had lifted up her girls T-shirts and he had replied that he had thought he had seen them rob something. The girls had sued for defamation, false imprisonment, assault and trespass on the person and had claimed they had been greatly distressed and embarrassed and made look like thieves as a result of what had happened. There had been no apology from either of the defendants. Circle K has registered offices at Beech Hill, Clonskeagh in Dublin 4 and Bidvest Noonan (Roi) Limited, which claims to be an award-winning company, has offices at Hilton House, Swords Business Park, Swords, Co Dublin. Gardai had been called to the Citywest Filling Station and had taken statements from the parties concerned but it is not known if papers had been forwarded to or if any directions had been recommended by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ms Mc Veigh told Judge OBrien she was recommending the two settlement offers to the court and the judge said she would approve both settlement offers and made orders for legal costs against the defendants to be taxed in default of agreement. On Thursday, gardai worked with the PSNI to conduct a major multi-agency checkpoint on the N1/M1 in Dundalk, Co Louth. This checkpoint involved the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carrying out immigration checks on 10 buses, leading to two people being refused Leave to Land. Advertisement Gardai said the two people will be deported from the country on Thursday night. The policing operation, with a focus on rural crime and human trafficking, was aimed at preventing and detecting criminality along the border and at preventing and disrupting the free movement of criminals based in the Republic and Northern Ireland. Alongside the immigration checks, there were four detections for drug driving (tested positive for cocaine and cannabis) and other vehicles were seized for having no tax or insurance and other Road Traffic Offences detected The Department of Social Protection identified 16 people for whom they wish to carry out further enquiries, and Revenue Customs detected Marked Gas Oil being unlawfully used in six vehicles, one of which was seized. Advertisement The operation was led by gardai from the Louth/Cavan/Monaghan Division, assisted by the Garda Air Support Unit, Armed Support Unit, Garda National Immigration Bureau, and the Garda Human Trafficking Investigation Unit, alongside officials from Customs and the Department of Social Protection. Photo: An Garda Siochana The Garda operation also served as a Mandatory Intoxicating Testing (MIT) checkpoint and focussed on providing a high-visibility policing presence to help reduce road deaths. Transport Infrastructure Ireland implemented a full traffic management plan to divert all traffic over a period of four hours off the N1 southbound at Junction 18 and onto a slip road where the checkpoint was in place. Sgt Declan Higgins of the Louth Roads Policing Unit said: "Under the JATF, we work closely with the PSNI and they have a similar checkpoint operation North of the border. What were trying to do is prevent criminals from using our road network. Advertisement "The checkpoint is also part of the road safety initiative of An Garda Siochana, were targeting drink and drug drivers and also people driving without insurance." Chief Inspector Adam Corner of the PSNI said: "We are proud to be involved in this JATF operation with our colleagues in An Garda Siochana. We are utilising a number of PSNI resources in order to control the strategic road network to deny criminals the use of the road. "Criminals are looking to exploit our border region and border communities and its through working with An Garda Siochana, sharing information, we will relentlessly pursue those looking to cause misery and those who look to commit crime in the border area. A range of stories feature across Thursdays front pages. The Irish Times reports that Government officials have warned that more energy supports will be needed for Irish households as annual gas and electricity bills remain high. France is open to extending the use of its nuclear deterrent to other European countries, according to the Irish Examiner. Advertisement The Irish Independent reports that the Taoiseach is open to sending Irish troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force. The Irish Daily Mail reveals that suspects in more than 40,000 crimes were out on bail while awaiting trial last year. An Irish woman who accused Christian Brueckner of rape tells the Irish Daily Mirror she would like to meet Madeleine McCann's parents. Michelle McIlveen is set to become the DUP's next deputy leader, according to the Belfast Telegraph. Advertisement Five people, including a father and son, have been arrested in connection witha 58 million cocaine seizure, The Herald reports. The British newspapers are led by the US suspending intelligence-sharing and military aid to Ukraine. The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph report support could resume if peace talks progress, while The Times carries a Ukrainian MP warning more civilians would die as a result of the move. The Guardian: US stops sharing intelligence with Kyiv to pile pressure on Zelenskyy #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/HEk26AAu6x George Mann (@sgfmann) March 5, 2025 The Daily Telegraph: Trump turns off Ukraine missiles #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/YZHwmHsno8 George Mann (@sgfmann) March 5, 2025 The Times: More people will die after US cuts, says Ukraine MP #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/pxBeGt4ZhE George Mann (@sgfmann) March 5, 2025 Elsewhere, the i says British finance minister Rachel Reeves is setting out plans to reduce the welfare bill by more than the previously stated 3 billion (3.5 billion). Thursday's front page: Benefits cuts even bigger than Reeves promised as tax hikes ruled out#TomorrowsPapersToday Latest from @HugoGye: https://t.co/fXsdoOj7Kv pic.twitter.com/7DleY6z4uS The i Paper (@theipaper) March 5, 2025 The Daily Mirror leads with Britain's Prince William giving thanks to health staff who put their lives on the line during the pandemic. Advertisement Police believe a student found guilty of drugging, raping and filming 10 women may have attacked up to 60 more, according to the Metro. Metro: 60 more victims of serial spiking rapist #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/2DIiH0wJpl George Mann (@sgfmann) March 5, 2025 The Daily Express says calls are mounting for French authorities to turn Channel boats around after migrants were escorted to a British rescue ship from French waters. The Daily Mail says fresh guidance over the treatment of minorities in court has drawn allegations of a two-tier justice system. The Sun reports a 59-year-old Albanian man with links to the mafia has cost taxpayers thousands of pounds fighting deportation. The Sun: Mafia cop killer free to roam UK #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/NwKDTP9ytG George Mann (@sgfmann) March 5, 2025 The Financial Times leads with German borrowing costs surging on the back of a historic deal to fund military and infrastructure investment. Advertisement Financial Times: Berlin defence funding shift triggers huge bets on growth #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/lWRbxsq3nm George Mann (@sgfmann) March 5, 2025 And the Daily Star says sunny skies are in store for the UK. Albanian MPs have decided to shut down TikTok for 12 months, blaming the video-sharing platform for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. Education minister Ogerta Manastirliu said they are in contact with TikTok on installing filters such as parental controls and the inclusion of the Albanian language in the application. Advertisement Authorities had conducted 1,300 meetings with some 65,000 parents who recommended and were in favour of the shutdown or limiting the TikTok platform, the minister said. The Albanian Cabinet initiated the move last year after a teenager stabbed another teenager to death in November after a quarrel that started on TikTok. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the governments decision. When Prime Minister Edi Rama said in December they were aiming to close the social media platform, TikTok asked for urgent clarity from the Albanian government on the case of the stabbed teenager. Advertisement On Thursday Mr Rama said they were in a positive dialogue with the company which soon would go to the country to offer a series of measures on increasing the security for children. The company said it had found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok. Albanian children comprise the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to researchers. There has been increasing concern from Albanian parents after reports of children being inspired by content on social media to take knives to school, or cases of bullying promoted by stories they see on TikTok. Advertisement Authorities have increased police presence at some schools and set up other measures including training programmes for teachers, pupils and their parents. The opposition has not agreed with TikToks closure and has set March 15 for a protest against the move. It said the ban was an act of intolerance, fear and terror from free thinking and expression. Canadas initial retaliatory tariffs against the US will remain in place for now despite President Donald Trump postponing 25% tariffs on many imports from Canada for a month, a senior Canadian government official said. Mr Trump said on Thursday that he has postponed 25% tariffs on many goods from Canada and Mexico for a month, amid widespread fears of a broader trade war. Advertisement A senior Canadian government official confirmed Canadas response tariffs will remain for now. Canadas initial retaliatory tariffs have been applied on items such as American orange juice, peanut butter, coffee, appliances, footwear, cosmetics, motorcycles and certain pulp and paper products. Ontario premier Doug Ford, the leader of Canadas most populous province, also said on Thursday that, starting on Monday, the province will charge 25% more for electricity shipped to 1.5 million Americans in response to Mr Trumps tariff plan. Ontario provides electricity to Minnesota, New York and Michigan. Donald Trump said he has postponed 25% tariffs on many goods from Canada and Mexico for a month (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP) Mr Ford said Ontarios tariff would remain in place despite the one-month reprieve from the Americans. Mr Ford said on Wednesday that so long as the threat of tariffs continue, Ontarios position would remain the same. Advertisement This whole thing with President Trump is a mess, Mr Ford said. This reprieve, we went down this road before. He still threatens the tariffs on April 2. British Columbia premier David Eby also said his province will introduce legislation in the coming days that would give it the ability to levy fees on commercial lorries travelling from the United States through the province to Alaska. He said Canadians will not let up until the tariffs are taken off the table. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier on Thursday that he expects Canada and the US to be in a trade war for the foreseeable future after having what he called a colourful but constructive call with Mr Trump on Tuesday. Imports from Mexico that comply with the 2020 USMCA trade pact would be excluded from the 25% tariffs for a month, according to the orders signed by Mr Trump. Advertisement Imports from Canada that comply with the trade deal would also avoid the 25% tariffs for a month, while the potash that US farmers import from Canada would be tariffed at 10%, the same rate at which Mr Trump wants to tariff Canadian energy products. Roughly 62% of imports from Canada would likely still face the new tariffs because they are not USMCA compliant, according to a White House official. Half of imports from Mexico that are not USCMA compliant would also be taxed under the orders being signed by Mr Trump, the official said. Mr Trump launched a new trade war on Tuesday by imposing tariffs against Washingtons three biggest trading partners, drawing immediate retaliation from Mexico, Canada and China and sending financial markets into a tailspin. A day after the new tariffs took effect, Mr Trump had said he would grant a one-month exemption for US carmakers. Advertisement The announcement came after Mr Trump spoke on Wednesday with leaders of Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler and Jeep. His press secretary said Mr Trump told the chief executives to move car production to the US to avoid tariffs. European Union leaders have backed new defence spending plans aimed at freeing up billions of euros for the continents security after the Trump administration signalled that Europe would have to fend for itself in the future. Facing the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift, EU leaders held emergency talks in Brussels to explore new ways to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be protected. Advertisement Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said talks between Ukraine and the US on ending the war will take place in Saudi Arabia next week. In his nightly address, Mr Zelensky said he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet the crown prince, and his team would stay on to hold talks with US officials. The 27 EU leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending. They also urged the European Commission to explore new ways to facilitate significant defence spending at national level in all member states, a statement said. From left, European Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen arrive for the EU summit (Omar Havana/AP) The EUs executive branch estimates that around 650 billion euros could be freed up in this way. Advertisement The leaders also took note of a commission offer of a loan package worth 150 billion euros to buy new military equipment and invited EU headquarters staff to examine this proposal as a matter of urgency. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump and considered to be Russian President Vladimir Putins closest ally in Europe, refused to endorse part of the summit statement in favour of Ukraine. But all 26 other EU leaders approved the blocs stance that there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine and that the Europeans must be involved in any talks involving their security. The Europeans have so far been sidelined in the US-led negotiations with Russia. In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has overturned old certainties about the reliability of the US as a security partner, as he embraces Russia, withdraws American support for Ukraine and upends the cornerstones of co-operation with Europe that have been the bedrock of western security since the Second World War. Advertisement Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country holds the EUs rotating presidency, said that three years of war in Ukraine and new attitudes in Washington pose entirely new challenges for us, and Europe must take up this challenge and it must win. We will arm ourselves faster, smarter, and more efficiently than Russia, Mr Tusk said. The plan to loosen budget rules originated with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who oversees the EUs executive arm. Mr Zelensky welcomed the plan and expressed hopes that some of it could be used to bolster Ukraines own defence industry, which can produce weapons more cheaply than elsewhere in Europe and closer to the battlefields where they are needed. Advertisement We are very thankful that we are not alone, and these are not just words. We feel it. Its very important, Mr Zelensky said, looking far more relaxed among Europes leaders in Brussels than almost a week ago when he received a verbal lashing from Mr Trump in Washington. Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, and summit chairman Antonio Costa discussed ways to fortify Europes defences on a short deadline. Mr Merz pushed plans this week to loosen his nations rules on running up debt to allow for higher defence spending. Others too appeared ready to do more. Spend, spend, spend on defence and deterrence. Thats the most important message, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters. Advertisement The call is a sharp departure from decades of decline in military spending in Europe, where defence often ranked low in many budgetary considerations after the end of the Cold War. In an address to his country on Wednesday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron said the bloc would take decisive steps forward. Member states will be able to increase their military spending, he said, noting that massive joint funding will be provided to buy and produce some of the most innovative munitions, tanks, weapons and equipment in Europe. Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz, centre left, speaks to Belgiums Prime Minister Bart De Wever during a round table meeting at the EU summit in Brussels (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP) Mr Macron was expected to confer with his EU counterparts about the possibility of using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats. Ms von der Leyens plan was hailed by many, but its short-term benefits are not obvious. Most of the increased defence spending would have to come from national budgets at a time when many countries are already overburdened with debt. Part of her scheme includes measures to ensure struggling member states will not be punished for going too deep into the red if additional spending is earmarked for defence. Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, she said. France is struggling to reduce an excessive annual budget deficit of 5% of GDP, after running up its total debt burden to 112% of GDP with spending on relief for businesses and consumers during the Covid-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed Russias invasion of Ukraine. Five other countries using the euro currency have debt levels of more than 100% of GDP: Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal. Europes largest economy, Germany, has more room to borrow, with a debt level of 62% of GDP. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks to the media as he arrives for the summit in Brussels (Omar Havana/AP) Part of any security plan would be to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian attacks such as the one that hit Mr Zelenskys hometown overnight. A Russian missile killed four people staying at a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, shortly after volunteers from a humanitarian organisation moved in. The volunteers included Ukrainian, American and British nationals, but it was not clear whether those people were among the 31 who were wounded. Earlier this week, Mr Trump ordered a pause in US military supplies being sent to Ukraine as he sought to press Mr Zelensky to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. The move brought fresh urgency to Thursdays summit. But the meeting was unlikely to address Ukraines most pressing needs. It was not aimed at drumming up more arms and ammunition to fill any supply vacuum created by the US freeze. Nor will all nations agree to unblock the estimated 183 billion euros in frozen Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house, a pot of ready cash that could be seized. As always among the 27 nations, a major challenge is building a united stance at a moment when the bloc is fractured, since many of its actions require unanimous support. Hungarys veto of the Ukraine statement underscored the problem even though it did little damage. We have to take decisions no matter the one or two which are opposing every time, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said. Otherwise history will penalise us, and we will pay a very high cost. US president Donald Trump's administration is planning to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, a senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter said, potentially putting them on a fast-track to deportation. The move, expected as soon as April, would be a stunning reversal of the welcome Ukrainians received under president Joe Biden's administration. Advertisement The planned rollback of protections for Ukrainians was underway before Mr Trump publicly feuded with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week. Trump's mass deportation It is part of a broader Trump administration effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants allowed to enter the US under temporary humanitarian parole programmes launched under the Biden administration, the sources said. US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the department had no announcements at this time. The White House and Ukrainian embassy did not respond to requests for comment. A Trump executive order issued on January 20th called for DHS to "terminate all categorical parole programs". Advertisement The administration plans to revoke parole for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as soon as this month, the Trump official and one of the sources familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The plan to revoke parole for those nationalities was first reported by CBS News. Migrants stripped of their parole status could face fast-track deportation proceedings, according to an internal ICE email seen by Reuters. Immigrants who cross the border illegally can be put into the fast-track deportation process known as expedited removal, for two years after they enter. But for those who entered through legal ports of entry without being officially "admitted" to the US - as with those on parole - there is no time limit on their rapid removal, the email said. The Biden programmes were part of a broader effort to create temporary legal pathways to deter illegal immigration and provide humanitarian relief. Advertisement In addition to the 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, and the 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, these programmes covered more than 70,000 Afghans escaping the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. An additional one million migrants scheduled a time to cross at a legal border crossing via an app known as CBP One. Thousands more had access to smaller programmes, including family reunification parole for certain people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mr Trump as a candidate pledged to end the Biden programmes, saying they went beyond the bounds of US law. Advertisement The Trump administration last month paused processing immigration-related applications for people who entered the US under certain Biden parole programmes - placing Ukrainian Liana Avetisian, her husband and her 14-year-old daughter, in limbo. Ms Avetisian, who worked in real estate in Ukraine, now assembles windows while her husband works construction. The family fled Kyiv in May 2023, eventually buying a house in the small city of DeWitt, Iowa. Their parole and work permits expire in May. They say they spent about $4,000 in filing fees to renew their parole and to try to apply for another program known as Temporary Protected Status. Ms Avetisian has started getting headaches as she worries about their situation, she said. Advertisement We dont know what to do, she said. Waning welcome US allies from Afghanistan who entered under Mr Biden have also been swept up in Mr Trump's crackdown. Rafi, a former Afghan intelligence officer who asked to be identified only by his first name to protect family members still in Afghanistan, entered the US legally in January 2024 using the CBP One mobile app at the US-Mexico border. He was given a temporary humanitarian parole status that allowed him to live and work in the United States for two years. On February 13th, just over a year into that status, he was detained at a check-in appointment at an ICE office in Chantilly, Virginia. His status was revoked. In Afghanistan, Rafi was trained by American officers and provided intelligence on High Value Targets, according to an October 2022 recommendation letter. As a result of his active efforts against the enemy, he is currently in extreme danger, and in need of assistance in departing the country, the former CIA officer who trained him wrote. The officer described Rafi as truly one of the most dedicated and hardworking individuals I had the honor to serve with in Afghanistan". Reuters reviewed the letter but was not able to reach the officer. In the United States, Rafi applied for asylum and was scheduled for a hearing before an immigration judge in April. At his February ICE check in - one of the conditions for his temporary status - he was asked to remove his belt and shoelaces, he said. He knew immediately what was happening, he said, and still, he asked: Are you arresting me? I have broken no law. Rafi said he felt betrayed. I wasn't expecting this behavior from them. I wasn't expecting it. When someone stands shoulder to shoulder with American troops and puts his life in danger he said in a phone call from detention, his voice shaking. Ireland 'Don't bow down to a dictator': Messages to Taoise... Read More I wasn't expecting this behavior from them. I wasn't expecting it. On February 24th, his lawyer wrote to ICE asking them to release her client, noting his lack of a criminal record, that he was not a flight risk and had an active asylum case related to his work supporting the US military in Afghanistan. James Mullan, the assistant field office director at ICEs Washington field office responded that ICE was declining to release him. The priorities that you mentioned in your email ended on January 20, 2025, Mr Mullan wrote, referring to the date of Mr Trumps inauguration. France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine after Washington announced it was freezing the sharing of information with Kyiv, French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Thursday. It came as Russias Foreign Ministry rejected a peace proposal from France and Britain, describing it as an attempt to give Ukraine a chance to strengthen its military. Advertisement The US said on Wednesday it had paused its intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, cutting off the flow of vital information that has helped the war-torn nation target Russian invaders, but Trump administration officials have said positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean it may only be a short suspension. American intelligence is vital for Ukraine to track Russian troop movements and select targets. Speaking to France Inter radio on Thursday, Mr Lecornu said France is continuing its intelligence sharing. Our intelligence is sovereign, Mr Lecornu said. We have intelligence that we allow Ukraine to benefit from. Advertisement Mr Lecornu added that following the US decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron asked him to accelerate the various French aid packages to make up for the lack of American assistance. Mr Lecornu said that in the wake of the US decision, shipments of Ukraine-bound aid departing from Poland had been suspended, adding, however, that Ukrainians, unfortunately, have learned to fight this war for three years now and know how to stockpile. All night, a rescue operation continued in Kryvyi Rih at the site of a Russian missile strike. A ballistic missile struck an ordinary hotel. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom had pic.twitter.com/XTfcRprBsE Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 6, 2025 In Ukraine, a Russian ballistic missile killed four people staying at a hotel in President Volodymyr Zelenskys home town during the night. Mr Zelensky, who is attending an emergency EU summit on defence in Brussels, said a humanitarian organisations volunteers had moved into the hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, just before the strike, including Ukrainian, American and British nationals. He did not say whether those people were among the 31 injured. Advertisement Russia fired 112 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as two ballistic Iskander missiles, at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaking during a news conference (Pavel Bednyakov/AP) Later on Thursday Russias Foreign Ministry rejected a peace proposal from France and Britain, describing it as an attempt by Kyivs European allies to offer a break to the embattled Ukrainian army. The ministrys spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said the proposed break in air and naval attacks is an attempt to secure a pause for the agonising Kyiv regime, the Ukrainian armed forces and prevent the front from collapsing. She said Ukraine would use any pause in fighting to strengthen its military, which would lead to prolonged conflict. Advertisement And Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov harshly criticised Mr Macrons claim that Russia threatens Europe. This is a threat to Russia, Mr Lavrov said at a briefing in Moscow, noting Mr Macrons plan to convene a meeting of top European military officers to discuss purported aggressive plans by Moscow. Mr Lavrov dismissed the allegations that Russia was hatching plans to attack European nations as stupid and delirious nonsense. For any more or less sane person it is completely clear that Russia does not need this, he said. Advertisement Ukraines ambassador to the UK said the United States is destroying the rules-based international order by cozying up to Russia. Valerii Zaluzhnyi told a conference hosted by the Chatham House think tank that its not just the axis of evil and Russia disrupting the global system, but the US is finally destroying this order. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Zaluzhnyi said talks between Washington and Moscow over the Ukraine war showed the White House makes steps toward the Kremlin, trying to meet them halfway. He also warned that Russias next target could be Europe. The ambassador, a former commander of Ukraines armed forces, said Nato might cease to exist in the next few years if the current course continues. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - With global humanitarian funding being scaled back precipitously, the United Nations on Thursday allocated US$110 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to boost life-saving assistance in 10 of the worlds most underfunded and neglected crises across Africa, Asia and Latin America New Zealands most senior envoy to the United Kingdom has lost his job over remarks he made about US President Donald Trump at an event in London, New Zealands foreign minister said on Thursday. Phil Goff, New Zealands High Commissioner to the UK, made the comments at an event held by the international affairs think tank Chatham House in London on Tuesday. Advertisement Mr Goff asked a question from the audience of the guest speaker, Finlands foreign minister Elina Valtonen, in which he said he had been re-reading a famous speech by British wartime leader Winston Churchill from 1938, when the future prime minister was a lawmaker in the government of Neville Chamberlain. Mr Churchills speech rebuked Britains signing of the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler, allowing Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Mr Goff quoted Mr Churchill as saying to Mr Chamberlain: You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war. Then-Auckland Mayor Phil Goff talks to the media in Auckland in 2021 (Ricky Wilson/STUFF/AP) He then asked Ms Valtonen: President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history? As the audience chuckled at the New Zealand envoys question, Ms Valtonen said she would limit myself to saying that Mr Churchill has made very timeless remarks, according to video of the event published by New Zealand news outlets. Advertisement He speech was billed as covering Finlands approach to European security at an event entitled Keeping the peace on Natos longest border with Russia. In response to questions from reporters, foreign minister Winston Peters said Mr Goffs remarks were disappointing and made the envoys position untenable. When you are in that position you represent the government and the policies of the day, Mr Peters said. Youre not able to free think, you are the face of New Zealand. We have asked the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bede Corry, to now work through with Mr Goff the upcoming leadership transition at the New Zealand High Commission in London. Advertisement Officials were in discussion with High Commissioner Goff about his return to New Zealand, according to a written statement. Mr Goff has been New Zealands envoy to the UK since January 2023. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Former prime minister Helen Clark who was Mr Goffs boss during his time as a minister denounced his sacking in a post on X, where she wrote the episode was a very thin excuse for removing a highly respected former foreign minister from his diplomatic role. US President Donald Trump has postponed 25 per cent tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war. The White House insists its tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of fentanyl, but the taxes proposed by Mr Trump have caused a gaping wound in the decades-old North American trade partnership, and Canada has felt compelled to quickly take aggressive countermeasures. Advertisement Mr Trumps tariff plans have also caused the stock market to sink and alarmed US consumers. In addition to his claims about fentanyl, Mr Trump has insisted that the tariffs could be resolved by fixing the trade deficit and he emphasised while speaking in the Oval Office that he still plans to impose reciprocal tariffs starting on April 2nd. Most of the tariffs go on April 2, Mr Trump said before signing the orders. Right now, we have some temporary ones and small ones, relatively small, although its a lot of money having to do with Mexico and Canada. Mr Trump said he was not looking to extend the exemption on the 25 per cent tariff for cars for another month. Advertisement Imports from Mexico that comply with the 2020 USMCA trade pact would be excluded from the 25 per cent tariffs for a month, according to the orders signed by Mr Trump. Auto-related imports from Canada that comply with the trade deal would also avoid the 25 per cent tariffs for a month, while the potash that U. farmers import from Canada would be tariffed at 10 per cent, the same rate at which Mr Trump wants to tariff Canadian energy products. Roughly 62 per cent of imports from Canada would likely still face the new tariffs because they are not USMCA compliant, according to a White House official. Half of imports from Mexico that are not USCMA compliant would also be taxed under the orders being signed by Mr Trump, the official said. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum had planned to announce any retaliatory measures on Sunday, but Mr Trump credited her with making progress on illegal immigration and drug smuggling as a reason for again pausing tariffs that were initially supposed to go into full effect in February. Advertisement I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum, Mr Trump said on Truth Social. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the border. Mr Trumps on-again, off-again tariff threats have impacted financial markets, lowered consumer confidence and enveloped many businesses in an uncertain atmosphere that could delay hiring and investment. Major US stock markets briefly bounced off lows after commerce secretary Howard Lutnick previewed the month-long pauses on CNBC on Thursday. Significant declines already seen this week resumed within an hour. The S&P 500 stock index has fallen below where it was before Mr Trump was elected. US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick (Ben Curtis/AP) Asked whether the stock market decline was due to his tariffs, Mr Trump said: A lot of them are globalist countries and companies that wont be doing as well because were taking back things that have been taken from us many years ago. Advertisement Ms Sheinbaum said she and Mr Trump had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, on a post on social media platform X. Mexico has cracked down on cartels, sent troops to the US border and delivered 29 top cartel bosses long-chased by American authorities to the Trump administration in a span of weeks. At a press conference, Ms Sheinbaum elaborated on her call with Mr Trump on Thursday, saying that she told the president that Mexico was making great strides in fulfilling his security demands. I told him were getting results, Ms Sheinbaum said. But the US imposed the tariffs, so she asked Mr Trump how are we going to continue co-operating, collaborating with something that hurts the people of Mexico?. Advertisement She added that practically all of the trade between the US and Mexico will be exempt from tariffs until April 2nd. She said the two countries will continue to work together on migration and security, and to cut back on fentanyl trafficking to the US. From January to February, the amount of fentanyl seized at the border dropped more than 41%, according to Ms Sheinbaum, citing data from US Customs and Border Protection. She cited the dip as meeting a commitment made to Mr Trump. Ontario premier Doug Ford, the leader of Canadas most populous province, said that starting on Monday the province will charge 25% more for electricity shipped to 1.5 million Americans in response to Mr Trumps tariff plan. Ontario provides electricity to Minnesota, New York and Michigan. This whole thing with President Trump is a mess, Mr Ford said on Thursday. This reprieve, weve went down this road before. He still threatens the tariffs on April 2. Mr Fords office said that the tariff would remain in place even if theres a one month reprieve from the Americans. Mr Ford has said that so long as the threat of tariffs continue, Ontarios position will not change. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country will hold talks with the US next week about ending the war against Russia. In his nightly address, Mr Zelensky said he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday and his team would stay there to hold talks with US officials. Advertisement I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the crown prince, said Mr Zelensky, referring to Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne of the oil-rich kingdom. After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace. He added: As we told President Trump, Ukraine is working and will work exclusively constructively for a quick and reliable peace. US President Donald Trump said he believed his administration had made a lot of progress in recent days with both Ukraine and Russia (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP) In an exchange with reporters on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he believed his administration had made a lot of progress in recent days with both Ukraine and Russia, but did not specify how. I think whats going to happen is Ukraine wants to make a deal, because I dont think they have a choice, Mr Trump said. Advertisement I also think that Russia wants to make a deal because in a certain different way a different way that only I know, only I know they have no choice either. Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that senior administration officials are arranging to hold talks with top Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. Mr Witkoff noted that Mr Zelensky has been apologetic in recent days about the White House blow-up and expressed gratitude. He was circumspect about whether a minerals deal would be signed during the meeting in Saudi Arabia. Advertisement European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen,speaks to Volodymyr Zelensky (Omar Havana/AP) Well see if he follows through, Mr Witkoff said. The announcement came as European Union leaders held emergency talks about ways to quickly increase their military budgets after the Trump administration signalled that Europe must take care of its own security and also suspended assistance to Ukraine. In just over a month, Mr Trump has overturned old certainties about US reliability as a security partner, as he embraces Russia and withdraws American support for Ukraine. On Monday, Mr Trump ordered a pause to US military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press Mr Zelensky to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. The US has also paused intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Advertisement Earlier French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine. American intelligence is vital for Ukraine to track Russian troop movements and select targets. Speaking to France Inter radio on Thursday, Mr Lecornu said France is continuing its intelligence sharing. Our intelligence is sovereign, Mr Lecornu said. We have intelligence that we allow Ukraine to benefit from. Advertisement Mr Lecornu added that following the US decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron asked him to accelerate the various French aid packages to make up for the lack of American assistance. Mr Lecornu said that in the wake of the US decision, shipments of Ukraine-bound aid departing from Poland had been suspended, adding, however, that Ukrainians, unfortunately, have learned to fight this war for three years now and know how to stockpile. All night, a rescue operation continued in Kryvyi Rih at the site of a Russian missile strike. A ballistic missile struck an ordinary hotel. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom had pic.twitter.com/XTfcRprBsE Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 6, 2025 In Ukraine, a Russian ballistic missile killed four people staying at a hotel in President Zelenskys home town during the night. Mr Zelensky, who was attending the EU summit on defence in Brussels, said a humanitarian organisations volunteers had moved into the hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, just before the strike, including Ukrainian, American and British nationals. He did not say whether those people were among the 31 injured. Russia fired 112 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as two ballistic Iskander missiles, at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Later on Thursday Russias Foreign Ministry rejected a peace proposal from France and Britain, describing it as an attempt by Kyivs European allies to offer a break to the embattled Ukrainian army. The ministrys spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said the proposed break in air and naval attacks is an attempt to secure a pause for the agonising Kyiv regime, the Ukrainian armed forces and prevent the front from collapsing. She said Ukraine would use any pause in fighting to strengthen its military, which would lead to prolonged conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaking during a news conference (Pavel Bednyakov/AP) And Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov harshly criticised Mr Macrons claim that Russia threatens Europe. This is a threat to Russia, Mr Lavrov said at a briefing in Moscow, noting Mr Macrons plan to convene a meeting of top European military officers to discuss purported aggressive plans by Moscow. Mr Lavrov dismissed the allegations that Russia was hatching plans to attack European nations as stupid and delirious nonsense. For any more or less sane person it is completely clear that Russia does not need this, he said. Russia ruled out European proposals to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine and said on Thursday that French president Emmanuel Macron had threatened it by suggesting that Moscow was a grave menace to Europe. French president Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday he plans next week to hold a meeting of army chiefs from European countries willing to send troops to Ukraine after any eventual peace deal with Russia. Advertisement He also said France needs to be ready if the United States is no longer by its side. President Donald Trump has upended Us policy towards Ukraine and Russia and demanded a deal to end the war, berating Ukraine while discussing a renewal of ties with Moscow. Mr Macron said Russia was "a threat for France and Europe", that the Ukraine war was already a "global conflict" and that he would open a debate about extending the French nuclear umbrella to allies in Europe. The Kremlin said the speech was extremely confrontational and that it was clear Mr Macron wanted the war in Ukraine to continue while president Vladimir Putin's foreign minister said the speech amounted to a threat against Russia. Advertisement "This is, of course, a threat" against Russia, Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow. Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight against Russia, Napoleon, Hitler, Mr Macron does not act very gracefully. "Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight against Russia, Napoleon, Hitler, Mr Macron does not act very gracefully, because at least they said it bluntly: 'we must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia'." Lavrov also dismissed European ideas about sending peacekeepers from Nato member states to Ukraine, saying that Moscow would consider such a deployment to be a Nato presence in Ukraine and that Moscow would not allow it. Russia and the United States are by far the world's biggest nuclear powers, with over 5,000 nuclear warheads each, followed by China with about 500 and then France with 290 and the United Kingdom with 225, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Advertisement Russian officials say the tough rhetoric from Macron, British prime minister Keir Starmer and other European powers over recent days is simply not backed up by hard military power and point to Russia's advances on the battlefield in Ukraine. Growing Russian army Ireland 'Don't bow down to a dictator': Messages to Taoise... Read More Putin last year ordered the regular size of the Russian army to be increased by 180,000 troops to 1.5 million active servicemen in a move that would make it the second largest in the world after China's. Putin has repeatedly dismissed as nonsense Western claims that Russia could one day attack a Nato member. Ukraine and the West say Putin is engaged in an imperial-style land grab in Ukraine, and have repeatedly vowed to defeat Russia, which currently controls just under 20 per cent of Ukraine, including Crimea and a chunk of eastern and southern Ukraine. Putin portrays the war as part of a historic struggle with the West, which he says humiliated Russia, after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, by enlarging Nato and encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine. Why cash still matters While cash use has dropped sharply, there is still a substantial group of people who depend on notes and coins in their financial lives. The Reserve Bank estimates cash is only used in about 13 per cent of consumer payments, but there are around 1.5 million high cash users, who use it for more than 80 per cent of their in-person transactions. When cash is accepted at fewer stores, it also hits some parts of society harder than others. Treasury says groups most likely to bear the brunt of lower cash acceptance are regional and remote areas, older people, and low-income households. Cash is also valued for privacy reasons, and because its not subject to telecommunications or technology outages (such as in natural disasters). For all these reasons the government wants to make sure cash doesnt go the way of cheques which are being phased out from 2028. So, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced in November that certain businesses, including medium and large retailers that sell groceries and fuel, would have to accept cash. The proposed mandate will not apply to small businesses with turnover under $10 million, except for outlets of larger franchises. The proposal was quickly welcomed by the advocacy group for seniors, Council on the Ageing (COTA), which said cash remained vital for financial independence for many older Australians. As it has become harder and harder to pay with cash over the years, weve seen too many people left with no option to pay for goods that doesnt see them hit them with additional charges, COTA chief executive Patricia Sparrow said. Armaguards woes last year highlighted the strain on the cash distribution system. Credit: Aresna Villanueva But the response has been much less positive from the Australian Retail Association, which has warned of potential costs and pushed for a delay to the mandate. In a submission to the federal Treasury, the ARA said it recognised the continued use of cash by some vulnerable members of the community, but it did not support the policy in its current form, raising a slew of objections. It underlined the costs of maintaining the infrastructure for accepting cash payments such as having extra security, maintaining safes, and secure transport and warned these costs could ultimately be passed on to consumers. The ARA also said concentrating cash transactions in certain locations could increase security risks, saying many businesses were already trying to use less cash in response to increasing crime in store. Key details of the mandate are also still the subject of consultation. How do you define an essential business? A Treasury discussion paper proposes clothing for children and infants be considered essential, for example, but not adult clothing. The last truck carrying cash is going to cost a lot of money. NAB chief executive Andrew Irvine Would there be a maximum payment that businesses would need to accept in cash? This is what US states including Colorado, Illinois, Montana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York have done. Or would retailers only be required to accept cash at certain times of the day to limit the security risks? In Denmark, for example, physical stores arent allowed to refuse cash payments between 6.00am and 10.00pm Retailers say the cash mandate shouldnt mean customers also have a right to always receive change in cash. Credit: Justin McManus Does the mandate mean customers also have a right to expect to receive change in cash? You might assume that it would, but the ARA says requiring businesses to keep enough cash to give change or refunds in notes and coins could be tricky in circumstances when there are limited notes and coins on hand (such as in small communities). And how long might the mandate remain in place? Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock recently predicted cash would be around for probably another 10 years and business groups are pushing for future reviews into how long the mandate will stick around. Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox says: It would be useful to insert a grandfathering provision that would require government to go back, in say five years time, and look whether the mandate is still needed or should be adjusted in the future. The strain on cash infrastructure As these details are ironed out, the bigger challenge for banks will be how to efficiently supply cash to the community, even as physical money gets used less and less. Loading The cash distribution system is already under strain, and that will only intensify as cash usage dries up further, spreading the cost of cash distribution across a dwindling number of cash transactions. Some experts say it makes sense to rationalise the banks network of ATMs something thats been talked about for years while theres also a question of how the cost of cash gets passed on to consumers. This is a sensitive issue, as underlined by the backlash Commonwealth Bank faced late last year after announcing it would move thousands of customers into an account that charges a $3 fee for taking out cash at a branch. Politicians slammed CBA forcing it to press pause on the move and instead consult affected customers on other options. The row over Australias representatives to the Venice Biennale may be headed to court, with Creative Australia yet to pay an initial fee to the artistic team they appointed then sacked a week later. Western Sydney artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were entitled to receive 90 per cent of the artists fee of $100,000 and the curators fee of $50,000, in line with the contract terms the pair signed on February 6. Artist Khaled Sabsabi (left); Creative Australia chair Robert Morgan and CEO Adrian Collette (on right). Credit: James Brickwood, Alex Ellinghausen Such a payment is due on signing, this masthead understands, and there had been no further meetings called to discuss settlement. The financial obligation of the federal arts agency to Sabsabi and Dagostino was raised on Wednesday in the first meeting of the Creative Australia board since its members unanimously agreed to rescind the pairs contract four weeks ago. Colorado lawmakers proposed to create the state's first regulations focused on childcare centers that private investors own. The proposal, which the Colorado House of Representatives initially approved on Tuesday, marks the latest development in controlling how these centers work. Supporters of the proposal note that it would set guidelines for the increasing number of childcare centers in Colorado that for-profit companies back. Regulations for Investor-Owned Childcare Centers The proposed rules would only apply to childcare centers across the state that institutional investors and private equity firms control. Republican lawmakers tried to broaden the regulations to also apply to all childcare providers. However, state Rep. Lorena Garcia, who sponsored the bill, argued that investor-owned childcare centers are vastly different from independent operators. She noted that they are making changes to the centers to fit their profit model, which, according to KUNC, requires transparency. The proposal comes as investors have bought up many previously independent businesses in recent years. These include funeral parlors, nursing homes, and childcare centers. Investment firms control as much as 15% of the state's childcare capacity. House Bill 25-1011 includes provisions that would require investment firms to give 60 days' notice before they lay off employees. This was designed to prevent them from bolstering profits by cutting the centers' workforces. Issues With Private Owners Many people have been raising concerns about the issue for some time now, and one example is that families at a Highlands Ranch child care center received startling news in July 2024. This was because the center was temporarily closing after being visited by the county health department, Chalkbeat reported. It was revealed that the owner of the center failed to submit the required construction plans to the Douglas County Health Department. They also failed to acquire the necessary construction permits from the county's building division. Furthermore, a state childcare licensing inspector found several safety violations related to the construction of the center. For example, tools and debris blocked emergency exits, and paint and construction materials were easily accessible to children. It was later revealed that the renovation of the center was the result of a change in ownership. A national chain known as The Nest Schools purchased it from a small local company earlier that month, according to The Denver Post. Santa Fe: Authorities misidentified a deceased dog while investigating the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, according to a pet-care specialist. The couples German shepherd, named Bear, survived along with a second dog named Nikita, but their kelpie mix, Zinna, died, according to Joey Padilla, owner of the Santa Fe Tails pet-care facility that is involved in the surviving dogs care. Initial reports said Bear had died. Santa Fe County police at the home of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, where they were found dead. Credit: AP The dog that died was always attached to Betsy at the hip and it was a beautiful relationship, Padilla said in an email statement on Tuesday. Zinna went from being a returned shelter dog to this incredible companion under Betsys hand. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In September last year I walked into a bar called Poor Cow, tucked away on the fourth floor of a nondescript building in Tokyos hip neighbourhood of Shimokitazawa. A Japanese girl with dyed blue hair was spinning US garage rock and British invasion singles from the 60s. The small space was hopping, packed with people having a good time, drinking and smoking (yes, you can still smoke in many Tokyo bars) they were mainly Japanese, but there was one table of gaijin (foreigners). Behind the bar, wearing sunglasses and a T-shirt that depicted Joey Ramone drawn as a Peanuts character, was the owner. Fifi he only goes by the one name is a bit of a legend in Japanese underground rock circles, having played in cult bands such as American Soul Spiders, Teengenerate, The Tweezers and Firestarter. After ordering a beer, I introduced myself. He asked where I was from, and then proceeded to proudly show off posters featuring Australian bands such as Radio Birdman and The Eastern Dark. Australia rocks! he said, raising his glass in a toast. Increasingly, Japan also rocks and not just in places like Poor Cow. The Japanese garage rock scene barely registers as a blip on the countrys pop culture radar compared to J-pop, and even though locals who follow it are fanatical, many of the bands are more popular in the US and Australia than they are at home. Guitar Wolf in action on stage. Credit: Shinz Two of the more established acts are touring Australia this month. Guitar Wolf are a leather-clad three-piece that blasts out turbo-charged rock and roll, while The 5.6.7.8s, a veteran female trio that formed back in 1986, are a delightfully off-kilter surf-rock/garage rock hybrid who gained massive exposure when Quentin Tarantino put them in Kill Bill: Volume 1. Advertisement Bruce Milne, who co-owns Melbournes Greville Records, estimates he has travelled to Japan a hundred times since he first visited in the late 80s. He goes on record-buying trips, performs DJ sets, checks out bands and regularly attends underground rock festivals such as the annual Halloween Ball. The Japanese garage rock scene is small and its not represented in the Japanese media at all, he says. Also, its difficult to organise gigs in Japan and its often a pay-to-play situation, so its much harder for a band to play than it is in Australia. But despite that, everyone in the scene looks after each other and helps each other out. And the one person who has really helped create the scene is Daddy-O Nov. Daddy-O Novs name comes up early in any conversation you have about the scene. Hes the most important person in Japanese garage rock, says music promoter Toshi Maeda, who was born in Japan, has lived in Australia since 1996 and is a member of punk band Mach Pelican. Hes a music maniac and he started a regular garage band event called Back From The Grave in an underground club in Shinjuku in 1989. Its still going. The bands he brings together are very different from most Japanese rock or pop. The unique thing about this scene is it doesnt follow rules. Daddy-O wants people to be free to express themselves in any style. He doesnt want bands that all sound the same. He wants them to each have their own character. And they certainly have character in spades. The 2017 documentary Garage Rockin Craze, which features Guitar Wolf and The 5.6.7.8s, also showcases Texaco Leatherman (who are not fond of wearing shirts, but are fond of noise and chaos), Jackie And The Cedrics (who dress in snappy dinner suits and bow ties, but play gnarly surf rock), Saturns (who wear German army helmets and are intense, fast and confrontational) and The Fly And His One-Man Garbage (a bloke who plays electric guitar and drums simultaneously while wearing a giant fly mask over his head). Advertisement During the fraught wait for Cyclone Alfred to make landfall, millions of Australians are relying on the Bureau of Meteorology to update them on the storms expected trajectory, but increasingly, people are looking elsewhere, too, including a range of online independent and even amateur forecasters. We like to see ourselves as a weather family, says Thomas Hinterdorfer, chief forecaster for Higgins Storm Chasing, an independent weather service that grew out of the social media accounts and blogs of a small group of storm chasers which now has around 1.3 million followers online. Thats more, says Hinterdorfer, than the Bureau of Meteorology. Hinterdorfer, a 30-year-old who admits to being addicted to extreme weather for a decade, believes the groups popularity is born of the interactive nature of their work as much as its forecasts. People hate seeing the damage caused by extreme weather, he says, but they are drawn into the wow factor of the storms and what they look like. They love the reports. They love seeing how much rain people are getting ... the size of the hail. Follow our live coverage of Cyclone Alfred here. Flooding across Brisbane in the wake of Cyclone Alfred would be very different to previous experiences, the citys lord mayor has warned, with residents to see more widespread impacts. More than 46,000 properties had lost power by 3pm on Friday, the day before the cyclone was expected to make landfall and bring the full brunt of its damaging wind gusts of up to 120km/h. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said some people were already in refuge shelters, and other centres would open once needed. He said the RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills would be adequate to meet demand. An Echuca-Moama man has spoken of how he helped overpower a 17-year-old boy armed with a gun who boarded a plane at Avalon Airport on Thursday afternoon. The boy allegedly pushed a hole in the airport fence while dressed as a maintenance worker in high-vis clothing and wearing a tool belt. Jetstar passenger Barry Clark (centre) and a pilot wrestle the armed teen to the floor of the plane. Credit: Nine News Barry Clark, a former shearer and boxer, said he noticed the gun while the boy was speaking with a flight attendant. The lovely air hostess was just questioning this bloke trying to come on dressed up as a worker, Clark told ABC Radio. Loading A giant scoreboard spread itself across the front of the room, the tallied votes from electorates and senate seats constantly changing as unseen operators rotated the numbers from behind. A landslide, journalists and number crunchers breathed as the numbers rolled. Yes, indeed. When it was done, the Coalition held only 50 of the 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and Frasers political career was over. Hawke went on to win elections in 1984, 1987 and 1990, and the man who unseated him as prime minister, the quicksilver Paul Keating, won another in 1993. That 13-year hold on power was and remains the longest period Labor has ever been in government at the federal level. The Liberals revolved chaotically through five leaderships Andrew Peacock, John Howard, Peacock again, John Hewson, Alexander Downer for several months (yes, really!) before John Howard returned to lead the Coalition back into government in 1996. Former prime minister Scott Morrison concedes defeat after the 2022 election. Credit: AP Howards subsequent 11 years in power made him Australias second-longest-serving PM after Bob Menzies. That disastrous result from 1983 couldnt be repeated, Liberal analysts imagined. And yet, it did, though it took another 39 years. Loading At Australias last federal election, in 2022, Scott Morrisons Coalition was all but slaughtered, the depth of its defeat eclipsing even Frasers Waterloo: the conservatives were reduced to their smallest share of seats in the House for at least 70 years. So that would mean the victor, Anthony Albaneses Labor Party, could look forward to a happy long Hawkesque period at the top, surely? Not on your nelly, according to current polls, which put Labor in a losing position against Peter Duttons Coalition. It is not simply that Albanese is no Bob Hawke or Paul Keating, which has been plain to see for a long time now. The times have changed so radically since long-ago periods of extended and (relative) political stability that no leader, no matter who they may be, can rely on back-to-back victories these days. Incumbency across the roiling Western world has become a curse, and Australias major parties have gone out of their way to make it so here, too. Former Labor leader Kevin Rudd took big policy ideas to the 2007 election. Credit: Glen McCurtayne Australian voters came to loathe the spectacle of leadership self-immolation that followed Howards loss and Kevin Rudds victory in 2007. Labor suffered Rudd-Gillard-Rudd from 2007 to 2013, followed by the loss of the unlosable election by Bill Shorten in 2019. The Liberals had the madly turbulent Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison period from 2013 to 2022. Albanese and Dutton have managed to avoid such self-destructive shenanigans over the past three years. But the damage was done by the time they arrived. Monique Ryan speaks to ecstatic supporters on election night 2022 after winning the seat of Kooyong from Josh Frydenberg. Credit: Joe Armao Many voters had already fled to independent and small-party land in disgust, leaving the legacy parties, particularly Labor, with such low primary votes that a clear victory currently seems beyond the grasp of either of them. Dutton, nevertheless, is considered likely to regain much of the ground lost by Morrison through a combination of voter dissatisfaction, particularly with the cost of living, and his embrace of populist anti-woke stances. Following the rise of US President Donald Trump, supporters of Australias hardline opposition leader are all but asserting the times will suit him. They might be getting ahead of themselves. John Howard thought the times would suit him in 1986. They did not. Credit: David Bartho When Howard famously declared to Anne Summers, then with The Australian Financial Review, that the times will suit me, it was 1986. Australia was suffering such an economic crisis at the time that treasurer Keating had warned that the nation was heading towards banana republic status. Paul Keating won the sweetest victory of them all in 1993. He lost to John Howard three years later. Credit: Amanda Watkins The Hawke government was in disarray and commentators were starting to talk Howard up as the next prime minister. Howard was confident the country would respond to a radical economic alternative to get itself out of this mess, and he was offering himself as a Reagan-Thatcher clone, willing to do what had to be done to get the country back on track, Summers wrote years later. It didnt work. It took another decade before the times suited Howard enough to become prime minister. Predicting election results is, anyway, often enough a fools errand, as anyone who lived through John Hewsons loss to Paul Keating in 1993 and Bill Shortens loss to Scott Morrison in 2019 will tell you. Loading There can be no certainty now like the sure thing that was Bob Hawke in 1983. There is no national tally room any more, either. Lightning-fast digital technology, fancy TV studios and expert analysts like the ABCs Antony Green who could call an election result in his sleep, if required, and will do it for the last time this year made the old room redundant long ago. And yet, federal elections remain about the most compelling theatre in the land. Singapore/Bali: The estranged Balinese wife of Essendon premiership player Ricky Olarenshaw has been sentenced to jail after a judge found her guilty of allowing lewd acts to be performed inside a Seminyak massage parlour. In a bad day for purveyors and partakers in Balis raunchy massage scene, 11 people from two parlours were found guilty on pornography charges in separate cases, including Australians Michael Jerome Le Grand and Lynley Le Grand, who owned a parlour in Kuta called Pink Palace. Former AFL player Ricky Olarenshaw and his wife Sarnanitha, or Nitha. Credit: Facebook Olarenshaws wife, Ni Ketut Sri Astari Sarnanitha, or Nitha, was sentenced to seven months jail for her role in Flame Spa Bali, which was shut down in September after a police raid. Nitha consistently denied her involvement in the operations, claiming her ownership of the business was on paper only. She claimed she was used by her husband and his three Australian business partners to get around Indonesian foreign investment laws. But then came the phone call on February 12 between Trump and Russia President Vladimir Putin, the talks between the White House and the Kremlin in Saudi Arabia, the vote at the United Nations in which America sided with Russia, and the berating of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Oval Office last week. In a matter of weeks, it became clear that the second Trump presidency had the potential to deliver far more of a pro-Russian foreign policy than his first one did. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance during their explosive meeting in the Oval Office. Credit: Bloomberg Putin has led the shift in tone. The leader who used to castigate the US-led West for seeking to dismember and plunder Russia last week proposed the US mine Russian rare earth metals and help develop aluminium production in Siberia. It was part of Putins outreach to Trump as he dangled the potential for vast wealth from Russian resources. On Friday, hours before Trump harangued Zelensky at the White House, Putin sounded his new, pro-American message in the unlikeliest of places: the annual meeting of Russias domestic intelligence agency, the FSB, which has been at the vanguard of Moscows shadow war against the West. Putin said talks with the Trump administration inspire certain hopes, praised it for its pragmatism and called on the spies in attendance to resist attempts to disrupt or compromise the dialogue that has begun. The whiplash in ties with Washington was so stark that Russian state television on Sunday showed a reporter asking the Kremlins spokesperson how it was possible that a couple of months ago we were publicly saying that we were almost enemies. The sunsets over the Kremlin in Moscow on February 24. Credit: AP This, indeed, couldnt have been imagined, the spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, replied, marvelling at the shift. US foreign policy, he added, now coincides with our vision in many ways. The Kremlins message-makers are struggling to help Russians make sense of it all. Some commentators are dredging up historical precedent, going as far back as Catherine the Greats refusal to help Britain put down the American Revolution. Others say its the American voter who changed. The American people got tired of global empire, a state TV talk-show stalwart, filmmaker Karen Shakhnazarov, explained last week. Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in 2017. Theyve been in contact several times since Trumps return to the White House. Credit: AP Loading In an interview with The New York Times, Yevgeny Popov whose show, 60 Minutes, is the most popular daily political program on Russian state TV insisted that talk of co-operating with the US was not extraordinary because American companies had done business in the Soviet Union even in the depths of the Cold War. These are quite natural processes happening here, Popov said. We want peaceful, constructive and pragmatic and, most importantly, equal relations with the US. Still, Popov pointed out that American weapons were killing Russian soldiers on Ukraines battlefields, and that he did not believe there could soon be a friendly relationship with a country whose tanks were firing on our people. Loading Some guests on his show have gone further. Alexei Zhuravlyov, a firebrand lawmaker known for threatening the US with nuclear annihilation, said on 60 Minutes last week that Russia could make friends with America and rule the world. Trump needs us, Zhuravlyov said. Do we need Trump? We do. Do our interests coincide? They do. Against whom? Against the European Union. Underlying Russias interest in rapprochement with the US are a grudging respect for the country and extensive personal ties, especially among the cultural and commercial elite. Ivan Kurilla, a scholar of US-Russia relations at Wellesley College, said Russian and Soviet rulers long saw the US as a nation worth emulating whether in its economic prowess or its swagger on the world stage. Loading This duality of the view of America its been like this for a long time, Kurilla, who was a professor at the European University at St Petersburg until last year, said. Popov, who used to be a Russian state television correspondent in New York, ticked off some of the things he believed Russia and the US have in common: a strong executive, protectionist policies, large armies, market economies plus or minus and powerful law enforcement agencies. We both have a police state in the good sense of the word, Popov said in a video call last week as he made his way through Moscow traffic. He concluded, addressing Americans: If you want to understand what the Russians think, look in the mirror. Russia fires a rocket towards Ukrainian forces at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Credit: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service/ AP The sudden prospect of improved ties with the US cheered the Russian public, which pollsters say is increasingly eager for an end to the war in Ukraine and sees negotiations with Washington as a prerequisite. The Levada Centre, an independent pollster based in Moscow, found in February that 75 per cent of Russians would support an immediate end to the war, the highest reading since 2023, and that 85 per cent approved of talks with the US. Hopes of sanctions relief and the return of American investment helped drive up the Russian stockmarket by as much as 10 per cent after the Trump-Putin call on February 12. A Ukrainian soldier looks at the sky searching for Russian FPV drones. Credit: AP To some of the most fervent supporters of Russias war, the embrace of Washington has smacked of betrayal, given that Putin has long described the invasion as a proxy war against US aggression. On the Telegram social messaging app, Russias pro-war bloggers expressed surprise over Putins proposal last week for co-operating with American companies to extract the countrys natural resources. A nationalist Telegram blog with more than 1 million followers, Two Majors, wondered how talk of the evil desire of the damned Yankees to steal Russias natural resources had morphed into discussion of mutually beneficial co-operation with American partners. Loading But for Putin himself, there may be a wisp of internal consistency in the swing towards Washington. He has generally avoided labelling the US as a whole as Russias enemy. Rather, Putin has said it is the Western neoliberal elite that tries to impose its strange values on the world and seeks Russias destruction, while depicting American conservatives as Russias friends. Its a mirror image of the propaganda tropes of the Soviet Union, when American progressives were cast as Moscows allies. In the United States, Putin said in 2022, theres a very strong part of the public who maintain traditional values, and theyre with us. We know about this. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. London: A Russian court has sentenced a British man to 19 years in prison on charges of terrorism and acting as a mercenary while fighting for Ukraine, authorities in the Kursk region said. James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, was detained in November while fighting with Ukrainian forces in Kursk, a month before the capture of Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins by Russian forces was confirmed. Russia has sentenced British prisoner of war James Anderson, 22, to 19 years in the gulag after he was brutally captured in the Kursk region. Credit: Telegram Russian authorities are yet to comment publicly on whether they intend to prosecute Jenkins, or whether he could be offered in any proposed prisoner swap. Anderson will serve five years in prison, followed by 14 years in a maximum-security penal colony, the court said on Telegram. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence. He has mocked senator Elizabeth Warren as Pocahontas at political rallies, and he mocked her as Pocahontas again to her face in his formal address to Congress. He sprayed the air with exaggerations and untruths at his rallies, and he didnt feel the need to add any fact-checking as president. A manifesto of mistruths, proclaimed Nancy Pelosi after the speech. Loading He blithely ignores blatant contradictions in what hes saying and doing. He praised police officers, saying they would get the respect they so dearly deserve and calling for the death penalty for anyone who murders a police officer. This, even though he sided with the insurrectionists, pardoning nearly 1600 patriots, as he calls them, in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, where police officers were hurt trying to fight off the violent Trump mob. He declared in the House chamber that the days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over, ignoring the irony of Musk the most powerful chainsaw-wielding unelected government official in history basking in the first ladys box. (At long last, wearing a suit.) Giving a shout-out to Robert F. Kennedy jnr, Trump said: Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment. But Trump has been eliminating regulations that would accomplish that. He wants to make deep cuts in the Environmental Protection Agency, and two of his top appointees at the agency are former chemicals executives. He honoured a child who he said had probably gotten cancer from chemicals, even though he is slashing scientific and public health research. He hailed his tariff hikes as protecting the soul of our country, saying: I love the farmer who will now be selling into our home market, the USA. But many farmers make money selling abroad, so they may not appreciate Trumps sanguine exclamation: Have a lot of fun. I love you, too. Loading Trump crowed that he brought back free speech in America. Meanwhile, some of his executive orders have mandated that the government axe selected woke words and phrases, and he has threatened that schools that tolerate certain types of protest will lose federal funding. He has also barred The Associated Press from covering him in the Oval Office and Air Force One because the news service wont bend the knee and call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. It seems unsavory to brag about free speech when his administration has been conjuring Joseph McCarthy by asking government employees to name names. The administration set up a hotline to get snitches to tell on colleagues promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. And the head of the FBIs New York field office was forced out this week when he interfered with Trumps revenge rampage, urging employees to dig in and refuse to name names of agents who had worked on January 6 cases. Other presidents might have tried to heal divisions after an acrimonious election, but not Trump. He knows that trolling the Democrats, ratcheting up divisions and stoking the culture war got him to the Oval, and he never gives up what gets him to No.1. In his address, Trump relentlessly trashed his predecessor, blaming him for everything, even the price of eggs. Ignoring the decorum that once marked presidential addresses, he dismissed Joe Biden as the worst president in American history. As usual, he took all the credit and gave everyone else the blame. We have Marco Rubio in charge, Trump said. He added, as his secretary of state looked on: Now we know who to blame if anything goes wrong. Trump has not been focused on his campaign promise to lower prices. But at the Capitol, he finally raised the issue. The egg prices, out of control. Were working hard to get it back down. Then he swiftly passed the buck to his Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins: Secretary, do a good job on that. He offered a softer tone on Ukraine, citing a message from Volodymyr Zelensky urging peace and saying he was ready to sign the minerals deal. Now that Trump has forced the Ukrainian president to grovel, now that he has humiliated the war hero in public and put his own swollen ego above Americas long-standing foreign policy principles, he may give Zelensky another chance. His new imperialist attitude was on display, a sharp contrast to his old rants about how awful president George W. Bush was for his failed occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. About Greenland, Trump said: One way or the other, were going to get it. He also vowed: My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and weve already started doing it. The thrust of Trumps speech was, of course, to glorify himself, to claim sanctification bestowed on him by God when he escaped assassination. The main point was to brag that he is the best of the best. It is the same way he once boasted that the rolls in the restaurant at Trump Tower were the best rolls in the city. The first month of his presidency, he said, was the most successful in the history of the nation. And what makes it even more impressive is, do you know who No.2 is? George Washington. How about that? Trump has remade the presidency, just as he has remade the Republican Party, in his own image. The first presidential address of his new term mirrored all his old rallies: it was an ode to himself. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Apple recently announced a slew of new child protections and measures that would change how and what kids can see online on their devices. The changes come after years of continued pressure from parents, advocates, and lawmakers who fear for the safety of children. Utah and other states ' moving to enact legislation requiring age verification and parental consent for all app downloads and purchases spurred Apple's announcement. Apple Announces Changes for Better Child Protections The App Store Accountability Act appears to be set to become law in Utah, and many believe that more will follow. Apple just released a set of reforms, headlined "Helping Protect Kids Online," that uses a strategy of "shock and awe." Legislators nationwide are now asking themselves whether Apple's new changes will actually address the issues identified. While the company has taken some time to solve the problems, according to Deseret, it still comes as a welcome change. Read more: South Carolina House Passes Bill Proposing Parental Consent for Minors Going On Social Media The changes are also part of Apple's broader effort to minimize data collection and give parents more control over what is shared with app developers. One of the inclusions is a plan to increase the company's child-safety precautions by streamlining the setup of a child's account with appropriate default settings for children under 13. There are also the so-called "age assurance tools," including the ability for parents to update their child's account age if they had previously set it incorrectly. Additionally, parents will have the option to consent to sharing their kids' age range with app developers so they can be shown more age-appropriate content in the App Store. Various New Features Apple said that with the new feature, parents will feel like they are in charge of their children's safety online. It added that app developers will also have another way of identifying and keeping kids safe within their apps, MSN reported. Other updates the company announced include more granular app age ratings in the App Store and expanded product page details. The latter was designed to assist parents in making informed decisions about which apps to download for their children. The age rating system is also being updated and will be expanded from its current four categories to five thresholds. These are ages four plus, nine plus, 13 plus, 16 plus, and 18 plus. These have different restrictions that cater to children within the age ranges for which they are applicable, as per Median AMA. Senators supported a bipartisan, bicameral legislative package that combined two acts to make child care much more affordable and accessible. Lawmakers are pushing the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act. Officials argue that the proposed bill is a "pro-family, pro-growth plan to unlock a brighter future for working parents." Expanding Child Care Accessibility and Affordability Parents typically want to make childcare choices that will best support their family's individual needs as well as their child's development. This is even more true for two-thirds of children aged five years and under, as their parents are typically working. One of the reasons that lawmakers decided to support the proposed bill is because the cost of child care over the past few decades has risen by an estimated 263%. This, combined with low availability, forced families to make tough decisions for the benefit of their loved ones. Many families have gone into debt or have had to take on considerable financial strain just to make ends meet. Furthermore, according to FFYF, the challenges brought by child care affect not only families but also employers, particularly small businesses. Many employers reported that these have directly impacted their ability to recruit and retain workers for their businesses or companies. This has serious consequences for their daily productivity and ultimately affects their bottom lines. It also costs the national economy billions of dollars in lost revenue, earnings, and productivity every year. The proposed bill would modernize three existing tax provisions to help more families afford child care. Lawmakers believe that strengthening existing federal tax provisions, such as the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) and Dependent Care Assistance Plans (DCAP), would benefit many families. Addressing the Child Care Crisis Sen. Katie Britt said that the commonsense proposal is more than just about addressing the nation's childcare crisis. She added that it is a direct investment in the hardworking families and local small businesses that work to make their American dream come true, the Carbajal House reported. The combined efforts of lawmakers from both sides are a rare bipartisan action that benefits American families. The proposed bill also comes amid heated debates over what officials should do with Trump-era tax cuts that expire in 2025. The bipartisan bill allows families to deduct up to $7,500 of their childcare expenses through the Dependent Care Assistance Program, 50% more than current laws allow. According to Axios, the most important part of the proposal is that it makes the tax credit refundable, which is especially useful for lower-income families. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code A Wisconsin teenager was arrested 800 miles from home after officials discovered his parents dead at their Iowa residence. Officials stopped the teenage boy after he ran a stop sign in WaKeeney, Iowa, at 11:25 p.m. CT on Friday. WaKeeney Police Chief Michael Romero said that the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. Teenager Arrested 800 Miles From Home He added that the teen was identified and found out to be a juvenile who was wanted out of Wisconsin. Romero said that the boy was a person of interest in a double homicide case that the Wisconsin sheriff's office was still investigating. The WaKeeney police chief refused to name the teenager, but Waukesha County prosecutors identified him as a 17-year-old Waukesha West High School student. The suspect's parents were found fatally shot at their Waukesha home on Friday afternoon after authorities conducted a welfare check. The criminal complaint filed against the teenager said that the mother's face was "blackened from decomposition with dried blood on the floor around her." The father was also found inside the residence "covered by a pile of clothing" with "an obvious wound to the back of" his head, according to NBC News. Read more: Tempe Mother Who Killed Children in 2021 Using Meat Cleaver As Revenge to Husband Gets Guilty Verdict Officials have charged the teenager with taking his stepfather's Volkswagen Atlas as well as a firearm. The two victims were also identified as Donald Mayer and Tatiana Casap, who had been married for nine years after meeting online while the mother was living in Moldova. The man's mother, Judith Mayer, said that her son did not have any other children, so he enjoyed having a son when he got married to Casap, focusing on doing father-son stuff. She added that they went to various places, such as beaches, ballgames, and others. Killing of Mother and Stepfather The case began when Judith called the police because she had not been in contact with her son for weeks and received suspicious messages from his phone on Feb. 23, 2025. School authorities added that the 17-year-old, identified as Nikita Casap, had not attended classes for two weeks, the Independent reported. Mayer's sister had lost contact with the teenager on Feb. 18, 2025, after he told her that he had been feeling "pretty sick and was going to take some time off social media." A few days before the victims' bodies were found, a neighbor spotted the teen driving his stepfather's vehicle by himself. Officials revealed that cellphone pings showed that Nikita left Waukesha at around 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 24, 2025. They said he took a general route through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado. Prosecutors added that the suspect visited The World's Largest Truckstop in Walcott, Iowa, the day he left home. Additionally, nearby surveillance cameras showed him accompanied by the family's small black dog, as per Yahoo News. Claire Henry A man who was caught with 1.1 million worth of cocaine in a secret compartment in a car has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Stefan Copiimulti (42) of Hollystown Park, Hollystown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to having a controlled drug for sale or supply at The Ward, Finglas, Dublin, on June 19th, 2023. He has no previous convictions. Passing sentence on Thursday, Judge Martin Nolan said that gardai were watching a situation develop. He said, this vehicle had a security compartment and that this car had been adapted to carry drugs and contraband. Judge Nolan said the mitigation in this case was the early guilty plea, Copiimulti's cooperation, his admissions during interview, along with the lack of any previous convictions and his good work history. The judge said he does not believe that this defendant will offend again, considering his lack of previous convictions. Judge Nolan said he could depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of ten years due to Copiimulti's early guilty plea. Judge Nolan sentenced Copiimulti to six and a half years in prison, backdated to June 2023, when he was taken into custody. Detective Garda Mike Redmond told Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting, that gardai received confidential information concerning a Hyundai vehicle and put a surveillance operation in place. The car in question was stopped, and Copiimulti was driving. A second vehicle that was travelling in convoy was also stopped. A secret compartment was found around the radio compartment of the car. Gardai forced this open, and cocaine with a value of 1.12 million was found. The court heard that fobs were also found in the car, and when two were pressed together, the hidden compartment would open. The Hyundai was registered to Copiimulti's brother. The gardai said Copiimulti was cooperative at the scene. Copiimulti gave a particular account as to why he was driving the car, but gardai found this to be false. He said he was driving this car because his own car had been damaged, but gardai seized his car, and it was not damaged. He also stated that he had found the keys to the Hyundai on the car, but CCTV footage showed Copiimulti walking up to the car and unlocking it. He also stated that he did not know that there were drugs in the car. The court heard that Copiimulti is a Moldovan national and has briefly worked as a builder in Ireland. Det Gda Redmond agreed with Michael Lynn, SC, defending, that his client was cooperative, handed over the PIN to his phone and gave him name and address to gardai when they stopped him. The garda agreed with counsel that the guilty plea was of benefit to the gardai and that Copiimulti has no previous convictions. Mr Lynn said his client first came to Ireland in 2007 as an amateur boxer and returned in 2008 with his wife but found it difficult to find work and only remained here for a year. He and his family returned again in 2017. Counsel handed letters to the court, including a letter from Copiimulti's wife, who described him as a good husband and father and a hard-working man. A governor's report said that Copiimulti was an enhanced prisoner who worked as a barista in the prison kitchen. He asked the court to take into account that this client was a foreign national and would find prison more difficult. Every year at Cartoon Movie, producers, investors, broadcasters, and distributors gather in Bordeaux, France, at the heart of the animation-friendly Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine, to discover the latest animated features being developed in Europe. For this 27th edition, fifty-five feature-length projects from sixteen countries will pitch, with the aim of finding financing as well as distribution and exhibition opportunities. Since its inception, Cartoon Movie has helped 486 films with a total budget of 3.2 billion euro to advance towards completion. This year, were highlighted four promising pitches in the young adult/adult animation target group, which is still a relatively small segment of the European animation market. This edition has a record 33% of the projects targeted to that demographic, while 45% are aimed at family audiences and 22% at children. Ahead of the pitches, Cartoon Brew spoke with the directors and producers behind these films. Bergeronnette Country: France Studio: Miyu Productions Length: 80 minutes Technique: 2d computer & painting When he grows up, Pierre will be a shepherd, like his father, and hes proud of it! A shepherd is someone serious, solid and authoritarian, but Pierre is quite the opposite At the heart of Bergeronnette was the idea of making a feature film for my own daughter, Lucrece Andreae, director and comic book author told Cartoon Brew. [Its] also the opportunity to weave a delicate connection between the animated films that exalted my childhood and the values of the adult Ive become. My ambition is to combine everything that makes a classic animated feature so wonderful adventure, emotion, magic with a reflection on the rigidity of the roles we are asked to play in society. I think a slight escape from the norm can be a breath of fresh air, and this project tackles the concept of heros marginality with tenderness and poetry. Andreae, who received the Cesar for animated short in 2018 for her film Grandpa Walrus/em>, will continue to push the limits of 2d animation to achieve this project. But, as she explained, the challenges of this feature also lie in her specific approach to sound and music. Our little hero can imitate birds to perfection and converse with them, while the language of Rita the witch is a mixture of beastly grunts and croaking. To create the teaser we will present at Cartoon Movie, we went in search of people who could imitate birds, as well as a birdcall maker who knew by heart the melodies and intonations typical of each species. Id like the music to include sparrow songs, woodpecker drumming and heron trumpets! Miyu Productions is no stranger to such unique projects. The French studio, co-founded by Emmanuel-Alain Raynal and Pierre Baussaron, already distinguished itself last year at Cartoon Movie with Ogresse. Miyus latest features Ghost Cat Anzu and Chicken for Linda! also share the same 2d adventurousness promised by Bergeronnette. Were currently completing the development phase of the film, and have a script, a graphic bible, and a teaser at our disposal, said Raynal, who will be on stage at Cartoon Movie with the director. Well be officially launching the films financing at Cartoon Movie, and are currently looking for partners: distributors, international sales agents, broadcasters, and any other partners willing to get involved alongside us to bring this magnificent project to life. Condenaditos Country: Germany, France Studios: Studio Seufz, Ikki Films Length: 80 minutes Technique: 2d computer In the magical land of Bolivia, Kikis tranquil life with her cursed mother is disrupted when she encounters Domitilo, a victim of the Bolivian dictatorship, which brings Kiki to mysteriously inherit her familys curse. The film is loosely based on the history of my family, co-writer and director Matisse Gonzalez told Cartoon Brew, explaining in greater detail: Around 2018, I found out that my grandfather was minister of finance in Bolivia during the military dictatorship of Rene Barrientos Ortuno (1964 to 1969), and I also found out that he and Barrientos were half brothers. You can probably imagine that it is very late for someone to find out these facts about their country and about their family, but it is because this subject has always been a big taboo in my family. Until this day nobody in the family wants to admit that my grandfather was the half brother of the dictator, even though there are many history books that show that they were related. Condenaditos also draws on a famous Bolivian myth La Maldicion del Che which suggests that Che Guevara has cursed everyone who was complicit in his death, and Gonzalez and her co-writers Jack Pendarvis and Sophie Lodwitz have woven this into Kikis fictional story. Ultimately, she said, I want to explore the complex relationship that one has with their family, the traumas and guilt inherited, but most importantly the love that takes place in broken families. Because its first and foremost a love story. We want to tell this story through lightness and absurd humor, in a Bolivia filled with magical realism, with the hope that anyone with a cursed family can relate to our film. Following the style she used in her Annie Award-nominated short Gravedad, Gonzalezs project will be 2d computer animation, with flat, simple, and minimalistic characters. Gonzalez is collaborating with art director and background designer Maya Merigeau (Genius Loci) to establish the films look. Backgrounds will be painted in watercolor and then we will risograph-print them, to match the look of printed media that me and Maya love. To put it all together, we also hired Marvin Sprengel, who will integrate both styles using new tools that he developed specifically for this project in Nuke. We think that we found a beautiful and unique look that both has the lightness of my simple designs and the depth of Mayas works. This will help to tackle one of our big challenges: telling a heavy, existential story with a light-hearted, optimistic attitude. Condenaditos heads to Cartoon Movie at the development stage of the project, as the team recently finished a teaser and will have a new script in June. They are currently looking for distributors and broadcasters to launch the financing, as well as co-producers to join the two production companies Studio Seufz (Germany) and Ikki Films (France). Faya Journey to Freedom Country: Netherlands, France Studios: Submarine Animation, Special Touch Studios Length: 90 minutes Technique: 3d computer When Surinamese resistance fighter and anti-colonialist author Anton de Kom returns to Suriname in 1933, he is brutally imprisoned by the colonial government. In jail, he finds a gateway to a mythological rainforest where he must find the inner strength to help his people by undergoing a life-threatening journey. Our project Faya is based on a part of de Koms life, a figure who fought for people suffering under colonial oppression in the Northern Amazon, Patrick Chin said. These were my ancestors. Although he was treated like a terrorist by the Dutch authorities and killed by the Nazis in 1945, his work contributed to the independence of the Surinamese people in 1975. I find it very inspirational to know that all efforts to change the world for the better are important. I think we need these kinds of stories now more than ever. Depicting de Koms dark fantastical journey to find what stories he needs to tell to help his people, Chins team create a new mythology filled with both well-known and new creatures. This arena will allow them to bring many cultural influences from all over the world together in a part of the world that is close to the directors heart, with many opportunities to create something visually unique. Weve chosen to work in cg because this gives us the opportunity to create this detailed fantasy world, steeped in cultural richness. Working in cg can get complicated and expensive quickly, you need a lot of highly skilled and specialized people. Besides that, the workflow can sometimes be frustrating because it takes a long time to see what youre actually making. Id love to do a longer period of story and cinematographic development with a small team in something like Blenders Eevee, a bit like Gints Zilbalodis Flow process. The relatively small feature budgets we have in Europe pushes us to be smart and creative. According to producer Janneke van de Kerkhof, the script is in its last stages, with a little fine-tuning and polishing still to be done. Applying for production funding at the Netherlands Film Fund is their next step. We have found a great co-production partner in Sebastian Onomo (Special Touch Studio, France). We hope to find a third co-production partner during Cartoon Movie, but also get the interest from an international sales agent, distributors, and broadcasters, van de Kerkhof said. Mu Yi and the Handsome General Country: France Studios: Studio La Cachette Length: 90 minutes Technique: 2d computer & drawing Mu Yi, a clever 14-year-old girl, lives in the Village of the Ancients, a community of women forbidden to men. But the encounter with a traveling opera troupe will shake the order of things, awakening ancient spirits, and unraveling spirits of the past. This feature is a love letter addressed to the landscapes, the characters, the sounds, the music, and the deep feelings that I experience in front of the cinema that I love, said director, graphic author, and producer Julien Chheng. Its an original story, anchored in the raw and light reality of the Chinese mountains, where survives a community of women forbidden to men in which Mu Yi, the heroine, grows up. This region has seen the birth of many myths, strong characters, and survivors. Im making this film for them. The project, entirely crafted in 2d animation, is a sensitive rendering through which it is possible to feel the drawing done by hand by the teams at La Cachette. When I was at Les Gobelins, commented Chheng regarding his former school, we were told that 2d was over and had no future. And thats why, after I started my professional career at the Disney studios, I returned to France and founded Studio La Cachette, with the aim to create in-house 2d quality animation projects. The story takes place in China, the cradle of calligraphy. According to Chheng, his characters will roam the landscapes of Chinese period wall frescoes, allowing for great creativity and freedom for the artists. Its a demanding technique, and it must be carefully controlled to achieve a quality result within the given budget. The film evolves in a very reduced economy, added Chheng, and I absorb a maximum of positions such as author, producer, director, etc At Cartoon Movie, La Cachettes team is mainly looking for tv broadcasters to supplement their financing. The project is already supported by the French PACA South Region for the development and production stages, as well as support from the CNC and a potential deal with MK2 as international sales agent. Were at the end of the pre-production stage, said Chheng, and well enter the production phase this spring with a delivery expected in early 2026. Things are happening very quickly! Advertisement After several months of declining performance, cement dispatches in Pakistan saw a MoM increase of 11.6 per cent in January 2025. However, February 2025 did not deliver the expected boost. According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement dispatches in February 2025 totalled 3.07Mt, a modest rise of 6.8 per cent compared to 2.87Mt in February 2024. In contrast, export dispatches significantly advanced by 34.3 per cent from 395,935t in February 2024 to 531,736t in February 2025. Total cement dispatches for February 2025 reached 3.596Mt, up 10.2 per cent from 3.265Mt during the same month in the previous fiscal year. In February 2025 northern cement mills dispatched 2.56Mt of cement, an increase of 5.1 per cent from 2.43Mt in February 2024. Southern mills delivered 1.04Mt, up 25 per cent when compared to 0.83Mt in February 2024. Northern mills sent 2.51Mt to domestic markets in February 2025, marking a rise of 7.2 per cent from 2.34Mt in February 2024. Southern mills delivered 557,895t to local markets in February 2025, reflecting edging up 5.1 per cent compared to 531,044t in February 2024. Exports from northern mills experienced a dramatic decline of 47.8 per cent, dropping from 95,393t in February 2024 to 49,780t in February 2025. Conversely, exports from southern mills increased by 60.4 per cent, rising to 481,956t in February 2025 from 300,542t in the same month last year. 8MFY24-25 dispatches During the first eight months of the current financial year (July 2024-February 2025), total cement dispatches (domestic and export) slipped 0.5 per cent YoY to 30.423Mt from 30.56Mt dispatched during the previous fiscal year. Domestic dispatches during this timeframe amounted to 24.5Mt, down from 26.06Mt in the equivalent period of the previous fiscal year, leading to a reduction of six per cent. However, export dispatches saw a 31.8 per cent advance, increasing to 5.924Mt compared to 4.495Mt exported in the 8MFY23-24. Northern mills dispatched 20.36Mt of cement domestically in the 8MFY24-25, a decline of 5.3 per cent from 21.49Mt in the July 2023-February 2024 period. Exports from the north increased by 20.4 per cent, reaching 1.101Mt during July 2024-February 2025, compared with 0.914Mt exported in the year-ago period. Total dispatches from northern mills decreased by 4.2 per cent, totalling 21.462Mt in the 8MFY24-25, down from 22.41Mt in the equivalent period of the previous fiscal year. Domestic dispatches from southern mills in the July 2024-February 2025 period amounted to 4.14Mt, representing a 9.4 per cent YoY decline from 4.57Mt. In contrast, exports from the south increased by 34.7 per cent, reaching 4.822Mt during July 2024-February 2025, compared to 3.58Mt exported in the 8MFY23-24. Total dispatches from southern mills rose by 10 per cent YoY to 8.96Mt from 8.15Mt in the July 2023-February 2024 period. An APCMA spokesman said the industry hopes government measures will enhance the sectors capacity utilisation in the upcoming budget. He added that the cement industry supports numerous allied industries and is vital for the countrys economic development. In comments about dispatches, Usama Rauf of AKD Securities Ltd said the low base of last year, due to elections in February 2024 and a drop in cement prices, led to annual growth in local cement dispatches. This, alongside higher exports, contributed to the second consecutive month of double-digit dispatch growth. Although sequential growth is negative, the decline is nominal due to fewer working days in the month, while the average daily offtakes rose by two per cent MoM. by Abdul Rab Siddiqi, Pakistan Advertisement In collaboration with its long-time partner Holcim (Schweiz) AG , Aix Process successfully deployed its KILN AIxperT system at Holcim's Siggenthal plant in Switzerland. This AI-driven digital twin delivers real-time insights and controls into the kiln process, enabling operators to: balance fluctuating calorific values of alternative fuels monitor and predict clinker quality in real-time spot process deviations early on optimise energy usage and cut emissions stabilise the kiln flame in autopilot mode at high TSR. This partnership highlights how digitalisation and AI support the transition of cement production toward operative excellence and sustainability. 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Founded in 2000 by Dr. Lonnie McCalister, the then dean of the School of Music, Chorale has been under the direction of Green for the past 21 years. The first half of the concert will showcase the current 28-member ensemble, while the second half will feature a reunion choir with more than 50 alumni joining on stage. For this special occasion, Green has selected some of his favorite pieces from the past 21 years with Chorale. The program will include Three Nocturnes, a multi-movement choral and percussion work by Dan Forrest. Additionally, the concert will highlight Chorales signature piece, Prayer by Rene Clausen, a staple in nearly every performance by the ensemble. Chorale has been a major vehicle to introduce wonderful choral music to our community and the university, said Dr. Green. Over the past 25 years, there have been hundreds of students impacted by their time in Chorale. I am reflective as I look at this being my last concert with the Lee University Chorale, but I am excited to see the next leg of the journey for this exceptional ensemble. In addition to directing Chorale and serving as the School of Music dean, Dr. Green is a professor of choral music. He has collaborated with many of todays leading conductors and has led performances of many of the major works for chorus and orchestra. His retirement this year will mark the end of a long and fulfilling legacy at Lee. Lee University Chorale is known for its diverse repertoire, spanning from sacred classical works, spirituals, and dynamic cultural pieces. The ensemble has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and has traveled across Europe, with memorable performances at the Vatican, St. Marks Cathedral in Venice, and St. Patricks Cathedral in Dublin. The event will be free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. Livestream viewing will also be available at https://leeu.live For more information, contact the School of Music at music@leeuniversity.edu or 614-8240. A Ringgold man on Thursday was given the maximum five-year federal prison sentence in connection with a Sept. 4, 2023, attack on the Chattanooga Masonic Center. Kadum Harwood appeared before Judge Charles Atchley, who said the incident was more than vandalism, but was akin to "domestic terrorism." It was agreed that Harwood would get a sentence between 40 and 60 months after his plea to interstate travel with the intent to carry on unlawful activity (arson). He was also ordered to repay the Masonic Center $159,686. Prosecutor Joe DeGaetano said Harwood traveled from his home in Catoosa County to the Masonic Center located across from Finley Stadium with the intent of damaging or destroying the building by setting it on fire. The prosecutor said after Harwood arrived, he connected a chain from his vehicle to the front doors of the Masonic Center and then drove away. That caused the doors to break open. Harwood then went inside where he used a sledgehammer to destroy furniture and other items. Then he retrieved firewood from his vehicle and took it inside the center. He placed the firewood near some items that he had destroyed, then he pulled down curtains and put them on the pile. Prosecutor DeGaetano said he then poured an accelerant on the pile, then lit a piece of paper and dropped it on the pile. This caused a large fire to ignite inside the center. He then pulled down more of the curtains and used them to feed the fire. Harwood then went outside and poured accelerant on bushes that he had cut earlier with a chainsaw. He used a lighter to start the outside fire. Prosecutors said Harwood then went back to his vehicle and retrieved a .50 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver. He fired one shot at the Masonic Center. Paul Smith, chairman of the board of the center, gave a statement in court in which he said actual damages were above $300,000. Prosecutor DeGaetano said the amount ordered was based on receipts the office was given. Mr. Smith said the group was denied use of the facility, including rentals, for an extended time before repairs were made. Mr. Smith said Harwood had come to the center several nights earlier and left threatening emblems. He said the center afterward put in additional cameras inside and out. Because of the threats, he said the center canceled a parade in Dayton that was aimed at raising funds for transporting sick children to hospitals. Mr. Smith said Harwood also made threats against the Catholic Church and schools. He said Harwood drove expensive vehicles and was able to buy guns and ammunition. He said he understood that 15 acres of property was being held for him, and he said he should not have received a government attorney. Attorney J. Damon Burk of the Federal Defender's Office said Harwood had an unblemished criminal record prior to the incident. He said he was embarrassed that it had happened. The attorney said Harwood had finished high school and a number of college courses prior to becoming a long distance truck driver. He said it was speculated that while listening to radio shows that Harwood had tapped into certain conspiracy theories. The Tennessee RiverLine proudly recognized the recipients of its 2024 awards during the 6th annual Tennessee RiverLine Summit at the Marriott Knoxville Downtown. The event, held from February 2325, brought together nearly 200 key stakeholders and partners to celebrate the outstanding contributions made by those committed to advancing the RiverLines mission to connect communities across the Tennessee River Valley. The Tennessee RiverLine awards program recognizes exemplary leadership shown by communities, individuals and organizations that help bring the transformational vision of the Tennessee RiverLine to life. Award categories and recipients: These entities showcase dedication to its guiding principles through innovative Tennessee RiverTowns programming."The Tennessee RiverLine is a testament to whats possible when communities come together with a shared vision," said Brad Collett, executive director of the Tennessee RiverLine and professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. "Through the dedication of our team, UT Extension, and our principal partnersUT Knoxville and Tennessee Valley Authoritywe are honored to celebrate the remarkable ways our collaborators in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee are bringing the river to life in their communities. Their leadership and creativity are shaping a future where the Tennessee River is more accessible, vibrant and connected than ever before."The RiverTowns Program is vital for making a tangible impact on the region, and the Tennessee RiverLine awards recognize the partners who keep the RiverLine organization tuned into each enrolled community and advocate its mission. Leaders in these communities have been invaluable throughout 2024 for developing a collaborative framework and making the vision for the Tennessee RiverLine a reality, yielding benefits in economic development, public health, resource stewardship and expanded access. Organizational Partner of the Year: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Individual Partner of the Year: Gail Loveland, Outdoor Chattanooga Community Partner of the Year: Spring City, TN CommUnity Leadership Award: Black Kids Adventures Excellence in River Animation: Paducah, KY Excellence in River Stewardship: Tennessee River Rescue Event of the Year: Blythe Ferry Paddle: Meigs County, TN; Dayton, TN; Cherokee Removal Memorial Park; Trail of Tears Association Powered by Partnerships: Appalachian Regional Commission Conference Paddle Legacy Awards: Hannah Kirby, Liz Riester Extra Mile Awards: Knoxville, Tenn. - Wes Soward Loudon, Tenn. - Rodney Grugin Roane County, Tenn. - David Bolling Spring City, Tenn. - Kristin Urani Dayton, Tenn. - Ashley Ervin Meigs County, Tenn. - Paige Finnel Chattanooga, Tenn. - Brooke Fleeman South Pittsburg, Tenn. - Walker Henley Bridgeport, Ala. - Lieutenant Colonel John M. Walker Jackson County, Ala. - Jim Jordan Guntersville, Ala. - Katy Norton Huntsville, Ala. - Lisa Heinrichs Decatur, Ala. - Danielle Gibson Lawrence Co., Ala. - Heather Dyar Rose The Shoals, Ala. - TJ Johnson Hardin County, Tenn. - Jared Stricklin Clifton, Tenn. - Shawnee Iacono Perry County, Tenn. - Amanda Mathenia Benton County, Tenn. - Heather Smith Calloway County, Ky. - Jeremy Whitmore Calvert City, Ky. - Elena Blevins Paducah/McCracken County, Ky. - Jeff Canter 2024 marked an outstanding year of connecting communities, people and organizations across all 652 miles of the Tennessee River, and it would never have been possible without the efforts of our incredible collaborators and advocates, said Lizzy Gardner, programs director of the Tennessee RiverLine. Thousands of new river users discovered the tremendous resource in their own backyards this year through stewardship, engagement and recreation events, and we couldnt be more excited to recognize the efforts of our generous collaborators. All awardees were recognized at the 2025 Tennessee RiverLine Summit, presented by BoardSafe Docks. This years Summit convened almost 200 partners from across the region for networking, engaging sessions and excursions at the Marriott Knoxville Downtown in Knoxville, Tennessee. Award recipients are nominated by members of the Tennessee RiverLine staff and Local Leadership Team members of each RiverTowns community. All award recipients received a custom plaque commemorating their achievements. Judge Barry Steelman has sentenced Marvin Fallins to serve 11 years in prison on a conviction for people a felon in possession of a firearm. The case involved the slaying of Frank Usher in March 2021. A Criminal Court jury deadlocked on a second-degree murder charge against Fallins after 15 hours of deliberation. However, the panel came back within 10 minutes on the gun charge, which carried up to 12 years. n. After the verdict, the judge revoked his bonds and ordered him into custody finding that he posed a danger to the community. Fallins was initially charged with criminal homicide. Police at the time said Fallins admitted to shooting him. Police had responded to a shot person report on East 48th Street and located the victim, who had been shot in the neck. He was pronounced deceased after being transported to Erlanger Hospital. Police began to review video footage from the Chattanooga Housing Authority and from the area. Police said one camera showed the victim entering the back door of the residence, and Fallins, who was 51 at the time, also entering through the same door. This video showed Usher exiting through the front door while also holding his neck. He was seen running around the side of the building and toward the street where he collapsed on the ground. Police said Fallins could be viewed exiting the front door with a witness, and that the two could be seen standing next to the victim. The witness grabbed a firearm away from Fallins, and then Fallins left the area and walked to a residence on East 49th Street. Later that day, police interviewed Fallins, and they said he admitted to the shooting. The witness also corroborated that story. After hearing the proof, Judge Steelman found there was not enough proof of premeditation for a first-degree murder conviction. Fallins did not testify, but his defense claimed that the victim had a gun and was reaching for it in his waistband when he was shot. The victim's mother said she is hopeful that the state will retry Fallins on the murder charge. She said Frank Usher "was the father of five kids and they all miss him so bad." The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an opinion on Thursday in State v. William Rimmel III affirming Rimmels conviction for attempted aggravated assault but reversing his conviction for reckless endangerment with a handgun.Rimmels convictions arose from a 2018 road-rage incident on I-24 in Marion County. Rimmel, who was driving a motorcycle, claimed that a car driven by Bobbie Burke cut him off on the interstate. Rimmel aggressively pursued Burke and eventually forced her to pull over.Once Burke was stopped, Rimmel broke her passenger window by slamming the slide of his loaded handgun against it. But Rimmel never fired the handgun or pointed the barrel of the gun in Burkes direction. At the time of the incident, Burke was unaware that the object used to break the window was a gun.A jury convicted Rimmel of attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony reckless endangerment with a handgun. Rimmel challenged both convictions. He argued that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of attempted aggravated assault because Burke did not know that he had a gun. He further argued that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of felony reckless endangerment with a handgun because his conduct did not create a reasonable probability that Burke would suffer death or serious bodily injury.The Court of Appeals affirmed both convictions. The Tennessee Supreme Court granted review and affirmed in part and reversed in part.The Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed Rimmels conviction for attempted aggravated assault. The Court reasoned that because this was a conviction for attempted aggravated assault, the State need only prove that the defendant intended to cause Burke to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury by use of a deadly weapon and that he took a substantial step toward doing so. The Court concluded that a rational juror could have found that both these elements were proven beyond a reasonable doubt, even if Burke was unaware that the object used to break the window was a gun.However, the Court reversed Rimmels conviction for felony reckless endangerment with a handgun. The Court concluded that no rational juror could find that Rimmels handgun-related conduct created a reasonable probability that Burke would be killed or sustain serious bodily injury because there is no evidence that the barrel of the gun was ever pointed in Burkes direction.To read the Courts unanimous opinion, authored by Justice Sarah K. Campbell, click here Tivoli Theatre Foundation CEO Nick Wilkinson said after Hadestown at Memorial Auditorium at the end of March, he is looking forward to the staging of 16 performances of Hamilton April 22 through May 4, an event four years in the making. Its the biggest show weve ever done, he said. Attracting the show to Chattanooga is a testament to the Tivoli Foundations ability to maximize its good fortune, he said. If any piece of the lineup had fallen through, Hamilton wouldnt be here, he said. The show will attract 30,000 theatergoers and create a distilled impact study, a harbinger of things to come, he said. Interior renovations began in January for a major upgrade and expansion at the Tivoli. Mr. Wilkinson said 430 people are in and out of the once-empty Fowler Building, officially the Trigg-Smartt Building, that he insisted he shared with only ghosts when he worked there during the pandemic. Were just tearing the place apart, Mr. Wilkinson said, fast and furious. The existing Tivoli space will be joined to the Trigg building, dating from 1889, with several openings on all floors. The building will get all-new heating and air conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems. The 1980s office complex aesthetic will give way to beauty, he said, with a bigger lobby, lounges, an elevator, and special attention to fast and easy concessions. Exterior renovations are set to begin in November. The Tivoli will reopen in 2026. The Tivoli Theatre Foundation will announce the 2025-2026 season on April 17. Governor Bill Lee announced Thursday that two artificial intelligence (AI) tools that he said have direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party are now banned on the state network. Manus and DeepSeek have been added to a list of foreign-owned platforms that are now strictly prohibited due to serious threats regarding data privacy and cyber security, it was stated. Tennessee becomes the first state in the Nation to ban the Alibaba-owned Manus platform, which launched earlier Thursday. Governor Lee said, As artificial intelligence platforms emerge and this technology landscape evolves, there is growing concern regarding data protection and the threat of influence from foreign adversaries. Tennessee has taken consistent action to mitigate risk from platforms with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, including TikTok, and banning Manus and DeepSeek on state devices will further reduce security risks to Tennesseans. He said security threats posed by the Manus and DeepSeek platforms include: How China's legislature weaves public voices into law 10:30, March 06, 2025 By Xu Jun ( People's Daily As China convenes its annual "two sessions" - the gatherings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's legislative process has once again drawn global attention. In China's legislative system, the NPC and its Standing Committee serve not only as the lawmakers but also as conduits for public sentiment. But how are these voices channeled into the heart of law-making? A legislative liaison officer consults residents in Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi province, Sept. 9, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Hu Jiangtao) The answer is found in a meticulously designed institutional framework that ensures public sentiment is woven into every stage of the law-making process. Proposing legislation During the second session of the 14th NPC in 2024, deputies submitted 298 motions, with 292 directly addressing legislative issues ranging from the formulation and revision of laws to their repeal and interpretation. When formulating its legislative plan, the NPC Standing Committee carefully reviews deputies' motions and suggestions alongside expert analysis and public feedback. Since NPC deputies come from all walks of life, this process allows public voices to directly contribute to the legislative process. Drafting law Many might be surprised to learn that even high school students' recommendations can influence Chinese national legislation. A 2020 proposal from teenagers at the High School Affiliated to East China University of Political Science and Law was relayed through a local legislative outreach office. It later appeared in revisions to China's Law on the Protection of Minors. Residents submit suggestions to deputies in Tongling, east China's Anhui province, Apr. 26, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Chu Zhuchuan) Such outreach offices was first launched in 2015. Since then, over 90 percent of laws drafted or amended by the NPC and its Standing Committee have incorporated feedback from these offices, which collect opinions from businesses, villages, and schools. Officials describe them as "direct hotlines" for democracy. The process was exemplified during the drafting of China's Civil Code, a landmark law enacted in 2020. Over 425,000 people made 1.02 million recommendations online. The final text added the "Personality Rights" section - a win for advocates who emphasized the need for enhanced protection of personal information, privacy, and reputation in the digital age. Adopting law Draft legislation generally undergoes several rounds of scrutiny by the NPC Standing Committee, and in some cases, is also examined during an NPC session. Even technical provisions can ignite fierce discussions. In 2015, for instance, deputies engaged in rigorous discussions on a single sentence in draft revisions to China's Legislation Law, as they discovered that the third reading had removed the clause requiring tax rates to be established by law. Why did this detail matter? A local deputy gathers suggestions on farmland policy in Ji'an, east China's Jiangxi province, Oct. 25, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Chen Fuping) Some deputies argued that tax rates are an essential element of taxation - without a statutory mandate, the principle of statutory taxation would be compromised. In response, the NPC special committees meticulously examined each suggested revision and ultimately restored the provision mandating that tax rates be set by law. The Legislation Law, which governs how laws are made, stipulates that legislation shall uphold and develop whole-process people's democracy, respect and protect human rights, and safeguard and promote social fairness and justice. From the initial proposal of a legislative project to the drafting and deliberation of bills, the input of public voices is actively sought and integrated - a clear demonstration of whole-process people's democracy. Legislative power lies at the heart of national governance. Through science-based and effective institutional arrangements, China ensures that the people exercise state power through the people's congress system, placing the country's future firmly in the hands of its people. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) The digitalization of laboratories in the life sciences industry holds enormous potential, but many companies are facing major challenges. While some projects and initiatives have already been launched, there is often a lack of an overarching approach to overcoming technological, strategic and regulatory hurdles. Sustainable and efficient networking of the laboratory landscape requires targeted measures and overarching planning. Imagine a scientific laboratory in which systems and tools are seamlessly networked, data is available and retrievable at all times, experiments are automated and environmental factors are taken into account from the outset in many processes. This vision could become reality - but the latest BearingPoint study on the transformation of laboratories shows that many companies are still at the beginning of their digital journey. BearingPoint conducted in-depth interviews with experts from seven renowned life science companies to gain a better understanding of the status of digitalization in laboratories and their prospects. The study results show: With targeted measures, companies can significantly accelerate the process and reap the benefits of a networked, efficient laboratory landscape more quickly. Efficient laboratories are an indispensable backbone for safeguarding individual health and general prosperity in modern industrial societies. This makes it all the more important to prepare them today for the technological and economic challenges of the future and to increase their efficiency. Digitalization in laboratories: a necessary, albeit complex, change The interviews show that many companies have already launched a number of digitalization projects and initiatives, but advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) remain largely visions of the future. Comprehensive implementation is failing due to technical, organizational and regulatory hurdles. The study clearly shows that the paperless laboratory - a wish explicitly mentioned by all respondents - can be an important step towards greater efficiency and transparency. However, the path to complete digitalization requires not only a corresponding technical infrastructure, but also fundamental digital skills at management level as well as the responsible use and programming of digital tools. Jens Raschke, Global Head of Chemicals, Life Sciences & Resources at BearingPoint, sees great potential for the digitalization of laboratories: "The need and the will to digitalize are great. Many companies in the life sciences sector have started transformations, but often lack an overarching strategy to avoid isolated solutions and create a networked laboratory landscape. The potential is enormous - now is the time to drive digitalization forward in a targeted and sustainable manner." Technological, strategic and regulatory hurdles are slowing down progress However, according to the research findings, the benefits of automation and digitalization in the laboratory are being significantly slowed down by various framework conditions. One key problem is the lack of integrated systems that connect laboratories with each other and with other players from research, administration and the biotechnology sector. Instead of integrated networking, individual solutions dominate, which are often incompatible with each other. This forces many companies to continue to carry out work steps manually - resulting in a loss of efficiency and increased susceptibility to errors. In addition, strict regulatory requirements make the digital transformation of laboratories more difficult. In addition, employees often do not have the necessary digital skills due to a lack of targeted training programs. Many companies also lack a strategic approach. Digitalization is often only tackled selectively and not implemented as a holistic process, which makes the long-term success of the transformation more difficult. Success factors for sustainable digitalization Targeted measures are required to successfully lead laboratories into the digital future. A key step is the development of uniform digital infrastructures with open interfaces and standardized systems to enable seamless networking and avoid isolated solutions. At the same time, companies need to invest more in training programs to develop the digital skills of their employees in a targeted manner. A sustainable transformation also requires strategic planning with clearly defined implementation steps in order to introduce technological advances in a structured manner. The use of digital tools that not only digitize existing processes but also enable real optimization is crucial. Automation technologies such as robotics and AI play a key role in reducing manual activities and increasing efficiency. On February 19, 2025, the Fraunhofer Founder Award, endowed with 50,000 euros, was presented to the spin-off Fusion Bionic GmbH. The spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS impressed with its bio-inspired laser technology, creating a new standard in ultrafast surface processing for a wide range of industrial applications. Surface technology is a driver of future innovation and crucial to the sustainability of products and processes, the reduction of negative environmental impacts and the promotion of resource efficiency. The high-tech start-up Fusion Bionic applies bio-inspired principles such as the lotus effect to technical surfaces using an ultra-fast laser process. The resulting bionic effects are based on extremely fine micro- and nanotextures that significantly improve the performance of surfaces and open up a wide range of innovative approaches in industries such as semiconductor technology, photovoltaics and glass. Disruption through efficiency and precision Fusion Bionic's laser technology integrates seamlessly into existing manufacturing processes and brings nature-inspired structural designs directly onto surfaces. Surface engineering can make a decisive difference in performance for users: Photovoltaic modules, for example, gain self-cleaning properties, heat exchangers become more energy-efficient and PFAS-free textiles become water-repellent. Costly or environmentally problematic processes such as chemical etching, sandblasting or plasma can increasingly be replaced by Fusion Bionic's innovative laser technology. As a result, companies can significantly increase their energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions and avoid environmentally harmful emissions. Leading-edge research as an asset on the global market Fusion Bionic's solutions are based on direct laser interference patterning (DLIP), a highspeed laser technology up to 100 times faster than established methods. Fusion Bionic offers services spanning application development, technology training and contract manufacturing, as well as hardware solutions based on DLIP technology. In April 2021, Bionic GmbH was spun off from Fraunhofer IWS with a team of researchers led by Tim Kunze and experts from industry. It was supported by Fraunhofer Venture and Fraunhofer AHEAD in all phases of the founding process. Just two months after its founding, the start-up was selected for the renowned Heraeus Accelerator program. Fusion Bionic's customers now include well-known global companies, mainly from the glass and photovoltaic industries, semiconductor and medical technology as well as the automotive industry. In 2022, Fusion Bionic was awarded the Ray of Hope Prize by the US Biomimicry Institute as one of the best nature-inspired start-ups worldwide. In the same year, it received further recognition in the form of the Saxon Start-up Award and 2nd place in the Innovation Award Laser Technology, jointly organized by AKL Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e. V. and European Laser Institute ELI e. V. Technology transfer as a symbiosis of research and progress Spin-offs offer the ideal opportunity for building a vibrant ecosystem centered on the research institute, from which start-ups and Fraunhofer will benefit in the long term. We are proud of our Fraunhofer roots and grateful for the support we have received from Fraunhofer IWS. The Founder Award motivates us more than ever to push forward with our vision: to work together in setting new standards for innovative surfaces and to develop completely new technological possibilities for companies. We very much look forward to continuing down this path with great energy, says Dr. Tim Kunze, CEO and co-founder of Fusion Bionic GmbH. After the award ceremony, Thomas Doppelberger, Head of Spin-offs and Shareholdings (Fraunhofer Venture), emphasized the close connection between research and commercialization: The team of Fusion Bionic has clearly demonstrated how leadingedge research can turn into effective innovations for German and international industry in a short period of time. Merely a few years after its spin-off, Fusion Bionic is already setting new standards in surface technology, demonstrating the immense potential of technology transfer from research. Home News 5 controversies surrounding former NIH Director Francis Collins Stanford University health researcher Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who is President Donald Trump's pick to head the National Institutes of Health (NIH), faced a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Wednesday. In what some are calling "poetic justice," Bhattacharya's appointment comes after his predecessor, Dr. Francis Collins, smeared him as a "fringe" character after he criticized masking children and co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which outlined objections to COVID policies Collins championed, such as lockdowns. Bhattacharya rose to prominence after the declaration, whose authors also prioritized care for the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, and his appointment has prompted concerns about Collins to resurface. On March 1, Collins released a statement announcing his retirement from the federal government effective Feb. 28. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Here are some of the top criticisms Collins has faced in recent years. Home News After repentance, Pastor Matthew Queen sentenced for lying to federal investigators Despite facing a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison for lying to federal investigators looking into a case of alleged sexual abuse, former pastor Matthew Queen received six months of house arrest after repenting for his crime. In a six-page judgment on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York Lewis Kaplan sentenced Queen to six months of home confinement during which time he is not allowed to leave except to get medical care for himself or his wife or with permission from his probation officer. He will also have to wear an electronic monitor. Queen was ordered to participate in an outpatient mental health treatment program, not incur any new lines of credit or credit charges without the permission of his probation officer and pay a total of $2,100 in fines and assessments. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Queen's charges stem from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into "multiple SBC entities following a Guidepost Solutions report detailing how some leaders mishandled allegations of abuse and mistreated victims of abuse. Last year, the DOJ decided not to file any charges against the Protestant denomination but did pursue charges against Queen, a former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary evangelism professor, provost and church pastor, for falsifying records connected to its investigation. Kaplan appears to have also been moved by some 59 letters submitted in court and reviewed by The Christian Post from family, friends, former students and colleagues, testifying to Queens moral character and the unfortunate circumstances that led him to betray himself and almost made him take his life. Dr. Queen recognizes that the Southern Baptist Convention, including SWBTS, has had a history of covering up and minimizing sexual abuse allegations. He opposes such cover-ups and has always supported victims of such abuse, Queens attorney, Sam A. Schmidt, wrote in a March 2 letter to Kaplan just three days before his client was sentenced on Wednesday. When the opportunity has arisen, he has acted on behalf of those who were abused. The most recent time was this past fall while on administrative leave from Friendly Avenue Baptist church. A woman told his wife and him about her experience. Both Dr. Queen and his wife explained to the woman how important it was to report the abuse both for herself and the community, Schmidt added. Dr. Queen also noted that as a mandatory reporter his obligation was to report it if she did not. After their discussion, the woman agreed to have them call the police on her behalf, and both Matthew and Hope Queen [his wife] stayed with her while she spoke to a local police officer. Dr. Queen also gave other information to the police officer and explained that, as a mandatory reporter, he was facilitating her report. The case against Queen, 49, was opened following a November 2022 report of alleged sexual abuse committed by a Texas Baptist College student, according to a statement by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Seminary officials later said they helped facilitate the arrest of the student who withdrew from the college. Before the sexual abuse allegation in November 2022, the Justice Department issued a grand jury subpoena to the seminary in October 2022, which required the seminary to produce all documents in its possession related to allegations of sexual abuse against anyone employed by or associated with the seminary, among other things. Investigators said Queen attempted to interfere with a federal grand jury investigation by creating false notes in an attempt to corroborate his own lies." He pleaded guilty last October. In a submission to Kaplan on Feb. 19, Schmidt, his wife and others explained that Queen was under a lot of stress around the time the investigation began. This letter informs of the stress and difficulties Dr. Queen faced in 2023 as a result of his new position as provost and the continuing tense atmosphere at SWBTS as a result of the turnover of multiple presidents and provosts. Fear of dismissals was but one cause of the stress, Schmidt wrote. Queens wife also shared her observations of how the investigation impacted her husband. Mrs. Queen not only gives insight [into] the difficulties that her husband was facing in early 2023 but also its impact on him. As a result of the DOJs subpoena and investigation, Dr. Queen was told by the SWBTS president not to discuss the investigation with anyone else, Schmidt said. In her letter, Hope Queen explained how her husband struggled with the enforced silence around the investigation. We did not even tell our extended family. Matt has always been an extreme extrovert, and the enforced silence, coupled with intimidation, led to a downward spiral in his mental health which was fueled by the dysfunctional atmosphere at the seminary. Matt was frequently appearing as a guest on podcasts to talk about his book; yet he was anxious and scared regarding the investigation, Hope Queen wrote. Having been led to believe that he would be in legal trouble if he told anyone about the investigation and assured that the seminary lawyers represented him, Matt sought help from neither a counselor nor an attorney. He had questions about the investigation but did not feel the liberty to ask the seminary's attorneys out of fear of repercussions at work, she added. Matt's anxiety grew. On a regular basis, I walked into our bedroom and found him on our bed with his chest heaving and limbs shaking. I watched with concern but felt trapped without a way for him to get help due to the instruction not to tell anyone about the investigation. In his own letter to Kaplan seeking mercy, Queen expressed deep remorse for what he did and described the first five years after Paige Pattersons presidency ended in 2018, as tumultuous. He said when current president of Southwestern Seminary, David Dockery, asked him to serve as the institutions interim provost and vice president for academic administration, he was not ready to function well within the dysfunctional dynamics of the time. As the DOJs investigation unfolded, I felt anxious and overwhelmed. I enjoy working with others in collaboration but being told that I could not discuss the situation or the accompanying investigation with anyone sent me into a state of anxiety unlike anything I had ever experienced, Queen explained. The isolation and feeling of being unable to trust some colleagues and attorneys led me to make skewed and unwise decisions based on my own reasoning. Queen said he lost about 40 pounds during the ordeal and admitted to losing himself. Your Honor, I lost a little bit of myself. I did something quite out of character for me I lied to two colleagues to make myself more credible by claiming I had made notes that I had not written. Im shocked by that behavior because it is simply not who I am or how I have lived my life and ministry, he wrote. The former professor said after he lied to federal authorities, he made plans to take his life. That I lied to government agents when questioned about the date that I had written the note shocked me back to reality. I apologized and asked for forgiveness. I testified in the grand jury. After testifying, the government investigators interviewed me in a manner that frightened and traumatized me, he wrote. As I traveled home, I made a plan to commit suicide. After my wife realized my intent, she took me to a local hospital. Even typing these words arouses feelings within me of disgrace, humiliation, and disbelief. Your Honor, I deeply and sincerely regret my conduct, Queen added. Queen said that he has "repented of [his] sin before God" and "made it right with the government by correcting my false statement to them." "I will forever live with the knowledge that I lied, an action contrary to my faith, my character, and my morals, Queen told Kaplan in his letter. I am daily reminded that my lie has disappointed my God, my wife, my daughters, my parents, my brothers, my church, my friends, and my students. I fully understand the responsibility I have to respect both law and judicial agents. I commit to you, your Honor, to apply the lessons I have learned from my mistake for the remainder of my life and ministry. Home News Pro-trans tribunal member removed from Christian teacher's case for apparent bias After significant delays, a Nottingham employment tribunal in the United Kingdom has begun hearing the case of a Christian teacher dismissed after raising safeguarding concerns about an 8-year-old child "transitioning" under her school's policies. Known in filings as "Hannah," the teacher claims she was dismissed for her refusal to affirm policies that she believed endangered children and conflicted with her Christian beliefs. The tribunal is examining allegations of unfair dismissal, victimization for whistleblowing and discrimination on religious grounds brought against Nottinghamshire County Council, which operates the school, reports the Christian Legal Centre, which supports Hannah. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The hearing follows the collapse of an earlier hearing due to a panel member's social media posts that demonstrated anti-Christian bias. According to CLC, reporting restrictions prevent Hannah's full identity from being revealed. Her legal team has applied for these restrictions to be lifted during the hearing. More recently, a tribunal panel member, Chris Tansley, the former president of the trade union Unison, was removed due to potential bias stemming from his prior employment with Nottinghamshire County Council and his public support for pro-trans causes. "Mr Tansley should be removed from the tribunal," Employment Judge Peter McTigue wrote in response to a motion filed by Hannah's lawyers. "Hypothetical observer would believe the 'risk was more than minimal.' Given the sensitive nature of this case and that Mr Tansley was paid by the respondent up until 2023 he should be removed for 'apparent bias.'" Hannah's concerns first emerged in 2021 when she was instructed to address an 8-year-old student, referred to as Child X, by a new name and pronouns as part of the school's "trans-affirming" policy. The policy, implemented under the guidance of a Stonewall Champion from the local authority, required social transitioning without medical evidence and allowed children to use facilities matching their affirmed gender. Hannah argued that such practices lacked adequate safeguarding measures and potentially harmed Child X and other students. Despite following proper safeguarding protocols and providing expert evidence, Hannah's concerns were dismissed by school leadership, governors and the local authority. She contends that she had no choice but to escalate the matter, ultimately seeking a judicial review of the school's policies. However, her decision to disclose the situation to her legal team resulted in her dismissal, with the school claiming she had shared confidential information. Stonewall, an LGBT advocacy organization in the U.K., received roughly $629,000 over the past three years from the U.S. government's Global Equality Fund, but it now faces substantial financial strain as the funding has been withdrawn under the Trump administration. A 2023 report by Policy Exchange supported Hannah's stance, concluding that many schools disregard safeguarding principles in favor of contested beliefs about gender identity. The report warned that such practices threaten the well-being and safety of children. Hannah maintains that her actions were driven by a duty of care to her students. "I followed all the correct procedures ... and believed the action I took was in the public interest," she said. "Teachers are being bullied not to question trans-affirming policies," she added. The tribunal is also addressing procedural issues that have plagued the case. Last year, the original hearing collapsed after a panel member, Jed Purkis, was found to have made anti-Christian and anti-conservative statements on social media. His comments, which included derogatory remarks about Christians, led to a formal rebuke from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office. The CLC has criticized the delays and alleged bias in the tribunal process. Andrea Williams, the organization's chief executive, described Hannah as "courageous" for exposing the risks of trans-affirmation policies in schools. "For years, parents and teachers who have raised safeguarding concerns over these issues have been ignored and disbelieved despite clear expert evidence demonstrating the harm trans affirmation causes," she said. Williams argued that society has lost its moral compass regarding issues of human sexuality and identity. She pointed to the increasing reluctance of schools and teachers to challenge trans-affirmation policies for fear of being labeled transphobic or facing professional repercussions. The tribunal is expected to rule on whether to lift the reporting restrictions on Hannah's identity before proceeding with the substantive elements of the case. Clyburn Honors College students Tanashi Leonard, Lataye Walker and Shadae Rembert attended the Our Futures Weekend at the University of Notre Dame. ORANGEBURG, S.C. Three exceptional students from South Carolina State Universitys Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College attended the Our Futures Weekend at the University of Notre Dame Jan. 30-Feb. 2. Shadae Rembert, Lataye Walker, and Tanashi Leonard traveled to the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Indiana, with all expenses fully covered by Notre Dame. This included airfare, lodging, and meals, ensuring they could focus entirely on the invaluable experiences ahead. Our Futures Weekend is an annual recruitment event designed to introduce highly talented and driven undergraduates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to the world of graduate education at one of the nation's top research institutions. It aims to provide students with the knowledge, resources, and connections needed to successfully apply for and thrive in graduate school. The opportunity was made possible through the leadership of Dr. William Whitaker, Clyburn Honors College dean, who leveraged his professional network to connect the SC State scholars with this elite experience. One of Whitakers Michigan State University classmates, Dr. Jamila Lee-Johnson, Notre Dames assistant dean for inclusive excellence, played a key role in extending the invitation. Their collaboration underscores the power of strategic partnerships in expanding academic and professional opportunities for SC States honors students. During Our Futures Weekend, the students: Explored Notre Dames graduate school programs. The students engaged with faculty, staff, and current graduate students in their academic fields of interest. Gained insider knowledge on the graduate admissions process. The students learned directly from the universitys admissions team about application strategies and funding opportunities. Visited research facilities and labs. They toured cutting-edge facilities and interacted with potential mentors. Networked with like-minded peers. The SC State students connected with other high-achieving students from across the country who share their passion for academic excellence. Experienced Notre Dames rich history and traditions. They immersed themselves in the culture and academic rigor of one of the nations leading research institutions. Student reflections on the experience: "Attending Our Futures Weekend was a transformative experience. Engaging with Notre Dame's faculty and exploring their state-of-the-art research facilities has inspired me to pursue advanced studies in biomedical research, said Rembert, a junior political science/pre-law major. "The opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and learn about the graduate admissions process firsthand was invaluable. This experience has broadened my horizons and solidified my aspirations for graduate education, said Walker, a junior history education major. "Immersing myself in Notre Dame's rich academic environment and networking with potential mentors has been enlightening. I now feel more prepared and motivated to take the next steps toward my graduate studies, said Leonard, a junior psychology major. A groundbreaking initiative for SC State Honors Scholars Clyburn Honors College students Shadae Rembert, Lataye Walker and Tanashi Leonard gained valuable knowledge about graduate school admissions at the Our Futures Weekend at the University of Notre Dame. "At the Clyburn Honors College, our mission is to cultivate scholars who are not only academically exceptional but also equipped to compete on a national and global scale, Whitaker said. Providing access to premier graduate programs and fostering connections with leading institutions like Notre Dame is a critical part of that mission. This experience has opened new doors for our students, reinforcing that their ambitions are limitless when supported by the right opportunities and networks. I am incredibly proud of Shadae, Lataye, and Tanashi for representing SC State with excellence and for taking full advantage of this transformative experience, the dean said. The students participation in Our Futures Weekend marked a significant first for the Honors College under Whitakers administration. By fostering relationships with leading institutions like Notre Dame and leveraging connections with fellow Big 10 and Research 1 universities, SC State continues to elevate its reputation as a pipeline for top-tier graduate school candidates. Dr. Windy Stephenson, the Honors Colleges executive director, expressed her enthusiasm for the students experiences. "We were beyond thrilled that our students had the opportunity to participate in this prestigious program at Notre Dame, Stephenson said. This experience aligns perfectly with our mission of exposing our scholars to elite academic and professional opportunities that prepare them for leadership roles in their fields. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Whitaker for his strategic vision and for leveraging key partnerships that provide transformative experiences like this for our students." About the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College The Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College is committed to fostering academic excellence, leadership, and professional development among high-achieving students at South Carolina State University. The Honors College provides unique opportunities for research, internships, and graduate school preparation, ensuring students are well-equipped to excel in their future careers. For more information about SC States Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College and future opportunities, contact Dr. William Whitaker, Honors College dean, at wwhitak3@scsu.edu or 803-533-3710. Home News SBC pastors want another push to ban female clergy after Law Amendment failed A group of Southern Baptist Convention clergy are urging the denomination to reconsider an amendment that would permanently prohibit female pastors at member churches after it fell 5 percentage points shy of the two-thirds support needed to pass last year. In a statement titled "An Open Letter to Our Southern Baptist Family," the pastors and ministry leaders called for the measure known as the Law Amendment to be considered at the upcoming SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas. The letter alludes to a recent decision by the SBC Credentials Committee to allow a church in South Carolina to remain in friendly cooperation with the convention even though it had a woman serving as teaching pastor. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "That amendment would have clarified that the Convention will only deem a church to be in friendly cooperation which 'Affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture,'" stated the open letter. "It is apparent that the Credentials Committee needs the clarification that this Amendment would have provided. For that reason, we are supporting a renewed effort to amend the SBC Constitution." The pastors said they were "not offering new language but are supporting an effort to adopt the same language that a majority of the last two conventions wanted to be passed." To advance the proposed amendment, the pastors urge the annual meeting "to suspend the standing rule that would put the amendment in the hands of the Executive Committee, which may or may not report out the amendment the following year." "Because we have already debated this language at the last two conventions, we do not believe that we need to spend another year waiting for the Executive Committee to decide whether to put the amendment before the convention for a vote," they wrote. From there, they want to vote on the proposed amendment, with a supermajority needed to advance it. It would need final approval from messengers at the SBC Annual Meeting in 2026. "We want to be a convention in friendly cooperation with churches that closely identify with our confession of faith, including our clearly stated beliefs about biblical qualifications for pastoral office," they added. Signatories of the letter include Nate Akin, executive director of the Pillar Network; Pastor H.B. Charles of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida; Lead Pastor Jed Coppenger of First Baptist Church in Cumming, Georgia; Senior Pastor Aaron Harvie of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky; Pastor Brian Payne of Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama; Senior Pastor Juan Sanchez of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas; and Senior Pastor Clay Smith of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 defines "pastor" as a person "who fulfills the pastoral office and carries out the pastor's functions," with Article VI explaining that "the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture." Named after Pastor Mike Law of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia, the Law Amendment would amend the SBC Constitution to clarify that no member church could have a woman serving as an elder or pastor. While the SBC has disfellowshipped churches in recent years for having female lead or teaching pastors, Law had estimated that approximately 1,800 member congregations had women serving as pastors. Former SBC President J.D. Greear was among the critics of the amendment, calling it "unwise" and "unnecessary" and warning that it could lead to an exodus of minority churches. "I remain convictionally opposed to this amendment, not because of its content but because of its attempt to undermine our historic principles of cooperation," Greear wrote on his website before last year's vote. At last year's meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, 61% of messengers voted in favor of the Law Amendment, but the proposal needed 66.66% of the vote to be ratified after it was advanced during the 2023 annual meeting with about 80% of the vote from over 12,000 messengers in New Orleans. Soon after last year's vote, the Texas-based Baptist Women in Ministry, which has members belonging to numerous Baptist denominations, released a statement celebrating the failure of the proposed amendment. "We are grateful to churches and messengers represented at the SBC who came to send the message that women have equal value to God. We know that others voted against the amendment for other reasons, but we hope the message of your support for female pastors will be amplified," the group stated. Home News Scholars challenge journal's retraction of studies showing abortion risks Ten pro-life researchers have challenged a medical journals retraction of their studies analyzing the risks of abortion, arguing that the publications actions were politically motivated. The pro-life research organization Charlotte Lozier Institute announced Monday that their scholars filed an opening arbitration demand on Feb. 21 against Sage Publications, Inc. over the retraction of three articles published in the peer-reviewed journal Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology. The scientists first filed a petition to compel arbitration in October 2024 in the Superior Court of California with help from attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom and Consovoy McCarthy PLLC. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In a statement provided to The Christian Post, Karen Czarnecki, executive director of the CLI, declared that Freedom of speech in medicine is critical to scientific progress. The authors are now being mistreated in their industry and their research proposals are being inexplicably turned down, Czarnecki stated. That is wrong, and the scientific community deserves better. According to the filing, the academic publisher unjustly retracted three of the scientists studies and removed Dr. James Studnicki, the lead author of the studies who also holds an executive position with CLI, from a Sage editorial board. The three studies were published in 2019, 2020 and 2022. The scholars have requested injunctive relief requiring Sage to rescind the retractions, which the scientists contend have harmed their professional reputations. The combined reputational and economic harm to the Authors from these unlawful actions is enormous and incalculable, the filing stated. Because of Sages retractions, the Authors and their research have been attacked by the media, by other authors, and even by a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Authors have had new research proposals inexplicably turned away by other journals that now fear associating with them. The Authors have years even decades of fruitful research ahead of them, but they are now being treated as pariahs. Sage did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. One of the retracted studies, published in November 2021, found the rate of emergency room visits after chemical abortions increased by over 500% from 2002 through 2015. Another study published in May 2022 analyzed the risks of emergency room doctors miscoding an abortion complication as a miscarriage, either due to patient concealment or staff mischaracterization. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Donald Trump appointee, cited these two studies in an April 2023 decision to suspend the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. CLI contends that the court decision prompted a reader to complain about the "authors pro-life affiliations." Sage would retract the articles in February 2024, the month before the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for a case focused on restrictions for abortion drugs. As the scholars noted in their filing, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson brought up the retractions during oral argument, claiming that lower courts had relied on studies that had been discredited and removed. Defending the retractions, Sage alleged that the study authors did not disclose their ties to pro-life organizations, such as the CLI, the research and education arm of a leading pro-life grassroots campaign group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Sage also claimed that experts who conducted an independent post-publication peer review of the three studies found unjustified or incorrect factual assumptions, a claim that the scholars have denied. One of the studies' authors, Tessa Longbons, a senior research associate at CLI, told CP she and her colleagues addressed the concerns the publication brought to their attention. She said they "fully disclosed who we were affiliated with" and never concealed their pro-life ties. Studnicki, vice president and director of data analytics at the CLI, asserted that Sage did not have a legitimate reason for retracting the studies. Putting politics over publication ethics, Sage retracted three important studies by Charlotte Lozier Institute scholars that are scientifically sound, Studnicki said in a statement provided to CP. Good science is open science, and it does not follow a pre-approved narrative. Our scientific institutions must defend principles of open inquiry and commitment to science, not just when its convenient for them, he continued. Sages actions should be of great concern to the entire research community. We remain committed to that pursuit regardless of all attempts to silence and ban our studies and our network of scholars. Home News Trump vows to strip funding to colleges allowing 'illegal protests,' deport agitators President Donald Trump threatened to stop federal funding for schools that permit "illegal protests" following a wave of anti-Israel protests and encampments at educational institutions throughout the United States after Hamas' terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Trump posted the statement Tuesday to his TruthSocial page a week after anti-Israel protesters at Barnard College, an affiliate of Columbia University in New York City, invaded a campus building and injured a university employee. "All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," the president wrote on his social media page. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!" Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, as well as the U.S. General Services Administration, announced on Monday that they will conduct a review of Columbia University's federal contracts. According to the announcement, the federal government's new Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is reviewing the more than $5 billion worth of grants connected to the university and ensuring the school complies with federal regulations. The task force is also considering halting $51.4 million worth of contracts with Columbia University. In a Monday statement on its website, Columbia University said that it was reviewing the communication from federal agencies, and it promised to work with the current administration to combat antisemitism on campus. "We are reviewing tonight's communication from the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and General Services Administration," the university stated. "Columbia is fully committed to combatting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and we are resolute that calling for, promoting, or glorifying violence or terror has no place at our University." "We look forward to ongoing work with the new federal administration to fight antisemitism, and we will continue to make all efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff," the statement continued. The university made headlines last year after anti-Israel activists set up an encampment on campus in response to Israel's war against the terror group Hamas. Jewish students reported that they experienced antisemitic harassment from the protesters, and lawmakers urged the school to take decisive action after demonstrators took over a campus building. Activists at schools throughout the country, including the University of California Los Angeles and Harvard University, set up encampments last year to protest Israel. Jewish students attending these schools reported being prevented from going to class, and, in some cases, activists followed them around and monitored their movements. Harvard Divinity School graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum, who testified in May before a House Judiciary Committee about antisemitism at Harvard, said that the anti-Israel protesters established their "own rule of law on campus." The activists appointed "safety marshals" who would often record Jewish students like Kestenbaum. Kestenbaum testified that he attempted to contact Harvard's administrators many times to discuss these issues, but they were not receptive to his concerns. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon declared in a statement this week that institutions that receive federal funding have "a responsibility to protect all students from discrimination." "Americans have watched in horror for more than a year now, as Jewish students have been assaulted and harassed on elite university campusesrepeatedly overrun by antisemitic students and agitators," McMahon stated. "Unlawful encampments and demonstrations have completely paralysed day-to-day campus operations, depriving Jewish students of learning opportunities to which they are entitled." Home News Ukrainian priest sentenced to 14 years in hard labor camp in Russia on false espionage charges An imprisoned Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest has been sent 600 miles from his parish in Russian-occupied Ukraine to a hard labor camp in Russia to serve a 14-year sentence on false espionage charges, according to rights group Forum 18. The Rev. Kostiantyn Vyacheslavovich Maksimov, 41, had lost a closed court appeal of his conviction by a Russian-controlled Supreme Court, the group stated. He was transferred from his Tokmak parish in Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Region in Ukraine to the labor camp in Saratov region, Russia, on Feb. 11. Russian occupation authorities have repeatedly tried to pressure priests of both the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church linked to the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC) to join new dioceses, Forum 18 explained in a press statement. The Moscow Patriarchate Russian Orthodox Church has unilaterally established [itself] on occupied Ukrainian territory. Both OCU and UOC clergy have disappeared after they have refused. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Russian occupation forces first arrested Maksimov in May 2023. They held him in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, controlled by Russia, before transferring him to Investigation Prison No. 2 in the Crimean capital Simferopol in February 2024. The Prosecutors Office previously alleged that Maksimov used the internet to transmit coordinates of the deployment of Russian air defense equipment to the Ukrainian security service. Zaporizhzhia Regional Court, at a closed trial at Crimean Supreme Court, all controlled by Russia, sentenced the priest to 14 years in prison on Aug. 2, 2024. He lost an appeal on Nov. 14, 2024, in absentia at a closed hearing at the First Appeal Court in Moscow. This is a secret case, and the appeal hearing will be closed, Judge Melekhins assistant, Yekaterina Kiryanova, told Forum 18 from the same court in October. Appeal court judges, chaired by Pavel Melekhin, agreed to reduce the priests sentence by eight months because of time spent in unacknowledged detention from his initial arrest in May 2023 until the official arrest in February 2024. The punishment assigned to K.V. Maksimov is just, stated the court decision seen by Forum 18, in connection with which the judicial panel does not see a basis for agreeing with the appeals arguments for it to be softened or assigning a less strict punishment. The court ruled to exclude from the previous lower courts verdict a reference to Maksimovs alleged spying as taking place in conditions of armed conflict and military action. Maksimov did not want the Berdyansk Diocese of the UOC to join with the Russian Orthodox Church, according to an October 2023 claim to Forum 18 by Artyom Sharlay, head of the Russian occupiers Department for Work with Ethnic, Religious and Cossack Organizations of the Social and Political Communications Department. The departments are part of the Internal Policy Department of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration. The transfer of Maksimov to Russia violates the Geneva Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, regarding the rights of civilians in territories occupied by another state (described as protected persons). Article 76 states, Protected persons accused of offenses shall be detained in the occupied country, and if convicted they shall serve their sentences therein. An Oct. 1 report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded human rights abuses in Ukraine from June 2023 to August 2024. OHCHR noted it continued to document cases of arbitrary detention, torture, including sexual violence, and enforced disappearance of civilians in the occupied territory. OHCHR also documented cases of arbitrary detention when the occupying authorities detained people for what appeared to be legitimate exercise of their freedom of expression or religion and belief, the report added. In several of these cases, those affected shared information with OHCHR on a confidential basis, fearing that publication of details about their cases could result in repercussions. Russia illegally claimed to have annexed parts of Ukraine in the 2022 invasion of Russian armed forces, stated Forum 18. Authorities then imposed Russian criminal and administrative codes of law later that year, affecting local Ukrainian populations, including the jailing of other Orthodox priests, mainstream Protestants and people of other religions such as Jehovahs Witnesses and Muslim clergy. Among the jailed Orthodox clergymen was the Rev. Stepan Podolchak, an OCU priest, who died on Feb. 13, 2024, in the Ukrainian village of Kalanchak in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Region. Authorities took him away barefoot with a bag over his head, insisting he needed to come for questioning, according to Forum 18. His bruised body possibly with a bullet-wound to the head was found on the street in the village two days later. Forum 18 tried to contact the Special Department at the labor camp where Maksimov is jailed but stated that the duty officer refused to help. This article was originally published at Christian Daily International Trump's Congressional Address, SCOTUS Foreign Aid Decision, Wyoming's Trans Policy link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 08:15 08:15 Sponsored by WatersEdge: Invest with purpose? With WatersEdge Kingdom Investments, you can! We offer great rates that multiply your resources and build churches. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3CxWtFz Top headlines for Thursday, March 6, 2025 In this episode, we delve into President Donald Trump's recent address to Congress, analyzing the key points and potential implications of his speech. Next, we discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to deny the Trump administration's request to halt $2 billion in aid payments, examining what this means for contractors and future government projects. Lastly, we turn our attention to Wyoming, the latest state to implement a ban on trans-identified males entering womens spaces in government buildings, and consider the impact of this legislation in the broader context of state policies on gender identity. Home News House censures Texas Rep. Al Green for 'numerous disruptions' during Trump's speech Nearly a dozen Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives joined Republicans in voting to censure Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, after he interrupted President Donald Trumps address before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. In a 224-198 vote Thursday, the Republican-controlled House voted to censure Green. All Republicans present in the chamber voted in favor of the resolution along with 10 Democrats: Reps. Ami Bera, D-Calif., Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Jim Costa, D-Calif., Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., Jim Himes, D-Conn., Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., Marie Perez, D-Wash., and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. Green voted present on the resolution, as did Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala. All other Democrats who voted opposed it. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe House Resolution 189, authored by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., called for the censure of Green over what was described as a breach of proper conduct in the form of numerous disruptions to Trumps speech Tuesday. Green was removed from the House Tuesday, after defying the order of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to sit down and cease his interruptions. Green defended his actions when speaking to reporters following his ejection from the chamber Tuesday, explaining that he was shouting that the president had no mandate to cut Medicaid during his interruptions. Its worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up, he said. Green has emerged as one of Trumps most vocal critics. He introduced multiple articles of impeachment against Trump in 2017. He first called for the impeachment of Trump after the firing of FBI Director James Comey in what he called an act of obstruction of a lawful investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russia in addition to filing separate articles for engaging in what he called white supremacy, sexism, bigotry, hatred, xenophobia, race-baiting and racism. More recently, Green vowed to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump early last month after the president unveiled a plan that would involve the U.S. taking control of the Gaza Strip. He condemned the idea as a dastardly form of ethnic cleansing. As for the consequences faced by Green as a result of his disruption of the presidents speech Tuesday, the Congressional Research Service defines a censure as a majority vote in the House on a resolution disapproving a Members conduct, generally with the additional requirement that the Member stand at the well of the House chamber to receive a verbal rebuke and reading of the resolution by the Speaker. As explained in the report, There is no specific disqualification or express consequence provided in the House Rules after a Member has been censured besides the political ignominy of being formally and publicly admonished and deprecated by ones colleagues. According to data compiled by the House, 27 members of the lower chamber have been censured since 1832. That figure doesn't include Green, meaning the total has now increased to 28. Home News Former atheist Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Responsible citizenship is inseparable from Christian morality Activist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali quoted from Scripture in an impassioned defense of the nation-state and advocated for a return to Christian morality at a conference in London. The Somali-born former Dutch parliamentarian and research fellow at the Hoover Institution used her platform last month at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference to attack what she depicted as modern liberalisms rejection of nationalism. Modern liberals trashed the nation-state and nationalism, invoking Hitler and Mussolini and arguing that nationalism had caused World War II, not to mention the Holocaust, she said. They failed to make a distinction between bad nationalism and good nationalism. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Hirsi Ali, 55, identified these modern liberals as a murky coalition of social democrats, tenured intellectuals who transformed the modern university into a place for brainwashing young minds into hating their national identity and history, editors in charge of legacy media, activists within the web of think tanks and NGOs, and the administrative state, the bloated bureaucracy that has come to see itself as the benign guardian against fascism while routinely suppressing liberty. The founder of the AHA Foundation, and host of "The Ayaan Hirsi Ali Podcast" also took aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, calling them a radical pursuit of heterogeneity in the name of multiculturalism and diversity. She pointed to powerful international and supranational entities designed to transcend or sidestep the nation-states, such as the United Nations or the European Union, which, Ali argued, have proven dysfunctional, tyrannical rule of bureaucracy and wasteful, chronically prone to fraud and abuse. Citing the failure of what she called the experiment based on the virtuous theory of multiculturalism to bring about heterogeneous societies in Europe even amid the ghastly hellscapes of Muslim-dominated states, Ali said the solution, in her mind, is simple and unequivocal: Stop the post-national experiment it has already gone too far. After detailing the decline of the post-war rules-based international order, Ali speculated that era might have officially ended on the 20th of January 2025 the date of President Donald Trumps inauguration or perhaps even earlier with Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014. Celebrating this shift, she hailed the weakening of globalism in the U.S., claiming, The Democratic Party today [has] no clear leadership no funding no media monopoly no control of government. In short, they have no power, and that is good news. The speechs most provocative moment came when Ali extolled the virtues of a Christian-dominant Europe, one which she recalled vividly from her journey from Somalia to Holland in 1992. When I came to Europe fleeing a forced marriage that was part of a failed clan system, this was the type of nation-state that I found wealthy, peaceful, stable and optimistic, but still rooted in the Calvinist and Catholic traditions. Since then, said Ali, shes witnessed in both America and Europe what she described as a sustained effort to drive Christianity to the margins of our society. I believe this gamble on secularism will go terribly wrong, she added. It already has. Quoting Bible verses like Genesis 1:27, All humans are created in Gods image, and Leviticus 19:18, Love your neighbor as yourself Ali argued these principles underpin Western values such as human rights and limited government. Biblical ethics stress that rulers and citizens are accountable to a higher moral law, ensuring that government acts justly and protects the vulnerable, she said. Romans 13:3-4, these principles collectively shaped Western values, like democracy, human rights and constitutional government. Hirsi Ali closed her remarks with a call to stress that responsible citizenship in the West is inseparable from Christian morality. Please, let's aspire to build or restore the nation-states on which our security depends, and let's ensure that they run as they used to on that Christian operating system without which we can have no moral compass, she added. Last year, Hirsi Ali announced that she had become a Christian and explained her journey to faith to atheist apologist Richard Dawkins. "I had a personal crisis ... I lived for about a decade with intense depression and anxiety, self-loathing. I hit rock bottom. I went to a place where I actually didn't want to live anymore, but I wasn't brave enough to take my own life. I was self-medicating. Over a long period of time, I saw psychiatrists and other doctors. I was trying to understand my condition, and I was trying to treat it with the help of pure evidence-based science." Dawkins asked Hirsi Ali, "You don't believe Jesus rose from the dead, surely?" She said, "I choose to believe that Jesus rose from the dead." Every follower of Christ believes in the Lord's death on the cross for our sins, as well as His resurrection from the dead. Hirsi Ali then said, "It has to go back to, 'Is there something or is there nothing?'" Home News Christian converts deported from US could face death penalty if they return home, advocates warn Christian human rights advocates are warning that some Christian immigrants could face death if deported from the United States, actions that may violate international treaties and contradict one of President Donald Trump's executive orders. Jeff King, president of the U.S.-based watchdog organization International Christian Concern, has responded to a report that at least 10 of the roughly 350 migrants deported last month from the U.S. to Panama for their eventual return home are Iranian Christian converts from Islam. As The New York Times highlighted in a Feb. 18 report, the migrants put on a military plane to Panama last month and housed in a hotel come from a variety of countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Uzbekistan. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe King noted many of these countries have a history of persecuting Christians, and while he acknowledged Pakistan as a place of concern, the ICC president cited Iran as the bigger threat. "If returned to Iran, they will face the death penalty for apostasy a severe crime under Sharia law," King told The Christian Post. "Iranian Christians have been heavily persecuted for decades despite a long history in the country." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security told the outlet that all migrants deported to Panama were in the U.S. illegally and none of them "asserted fear of returning to their home country at any point during processing or custody." A DHS spokesperson maintains that all were "properly removed from the country." King cited Iran's constitution, which was finalized soon after the 1979 revolution, calling it a "religious manifesto." King said Iran's constitution quotes the Quran extensively and mandates the military to fulfill "the ideological mission of jihad in Allah's way; that is, extending the sovereignty of Allah's law throughout the world." Iran's government adheres to a strict interpretation of Shia Islam, which King said doesn't even leave room for Sunni Islam, much less religious minorities like Christianity. As ICC reported when it first responded to the news of the deportations last month, the forced return of asylum seekers or refugees to countries where they are likely to face persecution is prohibited in numerous international treaty bodies. The advocacy group cited as an example the United Nations Convention against Torture and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. ICC also cited the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which states that adherence to non-refoulement is "an implicit guarantee flowing from the obligations to respect, protect and fulfill human rights." While King acknowledged the current situation as "concerning," he believes that there is a lot of nuance to the issue that The New York Times article didn't touch upon, feeling the outlet didn't criticize former President Barack Obama's administration enough over its handling of the Islamic State and its persecution of Christians. Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the conservative think tank Hudson Institute, pointed to an executive order from Trump's first presidency, Advancing International Religious Freedom. She said the order, signed in June 2020, has never been withdrawn. "Our asylum and refugee practices should first and foremost go to those fleeing religious persecution," Shea told CP. "President Trump aims to champion religious freedom as a fundamental American, indeed 'unalienable,' right. On this basis, these Iranian Christians should not be deported." Tony Perkins, a leading Evangelical conservative activist who leads the Washington-based Family Research Council, expressed gratitude toward Trump and his administration for consistently protecting the U.S. borders. "At the same time, we also recognize the importance of providing an opportunity for legal refuge in the United States for those who face religious persecution and encounter death threats in their home countries, including Christian converts who put their lives on the line to follow Christ," Perkins told CP. "As we protect our homeland, we must preserve and utilize effective refugee and asylum programs that protect vulnerable religious believers from repatriation into near certain danger," he added. "This is consistent with President Trump's commitment to elevate religious freedom in American foreign policy." Earlier this year, Article 18, a London-based religious freedom nongovernmental organization, released an annual report chronicling rights violations against Christians in Iran. The report, titled "The Tip of the Iceberg" and released in partnership with Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Middle East Concern, found that Christians in Iran were sentenced to a combined total of 250 years in prison in 2024, a sixfold increase compared to 2023's report. Home News Children's hospital to continue 'gender-affirming care' after judge blocks Trump's executive order A children's hospital in Virginia plans to continue with life-altering interventions for gender dysphoric patients after a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's executive order banning federal funding of institutions that provide surgical and chemical castrations of youth. The Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters had previously suspended what it describes as "gender-affirming care" after Trump issued Executive Order 14187, which called for the withholding of federal funding for institutions that provide such services for children under 19. The hospital has since reevaluated its policy after a federal judge blocked the order last Friday, according to a memo obtained by WAVY-TV. While the hospital plans to proceed with prescribing body-altering drugs and consultations for gender dysphoric patients, it reportedly has never offered sex-change surgeries. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "After careful analysis of the January 28 White House Executive Order as well as subsequent temporary restraining orders issued by courts in Maryland and Washington, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters shares the following update regarding the availability of gender-affirming care," the hospital stated in a release cited by the outlet. The Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. U.S. District Judge Lauren King of the Western District of Washington at Seattle granted a preliminary injunction on Feb. 28 against two of Trump's executive orders. In addition to the order that cracked down on "chemical and surgical mutilation" of children, the judge's ruling addressed Executive Order 14168, also known as "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." EO 14168 defined "sex" as "an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female," adding that it was "not a synonym for and does not include the concept of 'gender identity.'" The order instructed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide the public with "clear guidance expanding on the sex-based definitions set forth in this order" within 30 days of the order being issued. King, a Biden appointee, argued that Trump's executive orders violated "the separation of powers" by assuming Congress' role to "appropriate federal funds and set conditions on their use." The judge argued that the executive orders go against the "Fifth Amendment's equal protection guarantee," claiming it "prohibits the federal government from treating people differently based on sex or transgender status unless the government can establish an 'exceedingly persuasive justification' for doing so and a 'close means-end fit.'" "The [c]ourt's holding here is not about the policy goals that President Trump seeks to advance; rather, it is about reaffirming the structural integrity of the Constitution by ensuring that executive action respects congressional authority," King wrote. King's injunction applies only to medical providers in Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Colorado and three doctors affiliated with the University of Washington School of Medicine, according to The New York Times. These states and the physicians filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the orders last month. In a separate lawsuit, a federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked Trump's executive order halting federal support for so-called "gender-affirming care" for youth under the age of 19. According to the order, "Countless children soon regret that they have been mutilated and begin to grasp the horrifying tragedy that they will never be able to conceive children of their own or nurture their children through breastfeeding." "Moreover, these vulnerable youths' medical bills may rise throughout their lifetimes, as they are often trapped with lifelong medical complications, a losing war with their own bodies, and, tragically, sterilization," EO 14187 continues. Trump issued EO 14187 after some foreign and state governments have reexamined treatment options to find different ways to help children with gender dysphoria. In 2024, the United Kingdom's National Health Service released the "Cass Review" laying out recommendations from the NHS England Policy Working Group regarding practices medical professionals should follow when assisting youth exhibiting gender dysphoria. Dr. Hilary Cass, the retired former president of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health, chaired the review. Cass' report found studies claiming that puberty-blocking drugs help improve the well-being of children suffering from gender dysphoria are of "poor" quality. Following the report, the NHS indefinitely banned the use of puberty-blocking drugs on children who struggle with gender dysphoria except for in clinical trials. Home News JD Vance says Trump aims to build entire southern border wall by 2029 Vice President JD Vance visited the U.S.-Mexico border Wednesday following President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress to highlight the administrations ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and reduce the threat of criminal cartels. The vice president visited the southern border for the first time alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The trio viewed the border town of Eagle Pass, located roughly 100 miles west of San Antonio. "Every single day that we continue to keep this border safe, that means less migrant crime, that means less fentanyl coming into our communities, that means more safety and security for the people of the United States of America," Vance said during the press conference in Eagle Pass, Texas. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to strengthen border security and combat illegal immigration. According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, monthly border crossings reached the lowest point in three years in January. Vance said the Trump administration plans to build a wall along the entire length of the U.S. southern border by the time the president's term concludes. "I think the president's hope is that by the end of the term we build the entire border wall," Vance said. "And of course, that's the physical structure, the border wall itself, but we even heard today, there are so many good technological tools. So many great artificial intelligence-enabled technologies that allow us, for example a camera, not a person, but a camera picks up somebody 2 miles away who's about to come across the southern border. ... We're going to do it as much as we can, as broadly as we can, because that's how we're going to protect the American people's security." Hegseth added, "As President Trump has made clear on the campaign trail and from day one and last night, border security is national security. "And from the Defense Department, we've watched for a couple of decades other people's borders being secured while ours was open for an invasion of drugs, violence and chaos for American communities, the defense secretary added. That stops under President Trump. And the Defense Department has assets that we can bring to bear not just troops, not just surveillance, not just equipment, but actual planning capabilities that enhance what Border Patrol is already doing." As CBS News reported this week, the officials visit to the border comes after the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff on nearly all imported goods from Mexico due to the countrys handling of mass illegal immigration. During a joint session of Congress in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday night, Trump called for Mexico and Canada to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S. "They're going to stop it. I have sent Congress a detailed funding request laying out exactly how we will eliminate these threats to protect our homeland and complete the largest deportation operation in American history, the president said about Mexico and Canada. Trump also highlighted the threat of criminal cartels, which he noted murder, rape, torture and exercise total control over a whole nation" and pose "a grave threat to our national security," Trump asserted that "the cartels are waging war on America." "It's time for America to wage war on the cartels," he asserted. "I have sent Congress a detailed funding request laying out exactly how we will eliminate these threats to protect our homeland and complete the largest deportation operation in American history." Highlighting the problem of illegal immigration that surged under the Biden administration, Trump introduced Alexis Nungaray, whose 12-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, was murdered by two criminal illegal immigrants from Venezuela in June 2024. The president blamed the Biden-Harris administrations open border for the young girls death. "The death of this beautiful 12-year-old girl and the agony of her mother and family touched our entire nation greatly, the president said. Trump announced that he had signed an executive order renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas after Jocelyn Nungaray, recalling his promise to Nungaray that "we would always remember your daughter. The family of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered in 2024 by an illegal migrant, also received recognition from the president. Trump reflected on his signing of the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of all dangerous criminal aliens who threaten public safety." Home News Christian man wins legal battle to reclaim his religious identity Sufyan Masih, a 24-year-old Christian brick kiln worker in Pakistan, has won a legal battle to have his religious identity correctly recognized. His employer had fraudulently registered him as a Muslim on his National Identity Card a few years ago, effectively trapping him in forced labor by withholding his wages and preventing him from returning to his family. The employer falsely claimed to have adopted Masih as justification for the religious conversion on official records, said the legal advocacy group ADF International this week, adding that Masih and his family, who are illiterate, were unaware of the misrepresentation when the registration was made. Masihs case is part of a pattern of religious discrimination in Pakistan, where the National Identity Card system is often weaponized against minorities. Pakistani authorities generally refuse to allow individuals registered as Muslims to change their religious identity, based on the belief that everyone is born Muslim. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Courts and officials have consistently denied such requests, except in cases where an error in records can be proven or when someone converts to Islam. In a May 2024 ruling, civil judge Mian Usman Tariq rejected Masihs petition to be recognized as Christian, citing Islamic teachings that regard all individuals as Muslim at birth. With no other option, Masihs family sought legal assistance from ADF International. On appeal, a civil judge finally ruled in his favor, recognizing that he had been a victim of fraudulent conversion and allowed him to restore his Christian identity on official documents. The victory comes amid growing pressure from the European Union, which has warned Pakistan over its human rights record, including blasphemy laws, forced conversions and systematic targeting of religious minorities. Failure to address these issues could affect Pakistans trade relations with the EU. Tehmina Arora, ADF Internationals director of advocacy for Asia, welcomed the ruling, stating that Masihs case demonstrates how Pakistans laws are used to target Christians. Pakistani authorities make it extremely difficult to stop being a Muslim once you are designated as such, she explained. This presents a major problem for Christians like Sufyan when they are illegally converted to Islam on their identification documents, which is a pervasive problem and egregious violation of religious freedom. We are grateful for the precedent that is set by this victory, and hopeful that it will go on to protect Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan who are unjustly persecuted because of their faith. ADF International lawyers had first taken up Masihs case in September 2022 after Pakistans National Database and Registration Authority repeatedly refused his requests to correct his religious identity and name. During court proceedings, Masihs legal team provided evidence, including his baptism certificate and brought his Christian parents to testify about his faith. Masih himself reaffirmed that he had never been a Muslim and had always practiced Christianity. Despite this, a civil court initially ruled against him in May 2024, denying his request to be recognized as a Christian. ADF International then appealed the verdict in the court of Ahmad Saeed, an additional district judge in Pattoki. In November 2024, Judge Saeed overturned the previous ruling, acknowledging that Masih had been fraudulently converted by his employer. Following this decision, Masih was finally able to update his National Identity Card to reflect his Christian faith. Apostasy is not explicitly criminalized in Pakistans legal code, but it is considered a serious offense under Islamic jurisprudence and can be punished under blasphemy laws. Section 295-A of Pakistans blasphemy statutes imposes up to two years imprisonment for outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens. Masihs legal battle placed him at risk of being labeled an apostate, which could have led to accusations against him or his family under blasphemy laws, despite the fact that he was never a Muslim to begin with. International law protects the right to choose and change ones religion, and Pakistan is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees religious freedom. Pakistans own Constitution, under Article 20, grants citizens the right to profess, practice, and propagate their religion. Home News Pakistanis honor slain lawmaker Shahbaz Bhatti assassinated by Taliban gunmen LAHORE, Pakistan Christian rights activists and church leaders in Pakistan vowed to step up efforts to protect persecuted Christians as they honored the memory of assassinated politician Shahbaz Bhatti on Sunday, the 14th anniversary of his death. Bhatti, an ardent advocate for a diverse, multicultural and multireligious society, was assassinated on March 2, 2011, by Taliban militants outside his mothers home in the country's capital, Islamabad. The Catholic government minister was a vocal critic of the misuse of the blasphemy laws and was known as a champion of religious freedom. He was also instrumental in creating 5% job quotas in government departments for religious minorities. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe His efforts led to the release of the first Christian woman sentenced to death on blasphemy charges, Aasiya Noreen, better known as Asia Bibi. Bibi, sentenced in 2010 after being accused of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad during an argument with a Muslim woman, now resides with her family in Canada. Various events were organized in major cities across Pakistan on March 2 to pay homage to Bhattis visionary and courageous leadership. The participants also lit candles and garlanded Bhattis portraits to express their love for the slain leader. Addressing a ceremony in Faisalabad, Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) Chairman Advocate Akmal Bhatti vowed to continue the struggle launched by Bhatti for justice and religious freedom through socio-political activism. Akmal Bhatti, who was a follower of Bhatti and remained a part of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) headed by the late leader, pledged that they would make renewed efforts to ensure provision of all rights guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan for religious minorities. We are following our leaders vision to empower the vulnerable and marginalized religious minorities, especially Christians, Akmal Bhatti said. He said minorities should be given the right to elect their own representatives in the legislative assemblies so that they can work for the development and progress of their communities more effectively. Today the situation is such that minorities have been pushed into the shadows and are being totally ignored in major national decisions, Bhatti said. There is no minority representation in the recently constituted Judicial Commission of Pakistan, and we have also been overlooked in appointments in the superior judiciary. These recent actions are examples of the governments indifference towards our issues. He condemned the recent rise in religiously-motivated violence and mob attacks in Pakistan, saying he regretted that the government had failed to stop the trend of false blasphemy accusations. Multiple church buildings and homes of Christians in Jaranwala were ransacked by Muslim mobs on Aug. 16, 2023 after two Christian men were falsely accused of blasphemy. Though the government arrested more than 300 suspects, only one remains in custody while all others have been released on bail due to shoddy police investigation and weaknesses in legal prosecution, rights advocates say. It is the governments responsibility to ensure justice for the Jaranwala victims as well to all others who are suffering due to false accusations of blasphemy, Bhatti said. The government should also protect minor girls from the Christian and Hindu community who are targeted with abductions, forced faith conversions and forced marriages on a daily basis. Church of Pakistan Moderator Bishop Azad Marshall termed the late minister a fearless leader and a true son of Pakistan. Shahbaz Bhatti gave his life for a country where law, justice, freedom and equality were principles to be respected and lived, Marshall said at a meeting in Lahore to commemorate the slain politician. The senior church leader lamented that despite Bhatti paying the ultimate sacrifice for his work against abuse of blasphemy laws, the goal of rights, peace and justice for minorities remained elusive. Christians are continuing to face unjust imprisonment based on their faith, Marshall said. Furthermore, extrajudicial killings and mob violence persists, fueled by blasphemy allegations. The lack of action by the Pakistani government exacerbates the challenges faced by our people. Marshall called upon the government to enforce laws that criminalize perjury and false accusations, protect persons accused of blasphemy and unconditionally release religious prisoners of conscience. Member of the Punjab Assembly Ejaz Alam, who has also served as a former minister for human rights and minorities in Punjab, recalled the initiatives Bhatti had taken for the development of religious minorities in a statement to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Bhattis achievements include a 5 percent quota for minorities in government jobs, the first minority seats in the Senate, and a 24-hour minorities helpline, Alam said, adding that the late political leader also had launched a network of district interfaith harmony committees to encourage dialogue and unite communities. Shahbaz Bhatti believed in stopping the abuse of religion as a divisive force and encouraged cooperation between neighbors of different backgrounds and opinions by ushering in interfaith harmony, he said. At this juncture of our history when intolerance and extremism are gradually taking over our society, all Pakistanis will have to rise and raise our voices to counter those who are bent upon destroying the countrys founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnahs vision of a tolerant, progressive, liberal and egalitarian Pakistan, Alam said. Pakistan ranked eighth on Open Doors 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. This article was originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News Home News Pastor sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to stealing $500K from church A former Assemblies of God pastor who pleaded guilty to stealing more than $500,000 from Harrison Faith Church in Arkansas has been sentenced to 17 years of probation, 800 hours of community service and ordered to pay $100,000 of restitution to the church for his crimes. The former pastor, identified as Brian Keith Herring, 49, is also a former city councilman in Harrison. Court records cited by KTLO said Herring was accused of stealing nearly $525,000 from the church in 2021 and was charged with felony counts of theft of property, second degree forgery and tampering with physical evidence. A representative of the church told investigators in 2021 that more than $333,594 was missing from several church accounts and they were unable to access the churchs credit card account or statements associated with the account. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Prosecutors also noted that Herring returned two church phones, a laptop and an iPad which were all factory reset. An audit later revealed that Herring had taken $524,634.24 in credit card purchases and other account transactions. When authorities initially tried contacting Herring at his home, they found it empty and listed for sale. More than a year ago, while working as a staff pastor at the multi-site Brand New Church in Arkansas, Herring claimed the investigation of his credit card use at Harrison Faith Church was instigated by a former close friend who had some sin in his life. I remember when it all changed. I remember it was a board meeting. It was about the time the board was getting ready to elect its new members and I had ... a close friend, in fact, that had some sin in his life and I sat down and I said, 'We need to talk about some things,' he alleged. Herring claimed the friend denied his allegation of sin and was eventually elected to the churchs board. He was elected to be on the board and his heart changed against me, Herring recalled. At that point, and I'll never forget walking up to my close friend at one time with a clipboard as he was trying to get me recalled for an election and he went around to board members, he went to church members, and he was trying to do everything he [could] to have me recalled as the pastor. And I was just like, what is going on, he said. When his former friend couldn't get the support he needed from the board or the congregation to oust him from leadership, Herring said he went to the denominational leadership who removed him on the friends testimony alone. They never called me. They never asked my side of things; they never asked anything. I was ... called to our denominational leadership where I was asked to step down as the lead pastor. We were destroyed, he said of his family. I remember going to my kids, and I remember telling them with tears streaming down my face that we're having to leave the church that they loved, the only church that they ever knew, they grew up in, he said. I remember sitting down and saying things that were being said about our family. ... They're saying we mishandled information. What they did is they basically took every charge on their church credit card that we ever spent and said that it was never approved. And so, they took all that and said that's what he has stolen from the church. Court files reviewed by The Christian Post show that prior to his latest criminal charges, Herring filed three separate bankruptcy cases in Virginia and Missouri beginning in 1995. The last one was in 2008. Home News Students at Harvard, Yale less likely to identify as Protestant compared to regional schools: survey Massive 'God Gap' between liberal, conservative students Is the most significant divide in the religious behavior of American college students not between elite and non-elite institutions, but between political ideologies? Thats the finding of a new survey from statistician and professor Ryaan Burge, who analyzed data from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and found it challenged common perceptions about the disparities in U.S. higher education, particularly at two of the nations most prestigious institutions: Harvard and Yale. Comparing the religious makeup of Harvard and Yale to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIU-E), a regional institution, Burge found just 25% of the student body identified as Protestant, compared to 38% at SIU-E. He attributed the difference at least in part to a larger Catholic presence at Harvard and Yale compared to SIU-E, along with there being a whole lot more Jews, Hindus and Muslims at Harvard. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Even so, Burge said he was surprised by the similarity in non-religious students, observing that the percentage of the student body at Harvard and Yale who identified as atheist or agnostic was 28% the exact same share of students attending SIU-E. Additionally, the percentage who claimed no religion in particular was almost exactly the same in both groups (17% vs. 15%). Its pretty noteworthy that there arent more nones at elite Ivy league institutions, Burge commented. Similarly, Burges broader analysis of selective versus non-selective schools those schools with an acceptance rate either above or below 30% revealed minimal religious differences overall: Protestant and Catholic shares were almost exactly the same, as well as Mormons, Orthodox Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. The exceptions were higher percentages of students identifying as Christian (21% at non-selective vs. 11% at selective) and Jews (7% at selective vs. 3% at non-selective). I think the overwhelming sense I get from this graph is how small the differences are between these two types of institutions, he wrote. About 60% of college students attend religious services no more than twice a year, with one in 10 attending at least once a week, according to the survey. However, when examining political ideology, Burge uncovered what he labeled a God Gap, a massive statistical disparity between liberals and conservatives with regard to attending religious services. A liberal college student is thirty points more likely to be a never attender than a conservative one. Among conservative college students, 32% attend weekly compared to 8% of liberal college students, he wrote. Thats how big the God Gap is about 400% on college campuses. The data, according to Burge, also indicated nearly 60% of liberal students identify as atheist, agnostic or a religious none and that a liberal college student is three times more likely to be non-religious than a conservative one. Let that roll around your brain for a minute, he added. Burge also critiqued the financial disparities between elite and regional schools, expressing frustration with donations to Harvards endowment. What really grinds my gears about Harvard (and others in that stratosphere) is that rich people still write checks to their endowment. Malcolm Gladwell did a podcast episode on this phenomenon and titled it, My Little Hundred Million. If you write a nine figure check to Harvard, they just throw it on the pile. He highlighted Harvards ocean of money endowment, which topped over $53 billion in 2024 and has grown by at least $10 billion since 2021, noting, The Wall Street Journal described Harvard as a hedge fund that has a university, back in 2017. Home News Trump admin. holding secret direct talks with Hamas over hostage release The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has been engaged in secret direct talks with the Hamas terror organization over the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and the possibility of a final agreement to end the war, Axios revealed Wednesday afternoon. The talks were conducted by Trumps hostage envoy Adam Boehler in Doha, Qatar over the past few weeks, Axios reported. The White House later confirmed the existence of the talks, the first direct contact between the U.S. government and Hamas, which the U.S. designated as a terror organization in 1997. In a press briefing, when asked about the Axios story, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Boehler does have the authority to talk to anyone. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe While the talks run counter to longstanding U.S. policy against direct contact with terror organizations, Boehlers talks are believed to have focused on the American-Israeli hostages in Gaza. In her remarks, Leavitt mentioned that there are American lives at stake. Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven that he believes, Leavitt stated. There is one American-Israeli hostage still believed to be alive, Edan Alexander, an IDF soldier taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Four other American-Israeli hostages are believed to be dead: Itay Chen, Gad Haggai, Judi Weinstein and Omer Neutra. In January, a Hamas senior official told The New York Times the terror group was prepared for dialogue with the United States. Were prepared for a dialogue with America and achieving understandings on everything, Mr. Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas political official in Qatar, told the Times. Following the breaking of the Axios story, the Prime Ministers Office released a cryptic statement, saying, "Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas. There are indications that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not happy about the secret talks. An Israeli source familiar with the details told Israel Hayom that "this is a very problematic move, to say the least." However, Israels Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis said the U.S. talks with Hamas are more than welcome if they lead to more pressure on Hamas. They can talk with Hamas, that's OK, Akunis said in an interview with Fox News. I think that the main thing is that President Trump actually changed the whole idea. Instead of putting Israel under pressure, President Trump is putting Hamas under pressure, and this is the right thing to do. So if it's a direct negotiation with Hamas and they put them under pressure to release more hostages, more than welcome, Akunis added. While the Israeli government did not clarify its official stance, a source familiar with the discussions told The Jerusalem Post, The clock is ticking if there is no agreement on the release of more hostages, Israel will return to fighting. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home News Trump drops Biden-era lawsuit against Idaho abortion ban The Trump administration has moved to drop a Biden-era lawsuit against Idaho for a state law that bans abortion in nearly all circumstances. Under former President Joe Biden, the federal government sued Idaho, claiming that its abortion ban violated the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. A stipulation of dismissal filed on Wednesday in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Southern Division, stated that both parties stipulate to the dismissal, without prejudice, of all of the United States claims in this action, each party to bear their own attorneys fees and costs. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Thus, the Courts preliminary injunction in this matter is dissolved, read the court document. The district court loses jurisdiction upon this stipulations filing. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador released a statement Wednesday celebrating the dismissal, saying, there is no conflict between EMTALA and Idahos Defense of Life Act. The goal of each is to save lives in every circumstance, both the mother and their unborn child, stated Labrador. We are grateful that meddlesome DOJ litigation on this issue will no longer be an obstacle to Idaho enforcing its laws. Idaho will continue defending life as intended by the legislature and our people. Deirdre Schifeling, chief political and advocacy officer for the American Civil Liberties Union, released a statement denouncing the dismissal, claiming that the Trump administration would let women die rather than get an abortion. Trump has sided with a radical fringe position that would put doctors who act to save the lives of their patients in jail and supports letting women die rather than access abortion, Schifeling argued. The ACLU will continue to fight at the ballot box, in the courts, and in the streets across the nation to guarantee the fundamental rights of all Americans, including accessing emergency medical care. Litigation over the state law continues, however, as the St. Lukes hospital system that brought a lawsuit earlier this year secured a temporary restraining order to guarantee their ability to perform emergency abortions, CNN reported. In July 2022, shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance stating that EMTALA required hospital emergency staff to perform abortions. The Biden Department of Justice sued Idaho over its abortion ban, which only allowed the procedure if a mother was facing a medical emergency, citing EMTALA as a justification. In September 2023, a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Idaho, overturning a lower court decision in favor of the HHS guidance. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case in April of 2024, with U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar rejecting the claim that the case was about abortion bans in general. "Even states that have sharply restricted access to abortion after Dobbs generally allow exceptions to safeguard the mother's health," Prelogar said. "But Idaho makes termination a felony punishable by years of imprisonment unless it is necessary to prevent the woman's death." In June of last year, the Supreme Court issued a brief per curiam opinion in the case, concluding that it had been improvidently granted, meaning that the high court should not have heard arguments. Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored a concurring opinion, being joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing that the shape of these cases has substantially shifted since we granted certiorari. The parties dispute whether EMTALA requires hospitals to provide abortions or any other treatment forbidden by state law as necessary stabilizing care. They also disagree about whether EMTALA, as a statute enacted under Congress spending power and that operates on private parties, can preempt state law (an issue aired for the first time in this Court), she wrote. In my judgment, it would be imprudent to answer these important questions now. Since this suit began in the District Court, Idaho law has significantly changed twice. And since we granted certiorari, the parties litigating positions have rendered the scope of the dispute unclear, at best. Home News Trump task force targets antisemitism on university campuses; Columbia, Harvard among those facing funding cuts Ten universities are under scrutiny as a new task force has been unleashed to crack down on the unprecedented displays of antisemitism that have plagued U.S. campuses since Oct. 7, 2023. The universities, including Colombia University and Harvard University, could face massive cuts in federal funding, if found to be allowing illegal protests, Trump declared on his Truth Social platform. The U.S. Department of Justice said the task force will meet with university officials, students, staff and local law enforcement to determine whether remedial action is warranted. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In the comprehensive review, it will be determined whether the $5 billion given to Columbia University in federal grant commitments should be halted, given the schools ongoing inaction in the face of relentless harassment of Jewish students," according to The Jewish Chronicle. A joint statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED) and the General Services Administration (GSA) announced the plan on Monday, specifying that the federal governments new Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is considering halting $51.4 million worth in contracts with Columbia University. Last year Columbia University received $1.3 billion in government grants, according to their financial overview for fiscal year 2024. While Columbia has been the site of some of the most extreme scenes of antisemitism, it is by no means the only educational institution that has been beleaguered by pro-terror group protests. All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came, he posted. He warned that while foreign students could expect to have their visas revoked, American students will be permanently expelled or arrested, depending on the crime. He finished by saying, NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter. In response, Columbia University, which has seen some of the more extreme protests and instances of antisemitism, issued a statement on Monday saying that they were reviewing the communication from the federal agencies. The statement from the Ivy League institution continued, Columbia is fully committed to combatting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and we are resolute that calling for, promoting, or glorifying violence or terror has no place at our University. We look forward to ongoing work with the new federal administration to fight antisemitism, and we will continue to make all efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff. According to the Times of Israel, the Columbia announcement came after anti-Israel protesters last week invaded a campus building at Barnard College, which is an affiliate of Columbia, and had injured a university employee. The debacle followed the recent expulsion of some students after they disrupted an Israeli professors class. Laura Ann Rosenbury, president of Barnard College, said the disruption of the Israeli professors class was a calculated act of intimidation, and that protesters have exploited the conflict in the Middle East to try to tear our campus community our Barnard home apart. She reported that the protesters caused $30,000 in damages, but have been identified for the most part despite wearing masks. Linda McMahon, the new secretary of education, has made it clear that such intimidation and hatred on campuses must come to an end. On the day she was sworn into office, she said, Americans have watched in horror for more than a year now, as Jewish students have been assaulted and harassed on elite university campuses repeatedly overrun by antisemitic students and agitators, adding, Unlawful encampments and demonstrations have completely paralyzed day-to-day campus operations, depriving Jewish students of learning opportunities to which they are entitled. McMahon continued: Institutions that receive federal funds have a responsibility to protect all students from discrimination. Columbias apparent failure to uphold their end of this basic agreement raises very serious questions about the institutions fitness to continue doing business with the United States government. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home News Wyoming governor signs bill barring men from women's bathrooms, spaces Wyoming has become the latest state to ban trans-identified males from entering women's spaces in government buildings as a nationwide effort to ensure privacy and safety for women and girls continues. Wyoming's Republican Gov. Mark Gordon signed House Bill 72 into law Monday. The Republican-controlled Wyoming House of Representatives passed the measure in a 52-8 vote on Feb. 7, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in voting against it. The Republican-controlled Wyoming Senate passed the legislation in a 25-6 vote last week, where four Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the bill. The legislation, scheduled to go into effect on July 1, establishes definitions for the terms "male" and "female" that align with an individual's biological sex and requires public facilities to reserve multi-occupancy changing areas, restrooms and sleeping quarters "for use exclusively by males or exclusively by females." It prohibits individuals from entering sex-segregated spaces that do not correspond to their biological sex. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The measure permits the provision of "a reasonable accommodation for a person" while stressing that "a reasonable accommodation shall not include access to a multi-occupancy changing area, restroom, or sleeping quarters designated for the opposite sex." "In each public facility, a person who, while accessing a changing area or restroom designated for use by the person's sex, encounters another person of the opposite sex in the designated changing area or restroom shall have a cause of action against the public facility that" either "provided the other person permission to use a changing area or restroom of the opposite sex" or "failed to take reasonable steps to prohibit the other person from using the changing area or restroom of the opposite sex," the legislation states. The bill also provides a right of action for anyone required by either a "correctional facility" or an "educational facility" to "share sleeping quarters with another person of the opposite sex." Sara Beth Nelson, legal counsel for the religious liberty law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, praised Gordon's approval of House Bill 72 in a statement published Wednesday. "States have a duty to protect the privacy, safety, and dignity of women and girls. Letting men intrude on women's spaces whether at college, in public buildings, or in correctional facilities is an invasion of privacy, a threat to their safety, and a denial of the real biological differences between the two sexes," she said. "By signing this bill into law, Gov. Gordon is protecting women and girls in Wyoming for generations to come," Nelson added. Wyoming has now become the 16th state to enact legislation designed to require trans-identified individuals to use bathrooms and other sex-segregated facilities that align with their biological sex as opposed to their stated gender identity in government-owned buildings in some or all cases. Florida and Utah have laws in place that apply to all government-owned facilities including K-12 schools, colleges and universities. Legislation in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota and Ohio applies to K-12 schools and some other government-owned buildings. Laws on the books in Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia apply to K-12 schools. The presence of trans-identified males in women's spaces has caused safety and privacy concerns for women. In 2023, a group of sorority sisters sued a University of Wyoming sorority for accepting a trans-identified male applicant, saying they were made uncomfortable by the presencse of a male on several occasions. Their lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge in August 2023, ruling that the organization's bylaws don't define who qualifies to be a woman. Female swimmers who had to share a locker room with trans-identified male swimmer Lia Thomas of the University of Pennsylvania due to the athlete's presence on the women's swimming team reported experiencing "extreme discomfort" over having to share an intimate space with someone who still has male genitalia. In Colorado, a school district has faced a lawsuit after a female student was forced to share a bed with a trans-identified male on an overnight school field trip. Earlier this year, a Virginia school district defended its policy allowing individuals to use bathrooms or locker rooms that align with their gender identity after a registered sex offender was able to access a high school girls' locker room. Amie Ichikawa, who runs a nonprofit organization designed to meet the needs of incarcerated women, elaborated on the consequences of allowing trans-identified males in women's prisons at an event hosted by The Christian Post last year titled "Unmasking Gender Ideology." Ichikawa specifically highlighted how "44 male-born individuals" have "been successful in transferring into women's prisons." As a result, she lamented, "babies are being born in custody." Home Opinion Should Christians fast? Mention the word fast today and the conversation might turn to the speed of light, the stride of a cheetah, or someones internet connection. Refusing to eat, however, is usually the furthest thing from our minds. In his book, The Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster says that in a land filled with Golden Arches and pizza temples, it seems strange to talk about fasting. Surprisingly, though, Scripture has much to say about the spiritual benefits of taking a break from food. The practice was so familiar to Jewish believers that they incorporated civic fasts into their New Year celebrations, Day of Atonement observances, and national tragedy commemorations. Though the concept is somewhat foreign to us, it was commonplace in ancient Israel. Fasting appears 75 times in the Bible, with 44 and 31 verses in the Old and New Testaments respectively. Youll find examples of fasts that lasted for three, seven, 14, 21, and 40 days in Gods Word, but the most common was from sunrise to sundown. Moses, David, Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, and Ezra fasted under the Old Covenant. Likewise, John the Baptist, Paul, Barnabas, and Jesus Himself fasted though the Law was fulfilled. The early church continued seeking the Lord in this unique way after Jesus ascended back to Heaven (Acts 13:2-3). Christians throughout history, such as Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Spurgeon, have followed suit as well. Americas founding fathers on the Mayflower spent an entire day fasting and praying before coming ashore. Interestingly, Jesus introduces the subject by assuming that believers of all ages would continue the spiritual custom. He does not say, If you fast ..., but Whenever you fast while discussing the subject in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:16). So, what are the benefits of fasting today? First, fasting helps us to humble ourselves before the Lord. Many have suggested that abstaining from television, social media, or internet surfing can be helpful, and I dont disagree. But nothing reminds us of our constant need of and dependence upon the Lord like refraining from food for a period of time. King David identified fasting as his method for humbling his soul as he sought God. Hunger pains are a physical reminder for us to pray and lay our burdens before our Savior. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Second, fasting enables us to repent of sin and overcome weaknesses. Pride, greed, malice, and self-centeredness seem to melt away when we take time to focus on God apart from the busyness of life. When accompanied with weeping and mourning, fasting is a powerful means of sanctification that breaks the cycle of returning to temptations that plague us (Joel 2:12). Just as the people of Nineveh forsook their transgressions through a national fast and lament, we, too, ought to express genuine repentance through intentional restraint from eating. Third, fasting is also an appropriate method for discerning the will of God. The Apostle Paul went from city to city appointing elders, but only after fasting and praying (Acts 14:23). Identifying Gods direction and pursuing it with diligence often only comes after the focus that accompanies this spiritual discipline. If you have a big decision ahead, you should definitely consider a fast. Finally, fasting fosters greater intimacy with the Lord, unleashing His presence in our lives. Replacing time typically devoted to food preparation and consumption with increased focus on prayer and fellowship with God invites Him into our lives in a unique way. No wonder a widow privileged to see the baby Jesus in the temple prioritized fasting just as she did prayer (Luke 2:37). Anyone longing to experience God in fresh way will benefit from this sacred act of devotion. How we fast, though, is just as important as our commitment to do so. To avoid hypocrisy, Jesus implored Christians to avoid drawing attention to themselves by altering their appearance (Matt. 6:16). Pharisees were notorious for fashioning old clothing, covering their heads in ashes, and wearing painful looks on their faces so that others would notice or ask if they were fasting. Such self-promotion defeats the purpose of seeking God in the first place. Thus, Jesus instructs genuine believers to anoint their heads and wash their faces in order to avoid being noticed by others (Matt. 6:16-17). Make themselves presentable, in other words. Those who trumpet and parade their good works lose their reward as soon as the attention and applause of men stops. Practically, consulting with your physician before an extended fast is always a good idea. In addition, a number of great resources, such as Ronnie Floyds The Supernatural Power of Prayer and Fasting, offer helpful guidance about the ins and outs of what to expect as you proceed. Be sure to devote extra time for prayer and Scripture reading during your fast. Why not start preparing today? In a landmark move for Saudi Arabias digital economy, Huawei Cloud and Zain KSA have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate cloud adoption and digital transformation across industries. Signed at MWC Barcelona 2025, this collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabias Cloud-First policy and underscores both companies commitment to advancing cloud technologies in the Kingdom. Huawei showcased cutting-edge advancements at MWC, reaffirming its 5G, AI, and cloud computing leadership. The company introduced next-generation cloud solutions for scalability, security, high-performance computing (HPC), and AI-driven services that optimize business operations. Huawei Clouds latest offerings highlight its focus on sovereign cloud solutions, ensuring data compliance and security while delivering seamless AI-powered services. These innovations set the stage for the newly announced partnership with Zain KSA, reinforcing the Kingdoms ambitions for digital transformation. Under the agreement, Huawei Cloud will provide advanced cloud services, AI-powered tools, and comprehensive technical support. At the same time, Zain KSA will play a pivotal role in delivering these solutions to businesses. This ensures that organizations in Saudi Arabia can seamlessly integrate cloud computing into their digital transformation strategies, fostering a more competitive and innovative business environment. Abonati-va sa primiti pe email saptamanal lista articolelor adaugate pe parcursul saptamanii. Adresele .ru nu sunt acceptate. Email NEWSLETTER Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has established a charitable foundation with a focus on equity to empower children and young people. JLR has pledged up to 2.5m to support the newly established JLR charitable foundations work in its first year with plans to increase funds annually as the foundation grows. The foundation will use the funds to award grants to charitable organisations that benefit children and young people through initiatives that further their skills and knowledge and reduce inequalities by providing opportunities to the disadvantaged. In the UK, JLRs science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) ambassador programme has reached over 100,000 students with support from JLR employees, including JLR board members. JLR China recently celebrated 10 years of its flagship youth programme, the countrys first automotive charity fund dedicated to youth. It has invested almost 12m to the fund to date, including rebuilding a rural school destroyed by an earthquake. In Brazil, it is set to launch a new socioenvironmental educational programme this year to provide science classes for children in the rural communities near JLRs plant. Todays young minds are tomorrows engineers Andrea Debbane, chief sustainability officer of JLR and JLR foundation trustee, said: We have a long history of innovation, transformation and creating aspirational products because of the talented people who work and thrive in our business. Todays young minds are tomorrows engineers, designers and innovators. And they are the leaders and creators of our future society. We want to help unlock aspiration and potential in all children and young people, many of whom miss out because they dont know opportunities exist, or they dont have the selfbelief or means to try. By removing barriers and providing access to the right skills, knowledge and opportunities, they can all play their part in building an exceptional and sustainable future. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, By Jess rodriguez/ Adobe Recently, the evolving social media landscape has left many charities feeling conflicted about how best to use their accounts to continue connecting with both others in the sector and the general public. Charities once simply used social media as a tool to spread awareness of their cause and engage directly with beneficiaries, funders and each other. However, changes to how these platforms combat hate, vitriol and misinformation as well as their increasingly controversial owners have caused some charities to rethink how best to support their often vulnerable communities. Since the summer, a growing number of charities have left the likes of X , formerly known as Twitter, either in favour of alternative platforms like Bluesky or LinkedIn, or by reducing their social media presence altogether. Misinformation leaving charities in the dark Worryingly, some charities have become targets of misinformation on social media. An especially notable recent example was the Welsh Refugee Council, which was forced to shut down its X account and contact police after it received a hostile backlash to a video reposted by Elon Musk, which was wrongly attributed to the charity. Meanwhile, BBC Media Action was made to emphasise its independence from the national broadcaster after Musk reposted a claim that the United States government funds the BBC through its international development agency USAID. Jay Kennedy, director of policy and research at the Directory of Social Change, wrote in a recent blog post that more needs to be done by the government and the Charity Commission to protect charities from the surge in online witch hunts. One change that has been made recently is that Ofcom, best known as the broadcasting watchdog, additionally became the online safety regulator in 2023, with the aim of making online services safer for users. Meanwhile, a commission spokesperson tells Civil Society that while it will help trustees within its remit, charities should report any threatening behaviour to the police. A mass X-odus? Charities of all sizes have left X since the US elections in November 2024, when Musk, the platform owner and worlds richest man, played a prominent role in Donald Trumps re-election as president. Some of the more well-known sector organisations to leave include Mind, Woodland Trust, Race Equality Foundation, Refugee Action, Care International UK and umbrella body ACEVO. For Mind, which had over 506,000 X followers, leaving in January this year was about prioritising the safety of its online community and the staff monitoring its account, as well as maximising its outreach and engagement on other, less algorithm-focused platforms. Gabrielle Taylor, interim associate director of communications at Mind, tells Civil Society: The decision to leave a channel we had spent many years building was incredibly difficult. However, it was based on ongoing analysis of the reach, engagement and impact of our social media channels. The data and real-time evidence showed that X is no longer the right place for us to achieve the things we know we need to achieve. Thats why we made the strategic decision to focus our energy and resources on channels that maximise impact and engagement with new and existing audiences. Alongside the data we also have an obligation to keep all our beneficiaries and supporters who follow us, and our own staff who are moderating social media channels, safe. Smaller charities, too, are making the leap. The east London branch of national brain injury support charity, Headway, which previously had more than 4,000 followers on X, announced that it would be leaving the platform last month; instead, it has migrated over to Bluesky. A spokesperson tells Civil Society: We are watching closely as platforms change their policies, not often in favour of our core values of respect, diversity and inclusion. We want to engage meaningfully with our audience, in spaces where people feel welcomed and valued. As always, were committed to raising awareness of brain injury and celebrating the richness and diversity of our community. Taking a different approach Rather than leaving X altogether, some organisations are opting to scale back on their activity on the platform and use others more instead. Among them is Charity Comms, the membership organisation for charity communications professionals. The organisation has said that it now plans to share a round-up thread once a week on X to update members who are still on the platform, with a pinned post on our profile sharing where to find more regular updates from them. Natalie Corlett, the organisations communications and engagement manager, tells Civil Society: In the background, we are downloading the data we need, to enable us to remove premium access on X, and running monitoring exercises to check where members are and how they engage with us. We will continue to review and adapt our approach as required to best support our members. Bluesky flatlining? For charities that have made the decision to leave X, finding an alternative platform is difficult, seeing as its rivals Instagram and Facebook, owned by Mark Zuckerbergs Meta, have also changed how they combat misinformation . Enter: Bluesky. Prior to 2024, it was something of an outsider in the social media landscape, having started life as a research initiative of Twitter, back in 2019. Since then, however, Bluesky, which severed ties with its parent platform when Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, opened to the general public in February and has grown to more than 25 million users. Yet, despite making waves towards the end of last year, the buzz surrounding Bluesky seems to have plateaued. Only around 300 charities have active Bluesky accounts, according to charity communications expert Madeleine Sugden, while over 100 charities have dormant accounts. As Sugden noted in a blog post on the subject: Many of the accounts which have been set up, are dual publishing to X and Bluesky. Theyre not necessarily mirror-publishing. Most are still focusing on X, occasionally posting the same content to Bluesky. Sugden goes on to note that none of the top 10 most popular charities in the UK, according to YouGov in 2024, have left X, and only a handful have active Bluesky accounts. Speaking to Civil Society, Sugden says that the number of charities on Bluesky feels like its flatlined. We had this big growth in the autumn. I had expected it to go even bigger around the inauguration, but it hasnt. Sugden says she thought that Minds move from X to Bluesky would lead to the domino effect of more charities switching, but that similarly failed to materialise. As a sector, we need to embrace it to make it good, or its not going to be as good as it could be, she adds. LinkedIn renaissance? Some charities are opting instead to increase engagement on LinkedIn instead. The professional networking platform had 1.8 billion users by the end of 2024, an increase of over 100 million on the previous year. Its nature as a platform dedicated solely to professionals has appealed to many charities seeking to avoid the stream of misinformation that often proliferates on other, mixed-purpose social media platforms. Corlett from Charity Comms says: LinkedIn made the most sense to us as our new primary channel and we are seeing increasing engagement and followers as charity professionals spend more time there for important sector discussions. However, Corlett also adds that they are equally excited about channels like Bluesky and what they might hold for the charity comms community as they build momentum as an X alternative. Looking forwards As charities look to the future and to a social media landscape that is likely to become only more unpredictable more organisations may leave particular social media platforms in favour of others, scale back on their usage, or decide to stay put. But, as we have seen, these platform and their owners are ever-evolving. Might there even be a future where charities start reducing social media activity altogether in favour of alternatives, like more in-person connections? Sugden says she would like to see this, yet she acknowledges that its much more difficult to do this in practice. Weve created these spaces that were very dependent on and weve become vulnerable, she says. We cant really exist without having that real-time comms place. Were not all in the same place, talking about the same stuff. We need more cohesion. If bad stuff happens in the future, we need somewhere to communicate that. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, By Song_about_summer / Adobe The UK has a strong tradition of charitable giving driven by public goodwill towards charities. In 2023 alone, the UK public donated an estimated 13.9bn , despite the financial hardship many households are facing. This collective generosity, which enables the work of thousands of charities, relies on a culture of responsible and respectful fundraising practice. One of the main methods through which charities engage with potential donors is via electronic communications. The government is currently updating existing legislation with the data (use and access) bill , which will make it easier for charities to contact members of the public by e-mail and text message. Charities will be able to send direct marketing emails to individuals who have previously engaged with the charity, or have expressed an interest in their charitable purposes, using a so-called soft opt-in provision. This contrasts with obtaining explicit consent for each communication. Charities have understandably welcomed the forthcoming provision with enthusiasm as it will empower them to strengthen relationships with supporters and facilitate greater fundraising. The Data and Marketing Association estimates that the new rule could increase annual donations to charities by an 290m a year . The potential to generate more income in a challenging economic environment will inevitably be an exciting prospect for many charities. However, its of the utmost importance that fundraisers approach this new opportunity with caution and use the soft opt-in option responsibly when it is implemented later this year. Protecting public trust in charities The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has stressed that fundraisers will need to think carefully about how they balance the right to contact people against the publics rights and freedoms. Charities should remember that just because they can use soft opt-in, it will not always be appropriate to do so. For example, contacting someone who has previously sought confidential support, and whose details are therefore on a charitys database could potentially cause significant distress or even harm. Being sensitive to peoples feelings, individual circumstances and potential vulnerabilities will be paramount. Many of us remember the poor fundraising behaviour and techniques which led to the creation of the Fundraising Regulator in 2016 . This included aggressive fundraising tactics employed by charities, such as excessive pressure placed on donors through high volumes of direct marketing, inadequate respect of vulnerable individuals, and the unlawful sharing of data. Charities and those working within them will often have the best intentions, but this alone will not avoid bad outcomes. Fundraisers will need to exercise caution and constant vigilance to avoid inadvertently engaging in behaviour that risks causing harm and damaging the valued public trust and confidence that charities rely on. Use responsibly The data (use and access) bill is currently making its way through the Commons and is expected to be implemented following parliamentary approval later this year. We will be working closely with the ICO and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIoF) to produce guidance to help charities and fundraisers understand the new rules and use the provision responsibly as part of their broader GDPR obligations. Ahead of this, there are a few things the sector can be doing in preparation for soft opt-in. All fundraising organisations should review the data they already hold and make sure there is an internal discussion about the future use of soft opt-in. Charities should check the consents they hold and in particular where they rely on legitimate interest now to contact supporters. They will still need to assess whether it will be appropriate in future to use the soft opt-in provision in electronic communications. We run the Fundraising Preference Service (FPS), which enables people to manage direct marketing communications from registered charities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are sent by addressed mail, emails, text messages or phone calls. As charities start to use soft opt-in we will be monitoring the use of the FPS to see if theres significant changes in use and volumes of requests. We will update the information we provide to the public to clarify that contacting potential supporters without explicit consent will be permissible when the new law is implemented. The sector will also need to make a concerted effort to raise public awareness of the new provision and how it might lead to a legitimate increase in marketing from charities. Well be keeping a close eye on the bills passage through parliament and will update the sector on developments in the coming months. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, The UK arm of the UN Refugee Agency, has launched a Ramadan appeal to support refugees worldwide amid global funding uncertainty. UK for UNHCR is raising funds for its Refugee Zakat Fund, entitled Born Connected. The appeal comes at a time when global funding remains uncertain, with the US having recently had its foreign aid paused by president Trump and the UK's foreign aid budget being slashed by prime minister Keir Starmer, amid heavy criticism from the charity sector . The appeal aims to strengthen connections between Muslims in the UK and displaced families worldwide while raising vital funds to support refugees, and is supported by a portrait series spotlighting UK-based Muslims who share why they give their Zakat to help refugees, and the impact they hope to make. The Refugee Zakat Fund provides critical support in countries including Yemen, Somalia, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Bangladesh and Iraq, ensuring displaced families have access to food, shelter, healthcare, and education. Endorsed by 17 Islamic institutions worldwide, the fund ensures that 100% of Zakat donations are given directly to refugee families in need. Zakat contributions support more than 474,000 refugees Earlier this week, UNHCR released its latest annual Islamic Philanthropy Report , which highlighted the growing role of Zakat and Sadaqah in supporting refugees and displaced families. In 2024, the report revealed that Zakat contributions helped more than 474,000 refugees and displaced people across 22 countries. Since its 2017 launch, UNHCRs Refugee Zakat Fund has supported over 8.9 million people in 31 countries, according to the report. Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, said: "We are deeply grateful to all those who have placed their trust in the Refugee Zakat Fund, including our valued donors and partners. Their generosity and collaboration have enabled us to expand the impact of our efforts, providing life-saving support to millions of displaced families. Muslim communities across the UK have been a shining example of compassion and solidarity. Through your Zakat and donation, we send a powerful message to refugees and displaced families: no matter the distance, they are not alone. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. In 1981in the wake of the Iran hostage crisis, an attack on the United States embassy in Tehran, which Time magazine described as a disaster of mutual incomprehensionEdward Said published Covering Islam, an examination of how Western media represents, and mishandles, Muslim life and imagery. News, he wrote, is less an inert given than the result of a complex process of usually deliberate selection and expression. Decades later, as Donald Trump returned to White House, and began to flood the zone, Muslim Americans could feel the significance of Saids observation in the course of daily news consumptionthrough the selection of stories and framing, and their impact. Over the course of his time in politicsand well before that, as a real estate developerTrump has shown a knack for directing the attention of the press, in part by giving a name to something that imbues it with a sense of novelty, or shock. Lately, he has done so by unleashing a spate of executive orders targeting immigrants, including one against invasion and another protecting the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats. The press has responded to the deluge of announcements in kind, raising alarm that grants credence to Trumps premise, as in the Washington Posts Inside Trumps immigration crackdown, CNNs 7 big questions about Trumps immigration crackdown, and ABCs Trumps immigration crackdown ripples across the US. These stories have proliferated even though the Trump administration has been, on average, deporting people at a slower rate than Joe Biden did during the last year of his presidency. To cover the news this way allows Trump ownership of the story, rather than connecting the latest developments to precedent. The best example of Trumps ability to infuse familiar policy with news interest may have come during his first term, with the so-called Muslim ban circa January 2017. Rowaida Abdelaziz, an investigative journalist who covers Muslim communities, reported extensively on the impact of the policywhich she viewed not as a breaking story, but as part of a long history of the government trying to stop people from entering the United States from Muslim-majority countries. Those efforts crescendoed after 9/11, with a series of laws and programsconcerning everything from excessive travel screenings to surveillancethat discriminated against Muslims in the name of national security. Members of both parties were involved: George W. Bush deported thousands of Muslim men, without evidence of terrorist activities; the program continued under most of Barack Obamas term. It shape-shifts, presenting itself in the form of surveillance or travel bans, Abdelaziz said, of anti-Muslim policy. When having these conversations, its so important to remember the historical context when were discussing present-day impact. At the start of this year, when Trump returned to office, Muslim-ban coverage resurged: This version is quieter, sneakier, and more dangerous than the one we all remember, per The Nation. According to Vox, Trumps first travel ban was overturned in court in 2017. His legal strategy may be savvier this time around. Reuters reported, US civil rights groups are warning that an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday lays the groundwork for reinstatement of a ban on travelers from predominantly Muslim or Arab countries. Embedded in these stories has been a sense of Trump as a singular figurean especially vitriolic one, now with extra legal know-hownot an extension of anything that predates him. To Eman Abdelahdi, a scholar at the University of Chicago who studies Muslim communities in the United States, the result is coverage lacking in texture, which fuels misunderstanding of the Muslim American experience. There is a liberal voter whos only really roused by inappropriate speech, but not really roused by the same policies if they come from a Democrat, she said. The Biden administration extended policies targeting migrants from Muslim-majority countries, she noted, but the response from the press was comparatively muted when viewed next to what has been published since Trumps inauguration. During the same period, anti-Muslim hate crimes skyrocketed. Rokhaya Dialloa writer and filmmaker who is a prominent voice on race in Francebelieves that Trumps policies must be situated within a broader intellectual framework that aims to justify Islamophobia. This Great Replacement theorythe idea that immigrants would take over and invade the United Statesactually originates from European supremacist intellectual circles, she said. She noted Trumps expression of admiration for Emmanuel Macrons migration policies during a state visit in 2018, and Steve Bannons ties to far-right parties in Europe. Trump is also the product of an international context where ideas are born and circulate on both sides of the Atlantic. Connecting the dots is key. A good story isnt just the cause and effect, but its following who in the White House has ties with anti-Muslim groups, which world leaders are whispering in the presidents ear, and tracking how federal agencies are disproportionately targeting Muslim movements, Abdelaziz said. These are just some examples of how I have coveredand how more journalists need to report more critically when it comes to Muslim animus under a Trump administration. Sign up for CJRs daily email This article was produced with support from the Round Earth Media program of the International Womens Media Foundation. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Prosecutors in California said Thursday that they are not going to pursue a criminal case against Dilan Gohill, the Stanford student journalist who was arrested while covering a pro-Palestinian campus protest and occupation of the university presidents office last June. Gohill had faced allegations of burglary, vandalism, and conspiracyall felonies. He was never formally charged, even though Stanfords provost and then-president had publicly urged the Santa Clara County district attorney to prosecute the teenager. The case raised concerns among press and civil liberties groups about how authorities should handle a journalist who is caught up in a lawbreaking event. This Office supports a free press and recognizes that the law gives reporters latitude to do their jobs in keeping the public informed, District Attorney Jeff Rosen stated. We have no evidence that this student did anything other than cover this event as a journalist. The office added that it is still completing its review of the conduct of the twelve protesters who were also arrested and faced similar allegations. During the incident, protesters inside the building broke doorframes and furniture, while those outside spray-painted the sandstone walls of the universitys historic Main Quad with slogans like DE@TH 2 ISR@HELL and PIGS TASTE BEST DEAD. The university estimated the cost to repair the damage at more than $700,000, prosecutors said. Gohill, now a sophomore, got confirmation of the decision Thursday as he was exiting a class, The World and America. No journalist should ever have to endure a nine-month-long threat to their academic, social, and professional future for simply doing their job, he said. The university and prosecutors all allowed the possibility of multiple felonies to hang over my head. Im glad they finally realized that journalism is not a crime. Max Szabo, an attorney and spokesman for Gohill, was likewise both relieved by the decision and unhappy about the time it took to resolve. This case was not a close call, he said. Mr. Gohill has lived under threat of these charges for a full nine months since the incident was captured on camera. He was especially critical of the universitys Department of Public Safety, which he said waited too long before turning its investigation over to prosecutorssomething he said should be viewed as suspicious, incompetent, or both. When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Stanford said that it was the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office that needed to determine how to proceed with this case based on the evidence assembled, and we respect their decision in this matter. Sign up for CJRs daily email The decision comes nine months after Gohill, then nineteen and a freshman reporter for the Stanford Daily, was handcuffed and jailed while covering the predawn break-in and occupation of Building 10, where the Stanford presidents office is located. A story about his arrest and the journalistic issues surrounding it appeared in CJR last December. By most accountsincluding contemporaneous Slack messages as well as interviews with protesters and Daily staffersGohill was there to report on the demonstration, not to participate in it. He had been covering campus protests for months, was in touch with his newsroom colleagues when he heard about the protest the night before, and, that morning, was wearing a Stanford Daily sweatshirt and press badge. While he was in the building, he sent live feeds and photographs to his editors on the outside. But when sheriffs deputies arrived a few hours after the occupation began, they arrested everyone, including Gohill. That surprised his editors, who thought his press credentials would protect him. It also surprised protesters, who didnt see him as being part of their movement. Dilans not with us! they told officers, according to Gohill and another witness. Gohill spent the next twelve hours in jail, until his mother mustered the money to cover his $20,000 bail. University officials soon allowed Gohill to return to campusthe protesters were suspended for longer periodsbut they also urged prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against him. We believe that the Daily reporter who was arrested inside the building acted in violation of the law and University policies and fully support having him be criminally prosecuted, read a June 7 letter from provost Jenny Martineza former Stanford Law deanand then-president Richard Saller. They stated that they did not think Gohills rights as a reporter have been violated in this instance. Press groups and alumniincluding some who used to work at the Dailypushed back. Shortly after the arrest, twenty-four organizations, ranging from the ACLU of Northern California to the National Press Photographers Association, sent prosecutors a letter stating that Gohill was a journalist reporting on breaking news who lacked the requisite intent for the crimes he is accused of committing. Even as the case languished for months, Stanford wanted prosecutors to pursue it. When CJR asked in late November about Gohills criminal liability, spokeswoman Luisa Rapport responded that the universitys position has not changed and remains the same as stated in the [June] letter. But the university would, in fact, soon alter its stance. In a mid-December interview with the Daily, ten days after the CJR story was published, Stanfords new president backed off from his predecessors aggressive tack. Asked if Gohill should be prosecuted, Jonathan Levin responded, The university doesnt have a position on that. And the next month, Stanford officials dropped the internal disciplinary case against Gohill altogether. We looked at the evidence regarding this particular student and his behaviorand we decided that we do not have evidence that he should be criminally charged, Sean Webby, communications director for the district attorney, told CJR on Thursday. We were looking to see if he was acting as a protester or as a journalist. The evidence that we had was that he was acting as a journalist. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Last year, concerns about online content creators displacing traditional journalists appeared to reach a fever pitch. A Pew Research Center survey found that 37 percent of eighteen- to twenty-nine-year-olds and 26 percent of thirty- to forty-nine-year-olds in the US regularly got news from news influencers. Another survey, by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, revealed that on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, legacy news organizations were struggling to compete for attention with a range of so-called online influencers, creators, and assorted personalities, as well as smaller, alternative outlets and ordinary people. Meanwhile, according to Gallup, 36 percent of US adults reported having no trust at all in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly. At the same time, both the Biden and Trump teams granted influencers press credentials and exclusive interviews, further legitimizing their role in the media ecosystem and spiking fears among those in the traditional media that they were facing an existential threat. However, recent months have shown growing recognition among some traditional journalists of the value in viewing their relationship with so-called influencers as complementary or collaborative, rather than competitive. Liz Kelly Nelson, a former VP for Vox.com who now runs Project Ca newsletter supporting, amplifying, and normalizing independent content-creator model journalismhas advocated taking creator-journalists seriously. Rather than dismissing influencers wholesale as incompatible with traditional journalistic values, she encourages a nuanced view of the spectrum of different kinds of news-adjacent content creators. Nelson recently published a map of the current news ecosystem in which she made the distinction between creator-model journalistsindependent journalists producing original work using core journalistic principles (such as Taylor Lorenz, Marisa Kabas, and Bisan Owda)and news influencers, who by her definition are online personalities who deliver takes, more akin to the opinion section of internet news (like Joe Rogan, Theo Von, and Hasan Piker). In a January edition of her newsletter titled Who gets to be called a journalist in 2025? Nelson asked: What if, instead of gatekeeping, we focused on building a bigger, more inclusive definition of journalismone that embraces the new voices shaping the future of news? She argued that values like tradition, training, and credibility still matterbut trust is earned differently by creator-model journalists. Rather than viewing influencers as threats to journalisms survival, Nelson encourages the traditional press to learn from them and reflect on how the industry might evolve alongside changing audience behaviors. Edward Hurcombe, a lecturer in public relations at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, noted in his paper on newsfluencers, published in September, that these creators authentic, personable, and transparent approaches could help make journalism more relevant and accessible to younger audiences disengaged with conventional news. However, he also acknowledged potential conflicts: newsfluencers authentic style can conflict with traditional journalistic notions of detached objectivity, he wrote, and bad actors might exploit the trust they build with their audiences for political and monetary gain. But these issues are not specific to any particular platform. Rather than focusing on the medium, Nelson argues for defining what fact-based information looks like and advancing those standards across platforms. Given that traditional training or career pathways in journalism are inaccessible to many, embracing creator-model journalists could help to diversify both the press corps and the audiences it reaches. Music journalist Sean Adams wrote for his September newsletter that the rise of influencers and content creators isnt just a trend; its a fundamental shift in how stories are told and who gets to tell them. While the often pale, male, and stale old guard may resist, the democratization of the media has the potential to breathe new life into journalismmaking it more inclusive, diverse, and reflective of the audiences it serves. In some ways, the work of content creators and conventional journalists isnt fundamentally all that different. In his 2021 Nieman Lab prediction, Adweek senior media reporter Mark Stenberg recognized the shared struggle: Though we like to consider ourselves distinct by [dint] of our crafts supposedly elevated calling, journalists are really just creators by a different name. We all create content designed for consumption on the internet; we all cultivate a niche and then work to make ourselves indispensable to it; and we all make use of tools and platforms that turn our skill sets into revenue. Hurcombe similarly argues that the conditions of newsfluencers reflect problems endemic to the news industry, such as individualized and precarious labor amid an increasingly partisan and platformized news culture. Sign up for CJRs daily email Recognizing these common goals and challenges, some publishers have been taking steps to foster collaborations. The American Press Institute, working with the Knight Election Lab, has been studying ideas, concerns, and processes for effective partnerships with influencers, defined as a trusted community messenger with a platform on or off social media. Last month, the organization published resources to help news publishers navigate such collaborations, including an ethical road map as well as contract guidelines and templates. And last week, Adriana Lacy, who runs a consulting firm for publishers, launched Influencer Journalism, a platform dedicated to merging traditional journalism with the world of digital influencers, offering services such as influencer partnership matching and management, as well as short-form-video consulting and production support. Embracing, rather than resisting, elements of creator-model journalism could point a path forward for engaging audiences and rebuilding trust with disaffected news audiences. As Diane Sylvester wrote in Editor and Publisher on Tuesday, as the media landscape continues to change, collaboration between traditional journalists and content creators is emerging as a way forward. Traditional outlets can learn from influencers audience engagement strategies, while creators benefit from established journalistic practices. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. AI search tools are rapidly gaining in popularity, with nearly one in four Americans now saying they have used AI in place of traditional search engines. These tools derive their value from crawling the internet for up-to-date, relevant informationcontent that is often produced by news publishers. Yet a troubling imbalance has emerged: while traditional search engines typically operate as an intermediary, guiding users to news websites and other quality content, generative search tools parse and repackage information themselves, cutting off traffic flow to original sources. These chatbots conversational outputs often obfuscate serious underlying issues with information quality. There is an urgent need to evaluate how these systems access, present, and cite news content. Building on our previous research, the Tow Center for Digital Journalism conducted tests on eight generative search tools with live search features to assess their abilities to accurately retrieve and cite news content, as well as how they behave when they cannot. We found that Chatbots were generally bad at declining to answer questions they couldnt answer accurately, offering incorrect or speculative answers instead. Premium chatbots provided more confidently incorrect answers than their free counterparts. Multiple chatbots seemed to bypass Robot Exclusion Protocol preferences. Generative search tools fabricated links and cited syndicated and copied versions of articles. Content licensing deals with news sources provided no guarantee of accurate citation in chatbot responses. Our findings were consistent with our previous study, proving that our observations are not just a ChatGPT problem, but rather recur across all the prominent generative search tools that we tested. Methodology We systematically tested eight generative search tools: OpenAIs ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Perplexity Pro, DeepSeek Search, Microsofts Copilot, xAIs Grok-2 and Grok-3 (beta), and Googles Gemini. We chose 20 news publishers with varying stances on AI access that either permit search bots web crawlers via robots.txt, or block them. (The Robot Exclusion Protocol, also known as robots.txt, is a web standard that gives website publishers the option to disallow web crawlersautomated programs that systematically browse the internet to discover and retrieve content.) Some of the publishers we included are involved in content licensing or revenue share agreements with the AI companies, while others are pursuing lawsuits against them. We randomly selected ten articles from each publisher, then manually selected direct excerpts from those articles for use in our queries. After providing each chatbot with the selected excerpts, we asked it to identify the corresponding articles headline, original publisher, publication date, and URL, using the following query: We deliberately chose excerpts that, if pasted into a traditional Google search, returned the original source within the first three results. We ran sixteen hundred queries (twenty publishers times ten articles times eight chatbots) in total. We manually evaluated the chatbot responses based on three attributes: the retrieval of (1) the correct article, (2) the correct publisher, and (3) the correct URL. According to these parameters, each response was marked with one of the following labels: Correct: All three attributes were correct. Correct but Incomplete: Some attributes were correct, but the answer was missing information. Partially Incorrect: Some attributes were correct while others were incorrect. Completely Incorrect: All three attributes were incorrect and/or missing. Not Provided: No information was provided. Crawler Blocked: The publisher disallows the chatbots crawler in its robots.txt. Chatbots responses to our queries were often confidently wrong Overall, the chatbots often failed to retrieve the correct articles. Collectively, they provided incorrect answers to more than 60 percent of queries. Across different platforms, the level of inaccuracy varied, with Perplexity answering 37 percent of the queries incorrectly, while Grok 3 had a much higher error rate, answering 94 percent of the queries incorrectly. Most of the tools we tested presented inaccurate answers with alarming confidence, rarely using qualifying phrases such as it appears, its possible, might, etc., or acknowledging knowledge gaps with statements like I couldnt locate the exact article. ChatGPT, for instance, incorrectly identified 134 articles, but signaled a lack of confidence just fifteen times out of its two hundred responses, and never declined to provide an answer. With the exception of Copilotwhich declined more questions than it answeredall of the tools were consistently more likely to provide an incorrect answer than to acknowledge limitations. Premium models provided more confidently incorrect answers than their free counterparts Premium models, such as Perplexity Pro ($20/month) or Grok 3 ($40/month), might be assumed to be more trustworthy than their free counterparts, given their higher cost and purported computational advantages. However, our tests showed that while both answered more prompts correctly than their corresponding free equivalents, they paradoxically also demonstrated higher error rates. This contradiction stems primarily from their tendency to provide definitive, but wrong, answers rather than declining to answer the question directly. The fundamental concern extends beyond the chatbots factual errors to their authoritative conversational tone, which can make it difficult for users to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate information. This unearned confidence presents users with a potentially dangerous illusion of reliability and accuracy. Platforms retrieved information from publishers that had intentionally blocked their crawlers Five of the eight chatbots tested in this study (ChatGPT, Perplexity and Perplexity Pro, Copilot, and Gemini) have made the names of their crawlers public, giving publishers the option to block them, while the crawlers used by the other three (DeepSeek, Grok 2, and Grok 3) are not publicly known. We expected chatbots to correctly answer queries related to publishers that their crawlers had access to, and to decline to answer queries related to websites that had blocked access to their content. However, in practice, that is not what we observed. In particular, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Perplexity Pro exhibited unexpected behaviors given what we know about which publishers allow them crawler access. On some occasions, the chatbots either incorrectly answered or declined to answer queries from publishers that permitted them to access their content. On the other hand, they sometimes correctly answered queries about publishers whose content they shouldnt have had access to; Perplexity Pro was the worst offender in this regard, correctly identifying nearly a third of the ninety excerpts from articles it should not have had access to. Surprisingly, Perplexitys free version correctly identified all ten excerpts from paywalled articles we shared from National Geographic, even though the publisher has disallowed Perplexitys crawlers and has no formal relationship with the AI company. Although there are other means through which the chatbots could obtain information about restricted content (such as through references to the work in publicly accessible publications), this finding suggests that Perplexitydespite claiming that it respects robots.txt directivesmay have disregarded National Geographics crawler preferences. Developer Robb Knight and Wired both reported evidence of Perplexity ignoring the Robot Exclusion Protocol last year. (Neither National Geographic nor Perplexity responded to our requests for comment.) Similarly, Press Gazette reported this month that the New York Times, despite blocking Perplexitys crawler, was the chatbots top-referred news site in January, with 146,000 visits. While ChatGPT answered fewer questions about articles that blocked its crawlers compared with the other chatbots, overall it demonstrated a bias toward providing wrong answers over no answers. Among the chatbots whose crawlers are public, Copilot was the only one that was not blocked by any of the publishers in our dataset. This is likely because Copilot uses the same crawler, BingBot, as the Bing search engine, which means that publishers wishing to block it would also have to opt out of inclusion in Bing search. In theory, Copilot should have been able to access all of the content we queried for; however, it actually had the highest rate of declined answers. An example of Copilot declining to answer one of our prompts. On the other hand, Google created its Google-Extended crawler to give publishers the option of blocking Geminis crawler without having their content affected on Googles search. Its crawler was permitted by ten of the twenty publishers we tested, yet Gemini only provided a completely correct response on one occasion. Gemini also declined to answer questions about content from publishers that permitted its crawler if the excerpt appeared to be related to politics, responding with statements like I cant help with responses on elections and political figures right now. Im trained to be as accurate as possible but I can make mistakes sometimes. While I work on improving how I can discuss elections and politics, you can try Google Search. An example of Gemini declining to answer one of our prompts because it was related to politics Though the Robot Exclusion Protocol is not legally binding, it is a widely accepted standard for signaling which parts of a site should and should not be crawled. Ignoring the protocol takes away publishers agency to decide whether their content will be included in searches or used as training data for AI models. While permitting Web crawlers might increase the overall visibility of their content in generative search outputs, publishers may have various reasons for not wanting crawlers to access their content, such as a desire to try to monetize their content, or concern that their work could be misrepresented in AI-generated summaries. Danielle Coffey, the president of the News Media Alliance, wrote in a letter to publishers last June that without the ability to opt out of massive scraping, we cannot monetize our valuable content and pay journalists. This could seriously harm our industry. Platforms often failed to link back to the original source AI chatbots outputs often cite external sources to legitimate their answers. Even Grok, which encourages users to get real-time updates from X, still overwhelmingly cites traditional news organizations according to a recent Reuters report. This means that the credibility of the publishers is often used to boost the trustworthiness of a chatbots brand. For example, in BBC Newss recent report on how AI assistants represent their content, the authors wrote that when AI assistants cite trusted brands like the BBC as a source, audiences are more likely to trust the answereven if its incorrect. But when chatbots are wrong, they dont just taint their own reputations, they also taint the reputations of the publishers they lean on for legitimacy. The generative search tools we tested had a common tendency to cite the wrong article. For instance, DeepSeek misattributed the source of the excerpts provided in our queries 115 out of 200 times. This means that news publishers content was most often being credited to the wrong source. Even when the chatbots appeared to correctly identify the article, they often failed to properly link to the original source. This creates a twofold problem: publishers wanting visibility in search results werent getting it, while the content of those wishing to opt out remained visible against their wishes. On some occasions, chatbots directed us to syndicated versions of articles on platforms like Yahoo News or AOL rather than the original sourcesoften even when the publisher was known to have a licensing deal with the AI company. For instance, despite its partnership with the Texas Tribune, Perplexity Pro cited syndicated versions of Tribune articles for three out of the ten queries, while Perplexity cited an unofficial republished version for one. This tendency deprives the original sources of proper attribution and potential referral traffic. Despite having a partnership with the Texas Tribune, Perplexity cited an unofficial version of the article instead. Conversely, syndicated versions or unauthorized copies of news articles present a challenge for publishers wishing to opt out of crawling. Their content continued to appear in results without their consent, albeit incorrectly attributed to the sources that republished it. For instance, while USA Today blocks ChatGPTs crawler, the chatbot still cited a version of its article that was republished by Yahoo News. Although USA Today blocks ChatGPTs crawler, the chatbot cited a version of its article that was syndicated in Yahoo News. Meanwhile, generative search tools tendency to fabricate URLs can also affect users ability to verify information sources. Grok 2, for instance, was prone to linking to the homepage of the publishing outlet rather than specific articles. More than half of responses from Gemini and Grok 3 cited fabricated or broken URLs that led to error pages. Out of the 200 prompts we tested for Grok 3, 154 citations led to error pages. Even when Grok correctly identified an article, it often linked to a fabricated URL. While this problem wasnt exclusive to Grok 3 and Gemini, it happened far less frequently with other chatbots. Mark Howard, Time magazines chief operating officer, emphasized to us that its critically important how our brand is represented, when and where we show up, that theres transparency about how were showing up and where were showing up, as well as what kind of engagement [chatbots are] driving on [our] platform. Although click-through traffic constitutes only a small portion of overall referrals for publishers today, referrals from generative search tools have shown modest growth over the past year. As Press Gazettes Bron Maher wrote recently, the way in which chatbots disincentivize click-through traffic has left news publishers continuing to expensively produce the information that answers user queries on platforms like ChatGPT without receiving compensation via web traffic and the resultant display advertising income. The presence of licensing deals didnt mean publishers were cited more accurately Of the companies whose models we tested, OpenAI and Perplexity have expressed the most interest in establishing formal relationships with news publishers. In February, OpenAI secured its sixteenth and seventeenth news content licensing deals with the Schibsted and Guardian media groups, respectively. Similarly, last year Perplexity established its own Publishers Program, designed to promote collective success, which includes a revenue-sharing arrangement with participating publishers. A deal between AI companies and publishers often involves the establishment of a structured content pipeline governed by contractual agreements and technical integrations. These arrangements typically provide AI companies direct access to publisher content, eliminating the need for website crawling. Such deals might raise the expectation that user queries related to content produced by partner publishers would yield more accurate results. However, this was not what we observed during tests conducted in February 2025. At least not yet. We observed a wide range of accuracy in the responses to queries related to partner publishers. Time, for instance, has deals with both OpenAI and Perplexity, and while none of the models associated with those companies identified its content correctly 100 percent of the time, it was among the most accurately identified publishers in our dataset. On the other hand, the San Francisco Chronicle permits OpenAIs search crawler and is part of Hearsts strategic content partnership with the company, but ChatGPT only correctly identified one of the ten excerpts we shared from the publisher. Even in the one instance it did identify the article, the chatbot correctly named the publisher but failed to provide a URL. Representatives from Hearst declined to comment for our piece. When we asked whether the AI companies made any commitments to ensuring the content of publisher partners would be accurately surfaced in their search results, Times Howard confirmed that was the intention. However, he added that the companies did not commit to being 100 percent accurate. Conclusion The findings of this study align closely with those outlined in our previous ChatGPT study, published in November 2024, which revealed consistent patterns across chabots: confident presentations of incorrect information, misleading attributions to syndicated content, and inconsistent information retrieval practices. Critics of generative search like Chirag Shah and Emily M. Bender have raised substantive concerns about using large language models for search, noting that they take away transparency and user agency, further amplify the problems associated with bias in [information access] systems, and often provide ungrounded and/or toxic answers that may go unchecked by a typical user. These issues pose potential harm to both news producers and consumers. Many of the AI companies developing these tools have not publicly expressed interest in working with news publishers. Even those that have often fail to produce accurate citations or to honor preferences indicated through the Robot Exclusion Protocol. As a result, publishers have limited options for controlling whether and how their content is surfaced by chatbotsand those options appear to have limited effectiveness. In spite of this, Howard, the COO of Time, maintains optimism about future improvements: I have a line internally that I say every time somebody brings me anything about any one of these platformsmy response back is, Today is the worst that the product will ever be. With the size of the engineering teams, the size of the investments in engineering, I believe that its just going to continue to get better. If anybody as a consumer is right now believing that any of these free products are going to be 100 percent accurate, then shame on them. We contacted all of the AI companies mentioned in this report for comment, and only OpenAI and Microsoft responded, though neither addressed our specific findings or questions. OpenAIs spokesperson sent a statement that was nearly identical to its comment on our previous study: We support publishers and creators by helping 400M weekly ChatGPT users discover quality content through summaries, quotes, clear links, and attribution. Weve collaborated with partners to improve in-line citation accuracy and respect publisher preferences, including enabling how they appear in search by managing OAI-SearchBot in their robots.txt. Well keep enhancing search results. Microsoft stated: Microsoft respects the robots.txt standard and honors the directions provided by websites that do not want content on their pages to be used with the companys generative AI models. Limitations of our experiment While our research design may not reflect typical user behavior, it is intended to assess how generative search tools perform at a task that is easily accomplished via a traditional search engine. Though we did not expect the chatbots to be able to correctly answer all of the prompts, especially given crawler restrictions, we did expect them to decline to answer or exhibit uncertainty when the correct answer couldnt be determined, rather than provide incorrect or fabricated responses. Our study focuses on factors that are observable from the outside, particularly whether a chatbots crawlers are permitted or disallowed in a publishers robots.txt. We did not have visibility into the news publishers use of alternative crawler control mechanisms such as TollBits, ScalePosts, or Cloudflares blocking tools. While we made an effort to represent a diversity of relationships between AI companies and publishers in the dataset, our findings are not intended to be extrapolated to all models or news organizations. Furthermore, our findings represent just one occurrence of each of the excerpts being queried in the AI search tools. Because AI chatbots responses are dynamic and can vary in response to the same query, the chances are high that if someone ran the exact same prompts again, they would get different outputs. Download our data Kaylee Williams, Sarah Grevy Gotfredsen, and Dhrumil Mehta contributed to this report. Los Angeles County sued Edison International to recoup its losses from a January wildfire that was one of the most destructive in California history. The suit alleges that equipment owned by the companys Southern California Edison utility caused the Eaton Fire. The county claims its been saddled with hundreds of millions of dollars in costs to respond to the blaze and repair damaged infrastructure and property. The cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre filed separate suits against Edison in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Related: Edison Says Wildfire Fund May Shield Balance Sheet From LA Fire Claims Edison is facing mounting scrutiny for the possible role its power lines may have played in the Eaton wildfire that burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed about 9,400 structures and resulted in 17 deaths. The company already faces dozens of lawsuits alleging its equipment sparked the blaze in the Pasadena foothills that was fanned by high winds during an outbreak of wildfires that charred parts of the Los Angeles area. Shares of Edison were up about .5% to $55.08 at 2:50 p.m. in New York. The companys stock has tumbled almost 30% since the start of the Jan. 7 wildfire. Related: California Governor Asks Congress for $40B for LA Wildfire Relief Over the last decade, utility companies have been blamed for a series massive fires in western US states. It has become standard for local, state and federal government agencies to file lawsuits to recover damages to public property. Under California law, a utility can be held liable for property damage when its equipment ignites a fire even if it didnt act negligently. Edison said it was reviewing the lawsuit and will address it through the appropriate legal process. The company told state regulators last month that it was looking at the possibility that an idled transmission line near the origin of the Eaton Fire could have become energized and been involved with start of the wildfire. Related: Insurers Have Now Paid Out Nearly $7B for LA Wildfires Chief Executive Officer Pedro Pizarro told investors last week that he believe the utility acted responsibly around the Eaton Fire and that a state insurance fund should protect Edisons balance sheet from damage claims. LA County said it was seeking compensation for costs and losses including damaged infrastructure, recreational areas and parks, as well as cleanup and recovery efforts. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. The Ohio Department of Medicaid has projected over 61,000 Ohioans will lose coverage if proposed work requirements are imposed, less than 10% of them from Cuyahoga County. But over 101,000 residents could lose coverage if the Medicaid expansion goes away entirely. (Laura Hancock/cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio Kevin Gowan, Cuyahoga Countys director of Job and Family Services, said he wont know how many residents stand to lose Medicaid health care coverage if the states requested work requirements are approved, unless it actually happens. But he does know how many residents will be impacted if the expansion goes away entirely over 100,000. As of the end of February, there were 379,137 residents enrolled in Medicaid, or roughly a third of the countys population, Gowan told Cuyahoga County Councils Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday. Of those, about 101,000 people fall under the 2013 expansion, which extended medical coverage to those making less than 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $44,000 per year for a family of four. But now those benefits may be at risk -- for a portion of those expansion recipients or perhaps all. Gov. Mike DeWine recently asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reinstate a work requirement for those covered under the expansion. If approved, the new rules would require those between the ages of 18 and 54 to be employed, enrolled in school or job training, in a drug recovery program or have a physical or mental health illness to continue receiving the benefits. Early estimates from the Ohio Department of Medicaid have projected that over 61,000 people statewide would lose coverage once the rules take effect about 8,000 of them from Cuyahoga County. Nonprofit think tank The Center for Community Solutions, however, estimates there are actually up to 450,000 Ohioans at risk of losing coverage, with 59,000 of them being from the county. Gowan doesnt know which numbers are correct. He called it very, very difficult to determine the impact, and said the county may not have an answer before the rules take effect. Its very hard to say until policy actually gets put in place and we see what happens, he told councilmembers. But it will impact us. The federal health department is likely to be supportive of DeWines request, considering it previously approved similar work requirements for Ohio in 2019, in President Donald Trumps first term. But those work requirements wont matter if the entire expansion is cut, Gowan warned. Currently, the federal government pays 90% of Medicaid for those who qualify under the expansion, but Republican lawmakers are considering reducing that amount to save money. If that happens, even by $1, it will trigger a clause in DeWines latest budget proposal to automatically opt Ohio out of the expansion program altogether, Gowan said. In that case, all 101,000 expansion recipients would lose the health care benefits. The budget is not final yet, Gowan hedged, But that is part of the budget proposal. Other benefits Job and Family Services also administers other federally funded benefits, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, publicly funded childcare, and employment and training services. By the numbers: 185,714 Cuyahoga County residents were receiving SNAP benefits, as of the end of February, McGown said 20,581 children were receiving publicly funded childcare 8,516 individuals were receiving TANF funding Though SNAP benefits remain untouched for now, a federal program that had been replacing stolen benefits skimmed off EBT cards at the register expired in late December, just as Cuyahoga County reported a record number of thefts. That continues to have an effect on residents, who can no longer be made whole, Gowan said, noting that residents collectively receive about $36 million in SNAP benefits each month. So, the solution...went away. The problem did not, Gowan said. It is still an issue, and we do not see any kind of light at the end of the tunnel in terms of them re-establishing that replacement program. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, speaks Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at a news conference about the war in Ukraine, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP WASHINGTON, D. C. - U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo was among 10 Democrats who voted Thursday with Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives to censure a Texas Democrat who disrupted President Donald Trumps speech to Congress. After the vote, Kaptur said she voted to censure Al Green, just as she voted to censure South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson for disrupting a 2009 speech by President Barack Obama because she doesnt believe such forms of protest should occur in the House Chamber during a Joint Address to Congress. We cannot be distracted from the real, devastating cuts being wrought on Social Security, the Veterans Administration, or so many vital federal government services, Kapturs statement continued. Congressman Green understood the consequences of his actions and shared with the public that he was willing to take accountability to stand up for the people we are here to represent. I will continue to fight with him to protect these programs, and the Democratic values we believe in. Green stood up repeatedly during Trumps Tuesday speech, waving his cane and shouting, as Republicans chanted USA to drown out his words. After a few minutes, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, ordered security to escort Green from the House of Representatives chambers, as Republicans sang the chorus of the 1969 song Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye. On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to censure Green by a 224-198 margin, with Green and Alabama Democrat Shomari Figures voting present. As Johnson tried to read the censure resolution to Green after the vote, a group of Democrats surrounded him on the House of Representatives floor, singing the civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome." Johnson gave up on reading the resolution and adjourned the session. Green said later his actions were motivated by Trump making claims that the 2024 presidential election gave him a mandate. I wanted him to know that he didnt have a mandate, Green said in a House of Representatives floor speech. Kaptur represents a congressional district that Ohio Republicans who controlled the states redistricting process redrew to favor their party. The National Republican Congressional Committee regularly issues cookie-cutter press statements denouncing votes by Kaptur and other Democrats it deems electorally vulnerable. After Tuesdays speech, it put out statements that tried to tie Kaptur and other targeted Democrats to what it described as a full-blown meltdown by Democrats during Trumps speech. After Thursdays vote, it put out statements that denounced two other targeted Ohio Democrats for opposing Greens censure, describing the votes by Akrons Emilia Sykes and Cincinnatis Greg Landsman as completely out of touch with the will of their constituents." It didnt put out a statement about Kaptur. Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. FILE PHOTO: Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger poses for a portrait in an undated handout image. A federal appeals court on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to remove a top federal ethics watchdog from his office while a lawsuit challenging his termination plays out. The order permitting the removal of Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel came four days after a federal district court judge ruled that President Donald Trump's attempt to boot Dellinger was "unlawful, and as the special counsel opposes the terminations of probationary employees throughout the government by the Trump administration. However, the order by a unanimous three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit left open the question of whether Dellinger will be able to return to his position pending the outcome of the Trump administration's appeal in the case. The panel, which said it would issue an opinion explaining its order "in due course," also expedited the case, setting a briefing schedule that will end April 11. "The Clerk is directed to calendar this case for oral argument this term on the first appropriate date following the completion of briefing," the panel wrote. Since being filed by Dellinger, the case has already landed in the lap of the Supreme Court once, albeit briefly. And the high court is likely to have the final say on whether Trump has the power to dismiss the special counsel. CNBC has requested comment from Dellinger and his attorneys. CNBC's Jim Cramer reflected on Wednesday's uneven day of trading, suggesting that President Donald Trump is changing the way investors view stocks, and how their valuations might not always be accurate. "This market is furiously trying to revalue stocks because of the president's comments, and we do it day after day after day because he's always making so much news," Cramer said. "So, it's been doing a poor job, and that's created a ton of opportunities for you to both buy and sell." There are currently two kinds of stocks on the market, Cramer explained. There are those that are in Trump's crosshairs and those that are not. To evaluate stocks, Cramer usually considers earnings, revenues, gross margins, and he reviews conference calls and analyst notes. Now, however, Cramer begins his assessments by considering whether Trump can hurt the stock, and whether its price-to-earnings multiple makes sense in a new environment where the president favors tariffs and disrupts traditional norms with U.S. allies. For example, Blackrock is cheap, given that the company's infrastructure investments align with Trump's goal of "reclaiming" the Panama Canal, Cramer said. Meanwhile, he continued, Intel seems expensive because the company benefited from federal funding under former President Joe Biden via the CHIPS act. Under Trump, it's unclear whether the semiconductor outfit will receive the money it needs, Cramer said. The market has been right about the auto sector, according to Cramer. Previously, he thought Ford and General Motors seemed cheap, with low price-to-earnings multiples. Trump's efforts to raise tariffs by 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada make it clear why these stocks are inexpensive, he said. Trump has given automakers a month exemption on the tariffs, but if they end up having to pay higher taxes or shell out for more expensive domestic production, Cramer said their earnings could take a hit. "While the president thinks these tariffs are a great way to create jobs in America, they're going to put our automakers at a severe disadvantage to Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Subaru, and Honda, along with Kia and Hyundai," he said. "A 25% tariff on imports from Mexico is basically a subsidy for those companies." The White House did not immediately respond to request for comment. MongoDB shares sank 16% in extended trading Wednesday after the database software maker issued disappointing guidance. Here's how the company did in the fiscal fourth quarter in comparison with LSEG consensus: Earnings per share: $1.28 adjusted vs. 66 cents expected $1.28 adjusted vs. 66 cents expected Revenue: $548.4 million vs. $519.6 million expected Revenue increased about 20% from a year ago in the quarter that ended on Jan. 31, according to a statement. The company generated $15.8 million in net income, or 19 cents per share, which factors in stock-based compensation. In the same quarter a year ago, MongoDB had registered a net loss of $55.5 million, or 77 cents per share. MongoDB added 1,900 customers in the quarter, bringing the total to 54,500. But the company ended the quarter with about $360 million in deferred revenue, below the StreetAccount consensus of $370.4 million. MongoDB is seeing slower growth than it had hoped for in new applications using its Atlas cloud-based database service, Srdjan Tanjga, MongoDB's interim finance chief, said on a conference call with analysts. Meanwhile, MongoDB is hiring rapidly to pursue more deals with large companies, while pulling back on mid-sized businesses, Tanjga said. In February, MongoDB acquired artificial intelligence startup Voyage for an undisclosed sum. "We want to capitalize on a once-in-a-generation opportunity," CEO Dev Ittycheria said. For the fiscal first quarter, MongoDB called for 63 cents to 67 cents in adjusted earnings per share on $524 million to $529 million in revenue. Analysts surveyed by LSEG had expected 62 cents of per-share earnings and revenue of $526.8 million. MongoDB said it expects adjusted earnings per share of $2.44 to $2.62 and revenue of $2.24 billion to $2.28 billion for fiscal 2026. That implies 12.7% revenue growth, which would be the slowest rate at least since the company went public in 2017. Analysts were anticipating $3.34 per share of earnings and $2.32 billion in revenue. Before Wednesday's after-hours move, MongoDB shares were up 13%, while the S&P 500 was down about 1%. Correction: In February, MongoDB acquired artificial intelligence startup Voyage. An earlier version misstated the timing. Stocks @ Night is a daily newsletter delivered after hours, giving you a first look at tomorrow and last look at today. Sign up for free to receive it directly in your inbox. Here's what CNBC TV's producers were watching and what's on the radar for the next session. Tariff targets Canada: The iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC) picked up 2.4% after the Trump administration delayed tariffs for automakers whose cars comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The ETF is 6% from the Dec. 5 high. Mexico: The iShares MSCI Mexico ETF (EWW) was up 2% on Wednesday. It is 28% from the April high. China: The KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) jumped 7%. It is 6% from the Oct. 7 high. The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) was up about 5% on Wednesday. It is 2% from the Oct. 7 high. The iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI) was also up nearly 5%. It is 6% from the Oct. 7 high. Europe: The iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) was up 3.4% Wednesday, hitting a new high. The iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF (EUFN) also hit a high Wednesday, rising 3.5%. KWEB 1M mountain The KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) over the past five trading days The automakers President Donald Trump met with top executives from General Motors , Ford and Stellantis on Wednesday ahead of the day's big news: A one-month delay on tariffs for automakers that comply with the USMCA's trade rules. GM rose 7.2%. It is 21% from the Nov. 25 high. Ford climbed 5.8%. It is 35% from the July high. Stellantis picked up 9.2%. It is 57% from the March 26 high. Oil Brent crude futures hit a 2021 low Wednesday on an intraday basis. It is down 7% in a month. West Texas Intermediate crude futures hit a low going back to May 2022. It is down 6.4% in a month. Energy was the worst performing S & P 500 sector of the day, losing 1.5%. It is 13% from the April 2024 high. ExxonMobil dropped nearly 2%. It is 16.5% from the Oct. 7 high. Chevron fell 0.8% on Wednesday. It is 10% from the April 2024 high. Phillips 66 dropped 2%. It is 31% from the April 2024 high. ConocoPhillips fell 1.9% Wednesday. It is 34% from the April 2024 high. COP 5D mountain ConocoPhillips in the past five trading days JD.com reports in the morning The stock is up 20% in three months. JD.com is 8.5% from the Oct. 7 high. Kroger reports in the morning The company just had an unexpected shake-up with the CEO Rodney McMullen leaving. Kroger is up 3% in the past three months. It is down 5.6% since Feb. 25. KR 3M mountain Kroger shares in the past three months Macy's reports in the morning The department store is down about 19% in three months. Macy's is 40% from the March 2024 high. Costco reports in the afternoon The stock is up 6.6% over the past three months. Costco is 2.8% from the Feb. 13 high. JPMorgan doesn't expect a big move higher in crypto in the near future. Cryptocurrencies including bitcoin rallied to start the week following a social media update by President Donald Trump on the widely expected bitcoin stockpile, which has become a "strategic crypto reserve." Those gains quickly reversed as part of a broader sell-off on tariff concerns, but there is also lingering skepticism about the crypto reserve now that the market has had some time to digest it, JPMorgan's Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou said in a note Wednesday. "Overall we believe that crypto markets are likely to remain under pressure over the near term," he said. "Not only is there skepticism about congressional approval for such a strategic crypto reserve, but also the feasibility of including smaller tokens outside bitcoin and [ether] given their higher risk and volatility." Panigirtzoglou went on to highlight that bitcoin reserves have failed to gain traction at the state level, with Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming rejecting proposals due to concerns about risk and volatility. The central banks of Switzerland and Poland have also rejected the idea, he noted. With the market still absent a crypto-specific catalyst, demand for bitcoin has weakened, he also pointed out. "Institutional investors appeared to have also reduced their positions due to lack of positive catalysts and due to momentum decay," he said. "Our futures position proxies for bitcoin and [ether] based on open interest changes in CME futures contracts, have subsided but rather modestly suggesting there is room for further position unwinding, especially now that momentum traders have started building up short positions." Another sign of weaker demand is the recent $2 billion convertible debt issued by Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, Panigirtzoglou said. Since the election, Strategy and bitcoin miners such as Mara Holdings have raised large amounts of capital by issuing equity and debt, which has contributed to bitcoin's price appreciation. But now the terms of these deals are "increasingly more investor-friendly over the past month or so," he explained, "indicating that investors are becoming more cautious and more selective." A security guard watches during the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2025. BEIJING The undercurrent of China's annual parliamentary meetings this week is U.S. trade tensions and how Chinese technology is offsetting that pressure. The largely ceremonial gathering of delegates in Beijing this year came just as U.S. President Donald Trump addressed Congress and imposed new tariffs on Chinese goods. It's a clear drag on exports, while Chinese companies have only faced tougher restrictions on accessing high-end semiconductors and other advanced tech. "Internationally ... an increasingly complex and severe external environment may exert a greater impact on China in areas such as trade, science and technology," Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in his annual report on government work at the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress on Wednesday, according to an official English translation of the Chinese. It was an unusually grim assessment at least among the seven parliamentary meetings I have attended. But I also sensed a greater willingness to support the private sector than in the past especially as it relates to tech innovation, such as with Chinese AI company DeepSeek. "We will promote the healthy and well-regulated development of the platform economy and give better play to its role in inspiring innovation, expanding consumption and stabilizing employment," Li said in the work report. That marked the latest signal that Beijing now wants to support the private sector after previously taking a far more restrictive stance and imposing large fines on tech giants Alibaba and Tencent, often called "platform companies in China. Many companies and industries in China have historically been dominated by the state. The early part of 2025 has not been kind to semiconductor stocks. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is down more than 9% year to date. Over the past month, it has lost about 11%. This comes in stark contrast to the fund's performance of the past two years. SMH rallied 38.5% in 2024 and 72.3% in 2023, as investors loaded up on semiconductor stocks to capitalize on the artificial intelligence craze. This year's moves have led to a bearish chart pattern for the SMH. The fund's 50-day moving average this week fell below its 200-day counterpart, forming a dreaded death cross. This phenomenon is seen by technical analysts as a sign of further declines to come. That marks the first time in more than two years that the SMH has formed a death cross. The group is struggling with investors cashing in some AI profits while global trade tensions rise. This week, the U.S. imposed tariffs on Canadian, Mexican and Chinese imports. Canada and China retaliated with levies of their own, though Mexico got a one-month reprieve from the duties. What is troubling for semis is even if the chips are assembled in the U.S., many of the components used are imported, noted Chris Miller, professor at Tufts Fletcher School. "The complexity of the supply chains makes devising a tariff policy around carve-outs very, very difficult, which is why the industry is hoping there won't be any changes at all because they've been structured around the assumption that you can move goods back and forth across borders without this type of tariff uncertainty," Miller said Thursday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Take a look at the worst-performing SMH members this week (as of 4 p.m.): Marvell Technology : -21.3% Intel : -12.6% Nvidia : -11.5% Broadcom : -10% On Semiconductor : -6.7% CNBC's Nick Wells contributed reporting. Anne-Worley Moelter used to be "terrified" of heights, so it's pretty surprising that she grew up to become a leader in the rock-climbing world. Moelter was in middle school when she went to a North Carolina summer camp and had her first go at the sport. "I didn't want to go, and my camp counselor really encouraged me," Moelter, now 46, tells CNBC Make It. "As soon as I did, I fell in love with it." Moelter returned to climbing after graduating college; moving to Boulder, Colorado; and quitting an unsatisfying tech job. After she left the tech world, she got hired as an assistant manager at a climbing gym and jumpstarted her career in the field. Anne-Worley Moelter is the CEO of Movement Gyms. Courtesy of Anne-Worley Moelter Today, Moelter is the CEO of Movement Gyms, a nationwide network of over 30 climbing gyms with fitness facilities and yoga studios. Second-time CEO: 'It was a lot of soul-searching' It's actually her second run at the chief executive role: Back In 2009, she and her husband, Mike, opened their own climbing gym in Boulder, and Moelter was CEO. The cofounders opened two more locations, in 2014 and 2018, before their success got the attention of a larger fitness network that wanted to acquire them. The couple didn't immediately jump on the offer. At the time, they were focused on opening their third gym, and "we just were not interested. It was not the right time," Moelter says. Conversations picked up again in 2019, and they finally reached a deal: The network bought the Moelters' facilities and rebranded to become Movement Gyms. Moelter stepped down as CEO but became a member of the board of directors. The biggest appeal of joining the network was to improve the experience for members, guests and staff, Moelter says. "When you have a network of gyms that is 30 versus three, inherently there are just more things you can do for people," she says. Now, she could offer staff better benefits and opportunities to grow in the company, while members and guests would have access to more facilities across the U.S. "I'd be lying if I didn't say there were bumps along the way, because there always are when you have transitions of any type," Moelter says. One big challenge was recognizing her small business was such a large part of her identity, she says. Another: knowing what worked for your small organization won't always work on a larger scale, and figuring out how to come up with new business expectations and operations. When you get knocked down for the ninth time, you have to know what it is that's going to motivate you to get up for that 10th attempt. Anne-Worley Moelter CEO of Movement Gyms "Being able to adopt skills quickly, to know how to ask questions, to understand what's going to work best for economies of scale, that has been a fascinating learning curve that I've actually enjoyed very much," Moelter says. She continued her position on the board until 2024, when she was asked to return to her role as CEO. Yet again, it wasn't an immediate yes. "There was a lot of soul-searching, to be quite frank," Moelter says. She was already very active in her board seat and engaging with the business on a weekly basis. "To step back into the CEO position is very different, and it is a lot," she says. "And yet," she continues, "to me, having the opportunity to hopefully positively affect change and positively impact people's lives, from our members and guests to our team members, if I can do that, then I feel like I will have done well in this life." It's allowed her to exercise the best career advice she's ever gotten from an advisor who said, "as a small business owner starting things from the ground up, you have to be really resolute in terms of why it is you're doing what you're doing," Moelter says. "When you get knocked down for the ninth time, you have to know what it is that's going to motivate you to get up for that 10th attempt." The fitness industry is still led by men Moelter recognizes that her leadership in the industry, especially for such a long period of time, is "unusual." "I do believe that part of it is because we are so young," Moelter says, referring to the rock climbing field in particular. Some 70% of self-employed gym owners are men, compared with 29% who are women, according to 2022 data from Sport Alliance and the Women in Fitness Association. "What is really encouraging is our leadership team at Movement is comprised of eight people, and five of those are women," Moelter says. "Over the past decade or two, we have seen that gap has closed in terms of disparity in gender." A 20-year weekly 'power hour' European Union, and Ukrainian flags fly in front of the Berlaymont, the EU Commission headquarters, for the 3rd anniversary of the large scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia on Feb. 24, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. Thierry Monasse | Getty Images News | Getty Images What are the Russian assets and where are they held? Russia's central bank has billions of dollars of foreign reserves. Roughly 300 billion euros ($322 billion) of these assets were frozen in the West after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Around 210 billion euros of these frozen assets are in the European Union. Most are held in Belgium, predominantly by the bank Euroclear, where 183 billion euros sit. Given that a large portion of Russian state assets are on European soil, it is European nations' prerogative to freeze but also seize these assets. What could these assets be used for? There has been much debate over the course of the war on whether these assets could be used to support Ukraine. In June 2024, the G7 agreed in principle to issue $50 billion in loans to Ukraine that were backed by the profits generated from around 300 billion euros of frozen Russian assets. Since then European member states have refrained from pursuing full seizure of such assets due to concerns about legal and economic repercussions. Recent escalation in tensions between the bloc and the U.S. has led the EU to explore more aggressive action, Bloomberg reported. The idea would be for a yet-to-be established International Claims Commission to demand reparations from Russia, and if they disagree, to fully seize them, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the talks. Who in Europe is for and against using these assets to help Ukraine? Several EU figures have expressed support for full seizure, including the foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and the commissioner for economy Valdis Dombrovskis. At the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting at the end of February, Kallas stated that work on reaching an asset seizure agreement was "ongoing" and that "eventually, especially in the situation where we are right now, we all come to the conclusion that our taxpayers should not be the ones who are paying for this. It should come from the country that destroys Ukraine, which is Russia." Also toward the end of last month, U.K. foreign minister David Lammy told the British parliament that "Europe has to act quickly, and I believe we should move from freezing assets to seizing assets." Estonia and Poland have also expressed support to seize assets. In a statement published earlier this week, after reports of the U.S. withdrawing military aid, Estonia's foreign minister pushed for Europe to step up: "Claims that there are no legal ways to use Russia's frozen assets are unfounded. Last week, I shared a draft paper with our European partners, offering a clear solution for using frozen assets. Before the June deadline for extending the sanctions imposed on Russia, a political decision must be taken on using frozen assets". Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) told CNBC by email that, "many Central European states are sympathetic to the case for seizure, though are reluctant to say so publicly in the absence of a common EU position." Yet several states are apprehensive, and he particularly noted Germany and France as "the main hold-outs." This could now be changing, with the FT reporting both nations are open to discussing asset seizure. How would these assets be seized? In theory, all 27 EU member states could unanimously agree to seize Russian assets and "mandate Belgium to confiscate the assets," Armin Steinbach, a Jean Monnet professor of EU law and economics at HEC Paris told CNBC. The other option would be for Belgium to separately pursue asset confiscation if the EU sanctions expire without renewal, Steinbach said. However, Belgium seems unlikely to do so, as it has reportedly warned of the legal and economic risks that asset seizure poses to the euro zone. Steinbach also commented that it would be "morally compelling but legally difficult" for Europe to seize Russian assets, as Europe is limited to taking countermeasures against Russia's international law violations, which need to be "temporary" and "reversible," according to international law. Yet "at the same time, Ukraine has a damage claim against Russia to pay for the injuries of the war. The question is whether the EU could enforce this damage claim for Ukraine by confiscating Russian assets," the professor said. He referred to a "creative proposal" in which Ukraine transfers its "damage claim against Russia to the G7" who would then enforce this claim for Kyiv by "setting off" against Russian assets. Steinbach noted that "such a transfer has never happened under international law before" and that the issue of immunity protection for sovereign assets also persists. IISS' Gould-Davies noted that extensive studies by international lawyers demonstrated that "there is a safe legal path" to seizure, and that fears of economic repercussions were overblown. "When the assets were first frozen the moment that Russia lost access to them there was no adverse impact on European economic or financial stability. There is no reason to think that markets, or individual creditor states, would act if Russia permanently and formally lost these assets," he said. What happens now? Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Thursday's key moments. 1. U.S. stocks are lower Thursday returning Wednesday's gains and then some as investor confidence remains shaken over President Donald Trump's tariff measures. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC on Thursday morning that more exemptions are likely beyond automakers. A short time later , Trump said he paused Mexico tariffs until April 2 on goods and services covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Markets are also concerned about the economy, including layoffs and consumer spending. Jim Cramer, however, is not, standing firm in going "against the grain" during the current market sell-off. The S & P 500 Oscillator continued to indicate an oversold market, leading us to buy more shares of Dover and open a new position in Capital One . 2. AI stocks are getting beat down Thursday and not just because of Marvell Tech . The chipmaker sank more than 18% after a better-than-expected quarter but underwhelming guidance. Adding to the tech selling, the Financial Times wrote that Microsoft withdrew some CoreWeave services ahead of the latter's initial public officering. CoreWeave said the FT report is not true. "When you think about a data center and you think about how Nvidia gets its chips into companies, it's CoreWeave," Jim said. 3. Broadcom , also a Club name, is set to report earnings after Thursday's closing bell. We will focus on its custom AI chip business, which has Alphabet , Meta Platforms , and TikTok-owner ByteDance as its largest customers. Broadcom also has a wireless smartphone relationship with Apple . We expect Broadcom's software division to remain stable. Costco is also out with earnings Thursday evening. We already know that the Club holding's sales are strong since it reports them monthly. Jim is bullish on just a few retailers. "You can own Costco. You can own Walmart . You can own TJX," he said. TJX is also a Club stock. Costco gross margins will be an important factor as it navigates the Trump tariffs and tries to keep prices low. 4. Stocks covered in Thursday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: Macy's , Gap , and Cracker Barrel . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long COST, AVGO, DOV, MSFT, COF. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Investors who buy low-beta growth stocks such as Boston Scientific and Mastercard right now could see better performance as a result, according to Trivariate Research. Softening economic data and concerns around the Trump Administration's new tariff policies have given the stock market whiplash. Stocks rallied on the last day of February, started off March in a sell-off and bounced back on Wednesday as the White House offered a monthlong exemption on automobile tariffs, raising optimism for more concessions in the future. Still, investors are divided on whether near-term market volatility can ease, given the number of unknowns regarding the duration and economic consequences of the tariffs. But against this backdrop of heightened caution, investors may be able to carve out gains by holding low-beta growth stocks, according to Trivariate Research, headed by Adam Parker, former chief U.S. equity strategist at Morgan Stanley. A low-beta stock simply flags companies that are less volatile than the broad market, whose beta is 1.0. Stocks with beta below 1.0 are usually less risky, while stocks with a beta over 1.0 may pose more risk with potentially higher returns. "Because our work convincingly showed that a combination of low- and high-beta growth stocks results in better performance than all average beta growth stocks, investors this week asked us for some specific low beta growth stock ideas," the macroeconomic research firm wrote in a recent note. "These could be good candidates to balance high-beta stocks in a growth portfolio." In the same report, Parker, Trivariate's founder, shared a basket of high-quality, low-beta growth stocks that are higher year to date. Some of those companies are shown below: One stock Trivariate highlighted was Check Point Software Technologies . The IT security company has surged 40% over the past 12 months through Wednesday, and has risen 19% this year alone. The stock currently has a beta of 0.60. Earlier this week, Piper Sandler upgraded shares to an overweight rating from neutral. Analyst Rob Owens cited improving underlying momentum as a catalyst. "New management (specifically CEO Nadav Zafrir) has served to galvanize the CHKP story, better positioning it to capitalize on the security opportunity," he wrote. "While this is likely to manifest in incremental improvements to results, we believe the narrative will get better, especially if the company can flirt with double-digit growth in the future which will drive increased multiple, in our view." Owens' price target of $260 implies potential upside of 17% from Check Point's Wednesday close. Medical equipment maker Boston Scientific has risen 56% over the past 12 months and 17% since the year began. Shares are currently trading with a beta of 0.58. In January, Deutsche Bank upgraded shares to a buy rating from hold. Analyst Pito Chickering's price target of $108 is about 3% above where the stock is currently trading. "So the BSX story has become simpler, and as one of the best-in-class medtech names, we believe BSX is poised again to outperform in 2025, and we are upgrading the shares to Buy with a $108 price target which is 34x our 2026E EPS," Chickering wrote. With respective betas of 0.55 and 0.50, Mastercard and Visa were two other stocks that Trivariate highlighted as low-beta growth ideas. Shares of Mastercard have risen 19% over the past 12 months, while Visa has climbed 26%. Earlier this week, Mizuho highlighted Mastercard as a potential beneficiary of the Trump administration's tariffs. "Our bottom-up analysis of consumer spend categories that are directly impacted by potential tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China shows that V and MA could be modest beneficiaries of the pass-through of higher prices to consumers, even after taking into account a potential slowdown in demand," wrote analyst Dan Dolev. Dolev currently has an outperform rating on shares of Mastercard and a neutral rating for Visa. German airline group Lufthansa is hopeful that the new U.S. administration will support Boeing in overcoming issues that have led to industry-wide delivery delays, CEO Carsten Spohr said Thursday. The company expects 2025 will be the year when it starts to recieve aircraft for which it has been "waiting for so long now," Spohr told CNBC's Annette Weisbach. In results published Thursday, Lufthansa reported a 39% year-on-year drop in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to 1.645 billion euros ($1.78 billion), citing delivery delays as well as staff strikes and global price pressures. The earnings nonetheless beat consensus estimates, driving shares 13% higher by early afternoon, before slightly paring gains. Lufthansa has 41 twin-aisle aircraft in the U.S. alone waiting to be delivered, Spohr said. Meanwhile, almost all of the more than 240 jets it has on order over the coming years are set to be impacted by delays of some kind. "Either due to supply chain issues within the production of the aircraft or due to certification issues, especially in the U.S. between Boeing and the [Federal Aviation Administration]," Spohr said. "So [we are] hoping this will be overcome, maybe also with some support of the new U.S. administration, [this] will hopefully allow us to operate the most modern aircraft, which is to the advantage of our passengers but also to the advantage of our shareholders due to lower costs." Aircraft shortages and the need to keep older models in operation has caused issues with extra fuel costs and punctuality at the Lufthansa Group which includes the eponymous German flag carrier along with low-cost subsidiary Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways and Swiss International Air Lines. Boeing's European rival Airbus is also grappling with supply chain issues that have been impacting airlines around the world for years. However, the U.S. manufacturing giant has additionally come under heightened regulatory scrutiny following numerous safety incidents involving its jets, including two fatal crashes and an in-flight door plug blowout, as well as allegations of safety shortcuts. Retail traders don't know what to do right now. JPMorgan strategists pointed out that the cohort was a net buyer of stocks to the tune of $1 billion on Monday. The S & P 500 dropped more than 1% that day, as global trade tensions ramped up. This buy-the-dip reaction has been the norm over the past year, as retail traders used pullbacks as opportunities to scoop up shares at a discount while broader market momentum showed no signs of slowing. "There's still this fear of missing out," Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, told CNBC earlier this week. That's because "for the better part of the last few years, every dip has been a buying opportunity." Things got wonky over the next two days, though. Small investors on Tuesday sold $1.2 billion in equities during the first hour of trading as stocks took another leg lower due to mounting trade worries. Then, they bought $2 billion during the first half of the day on Wednesday to end the session with a $3.7 billion equity inflow, as the S & P 500 rallied on hopes there would be some U.S. tariff exemptions for particular industries. The latest global trade developments are contributing to retail traders' confusion. The U.S. earlier this week imposed tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and increased tariffs on China. Canada and Mexico then retaliated with levies on U.S. products, while Mexico said it would reveal measures on Sunday. The White House said it would give automakers a one-month exemption to tariffs. The Trump administration was also reportedly assessing agricultural exemptions for Mexico and Canada. Stocks could get some support if trade worries dim, which would make it easier for retail traders to continue buying the dip. Until then, the group may want to stay on its toes. Elsewhere Thursday morning on Wall Street, Loop Capital upgraded Marvell Technology to buy from hold even after the stock sold off on quarterly results that failed to impress investors. "Following better-than-expected 4Q25 (Jan) results and above-consensus 1Q26 (Apr) guidance, and given the near-40% correction in the shares since Jan (based on aft-mkt), we are taking the opportunity to take up our rating on shares of MRVL from Hold to Buy," analyst Gary Mobley wrote. This photo shows a general view of a screen broadcasting live footage of China's President Xi Jinping attending the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) as seen outside a shopping mall in Beijing on March 5, 2025. Greg Baker | Afp | Getty Images China said it was prepared to fight "any type of war" with the U.S., as President Donald Trump ratchets up economic and political pressure on the country. "If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end," the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. said in a post Wednesday on X, signaling an increasingly aggressive stance toward the U.S. The remarks came as Trump's additional 10% tariffs on imports from China took effect Tuesday, taking the cumulative tariffs imposed in just about a month to 20%. "If the U.S. has other agenda in mind and if harming China's interests is what the U.S. wants, we're ready to fight till the end. We urge the U.S. to stop being domineering and return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation at an early date," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday. In a swift retaliation against U.S. duties, Beijing announced Tuesday additional tariffs as high as 15% on certain U.S. goods, starting from March 10 and a series of new export restrictions for designated U.S. entities. Answering a question on the Chinese Embassy's remarks, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday that while the U.S. was not actively seeking conflict with China, the country is "prepared." "We live in a dangerous world with powerful, ascendant countries with very different ideology," he added, "If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong." Beijing's tariff action to target U.S. agricultural exports reflects an attempt to trigger political pressure on Trump from farmers, a key Republican constituency, Gabriel Wildau, managing director of Teneo, said in a note. Agricultural products are the largest U.S. exports to China, with soybeans which Beijing hit with new duties of 10% topping the list. During the last U.S.-China trade war, Chinese tariffs spurred domestic importers to shift purchases of soybeans to Brazil and Argentina. With U.S. tariffs threatening to crimp China's exports, a rare bright spot in an otherwise slowing economy, Beijing has signaled its willingness to use monetary and fiscal stimulus to mitigate their impact this year. Trump announced the two rounds of China tariffs in response to the Asian country's alleged role in the fentanyl trade. The addictive drug, precursors to which are mostly produced in China and Mexico, has led to tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year in the U.S. China has called the U.S. fentanyl-related explanation for imposing tariffs a "flimsy excuse." After the initial round of new U.S. tariffs in February, China's retaliatory measures included raising duties on certain U.S. energy imports and putting two U.S. companies on an unreliable entities list that could restrict their ability to do business in the Asian country. watch now An Eli Lilly & Co. Zepbound injection pen arranged in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Telehealth firms Teladoc and LifeMD said on Thursday they had signed an agreement to offer Eli Lilly 's weight-loss drug Zepbound to self-paying patients, ahead of restrictions on selling copies known as compounded drugs. Both companies said they had signed deals with Gifthealth, the pharmacy partner of Lilly's direct-to-consumer website, LillyDirect, through which the drugmaker sells vials of Zepbound at discounts for cash-pay customers. The move offers the telehealth companies an avenue to keep selling the highly popular weight-loss drugs even as the compounded drugs industry faces increasing restrictions on making copies of the treatments. Teladoc said it does not offer compounded versions of the drugs, but patients are prescribed the branded medications. The agreement portends more deals of this nature by telehealth companies given that bulk compounding is likely to be significantly curtailed, Citi analyst Daniel Grosslight said. While Lilly's Zepbound and rival Novo Nordisk 's Wegovy were in shortage, compounding pharmacies sold cheaper copies of the treatments in the past year. The branded drugs have since been removed from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's shortage list. A federal judge on Wednesday denied an injunction that would allow compounding pharmacies to keep making copies of Zepbound in the U.S. The FDA also said last month there was no longer a shortage of Novo's weight-loss and diabetes drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, a declaration that will curtail the widespread sale of cheaper copies. The agreement with Gifthealth will allow eligible members without insurance coverage to gain access to single-use vials that can be delivered directly to their homes, Teladoc said. Integration with LillyDirect's self-pay pharmacy channel would allow seamless access to branded Zepbound vials at the newly reduced self-pay price, LifeMD said. Telehealth company Ro in December began offering single-dose vials of Zepbound and was directly integrated with LillyDirect's self-pay pharmacy. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office, on the day he signs executive orders, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. March 6, 2025. Major stock indexes dropped sharply this week, as rattled investors struggled to get a handle on President Donald Trump's sweeping and shifting tariff policies. But when asked in the Oval Office on Thursday whether he thought it was his tariffs that were scaring the markets, Trump pinned the blame elsewhere. "Well, a lot of them are globalist countries and companies that won't be doing as well," Trump replied, "Because we're taking back things that have been taken from us many years ago." Trump did not elaborate on what those things were. "We've been treated very unfairly as a country," he continued. "We protect everybody. We do everything for all these countries, and a lot of these are globalist in nature." It was not clear what was globalist in nature, but NBC reported Thursday that the Trump administration is considering an overhaul of how it interacts with NATO allies. Later in the same press event, Trump again blamed globalists for the market downturn. "I think it's globalists that see how rich our country's going to be, and they don't like it." Over the course of an hour, Trump used "globalist" to describe people, companies and countries, making it difficult to pin down specifically what he was talking about. But during his first term, Trump repeatedly denounced a set of ideas he called "globalism," and labeled some of his political opponents globalists, as he pushed his nationalist, isolationist worldview. The word has drawn condemnation from critics who say it is linked to antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jewish people. According to the American Jewish Committee, the term globalist is used today as "a coded word for Jews who are seen as international elites conspiring to weaken or dismantle 'Western' society using their international connections and control over big corporations." It was unusual for Trump to use the term globalist as a catchall for what he claimed was driving day-to-day movements of the stock market. The White House did not immediately reply when asked for additional context about Trump's invocation of the term. The Oval Office remarks came as Trump, just two days after imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, issued temporary exemptions for many goods coming into the U.S. from the two neighboring countries. He denied that those pauses came in response to the market rout. Tech revolution led by AI brings major opportunities: China's education minister Xinhua) 10:36, March 06, 2025 BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Technological revolution led by artificial intelligence (AI) brings major opportunities for education, China's Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng said Wednesday. Huai made the remarks in response to a query from Xinhua about DeepSeek and humanoid robots during an interview on the sidelines of the annual session of the national legislature, which opened Wednesday in Beijing. Every major technological revolution and industrial transformation places significant demands on society, especially on education, while bringing major opportunities for reform and development, said Huai. In the face of the changes, China will advance comprehensive reforms in higher education, said Huai. For example, the country will strengthen the development of core courses, key faculty, and essential textbooks in mathematics and computer science -- the basic disciplines that square with national strategies. China will also cultivate more talent in emerging and interdisciplinary fields and pursue deeper integration between industry, science and education, according to the minister. China has about 4 million postgraduate students and 39 million undergraduates in universities and colleges. In terms of basic education, the minister revealed that China will release a white paper on AI education in 2025, as part of efforts to equip students with enhanced literacy and skills for the digital and AI era. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) US President Donald Trump waits to greet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the entrance of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025. Carl Court | Afp | Getty Images Tensions between the U.S. and Europe have hit something of a low in recent weeks and China could be poised to use the spat to bolster its relationships on the continent. Transatlantic strains came to head last week during a disastrous meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. What started out as a potential signing of a critical minerals deal ended in a public shouting match. Trump has also made repeated threats of tariffs on EU imports and said that the bloc was "formed to screw the United States." Vance, meanwhile, lambasted Europe last month at the Munich Security Conference, saying he was worried about "the threat from within." This strain in the so-called "special relationship" has seen Beijing become an unexpected ally and advocate for Europe, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting the continent last month to urge for closer ties and more cooperation. "China is clearly responding with a charm offensive, trying to portray itself as a stabilizing force and a potential alternative pole, exploiting European fears and hoping for a reset on Beijing's own terms," Alicja Bachulska, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told CNBC by email. After both the EU and Ukraine were shut out of surprise U.S.-led peace talks with Russia, Wang said at the Munich Security Conference that China hopes all parties can participate in peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. "As the war is taking place on European soil, it is all the more necessary for Europe to play its part for peace," he said in comments reported by Reuters. watch now For Beijing, expressing support for Europe's role in the Ukraine peace negotiations is a "low cost way" to signal its respect for the EU and "draw contrast with Trump," according to Gabriel Wildau, managing director at Teneo. "China aims at gaining strategic influence over Europe, as their investment and trade policies demonstrate. The forays in the context of Ukraine should be assessed in that light," Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, told CNBC via email. No longer 'slaves' to the Americans As Trump doubles down on protectionist policies, analysts say China stands to gain from a Europe free from U.S. pressure to impose sanctions and restrictions against Beijing. Europe has historically broadly aligned with U.S. trade policies designed to protect Western tech innovations and its economic interests. Take Dutch chip equipment maker ASML , for example, whose sales of advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment has been restricted by the Dutch government following U.S. export controls. "A lot of Europe's clamping down on China was at the request of the U.S. That, in a sense, is part of the price of being subjugated and dependent on the U.S. for defense," David Roche, strategist at Quantum Strategy, told CNBC in a call. "The Europeans may be getting hit [by potential tariffs], but they will no longer be slaves to the Americans," Roche said. A fractured transatlantic alliance could therefore benefit Beijing, as Europe becomes "less susceptible" to U.S. pressure, said Teneo's Wildau, which may lead to a rollback of existing export controls or at least the halting of new ones. Europe needs the help One example of a change in trade policy could be the European Union's current tariffs on Chinese vehicles, according to Wildau, who said the bloc's leaders might conclude that they have "no choice" but to reverse course. The European auto industry has been under increasing pressure as carmakers battle with multiple headwinds ranging from the transition to electric vehicles, rising competition from China and now the threat of U.S. tariffs. Chinese cooperation could help Europe manufacture the parts needed for its EVs, enabling the bloc to catch up with the technology and meet its sustainability goals, Roche suggested with this just being one gap that China could potentially fill. "The reality is, in the broadest sense of the word, Europe has to look for alternative markets to the U.S. China can help," Roche added. President Trump's recent moves have stirred leaders in Europe, with Germany's Friedrich Merz telling public broadcaster ARD in a speech after his party's victory last week that the U.S. is now "indifferent" to the fate of Europe, and that his priority is for Europe to "achieve independence from the USA." "Merz's comments will not go unnoticed by Beijing," Thanos Papasavvas, founder and chief investment officer at ABP Invest told CNBC via email: "The key question here is whether Germany's traditional business relationship with China would also be seen in the same vein by other member States." Still the same China Some analysts say it is unclear how much progress can be made in repairing what has long been a strained relationship between Europe and China, however. "After all, this is still the same China that the EU had to deal with for the past few years China that is supporting Russia, China that is threatening Europe's industrial power, and China that is imposing sanctions on European officials and civil society organisations," the European Council on Foreign Relations' Bachulska said. Get the CNBC Daily Open report in your inbox every morning and keep up to date with the markets wherever you are. Subscribe Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington DC, United States on February 13, 2025. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) The United States wants India to eliminate tariffs on car imports under a proposed trade deal between the two nations, but New Delhi is reluctant to immediately bring down such duties to zero even as it considers further cuts, sources told Reuters. India's high auto tariffs will feature in formal talks for a bilateral trade deal that are yet to begin, said one of the three sources, all of whom were briefed on the matter, paving the way for American electric vehicle maker Tesla , which is gearing up for an India launch. Taxes on cars imported into India are as high as 110%, which Tesla chief Elon Musk has criticized as being among the steepest in the world. The EV giant last year shelved its plans to enter the world's third-largest car market for a second time. Musk has now found support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly railed against India's high taxes and in an address to Congress on Tuesday slammed the country's auto tariffs of more than 100%, threatening reciprocal action. "The U.S. ask is for India to bring tariffs down to zero or negligible in most sectors, except agriculture," the first source said, adding the expectation on New Delhi eliminating auto tariffs was "clearer than any other". A second source said India was "listening to the U.S." and had not pushed back, adding it would respond with its position on the tariffs after consulting local industries. The office of United States Trade Representative, India's trade ministry, and the foreign affairs ministry did not respond to requests for comment. US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent addresses the Economic Club of New York on March 6, 2025. President Donald Trump's sanctions against Iran are designed to shut down the country's oil industry and "collapse its already buckling economy," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday. The U.S. is deploying sanctions against Iran aggressively for "immediate maximum impact," Bessent told the Economic Club of New York. Trump's goal is to slash Iran's oil exports of 1.5 million barrels per day to a trickle, the Treasury secretary said. "We are going to shut down Iran's oil sector and drone manufacturing capabilities," Bessent said. The administration also intends to cut off Tehran's access to the international financial system, he said. Prices for U.S. crude oil and the global benchmark Brent turned positive after Bessent's comments. West Texas Intermediate rose 5 cents to close at $66.37 per barrel by while Brent gained 16 cents to settle at $69.46. "Making Iran broke again will mark the beginning of our updated sanctions policy," the Treasury secretary, a former global investment manager, said. "If I were an Iranian, I would get all my money out of the rial now," he said, referring to Iran's currency. CNBC has reached out to Iran's UN Mission for comment. Trump reimposed his pressure campaign on Iran through a presidential memorandum on Feb. 4. Two days later, the Treasury Department started imposing sanctions on an international network shipping Iranian oil to China. Oil prices fell to multiyear lows on Wednesday as Trump's tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China raised fears among investors that economic growth will slow and crude demand will falter. OPEC+ also confirmed this week that it will gradually bring 2.2 million barrels per day back to the market starting in April. The oil market right now sees a drop in Iranian supply as the only bullish catalyst for prices, JPMorgan analysts led by Natasha Kaneva told clients in a Thursday note. Trump, after launching his maximum pressure campaign, has said he wants to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. The president said he hoped maximum pressure is "not going to have to be used in any great measure at all." "I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper," Trump said in a social media post on Feb. 5. In 2018, the president withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama. It's time to step to the sidelines on MongoDB after its latest earnings report suggested a disappointing outlook for the stock, according to Wells Fargo. Analyst Andrew Nowinski downgraded the database software maker to equal weight from overweight, and lowered his price target, after MongoDB issued weaker-than-expected full-year guidance because of slow growth in its Atlas cloud-based database service. MongoDB forecast adjusted earnings per share of $2.44 to $2.62 and revenue of $2.24 billion to $2.28 billion for fiscal 2026, implying a revenue growth rate of 12.7% that is the slowest for the company going back to its public debut in 2017. MDB YTD mountain MongoDB "With a smaller pool of multi-year deals, we believe it will be difficult to significantly outperform expectations in FY26 and therefore expect shares to remain range-bound," he wrote MongoDB did beat expectations on the top and bottom lines in its latest report, posting adjusted earnings per share of $1.28, while analysts polled by LSEG expected a profit of 66 cents per share. Revenue of $548.4 million also exceeded the expected $519.6 million. Nevertheless, the analyst's $225 price target, cut sharply from $365 previously, implies more than 14% downside from Wednesday's close of $264.13. The stock is down more than 18% already in the Thursday premarket. MongoDB has plunged over the past 12 months, down about 35%, while outperforming in 2025, up more than 13%. Still, the analyst said he expects Atlas core consumption trends will eventually stabilize, while contributions from generative artificial intelligence will also tick up again. Jordan Novet contributed to this report. Agility Robotics, a leading developer of humanoid robots, is set to launch the worlds first safety-certified humanoid robot by the end of 2025. This milestone marks a significant step in the evolution of automation, enabling robots to work safely alongside human employees without needing safety cages.Daniel Diez, Chief Strategy Officer of Agility Robotics, emphasised the company's mission to address the growing labour shortage with its humanoid robots.Right now, in the US alone, there are over a million unfilled positions in materials handling. These are repetitive, injury-prone jobs with high absenteeism and turnover. Humanoid robots with two legs and two arms are a great fill for that massive labour gap that keeps growing, Diez explained in a conversation with CNBC-TV18 at the Web Summit in Qatar.Agility Robotics flagship humanoid robot, Digit, is already making an impact in industrial settings. Diez noted that Digit is the only commercially available humanoid robot actively performing tasks in the workforce. "We've got great customers like GXO, the big logistics player, and Schaeffler, a huge automotive parts manufacturer. Digit is at work in those facilities moving materials around and helping lower the cost of labour, he said.The companys Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model has made adoption easier for businesses by providing an immediate return on investment. "We examine the actual labour cost of the task we're taking on and price our robot based on a discount of that fully burdened human labour rate. Customers see an almost instantaneous RoI because of this pricing model, Diez added.Beyond logistics and manufacturing, Agility Robotics sees significant potential for humanoid robots in industries such as pharmaceuticals and retail. With the introduction of a safety-certified robot by 2025, Diez believes the company will unlock new opportunities for automation. "The ability to deploy at scale is almost infinite for us," he concluded.Digit is the only commercially available robot right now. It's the only one actually doing work. So, we've got great customers, companies like GXO, the big logistics player, Schaeffler, a huge automotive parts manufacturer. Digit is at work in those facilities moving materials around and helping lower the cost of labour. And that is a big part of what we're trying to accomplish here. Fill that labour gap and do it at a rate that's competitive to what a fully burdened human would actually cost. The great thing about it is, with human labour in these areas being so scarce, companies can now choose where they want people to play a role and where they want to automate through humanoid technology.I think what was really most popular is this RaaS model, robot as a service. And so, the way we price that is that, we examine the actual labour cost of the task we're taking on, and then we price our robot based on a discount of that fully burdened human labour rate. We get up and running within a facility within a couple of days. So really what the customer is seeing is almost instantaneous RoI because of the pricing model. It works really well for Agility as far as the margins are concerned, and it's immediately valuable to the customer.I think logistics is an area where there's clearly an interest and need. Manufacturing is another one. We are getting a huge amount of interest in the automotive space. Schaeffler is a good example. But the automotive manufacturers in Germany, the US and Japan also becoming large customers for Agility. The pharmaceutical industry, retail, starting with the backend but then also moving on to the floor. Safety for humanoid robots, not just Digit, but all humanoid robots is a very critical barrier to scale. Agility will be the first company to actually create a robot at the end of 2025 that can safely work near people, which means these safety cages that they work in right now disappear for us. And then the ability to deploy at scale is almost infinite for us. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Google has launched an experimental search mode that replaces traditional links with AI-generated summaries, as it ramps up efforts to integrate AI amid growing competition. Currently, Google Search displays AI Overviews, which provide summaries above traditional search results. The new AI Mode expands on AI Overviews with improved reasoning and multimodal capabilities, allowing it to handle more complex queries, Google said in a blog post. 2025 has already been a trying time for National Parks. Sweeping layoffs have thrown operations into a state of chaos just months before the busy summer season kicks off. And state parks have their own problems, too. Park offices are absolutely littered with framed 8x10s of famous comedians. Okay, its just one photo in one office, but still. While Conan OBrien was preparing to host Sundays Oscars ceremony, Colorado Parks and Wildlifes official social media account tagged him a post. Why? Because they want to know why there is currently a framed, autographed photo of the former late-night host in the offices of Roxborough State Park in Littleton, Colorado. No one knows the story, and we would really love to, they wrote. Don't Miss Shockingly, Conan didnt get back to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife account while he was busy MCing Hollywoods Biggest Night. But even in the days that followed, OBrien hasnt responded, despite posting other, non-parks related content. This slight prompted the parks department to post a sad SpongeBob SquarePants meme. The low-stakes mystery was intriguing enough to attract the attention of a local Denver news station. And one of the anchors may have cracked the case by speculating, I wonder if he stopped out there. Advertisement When did Conan visit the park? Why did he inscribe an autographed photo simply to Park Rangers? And why was said photo framed and hung in the park office for years to the confusion of everyone who works there? Advertisement Advertisement Since Conan has a beard in the publicity still, that would put it in the late 2000s or early 2010s. He grew a beard out during the 2007 writers strike, and later in his post-Tonight Show malaise. OBrien did visit Denver in the spring of 2010, during his Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour, but he would have little reason to pop by a state park in the middle of a tour. In 2014, Conan tweeted, When Im in Colorado, ladies, its not just Mountain Time, its mountin time. Although its unclear whether or not he was actually visiting The Centennial State or just trying to be creepy. It was probably just the latter, and therefore not a clue. Advertisement We may never know the truth, unless, of course, Conan responds. But theres also a good chance that he doesnt remember and/or care. Boy oh boy, Seinfeld writers loved writing for J. Peterman, the semi-fictional catalogue mogul and boss to Elaine Benes at least according to John O'Hurley. The reason, he explained on a recent episode of the Still Here Hollywood podcast, was that Peterman gave the scribes a chance to pen some hilariously lengthy monologues. The characters speaking style was based on the florid prose found in the real J. Peterman catalog. OHurley, who played Peterman over 22 Seinfeld episodes, likened the catalogs writing style to Ernest Hemingway meets a 1940s radio drama combined with a bit of a bad Charles Kuralt. It was a perfect chance for writers to let loose. But unfortunately, OHurley says, many of those monologues ended up on the cutting room floor. The show was disorganized and always too long, says OHurley, making wordy diatribes an easy cut when the show was running long. For example? OHurley pointed to an episode in which Rob You can do it! Schneider played his hard-of-hearing employee. A typical sitcom misunderstanding leads Peterman to believe Elaine and Schneiders character are having an interoffice romance. Rather than disapprove, Peterman decides to play Cupid and gift the couple tickets to the circus. Elaine isnt interested, but Peterman insists. And with remarkable memory, OHurley recited his cut monologue. Don't Miss Elaine, dont worry, he began in Petersons sonorous tones. I too am no stranger to love on the clock. As a young lad, my father apprenticed me to a honey factory in Belize. The chief beekeeper was this horrible hag of a woman, with gnarled teeth and a giant wart that she called a nose. Oh, she was not attractive even by backwoods standards, but love is truly blind, Elaine. And as the days went on, working closer and closer together, that sweet smell of honey in the air, I knew I had to have that horrible creature. And I did. So you and Bob have a good time tonight. Scrapped. Discarded. A funny bit abandoned in the service of more Kramer sliding through Jerrys front door. Advertisement OHurley got plenty of other comedy chances in his 22 episodes, though it took him some time to find the rhythm of the show. In fact, he didnt find Seinfeld scripts funny at first. What took me a while to learn was that it wasnt Golden Girls funny, he said. It wasnt a show where your job was to set a joke up and deliver a punchline. Seinfeld was funny because everybody played their scenes like it was A Streetcar Named Desire. Everybody was so passionate, it was like Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff, like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor going at each other tooth and nail. Thats what made the scene funny, he said. If you played it for the drama, it was funny. Badbox, the notorious Android malware botnet, has been disrupted for a third time in 15 months, with over half a million infected machines now sinkholed. A co-ordinated effort led by the bot detection and mitigation platform, Human Security, will likely cripple the suddenly inflated cybercrime operation that has compromised over one million Android devices worldwide. Humans Satori Threat Intelligence and Research team recently uncovered and in collaboration with Google, Trend Micro, Shadowserver, and other partners partially disrupted a complex and expansive fraud operation dubbed Badbox 2.0, Human researchers said in a blog post. Water has stopped lapping against the bows. Westminster is becalmed. Thanks to Donald Trump no one knows what to think, what to say, whom to attack. Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down. An albatross circles the mast. The ocean looked never more vast. At PMQs Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch clung to each other like shipwreck survivors. It had been, Mrs Badenoch said, a challenging week. Translation: jeepers, what just hit us? Labour MPs may have cheered Sir Keirs arrival in the chamber just before midday, for they have an inchoate sense that he is creating a diplomatic personality for himself and that that may be an electoral asset; yet the exchanges between him and Mrs Badenoch about Ukraine were heard in near silence. Cabinet ministers formed a row of shop-window dummies, frozen in plastic poses. Anneliese Dodds, who quit last week over aid cuts, quivered behind the Speakers Chair. Poor Anneliese. A tree fell in the forest and no one heard. Sir Keir opened by reading a list of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan. This was presumably a quiet rebuke to Vice-President Vance for his slack words earlier in the week. In the rest of the session there was only one moment when argy-bargy ruptured the tomblike silence. It came after Sir Oliver Dowden (Con, Hertsmere) complained about the private-education tax and Sir Keir claimed Tories were uninterested in state schools. Liar! shouted Victoria Atkins (Con, Louth). She was obliged to withdraw the remark. David Davis (Con, Goole) would have been justified in yelling the same after he raised partisan parodies of justice as ex-soldiers are pursued through Northern Irish courts. Sir Keir: I just havent seen the details. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch speaking during the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) Oh come off it. One moment the PM wraps himself in the heroism of our Afghan war dead, the next he declines to defend SAS heroes from his human-rights lawyer friends. Sometimes I am almost overwhelmed by my hatred for politicians. Mike Tapp (Lab, Dover) tested gorges with some sycophancy about Sir Keirs moral courage in recent days. Mr Tapp good name for a gusher added that all MPs must appreciate that everything we say could impact diplomacy. Yes, imagine the headline in the Washington Post: International peace deal wrecked by loose words from MP for Boghampton North during speech to local Womens Institute. Sir Keir, rather than blush at this rubbish, talked of this vital time. But at Westminster it just feels a stunned, shaken, inert, timrous time. Earlier a House of Lords committee heard from four former ambassadors to DC. Karen Pierce, newly returned from her duties there, was refreshingly optimistic. Beside her sat Sir Peter Westmacott (anguished, earnest, quoting Thucydides), Sir Nigel Sheinwald (pouchy-eyed smoothie, probably useful in a French restaurant) and Sir David Manning (crabbed, hunched, vinegary that his old order of global institutions and EU power was kaput). The peers included yet another former ambassador to Washington, Lord Darroch. He stirred the air with his wrists while spluttering in circles, indignation topped by a tweezered fringe. You can see why he sent Trump nuts. Sir Keir Starmer opened PMQs by reading a list of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan This committee of shrivelled, Europhile declinists gawped at the enormity of a world in which Nato may be pointless, the UN could go next and Mr Trump might (so Sir Peter thought) be tempted to have a whack at Iran. Lord Soames, grandson of Sir Winston, lashed out at the awful ghastliness and rubbish about the Oval Office statue of Churchill being somehow significant. Theres life in Soamesy yet. The rest just sat there with jaws sagging, Lord Grocott staring out life via two eyeballs that may have been borrowed from Samuel Beckett. Bloodless Lady Blackstone (Lab), her mouth opening little wider than some vault in a crypt, claimed there was a lot of restiveness among Labour MPs and peers over Mr Trump and it could grow if theres not enough toughness from our PM in dealing with the White House. Maybe there is. But at present it is hiding. Swinging Sixties icon Pattie Boyd appears to be growing old disgracefully. The model and former wife of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton reveals that she has taken fantastic hallucinogenic drugs again in later life. Her drug of choice is ayahuasca, an age-old, plant-based drink whose psychedelic component makes it a class-A substance in this country and illegal. Prince Harry has sung its praises. Often I met oldies riddled with fears and insecurities, former It girl Boyd says. Once I found confidence in myself, I was able to do wonderful experimental things. After all, how many days, months or years do I have left to enjoy my life? I went out on a limb to try the Peruvian hallucinogenic drug ayahuasca. It was absolutely freeing and fantastic, and reminded me of my heady younger days when we experimented with LSD. English model and photographer Pattie Boyd pictured in 1964 Boyd revealed that she has taken fantastic hallucinogenic drugs again in later life The model is the former wife of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton Though dabbling in hallucinogenic drugs after 60 is pretty disgraceful, it reassured me I was neither rigid nor fearful, like so many oldies. After all, it wasnt that different from drinking too much champagne after a party and why not if Im having a blast? Pattie does not make clear when she took the drugs. Boyd reveals that she also recently underwent a Botox treatment for the first time, while on holiday in Morocco. Recently, I booked a villa in Marrakech and invited friends, she writes in The Oldie magazine. It was an excuse to pull out all my old outfits and to buy some floaty long tops on a whim. The whole process filled me with glee. But in the excitement of going away, I decided to have some Botox. It was one huge mistake. One party has followed another and I still cant raise my eyebrows, let alone apply any make-up. Its the most stupid thing Ive ever done. And whats worse, I did it in a delicious environment and felt miserable about myself. Never again. Lily takes the plunge in Paris... Lily James always looks good on screen, whether it was in Downton Abbey, Cinderella or Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. The Surrey-born actress is apparently keen to prove that she looks just as appealing behind the scenes as well. Lily James has starred in Downton Abbey, Cinderella or Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Lily, 35, has shared a series of intimate photographs online from France, where she attended Christian Diors show at Paris Fashion Week. In a video she could be seen posing in a plunging black strapless bra with clips in her hair. Paris so far, she wrote. Lily, who is going out with Queens Of The Stone Age bass guitarist Michael Shuman, has Gallic ancestry via her late grandmother Marinette, who escaped Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Her story is so incredible, says Lily, who would like to bring her grandmothers experiences to the big screen. She spoke her memories and my grandfather wrote it in a small book, and its something I would like to do one day. Clarkson's co-star makes 1million Kaleb Cooper is reaping the rewards from his starring role on Clarksons Farm. I can reveal that Jeremy Clarksons popular sidekick pocketed 910,000 profit at Kaleb Cooper Productions, the company into which he channels his earnings from the series. Accounts report 960,000 in assets before bills, including 400,000 in cash. His takings, in the year to June 2024, include a 666,000 profit for the year. He set his TV company up in 2021 and runs it alongside farming business K Cooper Contracting and K Cooper Holdings. Profits made there amount to 100,000 combined, meaning Cooper has now made his first million at 26. Mick Jagger ex's spicy samba Not everyones got the moves like Jagger, but Sir Micks former inamorata Luciana Gimenez certainly had a spring in her step this week. Brazilian TV presenter and model Luciana Gimenez wore a feathered headdress and gold outfit decorated with roses The Brazilian TV presenter and model wore a feathered headdress and gold outfit decorated with roses (left) for Sao Paulos annual carnival with the Vai-Vai samba school parade. Feeling the energy of [this] community is something that words cannot explain, she writes online, adding: Samba is eternal. Sir Mick and Lucianas romance doomed the Rolling Stones frontmans long-term relationship with Texas-born model Jerry Hall, with whom he has four children. Luciana, 55, has a 25-year-old son, Lucas, with Sir Mick, 81. Starmers attempts to mend fences with British Muslims Sir Keir Starmers attempts to mend fences with British Muslims didnt quite go according to plan when he showed up in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster for an Iftar event when members of the faith can break their fasting after the sun sets. The Prime Minister assured invitees in his speech that he wouldnt talk for too long as he knew they were keen to tuck into their food. Only they werent, as there was still some time to go before sunset. Prime Minister Keir Starmer Admirers like to claim Sir Keir Starmer was Mark Darcy inspiration His admirers like to claim that Sir Keir Starmer was the inspiration for human rights lawyer Mark Darcy, who wooed Bridget Jones. But Helena Kennedy, who co-founded Doughty Street Chambers, where the Prime Minister once worked, says many others fancied themselves as the prototype for the po-faced humanitarian. I was in the chamber rooms with lots of people who thought they were Mark Darcy, Baroness Kennedy tells me at the Whitechapel Gallery Art Icon Gala in London. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice reunion Discussing his reunion with Andrew Lloyd Webber for Sherlock Holmes And The 12 Days of Christmas, Sir Tim Rice plays down past tensions. Thirteen years after saying he and Lloyd Webber were finished as a duo due to not being relevant as a team any more, when asked about bust-ups Sir Tim airily says: A few arguments...a bit of handbags at dawn! Parliament at its best: that's what Sir Keir Starmer keeps saying about Westminster's response to the Trump crisis. What it means is 'parliament is not asking any tricky questions'. Keen to keep it that way, Downing Street is refusing to let MPs and peers quiz the national security adviser Jonathan Powell. A Tory frontbencher, Alex Burghart, asked about this at Cabinet Office questions in the Commons. His opposite number, Pat McFadden went icy. Moments earlier Mr McFadden had been full of cheer. At the name 'Powell' the temperature dropped to that of a game larder. That's what Jonathan Powell does to people. Come, come, you remember 'nice' Mr Powell. He was Tony Blair's chief of staff. In the Blair era he played Sweeney Todd to Alastair Campbell's Mrs Lovett. It was Mr Powell who, before the Iraq War, reportedly told our ambassador to Washington DC, Chris Meyer, to 'get up the White House's fundament and stay there'. The quotation was actually a little ruder than that. I once asked Mr Blair if that instruction was indeed given. He did not deny it. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a business roundtable at Liverpool docks on March 6 Jonathan Powell was former Prime Minister Tony Blair's Chief of Staff Most careers would be demolished by a disaster such as the Iraq War. But like the Leyland Sherpa van in 'The Spy Who Loved Me', Mr Powell seems indestructible. A few weeks ago there was a foetid whiff of poltergeist at the back door of No 10 and he re-emerged from nowhere. There he was in the Oval Office last week, on the sofa opposite Vice-President James Vance. This walking liability is advising the nasal knight how to handle Trump and Vance. As Mr Burghart noted yesterday, a group of parliamentary elders wants to question Mr Powell. The body in question is the National Security Strategy committee, a hardly revolutionary outfit. It includes such rabble rousers as ex-cabinet secretary Lord Sedwill, ex-defence secretaries Lords (Des) Browne and (John) Hutton and senior MPs Sir Julian Lewis and Liam Byrne. Lower down the batting list it does, admittedly, offer backbench bozos Bill Esterson and Tan Dhesi and a chap called Lord Watts, who has the IQ of a Hillman Imp. Should a man of Mr Powell's alleged intellectualism not be able to cope with such a crew? US presidential security advisers are sometimes scrutinised by congressional committees. Why should their London counterparts not be examined by our parliamentarians? Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart outside the BBC after appearing on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg on February 9, 2025 Mr McFadden's face clenched. 'The line of accountability is through ministers,' he said frigidly. Whitehall rules state that special advisers (eg Mr Powell) should submit to committee hearings yet Sir Keir is now blocking this. Why? Because someone might ask if he has repeated his 2003 instructions to our ambassador? Because Mr Powell knows too much? Or because he knows too little? Another absentee from parliament yesterday was Edward Miliband, Energy Secretary and Net Zero enthusiast. He sent a minister of state, Sarah Jones, to make a statement about how the Government would 'unleash' the energy future of the North Sea by, er, banning any more new gas or oil exploration. Ms Jones said the area was running dry. All the more reason, one might have thought, to look for new supplies. 'What planet is she on?' asked Sir Bernard Jenkin (Con, Harwich & N Essex), who argued that with war in the air it was a mad time to 'inflict' Net Zero costs on industry. Ms Jones: 'We are well aware of what we are doing.' Another absentee from parliament yesterday was Edward Miliband, Energy Secretary and Net Zero enthusiast. He sent a minister of state, Sarah Jones (pictured, on a visit to a shipbuilding yard last month), to make a statement She leaned nonchalantly on the despatch box, as if yacking in a pub. There was a blitheness about her, a breezy assurance that recent developments had not altered anything. The Lib Dems' spokesman, Claire Young, had a go. She kept losing her place and shuffling dimly through her notes. All she seemed to want was higher taxes. It was as inept a frontbench performance as I have seen. Eventually deputy Speaker Nus Ghani told her to give up. Ms Young just ran out of gas. As the rest of us may thanks to Mad Mil'. Do you know a woman who deserves special recognition? Who has inspired others with her outstanding achievements, her extraordinary strength, compassion, bravery or perseverance? Our 2025 Inspirational Women of the Year Awards in association with Marks & Spencer is looking for people who stand out above all the others. Just scroll down and fill in the online form at the end of this article to nominate special women from every walk of life extraordinary charity and outreach workers, teachers, nurses, an exceptional carer, trailblazer or someone whos changed their community for the better. Anyone who you consider deserves a special honour. Five national winners will be chosen to attend a black tie charity awards gala dinner in June 2025 supporting Sense, the disability charity. With our 2025 Inspirational Women of the Year Awards in association with Marks & Spencer, we are looking for people who stand out above all others Sense was founded 70 years ago and now supports more than 30,000 disabled people each year, believing that every disabled person should have the opportunity to connect with others and be included in the world. The charity offers personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life, no matter how complex someones disability. The Awards are supported by HRH Princess Anne, patron of Sense. Princess Anne says: As Patron of Sense, I am delighted that the Inspirational Women Awards has chosen Sense as its charity beneficiary this year. Peggy Freeman and Margaret Brock, the founders of Sense, started the organisation hoping to improve support for their own deafblind children and other families in a similar situation. This years Inspirational Women Awards honour the many women who selflessly work to improve the lives of others; like Peggy and Margaret two ordinary women who resolved to do something extraordinary. M&S sponsors this years Awards. Its chief executive Stuart Machin says: After the success of last year, were delighted to be sponsoring the Inspirational Women Awards once again this year. M&S is a business powered by inspiring women, and 70% of our colleagues are women. Meeting last years winners and hearing their stories was incredibly moving, so Im looking forward to finding out about even more inspiring women this year. NOMINATE YOUR INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN To make your nomination, fill in the online form below and tell us in no more than 400 words why you think your candidate should win. Your browser does not support iframes. You can also submit your nomination by email. Copy and paste the nomination form below into an email and send it to inspirationalwomen@dailymail.co.uk The closing date for entries is midnight on 11th April 2025. The Editor's decision is final. Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2025 YOUR NAME.... YOUR TEL NO........ YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. YOUR NOMINATION THEIR TEL NUMBER THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS Tell us in no more than 400 words why you think your candidate should win: PRIZES There will be a total of five winners. Each winner will receive a paid for one night stay in a five star London hotel, selected by the organisers, and travel to and from London, for them and one guest, to attend the black tie awards gala. Each winner will also receive a crystal trophy and a 500 M&S gift voucher. There are no cash alternatives to the prizes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TERMS AND CONDITIONS By entering, nominators agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Any UK resident may be nominated, excluding employees, agents and families of the Daily Mail (the Promoter), Marks & Spencer (the Sponsor) and Campbells Production Group (the Organiser). Finalists must be willing to travel to London for the awards ceremony on Thursday 5th June 2025 and agree to all publicity required by the Promoter, the Organiser and Marks & Spencer. To enter, complete either the online form included within this article, the postal form in the Daily Mail or email: inspirationalwomen@dailymail.co.uk and tell us, in no more than 400 words, why your nominee should win. Nominations must be received no later than 23:59 hours on 11.04.2025. There will be five winners in total chosen by a panel of judges. Each winner and one guest shall attend the awards gala in London in April and receive one nights stay in a five star London hotel room and standard class return train travel to London. Each winner will also receive a crystal trophy and a 500 M&S gift voucher. There are no cash alternatives to the prizes. Finalists will be notified by email and/or phone by 01.05.25. Finalists must respond to Promoters notification within 24 hours. Failure to respond in the time specified means an alternative finalist will be selected from all eligible entries. Promoter accepts no responsibility for lost/delayed postal entries and/or technical difficulties. Your data will be processed in accordance with the following privacy policy: listed below. These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law and be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. To fullest extent permitted by law, Promoter excludes all warranties, representations and liabilities relating to this promotion. Promoter may cancel promotion or any part of it, at any stage, in the event of circumstances occurring beyond Promoters reasonable control. Promoters decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. Promoter is Associated Newspapers Limited, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. DAILY MAIL INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN AWARDS 2025: PRIVACY POLICY This notice explains what personal data we hold about nominators and nominees, how we use the data, and how we may share the data for the purposes of administering the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2025. 1. Who we are dmg media is an international multichannel media company which is home to some of the UK's most popular brands, including the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, MailOnline, Metro, This Is Money, You Magazine, MyMail, MailPlus, MailShop, MailTravel and MailFinance. These brands are all trading styles of Associated Newspapers Ltd, which is the controller of your personal data for the purposes of data protection law. 2. Personal information we collect and use In the course of running the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2025 process, we collect the following personal information, when you (the nominator) or the nominee provide it to us: nominators personal information (name, telephone number, email address). nominees personal information (name, postal address, telephone number, email address, achievements and efforts recognised). nominees special category information (such as ethnicity, disability, health conditions) if this is part of the nomination story. Photographs and videos of the nominee. 3. How we use your personal information We use the nominators and nominees personal information to: maintain a nominations log; communicate with any nominators to obtain further information about a nominee; review the nominees and choose the finalists in line with the selection criteria outlined in the terms and conditions; communicate with any nominees to confirm that they are happy to be winners of the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2025; provide details of the finalists to Marks & Spencer; Photos and recordings will be used by Associated Newspapers Ltd and may be placed online and enter the public domain with the award winners consent. If a winner does not wish to accept the Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2025, then their personal information will be promptly deleted except for personal information identifying them as a winner who declined. 4. How long your personal data will be kept We will hold Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2025 winners personal information securely by retaining the name and contact details of the winners to be able to invite them to reunion events and promote the award after the event. After this time the personal information will be securely destroyed. All nomination forms are securely destroyed after one year. 5. Reasons we can collect and use your personal information We collect and use your personal information as we have a legitimate interest to collect Daily Mail Inspirational Women Awards 2025 nominations to celebrate the efforts and achievements of inspirational women. Following receipt of nominations, we rely on the nominees consent to process the nominees personal information and proceed with award stages. To process any special category information we also rely upon the nominees consent. The nominee may withdraw her consent at any time. If she withdraws her consent prior to judging, the nomination will not be processed any further and any personal information that has been collected will be deleted. We rely on consent for the taking and use of photos, sound bites and video recordings. Who we share your personal information with: Marks & Spencer The Campbells Production Group Sense (Creating a world where disabled people are connected and included, no matter what.) The presenters of the award ceremony so that they can read the agreed script and share your positive story with the audience. Law enforcement or other authorities if required to do so by applicable law. 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How to contact us: If you have any queries or comments about this Policy or to exercise any of your rights under the GDPR, please contact us by email at: dataprotection@dmgmedia.co.uk Alternatively, you can write to us at: Legal Department Data Protection & Privacy Associated Newspapers Limited 9 Derry Street London, W8 5HY A mother has sparked fierce debate after admitting that she doesn't allow her children to shower daily because it 'costs too much' - and revealing that they don't brush their teeth twice a day. Georgia, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, recently posted a clip on her TikTok account, outlining the 'controversial' things she does as a parent. It included not 'playing with her children all day' because it 'bores' her and permitting her kids from going into the bathroom with her. The content creator remarked that she is 'fully expecting all the mums to come at me with their pitchforks' as she spoke about her family. In one of the confessions, Georgia admitted that playing with her youngsters 'bores her' and that they need to 'learn independence'. Elsewhere, she added that she often has housework and would like to use her time to finish tasks that need to be done. The parent also doesn't allow her children to be in the room with her when she's using the bathroom or showering. Despite her youngest being two years old, Georgia reiterated: 'You are not allowed in the same room as me while I'm doing my own thing.' Georgia, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, recently posted a clip on her TikTok account titled 'controversial things I do as a mum' The mother also said she only allows them to wash 'every other day' because of the rising costs of her water bill, along with having home-cooked meals three times a week. She added: 'Do I look like a bank or do I look like I've won the Euromillions? I don't think I do, do I? So therefore they will have three home-cooked meals a week and the rest can be freezer food, maybe even a McDonald's. Come at me.' Lastly, Georgia revealed that she tells her children not to wake her up at 5am, urging them to play by themselves or put on a video to watch, adding that they can wake her up at 6am earliest. In another clip, Georgia said that her kids don't brush their teeth twice a day as recommended by dentists. 'They brush them once a day, not even once a day sometimes I won't lie to you,' she recounted. 'It just depends on the moment, the mood and how I'm feeling. But do they have beautiful white teeth? Yes they do.' The content creator, who has three children, said that she is 'fully expecting all the mums to come at me with their pitchforks,' after revealing that she doesn't play with her kids all day In another clip, Georgia said that her kids don't brush their teeth twice a day as recommended by dentists Georgia said she will only cook meals for her children three times a week and allow them to have freezer food or McDonald's Georgia received backlash from users about her take on parenting with some expressing their shock about her not encouraging her kids to clean their teeth frequently The mother also allows her children to have chocolate and sweets after 'every meal', adding 'I do it, so why can't they?' While some parents have spoken about their concerns with technology, Georgia is seemingly all for it, as she hasn't placed a limit on her children's screen time. She asked: 'If they're overstimulated am I going to put myself through more mental torture just because they've reached their 30 minutes of screen time?' Along with apologising to them when she raises her voice, Georgia also added that she ignores swear words '90 per cent of the time'. She added: 'Making a big song and dance about it is just highlighting it more than it needs to be.' However, Georgia received backlash from users about her take on parenting, with some expressing their shock about her not encouraging her kids to clean their teeth frequently. One said: 'My parents didnt instill teeth brushing habits and me and my siblings have all suffered as adults. 'Have you taken them to the dentist to see if they are suffering as a result.' Another penned: 'Get them off the screens. Get them reading a book. The single best thing you can do to invest in their future. Honestly 1, 2 and 3 just screams that youre about as mature as your children.' 'As a dental nurse I'd be definitely encouraging brushing at night time we say this is the most important time,' a third remarked. 'If you can't get another time in.' However, others were encouraged by Georgia's candour. A fourth added: 'Followed you immediately. Love it. Keeping it real as a parent.' One commented: 'Do I agree with some no. Do I respect you- absolutely. I love ur bluntness and ur reasons. U go girl.' 'You are an absolute legend,' another read. 'I love how real you are.' A mother has revealed how she's moved from Northern Ireland to Vietnam for a much more affordable lifestyle. Celine Diffin, from Armagh, jetted across the world with her husband Matthew, 34, two years ago to the capital city, Hanoi. The couple, who have a six-month-old daughter named Eabha, love the friendly culture and cheaper lifestyle. Celine, 29, revealed their rent is just 432 a month, a weekly shop is only 40 and a tank of petrol and a sandwich is around 1. The pair claimed their money goes much further in Vietnam and they can live off of Celine's kindergarten teacher salary. The savvy mother-of-one also explained that a meal out costs as little as 2 with a beer only costing 40p and spirits and mixers costing 2. Celine, who was paying 650 for student accommodation in Northern Ireland before moving abroad, claimed their two bed apartment is only 432 a month. Speaking to The Sun, she explained: 'There is so much fresh fruit and veg that is a lot cheaper than at home. Celine Diffin, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, jetted across the world with her husband Matthew, 34, two years ago to the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi 'Sometimes just me and Matthew will go for dinner for Vietnamese food and the most we've spent is 2. Very rarely people cook here, everyone goes out all the time for dinner because it is so cheap.' Last year, Vietnam was named as the cheapest country to be an expat in for the third year in a row, according to Swiss-based expat guide InterNations. Overall, 65 per cent of expats say they are satisfied with their financial situation in Vietnam and this isn't just due to the low cost of living. Just under one in five expats in Vietnam say they earn $150,000 (118,000) a year. Celine revealed the lifestyle is also much more laid back, with businesses closing daily for 'lunch time naps'. The mother, who gave birth in Vietnam to her daughter, said she is glad she stayed in the country to have her baby because 'its been fantastic.' However she did claim there is one downside to the country and that is air pollution. In the densely-populated capital, levels of a major pollutant linked to heart disease, asthma and even cancer are 40 times higher than recommended guidelines. According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, Hanoi is plagued by a pollutant known as PM2.5 tiny particles or droplets less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that are invisible to the naked eye and inhaled without even realising. Research has shown that these cancer-causing microparticles are small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs. Celine (pictured) revealed she moved from Northern Ireland for a much more affordable lifestyle The savvy mother-of-one also explained that a meal out costs as little as 2 with a beer only costing 40p and spirits and mixers costing 2 Celine, 29, revealed their rent is 432 a month, a weekly shop is only 40 and a tank of petrol and a sandwich is around 1 In Hanoi, PM2.5 concentration is a whopping 41.8 times the annual air quality guideline given by the World Health Organization (WHO), IQAir said. The mother admitted it gets very bad in December to March because it 'freezing cold' and people are lighting fires to keep warm, which adds to the pollution. She claimed they constantly wear masks when stepping outside as the pollution can be bad for your lungs. Elsewhere, Celine also admitted that the language barrier has taken some time to get used to but Google Translate has become her 'best friend.' The couple even started to learn the language but admitted it is difficult to pick up. Celine urged others who were considering emigrating to just 'bite the bullet' and do it, saying it's important to experience other cultures. Victims of a prolific dating app predator believed to have targeted 600 women have opened up about their horrific ordeals after the sick paedophile blackmailed them into performing depraved acts on camera. The sick crimes of Antony 'Danny' Burns, who prowled dating apps and sugar daddy sites for prey, have been revealed in a Channel 5 documentary where two of his victims detail how they were left so terrorised by his extortion, they were too scared to leave the house and feared he would kill them. In 2024, eight of Burns's victims faced him in Birmingham Crown Court, where he was convicted of controlling and coercing 27 women between 2018 and 2020. The National Crime Agency believes he attempted to blackmail 600 women during his campaign of online abuse. The depraved demands included forcing a mother to 'sexually abuse' her eight-year-old daughter on camera to fulfil his sick fantasies. Originally from Lowestoft in Suffolk, the 39-year-old is thought to have attempted to blackmail 600 victims in total, but 'showed no remorse' throughout his trial and eventual conviction when he was jailed for 24 years The twisted predator had victims spanning multiple continents, with women in the UK, US and Australia falling prey to his manipulative and calculated tactics for blackmail. When his phone was confiscated in 2020, police discovered his phone filled with women's phone numbers, including 297 in the UK, each which were saved under derogatory phrases. Burns would target women on dating sites and sugar daddy apps, posing as a normal and 'genuine guy' with fake pictures, before encouraging them into sending explicit pictures of themselves. He would then dredge up personal details about the women, including who their families were and where they lived, threatening to destroy their lives if they didn't continue to provide him with sexual material. Victims of the prolific online predator, Antony 'Danny' Burns, have opened up about their horrific experiences after being blackmailed by the paedophile into performing depraved acts on camera (pictured) It became clear that there was no limit to what Burns would ask of his victims, with many asked to perform twisted acts. One officer on the case recalled being 'shocked' by the case. 'Victims were asked to defecate, or wee in a cup or wet themselves and put their underwear that their were wearing in their mouths and suck it,' he said. When he was arrested, police also found footage of the predator having requested a mother to 'abuse her daughter'. Speaking on the Channel 5 documentary, Hayley, who was identified as 'victim number 15' in the documentary, said she first encountered Burns following 'a very bad breakup'. At the time, she was working as a carer and was 'absolutely desperate for money', and so went on a sugar daddy dating site on the advice of a friend, in the hopes of scoring some easy cash. She described the sites as places where 'rich men go to spoil younger women'. The two then began chatting, with Burns claiming to be a 'business owner' from Malibu in the US, who was 'worth millions'. After requesting six videos for $600, Hayley obliged to Burns's requests, initially believing Burns lived in a different country and that 'nothing bad would happen'. Speaking on the Channel 5 documentary, Hayley, who was identified as 'victim number 15' in the documentary, said she first encountered Burns following 'a very bad breakup' (pictured) A second victim, Sophie, who was identified as 'victim five', met Burns on the dating website Plenty of Fish, where she believed she had met a 'genuine and attractive' man who was claiming to be 25-years-old (Sophie pictured) Hayley said the conversation quickly took a sexual and 'domineering' turn. 'He said, "this is what I want and I want it now" - I was just a sex slave to him.' Hayley said Burns became 'manipulative' and had instructed her to start calling him 'daddy' and start doing things that were out of her 'comfort zone'. He continued to push her limits, asking her to complete despicable tasks. 'I could be anything from masturbating to urinating in my underwear and putting it in my mouth to anal masturbation and it was very intense very quickly.' The blackmail started that night, with Burns threatening to upload pictures to her friends and family if she tried to cut contact. 'He was at the peak of his talents which happen to be sadistic abuse with paedophilic interests,' an officer of the case noted. Hayley was petrified of what he might do next, fearing what he might do if she didn't oblige. Burns asked to videocall her, keeping his screen dark while he pleasured himself, instructing Hayley to use a sex toy on herself. 'I was on the floor in tears and he was asking me to call him daddy, telling me what was going to happen when he rapes me,' she said. Similarly to Hayley, Sophie quickly noticed things took a toxic turn. She recalled one occasion when Burns asked her to write 'slut' on her chest in eyeliner 'I was under his control at that point,' she said. His coercion of Hayley left her petrified to leave the house fearing what Burns might do next. It was during this period that she 'lost a lot of friends'. The coercion imposed on her by Burns left her with 'depression and anxiety'. She said the ordeal had 'damaged me physically in everyway possible'. She described him as the 'person who took everything away from me'. Hayley eventually broke down to her best friend, who insisted that she tell the police about what was going on. Because Burns initially pleaded 'not guilty' to his depraved acts, some of his victims were forced to provide evidence in court. 'I was extremely nervous and paranoid because it was the fear of the unknown. I was on the phone to my partner at the time saying "I can't do this", Hayley said. But she managed to pull through, saying she wanted to see him, 'go down for a long time'. 'He's seen me in all my glory and I wanted to see him in all his dismay,' she said. A second victim, Sophie, who was identified as 'victim five', met Burns on the dating website Plenty of Fish, where she believed she had met a 'genuine and attractive' man who was claiming to be 25-years-old. The National Crime Agency (NCA) lead investigating officer, Steve Colman, said: 'Burns had become an arch manipulator of women for the sole purpose of blackmailing them to get images for his own sexual gratification' NCA victim care officer, Shaun Juriansz explained that Burns first arrived on police radar in 2018 when they were investigating the case of the serial online sex offender, Abdul Elahi, who had been communicating with Burns online (pictured) The two then began chatting on the app and before moving to WhatsApp, where end-to-end encryption made it easy for Burns to 'evade the law'. Similarly to Hayley, Sophie quickly noticed things took a toxic turn. She recalled one occasion when Burns asked her to write 'sl*t' on her chest in eyeliner. 'What he asked me to do made me feel disgusting and very vulnerable. Scary doesn't seem to cover it,' she said. She reread a text message that said: 'Listen up you big a**, dumb t*t, f**k pig, you're lucky I'm even talking to you. You're eyes, I can see you're pleading for a man.' Burns went on to send her threatening messages, forwarding pictures of her loved ones and colleagues and claiming he would tell them what she had done if she didn't comply with his sick demands. He would demand videos of her 'inserting things' inside herself, at one stage sending 500 messages within just a few hours. 'I really did think he was going to come to my house to kill me,' she said. 'I was scared I might die.' Even after blocking his number, he would come back on another number. Finally, she called the police who told her there was nothing they could do without evidence - which Burns had deleted in anticipation. 'For a long time after that, I didn't feel safe. What he wanted was vile but I was very lucky that he hadn't honed his technique,' she said. Sophie was one of the eight victims who had to give evidence in court after Burns said he would initially plead not guilty - meaning victims had to 'relive those moments'. Giving a victim impact statement in court, Sophie described how the coercion left her a 'shell of myself'. Between December 2019 and March 2020, Burns inflicted hell onto his victims, blackmailing them for his own 'sexual gratification'. One of Burns's victims was so traumatised by his relentless blackmail, which saw him upload photos of her online, that she was forced to drop out of university and move away with her mother and contemplated taking her own life. The National Crime Agency's lead investigating officer, Steve Colman, said: 'Burns had become an arch manipulator of women for the sole purpose of blackmailing them to get images for his own sexual gratification.' Burns was 'very good as research', the investigator explained, making him apt to finding out personal details about his victims which he would use to 'blackmail' them. 'He was sophisticated, I think he was confident he wouldn't get caught,' he said. Burns was seized and arrested following an investigation by the National Crime Agency, with the assistance of the FBI. NCA victim care officer Shaun Juriansz explained that Burns first arrived on police radar in 2018 when they were investigating the case of the serial online sex offender, Abdul Elahi, who had been communicating with Burns online. The two then began working together, with Burns 'picking up the craft' from Elahi, who shared his 'script' for blackmail. When Elahi was arrested, Burns continued to blackmail alone, growing 'more evil and more deceitful' than his predecessor. Officer Colman arrested Burns in 2019 on conspiracy to blackmail in connection with Ali but he put every effort into making out that he was one the one being 'manipulated' into blackmailing women. He was released on bail and continued to reap hell on his victims online before being re-arrested two years later. On his second arrest, police were shocked to discover that he barely had any imagery of his victims, but it later came to light that he had been using 'cloud telephone numbers' to cover up his the pictures. He used a multitude of fake numbers, addresses and VPNs to cover his tracks, with officers convinced Burns thought he would 'never get caught'. Prosecuting, Kate Temple-Mabe said Elahi and Burns took delight in messaging victims simultaneously, telling the court that Burns would sometimes be messaging his mother and girlfriend at the same time as screen recording live sex performances over WhatsApp. Burns, who appeared to be a 'normal' person on the face of it, had already been issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order before he began coercing women online. 'He had a girlfriend, he had been employed in what you would say was a relatively mainstream employment role, albeit he was a registered sex offender, he had a relatively normal life,' said Robert Slater, a senior investigating officer on the case. Appearing again in court in January 2024, Burns was convicted of 41 offences in total; after pleading guilty to 39. Among the convictions were blackmail, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, causing sexual exploitation of a child and making and distributing indecent images of a child. The child in question was eight years old. Burns denied two counts of causing a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, but was convicted after a trial. The judge said Burns showed 'no remorse' for his victims while in court. Prime Suspect: Hunting The Predators is available to watch on My5. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can contact Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222 As spring sets in across the UK, the new season marks the inevitable re-emergence of insects and bugs such as flies, spiders and ants. Ants often appear in the mildly warm month of March as thousands of colonies begin to reproduce. However, these tiny invaders are notorious for swarming homes and setting up camp in bathrooms, kitchens and pantries in search of food. A lack of preparation and turning a blind eye to early warning signs can quickly snowball into into a full-blown infestation - and with a visit from professional pest services setting the average person back 165, it's best to stay a few steps ahead. Luckily, one expert has suggested a natural alternative to expensive, chemical insecticides - and it costs as little as 8p. Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner of Adams Self Store, has urged Brits to make use of a common household item that can effectively deter ants: peppermint tea bags. The expert said: 'Most people dont realise the power of natural deterrents when it comes to pest control. 'Ants emerge from their winter hibernation in March as the temperatures are rising; theyre hungry and on the hunt for food. This leads them straight to our homes, where they can find crumbs, spills and tempting leftovers.' Ants are notorious for swarming homes and setting up camp in bathrooms, kitchens and pantries in search of food (stock image) Hutton explained that ants 'hate' the aroma of peppermint as it disrupts their sense of smell and makes it almost impossible for them to locate food elsewhere in the home. He added: 'It masks their pheromone communication, signaling that your home is unsuitable for them to enter.' To keep ants at bay, Hutton advised placing unused teabags near cracks and doorways where the critters are likely to enter, as well as underneath or behind appliances, inside cupboards and near food storage areas. The expert stressed the importance of removing every trace of food, including crumbs, as it only takes one ant to discover a source and leave a pheromone trail - which can result in a swarm of its friends to joining the feast. And it's crucial to maintain a clean kitchen, wiping down surfaces regularly, keeping food waste to a minimum and storing food in airtight containers to help keep ants away. Reducing clutter - such as keeping excess belongings in dry, clean units - can also help prevent an infestation as this can eliminate hiding spots and food sources. Above all, Hutton emphasised the importance of sealing entry points, including doors, windows and small cracks. For a budget-friendly and effective solution to seal gaps around the home, caulk is recommended. Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner of Adams Self Store, has urged Brits to make use of a common household item that can effectively deter ants, like peppermint tea bags (stock image) Meanwhile, a pest control expert has revealed their natural hack for keeping flies away during the heatwave - and it costs just 90p. As annoying as house flies can be, there's no longer any need to waste time or energy wafting them away thanks to one very quick and easy hack available from ASDA and other supermarkets. Mint comes high up on the list of smells that flies hate - and it turns out that a basic mint plant placed on the windowsill will do the trick of keeping them away. Other herbs that can also be bought cheaply and work just as well include basil and rosemary. Taking a slightly different tack, Jordan Foster from Fantastic Pest Control, based in London, said repelling these bothersome insects is easy with some strong essential oils. For some people it's that glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc at 'wine o'clock'. An unwinding drink, around 6pm, to mark the end of the working day and the start of relaxation at home. Others might prefer a refreshing G&T before dinner or a cold beer in front of the television. Whatever your preference, it's safe to say most of us have a favourite tipple and a time to drink it. Personally, it was always a vinho verde while preparing my evening meal, or a vodka-based cocktail when out with friends. But no more. That was me before Mounjaro, which has helped me to lose 3st so far. Today, like so many users of the weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy, I simply can't stomach the idea of alcohol. The thought of a glass of wine with food makes me feel nauseous, literally. Ditto a fizzing flute of prosecco or a stiff vodka tonic, no matter how sparkly and inviting it looks. The litre bottle of Baileys I bought at Christmas, usually long gone by now, remains unopened in my cupboard. I never thought I'd write this but... I just don't want it. Claudia Connelly says she's worried her friends will think she's a complete misery if she sticks to still water during her birthday night out Hazel Woodward stopped craving alcohol and hasn't had what she calls 'a big session' in nearly a year Everyone who takes weight-loss drugs fully expects their appetite for food to go that's how they work, after all. By making us feel fuller for longer, they reduce, or even erase entirely, sensations of hunger, and stop us eating as much as we used to. But many of us have been shocked by a second effect we weren't expecting the complete disappearance of our desire to drink alcohol. What's odd about this is that drinking isn't really associated with hunger, but instead with feelings of relaxation, of 'taking the edge off'. Why should a jab that stops us over-eating also stop us wanting the pleasurable tipsiness we experience when we drink a glass of wine? Advanced nurse practitioner Jen Vittanuova, who runs aesthetic clinics in Huddersfield and on London's Harley Street, is currently prescribing Mounjaro to 20 female clients between the ages of 35 and 50. 'Every single one is reporting a reduction in their alcohol consumption,' she tells me. 'It's a combination of them having lost the desire to drink and also, physically, feeling so full that they can't tolerate it. I have ladies who used to drink a bottle of wine every night telling me they now have zero interest which, of course, is great for their weight loss. It's saving them money too. Those who do still drink say that two small glasses is their absolute limit.' The drugs' ability to slow down what's called 'gastric emptying' may well mean a couple of glasses of wine make you feel bloated and full. But how do they stop you wanting even one? How are they able to change our feelings about alcohol to the extent that something we once liked and looked forward to no longer holds any appeal at all? The answer seems to be that they can tap into, and alter, the part of our brain known as the 'reward centre', which makes us feel good when we do things we enjoy. In particular the active ingredients (semaglutide in the case of Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide in Mounjaro) appear to be able to influence the chemical messenger dopamine. 'We have several 'feel-good' neurotransmitters in our brains, of which dopamine is one,' explains cognitive neuroscientist Dr Lynda Shaw. 'When we try a new behaviour and enjoy it, dopamine will be activated and that drives us to want to do it again. The chemicals in drugs, including alcohol, also cause us to have craving for that stimulus.' But if the effect of dopamine is reduced by a skinny jab, we're clearly going to feel less of a craving or none at all. It's still unclear how it works and whether it affects other things we find pleasurable (some report a loss of sex drive for example). But in theory, dopamine dampening is the reason why an ice-cold Vinho Verde no longer floats my boat and why I don't even enjoy going out as much as I used to. Not drinking ruins the 'vibe' of the evening. Like it or not, alcohol, is a big factor in socialising and without it, well, I don't have as much fun as everyone else and if I'm not going to have fun then why bother going? I might as well stay in and save my money. It's my birthday later this month and I'll be having dinner with a group of friends and already I'm worried that they'll think I'm a complete misery if I stick to still water, so I've decided I'll force down a couple of cocktails to show goodwill and suffer the acid reflux and nausea I know will follow. And a growing number of studies show how common a side-effect of Ozempic this is. The most recent, by the University of North Carolina in the US, was conducted on adults with a 'moderate alcohol-use disorder', meaning at least two heavy drinking episodes a week (four or more standard drinks for women and five or more for men). Those who took 'skinny jabs' reduced their daily alcohol intake by 41 per cent and also experienced a much-reduced desire for it. An estimated 500,000 people are using weight-loss drugs in the UK and among groups of friends and in online forums, the chatter is certainly reflecting the study's findings. Hazel Woodward, 42, hasn't had what she calls 'a big session' in nearly a year. The manager of a social media agency in Manchester, she took Mounjaro for six months before swapping to Wegovy for four months. 'I am a social drinker,' she says. 'I would always stick to just a couple during the week. but I do admit I liked to indulge a bit more at the weekend, probably having several vodkas with a mixer on a night out. 'Quite soon after I started taking the drugs, I found that anything fizzy cider, prosecco or beer felt incredibly heavy on my stomach. 'Out of habit I'd continue to pour myself a drink when watching TV and take forever to finish it. But after a while I thought 'you're not enjoying this at all, so why are you bothering?' 'Before the injections I used to love the thought of having a drink, especially at the end of the week. I associated it with decompressing and relaxing and looked forward to that feeling of relief that washes over you when you take the first couple of sips. It was strange for all that to just disappear.' Hazel stopped having the injections a fortnight ago and says that, so far, a craving for alcohol has not returned. One phenomenon of weight loss jabs is that for many users they cancel out what is referred to as 'food noise' constant and intrusive thoughts about food. It doesn't seem implausible to suggest that for many people the drugs also cancel out 'booze noise', meaning the mind no longer becomes aroused by the pleasurable anticipation of alcohol. Dr Shaw points out that drinking is often a social activity, which in itself provides a happiness boost. 'Everyone will have friends they drink with more than others, and being part of that group will give us a dopamine rush anyway' says Dr Shaw. 'Dopamine is stimulated by our anticipation of something good about to happen.' But not if those dopamine pathways are disrupted by Mounjaro or Ozempic. With the UK experiencing a sharp increase in the number of people with alcohol-related liver disease (the Office for National Statistics reports a 46 per cent increase over the past decade) drinking less or abstaining altogether has to be a good thing. Yet Mounjaro user Samantha Redding*, 48, from east London, feels she's paid a heavy price for her new sobriety. 'I've been frozen out by a group of friends who seem to have decided that I am now 'boring',' she says. 'I haven't been able to drink since I started on Mounjaro three months ago. At first my girlfriends found it amusing but that very quickly turned to irritation. 'We're a group of eight who have known each other since university and our gatherings have always centred around boozy dinners and lunches. I learned that there was a bottomless brunch event recently to celebrate one of the gang's birthdays and I wasn't included. 'When I tackled them, they said it seemed pointless inviting me since it was 60 a head and I hardly ate and wouldn't be knocking back the champagne. I found it unbelievably hurtful. I'm thrilled to have lost two stone in weight, but I never expected to lose friends too.' Dr Mohsan Subhani is a clinical research fellow at the University of Nottingham and a specialist in alcohol disorders and behaviours. He and his colleagues recently carried out a systematic review of all available research on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and their impact on drinking behaviour. While poring over the material, he found one study particularly intriguing. Conducted in Denmark it had included the use of what is called 'functional MRI'. 'This is quite a new scanning technology that's able to pick up functions in the brain,' says Dr Subhani. 'This particular study was conducted on people who were both drinking to excess and taking GLP-1 analogues. 'While in the scanner they were given alcohol-related cues (related smells, sights and sounds) to excite and stimulate certain areas of the brain. 'Scans were done on participants before they started to use the drugs and then again while on them. The result showed a marked difference in how the brain responded to cues once the drugs were in use. 'What that tells us is that it appears the reward centre part of the brain is effectively being dampened down and therefore any craving is hugely reduced.' So far most trials have been small and Dr Subhani believes that more research is needed. He and a group of colleagues have just applied for funding in the hope that the UK can conduct its own study. It will look at the effectiveness of the drugs on 300 people who have a high BMI and a history of excessive drinking. Dr Subhani says: 'In the meantime, from studying all the available material and that includes observational data on social drinkers as well we can conclude that there are very promising signs that these medications can reduce alcohol consumption. Hepatologists [liver specialists] like me are very excited to see how this may evolve because unlike conditions like heart disease or diabetes there aren't many options to treat alcohol disorders at present. 'Until we know more,' he counsels, reducing alcohol consumption through lifestyle is the best route to take. But it's possible people with alcohol problems will be prescribed Ozempic in the near future, too. Neuroscientist Dr Shaw also advises caution. 'We have neurotransmitters for a very good reason and if these drugs do dysregulate dopamine, we don't yet understand what else that could mean. 'I think we need to tread carefully until we know more about how the brain is impacted by it.' Of course, jabbers like me worry that as soon as we stop injecting (as I'm due to in four weeks' time) our appetites for both food and booze will return with a vengeance. I have visions of me not being able to unscrew the Baileys fast enough once I finish my current Mounjaro pen. Dr Subhani says that 'in people with alcohol disorders we know that if they are able to stay off drink for three months then their chances of continuing to abstain are far higher than if they had only quit for a few weeks'. Meanwhile, two weeks into being jab free, Hazel Woodward is feeling optimistic. 'Prosecco was always my absolute favourite, and I had my first glass of it recently after ten months. 'I won't lie, it was the best thing ever, but one glass was enough for me. What I hope is that the desire to have another and another won't slowly creep back in.' The brands she wears report surging sales. Those who design her outfits and accessories describe it as an 'honour'. She has been swamped with offers of clothing from fashion houses across the world. No, not fashion's usual darling, the Princess of Wales, but Melania Trump who until recently had top designers queuing up to say they had refused to dress her. From the ultra-sophisticated navy coat dress and wide-brimmed hat she wore for her husband's inauguration to the achingly chic trouser suit in her new official portrait, and the Dolce and Gabbana tux she wore to a recent White House Dinner, Melania's choices signal a return to sartorial sharpness that I, for one, heartily applaud. After years of slouchy, scruffy fashion, we have the women of Team Trump to thank for a resurgence of serious power dressing. At Donald Trump's inauguration we witnessed Ivanka Trump's emerald-green skirt suit, Usha Vance's high-collar blush-pink coat and Tiffany Trump's belted velvet coat dress all paired with smart heels, impeccably styled hair and more-is-more make-up. Not for nothing has this look been re-christened 'Republican dressing'. And I'm proud to say that I've been sporting a similar look throughout my career as a journalist. I've stubbornly ignored the recent trends for masculine, oversized and wide-leg tailoring, and stuck with my own personal uniform a classic, fitted dress, never too floaty or flouncy but usually sleek, tasteful and nipped-in at the waist, in the manner preferred by Melania. In more than 15 years in an office, I have never once worn trousers to work let alone jeans. I prefer the elegance, simplicity and yes, femininity of a dress, paired with matte tights in the winter and bare legs in the summer months. Lara King says she's stuck with her own personal uniform a classic, fitted dress, never too floaty or flouncy but usually sleek, tasteful and nipped-in at the waist Melania wore an achingly chic trouser suit in her new official First Lady portrait Ivanka at her father Donald Trump's inauguration wearing an emerald-green skirt suit For the majority of my working life I never wore flats either, preferring statement heels in the Melania mode. Recently, as the mother of a busy and very mobile toddler, I have made the occassional concession to smart flats or boots. I'm not slavishly smart, in a uniform sort of way. I favour a full-on style statement: bright colours and strong, feminine silhouettes that subtly show off sex appeal as well as self-confidence. For a long time, women were expected to dial down the glamour to prove they were as 'serious' as men in the workplace. Earlier iterations of power dressing had a distinctly masculine edge from Coco Chanel's tweed suits in the 1920s to the shoulder pads and over-sized blazers of the 1980s. But surely we're beyond that now and women can dress to show they are confident, successful and in control? If in doubt, just look at Amal Clooney, an Oxford-educated human rights lawyer who manages to look professional, fashionable and feminine all at once. In 2025, it shouldn't be surprising that a woman can have style, sex appeal and substance. An unstoppable combination. When I started out as a journalist in the late Noughties, I wanted to be taken seriously, and for me dressing professionally was part of that. As the old adage goes: 'Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.' It was a time when Kate Middleton's shift dresses, smart jackets and long glossy hair seemed like a masterclass in office-appropriate elegance. I saved up and spent my wages on the same leather LK Bennett heels she favoured. I soon discovered that, regardless of whether it made other people take me more seriously, dressing for success helped me take myself more seriously. It gave me the confidence to put my ideas forward and make my voice heard. And when I received last-minute invitations to networking events, I was able to go straight from my desk. These days, more often than not, I'm dashing from work to collect my 18-month-old from nursery rather than attend a high-profile event but if anything, that makes dressing the part from 9 to 5 more important, not less. On my first day back after maternity leave, slipping into a smart dress again helped me shift my mindset and be focused and productive. The way you dress affects how others perceive you. Looking smart gets you noticed, whether we admit it or not and what's wrong with that? Now a busy editor, I don't think it's done me any harm when it comes to climbing the ladder. When I was a trainee, an older colleague took me aside to tell me she admired how I always wore smart heels despite my 5ft 9in height. She said she'd seen too many young girls slouch to try to blend in, while I carried myself with confidence. I didn't feel confident at the time, but it gave me a boost. That's what smart dressing will do for you. Over time, though, I became an outlier. Even before the pandemic, we were seeing what fashion consultant Alison Lowe has called the 'casualisation of office attire'. Once Covid struck, every day became Dress-Down Friday. Suddenly I was sitting in meetings with accomplished, successful women in leggings and sweatshirts, wondering why they hadn't made more of an effort. I believe that if you're setting foot in a professional environment, you should look professional and not as though you might just as easily be on your way to the gym or even the beach. I hope the rise of Republican dressing means the tide is turning since where America's fashionistas lead, the rest of us usually follow. That said, the American Right seem to be borrowing heavily from the British royal playbook: streamlined silhouettes, block colours, tailored coats and elegant hats are all styles beloved of royalty, from the late Queen Elizabeth to the Princess of Wales. Even the notoriously casual Gen Z are joining the pushback against scruffy office attire although they have somewhat over-corrected. They claim to have 'revolutionised office wear' with the Office Siren trend on TikTok, in which young women pose in tight-fitting outfits that look more like a male fantasy of work clothes than anything someone would wear to their job. To those legging-lovers who say it's too much effort to dress up for the office, I say it's a myth that it's a high-maintenance approach. With a capsule wardrobe of elegant dresses, you don't have to waste time deciding what to wear in the morning. In an era of fast fashion and too much choice, it's a relief. My favourite outfits include colourful, fit-and-flare dresses from brands such as Hobbs, Reiss and Whistles. Sleek, sophisticated dressing is timeless. That's an approach I learned from my mum, who never left the house looking anything other than immaculate. That goes for non-workwear too so I'm glad that Republican glamour seems to be rubbing off here, too. Skinny jeans which I consider far smarter than the baggy jeans of the past few years are creeping back into style. Just look at Melania boarding Air Force One days after the inauguration, or the Princess of Wales, who teamed them with a classic white shirt and black blazer in a photograph to celebrate her 43rd birthday in January. Of course, I never stopped wearing mine. As Melania's stylist Herve Pierre has said: 'Her style has been consistent for years; there is no reason why she would change it.' I feel exactly the same. She said she has cut down her cost of living immensely A woman who left America to live in Spain has revealed how making the move has saved her thousands of dollars per month. Shawna Lum, 31, who is originally from Los Angeles, California, fell 'completely in love' with Spain after studying abroad for six months in 2015. She decided to relocate to the European country full-time a year later, and has never looked back. She has now dished on all the benefits of living in Spain exclusively to DailyMail.com, as she explained that she's not only enjoyed a much more relaxed lifestyle - but she's also cut down her cost of living immensely. Shawna said her rent went from $2,000 per month for her one bedroom apartment in the heart of LA to only $350 per month for her home in a small town right outside of Barcelona. She also revealed that she only spends around $200 per month on groceries for herself and her husband, Dan, adding, 'And that is buying all organic. 'The quality of food is much better [in Spain] - fresh produce, food, and wine at prices that would shock people in the US. 'My overall expenses are much lower than in the US, and I get more for my money.' A woman who left America to live in Spain has revealed how making the move has saved her thousands of dollars per month Shawna Lum (seen with her husband), 31, who is originally from Los Angeles, dished on all the benefits of living in the European country exclusively to DailyMail.com In addition, she pointed out that she has 'incredible healthcare' that 'doesn't cost a fortune.' '$70 a month for my private insurance - no copays and no deductibles,' she shared. Shawna explained that she was initially drawn to the 'way people socialize, the amazing food,' and how cheap and easy it is to travel to other countries in Europe. '[After studying abroad there] I did not want to go back to my corporate job in the US, but I had a contract signed for that June so I had to go back,' she shared. 'I worked in corporate for 1.5 years before I threw the towel in to live my dream life in Spain again. 'I kept thinking about Spain and how amazing my experience was and how much happier I was.' As for the biggest differences between Spain and America aside from the money, Shawna explained that 'life seems slower' in Spain, and added that the 'work-life balance' is much better. 'It's more about living rather than just working. People prioritize connection and spontaneity (which I am huge about),' she gushed. She said her rent went from $2,000 per month for her one bedroom apartment in the heart of LA to only $350 per month for her home in a small town right outside of Barcelona Shawna explained that 'life seems slower' in Spain, and added that the 'work-life balance' is much better 'Europeans are always willing and able to grab a coffee with friends, have long meals, and enjoy the outdoors. 'Many like to have no plan vs. the US our whole lives must be planned to a T. I love the concept that Europeans and Spanish people particularly are more at ease with the unknown and let life unfold naturally and calmly and I honestly think that is WAY better on the nervous system. 'Our nervous systems are messed up in the USA with so much go-go-go and stress. 'The cost of living is lower, the food is fresher, and there's just an overall better work-life balance.' She added that despite her family and most of her friends living thousands of miles away in America, she never feels alone in Spain. 'There's a strong sense of community, which I really appreciate as well as an openness that I have never seen before,' she continued. 'I don't feel like I am being judged here. Life is not a competition as it is in the USA.' Shawna also said that she's more active in Spain - she easily walks 15,000 steps a day - and has 'beautiful parks and beaches' at her fingertips. She explained that she's not only enjoyed a much more relaxed lifestyle - but she's also cut down her cost of living immensely She said she was initially drawn to the 'way people socialize, the amazing food,' and how cheap and easy it is to travel to other countries in Europe. She's seen in Italy As for the downsides, she said many stores and restaurants are 'understaffed' which means 'longer waits.' 'But this is a part of the process and it teaches us Americans patience,' she added. In addition, she said finding her way around was a 'bit of an adjustment' at first, and added that she sometimes 'felt like that odd man out' before she became fluent in Spanish. But in the end, she has no regrets - and wants to encourage others to take the leap and move to their dream country. 'If you're thinking about it, there's a reason,' Shawna, who founded a company called Move Overseas Now, which 'helps American retirees, remote workers, aspiring business owners, students, and sabbatical-Seekers finally move abroad,' said. 'Environment is a huge factor to how you experience life and sometimes your environment needs to change. 'I always say the hardest part is making the decision to commit to yourself and not listen to other people - we are constantly looking outward (at the news, our friends and family) for what we should do next but this is a decision you get to do FOR YOURSELF because life is short. 'We do not know when our last day on earth will be - once you do make the decision to commit to yourself and your dream, everything else falls into place. 'Moving abroad isn't just about saving money; it's about gaining a better lifestyle. If I can do it, so can you.' If her husband's administration has seemed in the last few days like a wrecking ball smashing through norms and institutions both domestic and international, Melania's reemergence in the theatre of DC political life has been a study in contrasts. She may be her husband's most steadfast supporter - but she travels alongside him on a parallel if not always intertwined path. Restraint, discipline and strategy - have been the visual cues the First Lady has, largely through her deployment of dress, adopted for her husband's second Presidency. And the immaculately tailored, austere grey suit she chose for Tuesday night's joint session of Congress was no exception. Acutely aware that she cannot step outside her front door without being decoded and deconstructed by critics, it is no wonder that for the political equivalent of the Oscars - with all the major players gathered in one room - she returned to Dior, the brand that is at the core of Melania's interpretation of present responsibilities, and a reflection of a newfound assurance that quite frequently floundered during her husband's first administration. Amid the sea of garish pink suits that appeared on many Democratic congresswomen (apparently a feminist protest against Trump), Melania stood out in an ensemble that no doubt caught the attention of her eagle-eyed stylist Herve Pierre when it recently graced the front windows of Dior's flagship store on Manhattan's 5th Avenue. Melania's grey wool tweed jacket, cinched at the waist with its removable scarf and perfectly paired skirt - all designed by Dior's creative head Maria Grazia Chiuri - ensured that whatever the chaos of Tuesday evening, one person remained in line and on message. In 2017, Melania showed up in a black sequin Michael Kors skirt suit that seemed more Upper East Side cocktail party than political consort. Poised and confident - Melania maintained her position center stage by resolutely staying above both the stylistic and political fray. Boardroom worthy, androgynous in effect, the look was still infused with the kind of feminine undertones that stretch back to the creativity of Christian Dior himself in the late 1940s. The grey wool tweed jacket, cinched at the waist with its removable scarf and perfectly paired skirt all designed by Dior's current creative head Maria Grazia Chiuri - ensured that whatever the chaos of the evening, one person remained in line and on message. A reinvented twist yet again on the iconic Dior bar suit, this was Melania revisiting and extending a style trajectory that seems to be her new standard as First Lady 2.0 - a far cry from the ingenue she presented to the world eight years ago. Indeed, think back to 2017. Though not quite amateur hour, the First Lady who graced the congressional halls for the first time (and who had notably not yet moved permanently into the White House), showed up in a black sequin Michael Kors skirt suit that seemed more Upper East Side cocktail party than political consort. Back then, Melania was still working out the balance of her varying careers - model, mother, mogul's wife. Garnering as much attention for its price tag ($9,590 - almost the same amount as Tuesday night's ensemble) as its color - which seemed a direct rebuke to the suffragette white of the female Democratic legislators in attendance then - Melania faced the added insult of Michael Kors's rather public disavowal that he had had anything to do with dressing her for the event. Inching toward the Melania we see thriving now was the severe Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit she wore to her husband's State of the Union address in 2020. She chose to rewear that look in January this year to the Lying-In-State of Jimmy Carter - the first time she had returned to Capitol Hill since the end of Trump's first term. In her second turn as First Lady, Melania has doubled down on razor-sharp tailoring, notably with the Dolce & Gabbana tux she wore last month For her official portrait this year, Melania chose another black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo jacket with a Ralph Lauren cummerbund and trousers On Monday, she continued the menswear theme in a brown Ralph Lauren three-piece trouser suit for the Take It Down act Since then, she has doubled down on razor-sharp tailoring. The Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo black blazer with satin lapels that she wore to host the National Governors Association dinner in February was a glammed-up version of the business look she wore for her official portrait, captured in January. And on Monday, she continued the menswear theme in a brown Ralph Lauren three-piece trouser suit when she appeared on Capitol Hill to lobby for 'Take It Down Act', aimed at protecting Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography. That was no an accident. Unlike the majority of women, Melania's stylistic choices are almost never a measure of a momentary mood. She does not wake up on any given morning and decide what to wear. With an unflagging sense of the visual vacuum the role of First Lady requires her to fill, she will have approached her albeit non-speaking part in Tuesday night's spectacle with the kind of precision that must be the envy of West Wing staffers. Amid the flurry of chaos that has enveloped the presidential ecosystem in recent days - upstairs, cocooned within the privacy of the White House Residence, Melania would have been clear-headed and concise as she decided how best to navigate her most high-profile DC appearance since her husband's second inauguration. Critics, fashion and otherwise, spent most of her husband's first term trying to pinpoint - mostly through her clothes - where Melania's own loyalties might lie. Yet amid escalating arguments about tariffs and foreign wars, Melania has ensured that, in this second turn as First Lady, her views will remain a mystery. Pivoting from Ralph Lauren, an icon of the American fashion industry, to a fashion house that's part of one of France biggest companies, LVMH (a conglomerate that is decidedly concerned about the impact future tariffs might have on its profit margins), Melania was as inscrutable as ever. In the event of an evacuation, passengers are always told to leave all carry-on items behind and disembark the aircraft as quickly as possible - but one passenger has been slammed for blatantly ignoring the rules. One post on Reddit has infuriated readers after it showed a woman standing outside of an evacuated aircraft with her designer luggage - having blatantly ignored the rules. 'What NOT to do in an evacuation,' the user wrote, along with two pictures. One of the images showed the grounded Delta airplane with a carry-on suitcase, two bags and white puffer jacket sitting on the tarmac in the foreground. The next picture showed the woman with her jacket on, holding her tote bag and looking at her phone while everyone around her appeared to be standing empty handed. Furious users commented on the post, fuming over her blatant disregard for other passengers on board. 'There should be a fine for passengers that do not comply with crew members instructions. Every second counts... and those seconds could be peoples lives,' declared one Reddit user. 'That should land you on the no fly list,' one user declared. One of the images showed the grounded Delta airplane with the carry-on suitcase, two bags and white puffer jacket sitting on the tarmac ''Failure to follow crew instructions' - I hope she is identified and gets a heavy fine from the FAA,' chimed in someone else. Another person joked that her 'matching luggage and ensemble just scream 'entitled Karen.'' Last week, Delta Airlines passengers were forced to evacuate after smoke filled the cabin at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Boeing 717-200 was headed to Columbia Metropolitan Airport, South Carolina, when haze overwhelmed the cabin. The flight landed at around 9am - and all 94 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants on board were forced to flee the aircraft using the emergency exit slides. Shocking images showed multiple travelers standing on the left wing of the aircraft, desperately holding onto their belongings, as they fled the smoke-filled Delta plane. 'Delta Air Lines Flight 876 returned safely to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 9 a.m. local time on Monday, February 24, after the crew reported possible smoke in the flightdeck,' the Federal Aviation Administration said. Crew members reported the haze shortly after takeoff and an emergency was declared to get priority handling from air traffic control. Then next picture showed the woman with her jacket on, holding her tote bag while everyone around her appeared to be standing around empty handed 'The flight crew followed procedures to return to Atlanta when a haze inside the aircraft was observed after departure,' a Delta spokesperson said. 'Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience.' Recently, a flight attendant on TikTok went viral for sharing why you should leave your belongings behind in an emergency. 'You should never bring your bag in an airplane evacuation,' Leanna Coy, a Connecticut-based flight attendant, said in the video. 'We are taught how to evacuate the plane in 90 seconds,' she continued. 'That's it - that's how long you're estimated to have to get off that plane.' She added if everyone took even 'two seconds' extra to gather their belongings, it would add up and impact other passengers. [In an emergency] the flight attendant who's at the door, screaming her head off, asking you, begging you to leave everything and get off the plane they can't leave until everybody's off,' she explained. 'So, while you're there fumbling with your bag, they're over there risking their life, waiting to get you off the plane.' Children across the country are going into school dressed as their favourite literary characters to mark World Book Day. The annual event, which was started in 1995, has become one of the most exciting days for children across the UK and Ireland. It aims to encourage children to read by celebrating authors and illustrators, nurturing a love for books. And children showed off a wide range of popular book characters, opting to dress as figures from popular classics to new favourites. Sonny Parkins-Snell, three, donned the bright costume of the Colour Monster, from the book by Anna Llenas. The 2012 publication, which is titled The Colour Monster, helps toddlers to identify their feelings and discuss them with parents and teachers. Her brother Teddy Parkins-Snell, five, opted for a perennial favourite when it comes to dressing up, donning a dinosaur costume. The youngster showed off his favourite book, titled Dinosaurs, in his photograph showcasing his impressive outfit. Sonny Parkins-Snell is the Colour Monster for today's literary event, while Teddy Parkins-Snell is dressed as a dinosaur CLASSIC: Theo Partasides opted to dress as the tiger from the classic book The Tiger who Came to Tea, published in 1968 Arthur Baggott, 4, chose to dress as popular character the Highway Rat for World Book Day Theo Partasides, four, opted to dress as the tiger from the classic book The Tiger who Came to Tea. Written and illustrated by Judith Kerr, the book was published decades ago, in 1968 - and continues to be a favourite. Meanwhile, Arthur Baggott, four, chose to dress as the Highway Rat from the book of the same name by Julia Donaldson. Clio Robinson, four, from Maidenhead, decided to dress up as Princess Pearl from Zog for today's event. Characters from the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - the same tea behind the equally popular children's book The Gruffalo - are a World Book Day favourite. Also opting to represent the same series, Finlay, three, from London, dressed as Zog from Zog and the Flying Doctors. As ever, characters from Harry Potter were among those chosen by children for their costumes. Amelia, eight, who is a huge fan of the series by JK Rowling, dressed up as Hedwig from the series. Clio Robinson from Maidenhead, decided to dress up as Princess Pearl from Zog for World Book Day Finlay, age 3 from London, dressed up as Zog from Zog and the Flying Doctors by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler HARRY POTTER: Amelia, eight, who is a huge fan of the series by JK Rowling, dressed up as Hedwig the owl from Harry Potter Cecily Robinson, seven, as Mildred Hubble from the Worst Witch 10-year-old Harry is a huge fan of the Dogman graphic novel series by Dav Pilkey, and decided to dress as the titular character Addison and Aidan Jones also opted to dress up as characters from JK Rowling's popular series, dressing as Hermione Granger and Harry Potter respectively Hedwig is an owl who was gifted to Harry on his 11th birthday - and became a close friend to the youngster. Meanwhile, Cecily Robinson, seven, dressed as Mildred Hubble from the Worst Witch, complete with a broomstick and pointed hat. Harry, 10, is a huge fan of the Dogman graphic novel series by Dav Pilkey, which features a half dog and half man character. He recently saw the film featuring the character, making his costume an easy choice. Meanwhile, siblings Addison and Aidan Jones also decided to be characters from JK Rowling's popular series, choosing to dress as Hermione Granger and Harry Potter respectively. Ghilly, 10, chose the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) To Save Every One as his favourite book for World Book Day today. The book tells the 200 year history of the RNLI. His impressive homemade costume has him at the helm of his ILB, B-OOO. Ghilly, 10, chose the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) To Save Every One as his favourite book for World Book Day Alf Sherrin, one, celebrated his first World Book Day today. His mother created a Dear Zoo animal crate for him to take to nursery and hold, to represent his favourite book It may be more than 100 years old, but Peter Pan is still a favourite among children. Twins Alexander and Oliver Skelton, six, dressed as characters Peter Pan and Captain Hook Matilda, Jude and Penelope McDonagh, from Bushey, dressed as Sofia Sofa from David Walliams' World's Worst Children, a Minecraft creeper from Diary of a Minecraft Creeper, and the gingerbread man respectively Hugo Rusin looked adorable in his Paddington Bear costume - even carrying a marmalade sandwich in his suitcase Nine-year-old Holly from Somerset has recently started reading Harry Potter and watching the films, so she decided to dress as Hermione Granger from the series Ghilly's mother said: 'We spend our weekends visiting stations and in January as a Christmas present spent the weekend at RNLI College, which apart from being an educational experience was magical and everyone and everything was incredible.' Alf Sherrin, one, showed you are never too young to start reading. His mother created a Dear Zoo animal crate for him to show off his favourite read, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, for his first World Book Day. Meanwhile, six-year-old twins Alexander and Oliver Skelton went to school as Peter Pan and Captain Hook from the children's favourite story Peter Pan, written more than 100 years ago by J.M. Barrie. Matilda, Jude and Penelope McDonagh, from Bushey, also shared their impressive costumes. Matilda dressed up as Sofia Sofa from David Walliams' World's Worst Children, Jude as a Minecraft creeper from Diary of a Minecraft Creeper, and Penny the gingerbread man. Hugo Rusin also chose to dress up as a classic literary character - Paddington Bear. A huge fan of the series featuring Paddington, Hugo dressed as the bear, donning a blue duffle coat, red boots and red bucket hat, accompanied by an authentic souvenir suitcase from London's Paddington Bear Experience. Arthur Redmond dressed as Captain Underpants from the graphic novel series by Dav Pilkev Eva-Marie Emerson, River Emerson, and Aria Emerson, from West Sussex showcase their World Book Day costumes Harry Potter is a definite favourite among youngsters, with a child dressing as Hermione Granger from the series Five-year-old Elodie dressed as Matilda from the Roald Dahl classic, and two-year-old William as Spiderman Harry Potter remained very popular among children, with another child opting to dress as the young wizard for World Book Day He even packed a jar of marmalade and a marmalade sandwich in his suitcase, both of which he made with his mother. Holly, nine, from Somerset, also dressed as Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. She chose the character as she has recently started reading the books and watching the films. Arthur Redmond, age nine, pulled out all the stops to create his costume, dressing as Captain Underpants from the graphic novel series by Dav Pilkev. Eva-Marie Emerson, River Emerson, and Aria Emerson, from West Sussex, dressed as Glinda from The Wizard Of Oz, the King of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, and Ziggy Stardust from David Bowie, Little People, Big Dreams respectively. And another child showed that Harry Potter is a definite favourite among youngsters, also dressing as Hermione Granger from the series, holding a magic wand and a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Another classic children's book is Matilda: Elodie, five, dressed as the titular character from the Roald Dahl book. Meanwhile William, two, opted to go as Spiderman. Meanwhile, another child showed that Harry Potter continues to be extremely popular, also dressing as the young wizard. Eight-year-old Belle also chose to dress as her favourite character from Harry Potter - Hermione Granger. Eight-year-old Belle was among the youngsters who chose to dress up as a character from the Harry Potter series Vivienne, eight, likes to dress as iconic women for World Book Day, this year going as Greta Thunberg, inspired by the book series Little People, BIG DREAMS Edie, six, also chose to dress as Greta Thunberg as her character for World Book Day 2025 Meanwhile, two-year-old Edie opted to dress as Minnie Mouse Suleiman, three, and Zakariya, three, dressed as a racing driver and a Mandalorian from Star Wars respectively Children at Max and Maggie's school were encouraged to dress up as words for World Book Day, so they could work on their vocabulary Tiah, seven, chose to dress up as Rapunzel, donning a pre-loved gown she and her mother found on Vinted for 12 Eleanor, four, Owen, six, and Leon seven, dressed as The Worst Witch, Stick man and Mike the Knight respectively Meanwhile, Vivienne, eight, decided to go as Greta Thunberg, inspired by the book series Little People, BIG DREAMS, which includes an instalment about the climate activist. She is always keen to represent iconic women on world book day, last year dressing as Frida Kahlo and in 2023 as Vivienne Westwood. Six-year-old Edie also chose to dress as Greta Thunberg, citing the same book as inspiration. Pippa, aged two, dressed up as classic Disney character Minnie Mouse. Meanwhile, Suleiman, three, and Zakariya, three, are keen readers who take great inspiration from what they read. Suleiman, who wants to be a F1 race car driver when he is older and enjoys reading stories based on cars, dressed as a Formula One driver. His older brother Zakariya, was inspired by his love of Star Wars (most recently The Mandalorian - he dressed as a Mandalorian from the series today). He and his mother comb charity shops to find Star Wars books, and he loves recreating the stories at play time. Maggie and Max's school encouraged pupils to dress up as a word to improve their vocabulary. They respectively chose to dress as Elfaba from Wicked (representing the word 'courageous') and 'cosy' - meaning Max will be very comfortable all day. Meanwhile, seven-year-old Tiah decided to dress as Rapunzel, donning a preloved dress which she and her mother found on Vinted for 12 - and which she will reuse for parties and other dress up occasions. Her mother said: 'Shes previously always gone as characters with the same skin tone, so it was nice to see her not care about ethnicity/race this year and be able to see herself and connect with a character who may not visually appear the same but inspires her with her relatable resilience, courage and curiosity. She has gone to school flicking her long ponytail braid and feeling confident and beautiful.' Siblings Eleanor, four, Owen, six, and Leon seven, dressed as The Worst Witch, Stick man and Mike the Knight respectively. Five-year-old Oliver Rivers-Smith dressed up as Captain Sir Tom Moore, inspired by the book One Hundred Steps: The Story of Captain Sir Tom Moore. Oliver's mother said: 'This is a weekly read at bedtime, he loves that [Captain Sir Tom] used to sneak his dog into school and that he had a motorbike.' Oliver Rivers-Smith, five, dressed up as Captain Sir Tom Moore, complete with spectacles, moustache, and Zimmer frame Melody decided to dress up as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz for World Book Day Charlotte Cuthbert dressed as Sophie from the 1968 children's classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea Best friends Erin McDonnell and Mia Wood dressed as characters from The Worst Witch, before taking snaps on the specially made stage at their school in Stockport Rebecca, the mother of Noah and Ivo, pulled out all the stops to create intricately detailed costumes for World Book Day Melody, seven, pulled out all the stops, and dressed up as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. And Charlotte Cuthbert, five, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent dressed as Sophie from children's classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea. According to her mother, Charlotte has always been a huge fan of A Tiger Who Came to Tea even though she rightly questioned why the character Sophie's mum would ever allow a tiger in the house. The youngster became even more of a fan of the book after seeing real tigers at London Zoo. 'She is pictured with a beautiful tiger teddy from her great grandad Derek who passed away in September,' she added, 'so it is even more special this year to remember him as he loved to read. Charlotte absolutely loves reading and a story at bedtime is our favourite time together.' Best friends Erin McDonnell as Dorothy and Mia Wood dressed as characters from The Worst Witch series of books by author Jill Murphy. They attend St Winifreds RC Heaton Mersey, Stockport (which boasts a famous school choir). On their way in, they took a photo on the specially created photo stage. As well as creating the stage, the headteacher and all other staff dressed up. Noah, 11, who is in his final year at primary school - meaning this could be his last World Book Day - dressed as Burt from Ratburger by David Walliams. His eight-year-old brother Ivo opted to go as Captain Underpants. They wore impressively detailed costumes which were crafted by their mother Rebecca for the big day, which she said is a favourite in their home. Winter dressed up as Disney princess Moana and her father said he had a 'great time' putting together her outfit Nine-year-old India dressed up as is Hermione from the third Harry Potter Book, The Prisoner of Azkaban Story, who is five-years-old, dressed as Sleeping Beauty for World Book Day Penelope and Daniel Sumner-Lafferty, from Bolton, dressed as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell Lucian Burnet and Leander Burnet dressed up as Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia and a Death Eater from the Harry Potter respectively Nine-year-old Claudia dressed as the main character from the Lottie Brooks series by Katie Kirby India, nine, chose to dress up as is Hermione from the third Harry Potter Book, The Prisoner of Azkaban, so has a time-turner and the Marauder's Map. Her mother said: 'We moved recently so repurposed the grey uniform from her old school by replacing the logo with a Gryffindor emblem.' Her sister Story, five, is in reception and is dressed as Sleeping Beauty, complete with teddy bear and eye mask for a good 100 years' nap. Siblings Penelope and Daniel Sumner-Lafferty, from Bolton, coordinated their costumes, dressing as as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell from the J.M. Barrie classic. Meanwhile, Lucian Burnet, who is in reception class at Belleville School, dressed as Aslan, from C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series. And Leander Burnet, who is in year 3 Belleville School, dressed as a Death Eater, from the Harry Potter series of books by JK Rowling. After reading all six books from the Katie Kirby's series of Lottie Brooks books, the eponymous main character is the heroine of nine-year-old Claudia. She chose to dress up as the character for World Book Day, complete with Lottie's trademark hamburger earmuffs and Kit Kat chunky. Another youngster inspired by the Little People, BIG DREAMS series was four-year-old Bunny, who dressed up as legendary musician Dolly Parton for World Book Day. She fully embraced Dolly's look, donning a cowboy hat with a rhinestone star decal, as well as a sequin dress, and denim waistcoat, even toting a sparkling guitar. Another youngster who chose a Roald Dahl book was six-year-old James Warwick, who went as the main character from James and the Giant Peach. His mother revealed: 'We have spent the last week making the peach and companion insects together using papier mache! We have had great fun and the joy in being creative together has been amazing. A reminder that World Book Day is all about unleashing imagination and creativity.' Another creative costume was donned by 11-year-old Violet Hopper, who is in year 6 at Isleworth Town Primary School in West London. She sported a grey wig and carried an inflatable Zimmer frame as she dressed up as Gansta Granny from the two-book collection by David Walliams. World Book Day is celebrated across the UK and Ireland's schools every year. The day is meant to encourage children to pick up reading and learn to enjoy the habit. The event website says: 'We want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them.' Meanwhile Little Tikes announced its support of World Book Day with its iconic Little Tikes Story Dream Machine, which lets children watch, listen and read along to their favourite stories by themselves. Four-year-old Bunny dressed up as Dolly Parton, inspired by the Little people, BIG DREAMS series of books James Warwick, six, dressed as James, from Roald Dahl book James and the Giant Peach Violet Hopper, 11, dressed up as Gansta Granny, the main character in the two-book series by David Walliams Harry dressed up as a dinosaur from the book Aliens love Dinopants Little Tikes supports World Book Day and young readers with its Story Dream Machine The toy firm is encouraging children to #ReadYourWay with the Story Dream Machine, which features over 30 stories to collect including The Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling and The Emperor's New Clothes. Pamela Justice, Head of Marketing for the UK & Ireland, at MGA Entertainment said: 'Little Tikes believes in the power of imagination and creativity, which is at the heart of World Book Day. As a brand committed to nurturing development, we are proud to be supporting this year's World Book Day and encouraging children and families to share stories together with the Little Tikes Story Dream Machine.' A woman who says she was raped by the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance says she feels 'guilty' that she couldn't 'prevent' her from being abducted, if it was him - even though she understands it was 'out of her hands'. Hazel Behan, 41, was only twenty years old when she decided to travel to Portugal in 2004 - where she was sexually assaulted at knife point, in the area near where Maddie was snatched three years later. She has courageously waived her anonymity to speak out against convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner, 47, who she says was her attacker even though he was acquitted of the offence last year - as well as believing he is the man who kidnapped the four-year-old girl. Speaking on the Irish Mirror's Shattered Lives podcast, the mother-of-three admitted she often blames herself for the horrors faced by the McCanns. 'The was always a guilt in me that I wasn't stronger when I was younger to do more,' she told host Paul Healy. 'Because in a world of ifs - if I had have done that, if I had stood up more, if I had have insisted on them [the Portuguese police] investigating my case maybe she would still be with her parents.' Hazel said she understood that the line of thinking isn't logical - given there was nothing she could have done in her situation - but she does feel 'a responsibility'. It's that instinct that led her to contact Operation Grange when she first saw he was a suspect in Maddie's case, as British police appealed for any information on him. Hazel Behan (pictured), 41, was only twenty years old when she decided to travel to Portugal in 2004 - where she was sexually assaulted at knife point, in the area near where Maddie was snatched three years later The man they described matched Hazel's recollection of her attacker exactly - and while he had a mask on, she could never forget what his eyes had looked like during the terrifying experience. 'Unfortunately, many victims and survivors of gender based violence, they don't get the opportunity to do that,' she said. 'So I felt a responsibility for this little girl which, if it's the same person - which I believe he is - that I needed to do something for her. 'Oddly I just felt this sense of responsibility, knowing how I was treated in Portugal with police and stuff there, knowing I could've prevented that... I know I couldn't have, I know it was out of my hands but I felt that responsibility.' Hazel also admitted she would 'love to speak' with Madeleine's parents. 'For completely different reasons, I suppose than maybe other people would think,' she continued. She has courageously waived her anonymity to speak out against convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner , 47 (pictured) Speaking on the Irish Mirror's Shattered Lives podcast, the mother-of-three admitted she often blames herself for the horrors faced by the McCanns. Pictured, Gerry and Kate McCann in 2007 All cases are unrelated to Madeleine's disappearance but are linked to areas close to the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz where the little girl was kidnapped 17 years ago 'The best way I can describe it is, say you're in this space with strangers and something really, really bad happens, you're automatically connected to these people for the rest of your life, because they're the only ones who know what this experience is. 'So oddly and maybe as f***ed up as this sounds, but me and anyone else who had experience of this man are connected to each other. 'So, you know, as a mother, and a parent, I can't imagine what that family went through and goes through on a daily basis.' In October, a judge in a German court acquitted Brueckner of raping Hazel - but prosecutors claim bias and say they will appeal the verdict. Brueckner was also found not guilty of two further rapes and two offences of indecent exposure involving children. All cases are unrelated to Madeleine's disappearance but are linked to areas close to the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz where the little girl was kidnapped 17 years ago. Speaking through an interpreter, Hazel said she had returned to her flat in Praia da Roche, in Portugal, in June 2004, after a row with her then-boyfriend when she was just 20. She told the court in Braunschweig, Germany, she had been to an Irish bar in the resort of Praia da Roche but then returned home alone following the argument. Hazel has since had to relive the assault when describing how alone in a holiday apartment, she was roused from sleep by a masked stranger with a machete, dressed entirely in black, calling her name. In October, a judge in a German court acquitted Brueckner of raping Hazel - bu t prosecutors claim bias and say they will appeal the verdict. Brueckner was also found not guilty of two further rapes and two offences of indecent exposure involving children Hazel, in the podcast episode, also spoke about dealing with complex PTSD following the attack - and how she felt 'annihilated' and 'slaughtered' while attending the trial She described how she got into bed fully clothed and then fell asleep, only to wake moments later when she heard her name being called. Hazel said: 'I thought it was my boyfriend who had come to apologise. After a short space of time I said to myself in my head, 'he doesn't have a key so how did he get in?' 'I had such a fear which I have never experience and it felt as if all the blood in my body went to my feet. 'I turned and saw a man fully dressed in black from head to toe, with a knife and the first thing he did was put his knee into my back and a hand over my mouth. 'He pulled my head and said in English "Don't f***ing scream or I will kill you", so that why I didn't. It was all very quick. 'He pulled my hair, and then positioned my body so that he was behind me, he removed my trousers and underwear and I tried to turn round. 'But he pulled my head back and said in English "Don't look at me" and then I smelt a fruity smell. I knew it was condoms, so I knew it was going to happen.' Using a tissue to dry her tears, she went on: 'I had a picture of my sister on the wall next to the bed and I said "Please don't hurt me, she's my baby". 'I then said I was pregnant; I don't know why I said I was pregnant I suppose I thought maybe he won't go near a pregnant woman. 'But I was absolutely not pregnant. It didn't work and then he held my hair and with the force of train, he entered my body.' Hazel added: 'I have had three children, but I have never felt a pain like that and I felt it would last forever. 'And I knew that this person didn't like me, and that this person was aroused by this power and this control.' She added at the trial that she was terrified she was going to be 'beheaded' after she was made to kneel on the floor with her head on a bench as Brueckner put a sheet over her. 'At this moment I thought he was going to cut my head off.' 'Even though the sheet covered me, there was still a short gap between the end of the sheet and the floor, and I could see under. 'When you are in a situation like that, then every sense you have is heightened, you listen you try to smell what is happening. 'I heard him fumbling around and saw he was with his ruck sack and them I could see his two feet, he had no shoes on and I could see the balcony door was open. 'He stepped out on to the balcony put his shoes on, but I was still too scared to move, so I waited and waited. When I realised he was gone, I got out from under the sheet.' Hazel, in the podcast episode, also spoke about dealing with complex PTSD following the attack - and how she felt 'annihilated' and 'slaughtered' while attending the trial. 'I wasn't believed in court. I was believed by the German police, 100 per cent. But I didn't feel I was believed by the judges,' she explained. 'I felt as if I was a waste of our time. And I felt to a certain extent that they wanted to just make a spectacle of me, and I didn't appreciate it, if I'm being honest. 'I obviously am going to say I didn't feel that it was a fair trial, not just for me, but for us all. 'They will make the decision on whether or not they will allow for an appeal to go forward, and if it does, it goes to an upper court, a different judge. I do want to see it appealed.' A woman who lived in a beach house formerly owned by Nicole Kidman has revealed that the Hollywood star left many of her own items in the property. TikTok user Isabella shared a video explaining how her family bought the idyllic beach house, which is located in the south of Sydney, from the Moulin Rouge star back in 2013. Though her family have since sold the Rosedale-based property, Isabella admitted that she kept hold of the actress' items. In a short clip recently shared to the social media platform, Isabella stated: 'Nicole and I go way back.' The video sees the blonde sitting on a sofa while covering herself with a large cream blanket. She then zooms in to show the label of the Early's Charlbury Blanket to reveal that 'KIDMAN' had been written on the back with a black marker pen. 'Sometimes I forget we bought Nicole Kidman's old beach house and now just own some of her things,' she wrote in the video. Many followers began to question if the blanket truly did belong to Kidman, 57, because they claimed that such a wealthy star wouldn't label her items in that fashion. A woman who lived in a Sydney beach house formerly owned by Nicole Kidman has revealed that the Hollywood star left many of her own items in the property Though her family have since sold the Rosedale-based property, Isabella admitted that she kept hold of the actress' items One person wrote: 'Just a thought? Why would someone with that type of money mark her stuff?? I think not sorry.' Another commented: 'How do we know you didn't just write Kidman.' When a third follower stated, 'Why would she write her name on there,' Adelaide replied: 'I'm not sure [thinking emoji] it's on all her sheets as well.' Meanwhile one follower suggested: 'It's an Aussie thing. My family would do that too idk.' Another TikTok user noted: 'Her name is on there because rich people have someone come and take their laundry away to be washed. This way it doesn't get lost.' When some followers demanded a full house tour, Isabella revealed, 'We've sold since!!' and confirmed that her family 'kept the things when we sold the house.' As fans asked for confirmation about which property she was talking about, Isabella stated: 'One of the three houses she bought in Rosedale, we got the one on the cliff a long time ago - maybe 2012/2013?' The social media personality confirmed it wasn't one of the cabins that the star also owned in the area as she told another: 'No the house above that! On the cliff. She bought the cabins too though.' The video sees the blonde star covering herself with a large cream Early's Charlbury Blanket which had 'KIDMAN' written on the back with a black marker pen Meanwhile, Kidman and her husband Keith Urban became the latest stars to fall victim to LA's alarming wave of celebrity home burglaries (pictured October 2024) Kidman's family first bought a large section of Rosedale beach land for $2.5 million in 2004, according to Property Observer. The star and her family were only believed to have spent time there a handful of times before deciding to sell. The family reportedly envisaged a $1.5 million compound-style building on the three properties, but ultimately felt there was a lack of privacy. In 2012, the first two lots were sold for $1.9 million, before the final piece of land was purchased for $762,468 the following year. Meanwhile, Kidman and her husband Keith Urban became the latest stars to fall victim to LA's alarming wave of celebrity home burglaries. The power couple, who purchased their Beverly Hills mansion in 2008 for $4.7 million, were not home when the break-in occurred over the weekend, according to TMZ. Legal sources report that an intruder smashed a window to gain entry, but was ultimately scared off by one of Kidman and Urban's employees. It remains unclear if anything was stolen, as the couple will need to assess their home upon returning, per the outlet. So far, no arrests have been made, though authorities have launched an official investigation. The Oscar-winning actress and country music superstar, 57, own the five-bedroom, 3,977-square-foot estate, which sits on a 1.4-acre lot in the prestigious Beverly Hills Post Office neighborhood. Last year, I treated myself to a luxury holiday in Barcelona with two of my closest friends. The three of us had recently turned 40 and Alice, the self-appointed leader of our trio, had decided we should mark the occasion with a week in a four-star hotel complete with rooftop pool. Having met in our 20s as trainee lawyers at the same London firm, we had worked hard and played harder, enjoying our single, carefree years together. We had cried on each other's shoulders, put up with each other's boyfriends and had always been the first to congratulate career successes. In our 30s, however, our lives began to diverge as we moved on to new jobs and began to settle down. While Alice threw everything into climbing the corporate ladder, I was the first to marry and have a child. Jessie trumped us both by marrying a super-wealthy man, which catapulted her into a life of flash cars and holiday homes. Amid the usual juggles of mid-life, I imagined a week in the sun together would prove balm for the soul. That we'd laugh about old times, unburden ourselves of all the things we didn't dare tell anyone else, then return home lighter, brighter, refreshed - and keen to do it all again. Yet as the toxic female friendship currently fascinating viewers of the new series of The White Lotus rightly demonstrates, there's nothing quite like a so-called 'girls' trip' to unearth latent tensions. There's something about hitting 40 that causes the scales to fall from your eyes, too. Sometimes you realise that those you've long considered your BFFs have actually been frenemies all along. Wine flowing, there were certainly explosive revelations on our Barcelona trip. Confessions that would change not only the way I viewed my 'friends' but the trajectory of my career and even the validity of my marriage. When we first met, I couldn't do enough for them both. Tall blonde Alice was openly ambitious, forever applying for jobs above her experience, going for interviews 'for practice'. Jessie was the physical opposite, an ethereal beauty, all soft curves and long dark hair. Unfortunately her love life was a total car crash in the early days. She could never understand why, when she had sex on the first night, she never heard from the guy again. Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan and Carrie Coon in series three of The White Lotus As for me, I'd studied law under duress to please my parents, but the start to working life was anything but dull - thanks to Jessie and Alice. It was Jessie who introduced me to my husband Steve when I was 25 - he was friends with her cousin. She played Cupid and within a year Steve had proposed. I was already three months pregnant when we married. I suffered with endometriosis and doctors advised me to go ahead with the pregnancy in case I struggled to conceive again. I confided in both Jessie and Alice, who were my very supportive bridesmaids. Surprisingly Jessie was next to settle down, aged 29, with her wealthy man and went on to have a daughter. Alice marched her husband down the aisle a month before she turned 31, having two boys in as many years. Busy with babies and jobs at different firms, soon we got together only every couple of months, absorbed by new social circles. My career was coasting along and I knew I should push myself, but I held the fort at home while Steve travelled for his managerial job in the petrol industry. Alice, meanwhile, shot up the career ladder and became a partner in the firm where we'd first met. Jessie did the opposite - going part-time after her mother died of cancer and comforting herself with a holiday home in the South of France. It was at Jessie's mum's funeral that Alice first mooted the idea of us 'making more memories' together on a holiday without husbands or kids. Steve said I should go - he probably couldn't wait to see the back of me. We hadn't been getting on for a while and, though I'd never caught him out, I was fairly sure he was serially unfaithful. In fact, I was considering divorce - something I wanted to discuss with my friends. Two weeks before the holiday, the paranoia set in. A bikini wax was overdue, my hair was a mess and I couldn't remember the last time I'd worn a bikini. As well as a lengthy salon stop, I splashed out on a whole new capsule wardrobe. I knew perfectly well we'd silently judge each other, as girlfriends tend to do, no matter how close. I didn't want them to think I'd let myself go. The moment we arrived at the plush hotel, the tacit competition began. Jessie had gone for a suite with a balcony. Not to be outdone, Alice complained about her room and got herself an upgrade. I made do with a room so small I had to shimmy around the bed to get to the ensuite. As The White Lotus demonstrates, there's nothing quite like a so-called 'girls' trip' to unearth latent tensions At dinner, over lots of wine, Alice bragged about her stellar career and her six-figure salary with perks. Jessie talked about the various trials and tribulations of doing up their palatial holiday home. Did I feel small and insecure? Of course. I didn't have the big career or the luxury lifestyle. In fact mine was a tale of marital gloom and unfulfilled aspirations. Not that I said as much at this stage. The next day, Alice produced a spreadsheet of activities for each day - cathedral, beach, the beautiful coastal town of Sitges. Behind her back, Jessie and I had a good laugh about her strict itinerary. A little light ridicule of Alice's type-A traits was reassuringly comfortable ground. It wasn't until the fourth night that the pitiful state of my marriage came spilling out at dinner. But when I said I feared Steve had been unfaithful, I noticed a glance pass between Alice and Jessie. At that moment I knew, just knew, that one of them had slept with him. My heart began to pound and anger rose inside me. If I'd had to put my money on who, I'd have said Alice... but it was Jessie. I was speechless as she burst into tears, confessing it had been a 'stupid drunken thing' when Steve and I had first started seeing each other in our twenties. I wanted to chuck my glass of wine over her and wring her neck. How could she? She was godmother to my eldest too. But somehow I managed to hold it together. I told her how disappointed I was in her and that she'd let herself down 'appallingly'. I did, however, take great pleasure in telling her she was just one in a long line of women. Nothing special. Back in my room, I was incandescent. When I phoned Steve to tell him Jessie had some interesting things to say about the early days of our romance, his silence spoke volumes. It was a stomach punch and I didn't sleep a wink that night. But there was more to come. On the fifth night, over drinks in Jessie's room, it was Alice's turn to reveal her true colours. During our third bottle of red, I made the mistake of admiring her work ethic. 'You know,' she laughed, lapping up the praise, 'when you told me you were going for promotion at our old firm, I knew I had to apply for it.' I frowned and she continued with a smug smile: 'I might just have mentioned how much time you'd had off with your endometriosis troubles in recent years.' She'd always told me she'd been headhunted for the post. There was certainly no mention of stabbing me in the back. Utterly floored, I slammed my glass down and hurried back to my room. I couldn't believe she would stoop so low. Her betrayal was actually worse than Jessie sleeping with my husband. On the last day, I feigned a headache. That evening we sat in silence during our pre-booked taxi journey to the airport. Back home, it was time to take a good long look at my life. I texted Alice and Jessie to tell them our friendship was terminated before blocking them. Next I dealt with Steve, telling him to leave because I wanted a divorce. The feeling of relief was palpable. A year on, I do regret spending almost four figures on a holiday, only to be humiliated by the very women I thought were my closest friends. But life goes on - and I'm all the wiser for our toxic trip. READ MORE: Experts reveal the hacks that will bag you the best deals He claims the best way to do so is to look for where there are Lululemon stores A man has shared his 'foolproof' method of finding where a nice neighborhood is - only to be slammed for his 'ignorant' take. Nick Watts took to TikTok to showcase his 'Lululemon strategy' - showing a map marked up with all the brand's sportswear stores within it. 'Every time I go to a new city I look up Lululemons in the area on Google Maps and use a process of elimination to find the neighborhood with walkability and $10 matcha,' he shared in the clip. Nick used Montreal, Canada, as an example, looking at the first store which was in a mall, causing him to eliminate it from his search and look for a different area. 'What we're looking for is those store front Lululemons,' he explained. 'That's where you're going to find the bars, restaurants, and a bakery dedicated to f**king brookies,' he joked, in reference to the popular brownie-cookie combination. Nick then shared his backup criteria, which was to look for Wholefoods stores in the area. 'Now listen, I'm not saying the Lululemon strategy or the Wholefoods method are the way that you should travel... Nick Watts took to TikTok to showcase his 'Lululemon strategy' - showing a map marked up with all the brand's sportswear stores within it 'But I am saying it's a great way to get the lay of the land before you go somewhere, cos they don't just build Lululemons anywhere,' he concluded the video. Many users slammed the user, jokingly commenting on the video writing that he had 'discovered' gentrification. 'This is just gentrification tourism lmfao,' one user wrote. 'Man accidentally discovered gentrification,' agreed another. Others disagreed with his method. 'I moved to a new city and purposely found a nice apartment complex right behind the Whole Foods plus it was near to a Porsche/Range dealership and the neighborhood/complex was so crime ridden,' a user wrote. However, there were some frequent travelers who praised the user for his idea. 'I'm a flight attendant and I must say this is a brilliant strategy,' a user wrote. Nick used Montreal as an example, looking at the first store which was in a mall, causing him to eliminate it from his search and look for a different area 'Every time I go to a new city I look up Lululemon's in the area on Google Maps and use a process of elimination to find the neighborhood with walkability and $10 matcha,' he shared in a TikTok video Another agreed, writing: 'Travel advisor here and I fully support this theory.' 'Backup to your backup: Equinox, Lifetime, Orange Theory method for a family friendly trip,' chimed in someone else. 'Now this is the research that we need in society,' declared another. As per Hotels.com, another way to find a relatively safe area is to book in the business district. The experts added that if you book a business focused hotel on a weekend, once the 'suits' have left - you can bag a bargain. According to the site, you can sometimes find a five-star hotel for less than $130 per night. Social media users are ripping into Adrien Brody's artwork, with some fans labeling the Oscar-winner's efforts as 'ugly,' 'horrendous' and 'surface level.' The Brutalist actor, 51, has always been one to flaunt his range of talents including composing, directing and producing - but he has also been known to showcase his love and appreciation of art. Back in 2016, his painting of a Tiger titled Tiger on Last Legs sold at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala for $275,000. However, social media users are less impressed with the star's artwork offerings with one taking to X, formerly Twitter, and stating: 'Was unprepared for how ugly Adrien Brody's art is. But it makes sense.' The image included within the tweet saw the actor standing next to his BRODYBUCKS paintings which is a riff on a Starbucks logo that instead shows a mermaid holding two pistols to her head. Another image sees the words 'Brodybucks' and 'Hooked' in place of the usual Starbucks wording. The art was part of The Pianist actor's second public series in May 2016, which was held in New York City. Titled Hooked, the art of display included a range of colorful fish painting and sculptures which Brody hoped would 'call upon the viewer to find light in a dark world.' Social media users are ripping into Adrien Brody 's artwork, with some fans labeling the Oscar-winner's efforts as 'ugly,' 'horrendous' and 'surface level' Viewers are less than impressed with the star's artwork offerings with one stating: 'Was unprepared for how ugly Adrien Brody's art is but it makes sense' 'Edgy Starbucks... stupidest man alive I think,' the X user wrote scathingly. Another noted: 'He looks like he's playing a douche who thinks his art is deep.' One person noted: 'This is so on-brand of him.' When one person asked, 'what the hell am I looking at,' the original poster replied: 'The most surface level art of all time bruh why is Starbucks threatening suicide.' One person tweeted: 'How is he such a good actor when this is his personality. I always assumed portraying depth required having depth.' 'Imagine winning best actor and still being a loser,' one person commented, while another added: 'Outside of movies, he sucks so bad lol wow.' One X user claimed: 'Adrien Brody is the perfect LA celebrity. Everything about his appearance and (most) of his performances leads you to believe he's this cool sensitive provocateur but in reality he's just a cryptobro with an interesting face.' Another joked: 'You can just tell when someone is surrounded by lots of yes men.' The image included saw the actor standing next to his BRODYBUCKS paintings which is a riff on a Starbucks logo that instead shows a mermaid holding two pistols to her head The Brutalist actor has always been one to showcase his range of talents including composing, directing and producing - but he has also been known to showcase his love of art Brody's art is now being slated online as X users share their musings about his pop art 'Makes me so angry that so many talented artists go unrecognized and unrewarded, then some celebrity decides on a whim they want to dabble and get an exhibition/book/album,' one person raged. Brody debuted his first collection, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Handguns, at Art Basil in Miami in December 2015. Speaking to Huffpost about his second collection and how he is treated as an actor who dabbles in art, he stated: 'On one level I relate to it, I understand people see you, they're exposed to you in a certain way. But even as an actor, you're limited by what people feel you are. What they've read about you, you know, if you're in the tabloids. 'Or, if you've only done dramatic films, you couldn't possibly have a sense of humor, and if you've only done comedic movies, you couldn't be a great dramatic actor.' He continued: 'Most people think actors are incredibly vain, and probably most actors are. And maybe I am vain, to a certain extent, but the purpose of doing this is far from vanity.' The exhibit was visited by fellow stars such as Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael Strahan. Brody later went on to showcase his work by taking the Hooked series to China in November 2016. Elsewhere, Sunday night's Oscars ceremony saw the actor become the new Guinness World Records holder for the longest acceptance speech in history. Though the star's art has sold for as much as $275,000, social media users made it clear they were not wowed by the work Brody debuted his first collection, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Handguns, at Art Basil in Miami in December 2015 The Pianist actor revealed his second public series in May 2016, which was showcased in New York City The star won the best actor gong for his role in The Brutalist, and proceeded to spend five minutes and 36 seconds on stage with a rambling speech. When the music started to cut the star off, he said: 'Turn the music off! I've done this before. Thank you. It's not my first rodeo, but I will be brief.' He was referring to his first Oscar win aged 29 for The Pianist in 2003, which was interrupted, too. At the time, he said: 'One second, please. One second. Cut it out. I got one shot at this. I didn't say more than five names, I don't think.' Meghan Markle enlisted her kids Archie and Lilibet to help in the kitchen as she baked hundreds of cookies for guests attending the Drew Barrymore Show. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, made an appearance on the talk show earlier this week, which aired on Thursday, and during the segment, she revealed that she made treats for the entire cast and crew, as well as all the lucky people who snagged tickets to the show. A clip of her working on the desserts then flashed across the screen, and it showed her and Prince Harry's two young children lending a hand. After sitting down for an interview, Meghan and Drew, 50, teamed up to make their own batch of the cookies. The former royal instructed the talk show host to mix together a stick of butter, some powdered sugar, and granulated sugar. But after examining Drew's dough, she admitted that it was a little too 'crumbly.' 'But the good news is we don't have to make tons because I made a lot for you on Sunday,' Meghan then shared as the excited crowd erupted into cheers. 'When I realized we were going to do this, I said, "How many people are we making cookies for?" Meghan Markle enlisted her kids Archie and Lilibet to help in the kitchen as she baked hundreds of cookies for guests attending the Drew Barrymore Show The Duchess of Sussex, 43, made an appearance on the talk show earlier this week, which aired on Thursday, and during the segment, she revealed that she made treats for everyone A clip of her working on the desserts then flashed across the screen, and it showed her and Prince Harry 's two young children lending a hand 'And they said, "Count on the audience." And I wanted the crew to be able to have some.' Meghan explained that she invited some of her friends over to come and help, including designer Clare Waight Keller who had made her wedding dress. 'Clare had come in from the UK to have lunch. I said, "Clare, can I put you to work too?" 'So we all sat around. We made these cookies for you guys to enjoy. And I just thought it'd be fun.' They then played a video that showed the ladies making the cookies and at one point, a little girl believed to be Lilibet, three, was seen standing on a step stool next to the counter. It only showed her from behind and didn't show the youngsters face, but she donned some lavender pants, a white T-shirt, and sneakers. She kept her hair in a bun and wore a polka dot headband; the youngster watched on as the women prepared the yummy treats. Later on, some little hands were also seen grabbing some of the finished cookies from the boxes. After sitting down for an interview, Meghan and Drew, 50, teamed up to make their own batch of the cookies 'But the good news is we don't have to make tons because I made a lot for you on Sunday,' Meghan shared as a video that showed her making the cookies started to play At one point, a little girl believed to be Lilibet, three, was seen standing on a step stool next to the counter Then, at the way end of the clip, a young boy believed to be Archie, five, whose face wasn't shown, was seen standing and eating a cookie as Meghan leaned in and gave him a kiss on the head. Meghan literally made cookies for all of you guys,' Drew told the audience as the video concluded. 'Each one of you are going to get to try this cookie. We've never had someone come here and do that.' Later on, some little hands were also seen grabbing some of the finished cookies from the boxes 'My husband helped as well,' Meghan added, although he was not seen in the footage. Elsewhere during the appearance, Meghan seemed caught off guard when Drew surprised her with a photo of her and Princess Diana. The ET actress told Meghan that meeting Harry's mother had been the honor of her life. Drew was seven at the time, had just starred in the movie ET and gave Meghan's late mother-in-law a stuffed toy. 'It means so much to me to have met such an incredible human being that transcended everything. It was the honor of my life', Drew gushed emotionally. Meghan appeared slightly thrown as she looked at the black and white image, laughed shyly and replied: 'Oh, my gosh, look at your little face. 'Oh, that's so sweet. That's really special. I will tell H [Harry] that, for sure.' The Duchess of Sussex is promoting her new Netflix show With Love, Meghan and her brand As Ever - but has been battling a slew of poor reviews. Then, at the way end of the clip, a young boy believed to be Archie, five, whose face wasn't shown, was seen standing and eating a cookie as Meghan leaned in and gave him a kiss Elsewhere during the appearance, Meghan seemed caught off guard when Drew surprised her with a photo of her and Princess Diana Drew was seven at the time, had just starred in the movie ET and gave Meghan's late mother-in-law a stuffed toy Drew also notably called her 'Meghan Sussex' throughout the interview, after the former Suits star had told Mindy Kaling that Sussex was her surname, not Markle, during an awkward moment on her new Netflix lifestyle series released on Tuesday. A body language expert told DailyMail.com following the appearance that Meghan seemed 'emotionally distant' to 'relentlessly clingy' Drew. UK-based body language expert Judi James noted of their hug: 'This is a rare pose from Meghan who is normally the first one to move in with the hugs to register the warm, spontaneously tactile side that was apparently met with a tsunami of ice water from the royal firm back in the UK. Meghan appeared slightly thrown as she looked at the black and white image, laughed shyly and replied: 'Oh, my gosh, look at your little face' 'She has clearly met her match in Drew, whose tactile behaviors on her chat show are a signature part of the brand. 'But it seems from this pose that what you get when you put two famously hugging women together is that one will bow out, namely Meghan in this case. 'Meghan adopts a straight, polite, more regal-looking pose here, perhaps mirroring the kind of response she met with from the UK royals when she was busy hugging them. 'Her hand is hanging in her pocket rather than reciprocating the display of affection and she's flashing a wide social smile at the camera rather than tilting her head in a reciprocal gesture. 'Drew clings relentlessly though, curling her arms around Meghan's waist in a partial koala embrace and tilting her head to nestle against Meghan's locks. 'Her rounded cheek, pursed lip smile signals a sense of warm friendship and affection while Meghan looks rather more distanced emotionally and keener to communicate with the camera than with her host here.' Paris Hilton has fired back at mom shamers after they accused her of having 'no relationship' with 16-month-old daughter London. The comments came about after the 44-year-old star shared a video of her and her youngest child on TikTok looking at purses together, after Paris received items from her new collection. Dressed in a navy blue lacy floral dress and nude heels, Paris - who recently celebrated her birthday - enters the room and asks her daughter: 'Hi princess, are you getting into my purses?' as the camera pans to one-year-old London. The blonde tot is wearing a cute pink tutu dress complete with a red heart print and is standing up on her own against a pink shelving unit. Paris, who took her children to a charity party in January, walks over and kneels in front of her little girl, before picking up a purse and asking her, 'Is this your favorite?' and then saying: 'You like the pink one?' London glances at the camera and then back at her famous mother and appears to be intrigued by some of the new designs, particularly a sparkly one, but TikTok users were quick to comment on the video negatively. 'Why do I feel like there is absolutely NO relationship between them?' one person asked, while another claimed: 'She's looking at her like she doesn't even know her.' A third person questioned, 'Is that her daughter? Cuz she acts like she doesn't know her,' and a fourth observed: 'I don't see any bond between them.' Paris Hilton has fired back at mom shamers after they accused her of having 'no relationship' with her 16-month-old daughter London Paris received some negative comments after posting a video of herself interacting with London on TikTok Some people claimed that London was acting like she didn't know who Paris was, while another alleged there was 'no relationship between them' 'The child doesn't know her. Fact,' a fifth accused. Another TikTok user begged: 'Paris I have no doubt you love your babies, but please please take a couple years off work, get rid of the nannies and bond with your beautiful babies.' A different person added: 'She's so shy with her own mum... didn't even smile. It's giving "where's my nanny."' And another asked: 'Does she even know it's her mum? It's like two strangers. Wonder how she is with her nanny? So sad.' However, other fans were quick to jump to Paris' defense and it didn't go unnoticed by the socialite. 'Some of you need to see other videos, these are Paris Hilton's children and they adore their mother! So please stop with the negative comments!' one person wrote. Paris replied to the comment and said: 'So hurtful. My babies are my world and I am with them every single day and bring them around the world with me when I have to work.' Another fan defended her and wrote: 'Hate all the negative comments young children developing language need the constant input she's giving to learn what convos look like. Doing great mama!' The 44-year-old socialite welcomed her daughter London via surrogate in November 2023 Paris replied to complimentary comments and admitted the negative posts were 'so hurtful' In another comment, Paris pointed out that London is only one and is currently 'learning to talk' Paris and her husband Carter Reum pictured with their daughter London and their son Phoenix last Christmas In her response, Paris fumed: 'Seriously, she is one year old, she is just learning to talk. Some people are just hateful individuals.' Paris and her husband Carter Reum welcomed London in November 2023 via surrogate. She announced her arrival on Thanksgiving by posting a photo on Instagram of a pink baby outfit with the name London printed across a long-sleeve top and captioned the post: 'Thankful for my baby girl.' Paris and Carter are also parents to their two-year-old son Phoenix, who was born via surrogate on January 16, 2023. Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway's chronic disease has progressed, it has been announced. The Norwegian Royal Court confirmed today that 51-year-old Mette-Marit is having daily symptoms due to her pulmonary fibrosis and requires 'more rest'. 'The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before,' the palace said in a press release, adding: 'This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently and at shorter notice than we are used to.' The court warned late last year that Mette-Marit's pulmonary fibrosis may interfere with her planned duties. It comes amid a difficult time for the Norwegian royal family as the Crown Princess's son, Marius Borg Hiby, 28, faces assault charges against several former partners following his arrest last August. Today's statement read: 'Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit's chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis has progressed. 'The Crown Princess has daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties. 'The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before. This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently and at shorter notice than we are used to. Crown Princess Mette-Marit's chronic lung condition has 'progressed', the palace revealed today (seen in January, 2024) 'The Crown Princess has a strong desire to continue working, and therefore we will organise her official programme in the future in the best possible way so that her health and work can be combined.' Mette-Marit's health condition was first made public in 2018, when it was revealed she had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis or the thickening of lung tissue. At the time, Mette-Marit issued a statement explaining that the condition 'means my working capacity will vary' to accommodate her treatment including 'periods of time without an official programme'. 'For a number of years, I have had health challenges on a regular basis, and now we know more about what is involved,' the mother-of-three said. 'The condition means that my working capacity will vary. 'The Crown Prince and I are choosing to make this public now partly because in future there will be a need to plan periods of time without an official programme to accommodate treatment and when the disease is more active.' Pulmonary fibrosis is incurable and worsens over time, but the Norwegian royal's doctor, Professor Kristian Bjro at the National Hospital, said they'd been monitoring her condition for several years and the 'disease progression has been slow over this period'. The wife of Crown Prince Haakon requires 'more rest', the palace said in a press statement today It no doubt comes amid a troubling time for Matte-Marit, as her son, Marius Borg Hiby, 28, faces assault charges against several former partners following his arrest in August (seen together in June, 2022) Not much is known about the unusual variant of fibrosis that was detected in Mette-Marit's lung but, according to the Royal House, 'there is broad consensus that, unlike other more common types of pulmonary fibrosis, it is not related to environmental or lifestyle factors'. The fact that the disease was detected at an early stage improves Mette-Marit's prognosis, as per the Palace's official statement. 'Even if such a diagnosis will limit my life at times, I am glad that the disease has been discovered so early. My goal is still to work and participate in the official programme as much as possible,' the mother-of-three said. According to the NHS, the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include shortness of breath, loss of appetite and weight loss, extreme tiredness, a persistent dry cough, and swollen fingertips. Days after the palace announced that Mette-Marit had resumed her treatment for pulmonary fibrosis, hinting it might impact her schedule, Mette-Marit visited the Nic Waals Institute in Oslo with her husband, the Crown Prince Haakon. Mette-Marit married Haakon, the heir to the Norwegian throne, in 2001. They share two children, Princess Ingrid Alexanda, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 19. Mette-Marit's eldest son Marius Borg Hiby, is from a previous relationship. Since she married into the royal family, Marius has been dubbed the 'black sheep' of the institution. Her health woes will no doubt be another headache for the mother-of-three as they grapple with the sensational fallout of Marius's arrest on August 4. He later admitted to assaulting his 'girlfriend' in a booze and drug-fuelled attack that left her in hospital. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit during a visit to Selbu middle school last September He was taken into custody and held overnight in a prison cell under preliminary charges of causing bodily harm and criminal damage. He faces up to a year in prison if convicted. After his arrest, Hiby apologised for attacking Rebecca Helberg Arntsen, whom he referred to as his 'girlfriend' (her lawyers have refuted this claim) while intoxicated with 'alcohol and cocaine'. In a statement issued via his lawyer, Hiby said he 'suffers from severe mental disorders' and has 'struggled with substance abuse for a long time'. The statement read: 'I have several mental disorders which mean that throughout my upbringing and adult life, I have had, and still have, challenges. I have struggled with substance abuse for a long time, something I have been in treatment for in the past. 'The drug use and my diagnoses do not excuse what happened in the apartment at Frogner on the night of Sunday last weekend. I want to be responsible for what I have done, and will explain myself truthfully to the police.' In the wake of the scandal, the Norwegian Palace confirmed Hiby would not attend the wedding of Princess Martha Louise to self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verett in Geiranger Fjord on August 31. The Crown Prince's embattled stepson was also reportedly uninvited from the high-profile wedding of Norwegian businessman ystein Stray Spetalen's son, after guests feared his presence would draw unwanted media attention. Mette-Marit and the Crown Prince share two children together, and the Crown Princess also has a son, Marius Borg Hiby, from a previous marriage (seen together in June, 2023) Former motorcycle mechanic Hiby was taken into custody for a second time after he allegedly violated a restraining order granted to Rebecca and contacted her in the wake of the assault. Hiby has denied the allegation. Norwegian tabloid VG has since published what it claimed were clips from two phone calls between the 28-year-old and his victim after the violent episode and vandalism in an apartment in Oslo on the night of August 4. During the conversation, former motorcycle mechanic Borg Hiby reportedly defended his assault as a 'little pat on the back...hit you with a flat hand'. But the woman allegedly replies that he hit her a hundred times and strangled her at least five times until she struggled to breathe, according to the Norwegian report after it was translated into English. Borg Hiby also reportedly threatened to burn the victim's belongings in a bin if she didn't collect them from Skaugum Castle, his family's official residence, by a certain time. Last month, Marius Borg Hiby was accused of raping a TV presenter in another alleged sexual assault case against the 28-year-old son of Norway's future queen. The alleged assault took place at his royal residence in a 'castle basement party' with police believed to have a video clip of the alleged attack, according to Se og hor. The presenter reportedly did not remember the alleged attack and only became aware of it after she was informed by law enforcement officials. Borg Hiby, who is under investigation for multiple sexual assault cases and drug offences, has reportedly not commented on the latest allegations. Queen Letizia of Spain cut a solemn figure in all black as she paid respects to those who lost their lives in the 2004 Madrid train bombings at a remembrance concert this evening alongside King Felipe VI. The royal couple attended the 23rd edition of the Victims of Terrorism: In Memoriam tribute concert, marking the 21st anniversary of the train bombings. During the morning rush hour of March 11, 2004, ten bombs exploded nearly simultaneously on Madrid's commuter trains, killing 191 people and injuring almost 2,000 in the Al Qaeda-linked attack. The remembrance event has been held annually since 2004, and senior members of the Spanish royal family usually chair the concert. For this evening's event, Letizia, 52, wore an all-black ensemble, including a double-breasted blazer and coat dress, for the sombre occasion. With a black camisole underneath, her long-sleeved frock fell to her ankles and was paired with her black and gold kitten heels and a leather clutch bag. The mother-of-two wore her long, brown hair in a classic blow-dry and kept her make-up low-key for the commemorative event. King Felipe, meanwhile, looked smart in a double-breasted navy blazer and matching suit trousers. Queen Letizia of Spain paid respects to those who lost their lives in the 2004 Madrid train bombings at a remembrance concert this evening The royal couple posed for official photographs and also spoke to members of the public. Letizia has kept busy in recent times, and yesterday, she joined King Felipe at the ARCO Contemporary Art Fair in Madrid. She teamed a striking red leather jacket with a black jumper and matching smart trousers at the event. Walking alongside her husband, art-lover Letizia admired the works on display at the annual event. Complementing her ruby leather jacket, the Spanish queen opted for reddish eye shadow and lipstick to accentuate her stunning facial features. She added a touch of glitz to her ensemble with a pair of golden hoop earrings, while keeping her straight hair loose in soft waves. Finishing off her outfit, she opted for a scarlet handbag to match her statement jacket and a pair of kitten heels. The event was hosted by ARCO Madrid, an international contemporary art fair in Spain that has been running since 1982. She was joined by King Felipe VI (pictured) at the memorial concert, which marked the 21st anniversary of the Madrid train bombings on March 11, 2004 Pictured: Queen Letizia during the 23rd edition of the Tribute Concert Victims of Terrorism: In Memoriam Letizia, a former news anchor, wore a double-breasted black coat dress with prominent gold buttons Letizia was seen chatting with other attendees at the memorial concert in Madrid on Thursday evening The Spanish royal couple posed for formal photographs at the memorial concert with other attendees Letizia wore her glossy brunette tresses out in a classic blow dry style, adding to her polished look The beginning of 2025 has been busy for Letizia and last week she put on a striking display in a red ensemble at an Alcala University event in Madrid. She attended alongside her husband, King Felipe, who awarded honorary prizes at the occasion in Alcala de Henare. Letizia added to her chic ensemble with a flowing black poncho, protecting herself from Spain's cool temperatures. Despite the dark addition to her outfit, she kept the red theme going with a crimson croc leather clutch bag, sparkling ruby earrings, and a pair of heeled red pumps. The former journalist opted for a glamorous makeup look for the prestigious event, complete with bronze eyeshadow. Meanwhile, Felipe dressed in traditional attire linked to the university, including a red cape. Spain's reigning couple also posed for photographs outside the university with board members. Princess Beatrice has stepped out at her first public appearance since giving birth to her second daughter Athena. The King's niece, 36, who welcomed the newest addition to her family in January, looked ethereal as she joined her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at The V&A in London, this evening. Beatrice and Edo, 41, attended Borne's Wonderland gala to mark the royal's newly announced patronage of the prematurity research charity. Dedicated to ending premature birth, Borne funds research to advance knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth and aims to improve the lives of mothers and babies and prevent preterm birth. The royal's appointment as patron, unveiled at the fundraising gala, underscores the Princesss personal commitment to ending premature birth globally after her newborn daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, arrived several weeks premature. She is the third child in the Mapelli Mozzi brood alongside Beatrice's three-year-old daughter Sienna, and Wolfie, eight, from Edo's relationship with Dara Huang. Princess Beatrice often describes Wolfie as her 'bonus' child. The Duke and Duchess of York's daughter put on an elegant display as she stepped out this evening, dressed in an-all cream ensemble. Photographed arm-in-arm with her husband, the late Queen's granddaughter teamed a fashionable silk skirt with a chic long sleeved blazer, featuring button and bow detailing. Princess Beatrice (pictured this evening) has stepped out for the first time since giving birth to her second daughter Athena The royal teamed her stylish outfit with a pair of beige heels while carrying a cream clutch bag to complement her ensemble. With her hair styled in soft curls, Beatrice opted for a glamorous makeup look, completed with bright blush and pink lipstick. Her husband looked equally sophisticated in a black tie outfit as he posed up a storm with his glamorous wife. Commenting on her new role, the Princess said: 'The work that Borne is undertaking is something that is incredibly close and personal to me following the recent birth of my daughter. 'Every year in the UK, 60,000 babies are delivered too soon, with little information or research as to why this is. 'That is why I am really looking forward to supporting Borne and its programme of groundbreaking research, which I hope will help thousands of parents and children in the future.' Princess Beatrice joins a distinguished group of Borne patrons, including Will Greenwood MBE and Caro Greenwood, Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Erin OConnor MBE, all of whom share a personal connection to the cause. 'We are immensely grateful to Her Royal Highness for her dedication to our mission,' said Professor Mark Johnson, founder of Borne. 'Her support will be instrumental in raising awareness and driving the vital research needed to prevent premature birth.' The King's niece, 36, who welcomed the newest addition to her family in January, looked ethereal as she joined her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at The V&A in London , this evening Princess Beatrice gave birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, in January Beatrice and Edo, 41, attended Borne's Wonderland gala to mark the royal's newly announced patronage of the prematurity research charity Borne Chair of Trustees, Julian Mylchreest, went on to say: 'We are deeply honoured to have Princess Beatrice as our patron and we look forward to working together. 'Her passion and commitment will be invaluable as we amplify our efforts, fund the best researchers in the field nationally and globally and work tirelessly to find out why babies are born too soon.' Prematurity affects over 15 million babies worldwide annually, including an estimated 60,000 in the UK and remains the leading cause of child mortality and lifelong disability. Despite advancements in medical care, the causes remain largely unknown, a challenge that Borne is determined to address. Tonight's gala was hosted by actor Alistair Petrie and featured an exclusive performance by Ellie Goulding. Princess Beatrice welcomed her second daughter with her husband Edoardo in January. Sources told the Mail that Athena was a little early, but not unexpectedly so. It is believed doctors had warned a premature arrival was a possibility. Athena Elizabeth Rose becomes 11th in line to the throne, pushing her aunt Princess Eugenie down to 12th place. The Duke and Duchess of York's daughter put on an elegant display as she stepped out this evening, dressed in an-all cream ensemble Photographed arm-in-arm with her husband, the late Queen's granddaughter teamed a fashionable silk skirt with a chic long sleeved blazer, featuring button and bow detailing With her hair styled in soft curls, Beatrice (pictured with Edo and Professor Mark Johnson, Founder of Borne) opted for a glamorous makeup look, completed with bright blush and pink lipstick In a sweet Instagram post, Buckingham Palace wrote: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm. The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces. The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family, have all been informed and are delighted with the news. 'Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care. 'Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena's older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.' Athena is the fourth grandchild for Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. Their others include Princess Eugenie's sons August, three, and Ernest, one, whom she shares with her husband Jack Brooksbank. Edo also posted on Instagram to reveal his new daughter was 'tiny and absolutely perfect'. He shared a photograph of Athena wrapped in a blanket, with the caption: 'Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi. 'We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect. Beatrice's husband looked equally sophisticated in a black tie outfit as he posed up a storm with his glamorous wife The royal teamed her stylish outfit with a pair of beige heels while carrying a cream clutch bag to complement her ensemble 'We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her. Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena. 'A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.' Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Athena's aunt Princess Eugenie wrote 'welcome baby girl'. Her grandmother, Sarah Ferguson, wrote: 'Overflowing with love and joy to be able to welcome Athena Elizabeth Rose into the world. She is already so adored and Im incredibly blessed to be a Granny once again. So proud of Edo, Beatrice and the rest of my little 5-a-side team!' Athena Elizabeth's middle name is no doubt a sweet tribute to Beatrice's late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. Prior to her daughter's birth, Beatrice's last public appearance was on Christmas Day in Sandringham, where she joined the Royal Family for their annual trip to St Mary Magdalene Church. Looking effortlessly elegant, she accompanied other royals, such as King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the occasion. She was accompanied by her husband Edo and Wolfie. Beatrice wore a tan coat from the Net-a-Porter for The King's Foundation collection. The coat was designed by students from the Foundation's Modern Artisan programme, run in collaboration with Net-a-Porter. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Beatrice and Borne CEO David Badcock at the gala The daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson completed her look with a black dress, finishing her outfit with a pair of black knee-high boots. Wolfie looked dapper in a grey jacket and navy trousers, while Edoardo embraced the festive spirit with a forest green tie. Beatrice's appearance at Sandringham came following medical advice not to travel abroad at the late stage of her pregnancy - which halted her plans to fly to Italy and spend the festive period with her property tycoon husband's family. Days before Christmas, Buckingham Palace announced that the Princess had changed her festive plans following medical advice that she should not travel for 'long distances'. At the time, Dr Ellie Cannon, Mail on Sunday columnist and GP, said: 'There are a whole host of reasons why somebody in their third trimester may not be able to fly. 'Different acute issues might be something common such as a chest infection or even a viral illness, which can be quite serious in pregnancy. Flying can make this worse because of dehydration and sitting still for hours which can also raise the risk of blood clots. 'More long-term issues could be high blood pressure or diabetes. Travelling long distance can be dangerous in this scenario because of the ongoing monitoring needed.' Buckingham Palace announced Beatrice's pregnancy on October 1, 2024. In a statement, the palace said: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together in early spring; a sibling for Wolfie, aged eight, and Sienna, aged three. Guests at the gala also included Alice Naylor-Leyland (pictured left) and Laura Tobin (pictured right) Emilia Wickstead attends prematurity research charity Borne's Wonderland Gala 'His Majesty The King has been informed and both families are delighted with the news.' Two new pictures from the family were shared to mark the announcement, with one showing blonde-haired Sienna from behind as she walks along a country lane, holding hands in the middle of her father and big brother Wolfie. The youngster, with a red bow in her hair, was kitted out in bright yellow wellies and an all-in-one blue waterproof puddlesuit decorated with cloud and bird motifs. In another picture, an overjoyed Beatrice - wearing a black puffer jacket - smiled at the camera, while being embraced by Mr Mapelli Mozzi, who gazed at his wife. Royal relatives were quick to express their joy at the news another arrival would soon be on the way, with Beatrice's mother Sarah Ferguson posting on Instagram to declare her pride. Posting a snap of herself with Beatrice and granddaughter Sienna, Fergie wrote: 'A very proud GiGi/Mum today. Such an incredible blessing and an embrace to my heart.' Dragons' Den viewers have been left baffled after a repeat episode featuring a company no longer in business aired this evening. Season 22 of the famous UK show was up until recently in full swing. However, the BBC announced last week that it was taking a brief pause and that new episodes will land later in the year. The decision surprised viewers, who tuned in tonight expecting the new series, and some took to X to complain. Addressing the change, a BBC spokesperson said via TVguide: 'It's a split series so will continue later this year with the last episode in this run Thursday last week.' The series is divided into two parts, with episodes nine to 14 still to come this year, although the BBC has not provided a specific date. On tonight's repeat episode, Kassi Emadi pitched her sustainable soap business, Nuddy, to judges Sara Davies, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, Touker Suleyman, and Peter Jones for 70,000 in exchange for seven per cent of the company. While Steven dubbed the company 'one of the best brands I've seen come into the Den', Kassi's lack of financial awareness meant she failed to secure investment from any of the Dragons'. Despite the brand making for an interesting segment, viewers' attention spans diverted to the fact that they had witnessed the downfall of her brand already, which is no longer trading. Dragons' Den viewers have been left baffled after the BBC repeated a segment of a brand that is no longer in business this evening - Kassi Emadi's (pictured) Nuddy The decision has caused a stir on social media, with one writing: 'Nuddy is no longer trading. That was sadly short-lived.' A second wrote: 'Tuned into Dragons Den only for them to play a repeat! After looking into it theyve only gone and split the series! What a joke!' Another questioned: 'Why are we watching a repeat when we're halfway into the new series? #dragonsden' 'Boo! Repeat. Turning over to something (anything) else,' a fourth viewer said. It comes after Steven Bartlett was branded 'patronising' after inviting an entrepreneur to visit his London offices - while refusing to make her an offer. Millie Flemington-Clare, 25, from Bristol, appeared on the BBC show and asked for 50,000 for a 20 per cent share in her inclusive makeup brand Human Beauty. The beauty entrepreneur pitched her business Nuddy to Dragons' on series 20 of the BBC show Diary of a CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett was impressed by Kassi's business - but did not offer her an investment Kassi's beauty brand Nuddy, which stopped trading last year, sold a range of sustainable skincare products (pictured) Describing herself as a '4ft 6in pink-haired pocket rocket', the influencer revealed how she has a rare inherited condition called Cystinosis that affects the kidneys and eyes. 'I have spent most of my childhood and teens in and out of hospital and as a result was bullied for my height, the way I walk and I was tube fed until I was 18,' said Millie. 'In the last four years I have had two kidney transplants and I ended up in ICU for over three months. But make-up became my therapy.' Her range includes products with audio and visual descriptions as well as a mascara that can be applied from any angle to the eye - but despite impressing with her pitch, none of the Dragons wanted to invest financially in the business. Millie explained how she had watched Dragons' Den since she was eight and it was a 'dream for her to be on the show', adding that 'I'm just always wanting to prove to people what I'm capable of.' But as she delved into her financial figures, the Dragons began to back out on offering an investment. However, they did offer their time to the 'inspiring' hopeful. The first to do so was Steven, who said: 'It's a really, really inspiring story, and I love sitting in this chair, because I get to meet people who have given me this wonderful reminder of human perseverance and creativity and ingenuity and how there's so many people out there fighting to change things. 'As a business case, it's not a financial investment for me, okay, so I'm gonna say that I'm out. Confused viewers took to X to question why an old episode aired this evening, despite BBC confirming the plan last week 'But I'm willing to invest my time, which means that I'm inviting you to come to my offices in central London, hang out with me and my team. 'We can teach you the dark arts of social media and marketing that you're seeking and hopefully that will give you what you're looking for. 'So that's an offer from me. It's not a financial one. It's why I'm out. But I'm offering to invest my time.' But his 'kind' move of offering his help for free - which was matched by Touker Suleyman and Peter Jones - was labelled 'patronising' by some fans as they insisted the Dragons should've viewed the pitch as nothing more than a 'business transaction'. Touker and Peter then followed suit, with the former promising to assist with sourcing despite all the Dragons pulling out from investing financially. Peter said: 'I do think if you look at this, you are individually the definition of human beauty... 'When Touker develops the products, Steven develops the social media, I am going to tell my team to help you distribute and sell online your products that you develop. That way you get to keep all of your company, which you deserve.' As an emotional Millie thanked Steven, Peter and Touker for their kind offers, fellow Dragon Deborah Meaden said: 'You might have done the best deal I've ever seen in the den! You've given away none of your business and you've got loads of help!' After leaving the den, Millie said: 'To have Touker, Steven and Peter's help is game-changing for me. They're going to be able to help me with the exact things I need to be able to get Human Beauty out to more people and make a real change.' Despite the kind gesture, some viewers thought the Dragons were being 'patronising', with one person writing on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'Steven won't invest, but he'll make you a TikTok video.' Another person said: 'What was different about that makeup that Rimmel etc don't already offer? That all just felt a bit patronising. Kind, but patronisingly so.' 'Lots of people here tonight missing how incredibly patronising they are being,' wrote a third individual. The Queen has praised young 'writers of the future' as she presented the prizes during the final of a national writing competition at Buckingham Palace. Camilla met each winner during the BBC 500 Words awards ceremony, which was filmed for a special episode of The One Show on Thursday, World Book Day. The young finalists had their entries read in the palace's ballroom by a group of celebrities which included Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, comedian Matt Lucas, McFly's Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher, actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, comic actor Rob Brydon and JLS's JB Gill. A performance from Oliver and Dodger from the musical Oliver! was also played to the audience, in which they started singing Consider Yourself in the BBC studio, before making their way through the streets and to Buckingham Palace, ahead of walking in with hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. Her Majesty then started her speech by asking the audience to 'consider yourself at home'. She said: 'I know from meeting the judges that they've had an almost impossible task and from the illustrators that they've had an extremely enjoyable one. 'Some decades ago, a famous author said this, "You can make anything by writing". He was quite right. 'By his writing, this man made many things: a wintry land that could only be entered through a wardrobe, mysterious creatures that could talk and play the flute, boxes of enchanted Turkish Delight and a lion whose roar could break spells. The Queen (pictured on The One Show) has praised young 'writers of the future' as she presented the prizes during the final of a national writing competition at Buckingham Palace 'He was, of course, CS Lewis, whose The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe was published exactly 75 years ago. 'Just like CS Lewis, you have proved through this competition that you can make anything by writing.' She added: 'The white witch's power was in her wand and yours is in your pens. I can't wait to see what wizardry your writing will produce in the future.' The Queen ended her speech with another CS Lewis quote: 'You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.' Asked why it was so important to her, Camilla said: 'Well, I think sitting here you've got the writers of the future. 'All of these children here have such talent, I've read quite a few of their stories. I think it's so lovely that we've got all these future writers.' Asked if she still finds time to read, the Queen replied, 'I do when I have a holiday', adding: 'I do try occasionally to read at night but I read two pages and fall asleep and have to start again.' The ceremony celebrated the achievements of six winners from two age categories, five to seven and eight to 11, with recognition given to gold, silver, and bronze recipients in each group. Camilla met each winner during the BBC 500 Words awards ceremony, which was filmed for a special episode of The One Show on Thursday, World Book Day Queen Camilla meets with cast from Oliver, Billy Jenkins (second right) and Raphael Korniets (right)during a reception with finalists, judges and celebrity readers, to celebrate the final of BBC's creative writing competition 500 Words, at Buckingham Palace, London The Queen then presented them with medals before they were escorted back to their seats by Gladiators Nitro, whose real name is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, and Fire, whose real name is Montell Douglas. The final ended with Jones and Fletcher singing McFly's All About You, before the guests were invited to a reception. Six illustrators: Momoko Abe, Dapo Adeola, Rob Biddulph, Yasmeen Ismail, Lydia Monks and Nigel Parkinson; were commissioned to illustrate the winning stories on display at the reception after the final. Camilla is an avid reader, patron of a number of literary organisations and has been supporting the children's writing competition since 2015. Since it was launched in 2011 by Chris Evans on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, the competition has received more than one million stories from children throughout the UK. Aldi Australia is set to bring back its popular cast-iron cookware range that's been compared to high-end French brand Le Creuset. Aldi's famous Crofton cookware collection will return to the 'Special Buys' middle aisle from March 12, while stock lasts. The range features a 24cm frypan ($9.99), 40cm frypan ($12.99) mini pots and pans ($4.99), containers ($9.99) and kitchen utensils ($1.99). The budget retailer caused a frenzy among shoppers when the range sold out previously - and it's likely to happen again. The affordable products have been likened to the look and quality of Le Creuset, which costs hundreds of dollars. The $4.99 mini pan looks similar to the $410 Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Saucepan while the $9.99 frypan resembles the $320 Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Frying Pan. The cookware range will be available in red, green and blue, and the containers and utensils are dishwasher safe. The pans and pots are designed with a non-stick interior coating and will level-up any kitchen without breaking the bank. The range features a 24cm frypan ($9.99), 40cm frypan (12.99) mini pots and pans ($4.99), containers ($9.99) and kitchen utensils ($1.99) The budget retailer has sent shoppers into a frenzy over the range before and will likely do the same again What's included in the range? Crofton Coloured Frypan, 24cm ($9.99) or 40cm ($12.99) Non-stick interior coating Heat control indicator Available in Red, Green or Blue Crofton Coloured Mini Pots and Pans, $4.99 2-layer non-stick coating Available in Mini Tapas Pan (17.5cm), Mini Saucepan (12cm) or Mini Frypan (14cm) Available in Red, Green, or Blue Crofton Microwave Safe Food Containers, $9.99 Ideal for reheating food or fridge storage Microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe Crofton Colourful Kitchen Utensils, $1.99 Available in Red, Taupe, Green, or Blue. Dishwasher safe Advertisement Aldi fans are overjoyed by the opportunity to re-purchase some of their favourites, with many sharing positive experiences with the budget range. 'I bought this cast iron Crofton pan and lid that I didn't really need. My kids think it's a magical pot! Every dish that has come out of it since has been amazing. They think I'm a chef,' one wrote. Another said: 'I have a Le Creuset one that I have had for about 20 years and I have an Aldi one I bought about four years ago. I really can't tell the difference between the two when I am using them to cook to be honest so I would never pay $389 again for any brand when I could get one from Aldi for less than $30.' However, some weren't on board. 'The quality isn't there. You can't compare them,' another said. 'You get what you pay for,' someone else added. Health chiefs were today urged to reconsider approving a breakthrough Alzheimer's drug proven to tackle the devastating disease on the NHS. Lecanemab and donanemab were hailed as 'the beginning of the end' of dementia last year, after studies showed they slowed the progression of memory-robbing illness in its early stages by up to 35 per cent. They were approved by medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). But draft guidance by the NHS spending watchdog last year ruled the benefits of both drugs were 'too small' to justify the estimated 1bn a year roll-out cost. It means lecanemab and donanemab are currently only available to patients who can afford to pay about 60,000 privately every year at select clinics. Yet, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), today revealed it would now convene a third committee meeting in May to evaluate of the drugs' effectiveness before issuing final guidance. It has also launched a second public consultation inviting the public to comment on the committee's decision to reject the drug, which will conclude at the end of this month. The provisional decision to block both drugs last year saw campaigners and charities slam NICE, labelling it 'incredibly disappointing' and 'a frustrating setback'. Lecanemab (pictured) and donanemab are currently only available to Brits who can afford to pay around 60,000 privately every year at select clinics Experts have long believed donanemab could herald a new era of dementia treatment, after studies showed it slowed the memory-robbing illness in its early stages Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease can cause anxiety, confusion and short-term memory loss It is estimated around 70,000 adults in England could eligible for the treatment if approved for use on the health service. The drugs, which patients receive through a drip in their arm every month, work by stimulating the body's immune system to remove the build up of the harmful protein amyloid in the brains of people with early-stage Alzheimer's. Lecanemab has been proven to slow progression of the disease by as much as 27 per cent in trials and has already been given the green light in the EU, US, China, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Israel. Donanemab, meanwhile, has been shown to slow progression by up to 35 per cent. However, the EU medicines regulator the European Medicines Authority has raised concerns over the drug's rare side effects such as 'swelling' and 'potential bleedings in the brain'. Experts have also repeatedly voiced concerns over the potential of such serious complications, warning there has been a handful of deaths linked to the drug in trials. Such fatalities are caused by amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) where the drugs trigger changes in the brain can cause headaches, confusion, dizziness, vision changes, nausea, difficulty walking, and seizures. Professor Rob Howard, an expert in old age psychiatry at University College London, told MailOnline: 'About 40 per cent of patients who are treated with this class of drugs develop brain swelling and bleeding. Around 900,000 Brits are currently thought to have the memory-robbing disorder. But University College London scientists estimate this will rise to 1.7million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 per cent uptick on the previous forecast in 2017 'In most people, this isn't too serious. But in about 1 per cent of cases, this complication can lead to severe life-changing side effects including strokes and death.' Responding to today's decision by NICE to convene a third committee meeting, Eisai who leads lecanemab's regulatory submissions, said it was 'encouraging'. Eisai's European-area president Nick Burgin, added: 'It enables further evaluation of lecanemab and how it could be introduced to the NHS.' 'However, today's decision means that eligible early Alzheimer's disease patients in England and Wales still cannot access the medicine through the NHS. 'We recognise that introducing a new class of medicine is not always straightforward, substantial changes are needed to improve Alzheimer's disease management and lecanemab is just one part of the bigger picture.' A spokesperson for Eli Lilly, which makes donanemab, said they remained 'confident' in the drug's cost effectiveness and the value it could bring to British patients. 'Lilly will continue to work closely with NICE during the consultation period ahead of a final reimbursement decision for use in the NHS,' they said. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia in the UK. Lecanemab has been proven to slow progression of the disease by as much as 27 per cent in trials and has already been given the green light in the EU, US, China , Japan , Hong Kong , South Korea and Israel Recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimates the overall annual cost of the dementia to the UK is 42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt. An ageing population means these costs which include lost earnings of unpaid carers are set to soar to 90billion in the next 15 years. Around 944,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, while the figure is thought to be around 7million in the US. It is thought to be caused by a build-up of amyloid and tau in the brain, which clump together and from plaques and tangles that make it harder for the brain to work properly. Eventually, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and dementia symptoms develop. Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time. Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer. Like many husbands-to-be Ashley Robinson was nervous before his big day, and believed medics when they told him his stomach issues were just pre-wedding jitters. But the truth was that the 35-year-old was suffering from deadly colon cancer, with an orange sized tumour growing in his body. Mr Robinson, from Dacorum in Hertfordshire, first contacted his GP last May after noticing blood in his stools. But he claims he was repeatedly told it 'wasn't serious' and should pass 'in a week or so'. After the chef suddenly passed 'an insane' amount of blood a month later he rushed to A&E. But he said medics there also insisted that he was 'too young for cancer' and simply diagnosed him with piles. It was only when he lost almost 2st (12.7kg) in the week following his wedding last July, and his wife argued with his GP, that they agreed to run further tests. Scans then revealed the devastating truth that Mr Robinson had stage 4 colon cancer the most serious stage that means it's spread elsewhere in the body. Ashley Robinson, from Dacorum in Hertfordshire, initially contacted his family doctor last May after passing blood in his stools. Pictured with wife Jasmin But the 35-year-old chef said he was repeatedly told it 'wasn't serious' and should pass 'in a week or so' Now, Mr Robinson is urging others not to be put off seeking help for potential signs of colon cancer, amid an explosion in cases of the disease in young people. Recalling how the initial signs of his cancer were dismissed he said: ' I thought it was stress related, because it had come on rapidly while we were getting stuff ready for the wedding. 'We were planning on a "princess wedding" but we were working very, very hard for it and I was working a minimum of 60 hours per week. 'It got really bad and I passed the most insane amount of blood so I phoned my GP and they told me to go to A&E straight away. 'When I saw the doctor I mentioned to him that my great nan had died of colon cancer but he said there was no chance and that I was too young. 'The wedding was so consuming and I was being told by every health professional that I definitely didn't have cancer. 'They were saying "you're fine, don't worry, go and get married" so I took their word for it.' But, after experiencing rapid weight loss following his wedding, Mr Robinson was still worried. It was only after he suddenly passed 'an insane' amount of blood a month later in June that he rushed to A&E Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss a s a result of these symptoms He claims to have repeatedly tried to get another GP appointment for his symptoms but was unsuccessful. Instead, it was only after his wife Jasmin, 27, 'stormed in' to the surgery demanding he be seen that his GP relented and referred him for a colonoscopy. 'That's when they found a tumour the size of an orange in my colon,' Mr Robinson said. 'I was dreading getting the results back. I was told I had stage four colon cancer, which had spread to my liver. It was the worst news possible. 'It absolutely crushed my wife. Aside from it happening to her, it was the worst possible news I ever could have had.' He immediately started immunotherapy, a treatment where medics use drugs to help the body's immune system identify and attack cancer cells. Mr Robinson said his medics were shocked when they found this had shrunk the tumour by 90 per cent. 'Even my oncologist was stunned, she was over the moon,' he said. Scans revealed he had a tumour the size of an orange in his colon and he was diagnosed with stage four cancer the most serious kind that means it's spread elsewhere in the body However, he added: 'But if they'd found it in May then they might have been able to give me a treatment before it had spread to my liver. Looking back on his battle to get a diagnosis he said it was 'frustrating' to know more could have been done. 'I was 34 at the time so I know when something's not right, you know your own body,' he said. 'When I rang the GP, I thought they would have made more of a thing of it but it just seemed like they didn't want to know.' A spokesperson for Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, who oversee NHS GP services in the area, said: 'People are often the best judge of what's "normal" for their bodies. 'NHS advice is always to encourage anyone with worrying symptoms to seek advice and to ask again if they are still worried. 'If patients are concerned or unhappy about the care they receive from their GP practice, we encourage them to first of all contact their practice's patient services team. 'If they feel that the practice hasn't resolved their concerns, they can then get in touch with the integrated care board's patient experience team who will discuss the options open to them. Your browser does not support iframes. Dame Deborah James, nicknamed the 'bowel babe' raised more than 11.3mn for Cancer Research and is credited for increasing awareness of the disease, which killed her in 2022 aged 40 Your browser does not support iframes. 'We have not previously been made aware of this case but can follow it up on the patient's behalf if they contact us and give their permission for us to do this.' A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust also said: 'We aim to provide outstanding care to all our patients and we are very sorry for what has happened to Mr Robinson. 'Our thoughts are with Mr Robinson and his family at this difficult time.' Mr Robinson's ordeal comes as experts continue to warn of a disturbing rise in bowel cancers, a form of the disease that includes colon cancer, in under 50s, which has baffled doctors around the globe. The disease, the third most common cancer in the UK, is the same type that killed Dame Deborah James at age 40 in 2022. Although the vast majority of diagnoses affect those aged over 50, rates in older age-groups has either declined or held stable while diagnoses in younger adults have risen by 50 per cent over the last 30 years. Doctors have suggested obesity, antibiotic over-use, mobile phone radiation and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water are potential triggers. However, a growing number of experts are also pointing ultra-processed foods as a cause. About 44,000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK and 142,000 in the US, making it the fourth most common cancer in both countries. Bowel cancer symptoms include changes in bowel movements such as consistent and new diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to poo more or less frequently and blood in the stool. Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue are among other common signs. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their GP for advice. Andy Wilson has no doubt that a four-month course of antidepressants he took 13 years ago ruined his sex life, leaving him with no sexual feeling at all. My life was destroyed by a drug that a doctor prescribed after a ten-minute conversation, without offering me any warning of the potentially devastating side-effects, says the 37-year-old from Dumbarton, Scotland. Andy suffers from a condition called PSSD (post-SSRI sexual dysfunction), which has left him virtually impotent. This is a recognised, long-term adverse effect caused by SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a widely prescribed group of antidepressants that includes citalopram). But cases of persistent sexual dysfunction have also been reported following the use of other drugs, including older antidepressants known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants - as well as antihistamines, tetracycline antibiotics (such as doxycycline), and prescription painkillers (opioids such as tramadol). PSSD is characterised by genital numbness, pleasureless or weak orgasm, loss of libido - and, in men, erectile dysfunction. I think when people hear the term PSSD they think its about not being able to get an erection, yet everything else is normal, says Andy. In my case at least, this is totally wrong. Andy Wilson has no doubt that a four-month course of antidepressants he took 13 years ago ruined his sex life, leaving him with no sexual feeling at all Sexual dysfunction is only one small part of this SSRI damage. It affects every single aspect of my life. Ive not had a full-time job or had any relationships or sex in the last 13 years and I feel like Im constantly behind glass and cant make a connection with another person. Andy contacted me recently through the website antidepressantrisks.org, which I set up in 2021 after I suffered a life-threatening reaction to antidepressants. He is just one of hundreds to get in touch with problems ranging from withdrawal symptoms to suicidal thoughts. Over the past decade, antidepressant prescriptions have almost doubled in England alone, rising from 47.3 million in 2011 to 86.6 million in 2022/23, with over 8.6 million adults now prescribed them annually (nearly 20 per cent of adults), according to the NHS Business Services Authority. While its important to acknowledge that many benefit from these drugs, Andy is speaking out now to warn people of the potential hidden dangers. His story began when he was 23, and studying TV production at Glasgow Metropolitan College. I was a completely healthy young man, he says. Andy contacted me through the website antidepressantrisks.org, which I set up in 2021 after I suffered a life-threatening reaction to antidepressants, writes Katinka Blackford Newman My problems started when I got anxious over some essays and projects I had to do for my course. I felt uncertain about my ability to do them so I kept on procrastinating and playing games on my computer. There were about five different assignments and I couldnt start any of them because I felt paralysed with anxiety. Eventually Andy dropped out of his course. He says: I had missed all these deadlines, so I packed it in. I felt hopeless - if I couldnt do a simple essay then how would I ever achieve anything in my life? Andy went to his GP in the hope he would be referred for therapy, but instead was prescribed citalopram for anxiety and depression. I was reluctant to take a drug because I knew my problems were psychological, he says. I asked the doctor lots of questions and I remember he specifically told me not to read up about the side-effects in the leaflet because it would scare me. Looking back, even if Id read the leaflet, it never would have sufficiently warned me of what was to come. Andy continues: I trusted my doctor and more importantly I trusted medicine. I figured if all these smart people who publish in medical journals, write guidelines and work for the regulators are telling me the best evidence says I should take this drug, then I should do it. Just a few days after taking the first few 10mg tablets, Andy started to experience nausea and dizziness, and his mind began to race. He also developed four mouth ulcers - very unusual for me as before this I would get roughly one mouth ulcer per year. I also had a very high sex drive for the first week. I went back to my doctor and told him about these side-effects and he said it couldnt be anything to do with the drug. (In fact, high sex drive is listed on the patient leaflet as a possible effect; ulcers have also been reported and written about, including in a research paper - possibly caused by dry mouth, another listed side effect.) After a couple of months these side-effects had gone, but Andy wasnt feeling any benefit in terms of his mental wellbeing. By now Id dropped out of college and was living with my parents, he recalls. I still felt anxious and depressed about the future. As there was no improvement to my mood, four weeks after starting the drug I went back to my doctor. He told me to double the dose to 20mg. After just two days I started to get impulsive suicidal thoughts. Id never experienced anything like this before and it was terrifying. It was as if someone was implanting thoughts in my brain. I also had other symptoms - diarrhoea, insomnia and a fever - so I was in no doubt that the drug was messing with my mind and body. After two days at the higher dose, Andy decided to go back down to 10mg and while the severe suicidal thoughts went away, he still wasnt noticing any improvement in his mood - so after being on the drugs for four months, he decided to stop. I didnt want to be taking the citalopram long term for no reason, so I spoke with my doctor and he told me I could either quit cold turkey as I was on a low dose or, if I wanted to be cautious, to cut the pills in half for a week or two which is what I decided to do. To Andys horror, after cutting down and then quitting, he was hit with a number of symptoms hed never experienced before. Within a few days I knew something was wrong, he says. One of the first things I noticed was that my genitals went numb. I could still feel touch, but I had zero erogenous sensation in my penis. My libido was completely erased. Before taking the drug, I loved women. Now, looking at a naked woman, I felt no desire whatsoever. I was unable to orgasm, or at best they were severely muted and I barely felt any pleasure. My erections were much weaker and I had very weak ejaculations. I basically had complete sexual dysfunction as a 23-year-old man. In 2019 the European Medicines Agency formally recognised the existence of PSSD, announcing new recommendations that all SSRI and SNRI antidepressants should carry warnings about the risk of long-term sexual dysfunction. Despite this there has been little research into the condition or its exact cause. As Joanna Moncrieff, a professor of critical and social psychiatry at University College London, explains: Serotonin, the brain chemical which is thought to regulate mood, appears to be bad for some peoples sex life. Animals studies show that drugs designed to boost the brain chemical serotonin impair sexual function, and they demonstrate that these effects can persist after the drugs are stopped. This suggests that antidepressants change the body in ways that are difficult for the body to reverse. It wasnt just Andys sexual functioning that was affected after he stopped taking citalopram. For the first year I had zero appetite and lots of digestion issues, he says. Every two months or so I also suffered nausea and vomiting, and sometimes I had to pee 20 times a day. I had body temperature issues - sometimes I would be burning up and have a mild fever and other times Id be shivering. I had frequent headaches, dizziness and weird tingling sensations in my brain. Andy went online and found a community of people describing similar symptoms on coming off their antidepressants. A lot of them said their doctors just dismissed them, he says. They told them that withdrawal effects only last two weeks and that the drug is out of your system so it cant be causing any of these effects. I didnt go back to my doctor because I knew he wouldnt believe me as he was so dismissive at the start. Other withdrawal symptoms patients report include emotional numbing, depersonalisation (a feeling of being disconnected from yourself, as though youre watching your life from the outside) and other sensory problems involving skin, smell or vision. Andy, too, had episodes of depersonalisation, anxiety, paranoia and nightmares, he says. My mood was volatile, sometimes Id be depressed and crying and other days Id feel ok. Before taking citalopram, although I anxious about my course work, I didnt have any serious mental health problems. I had never experienced any of these things before in my life. He adds: Another problem that began after I stopped the citalopram was brain fog, and a lack of motivation, energy and drive. I felt pressure in my head as if someone was squeezing on my temples and I needed to lie down to wait for it to pass. Before taking these drugs, Id get ideas popping in my head and Id be motivated to do things. Now my mind is blank all the time. I became incredibly socially withdrawn. My mind used to be filled with jokes and I could tell stories, but I now struggle to make eye contact and I dont smile or laugh nearly as often. He says hes not had any friends for over a decade. After ten years of suffering these symptoms, in a desperate attempt to feel better, he reinstated the citalopram at a very low dose of 0.1mg - some patient support forums suggest that if you have come off a drug too quickly, re-introducing it can stabilise you. Andy did this by diluting the tablets in water, but says after four weeks his symptoms had only got worse. I started getting impulsive suicidal thoughts again, so I quit and tried to ride out the withdrawal, he says. Thirteen years since Andy first took the citalopram, he suffers from the same debilitating symptoms that he experienced immediately after coming off it. The impact on my life has been catastrophic, he says. I dont even want friends because I dont enjoy socialising any more. When you cant make a connection with another person, then you can never even get to a point where sex is a possibility. But actually I dont even care about sex. If I had to live with sexual dysfunction for the rest of my life, but I could make connections with other people again, think clearly and be like my old self, I would take that deal in a heartbeat. Professor Moncrieff is a prominent critic of what she and other experts describe as the over-prescribing of antidepressants. She also feels patients are not being properly warned about their potential harms. As she told the Mail: Antidepressants are well-known to cause sexual dysfunction while people are taking them but now there is evidence that this may continue after people stop. In some cases, the drugs seem to disrupt sexual function for years. The most important thing is that we warn people of this potential side-effect so that when they are offered antidepressants they can make a properly informed decision, she says. Antidepressants have been treated as if they are relatively harmless, but theyre not. Like other PSSD sufferers, Andy has no idea how long his condition will last. His dreams of becoming a computer programmer have been put on hold and now he can only manage a part-time job in a supermarket for ten hours per week. The rest of the time he spends in his room. He still lives at home. My parents have been fantastic, he says. They thought this was just a phase and that I would get better but this has been going on for 13 years now. Im 37 and it feels like my whole life has been taken away. I feel like part of my personality was erased, that Im now half a person. Its like a part of me died back then and Im a ghost of what I used to be. READ MORE: Bungling doctor cuts off boy's penis in horrific surgery gone wrong This is the moment doctors discovered an elderly man's penis became infested with maggots. The 76-year-old sought medical attention after four days of bloody urine and discharge coming from his penis. Two years prior he had suffered an enlarged prostate - the gland between a man's bladder and rectum - which blocked his urethra, so he had to have a catheter placed in his penis to help him urinate. The man, from Nepal, was also partially paralyzed on his left side, leaving him unable to clean himself and dependent on his wife for basic hygiene. Doctors performed a cytoscopy, which involves weaving a thin tube with a camera through the urethra and bladder, and found 'multiple maggots' squirming around the man's penis and bladder. The team suggested poor hygiene and using a catheter long term could be to blame, as bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract and cause infections. Doctors believe there are only a handful of reported cases of maggots infesting the penis, called penile myiasis, and even fewer of them travelling to the bladder. The case was detailed in a medical journal last month. The above images from inside the man's bladder and urethra show one of 'multiple' maggots crawling through the organ Your browser does not support iframes. Doctors treating the man wrote: 'The discovery of maggots in both the penis and urinary bladder is an uncommon and alarming occurrence.' They also noted maggot infestation in the bladder is 'very rare, and it indicates the severe and invasive nature of the disease.' Penile myiasis is an extremely rare infection caused by maggots, or fly larvae, infesting the penis. It's thought that the strong odor and tissue decay from poor hygiene attracts flies to swarm and lay their eggs, which turn into maggots. The maggots then burrow into the skin and feed on tissues, causing inflammation. In the unnamed man's case, doctors wrote: 'Another potential route of infestation is through contaminated medical instruments, such as catheters or syringes used for douching. 'These instruments, if exposed to urine or pus, can attract female flies looking to lay their eggs.' The infestation caused the tissues around the man's penis to become severely swollen. The maggots also moved through his urethra to his bladder, causing his bladder walls to thicken. Only a handful of cases of penile myiasis have been reported globally. In one case report, a 21-year-old man in Brazil complained of a small itchy and painful lesion on the tip of his penis. He told doctors that shortly before the lesion formed, he had noticed more flies in his house than usual. Because he would occasionally sleep naked and only took quick showers before work, doctors believed the flies from his apartment had laid eggs around the man's penis. Also in Brazil, a 62-year-old man was diagnosed with penile myiasis due to several years of taking care of farm animals, which attract flies, while wearing shorts but no underwear. And in 2023, a toddler in Nigeria was brought to the hospital with severe penile swelling and pain. On his third day in the hospital, doctors noticed a maggot coming out of a lesion on the child's penis. The man in Nepal was treated with bladder irrigation, which involves flushing the bladder with sterile solutions to get rid of bacteria or other debris. Doctors also gave him a single tablet of ivermectin, which is normally given to animals to kill maggots. The man was hospitalized for 11 days and returned a week later to be circumsized, as the inner foreskin is most vulnerable to infections. A doctor with unique experience of the health harms of Daylight Saving Time has revealed why he's supporting Donald Trump's idea to scrap it. After training in Maryland and Connecticut, both of which adhere to the change, Dr Zaid Fadul moved to Arizona, which is one of two US states that doesn't observe it. The physician told DailyMail.com: 'In Connecticut, you'd see a spike in car accidents, heart attacks, for a couple of days around DST. 'The patients coming in wouldn't say it was down to DST, but they would say things like, "I am much more tired than normal, I don't know what happened". 'There were a number of cases [with heart attacks, for example] where I thought to myself, "yes, this is down to the change in the clocks".' He added: 'But we don't see any of this in Arizona.' This Sunday, 48 of America's 50 states will turn their clocks forward by one hour at 2am Hawaii is the only other place that won't adhere to the change. Dr Fadul and a coalition of other physicians rail against DST, calling it 'antiquated' and saying it raises the risk of heart attacks, strokes, insomnia, suicides, car accidents and even cancer because of the sleep disturbance it causes. Doctors are urging authorities to abandon the twice-yearly clock change that was made official in nearly every state in 1966 And the Trump administration appears to agree, with Elon Musk launching a poll online today asking people whether if DST is canceled they would prefer clocks to be an hour earlier or an hour later. President Trump has also signaled his opposition to DST, saying in December that the clock change was 'inconvenient' and 'very costly to our nation'. Dr Fadul said: 'I am against DST because I think it is antiquated and serves no real purpose at this point. It only disrupts sleep patterns and creates havoc in scheduling meetings or planes or whatever. 'If you look at society today, we have also completely moved away from using the sun as a means to keep time.' Losing an hour of sleep when the clocks move forward results in surges in inflammation, stress hormones and exhaustion, raising the risk of suffering from numerous health conditions. This is because it disrupts the body's circadian rhythm or internal clock by forcing an abrupt shift in the timing of light exposure. Scientists say it can also take up to a week for the body to recover from the time change. A 2014 study that tracked hospital admissions across the state of Michigan found that those for heart attacks rose 24 percent on the Monday following the switch to DST. Another 2016 study from Finland found the overall risk of stroke surged eight percent over the first two days after the clocks change. And in January last year, scientists published a study which suggested Standard Time was the optimal choice for health and safety throughout the year. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Fadul said that while studies clearly showed a surge in hospital admissions for a couple of days after DST started, at the local level, the difference is more subtle. 'It's a small increase,' he said. It is not clear how many extra deaths or hospitalizations the time change causes, but a 2020 study from the University of Colorado-Boulder suggested DST may cause a six percent spike in deaths from fatal car accidents every year, or 30 additional fatalities. Your browser does not support iframes. DST was implemented nationally in the US in 1918 during the First World War as an effort to save an hour's worth of fuel each day, and again in 1942 during the Second World War. Pictured above is Dr Zaid Fadul, who called for DST to be scrapped In 1966, the Uniform Time Act was passed to standardize DST nationwide, with only two states Hawaii and Arizona, which have consistent daylight hours throughout the year securing an exemption. In 2022, the Senate passed an act that aimed to make DST permanent, although this later failed in the House. Globally, 61 countries and territories use DST including the UK and many US allies in Europe. President Trump backed the efforts in December, saying on his platform Truth Social: 'The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't!'. Dr Shelby Harris, a behavioral sleep medicine specialist in New York City, said she could see no downsides to getting rid of Daylight Saving Time. 'I see no drawbacks,' she told DailyMail.com, 'It would just mean people have a little less light at night, but that is not such a bad thing. Our body is really meant to stay in Standard Time year round. 'Car crashes are more of an issue because of sleep loss, and losing an hour of sleep raises the risk of this.' She said that she doesn't tend to see a spike in patients around the time DST is brought in, but did say that among her insomnia patients many are concerned that the clock change means they won't get enough sleep. Dr Fadul completed his residency in Connecticut between 2010 and 2013. He does not work in the ER in Arizona, but has spoken with doctors who are on the state's medical frontlines about the time change. A DailyMail.com poll revealed in January that nearly half of Americans would support Donald Trump's plan to abolish DST. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Fashion month is almost over and we've spent just about every second of it pouring over the street style looks of guests in attendance at the shows. From minimalist suiting in New York, to playful streetwear in London, the street style changes depending on the host city. While we love all the looks, some of our favourite outfits this season were spotted at Copenhagen Fashion Week. A relative newcomer in the fashion week cycle, CPHFW first formed back in 2006, and has only in the last few years received mass attention, in part thanks to Danish brand Ganni's meteoric rise in popularity, and the fashion set's subsequent obsession with Scandi style. The only problem? These It-girl styles so often come with a hefty price tag. So, you bet we were thrilled when we heard that George at Asda's latest collection would embrace the trend but - in typical George fashion - at a fraction of the price. Featuring gorgeous oversized collars, quilted jackets, bows and the ever-popular leopard print, the collection perfectly taps into some of this season's hottest trends. We particularly love the buckled, slingback ballet shoes, which nod to Ganni's viral pumps. Similarly, the Damson Madder-esque scallop-collar blouses and bow-closure jackets are the perfect pick for springtime dressing. Our favourite thing about the supermarket collection is that every item can be mixed and matched together to create a full look, so it's great for dressing in the morning when you need to get out of the door quickly. The collection is available online and in Asda stores nationwide, with prices starting from 10. Get a sneak peek below. George at Asda Silver buckled pumps, 16, George at Asda George at Asda Gingham trousers, 14, George at Asda George at Asda Scallop trim blouse, 18, George at Asda George at Asda Leopard print jacket, 24, George at Asda George at Asda Mesh ballet pumps, 14, George at Asda George at Asda Blouse, 16, George at Asda George at Asda Denim jacket, 26, George at Asda George at Asda Short sleeved jumper, 12.50, George at Asda To get more of what you love from your favourite Sunday supplement, follow us on Instagram (@youmagazine), TikTok (@you_magazine) and X (@YOUMagSocial). CBS News' senior-most staff are said to be 'disillusioned' by their scandal-stained, soon-to-be boss: a former NBCU exec who urged them to placate Donald Trump back in October. At the time, Jeff Shell - now a senior executive at Skydance Media - called a meeting with CBS News chief Wendy McMahon and 60 Minutes boss Bill Owens, Status reported. Shell and McMahon are perhaps the two biggest presences in CBS's newsroom. Skydance had not yet merged with CBS' parent company Paramount - irking staffers would also believed Snell's decision would cave to the demands of Trump. Government officials were also in attendance at the meeting, the newsletter's founder, former CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy learned - laying bare a summit surrounding the then-days-old '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris. Shell, who was ousted from his post as NBCU's CEO in 2023 after his years-long extramarital affair exposed, is set to take hold over the network, when a proposed $8billion merger merger with Paramount closes - tentatively within four months. Donald Trump had just began criticizing both '60 Minutes' and CBS at the time, before eventually launching a lawsuit alleging bias and deceptive editing on the part of the network. As of Wednesday, it remains ongoing. Prior to the meet, Trump demanded CBS release an unedited transcript - after which Shell requested McMahon and Owens comply with Trump's demand, Status reported. During the sit-down, he told them to release the transcript, people familiar with the matter said - recalling how the move immediately raised alarms. In the months since, pressure from Shell and billionaire Paramount heiress Shari Redstone has not only continued, but worsened, the sources said - describing how camps are already forming, with some staffers backing Owens and McMahon. CBS News's senior-most staffers - 60 Minutes boss Bill Owens and news chief Wendy McMahon (pictured together in LA this past May) - are said to be 'disillusioned' by their soon-to-be boss - a former NBCU exec who urged them to placate Donald Trump back in October At the time, Jeff Shell - a senior Skydance Media executive - called a meeting with the two, who are perhaps the two biggest presences in the network's newsroom. Government officials were also in attendance, as the summit surrounded the '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris The accounts, offered to Darcy this week, come after McMahon and Owens were able to sway the media vet into first refusing the request, back in October. However, the duo were ultimately forced to adhere to it last month, as part of the discovery process for the $20billion lawsuit. Previously, the pair successfully convinced Shell that withstanding mounting political pressure was the way to go, and would protect both 60 Minutes and CBS's long-held reputation. McMahon and Owens would afterwards admit to associates they were perturbed by Shell's intervention, source told Status. They pointed out how Paramounts merger with Skydance has still yet to close, and how corporate interference in journalistic matters are typically frowned upon. McMahon and Owens have since been left troubled, people briefed on the situation told the newsletter - while describing an unmistakable air of alarm within CBS's Manhattan office. The rising pressure, they said, stems in large part from Trump's lawsuit, and the fact that McMahon and Owens now see Shell - and Skydance - as a direct threat to the independence of CBS News. Privately, the pair have also described feeling astonished, alarmed, and increasingly disillusioned by the interference, sources spilled - with some claiming McMahon's relationship with her prospective boss is already deteriorating. Once there, Shell - who left his role at NBCU after having an extramarital relationship with a reporter - requested McMahon and Owens comply with Trump's demand: that they release a transcript of the interview, people familiar with the matter said After initially signaling to associates that she had a positive working relationship with Shell, McMahon has since conceded to associates privately that that is now being met with some turbulence, they said. Worsening matters is Redstone's reported desire to resolve the suit - an outcome that McMahon and Owens have since resisted, Status reported. Shell, on the other hand, has reportedly made clear to both McMahon and Owens privately that they need to get on board with a settlement and such an admission - an ultimatum that has spawned widespread frustration. As the pair continue to insist that CBS News did nothing wrong with its handling of the interview, they have reportedly received some backing from other staffers. Many are expressing alarm at the notion of surrendering to what they view as a senseless lawsuit, privately amongst each other, Status reported. Bowing down to Trump would be a betrayal of the newsrooms principles, they believe - following McMahon and Owens' example. Despite the dynamic and mounting political pressure, the pair have decided to stay steadfast with their stance. Shell, meanwhile, has reportedly suggested that a settlement would only be a temporary setback - even if a statement of wrongdoing is included. McMahon and Owens, in contrast, view the brewing battle as one surrounding journalistic integrity - rather than overreach from a worried executive. This, insiders said, immediately raised alarms - and in the months since, the pressure from Shell and billionaire Paramount heiress Shari Redstone - the daughter of the late Sumner Redstone (left) and chairwoman of Paramount Global - has not only continued, but worsened The account, meanwhile, comes after McMahon pictured at the Golden Globes last year on the left) and Owens (seen here in 2022) were able to sway the media vet into first refusing the request - before they were ultimately forced to adhere to it last month as part of the lawsuit Late last month, a former CBS News exec told DailyMail.com that Owens overstretched and feeling the pressure with this lawsuit from Donald Trump.' The longtime 60 Minutes executive was enlisted to help oversee Evening News last summer, seemingly to mimic the success of 60 Minutes. The move was made by McMahon, and was almost immediately met with a drastic reduction of ratings. She's said to be next on the chopping block amid a parade of exits that included her deputy Adrienne Roark just weeks ago. A source familiar with the matter, at the time, told DailyMail.com Roark's sudden resignation stemmed from a falling out with McMahon, after the latter discovered her shopping for a new job in the weeks before her exit. 'Adrienne was essentially Wendy's right hand, long before Ingrid [Ciprian-Matthews] was pushed out,' the source said, referring to the network's former president, who resigned this past August after less than a year. 'This was Adrienne's dream job,' the insider went on, referring to how Roark rose through the ranks after starting at a CBS affiliate in Ohio decades ago. 'Wendy found out that [she] was searching for a new job and got pissed.' Roark has since secured a senior role at far-less prestigious Tegna. Worsening matters is Redstone's reported desire to resolve the suit - an outcome that McMahon and Owens have since resisted. The deal, set to see Redstone walk away with healthy $1.75billion windfall, is set to close this year, but requires government approval 'They brought back former president Susan [Zirinsky] just to get rid of her,' the source continued, naming another former executive brought back as a 'temporary' editor in January. 'Neither Wendy or Adrienne have the editorial experience of leading a national news organization,' they said, painting a picture of a now-years-long leadership crisis. Shell, meanwhile, exited NBCU as CEO in April 2023 due to a complaint of inappropriate conduct by CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble. At the time, Shell acknowledged he 'had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret,' before NBCU parent Comcast disclosed that Shell 'engaged in inappropriate conduct with [Gamble], including allegations of sexual harassment.' Gambles attorney would later describe the case as one involving 'sexual harassment and sex discrimination.' Shell, who is married, maintained the relationship started about 11 years ago and continued sporadically- up until a couple of years ago. Before becoming CEO in 2020, Shell served as chairman of NBCUniversal International. He's set to re-enter the C-suite leagues with the Skydance-Paramount merger, as Redstone stands to make more than $1billion. The deal, as Redstone reportedly pointed out, requires government approval. Shell is pictured with his wife Laura at the Emmy Awards in September 2022. The two are still married. He's set to re-enter the C-suite leagues with the Skydance-Paramount merger, after the scandal saw him nixed from the top spot at NBCU and nearly upended his career Trump, meanwhile, is in the midst of an unprecedented post-election revenge campaign against the press, filing a since settled lawsuit with ABC News that secured him nearly $16million. Mark Zuckerberg's Meta settled a separate suit with Trump as well, as did Elon Musk's X. The increasingly Trump-aligned CEO paid the president a reported $10 million to resolve a lawsuit filed against the company he bought for $44billion years ago. This comes as figures like Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, and Jeff Bezos at The Washington Post continue to enact new strategies that some have framed as attempts to curry favor with the conservative. CBS News, meanwhile, was tasked with fact-checking the president for his joint address to Congress Tuesday, his first speech to both chambers. Double digit dips in ratings seen since an McMahon and Owens-masterminded, experiment for Evening News began a few weeks ago has also spawned concern - as well as slump that has raised alarm bells. 'I would say it's a five-alarm fire,' a veteran television news exec already told Status last week of the show's ratings, as the station continue to fell the heat from the legal pressure. Toward the end of January, the New York Times reported Redstone prepared to fork over a yet-to-be discerned sum to make a lawsuit filed against the conglomerate by President Donald Trump go away. MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace returned to the air Wednesday and refused to address growing calls for her to be fired after she made vile remarks about a 13-year-old boy suffering from brain cancer. Remorseless Wallace continued bashing President Donald Trump, while ignoring the harsh backlash she received after she brought up 'suicide' into a discussion with fellow MSNBC star Rachel Maddow about the sick teenager. Trump honored Devarjaye DJ Daniel during his address to Congress Tuesday night by making him an honorary member of the Secret Service. The young cancer patient was elated - it is his life's dream to become a cop one day. Soon after he was awarded, Wallace and Maddow couldn't resist the urge to say something negative - even about a young cancer stricken boy. 'I hope he's alive for another 95 years and I hope he lives the life he wants to live. He wants to be a cop, he knows what he wants to do and maybe when you have childhood cancer that crystallizes for you,' Wallace began. The anchor then managed a pivot to the Capitol riot that took place on January 6, 2021. 'I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer - but I hope he never has to defend the United States capitol against Donald Trump's supporters...if he does, I hope he isn't one of the six who loses his life to suicide,' Wallace said. Many quickly reacted, saying it's a step too far even for MSNBC, a notoriously liberal network where melodramatic musings against Trump are commonplace. And while the network or Wallace have yet to make any kind of statement about her off-color remarks, viewers are out for blood. MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace carried on business as usual on Wednesday, despite the growing calls for her to be fired after she made vile remarks about a 13-year-old boy suffering from brain cancer who was hailed by President Donald Trump Trump honored Devarjaye DJ Daniel Tuesday night by making him an honorary member of the Secret Service '@MSNBC fire Nicole Wallace!!!!,' one user wrote, while another added: 'Nicolle Wallace is one twisted and hateful demon. She should be booted off MSNBC.' 'This chick on MSNBC (Nicolle Wallace) needs to be fired for saying she hopes a 13-year-old cancer patient doesn't kill himself,' added another. 'Like WTF?' 'I call on the firing of Nicolle Wallace,' said someone else - sentiments shared by at least dozens, most of them right-leaning in their beliefs. 'This is the most repulsive thing I've heard uttered from someone's mouth,' wrote one such user, who added: 'Leave the kids alone!' Wallace also said she hopes the teenager doesn't have to 'testify against the people who carried out acts of seditious conspiracy and then lives to see Donald Trump pardon those people.' Maddow, appearing to hold back tears, objected to Daniel's use by the president in the first place. 'For the record and this is disgusting, the president made a spectacle out of praising a young man who thus far has survived pediatric cancer, as if the president had something to do with that,' she said. The point she was trying to make was that she believed Trump somehow credited himself for helping Daniel survive. 'This was in the midst of him praising DOGE. DOGE cuts, among other things, have cut off funding for ongoing research into pediatric cancer.' It was similar to how Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib held up a whiteboard that read, 'You cut cancer research.' Daniel had undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12 as he battles a rare brain and spine cancer with no cure. He is trying to get sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible as he and his family try to raise awareness about his condition. At the time of his 2018 diagnosis, he was told he would likely only live another five months. He was held up by his father for the touching moment as he received his badge from Director Sean Curran and Republicans in the House gallery chanted his nickname, 'DJ.' On Wednesday Daniel and his family joined Trump in the Oval Office (pictured) Daniels is seen embracing Secret Service Director Sean Curran after he became an honorary member 'He has always dreamed of becoming a police officer,' Trump said. 'But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer.' 'The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.' 'And tonight, DJ, we're going to do you the biggest honor of them all.' Democrats then went silent as Trump discussed his health policies. One Republican shouted, 'MAHA baby!' On Wednesday, Daniels and his family joined Trump in the Oval Office and hugged the president. 'That was a big evening last night,' Trump said to them as he shook Daniel's father's hand. Trump said during his speech that driving down childhood cancer rates and studying autism cases in the US will be a top priority for his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Childhood cancer remains rare in the US, with about 15,000 children diagnosed with the disease every year. Cases of pediatric cancer have risen in recent years, but treatments have improved, leading to a decline in deaths from the disease. 'Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply and keep our children healthy and strong,' he said. Karoline Leavitt blasted MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace over comments linking a teenage cancer survivor to the January 6 Capitol riot. During his speech before Congress on Tuesday night, Donald Trump appointed 13-year-old Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel - who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018 - to be an honorary Secret Service agent. However, the president's actions were quickly criticized as Wallace, 53, turned the sweet gesture into a negative by making a series of abysmal remarks. 'I hope he's alive for another 95 years and I hope he lives the life he wants to live,' the MSNBC host began. He wants to be a cop, he knows what he wants to do and maybe when you have childhood cancer that crystallizes for you,' she continued, before pivoting to the deadly Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. 'I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer, but I hope he never has to defend the United States capitol against Donald Trump's supporters and if he does, I hope he isn't one of the six who loses his life to suicide,' she said. During the segment, Wallace also said she hopes Daniel doesn't have to 'testify against the people who carried out acts of seditious conspiracy and then lives to see Donald Trump pardon those people.' The MSNBC anchor's malicious statement was quickly slammed online soon after, including by the White House Press Secretary. During her Wednesday press briefing, Leavitt, 27, said Democratic politicians and mainstream media figures 'allowed their Trump Derangement Syndrome to stop them from celebrating America.' White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, 27, blasted MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace after the television host 'disgustingly' tied a cancer-riddled boy to the gruesome January 6 Capitol riot. MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace (right), 53, managed to turn the President's honorable gesture into a negative, introducing 'suicide' into the discussion about the terminally-ill teen (left) 'The mainstream media still doesn't get it. Last night, MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace disgustingly looped in a 13-year-old-boy with brain cancer into an attack on the president over January 6,' Leavitt said. The White House official then targeted CNN, noting the cable channel called the president's speech 'divisive' on national television. 'President Trump wasn't divisive. The Democrats were - and CNN was proven wrong by their own viewers, 69 percent of whom, in a post-speech poll said they had a positive reaction to the President's speech,' Leavitt said. Just moments later, she held up a printed copy of a CBS News/YouGov poll - which she claims was passed to her by the President - that showed 76 percent of Americans 'approved' of the speech. Wallace returned to the air on Wednesday but refused to address growing calls for her to be fired. During her segment, a remorseless Wallace continued bashing President Trump, while ignoring the harsh backlash she received. However, the 53-year-old anchor was not the only MSNBC host to criticize the president's speech. Rachel Maddow, 51, said it was 'disgusting' that Trump honored Daniel while on Wednesday morning, 'Morning Joe' co-host Joe Scarborough said the speech was full of 'so much nonsense.' Thirteen-year-old cancer survivor Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel is lifted up by his father after President Donald Trump made him an honorary member of the US Secret Service on March 4 The disgraced host returned to the air on Wednesday and refused to address growing calls for her to be fired after she made the vile remarks about the teen suffering from brain cancer During her segment, a remorseless Wallace continued bashing President Trump, while ignoring the harsh backlash she received 'For the record and this is disgusting, the president made a spectacle out of praising a young man who thus far has survived pediatric cancer, as if the president had something to do with that,' she said. Yet, even as the network nor Wallace have made any kind of statement about her off-color remarks, viewers are out for blood. '@MSNBC fire Nicole Wallace!!!!,' one user wrote, while another added: 'Nicolle Wallace is one twisted and hateful demon. She should be booted off MSNBC.' 'This chick on MSNBC (Nicolle Wallace) needs to be fired for saying she hopes a 13-year-old cancer patient doesn't kill himself,' added another. 'Like WTF?' 'I call on the firing of Nicolle Wallace,' said someone else - sentiments shared by at least dozens, most of them right-leaning in their beliefs. 'This is the most repulsive thing I've heard uttered from someone's mouth,' wrote one such user, who added: 'Leave the kids alone!' The 13-year-old underwent 13 surgeries by the time he was 12 as he battles a rare brain and spine cancer with no cure. He is trying to get sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible as he and his family try to raise awareness about his condition. At the time of his 2018 diagnosis, he was told he would likely only live another five months. Held up by his father for the touching Tuesday night moment, the cancer-stricken teen received his badge from Director Sean Curran while Republicans in the House gallery chanted his nickname, 'DJ.' 'He has always dreamed of becoming a police officer,' Trump said. 'But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer.' 'The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.' 'And tonight, DJ, we're going to do you the biggest honor of them all.' Childhood cancer remains rare in the US, with about 15,000 children diagnosed with the disease every year. Cases of pediatric cancer have risen in recent years, but treatments have improved, leading to a decline in deaths from the disease. 'Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply and keep our children healthy and strong,' he said. Fox News' Peter Doocy put the White House on the spot Wednesday, questioning Elon Musk was permitted to dress casually in the Oval Office - just days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was slammed for his attire during a high-profile visit. During a tense exchange with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Doocy pointedly asked: 'We know that some officials here were mad that Zelensky showed up last week without a suit for his meeting in the Oval Office, but Elon Musk never wears a suit.' Leavitt, initially smirking at the question, appeared momentarily caught off guard before quickly defending Musk's wardrobe choices. 'He did last night,' she responded, referring to Musk's appearance in formal attire at President Trump's Tuesday night's address to Congress. But Doocy wasn't satisfied, pressing further: 'So what is the dress code?' Musk, a major federal contractor and a key figure in the administration's push to slash government spending, was seen walking through the White House last month in his signature casual style - sporting a 'tech support' t-shirt under a blazer. Yet, his outfit barely raised an eyebrow among conservatives. In stark contrast, Zelensky faced direct criticism over his signature military-style clothing. During his visit, Trump himself mocked the wartime leader's attire before conservative reporter Brian Glenn - boyfriend of GOP firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene - grilled him outright. Fox News' Peter Doocy challenged White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt over Elon Musk's Ova Office dress code on Wednesday night Elon Musk shows off his t-shirt reading 'Tech Support' while speaking at the first cabinet meeting hosted by US President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington DC, February 26, 2025 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, received backlash for wearing casual attire during a meeting in the Oval Office on February 28, 2025 In a fiery exchange on Friday, Glenn, Chief White House Correspondent Real America's Voice, asked Zelensky: 'Why don't you wear a suit? 'You're at the highest level in this country's office and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit? 'A lot of Americans have problems, with you not respecting the dignity of this office.' Zelensky, unfazed, fired back that he 'will wear a kostium (Ukrainian for 'suit') after this war will finish' and it would be 'maybe something like yours, maybe something better, maybe something cheaper'. While the scale of the diplomatic fallout remains to be seen, Glenn's line of questioning, which led one diplomatic observer to describe the encounter as a 'planned political mugging', has cemented his status as the Trump White House's favourite journalist. But in a sign of support towards Zelensky, before the meeting escalated into a tense war of words, Trump quickly came to his aid and defended the president's clothing. 'I do like your clothing by the way,' Trump said. 'I don't know if you two like each other, but I think he (Zelensky) is dressed beautifully.' Trump's comments appeared to contradict reports that the US President was actually irritated by Zelensky's attire. Advisers had urged the Ukrainian leader to wear a suit as a sign of respect when visiting the White House, sources told Axios. Elon Musk carries his son on his shoulders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 11, 2025. He was seen sporting a black cap, black coat and a black T-shirt But Zelensky was forced to defend himself for wearing a black jumper and trousers during his visit to the White House And when Zelensky first arrived at the entrance to the West Wing, dressed in an all black outfit and jumper emblazoned with the Ukrainian trident, Trump appeared to mock him. 'He is all dressed up today,' the President said as he shook Zelensky's hand. The criticism by Glenn, who was one of several pro-Trump journalists invited into the White House Press pool after the President's inauguration, was echoed by his partner. Greene wrote on X shortly after the exchange: 'I'm so proud of for pointing out that Zelensky has so much disrespect for America that he can't even wear a suit in the Oval Office when he comes to beg for money from our President!!' Others on social media also pointed out that when Elon Musk visited the Oval Office with Trump last month, he too did not wear a suit. During Wednesday night's exchange, Doocy then asked Leavitt if Musk had been 'spooked' by the backlash Zelensky received. 'No, I don't think so,' she replied. 'I'm just pointing out that he did wear a suit last night. And I think the president liked that very much - and he looked great.' During the meeting Brian Glenn (pictured), Chief White House Correspondent Real America's Voice, asked why Zelensky didn't wear a suit Brian Glenn is the boyfriend of of Congresswoman and close Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene. The pair are pictured together at a pro-Trump rally in November, 2024 Zelensky, who has said he will not wear suits until the war in Ukraine has ended, is seen wearing a jacket and black top during a meeting at with French President and Trump at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris in December Zelensky has faced similar criticism in the past for his choice of outfits while attending major meetings with other world leaders. In 2022, following Zelensky's address to the US Congress, Commentator Tucker Carlson accused the Ukrainian leader of dressing like the 'manager of a strip club demanding money'. Meanwhile supporters of Zelensky have instead compared him to the UK Prime Minister WInston Churchill, who notably also refused to wear a suit during a visit to the White House in the midst of World War Two. Musk was also recently seen in the White House donning a black coat, T-shirt, MAGA cap and jeans, while carrying his four-year-old son on his shoulders. The glaring double standard raises questions about whether dress codes in the White House are truly about respect - or if they're just another battleground in America's ever-political culture wars. There's nothing good about mornings in the ABC newsroom this week. Two years after GMA3 was rocked by the secret affair of co-hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach, Disney has once again brought the ax down on its crown jewel franchise. About 200 staffers across ABC News and other Disney-owned divisions received pink slips on Wednesday morning, with GMA3 said to be 'entirely gutted' by the consolidation of the Good Morning America teams. Tears flowed though ABC's Manhattan offices as panicked staffers made frantic phone calls figuring out who was next on the chopping block, according to Status's Oliver Darcy. ABC News boss Almin Karamehmedovic conceded it will 'undoubtedly be difficult for our organization' as he delivered the news. The show has been subject to a series of name changes, formats, hosts and a major scandal - one that saw co-anchors Robach and Holmes benched and then ousted, after DailyMail.com exposed their affair with photographs in late 2022. At the time, Robach was married to actor Andrew Shue, while Holmes was married to attorney Marilee Fiebig. Pictured, current GMA3 hosts DeMarco Morgan and Eva Pilgrim. The show - spun-off from the similarly stylized morning show in 2018 - has reportedly been 'gutted' by layoffs Today, the show is hosted by Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan - two of the three stars installed to replace Robach and Holmes. Neither Pilgrim nor Morgan were affected by the cuts announced Wednesday, the majority which will go into effect on May 10. At that point, staffers will be provided a severance package that includes normal pay for 60 days as well as an additional week per year served. Sources told Darcy how there's been 'some frustration' with those packages, due to staffers being given 'two weeks per year served' in previous firings. ABC News previously shed 40 employees in October. Back then, Karamehmedovic - named president in August after helming the network's other prized broadcast 'World News Tonight' - called the cuts one of many 'tough decisions'. Then GMA3 hosts T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach taking to the air after Daily Mail's bombshell report exposed their affair. Within days, they were put on leave amid an internal network investigation, and ousted the following month Holmes and Robach's cozy upstate getaway - in the Shawangunk Mountain region of New York - on November 13, 2022, which saw them investigated - and ultimately ousted - by the network 'It's a very somber scene in the building - people crying and upset,' one staffer told Darcy as ABC's Manhattan office reacted to the all-staff memo announcing the layoffs. 'Lots of panicked phone calls between staffers trying to make sense of it.' GMA3's executive producer Catherine McKenzie was among those let go. Seni Tienabeso, previously the executive director of the channel's streaming venture ABC News live, was appointed to the position of Vice President of the streaming service. Additionally, ABC News Studios, 20/20, Nightline and Impact x Nightline will now operate under a single leadership structure - a move that represents even more consolidation. Pictured ABC President Almin Karamehmedovic and Disney exec Debra OConnell posing at the Oscars Sunday night. The two C-suiters were behind Wednesday's firings Digital and social operations will also be further integrated with news gathering and other teams, the network said. New York-based employees - who recently relocated from ABC's longtime studio on the Upper West Side to Disney's new digs downtown - represented the 'vast majority' of staffers affected, people familiar with the matter further told Darcy. 'I'm told GMA3 was entirely gutted,' a portion of his report read - after reporting on the then-planned shakeup a few weeks ago. The cuts come at time where TV in general is in the mist of a seemingly inevitable decline. CNN recently laid off close to 200 as part of a shift to a more digital-based model, while losing stalwarts like Darcy and Jim Acosta to independent ventures - both digital-based. Catherine McKenzie, the executive producer of GMA3, was let go as part of the firings. Cindy Galli, an executive producer on ABCs investigations team, was also laid off Layoffs were also seen at NBC News' office at 30 Rock, which has lost longtime Meet the Press host Chuck Todd to his own podcasting endeavor as well. Lester Holt is also stepping away from Nightly News this summer, after 10 years at the desk. 'Its all about doing more with less,' one ABC staffer told Status, as ABC and the other stations continue to push their respective ventures. 'Thats what this is.' Both GMA and GMA3 are currently available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, though not live. Republican political pundit Scott Jennings defended President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE team on Wednesday, kicking off another viral round of cable-news banter with Democratic strategist Alencia Johnson. Jennings defended the cuts made by Elon Musk and his DOGE team and said it was smart of Musk to meet with Republicans on Capitol Hill on Thursday to brief members of congress on his efforts. 'My question and what the Republicans are asking is simply this: Is it not possible for us to approach getting back to 2019 spending levels?' he said. 'It always gets bigger, it never gets smaller, there will be sob stories, there will be sad stories but overall fiscal health of this country matters' Johnson fired back that the health of the country was important and that gutting federal agencies were only making it more difficult to address real health crises like the bird flu, ebola, and the measles. 'These things that actually can have detrimental impacts on the American people,' she said. 'We have Ebola in the United States?' asked Jennings. 'Well, we are helping the world be a safer place as well, Scott. And we know that,' Johnson replied. CNN's Scott Jennings and Democratic strategist Alencia Johnson. Democrat Strategist Alencia Johnson picked a fight with Scott Jennings on CNN and he ran circles around her until Kaitlan Collins ended the segment. "We have Ebola in the United States?" "You're saying Elon Musk caused the measles?" pic.twitter.com/TdjOIw3ZVy Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) March 6, 2025 'Biden slaughtered all the chickens,' Jennings replied. 'I dont know if theres any left to kill.' When Johnson and Collins protested, Jennings described the chicken killing as a 'bloodbath.' 'You all love that word,' he joked. But Johnson urged Jennings to get serious. 'C'mon Scott ... you can laugh about this. But these are things that people are actually scared about,' she said. 'I mean, measles is coming back.' 'Youre saying Elon Musk caused the measles?' asked Jennings. Johnson clarified that she was critical of Trump appointing untrustworthy officials to operate the federal government making it 'unsafe for the American people.' CNN's Scott Jennings and Democratic strategist Alencia Johnson. CNN host Kaitlan Collins on 'The Source' 'Youre saying Donald Trump caused the measles?' Jennings asked. 'Elon caused the measles. You heard it here first,' Jennings laughed. 'That's not what I said,' Johnson protested. 'Not what she said!' Collins agree, stepping in to defend Johnson and ending the segment. Jennings is referred to as the 'black sheep' of CNN for defending Trump and Republicans against the more left-leaning hosts, analysts, and commentators on the network. His time onscreen has skyrocketed as clips of him arguing with his colleagues in Trumps' defense have gone viral. 'Often the show sort of comes down to several people versus Scott. Part of my job here is to honestly help translate from Red America,' Jennings told The Wall Street Journal in February. Volkswagen has teased the look of what's soon to become its smallest and cheapest electric car - and it's due to arrive within two years and with a very affordable asking price. The ID.Every1 concept has just been unveiled as the preview to the forthcoming ID.1 - the German giant's electrified spiritual successor to compact cars from its past, like the Up, Fox and Lupo. It is set to launch in 2027 in the hope it will stimulate demand for its EVs as the car giant struggles in the current market. Volkswagen is currently in the process of dramatically slashing production at its dedicated electric car-only factory in Germany in the wake of declining sales, and the threat of plant closures and job losses still looms. It means much hinges on the auto firm's new models arriving before the end of the decade. Bosses have promised nine new EVs to transform its line-up, with the ID.1 seen as the 'last piece of the puzzle'. And it will be the least expensive piece too, with the car maker stating it will come with a starting price of 'around 20,000', which translates to 16,750. If it arrived now, it would be Britain's third cheapest EV. VW has likened its impact on the market to the iconic Beetle, saying it will 'enable affordable mobility for millions of people with compact and likeable cars'. Volkswagen's new affordable electric car arriving in 2027: This is the ID.Every1 concept - a preview of what the forthcoming ID.1 - VW's smallest next-generation EV - will look like... VW bosses say the production-ready version will arrive with a starting price of 'around 20k', which translates to 16,750. If it launched now, it would be Britain's third cheapest EV VW ID.1: What we know so far... The ID.Every1 concept, revealed in Dusseldorf on Wednesday evening, can be considered an early look at how the production version will appear. Bosses say the design is very close to the real deal, with customers likely to see something slightly toned down with smaller wheels, proper door handles and revised light clusters front and back. It will also see VW's long-awaited return to the smallest 'A' segment following a three-year hiatus after it culled the Up city car at the end of 2023. By the time it arrives, it will sit below the Polo-sized ID.2 in Volkswagen's vehicle line-up, with the bigger electrified supermini expected for release in 2026 - and likely unveiled this year. While the brand will also update its existing ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5, launch a GTI hot-hatch variant of the ID.2 and add three more models to its electric family of cars, the ID.1 is arguably its biggest challenge of all. ID.1 will mark VW's long-awaited return to the smallest 'A' segment following a three-year hiatus after it culled the Up city car at the end of 2023 Bosses have promised nine new EVs to transform its line-up, with the ID.1 seen as the 'last piece of the puzzle' as it looks to overhaul its struggling electric car model range The concept, fitted with a 94bhp electric motor and riding on large 19-inch wheels, has a top speed of just 130kmh, which is a just shy of 81mph. The range is 155 miles - but that could increase for the production model arriving in 2027 At just 3,880mm long in concept form, the ID.1 is set to be just 280mm longer than the diminutive Up that it will effectively replace. Volkswagen will need to fit a suitably sized battery into the platform that offers adequate range for customers but is also cost efficient to ensure it can meet its 20,000 promise. The concept, fitted with a 94bhp electric motor and riding on large 19-inch wheels, has a top speed of just 130kmh, which is a just shy of 81mph. The most important figure of all is the range, which is claimed to be 155 miles. While this is short of what's offered from the cheapest EV in Britain, the 15,995 Dacia Spring with 140 miles, it's unclear if these figures will be accurate for the production ID.1, which ultimately will have smaller wheels and the latest drivetrain tech when it emerges in 2027. The Citroen e-C3, which costs from 21,990 today, has a 199-mile range between battery charges, for further reference. Volkswagen also hasn't released details about the size of the battery in the ID.Every1, though we expect the showroom version to be between 35 and 40kWh. Its previous electric e-Up, available from 2011 to 2023, had a 36.8kWh battery providing a claimed range of 161 miles. Commenting at the unveiling of the concept car, Thomas Schafer, VW's CEO, said: 'The ID. Every1 represents the last piece of the puzzle on our way to the widest model selection in the volume segment. 'We will then offer every customer the right car with the right drive system including affordable all-electric entry-level mobility.' The upturned corners of the bumpers, both front and back, are purposely shaped to look like a smile. When combined with the light clusters - especially the pupil-like headlights - are meant to resemble a friendly, happy face The ID.Every1 concept, revealed in Dusseldorf on Wednesday evening, can be considered an early look at how the production version will appear VW bosses say the design is very close to the real deal, with customers likely to see something slightly toned down with smaller wheels, proper door handles and revised light clusters A 'friendly' design The car's boxy and chunky design is very much in-line with the Up and Lupo and is intended to keep the vehicle looking timeless. Like these small models from its past, the front of the car will be simple, with a chunky black grille flanked by single headlamps. The upturned corners of the bumpers, both front and back, are purposely shaped to look like a smile and when combined with the light clusters - especially the pupil-like headlights - are meant to resemble a happy face. The VW logos front and back are also LED illuminated, with the rear emblem cleverly doubling as a third brake light. The simple and 'friendly' face of the ID.Every1 draws similarities to the car it succeeds, the Up. The e-Up (pictured) was a the fully-electric version of VW's last compact city model Design bosses said the VW Lupe - available from the late nineties into the early noughties - also inspired the design language of its new compact EV Thomas Schaefer (right), CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars with Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen AG and Porsche AG, says VW's goal is to be the 'worlds technologically leading high-volume manufacturer' by 2030 'The ID. Every1 has a self-assured appearance but remains likeable thanks to details such as the dynamic front lights and the smiling rear,' says head of design, Andreas Mindt Volkswagen also hasn't released details about the size of the battery in the ID.Every1, though we expect the showroom version to be between 35 and 40kWh Volkswagen's head of design, Andreas Mindt, said: 'Our ambition was to create something bold yet accessible. 'The ID. Every1 has a self-assured appearance but remains likeable thanks to details such as the dynamic front lights and the smiling rear. 'These design elements make it more than just a car: they give it character and an identity that people can relate to.' Inside, the cabin is simple but cleverly uses contrasting materials and colours to make it feel less sparse. The dashboard combines a letterbox-style narrow digital instrument cluster that's then broken up by a large, landscape-mounted infotainment screen that looks like the latest, thinnest tablet from that famous American tech company. VW has cleverly used contrasting materials to make the simple interior feel more appealing The large iPad-like screen is mounted above a small selection of buttons, which control the temperature settings, audio volume and heated seats Volkswagen says the ID.1's concept will easily seat four people in comfort, with plenty of head room all round thanks to the boxy proportions The boot capacity - seen here with the rear bench backrests folded down - is 305 litres. That's 50 litres more than the Up provided Volkswagen is also promising the ID.1 will arrive with an all-new software-driven electronic architecture that leans heavily on over-the-air updates. The aim is to keep the tech available in its new models up to date against other rivals. The large iPad-like screen is mounted above a small selection of buttons, which control the temperature settings, audio volume and heated seats. These will be much welcomed by anyone who has struggled with changing settings in fiddly infotainment systems in some current cars. Carrying the design language from exterior to interior is a pair of air vents at each corner of the dash, which replicate the headlight design. The drive controls are all mounted on the steering wheel, leaving the lower section of the dash free for a small box-like cubby bin. Above this is a centrally-mounted glovebox, while the vacant compartment in the area in front of the passenger seat is now an open storage bins with straps. VW says its compact dimensions will still be suitable to space up to four occupants inside, while the boot capacity of the concept is 305 litres - that's 50 litres more than the Up provided. With a starting price of around 17,000, VW is going to be hard-pressed to make the ID.1 a profitable model With the promised low price, there will be questions raised about profit margins available with ID.1 without a significant drop in battery costs Gartner, a US market research firm, last year published a report predicted that the price of a new EV will drop to the same level as an equivalent new petrol or diesel model by 2027 - when the ID.1 is due to hit the market Can VW make the ID.1 profitable? Speaking at the concept's debut in on Wednesday evening, Schaefer told the audience: 'Our goal is to be the worlds technologically leading high-volume manufacturer by 2030. 'And as a brand for everyone just as you would expect from Volkswagen.' However, with a starting price of around 17,000, VW is going to be hard-pressed to make the ID.1 a profitable model. While car makers have been widely criticised for not providing customers with smaller, cheaper EVs, manufacturers have rightfully argued that the high cost of battery tech means it is almost impossible to make money from an affordable compact electric vehicle. With the promised low price, there will be questions raised about profit margins available with ID.1 without a significant drop in battery costs. Gartner, a US market research firm, last year published a report predicted that the price of a new electric car will drop to the same level as an equivalent new petrol or diesel model 'much faster than initially expected,' saying drivers will see price parity by 2027. It claimed that new manufacturing methods will reduce production costs below those for a comparable car with an internal combustion engine within the next three years. Build costs will drop considerably faster than the cost of batteries, which are the most expensive part of an EV and account for around 40 per cent of the vehicle's price, the March 2024 report said. Volkswagen, like all other EV makers, will be hoping this is the case. VW's dedicated electric car factory in Zwickau is currently in the midst of a huge cost-cutting exercise. Vehicle outputs at the plant are set to be slashed as part of a recent agreement between Europes largest car maker and its works council and union IG Metall. The deal, made in December, eliminated the threat of factory closures and job cuts until 2030 with the compromise that production capacity will be halved. Arno Antlitz, chief financial officer of VW Group, told employees in January that in the future 'we will only invest in competitive plants. Germany cannot be an exception.' At the end of February, VW Group closed Audi's EV factory in Brussels where it made larger electric SUV vehicles. Earlier this month it was announced that around 6,000 people could lose their jobs at Skoda, which is also set to make drastic cuts to keep up with an expensive EV rollout. MPs are under mounting pressure to launch an inquiry into HSBC amid growing outrage over its blocking of pension savings owed to British nationals from Hong Kong. In a letter to be sent to the head of the House of Commons business committee Liam Byrne, campaigners are demanding executives answer questions about withholding nearly 1billion from people who fled to escape a crackdown by Chinese authorities. Rights group Hong Kong Watch said the bank raises serious concerns about the ability of UK-based financial institutions to operate independently and in accordance with British financial regulations, adding it was also a question of whether UK-based institutions remain accountable to British law rather than foreign political directives. Several MPs, including members of the Treasury and foreign affairs committees, want the bank called in for questioning. HSBC has said a legal barrier prevents it paying out the cash but this is disputed by campaigners and MPs. Foxtons has more to do to improve life at work, the estate agent chains chief executive said after it was rocked by sexual harassment claims. Guy Gittins said a respectful and inclusive culture is of the utmost importance after it was plunged into scandal. His comments followed reports that male employees had groped, sexually propositioned, and sent explicit texts to junior female colleagues. Staff at the London property broker also made racist and anti-Semitic jibes, a Bloomberg investigation found. And Foxtons was accused of having a culture of heavy drinking and drink-driving. The probe uncovered incidents where staff had driven Foxtons green, branded Mini Coopers while under the influence. Claims: Foxtons chief exec Guy Gittins (pictured) said a respectful and inclusive culture is of the utmost importance, -just days after it was plunged into scandal One worker said she had been injured when a drunk colleague crashed the car as he gave her a lift home. Gittins, who started his career at Foxtons before stints with rivals Savills and Chestertons, rejoined as chief executive in 2022. He vowed to bring back the fun and reinvigorate the sales culture. Foxtons chairman Nigel Rich backed Gittins yesterday, saying he had been instrumental in changing the workplace. Foxtons has 50 branches in London and the Home Counties and around 1,300 staff. Gittins said the company had introduced mandatory annual respect and inclusion training, and strengthened its equality, diversity and inclusion policies and whistleblowing processes. There has been a 25 per cent increase in female managers over the last two years and a 12 per cent increase in employee retention rates, he said. While progress has been made, we recognise there is more we can and should do, Gittins said. Bloomberg spoke to current and former employees, mainly junior female staff, who said they had faced unwanted physical contact, requests for sex or other explicit and offensive comments over a four-year period. Thirteen described racism or anti-Semitism and 16 claimed heavy drinking and drink- driving happened regularly. And the majority said they had been ignored when they reported the behaviour, which took place between 2021 and the end of 2024. Gittinss comments yesterday came as Foxtons reported an 11 per cent rise in revenues in 2024 to 164million, while profit soared 121 per cent to 17.5million. Delays: Czech tycoon Daniel Kretinskys EP Group, struck a deal to buy Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services last year The 3.6billion takeover of the owner of Royal Mail by the Czech Sphinx is set to be delayed due to a political crisis in Romania. Daniel Kretinskys EP Group, which struck a deal to buy Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS) last year, said the only regulatory bar to be cleared relates to its foreign direct investment in Romania. While there are no major issues expected and talks to gain authorities approval are progressing well, it predicts clearance will only come in time to see the deal complete in the second quarter of 2025. EP Group had hoped to complete the takeover this month. Kretinsky dubbed the Czech Sphinx needs to clear the regulatory hurdle in Romania because part of his business operates there. Romania is in turmoil after a presidential election was cancelled amid claims of Russian interference. Kretinskys deal was cleared in the UK last year, and would mean the 509-year-old service passes into foreign ownership. Phone gridlock has forced the Government to relax its deadline on a special state pension top-ups deal, as This is Money readers blast long delays and lost payments. Using a new callback request option before 5 April means even if you don't hear back from helpline staff before that date, you will still be able to buy missing years going as far back as 2006. But after the offer finally runs out you can only fill gaps from the past six years - unless it's extended again as happened twice during a phone meltdown two years ago. If you make a callback request to beat the current deadline, the Government advises saving a screenshot of the confirmation message. This is Money is receiving a stream of complaints from readers about long waits to find out vital information about buying top-ups - which can give a generous boost to your state pension if you fill the right gaps - and also after they hand over cash. Jan Wright, pictured below, paid nearly 1,500 in December and was initially told her state pension would be raised in about eight weeks, but the Department for Work and Pensions later informed her it would take six months. The 69-year-old retired civil servant told us: 'This is unacceptable and apparently I receive no interest on the money I have paid and they have kept for months. If I owed the HMRC money I would be charged interest.' Jan Wright: 'It just doesn't seem right that you pay your money and don't get anything back' We continue to hear stories about a mounting case backlog piling pressure on Government staff and causing lengthy delays. - A 66-year-old reader was informed by HMRC it is currently taking two months to allocate top-up payments to National Insurance records. That is the first stage, before cases are passed to the DWP which is responsible for reviewing and increasing payments. - Below, we cover a case where HMRC gave botched advice to a reader, who paid too much for top-ups last June as result. She has been chasing a 1,400 refund since HMRC admitted its error in August - then last month was told it would take a further 58 weeks to deal with it. - The problems appear to extend beyond top-ups, because we also heard from a 71 year old who was awarded two 'grandparent credits' towards her state pension last May. She got nowhere calling DWP staff to ask why her pension still hadn't increased, until This is Money demanded an explanation and she was promised a 4,300 backpayment. 'The delays which these readers have experienced are totally unacceptable,' says Steve Webb, a former Pensions Minister who is This is Money's retirement columnist. 'It is particularly worrying that people can be left waiting for the best part of a year and find it impossible to get things moving. 'I increasingly suspect that some applications are caught in a kind of "limbo" where they never quite reach the top of anyone's "to-do" list.' Webb, who is now a partner at LCP, adds: 'It is time that Ministers took a closer interest in operational matters like this and made sure that waiting times were reduced and that people could actually contact someone who knew what was going on in their case.' Is it worth buying state pension top-ups? Buying top-ups can give a generous boost to retirement income if you buy the correct years on your record. This is Money's guide to buying state pension top-ups explains the cost and offers six golden rules on deciding if you should fill gaps by Steve Webb, our retirement columnist. The system is run jointly by two Government departments. HMRC is responsible for maintaining National Insurance records, which you must check for gaps in your state pension records, and processing top-up payments. The DWP is in charge of revising state pension forecasts or payments after purchases. It is worth knowing which department does what, so you know who to contact if necessary during the process, or later if anything goes wrong. We asked HMRC and DWP to tell us current average processing times to allocate top-ups payments to NI records, and to recalculate state pension payments or forecasts, but they gave us no information about this. A Government spokesman responded: 'There's still time to make voluntary contributions before the 5 April 2025 deadline. We encourage people to act now. 'Both HMRC and DWP will always prioritise resources as needed to manage spikes in demand, particularly for upcoming deadlines. 'We apologise to those customers impacted by the level of service they received where errors do occur we are committed to resolving them as soon as possible.' 'I was absolutely shocked' Jan Wright, 69, says it is unacceptable to take six months to increase state pension payments after she bought 1,500 in top-ups in December. The former civil servant, who lives in Lancashire, says of her conversation with a DWP staff member about the backlog: 'I was absolutely shocked. I asked if I could have interest. He sounded really surprised and said 'I have never been asked that before'. 'I am another victim. It just doesn't seem right that you pay your money and don't get anything back.' After we took up her case, Ms Wright's state pension was raised from around 193 to 205 and she received a 114 backpayment. She responded: 'All I can say is thank you so much for your intervention and help. I'm sure I would have been waiting a lot longer if it were not for you.' Janice Mazi: HMRC botched her top-ups payment then failed to pay a promised refund 'It's a complete shambles' Janice Mazi, who lives in Greece, handed over nearly 2,100 for state pension top ups last June after being misinformed about the cost by HMRC. The 59-year-old saleswoman was promised a 1,400 refund plus 50 in compensation. But she was still chasing this last month, and by then had involved her sister in the UK due to the cost and inconvenience of making phone calls from abroad. Her sister was told by HMRC last month that it is currently taking 58 weeks to action queries, so Mrs Mazi could not expect a response and refund until this November. At that point Mrs Mazi's sister decided to contact This is Money, saying: 'I don't know in what universe this is acceptable, especially given that it was their incorrect information in the first place which led to the wrong NI payments being made.' She told us this was 'a tale of horror' she wanted to make other people aware of and added: 'Good luck to anyone else who has worked overseas trying to make NI payments for their state pension forecast. It's a complete shambles.' Mrs Mazi's case was sorted out and she received an apology and compensation after we intervened. She says: 'Thank you for getting involved in my case. Without your help I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this.' Alison Lumb: Top-ups cash missing since spring 2024 'I've made four phone calls about this' Alison Lumb paid 180 for top ups in April last year, just a few weeks before she turned 66 and began drawing her state pension. However, she discovered last summer that HMRC had wrongly entered her NI money as a payment on account towards her next tax bill. The freelance artist, who lives in London, told us: 'I have now made four phone calls about this and have just written to the Department of Work and Pensions. 'In September HMRC finally transferred the payment for the NI over to the DWP, and according to the people on the phone at HMRC - who apologised on a couple of occasions - the pension should by now be correct. 'I am told that there is an entry on the record of the change of circumstances team to do something about this but they evidently have not. 'My circumstances have not changed but a few years ago my pension forecast suddenly appeared in my husband's surname rather than mine, making me wonder if this software glitch - if it was that - has caused the problem. I did not change my surname on marriage, or at any point since.' When we flagged her case, the DWP raised Mrs Lumb's state pension from nearly 214 to 220 a week and said it would pay 281 in arrears. She told us: 'Thank you so much for taking this up and achieving this result. If you learn what went wrong I would be interested to hear.' Top-ups money gone missing? If you have paid and heard nothing more, write and tell us your story at pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk. Unfortunately we can't help everyone so you can also contact your MP. If you are an expat, you can contact the MP in the last constituency you lived in and still request help. Find your MP here. 'I have no idea where my 3,000 has gone' Felice Torchia, 59, bought state pension top-ups last October but then heard nothing more. The teacher, who lives in Finland, told us: 'I have gone through all recommended channels and still don't know if the money I sent is registered with them. No information, no receipts, nothing. 'It's been well over four months and there has been no update on the HMRC app. My pension page has remained unaltered. My NI contributions page has also remained static. 'At this point, I have no idea where my 3,000 has gone! Is there any pressure you can put on them, or can you publish my complaint? I think if enough of us complain, something must happen.' Once we raised his case, HMRC allocated the payment to Mr Torchia's NI record and sent him a receipt. It says the two years he has paid for will automatically update on his online record and state pension forecast. He told us: Your magic has worked, I checked my pension forecast on the HMRC app and they have now updated my info. Thank you so much for your help.' Ethel McHugh and her husband Bill: She received two NI credits for caring for her grandchildren while her daughter worked 'Have I slipped through some bureaucratic net' Delays to revising state pension payments appear to go beyond top-up purchases, because we also heard from a reader who was due an increase after being awarded two 'grandparent credits' last spring. These are available if you were looking after under-12s whose parents were working and didn't need credits towards their own state pensions. You can apply retrospectively for years going back to 2013. Find out more about Specified Adult Childcare credits on Gov.uk. Ethel McHugh, 71, received two credits last May for caring for her grandchildren while her daughter worked, but her state pension was not hiked to take account of them. The retired cleaner, who lives in Tyne and Wear, told us: 'I did write to the DWP in August of last year and then telephoned them in October after receiving a useless reply telling me to telephone or go online. 'I chose to telephone as online was hopeless and eventually was connected with the correct department. 'Eventually I was passed to an adviser who said she could see the change in my records reflecting the award but could not tell me when this would be included in my state pension payments. It's now mid-February 2025 and still no word or sign of payment.' She asked us: 'In your experience is this a typical delay or could I have slipped through some bureaucratic net?' When This is Money chased this up for her, Mrs McHugh received a rise in her state pension from around 171 to 183 a week, and she was promised arrears of 4,300. She says: 'Thank you so much for your intervention. I'm sure I would still be waiting if you had not helped.' Top-ups money gone missing? Email: pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk In recent years, some bank customers claim to have found it harder to withdraw large sums of their own money from a current account over the counter at banks. Banks have ramped up anti-money laundering measures and also attempting to keep customers safe from fraud attempts. You might choose to take out a big sum of cash from your bank for building works or if you are buying a used car - expect to be quizzed for your motivations. Banks will sometimes refuse a large cash withdrawal if they don't have the cash on hand for the sum you need, but they may also refuse it if they think the reason for it is suspicious and that you are being coerced, or at risk of fraud. Andrew Hagger, personal finance expert at website Money Comms said: 'If you just turn up unannounced at the counter of your bank branch and ask to withdraw 10,000 in cash there's a good chance that your request may get declined. 'If you make arrangement to pick up the following day (or specified day) you may have more success but be prepared for the bank to ask you some searching questions about why you need such a large amount of cash.' So how much money can you take out from your bank at the counter? And can you just turn up to your bank to take it out or do you need to call ahead and give notice? This is Money asked six major high street banks, the Post Office as well as digital banks Starling and Monzo to find out. Banks set different limits for how much cash you can withdraw from your account at the counter HSBC: No limit HSBC does not have a maximum limit for how much cash a customer can withdraw from the counter, providing it has the amount you require in cash at your branch. There is no requirement to give notice for a withdrawal, but HSBC said it helps with the efficiency of the process if you give it prior warning if you want to make a large withdrawal. A HSBC spokesman said: 'We will always be limited by the amount of cash available in the branch at any one time. We do keep limits under review.' Lloyds: No limit There is no limit for how much money you can withdraw at a Lloyds branch counter. For larger withdrawals, Lloyds will facilitate almost all cash withdrawal requests, providing the required ID is shown. Santander: 5,000 For cash withdrawals up to 5,000 you will not need to give any advance notice to Santander to get your money. If you are withdrawing more than 5,000, you will need to provide your branch with at least 48 hours' notice. A Santander spokesman said: 'We don't encourage customers carry around very large sums of cash for their own personal safety.' NatWest: 5,000 Customers can withdraw amounts up to 5,000 over the counter during its opening hours on Monday to Friday though not on Saturdays. You will need to give advance notice if you are withdrawing an amount over 5,000. For sums of 5,000 to 19,999 you will need to give NatWest at least 24 hours' notice, especially for specific denominations. For amounts over 20,000 customers need to give NatWest at least three business days' notice, or it will decline the withdrawal. Customers can give NatWest notice in branch, or by calling its telephone banking line on 03457 242424 Barclays: 2,000 There's no limit to how much money you can take out over the counter in a Barclays branch as long as you've got the money in your account. But if you want to withdraw over 2,000, Barclays needs 24 hours' notice so it can make sure the money' is ready for you to collect. Customers can give notice for large cash withdrawals either in person in branch, over the phone. Nationwide Building Society: 2,000 Withdrawals up to 2,000 can be made at a Nationwide branch counter without giving prior notice to the building sociey. If you need to make a withdrawal of more than 2,000, you will need to give Nationwide one working day's notice. A Nationwide spokesman said: 'We'll try to offer larger withdrawals on the day, but it depends on the amount of cash the branch has available. 'We would therefore recommend customers give us one working days' notice for larger withdrawals.' Post Office: Set by your bank If you are withdrawing money from your bank at a Post Office counter, cash withdrawal limits for each transaction are set by your bank and approved by the bank at the time of the transaction. A Post Office spokesman said: 'This is not set by or in the control of the Post Office. Each bank can have different limits.' The Post Office has a service for large withdrawals but all of them have to be set up and approved by the customer's bank. If a customer wants to make a large cash withdrawal from a Post Office, they need to first speak to their bank. What if I have a digital bank? If your main bank is with a digital bank, your options for withdrawing cash are taking it out from an ATM, as with other high street names, or you can withdraw money at a Post Office counter in lieu of going into a branch. Monzo: 400 Monzo personal customers can withdraw up to 400 daily at the ATM or at a Post Office counter. Business customers can withdraw up to 1,000 daily at an ATM but will not be able to withdraw money at a Post Office counter. No notice is needed for the withdrawal of the maximum daily amount. Withdrawal limits can be raised in the app. Starling: 300 Starling has a 300 daily limit for customer withdrawals - whether you're using an ATM to withdraw the money or the Post Office. Have you found it hard to withdraw a lump sum over the counter? Get in touch: editor@thisismoney.co.uk Barclays could be set to pay 12.5million in compensation to customers after IT outages in January and February blocked millions of customers from mobile and online banking. In an enquiry by MPs, the bank confirmed 56 per cent of online payments during the outage failed due to 'severe degradation' of its IT systems. The Treasury Committee, which scrutinises financial institutions found nine of the UK's biggest banks suffered outages lasting 803 hours over the last two years, amounting to more than a month's worth of failures. At least 158 banking IT failure incidents affected millions of customers' ability to access and use banking services between January 2023 and February 2025. Barclays suffered a three day IT meltdown between January 31 and February 2 leaving millions of customers locked out of their bank accounts This does not include the most recent outages in January and February this year, which threw customers of Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax, First Direct and Nationwide into chaos as they were unable to make or receive payments into their bank accounts. The Barclays outage lasted three days between January 31 and February 2, leaving customers unable to access funds or make payments on what was payday for many and the deadline for HMRC self-assessment tax returns - sparking fears the outage was the result of a cyber attack. The bank said at the time the problem was due to a 'technology issue' rather than a cyber attack and that it was 'very sorry for any disruption'. Banks could now be forced to pay out millions of pounds in compensation, MPs of the Treasury Select Committee said, with Barclays facing the prospect of paying 12.5million to aggrieved customers. The Treasury Committee, has demanded answers about IT outages from nine of the UK's biggest banks and building societies, including AIB, Barclays, Bank of Ireland, Danske, HSBC, Lloyds, Nationwide, NatWest, and Santander. Dame Meg Hillier MP, chair of the Treasury Select Committee,said: 'For families and individuals living paycheck to paycheck, losing access to banking services on payday can be a terrifying experience. 'Even when rectified relatively quickly, it can cause real panic, which is why we wanted to get a proper understanding of why unplanned banking outages happen and how banks and building societies respond.' This is Money asked Barclays how many current account customers it has. It said it has 20million personal customers but did not specify how many of these hold Barclays current account. Assuming all 20million hold current accounts, they would be entitled to compensation of 63p each. A disgraced prison officer who performed a sex act on a convicted robber was unmasked during a probe into another corrupt guard, MailOnline can reveal. Katie Evans, 26, embarked on an illicit romance with inmate Daniel Brownley while working at HMP Doncaster, even calling herself his 'queen' as she lavished him with attention. The mother-of-one, who was jailed for 21 months yesterday, boasted about sex acts on the criminal and collecting drugs cash on his behalf. Her criminal behaviour was exposed during an anti-corruption investigation into another crooked guard at the category B jail. Katie Evans, 26, embarked on an illicit romance with inmate Daniel Brownley while working at HMP Doncaster, even calling herself his 'queen' as she lavished him with attention Rio Moran, 33, was recruited by gangsters to smuggle drugs and phones behind bars The criminal behaviour of Evans was exposed during an anti-corruption investigation into another crooked guard at HMP Doncaster - a category B jail Rio Moran, 33, was recruited by gangsters to smuggle drugs and phones behind bars. She managed to evade security measures due to her role, allowing her to sneak in contraband including Spice and the heroin substitute Subutex. MailOnline understands that during the investigation into Moran, police were informed of an inmate using an illicit SIM card to communicate with a rookie officer. The device was seized from Brownley who was serving five and a half years for robbery and burglary revealing 140 calls between him and Evans, who was then aged 21. Analysis of phone conversations between the pair revealed the extent of their relationship, with Evans ringing his number 39 times in one 11-hour period. Some of their calls lasted as long as 49 minutes and a search of Evans' home also uncovered a stash of love letters between the pair. During their relationship, Brownley was transferred to another prison, at which point he absconded to meet her for an intimate encounter. Sheffield Crown Court heard on Tuesday how Evans called herself 'your queen' while talking to Brownley during steamy calls. Moran (pictured) managed to evade security measures due to her role, allowing her to sneak in contraband including Spice and the heroin substitute Subutex The court heard that Evans was 'immature and vulnerable' and had been easily manipulated by Brownley She also boasted of collecting 1,000 in cannabis cash on behalf of the crook and passing on confidential prison information relating to him while working at the prison in 2020. Evans, who admitted misconduct in a public office, sobbed in the dock as she was told by judge Jeremy Richardson, KC: 'There must be a prison sentence. Corrupt prison officers must be punished. There is no question about that. 'The public expects punishment for those who betray trust in the way that you did. 'It is truly a terrible situation for a judge to be passing sentence on a former prison officer, who has been branded a corrupt prison officer, but it must be done.' Moran was aged 31 when she was arrested by South Yorkshire police after turning up for her shift at the privately-run prison in November 2020. Officers raided her home and uncovered a haul of drugs and phones destined for convicted drug dealer John Millington. Moran, from Sowerby, West Yorks, was sentenced to two years behind bars in 2022. She has since been released. Evans, of Hatfield, South Yorks, who has a young daughter, formed an 'intimate relationship' with Brownley, using a false name to disguise her real identity. The judge reduced Evans' sentence from two years to 21 months as an 'act of mercy' due to her young daughter MailOnline understands that during the investigation into Moran (pictured), police were informed of an inmate using an illicit SIM card to communicate with a rookie officer Judge Richardson told her: 'You described yourself to him as 'your queen'. It appears that you indulged in some forms of sexual activity in the prison. 'It has been described that there was one occasion when you had oral sex with him.' Judge Richardson said her behaviour was a 'serious manifestation' of corruption that undermined public confidence in the prison system. He told her: 'You were manipulated by a serious criminal to assist him. Your misconduct materially affected the good order and discipline of the prison. 'You not only had some form of sexual intimacy with the prisoner but you also assisted him in his conduct within the prison in terms of handling money for him and sharing prison information about him, with him.' Judge Evans added: 'Whether that was money relating to drugs or it was legitimate is neither here nor there. You are not permitted to handle the money of prisoners. You certainly boasted, whether it was true or not, that 1,000 connected to cannabis was handled by you.' The court heard that Evans was 'immature and vulnerable' and had been easily manipulated by Brownley. The judge reduced her sentence from two years to 21 months as an 'act of mercy' due to her young daughter. Her daughter is being looked after by her former partner and family members, the court was told. Detective Constable Scott Jarvis, who is part of our Prison Anti-Corruption Unit and was the officer in charge of this case, said: 'The team gathered a significant amount of evidence confirming Evans' criminality meaning she had no choice but to plead guilty to the misconduct offence. 'Improper relationships between prison staff and inmates are rare but when they do come to light, we take these offences incredibly seriously. 'This kind of behaviour brings shame on the profession and taints the reputation of other hard-working prison officers who uphold the highest standards of professionalism, morality and service.' A Serco spokesperson said: 'We have a zero-tolerance approach to any member of staff who fails to meet the standards we expect and on those rare occasions when one of our officers falls short of the required standards, we work closely with the police to investigate the issue fully and when necessary take appropriate action.' It has been a week since Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were mysteriously found dead at their New Mexico home. But the investigation by the the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office has raised more questions than answers. The couple's mummified remains were discovered by two maintenance workers in separate rooms of their $3.8 million Santa Fe abode last Wednesday. A cause of death has not been revealed for the actor, 95, and his pianist wife, 65, who most likely died nine days before their bodies were discovered, according to the Sheriff's Office. Hackman was discovered lying on the ground of a mud room just off the kitchen with his sunglasses and cane nearby, indicating he may have fallen according to officials. His wife was found lying on her side in the bathroom with a space heater next to her head. Unidentified prescription pills were strewn across a nearby countertop. No cause of death for either has been given, with the bizarre and sometimes contradictory tidbits of information serving to fuel questions about the tragic mystery. Are the deaths 'suspicious' or aren't they? Confusion over whether the couple's deaths were 'suspicious' has clouded the investigation and amplified the mystery. Hackman and Arakawa's deaths have been reported as such by multiple publications. But Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza says there were no signs of foul play - although he has refused to completely rule the possibility out. The 'suspicious' line comes from a request for a search warrant filed by Santa Fe County Detective Roy Arndt on the morning of February 27. That was the day after Hackman and Betsy were found dead. Ardnt detailed the observations of deputies Javier Baron and Joshua Thomas, who were called to the Hackman home by two maintenance workers who spotted the bodies. That 911 call was made around 1:43pm on February 26. Arndt says the Hackman's door being found ajar with no signs of forced entry was potentially suspicious. The discovery of the bodies in two separate rooms, Betsy's surrounded by pills and a fallen space heater, further troubled him. Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their Sante Fe, New Mexico home last week Arndt says the presence of one dead dog, alongside two living dogs, was another mystery that warranted potential criminal investigation. Early on the morning of February 27, Mendoza told TMZ that the couple 'could have been victims of a double homicide, suicide, accidental death or natural causes.' But when Sheriff Mendoza held a press conference on February 28, he announced the bodies showed no sign of foul play or trauma. He added that he couldn't completely rule-out foul play but seemed keen to discount it as a possible cause. Mendoza said an autopsy had shown Hackman's pacemaker stopped working February 17, nine days before he was discovered, and said that was likely when the actor died. Full autopsy reports and toxicology tests could take another three to five weeks to be published. The continued lack of conclusive information has spawned multiple theories, many of them disturbing. Arndt's search warrant speculated that Hackman may have fallen and died, given the presence of sunglasses and a cane close to his body. But investigators have been unable to say if the couple died at the same time, or if one died first. Both bodies tested negative for carbon monoxide, making it less likely Hackman and Arakawa were slowly and unwittingly poisoned until they collapsed. The ongoing vacuum of information has raised the question of whether Hackman fell and died before Arakawa, stricken by the loss of her husband, killed herself with pills in the bathroom. Three medications were removed from the home, including Diltiazem, a blood pressure medication; a thyroid medication, and Tylenol, investigators say. It is unclear which of those were found scattered near Arakawa. Could the couple have made a suicide pact whereby Arakawa helped her frail husband to die first, before taking her own life? Why did cops mix-up the dogs - and why did one die? Cops initially said that one of their two German Shepherds had also died, however this was a mistake and it turned out their Kelpie mix Zinna was the dog who perished Santa Fe Sheriff's Office admitted a blunder earlier this week which they insisted was an honest one. But it has added fuel to the fire as questions over Hackman and Arakawa's deaths. The dog found dead close to Arakawa was initially identified as a German Shepherd called Bear, in the search warrant affidavit signed on February 27. But Bear survived, alongside a second dog called Nikita. The dog that actually died was a kelpie mix called Zinna. Zinna 'was always attached to Betsy at the hip and it was a beautiful relationship,' according to local pet care facility owner Joey Padilla. Padilla is now caring for Bear and Nikita, an Akita-shepherd mix. Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office was not even aware of the mix-up until it was uncovered by USA Today, who approached deputies for comment on March 3. They blamed it on the deputies who first attended the scene not being familiar with dog breeds. 'Our deputies do not deal with canines on a daily basis and I cannot currently speak to the condition or state of the dogs body upon discovery,' Denise Womack-Avila told the outlet. Zinna's death has been one of the most discussed parts of the tragedy. Various reports have said the dog was found in a 'crate' or 'kennel' in a closet near Arakawa's body. USA Today reported that Zinna died in a closed crate, meaning the pet may have died of hunger or thirst. Did Arawaka knowingly condemn Zinna to this horrific death? Did she find her husband dead and quickly kill herself in a fog of grief without thinking of her dog? Or Hackman, Arakawa and Zinna die in another way that meant Arakawa couldn't have done anything to save her dog? One of the couple's two other dogs was found next to Arawaka's body, with the second outside. A doggy door was installed in the house and likely let them scavenge for food and water. But why was Zinna crated when the other two were not? No signs of a gas leak - but is that conclusive proof? Officials initially suspected a gas leak may have killed the couple but said initial tests ruled this out, however it has since emerged there was a 'miniscule leak' A cause of death has not been revealed for the actor, 95, and his pianist wife, 65, who most likely died 10 days before their bodies were discovered, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office Shortly after the couple's deaths were announced, speculation became rampant that they may have succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas leak. The theory was put forward the day after the bodies were found by Hackman's daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, who posited that they may have died as a result of 'toxic fumes'. Investigators also voiced their suspicions that a gas leak was to blame and summoned the local fire department. Firefighters 'did not locate signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning,' according to the affidavit. However, a separate investigation by the New Mexico Gas Company on Monday uncovered five so-called 'red tags', including a 'miniscule leak' from a stove. The tiny leak is not enough to have caused the deaths, according to to investigators. The other red tags were issued for a water heater and log lighters in three fireplaces. 'Those results are not believed to be a factor in the deaths of Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa or their dog though the information was relayed to the Office of the Medical Investigator for consideration,' Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said in a statement at the time. Both bodies also tested negative for carbon monoxide, however the half life of the compound is so brief that it could become undetectable in the blood after a few hours. Does that mean that carbon monoxide poisoning could indeed have killed Hackman, Arakawa and their dog? But if that's the case - wouldn't the door found left ajar have helped dissipate the deadly gas inside the property? And if one of Hackman's surviving dogs was found inside the property, why wasn't it poisoned? If there was a gas leak, could it have come from a bottle rather than underground line, meaning the substance may have run out and disappeared during the suspected nine days between the couple's deaths and the discovery of their bodies? Was the front door locked or ajar? Maintenance workers who discovered the bodies told a 911 dispatcher that the home was locked, however a warrant noted that the door was ajar Three medications were removed from the home, including Diltiazem, a blood pressure medication; a thyroid medication, and Tylenol, according to a search warrant. (Pictured: Hackman and Arakawa celebrating the actor's 94th birthday) Confusion over whether the Hackman's mansion's door was locked or left ajar has further muddied the waters. Audio of the 911 call made by maintenance worker Rowland Lowe Begay on the afternoon of February 26 saw Begay tell a dispatcher: 'The house is closed. 'It's locked. I can't go in but I can see she's laying on the floor.' That audio contradicts claims made in the search warrant affidavit that saw the sheriff's deputies who arrived on the scene shortly after describe the door as 'ajar' and with no signs of forced entry. The same warrant claimed the workers had reported the door as being ajar during the 911 call, despite audio evidence that has Begay describe it as locked. There's no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Begay or his colleague Jesse Kesler. Might the two men have missed that the door was ajar because of the shock of seeing the two dead bodies? Could Begay have described it as locked because he was worried about potentially being asked by the dispatcher to go inside and check on the ghastly sight before his eyes? And if the door was left ajar by Hackman and Arakawa, does this suggest their deaths were sudden and unexpected - rather than some kind of suicide pact? Questions have fueled theories - some of them wild The tragic and gruesome deaths of an iconic actor and his wife have spawned multiple theories thanks to a lack of conclusive information on how they died. Each has its supporters and detractors. The idea the deaths are a 'murder suicide' has surfaced, however it has been rubbished by at least one non-affiliated expert. James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, shared on Tuesday with People that the theory is an unlikely explanation for the puzzling deaths. Gill, who said he had dealt in the past with 'cases like that,' explained that couples who die in a dual suicide are 'usually ... together in bed.' 'The fact that theyre in two separate locations tells me that I think thats less likely,' Gill continued. The medical examiner said that the initial information about the scene makes it appear as if Hackman had 'collapsed'. But he admitted that there was more of a 'gray area' around Arakawa's death. He speculated that Zinna's death was likely due to 'just not getting enough food and water,' since the pooch was found in a locked crate. Meanwhile, former FBI agent Bill Daly told Fox News that investigators could even look into the possibility of food poisoning. 'Toxicology there could have been some other type of poisoning, possibly food? They'll go through their trash, fridge this is stuff the police can do in the meantime while gathering evidence,' he said. Hollywood actor Randy Quaid also spoke out on the deaths to claim Hackman and Arakawa were murdered. The National Lampoons' star says the pair were murdered 'like Heath Ledger' with the killers then covering up their crime scene. Ledger wasn't murdered, but instead died of an accidental drug overdose in 2008 aged just 28. While few, if any, are taking the murder theory seriously, the continued lack of information about the deaths has sparked wild questions and speculation that cops can only hope to answer by publishing full autopsy reports. Anyone who happened to glance at the name Kate Meyrick in the 1921 Census would have little cause to look twice. The 46-year-old's profession is listed as 'confectioner' - a respectable enough occupation for a former doctor's wife and middle-class mother of eight, even if it was a rather elastic interpretation of her real job. For in fact 'Ma Meyrick', as she was more informally known in the London of the Roaring Twenties, was a nightclub impresario and the beating heart of the capital's booming nocturnal economy. Her glamorous nightspots were legendary, a byword for hedonism where everyone from millionaires and film stars to gangsters and prostitutes mingled against a backdrop of Charlestons, champagne and recreational drugs not to mention raids by police determined to stop their fun. Most famous of all the joints under Ma Meyrick's ownership was The 43 Club, a favoured haunt of Hollywood legend Tallulah Bankhead, who frequently took what she called her 'early breakfasts' (in reality her evening meal) there. So renowned were Meyrick's clubs and her repeated, defiant law-breaking which saw her serve five separate prison sentences that she became the inspiration for Ma Mayfield, who presides over the rackety 'Old Hundredth' club of Evelyn Waugh's 1934 novel A Handful of Dust and later Brideshead Revisited. Now, 90 years after her death, the colourful world she inhabited has been brought to life on the small screen, in a BBC series hailed as a 'spiritual successor' to cult drama Peaky Blinders. Dope Girls, a six-part drama which hit screens last month, follows the lives of a 'newly empowered generation of women' reluctant to give up the freedom they enjoyed during the First World War and return to humdrum domesticity. Instead, they make Soho's expanding illicit underground clubland scene into their playground. 'Ma Meyrick', as she was more informally known in the London of the Roaring Twenties, was a nightclub impresario and the beating heart of the capital's booming nocturnal economy In the BBC's Dope Girls, the character Kate Galloway (played by Julianne Nicholson) a single mother who establishes a nightclub bears no little resemblance to Meyrick While the BBC is anxious not to draw a direct line between any of the show's female leads and historical figures, the character Kate Galloway (played by Julianne Nicholson) a single mother who establishes a nightclub and 'embraces a life of criminal activities' to be able to provide for her daughter bears no little resemblance to the diminutive, God-fearing Meyrick. Born in 1875 in Dunleary, a suburban coastal town in Dublin formerly known as Kingstown, Kate Nason, as she was then, was raised in an upper middle-class Irish family. Her father John was a doctor, and following his death from meningitis, her mother Sarah married local clergyman Edwin Jackson. Sarah died when Kate was seven, after which she and her older sister Ethel were largely brought up by their grandmother Isabella and educated by governesses. At 16, Kate was sent to the prestigious Dublin boarding school Alexandra College, and initially harboured plans of becoming a doctor. Instead, she married one. His name was Ferdinand Merrick for reasons unknown he later changed this to Meyrick a blond, good-looking specialist in psychiatric medicine. Kate married him in 1899 at the age of 24, and after a short stint in Dublin, the couple moved to England where they settled in Southsea. The marriage was not a happy one: national archive records show Kate, by then a mother of five, first filed for divorce in 1910, accusing Ferdinand of 'cruelty and adultery'. Her petition was rejected and two further attempts to divorce followed before the couple now parents to three more children separated permanently in 1918 and Kate moved to London. It was here that, the year after her divorce, Kate spotted an advert for a partner to go into business running 'tea dances.' Kate Meyrick spending the first night out of prison, after serving 15 months at Holloway, at the 43 Club Billie Cassidy (Umi Myers), Violet Davies (Eliza Scanlen), Kate Galloway (Julianne Nicholson), Evie Galloway (Eilidh Fisher) in Dope Girls Armed with a small legacy from an aunt, a share portfolio and rental income from properties in Ireland, Kate had the funds. Later that year, together with local entrepreneur Henry Dalton, she opened Dalton's nightclub in Leicester Square. 'Separating from her husband was the impetus for her going into business,' explains National Archive exhibitions manager Hannah Fleming, who last year oversaw an exhibition into 1920s night-time London. 'It was survival - she had to provide for her children, but she also talks about herself in her memoirs as someone who likes people.' Kate's timing was certainly impeccable. The end of the Great War had created no shortage of social unrest and protests, but it had also sparked a desire to forget, and the capital's nightlife scene was burgeoning. As the Roaring Twenties dawned, London's toes had started to tap to the new sound of jazz, and nightspots were springing up all over the city's West End. Dalton's was one such club, described on opening as a 'rendezvous for members of the theatrical and variety professions and their friends'. It also entertained some other clientele, however, and in January 1920 Meyrick was fined 25 for 'knowingly' permitting it to be 'used by reputed prostitutes'. The prosecutor in the case described the club as a 'dancing hell and a sink of iniquity', and Meyrick was ordered to close it with immediate effect. Undeterred, she opened other clubs instead, among them the 1943, which first threw open its doors at 43 Gerrard Street in early 1921. The 43's clientele was as diverse as it was plentiful: showgirls, military men, aristocrats, drug dealers and royalty all passed through the front door at which Meyrick - described as 'a tiny wisp of a woman' - would herself often stand to welcoming arrivals. Prince Christopher of Greece and then Prince Carol of Romania were guests here, as too was Billy Leeds, dubbed 'the World's Richest Boy' by the Press. One evening the actor Rudolph Valentino was mistaken for a waiter while carrying a tray of cocktails from the bar, while renowned millionaire Jimmy White arrived one evening with six Daimlers in his wake, the cars disgorging 25 chorus girls and White supplying the club's patrons with champagne all evening. Hollywood legend Tallulah Bankhead frequently took what she called her 'early breakfasts' (in reality her evening meal) at the 45 Club There was no shortage of excess at Meyrick's other clubs either: over in Regent Street, The Silver Slipper boasted an illuminated glass dancefloor upon which Tallulah Bankhead also an enthusiastic regular at The 43, where she was renowned for her prodigious consumption of cigarettes and gin once danced with such enthusiasm she cracked a pane. Other regulars at the Slipper included Lady Louise Mountbatten, her 'arms covered in diamond bracelets', according to one breathless gossip columnist, debonair stage idol Jack Buchanan and designer Norman Hartnell, who was said to scrutinise the dresses of all the female guests 'with the eye of a connoisseur'. Aside from dedication to drink, dancing and carefree fun, all the venues shared another common theme in the form of a loose interpretation of the strict licensing hours set down in the updated Licensing Act of 1921, which forbade the sale of alcohol after 11pm. There was also an abundance of free-flowing recreational drugs like cocaine and heroin, an abundance that all-too often went hand in hand with tragedy. In 1922, a young dancer called Freda Kempton, who had danced in Meyrick's clubs, was found dead from a cocaine overdose at her rooming house in west London. Her boyfriend at the time was Brilliant 'Billy' Chang, a Chinese restaurateur known as one of the period's biggest drug dealers, and was featured in Peaky Blinders. Determined to crack down on what they saw as the dangerous lawlessness and deaths that followed underground drinking and drugs use, police raids aiming to catch those flouting the law became an occupational hazard for club owners, and Meyrick was no exception. By February 1922, the 43's riotous reputation had secured its first raid and the first of many attempts by Meyrick to wriggle out of being prosecuted: according to police records from the time, when asked if she had a licence for selling liquor, she replied, 'I don't sell it, I give it away'. The same police record also suggested that the 'dance instructresses' employed by Meyrick were in fact known prostitutes, an accusation she vigorously denied. 'She maintained that these were girls of good character who were being tipped for their services,' says Hannah Fleming. 'But anything beyond that was a) out of her hands and b) she didn't really believe it.' On this occasion she received another fine, but again, this was not to stop her. 'Kate Meyrick's clubs were repeatedly raided,' says Fleming. 'She was fined, she was imprisoned, but she just kept going'. After all, as Meyrick herself admitted, she was well and truly bitten by the nightlife bug. 'It is at night that people become alive and real to me,' she once remarked. She would not escape with a fine and a rap on the hand for much longer, however. By 1924, the UK had a new home secretary, William Joynson-Hicks, a Conservative politician for whom the issue of licensing laws had become something of a personal moral crusade. Meyrick's second daughter, Dorothy, married the 26th Baron de Clifford After another night-time raid of the 43 the same year, Meyrick was sent to prison for six months. More short prison sentences followed along with more punitive fines until, in 1928, several months passed by in which, despite more police raids on her clubs, no alcohol could be found. Had Ma Meyrick turned over a new leaf? Not likely. In fact, she had been bribing a local police officer, one Sergeant George Goddard, to let her known when a raid was due so that she could squirrel her illicit produce away. Who knows how long she might have got away with it, were it not for the fact that Goddard's newly lavish lifestyle - far beyond that afforded by a police sergeant's salary - had not attracted attention. In May 1928, a raid was conducted without his knowledge, uncovering the conspiracy and leading to both Goddard and Meyrick's downfall. Goddard was subsequently dismissed from the force and jailed the following year, while Meyrick was also jailed, sentenced to 15 months of hard labour at Holloway, her defence that she was being blackmailed by Goddard having been roundly dismissed. Horrified by the length of her punishment, her children appealed directly to the home secretary, and her sentence was subsequently commuted to a year. She finally emerged from Holloway Prison, two stone lighter and visibly frailer, to be greeted by a group of revellers wearing evening dress. By then, news that Meyrick had spent her time behind bars writing her memoir had sent tremors of panic through society. In fact, despite its inflammatory title, 'Secrets of the 43' proved surprisingly tame, with little scandal of any note contained between its covers. Its author, meanwhile, was soon back up to her old tricks, sentenced yet again in 1930 for breaking licensing laws. It would be her last stint behind bars: just over two years later, in January 1933, she died of pneumonia at the relatively young age of 57. On the day of her funeral, all the lights in the West End were briefly dimmed in her honour. Meyrick died a rich woman, thought to have made 500,000 (17million in today's money) in her lifetime, profits healthy enough for her to privately educate her children, who attended the exclusive boarding schools Roedean and Harrow. Nor had her lawlessness apparently done any harm to her social standing; Meyrick's eldest daughter, Mary, wed the 14th Earl of Kinnoull, while her second daughter, Dorothy, married the 26th Baron de Clifford. It gave her a respectable legacy, although it is for her role at the heart of Jazz Age London that Meyrick will be remembered. Reflecting on her experience in 1929, she called night club management 'a wonderfully colourful and attractive existence', but acknowledged it was 'a hazardous occupation' too. Her cumulative three years behind bars and the hundreds she paid out in fines were testament to that, although Hannah Fleming believes that for all her law-breaking there is much to admire about Meyrick. 'You could argue straightforwardly that she was a criminal,' she says. 'But I think what was admirable about her is that she was a woman living by herself in the Twenties and making her own way in life, and was utterly defiant.' Residents have revealed how they feel about Meghan Markle adopting Sussex as her surname despite having only visited the county once. They say the Duchess should earn the right to use the name by doing something worthwhile in Sussex. And they called for her to become a patron of a children's charity or get involved in a good cause. Meghan's assertion her surname was Sussex came during the second episode of her Netflix cookery show, With Love, Meghan. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, corrected her celebrity friend Mindy Kaling when she said, 'I don't think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack In The Box and loves it.' Trying to mask her irritation with a forced smile, Meghan quickly corrected Kaling, saying, 'It's so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I'm Sussex now.' Kaling, clearly caught off guard by the correction, awkwardly responded, 'Well, now I know and I love it.' The couple were bestowed their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they wed in 2018. But they have only ever visited the county to which they owe their titles once - for just six hours. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex seen greeting crowds in Chichester during an official visit to Sussex on October 3, 2018 The newlyweds carried out a whistlestop tour of Sussex in October 2018, where they visited Brighton, Chichester (above), Peacehaven and Bognor Jeff Hall, 56, in Lewes said: 'I'm sure the Sussex title is a very lucrative thing to have and, having married into the Royal family, she should be able to use it' The newlyweds carried out a whistlestop tour of Sussex in October 2018, where they visited Brighton, Chichester, Peacehaven and Bognor. Despite being cheered by ecstatic crowds everywhere they went they have never returned to the historic county. Today residents hit out at the Duchess for claiming the county as her surname. Jeff Hall, 56, said: 'I'm sure the Sussex title is a very lucrative thing to have and, having married into the Royal family, she should be able to use it. 'However, if she is going to use it then I would like to see her over in the county a bit more. One visit in eight years isn't really good enough. She should come more often to earn the right to use the name.' His brother, Colin, who runs Hall's Fruits, said: 'If she's going to claim the title then she should have more connection with the place. 'She should get involved in a children's charity or do something else worthwhile in the county. Simply adopting Sussex as a surname to use to your own ends is cynical.' Eleanor Feltham said: 'It's quite preposterous really. She's never even spent a night in Sussex. Surely she can't be serious? 'Technically she's not Sussex as she married into the House of Windsor but her response is just so Hollywood. She appears to live in quite a strange La La world.' Colin Hall, who runs Hall's Fruits, said: 'If she's going to claim the title then she should have more connection with the place' High street in Lewes, East Sussex Nigel Large, a market trader, said: 'I really don't care whether she uses the name or not - it really doesn't interest me' Bryan Jenkins, 72, who lives in Lewes, said: 'She can call herself what she wants but she seems to suggest she has an affinity with Sussex which is nonsense. 'She clearly wants to get as far away from the Royal family as possible so why she should want to claim this title is quite odd.' Nigel Large, a market trader, said: 'I really don't care whether she uses the name or not - it really doesn't interest me. 'As far as I'm concerned she can use it all she likes. It has as much bearing on things as someone in Australia changing their names.' A student, who gave her name as Josie, said: 'I suppose she can claim the name if she want to; she still retains the title but I don't really know why she would want to. 'I think when they decided to step away from the Royal family everything should have been stripped from them. It would prevent this type of confusion.' Her friend, Ed, said: 'I think she has a difficult job. She married into an institution as an outsider and I don't think she'll ever be able to fully understand the traditions and protocols.' Market trader, Jon, 52, of Brighton said: 'I don't really know why people get so upset about her. If she wants to call herself Sussex let her be.' Shopper, Deena, 34, said: 'I'm sure she's using her Royal connections to be paid millions by Netflix which I don't agree with at all. 'With Love, Meghan' lands on Netflix is aimed at showing a new side to the Duchess of Sussex The first products from Meghan Markle's As Ever brand with Netflix have been revealed today 'If she doesn't want to be part of the Royals then don't be but please don't use it just to make money. It's not very nice.' Felicity Roder of Storrington, West Sussex said: 'I think people have a valid point. You have to ask why she wants to use the name. 'Is it because she has a deep affinity with Britain and Sussex in particular? Or does it highlight her British and Royal connection and thereby make her more marketable in America? I know where my money is but she has every right to do it.' Jessie Oaks, 32, said: 'She live in a weird vacuous Hollywood world but I really don't care one way or the other. I think people need to get over themselves and think about something else. Turn the telly off.' Bettina, a visual artist from Brighton, said: 'It's what I'd expect really though I'm not going to be a hater. She married Harry so I suppose she can call herself anything she likes.' Brighton resident Clare Edwards: 'I think she saw marrying into the Royals as a way of boosting her career but I'm not sure that's been the case. The new series 'With Love, Meghan' featuring the Duchess of Sussex has launched on Netflix 'She might have bigger exposure but I'm not sure it's done her career that much good. If she wants to trade on the name though I suppose it's okay. They should visit more though.' Eveta, a visitor to Brighton, said: 'I would love it if she was here. It would be a reason to visit again. She should do more. Come and see the pier in Brighton, have an ice cream. I think it's a good idea.' Sussex formed part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom which eventually became part of the Kingdom of Wessex in around 827, before becoming part of England. Today, it is divided into West and East Susses and has its own dog breed, the Sussex spaniel, and contains the South Downs National Park as well as an iconic coastline that includes the white cliffs of Beachy Head. An alleged teenage thug has faced court over disturbing footage showing a horde of youths attacking security staff in a country town shopping centre. On Wednesday, mobile phone footage emerged of an alleged assault by a 17-year old youth on a car park security guard while he was holding a cup of ice-cream. A clip of another alleged assault seemingly revealed the same youth allegedly attacking a second guard in the shopping mall. That alleged attack unfolded at Bendigo Marketplace - a large shopping centre situated in the former goldrush town in Victoria's north. In the alleged attack on the first victim - who was holding a cup of ice-cream at the time - the youth was seen berating the guard for taking his photo inside the Hargreaves Street multi-storey car park. 'You don't have my consent to take my photo, so delete it,' the youth shouted in the footage. 'That's going on porn. OnlyFans.' Video, seemingly taken by one of the alleged thug's mates, showed the youth apparently stop the guard from entering a lift before pursuing him down a stairwell. Disturbing footage showing a horde of youths attacking security staff in a popular country town has sent shockwaves through the community Cornered, the guard was then allegedly struck several times to the face as he cowered in fear. It is alleged the man suffered a broken nose in the attack and was pushed down the stairs after the footage ended. In the second clip, a shopping centre security guard was seen defending himself against a marauding gang of teenage thugs, one of whom was seen allegedly kicking the man from behind. The guard was taken to ground before another alleged thug repeatedly stomped on his head. A elderly Good Samaritan who attempted to intervene was also allegedly attacked. The mullet-haired alleged ringleader was charged with affray and intentionally and recklessly causing injury. On Wednesday, he appeared before the Children's Court where his lawyer said the youth's 'Aboriginality was central to this bail application'. Police allege the 17-year-old, along with eight other teens, attacked a security guard who had asked them to leave for drinking alcohol and playing loud music about 4pm on Monday, forcing fearful shoppers to hide in stores. In the alleged attack on the first victim - who was holding a cup of ice-cream at the time - the youth was seen berating the guard The ice-cream carrying guard cowered in fear as he was allegedly punched in the face repeatedly, allegedly breaking his nose Senior Constable Linnzi Young told the court CCTV and footage taken from social media allegedly depicted the 17-year-old king-hitting the guard in the face, 'completely unprovoked', while two co-accused teens hit the man from behind while they yelled 'racial taunts', the Herald Sun reported. The alleged thugs ripped off the mans turban and repeatedly punched him before dragging him to the ground and kicking and stomping on his head, the court heard. Police allege the 17-year-old stomped on the guards head five times, leaving the print of a 'Nike TN' on his face. The court heard multiple people stepped in to help, and a man with a walking stick was punched in the face. The 17-year old was further charged over an alleged attack on a 'blind man' at the same Bendigo shopping centre. The court heard he told an associate to record him as he approached a 22-year-old 'legally blind man' sitting on the footpath and allegedly kicked him in the face, before punching him multiple times in the head. Sen-Con Young told the court the teenager was making unprovoked attacks on people so it could be recorded by his friends and circulated on social media. The youth allegedly made full admissions to the Bendigo Marketplace gang bashing on Monday, telling police he did it because his 'mates were egging him on'. The alleged thugs ripped off the mans turban and repeatedly punched him before dragging him to the ground and kicking and stomping on his head, the court heard Police allege the 17-year-old stomped on the guards head five times, leaving the print of a 'Nike TN' on his face Sen-Con Young warned the attacks had the 'potential for manslaughter' and the accused teens 'next victim is at risk of death' if he was released. The teens lawyer argued his client should be released to live at his mothers house, arguing he had no criminal history. 'Yes there is a risk, but risk can be mitigated to an acceptable level with strict conditions,' his lawyer said. His release was strongly opposed by police, who alleged the teen had an 'unchecked drug and alcohol problem' and was prone to 'violent outbursts' at home and school. The court heard the teen had not attended school in more than three weeks and had been living in a tent with his girlfriend and associating with 'negative peers'. 'The offending before the court is morally abhorrent,' the prosecutor said. 'The Bendigo community is petrified of this kind of offending.' In refusing bail, the magistrate agreed the youth posed an unacceptable risk to the community. 'We have three separate unprovoked attacks on members of the community,' he said. 'In some cases they appear to be premeditated with others filming in anticipation.' Sen-Con Young told the court the teenager was attacking people unprovoked so it could be recorded by his friends and circulated on social media The alleged attacks happened a short walk from the office of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) The youth is scheduled back in court on March 19 where he is expected to apply for bail yet again. The alleged attacks happened a short walk from the office of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who has been under siege over her government's soft stance on crime. On Wednesday afternoon, Ms Allan conceded her government urgently needed to change the state's laws, including strengthening bail conditions. 'I want to make it absolutely clear that I understand that the current laws, the current settings, are not working,' Ms Allan told reporters. 'And it's completely unacceptable to see these repeat patterns of criminal behaviour. It's also unacceptable to me that too many Victorians don't feel safe. 'They don't feel safe in their homes, working people who are having their property invaded in this way. The laws need to be changed and they will.' Ms Allan did not reveal what the changes would be but said both Victoria's Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny and Police Minister Anthony Carbines were currently working on reforms. National police guidance equating journalists with criminals has been scrapped in a major victory for the freedom of the press. A top police chief hailed the uniquely essential role of the media yesterday in holding officers to account after agreeing to tear up secret guidance. It had advised all officers that they should treat journalists as a potential corruption risk, eyeing them with the same suspicion as criminals, suspects and extremists. It comes after media groups, including the Crime Reporters Association and the Society of Editors, have campaigned for more than two years to scrap the counter-corruption guidance. They argued it has contributed to a breakdown in the vital relationship between the police and the press. In 2022 it emerged in a force inspection report that secret guidance had been drawn up by the College of Policing listing journalists alongside convicted offenders and suspects, advising any association may pose a corruption risk or cause a conflict of interest. The notifiable associations policy obligated all police officers and staff to tell their employer if they had any contact with journalists. National police guidance equating journalists with criminals has been scrapped in a major victory for the freedom of the press College of Policing chief executive Sir Andy Marsh has said that the new guidance is now being issued to all police forces in England and Wales Now the College of Policing has revised the document making it clear to officers that relationships with professionals like lawyers and journalists, which may cause a conflict of interest, is separate from connections with offenders. College of Policing chief executive Sir Andy Marsh said: The media holds a uniquely essential role for the police by both reporting on our public appeals for information whilst holding us to account, and without it the public is not served well. The media made strong representations to make changes to the national counter-corruption guidance for police and I agree there should be a clear separation between legitimate professions and those under investigation or with criminal records. In recent years the relationship between policing and the media has cooled and, in the meantime, we have seen the rise of misinformation online. Were now working together to make changes so that the public has access to timely and accurate information to keep them and their families safe. The new guidance is now being issued to all police forces in England and Wales. Rebecca Camber, chair of the Crime Reporters Association (CRA) said: In 2022 the CRA complained that the national counter-corruption guidance for officers equated the profession of journalism with criminals, extremists and suspects. We are delighted that the College of Policing has agreed to amend this guidance in recognition of the key role that journalists fulfil in keeping the public informed about policing and holding forces to account. In recent years the relationship between policing and the media has cooled and, in the meantime, we have seen the rise of misinformation online', College of Policing chief executive Sir Andy Marsh said Media reporting not only helps solve crimes, but it also helps bring offenders to justice and keep communities safe. We believe this is a significant step towards the rebuilding of a successful working relationship between police forces and the media which remains essential to public confidence and policing legitimacy in the UK. Dawn Alford, executive director at the Society of Editors, said: The Society welcomes this long-awaited decision by the College of Policing to re-draft its national guidance on counter corruption which previously risked wrongfully equating the media industry with the wrongdoing and corruption it seeks to expose. Journalists fulfil a vital role on behalf of the public in bringing offenders to justice. A successful and professional working relationship between officers and journalists remains essential to policing legitimacy in the UK. We hope this new guidance sends out a strong message that a healthy working relationship between the media and police forces should be promoted and that, as recognised by the College, the media and police must work together to usher in a new era of communication and co-operation. Top doctors have pleaded with the government to implement a ban on smacking as it offers no benefit and puts children at risk of 'really significant physical harm'. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said those opposing a smacking ban should look at the scientific evidence which shows that smacking causes physical and emotional damage and 'doesn't benefit them in any way whatsoever'. Current legislation around smacking is extremely vague, with the Children Act 2004 declaring it unlawful to hit your child, except where it is 'reasonable punishment' which is judged on a 'case-by-case' basis. Now the College is calling on parliamentarians to back an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which would remove the 'reasonable punishment' defence from law in England. Professor Andrew Rowland, a consultant paediatrician and RCPCH officer for child protection, said: 'There is an amendment for the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that we would like to see passed, which would remove the defence of reasonable punishment. 'That defence of reasonable punishment of children in England has been around since 1860 but, in recent legislation, it was introduced in the Children Act of 2004. 'Now is the time for this Victorian-era punishment to go and the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill amendment will do that if passed.' Some 67 countries around the world have already adopted smacking bans, with a further 20 committing to do so, he said. Leading doctors have urged the government to implement a ban on smacking children (file image) The Irish parliament previously banned the smacking of children almost a decade ago in 2015 'The best scientific evidence I've got is that physical punishment of children undoubtedly harms children's health on a population basis,' Prof Rowland said. 'It harms their physical health, places them at increased risk of serious physical assault, it harms their mental health and it harms their emotional health and their wellbeing - all of that is shown in robust scientific evidence. 'There have been no robust scientific studies that have shown that physical punishment of children has any positive effect. 'So it's not just that the use of it harms children, it also doesn't benefit them in any way whatsoever.' The amendment calls for the 'abolition of common law defence of reasonable punishment'. Calls to introduce a smacking ban intensified after the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif. Sara was murdered in August 2023 after a two-year 'campaign of torture' at the hands of her father and stepmother. Asked about the case, Professor Rowland said: 'What happened to Sara was absolutely horrendous, and I can say that as a paediatrician, but also as a member of the public, that no child should suffer as Sara suffered. Sara Sharif had suffered more than 25 broken bones from being hit repeatedly 'But I understand there's going to be an inquiry. It would be premature for any organisation to prejudice the outcome of that inquiry.' Sara was murdered in August 2023 after a two-year 'campaign of torture' at the hands of her father and stepmother Labour was 'considering' introducing a ban on smacking children in England, the Education Secretary said previously last October He went on: 'Unrelated to Sara's case, we know that the international evidence is that children who are physically punished are at risk of serious physical assault - that's been shown academically. 'So we know that physical punishment on a population basis does place children at risk of really significant physical harm. If we want to stop that, the first step has got to be to remove the defence of reasonable punishment. 'That will make it easier - easier for people like me as a paediatrician working in child protection services, for social workers, for police officers, to draw a line and say there are never any circumstances involved where physical punishment of children is ever legal. 'Let's move forward from that and help families to find a way to modify their children's behaviour, to help them grow up happily, healthily and safe from harm in a way that doesn't involve violence.' A poll of 3,500 adults in England carried out by YouGov on behalf of the NSPCC in January 2024 found that 71% think smacking, hitting, slapping, or shaking a child is not acceptable. Labour MP Jess Asato, who tabled the amendment, said: 'The health impact evidence of assault on children is clear, and that's why so many other countries, including Scotland and Wales, have now ensured that children have equal protection from assault and battery. 'Physical punishment is as outdated as it is harmful - and it's been long since time to put an end to it. 'The Government now has the opportunity to protect children by legislating to bring in this important measure in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.' Joanna Barrett, associate head of policy at the NSPCC, said: 'We stand in support of the Royal College's calls for children to be given the same protection against physical punishment as adults, and it's clear the obvious next step is to amend the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to remove the 'reasonable punishment' defence. 'Physical punishment can have a detrimental impact on a child's wellbeing. It has been associated with depression, anxiety, increased aggression and anti-social behaviour. 'The defence as it stands creates significant safeguarding issues, and we only need to look to recent safeguarding reviews to see how it can turn a child's safety into a matter of judgment. 'Reviews highlight how the law, and the lack of clarity about what is reasonable and what is not, creates difficulties for professionals in assessing and responding to risk. 'Legal change must happen urgently, because right now we know physical punishment remains a part of childhood for too many young people in England.' President Trump's national security team put out images of the ISIS-K terror suspect who the White House says carried out a key role in the Abby Gate bombing that killed 13 Americans during the Afghanistan withdrawal. In an unusual move, FBI Director Kash Patel posted an image of Mohammad Sharifullah being brought in by two masked FBI officials after Pakistani authorities handed him over under following U.S. pressure to find him. Attorney General Pam Bondi put out her own pictures of the moment, including one showing herself and patel greet Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews. She also attached an interior shot of an airplane, where Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Patel, and Bondi speak to FBI officials. 'Mohammad Sharifullah, alleged co-conspirator in the murder of American soldiers at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan, apprehended and extradited last night wheels down to face American justice,' wrote Patel, after publishing other images from Dulles airfield. Patel thanked partners in the effort, including Ratcliffe and Bondi, adding: '3 and 1/2 years later, justice for our 13.' In another post, he attached an image of himself and Bondi watching the transfer, adding: 'That time you delivered the sword of justice for the American people- thank you for your incredible leadership @AGPamBondi and @JohnRatcliffe. So proud of the men and women of the FBI, DOJ, and CIA. Justice for Abby Gate- terrorist Jafar officially in US custody.' He was quoting Trump's speech to Congress. 'A top terrorist involved in murdering our 13 American soldiers in the botched Afghanistan withdrawal is now officially on U.S. soil. Under President Trumps leadership, we will never forget the 13 American Heroes at Abbey Gate,' wrote Bondi. FBI Director Kash Patel released an image of Mohammad Sharifullah, alleged co-conspirator in the murder of American soldiers at Abbey Gate, being brought to the U.S. to face charges in the attack that killed 13 Americans The move surprised a former Biden administration official. 'Not aware of any instance in which the head of DOJ or the head of the FBI would go greet a terrorist at an airport never heard of that before,' the official told DailyMail.com. Ratcliffe went on Fox News to trumpet the development, which Trump announced during his prime-time speech to Congress before his national security team went out to mark the achievement. 'The president had a to-do list. We are working at warp speed.' He said one of the first things Trump told him was to 'make this a priority' and 'find the people responsible,' Ratcliffe told Fox News. 'My second day on the job ... I spoke with the head of Pakistani intelligence' and shared intelligence. He described the nature of the pressure this way: 'I told him if he wanted to work with President Trump and have good relations with our country that they would make this a high priority,' Ratcliffe said. Amid the celebrations, the exact role that Jafar played in the bombing is getting multiple interpretations. 'Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,' Trump said Tuesday night. 'Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,' Trump said AG Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel were on hand for his arrival DNI Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratfliffe were also there Bondi's post on X also called him a 'top terrorist.' 'This evil ISIS-K terrorist orchestrated the brutal murder of 13 heroic Marines,' Bondi said in a DOJ release. But in a Tuesday night post, Patel called him 'one of the terrorists responsible for the murder of the 13 American soldiers at Abbey Gate during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal,' indicating a lesser, though substantial, role. An FBI affidavit released Wednesday said Jafar 'conducted surveillance so that he could prepare the suicide bomber and transport him to the target area.' It says he 'transported the bomber.' He got a motorbike, funds, and a cell phone from ISIS-K. 'After making these preparations for the attack, Sharifullah was tasked with scouting a route near HKIA for an attacker. Sharifullah conducted surveillance on a route, specifically checking for law enforcement and American or Taliban checkpoints,' it said. 'Sharifullah communicated to other ISIS-K members that he believed the route was clear and that he did not think the attacker would be detected while proceeding through that route. ISIS-K members then instructed Sharifullah to leave the area of [Hamid Karzai airport]. Later that same day, Sharifullah learned of the attack at HKIA described above and recognized the alleged bomber as an ISIS-K operative he had known while incarcerated,' according to the affidavit. It also connects him to the horrific Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow in 2024. 'Sharifullah received an order from a known ISIS-K senior leader to provide instructions on how to properly use AK-style rifles and other weapons to would-be attackers in Moscow,' it said. The former Biden official said Jafar 'was a senior ISIS-K terrorist and plotter and someone we wanted to apprehend.' The administration had set up a joint communications structure with Pakistani intelligence,' the official said. 'He is someone we wanted for years and were working with the Pakistanis on.' U.S. officials said the Taliban in Afghanistan killed the mastermind of the operation in 2023. Jafar provided the information to authorities 'in an interview with FBI Special Agents after waiving his Miranda rights on or about March 2, 2025' indicating he waived his right to an attorney when describing his terrorist involvement. His public defender declined to comment after his appearance in court today. he is charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death. A California woman suspected of killing her fire captain wife allegedly sent her friend a chilling text message just one day after the heroic firefighter was found stabbed inside her home. Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Yolanda Marodi, 53, accusing her of fatally stabbing her wife, Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, 49, inside the Ramona home they shared on February 17. The fire captain was found inside the house suffering from multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest and abdomen and was pronounced dead at the scene while her wife was nowhere to be found. But one day later, Yolanda - who was also known as Yolanda Olejniczak - texted a friend who had asked what had happened. 'Becky came home and told me she was leaving me, she met someone else, all the messages were lies,' she replied, according to the warrant obtained by ABC 10News. 'We had a big fight and I hurt her... I'm sorry.' It is now believed that Yolanda repeatedly stabbed her wife hours in the midst of an argument hours before her body was found then fled into Mexico. Surveillance footage from the home had shown Yolanda apparently chasing Rebecca across the patio shortly after 8pm. Yolanda Marodi, 53, also known as Yolanda Olejniczak, is wanted for her wife's murder Police say she stabbed her wife, Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, 49, inside the Ramona home they shared on February 17 A voice, believed to be that of Rebecca, can be heard crying out, 'Yolanda! Please... I don't want to die!' before she appeared in the frame with what seems to be blood running down her back, the arrest warrant states. At that point, another voice - believed to be Yolanda's - could be heard replying, 'You should have thought of that before,' as she stood over her wife holding a knife with apparent blood on her arm. Rebecca repeatedly told her wife to call 911 while Yolanda demanded she go back inside, an order the fire captain eventually obeyed as the two were seen entering the home. It was the last time Rebecca was seen in the footage. Around 10 minutes later, 'Yolanda is seen gathering pets, random items and some luggage and loading it into a silver Chevrolet Equinox SUV,' the warrant states. She was also seen wearing different clothes during what appeared to be a rushed-escape. That vehicle was caught hours later entering into Mexico, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 'At this time, Olejniczak's whereabouts are not known,' the San Diego County Sheriff's Office has warned, according to KTVU. 'Out of an abundance of caution, the Sheriff's Office has alerted authorities on both sides of the border about this suspect.' It is also now urging the public to remain on the lookout for a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with the California license plate number 8BQJ420 and for Yolanda, whom they have described as being five-foot-two-inches tall, weighing about 165 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and tattoos on both her upper arms. Authorities have described Yolanda as being five-foot-two-inches tall, weighing about 165 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and tattoos on both her upper arms She was allegedly caught on surveillance footage chasing Rebecca with a bloody knife The San Diego County Sheriff's Office is urging the public to remain on the lookout for a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with the California license plate number 8BQJ420 This is not the first time police have had to launch a manhunt for Yolanda. Nearly 25 years ago, she fatally stabbed her then-husband James J. Olejniczak Jr., 26, as the two were getting divorced. Court documents obtained by CBS 8 showed that the couple had agreed to 'mutual restraining orders' and agreed to the joint custody of their two children, who were ages nine and four at the time. 'My son was a good man. He was, everybody wants to say that about their children, but my oldest boy was my good boy,' James' mother, Nancy Hayworth, recently told KGTV. She said she saw eerie similarities between her son's killing and Marodi's death. In the October 2000 case, Yolanda also tried to flee with her children, but turned herself into police roughly 24 hours later. By 2003, she pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Yolanda was sentenced to 11 years in state prison the following year, according to court records, but was only in custody from February that year until November 2013. 'She scares me,' Hayworth said of her one-time daughter-in-law, noting that she only met Yolanda once. She then went on to describe the alleged killer as 'a little immature at times, and also she would just be not happy, I think, unless all the attention was on her.' Yolanda, left, previously served time in jail for fatally stabbing her ex-husband James J. Olejniczak Jr., 26, as they were getting a divorce Similarly, Rebecca's ex-wife, 58-year-old Lilia Phleger Phillips told DailyMail.com that she had concerns about Yolanda. 'From what I've heard her wife was a volatile person,' said Lilia, who was married to Rebecca for seven years before they got divorced in 2015. 'She served time for voluntary manslaughter. The crime happened in 2000. That's public knowledge.' Rebecca and Yolanda appear to have been together since at least 2022, when Yolanda shared an Instagram photo announcing their engagement. 'No words can express the joy and profound happiness and gratitude that I experience every day that I spend by her side, and soon I'll get to call her my wife,' she said at the time. 'I'm so blessed to have this amazing woman love me unconditionally. I love you @beck_marodi, you make my life complete.' Rebecca, pictured with Yolanda, is now being remembered as a hero She was one of thousands of firefighters who battled the deadly Eaton Fire in January Rebecca is now remembered as a hero, who was laid to rest in a casket draped with the American flag. The decorated chief served more than 30 years with Cal Fire and was one of the thousands of firefighters who battled the deadly Eaton Fire in January. She was even featured in social media posts of crews battling the blaze and shared videos of herself putting out the flames. At least 17 people were killed in the 14,000-acre Eaton Fire that ignited on January 7. The blaze destroyed 9,418 structures and damaged 1,073 more, according to NBC Los Angeles. But Rebecca had planned to retire at the end of the year, according to KABC. 'Her passing is a profound loss to her family, friends and all who had the privilege of working alongside her,' Cal Fire said. 'Beyond her operational assignments, Captain Marodi was deeply involved in Peer Support and Hazmat, always prioritizing the well-being of her colleagues. 'Her legacy of mentorship, service and dedication will be felt for years to come.' Cal Fire Battalion Chief Paul Selegue also told the local news station Rebecca was someone everyone could aspire to be like. 'She was never afraid to get involved with a person who needed help and she was always willing to extend herself to assist them,' he said. A star student who had never missed a day of school has been arrested after his mom and stepdad were found shot dead in their family home. Nikita Casap's Wisconsin high school welfare officers sounded the alarm after he missed two weeks of school, despite having an otherwise perfect attendance record. When police performed a welfare check at the 17-year-old's home in Waukesha on February 28, they found his mother Tatiana Casap's body 'blackened from decomposition with dried blood on the floor around her.' His stepfather, Donald Mayer, was dead in another room, also suffering a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Nikita was pulled over by police conducting a traffic stop two states over in Kansas that same day. He was driving his stepdad's car, with the family dog inside. According to the criminal complaint, officers could see 'a gun on the passenger side floorboard that was later determined to be a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum firearm.' It was the same type of gun his stepfather had recently purchased. A star student who had never missed a day of school has been arrested after his mom and stepdad were found shot dead in their family home 'Further, officers located [the dead parents'] drivers licenses, unused ammunition for the .357 Magnum and spent shell casings.' The teenager has not been directly charged over his parents' deaths. He has been charged with one count of theft and one count of operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of six years. Police said the deaths of Casap and Mayer are still being 'actively investigated.' When Nikita stopped showing up at school without explanation, school authorities were unable to reach his parents to get an explanation. Nikita Casap's Wisconsin high school welfare officers sounded the alarm after he missed two weeks of school, despite having an otherwise perfect attendance record The couple were found dead inside their home (pictured). Nikiti was arrested two states over in Kansas, but has not been charged for their deaths But his stepfather's work said that they received updates via text message between February 13 and February 25 justifying why he was not showing up. In the text messages, purported to be from Mayer, he repeatedly said he was sick and too unwell to speak on the phone. Mayer's mother Judith told KPTV 'it was awful, the worst thing a mother could ever have happen.' Nikita's phone pinged in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado before he was ultimately arrested in Kansas. Elon Musk is set to deliver a huge blow to 'Amtrak Joe' Biden as he takes aim at privatizing his beloved Amtrak. The 'First Buddy' suggested privatization for both Amtrak and the United States Postal Service, confirming that America's mail service was next on the Trump administration's chopping block. Biden became notorious for his love of riding the rails and would regularly travel home to Delaware from Washington when he was in the Senate. As president, Biden championed improving America's rail service, announcing $16billion in improvements just last year. Musk, who is advising Trump on plans to radically shrink the U.S. government said Wednesday that the U.S. Postal Service and passenger railroad Amtrak should be privatized. 'I think logically we should privatize anything that can reasonably be privatized,' Musk said at a Morgan Stanley conference. 'I think we should privatize the Post Office and Amtrak for example... We should privatize everything we possibly can.' He said he thought those actions would require congressional approval. Amtrak, a government-owned company created in 1970, and USPS, also government owned, did not immediately comment. Elon Musk is set to deliver a huge blow to 'Amtrak Joe' Biden as he takes aim at privatizing his beloved Amtrak Biden became notorious for his love of riding the rails and would regularly travel home to Delaware from Washington when he was in the Senate. As president, Biden championed improving America's rail service, announcing $16billion in improvements just last year Last month, Trump said he was considering merging the Postal Service with the U.S. Commerce Department, a move Democrats said would violate federal law. The Postal Service has lost more than $100billion since 2007, including $9.5billion in the 12 months ending September 30. Earlier this month, however, it reported a fourth-quarter profit of $144million. As email boomed, the agency has been hurt by an 80% decline in first-class mail volume since 1997. Volumes are now at the lowest level since 1968. Amtrak said in December ridership topped 2019 pre-COVID levels for the first time in 2024 and reached a record high. The agency's ridership increased 15% over 2023 to a record 32.8 million customer trips, while Amtrak reported an adjusted operating loss of $705 million for the 12 months ending September 30, down 9% over 2023. Musk said that in comparison with Chinese high-speed rail, Amtrak 'is a sad situation... It will leave you with a very bad impression of America.' Amtrak in March said it was boosting passenger services on the East Coast as it aims to double ridership nationwide by 2040 to 66 million passengers. Congress approved $66billion for rail projects as part of a massive infrastructure bill in 2021, with $22billion dedicated to Amtrak over five years on top of regular funding. Then VP candidate Biden arrives by train into the Amtrak station in Wilmington that now bears his name in this 2008 file photograph Last month, Trump said he was considering merging the Postal Service with the U.S. Commerce Department, a move Democrats said would violate federal law Amtrak's future funding is uncertain. President Donald Trump during his first term repeatedly sought to cut funding to Amtrak, which received about $2.4 billion in annual federal support last year. Trump's administration has already placed holds on U.S. government grants to states and local communities as part of its drive to significantly reduce federal spending, including on railways. A $2.3 billion project adding two railroad tracks to the two that have long been in existence, linking Virginia to Washington, D.C. Passenger and freight trains feed into routes up and down the East Coast and through the state of Virginia. The bridge carries up to 1.3 million Amtrak passengers and 4.5 million Virginia Railway Express commuters operates at 98% capacity during peak hours. It's a stark contrast to Biden, who said in 2024 that he has traveled more than a million miles on Amtrak and his local station now bears his name. 'Amtrak wasn't just a way to get home to family,' Mr Biden said during a speech in Baltimore. 'The conductors, the engineers - they literally became my family.' Peter Dutton left his electorate in Brisbane, as the city braced for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, to attend a fundraiser at the mansion of hospitality billionaire Justin Hemmes. The Opposition Leader rubbed shoulders with a 'small gathering' of high-profile guests at the Vaucluse mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour on Tuesday night, according to the Australian Financial Review. Mr Dutton, who is the MP for Dickson in Brisbane's northern suburbs which is directly in Alfred's firing line, had seemingly flown into Sydney especially for the event. On Tuesday, he was in the northern Brisbane suburb of Kedron where he urged people to start preparing 'now' because the cyclone was a 'very serious event'. 'We need to make sure that we listen to the advice, that people prepare, and now is the time to listen to the authorities... about actions that you need to take in terms of preparation in your own yard, around your own business premises, in relation to supplies that you need to provide for you and your family,' Mr Dutton told locals. After receiving a Queensland police briefing on the cyclone alongside the state's premier David Crisafulli, he flew to Sydney later that day for the fundraiser. Employment Minister Murray Watt said Mr Dutton 'owes Queenslanders an explanation'. 'It's surprising that when Peter Dutton's own community was filling sandbags, he was filling Liberal Party money bags at a Sydney harbourside mansion,' he said. Peter Dutton (pictured) briefly left his Brisbane electorate as people braced for Tropical Cyclone Alfred to attend a fundraiser at hospitality billionaire Justin Hemmes' mansion Hospitality mogul Mr Hemmes (pictured with his partner Madeline Holtznagel) is boss of the Merivale Group which owns around 100 pubs, hotels and restaurants across Australia Pictured is The Hermitage, the sprawling mansion owned by pub baron Justin Hemmes Hospitality mogul and Rich Lister Mr Hemmes, 52, is boss of the Merivale Group which owns around 100 pubs, hotels and restaurants across Australia. His venues will be in line to benefit from one of the Coalition's key election promises: to introduce tax-free staff lunches for businesses. On Wednesday morning, Mr Dutton was a guest on Brisbane's 4BC Breakfast and was asked whether Anthony Albanese would call an election for April 12 on Sunday, as was widely expected. Mr Dutton said he would be 'surprised' if the Prime Minister called the election at that time given millions of people across southeast Queensland and northeast NSW will be dealing with 'significant flooding' and other effects of the cyclone. 'There will be people waiting for waters to reside, there will be swift water rescues, there will be people cleaning out their houses or their businesses, and some people will have lost everything,' Mr Dutton added. 'That's the reality of these weather events, and to go to election at that stage, at that time, I think the Prime Minister would have a tin ear to do that.' Mr Dutton admitted he was yet to batten down the hatches at his sprawling 68-hectare family farm in Dayboro, which is about 20km inland from Brisbane's northern suburbs. 'I haven't taped up the windows, I haven't been that organised, but it's something we should consider, actually,' he said. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is on track to make landfall late Friday or possibly Saturday, bringing winds upwards of 120km/h, up to 700mm of rain and flooding About 300,000 sandbags have been sent to Queensland's south-east, according to the SES Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Dutton's office for comment. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is on track to make landfall late Friday or possibly Saturday, bringing winds upwards of 120km/h, up to 700mm of rain and flooding. It could be the most devastating storm to hit south-east Queensland and northern NSW in over 50 years. A warning zone stretching 650km remains in place from Double Island Point in Queensland to northern NSW. The zone includes Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina. The cyclone slowed down overnight, meaning it will likely gain strength. 'It is still anticipated this will reach landfall, it will just do it later,' Mr Albanese told reporters on Thursday morning. 'And a risk of course is that slowing up, it increases in intensity. 'We expect three separate hazards, storm surges and high tides along coastal communities and severe wins as Alfred approaches the coast. 'Then rainfall, and potential flash and riverine flooding right into the weekend.' Storm chasers have been warned not to risk their lives following Cyclone Alfred, which is expected to be the most powerful storm to hit southeast Queensland in over 50 years. The system is forecast to make landfall on Friday around 7pm (local time), the Bureau of Meteorology said. A warning zone stretching 650km remains in place from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in northern NSW. Daniel Shaw, a Sydney-based storm chaser for more than 25 years, makes annual trips out to deadly 'Tornado Alley' during peak season in the US. Despite the warnings, he is setting off on Thursday to follow Cyclone Alfred. 'Storms can be beautiful but have an ugly side,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Cyclones are prolonged events that test the resilience of all.' 24 hours before landfall Echoing the words Australians have heard from the Prime Minister, state politicians and emergency services, Shaw said 'preparation is key'. Cyclone Alfred is expected to be the first to hit southeast Queensland in over 50 years (pictured, large waves hit Snapper Rocks on Queensland's Gold Coast on Wednesday) Daniel Shaw (pictured) makes annual trips out to deadly 'Tornado Alley' in the United States This includes following government advice, organising first aid kits, food supplies, water and securing loose items. 'If everything is done right, it will already be done,' he said. It is also the time to help others and to check whether neighbours need anything. 6-12 hours before landfall Cyclone Alfred has slowed over warm water off Australia's esat coast, increasing the chance of it strengthening to a category three system. The Bureau flagged that there is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting and that because of this, indicated winds will almost certainly extend to regions outside the rings on weather maps. 'This is a time for bunkering down and watching for updated forecasts,' Shaw said. 'The system is still throwing a couple of changes... because all weather systems can be unpredictable.' A warning zone stretching 650km remains in place from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in northern NSW (pictured, a weather update from the Bureau) Storm chaser Daniel Shaw suggests checking in with neighbours 24 hours before a cyclone is due to make landfall to see if they need anything (pictured, sandbagging efforts in Brisbane) During the storm The best advice Shaw could give for Australians is to stay indoors, away from any debris such as falling trees, flooding and fallen power lines. 'Assume all power is live until proven otherwise by an energy authority,' he said. Almost 200 swift water-rescue personnel are on standby along with 1,000 energy crew staff as of Thursday. Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday the Australian Defence Force assistance would be deployed with helicopters sent to Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour. 'Whilst there is a want and need to help others, unless you are trained to look for hidden dangers, wait patiently and know when to call for help before risking yourself,' Shaw said. Classic disaster movie reboot Twisters shot to popularity last year with a star-studded cast playing storm chasers who drive into the path of tornados during a particularly deadly season in Oklahoma. The movie captured the imagination of audiences across the world but Shaw's reality is a lot more serious, and terrifying. 'This is not a Hollywood movie we are talking about, movies don't typically show you the aftermath when you are making funeral plans,' he said. 'No video or photo is worth losing your life over.' 'No video or photo is worth losing your life over,' Daniel Shaw told Daily Mail Australia Cyclone Alfred has slowed over warm water off Australia's coast, increasing the chance of it strengthening to a category three system After the cyclone Shaw acknowledges there is a natural curiosity to see and experience storms, but stresses that it is dangerous to be near them unless you are prepared. He has taken extensive training in medical assistance and first aid should the worst happen to those nearby. 'A professional storm chaser knows when to run, we're just good at timing it to a second,' he said. Even once the storm has passed, residents need to 'slow down' and be aware of dangers rather than quickly returning to normal. 'Take into account debris, dangers that may exist after the event,' Mr Shaw said. The best approach is working 'slowly and methodically' to assess any damage that might be nearby and knowing when to call emergency services if they are needed. Kidnapped child Abdul Aziz Khan and the mother who took him on the run for seven years had been living in an apartment in Aurora, Colorado for a still-undetermined period of time before astute deputies arrested her last week in a nearby suburb, Douglas County Sheriff Darren M Weekly told DailyMail.com. The boy's father, Dr Abdul Khan, has traveled to Colorado after learning the joyous news that the son his ex-wife abducted in 2017 from Georgia had been found safe and well, the sheriff added on Wednesday. Theres just an immense sense of pride that we were able to bring this seven-year-long mystery to a close and to start the process of reunification with Aziz and his dad, though that is going to be a process theyre not together; thats going to be slow, Sheriff Weekly said. The boys mother, 40-year-old Rabia Khalid, was arrested on February 23 along with her husband, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42. They are being held in Douglas County awaiting court dates later this month. Two Douglas County deputies had responded to the scene of a possible burglary at a house for sale in Highlands Ranch when the homeowner, whod been remotely monitoring the three-bedroom, three-bathroom property, noticed suspicious activity and called authorities. As they pulled up on scene, they found a vehicle in the driveway, the sheriff said on Wednesday of the deputies, one a trainee and one with a few years on the force. There were two kids in the driveway. They made contact with the kids and asked them what was going on. One of the kids, that was later identified as Aziz, said that his parents were with the realtor, or something like that. The kid called inside to mom with a cell phone, and the two adults came out. As deputies began asking questions, they felt like they were being lied to that these people were not being straight with them, not only about why they were there but who they were, the sheriff said. Abdul Aziz Khan is pictured with his father, Dr Abdul Kahn, before the boy's 2017 abduction, when he was kidnapped from Georgia by his non-custodial mother, Rabia Khalid Khalid, 40, was arrested in Colorado on February 23 by Douglas County deputies responding to a call about a possible robbery from a homeowner who was remotely monitoring the house they've listed for sale in Highlands Ranch Douglas County deputies also arrested Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, on charges including kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities and trespassing The female, later identified to be Rabia, said that she never had an identification card or anything like that. Obviously, for an adult living in this country, thats very unusual so very suspicious, he said. Using a portable device called a morphs scanner to check fingerprints, the deputies found out that she had a warrant for her arrest for kidnapping they were subsequently arrested for kidnapping, fraud and then just a myriad of other charges fraud, identity theft, providing false information to authorities and trespassing, as well. Weekly said a neighbor was kind enough to allow us to bring the kids into their home with a deputy sheriff, just so the kids werent scared we actually had a deputy watching Blues Clues with these kids. He said it was probably a very scary situation for those kids, but we did the best we could to minimize that. He said the age of the second child was being withheld. A Highlands Ranch next-door neighbor told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that hed observed the February 23 arrests on the neat cul-de-sac and noticed that one kid was tall. He looked about my height, the 27-year-old neighbor, Ken, told DailyMail.com, declining to give his last name. The other child, he said, looked like a baby, I think a little kid. Aziz, the sheriff said, grew up in an atmosphere that he was in when we found him. He was healthy and everything like that. There were no concerns there. But this is all hes known for the last seven years. And hes 14 years old now, so the reunification process is going to take some more time. The boy's father, Dr Khan, had discussed his son's kidnapping on an episode of Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries titled 'Abducted by a Parent' Abdul Aziz was just seven years old at the time of his disappearance with his mother. Now 14, he was discovered by deputies along with another child, whose name and age are not yet being released by authorities He said detectives had executed search warrants on the Aurora apartment as well as the car that we recovered at the scene. Theyre still trying to figure out, based upon the documents that were there and the fraudulent ID theres a lot that theyre working through to figure out exactly where theyve been, who theyve been with. He said he still didnt know why the suspects were at the Highlands Ranch home. They didnt need a place to live, because they were living in Aurora, he said. After seven years and with the case featured on Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries the sheriff said he was surprised they hadnt been apprehended beforehand. I just wonder how many people that these folks have been in contact with over the last seven years and the officers just kind of took them at their word and just moved on, he said. Our deputies dug into it. They were following their gut instincts, and they realized something was not right He said the Douglas County district attorney intended to prosecute the pair in Colorado on our charges. Khalid is next due in court on March 21 in Douglas County. The boy's family released the following statement through the sheriff's office: 'We're overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found. We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. We specifically want to recognize the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for their exceptional work in solving this case. Now, as we navigate the next steps, we ask for privacy so that we can move forward as a family and heal together.' With Tropical Cyclone Alfred due to slam into Australia within 48 hours, those in its impact zone of southeast Queensland and northern NSW are also facing dangers from unexpected sources. As well as bringing winds upwards of 120km/h, up to 700mm of rain and flooding, there's added dangers from snakes and sewage. The additional danger is so high, that Queensland's environment department has issued a warning about it. 'People are reminded to take care or avoid entering floodwaters as they may be contaminated with raw sewage and other harmful materials,' a DETSI spokesperson said. They also warned about snakes. 'Snakes may also be present in floodwaters and may even find their way into people's properties,' they said. 'If you see a snake, don't attempt to catch or remove it yourself - it is usually best to wait for the snake to move away of its own accord. 'If you need to have a snake removed from your home, contact a licensed snake removalist in your local area.' Queensland's environment department warned that 'snakes may be present in floodwaters and may even find their way into people's properties'. A snake is pictured in Queensland floodwaters As well as bringing winds upwards of 120km/h, up to 700mm of rain and flooding, the cyclone is also bringing added dangers from snakes and sewage DETSI said that other animals can also be affected by the weather conditions. 'Cyclones can also affect wildlife through strong winds, storm tides, flooding and loss of habitat,' the spokesperson said. 'Animals may be displaced as they move to safer places or have been injured.' Wildlife rescuers urged anyone in the cyclone's impact zone to look out for injured birds, reptiles and mammals. People are encouraged to look up the number of the nearest wildlife-friendly vet or rescue group and keep it close by. After the cyclone passes, residents in affected areas have been asked to check around trees, bushes and backyards for injured, waterlogged and soaked animals. Wildlife rescue services are free to call out, with most mainly staffed by volunteers. Feature: Tanzanian university student pursues dream career through learning Chinese Xinhua) 13:04, March 06, 2025 DAR ES SALAAM, March 5 (Xinhua) -- For Zena Ayubu Saidi, a second-year student at the University of Dar es Salaam, learning Chinese is more than just acquiring a new language -- it has become a gateway to a dream career full of opportunities. "I consider the Chinese language key to employment opportunities provided by Chinese enterprises operating in Tanzania," Saidi told Xinhua in a recent interview. The 23-year-old Tanzanian woman is currently pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in education. Her ambition is to become a Chinese language teacher after graduating in 2026. "I am interested in teaching Chinese. Meanwhile, I also love interpreting and translating between Chinese, English, and Kiswahili," said Saidi. In Saidi's eyes, learning Chinese is beneficial not only for offering language-related job opportunities, but also for doctors, engineers, and many other professionals to build careers in China. Speaking fluent Chinese, Saidi has immersed herself in Chinese culture, embracing its cuisine, martial arts, music, and television dramas. "I watch a lot of Chinese dramas because they are exciting, like Home Temptation, Majestic Kingdom, and many others. These dramas are educational and help us to know about Chinese culture in general," she said. Though she has never visited China, her studies in Chinese history have deepened her understanding of the country. "I am still interested in visiting China to learn more about that friendly country," she said. Saidi's journey with the Chinese language began in 2017, when she joined Form One at Kiwanja cha Ndege Secondary School in the capital, Dodoma. "Our teachers gave us gifts when we performed well in Chinese language examinations. We did Chinese language competitions that were very interesting," she told Xinhua at the Confucius Institute of the University of Dar es Salaam. "From there, I was inspired to learn the Chinese language." For more than a decade, the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam has been essential in fostering cultural exchanges and Chinese language education, strengthening the ties between China and Tanzania. When the institute marked its 10th anniversary in July 2023, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian said that so far, the Confucius Institute has trained nearly 50,000 Chinese learners in Tanzania, providing opportunities for students who want to learn Chinese. Saidi expressed gratitude for Tanzania's recent education policy, which integrates Chinese language learning from primary school onward. "Many Tanzanian youths will have an opportunity to learn the Chinese language that will benefit them in the future," said Saidi. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A Missouri mother gave a ridiculous excuse for leaving her one year old without any food or water for nearly two days, resulting in the toddler's death. Alyssa Wehmeyer, 21, said she was suffering from a migraine and decided to take a nap when she left her baby unfed for 43 hours - and woke up to find the child not breathing with their lips blue inside their crib on Friday, according to court documents obtained by the Tri-City Herald. Officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department said they found the child's death suspicious, and asked the Missouri State Highway Patrol to investigate what had happened, KFVS reports. When troopers then questioned Wehmeyer about what had happened, she said she had last fed her child between 5pm and 6pm on February 26, the probable cause affidavit states. She then put the baby to bed at around 6.30pm on February 27 - a full 24 hours after Wehmeyer said the child had last eaten. A little over seven hours later, the child woke up crying, at which point, Wehmeyer said she held her toddler for at least 30 minutes, before she placed the baby back in its crib. When Wehmeyer then went to check on the one year old at around 1pm on February 28, she said she found the child not breathing. At that point it had been 43 hours since the child was last fed, authorities noted. For 19 of those hours, the toddler was also left in their crib unattended without their diaper being changed. Alyssa Wehmeyer, 21, said she was suffering from a migraine and decided to take a nap when she left her baby unfed for 43 hours - and woke up to find the child not breathing with their lips blue inside their crib on Friday She is now being held at the Scott County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond as she faces one count of abuse or neglect of a child - resulting in death By the time police arrived to the scene, they found 'severe blisters' on the child from a diaper rash and noted that the baby showed signs of 'severe malnutrition and neglect, resulting in the child's death.' An ensuing autopsy later determined that the baby died of dehydration, noting that there was 'very little evidence of food in her stomach,' Law & Crime reports. Upon questioning, Wehmeyer admitted that she should have taken her child to a doctor or at least changed the baby's diaper 'but she had a migraine' and had laid down for a nap after taking three Excedrin pills, the affidavit states. The young mother is now being held at the Scott County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond as she faces one count of abuse or neglect of a child - resulting in death. Wehmeyer is scheduled to make her first court appearance on Thursday. It is unclear if she has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf. The Marquess of Ailesbury was said to have been found with belts wrapped around his arms after mysteriously falling to his death from a bedroom window. The 98-year-old also known as Michael Brudenell-Bruce was found bleeding from the head on the patio of his west London home on May 12 last year. He was discovered by his shocked partner 88-year-old former fashion model Teresa Marshall De Paoli who had been cooking supper. She claims that Brudenell-Bruce, who was suffering from dementia, fell after he leant out of his first-floor bedroom window to let out their cat, Honeybun. But, an inquest into the late Marquess's death at West London Coroners Court heard that when paramedics arrived at the scene, they called the police as they believed the incident was 'suspicious because of the circumstances'. PC Katherine Taylor, one of the officers who attended the scene, said Marshall de Paoli 'seemed in shock' and 'was distressed' - but didn't recall her crying. Taylor claimed Brudenell-Bruce was found with two belts wrapped around his arms, which another officer suggested could have been to stop him trying to break his fall. The officer also found the flower pots on the windowsill of the bedroom had been moved inside and seemed it was 'prepared for a fall', the inquest heard. The last picture of 8th Marquess of Ailesbury Michael Brudenell-Bruce and partner Teresa Marshall de Paoli at the Ivy Chelsea in June 2023 Marshall de Paoli was the partner of Marquess of Ailesbury (pictured together) for 37 years Taylor claimed that Marshall de Paoli kept saying 'Oh my God, he fell out of the window', which one paramedic supposedly thought was 'very strange' as 'she already knew that the window was open', the inquest was told. 'The main concern at that point was the cat. It had not come home. She thought it would be distressing for the cat,' she added. The Met Police and London Ambulance Service both attended the scene within seven minutes. Another officer, Sergeant Carla McCrae, told the inquest she found it 'unusual' that Marshall de Paoli thought Brudenell-Bruce 'must have fallen out of the window trying to save the cat'. 'I would not normally expect someone to draw the conclusion that someone fell out of a window trying to rescue a cat,' she told the inquest. 'It is not an everyday occurrence.' McCrae claimed a pair of glasses had been left on the pillow of the bed and there were supposedly a pair of slippers by the window, pointing towards the outside wall. There was also said to be a smudge of fresh blood on the lip of the windowsill. McCrae claimed Marshall de Paoli also told her: 'I am not guilty of anything.' Michael Brudenell-Bruce is pictured in an undated photograph The current Marquess of Ailesbury, Michael's son David, 71, also told the inquiry his father had been so frail he could not get up from a sofa with the cat on his lap when he visited six weeks before the fall. David claimed he asked an inspector looking into his father's death whether someone in that condition would be able to his bedroom window and move the plants. He was supposedly told: 'He would have needed some assistance'. PC Taylor told the inquest that Marshall de Paoli said Brudenell-Bruce was recently diagnosed with dementia and had 'voiced concern about being a burden both financially and physically'. Marshall de Paoli also said her partner had previously requested help to kill himself and referred to murderous GP Harold Shipman, the inquest heard. She also reportedly complained that 'lefty nurses' stopped doctors helping people to die, the inquest heard. Taylor told the inquest she had initially thought the Marquess's death was suicide, but could not rule out assisted suicide. After his tragic death grief stricken Marshall de Paoli stressed: 'It was an absolutely freak accident. There had not been a row - I had not hit him.' David, the newly styled 9th Marquess, is the 71-year-old son of Michael Brudenell-Bruce She contacted the Marquess's daughter Lady Kathryn Brudenell-Bruce, with the two reportedly spending 'all night in an armchair together' comforting each other following the tragedy. She claimed that she endured an ordeal when police and forensic officers confined her to her home during their investigations. Marshall de Paoli lived with Lord Ailesbury for 14 years at her west London home, which she bought before they met. Previously, they lived on his family's 4,500-acre Savernake estate in Wiltshire. A Metropolitan Police spokesman previously said: 'The death is unexpected but is not being treated as suspicious.' Republicans slammed the creators of the hit musical Hamilton after it canceled its upcoming run at the Kennedy Center, citing the 'new culture' of the institution following President Donald Trump's takeover. The play was to be part of the Kennedy Center's plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Trump is hugely invested in having a big celebration next year in honor of America's birthday. But the decision to cancel the run has sparked a cultural revolution in the political world. Ric Grenell, who Trump named the interim executive director, accused creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and producer Jeffrey Seller of a 'publicity stunt' that he said would backfire. He called Miranda 'intolerant of people who don't agree with him politically' and said the two men 'don't want Republicans going to their shows.' Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hamilton in the hit musical during its Broadway run The hit musical was schedule to play its third run at the Kennedy Center in March and April 2026. 'Given the recent actions, our show simply cannot, in good conscience, participate and be part of this new culture that is being imposed on the Kennedy Center,' Seller said in a post on social media announcing the cancellation. Seller also called it a 'business decision' noting the hundreds of employees of the play who would be hurt if the Kennedy Center suddenly cancelled the musical's run. The Kennedy Center has cancelled events in the wake of Trump's takeover. Other artists have cancelled on their own in protest, including musician Rhiannon Giddens and actress Issa Rae. 'The actions of the new Chairman of the Board in recent weeks demonstrate that contracts and previous agreements simply cannot be trusted,' Seller noted. Trump fired Kennedy Center staff, board members and declared himself chairman of the cultural institution. The Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by Miranda was performed at the Kennedy Center during Trump's first administration, Seller noted. 'We are not acting against his administration, but against the partisan policies of the Kennedy Center as a result of his recent takeover,' he wrote. Seller and Miranda first revealed their decision Wednesday in an interview with The New York Times. 'This latest action by Trump means it's not the Kennedy Center as we knew it,' Miranda told the newspaper. But Grenell accused the two men of a publicity stunt by telling the newspaper before informing the center. 'Seller and @Lin_Manuel first went to the New York Times before they came to the Kennedy Center with their announcement that they can't be in the same room with Republicans,' Grenell said in a post on X. 'This is a publicity stunt that will backfire,' he added. 'The Arts are for everyone - not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with. The American people need to know that @Lin_Manuel is intolerant of people who don't agree with him politically. It's clear he and Sellers don't want Republicans going to their shows,' he noted. President Donald Trump installed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center Statement from Hamilton producer Jeffrey Sellers on the cancellation Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo and Ariana DeBose with Lin-Manuel Miranda during their final performance curtain call of 'Hamilton' in July 2016 The hugely popular musical about the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton is a sure-fire hit for whatever theater that hosts it. The previous runs at the Kennedy Center quickly sold out. On Broadway it has grossed more than $1 billion. The Kennedy Center had announced the play's run but it had not started selling tickets and no contract had been signed. Miranda and Seller told the Times the show would soon announce another venue in the Washington area so locals would still have an opportunity to see it. In 2018, during the first Trump Administration, Miranda and other members of the 'Hamilton' creative team were among that year's Kennedy Center honorees. Trump named Ric Grenell the interim executive director of the Kennedy Center Trump never attended the Kennedy Center Honors as president because several artists threatened to boycott the center if he was present. It is tradition for the president to preside over the Honors, the center's biggest event of the year. He took over the center in early February. The contract of Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter was terminated as was that of chairman David Rubenstein in the wake of Trump's move. The president has promised a 'Golden Age in arts and culture,' but has not given any more specifics. Grenell has promised the Kennedy Center would feature 'a big, huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas.' Trump, who is a huge fan of Broadway musicals, never saw Hamilton. In 2016, shortly after the presidential election, then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence saw the show on Broadway. Afterward the cast made an unusual appeal, asking Pence to see that the Trump administration 'uphold our American values' and 'work on behalf of all of us.' Trump, at the time, called the 'Hamilton' cast had 'harassed' Pence by making the statement and had been 'very rude.' 'Apologize,' he demanded. Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden were big fans. Barack and Michelle Obama hosted the cast at the White House to perform some songs. Joe and Jill Biden saw the hit musical on Broadway when Biden served as vice president. Ric Grenell blasted the decision of Hamilton to cancel its Kennedy Center run Lin Manuel Miranda arrives at the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors when he was an honoree Jill Biden, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Vice President of the United States Joe Biden pose backstage at the hit new musical 'Hamilton' in July 2015 Seller noted in his post that 'political disagreements and debate are vital expressions of democracy. These basic concepts of freedom are at the very heart of Hamilton. However, some institutions are sacred and should be protected from politics. The Kennedy Center is one such institution.' He noted the Center was founded as a bipartisan place for the arts, coming to fruition under Dwight Eisenhower and named after John F. Kennedy. 'Politics have never affected the presentation of shows and the display of extraordinary visual arts. However in recent weeks we have sadly seen decades of Kennedy Center neutrality be destroyed,' he said. A Christian teacher who was fired for refusing to call an eight-year-old girl by male pronouns has slammed a school for putting the child 'on a path to self-destruction'. The teacher, who cannot be named, was sacked after voicing concerns about the safeguarding of a girl who wanted to 'socially transition'. With the support of an advocacy group called Christian Concern the teacher, referred to as A, has sued Nottinghamshire county council, which runs the school. A is taking the council to court on grounds of victimisation for whistleblowing, unfair dismissal and discrimination because of her religious beliefs, reports The Telegraph. A said in her witness statement that in 2021 the school made her aware that a child, referred to as Child X, who had been born female, would be attending her class but that she should refer to the child with a male name, which made her feel uncomfortable. The teacher said that a large part of the literature staff were provided with to teach was informed by LGBTQ campaign group Stonewall and was 'trans-affirming'. She said she felt using male pronouns to refer to the child would cause 'irreversible harm' and said it was 'coercive and disrespectful' of the school to require her to do this. A Christian teacher who was fired for refusing to call an eight-year-old girl by male pronouns has slammed a school for putting the child 'on a path to self-destruction' (stock image) The teacher, who cannot be named, was sacked after voicing concerns about the safeguarding of a girl who wanted to 'socially transition' (stock image) A said she decided it was right to speak up after she carried out research which included watching videos of detransitioners who had regretted their choice. She is said to have shared her opinion with the school's head teacher, who told her she must use Child X's preferred pronouns because it was the parent's request. After telling the head teacher she would not comply Child X was moved to a different class and A was suspended later that month. A disciplinary investigation was carried out against her for refusing to agree to the 'reasonable request'. A acknowledged that gender dysphoria was 'a real problem for some people' but said 'we should have the humility to put God-given reality first and our own feelings second'. In her witness statement, the teacher explained she felt the school was 'encouraging Child X on a path to self-destruction'. The teacher added she felt her attempts to resolve the issue by using a gender-neutral name for the child and had been ignored by the school. After agreeing not to tell anyone about the situation A was allowed to return to work the following month. But she continued to feel uncomfortable and wrote a safeguarding letter to the school's governing body who she believes also ignored her concerns. At this point A felt defeated and thought the only way to resolve the issue was to report it to Nottinghamshire county council. But, the council said it was satisfied with the way the school had acted. After involving lawyers and pursuing legal action, the teacher said the school raised concerns that she had broken confidentiality by sharing information with a third party. As a result A was then suspended and subsequently dismissed. She was also reported to the Teaching Regulation Agency, the Disclosure and Barring Service and the Information Commissioner's Office. The tribunal heard that the teacher had accessed information about Child X on CPOMS, an online system used by schools to log and monitor child protection and other pupil welfare issues. The teacher said this was because she had heard the child's behaviour was poor. The tribunal, which is expected to last until March 14, continues. An Afghan asylum seeker raped a schoolgirl after spotting her alone in a town centre, a court heard. Sadeq Nikzad approached the girl in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, and asked for her phone number and whether she had a boyfriend, the High Court in Edinburgh heard. Nikzad, 29, made sexual remarks towards the 15-year-old and led her to the rear of a pub where he attacked and raped her. Nikzad denied raping the girl but was yesterday found guilty by a majority verdict of a jury following a trial. The court heard that he expects to be deported from the UK at the end of a prison sentence imposed for the assault and rape of the victim on October 16 in 2023. The girl was walking along the towns High Street after collecting a prescription when she was approached by Nikzad. She told jurors: This is a person I have genuinely never seen before. The girl said it appeared that English was not his first language and she found it quite difficult to understand him at times. She said: It was quite hard at times to decipher what he was trying to say to me. The incident occurred in the town centre of Falkirk in Stirlingshire, Scotland The case was heard before Edinburgh High Court on Wednesday She said that during the assault on her she froze and was quite shocked. She said: I knew I needed to get help as soon as possible but I didnt really have anything in me to just push him off. If he were to look he would see I was very unhappy and scared. A woman who was walking towards her car came across the teenager after she was subjected to the attack. She said: As I crossed the road, thats when I saw the girl and the man coming out of the lane and the girl came straight over to me. She was in a daze. She looked stunned. I knew something had gone wrong. She came to me for comfort. She said she kept telling the guy she was only 15. The girls father told the court that he received a phone call from his daughter who told him she had been attacked and when he saw her she was terrified. He said: I have never seen her in that state before. Sentence was deferred on Nikzad by judge John Morris KC for the preparation of a background report on him and his remand in custody was continued. He was placed on the sex offenders register. A British traveller has labelled Aussies 'unhinged' for their risky behaviour as Cyclone Alfred looms. Raxu, a solo traveller visiting Australia, questioned locals' attitudes towards the impending weather event, in a video posted to social media. She was shocked to see surfers riding huge waves whipped up by the approaching cyclone. 'Tell me why there's a cyclone about to hit the Gold Coast and everyone's surfing,' she said. 'They're saying the swells are good, they're saying the surf is good, they're saying the waves are good but there's literally a cyclone coming their way. 'Everyone's been told to stay in and evacuate, but they don't seem to take it seriously. 'They're a little bit unhinged. I wouldn't be surfing, bro. 'The Australians are confusing me.' TikTok user Raxu couldn't believe what she was seeing as Aussies braced for Cyclone Alfred Her post sparked plenty of responses, with many Aussies explaining their laid-back attitude. 'As a wise Aussie man once said "she'll be right",' one person posted. Another said: 'We think everything is funny til it's not.' A third said: 'It's just the Aussie way. Everything's a joke, until it's really not a joke anymore, hope this helps.' The category-two cyclone is predicted to hit southeast Queensland in the early hours of Saturday morning. The system has recorded winds up to 90km/h at its centre and gusts of 130km/h. It is forecast to bring daily rainfall totals between 200mm and 400mm from Thursday to Saturday, likely leading to 'life-threatening' flooding. The cyclone warning zone spans 650km from the Sunshine Coast's Double Island Point to Grafton in northern NSW. Australian Defence Force assistance has been activated with helicopters deployed to Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour. The most dazzling oligarch in the world, 260 years ago, was probably Clive Of India, the spectacularly daring but grasping English governor of Bengal. After one victory on the battlefield, Clive was taken by a grateful Indian ruler into the palace treasury and told to help himself from the mountains of gold and silver plate, jewels and priceless rarities. He walked off with the modern day equivalent of about 400 million and later said he was astonished by his own moderation. That story has a grim and ominous relevance today, as the British Government contemplates signing a document that gives away an incalculable treasure trove of our national wealth to the modern-day equivalent of Robert Clive the tech billionaires of California. Advocates of the digital revolution love to claim that humankind is on the brink of something unprecedented with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). There is, in fact, nothing unprecedented about the ever more greedy and ambitious rise of Big Tech. Weve seen this phenomenon before, though we might not immediately recognise it in its earlier form the empire building of Clives East India Company (EIC). This trading behemoth, at its zenith, was the largest corporation in the world, based in the City of London. In the 18th century, the rising political power of The Company was driven through the booming trade with Asia. Portrait of the 1st Baron Clive, commonly referred to as Clive of India Mark Zuckerberg talks about the Orion AR glasses during the Meta Connect conference on Sept. 25, 2024, in Menlo Park SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk speaks during an America PAC town hall on October 26, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania Now it is the giants of Silicon Valley who aim to rule the world through the internet. Software created by Microsoft, Google and Meta is evolving at extraordinary speed and already able to emulate human speech and syntax. Mega-rich innovators such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg envisage an imminent era when their large language models are able to reason as reliably as we do or even more so and achieve feats of imagination impossible in the human brain. They might even though this is further off become fully sentient and self-aware, able to think for themselves. But, as the Mail in conjunction with the entirety of Fleet Street has been warning recently, AI is being fuelled by wholesale theft. The software is trained with screeds of novels and textbooks, newspaper journalism and magazine articles, trillions of words that are shovelled into its processors with appalling disregard for the international laws of copyright. Whatever good comes from this will clearly not belong to its true creators, the writers who painstakingly produced those original texts. These include a stockpile of 190,000 books known in the tech industry as The Pile, among them international bestsellers. It seems astonishing that super-successful novelists, even those with a thorough understanding of the law such as Americans Scott Turow and John Grisham, can be fleeced of their lifes work by a computer program. But thats how empires are built. The invaders start by taking whatever they want. Robert Clive and Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, 1757. Francis Hayman, 1760 Aerial view of San Carlos in Silicon Valley When they are challenged, they offer to make a deal. But the deal is never fair, because one side is expected to give up everything without understanding why the other side needs it. Big Tech is doing exactly that, by trying to bounce the British Government into an agreement that makes no economic or moral sense. Our creative industries, which contribute 126 billion to the UKs annual Gross Domestic Product, are being placed at the full disposal of AI developers, for almost no recompense. To understand how this can be possible, we need to look back into history. The East India Company was the forerunner of Silicon Valley, not just because it possessed wealth beyond imagination but because that wealth generated vast power for a few unaccountable men. To read the gripping story of the EIC, even in brief, is to notice uncanny parallels with the rapacious behaviour of Big Tech today. Though it morphed over time into a military and political arm of the state, The Company began in 1600 as a passion project, triggered by the excitement of global exploration. The Spanish, a century earlier, had discovered the Americas by accident. Christopher Columbus, on a mission for Queen Isabella of Spain and her husband Ferdinand, was searching for a westward passage to China but stumbled on the Caribbean islands. Future expeditions found the American continents. Gold brought back by the shipload financed the Spanish empire, as well as keeping English privateers busy. After Sir Walter Raleigh claimed Virginia for the throne (it was named after our Virgin Queen), Elizabeth I granted a royal charter to the East India Company in 1600. During the next two centuries, the EIC came to dominate world trade in tea, cotton and spices, and generated vast profits for its backers. Londoners with money to invest in The Company could expect yearly returns of up to 30 per cent. At its peak, the EIC was larger than several nations but that dominance did not come without a fight. During the mid-1700s, France, Holland and Denmark joined forces with local potentates in an effort to wrest trade from Britain. The turning point came in 1756, when 123 British and allied Indian prisoners of war were massacred in the notorious Black Hole of Calcutta. From then on, the East India Company used increasingly aggressive tactics. Robert Clive a clerk who had risen to command The Companys army joined in the local political game, playing one ambitious ruler against another. Christopher Columbus by Sebastiano del Piombo By 1765, at the age of 35, Clives personal fortune was estimated at around 800 million in todays money. Though he was regarded as a national hero, many MPs felt the EIC wielded too much power: writer Samuel Johnson, theologian John Wesley and philosopher Edmund Burke were among its vocal critics. Instead of retreating, The Company offered a blatant bribe to the UK government: 400,000 (perhaps 1 billion today) in exchange for the freedom to expand its operations in India. Permission was granted, its share price soared and the EIC became a quasi-state. The direct parallel with Big Tech bosses today is inescapable. Facebook and TikTok can exert a grossly undemocratic influence on elections, while X owner Elon Musk is the unelected official in charge of cutting Americas federal budget. Just as the East India Company pitted local rulers against one another divide and conquer is a favourite tactic of the tech companies today, playing on lack of co-operation between nations. Indias largely agrarian kingdoms were dazzled by the promise of Britains industrial technology. But it was tech they didnt understand, just as the true intricacies, potential and pitfalls of AI are only known to a few today. Under Clive, the East India Company built up its private army to 260,000 soldiers, double the size of the British Army, and became too big to fail. Again, the modern parallels are ominous. If our Government becomes completely reliant on US tech firms, the entire country can be held to ransom. Yet the EIC brought many benefits. The building of Indias railways began under its administration, as did major cultural, educational and infrastructure projects, including the first ever museum in India, the countrys first engineering college, the first medical college teaching Western medicine outside Europe, law courts, banking, postal services and much more. Similarly, Big Tech has revolutionised the way we communicate, putting super-computers in our pockets and giving even the poorest parts of the world access to education. AI could yet improve our lives in myriad ways, not least by diagnosing medical conditions with greater speed and accuracy. Like the EIC before it, Silicon Valley has made more money and obtained more power than anyone could have imagined possible at the beginning of this century. And just as the lives of millions of Indians were once determined in offices in London, so now we live our lives today in the hands of Californias tech gurus. Whether they will control our future, too, is up to us. - Professor Robert Tombs is the author of The English And Their History, published by Penguin. EXCLUSIVE A man accused of making a bomb threat on a flight out of Sydney while travelling under a fake name has blamed his arrest on a string of bizarre misunderstandings. Bernhard Roduner was on board a Virgin plane ready to take-off to Brisbane when a fellow passenger allegedly heard him say 'bomb' in a phone conversation. Mr Roduner said it was possible he was telling a colleague 'Tassie is the bomb', as he was returning from a trip visiting friends in Tasmania and he regularly used that turn of phrase. He suspected the woman seated in front of him might have been concerned about hearing the word 'bomb' because he looked vaguely Middle Eastern. The disability care worker, who comes from a prominent Queensland family of restaurateurs, also had an explanation for travelling on a ticket in another person's name. Mr Roduner said a friend in Tasmania had booked two flights for his journey home - one from Hobart to Sydney and another to Brisbane - through the Virgin Australia app. When Mr Roduner got to Sydney and missed his connecting flight, he bought a Virgin ticket to Brisbane using his debit card and driver's licence as identification but unknown to him, the ticket was issued in his friend's name. The 44-year-old, who spent two years working at Brisbane Airport - including in security roles - while studying nursing, has written to Virgin but received no response. A man accused of making a bomb threat on a flight out of Sydney while travelling under a fake name has blamed his arrest on a string of bizarre misunderstandings. Bernhard Roduner (above) was allegedly overheard saying 'bomb' in a phone conversation Mr Roduner told Daily Mail Australia he was deeply traumatised by his arrest which led to him facing two criminal charges, one of which could potentially put him in prison. 'I look after people,' Mr Roduner said. 'I care for people. This has never happened to me in my life. The way it's happened is ridiculous.' Mr Roduner's parents Alfred and Deanna ran the the popular Grappino Trattoria Ristorante at Paddington in Brisbane's inner-city for almost 20 years. His brother Theo is one of two founders of Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, a chain specialising in Italian potato dumplings which has six outlets in Queensland and one in Sydney. Mr Roduner, from Sunnybank Hills on Brisbane's outskirts, was once Grappino's manager but is now a care coordinator for a mental health and disability services company. On January 14, he boarded his Virgin flight from Sydney to Brisbane and was speaking on the phone to a colleague before final preparations for take-off began. The plane had started taxiing downing the runway when there was an announcement it would be returning the terminal without any further explanation. Two federal police then boarded the aircraft and approached Mr Roduner, asking if he was 'Mr Morgan', the friend who had booked his original flight from Tasmania. Mr Roduner said it was possible he was telling a colleague 'Tassie is the bomb', as he was returning from a trip visiting friends in Tasmania and he regularly used that turn of phrase. Police are pictured at Sydney Airport near Virgin Australia's check-in Mr Roduner said he provided proof he had paid for the ticket but was informed another passenger had made an accusation against him. 'One of the police goes, 'Would you please get your luggage. Apparently you've made a threat, please come outside with me,'' Mr Roduner said. 'I was confused as to what was going on. It was terrible.' Mr Roduner became even more confused when he was told the female passenger seated in front of him had heard him use the word 'bomb' in his earlier telephone chat. 'I didn't even see the lady,' he said. 'I don't have anything against her if she felt concerned but I really think this has gotten out of hand. 'It could have been I said "Tassie is the bomb", because I do say that - that's the only thing I can think of. 'I was in a total mess. I was shaking. I even said, "This is because of the way I look". I have a beard, I do look Middle Eastern, but my dad is Swiss-German and my mum is Singaporean.' Mr Roduner was escorted off the flight as other passengers filmed him. After a search, it was determined there was no bomb on the aircraft. Mr Roduner (above) said it was possible he was telling a colleague 'Tassie is the bomb', as he was returning from a trip visiting friends in Tasmania and he regularly used that turn of phrase He was later charged with threatening aviation security and taking a flight with a ticket obtained using false identity information. The first charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and the second carries a potential $16,500 fine. Court documents state Mr Roduner 'did engage in conduct that a reasonable person could interpret as a threat to commit an act of unlawful interference with aviation'. Mr Roduner appeared via audio-visual link from Queensland when his matter was first mentioned at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday. He was not represented by a lawyer but entered not guilty please to both charges after explaining what had happened to the registrar handling the case. In his letter to Virgin, Mr Roduner said his experience on January 14 had left him suffering severe anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder. 'During the flight, I believe I was unfairly judged based on a misunderstanding and, possibly, my ethnicity,' he wrote. 'I was not allowed to return home or resume work for 24 hours due to this situation, which I feel was handled in a one-sided manner.' Mr Roduner, from Sunnybank Hills in outer suburban Brisbane, was flying home on January 14 when he was arrested after a an unfortunate set of incidents at Sydney Airport (above) Mr Roduner said he had not received a reply to his correspondence but Virgin had sent an email threatening to restrict his future airline use. 'This experience was deeply humiliating and left me feeling unfairly treated, as though I were being profiled or perceived as a threat,' he wrote. 'I was treated as if I were a criminal or a terrorist, which is not only untrue but also profoundly upsetting.' Virgin Australia declined to comment. Mr Roduner's parents established Grappino in 2004, inspired by the Italian cuisine Alfred loved as a boy growing up in the Swiss Alps. From the start, the restaurant was decorated with posters from classic films such as Goodfellas and The Untouchables as well as the television series The Sopranos. Alfred eventually handed the kitchen over to Theo, while Bernhard ran the front-of-house with his mother Deanna. In April 2012 a reviewer in the Courier Mail newspaper put Grappino in her top six 'favourite Italian eateries in Brisbane'. The Rodoners sold the restaurant several years ago. Theo co-founded Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, which began as a market stall in 2015 and led to Australia's first 'gnoccheria' in Paddington. It has since expanded into Clayfield, Cleveland, Ipswich, Maroochydore, Morayfield, South Bank, Southport and Stafford in Queensland as well as the sole NSW outpost in Newtown. Roduner will again appear by audio-visual link from Queensland when his case is next before court on March 13. A Hamas leader's teenage son who narrated the BBC's Gaza documentary has warned the corporation he holds it responsible if 'anything happens' to him. Abdullah al-Yazouri, from Gaza, Palestine, contributed to the recent controversial documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. The film was pulled from iPlayer last month after the BBC acknowledged 'serious flaws' in how it was produced. Viewers were not told that Abdullah, the 14-year-old boy who narrated it, was the son of a senior Hamas minister. It also later emerged that around 790 was paid into a bank account belonging to Abdullah's sister. Their father, Ayman al-Yazouri, is the deputy agriculture minister in Gaza's Hamas-run government. The funds, which are equivalent to a month's salary in Gaza, were transferred by the production company Hoyo Films, who made the programme. A full audit of the money used to make the programme has been demanded by the BBC. In his first interview since the controversy, Abdullah told Middle East Eye: 'I did not agree to the risk of me being targeted in any shape before the documentary was broadcasted on BBC. So anything happens to me, the BBC is responsible for it.' A Hamas leader's teenage son who narrated the BBC's Gaza documentary has warned the corporation he holds it responsible if 'anything happens' to him Abdullah al-Yazouri, the 14-year-old who narrated the documentary, is the son of a senior Hamas leader Abdullah said: 'I was very impartial in this documentary.' He claimed that 'some anonymous people tried to hide the true suffering of Gaza's children' by attacking him online. He said he and his family have been targeted by 'cyber bullying, harassment and all kinds of things'. Speaking about the documentary being pulled, he said: 'Personally, I think it's pretty disappointing, to be honest. 'I've been working for over nine months on this documentary for it to just get wiped and deleted. 'I found about the decision to remove the documentary from the news. And no, I did not receive any apology from BBC. It was very sad to me. That the thing that I've worked on is received with hate.' The teenager went on to tell the BBC he is 'very disappointed' in their decision to take the documentary down. He said he hopes the move will be reconsidered and it will be put on screens again. Abudullah, the son of a senior Hamas official, is seen in the BBC's controversial documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone 'I thank all of those in the United Kingdom who had supported me, supported the documentary, and had protested for the documentary to be put back on BBC. 'I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and continue your efforts that hopefully can and will return the movie back up on BBC.' Metropolitan Police said: 'We're aware of a BBC documentary about Gaza and we have received a number of reports raising concerns. 'Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command are currently assessing whether any police action is required in relation to this matter.' It previously emerged that the BBC paid more than 400,000 of licence fee money to Hoyo to make the documentary. Whilst the broadcaster stressed the production company was independent, they accepted that 'the processes and execution of this programme fell short of our expectations'. The funds paid to Abdullah, which are equivalent to a month's salary in Gaza, were transferred by the production company Hoyo Films, who made the programme for the BBC. The broadcaster said: 'Hoyo Films have told us that they paid the boy's mother, via his sister's bank account, a limited sum of money for the narration.' The BBC published an apology about the now disgraced documentary. A woman pictured outside the BBC headquarters holding signs in protest of the documentary Protesters gathered outside the BBC offices in London during a demonstration against the broadcaster's Gaza documentary They admitted that 'serious flaws' had been identified ' in the making' of the programme. A BBC spokesperson added: 'During the production process, the independent production company was asked in writing a number of times by the BBC, about any potential connections he and his family might have with Hamas. 'Since transmission, they have acknowledged that they knew that the boy's father was a Deputy Agriculture Minister in the Hamas Government; they have also acknowledged that they never told the BBC this fact. 'It was then the BBC's own failing that we did not uncover that fact and the documentary was aired. 'Hoyo Films have told us that they paid the boy's mother, via his sister's bank account, a limited sum of money for the narration. 'While Hoyo Films have assured us that no payments were made to members of Hamas or its affiliates, either directly, in kind, or as a gift, the BBC is seeking additional assurance around the budget of the programme and will undertake a full audit of expenditure.' A spokesperson for Hoyo Films added: 'We are cooperating fully with the BBC and Peter Johnston to help understand where mistakes have been made. 'We feel this remains an important story to tell, and that our contributors - who have no say in the war - should have their voices heard.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'The BBC takes its duty of care responsibilities very seriously, particularly when working with children, and has frameworks in place to support these obligations.' A man has been jailed for having sex with his sister 21 times after alerting police to his crimes by calling and saying it was consensual. Lucas K., 20, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison on Wednesday for sleeping with his 33-year-old half-sister, who was given the pseudonym Marie S. by German newspaper Bild. The prosecutor also accused Lucas K. of raping his sister several times. Lucas K. grew up in foster care and was made homeless when he turned 18, so his half-sister took him in. He moved into her apartment in Dresden, in the German state of Saxony, in January 2023, where she lived with three dogs and several cats. The then-teenager first raped his sister shortly after he moved in, according to the prosecutors. Marie S. was also allegedly strangled and beaten by her half-brother, who later threatened her several times by saying he would harm her dogs. At one point, he allegedly threatened his sister with a knife and smashed things in her apartment. On July 26, 2024, Marie S. threatened to report her brother for rape. But Lucas K. took matters into his own hands and called the police, telling them he wanted to clear up the 'matter'. He was swiftly arrested. Lucas K., 20, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison on Wednesday for sleeping with his 33-year-old half-sister, who was given the pseudonym Marie S. by German media. Pictured above is Dresden District Court where the trial was held The 20-year-old did not comment on the allegations during his trial at Dresden District Court. The public prosecutor demanded that Lucas K. should be handed a five-year jail sentence for rape, but the judge said he had doubts that the sex between the siblings wasn't consensual. 'There were several witnesses who reported that the siblings acted like a couple. The family support service also had the same impression,' judge Andreas Ziegel said, according to Bild. They also slept in the same bed and Marie S. did not kick her brother out, despite the alleged repeated rapes, the newspaper reports. Lucas K. also reportedly bragged to his sister's boyfriend that he 'always had sex with her'. Him calling the police himself to defend the rape accusation was another reason why the court doubted the sister's statements. 'These pieces of evidence have made us doubt that the sister really had sex with the defendant against her will, the judge said. Lucas K. was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for incest and other offences, including property damage, causing bodily harm and resisting arrest. A man has been shot dead during a dramatic police chase on the Gold Coast. Officers were first alerted to the man, who was wanted by police, at Cavalry Court in the northern suburb of Labrador at 8.15am on Thursday. Queensland Police said the man pointed a firearm at officers before allegedly fleeing in a stolen car, which came to a stop on Brisbane Road in neighbouring Arundel about 9.30am. The man was then shot during a second confrontation with police. He was treated for life-threatening chest and abdominal injuries but could not be revived and died at the scene. An investigation into the attempted car-jacking has been launched. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for comment. A dilapidated Sydney terrace house has sold for nearly $3million after it lay vacant for 16 years following the death of the former owner. The Victorian terrace located in Paddington, an upscale suburb in Sydney's east, went for $700,000 over its reserve price at $2.8million. In her 36-year career, McGrath sales agent Georgia Cleary has sold countless Paddington homes - deceased estates among them - but told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday this house was 'different'. Prospective buyers were made to wear masks and boots as they inspected the Liverpool Street home, while unsafe areas were reinforced or cordoned off with tape. 'People walked out, they'd never seen anything like it in their lives,' she said. 'I certainly didn't love going there, the weather was getting in and there were rats.' While no one had lived in the two-storey, three-bedroom home since 2009, Ms Cleary said it was tightly packed with belongings and had clearly belonged to a hoarder. Asked what the property contained, Ms Cleary said she was not at liberty to say, but confirmed no bodies were discovered in the home. The Paddington home had laid empty for 16 before selling for nearly $3million (pictured) Prospective buyers were made to wear masks and boots when inspecting the home McGrath agent Georgia Cleary had been aware of the property for some time before it crossed her desk and said it felt 'quite sad' to be inside the property 'It was quite sad being there,' she said. 'It makes you think about the kind of life that must have been lived there.' The veteran agent said clearing out the property had been 'an absolute nightmare'. The new buyer, a builder, plans to restore the home while preserving its sought-after heritage features. Clay Brodie, principal at Ray White Woollahra, said the purchase price was a 'strong result' but not a surprising one. 'There are very few original terraces left in Paddington and for that reason when they pop up they are often swooped on by all the buyers looking for projects in the suburb and surrounds,' he said. 'When you look at some of the recent comparable sales such as 12 Rush Street, Woollahra, which we recently transacted for $2,450,000, it is not overly surprising.' Mr Brodie said his agency had been approached to sell the Liverpool Street property before the buyer decided to go in a different direction. Ms Cleary said getting the property into a workable condition was an 'absolute nightmare' Paddington is among Sydney's most sought after suburbs with a median house price of $3.35million (stock image) 'Original terraces like this are always interesting and enjoyable campaigns,' he said. He added the buyer would likely run up $1.5million to $2million in building costs. Christie Mortimer, a residential sales agent with Di Jones Woollahra, said Ms Cleary had achieved a 'really good price'. Ms Mortimer said unrenovated homes in the area posed 'unique opportunities' for buyers willing to spend on a restoration. In this case, Ms Mortimer estimated it would cost about $1million to get the property into market-ready condition. She added, however, the buyer could expect to see a return with similar properties going anywhere from $3.5million to above $4million. 'It's definitely a renovator's dream,' she said. The Trump administration will reopen a detention center for immigrant families which was shuttered by former president Joe Biden. The sprawling facility in South Texas was barred from housing families four years ago as Biden sought to end the detention of children. But amid Trump's immigration crackdown, CoreCivic, which ran the facility, revealed on Wednesday it had reached a new agreement with the United States government. The South Texas Family Residential Center will reopen in Dilley with the capacity to hold 2,400 people. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will allocate family units it discovers living in the United States illegally to the facility. Border crossings have reportedly plummeted by a staggering 90 percent since Trump's inauguration, now recording fewer than 300 illegal crossings per day, according to Border Patrol chief Mike Banks. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem celebrated the administration's successes on March 3, revealing: 'In February, there were just 8,326 apprehensions at the U.S. Mexico border. That is lowest number in recorded history.' But Trump is reportedly disappointed with the number of arrests and deportations and is putting pressure on officials to ramp it up. The Trump administration will reopen a detention center for immigrant families which was shuttered by former president Joe Biden The South Texas Family Residential Center will reopen in Dilley with the capacity to hold 2,400 people CoreCivic spokesman Steve Owen told the Washington Post: 'It's our understanding that this will be housing families again. It's a family residential center.' In late 2021, Biden determined the facility could no longer hold children as he sought alternatives to custodial detention for youths. But Trump issued an executive order when he returned to the White House which sought to reverse protections offered to migrant children. The order rolled back certain protections for migrants which forbade ICE officers from arresting them at specific locations - including schools, churches and hospitals. More than 600,000 immigrant children have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or legal guardian since 2019, according to government data. Immigration enforcement officers were last month directed to track down and deport migrant children who arrived in the United States without their parents. It comes amid heightened pressures to reach President Trump's lofty deportation targets as part of his election commitment to solve America's immigration crisis. According to an internal memo seen by Reuters, agents at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will now direct their focus to unaccompanied minors. Trump issued an executive order when he returned to the White House which sought to reverse protections offered to migrant children Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem celebrated the admistration's successes on March 3, revealing: 'In February, there were just 8,326 apprehensions at the U.S. Mexico border. That is lowest number in recorded history' ICE has ramped up immigration arrests across the nation with a directive from Trump to conduct mass deportations The memo cited a 'planning phase' to begin on January 27, followed by three more phases of implementation, to begin at an unspecified date. Authorities, as part of the instructions, are to ensure children are not victims of human trafficking or being exploited before deporting them. According to Trump's border czar Tom Homan, upwards of 300,000 undocumented children 'went missing' during the Biden administration. He said these children were at risk of trafficking and exploitation. The majority are from Central America and Mexico. Amid panic buying and empty supermarket shelves as people stock up before Cyclone Alfred arrives, a driver in Queensland has spilt a trailer load of bottled water. This led to a scurry of activity as passersby got out of their cars to gather up as much of the now precious commodity as they could. The driver didn't even stop to try to rescue some of the valuable cargo. The spilling of the hundreds of bottles happened at the Cleveland Roundabout in Redland Bay, 37km south-east of Brisbane's CBD at around 6pm on Wednesday. 'Some guy had a trailer load of water and went around the roundabout too quick and lost most of it over the ground,' one Aussie explained. 'He didn't even stop to pick it up thanks for the free waters.' One said the spill served the driver right for buying so much water in bulk in the first place, and called it 'greed karma'. But another added: 'Don't assume someone is being greedy. That would suck if it was for an emergency shelter.' Amid panic buying and empty supermarket shelves as people stock up before Cyclone Alfred arrives, a truck in Queensland has spilt a trailer load of bottled water (pictured) Supermarket shelves (pictured) have been stripped clean as people prepare to bunker down as the cyclone hits Empty shelves are seen in Coolangatta Woolworths on March 5, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia Others commented on how water has suddenly become a highly sought after resource amid the cyclone. Supermarket shelves have been stripped clean as people prepare to bunker down as the cyclone hits. The fruit and vegetable manager at Sam Coco Trading in Brisbane told Daily Mail Australia people are trying to get their hands on two items. 'They're taking water and toilet paper,' Troy said. 'Since Covid, they just do it and we prepare for it. Covid has made us used to panic buying. 'There's about to be plenty of water coming from the sky but they're still buying it.' Cyclone Alfred is predicted to hit southeast Queensland in the early hours of Saturday morning. The system has recorded winds up to 90km/h at its centre and gusts of 130km/h. It is forecast to bring daily rainfall totals between 200mm and 400mm from Thursday to Saturday, likely leading to 'life-threatening' flooding. The cyclone warning zone spans 650km from the Sunshine Coast's Double Island Point to Grafton in northern NSW. Australian Defence Force assistance has been activated with helicopters deployed to Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour. A man who needed 91 stitches after being mauled by a monster 300 pound shark while on holiday insists he hasn't been put off the ocean. Curtis Miller, 30, had been on a fishing trip in South Africa for just three days before the terrifying creature attacked him. Mr Miller, from Barry Island, described how he was taking the hook out of a ragged tooth shark when it latched onto his arm and sunk its teeth into his flesh. The father-of-two was rushed to hospital where he received 91 stitches and had to have three arteries tied. Mr Miller stayed in the hospital overnight before being discharged the following morning. In the moments after the attack Mr Miller told the South Wales Argus he didn't feel any pain but realised he was hurt when he saw blood pouring from his arm. Despite feeling scared at the time Mr Miller insists he will carry on fishing and believes what happened to him was just a 'freak accident'. 'People don't need to be put off by my accident. The trip is a lifetime opportunity, and I will most definitely return,' he said. Curtis Miller (pictured) had been on a fishing trip in South Africa for just three days before the terrifying creature attacked him Mr Miller, from Barry Island, described how he was taking the hook out of a ragged tooth shark when it latched onto his arm and sunk its teeth into his flesh. The father-of-two was rushed to hospital where he received 91 stitches and had to have three arteries tied Although Mr Miller felt calm after the ordeal his mother, Helen Miller, 60, said when she heard the news she had a 'breakdown' and was 'beside herself'. 'I didn't know whether he'd lost a leg or lost an arm when he phoned, all I could see was his face and he went "mum I've got something to tell you, I've been bitten by a shark." 'It's your worst nightmare,' she recalled. Ms Miller added how although her son was lucky not to lose his arm he was more concerned about missing the last days of the trip and his tattoo being damaged. Mr Miller's two young children, aged nine and three, were amazed to learn that their father had been bitten by a shark and had been talking about it 'nonstop'. Mr Miller arrived back in the UK yesterday and is due to receive further treatment. It comes after in February two American tourists were left injured after being mauled in a reported shark attack while swimming at a popular Bahamas resort. Mr Miller's mother said although her son was lucky not to lose his arm he was more concerned about missing the last days of the trip and his tattoo being damaged Pictured: Curtis Miller with friends on a fishing trip Both women were swimming off Bimini Bay on Friday evening when they were attacked, with one said to have suffered serious injuries. The two travelers had to be airlifted to the nearby island of New Providence to receive advanced medical care, according to local media. The Royal Bahamas Police Force in Bimini has since launched an investigation into the attack. 'Initial reports indicate that the victims, both U.S.A. residents, sustained injuries while swimming in the waters at Bimini Bay,' police reported in the immediate aftermath. 'One of the victim's injuries is listed as serious. Investigations are ongoing,' the report continued, without mention of the tourists' progress in recovery. Two Democrat mayors of the nation's largest cities could not answer when asked by Congressman Byron Donalds how much they'd spent on illegal migrants. A House Oversight Committee hearing was held Wednesday examining the impacts of sanctuary city policies. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu all sat before the lawmakers to testify about their cities. Donalds, a Congressman from Florida and rising star in the GOP, took all of them to task and asked how much they'd spent on the migrants. While Johnston and Adams answered the question with solid numbers, Johnson and Wu filibustered and refused to give a figure. Johnson, a Democrat with underwater approval ratings in his own city, said: 'If you're referring to the 2022 up to 2024 of the buses coming from Texas, roughly the same percentage of the state of Texas, roughly 1% of the budget.' Donalds demanded a more official figure but Johnson continued to say it was 1% of his budget each year. 'What is that? Because I don't have the city's budget in front of me. Numbers!' Two Democrat mayors of the nation's largest cities could not answer when asked by Congressman Byron Donalds how much they'd spent on illegal migrants Johnson, a Democrat with underwater approval ratings in his own city, would not give an exact number 'It's 1% and if you want the actual calculation we can-' Johnson said before Donald cut him off. 'That's why you're a failing mayor,' the Floridian gubernatorial hopeful responded. Chicago's budget from 2022 to 2024 was between $16.6 and $16.7 billion each year which would translate to about $166million a year. Boston Mayor Wu, adorned with ashes in the sign of the cross for Ash Wednesday and having spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to prepare, went even further to stall. 'We don't distinguish between immigration status in delivering city services,' she meekly stated. An indignant Donalds couldn't believe her response and attempted to repeat the question, only to get the same answer. He asked: 'Do you manage your budget or not, mayor?' Wu finally became agitated, responding: 'I manage my budget, I have a triple-A bond rating, dating back ten years.' Boston Mayor Wu, adorned with ashes in the sign of the cross for Ash Wednesday and having spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to prepare , went even further to stall Rep. Anna Paulina Luna holding up papers she said she would send to the DOJ recommending the prosecution of the Democratic mayors Donalds said that Wu 'does not care how much of your resources she has spent on people who are not citizens.' She tried to say that Boston was 'tired' of having people outside the city try to run it but Donalds moved on. It was a day that went from bad to worse for the far left Democrats, as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is recommending all four to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal prosecution. Fiery exchanges between the liberal city mayors and Republican lawmakers rattled off every 10 minutes as 60 members from both sides of the aisle waited to have their questions answered. During the session, Luna sought to draw connections between the Democratic mayors' immigration agendas and federal crimes, like harboring illegal immigrants. After questioning each of the Democrats, Luna claimed the mayors could be running afoul of the law. 'It's very clear that these policies ... that are active and alive and well in your cities, are in direct violation with Title 8, U.S. Code, 1324,' Luna claimed. 'You all speak about a broken immigration system, and yet here you guys are aiding and abetting in that entire process,' she told the mayors. New York City Mayor Eric Adams testifies during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing titled 'A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors' in Washington, DC on March 5, 2025 Then Luna told the Democrats she would be referring them to Attorney General Pam Bondi. 'I do not think you guys are bad people, but I think that you are ideologically misled, which is why, unfortunately, based on your responses, I'm all going to be criminally referring you to the Department of Justice for investigation, and as soon as I leave here, these will be going over to pay Bondi,' Luna stated, holding up what appear to be legal papers. 'I'm not doing that to an effort to bully you guys,' Luna continued. 'But I do believe that your policies are hurting the American people.' Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., also unloaded, aiming her fire at Mayor Wu. 'Do you believe that ice arresting a child rapist 'threatens everyone's safety?'' Mace asked the Boston mayor. Wu responded 'no.' 'Does ice arresting a murderous MS-13 game member threaten everyone's safety?' Mace asked. 'No,' Wu replied again. Then Mace held up a printed statement from the Democrat stating 'ICE's efforts actually threaten the safety of everyone' and called Wu a 'hypocrite.' Democrats, on the other hand, called the Republican's oversight of the mayors 'total bulls***.' 'My colleagues across the aisle are producing TV ads to try to pretend they're making this country safe,' Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., yelled during the hearing. 'It's total bulls***.' 'Absolute bulls***. They are not making America safer again,' she petitioned. 'And what they are doing is terrorizing immigrant families,' she said of Trump's immigration officials. Lori Vallow has broken her silence from prison to reveal the shocking 'evidence' she claims will exonerate both her and her husband. Vallow, 51, was sentenced to multiple life sentences with no chance of parole in July 2023 for murdering two of her children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, and conspiring to kill her husband Chad Daybell's former wife, Tammy Daybell. Daybell was sentenced to death for the 2019 murders of his first wife and Vallow's two children. Now, speaking from behind bars to Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison, Vallow says a vision from God saw her roaming free in the future. In the near-30 second clip, Morrison asks Vallow, who sits handcuffed before him in a bright orange jumpsuit, how she 'could possibly think' Chad would be exonerated after the pair's crimes. 'The same way I would be exonerated. We will both be exonerated in the future,' Vallow said. 'I have seen things in the future that Jesus showed me when I was in heaven. 'And we were not in jail and we were not in prison and they were still in the future, from now.' Idaho 'Doomsday' mom, Lori Vallow, has broken her silence from prison revealing shocking 'evidence' she claims will have she and her husband exonerated Vallow, 51, was convicted of killing her two youngest children - Joshua 'JJ', 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16 - as well as conspiring to murder her fifth husband's first wife, Tammy, in May 2023 During the interview, Morrison told the cold-blooded mother that she was 'the most hated mom in America.' To that, Vallow boldly responded that she would reveal what really happened to her family. 'You've got a lot of stuff, Keith, but what I tell you will be the truth,' Vallow vowed. Dateline's full interview is set to air on Friday night. Her explanation of the horrific events and discoveries made by police has, so far, been nothing short of derranged. Vallow once claimed she was a goddess ushering in an apocalypse and that her kids died so their bodies could be cleansed of evil spirits that had possessed them and turned them into 'zombies.' The Sugar City-native had also previously made her career writing self-published apocalyptic novels that expanded the fantasy world around her family's death. The strange behavior helped her to earn the eerie moniker: 'Doomsday mom'. Prosecutors believe that Daybell - who is an author of religious doomsday scenarios - and Vallow's life together revolved around a small cult. The group believed in preparing for the imminent end of the world and eliminating people whose spirits had turned 'dark.' Speaking for the first time since her conviction, the 'most hated mom in America' insists on her innocence in an upcoming episode of Dateline set to air on NBC on Friday. Pictured: Lori Vallow with her eldest children, Colby Ryan and Tylee Ryan Chad Daybell, 56, was sentenced to death after he was convicted of the murders of the Vallow's children and his wife of 31 years, Tammy Daybell In reality, though, jurors in Idaho ruled that the demented pair actually decided to murder their family so they could run off together. Vallow's two children were reported missing by JJ's out-of-state grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, nine months before their slain bodies were found in June 2020, buried on Daybell's Idaho property. Sixteen-year-old Tylee had been dismembered and burned, meanwhile, seven-year-old JJ, was wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape. It was revealed at the doomsday preparing mother's trial that her youngest son was asphyxiated - the process of being deprived of oxygen. However, her teen daughter's cause of death was undetermined due to the state of her remains. Daybell's wife, Tammy, 49, died at the home she shared with Daybell years earlier, in October 2019. Like JJ, Tammy's cause of death was also revealed to be asphyxiation, though it was initially ruled accidental. Yet, just weeks after his wife of over three decades died, Daybell married Vallow in Hawaii. In July 2023, Vallow was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of her two children and for conspiring to murder Daybell's then-wife. Vallow's two children were reported missing by JJ's out-of-state grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, nine months before their slain bodies were found in June 2020, buried on Daybell's Idaho property. Pictured: JJ Vallow (left) and Tylee Ryan (right) Tylee and JJ's bodies were found on Daybell's property in Fremont County (pictured), Idaho in June 2020 Tammy Daybell, 49, died at the home she shared with Daybell in October 2019. Her cause of death was also revealed to be asphyxiation, though it was initially ruled accidental She was also convicted of grand theft by deception in the case for collecting government payments after the murders of her children. The following year, Daybell was sentenced to death after he too was convicted of the murders of the two children and his first wife. Daybell was married to Tammy for 31 years and shares five children with her. The Dateline episode featuring Vallow and her prolific case is set to air on Friday, March 7 on NBC. The special episode will also feature interviews with Vallow's third child, Colby Ryan, 28, former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Doug Hart, Madison County Sheriff Ron Ball and Rexburg police Detective Ray Hermosillo, according to People. Donald Trump could make a drastic move to reshape American classrooms within the next 24 hours by shuttering the Department of Education. The president is expected to sign an executive order as soon as Thursday which would bring about abolishing the federal agency, the Wall Street Journal reports. Education Secretary Linda McMahon will be tasked with taking 'all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department,' the publication reported, citing a draft of the order. This will be done to 'the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.' According to the publication, the draft order reads: 'The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars - and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support - has failed our children, our teachers, and our families.' McMahon on Monday was confirmed to lead the doomed 4,200-person federal agency. She sent a company-wide email to staff on Monday in which she lauded her mission to dismantle the agency, describing it as a 'momentous final mission.' She said she had been 'tasked... with accomplishing the elimination of the bureaucratic bloat here at the Education Department - a momentous final mission - quickly and responsibly.' Donald Trump could shutter the Department of Education within 24 hours McMahon (pictured ahead of Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress) will reportedly be helming the dismantling of her agency Citing a draft of the order, the publication reported that Education Secretary Linda McMahon will be tasked with taking 'all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department' 'I want Linda to put herself out of a job,' Trump said of McMahon in February. Established by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, the department provides essential funding to children with disability and low-income students around the country. National Education Association President Becky Pringle said last month that cutting the department would steal resources for our most vulnerable students, explode class sizes, cut job training programs, make higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle class families, take away special education services for students with disabilities, and gut student civil rights protections. The Department of Education has been low hanging fruit for Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. Already DOGE has celebrated cutting billions of dollars from the agency, over half a billion of which came from canceling DEI grants. And last month, Trump said the Education Department was 'a big con job' and that 'I'd like to close it immediately.' During her confirmation hearing in February, McMahon lauded the work of the Musk-led group. 'So DOGE, there are a couple of implants at the Department of Education as there are with agencies throughout the district,' McMahon said. 'They're doing an audit.' During the session she claimed the department was guilty of 'excessive consolidation of power,' and called for 'education freedom, not government-run systems.' The Department of Education has been low hanging fruit for Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative McMahon (pictured with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr) vowed to lead the Education Department's 'momentous final mission' 'I want Linda to put herself out of a job ,' Trump said of McMahon in February McMahon was recently pictured alongside Marco Rubio and President Trump during a cabinet meeting at the White House 'Listen to parents, not politicians,' she said. 'Build up careers, not college debt.' Trump vowed during his election campaign to end what he called 'wokeness' and 'indoctrination' at the agency. Education Department spokeswoman Madi Biedermann said earlier this week that McMahon was very clear in her intention to bring Trump's vision to life. 'He was very clear about what his vision for the department looked like, and Secretary McMahon was clear in the hearing that she is here to implement his agenda,' she said. Trump advisers were reportedly considering executive actions to effectively dismantle the Education Department without falling foul of the law as soon as he returned to the White House. They had reportedly discussed an executive order which would 'shut down all functions of the agency that arent written explicitly into statute or move certain functions to other departments.' That suggests officials concluded Trump could not get rid of the agency outright without buy-in from Congress, where Republicans hold narrow majorities in both houses. The order could call for developing a legislative proposal to abolish the department. Three Kansas City Chiefs fans found frozen in their friend's backyard died of fentanyl and cocaine toxicity, police confirmed Wednesday - as one victim's heartbroken mother broke her silence. David Harrington, 37, was found dead in the backyard of his friend - scientist Jordan Willis - alongside pals Clayton McGeeney, 36, and Ricky Johnson, 38, on January 9, 2024. The three fans had gone to Willis' house to watch the final Kansas City Chiefs game of the regular season - and weren't discovered until two days later. The circumstances surrounding their deaths left friends and family searching for answers over more than a year as Willis denied any responsibility. Willis, an HIV researcher, claimed he did not see text messages on his phone or hear his friends' relatives banging at the door because he had headphones on. But authorities have now announced Willis, 39, and another man, Ivory J. Carson, 42, have been charged in connection with the three deaths. A toxicology report ultimately determined that the three men had cocaine, THC and fentanyl in their systems and on Wednesday night, police declared that they died of 'fentanyl and cocaine toxicity'. Willis and Carson are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance except 25 grams or less or marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid and could spend 10 years behind bars if they were to be sentenced. Harrington's mother Theresa has been demanding answers from the Kansas City Police Department ever since her son's lifeless body was discovered - and was shocked to learn of the arrests as she thought the investigation had long been over. Theresa told DailyMail.com she was 'surprised' at the development, adding: 'I was thinking the investigation had ended.' The bodies of David Harrington, 36 (second from left), Ricky Johnson, 38 (far right), and Clayton McGeeney, 37 (second from right) were found in the backyard of their friend Jordan Willis's home in Kansas City on January 9 Jordan Willis, 39, and Ivory J. Carson, 42, have been arrested in connection to the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans last year Theresa Harrington (pictured with her husband Jon) told DailyMail.com she was 'surprised' by Wednesday's announcement as she thought the investigation had long been over 'They wouldn't tell me anything,' she said of the Kansas City police. 'The police always said they weren't investigating it as a homicide.' Theresa said the police statements made it 'easy to think they had already made up their mind and there wouldn't be any further investigation.' 'You know, this won't go to trial for a year-and-a-half,' she lamented. Despite finally getting some form of justice they have long yearned for, Theresa says the arrests still don't fill all the gaps. '[I] still don't know anything about how my son died or his last moments,' she explained. Theresa had previously claimed that her son must have been plied with the drugs that took his life as she pressed for an investigation. Speaking to News Nation's Chris Cuomo last year, Theresa and her husband Jon insisted 'somebody gave them something that would kill them.' 'What matters is that he didn't take that to die... It just means that there's more to the story, there's more to it than just that,' she said at the time. 'He didn't take that to die. if he took the drugs on his own, he took them to get high.' Willis had said he went to bed in the early morning hours of January 8 and did not know his friends were still in the backyard. The HIV researcher claimed he did not see any of the numerous messages from his friends' loved ones until police showed up at his house the next day because he was sleeping with headphones on. The couple had previously argued that their son must have been plied with the drugs Despite the news on Wednesday, Theresa said she still has more questions, noting that she still does not know 'anything about how my son died or his last moments' Jon previously told DailyMail.com that he did not believe Willis' claims that he was not able to hear the relatives banging on his door. 'I'm not buying all that c**p about the headphones,' he said. 'There were four in the house just before 2am. Three are dead, he isn't. And to me, that's suspicious,' he said. Meanwhile, Rick Johnson, the father of Ricky Johnson, told Fox 4 KC that he is 'happy with the Platte County Prosecutor's Office and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department for filing charges. 'It's been a long time,' he noted as he vowed, 'I'll be at every court date.' Prosecutors claim Carson - who went by the nickname 'Blade Brown' - supplied and sold cocaine to Willis and the victims, noting that his DNA was later found on a bag of fentanyl inside Willis' home. Rick Johnson, the father of Ricky Johnson, told Fox 4 KC that he is 'happy with the Platte County Prosecutor's Office and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department for filing charges Officers also spoke to a witness who told investigators he had been at Harrington's home earlier in the night, and saw a 'plate of cocaine allegedly supplied by Willis that everyone was using,' Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said at a news conference on Wednesday. Another witness reportedly told police he was with Willis, McGeeney, Harrington and Johnson at Willis' home following the Chiefs game 'where they drank, smoked marijuana and used cocaine.' That witness said Harrington, McGeeney and Jonson were still alive as of 1.30am, while Willis had gone to bed, according to KSN. But for nearly two days afterward, friends and family members said they did not hear from Harrington, Johnson and McGeeney as they repeatedly messaged Willis on social media begging for answers. By January 9, McGeeney's fiancee decided to break into Willis' basement when the scientist did not answer the front door. She called police when she noticed Harrington's body on Willis' back porch. Officers then found the other two corpses. Friends and family members had suspected Willis (pictured) was more involved in the trio's death than he had let on The bodies were found in Willis' backyard after McGeeney's fiancee decided to break into Willis' basement Jonathan Price, Johnson's brother, later said the case did not add up. He said that he heard the owner of the home had animals that would need to go outside, and claimed the city didn't get enough snow to submerge the men for them to be hidden for days. 'There's many different things that don't add up, we just don't understand how somebody would at least be investigated in any way,' Price said. Amid the suspicion, Willis moved out of his Kansas City home and enrolled in a rehabilitation program - which only led to further speculation that he may have been hiding something. 'We're meant to think that poor guy lost his friends,' Clayton's uncle Jim previously told DailyMail.com. 'Well that poor guy should be fighting tooth and nail to find some answers rather than moving out of his house two days after the bodies were found. 'It's just a cover up to make people feel bad for him and get people off his case,' he claimed. Court documents now say Willis told police the men had been drinking and smoking marijuana at his house, and at one point he thought they may have obtained some fentanyl as well. Clayton's uncle Jim McGeeney told DailyMail.com he found it suspicious that Willis moved out of his house following the discovery of the bodies Police then found text messages on Harrington's phone between the suspects, McGeeney, Johnson and others that they said proved that Carson supplied them with cocaine. Those messages also allegedly confirmed one witness's account that when the group was low on cash, McGeeney, Harrington and Johnson would supply them with cocaine, according to court documents obtained by the Kansas City Star. Carson ultimately admitted to selling cocaine by the gram to the trio in police interviews in July 2024 and just last month, court documents say. 'This case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of street drugs,' Zahnd said at the news conference. 'But make no mistake, the people that supply those drugs can and will be held accountable when people overdose.' Carson is now being held in jail on a $100,000 cash bond, while police say Willis will surrender himself to authorities and post his $100,000 cash bond, according to KSN. Willis' Kansas City-based lawyer John Picerno stressed his client was innocent Wednesday night. 'Jordan maintains that he is not responsible for purchasing or supplying the drugs that led to led to the deaths of his three friends,' Picerno said. DailyMail.com has reached out to Willis' attorney and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department for additional information. It is unclear whether Carson has retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf. This is the shocking moment a fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during a joint exercise between the US and South Korean Air Forces on Thursday, injuring eight. The accidental bombing occurred in Pocheon, a city close to the border with North Korea. The 500-pound MK-82 bombs 'abnormally' released by the KF-16 fighter jet fell outside a firing range, causing unspecified civilian damages, which included houses and a church, the South Korean air force said in a statement. 'We are sorry for the damage caused by the abnormal drop accident, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery,' they added. The air force said it will establish a committee to investigate why the accident happened and examine the scale of civilian damages. It said the fighter jet was taking part in the air forces joint live-firing drills with the army. The air force apologized for causing civilian damages and expressed hopes for a speedy recovery of the injured people. It said it will actively offer compensation and other necessary steps for victims. The United States is yet to comment on the accidental bombing. Yonhap news agency reported five civilians and two soldiers were injured. Yonhap said the conditions of two of the injured were serious but not life-threatening. It also said seven buildings were damaged. This is the shocking moment a fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area Eight people were reportedly injured during the exercise The 500-pound MK-82 bombs 'abnormally' released by the KF-16 fighter jet fell outside a firing range Eight people were injured when a South Korean fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during a joint exercise with the US Air Force Thursday South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jets are seen on the runway in Gunsan The MK-82 bombs 'abnormally' released by the KF-16 fighter jet fell outside a firing range, causing unspecified civilian damages, which included houses and a church, the air force said in a statement Residents in the area have protested about the disturbance and potential danger from nearby training grounds for years. Photographs shared by news agency News1 that it said were from the scene showed a badly damaged house with rubble strewn on the ground next to it. The defense ministry said earlier on Thursday that South Korea and U.S. forces were holding their first joint live-fire exercises in Pocheon, linked to annual military drills due to start next week. South Korea and the United States will kick off their annual Freedom Shield exercise on Monday, said Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The joint drills, which will run until March 20, aim to strengthen the readiness of the alliance for threats such as North Korea, the JCS said. This year's drills will reflect 'lessons learned from recent armed conflicts' and North Korea's growing partnership with Russia, it added. 'Our planners look across the globe and identify the trends that are changing and we look at how we can incorporate that into our exercises,' Ryan Donald, a spokesperson for the United States Forces Korea (USFK), told a media briefing on Thursday. North Korea views major South Korean-U.S. military training as an invasion rehearsal and often responds with missile tests and fiery rhetoric. The air force said it will establish a committee to investigate why the accident happened and examine the scale of civilian damages. It said the fighter jet was taking part in the air forces joint live-firing drills with the army The air force statement didnt say where the accident happened. But South Korean media reported it occurred in Pocheon, a city close to the border with North Korea South Korean army soldiers and police officers stand guard near a bomb accident site in Pocheon The hermit kingdom hasn't responded to the announcement, but earlier this week, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accused the U.S. of intensifying confrontational actions and threatened to ramp up measures 'threatening the security of the enemy at the strategic level.' She cited the recent temporary deployments of U.S. strategic assets like an aircraft carrier and long-range bombers in South Korea and other U.S.-involved military activities. Observers say North Korea could test-fire powerful nuclear-capable missiles designed to strike the U.S. mainland and American military bases in the region. Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, President Donald Trump has said he would reach out to Kim Jong Un again to revive diplomacy. North Korea hasnt directly responded to Trump's outreach as it argues U.S. hostilities against it has deepened since Trumps inauguration. Kim Jong Un and Trump met three times in 2018-19 to discuss how much economic and political benefits North Korea would receive in return for its nuclear disarmament. But their diplomacy eventually fell apart after Trump rejected Kims offer to dismantle his main nuclear complex, a limited denuclearization step, in exchange of extensive sanctions relief. About 70 combined field training sessions are scheduled for this year's exercise, said Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for Seoul's JCS. A British national accused of importing and trafficking more than a kilogram of MDMA into Bali faces a possible death sentence. Thomas Parker, 32, was arrested outside an Airbnb in January, which remained unreported until authorities held a press conference in Denpasar on Thursday. Officers from Bali's National Narcotic Agency 'paraded' Parker in front of cameras and revealed the details of his arrest outside the 7 Seas Villas in North Kuta on January 21. Police allegedly seized 1.055kg of MDMA at the scene, which had allegedly arrived in Bali in a mail package. It's alleged that officers had noticed Parker 'acting suspiciously' while collecting a package from a motorcycle taxi driver. Police approached Parker, who allegedly discarded the package in panic and fled the scene. He was traced back to the holiday villas, where he was arrested. Police showed the discarded package to Parker, who allegedly admitted it was the package he had received earlier. Thomas Parker is accused of accused of importing and trafficking more than a kilogram of MDMA into Bali Thomas Parker (pictured behind) will be charged with supply, trafficking, and possession illicit drugs, local police said on Thursday Police alleged they found a light-brown powder inside later identified as MDMA. Officers also allegedly seized a mobile phone. Police took Parker to the narcotics office for processing back in January and has been remanded in custody since. He will now be charged with the importation, trafficking, and possession of drugs. If found guilty of the alleged offences, Parker could be sentenced to death under Indonesian law, as his charges comprise of multiple drug offences. Dressed in an orange prison outfit, a handcuffed Parker was seen fidgeting, head bowed and also looking at ceiling as he was hauled in front of the awaiting media at Thursday's press conference. He remains in custody. An FCDO Spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are supporting a British man detained in Bali and are in contact with the local authorities.' Do you know more? Email jonica.bray@mailonline.com A woman who gave birth mid-flight has been blasted by her own family for boarding the plane knowing she was already in labour. Maori woman, Anneke Topia, 35, was on a short Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to New Plymouth to attend a popular festival when she gave birth within an hour of take-off. But according to Ms Topia's aunt, the mother-of-five from Christchurch had been in labour for 12 hours prior to the flight, - a claim that she hid from airline staff while potentially putting her unborn baby at risk. The relative claimed that Ms Topia was on her way to the Maori Haka festival Te Matatini where she planned to give birth and bragged about the ordeal hours later. She told the New Zealand Herald that her niece posted Facebook after giving birth that she actually went into labour about 3am last Wednesday. An Air New Zealand spokesperson confirmed a passenger remained on board to receive medical attention flight landed in New Plymouth last Wednesday afternoon. Emergency services also confirmed they responded to the medical callout. 'One ambulance attended and two patients were transported to Taranaki Base Hospital in a moderate condition,' a St John spokesperson said. Maori woman Anneke Topia, 35, was on a short Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to New Plymouth heading when she gave birth mid-air A relative claimed the mother-of-five was on her way to the Maori Haka festival Te Matatini, where she planned to give birth Ms Topia posted photos to her Instagram at the festival hours later. Her aunt claimed she did not know why Ms Topia wanted to give birth at the festival that attracts crowds of 15,000 but claimed her niece did it to 'get attention'. 'Why would you put your child's health at risk, the birth of your baby at risk, by doing that stunt? I just don't know,' she said. Ms Topia confirmed she and the baby were 'well and healthy' but declined to comment further. 'I don't need a say, I was there,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. But in reply to comments on news articles about not being honest with the airline about being in labour she wrote 'I wasn't telling them that though.' Social media users were quick to condemn Ms Topia's actions. Many were baffled as to how she managed to conceal it. Anneke Topia told Daily Mail Australia that both she and the baby were 'well and healthy' The Aunt thinks the plan to give birth at the festival was for attention 'Stupid and irresponsible putting the child's life at risk,' one wrote. 'I didn't think you were allowed to fly after so many weeks gestation?' questioned another.' When and how long you can fly while pregnant depends on how far along you are. The Air New Zealand website states that 'for a single baby with an uncomplicated pregnancy and clearance, you can board flights under four hours, up to the end of the 40th week.' Most pregnancies last 40 weeks. Michael and Lynley Le Grand will remain behind bars for now An Australian couple and an estranged AFL WAG will remain behind bars under Indonesia's pornography and prostitution laws following separate brothel stings in Bail. Melbourne couple Michael, 50, and Lynley Le Grand, 44, were arrested following a raid on their Pink Palace Spa in Kuta in October last year. Police seized evidence including lingerie, condoms and massage oil at the time, and claimed the brothel was offering 'same-sex prostitution and bisexual practices'. Sarinitha Olarenshaw, 36, the glamorous estranged wife of former AFL star Ricky Olarenshaw, was also arrested that same month after police raided her Flame Spa in Seminyak. On Thursday, a panel of judges at Denpasar District Court found the Le Grands 'legally and convincingly proven guilty of providing pornography services'. Their seven month sentences were slighter lighter than the nine months recommended by the prosecutor. The judges considered several aggravating and mitigating factors in the Le Grands' case. The time the couple have already served behind bars was subtracted from their sentences and are expected to be freed in May. Melbourne couple Michael and Lynley Le Grande have been sentenced for running an illegal brothel The couple were charged following raids on their day spa, Pink Palace Spa Bali last October Aggravating factors included the disturbance caused in the community by the brothel's practices. The judges also considered the couple's admission of the crime and remorse along with their lack of prior convictions and promises not to re-offend. The court also heard the pair care for their four children and that Mr Le Grand suffers from pancreatitis. The Le Grands have accepted their sentences and won't appeal. The couple first caught the attention of Bali authorities after they opened the Pink Palace Spa in 2024. The spa offered a 'sensual body slide and hand relief' for $100, with the couple advertising the spa on hired mobile billboards, which triggered the police raid. One sign featured the slogan 'Happy coq, happy life'. A police spokesman previously claimed the day spa was making between $95,000 and $285,000AUD per year. Michael Le Grande was arrested following raids on a spa he operated in October 2024 Judges appreciated the Le Grands' cooperation during the trial which they took into account when determining their sentence A police spokesman previously claimed the day spa was making between $95,000 and $285,000AUD per year. One commissioner alleged the business offered 'massage services with various sensations' for $95 to $236AUD. Ms Le Grande made the holiday island her home after Le Grande she was injured in the Bali Bombings of 2002. Meanwhile, Saranitha Olarenshaw also fronted the Denpasar District Court on Thursday. The panel of judges considered Olanrenshaw's acts were 'disturbing and tarnished the image of Bali tourism'. 'The defendant has been legally and convincingly proven guilty for providing pornography services,' said presiding judge Heriyanti said. However, the judges took into account her clean criminal record and admission of the crime as mitigating factors. The sentence means Olarenshaw also will be released from jail in May. She broke down in tears as she was escorted from court. 'I just want to see my kids,' she told reporters. Five staff were also sentenced to seven months' jail time on the same charges. Prosecutors had pursued a nine month sentence against Olarenshaw and her staff. AFL star Ricky Olarenshaw's estranged wife Saranitha also received a sentence of seven months behind bars in relation to a different Bali brothel Saranitha Olarenshaw has an Instagram following of 23,000 people and is estranged from her former AFL star husband Ricky Olarenshaw, who had 23,000 followers on Instagram, previously claimed she was illegally detained after being arrested over allegations sex was being offered at her Flame Seminyak spa. Olarenshaw previously alleged that her husband Ricky, his brother, and two other Australian men were the owners of the business. Her estranged husband has denied that claim. The spa is part of a chain of three Flame spas. The sister centres in Kuta and Canggu also closed by police in the wake of last year's raid. Services at Flame Spa ranged from $95 to $181 per session and its motto allegedly was: 'Our service is more than just a sensual massage, it is an erotic experience. 'Our aim is to ignite your flame.' Its Instagram profile allegedly advertised 'Bali's premier sensual massage'. A manhunt has been launched for a brazen thief who made off with Channel Seven equipment during a early morning television live-cross. Hayden Nelson was live on air reporting for breakfast program Sunrise when a man casually walked past and stole one of his camera crew's lights in Adelaide's Rundle Mall about 5am on Monday. Nelson was reporting on rising crime in the area when his crew was approached by the man who greeted them before taking off with their gear. However, nobody noticed until Nelson was off the air. 'After the cross, he's gone to check on the light the stand was still there but the light itself has vanished,' he told Seven News. 'So we were both scratching our heads about how a light can go missing.' The light was one of three being used to illuminate Nelson and was not in direct eyesight of the crew, so the thief was easily able to steal it. South Australian Police on Thursday released a photo of a man who may be able to assist with their investigations. Hayden Nelson was reporting live from Rundle Mall in Adelaide when a man stole one of his lights Nelson's crew did not notice the man at the time and only discovered the light had been stolen after their shoot was done Nelson noticed a man walking past but didn't pay much attention to him. 'When you're about to go live, you've got an earpiece in with your director talking to you, and the sound of the presenters, you've got lights blaring at you,' he said. The reporter described the incident as a senseless robbery as it would be 'impossible' for the thief to use the light on their own. To operate it they would need a broadcast-quality battery that you can only get in the television industry and also requires a unique charger, Nelson explained. The man who may be able to assist police with their inquiries was wearing an orange beanie, dark green shirt and dark-coloured shorts. Police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. European Union leaders are planning on holding emergency talks on Thursday to figure out how to quickly increase their military budgets after Donald Trump's administration signalled that Europe must take care of its own security and also suspended assistance to Ukraine. In just over a month, President Donald Trump has overturned old certainties about U.S. reliability as a security partner, as he embraces Russia and withdraws American support for Ukraine. On Monday, Trump ordered a pause to US military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia, bringing fresh urgency to the EU summit in Brussels. 'Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime. Some of our fundamental assumptions are being undermined to their very core,' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned in a letter to the EU's 27 leaders, who on Tuesday unveiled an 800bn (669bn) plan to rearm Europe. But perhaps the biggest challenge for the EU on Thursday will be to take a united stance at a moment when it's fractured, since much of what the bloc does requires unanimous support. But individual states like France are beginning to step up. Last night, French president Emmanuel Macron gravely said he is open to discussing how to extend the protection offered by nuclear missiles to his nation's European allies. A handout photo made available by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine shows rescuers working at the site where a Russian rocket hit a five-storey hotel in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, 05 March 2025 Rescuers carry a wounded person at the site of a hotel building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 6, 2025 Firefighters work at the site of houses destroyed by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Slatyne, Kharkiv region, Ukraine March 6, 2025 Last night, French president Emmanuel Macron (pictured) gravely said he is open to discussing how to extend the protection offered by nuclear missiles to European allies He said in an address to the nation: 'Our nuclear deterrent protects us: it's complete, sovereign, French through and through. 'But, responding to the historic call of the future German Chancellor, I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our (nuclear) deterrence.' Whatever happens, the EU leaders' meeting is not expected to address Ukraine's most pressing needs. It is not aimed at urgently drumming up more arms and ammunition to fill any supply vacuum created by the US freeze. Nor will it unblock the estimated 183 billion euros ($196 billion) in frozen Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house, a pot of ready cash that could be seized. Ukraine's armed forces, meanwhile, are still battling to slow Russia's advances along the 600-mile front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region. Tens of thousands of soldiers and more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed. The focus of Thursday's summit will be finances, and how to set the EU up as quickly as possible to provide for its own security, and help Ukraine, while breaking with decades of dependence on the US defence umbrella. 'In view of the increasing threat situation, it is clear to us that Europe must now very quickly make very big efforts, very quickly, to strengthen the defence capability of our country and the European continent,' Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said on Tuesday. The prospective partners in Germany's next government are seeking to loosen the nation's rules on running up debt to allow for higher defence spending. City workers clean the rubble of a building destroyed after a drone attack in Odesa on March 5, 2025 Macron addresses the nation in Paris on Wednesday. He called for Europe to unite against Russia Talks soured between the US president and Zelensky (pictured) soured on Friday after the two leaders locked horns in dramatic scenes in the Oval Office NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte who fears that Russia's armed forces might be capable of launching an attack on another European country by the end of the decade has warned that US allies will have to spend more than 3% of gross domestic product on their military budgets. The Trump administration is demanding that the Europeans spend as much as 5%, well beyond the NATO benchmark of at least 2%. Seven European allies still fall short of even that target. The US spends around 3.4%, according to NATO figures, and a Pentagon audit that could reduce that is pending. Von der Leyen has proposed that the EU's executive branch, the European Commission, raise up to 150 billion euros ($161 billion) on financial markets that would be loaned to member countries buy new military equipment for themselves, or to send to Ukraine. The commission would also aim to free up funds from other sectors of the bloc's massive long-term budget and to relax its stringent debt rules so that each country could invest up to 1.5% more of their GDP on defence, should they want to. The leaders will also discuss whether to place more arms contracts with Ukraine's defence industry, and to help integrate it into the European industrial network. Production costs in Ukraine are much lower, providing a relatively fast way to supply more arms and ammunition. It's an approach that Zelensky has praised. 'Last year alone, thanks to Ukrainian and partner efforts, we produced over 1.5 million drones of various types. Ukraine is now the world leader in drone warfare. This is our success. But it's also your success,' he said earlier this month at the Munich Security Conference. Possible EU support for a future force to police any peace agreement in Ukraine will also be weighed. Britain and France are leading that effort, which could involve several other European countries. The summit comes as the EU is arguably at its weakest point, fragmented by the steady rise of a hard right that is often pro-Russian. Hungary and Slovakia have routinely undermined support for Ukraine. Hungary is threatening to veto a joint statement drafted for Thursday's summit but would not be able to block any major security or financing decisions. Meanwhile, many larger countries face uncertainties at home. Germany will soon have a new chancellor, but France's latest government is fragile, and Spain relies on small parties to keep its coalition intact. Poland offers strong leadership under Prime Minister Donald Tusk, however a presidential election looms and a right-wing candidate is well placed. The Dutch cabinet dominated by hard-right leader Geert Wilders is shaky. Internet trolls have accused Meghan Markle of being 'incredibly rude' to her own close friend Mindy Kaling on her new Netflix show. Social media users accused the Duchess of Sussex of pretending not to understand what comedian Ms Kaling was saying after she pronounced the word look as lewk. But her fans have dismissed the claims, saying that Mindy was using slang and both women were just having fun. 'Meghan was teasing her saying I'm not as cool as you are I don't know that term. I watched the episode just for this part', one Meghan, With Love viewer said. Another wrote: 'It's a dialect thing. I try not to but I say lewk. I just laughed with them'. A third said: 'Lewk is slang and Mindy uses it often'. MailOnline has asked a spokesman for the Sussexes to comment. The row reported for the first time in India yesterday centres on an exchange between Ms Markle and her very close friend Ms Kaling where they chatted in a kitchen together on With Love, Meghan on Netflix. It came after an awkward moment where Meghan said her surname is Sussex, not Markle. The moment Meghan Markle was accused of being rude to her friend Mindy, which her fans say is trolling The Duchess of Sussex double took when Mindy Kaling said 'lewk' instead of 'look' Mindy asked if she had said it wrong, to which Meghan replied that her friend is far cooler than her In the segment, a compliment from Ms Kaling triggered a comical reaction from the Duchess of Sussex, 43, who appeared to take a few seconds to realise what was being said. By the way Meghan, I want to ask about your look, said Mindy. My who? Ms Markle replied, forcing Ms Kaling to repeat the word look. Your lewk. Your look, Meghan!" Kaling said laughing. Did I not say it right? Meghan replied with a smile: I dont know. Mindy, youre way cooler than I am. I dont know what you were talking [about]. My lewk. She likes my lewk. Oh my gosh'. But some trolls said it was 'mean girl behaviour' by Meghan. One X user wrote: Watching Meghan literally humiliate Mindy over that small mispronunciation and go on about it instead of laughing & shrugging it off was really triggering for me'. And another said: Humiliating her so-called friend. Definite mean girl behaviour'. Another X user wrote: Yes, I noticed the same thing... I can't believe they actually aired that'. Ms Kaling was born to a Tamil father and Bengali mother. Her family immigrated to the USA the year she was born, and she grew up speaking English at home. I was raised speaking English only because my parents spoke two different Indian languages, so the only language we all had in common was English, Ms Kaling said in 2018. She had to learn Hindi for her role in Ocean's 8. Mindy Kaling was pictured for the first time since going viral for an awkward moment on Meghan Markle's new Netflix show. The Office star, 45, was seen out and about in New York City on Wednesday, in three glamorous outfits. The actress attended the premiere of her Netflix series, Running Point, alongside Kate Hudson, 45. Mindy is one of the show's creators and executive producers, while Hudson is the main star. Mindy Kaling, 45, was pictured for the first time since going viral for an awkward moment on Meghan Markle's new Netflix show It was Mindy's first public outing after a clip of her from Meghan's cookery show, With Love, Meghan, went viral. In the video, Meghan insisted her surname is Sussex as she corrected Mindy, who had referred to her as 'Meghan Markle.' In episode two of the show, the former royal, 43, was joined by Mindy as she showed her fellow mother how to host a children's party. As Meghan carefully demonstrated how to assemble a cucumber sandwich, the pair spoke about their favorite fast food growing up. The Duchess of Sussex called herself a 'latchkey kid' who 'grew up with a lot of fast food and TV tray dinners', listing off US chains Pollo Loco, Taco Bell and Jack In The Box. Mindy was joined by actress Kate Hudson, 45 But Mindy seemed to get under Meghan's skin with her response, as she said: 'I don't think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack In The Box and loves it.' Trying to hide her frown with a smile, she replied: 'It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now.' As Mindy looked confused, Meghan, who has only visited Sussex once, continued: 'You have kids and you go "No, I share my name with my children". 'I didn't know how meaningful it would be to me but it just means so much to go "This is OUR family name. Our little family name". After being corrected, Mindy awkwardly responded: 'Well, now I know and I love it.' A Russian missile demolished a hotel hosting British and American aid workers in Volodymyr Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rih late last night. At least four people were killed and 31 injured as the Iskander ballistic projectile erupted in a large, orange fireball at the moment of impact. A flurry of other shocking clips showed how emergency responders were pulling limp bodies from the rubble as the roof and facade of Kryvyi Rih's 'Central Hotel' completely caved in. Smoke billowed from the top of the hotel and nearly all its windows appeared to have been blown out as fire engines and ambulances descended on the scene. Emergency crews deployed a crane to reach the upper floors of the five-storey building, entering through the gaping hole left by Moscow's missile. Rescuers are still searching this morning for anyone trapped in the debris, officials said. A group of humanitarian organisation volunteers from Ukraine, the US and Britain had checked into the hotel just before the strike but survived after taking shelter quickly, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a nightly address. 'Unfortunately, four people were killed in the attack,' he wrote on Telegram. 'We must not pause in putting pressure on Russia to stop this war and terror against life.' The strike came hours after the US suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine as Donald Trump seeks to force Zelensky into signing an exploitative minerals deal with Washington and enter peace talks with Russia. Without US intelligence, Ukraine's capacity to track and shoot down Russian missiles and drones is likely to be significantly diminished, not to mention its ability to deploy Western missiles on key targets. A fire truck is parked outside a destroyed building following a Russian missile strike A fire burns in a destroyed building following a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine March 5, 2025 Rescuers carry a wounded person at the site of a hotel building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih British and US citizens narrowly escaped injury in the strike, which came the same day American officials announced they were pausing intelligence sharing with Ukraine Kryvyi Rih, which sits some 70 kilometres (43 miles) northwest of the current frontline in southern Ukraine, has been a frequent target of drones and missiles since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Fourteen of the 31 injured in the strike on the Central Hotel last night were in a serious condition, according to a statement by Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk region where Kryvyi Rih is located. Rescuers could be heard shouting and calling out in an attempt to raise a response from people buried beneath the debris in dramatic footage shared to the Telegram messaging app. In addition to the hotel, 14 apartment buildings, a post office and 12 shops were also damaged, the governor said. The latest attack on Dnipropetrovsk region, which Russian forces are clawing their way towards, was part of an overnight barrage of drones and missiles launched by Vladimir Putin's forces. Ukraine's military said two Iskander ballistic missiles and 112 drones targeted towns and cities across the country overnight. Air defence units downed 68 of the Russian drones, the air force said, but dozens more got through. Drones struck energy infrastructure in the southern region of Odesa, injuring two people, governor Oleh Kiper said. In the northeastern city of Sumy, a 32-year-old man working as a security guard was killed when a warehouse was heavily damaged in a drone strike, according to police. Other projectiles hit Kharkiv, causing major damage to a nine-storey residential building and a nursery, according to local officials. In the wake of the attack, Kyiv officials issued a torrent of statements condemning the ongoing hostilities and calling on its Western allies to provide concrete security guarantees ahead of ceasefire talks with Russia. 'Every day Russia demonstrates that it is ready to continue the war and terrorise civilians,' Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote. 'That is why Ukraine needs strong security guarantees to ensure a lasting and just peace.' A view from the damaged site after the Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih A view shows damaged vehicles at the site of a hotel building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, March 6, 2025 A fire burns in a destroyed building following a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine March 5, 2025 President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025 French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation, in Paris, France, March 5, 2025 The US, which under President Joe Biden provided Ukraine with a limited but steady flow of military and humanitarian aid, has now cut off all aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv under President Trump. Those decisions came after a highly publicised spat between the American and Ukrainian Presidents during a televised meeting at the White House last week. Ukraine and US talks are now said to be back underway amid a flurry of diplomacy, but Washington appears to have upheld the decision to withhold all aid and intelligence, even as Russian troops continue to grind westward. In the meantime, France has declared it is willing to fill the void left by the US and will provide military intelligence to Kyiv. 'Our intelligence is sovereign... with our own capacities,' French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu told France Inter radio early today. 'We are passing this on to the Ukrainians.' That statement followed a presidential address by Emmanuel Macron who declared Paris would accelerate its delivery of aid to Kyiv and would also consider extending the protection offered by its nuclear arsenal to its European partners amid concerns the US will no longer uphold continental security. 'I want to believe that the United States will stand by us. But we have to be ready if that is not the case,' Macron said. Now, almost all the leaders of EU nations are meeting at a summit in Brussels today where they are expected to endorse bold new measures to dramatically increase defence spending and pledge support for Ukraine in the presence of Zelensky. Earlier this week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled proposals to mobilise up to 800 billion euros for European defence, including a plan to borrow up to 150 billion euros to lend to EU governments. This is the chilling moment a Russian navy officer brandished a machine gun on a warship escorting a sanctioned cargo ship through the English Channel. Dramatic pictures taken by The Times from a nearby fishing vessel show crew on board the Boikiy as it escorted the Baltic Leader cargo ship early on Monday. Armed personnel were seen manning machine guns on the Boikiy, a 343ft-long Russian corvette that can carry up to 99 men at a time. The warship moved in step with the large cargo ship sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 for transporting weapons for Russia, which has been getting bolder on the world stage in recent weeks as tensions in Ukraine reached a boiling point and the US rendered British Storm Shadow missiles useless. The Baltic Leader was this time carrying a shipment of military hardware from a Russian base in Tartus, Syria, where Kremlin operations are being wound down in the wake of the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad. James Droxford, of the intelligence consultancy Droxford Maritime, said: 'The recovered military hardware onboard Baltic Leader could be used to reinforce Russia's combat capability in Ukraine, or to replenish military stocks in other key Russian military regions.' The Boikiy's escort mission began at 5am on March 3, south of Torquay. The convoy slowly travelled across the English Channel, before it was followed by two vessels, HMS Somerset from the Royal Navy and Belgian Navy vessel BNS Crocus. The Baltic Leader was then seen leaving the English Channel on March 4 at 2pm. A Russian naval officer brandishes what appears to be a MTPU pedestal 14.5 machine gun The warship was seen escorting the Baltic Leader cargo ship early on Monday The HMS Somerset stalked the ships through the North Sea and English Channel Armed officers in flak jackets stand aboard the Russian warship on Monday The convoy slowly travelled across the English Channel, before it was followed by two vessels Crew are seen on the Boikiy on Monday the Baltic Leader left Tartus, Syria, on February 13 The British Type 23 frigate utilised its powerful sensors and radars to report on Russian movements, launching her Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron Russian sigils can be seen across the military vessel Armed soldiers manned the Boikiy The massive cargo ship was seen travelling through the English Channel on Monday Your browser does not support iframes. Somerset, which is bristling with its own array of weapons - including anti-ship missiles and a 4.5-inch naval gun - stalked the ships through the North Sea and English Channel. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'The British Type 23 frigate utilised its powerful sensors and radars to report on Russian movements, launching her Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron to gather valuable information from the sky. 'The ship worked hand in hand with UK patrol aircraft and allied Nato forces during the operation, providing constant watch on the task group.' Somerset was scrambled on March 1 as the Russian warship headed south through the North Sea and English Channel to meet Baltic Leader, the Royal Navy said. Satellite images showed the Baltic Leader left Tartus, Syria, on February 13. Russia has been winding down its use of the port since Assad's fall. This, combined with Ukraine's increased capability to sink Russian ships in the Black Sea, has resulted in increased activity in Syrian waters. Droxford said: 'Ukraine could destroy hundreds of tons of vital Russian military material in one go by attacking the ships and that's a huge risk for Russia to take.' Joseph Byrne, senior analyst at the Open Source Centre, told the Times: 'While it isn't exactly clear what cargo the vessel is loading, Tartus is a port where Russia has been storing its military equipment, likely waiting for transport. 'Since mid-February we have seen a number of Russian flagged cargo vessels sail from Syria into the Mediterranean and through the English Channel. 'They have exhibited highly similar patterns of life, including switching off their transponders when entering Syrian waters and ports, not broadcasting their final destinations, and appearing to sail through the Channel with a military escort for protection.' Russia's military has been getting bolder in recent weeks, while the West has been reeling from a series of catastrophic decisions from the Trump administration. Britain's long-range Storm Shadow missiles are feared to have been rendered useless in Ukraine after President Donald Trump blocked US intelligence from being shared with allies. In a huge blow to Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia's invasion, Trump froze American military aid to Kyiv before suspending intelligence sharing with President Volodymr Zelensky's war-torn country. The UK, who has vowed to stand by Ukraine throughout the three-year war, is among those who have been banned from sharing Washington intelligence with Kyiv. It comes amid an ongoing transatlantic rift after Trump and Zelensky dramatically clashed in a heated Oval Office row last week, sparking a wave of support for Ukraine from European allies including Britain. MailOnline revealed on Tuesday that UK intelligence agencies and military outlets have received an order expressly forbidding the sharing of US-generated intelligence, previously known as 'Rel UKR' - short for Releasable to Ukraine'. The impact is likely to have major ramifications as British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles, a critical asset used inside Russia's Kursk region by Ukraine, require US data to hit their targets. MailOnline has contacted the MoD for comment. Storm Shadow missiles, jointly developed by the UK and France who call it Scalp, are precision-guided munitions used for deep-strike missions as they can hit targets up to 250km (155miles) away. The effective missiles, believed to be roughly 2million each, allow Ukraine to penetrate hardened bunkers and ammunition stores and down critical infrastructure, command centres and logistics hubs at huge ranges. Last week, NATO was forced to scramble warplanes from Poland after Vladimir Putin used strategic bombers and missiles to attack neighbouring Ukraine - even as Vladimir Putin insists he wants peace 'as soon as possible'. Your browser does not support iframes. An array of communications devices and weapons can be seen on the body of the Boikiy The Boikiy's escort mission began at 5am on March 3, south of Torquay Shells and launchers were seen on the Boikiy The ship was seized by French authorities in 2022 Armed guards were seen on the Russian escort vessel It is not known exactly what the Russian vessel was carrying Experts believe the Baltic Leader was carrying something of significant military importance The Boikiy (pictured, front), a Russian corvette that is 343ft long and can carry up to 99 men at a time, was seen in the English Channel this week Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset monitors Russian merchant ship Baltic Leader in the Channel, part of a three-day operation keeping watch on a Russian task group passing the UK The Baltic Leader (pictured) was carrying a shipment of military hardware from a Russian base in Tartus, Syria Putin used Tu-95MS nuclear-capable strategic bombers, causing panic in Kyiv as residents rushed for the metro underground shelters Emergency workers search for a civilian in the rubble in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine Putin's air force deployed Tu-95MS nuclear-capable strategic bombers to pound targets across Ukraine, causing panic in Kyiv as residents rushed for the metro underground shelters. Explosions were heard in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Sumy, as well as in several towns across the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv. Drones were also used by Russia, with several people reportedly suffering injuries. Warsaw's armed forces operation command headquarters ordered NATO jets to patrol Polish airspace as Russian bombers and missiles soared over Ukraine amid fears they could approach the Polish border. 'Attention, due to the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, striking targets located, in particular, in the west of Ukraine, military aviation has begun to operate in the airspace of Poland,' the command headquarters said. Ground-based air defences and radar reconnaissance systems were also 'put on alert'. A top Russian state television presenter known as Vladimir Putin's 'Iron Doll' is revelling in Donald Trump's decision not to set any conditions on Russia for peace in Ukraine. Olga Skabeyeva, a TV host who once threatened to nuke Downing Street, made the shocking comments on Telegram in response to Andrii Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, saying that Russia could stop the war at any time by ceasing its attacks on Ukraine. She wrote on the messaging service: '[Yermak] forgot that Trump does not set any conditions for Russia and [President] Putin. Only for Zelensky and Ukraine.' In 2022, Skabeyeva chillingly shared images of Western 'decision-making centres' that could be blitzed by Russia, including Downing Street in London and NATO's headquarters in Brussels. Her message coincided with that year's NATO summit in Madrid - the location of which was also 'targeted'. She said: 'With greetings to the participants of the NATO summit of a bloc openly hostile to Russia. 'Look at the screen but do not be afraid, please. 'The Russian Space Agency published satellite images and exact coordinates of what we call the 'decision-making centres' of Western countries. Olga Skabeyeva (pictured), a TV host who once threatened to nuke Downing Street , made the shocking comments on Telegram Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile launch on April 20, 2022 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) talks with US President Donald Trump (R) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 28 February 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during the Expanded Board of the Ministry on March 5, 2025, in Moscow, Russia 'And the venue of the summit in Madrid, where Russia is declared the worst enemy.' Skabeyeva claimed she was not making a threat, adding: 'Let them just keep it in mind.' Trump has been criticised for his negotiations with Russia, as he has publicly offered several key concessions to Putin before ever sitting down with the warmonger. The Republican leader has said that Putin will be allowed to keep the territory he has taken from Ukraine since 2014, when it annexed Crimea. He current controls about 20% of the country. On top of this, Trump has said he will not allow Ukraine to become part of NATO, another major concession to Putin. And the US has repeatedly refused to guarantee Ukraine's security after the war. All of this has worried Europe, whose leaders are today meeting to discuss how to finance increased defence spending. 'Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime. Some of our fundamental assumptions are being undermined to their very core,' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned in a letter to the EU's 27 leaders, who on Tuesday unveiled an 800bn (669bn) plan to rearm Europe. But perhaps the biggest challenge for the EU on Thursday will be to take a united stance at a moment when it's fractured, since much of what the bloc does requires unanimous support. Firefighters work at the site of houses destroyed by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Slatyne, Kharkiv region, Ukraine March 6, 2025 Rescuers carry a wounded person at the site of a hotel building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 6, 2025 A handout photo made available by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine shows rescuers working at the site where a Russian rocket hit a five-storey hotel in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, 05 March 2025 This handout photograph released by the Ukrainian Emergency Service early on March 5, 2025, shows a Ukrainian rescuer working to extinguish a fire at an energy infrastructure facility following an attack at an undisclosed location in Odesa region But individual states like France are beginning to step up. Last night, French president Emmanuel Macron gravely said he is open to discussing how to extend the protection offered by nuclear missiles to his nation's European allies. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday that US weapons supplies to Ukraine will 'most likely resume' but that Moscow's 'main task' remains 'inflicting maximum damage' to Ukraine. Medvedev also indicated Moscow's awareness that it could have a short amount of time to make the most of the US suspension of aid to do so. Putin's forces exploited the previous suspension of US military aid early last year, including by trying to seize Kharkiv City in May 2024 before US military support restarted. British, French and German soldiers have been told they face defeat and death from Russia if they are sent as 'peacekeepers' to end the war in Ukraine. One leading Putin politician mocked Sir Keir Starmer for seeking to be a 'cool British prime minister' by sending troops, warning: 'It has been a long time since we fertilised the Crimean vineyards with [the corpses of] British officers. 'We are waiting, Starmer, the time has come.' And a prominent Russian army general told President Emmanuel Macron he could gather a 50,000 'little frogs' multinational army, but they would be beaten by Putin's forces, with Europe and NATO 'ceasing to exist'. Moscow is vehemently opposed to the 'boots on the ground' proposals of Starmer and Macron as part of a peace deal to offer security to Ukraine against another Putin invasion. Dmitry Rogozin - a senator, former Putin deputy premier, and ex-head of the Russian Space Agency - said: 'What did this Starmer say? More precisely, what did he want to say? 'It was like, I'm such a cool British Prime Minister, now I'll gather my courage and send the royal army and navy to Russia! 'Send them, Starmer, don't talk, send them! 'Don't forget to give your Scots [soldiers] combat tartan skirts, so that our drones can easily fly in there and kick their spicy asses - [Rogozin was notoriously wounded in the bottom in a shell strike on his birthday party in Donetsk in 2022]. 'Don't ignore the glorious Irish with the blue plume on their hats, by which our snipers will be pleased to count them in the shabby Zaporizhzhia forest regiments. 'Don't miss the moment to put grizzly fur hats on your brave English warriors, who are never dried out in your pubs. 'They will be very useful in the Donetsk trenches for feeding thousands of local mice. 'Come on, Starmer, blow your bagpipes, blow to us, brave warrior of the crazy king.' A Frenchman who filmed himself hurling a giant snowball at an unsuspecting bystander could face three years in jail after the victim filed a lawsuit. The Parisian in his 20s, who has not been named, was seen lobbing a large ball of ice from a chairlift, hitting a table of people at a restaurant in Alpe dHuez. The TikTok video, with the caption 'when you are considered a public danger', was watched millions of times, sparking outcry online. The young hooligan could be heard calling down 'bon appetit' and laughing as the ball of ice struck a 61-year-old grandfather, who was eating with his granddaughter. The victim, who has also not been named, reportedly suffered minor injuries and had his glasses broken when the snowball hit him in the face on February 28. Fabrice Boutet, managing director of the Societe dAmenagement Touristique dAlpe dHuez (Sata), which operates the ski lift, told local press that they filed a lawsuit 'straight away'. 'We met the victim, a very nice man who has a flat [nearby] and who was spending his holiday with his family in the resort', he told Le Dauphine Libere. The creators insisted 'we were absolutely not aiming for the man's head' The skier shouted 'bon appetit' as they launched the ball of ice down towards the restaurant File photo: A general view of skiers at Alpe D'Huez, a ski resort in Southeastern France Mr Boutet said he had advised the victim to file a lawsuit, 'which he did, because I think this type of behaviour must be punished'. Officials said they have confirmed the identity of the alleged assailant, who took to TikTok to insist that, 'we were absolutely not aiming for the man's head'. Instead, they said, they were aiming to hit the table. The video had also been overlaid with the text: 'This has to be the craziest thing you could possibly do at a ski resort. And don't worry, nobody was injured.' But the grandfather was 'slightly injured' and 'very psychologically shocked', according to La Voix du Nord. The Bourg-d'Oisans gendarmes have now opened an investigation for 'intentional violence with a weapon', the outlet reports. The content creator could now face three years in prison if charged, tried and found guilty, The Times reported. The content creator posted a video of himself throwing the snowball, which he said was only supposed to hit the table Fisher & Paykel Healthcare enters into construction contract for fifth building in New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand, 6 March 2025 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited announced today that it has signed a building construction contract with Dominion Constructors Limited for the fifth building on its East Tamaki campus in Auckland. "We are excited to add this new building to complete our East Tamaki campus," said Andy Niccol, Chief Operating Officer. This project is a purposeful investment in infrastructure to ensure we have the necessary capacity and resources in New Zealand to progress our pipeline of innovative products and therapies. With a total gross floor area of about 28,000m2, the new building will showcase a cohesive blend of spaces for research and development, manufacturing and distribution. The buildings design will reflect the companys culture of collaboration, with an open-plan work environment. The estimated total cost of the new building is expected to be approximately NZ$250 million. The 42-hectare East Tamaki site currently has over 3,900 employees, and the new building will accommodate the companys expected growth in Auckland over the next five years. Earthworks have been largely completed and construction will start later this month, with the facility expected to be operational in 2027. The company also recently submitted a private plan change application for its additional New Zealand campus at Karaka, Auckland, to accommodate growth over the longer term. About Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Fisher & Paykel Healthcare is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and systems for use in acute and chronic respiratory care, surgery and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The companys products are sold in over 120 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, visit our website www.fphcare.com. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: CDC Independent Valuation - 30 June 2025 TruScreen Group Limited SPP Update THL provides updated guidance CEN - Greymouth gas deal July 4th Morning Report July 3rd Morning Report ikeGPS Chief Financial Officer Transition TWL - TradeWindow announces strategic partnership with FTA BLT - Patent issue settled and new 5 year agreement with BSP July 2nd Morning Report Britain's long-range Storm Shadow missiles are feared to have been rendered useless in Ukraine after President Donald Trump blocked US intelligence from being shared with allies. In a huge blow to Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia's invasion, Trump froze American military aid to Kyiv before suspending intelligence sharing with President Volodymr Zelensky's war-torn country. The UK, which has vowed to stand by Ukraine throughout the three-year war, is among the countries who have been banned from sharing Washington intelligence with Kyiv. It comes amid an ongoing transatlantic rift after Trump and Zelensky dramatically clashed in a heated Oval Office row last week, sparking a wave of support for Ukraine from European allies including Britain. MailOnline revealed on Tuesday that UK intelligence agencies and military outlets have received an order expressly forbidding the sharing of US-generated intelligence, previously known as 'Rel UKR' - short for Releasable to Ukraine'. The impact is likely to have major ramifications as British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles, a critical asset used inside Russia's Kursk region by Ukraine, require US data to hit their targets. MailOnline has contacted the MoD for comment. Storm Shadow missiles, jointly developed by the UK and France who call it Scalp, are precision-guided munitions used for deep-strike missions as they can hit targets up to 250km (155miles) away. The effective missiles, believed to cost roughly 2million each, allow Ukraine to penetrate hardened bunkers and ammunition stores and down critical infrastructure, command centres and logistics hubs at huge ranges. Britain's long-range Storm Shadow missiles are feared to have been rendered useless in Ukraine after President Donald Trump blocked US intelligence from being shared with allies This is the moment a British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles struck the Kursk region inside Russia in November One image shows a written indentation on a chunk of metal reading: 'Storm Shadow' On November 21, Storm Shadows were used to target a bunker in Maryino, Kursk region, killing dozens of Russian soldiers and several North Korean troops. They were also fired at Russia's Black Sea naval headquarters at Sevastopol in September 2023, making the whole of Crimea unsafe for the Russian navy. According to reports, the UK originally had around 900 Storm Shadow missiles for its military - although many are used or nearing the end of their lifespan. In November, United24 Media reported that the UK has around 600 operational missiles, with 'hundreds' sent to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022. Each missile is said to cost roughly 2million so they are usually launched in carefully planned attacks in a flurry of cheaper drones which are sent ahead to confuse the enemy's air defences - as Russia does with Ukraine. Ukraine relies on US satellite intelligence and other state-of-the-art equipment to assist them with precision. Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), told The Times that if the suspension covered all intelligence, there would be a reduced early warning of incoming missile and drone attacks from Putin's army. It would also have an impact on being able to monitor the movement of large groups of Russian forces. Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer announced a 1.6billion missile deal for Ukraine after a summit of European leaders in London. The Ministry of Defence said that the manufacture of more than 5,000 lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM) will treble production at the Thales factory in Belfast, creating 200 jobs in Northern Ireland and directly supporting a further 700 jobs in the UK. The role of LMMs is to protect against Russian drone and missile attacks. Ukrainian forces are already using LMMs with an initial order delivered late last year. It comes as defence Secretary John Healey is set to hold crunch talks with his US counterpart, Pete Hesgeth, in a bid to overturn the suspension of military aid to Ukraine. The United States has banned Britain from sharing intelligence from Washington with Ukraine as part of its withdrawal of support for Volodymyr Zelensky President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting in the Oval Office became a shouting match Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a summit on Ukraine, at Lancaster House in London on Sunday Despite having a range of 186 miles, current rules mean the weapons can be deployed only on targets inside Ukraine Since the conflict began three years ago, the UK and other Western security partners such as Australia and New Zealand have shared US-generated knowledge with Ukraine. But the Mail revealed on Tuesday that the top-level security classification has now been removed by the United States pending further notification and is likely to impact upon Kyiv's ability to defend itself against Russia's continuing onslaught. The ban affects the likes of the UK's GCHQ, the spy agencies and intelligence branches of the Ministry of Defence. UK military intelligence expert Phil Ingram told the Mail: 'The United States's instruction to stop allies sharing US-derived intelligence with Ukraine is what I would expect. 'The US's intelligence partners, including Britain, have had their authority to pass on intelligence revoked. 'The US will tightly control distribution of its intelligence to Ukraine through agencies based in Kyiv.' The move coincided with the US confirming it was pausing military aid to Kyiv as the rift between the two supposed allies deepened before Zelensky offered US Trump an olive branch. He insisted he is ready to work under Trump's 'strong leadership' and said he wanted to 'make things right' after their 'regrettable' White House clash. Critics suggested any long-term freeze would lengthen rather than shorten the war. That is because it is expected to encourage the Kremlin to exploit Kyiv's dwindling weapons and ammunition stocks and launch a fresh bid for more territory. Russia currently occupies around one fifth of Ukraine, including eastern provinces and the Crimean peninsula. Ukraine is clinging on to a relatively small amount of territory it seized last year in the southern Russia province of Kursk. It comes as Mr Healey is set to join Mr Hegseth today for a bilateral meeting on a possible peace plan while efforts continue to bridge a transatlantic rift over the country's future security. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would confer with allies about the prospect of using France's nuclear deterrent to protect the continent in the face of threats from Russia at a summit of EU leaders. Mr Healey's trip was agreed last week after Sir Keir Starmer announced a rise in the UK's defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP. CIA director John Radcliffe told Fox Business Network on Wednesday there has been a 'pause' on 'the intelligence front' followingTrump's fractious Oval Office confrontation with Zelensky. As he arrived in the Capitol later in the day, Mr Healey was asked what he would say to his counterpart about the issue when they meet for talks. 'Those are discussions for tomorrow, but it's part of a two-day programme and we're working hard for peace,' he said. US national security adviser Mike Waltz said on Wednesday that Ukraine and America were still talking despite the pause. 'I just got off the phone with my counterpart, the Ukrainian national security adviser,' he said. 'We are having good talks on location for the next round of negotiations, on delegations, on substance.' He added: 'I think we're going to see movement in very short order.' The French government said on Wednesday that Mr Macron, Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky could potentially meet the US president as leaders seek to bridge the transatlantic rift, but suggested that was a 'wish' at the moment and there had not been an invitation from the White House. Downing Street said details of any future travel by the Prime Minister would be set out in the usual way. In a televised address later on Wednesday, the French president described Moscow as a 'threat to France and Europe' and said he would 'open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent by our (nuclear) deterrent'. France is the only nuclear power in the European Union. EU leaders are set to address the issue of deterrence, among other topics, during the Thursday summit in the Belgian capital focusing on support for Ukraine and wider defence. Mr Zelensky is also invited to the meeting. European Nato allies have for decades counted on the powerful US deterrent. 'Europe's future does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow,' Mr Macron said, warning that 'the innocence of the last 30 years' which followed the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall is 'now over'. Mr Macron said Russia is now spending 40% of its state budget in military spending, with plans to expand its army by 2030 with 300,000 additional soldiers, 3,000 tanks and 300 jet fighters. 'Who can believe that today's Russia will stop at Ukraine?' he asked. 'I want to believe the US will stay by our side but we have to be ready if that isn't the case.' Mr Zelensky thanked the French president following his speech, saying 'peace must be real, not just a word-it cannot mean Ukraine's capitulation or collapse.' 'It must be just, reliable, and lasting, and this can only be achieved through strong and long-term security guarantees - for Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world,' the leader said. US-Ukraine relations reached a nadir last week when plans to sign a minerals agreement broke down following a dramatic row between Mr Trump, vice president JD Vance and Mr Zelensky. But the US president used a wide-ranging speech in Congress to signal an easing of tensions, saying he had received a letter from the Ukrainian leader on Tuesday suggesting Kyiv is ready to sign a deal 'at any time'. 'I appreciate that he sent this letter,' Mr Trump said. 'We've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace. Wouldn't that be beautiful?' Before his trip, Mr Healey hailed the 'special relationship' between the UK and the US and said it is 'crucial that the UK and Europe step up further to take more responsibility for our security, and we are doing so'. He added: 'The Prime Minister was clear following his meetings over the past week that we will continue our dialogue with friends and allies to secure a path to a lasting peace in Ukraine. 'We will advance that work in Washington over the coming days.' Britain must start preparing for the 'terrifying' possibility Donald Trump may pull US support for the UK's nuclear deterrent, experts have warned. The UK has its own nuclear warheads but fits them to American-made and maintained Trident ballistic missiles carried in the Royal Navy's Vanguard Class submarines. While the Navy has total control of the missiles once they are aboard the subs, they are drawn from a joint US/UK stockpile based in Georgia. There has never been an issue with access to Trident, but amid Trump's cooling of transatlantic support for Europe and efforts to suck up to autocratic Russia, experts have suggested the UK cannot afford to just hope for the best. Some suggested that the UK start talking to other allies including France about nuclear weapons. Nicholas Drummond, a defence industry analyst and former British soldier, told The Times it was 'extremely unlikely' Trump would do something as seismic as pulling support for UK nukes. But he added: 'When it comes to support and maintenance, I would say that we are largely dependent on the US for parts and technical assistance. If this was withdrawn, it would also weaken our deterrent. 'Can you imagine a situation where Britain's relationship with America is fractured and they refuse to give us Trident missiles through the agreement that is in place? 'It would render the billions we have invested in Dreadnought boats useless. A terrifying thought. The UK has its own nuclear warheads but fits them to American-made and maintained Trident ballistic missiles carried in the Royal Navy's Vanguard Class submarines While the Navy has total control of the missiles once they are aboard the subs, they are drawn from a joint US/UK stockpile based in Georgia There has never been an issue with access to Trident, but amid Trump's cooling of transatlantic support for Europe and efforts to suck up to autocratic Russia, experts have suggested the UK cannot afford to just hope for the best 'Anyone who suggested this a year ago would have been dismissed as an idiot. Now it is a scenario that we need to plan for.' Matthew Savill, the director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, added: 'If the US cut off support we would have a load of Trident missiles but at some point we would need to fashion our own missiles with somebody. 'We could in due course replace these things but the cost would be excruciating.' But a No 10 spokesman said: 'The UK's nuclear deterrent is completely operationally independent. 'Only the UK Prime Minister can authorise the firing of our nuclear weapons. 'The UK has a longstanding, close relationship with the US on all defence nuclear issues. 'Our extant long-term arrangements provide for co-operation and collaboration which has been, and continues to be, of considerable mutual benefit to both nations.' He added: 'The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that the US is a reliable ally. 'It's our closest ally on defence and security, and that relationship endures and will continue to do so.' French President Emmanuel Macron said last night he would confer with allies about the prospect of using France's nuclear deterrent to protect the continent in the face of threats from Russia at a summit of EU leaders. They are set to address the issue of deterrence, among other topics, during the Thursday summit in the Belgian capital focusing on support for Ukraine and wider defence. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is also invited to the meeting. European Nato allies have for decades counted on the powerful US deterrent. 'Europe's future does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow,' Mr Macron said, warning that 'the innocence of the last 30 years' which followed the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall is 'now over'. The UK Defence Secretary is expected to discuss the US decision to pause intelligence-sharing with Ukraine with his counterpart in Washington while the European leaders hold crisis talks. John Healey will join Pete Hegseth on Thursday for a bilateral meeting on a possible peace plan while efforts continue to bridge a transatlantic rift over the country's future security. Mr Healey's trip was agreed last week after Sir Keir Starmer announced a rise in the UK's defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, and comes as the US suspended intelligence-sharing and military aid to Ukraine. CIA director John Radcliffe told Fox Business Network on Wednesday there has been a 'pause' on 'the intelligence front' following Donald Trump's fractious Oval Office confrontation with Volodymyr Zelensky last week. The decision could affect Ukraine's ability to effectively use long-range western weapons, such as US-made Himars launchers and deprive Kyiv of advance information about potential incoming threats. The daughter of rape survivor Gisele Pelicot has hit out at her mother for not wanting to 'believe or hear' her allegations that her father also raped her. Caroline Darian said her 72-year-old mother Gisele, who was drugged and mercilessly raped by her husband Dominique Pelicot and dozens of men over a period of nine years, 'abandoned' her despite standing by her side through the Mazan trial. Dominique has consistently denied his daughter's allegations, and when Gisele was asked about them in court, she declined to answer. Darian, who was frequently seen at her mother's side during her father's trial last autumn, said in her new book that she was deeply upset by her mother's silence. She wrote in So That We May Remember, which was published on Wednesday: 'Her silence says a lot. I thought we were a united and tight-knit clan and I am hit by this implacable reality in the face: my mother does not want to believe me or to hear me. The pain runs right through me.' She added: 'It is an abandonment too many... It's as though the ground opened up under my feet... I have spent four years trying to be there for my mother, cherishing the bond that counted so much for me. I feel alone facing a wall of desolation and no one seems to understand.' The months-long trial - which has gone down in history as France's most notorious sexual abuse case - concluded in December last year. Dominique Pelicot, 72, who has come to be known as the Monster of Avignon, drugged, raped and organised the repeated rape and sexual abuse of his now-ex-wife Gisele by dozens of other men. Caroline Darian (pictured, left) was frequently seen at her mother's side during her father's trial last autumn She wrote in So That We May Remember, which was published on Wednesday: 'Her silence says a lot. I thought we were a united and tight-knit clan' Dominique Pelicot (pictured) drugged, raped and organised the repeated rape and sexual abuse of his now-ex-wife Gisele by dozens of other men He and 50 other men were found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting 72-year-old Gisele at the behest of her husband Dominique over the course of a decade. The court found 47 of the defendants guilty of rape, two guilty of attempted rape and two guilty of sexual assault. The 51 men faced a combined sentence of 600 years. However, at least six of the convicted men walked free in December due to poor health or because they had already served their sentence in pre-trial detention. Many of those who are out of prison have picked up their lives where they left them before the trial. The Sunday Times reported that in one case a convicted man was welcomed back into his family home is now back at his place of work. According to the French parole system prisoners can apply for early release if they have served half of their sentence, or in some cases a third, and the rules are especially flexible if the prisoner is over 70, has demonstrated good behaviour or has a property they can return to. In one instance a man served only 11 months of his five-year sentence for aggravated rape, according to information provided in court papers seen by the Sunday Times. Meanwhile, several other abusers escaped justice, with police unable to identify more than 20 men involved. Gisele has been praised after she waived anonymity and instead stoically attended the trial for three months and looked defiantly at each of the defendants as they were convicted of her rape and other crimes. When she spoke for the first time at the trial, Gisele became symbolic of the impact many rape survivors hoped the trial would have when she said: 'Shame must change sides.' A man holds a placard reading 'Thank you for your courage Gisele Pelicot' outside the Avignon courthouse Dominique Pelicot is seen arriving at court in the back of a police car in December Gisele Pelicot has been praised after she waived anonymity and instead stoically attended the trial for three months and looked defiantly at each of the defendants as they were convicted of her rape and other crimes A mural reading 'Justice for Gisele, Justice for all' near the Avignon courthouse As interest in the case grew, Gisele was clapped and cheered as she arrived at court and left at the end of the day. Graffiti honouring her bravery was daubed on Avignon's medieval stone walls and protests in support of her erupted all over France - with many seeing the case as a watershed moment for the country. Despite this, many of the men convicted of the heinous crimes appear to feel no shame with 17 launching appeals against their sentences. Patrick Gontard, who represented Jean-Pierre Marechal - the second most prominent defendant in the trial - said: 'Certainly, there were others who didn't feel it was right that they were sentenced. 'They argue they were tricked by Pelicot. A lot of people convince themselves that what they did wasn't so bad. It's human.' Gisele's husband, received the largest sentence of 20 years for raping and organising the mass rape of Gisele. Judges have also found him guilty of recording and illegally broadcasting images of his wife and of recording images of three other women. Police found some 20,000 lurid images and videos of Pelicot's wife being abused in files on his computer, as well as pictures of his daughter and his two daughters-in-law naked. The 72-year-old has failing health, and his daughter Caroline Darian yelled at him as his sentence was delivered: 'You will die alone like a dog in jail!' A judge has been accused of calling the average fried chicken shop customers 'intoxicated morons in a hurry' during a 15-year legal battle between two competing chains. The legal row centres around trademark infringement claims by bosses of the popular south London fried chicken chain Morley's against their 'copycat' competitor Metro's. Morley's claimed the boss of Metro's, Kunalingham Kunatheeswaran, had used signage which was too similar to Morley's distinctive red and white, 'MMM... it tastes better', trade mark. In June last year, Judge Melissa Clarke ruled in favour of Morley's, holding that Metro's '...It's the real taste' sign infringed Morley's mark. The judge ruled in favour of Morley's after finding there was a high risk that hungry, tired or tipsy late-night diners could get confused between the competing signage when negotiating the streets of London after midnight. However, lawyers for Mr Kunatheeswaran - and other Metro's franchisees affected by the case - are now appealing Judge Clarke's ruling, claiming her approach to the issue of what type of customer frequented the rival chains was fundamentally flawed. Judge Clarke found that some of the 'average consumers' visiting the chains would be 'late-night and early morning revellers who are likely tired, hungry and a significant subset of which will be intoxicated'. The 15-year-long legal row centres around trademark infringement claims by bosses of the popular south London fried chicken chain Morley's against their 'copycat' competitor Metro's Morley's claimed the boss of Metro's, Kunalingham Kunatheeswaran, had used signage which was too similar to Morley's distinctive red and white, 'MMM... it tastes better', trade mark 'They will choose by convenience of location, shopfront and what is open late, and in my judgment will pay a low degree of attention,' she said, holding that this could create confusion about signage and restaurant identity. But Metro's barrister, Simon Malynicz KC, told the Appeal Court the judge had wrongly focused on this 'intoxicated' class of customer, which she based on evidence from Morley's manager about the habits of late-night customers. He said: 'The judge thus essentially assimilated the average consumer in trade marks law - a notional figure who is deemed to be reasonably careful and circumspect - with a figure eschewed even by the law of passing off - the so called 'moron in a hurry'. 'Indeed it might be suggested that the judge's approach was even more extreme - the class of consumers here was in effect a small number of drunk, tired and hungry morons in a hurry. 'Whilst it is legitimate to identify different groups of average consumers, such groups must be reasonably broad to match the scope of the registered trademark and not confined to those whom the trademark owner happens to deal with.' The 'moron in a hurry' is an archetypal hypothetical person used as an example in some legal cases, especially involving trademark infringement and passing off. Where one party alleges another has infringed their intellectual property rights by offering a product similar to their own, the court has to decide if a reasonable person would be misled by the defendant's trademark. It is said that 'if only a moron in a hurry would be misled,' the case is not made out. In June last year, Judge Melissa Clarke ruled in favour of Morley's, holding that Metro's '...It's the real taste' sign infringed Morley's mark The judge ruled in favour of Morley's after finding there was a high risk that hungry, tired or tipsy late-night diners could get confused between the competing signage when negotiating the streets of London after midnight Arguing this was essentially the basis on which Judge Clarke ruled in favour of Morley's, and that she was wrong to do so, Mr Malynicz added: 'The judge's starting point was to consider the population of Morley's customers as analysed in Morley's evidence... That was in error.' In his evidence to the High Court, Morley's boss Shan Selvendran - son of founder Kannalingham Selvendran - explained that the 'iconic' chain was founded in 1985 and 'inspired by KFC'. It began in the heart of south London's Sri Lankan community with a vision that its food should be 'for everyone and accessible to all', using the distinctive red and white trademark and 'Triple M' brand from day one. By the time of his father's death, Shan Selvendran had built up around 40 Morley's shops, the court heard, with his mum at one point temporarily stepping in to take over the business until Mr Selvendran graduated and became chief executive in 2009. The Morley's brand was now 'synonymous with fried chicken for everyone in south London', said Mr Selvendran, adding: 'everyone recognised the name of the famous Morley's burger and it was iconic'. The chain currently has around 100 outlets and became an established part of the hip urban landscape when cutting edge musicians increasingly referenced the food shops in their works. Judge Clarke also noted: 'In relation to music, he points to the British rap artist Stormzy, who referred to Morley's in the track 'Wicked Skengman Part 4' of May 2015, and his music video for 'Big for your Boots' which was filmed inside a Morley's in about February 2017. 'Another artist, Krept, wrote a song called 'Morley's Freestyle' in around 2019, shot the music video for the track outside a Morley's store, and used a full-sized prop of the Morley's store frontage on stage during his concert at the O2 Arena in 2019. In his evidence to the High Court, Morley's boss Shan Selvendran - son of founder Kannalingham Selvendran - explained that the 'iconic' chain was founded in 1985 and 'inspired by KFC' 'His evidence is that he spoke to Stormzy in November 2023, who spoke about his childhood memories of Morley's for over an hour, growing up during the 2000s.' Giving evidence, Mr Selvendran told the court: 'He used the word 'heritage' and I always hear that word from people when talking about Morley's. 'Although I didn't appreciate it when I was younger, I now realised how important Morley's is (and was) to a huge number of people...people feel a connection with Morley's and view the brand as part of their life and heritage..' He said Morley's had faced a 'constant battle with imitators', first locking horns with the boss of franchise Metro's, Kunalingham Kunatheeswaran, 14 years ago, when he learned that the latter had planned to use the name 'Mowley's' for the launch of a new food outlet. Confusion between the Metro's and Morley's sign was a constant source of concern, said Mr Selvendran, highlighting an incident in which a barista at a cafe opposite a Metro's store asked him what he did for a living. 'When he said he worked at Morley's, the barista pointed to the Metro's sign and said: 'Oh that one there?'' - forcing him to explain the difference between the two chains. Sketching out Morley's case, Judge Clarke explained: 'The (company) says that this is the latest episode in persistent copycat behaviour by Mr Kunatheeswaran since around 2010, during which time he has imitated and sought to ride on the coat-tails of the claimant's branding, in various shifting forms.' Morley's management had mapped the location of Morley's and Metro's stores and claimed that their rivals were 'all located within 400 metres to 1.2 kilometres of an existing Morley's store' - with the pattern even allegedly continuing after it opened its first Birmingham outlet. But in his evidence, Mr Kunatheeswaran insisted that he never paid any attention to where Morley's stores were located when making a decision about where to grant franchises'. Ruling against Mr Kunatheeswaran in the High Court, Judge Clarke said his chain strayed beyond the terms of a previous 2018 settlement deal restricting their signage to a blue bordered red banner rather than Morley's distinctive crimson red banner. 'Mr Kunatheeswaran and one of his franchisees also breached Morley's trademark by using the company's distinctive 'Triple M' slogan 'MMM' on shop windows and notice boards. 'The franchise defendants and Mr Kunatheeswaran have infringed the Morley's red and white mark,' she said. '(He) is jointly and severally liable with the franchise defendants for their infringement of the Morley's red and white mark. 'The claimant is entitled to injunctive relief against those defendants who are still using the signs.' Mr Kunatheeswaran and his franchisees are now challenging that injunction ruling in the Appeal Court, with a final decision now on hold from Lord Justice Newey Lord Justice Arnold and Lady Justice Falk, to be delivered at a later date. A haunting message left on the body of a crime boss shot dead in what is believed to be a cartel gangland assassination could link the crime to the horrific slaughter of nine Mexican students who had their hands hacked off by gangsters 300 miles away. Prominent businessman Jose Alfredo Lavariega Canseco, alias 'Jocha', was found dead in his car in the Canta Rana neighbourhood of Barra Copalita, on the southern coast of Mexico, police announced on Sunday. On his body was a note written in Spanish that read: 'This is what you get for being a thief.' Leaked WhatsApp conversations between a group of students killed in San Jose Miahuatlan, to the north, suggest that Jocha was in touch with them - as local media reports they had carried out a string of robberies at the businessman's direction. Mexican outlet NVI Noticias claimed the students were members of the 'Los Zacapoaxtlas' criminal organisation who had 'messed with the wrong person'. Local media reports that Jocha, a former mayoral candidate, had brought them to the region to 'carry out criminal activities' before 'things went wrong, triggering a conflict with local gangs'. 'This is what you get for being a thief,' a message on the body read Prominent businessman Jose Alfredo Lavariega Canseco, alias 'Jocha' The horrifying remains of the students' bodies were discovered inside the trunk of an deserted car in San Jose Miahuatlan, on the border of the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca Your browser does not support iframes. The remains of nine bodies were discovered this weekend inside the trunk of a deserted car in San Jose Miahuatlan, roughly 175 miles from Mexico City. Five of the nine were found underneath a blood-soaked tarp, while the remaining four were found contorted inside the trunk in what is believed to be yet another savage cartel killing. Brenda Salas, 19, narrowly escaped death after being kidnapped, beaten, and abandoned on a highway. In a shocking twist she told the Tlaxcala State Attorney General's Office that it was in fact agents assigned to the municipality's police department who forced her into a patrol vehicle and kidnapped them. Initial reports from Mexican outlets suggested the victims were students, originally from Tlaxcala, who had traveled to the beaches in Oaxaca for vacation. But NVI Noticias reported that the group were criminally involved, citing police reports that at the beginning of February they arrived on Oaxacan coast and 'established their centre of operations to commit robberies of bank account holders, business thefts and looting'. The outlet cited messages allegedly sent by the students to a 'Zacapoaxtlas' WhatsApp group referencing Jocha. 'We're worth it V., and send it to Jocha... he says he's on his way here... don't make noise,' one was reported to have read. Another message sent to a WhatsApp group saved as 'Los zacapoaxtlas' read: 'Jocha is talking to me / that they are going to the beach...' The grisly discovery of the nine bodies came as the supposed leader of the Los Zacapoaxtlas - Jose Alfredo, known as El Jocha - was also shot dead on Sunday. Your browser does not support iframes. Five of the nine missing students' remains were found underneath a blood-soaked tarp, while the remaining four were found inside the trunk. Pictured: Onlookers capture the scene unfolding along the side of the high-trafficked Cuacnopalan-Oaxaca highway Pictured: Authorities search the deserted car in San Jose Miahuatlan containing mutilated bodies Of the nine students, five were men and four were women, all were believed to be aged 19 to 30 years old, El Financiero reported. Pictured: Jacqueline Ailet Meza Cazares Authorities have tracked down surveillance footage from February 24 showing the vehicle driving along the Atlixcayotl highway near the town of Atlixco about 90 miles west of where the students' remains were found The body of El Jocha, who had previously run for a mayoral position in Oaxaca's resort region of Huatulco, was found with a message that read: 'That's what you get for being a thief'. Cartels are renowned for chopping off the hands of people it sees as thieves, suggesting the murders are all linked and likely carried out by the same group. Jocha was a 'respected' businessman-turned-politician in the region before his death, according to Imparcial Oaxaca. He had run for the municipal presidency of Santa Maria Huatulco with the Partido Encuentro Social (PES) party, but lost out. Police reported finding his body on Sunday with signs of violence and gunshot wounds. The Attorney General's Office of the State of Oaxaca (FGEO) has started an investigation into the death. So far, the motive is unknown, local media reports. Unearthed texts suggest he may have been in contact with the nine killed in San Jose Miahuatlan. The crime-riddled country saw the most violent year in its recent history. Pictured: Lesly Noya Trejo The Puebla State Attorney General's Office is unable to divulge any additional information, citing confidentiality concerns Cartel violence is rife in Mexico. Victims are often mutilated and have their hands chopped off NVI Noticias cited local investigations finding that the students 'could be involved' in the robbery of an unnamed individual at a Santander bank in Santa Cruz Huatulco. The outlet cited alleged WhatsApp messages in which they were said to have discussed taking 401,500 pesos, referencing an article claiming almost half a million had been stolen. They were also accused of trying to rob a Santander ATM in downtown Huatulco, and trying to rob a shopping centre, both on February 17. The report suggests they may have called Jocha for help when 'alleged police officers' showed up at their hotel. The French navy has been branded a 'taxi service' after it failed to stop a migrant dinghy headed to Britain that got into trouble in its waters yesterday. Shocking scenes showed the packed boat - carrying 60 people - struggling to break through the waves as migrants onboard appeared to wave for help. But after allegedly being told not to intervene by the migrants, French navy safety ship Ridens radioed UK Border Force staff to rush to the dinghy, while continuing to shadow it towards English waters. Eventually, the passengers were taken on board the British Typhoon. After talks with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, France's interior minister Bruno Retailleau has vowed to 'rethink our approach' to stop inflatables leaving French waters. Meanwhile, MPs and eyewitnesses have slammed the French navy for simply escorting the vessel rather than stopping it from crossing the median line of the Channel. One witness said: 'This was a complete taxi service.' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'The French should have stopped this boat near their shores and not ushered it into UK waters. 'By allowing these crossings to continue, it is endangering life - nearly 100 have died crossing in the last year.' The French Navy had been following a dinghy of 60 migrants since the early hours of the morning yesterday Migrants are loaded onto a UK Border Force boat on the Channel yesterday morning Shocking scenes showed the packed dinghy struggling to break through the waves yesterday Migrants have been losing their lives at alarming rates in recent years when crossing French territory into England. Around 33 people are believed to have been on board an inflatable dinghy which sank in the early hours of November 24, 2021 - killing at least 27 of its passengers including men, women and children. The group of migrants left Dunkirk, France, at 10pm the previous night - realising their boat was sinking at 1.30am. It is said to be the deadliest-ever English Channel crossing on record. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also condemned yesterday's incident, suggesting too many small boats are crossing the Channel without intervention from France. 'The French may stop the odd boat in the shallows but overall this will make little difference as these pictures clearly show,' the politician said. The French navy explained the migrants did not want assistance after being offered help from their safety vessel. In a statement translated into English, the force said: 'In the immediate vicinity of the British SRR (Search and Rescue Region), under the surveillance of the Ridens, a person from the boat made a request for assistance. A Border Force vessel is seen rescuing a dinghy with around 60 migrants on the English Channel yesterday morning The group of migrants were transported to the UK Border Force vessel before they were taken to Dover yesterday The French officials met the UK Border Force nine miles later and handed over the migrants who were brought to Dover An Irish Ferry behind the boat of migrants as they waited to be rescued Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. 'After consultation with British resources, the French ship launched its operational drome boat (EDO) to go provide assistance. 'Having made contact, the EDO personnel noted that the migrants were no longer making a request for assistance. 'The boat then continued on its route to enter the British SRR under the surveillance of the French ship and its EDO. 'The operations to recover migrants by British means were then conducted with the support of the EDO of the French ship.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We do not comment upon operational matters.' New figures show how the small boat crisis is deepening. In just the first four days of this month 1,168 migrants have made their way across the Channel, with 326 migrants in six boats making the perilous journey yesterday. This is the first recording of more than 1,000 arrivals in four days so far this year, according to Home Office data. The total number migrants this year so far to 3,224 - eight percent higher than the same point last year and also nine per cent up on 2023 where 2,953 migrants crossing the Channel by this point. Labour is being urged to change the law amid suggestions ministers are powerless to overrule new guidance telling judges to give minorities special treatment in the courts. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, is facing calls to rush through legislation to block new principles published by the Sentencing Council. The updated guidance has sparked claims of 'two-tier sentencing' after it told judges to consider a defendant's ethnicity when deciding whether to send them to prison. Poised to come into force from April, the fresh guidelines state a pre-sentence report would usually be necessary for someone of an ethnic, cultural or faith minority. This would also be the case if an offender is aged 18 to 25, an addict, a woman, pregnant, transgender, or with a mental health illness. Pre-sentence reports often set out reasons why a jail sentence would be detrimental for an offender. Ms Mahmood last night blasted the Sentencing Council's updated guidelines, saying: 'There will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch.' She vowed to write to the independent body to recommend they reverse the changes to their guidance. But, despite her anger, a Government source told the BBC that Ms Mahmood cannot order the Sentencing Council to abandon their changes. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, is facing calls to rush through legislation to block new principles published by the Sentencing Council Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told the Justice Secretary to alter the law in order to block the new guidelines and offered her party's support should she do so Poised to come into force from April, the fresh guidelines state a pre-sentence report would usually be necessary for someone of an ethnic, cultural or faith minority Tory leader Kemi Badenoch this morning told the Justice Secretary to alter the law in order to block the new guidelines and offered her party's support should she do so. She said: 'If the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood doesn't want a two-tier criminal justice system she should change the law and the Conservatives will back her. 'Ministers should decide not quangos. Labour need to grip this.' Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, hit out at the Sentencing Council's new guidance as 'social engineering' and warned the changes are 'dangerous'. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'If you're asking me, should we try to use things like pre-sentencing reports to socially engineer our criminal justice system so there is equality of outcome rather than equality of treatment? 'No, I think that's wrong. And I think that's a dangerous approach.' In another interview with Times Radio, Mr Jenrick claimed that 'Christian and straight white men' will be treated differently to others under the guidelines. He said that rule of law means people do not get treated differently by the courts, adding: 'What worries me about these sentencing guidelines that were published yesterday... is that they do precisely that. 'They say that you are less likely to get a custodial sentence because your case would be handled through a pre-sentencing report commissioned by a judge, if you're a woman, if you're trans, if you're neurodiverse, if you're an ethnic minority, if you're from a minority faith group, which presumably means anyone who isn't Christian. 'Essentially Christian and straight white men, amongst other groups, will be treated differently to the rest of society. 'And I think that's wrong. I think that is an example of two-tier justice, and it will corrode public trust and confidence in the criminal justice system which clearly I don't want to see.' Ms Mahmood last night blasted the Sentencing Council's updated guidelines, saying: 'There will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch' In a statement last night, Ms Mahmood said: 'The Sentencing Council is entirely independent. 'Today's updated guidelines do not represent my views or the views of this Government. 'I will be writing to the Sentencing Council to register my displeasure and to recommend reversing this change to guidance. 'As someone who is from an ethnic minority background myself, I do not stand for any differential treatment before the law, for anyone of any kind. 'There will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch.' The Sentencing Council said a greater emphasis has now been placed on the 'critical role' of pre-sentence reports, with more detail on when judges should request for the information to be compiled ahead of sentencing decisions. This includes details about the circumstances of the crime and the offender. Lord Justice William Davis, chairman of the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, said one of the reasons for the updated guidance was to make sure courts have the 'most comprehensive information available' to hand out an appropriate sentence. On pre-sentence reports, he added: 'The reasons for including groups vary but include evidence of disparities in sentencing outcomes, disadvantages faced within the criminal justice system and complexities in circumstances of individual offenders that can only be understood through an assessment. 'Pre-sentence reports provide the court with information about the offender; they are not an indication of sentence. 'Sentences are decided by the independent judiciary, following sentencing guidelines and taking into account all the circumstances of the individual offence and the individual offender.' Lord Justice Davis said a sentence properly tailored to individual circumstances of the offender had the 'greatest likelihood' of being effective. He added of the updated guidelines: 'It will ensure that the principles for imposing community and custodial sentences continue to be consistently and transparently applied by the courts and that such sentences are the most suitable and appropriate for the offender and offence before them.' Further advice for courts to 'avoid' sending pregnant women or mothers of babies to prison has been welcomed by campaigners. The guidance states: 'For offences that carry a mandatory minimum custodial sentence, pregnancy and the postnatal period may contribute to 'exceptional circumstances' that could justify not imposing the statutory minimum sentence.' Reacting to the move, Janey Starling, co-director of feminist campaign group Level Up, said the changes are a 'huge milestone' in the campaign to end imprisoning pregnant women and mothers. Liz Forrester, from group No Births Behind Bars, said it finally recognises the 'deadly impact' of prison on babies and pregnant women. The SNP sounded defiance today over its 'vital' plan to slash speed limits on Scottish roads. Transport minister Fiona Hyslop said the proposals - condemned by critics as 'nanny state' and 'clueless' - can play a 'significant role' in cutting deaths. The comments came after a record 19,000 responses were received to the Scottish government's consultation. Currently speed limits for cars north of the border are 30mph in built-up areas, 60mph on single carriageways and 70mph for dual carriageways and motorways. While the national speed limit on single carriageways would be reduced to 50mph, the top speed for vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes could go up from 40mph to 50mph. On dual carriageways heavy vehicles would be allowed to go 60mph instead of 50mph. The changes would mean significantly different limits applying on each side of the border with England. The SNP was branded 'clueless' today after unveiling plans to cut the national speed limit from 60mph to 50mph (stock picture) Ms Hyslop said all responses submitted as part of the consultation, which closed yesterday, will be 'carefully' assessed. 'With over 19,000 responses the largest ever consultation response Transport Scotland has received it is clear that these proposals are of great importance to the public and stakeholders. 'Over the coming months, Transport Scotland will carefully assess all feedback before the findings and next steps are published later this year. 'I want to be clear that road safety remains an absolute priority for the Scottish Government and we are fully committed to working towards our ambitious goal of making Scotland's roads the safest in the world by 2030.' Ms Hyslop added: 'Evidence indicates that these proposed speed limit changes could play a significant role in preventing road deaths and serious injuries whilst maintaining journey times and improving journey time reliability. 'We must never lose sight of the fact that one death on our roads is one too many. These proposals represent a vital step towards making Scotland roads safer.' Analysis as part of the National Speed Management Review is said to have suggested the changes could 'significantly reduce' collisions where someone is injured, while at the same time ensuring journey times are more reliable. Transport minister Fiona Hyslop (pictured with SNP leader John Swinney) said the proposals - condemned by critics as 'nanny state' and 'clueless' - can play a 'significant role' in cutting deaths The number of people killed on Scotland's roads fell from 171 in 2022 to 155 in 2023, but the overall number of casualties increased by 3 per cent to 5,788, with serious casualties up by 9 per cent from 1,778 to 1,930 last year. However, Tories have complained that 'the most dangerous driving is when people are overtaking slow vehicles, or speeding far beyond the current 60mph limit'. Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said when the plans were unveiled last year: 'This move is typical of a clueless Govt that can only restrict, not improve your lives.' Dramatic footage has revealed the potentially life-saving moment a pilot and a passenger heroically restrained a teenager who allegedly attempted to board a plane armed with a shotgun and several knives. The 17-year-old boy was wrestled to the ground and allegedly disarmed in front of 160 passengers on the Sydney-bound Jetstar flight prior just minutes before takeoff from Avalon Airport outside Melbourne at 2.20pm on Thursday. Barry Clark, a farmer and shearer from Moama in southern NSW, is seen putting the teenager in a headlock as the pilot quickly emptied the contents of his tool belt. It's understood the teen posed as a maintenance worker and had cut a hole in the high-chain perimeter fence at Avalon Airport in get onto the runway. Flight attendants became suspicious when the man was unable to show identification, and because no maintenance work was scheduled, the Herald Sun reports. Mr Clark sprang into action after he spotted the teen's alleged weapons and was able to put him in a headlock and wrestle him to the ground. 'Before we knew it, a shotgun [allegedly] appeared,' he told the Herald Sun. 'He had other apparatus on him. I don't know what his full intention was. It looked like he was trying to get into the cockpit, actually.' Barry Clark, a farmer and shearer from Moama, is seen putting the teenager in a headlock as the pilot quickly emptied the contents of his tool belt (pictured) The pilot and two passengers restrained and disarmed the teenager on the plane (pictured) Mr Clark said the teenager became 'agitated' when he was asked by flight attendants to show his credentials as he entered the plane. Police arrived at the airport and took the teenager into custody about 2.50pm. He is not previously known to police and officers say it is still too early to determine if the alleged incident was an act of terrorism. Passenger Daniel Defino captured the incident on his phone. 'The pilot saw the shotgun and that and leapt onto him and there was a guy next to us called Barry [Clark] who put him in a headlock and that's when I started recording,' Mr Defino told 7News. 'He was dead silent [and] there was no emotion in his eyes at all. 'He looked almost fake, it was so scary.' In the footage, the pilot can be heard urging all passengers to immediately exit the plane via the rear door. Daniel Defino (pictured) captured the terrifying moment the teenager boarded the plane The teenager is seen being restrained on the floor of the cabin of the Jetstar plane Mr Clark is then heard telling the pilot that he will hold the intruder down while the others worked to disarm him. 'I don't want to f****** let him go. I'm not strangling you, mate, but you're not f****** moving alright?' he said. During the struggle the pilot removed what appeared to be the barrel of a shotgun. The pilot also kicked away the gun's stock which was already on the floor. A flight attendant can be heard calling the police. 'We need you out here urgently,' they said. Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Reid said it was 'very concerning' that the teen was able to gain entry to the runway so easily. 'I can't communicate more clearly how concerning that is,' Superintendent Reid said. Police arrived at the scene around 2.50pm and took the teen into custody (pictured) 'It would have been a very frightening experience for those passengers involved, but once again I do really commend the bravery of those civilian passengers that helped assist to overpower him. 'Victoria Police truly commend the bravery of those passengers, who were able to overpower that male.' All flights to and from Avalon Airport were cancelled while police searched the airport where officers allegedly discovered ammunition. Jetstar confirmed it had been briefed about a 'security incident' at the airport and that it was working with police to understand what happened. 'The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there are no reported injuries,' a spokesperson said in a statement. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who fled to America when Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine could be deported as soon as April, it has emerged. President Donald Trump plans to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who sought refuge in the US, a senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter have revealed to Reuters. The planned rollback of protections for Ukrainians was underway before Trump publicly feuded with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting in the Oval Office last week. It is part of a broader Trump Administration effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8million migrants who were allowed to enter the US under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched under the Biden Administration, the sources said. The moves follows the White House suspending its intelligence sharing with Ukraine and cutting off all US military aid to the war-torn nation as America tries to force Kyiv to the negotiating table. American intelligence has been crucial to Ukraine for it to identify Russian military targets during the brutal invasion that began in February 2022. The major military and intelligence moves came amid serious fears that Ukraine would run out of American military supplies within a few weeks. The planned rollback of protections for Ukrainians was underway before Trump publicly feuded with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting in the Oval Office last week (pictured) President Donald Trump's administration is planning to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, a senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter said But in recent weeks, Zelensky and Trump have been quarrelling on the world stage, leading to souring relations between their nations. The US-Ukraine relationship appeared on the brink of collapse last Friday when the Ukrainian leader was unceremoniously booted out of the White House without signing a long-awaited minerals deal. Zelensky Tuesday night backtracked on this, telling the world he was ready to work under Trump's 'strong leadership' and wants to 'make things right' after their 'regrettable' Oval Office row. Trump said during his State of the Union speech later that evening that he appreciated the Ukrainian leader's words. But on Wednesday, the US piled pressure on Zelensky to cooperate with Trump in convening peace talks with Russia by pausing intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. The UK, who has vowed to stand by Ukraine throughout the three-year war, is among those who have been banned from sharing Washington intelligence with Kyiv. Information about Russia's intentions and military movements has been critical to Ukraine's defense and a strong indication of support from the US and other Western allies. 'We have taken a step back and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship,' national security adviser Mike Waltz said Wednesday. A Ukrainian serviceman prepares to fire a M777 howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline near Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, March 3, 2025 Comments from top Trump administration officials suggest Ukraine could soon be receiving intelligence from the US once Zelensky shows to Trump he is serious about participating in peace talks. CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the suspension a 'pause' and said it came after the disastrous meeting between the two leaders last week. Ratcliffe said Trump wanted to know that Zelensky was serious about peace. 'On the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen will go away, and I think well work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have,' he explained. Waltz echoed Ratcliffe's remarks during an interview on Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends. He said: 'I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations and, in fact, put some confidence building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause. 'We have to know that both sides are sincerely negotiating towards a partial, then permanent, peace.' A view of damage after Russian missile hit a hotel and caused the death of three people in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine on March 6, 2025 People attend a rally addressed to the US government, asking for help in freeing Ukrainian prisoners of war held captive in Russia, in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, March 6, 2025 Russia earlier this week hailed Trump's decision to cut aid to Ukraine, asserting that the withdrawal of arms 'will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace'. 'It is obvious that the United States has been the main supplier of this war so far. If the United States stops being (an arms supplier) or suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today. The moves by sparked fury in Ukraine, wider Europe and among Democrats in the US, who say Trump is depriving a key American ally of assistance they need to fight Russia. Trump's critics suggested any long-term freeze would lengthen rather than shorten the war, as it would encourage the Kremlin to exploit Kyiv's dwindling weapons and ammunition stocks and launch a fresh bid for more territory. European Union leaders plan to hold emergency talks on Thursday to figure out how to quickly increase their military budgets after the Trump Administration signaled that Europe must take care of its own security and also suspended assistance to Ukraine. 'Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime. Some of our fundamental assumptions are being undermined to their very core,' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned in a letter to the EU's 27 leaders, who on Tuesday unveiled an 800bn (669bn) plan to rearm Europe. But perhaps the biggest challenge for the EU on Thursday will be to take a united stance at a moment when it's fractured, since much of what the bloc does requires unanimous support. But individual states like France are beginning to step up. French president Emmanuel Macron gravely said Wednesday night that he is open to discussing how to extend the protection offered by nuclear missiles to his nation's European allies. A handout photo made available by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine shows rescuers working at the site where a Russian rocket hit a five-storey hotel in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, 05 March 2025 Trump, in his speech to Congress Tuesday night, claimed that Putin has sent 'strong signals' he is ready for a Ukraine peace deal. In a marathon 100-minute speech Trump also said Zelensky had written to him following the Oval Office showdown, and that the Ukrainian leader was ready to return to the negotiating table. Trump said he 'appreciated' Zelensky's response, urged him to ink a deal allowing US companies to extract rare earth minerals from his country, and accused European countries of spending more money on Russian oil than helping Ukraine. Trump also said he was skeptical of America sending 'billions of dollars' to Kyiv and asked if Democrats wanted the war to 'keep going for another five years'. 'Wouldn't that be beautiful?' Trump said sarcastically. 'It's time to stop this madness. It's time to halt the killing. It's time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars you have to talk to both sides.' Trump said he had been in 'serious discussions with Russia' and had 'received strong signals that they are ready for peace.' He went on: 'I received an important letter from President Zelensky of Ukraine.' Trump then revealed that Zelensky's letter said: 'Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you.' Trump said: 'I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago.' He then criticized Europe over its approach to Ukraine, saying: 'Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine by far.' Firefighters work at the site of houses destroyed by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Slatyne, Kharkiv region, Ukraine March 6, 2025 Trump's move to revoke legal status for Ukranian refugees follows the executive order he issued on January 20 calling for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to 'terminate all categorical parole programs'. Trump, while campaigning for the White House, pledged to end the Biden-era parole programs, saying they went beyond the bounds of US law. The president also plans to revoke parole for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as soon as this month, the insiders said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Migrants stripped of their parole status could face fast-track deportation proceedings, according to an internal ICE email seen by Reuters. Immigrants who cross the border illegally can be put into the fast-track deportation process known as expedited removal, for two years after they enter. But for those who entered through legal ports of entry without being officially 'admitted' to the US - as with those on parole - there is no time limit on their rapid removal, the email said. Rescuers carry a wounded person at the site of a hotel building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 6, 2025 President Donald Trump revealed Vladimir Putin has sent clear signals that he's ready for a Ukraine peace deal in a fiery and unapologetic address to Congress on Tuesday night The Biden programs were part of a broader effort to create temporary legal pathways to deter illegal immigration and provide humanitarian relief. In addition to the 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, and the 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, these programs covered more than 70,000 Afghans escaping the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. An additional 1 million migrants scheduled a time to cross at a legal border crossing via an app known as CBP One. Thousands more had access to smaller programs, including family reunification parole for certain people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told Reuters the department had no announcements at this time. DailyMail.com has approached the White House and Ukrainian Embassy for comment. Ukraine's ambassador to the UK has accused Donald Trump of 'destroying' the world order by making concessions to Russia. Valerii Zaluzhnyi told a conference at the Chatham House think tank that recent steps by Washington towards Moscow were 'a huge challenge'. The former commander in chief of Ukraine's military - often tipped as a future successor to Volodymyr Zelensky - also questioned whether Nato could survive the dramatic shift. The comments came as Mr Zelensky desperately tries to repair relations with Mr Trump after their extraordinary White House bust-up. Keir Starmer and European leaders have been trying to shore up the alliance, but are urging Kyiv to do what is needed to bring America back on side. Mr Trump used an address to Congress on Tuesday night to signal that tensions could be easing, praising Mr Zelensky for sending a letter stressing his commitment to peace. However, the US President has also ordered a freeze on shipments of US military aid to Ukraine. Washington has paused intelligence sharing with Kyiv - potentially preventing strikes on Russian targets - and halted cyber operations against Moscow. The Kremlin has been boasting that US policy is now aligned with their own, while allies of Vladimir Putin have said Mr Trump has not asked for any concessions in discussions about peace. Mr Zaluzhnyi said trying to meet Russia 'halfway' was a disastrous mistake. Valerii Zaluzhnyi told a conference at the Chatham House think tank that recent steps by Washington towards Moscow were 'a huge challenge' The comments came as Mr Zelensky desperately tries to repair relations with Mr Trump after their extraordinary White House bust-up Your browser does not support iframes. He said: 'We see that it is not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the US is finally destroying this order.' Mr Zaluzhnyi also warned that the White House had 'questioned the unity of the whole Western world' and suggested Nato could cease to exist as a result. He said the pause in cyber operations and an earlier decision by the US to oppose a UN resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine were 'a huge challenge for the entire world'. He added that talks between the US and Russia 'headed by a war criminal' showed the White House 'makes steps towards the Kremlin, trying to meet them halfway', warning Moscow's next target 'could be Europe'. The jibes risk infuriating the president again, as Ukraine acknowledges the difficulty of fighting without assistance from Washington. But a poll today underlined the huge impact on Mr Trump's standing among Brits from his treatment of Mr Zelensky. YouGov found that since February 17 the Republican's favourability has slumped from an already-dismal minus 48 to minus 57. The plunge has been particularly stark among Reform voters, with the net score going from plus 38 to minus eight. Keir Starmer and European leaders have been trying to shore up the alliance, but are urging Mr Zelensky (pictured together with Emmanuel Macron in London at the weekend) to do what is needed to bring the Washington back on side By contrast, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has increased in popularity, with the proportion of Britons with a favourable view of the Ukrainian leader increasing from 64 per cent to 71 per cent. Again, the shift is largest among Reform UK voters, among whom he is now more popular than Mr Trump. The number with a favourable view of Zelenskyy has increased from 49 per cent to 62 per cent over the last fortnight, while those with an unfavourable view has declined from 37 per cent to 27 per cent. A fine art lecturer who accused her colleague of racism after he refused to let her use the printer has sued the college where she worked. Samiya Younis accused Aiden Daley of being 'incredibly rude', 'racist', and 'having an issue with women' after he told her that she could not use the IT equipment in a room which was not accessible to all staff. However the lecturer's official complaint about the reprographics officer was dismissed by bosses who branded her allegations as 'inappropriate' and 'unsubstantiated'. Ms Younis - who is of South Asian heritage - was later dismissed after management found that the attendance level in her classes was 'low', and received 'numerous' complaints from students and colleagues about her 'behaviour and attitude'. She took the college to an employment tribunal, accusing them of having an 'institutional culture of denial and exclusion', but now her claims have again been dismissed. Finding no evidence of discrimination, Employment Judge Sarah Keogh said the lecturer, who was said to have a 'propensity to make serious allegations', had been 'angered' by Mr Daley's 'refusal to do what she wanted'. The tribunal, held in central London, heard Ms Younis started working for United Colleges Group as a Fine Art Lecturer in September, 2021. The educational institution was formed from the merger of City of Westminster College and the College of North West London and Ms Younis worked on the Paddington campus. Art lecturer Samiya Younis sued her college after claiming a colleague had racially discriminated against her by not allowing her to use a printer The tribunal said the college had around 13 printers in the building for the 'general use of students and staff'. But, the panel noted that the printers in the reprographics room - which was used for printing confidential information - were not for general use and access to the room was for a 'limited number of staff' who entered with a swipe card. The tribunal heard that in October 2021, Ms Younis was at a printer in a room 'looking stressed'. Mr Daley, a Reprographics Officer at the college, spotted the lecturer and offered her his card so she could gain access to the equipment. As she was using it, he spotted that Ms Younis was using editing functions and was 'conscious this would be time consuming' which would be an 'issue' as it was a communal printer. Mr Daley suggested that the lecturer scan the image and edit it on a computer, rather than adjust the printer settings. But, he claimed that in response, Ms Younis' 'demeanour changed' and she 'became argumentative and accused him of shouting at her', saying words to the effect of 'I can use that machine if I want'. The lecturer later complained about Mr Daley and said he 'is racist or has an issue with women'. The tribunal, held in central London, heard Ms Younis started working for United Colleges Group as a Fine Art Lecturer in September, 2021 In May the following year, the lecturer knocked on the door of the reprographics room containing Mr Daley and one other. According to his evidence, Mr Daley told Ms Younis that she could not enter the room, which was not accessible to all staff members and students, and said she had access to other machines in the building. Ms Younis asked Mr Daley if he could make an 'exception', which he said he said he can not, and so she told him 'you're so rude' and 'I'm staff, I should be able to use it'. Afterwards, the lecturer emailed another colleague to complain about the incident in which she described Mr Daley as 'incredibly rude and dismissive'. 'I firmly believe he is racist or has an issue with women,' she wrote. 'His behaviour is not acceptable at all.' That day, she sent a message to a chat including 53 members of staff, five of whom were managers, asking if anyone else had 'issues' with Mr Daley. She then raised a formal grievance against him, citing the two printer incidents. But her claims were dismissed by a senior colleague, who said the 'accusation of racism and sexism is unsubstantiated' and that is was 'inappropriate for [Ms Younis] to make assumptions of racism and misogyny based on the limited interactions with [Mr Daley]'. Ms Younis appealed this decision and while this was being dealt with, a staff award ceremony took place which saw Mr Daley receive a prize for 'Excellent Customer Service'. The lecturer claimed these awards amounted to a 'culture of systemic cover-up' and felt like a 'collective dismissal of her concerns and reinforced an institutional culture of denial and exclusion'. But employment Judge Keogh said this 'baseless and somewhat bizarre' allegation is 'wholly unsubstantiated' and said it was 'wholly unreasonable' that Ms Younis would reach such a conclusion. After her probation was reviewed in August of that year, the lecturer was dismissed. Bosses said that attendance on her courses had been 'far below' the college's benchmark, there had been 'numerous student complaints' against Ms Younis, and all but one of the Art team had complaints about her 'behaviour and attitude'. The lecturer appealed the decision to dismiss her and raised a claim with an employment tribunal, alleging race, sex, religion and belief discrimination. The college said Ms Younis' conduct was that 'she does not like not getting what she wants', 'has no regard for rules and instruction if it does not align with what she wants' and has a 'propensity to make serious allegations'. Her claims were dismissed by EJ Keogh, who said: 'The [college] had a clear policy in relation to use of the reprographics room due to the confidential nature of documents being reproduced in it and the high volume printing it was set up to deal with. 'There is no evidence to suggest that Mr Daley would have permitted any other member of staff without formal authorisation to use the room given its purpose and the clear policy. 'We have no doubt that the reasons why Mr Daley refused the [Ms Younis'] request were entirely to do with the [college's] policy and nothing to do with [her] race or sex.' EJ Keogh concluded Ms Younis was 'angered by Mr Daley's refusal to do what she wanted' and therefore wanted the college to 'take some form of punitive action against him'. The father of the 13-year-old cancer survivor who was made a honorary Secret Service agent has slammed the MSNBC host who branded the tribute 'disgusting'. DJ Daniel, who has been battling a rare form of brain and spine cancer for six years, has always dreamt of becoming a law enforcement officer. President Donald Trump made DJ a member of his Secret Service protective detail during his joint address to Congress Tuesday night in a viral speech moment that Americans loved. DJ's father Theodis Daniel held the youngster up as he received his badge from Director Sean Curran, while Republicans in the gallery chanted the boy's name. The heartfelt moment was hailed as 'beautiful' by MAGA allies, but was heavily criticized by liberals - including MSNBC star Rachel Maddow. The presenter, speaking on her program The Rachel Maddow show, called the tribute 'disgusting' and accused Trump of making a 'spectacle out of praising a young man who's thus far survived pediatric cancer'. But former Navy machinist mate and fireman Theodis hit back at Maddow, saying the host 'needs to shut her mouth if she has nothing nice to say'. 'This lady didn't even serve time in the military,' he told the New York Post. 'I was on the USS Kitty Hawk. She does not need to put her bad energy on us.' DJ Daniel, 13, was an honorary Secret Service member during President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress Tuesday night. His father Theodis Daniel (pictured holding DJ during the tribute Tuesday) has now slammed the MSNBC host who branded the tribute 'disgusting' MSNBC star Rachel Maddow, speaking on her namesake program, called the tribute 'disgusting' and accused Trump of making a 'spectacle out of praising a young man who's thus far survived pediatric cancer' DJ and his father Theodis visited the Oval Office on Wednesday. DJ gave Trump a 'big hug', which the president embraced Theodis, 47, said the family was approached by the White House, who claimed the president wanted to meet his son. The administration flew them to DC and had FBI agents pick them up from the airport, he told the Post. During the Congressional address, the Daniel family was sat next to First Lady Melania Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, who has been dubbed Trump's 'First Buddy'. Theodis claimed that Musk shook their hands and hailed the First Lady for being so 'nice, sweet, down to earth'. The father-son duo also visited the visited the Oval Office on Wednesday. DJ gave Trump a 'big hug', which the president embraced. The youngster's aunt told the newspaper that Trump's tribute to DJ was 'awesome' and claimed that 'such an honor will help him to reach his goals'. DJ is trying to get sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible as he and his family try to raise awareness about his condition. According to his father, the Secret Service induction was DJ's 909th swearing-in as an honorary law enforcement officer. The boy's first swearing-in occurred in Brookshire, Texas in 2019, when DJ, then six, was made an honorary officer with the city's police department. Two years later, Theodis invited the Texas state troopers to celebrate DJ's ninth birthday. A 'swarm of officers' showed up and helped swear him in. 'It grew from there. Suddenly everyone wanted to have him in,' Theodis recalled. The 13-year-old has been battling brain cancer for six years, since his 2018 diagnosis. At the time, he was told he would likely only live another five months Theodis (pictured shaking President Trump's hand in the Oval Office on Wednesday) has hit back at MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, saying 'she needs to shut her mouth if she has nothing nice to say' DJ decided he wanted to be a law enforcement officer after being inspired by the Houston police department's response to Hurricane Harvey. But he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2018 and - at the time - was told he would likely only live another five months. In order to help make sure DJ's dreams come true, Trump revealed during his speech to Congress that DJ would receive 'the biggest honor of them all'. 'He has always dreamed of becoming a police officer,' Trump said. 'But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer.' 'The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.' 'And tonight, DJ, we're going to do you the biggest honor of them all.' DJ was held up by Theodis for the touching moment as he received his badge from new Secret Service Director Sean Curran. Republicans in the House gallery chanted 'DJ.' But the Democrats remained noticeably silent, refusing to applaud or stand in support of the young boy. President Trump shared a heartwarming moment with a little boy suffering from brain cancer during his Congress speech by making him an honorary Secret Service agent Republicans in the House gallery stood up, clapping and chanting 'DJ', while many Democrats remained noticeably quiet in their seats In order to help make sure his dreams come true, Trump (pictured during his speech to Congress) revealed that DJ would be officially sworn in as a Secret Service agent Republicans were outraged by the response with Donald Trump Jr leading criticism against the 'deeply disturbed' Democrats on his father's platform Truth Social. 'If you can't stand up and cheer for a kid with brain cancer being made an honorary member of the Secret Service, then you might be a deeply disturbed and f***ed up person!!!' the First Son posted. Don Jr's remarks were echoed by MAGA allies who branded the Democrats as 'awful', 'lousy' and 'heartless' - as liberals hit back, alleging that Trump was using the boy as a 'political prop'. 'Democrats refused to stand for the brain cancer surviving kid! How awful can one party be?' tweeted Outkick founder Clay Travis. Ric Grennell, an official in Trump's Administration, said: 'A terminally ill child with brain cancer is given an honorary Secret Service award and the Democrats refuse to stand or clap for the child.' Republican activist Scott Pressler added: 'Democrats didn't even stand for the boy who survived brain cancer.' 'Can't believe the lousy Democrats can't even applaud a little boy with brain cancer or a Kennedy who wants to Make America Healthy Again,' tweeted New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. 'The Democrats tonight did not even applaud for this 13 years old boy with brain cancer. They seemed cold and heartless,' slammed 2024 congressional nominee Lily Tang Williams. 'Did they have a prior party agreement: no matter what, don't clap? They have no independent thinking skills.' Donald Trump Jr has launched a scathing attack against the 'deeply disturbed' Democrats who refused to clap as his father honored a young boy suffering from brain cancer Don Jr's remarks were echoed by MAGA allies who branded the Democrats as 'awful', 'lousy' and 'heartless' Meghan McCain, whose father Sen. John McCain (R- Arizona ) died of brain cancer in 2018, did not launch a wave of criticism, but instead praised the president for creating such a 'beautiful' and 'special' moment Meghan McCain, whose father Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) died of brain cancer in 2018, did not launch a wave of criticism, but instead praised the president for creating such a 'beautiful' and 'special' moment. 'This is the first time I can remember crying during a state of the union. Thank you President Trump,' she wrote. 'This is so beautiful. Anyone who has been impacted by brain cancer knows how special this is.' Democrats, however, expressed skepticism over Trump's gesture, suggesting that he was using the Daniels family for political gain. Liberal commentator Kyle Kulinski accused Trump of 'using a kid who had brain cancer as a prop'. 'Trump honoring a child with brain cancer tonight and then leading a standing ovation for him while simultaneously eliminating all spending for child cancer research is a perfect encapsulation of MAGA morality,' wrote self-proclaimed Democrat Carlos Turnbull. 'Not really even sure what to say in response to Trump using a child with brain cancer as a political prop,' added Sam Weinberg, Executive Director of Path to Progress. Democrats, however, expressed skepticism over Trump's gesture, suggesting that he was using the Daniels family for political gain DJ underwent 13 surgeries by the time he was 12 years old. Trump said during his speech to Congress that driving down childhood cancer rates and studying autism cases in the US will be a top priority for his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Childhood cancer remains rare in the US, with about 15,000 children diagnosed with the disease every year. Cases of pediatric cancer have risen in recent years, but treatments have improved, leading to a decline in deaths from the disease. 'Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply and keep our children healthy and strong,' he said. Sabre-rattling China is set to boost its defence spending by 7.2% after threatening America with 'any war' amid a furious row over Donald Trump's planned tariffs. The communist state announced the huge military spending boost as global tensions soared yesterday with Beijing and Washington both declaring themselves ready for conflict. Tensions between the US and China have soared to dizzying heights in recent days, with American president Donald Trump this week increasing tariffs on all Chinese products to 20% over allegations China was fuelling a fentanyl crisis in the States. After refusing to back down on the enormous tariffs on China, which now sit at an enormous 20%, Beijing has promised to 'fight to the end.' China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: 'Exerting extreme pressure on China is the wrong target and the wrong calculation If the US has other intentions and insists on a tariff war, trade war or any other war, China will fight to the end. 'We advise the US to put away its bullying face and return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation as soon as possible.' The Chinese embassy in the US added: 'If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end.' US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said in response that the US is 'prepared' to go to war with China, telling Fox: 'Those who long for peace must prepare for war. that's why we're rebuilding our military. 'If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong, and that president understands peace comes through strength,' Hegseth added. The question of who would win in an all-out war, however, remains unanswered. Your browser does not support iframes. Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army march during a parade to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 2019 in Beijing Chinese President Xi Jinping adjusts his jacket as he listens at the opening session of the National People's Congress, or NPC, at the Great Hall of the People on March 5, 2025 in Beijing China's military shows off their latest missiles during the National Day in Beijing 2024 military budget Here, the US trumps China - for now. The US is the best funded military force in the world, last year spending 653billion ($841billion) on defence. China falls significantly behind on this measure, spending 191billion (1.78 trillion Chinese yuan) on defence. China also falls behind on proportions, with its military budget accounting for just 1.7% of its GDP. This is half the proportion of the US' spend on its military, which is 3.4%. But this imbalance could shift this year, as yesterday announced a 7.2% increase in its military budget as it continues to build and develop its army to assert itself on the world stage. The budget, which adds up to about $245 billion, was announced at the National People's Congress, the annual meeting of China's legislature. The Pentagon and many experts say China's total spending on defense may be 40% higher or more because of items included under other budgets. Despite the US' government-wide cull of the civil service, including the military, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said last month that he was seeking to increase overall US defence spending. Referring to DOGE, the Elon Musk-headed group in charge of auditing and cutting vast swathes of the US government, Hegseth said during his first overseas trip: 'There's plenty of places (at the Pentagon) where we want the keen eye of DOGE, but we'll do it in coordination. 'We're not going to do things that are to the detriment of American operational or tactical capabilities', he added. An inert Minuteman III missile is seen in a training launch tube at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota Refurbished Minuteman missile engines awaiting shipment along with Peacekeeper missile motors This handout photograph on September 26, 2024, shows the Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force launching an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean, at an undisclosed location Nuclear warheads The US, again, outguns China in this measure, at least according to official statistics. Including retired warheads that are yet to be dismantled, the US has 5,177 nuclear warheads, each of which is capable of levelling cities. China, meanwhile, is estimated to have just 500. China does not officially disclose the number of nuclear weapons it has, as it considers this information a state secret. But the makeup of these nuclear weapons is as important as the number each nation owns. China has heavily invested in its warhead modernisation programme, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, by increasing the types of missiles and the number of this. According to a 2023 Pentagon report to Congress, this arsenal will increase to 1,000 by 2030, many of which will probably be 'deployed at higher readiness levels' and most 'fielded on systems capable of ranging the [continental United States]'. The US, by comparison, is having to retire 1,477 nuclear warheads due to their age and the spiralling costs of maintaining them. But, it appears that the US may be pushing to expand the global reach of its nuclear warheads. The Telegraph reported this week that satellite evidence suggested that the UK may play host to American nuclear weapons for the first time in nearly two decades. China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, prepares to set out for maiden sea trials from Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard in eastern China's Shanghai, Wednesday, May 1, 2024 A soldier fires a weapon during a combat training of the 42nd fleet of the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy at an unspecified location in the sea, Jan. 31, 2023 The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson docks at a naval base in the southeastern port city of Busan, South Korea, 02 March 2025 Battleships The US has 297 battle ships under its command, while China has 234. China has in recent weeks been making moves against American allies, which has worried many nations around the world. Chinese warships have been circumnavigating Australia's coastline for three weeks, and has been staging unprecedented live-dire drills next to New Zealand, both of which are in the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance. On top of this, Xi Jinping's warships have been spotted near Vietnam and Taiwan. And in the wake of Trump's global shakeup of the US' longstanding alliances, many are worried that they will be left to fend for themselves. 'It does raise issues as to whether the US will be committed to regional security. And even if the US remains committed, what will the Trump administration ask in return?, Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore told CNN. The US Army Fife and Bugle corps in front of the Lincoln Memorial Members of the U.S. Army pay their respects during a minutes silence a memorial service before the 2021 New York City Veterans day parade, Madison Square Park Troops prepare for the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping (unseen) at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison in one of events marking the 20th anniversary of the city's handover from British to Chinese rule, in Hong Kong Chinese soldiers carry the flags of (L to R) the Communist Party, the state, and the People's Liberation Army during a military parade at the Zhurihe training base in China's northern Inner Mongolia region on July 30, 2017 Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army march during a parade to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 2019 in Beijing Active personnel As the second-largest nation in the world, China has plenty of people to bring into their military. As a result, the nation's army vastly outnumbers the US', with an estimated two million active service members compared to the US' 450,000. And it has been building the infrastructure to deal with the sheer number of troops. Last month, the FT revealed the country is building a military command centre outside Beijing that is estimated to be 10 times larger than the Pentagon. 'If confirmed, this new advanced underground command bunker for the military leadership, including President Xi as the chairman of the Central Military Commission, signals Beijing's intent to build not only a world-class conventional force but also an advanced nuclear warfighting capability,' said Dennis Wilder, the former head of China analysis for the CIA, told the newspaper. Military vehicles carrying soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) march during a parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 2019 in Beijing, China Chinese soldiers ride in tanks as they make their way towards Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City during a military parade Soldiers from China on a Type 96B (ZTZ-96B) battle tank compete in an individual race during the Tank Biathlon 2022 as part of the International Army Games ARMI-2022 at the Alabino training and tactical complex outside Moscow, Russia, 17 August 2022 Armoured fighting vehicle fleet Despite having around a quarter of the troops China does, the US' armoured fighting vehicle fleet vastly outnumbers the Asian nation's. The US has 392,000 vehicles at its command, compared to China's 144,000. But military reports suggest China is seeking to integrate AI systems into its military vehicles, potentially boosting their capabilities. This week, a white paper published by Chongqing Landship Information Technology, an autonomous driving solution provider, revealed it was working to integrate Chinese AI DeepSeek into vehicles. 'In military strategic planning, DeepSeek can conduct in-depth analysis of massive intelligence information and provide military commanders with accurate decision-making support', the paper read. 'DeepSeek has powerful language understanding and generation capabilities, allowing it to adapt to battlefield tasks quickly', the authors added. A deactivated Minuteman Missle stands on display in Lewistowns park in Lewistown, Montana on April 8, 2022 The reentry of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site demonstrate the accuracy of the unarmed ICBM test launch last month Military vehicles carrying the DF-26 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) roll past Tiananmen Square during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) Officially, China and the US can go toe-to-toe on the ICBM field, each nation carrying 400 each. The US' ICBM catalogue is made up of just two types of missiles - The Minuteman, which is launched from land, and the Trident, a sea-based missile. China, meanwhile, has at least six different types of missiles, each with their own ranges and capabilities. Last month, the US tested an unarmed Minuteman III from the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary Ashworth said at the time that the 'test launch is just one of the ways the Department of the Air Force demonstrates the readiness, precision, and professionalism of U.S. nuclear forces.' He added: 'It also provides confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear deterrence mission.' J-10 jet fighters perform in formation to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army Air Force in Beijing A squadron of Chinese Chengdu J-7 fighter jets flying above the clouds in China The US' F-16 fighter jet lands on the tarmac during Aero India 2025, a military aviation exhibition at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru on February 13, 2025 Air Force size By this measure, the US just about beats China, with 5,500 aerial vehicles in its air force. China, meanwhile, has 4,500 vehicles. But China has been heavily innovating its fighter jets, so much so that American generals admitted today that they need to make some hard choices in the future if the US wants to compete with China's next-generation aircraft. At the annual Air & Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium, held in Colorado, US Air Combat Commander Kenneth Wilsbach said: 'We have some choices to make as we observe what China has produced, and we can presume we know what that's for for air superiority. 'What are we going to do about it? I don't believe that nothing is an option,' he said. Wilsbach was referring to two of China's sixth-generation aircraft prototypes. Though details have been kept from the public, many believe they vastly outperform current-gen aircraft, and will play a key role in wars in the near-future. A B-52 Stratofortress at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire (Friday 15th March) as part of a US Bomber Task Force deployment of B-52 Stratofortress aircraft from the 2nd Bomb Wing US and German flags fly outside the Ramstein Air Base, Germany Number of bases worldwide Officially, China has just three military bases around the world, in Djibouti, Tajikistan and Cambodia. This official number pales in comparison to the more than 800 bases the US has across the world. But a 2024 intelligence assessment by the US' Office of the Director of National Intelligence revealed People's Liberation Army was pursuing footholds including, but not limited to, Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and the UAE. China's Belt and Road Initiative, the massive trillion-dollar global investment programme that seeks to exert influence over vast swathes of the world, is making Xi Jinping's attempts to establish military outposts easier. M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks of the U.S. Army arrive on M3 amphibious rigs of the German/British Amphibious Engineer Battalion 130 while crossing the Vistula River during the NATO Dragon 24 military exercise on March 05, 2024 near Gniew, Poland US tanks M1-A1 Abrams block a path at a training range in Paju, near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), north of Seoul Tanks China beats the US on this measure, with 6,900 tanks to its name compared to the US' 5,500. But the US has been supplies massive numbers of tanks to its allies, much to the chagrin in China. In December, Taiwan received its first batch of 108 Abrams tanks from the US. It was the first time new tanks had been delivered to the contested island in 30 years. The US initially sent 38 tanks which were sent to an army training base in Hsinchu in the southern part of the capital Taipei, the defence ministry said. A further 42 are expected this year, and 28 are set to be delivered by 2026, though given the massive shakeup Trump has put the US through, it is not currently known if Taiwan will receive these tanks. A nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is seen during a military display in the South China Sea April 12, 2018 The USS Kentucky ballistic missile submarine in Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Chinese PLA Navy sailors pass an image of the late Mao Zedong as they tour an exhibit at the PLA Naval Museum on April 23, 2024 in Qingdao, China Submarines It's close, but the US just about pips China on this measure, with 71 submarines compared to China's 66. Today, Chinese submarines were seen aggressively circling Perth, where the USS Minnesota, a nuclear submarine, is currently based. The move came amid the continuation of the AUKUS trilateral security alliance, established in 2021 with the aim of equipping Australia with nuclear-powere submarines. The pact has been framed as a way to strengthen deterrence against China and anti-West adversaries, and to promote a 'free and open Indo-Pacific.' Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa likely died at around the same time, according to the Santa Fe fire chief. The mummified remains of the Oscar winner, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found in their $3.8million Santa Fe home last week. The cause of their deaths remains unknown pending toxicology reports. Arakawas body was found in a bathroom near unidentified pills strewn from a prescription bottle, while Hackmans remains were found in the homes entryway. Hackman's glasses and cane were on the floor beside him, suggesting he had fallen just before his death. It is still unclear who died first - Hackman or Arakawa. But fire chief Brian Moya said the location of their remains suggests it was around the same time. 'Just because both bodies were in similar ways where we, as experts, sad to say that we know a lot about how people die and how long people are dead for both bodies are in a similar manner that it could be a similar timeframe,' Moya told Fox News. Moya didn't say whether 'similar timeframe' could allow to Arakawa to find Hackman dead and kill herself in despair, or for the couple to carry out a suicide pact which could have seen Arakawa help her frail husband to die before taking her own life. Moya noted the couple's property spanned more than 9,000 square feet across three structures, so it's telling that both bodies and that of their dog Zinna, were found in the same building. The couples German shepherd, named Bear, survived along with a second dog named Nikita, according to Joey Padilla, owner of the Santa Fe Tails pet care, where Hackman and Arakawa often boarded their dogs. Both are being cared for. Hackman and Arakawa likely were dead for nine days until their discovery on February 28. The mystery surrounding the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa continues to deepen as the cause of their deaths remains unknown Santa Fe fire chief Brian Moya, middle, said the couple likely died at around the same time Police are seen outside the couple's Santa Fe home. The cause of their deaths remains unknown That likely gave them access to food and water outside that kept them alive. One of the surviving dogs was found near Arakawa's body and the other outside the couple's home. Zinna, the dog that died 'was always attached to Betsy at the hip and it was a beautiful relationship,' Padilla told the Associated Press. 'Zinna went from being a returned shelter dog to this incredible companion under Betsys hand.' The mystery of the couple's deaths has only deepened as police said they have found no evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning. The two bodies both have tested negative for carbon monoxide, and no gas leaks were discovered in or around the home. Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said there were no signs of foul play or external trauma on the couple's bodies. Sheriff Adan Mendoza added that he could not completely rule foul play out while the investigation continues. The deaths were originally deemed suspicious enough to warrant a full investigation but cops no longer believe anyone else was involved. Hackman's pacemaker last recorded him alive on February 17 - nine days before his body was found. Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa are seen with two unidentified dogs. Two of their three dogs survived and are in the care of one of their friends Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s. They are seen in 1992 Police do not suspect foul play, despite the front door being found 'ajar.' There were no signs of forced entry into the home. 'I think I'm pretty confident that there is no foul play just based on the lack of evidence,' Mendoza later told Today. 'But, of course, we're not ruling that out.' The case is shrouded in the kind of intrigue reserved for Hackman's detective thriller novels and has garnered international attention - with many wondering how their deaths went unnoticed for so long. Neighbors in their gated private community off a winding canyon road five miles outside of Santa Fe told The New York Times that despite living with the celebrity couple for years, most of them never even caught a glimpse of them. Hackman was in a mud room off the kitchen. His sunglasses and cane were on the floor and it has been suggested the actor had suffered a fall. Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner with an estimated net worth of $80million, just turned 95 in late January. He became a recluse in the last 20 years of his life, after retiring from acting in 2004. He moved to New Mexico shortly after making a movie there in the 1980s and loved the quiet pace of life and the fact locals left him in peace. Hackman arrives with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, for the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills in January 2003 Friends occasionally shared glimpses of his post-acting life, including social media shots of fishing expeditions - while paying tribute to his silver screen triumphs. He would also occasionally be spotted pedaling around Santa Fe on a bicycle. The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s. He was a five-time Oscar nominee who won for The French Connection in 1972 and Unforgiven two decades later. His death comes just four days before this year's ceremony. Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s, the New York Times reported in 1989. They soon moved in together, and by the end of the decade had decamped to Santa Fe. The latest newly hired probationary federal workers hit with a wave of layoffs is the Central Intelligence Agency. CIA officers hired within the last two years are being summoned to off-site locations, fired and forced to surrender their badges to security personnel, three people briefing on the layoffs told The New York Times. President Donald Trump said that agencies would begin initiating their own cuts and firings inspired by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actions over the first month of his second term. And the CIA under Director John Ratcliffe wasted no time getting to work on trimming down their workforce under Trump's orders. It's not clear how many officers were let go so far and how many will lose their jobs. People familiar with the effort, however, insist not all recent hires and probationary employees will be dismissed. The reduction in CIA workforce came after a judge cleared the way for Ratcliffe to fire employees at will. Several CIA officers especially those hired within the last two years are being summoned to an off-site location away from headquarters in Langley, Virginia where they are fired and forced to hand over their badges and credentials to security personnel Judge Anthony J. Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia ruled on a lawsuit brought by CIA officers who were assigned to the diversity and recruiting efforts under the previous administration. They were removed under Trump's order to get rid of any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs or department within the federal government. But Judge Trenga'a ruling was sweeping and gave Director Ratcliffe the power to remove any CIA officer for any reason without giving them a right of appeal. This rejected defendants arguments that the workers were being denied their 14th Amendment right to due process as well violations of their free speech rights under the First Amendment. CIA general counsel approved Ratcliffe's efforts to shrink the agency after reviewing the ruling. Kevin Carroll, an attorney representing fired agency officers, said Judge Trenga strongly recommended Ratcliffe allow fired employees to appeal termination. 'Literally millions of dollars has been put into some of these probationary employees,' Mr. Carroll said. Officers selected for the firings were summoned, without given reason, to a location away from CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia and told to hand over their credentials to access the building. A spokeswoman confirmed that officers hired in the past two years have been fired. CIA Director John Ratcliffe (pictured) was given the go-ahead to layoff his workforce for any reason without right of appeal after a judge ruled on a lawsuit brought by CIA officers who were assigned to the diversity and recruiting efforts under President Biden Some young agency employees are hesitant to even answer their phones because they are worried it will be security asking them to report to the off-site firing location, people briefed on the matter detailed to the Times. Most employees facing the cuts are those who joined the CIA within the last two years as these individuals are the officers whose employment is being reviewed, a spokesperson said. But other officials claim the firings are solely performance based. Some say that fewer layoffs are conducted in high-interest areas like collecting information on the threat from China and on Mexican drug cartels. Former officials claim that the removal of newly recruited officers would likely create gaps in the deeply important intelligence agency. The first two years of a CIA officer's career usually involved intense training in areas like spy tradecraft, languages and other niche skills. Europe could defeat Russia in any kind of conflict and will beat Vladimir Putin in his new arms race, Poland's Prime Minister reassured Volodymyr Zelensky as EU leaders gathered to meet the Ukrainian President for 'watershed' talks in Brussels. 'Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia - we are simply stronger,' Donald Tusk said ahead of the summit. 'We just had to start believing in it. And today it seems to be happening.' The Polish leader warned that Vladimir Putin had started 'a new arms race' that has left Europe with no choice but to prepare itself for war. 'Europe must be ready for this race, and Russia will lose it like the Soviet Union 40 years ago,' he wrote on X. 'From today, Europe will arm itself more wisely and faster than Russia.' His comments came as EU leaders hold a day of crisis talks in a bid to beef up their own security and shore up Ukraine's defences, as the allies face the prospect of being cut adrift by US President Donald Trump. Zelensky has expressed his gratitude to EU leaders for standing by Kyiv's side, with today's summit less than a week after he attended an explosive meeting with Trump at the White House. He received warm welcomes from most leaders at the Brussels gathering - a stark contrast with the verbal lashing the Ukrainian president got from Trump. 'I want to thank all our European leaders,' Zelensky said. 'Strong support from the very beginning of the war. During all this period, and last week, you stayed with us.' Since the Oval Office showdown, Washington has suspended the military aid and intelligence sharing that has helped Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion - a decision which Ukrainian officials say will lead to thousands more deaths. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets France's President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Special European Council to discuss continued support for Ukraine EU Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen talk to the press as they arrive for an European Council meeting in Brussels Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a cabinet meeting in Moscow, on March 5 A Ukrainian rescuer works to extinguish a fire in a building following a Russian attack at an undisclosed location in Odesa region Today's emergency talks involving members of the 27-nation bloc come amid fears that the Trump administration is making huge concessions to Russia and freezing Ukraine out of negotiations to end the war. The two months since Trump took office have seen the cornerstones of cooperation between the US and Europe completely upended - an alliance that had been the bedrock of Western security since World War II. French President Emmanuel Macron last night said that he would confer with EU leaders about the possibility of using France's nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats amid the shifting security situation. The bloc will 'take decisive steps forward,' Macron said in an address to the French nation. 'Member states will be able to increase their military spending' and 'massive joint funding will be provided to buy and produce some of the most innovative munitions, tanks, weapons and equipment in Europe,' he said. He added that 'Europe's future does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow.' Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, and summit chairman Antonio Costa this morning discussed ways to fortify Europe's defenses on a short deadline. Merz has pushed plans to loosen the nation's rules on running up debt to allow for higher defence spending, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at the conference today: 'Spend, spend, spend on defencse and deterrence. That's the most important message.' Their calls mark a sharp departure from decades of decline in military spending in Europe, where defence often came last in many budgetary considerations. Zelensky is desperately trying to repair relations with Mr Trump after their extraordinary White House bust-up (pictured) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a plan to loosen budget rules so countries that are willing can spend much more on defence. Her proposal is underpinned by 150 billion euros ($162 billion) worth of loans to buy priority military equipment. Most of the increased defense spending would have to come from national budgets at a time when many countries are already overburdened with debt. Part of von der Leyen's plan includes measures to ensure struggling member states won't be punished for going too deep in the red if the spending is earmarked for defense. 'Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself,' she said. France is struggling to reduce an excessive annual budget deficit of 5 per cent of GDP, after running up its total debt burden to 112 per cent of GDP with spending on relief for businesses and consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A view from the damaged site after the Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih A fire burns in a destroyed building following a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine March 5, 2025 Five other countries using the euro currency have debt levels over 100 per cent of GDP: Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal. Europe's largest economy, Germany, has more room to borrow, with a debt level of 62 per cent of GDP. Part of any security plan is also aimed at protecting the increasingly beleaguered position of Ukraine. Politicians in the country have put on a united front today after Washington officials reportedly held talks with opposition leaders on holding fresh elections. Ukraine has banned elections under martial law, but Russia and President Trump have argued that Zelensky is not a legitimate leader and called for elections, despite the Ukrainian leader winning the 2019 elections with 73 per cent of the vote and having a significant approval rating. US news outlet Politico reported Thursday that senior Trump allies had held secret discussions with Yulia Tymoshenko and senior members of Petro Poroshenko's party on whether the country could hold quick presidential elections. Poroshenko, the leader of the opposition European Solidarity party and founder of the Roshen confectionery maker, was elected president in 2014, losing a 2019 election to Zelensky. In a statement Thursday, he said that his team 'has always been and remains categorically against holding elections during the war'. 'We have said, and continue to say, that elections can only take place after a ceasefire and the signing of a peace agreement with security guarantees for Ukraine,' he said. Poroshenko said his team works 'publicly and transparently to maintain bipartisan support for Ukraine'. In criticism of Zelensky's administration, he said there has been a 'lack of communication' between the Ukrainian government and the American administration, 'which poses a risk to the state'. Last month Zelensky banned Poroshenko from leaving the country and barred his access to assets amid escalating infighting. Tymoshenko, who served two terms as prime minister of Ukraine and leads the Fatherland party, said her team 'is negotiating with all our allies who are able to help ensure a just peace as soon as possible'. 'Until then, and I have said this more than once, holding any elections in Ukraine is out of the question,' she wrote. It comes after a Russian missile killed four people staying at a hotel in Zelensky's hometown overnight. He said that a humanitarian organization's volunteers had moved into the hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, just before the strike. The volunteers included Ukrainian, American and British nationals, but it wasn't clear whether those people were among the 31 injured. Early this week, Trump ordered a pause to US military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia, bringing fresh urgency to Thursday's summit. Thursday's meeting is unlikely to address Ukraine's most pressing needs. It is not aimed at urgently drumming up more arms and ammunition to fill any supply vacuum created by the US freeze. Nor will all nations agree to unblock the estimated 183 billion euros ($196 billion) in frozen Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house, a pot of ready cash that could be seized. Still, the Europeans underlined the importance of the moment. 'This is a watershed moment for Europe and Ukraine as part of our European family. It's also a watershed moment for Ukraine,' von der Leyen said, as she stood alongside Zekenskyy before striding together into the summit. But perhaps the biggest challenge for the EU will be taking a united stance at a moment when it's fractured, since much of the bloc's actions requires unanimous support. Hungary is threatening to veto part of the summit statement on Ukraine, as is Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. 'We have to take decisions no matter the one or two which are opposing every time,' said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. 'Otherwise history will penalize us and we will pay a very high cost.' Thursday's summit is unlikely to produce immediate decisions on spending for Ukraine or its own defenses. Another EU summit where the real contours of decisions would be much clearer is set for March 20-21. Elon Musk has promised a young boy battling brain cancer a Cybertruck, after the youngster was honored by President Trump. Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel, 13, was made an honorary member of the Secret Service on Tuesday night by President Donald Trump. Speaking with CNN's Kaitlan Collins outside of the White House after his appointment, Daniel revealed he had bumped into the Tesla CEO and X boss. He said: 'I said, "can you do me a big favor, when you get back to Houston can you send us a Cybertruck down there".' Collins then asks him: 'Did Elon Musk say he'd send you a Tesla Cybertruck?', to which the youngster responded: 'Mmmmhmm'. Sharing the short exchange to her social media, Musk later responded to the clip with a love heart emoji, suggesting the little boy's wish for the $80,000 vehicle could well be granted. Daniel has been battling cancer for six years after being diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure. Trump had introduced the youngster to a global audience earlier this week, telling Congress: 'Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police. Cancer survivor Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel holds up his paper after he is made an honorary Secret Service agent during Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress Elon Musk shakes hands with cancer survivor Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel on the day of U.S. President Donald Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress 'The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.' Daniels was held up by his father for the touching moment as he received his badge from Director Sean Curran and Republicans in the House gallery chanted 'DJ.' It was a sweet moment that should have unified politicians and pundits, no matter their hatred of the polarizing president. First Son Donald Jr. posted on his social media saying: 'If you can't stand up and cheer for a kid with brain cancer being made an honorary member of the Secret Service, then you might be a deeply disturbed and f***ed up person!!!' MSNBC pundit Nicolle Wallace couldn't resist the urge to be negative, even when it concerned a young boy battling cancer. Wallace said: 'I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer - but I hope he never has to defend the United States capitol against Donald Trump's supporters. 'If he does, I hope he isn't one of the six who loses his life to suicide,' Wallace added. The network has yet to comment on her remarks, with viewers calling for her resignation en masse. At the time of his 2018 diagnosis, Daniel was told he would likely only live another five months Musk later responded to the clip with a love heart emoji Daniel had undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12 as he battles a rare brain and spine cancer with no cure. He is trying to get sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible as he and his family try to raise awareness about his condition. At the time of his 2018 diagnosis, he was told he would likely only live another five months. On Wednesday, Daniel and his family joined Trump in the Oval Office and hugged the president. 'That was a big evening last night,' Trump said to them as he shook Daniel's father's hand. Trump said during his speech that driving down childhood cancer rates and studying autism cases in the US will be a top priority for his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Childhood cancer remains rare in the US, with about 15,000 children diagnosed with the disease every year. Cases of pediatric cancer have risen in recent years, but treatments have improved, leading to a decline in deaths from the disease. 'Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply and keep our children healthy and strong,' he said. This is the moment that a woman was arrested for killing her baby son almost three decades ago. Bodycam footage, filmed by police officers, shows Joanne Sharkey appear unsurprised when informed she is suspected of murdering the child, known as Callum, in July 2023. The unnamed officer reads Sharkey, 55, who is dressed in a pair of pink pyjamas whilst sat on her sofa, her rights and says he understands that she will be shocked and distressed but insists Im not here to judge. Sharkey, who shows little emotion, interrupts, and pointing to a man, thought to be her husband in another room, simply adds: Can I just say, he doesnt know anything about this. Police also initially arrested her husband, Neil, also 55, in connection with the tots death, but he was subsequently released without charge. The couple, who have been married for 31 years and share an older son, born 20 months before Callum, are still thought to be together. The one-minute clip was released by police after Sharkey pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her newborn, on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and to concealing his birth at Liverpool Crown Court today. Joanne Sharkey (pictured) appeared unsurprised when she was taken into custody my Cheshire Police in 2023 She showed little emotion when taken into custody, pointing to a man, thought to be her husband in another room, saying that he knew 'nothing about this' Joanne Sharkey (pictured) today admitted killing her newborn son whose body was discovered in woodland almost 27 years ago Pictured the casket of Baby Callum at St Elphin's church alongside a white teddy in 1998 She was due to stand trial for his murder, but, following reports from expert psychiatrists, the court heard prosecutors now accepted she was suffering from postnatal depression and her mental state was impaired when Callum was born, in March 1998. Police believe she gave birth to the baby at home, in Liverpool, before driving 15 miles to Warrington and dumping his body, which was wrapped in two knotted bin bags, close to the Gullivers World theme park. His body was discovered by a man walking with his young son and dog in a wooded area, adjacent to the theme park, at around 10.45am on March 14, 1998. The child, who weighed 8lbs and was full term, had wads of tissues stuffed into his mouth and throat. Police immediately launched a murder investigation, named Operation Wistful, which involved extensive house to house enquiries, appeals to local hospitals, midwives, GP surgeries and schools. Full DNA profiles were obtained from the babys blood and from his mother's blood that was also found on the bin bags. Officers took DNA swabs from a large number of local people to try to find a match, but despite this neither his mother or father were traced. Baby Callum's funeral procession at St Elphin's parish inn Warrington in 1998 The infant was named Callum after the Callands district of Warrington where he was found, nearby Gulliver's World theme park (pictured) Ms Sharkey pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility and to concealing her sons birth Sharkey, who was dressed in a smart cream cardigan with her brunette hair tied up, dabbed her eyes with a tissue and became tearful as she delivered her guilty pleas (Pictured previously) A previous sketch drawn by a court artist of Joanne Sharkey, 54, when she appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court last year Using advanced DNA techniques, Cheshire Police found a partial DNA match to a relative of Sharkey's, and later confirmed she was the boy's mother Pictured: The approach road to Gullivers World Theme Park nearby where baby Callum who weighed just under 8lbs was found Police named the baby Callum after the Callands area of Warrington where he was found and locals donated money to help fund a funeral and pay for his headstone. Around 150 mourners attended the newborn's funeral. The case remained unresolved until January 2022 when police launched a cold case review that revealed a partial match to Callum and a DNA profile that had been placed on the national database in the intervening years. It linked to an unnamed relative and, using advanced familial DNA techniques not available in the 1990s, police were able to confirm that Sharkey and her husband were Callums parents. Sharkey, of Liverpool, who was tearful when delivering her guilty pleas, will be sentenced later this month. The Conservatives are launching legal action in a bid to block two-tier justice measures brought in under Labour. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick is poised to mount a judicial review against the Sentencing Council after it announced astonishing moves to give minorities special treatment in the courts. Under the measures due to come into force in less than four weeks - all ethnic minorities and transgender people convicted of a crime should be treated differently by judges and magistrates. Mr Jenrick has instructed a leading barrister to submit a pre-action protocol letter to the Council warning them the measures will be challenged in the High Court, it is understood. The Tories will also urge the Government to halt the measures by laying an amendment in the Crime and Policing Bill, currently before Parliament, if the Sentencing Council refuses to back down. Mr Jenrick said: I will be challenging this sentencing guidance in the courts on the grounds it enshrines anti-white and anti-Christian bias into our criminal justice system. And if Labour wont amend the law to prevent this, the Conservatives will. There are few more important principles than equality under the law - we will fight tooth and nail to defend it. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick in Westminster this morning Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood pictured arriving at Downing Street for the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday The measures published yesterday by the independent Sentencing Council, an official body which draws up rules which must be followed by judges and magistrates, are due to take effect on April 1. The guidelines completely undermined Labours flat denial of a two-tier justice system. The new rules say it must normally be considered necessary for the courts to commission a pre-sentence report about criminals if they come from an ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community. They also include a long list of other minority criminals to be covered by the measures, including transgender people, young adults and addicts. It should also apply to all women offenders, they add. MailOnline can reveal the Sentencing Council was warned its controversial list would be biased and conflicts with equality in sentencing. Background papers published by the organisation revealed that many individuals who responded to a consultation said the new rules should not include the list of minorities. There were strong opinions from all sides about this section, and many individual respondents, including some magistrates, did not believe there should be cohort list at all, mostly citing reasoning around the idea that the list is biased and conflicts with equality in sentencing, the documents said. However, the concerns were ignored when the final version was published. Keir Starmer leaving Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday Poised to come into force from April, the fresh guidelines state a pre-sentence report would usually be necessary for someone of an ethnic, cultural or faith minority Pre-sentence reports often set out reasons why a jail sentence would be detrimental for an offender, and Mr Jenrick said it would make a custodial sentence less likely. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood yesterday insisted she would attempt to get the measures reversed. She said: I will be writing to the Sentencing Council to register my displeasure and to recommend reversing this change to guidance. There will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch. But she offered no clear explanation of why the Sentencing Councils plan had been allowed to reach the final stages of implementation. It was discussed at high-level meetings on December 20 and January 24 - attended by Ms Mahmoods personal representative Claire Fielder, the Ministry of Justices director of offender policy. Minutes of Januarys meeting say: Having agreed to various final minor amendments throughout the guideline, the council approved the final content in full and signed off the guideline for publication in March. Mr Jenrick said: The Justice Secretary had a senior representative at the meeting this two-tier guidance was approved. Shes either completely clueless or she and Two-Tier Keir support the changes and are desperately trying to save face in response to public outrage. The row over various groups being treated differently by the justice system flared last summer in the wake of the Southport murders. Amid repugnant scenes of rioting, critics accused the police of acting more harshly against white, far-Right protesters than they had against other demonstrators, such as those aligned with Black Lives Matter. Reform party leader Nigel Farage said at the time that the impression of two-tier policing has become widespread. His remarks were rejected by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley grabbed a reporters microphone and knocked it to the ground when he was asked about the claim and later apologised. A Los Angeles neighborhood is being terrorized by a strange man who has been lurking around at night. Over the last six months residents of a Panorama City neighborhood say they have been subjected to harassment by the unknown man who creeps around in the late hours. The suspect reportedly drives to the neighborhood in his Nissan Titan SUV with his hazard lights on, according to KTLA. Images taken by surveillance cameras show the man getting out of his car, walking onto a driveaway and jumping over fences and sneaking into backyards. He was last spotted in the neighborhood on Tuesday night, and this time he was carrying a pocketknife that he used to slash the tires of multiple vehicles. The man was filmed walking up to the vehicles parked outside multiple homes. Terrified neighbors, who covered their faces as they spoke to media, say they don't know the man or what his motives could be. An unidentified man has been terrorizing a Los Angeles neighborhood for six months, according to residents On Tuesday the strange man showed up to the area with a pocketknife and slashed the tires of several vehicles Residents say the LAPD told them they can't respond to the scene if no one has been hurt or nothing has been stolen 'He could be somebody trying to steal things or we dont know if hes a rapist or anything. We have no idea,' a resident of the neighborhood named Frank told the local outlet. Strangely, the suspect never tries to hide his face and surveillance cameras have captured a partial license plate number on his car. Still, without the help of police, residents of the area have been unable to identify him or find out what his motives are. Frustrated neighbors say they have tried calling the police but have been told nothing can be done if no one was hurt and nothing was stolen. 'What if something more serious happens?' neighbor Maria told KTLA. 'What if he becomes more brazen that he will knock on our doors or do something to us?' Neighbors of the area have filed a police report and added they have hope the lurker will be caught soon. Until then, they say they remain fearful the man will return and a confrontation could turn dangerous or even deadly. Anyone with information on the situation is asked to call the Los Angeles Police Department at 1-877-527-3247. More than 100 Labour MPs and peers are urging British banks and fund managers to class defence investments as ethical in a bid to boost support for Ukraine. In an open letter, the group of parliamentarians demanded a 'rethink' of environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks for investing. They warned that these 'often wrongly exclude all defence investment as unethical' and said there can be 'no more ethical investment' than backing Ukraine. As well as boosting the supply of 'vital' military kit to Kyiv, rethinking ESG principles will also accelerate the development of Britain's own defences, the MPs added. Labour MP Alex Baker co-ordinated the letter addressed to Britain's banks and fund managers. Signatories included former Royal Navy chief admiral Lord Alan West and former NATO secretary general Lord George Robertson. PM Sir Keir Starmer recently announced Britain's defence spending will rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027, amid fears about continued US backing for Europe's security. Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has changed the remit of the 27.8billion National Wealth Fund so it can be spent on defence. More than 100 Labour MPs and peers are urging British banks and fund managers to class defence investments as ethical in a bid to boost support for Ukraine Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky to London at the weekend In an open letter, the group of parliamentarians demanded a 'rethink' of environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks for investing US President Donald Trump's decision to abandon Ukraine and suspend aid to Kyiv - amid his spat with President Volodymyr Zelensky - has sparked panic across Europe. The continent's leaders are holding crisis talks as they scramble to shore up their security in the face of the threat from Russia. In the letter, the Labour MPs and peers wrote: 'Ukraine needs to be in the strongest possible position to defend itself against an aggressive military superpower.' They added: 'Our financial institutions can do more to enable our UK defence sector to provide the vital miltiary supplies President Zelensky needs. 'You can also help Britain to rapidly generate the capabilities needed to defend itself. 'For too long companies with the ability to develop military technology at speed have faced unnecessary barriers to doing business in the UK. 'With defence manufacturers in constituencies nationwide, there is clear potential to drive economic growth. 'For the UK to both support Ukraine in its hour of need and ensure defence of our own nation, we must rethink ESG mechanisms that often wrongly exclude all defence investments as 'unethical'. 'There can be no more ethical investment than giving the Ukrainian people every ounce of support that can be mustered by their allies.' The letter, which is backed by the Labour Growth Group, made clear that the MPs and peers support the ESG model, saying it is 'rightly here to stay'. But they added that they believe ESG is 'synonymous' with the Ukrainian cause. 'We urge financial institutions immediately to sweep away ill-considered anti-defence rules which are acting as a barrier to doing what is right,' the letter read. Ms Reeves recently pledge to cut red tape to make it easier for the Government to buy military equipment earlier. She also widened the parameters of the National Wealth Fund to drive investment in the defence sector. The previous Conservative government also called for defence investment to be classed as ESG. Last April, then-PM Rishi Sunak said the government wanted to encourage private sector investment in the sector, stating that it counts 'beyond doubt' towards ESG assessments. David Raw, managing director for commercial finance at UK Finance, the banking trade body, said the sector is 'fully committed' to supporting defence companies. 'Providing finance in this area is complex and banks can face the threat of violent protest,' he said. 'They must also ensure they comply with a range of domestic and international laws and regulations. 'Having engaged extensively with our members, as well as with defence firms, we do not see a tension between supporting ESG goals and supporting the defence sector. 'We are continuing to engage with Government and the defence sector to tackle any barriers that do arise and continue our support for defence companies.' Asked whether the PM agreed that missiles and fighter jets should count as ethical investments, a Downing Street spokesman said: 'The only ethical issue, the main ethical issue at stake here is that Russia has launched this barbaric invasion of Ukraine and they could end this war today by withdrawing their troops. 'Our commitment to Ukraine remains unwavering.' A daring new trend encouraging travelers to boldly arrive at the airport just 15 minutes before takeoff has taken the internet by storm, prompting thrill-seeking adventurers to test their nerves in the ultimate race against the clock. The new trend, dubbed as 'airport theory,' is the idea that vacation-goers can show up to the airport a mere 15 to 20 minutes before the flight departs and still make it on board, despite experts and airlines advising against the risky practice. 'The trend largely depends on variable factors like queue times and the distance to your gate, which can differ depending on the airport and the time of your flight,' said Amanda Parker, a Netflights expert, The New York Post reported. 'Additionally, boarding typically begins 45 minutes before departure, which is half an hour earlier than the 15 minutes suggested in "airport theory," further emphasizing the risks of the trend,' she added. However videos of travelers ignoring the warnings have recently taken over TikTok, as the term 'airport theory' has amassed more than 400 million views across the platform. In the heart-pounding videos, creators film themselves navigating airports and clearing security with just minutes to spare, avoiding the 'dreaded' time wasted while waiting around for boarding. Michael DiCostanzo, a TikTok creator, attempted the theory at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport - the busiest airport holding the top spot for several years in a row with 62.7 million seats, OAG reported. 'If airport theory works here, I think it will work anywhere,' DiCostanzo said in the January video. A new viral trend, dubbed as 'airport theory,' is the idea that vacation-goers can show up to the airport a mere 15 to 20 minutes before the flight departs and still make it on board, despite experts and airlines advising against the risky practice Videos of travelers testing the theory have recently taken over TikTok, as creators film themselves navigating airports and clearing security with just minutes to spare - including Lexi Smith (pictured) who arrived at her gate at LAX just 20 minutes after arriving Experts at Netflights, a travel website, reported that an increase of 'airport theory' videos led to a 645 percent increase in Google searches for 'I missed my flight' last month After starting a timer, the creator made his way to the visibly empty TSA pre-check line which he referred to as a 'ghost town.' Just seven and a half minutes later, DiCostanzo had already through security and was boarding the tram. Although he didn't check a bag - a line he noted was also empty - DiCostanzo arrived at his Orlando-gate in just under 15 minutes. 'That's a huge win for airport theory, let's be honest,' he said. 'Right? Let's go!' Lexi Smith, another daring creator, tested 'airport theory' at Los Angeles International Airport last month. 'My flight started boarding four minutes ago,' Smith said in the video. 'We're in security right now... let's see how fast we can get through this.' Smith had successfully cleared security just five minutes later, despite being randomly selected for an additional security screening. After taking a bus to the terminal, she found herself at the gate just 20 minutes after arriving at LAX. 'Airport theory is real,' she said. The term 'airport theory' has amassed more than 400 million views across TikTok, prompting thrill-seeking adventurers to test their nerves in the ultimate race against the clock Michael DiCostanzo, a TikTok creator, attempted the theory at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport - the busiest airport holding the top spot for several years in a row with 62.7 million seats - and arrived at his Orlando-gate in just under 15 minutes Jenny Kurtz, another TikTok creator (pictured), attempted the 'airport theory' just to find terminal screens flashing 'flight closed' at the Chicago-gate Once on the plane, Smith pointed the camera her seat, which to her surprise, revealed she was somehow the first person to board. 'Yes, I was the first one to walk on the plane,' she told the camera. 'Make that make sense.' 'Airport theory is true. Oh - and I even had time to grab a snack,' she reiterated while holding up a bag of peanut M&Ms. A creator who had just recently learned about 'airport theory' shared a TikTok video boasting about her short 20-minute trip to the gate after arriving to the airport 43 minutes before departure. With an ice cold soda in hand, Rain shared her experience: 'Got through security, got some McDonald's and now I'm literally chilling at my gate.' 'This is why I will never get to the airport early,' she added, thanking the theory for the convenience. However, the theory isn't foolproof for everyone. Experts at Netflights, a travel website, reported that an increase of 'airport theory' videos led to a 645 percent increase in Google searches for 'I missed my flight' last month, The New York Post reported. Jenny Kurtz, another TikTok creator, attempted the 'airport theory' just to find terminal screens flashing 'flight closed' at the Chicago-gate. With an iced coffee in hand and a Taylor Swift song playing in the background, a frowning Kurtz showed the camera the empty terminal as she waved her in-motion flight goodbye from the airport window. 'For those of you thinking about testing out the airport theory... don't do it,' Kurtz wrote accompanied by a crying face emoji. 'I would not recommend.' The trend has gained widespread attention, with some fully embracing the theory and others dismissing it as a reckless attempt to justify poor time management skills and last-minute travel. 'I'd rather sit uncomfortably at the airport for 4 hours than be consumed with anxiety about missing my plane,' read one comment. 'But I respect those who check in last second. Those people really live life.' Another creator wrote: 'If you do something last minute, it only takes a minute.' 'My father was a pilot for 27 years,' another read. 'The airport theory is a myth every time. You may get lucky with a fluke that left you waiting, but I promise 90 percent of the time you will miss your flight.' Another comment said: 'Sshhhh you're talking too loud!!! No one was supposed to know about this!!' The trend has swiftly gained widespread attention, with some fully embracing the theory and others dismissing it as a reckless attempt to justify poor time management skills and last-minute travel With an iced coffee in hand and a Taylor Swift song playing in the background, a frowning Kurtz showed the camera the empty terminal as she waved her in-motion flight goodbye from the airport window, adding that she 'doesn't recommend' trying the theory out Others shared their experiences to TikTok, boasting about their short trips to the gate just minutes after arriving to the airport, avoiding the 'dreaded' time wasted while waiting around for boarding 'It's called being irresponsible, not the airport theory,' said another. A creator agreed and added: 'Tried it today, watched my plane drive past me while I was putting my shoes back on.' 'Airport theory' has experts and airlines warning travelers that playing Russian-roulette with your trip rarely is a smart or efficient move, especially during peak holiday season. 'We recommend that when flying domestically out of a medium to large airport that travelers get to the checkout point two hours prior to their departure time, regardless of whether they are enrolled in TSA PreCheck,' Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, told Travel and Leisure. 'This is especially important if someone is traveling during a holiday period,' she added. Clint Henderson, managing editor of The Points Guy, told Newsweek that he is 'horrified' by the trend as 'it's a recipe for stress and for disasters.' 'Fifteen minutes is never enough time to safely get through security and get to your gate,' he said. 'Even if you have TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, that's not enough time.' 'It's also disrespectful to other travelers who have to deal with your stress in the lines and potentially you asking them to cut,' he added. 'It adds unnecessary stress to the entire process.' 'Airport theory' has experts and airlines warning travelers that playing Russian-roulette with your trip rarely is a smart or efficient move, especially during peak holiday season Traditionally, most airports recommend leaving yourself around 90-minutes or more to promptly pass through security and arrive at the gate before boarding - as for international flights, airlines recommend arriving three hours early 'The trend largely depends on variable factors like queue times and the distance to your gate, which can differ depending on the airport and the time of your flight,' said Amanda Parker, a Netflights expert Traditionally, most airports recommend leaving yourself around 90-minutes or more to promptly pass through security and arrive at the gate before boarding. On United Airlines' website, passengers without checked luggage must check in 'at least 30 minutes before departure,' or the airline has 'the right to deny service' to those who fail to meet the requirements. The website also informs travelers that they 'must be on board the flight 15 minutes before departure time' - the exact time the 'airport theory' trend suggests to arrive at the airport. American Airlines, on the other hand, closes boarding 15 minutes before departure. The airline 'may reassign your seat to another passenger' if not on board, the website states, and adds that 'you will not be allowed to board once the doors close.' 'When flying internationally, it's best to arrive three hours prior to the flight,' Farbstein said. 'Travelers need to be prepared for a line at their airline check-in counter if they are flying during a peak travel period of the day.' 'After someone gets through the security screening process, many of the larger airports have quite a walk to get to their gate,' she added. 'So, get to the airport early.' Donald Trump announced a $20 billion investment in the U.S. by CMA CGM, a shipping giant. He says it will create 'an estimated 10,000 new jobs in America.' The president announced a slew of other executive orders in the White House's Oval Office on Thursday afternoon. Trump is also considering implementing a new travel ban on Muslim nations in the coming weeks. Reuters first reported that Trump is mulling a new order that would impact Afghans and Pakistanis. It comes after Trump's ban during his first term that kept travelers from seven total Muslim nations from entering the United States, which the Supreme Court upheld. DailyMail.com's live blog is now closed. Check here for all updates: Keir Starmer's 'coalition of the willing' now has around 20 members as No10 refused to rule out a 'Sky Shield' plan to stop Russian missile attacks on Ukraine. The PM insisted intensive work is continuing on ways to enforce any peace deal struck with Vladimir Putin. But he stressed there was no certainty that an agreement would be reached, despite Donald Trump's all-out push for a settlement. Moscow has flatly dismissed the idea of European peacekeepers being in Ukraine. Speaking after a UK-Ireland summit this afternoon, Sir Keir said he would not make a 'choice between the US and Europe' amid mounting fears that Mr Trump is washing his hands of the continent's security. The premier argued it was essential to put America and Kyiv on the 'same page' after the extraordinary Oval Office slanging match last week. Pressed on Mr Trump suspending military aid and intelligence co-operation, Sir Keir said: 'We need to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position... that's my strong view.' It is understood there was a further 'planning meeting' on a 'coalition of the willing' peacekeeping plan at official level yesterday involving around 20 countries. Keir Starmer's 'coalition of the willing' now has around 20 members as No10 refused to rule out a 'Sky Shield' plan to stop Russian missile attacks on Ukraine. The PM is pictured at a UK-Ireland summit today EU leaders are holding discussions with Mr Zelensky in Brussels this afternoon Speaking after a UK-Ireland summit this afternoon, Sir Keir said he would not make a 'choice between the US and Europe' amid mounting fears that Mr Trump is washing his hands of the continent's security The talks were organised by the UK, and included nations who did not participate in the crisis summit in London on Sunday. There is speculation Australia might be involved. So far only Britain and France have openly offered to put boots on the ground after a peace deal. Meanwhile, military experts have been floating the idea of a European air force of 120 fighter jets to secure Ukraine's skies from Russian attacks. No10 did not dismiss the idea, which emerged after Mr Zelensky proposed a 'truce in the air', but said nothing had been finalised. No further plans seem to have been made for Sir Keir to head for Washington with Mr Zelensky and French president Emmanuel Macron next week. EU leaders are holding discussions with Mr Zelensky in Brussels this afternoon. Speaking with employees working in the defence industry in the North West, the Prime Minister said it was crucial that 'if there is a deal and we don't know there will be, that we defend the deal'. He said Europe must step up in terms of its own defence and security and 'the United Kingdom will play a leading part because we've always stepped up when it is required'. 'So that's why I've made that commitment on behalf of our country. It has to be done in conjunction with the United States,' Sir Keir said. He added: 'It's that ability to work with the United States and our European partners that has kept the peace for 80 years now.' Sir Keir told workers: 'The fighting is going on and it's a big mistake to think that well all we've got to do is wait for a deal now. We've got to make sure that if they are fighting on they're in the strongest position and even if they go into negotiation that they're in the strongest position.' The PM said he will be working to 'get the US, Ukraine and European allies onto the same page'. 'I think we have a false choice which is between on the one hand working with the United States and on the other hand working with Europe. We've enjoyed peace for 80 years and that's been incredibly important to Britain because the safety and security of the British public is my number one duty. 'We've done that by working with the US no two countries work as closely as we do on defence, security and intelligence but also by working with our European partners. Vladimir Putin has flatly dismissed the idea of European peacekeepers being in Ukraine 'That's why I'm resisting those who are saying Churchill didn't make the choice, Attlee didn't make the choice but they're now urging me to make the choice between the US and Europe. Wrong choice in my view.' Asked whether he would have preferred Donald Trump not to have suspended aid to Ukraine, he said: 'My strong view is that we need to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position.' He added: 'What I think is really important now is we continue our work, I continue my work, to get the US, Ukraine, and European allies onto the same page so that we can all focus on what matters most which is lasting peace in Ukraine.' Plans to build Britain's longest ski resort in a derelict mining area have been put on ice after council objection. The proposed 300million leisure resort would include luxury hotels, lodges and the UK's longest indoor snow centre in one of Britain's poorest towns. The plans would make the multi-run indoor ski resort one of the biggest of its kind in the world and potentially be used as a base for Team GB winter Olympians. A 575-acre site south of the Beacons National Park was earmarked for the plans which include building three hotels and 30 woodland lodges in 2021. But the bold plan to make Merthyr Tydfil into Wales' St Moritz has gone downhill after planners are recommending it for refusal. The location, visual and ecological impact of the scheme, which would include the UK's longest ski slope at 500m (1,640 ft), have raised concerns among Merthyr Tydfil council officers. There would also be as many as 418 hotel rooms, up to 30 lodges and potentially 830 parking spaces. Developers Marvel Ltd say the attraction has been endorsed by GB Snowsport and Snowsport Cymru Wales, who said they wanted it to be an Olympic and elite athlete training hub. A 575-acre site south of the Beacons National Park was earmarked for the plans which include building three hotels and 30 woodland lodges in 2021. Pictured is a CGI of how the proposed development could look The proposed 300million leisure resort would include luxury hotels, lodges and the UK's longest indoor snow centre in one of Britain's poorest towns There would also be as many as 418 hotel rooms, up to 30 lodges and potentially 830 parking spaces The site, Rhydycar West, has been used for heavy industry with the remains of mine workings, spoil tips, canal and railway features still on site. Planning officials say there are scheduled ancient monuments and a Grade II listed building on the site, which is part of the Merthyr Tydfil landscape of outstanding historic interest. A network of public rights of way crosses the site and into the surrounding area. A farm has been proposed as off-site compensation for ecological loss that cannot be provided within the site. In total there have been 141 letters in support of the application and 23 objections sent to the council. Supporters pointed to economic benefits including job creation, training opportunities and more tourists. They highlighted supply chain benefits and the possibility of the attraction driving further investment to the area. The planning report outlined concern with the proposed development due to its planned location, sustainability, scale, impact on the view and ecology and the conflicts with national and local planning policies. The site, Rhydycar West, has been used for heavy industry with the remains of mine workings, spoil tips, canal and railway features still on site In total there have been 141 letters in support of the application and 23 objections sent to the council. Pictured is a public notice for the planning permission The Welsh government's design commission for Wales issued a report and said it was 'unable to support the proposal', setting out 'significant and fundamental concerns' The Welsh government's design commission for Wales issued a report and said it was 'unable to support the proposal', setting out 'significant and fundamental concerns'. The council report said: 'On balance, the potential economic and social benefits including employment creation, significant private investment, and enhanced leisure facilities would not outweigh the harm identified to the important ecological and landscape value of the site.' But a spokesman for the project previously said officials had spent the time preparing 'reports and surveys' and responding to requests from officials for further information. He said: 'We have been and continue to work closely with Merthyr council and other stakeholders in connection with the planning application. 'Our team is aware of the considerable anticipation and excitement surrounding the Rhydycar West project, a sentiment we wholeheartedly share. 'We are also very much looking forward to concluding the planning process as soon as possible.' The application is due to go before the council's planning committee on 12 March. Newly instated Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside faces eight felony theft charges after allegedly defrauding an 83-year-old man of at least $74,000 and forging a state lawmaker's signature. The Oregon Department of Justice claims the alleged fraudulent activities occurred in September, during Fireside's campaign as a Democrat to unseat incumbent Republican County Commissioner Mark Shull. The indictment specifically accuses her of defrauding Arthur Wayne Petrone, 83, of a minimum of $74,000 and forging the signature of state Representative April Dobson (D-Happy Valley). The theft occurred multiple times with Fireside using a computer to get access to Petrone's funds and by obtaining his signature, authorities claimed. After her arraignment in Clackamas County Circuit Court, Fireside was ordered to have no contact with either Petrone or Dobson. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield subsequently unsealed the indictment. Following the bombshell accusations, Dobson told Willamette Week, 'Last summer, Melissa Fireside came to me as a friend seeking temporary relief for her personal business. 'My instinct was to support a single mother of a young child during a tough time. 'I drew up a contract explicitly stating she would repay the loan within one month, and she did so. Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside, 43, was set to be arraigned Wednesday on expected charges of first-degree aggravated theft and first-degree theft The criminal investigation into Fireside began in October of last year. Lake Oswego police searched her home one week before she was elected to the County Board of Commissioners 'In November, law enforcement informed me there was an issue with the source of the money she used to pay me back. 'I fully cooperated with the investigation and have had no contact with Melissa since learning of her alleged crimes. 'We have so much work ahead in Clackamas County, and our residents deserve leaders they can trust. 'I believe Melissa Fireside's actions are unacceptable for an elected official and call on her to resign immediately.' The DailyMail.com previously reported how Lake Oswego police had searched Fireside's suburban Portland home, listed for sale for $895,000, one week before she was elected to the county Board of Commissioners. An Oregon Department of Justice spokesperson also confirmed that Petrone and Dobson are not related. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, also a Democrat, released a statement emphasizing the justice system's impartiality, particularly given the politically sensitive nature of the case in the closely divided Clackamas County. While Fireside's alleged fraudulent activities predate her narrow electoral victory over incumbent Mark Shull, the investigation initially surfaced through conservative media outlets, subsequently gaining coverage from The Oregonian. The Lake Oswego Police Department later corroborated the investigation to Willamette Week. The indictment specifically accuses her of defrauding Arthur Wayne Petrone of a minimum of $74,000 and forging the signature of state Representative April Dobson (pictured) Fireside triumphed in her campaign for the seat, which pays over $130,000 a year, last fall against a conservative competitor 'It does not matter who you are, which political party you're in, or what position you hold,' Rayfield said. 'We will aggressively prosecute those who victimize Oregon's seniors.' Several key aspects of the case remain undisclosed, notably the motivation behind Fireside's alleged forgery of Dobson's signature. Furthermore, a probable cause affidavit, which typically details law enforcement's investigative reasoning, has not been released. Due to a conflict of interest stemming from his position as a fellow county official, Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth recused himself, leading the Oregon Department of Justice to take over the case. Fireside, the owner of a consulting firm, won a closely contested election against Shull, securing 52 percent of the vote compared to his 48 percent. Shull's campaign was marked by controversy, including backlash for remarks he made about Muslims in 2021. While Fireside has yet to speak out publicly about the charges, her attorney, Mark Cogan, told WW in November: 'My client, Ms. Fireside, is presumed innocent and nothing has been proven. Police searched Fireside's suburban Portland home before she was elected to the county Board of Commissioners 'The facts and details of the matter have not been furnished to us, and I hope people will not rush to judgement.' Fireside, her attorney, and the Clackamas District Attorney did not immediately respond to previous requests for comment from DailyMail.com regarding her arrest. Reform UK pulled in less money from donations than the Communist Party of Britain in the last quarter of last year, raising questions about the strength of its support. Official figures show Nigel Farage's party banked 281,000 between October and December last year. This was up from just 70,000 it pulled in between July and September, but still below the amount registered with the Electoral Commission by the hard-left communists. It would also help explain why the party was keen to be linked with a 100million cash injection from senior Trump aide Elon Musk, the world's richest man. Mr Farage and new party treasurer Nick Candy, the billionaire property developer husband of Holly Valance, flew to Florida in December to talk to Mr Musk as Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. But the X owner later criticised Mr Farage and called for him to be replaced as party leader. The amount the party made from donations is also dwarfed by Mr Farage's personal income in the same period. He topped up his MP's salary with 350,000 earned from second jobs in the three-month period, his register of interests shows. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Farage and new party treasurer Nick Candy, the billionaire property developer husband of Holly Valance, flew to Florida in December to talk to Mr Musk as Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. But no donation materialised. A Tory source said: 'For all the media noise and commentary, Kemi is quietly getting on with overhauling CCHQ and rebuilding the party finances. 'Despite his constant boasting, Farage is clearly failing to bring in the funds - and it's perhaps no wonder as his own MPs openly question his abilities, their leadership contest plays out in public and he seems to side with the dictator Vladimir Putin over the hero President Zelenskyy. 'They are not serious, and will always put self-interest over our national interest.' However, donations are not the party's only source of income. A Reform UK spokesman said: 'We are a grassroots political party funded by the mass membership and not reliant on any single large donor. 'We gained over 70,000 members in Q4 2024, our members are the lifeblood of Reform UK.' Adding 70,000 new members paying 25 each would bring in an estimated 1.75million, assuming they all paid the full rate. The Electoral Commission figures show that the Tories have managed to win back some of their lost donors. Kemi Badenoch's party pulled in 3.4million, documents show, though 1.5million was from public funds for opposition parties. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is now more popular than Reform's Nigel Farage for the first time since September, according to YouGov. And in another blow for the Reform UK leader, even his party's usually pro-Trump voters are now turning against the president in the wake of his treatment of Ukraine and its president Volodymyr Zelensky. In the past two-and-a-half weeks Trumps approval raring among Reform voters has fallen from +38 to -8, after his public slanging match with Zelensky at the White House. The Trump administration has also embarked on a series of measures that have targeted Ukraine in the name of peace while making no attempt to rein in Vladimir Putin's Russia and its bloody invasion. Mr Farage was criticised this week for appearing to blame Mr Zelensky for triggering the rant by Trump and his sidekick JD Vance last Friday, criticising him for not wearing a suit and tie to the meeting. Miami influencer turned tech entrepreneur Lucy Guo spoke out against the bombshell lawsuit claiming she forced underage girls to create porn to boost her social media platform. The 30-year-old multi-millionaire and her platform Passes have been accused of running a scheme to recruit teen girls and groom them to create sexually explicit material to sell on the app. Passes is a subscription-based content app - with big money backing from the likes of Jake Paul and Paris Hilton - that allows children between the ages of 15 to 17 to join with parental consent. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Florida, claimed Guo knowingly waived Passes' safety controls so her employees could sell content of then 17-year-old Alice Rosenblum. Guo - whose net worth is $500 million - vehemently denied the allegations and claimed the lawsuit is a 'coordinated attempt to defame Passes founder and status as the premier creator platform.' 'To be clear, these accusations are false and being wielded to undermine the success of the company we have built over the last three years,' she said in a statement shared on Instagram. 'Lucy Guo and Passes never approved or condoned the posting of underage explicit content on our platform. 'We disapprove of the actions allegedly taken by the plaintiff's talent manager and any attempt to involve us in this matter is baseless, which we intend to prove.' Lucy Guo (pictured) spoke out against the bombshell lawsuit claiming she forced underage girls to create porn to boost her social media platform Then 17-year-old Alice Rosenblum (pictured) claimed she was groomed into creating porn and then Guo waived the parental controls to upload the content to her app Passes Passes is a subscription-based content app that allows children between the ages of 15 to 17 to join with parental consent Rosenblum - now 18 - claimed in the new lawsuit that she was recruited by one of Passes' agents, Alec Celestin, to 'create images and videos of herself engaged in sexually explicit conduct.' Celestin allegedly started messaging Rosenblum online in July 2024 and recruited her to 'knowingly produce, market, sell and distribute child pornography' despite her telling him that she was underage. The lawsuit claimed Celestin invited the then-17-year-old to his Los Angeles home on August 10 to 'create images and videos of her engaged in sexually explicit conduct.' That same day he allegedly helped Rosenblum create a profile on Passes and got Guo to waive the age requirement so the pornographic material could be uploaded to the app's data storage known as 'The Vault.' 'Guo, knowing that [Rosenblum] was a minor and of Celestin's plans, directly orchestrated the removal of the Passes verification of parental consent requirement,' the lawsuit said. 'Guo instructed [Rosenblum], among other things, on how and where to upload content onto the Passes Vault system. Guo also told [her] that "you can upload anything."' The filings then claim that Guo and her company directed Rosenblum to continue creating pornographic content that they used to target and profit off of high-spending subscribers. '[Defendants] conspired to market, sell and distribute images and videos of [Rosenblum] engaged in sexually explicit conduct through the Passes internet messaging system to Passes customers, including those known as "big spenders" and "whales," in exchange for money,' the lawsuit said. The filings then claim that Guo and her company directed Rosenblum to continue creating pornographic content that they used to target and profit off of high-spending subscribers Guo broke her silence on social media and denied the allegations Guo - whose net worth is $500 million - vehemently denied the allegations and claimed the lawsuit is a coordinated attempt to defame her The tech entrepreneur claimed she never spoke to Rosenblum and denied Celestin worked for her. 'I I HAD ZERO interaction with the plaintiff (calls, texts, calendar invites, emails, etc). I do not have any contact information of hers,' she said on X. 'I do not condone the actions described, and Alec Celestin was not an agent of passes nor was he ever an employee. 'We are confident the facts are on our side and look forward to presenting those facts in court.' Guo made named for herself as a successful programmer at a young age by creating one of the first-ever Twitter bots that allowed users to auto-follow based on specific hashtags, according to the New York Post. She was once awarded the coveted PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel Fellowship and made the Forbes '30 Under 30' list in 2018, then founded Passes in 2022. The Alaska Airlines flight attendant who was fired for twerking on board said her termination was 'unfair' and that she had no idea it would be 'deemed as inappropriate.' Nelle Diala was sacked from her 'dream job' after a video she posted to TikTok of her twerking on an empty plane went viral in November 2024. Diala amassed more than 72,000 views, but once her former employer got a hold of it, her career with the airline was terminated. Now, the San Francisco native has emotionally explained her side of the story, saying that she chose to dance on the plane as an innocent way to start her work day. 'I decided to just take advantage of the moment, to wake myself up and kind of get myself hyped up for my day basically,' she told Inside Edition. After the 20-second dance video went viral, the airline informed her that she was fired, just six months into her contract. 'They just said that I broke their social media policy,' Diala said, adding that she wasn't able to explain her actions. 'I put on such a proud face every time I stepped on that plane, and for them to terminate me without giving me a chance, it just was unfair,' she continued. Diala also said in a post that the airline 'did discriminate' against her because the viral clip was 'geared toward the urban community.' Nelle Diala, the former Alaska Airlines flight attendant who was fired after a video of her twerking on a plane went viral, said her termination was 'unfair' Diala was sacked from her 'dream job' after a video she posted to TikTok (pictured) of her twerking on an empty plane went viral in November 2024 'So, of course, the company would like to embrace all cultures but leave the minority girl from the ghetto OUT,' she added. The former flight attendant also said that the video was meant to be a celebratory reaction to her completing her six month probationary period with the airline. 'I was really proud of myself that I came so far. I just didn't think that my video and my post and the way I was dancing would be deemed as inappropriate,' Diala said. 'I didn't think that, you know, being so happy could turn into something like this.' After her initial post of the video, Diala then re-posted the twerking clip with a new caption: 'Cant even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. Whats wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.' The footage was posted along with a hashtag #discriminationisreal. Her TikTok page has since been made private. Soon after she was let go, Diala launched a GoFundMe page to help her 'make ends meet due to this sudden loss of income.' The page, which is no longer accepting donations, raised more than $3,300. Diala described herself as a 'wrongfully fired flight attendant,' and added: 'I never thought a single moment would cost me everything.' Now, the San Francisco native has explained her side of the story, saying she chose to dance on the plane as an innocent way to start her work day 'One day, during a layover, I posted a lighthearted video on my personal social media account. It was a harmless clip that was recorded at 6 am while waiting 2 hours for pilots. 'I was also celebrating the end of probation and making it out of a hard upbringing in San Francisco, CA. 'LIFE-something many people in the industry could relate to. The video went viral overnight, but instead of love and support, it brought unexpected scrutiny. Although it was a poor decision on my behalf I didnt think it would cost me my dream job,' she said. She then detailed how her former employer reacted to the clip, adding: 'I explained that the video wasnt intended to harm anyone or the company, but they didnt want to listen. 'Without warning, they terminated me. No discussion, no chance to defend myselfand no chance for a thorough and proper investigation.' Diala, who said she's 'always been careful' about what she shares online, also noted that during her time with Alaska Airlines, she suffered a personal loss. 'In between those 6 months both of my English bulldogs died unexpectedly, my relationship was rocky because of the time I spent away, but I loved my jobmeeting new people, seeing the world, and creating a safe, welcoming environment for passengers. It wasnt always easy, but I was proud of what I did,' Diala wrote. Soon after she was let go, Diala launched a GoFundMe page to help her 'make ends meet due to this sudden loss of income' She also mentioned that even though being a flight attendant was her dream career, she was using her income from it to help fund her 'blossoming lingerie and dessert business.' The aspiring business owner was quickly scrutinized online as some applauded the airline's reaction, while others supported the former flight attendant's cheeky clip. 'Of course she deserved to lose her job. She chose to violate Alaska Airlines social media policy which ALL Alaska employees are required to follow when hired. She got herself fired,' one TikTok user commented. Another wrote: 'Nothing wrong with twerking before work, only wrong to be doing it in uniform while on company property.' 'Shame on Alaska Airlines for being so overly sensitive. We will make sure to support you via GFM,' another commented. DailyMail.com contacted Alaska Airlines for comment. May 14, 2006: Some Jordanian Special Operations personnel are in Iraq, providing training to Iraqi forces, but are doing it discreetly. Jordan has taken the lead, at least as far as Arab countries are concerned, in helping to train the new Iraqi army and police. The Jordanian security forces are among the best trained and most professional in the Arab world. Jordan has long depended on Iraq as a trading partner and ally, even when Saddam was in charge. Jordan was not comfortable being that close with Saddam, and the Jordanian government, at least, is glad to see Saddam gone. Jordan wants the new Iraqi government to succeed, even if it is dominated by Shia Arabs (Jordan is largely Sunni). Jordan has also cooperated with Iraq in fighting Sunni Arab terrorists (al Qaeda or otherwise.) Al Qaeda has been active in Jordan as well. Jordanian commandoes are believed to have operated in Iraq as well, but no official information on these activities has ever been released. University of Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger is now demanding that the bizarre two-word phrase 'bushy eyebrows' is banned from his high-profile death penalty trial. In a series of motions, filed on February 24 and made public this week, the accused mass killer's defense made a string of requests asking the judge to block certain words and phrases from his trial. On the proposed list of banned terms is 'murder,' 'bushy eyebrows,' 'psychopath' and 'sociopath.' 'Bushy eyebrows' was the defining characteristic that the slain victims' surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen recalled about the masked intruder she saw leaving the student house moments after the brutal murders are believed to have taken place. According to Kohberger's defense, 'the description provided by D.M. is unreliable and should be excluded' from the courtroom. Mortensen is expected to be a key witness when Kohberger goes on trial in August charged with the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. The four University of Idaho students were all found stabbed to death inside an off-campus student home at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, back on November 13 2022. The brutality of the murders - and the mystery around who was responsible - plunged the small college town into fear and sent shockwaves across America. Bryan Kohberger (seen in a mugshot) is seeking to have the phrase 'bushy eyebrows' banned from his murder trial Around six weeks later on December 30 2022, Kohberger - a criminology PhD student at nearby Washington State University was arrested at his parents' home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, and charged with the slayings. At the time of the murders, two other roommates - Mortensen and Bethany Funke - lived with Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle in the three-story house in Moscow. They were inside the home at the time of the murders but escaped unscathed. Mortensen, whose bedroom was on the second floor, came face-to-face with a masked man in the immediate aftermath of the murders, according to court documents. She told investigators that she had been woken by noises in the home at around 4am that morning and had heard a voice say theres someone here.' She also heard what sounded like whimpering coming from Kernodle's room and a mans voice saying: Its ok, Im going to help you. Mortensen told investigators she had opened her door and peeked outside three times. The third time, she said she saw a man with 'bushy eyebrows' and dressed in black walk past her door and head towards the sliding back doors of the home. From left: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders), Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke Soon after seeing the intruder, Mortensen went downstairs to Funkes room and the two roommates fell asleep there, according to the newly-filed court documents. Around eight hours later, a 911 call was made from Funke's cellphone as the bloodbath inside the home was discovered. Now, in the new court filings, Kohberger's defense is asking the judge to block any evidence referencing 'bushy eyebrows' and to block Mortensen from using those words to identify Kohberger when she testifies at trial. 'Although she has never identified Mr. Kohberger, testimony by D.M. from the witness stand, describing bushy eyebrows while Mr. Kohberger sits as the accused at trial, will be as damning as her pointing to him and saying, "he is the man that did this,"' the defense argues. The defense claims there are some inconsistencies in Mortensen's description of the masked intruder. The legal team also points to artwork seen on the student's bedroom walls - many of which she had drawn - including 'many pictures of eyes with prominent eyebrows.' 'Some of the eyebrows are heavy, voluminous, puffy, or perhaps subjectively bushy,' the defense states. Mortensen also told investigators that she 'had a lot of lucid dreams of being kidnapped or chased' and that, on the morning of November 13 2022, 'she did not fully understand what was a dream or not,' the defense writes. The off-campus home at 1122 King Road where the four students were found brutally murdered on November 13 2022 In one police interview, she allegedly said 'she thought that the person she saw was a fireman.' As the only known living eyewitness, Mortensen could be a key witness for the prosecution - and a key witness that the defense looks set to seek to discredit. In other filings, the defense is also asking the terms murder, murderer, murdered, murder weapon, and similar words to be banned from the trial, saying they would be unfairly prejudicial to the accused killer. Whether the killings at issue are murder as allegedly committed by Bryan Kohberger, or by an alternate suspect or someone still unknown is the ultimate issue, his defense argues. To label Mr. Kohberger as a murderer, the alleged weapon consistent with an empty sheath as a murder weapon, or to assert that any of the four decedents was murdered by Mr. Kohberger denies his right to a fair trial and the right to be presumed innocent, the defense argues. A separate filing also asks the judge to ban the terms 'psychopath' and 'sociopath', calling these 'unequivocally unfairly prejudicial.' The bizarre requests came amid a flurry of new court documents filed by both the defense and prosecution in recent weeks. In one bombshell new court filing, it was revealed for the first time that DNA from three individuals had been found under Mogen's fingernails. A bombshell new court filing in the case against Bryan Kohberger has revealed that DNA evidence was found under the fingernails of murder victim Madison Mogen (pictured) DNA was found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath (seen in a stock image) left behind at the scene According to the defense filing, during grand jury proceedings, the court heard testimony that a three person mixture had been found on the 21-year-olds left fingernail clippings. It is not clear who the three individuals are that the DNA belongs to. Statistically, it was assumed that Mogen was one of the three individuals. Two hypotheses were then tested, that the three people included: Mogen, Goncalves and one unknown unrelated person or Mogen and two unrelated persons. Parts of the document have been redacted, meaning the findings of the testing remain somewhat unclear. The statistical likelihood that Kohberger is one of the three individuals whose DNA was found on the clippings is also redacted. Yet, the defense indicates that the comparison to Kohbergers DNA was inconclusive - that he could neither be confirmed or eliminated as the source. Kohbergers defense argues that at least four other, unnamed individuals were also tested and that they, like Kohberger, also all came back inconclusive. Ethan Chapin was staying at his girlfriend Xana Kernodle's (together on left) home on the night of the murders. Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen (together on right) were found stabbed to death in the same bed All of these individuals sit in the same shoes as Mr. Kohberger, namely that the LR is exclusionary but falls in the range of inconclusive, the filing states. The filing details that the witness testified to the grand jury about the meaning of the term inconclusive' and that this testimony used misleading language. LR's [likelihood ratios] are different from traditional statistics that courts and juries are used to seeing and hearing. The LR is comparison of hypotheses, it is not statement of identity or probability of identity. It simply asks the question: given the data, which hypotheses tested is more likely,' the defense argues. Focusing on Kohbergers DNA being inconclusive would mislead the jury at his trial, his defense argues. Expanding beyond the language of the report would prejudice Mr. Kohberger in that it might allow the jury to infer that the inconclusive data would mean that he might be included, the defense writes. The defense is asking the judge to limit testimony about the DNA analysis, claiming it would violate Kohbergers right to a fair trial. The legal team also argues that additional testing since carried out by the defense has now excluded Kohberger as the source of the DNA. This marks the first time it has emerged that there could be additional DNA evidence from the scene potentially tying Kohberger to the grisly crime. The off-campus home where the four grisly murders took place was torn down in December A critical part of the case against the suspect comes from a brown leather knife sheath found close to Mogens body at the scene. According to prosecutors, touch DNA found on the sheath belongs to Kohberger and was traced to him using Investigative Genetic Genealogy. Kohberger's team has tried unsuccessfully to have the IGG evidence tossed from the trial. The defense also pointed to blood from two unknown men also found at the King Road home - one on the handrail between the first and second floor, and the second on a glove found outside. The DNA does not match Kohberger and has not been identified. Kohberger's team is also continuing to fight to get the death penalty off the table in the case - with their latest argument being that the accused killer has autism and that his diagnosis 'exposes him to the unacceptable risk' that a jury will convict him of murder and sentence him to death. Goncalves family has long publicly called for the death penalty and her father is now pushing for Kohberger to face the firing squad if convicted of the shocking murders of his daughter and her friends. Kohberger stayed silent at his arraignment, leading the judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf. Bryan Kohberger's defense also wants the terms 'murder', 'psychopath' and 'sociopath' also banned from the trial He has so far offered up a vague alibi for the night of the murders claiming he was driving around at night looking at the stars. No witnesses can corroborate where he was, his attorney Anne Taylor admitted in a court filing. As well as the DNA found on the knife sheath, prosecutors say Kohberger was also tied to the murders through his white Elantra - matching the car seen leaving the crime scene at the time of the murders - and cellphone records placing him in the vicinity of the home. Kohberger is next due in court in April. The House voted to censure Congressman Al Green in a sharp rebuke on Thursday after he was thrown out of President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress this week. House members voted largely along party lines 224 to 198. Ten Democrats joined their GOP colleagues to vote 'yea' on the resolution while two voted present. After the vote, some Democratic lawmakers could be heard singing in the chamber 'We Shall Overcome' as they joined Green on the House floor. Speaker Mike Johnson struggled to bring the House to order repeatedly banging his gavel before calling a recess. The resolution was introduced Wednesday by GOP Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) It came after Green, 77, was physically removed from the House floor for interrupting Trump's speech in a remarkable disruption to a presidential address. But ahead of the vote, Green said despite any punishment for his actions, it would have been worth it. House votes to censure Rep. Al Green after he had to be removed from the House chamber during President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday Just moments into giving his speech on Tuesday night, the president had to pause as shouting could be heard on the floor chamber. The Texas Democrat had stood up from his seat and was yelling and waving his cane at Trump. 'You have no mandate to cut healthcare,' Green yelled. Some lawmakers cheered as Green stood his ground while Republican lawmakers booed on Tuesday night. Speaker Johnson who was presiding over the session eventually stepped in, knocking his gavel in an attempt to restore order in the chamber. Green standing and shaking his cane at President Trump in protest during his address 'Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House and to cease any further disruptions. That's your warning,' Johnson said as Trump waited to continue. When Green refused to return to his seat, the House sergeant at arms removed him from the chamber. As he was escorted away Republicans stood up and cheered. Some GOP members sang 'nah nah nah nah, goodbye' while Democrats sat in silence. Green said he was telling Trump he doesn't have a mandate to cut Medicaid with his disruption The Texas congressman being escorted from the chamber after his disruption After he was booted from the chamber, Green spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill. 'The president said he had a mandate. And I was making it clear to the president that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid,' Green said. The Texas Democrat said Trump's budget calls for 'deep cuts in Medicaid.' But when he introduced the resolution, Newhouse slammed Green's behavior during the address as unacceptable regardless of party. 'Decorum and order are the institutional grounds for the way we do business in the United States Congress, and the sheer disregard for that standard during President Trumps address by the gentleman from Texas is unacceptable,' he said in a statement. On Wednesday, he and other lawmakers stood on the House floor to debate the resolution. Republicans slammed Green's action, but Democrats defended him and criticized the president. Green, who has served in the House since 2005, has been a leading Democrat in efforts to impeach Trump since his first term in office. The congressman announced last month he would file articles of impeachment against the president again in his new term. He said it was in response to Trump's backing of 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians in Gaza. After he was removed from the House chamber on Tuesday, Green said he was willing to accept punishment for his disruption. 'It's worth it to let people know that there's some of us who are going to stand up against this president's desire to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security,' he said. The president has pushed back on such claims, vowing to protect Medicare and Social Security. But Democrats warn Republicans cannot meet their spending cut goals without impacting the program millions of low-income Americans rely on for health care. A travel influencer has been found dead six months after he allegedly murdered an elderly woman by crashing into her car while on drugs. Garrett Bruno's body was discovered at his parents' home in Mount Dora, Florida, on Tuesday evening. Orange County Medical Examiners confirmed the 33 year-old's death to DailyMail.com Thursday morning. A spokesperson said an investigation into the circumstances were ongoing. Bruno was on bail at the time of his death after being charged with second-degree murder over the killing of Esther Abouab, 83, in West Hollywood last October. He was accused of running a red light in his Ford Explorer while speeding in a 25mph zone and T-boning a Ford Expedition in which Abouab was traveling. Abouab, the mother of Hollywood restaurateur Greg Morris, died of blunt force trauma. Her husband Joe was also traveling in the vehicle and was badly injured, but survived. A toxicology report found Bruno had ketamine and GHB in his system at the time of the crash that killed Abouab. Garrett Bruno, pictured, has died six months after he allegedly murdered an elderly woman by driving into the side of her car while speeding in West Hollywood Esther Abouab, pictured, was killed when Bruno T-boned the Ford Expedition she was traveling in his Ford Explorer. Bruno was traveling at a 'high rate of speed' in a 25mph zone, investigators say Abouab's car is pictured after the smash. The force of the collision shoved the 4,000 pound SUV across multiple lanes of traffic and into a garage The influencer was released from hospital days after the smash, only to fall and break his jaw while riding a scooter. On October 19, nine days after the crash, Bruno was photographed snorting drugs outside his West Hollywood home in broad daylight by DailyMail.com He claimed the powder was prescription ketamine in a post uploaded to his Instagram account. On October 25, Bruno suffered a second scooter accident. He fell off his two-wheeler and cracked his skull. The influencer, whose Garrett Travels account has 61,000 followers, was taken to Cedars Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills in a coma. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office deputies raided Bruno's bungalow on November 15 to arrest him for Abouab's murder, only to learn about his hospitalization. He regained consciousness in late December 2024 and was transferred to an LA jail. Bruno had his arraignment in January 2025 and was out on bail awaiting trial when he died. He'd left California and flown home to be with his family in Florida at the time of his death. Bruno surprised the LGBT community in his home of West Hollywood last year by coming out as a MAGA supporter. DailyMail.com has contacted the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office for further comment. Alexander Isak has told how he returned home to find his car, expensive jewellery and bags of cash had been stolen. The Newcastle United star's home in Darras Hall was targeted in a series of high value heists by a team of professional burglars, Newcastle Crown Court has heard. Businesswoman Helen McArdle and her husband lost property worth more than 1m during a raid on their Jesmond house while they were on holiday. Three members of the same family, who had been living in Italy, have admitted conspiracy to commit burglary, the court heard. A fourth family member, Valentino Nikolov, 32, denies the charge and is standing trial. A statement was read to jurors from Mr Isak, who said he was burgled on April 4 last year between 4pm and 10pm. He said he left the house locked and secure but when he got back: 'I noticed my bins at the front of the property and this is not where I left them, which was by the gate.' He said he found a glass door had been smashed and personal property was strewn around. Alexander Isak was targeted by a gang of burglars who are said to have carried out a string of high-value break-ins last spring Isak is believed to be the third victim of the gang, who had already stolen jewellery and clothes worth more than 1milliion from a local businessman He added: 'Upstairs in a bedroom I keep cash in bags and this had been stolen. This was 5,000 to 10,000 in cash in notes and coins.' Mr Isak said a metal safe had been stolen from one of the bedrooms but he said that had been left by a previous tenant and he didn't know what, if anything, it contained as he had not been able to gain access to it. He added that his Audi RS6 estate and its keys were stolen. In a second statement, Mr Isak said he had identified that jewellery had been stolen from the main bedroom. He said: 'This was bespoke jewellery with an approximate value of 68,000.' He said the men's jewellery included necklaces, bracelets and rings. Mr Isak said on April 21 last year he was shown pictures of a safe recovered by police which he said was visually consistent with the safe that had been in his house. It had been damaged to force it open by the time the pictures were taken. Mr Isak said: 'The safe stolen from my home did not have such damage and this must have been caused after the burglary.' Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said the Newcastle United player's home, in Darras Hall, was broken into in April 2024 Safet Ramic, who is the 58-year-old father of Valentino Nikolov's former partner, denies handling stolen goods. He is pictured here outside Newcastle Crown Court A statement was also read from Helen McArdle, whose four-storey home in Jesmond was burgled while she and her husband were on holiday in Spain. She said the offenders 'stole a large amount of items', including jewellery, watches, handbags and clothing. They also took a safe which contained her CBE, which she said is 'irreplaceable' and gold coins. Mrs McArdle said the estimated value of the stolen items is more than 1m. She listed various items which were stolen, including watches worth up to 50,000 each, a diamond ring worth more than 100,000, a diamond pendant worth 35,000 and diamond earrings worth 45,000. Nikolov, of Tew Park Road, Birmingham, denies conspiracy to commit burglary.. His brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, his sister Jela Jovanovic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23, who all reside in Italy, have admitted conspiracy to commit burglary. Safet Ramic, who is the 58-year-old father of Valentino Nikolov's former partner, and who is from Winson Street, Birmingham, denies handling stolen goods. The trial continues. A mother has warned of a need for tight regulations around Brazilian butt lift surgeries after her daughter was given just minutes to live following her procedure by the same man responsible for Katie Price's physique. Louise Moller, 28, was hospitalised for four days after receiving 1,500 liquid BBL injections in October 2023. The liquid BBL procedure is notoriously risky, especially when performed by non-medics. This is because when injected into or near a blood vessel, filler can block blood flow leading to tissue death. Inadequately sterilising equipment can too, trigger dangerous infections. She booked via WhatsApp and paid a 435 deposit to 'beauty consultant' Ricky Sawyer who boasts about his celebrity clients online, including Katie Price and Love Island stars, despite having no healthcare qualifications. Sawyer has also been exposed for his dangerous practices in a BBC investigation in February. When Louise had arrived for the procedure, she was greeted by a different surgeon to the one she had been communicating with over WhatsApp who was no where to be found. She felt 'stuck' and wanted to take some time to reconsider her decision but ultimately decided to go through with it as to not waste the money she had already handed over. However, after the receiving the injections she started to feel a 'shooting pain' down her leg which left her screaming in agony, according to a police statement. Louise Moller, 28, was hospitalised for four days after receiving 1,500 liquid BBL injections in October 2023 Her heartbroken mother Janet Taylor (left) recalls receiving a distressing call from her daughter who had phoned her to say 'goodbye' after the excruciating pain from the injections left her believing she was going to die The liquid BBL procedure is notoriously risky, especially when performed by non-medics (Pictured: the needles used on Louise) Her heartbroken mother Janet Taylor recalls receiving a distressing call from her daughter who had phoned her to say 'goodbye' after the excruciating pain from the injections left her believing she was going to die. In the days following her appointment, the hairdresser, from Bradshaw, experienced intense swelling, pain and red inflammation all around the injection site. When Louise complained to the clinic they simply instructed her to take a routine course of antibiotics. She was left unable to walk and forced to take sick leave from her job. Her family rushed her to Salford Royal Hospital's A&E department where she made the harrowing 'goodbye' call to her mother after doctors said they needed to operate on her leg or she would die 'Mum, I think I'm going to die,' she said. Speaking to The Bolton News, Janet said: 'I remember getting a call from the hospital, they said they needed to operate on Louise, or she was going to die, there was no doubt about it. 'They were preparing Louise for surgery, she was refusing because the surgeon couldn't tell her what he was going to cut off, she was so frightened and rang me for advice and to say goodbye. 'Knowing what we know now, if she had not gone to the hospital when she did, Louise wouldn't be here.' She booked via WhatsApp and paid a 435 deposit to 'beauty consultant' Ricky Sawyer (pictured) who boasts about his celebrity clients online, including Katie Price and Love Island stars, despite having no healthcare qualifications Raw footage shows 'beauty consultant' Ricky Sawyer whose celebrity clients include Katie Price offering to inject hundreds of milliliters of filler into clients' buttocks, despite not having a single healthcare qualification, according to the BBC Sawyer boasts of his celebrity clientele online and was last month caught on camera offering to inject hundreds of millilitres of filler into clients' buttocks, despite not having a single healthcare qualification, according to the BBC investigation Doctors were left fighting to save her leg as her blood pressure kept rising due to the severe amount of pain she was in. The infection was travelling through Louise's body so quickly that medics believed they only had 10 minutes left to start operating before it would have been too late. Luckily, surgeons managed to remove all the dead tissue from her left buttock in time and she survived. However, she will still need to undergo further corrective surgeries to fully repair all of the damage done. Janet also said her daughter has become 'a lot quieter' since the ordeal and 'doesn't talk about it.' She added: 'I think it's taken it out of her, she hasn't been able to work since. It's affected her mental health and her self-confidence massively.' Janet said regulations must be tightened so people cannot set up an aesthetics practice just to make money without fear of consequences. Greater Manchester Police confirmed they received a police report on Louise's surgery claims and are investigating them. A spokesperson said: 'When we were made aware of this incident, we took a statement from the victim and passed this evidence onto our colleagues in Essex. 'They have primacy in this investigation due to the reported offence location and will lead on enquiries in terms of any further action. 'We will continue to support their investigation as required. 'As with any investigation, if new information comes to light officers will conduct further enquiries and provide assistance where possible.' It is understood Lift Aesthetics in Essex where it took place is Ricky Sawyer's clinic. Sawyer boasts of his celebrity clientele online and was last month caught on camera offering to inject hundreds of millilitres of filler into clients' buttocks, despite not having a single healthcare qualification, according to the BBC investigation. Other women treated by Sawyer also told how they needed emergency hospital treatment after their procedures to tackle serious complications including potentially fatal sepsis. One woman claimed she felt at the time she would rather 'have died' than continue with the pain she was in, following the jabs which contain 'plumping' hyaluronic acid. Cameras also capture Mr Sawyer illegally handing out antibiotics. All of the hard-hitting clips were secretly captured by an undercover reporter who had booked a consultation with the beautician through his Instagram page. Experts slammed the 'shocking' practices that were found in the BBC probe. Save Face which campaigns for greater regulation to cover non-surgical procedures also revealed it had received complaints from 39 women about Mr Sawyer, all of whom needed hospital treatment. Its founder Ashton Collins said each had a BBL and suffered complications such as sepsis, necrosis and disfigurement. 'We've encouraged these women to report their experiences to the police,' she added. 'Some have, and nothing has been done. He just moves on to different areas of the country and carries on.' In the new BBC documentary, one woman known only as Joanne, told how she travelled seven hours from south Wales to Essex for the liquid BBL treatment. The mum-of-two said she had undergone other cosmetic treatments previously and had been persuaded to get a 'peachy bum' by Mr Sawyer's adverts and celebrity endorsements. However, when she arrived she claimed his clinic was in a block of flats in an industrial estate and she waited in a 'dingy little hallway' for roughly half an hour. 'I should have turned and ran but I had paid 600 deposit and travelled all this way,' she said. After parting with the additional 1,400 for the treatment, she then stood in front of him while he sat on a stool and injected her with a litre of filler. 'I felt dizzy, sick and like shaky. My legs didn't even move properly. And that was all within a minute of him starting,' she said. 'I remember looking round and he had white gloves on that were full of blood.' By the time she returned to South Wales hours later, the swelling had begun and she could hardly walk, she claimed. 'I messaged Ricky loads of times to say how bad I was feeling and how worried I was. He just told me to take my antibiotics,' she added. 'My temperature kept on going up and I felt terrible. I had to phone 999. I was dripping with sweat and screaming.' In hospital, she was diagnosed with sepsis and attached to intravenous antibiotics. Medics fortunately did not need to operate. The probe also saw an undercover reporter pose as a potential client, booking a 45-minute consultation with Mr Sawyer through his Instagram page. They told him they wanted a 200ml liquid BBL injection costing 1,200 and paid a 200 deposit. Upon visiting the clinic in an office block, they claimed that despite having advertised that all liquid BBLs would be carried out under the guidance of an 'ultrasound specialist doctor', none was present. Within five minutes of being in his office, Mr Sawyer had also begun to encourage the reporter to think about increasing the amount of filler. 'You might be surprised about how much product you can have and still look natural,' he said. By the end of the appointment, the video showed Mr Sawyer had offered to inject a litre of filler 500ml per buttock for a cost of 2,000. A United Nations tribunal head who told police 'I'm a judge' broke down in tears as she denied trafficking a young woman from Uganda to work as her slave. Lydia Mugambe, 49, appeared at Oxford Crown Court today where she was accused of taking advantage of the alleged victim in the 'most egregious way'. Charges relate to her time studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford and Mugambe was asked if she arranged the woman's travel intending to exploit her. Prosectors say Mugambe conspired with deputy High Commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to bring the individual to the UK to look after her children for free. The woman was found packing in a bedroom when officers visited Mugambe's Oxfordshire home on February 10, 2023. The accused became emotional today and took tissues to wipe her face saying 'I'm sorry but it's too much', 'you can't just take lies' and 'we worked for our careers'. Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, is alleged to have stopped the woman holding down steady employment and forced her to work as her maid and provide childcare. Bodyworn camera footage seen by jurors at court last month showed Mugambe telling police she [the woman] didn't want to go as 'who wants to go back to Africa when she can work?'. A United Nations tribunal head who told police 'I'm a judge' broke down in tears as she denied trafficking a young woman from Uganda to work as her slave Prosectors say Mugambe (pictured) conspired with deputy High Commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa to bring the individual to the UK to look after her children for free 'For me, I'm a judge, I'm OK but if you didn't have much to do... she would want to stay,' she is heard saying. Mugambe's defence, Paul Raudnitz KC, asked her today if she arranged the woman's travel intending to exploit her in the UK. The judge said: 'I never exploited [the woman] in Uganda, why would I exploit her in the UK?' Mugambe then became emotional and carried on speaking through tears. Mr Raudnitz further probed her on whether the woman ever 'worked under a threat of penalty or consequence from you', and Mugambe replied 'no'. He asked: 'Did you ever agree with anybody else to intimidate [the woman] to stop her giving evidence in these proceedings?' Mugambe said: 'No, I would never do that.' When officers arrived at her address in 2023, the woman told police that Mugambe would not let her leave the house until she paid her money for her travel to the UK, the court previously heard. Earlier today, Mugambe told jurors she was 'emotional because I was in shock' after she attended a police station voluntarily She said she had arrived in the country in July 2022 on a work visa and did not want to stay at Mugambe's house. Meanwhile, Mugambe was downstairs telling an officer the woman was 'acting funny' and she wanted to do more work rather than providing childcare. She also said the woman did not owe her money, was not packing to leave, that she had a key to the property and was free to go. The defendant said she suspected the woman wanted to work for more money. She can be heard saying: 'I think it's one of two things. She wants to work more. This is what happens exactly when they come, they get excited about the pound and then they want to work much more than the terms they came on, so that's what she wants.' Earlier today, Mugambe told jurors she was 'emotional because I was in shock' after she attended a police station voluntarily and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of human trafficking. Mr Raudnitz asked why she was described as emotional at the time, and the defendant said: 'Because I was in shock, I was emotional because I was in shock.' He said Mugambe was released on bail then attended the police station again the next day, and asked her: 'Why did you go no comment in the second half of these interviews?' Oxford Crown Court (pictured) heard when officers arrived at the address, the woman told police that Mugambe would not let her leave the house until she paid her money for her travel to the UK Mugambe replied: 'Because of the solicitor's instruction and direction.' The court heard the defendant sent police a number of prepared statements. Caroline Haughey KC, prosecuting, asked the defendant if she lied in this case, and Mugambe replied: 'I said yesterday that when the police first came to me I made some misrepresentations, and I acknowledge that.' Ms Haughey said the Crown says the 'misrepresentations are lies', adding: 'They're not flexible facts, they're deliberate untruths.' The prosecution said Mugambe's explanation was that she was 'shielding people', and the defendant said she was shielding the alleged victim. Ms Haughey stated the Crown said 'that's another lie' and added 'the person you were shielding was yourself', to which the defendant said 'that's not true'. She added the defendant's account was now that the alleged victim never worked for her and carried out 'light tasks'. Mugambe said: 'I don't know what you mean by light tasks. What I am saying is [the alleged victim] did not come to work for me.' She added she said that as she was shielding the woman. Ms Haughey said: 'She had been working for you, you just chose not to pay her.' The defendant replied: 'You're so wrong Ms Haughey, I was shielding [the woman]. 'My understanding was, if I said she's not supposed to be here, it would get her in trouble.' Mugambe is accused of engaging in 'illegal folly' with Ugandan deputy high commissioner, John Leonard Mugerwa, in which they allegedly conspired to 'facilitate the commission of a breach of the immigration law'. The defendant is also alleged to have attempted to intimidate her alleged victim into dropping the case. She denies conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work and conspiracy to intimidate a witness. The trial continues. A British father has won a legal battle after spiriting his two-year-old daughter out of China because he believed his much younger wive was having an affair. The 57-year-old - identified only as O - 'clandestinely' whisked his toddler to the airport and flew back to the UK while her Chinese mother was at work, the High Court was told. The father had first met his wife - who is 20 years his junior and only referred to as E - in China 15 years ago, before they wed in Guam in 2020. They later welcomed their baby girl - known in the court judgement as I - in 2022. But their parents' relationship became 'strained' after the birth, with the father suspecting the mother was having an affair when he moved away from the major city where they resided for a new job. The mother remained in her previous role, which included a lengthy commute and night shifts. Now after 'clandestinely' removing his child from the home and bringing her back to England, the father has succeeded in persuading a judge not to have the toddler immediately sent back to China with his wife. He argued that Chinese courts discriminate against fathers and that he could possible 'be the subject of proceedings for abduction' if he was forced to go through the judicial process in the East Asian country. Mrs Justice Judd said that despite her 'considerable concern' at his behaviour, the little girl's future should be determined by the courts in this country. A British father has won a legal battle after spiriting his two-year-old daughter out of China because he believed his much younger wive was having an affair (file image) The mother discovered her child had been taken when she looked at the baby camera in the morning, later asking a friend to go to the home - where nobody was present. 'The car rental company used by the family were able to track the family car to the airport, and the mother then discovered what had happened,' the court heard. Later she also found out her husband had 'suddenly left his job'. He had then sent her one message to inform her that the child was safe before switching his phone off. After some time, the wife was able to make contact with her husband and flew to England to see her daughter. She then applied for a court order to have her daughter returned to China. On behalf of the father, Jennifer Perrins told the court that I has now been in Britain for just over six months, and that she is a 'thriving' British national. Ms Perrins also said that O had several concerns if the matter was to play out in Chinese courts, including being subject to proceedings for abduction as well as his 'insecure' immigration position. 'He avows that in the circumstances he cannot accompany I back to China if a return is ordered,' the court heard. The father also claimed that E behaved 'inappropriate[ly]', at times, and alleged she lacked empathy and had also been abusive and aggressive towards their daughter. It was also heard from an expert that the Chinese courts cannot order join or shared custody, whilst Ms Perrins claimed there was evidence suggesting their judicial system was 'discriminatory' towards fathers. She argued this would breach the father's human rights under UK law. The mother's lawyer accused the husband of behaving in a 'clandestine and deceitful way' in removing their daughter from the country. 'She submits that I has lived in China all her life, having only visited the UK once before being abducted there last year,' the judge was told. 'She was totally settled in China, attending nursery, seeing family and friends, and having her mother as her primary carer. She has a much loved family pet, a cat. The father is not attempting to enable I to keep up her Chinese language.' However, Justice Judd ruled against the application, saying the child's future should be decided in Britain, despite 'powerful arguments put forward'. 'I have come to the conclusion that it is not in her [child I's] best interests to be returned to China on a summary basis for welfare decisions to be taken there,' she said. 'I realise that this will not be easy for the mother, who has spent a great deal of money and time engaging in these proceedings and coming to see her daughter. 'In the circumstances of this particular case, I am particularly concerned about the expert evidence that the courts in China do not appear to make decisions allowing relocation back to this country in the absence of agreement, and also as to their ability to enforce cross border contact. 'The problem is that should I make an order for summary return, it seems it will be decisive as to where I will be brought up. 'It may be decisive as to whether or not she has contact with her father in England, and, if he is not able to settle permanently again in China, it may be decisive as to whether I lives with her mother or her father. 'I do not assume for one minute that there is no detriment to I by staying here for longer, being kept away from her mother and what is familiar to her, but at least she has become accustomed to living with her father in the home where she has been for four months and she does appear to be doing reasonably well at home and in nursery. 'If the ultimate welfare decision is that she should return to live with her mother in China, she will be able to resume her life there without too much disruption to her education, language development and culture. 'Her physical, emotional and educational needs will need to be decided for the long term, and I am concerned that a decision needs to be made about this with the full range of options, something which is ultimately in her best interests because of the importance to her of both of her parents. 'She will have suffered harm by being removed by her father in that way and kept away from her mother for so long but ultimately I do not know enough about the capability of each of her parents to meet her emotional needs... to make a decision which would have long term repercussions.' Justice Judd expressed her hope that the welfare proceedings can get underway as soon as possible. An aspiring mayor-turned-gang leader committed a cardinal sin in the Mexican criminal world that led to the deaths of nine students whose bodies were found mutilated on the same day he was executed. An official at the prosecutor's office with knowledge of the investigation told DailyMail.com that Jose 'EL Jocha' Lavariega invited the victims, members of 'Los Brujos,' to spend time in Oaxaca. 'They're friends,' the official said. 'He told them, "Listen why don't you come down here for a few days."' After the invitation to come to the city, the victims allegedly asked the cartel boss if it would be fine for them to 'steal' and engage in other criminal activity while in Oaxaca, according to the source. Lavariega eventually led the young adults to their own carnage by giving them the green light. When he was asked if the young group could steal from businesses in Oaxaca, he responded, 'there's no problem,' the insider said. The group of students from Tlaxcala five men and four women took Lavariega for his word, and set out to commit a wave of muggings and thefts. However, it did not sit well with one of the drug-selling criminal groups that operates in Oaxaca - since the Los Brujos gang overstepped the line with their menacing activity on rival turf. 'There is another local criminal group that controls the area near the coast of Oaxaca. And then what happened, happened,' the official told DailyMail.com, referencing the horrific murders and mutilations. The complex web of criminals in the area have an unspoken rule to steer clear of committing crimes that could harm local residents - but chaos ensued when the group of nine students transgressed these street orders, the government source said. Pictured: Jose 'EL Jocha' Lavariega. He is the boss of a cartel, who allegedly invited the victims to spend time in Oaxaca - where they decided to go on a robbery spree Authorities are seen here investigating the scene were nine missing students were found dead Sunday next to a road in San Jose Miahuatla, a city in Puebla, Mexico 'The business model of the criminal group, that is most powerful right now, is the sale of drug dealing to tourists,' the official said. 'So, they have an agreement not to commit robberies - because robbery is a crime that affects ordinary citizens.' The visiting victims formed part of a 'Los Brujos' cell known as 'Los Zacapoaxtlas' and allegedly robbed $19,000 from a man at Santander Bank in Santa Cruz Huatulco on February 14. On February 17, they near stole an ATM downtown Huatulco and attempted to rob a business at a shopping center. The source said that those incidents 'heated up the area,' which led the Oaxaca gang to respond. On February 27, a group of men, who identified themselves as police, arrived at Hospedaje Jocha, a small hotel in the Oaxaca town of Huatulco that was owned by Lavariega. One of the surviving victims, 19-year-old Brenda Salas, told the Tlaxcala State Attorney General's Office that the Huatulco Municipal officer forced her and her friend, 29-year-old Angie Perez, into a marked vehicle and kidnapped and beat them. Salas was found Monday - abandoned on a road in Puebla - one day before the dismembered remains of Perez and the other victims were discovered under a tarp and in the trunk of a car that was abandoned on the side of a highway. Brenda Salas (pictured) was rescued by Mexican authorities Monday, a day after nine missing students were found dismembered and abandoned under a tarp Lesly Noya was named as one of the nine missing students whose dismembered bodies were found on Sunday Local outlets reported that Jose Lavariega, (pictured), owned the hotel where the students were staying before they were kidnapped The other victims were identified as Ruben Ramos, Rolando Evaristo and Uriel Calva, each 22; Raul Gonzalez and Noemi Lopez, both 28; and Lesly Noya, 21. The Mexican government official's theory came just as the Oaxaca State Attorney General's Office announced Thursday that it has launched an investigation into the possible criminal involvement of police officers. Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara was questioned during a press conference on Tuesday about allegations that police officers were behind the brutal murders and kidnappings. He said that the accused cops, who have not been identified, will be prosecuted under the fullest extent of the law if the allegations are true. 'If there is a complaint and the people who were [forcefully] detained by the police have to file a complaint, it cannot be allowed that a state or municipal police officer detains a person, dumps him or her away and abandons him or her, or that person is hurt or beaten or can be tortured. The law already punishes people who commit these types of acts,' Jara said. Jose Lavariega's killers left behind a sign on top of his body that was written in Spanish and read: 'This is what you get for being a thief' The official said that authorities are also investigating the murder of Lavariega, which occurred on Sunday. The killers left a note over his body that read in Spanish: 'This is what you get for being a thief.' Five of the victims were buried in Tlaxcala on Wednesday and the burial of another person was scheduled for Thursday, Mexican news outlet Milenio reporter. An illegal immigrant accused of burning a woman alive inside a New York subway car will remain in the US because of sanctuary city policies that prohibit him from being deported. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, is facing murder and arson charges relating to the killing of Debrina Kawam, 57. Prosecutors say Zapeta-Calil set the New Jersey woman on fire on a stopped train at Brooklyn's Coney Island station on December 22. He then fanned the flames with a shirt before sitting on platform bench and watching as Kawam burned, they allege. Under current policies enacted in the Big Apple, the city's corrections department have refused to honor an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer for Zapeta-Calil. That decision was slammed by Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who was in NYC this week to meet with law enforcement. In a clip of her taken on the platform of the Coney Island stop, she said: 'ICE lodged an immigration detainer with the NYC Department of Corrections to take this depraved alien into custody 'Because of current sanctuary city policy, the corrections department has indicated it will NOT honor the detainer.' Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is facing murder and arson charges relating to the killing of Debrina Kawam, 57 Debrina Kawam, 57, was later identified as the woman set alight on the subway while she had been sleeping She added: 'This is disgusting. New York politicians are allowing the murder of their own citizens. 'Governor Hochul should impose an emergency suspension of sanctuary protection by executive order NOW.' Sanctuary city laws ban local law enforcement from working with immigration authorities to hold migrants in custody until they can be processed for deportation proceedings. Zapeta-Calil's crime will be tried in the jurisdiction where it took place, but handing him over to ICE would make it easier for him to be booted from the US once any sentence is served. Mayor Eric Adams has been attempting to loosen that legislation in hopes of allowing the NYPD to work in tandem with ICE on cracking down in illegal migrants. ICE officials said Zapeta entered the US illegally from Guatemala in 2018 and was deported, but re-entered the country at some point after. He had been living in a Brooklyn shelter and was working as a roofer at the time of the murder. The incident quickly became part of the national debate over the dramatic rise in crimes being committed by illegal immigrants in the United States. Mayor Adams came out after Zepeta's arrest to call for federal prosecutors to charge him alongside state charges. 'Lighting another human being on fire and watching them burn alive reflects a level of evil that cannot be tolerated,' he said in a statement. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem,seen here, was in the city this week to meet with law enforcement and slammed the policy Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is shown sitting on a subway bench watching as the woman he set fire to burns alive Kawam was reportedly sleeping on the subway car around 7:30am at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn when she was set ablaze. The footage of the moments after Kawam was set on fire went viral as it showed an NYPD officer walking past the fire while a man, allegedly Zepeta, watched on. According to a transcript released by authorities after the incident, he is said to have told detectives: 'Oh, damn, that's me', when he was shown a clip of the attack. The details of that interview were made public after he entered a plea of not guilty on the murder and arson charge. Authorities said he reacted with 'disgust' and 'strangeness' to the clip, wiping his eyes and saying in Spanish, 'Oh, my goodness,' according to the transcript. 'I am very sorry. I didnt mean to,' he then told detectives. 'I dont know what happened, but Im very sorry for that woman.' He added that he had been drinking heavily throughout the night and fallen asleep on the subway, but did not remember what happened next. If convicted faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the top charge. A Tennessee high school was left stunned after a much loved teacher was found dead by suicide inside a classroom. Samuel Colin Day was found inside Munford High School on Thursday morning having died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, local police said. According to a profile for the teacher, he had worked on the campus as a Special Education Director. The school was closed for the day after Day's body was found inside a classroom, officials said. In an update police statement, the department said: 'We are deeply saddened to report a tragic incident that occurred today at MHS. 'Teacher, Samuel Colin Day, was found deceased in a classroom from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. 'This incident occurred at approx. 6 am this morning, well before students arrived for class. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, students, and faculty affected by this heartbreaking event. We ask that the community respect the familys privacy during this difficult time.' Samuel Colin Day was found inside the school on Thursday morning having died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound The police department said that there was no indication of foul play, and that all the students in the school were safe In an earlier statement from the department, they said that no students had been on the school grounds at the time. The school is located in Munford, which is around 30 miles north of Memphis in The Volunteer State. Since it was revealed that Day was the teacher that authorities found dead inside a classroom, social media has been flooded with tributes for him. One person said: 'I can remember like yesterday being a student helper in his classroom in 2007. Such a wonderful man. 'When I say he LOVED his students , LOVED his job. No one will ever be able to replace him. 'Prayers to everyone who loves him. & a special prayer for the person who found him.' Another person added: 'He was an awesome advocate for his SPED kids. Prayers for his family, work family and first Responders as I'm sure they knew him and especially the person that found him. RIP.' Since it was revealed that Day was the teacher that authorities found dead inside a classroom, social media has been flooded with tributes for him One other commented: 'Praying for his friends, family, co-workers and students past and present. 'He was a very special, patient and passionate gentleman to work with those in the special education program. These teachers have the ability to present information in so many ways for students to understand, learn and graduate. 'God Bless You Sir!' March 5, 2025: A year after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian forces were in trouble. They were no longer making much progress but were still suffering heavy losses. After three years of fighting Russia has lost nearly a million soldiers. This includes dead, disabled, deserters, prisoners and doesnt include over a million military age men who fled the country to avoid military service. Not surprisingly, Russia has a labor shortage. Then there is the heavily sanctioned economy, which Russia made worse by putting the economy on a war footing. Military production had priority and civilian needs declined to the point where over a third of Russians were living in poverty. Russias major export, oil, has to be sold at a discount because it is illegal for oil importers to accept oil from Russia. Amidst all this economic crisis and ruin, Russia decided they had nothing to lose by launching a shadow war against NATO countries. This included a sabotage campaign where Russia paid criminals in Europe to carry out these attacks. European security agencies were alert to these Russian plans and police arrested local criminals hired by Russian agents to carry out sabotage attacks. With these Russian efforts no longer secret, Russian recruiting efforts have failed because of fears that anyone who worked for Russia would be quickly identified and arrested. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, public opinion in Europe has been hostile to Russia. There have been a few railway accidents that are now being reexamined to see if they were acts of sabotage. Russian jamming of GPS signals continues to be a problem in several European countries. Russia denies any involvement but the evidence of Russian complicity grows with each incident. In this respect Russia is at war with European nations and these attacks may eventually lead to more sanctions against Russia. The economic sanctions already imposed on Russia by Western trading partners are seen by Russians as an attack on their economy. That was the intention of the sanctions but the Russians dont consider themselves deserving of such attacks. This shadow war, where no one admits they are attacking anyone, is likely to continue as long as Russia is considered an outlaw nation because of its continued aggression inside Ukraine. Economic attacks on Russia have hurt and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has openly discussed a negotiated settlement to end the Ukraine War and get Russia out from under all those sanctions. A 14-year-old boy has been ordered to pay compensation from his pocket money to two security guards who were 'overwhelmed' by him and his gang in a 'terrifying' masked raid at a busy Apple store. One of the guards backed off when he was threatened with a 'shank' after the gang of five males entered the store in Brent Cross on January 5 and stripped 50 iPhones worth 49,550 from the displays, Croydon Youth Court in south London heard. District Judge Sushil Kumar told the boy, who was not the gang leader or the robber who made the stabbing threat, that he had taken part in 'very serious and planned offending' which, had he been an adult, could have resulted in 'a number of years' in jail. The teenager, who cannot be named, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery. He was given a nine-month referral order and told to pay 100 compensation to each of the security guards within a year. The boy's mother, who was sitting next to him in court, said his income was his pocket money. The judge told him: 'Bearing in mind your pocket money, I'm satisfied that compensation of 100 each, 200 in total would be appropriate.' He ruled that compensation should be paid to the security guards who were 'faced with serious robbery', saying the payment would act as an additional punishment for the teenager but 'it is something that is manageable'. The gang of youths can be seen entering the Apple store as a security guard blocks one from coming in Shocked shoppers watched on as the gang of youths fled the shop with devices just 20 seconds later The group stripped 50 iPhones worth 49,550 from the displays, Croydon Youth Court in south London heard 'Over the course of the year you can budget for it and pay compensation for these two persons.' The court heard the teenager pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, and understands the raid 'must have been a terrifying and scary thing' for the customers and innocent bystanders who witnessed it, which included a young family with children. The judge also told the boy: 'It was a very serious and planned offending. 'Two young people, and it is not suggested that it was you, entered earlier in the day to conduct a reconnaissance of the store. 'Thereafter a number of young males entered the store en masse to conduct the robbery. 'This was a robbery of a busy store in a busy shopping centre and there were very serious threats of violence made. 'It is not suggested that you made these threats. 'It is clear to see that security was overwhelmed by sheer fear and the number of people attempting to get in and commit the robbery.' Shoppers, including families, could be seen fleeing from the Apple store Members of the public saw the gang fleeing out of the door, including 'a young family with young children who were holding their hands and they were no doubt frozen in fear as all this took place', the judge said. The robbery took place at about 2.11pm and the security guards were immediately alerted that something was wrong after the group, who were masked and wearing black, entered the store. Prosecutor Suleman Hussain said: 'They looked suspicious. Security told them they could not stay while they were wearing masks. 'They pushed the guard and intimated they had knives. 'One said 'I will bring it out' and intimated he would push it towards the security guards.' They grabbed the telephones, damaging the store demonstration equipment as the guard backed away. Some seven iPhones and a black balaclava were recovered from the 14-year-old and all of the stolen items were found. The teenager was described as the 'youngest member' of the gang and details of mitigating factors relating to his background were not given in court. Referring to his positive pre-sentence reports, the judge warned the boy: 'You have two options - you can continue to make good on the positive things I have read about you. 'I believe that you are able to do that. 'If you continue as you have started, with criminality, that can only get more and more serious.' He added: 'Whilst this has been a very serious offence you have been sentenced for, I hope you take advantage of the help that has been given to you.' The gulf between Washington and allies over Donald Trump's friendly stance to Russia deepened Thursday amid reports that its closest intelligence partners were discussing withholding sensitive information from their U.S. counterparts. They fear agents or foreign assets could be compromised. It comes after Trump called for Moscow to be readmitted to the G7 group of nations and as the U.S. paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The result is panic among European leaders that they may not be able to rely on American protection for much longer. French President Emmanuel Macron has already said he was ready to discuss extending his nation's nuclear umbrella to allies and that he will host a meeting of army chiefs from European countries ready to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after a peace deal. The sense of a growing transatlantic rift was heightened when NBC cited multiple sources saying allies including Israel, Saudi Arabia and members of the so-called Five Eyes spy allianceAustralia, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S. were weighing whether to change protocols for sharing intelligence with the Washington. The sources said any revisions would take into account the Trump administrations conciliatory approach to Russia into account. 'Those discussions are already happening,' said a source. Allies of Washington are weighing whether to stop sharing intelligence with the Trump administration because of the president's conciliatory approach to Moscow Trump has repeatedly said President Vladimir Putin can be trusted, and during his first term was accused of sharing classified information with Russian officials The review is one piece of a broader look at relations with Washington, including trade and diplomacy, said the sources. During Trump's first term, he was accused of sharing highly classified intelligence about the Islamic State with the Russian foreign minister during a meeting in the Oval Office. The information came from Israel, which had not given permission for it to be shared for fear of exposing the source, according to the Washington Post. Out of office, he was prosecuted for keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home until he regained power and the case was dropped. This time around, administration officials have explained their warming relations with Russia as a way of bringing Moscow to the negotiating table and ending the war in Ukraine. A spokesman for the National Security Council said Trump was clear-eyed on security threats. 'The U.S. has unrivaled intelligence capabilities which is exactly why intelligence sharing initiatives such as the Five Eyes exist,' spokesman Brian Hughes told NBC. 'President Trump is clear-eyed on all threats our adversaries pose to our national security and he will work with any ally or partner who understands the dangerous world inherited after the disastrous Biden years.' A day earlier, the White House confirmed that it had halted the supply of intelligence to Ukraine. Zelensky looks on during a visit to a military training area to find out about the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in Germany, June 11, 2024 'We have, we have taken a step back,' National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told reporters at the White House on Wednesday. He added that the Trump administration was pausing and reviewing 'all aspects of this relationship.' It came after Washington paused military aid to Kyiv on Monday following a dramatic public row between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House on Friday. European Union held emergency talks Thursday on ways to quickly increase their military budgets in response. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is trying to act as a bridge between disgruntled European leaders and Trump. He played down the idea that the two sides are at loggerheads, saying that the U.S. remained a crucial ally and that he was working to 'get the U.S., and European allies onto the same page so that we can all focus on what matters most, which is lasting peace in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin has mocked Emmanuel Macron, warning him that 'some people forget how Napoleon's Russian campaign ended,' after the French President indicated he would be willing to use his country's nuclear deterrent to protect Europe. France's Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the Russian Empire in 1812 in a disastrous six-month military campaign that ended in Russian victory and resulted in some half a million casualties on the French side. Putin's warning, which did not refer to Macron by name, came a day after the French leader called Moscow 'a threat to Europe' and raised the idea of putting other countries under France's nuclear umbrella. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hit back today, saying the Kremlin viewed Macron's comments about extending France's nuclear deterrent to other European countries as a 'threat'. Lavrov also reaffirmed his country's opposition to European forces being deployed in Ukraine as peacekeepers if an accord was made to halt the conflict. He again compared Macron to Napoleon as well as Adolf Hitler, saying that unlike the French emperor and Nazi leader Macron did not openly say he wanted to conquer Russia, before adding that he 'evidently wants the same thing'. Continuing his mocking tirade, Lavrov stated that Macron is making 'stupid accusations against Russia' that Putin has dismissed as 'madness and nonsense'. In an address to his nation on Wednesday, Macron said that France was 'legitimately worried' about the United States shifting its position on the Ukraine conflict under US President Donald Trump. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) on the sidelines of the Special European Council to discuss continued support for Ukraine and European defence Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with workers and wards of The Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 6 A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry press service shows a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile The French leader said he would open a debate on extending France's nuclear deterrent, following a phone conversation with Germany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz. Macron also reaffirmed that European military forces could be sent to Ukraine if a peace accord was signed to guarantee 'respect' of a deal. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today that Macron was 'detached from reality' and making 'contradictory statements'. Lavrov stated today that Russia was unwavering in its opposition to this. 'We see no room for compromise. This discussion is being held with an overtly hostile aim,' he said. Russia would consider such troops in the same way as it would view a NATO presence in Ukraine, Lavrov said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Macron's speech 'extremely confrontational', saying Russia felt that 'France wants the war to continue.' Macron is saying that 'Russia has become practically an enemy of France' but not that NATO's military presence is encroaching on Russia's borders, he said. It came as Russia's Defence Minister Andrey Belousov visited Russia's nuclear weapons development laboratory today. He told nuclear scientists the army was looking forward to getting its hands on 'new developments' in the near future, the defence ministry said in a statement. An unarmed Trident II D5LE missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) off the coast of Cape Canaveral Meanwhile Putin met with relatives of soldiers killed on the frontline during his illegal invasion of Ukraine, which has been grinding on for more than three years with heavy casualties on both sides. Asked by the mother of one fallen soldier if Russia would retreat, Putin said he did not intend to do that. Russia currently controls just under a fifth of Ukraine - or about 113,000 square km. The Russian dictator said Moscow would seek a peace deal in Ukraine that safeguards its own long-term security and will not retreat from the gains it has made in the conflict. 'We must choose for ourselves a peace option that will suit us and that will ensure peace for our country in the long term,' he said. The comments came as Mr Zelensky desperately tries to repair relations with Mr Trump after their extraordinary White House bust-up (pictured) A view from the damaged site after the Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih US President Donald Trump has upended Western policy on the Ukraine war, opening up bilateral talks on ending it with Moscow and freezing Kyiv out, at the same time as pausing military aid to Ukraine after clashing with President Zelensky last week. Putin has repeatedly said he is open to discussing a Ukraine peace deal with Trump but has ruled out any major territorial concessions and would insist that Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO. In comments last summer setting out his terms for ending the war, Putin also said Ukraine must withdraw all its forces from the entire territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed and partly controlled by Russia. A slippery shoplifter was seen fleeing a London supermarket with a basket full of cooking oil in one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other. The incident, which occurred in the Southall Tesco Express in west London, was filmed by stunned onlookers who could not believe the brazenness of the thief. In the shocking footage, the shoplifter can be seen perusing the aisles of the store with his greasy loot in tow. The shoplifter was witnessed dropping a pile of Tesco's own brand 1.99 vegetable oil into a basket along with various other cooking oils. Two Tesco staff members also watched on helplessly as the incident unfolded. Marching is way out of the store, the thief grabbed one last souvenir in the form of a bottle of red wine and made no attempt to pay as he sauntered out onto the main road. Calmly making his way up King Street, the shoplifter then doubles back and makes his way down the main road in the opposite direction. Dressed in green combat trousers, a grey jumper and cap, the man then darted down a side street to make his getaway. A brazen shoplifter is seen strolling through Tesco with a basket full of cooking oil and a bottle of red wine The thief can be seen exiting the Tesco in west London without even attempting to pay Dressed in green combat trousers, a grey jumper and cap, the man darted down a side street to make his getaway Shocked locals slammed the brazen stealing and expressed their belief that more should be done to stop them. One stunned shopper filmed the theft on their mobile phone in a 36-second video. Marie Hurst wrote on Facebook: 'It's a joke. It has to stop it would save money to employ three huge bouncers.' Paul Douglas added: 'Should lock the doors then common sense.' Derek Renshaw fumed: 'England is finished. True story.' Matt Plumley joked: 'If you steal stuff you get a bonus basket for life, winning.' The Met Police and Tesco have been approached for comment. The incident comes just a matter of weeks after London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was ridiculed for claiming that shoplifting has soared in the capital 'because we have a lot of shops'. The shoplifter was videoed by other stunned customers The thief darted down Kings Street in Southall, West London, before making his getaway down a quiet side street The incident comes just a matter of weeks after London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was ridiculed for claiming that shoplifting has soared in the capital 'because we have a lot of shops' Sir Sadiq, who was knighted in the King's New Year's honours list, was speaking after official figures revealed that 80,041 shoplifting offences were recorded in the year to September, up from 53,202 the year before. The 50 per cent rise is more than double the 22 per cent rise across England and Wales as a whole, and comes at a time when the number of shops is falling. Challenged on why London is bearing the brunt he said: 'Because we have a lot of shops here, and because the cost-of-living crisis is more acute in the capital city. 'Personal theft and personal robbery is a big concern for me in London, as well.' More than 13,000 shops shut for the last time across the UK last year with competition from online retailers and increased rents partly to blame. But the wave of shoplifting has driven many to the wall and the Centre for Retail Research predicts the trend will accelerate this year. Pandora, Swarovski, Bershka, Urban Outfitters and River Island have all announced plans to close their flagship stores in London's Oxford Street amid warnings that official crime figures dramatically underestimate the scale of the problem. An average of 55,000 thefts a day now take place in Britain's shops according to a survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), up by a quarter in the last 12 months. Violent thefts involving a weapon take place 70 times a day with retailers blaming a surge in organised gangs stealing to order. A series of disturbing cemetery thefts has left multiple regions across Pennsylvania grappling with a 'graverobber' crisis, as families are left feeling violated over the 'desecration' of their loved ones' final resting places. Several police departments across the Philadelphia region are investigating a string of crimes involving thieves stealing the doors off the front of mausoleums since February, likely in an attempt to scrap the rare metals for profit. Seven cemeteries across Delaware County have been targeted, including those in the Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks and Montgomery counties, as boarded-up mausoleum doors become increasingly more common. 'It was shocking, to say the least,' Samantha Bromley, the general manager of Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown, told 6 ABC News. 'They had been taken off the hinges, the glass had been removed out of the portion and set down,' she added. 'It's desecration of a grave.' Police said the heartless criminals have been stealing the precious bronze doors off of mausoleums - each being worth more than $10,000 and weighing more than 200 pounds - and leaving the evidence behind. In what appeared to be an overnight crime, three sets of mausoleum doors were stolen from Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown on February 10, leaving workers saddened and disturbed for the families. The doors are 'valued at about $15,000 each, so about a $30,000 total just from our cemetery,' Chief Graeff told 6ABC. Multiple regions across Philadelphia are grappling with a 'graverobber' crisis over the last month Seven cemeteries across Delaware County have been targeted, including those in the Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks and Montgomery counties, as boarded-up mausoleum doors become increasingly more common Tiny screws were seen scattered across the floor after robbers made off with the bronze doors that once guarded the tombs More recently, the final resting places of two additional families were hit at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Marple Township, with loved ones calling the act 'despicable.' Mary Beth McGinty, of Havertown, was left in complete shock over the thefts as she is regularly at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery for daily walks, CBS News reported. 'It makes me angry because it's sacred ground,' she told the outlet, adding how the situation reeks of disrespect. 'People do care about their dead relatives and friends, so it's really awful to do this.' After the thieves made off with the stolen doors, tiny screws were seen scattered across the floor, serving as evidence of the macabre crime. 'Just simply unscrewed them from their hinges,' Chief Graeff told CBS. Michele Stone, a spokesperson for Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, said that the rash of robberies has left both workers and families 'troubled,' according to 6ABC. 'These criminal acts were a violation of the peaceful sanctuaries that so many of our community members utilize and rely upon to connect with their deceased loved ones,' Stone said. 'It is imperative that all community members and visitors respect these spaces of reflection and quiet contemplation.' Due to the weight and sturdiness of each door, police believe that multiple people are responsible for the destruction plaguing cemeteries across the state Forest Hills Cemetery in Huntingdon Valley, North Cedar Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Mt. Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, Roosevelt Memorial Park in Trevose and Oakland Cemetery in Philadelphia were also targeted in the slew of thefts In what appeared to be an overnight crime , three sets of mausoleum doors were stolen from Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown on February 10, leaving workers saddened and disturbed for the families Forest Hills Cemetery in Huntingdon Valley, North Cedar Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Mt. Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, Roosevelt Memorial Park in Trevose and Oakland Cemetery in Philadelphia were also targeted in the slew of thefts. 'Theft is always wrong, but stealing from a resting place is particularly disturbing,' a spokesperson for Forest Hills and Roosevelt Memorial Park told 6ABC. 'Over the past couple of months, thieves have preyed on our cemeteries, stealing several bronze doors from mausoleums in the middle of the night.' Due to the weight and sturdiness of each door, police believe that multiple people are responsible for the destruction plaguing cemeteries across the state. 'It's very likely they're connected somehow,' Graeff told CBS. 'If not the same actors, a group of them all involved in this.' Detective Dan Lazzeari of the Marple Police Department agreed and said: 'We suspect a crew. Same crew. They're heavy. They're bronze metal doors valued between $10,000 and $15,000. We've been hearing estimates,' Fox 29 reported. Quick cash, police said, is the most likely reason as to why these thieves are wreaking havoc across several graveyards and disrespectfully stealing from the dead. 'They're taking them to local scrapyards for money. Quick cash,' Graeff said to Fox 29. More recently, the final resting places of two additional families were hit at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Marple Township, with loved ones calling the act 'despicable' Quick cash, police said, is the most likely reason as to why these thieves are wreaking havoc across several graveyards and disrespectfully stealing from the dead, as they are likely selling it to a scrap dealer On the contrary, police pointed out, it takes a ruthless scrap dealer to continue purchasing the stolen doors from the thieves, who are merely looking to resell the valuable bronze metal they're made of On the contrary, Graeff pointed out, it takes a ruthless scrap dealer to continue purchasing the stolen doors from the thieves, who are merely looking to resell the valuable bronze metal they're made of. 'If the scrap yards know about it, if it comes to them in one piece, if it's identifiable, it's gonna raise some flags,' Graeff continued. 'We deal with some very honorable businesses, but we also deal with unscrupulous ones too.' 'It's the kind of thing we ask cooperation from local scrap yards or people who are maybe employees there who see something a little bit shady to give us a call.' Investigators are also urging cemeteries to invest in surveillance cameras, as now may be as good a time as any to utilize the extra eyes - especially in massive graveyards like Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery. 'It's a very large cemetery where you could be in there for hours and not even be seen in the corner to get these doors off,' Graeff told Fox 29. 'Our patrol guys are out there. They're well aware of it, and they patrol the cemeteries at night as well.' 'We're talking $15,000 mausoleum doors,' he told CBS. 'It might be something they consider doing. It would help us.' Police are now searching for those responsible, hoping to bring them to justice. 'It's serious stuff,' Detective Lazzeari told Fox 29. 'Even the case alone, we're talking anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000, a felony easy, and it's the same group. And you combine them all, you're looking at some time.' Investigators are also urging cemeteries to invest in surveillance cameras, as now may be as good a time as any to utilize the extra eyes - especially in massive graveyards like Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery Mary Beth McGinty, of Havertown, told CBS: 'It makes me angry because it's sacred ground. People do care about their dead relatives and friends, so it's really awful to do this' Detective Dan Lazzeari of the Marple Police Department told Fox29: 'It's serious stuff. Even the case alone, we're talking anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000, a felony easy, and it's the same group. And you combine them all, you're looking at some time' As several departments investigate, they are urging anyone who may have seen something dating back to mid-February to immediately call them, as they are looking for leads. 'Even if they think it's nothing, please call us,' Graeff told CBS. 'It could be linked to a lot of others.' Additionally, Graeff said, the thieves may have looked as though they were completing work or maintenance in the mausoleums at the time of the heist. 'I think it's pretty low,' Graeff told Fox 29. 'It's a sacred ground where somebody's family paid a lot of money for the right to bury that loved one, and now you're taking call metal doors. I find it pretty low.' 'It's one thing to disturb and steal from someone's final resting place, but you're also trampling on the emotions of their loving loved ones.' Gavin Newsom fawned over right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk on his new podcast as he admitted his son is a 'huge fan' of the conservative. The Governor of California's surprising remarks came on the first interview of his podcast 'This is Gavin Newsom', where he pledged to speak with people he 'disagreed with' such as Kirk. But the first episode saw several moments where Newsom offered more moderate, conservative-friendly views, which he admitted were views shared by his 13-year-old son, Hunter. He told Kirk that the night before their interview when he was putting his son to bed, the teen told him: 'No dad, what time is Charlie gonna be here?' 'I'm like, dude you're in school tomorrow,' Newsom continued, saying his son declared that morning he was skipping school to meet the Republican commentator. 'He literally would not leave the house... but he's not here for good reason.' Kirk responded with a jibe at Newsom's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying: 'Well, you cancelled school for like two years, what's one day?' The admission from Newsom came as he also broke ranks with liberals earlier in the podcast as he condemned transgender athletes' inclusion in women's sports, branding it 'deeply unfair.' Gavin Newsom fawned over right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk on his new podcast as he admitted his son is a 'huge fan' of the conservative After Newsom said he wouldn't let his son skip school to meet Kirk, the influencer joked: 'Well, you cancelled school for like two years, what's one day?' Newsom admitted his 13-year-old son Hunter (seen with the governor's wife Jennifer Siebel and their three other children) is a huge fan of the conservative influencer After remarking that his teenage son hoped to meet Kirk and was a fan of his work, Newsom said it was indicative of the swing to the right seen among young Americans and the impact that figures like Kirk have had in recent years. 'The point is, you are making a damn dent,' Newsom said. Kirk is best known on social media platforms for sharing his combative exchanges with woke students on college campuses, which Newsom said he 'loves watching.' 'And clearly that's expressed by my 13-year-old son,' he said. Kirk said he was inviting the teen to a Turning Point event in Florida in the summer. Newsom said hearing about youngsters like his own son moving to the right have him 'concerned', because as a Democrat, 'we're getting clobbered.' 'You've figured something out,' he added. Kirk responded: 'It's not me, the president first deserves the credit.' 'You were at this before Trump was Trump,' Newsom countered. 'He was a Democrat back in 2011 and 2012.' Kirk said: 'The president deserves huge credit, and I just have to say that as an obligatory thing, because without him our movement would be small. 'And you can appreciate that in politics, you have to appreciate the person who is the catalyst... it was a cultural moment that just opened us up.' Newsom admitted that Democrats are being 'clobbered' in the wake of Donald Trump's return to the White House Kirk said Trump was the 'catalyst' to the rise of the conservative movement among young people, saying he 'opened up' the Republican Party to young voters Newsom faced backlash when he recently launched his podcast as he was criticized for his handling of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Many have seen the podcast as Newsom's way of positioning himself for a presidential run in 2028, which he is widely expected to do as he is term limited as California Governor in 2026. Inviting one of America's most famous conservatives on to speak and risking the wrath of transgender activists indicates Newsom's desire to position himself as a centrist who'd appeal to moderate conservatives. In response to his exchange with Kirk, one conservative X user commented: 'Why is Charlie participating in the 2028 Gavin Newsom Rebranding Tour? I don't get it.' Another branded the podcast 'The Gavin 'I'm a fake reasonable Democrat who talks to all sides and hope everyone forgets my actual record so I can attempt to inhabit the non-crazy lane of the party for election season 2028' Tour.' However, some praised both Newsom and Kirk for their civil conversation above the often-hostile fray of politics, while others poked fun at the liberal governor's confession that he is raising a young conservative. 'Any politician willing to do long-form discussions in new media like this deserve some kudos,' one viewer remarked. 'The ones who hide from it do so for a reason.' Another quipped: 'There's no way his son loves Charlie Kirk and likes his dad at the same time.' Newsom faced criticism for the podcast with Trump ally Charlie Kirk, especially after being condemned for his handling of the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year While the Golden State is in the midst of recovering from the horrific wildfire disaster, which left at least 29 people dead and more than 18,000 structures destroyed, the Democratic governor was accused of having his focus on other issues, as he has promised that his new venture will be 'anything but the ordinary 'politician' podcast.' 'I'm gonna be talking to people directly who I disagree with, as well as people I look up to, but more importantly than anything else, I'll be talking to you - the listeners,' Newsom said as he announced the podcast launch. He then touched on pressing issues Americans are facing right now, including the high price of eggs, the 'real impacts' around tariffs, the 'power' behind President Donald Trump's executive orders, and 'what's really going on inside of DOGE.' 'We already know what our disagreements are with the MAGA movement. I want to understand what the motivations are, the legitimacy of these motivations, and just really understand where people are coming from,' Newsom told MediaIte. 'They are influential - they are. They explain more things in more ways on more days about what's going on, and if we're not trying to understand their motivations, we will be victims of their motivations.' The U.S. State Department issued a level 2 travel advisory for the Turks and Caicos Islands as thousands of Americans head to the destination for Spring Break. Americans are warned to 'exercise increased caution' on the sandy shores of the Turks and Caicos Islands due to crime. The State Department advised crime occurs in Providenciales - the main island in the archipelago - and the local police have limited investigatory resources. The agency recommended sun searching travelers avoid walking alone and at night, do not open your door unless you know the person and do not try to resist any robbery attempt. In January, a Chicago sheriff's deputy was killed in freak incident while vacationing on the island. Shamone Duncan, 50, was at Aziza Restaurant & Lounge in Providenciales when a shooting broke out around 10pm. Deputy Duncan jumped up while everyone else crashed to the ground and she was struck by a stray bullet and killed. The State Department also reminded travelers about the British Overseas Territory's strict gun laws, a year after five Americans were arrested for bringing ammo into Turks and Caicos. Americans are warned to 'exercise increased caution' in the Turks and Caicos Islands due to crime The State Department advised crime occurs in Providenciales - the main island in the archipelago - and the local police have limited investigatory resources The agency recommended sun searching travelers avoid walking alone and at night, do not open your door unless you know the person and do not try to resist any robbery attempt 'Firearms and ammunition, including single bullets brought by mistake in carry-on bags or luggage, are illegal,' the advisory said. 'Police strictly enforce these laws even at the airport when travelers are leaving. Travelers face arrest, jail time, and heavy fines.' The State Department said offenders can face 12 years or more in prison and they cannot guarantee an American's release. They advised Americans check their luggage and hand baggage carefully for bullets or firearms before leaving the United States. Oklahoma father Ryan Watson, 40, was arrested in April with firearms offenses after four loose bullets were found at the country's main airport on a vacation with his wife and friends. He was stuck on the island for months until a judge sentenced him to a 13-week suspended jail sentence and a $2,000 fine in June. Sharitta Shinese Grier, 45, was arrested in May after ammunition was found in her luggage during a routine security check. She was sentenced July 11 to a suspended 23-week sentence and fined $1,500, reported CNN. The State Department warned Americans not to bring guns and ammo into the country and advised they could be arrested at the airport and cruise terminal Shamone Duncan (pictured), 50, was at Aziza Restaurant & Lounge in Providenciales when a shooting broke out around 10pm Your browser does not support iframes. Bryan Hagerich was released in May after being held for over 100 days on a possession of firearms charge after loose bullets were allegedly found in his luggage last February. He was sentenced to a suspended 52-week sentence with a fine of $6,700 for possessing guns and ammunition. Tyler Wenrich, 31, was charged on April 23 after two 9mm bullets were discovered at a security checkpoint as he tried to get back on a cruise ship following a beach day. He was arrested by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and was expected to be sentenced for over a decade. But a Turks and Caicos judge instead ordered Wenrich to pay $9,000 and serve three weeks of prison time, which has already been covered by the time he served before he was released on bail in May. Michael Lee Evans, 72, pleaded guilty to possession of seven 9 mm rounds of ammunition and got a suspended 33-month sentence in April. He was granted $20,000 bail and given permission to return back to the U.S following his arrest due to a medical condition, with reports indicating he is suffering from terminal cancer. All of the Americans said they simply forgot to take the ammo out of their bags before traveling. Sharitta Grier (center), Ryan Watson (left) and Bryan Hagerich (right) all faced ammo charges and were unable to return to the US Additionally, in February a Canadian was attacked by a shark while snorkeling along the Turks and Caicos shores. The woman, 55, was mauled by a shark on February 7, 2025, while swimming in the Turks and Caicos Islands that resulted in the loss of both her hands. The tourist was snorkeling off Providenciales when she was attacked by a 6-foot shark, believed to be a bull shark. Contrary to initial reports suggesting she was attempting to photograph the predator, her family clarified that the encounter was unprovoked. During the attack, the shark bit her thigh before severing her hands as she tried to defend herself. Her husband bravely intervened, fighting off the shark and helping her reach the shore. Bystanders provided immediate first aid, using towels to stem the bleeding. She was transported to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and later airlifted to Canada for further treatment where she reportedly had one of her hands amputated at the wrist and the other mid-way down her forearm. But despite the severity of her injuries, she is expected to survive. The family launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with medical expenses, which raised nearly $16,000. Jack Schlossberg took his incendiary social media rants to a new extreme Thursday, posing shirtless and making kissy faces at cousin Robert Kennedy's wife, telling her she should apologize for the recent death of an unvaccinated child with measles. 'Hi Cheryl Hines, it's Jack Schlossberg,' he said, licking his lips with his hair dripping wet in a mock seduction. 'I just got out of the shower. We've never met, but I've got a favor to ask. I need you to call up the family of the child who died of measles and say sorry.' 'Can you do that for me babe?' he asked in the 30-second video, then took a swipe at his cousin, Trump's controversial secretary of Health and Human Services who is vaccine critic. 'Almost every single case of measles is in someone who's not vaccinated,' Schlossberg says in the video, in which he deliberately misspells the actress's name as 'Heins' and at one point 'Sheryl.' 'I think you're the perfect person to say sorry,' he adds. He then bites his lower lip and blows an air kiss to Hines as he ends the video saying, 'Later.' Schlossberg was referencing the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas where a 'school-aged' child who was not vaccinated died of the disease last week. The fatal case marks the first measles death in the U.S. in a decade. Jack Schlossberg took to Instagram to fire off yet another incendiary rant, this time taking aim at cousin Robert Kennedy Jr.'s wife Cheryl Hines Schlossberg has publicly blasted his older cousin RFK Jr. and the actress (pictured in January) in unhinged social media videos in the past When contacted by DailyMail.com on Thursday, a rep for Hines replied: 'No comment.' The bizarre rant is the latest in a string of social media videos where the liberal Kennedy scion has taken on MAGA politicians and public figures and shown a willingness to go after even his own family. Earlier this year in January, the 32-year-old Schlossberg took to Instagram and his 600,000 followers to taunt his second-cousin. Tagging the older Kennedy, he accused him of 'spewing lies' that the CIA was involved in JFK's assassination while insulting Hines: 'Why are you scared of me? Why don't you ever respond? Are you busy pouring (sic) over the JFK files? Or is Cheryl just really dry down there?' 'So rude, unreal,' one commenter replied to his post, and added, 'Your grandmother and grandfather would be appalled at your behavior.' Schlossberg later teed off on his cousin during his Senate confirmation hearing, echoing his mom Caroline Kennedy's brutal critique urging senators to reject his nomination. She called her cousin RFK Jr. a 'predator' who is willfully misinformed about vaccines, and a dangerous liar who has cheated his way through life. Lawyer Alan Dershowitz also told DailyMail.com last month that he's not only threatening legal action, but also a full psychiatric evaluation of Schlossberg after the Kennedy heir called him a wife killer. The Kennedy heir appears shirtless and fresh out the shower while addressing Hines, whose name he deliberately misspells as 'Heins' and at one point 'Sheryl'. He then bizarrely called on her to apologize to the family of the child who recently died of measles The rant was an apparent swipe at his cousin, a notorious vaccine critic who is now Trump's controversial secretary of Health and Human Services The controversial defense attorney, 86, said that his first goal in pursuing his defamation suit against Schlossberg is to determine whether he was being an 'arrogant' provocateur when he shared a video falsely accusing Dershowitz of killing his wife last month, or if he has legitimately lost his marbles. Like many others who have witnessed the 32-year-old's wild public rants on social media recently, Dershowitz is unsure what Schlossberg's true intentions are, but plans to use the power of legal discovery to find out. 'It seems to me like he's just flipped out, but we'll get discovery and find out about his mental health,' Dershowitz said in interview Sunday. 'If he's mentally ill and he's doing this as a result of mental illness, I'll drop this lawsuit,' he added. 'But if he's doing it because he's nasty and arrogant and using me as a shill for his humor, then I'm going to proceed. He can't go around saying that I killed my wife.' Dershowitz has been married to Carolyn Cohen since 1986. His first wife Sue Barlach, with whom he shared two children, took her own life in 1983, a decade after they separated. The former Harvard law professor and constitutional scholar is well acquainted with the Kennedy family as he famously defended Senator Ted Kennedy Schlossberg's great uncle after his crash at Chappaquiddick killed a female passenger in 1969. Dershowitz, however, revealed he has fallen out with Jack's mother Caroline in recent years. Jack, is the son of JFK's daughter Caroline Kennedy - who served as the US Ambassador to Australia under President Joe Biden - and her husband Edwin Schlossberg, a designer and artist Schlossberg also targeted attorney Alan Dershowitz in a bizarre social media rant last month when he publicly accused the lawyer of killing his first wife and having close ties to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein The prominent defense attorney later told DailyMail.com he plans to pursue legal action against Jack Schlossberg unless it turns out the controversial Kennedy heir is mentally unwell 'I had a good relationship with Caroline until one day she was seated next to me at a dinner party after I'd defended Donald Trump on the floor of the Senate,' he explained. 'And she looked at me and said, "I'm polite so I'm not going to leave, but if I knew you were invited to this dinner party I would never have come". 'And I said to her, "is that because I defended Donald Trump?" and she replied, "Yes." 'And I said, "But you didn't get up and leave when I defended Ted Kennedy". She then just muffled something,' he claimed. Dershowitz told DailyMail.com that he has still maintained his friendship with the black sheep of the family, Robert Kennedy Jr. On February 3, Schlossberg went on a vile Instagram tirade, blasting Dershowitz's relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while falsely accusing him of killing his own wife. He's unleashed similar vitriol against other MAGA politicians and pundits including conservative media personality Megyn Kelly, berating her stance on transgender issues while questioning her gender, quipping she 'can no longer play in female sports.' After DailyMail.com columnist Maureen Callahan wrote about his erratic behavior, the Kennedy heir turned his ire on her on X, using a misogynistic slur: 'Sorry for the delayed response Maureen V****a.' He told them both to 'eat s***'. Facing heat for his remarks, Schlossberg announced he was leaving social media 'forever' on X before briefly deactivating his accounts on February 6 He later addressed his controversial behavior in an episode of Jen Psaki's podcast, The Blueprint, in which he said the purpose of blasting his rants, off-putting opinions and bold-faced lies online is to garner confusion and anger JFK's grandson Jack Schlossberg sat down with Jen Psaki and revealed the true intentions behind his outrageous digital footprint On February 6, facing heat for his remarks, Schlossberg announced he was deleting his social media accounts. 'I'm sorry to everyone I hurt,' he announced. 'I'm deleting all my social media. Forever.' Days later, he returned to all platforms and tried to explain his outrageous antics during an interview with Jen Psaki on the MSNBC podcast The Blueprint. Schlossberg told the former White House Press Secretary: 'I think that the internet is a place where it's difficult to break through, and it's difficult to break through especially if you're not saying something that's controversial, or at least, somehow unexpected.' Schlossberg, a graduate of Yale and Harvard with a law degree, was hired as a political correspondent for Vogue last year. But he apparently has plenty of free time despite his prestigious writing gig, as he frequently showcases his privileged life in the Big Apple online, galivanting around his neighborhood in Chelsea. Often posting shirtless, he teases about his dating life, offering up romantic advice after hinting at a breakup. He's also recently posted videos of himself spinning around in a dance studio and preparing gourmet meals with a ballet instructor friend. Last month, following his short-lived departure from social media, Schlossberg debuted a dramatic look by unveiling his two new ear piercings online. Donald Trump announced a major reversal on his recent tariffs on goods and services from Mexico and Canada. On Tuesday, the U.S. imposed 25 percent tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada rocketing the country into a trade war. But just days later, Trump reversed his economic slap down saying that goods that are compliant with the North American free trade agreement with not be tariffed until April 2. The president said earlier Thursday that he is enforcing a one-month pause out of 'respect' for President Sheinbaum because the country has agreed to his conditions to halt the flow of fentanyl through the southern border. Canada will also be getting a similar extension, Trump announced to reporters during a gaggle in the Oval Office hours later. 'After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement,' he said on Truth Social. The agreement will last until April 2 and was done 'out of respect for' Sheinbaum. 'Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!' Meanwhile, he continued to dig into Canada's Justin Trudeau. Donald Trump announced a major reversal on his tariffs on Mexico Trump is enforcing a one-month pause out of 'respect' for President Sheinbaum 'Believe it or not, despite the terrible job hes done for Canada, I think that Justin Trudeau is using the Tariff problem, which he has largely caused, in order to run again for Prime Minister. So much fun to watch!' he posted on Truth Social. But his Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick teased on CNBC that the president is also mulling a similar exemption for Canada. Trump also announced on Wednesday that he is rolling back tariffs for auto imports from the neighboring countries. 'We spoke with the Big Three auto dealers. We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA. Reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April 2,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during the White House press briefing Wednesday. That came one day after Trump met with the 'Big Three' automakers - General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared on Bloomberg just over 24 hours later where he said the president is considering easing some tariffs. 'There are going to be tariffs, let's be clear, but what he's thinking about is which sections of the market that can maybe, maybe he'll consider giving them relief,' Lutnick said. Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt Meanwhile, Trump continued to dig into Canada 's Justin Trudeau The commerce secretary said that could go until they get to April 2. The Trump administration appeared ready to blink first as the markets took a massive tumble this week, and Canada and China announced reciprocal tariffs. But the trade war between the U.S. and major trade partners is far from over. 'I don't want anybody to forget, April 2 is the day that we announce our reciprocal tariffs around the world,' Lutnick noted. A landlord couple has been fined more than 90,000 after a fire caused by a faulty e-bike battery in their 'grossly overcrowded' flat killed a father-of-two. Tenant Mizanur Rahman, 41, died from the effects of smoke inhalation after the blaze in the early hours of March 5, 2023, at the property in the Shadwell area of east London. Landlords Sofina Begum, 52, and Aminur Rahman, 55, had pleaded guilty to nine housing offences between them in November 2023 and were sentenced to pay a total fine of 92,050.01 at court today. Their two-bedroom, ex-council flat was licensed for three people from two households - but is believed to have been occupied by 23 people. The property, in a building named Maddocks House, had 18 beds, including bunk beds, which some were forced to share. Others slept on the floor. The fire was started accidentally by a faulty lithium ion e-bike battery that was charging at the time, according to the London Fire Brigade. Shocking pictures, snapped in the wake of the blaze two years ago, show the entire property blackened and gutted by the blaze. Investigations into the fire are still ongoing and a civil matter has already been lodged. Judge Emma Smith - who previously said she would sentence the couple not for the fatality or blaze but for their nine housing offences - said to them when sentencing today: 'You showed a blatant disregard for the law and the occupants.' A landlord couple has been fined more than 90,000 after a fire caused by a faulty e-bike battery in their 'grossly overcrowded' flat (pictured) killed a father-of-two tenant Mizanur Rahman (pictured), 41, died from the effects of smoke inhalation after the blaze in the early hours of March 5, 2023, at the property in the Shadwell area of east London The two-bedroom, ex-council flat (pictured) was licensed for three people from two households - but is believed to have been occupied by 23 people Begum, whose name was on the property's licence, previously pleaded guilty to six offences including knowingly permitting unlicensed occupation, four counts of failing to comply with licence conditions and failing to comply with the requirements of a licence notice. Rahman, who collected the rent and was the person responsible for the property, pleaded guilty to one count of each of these three offences. Judge Smith ordered Begum to pay a fine of 10,000 an 2,000 in prosecution costs and a confiscation order - equal to the proceeds of her crime - of 78,049 at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London today. Rahman, who was said to be of 'no means', was ordered to pay a fine of 2,000 and a confiscation order of 1.01. The couple and parents-of-six, of the Wapping area of east London, had no source of income other than the value of the Maddocks House property, which was 155,000. Sentencing, Judge Smith said: 'I am satisfied the two of you were equally involved in the criminality and shared financial gain... You showed a blatant disregard for the law and the occupants.' Gemma Gillett, for Tower Hamlets Council, who brought the case, previously told the court: 'It is clear that the property was, and had been considerably for some time, grossly overcrowded. 'The information available suggests that some 23 people were in occupation of the flat. One of the occupants was taken to hospital and subsequently died.' Shocking images show the entire property blackened and gutted by the blaze (pictured) The fire in the flat (pictured) more than two years ago was started accidentally by a faulty lithium ion e-bike battery that was charging at the time, according to the London Fire Brigade Investigations into the fire are still ongoing and a civil matter has already been lodged Tenants were told not to use the flat as a postal address as it could get the couple in trouble. Former residents have said they paid about 90 rent per week. The landlords failed to allow regular inspections, did not have a current gas certificate and did not produce the documents required of them as the controller or manager of the property. After the fire, Rahman told a liaison officer he rented the flat to two people and did not know who the others were - but one resident told liaison officers he paid rent to Rahman. A month after the fire, Begum made an application to extend the lost space - but did not mention, in doing so, the blaze or that the property was uninhabitable. She said in the application she was living at the flat and that it was overcrowded. The judge also noted this took place after the charges she was dealing with. Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: 'It is completely unacceptable that some landlords continue to exploit tenants by allowing overcrowding, flouting essential safety regulations, and putting people's lives at risk. 'Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of Mizanur Rahman, who tragically lost his life in the fire, caused by a faulty e-bike battery, at Maddocks House, and with all those affected by this devastating incident. 'We are clamping down on rogue landlords who operate in our borough. We pursued this prosecution and the court's decision sends a clear message: we will not tolerate criminal landlords who endanger lives for profit. The property, in a building named Maddocks House, had 18 beds, including bunk beds (pictured), which some were forced to share. Others slept on the floor Landlords Sofina Begum, 52, and Aminur Rahman, 55, had pleaded guilty to nine housing offences between them in November 2023 and were sentenced to pay a total fine of 92,050.01 at court today 'We will continue to do everything we can to ensure such cases are brought to justice in order to protect our community and we urge all local authorities to do the same. 'National action is urgently needed and we welcome the Government's announcement that it will set out new measures to help protect renters across the country.' March 6, 2025: While drones now cause most of the casualties in Ukraine, there is still some use for towed and self-propelled 155mm artillery. One reason is that artillery can quickly destroy armored vehicles using special shells. The current special shell is called European Bonus, which is nearly identical to the American Sadarm that was developed in the 1980s but never went into mass production because the Cold War ended in 1991. Despite that, the Franco-German firm Nexter developed a SADARM clone called Bonus. Sadarm performed well during the 2003 Iraq War as did Bonus in Ukraine. The Search And Destroy Armor Munitions, otherwise known as Sadarm, 155mm artillery shells proved successful in Ukraine against armored vehicles. The U.S. army had adopted Bonus in 2020, joining six other nations. In 2022 Ukraine became the eighth nation to acquire Bonus. Unlike the United States, Germany produced these shells mainly for use against local threats, like Russia. The Ukraine war saw the Russians using thousands of tanks and losing most of them to Ukrainian troops armed with Western anti-tank weapons. Sadarm tech was developed during the 1980s, perfected in the 1990s and abandoned in 2000, but when it was sent to Ukraine, it turned towed and self-propelled artillery into very effective anti-vehicle weapons. Sadarm was able to destroy all sorts of vehicles. Ukraine asked for all the Sadarm shells NATO nations could provide and most European NATO members sent nearly all the Bonus shells they had. Germany, Britain, Italy and Sweden manufacture Bonus. These 155mm artillery shells carry two each Sense and Destroy Armor Munitions. Originally called Sadarm munitions by its American developer Textron, it had completed development when the Cold War suddenly ended in 1991. Sadarm was not as effective as expected and the 155mm version was canceled in 2001. The U.S. Air Force has more success with the Sadarm submunitions used in the CBU-105 cluster bomb where 40 submunitions were in a half-ton cluster bomb. This was because a bomb undergoes much less stress when used than an artillery shell. The air force and six export customers purchased hundreds of these bombs but sales were not high enough to keep CBU-105 in production after 2017. Meanwhile the U.S. Army noticed the success of an improved German Sadarm shell called SMART as well as the similar Swedish Bonus. Both entered service in 2000 and both were successful as Improved Sadarm clones. Bonus is described as a fire and forget guided 155-millimeter ammunition designed for destroying armored targets. Bonus was a joint project by Britain, France and Sweden with the Swedes taking the lead in production. Bonus can be fired from standard NATO 155mm artillery and has a maximum 35-kilometer effective range. The round carries two submunitions, each with their own multiband Infrared heat sensors backed by laser radar. Bonus uses small winglets to slow its descent rather than small parachutes that are used in earlier similar submunitions, like the German SMART shell. The parachutes are easier to spot and more expensive and complex to use. The submunitions separate from the shell over the target location using a time-on-target fuze about 175 meters above the target areas and scan for targets. Each warhead can scan about 32,000 square meters and hit even moving targets within that area. The destruction is achieved by an Explosively Formed Penetrator or EFP which is able to punch through more than 130 mm of armor. This doesnt seem like much but the tank armor is strongest at the front and not at rear or top. The only defense against this top attack' EFP is APS Active Protection Systems such as Trophy, but even these have difficulty dealing with things like EFPs. The APS systems work great against HEAT warheads because these disperse cumulative streams of superheated gasses, but not against molten metal projectiles formed by an EFP. Moreover, thanks to two submunitions per shell, the artillery halts for a shorter time to fire, so they are less likely to get caught by enemy counter-battery fire. The major defect of Sadarm shells is that they are more expensive than GPS guided Excalibur shells. Each submunition weighs 3.4 kg and uses 945 g of Octol explosives, which was designed to effectively form the self-forging penetrator. Most of the submunition weight goes to the sensors and design elements that slow descent and rotate the sensors to find a target. The use of batteries and various types of explosives in a Sadarm shell means they have a limited shelf life. After twenty years or so, Sadarm shells must be refurbished or disposed of. Many of the European Sadarm shells were approaching their expiration date so it made sense to send all the old, but still functional, ones to Ukraine. Now these SMART and Bonus shells must be replaced. Germany found that many of the key components were no longer available and had to invest over hundred million dollars to revive production. Initially, Germany ordered 10,000 new SMART shells at a cost of $81,000 each. Because of the components problem it will take five years or more before production is completed. The only new Sadarm shell is the Italian V9lcano 155 shell. Several hundred of these were sent to Ukraine because the Volcano shell is currently completing development. There are two versions of Volcano 155; one that is similar to SMART and Bonus but with a range of up to 50 kilometers. The Volcano 155 GR has a range of up to 70 kilometers and includes GPS guidance to ensure the shell arrives at the target location. These Sadarm shells plus the effective Ukrainian use of battlefield surveillance drones were a key factor in Russia losing so many armored vehicles. Russia was forced to keep its armored vehicles away from the front line unless urgently needed. Even then, there were not enough Russian armored vehicles or artillery left to use. Ukraine used regular and some GPS artillery shells to hammer Russian supply storage sites, towed artillery, supply trucks and headquarters within range. American satellite surveillance also provides some target information, but not as quickly as Ukrainian drones and frontline troops. The original American M898 Sadarm dates back to the late 1970s when the army started to look for a smart anti-armor 155 mm projectile. About a decade later Sadarm had been developed and prototypes built but budget restrictions in 1990 slowed down the program. In 1993 the first tests were unsatisfactory because Sadarm hadn't been able to hit a moving target and overall accuracy was poor. The manufacturer promised to improve the technology, and a year later the program was approved for limited low-rate production. Unfortunately for Sadarm the 1995, 1998 and 1999 tests showed only a little improvement. In all trials, the Sadarm struggled to get an 80 percent reliability rate. This together with significant cost overruns were reason enough to end production in 2001. This failure did not mean the end of the Sadarm submunition technology, which was subsequently adopted by the U.S. Air Force as well as the developers of the SMART and Bonus shells who achieved effective reliability in the late 1990s. The submunition was always meant to be carried by a wide variety of projectiles including GMLRS rockets, mortar shells and cluster bombs. Russia eventually responded to the Sadarm submunition threat by developing a new generation of ERA Explosive Reactive Armor that now covers the top of the turret and engine compartment of their tanks. In theory the new ERA should protect against Bonis submunitions. The Russian ERA did not work against the Bonus submunitions and terrorized armored vehicle crews now feel very vulnerable when within range of Ukrainian artillery. This often leads to many armored vehicles being abandoned by their crews when it appears they are under attack by Sadarm. Ukrainian forces captured hundreds of tanks and other armored vehicles and put them to use with a new paint job and Ukrainian crews. The Trump aid who has been spearheading cuts to foreign assistance and USAID got an earful from lawmakers in a closed-door meeting, including from a senior Republican furious over a stalled program to resettle Afghans who helped US troops. It came during a tense meeting that did not appear to bring concrete resolution to slashing cuts in foreign aid, which have led to court battles and a clash over separation of powers. 'All these protesters were banging on the door. It was so loud you could barely hear him,' Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul told DailyMail.com. The clash over foreign aid came as Trump's new proposed travel ban that could take effect as soon as next week would bar visitors from Pakistan and Afghanistan, renewing some of the fury of his explosive 2017 'muslim ban'. The Trump official taking the heat was Peter Marocco, the State Department's head of foreign assistance who has been directing the USAID cuts as deputy administrator-designate at the U.S. Agency for International Development. McCaul said he pressed Marocco on the halt in refugee flights and other assistance to Afghans who served the U.S. military as translators and in other roles, and who can get special immigrant visas to come to the U.S. It comes with up to 40,000 of them stuck in third countries like Qatar. 'I just said, like, you have always waivers for humanitarian assistance medications that are sitting in Houston in my state, all those foods rotting, and they get 500,000 metric tons on the ships at sea. And the waivers arent being implemented,' said McCaul. Peter Marocco, deputy administrator-designate at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), took heat from lawmakers in a close-door meeting on Capitol Hill Wednesday 'And he said, Well, we found a lot of fraud, waste and abuse, and that's slowing it down, this and that,' he said. The situation is grave for those who might get sent back to Afghanistan, where the Taliban still rules. (The feds on Wednesday released in image ISIS-K terrorist alleged to have help carry out the Abby Gate bombing during the US troop withdrawal). 'They put a pause on all refugees and they paused foreign assistance to allow them, under this CARE office, to be flown. And so they're just stuck there, but it's a betrayal, because they fought alongside our [troops] in combat.' 'And they're like, well, you know, some say they're terrorists. They fought against the terrorists at great risk. And many of them died, and they will die if they get sent back to Afghanistan,' he added. Marocco is a controversial figure. A former Marine, he filed an affidavit amid a lawsuit of his efforts to slash foreign assistance saying he had 'grave concern about whether U.S.A.I.D. was faithfully following the presidents and secretarys directives.' A member of the Sedition Hunters effort posted an image from video footage purporting to show Marocco and his wife inside and outside the Capitol on January 6. Marocco blasted 'petty smear tactics and desperate personal attacks in an interview with D magazine, after spearheading efforts to change the Texas constitution. He was never charged, and President Trump pardoned January 6 defendants. Protesters outside the bipartisan meeting Wednesday held up signs that said 'Marocco lies, people with AIDS die.' Thousands of USAID employees have been placed on leave, with DOGE overseeing cuts in government contracts. 'He didn't say anything,' fumed Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Afghans who assisted US troop 'will die if they get sent back to Afghanistan,' said Rep. Michael McCaul (D-Texas) Former House Foreign Affairs Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul criticized 'foods rotting' after sudden foreign assistance cutoffs Congressional Republicans have offered only limited criticism of DOGE cuts, which Democrats say violate enacted appropriations 'I mean, there was no real transparency. Didn't have a lot of answers.' He said there should have been a public hearing. 'We only had 30 seconds to ask a question. He's only there for an hour. But when we asked to show the documents, because he said there were some mistakes. Well, shows what the mistakes were made? how big was it? What's the money? But he didn't have any answers at all?' He said Republicans are being 'too gentle' with Marocco. 'He couldn't answer some of their questions, two or three of the members,' he said, but said Republican House members didn't criticize Marocco when he didn't. He said it was his understanding that Marocco is now the sole employee at the independent Inter-American Foundation, which funds economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean, after a purge of the 37-member staff. 'You get rid of all of the inspector generals, you get rid of all the individuals that should have oversight, like Congress,' said Meeks. 'He's bypassed Congress, you know, money that was directed clear congressional intent no consultation with us at all in that regard. So it is basically what he's doing is unconstitutional.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the State Department for comment on the meeting. A pro-life campaigner held up a sign saying 'here to talk' at women entering an abortion clinic, a court heard today. Livia Tossici-Bolt, 64, allegedly breached a protected buffer zone established outside the facility by going to the clinic twice in two days. The retired medical scientist claimed she was merely offering a service to people seeking more information about the abortion process as she stood outside with the sign saying 'Here to talk if you want to'. But she was approached by police and a local council official who told her that one woman had felt harassed by her. Ms Tossici-Bolt refused to leave the area, saying she was given no legitimate reason to do so. She also rejected a fixed penalty notice issued to her by the council. She is now being prosecuted for failing to comply with a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). The BPAS clinic in Bournemouth, Dorset, is one of the most harassed abortion clinics in the country and the buffer zone was set up in 2022 and is enforced by a PSPO. It is the same clinic US vice-president JD Vance recently spoke about when he criticised the British authorities for censoring free speech and the 'basic liberties of religious Britons'. Livia Tossici-Bolt, 63, pictured in Parliament Square holding the sign that has led to her facing prosecution in Bournemouth Tossici allegedly breached a protected buffer zone established outside the facility by going to the clinic twice in two days He cited the case of army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, 51, who was found guilty last year of failing to comply with a PSPO outside the unit. Smith-Connor claimed he was silently praying while standing by a tree outside the clinic but he was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay more than 9,000 in court costs after being convicted of breaching the PSPO. Tossici-Bolt is the leader of the Bournemouth branch of 40 Days of Life, a global anti-abortion charity. A court heard she went to the clinic for around two hours on March 2 and March 3, 2023, with her sign. She told magistrates in Poole, Dorset, she was 'just there if people just wanted to come up and talk to me.' She added: 'My signs are solidarity signs. I am just there to offer support. I rejoice when a life is saved. People can say yes or no when they see me. 'There is always an element of subjectivity. How can you know what is going on in someone else's head when you see them in the street? I was not moving to intercept people. 'I always made sure I did not come across as aggressive. I always try and do it in a loving way. I never tell people to terminate. If they decide to go ahead with the abortion then we can offer support afterwards.' Army veteran Adam Smith-Connor was prosecuted after he prayed outside the same abortion clinic in Bournemouth in November 2022 She added: 'When the PSPO terms got put in place I accepted that we had to obey by them as I was responsible for the wellbeing of the volunteers. I took time to understand the boundaries of the PSPO.' On the first occasion she was said to have breached the PSPO, on March 2, Tossici-Bolt said she was stook diagonally opposite the clinic, less than 150ft away. She said she was there for an hour and 40 minutes and added: 'If I thought it was detrimental to people I would have stopped and moved to comply with the law. 'One of the police officers told me that someone had complained about harassment and intimidation. 'I asked him how this could possibly happen. I don't see how someone standing there can be seen as harassment and intimidation.' Tossici-Bolt, who is Italian, said she returned the following day with two friends, and was again informed she had been the subject of a complaint. She was asked to leave. She said of this incident: 'I was again not testing the waters and I was confident I could talk to people. I was sure that I was not in breach. I still maintain that. 'I would have complied with the requests if I was given a reason but they could not provide one.' Tossici-Bolt, from Kinson, Bournemouth, denies two counts of failing to comply with a PSPO. The trial continues. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene had some strong accusations after meeting with billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday night as his DOGE team pushes forward with its efforts. 'The American people's money has truly been stolen through an incredible amount of fraud and all types of improper payments,' the Georgia lawmaker said. Greene claimed that Musk's team has found that criminals are using the Social Security numbers of dead people over the age of 115 to commit crimes, but she did not provide specific details. 'Basically criminals have been able to take these Social Security numbers and were able to get things like small business loans, were able to get all types of money taken from federal government programs and basically stolen it all,' Greene said. While DOGE has been working to identify waste, fraud and abuse, there have not been any criminal charges filed stemming from their efforts so far nor much in terms of proof of fraud offered beyond allegations. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaking to reporters after House Republicans met with billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday evening Greene is a MAGA loyalist and the chair of the newly formed DOGE subcommittee which is trying to work with Musk's team as it digs into spending across federal agencies. The congresswoman said that any DOGE cuts need to be worked into their legislation and budgets moving forward. Greene argued that it's an issue that has bipartisan support as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for cutting government waste, though there has been mixed reactions to the approach so far. 'This might be one of the first things that the American people could see coming from Washington, DC where we're literally talking about money that is being used in fraudulent ways and being stolen by criminals,' Greene said. 'I think it's something the American people care about. It certainly has been, like, the number one issue,' she added. The lawmaker's remarks came after House Republicans met with Musk on Wednesday night in Washington. DOGE leader and billionaire Elon Musk departs a meeting with Senate Republicans on March 5 on Capitol Hill The billionaire DOGE leader also met with GOP senators for lunch on the hill Wednesday afternoon. His DOGE efforts have raised concerns with some Republican and Democratic lawmakers over the chaos, confusion and fear his approach has sparked within the federal workforce as the Trump administration looks to slash thousands of federal employees. Musk and DOGE have also been called out for some shoddy math in their tracking and for highlighting inaccurate claims in posts online. Musk had to defend himself before the room of Republican lawmakers on Wednesday night where he claimed he 'cant bat a thousand all the time,' according to Politico. GOP senators coming out of the lunch meeting earlier in the day largely praised their conversation with the tech billionaire. They said Musk was asked numerous questions and explained his team's approach to cuts. In a telling remark after the meeting, Senator Rick Scott said while the DOGE team was identifying where spending could be cut, but it was up to agency heads to make the final decisions. Twisted killer Kyle Clifford was obsessed with self-claimed misogynist influencer Andrew Tate, and sought to control his own girlfriends, it can now be reported. The disgraced former soldier tried to ban glamourous Louise Hunt from wearing make-up, sought to alter the way she dressed, refused to let her go out without him, and did not want her to socialise with her male friends. Yet all the while, the showy 26-year-old was dating at least two other women - unbeknownst to Louise. While Clifford's secret double life was a mystery to Louise' friends and family until now, they did at least have their suspicions about him from the off. Indeed friends got a horrifying glimpse at Clifford's disturbed private view of the world when he and Louise hosted a gathering in which he began playing videos involving Tate, the British-US national facing charges in the UK of rape and human trafficking, which he denies. Police said Clifford watched several Tate videos, in which he spewed his toxic brand of masculinity and women-hating invective. They said Clifford revelled in showing them to others. Kyle Clifford (pictured in a mugshot), 26, cowardly skipped today's verdict for raping his ex-girlfriend Louise. It can now be reported that he was obsessed with Andrew Tate Police said Clifford watched several Tate (pictured) videos, in which he spewed his toxic brand of masculinity and women-hating invective Louise Hunt (pictured), who was formerly in a relationship with Clifford, was killed alongside her mother and sister in the crossbow attack in Bushey Clifford, whose older brother Bradley is serving a life sentence for murder, also shocked dog-lover Louise's pals by saying he had no problem with physical aggression. And he broadcast clips of animals being harmed - something he thought was funny. It was perhaps a curious coincidence that violent narcissist Clifford's dog died in mysterious circumstances in the days between being dumped and murdering three members of the Hunt family, something that elicited a sympathetic response from Louise, who contacted her ex Clifford when she found out. Friends thought Clifford was 'arrogant' and 'rude' during the relationship, while former classmates recalled him as a 'nerd' who became a 'bully' and then a 'wannabe gangster', barely able to hold down a series of jobs after leaving the military in 2022. Police said the split was amicable, and Louise' parents John and Carol were said to be 'happy they broke up,' said Hertfordshire Police detective chief superintendent Nick Gardner. 'No one shed a tear but no one thought it would pan out as it did.' Triple killer Clifford (right) has been seen for the first time in a wheelchair as he refused to answer questions in a police interview John Hunt is pictured with his wife Carol, who was killed alongside two of their two daughters The crossbow used by Clifford is pictured in a photo issued by Hertfordshire Police Brave Hannah Hunt called 999 during the attacks and was still alive when police arrived at the home in Bushey, but later died from her wounds It comes as four British women who are taking High Court action against Tate, who they accuse of rape and coercive control, called on social media companies to immediately ban him from their platforms. They said in a joint statement today: 'Hearing that Kyle Clifford watched videos of Andrew Tate in the lead up to his murders of his ex-girlfriend, her mother and sister, is deeply upsetting to us, but sadly not surprising. 'This should be a wake up call for all the social media companies who are continuing to platform Tate and his dangerous messages. These companies should take immediate steps to remove Andrew Tate from their platforms, rather than continue to reap enormous profits from his hateful content. 'Clifford's case should be a warning to world leaders and all those who belittle the seriousness of allowing incitement of violence against women online fester. Our thoughts are with Hunt family.' Democrat Denver Mayor Mike Johnston gave a fumbling response to tough questioning about the Colorado capital's 'weak' immigration enforcement after a Venezuelan gang ran rampant nearby. Johnston appeared Wednesday at a House Oversight Committee hearing alongside other sanctuary city mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago and Eric Adams of New York. At one point, Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., asked Johnston if he considered Denver a sanctuary city. 'We do not shield people from federal law enforcement, we do not provide sanctuary,' Johnston replied. The two men then talked over one another as Perry continued to press Johnston over whether he believed Denver was a sanctuary city. 'We do not under that definition,' the mayor said. 'We call ourselves a welcoming city.' Perry fired back: 'So who are you welcoming and who are you not welcoming?' Johnston then said he 'welcomes everyone,' a response Perry pounced on. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston testified in front of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday to address his city's response to illegal immigration Johnston had a fiery back-and-forth with Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., who accused the mayor of admitting to 'welcoming criminals' 'So you're welcoming criminals that you don't have any idea what they're crime background is? And you're good with that?' Perry asked. Johnston denied this, and rebutted further questions about whether or not he welcomed illegal migrants or migrants who have committed crimes. Johnston also claimed that if it comes to the attention of Denver authorities that an illegal migrant has an arrest warrant in another jurisdiction that they cooperate and hand the suspect over. 'I think we saw in [Ohio Republican Rep. Jim] Jordan's conversation with you that you really don't do that,' Perry argued. Johnston's handling of this issue came into focus in June of last year, when the notorious migrant gang Tren de Aragua muscled their way into three apartment complexes in Aurora, near Denver. At the time, Aurora police said members of the gang who came from Venezuela 'forcibly' took over. 'As of now, the Aurora-Multi-Family Properties are in the complete control of the Gangs, who have refused to relinquish that control until the Gangs receive an agreement from the Owners providing for the joint operation' of the complex,' police wrote in an incident report. DailyMail.com exclusively reported that Tren de Aragua, which President Donald Trump designated as a terrorist organization, took over a fourth property in the Denver area in late January. Footage surfaced in late August showing the moment an armed Venezuelan gang seized control of the Edge of Lowry apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado In early February, ICE agents descended on two complexes taken over by the gang and began arresting members. As agents went door-to-door looking for them, several migrants climbed onto the roof of the property. One eyewitness described one migrant as appearing as though he might jump, but that did not happen. Video of the incident shows several men on their knees with their hands behind their backs as armed agents behind them bound their wrists with zip ties. It's unclear how many migrants were rounded up as part of the targeted enforcement, however, sources tell DailyMail.com the total fell short of the 100 migrants ICE had hoped to nab. Since Trump took office, about 194 Tren de Aragua members have been arrested by the federal government. Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger wants a judge to exclude his Amazon shopping list from evidence jurors will see at his upcoming trial, according to a newly-unsealed court filing. The alleged killer, 30, is expected to go on trial in August for the killings of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, at their off-campus house in 2022. His lawyer Elisa Massoth claims the Amazon evidence, including Kohberger's 'click activity,' should be banned from the trial because the term is too vague and does not 'show a full picture.' The defense also argued the account could have been used by other 'household members.' It's unclear what potentially embarrassing items are on the Amazon shopping list. But NBC's Dateline has reported that Kohberger bought a Ka-Bar knife on the shopping platform in 2022, as noted by Fox News. Police had previously tried to link Kohberger to the knife sheath found under the body of one of the victims, according to court documents. The defense's filing says the Amazon history and click activity 'amount to cherry picked limited data that does not show a full picture, compared to warrants that requested extensive data.' 'The States refining of all the Amazon history and Amazon click activity is out of context, incomplete, and unfairly prejudicial, thus making it inadmissible,' the defense attorney added. The filing also argued that Amazon uses AI-driven algorithms that 'shape user behavior' and 'actively guide purchasing behavior.' Bryan Kohberger's defense also wants the terms 'murder', 'psychopath' and 'sociopath' also banned from the trial From left: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders), Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke The off-campus home at 1122 King Road where the four students were found brutally murdered on November 13 2022 'This means that a users browsing and purchase history may not necessarily reflect deliberate intent but could have been shaped by Amazons algorithm,' Kohberger's lawyer concluded. Kohberger's team is also demanding that that the bizarre two-word phrase 'bushy eyebrows' is banned from his high-profile death penalty trial. In a series of motions, filed on February 24 and made public this week, the accused mass killer's defense made a string of requests asking the judge to block certain words and phrases from his trial. On the proposed list of banned terms is 'murder,' 'bushy eyebrows,' 'psychopath' and 'sociopath.' 'Bushy eyebrows' was the defining characteristic that the slain victims' surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen recalled about the masked intruder she saw leaving the student house moments after the brutal murders are believed to have taken place. According to Kohberger's defense, 'the description provided by D.M. is unreliable and should be excluded' from the courtroom. Mortensen is expected to be a key witness when Kohberger goes on trial in August charged with the murders. The four University of Idaho students were all found stabbed to death inside an off-campus student home at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, back on November 13 2022. Bryan Kohberger (seen in a mugshot) is seeking to have the phrase 'bushy eyebrows' banned from his murder trial DNA was found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath (seen in a stock image) left behind at the scene The brutality of the murders - and the mystery around who was responsible - plunged the small college town into fear and sent shockwaves across America. Kohberger's team is also continuing to fight to get the death penalty off the table in the case - with their latest argument being that the accused killer has autism and that his diagnosis 'exposes him to the unacceptable risk' that a jury will convict him of murder and sentence him to death. According to prosecutors, touch DNA found on the sheath belongs to Kohberger and was traced to him using Investigative Genetic Genealogy. Kohberger's team has tried unsuccessfully to have the IGG evidence tossed from the trial. The defense also pointed to blood from two unknown men also found at the King Road home - one on the handrail between the first and second floor, and the second on a glove found outside. He has so far offered up a vague alibi for the night of the murders claiming he was driving around at night looking at the stars. No witnesses can corroborate where he was, his attorney Anne Taylor admitted in a court filing. As well as the DNA found on the knife sheath, prosecutors say Kohberger was also tied to the murders through his white Hyundai Elantra - matching the car seen leaving the crime scene at the time of the murders - and cellphone records placing him in the vicinity of the home. Kohberger is next due in court in April. Tributes have flooded in for an 11-year-old girl who was killed after being hit by a car as she exited her school bus in Derry on Wednesday. The young girl, who was described by her school as 'a joy to teach', has been named locally as Caitlin-Rose McMullan. She had been attending St Pius X College in Magherafelt, with the school today stating that the young girl's friends and classmates have been left 'heartbroken' by the tragedy. In a statement posted to Facebook on Thursday morning, the school paid tribute to Caitlin-Rose, writing: 'It was with profound sadness that we were informed this morning about the loss of one of our pupils. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with Caitlin-Rose's mother and father, her brother, Shea, who is also a pupil at St Pius X College, and the wider family circle during this incredibly difficult time. 'Caitlin-Rose was a very popular pupil who was always smiling. Her Form Teachers described her as 'a joy to teach due to her kind and fun-loving nature'. She was an outgoing, bubbly and caring child, who will be greatly missed by fellow pupils and staff alike. 'Over the course of Year 8, Caitlin-Rose earned numerous accolades for excellent effort and outstanding classwork, approaching every assignment with interest and enthusiasm'. The statement continued: 'Caitlin Rose's friends and classmates are heartbroken by her untimely passing, and they are receiving support from our staff and relevant professional services. A Google Streetview image St Pius X College in Magherafelt, County Derry, where Caitlin-Rose attended A Google Streetview image of Hillhead Road in Castledawson on which the tragic collision occurred 'We acknowledge and are very grateful for the support both staff and students have received from the Critical Incident Response Team at this very challenging time. May Caitlin-Rose's gentle soul rest in Heavenly Peace.' Paul Givan, Northern Ireland's Minister for Education, expressed his own 'deep shock' at the 11-year old's tragic passing. 'I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear the news that a 11-year-old pupil from St Pius X College, Magherafelt has sadly died following a collision outside Castledawson yesterday', Mr Givan said. 'As a parent, when we set our children off to school in the morning, none of us ever expect to receive such devastating news. 'My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this young girl and the wider school community following this tragic incident. 'I have spoken to the Principal at St Pius X College and assured him of my support. The Education Authority 's Critical Incident Team is in contact with the school and will provide support to the pupils and staff', he added. A PSNI investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with police also asking for people to not circulate images or videos of the tragic event online. Speaking to the incident, Inspector Adair said: 'There was a large number of people in the vicinity at the time who may have recorded video footage of the scene. 'I would ask anyone with footage not to share it on, but instead forward it to police through the Major Incident Public Portal. This footage will be of great assistance to officers investigating the collision. 'The Hillhead Road in has reopened following this serious collision and our investigation continues. Anyone with any information, dash-cam footage or images taken at the scene can also call on 101, quoting reference number 1038 05/03/25.' The family of a missing university student has made a desperate plea for fresh information on the whereabouts of their 'much-loved son' a week after he vanished. Sebastian Sailes, 21, was last seen walking home from a pub in Wiltshire, at around 11.30pm on February 27. After leaving the Black Horse pub in Chippenham, he was captured on CCTV heading towards Lovers Walk in the town. He is then thought to have headed south along Avon Valley Walk towards his home address in Notton, Wakefield. Sebastian's family said: 'We are a very close family and are all extremely anxious and praying for the safe return of our much-loved son Sebastian. 'We are unbelievably grateful for the efforts of the police and all the amazing volunteers. 'The public support has been heart-warming, and we appeal to anyone who may have information to contact Wiltshire Police immediately, in the hope that our beautiful boy is returned to us safe and sound.' It comes after police said a body they found in a search of the River Avon on Monday was not Sebastian. Sebastian Sailes, 21, was last seen walking home from a pub in Wiltshire, at around 11.30pm on February 27 CCTV footage shows Sebastian heading towards Lovers Walk after leaving the Black Horse Pub in Chippenham at about 11.30pm last Thursday The man in his 70s has been identified and his family informed, a spokesperson for the force added. Wiltshire Police is now exploring the possibility Sebastian may have headed towards Rowden Hill. In his latest update Chief Inspector Ben Huggins, who is at the forefront of the search, said: 'Many of our enquiries have taken place around the river but we are also investigating the possibility that he has made his way towards Rowden Hill and through the new estates.' The 21-year-old university student is described as white and around 5ft 10ins tall. He is of slim build with blonde/brown hair and a long fringe. On the evening of his disappearance, he was seen wearing a grey jumper, blue jeans, a beige fur lined jacket and white Adidas trainers with a Velcro strap across the top. Chief Inspector Huggins previously said: 'Seb has now been missing since late on Thursday evening and we and his family are extremely worried about him. 'Finding him is a Force priority and we are utilising extensive resources to locate him, including exploring different routes he may have taken. Sebastian's outfit on the night he went missing looked like this, except he also had a grey jumper on Seb was last seen wearing a grey jumper, blue jeans, a beige fur lined jacket and white Adidas trainers with a Velcro strap across the top - as captured in this doorbell footage 'Volunteers from other agencies are also heavily involved in the search and I would like to thank them for their efforts. 'I also ask that members of the public don't fly any drones near them to ensure that they are able to conduct their searches effectively. 'Sebastian's family are being supported by specially trained officers. 'If you see Sebastian, or know anything about his whereabouts or disappearance, please report it on 999 quoting log 141 of February 28.' President Donald Trump warned NATO allies on Thursday that if they don't pay up, the U.S. won't come to their defense if they're attacked. The president, since his first term, has pushed for other members of the alliance to spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense. Now he's threatening to change U.S. policy when it comes to NATO's Article Five - which states if one member is attacked, all countries in the alliance must respond - if they don't pony up. 'If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them,' the president told reporters in the Oval Office. 'They have money,' he added. 'They should be paying more.' Such a change would send shockwaves through Europe and undermine the alliance's founding principal. Trump, however, explained his new stance by arguing he didn't think the NATO nations would come to the United States aid if the U.S. was attacked. 'The biggest problem I have with NATO. I know the guys. They're friends of mine. But if the United States was in trouble and we called them and said we've got a problem,' he added. 'You think they're going to come and protect us? Im not so sure.' However, NATO did come the United States aid after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. NATO invoked Article Five for the first and only time in its history on September 12, 2001. The cornerstone Article Five has made the alliance a powerful tool to deterring outside aggression against its members. A major policy change by Trump could weaken NATO's effectiveness. And that cornerstone has been the main reason Ukraine has been denied membership - to keep the other members from being drawn into its war with Russia. President Donald Trump is considering a shocking change to the U.S.' policy on NATO NATO was formed during the Cold War amid concern about Russian aggression. Its decisions are made by consensus but the military strength of the United States makes it the most powerful country in the alliance, with its nuclear arsenal seen as the ultimate security guarantee. Trump is also considering limiting joint U.S. military exercises to NATO members that are spending the set percentage of their GDPs on defense. The National Security Council said of the report: 'President Trump is committed to NATO and Article V.' Trump first raised the idea during the 2024 presidential campaign. At a rally in South Carolina in February, Trump recounted what he called a conversation with the 'president of a big country'. 'Well sir, if we don't pay, and we're attacked by Russia - will you protect us?' Trump quoted the unnamed leader as asking him. 'I said: 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?' He said: 'Yes, let's say that happened.' No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them (Russia) to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay,' Trump said. In his first term as president, Trump repeatedly argued with other leaders about their levels of defense spending; above he debates with then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel The flags of the countries in the NATO alliance Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members for not meeting the current goal of spending 2% of their GDP on defense. And he's fought with them to get them to increase their share, arguing there is too much of a burden on the U.S. NATO says that 23 of the 32 members have hit the 2% mark. Most of the members are European nations, plus the United States and Canada. Poland is the top spender on defense, allocating 4.1% of GDP. Estonia is in second place at 3.4% with the U.S. in third place at 3.4%. NATO's annual budget is $4.1 billion with a cost-sharing agreement in place to pay for its operations. The three biggest contributors to the budget are the U.S. and Germany at 16% and the UK at 11%. During the presidential campaign, Trump said he would keep the U.S. in NATO as long as other nations paid their fair share. 'The United States should pay its fair share, not everybody else's fair share,' Trump said in March 2024. Trump flirted with the idea of pulling out of NATO on multiple occasions during his first term but ultimately stayed in the alliance. This is the terrifying moment a Spanish fireworks factory was engulfed in a massive fireball following an explosion, which left one dead and four others injured. The blast occurred at around 11.25am on Thursday at a warehouse in Fontecalent near holiday hotspot Alicante in south-eastern Spain. Video footage captured by factory staff shows a massive plume of black smoke rising through the air. A separate clip filmed by workers escaping the blast by car shows debris flying as fireworks explode in the sky. Spanish police also shared footage and images showing the aftermath of the explosion, in which the structure of the incinerated warehouse can be seen. Other pictures and videos show emergency services working at the site of the explosion. The incident killed the owner of the company, Pedro Luis Sirvent, 69, who was a well-known figure in the Spanish pyrotechnic sector. A 68-year-old man is in a serious condition, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported, and has had to be transferred by helicopter to the Burn Unit of La Fe Hospital in Valencia. Three workers are said to have suffered from minor injuries. One person was killed today and four more were injured following an explosion at a fireworks factory in Alicante, Spain The explosion occurred at around 11.25 am at a warehouse belonging to the Hermanos Sirvent company The man killed was company owner Pedro Luis Servent Around 100 firefighters, police and paramedics rushed to the site, with fire crews successfully stopping the inferno from ripping through surrounding warehouses storing fireworks. Meanwhile, authorities stated that only 'localised' structural damage was caused. Rail traffic had to be suspended for several hours due to debris falling on nearby tracks. Alicante mayor Luis Barcala praised the heroic efforts of first responders. 'They entered the burning fireworks warehouse to extract the injured', he said. Police are currently investigating the cause of the explosion. Video footage captured by factory staff shows a massive plume of black smoke rising through the air Authorities said that structural damage was 'localised' Around 100 firefighters, police and paramedics rushed to the site Four people were injured as a result of the explosion at the fireworks warehouse Alicante mayor Luis Barcala praised the heroic efforts of first responders Deceased factory owner Sirvent founded the company Pirotecnica Alicantina de Fuegos y Artificios in 1982 with his brother Cesar, which moved to Fontcalent five years later. In 2019, the company changed its name to its current name of Hermanos Sirvent. The dramatic incident in Spain's Costa Blanca today comes several months after a fireworks factory in Bulgaria exploded, forcing a mass evacuation. Two employees, one man and one woman, were reportedly severely injured and had to be transferred to the nearby Pirogov Emergency Hospital in Sofia suffered third-degree burns. March 6, 2025: After three years of war, Ukraine is running out of soldiers. The government will not conscript women, fearing a public backlash. Currently women volunteers comprise seven percent of the military. If the number of new male troops continues to decline, the government will have no choice but to conscript women, with exemptions for those who are pregnant or taking care of children. If Ukraine runs out of soldiers, the war is over and Russia has won. Despite that prospect, Russia is also having problems with obtaining more soldiers. Both sides are having problems with determining how many casualties there have been. Ukraine states that the Russians have suffered 200,000 dead and about 600,000 wounded. At the same time Ukraine says its own losses have been 50,000 dead, 60,000 missing, 9,000 captured and 400,000 wounded. Both sides avoid discussing or releasing data on deserters and those who actively avoid military service. Yet one of the realities for both sides is the lack of new soldiers and the growing numbers of desertions and those evading military service. Both sides are suffering from war fatigue and military age men believe there have been so many casualties that being in the military was something of a death sentence for too many soldiers. Another factor to consider is that the war in Ukraine has been going for eleven years. Back in mid-2014 Ukrainian forces were fighting in the eastern Ukrainian Donbas region against Russian troops and local pro-Russian rebels. The Ukrainians seemed to be outnumbered and needed all the help they could get. Help came in the form of over 10,000 volunteers, out of about 50,000 Ukrainian troops in the east. By the end of 2014 Ukraine had nearly 100,000 troops in or near Donbas and volunteers still comprised nearly 20 percent of troop strength. Going into 2015 some of these volunteers became a problem. In part this was because Ukraine Army and Reserve forces had become better trained and equipped and in part because everyone now had a lot of combat experience. Amateur enthusiasm was no longer an excuse for bad behavior. Only a few of the thirty or so volunteer battalions were the source of most of the problems. As is usually the case, the problem was not so much the volunteers but some of their idealistic, independent-minded, undisciplined and often anti-government leaders. None of the problem battalions suffered from all these problems but as a group of several thousand armed men and some women had issues and the government and military high command wanted these troublesome volunteers to behave. The original volunteer units fell into three categories: Ministry of Defense, Ministry of the Interior and purely volunteer. Among the more numerous units were the Territorial Defense or TD battalions full of volunteers but controlled by the Ministry of Defense and long part of the national defense plans. These battalions were formed from men who had already been conscripted, done their service and were released from active duty. The military tried to keep track of where these former soldiers lived, so that they could be contacted in wartime and ordered to report for duty. There was also provision for taking men with or without prior military service as volunteers. In 2014 the ratio of volunteers to reservists varied. A lot depended on what part of the country a TD battalion came from and how well organized the local government was. On paper each of these battalions were supposed to have 430 troops armed with light infantry weapons. In practice these battalions got so many volunteers that they often had more than 400 men but not as many weapons as they needed. The original plan was for these battalions to provide security behind the front lines. But in Donbas these battalions often found themselves on the front lines and fighting. After late 2014 most of the TD battalions became better organized, led and equipped. A few retained their volunteer spirit and leadership and one or two were considered troublesome. But since the men in these battalions were considered national heroes, the government has to proceed carefully in forcing the issue of who was in charge and how all TD troops were supposed to behave. The ministry of Defense also formed several Reserve battalions of the National Guard from experienced volunteers. This included a lot of former and retired officers. There were only a few of these and they were more reliable and disciplined, if less physically capable because of many middle-aged volunteers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which normally controls the national police and some paramilitary units used for riot control, formed over 30 special security battalions for patrolling and guarding areas recaptured from rebels. Some of these battalions had less than a hundred men initially but eventually nearly all had at least 300 and some over 500. These units became a kind of police auxiliary in the combat zone and did not cause a lot of discipline problems. Nationalists and anti-government leaders were much less of a problem. Most of the problems were from the Nationalist units. These were men who were very anti-Russian and many were even hostile to ethnic Russians who were Ukrainian citizens. Some of the leaders and soldiers in these units were highly critical of the Ukrainian government for a number of reasons and were still a problem. The men in these battalions were very brave and resolute during the several rebel offensives and many are considered national heroes. So imposing discipline on these units and their thousand men or so was difficult and potentially a political disaster if handled the wrong way. Ukrainian commanders in Donbas wanted to be rid of these men because they caused so many operational, media and political headaches. One thing all these volunteer troops had going for them, especially in 2014, was good morale and a willingness to fight, often to the death. For a long time this made up for their lack of discipline and training. Individual volunteers who were seriously wounded were often eager to get back to the front as quickly as possible. Motivation and fighting spirit in volunteers was extremely high. The problem now is how to get these heroes to cooperate with regular army and reserve units that are better equipped and trained and depend on troops near them to be likewise. Russia had similar problems with its volunteers in Donbas, particularly the Cossacks but solved that problem by sending in thousands of Russian troops wearing the same nondescript uniforms as the volunteers. These Russian volunteers lacked the enthusiasm of the real volunteers and suffered such high casualties that Russia passed laws making casualty data from peacetime operations a state secret. A 'beautiful' four-year-old girl who died in a house fire in Manchester has been pictured for the first time. Tributes are pouring in for little Lesma-Rose Wibier - who was described by grieving relatives as the 'star' of their family in a statement issued by police. It comes as a 44-year-old woman arrested over Sunday's tragedy is now facing a possible murder charge. The woman, who was known to the little girl, was initially arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. She is being assessed under the Mental Health Act, Greater Manchester Police added. Paying tribute to the young victim, her family said: 'Lesma-Rose was the star of the family. Anyone who knew her knew she was the most beautiful girl inside and out. 'She always had a smile on her face and could put the same on others. She was such a smart and intelligent girl in her own unique ways, and she will be deeply missed by anyone who was blessed to meet her.' Greater Manchester Police said of the suspect: 'She was later rearrested on suspicion of murder. 'She has been detained under the Mental Health Act and is awaiting further assessment at this time.' Lesma-Rose Wibier, aged four, died following a house fire in Manchester on Sunday Police at the scene on Gateshead Close in Manchester after a four-year-old girl died in a horror blaze Evidence of smoke damage could be seen on upstairs windows of the red-brick house on March 2 Lesma-Rose died after fire broke out at a terraced property, in Gateshead Close, Rusholme Manchester, at around 12.35pm on Sunday. They quickly extinguished the blaze and the girl, who had suffered serious injuries, was taken to hospital by paramedics. But tragically she could not be saved and died of her injuries a short time later. Evidence of smoke damage could be seen on upstairs windows of the red-brick house today. Ben Levy, area manager for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said on Sunday that crews from four stations attended the blaze. 'I want to pass on the condolences of everyone at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to the family and friends of the young girl who tragically lost her life following this incident,' he said. 'Our thoughts are with them during this sad and difficult time.' Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Whalley, from Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team, said her officers would leave 'no stone unturned' as they investigate the circumstances of the blaze. A police cordon was put in place and specialist officers were seen at the property on Sunday Crews were quickly able to extinguish the fire and bring out the girl, who sadly did a short time later 'This awful incident has seen the tragic death of a young girl,' DCI Whalley said. 'I would like to send my condolences to her friends and family. Numerous emergency services attended the scene and all did their utmost to save her. 'A woman has been arrested and she is known to the child. There is no wider threat to the community and no one else is currently being sought in connection with the investigation. 'These tragic incidents will of course naturally cause concern, but I want to reassure the public that we are fully investigating all circumstances of the fire, and will leave no stone unturned as we carry out this work.' The senior officer also appealed for anyone with information to get in touch via 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's somber look at Donald Trump's speech earlier this week comes as her stock portfolio has taken a hit. The California Democrat, 84, was seen at Trump's speech to Congress Tuesday looking reserved as she gripped a cane she's been using since undergoing a hip operation in December. Seated just rows away from the Republican with whom she shares a long and contentious history, Pelosi was one of few Democrats who was not constantly protesting the joint address. Perhaps because her mind was on her investments. She and her husband Paul Pelosi, a venture capitalist who has seen extraordinary success in the last decade, have doubled their net worth over the last decade, according to estimates from political money tracker Quiver Quantitative. According to data compiled by Quiver's Pelosi tracker, including congressional asset filings, Pelosi's net worth has more than doubled in the past decade from $123 million in 2014 to nearly $250 million in 2024. This year, her portfolio has hit an estimated high of $270 million, Quiver co-founder Chris Kardatzke told DailyMail.com. However, as Trump's tariff talks have scared markets, the Pelosi's portfolio has lost millions. 'Pelosi's net worth has fallen $14.5M since the end of January, per our estimates,' Kardatzke revealed. US Representative Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., appears lost deep in thought as Trump speaks during an address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025. She did not appear happy at Trump's speech Trump showing off an executive order he signed during his address to Congress 'We now estimate that she is worth 'just' $259M,' he added. 'Some of her largest holdings include tech stocks like Google, Salesforce, and Crowdstrike - which have all gotten crushed in the last month.' 'Her ~$20M position in Amazon stock has fallen over 17% since the end of January.' But Pelosi's team says the Democrat is not involved with the family finances. 'Speaker Pelosi does not own any stocks, and she has no prior knowledge or subsequent involvement in any transactions,' spokesperson Ian Krager told DailyMail.com. Her congressional filings say that her husband is the one responsible for the trades, and the disclosures are labeled as made by her 'spouse.' Still, Nancy and Paul both disclose holding tens of millions of dollars worth of technology stocks that have performed very well. They own Apple, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), chip giant NVIDIA, Palo Alto Networks and a company that recently went public called Tempus AI. While Apple stock is up roughly $12 a share and Tempus AI shares are are up about $2, many of the Pelosi's other holdings have been slipping. Though overall their risky call option bet on Tempus AI has proven exceptionally profitable, rising an eye-popping 62 percent in just under two months. NVIDIA stocks have slid from $140 a share to around $110 since Trump took office on January 20. Certain stock major stocks , particularly those in tech like Amazon, Google and NVIDIA have gone down in price under Trump Pelosi and her husband have a net worth of an estimated $260 million. She has worked in Congress since 1987 While speaker Pelosi said that lawmakers should be able to participate in the stock markets Alphabet, the parent company of Google, fell from about $200 a share to $172. Amazon stock has shed a similar amount of value, going from $230 a share to about $200. Palo Alto Networks stock has remained relatively unchanged since trump moved back into the Oval Office. Like Pelosi, other lawmakers have also seen their stock portfolios skyrocket by the millions since being members of Congress. There have been efforts for years to stop lawmakers from being able to buy and sell stocks while in office, though regulations in place hardly deter potential infractions. The penalty for fudging congressional stock disclosures under the STOCK Act have been reported to cost just a few hundred dollars per infraction. Considering many politicians like Pelosi normally file trades worth tens of thousands of dollars or more, the penalties may as well be pennieswhich may soon be eliminated altogether. The president has noted that tariffs could impact the U.S. stock market But Pelosi shot down the idea of a congressional stock trading ban while she was speaker just years ago. 'We are a free-market economy,' she told reporters in 2021, adding lawmakers 'should be able to participate in that.' Many Democrats, particularly progressives, disagree. 'Members of Congress should not be allowed to buy and sell individual stock. We are here to serve the public, not to profiteer.,' progressive 'Squad' leader Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has said. Sen. Elziabeth Warren, D-Mass., similarly shared in a statement: 'Whether you're a Republican senator or the Democratic speaker of the House, it is obvious to the American people that they should not be allowed to trade individual stocks and then vote on laws that affect those companies.' Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., introduced an effort to ban stock trading by members of Congress in 2023, though Democratic Senate leadership never worked to enact it. John Swinney has ruled out lowering the school leaving age to 14, despite being told too many children are being failed by the SNPs education system. The First Minister said he will not support calls from Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay for a lower leaving age for pupils who would be better off taking up a college place or apprenticeship. He said that efforts have been made to encourage pupils to stay on at school and highlighted an increase in the numbers going on to work, training or education. Following the comments, Mr Findlay said: Unlike John Swinney, Ive been out speaking with people in the real world who agree that our bold proposal would help create new opportunities for those young people who are being left behind by the SNPs broken education system. Business leaders, academics and pupils might question why hes not even willing to give our idea the time of day. Yet again, he thinks he knows better than everyone else despite being at the heart of an inept government that has failed Scotlands young people over the last 18 years. During First Ministers Questions yesterday, Mr Findlay said that far too many young people are being failed by the SNPs education system and said those being left behind should get the opportunity of a hybrid education and training in colleges and the workplace. John Swinney dismissed Russell Findlay's proposal to lower the school leaving age to 14 Mr Findlay accused the First Minister of being 'at the heart of an inept government that has failed Scotlands young people over the last 18 years' But Mr Swinney said: I dont agree with these proposals. Weve spent a great deal of time and effort on trying to encourage young people to maximise their engagement with education. That has resulted in more young people staying on at school and, as a consequence, more young people leaving school and going into positive destinations. Indeed, positive destinations are at record levels. Mr Findlay said that far too many young people are being left behind following 18 years of SNP rule, and urged MSPs to focus more on encouraging opportunity and aspiration and on giving pupils the chance to thrive. He said that one in seven pupils leave school without a qualification, while half a million days were lost last year to unexplained absences from S4 pupils. He also highlighted findings from a recent survey which found 80 per cent of teachers say violent and abusive behaviour has increased. But Mr Swinney said the SNP Government has reformed the approach to apprenticeships and allowed them to work with employers during the senior phase at school. He said: That is the type of pragmatic approaches that this Government takes to make sure that we address the issue that Mr Findlay raises with me. School doesnt suit everybody, so we are adapting the curriculum to make sure that it does suit young people through the use of foundation apprenticeships, which I think has been one of the excellent reforms that this Government has introduced. Meanwhile, Mr Swinney was also pressed on the case of a health worker who had to spent a years salary on a private hip operation rather than waiting for three years for treatment on the NHS. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the NHS support worker, who was not identified, was hobbling to work on crutches when she took cash from her modest pension to pay for the surgery, which cost her 24,000. He also highlighted that 36,500 private procedures have been paid for by Scots in the last nine months, including 17.6 million on cataract treatment, 30.8 million on hip replacements, and an estimated 16 million on knee replacements. Mr Sarwar said: Most shockingly of all, Scots have had to pay thousands of pounds of their own money to fund 700 rounds of chemotherapy. Scots having to pay for cancer care under John Swinney. This cannot go on. Mr Swinney said that improving NHS waiting times generally is an absolute priority for him, but added: I recognise that people are waiting too long for treatment in Scotland today. President Donald Trump on Thursday stripped security clearances from a law firm linked to the 2016 election investigation into his ties to Russia. 'This is an absolute honor to sign,' said Trump as he put his signature on an Executive Order suspending clearance from staff at Perkins Coie. 'What they've done is just terrible. It's weaponization ... you could say weaponization against a political opponent, and it should never be allowed to happen again.' The order said the firm's 'dishonest and dangerous' activities had affected the U.S. for decades. And it said it 'manufactured a false "dossier" designed to steal an election. The firm has been a thorn in Trump's side for years. It is one of the major law outfits that have signed on to represent plaintiffs suing the Trump administration, just as it did during the president's first term. It was also linked to what Trump calls the 'Russia hoax' during the 2016 campaign, and was a key part of the effort to dig up dirt on the then candidate's, including any secret ties to Moscow and what became known as the 'Steele Dossier.' President Donald Trump signed executive orders in the Oval Office on Thursday It included an order stripping security clearances from staff at Perkins Coie, saying the law firm was guilty of 'dishonest and dangerous' activities The firm acted for Hillary Clintons campaign and the Democratic Party in contracting a research firm called Fusion GPS, which in turn hired a former MIF officer to investigate. The deal was set up by Marc Elias, a partner at Perkins Coie and top lawyer for Clnton 2016. He has since left the firm and runs his own practice. Christopher Steele's dossier was packed with salacious claims. It cited sources who said there was a 'well-developed conspiracy of coordination' between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, and that Russia had 'kopromat' including a tape of Trump with prostitutes. It sparked a storm just before Trump was due to be inaugurated in January 2017. However, its claims were never corroborated and it has become a byword among Trump's supporters for the way the president was hounded through the courts by opponents. The Fusion research was originally funded by Republicans opposed to Trump during the primaries, before Democrats took on the project after he won the nomination. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into links between Trump's campaign and Moscow eventually concluded that Russia had tried to tilt the outcome of the 2016 election. Former MI6 officer Christopher Steele was hired to dig into Trump's contacts in Russia Trump answered questions after signing executive orders But it could not find evidence to prove that the two sides had illegally colluded. The order said Perkins Coie's role in the 2016 election was part of a pattern. 'Perkins Coie has worked with activist donors including George Soros to judicially overturn popular, necessary, and democratically enacted election laws, including those requiring voter identification,' it said. This time around, Perkins Coie is representing plaintiffs suing the Trump administration over restrictions on transgender people in the military service. Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who has taken on a central role in the administration, put law firms on notice last month. He asked on X: 'Which law firms are pushing these anti-democratic cases to impede the will of the people?' On Thursday, Trump's staff secretary introduced the executive order as journalists watched. Will Scharf said it would tackle 'lawfare.' Trump sidekick Elon Musk put major law firms on warning with a post on X last month 'This executive order will suspend security clearances and access to certain federal resources for that law firm, and also launch a holistic review of unlawful [diversity, equity, and inclusion] practices at some of the nation's largest law firms.' The 'Russia hoax' is never far from Trump's mind. He brought it up last Friday as his Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky went off the rails. 'Putin went through a hell of a lot with me,' he said, raising his voice after being challenged on whether or not the Russian strongman could be trusted. 'He went through a phony witch hunt where they used him and "Russia, Russia, Russia" ... ever hear of that deal?' Ukraine will hold peace talks with the US next week, President Zelensky has said - as he vowed to work 'constructively' with Donald Trump. The wartime leader said in his nightly address he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday and his team would stay there to hold talks with US officials. President Zelensky insisted his country is hoping to secure a 'fast' and 'lasting' peace deal following his blistering row with Trump at the White House last week. 'Next Monday, I have a visit planned to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with the Crown Prince', he said. 'After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners.' Trump has begun his second stint in the White House by reversing US policy on Ukraine and risking a historic rupture with Europe. Talks soured between the US president and Zelensky on Friday after the two leaders locked horns in dramatic scenes in the Oval Office. Washington subsequently cut off intelligence sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military's ability to target Russian forces. Trump also ordered a pause to US military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press Zelensky to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. The Ukrainian leader said he will work 'constructively' with President Donald Trump (pictured on Thursday) to reach a 'fast' and 'lasting' peace Peace talks between the US and Ukraine will take place in Saudi Arabia next week, President Zelensky (pictured) has said Trump publicly feuded with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting in the Oval Office last week (pictured) Trump's National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said: 'We have taken a step back.' European leaders have been holding emergency talks about ways to quickly increase their military budgets following the announcement. On Thursday they backed new defense spending plans aimed at freeing up billions of euros for the continent's security. The 27 leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending. They also urged the European Commission to explore new ways 'to facilitate significant defense spending at national level in all Member States,' a statement said. The EU's executive branch estimates that around 650 billion euros ($702 billion) could be freed up in this way. The leaders also took note of a European Commission offer of a loan package worth 150 billion euros ($162 billion) to buy new military equipment and invited EU headquarters staff 'to examine this proposal as a matter of urgency.' People attend a rally addressed to the US government, asking for help in freeing Ukrainian prisoners of war held captive in Russia, in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine A view of damage after Russian missile hit a hotel and caused the death of three people in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine on March 6, 2025 Despite the US taking a step back, Zelensky insisted earlier this week that he is ready to work with Trump. He said in a post on X that he wanted to 'make things right' and described their row in the White House as 'regrettable'. The wartime leader also expressed his desire to agree on a truce in the sky and sea 'immediately, if Russia will do the same.' President Zelensky was kicked out of the White House last week without signing the much-needed minerals deal following his blistering row with Trump. Then as fears mounted that Kyiv could not sustain itself without US support, Zelensky made a dramatic climb down on X. He wrote: 'Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right.' 'None of us wants an endless war.Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. 'My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. A Ukrainian serviceman prepares to fire a M777 howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline near Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, March 3, 2025 Firefighters work at the site of houses destroyed by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Slatyne, Kharkiv region, Ukraine March 6, 2025 'We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same. 'Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal. 'We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this.' House Republicans are demanding Google turn over internal information regarding the censorship of Americans in the Biden administration. The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee announced that it issued a subpoena to parent company Alphabet on Thursday. In a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai, chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) wrote that his committee was seeking communications between Alphabet and the executive branch and company communications with third parties that may have worked with the executive branch. 'The Committee on the Judiciary continues to investigate how and to what extent the executive branch coerced or colluded with companies and other intermediaries to censor lawful speech,' Jordan wrote in his letter. DailyMail.com has reached out to Google for comment on the subpoena. Republicans have long accused the Biden administration of pressuring major companies into censoring Americans as it worked to address the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans launched an investigation into censorship after they reclaimed the House majority in early 2023. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent a letter to the CEO of Alphabet as his committee subpoenas communications between the company and the executive branch 'During the 118th Congress, our oversight uncovered how the Biden-Harris Administration repeatedly pressured online platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and Amazon, to censor Americans directly and by proxy,' Jordan wrote. The chair noted in his letter that Meta changed its tune in response to the House investigation, admitted it was wrong to bow to Biden administration demands, and committed to 'restoring free speech.' 'Alphabet, to our knowledge, has not similarly disavowed the Biden-Harris Administrations attempts to censor speech,' Jordan wrote. 'To inform legislative reforms to protect Americans civil liberties, the Committee must fully understand the extent and nature of the Biden-Harris Administrations censorship efforts,' he continued. According to Jordan, the committee's investigation found that YouTube was a 'direct participant' in the federal government's 'censorship regime.' Alphabet is the parent company of Google and YouTube. The House Judiciary Committee is investigating the Biden administration and how it pressured such companies into censoring Americans He specifically identified documents 'showing that the federal government successfully pressured YouTube to censor certain lawful content, including content that did not violate YouTubes content moderation policies.' Pichai was among the group of tech CEOs who had a front row seat to Trump's inauguration in January, seated between Amazon's Jeff Bezos and the world's richest man Elon Musk and just down from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Last summer, Zuckerberg wrote in a letter to Jordan that they will fight back against any attempts at censorship in the future. The social network founder said the Biden administration was 'wrong' to demand Facebook censor what they deemed 'COVID misinformation' during the pandemic. Google CEO Sundar Pichai standing second from the right at President Trump's inauguration. Elon Musk (far right) , Jeff Bezos (third from right) and Mark Zuckerberg (second from left) were also seated with him Zuckerberg wrote that the White House 'repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire, and expressed a lot of frustration with our teams when we didn't agree.' 'We made some choices that, with the benefit of hindsight and new information, we wouldn't make today,' Zuckerberg wrote. Since Trump was elected for a second term, the Meta CEO has been cozying up to the new administration. Zuckerberg, who has been on the receiving end of Trump ire, went down to meet with him before he was worn in. He also announced changes the company will change how it handles content, replacing fact-checkers with community notes amid accusations it censored conservative content. The deputy leader of Reform UK was humiliated yesterday after being unable to name two Scots defectors to his party at a special event for them. Richard Tice looked struggled to name the pair at a bizarre press conference held at a Glasgow chip shop. The Skegness MP had travelled north to unveil the latest switchers to Nigel Farages party in a bid to embarrass Russell Findlays Conservatives. But he was flummoxed when asked to name the pair of Tory councillors jumping ship. Standing outside the Val DOro in the city, he said: Ive got John and Ross. Asked for their surnames, he said: John and Ross. John and Ross. Asked which councils they were from, he said: John and Ross. Next question. Asked if he knew anything about Scottish politics, he said: Weve got 10,000 members. I dont know all 10,000 members. Reform leader Richard Tice failed to answer simple questions about councillors who defected to his party Mr Tice held a press conference outside a Glasgow chip shop What we have is policies that will make people better off in Scotland. Thats the key, and thats why were doing so well. Thats why were going up in the polls. Thats why weve got almost as many members as the Labour Party, and thats a great thing. Reform UK later identified them as Cllr Ross Lambie of South Lanarkshire Council and Cllr John Gray of Renfrewshire. Cllr Gray was the second Tory to defect to Reform UK in Renfrewshire after Cllr Alec Leishman switched last month. Mr Tice also struggled to name any specific devolved policies his party would put to voters at next years Holyrood election other than cutting waste and lower income tax. Opinion polls suggest Reform UK could win a dozen MSPs under the proportional system used to elected 56 of the Scottish Parliaments 129 MSPs. Mr Tice said: Were in March 2025, the elections are in May 2026, so patience is a virtue. There will be some specific policies, but as an overall, let me tell you, people want to be better off, they want more money in their pocket at the end of the week, and all our policies will drive towards that goal. Mr Tice also said Reform UK wanted to scrap Net Stupid Zero and exploit North Sea oil and gas to the full, echoing President Donald Trump by saying: Drill, Scotland, drill. First Minister John Swinney last month branded Mr Farage fundamentally racist and called for a summit of Holyroods parties to counter the threat of the far right. Mr Tice said such juvenile smears were pathetic. He said the Tories were finished in Scotland, adding: They might as well give up, bye-bye. He then said Reform UK MSPs would work with the Tories at Holyrood. Asked about the defections to Reform, Mr Findlay said: It is always disappointing when that happens because as we all know anyone voting for Reform or anyone joining Reform only emboldens John Swinneys SNP Government. My job as the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives is to stand up to the SNP and that is what Im intending to do, and thats what Ive been doing this week setting out bold proposals for young people who have been let down by this failing SNP education system. He said there is no way of knowing what any individual might do when asked if there will be more defections, but said he was focused on holding the SNP Government to account and setting out a bold commonsense vision for an alternative Scotland. Cllr Lambie said voters in Lanarkshire had been driven to despair by the Legacy Parties of Conservative, Labour, and SNP, who have let them down time and time again. Cllr Gray said: The SNP, the Conservatives, and Labour have all had their shot, and all theyre doing is bouncing from crisis to crisis, leaving Britain, Scotland and Renfrewshire in a worse state each time. Scotland needs Reform. Children should be allowed to leave school at 14 if they would be better off in apprenticeships, says Scottish Tory leader. Let us round up the kneejerk reactions first. I have them; you have them; rival politicians sculpt them into soundbites. Quite right, we conclude. No more deliberation required. Sheer madness. Whats next? So here are said soundbites. Russell Findlay seems about six months away from sending kids back up chimneys, says Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie. I quite enjoyed this one. Picture the sooty-faced urchin in rags, as scrawny as his wire brush, condemned to a life cut short by lung disease and the imperious Tory who, by autumn, will surely be chasing 14-year-olds back into the stacks of rich folks homes for a thruppence hapenny weekly wage. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth wasted no time in describing the idea as Dickensian. Think now, please, of Victorian sweatshops, 18-hour days and gruel for supper, followed by fitful sleep in a bedroom shared with 13 siblings. Is that what you want? Russell Findlay wants it. He just said children should be able to leave school at 14 if apprenticeships suit their needs better. Its an outlandish idea, says Scottish Labours Pam Duncan-Glancy one that amounts to writing off young Scots. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth was quick to denounce Tory proposals to allow children to leave school at 14 as 'Dickensian' Russell Findlay says children should be allowed to pursue apprenticeships at 14 instead of staying at school Here we find the Scottish Tory leader scheming to hive off a sector of the young population who have failed to shine at school. He plans to deprive them of the tools for self-improvement and leave them entirely without prospects. That must be what he is up to. He just said he wants to stick them in apprenticeships. I did say I am susceptible to kneejerk reactions too. Mine was to wonder what child really knows their mind at 14. Isnt immaturity the biggest threat to the success of such a proposal? Will school careers be cut short in haste for the wrong reasons and the decision bitterly regretted for decades thereafter? One of the privileges of living outside the bubble of elected politics is we get to have kneejerk reactions which need not be rooted in contemptuous bids to stereotype opposition parties. Such as this one from Ms Gilruth: The Tories should say what they mean they want to see working class children leave school at 14 and leave academic pursuits to the middle and upper class. Free from the requirement to score points and reinforce prejudices, the air is cleaner, thinking less polluted with enmity. Ms Gilruth should try it some time. So, shall we start again? Just a thought, but might there be an argument for a shake-up in school leaving policies? Heaven knows the education system is not serving all young people as well as it should. The nation is sliding down every league table in which the Scottish Government still allows its state schools to be rated. It withdrew from others out of embarrassment, I presume. Our classrooms are awash with violence. Bullying is rife. Discipline is a joke. Many teachers are scared witless and want out of the profession. The attainment gap, on the closure of which a First Minister once staked the success or failure of her tenure, is in 2025 an attainment chasm. We are fast approaching a point at which 50 per cent of our school children will be classed as having special educational needs. Do we really think half of all pupils fall into this category or could it be that the system itself that is failing? In the light of all of the above, it seems to me that radical ideas for addressing what has become a classroom crisis should be welcomed, not least by a party of government which is clearly out of them. Like me, Ms Gilruth did fairly well at school indeed, we went to the same one and progressed to university. After his schooling in Cupar, Fife, Willie Rennie went on to Paisley College of Technology. Pam Duncan-Glancy attended both Stirling and Glasgow Caledonian universities. Bully for us. We were, to a greater or lesser extent, academically minded. I wouldnt give back a day of my education, but I was still 22 before I was able to support myself and clueless about what I really wanted to do. The industrialist Jim McColl took a different path. No great shakes at the school work, he burned to be out of the classroom but couldnt leave Rutherglen Academy until he turned 16. Out he marched with three O Grades to his name and took up an engineering apprenticeship with Weir Pumps of Cathcart. I wonder to what extent he felt written off as he flourished there. Decades later, sitting in his palatial office on the edge of East Kilbride, the chief executive of Clyde Blowers told me of the journey from factory floor to his present berth as company boss and rich list perennial. Incidentally, it included a spell at a university he would never have been able to attend and wouldnt have wanted to anyway as a school-leaver. But the thing he most wanted to talk about was this: What I really want to do is target pupils at 14 years old and take them for third and fourth year. These are people who are maybe not expected to do well in their Standard Grades and who would benefit from a different style of education. He was telling me this in 2011. His goal was to transform the lives of the growing ranks of NEETS (young people Not in Education, Employment or Training) populating the dole queues. He invested 5 million of his own money in a five-year pilot scheme at Newlands Junior College in Glasgow which took on 30 pupils aged 14 each year and offered learning in a fresh environment which opened their eyes to the career possibilities that could lie ahead for them. He now reports that 95 per cent of those children went into a job and are doing well. I dont remember politicians at the time accusing Mr McColl of thrusting chimney brushes into teenagers hands, or enlisting them for slave labour, or trying to get them out of middle class pupils hair. For such puerile observations I suppose you need a prominent Tory in the mix as bait. Who knows whether, rolled out across the country as Mr McColl hoped it would be, such a scheme would help cure the nations educational ills or cause new, unseen ones? I dont have a settled view. What I do know is the plan is worthy of serious discussion and, on this, I would rather hear from voices of experience with no particular political axe to grind than from university graduate MSPs who havent been near an apprenticeship. Indeed, I wonder if it is they, rather than Mr Russell, who should check their privilege. Just because school worked out for them are they really in a position to prescribe the same for those for whom it demonstrably isnt working? Young Scots are accruing mountains of debt at universities. Many are graduating only to find work they consider beneath them or not work at all. If an apprenticeship can enthuse a non-academic 14-year-old is it really a non-starter or are we missing the woods for the trees? A weak and breathless Pope Francis has been heard speaking for the first time since being hospitalised for double pneumonia nearly three weeks ago. In a brief two-line audio message he expressed thanks 'from the bottom of my heart' to well-wishers around the world who have offered their support. The message recorded at Rome's Gemelli hospital earlier today was played during a nightly prayer service for the Pope in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. 'I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers in the Square for my health,' said the Pontiff, 88, speaking in his native Spanish, and pausing every few words to take a deep breath. 'May God bless you,' he adds. The audio message came shortly after the Vatican said the Pope had remained stable on Thursday and did not have any new episodes of respiratory crisis. In a sign of progress he continues treatment, the Pope's doctors said they would not issue another medical bulletin until Saturday, 'considering the stability of the clinical picture'. Francis was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that has required continuously evolving treatment. Fears for his health ignited dramatically on Monday when it emerged he twice suffered acute respiratory failure. Pope Francis has been heard speaking for the first time since being hospitalised for double pneumonia nearly three weeks ago (pictured 9 February 2025) The audio message came shortly after the Vatican said the Pope (pictured on February 1) had remained stable on Thursday and did not have any new episodes of respiratory crisis Nuns pray in front of the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli University Hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised In the latest detailed medical update on his condition, the Vatican said the Pope had not had a fever and his blood tests had remained stable. Despite pausing the daily readouts about his condition, the doctors continued to call the Pope's prognosis 'guarded', meaning he was not yet out of danger. The tone of the updates from the Vatican has been more upbeat in recent days, following what was described as two episodes of 'acute respiratory insufficiency' on Monday. On Thursday, the Vatican said the Pope had been able to work between receiving his treatments and taking rest. It also said the Pontiff, who has used a wheelchair in recent years due to knee and back pain, had continued with some physical therapy to help with mobility, which first started on Wednesday. Monday's respiratory episodes had required Francis to use non-invasive mechanical ventilation, which involves placing a mask over the face to help push air into the lungs. The Pope is now only receiving ventilation at night, said the Vatican. During the day, he receives oxygen via a small hose under his nose. Francis has not been seen in public since entering hospital, his longest such absence since his papacy started 12 years ago. His doctors have not said how long the treatment might last. Pope Francis meets Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico during a private audience at the Vatican on February 14 The Pope is currently enduring his 21st day recovering from double pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital (pictured on Tuesday) The sun sets over St Peter's basilica in The Vatican on March 5 as Pope Francis is still hospitalised with pneumonia The Pope, who is known to work himself to exhaustion, has continued to work from hospital. On Thursday, the Vatican announced the appointments of two bishops that would have required his approval. The 88-year-old has made a return to X in recent days too, initially with two posts on Sunday, March 2. The Pontiff thanked well-wishers across the globe for their prayers in one post, as well as wishing his best to Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kyiv amid ongoing unrest. While trying to maintain neutrality, the Pope has repeatedly called for peace between Ukraine and Russia as well as attempting to achieve a similar balancing act for Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. It was announced last week that despite his serious illness, Francis has continued his daily contact with Gaza's only Catholic church via phone call. The Pope has experienced several bouts of ill health over the last two years and is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. Double pneumonia is a serious infection in both lungs that can inflame and scar them, making it difficult to breathe. Well-wishers across the globe have continued to pray for the health of the Pope, with candles also being lit outside the hospital in Rome. Thousands continue to gather at St Peter's Square in Rome everyday amid the Pontiff's ongoing health struggles (pictured on Tuesday) Amid his ailing health, many have speculated that Francis will give up the Papacy before it's too late. He revealed he penned a statement 12 years ago in the event that illness prevents him from fulfilling his duties. Francis wrote the letter to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the then Secretary of State, who holds the second highest position in the Vatican. Asked whether there was a procedure in the event he would have to resign, the leader of the Catholic Church once told Spanish newspaper ABC he had made provision for his renunciation after taking office in 2013. Referring to Cardinal Bertone, he said: 'I signed it and said: "If I should become impaired for medical reasons or whatever, here is my resignation. Here you have it."' He added that he expected his letter would have been passed on to Cardinal Bertone's successor, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. 'Now someone will run up to Bertone [and say] "Give me that piece of paper!" the Pope said jokingly during the interview. In an update on the Pope's health yesterday, the Vatican said he is now 'stable' and would spend the night on 'non-invasive mechanical ventilation'. A Holy See spokesperson said: 'The Holy Father remained stable today (March 5) as well, without any episodes of respiratory insufficiency. 'As planned, he utilized supplemental, high-flow oxygenation, and non-invasive mechanical ventilation will be resumed tonight.' 'The Holy Father increased his respiratory and active motor physiotherapy. He spent the day in his armchair. 'Given the complexity of the clinical situation, the prognosis remains guarded. 'This morning, in the private apartment located on the 10th floor, the Holy Father participated in the rite of the blessing of the Sacred Ashes, which were imposed on him by the celebrant. He then received the Eucharist. 'Afterwards, he engaged in several work activities. During the morning, he also called Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza. 'In the afternoon, he alternated between rest and work.' A stuntman is recovering after a dramatic feat, involving him being shot from a cannon, went horrifically wrong. Horrifying footage showed Chachi Valencia, also known as The Rocketman, being thrown through the air at the Riverside County Fair in Indio, California, on March 2. Valencia, dressed in yellow, was launched from a large red cannon high into the air and was aimed towards a large safety net. He quickly approached the net, which was suspended on poles, but only managed to connect with the side of it. As festivalgoers screamed out in horror, Valencia was thrown into the air again and came crashing down. He laid motionless on the concrete as safety teams and those in attendance rushed to his aid. Due to the incident, Chachi broke several ribs, a wrist, and even lacerated his liver - and now requires surgery. Speaking with KESQ after the mishap, Valencia said a sudden gust of wind had altered his performance and caused him to slap to the ground. He said: 'I knew I was going to land off to one side. After that, I really don't remember anything.' Valencia, dressed in yellow, was launched from a large red cannon high into the air and was aimed towards a large safety net As festival goers screamed out in horror, Valencia was thrown into the air again and came crashing down He added: 'The next thing I remember, I was in the ambulance and the medic was asking me questions.' Valencia was just 15 minutes into his performance when the incident happened, and he had to be taken to a local hospital. According to his website, his safety net is situated 20 feet off the ground and during his stunt he is launched at a minimum of 100 feet into the air. In a statement released on Sunday fair officials said: 'Riverside County Fairgrounds staff have been informed that Rocketman Valencia will be released from the hospital this evening and is expected to fully recover.' A GoFundMe page has also since been launched to help him with his medical expenses. It has raised over $8,000 as of Thursday. It says: 'We're asking for your support to help Chachi cover his medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost income during his recovery. 'Every contribution, including your thoughts and prayers and sharing this link will make a real difference in his life and help him get back on his feet and get him back flying through the air!' Valencia has performed around the world which includes a guest spot at the 2012 London Olympics, seen here, and the 2014 Rio De Janeiro Carnival According to his website, his safety net is situated 20 feet off the ground and that during his stunt he is launched at a minimum of 100 feet into the air Valencia has performed around the world which includes a guest spot at the 2012 London Olympics, and the 2014 Rio De Janeiro Carnival, according to his site. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office said in a statement: 'A worker was lying on the ground being treated by medical personnel. 'It was reported the subject had fallen out of a safety net during a performance (and) was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.' Local councilmember Waymond Fermon also issued an update on Valencia, saying: 'Hes in good spirits and said hell be back flying in the sky soon this is his passion, and were grateful hes okay after such a tough fall. 'Wishing him a speedy recovery, and we look forward to seeing him back doing what he loves!' Farmers release crab seedlings into ponds in Gaochun district, Nanjing People's Daily Online) 13:18, March 06, 2025 Along the shores of Gucheng Lake in Gaochun district, Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, crab farmers are out in their boats, releasing coin-sized seedlings into the ponds. Crab farming is a specialty industry in Gaochun, involving over 100,000 farmers and generating more than 10 billion yuan (about $1.38 billion) annually in output value. Crab farmers release crab seedlings into the ponds in Gaochun district, Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo/Wei Hongwei) On Feb. 24, Liu Shidian, technical director of a shrimp and crab seedling cooperative in Gaochun, took a call from crab farmer Zhou Husheng and immediately had workers collect crab seedlings from the pond. By the time Zhou arrived, 500 kilograms of crab seedlings were neatly prepared. "The 15,000 kg of crab seedlings cultivated by us were fully booked before the Spring Festival. Once the water temperature reaches 5 degrees Celsius, it's time to release the crab seedlings into the ponds," Liu said. Photo shows an energetic crab. (Photo/Wei Hongwei) "Crab farmers in Gaochun focus on the premium crab market, so high-quality seedlings sell fast," said Zhao Huailiang, sales director at Jiangsu Huahai Seedling Technology Co., Ltd. Last year, the company introduced "Jinnong No.1," a crab variety that contains 8 to 10 percent more edible meat than average varieties and also boasts 25 percent lower feeding costs, quickly becoming a favorite among local farmers. In 2013, the company's team identified the shortage of high-quality crab seedlings as a major obstacle. Traditionally, farmers relied on their experience to select and breed crabs, resulting in inbreeding and genetic deterioration. To address this issue, the company collaborated with Nanjing Agricultural University and successfully created "Jinnong No.1." In 2023, "Jinnong No.1" was officially approved as a new river crab breed by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Aerial photo shows a crab farming area in Gaochun district, Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo courtesy of the convergence media center of Gaochun district) "Crab farming used to rely purely on experienceyou had to watch the ponds constantly," said Xing Bangjian, head of an aquatic cooperative who manages 200 mu (13.33 hectares) of crab ponds. Since 2022, Gaochun has promoted smart crab farming, and Xing was one of the first to adopt it. The smart aquaculture system tracks crab growth and monitors key water parameters like oxygen levels, temperature, and pH value. "Last year, I introduced crab-perch co-culture in my 30-mu pond, and the perch alone brought in nearly 260,000 yuan," said crab farmer Tan Fengya. Currently, more than 2,000 mu of ponds in Gaochun have embraced the crab-perch co-culture approach, boosting profits per mu by over 5,000 yuan. Gaochun led the way in China by introducing digital and smart aquaculture practices, with over 75 percent of its 224,900-mu crab ponds now utilizing smart farming systems. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Spotify users reported widespread outages accessing the music streaming service, especially those using hacked versions or "cracked" apps. The outages, which were first experienced on March 3, have been fueling theories that Spotify is now actively targeting piracy. Downdetector and social media reports hint that the firm might have activated new security settings to block pirated access to premium features. The most plausible theories attribute this to A/B testing, the Play Integrity API offered by Google, or straightforward code modifications to the app itself. Some of the hacking crews that disseminate cracked copies of Spotify have attested to problems in updating their mods, which has put countless others at a loss in skipping the restrictions. To date, the music streaming giant has not released any official comment about the situation. Is Spotify Down? According to The Sun, there are reports that Spotify is not accessible in the UK. On March 3, some users said that they couldn't play any tracks. Over 4,000 complaints surfaced on DownDetector. Why Are Cracked Spotify Versions Not Working? Altered versions of Spotify, also known as Spotify Mod APKs, grant users access to premium features for free. Some of these features include ad-free listening, no skips, offline downloads, and high-quality audioall of which are normally locked behind a subscription fee. Nonetheless, recent happenings in Italy suggest that Spotify is actively shutting down such unauthorized apps. Below are the three top hypotheses for the mysterious failure of pirated versions of Spotify, according to The Journal. A/B Testing of Anti-Piracy Measures A/B testing is commonly used by tech companies to test new security measures prior to launching them worldwide. Italy could have been chosen as a test market to determine whether new anti-piracy tools are effective. When Spotify added a feature that would identify altered copies of the app, impacted users would find themselves suddenly unable to use their cracked copies. Google's Play Integrity API Google's Play Integrity API assists developers in ensuring that an app is operating on an unaltered device with a legitimate version of the software. If Spotify had recently adopted this API, the unauthorized copies of the app could be automatically detected, and they would not be able to work. Modifications to Spotify's App Code The most widely accepted theory is that Spotify has altered its app's code, making it harder for hackers to modify. According to industry experts, Spotify may have relocated or removed the patches that allowed premium features to be unlocked. As a result, previous hacking techniques have become ineffective, forcing pirated versions into obsolescence. Hacking Groups Struggling to Release Updates News from multiple Discord channels and hacking sites shows several of the most popular Spotify modding communities are having a difficult time updating their versions. Several developers have come right out and said that Spotify's recent security updates have made their cracked apps useless. Users who had depended on these hacked versions have taken to social media to vent frustration, as they can no longer enjoy their premium benefits for free. This ripple of disruptions indicates that Spotify's anti-piracy efforts have been effective, at least in Italy. What Spotify Premium Alternatives Can You Use? For listeners desiring ad-free music streaming that does not trespass on terms of service, many legal options are available with free or affordable prices. Spotify Free Amazon Music Prime and Amazon Music Free YouTube Music Free Apple Music (Free Trial Available) If you're for a more premium streaming plan, opt for the "Music Pro" Tier, which costs $6 monthly. However, don't expect it to be offering lossless audio. Astonishing footage has captured the moment a man using a metal detector is almost swept away in giant swell as Cyclone Alfred nears the coast. The beachcomber was only given a few seconds notice before the monster wave swept him off his feet and slammed him into a sand bank. The footage, believed to have been filmed at a beach on the Gold Coast, quickly caught the attention of Aussies after it was shared online. Many voiced their frustrations at the 'idiot' act just hours before Cyclone Alfred was due to cross the Queensland coast on Saturday. 'What a moron,' one wrote. 'Probably better to wait a bit,' a second pointed out. 'This is incredible for those people who dont know Gold Coast beaches stay away, its only for a couple of days. The water is unpredictable,' a third said. 'Well that was expensive,' a fourth commented. The man was almost swept away in giant swell as Cyclone Alfred crept closer to the coast The man was slammed as a 'moron' for using a metal detector during the dangerous conditions A small handful of Aussies saw a comedic side to the potentially deadly blunder. 'Give him a break, he's trying to pay his electricity bill,' one joked. Beaches along the east coast have been pummeled with giant waves as Cyclone Alfred creeps closer to Queensland. It comes after David Crisafulli has savaged the 'handful of idiots' creating unnecessary headaches for emergency services by venturing into the swelling seas. The Queensland Premier says that, in once instance, precious resources had to be wasted rescuing a jet-skier after they ignored warnings. 'You have a handful of idiots who do that, and in the end, they don't just put themselves at risk, they put the emergency services who may have to go and rescue them as well,' he says. It comes as beaches from the Sunshine Coast to Byron Bay remain officially closed with authorities imploring people to keep clear and stay safe. Acting Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Peter Miles has warned the city has issued a disaster declaration, giving police extra powers to enforce community safety and slap people with fines to up to $16,000 for 'reckless actions'. Damaging splits have erupted within the SNP over the partys demands to remove Trident nuclear weapons despite the threat from Russia. The SNPs former Westminster leader Ian Blackford called for the party to ditch its historic policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament, while its former defence spokesman urged it to be responsible on the issue. But John Swinney refused to reopen a debate about the SNPs position on the issue and claimed it is rational to remove nuclear weapons because they have not helped secure peace. Opponents branded the position dangerously naive and wrong given the threat posed from Vladimir Putins regime. Mr Blackford said he wanted to see a multilateral approach which would involve agreements between states to remove nuclear weapons rather than supporting the UK acting on its own. Asked if he agreed with the comments, Mr Swinney responded: I recognise the view that Ian has set out but I take a different view. Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called for the party to ditch its historic policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament Former SNP defence spokeman Stewart McDonald said the party should 'think about how do we be the most responsible actor at this moment in time' I dont think nuclear weapons are offering us the protection against conflict at this moment. He said possession of nuclear weapons is immoral and argued there needs to be a rational, responsible and ordinary approach to the removal of nuclear weapons from Scottish soil and Scottish waters. He added: Nuclear weapons are not providing us with effective safety at this particular moment. I think by its very nature, the circumstances we find ourselves in now, nuclear weapons are not providing us with the safety and security we all want our society to have. Pressed on whether he believed it was rational to say the UK should remove its nuclear deterrent at this point, he said: Ive always held to the view that I dont think there is a moral or military argument for nuclear weapons. Just now, the liberty, the way of life of our society is under direct threat and I dont see nuclear weapons providing us with the protection that is asserted by others. The SNP has long argued for the removal of nuclear weapons from Scottish territory and the partys official policy is that it has never and will never support the retention or renewal of Trident. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: In the current climate John Swinney and the SNPs policy on nuclear weapons is dangerously naive and wrong. When even their former Westminster leader is suggesting that they should shift their position, the First Minister should recognise the recklessness of his long-held stance on our nuclear deterrent. That opposition only risks our security at a time when there are ever-increasing threats from dictators and despotic regimes across the world. It is time for the SNP to show some common sense and drop their opposition to ditching Trident, which has arguably never been more important. Writing in the Times, Mr Blackford said: I have always held to the view that Trident must be removed from the Clyde and that we must kick-start a pathway to multilateral disarmament, but what is the road map to this? When the facts change, careful consideration of our response is appropriate. US disengagement from Europe leads to fundamental questions of us facing a Russian aggressor with a nuclear capability. There must now be a concentration of minds on a multilateral approach to achieve nuclear de-escalation.. He said the UKs current nuclear capability needs to be addressed in the shifting sands of US and European engagement, and went on: After achieving peace in Ukraine there must be a journey towards nuclear weapon disarmament and freeing up the defence budget for mission-critical, conventional spending and, yes, also creating a peace dividend to invest elsewhere over time.. He said Putin must be given the message that the coalition of the willing will go the distance to help Ukraine repel Russian attack. Stewart McDonald, a former SNP defence spokesman, also told the Holyrood Sources podcast: I think what the party and the Government should do is think about how do we be the most responsible actor at this moment in time? And when the Prime Minister talks about building a coalition of the willing that has to include a domestic coalition of the willing and that should include John Swinney, it should include the industry here in Scotland, it should include other public institutions like our universities. Former SNP councillor Chris McEleny, a candidate to be Albas deputy leader, said: Since the 1960s the national movement in Scotland has derived its moral force not just from the campaign for the removal of weapons of mass destruction from Scottish waters but by exercising from Scotland the destructive mentality which they represent. Alba Party will always stay true to the path of peace as well as unilateral nuclear disarmament. First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney must do likewise and immediately condemn Ian Blackfords betrayal of the campaign for nuclear disarmament. The US Defence Secretary has hinted Ukraine will receive military aid and intelligence again 'pending a true commitment to a path to peace'. Speaking at a meeting in Washington D.C. with the UK's Defence Secretary John Healey, he insisted the hugely controversial move was merely 'a pause'. With Ukrainian and US officials due to the meet in Saudi Arabia next week in a bid to produce a framework for a peace deal, the resumption of military assistance could be close. Mr Hegseth said: 'The President has pointed out, it is a pause. Exactly what he said from the beginning, a pause pending a true commitment to a path to peace. 'The President is paying a very keen eye to precisely what the Ukrainians are saying and doing, about committing to that peace process, and we are very encouraged by the signs we are seeing. Ultimately he will make the determination, but it is a pause for now.' Mr Hegseth also noted it was 'very encouraging' to watch the UK and France step-up and say they were prepared to take the lead to ensure an enduring peace in Ukraine. Mr Healey shook hands with Mr Hegseth before the meeting despite the former Fox News host previously admitting he had not washed his hands for 10 years because 'germs were not a real thing'. He made the remark in a 2019 interview on Fox and Friends. He later told USA Today is remarks were intended as a joke. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (C) welcomes UK Secretary of State for Defense John Healey (L) to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 06 March 2025 US Secretary of Defence Pete Hesgeth has hinted Ukraine will receive military aid during a meeting with his British counterpart at the Pentagon today Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey responds to questions from reporters during a meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon today in Washington At the time, Hegseth also criticised people who repeatedly sanitise their hands 'as if that's going to save their life'. Hesgeth on Thursday also dismissed as 'garbage' accusations that Washington had taken a pro-Russia stance, saying the US President was pursuing a peaceful end to of Ukraine. Trump has piled pressure on Ukraine, pausing all U.S. military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv, as his administration pushes for a negotiated solution to the biggest conflict in Europe since World War Two. The US president and his advisors, including Hegseth, have also declined to brand Russia as the aggressor. 'The press is interested in narratives. Our president is interested in peace. So we will get characterized one way or another: "Oh, your stance is pro-Russia or pro-"... it's all garbage,' Hegseth told reporters. 'The President got elected to bring peace in this conflict, and he is working with both sides in a way that only President Trump can... to bring them to the table to end the killing.' Hegseth spoke alongside Healey, who aimed to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine during the meeting at the Pentagon on Thursday. The talks come after the U.S. banned Britain from sharing intelligence from Washington with Ukraine as part of its withdrawal of support for Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump's decision to freeze American military aid to Kyiv yesterday brought warnings that Ukraine could run out of weapons in as little as two to three months' time. But on top of missiles and ammunition, all UK intelligence agencies and military outlets also received an order expressly forbidding the sharing of US-generated intelligence, previously known as 'Rel UKR' - short for Releasable to Ukraine'. Since the conflict began three years ago, the UK and other Western security partners such as Australia and New Zealand have shared such knowledge with Ukraine. President Donald Trump put a pause on all military aid to Ukraine earlier this week and issued an ultimatum to President Volodymyr Zelensky after their Oval Office meeting blew up last Friday President Donald Trump welcomes Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington. But the Mail has learnt the top-level security classification has now been removed by the United States pending further notification and is likely to impact upon Kyiv's ability to defend itself against Russia's continuing onslaught. The ban affects the likes of the UK's GCHQ, the spy agencies and intelligence branches of the Ministry of Defence. Meanwhile, EU leaders sat down for an emergency summit today following calls for a 670 billion fund to finance Ukraine's defence against Russia. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called it a 'watershed moment' for Europe and Ukraine. She said: 'It's so important that we stand together. Ukraine is part of our European family. 'Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore it must be able to protect itself, defend itself.' George Floyd's brother has condemned Elon Musk and Ben Shapiro's movement to pardon killer cop Derek Chauvin. Chauvin, the disgraced Minneapolis cop convicted of murdering George Floyd back in 2020, is currently serving concurrent state and federal sentences in a federal prison in Arizona. Shapiro's The Daily Wire began the effort to pardon Chauvin with an open letter to Donald Trump, calling his conviction 'the defining achievement of the Woke movement in American politics.' The letter claims that Chauvin did not murder Floyd because he was 'high on fentanyl' and 'had a significant pre-existing heart condition,' complaining of trouble breathing before the incident that ended his life. Musk reposted a video of Shapiro arguing for Chauvin to be pardoned by the president and commented: 'Something to think about.' Floyd's brother, Terrance Floyd, fired back at Musk and Chauvin during an interview on CNN's News Central Thursday. 'Stay in your lane. You know, your opinion is your opinion, but facts is facts,' Floyd said. 'And the fact is, Chauvin's knee was on my brother's neck. The fact is, he held him down there to his last breath when he shouldn't have. 'Once he seen that my brother was not responding, or not even moving, complying, he should have just did what normal police officers dorestrain him, cuff him, put him in the back and just do what he have to do. All of that, all of the knee on the neckcomplete murder was not called for.' George Floyd 's brother condemned Elon Musk and Ben Shapiro 's movement to pardon killer cop Derek Chauvin Musk reposted a video of Shapiro arguing for Chauvin to be pardoned by the president and commented: 'Something to think about' Chauvin, the disgraced Minneapolis cop convicted of murdering George Floyd back in 2020, is currently serving concurrent state and federal sentences in a federal prison in Arizona He said the calls to pardon his brother's killer has hindered the healing process for their family. 'It's like reinjuring an open a wound. You know, you have to go through this since 2020,' he said. 'You had to go through the whole trial of seeing his actions over and over and over again, and people claiming that it was the drugs. It was this. It wasn't Chauvin's knee on his neck. You know, we had to go through all of that, all the lies, all the all the different disgusting stuff on social media. And now to relive it, for them to bring it back up. This is the fifth year. 'We were supposed to see progress. So many people promised things, you know, especially going to go with the DEI, you know, so many things was promised to us, promised to us as a people, not just not just the black and brown people, as a people. And they're back pedaling.' Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement that Trump's potential pardon wouldn't 'free' Chauvin since he's still concurrently serving a state sentence. 'The only conceivable purpose would be to express yet more disrespect for George Floyd and more disrespect for the rule of law,' Ellison told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Chauvin's anticipated release date is December 10, 2035. Last December, Chauvin's legal team was been granted permission to examine heart tissue and fluid samples taken from the victim's body in an attempt to challenge his conviction. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck and back for what officials would later deem was 9 minutes and 29 seconds, fatally asphyxiating him in the process Last December, Chauvin's legal team was been granted permission to examine heart tissue and fluid samples taken from the victim's body US District Judge Paul Magnuson granted the motion Monday, after attorneys argued it was a heart condition that claimed the 46-year-old victim's life, and not Chauvin's knee on his neck. The May 2020 encounter has lived in infamy since sparking swift public outcry as Floyd had been an unarmed black man accused of a non-violent crime. The North Carolina native had been suspected of using a fake $20 bill at a local store, leading to the fatal encounter with Chauvin and three other officers. Attempting to restrain the man, Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck and back for what officials would later deem was 9 minutes and 29 seconds, fatally asphyxiating him in the process. In his final moments, Floyd uttered the words 'I can't breathe' - creating a rallying cry for a subsequent civil rights movement in the process. Chauvin, 46, was convicted the following year, and is now in a little more than three years into his 21-year federal prison sentence. Dozens of people were left seriously ill after taking a dangerous drug they believed to be heroin. A batch of synthetic opioids circulating in London has caused 33 people to feel unwell - with 17 of them needing hospital treatment. The Met have declared a 'critical incident' and warn the fake drugs can cause an 'extreme reaction'. Although the force is not aware of anyone in a life-threatening condition, officers gave emergency first aid to a man in cardiac arrest on Haverstock Road after he took the substance. Tests have confirmed the drug is a synthetic opioid. No arrests have been made and officers are warning that the drug is still in circulation in the Camden area. The force first became aware of people falling ill having taken the drug on Monday when 10 people were affected. Other cases have been reported around Hampstead Heath, Oval Road and Jamestown Road, as well as in other areas of the London borough. Detective Chief Inspector Chris Soole said the man in cardiac arrest had taken 'what he thought was heroin and it is likely that the actions of those officers saved his life'. He added: 'I urge anyone who may be at risk to take every possible precaution, including seeking support and advice from health professionals about alternatives to acquiring and taking illegal drugs. Dozens of people were left seriously ill after taking a dangerous drug they believed to be heroin (stock image) A batch of synthetic opioids circulating in London has caused 33 people to feel unwell - with 17 of them needing hospital treatment. Pictured: A stock image of Camden Town 'My advice remains that people should not buy, sell or consume illegal drugs.' The force also said it continues to investigate the incidents alongside hospitals and Camden Council. Camden Council's cabinet member for health, wellbeing and adult social care, councillor Anna Wright called the cases 'extremely worrying'. She said: 'These cases are extremely worrying and we are working together with the police and our partners in the community to do all we can to reduce further drug-related harm. 'We have targeted the work of outreach teams to the affected locations and are making additional support readily available to those who may need it, including access to life-saving Naloxone kits. 'We have also issued a drug alert to our local network of healthcare and accommodation providers.' DCI Soole asked anyone with information about drug dealers to share what they know with police or call Crimestoppers anonymously. It comes after in 2023 a top police chief warned major cities in Britain could be in for a new drugs epidemic amid the rise of high-potency synthetic opioids. Donna Jones, who chairs the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said at the time it was 'inevitable' that British cities would soon see a spike in deaths that has ravaged cities in the US since the Taliban banned poppy farming, used to create heroin, in April 2022. She said this would completely dry up the heroin supply down to Africa and up through Europe meaning the synthetic opioid market would 'explode'. A Teal MP has threatened to sue her political rival over a 'disgraceful accusation' that one of her campaign staff covered up a poster of an Israeli family who had been abducted by Hamas, as the Liberal candidate refuses to back down. The Bibas family were kidnapped during Hamas October 7 terrorist attack on Israel in 2023. Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two young children Ariel, five, and Kfir, two, were killed while in captivity in Gaza and only the father, Yarden, returned alive. On Thursday night, Liberal candidate Ro Knox alleged that a poster for Allegra Spender, the MP for Wentworth in Sydney's eastern suburbs, had been placed over a picture of the Bibas family in Rose Bay. It came as a poster for Ms Knox had also been defaced with a Hitler moustache and a Swastika scrawled on her forehead in black pen. It is understood the police are investigating the alleged hate crime. 'It is also deeply disappointing and offensive that Allegra Spenders team chose to cover a poster of the Bibas family with one of her election signs,' Ms Knox said. 'This shows a lack of respect, and our community deserves a campaign built on honesty, integrity, and decency.' On Thursday night, Liberal candidate Ro Knox alleged that a poster for Allegra Spender, the MP for Wentworth in Sydney 's eastern suburbs, had been placed over a picture of the Bibas family (pictured) It came as a poster for Ms Knox had also been defaced with a Hitler moustache and a Swastika scrawled on her forehead in black pen (pictured) Wentworth, which includes the suburbs of Bondi Beach, Rose Bay, Bellevue Hill and Vaucluse, has one of the largest Jewish populations in Australia. There have been a number of violent anti-Semitic attacks in the area in recent months, including the attempted firebombing of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin's former Dover Heights home in mid-January. But hours after the accusation was levelled, Ms Spender claimed it was false and alleged that her poster had been there first. 'My post was put up previously, clear of anything else,' she said in as statement posted on Instagram. 'The volunteer who put up the poster is a Jewish Australian. The Bibas family poster was inserted later. There is time-stamped photo evidence and a statutory declaration from the volunteer to confirm this. 'I am considering legal options against the Liberal Party candidate and I ask that she unreservedly apologise. 'I'm disgusted to see the Liberal Party candidate try to exploit the tragedy of the Bibas family for political gain.' On Friday morning, Ms Knox refused to back down, vowing that she 'will not be intimidated'. The Bibas family (pictured) were kidnapped during Hamas October 7 terrorist attack on Israel in 2023. Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two young children Ariel, five, and Kfir, two, were killed while in captivity in Gaza and only the father, Yarden, returned alive Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin, with wife Vicki Ryvchin, at their former home in Dover Heights, eastern Sydney, after it was targeted by an anti-Semitic attack 'There is clear proof that a poster commemorating the Bibas Family was securely fastened to a fence and was later covered by a Teal party poster promoting Allegra Spender,' Ms Knox responded. 'Ms Spender and her Teal party may not fully appreciate the significance of the Bibas Family but many people in the Wentworth community do.' She added: 'The Bibas Family commemoration poster is a modest and dignified way to remember the Bibas children and their mother. 'I am very disappointed that Ms Spender would threaten heavy handed legal action with such inflammatory language about something I said, rather than apologise for something her team did.' Ms Knox called on the incumbent MP to 'do the right thing and apologise to the community'. On Thursday, the Liberal candidate said that the defacement of her posters was 'deeply disturbing and has no place in Wentworth or anywhere in Australia'. 'This kind of hate and vandalism is completely unacceptable, and I call on all candidates and parties to stand against it,' she added. 'We have reported this incident to the police.' Daily Mail Australia approached NSW Police for comment. An elite armed cop broke his neck in a horrific motorbike crash as he escorted King Charles III to Windsor Castle. Darren Smith was riding a motorbike as apart of the armed Special Escort Group convoy taking the King from London to his residence on February 20. Just two miles away from the castle, Darren was involved in a collision with a car in Datchet, Berkshire, and was rushed to hospital. In a GoFundMe page, set up by friend and colleague Dean Reynolds, it reveals the motorcyclist suffered 'significant injuries' including broken bones in his legs, sternum and neck. It adds that Darren now faces a 'long road to recovery' where he will have to undergo physiotherapy to 'learn to walk properly again'. The fundraiser has raised more than 1,600 in seven hours with the money to provide financial support to try and take some of the strain away' whilst he unable to work. Darren has since been released from the hospital and is back home with the Metropolitan Police saying his injuries have been determined as 'non-life-threatening'. Formed in 1952, the Special Escort Group (SEG) is a department within the Royalty and Specialist Protection of the Metropolitan Police. Darren Smith was riding a motorbike as part of the Special Escort Group convoy taking the King from London to his residence at Windsor Castle on February 20 The Special Escort Group (SEG) is a department within the Royalty and Specialist Protection of the Metropolitan Police Just two miles away from Windsor Castle (pictured), Darren was involved in a collision with a car in Datchet, Berkshire, and was quickly rushed to hospital The GoFundMe page reads: 'This event has caused Darren multiple, significant injuries including broken bones in his legs, sternum and neck. 'Although he is home from hospital now it will be a long road to recovery, including physio to learn to walk properly again. 'I have set up this Go Fund Me in order to help Darren and his family with financial support to try and take some of the strain away whilst he is away from work and recovering from his injuries. 'Darren is friends with many people and is an incredibly popular man amongst us all! 'His talent and skills reach far outside the SEG and the Metropolitan Police Service, so we'd love to see as many people donate as they can! Thank you very much in advance.' A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: 'We are aware of an incident in Datchet, Berkshire, on Thursday, 20 February, in which a Met Police motorcyclist with the Special Escort Group was in collision with a car. 'They were taken to hospital, where their injuries were assessed as non-life-threatening and non-life-changing. There were no other injuries.' The MailOnline has approached Buckingham Palace for comment. More than half a million young children will be taught how to brush their teeth properly in an 11million Government scheme branded 'nanny state' waste. Under-fives in nurseries and primary schools will be encouraged to use fluoride toothpaste in the 'supervised toothbrushing' campaign being launched today. Up to 600,000 pupils will be reached each year, with town halls given cash to target deprived areas and encourage head teachers to sign up to the programme. Household product giant Colgate-Palmolive is giving out 23 million toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste as part of the scheme. The Department of Health and Social Care hopes it will save the NHS millions in the long run by preventing children being admitted to hospital with rotting teeth. Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said: 'It is shocking that a third of five-year-olds in the most deprived areas have experience of tooth decay - something we know can have a lifelong impact on their health. 'It's why we're delivering supervised toothbrushing to young children and families who are most in need of support as part of our wider plans to revive the oral health of the nation.' But critics say taxpayers' money should not be spent on something that should be taught by parents. More than half a million young children will be taught how to brush their teeth properly in an 11million Government scheme (Stock image) Health Minister Stephen Kinnock is overseeing the rollout of the new scheme Household product giant Colgate-Palmolive is giving out 23 million toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste as part of the scheme (Stock image) Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There is no doubt that there is a crisis in childhood dental health in this country and the Government are right to make it a priority. 'However, we cannot keep loading increasing expectations on schools. Nor can we keep looking to schools to fix all of society's ills. Most people would see tooth-brushing as a basic part of parenting, and we must be careful not to shift what is ultimately a parental responsibility on to the shoulders of schools.' John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'It's no wonder that many parents don't take responsibility for their children, given the increasing paternalism of Britain's politicians. 'The more and more the state bosses families around and tries to fix every problem, the more people will view the state as the answer. All the while costs will rise for taxpayers.' The plan was in Labour's manifesto and Sir Keir Starmer has previously insisted the state does have a role to play in keeping children healthy. Asked before the election if supervised toothbrushing for three to five-year-olds amounted to nanny state politics, the Labour leader replied: 'We want to encourage good parenting, but I don't think we can just turn our back on it. 'When I first read the statistic that for six to 10-year-olds that the biggest admission to hospitals I was really struck. That is shocking - and I don't think you can simply say, "That's none of our business".' It was hard to keep my eyes open as I snoozed my way through the Duchess of Sussexs latest Netflix bore-fest, yet there was one moment that jolted me wide awake. It came in episode two when Meghan was showing Mindy Kaling, comedienne and star of the American version of The Office, how to host a childrens party. During a light-hearted conversation about what their favourite fast food had been while growing up, Mindy referred to her hostess as Meghan Markle. This appeared to annoy Meghan, who had met Mindy in person only once before. Looking distinctly unamused, she replied: Its so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know Im Sussex now. Mindy looked understandably confused, as the duchess said: I didnt know how meaningful it would be to me, but it just means so much to go, This is OUR family name. Our little family name. Mindy replied, a little stiffly: Well, now I know, and I love it. Why did Meghan keep this peculiar exchange in the final cut of her series, With Love, Meghan? It wasnt amusing, it was awkward and stuck out like a sore thumb amid the bland small talk and repeated use of words such as amazing. Meghan corrects comedienne Mindy Kaling in the second episode of her Netflix show It seems beyond doubt that Meghan is anxious to hang on to the baubles of royal life Deepening the intrigue, the duchess addressed the same petty subject in People magazine in America, a favoured outlet for the Sussexes. In the only print interview published so far to promote her series, Meghan again chose to highlight the importance of the Sussex dukedom, which was given to Harry by his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on their wedding day in 2018. Meghan told the magazine that the name now held a deeper significance than she could have imagined before motherhood. Its our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadnt recognised how meaningful that would be to me until we had children. Referring to her two children and husband Prince Harry, she said, I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H and I all have together. It means a lot to me. The Sussex name, she concluded, is part of our love story. They have, of course, visited Sussex only once, hosting a number of engagements in the county on a day in their wedding year. It is striking, too, that, they chose to use the Royal Familys traditional surname, Mountbatten-Windsor, on the birth certificates of children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. Why, then, this sudden enthusiasm for the Sussex name and the desire to make it known around the world? Royal sources I have spoken to this week believe they know the answer. Its clearly a warning shot, one palace insider told me, confirming that Meghan seemed to be making a very public point of emphasising how much the title meant to her and, by implication, to Harry. Which is to say that the Royal Family should not so much as contemplate stripping them of their titles! This is a course of action that has been mooted many times since Meghan and Harry abandoned royal duties five years ago, eventually moving to California to seek their fortune. The Sussex name, she told Ms Kaling, is part of our love story When Archie was born in 2019, sources close to the couple were briefed that they had no intention of giving him a title There have been calls to strip Meghan and Harry of their titles whenever they have betrayed and insulted the Firm. And royal sources have suggested that it could be very much a sanction should the couple publish any more tell-all books about the Windsors or agree to further explosive Oprah Winfrey-style interviews. We already know that the Sussexes are sensitive about names. When Archie was born in 2019, sources close to the couple were briefed that they had no intention of giving him a title. He would be plain Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. And that is how he was described on his birth certificate. However, Meghan suggested to chat show host Oprah in 2021 that Archie was denied his birthright of the title of prince by the Palace and that the decision went against protocol. Provocatively, she spoke of her shock at being told her son would not get police protection because he did not have a title, and suggested that the decision was taken because of Archies mixed heritage. The truth of the situation was a little more complicated, to say the least. Under protocols established by George V in 1917 in letters patent, the children and grandchildren of a sovereign have the automatic right to be known as His or Her Royal Highnesses with the title prince or princess. Yet at the time Archie was born, he was only the great-grandchild of a sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, and therefore not a prince. Only when Charles succeeded to the throne in 2022, did Archie become the grandson of a king. Meghan and Harry had famously shunned royal life and made their home in the supposedly egalitarian US, they began using their childrens royal titles as early as 2023 when they announced the christening of baby daughter Lilibet. It seems beyond doubt that Meghan is anxious to hang on to the baubles of royal life even if that involves the embarrassment of publicly correcting showbusiness-star 'friends' who fail to address her in the style to which she has become accustomed. For anyone seeking abundant sunshine and generous tax perks, Cyprus is becoming increasingly popular among British expats. It's not a classic winter-sun escape yet the island has the warmest winter weather in the Med (think 18-degree days in February) and the 4.5 hour flight from the UK makes it easier to reach than Florida or Dubai. Retirees have long loved its laid-back Mediterranean pace alongside the reassuringly Anglo-friendly culture of the Commonwealth country but in recent months its tax benefits have also been brought into sharper focus since the autumn Budget. 'Cyprus has seen a big increase in interest since Covid, but especially the last six months. The income requirement for residency is very achievable and the cost of living is much lower than many other countries,' says Sarah Hordle of Island Homes Cyprus estate agency. She says anti-foreigner sentiment in Spain is adding a few new buyers too. Wayne Thompson, of estate agent Keller Williams Seven Paphos, adds: 'People are making changes to their lives: families looking for a safer environment, or the 50+ market especially company owners - planning for their future and considering the tax efficiency.' There are around 30,000 Britons living in Cyprus, and the island saw record tourism in 2024, with an increasing off-season appeal - November recorded a 13 per cent increase on the previous year; December an 8 per cent rise. These are translating into property searches, according to the global luxury marketplace JamesEdition, who report an increase of 20 per cent for searchers for Cypriot properties in the last quarter of 2024, year on year. British buyers account for a fifth of these, followed by the Americans. So what are the things to consider? We've spoken to estate agents, legal experts and local residents to bring you the ultimate guide to moving to Cyprus. Cyprus offers abundant sunshine, as here on Nissi beach in the resort of Ayia Napa Visas Residency rules keep changing in Cyprus. There is a one-year digital nomad visa but most people opt for the temporary residence permit the so-called 'pink slip' that is renewed after one year. You are not allowed to get a job in Cyprus but you can work remotely for a foreign company, and show sufficient income sourced from abroad to cover living expenses about 20,600 (25,000) to 25,000 (30,000) income per year for a three-person family, according to Nicos Papacleovoulou legal consultants. You must rent or own a property, have private health insurance and show 20,000 (24,000) in your Cypriot bank account when you arrive plus another 20 per cent for a spouse and +15 per cent per child. There are two permanent residency permits: the 'Category F' visa (with the purchase of any value property) and the Category 6.2 Fast Track (sometimes called the golden visa) available for those who buy a new-build property for at least 300,000 + VAT (5 or 1 9 per cent) and show income of 41,000 (50,000) per year for the main applicant and another 12,400 (15,000) for the spouse. Politics and culture The island of Cyprus is divided into two. Southern Cyprus is a constitutional republic since gaining independence from the UK in 1960. It has a stable government with a president elected every five years. The current incumbent is Nikos Christodoulides, an independent candidate who had the backing of centrists and centre-Right parties when elected in 2023. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, adopted the euro in 2008, and is in the process of joining the Schengen area, due by 2026. English is widely spoken and left-hand driving is another familiarity, as are three-pin plugs. Its legal system is based on English common law, with some influences from continental law (for example, its forced heirship rules in which natural children of the deceased have a right to each inherit a share of their parents' estate). The other section of the island, the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is not recognised by the EU. Cost of living The cost of living in Cyprus is 19 per cent lower than the UK, according to numbeo.com, but the average net salary is much lower - 1,354 per month compared to 2,420 in the UK. Rents have increased in Cyprus since the pandemic, with a one-bedroom apartment outside a city averaging 632 per month. A single person needs 1,488-1,653 a month to live on, including rent, according to visa consulting service Immigrant Invest. A family of four would require 3,720. A meal in a traditional restaurant is around 15-20 per person, and a beer around 3 While annual council taxes and water bills are much lower in Cyprus than the UK, electricity bills are high. For example, for a three-bedroom villa the council tax might be 170 (141) per year, but electricity could be 200 (166) per month - still less than a UK comparable at 195, according to Rightmove. You can find a meal in a traditional restaurant for around 15-20 per person, according to numbeo.com, and a beer around 3. Housing To rent a one-bedroom apartment outside cities costs around 700-800 (579-661), in the city centre 900 to 1,000 (744 to 827). A three-bedroom property costs 1,300-1,500 per month outside the city centres. In the Paphos area, you can find small apartments from around 90,000, but most buyers' families moving want a villa. In the popular Peyia area you can find a three-bedroom bungalow with a private pool for 300,000; or a four-bed, four-bath villa for 415,000. Peyia, Tala, Chloraka, Kissonerga, Sea Caves, Konia and Geriskipou are popular for access to schools, healthcare, supermarkets, shopping and a British-run dance school. In the Famagusta area the 'red soil' villages (Kokkinochoria) behind the coast Avgorou, Liopetri, Xylofagou and Frenaros - are popular with expats: you can find a three-bed home from around 165,000, or nearer 210,000 for one with a pool. White-painted houses on the hills of Peyia, where a three-bedroom bungalow with a private pool costs around 300,000 Non-EU nationals must seek approval from the Council of Ministers to buy a property: a straightforward process which takes 2-3 weeks. Stamp duty is 0.15 per cent for properties up to 170,000 (142,000) and 2 per cent for any amount above this. On second-hand properties, tiered transfer tax starts at 1.5 per cent for the first 170,000 (142,000), 2.5 per cent for the second 170,000, and 4 per cent for anything over and above 340,000 (280,000). Those buying a new-build home must pay 19 per cent VAT but can pay just 5 per cent if the property is their primary residence. Legal fees are around 1 per cent. Cyprus has abolished their annual property tax. Tax perks Cyprus is a relatively low-tax environment for individuals and businesses. Its corporate tax rate of 12.5 per cent (compared to the UK's 25 per cent) is one of the lowest in Europe and the country only taxes income earned locally making it attractive to international companies. Income tax is imposed on the worldwide income of individuals who are tax residents in Cyprus. The individual becomes a tax resident in Cyprus if they spend at least 183 days there during the calendar year, or meet all of the conditions of the '60-day rule': spend at least 60 days in Cyprus, have no other tax residency, maintain a permanent home and have business ties in Cyprus. The first 19,500 (16,343) of income is tax-free. Tax rates then start at 20 per cent and rise progressively to 35 per cent for income over 60,000. If you are a Cyprus tax resident, you are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where it is earned. However, the Cyprus-United Kingdom double tax agreement provides support to prevent or reduce double taxation on income, profit and dividends. It's worth noting, though, that the specific tax treatment depends on the type of income and individual circumstances. Individuals who are not tax residents of Cyprus are taxed only on certain types of income accrued or derived from sources in Cyprus. Non-dom status is available to those who are not tax residents in Cyprus for at least 20 years prior to their application (subject to certain conditions). This status offers significant tax advantages. This includes no tax on passive income, such as dividends and interest, for 17 years. This makes Cyprus interesting for those, including retirees, who earn income from investments. Capital gains are also exempt from the sale of shares, stocks, bonds and the sale of foreign property. There is no inheritance, wealth or gift tax in Cyprus. Any UK buy-to-let income is only taxable in the UK. Retirees can choose between a flat rate of 5 per cent tax on pension income (above a tax-exempt allowance of 3,420); or you can be taxed at normal tax rates (after 19,500 personal allowance) of 20 per cent up to income of 28,000, then it rises progressively to 35 per cent for income over 60,000. The switchover point is around 25,000 [per year] if your pensions add up to more than this it's better to go for the flat rate, according to Blevins Franks, a cross-border wealth advisory service. Cyprus has a double taxation agreement (DTA) with the UK. Healthcare The Cypriot General Health System (GeSY) is considered to be high standard and ranks mid-range among EU comparables. However even for Cypriot residents it is not free there are small charges (co-payments) for prescriptions, GP visits and specialists. Expats who are permanent residents of Cyprus and pay social security may be eligible to access GeSY, plus those of UK state pension age can access it via the S1 Certificate from the NHS in the UK. Many Cypriots as well as expats have private insurance to bypass long waiting times in the public system. Monthly premiums are around 150-300 (125-250) per adult, according to 1st Move International. Schools Cyprus has a strong education system with expats having the choice between Greek schools and private international schools. Younger children typically integrate more easily into the community if they attend Greek school but then are often transferred at high school stage to an international so they can study GSCEs, A-levels or the IB with international universities in mind. Fees for these private schools are much lower than in the UK. In the Paphos area there are four private schools and three universities. At the ASPIRE Private British School senior fees are 6,500-7,850 (5,360-6,480) per year. Among those with a good academic reputation in the east are the American Academy Larnaca, the PASCAL group of private schools and the Xenion High School in Paralimni. At PASCAL secondary fees per year are 7,870-10,800 (6,500-8,900). The size of the world's nuclear arsenal has quietly increased in several countries amid fears of World War III. Officially, five countries - China, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea - have increased their nuclear stockpiles by over 700 warheads over the past 40 years. But a 2024 report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a nonprofit global policy think tank, warned that three other nations with nuclear bombs worldwide may be quietly stockpiling even more arms for a potential nuclear showdown. The fears come as groups like the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have noted that a treaty to permanently ban nuclear testing has stalled, and countries like Russia and China have been seen constructing new buildings at their nuclear weapons sites. However, the US government announced last month that it will also restart its nuclear testing programs in secret underground facilities. FAS released the estimated global nuclear warhead inventories for 2024, showing there are 12,121 nuclear warheads scattered across nine nations. Russia outnumbers the US by several hundred warheads. The two nations control roughly 88 percent of this stockpile, with Russia reportedly holding 5,580 bombs and the US possessing 5,044. China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, and the UK control the rest of world's remaining 1,500 nuclear bombs. Global tensions appear to be boiling over, with President Donald Trump warning Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that he is 'gambling with World War III' by not agreeing to America's peace terms. A new report estimates that there are still over 12,000 nuclear warheads in the world, controlled by 9 different countries The threat of a global war involving nuclear weapons continues to remain high due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine China also hit back at Trump's vow to impose further tariffs with a stark warning that Beijing is ready for a tariff war or 'any other type of war.' Meanwhile, European leaders are publicly declaring their ability to defeat Russia in a major conflict. 'Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia - we are simply stronger,' Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk told Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of an EU summit. 'We just had to start believing in it. And today it seems to be happening.' According to the data from the Federation of American Scientists, there is clear evidence that five nations have seen their nuclear stockpiles grow since 1986 - China (224 to 500), Pakistan (0 to 170), India (0 to 172), Israel (44 to 90), and North Korea (0 to 50). The experts found that 2,100 American, Russian, British, and French 'warheads are on high alert, ready for use on short notice.' Since no country on Earth openly reveals exactly how many nuclear weapons they have in their arsenal, the team made an educated guess, which they note has become even harder to do in recent years. To do this, FAS used publicly available information, historical records, and leaked data from government officials to compile their 2024 numbers. The US and Russia have about 2,500 nuclear warheads that are classified retired and still waiting to be dismantled, more than the combined nuclear stockpiles of every other nation with these weapons However, scientists said governments are once again becoming tight-lipped about their nuclear secrets. The first Trump Administration ended the total disclosure policy of America's nuclear stockpile in 2019. It was a policy that had been in place since the Obama presidency in 2010. Although the Biden Administration said they would restore the nation's policy on nuclear transparency in 2021, researchers noted that the Biden White House immediately failed to declassify any US stockpile data for three straight years. As of 2024, both the US and Russia are no longer exchanging data on their strategic warheads and launchers deployed around the world - even though this is mandated by the New START Treaty. The agreement sought to increase US safety by placing limits on Russia's deployed intercontinental nuclear weapons. Overall, the think tank said that the US was still the most transparent nation when it comes to the size of their nuclear arsenal, noting that the country's allies in Israel were the most secretive. Another of America's allies, the UK, has also stopped providing updates on their military's nuclear stockpile - which researchers said sits at 225 warheads. According to the Federation of American Scientists, 2,100 nuclear weapons worldwide 'are on high alert, ready for use on short notice' The new report noted that not every nuclear warhead is capable of being launched in a war right now. Of the 12,121 warheads believed to be in existence as of 2024, about 9,585 are officially part of the world's military stockpiles - meaning these countries can launch them as missiles from ships, submarines, or planes. The rest are nuclear warheads which have been retired and are still waiting to be dismantled. This includes over 1,300 in the US and another 1,200 in Russia. The research team added that just over 3,900 nuclear bombs are currently attached to missiles or sitting on active bomber bases. However, even those figures would be 'overkill' in any nuclear war, according to at least one study. In 1986, experts estimated that the world's nuclear stockpile grew to 70,300 bombs, but that number has dropped since the end of the Cold War Researchers believe several countries with access to nuclear weapons are currently increasing their stockpiles amid fears of a world war breaking out soon In 2018, a team from Michigan Tech argued that the detonations of just 100 nuclear missiles would be enough to effectively destroy society. They added any country using more than 100 nuclear weapons, even if no one retaliated, would cause so much environmental damage that the attack would end up killing that nation's own people. Professor Joshua Pearce said: 'If we use 1,000 nuclear warheads against an enemy and no one retaliates, we will see about 50 times more Americans die than did on 9/11 due to the after-effects of our own weapons.' Less than 40 years ago, researchers noted that there were approximately 70,300 nuclear warheads worldwide. During the 1990s, however, those numbers plummeted after the end of the Cold War between the US and Russia and the signings of several arms control treaties. A new study shows that just a handful of the world's wealthiest and most powerful organisations are responsible for the overwhelming majority of all pollution. Just 36 companies produced more than half of the world's carbon emissions in 2023, according to a report by Carbon Majors. The top five polluters alone - Saudi Aramco, Coal India, CHN Energy, National Iranian Oil Co., and Jinneng Group - produced 7.4 billion tonnes of CO2. This is equivalent to 17.4 per cent of all global emissions. Experts have called the findings 'truly alarming', and are calling for the companies to take responsibilty for their sky-high emissions. Tzeporah Berman, Founder and Co-chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, says: 'It is truly alarming that the largest fossil fuel companies continue to increase their emissions in the face of worsening natural disasters caused by climate change, disregarding scientific evidence that these emissions are harming us all. 'It is clearer than ever that dirty private companies, driven by profits and business as usual, will never choose to self-regulate.' Scroll down to see the full list of the 36 most polluting companies. 36 of the world's biggest companies produced more than half of the world's CO2 emissions in 2023, a study has shown. The biggest producer of all was Saudi Aramco (pictured), which was responsible for 4.38 per cent of the world's total emissions In 2023, 169 companies were responsible for producing 33.9 gigatonnes of CO2 or other equivalent greenhouse gases. Of those companies, 93 actually produced more C02 in 2023 than in 2022. This graph shows the different sources of emissions since the Industrial Revolution The Carbon Majors report measures the attributable emissions of the 169 biggest active producers of oil, gas, coal, and cement around the world. By combining these companies' reported production levels with an estimate of the pollution created in the production process, Carbon Majors estimates how much CO2 or other greenhouse gases each company creates. This reveals that a few massive entities are responsible for a huge part of the world's greenhouse gas production. The Carbon Majors dataset covers emissions from 1854 to 2023, revealing that 67.5 per cent of human-caused industrial CO2 emissions since the Industrial Revolution can be traced to 180 corporate and state-producing entities in the database As of 2023, those organisations have pumped 33.9 billion tonnes of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. In, 2023 the 20 biggest carbon-producing entities collectively created 17.5 gigatonnes of CO2 - 40 per cent of global fossil fuel and cement emissions. For comparison, that is more than 54 times the emissions produced by the entirety of the UK in the same year. The biggest CO2 producer in 2023 was Saudi Aramco which was responsible for 1,839 million tonnes of CO2 - 4.38 per cent of the global total. Coal remains the single biggest contributor to climate change, producing more than 40 per cent of global emissions. Of the 20 most polluting companies, seven were coal producers. These include six Chinese companies and one Indian company The 5 most polluting companies in 2023 Saudi Aramco : 1,839 million tonnes of CO2 Coal India : 1,548 million tonnes of CO2 CHN Energy : 1,533 million tonnes of CO2 National Iranian Oil Company : 1,262 million tonnes of CO2 Jinneng Group : 1,228 million tonnes of CO2 Advertisement Saudi Aramco is the Saudi Arabian state-owned oil and gas producer and the largest fossil fuel company in the world, producing 11.5 million barrels of oil per day. This was followed by Coal India, the largest government-owned coal producer in the world, which was responsible for 1,548 million tonnes of C02 - 3.68 per cent of the global total. Following closely in third was CNH Energy, also known as China Energy, which created 1,533 million tonnes of emissions - 3.65 per cent of the global total. The fourth and fifth biggest polluters were the National Iranian Oil Company and China's state-owned Jinneng group which were responsible for 1,262 million and 1,228 million tonnes of CO2 respectively. The most polluting British-owned company was BP, which created 347 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, making it the 25th biggest polluter. Christiana Figueres, Chair of The Earthshot Prize Foundation, says: 'The carbon majors are keeping the world hooked on fossil fuels with no plans to slow production. 'While states drag their heels on their Paris Agreement commitments, state-owned companies are dominating global emissionsignoring the desperate needs of their citizens.' State-owned companies were by far the biggest sources of CO2 emissions, making up 16 of the 20 biggest emitters in 2023. 16 of the world's 20 most polluting companies were state-owned entities such as the Russian Gazprom. Pictured: Gazprom's Moscow oil refinery complex Eight of the 20 most polluting state-owned companies were Chinese. China was a particularly large producer of coal energy which contributes to its outsized climate impact. Pictured: Guoha Power Station in Hebei province, China The National Iranian Oil Company is one of the world's largest producers of C02 and is responsible for 1,262 million tonnes of C02. Pictured: The Persian Gulf Star gas condensates facility in Abbas, Iran Eight of those state-owned companies were Chinese entities which, collectively, produce more than 17 per cent of all global emissions. Overall, the 68 state-owned companies in the database produced 22.5 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions - more than half of the world's fossil fuel and cement-linked emissions. Meanwhile, the five most polluting investor-owned companies were ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP. Together these five entities produced 2.2 billion tonnes of CO2 or equivalent greenhouse gases. Coal producers also featured heavily among the biggest producers, with six Chinese coal companies and one Indian producer making the top 20. Coal was still the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and made up 41 per cent of global emissions. However, cement production is now the fastest-growing source of pollution as emissions rose significantly between 2022 and 2023. During cement production, limestone is heated to very high temperatures in kilns in order to undergo a process called calcination. While other forms of emissions production have remained relatively steady since the 2010s, cement has now become the fastest-growing source of C02. Cement companies produced 6.5 per cent more CO2 in 2023 than in 2022 (shown as grey line) As cement factories heat limestone they release vast quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere. Pictured: A cement factory in Changshu, China This is not only a very energy-intensive process but also releases vast quantities of CO2 as the limestone undergoes a chemical reaction. The amount of CO2 produced by cement companies increased by 6.5 per cent year on year. Additionally, four of the five companies with the greatest increases in emissions in 2023 were cement companies - Holcim Group, Heidelberg Materials, UltraTech Cement, and CRH. Emmett Connaire, Senior Analyst at InfluenceMap which produced the Carbon Majors report, says: 'Despite global climate commitments, a small group of the worlds largest fossil fuel producers are significantly increasing production and emissions. 'InfluenceMap's research highlights the disproportionate impact these companies have on the climate crisis, with some now facing legal action in the US under Climate Superfund laws, informed by findings from the database.' The existence of Scotland's legendary Loch Ness Monster has been hotly-debated for nearly a century. Affectionately referred to as Nessie, the large marine creature is said to inhabit the freshwater loch south of Inverness. If you believe in the monster, the idea of getting paid to look for it might sound too good to be true. But it's time to dust off the old CV, because the Loch Ness research centre has announced that it is hiring a full-time Nessie hunter. 'Could you be a full-time Nessie hunter?' the Loch Ness Centre asked on its Facebook page. 'The Loch Ness Centre is looking for an adventurous skipper to navigate the world-famous waters of Loch Ness and lead our Deepscan Cruise! 'You'll share the story of Nessie, guide guests using state-of-the-art sonar, and be part of cutting-edge research in search of the legendary monster.' Best of all, the job has an impressive salary, with the sucessful candidate set to receive 180/day - the equivalent of 46,898/year! The existence of Scotland's legendary Loch Ness Monster has been hotly-debated for nearly a century The Loch Ness research centre has announced that it is hiring a full-time Nessie hunter The Skipper will work on board the Deepscan vessel, and is tasked with making tours of the loch 'memorable' for the 12 guests on board. Unsurprisingly, the successful candidate must have demonstrable boating experience. 'You will possess a passion for boating and a strong understanding of maritime operations,' the job advert says. 'Responsible for navigating and operating our vessel, you will ensure the safety of all passengers whilst providing an enjoyable experience on the water. 'This role requires excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to respond effectively to changing conditions.' During the boat trips, the Skipper will also be expected to keep the guests entertained with stories about Nessie. 'Representing the Loch Ness Centre brand you will be sharing your insights and knowledge, you will give our guests a unique and unparalleled perspective on famous sightings of the monster and the history of Scotlands most mysterious loch,' the job advert adds. The fixed term contract runs from 31 March - 2 November, with 30-40 hours available per week. The Skipper will work on board the Deepscan vessel, and is tasked with making tours of the loch 'memorable' for the 12 guests on board However, during the interview process, applicants 'may be able to explore additional opportunities that may make this a year-round role'. The successful applicant will face stiff competition from skippers with rival companies, who also have their eyes peeled for Nessie. In September, Shaun Sloggie, a skipper with Cruise Loch Ness, hit the headlines after spotting a mysterious shape on sonar. While preparing for another vessel's arrival, Sloggie's sonar flashed up, indicating that a large object was lurking at a depth of around 98-metres. He described it as 'the biggest thing I've ever seen.' While its source remains unclear, Sloggie, 30, admitted he had 'never seen anything like it'. 'The strangeness of it was chilling it's the sort of thing that leaves you speechless,' he said. If you're interested in becoming a full-time Nessie hunter, you can apply here. A rare 'lavanado' was spotted swirling over the fiery eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano. The wild scene caught on video captured the moment when hot gasses and dangerous lava were spun together into the air over a freshly formed molten pool. Lava at the bottom of the vortex could be seen splashing about as the tiny twister ripped across the volcanic rock. The video by Scott Malis, who recorded the lavanado, shows a funnel that looks similar to a 'dust devil' - a common wind phenomenon that's smaller and less powerful than a tornado. According to the National Weather Service, dust devils are created by strong surface heating and last for only a few minutes before they fade away. The one in Malis' video reportedly lasted for about four minutes during the early morning hours on Hawaii's 'Big Island.' During the fiery scene, lava was seen being shot hundreds of feet into the air of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The volcanic event lasted for just under 13 hours, with lava fountains erupting from Kilauea's north and south vents, sending lava onto the crater floor - where the lavanado was spotted. Scott Malis captured a 'lavanado,' a swirling wind funnel over lava, in Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on February 26 The comparison to a dust devil seems to fit what Malis caught on camera in Hawaii last month. Typically, these vortices develop when there are clear skies and light winds, when the ground can warm up air temperatures to far above what they usually are just above ground level. In this case, the ground was an erupting volcano. All of this leads to a very unstable condition, where the heated up air is less dense and lighter than the cooler air in the sky above the volcano. When the ground gets much warmer (like molten lava) than the air above it, hot air rushes upward and the cooler air moves in to take its place, stirring it all up like a pot of soup - a process called 'vertical mixing.' If there's just the right amount of wind and some turbulence, that rising air can start spinning. When that happens, it forms a small, spinning column of air - a dust devil. As it swirls, it picks up dirt and rocks (or lava) from the ground, making it visible. Sound familiar? Kilauea volcano has been steadily erupting since December 2024, with the lavanado marking the 11th event during that time Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the caldera rim at Kilauea on February 26 to observe the end of the summit eruption's eleventh episode, as fountains shut down at both eruptive vents. This photo shows fountaining at the north vent feeding a lava flow spreading east across the crater floor, about 10 minutes before the shutdown In recent months, people have been flocking to overlook sites inside the national park for views of the eruptions. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory also hosts a livestream of Kilauea's eruptions. However, the new video marks the first time a lavanado has been captured on camera since June 2023, when the US Geological Survey (USGS) released a video of another wind funnel pulling up fresh lava from the Kilauea summit during an eruption. The Hawaiian volcano has been actively erupting since December 23, 2024, with the February 26 video marking the eleventh eruption during that time. On March 4, Kilauea erupted for the twelfth time, with giant lava fountains reaching 600 feet into the air. This latest volcanic event in Hawaii lasted 22 hours. These eruptions have been coming steadily over the last three months, with some coming just a day apart, while others have been separated by nearly two weeks. Luckily, none of the eruptions in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have threatened the residents of Hawaii or led to any evacuations. The longest and most destructive recorded eruption involving Kilauea lasted from January 1983 to April 2018, causing significant property damage. The eruptions wiped out two towns in 1990 and destroyed one of the island's famous black sand beaches. Kilauea overlaps with the eastern side of the largest volcano on Earth, the nearly 14,000-foot-tall Mauna Loa. This volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years-old, but did not grow above sea level until roughly 100,000 years ago. The teen daughter of stranded NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore has spoken out about her dad for the first time, blaming 'negligence' for him being 'stuck in space.' In a heartbreaking video quietly uploaded to social media last month, Daryn, 19, said that her father had 'missed out on a lot' during his uncertain nine-month stay in space including Christmas and her parents' 30-year wedding anniversary. Wilmore's wife and his two daughters live in Houston, Texas, where they have been patiently awaiting his return since June of last year. 'It's been hard if we're completely honest', she said. Daryn said her frustration about her father's stay was 'less the fact that he's up there' and 'more the fact of why.' 'There's a lot of politics, there's a lot of things that I'm not at liberty to say, and that I don't know fully about,' she said. 'But there's been issues. There's been negligence. And that's the reason why this has just kept getting delayed. There's just been issue after issue after issue.' Daryn posted the video just weeks before SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, whose company is tasked with bringing the Starliner crew back to Earth later this month, said the Biden administration left them in space for 'political reasons.' Wilmore and his crewmate, Sunita Williams, were set to return from the ISS eight days after arriving, but their return capsule was plagued by issues and NASA delayed the flight home. They are set to come back to Earth no earlier than March 19. Daryn, 19, said that her father's delayed return is 'really frustrating' and noted that a 'nine-month delay is uncommon.' Pictured is her on the left, Wilmore and his wife Deanna The teenaged daughter of stranded NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore has spoken out about her dad, blaming 'negligence' and 'politics' for his delayed return from space While stuck in space, Wilmore also missed most of his 16-year-old daughter Logan's senior year of high school and Daryn's college theater performances. Logan has been open about missing her dad as well. In a video posted in August, she shared a clip of her father getting ready to board Starliner followed by another of her hugging him, with the caption: 'Not dead, just stuck in space. I'm not worried at all, just miss him!' Another video in October served as a heartwarming tribute to her dad, featuring a slideshow of photos of the two of them together. But the sisters have been able to keep in touch with their dad through regular video calls. 'I talk to my dad all the time,' Daryn said, adding that she calls him every day or every couple of days. 'That makes things really nice,' she added. Daryn also said the fact that her dad will most likely be coming home in mid-March is 'so exciting.' 'I miss him so much,' she said, adding she can't wait to hug him and feels glad that he will be able to see her take the stage in an upcoming theater performance and see Logan graduate high school this spring. 'But fingers crossed, things could always change. And especially with this whole thing we've had so many changes. And it's a bit mentally exhausting,' she said. Although both Wilmore's daughters admit that the months they have spent without him have been challenging, they have both said they are not worried about him. 'He's just been bummed, but he's fine. My dad is very resilient,' Daryn said. Wilmore left behind his wife Deanna (left) and two daughters Daryin (center left) and Logan (center right) when he launched into space on June 5. Pictured: the Wilmore family attend the New York premier of 'A Beautiful Planet' in New York City in August, 2016. NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore (left) and Sunita Williams (right) arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on June 6 and have been stuck there for the last nine months. Here they are pictured with NASA astronaut Nick Hague )middle) Daryn shared the videos just weeks before Musk went on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast to double down on his statement that the astronauts were 'abandoned,' saying Biden rejected his offer because it would've made Donald Trump 'look good.' Musk backed Trump during the 2024 presidential race, donating $288 million to his campaign and appearing at several MAGA rallies. The tech CEO told Rogan that the Biden administration did not want to jeopardize Kamala Harris's presidential campaign and intentionally 'pushed the return date past the inauguration date.' Musk also noted that the Biden administration was suing SpaceX at the time. During a Tuesday press conference, Williams and Wilmore were asked if the Biden administration did in fact decline Musk's offer to bring them home early, to which Wilmore replied that Musk's claim 'is absolutely factual.' 'I can only say that Mr Musk, what he says, is absolutely factual,' Wilmore said, noting he and Williams were not briefed on what happened behind closed doors. 'So I believe him. I don't know all those details, and I don't think any of us really can give you the answer that maybe that you would be hoping for,' he added. In a Wednesday X post, Musk wrote: 'The astronauts were only supposed to be up there for 8 days and now have been there for 8 months. SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden-Harris White House (not NASA) refused to allow it. 'President Trump asked to bring them back as soon as possible and we are doing so.' Williams and Wilmore will hitch a ride home on SpaceX's Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft later this month and are due back on Earth around March 19 or 20. Their original spacecraft, Starliner, was sent home without them in September following numerous thruster issues and helium leaks. These technical issues would have posed too much of a risk to Williams and Wilmore's safety had they tried to return home in the ship. Advertisement Italy is blessed with a multitude of incredible places to visit. The problem for would-be holidaymakers is that everyone caught on long ago and it's hard to escape the tourist hordes. We've got your back, though, with these 10 wanderlust-igniting hidden-gem spots in Italy guaranteed to be free from crowds - but full of Instagram-baiting wonder. They've been picked out by Italy specialists from HomeToGo, Luxury Escapes, Sand & Elevation, The Family Cruise Companion, Everyday Family Travel, and Brescia Tourism, and include landscapes 'out of a dream', 'unique' villages and 'golden-sand' beaches. There is also a city with buildings seemingly made out of icing sugar, an Amalfi Coast lookalike and an area deemed the International Wine Region of the Year 2024. Scroll down to discover how you can live la dolce vita - in peace and quiet. BRESCIA, LOMBARDY REGION: Brescia, in the heart of northern Italy, is often 'overlooked' in favour of its neighbours Milan and Venice, says Brescia Tourism, which urges holidaymakers to divert to the region. It says: 'Brescia is a land of extraordinary beauty - from iconic Lake Garda to the snow-capped peaks of the Camonica Valley.' Plus, visitors can 'wander the cobbled streets of villages such as Bagolino, Bienno, and Monte Isola [Lake Iseo], considered to be amongst the most beautiful villages in Italy'. Wine buff? Brescia is the home of the International Wine Region of the Year 2024, Franciacorta (pictured) DOLOMITI FRIULANE NATIONAL PARK: This is a 'rugged and wild section of the Dolomites that almost no one talks about', says Meeshka Brand, outdoor adventurer and founder of Sand & Elevation. She continues: 'This area is fantastic for solitude-seekers, with trails winding through untouched valleys and jagged peaks that make you feel like youre on another planet.' Pictured above is the Val Montanaia spire in the area, 'a dramatic rock formation that feels almost surreal up close' CASTELLABATE, CAMPANIA REGION: Adam Schwab, co-founder and CEO of Luxury Escapes, recommends visiting Castellabate in Cilento National Park 'if you love the idea of the Amalfi Coast but not the crowds (or prices)'. He describes it as a 'beautiful hilltop town' that offers 'those postcard-perfect Mediterranean views' but 'with a more laid-back feel', adding that the beaches below it, in the seaside towns of Santa Maria and San Marco, are 'proper gems'. Adam explains: 'Think crystal-clear water and plenty of space to lay your towel' LECCE, APULIA REGION: 'Think of Lecce as Florence's southern cousin, but with its own special charm,' says Adam at Luxury Escapes. 'The city is famous for its gorgeous Baroque buildings [pictured], which look almost like they're made of icing sugar. The local limestone is so soft that artists went absolutely wild with the decorations you'll see angels, flowers, and fantastic creatures adorning nearly every church and palace. The food scene here is fantastic too, with plenty of wine bars serving local wine and restaurants dishing up Pugliese specialties' SAN VITO LO CAPO, SICILY: This town is tucked between the Zingaro and Monte Cofano nature reserves and famed for its crescent-shaped beach bordered by the dramatic 530m/1,738ft-high Monte Monaco mountain [pictured]. The travel experts at holiday-home platform HomeToGo love the spot, explaining that many international tourists don't know about it. Foodie? Then perhaps a September visit for the annual Cous Cous Fest, which is a celebration of food and music COSTA REI, SARDINIA: 'Costa Rei - the Kings Coast - is a majestic stretch on southeast Sardinia,' HomeToGo's experts declare. 'Spanning 8km/4.9 miles along the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, the beach [pictured] offers endless possibilities for relaxation and fun, from sunbathing on soft golden sands to kitesurfing on breezy waters' ORVIETO, UMBRIA: The hilltop town of Orvieto is a 'unique find' that's 'perched on a volcanic rock plateau', Elaine Warren, travel expert at The Family Cruise Companion, tells us. She adds: 'What made this spot unforgettable [for me] wasn't just the stunning cathedral or underground caves but the chance to take a funicular up to the town. My youngest couldnt stop talking about the mountain train and for us, it was a stress-free way to access the historic centre' TELLARO, LIGURIA: This tiny fishing village is one of Everyday Family Travel founder Melissa Harms' 'favourite discoveries'. The travel expert tells MailOnline: 'It feels like a hidden piece of the Cinque Terre but without the overwhelming crowds. My kids loved wandering its colourful alleys, listening to the local legend of a giant octopus that once saved the town from pirates, and splashing in the small, rocky coves along the coast' VALSAVARENCHE: The Valsavarenche area (above) is another of Meeshka's Italian hidden gems, 'nestled deep in Gran Paradiso National Park'. She adds: 'It is the kind of place where time slows down, and the scenery is straight out of a dream. I based myself here while hiking towards Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II [a mountain refuge in the Alps] - one of the most rewarding treks Ive done in Italy. The air is crisp, the valleys are empty except for ibex [wild goats] and marmots [a type of squirrel], and theres a peacefulness you wont find in the busier Dolomites' Heather Locklear was blamed for Melrose Place being cancelled. Executive producer for the 1990s Fox primetime drama Charles Pratt revealed that the now 63-year-old actress' salary at the time was at least partly to blame for the cancellation. Pratt appeared on re-watch podcast Still The Place co-hosted by Melrose Place stars Courtney Thorne-Smith, Daphne Zuniga and Laura Leighton. By the series fifth season all three co-hosts of the podcast had departed the series but Locklear was irreplaceable to the network. Pratt explained: 'I think the feeling was at Fox, as long as Heather's on the show, it doesn't matter who else is on the show.' He also believed the show had been 'tainted' by actress Hunter Tylo's lawsuit which claimed that Melrose Place producers had fired her before she had filmed any scenes due to her being pregnant. Heather Locklear was blamed for Melrose Place being cancelled; the star is seen on the series in the 1990s Executive producer for the 1990s Fox primetime drama Charles Pratt revealed that the now 63-year-old actress' salary at the time was at least partly to blame for the cancellation; the cast are seen Pratt appeared on re-watch podcast Still The Place co-hosted by Melrose Place stars Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Leighton, and Daphne Zuniga (seen left to right) Pratt continued: 'I know why it was canceled, why we didn't get an eighth season, which we really wanted. 'And quite frankly, they said, "We can't afford to pay Heather Locklear."' Pratt also explained that over-the-top storylines for the characters had forced them to bring in new ones due to the soap opera nature of the show which lead to a revolving door of castmembers. He said: 'We ran you through a soap mill. You know, marriages and, you know, deaths and crime.' Pratt wrote and directed the series finale of Melrose Place in 1999 and said it was 'so sad' but knew what the focus of the conclusion had to be. He said: 'I made sure the last shot was of Heather.' Melrose Place aired over seven seasons from July 1992 to May 1999. It followed the lives of a group of young adults living in an apartment complex at 4616 Melrose Place in West Hollywood, California. By the series fifth season all three co-hosts of the podcast had departed the series but Locklear was irreplaceable to the network; the seventh season cast is shown including Heather in the middle Pratt explained: 'I think the feeling was at Fox, as long as Heather's (pictured) on the show, it doesn't matter who else is on the show' Pratt continued: 'I know why it was canceled, why we didn't get an eighth season, which we really wanted. And quite frankly, they said, "We can't afford to pay Heather Locklear"' (Locklear is seen with costar Jack Wagner) Heather is seen in California back in October 2021 Heather portrayed Amanda Woodward on the show as she was on the first season as a recurring character before being promoted to main cast in the second season and was featured on the show until the very end. Meanwhile Heather - who's been in and out of rehab '20 times' - appears to be on the straight and narrow following her well-documented battle with substance abuse, mental health issues, and arrests for domestic violence and battery between 2008-2019. She recently made an acting comeback playing disgraced counselor Jodi Hildebrandt alongside Emilie Ullerup in Lifetime drama, Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story, which premiered October 26. The real life Hildebrandt, 56, and 42-year-old YouTuber Franke were known to share a philosophy about strict parenting, which was later revealed to be horrifying abuse on Ruby's malnourished eight-year-old and 12-year-old children. In 2023, Hildebrandt plead guilty to four counts of felony aggravated child abuse on December 27 and was sentenced to four terms of one to 15 years consecutively at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Up until her latest film project, Locklear hadn't had an acting gig since portraying author Kristine Carlson in Ellen S. Pressman's Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: The Kristine Carlson Story, which aired on Lifetime in 2021. The former Dynasty star was previously seen celebrating her 63rd birthday in late September and more recently marked her daughter Ava's 27th birthday in October, whose February 12, 2024 engagement to investment associate Tyler Farrar (L) was the 'second best day of my life' The six-time Golden Globe nominee made her acting comeback as disgraced counselor Jodi Hildebrandt alongside Emilie Ullerup (R) in Kevin Fair's drama Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story, which premiered October 26 on Lifetime The 56-year-old former pageant princess (R) and the 42-year-old 8 Passengers YouTube star (L) shared a philosophy about strict parenting, which turned out to be horrifying abuse on Ruby's malnourished eight-year-old and 12-year-old children In 2023, Hildebrandt (2-R) plead guilty to four counts of felony aggravated child abuse on December 27 and was sentenced to four terms of one to 15 years consecutively at the Utah State Correctional Facility The former Dynasty star was previously seen celebrating her 63rd birthday in late September and more recently marked her daughter Ava's 27th birthday in October. Heather welcomed her only child during her 11-year marriage to Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, which ended in 2007. Ava achieved her Master of Science in marriage and family therapy at USC last year after earning her Bachelor's of Arts in psychology at Loyola Marymount University in 2020. Ava's engagement to Tyler Farrar, her boyfriend of four years, was announced on social media in February. A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (ITV1) Rating: Theres been a growing campaign to pardon Ruth Ellis, who in 1955 was the last woman to be hanged for murder in this country. If campaigners hoped A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (ITV1) would help their cause, they must have been sorely disappointed. Ruth seemed determined to face the gallows. Her solicitor, friends and family all begged her to provide the glimmer of a defence, but she rejected all their efforts. The action began sympathetically enough with 28-year-old Ruth sitting in a cell at Holloway Prison, trembling slightly as she poured her very last cup of tea. To prepare for death, she even did a little work on her make-up.But the next scene saw Ruth outside The Magdala pub in Hampstead, marching towards her abusive lover David Blakely with a .38 Smith & Wesson in her outstretched hand. Whatever you think about the death penalty, theres no doubt that Blakely was mercilessly executed. He fell after the first shot, and was hit another three times on the ground. Yet A Cruel Love is not really about murder and hanging. Its about obsessive desire, and the consequences when it all goes wrong.Ruth met Blakely in the nightclub she managed. Pictured: Lucy Boynton as as Ruth Ellis and Laurie Davidson as David Blakely Ruth Ellis was famously the last woman to be hanged in the UK As portrayed by Laurie Davidson, he was the walking definition of a bounder. He had a rich stepfather. He was a racing driver. Hed been having an affair with his best friends wife. To hammer home the message, he wore a flashy, double-breasted, white pinstriped jacket. When they first met, Ruth remarked to the barman: Two vermouths please. And who is that pompous arse? Yet before long, theyre in bed together, even though she is already seeing kindly Desmond Cussen, a former bomber pilot and accountant who sends her flowers every day and has bonded with her son, Andre. Cussen, by the way, was played by Mark Stanley. With his 1950s nerd glasses and moustache, he looked like a younger version of Jim Broadbent. Ruth is played here as complicated and difficult. She is ambitious, selfish, bloody minded, and will sleep with her customers for 10 a time (about 270 in todays money). The show premiered on ITV on March 5 at 9pm with the drama consisting of four episodes On the day Cussen was supposed to be taking Ruth and her children to the zoo, he turned up at her home with flowers, only to see her speeding off in Blakelys car for a picnic. Lucy Boynton is excellent as Ruth, but its Toby Jones as her solicitor, Mr Bickford, who gets the best lines. You represent everything they [the police, the newspapers, the law] fear, he says in a magnificent speech. An ambitious woman who has no respect for class boundaries, no respect for sexual boundaries. You have used everything to try to advance yourself at the expense of everything they value. Youre going to be on trial for far more than murder. Seventy years later, shes still on trial. Some viewers of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story have complained as they 'give up' on the new ITV drama after just one episode. Directed by Lee Haven Jones, the series aired it's first instalment on Wednesday night and delved into the story of Ruth Ellis (Lucy Boynton). The 28-year-old was put to death nearly 55 years ago for shooting dead her violent boyfriend, racing driver David Blakely, on April 10, 1955. She was executed just months later on July 13 after being put on trial. The episode switched from past to present as it looked into the couple's relationship and showed some of the abuse Ruth experienced from David. Ruth admitted she was guilty of murder to the police, but her solicitor gradually began to understand that the case was more complicated. Some viewers of A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story have complained as they 'give up' on the new ITV drama after just one episode Directed by Lee Haven Jones, the series aired it's first instalment on Wednesday night and delved into the story of Ruth Ellis ( Lucy Boynton, pictured left) However, some viewers were 'confused' by the change in tenses throughout the different scenes and took to social media to share their thoughts However, some viewers were 'confused' by the changing timeline throughout the different scenes and took to social media to share their thoughts. One posted on X: 'Just tried to watch the first episode of #ACruelLove on ITVX. What's the thing about switching from past to present in a single scene? It's confusing. Gave up.'; 'Brilliant Ruth Ellis drama but it jumped back and forwards like a pogo stick. I kept wishing it would settle down and relate the story more smoothly. Roll on the next episode.'; '#acruellove Unpopular opinion but this just isn't gripping me. Too much jumping back and forth and I don't find her likable at all. Hoping the next episode livens up.'; '#acruellove Wish they would just start at the beginning and go through till the end. I hate jumping back and forth to past and present. Confusing. Why would she admit to a murder she didn't do?' While other viewers praised the new series and one penned: '#ACruelLove absolutely brilliant performance from all involved had to watch it all.'; 'When you are moved to uncontrollable tears , and have such empathy for the lead character - you know you are watching a class act @LucyBoynton1 #ACruelLove. A wonderful actress.' It comes as Lucy Boynton opened up about playing Ruth Ellis and revealed it was 'more intense' than she thought. Lucy looked back on researching Ruth's tragic life for her role, admitting that one can't read her story without being 'emotionally affected'. Speaking to The Italian Reve, Lucy explained: 'It was different than I expected, and it was more intense than Id anticipated. 'I tried to start the research process from a very analytical point of view. I was really aware of how much the media portrayal of Ruth Ellis had colored public opinion of her and colored the way that she was then written about afterward, so I wanted to approach her in a completely neutral way to be able to ascertain my own opinion.' Viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on the drama, with some praising it and others complaining about the changing tenses The film star noted how she later attempted to approach the project from a more 'empathetic and emotional' viewpoint in order to figure out how to portray Ruth, however, those feelings emerged much sooner than she had anticipated. She continued: 'I realized very quickly there was no neutrality when approaching this topic and there was no neutrality when approaching her case. 'You cant read about the details of her life and what happened to her and what happened to her within the time of meeting David Blakely and not feel emotionally affected.' A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX. Netflix fans have raved over a 'hilariously quirky' comedy series that has a whopping Rotten Tomatoes score. Sci-fi series Resident Alien first aired back in 2021 and follows extraterrestrial Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle (Alan Tudyk) after he crashed-landed onto Earth on a mission to destroy the human race. Based in Colorado, the alien soon becomes enthralled by human beings and instead of exterminating, forms connections with them instead. Harry even goes as far as trying to defend the planet from alien threats. Based on a comic book series with the same name by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, Resident Alien has three seasons so far, with a fourth currently in the works. All three were added to Netflix this week and it became the 8th most-watched series in the UK and has been praised for being 'hilariously quirky.' Netflix fans have raved over a 'hilariously quirky' comedy series that has a whopping Rotten Tomatoes score Sci-fi series Resident Alien first aired back in 2021 and follows extraterrestrial Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle (Alan Tudyk) after he crashed-landed onto Earth on a mission to destroy the human race Based in Colorado , the alien soon becomes enthralled by human beings and instead of exterminating them, forms connections with them instead Resident Alien also has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score with an average of 97%. Fans of the show have taken to the review site over the years to leave their verdicts and one penned: 'Fun, witty, and the characters and actors playing them absolutely killed it! One of the best shows Ive seen in awhile! Cult classic worthy!'; 'Season 1 is great. Good comedy, some action, and very little to complain about.'; 'Funniest and most clever show that is streaming, with more twists than licorice.'; 'I'm hooked, so invested in the characters and still hilarious!'; 'I loved it! I'm obsessed with this show, and I only got more obsessed with each season!'; 'Awesome I really enjoyed every second of it.' Though not everyone has been impressed with the show and one wrote: 'What did I just watch? Absolutely butchered the follow up of a very entertaining season 1.'; 'By episode 3 I realized the direction this show is taking and have completely lost interest.' Viewers have taken to Rotten Tomatoes over the years to leave their verdict on the show, with some praising it or being 'funny' while others weren't so impressed Another sci-fi show was a hit with Netflix fans and has been compared to Black Mirror. The six-part show, Cassandra, follows a family who have recently moved into an old smart home controlled by a virtual assistant called Cassandra. Artificial intelligence helper Cassandra previously served another family at the property. However, as she integrates herself with the new inhabitants, it becomes clear she does not want to be abandoned again. It stars Lavinia Wilson as Cassandra, Mina Tander as Samira and Michael Klammer plays David, amongst other cast members. The Apprentice contestant Jonny Heaver has taken aim at Lord Sugar on social media after revealing what happened to his face. The 23-year-old, who narrowly missed out on being sent home last week, took to his TikTok account to share a hilarious clip from an episode of the BBC show. During week three, the two teams were tasked with trying to turn their crops into cash and Jonny's team were given a base of tomatoes. The group were given specific instructions from one of the restaurants they met, in a bid to bag a deal with them. Luckily they managed to win the task, but in the boardroom there was an awkward encounter between Jonny and Lord Sugar. He said: 'One thing I will say as well, de-seeding was a big job, and I think it's quite easy to say "Oh dicing was hard". The Apprentice contestant Jonny Heaver takes aim at Lord Sugar on social media after revealing what happened to his face The 23-year-old, who narrowly missed out on being sent home last week, took to his TikTok account to share a hilarious clip from an episode of the BBC show 'It is hard. But equally, I'm familiar with dicing. I'm not familiar with de-seeding a tomato.' Lord Sugar clapped back: 'It's not rocket science Johnny. Come on... 'Not familiar with de-seeding... I've got a 2:1 at university in de-seeding tomatoes. 'Come on Johnny, for God's sake!' Johnny reshared the moment on his page and said: 'Lord Sugar, mate, I got a first not a 2:1. Unfortunately, there were no modules in de-seeding a tomato though.' Many rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts, with one saying: 'If its not rocket science, Lord Sugar should try the task and see how hard it is.' Another added: 'Lord Sugar and Tim are wrong it is hard.' 'You tell him!' a third chimed in. The Apprentice contestant Jonny Heaver previously revealed 'what has happened to his face' after being bombarded with questions by BBC fans. Jonny, who is one of the current budding entrepreneurs taking part in the 19th series of the programme, opened up about it all in a recent TikTok video after many had questioned him about it. The tutoring company owner, who has never addressed it before, was asked on the social media platform: 'What happened to your face?' In the six-minute clip, Jonny admitted that he was reluctant to speak about it, but decided that now is the right time to do so. Jonny, originally from Kent, said: 'It's something that's obviously about me that makes me different, and we're all different in our different ways. 'I do think you guys have got the right to know now, hopefully you've built your idea of me, beyond what I look like by this point. The tutoring company owner was asked what happened to his face on social media The 23-year-old (pictured) took to his TikTok account to talk about the matter 'That's why I've been umming and arring if I should do it or not. 'In addition to that, I don't want a sob story. I don't want people to like me, and support me because of what I've been through.' Jonny then revealed that it is a birth mark. He continued: 'Basically when I was born with a giant melanocytic naevus covering half my face and head, so all over. 'There was a slight risk as a baby that it was Malignant, which basically means that it could be cancerous. 'So mum and dad made the really difficult decision at the time to remove some, hence my scaring.' The surgery was obtrusive and made his eye droop down, as well as cause pain with other things such as ingrown eyelashes. The reality star has had skin grafts and tissue expansion, to make his eye a better shape. Jonny, 23, who is one of the current budding entrepreneurs taking part in the 19th series of the programme, opened up about it all in a recent TikTok video Jonny said: 'So that's why I've got the scarring as well as my birth mark.' The entrepreneur said he deals with pain, including blood shot eyes, which can be brought on by things such as the wind, pollen and sunshine. Despite all the hard times, the star has a positive outlook on it all. Jonny: 'I have been through a lot of surgery in my life, but I think it's made me stronger. Since a baby, I've had on and off surgery all my life. 'I cope with pain. That gives me grit and determination.' He also went on to say: 'Hopefully I'm bucking that trend and showing people we're all beautiful and we're all unique. 'We can go for these reality shows, big series, even if you do have a facial difference, or difference whatever that is. 'People are all born with differences, mine is a birth making covering my face, other people it could be a physical attributes somewhere else on their body. 'A speech thing, anything, we've all got things that make us different, that's what makes us exciting as humanity.' Many rushed to the comments section to share the love Jonny. One said: 'You don't owe anyone anything, good luck in the show.' Another added: 'You will inspire so many people! Fair play dude! Hope you go far on The Apprentice.' A third chimed in: 'I think you're fabulous Jonny, rooting for you.' 'Never noticed how you look like at the end you are genius humble human being that's what matters,' a fourth commented. A fifth said: 'You're my favourite this season!' Jonny set up his business Achieve Tutoring while studying at university, which has 482 followers on Instagram. It is known as a five star agency with over 220 clients and 8,500 sessions. Speaking ahead of his stint on the BBC show, the tutor explained why he thinks that he's in with a shot at winning the show. Jonny said: 'I believe I deserve Lord Sugar's investment not only because I run a successful company in a massive and growing market, but also because, like Lord Sugar, I have faced setbacks in my life and have channeled them into opportunities. 'I think Lord Sugar has done the same, which would make us a strong team.' The Apprentice airs Thursdays on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer. Lorraine Kelly revealed the truth behind her swollen face live on Loose Women on Thursday after being asked 'if she'd had fillers or an allergic reaction' by panicked fans. The 65-year-old sparked concern just hours before during her appearance on Good Morning Britain. The Scottish presenter appeared on Loose Women to chat to Charlene White, 44, Judi Love, 44, Nadia Sawalha, 60, and Linda Robson, 60, about being a grandmother, among other things. But before they got into the chat, Lorraine also wanted to address the speculation about her face, after many of those watching at home had got in touch with her to share their worry. Lorraine explained: 'Yesterday, you know as woman, when we try to do too many things at one time, and we try to do it really fast... 'So I had a massive bag of washing, like a washing basket, I couldn't see, and I was going from the kitchen to the living room, and there was a wee step. Lorraine Kelly reveals truth behind her swollen face live on Loose Women after being asked 'if she'd had fillers or an allergic reaction' by panicked fans It comes after Lorraine Kelly sparked concerns with a 'puffy' face on GMB - and concerned fans shared their worry on social media Lorraine (middle) appeared on the panel with Charlene White (left), Linda Robson, Judi Love and Nadia Sawalha (right) 'My slippers are too big and I fell over and fell onto a rhino!' She continued: 'I thought "Oh it will be fine!" but I woke up this morning with the biggest shiner, this big black eye!' Lorraine explained that lots of 'lovely' viewers asked if she had allergies, but confirmed that this was not the case. She also addressed speculation around her having facial injectables, adding: 'Have I had fillers? No!' Earlier in the day Lorraine joined Ed Balls, 58, and Susanna Reid, 54, on the Good Morning Britain to tell viewers about what was coming up on her programme. Lorraine looked ultra stylish in a plunging low cut brown maxi dress. She styled her brunette locks into her classic loose waves and opted for glamorous make-up. Lorraine Kelly sparks concerns with 'puffy' face on Good Morning Britain - as concerned fans gasp 'what has happened?' Lorraine looked stylish in a plunging low-cut brown maxi dress and styled her brunette locks into her classic loose waves However, some rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to point out the same thing. One said: '@GMB what has happened to Lorraine? Her face and eyes look swollen.' Another questioned: 'Whats happened to Lorraine's face ? Looks like an allergic reaction.' While a third wrote: 'Has she been stung by a wasp?' A fourth added: 'Hope you're okay Lorraine, looks like an allergy thats affecting your eyes.' Earlier on in the segment, Ed and Susanna had just been chatting about the AI version of the late Princess Diana. They wanted to know what the star thought about the AI images that have come out of her. Lorraine said: 'I thought that was creepy. I think when folks are dead it's creepy. 'You know the ABBA thing, I don't mind that, because they are still alive. 'But I wouldn't like to go and see David Bowie as an avatar because he's not with me anymore. 'That one of Princess Diana and Harry looked very strange. 'I didn't like that - it was creepy!' During Thursday's instalment of Lorraine, the host spoke to a number of guests including model Twiggy and Towie's Pete Wicks. She also walked over to the This Morning studio and spoke about their new campaign March4March. Earlier this week, Lorraine said: 'I'm so pleased we are launching a campaign dedicated to destigmatizing the conversation around mental health. 'I'm so grateful to the amazing names who've already agreed to bravely share their stories and pledge their support for such a worthy cause. 'I'm looking forward to getting out walking and talking and I look forward to taking our amazing viewers along with me.' Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX. Jonny Heaver has been revealed as the fifth candidate to be fired by Lord Sugar during Thursday's instalment of the BBC show. It comes after the 23-year-old, who owns his own tutoring business Achieve Tutoring, narrowly missed out on being given the boot last week. Thursday's episode of The Apprentice marked week six of the competition - where the contestants headed off to Turkey, with one team going to Bodrum and the other in Cappadocia. Each team had to impress Lord Sugar by creating their own day experiences for a very important client, and the team that made the most profit would be crowner winner. Chisola Chitambala was voted project manager for her team, and picked Anisa Khan as sub team leader. Frederick Afrifa did point out that Jonny hadn't been PM or sub team leader at all throughout the process, but he said that he wouldn't be the best fit for this task. Jonny Heaver has been revealed as the fifth candidate to be fired by Lord Sugar during Thursday's instalment of the BBC show. Meanwhile Keir Shave was given the role of PM for his team, and chose Mia Collins to be his second in command. Throughout the episode the teams tried to haggle their prices down as much as they could. Kier took their guests on an incredible hot air balloon activity, while Mia managed her team in the kitchen. There was a little bit of tension between Mia and Melica Moshiri, when she told her that it doesn't take much initiative to lay a table. Chisola and the team took theirs out in Jeeps - where their clients from Vodafone were told to turn their phones off and enjoy each other's company. And things were a little awkward as they tried to make small talk in the vehicles. They hit a bump in the road when the clients asked to finish the tour early and wanted to eat instead. Thursday's episode of The Apprentice marked week six of the competition - where the contestants headed off to Turkey, with one team going to Bodrum and the other in Cappadocia Each team had to impress Lord Sugar by creating their own day experiences for a very important client, and the team that made the most profit would be crowner winner Keir Shave was given the role of PM for his team, and chose Mia Collins to be his second in command Meanwhile Chisola's sub team, led by Anisa, got stuck in the kitchen on the yacht. The guests were desperate for a glass of wine, but they very awkwardly didn't have any, so they had to go and get some. They managed to pick things up, but then really wanted some more booze and had to tell them that they had run out. In the boardroom, Lord Sugar was told that Kier's team made a profit of 1580 and the corporates client really enjoyed themselves. Chisola's team made a profit of 2070, but unfortunately they didn't feel like they had a luxury service and asked for a 40% refund, meaning that they actually made 470 profit. She decided to bring back Frederik and Jonny to the boardroom. Chisola Chitambala was voted project manager for her team, and picked Anisa Khan as sub team leader Chisola and the team took the customers out in Jeeps - where their clients from Vodafone were told to turn their phones off and enjoy each other's company Chisola's sub team, led by Anisa, got stuck in the kitchen on the yacht. The guests were desperate for a glass of wine, but they very awkwardly didn't have any Lord Sugar said: 'Chisola, the underlying thing that has come through it that you were very much focused on profit and not the customer experience.' He added: 'Jonny, your tour chat was unfortunately drier than your drinks cabinet.' Jonny replied: 'Despite me not being on the tour time on the first day, I put myself forward and I led the second part of the tour. 'How could it be boring? It was two and a half minutes.' Lord Sugar asked the trio who they think should be fired for the task. Frederik said that it should be Jonny as he 'always sits on the fence' and he clapped back: 'That is not fair. 'Lord Sugar, I put myself forward for project manager on this task. I didn't think I put myself forward for sub team because I didn't think I had the skills.' Chisola also agreed and said that it should be Jonny too. In the boardroom, Lord Sugar was told that Chisola's team made a profit of 2070, but unfortunately they didn't feel like they had a luxury service and asked for a 40% refund Lord Sugar said: 'Chisola, the underlying thing that has come through it that you were very much focused on profit and not the customer experience' Lord Sugar asked the trio who they think should be fired for the task. Frederik said that it should be Jonny as he 'always sits on the fence' and he clapped back: 'That is not fair' Unfortunately Lord Sugar agreed. Lord Sugar said in the boardroom: 'Jonny, I havent seen much from you in these six weeks. 'What I have seen is a tendency to make excuses; its not your fault or I dont want to do that because Im not experienced in this". 'My mind leads me in one direction and Im afraid to say its because after six weeks, I havent seen much from you, that Jonny 'Youre fired.' Jonny said in the taxi: 'Do you know what? Absolutely gutted. 'Lord Sugar, Tim, Baroness Brady are my absolute heroes and I would have loved them to see me as project manager but I have had a fantastic experience and I leave with my head held high.' The fifth week, which saw the teams create their own Easter eggs, saw Dr Jana Denzel shockingly step away from the process, meaning that the rest of his team managed to stay in the competition. Jonny has now sadly followed in the footsteps of his co-stars Nadia Suliaman, Carlo Brancati, Aoibheann Walsh and Emma Rothwell. The Apprentice airs Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer. An actor who featured on Friends has fiercely denounced the 'toxic environment' he claimed he saw on the set of the beloved sitcom. Stephen Park guest starred on two episodes of the iconic TV series, one in 1996 and one in 1997, playing two different characters. In 1999 he penned a highly-publicized open letter criticizing the media portrayal of Asian Americans, as well as alleging he had an 'an extremely painful experience' while 'working as a guest star on one of the highest rated shows on television.' The Korean American actor was widely regarded as having been referring to Friends - which he confirmed in a new interview. Park claimed he heard an assistant director summoning another Asian American actor by saying: 'Where the f*** is the Oriental guy? Get the Oriental guy.' He added that 'nobody felt the need to correct this or say anything about it,' speaking to Danielle Fishel and her co-hosts on the podcast Pod Meets World. Friends - starring Jennifer and Courtney with Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer - ran on NBC from 1994 to 2004 'It was at the time, for me, it was kind of a toxic environment,' Park said, before describing remarks he claimed to have heard from a 'racist' assistant director. 'James Hong was the actor who was also on the episode with me, and [the assistant director] was calling him to the set and essentially saying: "Where the f*** is the Oriental guy? Get the Oriental guy," the actor alleged. 'I called the Screen Actors Guild after that happened and the person I spoke to recommended I write an article to the LA Times, and I thought: "Oh, okay, that might be a good idea,"' Park continued. Inspired by the movie Jerry Maguire, in which the title character writes a mission statement, Park put together a similar missive. According to Park, the alleged incident he described on the set of Friends was 'business as usual in Hollywood in 1997, I guess it was, and nobody felt the need to correct this or say anything about it. So this is normal behavior.' Park claimed he provided his statement to the Los Angeles Times, which sent reporters to speak with him but never ran either the interview or the letter. As a result, he decided to disseminate the statement among his email list, telling recipients: 'If this movies you, please forward it along.' He shared that 'within a week, I was getting responses from all across the country from publications that were asking permission to reprint it, and so it was like this - it went viral before "viral" was even a word.' In 1999 the guest star, Stephen Park, penned a highly-publicized open letter criticizing the media portrayal of Asian Americans; pictured in 2023 Park guest starred on two episodes of the TV series, including the 1996 episode The One With The Chicken Pox, on which he is pictured with Matthew Perry (left) and Matt LeBlanc (center) Park wrote an open letter in which he spoke negatively about his time on Friends, whose cast are pictured in a publicity shot during the 1990s In the statement, he did not name Friends outright, but explained he had worked 'as a guest star on one of the highest rated shows on television.' Park asserted: 'Working with the people involved with this show was an extremely painful experience for me. A disturbing lack in generosity of spirit and basic human courtesy, in addition to a racial incident on the set, has forced me to speak out.' He claimed: 'Not only did various key people on the set not have the courtesy to introduce themselves as we began to work together, they created an environment of fear and insecurity. One PA spoke of having worked on the show for almost a full year without one cast member ever having said hello to him in that entire time.' Park alleged further that an assistant director, 'in a short tirade, called an Asian-American actor to the set over a walkie-talkie with the words: "I don't have time for this! Where's Hoshi, Toshi or whatever the f*** his name is. Get the oriental guy!" He did not even have the respect to learn the name of the actor, a veteran of 40 years.' In his new interview, Park said that shortly before his son's birth in 2000, he 'decided to quit acting' as he had 'become so race-conscious and so angry that I was looking at everything through the lens of race, and I just felt like there was no freedom.' He said: 'I didn't feel any freedom, and I didn't have any idea what I was gonna do, but I just decided to drop out and I told everybody: "I'm not acting anymore."' After about a year as a 'stay-at-home dad,' he was coaxed back into showbiz with the offer of an audition and began a 'slow climb' back into Hollywood. Park has acted regularly since, featuring on TV shows like The Mindy Project and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as in movies like the recent Wes Anderson releases The French Dispatch and Asteroid City. Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where Australia's most-trusted society insider shares the hottest gossip BEFORE it makes the news. From Paris, with debt It was a fashion fiasco when homegrown designer Kym Ellery's eponymous luxury brand collapsed leaving a string of creditors being owed millions. After moving to Paris in 2017, she closed her pair of Sydney boutiques two years later, made 22 staff redundant and liquidated the business. In doing so, a string of unpaid creditors was left out of pocket to the tune of $2.6million. Her company's operations in the weeks leading up to the collapse would come under scrutiny after records showed she'd transferred the ownership of the prized Ellery trademark to a new company owned by her just 13 days prior. So I hear eyes rolled this week as the tailors, jewellery makers, stylists, modelling agencies and fabric mills left high and dry learned that Ms Ellery, still based in Paris, had invited her 52,000 Instagram followers to shop her personal fashion archive. Eyes rolled this week as the creditors left high and dry by Ellery's liquidation learned designer Kym Ellery had invited her 52,000 Instagram followers to shop her personal fashion archive The expat designer is opening up her wardrobe for her followers to shop. Her eponymous luxury brand collapsed in April 2019, leaving a string of creditors being owed millions 'I still can't believe my eyes,' a scorned local fashion creative tells me. A source who visited the 'personal archive' tells me some jackets were going for as much as 800 and Ellery 'was there personally'. Since leaving the country in 2017, the 39-year-old has flaunted her overseas success in a series of photo shoots and promotional interviews while living in a luxury apartment in Paris Maison Rocher with her partner Jeremy Rocher and two children. She denies she fled Australia to dodge her debts to a long list of creditors. 'Just because you're in another country doesn't mean you're running away from something,' she previously told ABC's Background Briefing. 'I'm not hiding from Ellery Land closing, and I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me either.' In another interesting development, her recent 'rebrand' as a furniture designer has past employees scratching their heads. A source tells me a lamp which Ellery claimed she designed bears a striking resemblance to an old earring that was designed by someone else. The photos I was provided with do indeed suggest some degree of inspiration. A source tells me a lamp which Ellery claimed she designed (left) bears a striking resemblance to an old earring that was designed by someone else (right). The photos I was provided with do indeed suggest some degree of inspiration At the peak of the brand's success, Ellery became the third Australian label to show at Paris Fashion Week in 2015 and gradually earned an A-list following. But those halcyon days didn't last, although Ms Ellery's love affair with Paris has clearly endured. Aussie rich kids' Euro trip Forget Ascham, Cranbrook or Geelong Grammar - it seems even Australia's top private schools aren't exclusive enough for some of Sydney's wealthiest families. I hear the parents with real money are instead looking to Swiss boarding schools to give their pampered offspring the ultimate head start in life. Roxy Jacenko's daughter Pixie is due to start Year 9 at Aiglon College in August Barbara and Michael Coombes (pictured) send their eldest daughter to Aiglon, a prestigious international Boarding School in Vaud, Switzerland Aiglon College combines academic excellence, outdoor adventure and holistic education in a stunning Alpine setting For centuries, elite families have been sending their children to Swiss international boarding schools, whose alumni include CEOs, venture capitalists and royalty. And the one everyone is talking about? Aiglon College. A favourite of European earls, dukes and princesses, Aiglon combines academic excellence, outdoor adventure and holistic education in a stunning Alpine setting. Frankly, it looks like a finishing school for corporate super-villains. I hear Roxy Jacenko's social media star daughter Pixie Curtis is due to start at the exclusive co-ed college in August. She will no doubt bump into the eldest daughter of Vaucluse property tycoon Michael Coombes and wife Barbara, as well as the eldest daughter of Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow and his estranged wife, jewellery designer Alina. But Aiglon doesn't come cheap, with school fees costing upwards of $300,000 a year. Swiss boarding schools are known for their long history of educational excellence and peerless networking opportunities that prepare students for a lifetime of success. We wish the little capitalists all the best. And finally... guess who, don't sue Who knew this television personality was fronting the cameras after chugging a handful of THC-laced gummies? According to industry sources, they gobble up several prescription gummies a day. We get it, telly can be a stressful business. Cannabis 'edibles' have become a favourite among Hollywood celebrities of late. Some of them take them as prescribed while others indulge recreationally. What's next, medicinal ketamine? Actually, come to think of it, I know a few socialites who'd absolutely love that... The subject of this blind item is not mentioned or pictured elsewhere in this article. et all Daily Mail Australia's latest MAFS stories on WhatsApp here Married At First Sight bride Morena Farina has debuted her shock new X-rated career following her split from TV husband Tony Mojanovski. The 57-year-old DJ recently appeared in a social media clip in which she was seen energetically pole dancing while wearing a skimpy black bikini and matching knee pads. Morena looked confident as she effortlessly glided her toned body across the pole and showcased her newfound passion. She confidently mastered the sport through her graceful movements and impeccable balance. Her choice of attire, including high-heeled black boots that accentuated her slender figure, underscored her bold and unapologetic embrace of self-expression. It comes after Morena made a dramatic exit from MAFS during the last commitment ceremony. Married At First Sight's Morena Farina has debuted her shock new X-rated career, following her split from TV husband Tony Mojanovski The DJ initially looked like she was a no-show before coming on to the set as Tony sat on the couch explaining why their marriage has not worked. It was the first time Tony had seen her since the previous cast dinner party. She was determined not to let Tony have the final say on their tumultuous relationship. 'Did you really think I wasn't gonna come, really think I was gonna give him the last word?' she asked as she strode into the room. Morena had been determined not to return to the show after the dinner party and Tony's shock revelation that he wanted to father children at age 53. She even told producers she would ring police if they did not let her return home. 'They were holding me against my will. I told them, "I'm going to call the police - give me my phone",' Morena told Daily Mail Australia. The 57-year-old DJ recently appeared in a social media clip in which she was seen energetically pole dancing while wearing a skimpy black bikini and matching knee pads Morena looked confident as she effortlessly glided her toned body across the pole and showcased her newfound passion 'They put their hands up and acted innocent, saying, "No, no, we haven't touched you."' Morena eventually spoke to executives of the production company and was convinced to make a final appearance. 'I had the boss on the phone for a long time,' she revealed. 'They told me, "Are you really going to let Tony get away with everything he's done to you? You know he's married. He wanted his wife to come into the experiment. 'He thinks you're too old, calls you a sl**".' Morena eventually agreed to attend one final Commitment Ceremonybut with conditions. 'I told them, "I'm not speaking to the experts. They've never had my back. I just need to confront Tony",' she explained. 'They said, "Done. You can make a grand entry when Tony is on the couch and rip into him".' It comes after Morena made a dramatic exit from MAFS during the last commitment ceremony Sunday's episode saw Morena storm onto the set while Tony was on the couch, delivering a brutal take-down of him before immediately storming out and not waiting for other couples' turns on the couch. During the confrontation, Morena exposed multiple secrets about Tony's behaviour in the experiment, including his alleged desire to bring his estranged wife onto the show. 'He suddenly changed his story and said it wasn't about my age - it was because he wanted a baby,' Morena said. 'I grabbed his hand and told him, "Tony, if you wanted a baby, I would have let you go. I would never stop you."' - However, she later claimed that Tony's own cousin had told her he was infertile. Funnyman Sam Pang has revealed the embarrassing moment he was left tongue-tied after coming face-to-face with Australian screen legend Jack Thompson. The comedian said the awkward encounter with the 82-year-old screen icon occurred during last month's AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast. After greeting The Man from Snowy River star, things went immediately downhill for a nervous Sam. 'I introduced myself, and said, "I'm a big fan" and walked off,' the star of the Front Bar told the Herald Sun on Wednesday. Thompson, who scored his first big role in the 1971 classic Australian outback thriller Wake in Fright, later became a major star Down Under. The one-time pin-up also featured in iconic Aussie films Sunday Too Far Away (1974), Breaker Morant (1980) and The Man from Snowy River (1982). Sam Pang (pictured) has revealed the embarrassing moment he was left tongue-tied after coming face-to-face with Australian screen legend Jack Thompson The comedian said the awkward encounter with the Thompson (pictured) occurred during last month's AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast He also co-starred with Russell Crowe in The Sum of Us (1994) and featured in the Star Wars prequel Attack of the Clones (2002). Elsewhere in the chat, Sam said he had thought about inviting Thompson on his new talk show Sam Pang Tonight - but lost his nerve. He went on to admit that his night at the AACTA's presented an A-list of guest talent he could approach for his own show, including Robbie Williams, Russell Crowe, Sam Neill and Bryan Brown. But Sam says he was reluctant to reach out, adding: 'I had to be very careful about not just blatantly asking [any of] them to be on the show.' He also dropped details about his new show, telling the publication that viewers can expect to hear a humorous monologue about the week's events. Channel 10 are gearing up to launch the Have You Being Paying Attention? star's new night time chat show Sam Pam Tonight on March 17. Daily Mail understands at least three networks pitched for the comic after he breathed life back into the Logies with his 'savage' roasts for the second year in a row. An inside source told Daily Mail Australia what fans can expect from the show currently in pre-production. After greeting The Man from Snowy River star, things went immediately downhill for Sam Jack Thompson, who scored his first big role in 1971 in the classic Australian outback thriller Wake in Fright, later became a major star Down Under. Pictured in The Man From Snowy River The vision for the show is for Sam to put his own spin on a Graham Norton-esque style panel show. 'Australia will finally have a proper "tonight show",' our source added. 'It's something that has really been missing in our free-to-air line up and Sam's show will be quite different to The Cheap Seats. 'It's more Graham Norton for Australia than weekly news commentary.' 'I hope he embraces some of the old school magic that made late night time television iconic back in the day.' Lady Gaga has revealed how her fiance Michael Polansky's unorthodox proposal inspired a song on her upcoming album Mayhem. The 38-year-old pop star has been dating the venture capitalist since 2019, and they eventually got engaged in April of last year. Mayhem, which will be released on Friday, is the first full-length pop studio album that Gaga will drop since her 2020 effort Chromatica. Three of the songs have already been unveiled and proven themselves as hit singles, but several of them remain under wraps until the full album is unveiled. One of them is the romantic number Blade Of Grass - which Gaga has now disclosed is directly drawn from the way Michael popped the question. He asked Gaga to marry him in an unusual manner that she had in fact suggested herself, she revealed on Apple Music to Zane Lowe. Lady Gaga has revealed how her fiance Michael Polansky's unorthodox proposal inspired a song on her upcoming album Mayhem She shared that Michael 'asked me how I would want him to propose to me one day. We were in our backyard and I said: Just take a blade of grass and wrap it around my finger," and then I wrote Blade Of Grass.' While penning the song, the Bad Romance hitmaker 'remembered the way his face looked, and I remembered the grass in the backyard.' Gaga, born Stefani Germanotta, added: 'And I remembered thinking: He should use that really long grass thats in the center of the backyard.' Michael ultimately proposed last year on April Fool's Day, with a blade of grass as Gaga requested - though because of the date she initially assumed he was joking. In addition to the grass ring, Michael also presented his bride-to-be with a massive eight-carat oval-cut diamond sparkler she has flaunted in the months since. Their engagement went public that July when Gaga introduced Michael as 'my fiance' to France's prime minister at the time, Gabriel Attal. Gaga was in Paris to perform at the Olympics, where she recreated cabaret legend Zizi Jeanmaire's racy number Mon truc en plumes (My Thing In Feathers). in her new interview, Gaga showered praise on Michael, saying that he helped dispel the feelings of loneliness that she had previously harbored. He proposed last year on April Fool's Day and eventually gave her an eight-carat diamond ring, which she is pictured showing off on the Carpool Karaoke Christmas special Gaga explained how the proposal inspired the song Blade Of Grass from her upcoming album Mayhem, which also includes Abracadabra, in whose music video she is pictured Gaga, who is pictured this past September at the premiere of her new movie Joker: Folie A Deux, said her 'home used to only be the stage' before she was with Michael 'My home used to only be the stage,' she said. 'It was so lonely, and also, it is so much more fun to take somebody up there with you, someone that loves you, that knows what you're capable in all the various aspects of life.' She touchingly shared: ' I think that there's nothing that can bring a tear to my eye I think more on a daily basis than knowing that I mean also so much to somebody in a way that isn't about what I'm doing onstage, or my song, or what I'm wearing.' Gaga dished: 'He's so grateful if I make him a double decaf espresso over ice, 'cause that's his favorite, and that's a huge part of who I am, and mattering to somebody just for being me, a girl, that means a lot.' Another plus side of her relationship is that Michael understands her life as a pop star, including the pressures and rigors she has to undergo. 'But also to be embraced also - in that he will say to me: "The thing you have to do, to get yourself ready to do that, is so intense." He just wants me to be okay, and he wants to - he's my real friend,' Gaga said glowingly. Michael is also involved hands-on in Gaga's musical career, helping her pen seven of the songs that fans will be able to hear on Mayhem. Regina Hall called out her close pal Kevin Hart for crass comments that he made about her breasts in the past when they were filming a project together. The Scary Movie actress, 54, brought up the topic when the comedian, 45, made a surprise guest appearance on Today on Wednesday - which she was co-hosting alongside Jenna Bush Hager. The pair have had a longtime friendship and also collaborated on a number of films together over the years such as Scary Movie 3, About Last Night, Think Like A Man and Death At A Funeral. Hart suddenly appeared on stage during Today With Jenna And Friends and gave Regina an enormous bouquet of flowers. After the two stars shared a sweet hug, the actor gushed how Regina 'looked good' - which prompted her to playfully ask while pointing at her cleavage, 'Do you want to tell them what you said about me?' As she began to recall the moment, Kevin jokingly pointed out to the live audience that they were on 'daytime' television. Regina Hall, 54, called out her close pal Kevin Hart, 45, for crass comments that he made about her breasts in the past when they were filming a project together The Scary Movie actress brought up the topic when the comedian made a surprise guest appearance on Today on Wednesday - which she was co-hosting alongside Jenna Bush Hager However, Hall continued by explaining, 'Kevin and I were doing a scene, and I was scantily clad, and he said, "Somebody get a robe, so Regina can cover up her sandbags!"' Jenna burst out laughing along with the crowd and the TV personality repeated out loud, 'Sandbags?' Regina expressed that she 'does not know what woman wants' her breasts to be labeled as 'sandbags.' Hart then cut in while raising his hands into the air and humorously said, 'It was a different shoot. It was a different time. It was a different time! It wasn't in today's time.' Hager shifted the conversation towards the pair's 20-year friendship and asked Kevin if he remembered first crossing paths with the actress. The Ride Along actor initially joked that he met Hall at Home Depot but then clarified that they first met while on set of Scary Movie 3. He later stated, 'We spent a lot of time together. I don't think that there is a face that lights me up more on camera and off. 'We have a very strong relationship - friendship and I say it time and time again she is pound for pound the funniest co-star that I've ever worked with today.' The pair have had a longtime friendship and also collaborated on a number of films together over the years such as Scary Movie 3, About Last Night, Think Like A Man and Death At A Funeral; the pair seen in 2022 in L.A. After the two stars shared a sweet hug, the actor gushed how Regina 'looked good' - which prompted her to playfully ask while pointing at her cleavage, 'Do you want to tell them what you said about me?' However, Hall continued by explaining, 'Kevin and I were doing a scene, and I was scantily clad, and he said, "Somebody get a robe, so Regina can cover up her sandbags!"' Hart then cut in while raising his hands into the air and humorously said, 'It was a different shoot. It was a different time. It was a different time! It wasn't in today's time' Hart suddenly appeared on stage during Today With Jenna And Friends and gave Regina an enormous bouquet of flowers Hager shifted the conversation towards the pair's 20-year friendship and asked Kevin if he remembered first crossing paths with the actress Regina also shared that she 'loves' the comedian and as he opened up about their friendship, she also called the star 'handsome.' Earlier this week, the actress also made an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show and revealed the nickname that Kevin gave her. 'He calls me Nana Jean Jean,' she shared with a laugh, while Hudson cut in to question the meaning behind the name. Hall expressed, 'I'm an old lady 'cause I don't go out anywhere because I'm always home.' Both Kevin and Regina have been filtering through busy schedules and focusing on projects of their own. During his brief appearance on Today, the comedian had the chance to talk about his upcoming BET+ animated series titled Lil Kev - which is slated to begin airing 30 minute episodes on Thursday, March 6. The show - which is the first adult animated series for BET+ - is based on Hart's own upbringing in Philadelphia in the early 90s. The premise is: 'In 1993 North Philly, 12-year-old Kevin faces tough neighborhood life with boundless optimism. He later stated, 'We spent a lot of time together. I don't think that there is a face that lights me up more on camera and off' During his brief appearance on Today, the comedian had the chance to talk about his upcoming BET+ animated series titled Lil Kev - which is slated to begin airing 30 minute episodes on Thursday, March 6; seen in 2024 in Washington D.C. 'His mom works nights, his brother's a troublemaker, his dad wants back in, and his uncle gives dubious advice - but Kev keeps hustling,' per IMDB. The star explained to Jenna and Regina, 'Lil Kev is an animation that's loosely based off of my childhood - my life from childhood through now. 'And you know, what's crazy about it is growing up in Philadelphia - it's talking about the hood but lightening up the conversation.' He further added, 'You know, embracing the hood in a different way. And it's just special to be able to have this to talk about today. On the day of all days when I'm here with Regina.' Other celebrities that have been cast in the upcoming series include Wanda Sykes and Deon Cole. Kevin is also an executive producer on the show through his own company called HartBeat Productions. In a statement earlier this year, per Variety, Hart expressed: 'I'm excited to deepen the partnership between HartBeat and BET on a project so close to my heart. And Regina took on a role in the post-apocalyptic musical O'Dessa - which will drop on Hulu later this month on March 20; seen in 2024 in Washington D.C. 'With comedy veterans Wanda and Deon alongside me, we're bringing Lil Kev to life - a hilarious celebration of stories inspired by my Philly roots, a place that will always be home to me.' And Regina took on a role in the post-apocalyptic musical O'Dessa - which will drop on Hulu later this month on March 20. Hall was joined by other cast members including Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Murray Bartlett. The premise is: 'A farm girl in search to recover a cherished family heirloom. She travels to a strange and dangerous city where she meets her one true love. To save his soul, she must put the power of destiny to the ultimate test,' per IMDB. Jay-Z's rape accuser reportedly confessed to lying about his involvement, claiming her attorney, Tony Buzbee, pressured her to include him in the lawsuit. The Alabama woman (who identifies herself as Jane Doe in court documents) spoke to a private investigator named Charlotte Henderson on Feb. 21, 2025. Henderson filed an affidavit on Wednesday, stating the two met in Doe's home, and that during their meeting Doe allegedly admitted that Buzbee 'pushed' her to include the hip hop mogul, 55, in her lawsuit, as per TMZ. According to legal documents, Doe told Buzbee that in 2000 she was allegedly raped by Sean 'Diddy' Combs when she was 13, and wanted to sue him. However, she claims Buzbee then 'brought Jay-Z into it.' 'He was the one that kind of pushed me towards going forward with him, with Jay-Z,' she reportedly claimed. Doe also told the investigator that Buzbee allegedly said Jay-Z threatened to kill her, which led to her dropping the lawsuit last month. Jay-Z's, 55, rape accuser allegedly confessed to lying about his involvement, claiming her attorney, Tony Buzbee, pressured her to include him in the lawsuit; Jay-Z pictured in February It comes a day after Jay-Z who is wed to fellow music superstar Beyonce, 43 filed a defamation lawsuit against the anonymous woman and Buzbee. Henderson states that Doe said she told Buzbee the 99 Problems rapper was at the party where the alleged rape occurred, but claims she told him Jay-Z was not involved. Despite her statements, Buzbee filed a lawsuit alleging both Jay-Z and Diddy sexually assaulted her. After media outlets uncovered some inconsistencies in her story, she dismissed the suit last month. Henderson met with Doe a week after the dismissal. In the affidavit, Henderson states that Doe declared four times that Jay-Z did not assault her. When she was asked if she would sign an affidavit stating that, she reportedly asked, 'But how does this help me?' Henderson claims she was not hired by Jay-Z or his legal team to do the investigation. It's unclear who, if anyone, paid her. Additionally, private investigator Ian Pillinger filed an affidavit revealing Doe's alleged recent stay in a mental health facility, as per TMZ, just 90 days prior to Buzbee's demand letter to Jay-Z. Buzbee responded to the latest development, telling TMZ: 'Each assertion is flat out false and made up. Jane Doe called referring counsel, the Ava Law Group, and alleged she was assaulted by PDiddy and Jay Z before her case was EVER referred to our firm. Thats indisputable.' In an affidavit filed on Wednesday, a private investigator alleges the Alabama woman admitted Buzbee pressured her to include Jay-Z in her lawsuit, as per TMZ; Buzbee pictured in 2023 According to legal documents, Doe told Buzbee that in 2000 she was allegedly raped by Sean ' Diddy ' Combs when she was 13, and wanted to sue him. However, she claims Buzbee then 'brought Jay-Z into it'; Diddy and Jay-Z pictured in 2015 Doe also reportedly told the investigator that Buzbee allegedly said Jay-Z threatened to kill her, which led to her dropping the lawsuit last month; Jay-Z seen in 2024 Henderson states that Doe said she told Buzbee the 99 Problems rapper was at the party where the alleged rape occurred, but told him he was not involved; Jay-Z pictured in 2000 He went on to claim that they have obtained the intake sheet from Ava Law group, where Doe was a client long before she went to Buzbee's firm. 'In that form created by their firm I take it shows who she was making the assertions against. Those investigators likely didnt know that the paper trail will demonstrably prove what they say to be false.' 'None of the actual documentation supports that false story that Jay Zs team is trying to sell the public.' On Monday it was revealed that Jay-Z has sued the Alabama woman and Buzbee, saying the 'lies' and 'extortionate threats' made by them led him to a $20 million loss. The Empire State Of Mind artist accused the defendants in the case, in addition to attorney David Fortney, of 'malicious prosecution, abuse of process, civil conspiracy and defamation,' according to legal documents filed in Alabama and reviewed by Dailymail.com. In the legal complaint, Jay-Z says the defendants 'were soullessly motivated by greed, in abject disregard of the truth and the most fundamental precepts of human decency.' Buzbee represented the woman claiming the 24-time Grammy-winner and Combs sexually assaulted her when she was 13. She claims the incident took place at an MTV Music Awards afterparty in September of 2000 - accusations which Jay-Z and Diddy have denied. The case was dismissed last month, with the Hard Knock Life rapper saying at the time, 'Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed. This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere.' Buzbee told Dailymail.com exclusively Monday, 'This new case alleges the same claims as the other one they pieced together and filed in Los Angeles.' On Monday it was revealed that Jay-Z has sued the Alabama woman and Buzbee, saying the 'lies' and 'extortionate threats' made by them led him to a $20 million loss; Pictured in LA February 2 at the Grammys with wife Beyonce and Bruno Mars Jay-Z's lawyers have cited a December television interview with NBC News in which his accuser acknowledged inconsistencies in her story as a reason to toss the case 'Like the one in LA, this new case in Alabama also has no legal merit.' He continued: 'Shawn Carter's investigators have repeatedly harassed, threatened and harangued this poor woman for weeks trying to intimidate her and make her recant her story.' 'She hasnt, and wont. Instead she has stated repeatedly she stands by her claims. These same group of investigators have been caught on tape offering to pay people to sue me and my firm.' Buzbee told Dailymail.com that he spoke 'with Jane Doe today' and 'it appears that the quotes attributed to her in the lawsuit are completely made up, or they spoke to someone who isnt Jane Doe.' The attorney added: 'This is just another attempt to intimidate and bully this poor woman that we will deal with in due course.' Buzbee wrapped up his statement to Dailymail.com, 'We wont be bullied or intimidated by frivolous cases.' Dailymail.com has reached out to reps for Jay-Z for comment on the story. In January, lawyers for Jay-Z asked the court to sanction Buzbee, alleging he did not personally meet with the woman ahead of filing the legal complaint, TMZ reported after reviewing legal docs in the case. The legal team for the 24-time Grammy-winner, led by attorney Alex Spiro, said Buzbee admitted to not personally speaking with the woman ahead of filing the case, which is a major ethical lapse. The legal team for Jay-Z, led by attorney Alex Spiro said Buzbee admitted to not personally speaking with the woman ahead of filing the case, which is a major ethical lapse. Spiro pictured in July in Santa Fe, New Mexico The alleged incident took place at an MTV VMAs afterparty in September of 2000, Jay-Z's accuser said. The rapper pictured months earlier during a July 4 bash in the Hamptons Jay-Z, pictured December 9 with wife Beyonce, has denied all of the claims against him Buzbee told Dailymail.com in response that 'what Spiro has filed, like everything else he has filed thus far, is utterly frivolous and meritless.' Buzbee previously told TMZ that 'he did, in fact, personally interview the plaintiff, as did four other lawyers,' the outlet reported, noting that he said that 'anyone who says otherwise has their own agenda.' Buzbee told Dailymail.com that 'with every frantic filing the defense in this case grows more desperate.' He added of his case against the rapper, whose name is Shawn Carter: 'The rules apply equally to everyone, even those who wrongly think they are above the law. No one is above the law.' Lawyers for Jay-Z said that Buzbee - whose Texas-based firm is in charge of more than 150 people suing Combs - didn't properly vet the woman accusing Jay-Z ahead of a December interview she conducted with NBC News in which she acknowledged inconsistencies in her story. Jane Doe said in her legal filing she was living in Rochester in 2000 when she made her way to New York City and befriended a limousine driver who drove her to the party in a trek that took about 20 minutes. Buzbee has said his firm is representing more than 150 people, both male and female, who claims Combs sexual abused and exploited them. Many of Buzbee's legal filing include allegations of spiked drinks at lavish parties in locales such as New York, California and Florida. Combs lawyers have characterized Buzbees lawsuits as 'shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs.' Jay-Z and Combs gained fame in the 2000s, emerging as successful rappers and business magnates, with Forbes last year estimating Jay-Z's net worth to be $2.5 billion. The artists have collaborated over the years, with Jay-Z appearing on Combs' debut album, No Way Out and Combs performing on Jay-Zs sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges after his September arrest. He has remained incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting a May 5 trial, after he was refused bail on multiple occasions; pictured with ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in March of 2016 in LA Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges after his September arrest. He has remained incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting a May 5 trial, after he was refused bail on multiple occasions. Prosecutors in Combs' federal case say the music mogul used blackmail and violence in his efforts to silence victims. Among the claims made against the entertainer is that he persuaded women to participate against their will in group sexual exhibitions referred to as 'Freak Offs.' The Can't Nobody Hold Me Down performer remains in federal custody nearly five months after his September 16 arrest in Manhattan in connection with sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Combs, who is also charged with transportation to engage in prostitution, has made a trio of attempts in vain to be granted bail, amid concerns from the court he would attempt to flee or tamper with his case. Kelly Osbourne opted for a very chic look on Thursday as she arrived at Sydney Airport wearing a headscarf with her partner Sid Mason and their son Sidney. The TV personality, 40, was every inch the doting mother as she cradled her two-year-old in her arms while her Slipknot star partner, 48, carried their luggage. Kelly, who is the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, flaunted her drastic weight loss after she was forced to deny using Ozempic to help slim down. She poured her figure into tight blue jeans which she cuffed at the ankle, before slipping on a basic white T-shirt topped with an oversized green flannel. Accessorising with a pair of black loafer shoes and huge cat eye glasses, Kelly finished her look off by covering her blonde locks with a polka dot headscarf. Meanwhile, Slipknot DJ Sid kept his look more casual as he flashed his numerous tattoos in a black band tee with beige long shorts and Adidas sneakers. Kelly Osbourne, 40, opted for a very chic look on Thursday as she arrived at Sydney Airport wearing a headscarf with her partner Sid Mason, 48, and their son Sidney, two The TV personality was every inch the doting mother as she cradled her two-year-old in her arms while her Slipknot star partner carried their luggage Sid will take to the stage with his band on Saturday to play Centennial Park amid Knotfest 2025. It comes after Kelly first addressed her sudden weight loss in April last year, when she revealed she 'doesn't know where it came from' that she used Ozempic. She told Extra: 'I know everybody thinks I took Ozempic. I did not take Ozempic. I don't know where that came from. My mum took Ozempic.' The star also explained her weight loss was prompted after she developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy. 'I had gestational diabetes, and I had to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy, otherwise I was at a higher risk of actually getting diabetes, which I did not want.' 'I cut out sugar and carbohydrates and I rapidly lost weight,' Kelly stated. She also revealed she's been getting a total tone-up treatment, which combines EMFACE and EMSCULPT NEO, in order to sculpt her face and tighten her body. 'I had the baby and my stomach got so many stretch marks, and the skin, it looks like it lost its elasticity,' Kelly shared. Kelly, who is the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, flaunted her drastic weight loss after she was forced to deny using Ozempic to help slim down Meanwhile, Slipknot DJ Sid kept his look more casual as he flashed his numerous tattoos in a black band tee with beige long shorts and Adidas sneakers However, while she didn't use Ozempic herself, her mother Sharon did, and Kelly has been supportive of the drug as she spoke candidly about it on their family podcast back in April. She said: 'I made some comments about Ozempic recently where it was like 50 percent of the people hated it, 50 percent of the people liked it. 'But the truth is, my opinion used to be the same as the people who didn't like it until I met somebody who lost weight from Ozempic and it changed their life.' She added: 'They explained to me how it took the mental obsession with food away and from that reprieve allowed them to dig deeper through therapy and really figure out who they were and how life-changing it was for them.' Following the new information, she said: 'It completely changed my opinion on it so I'm like yeah, it's great. 'If there's a medication out there that can help people lose weight then what's so bad about it?' Curtis Stone is setting his sights on the White House. The 49-year-old restaurateur revealed in the latest episode of TMZ's Big Down Under podcast that he would love to cook for US President Donald Trump. 'If I was going to sort of lean into Australia I would bring him some beef, I know he likes steak,' he told podcast host Charlie Cotton. Curtis also considered a dish featuring thin slices of caramelised Wagyu. 'They usually shave it and serve it in shabu-shabu which is a bubbling broth so you just dip it and eat it so its not medium rare,' he said. 'Its not well done, its just flash cooked. So maybe thats the answer for Donald.' Curtis Stone is setting his sights on the White House. Pictured The 49-year-old restaurateur revealed in the latest episode of TMZ's Big Down Under podcast that he would love to cook for US President Donald Trump (pictured) Curtis is no stranger to serving up meals for A-listers including Gwyneth Paltrow, Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey. The celebrity chef also revealed he was among guests at a White House State dinner for PM Scott Morrison in 2019 during Trump's first term. Elsewhere in the chat, Stone recalled that he met Trump in 2010 as a contestant on season three of The Celebrity Apprentice, which starred the now-President. 'At that point he had no political aspirations, he was doing a reality show [and] running a real estate business,' Curtis explained. 'He was outspoken and had a lot to say about lots of things. You didnt ever really think he would. Most people that want to become the President or Prime Minister of a country start their life in politics. 'Trump had nothing to do with politics until he decided he was going to. Its bizarre, its nuts.' Stone placed fourth after being fired by Trump. It comes after Stone defended his last stint as guest judge on MasterChef Australia after coming under fire from fans. 'If I was going to sort of lean into Australia I would bring him some beef, I know he likes steak,' he told podcast host Charlie Cotton. Curtis also considered a dish featuring thin slices of caramelised Wagyu The outspoken food guru copped flack from viewers last season for being 'too harsh' and 'unpleasant' with the contestants. Curtis told Yahoo Lifestyle how his judging style changed as they got closer to the final and insisted the contestants appreciated his 'tough' criticism. 'So I always think as the chef, you have to be a good mentor, and you have to feel out your team, you have to understand where they're at and know how much pressure, how much to push,' he said. 'And last season, I had a group of guys that were really wanting it, really wanting it a lot. 'So I gave it to them, and I pushed them, and I made them extend themselves, and I think that, you know, they were really grateful for it at the end of it, and it was really, really fun.' Curtis made his debut on MasterChef in 2012 during an episode of MasterChef Australia All-Stars and has frequently appeared on the competition ever since. Danny Jones and his wife Georgia have reportedly been locked in crisis talks over the past few days over his drunken kiss with Maura Higgins on Saturday night. McFly star Danny was seen sharing a smooch with his I'm A Celeb co-star Maura at an afterparty for the Brit Awards on Saturday. His wife of ten years Georgia is said to be 'humilated' over the betrayal, but a new report has suggested that she has forgiven her husband after they left their London home for crunch talks. A source has told The Sun: 'This saga has been embarrassing and Danny had a lot of explaining to do.' A pal added of the couple, who are parents to son Cooper, seven: 'Danny and Georgia have been together for a long time and have spoken about that night. They are keen to just move past it and get on with their lives. 'Danny and Georgia are both committed to each other and are moving on with their lives.' Danny Jones and his wife Georgia have reportedly been locked in crisis talks over the past few days over his drunken kiss with Maura Higgins on Saturday night (Georgia and Danny pictured after his win on the show in December) MailOnline have contacted reps for Danny, Georgia and Maura for comment. Neither Georgia nor her husband Danny, who she married in 2014, have spoken in public since he was caught enjoying a late-night smooch with former Love Islander Maura, 34. It is understood that Georgia has not recorded any new editions of her podcast since The Sun obtained footage of Danny and Maura getting cosy at a Brits bash. The latest edition of the Mum's The Word podcast was released on Monday, but was recorded before the news of the kissing furore. A 'humilated' Georgia has also pulled out of a public Q&A at The Baby Show this weekend. The video of Danny and Maura, reportedly taken just before 3am, shows them standing close to each other in the venue's foyer and leaning in to chat before he appears to peck her quickly. They were then seen leaving the venue as part of a larger group including Danny's bandmate Tom Fletcher, with Maura then heading home alone in a taxi. An onlooker told the publication of the interaction: 'Danny and Maura seemed to be having a great time. They looked like they had a brief drunken kiss. McFly star Danny was seen sharing a smooch with his I'm A Celeb co-star Maura at an afterparty for the Brit Awards on Saturday (Maura and Danny pictured on Saturday) At the afterparty Danny and Maura shared a table and MailOnline footage showed them sitting close together, with Maura even resting her head on Danny's shoulder at one point 'Danny and Maura seem to have a close friendship after meeting in the jungle. They were talking and laughing for ages.' The pair sat at different tables for the actual ceremony which was held earlier in the night at the O2 Arena. But at the afterparty they did share a table and exclusive MailOnline footage showed them sitting close together, with Maura even resting her head on Danny's shoulder at one point. A source added of the night: 'Danny appeared to be giving Maura advice and at one point he put his arm around her shoulder.' The latest edition of Georgia's Mum's The Word podcast with friend Kelsey Parker was released on Monday, but was recorded before the news of the kissing furore. Georgia and Kelsey chatted about the importance of being present and living in the moment, opening up about spending time with their children. She chatted about parenting, made reference to their recent house move and even detailed their flight to Australia, which had been to see Danny while he was in the I'm A Celebrity jungle. While another moment in the episode saw her becoming emotional as Kelsey gave her pal a slew of compliments, after a fan asked the pair to say what they liked most about each other. Touched, Georgia said: 'Thanks, aww Kels. Don't because I'll cry!' before she tellingly added: 'Nah I'm alright, I'm not in an emotional vulnerable state today so we're okay.' Kelsey chimed in to tell listeners: '[Georgia's] tired, but she's a different tired.' She's already stunned at Paris Fashion Week with a string of glamorous looks. And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley put on yet another showstopping display in a glamorous black mini dress as she headed to PrettyLittleThing's Legacy In Progress party in the French capital on Wednesday. Marking the retailer's rebrand earlier this week, the model posed up a storm in her sexy black dress as she joined a slew of stars at the party. Rosie showed off her incredible figure in a skintight black dress cinched in at the waist, boasting a layered lace skirt. The fashion favourite was seen mingling with stars including boxer Anthony Joshua and hitmaker Burna Boy at the party. PLT completely wiped their Instagram of all posts last week, leaving its 18 million-strong following baffled. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley stunned in a black mini dress as she headed to PrettyLittleThing's Legacy In Progress party in Paris on Wednesday Marking the retailer's rebrand earlier this week, the model posed up a storm in her sexy black dress as she joined a slew of stars at the party including Nada Kamani The company is known for churning out hundreds of items every week and its distinctive colourful, trendy and cheap clothing. But now the creative team seem to have embarked on a huge U-turn, as the garments on display are now all in neutral colours and 'conservative' styles, consisting of turtleneck tops, pleated skirts and ruched dresses that fall to just below the knee. The brand has also updated its logo from eye-catching pink unicorns to a more understated burgundy with PLT lettering in cursive handwriting. But not everyone has been left convinced by the creative changes, with some fans even declaring that the brand is 'entering its flop era'. Others slammed the business for upping its prices despite using the same materials, while mimicking other brands such as Zara and the ventures of former creative director Molly Mae Hague in Maebe. The price increases, combined with sizes only going up to 16, have led people to accuse the brand of not taking an 'inclusive' approach. British content creator Leah Tezila said the 'Zarafication of fashion brands has to stop', and criticised PLT for stating that it's for 'every type of It-girl' when they only go up to a size 16 in their main range. She said: 'The price point has increased making it less accessible to its main consumer. The plus size range is insulting in comparison to the normal range. Boxer Anthony Joshua put on a dapper display in a sharp cream suit and pale blue trainers as he posed for snaps at the party The boxer mingled with Nigerian hitmaker Burna Boy, with the pair showing off their looks in snaps together Cindy Bruna stunned in a sexy sheer black knitted dress with a feathered trim, teamed with matching heels Actor Michael Ward posed for playful snaps with PrettyLittleThing's CEO Umar Kamani as they marked the launch of the retailer's rebrand Tina Kunakey cut a chic figure in an oversized black trouser suit with a polo neck satin blouse, adding a pop of colour with a statement red lip Actor Ed Westwick opted for low-key black satin shirt and oversized red trousers as he headed into the party Actress Kelly Rutherford cut a glamorous figure in a plunging white flared jumpsuit, and accessorised with a brown Birkin bag Model Jasmine Tookes slipped into a stylish white buttoned mini dress, which she cinched in at the waist with a thin black belt As the mind behind PLT's eye-catching new rebrand, CEO Umar Kamani was also in attendance alongside his wife Nada Kamani 'I'm also of the opinion that we don't need to have a separate plus size range it's 2025, you can literally just have the increase in sizes shown on [other products]. 'It's getting harder to buy because it's getting harder to live. More bad fabric, with some of us such as bigger people or less able bodied people being able to have the privilege to shop elsewhere means consuming more fabric and other environmentally unfriendly materials.' Harriet Wright added that PrettyLittleThing have 'completely abandoned their core customer' by switching to 'beige and boring' clothes. She said: 'Who at PLT thought they could go dark on social media for a couple of days, bring out the most beige and boring clothes, hike their prices and give us clothes that nobody asked for and think it was going to be a hit?' 'I think they're going to have to go back to the drawing board because I don't think this is going to be enough to take them out of their flop era.' Others likened the revamp to Molly Mae Hague's brand, Maebe, which launched in September last year uses signature neutral shades of brown, nude, black and white hues in all its clothing. The PLT Instagram account now only follows billionaire CEO Umar Kamani, who was born in Manchester, and said a 'big announcement' would follow at the start of the week. Umar, who returned to the brand last September after stepping down a year prior, said: 'People talk about the old PLT, this PLT is going to be far better.' The entrepreneur spoke to Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett about the rebrand and asked him about why he decided to change all the elements of the brand. 'I feel a bit emotional, because I don't like where we got to,' he said while tearing up. Also speaking with Drapers about the PLT shift, Umar said: 'I think what happened with the brand for a couple of years is we stopped listening. 'And thats where the brand lost its identity. In coming back, what Ive tried to do is to clean everything up and redefine ourselves.' Umar also added that while PLT used to focus on 'getting the product on the site at the absolute cheapest price we could,' they now want to shift to make their products 'better quality'. He said: 'What weve done now is not to focus on having a dress on site at 4 but having a dress thats thicker, not see-through and a better fit. We are using better fabrics and better finishes.' It appears that PLT have faced financial trouble over the past couple of years, after it's revenue was slashed from 634.1million to 475.8million according to City.Am, who looked at accounts filed with Companies House in November 2024. Ray Winstone has put his name forward for James Bond, after the shock news that Amazon have taken over the 007 movie franchise. Long-time Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson revealed last week they were ceding creative control to streaming giant Amazon, founded by tech billionaire Jeff Bezos. And Ray, 68, is the latest Brit star to voice their concern for the deal, whilst making a surprise bid for the role. Insisting he can step up to ensure the spy remains British, the movie hardman, who is about to start shooting series two of Netflix hit The Gentlemen, told talkSPORT: 'I'd like to play Bond. Get him down to earth, get him gritty.' He added of rumours the suave British icon could be Americanized: 'The world's gone crazy.' Broccoli and Wilson are the daughter and stepson of Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli who launched the British spy franchise in 1962. Ray Winstone has put his name forward for James Bond, after the shock news that Amazon have taken over the 007 movie franchise They will remain co-owners but fans and former Bond film stars have raised concerns about how the future of the legendary 007 series will play out. The most recent Bond film No Time To Die was released in 2021 and there has still been no decision on who will succeed Daniel Craig in the lead role. Former James Bond Timothy Dalton has branded the sale of the film franchise to Amazon as 'sad' - while insisting the next actor to play 007 must be British. Dalton, who starred as the super-spy in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill, has become the latest to raise concerns over the new takeover deal just announced. The actor, now 78, is one of only seven actors to portray Bond on the silver screen - along with Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Craig, while David Niven featured in one unofficial, non-Eon Productions film. The Welsh-born actor, whose recent credits include playing Princess Margaret's ex-lover Peter Townsend in drama series The Crown, has now spoken out about the Amazon agreement which has upset Bond aficionados. When asked about the fears being expressed, he told the Telegraph: 'I think it's sad as well. Barbara is one of the best women in the whole world. I think she's fantastic. 'Around a Bond movie, everyone's got an opinion. That tends to make something less special, but if you keep it to people who know what they're doing and know what they want, then it will sharpen up and be good. Barbara had that. 'I have no idea what Amazon would do with it, and I have no idea what the relationship of Amazon to the Broccolis will be. Timothy Dalton, seen here playing James Bond in 1989 film Licence To Kill, has described the new sale of the 007 franchise to streaming giant Amazon as 'sad' Producer Barbara Broccoli, 64, controlled the Bond movies for 30 years after taking over from her father - Dalton has paid tribute to her as 'one of the best women in the whole world' 'But it is a damn fine series of movies. I was watching it when I was young, we all were. It's been part of our lives, so anything that threatens it is kind of sad.' And on the subject of whether the next actor picked for the main role created in Ian Fleming's novels should be British, Dalton insisted: 'I would agree with that. 'It is one of the few wonderful stories we've got in film that is British. The leading character is British. We can call it our own. 'Yes. Yes. Because that's where it was born, that's what the stories are. Definitely. One hundred per cent.' Gene Hackman's nephew Tim Hackman has hit out the numerous 'negative' theories that have surrounded the actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa. Last week, the pair's mummified bodies were found inside their $3.8 million Sante Fe house along with one of their three dogs named Zinna. The award-winning actor had been age 95 and Arakawa was 65. The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has called the deaths 'suspicious' while various theories have begun circulating in regards to what had caused their mysterious passing - such as 'companion suicide' or toxic gas. However most recently, the gas company revealed following a thorough investigation that there were 'no significant findings' of gas leaks or carbon monoxide inside the house. 'We're waiting on toxicology. That will tell us everything,' Tim Hackman informed Us Weekly on Monday. 'It's hard to theorize. There are lots of theories out there and I don't want to speculate. It's easy to speculate negative theories.' Gene's nephew - whose father was Richard Hackman and a stuntman for Gene - added, 'The family wants to keep it positive for now and when we know the truth we will deal with it.' Gene Hackman's nephew Tim has hit out the numerous 'negative' theories that have surrounded the actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa; Hackman seen in 2003 in Beverly Hills Tim also explained to Us Weekly that the description of how the actor and his wife's bodies - as well as their dog Zinna - were found have left many unanswered questions. 'My uncle was 95-years-old at an age where you think about, "Okay, it's time." But from the circumstances now things have changed a bit. It's a major change.' Hackman was notably found in the mud room inside their residence next to a can and glasses. Betsy was discovered lying on the bathroom floor while prescription pills were strewn across the counter nearby. Two of their dogs were found alive on the property - while Zinna was found locked in a kennel inside a bathroom closet. With investigations still underway, Tim recalled his last meeting with Gene 11 years earlier when he attended his father Richard's (Gene's brother) funeral. 'He was [living] in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I would call Betsy and give an update on the kids. He'd come to California just to see his family or for the weather,' he explained to the outlet. Tim said that Hackman was 'like any other family member' - but he was still aware of the Oscar winner's fame. 'For me personally, it's something I would find strange because I was a fan and a nephew. There were moments of, "Wow, Gene Hackman is in front of me."' Gene's nephew - whose father was Richard Hackman and a stuntman for Gene - added, 'The family wants to keep it positive for now and when we know the truth we will deal with it'; Gene and Betsy seen in March 2024 in Santa Fe 'My uncle was 95-years-old at an age where you think about, "Okay, it's time." But from the circumstances now things have changed a bit. It's a major change,' Tim said; Officers seen outside of Hackman's residence on February 27 The star's nephew also shared that the Hollywood star had been 'a reconnaissance Marine radio man [and] he felt he didn't deserve the title but he earned it. 'He represented the Marines with pride in his own way. They say Marines lead the way and my uncle sure did and I'm very, very proud.' Over the past weekend on Sunday, Gene was paid tribute during the 97th Annual Academy Awards. Morgan Freeman - who worked alongside Hackman on films such as Under Suspicion - talked about the actor's legacy on stage. 'Well, this week, our community lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman. I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films, Unforgiven and Under suspicion. 'And like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer, a man whose gifts elevated everyone's work. He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world. 'Gene always said, "I don't think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,"' he added. 'I think I speak for us all when I say, Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more. Rest in peace, my friend.' In regards to Freeman's message to the late actor, Tim expressed, '[I] thought they did a good job. I was touched by that.' Over the past weekend on Sunday, Gene was paid tribute during the 97th Annual Academy Awards (seen above) Morgan Freeman - who worked alongside Hackman on films such as Under Suspicion - talked about the actor's legacy on stage The shocking discovery of Gene and Betsy's bodies has puzzled investigators, who are still trying to determine how and when the couple died. Hackman and Arakawa were found by a neighborhood security officer after pest-control workers reported not being able to get in touch with the residents. Authorities investigating the couple's deaths have already said a deadly carbon monoxide leak is unlikely. An expert who is not involved in the investigation on Tuesday weighed in on another theory recently bandied about - that Hackman and Arakawa may have died by 'companion suicide.' James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, told People Magazine that the theory is an unlikely explanation for the puzzling deaths. Gill, who said he had dealt in the past with 'cases like that,' explained that couples who die in a dual suicide are 'usually... together in bed.' However, police have said that Hackman was found dead in the house's mud room, with his can and sunglasses near him on the ground. Arakawa was discovered lying on the bathroom floor with prescription pills strewn across the nearby countertop. 'The fact that they're in two separate locations tells me that I think that's less likely,' Gill continued. The medical examiner said that the initial information about the scene makes it appear as if Hackman had 'collapsed.' 'He's got a history of heart disease. He's got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual,' he said. An expert who is not involved in the investigation on Tuesday weighed in on another theory recently bandied about - that Hackman and Arakawa may have died by 'companion suicide'; seen in 1994 'The fact that they're in two separate locations tells me that I think that's less likely,' Gill continued; seen in 1991 in California Another detail Gill focused on was the fact that Hackman was 'ambulatory' before his death, which he thought decreased the likelihood of a scenario in which he was left potentially helpless if Arakawa had died first. 'Sometimes we'll see instances where someone is bedridden and maybe they have dementia and then their caregiver dies from a natural event, and then there's no one there to take care of them, and then they can die from dehydration or what have you,' he explained. 'I don't think that's the case in this.' That information could be particularly useful to compare to when Arakawa may have died, though Gill admits 'that's a little bit of a more gray area.' And the gas company aiding in the investigation into the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa discovered a 'minuscule leak' in their Santa Fe home, but has determined it was 'not lethal.' Early speculation by Hackman's daughter Elizabeth Jean was that her father and his wife may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning or other 'toxic fumes.' But after an extensive investigation, the New Mexico Gas Company made 'no significant findings' of gas leaks or carbon monoxide in the home, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a statement to DailyMail.com. The gas company did, however, issue five 'red tags' including one for the minor leak at the stove burner, which registered '0.03 per cent gas in the air' and is 'not a lethal amount.' 'The other four red tags were for code enforcement violations - not involving gas leaks or carbon monoxide - involving a water heater and gas log lighters installed in three fireplaces,' police said. Authorities believe Hackman and Arakawa, whose bodies were partially mummified at the time of discovery, likely died a couple weeks before they were found. And the gas company aiding in the investigation into the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa discovered a 'minuscule leak' in their Santa Fe home, but has determined it was 'not lethal' Tests on Hackman's pacemaker revealed that he was alive on February 17 when a 'last event' was recorded - nine days before his body was discovered. Police say it is a 'reasonable assumption' that he died when his pacemaker had its 'last event.' Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza during a press conference last week on Friday confirmed that both Hackman and Arakawa 'tested negative for carbon monoxide.' 'An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr Hackman's pacemaker,' he said. 'This revealed that his last event was recorded February 17 2025, I was advised that a more thorough investigation will be completed.' Mendoza said the 'initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual', but reiterated the 'manner and cause of death has not been determined.' He also said there were 'no apparent signs of foul play.' 'The official results of the autopsy and toxicology reports are pending,' he added. New Mexico Gas Company tested gas lines in and around the home after the bodies were discovered, according to a search warrant, and no signs of problems were found. Officers are still trying to piece together the couple's last known contact with other people but 'that's one of our challenges because of their privacy,' Mendoza said. The sheriff had previously said there were several conflicting stories about which doors were locked at the house he said several were unlocked and a rear door was open, which allowed two dogs that survived to go in and out. He also said he thought the front door was closed but unlocked. Two other dogs were found alive at the property, one inside and one outside. Tests on Hackman's pacemaker revealed that he was alive on February 17 when a 'last event' was recorded - nine days before his body was discovered; seen in 2001 in L.A. Gene and Betsy's other two dogs named Bear and Nikita are currently being cared for, per Joey Padilla - who is the owner of the Santa Fe Tails pet care. A doggy door allowed the two dogs to be able to go in and out of the house, and likely found food outside that kept them alive, according to ABC News. Cops investigating the pair's mysterious deaths have admitted to misidentifying the dog that was found deceased along with them in their home. Hackman and Arakawa were both found dead in the $3.8 million home in separate rooms by a caretaker around 1:45pm last Wednesday. The alarm had been raised by a maintenance person doing pest control at the property, who was concerned because he had not seen the couple, police said. A search was carried out after the bodies were discovered and several items were 'secured from the residence for evidentiary purposes'. These included two green mobile phones, two bottles of medication, medical records and a 2025 monthly planner. Work is now being done to 'sift through cell phones' and to look through a calendar found near the couple's bodies. Contact will also be made with workers, security staff and family members. Mendoza said there is nothing which suggests the couple fell, adding: 'I don't think, you know, there was any indication that, again, there was no trauma or injured themselves, or head injury or brain injury.' His daughters Elizabeth and Leslie, and his granddaughter Annie, said they will miss the actor 'sorely' and are 'devastated by the loss.' Officers are still trying to piece together the couple's last known contact with other people but 'that's one of our challenges because of their privacy,' Mendoza said Former FBI agent Bill Daly also suggested that food poisoning could have been a possible cause in their deaths; seen in 2003 in Beverly Hills News of their mysterious deaths has left friends, fans, and the local community baffled. Former FBI agent Bill Daly also suggested that food poisoning could have been a possible cause in their deaths. 'Toxicology there could have been some other type of poisoning, possibly food?' he told Fox News. 'They'll go through their trash, fridge...this is stuff the police can do in the meantime while gathering evidence. There are a number of possibilities.' Jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers passed away in New York City on Tuesday after a long illness. The legendary vibraphonist's official Facebook page announced the sad news: 'He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy's life will be forthcoming.' Roy and his group, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, scored their biggest hit in 1976 with Everybody Loves the Sunshine, which peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2016, Pitchfork ranked the track as one of the 200 top songs of the 1970s, writing: 'This was not a song that was trying to hide, though it's nimble enough that it could.' Ayers began his career working squarely in jazz in the early 1960s, particularly in bebop-derived styles, but as the decade progressed he began to incorporate elements of popular genres like funk and R&B into his music. By the '70s, the transition was complete, and Ayers flirted with mainstream success for the first time in his career, even though critics weren't always receptive to his more accessible tunes. Jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers passed away in New York City on Tuesday after a long illness. The vibraphonist started out playing straight-ahead jazz in the early '60s before incorporating elements of funk and R&B beginning in the late '60s (pictured in 2017) The legendary musician's official Facebook page announced the sad news: 'He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy's life will be forthcoming' Ayers who averages 382K monthly listeners on Spotify had music in his genes growing up with his mother Ruby, who taught piano, and father Roy Sr., who played trombone. The Los Angeles native released over 40 albums and collaborated with artists like Tyler the Creator, Erykah Badu, the Roots, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, and Rick James. Roy also memorably composed the music for Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation classic Coffy, starring Pam Grier as a nurse-turned-vigilante. Ayers' music had a huge impact in the hip-hop community where he was sampled on Kendrick Lamar's 2012 song Good Kid, Mary J. Blige's 1994 hit My Life, A Tribe Called Quest's 1990 song Bonita Applebum, and Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s 1995 hit Get Money. Pharrell Williams has reportedly cited the Godfather of Neo-Soul as one of his key musical heroes, and the virtuoso bassist and singer Thundercat had also performed with him. Ayers was born in 1940 in Los Angeles to musical parents. His mother, Ruby, was a schoolteacher, but she doubled as a piano instructor, and his father, Roy Sr., played trombone. According to a biography on his website, the budding musician was already playing 'boogie woogie tunes on the piano' by the time he was five, and by nine he had incorporated the steel guitar into his repertoire. Roy and his group Roy Ayers Ubiquity scored their biggest hit in 1976 with Everybody Loves the Sunshine, which peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard 200 chart (pictured in 1983) After experimenting with multiple instruments as a child growing up in LA, Ayers settled on the vibraphone, a marimba-like instrument made of tuned metal bars with a motor to create a haunting tremolo. It's most popular in jazz music Ayers - who averages 382K monthly listeners on Spotify - had music in his genes growing up with his mother Ruby, who taught piano, and father Roy Sr., who played trombone (pictured in 1970) The Los Angeles native (pictured in 2018) released over 40 albums and collaborated with artists like Tyler the Creator, Erykah Badu, the Roots, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, and Rick James Roy also memorably composed the music for Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation classic Coffy starring Pam Grier as a nurse-turned-vigilante He experimented with other instruments, including the flute, trumpet and drums, before settling on an instrument that was a compromise between the piano and percussion: the vibraphone. The instrument, which features tuned metal bars played with mallets, resembles a xylophone or marimba. Unlike those instruments, the vibraphone features resonator tubes running under each metal bar that are outfitted with a disc that can spin at variable speeds when a motor is turned on. Without the motor, the vibraphone works as a simple metallophone, but when the motor is engaged, as in most jazz, it creates a haunting vibrating tremolo effect that makes the vibraphone stand out from other mallet percussion. In an interview with the Washington Post from 2013, Ayers described neo-soul the term he used to classify his later music as 'a sound that encompasses all these different sounds.' 'I like it because it's better than saying I just play jazz, or I just play funk, or I just play blues, or whatever,' he explained. 'I play neo-soul.' Ayers' final solo studio album Mahogany Vibe was released in 2004, but his collaborative album JID002 the second album in the Jazz Is Dead series from Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad dropped in 2020. The vibraphonist didn't show any signs of stopping as he entered his 80s, but by 2023 it appeared that he was getting ready to lay down his mallets. Ayers' music had a huge impact in the hip-hop community where he was sampled on Kendrick Lamar's (pictured February 9) 2012 song Good Kid, Mary J. Blige's 1994 hit My Life, A Tribe Called Quest's 1990 song Bonita Applebum, and Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s 1995 hit Get Money Pharrell Williams has reportedly cited the Godfather of Neo-Soul as one of his key musical heroes (pictured Tuesday) Ayers had announced a European 'farewell tour' for the spring and summer of 2023, but after opening it in May he announced that he had to cancel the remaining shows due to 'health complications' from a Covid-19 bout; seen in 1976 Ayers had announced a string of live shows to take place in 2023, which he had dubbed his 'farewell tour.' As of April of that year, he had only announced European dates, so it's unclear if he still planned to perform back in the US. But after opening the tour in May, Ayers announced on his Facebook page that he would have to cancel the remainder of the international tour. 'Hello to all my fans, unfortunately, due to health complications stemming from a recent bout with Covid-19, I will be canceling upcoming performances for 2023,' he wrote at the time, via USA Today. 'We had high hopes I would recover in time, but all parties involved believe this is the best course of action for now. Once I have had proper time to heal and move past this, I will be looking to get back to work,' he added. Those spring 2023 dates appear to have been his final concerts. Ayers leaves behind his wife Argerie and their two children, Ayana and Mtume, as well as his son Nabil from a prior relationship Married At First Sight bride Awhina Rutene attempted to go incognito during filming last year as she stepped out at Social Society cafe in Sydney. The mother-of-one, 31, has been embroiled in tense drama with her groom Adrian Araouzou in recent weeks on the show, and at one point the pair disappeared while the series was being filmed. The reality TV star was spotted trying to go undercover as she went about her day-to-day activities in the aftermath of the couple's drama on MAFS. Awhina attempted to cover up her entire face with a black jacket as she pulled the hood down low over her head and drew the drawstrings together tightly. She teamed the windbreaker with some black tights and white sneakers. Holding a refreshing beverage in one hand, Awhina toted a $2,970 Louis Vuitton handbag over her shoulder. Married At First Sight bride Awhina Rutene attempted to go incognito during filming last year as she stepped out at Social Society cafe in Sydney The mother-of-one, 31, has been embroiled in tense drama with her groom Adrian Araouzou in recent weeks on the show, and at one point the pair disappeared as the series was being filmed It comes as her TV 'marriage' to Adrian, 30, continues to hang by a thread after the embattled pair suffered a huge set back during family and friends week. The couple appeared to have officially split after Awhina's sister Cleo and Adrian's 'best friend' Jasmin got into a heated argument. But a rogue weekend away helped them reignite their spark, despite viewers raging at producers to kick Adrian off the show for his 'coercive controlling' ways. Daily Mail Australia revealed the controversial couple were the pair who went 'missing' during filming in September, forcing producers to bring curfew forward. It was reported producers imposed a strict new curfew on the 2025 cast after 'disrespectful' and 'selfish' Adrian and Awhina 'disappeared' one weekend. It was soon discovered the pair travelled to Wollongong to visit fellow groom Tony Mojanovski for a spot of fishing on a yacht. Leaked photos saw Adrian and Awhina enjoying a much-needed break from the drama to have 'Tony time' on the harbour. Back in September, it was revealed one couple went missing mid-shoot, causing chaos for the production crew. The reality TV star was spotted trying to go undercover as she went about her day-to-day activities in the aftermath of their drama on MAFS Awhina attempted to cover up her entire face with a black jacket as she pulled the hood down low over her head and drew the drawstrings together tightly The cast, who were initially given a curfew of 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on weekends, are now facing even stricter rules. According to a leaked email sent to the cast from the production team, the new curfew times were moved up to 8pm on Fridays and Sundays, and 9pm on Saturdays. This change comes after Awhina and Adrian ignored curfew, ceased communication with production, and failed to return to their apartments on Saturday night. An insider claimed the cast members have restricted access to the hotel they're staying in. 'Their keys don't work after a certain time, so they need to inform the house AP [Associate Producer] to let them in; otherwise, they will be stuck outside,' they said. 'It's a way of trying to keep the cast behaving and stop them from coming in and out as they please.' The email from production expresses frustration and disappointment with the participants' actions. It reads: 'Unfortunately, over the weekend Adrian and Awhina decided to cease communication with production on Saturday night and not return to the apartments by curfewlet alone at all.' She teamed the windbreaker with some black tights and white sneakers It comes as her TV 'marriage' to Adrian continues to hang by a thread after the embattled pair suffered a huge set back during family and friends week The message went on to detail how this 'selfish decision' impacted over 15 crew members on their Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday morning, with Nine Network being informed of the breach. The curfew is not just a measure of control but also an essential part of maintaining the production's schedule and ensuring the safety of all participants. 'The complete disregard for this production's guidelines to ensure all participants remain safe whilst in our care, as well as the utter disrespect to my crew and their weekend, has meant the below changes will need to be enforced,' the email stated. The message also highlighted the lack of remorse from the participants involved, stating: 'At this stage, my team are yet to receive an apology from Adrian or Awhina, let alone any kind of remorse, which quite frankly is disappointing.' Production sources have told Daily Mail Australia tensions between Adrian and Awhina had already been brewing before their dramatic disappearance. 'At the commitment ceremony, Adrian and Awhina were caught having a hushed conversation on the sidelines,' they said. 'Adrian was adamant that Awhina should stay quiet about their family day, but she wasn't having it. She pushed back hard, making it clear that he doesn't control what she says.' When they finally sat on the couch, the tension was unbearable. The source continued: 'Awhina wanted to speak, but Adrian kept cutting her off, talking over her, and shutting her down at every turn. Dave even stepped in, calling Adrian out for trying to dictate what she could and couldn't say.' The experts didn't let it slide either. 'They asked Awhina directly if she needed Adrian's permission to speak, and while she hesitated, she admitted she often avoids going into detail just to keep the peace. 'John [Aiken] had to ask her a number of times what she liked about Adrian before she finally answered.' Despite the obvious issues, both of them chose to stay in the experiment, insisting they would put their family drama behind them. But just days later, they pulled their vanishing act. Instead of addressing their issues, they took off for a weekend away with Tony, leaving production scrambling. Whether this was an attempt to reconnect or a last-ditch effort to escape the pressure, one thing is certain: 'Adrian and Awhina are keeping both the producers and fans on edge.' Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7.00pm on Channel Nine and 9Now. Shannen Doherty's former costar Jennie Garth is taking the Academy Awards to task for leaving her friend out of the in memoriam segment at the 2025 ceremony. In a video posted by TMZ that was shot on Tuesday, the 52-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 star said that it was 'messed up' that the Oscars had left Doherty out of its montage of Hollywood figures who had died since the previous ceremony. The exclusion left a representative of the late actress furious, while fans were also upset that Michelle Trachtenberg had been left out of the in memoriam segment. Unlike occasional instances were a star dies shortly before the ceremony, leaving little time to adjust the montage, Shannen died on July 13 of last year at age 53. The Charmed actress had been battling breast cancer for years, and it eventually spread to her brain. Garth, who starred with Doherty on 90210, was spotted on Tuesday as she was leaving ABC studios. Shannen Doherty's former costar Jennie Garth is taking the Academy Awards to task for leaving her friend out of the in memoriam segment at the 2025 ceremony In a video posted by TMZ that was shot on Tuesday, the 52-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 star said that it was 'messed up' that the Oscars had left Doherty out of its montage of Hollywood figures who had died since the previous ceremony; seen in 2019 in Beverly Hills She looked cozy and comfortable in a tan double-breasted cashmere overcoat, matching tan suede platform boots and a long white dress. She also carried an adorable Chihuahua which wore a cute navy sweater in her arms like a baby. Garth was also asked if the Academy should issue some kind of apology for leaving Doherty out of the in memoriam segment, to which she replied 'maybe.' Although the Oscars left Shannen out of the broadcast, she is notably listed on the Academy's in memoriam segment of its website. It's unclear if the organization simply forgot to include her, or if it opted to leave her out because, though she appeared in several films throughout her career of more than 40 years, the vast majority of her screen time was on television. Doherty's film roles in the early and mid-1980s were all small supporting parts, and it wasn't until 1989's Heathers that she had a more substantial supporting part as one of the eponymous high schoolers. She had a significant part in Kevin Smith's 1995 comedy Mallrats, but several of her roles in high-profile films including the third Naked Gun film, Gregg Araki's Nowhere and Smith's Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back were cameo roles, in which she sometimes even played herself. By contrast, she had a main cast role on television as early as 1982 for season nine of Little House On The Prairie. Shannen died on July 13 of last year at age 53 after battling breast cancer which later spread to her brain for years; pictured in 2016 in LA Garth, who appeared with Doherty on Beverly Hills, 90210, said the Academy 'maybe' owed her fans an apology for the snub; seen together on 90210 in 2009 It's unclear if the omission was accidental, or on purpose, as Doherty was far better known for her TV roles. By contrast, most of her film roles were small supporting parts or cameos, aside from a few exceptions, including her major supporting part in Heathers (pictured) She was also part of the main casts on the mid-'80s series Our House, before scoring her most famous role as Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1990. She was featured on the soapy drama for its first four seasons, and then joined the lead trio on Charmed for its first three seasons, beginning in 1998. Shannen later returned to the rebooted 90210 in 2008 for a seven-episode run, and she had numerous guest appearances and major roles in TV movies up through 2021. Doherty was far more prolific in TV than in film, as she only appeared in a handful of films in the 2000s, and her work from the 2010s on was primarily in low-budget, direct-to-video releases. Brandon Sklenar might have suffered a meltdown when directly confronted about how he would support his problematic It Ends With Us leading lady Blake Lively amid her legal war, but he was far more direct about whether he was Team Blake or Team Justin Baldoni through fashion. On Sunday, the 34-year-old New Jersey native appeared to don the same exact floral brooch to attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills that the 41-year-old filmmaker wore to the August 6th world premiere of It Ends With Us in Manhattan. Stylist Madeleine Kennedy procured the $1,806 Anabela Chan 'Blush Parrot Bloom' pin for Brandon, which is made from 18k gold vermeil and a 6.5 carat lab-grown citrine gemstone. Fans of Justin might recall how he wore the fancy fascinator while banished by the 37-year-old Gossip Girl alum to the basement of AMC Lincoln Square Theater along with his friends and family, so she wouldn't have to be in his presence. On Monday, Sklenar coyly captioned his post about Elton John's annual A-list soiree: 'Vanity Fair X long live the ( brooch ).' The 1923 actor's 543K Instagram followers took note with user @chewbekahboo commenting: 'Isn't this the same broach as JB at premier? Is this a stand in solidarity?' Brandon Sklenar might have suffered a meltdown when directly confronted about how he would support his problematic It Ends With Us leading lady Blake Lively amid her legal war, but he was far more direct about whether he was Team Blake or Team Justin Baldoni through fashion Instagram user @lindsaydawnebateman wrote: 'One apology can change everything.' 'I think everyone should give Brandon a little grace. Imagine hearing from your female costar that she had been SH by the director,' Instagram user @thesusanpresley commented. 'A good man would support as he did without being messy. Now that more info has come to light he has taken a much more neutral stance. He was in a no win situation. I think he's trying to navigate this mess carefully and I'm hoping the brooch is a sign of solidarity.' Instagram user @audrey.kuhn8 encouraged: 'It's not too late to speak up and stand up against power and money.' 'The audacity to steal the floral pin idea from the same man you tried to so quickly take down,' Instagram user @sultryinpink scoffed. 'Do you not have any self respect? (Creative) energy vampires really need to be exposed.' Instagram user @lmd_stf agreed, simply posting three poop emojis and three snake emojis. 'Wear your florals!' Instagram user @swings4thefence commented. 'Too bad he didn't care about the message until now.' Instagram user @whathuhque wrote: 'It's a pretend to stand in solidarity broach. He knows he's lost fans and so he's now pretending to be on JBs side without having to say it and all ya'll eating it up. He doesn't mean it, he's just doing it to save his instant dying career.' On Sunday, the 34-year-old New Jersey native appeared to don the same exact floral brooch to attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills that the 41-year-old filmmaker wore to the August 6th world premiere of It Ends With Us in Manhattan Stylist Madeleine Kennedy procured the $1,806 Anabela Chan 'Blush Parrot Bloom' pin for Brandon, which is made from 18k gold vermeil and a 6.5 carat lab-grown citrine gemstone Fans of Justin might recall how he wore the fancy fascinator while banished by the 37-year-old Gossip Girl alum to the basement of AMC Lincoln Square Theater along with his friends and family, so she wouldn't have to be in his presence On Monday, Sklenar coyly captioned his post about Elton John's annual A-list soiree: 'Vanity Fair X long live the ( brooch )' The 1923 actor's 543K Instagram followers took note with user @chewbekahboo commenting: 'Isn't this the same broach as JB at premier? Is this a stand in solidarity?' Instagram user @thesusanpresley commented: 'I think everyone should give Brandon a little grace. Imagine hearing from your female costar that she had been SH by the director. A good man would support as he did without being messy. Now that more info has come to light he has taken a much more neutral stance. He was in a no win situation' Instagram user @audrey.kuhn8 encouraged: 'It's not too late to speak up and stand up against power and money' Instagram user @sultryinpink scoffed: 'The audacity to steal the floral pin idea from the same man you tried to so quickly take down. Do you not have any self respect? (Creative) energy vampires really need to be exposed' Instagram user @whathuhque wrote: 'It's a pretend to stand in solidarity broach. He knows he's lost fans and so he's now pretending to be on JBs side without having to say it and all ya'll eating it up. He doesn't mean it, he's just doing it to save his instant dying career' When cornered by THR on Sunday, Brandon called the Lively versus Baldoni legal war 'a tough situation' but did not take a stance: 'I just hope everyone remembers what the movie is about and why we made it in the first place. It's about love. It's about supporting women in general and helping people through tough times.' But two months earlier, Sklenar famously tagged the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants alum with a heart emoji and reposted a link to her December 22nd New York Times article with the caption: 'For the love of God read this.' Two days earlier, Blake filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against the Jane the Virgin alum for sexual harassment and retaliation on the NYC set of It Ends with Us. Justin immediately filed a libel lawsuit for $250M against the New York Times for biased coverage of Lively's 'vicious smear campaign' and she filed a lawsuit against him and his PR team on December 31 for his 'plan to undermine her reputation in retaliation.' On January 16, Baldoni filed a second $400M lawsuit against the LA-born blonde, her powerful husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloan for civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. The Manhattan US District trial is currently scheduled for March 2026. The Green and Gold actor currently portrays Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren's onscreen nephew Spencer Dutton in the eight-episode second season of Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone prequel 1923, which airs Sundays on Paramount+. When cornered by THR on Sunday, Brandon called the Lively versus Baldoni legal war 'a tough situation' but did not take a stance 'I just hope everyone remembers what the movie is about and why we made it in the first place. It's about love. It's about supporting women in general and helping people through tough times,' Sklenar said But two months earlier, the Green and Gold actor famously tagged the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants alum with a heart emoji and reposted a link to her December 22nd New York Times article with the caption: 'For the love of God read this' Two days earlier, Blake (pictured August 6) filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against the Jane the Virgin alum for sexual harassment and retaliation on the NYC set of It Ends with Us Justin immediately filed a libel lawsuit for $250M against the New York Times for biased coverage of Lively's 'vicious smear campaign' and she filed a lawsuit against him and his PR team on December 31 for his 'plan to undermine her reputation in retaliation' On January 16, Baldoni filed a second $400M lawsuit against the LA-born blonde, her powerful husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloan for civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy Brandon currently portrays Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren's onscreen nephew Spencer Dutton in the eight-episode second season of Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone prequel 1923, which airs Sundays on Paramount+ Sklenar will also play Henry in Christopher Landon's mystery thriller Drop, which Universal Pictures will release in US/UK theaters April 11 The Futra Days star's other upcoming projects include Lionsgate's The Housemaid directed by Paul Feig (pictured October 8) - coincidentally the same exact filmmaker behind Blake's next film, Another Simple Favor This Friday, Lively will most likely attend the world premiere of the Prime Video-destined sequel at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX during the South by Southwest Festival Brandon will also play Henry in Christopher Landon's mystery thriller Drop, which Universal Pictures will release in US/UK theaters April 11. Sklenar's other upcoming projects include Lionsgate's The Housemaid directed by Paul Feig - coincidentally the same exact filmmaker behind Blake's next film, Another Simple Favor. This Friday, Lively will most likely attend the world premiere of the Prime Video-destined sequel at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX during the South by Southwest Festival. The mystery behind the twin deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa has barely abated in recent days while law enforcement waits for autopsy and toxicology report results. Hackman, who was 95, and Arakawa, 65, were discovered in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by a neighborhood security officer after pest-control workers reported not being able to get in touch with the residents. Authorities investigating the deaths have already said a deadly carbon monoxide leak is unlikely, but now an expert who is not involved in the investigation is weighing in on another theory that Hackman's wife Betsy might have died of a 'broken heart.' James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, explained to People the possibility that Arakawa might have discovered her husband dead and suffered her own medical emergency as a result. Gill previously considered another possibility for the publication, that Hackman and Arakawa may have died by 'companion suicide,' which he found to be unlikely. The medical examiner said he believes, based on the available information, that the actor and his wife may have died from natural causes, which would increase the likelihood of a the 'broken heart' theory. The twin deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsey Arakawa have raised a startling new theory that the classical pianist may have died after her husband from a 'broken heart'; pictured together in 1986 in Los Angeles But an expert not involved in the investigation explained the possibility that Arakawa may have discovered Hackman dead first and then suffered a medical emergency herself, according to People; the late couple's home is pictured on Feb. 27 in Santa Fe, New Mexico Gill said that the description of how Hackman's body was found suggests that he may have collapsed. 'He's got a history of heart disease. He's got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual. But the unusual part is that why then did she also collapse?' Gill said. He assumed that she found her husband on the ground, continuing: 'Then you start wondering about: There is this thing where the stress of seeing someone die that could have triggered a natural death in her.' Police have said that Hackman was found dead in the house's mud room, with his can and sunglasses near him on the ground, while Arakawa was discovered lying on the bathroom floor with prescription pills strewn across the nearby countertop. The two are believed to have been dead for several days before they were found, and both bodies had signs of decomposition and were partially mummified. According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, Hackman's pacemaker was last registered as working on February 17, nine days before the bodies were discovered, which could potentially indicate the day he died. Gill added that the circumstances that the bodies were found in could also supported an equally likely theory. Rather than Hackman dying or suffering a medical emergency first, Arakawa could have first collapsed before Hackman 'found her and was going out to get help or get his phone, and he then collapsed from the stress of that, too. Just as likely.' James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, considered the possibility that the 'stress of seeing [Hackman] die that could have triggered a natural death' for Arakwa; pictured together in 2003 in Beverly Hills But he added it was 'just as likely' that Arakawa might have collapsed first, and then Hackman could have had a medical emergency as he tried to get her help due to his advanced age and 'known heart disease' Gill added that Hackman was three decades Arakawa's senior and had 'known heart disease,' which added to the feasibility of that theory. 'But the autopsy would certainly show if she had heart disease or cancer or what have you,' he noted. According to the medical examiner, either arrangement 'has been known to happen, kind of a broken heart-type thing, almost.' 'Suddenly finding your loved one dead on the floor that can increase your adrenaline and that stimulates your heart to beat faster, and that can put your heart into an irregular rhythm,' Gill explained. Although he previously indicated that a 'companion suicide' was unlikely, Gill wouldn't rule out the possibility that Arakawa could have found her husband dead and, in an anguished state, could have died by suicide, which might explain the unnamed pills that were spread across the bathroom counter near where her body was discovered. However, that possibility can't be settled on or ruled out until the results of the toxicology report comes in, which could still take weeks. Law enforcement officials previously said they would not announce what medications had been left out for privacy reasons. The results of the toxicology report could also be valuable in ruling out 'intoxication or injuries' as explanations, Gill added. Another possibility was that Arakawa died by suicide after finding Hackman dead, which could explain pills scattered near her. But only the toxicology report can confirm if that's the case, as police won't reveal the pill names; seen in 1994 with Allison Eastwood (L) in Beverly Hills The medical examiner previously told People that it was unlikely that Hackman and Arakawa had died by 'companion suicide'; seen in 2003 Gill, who said he had dealt in the past with 'cases like that,' explained that couples who die in a dual suicide are 'usually ... together in bed'; police are seen outside Hackman's home on February 27 in Santa Fe, New Mexico The medical examiner previously told People that it was unlikely that Hackman and Arakawa had died by suicide together. Gill, who said he had dealt in the past with 'cases like that,' explained that couples who die in a dual suicide are 'usually ... together in bed.' However, Hackman was found in the home's mud room, while Arakawa was in the bathroom. 'The fact that theyre in two separate locations tells me that I think thats less likely,' Gill continued. The medical examiner said that the initial information about the scene makes it appear as if Hackman had 'collapsed,' especially since he had a history of heart disease and a pacemaker Another detail Gill focused on was the fact that Hackman was 'ambulatory' before his death, which he thought decreased the likelihood of a scenario in which he was left potentially helpless if Arakawa had died first. 'Sometimes we'll see instances where someone is bedridden and maybe they have dementia and then their caregiver dies from a natural event, and then there's no one there to take care of them, and then they can die from dehydration or what have you,' he explained. 'I don't think that's the case in this.' That information could be particularly useful to compare to when Arakawa may have died, though Gill admits 'that's a little bit of a more gray area.' Hackman and Arakawa were found in separate rooms on Feb. 26, which would be unusual for a dual suicide; seen in 1991 Hackman was still 'ambulatory' before his death, so it was less likely that he was left helpless if Arakawa died first. His pacemaker may be able to indicate his time of death; seen in 2003 in Beverly Hills Some fans of the actor were disturbed to learn that one of the couple's three dogs, a 12-year-old Australian Kelpie mix named Zinna, had been found dead in their home, while the other two dogs were still alive, according to USA Today. The dead dog had been locked in a closed kennel in a closet near where Arakawa was found, while one live dog was found in the bathroom, just 15 feet from Arakawa's body, while the other was found outside on the property. Gill said the fact that the dead dog was discovered in its closed crate means it likely died from 'just not getting enough food and water,' adding that dogs 'can only survive for a week or so without food and water.' According to People, the surviving dogs a German Shepherd named Bear and a seven-year-old Akita-shepherd mix named Nikita are now being cared for by a family friend. Zinna's death was one of the factors that initially fueled rumors that Hackman and Arakawa might have died as the result of a carbon monoxide leak, before it was clarified that the dog had been locked up and therefore didn't have access to sustenance. Although Gill wasn't moved by the 'companion suicide' theory, it will likely be some time before the investigation is concluded and authorities can reveal what really happened to the Hollywood expatriates. Hackman had lived a reclusive life in recent years after quietly retiring from acting after filming the 2004 satire Welcome To Mooseport. Although fans have speculated for years that the film's box-office bomb status might have contributed to his abandonment of Hollywood, Hackman himself explained why he quit acting in a recently resurfaced interview. Fans have speculated that Hackman's final film Welcome To Mooseport bombing might have contributed to him leaving Hollywood, Hackman himself explained his retirement in 2009; pictured with Christine Baranski in Welcome to Mooseport In a 2004 interview on Larry King Live, Hackman admitted that he had a 'fear' of dying, though he considered it a normal thing; pictured in 1993 with Clint Eastwood at the 65th Oscars While speaking to Empire in 2009, several years into his retirement, Hackman revealed that it was his heart keeping him from getting back in front of the camera. 'The straw that broke the camels back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,' Hackman explained. 'The doctor advised me that my heart wasnt in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.' Earlier, in a 2004 interview on Larry King Live, Hackman admitted that he had a 'fear' of dying, though he considered it a perfectly normal thing. 'I try to take care of myself,' he said after he was asked if he was worried about his health. 'I dont have a lot of fears. I have the normal fear of passing away you know, I guess we all think about that, especially when you get to be a certain age,' he continued. Hackman added that his main priority was to ensure that his wife and family were 'taken care of.' 'Other than that, I dont have a lot of fears,' he declared. He spoke with King the same year that Welcome To Mooseport was released to a disappointing reception from reviewers and audiences alike. He spoke with King the same year that Welcome To Mooseport was released to a disappointing reception from reviewers and audiences alike; pictured in the film with Marcia Gay Harden Hackman waited years to confirm that he was retired, all while cinephiles hoped for another late-career triumph; pictured in 1971's The French Connection, which won him the Oscar for Best Actor While in the midst of a divorce, he decides to run for town mayor to help himself consolidate some of his business interests, but a hardware store owner (Ray Romano) decides to challenge him in hopes that elected office might make his girlfriend fall back in love with him. Hackman never took another film role after Welcome To Mooseport, and fans of the Oscar winner's numerous classic films were disappointed that he didn't go out on a stronger note. Part of the disappointment was due to the star's decision to wait several years to confirm his retirement, which left cinephiles pining for another late-career triumph. It wasn't until a 2008 interview with Reuters four years after Welcome To Mooseport that he made his retirement official. 'I havent held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, Im not going to act any longer,' he said at the time, while explaining why he stayed silent for so long. 'Ive been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really dont want to do it any longer.' Years before shooting his final film, Hackman made the prospect of a return to the stage also sound unlikely. 'Id have to be comfortable though,' he said of a possible return while chatting with Charlie Rose. 'Ive lived a soft life too long to camp out. When I lived in New York, it was a cockroach time for me.' Comfort was again his primary concern in a 2011 GQ interview in which he mused about returning to film but only if he could shoot it at home. Hackman confirmed he was retired four years later, in 2008, and in 2011 he told GQ he would only act again if he could shoot a film at his own home; seen in 2003 in Beverly Hills Hackman won his second Oscar for Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven. He starred in numerous classics, including Bonnie and Clyde, Scarecrow, Night Moves, Superman and The Royal Tenenbaums (pictured) 'In my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people,' he said. Those words took on a more sinister tone after Hackman was found dead at his home in Santa Fe. Hackman and Arakawa appear to have been dead for some time, and maintenance workers who discovered their bodies said they hadn't seen either of them for two weeks. A search warrant obtained by DailyMail.com revealed that their bodies were found with signs of mummification. While the condition is most associated with ancient Egyptian burials, mummification can also occur when bodies are preserved in cold but dry climates in which bacteria struggles to grow, which describes the climate of Santa Fe in February. Autopsies on the two bodies have already been completed, but authorities are still waiting on the full results, as well as a toxicology report. Just months after his Spider-Man franchise co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya got engaged, Jacob Batalon put a ring on it as well. The 28-year-old actor - who starred in the last three Spider-Man movies with Holland, 28, and Zendaya, 28 - popped the question to his girlfriend Veronica Leahov in New York City. While it's unclear how long the couple have been dating for, Batalon got down on one knee in the Big Apple, with the Brooklyn Bridge seen in the background. He had a large rose floral arrangement in the shape of a heart, with a neon sign in the middle that read 'Will You Marry Me?' 'The beginning of the rest of our lives together,' Batalon captioned the post to his 1.5 million Instagram followers, which has over 179K likes in 15 hours. The actor also shared snaps of the couple embracing near the sign, with several candles, along with a close-up shot of the engagement ring. Just months after his Spider-Man franchise co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya got engaged , Jacob Batalon put a ring on it as well. The actor also shared snaps of the couple embracing near the sign, with several candles, along with a close-up shot of the engagement ring His final shot showed him and his bride-to-be embracing near the heart-shaped sign as Veronica showed off the rock. Batalon was wearing a black leather coat, black pants and black sneakers, while Leahov wore a glamorous gown and a white fur coat. She also shared most of the same snaps and added a few more of the big proposal in her own Instagram post. 'A lifetime of us!!!! I never imagined my heart could hold so much love and feel such depth of emotion,' Leahov began. 'This is the purest happiness Ive ever known, and I cant wait to spend forever with the love of my life!!' she concluded. Batalon made his breakthrough role as Ned Leeds in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, the best friend of Holland's Peter Parker. Batalon, Holland and Zendaya would go on to star in 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home and 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home. Marvel is currently prepping a fourth Spider-Man movie that Holland would come back for, though it's unclear if Batalon and Zendaya will reprise their roles yet. The happy couple also recently wished each other a very happy birthday, with Leahov posting a tribute to Batalon in early October. His final shot showed him and his bride-to-be embracing near the heart-shaped sign as Veronica showed off the rock Batalon was wearing a black leather coat, black pants and black sneakers, while Leahov wore a glamorous gown and a white fur coat 'This is the purest happiness Ive ever known, and I cant wait to spend forever with the love of my life!!' she concluded 'Happy birthday my love. You entered my life and showed me what true love really is. To be loved and cared for so deeply is something I will cherish forever. I watch the way you love and care for everyone in your life and it makes my heart explode,' she said. 'Your love completes me, I love everything about you. Especially how caring and inspiring you are. Im so proud of you and your accomplishments, Ill always be by your side cheering you on! Your evolution, your purpose, your heart have filled me with honor to stand by your side. You are my home, I love you forever,' she said. Batalon then honored Leahov back late November, with a post that began, 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SOUL.' 'Youre truly the most amazing person in my life and Im thankful that I get to call you mine. Youre thoughtful, kind, smart, and funny as f**k. I just want the world to know how unique and special you are, this year is gonna be another amazing year of life! Im so excited, and Im looking forward to spending it with you and the rest of our future together,' he said. Meghan Markle's new series With Love Meghan landed on Netflix this week. And Australian fans couldn't help but notice one fascinating detail in the Duchess of Sussex's outfit. In one scene in which she whips up a feast in the kitchen, the 43-year-old was dressed head to toe in an Aussie designer. Meghan was wearing items from Australian fashion label Zimmerman, a favourite with A-listers. The former royal wore the Crush Oversized Shirt from the brand in mint green, valued at AUD $475 (GBP 233). She also had on the Crush Linen Tuck Short, also in mint, which rings in at AUD $525 (GBP 257). Meghan Markle's (pictured) new series With Love Meghan landed on Netflix this week. And Australian fans couldn't help but notice one fascinating detail in the Duchess of Sussex's outfit In one scene in which she whips up a feast in the kitchen, the 43-year-old was dressed head to toe in an Aussie designer. Meghan was wearing items from Australian fashion label Zimmerman, a favourite with A-listers The total cost for the outfit is AUD $1000 (GBP 490) The highly discussed streaming series aims to show a new side to the Duchess of Sussex. The series attempts to give an 'authentic' snapshot of Meghan's glamorous and inspirational life as she plays host while cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Meghan says she 'loves feeding people' and it's 'probably my love language'. There are slow-motion shots of Meghan chopping vegetables, taking dainty sips from spoons and impressing her fawning guests with basic cooking skills, all the while an upbeat guitar track jangles in the background. Despite the show promising an intimate 'at home' experience with the Duchess, it is actually filmed at a rented mansion just around the corner. The show itself looked fairly easy to make, with internet sleuths already uncovering that Meghan has 'borrowed' a lot of the recipes from influencers or websites such as Pinterest. Royal sources are saying it could be the last roll of the dice to salvage her and Prince Harry's lucrative $100million streaming deal. The former royal wore the Crush Oversized Shirt from the brand in mint green, valued at AUD $475 (GBP 233). The pink version is pictured She also had on the Crush Linen Tuck Short, also in mint, which rings in at AUD $525 (GBP 257). The cream version is pictured Since Harry and Meghan signed the mega deal in 2020 , there has been one smash hit and three relative duds, sparking speculation Netflix might soon cut ties. Viewers have already been delivering their verdicts with one former TV critic describing it as a 'cure for insomniacs'. Prince Harry himself only makes a fleeting appearance in the final episode, although it was said 'his presence was felt behind the scenes'. On the last episode Meghan says she is now entering a 'new chapter' in her life that is 'part of that creativity that I've missed so much'. The Duchess of Sussex also spoke about 'healing' something 'broken', after she previously accused royal aides of preventing her from expressing her true self during her time in Britain. At one point she tells The Office star Mindy Kaling not to call her Meghan Markle, saying 'I'm Sussex now. This is our family name. Our little family name'. Meghan ends the series by giving a gushing speech to her friends (including Harry) as she celebrates launching her business. With Love, Meghan will be followed by her new brand 'As Ever', which will have a global product range from jams to pancake mix that will no doubt prove lucrative. Prior to the show's launch, she told People magazine that starting her new business venture was 'super joyful' and 'almost playing in your own sandbox', enabling her as 'a woman, a mom and a wife, to be able to find yourself again'. Amanda Seyfried put on a dazzling display in an eye-catching ensemble at the NYC premiere of her upcoming crime drama Long Bright River on Wednesday. The Mean Girls actress, 39 - who recently stunned during New York Fashion Week - joined some of her castmates on the red carpet at The Metrograph Theater where the screening was held. The Peacock limited series is set to drop later this month on March 13, and is based on the novel of the same name written by Liz Moore. Seyfried turned heads at the event and wore a gold sequin mini dress that had a V-neck cut on the front and a hem that stopped inches above her knees. A mini black floral embellishment was placed on the neckline and the star slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black heels. Amanda's blonde locks were parted and effortlessly flowed down straight past her shoulders. Amanda Seyfried, 39, put on a dazzling display in an eye-catching ensemble at the NYC premiere of her upcoming crime drama Long Bright River on Wednesday Seyfried turned heads at the event and wore a gold sequin minidress that had a V-neck cut on the front and a hem that stopped inches above her knees She accessorized the look with a pair of small, hooped earrings as well as a dainty bracelet and a few flashy rings. Her makeup was glammed up for the big night and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light, shimmering shadow around her eyes. A warm blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow while a dark pink tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. The actress previously opened up about the topic of dressing for the red carpet during an interview with Harper's Bazaar. 'I really enjoy experimenting with fashion on photoshoots, but the red carpet is a different animal; it's very brief and it's very frantic,' she admitted. 'You don't really have enough time. When I'm on a shoot, it feels more like acting it's more about the art in fashion, which is really fun for me.' Seyfried added, 'You can take as long as you like to feel comfortable and make the clothing work for you, which just isn't really the case on the red carpet...' Seyfried paused for a brief photo session upon arriving to the venue and crossed paths with some of her co-stars at the premiere. A mini black floral embellishment was placed on the neckline and the star slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black heels Amanda's blonde locks were parted and effortlessly flowed down straight past her shoulders Her makeup was glammed up for the big night and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light, shimmering shadow around her eyes Seyfried paused for a brief photo session upon arriving to the venue and crossed paths with some of her co-stars at the premiere, such as Nicholas Pinnock and Callum Vinson The actress previously opened up about the topic of dressing for the red carpet during an interview with Harper's Bazaar Amanda paused for a memorable photo with Ashleigh Cummings who was stylish in an all-black ensemble at the premiere Once inside the theater, the Mamma Mia! star was seen flashing a smile while stopping for more pictures and spoke on stage to the live audience to discuss her latest project. Long Bright River follows, 'A Philadelphia police officer who searches for her sister, an addict who has gone missing,' per an official IMDB synopsis. Alongside Amanda, other stars that have been cast in the limited series include Nicholas Pinnock, Ashleigh Cummings, Callum Vinson and John Doman. The setting of the show takes place in the town of Kensington, Pennsylvania - not far where Seyfried grew up in the city of Allentown. 'It's not just a TV thriller; it's about what sex workers and addicts go through. It is about humanity and empathy,' the actress recently told L'Officiel. 'It also features police corruption, and then, of course, there's a tie-in with this cop who is missing her sister, who is a severe addict. When you go to Kensington, you see a place where people struggle.' She recalled, 'Sitting in the back of a car driving through for the first time was eye-opening. It was quite a world to jump into. 'I feel so glad to have learned more about it. I never knew about harm reduction programs. There are so many blind spots in my life as a 39-year-old. This is why I love acting; I can take jobs and grow from them.' Once inside the theater, the Mamma Mia! star was seen flashing a smile while stopping to take a quick snap and spoke on stage to the live audience to discuss her latest project Amanda and Nicholas Pinnock - who was dapper in a classic black suit - also stopped for a few snaps together Alongside Amanda, other stars that have been cast in the limited series include Nicholas Pinnock, Ashleigh Cummings, Callum Vinson and John Doman; seen with Liz Moore and TV writer Nikki Toscano Long Bright River follows, 'A Philadelphia police officer who searches for her sister, an addict who has gone missing,' per an official IMDB synopsis; seen above with Mona Fastvold The setting of the show takes place in the town of Kensington, Pennsylvania - not far where Seyfried grew up in the city of Allentown 'It's not just a TV thriller; it's about what sex workers and addicts go through. It is about humanity and empathy,' the actress recently told L'Officiel The star also explained how playing the character of Mickey was a dream role for her. 'It has been my dream to play a cop because my best friend [Jennifer Carpenter] always plays a cop or an agent,' Amanda said, referencing to Carpenter who is known for Dexter. 'I got some good tips from her.' The series touches on opioid addiction, and Seyfried lost a family member to addiction. While talking to Vanity Fair in January, the Jennifer's Body actress expressed, 'A part of the reason I chose this is because I have a lived experience that this character had - not necessarily the same, but very similar. 'What I think this does that others don't is dare to go into that darkness without a perfect bow at the end.' The star also brought up author Liz Moore and shared, 'I could tell that it was written by somebody who also has experience with a loved one or loved ones who have battled it - and succeeded or failed and got through it or not. The star also explained how playing the character of Mickey was a dream role for her 'It has been my dream to play a cop because my best friend [Jennifer Carpenter] always plays a cop or an agent,' Amanda said, referencing to Carpenter who is known for Dexter While talking to Vanity Fair in January, the Jennifer's Body actress expressed, 'A part of the reason I chose this is because I have a lived experience that this character had - not necessarily the same, but very similar'; seen above with cast and crew 'I knew that I had to do this,' Seyfried expressed to the outlet. 'I felt like I owed something to Philly.' Amanda also expressed to Vanity Fair what she hoped viewers could take away after watching the series. 'I hope people have an education on something: how much you didn't know about addiction... 'Or the compassion you realize that you have for sex workers, or the need to help out recovery programs - anything, if it inspires or provokes any kind of new behavior.' Emily Ratajkowski flaunted her incredible figure as she celebrated Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday. The model, 33, took to her Instagram to gave her followers a treat with her sizzling post as she made sure to turn heads. Posing up a storm on a balcony, Emily sent temperatures soaring in a skimpy scale green co-ord which showed off her toned abs. The racy two-piece consisted of a gold tie-up front bralette and a chainmail mini skirt that hung perfectly on her frame. She completed the outfit with gold over-the-knee lace-up heels and she accessorised with a pair of large flower earrings. Emily Ratajkowski flaunted her incredible frame as she celebrated Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Wednesday The model, 33, took to her Instagram and gave her followers a treat with her sizzling post In another photograph, Emily wowed while relaxing on the beach in a tiny patterned bikini, which showed off her toned legs. She accessorised her look with a red bucket hat and sipped on a cold beer while posing on the sand. In her gallery of holiday snaps, the beauty then shared posed up a storm in a red bikini as she soaked up the sun. Her post also included fun photographs of her spending time with her friends as well as some stunning shots of the sunset. Emily penned in a caption: 'Thanks so much for having me Brazil Carnival is amazing and so special!' Carnival is a week-long festival of parades that takes place in Brazil before Lent and is the country's most popular holiday. Emily has had a busy schedule in recent weeks and had a fun-filled night out for the Oscars over the weekend. Not only did the Gone Girl star stun in a gorgeous see-through lace dress, but she also got some one-on-one time with a huge Hollywood star. Emily was seen posing and chatting away to movie icon Chris Rock, 60, on the night. Emily then wowed while relaxing on the beach in a tiny patterned bikini which displayed her toned legs and abs She accessorised her look with a red bucket hat and was sipping on a cold beer while posing on the sand The beauty then shared a close up snap of her assets in a red bikini top with silver charms Her post also included fun photos with her girl pals and some stunning shots of the sunset The two looked to be in a good mood as they chatted away inside the Vanity Fair Oscar party held in Beverly Hills. Emily appears to be single at the moment after divorcing Sebastian Bear-McClard and being linked to Orazio Rispo, Pete Davidson, Eric Andre, Harry Styles and Shaboozey. Chris was previously married to Malaak Compton (1996 - 2016) and has dated Megalyn Echikunwoke (2015 - 2020), Karrine Steffans (2005) and Nia Long (1991). Chris and Lake Bell were romantically linked in the summer of 2022, but the actor confirmed in 2023 that he was single. The comedian's date at the Oscar party was his daughter Zahra. Emily is good friends with Chris' longtime pal Amy Schumer. Emily and Amy worked together on the film I Feel Pretty and were seen together in New Orleans last month. Last month, Emily said she always strives to balance 'something masculine with something feminine' in her style. The model and actress has teamed up with Marella on a new blazer capsule collection, and she has explained why the partnership is a perfect fit. It comes after Oscars evening was very successful for pinup model and movie actress Emily on Sunday. She was seen posing with movie icon Chris Rock, 60, during the star-studded evening She told Women's Wear Daily: 'I wear blazers all the time: I wear them on the plane, I wear them to go out for drinks, I wear them to take my son to school. 'Balancing something masculine with something feminine is always a central part of my styling and with this collection I think you can really play with that.' The star previously revealed she would rather stick with what she is comfortable in and knows works for her rather than choose an outfit based on what is fashionable at the moment. She told PopSugar: 'I've made the mistake of trying [trends] before. What makes me happy is just knowing that I look good... 'I just try to really take a second and be like, OK, what do I want to feel like today? Am I comfortable? 'Am I kicking [but] and wearing heels? What's the vibe?' Jaden Smith looked effortlessly stylish as he stepped out in a custom two-piece suit for a Paris Fashion Week event on Wednesday night. The 26-year-old son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith exuded confidence as he showed off his tailored suit and oversized sunglasses as he attended Louis Vuitton's LVMH Prize event at Avenue Montaigne. The Karate Kid actor, who is an ambassador for the brand, paired his dark grey blazer with a pair of elegant sunglasses to top off the look. His blazer drew in all the attention, with a sophisticated pleated finish and silver buttons. He wore baggy, pleated trousers for an extra touch, and rounded the outfit off with chunky black boots. Jaden kept his look clean, with a simple necklace to add finishing touches, and his hair in an up-do. Jaden Smith oozed confidence in a tailored, plated grey blazer at the Louis Vuitton LVMH Prize event at Avenue Montaigne during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday The actor, 26, has been named an ambassador for the brand, and was there to help discover the 20 semi-finalists of the 2025 edition Ahead of the event, he shared a quick mirror selfie to his Instagram Story, notifying his followers of his presence. Jaden has been named as one of the ambassadors for the semi-final of the 2025 prize, and appeared at last night's event to help pick a winner. It's not the first time his unique fashion choices have turned heads. Jaden is no stranger to fashion week, as he was pictured at the Louis Vuitton Paris Spring-Summer 2025 show in October last year. He was seen holding a unique bag made by the high-end designer, and was one of a number of celebs to attend the fashion function. Celebrities such as Zendaya, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Jurnee Smollett, Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander were seen seated in the front row of the show near The Pursuit of Happyness star. His appearance at fashion week comes not long after he raised eyebrows for his head-turning outfit at the Grammys last month. The actor wore a 'castle' on his head for the biggest night in showbiz, and he definitely made people stare. Jaden paired his sophisticated look with a pair of oversized sunglasses and a simple necklace for the finishing touch His striking multi-coloured bag turned heads, which added a splash of colour to the casual attire Law Roach also attended the high-end fashion event, pictured alongside Jaden as they partied together amongst other stars He wore an all-black suit, with a simple white shirt and tie, but the main event was a black headpiece shaped like a castle. Jaden's last appearance in public was with his dad Will, attending the BAA Brand launch party in West Hollywood, back in December. Following the event, Will and Jaden stuck close to each other as they waited for the valet to bring over their car. The King Richard star revealed that he's grown closer to his three kids, Jaden, Willow, 23, and Trey III, 31, by being more transparent and not pretending to have all the answers or be 'Superman.' 'My children are moving closer to me,' he told People. 'I feel like I'm becoming a valuable elder.' During that same month, Jaden was captured shouting on camera as he appeared to be upset leaving Paris restaurant Maxim's. 'Where's my f**king bag - where's my bag?' he was heard asking in a clip as he left the upscale establishment. The Malibu, California native's ex-girlfriend Sab Zada, 25, was also pictured speaking with him and amid a group of friends during the outing. Maxim's describes itself as 'a historically ranked landmark,' and 'a symbolic place of Art Nouveau, French Gastronomy' and 'also the most imperative meeting place for numerous international celebrities.' Keith Richards has been honoured with a new award which celebrates the excellence of Connecticut residents. The English Rolling Stones legend, 81, who is from Dartford, in Kent, has owned a home in the US state since 1985. And after his longtime residence there, Keith became the first recipient of the new Connecticut Governor's Award of Excellence on Wednesday. The award recognises Connecticut residents for their creativity, passion and generosity and the guitarist received a custom-designed medallion and hearty applause from dozens who attended the ceremony at the Westport Library. Governor Ned Lamont, a Stones fan, praised Keith for his music career and philanthropy to local organisations. 'Well, thank you very much. And thank you Connecticut,' Keith said before pausing briefly. 'You kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck. All I gotta say is, you know, I've been here for 40 years, and it's been a great place for me. Keith Richards was honoured with a new award which celebrates the excellence of Connecticut residents on Wednesday The English Rolling Stones legend, 81, who is from Dartford, in Kent, has owned a home in the US state since 1985 (Seen in June) Keith said he moved from New York City to the leafy, wealthy suburb of Weston about 50 miles to the northeast so his children could get some fresh air. 'The family's had a great life,' he said. 'The kids grew up great and incredibly happy about everything.' Keith and his wife, model and actress Patti Hansen, have two adult children. He also has two children with ex-wife Anita Pallenberg. Another child with Anita, Tara, died from sudden infant death syndrome in 1976. The Governor noted Keith's support of local organisations that serve people with disabilities including SPHERE, an education, recreation and arts group, and The Prospector Theater, which operates a movie theatre and online popcorn business. 'Keith Richards is an amazing member of our community, and we're so proud that he's here,' he said. 'And I'm so proud for the opportunity to give him this award in excellence.' He added: 'This award was created to honour those whose creativity, resourcefulness and passion have made a lasting impact on our state and beyond. Keith Richards is the epitome of these values - not only as one of the most influential musicians of all time but as a dedicated supporter of the arts, education and community causes in Connecticut.' The Democratic governor also joked that Keith is one of his 'top political advisers,' through his music. He then played snippets of Stones songs including Start Me Up, saying it was an inspiration for helping small businesses, and You Can't Always Get What You Want - his answer to state lawmakers' requests to increase the budget, he said. Governor Ned Lamont, a Stones fan, praised Keith for his music career and philanthropy to local organisations 'Well, thank you very much. And thank you Connecticut,' Keith said before pausing briefly. 'You kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck' After his longtime residence there, Keith became the first recipient of the new Connecticut Governor's Award of Excellence on Wednesday Keith has an affinity for libraries, calling them a great and publicly owned equaliser in society - after being gifted a Westport library card. 'When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: The church, which belongs to you,' he said. 'The public library is the great equaliser. 'Without our books and without knowing things, and without their special meaning - this is not movies. 'This is not somebody drawing you images or anything. This is a book, and you have the movie in your head. And it's very important that we keep our books unburnt.' Keith is a founding member of the Rolling Stones, which formed in 1962 as a blues band and gained popularity with original songs including (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Gimme Shelter and Sympathy for the Devil. He also has released solo recordings and ones with other artists. The rock star's honour comes days after he experienced another of life's joys when he became a grandfather for the eighth time His daughter Alexandra welcomed a son with husband Jacques Naude and took to Instagram to share the happy news on Monday (Alexandra and Keith pictured 2011) The rock star's honour comes days after he experienced another of life's joys when he became a grandfather for the eighth time. His daughter Alexandra welcomed a son with husband Jacques Naude and took to Instagram to share the happy news on Monday. The Vogue model, 38, who already shares four-year-old daughter Arlowe with the film director, posted a slew of snaps from the delivery room as well as a racy image of herself heavily pregnant and topless beneath a fur coat. She revealed they'd named the newborn Elvis Nova Naude in tribute to Elvis Presley, whom Keith has said inspired him to start recording music. Laura Hamilton posed up a storm in a stylish bikini as she enjoyed some downtime while viewing properties in Dubai. The A Place In The Sun presenter, 42, took to Instagram this week to show off her incredible figure as she posed in a black two-piece bikini. Laura gave an insight into her luxury getaway as she lounged by the pool and enjoying a drink at the high-end Rixos Premium Hotel. The presenter paired her beachwear ensemble with large sunglasses as she soaked up the sun in the United Arab Emirates. Laura was sporting a stylish 155 bikini from Strictly Star Tess Daly's brand, which she has proven herself to be a huge fan of as she also wore the item in December. The property expert also shared a snap of a delicious-looking bowl of sushi alongside one of the bikini pictures, describing the food as her 'favourite'. Laura Hamilton posed up a storm in a stylish bikini as she relaxed in the sun in Dubai, where she is currently viewing properties The A Place in the Sun presenter, 42, took to Instagram this week to show off her incredible figure as she posed in a black two-piece bikini while relaxing at the Rixos Premium Hotel She tagged the Rixos Premium Hotel in a post, a luxury five-star establishment in the heart of the city, which has its own beach. In a caption, she explained that she was visiting the United Arab Emirates to view properties, though it is unclear if it was for A Place In The Sun. She wrote: 'A weekend of chill before some property viewings in Dubai begin' Fans were quick to praise the TV star for her show-stopping display in the pictures. Comments included: 'You're my favourite'; 'Laura you're so beautiful in every way.' While it is not known if the properties Laura was viewing will be featured on the show, her co-presenter Jean Johansson previously that that they were exploring new locations. Jean, 43, told The Sun in December: 'We are going to different countries. We are in Turkey for the first time. Thats great. 'Completely new and different landscapes, completely different needs from the house hunters. Laura also shared a bowl of sushi alongside her recent bikini snaps, describing it as 'her favourite' food Laura has been one of A Place in the Sun's longest-standing presenters, occupying the role since 2012 'Exploring the food and the culture. It is a different-looking episode. I think people are going to like that.' Jean added that the show would be returning to Dubai as part of the show's shake-up for the first time in over a decade. A Place in the Sun continues on Thursday on Channel 4 at 6pm, and the episode will follow Penny and Mark as they try to buy a holiday home for just 100,000 in Granada, Spain. A Place In The Sun is set to undergo a major overhaul in 2025, as Channel 4 recently confirmed two huge changes to the beloved travel series. The series has not only moved to a new 6pm timeslot, rather than its previous 4pm programming, but it is also exploring new climates, according to The Mirror. The show is featuring new locations including the Mediterranean isle of Gozo - part of the archipelago of Malta - and the historical towns of Lake Garda in Italy. Under-fire Emilia Perez actress Karla Sofia Gascon has claimed that Madonna is supporting her, amid her tweets controversy. Karla, who hails from Spain, was nominated for best actress for her performance as a cartel chief who pretends to die in order to transition into a woman. Her nod made history as the first time a trans woman has been in competition for the prize - but just after it was announced, her Hollywood career was upended. The Oscars campaign was torpedoed by resurfaced old tweets in which Karla made controversial remarks on such subjects as George Floyd and Islam. Amidst the furor, Karla kept away from the awards show circuit, and until Sunday the question hung in the air of whether she would attend the Oscars at all. When it came to the highly-anticipated event, she skipped the red carpet but attended the actual ceremony. Under-fire Emilia Perez actress Karla Sofia Gascon has claimed that Madonna is supporting her, amid her tweets controversy Karla took to Instagram on Thursday to thank Madonna, 66, for her support and for inviting her to an Oscars afterparty Karla took to Instagram on Thursday to thank Madonna, 66, for her support and for inviting her to an Oscars afterparty. She shared a black and white picture where the music icon is hugging her and wrote a lengthy caption. Karla tagged Madonna and quipped quipped: 'Madonna, I want to thank you for all the love you have shown me. 'For your invitation to the party you gave after the Oscars and for your words of love and strength. I love you.' She added: 'I also take this opportunity to thank all my fellow Hollywood professionals who expressed their support and admiration for me that night. Both at the gala and at the party.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Madonna for comment. Karla previously told The Mirror of Madonna's support, before her old tweets were unearthed. She told the publication: 'Madonna was crying so much after the screening in New York.she told me: 'You're amazing!' She was crying and crying. I said: 'Madonna, please. It's only a film. Be happy!' And in October, Madonna had nothing but words of praise for Emilia Perez. The Queen of Pop declared the Jacques Audiard-directed flick a 'masterpiece' with 'unbelievable performances' in Instagram posts. And in October, Madonna had nothing but words of praise for Emilia Perez It comes after Karla looked awkward as she was pictured in the crowd Sunday at the 97th Academy Awards, while host Conan O'Brien fired off a few jokes about her tweet scandal He joked that Best picture nominee Anora used 'the f-word 479 times,' adding 'that's three more than the record set by Karla Sofia Gascon's publicist!' The Papa Don't Preach hitmaker shared four social media Stories, after she partied with the cast following the film's screening at New York Film Festival last year. In one photo she stood next to Selena, as they posed with the film's other stars Edgar Ramirez, Zoe Saldana, Karla, Adriana Paz as well as dancer and choreographer Damien Jalet. The star also shared two posters for the film on her Instagram Stories. 'Wow,' she wrote in pink letters on one of the posters. It comes after Karla looked awkward as she was pictured in the crowd Sunday at the 97th Academy Awards, while host Conan O'Brien fired off a few jokes about her tweet scandal. She appeared to be uncomfortable in her seat in the event, which stemmed from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, as Conan rattled off a series of remarks about the controversy she was involved in after unsavory old tweets resurfaced. He joked that Best picture nominee Anora used 'the f-word 479 times,' adding 'that's three more than the record set by Karla Sofia Gascon's publicist!' The host joked as the camera panned on the actress, who did not appear to be amused, adding, 'Karla, if you are gonna tweet about the Oscars my name is Jimmy Kimmel.' Karla was once considered a front-runner to win Best Actress, but was shunned by Netflix and her co-stars after the posts emerged Gascon said hello to co-star Selena Gomez, but did not pose with any of the Emilia Perez cast In the Best Actress category, Karla was nominated against The Substance's Demi Moore; Anora's Mikey Madison; I'm Still Here's Fernanda Torres; and Wicked's Cynthia Erivo. Karla was once considered a front-runner to win Best Actress, but was shunned by Netflix and her co-stars after the posts emerged. Mikey Madison took the gong on Sunday. It was unclear if she would show up at the event, as Netflix had pulled the plug on many of her pre-awards appearances after the scandal. But she did show, alongside her daughter, agent, a 'concerned' Netflix publicist and private security, The New York Times reported. She was photographed interacting with co-star Selena Gomez in the audience after the show started, but did not walk the red carpet or pose with anyone from her film. Karla did reportedly share a warm moment with Best Actor winner Adrian Brody at the bar, but was kept from speaking to any press by the Netflix publicist. 'Gascon was jovial and interested in chatting,' the NYT reported. 'But before she could get out any answer, the Netflix publicist shut down any more conversation and moved the reporter away from Gascon.' The Los Angeles Times noted that the controversy surrounding Gascon's social media posts were 'the most uncomfortable thing about being at the Academy Awards this year.' The audience applauded politely every time Gascon was mentioned - but 'without any real warmth,' per the LA Times. She was accompanied by a bodyguard and a Netflix publicist every time she got up from her seat. Gascon was a regular in Mexican telenovelas before transitioning in 2018. In Emilia Perez, she plays a menacing cartel kingpin who fakes his death in order to transition to a woman Just after Gascon's nomination was announced last month, Muslim writer Sarah Hagi dug up a series of old social media posts by the actress. One posted in November 2020 read: 'I'm sorry. Is it just my impression or is there more muslims in Spain? Every time I go to pick up my daughter from school there are more women with their hair covered and their skirts down to their heels. Next year instead of English we'll have to teach Arabic.' In September 2020, she posted an image of a Muslim family eating at a restaurant, where the wife was in a full black burqa, along with a sarcastic comment. 'Islam is marvelous, without any machismo,' she wrote. 'Women are respected, and when they are so respected they are left with a little squared hole on their faces for their eyes to be visible and their mouths, but only if she behaves. Although they dress this way for their own enjoyment. How DEEPLY DISGUSTING OF HUMANITY.' She also tweeted about the Black Lives Matter riots sparked by George Floyd's death in police custody, in another post that drew brickbats. 'I really think that very few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict swindler, but his death has served to once again demonstrate that there are people who still consider black people to be monkeys without rights and consider policemen to be assassins. They are both wrong,' wrote Gascon. Gascon apologised for for the posts but had insisted she is not a racist. 'As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain,' she said in a statement via Netflix, where her film can be streamed. 'All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.' Gascon was a regular in Mexican telenovelas before transitioning in 2018. In Emilia Perez, she plays a menacing cartel kingpin who fakes his death in order to transition to a woman. Years later, her character contacts the lawyer who facilitated her transition to help her reunite with her wife and their children. Rochelle Humes, Coleen Rooney and Jacqueline Jossa were among the stars celebrating World Book Day on Thursday with their adorable children. World Book Day sees hordes of children dressing up as their favourites literary characters during the annual celebration of all things books and reading. And leading the way of the stars getting in on the action was Rochelle, whose children Valentina, seven, and Blake, four, dressed as Mary Poppins and Spider-Man respectively. The This Morning presenter, 35, took to Instagram to post a selection of snaps of her two youngest children as they posed up a storm in their fun outfits. Yet it was Gogglebox star Izzi Warner's son Bobby who truly stole the show as he was transformed into Claudia Winkleman. Drawing inspiration from her mysterious Traitors look, Bobby was the spitting image of the BBC presenter, with the costume even receiving the seal of approval from Claudia herself. Rochelle Humes , Coleen Rooney and Jacqueline Jossa were among the stars celebrating World Book Day on Thursday with their adorable children [Rochelle's children pictured] Yet it was Gogglebox star Izzi Warner's son Bobby who truly stole the show as he was transformed into Claudia Winkleman Coleen Rooney's youngest son put on a magical display as he dressed as Harry Potter for the occasion, complete with the glasses, a light-up wand and a toy Dobby Captioning the post, Izzi joked: 'We have never laughed so much on a school morning, didn't even have to buy any makeup turns out I'm the same shade as Claudia herself.' Replying, Claudia penned: 'Amazing' as Izzi teasingly replied: 'thank you! Bobs is happy to step in any time you need cover'. Other celebs were also left in hysterics as Vicky Pattison added: 'Dead' and Capital FM's Sian Welby wrote: 'Ok, actually looks more like Claudia than Claudia does.' Elsewhere, Coleen Rooney's youngest son put on a magical display as he dressed as Harry Potter for the occasion, complete with the glasses, a light-up wand and a toy Dobby. Jacqueline Jossa's daughters also got into the spirit of things, with her eldest daughter Ella dressing as Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks, while her younger girl Mia donned a cheerleader outfit. Meanwhile, Kerry Katona's youngest daughter Dylan-Jorge looked to be having a great time wile dressed as Tweedledum from the Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. The youngster was seen proudly posing in the living room while modelling her fun outfit. Imogen Thomas' daughter donned an all-pink ensemble on Thursday as she dressed as a pig for the big day. Drawing inspiration from her mysterious Traitors look, Bobby was the spitting image of the BBC presenter, with the costume even receiving the seal of approval from Claudia herself Replying, Claudia penned: 'Amazing' as Izzi teasingly replied: 'thank you! Bobs is happy to step in any time you need cover' Jacqueline Jossa's daughters also got into the spirit of things, with her eldest daughter Ella dressing as Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks Jacqueline's younger girl Mia donned a cheerleader outfit Meanwhile, Kerry Katona's youngest daughter Dylan-Jorge looked to be having a great time wile dressed as Tweedledum from the Alice's Adventures In Wonderland Elsewhere, after a frantic search in the shops the day before, Cara De La Hoyde proudly shared a snap of her daughter Delilah looking fantastic in a Mary Poppins costume. Son Freddie got in on the action too, donning an Oliver costume complete with a homemade sign begging for more food. Children's author David Walliams also joined in the fun, posing with the abominable but nice snowman character from his book, The World's Worst Monsters. Amanda Holden and Ashley Roberts dressed up in Little Red Riding Hood costumes as they also celebrated World Book Day at Heart Radio Studios on Thursday. Radio host Amanda, 54, put on a very leggy display in a mini dress as she added an adult twist to her Red Riding Hood costume. Imogen Thomas' daughter donned an all-pink ensemble on Thursday as she dressed as a pig for the big day Elsewhere, after a frantic search in the shops the day before, Cara De La Hoyde proudly shared a snap of her daughter Delilah looking fantastic in a Mary Poppins costume Son Freddie got in on the action too, donning an Oliver costume complete with a homemade sign begging for more food Children's author David Walliams also joined in the fun, posing with the abominable but nice snowman character from his book, The World's Worst Monsters She was seen dancing around the radio studio wearing a red mini skirt, which featured a very high slit along the leg, layered under a grey corset and white top. The blonde beauty added inches to her toned physique with a pair of red court stilettos and finished her ensemble with a long red cape tied around her neck and a pair of cropped black gloves. Meanwhile Ashley, 43, also put on an adult twist on the children's classic as she stepped out in a skimpy grey wolf costume. Her one-piece featured a hood, fur-lined ears and a fur lining around the hem of her skirt and sleeves. Adding to her overall look, she painted a black snout on her nose and added inches to her frame with a pair of black leather knee-high boots. Having some fun in the studio ahead of their 10am slot, the duo was seen putting on a quirky dance around the office before playfully taking pictures in some character-inspired poses. They were also joined by co-host Jamie Theakston, who looked rather fetching as Red's granny. Amanda Holden and Ashley Roberts dressed up in Little Red Riding Hood costumes as they also celebrated World Book Day at Heart Radio Studios on Thursday Radio host Amanda, 54, put on a very leggy display in a mini dress as she added an adult twist to her Red Riding Hood costume Meanwhile Ashley, 43, also put on an adult twist on the children's classic as she stepped out in a skimpy grey wolf costume They were also joined by co-host Jamie Theakston, who looked rather fetching as Red's granny The trio were certainly having a great time as they showed off their fun costumes, in what has become an annual tradition for the Heart Radio stars Adam and Caroline Thomas' children Teddy and Else-Rose looked simply adorable in a snap that saw them dressed as Lord Farquaad and Princess Fiona from Shrek Kimberley Walsh's son Cole initially dressed as an Oompa Loompa... ... before changing his mind and going as Harry Potter, while older brother Bobby rocked a Billionaire Boy costume Laura Whitmore's daughter Stevie meanwhile dressed as a cute mermaid Adam and Caroline Thomas' children Teddy and Else-Rose looked simply adorable in a snap that saw them dressed as Lord Farquaad and Princess Fiona from Shrek. While Kimberley Walsh's son Cole initially dressed as an Oompa Loompa, before changing his mind and going as Harry Potter, while older brother Bobby rocked a Billionaire Boy costume. Laura Whitmore's daughter Stevie meanwhile dressed as a cute mermaid, with the youngster posing with her mermaid book as well as her mother's book. The annual event, which was started in 1995, has become one of the most exciting days for children across the UK and Ireland. It aims to encourage children to read by celebrating authors and illustrators, nurturing a love for books. World Book Day is celebrated across the UK and Ireland's schools every year. The day is meant to encourage children to pick up reading and learn to enjoy the habit. The event website says: 'We want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them.' Elsewhere, national literary treasure Jacqueline Wilson appeared on BBC Radio 2's The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on Thursday and announced her brand new book. Elsewhere, national literary treasure Jacqueline Wilson appeared on BBC Radio 2's The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on Thursday and announced her brand new book Meanwhile, Scott - dressed as famous Jacqueline Wilson character Tracey Beaker - also revealed Jacqueline is also releasing an adult book Revealing her exciting news, the beloved children's author, 79, said: 'I have a children's book coming out just after World Book Day, The Seaside Sleepover, when I'll be rushing round seaside towns all over the country.' Meanwhile, Scott - dressed as famous Jacqueline Wilson character Tracey Beaker - also revealed Jacqueline is also releasing an adult book. Explaining everything, Jacqueline remarked: 'I think there are two of me actually, the one that writes the children's books, and I love writing children's books, still going to, but it's been so exciting in that last year, I revisited three teenage girls that I'd written about in the 1990s and now, god help them, they're pushing 40. And I thought what fun it would be to actually write about them in an adult novel. 'It's called Picture Imperfect. I discovered that what fun it is to, it's like a party game, you know, thinking about your childhood favourites that you wrote about. 'And one of the books that people have mentioned over the years is The Illustrated Mum, about a mum who has bipolar disorder, a lovely mum in some ways, but very, very spacy and unreliable, and you've got two kids, Dolphin and Star, named after the most popular flash tattoos, because she is called The Illustrated Mum, because she is illustrated all over. 'And now Dolphin is 33, the exact same age that the mum is in the first children's book. But today, there's a statue in Brighton that has just been unveiled, with wonderful tattoos all over it, and the statue is of me!' Dave Hughes has slammed Kyle Sandilands and revealed that he 'couldn't care less' that the radio king is battling with ill health. Kyle recently shared his his brain aneurysm diagnosis and faces major surgery - but the comedian has no time for his struggles. 'I don't really have any empathy because Kyle doesn't have any empathy for anyone,' Dave tells Adelaide Now. 'If he's on air he'll just slag everyone off including me. So I've got no empathy at all. I couldn't care less to be honest' he continued. 'But they're making a fortune so I have probably got more empathy for the shareholders than the on-air people. They are the one who are bloody bleeding.' Kyle will no doubt have thoughts on Dave's comments as he has been defending himself the past few weeks from detractors who have slated him amid his very public health issues. Dave Hughes (pictured) has slammed Kyle Sandilands and revealed that he 'couldn't care less' that the radio king is battling with ill health Last week, the 53-year-old hit back at a Sydney columnist who suggested KIIS FM bosses would take advantage of his brain aneurysm diagnosis to tinker with his popular breakfast radio show. An opinion piece written by News Corp columnist Annette Sharp suggested that management would use Kyle's on-air absence to retool The Kyle and Jackie O Show and tone down its graphic nature as it continues to struggle in the Melbourne ratings. 'On Friday radio industry insiders voiced the belief radio bosses will use the time Sandilands is away for surgery to have a go at fixing the show,' Sharp wrote. 'Eight weeks, the maximum time Sandilands plans to take off to have brain surgery, equates to the length of one standard radio ratings survey.' Sandilands slammed Sharp's assertions, labelling her an 'old dolly' who writes 'terrible, negative things'. Speaking to his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson, he was adamant he would not be taking 'two to eight weeks' off as Sharp suggested after he confirmed he would have to undergo extensive surgery. 'There's no two to eight weeks off,' he said. 'There's no time off for me. I'll die on air before I let this woman win.' 'I don't really have any empathy because Kyle doesn't have any empathy for anyone,' Dave tells Adelaide Now. Kyle is pictured The shock jock also rubbished claims his KIIS FM bosses have any say in the direction of the show. 'Let me explain one more time - the bosses have no control whatsoever over what we do on this show. Zero. None,' he said. 'It starts and ends with what we want to do. 'It doesn't matter if the board show up here with all the shareholders. We're contracted to do whatever we want to do. And if you don't like it, too bad. 'There's no one sneaking around in the background fixing s***, cos there's nothing to fix.' In November, it was announced that Kyle would be reducing his trademark graphic sexual content in a bid to appeal to the Melbourne market. However, speaking to Mumbrella, ARN's chief content officer Duncan Campbell said Kyle was the one who 'came to the table' with toning down on the graphic content. The sexual content was really a small part of the show,' he said. Kyle will no doubt have thoughts on Dave's comments as he has been defending himself the past few weeks from detractors who have slated him amid his very public health issues 'Because it was graphic, it grabbed everyone's attention but [Kyle's] taken that off, really. It's still sexual content. But not the graphic sexual content that it once was. '[Kyle] wants to win in Melbourne. There's no doubt about that,' he added. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Kyle for comment. Kyle told listeners recently that he had a brain aneurysm which required immediate emergency brain surgery. The media veteran warned listeners 'a life of cocaine abuse and partying are not the way to go'. Kyle also revealed that that surgeons will have to open his skull, rather than have keyhole surgery, to access the aneurysm which is located on the front right side of his brain. He also said that he needs to have a second surgery to remove another aneurysm which has been found in his chest. 'The [brain] aneurysm is at a Y junction and it is at the top. The shape of it has limited the operation they can do. The only option to get to it is to [open the skull],' he told co-host Jackie O Henderson. Kyle told listeners recently that he had a brain aneurysm which required immediate emergency brain surgery. Kyle is pictured with son Otto and wife Tegan Kynaston 'That means I will have this huge scar from the forehead to top of my ear and they would have to drill a hole in my skull, go into the brain and clip it off.' Kyle revealed the doctor told him he will have less problems 'leaving it and monitoring it' until it gets bigger. 'As soon as I do any procedure my risk goes right up. He told me to take the weekend to think about it,' Kyle said, before revealing the second surgery. 'They found another one in my chest and that's a separate surgery and I have very bad calcium buildup in the heart where I'm likely to have a heart attack.' Olivia Colman looked effortlessly glam in a rare loved-up display with her husband Ed Sinclair at Stella McCartney's Paris Fashion Week show on Wednesday. The Crown actress, 51, was all smiles as she and her partner attended the high-end show together in the French capital. The couple looked smitten as they cosied up at the event, and were seen chatting to other guests. Olivia looked chic in a crisp, white shirt underneath a long navy coat, with the collar buttoned up, and stylish balloon sleeves. The TV star accessorised her look with several chunky rings and a brown leather quilted handbag, which she wore on her wrist. She added black suit trousers for a sophisticated touch, pairing the bottoms with pointed boots and some oversized sunglasses. The Oscar-winning actress wore her hair in a wavy style, showing off her stylish pixie cut. Olivia Colman looked effortlessly glam in a rare loved-up display with her husband Ed Sinclair at Stella McCartney 's Paris Fashion Week show on Wednesday The Crown actress, 51, was all smiles as she and her partner cosied up as they attended the high-end show together in the French capital Meanwhile, her other half stood beside her, wearing a baggy grey suit and trainers for the occasion. Ed wore a white T-shirt underneath his blazer, and looked happy to be in her presence. Olivia and Ed married in 2001, and they have three children together. Their love story is nothing short of sweet, as they met in the 90s - and have pretty much been inseparable ever since. She previously told The Mail in 2013: 'There's the bloke I'm going to marry.' Olivia added: 'My husband and I were very lucky. We met when we had nothing and we loved each other then. So we were all right. 'We were 20 and he was also an actor. If you meet at that age then you're fine. For me it was thunderbolts straight away.' They've been married for more than 20 years, and have two sons - Finn and Hall - and a daughter (whose name she hasn't shared) together. Olivia and Ed have three children together - two sons named Finn and Hall - and a daughter (whose name she hasn't shared) She cut a stylish figure in an elegant navy coat, paired with a brown handbag on her wrist Olivia also posed for pictures without her husband, who she has been married to for over 20 years and the Oscar-winning actress looked elegant at the show In recent years, Olivia revealed she gets 'terribly homesick' when forced to spend time away from Ed and their kids due to work commitments. Speaking on Ruthies Table podcast, she said: 'Ed and I have been together for 30 years and up until Covid the longest I had been away was two weeks as I just dont take jobs away from home. 'I get terribly homesick. I never used to be able to sleep very well if Ed wasnt there. 'I am at an age where sleep is harder anyway so a night away might mean a great nights sleep but I miss the kids. I wanted to be there.' The actress has been busy working, but let her hair down for the star-studded Sundance Film Festival event in January. Olivia joined Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo in a matching all-black outfit at the Celebrating Sundance Institute Gala in Park City, Utah. Olivia premiered her film Jimpa with co-star John Lithgow, wearing a black collarless jacket and a pair of baggy black trousers. Cynthia, who has been nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the film Wicked, looked in great spirits as she collected the Sundance Institute Visionary Award. The star matched a black belted jacket with a black midi dress, which featured a cutaway zip. Charlotte Crosby has given her followers a look into her first few weeks as a mother of two in an album shared to Instagram on Thursday. The TV personality, 34, and her fiance, Jake Ankers, who are already parents to Alba, two, welcomed their second daughter Pixi in January. And now they have shared some of their 'perfect' moments with their fans as she posted an album of some of their first moments as a family of four. In the album of snaps, Charlotte shared an adorable photograph of her mother Letitia teaching Alba how to put on her shoes. Alba appears to have taken on the role of big sister in her stride as she could be seen sitting and playing with an array of teddy bears with her newborn sister. Pixi appears to have been busy in her first days in the world as Charlotte revealed that she has already accompanied her to a work meeting. Charlotte Crosby, 34, has given her followers a look into her first few weeks as a mother of two in an album shared to Instagram on Thursday The TV personality and her fiance, Jake Ankers (pictured) , who are already parents to Alba, two, welcomed their second daughter Pixi in January Charlotte also posted a snap of Jake, Alba and Pixi all dressed in white while lying in bed. She also shared an adorable picture of her father spending burping the newborn and spending time with his two granddaughters. Charlotte revealed the name of her baby girl last month in an adorable Instagram post. She shared a sweet snap of Pixi in a personalised knitted cardigan as she opened up about her 'rollercoaster' weekend. She wrote: 'Pixi Cecilia Ankers welcome to the world our beautiful baby girl! You are absolutely perfect 31.01.25. Its been a rollercoaster of a weekend!' Charlotte's father Gary had previously let slip that she had given birth in an Instagram post. But days later, she shared a sweet black and white photo of Jake cuddling their newborn daughter as she then confirmed the birth. Charlotte captioned the snap: 'She's here' as she directed her followers to read her subscription-based newsletter for a 'personal update from me and my beautiful family of 4'. And now they have shared some of their 'perfect' moments with their fans as she posted an album of some of their first moments as a family In the album of snaps, Charlotte shared a sweet snap of her mother teaching Alba how to put on her shoes Alba appears to have taken on the role of big sister in her stride as she could be seen sitting and playing with an array of teddy bears with her newborn sister The reality star also revealed a heartwarming photo of her and Jake introducing their daughter Alba Jean to her little sister. The sweet shot saw Alba sweetly stroking the newborn's head as they cuddled up on Jake's chest and he gave the toddler a kiss on her head. Charlotte addressed her followers: 'Let me know if you think she looks like Alba! And if you love the her and alba's first meeting pics!' Her confirmation that she had welcomed her second child came after her father accidentally let the cat out of the bag a day earlier. He shared a photo on Instagram of Alba kissing a giant pink balloon that read: 'Welcome to the world little sister'. Pixi appears to have been busy in her first days in the world as Charlotte revealed that she has already accompanied her to a work meeting Charlotte also posted a snap of Jake, Alba and Pixi all dressed in white while lying in bed She also shared an adorable picture of her father spending burping the newborn and spending time with his two granddaughters While in the caption he wrote: 'What a full filled weekend done in that their London. A new addition to our little family and some very exciting years ahead. Feeling very blessed and happy.' The post, which was 'liked' by daughter Charlotte, sparked a sea of comments from fans offering their congratulations. Just days before she was due to give birth, Charlotte opened up about her love for her daughter, while also revealing the sweet reason why she couldn't wait for her pregnancy to be over. The birth has also been filmed for Charlotte's reality show, Geordie Shore: Charlotte's Having Another Baby. Queen Mary of Denmark has paid tribute to the historical lineage of the Danish Royal Family with some stunning accessories. The royal stunned in a flowing gown as she attended a gala dinner at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, along with husband King Frederik X on Tuesday. There were some gorgeous nods to her husband's lineage, with the Queen wearing jewels that have not been seen in public in 140 years. Among the special pieces, Queen Mary had on Queen Caroline Amalie's gemstone encrusted gold diadem. A diadem is a jewelled crown or headpiece normally worn by members of a royal family. Queen Caroline Amalie was the Queen of Denmark between 1839 and 1848. Queen Mary of Denmark has paid tribute to the historical lineage of the Danish Royal Family with some stunning accessories. The royal stunned in a flowing gown as she attended a gala dinner at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, along with husband King Frederik X There were some gorgeous nods to her husband's lineage, with the Queen wearing jewels that have not been seen in public in 140 years Mary also wore Princess Vilhelmine Marie's gold and gemstone encrusted cuff bracelet. Princess Vilhelmine was the daughter of King Frederick VI who reigned between 1808 and 1839. The Danish royal couple were hosted in the Finnish capital on Tuesday evening by the President of Finland Alexander Stubb and his Solihull-born attorney wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb. Looking effortlessly elegant, Queen Mary, 53, was dressed in a beautiful floor-length, embroidered gown with sheer sleeves and a wide, silk waist belt. The royal's gold belt bore a silver brooch with the Danish flag in the centre. The mother-of-four's dress had a black base and was decorated in floral patterns sewn in gold thread and finished with tiny pearls. On the left side, she had attached two medals, one containing a photograph of the Danish monarch - her husband - and the other featuring a red and gold cross. The Australian-born Danish queen wore a royal blue sash, which is often associated with the Order of the Elephant, a prominent Danish order of chivalry. Among the special pieces, Queen Mary had on Queen Caroline Amalie's gemstone encrusted gold diadem. A diadem is a jewelled crown or headpiece normally worn by members of a royal family Queen Caroline Amalie was the Queen of Denmark between 1839 and 1848 Mary also wore Princess Vilhelmine Marie's gold and gemstone encrusted cuff bracelet. Princess Vilhelmine was the daughter of King Frederick VI who reigned between 1808 and 1839 She carried a miniature clutch bag in the same shade of blue with a diamante fastening. Mary accessorised her striking ensemble with a gold tiara set with jewels of different colours and a pair of ornate gold earrings encrusted with what appeared to be rubies. She wore her chestnut brown hair brushed back in an elegant chignon and kept her make-up fairly simple, adding a smoky eye, blusher and a pale pink lipstick. King Frederik X, meanwhile, looked dapper in white tie attire, featuring a black tuxedo, a white dress shirt and waistcoat, and a white bowtie. The Danish King, 56, wore a row of medals on the left side of his jacket and had a bejewelled gold chain draped over his shoulders. Once seated at a long dinner table adorned with pink and white flowers, President Stubb stood up to officially welcome his royal guests with a speech that amused King Frederik who stifled his laughter with his hand. Later, it was Frederik's turn to address the guests at the gala dinner, with the king donning a pair of black spectacles for the occasion. The Danish royal couple arrived in Finland early today for their state visit. May and Frederik were received by President Stubb and wife Suzanne at an official reception held at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Tuesday morning. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley showed off her incredible figure as she shared stunning new snaps from her trip to France for Paris Fashion Week. The British model, 37, took to Instagram on Tuesday to document her trip, where she has been socialising with models including Gigi Hadid and Naomi Campbell. She looked picture perfect in a figure-hugging sequinned gown during a fitting with Balenciaga before she headed to the Louvre Museum for the luxury fashion brand's dinner. Rosie, who is dating actor Jason Statham, shared a series of mirror selfies showing off her custom garments - including two floor-length dresses and one mini dress. The mum-of-one posed in a strappy black gown, which she paired with pointed black heels and simple earrings for a chic look. Her hair was styled in soft waves, falling over one of her shoulders as she looked downwards. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 37, took to Instagram on Wednesday and teased her incredible physique in a series of stunning snaps ahead of dinner with Balenciaga in Paris The supermodel - who is amongst models Gigi Hadid and Naomi Campbell in the city for Paris Fashion Week - showcased her custom gowns with her Instagram followers In another shot, the supermodel made sure to attract attention in a sparkling floor-length silver gown. In the third photo, she put on a very leggy display in a sequinned mini dress, which she styled with a pair of pointed black stilettos. Rosie also revealed how she added some further glitz to her glamorous looks as she shared another snap of her high-end jewellery to accessorise. The items including a pair of earrings and a clutch bag, while Rosie also gave a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her time the fashion house. She captioned the photos: 'Fittings w @balenciaga.' Rosie was seen arriving the Ritz Hotel in the French capital on Monday ahead of the star-studded week. After touching down, Rosie enjoyed a night out at PrettyLittleThing's Legacy In Progress party on Wednesday night as she made the most of the fashion festivities. Celebrating the retailer's rebrand earlier this week, the model posed up a storm in a sexy black dress as she joined a slew of stars at the party. She put on a very leggy display in the short sequinned dress, adding a pointed stiletto heel to complete her runway ready look Rosie posted a photo carousel of snippets from behind-the-scenes at the fashion house, including expensive jewellery ahead of her dinner with the luxury brand Rosie seemed to have spent the day at Balenciaga's headquarters, trying on outfits ahead of the star-studded evening on Tuesday night The fashion favourite was seen mingling with stars including boxer Anthony Joshua and hitmaker Burna Boy. PLT completely wiped their Instagram of all posts last week leaving its 18 million-strong following baffled. The company is known for churning out hundreds of items every week and its distinctive colourful, trendy and cheap clothing. But now the creative team seem to have embarked on a huge U-turn, as the garments on display are now all in neutral colours and 'conservative' styles, consisting of turtleneck tops, pleated skirts and ruched dresses that fall to just below the knee. The brand has also updated its logo from eye-catching pink unicorns to a more understated burgundy with PLT lettering in cursive handwriting. But not everyone has been left convinced by the creative changes, with some fans even declaring that the brand is 'entering its flop era'. The PLT Instagram account now only follows billionaire CEO Umar Kamani, who was born in Manchester, and said a 'big announcement' would follow at the start of the week. Rosie was seen arriving the Ritz Hotel in the French capital on Monday and was quick to attend PrettyLittleThing's Legacy In Progress party on Wednesday Umar, who returned to the brand last September after stepping down a year prior, said: 'People talk about the old PLT, this PLT is going to be far better.' The entrepreneur spoke to Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett about the rebrand and asked him about why he decided to change all the elements of the label. 'I feel a bit emotional, because I don't like where we got to,' he said while tearing up. Also speaking with Drapers about the PLT shift, Umar said: 'I think what happened with the brand for a couple of years is we stopped listening. 'And thats where the brand lost its identity. In coming back, what Ive tried to do is to clean everything up and redefine ourselves.' BBC Radio 2 went off air for the first time in two decades during a fire scare on Thursday. Jeremy Vine's show was interrupted by the sound of a fire alarm as the building had to be promptly evacuated. Employees at Broadcasting House near Oxford Street were all ordered outside while the alarm was investigated. Jeremy was chatting on the radio when the sound of an automated voice announcing the alarm could be heard in the background. The presenter quickly informed listeners all employees had to leave the building and he would play music in his absence. But for several seconds the station was completely silent before Jeremy returned. BBC Radio 2 went off air for the first time in two decades during a fire scare on Thursday Jeremy Vine 's show was interrupted by the sound of a fire alarm as the building had to be promptly evacuated He said: 'It's Radio 2 here. I do apologise, we did just have a proper fire alarm here. 'There wasn't a fire but we had the thing that I've not had in 20 years where not just one light goes off but two. 'The orange light which means there could be a fire and then the red light and then the announcement in the studio which looked as if there was one. 'We came out the building. We stood outside in the sun. There's no fire, so we came back in. 'Because there's no fire we are going to cancel the item we were doing on cremation.' The disruption wasn't limited to Jeremy's programme. Lauren Laverne's music show on Radio 6 also had a 30-second silence before music began to play. When she finally returned to her chair, she told listeners: 'Thank you all for the messages, everything is alright in the studio. We had some technical issues there but we are back with you.' Some listeners took to X to express their shock at hearing nothing but silence on the national radio station. Employees at Broadcasting House near Oxford Street were all ordered outside while the alarm was investigated The disruption wasn't limited to Jeremy's programme. Lauren Laverne's music show on Radio 6 also had a 30-second silence before music began to play Some listeners took to X to express their shock at hearing nothing but silence on the national radio station One wrote: Wow.. Actual dead air live on BBC Radio 2. Fire alarm goes off at the studios during Jeremy Vine slot and the building's been evacuated by the guess of it.. 'Never heard a radio station go silent like that before and now it seems like it's on auto-pilot..' Others wrote: 'Sounds very strange fam' and 'I was just thinking the same'. A group of bikini-clad protesters have descended on Bondi Beach to protest a bikini ban - but it's all for a new show. The cast of the Stan Original Series Ten Pound Poms celebrated the upcoming season return, at a special event at Sydney's iconic Bondi, ahead of International Women's Day. As Ten Pound Poms returns for a brand new season March 10, its storylines shine a light on the restrictions women endured, specifically in the 1950s - the era in which the series is set. From bikini bans to being barred from pubs-mirroring historical protests that fought for women's rights in Australia, the show covers it all. To mark the occasion, Stan staged a powerful activation: a reimagining of the 1950s Bondi bikini protest, which drew a huge crowd of curious bystanders at Bondi, Bronte and Coogee beaches. Ten Pound Poms stars Stephen Curry, Tina Bursill, Cheree Cassidy, Maya Stange and Grant Lyndon were joined by 35 women. A group of bikini-clad protesters have descended on Bondi Beach to protest a bikini ban - but it's all for a new show They were dressed in hand-sourced original 1950s bikinis and swimsuits, styled with period hair and makeup. The 'protesters' stepped off a vintage red double decker bus and marched onto Bondi Beach, placards in hand. Just as women did decades ago when they fought for the right to wear what they wanted. Stephen Curry said: 'To bring these characters and this rich part of our history back to our screens for season 2 is pure joy. 'Ten Pound Poms is a timeless piece of television and I'm thrilled to be part of an incredible cast.' Alongside Stephen Curry as JJ and Tina Bursill as Mrs Walker, also returning for the second season are Michelle Keegan, Warren Brown and Faye Marsay. Also starring are Rob Collins as Ron, Leon Ford as Bill, Declan Coyle as Stevie, Hattie Hook as Pattie, Finn Treacy as Peter. Likewise Emma Hamilton will appear as Sheila and Cheree Cassidy as Marlene. The cast of the Stan Original Series Ten Pound Poms celebrated the upcoming season return, at a special event at Sydney's iconic Bondi, ahead of International Women's Day As Ten Pound Poms returns for a brand new season March 10, its storylines shine a light on the restrictions women endured, specifically in the 1950s - the era in which the series is set From bikini bans to being barred from pubs-mirroring historical protests that fought for women's rights in Australia, the show covers it all To mark the occasion, Stan staged a powerful activation: a reimagining of the 1950s Bondi bikini protest, which drew a huge crowd of curious bystanders at Bondi, Bronte and Coogee beaches They were dressed in hand-sourced original 1950s bikinis and swimsuits, styled with period hair and makeup The 'protesters' stepped off a vintage red double decker bus and marched onto Bondi Beach, placards in hand New characters introduced to the second series include Marcus Graham as unscrupulous landlord Benny Bates. The Skinner family portrayed by Sam Delich, Maya Stange, Tommy Green and Clare Hughes, who arrive in Australia from Ireland ready to enjoy their new lives in the sunshine, also will feature. Ten Pound Poms is produced by Eleven (Sex Education, Red Rose) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK and is a co-production between BBC and Stan. Danny Brocklehurst is the creator, writer and also serves as Executive Producer. Joining Danny Brocklehurst on the writing team is Ryan Griffen (Cleverman) alongside Smita Bhide (The Indian Detective). Sony Pictures Television (SPT) will distribute the series worldwide. Filming wrapped on location in Australia last year, with Curio Pictures providing production services. Ten Pound Poms Season 2 is financed with support from the NSW Government through Screen NSWs Made in NSW Fund. Ten Pound Poms streams exclusively on Stan from March 10 Scissor Sisters have been announced as one of the band's on the line-up for this year's Glastonbury Festival - and they look a far cry from their heyday. The iconic noughties pop group marked the 20th anniversary of their debut album Scissor Sisters, one of the UK's 40 best-sellers of all time, last year. In October, they delighted fans when they announced they would be heading back out on tour together - albeit now as a three piece. Their reunion announcement came with a catch as it was revealed Ana Matronix, Paddy Boom and Randy Real would not be joining former bandmates Jake Shears, Babydaddy and Del Marquis. And on Thursday, it was revealed they will be adding Glastonbury to their list of dates as they will be performing on Saturday June 28 at Worthy Farm. Scissor Sisters looked unrecognisable compared to their earlier days in a promo shot for their Glastonbury slot, with Jake swapping his ginger locks for a platinum blonde 'do. Scissor Sisters have been announced as one of the band's on the line-up for this year's Glastonbury Festival - and they look a far cry from their heyday The iconic noughties group marked the 20th anniversary of their debut album Scissor Sisters, one of the UK's 40 best-sellers of all time, last year (Seen in 2006) 'Glastonbury where it all began,' they captioned their announcement. 'Your Scissters are comin' homesee you in the fields.' Fans were ecstatic to hear the band would be performing at the festival - however those without tickets held out hope for resale. They commented on Instagram: 'Of course on a year when I didn't get tickets... Resale it is...,'; 'I dont have a ticket, please resale day be kind,'; 'Will be there!!!! ,'; 'A MOMENT,'; 'omg I need to be there ,'; 'WOW!!!! now this is exciting!!!!!' Scissor Sisters will play the Saturday which is set to be headlined by Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts with performances from Charlie XCX, RAYE and Doechii. The band plan to perform every single track from the album on their upcoming tour, as well as highlights from their three subsequent albums, 2006's Ta-Dah, 2010's Night Work and 2012's Magic Hour. It comes after Ana Matronic revealed why she has decided not to join her Scissor Sisters bandmates on their 20th anniversary reunion tour. On Thursday, it was revealed they will be adding Glastonbury to their list of dates as they will be performing on Saturday June 28 at Worthy Farm Scissor Sisters looked unrecognisable compared to their earlier days in a promo shot for their Glastonbury slot, with Jake swapping his ginger locks for a platinum blonde 'do (Seen in 2003) Fans were ecstatic to hear the band would be performing at the festival - however those without tickets held out hope for resale The group have confirmed they're reuniting for a string of shows in 2025 to celebrate two decades since the release of their debut album. The beloved Noughties band, best known for their hit track I Don't Feel Like Dancing, will perform 10 concerts at venues across the UK, including Glasgow, Cardiff, London and Manchester. But Ana, 50, has confirmed she will not be joining her bandmates Jake Shears, Babydaddy and Del Marquis. In a statement, Ana explained her 'nerd self' is driving her career at the moment and she is prioritising finishing a history podcast which has developed into long-term research and writing projects. She said: 'People familiar with my story and career arc will know that in the heart of this Showgirl lies a giant nerd. 'To those who have heard my between-song rants onstage about subjects from politics to pop culture, read my rants in print about robots, listened to my rants on the radio about music and history, it will come as no surprise to know that in the past decade my nerd self has taken the wheel and is driving my career at present. Ana, 50, has confirmed she will not be joining her bandmates Jake Shears, Babydaddy and Del Marquis (pictured in 2012) 'I am currently finishing production on the first season of my history podcast Good Time Sallies, which has widened into several long-term research & writing projects. 'With contracts signed and schedules solidified on these commitments, I am afraid the timing of a Scissor reunion does not allow me to join them on this tour. 'I wish the band and our fans all the bestI will be there in spirit to kiki with you!' Jake Shears said of Ana's absence: 'I think it just didn't line up. It's not something that she wanted to do at this moment in time. 'And I didn't want that to keep us from coming out and playing these songs.' Del Marquis added: 'We've spent a lot of time collectively thinking about what we can add to our show that isnt a 'replacement' for Ana in any way. 'She's part of the spirit of this band and we want to honour that.' Bhad Bhabies ex-boyfriend Le Vaughn is on the mend after a harrowing night at an L.A. strip club left him with a gunshot wound to the hand. The 26-year-old rapper, who split from the OnlyFans star last month, was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday and is expected to make a full recovery, per TMZ. Sources told the outlet that a second individual was also shot during the violent altercation, suffering a non-life-threatening shoulder injury before receiving treatment at the hospital. Le Vaughn wasted no time updating fans, sharing a hospital bed selfie on Instagram where he flashed some hand signs, his bandaged hand front and center. Despite the chaos, he looked relaxedeven tossing in a few playful expressions to let everyone know hes doing just fine. Meanwhile, Bhad Bhabie has yet to address the chilling incident involving her childs fathershe's currently caught up in an ongoing feud with Travis Barkers daughter, Alabama. Bhad Bhabie s ex-boyfriend Le Vaughn is on the mend after a harrowing night at an L.A. strip club left him with a gunshot wound to the hand The 26-year-old rapper, who split from the OnlyFans star last month , was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday and is expected to make a full recovery, per TMZ Le Vaughn was inside Sam's Hofbrau near downtown LA when he was shot in the early hours of Wednesday morning, DailyMail.com has confirmed. According to multiple sources, two groups of men got into an altercation while watching the dancers, with someone opening fire. The fracas spilled outside with more shots fired and two people struck by bullets, the LAPDsaid. Le Vaughn was hit in the hand with another person struck in the shoulders. An LAPD spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'On 3/5/25, at 2:04 a.m., two male victims were struck by gunfire in the 1700 block of E. Olympic Blvd. 'The male suspect fled the location in a vehicle. The victims were self-transported to a local hospital in stable condition' A suspect driving a white G-Wagon was approached by police but they drove onto the 10 freeway and managed to get away, per TMZ. Le Vaughn and another victim were treated at hospital for non life-threatening injuries and are set to make a full recovery. DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Bhad Bhabie, the LAPD and Sam's Hofbrau for further comment. This comes after Bhad Bhabie, real name Danielle Bregoli, has been embroiled in drama after alleging Alabama Barker had been trying to steal Le Vaughn. Last month Bhad Bhabie shared a now-deleted Instagram story saying she is 'single' followed by another post reading: 'Like dead ass yall will never see me with that man ever again' per TMZ. A spokesman for the star said at the time: 'LV has been a strong source of support for Danni and their daughter throughout her cancer journey. 'Thats currently both their focuses, making sure Danni is healing and healthy.' The pair share Kali Love, who will turn one in March. They last rekindled their romance in December, after Bregolo accused him of beating her. The split comes after Barker, 19, denied she had hooked up with Le Vaughn and said she had 'no interest' in him. She said that it was Le Vaughn who has been contacting her and 'confessing his feelings' for her for nearly a year. Le Vaughn, 26, was at Sam's Hofbrau near downtown LA (pictured) when he was shot in the early hours of Wednesday morning Le Vaughn, 26, who shares a daughter with the rapper , 21, was inside Sam's Hofbrau near downtown LA when he was shot in the early hours of Wednesday morning, per TMZ Le Vaughn showed off his bandaged hand after the shooting in an Instagram clip The former couple share daughter Kali, who will turn one this month - picture with Bhad Bhabie's mom Barbara Bregoli (R) The split comes after Alabama Barker, 19, denied she had hooked up with Le Vaughn and said she had 'no interest' in him Bhad Bhabie also sensationally claimed Barker had got pregnant by Tyga, 35, which was also vehemently denied. In December, Bregoli revealed she was back with her babydaddy Le Vaughn, less than two weeks after ending their four-year relationship. She captioned her Instastory: 'Forever my baby.' She previously accused him of domestic violence last year. One person outraged about Bhad Bhabie rekindling her romance with the 26-year-old was her own mother, Barbara. 'This is what LV texted me last night letting me know he has control over her but we know it's trauma bonding,' she said via Instastory. Barbara previously called Le Vaughn a 'piece of s*** who beat my daughter, almost killing her, on more than one occasion' and she wrote: 'Imagine playing the victim in a situation you created.' In November, Bhad Bhabie gave her first health update since revealing her cancer diagnosis after sparking concern among her fans over her very thin and frail appearance. She admitted that she was 'not prepared' to speak about her health battle just yet, but shared that she was doing 'okay.' It was the first time she was seen out in public since informing fans that her sudden weight loss was due to her 'cancer medicine' on Instagram. Bregoli seemed to launch her Instagram Stories post in response to concerned comments fans have made about her significantly slimmed-down figure. 'I'm Sorry my cancer medicine made me loose weight. Im slowly gaining it back,' she wrote. 'So stop running w the worst narratives [sic].' Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's lawyers clashed yet again during the second fiery hearing in their $400 million legal war on Thursday. Attorneys for the actress claimed that without proper protections, Baldoni might tell the press about her security arrangements and her medical information, as well as her conversations with celebrity friends and her husband Ryan Reynolds. Even details about Lively's children or 'profound mental issues' could be leaked if they were given to Baldoni, her lawyers claimed. Baldoni's attorneys hit back and said that the idea they would do this was 'offensive' and said that Lively was asking for a 'different law' to protect their powerful and famous friends. The hearing, held on Zoom from the Manhattan federal court, was the latest twist in the dispute between Lively and Baldoni, who starred together in the movie 'It Ends With Us', which Baldoni also directed and produced. Baldoni, 41, and Lively have sued each other for defamation and claimed they both tried to destroy each other's reputation. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's lawyers clashed yet again during the second fiery hearing in their $400 million legal war at Manhattan federal court Thursday Attorneys for the actress claimed that without proper protections, Baldoni might tell the press about her security arrangements and her medical information, as well as her conversations with celebrity friends and her husband Ryan Reynolds Lively was the first to sue at a court in New York and Baldoni retaliated with a $400 million defamation case against Lively, 37, and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48. Baldoni is also suing the New York Times for defamation for publishing a lengthy story about Lively's claims last December. The hearing in New York related to requests from Lively's lawyers to have an 'Attorney's Eyes Only' category on the protective order on the case. Protective orders prevent both sides from publicly disclosing private information but the 'Attorney's Eyes Only' request proposed by Lively is an additional measure. The court heard that it was necessary to protect 'trade secrets' like PR agencies' business plans, marketing strategies and client lists, which are not always public. Lively's lawyer Meryl Governskii said the extra step was needed to prevent 'irreparable harm' to Lively, Reynolds and their associates. The hearing in New York related to requests from Lively's lawyers to have an 'Attorney's Eyes Only' category on the protective order on the case Baldoni's attorneys hit back and said that the idea they would do this was 'offensive' and said that Lively was asking for a 'different law' to protect their powerful and famous friends She said there was concern that 'specific security measures Ms Lively and Mr Reynolds have taken to protect themselves and their families from this retaliatory campaign' might be leaked. She cited the fact that Baldoni had subpoenaed a security firm which works with the couple, and that she 'didn't see any reason' why their security arrangements should be made public. Judge Lewis Liman asked if Governskii was saying Baldoni's lawyers posed a 'risk to your client's security'. She said no but this case was unusual in that it involved PR companies who make a living leaking material to the press. Governskii said that Baldoni's team had bragged about doing this 'without fingerprints' and in an 'untraceable way'. Baldoni had worked with 'individuals who will do anything and hate Ms Lively', and was working on an 'unlimited budget'. Lively's lawyer cited the fact that Baldoni had subpoenaed a security firm which works with the couple, and that she 'didn't see any reason' why their security arrangements should be made public Baldoni had 'committed $100 million to ruin the lives of Ms Lively and her family', the judge was told. Governskii said that another category of concern was medical information and mentioned 'profound mental health issues'. She was concerned documents 'speaking about children' may be made public as well as 'locations of private residences or homes'. Governskii was also worried that 'personal and intimate conversations' with third parties who have a 'marginal relevance to this case' but the 'PR value will be high' would be leaked. There are 'dozens and dozens' of third parties who will come up in the case but there is a 'significant chance of irreparable harm' if marginally relevant information about them was made public, she added. Judge Liman asked if contempt proceedings would be 'sufficient' to enforce a protective order. Baldoni's lawyer Freedman rejected the idea they would leak information about security arrangements for Lively and Reynolds and said it was 'not even remotely relevant' to the case But Governskii disagreed and said that contempt proceedings would not 'unring the bell' if personal information was made public. 'Also with respect to health and mental health records that have absolutely no business being released', she said. Governskii claimed that Baldoni's lawyers would still leak the details because 'the PR value is greater than complying with the court's orders'. Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman shot back that it was 'rather offensive anyone would suggest we'd disregard a protective order'. He said that the model order normally used by Judge Liman, which does not have an 'Attorney Eyes Only' clause, was 'sufficient'. Freedman said: 'It feels like what the other side are asking for is because there is celebrity, because there are powerful people in the industry somehow they get treated differently, somehow there's a different law that applies to them that otherwise wouldn't apply to normal everyday people.' Lively's lawyer Meryl Governskii said the the request to put the case in the 'Attorney's Eyes Only' category was needed to prevent 'irreparable harm' to Lively, Reynolds and their associates Freedman added that they would abide by any protective order and that they 'wouldn't dispute' that Lively's medical records should be confidential. He rejected the idea they would leak information about security arrangements for Lively and Reynolds and said it was 'not even remotely relevant' to the case. 'It is a complete ruse and not relevant at all,' he said. 'I don't know why that even comes up and why that's even a concern'. Freedman also complained that his clients' addresses had been revealed to the public already in court papers, which he called 'highly offensive and unnecessary'. Judge Liman reserved his decision, saying he'd make his ruling later today, but not before one last plea from Freedman. He said: This is a case where no one has any intention of beating up or harming Ms Lively in any way. Baldoni's lawyers responded with a letter to the judge saying that, given how public Lively had been about the case, they were 'surprised to now learn how vehemently she wants to prevent the public from accessing material and relevant evidence' Freedman claimed that Baldoni had been adjudicated guilty right when the case was filed and he had a right to defend himself. This (mounting a defense) is not in any way abusing the victim, he said. The dispute over the protective order has led to yet another skirmish in a case that has rapidly ballooned into one of the most bitter and public feuds in public memory. In legal filings, Lively's lawyers pushed for greater protection of materials and they said that having intimate details made public could end up 'exposing (her) to threats'. Baldoni's lawyers responded with a letter to the judge saying that, given how public Lively had been about the case, they were 'surprised to now learn how vehemently she wants to prevent the public from accessing material and relevant evidence'. They also accused her of trying to 'rehabilitate her tarnished image'. The case dates back to a December 21 article titled 'We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine', The New York Times shed light on allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation made by Lively against Baldoni during the production of It Ends With Us. Following this, Baldoni and his PR team filed a $250 million lawsuit against the Times on December 31. The 87-page libel complaint filed in LA Superior Court accused the NYT and its journalists of being in league with Lively with the December 21 article that 'cherry-picked and altered communications stripped of necessary context and deliberately spliced to mislead.' While that case was dropped, Baldoni has added the New York Times to his $400 million defamation case against Lively. Among those who have been dragged into the dispute is Lively's friend Taylor Swift, who is set to be subpoenaed during the case. Last week Lively's lawyers accused Baldoni of being 'shameless' while raw footage from 'This Ends With Us' has been leaked to try and show that Lively was happy during the filming. Baldoni recently dismissed claims in the Los Angeles Times from former employees at Wayfarer Studios, his production company, that he presided over a 'phony' workplace full of 'toxic positivity'. The case even made a mention in the Oscars when Reynolds cracked a joke about it from the audience, prompting a shocked look on Lively's face. David Hasselhoff has broken his silence on his ex-wife Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff's shock suicide aged 62. Bach-Hasselhoff who worked as an actress, was found dead at her $2million Hollywood Hills home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday night. A spokesman for Hasselhoff exclusively told DailyMail.com: 'Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff. 'We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time but we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time. They shared two daughters, 32-year-old Hayley and 34-year-old Taylor. Bach-Hasselhoff is also survived by a granddaughter, named London. David Hasselhoff has broken his silence on his ex-wife Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff's shock suicide aged 6 - pictured 2000 A spokesman for Hasselhoff exclusively told DailyMail.com: 'Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff' - pictured 1990 Hayley reposted an Instagram carousel showing her parents attending the opening of Jurassic Park: The Ride at Universal Studios in 1996. She captioned the post with a simple heart emoji. TMZ - who was first to report the death - reported that there was no suicide note left at her home, which is a stone's throw from Universal Studios. Bach-Hasselhoff was married to the Baywatch star, 72, between 1989 and 2006. The pair had a contentious divorce, with arguments about spousal support continuing into 2017. Bach-Hasselhoff's debut movie role was Francis Ford Coppola's Rumble Fish in 1983. She also snared a role in Baywatch in 1989, playing cafe owner Kaye Morgan. Officials reportedly found Bach Hasselhoff's remains after her family became concerned when they did not hear from her for days. Paramedics were called to her house on reports of an unconscious woman shortly after 10pm Wednesday. Hayley reposted an Instagram carousel showing her parents attending the opening of Jurassic Park: The Ride at Universal Studios in 1996. She captioned the post with a simple heart emoji David and Pamela had a contentious divorce, with arguments about spousal support continuing into 2017 Bach-Hasselhoff is survived by two daughters and a granddaughter David Hasselhoff, Pamela Bach, and daughters Taylor Hasselhoff and Hayley Hasselhoff Bach and Hasselhoff are pictured in 1996 at the Golden Globes Bach-Hasselhoff's debut movie role was Francis Ford Coppola's Rumble Fish in 1983. She also snared a role in Baywatch in 1989, playing cafe owner Kaye Morgan. Some of her other TV roles included jobs on The Young and the Restless, The Fall Guy and Sirens. She did not return to acting in recent years; In 2011, she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. Bach-Hasselhoff was regularly active on Instagram, where she shared images with her family, until December. After their 2006 divorce, Hasselhoff complained several times about the alimony he continue to pay for his ex-wife until at least 2017. He also cited his own reduced income, which previously saw the payments reduced from $21,000 a month. However, the Viper actress later hit back and in her legal documents argued she had made 'good faith and reasonable efforts' to secure work as an actress, but given her age, 'the current market for actresses' and the time she took out to raise her family, hadn't been successful. She argued David made around $1 million a year still, whereas her prime earning years were spent raising their daughters and taking care of their home so the 'Knightrider' star could pursue his own career. Her legal documents also argued that her ex-husband had failed to give her $1 million to balance the separation of their assets when they divorced, as she got $325,000 from their house, whereas he kept the home, a boat, jetskis, and two trusts with extensive assets. Back on New Year's Eve, Bach-Hasselhoff shared a heartbreaking final post that was full of optimism. She shared a short video beginning with a snap of Bach-Hasselhoff in front of the Christmas tree before cutting to a cute video of her grandchild. The actress captioned the post: 'Happy New Year, everyone! As we step into 2025, my heart is full of gratitude, especially for my precious grandbaby, London. Watching her grow and seeing her smile light up my world is truly the greatest blessing. Bach-Hasselhoff shared a heartbreaking final post in December 31 'My wish for all of you this year is health, happiness, and an abundance of love.' Bach-Hasselhoff concluded the written caption with an positive message. She wrote: 'May 2025 be filled with beautiful moments, laughter, and all the blessings your hearts can hold. Heres to a year of making cherished memories, spreading joy, and embracing every precious moment!' Were he merely enjoying a pint out on a spring-like afternoon, it might not have caused such a stir. But, clutching his laptop as he left his favourite Soho pub on Wednesday, it appeared Ed Sheeran was on important business the kind that sends the music world and fans alike into a frenzy. Speculation has been building formonths about the release of the stars hotly anticipated next album, which has been shrouded in secrecy. But the 34-year-old gave a hint that might be ready to share it with the world as, smiling, he left the trendy Devonshire pub after playing it for the first time to a group of record label executives. Dressed in a baseball-style jacket by ultra-hip London-based streetwear brand Corteiz, he left the venue clutching a wooden board after stunning industry bigwigs with his latest work, which he has named Play. Sources inside the event told the Mail that there 'were more than a few bangers,' adding that it would 'shoot up the share price' of the star's record company, Warner. Ed Sheeran, 34, was seen looking extremely happy with himself as he left one of his favourite pubs on Wednesday, where he had played his new music in public for the first time Sheeran has previously spoken of his fondness for The Devonshire, explaining: 'What I really like about it is that they have a back room and no one's allowed to take pictures or video' 'It was all a secret and Ed proudly shared his new music with a select group of big names in the music industry,' said one. 'He was so happy, and there are some absolute bangers on the album. It went down a storm, the talk was that it would be as big, if not bigger, than his others.' Sheeran, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists, has just returned from a tour in South Asia where he performed in six Indian cities and became the first-ever international artist to perform in a Buddhist kingdom at the 23,000-cap Changlimithang Stadium in the country's capital, Thimphu, on January 24. He also took his globe trotting += (Mathematics) Tour to a sold out Mumbai show at Mahalaxmi Race Course. After signing with Asylum Records, his debut album, + (pronounced 'plus'), was released in September 2011. It topped the UK and Australian charts, reached number five in the US, and has since been certified seven-times platinum in the UK. Two of his albums are in the list of the best-selling albums in UK chart history: x (at number 20) and (at number 34). His previous record, Autumn Variations, topped the chart in October 2023. Sheeran, who is married to childhood sweetheart Cherry Seaborn with whom he has two daughters Lyra and Jupitar, himself seemed to give the title away after he responded to a social media which noted that Sheeran had changed his profile picture in anticipation of a musical return. 'Ed Sheeran recently changed his profile picture guys! What math is he gonna do next?' a fan wrote. Dressed in a jacket by designer Corteiz, he left the venue clutching a wooden board after stunning industry bigwigs with his latest work, which he has named Play Sources inside the event told the Mail that there 'were more than a few bangers,' adding that it would 'shoot up the share price' of the star's record company, Warner (pictured in 2023) This referred to the Sheeran's Mathematics album series, which included five studio records: + (2011), x (2014), (2017), = (2021) and (2023). In response, Sheeran wrote: 'Irony is if you ask me anything maths related I would fail the question, I never finished high school.' He then signed off by appearing to reveal the title of his next LP. 'Play coming soon though,' he added. Sheeran has previously spoken of his fondness for The Devonshire, which also operates as a traditional pub. He said: 'What I really like about it is that they have a back room that they do tradfolk jams in, and no one's allowed to take pictures or video. So, you can just go in there and get as slaughtered as you want.' Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe and tragic fiancee Kimberly Burch were overheard 'loudly arguing' before her tragic death on a cruise ship. Burch, 56, fell to her death 'from a room balcony' on the first night of The 80s Cruise on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Explorer of the Seas on March 2. A source close to Burch exclusively told DailyMail.com that although Burch and 60-year-old Downe's relationship 'looked amazing' and they seemed 'very much in love' - passengers in neighboring cabins had heard them shouting from their cabin. The insider said: 'The argument was in their cabin, their neighbors heard only yelling but nothing specific being yelled out. 'Their relationship looked amazing otherwise, there was never any complaints, little or big from either of them, they seemed to be in love with each other, very much.' The source added they had heard 'scattered stories Burch was drunk' on the night of her death but said Burch 'didn't really drink and had helped Downe with his sobriety.' DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Taime Downe and Royal Caribbean Cruises for further comment. Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe and tragic fiancee Kimberly Burch were overheard 'loudly arguing' before her tragic death on a cruise ship - seen hours before her death Sunday Burch, 56, fell to her death shortly after an alleged heated argument with the rocker, 60, during The 80s Cruise on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Explorer of the Seas (pictured) on March 2 A Royal Caribbean Group spokesman confirmed Burch's death to DailyMail.com: 'Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort, is working with local authorities, and we are providing support and assistance to the guests family during this difficult time. 'To respect the privacy of our guests family, we have no additional details to share.' Realtor Kimberly had traveled on the seven day cruise to support Taime, who was performing with the punk band. The cruise departed from Miami and was set to visit Nassau, San Juan, and Labadee. She had been in a relationship with Downe for around six years. Her body has not been recovered. Hours before her death she posed up with Downe on the ship and wrote: 'We made it to @the80scruise.' Kimberly's mother Carnell Burch told TMZ Taime had called her on Monday to reveal Kimberly had died and that it is 'still unclear' whether her daughter jumped or accidentally fell from the ship, although she is 'confident Kimberly would not purposefully hurt herself.' Kimberly was drinking on the cruise, Carnell said, which was 'out of character for her' and Carnell claimed her daughter had had an argument with Taime before her death. Downe is the lead vocalist of the iconic 80s metal band - pictured 2013 with Xristian Simon, Danny Nordahl, and Ace Von Johnson A source close to Burch told DailyMail.com that although Burch and 60-year-old Downe's relationship 'looked amazing' - passengers in neighboring cabins heard them shouting A room and balcony on Explorer of the Seas is pictured Carnell added her daughter was not suffering from depression or emotional issues at the time and was excited for the trip, which was in its first day and featured musical acts including Squeeze, Adam Ant, Tiffany and Men at Work. Kimberly is said to have gone overboard on the first day of the cruise around 11pm PST - with a guest claiming on X she had 'jumped from the balcony of her 8th floor room' 80 miles from Miami. They wrote: 'Currently on the #RCL Explorer of the Seas for the #80scruise. Unfortunately, we have a "woman overboard' situation and boats have been deployed. We are currently 80+ miles from Miami at 11pm PST. Not good. 'It looks like the woman "jumped" from the balcony of her 8th floor room after an argument with her partner. This is our 15th cruise, and the first time we've actually experienced this. 'Clearly, the priority is recovering the woman. And the boat has turned around and is at a dead stop. They have deployed boats for the search. Could be a long night.... Another guest wrote: 'Person overboard on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas. On the 80s Cruise. Just saw a great show by Squeeze, then it was announced a person is overboard. Ship is stopped and searching. Other nearby ships helping. Kimberly is said to have gone overboard on the first day of the cruise around 11pm PST - with a guest claiming on X she had 'jumped from the balcony of her 8th floor room' 80 miles from Miami Kimberly is pictured with Taime and his mother in Seattle 2023 Kimberly is pictured in an Instagram post from 2022 Guests aboard the ship posted messages about the search on X Kimberly and Taime had been together for around 'five or six years' A US Coast Guard spokesperson said the incident happened roughly 20 miles from Freeport, Bahamas. The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter crew and other personnel to assist the Royal Bahamas Defense Force in their search - which was later suspended. Kimberly and Taime had been together for around 'five or six years.' A passenger also told THR: 'There was an announcement over the PA saying someone went overboard so the ship was going to stop and turn around to try and locate the person. '[The] ship was stopped for a few hours. Safety boats were deployed with floodlights to illuminate the surrounding area. Another cruise ship nearby had its floodlights on searching as well. My wife spoke with some people on one of the decks saying they heard that it was a woman and it was caught on camera. Cant confirm though. 'Eventually the ship powered up and off we went. This morning a PA announcement said that the US Coast Guard had taken over the search. We arrived at Nassau, Bahamas a few hours behind schedule. No excursions were canceled. Havent heard anything since.' Kimberly was drinking on the cruise, Carnell said, which was 'out of character for her' DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Taime Downe, The 80s Cruise and Royal Caribbean for comment. Glam metal band Faster Pussycat formed in 1985 comprised of Downe, guitarists Greg Steele and Brent Muscat and bassist Kelly Nickels. They forged a successful career over the late 1980s and early 1990s, selling over two million records worldwide They have released four albums, Faster Pussycat (1987), Wake Me When It's Over (1989), Whipped! (1992) and The Power and the Glory Hole (2006). They broke up in 1993, but reformed in 2001. Former drummer Brett Bradshaw died on March 26, 2021, at age 50. Fugees rapper Pras Michel is hopeful President Trump will grant him a pardon after he was found guilty in a $100m foreign extortion scheme. Michel, who is still awaiting sentencing after he was convicted in 2023, told TMZ he is hopeful Trump will take his case into consideration for clemency. Michel, 52, also called to free Tory Lanez, 32, who is currently serving 10 years in prison for shooting and wounding Megan Thee Stallion. 'It's not a secret, you know, we working on a pardon,' Michel told the outlet, appearing to add that he and his team were 'hopeful' their wishes would work out. When asked what message he would send Trump, the rapper said: 'At the end of the day, there's always going to be love for any president, no matter what, and he's the current president and you know, look to him. 'And all we can do is wish that, you know, wish the best for him and we all gotta play our part... so big up to him and everything he got going on and obviously I hope he turn an eye on me, obviously, you know what I'm saying.... it's only been what, 60 something days whatever it is, so you know, we just gotta stand by him.' Fugees rapper Pras Michel is hopeful President Trump will grant him a pardon after he was found guilty in a multimillion-dollar political conspiracy spanning two presidencies; pictured 2022 Michel, who is still awaiting sentencing after he was convicted in 2023, told TMZ he is hopeful Trump will 'turn an eye' to his case and offer him clemency; Trump pictured March 6 He also gave a 'big shout out' to 'free Tory Lanez.' 'But the president can't pardon him because it's a state situation. But the governor... big up to Torey Lanez,' he said. The Governor of California - Gavin Newsom - does have the authority to pardon individuals convicted in the Golden state. Michel says both he and Trump also have a commonality - their experience with the prior administration's justice department. Both he and Trump were convicted during Biden's presidency, with Trump found guilty in a hush money trial. 'Yeah, I mean, if you talk about lawfare and... elect the prosecution, you know I think that probably have that in common, you know, we believe the last Justice Department was probably a little bit... a little bit egregious. But you know, that's what we have justice for, you know, you gotta trust the process,' he said. In January, The Hollywood Reporter claimed Trump was considering pardoning Michel. The White House did not provide a comment and Michel refused to address the issue with THR, however his publicist told the outlet that his legal team 'is exploring all available options following his case.' Michel was found guilty in a $100m foreign extortion scheme, having been the lynchpin lobbyist for China in a bewildering plot whose cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Barack Obama and Donald Trump; pictured arriving to his trial in March 2023 He also gave a shout-out to Tory Lanez, pictured 2022, who is currently serving 10 years in prison for shooting and wounding Megan Thee Stallion 'We remain optimistic about potential paths forward,' she said. Michel and Trump have previously worked together, with the former Apprentice star once making a brief appearance in Michel's debut solo studio album Ghetto Supastar. 'I have no doubt that youre going to be a big success,' Trump says in a voice message appearing in an interlude. 'I hope very soon youre going to be in the leagues with me.' In 2023, Michel was found guilty in a $100m foreign extortion scheme, having been the lynchpin lobbyist for China in a bewildering plot whose cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. The Grammy winning rapper, who netted $88 million through the scheme, was found guilty in a three-week trial in April of ten counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign government agent. He is facing 20 years in prison, but has been able to delay sentencing, according to TMZ. Pras pictured leaving U.S. federal court after his conviction in April 2023 Michel was convicted in April 2023 on all 10 felony charges he faced, with prosecutors claiming he pocketed $88million as part of a foreign extortion plot. He was the unlikely agent of flamboyant Malaysian businessman and fugitive Low Taek Jho - also known as Jho Low- who paid Michel to wield influence from the corridors of Washington D.C. to the mansions of Hollywood. The rapper was accused of illegally funneling cash into political causes including Obama's 2012 election campaign, and also tried to persuade top-raking officials in the Trump administration to drop a federal probe into Low and deport a billionaire Chinese dissident. He was paid with money Low allegedly embezzled from Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund. Jho Low was the moneyman behind the international scheme - and he allegedly made this fortune as the mastermind of the largest embezzlement plot ever. The Malaysian businessman, 42, allegedly spearheaded the 1MDB scandal, which siphoned $4.5 billion from Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund. He is now a fugitive. Before Interpol issued a red notice for Low's arrest in 2016, he enjoyed a reputation as a flamboyant party boy whose lavish events included a host of A listers. His connections include Kim Kardashian, who according to an FBI report once received a trash bag filled with $250,000 from Low after a card game. Leonardo DiCaprio, whose movie The Wolf Of Wall Street was partly financed by Low, was one of the witnesses who testified at Michel's trial. Ice Cube looked relieved on Thursday as he managed to narrowly escape Tropical Cyclone Alfred and jet out of Queensland. The US rapper, real name O'Shea Jackson, told The Project this week he was trapped in a hotel on the Gold Coast amid the storm, which the region's mayor described as the worst in 70 years. The hitmaker managed to get away in the nick of time and was spotted at Sydney Airport ahead of his concert on Friday night. Ice Cube, 55, was beaming as he arrived wearing an all-black ensemble, including a band T-shirt with his own name and biggest hits listed on it. He paired the tee with a pair of baggy slacks and covered up against the cold with a black jacket. The Fist Fight star accessorised with an LA Dodgers cap and hid his eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses to finish his look. Ice Cube looked relieved on Thursday as he managed to narrowly escape Tropical Cyclone Alfred and jet out of Queensland Ice Cube revealed on Wednesday he was caught in Cyclone Alfred and forced to stay in his Gold Coast hotel. Despite the impending natural disaster, he appeared nonchalant about the event when he appeared on The Project. 'I'm staying clear of it. It is pretty cool. I haven't been through a cyclone before. I can check this off my bucket list for sure,' he said. He admitted he was close to the action but didn't seem overly concerned. 'You know, I'm right here on the beach. The beach looks like it is going to be in the lobby in a minute,' he joked. The American star is set to perform a gig at Sydney's ICC Theatre on Friday and at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Sunday. The hosts then questioned why Ice Cube was on the Gold Coast and pointed out the Anaconda reboot starring Paul Rudd and Jack Black was filming in the region. Ice Cube famously starred in the original film back in 1997, and was asked if he might be in Queensland filming a cameo. The US rapper told The Project this week he was trapped in a hotel on the Gold Coast amid the storm, which the region's mayor described as the worst in 70 years But the hitmaker managed to get away in the nick of time and was spotted at Sydney Airport ahead of his concert on Friday night He remained coy, claiming: 'I never saw them. I was just out doing some sightseeing and hanging out before my Sydney show. 'I haven't seen Jack Black or Paul Rudd around here. I don't know what you are talking about!' In November the rapper-turned-actor opened up about his enduring marriage as he marked his 32nd anniversary with wife Kimberly Woodruff on Thanksgiving. He shared the secret to their lasting bond during a recent episode of Cam Newton's Funky Friday podcast. 'We want to be [married]. You've got to want it,' he said. 'I don't want nobody to have my woman. She's mine. I'm hers.' They share four children: sons O'Shea Jr., 34, Darrell, 31, Shareef, 24, and daughter Kareema, 30. The star emphasised their marriage works because they understand that not every day will be perfect. 'Every day ain't gonna be roses. You can't expect that from your spouse,' he explained. 'It's all about whether you're a family or not. You gotta be willing to give and there's gotta be someone you want to give that time, effort and love to.' Coleen Rooney swapped the gym for pulling pints as she joined Westlife star Nicky Bryne for a cheeky Guinness on Wednesday. However the WAG, 34, added a sachet of her collagen powder to the pint as she celebrated the launch of her new Applied Nutrition health and wellness range in Ireland. Tipping in a packet of the strawberry flavoured collagen, the pair revealed their plans to 'split the G' as Coleen confessed: 'This is new to me, when I arrived yesterday and we went out for dinner and all the lads were talking about it. 'I had a go but I wasn't successful, it is a lot.' The pair raised a toast with a pint of Guinness at Nicky's house in Dublin, marking the exclusive arrival of Coleen's new supplement collection at Holland & Barrett stores across the country. Pouring her pint, Coleen joked: 'There we go, get me in the Rovers!' Coleen Rooney and Westlife's Nicky Byrne enjoyed a collagen-infused Guinness as the pair tried to 'split the G' to celebrate the launch of the WAG's wellness range However the WAG, 34, added a sachet of her collagen powder to the pint as she celebrated the launch of her new Applied Nutrition health and wellness range in Ireland Embarking on the challenge the pair then attempted to 'split the G' with Coleen coming out on top as she beat Nicky to the challenge. 'I've got brain freeze,' joked Coleen as she boasted: 'Oh well I got closer than you. It's hard work that!' Nicky agreed: 'Yeah you absolutely hammered me.' Coleen's popular Applied Nutrition Marine Collagen Powder has been in huge demand since it was reported Coleen used it during her time in the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! jungle. 'I've had so many lovely messages about my skin since leaving the jungle and how I managed to stay looking so fresh despite some of the most horrendous challenges!' said Coleen. 'I'm so excited to finally be able to share the range I have been working on with Applied Nutrition through Holland & Barrett in Ireland, and I hope that everyone finds it as beneficial as I have when you combine the right supplements and high-quality ingredients to manage your hair, skin, sleep, and overall wellness as part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.' Coleen spent Wednesday promoting her new range across Ireland which included a surprise visit to Dublin's flagship Holland & Barrett store. Customers were stunned to see the TV personality wife of Wayne Rooney in the store. Embarking on the challenge the pair then attempted to 'split the G' with Coleen coming out on top as she beat Nicky to the challenge 'I've got brain freeze,' joked Coleen as she boasted: 'Oh well I got closer than you. It's hard work that!' Coleen's popular Applied Nutrition Marine Collagen Powder has been in huge demand since it was reported Coleen used it during her time in the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! jungle The range, which includes Coleen's signature Collagen Powder, Debloat, and Immunity supplements, is designed to promote a healthier lifestyle with a focus on skin, hair, and overall wellness. It launched in the UK in January and has been a massive hit. Coleen, and partners at the global nutrition brand Applied Nutrition, are hoping it will be as popular in Ireland. Known for her active lifestyle and passion for wellness, Coleen has long been dedicated to supporting her health and appearance, which she attributes to high-quality supplements. The TV personality talks all about it, as well as her time in the I'm A Celebrity jungle, on Nicky Byrne's podcast, 'Nicky Bynre HQ' which will be available on all major podcast platforms from Thursday March 13. MTV alum Connor Smith looked unrecognizable in a new mugshot as he was sentenced to 30 months in jail for trying to meet a minor for sex. It emerged in February 2023 that Smith, who appeared on Are You The One? in 2015, was wanted by police in Illinois, after he allegedly attempted to engage in sex acts with an undercover officer who was posing as a girl under the age of 15. Smith, 34 - who was claimed to have spent 'weeks' interacting with the fake minor online before meeting up with her - was charged with grooming, traveling to meet a minor and disseminating harmful material. Smith was finally apprehended by police in Pinellas County, Florida in March 2024 - more than a year after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the traveling to meet a minor for a sexual encounter charge and not prosecuted for the other charges, per The US Sun. In a new mugshot Smith flashed a smug smile and sported extensive head tattoos, coupled with a bushy beard - a far cry from his cleaner cut appearance on the hit show. MTV alum Connor Smith looked unrecognizable in a new mugshot as he was sentenced to 30 months in jail for trying to meet a minor for se Smith appeared on season three of Are You The One? in 2015 (pictured) but has been embroiled in scandal since Smith is serving his prison sentence in Illinois and his release date is set for December 28, 2025. He is eligible for parole on June 27, 2025. In February 2023, Lake County officials claimed Smith had indicated his intentions to surrender but had not done so. They requested tips to locate him, while warning the public. In 2021, Smith was arrested for allegedly raping and assaulting a 16-year-old girl. The former reality star was taken into custody in Cook County, Illinois, though the crime reportedly occurred in Indiana, TMZ reported. He was charged with one count each of rape and sexual battery, along with two counts of criminal confinement. An arrest affidavit obtained by the publication paints a shifting story from the teenage girl. She reportedly told police that Smith had abducted her in July when she was visiting family in Indiana. In a new mugshot Smith flashed a smug smile and sported extensive head and neck tattoos, coupled with a bushy beard It emerged in February 2023 that Smith was wanted by police, after he allegedly attempted to engage in sex acts with an undercover officer who was posing as a girl under the age of 15 (pictured in a 2024 mugshot) Smith was finally apprehended by police in Pinellas County, Florida in March 2024 - more than a year after a warrant was issued for his arrest - pictured on MTV in 2015 She claimed that they first made contact via Snapchat when she messaged someone about a cat they were selling and gave the address of the house where she was staying. The alleged victim said that a man ripped open the screen window on her bedroom that night and pulled her out of her room, before forcing her into his truck and tanking her to a motel when he set about sexually assaulting her. But her story had shifted in subsequent police interviews, and she later told the authorities that she had snuck out of her own accord to visit Smith after they had matched together on a dating app. She told police that she 'immediately had a bad feeling' after meeting Smith at his truck, and she alleged that he forced her to perform oral sex on him as they drove to the motel. The teen claimed that he slapped her repeatedly and even tried to choke her during the harrowing drive, and once they were at the motel he allegedly urinated on her before forcing her to perform oral sex on him again. Afterward, she said that Smith drove her back to the house and told her that he would return the following night to pick her up. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the traveling to meet a minor for a sexual encounter charge and not prosecuted for the other charges, per The US Sun Are You The One?, featured a group of singles looking for relationship who all moved in together - Smith is seen top left Prosecutors in Indiana later dropped the charges against Smith, saying they could not prove they could not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, The Times of Northwest Indiana reported. Smith's attorney Maryam Afshar-Stewart told the publication at the time: 'While a dismissal is a step in the right direction, Mr. Smith has a long road ahead to repair the damage that has been caused by these false allegations.' In 2015, Smith was part of the cast of the MTV dating series Are You The One?, which featured a group of singles looking for relationship who all moved in together. The contestants were paired off into ideal couples thanks to a matchmaking algorithm, and their task was to determine the chosen couples, with a prize of up to $1 million to be shared among the contestants if they could correctly identify all of the couples. McDonald's is planning to implement more AI technology into its 43,000 restaurants - but not all customers are lovin' it. The fast-food empire is set to add more AI tools to all its locations worldwide over the next few years. Some of the new technology will include kitchen equipment connected to the internet, AI drive-thrus and additional AI tools for managers. The company is aiming to better customer experiences, along with employees who've dealt with issues like broken machines and inaccurate food orders, according to McDonald's chief information officer Brian Rice. 'Our restaurants, frankly, can be very stressful. We have customers at the counter, we have customers at our drive-thru, couriers coming in for delivery, delivery at curbside,' Rice said in an interview via Wall Street Journal. 'That's a lot to deal with for our crew. Technology solutions will alleviate the stress.' Despite the aim of streamlining the business operations, the news of the AI technology's addition has made some long-time fans of the Double Arches upset. Various angry users claimed the changes would mean employee wages will decrease or 'reduce headcount.' McDonald's is planning to add new AI technology into all 43,000 of its restaurants 'Goodbye workers, hope that wage increase that got lobbied for has been saved,' an X user wrote. 'We need to end the use of AI,' another X user responded. In spite of the backlash, McDonald's hopes the technology will help it reach its goal of 250 million loyal customers by 2027. 'McDonald's is building a digital ecosystem that empowers us to create more personalized experiences and connect with our customers throughout their McDonald's journey like never before,' a spokesperson told DailyMail.com. 'We are constantly testing, learning, and evolving our technologies and partnerships to better serve our communities and support our crew.' McDonald's set off its plans for worldwide expansion by using Google Cloud to give employees the ability to process and analyze data at restaurants in 2023. This process, which is known as edge computing, can be a quicker and more affordable option than sending data to the cloud, according to Rice. He added that edge computing will be used to predict when kitchen equipment will likely break down. Some of its suppliers have already installed sensors with AI in kitchen equipment that send data to computer systems. This data provides updated information on restaurant operations, and AI will analyze data to spot early signs of potential maintenance problems. Some new technology will include kitchen equipment connected to the internet, AI drive-thrus, and additional AI tools for managers Edge computing will also be used to help managers oversee restaurant operations, and the chain hopes to eventually create a 'generative AI virtual manager.' The fast-food chain hopes the virtual manager can perform administrative tasks like scheduling work shifts. Multiple McDonald's restaurants in the US began using some edge computing methods in 2024, and the chain plans to add it in other locations later this year. The restaurant conglomerate is also considering implementing computer vision, which is the type of AI used for facial recognition. Rice explained they would use technology in store-mounted cameras to determine if restaurant orders are correct before they are given to customers. 'If we can proactively address those issues before they occur, that's going to mean smoother operations in the future,' Rice said. Despite the process, McDonald's may face challenges in implementing all AI-powered technology, Sandeep Unni, retail analyst at market research and IT consulting firm Gartner, told the Wall Street Journal. These issues could include the cost and difficulty of bringing the same technology to franchisees and corporate-owned restaurants. Unni continued by saying McDonald's is 'relatively aggressive' at investing in the technology, and that combined with collected data, could boost the chain's chances to improve customer loyalty. Besides in-store operations, McDonald's hopes the AI technology will help with promotions and offers through customer purchase history and weather data. 'A customer who we know loves our sweet treats could get an offer through the app for a McFlurry on a hot summer day,' Rice said. McDonald's set off its plans for worldwide expansion by using Google Cloud to give employees the ability to process and analyze data at restaurants in 2023 One McDonald's feature customers couldn't stop talking about was its drive-thrus. The company began testing out voice-activated drive-thrus in 2019. By 2021, McDonald's was testing the machines in more than 100 restaurants after teaming up with International Business Machines (IBM). Several errors with the drive-thrus went viral after TikTok users recorded the incidents. One video showed a woman trying to order a bottle of water and vanilla ice cream. However, she ended up having four packets of butter and four packs of ketchup incorrectly added to her order. Another clip featured two customers laughing over an AI chatbot adding 2,000 Chicken McNuggets to their order, which cost over $200. The fast food chain went on to end its partnership with IBM in 2024 and announced all experimental drive-thrus would be removed 'no later than July 26.' McDonald's tested out voice-activated drive-thrus in 2019, but announced they would all be removed by July 26 McDonald's is not the only fast food chain that has used AI technology over the last few years. Restaurants like Wendy's, Taco Bell and KFC have implemented AI drive-thrus at some of its locations. The AI chatbots at Wendy's went viral last year after a TikToker successfully placed an order at a Florida location during a video. The clip ignited an AI restaurant debate on whether the technology was a positive or negative restaurant feature. A Costco shopper is toasting their luck after finding a $2,000 bottle of liquor on sale for only $260. The bottle of King of Kentucky 2024 Single Barrel bourbon, which can sell for thousands on the secondary market, was discovered in an undisclosed U.S. location. 'I am filled with jealousy,' a person wrote on a since deleted Reddit post about the rare discovery, adding they jokingly had 'very large quantities of rage.' However, another Costco shopper revealed they too saved thousands on the same brand at a different location in California. '$285 out the door. California Costco. I actually am letting a colleague buy this at the same price,' a Reddit user wrote last January. The shopper claimed that his colleague had never seen a King of Kentucky bourbon bottle or other drinks distilled by the Brown-Forman Distillery in person before making the purchase. 'Legitimately a once in a lifetime kind of find,' a fan responded to the January Reddit post. King of Kentucky was established as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in 1881. Multiple Costco shoppers claimed they found a $2,000 bottle of King of Kentucky Single Barrel bourbon for $260 Most of the shoppers, including two Reddit post creators, claimed they found the bourbon bottles at Costco locations in California Brown-Forman acquired it in 1936 from Selected Kentucky Distillers, and it was converted into a blended whiskey by 1940 before its discontinuation in 1968. Following a 2018 revival, the brand now provides fans with a 'rare look into Brown-Formans barrel archives through an on-going release of ultra-premium Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey single barrel expressions,' according to the website. It's annual single barrel inventory features barrel-strength, minimally-filtered proof presentation. However, because of the bottles' rarity, the brand cannot define the annual beverage volume. 'Just like the extra time it takes for the liquid to age, the package will also show a personal craftsmanship,' the brand wrote. 'Every bottle will tell the story of its origin through the details on the front and back of its package.' Multiple alcohol beverage websites offer the brand's signature barrel bourbon for thousands of dollars, and its 2021 edition is available to purchase for $4,000. King of Kentucky is not the only expensive liquor brand shoppers found in Costco. King of Kentucky was established as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in 1881 Costco reported its net sales for the first four weeks ending on February 2 was $19.51 billion Shoppers found bottles of a rare Pappy Van Winkle bourbon at a Costco in Pleasanton, California, in November 2024. Pappy Van Winkle bourbon is hard to find, and can command a $1,500 or more price tag. Other kinds of liquor customers were interested in at the time were Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and Russells Reserve 15-Year. Costco reported its net sales for the first four weeks ending on February 2 was $19.51 billion, which was a 9.2 percent increase compared to that time last year. This came two months after Costco announced its 2025 first quarter net sales were higher than they were the previous year. Costco operates operates 897 warehouses, with 617 being located in the US. Costco will be announcing this year's second quarter earnings on March 6. The DailyMail.com has reached out to Costco for comment. A gun manufacturer, known for its high-end rifles and military-style firearms, has filed for bankruptcy. Just over two years since its launch, Watchtower Firearms, the Texas-based manufacturer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the end of last month. Watchtower, which set up shop in 2022, made a name for itself by catering to civilian, military, and law enforcement markets. Last year, it acquired another manufacturer, F-1 Firearms, as it attempted to expand. F-1 Firearms received a massive shout-out in 2022 after Donald Trump Jr. brought his son to the the luxury manufacturer's facilities to build his own AR-15, Chron reported. Watchtower, led by former Raytheon executives and veterans, blitzed through influencer deals to raise brand awareness. Social media ambassadors included artists, competitive shooters, and content creators like Nick 'Pew View' Johnson and former Arizona Republican Senate candidate Mark Lamb. But the acquisition of the headline-grabbing company couldn't keep Watchtower's finances afloat. A Texas-based gun manufacturer has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy Commenters on Reddit chided the company for its content strategy. A Redditor joked, 'So you're telling me that collaborating with gunfluencers won't make a company successful?' 'I have yet to hear a good thing about them from people other than guntubers,' another alleged gun shopper said. Products sold for anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. The manufacturer's signature Apache Double Stacked 9MM sold for $4,199. Watchtower is not the only gun company that is struggling to meet sales expectations. Gun sales in the US have been cooling off after spiking to a record 21.8 million in 2020. In 2024, that number dropped to 15.3 million, according to the nonprofit gun violence publication The Trace. Watchtower blitzed through influencer deals to raise brand awareness (Pictured: Brand Ambassador Mark Dambrosio) The President's son, Don Jr., purchased an AR-15 from the brand's subsidiary Even Texas - arguably one of the most gun-friendly states - has seen sales nearly cut in half compared to the early pandemic rush. For years, Republican presidents have typically meant bad news for the gun sales business. Fears of tighter gun restrictions during Democratic administrations has historically driven sales of firearms in the U.S. During the last Trump administration, United Sporting Cos filed for bankruptcy in 2019 after overstocking its supplies. Remington Arms, the oldest American gun manufacturer, also filed for bankruptcy in the previous administration. For now, Watchtower is still taking preorders for its latest product, The Bridger, a hunting rifle named after frontiersman Jim Bridger. Pretzels bought from Walmart. Take them out of the cheap packaging, put them in a fancy plastic bag to give to your paid off friends who you just met on set 5-minutes ago. Yes folks, its another offering from the vapid Meghan Markle. A fucking fruit salad rainbow, cut some fruit and place it onto a fucking platter in someone elses elaborate, expensive kitchen. Sprinkle a few flower petals on your amazing fruity creation. Et voila, Netflixs $100 million down the shithole. Nobody gives a flying fart about this shit, this is so awful it would be preferable to have root canal for four hours straight. Fake, vacuous syrupy plastic shite devoid of any substance for an overprivileged grifter with a serious chip on her fucking shoulder. In fact, the chip is so big soon shes going to need a wheelbarrow for it. Who wants to watch a bunch of greasy sycophantic Californian Oh my gawd bootlicking paid puppets fawning over some z-list celebrity just because they got compensated with shitloads of wonger? Do these people have any fucking dignity? It seems Meghan Markle doesnt have any dignity herself. And that awful ghey music they play in the background is truly sickening, who the fuck chose that crap? Thats the shitty music you hear on Mark Zuckerberg Meta presentations with the ukuleles and whistling. Its better to ram some sharpened pencils into your ears. Watch it for a laugh, give it your full support because Netflix will lose more subscribers for pushing this dire trash. Theyre having a laugh at the expense of paying subscribers by presenting them with such gauche saccharine excrement. This show is actually sad, its disgraceful in its flaunting of wealth 99% of people will never see or experience in their lives. Its a disgusting display, showing off something like this Meghan Markle malarkey when there are millions of people really struggling to live their lives under seriously hard economic circumstances. This just makes people detest her with even more vehemence and vitriol. What this atrocious pampered narcissist needs to do is bring in a kid from the ghetto into that kitchen and feed them some beans or some ham hock, and forget about sprinkling the motherfucking flowers over the food or presenting the poor kid with flowers inside ice cubes. Wow! I never knew that you can arrange fruit on a plate! $100 million for that? Nice work if you can get it. Oh, and wheres dumbo? Go back home and take some of that jam and rub it over your smug, self-absorbed face whilst crying like a baby. You failed. Big timeor, actually, has Meghan Markle really had the last laugh at your expense, of course? Its rather ironic that the social media company that Trump saved on day one of his presidency, presumably to increase his popularity, is now full of lunatics filming themselves actively posting for his assassination. This weeks TikTok Assassination Watch showcases some examples of the insanity being displayed. Is the US Secret Service and FBI doing anything about this phenomenon? Who knows, but maybe they should look into it sometime. TikTok is awash with disgruntled leftists calling for Trump to eat a load of lead, and the worrying thing is, maybe one of these unhinged, deranged psychos is suitably egged on to go ahead with an attempt. Who knows what goes on in their fucking minds? The keywords many of them seem to utilise are take one for the team or just do it. Our advice to Trump up your detail pronto. Double, triple, quadruple it and then some. There are literally thousands of these videos being posted on the Chinese CCP controlled social media site TikTok, which manipulates Western users to do crazy shit, but no one seems to be doing anything about it. How can this be? Shut TikTok down now if you really want to conserve your life, Mr. Trump. We posted just a few examples out of literally thousands of the videos popping up all over the place. We seriously urge the SS to get on this assignment ASAP. Tune in for another episode of TikTok Assassination Watch next week. TikToker calls for someone to shoot President Trump @fbi @secretservice pic.twitter.com/tXIIq0Tt10 Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 5, 2025 TikToker calls for someone to ass*ssinate Trump and for a GoFundMe to be set up to reward them and cover any legal costs. @FBI @SecretService pic.twitter.com/Y6B6GtutTD Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 4, 2025 Woman on TikTok calls for someone to k*ll President Trump. She doesnt mention Trump by name in her video, but says, Just do it. She has Trump in her hashtags at the bottom left.@SecretService please investigate this woman. Shes clearly inciting violence against Trump. pic.twitter.com/ykvLGs9t3n Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) February 4, 2025 Hey @SecretService, another lunatic on Tiktok threatening President Trump by using not very subtle language. These people need to be jailed for making these threats. Its a clear incitement of violence. Its unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/csxcKnmucw Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) March 2, 2025 Tiktoker calls for Elon and Trump to be assassinated @FBI @SecretService pic.twitter.com/41LqPZD1d8 Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 17, 2025 TikToker calls for someone to shoot Kanye, JD Vance, Donald Trump, and Elon Musk in the head @fbi @secretservice pic.twitter.com/C0NRNm02Eu Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 17, 2025 TikToker calls for someone to ass*ssinate President Trump. @FBI pic.twitter.com/UYKGnyt7u8 I Meme Therefore I Am (@ImMeme0) March 4, 2025 Another unhinged trans leftist campaigning on TikTok to have Trump and Vance killed. @FBI pic.twitter.com/ej7PyyQv0I I Meme Therefore I Am (@ImMeme0) January 22, 2025 Squash Dancehall star Squash is back in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DancehallMag has confirmed. The 33-year-old entertainer, whose real name is Andrae Maurice Whittaker, is being held at the Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami as of March 5. This development follows his February 24 arrest in Miami on charges of firearm possession and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Squash, who lacks legal status in the United States, was already facing immigration proceedings stemming from his initial ICE detention in May 2023 for overstaying his work visa. The artists legal troubles in the U.S. appear to be worsening. On Tuesday, Nationwide Radio reported that Squash, a passenger in a gray Mercedes-Benz driven by 24-year-old Zidanne George Prescott, was stopped for a traffic violation around 10:58 p.m. on the 100 Block of 41st Street. Officers observed the artist reaching for his waistband and placing a black object in the glove compartment. Prescott, found to be driving with a suspended license, denied that there were weapons in the car but consented to a search. Police recovered a modified Glock 19 pistol, known as a chip Glock, capable of automatic fire, from the glove compartment. The weapon fit a holster found on Squashs waist. A further search uncovered a Glock 35 .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine under the drivers seat, along with three loaded magazines in the car. Both men were arrested, and authorities later revealed that Squash had been observed by an FBI agent earlier that day receiving the Glock 19 from an individual under FBI surveillance. Although Squash posted bail totaling $3,000, he was handed over to ICE. He is scheduled to return to court on March 26 to face the firearm charges. Squash Squashs legal troubles date back to 2018 when he was detained in Jamaica under a State Of Emergency (SOE) sweep in St. James due to increased crime and violence in the parish. He spent five months in custody without charge, before being released in January 2019, one day before the SOE was due to expire. In September 2019, he left Jamaica and performed in the United States for the first time, but has not returned to the island since. Speaking with Onstage host Winford Williams, during a July 2022 interview in Florida, Squash expressed love for his homeland but cited discomfort with the system and personal conflicts as reasons for his departure. Mi cyah tek the hold down in Jamaica and corruption in my little circle, Jamaica small bad enuh, the world big and Jamaica have too much corruption in one little environment and mi cyah deal wid it, he told Williams. You see me now, me is not a violent man, people out there might see 6ixx boss and have me as violent, but I am a jovial person, me loving and kind, fun, mi like happiness, me nuh like sadness. In November 2022, an associate of Squash, Jahreme JMan Shelton, was slapped with two charges of first-degree murder in Florida, which US investigators connected to an ongoing gang war that originated in St James, Jamaica. According to Sheltons arrest affidavit, an anonymous tip suggested that men with the aliases Squashman, J-Man, and Freeman, all affiliated with the G City gang, were involved in the killings. According to a May 2022 Jamaica Gleaner article, Shelton had survived a drive-by shooting in Jamaica during a birthday party on Marl Road. The attack claimed three lives, including Sheltons girlfriend, Toniann Reid, also known as Too Fly. A month later, Dancehall producer Linval Thompson Jr., also known as Shab Don, and another man were charged in connection with the drive-by shooting. Shab Don remains in custody pending trial. Meanwhile, Squash has repeatedly denied any involvement in gang activity. In October 2022, he took to Instagram, saying, Uno low off ah mi name bad man. Uno just leave mi alone bredda, make man live, low man make man survive bredda. Stop mix up man in ah no violence and crime business bredda. Music man ah do ova yah suh bredda, strictly music man do ova yah suh band man! His most popular songs include Oh Lala La, Rate Who Rate You, Beat Dem Bad with Vybz Kartel, Peace Of Mind, Trending, Ambala, Scotch & Soda, and Still A Roam. Japanese scholar promotes global understanding of Chinese herbal studies People's Daily Online) 13:26, March 06, 2025 "Japanese culture has been deeply influenced by Chinese culture. Studying China's rich traditions helps us better understand Japan," Teruyuki Kubo, an associate professor at Yokohama College of Commerce in Japan, told People's Daily. Teruyuki Kubo introduces research achievements of Chinese herbal studies at a forum. (Photo provided by Teruyuki Kubo) Kubo developed a keen interest in Chinese herbal studies when pursuing a master's degree at Ibaraki University in Japan. Following his mentor's advice, he applied for an international scholarship and enrolled at the Institute for the History of Natural Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2004, focusing on the history of Chinese biology. With the support of his Chinese professors and classmates, he finished his doctoral program and deepened his understanding of Chinese herbal studies through extensive reading of Chinese literature. "Chinese herbal studies is a treasure of Chinese civilization, providing critical insights into the origins, development, and application of medicinal plants. It has also contributed to groundbreaking medical discoveries like ephedrine and artemisinin," Kubo explained. To promote global awareness of Chinese herbal medicine, Kubo has published works in multiple languages, including a Japanese paper on its contributions to botany and an English study on the history of ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine produced from collagen extracted from donkey skin. In 2018, he attended an international summit on traditional Chinese medicine in Hubei, also a conference on commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) herbalist and naturalist Li Shizhen. He exchanged research findings on Artemisia annua and its medicinal properties with international scholars. Kubo believes that China's Global Civilization Initiative has provided new momentum for Japan-China cultural exchanges, allowing young scholars to play a greater role in people-to-people interactions between the two nations. "Through enhanced exchanges, Japan and China can enrich their cultural heritage and inspire further innovation," he said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) NI Water opened its doors to 20 aspiring engineers from schools across Northern Ireland, including Liam Bradley and Paddy Mullan from St Patricks College, Dungiven, and Ailis Bonner from North West Regional College, to participate in the second of three new Hybrid Work Experience opportunities planned by the company. This series, developed in partnership with the leading social mobility charity, Speakers for Schools, provides students aged 16-19 with the opportunity to gain invaluable insights into careers they are interested in. Following the success of their first work experience session in November which focused on science careers at NI Water, a place on the engineering programme was highly sought after. Students participated in two days of virtual sessions led by NI Water engineers, giving them a deeper understanding of the crucial role engineering plays in delivering water. This programme culminated in an in-person day at Dorisland Water Treatment Works, where students enjoyed a tour of the facility, and engaged in fun, hands-on challenges designed to illustrate how engineering is integral to the water delivery process. NI Waters Head of HR Operations, Helen Devlin explained "We are thrilled to offer these hybrid work experience opportunities to the next generation of engineers. Its been fantastic to see the students so engaged throughout the three day programme. We have been able to give them a real taste of what a career in engineering in NI Water could look like. Not only do our programmes provide invaluable hands-on experience and insights from our award-winning teams, but they open doors for young people to explore exciting careers while promoting social mobility across Northern Ireland. The multi award winning employer will host more hybrid work experience programmes, with the next programme, focusing on careers in Finance, taking place in June 2025, so keep an eye out on speakersforschools.org for more details. This series of hybrid work experience programmes is delivered in partnership with Speakers for Schools, a UK-based charity committed to increasing social mobility by providing young people with access to career development opportunities. Speakers for Schools is a charity founded in 2010 by ITVs Political Editor Robert Peston and supported by the Law Family Charitable Foundation. Its mission is to help level the playing field for young people of all backgrounds, increasing access to exciting work experience and other development opportunities, linking students to hundreds of the UKs leading employers. Two men who were charged following a cocaine seizure at a local M1 service station, have been jailed for three years at Dundalk Circuit Court. The court heard one of them had told his wife, who picked up the drugs, that she was collecting fireworks, at the Applegreen Southbound, Castlebellingham on October 29th 2020. Judge Dara Hayes was told two Dublin men were under garda surveillance, when the mum of two was handed a package with 17,472 worth of cocaine before she walked away towards the M1, where her then husband Barry McLaughlin formerly of Faughen Park, Claudy, County Derry, was waiting in his car on the hard shoulder of northbound carriageway. The then couple had overshot the southbound service station and turned back. READ NEXT: Guildhall to celebrate 50 years of international woman's day with upcoming event A quantity of mixing agent was also recovered in the garda operation and 12,000 in cash was found on Christopher Bergin (39) of Tulip Court, Darndale, Dublin 17. Judge Hayes sentenced Barry McLaughlin and Christopher Bergin to four and a half years each, with the final 18 months suspended for having cocaine for sale or supply, where it had a market value of 13,000 or more. The judge said given the substantial change in the life of their 40 year old co-accused Jonathan Ivors of Cromcastle Court, Coolock, Dublin 5, he wanted to see how that is sustained over the coming months and adjourned his sentencing to July for an updated Probation report. Derry City and Strabane District Councils Governance and Strategic Planning committee has been updated on the progress of Councils Constitutional Change / Unity Working Group. It has also received details of the analysis of the results of the public call for evidence regarding constitutional change, prepared by Professor Mark Slevin from Ulster University - 'An analysis of views, experiences, research and evidence on views of constitutional change and the implications on the Council area and the wider Northwest Area. Thematic Analysis Report on Consultation on Constitutional Change and Irish Unity'. The formation of Councils Councils Constitutional Change / Unity Working Group followed a motion passed at April 2022s plenary Council meeting. The motion recognised: Discussion about a constitutional change is now well underway and this Council has a duty to consult with its ratepayers on this important issue and the implications for the Council area and the wider north-west. It also called on Council to establish a working group on Irish unity and to begin a consultation with ratepayers and community and business representatives and with trade union, climate justice, LGBTQ+, migrant and social justice, all-island health, disability, mental health, rail and other social justice groups, to assess views on the issues related to constitutional change. Further to its initial meeting, the agreed and endorsed purpose of the Working Group, which is open to all elected members, was to inform and oversee an engagement process to establish the views of a wide range of stakeholders, in the Council area, on issues related to constitutional change and the implications for the Council area. External stakeholders are invited to participate, present or contribute to meetings of the Working Group, as required. In September 2022, Derry City and Strabane District Council passed a further motion related to constitutional change. It stated: This Council notes and welcomes the recent announcement of two new Citizens Assemblies by the Irish Government. It further notes that Citizens Assemblies are powerful democratic exercises that inform citizens, allowing them to debate specifics, develop positions and inform policy. They have operated effectively in many jurisdictions across the world. This Council calls on the Irish Government to establish an all-Ireland Citizens Assembly to debate and discuss our constitutional future. The debate on Irish Unity is live and growing, and we must plan for constitutional change, in the context of the Good Friday provision for a Unity referendum. This Council also invites officials from the Taoiseachs Shared Island Unit to present to Council and provide an update on activity and plans for the future. To date, 10 meetings of the Working Group have been held and documents / research papers continue to be identified, reviewed and collated within the Member Library and also added to a new Constitutional Change Hub on the council's website: https://www.derrystrabane.com/about-council/corporate-services/constitutional-change. The most recent resource which was reviewed at the last meeting of the Working Group held on February 24, 2025 was the first interactive dashboard providing regional economic data on Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which has been prepared by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC), in collaboration with Dublin City University. This dashboard provides the latest labour market data on employment rates, economic inactivity, hours worked, occupations and qualifications in Northern Ireland and the Southern, Northern and Western, and Eastern and Midlands regions of the Republic of Ireland. An independent analysis of the results Councils public call for evidence regarding constitutional change was carried out by Professor Mark Slevin from Ulster University. The results of this analysis were presented to the Working Group under five themes: support for Irish Unity; economic and infrastructural development; governance and political reform; social justice and historical grievances; and concerns and opposition to change. There were a number of limitations which restricted the inferences that could be made from this analysis but the consultation had identified several important themes that could be addressed in future research. It was previously noted that subject to the outcome of the consultation / call for evidence, further alternative, informal, structured and/or targeted engagement would be considered by the Working Group. It was also noted that the initial motion relating to constitutional change made reference to a number of stakeholder groups. In order to take forward this approach, a Member Workshop / Working Group meeting was held in September 2024 and representative organisations from the local economy, education, health and trade union sectors were invited to share their views directly with Elected Members on constitutional change and the implications for the Council area and the wider north-west. This meeting was attended by four organisations from the business, and health sectors. While none of these organisations had a formal position on constitutional change, example issues were identified including ability to recruit and retain staff, meeting demand, reduced funding, differential tax regimes, access to medicines and tourism. In reviewing the learning from this initial engagement, the Working Group suggested a further workshop be held, with details of the motion, and potential question areas for advance consideration provided to invitees - Trade Union, Education, Section 75 and social justice groups. These organisations will also be given the opportunity to make a written submission as opposed to attending the workshop. In addition, Members of the Working Group suggested a third tranche of engagement with the community, in the community, should take place. To date, there has been no progress in regard to the invite to the Taoiseachs Shared Island Unit to present to Council and provide an update on activity and plans for the future. At Tuesdays Governance and Strategic Planning committee meeting, members endorsed the approach to representative organisations being invited to attend further Member Workshop / Working Group meetings. Approval, excepting the abstention of Ald Derek Hussey, was also given to a third trance of engagement with the community, subject to a report being brought on the detailed proposals, cost and other implications prior to actioning. Derry is on show this week at one of the largest travel trade fairs in the world, ITB in Berlin. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is lending her support to the tourism companies from Northern Ireland who are joining Tourism Ireland at ITB, to grow our share of the important German travel market. ITB (Internationale Tourismus-Borse) is an important B2B event, which attracted around 100,000 visitors last year including leading tour operators, travel agents, airlines, travel media and content creators, not just from Germany but from all over the world. Tourism Ireland is hosting 12 tourism companies from Northern Ireland on its stand, including Visit Derry and Martin McCrossan City Tours, providing a valuable opportunity for the tourism companies to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business with the international tour operators and travel agents in attendance. Hundreds of commercial meetings will be conducted on the Ireland stand, which will, in turn, deliver overseas tourism business for Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland worth millions in 2025 and beyond. Minister Archibald said: Tourism to the north of Ireland represents revenue of more than 1.2 billion from overnight visitors, thanks to our fantastic and unique offering. My Departments Tourism Vision and Action Plan sets out how we will grow that to 2 billion by 2035. This target is ambitious, but achievable, and it is vital that we continue to market Ireland, north and south, as a sustainable visitor destination to the whole world. I am very pleased to support the 28 providers from the island, including 12 selling the north, at ITB Berlin, Europes largest international tourism trade expo. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Christopher Brooke, Chairman of Tourism Ireland; Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland; Charlene McCrossan, Martin McCrossan City Tours; and Karen Henderson, Visit Derry, on day one of ITB Berlin. (Photos: Maren Michaelis) "This is a fantastic platform for further raising awareness of the north as an attractive destination. It has been fascinating to engage directly with representatives from the various providers and I am confident they will see tangible benefit from their attendance at ITB Berlin. Speaking at ITB Berlin, Alice Mansergh, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: ITB provides an invaluable platform to showcase what Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland has to offer and to strengthen relationships with influential international tour operators and travel agents. READ NEXT: 'All good raves must come to an end' as Celtronic announce that 2025 will be its last Germany is our largest tourism market in Mainland Europe with German visitors contributing over 430/374 million in 2023 and ITB plays a vital role in growing our share of this important market for tourism. "This week we will be showcasing ease of access and great places to stay, as well as the rich culture, history and outdoor experiences that make our destination so appealing to German visitors. We sincerely thank Minister Archibald for her support in helping us drive future tourism growth at this key event. A 30-year-old man arrested in connection with the murder of 71-year-old Adam Krzan has been released from custody unconditionally, police said. Mr Krzan was found with serious injuries at a flat in the Corrainey Park area of Dungannon, Co Tyrone on February 27, and later died. The Police Service of Northern Ireland launched a murder inquiry. A 33-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of murder, and a 27-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice both remained in custody on Wednesday evening. A second 30-year-old man has been released on bail pending further inquiries. Detective Chief Inspector Graham Orr has urged anyone with information about what happened to Mr Krzan to speak to police. My thoughts at this time are first and foremost with Mr Krzans family and friends who are left trying to come to terms with their loss, he said. Our investigation is at an early stage and enquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances. I am asking anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact detectives on 101. Please quote reference 1576 of 27/02/25. An action plan to tackle pollution in Lough Neagh is not just targeting farmers, MLAs have been told. Agriculture minister Andrew Muir is very aware that NI Water is a contributor to the pollution issues in the lough, a senior official told an Assembly committee. Catriona Davis, who heads up the Water Management Unit at the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), was responding to questioning from DUP MLA Tom Buchanan during a sitting of the Agriculture committee. Mr Buchanan noted the various initiatives undertaken to monitor slurry usage on farms around the lough as he suggested the majority of the 37 points on the ministers action plan related to the Agriculture department. The West Tyrone representative asked if similar attention was being directed at NI Water, which falls under the remit of the Department for Infrastructure. I noticed from the actions that the majority of these 37 actions, the majority are attributed to Daera (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs), he said. Yet, you know, Northern Ireland Water is one of the bigger polluters perhaps into the lough and really that needs to be taken on hand and you need to ensure that throughout this whole process that has been dealt with in an effective way. Ms Davis responded: I think the minister is very clear that all sources of pollution have to be considered. Its not targeted to one particular sector. And he would be very aware of the issues that are occurring from NI Water sources as well. The official did acknowledge that NI Waters plans to upgrade wastewater facilities across Northern Ireland were tied heavily to constraints around its budget. Last week, NI Water announced that a series of planned projects had been stalled due to an inability to secure the required funding from the Department for Infrastructure. Mr Muirs action plan was developed in an attempt to deal with the various environmental issues at the lough. Noxious blooms of blue-green algae covered large parts of the lough during the past two summers and also affected other waterways and beaches in the region. Lough Neagh, the biggest freshwater lake by surface area in the UK and Ireland, supplies 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water and sustains a major eel-fishing industry. Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertiliser running off fields and from wastewater treatment is a contributory factor in the blue-green algae blooms. The spread of the invasive zebra mussel species is also understood to have played a role in the blooms, as they have made the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate, stimulating more algal photosynthesis. Climate change is another factor cited, with rising water temperatures. Patrick Murphy, the chief scientific adviser at Daera, also gave evidence to the committee. He explained that various environmental factors combined to make the loughs algae blooms toxic. He said while it was possible a non-toxic bloom could appear this summer, it was reasonable to assume that any bloom would be toxic. On the basis of whats happened over the last two years, it is reasonable to assume that some form of toxicity will exist, he said. Stormonts programme for government has failed to address the funding and resourcing crisis within the PSNI, the chief constable has said. Jon Boutcher branded the Executive plan a missed opportunity and expressed concern it was going to take a catastrophic event to wake people up to the reality of historically low officer numbers in Northern Ireland. Addressing the monthly meeting of his scrutiny body, the NI Policing Board, the chief constable referred to the public debate around funding for health waiting lists after this weeks publication of the programme for government. But he said there had been no ministerial assurances offered around efforts to increase police recruitment. The regions most senior officer is pressing to secure 200 million extra funding required across the coming five years for a recruitment plan to increase officer numbers from the 6,300 at present to 7,000. However, he noted that even 7,000 is well short of the recommended officer numbers of 7,500 for the PSNI. The programme for government published this week is asking for plenty from policing again, in terms of collaboration, speeding up justice and enhancing public safety, the chief constable told board members at the meeting in Belfast. We will play the best role our numbers allow in the key priorities of ending violence against women and girls, and creating safer communities. However, its crucially important and fundamental to the security of Northern Ireland that a sufficient and more sustainable funding settlement is achieved for policing if we are to deliver these priorities. I did not see any explicit Executive commitment to that in the document. I do welcome the programmes commitment to growing officer numbers and supporting our recovery business case. However, as Ive said when the document was in draft, I do not feel the programme for government properly reflects the level of crisis in policing in Northern Ireland, and I will keep making that clear until it is addressed. I would welcome clear statements from ministers outlining support for the recovery plan in the terms of both numbers and funding. I do believe that I have been heard in broad terms about resourcing. It is my belief that there is a cross-party political acceptance that the police service has been severely underfunded and allowed to shrink to unacceptably low numbers. However, actions speak louder than words. That is why its disappointing the Executive have missed this opportunity to provide clarity and to strengthen its commitments to properly resourcing this organisation. There has been much publicity about the funding levels quoted for cutting health waiting times, which I do welcome, but no such reassurances have yet been provided for policing. The implications of our reduced workforce levels and continual budget pressures are certainly severe, but please be in no doubt of how serious this really is. We are at significant risk of failing victims, local communities and our own workforce. This is dangerous for a society which continues to emerge from the traumas of a post-conflict environment. Mr Boutcher added: I do worry that it will take some catastrophic event to wake everybody up to the reality of our policing numbers and lead to the investment thats required, which is relatively small with regards to the public service spend. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Compal and India-based Kalyani Group join hands for made-in-India servers Compal Electronics has partnered with the Kalyani Group's electronics division to enter the Indian market. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding to develop server operations using local manufacturing, aligning with the Make in India policy. Compal announced plans to assist the Kalyani Group's electronics division with technical support for server production, assembly, testing, and sales. The agreement also includes the potential for future expansion into consumer electronics. While Compal previously operated a smartphone factory in India, it temporarily withdrew due to reduced business volumes. Compal is expanding its server business with new server solutions based on Intel's Xeon 6 platform, focusing on AI, HPC, and cloud applications. The company will participate in Nvidia's GTC conference next week and expects double-digit year-over-year growth in server revenue by 2025. Anthony Peter Bonadero, general manager of Compal, expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with the Kalyani Group, highlighting Compal's commitment to advancing its server business through diverse partnerships. He noted that the Kalyani Group's extensive Indian market experience would enhance their cooperation. Amit Kalyani, vice chairman of Bharat Forge, is confident that partnering with Compal to produce server products in India will enhance the competitiveness of the country's manufacturing sector, adding that he is optimistic about the collaboration's future. Expanding tech horizons The Kalyani Group's electronics division, known for producing components for electric and commercial vehicles, plans to expand into the ICT sector in the current year. The focus will be on AI and server products. In February 2025, the Kalyani Group's electronics division revealed plans to launch domestically manufactured servers at its Pune facility in Maharashtra. According to stock exchange documents, the initiative would boost local business activity and significantly enhance the region's manufacturing potential. Article edited by Jerry Chen Subscriber content preview WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers, amid fears that the trade war could harm U.S. manufacturers. The announcement comes after Trump spoke with leaders of the big 3 automakers, Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, on Wednesday. . . . JLL aids Oregon motel conversion project Working out of its Seattle office, JLL's Tom Wilson, Steve Petrie and Jake Davidson recently arranged a motel conversion loan down in Gresham, Oregon. The $15.9 million came from AGP Capital, structured as a two-year bridge loan. The borrower is PH Development, which will convert the motel into Woodland Flats, with 120 units and retail space. The firm founder, Phil Hoban, said in a statement, We only do a select few of these hotel-to-apartment conversions that meet our strict underwriting criterion. We'll present renters an essentially brand new product but at rent rates well below nearby competition. Those future monthly rents will be in the $1,200 to $1,600 range, with units running from studios to two-beds. The former Quality Inn conversion project will take about 10 months to complete. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An industrial property at 1950 First Ave. S. sold this week for $3.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was Jukebox City Building LLC, which acquired the property in 1992 for $275,000. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE There's no broker obviously representing the 33-room Evergreen Inn, a little northwest of Green Lake at 8201 Aurora Ave. N. The property last traded for about $4.1 million in 2017. It appears bound for sale. . . . by Barry Goldman I was 20-something and fresh out of law school in 1980 when Ronald Reagan was elected. Like the rest of my demographic, I was morbidly depressed about it. So it was meaningful for me when I saw the Weavers movie Wasnt That a Time and heard the great Lee Hays say: We have a thought for the year. Weve been around long enough to tell you: Be of good cheer. This too will pass. Ive had kidney stones and I know. The Weavers had been hauled before the House Un-American Activities Committee and blacklisted by the industry. Hays was an alcoholic, a diabetic double amputee, and he would die within months. Kids like me were all bent out of shape about the Reagan ascendency. But old hands like Hays had seen far worse. He wasnt going to let a simple-minded B-actor like Reagan freak him out. I aspired to that kind of equanimity. Around the same time, I sat in on a political science lecture by a professor who had been a foreign service officer. He must have been significantly younger than I am now, but he seemed grizzled to me at the time. He said all revolutionary movements are essentially utopian. The central idea is that there is a madman at the wheel. If we could just knock out the madman and grab the wheel, we could steer to safety. He said, sadly, this is a juvenile fantasy. The bitter truth, he told us, is there is no madman. And there is no wheel. The world is much more complicated than the slogans of the revolutionaries would have it. There are no simple solutions. There are not even any simple problems. Worse, the idea that there are simple solutions leads inevitably to fanaticism. The notion that there is a simple truth, we know it, and that guy over there is preventing us from reaching it, leads us to excuse pushing that guy out of the way. Isaiah Berlin, another wise old man, said so: We must weigh and measure, bargain, compromise, and prevent the crushing of one form of life by its rivals. I know only too well that this is not a flag under which idealistic and enthusiastic young men and women may wish to marchit seems too tame, too reasonable, too bourgeois, it does not engage the generous emotions. But you must believe me, one cannot have everything one wantsnot only in practice, but even in theory. The denial of this, the search for a single, overarching ideal because it is the one and only true one for humanity, invariably leads to coercion. And then to destruction, bloodeggs are broken, but the omelette is not in sight, there is only an infinite number of eggs, human lives, ready for the breaking. And in the end the passionate idealists forget the omelette, and just go on breaking eggs. I have believed this for decades. It is a central pillar of my understanding of the world. I tell the madman at the wheel story and quote that old professor at the slightest provocation. Here, for example, I used it to explain the Detroit bankruptcy. The same for the Lee Hays line about kidney stones. I used it when George W. Bush was elected, and even when Trump got in the first time. In my professional life I am an arbitrator and mediator. I am in the business of getting disputing parties to listen to each other, find common ground, and negotiate settlements. Ive written two books on the subject. I teach it to law students and graduate students. Ive travelled around the US and Canada giving talks to bar associations and alternative dispute resolution organizations. There are two sides to every story, I say. Listen to the other side, I say, Audi alteram partem. Let us reason together, I say. You cant settle lawsuits unless you listen to the people on the other side with respect and consider how the case looks from their point of view. I have always been proud of the mature sophistication of my understanding. The world is complicated. Nothing is simple. Yeah, well, sometimes thats just not true. When French Prime Minister Clemenceau was asked how history would remember the start of World War I, he said, One thing is for certain: they will not say that Belgium invaded Germany. Just so. At some point, you just have to say, as ee cummings did, There is some shit I will not eat. There can be no respectful listening to the other side when the other side says children shouldnt be vaccinated for polio, or January 6th was a day of love, or Ukraine got in a war. Ukraine did not get in a war. Ukraine was attacked by a murderous dictator. RFK Jr. is a dangerous crank. Elon Musk has no business mucking around in the Treasury Department computer system. There is no such thing as the Gulf of America. So I have changed my mind. I do so with the greatest reluctance. It goes against everything Ive been saying for nearly 50 years. But the facts have changed. And When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir? The time for politics as usual has passed. We are in the midst of a coup. The Constitution is in danger. Democracy and the rule of law are at stake. There is a madman at the wheel. THERE IS A MADMAN AT THE WHEEL! *** Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. A man has been found guilty of raping a Spanish tourist in Dublin city centre during New Year's Eve celebrations six years ago. Christopher O'Grady, aged 33, formerly of Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, County Louth, had denied the single count of raping the then 19-year-old woman on January 1, 2019. He was homeless at the time and is in custody. It was the State's case that O'Grady raped the woman on a street in the Dublin Castle area and that the woman didn't consent and was unable to consent due to the effects of alcohol. The Central Criminal Court jury returned the verdict this Thursday after starting its deliberations Wednesday afternoon. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs thanked the jurors for their service and the attention they gave to the case. After the verdict was delivered, she adjourned the case to June 19 for a sentencing hearing. READ ALSO: Met Eireann warns of major change with frost and icy conditions set to return to Ireland In his closing speech to the jury this week, Tony McGillicuddy SC, prosecuting, said O'Grady led (the woman) in a menacing and predatory way into an area off the normal streets of Dublin City Centre on New Year's Eve to have sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old Spanish student with hardly any English, against her consent and when she was in a bad state as a result of alcohol. He said the complainant's account of what happened that night was honest, sincere and accounted for and he urged jurors to find the man guilty of the charge. The trial heard the woman had been in town to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks that night when she got separated from her friend and came into contact with O'Grady outside a shop. She told the court she was trying to find a bar to meet her friend and the man walked her through town to a car park area where the rape occurred. The woman said she felt like a doll and didn't have any strength in her body during the alleged incident. Afterwards, the court has heard she walked with O'Grady back through the city centre for about 40 minutes, where she got talking to a couple a man and woman - outside a shop and parted ways with O'Grady. The woman ended up in a B&B with the second man after the woman went home. They had anal sex before she went home to her accommodation. The complainant told the court it was painful and that she persuaded the man to stop. The trial was played CCTV footage of this encounter, which occurred in the hallway of the B&B. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs warned the jury that they may find this footage intrusive and distressing, but she said she had made the decision that it needed to be shown in court as O'Grady had a constitutional right to put the evidence before them. When the complainant woke up the next morning, she told the court she realised I had two rapes and there might be a medical issue with that. She went to hospital. The court heard no charge has been brought against the second man, who gave evidence during the trial. In his closing speech, Mr McGillicuddy said he had not dwelt on the woman's sexual encounter with the second man that night, because the charge before the court related to the O'Grady only. He said what the jury had to consider was whether the woman was capable of consenting to sexual intercourse between 1.40am and 2.17am on the morning in question. In his closing speech to the jury, Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said there were bizarre elements to the case and huge similarities between the two sexual encounters the woman had that night, including that they both took place in a semi-private / semi-public place. He said that if it weren't for the fact that the jury had watched video evidence of the woman's sexual encounter with the second man, he would also have been on trial. An Bord Pleanala has upheld the decision by Louth County Council to grant planning to WuXi Biologics Ireland Limited in Dundalk, to install a wind turbine with a hub height of 80 metres and a blade radius of 45 metres, subject however to revised planning conditions. Louth County Council granted planning permission in July to WuXi Biologics Ireland Limited to erect the wind turbine, which would be located at the East area of its existing biopharmaceuticals plant. The proposed 80 metre wind turbine would be installed with underground ducting connecting to the existing ESB substation. For context the wind turbine at DkIT, which was installed in 2005, is understood to have a hub height of 60 metres and at a rotor diameter of 52 metres. A significant number of submissions objecting to the turbine had been lodged with Louth County Council, for reasons including noise, visual sensitivity, and flicker effect. The local authority granted planning permission for the development to go ahead on 18 July, subject to 13 planning conditions. Third party appeals against Louth County Council's decision were lodged with An Bord Pleanala on 13 August, by John G. McDonald and by Aundrine Milton. An Bord Pleanala made the decision to grant planning permission for the development on 25 February, subject to revised conditions. Included in the conditions is that "the developer/operator shall submit to, and agree in writing with, the planning authority a Noise Compliance Monitoring Programme (NCMP)"; and that the turbine shall shut down during periods when shadow flicker is likely to occur at dwellings in accordance with measures contained in a letter of response to the appeal received by An Bord Pleanala in September 2024. It was announced in January this year, that the WuXi Vaccines manufacturing facility was acquired by pharmaceutical company MSD Ireland, in an investment that was understood to represent over 500 million and the creation of 150 additional jobs at the Dundalk site. It is not known what the acquisition will mean for the plans for the wind turbine. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently hosted the annual Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Construction Conference and Student Challenge on the DkIT campus. The event was sponsored by Ganson Group and Tinnelly Group. As one of the countrys leading educators of the next generation of construction managers and built environment professionals, DKIT believes it was the perfect location to host this national event, which brought students from eleven colleges and universities from all over the island, and potential employers together under the one roof. The conference included talks from leading professionals covering topics including AI, gender equality, lean and modern methods of construction, and the reclassification of demolition waste as construction material. Over 24 diverse industry exhibitors and organisations, including contractors and sub-contractors, design companies, professional bodies and charities also attended the conference, providing students with the opportunity to meet a number of experts and discuss potential future career opportunities. One of the highlights of the day was the student competition, where students from across Ireland showcased their construction expertise in a dynamic competition, tackling a real-world brief within a very short timeframe. The project brief was both challenging and substantial. The students were asked to address the worlds housing shortage and to present their recommendations, all in under three hours. Aisling Blakemore, Oluwadamilola Ashi-Sulaiman, Evan Maher and Michael Bradley from the B.Sc. (Hons) Construction Management 4th year class represented DKIT. Team DKIT addressed this scope by coming up with a solution to compile a local prototype project in Ireland within a year, then expand this nationally within two years, European wide within five years, and globally within ten years. The students were commended for their excellent idea and came third out of eleven teams. They faced tough competition against a number of fantastic ideas, with ATU Galway and UL claiming a well-deserved first and second place. Denise Quigley, Head of Department of the Built Environment at DkIT said: "We were delighted to host the CIOB Student Challenge 2025 and CIOB Construction Conference at DkIT. It was the first time these two CIOB events were combined and the entire event was a unique occasion for education and industry meet in a truly dynamic way. "We are very proud of our B.Sc. (Hons.) Construction Management student team who won 3rd prize. They demonstrated technical skills and also creativity, teamwork and the ability to work under pressure." Brian Harmon, Programme Director Construction Management and Lecturer in the Department of the Built Environment at DkIT said: As a lecturer in the Department of the Built Environment and a member of CIOB, it gives me great personal satisfaction seeing our students competing against the best and brightest of Irelands future built environment professionals and to see them on the podium, winning bronze medals, is really the icing on the cake. This is also the second year in a row that DKIT students podiumed at this event." Sarah Hallinan, Regional Manager Ireland at CIOB said: A huge congratulations to the team from DkIT for their podium finish in our CIOB Tomorrows Leaders Student Challenge competition. This incredibly difficult challenge really puts aspiring construction professionals minds to the test, asking them to come up with complex sustainable solutions which they must present to a panel of experts in a very short space of time. I was delighted with the level of professionalism and awareness of environmental sustainability on display, as well as how well the students were able to communicate their ideas these talents will stand them in good stead for their future careers. Learn more about courses in the Department of the Built Environment at DkIT: Department of the Built Environment at DkIT / School of Engineering / Academic Schools / DkIT - Dundalk Institute of Technology In August last year, the Government introduced a pilot scheme to facilitate the return of in-school therapy supports to 16 special needs schools. The move came around five years after the HSEs Progressing Disabilities Services (PDS) model for children and young people reconfigured childrens disability services. The PDS model saw clinicians, such as occupational therapists, speech-and-language therapists, and physios removed from schools across Ireland and placed on Childrens Disability Network teams (CDNTs). The aim of CDNTs was to provide multidisciplinary therapy services to children in their communities and local areas. However, the decision to remove therapists from schools was met with a backlash from parents, teachers and principals. In September 2021, then Minister of State Anne Rabbitte pledged to return therapists to special schools across Ireland. Six schools were selected to participate in Phase 1 of the pilot, introduced last year, and 10 schools were selected to participate in Phase 2, with phased onboarding of schools to the pilot over the course of the 2024/2025 academic year. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth states that, according to the HSE, all six schools in Phase 1 of the pilot have filled a portion of the therapy posts assigned as part of the pilot. This includes three of the Cork area schools in Phase 1, who have reportedly filled all therapy posts allocated as part of the pilot. A spokesperson for the department said in January of this year that all schools in Phase 1 of the pilot are receiving some provision of additional in-school therapy supports, with recruitment efforts ongoing by HSE and the lead agencies to fill outstanding posts, in order to scale up provision to targeted levels. They said, The recruitment campaigns for Phase 1 schools are at various stages, with some staff due to commence in post and others at a late stage in the recruitment process. Whilst recruitment efforts are ongoing, the children in each of the 16 special schools continue to receive supports through their local CDNT. The HSE advises that it continues to pursue all measures to bridge the gaps that currently exist between intended levels of service and what is being delivered," they concluded. However, the spokesperson also stated that any future extension of this pilot beyond the 2024/2025 academic year will be a matter for Government. On January 23, new ministers were appointed to both the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Spokespeople stated that officials from both departments will engage with their ministers and agree on priorities for the delivery of the commitments in the Programme for Government, including in the area of a dedicated National Therapy Support Service in education. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould called on the new Government to commit to continuing the scheme. The councillor commented on the fact that he is glad to see Phase 1 in Cork finally have their posts filled, while stating that this was two years overdue. Mr Gould said, What I am hearing from schools is that the current levels allocated to schools are positive but they are a drop in the ocean compared to the needs of these children. Many of these children have spent their childhood on a CDNT waiting list, never having actually seen a speech and language therapist or occupational therapist. They are now getting a chance to reach their full potential but the hours allocated to schools simply aren't enough to deliver for every child," he concluded. Ground to make up Anne Hartnett is principal of St Pauls Special School in Cork, which was included in the first phase of the pilot. She is also co-chair of the National Association for Special School Principals (NASSP), which launched in February 2024, and is a member of the Cork Special Schools Principals group. Ms Hartnett revealed that a speech and language therapist recently started on a full-time basis at St Pauls, months after the pilot was first rolled out. She has also been informed that an occupational therapist is due to start work at the school in the near future. However, the Cork principal stated the school had greater therapy services back in 2018, before therapists were removed from schools. Its actually very frustrating to hear it called a pilot because its not something new - we had therapists in schools before, they were removed, she said. The Cork Special Schools Principals group met last month with Dr Andy Phillips, regional executive officer of HSE South West. There were only three principals there who were benefitting from the pilot scheme, said Ms Hartnett. The other principals were beyond fuming that theyre not part of it and they really, really want to be included as soon as possible, which is perfectly understandable because their children are missing out. I am overjoyed that we finally have one full-time SLT but we need three more to meet all of the childrens needs, she added. However, Ms Hartnett revealed that there has been no mention of physiotherapists being returned to schools as part of the pilot scheme. READ MORE: 'A tragedy beyond words' as tributes paid to young Irish girl following untimely death We have been told that the new Programme for Government does have an emphasis on disabilities and on returning therapists to schools but we need to see better communication on this. Theres certainly a long way to go, she added. Ambitious plans The new Programme for Government has indeed set out ambitious plans to ensure sufficient supply of therapists in education. The document states the Government will create a dedicated National Therapy Service in education, beginning with special schools. To implement this ambitious new programme and ensure a sufficient supply of therapists, this Government will, according to the programme, double the number of college places for speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and any other specialists required. It says it will also create new expedited qualification routes for professionals with relevant skills and experience; examine the provision of funding supports for those seeking to upskill into therapy programmes; and provide therapy assistant posts within the education sector. The programme also aims to ensure that children in special education classes and mainstream can also access essential therapies. If they had listened to us in 2018, we could have avoided these issues, continued Ms Hartnett. Weve had countless meetings with government departments and officials, whether with NASSP or the Cork Special Schools Principals group, where weve been told they understand our concerns, they think were right and that theyre going to do something about it. However, its about getting the people on the ground. For the first time in five years, we have one person on the ground now - we need more," she concluded. Calls to remove therapy from HSE Speaking passionately, Ms Hartnett said NASSP has previously met with Taoiseach Micheal Martin and advised him to remove therapists from HSE control and place them under the clinical governance of the Department of Education. Then it would be similar to the National Educational Psychological Service, which is under the Department of Education and has no vacancies in terms of staffing, she explained. Look at all the vacancies in the HSE in terms of therapists roles - the system is just not working so why are they given the responsibility? A spokesperson for the HSE said, The HSE and the lead disability agencies it funds have been working continuously to develop supports for children with disabilities. There are significant shortages of qualified healthcare professionals across the globe. To address resourcing challenges, the HSE has a Resourcing Strategy Resourcing our Future to ensure a sufficient domestic supply of healthcare staff. The strategy is being implemented to maximise the resourcing and delivery of publicly funded health services for the future. Childrens Disability Services benefit from resourcing actions in the HSE Resourcing Strategy including increasing training places in Health & Social Care Professionals, delivery of apprenticeship programme for social workers and development of further apprenticeship programmes. The spokesperson also stated that health and social care professional training places in higher education have increased, with a growth in clinical placements in CDNTs. When asked to provide the figures behind this claim, the spokesperson highlighted a Higher Education Authority press release from October last year, which stated the government has significantly increased capacity in health and social care programmes in recent years. This expansion includes new training places in vital areas such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy, with further expansion expected in 2025. The spokesperson added that there is a particular focus on recruiting Irish-trained overseas applicants and international recruitment with a relocation package marketed to Irish-trained health and social care professionals who have travelled overseas. The HSE and funded agencies are focused on identifying barriers to workforce growth and putting in place corrective retention and recruitment initiatives. These initiatives have led to a growth in CDNT staffing levels, particularly in health and social care professionals roles, the spokesperson claimed. A man has been found guilty of raping a Spanish tourist in Dublin city centre during New Year's Eve celebrations six years ago. Christopher O'Grady (33) , formerly of Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth, had denied the single count of raping the then 19-year-old woman on January 1, 2019. He was homeless at the time and is in custody. It was the State's case that O'Grady raped the woman on a street in the Dublin Castle area and that the woman didn't consent and was unable to consent due to the effects of alcohol. The Central Criminal Court jury returned the verdict today after starting their deliberations Wednesday afternoon. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs thanked jurors for their service and the attention they gave to the case. She adjourned the case to June 19 for sentence hearing. In his closing speech to the jury this week, Tony McGillicuddy SC, prosecuting, said O'Grady led (the woman) in a menacing and predatory way into an area off the normal streets of Dublin City Centre on New Year's Eve to have sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old Spanish student with hardly any English, against her consent and when she was in a bad state as a result of alcohol. He said the complainant's account of what happened that night was honest, sincere and accounted for and he urged jurors to find the man guilty of the charge. The trial heard the woman had been in town to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks that night when she got separated from her friend and came into contact with O'Grady outside a shop. She told the court she was trying to find a bar to meet her friend and the man walked her through town to a car park area where the alleged rape occurred. The woman said she felt like a doll and didn't have any strength in her body during the alleged incident. Afterwards, the court has heard she walked with O'Grady back through the city centre for about 40 minutes, where she got talking to a couple a man and woman - outside a shop and parted ways with O'Grady. The woman ended up in a B&B with the second man after the woman went home, where they had anal sex before the woman went home to her accommodation. She told the court it was painful and she persuaded the man to stop. The trial was played CCTV footage of this encounter, which occurred in the hallway of the B&B. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs warned the jury that they may find this footage intrusive and distressing, but she said she had made the decision that it needed to be shown in court as O'Grady had a constitutional right to put the evidence before them. When the complainant woke up the next morning, she told the court she realised I had two rapes and there might be a medical issue with that. She went to hospital. The court heard no charge has been brought against the second man, who gave evidence in the trial. In his closing speech, Mr McGillicuddy said he had not dwelt on the woman's sexual encounter with the second man that night, because the charge before the court related to the O'Grady only. He said what the jury had to consider was whether the woman was capable of consenting to sexual intercourse between 1.40am and 2.17am on the morning in question. In his closing speech to the jury, Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said there were bizarre elements to the case and huge similarities between the two sexual encounters the woman had that night, including that they both took place in a semi-private / semi-public place. He said that if it weren't for the fact that the jury had watched video evidence of the woman's sexual encounter with the second man, he would also have been on trial. A really horrible crime of stealing a mobile phone from the bedside of an elderly patient at Mercy University Hospital as she slept resulted in the culprit being jailed for ten months. When Judge Mary Dorgan urged 49-year-old Jerry Foley of no fixed address to get counselling while in prison, the prisoner complained by video link to Cork District Court: Prison is not rehabilitation, its just a business racket. There is no bereavement counselling, there is no school. Judge Dorgan disagreed with his comment on facilities in prison. Garda Sean Finnegan testified that: An elderly female patient had her mobile phone stolen from next to her bed as she slept. She described the mobile phone as a black Nokia, valued 100. On reviewing the CCTV footage, a man known as Jerry Foley was seen loitering around the cubicle where the injured party slept. Jerry Foley is seen entering the cubicle and exiting a short time later. And he later discharged himself from the hospital in the early hours of January 9. He was arrested at Bowling Green Street in Cork city centre in a highly intoxicated condition where he could not stand or talk. A Nokia phone which was an exact match for the stolen phone was found in his possession and the pin number provided to gardai by the owner opened the phone. Judge Dorgan commented that: This was really horrible so I am sentencing him to six months consecutive to the four months. People in hospital are entitled to feel their property is not at risk. Theft of a watch The four months sentence was imposed for his part in the theft of a watch from a man at the Mardyke in Cork almost three years ago. Sergeant John Dineen said at Cork District Court that back on May 29 2022 the injured party was at the Mardyke bridge when he was approached by a man who asked about his jacket and distracted him while a female took off the mans watch and walked away with it. The victim followed them to UCC main gates and lost sight of them in grounds of UCC. He was not threatened or put in fear but his watch was stolen. A Cork mother has warned she feels her family are coming close to the edge of a cliff regarding future schooling for her 11-year-old daughter. Patricia Delaney is part of a group of five parents looking for an in betweener class for their children, whose needs are not severe enough to qualify for a special school place but are too complex for mainstream secondary school. She fears children with mild learning disabilities are falling between two stools, with far fewer resources at secondary level than at primary. Ms Delaneys eldest daughter Grace was diagnosed with autism and a mild learning disability when she was three and a half, and first attended school in Aghada before being offered a place in their local school in Youghal. She told The Echo that being in the school is such a positive experience. Her two younger siblings go to the same school as her, and shes a part of her community. She walks down the street and people know her. Grace needs a differentiated or reduced curriculum and additional support in Bunscoil Mhuire, shes wonderfully supported by her teachers. Though she is in fourth class currently, her parents are already worried about the next steps. Already its absolutely terrifying to think about. Theres great provision of ASD [autism spectrum disorder] classrooms at primary level, but theres nothing at all at post primary, so theres a big break in continuity and Grace falls between two stools, Ms Delaney said. However, she and a group of parents have come together looking for a continuation of the primary school system, an ASD classroom with one teacher, two [special needs assistants], and six students. Ms Delaney explained that there is huge stress for parents: My husband and I have three children. We didnt have to worry about where the other two would go to primary school, and were not concerned about them getting a place in secondary. When we got that place in our local school for Grace, it was like winning the lottery. Now it feels like were coming close to the edge of a cliff, we dont know which way its going to go. Even if we get a place that we have to travel to, it will be in a special school, which wont be suitable for her. Wed be taking away the place from another student and taking her out of the local community. As a parent, this fight isnt just for Grace, its for the future. There seems to be no forward planning. We are putting this amount of ASD classes into primary schools and nothing in secondary schools. I have no doubt that there are parents in every county, every parish in Ireland, who are experiencing the same thing. The group have met with local TDs, and are planning another meeting this week which they hope to have education stakeholders at. Cork East Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide said that the situation needed to be treated as an emergency: Parents of children with additional needs are being forced to become campaigners for their childrens educational needs due a lack of forward planning by successive governments. The situation at secondary level is particularly critical. Many families are facing a high concentration of support from primary level being suddenly discontinued, or having to travel very long distances outside of their communities. The Government needs to treat this issue as an emergency and provide interim placements while new schools and extensions to schools are being built. A Department of Education spokesperson told The Echo that the department engages intensely with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in relation to forward planning for special education, which is well underway ahead of the 2025/26 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level, the spokesperson said, adding that parents seeking special class placements for their children should contact the NCSE or their local special educational needs organisers. Five people have been arrested in ongoing investigations into an aborted drug smuggling operation in West Cork last year. The three men and two women, with ages ranging from 20s to 50s, were arrested following searches across Ireland, and are detained in various Garda stations in the Dublin and Eastern region. A Garda spokesperson said: As part of the ongoing investigation into a Crime Operation in County Cork on the 6th March 2024, Gardai from the Cork County Crime Section, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and the Wexford/ Wicklow Crime Section conducted searches at a number of locations across the Country on Tuesday 4th March 2025. During the course of the operation five persons (ranging from their 20s to 60s) were arrested. All five persons, three men and two women, were arrested for alleged offence contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 and continue to be detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at Garda Stations in the Dublin Region and the Eastern Region. They added: The investigation is ongoing. The suspects were identified during investigations by Gardai into an attempted drug operation at Tragumna Pier, West Cork last year, for which ten men were arrested on March 14 2024. Gardai had been surveilling the men following a tip off from someone who was suspicious of the people, who had a camper van and articulated lorry with them. It is understood that the men were awaiting a shipment of drugs, which has not yet been recovered. The ten men, including Irish, Dutch, Serbian and Spanish citizens, were arrested in Leap village and at Tragumna pier, were subsequently charged with conspiracy to import drugs and are currently awaiting trial. A 38-year-old man accused of assault causing harm on February 23 in Carrigaline to his 82-year-old grandmother who died in hospital two days later is planning to appeal the refusal of his bail to the High Court in Dublin. Brian Nnamdi Ogbo appeared by video link from prison at Cork District Court today. Detective Garda Tom Delaney charged him that on February 23 at 17 Garrydhu Drive, Kilmoney Road, Carrigaline, County Cork, he assaulted Stella Nnamdi causing her harm. Detective Garda Tom Delaney testified during the objection to bail that this was a charge of assaulting his maternal grandmother causing her harm, who later died. Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said: Mr Ogbo was refused bail in this court and has put in an application for bail at the High Court which should be heard next Thursday (March 13)." Judge Mary Dorgan remanded him in custody until March 20, on the application of Sergeant John Dineen. Mr Collins-Daly informed Mr Ogbo that if he was granted bail in the High Court he should appear in court in person on that date. Det Garda Delaney said family members informed gardai that Brian Ogbo suffers from schizophrenia and that he allegedly produced a knife during the assault. It was alleged that he broke into the upstairs bathroom where his grandmother was located and that he dragged her out of the bathroom. He dragged her downstairs. She was off her feet and being dragged headfirst down the stairs and pushed out of the house. Nobody required hospitalisation at the time of the occurrence. However, Stella Nnamdi deteriorated and was subsequently taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital on Tuesday February 25 and died later that afternoon, Det Garda Delaney said. During his application for bail the accused agreed that he did need a system of support and that he received help from his family in relation to the taking of medication for his conditions which include schizophrenia, depression and epilepsy. A 15-strong delegation from Cork County Council, as well as other Cork representatives, will this week head to the US for a 12-day visit which includes official events in Chicago, Detroit, and New York at a total cost of more than 36,400. Six councillors, led by mayor Joe Carroll, will go to the US along with nine officials, for a trip divided into sections with not all members of the delegation in the US for the entirety of the 12-day trip. The 36,405.68 cost of the trip comprises of 17,189.40 for flights and 19,216.28 for accommodation. Mr Carroll heads to New York on Friday next, and he will be the guest of honour at Saturdays County Cork Benevolent, Patriotic and Protective Association annual St Patricks Day dinner. He will be joined by county solicitor Orla Deasy and senior executive officer Karina Cremin for the New York section of his trip before he departs for Chicago on March 10. He returns to New York for the St Patricks Day Parade on March 16, where he will be joined by former mayor Frank OFlynn. The visit to Chicagos Cook County, which is twinned with Cork, is the centre piece of the trip. It is to the Windy City that the largest delegation will be travelling. Mr Carroll will be joined in Chicago by three council colleagues on Wednesday, March 12, as well as a four strong delegation of officials led by council CEO Moira Murrell. The councillors travelling include Deirdre OBrien and Deirdre Kelly, of Fianna Fail, and Fine Gaels Michael Hegarty. Other participants in the trip, for the Chicago leg, include UCC president John OHalloran; Mary Rose Stafford, the head of School of Business Munster Technological University; and representatives of the Irish Hotels Federation Cork branch including president Michael Magner. On Friday, the delegation will attend an early morning breakfast with the Irish American Partnership and Visit Cork; and the Irish Hotels Federations Cork branch will host a lunch. The Chicago River will be dyed green on Saturday, and other events include a Mass at old St Patricks Church as well as the parade. The delegation will depart the city on Sunday. The third leg of the trip will see another former mayor, Independent councillor Mary Linehan Foley, and Fianna Fail councillor Audrey Buckley travel to Detroit on Thursday, March 13. That evening, they along with divisional manager Niall Healy and senior staff officer Mags Donovan will be the guests of the United Irish Societies. A plaque will be unveiled at Michigan Central train station, located in the aptly named Corktown, honouring the Irish people who travelled to Detroit. The delegation heads home on Monday. A 17,000 stash of cannabis was seized in Bandon in June 2023 and now the man who stored the drug has been given a four-year suspended sentence. The accused man affirmed his plea of guilty to drugs charges arising out of that seizure and was sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. 46-year-old Arkadiusz Zimon who lives in an apartment on Washington Street, Cork, admitted that at the Acorns, Castleoaks, Bandon, County Cork, he had cannabis for sale or supply on June 18 2023. Defence senior counsel Alice Fawsitt submitted background reports on the accused who had addiction issues at the time. The prosecution accepted that he had a cannabis addiction and alcohol issues and was effectively involved in the sale or supply of drugs in order to get his own supply of drugs. Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed the fully suspended sentence on the accused at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The judge referred to the additional value attributable to the plea of guilty in circumstances where the accused individual was associated with the Bandon address but was not resident there. Evidence was given that the 46-year-old had been working in construction jobs. A 15-year-old facing a shocking catalogue of charges was warned by a district court judge to stay well away from cars because he is outstanding in his own field and it is not a good field. Judge Mary Dorgan told the teenager at Cork District Court that she had spent four years presiding over the juvenile court in Cork and she had never seen any young person on so many driving charges. Garda Ross McCabe arrested and brought him before Cork District Court on Thursday on 14 new charges. Before this he was already facing 26 charges. Judge Dorgan said: 15 years of age, now facing 40 separate matters. It is a shocking catalogue of very significant crime. He is outstanding in his own field and it is not a good field. The charges faced by the teenager span from July 2024 up to January 7 this year and Garda McCabe said they consist of unauthorised taking of cars, causing criminal damage, and possession of a knife. The latest charges relate to a range of different locations including Cork city, Crosshaven, Ballincollig, Wilton, Douglas, Frankfield, Bishopstown, and Gurranabraher. Sergeant John Dineen said there was an objection to bail being granted to the accused. However, a remand in custody would have to be to Oberstown detention centre and the probation service said that no bed was available. Judge Dorgan remanded the teenager on bail until March 11, asking the probation officer: if you could convey to Oberstown how disappointed the court is that there is no bed in Oberstown. When Judge Dorgan spoke to the youth about the seriousness of the charges, he said: I am not going robbing cars anymore. Im genuinely trying to change myself. When the judge added a bail condition required by the gardai for him to stay away four other named young people he said: I stopped talking to them a month and a half ago. All parties to a case related to a disputed incident at bookmakers BoyleSports complained that the company had failed to provide CCTV recordings of the incident as a customer was convicted of assaulting a member of staff by spitting in her face. Judge Joanne Carroll said that the accused man wanted the CCTV of the incident, the injured party wanted it, the gardai had made exhaustive efforts to get it, and she would have liked to have it available to Cork District Court, but all efforts failed. Gavin Reidy, aged 28, of Cul na Cille, Church Hill, Carrigaline, Co Cork, denied assaulting Lauren Shepard by spitting in her face at her place of work at the time, BoyleSports on Castle St/South Main St, Cork. But Judge Joanne Carroll convicted him and adjourned penalty to allow for a probation report. If there is a positive probation report, I wont send him to prison, Judge Carroll said. But if he comes to the attention of An Garda Siochana for any reason, I will have no option but to send him to prison. The absence of CCTV was referred to on numerous occasions during the trial at Cork District Court where Reidy was prosecuted by Inspector Ray Dunne. Garda Adrian Murphy said 12 attempts were made by various contacts with BoyleSports to get CCTV. Garda Murphy said he was informed that it was downloaded and stored in the UK. He said the manager at the Cork premises showed him the attempts he had made to secure the CCTV footage, without success. Eddie Burke, defence solicitor, said: To say BoyleSports have a system in their shops and cannot get a recording of that beggars belief. Garda Murphy said: I agree, it beggars belief. I have exhausted all attempts. Mr Burke said: And the injured party cannot get it. Judge Carroll commented: It is unsatisfactory. Mr Burke said: I feel BoyleSports are protecting themselves from another issue apart from the fact that it would exonerate my client. Judge Carroll summarised the position: You are deeply suspicious they wont release it for business reasons and that has implications for members of staff. Mr Burke said that was precisely the case. During her evidence, Ms Shepard said: I wish we had CCTV. Mr Burke said: We wish we had CCTV. Ms Shepard said in relation to that morning that she was trying to block the machine Reidy was using because he was barred from the shop as a result of a previous incident. I was working, she said. Gavin entered the shop. He went on to one of the machines to bet. The bet was in process. We can turn off the machine to stop the betting. However, this was taking some time. We asked Gavin to leave, which he declined. He got off the stool, told me to go back to my own country [Scotland]. He stepped further toward me and said [to] get back in my cage. I said I would phone the guards. He said they could not do anything to him. He spat straight in my face. I was shaken. By the time I was through with the call to service security, Gavin was gone. Ms Shepard said it was BoyleSports policy to provide CCTV and to keep it for six months, but that contrary to policy, she was not given it, despite asking for it within six months. Colleague Erin Wallace, who was present, said the defendant did spit in Ms Shepards face. Reidy said Ms Shepard physically moved him she didnt push me, it was more of a nudge and said: Go away and get a rock of cocaine. Ms Shepard disagreed. Reidy said he spat on the floor but denied spitting in her face. Reidy claimed that later in the day he was assaulted by a member of the security staff. Judge Carroll said no such alleged incident was before the court and that she was only dealing with the charge against him. Judge Carroll said that even in the absence of CCTV, she was satisfied to convict Reidy of assault and put it back two months for a probation report. Viral hit The Spark, by children in Knocknaheeny-based hip-hop group Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna Crew, has won the RTE Choice Music Prize's Song of The Year. The winner, announced on Thursday, was chosen from a shortlist of 10 eligible Songs from the year, and decided by a public vote. RTE Choice Music Prize celebrates Irish music of excellence by awarding prizes in five categories, Album of the Year; Song of the Year; Artist of the Year; Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Classic Album. The group shared the news on social media, writing: We're speechless!!! The Spark has won RTE 2FM's Choice Music Prize for Irish Song of the Year! From a small idea at The Kabin Studio to a track that reached every corner of the world, this journey has been nothing short of incredible. The memories, the opportunities, the friendships - this song has meant so much to the young people involved, their families, and the entire community in Knocknaheeny and Lisdoonvarna. A huge thank you to everyone who voted, supported, and believed in what we do. This isn't just a win for us - it's a win for every young person who has a voice, a story, and a dream. This will keep inspiring us to collaborate with so many young legends, helping them express themselves, build confidence through music. The world needs more positivity, more creativity, more young voices. Let's keep sparking change. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould told The Echo that the win was well deserved: Were really proud of Kabin Crew, what theyve done is just unbelievable, theyre recognised all over the world, playing concerts all over Europe. It goes to show, some kids are academic, some are sporty, some are artists theres no doubt that these kids are special, its unbelievable the talent they have. Mr Gould added that it was great to see them expanding, with people from all over the northside initially and now all over the city linking in with the group. We need more initiatives like this to bring younger peoples talent in the arts out, theres a lot of funding recently for sport, which is deserved, but the arts are something the government and Cork City Council need to look at further. I know that Kabin Crew are in talks with the council for a purpose built facility, and thats something that myself and councillors Michelle Gould and Kenneth Collins have been advocating for a centre of excellence, they have one in Dublin. This group represent all thats positive about Knocknaheeny, theyre a great representation for the community and theyre breaking stereotypes. He praised the groups producer and creative director Garry McCarthy for his leadership and foresight, saying: It just goes to show what people can achieve when theyre supported, well done to him and all involved. Audiences can immerse themselves in a world of terror when the captivating Fear Screen series at the Triskel Cinema kicks off on March 6. This marks the Cork International Film Festivals third year showcasing spine-chilling horror films within the atmospheric embrace of Triskel. With CIFFs unwavering dedication to enthralling Cork audiences year-round, this Fear Screen season promises to deliver four films that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Si Edwards, CIFF Programme Manager, says Fear Screen is an opportunity to see horror films that have rarely been seen by Irish audiences. "Its great to bring Fear Screen back for a third year, and this time around, we have the opportunity to look at early works by directors who impacted horror in very different ways - Ulli Lommel and Dario Argento. These were responsible for two truly chilling experiences. The Tenderness Of Wolves, released in 1973 and directed by Lommel, set in wartime Germany, is inspired by the real story of Fritz Haarman, a cannibal and serial killer who murdered and cannibalised over 20 young men in Hanover in the early years following World War I. The film was produced by Ranier Werner Fassbinder, a major player in the New German Cinema movement, and stars Kurt Raab as Haarman. Raab, like many of the other actors in the film, regularly collaborated with Fassbinder. The film was nominated for an award at the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival and has become a cult classic. Despite its grizzly subject, it touches on loneliness and isolation, regular themes in both Fassbinder and Lommels work. The Bird With The Crystal Plumage, by Italian director Argento, a master of the Italian horror genre, was released in 1970. It stars Tony Musante as Sam, an American writer in Rome, who witnesses an attempted murder in an art gallery. Police believe the attacker to be a notorious serial killer, but when the trail goes cold, the writer decides to investigate the case, making himself a prime target for the killer. The film, which has a score by the great Ennio Morricone, was based on a 1949 pulp novel, The Screaming Mimi, by Frederic Brown. However, Argento made several changes to his adaptation. One of the finest examples of the Italian film genre, giallo, this predominantly mixes murder mystery with psychological horror and slasher elements. The Fear Screen programme also includes a Polish and a French film, which Edwards says will surprise Cork audiences. We also bring a true Cannes-winning Polish classic to Cork for a rare outing, whilst unleashing the full horror of arguably Beatrice Dalles strongest performance on our audience in Inside. Those who only know Dalle from Betty Blue are in for a shock. Mother Joan Of The Angels, made in Poland by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, won the Special Jury Prize at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival. It is set in 17th-century Poland and is loosely based on a novella inspired by a true story that happened in a French town in the mid-1600s. A scene from Mother Joan Of The Angels Kawalerowicz is a major Polish filmmaker, and the film is regarded as one of the finest examples of classic Polish filmmaking. It follows a priest who is sent to a remote convent to investigate a series of reported demonic possessions. A nun, Mother Joan, claims eight demons inhabit her body. As the priest confronts these dark forces, he must choose whether to compromise his purity in order to save the convent from malevolence. It inspired English director Ken Russells 1971 film, The Devils. Inside is the most recent film in the programme. This French film, directed by first-time filmmakers Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo and released in 2007, is the goriest in this years Fear Screen line-up. It is banned in Germany, even after it was censored to remove some of the more violent scenes. The gore will be a draw for many horror fans. The film focuses on Sarah, who is widowed while pregnant. As her due date nears, she encounters a strange woman who brings terror to Sarahs life with bloody consequences. As Edwards explains, in addition to the feature films playing in Triskel Cinema, a series of short films will be available to view on CIFFs Digital Festival Platform throughout March. Topping it all off, our online focus on French Fear will allow viewers to see the short film debut by Titane director Julia Ducournau, forming a tryptic of body horror goodness. In Junior, a 13-year-old girl goes through a strange metamorphosis after a bout of stomach flu. Directed by Ducournau, she would later win a Palme dOr at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. In Sweet Tooth, by Josephine Darcy Hopkins, Madelaine, the daughter of a middle-class woman who provides manicure services, accompanies her mother to a clients house. Upon arrival, she is confronted by three girls her age who invite her to play a challenging board game with unexpected consequences. In Evil Seaweed by Antonin Peretjatko, a scientist collecting green algae samples on a French beach collapses and dies. Panic ensues in the village as he is not the first to suffer an algae-related incident, leading locals to suspect something is amiss with the green seaweed. Information on the online programme can be found at www.corkfilmfest.org and the Fear Screen Film Season in Triskel Cinema. See www.triskelartscentre.ie. SOMETHING thats struck your writer about music in Cork after the last few years has been the openness that the wider community has had to those game enough to pick up an instrument and work away at their craft outside of those usual parameters of running in well-heeled circles, or the quandaries of founding/finding ground-floor outlets in which to gain practical experience, while finding ones voice. As a fellow Cork music nerd and journalist, that openness is not lost on Emily Dollery as both an already-seasoned veteran of college and community radio in the city, and a Cork School of Music-graduate music teacher, shes a familiar face to a generation of young music heads, most recently depping on bass with shoegazers Pebbledash on a short Irish tour, to boot. But as revealed by the sheets of distortion and gripping sense of catharsis embodied by the music of Therapy Horse, a three-piece noise-rock band in which Dollery serves as a creative and sonic catalyst, shes been studiously honing her craft, including time with MusicGeneration Limerick City mentor Steve Ryan (Tooth/Giveamanakick/Windings), over the past decade or more, before meeting bandmate and guitarist Cormac Donovan ONeill, also of Pebbledash. Emily Dollery is a seasoned veteran of college and community radio. Myself and Cormac have known each other since, Id say about 2022, because we met while we were both working in UCC 98.3FM. I think we bonded because we are, in the most affectionate way possible, a very nerdy band. I think we were actually just messing around in the UCC studio, when we were meant to be working, and I had a few songs that Id messed around with, just a few little demos and scraps for fun, doing a lot of plucking away on the guitar at home. He was the first person to kind of listen to them and, likewise, he had a lot of his own ambient stuff. I think we talked about it for a while, hey, lets just kind of work with some stuff that Ive written, and yknow, well see where we go from there. And it was around the time that he had just joined Pebbledash himself, so we were using that same practice space, and Eoin Schuck (drummer for both bands) joined us recently. A lot of the songs came about from just jamming together and seeing what flowed I think thats why its gotten to be this really weird noise-rock thing. It feels like were the only people who put up with each other, with, yknow, these really weird interests. That process of jamming things out has yielded the bones of a longform set that forms the basis of their live debut at the rock n roll stronghold of Fred Zeppelins on Saturday, March 22 a process whose stages of pre-production, rewrites and polish denote a careful foundation laid under all the reverb and ramification. I think one thing that really makes the band work, is were all a little bit perfectionistic, Dollery opines. And its funny, I think the way that we play wouldnt really suggest that. A lot of the songs as they are now would have started as a 20-minute jam, and it could be because I figured out I could make a new noise on my pedalboard or something. There was one song that came about from Cormac, his tunings and guitar, because he plays in these insane Sonic Youth tunings. Hes a really unique and interesting guitar player, and even Schuck, as a relatively recent member of the band, I think even his style works so well I think we all have this approach of pushing ourselves, like, what can I actually do with this instrument? And I feel like that translates into, alright, what can I do with my instrument until I nearly injure myself or break it, and in the following process, mapping out the songs. A lot of them have taken a long time; some of them were jammed a year ago, and weve only kind-of figured them out come January, yknow? Eoin Schuck in action. Its a well-worn trope that Fredz is itself something of a survivor on Corks music scene marking 25 years last year but Dollery is also effusive in her praise for the red room upstairs on Parliament Street, explaining its role in her own life and those of her bandmates. I was a local music nerd after covid. Worn Out [Cork hardcore outfit] was one of the first gigs that I actually saw when covid restrictions were lifted. I definitely spent a lot of time there, especially in my college years, and it has been a breeding ground for a lot of talent. And I know especially because the Cork scene is getting a bit of attention, yknow, even from managers in the UK or on the continent, because of bands like Cliffords and Cardinals, and I think that definitely has to be credited back to Fredz, because you could do just about anything there. Ether are, like, athletes, workhorses, yknow, theyve played Fredz a million times, and they do this really nice mix of grunge and shoegaze. Delph is actually a solo noise-rock project spearheaded by Pebbledashs Fionnbharr. I think even the fact that its very different from what hes known for, I suppose, Im actually really excited to see where it goes. I suppose, because [Fredz is] so varied and its also so accessible, it really gives you the range to experiment. And I think that [suits us], because I think were pretty weird-sounding. Therapy Horse headline at Fred Zeppelins on Saturday, March 22, with support from Delph and Ether. Doors 9pm, tickets 5 available on eventbrite.ie, or on the door. By Rebecca Black, PA Ireland and the UK are set to agree a new programme of enhanced co-operation at a summit in Liverpool. Taoiseach Micheal Martin and British prime minister Keir Starmer will lead delegations of their respective Cabinet colleagues in the first of a new series of annual UK-Ireland summits. It is expected that they will agree a wide-ranging programme of new and enhanced strategic cooperation between Ireland and the UK, entitled UK-Ireland 2030, to be taken forward by both governments through to 2030. Delighted to be in Liverpool with Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer for the inaugural UKIreland Summit taking place tomorrow. We are committed to harnessing the potential of our partnership to deliver economic, political & social benefits for people across these islands. pic.twitter.com/XLTKSrvRSn Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 5, 2025 This is set to include closer collaboration on energy with a new data-sharing programme to enable commercial developers to increase offshore production. The two leaders will also host a roundtable meeting with industry figures from a number of sectors across the UK and Ireland, including tech and energy. Mr Starmer said: As our closest neighbour, our partnership with Ireland is testament to the importance of working with international partners to deliver for people at home. Now more than ever we must work with like-minded partners in the pursuit of global peace, prosperity and security. British prime minister Keir Starmer spoke during a reception at the Museum of Liverpool, ahead of the first in a new series of annual UK-Ireland summits. Photo: PA Mr Martin said the summit is one of the most significant bilateral engagements between the two governments in a generation. He said it shows the resolve of prime minister Keir Starmer and I to put in place the building blocks to bring strategic co-operation between our two countries to a new level. As part of the summit, Ireland has announced new investments into the UK worth 220 million, which the British government says could create more than 2,500 jobs across the country. On Wednesday night Mr Martin and Mr Starmer co-hosted a reception to celebrate cultural links between the UK and Ireland. The summits were announced by Mr Starmer and then taoiseach Simon Harris during a meeting in Dublin last September. David Raleigh A drugged-up bodybuilder who rammed and seriously injured two Limerick gardai has withdrawn an appeal against his six-year sentence, imposed in 2023. Evan Toomey (29), Oak Park, Ennis, Co Clare, left two members of the Limerick Garda Roads Policing Unit, Garda Niall Deegan and Garda Alan Griffin, with life-changing injuries when he drove a Mazda 6 car into their Garda patrol SUV, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court previously heard. Toomey was high on a cocktail of cocaine and cannabis and in possession of 3,000 worth of drugs, and he became spooked when a Garda patrol car approached his Mazda at the carpark of the Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick, on November 19th, 2019. Toomey suddenly reversed away from the patrol car at speed, mounted a kerb and drove the wrong way against the flow of traffic. Toomey overtook an ambulance on the wrong side of a blind bend of a roadway at Mungret, Co Limerick, then drove through a housing estate before entering the Limerick tunnel, where he swerved the car across both lanes and drove through a toll barrier. Garda Griffin and Garda Deegan, traveling in a Hyundai Tucson Garda patrol SUV, heard a call for back-up and joined the pursuit of Toomeys car. The two gardai activated their vehicles blue lights and parked it on Clonmacken Roundabout in an effort to steer the Mazda away from the city centre and protect other motorists and pedestrians, Toomeys sentencing hearing heard on October 27th, 2023. The court heard that Toomey mounted the roundabout island and smashed directly into the front passenger side of the Garda vehicle, in which both gardai were seated. Prosecuting counsel, John OSullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, and assisted by Garda Inspector Fergal Hanrahan, said Toomey made no effort to evade the marked Garda vehicle, which was pushed across the roundabout and into a sign. Toomey, along with an unidentified front seat passenger, fled the wreckage, running into a nearby housing estate where they were later arrested. Toomey initially denied driving the Mazda but eventually admitted he was the driver after a forensic analysis of the car resulted in his DNA being found on an airbag at the drivers side that deployed during the collision. Toomey, who had 89 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to one count of causing criminal damage with intent to endanger life, which carries a maximum life sentence. He also pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving and to one count of possession of cocaine and cannabis, at the same location, on the same date. Garda Griffin sustained two cracked ribs, a broken sternum, whiplash and tissue damage to his neck and shoulder. He underwent surgery to remove damaged sections of two vertebrae in his spine, and he developed post-concussion syndrome as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and required further spinal surgery. Garda Griffin stated in his victim impact statement: I have been unable to complete the most simple of tasks, for example, changing my childs nappy or dressing him; and lifting my child and performing everyday tasks like playing with him were extremely difficult. I will never forget thinking my colleague (Garda Deegan) was dead, as he lay unconscious beside me. I will never forget November 19th, 2019. Garda Deegan did regain consciousness following the collision, but he continued to suffer pain in his neck, back and shoulders due to injuries sustained in the collision. Garda Deegan said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and had to retrain his vision and relearn how to balance himself. Garda Deegan stated in his victim impact statement: I genuinely thought that Garda Alan Griffin and I were going to die. There was no attempt by the driver, Evan Toomey, to take any avoidance action. Toomeys own barrister, junior counsel Yvonne Quinn, told his sentencing hearing in October 2023 that his behaviour was disgraceful and appalling. She said her instructions were that Toomey was truly sorry, and she said that drugs are at the root of his difficulties. He was under the influence of cocaine and cannabis at the time, he became paranoid, and he panicked, Ms Quinn said. At the time, the two injured gardai said they did not accept Toomey was genuinely remorseful. Sentencing Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed a seven year sentence, suspending the final 12 months, and said Toomey had engaged in an outrageous and deliberate and intentional act. The judge said that Toomey knew the Garda vehicle was occupied when he drove into it. Moments before his appeal was due to be heard today, Ms Quinn said Toomey had instructed her that he wishes to withdraw his appeal. The three-judge court allowed the appeal withdrawal, and Toomey was returned to jail. Tom Tuite A Midlands man used a fake Facebook profile to "encourage" teen girls in the United States to make and send him hundreds of sexually explicit videos and images, a court heard. The "introvert", in his early 30s, appeared before Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday. Following a defence request, Judge Keenan Johnson asked the media to "exercise discretion" at this stage and not reveal the man's name. He will be sentenced in July. At least four victims were identified after his phone, social media account and online activity were analysed. The man pleaded guilty that from October 10th, 2015, until September 30th, 2018, he knowingly encouraged the production of child pornography and remains on bail. Mullingar Garda Station was contacted by colleagues in the online child protection unit based in Harcourt Square, Dublin, in 2018. Garda James Grogan said they were alerted to a Facebook account under a different name and linked to two email accounts. Efforts were made to trace the user, leading to the accused's IP address and then his home. The Facebook profile had obtained sexually explicit images of multiple teenage girls. The defendant's laptop and mobile phone were examined, resulting in 700 to 1,000 images and 30 videos of child abuse material being found. He had used a fake account name because he had been "blocked" on Facebook under his own identity. All of the girls were believed to be between 15 and 18 years old and in America. Chat logs revealed that the girls produced the videos and images due to his encouragement. The garda agreed with prosecutor Cathal O Braonain BL, instructed by the State solicitor for Westmeath, Matt Shaw, that the accused cooperated with the investigation. The charge is under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 and carries a maximum 14-year sentence. The judge heard the man suffered from significantly low self-esteem and weight problems but had focused on work and was well-educated. The court heard he set up a false social media profile "with a view to connecting with people," which soon developed to chatting with girls aged 15 or 16 years. He received "self-produced" child pornography images and videos. The court heard that this often arose as a result of his requests. At least four named victims were identified during the investigation. Questioned by John Hayden SC, defending, the garda confirmed that there was no evidence that he had not distributed the material. The defence said the accused, who had no prior convictions, was in his early to mid-twenties at the time. The judge also noted the delay in having the man's phone examined. The garda agreed with the defence that the accused, who is a single man, had no social life, was an introvert and had low confidence. He garda said the accused had image issues, and his life revolved around his work routine and attempts to lose weight. He agreed with Mr Hayden that the man did not present as a person with the maturity of his age at the time of the offending, and he would have been "a few years behind". The court heard he was very well respected in his work and has shown some insight into his behaviour. Judge Johnson heard that the material was self-taken by the girls during "back and forth" exchanges with the accused, but he knew they were underage, and he encouraged them to send the pictures and videos. Mr Hayden said the need for a risk assessment arose but stressed his client, who did not address the court, seemed to have moved on and "accepts it was all wrong". Strictly speaking, counsel acknowledged, it was not an in camera matter. However, Mr Hayden said his client was concerned about being named. He asked the media, at this point, to exercise some discretion, given that he worked in a well-known business in the community. Judge Johnson asked reporters to exercise discretion but said this was very much dependent, going forward, on the risk assessment phase of preparing the pre-sentence probation report. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Hundreds of demonstrators protest against the Trump administration's mass firings of U.S. government employees outside the headquarters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Silver Spring, Maryland on March 3, 2025. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Layoffs by the Trump administration at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have reached the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), a small but important institute that is responsible for climate models the world relies on. Kai-Yuan Cheng, an atmospheric scientist who was notified of his firing late last week, said he rushed to finish his work on severe storm forecasting on one hours notice. I worked to the last minute of my federal employment, Cheng said, as Science reported. I tried my best to wrap up my work before I lost access. Cheng and nine other GFDL employees were fired from the Princeton, New Jersey, research center, as part of a far-reaching round of layoffs announced by the Trump administration late last month. Started in 1955, GFDL is responsible for some of the planets most highly regarded climate and weather models. They are relied upon for global heating projections, as well as weather forecasting in the United States. Several of the workers who were fired were in charge of crucial projects, and it is likely that several GFDL projects including a new type of atmospheric model will face delays, as will more accurate regional climate predictions. Tom Di Liberto, an NOAA climate scientist and public affairs specialist who was laid off, told the American Institute of Physics (AIP) that seven of the 25 employees at the Office of Communications had been fired. Additionally, 11 employees were fired from the Environmental Modeling Center. Some would say we were already falling behind some of our modeling, and by firing folks like this here, theres no way you can catch up, Di Liberto said in a press release from AIP. Its a weird way of making America great. Last week, the Trump administration fired from 600 to 900 NOAA employees, most of whom were new or recently promoted probationary workers. The American Meteorological Society earlier this week warned that the firings are likely to cause irreparable harm and have far-reaching consequences for public safety, economic well-being, and the United States global leadership. The firings have impacted all of NOAAs labs, which provide research on subjects as diverse as upper-atmospheric pollution and evidence of global warming in the deepest parts of the ocean, reported Science. Of special concern to GFDL is the latest version of its atmospheric model, AM5. The new model is designed to run at higher frequencies and resolutions, and allows for the use of long-term climate change code to be used in seasonal weather forecasts. The updates required the reworking of model simulations of factors like rainfall, clouds, gravity waves and stratospheric ozone. Scheduled to be completed this year, AM5 was expected to be the basis of GFDLs future climate modeling efforts globally, with applications from United Nations climate change reports to insurance companies. Sources told Science that two scientists who were central to AM5, including one lead, have been fired. Both had been employed as contractors for many years before they were officially hired. One had given up their citizenship for the job. The researcher will likely stay on to work at the lab on a volunteer basis, hopeful that AM5 will be completed, with likely delays. The researcher said they left the country of their birth partially due to its authoritarian politics, adding that it was ironic and sad to witness similar dynamics coming to the U.S. I feel somewhat helpless. I want to push back. I want to do something, the researcher said. Some of the firings could face legal challenges, as happened at the National Science Foundation. In an indication of possible backtracking, the Trump administration issued new guidelines on Tuesday stating that agencies, rather than the White House Office of Personnel Management, were the ultimate authority on whether to implement the firings. Chris Bretherton, the atmospheric scientist in charge of nonprofit Ai2s climate modeling, said it was disheartening to watch future climate research leaders at institutions like GFDL being indiscriminately fired. Artificial intelligence, Bretherton said, cannot compensate for a lack of human intelligence. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Protesters against the Trump administration's layoffs of federal workers at Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County, California on March 1, 2025. Santiago Mejia / San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images A new executive order signed by President Donald Trump over the weekend could have a disastrous effect on endangered species, climate change and local economies, warned conservation groups. The order encouraging the Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production seeks to erode Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection rules in favor of the expansion of tree felling across 280 million acres of United States national forests, as well as other public lands, for timber, reported The Guardian. This Trump executive order is the most blatant attempt in American history by a president to hand over federal public lands to the logging industry, said wildfire scientist Chad Hanson with the John Muir Project. Whats worse, the executive order is built on a lie, as Trump falsely claims that more logging will curb wildfires and protect communities, while the overwhelming weight of evidence shows exactly the opposite. The order goes as far as setting an annual target for the amount of timber offered for sale, along with other measures, which could lead to widespread clear-cutting, a press release from Earthjustice said. The announcement follows last weeks appointment of Tom Schultz as the new chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Schultz is a former executive of timber company Idaho Forest Group. Naming a corporate lobbyist to run the agency tasked with overseeing the last old growth left in the U.S. makes it clear that the Trump administrations goal isnt to preserve our national forests, but to sell them off to billionaires and corporate polluters, said Anna Medema, Sierra Clubs associate director of legislative and administrative advocacy for forests and public lands, as The Guardian reported. The action is similar to a recent move by Trump that used an obscure committee to advance fossil fuel projects that put threatened species at risk. According to experts, this disregard for ESA rules is likely illegal. The order says it is vital to reverse what it calls heavy-handed federal policies and increase domestic timber production to protect our national and economic security. Protesters hold signs at Roosevelt Arch, the northern entrance to Yellowstone Park in Gardiner, Montana on March 1, 2025. Natalie Behring / Getty Images This executive order sets in motion a chainsaw free-for-all on our federal forests. Americans treasure our forests for all the benefits they provide, such as recreation, clean air, and clean drinking water. But this order ignores these values and opens the door for wild lands to be plundered, for nothing more than corporate gain. In the long run, this will worsen the effects of climate change, while also destroying critical wildlife habitat, said Blaine Miller-McFeeley, senior legislative representative of the Earthjustice policy and legislation team, in the press release. Trumps latest executive order specifies that logging projects can be expedited if they are purportedly intended to reduce wildfire risk by thinning vegetation, reported The Guardian. However, the razing of forests, especially those with established, fire-resistant trees, has been said by scientists to actually increase the risk of fast-moving wildfires. Hanson explained that logging creates drier and hotter conditions that alter a forests microclimate, helping wildfires to spread faster. People deserve smart, science-driven solutions that truly protect their forests and communities, but dont let it fool you President Trumps forest executive order isnt the solution. Its a short-sighted giveaway for extractive industries, said Josh Hicks, director of conservation campaigns for The Wilderness Society. The ESA laws that Trump is attempting to circumvent protect roughly 400 species that live in national forests, including threatened and near-threatened species such as grizzly bears, wild salmon and spotted owls. Environmental groups warned that increased logging could also pollute millions of peoples water supply. Trumps order will unleash the chainsaws and bulldozers on our federal forests. Clearcutting these beautiful places will increase fire risk, drive species to extinction, pollute our rivers and streams, and destroy world-class recreation sites, said Randi Spivak, the Center for Biological Diversitys public lands policy director. This is a particularly horrific move by Trump to loot our public lands by handing the keys to big business. The App Store Accountability Act would be the first such measure in the country. Utah has once again passed a bill that attempts to place new limits on childrens ability to access social media and other apps. The state legislature passed a bill that requires app store makers to verify the ages of users and get parental consent for the downloading of apps. Should the governor sign the bill into law, it would be (as The Verge points out ) the first such measure in the country. The Beehive State has previously attempted to restrict how children can use social media. The state passed two laws in 2023 that imposed age verification and parental permission requirements onto social media companies. Those laws were later revised amid legal challenges, and a Utah judge blocked them from taking effect last fall. The App Store Accountability Act takes a different approach. It puts the burden on app stores (namely, Apple and Google) to conduct age verification and parental permission rather than individual social media platforms. Unsurprisingly, Meta and other social media companies have long preferred the app store-centric approach to age verification . On Wednesday, Meta, Snap and X issued a rare joint statement praising the Utah measure. Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their childs age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way, the companies said. The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit. Apple and Google so far havent publicly weighed in on Utahs bill, though weve reached out to both for comment. Saturday Night Live mocked the contentious Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, debuting Mike Myers as a chainsaw-wielding Elon Musk. "It is I President and CEO of Gaza Hotel and Casino, Donald Trump," said cast member James Austin Johnson, impersonating Trump. "And I'd like to welcome President Zelensky here to this incredible trap." The skit was mocking the Oval Office meeting in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelensky for not being "thankful" enough for U.S. support and asserting that Zelensky was "disrespectful" when he pointed out that Russia had violated past agreements with Ukraine and killed his people. "President Zelensky, do you want to say a few words? Maybe tell Mr. Putin how much you love him and that you're sorry for invading Russia?" Johnson said. "Maybe offer him one night with your wife." About halfway through the skit, Myers appears as Musk, swinging a chainsaw and discussing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) government cuts. They then announce a new initiative, the Department of Undoing Child Healthcare and Education (DOUCHE). "DOUCHE is going to be epic," Myers said. "DOUCHE is really going to clean everything out." Originally published on Latin Times Renowned author Neil Gaiman has filed a motion to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit brought against him by his former nanny, calling the allegations "fabricated" and "a sham." The Good Omens creator submitted the request to a federal court in Wisconsin on Tuesday. In the motion for dismissal, Gaiman argued that the allegations brought against him by ex-nanny Scarlett Pavlovich should be heard in New Zealand, where the supposed abuse took place, rather than in a US court. In an accompanying statement, the author also presented WhatsApp messages between himself and Pavlovich, which he argues showed that their relationship was "consensual." "[Pavlovich] is a fantasist ," Gaiman said in the statement. "[The messages] demonstrate, in Pavlovich's own words, that our relationship was consensual, and that Pavlovich was an enthusiastic participant who initiated many of our sexual encounters." What Is the Nanny Alleging Against Neil Gaiman? Pavlovich claims that Gaiman repeatedly raped and assaulted her while she was working as a live-in nanny in New Zealand in 2022. Pavlovich's lawsuit, filed in February 2025, seeks at least $7 million in damages for the alleged abuse she endured. It is important to note that the lawsuit not only targets Gaiman but also names his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer, as a defendant. Pavlovich accuses Palmer of being complicit in the alleged abuse, claiming that she played a role in "procuring and presenting" her to Gaiman. The nanny also claimed that Palmer withheld her pay to keep her "trapped." Pavlovich's allegations gained significant attention following a New York Magazine article that featured her story along with similar accusations from eight other individuals. The magazine's expose detailed multiple instances of alleged rape and sexual abuse by Gaiman, with Pavlovich claiming that the author coerced her into forced sexual encounters as a condition of her employment. Gaiman has consistently denied all allegations made against him. As detectives discerned details of the February 26 tragedy, the probe continued into the deaths of Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and one of their three dogs. Rumors swirled after their deaths as to what had happened. Still, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said in an update this week that an investigation of the area by the New Mexico Gas Company found that gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning were not at issue. The NMGC, however, said that just one red tag was displayed for a small gas leak, 0.33%, which was still not severe enough to kill someone. The remaining four red tags were for code enforcement violations unrelated to gas leaks or carbon monoxide, including a water heater and gas log lighters in three fireplaces. Expert Medical Recommendations for Adding New Theories Dr. James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner with the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, offered other possible explanations but is not officially involved in the Hackman case. "From the initial circumstances, it seems like he may have collapsed," Gill told PEOPLE. "He had a history of heart disease and a pacemaker. That would not be unusual. But the unusual part is, why did she also collapse?" "Assuming she would have found him, then you start wondering if the stress of seeing someone die triggered a natural death in her." Is a Broken Heart to Blame? Gill proposed that Arakawa may be dead first and that Hackman, finding her under circumstances similar to her death, died in one fell swoop too. "He could have been going to get help or reach his phone when he collapsed from the stress," Gill said. "Just as likely. He's older, he has known heart disease. But the autopsy would certainly reveal if she had any underlying conditions like heart disease or cancer." The concept of a "broken heart" as a cause of death is not unheard of. "Suddenly finding your loved one dead on the floor can increase adrenaline levels and stimulate the heart to beat faster, which can trigger an irregular heart rhythm," Gill explained. Gill also speculated that the nature of his death could have been inflicted by himself intentionally. "Suddenly finding your loved one dead on the floor that can increase your adrenaline and that stimulates your heart to beat faster, and that can put your heart into an irregular rhythm." Results from the complete analysis of the toxicological analyses will take weeks. Hackman's family has not publicly weighed in on theories surrounding his death but asked for privacy while the investigation continues. New allegations surfaced related to the workplace culture at Wayfarer Studios as tension between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively continues to grow. One former employee described Baldoni to the paper as "phony." Another employee also raised concerns about his approach to discussing his Bahai Faith in a professional setting. A former staffer at Wayfarer Studios told the Los Angeles Times that Baldoni's emphasis on maintaining a positive atmosphere felt excessive and disingenuous. The former employee said it was "constant positivity" but would call it "toxic positivity." "I'm always a little dubious of people who advertise themselves as disruptors of the status quo or quote-unquote 'good people,'" they added. The person described examples, such as staff being reportedly forced to sign off emails using the phrase "so with love." Baldoni also allegedly filmed himself doing charitable work, which one staffer called performative. Another former worker reported discomfort with how Baldoni discussed his Bahai Faith, stating that his conversations had an "evangelizing aspect" that "felt professionally inappropriate." "Bahai values were a driving force behind everything they did. It came up routinely," the staffer said. However, not everyone felt that way about Baldoni. Some employees defended him. Melissa Ames, who had previously served as his assistant, revealed, "He is highly creative and in tune with his spiritual side." "He has a heart for helping others. Working at Wayfarer was one of the best times of my life." Another unnamed worker praised Baldoni's intentions, stating, "His heart is truly in the right place." Wayfarer Studios Responds Wayfarer Studios and Baldoni deny any wrongdoing, however, and say there have been no formal complaints about the company's workplace culture. In response to the claims about the no-email policy, the studio told Page Six, "If any guidance was ever provided to employees on how to conduct their written correspondence, it was to ensure that activities remained professional and aligned with the ethos of the company." "Wayfarer believes that joy and positivity are the essence of good work, and they stand by this statement." In response to concerns about discussing religion, a Baldoni representative said, "Employees are encouraged to celebrate and practice their individual beliefs however they see fit, a message which is proudly supported by leadership." Blake Lively Lawsuit Baldoni is embroiled in a legal battle with Lively. The "Gossip Girl" star charged him with harassment on their 2024 movie set and asserted his team tried destroying her image. In response, Baldoni has filed his own countersuit, claiming Lively wielded her clout to sabotage his career and gain control of the story regarding the film. Wednesday, March 5, 2025 America's Premier Media Expert Blasts The View's Joy Behar: "She Must Want to Get Sued." Joy Behar Launches Slanderous, Racist, Anti-Musk Attack Apparently, The View Hates Immigrants. In a jaw-dropping display of bigotry, The View co-host Joy Behar launched a vicious on-air attack against tech visionary and immigrant entrepreneur Elon Musk on Thursday. Behar smeared the South African-born innovator as a "foreigner, foreign agent, enemy of the United States," even suggesting Musk was "pro-apartheid" simply because he grew up in South Africa. Pro-apartheid? That's like claiming every German is pro-Holocaust or assuming every Israeli supports bombing civilians. It's absurd and, ironically, precisely the kind of sweeping racial stereotype The View and its audience claim to abhor. America's premier media expert, Michael Levine, wasted no time condemning Behar's unhinged tirade: "Joy Behar's reckless, slanderous accusations are not just defamatory they're racist. The outrage would be deafening if Elon Musk wasn't a white male. Instead, we get silence from ABC and its corporate enablers." Behar's meltdown already going viral raises serious legal and ethical questions for her and the network. Slandering an immigrant entrepreneur with outright lies while wrapping it in the flag of 'progressivism' exposes The View's hypocrisy for all to see. Surely, ABC will immediately remove such a blatant bigot from the airwaves, right? WASHINGTON, DC, MARCH 6, 2025 - The Women Business Collaborative (WBC) will host "Entrepreneurs of Purpose" at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC, on March 7-8, 2025. The event "Making History With Purpose, Honoring Women Shaping the Future" will bring together over 50 key women entrepreneurs who are committed to building the nation's economy alongside the 14 million women entrepreneurs in the United States. Media are invited to join us for a special session Saturday, March 8 at 8:15 am hosted by Laura Fote, L&B Concepts. Both a Proclamation from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and a WBC Entrepreneurs of Purpose Commitment will be shared with the media and attendees. Mayor Bowser issued a proclamation in recognition of "Women Entrepreneurs Day" in Washington, DC. To read the Mayor's Proclamation in full: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lv51afWtVKeTNmfPgARS6WbV53v8HaWs/view The weekend program brings together galvanizing women leaders in business. Friday, March 7, 2025 10:00 am: Diedre Windsor, CEO of Windsor Group and military veteran, will lead the event's kick-off on Friday at the Military Women's Memorial with Phyllis Wilson, Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer and President, Women in Military Service and the America Memorial Foundation Inc. and Edna W. Cummings, Retired Army Colonel, Author. 4:00 pm: Jenn White, Host, NPR/WAMU and Erika Pulley-Hayes, General Manager, WAMU, will interview India Gary-Martin, Founder and CEO, Leadership For Execs and Relucent Learning; Sharon Reynolds, CEO, DevMar Manufacturing, WBC Board Director; Ilene Rosenthal, CEO, Footsteps to Brilliance; Diedre Windsor, CEO, Windsor Group LLC; and Helen Stefan Moreau, Founder & CEO, The Midtown Group. 6:30 pm: The owner of the largest woman-owned business in the DMV area, Gloria Bohan, CEO of Omega World Travel, will host the event's dinner. Saturday March 8, 2025 8:15 am: WBC will acknowledge the Mayor's proclamation and have a media moment with all women entrepreneurs. 10:30 am: Monika Mantilla, CEO and Co-Founder of Altura Capital, will speak. Altura Capital is the largest Latina led private equity fund. 1:00 pm: Joyce Johnson, a trailblazing capital leader, who currently serves as Chairman and Chief Investment Officer for Pacific Gate Capital and will talk about her over 38 years investing in the global debt and equity marketplaces, managing over 10 billion in global investments. Co-Chair of the EOP initiative and WBC Chair Edie Fraser said: "Women's History Month is March and International Women's Day is Saturday and, for us, we focus on elevating others 365 days of the year." Co-Chair of the EOP initiative and WBC Board member, Sharon Reynolds said, "We will not rest until we gain recognition as purpose-driven companies that are the architects of meaningful progress. By clearly defining the 'why' behind our enterprises, we create a shared sense of mission that fuels engagement, loyalty and long-term success." WBC's CEO, Gwen K. Young, said: "These entrepreneurs are driving economic growth across communities and creating pathways for women. Let's continue to celebrate our impact and purpose. We are truly as WBC faster together." The "Entrepreneurs of Purpose" event has three focus points: Driving Business Growth Expanding your enterprise with innovation, resilience, and sustainability. Community Engagement/Giving Back Weaving purpose into your success by contributing to social good. Living with Intention toward Legacy and Philanthropy Finding fulfillment through impact, legacy, and shared success. #### Women Business Collaborative (WBC) is an unprecedented alliance of 85+ women's business organizations and hundreds of business leaders building a movement to achieve equal position, pay, and power for all women in business. Through collaboration, advocacy, action, and accountability, WBC mobilizes thousands of professional women and men, business organizations, public and private companies to accelerate change. Media Contact: Jan Du Plain, Founder, Du Plain Global Enterprises 202.486.7004; janduplain@gmail.com or monia.zgarni@gmail.com By Paul D. Thacker, RealClearInvestigations March 4, 2025 Jay Bhattacharya was in pretty terrible shape five years ago. He was losing sleep and weight, not because of the COVID-19 virus but in response to the efforts of his colleagues at Stanford University and the larger medical community to shut down his research, which questioned much of the governments response to the pandemic. Some of his Stanford colleagues leaked false and damaging information to reporters. The universitys head of medicine ordered him to stop speaking to the press. Top leaders at the National Institutes of Health, Anthony Fauci and Francis Collins, dialed up the attacks, dismissing him and his colleagues as what Collins termed fringe epidemiologists while their acolytes threw mud from a slew of publications, including the Washington Post, The Nation, and the prestigious medical journal BMJ. In the years since, many of Bhattacharyas scientific concerns about the efficacy of lockdowns and mask mandates have been corroborated. Fauci, meanwhile, accepted a pardon from President Biden, protecting him from COVID-related offenses dating back to 2014, the year he started funding research at a Wuhan, China, lab that U.S. intelligence agencies now believe probably started the pandemic. And this week, Bhattacharya looks set to achieve surprising vindication as the Senate holds a hearing on his nomination to head the NIH, in a Department of Health and Human Services run by science nonconformist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Bhattacharyas path from health policy scholar to NIH director nominee is pockmarked with craters from missiles launched to destroy his scientific credibility by NIH leaders and their minions in academia. Even as he seeks to advance medical research, Bhattacharyas personal experience will likely inform his pledge to clean up the NIH and clear the agency of some career civil servants who silenced dissenting scientific voices during the pandemic and created national policies that were not always supported by the public. Free speech is fundamental for science to function properly, he notes simply. Bhattacharya first caught the attention of the nations scientific bureaucracy in April 2020 when he reported that the COVID virus was not as dangerous but more widespread than many of his colleagues and government officials were maintaining. This suggested a policy focusing on the most vulnerable populations with fewer restrictions on younger, healthier Americans. The study was discussed at the highest levels of the government and was passed around by Fauci and others in the White House, according to emails made public by a Freedom of Information Act request. For anyone with an open mind, the studys results implied that the lockdown-focused strategy of March 2020 had failed to suppress the spread of the disease, Bhattacharya wrote in a 2023 essay. But the papers other obvious conclusion put Bhattacharya in the crosshairs of Stanford faculty: It suggested that fear-mongering about the fatality rate of the virus was irresponsible. Bhattacharyas contrary conclusions generated complaints that the research was unsound, and Stanford put together an ad hoc group to investigate. It directed him to change the study protocols, which would have shut down the research. They also demanded to review and approve any manuscripts we would write, Bhattacharya said. But he eventually ignored them and kept publishing. In April 2020, a series of damaging articles by Buzzfeed reporter Stephanie M. Lee carried allegations that Bhattacharya and his colleagues failed to disclose funding for their study, even though they had actually already disclosed it to Stanford. Buzzfeed is the now-defunct news site that first published the now much-maligned Steele dossier. Bhattacharya was confused by the articles when they appeared. He later concluded from the intimate details that Stanford faculty were leaking the information to the reporter to harm him, including a false allegation that a whistleblower had come forward. Responding to the Buzzfeed flurry of reports, Stanford announced a fact-finding investigation of Bhattacharyas research, which he began calling an inquisition. The administration later informed him there was no whistleblower as Buzzfeed had falsely reported, and they sent a confidential report that found him and his colleagues at no fault. I got a letter which basically says we did nothing wrong. But also a condition that Im not allowed to release the letter, Bhattacharya explained in a 2023 interview. This was a low period in my life. I was getting death threats, racist attacks, because the press was attacking me. Bhattacharya also suspects that some of the attacks at the time were being generated by Stanfords major funders in the federal government the NIHs Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci. Collins and Fauci orchestrated a campaign against Bhattacharya in earnest in October 2020. Collins resigned from his NIH position last Friday and did not respond to questions sent to him through the NIH communications office nor sent to his NIH contact. Fauci did not respond to questions sent to him through his attorney. That month, Bhattacharya and professors Martin Kulldorff, then at Harvard, and Sunetra Gupta of Oxford released the Great Barrington Declaration, which called for rejecting harmful COVID lockdowns in favor of focused protection for societys most vulnerable, such as the elderly. With the declaration building support, Collins, four days later, on Oct. 8, 2020, sent Fauci an email with the subject line Great Barrington Declaration. This proposal from the three fringe epidemiologists who met with the [Health] Secretary seems to be getting a lot of attention and even a co-signature from Nobel Prize winner Mike Leavitt at Stanford, Collins wrote. There needs to be a quick and devastating published take down of its premises. I dont see anything like that on line yet is it underway? Some hours later, Fauci forwarded Collins a refutation of the Great Barrington Declaration written for The Nation by his friend and advocate Gregg Gonsalves, an AIDS activist who is now a professor at Yale. Fauci rose to prominence in the 1980s as an HIV/AIDS researcher. Indeed, and well said, replied Collins. The Gonsalves essay referenced no actual science but denigrated Bhattacharya, Gupta, and Kulldorff for ignoring what he called progressive principles of justice and equality in favor of survival of the fittest. Fauci has praised Gonsalves several times over the years and, in his recent memoir, singles out Gonsalves and a handful of other activists for their unflinching support over the past few years. Four days after Fauci forwarded Collins the Gonsalves essay in The Nation, Collins dismissed the Declaration in public comments as fringe politics. This is not mainstream science, Collins argued in a public statement. Gonsalves contacted Collins later that same day, emailing him another essay he had written, again vilifying the Great Barrington Declaration, this time in the Washington Post. Saw your comments on the ludicrous Great Barrington Declaration and wanted to thank you for speaking out and doing it undiplomatically, Gonsalves emailed Collins. After we saw what you had said about fringe epidemiology, we wondered why we were so nice in our op-ed. Collins then forwarded Gonsalves email to Fauci, who responded with a smiley face emoji. Several months later, Gonsalves was among those who hosted a surprise birthday greeting for Fauci. We did it! tweeted HIV activist Peter Staley. A small gang of Tony Faucis HIV/AIDS comrades managed to surprise him yesterday with an 80th birthday Zoom. A screenshot of the Zoom shows Gregg Gonsalves beaming into his camera. Fauci and Collins effort to create a quick and devastating takedown of the Great Barrington Declaration remained secret until the emails between them and Gonsalves became public in late December 2021. In response, Gonsalves dashed off a Christmas note to Collins and Fauci thanking them for their service and alerting them to their now-public emails that some on the right have been circulating as proof of a conspiracy against the Great Barrington Declaration. Its interesting that an effort to call out genuinely dangerous recommendations from the GBD is called a conspiracy, Collins emailed back to Gonsalves. Truth itself seems to have become a conspiracy in many minds. Its been a privilege to have you as our leader at the NIH! Gonsalves replied. Gonsalves remained a dogged Fauci supporter throughout the pandemic, even attacking former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield when he went public in 2023 that he believed Faucis funding for gain-of-function virus research in the Wuhan lab may have led to the pandemic. Robert Redfield, Trumps CDC Director, has been trashing former NIAID director, Anthony Fauci, Gonsalves tweeted in March 2023. Anyone who knows Bob Redfield knows what an unsavory character he is. Working in concert with Gonsalves, two other academics were especially active in criticizing Bhattacharyas COVID work: David Gorski, a Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University, and Gavin Yamey, Director of the Center for Policy Impact in Global Health at Duke University. They specifically targeted the scientific community to undermine Jay, said a Trump transition team member, who is not allowed to speak to the press while shuffling Bhattacharya around the Senate. Theres a market for hot pieces to attack Bhattacharya, and these academics coordinate on social media, repeating and amplifying the same narrative to dirty him up. Gorski is a self-described misinformation debunker and runs a website called Science Based Medicine. It doesnt always get its facts straight. After the European Medicines Agency concluded in April 2021, for example, that unusual blood clots should be listed as a very rare side effect for AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine, Gorski decried the decision on his X account claiming, Reported blood clots appear to be no higher than background and very likely unrelated to the vaccine. The UK government eventually stopped offering AstraZenecas jab, and the company finally admitted that its COVID vaccine causes harm in what The Telegraph reported could result in millions of dollars in legal claims. Gorski is damaging to science, said Bhattacharya. He creates an environment where researchers cant speak their mind if they cross the biopharmaceutical industry. Bhattacharya described Yamey and Gorski as part of a network that carried out Collins devastating takedown. Ill never publish in a big mainstream journal, he said a couple of years ago in an interview. Those of us in academic medicine, all we have is our reputation, former CDC Director Robert Redfield told RealClearInvestigations. These attacks, it impacts you substantially. You cant function. You dont get invited to talks, and groups wont have anything to do with you." In late 2021, Gorski partnered with Yamey on a piece for the BMJ falsely charging that Bhattacharya and other Great Barrington Declaration signers were supported by billionaires aligned with industry. Bhattacharya and the other signatories met at a conference hosted by the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), which, Yamey and Gorski argued, has also received funding from the Charles Koch Foundation, which was founded and is chaired by the right-wing billionaire industrialist known for promoting climate change denial and opposing regulations on business. While Gorski and Yamey provided no evidence that Koch money funded the GBD signatories, the BMJ still published their piece. Association with a nonprofit that has distant links to Koch money was apparently enough to carry the whiff of dark money corruption, a charge that still circulates on social media to this day. The BMJ article is full of errors that ought to have never found their way into any publication, wrote Martin Kulldorff in The Spectator. While the AIER has received only a single $68K (50,000) Koch donation a few years ago, many universities have received multiple, much larger Koch donations, including million dollar gifts to Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Stanford. Contacted by RealClearInvestigations, Gorski did not respond when asked why he had not corrected his allegations against Bhattacharya. It was later revealed that Bhattacharyas attackers had even more conflicts. In March 2022, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) released a trove of documents revealing Yameys ties to EcoHealth Alliance, a Fauci-funded organization run by Peter Daszak, which subcontracted with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. USAID scientist Dennis Carroll ran a pandemic preparedness program called PREDICT and worked with several researchers, including Daszak and Yamey, documents show, to redirect federal funds from the PREDICT program to set up a nonprofit called the Global Virome Project. After directing federal funds to create the Global Virome Project, Carroll retired from federal service and became head of the organization, along with Daszak as a board member. It would appear that Dennis Carroll violated federal law that prohibits the use of official resources for private gain or for that of persons or organizations with which he is associated personally, Craig Holman of Public Citizen said when shown emails from the document trove. In March 2023, CBS News broke a story that EcoHealth Alliance may have double-billed the federal government for research in Wuhan, and the USAID Inspector General launched a criminal probe of the groups finances. Some days before Trump was sworn into office, HHS excluded EcoHealth Alliance and Peter Daszak from working with the agency in response to congressional investigations that uncovered wrongdoing, including using taxpayer money to fund gain-of-function virus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. But the defamatory damage was already done, Bhattacharya wrote in Newsweek, calling out Yamey and Gorski for their BMJ errors, and many scientists stayed silent as schools closed and children were harmed, even though they knew better. They did not want to be similarly smeared. Yamey is a narrative enforcer for the pandemic preparedness industry that likely funded the research that caused the pandemic, Bhattacharya said. And the smears continue. Referencing the false dark money charges by Yamey and Gorski, Lucky Tran, director of communications for Columbia University Irving Medical Center, posted a denunciation of Bhattacharya on the social media platform Bluesky after Trump nominated him. Bhattacharya has spread disinformation on COVID, fought against lifesaving measures including vaccines, masks, and social distancing, and is backed by dark money groups pushing corporate interests. RealClearInvestigations contacted Columbias vice president of communications, Vanita Gowda, to ask if Lucky Trans post was Columbias official position on Trumps NIH choice. Gowda was also asked whether the university could provide any evidence that Bhattacharya was funded by dark money. Gowda did not respond to multiple requests to explain these charges. USAIDs criminal investigation began with subpoenas sent to several concerned parties. Duke Universitys Yamey did not respond to repeated inquires on whether he had received a subpoeana. . I am honored and humbled by President @realDonaldTrumps nomination of me to be the next @NIH director, Bhattacharya posted on X. We will reform American scientific institutions so that they are worthy of trust again and will deploy the fruits of excellent science to make America healthy again! Redfield said that Collins, Fauci, and other critics should apologize to Bhattacharya for the years of harassment and actions that were both wrong and unprofessional. If you survive these attacks, and you have a resurrection, you do very well, Redfield said. You now have a reputation for substance and standing up for what you believe is true. Not everyone has that. Im pretty confident hell do well, move forward, and do the right thing. Editor's note: In 2023, Dr. Bhattacharya was named the first recipient of the Samizdat Prize, an annual award sponsored by the RealClear Media Fund to recognize standout foes of censorship. EU leaders shaken by the prospect of US disengagement agreed to boost the bloc's defences at a crisis summit Thursday, as Washington said talks with Kyiv were back on track to secure a ceasefire with Moscow. Rallying around Ukraine after Volodymyr Zelensky's White House blow-up with President Donald Trump, European countries greenlit a plan to "re-arm Europe" against the perceived threat from Russia. "We are moving decisively towards a strong and more sovereign Europe of defence," Antonio Costa, who heads the Council of the EU's 27 states, told reporters after the talks. "We are putting our money where our mouth is." Leaders endorsed the European Commission's aim to mobilise about 800 billion euros ($860 billion) for defence spending, committing to examine "as a matter of urgency" its proposal to provide members with EU-backed loans of up to 150 billion euros. The defence plan eases fiscal rules to allow states to spend much more -- at a time when Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz is embracing radical reforms to fund the country's rearmament. France's President Emmanuel Macron has likewise called for a defence spending surge and suggested extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners. European governments are under pressure to step up defence as Trump questions whether the United States -- the guarantor of Europe's security since World War II -- should continue its central role in NATO. The US leader once again called that commitment into question on Thursday, complaining that its allies "should be paying more." - 'Not alone' - Trump's pivot away from the United States' transatlantic partners comes as he seeks a rapprochement with Russia to end the Ukraine war -- raising fears Kyiv could be forced into an unfavourable deal. EU leaders welcomed President Zelensky in Brussels in a show of support, a week after his bust-up with Trump led to the United States cutting off military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Declaring that Ukraine had to be in the "strongest possible position" to secure a "just and lasting peace" a leaders' statement repeated calls for "robust and credible security guarantees" to deter future Russian aggression. The text -- backed by 26 of 27 states, given the expected opposition of Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ardent Trump supporter -- stressed that "there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine". "We are very thankful that we are not alone," Zelensky said. The meeting brought no major new aid announcements, with several EU states arguing that Europe currently has enough money committed to meet Kyiv's needs, despite the US freeze on aid. Norway, a non-EU member, announced, however, that it will more than double its aid for 2025 to bring the total to $7.8 billion. - Saudi talks - After last week's diplomatic incident, Zelensky has scrambled to mend fences with Trump, and the US envoy on the Russia-Ukraine conflict announced Thursday that new negotiations were planned. Declaring himself pleased by Zelensky's "apology", US envoy Steve Witkoff said he intended to travel to Saudi Arabia to speak to Ukrainian negotiators about an "initial ceasefire" with Russia and a "framework" for a longer agreement. In Kyiv, a senior official said Ukrainian and US delegations were expected to meet Tuesday in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Witkoff said the meeting would take place in Riyadh or Jeddah. Zelensky said that Ukrainian and American negotiators had "resumed work". "We hope that next week we will have a meaningful meeting," he said. In his bid to salvage cooperation with Washington, Zelensky declared himself ready to work towards a peace deal under Trump's "strong leadership" and to finalise an accord on US access to Ukrainian mineral resources. Trump's outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the three-year war -- sidelining both Kyiv and its European partners -- has thrown Europe into crisis mode. It has also helped draw Britain closer to the EU, five years after leaving the bloc. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is working with Macron to rebuild bridges between Trump and Zelensky and together they have pitched a one-month truce "in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure". They have called for a "coalition of the willing" to help secure a ceasefire, with a British official saying Thursday talks with around 20 countries were underway. Several European states have said they would be willing to deploy troops to Ukraine as a "security guarantee". Russia reiterated, however, that it would not accept European forces in Ukraine, nor a merely temporary ceasefire, saying a "final settlement" was needed. burs-ec-ub/ec/sco Hamas said Thursday that Donald Trump's threats would encourage Israel to ignore the fragile ceasefire, after the US president warned that unless hostages were freed, the people of Gaza would be "DEAD". Trump had earlier floated a widely condemned plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Weighing in Thursday, France welcomed an alternative Arab plan to rebuild the territory while keeping Palestinians on their land, but insisted Hamas must be excluded from governing Gaza. Trump's warning followed his administration's revelation that it held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas -- listed as a "terrorist" group by Washington -- focused on American hostages in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed Israel was consulted and said it had "expressed its opinion" on the talks. Trump said he was "sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job", as his administration expedites billions of dollars in additional military assistance to Israel. "This is your last warning!" Trump warned Hamas leaders. "For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance," he posted on his Truth Social platform. Israel killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar as well as the movement's military leader Mohammed Deif during the war in Gaza that began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Trump also warned of repercussions for Gaza as a whole, where virtually the entire population has been displaced by Israel's relentless military campaign in response to Hamas's attack. "To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!" Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, while Israel's military retaliation in Gaza has killed at least 48,440 people, also mostly civilians, data from both sides shows. Leaning on a cane outside a makeshift shelter in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, Mohammed Salim dismissed Trump's talk of turning Gaza into hell. "It has already become one," he said. "We have been devastated, our homes reduced to rubble, our sons, fathers, and elders lost. There is nothing left to mourn." - 'Political tool' - Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasim said Trump's words pushed Israel to disregard the terms of a ceasefire in place since January 19, after more than 15 months of war. "These threats complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement and encourage the occupation to avoid implementing its terms," Qasim said, urging the United States to pressure Israel to enter the ceasefire's second phase. The first phase -- negotiated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt -- ended at the weekend after six weeks of relative calm, during which Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. Israel wants to extend this phase until mid-April, but Hamas insists on transitioning to the second phase, seen as leading to a lasting ceasefire. Israel has ramped up its rhetoric and halted the flow of aid into Gaza, prompting Britain, Germany and France to warn against using aid as a "political tool". "We lack drinking water. People are complaining of lack of water in general," said Abu Hammam al-Hasanat, 34, in Gaza. - Talks with Hamas - Trump's hawkish language came after the United States confirmed unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, with the US envoy on hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, discussing American hostages. "Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what's in the best interest of the American people is something that the president" believes is right, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Washington had refused direct contact with Hamas since designating it a terrorist organisation in 1997, but Leavitt said the envoy "has the authority to talk to anyone". Five Americans are believed to remain among the hostages -- four have been confirmed dead and one, Edan Alexander, is believed to be alive. Of the 251 captives taken during Hamas's attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military has confirmed are dead. - 'Serious and credible' - Trump triggered global outrage by suggesting the United States should "take over" Gaza, turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East" and relocate Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan. Arab leaders this week endorsed an alternative plan that would finance Gaza's reconstruction through a trust fund, and would see the return of the Palestinian Authority to the territory. The PA currently has partial administrative control in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and is dominated by Hamas rivals Fatah. French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said the Arab proposal "constitutes a serious and credible basis to respond to reconstruction, governance and security needs after the Gaza war." Hugh Lovatt at the European Council on Foreign Relations said the Arab plan was "far more realistic" than Trump's. But Ghassan Khatib, a Palestinian political analyst and former PA minister, said "there's no chance" Israel would adopt it over the one proposed by Trump. burs/ser/it/dv COLUMBUS The Ohio Forestry Association held its annual meeting and awards luncheon on Feb. 6 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. Loggers, hardwood manufacturers, forestry professionals and tree farmers from across the state gathered to hear important industry updates and present outstanding service awards. Top of mind for attendees was the economic uncertainty of trade wars and tariffs impacting Ohios hardwood industry. Awards Mike Sissel, of Sissel Logging, in West Portsmouth, received the associations highest honor the Outstanding Logger of the Year award. Sissel Logging was recognized for its history of service to the Southern Ohio Loggers Chapter and commitment to public education about logging. Sissel has taken his logging equipment to a county-wide school program at Shawnee State University for over 10 years and conducted demonstrations for the students. This has cost him production as well as out-of-pocket expenses, demonstrating his passion for telling kids the truth about what loggers do and counteracting the common misconceptions that the public has about logging, according to OFA. The Outstanding Individual in Government Service award went to Stephanie Downs, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, in Columbus. The Outstanding Individual in Industry award was given to Adam Conway, of Superior Hardwoods of Ohio, Inc., in Wellston, Ohio. The Outstanding Individual in Private Service award went to Don Rawn, of TTG Forestry Services, in Jackson, Ohio. The Outstanding Logging Activist award was given to Irene More, of Jefferson County Soil and Water District, in Steubenville, Ohio. The Walt Lange Conservation Education Award went to Eric Hayes, of Keeping it Native Land Management, in Coolville, Ohio. New board Jared Lute of Lucasville, Ohio, began his term as board president at the conclusion of the meeting. Lute began logging for his family business when he was 10 years old. In addition to being a logger for over 25 years, he is a farmer growing hay and grain crops and raising beef cattle. Lute has a bachelors degree from Shawnee State University in education and a masters degree from the University of Dayton in educational leadership. He is currently president of the Southern Ohio Loggers Chapter, president of the Northwest Local School District, a volunteer firefighter for Morgan Township and a deacon at Temple Baptist Church in Portsmouth. Tree farm The Ohio Tree Farm Committee also held its annual meeting and awarded Chris Moser, of Moser Woods, in Bluffton, Ohio, the 2025 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. Moser will host a Tree Farm of the Year Tour on Sept. 6, which is open to the public. Tom Mills, of Findlay, received the 2025 Ohio Tree Farm Inspector of the Year award. The Ohio Forestry Association is a trade association that supports the management of Ohios forest resources and the strengthening of member business opportunities in the forest products industry and related enterprises. Learn more at ohioforest.org. A performance by the Farmers Choir in Aberdeenshire has raised over 56,000 in much-needed funds for Scottish agriculture charity RSABI. Compered by well-known farmer and comedian, Jim Smith, the 80-strong choir performed 18 well-known songs to a packed Thainstone Centre, in Inverurie. It culminated in a stirring rendition of Caledonia with a piper bringing the evening to a close. This takes the total raised for charity by the Farmers Choir - which is now in its eleventh anniversary this year to well over 200,000. During the past decade, the choir has supported rural initiatives and the Thainstone event was part of RSABIs #KeepTalking mental health campaign. The idea for the concert first came when Perthshire farmer David Mitchell and his wife Janie, a member of the choir, hatched a plan to raise funds for two charities close to their hearts. RSABIs chair, Jane Mitchell expressed her gratitude to everyone involved. We are thrilled with the result of this event," she said. "The support we received from the farming community, our sponsors, and all who attended is truly heart-warming. "The funds raised will go a long way in ensuring we can continue to provide our vital services to those in need. Mandy Stewart, who runs Stewart Trailers, said the Inverurie-based company had been delighted to support this year's event. The atmosphere on the night was superb and it was great to see so many people in the farming community relaxing and enjoying a catch-up, as well as the outstanding musical experience provided by the choir. It is a pleasure to be able to give back by supporting an event like this and playing our part in raising such an exceptional amount. All proceeds will go towards RSABIs services, including free, confidential support to the Scottish farming community. This includes free counselling services, delivered quickly after receiving the initial enquiry. The charity's support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 or through a confidential webchat service. Calls have been made for 'decisive action' against rural crime as farmers across the UK are currently 'under siege' by organised gangs and criminals. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and the government must do more to address this growing wave of rural crime, the NFU has said. Incidents of equipment theft, livestock worrying and fly-tipping was threatening the livelihoods of farmers, as well as food production, the union warned. As spring approaches and the farming calendar enters a busy period, there are fears that farmers will see an even further rise in rural crime levels. New figures from Defra show over a million incidents of fly-tipping in the past year a 6% rise highlighting the growing challenges rural areas face. There has also been a surge in machinery theft, fuel theft and hare coursing, incidents which are causing distress and financial losses for farmers. In April last year, the government announced its rural crime strategy to stamp out crime and disorder, something which farming groups have long called for. The strategy included tougher measures to crack down on criminal activities such as equipment theft, sheep worrying and fly-tipping. But the NFU said there needed to be more action, including increased funding for rural policing and dedicated rural crime teams. Greater use of technology, such as CCTV and vehicle trackers, could also prevent theft, according to the union. And stronger penalties and more consistent sentencing for rural crime offences, as well as better support for victims, would help stem incidents. NFU vice president, Rachel Hallos said the industry had been been calling for action for years, but "now we need real results". She warned: Farmers are bearing the brunt of rural crime: its not just an inconvenience its devastating for businesses, families, and the wider rural community. "The theft of essential equipment and livestock, relentless fly-tipping, and the growing menace of hare coursing leave farmers feeling vulnerable and unsupported. "And this is happening at a time when family farms are already under immense pressure from soaring input costs, extreme weather events, and the looming burden of the 'family farm tax'." The NFU said there needed to be more investment in rural policing, tougher penalties, and consistent sentencing for those who target rural communities. All of these recommendations were outlined in the governments own rural crime strategy, but the union said it was now time to "step up and deliver" these. The latest figures by NFU Mutual show that the cost of rural crime was 53 million in 2023, as thieves raided farms for expensive items such as tractor GPS units. The rural insurer's annual report, published in August, revealed that crime costs increased by over 2 million in 2023 compared to 2022. In a sign of the increasing organisation among criminals, GPS units were targeted by gangs, causing the value of claims to rocket by 137% to 4.2m. This isnt just about government the public has an important role to play too," Ms Hallos explained. "We urge people to take precautions when walking near livestock, ensure their dogs are under control, and report any suspicious activity they see. "By working together, we can help protect our countryside and those who work tirelessly to feed the nation. A Bedfordshire farmer paralysed after an accident seven years ago has new hope for the future after taking part in a breakthrough UK trial. Sarra Wilsons life changed in an instant in September 2018 after being thrown from her horse after it was spooked by a pheasant on the mixed arable farm. Despite wearing protection, Sarra broke her neck in the one-inch gap between the bottom of her hat and the top of her body protector, leaving her instantly paralysed from the chest down. Unable to reach her phone to call for help, she lay on the ground for over an hour before the alert was raised by a friends three-year-old daughter who found her. Herself a mum to three children, Sarra, 39, said. I was conscious the whole time but just couldnt move. It was the most surreal and frightening experience. After two months in hospital Sarra spent the next 16 months at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville, before returning to the family 500-acre farm at Houghton Conquest. She was one of 10 participants in a year-long pilot, funded by Spinal Research, that combined external spinal cord stimulation - where electrical pulses are delivered through the skin - with activity-based rehabilitation. During the trial, Sarra greatly improved her upper body strength, triceps function, core balance, hand grip and dexterity. I wanted to be able to drink a hot drink from a normal cup without a straw, to be on my own and able to have a cuppa, Sarra said, who runs the mixed farm with husband Adam. And thats what happened. Now I can now use a knife and fork and manage a plate and can use my computer however slowly which has made such a difference to my day-to-day life, to my independence and confidence. I dont know how much of that is from the spinal cord stimulation or the rehab but taking part in the trial has been truly life changing. Pathfinder2 was funded by Spinal Research, the UKs charity funding ground-breaking research to achieve a future where paralysis can be cured. All participants made significant improvements in their upper body strength, trunk control and balance while some saw major gains in hand grip and dexterity and lower body functions. Gains made did not plateau, even after a year, demonstrating the therapy offers long-term benefits. Pathfinder2 study chair, Tara Stewart said, however, that the therapy was not a silver bullet. "It works on spared spinal tissue so results will vary widely, and it does need to be paired with proper active rehabilitation over a consistent period of time. Even so, this is a game changing moment. Its now time to stop talking about spinal cord injury as being incurable and to stop telling people with this injury that nothing can be done. British farming needs a "180-degree, tyre-screeching reset" to help farmers produce "more from less" against a backdrop of increasing global uncertainty. This is according to former science minister George Freeman MP, who is now chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture. Speaking at Agri-TechEs Challenge Convention event, he said this was now even more urgent with the impact of climate change, war in Ukraine and geopolitical instability. He warned of mass migration and civil unrest if the world did meet the challenge of feeding a population of 10bn people by 2050, but on the same amount of land and using half as much water and energy. The Tory MP told scientific and industry leaders: When we are rapidly accelerating into a war-time economy, needing to find extra billions to fund defence, this is a massive reset moment, whether we wanted it or not." He said he welcomed the fact that the Labour government had made clear that food security was national security. But when it comes to agriculture, the rest of the world is moving quicker than us, and our slow response is all the more noticeable," he added. "UK wheat yields are continuing to flat-line, other countries agricultural productivity growth is outpacing ours, and our import reliance in key sectors such as veg, fruit and oils is at record highs. "The indicators are going the wrong way, not the right way," the MP for Mid Norfolk said at the Cambridge event. He noted that even the EU had cancelled its production-limiting Green Deal commitments, with a new Vision for Agriculture and Food recently launched. This sets out to safeguard and strengthen the blocs productive capacity, underlining the heightened risks of Europe taking its food security for granted. He also pointed to the US, which has set out its own high-level Agricultural Innovation Agenda, with a goal to increase food production by 40% by 2050, while halving its agricultures environmental footprint. The UK must adopt a similar, long-term objective to increase food production sustainably, Mr Freeman said. He warned that the orthodoxy being pursued by Defra, for example of de-intensifying agricultural production and re-wilding productive farmland, was "plain wrong". This is absolute madness, and it is up to us, the political class, the elected politicians, to set a new direction that is fit for the world we live in," Mr Freeman said. "This is not about criticising individual officials at Defra, but about recognising that the structure we have created, of very remote, top-down Whitehall policymaking, is increasingly disconnected from the reality on the ground. If we really are serious about food security, about food affordability, about sustainability... then there is no sector more important than British agriculture, he said. Mr Freeman explained this was his All-Party Group was calling for a policy reset to increase the UKs domestic food self-sufficiency from 60% to 75% over the next 25 years. This will mean increasing food production by 30% by 2050 while reducing farmings environmental footprint by 50% per unit of output, in terms of emissions, land use, water use and soil health, called the '30:50:50 vision' Our recommendations will be unveiled and presented to Ministers at an APPG Agri-Science Summit in the summer," he said. Nearly a third of calves in the UK experience bovine respiratory disease and subclinical pneumonia, according to new Royal Veterinary College research. It is hoped the findings will support vets in identifying the optimal techniques to use to precisely diagnose the condition, supporting bovine welfare. Around 1.4m dairy calves are born in the UK each year, yet bovine respiratory disease is one of the leading causes of disease in pre-weaned calves and is the main reason for antibiotic use in this population. However, diagnosis of the condition is challenging and has traditionally involved the assessment of clinical signs using scoring methods such as the Wisconsin Respiratory Score. This method identifies disease based on visible signs including cough, nasal or ocular discharge, ear position and temperature. However, more precise techniques for the diagnosis of disease are available, such as thoracic ultrasound, which can help to diagnose the condition with greater precision. As part of the new study, the research team at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) sought to combine both techniques to measure disease levels in UK dairy herds. This is the first study of its kind to explore the frequency of bovine respiratory disease using thoracic ultrasound in a large subset of English dairy herds. Researchers measured the occurrence of bovine respiratory disease in 476 calves born on 16 dairy farms located in south-west England. They performed a total of 3,344 weekly exams from birth until weaning, measuring the respiratory health of calves using both ultrasound and scoring techniques. The research revealed that the peak prevalence of lung consolidation, where air in the lungs is replaced by a solid, fluid or other material, occurred at 8 weeks of age, reaching 29%. It also found that subclinical pneumonia, the presence of lung consolidation without outward clinical signs, was common. At any week of age, up to 28.7% of calves were diagnosed with subclinical pneumonia, the RVC's research showed. These findings demonstrate that subclinical pneumonia was common in the UK population of dairy-born calves, but diagnosis could easily be missed if stakeholders only observed clinical signs. Clinical respiratory scoring will not identify all cases of bovine respiratory disease and thoracic ultrasound is an essential diagnostic technique which should be implemented by vets in clinical practice to support cattle welfare, it concluded. George Lindley, lead author said: The results of this study demonstrate that bovine respiratory disease, including lung consolidation identified via thoracic ultrasound, is common in pre-weaned calves born on UK dairy farms. "Whilst the disease has negative welfare consequences, affecting growth, survivability and future productivity, our research suggests that a significant proportion of calves may remain undiagnosed when assessed by clinical signs only. "Thoracic ultrasound is fast and relatively easy to perform and we hope that more widespread engagement will help to improve youngstock health and performance. Farmers from across Wales were in the Senedds public gallery to hear a debate on the UK governments proposed changes to inheritance tax. The debate called on the Welsh government to make representations to Westminster that it reconsiders and pauses the so-called family farm tax. Brought forward by Plaid Cymru, the debate on Wednesday (5 March) called for a thorough consultation and economic review of the policy. The change to agricultural property relief (APR) from April 2026 will see 100% relief from IHT restricted to the first 1m of combined agricultural and business property. Above this amount, landowners will pay up to 20% IHT, paid in instalments over 10 years, interest free, and a couple can pass on up to 3m free of inheritance tax. While decisions around inheritance tax policy are not devolved to Wales, NFU Cymru said it welcomed the airing of this issue in the Senedd. The union warned that the controversial measures, announced in the autumn budget, risked placing unsustainable tax liabilities on the backbone of Wales' food system. NFU Cymru president, Aled Jones said: "The UK government risks dismantling a vital sector and causing immense damage to our rural economy, communities as well as our Welsh language and culture." NFU Cymru's own independent analysis has shown that around 75% of commercial family farms would potentially be impacted by the tax change. It follows the publication of Wales' latest farm income figures, showing average annual income on an upland cattle and sheep farm to be just 22,200, and 23,000 for lowland cattle and sheep farms. Because of this, Mr Jones said the IHT policy would be completely unsustainable: "Family farming businesses are therefore, typically, asset rich but cash poor," he noted. "Without the reliefs currently in place these businesses - which are at the heart of rural communities - will face the invidious prospect of either having to sell all or part of the farm, or to take out borrowings to meet inheritance tax charges. In discussions with Welsh government, NFU Cymru has asked for a thorough examination of the impact of the inheritance tax changes on Welsh farming. The union has also urged the government to reassess the impact of its own current and future agricultural policies, namely the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). Mr Jones, who watched the debate from the Senedds public gallery alongside farmers, said: The fact that so many have journeyed to Cardiff, in the middle of the busy lambing period, reflects the significant level of concern. NFU Cymru has long advocated for policy decisions to be based on sound economic evidence and to support the long-term sustainability of our farming industry, and that remains our position." Ready-made garment (RMG) exports (Chapters 61 and 62) from Bangladesh increased by 10.64 per cent to $26.796 billion between July 2024 and February 2025, the first eight months of fiscal 202425 (JulyJune), according to provisional data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). This marks an increase from $24.219 billion during the same period in fiscal 202324. Knitted garment exports marginally outpaced woven garment exports in growth. During the first eight months of the current fiscal, exports of knitwear (Chapter 61) rose by 11.01 per cent to $14.340 billion, compared to $12.917 billion in the corresponding period of fiscal 202324. On the other hand, woven apparel exports (Chapter 62) increased by 10.22 per cent, totalling $12.456 billion, compared to $11.301 billion during the same period in the previous fiscal, according to EPB data. Bangladesh's RMG exports rose by 10.64 per cent to $26.796 billion in the first eight months of fiscal 202425 (FY25). Knitwear exports grew by 11.01 per cent, while woven apparel increased by 10.22 per cent. Home textile exports rose by 5.23 per cent. February 2025 RMG exports reached $3.244 billion. Revised data shows a 5.22 per cent decline in RMG exports to $36.151 billion in fiscal 202324. Home textile exports (Chapter 63, excluding 630510) experienced growth, increasing by 5.23 per cent to $577.99 million, compared to $549.25 million during the same period in the previous fiscal. Collectively, exports of woven and knitted apparel, clothing accessories, and home textiles constituted 83.09 per cent of Bangladeshs total exports, amounting to $32.942 billion for the period. Exports of cotton and cotton products, including yarn, waste, and fabrics (Chapter 52), rose by 11.30 per cent to $409.63 million during the period under review, compared to $368.03 million in the same period of the previous fiscal. In February 2025, ready-made garment exports reached $3.244 billion, a 1.66 per cent rise from $3.191 billion in the same month of the previous year. Knitwear garment exports rose by 3.77 per cent to $1.652 billion, but woven garment exports decreased by 0.44 per cent to $1.591 billion in the same month. The outbound shipment of home textiles (Chapter 63, excluding 630510) declined by 0.23 per cent to $84.13 million in February 2025. Exports of cotton and cotton products fell by 6.96 per cent to $40.24 million from $43.25 million. The new regime in Bangladesh had earlier revised export data downwards, according to which RMG exports from the country decreased by 5.22 per cent to $36.151 billion in fiscal 202324 (July 2023 to June 2024). According to the EPB, RMG exports in fiscal 202223 amounted to $38.142 billion, compared to the previously reported figure of $46.991 billion. RMG exports were recorded at $42.613 billion in fiscal 202122 and $31.456 billion in fiscal 202021. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Australian retail turnover increased by 0.3 per cent in January 2025, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), suggesting a gradual recovery post-holiday season. Clothing, footwear, and personal accessories rebounded by 2.0 per cent after a 1.7 per cent drop in December, likely driven by seasonal sales. Department stores showed stable growth at 0.6 per cent, indicating steady consumer demand. However, household goods retailing experienced a sharp 4.4 per cent decline, offsetting gains in other categories. Other retailing led the growth in January with a 2.4 per cent rise, reflecting strong demand for miscellaneous products, ABS said in a press release. Australian retail turnover rose 0.3 per cent in January 2025, signalling a gradual post-holiday recovery, according to the ABS. Clothing, footwear, and personal accessories rebounded 2.0 per cent, while department stores grew 0.6 per cent. Other retailing led at 2.4 per cent, but household goods fell 4.4 per cent. Growth was driven by food-related spending, with 2 regions lagging. While the pick-up in retail spending since mid-2024 has been boosted by more discretionary spending, this months rise is mostly driven by food-related spending, said Robert Ewing, head of business statistics at ABS. Retail turnover increased across most Australian states and territories, except for New South Wales (-0.3 per cent) and the Northern Territory, which remained largely unchanged. The total retail sector saw a -0.1 per cent decline in December 2024, and a 0.7 per cent rise in November 2024, indicating a fluctuating yet resilient retail landscape. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG) LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmlore in Bengaluru has been honoured as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious American Express One To Watch Award. Selected by the 50 Best team based on the votes of its Academy and specific editorial criteria, this award highlights dining establishments that showcase exceptional culinary talent, creativity and the potential to secure a spot in the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list over the coming years. Farmlore, an 18-seater dining experience on a 37-acre farm near Bengaluru, India, is the brainchild of chef Johnson Ebenezer and entrepreneur Kaushik Raju. The restaurant embodies a farm-to-table ethos, driven by seasonality, sustainability and local produce. Its name cleverly combines 'folklore' and 'locavore,' reflecting its dedication to celebrating regional ingredients and cultural narratives. William Drew, Director of Content for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "Amid the restaurants with a 'farm-to-table' philosophy, Farmlore stands apart with its immersive experience, nestled within an actual working farm. We congratulate chef Johnson and the teams behind the kitchens and farms at Farmlore, on this very well-earned accolade." The restaurant's menus, shaped by the freshest harvests from its farm, consistently highlight core themes, including a strong South Indian influence. Here they prioritise ethical, organic farming principles passed down through generations that also preserve soil health while creating nutrient-rich produce. The design harmonises with its natural surroundings, featuring earthy tones, open spaces and a minimalist aesthetic that fosters an intimate yet direct connection to nature. On winning, Chef Johnson says, "We are truly humbled to be recognised by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. This award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to doing things the right way while staying true to our values and prioritising ethics over expediency. It's also a testament to the younger generation of chefs who dare to stick to their strengths and roots." Farmlore will be further celebrated at the in-person awards ceremony held on 25 March 2025 in Seoul in collaboration with host destination partner, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The awards ceremony will be streamed live via the link here. The announcement of the list and individual awards can be followed via the 50 Best social media channels, with the livestream beginning at 20:00 Korea time. Media Centre: https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2634408/Asias_50_Best_Restaurants.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2618655/Asia_50_Best_2025_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/farmlore-in-bengaluru-is-unveiled-as-the-winner-of-the-american-express-one-to-watch-award-2025-as-part-of-asias-50-best-restaurants-302393202.html WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / March 5, 2025 / The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has published a new report exclusive from the MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project (CMSP) about Chinese media praising Chinese AI company DeepSeek. In January 2025, Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek released a chatbot that rocked the artificial intelligence market with its efficiency and capability, leading to a $593 billion loss in value for the American technology company Nvidia in a single day, the largest one-day loss for any company on Wall Street. In the aftermath, Chinese tech companies, commentators, professors, and the public have been celebrating what they view as a Chinese victory over American artificial intelligence capabilities. At a recent Provincial High-Quality Development Conference in China, Huang Kunming, the Chinese Comunist Party (CCP) Guangdong Party Secretary, made notable remarks about DeepSeek, the Chinese AI app that has shaken Silicon Valley and Wall Street over the past month. He stated: "DeepSeek, with the courage and vigor of one who fears not the tiger, is shaking up the American AI giants and creating ripple effects. Our country has already shown new signs of leading the trends of the era. Guangdong should especially strive to take the lead among the many fierce competitors. We must take proactive action, comprehensively optimize and upgrade our industrial system, break free from the mid-to-low-end sectors, seize strategic high ground, and secure victory in emerging fields." A Chinese-language article reporting on Kunming's comments said: "It is clear that the Chinese government sees DeepSeek as a direct challenger to leading U.S. AI platforms. More importantly, Beijing encourages its tech sector to emulate DeepSeek's perceived success as part of a broader effort to transition away from low-value manufacturing and position China as a peer competitor to the United States in cutting-edge industries." According to the report, "China has long employed a 'whole-of-society approach' in its competition with the U.S. - a comprehensive national strategy that integrates government, military, industry, academia, and civilians to advance its geopolitical, economic, and technological ambitions. This approach is deeply rooted in Military-Civil Fusion (MCF), state-controlled economic policies, and ideological mobilization, ensuring that China's long-term strategic goals remain aligned across all sectors. This systemic strategy poses a persistent challenge to the U.S., necessitating a multi-faceted response encompassing economic, military, and ideological countermeasures. However, Washington has often been caught off guard by Beijing's rapid advancements - the rise of DeepSeek is just the latest example." The following are a selection of exclusive content from the MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project (CMSP) showing commentators in China celebrating the release of DeepSeek and analyzing its implications for the Chinese-American technology competition. The full report and video are available here. Click here to subscribe to the MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project email list. ABOUT MEMRI CMSP The MEMRI CMSP monitors, translates, and analyzes primary source content from print and online Chinese media, videos from Chinese TV channels, schoolbooks, and official government documents and transcripts. It also translates speeches by a wide range of Chinese government and military officials, as well as statements by journalists from Chinese-language media, including social media. By doing so, it provides a greater and more nuanced understanding of China, its people, its Chinese Communist Party-led government, its ideology, and its regional and international aspirations. The CMSP is the only project carrying out this research. ABOUT MEMRI Exploring the Middle East and South Asia through their media, MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East and South Asia, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu-Pashtu, Dari, Turkish, Russian, and Chinese media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends. Founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. MEMRI's main office is in Washington, DC, with branch offices in various world capitals. MEMRI research is translated into English, French, Polish, Japanese, Spanish, and Hebrew. MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute: www.memri.org MEMRI TV - www.memri.org/tv Jihad & Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) - www.memri.org/jttm Cyber & Jihad Lab (CJL) - www.memri.org/cjlab MEMRI Twitter: https://twitter.com/memrireports/ MEMRI YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59Cpk70K2TwdmApJOTuW9g/videos MEMRI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memrireports/ Contact Information: MEMRI media@memri.org 202-955-9070 www.memri.org SOURCE: Middle East Media Research Institute Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie. Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht. In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! New Industry Solution Marks Major Milestone Following Renesas' Acquisition of Altium, Ushering in New Era of Electronics System Development Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, and Altium, a global leader in electronics design software, proudly announce the introduction of Renesas 365, Powered by Altium, a first-of-its-kind industry solution designed to streamline electronics system development from silicon selection to system lifecycle management. This transformative solution will be demonstrated at embedded world, Booth 5-371, March 11-13, in Nuremberg, Germany, and is expected to be available in early 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306334305/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) This introduction marks a pivotal moment following Renesas' acquisition of Altium, underscoring the transformative potential of their combined expertise. Built on the Altium 365 platform, Renesas 365, Powered by Altium,eliminates inefficiencies, connects teams, enables solution discovery, and ensures digital continuity-accelerating development and empowering engineers to build better, smarter products. Pioneering the Future of Electronics Systems Innovation Renesas 365 will tackle longstanding industry challenges. Embedded system development often suffers from manual component searches, fragmented documentation, and siloed teams. Renesas 365 addresses these challenges by connecting Altium's advanced cloud platform with Renesas' comprehensive embedded compute, analog connectivity, and power portfolio. By integrating hardware, software, and lifecycle data into a single digital environment, it will streamline workflows, accelerate time to market, ensure digital traceability and real-time insights, and improve decision-making from concept to deployment. "The introduction of Renesas 365 is a major milestone toward Renesas' Digitalization vision. We envision making electronics design accessible to broader market to allow more innovation by creating an Electronics System Design and Lifecycle Management platform together with Altium," said Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO of Renesas. "Renesas' expertise in embedded semiconductor solutions and Altium's leadership in electronics design and collaboration will enable a first-of-its-kind solution. Renesas 365 transforms how intelligent, connected electronic systems are designed, developed, and sustained." Five Integrated Pillars Renesas 365 is built on five interconnected solution pillars, ensuring seamless system-level integration and continuous digital context throughout the product lifecycle: Silicon - Serving as the foundation for modern electronic solutions, Renesas 365 ensures that every silicon component is application-ready and optimized for software-defined products. Whether for ultra-low-power IoT devices or demanding AI-driven applications, Renesas 365 delivers silicon that seamlessly integrates with the broader system. - Serving as the foundation for modern electronic solutions, Renesas 365 ensures that every silicon component is application-ready and optimized for software-defined products. Whether for ultra-low-power IoT devices or demanding AI-driven applications, Renesas 365 delivers silicon that seamlessly integrates with the broader system. Discover Powered by Altium, Discover enables engineers to find not just components but complete solutions from Renesas' comprehensive portfolio for faster and more accurate system design. Powered by Altium, Discover enables engineers to find not just components but complete solutions from Renesas' comprehensive portfolio for faster and more accurate system design. Develop Powered by Altium, Develop provides a multidisciplinary cloud-based development environment, ensuring real-time collaboration across hardware, software, and mechanical teams. Powered by Altium, Develop provides a multidisciplinary cloud-based development environment, ensuring real-time collaboration across hardware, software, and mechanical teams. Lifecycle Powered by Altium, Lifecycle establishes persistent digital traceability, enabling seamless over-the-air (OTA) updates and ensuring compliance and security from concept to deployment. Powered by Altium, Lifecycle establishes persistent digital traceability, enabling seamless over-the-air (OTA) updates and ensuring compliance and security from concept to deployment. Software Provides AI-ready development tools to ensure software-defined systems are optimized for modern applications. Addressing the Next Generation of Electronics Renesas 365 is designed for the next generation of electronics innovation, aligning with emerging industry trends by providing a unified software framework for software-defined systems spanning low- to high-compute performance; AI-ready development tools that enable real-time, low-power AI inference at the edge; and advanced security, compliance tracking, and automated OTA updates to ensure secure lifecycle management. Setting a New Industry Standard: Connecting Silicon to Systems Renesas 365 is more than a technological advancement-it is the next step in the digital transformation of electronics, bridging the gap between silicon and system development. By ensuring seamless collaboration, real-time decision-making, and persistent system context, Renesas and Altium will redefine how electronics systems are designed, developed, and sustained-from silicon selection to full system realization-in a connected world. Experience the Power of Renesas 365 at embedded world At embedded world, Renesas will bring Renesas 365 to life with a dynamic live demo, showcasing its power as a unified industry solution for modern electronics development. This seamless, cloud-connected platform enables engineers to move effortlessly from concept to prototype to fleet management. Attendees will experience firsthand how Renesas 365 streamlines the design process, from silicon selection to embedded software development to Edge AI and over-the-air updates. The platform's seamless integration ensures that existing workflows remain uninterrupted, supporting everything from custom AI models to advanced RTOS implementations like PX5 RTOS, helping to bridge the software gap between MCU and MPU worlds. For more information on Renesas 365, visit: renesas.com/renesas365. The Renesas 365 website hosts helpful information to provide a deeper understanding of the solution. See Renesas 365 at embedded world 2025, March 11-13, in Nuremberg, Germany. Renesas and Altium will also feature additional product innovations at their respective booths. Renesas 365: Booth 5-371 Dedicated to the Renesas 365 solution, Booth 5-371 will feature live Renesas 365 presentations and interactive demonstrations. Renesas: Booth 1-234 Showcasing products across Renesas' comprehensive portfolio of leading-edge semiconductor solutions with presentations, demos, and customer meetings. Altium: Booth 4-305 Featuring its industry-leading solutions designed to support businesses of all sizes, all stakeholders, and all applications across the Altium ecosystem. About Renesas Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) empowers a safer, smarter and more sustainable future where technology helps make our lives easier. A leading global provider of microcontrollers, Renesas combines our expertise in embedded processing, analog, power and connectivity to deliver complete semiconductor solutions. These Winning Combinations accelerate time to market for automotive, industrial, infrastructure and IoT applications, enabling billions of connected, intelligent devices that enhance the way people work and live. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram. About Altium Altium Limited, a part of the Renesas Group and headquartered in San Diego, California, is a global software company accelerating the pace of electronics innovation. Altium delivers digital solutions that maximize productivity in electronics design, connect all stakeholders throughout the creation process, provide seamless access to component sources and intelligence, and manage the entire electronics lifecycle. The Altium ecosystem speeds the realization of electronics-based products across multiple industries and every size company. Learn more at altium.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. (Remarks). All names of products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306334305/en/ Contacts: Media Contacts: Renesas Name: Akiko Ishiyama Phone: 408-887-9006 Email: pr@renesas.com Altium Name: Christina Murphy Phone: 941-780-3845 Email: Christina.murphy@altium.com or pr@altium.com Barcelona, Spain--(Newsfile Corp. - March 5, 2025) - On March 4, 2025, the 2025 Global WLAN Industry Forum had been held in Barcelona, Spain. Under the theme "Performance Defines Excellence, The Path to Premium WLAN," the forum gathered over 100 industry leaders, technical experts, and corporate representatives from more than 15 countries and regions. The discussions delved into the critical role of WLAN performance certification, emerging trends in technological innovations, and multi-scenario applications. Image 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/243519_facde3c274e8c892_001full.jpg During the forum, WAA released a new testbed and introduced an additional authorized testing laboratory, further accelerating the international implementation of performance certification. Moreover, WAA, in collaboration with key industry representatives launched the "Joint Initiative to Enhance the Global WLAN Performance and Experience." This initiative aims to drive the development of high-quality WLAN network, setting new benchmarks for performance and user experience worldwide. Exploring New Opportunities for WLAN Performance Enhancement ZHANG Ping, Chair of the WAA, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, opened the forum by highlighting WLAN's foundational role in global internet connectivity. As WLAN technology rapidly penetrates vertical industries, optimizing WLAN performance and user experience has become increasingly crucial. WAA plan to launch new testing and certification initiatives in 2025, extending its efforts. He called on all WLAN industry stakeholders to unite, leveraging technological advancements to enhance WLAN performance and meet the growing demands of users. Dr. Jim Lansford, Chair of the IEEE 802.11 Wireless Next Generation Standing Committee, reflected on the evolution of the IEEE 802.11 standards, highlighting the shift of WLAN networks from "meeting basic functionality" to "intelligent optimization of user experience." He introduced the Intelligent Wireless Control imitative, underscoring the transformative potential of AI and machine learning in optimizing WLAN performance. ZHU Gang, Deputy Director-General of the Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation at China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, emphasized the synergy potential of 5G and WLAN, which creates a "1+1>2" effect. He outlined Chinese strategic policies and real-world applications, advocating for global collaboration in technology development and open knowledge sharing to bridge the digital divide and foster inclusive digital growth. ZHOU Jing, General Manager of Market Development at China Mobile (Hangzhou) Information Technology Co., Ltd., introduced integrated "Gigabit + Wi-Fi + Scenario-Based Applications" solutions, emphasizing the importance of user-centric experiences and will actively promote the implementation of WAA experience standards. He expressed the interests from China Mobile on collaboration with WAA on future projects such as sensing-communication integration, intelligent perception, and AI-powered networks, further advancing next-generation home campuses application and emerging technologies. Zsolt Pesze, Managing Director/Country Manager at TUV Rheinland Intercert, emphasized the role of standardized testing and certification in enhancing WLAN performance consistency and reliability. He notes that as an authorized laboratory of WAA, TUV Rheinland will leverage its global testing infrastructure to support the international adoption of WAA certifications. Exploring New Directions for Industry Development Frank Effenberger, Q2 Rapporteur at ITU-T, shared how Fiber-to-the-Room (FTTR) technology achieves high-speed, low-latency coverage for entire homes. Combining intelligent FTTR with AI dynamic bandwidth scheduling optimizes network performance, shifting the focus from "best-effort service" to "deterministic experience", FTTR+AI builds the technical foundation of WLAN7+, This innovation is set to create an integrated, intelligent ecosystem for the WLAN industry. Industrial communications experts Dr. Andre Perdigao and Francis Miao, from a joint innovation team of Instituto de Telecomunicacoes, Visabeira Group, and Huawei, shared the topic of 'WLAN & TSN Performance Test Introduction in Factory Manufacturing Scenario'. The study demonstrated that Wi-Fi 7 combined with TSN technology enables seamless roaming, traffic-priority scheduling, and efficient communication between devices with lower latency, higher throughput, and high reliability. Wi-Fi 7 combined with TSN technology shows great potential to influence the Industry 4.0 revolution. Tiago Rodrigues, President and CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), introduced OpenRoaming technology, which leverages cloud federation mechanisms, automated connections, and enhanced security protocols to enable seamless roaming in dynamic environments such as airports, shopping malls, and smart cities. OpenRoaming addresses issues like Wi-Fi fragmentation, insecurity, and difficult handovers, significantly improving user experience and promoting the integration of Wi-Fi and 5G applications. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243519 SOURCE: Global News PitchBook, the premier data provider for the private and public equity markets, has released its annual US and European All In reports on female founders in the venture capital (VC) ecosystem. These reports examine how female founders and investors are performing within the broader VC industry and take a closer look at investments across stages and geographical regions, exit activity, industry trends, unicorn companies, and more. The US report is published with support from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati, Fidelity, and Flourish Ventures. The Europe report is published with support from Enterprise Ireland. The VC ecosystem faced challenges in 2024 due to economic uncertainty and sociopolitical changes. The lack of meaningful exits impacted VC fundraising and slowed deal activity. Similarly, female founders grappled with obstacles, resulting in a decline in VC deal activity across the US and Europe. However, like the broader VC industry, there were bright spots for female founders. Exit activity made gains in 2024 across both regions. As a proportion of total VC exit activity, female-founded companies represented 24.3 percent in the US, and 21.5 percent in Europe-a year-over-year increase for both. In the US, female founders outpaced funding from the prior year by 27 percent, securing over $38 billion in deal value in 2024. In Europe, for the fourth year in a row, female founders collectively raised 10 billion across nearly 2,000 VC transactions. While VC deal value grew for both regions in 2024, deal count dropped 13 percent in the US and 26 percent in Europe, highlighting a shift toward fewer but larger transactions. Angel investors saw a tough year as well with US investment participation dropping to its lowest level in over a decade and European participation dropping to its lowest level since 2018. General partner (GP) decision-making roles continue to be male dominated, with the number of women in these positions remaining largely unchanged from previous years. To download the full US report, click here. To download the full Europe report, click here. "The VC industry is still trying to find solid footing after its peak in 2021. While some progress was made for female founders in 2024, particularly in exit activity, female founders and investors still face an uphill climb," said Annemarie Donegan, senior research analyst at PitchBook. "Representation for female decision-makers at the GP level remains an area for improvement, with little change year over year. Increasing female representation in check-writing roles could help drive investment in female-founded startups by expanding access and opportunity for founders who may otherwise be overlooked." The methodology in this report follows previous research where PitchBook analyzed investment activity in US- and Europe-based VC-backed startups with at least one female founder. The reports also include spotlights on all-female founding teams, female angel investors and GPs, and breaks down funding activity within specific industries, US regions, and European countries. PitchBook tracks female founder data throughout the year in their US Female Founder and Europe Female Founder data dashboards. US Key Takeaways: Female founders received larger but fewer checks in 2024 US VC deal value to female-founded companies increased 27 percent year-over-year from $30.6 billion in 2023 to over $38 billion in 2024. Female founder's share of total US VC deal value, which is typically more volatile and driven by market effects, declined from 20.8 percent in 2023 to 19.9 percent in 2024. The share of total US VC deal counts for female founders declined for the third year in a row to its lowest level since 2018 a 13 percent decline from 2023. Valuations for female founders are growing Female-founded company valuations rose across all stages in 2024 alongside broader US activity. For late-stage VC, post-valuations for female-founded companies grew to $60.7 million from 2023's $55.1 million. Female-founded companies maintain a historically lower VC burn rate compared to the broader US category (VC burn rate difference in capital raised and number of months between rounds). Unicorn growth and exit activity are picking up steam Exit count ticked upwards in 2024 for female founders with 10 more company exits than in 2023. However, exit values dropped from $25.3 billion in 2023 to $20.1 billion in 2024. More female-founded companies reached unicorn status (post-money valuation of at least $1 billion) in 2024 compared to the year prior, reaching 43 unicorn's total. B2B software firms maintain an outsized presence on the list of highest-valued female-founded companies. Decision-makers and angel investors have room to grow Female representation in check-writing roles remains under 20 percent. Women make up 17 percent of VC decision makers (partners, principals, and managing directors) at firms with at least $50 million in AUM, and 19 percent at smaller firms with AUMs under $50 million. The number of global female angel investors active in the US market dropped to its lowest level in over a decade with a 31 percent decrease year over year. European Key Takeaways: Total capital invested remains strong but deal count declines European female founders raised more than 10 billion in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of reaching this milestone. While total capital invested remained strong, the number of deals declined materially by 26 percent, highlighting a shift toward fewer but larger transactions. Female founders faced valuation setbacks in the early stage but gained momentum in later stages At the early stage, founders faced challenges as investor risk tolerance tightened with deal count decreasing by 45 percent and female founders seeing more drastic valuation declines. Late-stage and venture-growth companies experienced substantial increases in valuations, with female-founded companies holding some of their strongest positions in years. Across venture-growth companies, valuations grew from 19.9 million in 2023 to 28.9 million in 2024. Representation in investor roles presents an additional hurdle Women represent just 15 percent of decision-makers at VC firms with over 50 million in AUM and less at smaller firms. The number of active female angel investors declined by 40 percent, contributing to a slowdown in deals backed by women on both sides of the table. Exit momentum is a positive signal As overall European VC exit markets experienced a recovery in 2024, female-founded companies made material exit gains, with transaction count and cumulative value achieving double-digit growth year over year. Female founders secured a larger portion of overall activity throughout the year as well, with their share of exit value and count rising by 2.7 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305135954/en/ Contacts: PR@pitchbook.com Rio Tinto has completed its acquisition of Arcadium Lithium plc ("Arcadium Lithium") (NYSE: ALTM) (ASX: LTM) for $6.7 billion, following the sanctioning of the Scheme of Arrangement by the Royal Court of Jersey on 5 March. Rio Tinto is now the ultimate parent company of Arcadium Lithium, which will become Rio Tinto Lithium, and will also include the Rincon lithium project. The acquisition establishes Rio Tinto as a global leader in the supply of energy transition materials and as a major lithium producer, with one of the world's largest lithium resource bases. Rio Tinto Lithium aims to grow the capacity of its Tier 1 assets to over 200 thousand tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2028. Complementary technologies and geographies offer compelling value driven by accelerating volume growth in a rising market, projecting significantly higher EBITDA and operating cash flow in the coming years. Rio Tinto Chief Executive Officer Jakob Stausholm said: "Today we are delighted to welcome the employees of Arcadium to Rio Tinto. Together, we are accelerating our efforts to source, mine and produce minerals needed for the energy transition. By combining Rio Tinto's scale, financial strength, operational and project development experience with Arcadium's Tier 1 assets, technical and commercial capabilities, we are creating a world-class lithium business which sits alongside our leading iron ore, aluminium and copper operations. "We believe we are well-positioned to deliver the materials needed for the energy transition while maintaining our focus on respecting local communities, minimising environmental impacts and delivering value for shareholders and other stakeholders." Arcadium Lithium shareholders will receive total cash consideration of $5.85 for each share held at the scheme record date. Rio Tinto will fund the acquisition by drawing on its existing bridge loan facility, which it plans to replace with long-term debt financing. In connection with the completion of the transaction, Arcadium Lithium's shares, and CHESS Depositary Receipts (CDIs) will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), respectively. Forward Looking Statements This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Transaction, and other information published by Arcadium Lithium, Rio Tinto or any member of the Rio Tinto Group contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and on numerous assumptions regarding the business strategies and the environment in which Rio Tinto, any member of the Rio Tinto Group or the enlarged group following the Transaction ("Enlarged Group") shall operate in the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. The forward looking statements contained in this announcement relate to Rio Tinto, any member of the Rio Tinto Group or the Enlarged Group's future prospects, developments and business strategies, the ability to fully realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, and other statements other than historical facts. In some cases, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "will look to", "shall look to", "would look to", "plans", "prepares", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected to", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "synergy", "strategy", "goal", "cost-saving", "projects" "intends", "may", "will", "shall", or "should" or their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and should be considered in light of various important factors, such as those set forth in Rio Tinto's filings with the SEC, including Rio Tinto's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024, and Rio Tinto's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on February 20, 2025. Neither Arcadium Lithium or any of Rio Tinto or any member of the Rio Tinto Group, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in this announcement shall actually occur. Given these risks and uncertainties, potential investors should not place any reliance on forward looking statements. Specifically, statements of estimated cost savings and synergies relate to future actions and circumstances which, by their nature involve, risks, uncertainties and contingencies. As a result, the cost savings and synergies referred to may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated. Due to the scale of the Enlarged Group, there may be additional changes to the Enlarged Group's operations. As a result and given the fact that the changes relate to the future, the resulting cost synergies may be materially greater or less than those estimated. The forward looking statements speak only at the date of this announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward looking statements attributable to any member of the Rio Tinto Group or Arcadium Lithium Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. Arcadium Lithium, the Rio Tinto Group and Rio Tinto expressly disclaim any obligation to update such statements other than as required by law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Notice to ASX/LSE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305025109/en/ Contacts: Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com Media Relations, United Kingdom David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322 Rachel Pupazzoni M +61 438 875 469 Media Relations, Canada Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152 Media Relations, US Jesse Riseborough M +1 202 394 9480 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Rachel Arellano M: +44 7584 609 644 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Laura Brooks M +44 7826 942 797 Weiwei Hu M +44 7825 907 230 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Andy Hodges, Rio Tinto's Group Company Secretary. riotinto.com Category: General Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC) (TRADEGATE: 9SC) ("Manganese X" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that following the closing of its $2,100,000 offering (the "Offering") of 60,000,000 subscription receipts (each, a "Subscription Receipt"), at a price of $0.035 per Subscription Receipt, on January 28, 2025, the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined below) related to the Subscription Receipts have been satisfied. This has resulted in (i) the Subscription Receipts being automatically converted into units of the Company (the "Units"), and (ii) the Escrowed Funds (as defined below) being released to the Company. In connection with the Offering, 57,142,857 Subscription Receipts were issued to 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially controlled by Eric Sprott, for gross proceeds of $2,000,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of a share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant (a "Warrant") entitles the holder to purchase one additional Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.06 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance. The gross proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts, together with any interest earned thereon, (the "Escrowed Funds"), were placed into escrow on January 28, 2025 and have now been released to the Company, following the satisfaction of the escrow release conditions (collectively, the "Escrow Release Conditions"). This included, among other things, the Company having obtained the requisite approval of its shareholders and the TSX Venture Exchange to authorize Eric Sprott to become a "Control Person" (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) of the Company, upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts. The Company secured shareholder approval during its annual and special meeting held on February 28, 2025. All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the issuance date of the Subscription Receipts, as required under applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Use of Proceeds The proceeds from the Offering are expected to support the advancement of the Company's Battery Hill Project in New Brunswick, including the completion of a pre-feasibility study, with a portion allocated to general working capital. The Company confirms that no proceeds from the Offering will be used for payments to non-arm's length parties or investor relations activities. About Manganese X Energy Corp. Manganese X's mission is to advance its Battery Hill project into production, thereby becoming the first public actively traded manganese mining company in Canada and US to commercialize EV compliant high purity manganese, potentially supplying the North American supply chain. The Company intends on supplying value-added materials to the lithium-ion battery and other alternative energy industries, as well as striving to achieve new carbon-friendly more efficient methodologies, while processing manganese at a lower competitive cost. For more information visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors of MANGANESE X ENERGY CORP. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of Manganese X, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to the expected use of proceeds of the Offering, and the Company's goals and plans for 2025, including, among other items, its PFS. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Manganese X, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filings on SEDAR+, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Manganese X does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. // THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT INTENDED FOR RELEASE OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES // To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243488 SOURCE: Manganese X Energy Corp. Kardex Holding AG / Key word(s): Annual Results Kardex Holding AG: Financial Results 2024 06-March-2025 / 06:30 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media Information - Financial Results 2024 Zurich, 06 March 2025 Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Financial Results 2024 Bookings increased by 17.4%, driven by higher demand in the standardized system business Net revenues increased by 12.6%, with marked improvements in all business segments EBIT increased by 14.6% and reached a new record level with EUR 98.4 million Free cash flow increased to EUR 90.7 million mainly due to higher net profit and lower net working capital The reporting year was characterized by continued positive demand dynamics for Kardex' intralogistics solutions, which - combined with Kardex' strong market position - led to good results. Although the economic slowdown continued in various industries, Kardex experienced an increase in the willingness to invest in Standardized Systems while some hesitation to invest in Automated Products was observed in the second half of the year. The gross profit margin improved due to normalized material costs, partially offset by higher salaries and IT expenses. Driven by the strong order backlog at the beginning of the year, net revenues increased, and profitability remained robust in the upper half of the financial targets range. Demand for Kardex' intralogistics solutions remained strong in the reporting year across many business sectors and market regions. This is reflected in bookings, which rose by a further 17.4% from the previous year's result to a new record of EUR 791.2 million. Bookings in New Business increased by 19.7%, while bookings in Life Cycle Services rose by 11.7%. At the end of the reporting period, the order backlog stood at EUR 475.5 million, matching the good level of the previous year (EUR 475.9 million) but with a shift from Automated Products to Standardized Systems. In terms of New Business, Kardex Remstar saw a weakening of demand in Europe and a slight slowdown in the US, while the Asia-Pacific region continued to grow. At Kardex Mlog, the order lead time was noticeably reduced, particularly from the second quarter onwards. Also Kardex AS Solutions developed very well throughout the year and bookings more than doubled overall. Thanks to the high level of bookings and the continuous processing of the substantial order backlog at Kardex Remstar, combined with well-performing Life Cycle Services, net revenues amounted to EUR 791.2 million. This is not only 12.6% more than in the previous year, but also the highest net revenue ever achieved. New Business contributed 73.8% (74.2%) to net revenues, while Life Cycle Services accounted for 26.2% (25.8%). On Group level, higher personnel and IT costs were more than offset by normalized material costs and efficiency gains. As a result, gross profit increased by 17.3% to EUR 276.8 million. Although operating costs increased due to investments in R&D, IT, and Marketing, EBIT rose by 14.6% to EUR 98.4 million, resulting in an EBIT margin of 12.4% (12.2%). This remains at the upper middle range of Kardex' financial targets of 10-14%. Net profit amounted to EUR 80.8 million, compared with EUR 66.9 million in the previous year. At the year's end, Kardex employed 2'678 FTEs, up 11.7% over last year. Automated Products increased net revenues to a new record level This reporting segment consists exclusively of Kardex Remstar. Demand for Kardex Remstar's intralogistics-solutions was slightly below the strong previous year. Especially in the second half of the year, some hesitation to invest was observed. Overall, bookings in this reporting segment totaled EUR 515.5 million, down 2.3% from the prior year. New Business and Life Cycle Services developed in opposite directions, with New Business bookings 8.2% below the prior-year period but Life Cycle Services up significantly by 11.9%, reflecting Kardex Remstar's growing installed base in the market. Net revenues rose by 5.0% to EUR 557.1 million, a new record. The significant share of 30.5% of net revenues generated by Life Cycle Services positively impacted the operating result. Efficiency gains and normalized material costs offset rising personnel and IT costs. As a result, EBIT increased by 9.8% to EUR 90.0 million, resulting in an EBIT margin of 16.2%. The order backlog at the end of the period amounted to EUR 271.7 million, 13.4% below the high level of the previous year. Standardized Systems achieved significant growth in bookings The Standardized Systems reporting segment, comprising the business units Kardex Mlog and Kardex AS Solutions, achieved good results in a challenging market environment. Bookings in the reporting segment totaled EUR 276.0 million, a substantial increase of 88.4% compared to the previous year. Bookings at Kardex Mlog rose sharply by 62.6% to EUR 128.3 million, driven by higher demand and the decision-making process for larger projects has decreased significantly in the course of the year. Demand for AutoStore systems remained exceptionally strong, and bookings at Kardex AS Solutions rose by 118.9% to EUR 148.0 million. Net revenues in the reporting segment amounted to EUR 234.4 million, an increase of 36.0%. While Kardex Mlog's net revenue fell slightly by 8.1% to EUR 104.2 million, Kardex AS Solutions grew strongly by 120.6% to EUR 130.4 million. Kardex Mlog and Kardex AS Solutions are increasingly benefiting from sales, service, and cost synergies, which contributed to an increase in the EBIT margin in the Standardized Systems reporting segment by 6.1% to EUR 14.4 million, corresponding to a gross profit margin of 22.6% (20.3%). With a strong order backlog of EUR 203.8 million, 25.6% more than a year ago, and a well-filled sales funnel, both divisions expect a solid start to the new financial year. Increased free cash flow and net profit The free cash flow was driven by a strong result for the period and further boosted by a reduced net working capital, reaching new heights at EUR 90.7 million (EUR 46.2 million). In addition to the strong operating result, the result for the period was also positively influenced by interest and investment income and a somewhat lower tax rate. Despite a substantial dividend payment, the cash position increased significantly once again and equity and the equity ratio rose considerably. ROIC remains with 36.1% (37.6%) at a high level. Organizational changes at Kardex Remstar Urs Siegenthaler retired from his role as Head of Division Remstar as planned at the end of 2024. In 2025, he will stay with Kardex in a reduced capacity to support the transition. The Board of Directors and the whole Kardex team thank him for his great contribution over the last 14 years. As part of creating a new route for growth, Kardex is streamlining the Company's management by simultaneously shifting more responsibility to the front-line regions. Kardex Remstar will be managed in future directly by the Group CEO, Jens Hardenacke. Proposals to the Annual General Meeting In line with the dividend policy of distributing up to 75% of the net profit and taking into account future higher investments for ERP systems and factory infrastructures, the Board of Directors will propose a dividend of CHF 6.00 (CHF 5.00) to the Annual General Meeting on 24 April 2025. Furthermore, all current members of the Board of Directors are standing for reelection. Outlook The Board of Directors and Group Management remain confident that the demand to invest in intralogistics solutions will continue. Reshoring, labor shortages, and automation remain key growth drivers and Kardex is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends. Kardex plans to invest heavilly in the next two years into its sales organization, marketing, R&D, and IT infrastructure in order to benefit overproportionally from these trends. However, the large installed base provides a solid foundation for further profitable growth. Updated financial targets over the cycle Kardex intends to further accelerate its growth. The Company plans to cross the EUR 1.5 billion net revenue threshold by 2029-2031, while maintaining its profitability targets for the Group (EBIT margin between 10-14% over the cycle) with an EBIT margin target for Automated Products of 14-17% and Standardized Systems of 5-8%. in EUR million 01.01. - 31.12. 2024 (%) 2023 (%) (+/-%) Bookings 791.2 100.0% 673.9 95.9% 17.4% Order backlog (31.12.) 475.5 60.1% 475.9 67.7% -0.1% Net revenues 791.2 100.0% 702.9 100.0% 12.6% Gross profit 276.8 35.0% 235.9 33.6% 17.3% OPEX 178.4 22.5% 150.0 21.3% 18.9% EBITDA 112.1 14.2% 99.3 14.1% 12.9% Operating result (EBIT) 98.4 12.4% 85.9 12.2% 14.6% Result for the period (net profit) 80.8 10.2% 66.9 9.5% 20.8% Free cash flow 90.7 46.2 96.3% ROIC 36.1% 37.6% 31.12.2024 (%) 31.12.2023 (%) (+/-%) Net working capital 88.8 102.2 -13.1% Net cash1 173.3 119.6 44.9% Equity/Equity ratio 284.9 57.7% 240.1 56.9% 18.7% Employees (FTE) 2'678 2'397 11.7% 2024 (%) 2023 (%) (+/-%) Distribution per share (CHF)2 6.00 5.00 20.0% 1 Definition according Alternative Performance Measures (APM) see note 1 of the consolidated financial statements. 2 2024: Distribution of a dividend as proposed to the Annual General Meeting to be held on 24 April 2025. Annual Report A PDF version of the Annual Report 2024 of Kardex is available on our website . Contact for media and investors Alexandre Muller; investor-relations@kardex.com Mobile: +41 (0)79 635 64 13 Agenda 24 April 2025 Annual General Meeting 2025 SIX ConventionPoint, Zurich, Switzerland 31 July 2025 Publication Interim Report 2025 Conference Call for Media and Analysts 12 March 2026 Publication Annual Report 2025 Conference Call for Media and Analysts 30 April 2026 Annual General Meeting 2026 SIX ConventionPoint, Zurich, Switzerland 30 July 2026 Publication Interim Report 2026 Conference Call for Media and Analysts Kardex Corporate Profile Kardex is a global industry partner for intralogistics solutions and a leading supplier of automated storage solutions and material handling systems. The Group consists of two entrepreneurially managed divisions, Kardex Remstar and Kardex Mlog. Kardex Remstar develops, produces, and maintains dynamic storage and retrieval systems and Kardex Mlog offers integrated materials handling systems and automated high-bay warehouses. Kardex also acts as a global AutoStore partner. The two business units are partners for their customers over the entire lifecycle of a product or solution. This begins with an assessment of customer requirements and continues via the planning, realization, and implementation of customer-specific systems through to ensuring a high level of availability and low lifecycle costs by means of customer-oriented lifecycle management. Around 2'700 employees in over 30 countries work for Kardex. Kardex Holding AG is listed on the Swiss SIX Stock Exchange since 1989. Disclaimer This communication contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". In this communication, such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to our financial condition, results of operations and business and certain of our strategic plans and objectives. Because these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual future results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors which are beyond Kardex's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behavior of other market participants, the actions of governmental regulators and other risk factors detailed in Kardex's past and future filings and reports and in past and future filings, press releases, reports and other information posted on Kardex companies' websites. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only of the date of this communication. Kardex disclaims any intention or obligation to update and revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Privacy policy You have registered with us for our ad hoc announcements and are therefore entered in Kardex Holding AG's list of recipients and regularly receive price-sensitive or current information about our company. The protection of your personal data is very important to us and we implement this throughout the entire life cycle of personal data in compliance with the applicable data protection regulations. You can find further information about data protection on our website under Privacy Statement . Recipients of our communications have the option at any time of revoking their registration for ad hoc communications for the future or requesting information from Kardex Holding AG about their own personal data that has been processed or their deletion. Please send us an e-mail to investor-relations@kardex.com . Additional features: File: Kardex Media information YEC 2024 End of Inside Information Foreign firms sanguine on Chinese market 13:29, March 06, 2025 By Zhong Nan ( China Daily Foreign companies remain steadfast in expanding their presence in the Chinese market, driven by the country's economic vitality and an increasingly optimized business environment that bolsters their confidence, business executives said on Wednesday. Despite rising geopolitical tensions and the surge of protectionism, they noted that China's efficient industrial and supply chains, coupled with its evolving innovation ecosystem, will provide a solid foundation for multinational corporations to invest and grow in the years ahead. China will better open internet-related, cultural and other sectors in a well-regulated way and expand trials to open sectors such as telecommunications, medical services and education, according to a government work report submitted on Wednesday to the national legislature for deliberation. Premier Li Qiang, who delivered the report at the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, pledged that the country will encourage foreign investors to increase their reinvestment in China and support them in collaborating with upstream and downstream enterprises in industrial chains. China will ensure national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises in fields such as access to production factors, license applications, standards setting and government procurement, said Li. Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, said the chamber's members believe that full implementation of recent measures aimed at optimizing the business environment is still the best way to boost confidence in the Chinese market. The two sessions this year therefore represent an opportunity for China's leadership to communicate clear expectations to local authorities in the form of implementation timelines for the 2025 Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment, said Eskelund. China issued the action plan in February, aiming to stabilize foreign investment this year. As part of the plan, the country will support pilot regions in implementing opening-up policies related to areas such as telecommunications, biotechnology and foreign-owned hospitals. Sanguine on the Chinese market, Gong Anming, executive vice-president of Elekta, a Swedish medical equipment producer, said China's transforming business environment has reinforced foreign companies' confidence in making long-term investments in China. With research and manufacturing facilities in several Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, Gong who is also Elekta's president for China unit said his company will strengthen support for localized production, innovation and the training of radiotherapy professionals to build a robust radiotherapy ecosystem. "While creating tailored solutions for Chinese patients and hospitals, we are also proactively sharing innovations originating from China globally," he added. Striving to gain a bigger foothold in China, German industrial and consumer goods group Henkel announced on Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of Suzhou Boke Biotechnology Co Ltd, a manufacturer of personal care products based in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Frank Labahn, head of production operations and supply chain at Henkel Consumer Brands Asia, said the acquisition is a strategic move to reinforce the company's commitment to China and further strengthen its supply chain capabilities. "China is a stronghold in our manufacturing footprint, and this investment enables us to enhance local production," said Labahn. This move will drive the continued growth of Henkel's consumer goods business in China, positioning the group to respond to shifting market demand with greater agility and efficiency, he added. China attracted 97.59 billion yuan ($13.44 billion) in foreign direct investment in January, marking a 27.5 percent increase from the previous month, said the Ministry of Commerce. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Relief Therapeutics Holding SA / Key word(s): Merger Relief Therapeutics Announces Conclusion of Merger Discussions with Renexxion 06-March-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Relief Therapeutics Announces Conclusion of Merger Discussions with Renexxion GENEVA (March 6, 2025) - RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA (SIX: RLF , OTCQB: RLFTF , RLFTY ) (Relief, or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative treatment options for select specialty, unmet and rare diseases, today announced that discussions regarding a potential merger with Renexxion, Inc. (Renexxion) have been terminated. After signing a non-binding letter of intent in November 2024, both companies engaged in discussions to form a combined entity with an expanded therapeutic pipeline. However, key conditions necessary to finalize the transaction were not met within the required timeframe. As a result, both parties have mutually agreed to discontinue negotiations. "While we ultimately decided not to proceed with Renexxion, Relief remains well-positioned to advance its strategic objectives independently. In recent months, we have made meaningful progress across our core development programs and continue to build momentum. With a robust pipeline and around CHF 15 million in cash reserves, along with a CHF 50 million undrawn equity facility from our largest shareholder GEM, we are confident in our ability to execute our development strategy while continuing to explore opportunities to maximize shareholder value," said Dr. Raghuram Selvaraju, chairman of the board of directors of Relief. The Company also announced that it will provide a comprehensive business update in its 2024 Annual Report, scheduled for publication on April 10, 2025. ABOUT RELIEF Relief is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing treatment paradigms and delivering improvements in efficacy, safety, and convenience to benefit the lives of patients living with select specialty and rare diseases. Relief's portfolio includes revenue-generating products, commercialized through licensing and distribution partnerships, and a targeted clinical development pipeline. Relief's pipeline consists of risk-mitigated assets in three core therapeutic areas: rare skin diseases, rare metabolic disorders, and rare respiratory diseases. Key development programs include RLF-TD011, a stabilized hypochlorous acid solution designed to improve wound healing and infection control in epidermolysis bullosa, and RLF-OD032, a ready-to-use liquid formulation of sapropterin dihydrochloride aimed at enhancing treatment adherence in phenylketonuria patients. Headquartered in Geneva, Relief is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF and quoted in the U.S. on OTCQB under the symbols RLFTF and RLFTY. For more information, visit www.relieftherapeutics.com . CONTACT : RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA Jeremy Meinen Chief Financial Officer contact@relieftherapeutics.com DISCLAIMER This press release contains forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "believe," "assume," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "will," or similar expressions. These statements are based on current plans and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, financial condition, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions, market developments, regulatory changes, competitive dynamics, and other risks or changes in circumstances. This communication is provided as of the date hereof, and Relief undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Evolva Holding SA / Key word(s): AGMEGM Evolva Holding SA publishes agenda for Annual General Meeting 2025 06-March-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. PRESS RELEASE | AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR Evolva publishes agenda for Annual General Meeting 2025 Reinach, Switzerland, 6 March 2025 - Evolva Holding SA (SIX: EVE) today published the agenda for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on Thursday, 27 March 2025 at 9.00 a.m. CET at Hotel Victoria in Basel, Switzerland. The Board of Directors (Board) proposes, among other agenda items, the following to the shareholders: Advisory vote on the continuation of M&A activities The Board proposes to approve the continuation of the path resolved on by the last AGM on 12 April 2024 - to seek an alternative to liquidation by pursuing opportunities in the area of M&A, in particular reverse takeovers - in a consultative vote. The Board has pursued this mandate and, with the assistance of an investment banking boutique, subsequently evaluated close to a dozen possible candidates. Negotiations with a promising reverse merger candidate are already well advanced. At present, given the opposition by a large shareholder, it is unclear whether the transaction can be carried out. However, the Board believes that the transaction with this carefully selected reverse merger candidate could generate added value for shareholders. For this reason, it is in favor of continuing the mandate granted by the AGM 2024. The Board proposes to approve the continuation of the path resolved on by the last AGM on 12 April 2024 - to seek an alternative to liquidation by pursuing opportunities in the area of M&A, in particular reverse takeovers - in a consultative vote. The Board has pursued this mandate and, with the assistance of an investment banking boutique, subsequently evaluated close to a dozen possible candidates. Negotiations with a promising reverse merger candidate are already well advanced. At present, given the opposition by a large shareholder, it is unclear whether the transaction can be carried out. However, the Board believes that the transaction with this carefully selected reverse merger candidate could generate added value for shareholders. For this reason, it is in favor of continuing the mandate granted by the AGM 2024. Dissolution and delisting from SIX Swiss Exchange (if continuation of M&A rejected) This proposal will only be made in case the proposal on the continuation of the M&A activities is rejected. This proposal will only be made in case the proposal on the continuation of the M&A activities is rejected. Rejection of proposals by Evolva's largest shareholder, Clearway Capital Partners ICAV, Dublin, Ireland (Clearway) As previously announced (see press release of 4 February 2025), Clearway asked for a shareholder meeting to be held with several agenda items and motions. The Board has reviewed the agenda item requests, and now proposes to the shareholders the following: Rejection of the proposal to elect Mr. Ferrari and Mr. Defila of Clearway as new members of the Board; Rejection of the proposal to elect Mr. Ferrari as Chairman of the Board; Rejection of the proposal to elect Mr. Ferrari and Mr. Defila into the Compensation Committee. Clearway has not yet supported the transaction project proposed by the Board. Despite repeated consultations, the Board has not received any information from Clearway regarding concrete alternatives to the proposed transaction or a liquidation dividend. Furthermore, the Board is of the opinion that with the proposed new Board composition with two Clearway representatives, the independence of this body would no longer be guaranteed and Clearway would effectively take control of the Company. Election of the Board of Directors The Board proposes to re-elect the current members of the Board, Stephan Schindler and Beat In-Albon. This proposal will only be made if the election of two Clearway representatives, as proposed by Clearway, is rejected by the AGM. Documentation The invitation to the AGM 2025 with all proposed agenda items was published today in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC) and will be sent today via post mail to registered shareholders. The Invitation is also available here . The consolidated annual financial statements 2024 are available under this link . Contact Evolva Doris Rudischhauser Investor Relations and Corporate Communications +41 79 410 81 88 investors@evolvaholding.com Disclaimer This announcement is not an offer of securities into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. Further, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Canada, Australia or Japan or under the applicable securities laws of any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of such laws. This press release contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like believe, assume, expect or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments. Additional features: File: 250305 Evolva-Ad hoc Announcement AGM 2025 Invitation_final End of Inside Information Flexible equity financing line with Vester Finance of up to 10,000,000 shares over 24 months Immediate upfront payment from Vester Finance of 0.5 million extends the cash runway into Q4 2025, enabling focus on future growth Ongoing discussions and business development outreach underway for NCX 470 U.S. partnership Two NCX 470 clinical readouts in 2025 - Whistler Mechanism of Action in Q2 2025 and Denali confirmatory Phase 3 in Q3 2025 March 6, 2025 - release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis, France Nicox SA (Euronext Growth Paris: FR0013018124, ALCOX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced the extension of its cash runway into Q4 2025 with an initial 0.5 million upfront payment as part of a flexible equity line of financing entered into with Vester Finance. This financing is in the form of a PACEO1 limited to a maximum of 10,000,000 shares (a maximum of 14.5% of the currently issued share capital2 and 9.4% on a full-diluted basis3) over a period of 24 months. "2024 was a period of consolidation for the company and 2025 is about writing the future. Pending the availability of the upcoming Denali data in Q3, partnering discussions for NCX 470 are already underway along with outreach to multiple potential partners, and activities to support a New Drug Application are on track for a U.S. submission in H1 2026 and a potential commercial launch in H1 2027." said Gavin Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Nicox. "Together with the VYZULTA royalty sale and investment by Soleus Capital in October 2024, this flexible financing with Vester Finance allows us to immediately extend the cash runway into Q4 2025. It enables a focus on the strategic options which could facilitate the development and commercialization of NCX 470 and the future growth of the Company." Cash runway extended into at least Q4 2025 Based on the current cash position, the initial payment from this financing and expected milestone income from existing agreements, the Company estimates that it is financed into Q4 2025, beyond the topline results from the Denali trial. This cash runway could be further extended depending on the performance of the line of financing. If any of the assumptions around estimated income or costs change, this may impact the cash runway of the Company. Terms of the flexible equity line financing Under the terms of the agreement signed on March 5, 2025, Vester Finance agreed to subscribe for a maximum of 10,000,000 shares in the Company, representing up to 14.5% of the share capital, and 9.4% on a fully-diluted basis3, at its own initiative, over a maximum period of 24 months, subject to certain customary contractual conditions. The shares will be issued based on the average stock market price preceding each issuance4, less a maximum discount of 6.5%, in compliance with the pricing policy and the cap set by the Annual General Meeting5. The net proceeds of the share issue will be paid out as after deduction of a fee of 2.5%. At the current share price6, the total gross proceeds of this financing would potentially be 3 million. This amount is dependent on market conditions. Nicox has committed to use up to 50% of the PACEO line, after which the Company has the right to terminate the agreement at any time. Assuming full use of this equity line, a shareholder holding 1.00% of Nicox's capital before the transaction would see a reduction in his stake to 0.87% of the capital. This transaction was authorized by the Chief Executive Officer using a delegation granted by the meeting of the Board of Directors of March 5, 2025, who themselves used the delegation granted by the General Meeting of the shareholders of the Company on May 6, 2024 under the 8th resolution7. There is no requirement for a prospectus to be submitted to the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF). This equity line financing was structured and underwritten by Vester Finance, a European company which regularly invests in small-cap growth companies, particularly in the healthcare and biotech sectors. Vester Finance, acting here as an investor with no intention of remaining a shareholder, may sell the shares over a short or long period time. Risk Factors Risks factors which are likely to have a material effect on Nicox's business are presented in section 3 of the "Rapport Annuel 2023" and in section 4 of the "Rapport semestriel financier et d'activite 2024" which are available on Nicox's website (www.nicox.com (http://www.nicox.com/)). The sale of the shares is likely to have an impact on the volatility and liquidity of the stock, as well as on the Company's share price. The number of shares issued under this transaction and admitted to trading will be announced on the Company's website. Coway targets European market expansion with cutting-edge technology and distinctive design at Aquatech 2025, showcasing the SWITCH water purifier and more SEOUL, South Korea, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Coway, South Korea's No.1 environmental home appliances company, will participate in Aquatech Amsterdam 2025 from March 11th to 14th in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As the world's leading trade exhibition for process, drinking, and wastewater, Aquatech Amsterdam provides a global platform for industry leaders to unveil their latest innovations and expand distribution networks. This year's exhibition is set to bring together over 900 exhibitors and 25,000 water professionals. At the exhibition, Coway will explore new growth opportunities in the European water purifier market, by forging new partnerships and enhancing its brand awareness. Alongside its highly successful Asian product lineup, Coway is also set to introduce products optimized for European customers and businesses. A highlight of Coway's showcase at the exhibition will be the unveiling of the company's upcoming water purifier, tentatively named 'SWITCH.' This eco-friendly model is able to adapt to various kitchen settings thanks to its countertop and under-sink convertibility, and also offers non-electric water purification, making it attractive to a diverse customer base - in particular to environmentally-conscious customers. Coway will also showcase a variety of high-performance water purifiers that feature both cold-and-hot-water functions and ice-making capabilities, catering to a wide range of diverse customer lifestyles and business needs. Looking ahead, Coway's water purifier strategy aims at encompassing both commercial and consumer markets. For businesses, the company is set to introduce large-capacity standing water purifiers ideal for public institutions, businesses, and schools, alongside more compact models for environments short on space. For consumers, Coway will hone in on providing water purifiers that complement the modern smart home by offering such features as temperature control, measured dispensing, and easy self-maintenance for added convenience. A Coway official said, "Our participation in Aquatech 2025 will significantly enhance our brand awareness, as well as our competitive edge in the European market, further solidifying our position as a global leader in innovative water purification solutions." About Coway Co., Ltd. Established in Korea in 1989, Coway, the "Best Life Solution Company," is a leading environmental home appliances company making people's lives healthy and comfortable with innovative home appliances such as water purifiers, air purifiers, bidets, and mattresses. The company's most recent venture, the BEREX brand, aims to improve sleep and wellness through cutting-edge mattresses and massage chairs. Since being founded, Coway has become a leader in the environmental home appliances industry, with intensive research, engineering, development, and customer service. The company has proven dedication to innovation with award-winning products, home health expertise, unrivaled market share, customer satisfaction, and brand recognition. Coway continues to innovate by diversifying product lines and accelerating overseas business in Malaysia, USA, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and Europe, based on the business success in Korea. For more information, please visit http://www.coway.com/ or http://newsroom.coway.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635359/Image__Coway_Booth_at_the_Aquatech_Amsterdam.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1395396/Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/coway-to-showcase-its-water-purifier-expertise-at-aquatech-amsterdam-2025-302394307.html Die Finanzwelt ist im Umbruch! Nach Jahren der Dominanz erschuttert Donald Trumps erratische Wirtschaftspolitik das Fundament des amerikanischen Kapitalismus. Handelskriege, Rekordzolle und politische Isolation haben eine Kapitalflucht historischen Ausmaes ausgelost. Milliarden stromen aus den USA und suchen neue, lukrative Ziele. Und genau hier kommt China ins Spiel. Trotz aller Spannungen wachst die chinesische Wirtschaft dynamisch weiter, Innovation und Digitalisierung treiben die Markte an. Im kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir Ihnen 5 Aktien aus China vor, die vom US-Niedergang profitieren und das Potenzial haben, den Markt regelrecht zu uberflugeln. Wer jetzt klug investiert, sichert sich den Zugang zu den neuen Wachstums-Champions von morgen. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche 5 Aktien die Konkurrenz aus den USA outperformen durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! Slate Asset Management ("Slate" or the "Firm"), a global investor and manager focused on essential real estate and infrastructure assets, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of 45 grocery properties located in Germany, which are collectively valued at over 420 million. Slate acquired the properties in four individual portfolio transactions, which are expected to close in the first quarter of 2025 subject to standard closing conditions. The properties are well-located near major population centers throughout Germany and are fully leased under long-term agreements to some of Germany's largest grocery and everyday goods distributors, including REWE Group, Schwarz Group, Edeka Group, and ALDI. "In a muted transaction environment, our European team has successfully executed nearly half a billion euros of essential real estate transactions in the first three months of the year," said Sven Vollenbruch, Managing Director leading Slate's European Investments. "We are very pleased to further scale our exposure to this asset class with these portfolios of high-quality, stabilized grocery properties that are underpinned by Germany's leading food and essential goods distributors. Slate has firmly established itself as a leading owner and operator of essential real estate in Germany, and we believe the strong pipeline of opportunities we have cultivated in this sector will drive our continued growth in Germany and across broader Europe." Slate's European essential real estate strategy is focused on acquiring, owning, and operating cash-yielding, essential real estate assets, such as grocery and affiliated warehouses and logistics assets. The Firm has been an active investor in the European real estate market since 2016. To date, Slate has transacted on over 1,000 commercial properties across 7 countries in the region. Today, Slate operates a portfolio of over 500 essential real estate assets across Europe that are owned by Slate and its capital partners. Goodwin Procter, KPMG, Gleeds, and REDEFINE Group advised Slate on these transactions. About Slate Asset Management Slate Asset Management is a global investor and manager focused on essential real estate and infrastructure assets. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners across the real assets space. We are supported by exceptional people and flexible capital, which enable us to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more, and follow Slate Asset Management on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305197623/en/ Contacts: Media Slate Asset Management Karolina Kmiecik karolina@slateam.com GoldenPeaks Capital, a company specializing in the construction and operation of solar systems and investing into renewable energy sources across Europe, has entered into a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NGK Ceramics Polska, helping reduce the carbon footprint of the company in Poland. Under the PPA, GoldenPeaks Capital will virtually supply approximately 125 GWh of carbon free renewable electricity on a yearly basis. The production will come from solar plants in Poland, the same market where NGK Ceramics Polska operates its facilities. This PPA is an equivalent of powering approximately 60,000 homes per year in Poland. NGK Ceramics Polska has been operating in Poland since 2003 as a global manufacturer of ceramic elements used in the automotive industry to control and limit the pollution from exhaust gases of combustion engines. One of its main products DPF ceramic particulate filters for diesel engines, is designed to remove soot particles and other components from the exhaust gas, making them safer for the environment and people. NGK Ceramics Polska also produces filters for gasoline vehicles. In line with the companies' missions and values, NGK Ceramics Polska is committed to environmental best practices for the long term and environmental protection is one of its core businesses, based on the implementation of new technologies and contributing to the improvement of quality of life. The targets of NGK Ceramics Polska are supported by the long-term PPA signed with GPC. The PPA is designed to save some 938,000 metric tons equivalent of CO2 during its agreed tenor. The energy production is planned to start in the upcoming year. Minoru Shibata, president of NGK Ceramics Polska, stated that in the current challenging times, VPPAs are one of the measures allowing better control over the company budget and also significantly help to achieve the long-term demanding goals of carbon neutrality. All companies, regardless of their size, should make necessary efforts to improve the environment and contribute to a better life for every person, now and in the future. Adriano Agosti, founder and chairman of GoldenPeaks Capital said: "We are proud to contribute to the green footprint of NGK Ceramics Polska as a strong international leader in its field. The PPA will empower the company to enhance their share of renewable energy across their operations, contributing to its long-term environmental ambitions." About GoldenPeaks Capital GoldenPeaks Capital specializes in the construction and operation of solar PV assets and is one of the largest PV asset owners in Eastern Europe with over 15 years of experience in structuring energy projects globally. Moreover, with two BESS PV co-located pilot projects in Poland, GPC is pioneering new technology deployment in Eastern Europe. GPC will further shape the industry of renewable energies by applying the seamless integration of all its business units, such as project development engineering, financing structuring, supply chain management, construction commissioning, asset operations and commercial energy sales, ensuring an invaluable alignment of methodologies, ethics and goals. Disclaimer Golden Peaks Capital: This press release was produced by and the opinions expressed are those of GoldenPeaks Capital as of the date of writing and are subject to change. It has been prepared solely for information purposes. Any reference to past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future. To the extent there are any forward-looking statements, these statements are based on the company's current expectations and projections regarding its business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. The information and analysis contained in this publication have been compiled or arrived at from sources believed to be reliable, but GoldenPeaks Capital does not make any representation as to their accuracy or completeness and does not accept liability for any loss arising from the use hereof. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305757887/en/ Contacts: Media queries GoldenPeaks Capital Siro Barino E-Mail: media@goldenpeakscapital.com info@goldenpeakscapital.com www.goldenpeakscapital.com ING publishes 2024 Annual Report ING today published its 2024 Annual Report, giving stakeholders an insight into our strategy, business activities and performance over the past year. Our activities are presented in the context of our strategic priorities: providing a superior customer experience and putting sustainability at the heart of what we do. "We have had a solid year on all counts in 2024; we were able to deliver on our promises on the basis of a very strong financial performance. This would not have been possible without the dedication of our more than 60,000 colleagues in 36 countries serving our customers worldwide, and we thank them for their hard work and collaboration," write chairman Karl Guha and CEO Steven van Rijswijk in their message to shareholders and stakeholders. "We believe that ING is well positioned, and we are confident in our ability to navigate through the existing and emerging challenges as we continue to deliver on our promises." This report features the report of the Executive Board, the consolidated and parent company financial statements and other information. The report of the Executive Board includes the sustainability statement which is prepared in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), as delegated by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The 2024 Annual Report is available to download on ing.com, along with the 2024 ING Bank Annual Report, Pillar III Report, and other relevant documents. Note for editors For more on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr. Press enquiries Investor enquiries Raymond Vermeulen ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 6369 Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com) Raymond.Vermeulen@ing.com (mailto:Raymond.Vermeulen@ing.com) ING PROFILE ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries. ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N). ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING's ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as 'AA' in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics' view, ING's management of ESG material risk is 'Strong'. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that's not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate. IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation'). ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information. Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security. This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason. This document does not constitute an o?er to sell, or a solicitation of an o?er to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Attachment CFO transition plan focusses on business continuity and the company's strong growth trajectory as European leader in medical dermatology Jon U. Garay Alonso has over 25 years of experience in business and finance in numerous leadership roles with increasing seniority in the pharma industry and other sectors Mike McClellan will leave Almirall in September, after nearly six years as CFO, delivering a strong track and helping the company enter an era of sustained growth and profitability Almirall, S.A. (ALM) a global biopharmaceutical company based in Barcelona, today announced the appointment of Jon U. Garay Alonso as Chief Financial Officer and member of the company's Management Board as of August 2025, succeeding Mike McClellan, who will leave the company in September 2025, after nearly six successful years as CFO. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305566567/en/ Almirall HQ in Barcelona (Photo: Business Wire) This planned transition is focused on maintaining business continuity and enabling the organization to keep and further build its strong trajectory towards achieving its ambition as European leader in medical dermatology. Jon U. Garay Alonso is currently CFO at Camurus, a science-led, global pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative medicines with the potential to significantly improve treatment for patients with severe and chronic diseases within Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases, rare diseases, endocrine disorders, oncology and supportive care. Jon previously held positions with increasing seniority at Baxter, Gambro, Convatec, and Bristol Myers Squibb after having worked in different industry sectors before. Jon has bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration and has continued his professional education throughout his career. Jon will relocate from Lund, Sweden to Barcelona and report to Carlos Gallardo, Almirall Chairman and CEO. "We are delighted to welcome Jon as CFO and member of Almirall's management board. I am convinced that his expertise in the pharma sector and in finance and business will be important contributors to the further growth of our company, building on the work done by Mike and the Management Board in recent years. I want to thank Mike for his work as CFO of Almirall he has played a pivotal role in the company's development and recent growth. He leaves Almirall at a time of strength as we have exceeded our 2024 guidance and are entering an era of sustained double-digit growth and margin expansion. As Mike is transitioning his role to Jon, we continue to be very confident in our strategy, commercial success, and our R&D capabilities which are the foundation for achieving our business ambition and leadership in medical dermatology Carlos Gallardo, Almirall Chairman and CEO About Almirall Almirall is a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology. We closely collaborate with leading scientists, healthcare professionals, and patients to deliver our purpose: to transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life. We are at the forefront of science to deliver ground-breaking, differentiated medical dermatology innovations that address patients' needs. Almirall, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM, total revenue in 2024: 990 MM, over 2000 employees globally). Almirall products help to improve the lives of patients every day and are available in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit https://www.almirall.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305566567/en/ Contacts: Corporate Communications corporate.communication@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 93 291 35 08 Investor Relations investors@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 93 291 30 87 6 March 2025 SEGRO PLC ("SEGRO") SELP COMPLETES PURCHASE OF TITANIUM RUTH HOLDCO (PREVIOUSLY TRITAX EUROBOX) ASSETS Further to its announcement on 28 January 2025, SEGRO, in its role as venture adviser to the SEGRO European Logistics Partnership ("SELP") joint venture, today announces that SELP has completed on the purchase of a portfolio of six assets from Titanium Ruth Holdco Limited (formerly known as Tritax EuroBox plc). The transaction values 100% of the assets at 470 million, including relevant property taxes and subject to customary adjustments. The portfolio totals 370,000 sq m of fully-leased, highly reversionary, modern logistics space. The assets are located in the established and attractive logistics hubs of Breda and Roosendaal in the Netherlands as well as in the Frankfurt corridor and the Rhine-Ruhr region in Germany. The assets currently generate approximately 24 million of headline rent, resulting in a blended net initial yield of 5.0 per cent and a net true equivalent yield of 5.4 per cent. CONTACT DETAILS FOR INVESTOR / ANALYST AND MEDIA ENQUIRIES: SEGRO Soumen Das (Chief Financial Officer) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 9110 Claire Mogford (Head of Investor Relations) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 9048 Gary Gaskarth (External Communications Manager) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 9069 FTI Consulting Richard Sunderland / Ellie Sweeney / Eve Kirmatzis Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 About SEGRO SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 10.3 million square metres of space (111 million square feet) valued at 20.3 billion at 31 December 2024 serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries. For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing (including data centres) located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive. A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO's purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments and Nurturing Talent. Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGRO's ambition to be the best property company. See www.SEGRO.com for further information. About SELP The SEGRO European Logistics Partnership (SELP) was created in October 2013 as a 50:50 joint venture between SEGRO and PSP Investments, the Canadian pension fund. At its inception, the portfolio injected by SEGRO comprised approximately 1 billion of grade A standing logistics investments and development land. The objective of the venture was to create a leading Continental European logistics platform, initially focused on six geographies, namely France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium and Netherlands. Since then, SELP has also invested in big box warehouses in Italy and Spain and a combination of acquisitions, development and capital value growth means that, at 31 December 2024, the portfolio was valued at 6.0 billion and generated 319 million of annualised headline rent across 5.2 million square metres of lettable area. SEGRO acts as asset, property and development manager for SELP. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lW+dlJVvkpjHnG+clsltmmNnmW1kl5TImWScmWSdZ5jKcHGRyW5oaceaZnJhmGVq - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-90304-5356z.pdf Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - The Welcome, a global project division supporting technology innovation and international business expansion, proudly announces the successful participation of leading Anyang-based companies at CES 2025. These companies-Global Konet, Cygbot, Leanoncompany, Dabonda, Roadmap, Coallens, and BBAEF-presented their latest advancements in satellite communications, LiDAR sensing, business networking, smart city solutions, and digital sustainability. Their presence at the event underscored Anyang's growing influence in technology development and its expanding role in global markets. Showcasing Innovation: A representative at the Anyang Pavilion at CES 2025 engages with visitors, demonstrating cutting-edge LiDAR and AI-driven technology solutions from Cygbot and US&K. The exhibition highlights Anyang's role in advancing smart automation and sensor technology on the global stage. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11274/243464_anyang_pavilion_photo2.jpg The Anyang Pavilion at CES 2025 provided these companies with a strategic platform to showcase their latest innovations, engage with international industry leaders, and explore opportunities for global partnerships and market expansion. The Welcome supported this initiative as part of its mission to facilitate South Korean companies' engagement with international markets and highlight their contributions to emerging technology sectors. Technologies Showcased by Anyang Companies at CES 2025 Global Konet: Innovations in Satellite Communication At CES 2025, Global Konet introduced its electronic beam-steering ESA antenna technology, designed to enhance satellite communication for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The company's presentation focused on its real-time data transmission capabilities and the potential for improving connectivity solutions across multiple industries. Cygbot: Advancements in LiDAR Sensing for Robotics and Smart Infrastructure Cygbot showcased its 2D/3D Dual Solid-State ToF LiDAR technology, which enables precise environmental mapping, obstacle detection, and automation. The company engaged with stakeholders from autonomous systems, smart cities, and industrial robotics, demonstrating its expertise in advanced sensing solutions. Leanoncompany: Business Matching and SME Support Recognizing the importance of strategic partnerships, Leanoncompany presented its business networking and matching services for entrepreneurs and SMEs. The company's participation at CES 2025 reinforced its commitment to facilitating international business collaborations and supporting SMEs in expanding their global reach. Dabonda: AI-Driven Automotive Safety Technology Dabonda introduced its next-generation AI-integrated dash cams, designed for multi-channel vehicle monitoring, driver behavior analysis, and road safety enhancements. The company's technology attracted attention from automotive industry leaders looking for advanced in-vehicle monitoring solutions. Roadmap: Smart City and Urban Mobility Innovations At CES 2025, Roadmap presented its AI-powered smart parking solutions and intelligent transportation systems. The company highlighted how its technology improves urban infrastructure, reduces congestion, and enhances real-time mobility monitoring, positioning itself as a key player in smart city development. Coallens: AI-Powered Vision Systems Coallens participated in CES 2025 to showcase its machine vision solutions, which integrate AI-powered optical detection and real-time monitoring systems. The company's technology is designed for industrial automation, security applications, and environmental sensing, reflecting the increasing demand for advanced AI-powered vision technology. BBAEF: Digital Solutions for Sustainable Manufacturing BBAEF introduced its digital sustainability tools, including AI-powered carbon footprint tracking and supplier optimization systems. The company highlighted how its digital product passport initiative offers manufacturers a transparent view of their sustainability performance, aligning with global trends in eco-conscious production. The Anyang Pavilion at CES 2025 showcases cutting-edge innovations in AI, satellite communication, and smart mobility, attracting global industry professionals. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11274/243464_anyang_pavilion_photo3.jpg The Welcome's Role in Supporting Anyang Companies at CES 2025 The Welcome remains committed to supporting the global expansion of South Korean technology companies. Through the Anyang Pavilion at CES 2025, these companies had the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities, connect with potential partners, and explore new international markets. The success of their participation reinforces The Welcome's role in promoting innovation and global business collaboration. For media inquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact: To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243464 SOURCE: Awareness Marketing Management DWC LLC BARCELONA, Spain, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, announced that the AaaS Open Gateway solution, jointly developed by China Mobile, Alibaba Cloud and ZTE, was honored with the GSMA GLOMO "Open Gateway Challenge" award. This prestigious recognition signifies the large-scale commercial adoption of Open Gateway in key industry scenarios and underscores the global industry's high regard for China Mobile's collaborative efforts with its partners in advancing the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. China Mobile is one of the pioneering operators to join the GSMA Open Gateway global initiative. In recent years, it has actively championed the Open Gateway development philosophy, establishing the world's largest Open Gateway platform. This platform not only empowers its own services but also continuously expands application scenarios, enriching the Open Gateway ecosystem. In collaboration with ZTE, China Mobile has developed the QoD (Quality on Demand) API based on CAMARA API standards, became the first to successfully pass 63 technical tests under the Open Gateway working group and achieve commercial deployment. The capability exposure solution jointly developed by China Mobile, Alibaba Cloud and ZTE integrates the strengths of all parties across telecommunications and fintech. Leveraging China Mobile's Department of Networks-operated CT middleware platform and its 'QoS Acceleration Capability', the solution ensures superior network quality for mobile payments. This collaboration is dedicated to delivering a more seamless, efficient, and innovative 5G service experience, redefining user engagement in the next-generation digital ecosystem. Alipay, one of the world's largest online payment platforms, integrates with China Mobile's AaaS Open Gateway platform via Alibaba Cloud. When users access payment services in areas with weak network coverage, Alibaba Cloud leverages the API to dynamically enhance wireless network performance. This optimization reduces payment transaction time and decreases transaction failure rates, significantly enhancing the user payment experience. Looking ahead, China Mobile will continue to collaborate with industry partners to contribute more advanced capability APIs and pioneering application scenarios. By driving the commercialization of 5G and accelerating the global adoption of the Open Gateway ecosystem, China Mobile remains committed to fostering innovation and shaping the future of intelligent connectivity on a global scale. The Open Gateway initiative is a pivotal effort led by GSMA to drive the globalization of network capability exposure. As a universal open network API framework, it enables seamless and standardized access to carrier network capabilities for enterprises and developers worldwide. These functionalities are deployed through globally standardized APIs under the CAMARA framework-an open-source project jointly spearheaded by the Linux Foundation and GSMA, fostering innovation and interoperability across the global digital ecosystem. The annual GLOMO Awards represents the industry's most prestigious accolade. With a panel of judges comprising over 260 global analysts, media professionals, and industry experts this year, the GLOMO Awards 2025 celebrates individuals and companies that drive innovation and showcase excellence in the rapidly growing mobile industry. MEDIA INQUIRIES: Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635322/China_Mobile__Alibaba_Cloud_and_ZTE_win_the_GSMA_GLOMO_Open_Gateway_Challenge_aw.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2601626/ZTE_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-mobile-alibaba-cloud-and-zte-win-the-gsma-glomo-open-gateway-challenge-award-for-capability-exposure-solution-302394404.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - Sienna Resources Inc. (TSXV: SIE) (OTC Pink: SNNAF) (FSE: A1XCQ0) ("Sienna" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the multi- hole drill program is now underway on Sienna's 100% owned 'Case Lake West Cesium and Spodumene Pegmatite Project' in Ontario. Jason Gigliotti, President of Sienna Resources, stated, "We are extremely pleased and excited to finally be underway on a drill program. It has been a long time since Sienna has drilled. The 'Case Lake West Cesium and Spodumene Pegmatite Project' has potential for cesium. When you consider that this project directly borders Power Metals Corp., whose shares increased approximately 300% in February based on their Case Lake deposit news, we couldn't be more excited about getting boots on the ground. These next few weeks/months will be a watershed mark for Sienna as the drilling occurs." The 'Case Lake Cesium Project', owned by Power Metals Corp., is a highly prospective lithium, cesium, and tantalum (LCT) project in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Here are some of the highlights: High-grade mineralization: Recent drilling programs have consistently confirmed high-grade cesium mineralization, with standout results including up to 20.67% Cesium Oxide (Cs2O). Exceptional Tantalum grades of up to 5328ppm have also been recorded. Recent drilling programs have consistently confirmed high-grade cesium mineralization, with standout results including up to 20.67% Cesium Oxide (Cs2O). Exceptional Tantalum grades of up to 5328ppm have also been recorded. Shallow mineralization: The cesium mineralization is often found at shallow depths, which could make the project more economically viable. The cesium mineralization is often found at shallow depths, which could make the project more economically viable. Multi-element potential: In addition to cesium, the project also contains significant lithium and tantalum mineralization, further enhancing its value. In addition to cesium, the project also contains significant lithium and tantalum mineralization, further enhancing its value. World-class asset: The Case Lake project is considered a world-class asset due to the high grades and significant size of the deposit. The Case Lake project is considered a world-class asset due to the high grades and significant size of the deposit. Strategic importance: The project's high-grade cesium and tantalum resources are strategically important for meeting the growing global demand for these critical minerals in advanced technologies. Overall, the Case Lake Cesium project is a promising project with the potential to become a significant supplier of cesium, lithium, and tantalum. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Sienna may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the company's properties. Sienna Resources Ownership Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/854/243516_4702ad7d544ecb39_002full.jpg About Sienna Resources Inc. Sienna has significantly increased acreage of the "Stonesthrow Gold Project", consisting now of approximately 31,718 contiguous acres prospective for gold. Sienna has also recently acquired the "Case Lake West Cesium and Spodumene Pegmatite Project" in Larder Lake Mining division of Ontario, Canada roughly 100 km north of Kirkland Lake, NE Ontario. This project consists of approximately 7,850 contiguous acres prospective for Cesium and Spodumene Pegmatites. Sienna has also just acquired the 10,357 acre "Uranium Town Project" bordering Denison Mines Corporation , the now 23,134 contiguous acre "Dragon Uranium Project" bordering Cameco Corporation, and the 55,440 acre "Atomic Uranium Project" in the world renowned Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan. Also, Sienna has the "Elko Lithium Project" in Elko County, Nevada consisting of approximately 1830 contiguous acres directly bordering Surge Battery Metals' "Nevada North Lithium Project" in Elko County, Nevada who announced the highest-grade lithium deposit in the USA. Sienna is also one of the larger landholders in Clayton Valley Nevada. Sienna's Clayton Valley projects include the Blue Clay Lithium Project, the Silver Peak South Project, and the Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Project. Clayton Valley is home to the only lithium production in North America, being Albemarle Corp's Silver Peak deposit. This project is also near Tesla Motors Inc.'s Gigafactory in Nevada. On March 18, 2021, Schlumberger New Energy Venture announced the development of a lithium extraction pilot plant with a strategic partnership with Pure Energy. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Sienna may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the company's properties. We seek Safe Harbor. Qualified Person: Mr. Frank Bain, PGeo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained within this news release. If you would like to be added to Sienna's email list, please email info@siennaresources.com for information or join our twitter account at @SiennaResources. "Jason Gigliotti" President, Director Sienna Resources Inc. Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include uncertainty of exploration and development plans regarding the property; commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets; uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates; the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and management; potential labour unrest; reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties and the availability of capital to fund the Company's projects, as well as other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on SEDAR+. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. The Company cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243516 SOURCE: Sienna Resources Inc. Blockchain-powered SmartTrace platform is designed to integrate with EU TRACES system, supporting EUDR due diligence for operators. Limited trials have been launched as part of GAR's efforts to help customers prepare for EUDR implementation. UTRECHT, Netherlands, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) has launched limited customer trials for its SmartTrace due diligence platform, as part of a broader programme to support compliance with the incoming European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), set to take effect on 30 December 2025. Among the first customers to pilot the SmartTrace system is Verborg Group, which operates a state-of-the-art tropical oil refinery in Farmsum, the Netherlands. GAR and Verborg Group established a strategic partnership for tropical oil supply in early 2024 to bring high-quality, traceable and deforestation-free oils to customers across Europe. The trial involved a shipment of 9,500 metric tonnes of palm oil products delivered to Verborg Group's refinery in late February. This shipment is 100% traceable to the plantations where it was grown in Indonesia and is part of ongoing tests of compliance systems and processes ahead of EUDR implementation. Goedhart Borgesius, Director of Verborg Group, emphasised the importance of the trial to reassure European buyers about EUDR preparations: "We recognise the responsibility we have to our customers to provide sustainably-produced, high quality and deforestation-free tropical oils. This shipment marks a milestone in our ability to demonstrate these attributes and offer our customers confidence that they are helping to eradicate deforestation risk from the tropical oil supply chain." Enhancing Trust in Complex Supply Chains The EUDR mandates that operators importing selected commodities into the EU provide detailed due diligence reports confirming these products are free from deforestation risk and are produced in accordance with local laws. GAR's SmartTrace platform is designed to provide enhanced visibility and security for this due diligence data, enhancing trust and transparency in complex commodity supply chains. The web-based platform gives operators unprecedented oversight of their entire palm oil supply chain. The system can track each constituent part of a palm oil shipment down to plantation level, giving users an end-to-end view of product sourcing that is authenticated using blockchain technology. SmartTrace builds on a decade of investment into supply chain traceability from GAR. The company can trace 100% of the palm produced on its estates to plantation level and has extended Traceability to the Plantation (TTP) to 99% of its total palm oil supply chain in Indonesia. Supply of soy, sugar, coconut and sunflower oil are also 100% Traceable to the Mill. Addressing Emerging Compliance Needs In addition to showing where palm products have been produced and traded, the system provides critical information and analysis to support buyers' compliance with incoming regulations. Companies and traders using the system will be able to produce detailed reports that address vital requirements for EUDR compliance including due diligence and risk mitigation status for deforestation and legality. These reports are tailored to integrate with the EU's TRACES platform, providing customers with the necessary information to complete their due diligence statements efficiently. Maarten van der Hoeven, GAR's Head of Europe and LatAm, explained the advantages of the system: "By digitising the due diligence process, SmartTrace helps our customers to collect, manage and share the data needed to meet EUDR requirements. In a complex supply chain where compliance data for one shipment can contain millions of data points, we want to ensure our customers can access accurate, efficient and trusted data to demonstrate their palm oil is deforestation-free." Beyond the EUDR, SmartTrace is also adaptable to other regulatory frameworks and complex data and reporting requirements. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2632894/b1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1685878/GAR_Agribusiness_and_Food_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/golden-agri-resources-partners-with-verborg-group-to-pilot-smarttrace-eudr-compliance-system-302391433.html LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This International Women's Day, Jackery celebrates the strength and adventurous spirit of women everywhere. We believe every woman should have the freedom to explore and live life on her own terms. From racing to flying and van life, Jackery's portable power solutions support women as they break barriers and chase their dreams. Kim: Breaking Barriers on the Race Track Kim Irmgartz, a professional racer from Germany, is proving that women belong in motorsports. In a male-dominated industry, she's determined to compete at the highest level. Her passion for speed and adventure drives her to push limits on and off the track. Jackery's power solutions are essential in Kim's e-MTB racing setup, keeping her gear and devices charged for communication and safety during long travels. "Jackery is my trusted companion, making sure I'm always prepared," she shares. Samantha: Soaring Beyond Boundaries Samantha Porter, a young pilot from Vancouver, is defying expectations in aviation. In 2022, she flew solo across 22 countries in her single-engine plane. Once unsure if she belonged in the skies, she now inspires future female pilots while pursuing a Geography degree focused on Environment and Sustainability. Whether studying in her off-grid cabin, camping on a remote beach, or flying across continents, she relies on Jackery to stay powered. From keeping her cabin warm, to powering Starlink for internet connection, to charging her laptop for schoolwork, even in her plane, a Jackery power station is always within reach. Karo: Embracing the Wild with Family Born in Germany, Karo Tigges's love for travel led her to Austria, where she met her partner Kevin. Now, with their daughter Sophie and two dogs, they embrace a nomadic life in their VW bus, exploring nature together. Whether hiking in the mountains or waking up by a lake, Karo enjoys the balance of adventure and comfort. "For me, nothing beats a fresh coffee with perfect milk foam, no matter where I am," she shares. With Jackery's power station, she can enjoy her morning ritual and prepare warm meals wherever they roam. Celebrate Women and Adventure with Jackery At Jackery, we champion women who push boundaries and chase their dreams-whether soaring through the skies or exploring the outdoors. This spring, we're offering special deals to power more adventures and inspire new journeys. Media enquiries: Jiatong Li, jiatong@jackery.com, +4915223970329 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2634534/Jackery_International_Womens_Day_2025.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2618761/5200339/Jackery_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/empower-her-adventures-power-her-dreams-celebrating-womens-strength-and-spirit-with-jackery-302393338.html Investment unlocks the next stage of growth and innovation for digital identity leader in Europe MUNICH and LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IDnow (or "the Company"), a leading identity verification platform provider in Europe, today announced a new strategic investment from Corsair Capital ("Corsair"), a specialist investment firm targeting payments, software, and business services investments in the financial services market. With this transaction, Corsair will acquire a majority stake in the Company from existing shareholders, reinforcing its commitment to fueling IDnow's continued growth and leadership position within the European identity market, and into other regions globally. Founded in 2014, IDnow builds proprietary, AI-powered identity verification technologies that address the cybersecurity and digital verification needs of global enterprises and leading international brands across financial services, telecommunications, travel & mobility, gaming and other industries. Corsair first invested to support the growth of IDnow in October 2019 when it acquired a minority stake in the business. Since Corsair's initial investment, IDnow has strengthened its technical leadership position, grown its portfolio of differentiated identification solutions, and completed two strategic acquisitions which expanded the company into new geographies including establishing a leadership position in France. Through this transaction, Corsair aims to further accelerate IDnow's growth and the Company's position as a European leader with a comprehensive suite of solutions, strong positions in multiple geographies, and with additional acquisitions bringing added scale and reach. "Since our founding a decade ago, IDnow has become a market leader in identity verification in Germany and France. During this time, we have achieved significant success in delivering strong results and growing our customer base, and with today's announcement we aim to solidify our commitment to positioning the Company for future success," said IDnow CEO Andreas Bodczek. "Corsair's increased investment underscores their confidence in our vision and speaks to the synergies we have achieved through our collaborative relationship. With this deeper partnership, we can continue to transform and ensure our platform continues to evolve." "We are thrilled to expand our partnership with IDnow," said Raja Hadji-Touma and Edward Wertheim, Partners at Corsair. "Since our initial investment, we've witnessed IDnow build significant momentum and achieve impressive scale. We are excited by the opportunity to deepen our partnership with IDnow's talented management team, and we look forward to supporting their next chapter of innovation and growth." "Building IDnow has been an incredible journey over the past 10 years together with Armin Berghaus, Dennis von Ferenczy and Sebastian Baerhold, and we believe today's announcement enables us to strengthen our capabilities and capitalize on the vast market opportunity available to us," said Felix Haas, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of IDnow. "Corsair's resources and expertise will help accelerate growth and unlock new opportunities for the Company and I'm confident this partnership will drive progress and expansion in ways that will benefit IDnow, its customers and the industry as a whole." About IDnow IDnow is a leading identity verification platform provider in Europe with a vision to make the connected world a safer place. The IDnow platform provides a broad portfolio of identity verification solutions, ranging from automated to human-assisted from purely online to point-of-sale, each of them optimized for user conversion rates and security. In 2021, IDnow acquired the French market leader for identity technology, ARIADNEXT, and the German identity Trust Management AG, enabling IDnow to offer its customers one of the broadest identification solutions through a single, integrated platform. The company has offices in Germany, United Kingdom, and France and is backed by renowned institutional investors, including Corsair Capital and Seventure Partners. Its portfolio of international clients spans a wide range of end markets including financial services, telecommunications, travel & mobility, gaming and other industries. About Corsair Capital Corsair is a specialist investment firm offering opportunities for investors and solutions for companies across its private markets Buyouts and Infrastructure businesses. The firm's buyouts business is a financial services investor focused on making control investments in three verticals: payments, software, and business services. The infrastructure business operates as a strategic partnership with Investcorp as of December 2023. Investcorp Corsair focuses primarily on value-add opportunities in transportation, logistics, and associated infrastructure subsectors, blending operating platforms and deep sectoral expertise with equity sponsorship. Corsair has invested $13.6 billion in capital across buyouts and infrastructure since inception. For more information, please visit www.corsair-capital.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1342896/5200818/IDnow_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/idnow-announces-strategic-majority-investment-from-corsair-capital-302393697.html EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: BP p.l.c. / Directorate Change BP p.l.c.: Release of a capital market information 06.03.2025 / 09:30 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 6 March 2025 BP announces non-executive director appointment BP p.l.c. ("bp") today announced the appointment to its board of Ian Tyler as a non-executive director and chair elect of the remuneration committee, with effect from 1 April 2025. Helge Lund, chair of bp, said: "On behalf of the board, I am delighted to welcome Ian to bp. Ian brings a strong track record of executive and non-executive experience across multiple industries, most recently leading the remuneration committees of some of the UK's largest quoted companies. Our board discussions will benefit from the focus he will bring on performance against the plans we set out on 26 February". Following the strategy announcement last month, the board will continue its work to identify new board members who will bring the additional skills and experience bp needs as it embarks on the next chapter. Ian Tyler is currently chair of Grafton Group plc. He is senior independent director, chair of the remuneration committee and a member of the audit and nomination committees at Anglo American plc. Mr Tyler is also senior independent director and chair of the audit committee at Synthomer plc. There are no additional matters that require disclosure under 6.4.8R of the UK Listing Rules. Further information bp press office, London: bppress@bp.com, +44 (0)7831 09554 This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com . 06.03.2025 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com BARCELONA, Spain, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, together with China Unicom and YunHuan Technology, has been awarded the "Best Mobile Innovation for Cities" for their innovative "5G-A Smart City Low-Altitude Blood Delivery" project at the Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards during MWC Barcelona 2025. The award recognizes their joint efforts in pioneering the commercial deployment of 5G-A Integrated Sensing and Communication technology in urban blood delivery. To address the challenges of traditional blood delivery, such as traffic congestion and delayed emergency response, the partners have implemented an innovative drone-based solution in Anyang City. The project covers a 1,200-square-kilometer urban airspace, featuring 10 delivery routes that extend over 15 kilometers and serve multiple hospitals across the city. With over 50 flights operating daily, it has become the industry's largest low-altitude drone delivery network for medical supplies, transporting blood products, laboratory samples, pathological sections, emergency medicines, and surgical supplies. Operational data demonstrates remarkable improvements, with the average blood delivery time reduced from 40 minutes to 15 minutes, representing a 60% efficiency increase. This improvement directly enhanced hospital emergency response, optimized surgery scheduling, and reduced blood wastage, resulting in a 20% decrease in hospital blood costs and 10% reduction in patient blood expenses, delivering significant medical-economic and social benefits. The solution leverages 5G-A Integrated Sensing and Communication technology to provide capability of comprehensive communication support and safety sensing for drone operations. Network performance tests have proven the system's capability to simultaneously monitor multiple drones' precise positions and flight status with zero detection miss rate, validating the commercial value of 5G-A Integrated Sensing and Communication technology in low-altitude economics. Looking ahead, the three partners will continue to expanding 5G-A applications in urban management and emergency response, driving the development of low-altitude economy and bringing new momentum to global smart city initiatives. The annual GLOMO Awards represents the industry's most prestigious accolade. With a judge panel comprising over 260 global analysts, media professionals, and industry experts this year, the GLOMO Awards 2025 celebrates individuals and companies that drive innovation and showcase excellence in the rapidly growing mobile industry. MEDIA INQUIRIES: ZTE Corporation Communications Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635310/China_Unicom__YunHuan_Technology_and_ZTE_win_the_GSMA_GLOMO_Best_Mobile_Innovati.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2601626/ZTE_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-unicom-yunhuan-technology-and-zte-win-the-gsma-glomo-best-mobile-innovation-for-cities-award-302394456.html EQS-News: BioLizard nv / Key word(s): Miscellaneous BioLizard Awarded Grant from VLAIO to Advance AI-Powered Biomedical Solution for Accelerated Drug Development 06.03.2025 / 10:00 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. BioLizard Awarded Grant from VLAIO to Advance AI-Powered Biomedical Solution for Accelerated Drug Development VLAIO grant to fund development of new AI application, using large language models (LLMs) to search, extract and structure key insights from vast scientific datasets, significantly reducing review time and knowledge extraction State-of-the-art solution will further expand capabilities of Bio|Verse, BioLizard's integrated platform combining AI and human expertise to transform biomedical data into actionable insights Ghent (Belgium), March 05, 2025 - BioLizard, a leading bioinformatics, data analytics and data engineering consulting company driving digital transformation in the life sciences industry, has been awarded a grant from Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) to develop an AI-powered biomedical knowledge discovery software solution that will be part of BioLizard's Bio|Verse suite. This innovative application will be designed to automate and streamline literature analysis, enabling biotech and pharmaceutical companies to extract critical insights from vast amounts of (un)structured data with unprecedented speed and accuracy. With over one million biomedical research articles published annually on PubMed alone, reviewing literature is an overwhelming but imperative part of drug development and scientific advancements. It is estimated that research scientists spend about 60% of their time selecting, organizing and cleaning data. Thus, there is a critical need for a solution that can automate and streamline this process, ensuring faster, more reliable and more comprehensive biomedical information extraction. The novel solution developed in the Bio|Verse framework will leverage LLMs to automatically search, extract, and structure information, transforming unstructured text into actionable insights for target identification, drug discovery, and other life sciences applications. The knowledge output gained from structured and unstructured data searches is presented in visual and interactive dashboards allowing visual analytics and biological interpretation. "We are grateful to VLAIO for awarding us this important grant to provide researchers a critical new application which will assist them in making discoveries that may one day improve and even save lives," said Liesbeth Ceelen, CEO of BioLizard. "Leveraging our extensive expertise in biotechnology and AI-based software solutions, our next step in the Bio|Verse suite of applications will take literature and data review to a new level. This AI-driven tool will significantly reduce the time researchers spend on data gathering, allowing them to focus on what they do best - analyzing and interpreting the data." She added: "By integrating this tool into Bio|Verse, we will enable our biotech and pharmaceutical clients to improve target identification, accelerate drug discovery, and gain actionable insights faster and more reliably than ever before." The grant will accelerate the development of this novel application. This new step in our AI capabilities will enable the integration of public and non-public resources for knowledge extraction. The application will be a value add in the services provided by BioLizard. About VLAIO Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen - VLAIO) is a Flemish Government agency that stimulates and supports R&D activities by innovative entrepreneurs and companies. More information: https://www.vlaio.be/en About BioLizard BioLizard is a leading multi-national bioinformatics, data engineering and biopharma consulting services company, heading digital transformation in the life sciences industry. Headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, BioLizard is the trusted, go-to partner for data strategy and execution with clients across the range from drug discovery to clinical research and diagnostics as well as animal health and food & agriculture. At BioLizard, we "think data" and "speak biology", partnering with our clients to transform lives. Our expert team combines deep biological knowledge with proven expertise in AI and bioinformatics to tackle complex data challenges in human and animal health. Through our AI-native Bio|Verse platform, we accelerate biomarker discovery and enable actionable insights for modern drug development. With a global presence, we deliver tailored solutions in data management, bioinformatics, and AI to drive our client's data-driven strategy for biotech, pharma and diagnostic companies. For further information, please visit https://lizard.bio/ or BioLizard's LinkedIn . Contact BioLizard nv Liesbeth Ceelen, PhD, MBA Phone: +32 470 77 87 22 E-mail: contact@lizard.bio Media Inquiries MC Services AG Eva Bauer Phone: +49 (0)89 2102280 E-mail: biolizard@mc-services.eu 06.03.2025 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Supporting Great Britain's transition to a decarbonised, cost-effective, and secure electricity system LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Guidehouse, a global consultancy providing advisory, technology, and managed services to the commercial and public sectors, has been selected by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) of the United Kingdom to assist with its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA). Guidehouse will play a critical role in designing the future of Great Britain's electricity market, driving the transition to a decarbonised, cost-effective, and secure electricity system. Leveraging its extensive expertise in energy markets, policy analysis, and regulatory reform, Guidehouse will support DESNZ in this comprehensive review. The firm will provide critical insights on REMA programme topics such as wholesale market reform, locational pricing, capacity market and auction designs, contracts for difference, and low-carbon flexibility. These crucial decisions will shape the United Kingdom's ability to achieve its decarbonisation goals and impact consumers' energy bills for decades to come. "We are delighted to collaborate with DESNZ on REMA and support the UK in achieving its net zero ambitions," said Matthew Dwyer, Partner at Guidehouse. "Building on our long history of working with European governments on energy policy design and implementation, we are proud to contribute to REMA's objectives and deliver value for consumers and taxpayers." Announced in April 2022 as part of the British Energy Security Strategy, REMA is a cornerstone of the UK Government's strategy to reduce electricity market inefficiencies and achieve net zero by 2030. This flagship government programme seeks to strike the perfect balance between reducing consumer costs, ensuring energy security, and making renewable investments attractive. About Guidehouse Guidehouse is a global consultancy providing advisory, technology, and managed services to the commercial and public sectors. Guidehouse is purpose-built to serve the national security, financial services, healthcare, energy, and infrastructure industries. Disrupting legacy consulting delivery models with its agility, capabilities, and scale, the firm delivers technology-enabled and focused solutions that position clients for innovation, resilience, and growth. With high-quality standards and a relentless pursuit of client success, Guidehouse's more than 18,000 employees collaborate with leaders to outwit complexity and achieve transformational changes that meaningfully shape the future. guidehouse.com Media Contact: Guidehouse Cecile Fradkin cfradkin@scprgroup.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/950386/Guidehouse_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/guidehouse-selected-by-desnz-to-shape-the-future-of-great-britains-electricity-market-302393425.html SHENZHEN, China, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SINEXCEL (300693.SZ), a global pioneer in modular energy storage and EV charging solutions, has successfully obtained the prestigious grid-connected VDE 4110 & 4120 certification from TUV SUD for its Front-of-Meter (FTM) solution - 1725kW Power Conversion System (PCS). This certification reinforces SINEXCEL's commitment to high-performance grid solutions. Rigorous Testing & Certification The VDE 4110 (medium voltage) and 4120 (high voltage) standards rank among Europe's most stringent grid connection requirements, ensuring compliance with the highest levels of quality, performance, and grid code regulations. These standards demand robust performance in grid stability, protection mechanisms, and operational compliance-including stringent voltage ride-through, frequency response, and reactive power control capabilities. SINEXCEL successfully passed the TR3 testing, TR4 modeling, and TR8 certification process, demonstrating its engineering excellence and ability to meet global grid standards. Engineered for Performance & Adaptability Designed to enhance grid stability, the 1725kW PCS features a modular design ( 215kW to 1.72MW per unit), allowing flexible deployment and configuration for various energy storage applications. It can replace central or string inverters while supporting diverse battery configurations. With efficiency up to 98.5%, its multi-string technology ensures optimal battery safety, while peak shaving and load shifting capabilities help reduce operational costs. The combined AC and DC output enables easy control and expansion on DC energy, ensuring redundancy, improved availability, and resilience. Its NEMA 3R-rated cabinets offer durability in harsh conditions, while a 10ms rapid response supports real-time grid balancing. The solution also meets industry standards across North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Expanding Global Compliance & Market Reach With this certification, SINEXCEL further expands its global compliance portfolio, now boasting 60+ certified models and grid connection certifications in 40+ countries and regions worldwide. including VDE 4120 (high voltage), 4110 (medium voltage), and 4105 (low voltage) in the UK, Austria, and Germany for its storage solutions. This achievement reinforces SINEXCEL's dedication to delivering high-performance energy solutions for the evolving energy landscape and empowering energy freedom. About SINEXCEL Founded in 2007, SINEXCEL is a leading pioneer of energy storage, EV charging and power quality solutions, backed by nearly two decades of expertise in power electronics. With over 12 GW of installed storage capacity and 140,000 deployed EV charging systems, SINEXCEL has collaborated with more than 600 partners, including industry leaders EVE Energy and Schneider Electric, across 60+ countries and six continents. Media Contact Melody Yu, Marketing Manager melody_yu@sinexcel.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635178/SINEXCEL.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sinexcels-1725kw-pcs-secures-germanys-rigorous-vde-4110--4120-certification-from-tuv-sud-302394164.html BRUSSELS, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the European Commission launches the 2026 edition of the European Capital of Smart Tourism and the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions. Tourism destinations across Europe are invited to submit their innovative practices of smart and sustainable tourism to become leading examples in European tourism. As one of the EU's largest economic sectors, tourism plays a crucial role in economic BRUSSEL growth and job creation. The Smart Tourism initiative recognises cities implementing new digital tools and practices such as equal opportunity and access to visitors, sustainable development and support to creative industries and local talent. With these competitions, the European Commission promotes and awards the future of smart and sustainable tourism in Europe. To compete for the 2026 titles, cities are asked to demonstrate their innovative tourism practices and submit their applications online. Applications will first be evaluated by a panel of independent experts. In the second step, shortlisted cities will be asked to present their candidature in front of the European Jury. The European Jury will select two winners, the 'European Capital of Smart Tourism 2026' and the 'European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026', which will be announced in November 2025. Both competitions are open to cities across both the EU as well as to non-EU countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP) - formerly the COSME Programme. Eligible countries include all 27 EU Member States and non-EU countries participating in the SMP, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo[1], Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkiye, and Ukraine. European Capital of Smart Tourism 2026 - Smart gets you further The European Capital of Smart Tourism recognises outstanding achievements by European cities as tourism destinations in four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation as well as cultural heritage and creativity. It has a proven track record of success. The 2026 European Capital of Smart Tourism is the seventh edition of the competition. Torino was selected as the 2025 Smart Capital. Previous winners include Dublin as 2024 Capital, Pafos and Seville as 2023 Capitals, Bordeaux and Valencia as the 2022 Capitals, Gothenburg and Malaga as the 2020 Capitals, while Helsinki and Lyon won the inaugural competition and jointly held the 2019 titles. Since 2024, there is only one winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism competition due to a change in competition rules, whereas previous editions featured two winners annually. The European Capital of Smart Tourism competition is open to cities with a population of over 100.000. For more information, please refer to the European Capital of Smart Tourism Guide for Applicants. European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026 - Green leads the way The European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competition recognises emerging sustainable tourism destinations across Europe. It aims to reward smaller destinations that have successfully implemented strategies to promote sustainable tourism through green transition practices. The competition is founded upon the principle of promoting the development of sustainable tourism in smaller destinations which brings value to the economy, the planet, and the people. Being the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026 will allow the winning city to serve as an inspiration to other tourism destinations across Europe, enhance their city's profile as a quality travel destination, attracting visitors and generating economic growth in a sustainable way. The Green Pioneer competition is open to cities with a population between 25.000 - 100.000. For additional information, please refer to the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Guide for Applicants. Both, the European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026 will benefit from communication and branding support throughout 2026 which will tell the story of the outstanding smart, innovative and sustainable practices that made them stand out and win. This will include the production of a promotional video, a large hashtag sculpture to install in a prominent location, diverse promotional activities and visibility at EU level and internationally. The winners will also have the chance to join a growing and active network of smart destinations that were shortlisted in the previous editions of both competitions, exchange best practices and learn from one another. For both competitions, applications must be received by: 30 May 2025 at 17:00 CET. For all the latest updates on the Smart Tourism initiative, follow us on our website , Facebook, or X , and subscribe to our EU Smart Tourism Podcast series in Spotify and Amazon Music . Contact: European Smart Tourism Secretariat: info@smarttourismcapital.eu, +49 (0) 30 70 01 86 390 [1] This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/european-commission-announces-new-competitions-for-2026---european-capital-and-green-pioneer-of-smart-tourism-302394481.html Trial met primary endpoint, demonstrating clinically and statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to everolimus Median PFS was 23.9 months on n.c.a. 177 Lu-edotreotide v. 14.1 months on everolimus; p value=0.022 Lu-edotreotide v. 14.1 months on everolimus; p value=0.022 Company plans for U.S. New Drug Application (NDA) submission in 2025 Krakow, PolandMarch 6, 2025 - ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE(ITM), a leading radiopharmaceutical biotech company, today presented positive topline data from its Phase 3 COMPETE trial in patients with Grade 1 or Grade 2 somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). The trial results demonstrated that n.c.a. 177Lu-edotreotide (also known as ITM-11 or 177Lu-edotreotide), a proprietary, synthetic, targeted radiotherapeutic agent, met the primary endpoint and significantly prolonged progression-free survival in patients when compared to everolimus, a standard of care cancer treatment. The data were presented by study investigator Jaume Capdevila, MD, PhD, at the 22nd Annual European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) 2025 Conference, held in Krakow, Poland from March 5-7, 2025. "COMPETE is the first pivotal trial comparing a radiopharmaceutical drug candidate to a targeted molecular therapy without the routine use of accompanying somatostatin analogues in this GEP-NET patient population. These data show unequivocal support for 177Lu-edotreotide's potential benefit in extending PFS," said Dr. Capdevila, senior medical oncologist at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona. "Additionally, 177Lu-edotreotide's convenient dosing schedule and favorable safety results reinforce its potential as a compelling new treatment option." COMPETE is a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label Phase 3 trial that enrolled 309 patients with inoperable, progressive, Grade 1 or Grade 2 somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors of gastroenteric or pancreatic origin (Ki-67 =20%) in Europe, the United States, Australia and South Africa. The study objectives were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 177Lu-edotreotide compared to everolimus. 177Lu-edotreotide is comprised of non-carrier-added (n.c.a.) lutetium-177, a therapeutic -emitting radioisotope, and edotreotide, a somatostatin receptor agonist. It is the first radiopharmaceutical to be tested in the GEP-NET patient population using non-carrier-added lutetium, which has a higher isotopic purity than carrier-added lutetium. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive 7.5 GBq of 177Lu-edotreotide with a nephroprotective amino acid solution every three months for up to four cycles, or everolimus 10 mg daily for up to 30 months, or until disease progression. There were 207 patients on the 177Lu-edotreotide arm and 102 on the everolimus arm. Dosimetry was used to assess the absorbed dose in tumors compared to that in healthy tissue to enhance safety and efficacy monitoring of the study drug in patients. Topline Clinical Results Summary Primary endpoint Median progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer with 177Lu-edotreotide v. everolimus (23.9 vs 14.1 months); stratified* p value = 0.022; HR 0.67, 95% CI [0.48, 0.95] Secondary endpoint Interim median overall survival (OS)** was numerically higher, but not conclusive for 177Lu-edotreotide v. everolimus (63.4 vs 58.7 months); p value=0.206; HR 0.78, 95% CI [0.5, 1.1] Safety A lower proportion of patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) related to study medication with 177 Lu-edotreotide v. everolimus ( 82.5% vs 97.0% ); one grade 2 serious TEAE of MDS related to 177 Lu-edotreotide was reported Lu-edotreotide v. everolimus ( ); one grade 2 serious TEAE of MDS related to Lu-edotreotide was reported No unforeseen TEAEs *Stratification factors: primary tumour origin [GE-NETs vs P-NETs] and by prior medical therapy [1st line vs 2nd line] **OS data will continue to mature Statistical analysis methods: Log-rank for PFS and OS; two-sided Fisher exact test and Mantel-Haenszel test for ORR "The COMPETE results represent a major step forward in the development of new treatment options for people living with progressive, inoperable GEP-NETs. By extending progression-free survival by almost ten months compared to standard of care in this trial,177Lu-edotreotide showed the potential to significantly improve the treatment paradigm for physicians and their patients," said Jonathan Strosberg, MD, past president, North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society and chair, GI Research Program, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, FL. The median overall survival as of January 21, 2025 was 63.4 months for the 177Lu-edotreotide arm and 58.7 months for the everolimus arm. While not statistically significant, the interim analysis showed a favorable trend for 177Lu-edotreotide. Patients were permitted to start an alternative therapy after disease progression, potentially confounding the overall survival data. Overall survival data will continue to be updated. 177Lu-edotreotide was observed to be well-tolerated and there were no unforeseen treatment-emergent adverse events. Additional data, including objective response rate, subgroup analyses, quality of life assessments and dosimetry, are currently being evaluated and expected to be submitted for presentations at future medical meetings. ITM is planning to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA in 2025. "These successful results validate our decision to design a pivotal Phase 3 trial directly comparing a targeted radiopharmaceutical against a targeted molecular therapy in Grade 1/2 GEP-NETS,underscoring our commitment to improving the lives of people living with this challenging cancer," said Andrew Cavey, MD, PhD, chief executive officer, ITM. "With this successful readout, 177Lu-edotreotide becomes the first drug candidate in ITM's broad portfolio of early- to late-stage radiopharmaceuticals to deliver positive Phase 3 results and progress towards NDA submission and commercial launch preparations. Together, with our global isotopes manufacturing business, robust supply chain, and experienced clinical and commercial team, we believe we are uniquely positioned as a standout leader in the fast-growing radiopharmaceutical industry." ENETS Oral Presentation Details Title: "Efficacy and safety of [177Lu]Lu-edotreotide vs. everolimus in patients with grade 1 or grade 2 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: COMPETE phase 3 trial" Date and Time: March 6, 2025; 10:05 am - 10:12 am CET Session and Room Number: Clinical science, Session 1: Theranostics in NENs - Integrating experience for a brighter future; Auditorium Hall (S1) Presenter: Jaume Capdevila, MD, PhD, study investigator and senior medical oncologist at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona Additional n.c.a.177Lu-edotreotide Clinical Trials 177Lu-edotreotide is also being evaluated in a Phase 3 trial (COMPOSE) in patients with well-differentiated, aggressive Grade 2 or Grade 3, SSTR-positive GEP-NET tumors. The COMPOSE trial is a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and patient-reported outcomes of 177Lu-edotreotide as first- or second-line treatment compared to physician's choice standard of care chemotherapy. Additional clinical programs with 177Lu-edotreotide include a Phase 1 pediatric trial in SSTR-positive tumors (KinLET) and a Phase 3 investigator-sponsored trial in lung and thymus neuroendocrine tumors (LEVEL). About GEP-NETS Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a rare form of cancer, with an estimated 8 new cases per 100,000 individuals diagnosed each year in the U.S. and 9 cases per 100,000 in Europe. The incidence of NETs has steadily increased over recent decades, resulting, in part, from improved diagnosis. Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETS) originate in the neuroendocrine system and are made up of nerve cells and hormone-producing cells. They can occur anywhere in the GI tract and pancreas, including the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, and appendix. There is still a high unmet medical need for treatment options, as many patients are asymptomatic and diagnosed at a late stage with metastatic disease. About n.c.a. 177Lu-edotreotide 177Lu-edotreotide is a radiolabeled peptide conjugate that delivers beta radiation specifically to SSTR-positive tumor cells, sparing healthy organs and tissue. The drug candidate, delivered intravenously, is comprised of non-carrier-added lutetium-177, a therapeutic -emitting radioisotope, and edotreotide, a synthetic SSTR agonist. 177Lu-edotreotide was granted orphan drug designation in the EU and the US, and fast track designation in the US for the treatment of GEP-NETs, based on positive results from a retrospective Phase 2 study with 177Lu-edotreotide. About ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE ITM, a leading radiopharmaceutical biotech company, is dedicated to providing a new generation of radiopharmaceutical therapeutics and diagnostics for hard-to-treat tumors. We aim to meet the needs of cancer patients, clinicians and our partners through excellence in development, production and global supply. With improved patient benefit as the driving principle for all we do, ITM advances a broad precision oncology pipeline, including multiple Phase 3 studies, combining the company's high-quality radioisotopes with a range of targeting molecules. By leveraging our two decades of pioneering radiopharma expertise, central industry position and established global network, ITM strives to provide patients with more effective targeted treatment to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life. www.itm-radiopharma.com ITM Contacts: Media Corporate Communications Kathleen Noonan/Julia Westermeir Phone: +49 89 329 8986 1500 Email: communications@itm-radiopharma.com Investor Relations Ben Orzelek Phone: +49 89 329 8986 1009 Email: investors@itm-radiopharma.com References: Baum RP, Kluge AW, Kulkarni H, et al. [(177)Lu-DOTA](0)-D-Phe(1)-Tyr(3)-Octreotide ((177)Lu-DOTATOC) For Peptide Receptor Radiotherapy in Patients with Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumours: A Phase-II Study. Theranostics. 2016;6(4):501-510. Attachment Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSX: CNQ) (NYSE: CNQ) announces that its Board of Directors approved a 4% increase to its quarterly cash dividend on its common shares to C$0.5875 (fifty-eight and three quarter cents) per common share, up from the previous quarterly cash dividend of $0.5625 (fifty-six and one quarter cents) per common share. The dividend will be payable on April 4, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 2025. The Company has a leading track record of dividend increases, with 2025 being the 25th consecutive year of dividend increases with a compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") of 21% over that time. This demonstrates the confidence that the Board of Directors has in the sustainability of our business model, our strong balance sheet and the strength of our diverse, long life low decline reserves and asset base. Canadian Natural is a senior crude oil and natural gas production company, with continuing operations in its core areas located in Western Canada, the U.K. portion of the North Sea and Offshore Africa. CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITED T (403) 517-6700 F (403) 517-7350 E ir@cnrl.com 2100, 855 - 2 Street S.W. Calgary, Alberta, T2P 4J8 www.cnrl.com SCOTT G. STAUTH President MARK A. STAINTHORPE Chief Financial Officer LANCE J. CASSON Manager, Investor Relations Trading Symbol - CNQ Toronto Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange Certain information regarding the Company contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Such statements are subject to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Refer to our website for detailed forward-looking statements and notes regarding Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures at www.cnrl.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243497 SOURCE: Canadian Natural Resources Limited BARCELONA, Spain, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After becoming the official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Home Audiovisual Equipment and Home Appliances category, TCL hosted an extensive innovation showcase at Mobile World Congress 2025 (MWC), a premier global exhibition for the mobile communications industry, through TCL Technology and TCL Industries. TCL's MWC 2025 participation marked the company's first appearance at an international exhibition since announcing its Worldwide Olympic Partnership. MWC is one of the world's largest annual exhibitions in mobile innovation. In 2024, it welcomed over 101,000 global attendees. This year, TCL's exhibit spans 400 square meters-double the size of the previous year. "We are proud to showcase our technologies at MWC 2025 as an official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner," said Joanne Du, CEO of TCL Industries. "Beyond demonstrating our commitment to driving innovation that enhances everyday life, our exhibit at MWC 2025 connects us with the global industry to discover new possibilities in display technologies, 5G connectivity, and AI-powered solutions. Through these efforts, we strive to redefine intelligent experiences and shape a better future for all." TCL products will drive new experiences for fans and athletes, from digital displays at the Olympic and Paralympic to household appliances in the Olympic Village. Contributing to the IOC's AI Agenda, TCL will enhance both on-site and at-home experiences. It will also support the 'Athlete Moment' initiative, helping athletes stay connected with the love and support of their friends and families during competitions. Among the technologies included in TCL's Olympic partnership, TCL smart displays will be used to enable a more immersive visual experience, bringing fans closer to the action in and around the stadiums. At MWC 2025, TCL CSOT presented the APEX brand, which focuses on delivering pleasant display experience, reliable vision health, eco-friendly features, and unlimited future imagination. Under this brand, TCL CSOT demonstrated its advanced Inkjet Printing (IJP) OLED displays along with industry-leading innovations, including enabling the world's first OLED laptop with camera-under-panel technology. These products embodied one or more of APEX's core pillars to enhance next-generation intelligent devices. Furthermore, TCL reaffirmed its commitment to human-centered innovation by debuting the RayNeo Air 3s AR glasses. In addition to its advanced displays and eye care, the RayNeo Air 3s features the world's first dual opposing acoustic chamber design. TCL also displayed the RayNeo X3 Pro, powered by the world's smallest light engine for a lightweight design. These products represent advancements in display technology, design, and intelligence to seamlessly integrate digital interactions into everyday life. Founded in 1981, TCL is dedicated to empowering a smart, healthy lifestyle by enabling next-generation intelligent experiences. With 46 R&D centers and 38 manufacturing bases worldwide, TCL operates in over 160 countries and regions. Its MWC 2025 appearance reaffirms the company's dedication to enhancing everyday life with its technologies. And as a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, TCL will elevate the Olympic experience through technology, helping to shape a more connected future for everyone. About TCL TCL, which stands for "The Creative Life," embodies creativity in every facet of life. As a leading technology company, TCL is committed to delivering smart technology solutions-including TVs, smartphones, audio products, smart home devices, display technologies, and clean energy-that enhance customer experiences. To further inspire greatness, TCL has become an official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Home Audiovisual Equipment and Home Appliances category through to 2032. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2633026/1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2633025/2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2633024/3.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tcl-exhibits-innovations-at-mwc-2025-as-a-worldwide-olympic-and-paralympic-partner-302394150.html Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - Saudi German Hospital Dubai (SGH Dubai) has officially made history, achieving a Guinness World Records title for the most vascular health screenings conducted in a 12-hour period. The official certificate was presented to Dr. Ahmed Eissa, Group CEO of Saudi German Health, by Guinness World Records adjudicator Kanzy El Defrawy during a celebratory event at SGH Dubai on February 27, 2025. Dr. Ahmed Eissa, Group CEO of Saudi German Health UAE, receives the Guinness World Records certificate from an official adjudicator, celebrating Saudi German Hospital Dubai's achievement of conducting the most vascular health screenings in 12 hours To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11274/243527_img1.jpg The milestone, achieved on February 13, 2025, saw hundreds of Saudi German Health Group employees participate in the initiative, reinforcing the hospital's commitment to preventive healthcare and early detection of cardiovascular diseases. Over 300 employees gathered to commemorate the achievement, highlighting the importance of regular screenings in maintaining long-term heart health. "This record-breaking effort wasn't just about setting a world record-it was about prioritizing our team's well-being and raising awareness on vascular health," said Dr. Ahmed Eissa, Group CEO of Saudi German Health UAE. "Early detection and proactive health management are key to preventing serious conditions. I am immensely proud of our team's dedication and thank everyone who contributed to making this possible." Guinness World Records Senior Adjudicator, Kanzy El Defrawy, commended the initiative, stating: "Congratulations to Saudi German Hospital Dubai for achieving this Guinness World Records title. This achievement highlights the hospital's commitment to fostering a culture of well-being." This milestone not only demonstrates SGH Dubai's excellence in healthcare but also underscores its ongoing commitment to employee wellness and proactive health initiatives. The hospital aims to continue leading the way in promoting preventive healthcare practices that benefit both its staff and the broader community. For more information, please visit the website: saudigerman.com/dubai To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243527 SOURCE: Awareness Marketing Management DWC LLC EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Results of Issuance of the First Tranche of Green Two-new Medium-term Notes of 2025 06.03.2025 / 12:39 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Announcement on the Results of Issuance of the First Tranche of Green Two-new Medium-term Notes of 2025 Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hongkong, 6 March 2025 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Results of Issuance of the First Tranche of Green Two-new Medium-term Notes of 2025. The full announcement is available at: https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020250306662215206724.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Results%20of%20Issuance%20of%20the%20First%20Tranche%20of%20Green%20Two-new%20Medium-term%20Notes%20of%202025 IR Contact: Haier Smart Home Hong Kong T: +852 2169 0000 Email: ir@haier.hk Press Contact: CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH Sara Pinto pi@crossalliance.de T: +49 89 1250903 35 About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud in the Chinese market, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. 06.03.2025 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com ISTANBUL, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Odine, a global technology partner, has collaborated with Turkcell, to develop and implement an AI-powered Predictive Management solution, contributing to improvements in network monitoring, automation, and operational efficiency. In partnership with Turkcell, the AI-powered Predictive Management will leverage Machine Learning to analyze network performance and predict prospective anomalies in the network, so as to notify the operator for taking counter measures beforehand. The solution utilizes Generative AI to investigate the predicted anomaly and create root cause analysis reports to assist the operator in addressing them. Predictive Management also presents real-time visualization of the network, together with performance monitoring data, alarms and maintenance logs. With the help of the solution, the operator will be able to monitor the current state of its network, as well as its predicted future. It is expected that the Predictive Management solution will significantly reduce operational costs, improve service and network availability, and enhance operator's responsiveness. Prof. Dr. Vehbi Cagri Gungor, Chief Network Technologies Officer at Turkcell, stated, "The AI-powered Predictive Management was tested to monitor the network and provide predictive analysis using real-time data, helping to identify potential issues early and enhance operational efficiency. We look forward to seeing this collaboration lead to even more positive developments in the future and contribute to our ongoing digital transformation efforts." "This collaboration exemplifies Odine's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI to advance digital infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiencies while fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth. We remain committed to exploring new opportunities that drive progress in the industry," said Alper Tunga Burak, Chairman and CEO, Odine. By integrating AI and automation into network management, Odine and Turkcell are advancing the next generation of intelligent telecommunications solutions, reinforcing their commitment to efficiency, scalability, and seamless digital transformation. ABOUT TURKCELL: Turkcell is a technology and telecommunications company headquartered in Turkiye, offering a unique portfolio of voice, data and IPTV services over its mobile and fixed networks along with digital consumer, enterprise and techfin services. Turkcell Group operates in three countries: Turkiye, Belarus and Northern Cyprus. Listed on both the NYSE and BIST since July 2000, Turkcell remains the only dual-listed company on these exchanges. Read more at www.turkcell.com.tr ABOUT ODINE: Odine (BIST: ODINE) is a global partner empowering sustainable network transformation, building resilient and software-defined networks of the future. As a leading technology company, Odine enables global organizations to evolve with a sustainable approach. The company holds extensive expertise in next-generation technologies, such as Tier 1 software-defined networks, virtualization, 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, cloudification, and Al-powered orchestration technologies, and actively engages in research and development efforts to advance these fields. Fully committed to its partners' success, Odine works collaboratively to ensure its clients are equipped with the tools and expertise needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Odine is publicly listed on Borsa Istanbul (BIST: ODINE), reflecting its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the creation of long-term value for its shareholders. www.odine.com Media contacts: Harika Nihan Gundem, Head of Marketing, harika.gundem@odine.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635587/Odine_and_Turkcell_Collaboration.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/odine-and-turkcell-collaborate-on-ai-powered-predictive-management-to-support-network-monitoring-and-automation-302394564.html LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Advertising has named Diginius, a London-based SaaS company, as the winner of their prestigious Global Channel Partner of the Year award for 2025. Diginius also won this award in 2022. "It is an honor to once again receive this accolade from Microsoft Advertising." said Nate Burke, CEO and Founder of Diginius. "It reflects both our team's dedication and the strong, productive relationships we continue to cultivate with our clients, which are the foundation for everything we do." The London-based SaaS company's Diginius Insight Platform was a deciding factor for this recognition. "We're proud to create software that has helped so many clients around the world simplify their digital marketing campaigns," Burke said. "Microsoft Advertising is honored to present Diginius with the Global Microsoft Advertising Partner Award. We were delighted by the high quality of nominations from our partners this year, and thrilled to announce their win during Microsoft Advertising Accelerate 2025. We're proud to be celebrating with our partners and are inspired by their dedication, commitment to partnership and driving success for their clients," said Katherine Eills, Global Partner Marketing Director and Awards Lead, Microsoft Advertising. Contacts Julia Berutti, Diginius Email: julia.berutti@diginius.com Tel: +44 (0) 207 267 9322 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/diginius-crowned-microsoft-advertising-global-channel-partner-of-the-year-302394510.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - Legend Power Systems (TSXV: LPS), a global leader in commercial electrical system solutions, announces its new Voltage Adherence Risk measurement service. For years, buildings have struggled with the pervasive issue of "dirty power," a hidden but destructive force that wreaks havoc on essential systems such as elevators, HVAC, lighting, variable frequency drives, control boards, pumps, and motors. While power quality issues have historically been difficult to detect and resolve, building owners have had little recourse-until now. Legend Power Systems is proud to introduce the SmartGATE Insights Power Impact Report, a power assessment solution that quantifies and visualizes the risks associated with voltage instability. Central to this report is the new Voltage Adherence Risk measurement, a first-of-its-kind metric that tracks how often a building's electrical systems are exposed to optimal, stable, moderate-risk, or severe-risk power conditions. This new tool, not only will highlight the scope of dirty power but also demonstrates the extent of the problems that need to be addressed urgently. This new metric is expected to shorten the sales cycle for organizations to make decisions to install Legend's SmartGATE solutions. "The problem with 'dirty power' is that it is not a technical term and nearly impossible to quantify. While utilities do a good job to provide voltage within an acceptable 10% range, that range is far from ideal for the longevity and performance of core building systems," said Mike Cioce, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Legend Power Systems. "For example, on a standard and common 480V service, utilities consider anything between 440V and 520V acceptable. But most building equipment is designed for a 465V nameplate rating, with optimal performance within just 5V of that target. Anything outside that range increases wear and risk, but until now, building owners had no way to measure or manage this exposure." "Dirty power, which encompasses power quality issues such as voltage sags, surges, harmonics, and other electrical disturbances, is a $100 billion problem in North America 1, 2, 3, but most building owners don't realize how much they're paying for it every year," said Mr. Cioce. "Legend's SmartGATE Insights Power Impact Report quantifies that hidden cost and provides a path to fix it with the SmartGATE. Solving it starts with the SmartGATE providing a fully regulated voltage profile to the building delivering the exact voltage profile the building needs rather than whatever the utility is serving, eliminating dirty power, creating optimal operating conditions and costs savings for each unique building." The Voltage Adherence Risk measurement in the Power Impact Report creates greater understanding of the extent and impact of poor power in any commercial facility. By tracking the minutes and hours per month a building experiences different levels of voltage deviation, owners and operators can finally take control of power issues rather than being forced to accept them. The SmartGATE Insights Power Impact Report is available now as part of Legend Power's SmartGATE Insights Power Impact Assessment. To introduce this new service to the market, the company recently held a webinar to launch the new risk metric and the replay can be found HERE. Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding potential future deployments and anticipated outcomes. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the successful implementation of solutions and external market conditions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. About SmartGATE SmartGATE is a turnkey solution that identifies and resolves inefficiencies in commercial electrical systems, enhancing energy performance while reducing costs and emissions. About Legend Power Systems Inc. Legend Power Systems Inc. (https://legendpower.com/) provides an intelligent energy management platform that analyzes and improves building energy challenges, significantly impacting asset management and corporate performance. Legend Power's proven solutions support proactive executive decision-making in a complex and volatile business and energy environment. The proprietary and patented system reduces total energy consumption and power costs, while also maximizing the life of electrical equipment. Legend Power's unique solution is also a key contributor to both corporate sustainability efforts and the meeting of utility energy efficiency targets. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Sources: The Cost of Power Disturbances to Industrial & Digital Economy Companies. Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI). https://www.epri.com/research/products/3002000476 The Value of Electricity When It's Not Available. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/34231.pdf Understanding the Cost of Power Interruptions to U.S. Electricity Consumers. Berkeley National Laboratory. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/834270 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243515 SOURCE: Legend Power Systems Inc. SHERIDAN, WY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Buyer Group International, Inc. (OTC PINK:BYRG), a junior miner company focused on its flagship Shambhala Project containing approximately 2.65 square miles of mineral rights in the New Rambler Mining District in Albany County, Wyoming, is pleased to announce its 2025 Letter to Shareholders, highlighting key achievements from the past year and outlining corporate objectives for the year ahead. In conjunction with this update, the Company has also executed a significant reduction in its outstanding common shares by approximately 46%, substantially enhancing its capital structure and shareholder value. Key Highlights 46% Reduction in Outstanding Shares The Company has retired a substantial number of outstanding shares, reducing the total from 7,843,549,615 to 4,220,989,714 a net decrease of 3,622,559,901 common shares. This move reflects management's ongoing commitment to fortifying the Company's capital structure and enhancing shareholder value. Over the past 24 months, the Company has successfully executed multiple cancellations of outstanding shares, further underscoring its dedication to prudent share management and long-term growth. 3.62 billion shares on March 3rd, 2025 Restricted. 1.050 billion Shares on June 17th, 2024 (100 million Free Trading/950 million Restricted.) 75 million shares on May 24, 2024 Free Trading. 117 million shares on January 26, 2024 Free Trading. 250 million shares on January 19, 2024 Free Trading. 1.0 billion shares on December 22, 2023 Restricted. 1.4 billion shares on April 21, 2023 Restricted. 2025 Letter to Shareholders Financial and Operational Progress: As a junior mining company, we remain vigilant in managing limited capital. Despite these constraints, we continue to advance both our operations and our technical understanding of our flagship property, supported by two-year restricted private placements. This approach ensures that we steadily strengthen our project knowledge while maintaining a disciplined financial strategy. Exploration and Development: Our second consecutive year (2024) of exploration at Project Shambhala yielded highly encouraging results that pave the way for an initial resource estimate. These findings mark a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts, setting the stage for a maiden drilling program aimed at validating and further defining the project's potential. Corporate Governance: We reaffirm our commitment to strong corporate governance, transparent communication, and prudent capital allocation. In 2024, we expanded our corporate leadership team with the addition of a Company Secretary, CFO, Head of ESG, and Lead Geologist, underscoring our focus on robust oversight and expertise. As we look ahead to the 2025 mining season, Buyer Group International will continue to seek additional talent and knowledge to drive growth and maximize the value of our project. BNY Mellon Share Liquidator We remain in active negotiations with the court-appointed bankruptcy liquidators regarding the BNY Mellon share block, which currently totals 552,175,879 free-trading shares. This figure has remained unchanged since approximately October 2024, reflecting ongoing discussions. We have engaged experienced legal counsel to guide us through every phase of this process. Once this matter is resolved, BYRG intends to revisit the corporate name and ticker changes previously discussed, signifying the removal of the last remaining toxic element from the old BYRG and marking a fresh chapter for the Company. *Historical Explanation - In early 2013, a longtime BYRG shareholder and the Company's securities attorney at the time transferred a share block to facilitate an offshore banking facility intended to raise offshore capital. The institution involved was Caledonian Bank LTD. However, in 2012, an Executive Order issued by the President of the United States altered offshore banking regulations, triggering a run on the bank. This ultimately led to Caledonian Bank's bankruptcy in 2015 and SEC litigation. During the liquidation process in April 2015, the owner, Richard Christian, withdrew his capital, and a Chicago bankruptcy judge ruled that his capital was not to be included. Consequently, investors pulled approximately $21 million out, and the shares were transferred to BNY custodian Hare & Co LLC, which serves as the custodian for many of Cede & Co's accounts at BNY Mellon. This share block has been displayed on OTC Markets as Shares held at DTCC, and counted towards the company float. The latest information was pulled from the NOBO list in 2024 and BYRG is in process of resolving this matter. 2025 Letter to Shareholders - Overview Project Updates: All Phase 1b data is now being integrated with historical exploration results and recent geophysical surveys to identify high-priority drill targets for Phase 2. Preliminary findings point to potential mineralization extending south within Project Shambhala. Once data integration and IP testing are complete in early Spring, final targets for the maiden drilling program will be confirmed. Subject to permitting and funding, Phase 2 drilling is planned for Q3 2025, targeting the most promising zones identified through Phase 1b and the finalized IP surveys. Strategic Vision: The Company's long-term goal remains to revive the historically producing New Rambler District-Wyoming's only documented source of high-grade platinum and palladium. Recent ground exploration and the USGS aeromagnetic survey both point to further mineralization extending south, prompting plans for a major expansion project targeting these newly identified zones. This approach reflects our steadfast commitment to sustainable, long-term growth and to maximizing the untapped potential of this storied mining region. Management Commentary Dave Bryant, CEO of Buyer Group International, Inc., stated: "We are thrilled to announce a meaningful reduction in our outstanding shares, an achievement that underscores our unwavering commitment to delivering shareholder value. This milestone, coupled with the progress detailed in our 2025 Letter to Shareholders, marks a new chapter for BYRG. We believe our improved capital structure positions us for long-term success, allowing us to accelerate development of our project and pursue new opportunities that benefit our shareholders." Looking Ahead BYRG is poised for a pivotal year in 2025, driven primarily by the planned Phase 2 IP Testing program at Project Shambhala, scheduled for spring 2025. Building upon Phase 1b data, historical exploration, and new geophysical surveys, the Company aims to further delineate high-grade mineralization and strengthen its resource base. Concurrently, BYRG is advancing negotiations with the bankruptcy liquidators over the BNY Mellon share block; once resolved, the Company intends to revisit its name and ticker changes to mark the culmination of legacy issues and signal a fresh start. Looking beyond exploration at Project Shambhala, BYRG remains focused on the long-term goal of reviving the historically significant New Rambler District, emphasizing sustainable growth and methodical resource development. This forward momentum is underpinned by continued corporate governance enhancements and strategic team expansion, setting the stage for a transformative year. About Buyer Group International, Inc. Buyer Group International, Inc. is targeting exploration at its flagship mining project Shambhala in Albany County, Wyoming. The Shambhala Project consists of 84 lode claims, 2.65 square miles in the historic New Rambler District. The district is located near the south edge of the Cheyenne Belt, a noted Greenstone Belt of the Medicine Bow mountains, which contains various concentrations of rare minerals. To learn more about Buyer Group International, Inc. also visit: Corporate Website: https://frontierplatinumgroup.com/ Corporate Twitter: https://twitter.com/buyergroupinc Corporate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/byrg/ Corporate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buyergroupinternationalinc/ Corporate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091509813233 OTC Stock Market Information: https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BYRG/overview FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BYRG/disclosure CONTACT: Buyer Group International, Inc. Phone: 214-810-1317 Email: byrg.group@gmail.com SOURCE: Buyer Group International, Inc. Regula, a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification (IDV) solutions, is now providing advanced IDV software technologies to 152 million online users worldwide. This new milestone marks an impressive growth of 52% compared to the previous year. Among the main drivers of wider IDV adoption, Regula points out the rising need for advanced anti-fraud solutions, regulatory shifts, and digital transformation initiatives. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306630440/en/ Regula's identity verification solutions now serve 152 million users globally, marking a 52% growth. Here are the countries with most notable client base increase, as up to the beginning of 2025. (Graphic: Regula) The increasing adoption of Regula's document and biometric verification solutions highlights a growing demand for secure and user-friendly IDV workflows in key sectors, including finance, e-commerce, government services, travel, and more. This strong year-to-year growth demonstrates that businesses are proactively adapting to the rapidly changing ID verification landscape with Regula's complete IDV solution, which includes document authenticity checks, biometric verification, liveness detection, and deepfake prevention. Regional highlights From stricter KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) regulations in North America and Europe to erupting digital identity initiatives in Asia to booming fintech services in Latin America and the Middle East, identity verification is becoming an essential part of digital interactions. Here's how different markets are driving Regula's IDV adoption growth. North America Key drivers: Rising fraud incidents and threats (according to Regula's survey,* 96% of US businesses faced identity fraud in 2024) plus regulatory pressure. Country highlight: The US (+55%) Increased adoption of AI-driven fraud prevention and stronger authentication in financial services and e-commerce. Europe Key drivers: Stricter regulations (GDPR, AMLD), the European Digital Identity Wallet initiative, and fintech expansion. Country highlights: The UK (+122%) Post-Brexit compliance shifts and growth in digital banking. Germany (+123%) Strong data privacy laws and high demand for authenticity checks in digital scenarios. META (Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa) Key drivers: Digital government initiatives, fintech growth, and a push for AI-driven security. Country highlight: The UAE (+112%) Rapid adoption of digital identity verification solutions due to its ambitions to become a leader in AI, fintech, and smart city innovations. APAC (Asia Pacific) Key drivers: Booming digital payments, financial inclusion efforts, and strong government support for digital identity solutions. Country highlights: Singapore (+102%) A financial hub with widespread digital banking and government-backed digital ID systems like Singpass. Australia (+188%) AML regulations and age verification initiatives. Latin America Key drivers: Explosive fintech growth, mobile banking expansion, and high fraud rates requiring stronger ID verification techniques. Country highlights: Mexico (+156%) Rapid adoption of digital payments and financial services. Colombia (+241%) The fastest-growing market, driven by fintech expansion and government-led digital ID initiatives. "The growth across these markets is a direct response to regulatory developments, digital transformation efforts, and the increasing sophistication of fraud all the factors that make identity verification paramount. As businesses and governments worldwide accelerate their adoption of digital solutions, they face the complex challenge of ensuring security and compliance while maintaining a low-effort user experience. Additionally, the ever-rising cyber and identity fraud threats have made advanced IDV not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental business necessity. By leveraging our decades-long expertise in forensic level document and biometric verification, we deliver comprehensive, future-proof solutions and help our customers build secure and user-friendly IDV workflows," says Henry Patishman, Executive VP of Identity Verification Solutions at Regula. No compromise on security, efficiency, or compliance To help businesses and government institutions fight identity fraud effectively, Regula offers a complete IDV solution, comprising Regula Document Reader SDK and Regula Face SDK. This on-premise software performs extensive document and biometric authenticity checks, enables data cross-validation to spot discrepancies that might indicate fraud, and ensures sensitive personal data privacy. With more than 14,800 identity document templates from 251 countries and territories, Regula provides businesses with the industry's most comprehensive ID template database. This asset allows for accurate identity verification regardless of the provided document, which is especially important for financial institutions, travel companies, and global businesses. Regula's ID verification software is fully compatible with most third-party document readers, allowing organizations to adopt advanced offline ID verification without investing in new hardware. Also, Regula's IDV technologies are inherently future-ready, supporting emerging standards such as ISO/IEC 39794-5 for biometric passport verification and Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) aimed at streamlining travel and border crossing. Regula's hardware and software solutions are trusted by more than 1,000 organizations all over the world. Among them: UBS, the world's largest private bank, has implemented a robust customer onboarding system powered by Regula's comprehensive ID verification technologies. Checkport, a Swiss aviation security provider, utilizes Regula's identity verification solutions to enhance passenger screening and security protocols. Pearson VUE, a global leader in online testing, relies on Regula to authenticate candidate identities for high-stakes remote exams. To learn more about Regula's technologies and offerings, please visit Regula's website. *The research was initiated by Regula and conducted by Sapio Research in August 2024 using an online survey of 575 business decision-makers across the Financial Services (including Traditional Banking and Fintech), Crypto, Technology, Telecommunications, Aviation, Healthcare, and Law Enforcement sectors. The respondent geography included Germany, Mexico, the UAE, the US, and Singapore. Find more insights on deepfake fraud in the survey report. About Regula Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula has been repeatedly named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for Identity Verification. Learn more at www.regulaforensics.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306630440/en/ Contacts: Kristina ks@regulaforensics.com ING publishes 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F ING filed today its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2024 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Note for editors For more on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr. Press enquiries Investor enquiries Raymond Vermeulen ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 6369 Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com) Raymond.Vermeulen@ing.com (mailto:Raymond.Vermeulen@ing.com) ING PROFILE ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries. ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N). ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING's ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as 'AA' in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics' view, ING's management of ESG material risk is 'Strong'. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that's not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate. IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 ('Market Abuse Regulation'). 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In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are "green" or "sustainable." Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security. This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason. This document does not constitute an o?er to sell, or a solicitation of an o?er to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Attachment New domestic and international hubs, leadership hires, and an expanded advisory board strengthen the company's capabilities to deliver enterprise AI at scale Writer, the leader in enterprise generative AI, today announced a major global expansion across Europe, Asia-Pacific Japan (APJ), and the United States with new hubs in Singapore, Dublin, Chicago, and Austin. The company has also opened new, larger offices in San Francisco, New York, and London, while strengthening its leadership and advisory board as global demand for enterprise-ready AI solutions intensifies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306450912/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Generative AI adoption has become table stakes for enterprises, and growing interest in agentic AI is further fueling the need for reliable, transparent, and scalable solutions. Today, hundreds of the world's leading enterprises, like Mars, Prudential, WTW, Salesforce, and Vanguard, are using Writer's full-stack platform to achieve rapid value with AI applications and agents that are purpose-built for mission-critical work. According to a new 2025 Total Economic Impact study Report from Forrester Consulting, commissioned by Writer, a composite organization representative of interviewed customers saw a 333% return on investment over three years, with a payback period of within six months. International Expansion As enterprise demand for purpose-built AI solutions accelerates, Writer has established its inaugural EMEA Advisory Board to strengthen the company's leadership in the region, with former Salesforce President and Chief Revenue Officer Gavin Patterson serving as Chair. Other members include Novartis Head of AI Strategy Office, Nikita Popov; State Street Chief Architect, Aman Thind; WTW COO, Paul Martin; Kenvue Data Excellence and AI Lead, EMEA, Sarah Swaney; Mars Pet Nutrition Global VP of Data Driven Marketing, Lindsay Barrett, and more. In EMEA, Writer is growing its European presence with a hub in Dublin, further strengthening its ability to support its expanding roster of European customers. Additionally, Writer has opened a new office in London, an existing key market, to better serve enterprises as they scale AI across industries. Writer has appointed Darragh Fitzpatrick as EMEA Vice President, Sales and Stephen Ryan as Head of EMEA Partnerships to spearhead the company's growth in the region. Writer is also expanding into APJ with its first dedicated hub in Singapore. This move marks a major step in the company's global growth, establishing a key presence in one of the world's fastest-growing business and technology markets. To lead this expansion, Doug Kang has joined as VP, Head of APJ. "The pace of AI adoption in APJ and EMEA is undeniable," said Brian O'Reilly, GM of International at Writer. "Enterprises here are moving fast on AI, building dedicated teams and actively looking for solutions that deliver immediate ROI across their organizations. The overwhelming response to our AI Leadership Forum in London this week reinforces this demand not just for great AI, but for a strategic partner that can actually make it work at scale. With offices now in London, Singapore, and Dublin, we're strengthening our international presence and giving enterprises a partner on the ground as they look to become AI-first." Deepening US Presence Writer has also expanded its U.S. operations with new hubs in Austin and Chicago, as the company looks to expand their teams in these regions. These locations will serve as strategic hubs for attracting top talent and deepening the company's presence in the South and Midwest. The company has additionally expanded its operations in its core San Francisco and New York markets, moving into larger office spaces to accommodate the company's continuing internal growth. Alongside its geographic expansion, Writer has continued its laser focus on bringing to market next-generation, industry-leading AI solutions. Recently, Writer was recognized in the 2025 Gartner Innovation Guide for Generative AI Technologies and named an Emerging Leader across three categories: Generative AI Model Providers, Generative AI Engineering, and AI Knowledge Management Apps General Productivity. Writer is rapidly growing and hiring across multiple regions. Join us on our mission to transform work for enterprises worldwide to explore career opportunities at Writer, visit writer.com/careers. About Writer Writer is the full-stack generative AI platform delivering transformative ROI for the world's leading enterprises. Its fully integrated solution makes it easy to deploy secure and reliable AI agents that automate mission-critical work. Writer's suite of development tools is supported by Palmyra Writer's state-of-the-art family of LLMs alongside its industry-leading graph-based RAG and customizable AI guardrails. Hundreds of customers like Accenture, Intuit, L'Oreal, Salesforce, Uber, and Vanguard trust Writer to transform the way they work. Founded in 2020, Writer is backed by world-leading investors, including Premji Invest, Radical Ventures, ICONIQ Growth, Insight Partners, Balderton, B Capital, Salesforce Ventures, Adobe Ventures, Citi Ventures, IBM Ventures, WndrCo, and others. Learn more at writer.com. Gartner, Innovation Guide for Generative AI Technologies, 10 February 2025 Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306450912/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: press@writer.com ContractPodAi's Leah adds agentic contracting capabilities to the Epiq Service Cloud ContractPodAi, a leader in legal AI solutions and contract lifecycle management (CLM), today announced that Epiq, a global leader in technology-enabled legal services, now offers ContractPodAi's Leah within the Epiq Service Cloud. As an implementation partner, Epiq supports clients with the development and successful adoption of Leah as an agentic contracting solution. Leah represents a new category of AI technology that can understand context, process complex legal tasks, and execute workflows with appropriate human oversight. This partnership will further enable Epiq clients to automate sophisticated legal processes while maintaining control and compliance. Leah is available through the Epiq Service Cloud, a multi-layer, cloud enabled platform incorporating AI services and applications built on Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS) technologies. Clients can access Leah and other premium AI applications, such as Epiq AI Discovery Assistant, directly through the Epiq Service Cloud and seamlessly integrate these applications and services into their workflows and systems. "Our vision for 2025 is to create a comprehensive operating system for law, powered by agentic AI, that thinks and acts like a legal professional," said Sarvarth Misra, CEO and co-founder of ContractPodAi. "By embedding Leah into Epiq's ecosystem, together we aren't just improving efficiency-we're fundamentally changing how legal work gets done. Leah will help clients automate complex processes, make informed decisions, and scale their operations with unprecedented speed and accuracy." Instead of forcing teams to conform to rigid systems of record, Leah orchestrates specialized AI sub-agents to address every phase of the contract and legal process from drafting, redlining, and negotiating to managing obligations and compliance. "Our clients look to us to provide solutions that drive operational efficiency and optimize legal service delivery," said Ziad Mantoura, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Epiq's Enterprise Legal and Consulting Solutions. "By offering Leah through the Epiq Service Cloud, we are equipping legal teams with a powerful AI technology that can handle sophisticated legal tasks, helping our clients be more strategic in their critical legal functions." This initiative builds on the multi-year partnership of ContractPodAi and Epiq focused on Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) implementations. Additionally, Epiq is developing applications for ContractPodAi's Leah Marketplace to help democratize access to AI tools for specific legal use cases. About ContractPodAi ContractPodAi, a recognized pioneer in legal GenAI with Leah Intelligence and a leader in Contract Lifecycle Management, is transforming how lawyers author, analyze, and manage documents on an unprecedented scale. ContractPodAi delivers secure, enterprise-ready innovation to accelerate growth and ensure measurable ROI. Going beyond mere task automation, Leah redefines legal processes, empowering strategic thinking and offering real-time analysis. The company has been recognized as a CLM Visionary by Gartner the last four consecutive years and named a Leader in the 2024 IDC MarketScape for Corporate Legal CLM Software. This is more than legal tech; it's Legal Reimagined. Headquartered in London, ContractPodAi supports its teams across the world in New York, Glasgow, San Francisco, Toronto, Sydney, Mumbai, Pune, and more. About Epiq Epiq is a leading legal and compliance services platform integrating people, process, and technology. Through this combination of innovative technology, legal and business expertise, and comprehensive solutions, Epiq drives efficiency in large-scale and increasingly complex tasks. High-performing clients around the world rely on Epiq to streamline the administration of business, settlement administration, legal, and compliance operations to solve immediate challenges and provide scalable ongoing support to transform the enterprise. Learn more at www.epiqglobal.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306474573/en/ Contacts: Press Contacts Carrie Trent Epiq, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations Carrie.Trent@epiqglobal.com Irene Alexakos contractpodai@walkersands.com HESI CPRA offers a reliable and trusted assessment tool to evaluate nursing students' preparedness for clinical practice The percentage of practice-ready graduating nursing students has hit single digits in recent years NEW YORK, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elsevier Health, a global leader in medical information and data analytics, today launched HESI Clinical Practice Readiness Assessment (CPRA), the first standardized, objective, and reliable assessment for faculty to assess nursing students' clinical judgment and practice readiness. The Next Generation National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) brings nursing students' clinical judgment to the forefront and has increased the focus on clinical preparedness, an area that studies continually cite as a weakness with new nurses. The number of practice-ready students has declined from 23% to 9%[1], and educators need a reliable method to help measure whether soon-to-be nursing graduates have the necessary knowledge and skills to care for patients safely and independently. Elsevier's CPRA offers students a method to demonstrate their critical thinking and decision-making skills by exhibiting key nursing competencies as they provide care for virtual patients. Through high-fidelity, screen-based simulations that include questions in the style of the Next Generation NCLEX and outcome alignment with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials competency framework, instructors can understand whether students have the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed as new nurses in clinical practice. Building on Elsevier's trusted resources that support the development of clinical judgment, CPRA serves as a cumulative evaluation administered toward the end of nursing programs to measure practice readiness. When used alongside the HESI Exit Exam, programs gain a valid and reliable method to assess graduating students' preparedness for success on the NCLEX and in practice. Brent Gordon, President of Nursing & Health Education at Elsevier, said: "Nursing programs that have struggled to measure practice readiness vs. test readiness due to resource constraints and the limitations of currently available assessment frameworks and tools now have a standard, reliable assessment solution with which to measure their students' clinical competencies. CPRA is essential for nursing student education as an end-of-program assessment." CPRA includes the following features: Performance Reporting that assigns students an overall practice readiness mastery level (emerging, developing, proficient, or advanced), as well as performance level across the five constructs assessed to enable the identification of student strengths and weaknesses, trends across students, and possible curriculum gaps. that assigns students an overall practice readiness mastery level (emerging, developing, proficient, or advanced), as well as performance level across the five constructs assessed to enable the identification of student strengths and weaknesses, trends across students, and possible curriculum gaps. Screen-based, High-fidelity Simulations with corresponding secure assessment questions offer a realistic, immersive environment through which students can demonstrate practice readiness by providing care to a variety of virtual patients across the lifespan. with corresponding secure assessment questions offer a realistic, immersive environment through which students can demonstrate practice readiness by providing care to a variety of virtual patients across the lifespan. Digital Standardized Patients Scenarios vary in age, race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, and sexual orientation and have a wide range of health concerns. Their health histories and current concerns are designed to support students' demonstration of nursing competency in a broad spectrum of medical conditions. vary in age, race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, and sexual orientation and have a wide range of health concerns. Their health histories and current concerns are designed to support students' demonstration of nursing competency in a broad spectrum of medical conditions. Natural Language Conversation Engine allows students to engage with simulated patients using their own words to gather subjective data and provide therapeutic communication. CPRA's standardized and reliable evaluation provides a consistent method of assessing nursing students' practice readiness through scenarios mapped to five practice readiness constructs: assessment, communication, education, safety, clinical judgment. Paul Crockett, SVP, Product and Learning Research and Design at Elsevier, said: "Standardization of the simulation experience ensures a consistent measure of practice readiness and a means of identifying trends among students and potential gaps in the curriculum. We are addressing these gaps through innovative training tools for new nurses to give them the skills and confidence they need to provide quality patient care. CPRA takes out the variability and inconsistency and provides an objective rubric of success." Elsevier Health works with healthcare educators to prepare students for successful careers in medicine, nursing, and health professions by providing world-class, trusted content and innovative learning tools and analytics that improve educational outcomes and ready them for clinical practice. To learn more about CPRA, please visit our CPRA website. About Elsevier As a global leader in scientific information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making with innovative solutions based on trusted, evidence-based content and advanced AI-enabled digital technologies. We have supported the work of our research and healthcare communities for more than 140 years. Our 9,500 employees around the world, including 2,500 technologists, are dedicated to supporting researchers, librarians, academic leaders, funders, governments, R&D-intensive companies, doctors, nurses, future healthcare professionals and educators in their critical work. Our 2,900 scientific journals and iconic reference books include the foremost titles in their fields, including Cell Press, The Lancet and Gray's Anatomy. Together with the?Elsevier Foundation , we work in partnership with the communities we serve to advance?inclusion and diversity?in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of?RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information on our work, digital solutions and content, visit www.elsevier.com. About Elsevier Health For more than 140 years, Elsevier has supported the work of researchers and healthcare professionals by providing current, evidence-based information that can help empower students and clinicians to provide the best healthcare possible. Growing from our roots, Elsevier Health applies innovation, facilitates insights, and helps drive more informed decision-making for our customers across global health. We support health providers by providing accessible, trusted evidence-based information to take on the infodemic; prepare more future health professionals with effective tools and resources; provide insights that help clinicians improve patient outcomes; deliver healthcare that is truly inclusive; and supports a more personalized and localized healthcare experience. Diversity and inclusion are the foundation of our innovation, and our teams are committed to creating education and practice solutions that reflect the diversity of our world. Elsevier Health is helping lay the groundwork for more equitable healthcare worldwide; We bring the same rigor to our digital information solutions as we do to our publishing, allowing us to offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive progress for the benefit of every patient. [1] *Kavanagh, J.M., Sharpnack, P.A., (January 31, 2021) "Crisis in Competency: A Defining Moment in Nursing Education" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 26, No. 1, Manuscript 2. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2628519/5198935/Elsevier_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/elsevier-health-launches-hesi-clinical-practice-readiness-assessment-cpra-the-first-assessment-of-its-kind-to-assess-nursing-students-practice-readiness-302392258.html UTRECHT, The Netherlands, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitestro, a pioneer in medical robotics, proudly reveals the name of its autonomous blood drawing device: Aletta, the first autonomous robotic device designed to perform automated blood draws with unparalleled precision and consistency. Aletta is named in honor of Dr. Aletta Jacobs, a Dutch physician whose groundbreaking work reshaped modern healthcare. As the first female doctor in the Netherlands, Dr. Jacobs was a relentless advocate for medical advancement, accessibility, and patient well-being. Inspired by her vision, Aletta embodies these same values-trust, empathy, innovation, and collaboration-while paying tribute to Vitestro's Dutch heritage and its mission to advance phlebotomy worldwide. "The name Aletta fosters a human connection with both healthcare professionals and patients-making Aletta more than just technology," says Brian Joseph, Co-Founder and Commercial Director at Vitestro. Patients and healthcare staff will interact with Aletta every day, and we want them to see her as an integral part of the phlebotomy team. By working alongside trained medical personnel, Aletta enhances precision and efficiency, ensuring a seamless experience and the highest quality of care for every patient." Aletta is the first and only Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device (ARPD), a unique technology descriptor that establishes a new category of medical robotics dedicated to optimizing blood collection. As the exclusive ARPD, Aletta sets the global industry standard for automated venous blood draws-enhancing clinical precision, safety, efficiency, and patient experience. By automating routine blood draws, Aletta enables phlebotomists and nurses to dedicate more time to patient care while addressing critical healthcare staffing shortages, which are expected to worsen in the coming years. Aletta's advanced capabilities include: Innovation : AI-powered Doppler ultrasound and imaging technology for precise vein identification : AI-powered Doppler ultrasound and imaging technology for precise vein identification Precision : Robotic-controlled needle insertion for consistent, accurate blood draws : Robotic-controlled needle insertion for consistent, accurate blood draws Automation : Fully automated blood collection to reduce variability and human dependence : Fully automated blood collection to reduce variability and human dependence Integration : Seamlessly fits into hospital and laboratory workflows, increasing efficiency, patient throughput, and workforce capacity : Seamlessly fits into hospital and laboratory workflows, increasing efficiency, patient throughput, and workforce capacity Patient Safety and Experience: Clinically validated safety and comfort in over 4,000 patients, with pain levels comparable to or lower than manual blood draws Following its CE-marking and initial commercial launch in Europe, Vitestro is preparing for broader adoption of Aletta across hospitals and laboratories throughout the region. The company is also working towards U.S. regulatory approval and conducting a U.S.-based multi-center clinical trial in collaboration with leading academic medical centers and healthcare systems. As demand for autonomous blood collection increases, Vitestro aims to establish ARPD technology as the new global standard of care-expanding access to high-quality diagnostics while improving the patient experience. "With Aletta, Vitestro is shaping the future of blood collection-where human expertise and robotic precision work together to advance healthcare while preserving the human touch." About Vitestro Vitestro is a global leader in medical robotics, headquartered in the Netherlands, with deep expertise in engineering, robotics, and commercialization in both the U.S. and international markets. The company has developed and launched the world's first and only CE-marked Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device (ARPD), setting a new benchmark for diagnostic venous blood sampling. By integrating advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, and imaging technology, Vitestro delivers greater precision, efficiency, and an improved patient experience. While Aletta has not yet received FDA approval, Vitestro is actively preparing for U.S. regulatory approval and global expansion. For more information, visit vitestro.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635461/Aletta.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vitestro-unveils-aletta-the-worlds-first-autonomous-robotic-phlebotomy-device-arpd-302394497.html Improvements in fibrosis observed using 3 pre-specified methods of histological analysis: conventional, AIM-MASH (PathAI) and qFibrosis (Histoindex) Mechanistically, icosabutate improved fibrosis independent of reductions in liver fat or body weight, emphasizing its unique mechanism and promise for combination with GLP-1RAs to optimize both clinical benefits and success in longer term outcome studies Positive results support advancement of icosabutate into further clinical development in MASH patients as an anti-fibrotic, particularly in patients with more advanced disease and/or with underlying diabetes NorthSea Therapeutics B.V. ('NST', or the 'Company'), a private, late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing novel strategies to treat metabolic, cholestatic, and fibrotic diseases, today announced that results from the Phase 2b ICONA clinical trial of icosabutate in biopsy-confirmed F1-F3 metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) were published in the Journal of Hepatology. The publication, "A phase IIb randomised-controlled trial of the FFAR1/FFAR4 agonist icosabutate in MASH" reported that treatment with icosabutate demonstrated highly encouraging results in the most clinically meaningful endpoint, fibrosis improvement, as assessed by both artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted digital pathology toolsDP/AI) tools and conventional histological assessment. "The data presented in this publication, both conventional and AI-assisted histology, suggest improvements in fibrosis in patients treated with icosabutate," said Arun Sanyal, M.D., Director of the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health and the last author of the Journal of Hepatology paper. "The unique mechanism of action, unrelated to a decrease in liver fat, will provide patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, with more options for therapy in the future." The results are consistent with icosabutate's anti-fibrotic effects in pre-clinical models and anti-proliferative effects in isolated stellate cells1,2. Key findings include: AI-assisted digital pathology 49.2% (p=0.02 vs placebo) of 600 mg treated patients achieving a =1-stage improvement in fibrosis versus 25.7% of placebo treated patients as assessed by qFibrosis (Histoindex). improvement in fibrosis versus 25.7% of placebo treated patients as assessed by qFibrosis (Histoindex). 32.7% (p=0.004 vs placebo) of F3-F4 patients treated with 600 mg icosabutate achieved =1-stageimprovement in fibrosis without worsening of MASH versus 9.6% of placebo treated patients as assessed by AIM-MASH (Path-AI). Conventional histological analysis 30.8% (p=0.036 vs placebo) and 28.3% (p=0.065 vs placebo) of F2-F3 patients treated with icosabutate 300 and 600 mg respectively achieving a =1-stage improvement in fibrosis versus 13% of placebo treated patients. improvement in fibrosis versus 13% of placebo treated patients. 28.6% (p=0.003 vs placebo) and 21.2% (p=0.013 vs placebo) of Type 2 diabetic patients treated with icosabutate 300 and 600 mg respectively achieving a =1-stageimprovement in fibrosis versus 0% of placebo treated patients. The clinical relevance of the AIM-MASH findings is highlighted by recently published data demonstrating that continual scores in AIM-MASH determined F3-F4 MASH patients strongly predicted progression free survival3 A 3-panel read method was used for the conventional histological analysis. To provide a more relevant cross-study comparison, we also performed an exploratory analysis of fibrosis improvement using the same pathologist used in the current study and in multiple single reader F2-F3 phase 2 MASH studies. A =1-stageimprovement in fibrosis was seen in 17.5%, 29.2% and 40.9% of patients (F2-F3) in the placebo, 300 mg and 600 mg arms respectively. The publication also highlights the broad therapeutic effect of 600 mg icosabutate on multiple biomarkers of liver health, systemic inflammation and glycemic control, including but not limited to: Significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR in conjunction with a ~1% placebo adjusted decrease in HbA1c in type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control at baseline. Significant improvements in ALT, AST, GGT, ALP and bilirubin. Significant improvements in ELF score (a marker of fibrosis), PRO-C3 (~20% reduction from baseline) and hsCRP (median reduction of 40% from baseline). Icosabutate was generally safe and well tolerated, with mild to moderate treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and no reports of drug induced liver injury. As expected, icosabutate did not significantly decrease either liver fat or body weight. This aspect of icosabutate's therapeutic profile may make it ideally suited for combination therapy in tandem with incretin-based therapies that successfully target body weight and liver fat. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated the synergistic effects of GLP-1RA and icosabutate on hepatic fibrosis reduction. Rob de Ree, Chief Executive Officer of NorthSea Therapeutics, said, "We're very pleased with the overall ICONA dataset. The MASH landscape has changed dramatically since we started the ICONA study. Firstly, the importance of improving fibrosis as the most clinically relevant and therapeutically challenging endpoint has become even more firmly entrenched. Secondly, the potential utility of artificial intelligence driven scoring as both a validated and alternative approach to conventional manual pathology has progressed rapidly. We believe there's an important place for a safe, well-tolerated, oral anti-fibrotic with add-on benefits on glycemic control, inflammation and atherogenic lipids in the MASH therapeutic landscape, and we look forward to further developing icosabutate in more advanced MASH patients as a monotherapy or as a combination therapy." About Phase 2b ICONA Clinical Trial The Phase 2b ICONA clinical trial was a 52-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that evaluated the safety and histological impact of icosabutate at 300 and 600 mg compared to placebo in 168 biopsy-confirmed MASH patients with moderate-to-severe fibrosis (stage F1, F2 or F3) with NAS =4. Patients were randomized to receive 300 mg or 600 mg icosabutate or placebo, taken orally once daily. An end-of-trial biopsy was assessed by 3 pathologists for histological endpoints using a consensus read approach. Liver biopsies were also analyzed using two independent AI-based digital pathology tools (pre-specified). About NorthSea Therapeutics NorthSea Therapeutics B.V. is a private, late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing novel strategies to treat metabolic, cholestatic, and fibrotic diseases. Its proprietary structurally engineered fatty acids (SEFAs) are designed to target key disease pathways, offering potential first-in-class treatments. With multiple clinical programs in progress, the company leverages a strong scientific foundation to drive innovation and advance new therapeutic approaches for diseases with serious unmet medical needs. NorthSea's $80M Series C financing was co-led by Ysios Capital and Forbion Growth and supported by venBio, Novo Seeds, Sofinnova, BGV and New Science Ventures. Headquartered in the Netherlands, NorthSea also has a presence in Norway and the U.S. To learn more, visit https://northseatherapeutics.com/en/ 1Stokman G, van den Hoek AM, Denker Thorbekk D, et al. Dual targeting of hepatic fibrosis and atherogenesis by icosabutate, an engineered eicosapentaenoic acid derivative. Liver Int. 2020;40(11):2860-76. 2Fraser DA, Wang X, Lund J, et al. A structurally engineered fatty acid, icosabutate, suppresses liver inflammation and fibrosis in NASH. J Hepatol. 2022;76(4):800-11. 3Iyer JS, Juyal D, Le Q, et al. AI-based automation of enrollment criteria and endpoint assessment in clinical trials in liver diseases. Nat Med. 2024;30(10):2914-23. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305369039/en/ Contacts: Argot Partners northsea@argotpartners.com (212)-600-1494 Bringing Decades of Law Enforcement Leadership to the Cutting Edge of AI in Public Safety WASHINGTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- METIS Intelligence, a global leader in AI-driven intelligence solutions for law enforcement, public safety, and national security agencies, is proud to announce the appointment of Terrence A. Monahan to its Advisory Board. As the former Chief of Department of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and a seasoned security consultant, Monahan will play a key role in guiding METIS's North American expansion and advancing AI-driven policing initiatives. Revolutionizing Policing with Next-Generation AI With the evolving challenges in modern policing agencies are turning to AI-powered cognitive automation and big-data analytics to fight crime and enhance decision-making. Monahan, renowned for his innovative leadership in law enforcement, sees METIS Intelligence as a game-changer in the field. "Policing must continuously evolve to stay ahead of emerging threats. METIS Intelligence is leading the way with AI-powered augmented intelligence that enhances officer safety, improves investigations, and enables real-time crime prevention," said Chief Monahan. "I'm excited to help METIS Intelligence bring these cutting-edge solutions to agencies worldwide." Decades of Leadership & Real-World Impact Currently the CEO of Monahan Consulting, LLC, Monahan advises public and private organizations on cryptocurrency investigations, security strategies, and event planning. His global consulting experience spans Thailand, Dubai, France, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Canada, and the U.S., where he has advised agencies on modern policing strategies and emerging technologies. During his tenure at the NYPD, Monahan oversaw 36,000+ officers and 16,000 civilians, spearheading critical initiatives such as: CompStat Innovation - A data-driven policing model that transformed crime prevention worldwide. - A data-driven policing model that transformed crime prevention worldwide. Drone Program Deployment - Enhancing situational awareness for tactical operations. - Enhancing situational awareness for tactical operations. COVID-19 Recovery Planning - Leading NYC's law enforcement response. "Having worked as a federal agent alongside the NYPD for most of my career, I have seen firsthand Chief Monahan's vision and leadership, blending law enforcement expertise with forward looking technology," said Dr. Joseph J. Lestrange, EVP & Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for METIS IntelligenceNorth America. "His expertise in data-driven policing will be invaluable as METIS expands its AI-driven solutions across North America." AI for a Safer Future METIS Intelligence is democratizing AI for law enforcement and security professionals-providing affordable, scalable solutions that help agencies: Detect and disrupt emerging threats and criminal activities . . Solve more crimes, faster and more effectively. Leverage big data for better decision-making. Enhance officer safety and operational efficiency. Improve crime prevention and prosecution success rates. Strengthen community trust through transparency and accountability. With Chief Monahan's leadership, METIS Intelligence is poised to scale its AI-powered intelligence solutions across North America and beyond. Join the Future of AI-Powered Policing Want to learn how AI can transform your agency? Interested in partnerships, investment opportunities, product demos, or METIS Academy? Contact us today at: info@metis-intelligence.com Joseph.Lestrange@metis-intelligence.com (347) 992 - 8750 www.metis-intelligence.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635622/METIS_Intelligence.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/smarter-policing-with-ai-former-nypd-chief-of-department-terrence-monahan-joins-metis-intelligence-to-drive-innovation--expansion-in-north-america-302394687.html LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MyGuava, in partnership with Millwall FC, is thrilled to introduce the MyGuava Millwall Reward Card, a card that is designed to enhance the fan experience with exclusive rewards and benefits. This innovative payment card offers Millwall supporters a unique way to engage with their club while earning valuable perks. Cardholders can enjoy up to 7% cashback on purchases, plus automatic entry into exclusive prize draws. For the most devoted fans, 900 limited-edition Millwall cards will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, featuring enhanced cashback rates and special access to exclusive club benefits. "We are excited to bring Millwall fans a unique way to engage with their club while enjoying incredible rewards," says Grant Wyatt, Head of Strategic Partnerships at MyGuava. "Our collaboration with Millwall FC underscores our commitment to enhancing fan experiences through innovative financial products." "We're excited to launch the bespoke MyGuava Millwall reward card. Not only does the platform provide a host of seamless payment and currency transfer options, but with the addition of cashback and some great Millwall rewards, our fans can now be rewarded for their support wherever they are." - Luke Wilson, Chief Commercial Officer at Millwall FC. The MyGuava Millwall Reward Card is available in both virtual and physical formats and is fully compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay for seamless and secure transactions. Fans can apply for the card via the MyGuava App and start enjoying the benefits. About the MyGuava App The MyGuava App, which is the flagship product of Guavapay, is designed to meet the broad financial needs of users. Users can open accounts in 20 currencies, make seamless local and global payments, and use both virtual and physical debit cards. The app also has significant global reach, with access to 140 countries in more than 90 currencies and there are additional benefits, including discounted gift cards from top brands and tools for enhancing user experience, such as digital skins, spending insights and vaults. To learn more about the MyGuava Millwall Card Reward scheme, please visit the link below https://myguava.com/personal/landings/millwall-cobrand-card About Guavapay Guavapay is a global fintech company with headquarters in London. The company has built a global financial ecosystem to empower individuals and businesses and give them more control over their financial lives. The All Things Payments App, MyGuava and the B2B platform, MyGuava Business, simplify financial services, making them more accessible and affordable for people who have historically been overlooked. The MyGuava Application is operated by Guavapay Limited, a company registered in England with company number 10601900 and its registered address at Salisbury House, 29 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 5QQ, United Kingdom. Guavapay Limited is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom as a Small Electronic Money Institution with reference number 900888. Guavapay Limited's ICO registration number is ZA274504. For more information, please visit www.guavapay.com or contact: Media Contacts PR Manager: Nigar Suleymanova nigar.suleymanova@guavapay.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2593777/5106126/MyGuava_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/myguava-and-millwall-fc-announce-the-launch-of-the-myguava-millwall-reward-card-302394692.html Microsoft Solutions Partner Caf2Code, renowned for its exceptional client success, achieves elite partner designation through Microsoft's FastTrack Program for Dynamics 365 and Cloud Solutions. Caf2Code, a Microsoft Solutions Partner celebrated for its Dynamics ERP expertise, proudly announces its designation as a Microsoft FastTrack Partner, reinforcing its commitment to accelerating enterprise cloud adoption and digital transformation. Caf2Code FastTrack Portfolio Partner Caf2Code logo FastTrack status is awarded exclusively to partners demonstrating proven expertise in Microsoft cloud solutions and a consistent track record of successful implementations. This prestigious designation grants Caf2Code clients direct access to Microsoft engineers, architectural guidance, and implementation best practices, ensuring seamless transitions to Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Microsoft 365 solutions. FastTrack Program Benefits Now Available to Caf2Code Clients The Microsoft FastTrack program delivers significant advantages to Caf2Code clients, including: Direct Microsoft Engineering Support: Immediate access to Microsoft product engineers for complex technical challenges and customized solution architecture. Success-Driven Implementation: Leverage Microsoft-proven methodologies and success plans designed to accelerate deployment while reducing risk. Migration and Adoption Resources: Comprehensive tools and resources for data migration, user onboarding, and change management at no additional cost. Continuous Optimization: Ongoing access to best practices, training resources, and product roadmap insights to maximize long-term value. "This achievement cements Caf2Code as a rising Microsoft Partner. Being a FastTrack Partner ensures that our best practices align with Microsoft's, that our MVP-led support teams have direct access to Microsoft support leadership, and that our clients experience excellent delivery of their projects." said Benjamin Breeden, CEO of Caf2Code. "I'm proud of the Caf2Code team for making this happen and grateful for Microsoft's continued partnership." Enhanced Service Offering Caf2Code's FastTrack designation enables clients to: Accelerate Cloud Migrations: Reduce implementation timelines by up to 30% while streamlining onboarding processes. Minimize Risk: Apply Microsoft's proven architectural guidance and deployment best practices. Maximize ROI: Reduce implementation costs while improving user adoption and solution effectiveness. This milestone strengthens Caf2Code's position as one of the foremost Microsoft Partners for business applications, combining elite consulting expertise with Microsoft's robust implementation framework. About Caf2Code Caf2Code is a boutique Microsoft Solutions Partner specializing in Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and AI-driven digital transformation. Led by Microsoft MVPs and certified consultants, Caf2Code empowers organizations to modernize operations and drive measurable business results through expert implementation services. SOURCE: Caf2Code *The role of home energy management in the electrification of homes. Today's energy transition offers homeowners a unique opportunity to leverage intelligent, connected technologies to create more sustainable, autonomous and energy-efficient homes. Join Eaton and industry experts from Ample Electric, Rewiring America and Tesla as they discuss opportunities for whole home electrification to reduce homeowner's carbon footprint, keep the power on, and help support the electric grid. Discover hurdles that stand in the way to home electrification and how intelligent technologies help accelerate the transformation. Watch Current Thinking Broadcast Stay informed about electrical innovation and trends - sign up to get the information you need to power what matters Innovation Whitepaper: Harness solar power with solar-ready meter breakers Solar-ready meter breakers integrate solar power into residential electrical systems by combining utility and solar PV power in one enclosure. They offer cost savings, ease of installation, and increased home market value by allowing future solar additions without panel changes. These breakers maximize PV system potential and meet NEC compliance. Learn more about Eaton's solar-ready meter breakers Safety Video: What are the code updates for arc-fault circuit interrupters? Let's dive into the recent code updates for Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) in the latest video by Eaton. The primary focus is on exploring the current updates in Part (D), where areas such as guest rooms, nursing homes, and now, sleeping quarters in fire stations and police stations, require AFCI protection. Discover how power management companies are extending AFCI technology beyond dwelling units, ensuring safety across various locations. Additionally, understand the range of products falling under the code. Watch now! Watch the video and learn about the recent code updates Education Brochure: Solutions for homes and multi-tenant buildings. Discover how Eaton is helping customers around the world transform homes into strategic energy hubs to take advantage of the new power paradigm, better manage existing electrical infrastructure, maximize electrical safety and prepare for future energy requirements. This is our Home as a Grid strategy at work, creating flexible energy systems that accelerate decarbonization, boost resilience, reduce energy costs and exceed the demands of the future. Download: Design a safer, smarter, more energy-efficient home Technology, Products & Services Bussmann series CAD Configurator The Bussmann series CAD configurator provides access to hundreds of Bussmann series products as fully integrated, intelligent 3D CAD models. Simply select your electrical component requirements and immediately download an accurate 3D model including all the technical details and relevant data sheets. The Bussmann series CAD configurator will simplify your design process, save time, and the ensure accuracy of your next project. Explore our announcements this month Virtual Events Join our on-line events: Eaton at CES 2025 Watch on-demand Reset Safety Webinar - arc flash mitigation Watch on-demand Eaton hosted and industry events Join our in-person training and events: IEEE IAS Electrical Safety Workshop #412, 414, 416, 418 Mar 3-7 | Jacksonville, FL ASHE PDC Summit #1010 Mar 9-12 | Atlanta, GA TechAdvantage 2025 March 10-12 | Atlanta, GA DISTRIBUTECH Mar 25-27 | Dallas, TX Automation and technical showcase March 24 | Dallas, TX AISTech May 5-8 | Nashville, TN IEEE Cement Conference May 4-8 | Nashville, TN Stay informed about electrical innovation and trends - sign up to get the information you need to power what matters View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Eaton Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Eaton Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/eaton Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Eaton Corporation National Robotics Week 2025 is almost here! Taking place from April 5-13, 2025, this annual celebration aims to inspire students in robotics and STEM-related fields and share the excitement of robotics with audiences of all ages. MassRobotics , the world's largest robotics hub, supporting the growth, commercialization and adoption of robotics technology, has participated annually in the Robotics Week celebration, hosting students for impactful and engaging hands-on experiences in the MassRobotics STEM Lab. "We are always happy to share our first-hand experience with students, as we believe in inspiring the next generation of innovators," said Thomas Ryden, MassRobotics Executive Director. "Showcasing the multitude of career paths in the robotics field not only highlights the diverse opportunities available but also helps students envision how they can apply their skills and passions to shape the future of technology." This year, with the support of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory, also known as DEVCOM ARL, MassRobotics will host hands-on robotics experiences for both local and out-of-state students and Army representatives will be on-hand, supporting these engagements fostering curiosity and innovation. "It is exciting to help students discover robotics and recognize the real-world applications for both military and civilian fields," said Dr. Shawn Coleman, DEVCOM ARL Northeast lead. "We are thrilled to collaborate with MassRobotics to provide students with an immersive experience in robotics." Highlights for the MassRobotics sessions during National Robotics Week Include: Hands-On Robotics Workshops : Students will have the chance to program robots for a mini-competition. Interactive Demos : Showcasing state-of-the-art robotics solutions, from autonomous vehicles to assistive technologies. Meet-and-Greets: Opportunities to connect with robotics experts and innovators. MassRobotics is working to grow the robotics community and spark innovation in the next generation of technology leaders. MassRobotics hosts several education-related events throughout the year, including our annual Robot Block Party, open to the public. Learn more about the robot block party here - and stay tuned to upcoming events by following us here or register to receive our biweekly newsletter here . National Robotics Week is celebrated with hundreds of events across the United States. Find an event near you here . If you have a STEM-focused robotics activity planned, you can share it with the broader community by submitting it here . About National Robotics Week: Founded in 2010, National Robotics Week aims to recognize robotics technology as a pillar of 21st-century innovation and to encourage students to pursue careers in robotics and STEM fields. Visit here for more details. About MassRobotics: MassRobotics is the largest independent robotics hub in the world dedicated to accelerating robotics innovation, commercialization and adoption. Our mission is to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics and AI technology companies by providing entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace, resources, programming and connections they need to develop, prototype, test and commercialize their products and solutions. While MassRobotics originated and is headquartered in Boston, we are reaching and supporting robotics acceleration and adoption globally and are working with startups, academia, industry and governments both domestically and internationally. About DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory: The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory, known as DEVCOM ARL, is the Army's research laboratory. Nested strategically within DEVCOM and the Army Futures Command, ARL's mission is to Operationalize Science. ARL identifies and executes disruptive research leading to scientific discovery and emerging technologies for Army continuous transformation. A hallmark of ARL's mission is collaborative partnerships to broaden Army access to expert talent and accelerate transitions of science-enabled capabilities. For more information, visit https://arl.devcom.army.mil . Media Contact: Sayo Tirrell MassRobotics sayo@massrobotics.org SOURCE: MassRobotics 95% of respondents report reduction in workplace injuries since implementing connected safety solutions; training and cultural adoption cited as barriers to adoption Wesco International (NYSE:WCC), a leading provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services, and supply chain solutions, announced the results of a new survey conducted in partnership with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to explore how connected safety solutions and recent changes in NFPA 70B: Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance have helped improve safety among facilities, and identify where improvements can be made. The survey, conducted in August 2024, polled 200 safety professionals across industries including manufacturing, construction, healthcare and more. View the new infographic to highlight survey results here. Learn more about Wesco's safety services and solutions here and visit ESFI.org for comprehensive resources and education on electrical safety. Impact of Connected Safety Solutions on Workplace Safety Contact with or exposure to electricity continues to be one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries in the United States. More than 80% of survey respondents - all of which are responsible for workplace safety - consider electrical hazards to be one of their primary safety concerns. Relying on connected safety solutions - from video analytics to wearable devices, robotics to safety management software - has proven to help control and mitigate workplace hazards as 95% of respondents report a reduction in workplace injuries since implementing connected safety solutions. Meanwhile, 78% of survey respondents stated that connected safety solutions significantly or very much improved safety in their workplace. Of those that haven't yet implemented connected safety solutions, nearly 80% reported they were considering it and cited wearables and machine sensors among their top choices. Exploring NFPA 70B Adoption and Industry Impact The new survey also sought to learn more about the impact of NFPA 70B, which provides official guidance for how facilities should address electrical maintenance needs for their equipment and building operations. Recently deemed "mandatory," the industry standard provides a consistent set of guidelines on electrical maintenance across facilities. In a recent joint article with Wesco and ESFI to highlight changes to NFPA 70B, authors note that organizations relying on connected safety solutions today are better positioned to not only effectively meet NFPA 70B requirements but also enhance a facility's overall safety. According to survey results, 87% of respondents reported they have already adopted NFPA 70B. 79% of those respondents said that NFPA 70B significantly or very much improved electrical safety in their workplace. While most respondents had not encountered any challenges with adoption (73%), some respondents noted that training, lack of education and cultural adoption were hinderances to execution. Safety Management Services a Lynchpin to Success Of note, 80% of survey respondents stated they manage safety inspection for equipment and work environments manually, highlighting the need for safety management services to help evaluate and address critical safety challenges and meet ongoing industry requirements. In partnership with Certified Safety Professionals and global companies like Wesco, organizations are empowered to improve productivity, increase profitability and mitigate risk through tailored safety programs and comprehensive employee training. "We are dedicated to helping educate the industry on the powerful role of connected safety solutions and services, designed to support industry standards like NFPA 70B and enhance overall workplace safety," said Shawn Gregg, Vice President, Global Safety Business, Wesco. "In partnership with ESFI, a trusted industry voice for electrical safety, we will continue to evangelize best practices and empower today's contractors with the practical insights needed to develop and implement strategic safety management programs and solutions and protect the essential tradespeople who power progress in our world." "This important survey helped us to understand the significant and immediate impact that the implementation of connected safety solutions has in the reduction of workplace injuries and also helped shed light on where additional education and outreach may be needed," said Jennifer LeFevre, ESFI Executive Director. "We appreciate the opportunity to work with Wesco in our joint effort to increase electrical safety awareness." About Wesco International Wesco International (NYSE: WCC) builds, connects, powers and protects the world. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wesco is a FORTUNE 500 company with more than $22 billion in annual sales and a leading provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services and supply chain solutions. Wesco offers a best-in-class product and services portfolio of Electrical and Electronic Solutions, Communications and Security Solutions, and Utility and Broadband Solutions. The Company employs approximately 20,000 people, partners with the industry's premier suppliers, and serves thousands of customers around the world. With millions of products, end-to-end supply chain services, and leading digital capabilities, Wesco provides innovative solutions to meet customer needs across commercial and industrial businesses, contractors, government agencies, educational institutions, telecommunications providers, and utilities. Wesco operates nearly 800 branches, warehouses and sales offices in more than 50 countries, providing a local presence for customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and global corporations. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wesco International on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Wesco International Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wesco-international Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Wesco International Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - Kids Smiles Dentistry has launched new community initiatives offering free dental screenings and oral health education to children in Denver. The initiatives, which include partnerships with schools and community centers, aim to promote preventative dental care and raise awareness about oral health among families. As part of the initiatives, Kids Smiles Dentistry will provide no-cost dental check-ups at designated community events. These screenings will help detect early signs of oral health issues, ensuring that potential problems are addressed before they become more serious. Families attending these events will also have the opportunity to discuss screening results with dental professionals, who will provide insights on preventative care and long-term oral health maintenance for children. In addition to screenings, Kids Smiles Dentistry has announced plans to distribute educational materials to help parents and caregivers understand key aspects of children's dental hygiene. These materials will cover topics such as proper brushing and flossing techniques, the importance of regular dental visits, and other preventative measures to help children maintain healthy teeth and gums. To expand its outreach, Kids Smiles Dentistry is collaborating with local schools, community centers, and health organizations to facilitate these initiatives. These partnerships will help make oral health education and screenings more accessible, ensuring that families receive guidance in trusted, community-based settings. The Dentist for Kids Denver remains committed to serving Denver families by offering accessible dental care and implementing initiatives that promote long-term oral health. These efforts align with broader public health objectives focused on reducing oral health disparities and improving children's overall well-being. Through community initiatives, education, and advancements in patient care, the clinic continues to support positive oral health outcomes for children in the region. About Kids Smiles Dentistry: Kids Smiles Dentistry provides comprehensive dental care, including routine check-ups, dental cleanings, emergency assistance, and restorative treatments. The clinic is equipped with advanced dental technology and a child-friendly environment designed to ensure a comfortable experience for young patients. As part of its commitment to children's oral health, Kids Smiles Dentistry has introduced community health initiatives, including free dental screenings and educational programs focused on preventative care. The team remains dedicated to delivering accessible, high-quality dental services to families across Denver, ensuring every child receives the care they need. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243518 SOURCE: GetFeatured Fort Lauderdale, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - Community Care Plan ("CCP"), known as the health plan with a heart, and Unite Us, the nation's trusted technology partner for social care transformation, are partnering to address health-related social needs (HRSNs) for CCP's members through Unite Us' statewide coordinated care network, Unite Florida, to facilitate closed-loop referrals for people in need. This partnership will increase access to critical social care resources and improve health equity among CCP's members. CCP's vision is to be the driving force to ensure that every community has access to equitable, high-quality affordable healthcare. This includes a dedicated focus on addressing the HRSNs for its members, including Medicaid, administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration, and Florida Healthy Kids, a Florida KidCare program. In Florida, Unite Us serves as a crucial link, connecting individuals and families with essential resources and services. These range from healthcare navigation to addressing various social needs. Through Unite Us' collaborative infrastructure and care network, partners within the Unite Florida network can easily send and receive secure electronic referrals to appropriate community-based organizations (CBOs). These organizations will support individuals' needs using Unite Us closed-loop referral technology by sending secure electronic referrals for people in need and connecting them with verified and accountable social service organizations, to ensure they receive the care they need. This approach effectively addresses people's social needs and works towards enhancing the overall health of communities. "As a health plan serving individuals and families with the greatest need, it's essential that we collaborate with community-based organizations to ensure that our members get the services they need," said Dr. Miguel Venereo, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Community Care Plan. "Utilizing the Unite Us Platform allows CCP to view these services in one platform and close the loop on the referrals." The collaboration between Community Care Plan and Unite Us goes beyond mere connectivity; it securely links people in need with verified and accountable community-based resources that may otherwise be challenging to navigate. This network establishes a central point of contact where health and social service providers can securely access and refer individuals to necessary services while actively monitoring progress and measuring outcomes. "The collective goal of our partnership with the Community Care Plan is to significantly enhance access to care for their members, irrespective of their circumstances," said Taylor Justice, Co-Founder and President at Unite Us. "In tandem, Community Care Plan and Unite Us are committed to reshaping the standards, effectiveness, and convergence of health and social care throughout our community." Nonprofits, CBOs, and other providers seeking to connect their clients and patients to Community Care Plan's services within the Unite Us network are encouraged to contact Unite Us via uniteus.com/contact/. Unite Us, Your Partner for Social Care To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10241/243545_22621778246b39bf_001full.jpg About Community Care Plan (Community Care Plan is a Managed Care Plan with a Florida Medicaid contract for Broward County and Florida Healthy Kids contract for Broward, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and Saint Lucie Counties) Community Care Plan, the health plan with a heart, was created in 2000 as South Florida Community Care Network and is based in Sunrise, Florida. We are owned by two large, well-respected hospitals, Broward Health (North Broward Hospital District) and Memorial Healthcare System (South Broward Hospital District). We serve 150,000 members in Florida Healthy Kids, Medicaid, self-insured employee health plans, and uninsured programs (managed by SydCura, our third-party administration division). We strive to ensure that every community has access to equitable, high-quality affordable healthcare. Our health plans go beyond doctor visits. They cover a wide range of health and medical benefits and offer an excellent choice of providers and community resources to help overall well-being. Our team also works hard to provide personal and exceptional customer service. Community Care Plan maintains Health Plan and Health Equity by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its Medicaid and Florida Healthy Kids Health Plans. We are also accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare as a Health Plan. For more information, please visit www.CCPcares.org. About Unite Us Unite Us is the nation's premier technology provider for transforming social care. Our advanced product suite is used to proactively coordinate services using data-driven insights, streamline referral and case management, and facilitate eligibility assessments and reimbursements across government, healthcare, health plans, and community organizations. The first of its kind, our closed-loop referral system prioritizes privacy and dignity and has integrated data and analytics tools used to measure impact, optimize programs, and shape policy. With over 1.5M services, we host the nation's largest network of community-based health and social services dedicated to improving whole-person health. Learn more at UniteUs.com and LinkedIn. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243545 SOURCE: Unite USA Inc. Developed for fintechs, financial institutions and bank sponsors, the report breaks down key obstacles and approaches for ecosystem players. Thredd, a leading next-generation global payments processor, today released Payments Unstitched: Protecting Growing Your Payments Business in 2025 providing fintechs, financial institutions, bank sponsors and others insights into the challenges impacting sustainable growth. "Today, speed to market and rapid innovation cycles continue to drive us forward, but succeeding in the next chapter of financial transformation will require focusing on a new set of challenges," said Jim McCarthy, CEO of Thredd. "This guide aims to capture some of the expert insights players in our ecosystem can use to address key trends and protect and grow their businesses." The guide focuses on three broad sets of business challenges and potential remedies and tools for effectively addressing them: Vital operational controls that are labour-intensive, costly and subject to error. that are labour-intensive, costly and subject to error. Continuously evolving fraud and risk challenges. challenges. A regulatory and business environment placing more burden and scrutiny on compliance To download Thredd's latest guide and access actionable strategies for achieving a more automated, AI-driven and integrated approach to back office, fraud and compliance management, visit https://bit.ly/protect-grow-report. About Thredd: Thredd is the trusted next-gen payments processing partner for innovators looking to modernise their payments offerings worldwide. We process billions of debit, prepaid and credit transactions annually, serving over 100 fintechs, digital banks, and embedded finance providers, from consumer to corporate, based across 44 countries. Thredd's unique offering is its client-centric approach, combining hands-on support with modern, reliable, and scalable technology. Thredd's assured solution accelerates the development and delivery of consumer and corporate payments components embedded within digital banks, as well as for expense management, B2B payments, crypto, lending, credit, Buy Now Pay Later ("BNPL"), FX, remittance, and open banking innovators. By partnering with our clients from concept to creation with our easily configurable solutions, we allow these leaders the agility to achieve their core business aspirations. Thredd has enabled market leaders since 2007 and has a highly reliable platform with 99.99% availability. Thredd's highly customisable solutions on our API-first platform, surrounded by our in-depth industry expertise, value-added services, global presence, and technical resilience, are designed to scale with ease. Thredd is certified by Visa, Mastercard and Discover/Diners Club to process transactions globally and has branded offices in London, Singapore, and Sydney, with remote colleagues based all over the world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306740912/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: press@thredd.com PRESS RELEASE Wood Mackenzie donates solar power system to domestic violence shelter in Puerto Rico Wood Mackenzie's fourth delegation will travel to impoverished areas of Puerto Rico in March to install solar panels and energy storage systems LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, 6 March 2025 - To honor the upcoming International Women's Day, Wood Mackenzie, in partnership with Let's Share the Sun and other third parties, recently donated 24 solar panels and 2 batteries of storage to a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Puerto Rico. The fully installed 10.8 kW-DC system and 27.2 kWh battery will provide a significant portion of the shelter's power needs. "The energizing of this system ahead of International Women's Day is a powerful example of how energy equity plays a fundamental part in achieving gender equity," said Luke Lewandowski, VP, global renewables research for Wood Mackenzie. "Our hope is that this solution creates a clean and safe environment for the residents of the shelter and brings attention to how energy poverty can exacerbate the challenges and conditions of gender inequality globally." Since 2021, Wood Mackenzie and Let's Share the Sun have collaboratedto provide and improve energy access to those in some of Puerto Rico's most at-risk areas. In several regions of Puerto Rico, power is frequently out due to storms and infrastructure issues. When power has been available, costs have been rapidly increasing, placing burdens on residents and communities. Joining Lewandowski at the dedication of the donated system on February 27, were Nancy Brennan-Jordan co-founder of the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), and other supporters across the industry. "The Let's Share the Sun Foundation is grateful for the long-standing partnership with Wood Mackenzie towards our complimentary missions of transforming the way we power the planet and offering hope with the power of the sun. This partnership is attracting many new corporate sponsorships by solar companies that want to give back to communities in need and build relationships with beneficiaries that go far beyond panels, inverters, and battery contributions," said Nancy Brennan-Jordan. "The solar and battery storage system installed here will strengthen the services provided to domestic violence victims in residence and help these women in rebuilding their lives for a more prosperous and stable future." Wood Mackenzie's continued work and commitment to advancing energy security This year marks the fourth time a delegation of volunteers from Wood Mackenzie will travel to Puerto Rico to address critical energy needs in vulnerable communities. The delegation will spend one week in the municipality of Adjuntas installing solar panels and energy storage systems on homes. "We are proud to engage once again in our partnership with Let's Share the Sun and we are more dedicated than ever to working on this impactful initiative to provide the benefits and stability of renewable energy to those in need," said Lewandowski. "Our journey is far from over and we look forward to the work that this year's delegation will provide and the support we can bring to these communities and shelters." Since its initial trip in 2022, Wood Mackenzie has supported the installation of more than 250 solar panels and dozens of energy storage systems to help power 39 homes and multiple domestic violence safe houses. The work has been critical for energy and financial infrastructure for recipients, particularly those with a dependency on medical devices. In 2023, the group energized a solar PV and energy storage system for Casa Julia, a women's shelter group on the island. From 2023 to 2024, the system saved Casa Julia $8,000 in power costs, helped avert 77 outages that hit the area and provided 100% of energy coverage for the shelter. The system the group energized in 2024 has provided similar benefits, with annual utility savings being diverted to important rehabilitation initiatives for the residents. "It's incredible to see the impact that this collaborative work can have," said Lewandowski. "For many, affordable and stable sources of energy are not a given. Leveraging resources to deploy available technologies that are out of reach for many of these communities is a fulfilling way to further the energy transition and ensure a more sustainable future. Our continued partnership with Let's Share the Sun demonstrates Wood Mackenzie's commitment to the important mission of helping the impoverished gain energy access and transform the way we power the planet." Founded in 2010, Let's Share the Sun is a 501c3 foundation that facilitates the use of solar and energy storage in poor communities throughout the world and has helped install solar power in energy impoverished areas of Haiti, Honduras and Puerto Rico. Donations to the Let's Share the Sun and Wood Mackenzie solar installation projects in Puerto Rico can be made here . ENDS Photo Captions: LSTS125: (L-R) Luke Lewandowski (Wood Mackenzie), Stacy Ettinger (SEIA), Abigail Ross Hopper (SEIA), Sylvia Leyva Martinez (Wood Mackenzie), Evelyn Butler (SEIA), Bernadette Jordan (Let's Share the Sun). LSTS225: Luke Lewandowski, VP, global renewables research for Wood Mackenzie, and Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Principal Analyst, North America Utility-Scale Solar for Wood Mackenzie, at the recent dedication ceremony of 24 solar panels and 2 batteries of storage to a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Puerto Rico. Wood Mackenzie, in partnership with Let's Share the Sun and other third parties donated the 10.8 kW-DC system and 27.2 kWh battery, which will provide a significant portion of the shelter's power needs. For further information please contact Wood Mackenzie's media relations team: Mark Thomton +1 630 881 6885 Mark.thomton@woodmac.com Hla Myat Mon +65 8533 8860 hla.myatmon@woodmac.com The Big Partnership (UK PR agency) woodmac@bigpartnership.co.uk You have received this news release from Wood Mackenzie because of the details we hold about you. If the information we have is incorrect you can either provide your updated preferences by contacting our media relations team. If you do not wish to receive this type of email in the future, please reply with 'unsubscribe' in the subject header. - About Wood Mackenzie Wood Mackenzie is the global insight business for renewables, energy and natural resources. Driven by data. Powered by people. In the middle of an energy revolution, businesses and governments need reliable and actionable insight to lead the transition to a sustainable future. That's why we cover the entire supply chain with unparalleled breadth and depth, backed by over 50 years' experience in natural resources. Today, our team of over 2,000 experts operate across 30 global locations, inspiring customers' decisions through real-time analytics, consultancy, events and thought leadership. Together, we deliver the insight they need to separate risk from opportunity and make bold decisions when it matters most. For more information, visit woodmac.com. Attachments DELRAY BEACH, Fla., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Orthopedic Devices Market , valued at US$49.63 billion in 2023, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 14.5%, reaching US$51.61 billion in 2024 and an impressive US$68.51 billion by 2030. The primary driver of the market is the increasing prevalence of orthopedic disorders, especially in the geriatric population. The growth is also propelled by efforts by the market leaders in terms of new product launches for orthopedic devices. Demand for orthopedic implants is also increasing, supported by an increase in the number of surgery centers and hospitals, along with an increase in the accessibility of healthcare in emerging economies. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=280 Browse in-depth TOC on "Orthopedic Devices Market" 300 - Tables 50 - Figures 450 - Pages By Based on the site, the global orthopedic devices market is segmented, the orthopedic devices market is divided into hand and wrist, spine, foot and ankle, arms and elbow, knee and thigh, hip and pelvis, shoulder, and craniomaxillofacial. The foot & ankle segment to register significant growth over the forecast period. The growing incidence of ankle injuries, increasing incidence of osteoarthritis, rising awareness about the advantages associated with ankle replacement surgeries, and the presence of advanced ankle prosthetic implants are likely to drive the growth of this market segment in the coming years. By application, the global orthopedic devices market is segmented into spinal fusion, fixation, and decompression, fracture treatment and recovery, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, ligament injuries, diabetic foot diseases, and neurological disorders. According to the CDC, in the US, around 319,000 older people (aged 65 and over) are hospitalized owing to hip fractures. Fixation devices are attached to the fractured bones, preventing movement and also providing a shield to the fractured bone, allowing it to heal. Orthobiologics are becoming an integral part of orthopedic surgical procedures as they aid in the rapid healing. Thus, the rising prevalence of rheumatoid arthristis and osteoarthritis cases and increasing geriatric population is are anticipated to boost the adoption of orthopedic devices. By End User, the end user segment of the joint replacement devices market includes hospitals & surgical centers, ambulatory care centers & trauma units, orthopedic clincs, home care, and other end users. In 2024, hospitals & surgical centers dominated the global joint replacement devices market by end user. Recent developments in surgical technology, anesthesia protocols, and changes to Medicare reimbursement have increased the demand for orthopedic devices procedures in outpatient settings, such as ASCs. This is likely to augment the growth of the ambulatory and trauma care centers market. All these factors are anticipated to increase the number of joint replacement surgeries performed in ASCs, further augmenting the growth of the ambulatory care centers and trauma segment in the coming years. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=280 As of 2024, prominent players in the orthopedic devices market are Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US), Stryker Corporation (US), Johnson & Johnson MedTech (US), Smith+Nephew (UK), B. Braun (Germany). Stryker Corporation (US): Stryker Corporation ranks among the top firms in the global orthopedic devices market. The organization maintains a strong presence in the global market, encompassing regions such as Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company has established its brand presence in over 75 countries worldwide. The company provides joint replacement devices via its Orthopedics & Spine division. The firm concentrates on enhancing its range of products and launching new products. To maintain its market leadership, it emphasizes innovation and provides distinctive products. The company emphasizes research and development, introducing technologically advanced products to the market that cater to its customers unmet needs. Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US): Zimmer Biomet is among the leading companies in the orthopedic devices market. The firm produces and distributes several types of medical devices and healthcare products in the medical space. It distributes orthopedic devices through its orthopedic implant product within Knees, Hips, and S.E.T categories. It has strong presence in a number of countries ,such as Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. It also has a broad distribution network in Benelux, Nordic, Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the Middle East and Africa. Johnson & Johnson MedTech (US): Johnson & Johnson MedTech is an another major player operating in the orthopedic devices market. The business is involved in the manufacturing, research and development, and marketing of joint replacement devices and other healthcare products internationally. The firm offers joint replacement devices within the MedTech business segment. The organization aims to provide technologically advanced products with an aim to deliver better clinical results. The corporation collaborated with CrossRoads Extremity Systems (US) to drive orthopaedic care with new and innovative ideas, hoping to deliver patients with enhanced health benefits. The company holds an significant market share in over 60 countries, across various regions including the Asia Pacific, North America, the Middle East & Africa, and Europe. The company operates its businesses through key subsidiaries, including DePuy, Inc., (US) Animas Corporation (US), Ethicon, Inc. (US), and LifeScan, Inc. (US). For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: Orthopedic Implants Market Orthopedic Braces & Supports Market OTC Braces & Supports Market Orthodontic Supplies Market Spinal Implants Market Get access to the latest updates on Orthopedic Devices Companies and Orthopedic Devices Market Size About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts. 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Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/orthopedic-devices-market-worth-us68-51-billion-by-2030-with-4-8-cagr--marketsandmarkets-302394254.html Lyons to join Executive Director, Dr. Shaun Carver, in honoring advocates and trailblazers who embody the I-House mission during the organization's annual gala, March 9, 2025 International House Berkeley (I-House Berkeley), the multicultural residential center promoting a more just and peaceful world, today announced the appointment of UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons to the role of Honorary Chairman of the Board. Lyons will serve alongside I-House board vice chair and UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor Marc Fisher . This appointment continues the 94-year tradition of the UC Berkeley Chancellor serving as chair of I-House. On Sunday, March 9, 2025, Lyons will join Executive Director Shaun Carver, PhD, at I-House's Annual Celebration and Awards Gala to honor members of the global community for their support and service to I-House. "I-House has been a part of Cal's history for nearly 100 years, and its impact on students is noteworthy. Living in I-House requires residents to think beyond themselves, question the status quo and demonstrate a willingness to learn from one another. Alumni have gone on to become ambassadors for their country, Nobel laureates, United Nations officers, government officials, corporate leaders and other trailblazers," said Chancellor Lyons. "I am honored to continue the rich tradition of working alongside Shaun and the board to ensure I-House continues to shine its light on Berkeley's campus." The I-House Board of Directors includes 26 members, all connected to the broader Berkeley community and to the mission of I-House. Together, they oversee the operations of the multicultural residence and its mission to foster intercultural respect, lifelong friendships and leadership skills for a more just and peaceful world. I-House hosts over 600 students and scholars from 80+ countries, including the US. "We are thrilled to welcome Chancellor Lyons as our honorary board chair and know that his influence and passion for UC Berkeley will be well reflected in his association with our board," said Carver. "We are proud of our mission at I-House and recognize the need for continued international collaboration and engagement as we navigate challenging times. We are grateful for the incredible board that serves our students and our programs so faithfully, and we look forward to honoring the work done on behalf of I-House's great mission during our annual gala." This year's Celebration & Awards Gala will recognize Markos Kounalakis, PhD as Alumnus of the Year; The University Section Club as the recipient of the Sherry and Betsey Warrick Mission Service Award; and Excellence Anurika Joshua with the Executive Director's Outstanding Community Leadership Award. The event will take place on March 9, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Chevron Auditorium at I-House, located at 2299 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94720. Tickets are $275 per person, or $200 for those under 35 years of age. More information can be found at: https://i-housegala2025.eventbrite.com/ . About International House Berkeley The International House at UC Berkeley is a multicultural residential "living and learning" center of over 600 students and scholars from 80+ countries, including the U.S. Its mission is to foster intercultural respect and understanding, lifelong friendships and leadership skills for a more just and peaceful world. Founded in 1930 with a charitable gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr., I-House is a non-profit organization with a remarkable history, and is part of a network of International Houses Worldwide . For more information, please visit its website . Media Contact The International House at UC Berkeley ihouse@songuepr.com SOURCE: International House UC Berkeley LambdaTest wraps up Spartans Summit 2025, bringing together testing experts and innovators to shape the future of quality engineering. San Francisco, March 06, 2025, a leading cloud-based unified testing platform, hosted Spartan Summit 2025, a premier online event bringing together the global testing community for a day of insightful discussions, expert panels, and hands-on workshops. This free, community-driven summit provided a unique platform for software testers, engineers, and industry leaders to exchange knowledge and explore the future of testing and quality assurance. The Spartan Summit, an annual gathering of LambdaTest Spartans-ambassadors driving innovation in the QA landscape-featured expert-led sessions on AI in testing, automation strategies, performance metrics, and security essentials. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with top professionals, participate in interactive discussions, and gain insights into the latest trends shaping the industry. "As software development accelerates, the role of testing has never been more critical. The Spartan Summit is our commitment to empowering testers with the tools, knowledge, and community support needed to stay ahead in an evolving landscape," said Asad Khan, CEO and Founder of LambdaTest. "By bringing together industry pioneers, we are fostering a collaborative space where real-world challenges are addressed, and innovative solutions take shape." The event featured thought-provoking discussions, including a panel on the evolution of quality engineering, a live demonstration on AI-powered testing, and deep dives into chatbot accuracy, Flutter automation, and security best practices. Attendees also had access to networking opportunities, exclusive giveaways, and a chance to become part of the LambdaTest Spartans program. Spartan Summit 2025 reaffirmed LambdaTest's dedication to building a strong, engaged community of testing professionals. With its blend of expert insights, hands-on learning, and collaborative engagement, the event continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation in the QA ecosystem. About LambdaTest LambdaTest is an AI-native, omnichannel software quality platform that empowers businesses to accelerate time to market through intelligent, cloud-based test authoring, orchestration, and execution. With over 15,000 customers and 2.3 million+ users across 130+ countries, LambdaTest is the trusted choice for modern software testing. Browser & App Testing Cloud (https://www.lambdatest.com/?utm_source=media&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=march6_ps&utm_term=kn&utm_content=pr): Enables manual and automated testing of web and mobile apps across 5,000+ browsers, real devices, and OS environments, ensuring cross-platform consistency. HyperExecute (https://www.lambdatest.com/hyperexecute/?utm_source=media&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=march6&utm_term=ps&utm_content=pr): An AI-native test execution and orchestration cloud that runs tests up to 70% faster than traditional grids, offering smart test distribution, automatic retries, real-time logs, and seamless CI/CD integration. KaneAI (https://www.lambdatest.com/kane-ai/?utm_source=media&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=march6&utm_term=ps&utm_content=pr): The world's first GenAI-native testing agent, leveraging LLMs for effortless test creation, intelligent automation, and self-evolving test execution. It integrates directly with Jira, Slack, GitHub, and other DevOps tools. Great Recruiters named Travel Nurses, Inc. a top-rated healthcare staffing agency for the second half of 2024. Travel Nurses, Inc. was just named a top-rated healthcare staffing agency by Great Recruiters for the second half of 2024. Of the 32 agencies listed, Travel Nurses, Inc. had the second highest average rating of 4.95 out of 5. The highest score was 4.96. The agency boasts 98 percent of their travelers highly recommend Travel Nurses, Inc. to colleagues. Travel Nurses, Inc. Logo In addition to this honor, 50 percent of the recruitment team at Travel Nurses, Inc. is certified on Great Recruiters. To earn this certification, recruiters must have at least 30 reviews on the Great Recruiters platform and maintain a 4.5-star rating. Travel Nurses, Inc. has experienced recruiters who enjoy what they do. According to Great Recruiters, the rankings were determined by the following criteria: Collecting real-time feedback from candidates, clients, and talent Automating responses to feedback Tracking and improving performance Showcasing success stories to enhance reputation "My first travel assignment was with Katie!" said one healthcare professional about their recruiter. "She gave me confidence and supported me the entire way through, always answering any questions I had as a first time traveler! I always feel my needs are understood when talking with Katie and she is very quick to respond! Best recruiter EVER!" Chief Executive Officer Bryan Burnett said, "I'm proud of our team's dedication, which Great Recruiters recognized. Being named a top-rated healthcare agency highlights our commitment to exceptional service and support for our nurses and partners." SOURCE: Travel Nurses Inc. PUNE, India, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Microplates Market is experiencing steady growth, driven by the increasing adoption of high-throughput screening (HTS) in drug discovery, rising demand for automated laboratory solutions, and advancements in biotechnology and life sciences research. Microplates, which serve as a critical component in laboratory automation, are widely utilized in applications such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and cell culture studies. The expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, coupled with the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, are further fueling the demand for microplates in research and diagnostic applications. Additionally, government initiatives supporting biomedical research and advancements in material technologies, such as the development of more durable and transparent polymers, are contributing to the market's expansion. Between 2024 and 2032, the Microplates Market is expected to grow from USD 875.50 million in 2023 to USD 1,301.08 million by 2032, at a CAGR of 4.50%. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to witness the fastest growth, driven by increasing investments in healthcare infrastructure, the expansion of research facilities, and the rising prevalence of infectious diseases. North America and Europe will continue to dominate due to their well-established pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, strong funding for R&D activities, and the presence of major market players. However, challenges such as high initial investment costs for automated microplate systems and the availability of alternative lab technologies may slightly hinder market growth. Nevertheless, ongoing technological innovations and the rising trend of personalized medicine are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for market expansion. Browse the report and understand how it can benefit your business strategy -https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/microplates-market Key Growth Determinants Rising Adoption of High-Throughput Screening (HTS) in Drug Discovery The increasing use of high-throughput screening (HTS) in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research is a significant driver of the microplates market. Microplates play a crucial role in accelerating drug discovery by enabling simultaneous analysis of multiple samples, improving efficiency, and reducing research timelines. As pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in R&D for new drug development, the demand for high-quality microplates is expected to rise. Growing Demand for Automated Laboratory Solutions The shift towards automation in laboratories to enhance efficiency and reduce human errors is fueling the adoption of microplates. Automated liquid handling systems, microplate readers, and robotic sample preparation methods have become essential in modern research and diagnostic applications. The demand for standardized, high-precision microplates is increasing as laboratories aim to improve throughput and reproducibility. Expansion of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Research With rapid advancements in biotechnology and molecular diagnostics, the need for reliable microplates in applications such as ELISA, PCR, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) has surged. The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases and chronic conditions such as cancer has driven research efforts, boosting the demand for high-quality microplates in genomic and proteomic studies. Advancements in Microplate Materials and Design Manufacturers are focusing on developing durable, transparent, and chemically resistant microplates to enhance performance in various assays. The introduction of advanced materials such as polypropylene and polystyrene with improved optical and thermal properties is further expanding the usability of microplates in research and diagnostic applications. Additionally, innovations in 3D cell culture microplates are gaining traction in drug development and regenerative medicine. Increasing Government Funding and Investments in Biomedical Research Governments and private organizations are significantly investing in biomedical research and life sciences, contributing to market growth. Funding initiatives supporting cancer research, vaccine development, and personalized medicine are driving the demand for microplates, particularly in academic and research institutions. This trend is expected to continue, particularly in emerging economies investing in healthcare infrastructure and innovation. Key Growth Barriers 1. High Initial Investment and Operational Costs One of the primary challenges in the microplates market is the high cost of advanced microplate systems, including automated readers, washers, and high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms. Many research institutions, particularly in developing regions, face budget constraints, limiting their ability to invest in cutting-edge microplate technologies. Additionally, maintenance and operational costs add to the financial burden, slowing adoption rates. 2. Availability of Alternative Technologies The emergence of alternative laboratory technologies, such as lab-on-a-chip devices, microfluidic systems, and biochips, poses a significant challenge to the microplates market. These alternatives offer advantages such as lower sample volume requirements, higher sensitivity, and real-time analysis, reducing the reliance on traditional microplate-based assays. The growing preference for miniaturized and point-of-care diagnostic solutions may restrain market expansion. 3. Limited Standardization and Compatibility Issues Despite advancements in microplate design, lack of standardization across different manufacturers often results in compatibility issues with automated laboratory systems. Differences in well sizes, materials, and coatings can impact assay performance and reproducibility, making it difficult for laboratories to integrate microplates seamlessly into existing workflows. This variability can hinder widespread adoption, particularly in highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals and clinical diagnostics. 4. Challenges in Handling and Storage Microplates require careful handling, storage, and disposal to maintain accuracy and avoid contamination. Factors such as evaporation, cross-contamination, and material degradation can affect experimental outcomes, especially in sensitive applications like cell culture and molecular diagnostics. Laboratories must invest in specialized storage solutions and protocols, increasing operational complexity. Segmentation Based on type 96 Well 384 Well 1536 Well Based on application Cell Culture Screening and UV/VIS Spectroscopy Immunology Storage Others Based on end user Pharma & Biotech Companies Academic & Research CROs Others Based on material Polystyrene Polypropylene Polycarbonate Cyclo-olefins Others Based on pigmentation Black White Clear Based on region North America The U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany France UK. Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-east Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa The Rest of the Middle East and Africa Preview the report with a detailed sample and understand how it can benefit your business strategy. Request a free sample today -https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/microplates-market Regional Analysis 1. North America - Dominant Market with Strong R&D Investments North America holds the largest share in the global microplates market, driven by well-established pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, strong government funding for research, and widespread adoption of advanced laboratory automation technologies. The United States leads the region due to the presence of major market players, high investment in drug discovery and molecular diagnostics, and robust healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the FDA provide funding and regulatory support for life sciences research, further propelling market growth. Canada also contributes to market expansion through government-backed biomedical research initiatives and increasing adoption of personalized medicine. 2. Europe - Significant Growth in Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical Sectors Europe represents a key market for microplates, driven by the rising focus on biopharmaceutical research, increasing adoption of high-throughput screening (HTS), and the presence of renowned research institutions. Countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and France are at the forefront due to strong investments in biomedical research and laboratory automation. The European Union's strict regulatory standards ensure the use of high-quality, compliant laboratory consumables, fostering demand for premium microplate solutions. Moreover, the region's growing emphasis on cancer research, vaccine development, and infectious disease diagnostics further drives market expansion. 3. Asia-Pacific - Fastest Growing Region with Expanding Research Infrastructure The Asia-Pacific microplates market is expected to witness the fastest growth due to increasing investments in healthcare infrastructure, rising government funding for life sciences research, and expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. China, Japan, and India are leading contributors, with China experiencing rapid growth in biotech startups, government-funded R&D programs, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Japan, with its strong focus on automation and precision technology, continues to advance laboratory research through innovations in microplate-based assays. India, driven by an increasing number of clinical research organizations (CROs) and growing biotech initiatives, is emerging as a key market. The expansion of academic research institutions and diagnostic laboratories further supports regional market growth. 4. Latin America - Growing Investments in Healthcare and Life Sciences Latin America is experiencing moderate growth, primarily fueled by rising healthcare investments, increasing focus on molecular diagnostics, and growing pharmaceutical production. Brazil and Mexico are the largest markets, supported by government-led research initiatives and the expansion of clinical diagnostics. The increasing adoption of ELISA and PCR-based diagnostic techniques in response to the rising prevalence of infectious diseases, such as Zika virus, dengue, and COVID-19, is creating growth opportunities for microplate manufacturers. However, limited funding for laboratory automation and economic constraints in certain countries may hinder rapid market expansion. Credence Research's Competitive Landscape Analysis The Global Microplates Market is highly competitive, with key players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Corning Incorporated, Greiner Bio-One, PerkinElmer, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Agilent Technologies, Eppendorf AG, and Hamilton Company focusing on product innovations, strategic collaborations, and market expansion. Companies are investing in advanced microplate technologies, including 3D cell culture microplates and automation-compatible solutions, to meet the growing demand in drug discovery, genomics, and diagnostics. Strategic mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships with biopharmaceutical firms and research institutions are helping players strengthen their market presence, particularly in emerging regions like Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Additionally, increasing emphasis on sustainability has led to the development of biodegradable and recyclable microplates, aligning with global environmental initiatives. Regulatory compliance remains a challenge, with strict quality standards imposed by agencies like the FDA and EMA, making innovation and adherence to industry guidelines critical for market leadership. As demand for high-throughput screening and laboratory automation rises, companies that offer cost-effective, high-performance, and customizable microplates will gain a competitive edge in this evolving market. Tailor the report to align with your specific business needs and gain targeted insights. Request customization now-https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/microplates-market Key Market Companies Greiner Bio-One International GmbH Corning Incorporated Thermo Fisher Scientific Eppendorf AG PerkinElmer Inc. Becton, Dickinson and Company QIAGEN N.V. VWR (Avantor) SPL Life Sciences Recent Industry Developments September 2023 - Microplate Dx, a Glasgow-based diagnostics spinout, secured $2.5 million in initial funding to develop a point-of-care tool capable of identifying effective medications for bacterial infections. The company also aims to expand into the U.S. market as part of its global growth strategy. January 2023 - Axion BioSystems announced the addition of the Omni Pro 12 to its Omni live-cell imaging product line. The new platform offers enhanced flexibility and efficiency for scientists and drug developers conducting live-cell imaging tests, featuring a versatile design compatible with standard incubators and robotic integration. August 2023 - Lonza launched the Nebula Absorbance Reader, an advanced microplate reader designed to improve pyrogen and endotoxin testing. This high-performance device serves as a technologically advanced alternative to existing solutions, delivering ELx808-equivalent results for increased testing accuracy. February 2023 - PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader in life sciences innovation, introduced the EnVision Nexus system, its fastest and most sensitive multimode plate reader to date. Designed to accelerate drug discovery and support high-throughput screening (HTS) applications, the system integrates PerkinElmer's patented HTRF and AlphaLISA technologies, along with optimized reagents and microplates, to enhance assay flexibility and performance. April 2022 - Molecular Devices launched the SpectraMax Mini Multi-Mode Microplate Reader, a compact and cost-effective solution designed to optimize benchtop space while maintaining high-performance standards for laboratory applications. July 2022 - Porvair Sciences introduced a 96-well deep well microplate, specifically designed for magnetic bead-based nucleic acid purification, clean-up, and protein purification. The plate features a reinforced base, allowing centrifugation at up to 6,000x g, thereby enhancing magnetic bead separation protocols and improving sample quality. April 2022 - Molecular Devices introduced its SpectraMax Mini Multi-Mode Microplate Reader, further expanding its portfolio of compact, high-performance life science solutions. 2020 - Agilent Technologies Inc. launched the BenchCel Microplate Handler, enhancing its automation capabilities for laboratory workflows. 2019 - Agilent Technologies Inc. acquired BioTek Instruments, strengthening its microplate instrumentation and automation solutions portfolio, further solidifying its market position. Reasons to Purchase this Report: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the market through qualitative and quantitative analyses, considering both economic and non-economic factors, with segmentation and sub-segmentation details provided in terms of market value (USD Billion). Identify regions and segments expected to experience the fastest growth or dominate the market, with a detailed analysis of geographic consumption patterns and the factors driving or hindering market performance in each region. Stay informed about the competitive environment, with rankings of major players, recent product and service launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions from the past five years. Access detailed profiles of major market players, including company overviews, insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis, to understand competitive advantages and market positioning. Explore the present and forecasted market landscape, with insights into growth opportunities, market drivers, challenges, and constraints for both developed and emerging regions. Benefit from Porter's Five Forces analysis and Value Chain insights to evaluate various market perspectives and competitive dynamics. Understand the evolving market scenario, including potential growth opportunities and trends expected in the coming years. Browse the report and understand how it can benefit your business strategy - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/microplates-market Discover additional reports tailored to your industry needs 3D Cell Culture Microplates Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/3d-cell-culture-microplates-market Scaffold Technology Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/scaffold-technology-market Powered Surgical Staplers Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/powered-surgical-staplers-market Radial Compression Devices Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/radial-compression-devices-market Pulmonary Function Testing Device Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/pulmonary-function-testing-device-market Portable Bioprocessing Bioreactors Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/portable-bioprocessing-bioreactors-market Home Blood Testing Devices Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/home-blood-testing-devices-market Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/credenceresearch/ https://x.com/CredenceResearc https://www.facebook.com/CredenceResearch MRAAS Consulting - https://www.mraasconsulting.com/ Credence Turbine - https://credenceturbine.com/ About Us: Credence Research is a viable intelligence and market research platform that provides quantitative B2B research to more than 2000 clients worldwide and is built on the Give principle. The company is a market research and consulting firm serving governments, non-legislative associations, non-profit organizations, and various organizations worldwide. We help our clients improve their execution in a lasting way and understand their most imperative objectives. Contact Us Mitul Dean Tower C-1105 , S 25, Akash Tower, Vishal Nahar, Pimple Nilakh, Haveli, Pune - 411027, India sales@credenceresearch.com www.credenceresearch.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2562161/5203323/Credence_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/microplates-market-to-reach-usd-1-301-08-million-by-2032--growing-at-an-4-50-cagr--credence-research-302394858.html The European Commission's recent Omnibus proposal has sent ripples across the sustainability landscape, triggering intense discussions on regulatory simplification, corporate accountability, and the long-term implications for business value. While some see the proposal as a necessary move to ease compliance burdens, others fear it could undermine years of progress in corporate sustainability efforts. In response to the growing uncertainty, denxpert, a leading sustainability management platform, hosted an exclusive webinar in collaboration with EFRAG to break down the key aspects of the proposal and its potential consequences. The session featured Robert Szucs-Winkler, CEO of denxpert, and Anna Csonka, denxpert's senior sustainability reporting expert, who provided expert insights on what the Omnibus could mean for companies navigating CSRD, ESG reporting, and EU Taxonomy compliance. With sustainability regulations at a crossroads, businesses are left questioning their next steps: Should they continue investing in reporting and transparency or wait for further regulatory clarity? The webinar explored these pressing concerns, offering guidance on how companies can stay resilient and proactive in an evolving regulatory environment. What Led to the Omnibus Proposal? The Omnibus proposal did not emerge in isolation; it is rooted in a series of economic and political pressures that have been reshaping the EU's regulatory landscape: Geopolitical Pressures: The war in Ukraine and global trade tensions raised concerns about the competitiveness of European companies under stringent sustainability regulations. Policymakers feared that extensive reporting requirements could disadvantage EU businesses. The Draghi Report (September 2024): The report on EU competitiveness and resilience highlighted sustainability regulations-CSRD and CSDDD-as contributors to high compliance costs, which some argue hinder business growth. The Budapest Declaration (November 2024): European policymakers called for a "simplification revolution", demanding a 25% reduction in reporting requirements, particularly to ease the burden on SMEs. The EU Competitive Compass Strategy (2025): This broader strategy outlined simplifications across sustainable finance, due diligence, and taxonomy regulations, reinforcing the Commission's shift toward deregulation. Anna Csonka, Senior sustainability expert at denxpert, highlighted during the webinar: "It's important to understand why this proposal came forward in the first place. The European Commission is emphasizing competitiveness and reducing administrative burdens, but the big question is: Does scaling back sustainability reporting make European companies more competitive, or does it just delay progress? That's the debate we're in right now." These factors coalesced into the Omnibus proposal, which now seeks to postpone CSRD reporting for two years, reduce the scope of mandatory reporting by 80%, and shift toward voluntary ESG disclosures. The Core Debate: Simplification or Deregulation? While the Omnibus proposal is framed as a way to reduce compliance burdens and enhance corporate competitiveness, critics warn that it risks shifting from simplification to outright deregulation. A key concern has emerged in the debate: Does scaling back sustainability reporting truly support competitiveness, or does it undermine transparency and long-term value creation? As Gemma Sanchez Danes, a member of EFRAG's leadership team, highlighted: "This is still a proposal, not a final decision. The European Parliament and the Council of the EU must still approve it, and reaching a consensus will take time. Companies need to stay calm and focus on why they are reporting in the first place. Sustainability reporting is not just a compliance exercise, it's a strategic tool for risk management and value creation." This uncertainty has put many companies at a crossroads-should they continue preparing for CSRD compliance or hit pause? But is that the real question? Should sustainability reporting be reduced to a mere regulatory exercise, or does it serve a greater purpose-one with tangible business impact? A critical factor driving this confusion is that, until the Omnibus proposal is formally adopted, national transpositions of the CSRD remain legally binding. Companies choosing to delay their preparations-betting on a scope reduction or a reporting postponement-are taking a considerable risk. If the proposal does not pass or if they ultimately remain in scope, they could find themselves rushing to comply at the last minute, facing unnecessary costs and operational strain. In many cases, the price of waiting may be far greater than the cost of staying the course. Several major corporations have already taken a firm stance: regardless of regulatory shifts, they will continue their sustainability reporting. For them, ESG data, transparency, and accountability are not just about compliance; they are essential for risk management, resilience, and long-term strategic growth. Businesses that act now won't just stay ahead of regulation-they'll secure a competitive edge in a market increasingly shaped by sustainability expectations. Breaking Down the Omnibus: Key Changes 1. CSRD Scope & Timeline: "Stop the Clock" Modification One of the most significant changes proposed in the Omnibus is a two-year postponement of CSRD reporting obligations for companies in the second and third waves. This delay is intended to prevent companies from investing heavily in compliance only to be exempted later due to regulatory revisions. However, because the Omnibus is still just a proposal, many businesses find themselves in a state of so-called limbo. While the EU Parliament and Council review the proposal, the "Stop the Clock" timeline could take up to five or six months to be approved, leaving companies unsure of their next steps. For corporations set to begin reporting in 2025, the situation is particularly frustrating. Many have already invested substantial resources into compliance, only to now question whether those efforts were wasted. But is that really the case? If the modification of the scope is accepted, it will be significantly downsized. Companies will need to meet two out of the three key criteria to remain in scope: 1,000+ employees Annual turnover exceeding EUR 50 million OR a balance sheet total above EUR 25 million This revision would result in an 80% reduction in the number of companies required to report, effectively removing many previously included businesses from the mandatory reporting framework. For those now outside the scope, the question remains: Should they abandon their sustainability reporting efforts, or will transparency and ESG data continue to play a strategic role in their long-term business success? Robert Szucs-Winkler, CEO of denxpert, commented on the practical implications: "Some mid-sized companies told us that the amount of investment they had to put into adapting CSRD and starting the reporting process was overwhelming. They had planned budgets for sustainability initiatives but had to redirect everything toward compliance. Now, with this proposal, they face uncertainty about whether that investment created value at all." 2. Voluntary Reporting: A Real Alternative? With a substantial number of companies potentially falling out of mandatory reporting, a key question emerges: Will voluntary standards bridge the gap? The European Commission suggests that companies outside the CSRD scope may voluntarily report under a new standard, possibly based on the VSME framework. However, this remains speculative, as EFRAG has not yet been formally mandated to develop such a standard. Experts stress a crucial distinction: VSME is not a reporting standard but a checklist. Unlike the ESRS framework, it lacks depth and does not follow a materiality-based approach. The framework includes only 20 disclosures, failing to comprehensively cover critical social and governance aspects. It is not a 'fair view' presentation. This distinction raises concerns about the comparability and credibility of voluntary reporting, particularly for investors and financial institutions that rely on standardized ESG data. Without a cohesive and regulated framework, will voluntary disclosures provide the level of transparency needed to drive sustainable business practices? For now, much remains uncertain-until the EU Commission issues a formal mandate, discussions around a new voluntary standard remain purely speculative. 3. EU Taxonomy: From Mandatory to Opt-In Another key shift in the Omnibus proposal is the transition of the EU Taxonomy into an opt-in regime. Under the new framework: Large companies (1,000+ employees, EUR 450 million turnover) can voluntarily report if they claim full or partial alignment with the EU Taxonomy. The requirement to meet all technical screening criteria is relaxed, meaning companies can disclose partial alignment instead of full compliance. Those who opt in must disclose turnover and CapEx KPIs, with the option to disclose OPEX KPIs. This change could lead to the fragmentation of sustainability data, making it harder for investors and stakeholders to assess corporate sustainability performance. Beyond the Omnibus: What This Means for Companies & Investors The Omnibus proposal is just that-a proposal. It still has to pass through the European Parliament and Council, facing divided opinions. However, the broader conversation it has sparked is critical: Does sustainability reporting support or hinder competitiveness? Will companies voluntarily report if no longer required to do so? How will investors navigate an increasingly fragmented data landscape? The conversation around CSRD and CSDDD must move beyond compliance costs and toward long-term value creation. Sustainability reporting isn't just about meeting regulations-it's a strategic framework that enables companies to identify risks, enhance operational efficiency, and align with investor expectations. As the future of the Omnibus proposal unfolds, one thing remains certain: businesses that stay committed to sustainability will be in a stronger position, regardless of regulatory changes. Companies that have already started preparing for CSRD need to ensure their reporting processes remain structured, efficient, and adaptable to potential legislative shifts. A well-designed reporting system is key to navigating these changes. Tools that centralize data collection, ensure ESRS alignment, and facilitate audit readiness can help companies stay on track-whether the regulatory framework shifts or not. For a deeper understanding of what these developments mean in practice, denxpert's latest webinar unpacks the Omnibus proposal's potential impact and what companies should focus on next. Watch the on-demand session to stay informed and prepared. Find more information on our Global Sustainability Reporting Services and how we can help your company navigate these different reporting frameworks and requirements. Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates, listen to our podcast and follow us on LinkedIn. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Inogen Alliance on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Inogen Alliance Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/inogen-alliance Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Inogen Alliance TPT Global Tech, Inc. (OTC PINK:TPTW) today announced that it has postponed its determination of the previously disclosed reverse stock split in consideration of rapidly changing market conditions. The company also recently signed a partnership agreement with HillmanTok University with 400 online professors and 350,000 registered online students that will be migrated over to the company's recently released VuMe Suer App. The company remains committed to its long-term growth strategy and will continue evaluating the most effective path forward to enhance shareholder value. Management will reassess market conditions and provide updates as appropriate. "We believe this decision allows us to better align with current market dynamics and position the company for future success," said Stephen J. Thomas III, CEO of TPT Global Tech. "Our focus remains on executing our strategic initiatives and delivering value to our shareholders." The company will provide further updates as new developments arise. About TPT Global Tech, Inc. TPT Global Tech, Inc. is a technology holding company based in San Diego, California. It was formed as the successor of two U.S. corporations, Ally Pharma US and TPT Global, Inc. The Company operates in various sectors including media, telecommunications, Smart City Real Estate Development, and the launch of the first super App, VuMe Live technology platform. As a media content delivery hub, TPT Global Tech utilizes its own proprietary global digital media TV and telecommunications infrastructure platform. They offer software as a service (SaaS), technology platform as a service (PAAS), and cloud-based unified communication as a service (UCaaS) solutions to businesses worldwide. Their UCaaS services enable businesses of all sizes to access the latest voice, data, media, and collaboration features. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings, and pursuit of new markets are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the ability of the Company to control, and in many cases, the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions. For more information about TPT Global Tech and its subsidiaries, please visit www.tptglobaltech.com. For media or Investment inquiries, please contact: Rick@tptglobaltech.com SOURCE: TPT Global Tech, Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: SEKZF) (FSE: Z7D) ("ESGold" or the "Company") is pleased to report the results of metallurgical test work, conducted in collaboration with Dundee Sustainable Technologies (DST), under the Company's previously announced Gold-Silver Green Processing Initiative. The test work, part of ESGold's Clean Processing Initiative, assessed the applicability of DST's CLEVR Process, a non-cyanide, environmentally friendly gold-recovery technology, on legacy tailings material from the Montauban Project. The tested sample[1] was collected from an on-site stockpile of tailings material grading 1.21g/t Au and 137g/t Ag (Duplessis et al., 2023*). The metallurgical results indicate high gold recovery potential using the CLEVR Process, with gold recovery over 90.9%, following an oxidation pre-treatment process. The results provide preliminary insights into the applicability of this technology at the Montauban Project, though further studies are required to confirm economic feasibility. Key Findings: High Gold Recovery: CLEVR leaching achieved over 90.9% gold recovery, with final residue gold levels below the limits of detection, confirming near-total gold extraction. High-Grade Silver Values: The tested sample returned silver assay values of 760 g/t Ag, indicating strong silver recovery potential[2]. Increased Gold Grade After Oxidation: The initial assayed gold grade of the tested sample was 3.69 g/t Au and improved to 6.01 g/t Au post-oxidation. This significant increase in grade resulted from mass-loss associated with sulphide removal, which improved gold recovery (Gold and Silver Non-cyanide CLEVR process report). Successful Sulphide Removal: The oxidative thermal pre-treatment reduced sulphide content from 29.0% to 0.48%, significantly improving processing conditions. Fast Processing Time: Gold leaching was completed in one (1) hour, demonstrating the efficiency of the CLEVR Process. Potential for Process Optimization: Future work will explore increasing solids concentration, reducing reaction time, and enhancing silver recovery to further enhance economic efficiencies. Note: Samples were processed at Dundee Sustainable Technologies' metallurgical facility in Canada. Standard QA/QC protocols, including the use of certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicate samples, were followed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of results. Clean Processing and ESG Advantages As part of ESGold's ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible mining, the CLEVR Process presents a non-cyanide alternative that minimizes environmental impact while maintaining high recovery rates. The process utilizes hypochlorite-based chemistry in a closed-loop system, reducing toxic tailings and supporting Environmental, Social and Governance compliance at Montauban. "This successful test confirms that the CLEVR Process is an effective, environmentally sustainable alternative for processing Montauban's gold-bearing material," said Brad Kitchen, President of ESGold. "These results align with our strategy to develop a clean, efficient processing operation while maximizing resource recovery. Our next steps will focus on optimization to further refine recoveries and incorporate silver extraction improvements." Next Steps & Optimization Plans ESGold and DST are now working towards process optimization and refining engineering parameters to support the integration of the CLEVR Process at the Montauban Project. Key objectives in the next phase include: Increasing solid concentration in leaching circuits to 35-45% to improve throughput efficiency. Reducing reaction time to 30 minutes for enhanced operational performance. for enhanced operational performance. Developing an optimized flow sheet with METSIM modeling for full-scale production integration. Exploring silver recovery enhancements through adapted CLEVR parameters and additional process steps. Advancing Toward Production at Montauban The CLEVR test results provide a key technical validation as ESGold continues to advance the Montauban Project. Pending financing, the Company intends to utilize future cash flow to fund systematic mineral exploration on the Montauban property, with the ongoing Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) geophysical survey providing the next layer of data to refine future drill targets. These steps align with ESGold's strategy to develop a sustainable, cash-generating operation, while minimizing shareholder dilution. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andre Gauthier, P.Geo. (a director of the Company and non-independent), and Edmond St-Jean, P. Eng. (independent), both Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). *Duplessis, C., Dufort, D., Rachidi, M., Langton, J., St-Jean, E., Bissonnette, C., Gagnon, F. and Coates, S. (2023). (all independent) NI 43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Montauban Gold Project, Quebec, for ESGold. Other Corporate News The Company is also pleased to announce the launch of a 12-month online marketing campaign through AGORACOM to target new potential investors interested in the Company's business model and to engage current shareholders. Leveraging AGORACOM's digital network, which has garnered over 700 million lifetime page views from 8.9 million investors, the campaign aims to provide exposure to the ESGold HUB, featuring various multimedia assets and real-time updates. Additionally, the Company has established a moderated "CEO Verified" Discussion Forum on AGORACOM to facilitate communication with shareholders. The fees for these services amount to $125,000 over a 12-month period. About ESGold Corp. ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTCQB: SEKZF) (FSE: Z7D) is a fully permitted, pre-production resource company at the forefront of clean mining and exploration innovation. With proven expertise in Quebec, the Company is advancing its projects toward production and feasibility while delivering long-term value through sustainable resource recovery and exploration. ESGold's flagship Montauban property, located 80 kilometers west of Quebec City, serves as a model for responsible mining practices, combining near-term production with exploration potential. For more information, please contact ESGold Corp. at +1-888-673-1231 or visit esgold.com for additional resources, including a French version of this press release, past news releases, a 3D model of the Montauban processing plant, media interviews, and opinion-editorial pieces. Stay connected by following us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and joining our Telegram channel. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. [1]The metallurgical test work was conducted on a selectively chosen composite sample from the Montauban stockpile. While the sample provides preliminary insights into the material characteristics, it may not be fully representative of the entire stockpile. As a result, actual recoveries in full-scale production may differ from those observed in testing. [2] While the test sample returned silver grades of up to 760 g/t Ag, further metallurgical studies are required to assess silver recovery rates under the CLEVR Process. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243569 SOURCE: ESGold Corp. The company's newest menu innovation taps into the hot honey trend, bringing chipotle heat with a touch of sweet to any order Chipotle Honey Chicken was Chipotle's best-selling limited-time offering in a market-wide test after it debuted in Nashville, Tenn. and Sacramento, Calif. in 2024 Starting today, fans in the U.K. will get early access to the new protein on the Chipotle app All guests in the U.K. can try Chipotle Honey Chicken starting 7 March LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill UK, the fast-casual restaurant chain that serves burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and salads made with real ingredients, announced Chipotle Honey Chicken is coming to restaurants across Europe for a limited time. Guests in the U.K. can get exclusive early access to the brand's latest menu innovation today via the Chipotle app. Chipotle's latest culinary innovation is a bold new menu item that perfectly balances unique heat from chipotle peppers and a touch of sweet from pure, wildflower honey. Beginning 7 March, guests in the U.K. can order Chipotle Honey Chicken for all in-restaurant and digital orders. To download the Chipotle UK app on the Apple App Store and Android Google Play, guests can visit: Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/chipotle-uk/id6483440848 Android Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chipotle.ordering.eu For video assets of Chipotle Honey Chicken, see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CEto2XXEQ8 Sweet Heat Sizzles Across The U.K. Hot honey is the top trending flavour of the year. Google Trends shows that searches for 'hot honey' are at an all-time high in the U.K., with interest in the term steadily rising over the past year. Chipotle Honey Chicken surpassed stage-gate testing in Nashville, Tenn. and Sacramento, Calif., and has emerged as a fan favourite thanks to the balanced flavour made with real ingredients. Chipotle Honey Chicken is made with fresh chicken hot off the grill, seasoned with savoury Mexican spices, in a marinade of seared, smoked chipotle peppers and a touch of pure honey, delivering a new, flavourful bite to any main meal. "Chipotle Honey Chicken was our top performing limited time offer in test markets and we're excited for guests to taste this bold, new protein with their go-to order," said Chris Brandt, Chief Brand Officer. "The delicate balance of heat and a touch of sweet pairs perfectly with our real ingredients prepared fresh every day." 0 Delivery Fee Offer To celebrate its latest menu innovation, Chipotle fans can enjoy free delivery via UberEats and Deliveroo with a minimum order of 10 from 10-16 March and 24-30 March. *0 Delivery Fee Legal Terms Higher menu prices are charged for delivery; additional service fees applied at checkout as well. Available 10-16 March and 24-30 March, 2025 only, within Chipotle's delivery areas from participating U.K. locations, during normal operating hours for such locations. Minimum order GBP10 min, excl fees. Deliveries and redemptions are subject to availability. Valid only via UberEats and Deliveroo; not valid on orders placed via Chipotle.co.uk. Chipotle reserves the right to modify or terminate this offer at any time without notice. Additional restrictions may apply; void where prohibited. About Chipotle Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. There are over 3,700 restaurants as of December 31, 2024, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates and it is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on Fortune's Most Admired Companies 2025 list and Time Magazine's Most Influential Companies. With over 130,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit CHIPOTLE.CO.UK. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635262/Chipotle_Honey_Chicken.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/624816/Chipotle_Mexican_Grill_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/chipotles-highly-anticipated-chipotle-honey-chicken-has-arrived-in-the-uk-302394910.html Montigny Le Bretonneux, March 6, 2025 DOLFINES signs a three-year global framework agreement with the IBERDROLA Group for technical consulting services in the renewable energy sector DOLFINES, an expert in services to the renewable and conventional energy industry, today announces the signing of a three-year framework agreement (2025 - 2027) with IBERDROLA RENOVABLES ENERGIA S.A.U., one of the world's leading renewable energy companies. This contract covers the provision of technical assistance services in the field of inspections and commissioning of equipment and materials for IBERDROLA's renewable energy projects. DOLFINES will thus provide IBERDROLA RENOVABLES ENERGIA with experts who will audit, in its suppliers' factories, the manufacturing processes of onshore wind turbine components, photovoltaic equipment and battery storage system components, among others. These audits will be carried out on a global scale (45 countries) according to the needs of IBERDROLA RENOVABLES' projects. DOLFINES' services will be provided in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO 9001 standards to ensure the highest quality services. The IBERDROLA Group is a world leader in renewable energy sources, with almost 45 GW of renewable energy in operation. Its 2024-2026 Strategic Plan plans to allocate 15.5 billions to renewable activities, more than half of which will be devoted to offshore wind power. Commenting on the agreement, Adrien Bourdon-Feniou, Chairman and CEO of DOLFINES, said: "This international partnership with IBERDROLA marks an important step in DOLFINES' development strategy in the renewable energy sector. Thanks to the expertise we have developed in the field of QA/QC inspections in wind turbine manufacturing plants in France in particular, and our ability to project teams of experts all over the world, we are ideally positioned to support IBERDROLA in its international projects and contribute to the achievement of its operational excellence objectives. This contract reinforces DOLFINES' position as a trusted partner for major players in the energy sector in Europe and around the world. About Dolfines: www.dolfines.com Founded in 2000, DOLFINES is an independent specialist in engineering and services in the renewable and conventional energy industry. Faced with the challenges of decarbonizing the energy sector and capitalizing on its strong expertise, DOLFINES wants to play a key role in this energy transition by designing and providing innovative services and solutions for the exploitation of renewable energy sources onshore and offshore, above and below sea level. Respecting the highest standards of quality and safety, DOLFINES is labelled an innovative company certified ISO 9001 for its technical assistance, auditing, inspection and engineering activities. Euronext Growth TM DOLFINES is listed on Euronext GrowthTM - ISIN Code: FR001400SP13- Mnemonic Code: ALDOL - DOLFINES is eligible to PEA-PME Contacts: Delphine Bardelet Guejo, CFO - delphine.bardelet@dolfines.com ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: ymyfZcWclGjFxmttaZVlbJJsbmhnmGKZm2nKxGdtZ56Uam9glm9hb5abZnJhmGZs - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-90316-dolfines_pr_framework-contract-iberdrola.pdf PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hamburg-based law firm Rechtsanwalte Steinhofel announces that Tagesschau, Germany's oldest and most influential news program, broadcast by the country's main public broadcaster ARD/NDR, has voluntarily retracted statements published on its website. These statements attributed the ownership of luxury assets to Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov and his sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova, claiming that Mr. Usmanov "owned luxury real estate in Germany" and that Ms. Ismailova, according to "investigations," "owned" the mega-yacht Dilbar, which was docked in Hamburg. Since 2022, numerous European media outlets have removed false allegations regarding Mr. Usmanov and Ms. Ismailova's ownership of these assets. In reality, these properties are held in irrevocable discretionary trusts, where neither Mr. Usmanov nor his sister has any control or ownership interest, with all rights vested in independent trustees. In February 2025, dpa, Germany's largest news agency, issued a statement urging its media partners to "unpublish" the report claiming that Ms. Ismailova owned the Dilbar The Council of the European Union used these allegations to sanction Ms. Ismailova, arguing that Mr. Usmanov had transferred ownership of these assets to her in order to evade sanctions. The legal representatives of Mr. Usmanov and Ms. Ismailova have denied this claim, while the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) deleted tweets that had reiterated the allegations used by the EU Council to justify its sanctions. "This is not the first time that NDR has broadcast such false statements. The broadcaster has been forced multiple times to sign cease-and-desist declarations, which include contractual penalties in case of violations. Previous breaches of these declarations have already led to NDR paying contractual penalties," said Joachim Steinhofel, a media law attorney representing Ms. Ismailova and Mr. Usmanov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306878862/en/ Contacts: Press contact: Charles de Beistegui +33 6 15 29 80 87 You.com, a pioneer in AI-powered search and the maker of the leading productivity engine for enterprises, today announced a partnership with Sustainable Ventures, Europe's leading growth partner for climate tech, to provide AI tools to over 800 climate tech startups and scaleups. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306684294/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) Through this partnership, Sustainable Ventures companies will receive six months of You.com Pro, featuring 20+ different AI models for research, content creation, and workflow automation with the ability to build custom AI agents for various tasks. This collaboration aims to help climate entrepreneurs scale their impact for addressing some of the planet's most pressing challenges. "We're proud to support the incredible work of Sustainable Ventures' companies with AI tools that accelerate their impact," said Bryan McCann, co-founder and CTO of You.com. "Our AI agents allow these startups to gather information and conduct research more efficiently using fewer overall tools, which translates into greater sustainability in their compute usage." "At Sustainable Ventures, we're on the side of the entrepreneur," said Andrew Wordsworth, CEO of Sustainable Ventures. "The primary goal of this collaboration is to empower climate tech founders with the tools and insights they need to scale their impact. By integrating You.com's AI capabilities into our ecosystem, we're providing startups with a competitive edge. This partnership is about accelerating innovation and driving meaningful change in the fight against climate change." Sustainable Ventures accelerates startup success by providing integrated access to funding, expert services, and a thriving community of peers and strategic partners supporting founders on the journey from idea to exit. As an entrepreneurial organization with many former founders on the team, Sustainable Ventures is committed to solving climate change and resource scarcity through commercial innovation. The partnership launches with an in-person event in London on March 6, featuring a fireside chat with Bryan McCann. The program will demonstrate how climate tech startups can use AI to boost productivity and scale impact. About You.com You.com is an early pioneer in AI-powered search and the maker of the leading AI productivity engine for enterprises. You.com AI Agents maximize the productivity of knowledge workers through fast and accurate research and analysis, complex problem solving, content creation, and more. The company's suite of APIs and end-to-end solutions drive revenue for businesses by becoming the foundation AI agent layer for their products and services. Founded by leading AI research scientists Richard Socher and Bryan McCann, You.com has raised $99 million from Marc Benioff's Time Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, NVIDIA, SBVA, Georgian Ventures, Radical Ventures, Day One Ventures, Breyer Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, DuckDuckGo and others. About Sustainable Ventures Sustainable Ventures is Europe's leading growth partner for climate tech startups, helping them transform innovative solutions into market-leading businesses. Their integrated offering includes access to dedicated funding, collaborative workspaces, expert advisory services, and connections to innovative peers and strategic partners. Operating from hubs across the UK, they've supported 800+ climate tech startups to date generating 7,000+ green jobs and 1.2b+ in funding. They are now expanding to build the world's most impactful climate tech ecosystem, connecting their startup community with public sector bodies, investors, corporates and other key partners to help deploy sustainable solutions globally. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306684294/en/ Contacts: Media contacts: You.com- press@you.com Sustainable Ventures kateahinton@gmail.com Innoflight announced its award for an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Cryptologic and Cyber Systems Division (CCSD). Innoflight Products The IDIQ includes the delivery of the following Innoflight products and associated services: KI-492 : Mesh Network/HAIPE - High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptors COMSEC End Cryptographic Units (ECUs) KI-103 : Point-to-Point/Bulk COMSEC ECUs SCR-104: S-band Software-defined Compact Radios The five-year IDIQ contract has a ceiling of $25 million. With this contract, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force will have the capability to streamline the procurement of Innoflight's COMSEC products and directly release them for specific space programs to the prime contractors, as needed. "Innoflight has been leading the industry with the first space-based HAIPE-compliant crypto solution to enable the space mesh. This contract confirms Innoflight's prominence as a space crypto provider for the U.S. government," said Jeff Janicik, Innoflight founder and CEO. "This IDIQ will streamline the availability of compliant crypto solutions for military programs in order for the U.S. to maintain its space superiority and ensuring cyber-security of its assets." Contact Information Martha Castillo Senior Marketing & Sales mcastillo@innoflight.com 858-882-8132 SOURCE: Innoflight NextChem Tech will provide engineering and technology solutions to improve energy efficiency and carbon footprint of the Sulfur Recovery Complex at SATORP's refinery This agreement strengthens the relationship with SATORP and the Group's presence in the region MILAN, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MAIRE (MI: MAIRE) announces that NEXTCHEM (Sustainable Technology Solutions), through its subsidiary NextChem Tech, has been awarded a three-year contract by SATORP - a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies - to provide engineering and technology services related to the Sulphur Recovery Complex of SATORP's refinery in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Specifically, NextChem Tech will provide process and engineering advisory services to enhance performance, support operational troubleshooting, and improve energy efficiency and the carbon footprint of the three units (Sulfur Recovery Unit, Amine Regeneration Unit and Sour Water Stripper) which compose the Sulphur Recovery Complex. The services will also include recommendations for capital investment opportunities, design enhancements, and technology improvements. This award reinforces NEXTCHEM's position as reliable technology and process leader, recognized for its expertise and commitment to continuous R&D and innovation. Alessandro Bernini, CEO of MAIRE, commented: "This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to drive sustainability and efficiency in the refining industry. This agreement not only strengthens our relationship with SATORP, after TECNIMONT's multibillion-dollar petrochemical expansion project awarded in June 2023 - so called Amiral project -, but also underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge engineering and technology solutions that reduce environmental impact." MAIRE S.p.A. is a leading technology and engineering group focused on advancing the Energy Transition. We provide Integrated E&C Solutions for the downstream market and Sustainable Technology Solutions through three business lines: Sustainable Fertilizers, Low-Carbon Energy Vectors, and Circular Solutions. With operations across 50 countries, MAIRE employs over 9,800 people. MAIRE is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (ticker "MAIRE"). For further information: www.groupmaire.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2379433/4631640/MAIRE_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nextchem-maire-awarded-a-three-year-engineering-and-technology-services-contract-by-satorp-in-saudi-arabia-302394959.html UK AI Leader makes a series of announcements to help customers and partners capitalize on the Operational Revolution of Data and AI at QuanCon25 LONDON, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quantexa, a global leader in Decision Intelligence solutions for the public and private sectors, today announced a series of innovative updates and launches across its platform at QuanCon25, its annual customer and partner ecosystem event. Hosted in London at Tobacco Dock, Quantexa highlighted its continued commitment to helping its customers get their data AI-ready, break down organizational silos, and transform decision-making in the era of AI. A New Era of Decision Intelligence At the heart of Quantexa's innovations is its Decision Intelligence Platform, where its Contextual Fabric, is helping customers: Unify fragmented data using industry-leading entity resolution and graph technology. using industry-leading entity resolution and graph technology. Enrich data with critical contextual insights to build a real-world representation of how data connections and relationships are impacting an organization. to build a real-world representation of how data connections and relationships are impacting an organization. Empower their organizations to run contextual analytics that strengthen Gen AI efforts to drive smarter, more transformative decision-making at all levels of the enterprise. Dan Higgins, Quantexa's Chief Product Officer, also announced new Decision Intelligence platform capabilities, including: Advanced Language Parsers: Now supporting non-Latin scripts such as Japanese-with Chinese and Arabic capabilities on the horizon-enabling organizations to process multilingual data with ease. Now supporting non-Latin scripts such as Japanese-with Chinese and Arabic capabilities on the horizon-enabling organizations to process multilingual data with ease. Scalable Knowledge Graphs: Capable of connecting over one billion nodes, these graphs provide deep insights into hidden risks and growth opportunities. Capable of connecting over one billion nodes, these graphs provide deep insights into hidden risks and growth opportunities. Real-Time Entity Streaming: Delivering up-to-date insights for fraud detection, know-your-customer (KYC), and master data management (MDM) through ultra-high volume data streaming. Delivering up-to-date insights for fraud detection, know-your-customer (KYC), and master data management (MDM) through ultra-high volume data streaming. Enhanced User Experiences: A revamped search and localization interface that ensures users can interact with the platform in their native language, thereby reducing onboarding times and driving engagement. Higgins also gave a sneak peek into significant platform innovations coming in 2025, which include: More Support for Unstructured & Expanded Data Formats New Natural Language Processing (NLP) pipeline to manage and analyze unstructured data at scale and in multiple languages. to manage and analyze unstructured data at scale and in multiple languages. Contextual insights extracted from internal documents , which incorporate unstructured data from intelligence reports, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and news content. , which incorporate unstructured data from intelligence reports, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and news content. The ability to leverage distillation and fine-tuning to deliver hyperscale LLM performance at the efficiency of small local models. New Workflow and Case Management Capabilities A new end-to-end workflow builder to enhance decisioning processes with consistency, traceability, and collaboration. to enhance decisioning processes with consistency, traceability, and collaboration. The ability to streamline processes for use cases such as data stewardship, escalation decisions, suspicious activity report (SAR) filing, and claims processing. for use cases such as data stewardship, escalation decisions, suspicious activity report (SAR) filing, and claims processing. Designed for highly regulated environments with improved alerting and reporting capabilities. Revolutionizing Data Management Evolving from traditional methods to a modern, contextual fabric that provides trusted, current, and universally accessible data. to a modern, contextual fabric that provides trusted, current, and universally accessible data. AI-powered quality assessment and automated root cause analysis for critical source data. Delivering Tangible Business Impact To understand its return-on-investmentstudy with leading industry analyst house Forrester and a diverse portfolio of customers spanning banking, insurance, telecommunications, and the public sector. The study found that Quantexa's Decision Intelligence Platform has delivered measurable benefits per use case, including: Nearly $8 million in data management efficiency savings. in data management efficiency savings. Approximately $15 million in operational efficiencies. in operational efficiencies. Over $19 million in risk reduction and compliance savings. Quantexa Founder & CEO, Vishal Marria said: "These results demonstrate that when your data is trusted and contextual, it drives better decision-making and significant bottom-line impact in the era of AI." Breaking New Ground with AI and Cloud Solutions Two major announcements further cemented Quantexa's Decision Intelligence leadership: Q Assist: A context-aware generative AI solution suite designed to democratize access to trusted data, augment decision-making, and provide real-time insights to front-line teams will be available for Early Access in April 2025. A context-aware generative AI solution suite designed to democratize access to trusted data, augment decision-making, and provide real-time insights to front-line teams will be available for in April 2025. Quantexa Cloud: A comprehensive suite of native SaaS industry solutions, launching with Quantexa Cloud AML on Microsoft Azure , is available for Customer Preview . This innovative solution, developed in close collaboration with community and mid-size banks in the US, streamlines and modernizes anti-money laundering workflows for faster time to value and strengthened compliance. A comprehensive suite of native SaaS industry solutions, launching with , is available for . This innovative solution, developed in close collaboration with community and mid-size banks in the US, streamlines and modernizes anti-money laundering workflows for faster time to value and strengthened compliance. Jamie Hutton, Quantexa's Chief Technology Officer, highlighted live demonstrations illustrating how these solutions are revolutionizing financial crime detection and operational intelligence by connecting disparate data sources into actionable insights. Strengthening Strategic Partnerships Quantexa also highlighted its growing partnership with Microsoft, a collaboration that has delivered transformative industry solutions on the Azure Marketplace. Key initiatives include: The public and private preview launch of Quantexa Unify Workload for Microsoft Fabric , empowering organizations to enhance data quality and eliminate silos in a unified, scalable platform. , empowering organizations to enhance data quality and eliminate silos in a unified, scalable platform. Success stories from marquee customers including HSBC, Novobanco, and RSA, who are leveraging Microsoft and Quantexa technology to accelerate their data and AI transformation journeys. Looking Ahead: The Launch of Q Labs Quantexa detailed the official launch of Q Labs, a dedicated hub to accelerate groundbreaking ideas and provide a path from concept to commercialization including exploring emerging technologies, accelerating product innovation, and solving complex customer challenges. Q Labs is currently developing several exciting projects, including: Simulation Lab : Helping businesses model real-world scenarios before making critical decisions. : Helping businesses model real-world scenarios before making critical decisions. Supply Chain Intelligence: Leveraging AI to create smarter, more resilient supply chains. Parsa Ghaffari, Head of Product Innovation, said: "Working hand-in-hand with our engineering and GTM organizations, we turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact -propelling our customers and partners to their next bold step faster than ever before." Recognizing Our Partners The company also took a moment to honor its key strategic partners. The event featured the presentation of the Innovation Partner of the Year Award to Accenture, whose visionary approach has powered groundbreaking generative AI solutions, and the Growth Partner of the Year Award to KPMG, whose collaborative efforts have significantly expanded Quantexa's global footprint. Quantexa were thrilled to be joined by their sponsoring partners at this year's QuanCon25 - PWC, Microsoft, Databricks, Moody's and Dun & Bradstreet. To watch QuanCon25 on-demand, please visit https://www.quancon.com/. About Quantexa Quantexa is a global AI, data and analytics software company pioneering Decision Intelligence to empower organizations to make trusted operational decisions with data in context. Using the latest advancements in AI, Quantexa's Decision Intelligence platform helps organizations uncover hidden risk and new opportunities by unifying siloed data and turning it into the most trusted, reusable resource. It solves major challenges across data management, customer intelligence, KYC, financial crime, risk, fraud, and security, throughout the customer lifecycle. The Quantexa Decision Intelligence Platform enhances operational performance with over 90% more accuracy and 60 times faster analytical model resolution than traditional approaches. An independently commissioned Forrester TEI study on Quantexa's Decision Intelligence Platform found that customers saw a three-year 228% ROI. Founded in 2016, Quantexa now has over 800 employees and thousands of platform users working with billions of transactions and data points across the world. Media Enquiries C: Stephanie Crisp, Fight or Flight E:Quantexa@fightorflight.com OR C: Adam Jaffe, SVP of Corporate Marketing T: +1 609 502 6889 E :adamjaffe@quantexa.com By Justina Nixon-Saintil | VP, CSR and Chief Impact Officer IBM has been working with universities for almost a century. Today, we're excited to share the new IBM SkillsBuild university strategy to strengthen AI education in universities, helping them cultivate talent among future developers, and drive economic growth worldwide. Today's skills gap presents an obstacle to innovation and economic development. The demand for AI skills is a top priority for companies, universities and learners, due to mass adoption of AI, the rise of open-source AI models available for the general public and the new proliferation of AI assistants and agents. In fact, the latest Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum shows that the skills gap remains the most significant barrier to business transformation, and that by 2030, 39% of current skills may become outdated. Developers face a similar challenge according to recent research from IBM and Morning Consult. For example, 76% of developers surveyed say they don't consider themselves to be experts in generative AI. This trend is likely to continue and the skills gap would grow at the same accelerated pace. To foster the technical talent needed to fuel open innovation and drive business results, we need to invest in the skills of our future workforce. How can IBM support students and aspiring developers? In 2023, IBM announced a commitment to providing free AI training to 2 million learners worldwide over three years. When we undertook this work, we knew that different groups of learners would have different needs, and that cross-industry alignment on how to approach this global challenge would be required. To help address this, we co-created an AI competencies guide through the AI Alliance. We worked to collect data, generate insights, and align on recommendations to define the essential AI competencies across key sectors and roles, as well as a defined range in levels from fluency, to proficiency, to expertise, and finally mastery. Building on this AI Alliance framework guidance, we have created a new strategy to help university students and aspiring developers build the AI competencies that will help them thrive. The key elements of this work are faculty training, online learning, hands-on labs, group innovation challenges, as well as practical real-world learning opportunities. Each of our student-facing offerings is developed for key personas, to respond to their needs and help them build their AI competencies to reach their goals, and all are available through our IBM SkillsBuild program. Faculty Training: Our starting point to deepen IBM's relationships with universities is connecting with professors to offer AI training and resources that can help them cultivate their students' abilities. This approach multiplies the impact of our training, helping us reach a much wider audience of learners. To this end, we're rolling out enhanced training for professors with new coursework on generative AI. Meanwhile, we will also provide faculty at select universities with access to IBM solutions like watsonx, (our portfolio of generative AI products) and Granite (our family of open-source large language models (LLMs)). The additional guidance and support from IBM experts will offer professors more options to incorporate advanced AI learning into their curriculum. ? New free generative AI courses for beginners: We heard from many students that they're curious about how AI will shape their futures and are looking for a place to begin their AI exploration. To help address this need, for students enrolled in any university program across any discipline, we are offering new, free online courses that can help them explore generative AI. Whether they're aspiring developers or plan to pursue tech-adjacent or any other field, these future decision-makers can benefit from short form coursework that provides a foundation of AI understanding and an introduction to generative AI technologies. These courses are about 1 hour each and include topics like exploring text to speech; building a chatbot; and an introduction to open-source LLMs. For those students who may not know where to start or need additional support, IBM SkillsBuild is also hosting on-campus activation events to guide and help them complete these courses, and celebrate their new skills. Are you a university student? Start today. Hands-on labs: Students who are studying computer science, IT, or a tech-adjacent field at the university level are generally more interested in a deeper-dive into AI learning with interactive components. These students may be aspiring developers who like to try out new technologies and build applications. For them, we will be offering hands-on labs to help them develop their AI expertise. These interactive exercises are up to 90 minutes in length and will help students dive deeper into topics like code generation and data classification using LLMs, like IBM Granite. Students will also have the opportunity to earn digital credentials that are recognized by future employers. Capstone projects and group innovation challenges: IBM is making watsonx available to selected universities for students to build real-world solutions. This offering will be targeted to advanced technical undergraduate or graduate students. These students will have the opportunity to work with IBM experts and their classroom professors, to build innovative capstone projects over the course of a semester. IBM mentors will equip the students with problem statements, including some from IBM clients, which could span different industries such as financial services, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, manufacturing, telecommunications, marketing or energy. Groups of students at this level could also participate in innovation challenges, like hackathons, which are short-term experiences that give groups of aspiring developers the opportunity to use generative AI and LLMs, like Granite. Results of our pilots around the world: As we've piloted this approach around the world, we have already seen some early success stories. For example, through IBM SkillsBuild, two teams of university students in Boston built a chatbot using IBM's generative AI technology. The tool aims to help students explore if their work outside the traditional college environment could be applied for college credit. Additionally, students in India have built watsonx solutions focused on the legal profession, farming, and nutrition. And in the UK, we worked with a team of students who built a disaster-response robot using IBM's AI and data platform technology. Equipped with advanced sensors and a virtual assistant, built from scratch using IBM watsonx, the robot would assess its environment, identify obstacles, connect with individuals on the ground, and send important information back to rescue teams, making it a valuable asset during critical moments. Looking ahead: The pace of AI innovation continues to challenge and inspire businesses across industries, making skilled talent even more important than ever. As we see the rise of more open-source AI models, it's clear that the pace of transformation is not slowing down. The future of AI will be shaped by students, educators, and professionals who not only have the skills to use generative AI, but also to manage AI agents, or even build them. In the months ahead, we're excited to expand our work with more schools and learners across disciplines to build AI skills. We will continue to: enhance our resources for university faculty, including opportunities to connect across the faculty community, expand our catalog of new AI coursework for students, and connect with teams across universities to build new innovative AI and open source solutions. Together with universities and our network of IBM SkillsBuild partners, we are investing in the pipeline of technological talent for our future, and preparing them for the marketplace. If you're a student, visit the IBM SkillsBuild site. If you're a university or faculty and would like to participate or learn more, please visit https://skillsbuild.org/organizations-supporting-college-students/interest-form. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from IBM on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: IBM Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/ibm Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: IBM Victoria, Seychelles--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - MEXC, the world's leading cryptocurrency trading platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Hacken, a premier blockchain security auditor, to further enhance the security of its platform. This collaboration reflects MEXC's ongoing efforts to protect user assets and maintain a robust platform, ensuring security in a rapidly changing environment. Image 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8717/243548_02bc96d5640dbb56_001full.jpg As the crypto space continues to evolve, security remains a top priority for MEXC. Hacken will conduct a comprehensive security assessment to ensure the platform's infrastructure remains protected from vulnerabilities and cyber threats. The assessment will focus on various critical areas, including identifying and addressing vulnerabilities across web applications, mobile apps, and APIs, assessing encryption measures to prevent data leakage, safeguarding session management to prevent hijacking and fixation attacks, and verifying that user inputs are sanitized to prevent injection attacks. Tracy Jin, COO of MEXC, commented, "At MEXC, the security of our users and their assets stands as our paramount priority. While we continuously strive to offer assets for trading, we are equally committed to providing a fortress of protection for our users' investments. Through our strategic partnership with Hacken's cybersecurity experts, we implement industry-leading security measures that evolve alongside emerging threats. This multi-dimensional approach ensures that MEXC remains both agile in responding to market opportunities and resilient against sophisticated security challenges." Dyma Budorin, CEO of Hacken, commented, "Security is the backbone of a reliable trading platform, and at Hacken, we are committed to raising the industry standard. Our partnership with MEXC reflects their strong commitment to protecting users and maintaining a secure ecosystem. Through a comprehensive security assessment, we will identify and address potential risks, strengthening MEXC's defenses against emerging threats. In an industry built on trust, proactive security is essential for long-term success and user confidence." About MEXC Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being "Your Easiest Way to Crypto". Serving over 32 million users across 170+ countries and regions, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, frequent airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding. For more information, visit: MEXC Website|X|Telegram|How to Sign Up on MEXC To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243548 SOURCE: Asiacryptos Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - ParallelStaff, a leader in IT staff augmentation solutions, is expanding its IT leadership solutions to address one of the most pressing challenges in the technology sector: the leadership gap in IT project management. This provides businesses with faster access to pre-vetted project managers and technical leads, allowing companies to fill IT leadership gaps within days and ensuring critical projects stay on track without the delays and high costs of traditional hiring. ParallelStaff Logo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10926/242991_096cc15f5478f85b_001full.jpg Meeting the Demand for Skilled IT Leadership As businesses increasingly rely on technology to drive growth, the demand for qualified IT leaders continues to grow. According to a Robert Half report, 87% of technology leaders report difficulties securing qualified professionals in today's employment landscape, highlighting the increasing scarcity of skilled IT leadership. Additionally, research from Gallup shows that companies fail to select the right manager 82% of the time, impacting project efficiency, team performance, and overall business success. ParallelStaff's expanded IT leadership solutions help bridge this critical gap by offering on-demand access to experienced project managers and technical leaders. These professionals integrate seamlessly into existing teams, helping businesses drive complex IT initiatives, optimize resources, and meet strategic objectives without the delays and costs of traditional hiring. By enhancing its IT leadership solutions, ParallelStaff ensures that businesses have access to highly skilled IT professionals who can be onboarded quickly - enabling companies to accelerate project timelines, maintain operational agility, and improve overall team performance, even in the face of a competitive tech talent market. ParallelStaff's newly enhanced IT leadership solutions include: Faster deployment of skilled IT professionals: Onboarding in as little as 10 days, minimizing project downtime. Access to Experienced IT talent: ParallelStaff sources highly skilled project managers and developers from Latin America and Europe. Flexible engagement models: Companies can scale teams up or down based on project needs. Nearshore advantages: Time zone alignment ensures real-time collaboration and seamless integration. Enterprise-grade security: Stringent security protocols, including end-to-end encryption and VPN-secured access, maintain compliance with data protection standards. Driving Business Growth Through IT Leadership ParallelStaff's enhanced IT leadership solutions are designed to support businesses across industries - from fintech and healthcare to e-commerce and enterprise software development. As organizations navigate digital transformation, cloud migrations, cybersecurity challenges, and AI-driven initiatives, having skilled leadership in place is essential to project success and sustained business growth. "In today's rapidly evolving tech landscape, the success of IT projects hinges on the quality of leadership and execution," said Miguel Hernandez, ParallelStaff's VP of Operations. "By strengthening our IT leadership capabilities, we enable businesses to tap into a highly skilled workforce that can drive innovation, optimize resources, and deliver successful outcomes - all without the overhead of traditional hiring." Augmented IT Staff Solutions To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10926/242991_096cc15f5478f85b_002full.jpg A Partner for Long-Term Success With the demand for IT talent continuing to rise, ParallelStaff remains committed to helping businesses navigate hiring bottlenecks and staffing shortages. By expanding its IT leadership services and leveraging its nearshore model, the company empowers organizations to scale efficiently and achieve their strategic goals. ParallelStaff's expanded IT leadership solutions are now available to businesses looking to enhance project efficiency and team collaboration. For more information about ParallelStaff's IT staff augmentation services or to schedule a consultation, please visit https://parallelstaff.com. About ParallelStaff ParallelStaff is a leading IT staff augmentation provider specializing in nearshore outsourcing solutions. By connecting businesses with top-tier software engineers, project leaders, and development teams, ParallelStaff enables organizations to scale efficiently, accelerate project timelines, and optimize costs. With a rigorous vetting process, seamless integration, and a commitment to security, ParallelStaff helps companies overcome talent shortages and drive innovation. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/242991 SOURCE: Brand Featured Originally published on Aflac Newsroom Aflac's support of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., continues as they become one of the newest members of its Corporate Leadership Council. Aflac was also a founding supporter of the museum - the Smithsonian's newest - when it opened to international acclaim in September 2016. "Our company recognizes the importance of preserving our nation's cultural heritage through research, collections, exhibitions and conservation," Aflac Senior Vice President and General Counsel Audrey Tillman said. "Aflac is pleased to join other corporate leaders in helping the museum tell the American story through the lens of African American history and culture." The 400,000-square-foot museum - which is free and open to the public 364 days a year - is the nation's largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. Over the last nine years, the museum's 12 inaugural exhibitions, collection of over 44,000 objects, and an array of educational, public and digital programs have engaged over 11.7 million visitors in person and an additional 35 million users via the NMAAHC website. Z2500104 EXP 03/26 Photo Credit: Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Aflac Incorporated on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Aflac Incorporated Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/aflac-incorporated Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Aflac Incorporated DesignCon, the premiere event for chip, board and systems design engineers, announces the 2025 Engineer of the Year, honoring excellence in engineering and new product advancements at the chip, board or system level and the winners of the prestigious 2025 Best Paper Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to the educational goals of the DesignCon program. The 2025 DesignCon "Engineer of the Year" is Ben Dannan, founder and chief technologist, Signal Edge Solutions, a service dedicated to bridging the gap between signal integrity, a measure of the quality of an electrical signal, and power integrity, electronic engineering efforts aimed at ensuring that power supply subsystems support the performance of an entire electronic system. Before starting Signal Edge Solutions, Dannan spent time at Northrop Grumman, Bosch Security Systems and Diversey. Dannan has strong ties to DesignCon as Technical Program Committee member, Best Paper Award Winner in 2024 and 2020 and 40 Under 40 winner in 2024. "For 30 years, DesignCon has been the premier event where we celebrate both the cutting-edge innovations shaping our future and the exceptional contributions that have brought us to where we are today," says Suzanne Deffree, Group Event Director, Informa Markets Engineering. "All recipients push the boundaries of what's possible and inspire the next generation of engineers. The dedication and innovative spirit of professionals are the driving forces behind the advancements that define our industry and fuel the progress of modern technology." DesignCon Best Paper Awards honor outstanding contributions to the educational goals of the DesignCon program and acknowledge the authors as leading practitioners in semiconductor and electronic design. The 2025 Best Paper Winners: 400G+ Electrical Pathfinding, authors from AMD. Balancing Current Density to High-Power ASICs in Lateral Power Delivery Designs, Brian Hostetler, HPE Inc. Beyond 200G: Brick Walls of 400G Links per Lane, authors from Samtec, University of L'Aquila and Keysight Technologies. Foundational Model Approach for SI/PI Analysis Using Large Language Model Techniques, authors from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Low Latency Speculative Error Correction Using Simplified ML Detector for 64Gbps Wireline Transceiver, authors from Cadence Design Systems. Next Generation 224 Gbps-PAM4 Linear: Host TX/RX, Electrical/Optical Channel Characteristics, and End-to-End Link Simulation and Analysis, authors from Intel and Semtech. Off-Chip Design Method for Improving Signal Integrity in Multi Branch Parallel interface of Non-Volatile Memory, authors from Samsung Electronics and Keysight Technologies. PSIJ Based Integrated Power Integrity Design for HBM Using Reinforcement Learning: Beyond the Target Impedance, authors from KAIST and Missouri S&T. Alongside the Best Paper Awards, the Early-Career Best Paper Award, first introduced in 2020, celebrates excellence amongst professionals within the first seven years of their career. 2025 Early-Career Best Paper Award Winners Due to the very high ratings of their presentations, the following two papers received both Best Paper Awards and Early-Career Best Paper Awards. A Parameter Extraction Method for Multi-Phase Buck Converters Based on Nonlinear Least Square Method, authors from Missouri University of Science and Technology and Google. Post-FEC BER Analysis of 200 Gb/s Wireline Systems Using an FPGA Platform, authors from University of Toronto, Alphawave SEMI and Huawei Technologies Canada. The full list of winning papers and contributing authors can be found at the DesignCon Best Papers Awards page. DesignCon will return to the Santa Clara Convention Center, Feb. 24-26, 2026. For the latest news and information on the DesignCon 2025 program, please visit designcon.com. About DesignCon DesignCon is the world's premier conference for chip, board, and systems design engineers in the high-speed communications and semiconductor communities. DesignCon, created by engineers for engineers, takes place annually in Silicon Valley and remains the largest gathering of chip, board, and systems designers in the country. DesignCon is organized by Informa, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B events and exhibitions organizer in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information, visit www.informa.com. Design News and Battery Technology Online are the official publications of DesignCon. Connect with DesignCon and join the conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. About Informa Markets Engineering Informa Markets' Engineering portfolio, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organized by Informa, the world's leading exhibitions organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. Media Contact Informa Markets Engineering pr.ime@informa.com SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - ENGINEERING Company signs a three-year, CAD$45,000 funding agreement to advance ecological research and habitat restoration efforts. DP World, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, has announced a $45,000 commitment over the next three years to Eastern Charlotte Waterways (ECW) to support critical research and conservation efforts in the Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area (MPA). The funding will aid ECW's ongoing work to manage invasive plant species, promote biodiversity, and implement conservation strategies to safeguard the MPA's marine ecosystem. This initiative underscores DP World's dedication to environmental sustainability and marks a significant step toward protecting one of Eastern Canada's most ecologically important estuarine environments. The partnership builds on ECW's existing research into invasive plant species such as Phragmites australis (common reed), Frangula alnus (glossy buckthorn), and Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed), which threaten the estuary's biodiversity. With DP World's support, ECW will expand monitoring efforts, refine removal strategies, and engage local communities in conservation activities. Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada, said: "At DP World, we recognize the importance of preserving and restoring natural habitats. Our partnership with Eastern Charlotte Waterways demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and meaningful environmental action. By supporting scientific research and conservation efforts, we aim to play a proactive role in preserving New Brunswick's coastal environment for generations to come." Preliminary efforts, which began last year, included mapping invasive species across 13 sections of the estuary to identify priority areas for intervention. The next phase of the project will focus on targeted removal, restoration of native plant species, and long-term ecological monitoring to assess. A Shared Commitment to Environmental Stewardship As one of the last ecologically intact estuaries in the Bay of Fundy, the Musquash Estuary plays a vital role in supporting a diverse range of plant and animal species. Designated as a Marine Protected Area by the Canadian government, it faces increasing threats from invasive species that disrupt native ecosystems and alter habitat conditions. By supporting ECW's scientific monitoring and restoration efforts, DP World is helping to preserve this unique coastal habitat. Kalen Mawer, Executive Director at ECW, said:"Our partnership with DP World has enabled us to expand our research and conservation efforts in this sensitive habitat. Industry-NGO partnerships like this one are important drivers of efforts that can have benefits for rural communities and environments which may not always receive the attention they need." Charlotte Bartlett, Project Biologist at ECW, said: "This funding will enable us to implement more effective strategies for managing invasive species and protecting the estuary's biodiversity. It represents a long-term investment in the health of one of Canada's most significant marine environments." In addition to financial support, DP World is exploring opportunities for employee engagement in hands-on conservation activities, including fieldwork and restoration efforts, further reinforcing its commitment to environmental responsibility. - END - DP World Americas Media Contact: Melina Vissat, Head of Communications M: (+1) 704-605-6159 E: melina.vissat@dpworld.com About DP World DP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 100,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer's door. In the Americas, DP World operates with a team of over 16,000 people across 12 countries, driving excellence through a robust network of 14 ports and terminals and more than 40 warehouses. By harnessing our global reach and local expertise, we simplify logistics, enhance operational performance, and redefine the boundaries of what's possible in global trade. WE MAKE TRADE FLOW. For more insights into how DP World is reshaping global trade, visit our website: www.dpworld.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from DP World on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: DP World Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/dp-world Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: DP World WHITBY, ON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Durham Region's innovation community is showing global decision makers our collective strengths at HANNOVER MESSE 2025. Durham Region is home to impressive research and development assets, strong industrial clusters, and world-renowned academic institutions that are backed by collaborative efforts among its eight local municipalities. "Durham Region is energizing industrial innovation," says John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for the Region of Durham. "We are building a future that turns research and development into job creation and investment. Collaboration, alongside a strong talent pipeline, is leading to innovators in Durham Region solving some of the world's biggest challenges." Leading the way "Durham Region has purposefully, and successfully, built an innovation ecosystem that supports cutting-edge research and development," shares Simon Gill, Director of Economic Development and Tourism at the Region of Durham. Businesses are supported by a "collaborative environment that supports innovation, sees businesses achieve their full potential, and cultivates robust economic growth," adds Gill. Research partnerships and innovation Durham Region's success in research partnerships will be showcased at HANNOVER MESSE with the groundbreaking Project Arrow. An initiative of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA), Project Arrow is the first all-Canadian, zero emission, connected concept vehicle. Engineered and built in Durham Region at Ontario Tech University's ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel, "Project Arrow is a testament of the achievements that can be realized when industry leaders, research and post-secondary partners come together with a shared vision," says Flavio Volpe, President of the APMA. "Together, we are not just building cars; we are shaping the future of transportation." Access to rare talent Durham Region offers a distinct advantage for the innovation and business community. More than 30,000 students study annually in post-secondary institutions that include Ontario Tech University, Durham College, and Trent University Durham GTA. Each of these institutions plays an important role in the region's innovation ecosystem, moving industry forward. "Ontario Tech is a research-driven institution that partners with global industry to provide our students with opportunities to solve real-world challenges and develop their learning competencies," says Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation at Ontario Tech University. Meet us in Hall 2 Durham Region has the talent, assets and community to support your business expansion in Canada. At HANNOVER MESSE, Durham Region looks forward to fostering international collaboration and attracting businesses to join its vibrant business ecosystem. Meet Invest Durham in hall 2 at booth B42 to energize your business together. Quick facts: Durham Region is located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It is made up of eight local municipalities, including the cities of Oshawa and Pickering; the towns of Ajax and Whitby; the Municipality of Clarington; and the townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge. Durham's location on the eastern side of the GTA offers prime access to Canada's largest consumer market of more than five million people, and 135 million more American and Canadian consumers within a day's drive. Durham Region was named one of Canada's best locations to invest by Site Selection Magazine in September 2024. Visit InvestDurham.ca to learn about the opportunity to energize your business in one of Canada's fastest growing communities. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635879/Regional_Municipality_of_Durham_Energizing_innovation__Durham_Re.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2636016/Regional_Municipality_of_Durham_Energizing_innovation__Durham_Re.jpg For media requests, please contact CorporateCommunications@durham.ca View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/durham-region-to-exhibit-research-and-development-expertise-at-hannover-messe-302395105.html Al Khobar, Al Khobar--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2025) - Staterra, a MENA leader in Environmental, Health and Safety, and Risk Assessment Services since 2016, today announced the launch of its enhanced Climate Change & Sustainability services tailored for Saudi Arabian organisations. This strategic expansion addresses growing demand for expertise in aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and global climate agendas while driving operational excellence. Amer B. Alzubaidi | Founder & Managing Director at Staterra "We're aiming to build solutions for the next century, not just the next fiscal year," said Amer B. Alzubaidi, Managing Director of Staterra. "Our solutions aim to empower organisations to thrive in Saudi Arabia's low-carbon transition while preserving resources for future generations." Saudi Arabia's Climate Imperative Under Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), the Kingdom aims to reduce emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030, protect 30% of land/marine areas, and deploy 50% renewable energy. With 6.2 GW of renewables operational and 44.2 GW under development - powering over 1.5 million homes - these initiatives form part of Saudi Arabia's $188 billion investment in 86 sustainability projects to combat rising temperatures and environmental degradation. Staterra's MENA-Tailored Services Staterra addresses regional challenges like water scarcity and regulatory complexity through a suite of integrated services designed to accelerate Saudi Arabia's climate goals. The company's Climate Resilience & Adaptation programs deliver advanced modelling to project climate risks under multiple emissions scenarios, coupled with sector-specific adaptation plans that align with National Adaptation Plans. For organisations transitioning to low-carbon operations, Staterra's Low-Carbon Transition Strategies provide full-scope carbon audits, net-zero pathways, and carbon credit integration aligned with UN SDGs and TCFD frameworks. Supporting Saudi's Circular Carbon Economy Program, Staterra's Circular Economy & Resource Innovation services design waste-to-resource systems and conduct lifecycle assessments to optimise sustainable product development. The firm's Regulatory Mastery & Compliance expertise leverages deep government ties to streamline permit approvals and navigate evolving ESG standards. In alignment with Saudi's 30% land/marine protection goal, Staterra's Biodiversity & Environmental Stewardship initiatives deliver habitat assessments and conservation strategies to safeguard ecosystems. Finally, the company's Climate Finance & Green Investment services assist clients in structuring green bonds, conducting renewable feasibility studies, and aligning portfolios with Saudi's $186 billion sustainability project pipeline. Market Momentum "True sustainability requires going beyond compliance to redefining what's possible," Amer emphasised. "Our latest collaboration supports decarbonisation strategies under the Circular Carbon Economy, while ecological conservation efforts highlight how local insights accelerate global climate goals. This is grassroots collaboration in action - where regional expertise meets global frameworks to potentially deliver results that set new standards." Why Staterra? Staterra combines unmatched regulatory navigation through deep ties with Saudi environmental authorities, global standards aligned with UN frameworks, and end-to-end innovation spanning LEED-certified buildings to industrial decarbonisation. By translating technical expertise into potentially locally relevant solutions, Staterra aims to have clients avoid costly delays and position themselves as sustainability leaders. Staterra logo About Staterra Established in 2016, Staterra is Saudi Arabia's foremost environmental consultancy, with strategic offices in Al Khobar (Saudi Arabia) and Manama (Bahrain). Staterra specialises in navigating KSA's complex regulatory landscape through expert Permit Facilitation, Environmental Impact Assessments, Health & Safety compliance, and comprehensive Risk Assessment services. The company's competitive advantage comes from powerful local connections and deep understanding of evolving Saudi legislation, enabling Staterra to aim to transform regulatory challenges into strategic opportunities for clients. Serving industry leaders, our multidisciplinary team delivers measurable results across energy, construction, and infrastructure sectors through technical excellence in biodiversity assessment, process safety management, and environmental engineering-all aligned with Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030 goals. Learn more at www.sta-terra.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243566 SOURCE: Staterra Dynacor Group Inc. (TSX: DNG) (Dynacor or the "Corporation"), is pleased to announce that it will hold its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") on June 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM EDT. The shareholder meeting is being announced in response to the January 31, 2025 press release which stated that Dynacor has received a formal request from iolite Partners Ltd ("iolite") to requisition a meeting. Dynacor's Board of Directors has reviewed the requisition, receiving advice from professional advisors, and has determined it is in the best interests of the shareholders and the Corporation to hold only one shareholder meeting allowing the requisitioner to propose their nominee at the AGM. This avoids the cost of holding both a special and annual meeting in extremely close proximity to each other and notably when the requisition can be addressed at the Annual Meeting. Earlier today, iolite announced it has called a meeting for April 9, 2025. This meeting has been improperly called, and Dynacor wishes to advise shareholders that these items will be addressed at the June 17, 2025 AGM. Further details on the AGM will be given at a later date in the Notice of Meeting. About Dynacor Dynacor Group is an industrial ore processing company dedicated to producing gold sourced from artisanal miners. Since its establishment in 1996, Dynacor has pioneered a responsible mineral supply chain with stringent traceability and audit standards for the fast-growing artisanal mining industry. By focusing on fully and part-formalized miners, the Canadian company offers a win-win approach for governments and miners globally. Dynacor operates the Veta Dorada plant and owns a gold exploration property in Peru. The Corporation plans to expand to West Africa and within Latin America. The premium paid by luxury jewellers for Dynacor's PX Impact gold goes to Fidamar Foundation, an NGO that mainly invests in health and education projects for artisanal mining communities in Peru. Visit www.dynacor.com for more information. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in the preceding may constitute forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dynacor, or industry results, to be materially different from any future result, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this news release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306673171/en/ Contacts: For more information, please contact: Ruth Hanna Director, Investor Relations T: 514-393-9000 #236 E: investors@dynacor.com Website: http://www.dynacor.com ATLANTA, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After an extensive global search that attracted top talent from across all regions, Allinial Global, the world's second largest accounting association, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Sacre as its next Chief Executive Officer. Sacre succeeds Mark Koziel, who led Allinial Global with distinction before accepting the role of CEO at AICPA & CIMA. A highly respected executive, Tony Sacre brings over 25 years of leadership experience across major global financial institutions, including ANZ Banking Group, Commonwealth Bank, HSBC, JP Morgan, and National Australia Bank. He has held senior leadership positions across the Asia Pacific region, specializing in financial markets, trade finance, and strategic advisory services. Since 2018, Sacre has served as CEO of Bentleys Australia and New Zealand, a major mid-tier accounting firm in their market and a long-standing and valued Allinial Global member firm. Having also served on the association's Global Executive Board and APAC Regional Board, he brings a deep understanding of the Allinial Global mission and the evolving needs of independent firms worldwide. Sacre is the first CEO from the APAC region in Allinial Global history, and his appointment underscores the association's commitment to global leadership that supports member firms across all regions. His leadership will ensure continued support for Allinial Global's strong US market presence while further expanding the association's reach and influence into key international markets. "It is an honor to take on this role and build upon the tremendous success of Allinial Global," said Tony Sacre. "The need for forward-thinking leadership and cross-border collaboration has never been greater. I look forward to working with our incredible member firms to drive innovation, enhance global service capabilities, and position Allinial Global as the premier association for independent accounting and advisory firms worldwide." "With his extensive global experience, strategic mindset, and deep connection to the Allinial Global community, Tony Sacre is the ideal leader to guide our association into the future," said Jim Wallace, CEO of BPM LLP and Chair of the Global Executive Board. "His understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Allinial Global member firms and his leadership in fostering international collaboration align perfectly with our mission to empower firms for sustainable success." As Allinial Global embarks on this new chapter, the association's Global Executive Board would like to express its deep gratitude to Steve Varley for serving as Interim CEO and ensuring a seamless transition during the leadership search. Allinial Global is poised to continue delivering world-class service, fostering global business opportunities, and ensuring its members stay at the forefront of an evolving profession. About Allinial Global: Allinial Global is a member-based association dedicated to the success of independent accounting and consulting firms. Founded in 1969, this strategic affiliation of legally independent accounting firms has a mission to help members compete upstream, accelerate innovation and digital transformation, and drive lasting prosperity for their firms and their clients. Allinial Global is two-hundred and seventy members strong and growing, with locations throughout the world generating over $7 billion in collective revenues. With dedicated regional liaisons who have extensive connections throughout the Americas, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), and the Asia Pacific region, members of Allinial Global are committed to providing the most agile, flexible, and client-centric solutions anywhere, anytime. For press inquiries regarding Allinial Global, please contact: Stephen Varley, Interim CEO Phone: 1-800-282-3680 | Email: svarley@allinialglobal.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2636172/Allinial_Global_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/allinial-global-names-tony-sacre-as-new-ceo-302395185.html Gal Gadot shared that many Jewish individuals, now find it deeply unsettling" to speak up read more Israel-born actor Gal Gadot, known for portraying Wonder Woman along with her popular role in the Fast and Furious franchise, recently spoke about the rising hostility towards Jewish people across the globe Speaking at the Anti-Defamation Leagues International Leadership Awards, where she was honoured for her unwavering support to Israel, Gal said, As we all know, hatred, intolerance, and bigotry are on the rise. Most of us will never have experienced a worse time for antisemitism in our lifetimes, but we should feel safer knowing that the ADL has our backs." Advertisement My name is Gal, and Im Jewish. Isnt it crazy that just saying that [Im Jewish], just expressing such a simple fact about who I am, feels like a controversial statement?" she stated. Admitting that antisemitism was never a major concern in her life until the October 7 attack, Gal added, Im Israeli, of course, and I knew that antisemitism and anti-Israel hate existed. And like all of us, sometimes Id caught a whiff of it. But I never thought of myself as being where I came from. It was an aspect of who I am, but it didnt define me." Never did I imagine that we would witness a day of such death and destruction of Jews in our lifetime. And never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying, and cheering on a massacre of Jews," the actress shared. Stressing the impact of these events, she went on to add, October 7th showed us that what happens to Jews anywhere affects Jews everywhere. Not only what happens there affects us here, but what happens here affects them there. So here we are in this room together, calling for the release of every single one of our hostages." Gal shared that many Jewish individuals, now find it deeply unsettling" to speak up. This has been a reality for all of us, regardless of our field or profession, including mine. But we cant just wait, hoping for support from those who have no intention of standing with us. We need to stand up for ourselves," she concluded. Advertisement On Wednesday (March 5), Zhenhao Zou, a Chinese national pursuing PhD, was found guilty of drugging and raping 10 women in Britain. However, based on videos found at his house, authorities believe that he has more than 50 other victims, making him one of the countrys most prolific sexual predator. Heres how the case unfolded read more Zhenhao Zou, a Chinese student, was found guilty by a London court of drugging and raping 10 women in Britain and China. However, officials say that he is behind the rapes of at least another 50 more women. Reuters He lived on the 39th floor of an expensive block of London flats with views across the city. Most of his dates described him as charming and a gentleman. But behind this charming personality, Chinese national, Zhenhao Zou, who was studying for a PhD in engineering at University College London (UCL), hid a terrifying truth: the 28-year-old was a serial rapist. Now, the 28-year-old has been convicted of drugging and raping 10 women following a four-week trial at Inner London Crown Court. But the horror doesnt stop there; detectives fear that Zou could be one of Britains most prolific rapists raping as many as 50 more women. Advertisement But who exactly is Zhenhao Zou and how has he been unmasked as one of Britains worst rapists one of Britains worst rapists? Who is Zhenhao Zou? Zou was born in Guangdong Province in southern China with the jury being told that his father works in a state-owned enterprise and his mother is a teacher. At the age of 20, he moved to Northern Ireland to complete his mechanical engineering degree at Queens University, Belfast. In September 2019, he moved to London to pursue his Masters in mechanical engineering at UCL, but returned to China the following year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Zou revealed to investigators that during his stay in London he started using drugs, including ketamine, cocaine and ecstasy. His social life revolved around nightclubs and Londons Chinese community, and he would go on dates after meeting women on apps and then take them home and rape them. Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zou, 28, has been found guilty at Inner London Crown Court of drugging and raping 10 women in London and China between 2019 and 2023. AP He further told the court he surfed the internet for extreme pornography; he said he liked videos showing sex with women sleeping and that it was the lack of response from a woman that excited him. In fact, when asked about the pornography, he viewed, the 28-year-old revealed that he liked time-stop pornography, in which the females are passive and unresponsive during sex. Asked in court why he preferred that type of sexually explicit material, Zou replied: I like it because the girl appears to be still and quiet when they are having sex. Zou also appeared to be well-off. He had undergone hair transplants after his hair fell out due to chronic insomnia, as well as work on his eyelids and chin. What did investigations against Zou reveal? A police investigation began against Zou in 2023 after a woman came forward claiming to have been raped by a man who had given her a large quantity of alcohol at his student flat in Woburn Place. This led detectives to his expensive house where he kept large amounts of alcohol, ecstasy and an industrial chemical that the human body turns into the date rape drug GHB. They also uncovered videos on his electronic devices showing him raping unconscious women. One video showed an unconscious woman waking up while Zou was raping her, begging him to stop. The visuals show that Zou responded, Dont push me, its pointless The sound insulation here is very good. Advertisement A view shows the bedroom of the house where Zhenhao Zou used to live. He lured women to his house, drugged them and raped them. AP The authorities also found that Zou kept a box of items, which he claimed was lost property but the prosecution said it was a trophy box of items belonging to his victims. Based on the videos the detectives found, police believe more than 50 other women may have fallen prey to the engineering student, which would make him one of the worst sex offenders the UK has seen. Officers also believe around 25 of those victims were raped in the UK and around 25 in China. Another woman during the trial revealed that she had gone out with Zou in September 2021 and had met at a hotpot restaurant in Londons Chinatown called Haidilao. The woman then said that she got very drunk on Jack Daniels whiskey and woke up to find Zou having sex with her in his student flat. She told the jury that in a phone call a few weeks later he said to me that he thought I was conscious at the time, but I didnt agree. Advertisement Some videos show victims speech slurred, with some clearly upset but unable to do anything because of the drugs. In another, Zou looks at the camera while his victim can be seen with bruising around her left eye and cheekbone. Audio from the video, in Mandarin, shows Zou ignoring pleas for mercy, taunting one victim after she complains of his attack: It really hurts. A Hyundai camera shown in the court case of Zhenhao Zou. He has been convicted of drugging and raping 10 women. AP What do officials say about Zou? Zous crimes, according to Met Detective Chief Inspector Richard Mackenzie, were one of the most complex investigations ever conducted by Scotland Yard. Officers had to examine more than nine million Wechat messages in Mandarin and watch more than 1,600 hours of video footage. Mackenzie was further quoted as saying, Due to the nature of his offending, we believe some of the women may not even be aware that they are victims. We do not underestimate how distressing and difficult it may be for them to read or hear about his crimes following his verdicts. Advertisement We want to reassure those women that all reports will be fully investigated and dealt with utmost sensitivity and care and compassion. However, we also understand that not every victim may wish to speak to the police, so we have taken advice from the independent charity of rape crisis and they will be on hand to offer support to women who seek support via their 24/7 helpline. Commander Kevin Southworth, from the Metropolitan Police, also described Zou as one of the most prolific sexual predators that weve ever seen in this country. He was quoted by the BBC as saying, Zou is plainly a depraved and cowardly individual whos preyed on his victim survivors in the most despicable manner. Advertisement Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC also described Zou as appearing to be a smart and charming young man but ultimately revealed himself to be a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur, and a rapist. He was a wolf in sheeps clothing and every womans nightmare. He was a man who was sexually excited by having sex with a sleeping woman and sexually excited by the idea of rape. He is a serial rapist, he is a predator. He would use drink or drugs to incapacitate women, she said. A Butanediol bottle recovered from Zhenhao Zou, who was found guilty by a London court of drugging and raping 10 women in Britain and China. Reuters What has Zou been found guilty of? On Wednesday (March 5), Zou was found guilty of drugging and raping 10 women in England and China. He was also convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and three of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offence, namely butanediol. However, the 28-year-old PhD student was cleared of two further counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image and one of possession of MDMA with intent to commit a sexual offence. Zou joins Britains club of most prolific sexual predators, including Reynhard Sinaga and Black cab rapist John Worboys. Sinaga, now 42, was convicted of 159 sex attacks on 48 heterosexual men in Manchester between 2015 and 2017. It was later revealed that Sinaga who incapacitated victims with the date rape drug GHB had preyed on at least 195 different men after police found footage he filmed of the attacks. Worboys, who is 67 years of age, was convicted of 19 sex attacks against 12 women between 2006 and 2008. Worboys gave victims drug-laced champagne before attacking them in his cab. He is believed to have raped or sexually assaulted more than 100 women before he was caught. With inputs from agencies After suspending military aid, Donald Trumps administration has announced a pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This move means that the US will no longer provide information about targets in Russia and give Ukrainian cities sufficient warning to get to bomb shelters. The loss of this information will be catastrophic for Kyivs efforts in the war against Russia, with experts saying that it will cripple them read more Servicemen of the 14th Assault Brigade Chervona Kalyna of the Ukrainian National Guard fire an OTO Melara howitzer towards Russian troops at a position in a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk. Reuters On Monday (March 3), the Donald Trump administration shocked Ukraine and its European allies when it suspended all military aid to Kyiv. Two days later on March 5, the Trump administration has doubled down on the war-torn country by pausing intelligence sharing. Americas CIA director John Ratcliffe and National Security Adviser (NSA), Michael Waltz both confirmed the pause in intelligence support but suggested it could be short-lived if Ukraine quickly came back to the negotiating table. Advertisement Following the announcement, Ukraine said it planned to hold new talks with the United States with Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying, Today, Ukrainian and American teams began working on an upcoming meeting. Were seeing forward momentum. However, how badly would Ukraine be impacted by the US decision to stop intelligence sharing? US suspends intelligence sharing with Ukraine On Wednesday, NSA Mike Waltz confirmed reports of the US pausing intelligence sharing with Ukraine, saying, We have, we have taken a step back. He added that the Trump administration was pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship. The American NSA also told Fox News that if Ukraine showed any indication that it was ready to negotiate a ceasefire, then the pause would be lifted. I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move toward these negotiations and, in fact, put some confidence-building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause, Waltz said. US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told reporters that the US 'had taken a step back' and that the administration was 'reviewing all aspects' of its intelligence relationship with Ukraine https://t.co/jBs4SwTrAo pic.twitter.com/jABFz4sjZP Reuters (@Reuters) March 5, 2025 CIA Director John Ratcliffe also made similar comments. In an interview on Fox Business on Wednesday, the CIA head said Trump had a real question about whether President Zelenskyy was committed to the peace process, and he said lets pause, I want to give you a chance to think about that. Advertisement He said the response came swiftly with Zelenskyys statement saying he was ready for peace. Ratcliffe then added: On the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, will go away and well work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. Its important to note here that it is not yet certain as to the extent of the intelligence freeze would it cover the activities of Russias army in occupied areas of Ukraine? Ukrainian officials told Sky News that at first only selective intelligence was withheld. However, A few hours ago, the exchange of all information was stopped, the source was quoted as tellin_g Sky News._ Advertisement British media also revealed, through anonymous sources, that the White House had asked the UK not to share with Ukraine intelligence on Russia provided to London by the Pentagon. Shock at Trumps decision The US decision to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine has not only been a shock to the war-torn country but also to people in the US itself. US Representative Jim Himes, who is a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, questioned Trumps move. The pause on providing material to Ukraine against Putins aggression is unconscionable on its own, but the idea that we will now withhold life-saving intelligence from Ukrainians who are fighting and dying is unforgivable, Himes said in a statement. Any pause in intelligence sharing must end immediately. The Economists geopolitics editor, David Rennie, in a BBC interview said that Trumps move is not just a kind of dramatic move [] its a cruel move. Advertisement "It's not just a kind of dramatic move [...] it's a cruel move" The Economist's Geopolitics Editor, David Rennie, says "more people may die" due to President Trump's decision to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/oicrA1HN5i BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) March 5, 2025 Intelligence hawks also questioned the pause on intelligence sharing, saying the decision would send shock waves among Americas intelligence partners around the world. The signal it sends is atrocious, Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA officer, told NBC News. Its a signal to the rest of the world that the US is not a dependable ally. Advertisement John Sipher, who worked in CIAs clandestine service for 28 years said it was foolhardy and damaging to Americas reputation among other spy agencies. The decision to stop intelligence assistance is foolhardy and ill-considered. Good intelligence cooperation should be kept secret and outside the vagaries of politics, Sipher was quoted as saying. It is the last place to make a public stand, especially when there are so many other ways to pressure a partner. Alexander S Vindman, a retired US Army officer who was the Director of European Affairs for the United States National Security Council, also wrote on X, Pausing the US-Ukraine intelligence exchange is an enormous mistake and incredibly harmful to US interests. The US benefits as much if not more from this intel exchange. A serviceman of the 14th Assault Brigade Chervona Kalyna of the Ukrainian National Guard launches a Leleka reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for flying over positions of Russian troops, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, near the frontline town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, Ukraine. Reuters Impact of US pause on intel-sharing Trumps decision to suspend intelligence sharing is, according to experts, devastating for Ukraine. Since the war began in 2022, the US has been sharing information from satellite images, electronic surveillance and communications intercepts with Ukraine. This has enabled Kyiv to make judgements about how, for example, they might defend themselves against a Russian offensive. It has also helped Ukraine in longer-range and more daring operations. According to New York Times, US intel has enabled Ukrainian soldiers to track Russian spy satellites, listen in on the conversations of Russian commanders and monitor where Russian air defences are and how best to evade them. US vital intelligence has contributed to some of Ukraines biggest successes, such as the sinking of the Moskva, the former flagship of Russias Black Sea Fleet. US intelligence is also believed to have played a key role in attacks hundreds of miles into Russian territory. For instance, US intelligence assisted Ukraine in carrying out an attack on the Primorsk-Akhtarsky airbase in the Russian region of Krasnodar on February 6. Moscow used this airbase to launch kamikaze drones and support Russian troops fighting in the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Experts also note that without US intelligence, Ukraine wouldnt be able to use long-range Western weaponry such as Stormshadow missiles supplied by Britain and France. As The Telegraph reported, the lack of US intelligence would leave Ukraine blind in the war. Apart from enabling Ukraines offensive, US intelligence is also a must for Ukraines defence. The flow of information from the US has aided Kyiv in defending its infrastructure and civilian population against incoming threats. Ukraines air raid sirens and mobile phone alerts are all informed, to a greater or lesser extent, by the early warning data provided by US satellites, which can detect aircraft and missile launches deep inside Russian territory, reports the BBC. Emergency personnel work in a destroyed building following a Russian missile strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. Reuters But Trumps decision to halt intelligence sharing will also hurt Washington. Ukrainian spy agencies have often given Washington information on Russia. Kyiv has shared information about Russias nuclear submarines to the activities of Kremlin-backed hacker groups operating inside the United States. Sky News in one report said that irrespective of the length of the pause on intelligence sharing it would serve as a gift to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. It is unknown what happens next, but for now, it seems that Russia is gaining a huge advantage in the war Moscow has launched a barrage of drones at Ukraine, and on Wednesday, even launched a missile into a hotel in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, killing two people and injuring 29, many of them seriously hurt, a municipal official said. With inputs from agencies US Vice President JD Vance has become the subject of countless memes on social media after an Oval Office exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump last week. The memes have portrayed him in exaggerated ways, including as an overweight monster, an ogre, and even a child holding a lollipop read more The US vice president has become the subject of several memes. X/@elijahdaniel If you have been browsing social media recently, you may have come across memes featuring JD Vance. The US vice president has become the subject of several memes, turning him into an internet sensation. A meme is an image, video, or text that is widely shared and replicated online, usually in a humorous way. Many of the memes about Vance have gone viral, being shared millions of times. On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), memes have depicted the vice president in exaggerated ways, including as an overweight monster, an ogre, and even a child holding a lollipop. Advertisement But why has he become the focus of so many memes? How are social media users mocking him? We will answer these questions: Why JD Vance has become the subject of countless memes Memes began circulating on platforms like X following the Oval Office exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump. The wave of memes erupted on February 28 after Vance asked Zelenskyy if he had said thank you once during the meeting, in front of the White House Press Pool. JD Vance: This administration is trying to save your country from destruction. Have you even said thank you once? Zelensky: Lots of times. Vance: In October, you went to Pennsylvania to campaign for the opposition. HO-LEE-SHIT, this is . pic.twitter.com/ApwhK48aRg Meme-O-Holic (@Meme_O_Holic) February 28, 2025 Users on X stated that his comment sounded like something a baby might say. In response, the internet flooded social media with memes portraying the politician as an oversized baby. During the tense meeting, Vance also forcefully questioned Zelenskyys appeal for additional US funding, challenged his credibility, and warned that Ukraine risked losing American support if it did not accept the proposed terms. Advertisement Vance told Zelenskyy, Mr. President, with respect, I think its disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. When the Ukrainian leader expressed concerns about trusting any assurances from Putin to end the war, Vance strongly criticised him for disagreeing with Trump publicly. Its going to be a very hard thing to do business like this, Trump told Zelenskyy as the two spoke over each other regarding past international support for Ukraine. Vance then added, Again, just say thank you. This remark quickly went viral, sparking a wave of memes across social media. Advertisement everyone is editing him into things like this. republicans and democrats, and its like one in ten posts now pic.twitter.com/nf0KDdwnPI Brendan Karet (@bad_takes) March 3, 2025 Everyone should make their own JD Vance and we should use them instead of social security numbers pic.twitter.com/ci3Oqm5SqW evan loves worf (@esjesjesj) March 4, 2025 Advertisement How the internet is targeting Vance One of the most widely shared memes features Vance with purple skin and an enlarged face, resembling Violet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In the film, she turns into a giant blueberry after chewing experimental gum during a tour of Willy Wonkas factory. For the last time, Mr. Wonka, I did not try any experimental gum, and frankly I find this entire line of questioning insulting. pic.twitter.com/4WHwKITHXa Aelfred The Great (@aelfred_D) March 3, 2025 At the time of writing, the meme had nearly 7.5 million views on X. Some memes mocked Vance for criticising Zelenskyy over not expressing enough gratitude for US aid to Ukraine. before every meal i always remember to thank jd vance pic.twitter.com/KUkoIyOSVa selma (@selmacashmoney) March 3, 2025 One meme showed Vance in an ill-fitting grey suit and checked shirt without a tie, captioned: What President Zelensky saw when JD Vance was trying to talk tough to him. What President Zelensky saw when JD Vance was trying to talk tough to him: pic.twitter.com/0Mx6GOlrrl Jack Hopkins (@thejackhopkins) March 2, 2025 Another depicted the vice president with an oversized, bald head and a condom placed on his forehead, with the caption: The only person JD Vance satisfied yesterday was Putin. The only person JD Vance satisfied yesterday was Putin. pic.twitter.com/460VJxedFV Art Candee (@ArtCandee) March 1, 2025 Others featured heavily altered images of Vance, exaggerating features like plump lips, airbrushed skin, and neatly groomed eyebrows. hello everyone i am working on a very important project and i need every jd vance edit like this if you have any please reply with it thank u pic.twitter.com/w7IbEaUv6g elijah daniel (@elijahdaniel) March 3, 2025 Did Vance move to undisclosed location due to pro-Ukraine protesters? Vance has also faced online criticism after a New York Post report claimed he faced pro-Ukraine protesters while vacationing at a Vermont ski resort last week. According to the report, Vance and his family were met by hundreds of angry protesters lining the snow-covered streets during their visit to Sugarbush Resort in Waitsfield. The backlash reportedly forced them to cut short their four-day trip. Protesters held signs labelling Vance a national disgrace, accusing him of being a traitor, and urging the family to go ski in Russia. This took place after his Oval Office exchange with Zelenskyy and users on X quickly took aim at Vance. One user wrote, Vance is being protested in Vermont, where the Kremlin sent him for a vacation after a job well done yesterday. Another commented, Vance is taking a ski vacation in Vermont after only 6 weeks in office. He was greeted by thousands of protestors and signs like this, so he had to change luxury hotels. While President Zelenskyy returns to his war-torn country. Sharing a screenshot of the report, a user posted, for all the tough talk these people are wildly, insanely soft. These people are such idiots. We had a great time during our weekend in Vermont. We barely noticed the protesters and almost everyone we met was kind and generous. And Vermont is beautiful. This headline about being moved to an undisclosed location is that we moved our hotel https://t.co/anvhBFlkW1 JD Vance (@JDVance) March 4, 2025 Vance responded to the post on social media, writing, These people are such idiots. We had a great time during our weekend in Vermont. We barely noticed the protesters and almost everyone we met was kind and generous. And Vermont is beautiful. Addressing reports that he was moved to an undisclosed location, he added, This headline about being moved to an undisclosed location is that we moved our hotel so the kids could have more privacy. We didnt disclose it because the Secret Service doesnt like when we advertise my location. With inputs from agencies K Ramachandra Rao, the Director-General of Police (DGP) at Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, is the stepfather of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested on Monday for allegedly smuggling gold. Investigators believe Rao used his connection to evade scrutiny at Customs read more Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after she was found in possession of 14.8 kilogrammes of gold on Monday. Image Courtesy: @RanyaRao/X Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested on Monday by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Bengaluru airport for allegedly smuggling gold. Known for her role in the Sudeep-starrer Maanikya, Rao is the stepdaughter of a senior police officer from Karnataka. According to investigators, Rao leveraged her relationship with her father, K Ramachandra Rao, to evade scrutiny at Customs. Heres all we know about him. Who is K Ramachandra Rao? K Ramachandra Rao has been the Director-General of Police (DGP) at Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation since October 2023. Ramya Rao, 33, is his stepdaughter. Following the death of his first wife, the senior police officer remarried. Advertisement Ranya Rao is one of his second wifes two daughters from her first marriage. His name was involved in a controversial money seizure while he was the Southern Ranges Inspector General of Police (IGP). According to The Week, in 2014, Mysore South Police seized an amount transported by four merchants from Kerala after stopping a private bus from Calicut near Yelwal in Mysuru. The merchants claimed that the police had seized Rs 2.27 crore, whereas the police claimed to have seized Rs 20 lakh. They further accused the police of conspiring with another businessman to take money from them. Ramachandra Raos gunman Prakash was among the officers on the bus when it was raided. Ramachandra Rao was transferred shortly after, despite his denial of all the accusations. Also read: 30 kg of gold, a consulate and 24-carat confusion: All the twists and turns in the Kerala gold smuggling case Why is he in the spotlight? The authorities are investigating if Rao was acting alone or was a part of a larger smuggling network operating between Dubai and India. As per PTI, preliminary investigations suggested that Rao may have attempted to use her connections to bypass Customs checks. The Times of India sources also revealed that protocol privileges typically reserved for bureaucrats helped her evade scrutiny. Advertisement Upon landing, Rao allegedly claimed to be the daughter of Karnatakas DGP and contacted local police personnel to escort her home, the report said. Because of this, authorities are looking into whether any police personnel knew about Raos actions or were duped into helping her. Ramachandra Rao has disassociated himself from the current episode and expressed his shock and disappointment over his daughters arrest. He said he was not aware of any of these things and that there is no black mark in his career. I was also shocked and devastated when such an incident came to my notice through the media, I was not aware of any of these things, like any other father I was also shocked, Ramachandra Rao was quoted by ANI. Advertisement He added, She is not living with us, she is living separately with her husband, there must be some problem between them due to some family issues. Anyway, the law will do its job, there is no black mark in my career. I dont want to say anything more. Also read: 11.4 kg gold smuggled in sanitary pads seized in 1 week; smugglers hope to cash in price rise dashed How was Ranya Rao arrested? Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after she was found in possession of 14.8 kilogrammes of gold on Monday. She had arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight and had been on the polices radar due to her frequent international trips despite having no business or family ties there. The actress reportedly visited Dubai four times in 15 days, according to the police. Authorities noticed that Ranya Rao reportedly managed to bypass stringent customs checks. Each time she returned from Dubai, she had a police escort who helped her navigate past airport security. Image for Representation. PTI Rao allegedly smuggled the gold by wearing a large amount of it and hiding gold bars in her clothes, investigators revealed. Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kilogrammes were found ingeniously concealed on person. The contraband, valued at Rs 12.56 crore was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, a DRI statement said. Advertisement After her arrest, Rao was taken to the DRI headquarters in Bengalurus HBR Layout for questioning. According to the DRI statement, Raos residence at Bengalurus Lavelle Road was also searched and more gold jewellery was found there. Following the interception, DRI officers conducted a search at her residential premises located at Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, where she resides with her husband. The search resulted in the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore, it said. The total seizure in the case stands at Rs 17.29 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks, the agency said. Advertisement Rao has been arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and remanded to judicial custody. Agencies are also likely to question her husband. With inputs from agencies In a shocking development, businessman Prasun Dey has confessed to police that he killed his daughter, wife and sister-in-law at their home in Tangra last month. He revealed that he and his brothers families had planned a suicide pact due to mounting debts. However, the plan backfired and set off a horrific chain of events that ended in the murders read more On 19 February, three members of a family were found dead inside their three-storey home in Tangra, on the outskirts of Kolkata. Police now believe they have finally untangled the mystery behind the chilling case. Image for Representation. Pixabay The Kolkata Police believe they have finally untangled the mystery behind the chilling triple murder and alleged suicide attempts that had shaken the city last month. According to the police investigation, the Dey family had been silently crumbling under an overwhelming debt of Rs 16 crore. With no way out, brothers Pranay and Prasun Dey, along with their wives, made the devastating decision to end not just their own lives, but also those of their teenage children. Advertisement However, when their carefully planned suicide pact failed, desperation took an even darker turn and spiralled into a gruesome bloodbath. Heres how the tragic events unfolded. (Please note the report contains details that readers may find distressing) On 19 February, three members of a family were found dead inside their three-storey home in Tangra, on the outskirts of Kolkata. The victims were Romi Dey, wife of businessman Prasun Dey, their 14-year-old daughter, and Sudeshna Dey, Prasuns sister-in-law. In a chilling confession to the police, Prasun admitted that he, along with his wife, brother, and brothers wife, had initially planned to die by suicide due to their crushing debt. When their suicide pact failed, it set off a horrific chain of events that ended in murder. Two days earlier, on 17 February, all six family members consumed payesh (rice pudding) mixed with sleeping pills, hoping to pass away peacefully. However, when they woke up alive the next morning, they decided on an alternative plan. As per his (Prasuns) statement, they had Plan B ready. They had decided that if they woke up alive, they would help each other end their lives, a police official told The Indian Express. According to Prasuns statement, he convinced Romi to help him kill their 14-year-old daughter on February 18. As per Prasun, Romi held her daughters feet while he smothered her with a pillow till they confirmed she was dead. After that, Prasun slit the wrists and throats of Romi and his sister-in-law Sudeshna and killed them. He broke down several times after confessing to killing his wife, daughter and sister-in-law, the official added. Advertisement Pranay and his 15-year-old son were reportedly upstairs at the time and were allegedly aware of what was happening downstairs. After the murders, Prasun took sleeping pills and went to sleep. Later that afternoon, Pranay and his son came downstairs and decided on their next movestaging an accident by crashing their car into a Metro pillar in an apparent suicide attempt. But this, too, failed. The injured were rushed to the hospital, where they revealed to the police that three bodies were lying in their home. When officers arrived at the house, they discovered the horrifying scene inside. Kolkata: A triple murder case emerged in Tangra on Tuesday morning. Around 9 AM, Tangra Police Station was informed by Garfa PS that Pranay Dey, a resident of 21/C Atal Sur Road, had reported finding the bodies of his wife and two other female family members at his home pic.twitter.com/MaLiIAfVlg IANS (@ians_india) February 19, 2025 Advertisement The motive behind the crime At the core of this horrifying crime was a financial crisis that had spiralled out of control. During interrogation, Prasun revealed that the family was drowning in debt, owing a staggering Rs 16 crore. Their house had been mortgaged, their bank accounts were empty, and they were struggling to keep up with their expenses. Despite owning three cars, they had outstanding EMIs on two of them, amounting to nearly Rs 47 lakh. Advertisement According to an Indian Express report, the brothers had inherited a successful tannery business from their father. However, instead of focusing on its growth, Pranay and Prasun reportedly spent recklessly. Even as their financial troubles mounted, they continued to maintain a lavish lifestyle, taking frequent foreign trips, police sources said. Whats next? As the investigation continues, the police are preparing to arrest Pranay once he is discharged from the hospital. Once in custody, officers plan to interrogate both brothers together to piece together the full timeline of events. Authorities are also considering filing additional charges beyond murder. Prasun has already been arrested following his confession. He was presented in Sealdah court on Wednesday and has been remanded to police custody until March 6. According to a Times of India report, investigators plan to take Prasun back to their Tangra residence to reconstruct the crime scene. We will finish his part first and then tally his version with that of his elder brother, Pranay, a police source said. Advertisement Meanwhile, the police are also concerned about Pranays teenage son, as no relatives have come forward to take custody of him. We have tried to contact all their relatives but no one is interested. We may have to shift him to a childrens home, a senior police official involved in the investigation said. With input from agencies Nauru, a Pacific island nation of about 12,500 people, is selling citizenship under its Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program to fund a $65 million inland relocation plan. Rising sea levels have already caused a 17 cm increase since 1993, with projections of another 19 cm in 30 years read more An exterior view of the government offices of the small island nation of Nauru is pictured, February 10, 2012. File Image/Reuters The Pacific island nation of Nauru, one of the worlds smallest countries, is facing an existential crisis as rising sea levels threaten its future. In response, the government has launched a controversial golden visa initiative to raise funds for climate adaptation. By selling citizenship to foreign investors, Nauru aims to finance a large-scale inland relocation project that would move most of its 12,500 residents to higher ground. Under the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, individuals can acquire Nauruan citizenship for a minimum fee of $105,000, while families of two to four people can apply for $137,500, and larger families of five or more must pay $145,000. Advertisement The government hopes to generate an initial $65 million to fund the relocation effort, which includes building new homes, farms, and workplaces on the islands barren interior land that was rendered uninhabitable by extensive phosphate mining. Naurus President, David Adeang, highlighted the urgency of the initiative, telling CNN, While the world debates climate action, we must take proactive steps to secure our nations future. Why Nauru is vulnerable to climate change Nauru is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change, with sea levels rising at a rate 1.5 times higher than the global average. NASA data shows the island has already experienced a 17 cm rise in sea levels since 1993, and projections indicate a further 19 cm increase in the next 30 years. This threatens the narrow coastal areas where most of Naurus residents live, as the interior remains largely uninhabitable due to decades of phosphate extraction. A lot of people residing on the coast have already lost land some have had their entire houses engulfed by king tides and they have lost everything, said Tyrone Deiye, a Nauruan national and researcher at Monash Business School in Australia, in a statement. Despite its small size, Naurus climate adaptation challenge is part of a broader global issue. Developed nations pledged $300 billion annually for climate resilience at COP29, but experts estimate that at least $1 trillion is needed, reported Blooomberg. Frustration over this funding shortfall has led Nauru and other small island states to explore independent financing strategies. Advertisement Why Naurus Golden Visa programme has been controversial Golden visa programmes have a history of being exploited for financial crimes and corruption. In the past, similar programmes in Europe allowed wealthy non-EU nationals to gain residency and travel freely in the Schengen Zone, sparking concerns about money laundering and security risks. Spain recently shut down its golden visa scheme due to its impact on housing affordability, and Greece implemented new restrictions to prevent speculation. Nauru itself has a controversial financial past. A previous golden visa programme in the 1990s was shut down in 2003 after criminals, including al-Qaeda operatives, were found using Nauruan passports. The country has also faced scrutiny over its offshore detention arrangement with Australia, which saw asylum seekers housed in Nauru under conditions widely condemned by human rights organisations. To prevent abuse, the new golden visa initiative includes stringent vetting measures. Applications from individuals with criminal histories or from high-risk countries such as Russia and North Korea will be prohibited. Advertisement The government has also partnered with international organisations, including the World Bank, to ensure oversight and transparency. Edward Clark, CEO of the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, stressed that the initiative is not merely about acquiring a passport but about contributing to climate resilience. This programme isnt just about acquiring another passport, Clark told AFP. Its about joining a community dedicated to pioneering solutions for global challenges. Can this become a model for climate-threatened nations? Naurus golden visa programme is not the first of its kind aimed at funding climate resilience. The Caribbean nation of Dominica has long used its citizenship-by-investment programme to finance climate adaptation projects, with the goal of becoming the worlds first climate-resilient country by 2030. The success of Naurus initiative will depend on how the generated funds are utilised. The government projects that the programme will raise $5.7 million in its first year, with the goal of scaling up to $42 million annually accounting for nearly 20 per cent of Naurus total government revenue. Advertisement However, experts caution that transparency in fund allocation and strict anti-corruption measures will be crucial for maintaining the programmes credibility. Henrietta McNeill, a research fellow in Pacific affairs at the Australian National University, warned that without robust safeguards, such programmes could become tools for illicit financial activity. Criminals could use these documents to evade law enforcement, launder money, or exploit visa-free entry rules, she told AFP. Despite the risks, Nauru officials see the programme as a necessary step toward securing the countrys future. For Nauru, it is not just about adapting to climate change, but about securing a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come, Adeang told AFP. Advertisement Also Watch: With inputs from agencies North Korea opened its doors to international tourists after a gap of five years. However, three weeks on, Rason, a city near the countrys border with China, has abruptly stopped tourism, according to multiple media reports. While the reason for the suspension isnt clear, some reports suggest it may be done to prevent exposing the harsh realities of the isolated nation to the world read more A group of Russian tourists, likely the first foreign travellers from any country to enter North Korea since the pandemic arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, on February 9, 2024. AP Just weeks after opening its doors to tourists, a city in North Korea has abruptly stopped international trips, according to multiple media reports. Multiple travel agencies that organise tours to Rason, a city near North Koreas border with China, have shared on social media that tours to the city are currently suspended. The reason behind the move isnt clear, and travel guides have been advising tourists to avoid planning any trips to the region. Advertisement Lets take a closer look. Tourist village in North Korea shuts down Last month, a number of Western travel businesses that arrange trips to Rason shared details about the tours they had arranged for international visitors after obtaining approval from their North Korean partners. On Wednesday, though, they posted on social media that visits to Rason were currently suspended. Oh no! Just received news from our Korean partners that Rason is closed to everyone. We will keep you posted, Spain-based travel agency KTG Travels posted on their Facebook. The reason is unclear KTGs tours coordinator, Rayco Vega, told news agency AFP that the suspension was confirmed and that we do not know the reason now how long this will last. Beijing-based agency Young Pioneer Tours posted a similar announcement: We have been advised by our partners in the DPRK that tours to Rason are currently paused. We are in the process of clarifying how this will impact your upcoming trips. We recommend that those planning tours in April and May refrain from booking flights until we have more information. Travel agency Koryo Tours, which organised a five-day tour of Rason for foreign tourists just last month, announced: There has been news that the Rason border may be temporarily closing for tourism. We are currently working to confirm and understand the situation with our partners and will announce any further updates as soon as possible. The sudden suspension of international travel comes after travellers who recently visited Rason publicly criticised North Korea. Earlier, Business Insider had an interview with German travel influencer Luca Pferdmenges, who was part of the group that visited Rason last month. The 23-year-old influencer detailed his trip, saying, But what surprised me most was that they didnt hide the countrys visible poverty. Advertisement People in the rural areas were clearly very poor, and we werent allowed to photograph them. Many of them were using oxen and carriages. Our guides also very strictly told us not to photograph the farmers houses in the countryside because they are very run-down and shabby, he said. Surprisingly, they didnt close the curtains so we couldnt see it. The guides also didnt deny that there is poverty; they just dont like people taking photos of it and presenting it as the sole truth. According to The Korea Times, the suspension could be done to prevent exposing the harsh realities of the isolated nation to the world. Advertisement Also read: Russia, Vietnam and more: Which countries are North Koreas military partners? Opening the doors after COVID After the pandemic began, North Korea quickly banned tourists, jetted out diplomats and severely curtailed border traffic in one of the worlds most draconian COVID-19 restrictions. But since 2022, North Korea has been slowly easing curbs and reopening its borders. A group of Russian tourists, likely the first foreign travellers from any country to enter North Korea since the pandemic arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, on February 9, 2024. AP In February last year, the hermit nation accepted about 100 Russian tourists for sightseeing. The group consisted of people from the tourism industry and travellers from literally all parts of Russia from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok," the Russian embassy in Pyongyang said at the time. North Korea also finally welcomed a small group of foreign tourists via Koryo Tours last month. They were the first international travellers to enter the country in five years, except for the Russians. Advertisement Experts at the time believed that opening doors could indicate that the country was gearing up for a full resumption of its international tourism to bring in much-needed foreign currency to revive its struggling economy. Since January of 2020, the country has been closed to all international tourists, and we are glad to have finally found an opening in the Rason area, in the far north of North Korea, Koryo Tours general manager Simon Cockerell said at the time. Also read: North Korea fires long-range ballistic missile ICBM: What is it? Should the West worry? Tourism in North Korea In 1991, Rason was established as a special economic zone to draw in foreign investment, as per The Independent. However, it never gained the same level of popularity as the capital, Pyongyang, which is still off-limits to tourists outside of Russia. Advertisement Before the pandemic, tourism was an easy, legitimate source of foreign currency for North Korea, which is also one of the worlds most sanctioned countries because of its nuclear programme. Chinese visitors accounted for about 90 per cent of all foreign arrivals, with 350,000 entering in 2019 alone, reported The Straits Times. Lee Sangkeun, an expert at the Institute for National Security Strategy, a think tank run by South Koreas intelligence agency, last month told AP, North Korea has been heavily investing on tourism sites, but there have been not much domestic demand. We can assess that North Korea now wants to resume international tourism to bring in many tourists from abroad. Following the arrest and eventual death of American student Otto Warmbier in 2017, the United States prohibited its citizens from visiting North Korea. South Koreans are still not allowed entry to the country. With inputs from agencies Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said he will cut off the power supply to the US if Donald Trumps steep tariffs against Canada persist. The US taxes against its neighbouring country came into effect on Tuesday. Ford, who won a re-election bid last week as Ontario leader, has threatened retaliatory tariffs against the US read more Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened matching tariffs against the US. Reuters Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to cut off electricity supply to the United States over President Donald Trumps steep tariffs against Canada. His warning on Monday (March 3) came a day before Trumps 25 per cent tariffs on imported Canadian goods and a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy came into effect. Ford has been taking on the US costly tariffs against Canada, even calling a snap election in January. He won a third majority government last week after presenting himself as the candidate to stand up to Trump in a possible trade war. Advertisement But who is he? Lets take a closer look. Who is Doug Ford? Doug Ford, the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, oversees Canadas most populous province Ontario. The conservative politician entered politics in 2014 after his late brother Rob discontinued his campaign for mayor of Toronto due to his cancer diagnosis. While he lost the bid, Ford set a higher aim and was elected the Ontario premier with a majority in 2018. He registered his third consecutive victory as Ontario premier last Thursday (February 27) with a legislative majority, a feat no Ontario leader achieved until now. Newly re-elected Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks to supporters at his election night event in Toronto on February 27, 2025. AP Fords father was also a politician and his family ran a label-making business. Before becoming Ontarios leader, Ford served as a city councillor in Toronto. As per a Globe and Mail report in 2013, Ford dealt hashish in the 1980s, a claim denied by the 60-year-old. His critics allege he has a grudge against Toronto that has never supported him and governs like a vengeful leader, reported The Guardian. People call him a populist but when you look at it, his politics are just so petty and vindictive, Dave Bidini, the publisher of Torontos West End Phoenix newspaper, told the British daily. Ford was praised for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic early on in his tenure as Ontario premier. However, his term has not been without controversies. In 2022, Ford landed in a soup after his government planned to open 7,400 acres of protected land, dubbed the Greenbelt, around Toronto for development. The plan was eventually scrapped and is being investigated by Canadas federal police. Advertisement Ford has been successful in wooing voters across the political divide. While his backers include rich, pro-business voters, he has also courted some unions, taking away the voters of progressive parties. And in an era of deep political polarisation, especially from party leaders, Ford has largely defied that approach. He doesnt dig in on ideology or wear the partisan stripes. He appears to have sidestepped that, Andrea Lawlor, an associate professor of political science at McMaster University, told The Guardian. Ironically, Ford drew comparisons to Trump during his first premiership campaign, the man he has now positioned himself against to protect Canadas interests in the trade war. Advertisement Ford has earned the nickname Captain Canada, who has vowed to fight the US tariffs against his country. Canada wont start a fight with the US, but you better believe were ready to win one. Canada will never, ever be the 51st state, and Canada is not for sale, he said in his victory speech after his rare re-election last week. Doug Fords threats to US On Monday, Ford threatened to cut off the energy that Ontario sells to the US in response to Trumps tariffs against Canada. If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything including cut off their energy with a smile on my face, Ford told reporters at a mining convention in downtown Toronto, according to Toronto Sun. They need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard? Weve got to go back twice as hard, Ford added. Advertisement He said Ontario would retaliate by imposing matching tariffs against the US. Ford threatened to impose a 25 per cent surcharge on Canadian electricity exports to New York, Michigan and Minnesota. The Ontario leader also indicated that the federal and provincial governments are united in their response to fighting US tariffs. I [didnt] start this tariff war, but were going to win this tariff war, Ford added. Speaking to NBC on Monday afternoon, he threatened to halt shipments of high-grade nickel to the US, which he said makes up for 50 per cent of Americas supplies. After the US tariffs came into effect on Tuesday, Ford cancelled a $100 million deal with Elon Musks Starlink internet provider. He also banned US companies from bidding on Ontario infrastructure projects and removed US alcohol from the shelves of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). Advertisement He also called on premiers in other Canadian provinces to follow suit. For now, Ford has not clarified when he plans to implement the proposed tariff on electricity that could drive prices higher in parts of the US. If they [US tariffs] go further into April, then well cut off their electricity, he added. However, experts say the Ontario leaders response would be limited to playing a secondary role to the federal government in taking on Trump. We have to recognise the nature of the condition, Cristine de Clercy, a political science professor at Trent University, told CBC News.Hes a provincial premier trying to influence international policy agenda. So there are real limits on his capacity to act and react in the current trade war context. With inputs from agencies Researchers in the UK have discovered that swearing can boost pain tolerance by up to 32 per cent. Not only this, swearing has been linked to stronger social bonds, improved memory, and even easing the sting of rejection or exclusion. But what makes swearing the perfect painkiller? read more Researchers in the UK have discovered that swearing can boost pain tolerance by up to 32 per cent. Image for Representation. Pixabay If youve ever stubbed your toe or slammed your finger in a drawer, chances are the first thing that comes out of your mouth is a four-letter word. But according to science, letting out your go-to swear word once in a while might actually help ease the pain. Researchers in the UK have discovered that swearing can boost pain tolerance by up to 32 per cent, offering an unexpected way to cope with discomfort. Advertisement Its something that we all share, and it is really magical. It holds so much power over us as societies, Olly Robertson, a psychology researcher at the University of Oxford told The Washington Post. It does something for us. But what exactly makes swearing an effective painkiller? Heres a closer look. Powering through pain Researchers have discovered that swearing triggers the bodys fight-or-flight response, prompting the release of hormones like adrenaline, which help us react quickly to danger. Surprisingly, swearing seems to tap into this same survival mechanism, allowing us to better cope with pain and make it more bearable. in the moment. But what exactly causes this reaction? Dr Pavan Pai, a consultant neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, explained to The Deccan Herald that swearing activates specific areas of the brain linked to emotional processing and pain regulation. When you swear in response to pain, it triggers the amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions. This, in turn, releases adrenaline, a hormone that increases pain tolerance and temporarily reduces discomfort, he said. swearing seems to tap into this same survival mechanism, allowing us to better cope with pain and make it more bearable in the moment. Image for Reprentation. Pixabay Richard Stephens, a researcher and senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University in England, conducted a study in 2009 that linked swearing to hypoalgesiareduced sensitivity to pain. In the experiment, participants were asked to keep their hands submerged in ice-cold water while either repeating a swear word of their choice or a neutral word. The results showed that those who swore had a higher pain tolerance and reported feeling less pain. It is a drug-free, calorie-neutral, cost-free means of self-help, said Stephens. Advertisement Benefits of swearing you probably didnt know Beyond just increasing pain tolerance, swearing has been linked to stronger social bonds, improved memory, and even easing the sting of rejection or exclusion. Neurologically, the pathways for physical pain and emotional pain are the same, Robertson told The Washington Post. So when you have heartbreak, its the same neural structures. Its the same biological blueprint, and thats why it feels so visceral, because it literally is. Interestingly, recent research suggests that swearing may also be connected to increased physical strength. Recent research suggests that swearing may also be connected to increased physical strength. Image for Representation. Reuters Studies showed that swearing during pain elevates heart rate, similar to the bodys fight-or-flight response, thus impacting physical performance. However, exactly how swearing boosts strength and pain tolerance remains a mystery. Does your choice of swear word matter? Interestingly, the pain-relieving power of swearing isnt limited to a specific language. Researchers Olly Robertson and Richard Stephens explored whether swearing had the same effect across different languages by comparing English and Japanese speakers. Since Japanese culture does not use swearing as commonly in social settings as English-speaking cultures, they expected to see a difference in the results. However, their findings revealed that swearing increased pain tolerance regardless of the language. Advertisement I wasnt expecting this at all, because I was expecting to see that social effect, Robertson admitted. So, if you ever find yourself in pain, dont feel guilty about letting out your go-to curse word. With input from agencies Two Kerala men, Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil, have been executed by the United Arab Emirates for murders. This comes after the MEA confirmed that 33-year-old Shahzadi Khan from Uttar Pradesh had been hanged by Abu Dhabi. The incidents have put a spotlight on the number of Indians on death row in the Gulf country it is the highest with 29 convicts as per government data available read more Of the 54 Indians on death sentence abroad, 29 are facing the gallows in UAE. Representational image/AFP A pall of gloom has descended upon Kerala as news came in that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has executed two natives from the Indian state. The deceased individuals have been identified as Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil. The news of the executions comes just days after the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Abu Dhabi had killed Shahzadi Khan, a UP woman convicted for the death of a four-month-old child. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This has put the spotlight on Indians who are on death row in foreign countries with the Indian government recently stating that 54 nationals were on death row with the highest number reported from the UAE (29) and Saudi Arabia (12). Moreover, 10,152 Indians are in 86 different jails across the world. Lets take a closer look at these numbers and the stories behind it. UAEs executes 3 Indians within weeks The MEA confirmed the news of Arangilottu and Valappil being executed by the UAE on Thursday (March 6). The two of them, hailing from Kerala, were facing the death sentence for the murder of an Emirati national and an Indian national respectively. The UAEs highest court, the Court of Cassation, upheld their death sentences, and the executions were carried out on February 28, 2025. According to officials, Arangilottu, who hailed from Kannur, had been working in a travel agency in Al Ain before his arrest related to the murder of a UAE national. A report by South First said that Arangilottus mother had petitioned Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene in the case, claiming that her son accidentally committed murder while trying to escape from the torture of a mentally challenged UAE national. The MEA has reported that all possible consular and legal assistance were provided to the two but it didnt pan out in the end. The news of the executions of the two Keralites comes on the heels of 33-year-old Shahzadi Khan , from Uttar Pradeshs Banda, being hanged in a jail in the United Arab Emirates after she was found guilty of killing a four-month-old child. Shahzadi was handed over to the Abu Dhabi police on February 10, 2023, and she was sentenced to death on July 31, 2023. The MEA informed that the execution went ahead on February 15, 2025. Image Courtesy: X Khan had gone to UAE in 2021 with her family alleging that she went under false promises and claims. Her primary responsibility was to care for the infant of an Indian couple Faiz and Nadia. In February 2022, tragedy struck when the four-month-old baby under Shahzadis care passed away. The couple she worked for immediately accused her of being responsible for their childs death. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Khans family maintained that she was innocent, claiming the four-month-old died from an incorrect vaccination on the day of his death. They said Khan did not get adequate representation during her trial. Her father later urged the MEA to intervene in the matter, but despite all efforts, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. UAE accounts for most Indians on death row in foreign land As per government data provided in early February, the UAE accounts for the highest number of Indians on death row in a foreign land. As many as 29 Indians were facing the death sentence in the UAE, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, informed the Rajya Sabha on February 13. He added that as per data available, the number of Indian citizens awarded the death sentence by foreign courts was 54. Furthermore, UAE housed the second highest number of Indian prisoners 2,518 behind Saudi Arabia with 2,633 Indian prisoners. Indians on death row in other Gulf countries While the UAE may have the highest number of Indians on death row, it isnt the only country. Government data shows that 12 Indians are facing the gallows in Saudi Arabia, three in Kuwait, one in Qatar and one in Yemen. As per official figures, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq have no Indians on death row. Perhaps, the most famous case of an Indian awaiting a death sentence in a foreign country is that of Nimisha Priya, the nurse from Kochi, who has been sentenced to death for the alleged murder of a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017. Nimisha Priya, from Palakkad district, has been charged with the murder a Yemen national Talal Abdu Mahdi. Image Courtesy: X Last December, the 34-year-olds death sentence had been approved by Yemen President Rashad al-Alimi, leaving her with her final option securing a pardon from Mahdis family. For months, Nimishas relatives and supporters have been trying to do this by raising diyah, or blood money , to be paid to the family, and negotiations have been going on. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Nimisha Priyas family and friends are still trying to negotiate her release through bloody money, an Indian in Saudi Arabia escaped execution after Indians around the globe raised nearly $4 million to save him in April last year. In 2006, Kozhikode native Machilakath Abdul Rahim went to Saudi as a driver in the house of Saudi national Abdulla Abdurahman Al Shahri and was also tasked with the care of his differently abled son, Anas Al Shahri. However, a month into his job, Rahim while trying to pacify Anas, who became agitated during a trip, hit the tube attached to the boys throat, killing him accidentally. Sentenced to death, the family of the victim agreed to pardon Rahim after Rs 34 crore was raised as blood money to secure his release. A final order from a court in Riyadh is awaited for his release. Reasons why Indians land up on death row According to many, the fact that so many Indians are on death row in these countries shows the harsh realities faced by migrant workers and the rigid application of sharia law in the region. Kabir Taneja, deputy director and fellow at the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation, told South China Morning Post that in many instances when Indians move to these countries, withholding of passports has become a norm. Many Indians routinely complain that their passport is taken away by their employer and in many cases, payment of wages is also delayed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even in the Nimisha Priya case, Mahdi had reportedly taken away her passport preventing her from returning to India. In July 2017, Nimisha injected him with sedatives in order to retrieve her passport. However, he died of an overdose. Many Indians also complain that the work conditions provided to them are pitiful. All these factors may push them over the edge, driving them to take drastic steps in some cases. In many other cases, it is simply the lack of proper legal remedies being provided to Indians. With inputs from agencies The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed to collect information on social media accounts of people applying to enter the US. It will also affect those who are already in the country seeking a green card permanent residency or citizenship read more Citizen candidates attend a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalisation ceremony at the Brooklyn Cyclones Maimonides Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, US May 3, 2022. File Photo/Reuters Are you seeking a green card to the United States? Then you might want to be careful about what you post on social media activity. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency that oversees legal migration, has proposed to demand social media accounts of people applying for green cards. The agency says this is to comply with President Donald Trumps Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats executive order issued on his first day in office on January 20. Advertisement Lets take a closer look. What has USCIS said? USCIS has proposed to collect information about social media activity of immigrants trying to enter the US. It claims this information is necessary for a rigorous vetting and screening of all people applying for immigration-related benefits. In the notice published in the Federal Register on Wednesday (March 5), the US agency, which approves visas and other immigration benefits, said that the proposed measure will apply to people applying for green cards, American citizenship, and asylum or refugee status. The relatives of people who have been granted asylum or refugee status will also be affected by the proposed policy. USCIS has argued that the social media rule is necessary to comply with Trumps executive order on protecting the US from terrorism and national security threats. In its order, the White House directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other government agencies to identify all resources that may be used to ensure that all aliens seeking admission to the United States, or who are already in the United States, are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The public has until May 5 to comment on USCIS plan. As per the agencys estimates, the proposed policy is likely to affect over 3.5 million (35 lakh) people. A USCIS spokesperson told Newsweek that verifying social media activity would boost fraud detection and whether the applicants pose a threat to public safety or national security. Why is it being criticised? USCISs social media plan is being condemned by immigrant advocates who have flagged privacy and freedom of speech concerns. Catalyze/Citizens, a pro-immigration group, told The Verge that the proposed policy would weaponise digital platforms against immigrants. This is not immigration policyit is authoritarianism and undemocratic surveillance, Beatriz Lopez, the groups executive director, said in an email. Trump is turning online spaces into surveillance traps, where immigrants are forced to watch their every move and censor their speech or risk their futures in this country. Today its immigrants, tomorrow its US citizens who dissent with Trump and his administration. Advertisement Are USCIS staff going to be maintained at the same level or will they also experience cutbacks and how will that affect their ability to be adjudicating these applications? Kathleen Bush-Joseph, policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, said to Newsweek. Then getting into the specifics of the social media profiles, Im not certain about how immigration attorneys will be advising their clients about filling out these forms and what kind of information people may or may not be providing in response. What is actually considered social media and how many different platforms there are, there are a lot of unknowns here. Advertisement Bush-Joseph added, These forms that people are filling out for these various benefit applications are extremely comprehensive and ask a number of detailed questions which often require the assistance of an attorney to fill out and many of those questions are used to determine who is not eligible for a benefit because of derogatory information, so I think to the extent that people are posting things that raise concerns, its not clear what the criteria for determining what a concern is. People attend a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization ceremony at the New York Public Library, in New York City, US, July 2, 2024. File Photo/Reuters There are also concerns that vetting of social media accounts would deter people seeking green cards permanent residency and US citizenship. Advertisement Saira Hussain, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told Newsweek: These are people who could have been residing in the US for 30, 40 years, as a Green Card holder who are seeking citizenship, or people who are residing on other types of visas who are seeking a Green Card. It really creates a massive chilling effect about people who could be vetted for their online speech who have every right to be here in this country and could be chilled from sharing their opinions because they are concerned they are going to be vetted and denied immigration benefits such as naturalisation. Advertisement In 2019, the US State Department implemented a policy requiring all visa applicants to disclose five years worth of social media history. This applied to foreigners applying for visas from outside the US. Unlike the State Departments policy, USCIS plan will be applied to those already in the US seeking permanent residency or citizenship. But it is too soon to say whether USCIS proposed social media policy will be used to reject applications for green cards, citizenship, and refugee status, analyst Bush-Joseph told The Verge. Speaking to Times of India (TOI), Jonathan Wasden, an immigration attorney, said, It remains unclear how USCIS will interpret posts, how long they will store data, or what guidelines they will use to flag concerns. There is also a risk that applicants could face denials based on online activity that is taken out of context. With inputs from agencies Speculations are rife that Ukraine could lose access to Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet system amid the ongoing tensions with the US. Starlink has been vital in maintaining Ukraines military communications in its war with Russia. Can Europes Eutelsat do the job? read more The logo of the European satellite operator Eutelsat is pictured at the company's headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France. File image/Reuters Suggestions that Ukraine could lose access to Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet system, which has been vital in maintaining its military communications as it fights Russias invasion, have focused investor interest on Starlinks smaller European rival Eutelsat. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters last month that the United States might use Starlink access as a lever in talks with Kyiv about its critical minerals and the Franco-British company has said it is talking to the EU about providing additional services to Ukraine. Advertisement Eutelsats stock price has more than quadrupled since a public row on February 28 between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and US President Donald Trump, after which Washington paused military aid to Ukraine. Here is a summary of how Eutelsat might help Ukraine to meet its communication needs: How vital is Starlink to Ukraines war effort? Starlink users access the internet for data or voice communication by using a small satellite dish to bounce signals off a constellation of satellites overhead. Ukraines fixed-line and mobile networks have been badly damaged by bombing since Russia invaded in February 2022, and Starlink has helped Kyiv to fill the void by sending tens of thousands of its dishes with terminals. Some are made available to civilians, often trying to contact relatives on smartphones. Ukrainian soldier reunites with family over video call during Christmas. File image/Reuters But, most are used by Ukraines armed forces, which also have to contend with heavy signal jamming and interception of communications on the front lines. Ukrainian units often talk to each other via Starlink, and its services have become virtually indispensable for battlefield command and control. Ukraine also used Starlink to guide attack drones until Musks rocket firm SpaceX curbed the practice two years ago. Originally, SpaceX helped to fund the provision of Starlink to Ukraine. The US government then took over, though last month Poland said it had been paying Ukraines Starlink subscription and would continue to do so. Advertisement Is Eutelsat a true competitor to Starlink? Eutelsat already supports government and institutional communications in Ukraine and told Reuters that it can provide an alternative for certain government and defence applications. Since its merger in 2023 with Britains OneWeb, Eutelsat controls the only operational global-coverage constellation, besides Starlink, of satellites in low earth orbit (LEO). Starlinks more than 7,000 LEO satellites, suited to real-time communication, allow it to reach more users around the world and offer higher data speeds. But Eutelsat says that, even with only 630 or so LEO satellites, backed up by 35 linked satellites in higher, geostationary orbit, it offers the same capabilities as Starlink in Europe. Starlink promises broadband at up to 200 megabits per second, Eutelsat 150. OneWeb terminals, however, cost as much as $10,000, plus a monthly subscription price. Starlink charges Ukrainian users a one-time payment of $589 in addition to a monthly subscription of $95-$440, depending on the usage. Advertisement It is not known whether any donor would offer to fund more Ukrainian OneWeb subscriptions. France and Britain, which are spearheading a peace deal to present to the U.S., hold a combined 24.8 per cent stake in Eutelsat Group. What are the other alternatives? Global competition to Starlink is shaping up, but slowly. Luxembourg-based SES delivers some satellite services to the Western NATO defence alliance via its medium earth orbit constellation of O3b mPOWER satellites. But like many other legacy satellite operators, it prioritises corporate customers, governments and militaries, offering no direct-to-consumer services, with terminals that are not consumer-friendly. Some EU initiatives such as IRIS (pronounced Iris squared) and GOVSATCOM - which Kyiv is interested in - will take years to become fully operational. Advertisement In recent years, the United Kingdom has seen a significant rise in the Khalistani movement, leading to multiple instances of vandalism targeting Hindu temples and Indian institutions read more Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (March 6) summoned UK Charge D Affaires Christina Scott after S Jaishankars security was breached by a Khalistani extremist in London earlier in the day. The Indian foreign minister was leaving in a car after attending an event at the Chatham House think tank when his security was endangered by the extremist. The MEA summon follows a statement of condemnation by the UK government over Jaishankars security breach. Advertisement Khalistani elements attempted to attack and insult @DrSJaishankar by desecrating the Indian flag on British soil. This is a serious concern and raises questions about security lapses in London. #London #Khalistani @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @metpoliceuk @HCI_London pic.twitter.com/NUqR5d6Z7r Gayatri (BharatKiBeti) (@changu311) March 5, 2025 While responding to the incident, a spokesperson for the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said, We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside the Chatham House yesterday during the External Affairs Ministers visit to the UK. While the UK upholds the right to peaceful protest, any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly to address the situation, and we remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations." Earlier, the Indian government also condemned the incident, calling it unacceptable and misuse of democratic freedoms by separatists. We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations," said a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. Pro-Khalistan supporters staged a protest outside the venue where Jaishankar was invited, during which a man was seen approaching the foreign affairs ministers vehicle and tearing Indias national flag. Despite their heavy presence, London police officers appeared unresponsive to the act of vandalism. During his visit, the EAM is set to hold talks with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Given the Thursday incident, the issue of extremism and especially the rise of the pro-Khalistani movement in the UK and other nations are expected to be discussed. Advertisement In recent years, the United Kingdom has seen a significant rise in the Khalistani movement, leading to multiple instances of vandalism targeting Hindu temples and Indian institutions. Meanwhile, Jaishankars visit focused on strengthening the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership, including trade, health, education, cultural ties, and defence cooperation. (With inputs from agencies) Authorities have long struggled with monitoring individuals after they are declared illegal immigrants. Without a systematic approach to tracking their movements, many simply disappear, hampering deportation efforts read more Assam has been cracking down on illegal immigrants for a couple of years now. PTI More than 85,000 individuals declared as foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals in Assam have gone missing, according to data released by the Assam Home Department. The revelation has sparked serious concerns over immigration law enforcement and the states ability to track and deport undocumented individuals. The information, disclosed in response to a query by Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rekibuddin Ahmed during the ongoing Assam Assembly session, confirms that 85,024 declared foreigners have disappeared from official records. Advertisement These individuals, identified as illegal immigrants through the states tribunal system, have evaded authorities, highlighting a significant gap in the governments deportation and monitoring efforts. The large number of absconding foreigners points to the concerning absence of an effective tracking mechanism, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to locate and remove those residing in the state unlawfully. Authorities struggle to monitor illegal immigrants Authorities have long struggled with monitoring individuals after they are declared illegal immigrants. Without a systematic approach to tracking their movements, many simply disappear, hampering deportation efforts and raising broader security concerns. Officials warn that the lack of accountability could have serious ramifications for law enforcement, particularly in border districts that have historically dealt with issues of illegal immigration. The state government has yet to outline any specific measures to address the issue. However, experts say Assams tracking and deportation system requires urgent reform to prevent further lapses in immigration enforcement. Supreme Court of Assams case Earlier last month, the Supreme Court had ht out at the Assam government and the Centre for not deporting people declared as foreigners. The apex court rapped the practice of keeping people in detention centres indefinitely. Indefinite detention in detention camps violates basic rights, the SC had said. In response, the Assam government had argued that deportation was not possible as the addresses of the illegal immigrants in their origin country were not known. With inputs from agencies During the 1962 India-China war, several villages along the border were evacuated due to security concerns. In Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, the villages of Nelang and Jadung were abandoned, with residents relocated to safer areas read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the central government has begun rehabilitating villages that were evacuated during the India-China 1962 war. While addressing a rally in Uttarakhands Harsil, PM Modi said that the government has launched a campaign to turn the two villages in Uttarkashi, which were affected by the 1962 war, into major tourist destinations. People might know that when China attacked India in 1962, these two villages of ours were evacuated. People have forgotten, but we cannot forget. We have launched a campaign to rehabilitate those two villages and are moving towards making it a major tourist destination, PM Modi said. Advertisement The prime minister assured that the two villages are among the many villages which will redeveloped in the coming years to transform them into tourist attractions. Our effort is that the border areas of Uttarakhand should also get special benefits of tourism. Earlier, the border villages were called the last villages. But we changed this thinking, we said that these are not the last but our first villages. Vibrant Village program was started for their development. 10 villages of this area have also been included in this scheme, he added. During the 1962 India-China war, several villages along the border were evacuated due to security concerns. In Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, the villages of Nelang and Jadung were abandoned, with residents relocated to safer areas. In Arunachal Pradesh, villages such as Kaho, Kibithu, Musai (Meshai), and Thembang also faced evacuations. Earlier in the day, PM Modi flagged off the trek and bike rally in Harsil after offering prayers at the winter residence of Maa Ganga Mukhwa. He was accompanied by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. With inputs from agencies The US weapons inventory will not last beyond three months, but Ukraine never had a chance against Russia with or without American military assistance read more All it took was 10 minutes. Everything exploded for Ukraine as Volodymyr Zelenskyy tripped a booby-trap bomb meticulously devised and cleverly planted by Donald Trump at the Oval Office on February 28. Oh! Youre all dressed up, the US president sarcastically told his Ukrainian counterpart before walking him into the ambush laid by him and his deputy JD Vance, who goaded the Ukrainian president to an ugly slugfest. Zelenskyys mugging had been elaborately planned. Ideally, it should have been a one-on-one closed-door meeting between the two leaders on the most dangerous global crisis followed by a joint press conference. Advertisement Instead, Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, NSA Mike Waltz, defence secretary Pete Hegseth and treasury secretary Scott Bessent were present along with a handful of reporters, including from the BBC, CNN, Reuters and CNBC, among others. What followed instead was a brawl started by Vance with Trump landing vicious punches at Zelenskyy. Donald Trump publicly humiliated Zelensky in a heated Oval Office clash. The Kremlin responded with optimism, praising Trumps foreign policy as largely coinciding with Russias vision. WATCH https://t.co/DXVWeLfQbK pic.twitter.com/iz2Z3tPnLX Hindustan Times (@htTweets) March 3, 2025 Two incidents proved that it was a trap. First, Dmitry Kirsanov, the Washington, D.C., bureau chief of Russian state media TASS, witnessed the showdown. He was escorted out by the Secret Service with the White House claiming he was uninvited. Second, Brian Glenn, of the upstart online TV news outlet Right Side Broadcasting Network and boyfriend of MAGA champ Marjorie Taylor Greene, the hard-right Georgian representative, asked Zelenskyy why he wasnt in a suit. It was followed by derisive laughter and Trumps wink. Advertisement A humiliated Zelenskyy left without signing the much-touted minerals deal with Trump, triggering his rage and Republican opprobrium. Finally, Trumps increasing antagonism manifested in the pause of all military assistance, including weapons on the way, to Ukraine. Past help to Ukraine goes down the drain. America had been militarily assisting Ukraine through presidential drawdown authority (quick supply of weapons from the Pentagons stockpiles) and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (longer-term contracts to send arms). US Congress appropriated $182.75 billion for Ukraine since Russias invasion, of which $65.9 billion in military aid was sent to Ukraine. The US contributed 52% of the total NATO aid, including financial and humanitarian, to Ukraine. The Joe Biden administration sent 74 US military aid packages to Ukraine, the largest being $3 billion. The Trump administration still has $3.85 billion of the appropriated amount to send weapons to Ukraine. Advertisement All that went down the drain in a jiffy. The sophisticated American and European weapons helped Ukraine counter the Russian onslaught, shoot down drones and missiles and strike deep inside Russian-held territory. The US contributed around 20 per cent to total military supplies to Ukraine. The Patriot air defence battery The long-range Army Tactical Missile System **(**ATACMS) The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) Hawk missile system Stinger anti-aircraft missiles Abrams and T-72B tanks Millions of rounds of artillery (155mm and 105mm Howitzers), ammunition and grenades Hundreds of thousands of anti-tank (Javelin) and anti-armour systems Hundreds of armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles (Bradley) Switchblade and Phoenix Ghost tactical UAVs and Puma UAVs After Biden lifted the restriction on F-16s in August 2023, other NATO members started supplying the jets to Ukraine and training its pilots. Besides, Elon Musks Starlink and US intelligence play an important role in the war. Trump could instruct Musk and the intelligence to stop sharing data with Ukraine. Ukraine stares at a dark road Ukraine has lost around 20 per cent of its territory, including Crimea, mainly in the southeast. According to the UN, more than 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees are in Europe. Around 3.7 million people are internally displaced and another 6.9 million seek refuge and asylum outside Ukraine. Almost 42,000 civilians are dead. The pause in US arms supplies will not lead to an immediate collapse of Ukraines defence. However, the American inventory will not last beyond two to three months as tens of thousands of troops battle the Russians along the 1,000-km-long eastern front. Advertisement Europe contributes around 25 per cent to Ukraines military supplies and Ukraine funds the remaining 55 per cent. So, why does Americas 20 per cent contribution matter more to Ukraine? The US share was the cream of the total military suppliesthe most lethal and effective. In December 2023, Ukraine claimed to have downed 15 hypersonic air-launched Kinzhal ballistic missiles with the Patriot, which has a range of 160 km. First footage of a US-supplied M901 PATRIOT launcher in Ukrainian service firing a PAC-2 missile. pic.twitter.com/pPi5V6UvqV OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 4, 2024 Advertisement The biggest impact of Trumps decision will be on Ukrainian air defence. A shortage of interceptor missiles for the five Patriot systems in Ukraine will make major Ukrainian cities again vulnerable to Russian missiles. Zelenskyy said in February that the Patriot missile stock was dangerously low and asked for 20 batteries and a licence to produce the missiles domestically. A shocked EU rallied behind Ukraine after the explosive Trump-Zelenskyy clash. The UK, Germany, Norway, France, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and others backed Zelenskyy. Europe sensed the spiking Trump-Zelenskyy tension days before the White House clash and feared a drastic step by the US. Last month, European leaders were already working on a military aid package worth 20 billion for Ukraine. The UK has pledged $2 billion to supply 5,000 short-range Martlet air defence missiles (8 km range). Norwegian firm Kongsberg will produce surface-to-air missiles for Ukraines 13 NASAMS medium-range air defence batteries (30-60 km). Ukraine also has two Eurosam SAMP/T missile batteries, which are as good as the Patriot in range and other features. However, the Eurosam can intercept only aircraft and ballistic missiles while the Patriot can shoot down aircraft, drones and ballistic and cruise missiles. Moreover, Europe cant compensate for the ATACMS and the HIMARS. Storm Shadow (SCALP-EG), the Franco-British long-range air-launched cruise missile, can be fired only from the Ukrainian Su-24 Fencer bomber. Ukraine lacks the required number of Fencers, which can also be targeted by Russian jets and missiles. Besides, the ATACMS has a range of 300 km while the Storm Shadow can hit targets up to 250 km. The HIMARS can fire one ATACMS or six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) rockets from its single pod. The systems pod is also interchangeable with the M270 MLRS, used by Ukraine. Despite the increasing use of drones and missiles in the war, the 155mm artillery rounds remain relevant. The US arms halt will severely impact the use of Howitzers. In 2024, other NATO allies delivered around 1 million 155 mm artillery shells to Ukraine while the US supplied 3 million. The US arms freeze will have a catastrophic effect both militarily and psychologically. When Trumpsters in the House of Representatives held up the $60-billion Ukraine aid package in December 2023, Ukraines counteroffensive suffered a massive blow. Zelenskyy never had a choice Further European support wont improve Ukraines battlefield prospectsin fact, US military help didnt either. It was a foregone conclusion that the conflict was a grinding war that Ukraine could never win. Zelenskyy didnt realise that even with Bidens help and if Kamala Harris won, Ukraine would have never defeated Russia. Zelenskyy never had a choice even if he hadnt taken Trumps bait at the Oval Office. Zelenskyy wanted a peace deal with Russia and a minerals pact with the US that would have guaranteed Ukraines security. He went to the White House to sign the minerals deal with that mindset. Zelenskyy has been slammed by his detractors, Trump and Republicans for prolonging the war by refusing peace. Several of his detractors, including those in the US, dismiss him because of his earlier profession as a comedian. What about Ukrainians? Zelenskyy won the 2019 election with a landslide of 73 per cent of the vote. His current approval rating is 63 per cent, not 4 per centclaimed by Trumpaccording to a February poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), up from 56 per cent in May 2024. Another KIIS poll in the same month found that 57 per cent of Ukrainians trust Zelenskiy. Another survey in February last week done by London-based polling and market research agency Survation showed that 52 per cent of Ukrainians had a strong (30 per cent) or somewhat (22 per cent) favourable opinion of Zelenskyy. The Survation poll also showed that only 16 per cent of Ukrainians wanted Ukraine to fight, 39 per cent wanted to continue fighting but should consider negotiations if military progress stalls and another 39 per cent wanted the war to end the war at the earliest. On the other hand, 48 per cent of Ukrainians didnt consider the US-Russia peace talks legitimate. Ukrainians, especially troops fighting Russia, will not approve of Zelenskyy if he signs a peace deal with Russia and a minerals pact with the US without security guarantees. Trump has blamed Zelenskyy for starting the war and dubbed him a dictator. However, 70 per cent of Americans disagree that Ukraine is more to blame for starting the war, according to a March 3-4 Reuters/Ipsos poll with 62 per cent Republicans and 81 per cent Democrats. Neither Trump nor Vladimir Putin want security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump views everything from the prism of deal-making. His minerals deal with Ukraine is masked under a peace deal. Trump wants Ukraines minerals worth billions to repay for past aid, wants Zelenskyy to blindly and unconditionally trust that Washington is acting in Kyivs interests and say yes to terms the US and Russia decide. The minerals deal is unfair to Ukraine. The Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 50 per cent of Americans disagree that the US should get a share of Ukraines minerals with Republicans 24 per cent and Democrats 75 per cent. Ukraine is left only with Europe, which cant sustain supporting Ukraine forever without American assistance. Zelenskyy is back to square oneand he has realised the blowback caused by the Oval Office clash with Trump. A day after the US arms freeze, Zelenskyy termed the White House fiasco regrettable and said that Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table and work under President Trumps strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. I would like to reiterate Ukraines commitment to peace. None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 4, 2025 Replying to Vances complaint that he didnt thank the US for its support, the Ukrainian president said, without naming the US vice-president, We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this. Regarding the minerals deal, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is ready to sign it anytime and in any convenient format but still hoped that the agreement would be a step towards greater security and solid security guarantees. Trump immediately sensed Zelenskyys compromising tone. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians, he said in his address to Congress on the same day while quoting from a letter the president said he had received from his Ukrainian counterpart. He also said that Ukraine was ready to sign the minerals deal. Trump also claimed to have received strong signals from Russia that it is ready for peace. Its time to stop this madness. Its time to halt the killing. Its time to end this senseless war. Putins so-called Special Military Operation never intended to occupy the whole of Ukraine but only the mineral-rich southeast and was a warning to NATO not to expand eastwards. Both Putin and Trump have got what they wanted but not Zelenskyy. If the Ukrainian president signs the peace deal with Putin, Ukraine will lose the territories captured by Russia. If he signs the minerals deal with Trump, Ukraines vast resources will be used by the US. In both scenarios, Ukraine will not have security guarantees. If Zelenskyy doesnt sign the deals, he will prolong the war. Thats Zelenskyys dilemma. The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Chinese medical assistance team heading for Guinea Xinhua) 13:43, March 06, 2025 BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese medical assistance team left Beijing on Wednesday evening heading for the Republic of Guinea, where they will introduce advanced technologies and assist local healthcare professionals over the next 18 months. It is the 31st such team to be sent to this African country, and it consists of 24 members. Of these team members, 22 are from the renowned Beijing Friendship Hospital, with their expertise covering the likes of thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, vascular surgery, neurology, cardiology and more. The other two members are experts in public health and health policy, and are from the Beijing Municipal Health Commission and the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control. The team was selected in September last year. Team members then learned French and received systematic training on the treatment of diseases common in this tropical country. According to Wang Bin, head of the team, they will quickly adapt to their new environment after arrival, continue to promote the establishment of a joint medical center, collaborate with both local institutions and professionals to conduct field visits and prepare samples, and promote the culture of traditional Chinese medicine, while striving to improve local medical and health conditions and standards. China has been sending medical teams overseas for more than six decades. The first team sent overseas went to Algeria in 1963. As of the end of 2023, China had dispatched over 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across the world -- providing medical services to nearly 300 million patients. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The mass layoffs of federal employees could severely impact U.S. cybersecurity and national security, a former top National Security Agency (NSA) official said on Wednesday. read more Mass layoff by Trump will hurt cybersecurity amid Chinas growing threat: Former top US security official. (Composite image.) The mass culling of workers from federal payrolls will have a devastating impact on cybersecurity and national security, a top former National Security Agency official said on Wednesday. Rob Joyce, former NSA director of cybersecurity, told the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party of the harm from aggressive threats to cut U.S. government employees. Eliminating probationary employees will destroy a pipeline of top talent, essential for hunting and eradicating PRC threats, Joyce said at the hearing on the threat posed by the Peoples Republic of Chinas cyber operations targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, telecommunications and other sectors. Advertisement More than 100,000 federal workers have either taken early retirement or been laid off as part of President Donald Trump and billionaire advisor Elon Musks efforts to radically pare down the size and role of federal agencies. It is unclear how many workers have left the NSA, which handles foreign signals intelligence operations. More than 130 positions have been cut from the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as of Feb. 14, a CISA spokesperson said. The agency oversees defense of civilian federal networks and coordinates information-sharing between private industry and government. National security positions were exempted from Trumps plans to reduce the federal workforce, but some of the actual cuts have included such jobs. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The NSA declined to comment. The DHSs cuts will save the government about $50 million, an agency spokesperson told Reuters late Wednesday. We are actively identifying other wasteful positions and offices that do not fulfill DHSs mission. 22-year-old British national James Scott Rhys Anderson was sentenced to 19 years in prison in Russia after he was found guilty of fighting for the Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region. UK demands Russia to treat Anderson as a prisoner of war. read more 22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson said in the video that he regretted signing up to fight for Ukraine. Source: Blog via Public Telegram A British national captured in Russia was sentenced to 19 years in prison after he was accused of fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in the ongoing war. 22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson was charged with terrorism and mercenary activities when he was presented to a Russian court. The young Briton was from Banbury, Oxfordshire and was captured by the Russian forces in November last year. According to The Guardian, Russian investigators accused Anderson of illegally crossing the border into Russian territory while he was armed. He was accused of carrying out criminal acts against civilians in Russias Kursk region, where Ukrainians have managed to capture solid ground. The investigators argued that Anderson caused significant harm to property and destabilised the activities of the authorities. Advertisement The courts press service later announced that Anderson pleaded guilty in the case and shared a photograph of the British national in handcuffs and locked in a cage. Meanwhile, the UKs Foreign Office condemned the sentencing on false charges late on Wednesday and called for Anderson to be treated as a prisoner of war. UK demands Andersons release The Foreign Office demanded that Russia respect obligations to International law and stop using prisoners of war as a tool to spread its propaganda. Under international law, Prisoners of War cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities, the foreign office said in a statement on Wednesday. We demand that Russia respect these obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and stop using Prisoners of War for political and propaganda purposes," the statement furthered. In November last year, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the government would provide Anderson with all the support that we can. BREAKING: WW3 WATCH British man captured while fighting with Ukraine Russian state news agency Tass quotes a military source saying that what they call a "UK mercenary" had been "taken prisoner in the Kursk area" of Russia, part of which Ukraine has held since launching a pic.twitter.com/qPtAc7QH0i SANTINO (@MichaelSCollura) November 25, 2024 It is pertinent to note that British nationals have previously been captured by the Russian troops. However, all of them were arrested in the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine. With this, Anderson became the first known foreign fighter to be captured and sentenced on Russian territory. Moscow traditionally treats foreigners fighting with the Ukrainian army as mercenaries and maintains that these prisoners are not subjected to the standard protections offered to prisoners of war protections that Russia regularly violates in any case. Advertisement Fear looms over the Anderson family In a video interrogation released on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, Anderson revealed that he had served as a signalman in the British army for four years before joining the Ukrainian International Legion to fight against Russia. His family later confirmed that he was formerly a soldier in the British Armys Royal Signals Corps. While speaking to the Daily Mail, Andersons father said that he feared his son would be tortured in captivity and that he had begged him not to go to Ukraine. He wanted to go out there because he thought he was doing what was right, he said in an interview. Im hoping hell be used as a bargaining chip, he added. In the summer of 2022, two Britons captured while fighting in Mariupol as members of Ukraines marines were sentenced to death after a show trial in a court in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. However, the men were later released as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine that was brokered by Saudi Arabia. Advertisement The president defended his administrations humanitarian aid cuts to countries around the globe, including one nation he joked nobody has ever heard of' read more During his Tuesday night address to Congress, US President Donald Trump took jabs at a Southern African nation which rarely makes headlines. The president defended his administrations humanitarian aid cuts to countries around the globe, including one nation he joked nobody has ever heard of. The country was Lesotho. In response to Trumps remarks, the countrys foreign minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, told NPR it was quite shocking for the head of state to make such a remark. The government of the United States has an embassy in Maseru [Lesothos capital], Mpotjoane said on Wednesday, adding that the two countries have had a long cooperation. Advertisement He went on to invite Trump to visit the country. Last fall, Trumps first buddy Elon Musk, met Lesothos prime minister and discussed the provision of internet access solutions in the country. Heres a look at 9 things to know about the Southern African nation. USs helping hand in Lesothos fight against AIDS In his Tuesday address, Trump said that the US had sent $8 million to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of. Much of the money USAID has sent to Lesotho goes toward HIV prevention. The United Nations says almost a quarter of the population is living with the virus. The country is surrounded by another country The country is fully encircled by South Africa but is separated from its neighbouring state by the forbidding mountain ranges. The population of Lesotho is vulnerable to food shortage since not much of its land is available for farming. The people of Lesotho also rely on South African jobs, and their language, Sesotho, is also one of South Africas 11 official languages. More people speak it in South Africa (4.6 million - than in Lesotho. Poor nations with the biggest resources of White gold Due to its harsh environment, Lesotho is not known to be rich in resources. The countrys biggest resource is water - known locally as white gold - which is exported to South Africa. Diamonds are another major export. The country with the worlds highest suicide rate The country, fondly called the kingdom of the sky, also has the worlds highest suicide rate, with 87.5 people per 100,000 of the population taking their own life every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is nearly 10 times the global average of nine and more than double the country with the second highest rate, which is Guyana. Experts believe that drugs and alcohol, the shortage of jobs and the lack of mental health counselling are the main reasons behind such rates. It exports jeans to the US The country is known to export jeans to the United States. According to BBC, Lesothos garment factories have made jeans for iconic American brands such as Levis and Wrangler in recent years. As a result, Lesotho has become known as the denim capital of Africa. Apart from this, Lesotho is one of sub-Saharan Africas largest exporters of clothing to the US. Interestingly, many of Lesothos clothing and textile factories are owned by Chinese and Taiwanese migrants. With inputs from agencies. The unprecedented move will put Ukrainians at risk of fast-track deportation. The legal status will be removed as soon as April and would be a stunning reversal of the welcome Ukrainians received under President Joe Bidens administration read more A Ukrainian boy seeking asylum in the U.S. plays with a Ukrainian flag after arriving at the PedWest border crossing at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego, California, U.S., April 13, 2022. REUTERS US President Donald Trumps administration has announced plans to revoke the temporary legal status of nearly 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the war and found shelter in the country as Washington grows closer to Russia. Three sources familiar with the developments told Reuters that the unprecedented move will put Ukrainians at risk of fast-track deportation. The legal status will be removed as soon as April and would be a stunning reversal of the welcome Ukrainians received under President Joe Bidens administration. Advertisement Trump had planned to revoke temporary protections for Ukrainians way before he got into a feud with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week. The sources said that the recent plan is part of a larger administrative effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants allowed to enter the US under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched under the Biden administration. How many Ukrainians live in the US? Since the onset of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has implemented several programs to accommodate Ukrainian refugees. In March 2022, the U.S. granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to approximately 30,000 Ukrainians already residing in the country. As of October 2024, reports indicate that the United States and Canada collectively host about 400,000 Ukrainians. End all parole A Trump executive order issued on January 20 called for DHS to terminate all categorical parole programs. The administration plans to revoke parole for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as soon as this month, the Trump official and one of the sources familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Immigrants who cross the border illegally can be put into the fast-track deportation process known as expedited removal, for two years after they enter. But for those who entered through legal ports of entry without being officially admitted to the US - as with those on parole - there is no time limit on their rapid removal, an email from ICE read by Reuters said. With inputs from Reuters Russia has had no ambassador in Washington since last October when the previous envoy, Anatoly Antonov, left his post read more Alexander Darchiyev has been made the new ambassador to the United States. Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Alexander Darchiev, a veteran diplomat known in the past for public denunciations of the West, as ambassador to the United States on Thursday to lead a rapprochement that has stunned Ukraine and European countries. The Foreign Ministry said last week Washington had given it the green light at a meeting between Russian and U.S. officials in Turkey to appoint Darchiev, who now serves as head of the ministrys North America department. Advertisement The six-hour meeting in Istanbul last Thursday, where the delegations worked to try to restore the normal functioning of their embassies after years of tit-for-tat expulsions, was the latest sign of a thaw between the two countries. President Donald Trump has upended previous policy on the war in Ukraine, opening up bilateral talks with Moscow and pausing military aid to Kyiv after clashing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the White House last week. Russia has had no ambassador in Washington since last October when the previous envoy, Anatoly Antonov, left his post. Darchiev, 64, has served two long spells in Russias Washington embassy and was ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021. Like other senior Russian diplomats, he has been known in recent years for strong public denunciations of the United States and the West. Apparently, Washington will need time to get used to the fact that its hegemony is in the past, and will have to reckon with the national interests of Russia, which has its own sphere of influence and responsibility, he told Interfax in March 2022. In a memoir, John J. Sullivan, a U.S. ambassador to Russia under then-President Joe Biden, described Darchiev becoming visibly enraged during a meeting at the foreign ministry in Moscow, over remarks by Biden, who called Putin a war criminal. Advertisement When I finished, he started screaming at me in a profane tirade that I should not come into the ministry with such a belligerent attitude, Sullivan wrote. Sullivan declined further comment on the events when contacted by Reuters, and Reuters was not able to reach Darchiev for his side of the story. According to the report, among the US allies considering scaling back intelligence co-operation are Saudi Arabia, Israel as well as members of the Five Eyes alliance, which consists of US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada read more Daily newspapers with covers, dedicated to the recent phone call of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, are laid out at a newsstand in a street in Moscow on February 13, 2025. Reuters As US President Donald Trump seeks to bury the hatchet with old American foe Russia, Washingtons allies are hardly pleased. NBC News is reporting, quoting four sources, that American allies are considering scaling back intelligence sharing with Washington, owing to concerns that information related to their foreign assets may be revealed or exposed. The outlet quoted an official as saying that protecting their foreign assets and agents is always paramount for an intelligence agency. Thus, to keep their agents safe and protect their identities, some foreign intelligence agencies might very well choose not to share vital information. Advertisement Who are the allies? According to the report, among the US allies considering scaling back intelligence co-operation are Saudi Arabia, Israel as well as members of the Five Eyes alliance, which consists of US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Those discussions are already happening, one official was quoted as saying. However, the source added that no such decision has yet been made. White Houses response A spokesperson for the White House dismissed such prospects, highlighting USAs unrivalled intelligence capabilities. The US has unrivalled intelligence capabilities which is exactly why intelligence sharing initiatives such as the Five Eyes exist, spokesman Brian Hughes was quoted as saying by NBC News. President Trump is clear-eyed on all threats our adversaries pose to our national security and he will work with any ally or partner who understands the dangerous world inherited after the disastrous Biden years," he added. On Bidens watch, we had the war in Ukraine, the surrender in Afghanistan, and the slaughter of the innocents on October 7th. How are American allies reacting to the report? However, US allies like the UK, Israel and Canada have downplayed the report, refusing to entertain prospects of ending or limiting intelligence sharing with Washington. A British government spokesperson was quoted by NBC as saying, The US is the UKs closest ally and we will continue to cooperate closely on defence, intelligence and security matters. Any suggestion otherwise is totally untrue. Canadas Security Intelligence Service also said that its intelligence relations with the US were long-standing and resilient. Canada deeply values its partnership with the United States, and we believe that it is in the strategic interest of both countries to continue our strong national security cooperation, it added in a statement. Advertisement An Israeli official said, Cooperation between Israel and the United States on every level, including the sharing of crucial intelligence data, is as strong and solid as ever." (With inputs from agencies) The leader of the newly formed Jatiya Nagorik Party, Nahid Islam, said it is crucial to reach a consensus on the so-called Proclamation of the July Revolution before elections are held in Bangladesh read more Nahid Islam, one of the main leaders in the Bangladeshi student protests, gave the clarion call of Hasina must resign from the campus of Dhaka University. File image/Reuters Nahid Islam, the leader of the newly formed political party Jatiya Nagorik Party, has said that Bangladesh is not ready for general elections as the interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has been unable to ensure public safety in the country. In the past seven months, we all expected the policing system, law and order to be restored through short-term reforms. It has happened to an extent, but not up to our expectations, Islam told Reuters. Advertisement In the current law and order situation and policing system, I dont think it is possible to hold a national election, the 26-year-old said in his first interview as JNPs head at his government-provided villa in Dhaka. Until recently, Islam was an adviser to the interim government but he quit the post to become the convenor of his party. He is the first politician to cast doubt on Yunus timeframe for an election. His comments come after Yunus, earlier this week, confirmed that elections in Bangladesh will be held in December this year. If additional reforms are needed, and taking into account national consensus, it may take at least another six months, he said. Political analysts believe his youth-led party could significantly reshape national politics, dominated for decades by Hasinas Awami League party and her rival, former prime minister Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Those parties have demanded early elections, arguing that power should be returned to a democratically elected government. While Islam said that his party will be ready to fight the elections whenever they are held, he thinks it would be crucial to reach a consensus on the so-called Proclamation of the July Revolution - a charter that the interim government plans to prepare in consultations with political parties and student activists. Advertisement If we can reach that consensus within a month, we can call for elections immediately. But if it takes more time, the election should be deferred, he added. With inputs from Reuters Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said Canada will continue to be in a trade war with the US for the foreseeable future even if there are breaks for certain sectors read more Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on February 16, 2025. Reuters File Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said Canada will continue to be in a trade war with the US for the foreseeable future even if there are breaks for certain sectors. Our goal remains to get these tariffs, all tariffs removed, AFP quoted Trudeau as saying, a day after an urgent call with US President Donald Trump to try to avoid plunging the two neighbours into what he called a dumb and unjustified trade war. Advertisement Trudeau said Canada would continue to engage with senior Trump administration officials about tariffs Washington says it will impose on Canadian imports. I can confirm that we will continue to be in a trade war that was launched by the United States for the foreseeable future, Reuters quoted Trudeau as saying in Ottawa. Canada immediately implemented 25% tariffs on C$30 billion worth of US imports, with Prime Minister Trudeau saying that these measures would remain in effect until the Trump administration ceased its trade actions. Trudeau and Trump, who has accused Canada of not doing enough to curb the flow of fentanyl and illegal migrants across the border, engaged in a 50-minute phone call on Wednesday. It was a colorful call. It was also a very substantive call, Reuters quoted Trudeau as saying, adding that the two sides were in talks but had nothing to announce yet. We are trying to make sure that these tariffs dont overly harm, certainly in the short term, certain sectors, added Trudeau. One topic of conversation is Canada possibly delaying a second round of 25% tariffs on a further C$125 billion of US imports, due to come into effect in less than three weeks. Trump will exempt automakers from tariffs on Canada and Mexico for one month as long as they comply with existing free trade rules, the White House said on Wednesday. Any carve outs that support any workers in Canada, even if its just one industry or another, are going to be a good thing, said Trudeau. Advertisement The Canadian prime minister will step down once the ruling Liberal Party chooses a new leader this Sunday. He has generally had poor relations with Trump and took a swipe at the president, who first made a name for himself as a real estate mogul. A win-lose between us would actually be worse for them than a win-win. Thats true in international trade, in relations between nation states, he said. It perhaps is not true in real estate deals, (where) a win-lose is probably better for someone who is experienced in business deals than a win-win, he said. Meanwhile, President Trump announced that after speaking with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum he has agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay tariffs on anything that falls under the US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement until 2 April. Advertisement After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement. This Agreement is until April 2nd. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation! said Trump. With inputs from agencies Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, and summit chairman Antonio Costa discussed over breakfast in Brussels ways to fortify Europes defenses on a short deadline read more European Council President Antonio Costa, right, greets Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, prior to a meeting at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 6, 2025. AP Facing the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift under President Donald Trump, European Union leaders launched a day of emergency talks Thursday in a bid to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be properly protected. Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, and summit chairman Antonio Costa discussed over breakfast in Brussels ways to fortify Europes defenses on a short deadline. Merz pushed plans this week to loosen the nations rules on running up debt to allow for higher defense spending. Advertisement Meanwhile, the 27-nation bloc was waking up to news that French President Emmanuel Macron would confer with EU leaders about the possibility of using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats. It all underscored the sea change that has taken place in the two months since Trump took office and immediately started questioning the cornerstones of cooperation between the United States and Europe that had been the bedrock of Western security since World War II. Given these profound shifts in U.S. policy, and the existential threat of another war on the continent, Europe must manage its essential defence tasks, the European Policy Center think tank said in a commentary. The bloc will take decisive steps forward," Macron told the French nation Wednesday evening. Member states will be able to increase their military spending and massive joint funding will be provided to buy and produce some of the most innovative munitions, tanks, weapons and equipment in Europe, he said. Adding to the ebullient message, he said that Europes future does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is taking part in the summit. Limited room to increase spending European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a plan to loosen budget rules so countries that are willing can spend much more on defense. Her proposal is underpinned by 150 billion euros ($162 billion) worth of loans to buy priority military equipment. Most of the increased defense spending would have to come from national budgets at a time when many countries are already overburdened with debt. Advertisement France is struggling to reduce an excessive annual budget deficit of 5% of GDP, after running up its total debt burden to 112% of GDP with spending on relief for businesses and consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed Russias invasion of Ukraine. Five other countries using the euro currency have debt levels over 100% of GDP: Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal. Europes largest economy, Germany, has more room to borrow, with a debt level of 62% of GDP. Pressing security needs Part of any security plan is also to protect the increasingly beleaguered position of Ukraine. A Russian missile killed four people staying at a hotel in Zelenskyys hometown overnight. He said that a humanitarian organizations volunteers had moved into the hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, just before the strike. The volunteers included Ukrainian, American and British nationals, but it wasnt clear whether those people were among the 31 injured. Advertisement Early this week, Trump ordered a pause to U.S. military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia, bringing fresh urgency to Thursdays summit. Thursdays meeting is unlikely to address Ukraines most pressing needs. It is not aimed at urgently drumming up more arms and ammunition to fill any supply vacuum created by the U.S. freeze. Nor will all nations agree to unblock the estimated 183 billion euros ($196 billion) in frozen Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house, a pot of ready cash that could be seized. Still, the Europeans underlined the importance of the moment. Advertisement Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime. Some of our fundamental assumptions are being undermined to their very core, von der Leyen warned in a letter to the leaders ahead of their meeting. But perhaps the biggest challenge for the EU will be to take a united stance at a moment when its fractured, since much of what the bloc does requires unanimous support. Hungary is threatening to veto part of the summit statement on Ukraine. Even if the challenges are so daunting, Thursdays summit is unlikely to produce immediate decisions on spending for Ukraine or its own defenses. Another EU summit where the real contours of decisions would be much clearer is set for March 20-21. Advertisement European Union leaders are convening an emergency summit on Thursday in Brussels. The high-stakes meeting comes amid growing uncertainty over the continents defence strategy following recent shifts in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump. read more 'Europe at five minutes to midnight': Eyes on EU summit as bloc fears post-war security structure is crumbling. File Image/Reuters European Union leaders are convening an emergency summit on Thursday in Brussels to address escalating concerns over Europes security landscape and Russias invasion of Ukraine. The agenda of the meeting will revolve around discussions to increase military spending after the Trump administration urged Europe to handle its own security and halted US military aid to Ukraine. This urgent meeting comes after recent shifts in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump and a rapprochement with Russia. These actions from the Trump administration have prompted Europe to reassess its defence and security strategies. Advertisement European officials told Politico that they agree the time has come to take action, but some worry it could go badly wrong. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an incredible awakening, whereas Germanys incoming Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, emphasised that Europe is five minutes to midnight. Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime. Some of our fundamental assumptions are being undermined to their very core, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a letter to the 27 leaders of the EU. However, the meeting is not likely to address the immediate needs of Ukraine. According to news agency AP, the meeting will not focus on urgently securing more weapons and ammunition to fill the gap left by the US aid freeze. Nor will it unlock the 183 billion ($196 billion) in frozen Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house, which could be used to support Ukraine. Ukraines military continues fight Meanwhile, Ukraines military continues to fight to slow Russias advances along the 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) front line, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region. The war has already claimed tens of thousands of soldiers lives and killed over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians. Meet to explore deployment of troops to Ukraine Additionally, the meeting will also explore the formation of a coalition of the willing, with the deployment of 30,000 troops to Ukraine to stabilise the region. Advertisement As European Union is planning to raise 150 billion to boost the continents defences, markets as well as defence contractors have started looking forward to the issuance of EU war bonds read more After European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to raise 150 billion to boost defences in the wake of unprecedented Russian aggression and US withdrawal from the continent, markets are awaiting the European Union (EU) to issue war bonds. The EU has a good financial rating and its bonds are expected to be popular among institutional as well as private investors, according to analysts. There is precedent for such fund-raising. In recent years, the EU has raised 50 billion to support Ukraine and 4 billion to help fund investments in the Western Balkans, according to Politico. Advertisement Shares of defence firms have been on the rise lately amid signs that Europe will do the heavy lifting, in the words of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, in supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia. British defense contractor BAE Systems, the German arms-maker Rheinmetall, and the Italian aerospace and defense firm Leonardo hit record highs on Monday and pushed benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 to new heights as well, as per The New York Times. The development comes at a time when President Donald Trump has aligned the United States with Russia and left Europe in the lurch. In the wake of the new alignments, there is a realisation in Europe that the continent is on its own in terms of defence and security. Markets wait for EU war bonds Markets are awaiting EU war bonds and there are hopes the bonds will do well. The biggest thing in EUs favour is its rating. Except for Standard & Poors, all major ratings companies give it a AAA rating which essentially designates it risk-free. Among EUs big economies, only Germany has AAA rating. The worldwide supply of high-rated bonds has declined following credit rating downgrades. Although there are still many fiscally strong issuers in Europe, the issuance of Eurobonds could be a useful addition, said Elizabeth Palandeng, a spokesperson for APG, the investment arm of the Netherlands largest pension fund ABP, to Politico. The EU borrowed money via bonds during the Covid-19 pandemic as well. Such borrowing is particularly beneficial for smaller countries who may not raise funds by themselves but may avail funds from the EU that raises funds from its bonds. The EU till last year raised 330 billion worth of funds to help with the blocs recovery and another 100 billion for the job loss programme. Advertisement Even though the plan appears to be good, there are still hurdles to be overcome. For one, the plan needs formal approval by member-states. Fiscally conservative members like Germany and Denmark have always wanted EUs borrowings to be limited so they would need convincing. Moreover, for now, the EU as a borrower still faces obstacles to getting the best price for its debt as there is no place at least not yet for its bonds in the indices of sovereign debt that are tracked by funds that hold trillions of euros in assets, according to Politico. Inclusion in such indices would essentially make borrowings cheaper. Advertisement The T-shirts were released under the fundraising campaign just a day after Zelenskyy faced a tense public exchange with Trump and Vice President JD Vance on February 28 read more U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as U.S. Vice President JD Vance reacts at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS Why dont you wear a suit?" When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House late last month to meet US President Donald Trump, he was asked this question by an American conservative reporter. Youre at the highest level in this countrys office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit? the reporter asked. He added a lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of the Oval Office. Advertisement What Zelenskyy said in response has now become a slogan of resolve at home. Ill wear the costume when this war is over. So much so that the Ukrainian government is now gifting T-shirts carrying the above quote from the president. United24, the Ukrainian governments official fundraising platform, has launched merchandise featuring what it calls President Zelenskys historic words. Donors who contribute $24 (18.8) or more toward armoured medical evacuation vehicles for Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines will receive a T-shirt as a gift. Theyre emphasising the words of our president a reminder that there is a time and place for everything. There will be a time when we can all wear suits. Right now, it is time to help Ukraine finish this war, read a page of United24s official website dedicated to the T-shirt. The T-shirts were released under the fundraising campaign just a day after Zelenskyy faced a tense public exchange with Trump and Vice President JD Vance on February 28. Zelenskyys signature military-style outfit even became a point of discussion when he arrived at the White House. Trump greeted him with a remark about his attire, saying, Youre all dressed up today, referring to Zelenskyys dark fatigues adorned with Ukraines trident emblem. Since the start of the war, Zelenskyy has consistently worn military-style clothing for both domestic and international appearances as a sign of solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the frontlines. He has said that his choice of attire serves as a symbol of the ongoing conflict and Ukraines resistance against Russian aggression. Advertisement In his appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, Rana asked for protection from the extradition citing health risks and possible torture in India read more A painting made by students of Gurukul Art School on the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana from USA to India, at Lalbaug in Mumbai, May 18, 2023. File Photo/PTI The 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana has moved to the US Supreme Court to challenge his extradition order to India. In his appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, Rana asked for protection from the extradition citing health risks and possible torture in India. I will be tortured on the highest order since I am a Muslim of Pakistan origin," he told the top court, adding that he is a walking time bomb suffering from several health issues including a bulging artery, Parkinsons and possible cancer. Advertisement Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, was found guilty in the United States of aiding the proscribed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He is also sought by Indian authorities for his alleged involvement in enabling the Mumbai attacks, which resulted in over 174 fatalities. Last month, US President Donald Trump confirmed Ranas extradition to India during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the country. I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters (Tahawwur Rana) and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India," the US President said during a joint press conference with PM Modi. When will he be extradited to India? Reports say that the government of India is preparing for Ranas extradition to India and that he could be brought to the country in a matter of few weeks. Last month, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, Our jails are ready for RanaWe kept Ajmal Kasab, so this is not a security threat. Upon his arrival in India, Rana is likely to be presented before a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), where the agency will request his custody for further interrogation. His extradition is being hailed as a significant achievement for Indian authorities and the government. Iran has named Reza Najafi as the ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog read more Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi addresses the media after a board of governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna March 4, 2015. (Photo: Reuters) Iran has appointed Reza Najafi as its new ambassador and permanent representative to several Vienna-based international organisations, including the UN nuclear watchdog, local media reported. He will be replacing Mohsen Naziri-Asl who served in the role since 2022, ISNA news agency said on Wednesday. Najafi, a former deputy foreign minister, previously held the post from 2013 to 2018 a period marked by Irans signing of a landmark nuclear deal with the United States and world powers. Advertisement The deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) imposed curbs on Irans nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. It fell apart after the US withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during President Donald Trumps first term. Tehran adhered to the deal until a year after Washington pulled out, but then began rolling back its commitments. Trump, who returned to the White House in January, reinstated his maximum pressure policy of sanctions against Iran over allegations the country is seeking nuclear weapons capability. Tehran has consistently denied the claims and repeatedly expressed a willingness to revive the accord but efforts to that end have faltered. Last month, UN atomic agency chief Rafael Grossi said Iran was enriching (uranium) at 60 per cent, so almost weapon level and that the 2015 deal was an empty shell that was no longer fit for purpose. Trump has also recently called for striking a new deal with Iran, but Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said no problem will be solved by negotiating with America. Hamas on Thursday said that any Israeli military escalation against Palestinians would most likely lead to the killing of some hostages, adding that the Israeli threats of war and blockade will not secure the release of the hostages read more Palestinians walk past the rubble of destroyed houses, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Thursday. Reuters Hamas on Thursday said that any Israeli military escalation against Palestinians would most likely lead to the killing of some hostages, adding that the Israeli threats of war and blockade will not secure the release of the hostages. In a televised speech, Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida said Israels threats to resume the fighting or tighten the Gaza blockade would not secure the release of hostages, adding that the group was ready for all possibilities. Advertisement The enemys threats in war and blockade would only bring them disappointment and will not lead to the release of its prisoners (hostages), Reuters quoted Abu Ubaida as saying. We tell all those concerned that we have signs of life of all the remaining living hostages of the enemy and any escalation on Gaza will most likely result in the killing of some enemy prisoners (hostages) as in many previous cases, he added, Earlier, Hamas said US President Donald Trumps repeated threats against Palestinians constituted support for Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back out of the Gaza ceasefire and intensify the siege of Gazans. Trump demanded in a social media post on Wednesday that Hamas release all of the hostages now, not later, including the remains of dead hostages, or it is OVER for you. His threats coincided with news that a Trump envoy had held secret talks with Hamas, apparently departing from a decades-old US policy of not negotiating with the Islamist Palestinian faction deemed a terrorist organisation by Washington. Trumps repeated threats against our people represent support to Netanyahu to evade the agreement and tighten the siege and starvation against our people, Reuters quoted Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua as saying in a text message. Advertisement The best track to release the remaining Israeli prisoners is by going into the second phase (of the ceasefire) and compelling it (Israel) to adhere to the agreement signed under the sponsorship of mediators, he added. The Gaza ceasefire deal that took effect in January calls for the remaining hostages to be freed in a second phase, during which final plans would be negotiated for an end to the war. The first phase of the ceasefire ended on Saturday, and Israel has since imposed a total blockade on all goods entering the enclave, demanding that Hamas free remaining hostages without beginning the negotiations to end the Gaza war. Advertisement Palestinians say the blockade could lead to starvation among the 2.3 million people living in Gazas ruins. Trump made his new threats after a White House meeting on Wednesday with a group of hostages who had been released in the first phase of the ceasefire deal. I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say, he said in his social media post. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER! Advertisement Israel has accused Hamas of killing hostages the militant group said had died in Israeli military strikes on Gaza. Fighting has been halted since January 19 and Hamas has released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israeli authorities believe fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive. Showing the fragility of the ceasefire, Palestinian health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed one man in eastern Gaza City on Thursday. Israels military said several suspects were identified planting a bomb in the ground near where the forces operated and they were struck to remove the threat. Advertisement Israels assault on the enclave has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. It began after Hamas-led Islamist fighters raided southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage, according to Israeli tallies. With inputs from agencies Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday thanked European leaders for their strong support which he said he has seen from the very beginning of the war and throughout this entire period, including last week, when he was berated by US President Donald Trump in Oval Office read more Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez next to European Council President Antonio Costa and French President Emmanuel Macron at a European Union leaders' special summit to discuss Ukraine and European defence, in Brussels, Belgium March 6, 2025. Reuters File Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday thanked European leaders for their strong support which he said he has seen from the very beginning of the war and throughout this entire period, including last week, when he was berated by US President Donald Trump in Oval Office. We are very thankful that we are not alone. And these are not just words. We feel it, The Guardian quoted Zelenskyy as saying during the EU leaders summit in Brussels. Advertisement Its very important you (sent) a strong signal to Ukrainian people, to Ukrainian warriors, to civilians, to all our families. And its great that we are not alone, he added. On Thursday, European leaders said they would stand by Ukraine and spend more on defence in a world upended by Trumps reversal of US policies. Europe must take up this challenge, this arms race. And it must win it, Reuters quoted Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as saying. Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia - we are simply stronger, Tusk added. Many EU leaders hailed the European Commissions proposals this week to give them fiscal flexibility on defence spending, and to jointly borrow up to 150 billion euros ($160 billion) to lend to EU governments to spend on their militaries. We are here to defend Ukraine, the chairman of the meeting Antonio Costa said as he and European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen, both smiling broadly, warmly welcomed Zelenskyy, in sharp contrast with the clash between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last week. But decades of reliance on US protection, divergences on funding and on how Frances nuclear deterrence could be used for Europe showed how difficult it would be for the EU to fill the void left by Washington after it froze military aid to Ukraine. Advertisement Washington provided more than 40% of military aid to Ukraine last year, according to Nato, some of which Europe could not easily replace. Some leaders still held out hope, in public at least, that Washington could be coaxed back into the fold. We must ensure, with cool and wise heads, that US support is also guaranteed in the coming months and years, because Ukraine is also dependent on their support for its defence, Reuters quoted Germanys outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. Adding to the EUs difficulties, Hungarys nationalist leader Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, may veto a unanimous statement backing Kyiv, though he made clear he would support measures for an increase in spending on Europes own defence. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Jaishankar said that the context of the disruption of India-China relations was the Chinese troops making multiple transgressions in Eastern Ladakh in 2020, and the tense standoff that followed read more External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (March 5) said that New Delhi wants a stable relationship with China in which Indias interests are respected and sensitivities are recognised. The EAM, during a conversation at Chatham House, an independent policy institute in London, said that the two countries are discussing steps to see how the relationship can go in a more predictable, stable, and positive direction, noting that troop disengagement on the border has already been done. Advertisement Why India-China relations were disrupted The minister said that the context of the disruption of India-China relations was the Chinese troops making multiple transgressions in Eastern Ladakh in 2020, and the tense standoff that followed. In October 2024, we were able to resolve many of the urgent issues, the pending issues, pertaining to what we call the disengagement of troops who had been deployed up front, he said. READ MORE: Were generous, non-reciprocal but: Jaishankar reminds Sri Lanka of a neighbours responsibility Discussions with China ongoing He mentioned that the countries are engaging on multiple issues, but the process remains complex. The resumption of pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, the direct flights between the two countries, the journalists issues- all these are being discussed, but there are some other issues. For example, we had a mechanism for Trans-border rivers. That mechanism had stopped because the relationship was very badly disrupted after 2020. So we looking at this packageits hard. You know, obviously, we would like to see it done sooner rather than later. And then we will see what happens, Jaishankar said. READ MORE: Watch | Jaishankar explains Indias stand on FTA with UK, China, Brics currency and global crises at Chatham House On being asked about the kind of relationship India wants with China, EAM said, We want a stable relationship where our interests are respected, our sensitivities are recognised, and where it works for both of us. That is really the main challenge in our relationship. Jaishankar is visiting the United Kingdom and Ireland from March 4 to 9 to strengthen Indias friendly relations with both nations. With inputs from agencies Jaishankar, who is on a visit to the UK, highlighted the developments made in Kashmir in the past couple of years and mentioned the successful conduction of elections in the region following the revocation of Article 370 read more Pakistan on Thursday rejected EAM S Jaishankars stolen part of Kashmir remark as baseless, adding that India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar, speaking during a session at the Chatham House think-tank in London on Wednesday, said the Kashmir dispute would be solved after the return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said, We reject the remarks made by the Indian external affairs minister on Jammu and Kashmir during an event held at Chatham House, London on March 5." Advertisement Instead of making baseless claims about Azad Jammu and Kashmir, India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation from the last 77 years, he added. Jaishankar, who is on a visit to the UK, highlighted the developments made in Kashmir in the past couple of years and mentioned the successful conduction of elections in the region following the revocation of Article 370. He said, Look in Kashmir actually we have done I think good job solving most of it. I think removing Article 370 was step number one. Then, we restore growth, economic activity and social justice in Kashmir. It was step number two, holding elections, which were done with a very high turnout for step number three. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under the illegal Pakistani occupation. When thats done, I assure you. Kashmir solved, he added. The remarks from the foreign affairs minister came a year after Jaishankar said that all Indian political parties remain committed to ensuring that PoK returns to India. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson also said that Kashmir was an internationally recognised disputed territory and the remarks by Jaishankar misrepresent the ground realities and contravene the international law. The relevant UN Security Council resolutions stipulate that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices. Indias prevarication cannot change this reality, he said. Advertisement With inputs from PTI The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on the matter, denouncing the actions of what it called a small group of separatists and extremists read more India on Thursday condemned a security breach during External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankars visit to the United Kingdom. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on the matter, denouncing the actions of what it called a small group of separatists and extremists. A pro-Khalistani extremist heckled and attempted to attack External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar in London on Thursday. The incident occurred when the EAM was leaving in a car after attending an event hosted by Chatham House in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK. Advertisement In the video circulating online, a man can be seen running towards Jaishankars vehicle, tearing the Indian national flag. What is concerning is that the whole ordeal took place in front of the London police officers, and despite the chaos and vandalism, the officers appeared to be unresponsive. Khalistani elements attempted to attack and insult @DrSJaishankar by desecrating the Indian flag on British soil. This is a serious concern and raises questions about security lapses in London. #London #Khalistani @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @metpoliceuk @HCI_London pic.twitter.com/NUqR5d6Z7r Gayatri (BharatKiBeti) (@changu311) March 5, 2025 The ministry confirmed that they had seen the video of the incident and asked the United Kingdom to live up to its diplomatic obligation. We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements, the MEA said in a statement on Thursday. Advertisement We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations, the ministry furthered. Despite the ruckus, Jaishankar continued with his diplomatic engagements, which included meeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and other senior leaders. Pro-Khalistani protesters create a ruckus outside Chatham House Pro-Khalistani protesters were conducting protests outside the Chatham House way before Jaishankar arrived at the venue. Many chanted Khalistani slogans as the External Affairs Minister entered the building. In the Thursday event, the EAM participated in an insightful discussion with Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House. The conversation dealt with Indias evolving foreign policy, regional dynamics and global and economic challenges. The incident took place at a time when Jaishankar was on an official visit to the United Kingdom from March 4 to 9. During his visit, the EAM is set to hold talks with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Given the Thursday incident, the issue of extremism and especially the rise of the pro-Khalistani movement in the UK and other nations are expected to be discussed. Advertisement A good meeting with Home Secretary @YvetteCooperMP today in London. We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism. pic.twitter.com/AQmo5w8iA0 Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 4, 2025 In recent years, the United Kingdom has witnessed a substantial rise in the Khalistani movement, with several instances of vandalism of Hindu temples and other Indian institutions across the country. Apart from this, Jaishankars visit aimed to bolster the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership, covering trade, health, education, people-to-people ties, and defence cooperation. Advertisement Following his UK visit, Jaishankar will be travelling to Ireland for his visit from March 6-7. Here, he is scheduled to hold talks with Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris, interact with other officials, and engage with the Indian diaspora. With inputs from agencies. The delegation included senior leaders from leading Japanese corporate houses across key sectors such as manufacturing, banking, airlines, pharma sector, plant engineering and logistics read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met a Japanese business delegation and said he is looking forward to deepening economic collaboration with Japan, Indias special strategic and global partner. During the meeting, discussions focused on areas of high-quality, low-cost manufacturing in India and expanding manufacturing for global markets with a special emphasis on Africa. A statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said the delegation from the Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee (JIBCC) comprising 17 members and led by its Chairman Tatsuo Yasunaga called on Prime Minister Modi. Advertisement After talks with the Japanese delegation, PM Modi said he was encouraged by their expansion plans in India and steadfast commitment to Make in India, Make for the World. The delegation included senior leaders from leading Japanese corporate houses across key sectors such as manufacturing, banking, airlines, pharma sector, plant engineering and logistics. Pleased to meet the Japanese business delegation led by Mr Tatsuo Yasunaga today. Encouraged by their expansion plans in India and steadfast commitment to Make in India, Make for the World, Modi said in a post on X. Looking forward to deepening economic collaboration with Japan, our special strategic and global partner, the prime minister said. Yasunaga briefed the prime minister on the upcoming 48th Joint meeting of Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee with its Indian counterpart, the India-Japan Business Cooperation Committee, which is scheduled to be held on March 6, 2025 in New Delhi. The discussions covered key areas, including high-quality, low-cost manufacturing in India, expanding manufacturing for global markets with a special focus on Africa, and enhancing human resource development and exchanges, the statement said. Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for Japanese businesses expansion plans in India and their steadfast commitment to Make in India, Make for the World. Advertisement Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the importance of enhanced cooperation in skill development, which remains a key pillar of India-Japan bilateral ties. Two Chin rebel groups have merged in Mizoram in the presence of Chief Minister Lalduhoma to mount united resistance against the Myanmarese military regime read more With the impending disaster of starvation and the ongoing conflict and migration, it is only reasonable to expect Indias northeastern borders to be burdened with the fallout of Myanmars internal issues. Representational image. Reuters Two Myanmarese rebel groups have merged in Mizoram in the presence of Chief Minister Lalduhoma. The development comes at a time when the Myanmarese Civil War has entered the fifth year. In February 2021, Myanmarese military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and established a military government. The country has since been in the grips of a civil war that has killed around at least 52,000 people, according to an analysis by the US Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM). Advertisement Hindustan Times reported people aware of the developments as saying that Myanmars Chinland Council (CC) and the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) signed a merger agreement in the presence of Lalduhoma in Aizawl on February 26. The idea behind the merger was to cease hostilities among themselves and mount united resistance to Myanmars military regime. Jacob V Zawma, a steering committee member of CC and coordinator of the negotiating team, told the newspaper that having two bodies from the Chin community was counterproductive and thats why the two groups merged. Following the merger, the two groups are now known as Chin National Council (CNC), rebel groups and the CMs Office confirmed to HT. Mizoram MLA Lalmuanpuia Punte, who is a political adviser Lalduhoma, told HT that the chief minister made efforts to unite the two Chin armed groups at a request from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Security threat on Indian side of Mizoram looms if political situation in Chin state is unstable, uniting factions of the Chin armed forces has been for long in our radar, unified, I believe the Chin resistance will reach new heights in deposing the military rule, Punte told the newspaper. Mizoram has a long border with Myanmar and hosts thousands of persons displaced from the civil war in the country. Reports say that more than 30,000 Myanmarese are sheltering in the state since the beginning of the war, including pro-democracy activists and politicians. Advertisement Zawma told HT the rebels have seized around 80 per cent of Chinland from the military regime, including the town of Rihkhawdar along the border with India and major towns of Tedim, Falam, and Thantlang. New Zealand has dismissed its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, following remarks he made that were seen as critical of US President Donald Trump. The countrys Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that Goffs comments were deeply disappointing and did not reflect the governments stance. read more New Zealand ambassador to UK questions Trump's grasp of history, loses job. Image: X New Zealand dismissed its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, on Thursday after he made comments seen as critical of United States President Donald Trump, the countrys Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, said. Phil Goff spoke at a forum in London on Tuesday, where he seemed to question Trumps understanding of history. He compared Trumps efforts to improve ties with Russia to Britains Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. Churchill was Prime Minister of Britain during World War II and fought against Nazi Germany while allying with Soviet Russia. Advertisement President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history? Goff said during a panel with Finlands Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen. New Zealands Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, said in a statement on Thursday that Goffs comments were deeply disappointing. He emphasised that Goffs remarks did not represent the views of the New Zealand government and made his position as High Commissioner to London untenable. Goff is a former Foreign Minister and lawmaker in the centre-left Labour Party. He was appointed as ambassador to the UK in 2023. Pro-Khalistani extremists staged a demonstration outside Londons Chatham House, where External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar participated in a panel discussion. One of the demonstrators charged in front of Jaishankars convoy and desecrated the Indian flag read more Pro-Khalistani extremists heckled and attempted to attack External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar in London on Thursday. The incident occurred while the EAM was leaving in a car after attending an event hosted by Chatham House in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK. In the video circulating online, a man can be seen running towards Jaishankars vehicle, tearing the Indian national flag. What is concerning is that the whole ordeal took place in front of the London police officers, and despite the chaos and vandalism, the officers appeared to be unresponsive. Advertisement Pro-Khalistani protesters were conducting protests outside the Chatham House way before Jaishankar arrived at the venue. Many chanted Khalistani slogans as the External Affairs Minister entered the building. In the Thursday event, the EAM participated in an insightful discussion with Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House. The conversation dealt with Indias evolving foreign policy, regional dynamics and global and economic challenges. #WATCH | London, UK | Pro-Khalistan supporters staged a protest outside the venue where EAM Dr S Jaishankar participated in a discussion held by Chatham House pic.twitter.com/ISVMZa3DdT ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025 Jaishankar to discuss the issue of extremism in the UK The incident took place at a time when Jaishankar was on an official visit to the United Kingdom from March 4 to 9. During his visit, the EAM is set to hold talks with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Given the Thursday incident, the issue of extremism and especially the rise of the pro-Khalistani movement in the UK and other nations are expected to be discussed. Khalistani elements attempted to attack and insult @DrSJaishankar by desecrating the Indian flag on British soil. This is a serious concern and raises questions about security lapses in London. #London #Khalistani @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @metpoliceuk @HCI_London pic.twitter.com/NUqR5d6Z7r Gayatri (BharatKiBeti) (@changu311) March 5, 2025 Advertisement In recent years, the United Kingdom has witnessed a substantial rise in the Khalistani movement, with several instances of vandalism of Hindu temples and other Indian institutions across the country. Apart from this, Jaishankars visit aimed to bolster the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership, covering trade, health, education, people-to-people ties, and defence cooperation. Following his UK visit, Jaishankar will be travelling to Ireland for his visit from March 6-7. Here, he is scheduled to hold talks with Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris, interact with other officials, and engage with the Indian diaspora. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. In his address, the French leader emphasised that Russia will not stop at Ukraine and pose a direct threat to France and Europe. He said that the continent must be prepared for what is about to come if the US steps away from its side read more French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Russian aggression knows no borders as he delivered a grim television address on the ongoing situation in Ukraine. In his address, the French leader emphasised that Russia will not stop at Ukraine and pose a direct threat to France and Europe. He said that the continent must be prepared for what is about to come if the US steps away from its side. I want to believe the US will stay by our side, Macron said in a televised address late on Wednesday. But we have to be ready if that isnt the case, he added. The French leader also sought to calm what his office called voter anxiety over the ongoing Ukraine crisis, European security and the threat of a transatlantic trade war after Trump paused US support to Ukraine and is also threatening to slap tariffs on goods from the EU. Advertisement Im speaking to you tonight because of the international situation and its consequences for Europe I know you are legitimately worried, faced with the historic events that are shaking the world order," the French leader said in a TV address. The war in Ukraine, which has left almost one million dead and injured, continues with the same intensity. The US, our ally, has changed its position on this war, supporting Ukraine less and allowing doubt to linger on what will come next," he added. Brutal world is entering a new era: Macron In his address, the French leader emphasised that the brutal world is entering a new era and it would be madness to stay a spectator in this world of danger. Macron emphasised that France and Europe must keep helping Ukraine to resist until Ukraine can negotiate a peace with Russia that is solid for themselves and for all of us. He said no path to peace could happen through abandoning Ukraine. In an implicit reference to US President Donald Trumps attempt to force Ukraine into peace talks with Russia, Macron insisted that Peace cannot be concluded at any price. Who can believe today that Russia would stop at Ukraine? In his speech, Macron also mentioned that he has discussed with European partners extending French nuclear deterrence to other countries on the continent. However, he made it clear that the decision and control would always remain in the hands of the French leader. Europes future should not be decided in Washington or Moscow, and yes, the threat from the east is returning. And the innocence of these 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall is over," Macron said. The French leader also pointed out that Europe must also be prepared for tariffs from the US, calling that decision incomprehensible, as much for the American economy as ours. He emphasised that France and Europe would respond in case of such a situation; however, the priority would be to dissuade Trump from such a measure. With inputs from agencies. The pro-Netanyahu bloc would secure only 48 seats in the 120-member Knesset if former prime minister Naftali Bennett runs, a decrease from the previous poll, which indicated 51 seats, according to a report, citing an Israeli television poll released on Wednesday read more Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus ruling coalition would face a significant setback if elections were held today and former prime minister Naftali Bennett entered the race, as is widely anticipated, according to a Times of Israel report, citing an Israeli television poll released on Wednesday. According to the report, citing Channel 12 news, in this scenario the projected allocation of seats would be: Likud 24; Bennetts party 24; Yesh Atid 11; The Democrats 10; National Unity 9; Shas 9; United Torah Judaism 8; Yisrael Beytenu 8; Otzma Yehudit 7; Hadash-Taal 5; Raam 5. Advertisement The pro-Netanyahu bloc would secure only 48 seats in the 120-member Knesset, a decrease from the previous poll, which indicated 51 seats, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrichs far-right Religious Zionism party failing to pick up sufficient support to enter parliament in the latest survey when Bennett is in the mix, reported Times of Israel. According to the survey, if elections were held today with only the parties currently in the Knesset, the pro-Netanyahu bloc would secure 54 seats. The Likud party would lead with 25 seats, followed by National Unity with 16, Yesh Atid and The Democrats with 14 each, Yisrael Beytenu with 12, Shas with 9, United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit with 8 each, and both Hadash-Taal and Raam with 5, while Religious Zionism would have 4. Though Netanyahus coalition would fall short of a majority, Hadash-Taal does not align with either the premier or his opponents, meaning they would need Raams support, added the survey. Raam was part of the coalition that temporarily ousted Netanyahu between 2021 and 2022 but has been critical of Israel during the Gaza conflict. The survey featured head-to-head matchups assessing who is better suited to be prime minister. Bennett outperformed Netanyahu with 36% of respondents compared to Netanyahus 34%. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, National Unity leader Benny Gantz, and MK Gadi Eisenkot were also included. Eisenkot received 28%, while Gantz and Lapid garnered 26% and 23%, respectively. Advertisement The poll indicates that 60% of the public believes Netanyahu should resign as prime minister, while 31% think he should remain, and 9% are unsure. Among coalition voters, 24% think he should resign and among opposition voters, 94% think he should resign, Times of Israel reported citing the poll. Moreover, 64% of respondents feel Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar should step down, with 18% supporting his continuation and another 18% uncertain. Support for Bars resignation rises to 75% among coalition voters and 55% among the opposition, the report added. Netanyahu is reportedly considering firing Bar following clashes over the Shin Bets investigation into aides alleged ties to Qatar and its handling of the October 7, 2023, terror attack. Advertisement A significant 75% of the public supports establishing a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack, compared to just 15% who back Netanyahus opposition to the probe. The poll also revealed that 42% of Israelis support the move to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, while 41% oppose it and 17% are unsure. Support for this action is 75% among coalition voters but only 12% among opposition voters. Conducted by pollster Manu Geva with 500 respondents, the survey has a margin of error of 4.4%. With inputs from agencies The incident took place at 10:04 am (local time), and the Air Force assured that it was investigating the accident. The authorities also apologised for the damage caused to the civilians read more Military officials inspect an area where a suspected bomb was dropped in Pocheon, 42 kilometers northeast of Seoul, March 6. Reuters South Koreas Air Force jet unleashed mayhem on Thursday after it dropped eight bombs outside the training range during a live-fire drill, injuring 7 civilians in the area. According to The Korean Times, the KF-16 fighter jet was taking part in the live-fire drill and abnormally released eight MK-82 bombs outside the training range in Pocheon, which is located 42 kilometres northeast of Seoul. The incident took place at 10:04 am (local time), and the Air Force assured that it was investigating the accident. The authorities also apologised for the damage caused to the civilians. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the seven people who were injured in the incident were taken to a nearby hospital. Advertisement As per the report, a presumed shell fell on a road by a house in Pocheon. The misfire also destroyed a church, along with six other buildings in the village. The fire authorities noted that two people sustained serious injuries, along with bone fractures. Meanwhile, the rest of those injured have gained consciousness. Air Force apologises for the debacle According to Yonhap, apart from the nearby building, a cargo vehicle was also damaged in the incident. The Air Force, headed by Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Park Ki-wan, and apologized for the damage to civilians. We are sorry for the civilian damage from the abnormal (bomb) release accident and wish for the swift recovery of those injured, the Air Force said in a statement. We will actively take all necessary measures, including compensation for the damage, he added. Earlier in the day, South Korea and the United States held combined live-fire drills near the inter-Korean border. The exercise was seen as a show of firepower against North Korean military threats ahead of their annual springtime exercise this month. The exercise took place at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, just 25 kilometres south of the border, mobilizing more than 160 pieces of military hardware, including K2 tanks, K55A1 self-propelled howitzers, Apache attack helicopters and F-35A stealth jets, according to the Army. We propose that Sweden contribute a maximum of eight JAS Gripen with associated personnel, including combat command and support units, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said at a press conference on Thursday read more Follow us on Google News A Swedish JAS Gripen fighter jet starts at Kallax Air Base, Sweden, on March 4, 2024. Reuters File Sweden, Natos newest member, has expressed its intention of contributing up to eight Jas Gripen fighter jets to the alliances air policing efforts in Poland. The announcement came a day before the one-year anniversary of Swedens Nato membership. Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said that the Swedish government aims to support Nato air policing and protect logistics operations for assistance to Ukraine in Poland. We propose that Sweden contribute a maximum of eight JAS Gripen with associated personnel, including combat command and support units, Reuters quoted Stenergard as saying at a press conference. In addition, the government proposes that Sweden contribute air and maritime surveillance capabilities and airborne transport capabilities, she added. Advertisement This would mark the first occasion that Sweden provides fighter jets for Nato operations based in a country other than its own. Sweden became a Nato member on March 7, 2024, following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trump has praised BlackRock for leading a deal to acquire a majority stake in Hong Kong-based CK Hutchisons $22.8 billion port business along the Panama Canal. The deal gives the firm control over key ports in the canal, aligning with the White Houses push to curb Chinese influence. read more US President Donald Trump has hailed US firm BlackRock for its deal to acquire most of the $22.8 billion port business of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison along the Panama Canal, giving the firm control over key ports in the region, aligning with the White Houses push to curb Chinese influence. The deal will give control of key Panama Canal ports to the US firm, aligning with White House efforts to reduce Chinese influence in the region. Advertisement My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and weve already started doing it, Trump said in his first address to the US Congress on Tuesday night. Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals. Afterwards, in a post on X, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said Trump was once again lying. The Panama Canal is not in the process of being reclaimed the Canal is Panamanian and will continue to be Panamanian! The BlackRock-led consortium will acquire 90 per cent of Panama Ports Company, which has managed the Balboa and Cristobal ports at both ends of the Panama Canal for over 20 years, CK Hutchison said. We are pleased that US investors are taking a controlling stake in Panama Ports Company, a U.S. State Department official told Reuters. CK Hutchison is a publicly traded Hong Kong company with no financial ties to the Chinese government. Other ports in Panama are operated by companies from the US, Taiwan, and Singapore. Advertisement With inputs from Reuters. The US president didnt announce a similar relief for Canada but BBC quoted a senior Canadian official as saying that an exemption of same nature was expected for the northern neighbour too read more US President Donald Trump on Thursday (March 6) announced major tax relief for Mexico until April 2. The American leader said Mexico wont be required to pay tariffs on goods that come under the trade pact between the two countries and Canada. After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Advertisement The US president didnt announce a similar relief for Canada but BBC quoted a senior Canadian official as saying that an exemption of same nature was expected for the northern neighbour too. Earlier on Wednesday (March 5), Trump exempted carmakers from the 25 per cent import duty, just a day after it went into effect on March 4. President Claudia in a statement thanked Trump for an excellent and respectful call, promising that her administration would continue cooperating with the US on security and migration. She added that the two nations would also work together to stem the flow of the opioid fentanyl from Mexico into the United States. We had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignties, Sheinbaum said in a post on X. The USMCA, signed in 2020 after years of negotiations, replaced the 1994 NAFTA agreement. The economies of the US, Canada, and Mexico are deeply connected, with goods worth billions crossing their borders daily. The introduction of tariffs has led to trade tensions between the US, its neighbours, and China. While Trump argues that tariffs will protect American industries and boost manufacturing, economists warn they could lead to higher prices for US consumers. Advertisement In response to Trumps 25 per cent tariffs, Canada and Mexico had imposed retaliatory import levies. Meanwhile, the US Commerce Department reported that imports surged in January due to concerns over the new tariffs. (With inputs from agencies) The conversations revolved around the feasibility of Ukraine conducting swift presidential elections. Currently postponed under the countrys constitution due to ongoing martial law, the elections face opposition from critics who argue they could be disorderly and benefit Russia read more A week after the ugly exchange of words between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, at least four officials from the US presidents team have reached out to the Ukrainian leaders opponents amid Washingtons growing camaraderie with Russia. According to a report by Politico, senior Trump allies talked to Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. Tymoshenko is a former prime minister of the country and a senior member of Zelenskyys predecessor Petro Poroshenkos party. Advertisement The conversations revolved around the feasibility of Ukraine conducting swift presidential elections. Currently postponed under the countrys constitution due to ongoing martial law, the elections face opposition from critics who argue they could be disorderly and benefit Russia. Trump has now and again raised the issue of elections in Ukraine as Zelenskyys term ended last year while Russia constantly dubs him an illegitimate leader. With a significant portion of the electorate either engaged in combat or displaced as refugees, ensuring a fair and secure voting process remains a major concern. Is Trump interfering in Ukraines politics? Calling for elections was one thing but meeting Zelenskyys rivals suggests that Trump is perhaps trying to have some hand in Ukraines internal politics. The aides who met Tymoshenko said that they were confident Zelenskyy would lose votes due to the ongoing war and widespread corruption within the government. While his approval ratings did nosedive in the past months, the latest brawl in the Oval Office worked as a catalyst for Zelenskyy to gain back his popularity. Meanwhile, the US administration maintains that Trump is not involved in Ukraines internal affairs. This week, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed claims that his boss was influencing Ukrainian politics, stating that Trumps only interest is in finding a partner for peace. Early elections in Ukraine? All the secretly discussed plans hinge on scheduling presidential elections after a temporary ceasefire is established. The Kremlin, which has long sought to remove Zelenskyy, is also advocating for an early election. However, Tymoshenko and Poroshenko both have publically agreed with Zelenskyy that polls should not be held in the time of war. Nevertheless, Poroshenkos people and Yulia, theyre all talking to Trump World, positioning themselves as people who would be easier to work with. And people who would consent to many of the things that Zelenskyy is not agreeing to, a top Republican source told Politico. Advertisement Poroshenkos party, European Solidarity, told the news outlet, Our narrative is not to push for elections but to secure free and fair competitive post-war elections in our country. It is also logical that any contacts do include the presentation of the vision of President Poroshenko and the European Solidarity on the ways to end the war with [a] just, comprehensive and lasting peace and [on] the limits for possible compromises on the negotiating points, it added. The Chinese economy has always been exports-driven, with less reliance on domestic consumption. For instance, consumption accounts of just 40 per cent of Chinas GDP; whereas the figure hovers near 50 to 70 per cent in developed economies worldwide read more China over the past decades became the factory of the world and a giant economy by selling goods worth hundreds of billions to the US every year. The Chinese economy has always been exports-driven, with less reliance on domestic consumption. For instance, consumption accounts of just 40 per cent of Chinas GDP; whereas the figure hovers near 50 to 70 per cent in developed economies worldwide. However, with Donald Trump back in the White House, Chinas conventional trade practices may soon turn futile or increasingly less lucrative. US President Trump, with his ambition of Make America Great Again (MAGA), wants to bring factories back to the US. Earlier this week, he raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 20 per cent, sending shockwaves across Beijing and smacking a realisation that the current Chinese model of growth needs overhauling. Advertisement China pushes for economic reforms While addressing the Great Hall of the People, Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday (March 5) declared that the Chinese governments top priority was to vigorously boosting consumption. Thats how, he asserted, the government aims to achieve the growth target of 5 per cent. The premier urged the Chinese officials to make domestic demand the main engine and anchor of economic growth in 2025. Earlier in December, President Xi Jinping also made a similar pledge, just a month after Trumps landslide victory in presidential elections. In his speech, which was made available to public just last week, Xi dubbed the pivot towards consumption a strategic move and argued it was necessary for both economic stability and economic security. The Trump threat While policymakers in Beijing have long vowed to move towards a consumption-led economic model, Trumps tariff threat seems to have stimulated a sense of urgency. Trumps trade war means China wont be able to access US markets as freely as it could do before, knocking out a major driver of growth for Beijing. With the Chinese economy already struggling, Trumps tariffs could further push it into deflation. The Trump administration in fact wants China to bridge the trade imbalance by allowing imports of US goods, an ambition that directly contradicts with Xis own vision of making the Chinese economy great again using domestic consumption-led growth model. Challenges for China According to experts, this transition wont be smooth for China, especially as it looks to strike a balance between the Trump threat and its own vision for growth. Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institutes Center for China Analysis, was quoted by Bloomberg as saying, The transition to a consumption-led economy is so hard because Beijing would need to massively boost incomes and the social safety net, but does not want to significantly raise taxes or reallocate sufficient resources from enterprises and the state. At the same time, China doesnt want to completely let go of the conventional investment-led growth model. Premier Li stated that China aims to advance biomanufacturing, quantum technology, embodied artificial intelligence, and 6G, building on investor optimism sparked by AI startup DeepSeeks breakthrough and Xi Jinpings recent meeting with billionaire Jack Ma. Advertisement While China leads in industries like electric vehicles and pushes for technological progress amid US restrictions on advanced chips, boosting consumer spending remains crucial to achieving Xis long-term growth targetsespecially as consumer confidence struggles to recover post-pandemic. US President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Hamas, demanding the release of hostages and threatening further destruction. His remarks come as the US engages in rare direct talks with Hamas read more Trump warns Gaza 'you are dead' as US holds 'unprecedented' talks with Hamas for hostage release. (Source: Reuters) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating that if hostages are not released, Gaza is dead. Trump threatened further destruction of Gaza and issued an ultimatum to Hamas leaders to flee. He said he is sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job while expediting billions of dollars in weapons. Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, he wrote in a post on the Truth Social platform after meeting freed hostages. Advertisement This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance. Israels relentless military campaign, in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, has displaced the entire population of Gaza. To the people of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! US holds talk with Hamas Trumps warning came after the US confirmed rare direct talks with Hamas, where US hostage envoy Adam Boehler discussed American hostages. Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people is something that the president believes is right, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The United States had refused direct contact with the Palestinian militants since designating them as a terrorist organisation in 1997. However, Leavitt stated that the hostage envoy has the authority to talk to anyone. Consequences that you cannot imagine: Netanyahu His comments follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus warning of consequences that you cannot imagine if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages taken during the October 7 attack. First phase of ceasefire gets over The first phase of a ceasefire ended over the weekend after six weeks of relative calm, during which Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Advertisement Five Americans are believed to remain among the hostages, with four of them are confirmed dead. The Hamas assault during the October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, most of them civilians. This led Israel to start its campaign in Gaza with its military retaliation in Gaza has killed at least 48,440 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from both sides. Of the 251 captives taken during Hamass attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military has confirmed dead. Arab nations counter Trump Gaza plan Trump has suggested taking control of the Gaza Strip and removing its population, an idea that has faced strong global criticism. In response, Arab leaders have put forward an alternative plan to fund Gazas reconstruction through a trust fund. Advertisement According to a draft reviewed by AFP, the plan outlines a five-year roadmap with an estimated cost of $53 billion, the same amount the UN projected for rebuilding Gaza. However, this figure was left out of the summits final statement. The summit also called for a unified Palestinian leadership under the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to weaken Hamass influence. With inputs from AFP As the US cosies up to Russia and sidelines Ukraine, France and Britain have taken it upon themselves to prepare a group of allies that help protect a ceasefire if an agreement is reached to end the war read more A resident stands in her flat in an apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. File image/ Reuters At least 20 countries have shown interest in being a part of a coalition of the willing to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, a British official said on Thursday. Officials from the UK held meetings with several countries that comprised largely European and Commonwealth partners on Wednesday, although the names of the nations were not specified. He said discussions about how countries might contribute were still in the early stages. The situation regarding efforts to end the war was very fluid, he noted. Advertisement Of course, we welcome the increased engagement we are receiving from these European and Commonwealth partners, the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. As the US cosies up to Russia and sidelines Ukraine, France and Britain have taken it upon themselves to prepare a group of allies that help protect a ceasefire if an agreement is reached to end the war. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Frances President Emmanuel Macron have said they are ready to deploy troops to Ukraine to ensure that a possible ceasefire is preserved, with US support. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Turkey also expressed its willingness to play a part in peacekeeping efforts and Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said that his countrys troops could be involved in peacekeeping but would not be deployed in any deterrent force. With the United States long-term commitment to Europes security now in doubt under President Donald Trump, western countries are scrambling to step up their defence spending and maintain a united front. Starmer, who is trying to act as a bridge between Europe and the United States, told Sky News on Thursday that he is working to get the US, Ukraine and European allies onto the same page. Its that ability to work with the United States and our European partners that has kept the peace for 80 years now, he said during a defence-related visit in northwest England. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The case shines a light on what American officials have described as a booming hacking-for-hire ecosystem in China, where government agencies and officers hire private companies to target victims of particular interest read more The US authorities have indicted and sanctioned Chinese cybersecurity company Sichuan Ltd its researcher Guan Tianfeng for attacking the US critical infrastructure. (Composite image.) The US authorities have charged 12 Chinese nationals, including public security officials, for running global cybercrime campaigns targeting American government agencies on behalf of Beijing. According to the US Justice Department, the accused ran a decade-long campaign at the direction of Chinese intelligence and police agencies. The case shines a light on what American officials have described as a booming hacking-for-hire ecosystem in China, where government agencies and officers hire private companies to target victims of particular interest. Advertisement According to media reports, the accused also sold data accessed through hacking to Chinese agencies and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Today, we are exposing the Chinese government agents directing and fostering indiscriminate and reckless attacks against computers and networks worldwide, Sue Bai, head of the US Justice Departments national security division was quoted as saying by US media, adding, as well as the enabling companies and individual hackers that they have unleashed. The justice department said that the suspects worked for a Chinese company called i-Soon, which would generate revenues in billions, highlighting the extent of its hacker-for-hire ecosystem. The company, as per reports, also undertook independent hacking and then sold data to Chinese agencies at the rate of $10,000-$75,000 for each exploited email inbox. The Chinese ministry of public security has been paying hackers for hire to inflict digital harm on Americans who criticise the Chinese Communist party, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBIs cyber division, was quoted as saying by Financial Times. Earlier, a report by the news agency AP last year revealed that the i-Soon was targeting governments in nations like India, Taiwan and Mongolia but much less in the US. But the new charges filed in New York and Washington reveal that these hackers were targeting a wide range of Chinese dissidents, religious organisations and media outlets based in the US as well. Advertisement Chinese authorities have rejected the allegations as a smear, with a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington saying, We hope that relevant parties will adopt a professional and responsible attitude and base their characterization of cyber incidents on sufficient evidence rather than groundless speculation and accusations. Since the i-Soon documents were leaked online last year, the company has struggled but remains operational, according to Chinese corporate records. It has downsized and relocated its offices. According to Mei Danowski, a cybersecurity analyst, i-Soon companies have been struggling to survive since last year. To Chinese state agencies, a company like i-SOON is disposable, the expert added. Advertisement (With inputs from agencies) Hamas warned Thursday (March 6) that some hostages were likely to be killed if Israel resorts to resuming the war. Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida stated that Israeli threats of war and blockade would not lead to the release of hostages read more The US has reportedly proposed a deal to the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas involving a 60-day ceasefire with Israel in exchange for 10 living captives, Sky News Arabia has reported, citing sources. The source said: Washington asked Hamas to release ten hostages in exchange for extending the ceasefire for sixty days, starting negotiations on the second phase and the position of Israeli forces along the Philadelphi Corridor. The entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip would also be resumed under the deal, the source added. Advertisement It was not clear when the US made this offer to Hamas, but the source said the militant group was pondering over it. Hamas is still considering its response to the American proposal, said the source. Hostages likely to be killed Meanwhile, Hamas warned Thursday (March 6) that some hostages were likely to be killed if Israel resorts to resuming the war. Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida stated that Israeli threats of war and blockade would not lead to the release of hostages. He also claimed that Hamas remains committed to the ceasefire agreement and hostage deal with Israel. Currently, 59 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza following the first phase of the truce. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that at least 35 of them have died. Negotiations hit snag Times of Israel reported that the talks between the US and Hamas, which were reportedly conducted without briefing Israel, hit a snag after the details were leaked to the media. According to one official cited by Times of Israel, the negotiations largely focused on securing the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander along with the bodies of American-Israelis Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein. According to the official, Israels PM Benjamin Netanyahu was not happy with this development, given that the Jewish nation was allegedly kept in the dark. The official denied reports that any progress had been made in the negotiations or that discussions had shifted to phase two. Trumps hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, has been leading the talks with Hamas on behalf of Washington, the official confirmed. These negotiations have been taking place in Doha. Advertisement This marks a shift from the long-standing US policy of not engaging in direct negotiations with Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US and several other Western countries. (With inputs from agencies) External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said that the Kashmir issue will be resolved once the stolen part of the region is returned to India. The remarks from the foreign minister were seen as a dig into Pakistan, which continues to occupy parts of Kashmir read more While elucidating the steps taken by the Indian government for the upliftment of Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said that the part of Jammu and Kashmir illegally controlled by Indias neighbour Pakistan is the only thing which was left from attaining complete resolution of the issue. While speaking at a panel discussion in Chatham House in London, Jaishankar lauded Indias effort to restore growth in economic activity and social justice in Kashmir, as well as to conduct successful elections in the region with a massive voter turnout. The EAM maintained that the parts of Jammu and Kashmir which are illegally occupied by Pakistan are the only things that are left for the complete resolution of the issue. Advertisement When asked about the Kashmir issue, Jaiashankar said: Look in Kashmir actually we have done I think good job solving most of it. I think removing article 370 was step number one. Then, we restore growth, economic activity and social justice in Kashmir. It was step number two, holding elections, which were done with a very high turnout for step number three. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under the illegal Pakistani occupation. When thats done, I assure you. Kashmir solved, he added. The remarks from the foreign affairs minister came a year after Jaishankar said that all Indian political parties remain committed to ensuring that PoK returns to India. Kashmir remains a national commitment: Jaishankar While interacting with the students of Delhi Universitys Gargi College, Jaishankar made it clear that acquiring PoK will remain a national commitment regardless of the party in power. All I can say about PoK is that there is a Parliament resolutionevery political party of this country is committed to ensuring that POK, which is a part of India, returns to India. That is our national commitment, he said at that time. The EAM insisted that the scrapping of Article 370 in August 2019 paved the way for people to think about the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as well. Because we have finally taken the right decision of Article 370, the POK issue has come to the front of peoples thinking. The first pre-requisite for something happening is that it should be in your thoughts, he said. Advertisement While speaking at the event in Cuttack, Odisha, Jaishankar said that PoK has never been out of India. POK has never been out of this country. It is part of this country. There is a resolution of the Indian Parliament that POK is very much a part of India, he averred. He maintained that India didnt tell Pakistan to vacate the region during the early years of independence, which eventually led to the sorry state of affairs in the region. With inputs from agencies. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke at an event hosted by Chatham House in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK, where he discussed Indias growing role in global affairs. read more External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the audience at an event hosted by Chatham House in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK and discussing Indias evolving role in global affairs. He participated in an insightful discussion with Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House. The conversation addressed Indias evolving foreign policy, regional dynamics, and global economic challenges. Advertisement During the session, Jaishankar also provided updates on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), emphasising its role in boosting economic ties and fostering growth. Jaishankar spoke about Indias relations with its neighbours, particularly China, acknowledging the challenges of maintaining balance. He stressed the need for stable and respectful ties in a changing regional landscape. On global economic stability, he clarified that there is no plan to replace the US dollar, but discussions on economic resilience and diversification are increasing, especially among BRICS nations, which have different views on the matter. He also reaffirmed Indias approach to global governance, highlighting the importance of working closely with the United States while supporting a multipolar world. Jaishankars reply on human rights concerns Jaishankar dismissed human rights concerns as mostly political, and emphasised that Indias democratic institutions are strong, fair, and dedicated to protecting rights. He also expressed optimism about Indias growing role in global research, innovation, and business, highlighting its commitment to the world economy and knowledge sectors. Jaishankar hackled by pro-Khalistan protesters When he went outside after concluding his address, pro-Khalistan protesters demonstrated outside the venue and hackled him. #WATCH | London, UK | Pro-Khalistan supporters staged a protest outside the venue where EAM Dr S Jaishankar participated in a discussion held by Chatham House pic.twitter.com/ISVMZa3DdT ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025 Advertisement In a video circulating online, a man is seen running towards Jaishankars vehicle and tearing the Indian national flag. The incident raises concern because this happened right in front of London police officers, who did not react despite the chaos and vandalism. EAM S Jaishankar, during his address at Chatham House in London, spoke about Indias crucial role in helping Sri Lanka recover from its economic crisis. He highlighted that the Narendra Modi-led government extended a financial package of over $4 billion to the island nation. read more External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about Sri Lankas recent economic crisis, emphasising Indias support in helping the country recover. Speaking at Chatham House in London on Wednesday, he said that the Narendra Modi-led government provided Sri Lanka with a financial package of over $4 billion to help it overcome the severe economic downturn in 2022, which also led to a political crisis. When Sri Lanka had a very serious financial crisis, while the rest of the world largely sat on its hands, we actually came forward with a package of more than $4 billion, which was almost twice the size of the IMF package But while we are a larger economy and, by and large, we are generous and non-reciprocal, we have interests like any nation. So, we also expect our neighbours to recognise that and to cater to our sensitivities as well. So, Im not saying that it has to be an equal give and take, but there are gives and takes. And I think, just like we have a responsibility to our neighbours, our neighbours also have a responsibility to us, Jaishankar said. Advertisement Jaishankar was speaking at an event hosted by Chatham House in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK, where he discussed Indias evolving role in global affairs. EAM also emphasised that the shift in the White House is pushing the world towards multipolarity. Jaishankar heckled by pro-Khalistan protesters As External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar left the venue after his speech, pro-Khalistan protesters confronted and heckled him. A video circulating online shows a man running towards Jaishankars vehicle and tearing the Indian national flag. The incident is alarming, as it took place in front of London police officers, who did not intervene despite the chaos. On Wednesday (March 5), the US stated that it had paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, cutting off the flow of essential information that has assisted the war-torn nation in targeting Russia read more Pictured here (L-R) are the Presidents of Ukraine, France, and Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron, and Vladimir Putin, respectively. Agencies/Firstpost France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine after Washington announced it was temporarily suspending the sharing of information with Kyiv, according to French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Thursday (March 6). Our intelligence is sovereign, Lecornu emphasised. We have intelligence that we allow Ukraine to benefit from. It has been suspended since yesterday afternoon, he added, referring to U.s. intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. I think for our British friends who are in an intelligence community with the United States, it is more complicated. Advertisement US pauses intelligence sharing with Ukraine On Wednesday (March 5), the United States said that it had paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, cutting off the flow of essential information that has assisted the war-torn nation in targeting Russia. The halt included targeting data that Ukraine has used to strike Russian targets. However, officials from the Donald Trump administration have indicated that positive discussions between Washington and Kyiv could mean this suspension will be brief. American intelligence is crucial for Ukraine to monitor Russian troop movements and select targets effectively. France expedites aid package to Ukraine Lecornu also mentioned that, following the US decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron instructed him to accelerate the various French aid packages to compensate for the reduction in American assistance. Lecornu noted that, in light of the US decision, shipments of aid destined for Ukraine from Poland had been halted. However, he added, Ukrainians, unfortunately, have learned to fight this war for three years now and know how to stockpile. Washington on Monday (March 3) halted military aid to Kyiv. The move came after a disastrous Oval Office meeting the week prior when US President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in a shouting match before the worlds media. With inputs from agencies Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday expressed optimism for a meaningful meeting with US officials next week, while also welcoming Europes initiative to rearm in response to the ongoing war with Russia, according to a report read more From left, European Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for an EU Summit at the European Council building in Brussels, on Thursday. AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday expressed optimism for a meaningful meeting with US officials next week, while also welcoming Europes initiative to rearm in response to the ongoing war with Russia. According to The Guardian report, Zelenskyy emphasised that the conflict, driven solely by Russia, must end through mutual agreements and trust-building measures. In a statement, Zelenskyy outlined that a cessation of attacks on civilian infrastructure and military operations in the Black Sea would be essential steps toward establishing a truce. Advertisement The next step is basic trust in the circumstances in which the negotiations are taking place. Ukrainians, all Europeans, Americans, every human heart in the world that does not agree with the war we all need to feel that the Russians are not deceiving us. The release of prisoners could serve as a means of establishing basic trust, The Guardian quoted Zelenskyy as saying at a summit in Brussels where European leaders have gathered to discuss defence spending and support for Ukraine after the US paused military aid to Kyiv. This should be based on the understanding that any truce or trust-building measures can only serve as a prologue to a full and fair settlement, to a comprehensive agreement on security guarantees and the end of the war, he added. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraines commitment to peace but asserted that it cannot come at the expense of Ukrainian sovereignty. He highlighted the need for transparency in the peace process, stating that Ukraine would keep European nations informed about negotiations and plans. The real question for any negotiations is whether Russia is capable of giving up the war. Be sure that Ukraine will share all the details of peace plans and the talks process with all of Europe. Every European nation that helps must be on board on the path to peace, he said. The Ukrainian leader urged that all security-related issues involving Ukraine should include Ukrainian participation, emphasising that respect for the interests of European states is vital for lasting peace on the continent. He pointed out the continued threat posed by Russian military operations, including ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Every day and every night, we must protect lives. Russian ballistic missiles continue to strike our cities. Shelling at the front continues, and Russian sabotage groups are still trying to enter our territory across the border in Sumy and Kharkiv regions, said Zelenskyy. Moscow is not reducing its investment in death, increasing its army, and making no pauses in trying to overcome sanctions. Russia now has 220 brigades with war experience, and in five years, they will bring this number to 300. We must respond to this by taking care of lives now, tomorrow, and in the future, he added. Advertisement Zelenskyy welcomed the European Commissions ReArm Europe Plan, advocating for a portion of defence funds to be allocated for arms production in Ukraine. He called for increased national defence spending across Europe and the modernisation of national armies, noting that European military strength must be rooted in both national capabilities and collaborative efforts. The ReArm Europe Plan is the right initiative. The defence funds under this European Plan should strengthen all parts of Europe, and I call for a significant part to be allocated to arms production in Ukraine our industrial capabilities are the fastest and most relevant to the current security threats, said Zelenskyy. Advertisement The Ukrainian President also expressed gratitude for the European Unions sanctions against Russia and urged for a continued push for further sanctions until the occupation ceases. Im grateful for the 16th EU sanctions package, and we must continue applying this pressure. We need a 17th sanctions package. These sanctions must remain in place until Russia stops the occupation. I am aware that a special European financial instrument for Ukraines resilience is being developed I urge you to expedite this process, said Zelenskyy. He highlighted the necessity to expedite Ukraines EU membership negotiations, criticising delays in the process. As Ukraine continues its pursuit of peace, Zelenskyy reaffirmed that the war persists solely because of Russias actions. He called for ongoing support from European leaders to help pave the way for a peaceful resolution. Advertisement Meanwhile, delegations from the US and Ukraine are likely to meet in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday, AFP quoted a senior Ukrainian official as saying, as Kyiv seeks to repair fractured ties with Trumps administration. Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff will lead the Ukrainian delegation, which could also include defence minister Rustem Umerov, the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. With inputs from agencies Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte. The high-stakes meeting comes as EU leaders gather for an emergency summit in Brussels. read more Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte ahead of a crucial European Union meeting in Brussels. He is also likely to participate in the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday, his spokesman said. During the visit, he will also meet the Austrian chancellor and Belgian leaders. European Union leaders are holding an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss growing security concerns and Russias invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement The meeting will focus on increasing military spending after the Trump administration pushed Europe to take responsibility for its own security and stopped US military aid to Ukraine. This meeting follows recent changes in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump and closer ties with Russia. These developments have led Europe to rethink its defence and security plans. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an incredible awakening, whereas Germanys incoming Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, emphasised that Europe is five minutes to midnight. Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime. Some of our fundamental assumptions are being undermined to their very core, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a letter to the 27 leaders of the EU. However, the meeting is not likely to address the immediate needs of Ukraine. Sony India has announced the appointment of musician Karan Aujla as the brand ambassador for its audio product category. The company aims to reinforce its position in the audio market by associating with the artist, focusing on delivering premium sound experiences. The announcement coincides with the launch of a multi-platform promotional campaign featuring Aujla. This campaign will encompass digital platforms, outdoor advertising, and retail presence, designed to increase visibility for Sonys audio products. This development occurs as Sony India expands its ULT Power Sound sub-brand, introduced in 2024. The ULT Power Sound line is designed for consumers seeking powerful and deep sound. The product range includes headphones and wireless speakers incorporating technologies such as noise cancellation, enhanced bass, and high-clarity audio. According to Sony India, the ULT product line has experienced a reported 2X year-on-year growth. The company states that the products are intended to provide an immersive audio experience for users. Sony Indias Audio brand ambassador Karan Aujla said: Music has been at the heart of my journey, and having the right sound is essential to creating and experiencing it the way its meant to be. Sonys commitment to delivering top-quality audio perfectly aligns with my passion for music and the standards I believe in. Sony has been a part of my musical journey for years, and I am thrilled to collaborate with a brand that shares my vision of bringing powerful, high-quality sound to audience. Sunil Nayyar, Managing Director of Sony India, expressed his enthusiasm about the new partnership, stating: Sony India is dedicated to delivering top-tier audio products that resonate with music lovers across the country and beyond. We are excited to welcome Karan Aujla as our new brand ambassador for the audio category. His global appeal, strong connection with the audience and passion for high-quality sound, makes him the perfect fit for this collaboration. Together, we aim to elevate the way music is experienced, delivering immersive sound that truly connects with fans everywhere. Researchers at Fred Hutch Cancer Center have discovered an overlooked mechanism driving aggressive breast and brain tumors involving genes so ancient more than 2 billion years old that they fly under the radar of standard genetic sequencing methods. Identifying this mechanism suggests it could be a new test to diagnose cancers and possibly treat them, said Fred Hutch molecular biologist Steven Henikoff, PhD, co-first author of a study recently published in the journal Science. The study focuses on 64 ancestral genes needed to make histones, which are the molecular packaging material that helps squish some six feet of DNA strands into a single cells nucleus. His team discovered that the overproduction of histones measured by the increased presence of an enzyme that kick-starts the process predicted the aggressiveness and likelihood of recurrence after surgery in preserved brain and breast tumor samples from patients whose clinical histories are documented. The discovery reveals a new biomarker to aid in the early detection of disease and a potential target for more precisely tailored therapies made possible by a collaboration between labs in different research divisions that defines the scientific culture Fred Hutch has nurtured for half a century. Making the most from patient tumor samples The histone study began with a phone call between Henikoff in the Basic Sciences Division and co-author Eric Holland, MD, PhD, a Fred Hutch brain cancer researcher who heads the Human Biology Division and holds the Endowed Chair in Cancer Biology. Part of Fred Hutchs commitment to building preeminence in precision oncology diagnosis and treatment tailored to a patients individual biology involves research that requires extracting molecular information from preserved patient tumor samples. Cross-referencing that molecular information with patient medical records enables researchers to match genetic profiles to clinical outcomes and classify tumors based on their biology, which is more accurate than simply lumping them together based on how they look under a microscope. Though all human cells share the same DNA, each kind of cell such as brain, skin and kidney requires different genes to be turned on or expressed at different times depending on that cells function. Many things can go wrong in that process that may turn cells cancerous. Gene expression begins in the cells nucleus with transcription, which makes RNA copies of genetic sequences from DNA, which serve as templates. Those copies are delivered in the form of RNA molecules to factories in the cell that make proteins, the cells molecular workers. The factory reads the RNA template, translating the genetic sequences into the amino acid sequences needed to make each protein. Holland explains it like this: Imagine that a cells nucleus is like the Library of Congress. The cells DNA, packaged into chromosomes inside the nucleus, contains all the librarys books accumulated over the cells long evolution on Earth. Those books can never be checked out. But they can be copied, and those copies can be carried out of the library by RNA molecules. A standard method of mining samples for molecular information is called RNA sequencing, which tells you what books in the library are getting copied a lot based on how many copies are in circulation outside the library. From that information, you can figure out which genes got copied inside the nucleus and how often, which reveals patterns of gene expression in healthy cells that may change in cancerous ones. RNA sequencing works best on fresh-frozen cells, but thats not usually how samples from surgery or biopsies are prepared. For more than a century, the preferred method for long-term preservation of samples involves fixing fresh tissue in an embalming fluid called formalin and embedding the tissue in paraffin wax. That process creates formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, the most common kind available for research. Like most hospitals and research institutions, Fred Hutch has plenty of these samples spanning decades, but long-term exposure to the formalin damages the genetic material, making those samples practically unreadable with standard RNA sequencing. When Henikoff learned that Holland wanted to find ways to mine more molecular information from their samples, he saw an opportunity for the two labs to collaborate. I called him up and asked if he was just going to use RNA sequencing, because we have something that might work pretty well, Henikoff said. He remembered Holland joking that he had so many paraffin blocks around the lab he used them as doorstops. I decided hed be fun to work with, Henikoff said. Henikoff had developed a faster, cheaper alternative to RNA sequencing that he had tweaked to get molecular information out of paraffin-embedded samples. Henikoffs sequencing method is called Cleavage Under Targeted Accessible Chromatin, or CUTAC. Its different than standard RNA sequencing because it reveals what is going on at the beginning of the transcription process when DNA is getting copied inside the nucleus rather than at the end when RNA copies already are in circulation. CUTAC identifies which books are getting copied as its happening. It does this by tracking the activity of an enzyme called RNA polymerase II as it moves across DNA, pausing at various places where it accumulates and kick-starts the copying process, including stretches concerning gene regulation that dont get picked up by RNA sequencing. Using CUTAC, the Henikoff and Holland labs were able to distinguish different differences in gene regulation between tumor and normal tissues in mouse brain and liver samples. This is a very inexpensive way to get a lot of information out of paraffin sections, and Steves lab developed it, Holland said. They published the results in Nature Communications in 2023. The next step was to apply CUTAC to multiple cancer types, which led to the current study. Finding an ancient mechanism Henikoff and his team used the modified CUTAC method to better understand a common phenomenon in cancer called hypertranscription, which predicts a poor prognosis. Its characterized by an overall increase in RNA polymerase II, which turns on thousands of genes, keeping the librarys copy machines in the nucleus working overtime. But hypertranscription expresses so many genes at the same time that its difficult to isolate the mechanism that drives aggressive tumors. Henikoff figured the most relevant genes to study would be the ones that limit how fast cells can double. He zeroed in on a subset of just 64 ancestral genes needed to make histones, which are the molecular packaging material that helps squish DNA inside the cells nucleus. DNA strands wrap around histones, which are clustered into eight-histone balls that are threaded like beads on a string into fibers that are further intertwined to form chromosomes. Cells dont store extra histones like cardboard boxes in the garage. On moving day when cells replicate their DNA and divide, histones must be rapidly produced just in time for the cell to copy its chromosomes and make sure each new cell gets a complete and identical set. When that happens, theres such an abundance of RNA polymerase II lingering over histone genes in mice and fruit flies during cell replication that levels of the enzyme drop by as much as 40 percent elsewhere. But the potential role of histones in fueling cancer growth has been overlooked in the field because they fly under the radar of standard RNA sequencing. When most genes are copied, the RNA molecules carrying the copies to the protein factories acquire a stabilizing modification that gives them a distinct chemical signature, making them detectable by RNA sequencing. But histone genes are so old they predate the rise of eukaryotic life (organisms with cells that contain a nucleus, which emerged between 1.8 and 2.7 billion years ago). Their RNA copies use more ancient chemistry to stabilize, and because they lack that common signature, theyre like a plane thats invisible to the control tower because its flying without a transponder. Henikoffs CUTAC method solves that problem because it tracks which DNA is getting copied at the beginning of the transcription process inside the nucleus instead of the resulting RNA copies at the end of the process. They hypothesized that the single functional role of hypertranscription in cancer is to crank out enough histones to keep pace with the DNA packaging requirements for tumor cells to proliferate faster than normal. They tested their hypothesis on a set of 36 human meningioma brain tumor samples from Hollands lab, which are cross-referenced with patients medical histories. That enabled them to link tumor biology with patient outcomes using paraffin-embedded samples already collected and stored. They discovered that overproduction of histones alone predicted the aggressiveness and recurrence of meningioma tumors. Overproduction of histones also predicted aggressiveness of invasive breast cancer based on an analysis of 13 paraffin-embedded samples. One of the studys co-first authors, Ye Zheng, PhD, then a postdoctoral researcher in Henikoffs lab, discovered a correlation between elevated histone levels and changes to chromosomes that drive many, but not all cancers. When cells divide, each of the 46 chromosomes makes a copy of itself, and the copies are hinged by a structure called a centromere that divides the pair into four arms. Zheng, who is now an assistant professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, found that overproduction of histones is positively correlated with the whole-arm chromosome losses in brain and breast cancer. The finding is consistent with other research linking the overproduction of histones with breaks to the centromere hinges that are essential to making sure each new cell gets a complete set of chromosomes. Though histone genes comprise only 1/100,000th of the human genome, the over-expression of this tiny, ancient subset of DNA all by itself predicted poor outcomes in brain and breast cancers, making it a potentially powerful new biomarker for disease with the potential to improve diagnosis, prognosis and even new therapies. Nakisha Paul, vice president of the Texas City Independent School District Board of Trustees, stands in the board room at the school districts Simpson Education Support Center on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Paul is an ardent supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives. Galveston College edited their colleges strategic plan to remove words such as diversity and inclusion. When it comes to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in education, Texas City Independent School District board Vice President Nakisha Paul cant continue to be silent, she said. I think this should not be a political talking point, Paul said. It needs to be something that we focus on for an effective educational system. The U.S. Department of Education on Feb. 14 issued a memo directing public schools, colleges and universities to stop using racial preferences as a factor in admissions, financial aid, hiring or other areas. Institutions were given 14 days to end any practice that treats students or workers differently because of their race or risk losing federal funding. While several local school districts, colleges and universities said no adjustments were needed to comply with the new federal guidance, Galveston College called a special meeting two days before the 14-day deadline to remove from its strategic plan any language relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. Paul, who is part of several associations focused on closing educational gaps for Black students, is an adamant supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives. The federal governments action is a step in the wrong direction, she said. Oftentimes, when we think of these DEI programs, we fail to really understand what they address, Paul said. What they address are long-standing disparities in educational access, so we have to remember that. It provides a diverse and inclusive curriculum that benefits all of our students. DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES The departments memo referred to as the Dear Colleague letter by educators argues educational institutions in recent years have used discriminatory practices based on race against students and educational staff, specifically highlighting white and Asian students as the targets. The department warned it would no longer tolerate overt and covert racial discrimination, according to the memo. Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them, particularly during the last four years, under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion, smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming and discipline the memo states. Complying with the departments anti-discrimination requirements is a condition of receiving federal funding, the memo states. Paul argued the memo is too broad, saying the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is largely left up to the interpretation of the educational institutions. Its not clear and it leaves a lot of ambiguity for us and thats the part that I think is unfair, Paul said. If youre going to tell us to remove something or to make changes, then I think that you should be clear, and you should give clear expectations. The day after the memos compliance deadline, the department released a memo of 14 frequently asked questions relating to the new federal guidance. HIGHER EDUCATION RESPONSE Texas higher education institutions addressed diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programming more than two years ago. Senate Bill 17, which took effect in January 2024, prohibits universities from establishing or maintaining a diversity, equity and inclusion office; hiring or assigning an employee or contractor to perform the duties of a DEI office; or requiring any person to provide a DEI statement or undergo DEI training. Both the College of the Mainland and the University of Texas Medical Branch made no adjustments in response to the departments letter because the institutions already were under compliance because of SB 17, spokespersons said. Galveston College, however, called a Feb. 26 special meeting to address its strategic plan, which included diversity-related semantics that couldve deemed the college as not in compliance with new federal guidelines, putting crucial funding at risk, President Myles Shelton said. The strategic plan, which makes several references to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and values, was written in 2022, before SB 17 was passed. The diversity-based initiatives in the plan were never implemented, Shelton said, noting the college already is an open-door institution. Weve never implemented what you see there, so when the Dear Colleague letter came out, we thought it prudent to remove the vestiges of that and remove those trigger words from the strategic plan, Shelton said. The amended strategic plan removed any mention of diverse or diversity, equity and inclusion. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which was listed as one of the colleges values has now been removed. Foster a culture that affirms and empowers all members of the College community, recognizes that not everyone starts from the same place, where we value, celebrate, and learn from our differences, and all people are treated with respect and dignity, the colleges now removed value stated. Shelton said it was imperative to address the plans language now because of the potential threat of loss of federal financial aid under Title IV. For a college our size, we anticipate awarding this year a little over $5 million in Pell Grants, which would be a huge loss to our students, Shelton said. Im sure we would have students who would not be able to come to college without those grants. We just have to make sure that we do the right thing for our students, so that they can continue to come and continue to study and continue to be successful. SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSE Some local school districts expressed that the departments letter and requirements would have a limited impact on its operations, while several districts didnt respond or declined to comment on the matter. When asked how the new federal guidance would affect the school district, Clear Creek Independent School Districts spokesperson Elaine Polsen said the district doesnt engage in such programming or practices. Galveston Independent School District Superintendent Matthew Neighbors wasnt concerned about losing funding because of discriminatory practices outlined in the departments letter, but noted there is uncertainty from the district about federal education funding in general, he said. Texas City Independent School District still is determining whether the federal departments letter will bring changes to the district, with district spokesperson Melissa Tortorici saying the Texas Association of School Boards is in the process of reviewing the boards policies. CANT BE SILENT Paul said she cant be silent about the dangers of losing diversity, equity and inclusion educational programming. It makes us progress to an era where systemic inequities are ignored rather than addressed, Paul said. We shouldnt want to dismantle these efforts, and if thats the case, which thats exactly whats happening, then I think that we as a people, collectively, weve got to push back with data. Weve got to keep advocating, and weve got to continue showing our commitment to our students. Educators will need to get creative to continue to ensure all students feel represented and valued in the classroom, she said. Were going to have to figure out different alternatives, options and avenues on how we teach students because, at the end of the day, the perspective in the world in which we live in is changing, and weve got to make it our goal, our role and the expectation that we produce good students, good human beings, Paul said. DEI really does matter, and the dangers that are coming are going to be bad, so I hope that we just get it together. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. Cuts in local Natural Resources Conservation Service staff and freezes in federal funding are starting to have on-the-ground impacts for local agricultural operations and an entity that works in support of them. Out of 11 NRCS staff members at its Grand Junction office, five have been fired or retired early, said Holly Stanley, executive director of the Mesa Conservation District, which partners with the NRCS and works out of the same office as that agency although the district isnt part of the federal government. Thats nearly half of our regions (NRCS) capacity being removed, so that greatly affects our local agricultural community, Stanley said. The NRCS helps landowners do things such as conserve soil and water and care for animal habitat, and in Colorado also performs functions such as operating snow measurement sites crucial to predicting spring runoff. Stanley said she also was told NRCS lost more than 45 staff members statewide, but doesnt know how accurate that is. Contacted for comment, an NRCS spokesperson in Colorado referred the Sentinel to a Department of Agriculture spokesperson who said in an email, (Agriculture) Secretary (Brooke) Rollins fully supports President Trumps directive to optimize government operations, eliminate inefficiencies and strengthen USDAs ability to better serve American farmers, ranchers and the agriculture community. We have a solemn responsibility to be good stewards of Americans hard-earned taxpayer dollars and to ensure that every dollar is being spent as effectively as possible to serve the people, not the bureaucracy. As part of this effort, USDA has released individuals in their probationary period of employment. Secretary Rollins understands the array of mission critical positions and programs at the Department, and she will ensure that those areas have the resources and personnel they need to continue serving the American people. The Sentinel was directed to an Agriculture Department Freedom of Information Act email address regarding specific staffing impact questions and is awaiting a response. Meanwhile, the staffing situation took another twist Wednesday when the federal Merit Systems Protection Board ordered the Agriculture Department to return nearly 6,000 fired employees to their jobs for 45 days as an investigation into their firing continues. Stanley said the NRCS, Mesa Conservation District and Colorado State Conservation Board work in partnership on conservation matters. And so if one of us is struggling it definitely affects others, she said. She said the Delta Conservation District also is served by the local NRCS office. Stanley said NRCS works on a range of natural resource programs, such as forestry and urban agriculture, but a lot of what it does involves infrastructure improvements for irrigation, something her office is particularly involved with. It provides funding to help producers with things such as pipeline and sprinkler upgrades and native plantings, and seeks input from the Mesa Conservation District on what to prioritize. We direct NRCS on the things that are important to our local community, she said. She said theres a lot of concern about what could happen regarding such local programs with so few NRCS staff being left to serve the area. Other federal action under the Trump administration has affected the Mesa Conservation Districts own staffing. A $300,000 Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART water infrastructure grant it was promised was frozen under the new administration for reasons that Stanley said were never made clear. As a result, it was forced to let go of a staff member whose position was going to be funded by the money the district had counted on receiving, and only afterward did the grant end up being released to the district. At that point the damage had been done. We cant float a giant program like that for months while people figure out what theyre doing, Stanley said. She said the district will proceed with doing the work the grant funded, but with other existing staff rather than hiring for that role. It strains the entire system, she said. The district also is waiting to learn the fate of what Stanley said is a nearly $1.4 million grant from the Bureau of Reclamation for a $4.6 million project with the Colorado West Land Trust to work on drought resiliency on local conserved lands. The project will entail things such as water efficiency work and water quality improvements, and reconnecting floodplains with rivers and streams. Stanley said benefits will include things such as decreased stream temperatures and improved habitat, reduced wildfire risk that also benefits surrounding properties and improved forest health. The bureau announced the funding from its Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Program during the final days of the Biden administration. It included tens of millions of dollars for projects in the Grand Valley and beyond, including $40 million toward the regional effort to purchase the historic Shoshone hydroelectric power plant water rights on the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon. But all of that announced funding is currently frozen by the Trump administration. In the case of the drought resiliency funds promised to the Mesa Conservation District and the land trust, Theres a lot of benefits to the projects that were going to be done with this money and right now we are unable to move forward with that project in its entirety, Stanley said. Hannah Holm is an associate supervisor on the conservation districts board of supervisors and is Southwest director of strategic projects and partnerships for the group American Rivers. She has been watching with concern the staffing cutbacks occurring at the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and NRCS. Those agencies perform vital roles in wildfire resilience projects and drought management efforts on Grand Mesa, which provides most of our valleys drinking water, she said. These projects help keep our rivers and sources of drinking water clean by reducing the chances that ash and mud will foul streams and reservoirs in the wake of a wildfire. With major layoffs at these important agencies, Im concerned about their ability to continue supporting this work here at home and across the country. Michael Lobato is president of the Mesa Conservation District and has a small agricultural operation in the Fruita area. Uncertainty about the economy and about the NRCS, including whether it will make good on its commitments, led him to cancel a contract he had with the agency to help him engineer and build a micro-spray irrigation system for blackberries and hybrid wine grapes on about an acre and a half of land. He said the project has been in the works since 2022 but he canceled it last week. Hes concerned about economic factors such as tariffs being imposed by President Trump, but also by reports of producers having put out thousands of dollars on projects and now having a hard time getting reimbursed by NRCS under the new administration. He said that under his contract the cost of the project would have been split 50-50 between him and the NRCS, but the NRCS portion would have been paid only after the project was done. Thats my fear, is In two years if Im going to pay all this money out and install it are they going to reimburse or not? he asked. He said his decision to abandon the project is lost dollars for our community. Lobato said it would have involved buying thousands of dollars in irrigation parts from a local supplier and thats not going to happen. Sunday Night Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low near 65F. NNW winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2025 enrollment periods for key safety-net programs Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) as well as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC). Agricultural producers now can submit... The Montana Community Foundation (MCF) announces the opening of a grant cycle to benefit communities and residents of Valley County. Grants will be made from the Valley County Masonic Endowment Fund, established at MCF by the Nemont Manor Foundation, Inc. Grant applications will be accepted from March 1 March 31, 2025. Applicants must be either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an exempt governmental unit. Grants will be up to $5,000. While grants must be used for projects benefiting communities or residents in Valley County, the grantee organization does not need to be based in Valley County. Only one application is allowed per organization. Eligible projects must be within the following areas of interest: arts and culture, basic human needs, economic development, education, and natural resources and conservation. Ineligible projects include annual or capital campaigns, endowments, debt retirements, and religious, partisan, or sectarian activities. Grant requests are reviewed by the Nemont Manor Foundation. The Valley County Masonic Endowment Fund was established with proceeds from the sale of Nemont Manor, an affordable housing facility in Glasgow, built more than 40 years ago and managed by the Valley County Masons. The Nemont Manor is now owned by Silver Tree Residential, a group that acquires, rehabilitates, and permanently preserves affordable housing units which were originally developed under HUD programs. Their goal is to ensure the long-term affordability of units for current and future residents. In 2024, the Valley County Masonic Endowment Fund awarded $50,000 in grants to nine organizations that benefit Valley County. These grants ranged from funding to install accessible seating in the Fort Peck Theatre to funding for the snack pack program in the Glasgow School District. Last year, we provided $50,000 for organizations and projects in our community that spanned from Glasgow to Nashua to Opheim, says James Rector, secretary and treasurer of Nemont Manor Foundation. We look forward to doing the same this year and supporting our community forever in this way. Learn more and apply at https://mtcf.org/grants/apply-for-a-grant/valley-county-masonic-endowment. Only online applications will be accepted. For questions, please contact Local Community Foundations Program Officer, Taylor Crowl at 406-603-4913 or [email protected]. Paid Political Content Dear Editor, Montana is known as the last best place for many reasons including that we have the freshest milk in the nation. Montana is the last state to have a 12-day rule in place meaning that milk must be sold within 12 days of pasteurization to ensure our milk remains fresh, safe, and of the highest quality. As a Montana dairy farmer, I am proud to produce fresh, quality milk that consumers can depend on. Depending on factors like processing, packaging, storage and handling - pasteurized milk is typically good for 21 days. The 12-day rule ensures that even if we buy milk on the 12th day Montanans can still get at least nine days out of our milk in the fridge. This is especially important for those of us who live in rural areas and buy in bulk when we shop knowing our milk needs to last until we can make the next trip into town. Not only does Montana have the freshest milk in the nation, a quick Google search of pricing from surrounding states will also tell you that Montana's milk is also the cheapest in the region. For the fourth time in a row, Sen. Greg Hertz (R, Polson) is wasting taxpayer dollars and bringing a set of bills (SB415 & SB416) to erode and repeal Montana's consumer friendly 12-day rule. As the owner of a string of grocery stores and a board member for a food distributor in Washington State, Sen. Hertz's motivations are clear and do not benefit Montana consumers. Sen. Hertz's bills will be heard in the Senate Public Health Committee at 3 p.m. on Monday, 3/3/25, and will take executive action within the week. Please join me in asking the committee to vote no on SB415 & SB416. You can find contact information at leg.mt.gov. Sincerely, Lily Andersen Livingston, Mont. Dear Editor, As a rural hospital serving northeast Montana, Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital (FMDH) sees firsthand the critical role that Medicaid expansion plays in ensuring access to healthcare for working Montanans. Medicaid expansion has strengthened our ability to provide care to those who need it most, particularly in rural communities like ours, where access to healthcare is already limited. Hospitals like FMDH serve a broad population, including hardworking individuals who may not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance. Many of our patients are employed in agriculture, service industries, or small businesses-sectors that drive Montana's economy but often do not offer healthcare benefits. Medicaid expansion has provided these individuals with the opportunity to access preventive care, manage chronic conditions, and receive timely treatment, reducing the likelihood of costly emergency visits or untreated illnesses that can lead to worse health outcomes. Beyond improving individual health, Medicaid expansion has had a stabilizing effect on our hospital and others like it. At FMDH, Medicaid expansion supports the care we provide, accounting for approximately $4.5 to $5 million in funding annually. Without this, rural hospitals like ours would struggle to remain financially sustainable. Over the past five years, this funding has helped offset what would otherwise be an $18 million shortfall. The financial viability of rural hospitals is not just about numbers-it's about keeping emergency services, maternity care, specialty treatments, and routine healthcare available in areas where options are few and distances to alternative providers are vast. It is also important to recognize that the majority of those who benefit from Medicaid expansion are active members of our communities. A recent study from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry found that over 80 percent of Medicaid expansion recipients in Montana are working, attending school, or serving as caregivers. Medicaid is not a handout-it is a support system that allows people to stay healthy, remain in the workforce, and care for their families. Ensuring that rural hospitals remain strong benefits everyone. When hospitals close or cut back services due to financial instability, entire communities suffer-not just those enrolled in Medicaid. Employers struggle to attract workers, access to urgent care diminishes, and economic development slows. At FMDH, we are committed to providing high-quality care to all patients, regardless of their financial status. Medicaid expansion has allowed us to fulfill this mission while keeping our doors open to serve the community. As discussions about the future of this program continue, it is essential to recognize the role it plays in keeping Montanans healthy, employed, and supported by a strong healthcare system. Sincerely, Nickolas L. Dirkes Chief Executive Officer of FMDH The U.S. halts intelligence sharing with Ukraine after the White House blowup IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 C.I.A. Director John Ratcliffe says the United States has paused intelligence sharing with and weapons shipments to Ukraine amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The decision follows a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday. In an interview with Fox Business on Wednesday, Ratcliffe said President Trump had "a real question about Zelensky's commitment to "the peace process" and that he ordered the "pause." The move could seriously affect the Ukrainian military's ability to identify Russian targets, officials said. Ratcliffe said he hoped the pause will soon be lifted and emphasized his commitment to working with Ukraine towards ending the conflict with Russia, following a letter from Zelensky to Trump. A senior U.S. military official said the reduction in intelligence sharing would include fewer surveillance and reconnaissance flights, which are critical for Ukraine's defensive and offensive operations against Moscow. CNN reported on Tuesday that both Ukrainian and U.S. military officials were assessing the potential consequences of suspending military aid to Ukraine. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US halts intelligence support to Ukraine amid Trump-Zelensky row: Officials Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 6:17 PM The administration of US President Donald Trump has suspended Washington's intelligence support to Kiev, amid tensions with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine over a proposed peace deal with Russia. "We are pausing, assessing, looking at everything across our security relationship," National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told CBS News in response to a question on intelligence-sharing with Kiev. CIA Director John Ratcliffe also confirmed the "pause." It was not immediately clear to what extent the US had paused the intelligence sharing, but both officials suggested it may be short-lived after Zelensky's recent remarks that the country was ready to negotiate to end the war. "You saw the response that President Zelensky put out," Ratcliffe said. "So I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think will go away." The Trump administration had already announced a freeze in weapons deliveries to Ukraine, part of its efforts to pressure Kiev into a swift end to the war on Washington's terms. "We are having good talks on location for the next round of negotiations, on delegations, on substance," Waltz said. "So, just in the last 24 hours since the public statement from Zelensky, and then the subsequent conversations, which I'm going to walk inside and continue, I think we're going to see movement in very short order," Waltz told reporters, as he spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart over the phone this morning. CNN cited a US military official as saying that the US is now "offering fewer surveillance flights to the Ukrainians, as well as less satellite coverage." But underscoring the fluid nature of the situation, another US military official in the region said on Tuesday that American military contact with the Ukrainians, including some intelligence sharing, was "continuing." Trump's halt on aid was seen by some US officials as a betrayal of Kiev. One former intelligence official, who remains in contact with old colleagues, said many US military and intelligence officers "feel we are abandoning our allies on the battlefield." According to the Financial Times, the US accounts for about a third of the total military supplies to Ukraine. The report said "America provides key elements of Ukraine's armoury that cannot easily be replaced." "The US also provides critical military intelligence and weapons-targeting information that other NATO allies cannot match." The chair of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, Oleksandr Merezhko, described Trump's move as "unbelievable." "Cutting off military aid is too much." Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, said the pause in military aid to Ukraine could push the country to join a peace process. "This would probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace," Peskov told reporters on Tuesday, according to RIA Novosti. Relations between the United States and Ukraine broke down dramatically in late February, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance engaged in a tense exchange with the Ukrainian president at the Oval Office. On Tuesday, Zelensky expressed willingness in a letter to Trump to enter negotiations over the war, signaling an improvement in ties. Since the Ukraine war began in February 2022, the US has provided Ukraine with nearly $86 billion in military assistance, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Hits Pause On Intelligence-Sharing With Ukraine By Chris Rickleton March 05, 2025 The United States has restricted intelligence-sharing with Ukraine in addition to enforcing a pause in U.S military assistance to the country trying to stave off Russia's three-year full-scale invasion, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirmed. The revelation comes after US President Donald Trump read out a letter from Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an address to Congress on March 4, citing the Ukrainian leader's readiness for peace talks with Russia and willingness to sign a deal on critical minerals with Washington. In comments to Fox News, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the pause on both military aid and intelligence-sharing was rooted in Trump's concerns over Zelenskyy's commitment to peace after a disastrous meeting between the two leaders in the Oval Office last week. "I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause will go away," Ratcliffe told Fox. "And I think we'll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have to push back on the aggression that's there [and] to put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward," Ratcliffe said. Western military intelligence has played a vital role in Ukraine's ability to defend itself from Russia's invasion and target Russian forces. Ratcliffe did not specify which aspects of intelligence-sharing with Kyiv had been affected, but Western media reports have suggested the restrictions are significant. Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reported on March 4 that Washington had in parallel prohibited the United Kingdom from forwarding US intelligence to the authorities in Kyiv. Trump's national-security adviser, Mike Waltz, who was heavily critical of Zelenskyy in the aftermath of his White House argument with Trump, also told Fox that the US pause on military aid to Ukraine could be lifted. "I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move toward these negotiations, and in fact, put some confidence-building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause," Waltz said. "We have to know that both sides are sincerely negotiating toward a partial, then a permanent, peace," Waltz added. Democratic Representative Jim Hines, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, called the pause "unconscionable." "The idea that we will now withhold life-saving intelligence from Ukrainians who are fighting and dying is unforgivable. Any pause in intelligence-sharing must end immediately," he said in a statement. Zelenskyy has repeatedly reiterated his commitment to a "lasting peace," including in the letter read out by Trump to Congress. But Trump has signaled he wants to use Washington's available leverage to secure a quick peace to end a three-year war that he has described as "ridiculous." In a tense exchange in the Oval Office on February 28, Trump told Zelenskyy that he didn't "have the cards" to settle the conflict without the help of the United States. But Trump made no mention of the heated argument in his address to Congress, while Zelenskyy has since said that he regrets the turn that the meeting took. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-intelligence-sharing- ukraine-russia-trump-zelenskyy/33337479.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US cuts off intelligence-sharing with Ukraine amid push for peace talks By VOA News March 05, 2025 The United States says it has cut off intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, which could seriously curtail Kyiv's ability to continue its three-year fight with Russia, even as Washington is quickly pushing the two countries toward peace talks to end the conflict. President Donald Trump earlier in the week ordered the U.S. to suspend military aid to Kyiv's fighters after his contentious meeting last week at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Wednesday that the U.S. had also, for the moment, ended sharing its intelligence with Kyiv, although it could be short-lived after Zelenskyy said his heated exchanges with Trump in the Oval Office had been "regrettable" and that Ukraine was ready for peace talks with Russia. "I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause [that prompted Ukraine's president to respond] I think will go away," Ratcliffe told the Fox Business Network. "I think we'll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have to push back on the aggression that's there, but to put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward," he said. Since the start of the war in 2022, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with significant intelligence, including critical information its military needs for targeting Russian forces. Mike Waltz, Trump's national security adviser, told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. "had taken a step back" and that the administration was "reviewing all aspects" of its intelligence relationship with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Waltz told CBS News that the U.S. is moving quickly to start peace negotiations to end the war and sign a mineral rights deal with Kyiv. "I think we're going to see movement in very short order," Waltz said. He said Trump officials will meet with Ukrainian officials as they conduct shuttle diplomacy with Russia. "I have literally just been on the phone with my counterpart, the Ukrainian national security adviser, talking about times, locations, delegations," Waltz said. In a speech to the U.S. Congress Tuesday night, Trump said he had received a letter from Zelenskyy in which the Ukrainian leader expressed willingness to start war-ending negotiations with Russia. "Wouldn't that be beautiful?" Trump said in an address to the U.S. Congress. "It's time to stop this madness. It's time to halt the killing. It's time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides." His description of the letter matched what Zelenskyy posted earlier in the day on social media, saying Ukraine was ready to negotiate "as soon as possible" and would "work under" Trump's "strong leadership" to reach a peace deal. Zelenskyy said his acrimonious encounter with Trump at the White House last Friday was "regrettable" and that he remains ready to sign a deal that would give the United States substantial, long-term rights to Ukraine's rare-earth minerals needed for the American manufacture of technology products. In a post on X, the Ukrainian leader said in a statement that his discussions with Trump and Vice President JD Vance "did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive." Trump and Vance, seated close to each other in the Oval Office, assailed Zelenskyy as being ungrateful for the more than $100 billion worth of munitions the United States has sent to Kyiv's forces to fend off Moscow's 2022 invasion, even though the Ukrainian leader had on numerous occasions thanked the U.S. "We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence," Zelenskyy said on Tuesday. "And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins," an anti-tank missile weapons system. "We are grateful for this." "I would like to reiterate Ukraine's commitment to peace," Zelenskyy said. "None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians." Vance told VOA on Tuesday, "We do believe that it's in Russia's best interest, but also Ukraine and the United States's best interest, to bring this conflict to a close." Zelenskyy said the first stage of any truce in the fighting "could be the release of [Russian and Ukrainian] prisoners [each country is holding] and truce in the sky ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same." "Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the U.S. to agree a strong final deal," he said. But reaching a peace deal could prove difficult. Ukraine has long demanded a restoration of its internationally recognized 2014 borders before Moscow unilaterally seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Overall, Russia now holds about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including much of eastern Ukraine, and has vowed to not return any of it to the Kyiv government. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Four pillars of Slovak-Polish cooperation Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic 24.02.2025 On his visit to Poland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kalinak met with his Polish counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Warsaw on Monday 24 February 2025. Following their bilateral meeting, they signed the Letter of Intent (LOI) on Cooperation between the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Poland in the Field of Defence Industry, structured in four pillars of action. The first one is to seek stronger cooperation on manufacture of 155mm munitions, in which Slovakia offers extensive manufacturing capacities. The LOI also covers Slovakia's interest in acquiring the Polish Piorun short-range man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS). The third pillar of action is to explore the joint manufacture of an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) to be built on the Polish-made Rosomak 8x8 platform and fitted with a Slovak-developed turret. Last but not least, Slovakia takes a close interest in the Republic of Korea (ROK)-designed K-2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) to be produced under a licence by Poland. "The defence self-sufficiency of every country comes first. We must develop not only our military and defence capabilities, but also our manufacturing capabilities so that we are able to keep all Armed Forces units supplied in the event of a threat or conflict. That is why I welcome the signing of a joint memorandum to enhance cooperation in these areas. We will also be happy to share much of the knowledge in areas such as munitions and gun barrels manufacturing - in which the SVK arms industry is strong," Mr Robert Kalinak said. The Ministers also raised the issue of increasing defence spending. "We share the same opinion on defence spending, whereas our investments must also go into infrastructure, and I appreciate Slovakia's very good initiative to build a new military hospital, which can also help Poland, if needed," Mr Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed. "Poland is a strong leader on defence. It did not wait for the latest challenges to be addressed in the NATO summit communiques. What's more, it has very innovative ideas about how to boost defence spending, and we are very much interested in that," Defence Minister Kalinak added. Finally, he took the opportunity to thank the Polish side for safeguarding SVK airspace and promised that Poland can also rely on Slovakia, once the SVK Air Defence (AD) and Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) capabilities are fully operational. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 4, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto today. The Secretary emphasized the urgency of ending the war in Ukraine and ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed strategic cooperation in the energy and defense sectors. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 5, 2025 By David Vergun, DOD News Generals Discuss Recent Battlefield Lessons Learned, Power Projection The Ukraine-Russia conflict and Iran's missile attacks on Israel last year show a need for new U.S. military capabilities, said Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. Hecker spoke yesterday on a panel at the 2025 Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado. A big lesson learned from the Iranian missile attacks is that intelligence is critical because it provides time to prepare with agile combat employment-like activities, he said. Secondly, layered defense matters; with U.S. and allied ships and aircraft and Israel's Iron Dome defense, only a few of the hundreds of missiles got through, Hecker noted. One of the big lessons learned from the Ukraine-Russia conflict is that the U.S. cannot afford to spend money on expensive counter-unmanned aerial systems to defend against cheap attack drones, he said, "because we're not going to be able to do this for very long if we do that." Ukraine and Russia are launching about 100 one-way attack drones a day, Hecker said. Ukraine takes these aerial threats out with anti-aircraft artillery. U.S. industry is working on solutions, like the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, he said. Separately, Hecker addressed NATO interoperability challenges. It would be great if all 32 NATO nations had the same weapons systems, which would make everything interoperable, but they don't, he said. One solution for interoperability is to ensure systems have an open architecture, Hecker added. Air Force Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, commander of the Pacific Air Forces and air component commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, discussed his region. "We owe the combatant commander options across the spectrum of what we do as a military force, whether it's humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, all the way up to combat and conflict in a highly contested environment," he said. He added that the way the U.S. projects power in the Indo-Pacific is different from how it's done in NATO. One challenge is operating in austere locations and the need to divide the force for survivability, Schneider said. Response options are not inexpensive, he said. A lot of internal trades are made in the region. For example: "Do we put that dollar toward fixing the infrastructure on Kadena [Air Base, Okinawa, Japan], or do we put that dollar toward restoring an airfield on [the island of] Tinian in the second island chain?" Schneider pointed out that U.S. allies and regional partners are providing a lot of assistance. Lastly, he said, "I applaud our airmen at all levels for continuing to put the blood, sweat and tears into this to figure out how we remain effective and to stay steps ahead of any adversary out there." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 5, 2025 By Army Maj. Wes Shinego, DOD News Air Combat Command General Discusses Next-Generation Air Superiority The U.S. Air Force's fundamental role is to secure dominance in the skies, a mission that grows more urgent as adversaries like China unveil advanced stealth platforms. Speaking yesterday at the 2025 Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, Air Force Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, laid out the stakes during the panel "Next-Generation Air Superiority: How Are We Going to Fight." "The entire joint force counts on air superiority," he said. "Anything else you want to do in the battle space, if you don't have air superiority, it becomes much more difficult, if not impossible." The Air Force will maintain that edge through integrated air and space superiority, what Wilsbach calls a "seamless necessity." "They're very much linked and combined," he said. "You're likely not going to be able to achieve air superiority in the modern sense without space superiority as well." This integration, Wilsbach said, includes advanced fighters, networked systems and non-kinetic tools employed to disrupt and dominate adversaries. Wilsbach said the Air Force has not wavered on this priority despite debates questioning its relevance. "There's been some talk in the public [that] the age of air superiority is over, and I categorically reject that," he said. "It's the first building block of any other military operation that you need to establish if you want to achieve objectives." There's no recent air war to draw from, Wilsbach admitted, noting today's pilots lack direct combat experience in contested skies. Still, preparing for that fight remains the top focus. "If we can sustain our aircraft to the point where we can fly them frequently, and we get our crews reps and sets, they become proficient at what they do," he said. While Air Force leadership pushes for resources and modernization, Wilsbach said airmen at every level must ready themselves for the next conflict. "We have this construct of level one through four ... training all the way up to very large exercises like [January 2025's] Red Flag and [February 2025's] Bamboo Eagle," he said. "Being able to work your way through those building block approaches in exercises improves your readiness across the spectrum of those missions that we could be called to do." The Air Force doesn't yet have all the tools it needs to train at peak efficiency, he added. Modernization efforts are underway, but gaps persist. "If you don't achieve air superiority, especially if neither side attains air superiority, you're going to have a stalemate," he said. "That's the big takeaway we can look and see from the differences between [Ukraine and Israel]." Instead, Wilsbach said, airmen must bridge those gaps with ingenuity until better systems arrive. "The most important thing we do is fly and fix airplanes," he said. "We've been challenged with the fixing part of it lately, which then translates to the number of sorties that we can fly. But one of the aspects of what we do is reps and sets." While leadership works to secure advanced simulators and aircraft, Wilsbach said, airmen must find ways to sharpen their skills now. "We stack effects some kinetic, some non-kinetic, some deceptive," he said. "That's the way that we are training so that we will be ready to take the fight to any potential enemies." When it comes to munitions, Wilsbach said, the force must balance capability with capacity. "We can have the lower cost level... that perhaps can cause the adversary to run themselves [out of resources]," he said. "We've spent a lot of our time in public talking about these very exquisite weapons that are unbelievably expensive, and we need some of those, but we don't need to spend all of our money on those." Without a clear picture of what's needed across the force, Wilsbach said, modernization efforts risk falling short. "We have some choices to make as we observe what China has produced," he said. "I don't believe that nothing is an option." While leaders advocate for funding and policy support, Wilsbach said airmen must step up, too. Lt. Gen. Dale White, military deputy for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, reinforced this, saying the joint force relies on "access, freedom of maneuver, deterrence." "I need airmen in the field to be ready," Wilsbach said. "The headquarters will drive everything it can from the top down, but I need you to meet us from the bottom up." He added that the Air Force is working toward a future where readiness doesn't hinge on patchwork solutions. White agreed, noting the need for a "fight tonight" posture. Wilsbach's remarks culminated with a call on airmen to improve their organizations through work and innovation. "And I'm confident there will come a day [when] we finally put the processes in place to take the heroics out of our daily activities," Wilsbach said. "But until then, I need your effort. I need your ideas." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 Fighter Jets Practice Drone Defense on the Coast of Rutja Republic of Estonia - Defence Forces 5. March 2025 On Tuesday, March 4th, the Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 fighter jets participating in the Baltic Air Policing mission in Estonia practiced shooting down training drones off the coast of Rutja. "Our mission in Estonia is clear: securing the Baltic airspace. One of the primary mission sets of the F-35 is Integrated Air and Missile Defense, therefore this counter-UAS exercise provided a great opportunity to once again demonstrate our capabilities in this realm. To plan and execute this with our ally Estonia, underlines our shared efforts to defend NATO territory" said Lieutenant Colonel Swinger, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force detachment responsible for Baltic Air Policing at Amari Air Base. The exercise took place in controlled airspace, initiated by both the Netherlands and Estonia, where rockets, AIM-9, were used to destroy fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. The objective of the exercise was to enhance Estonia's and its allies' skills in intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles with fighter jets. The Estonian Air Force managed the execution of the training activities through its air operations squadron, coordinated the necessary airspace and maritime area allocation, ensured exercise security, and handled post-exercise cleanup. "In today's security situation, drones are becoming an increasing threat both during war and peacetime, which is why it is important to carry out such exercises. The exercise can be considered successful, as all training objectives were met," said Estonian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Toomas Susi. Since the beginning of December, the Royal Netherlands Air Force unit with F-35 fighter jets has been providing Baltic Air Policing from Amari Air Base. The unit, consisting of four aircraft, is made up of 90-150 air force personnel. During this period, Dutch fighter jets have conducted 10 identification flights to intercept Russian Federation aircraft flying near Estonian airspace. According to a decision by the North Atlantic Council, NATO member states' air forces have been rotating to guard the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since March 29, 2004, when the Baltic states became NATO members. At the 2012 Chicago Summit, the North Atlantic Council extended the Baltic Air Policing mission indefinitely. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary Kerli Veski was in Ankara for talks on defending submarine infrastructure and fighting impunity Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05.03.2025 On 4 March, Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs Kerli Veski was in Ankara, Turkiye, where she met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Levent Gumrukcu and Director General for International Law Kaan Esener to discuss the bilateral relations of Estonia and Turkiye, including the fight against impunity, sanctions policy, and legal issues related to the defence of critical submarine infrastructure. The meetings covered closer cooperation on following and upholding international law, preventing impunity, and preventing the circumvention of sanctions imposed by the European Union. Veski underlined that Russia's aggression posed a threat to not just Ukraine but more broadly to Europe and to NATO, where both Estonia and Turkiye are members. "If we want lasting peace, we must continue pressuring Russia on the battlefield, politically, and economically," Veski said, adding that the sanctions were having a clear impact on Russia's economy and its ability to wage war against Ukraine. Her agenda also included talks on the defence of critical infrastructure and deterring the shadow fleet, where Estonia continues to cooperate fully with the countries bordering the Baltic Sea, as well as with other allies and partners. In addition to representatives of Turkiye's Foreign Ministry, Veski also met with the head of the Delegation of the European Union, Ambassador Thomas Ossowski. At the meeting, Veski said that Turkiye was an important strategic partner of the European Union, and cooperation was crucial for ensuring Europe's security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China released its international promotional video titled "Prosecutors in Motion: To Guard the Better Life" on March 5, 2025. What is a good life like? Let's take a glimpse here in China. Every second The gentle breeze and sunlight caress our majestic landscapes Every instant History of over five thousand years is echoed and etched through the ages Every moment Cultural treasures shine brightly through the passage of time Here, we can also see that In serenity, harmony, and beauty Everything thrives among the lush mountains and clear waters With brightness, fulfillment, and prosperity The hustle and bustle of daily life enriches each passing day In a civilized, orderly and clean environment Modern science and technologies surge forward with vitality In this land, we are Warm, loving, and supportive Sowing seeds of hope in the embrace of light We are open, innovative, and inclusive Nurturing flowers of dreams to bear rich fruits We are for fairness, justice, and equality The rule of law is our shared aspiration Here is the land where we take root Here are the people for whom we strive To defend fairness and justice is our mission To protect this better life is our honor We are the Chinese prosecutors China supports Arab countries' efforts in promoting ceasefire in Gaza, says FM on Egypt's Gaza plan Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 05, 2025 04:24 PM In response to media reports that Arab countries on Tuesday held a summit in Cairo, Egypt, on the Palestinian issue and proposed a Gaza post-war recovery and reconstruction plan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that China supports the efforts of Egypt and other Arab countries to promote the continuous and effective implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, advance humanitarian rescue in Gaza, and restore security and stability in the region. China also supports the post-war governance plan for Gaza that is recognized by the Palestinian people and has consensus among Arab countries. The post-war governance of Gaza should uphold the principle of "the Palestinians governing Palestine," be aligned with the two-State solution, so as to ultimately realize the peaceful coexistence and common development of Palestine and Israel and ensure long-term peace and stability in the Middle East, he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Eide: The Arab plan for Gaza's reconstruction should receive broad international support Government of Norway News story | Date: 05/03/2025 "I welcome the agreement among Arab countries on a joint plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. The plan clearly states that Palestinian ownership must be a guiding principle in reconstruction efforts and that the Palestinians' right to remain on their own land must be upheld. The fact that the Arab countries in the region are united on key issues concerning Palestine's future lends significant weight to the plan," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide. The Gaza reconstruction plan was presented during an extraordinary Arab summit in Cairo on Tuesday, 4 March. The leaders of the Arab countries reaffirmed their support for a peace solution that safeguards the Palestinian people's right to self-determination in an independent Palestinian state. The final communique states that the two-state solution guarantees security for all in the region, including Israel. "Addressing the immense needs will require a large-scale, collective effort, including contributions from countries in the region. A comprehensive, coordinated, and clearly prioritized approach involving all stakeholders is essential. The mobilization of sufficient resources depends on donors' confidence in a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a necessary first step, all aspects of the ceasefire agreement must be upheld, and agreement must be reached on governance and security structures. At the same time, the only lasting safeguard against future wars is a two-state solution, in which Palestine and Israel coexist in peace," said Foreign Minister Eide. Palestinian governance and ownership are key principles in Norway's work within the international donor group for Palestine (AHLC) and in our leadership role alongside the EU, Saudi Arabia, and other regional partners in the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. "It is encouraging that the Arab countries support the establishment of a Palestinian administrative committee for Gaza to initiate reconstruction efforts. In the period ahead, Norway will provide both humanitarian assistance and long-term development aid to Palestine. We will contribute to strengthening Palestinian institutions and advancing the implementation of the Palestinian state. Both essential services and governance structures must be integrated across Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem," said Foreign Minister Eide. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Africa condemns Israel's use of 'starvation as a weapon of war' in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 South Africa has denounced Israel for using "starvation as a weapon of war" in Gaza, after the occupying regime blocked the entry of humanitarian aid. Israel has stopped aid supplies into the enclave to force Hamas to extend the first phase of a ceasefire agreement until mid-April. Hamas, however, insists on moving to the second phase of the ceasefire, which should lead to a permanent end to the war. "Preventing food from entering Gaza is a continuation of Israel's use of starvation as a weapon of war as part of the ongoing campaign of what the ICJ ruled to be plausible genocide against the Palestinian people," the South African foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. It added that the people of Gaza are experiencing "immeasurable suffering and urgently need food, shelter and medical supplies." South Africa called on the international community to hold Israel accountable. In December 2023, South Africa brought a case before the International Court of Justice, arguing that the war in Gaza breached the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. Several countries have since joined the genocide case against Israel, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, and Turkey. 9341**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The U.S. and Israel reject Arab alternative to Trump's Gaza plan IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 The United States and Israel have rejected an Arab initiative for the post-war reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which would allow the 2.1 million Palestinians living there to remain in their homeland. The proposal, endorsed by Arab leaders at a summit in Cairo on March 4, is an alternative to U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for the U.S. to take over Gaza and permanently resettle its population. The $53 billion Arab plan for rebuilding Gaza was presented by Egypt at the emergency Arab League summit on Tuesday. A statement endorsing the plan stressed "the categorical rejection of any form of displacement of the Palestinian people," describing such an idea as "a gross violation of international law, a crime against humanity and ethnic cleansing." The Palestinian Authority and Hamas both welcomed the Arab initiative, which calls for Gaza to be governed temporarily by a committee of independent experts and for international peacekeepers to be deployed in the enclave. However, both the White House and the Israeli foreign ministry said it failed to address realities in Gaza and stood by Trump's vision. The summit in Cairo took place amid growing concern that Gaza's fragile ceasefire deal could collapse after its six-week first phase expired last Saturday. Israel has blocked aid from entering the territory to pressure Hamas to accept a U.S. proposal for a temporary extension of the first stage of the ceasefire, during which the remaining Israeli prisoners held in Gaza would be released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has insisted the second phase should begin as agreed, leading to an end of the war and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. 2050**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spokesperson: Hamas will not allow foreign powers to interfere in Gaza affairs IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem has stressed that any arrangement for the future of Gaza after the end of the war must be made through a national agreement and that this movement will not allow any foreign power to interfere. "If there is a national agreement, we are ready to have no role in the future administration of the Gaza Strip," Qassem said. The spokesperson said that the position of Hamas is clear and any plan for the future of Gaza after the end of the war against it must be done through a national agreement, and "we will facilitate this work". "It is not necessary for Hamas to be part of the measures taken, and this movement is not interested in this and does not want to be informed of these measures at all," he added. Qassem stressed that the administrative measures should be implemented through internal national agreement, saying that Hamas will not allow any foreign power to interfere. "These adopted measures should provide the basis for the start of serious and real reconstruction operations in the Gaza Strip in order to provide the opportunity to save the residents of Gaza from the disaster caused by the genocidal war of the Zionist regime against its residents," he said. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President-elect of Abkhazia Badra Gunba Vladimir Putin met with the newly elected President of Abkhazia Badra Gunba in the Kremlin. March 5, 2025 19:20 The Kremlin, Moscow President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Gunba, I am delighted to see you and I certainly want to congratulate you on winning the election: you gained a little over 54 percent - 54.7 - with a turnout of 70 percent. A good result, my congratulations. Actually, this is not something new for you as you have been working there for a long time and served as vice president before the election. I know that the election campaign was fairly turbulent and emotional. But the main result is that people came to voice their wishes and preferences. Of course, you are aware about a special nature of the relations between Russia and Abkhazia as well as about the problems we are facing and have to address, because people wait for them to be solved. We will work on them. Once again, congratulations. I wish you all the best. President of Abkhazia Badra Gunba: Thank you very much, Mr President. Thank you for meeting with me today. Of course, first of all, I would like to note that it is thanks to your support of the Abkhazian nation and the republic that Abkhazia can develop and build economic relations, mainly with Russia. The people of Abkhazia remember the historic decision that was made to recognise the Abkhaz statehood. Allow me to thank you on behalf of the people of Abkhazia for this decision. The Russian Federation has always been consistent in its support. This applies to military-political, social, and economic support, and the people of Abkhazia feel all of it. I, for my part, definitely realise all the responsibility that was vested on me by the people of Abkhazia. I have always been priority-oriented, both in my election campaign and my activities in state service. Of course, this is about cooperation with our main strategic ally. We have historical, brotherly and economic ties that we fully committed to develop further. We have shared history. This year, we celebrate our common Victory in the Great Patriotic War together. Over 17,000 Abkhazians gave their lives on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. There are 22 Heroes of the Soviet Union who were from Abkhazia. We honour the memory of those people who defended the right of the peoples of the Soviet Union to develop. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you personally. I contacted you regarding the support from the Presidential Fund for the renovation of the Great Patriotic War memorials. You supported this programme, and each school, each village of Abkhazia received a grant to restore sites that remind us of our Great Victory. I would also like to use this opportunity to say that our people continue to fight for our truth together in the special military operation. Dozens of our soldiers were killed there. We support their families. It is very important for us to keep the memory of these people alive. Overall, the republic has sent hundreds of tonnes of humanitarian aid to the fighters who are performing special missions. In this sense, we will share a common Victory and a common future. I would like to note that thanks to your personal support Abkhazia is currently conducting a large-scale medical checkup of schoolchildren. This is a very important area, this is support for the health of our country's people, this is our country's future. It also turns out that the assistance to the Abkhazia energy system also ows your personal support. I just want to remind you that at the end of the previous year Abkhazia had to introduce rolling power outages of up to 11 hours a day due to electricity shortage. It was thanks to your support that we were able to resolve the problem of energy shortages. However, regretfully, we have now come to the point where the humanitarian flow of electricity that has been supplied to the republic has almost been exhausted. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to you for support until the end of the energy shortage - this is tentatively until mid-April - to support Abkhazia with an additional amount of humanitarian flow in order to solve hard, acute problems for our country. Vladimir Putin: All right, we will do everything. Badra Gunba: Thank you very much, Mr President. I would like to take this opportunity, with your permission, to focus my attention on two more topics that are crucial to us. First of all, of course, this is dual citizenship. The main procedures of the agreement have been passed and it has been ratified by the parliaments of our countries. It remains to determine the mechanism that will allow us to actually start granting dual citizenship - Russian citizenship - to citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia. You know that thanks to your support such a decision has been taken and more than 70 percent of our country's citizens are also citizens of the Russian Federation. There are people who failed to take advantage of such opportunities, and if there is such an opportunity, we would like such a programme to be implemented. Vladimir Putin: Yes, we will continue it. Actually, as a matter of principle, it has been prepared, and we will continue to implement it. I will send the relevant instructions to my colleagues, and they will work with you to finalise the issues that may still require careful attention, but we will continue this work. Badra Gunba: Thank you very much. Thank you. And one more issue that is literally making the citizens of our country worry. From April 1, new legislation comes into force whereby our citizens unfortunately will not be able to enter the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia if they cross the border by car. If it is possible to postpone this legislation's entry into force for two years in relation to Abkhazia, we would bring to the attention of our citizens the need to obtain a Russian licence to use motor vehicles and solve the problem that our citizens are facing. Vladimir Putin: It could be done more quickly. I realise that the so-called throughput capacity for those wishing to obtain these documents may be limited. But I will ask the Ministry of the Interior, they will work with you and increase the number of such points and the number of employees who would help you to process these documents - not by stretching this out for years, but in a shorter period of time. But we will do it. Badra Gunba: Thank you very much. Thank you. Vladimir Putin: Agreed. I congratulate you once again. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Baiba Braze and the Danish European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre: our priority is a safe, resilient and economically strong Europe Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05.03.2025 The EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) and funding for defence and security, strengthening the EU's competitiveness by balancing the transition to the Green Deal with support for businesses, support to Ukraine, including for its path to the EU membership, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Baiba Braze, the priorities of the Danish EU presidency, to be taken over from Poland on 1 July - those were the main topics discussed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, with the Minister for European Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark, Marie Bjerre. The latter has arrived in Riga for a two-day visit (5-6 March 2025). Baiba Braze thanked Marie Bjerre for Denmark's contribution to strengthening security in Latvia and the region as a whole: since August 2024, Denmark has been part, on a rotational basis, of the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia, as well as providing command of the NATO Multinational Division North as from 17 August 2023. The ministers agreed that European unity and cooperation, both in defence and in enhancing the EU's overall resilience and competitiveness, are of crucial importance today. Foreign Minister Baiba Braze: "Latvia and Denmark are close allies at the bilateral and regional level, in the EU, NATO and other international organisations. Our position is unyielding and united on everything concerning security and defence, including Ukraine. Latvia and Denmark have been among Ukraine's largest supporters since the day one, and this is not going to change. We agree that the EU must support Ukraine more, and do it faster, including through its European integration process. Europe must also rapidly strengthen its defence capabilities and military industry. We welcome the European Commission's comprehensive plan to strengthen European defence and unlock up to EUR 800 billion towards immediate military support to Ukraine. At the same time, efforts must continue to constrain Russia, which remains the biggest threat to the entire Europe." In a discussion on current security challenges facing the region, Baiba Braze highlighted the regular hybrid threats and other unconventional attacks by Russia - cyberattacks, manipulation in the information space, instrumentalisation of migration, attempts to influence internal electoral processes, sabotage, recent incidents of cable damage in the Baltic Sea. The ministers welcomed the ongoing bilateral and regional (NB6 un NB8) cooperation to curb the "shadow fleet" as part of sanctions against Russia, and cooperation on the protection of infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region. In the context of sanctions against Russia, Baiba Braze informed the Danish minister about the work of Latvia's competent authorities - the Border Guard and customs - at the external border of Latvia, which is also the external border of the EU and NATO. As regards the circumvention of sanctions on land, she underlined that 80% of all export declarations passing through Latvia as the EU's external border have originated in other EU Member States. In addition, Latvian customs authorities have established that 90% of sanctions violations are related to export declarations issued in other EU Member States. The Ministers agreed on the need to strengthen the EU's energy independence, including by further advancing green energy. At the same time, Baiba Braze stressed that the green transformation must be in balance with ensuring EU competitiveness, so that EU entrepreneurs are not put at a disadvantage relative to other businesses. The Ministers also agreed on the need to move ahead with the EU's digital development. In a conversation with the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dace Melbarde, Marie Bjerre shared views on the priorities set by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU (security and defence, EU competitiveness, and support to Ukraine) and on further support for the EU enlargement process with a special note of Ukraine's progress to date. The officials also discussed the preparation of the EU's multiannual budget, the importance of the cohesion policy and the agricultural policy for the development of EU regions, the required reforms, the EU's competitiveness and balancing it with the green transitions policy, and the issues of the rule of law and migration. Latvia and Denmark are linked by close bilateral relations and common efforts to strengthen security and defence in the Baltic Sea region. The Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia currently comprises around 4000 troops from 13 NATO member countries - Albania, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The NB6 (Nordic-Baltic Six) format includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden. The NB6 (Nordic-Baltic Eight) format includes Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A look at the Defence news 24 February - 2 March 2025 Netherlands Ministry of Defence News item | 05-03-2025 | 14:04 It is now three years since Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine began. On 24 February, the Ministry of Defence raised the Ukrainian flag at the ministry in The Hague. The yellow and blue were also flown at other government buildings as an expression of the Netherlands' support for Ukraine. "Support for Ukraine is still urgently needed", said Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans, "because freedom and democracy must prevail in Europe." Netherlands Chief of Defence, General Onno Eichelsheim, also emphasised that the Netherlands stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine. He said this during a memorial concert in The Hague. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Central African Republic: UN report calls for accountability for attacks by armed groups active in Haut Oubangui Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 05 March 2025 GENEVA/BANGUI -- Armed groups, including one affiliated with the armed forces of the Central African Republic, committed grave human rights violations in the Haut Oubangui Region, in the southeastern part of the country, mainly against Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers, a UN report has found. In two waves of attacks in the Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou prefectures, in October 2024 and in January 2025, at least 24 people were killed -some of them victims of summary execution, according to the report by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The attacks were directed and coordinated by elements of Wagner Ti Azande (WTA), an armed group with ties to the national army. WTA was originally to another armed group called Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (Azanikpigbe), whose members were also involved in carrying out the attacks. Among other documented violations and abuses are cases of conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls, including gang rape, forced labour, torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as the looting of homes and commercial stores. "These horrible crimes must not go unpunished. Accountability is fundamental to ensure ensuring such violations never happen again," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said. He called for the ties between the WTA group and the national army to be clarified and for full transparency regarding the group's actions and its lawfulness. "If this is not possible, the group should be disarmed." Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for the Central African Republic and Head of MINUSCA, said that despite continued efforts by the Government, with support from MINUSCA, the situation in Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou remained of particular concern. "Failure to adequately respond to these crimes would undermine the hard-earned security gains and further erode social cohesion in areas where efforts have been made with communities to defuse tensions and promote peaceful coexistence," she said. In early the October, armed members of both WTA and Azanikpigbe attacked the towns of Dembia and Rafai, in the Mbomou Prefecture, mainly targeting the Fulani community and other Muslims, as well as a camp for Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers, according to the report. "As soon as they arrived in Dembia, the WTA and the Azanikpigbe publicly slit the throat of a 36-year-old Fulani man, creating a climate of terror among the population," the report says. Seven more Fulani men were tied up and thrown alive into the Ouara river. The attackers also committed acts of sexual violence against 24 victims, among them 14 women and seven girls who were raped, mainly gang raped, the report details. Two girls and one woman were victims of forced labour, while another woman was forcibly married to an attacker. On 21 January, a dozen armed WTA members attacked a Fulani camp near Mboki, in the prefecture of Haut-Mbomou, killing at least 12 people. Following this attack, at least 14 WTA members were arrested in Mboki and Bangui. The report underlines that the limited presence of State security forces in parts of the prefectures of Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou has created spaces for groups, such as WTA and Azanikpigbe, to be more active in a climate of impunity. Rugwabiza and Turk urged the Central African authorities to sustain efforts to investigate the incidents and prosecute perpetrators, in line with international standards. They reiterated their readiness to work with the authorities to promote and protect human rights and fight against impunity in the Central African Republic. To read the full report, click here: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/central-african-republic/20250304-minusca-ohchr-dembia-report.pdf NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump vows again to take Panama Canal, Greenland People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 16:22, March 05, 2025 WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday repeated his pledge to take both the Panama Canal and Greenland. "To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we have already started doing it," Trump said during his address to a joint session of Congress. He once again blamed the late U.S. President Jimmy Carter for signing a treaty with Panama in the 1970s, handing the authority to run the vital waterway to the country. On Greenland, Trump said his administration would "strongly support" Greenlanders' "right to determine" their own future. "And if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America," Trump said. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. "We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we are working with everybody involved to try and get it," Trump said. "And I think we are going to get it one way or the other ... It is a very small population, but very, very large piece of land and very, very important for military security." Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark with Greenlanders given Danish citizenship. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defense policy. This is not the first time Trump talked about taking over Greeland. Denmark has rejected the idea, saying the island is not up for sale. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Radosaw Sikorski meets with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 05.03.2025 The talks between the top diplomats of Poland and the Republic of Korea focused on bilateral relations, including in the field of defence and economic cooperation. Other items on the agenda included Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Asia-Pacific. The consultations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed in particular at discussing the most important aspects of weapons purchases, trade, strategic projects, and foreign direct investment. In regard to defence, the ministers debated purchases of military equipment as well as securing the transfer of technology and production to Poland. "We are the world's largest recipient of arms from the Republic of Korea and, due to our geographical location, we can serve as an example of the implementation of Korean systems and a potential logistics and technical centre for Europe," the head of Polish diplomacy said during the meeting. As for economic cooperation, the ministers spoke about the balance of trade, further admission of Polish agri-food products to the Korean market, and foreign direct investment, among other topics. In recent years, the Republic of Korea has become the second non-European and the top Asian source of direct investment in Poland, which translates into enhanced economic cooperation, including B2B relations and knowledge transfer. In terms of economy, strategic infrastructure and energy projects were also discussed at the meeting. Much of the talks focused on the security situation in Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Ministers Radosaw Sikorski and Cho Tae-yul spoke about the Russo-Ukrainian war, including cooperation in supporting Ukraine. The strongly established position of South Korean companies in Poland provides a good basis for them to join the post-conflict reconstruction of Ukraine. The meeting concluded with the ministers signing the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategic Partnership for 2025-2028, which sets the directions for sectoral cooperation between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Korea. This document is an important step in strengthening the relations between our countries and ensures long-term and effective bilateral cooperation in key areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 11 PAF jet fighters grounded as wreckage of missing aircraft located Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 5, 2025, 4:36 pm MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday announced that its 11 remaining FA-50PH jet fighters have been ordered grounded following the crash of the South Korean-made aircraft that killed two pilots on Tuesday. This was after PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, in an online press briefing, announced that ground troops have located the missing FA-50PH with tail number 002 in the vicinity of Mount Kalatungan Complex in Bukidnon province. She said the Air Force would conduct a "thorough investigation" to determine the exact cause of the accident. Despite the grounding of the remaining FA-50PHs, Castillo assured the public that the PAF will be able to monitor and defend the country's airspace using its other aircraft, radar systems and its ground-based air defense systems. FA-50PH with tail number 002 was reported missing shortly after midnight of March 4 as it was about to take part in "tactical night" operation along with other similar jet fighters. Castillo said this aircraft lost contact with the others "several minutes before they reached their target area of operation." "A full-scale search and rescue operation, initiated on March 4, 2025, involved the PAF, Philippine Army, and local civilian volunteers in the mountainous terrain of Bukidnon. The operation prioritized pilot recovery," she added. Using signals from the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter and locator beacons, PAF aircraft conducted aerial searches as part of attempts to spot the downed aircraft and its crew. Despite challenging conditions including dense fog and difficult terrain, Castillo said, PAF helicopters successfully deployed Army special forces and civilian volunteers for ground searches. Despite these gallant efforts, Castillo said the two pilots aboard the ill-fated jet fighter did not survive the mishap. "With deep regret and profound sadness, the PAF announces the loss of the two pilots aboard," she said. Castillo did not provide the identities of the fallen aviators and cited the need to first inform their families. "We are committed to providing all the necessary support to the bereaved families during this difficult time," she said. "Meanwhile, we also request the nation's prayers for the eternal repose of our fallen pilots, whose service and heroism we deeply honor." Castillo said the crashed FA-50PH was a "force provider" and constantly called upon to provide air requirements to operating units in the field. "Now as to the confirmation to which specific operation our aircraft contributed to or supported, it would be up to our 'force employers' in this case, EastMinCom (Eastern Mindanao Command), to provide the confirmation for this," she added. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AFP safely conducts resupply mission for BRP Sierra Madre in WPS Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 5, 2025, 1:43 pm MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday announced that it was able to conduct another routine rotation and resupply (RORE) mission for the contingent manning the BRP Sierra Madre in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) without any untoward incident on March 4. "The AFP, in resolute commitment to maintaining its presence and operational readiness in the WPS, completed a routine troop RORE mission at BRP Sierra Madre stationed at Ayungin Shoal on 04 March 2025," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement forwarded to reporters. A video and photo shared by the AFP showed civilian vessel M/V Lapu-Lapu safely docking with the BRP Sierra Madre. He added the RORE mission was executed in close coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and was safely completed. "The completion of this mission reaffirms the AFP's commitment not only to supporting our defenders in the WPS, but more importantly to upholding the Philippines' sovereignty and sovereign rights not only for today's generation but for those to come," Trinidad said. When asked if there were any Chinese ships in the area at the time of the mission, he said, several were tracked and monitored while the RORE was proceeding. "While en route to BRP Sierra Madre, we have tracked and monitored several Chinese vessels in the general area. Despite the presence of these foreign vessels, the entire operation was completed without confrontation or untoward incident," Trinidad said. The last RORE was conducted on Jan. 24 and the M/V Lapu-Lapu was also the same ship used in the resupply mission. Trinidad also said this marks the sixth RORE for the BRP Sierra Madre without any untoward incident. The other incident-free RORE missions were conducted on July 27, Sept. 26, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12, 2024, and on Jan. 24 this year. "This milestone highlights the AFP's unwavering commitment to ensuring continuous logistical and operational support to our personnel, despite the challenging security environment in the WPS," Trinidad said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Search for missing PAF jet fighter, crew still ongoing Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 5, 2025, 10:01 am MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday said the search for the South Korean-made FA-50PH jet fighter that went missing Tuesday is still ongoing. In a message to reporters, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said they have already identified a possible location. "May general area na po tayo na tinitignan (we are now looking at a general area)," she added without giving further details. On Tuesday night, Castillo said ground troops or rescuers were tracking the location of the two pilots of the FA-50PH based on the signal emitted by their personal locator beacons. She said updates would be released once there are developments. The missing FA-50PH is part of the PHP18.9-billion 12-aircraft deal with the Korea Aerospace Industries and delivered from 2015 to 2017. The jet fighter and its crew went missing during a "tactical night" operation. "A major development in the PAF. Shortly after midnight on March 4, 2025, an FA-50 fighter jet went missing during a tactical night operation. The aircraft lost communication with the rest of the flight involved in the mission minutes before reaching the target area," Castillo said. She said other FA-50PH tried to reestablish contact with the aircraft that went missing until their return to Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu to no avail. "The PAF is conducting extensive and thorough search operations, utilizing all available resources to locate the missing jet fighter aircraft. Our primary concern right now is the safe return of our aircrew. We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time. Further details will be provided once they are available," Castillo added. She said this is the first major incident involving the FA-50PH since it was formally acquired by the PAF in November 2015. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US engaged in direct talks with Hamas: White House Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 9:29 PM The White House has confirmed a report alleging that the United States has engaged in direct negotiations with the Gaza Strip-based Palestinian resistance movement Hamas. President Donald Trump's administration dispatched Adam Boehler, Washington's point man on American captives held overseas, to discuss the fate of the country's captives, who are held in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. "Engaging in discussions globally to serve the best interests of the American people is something the President believes in," she said during a press briefing. "The President believes it is the right thing for the American people," she added. The remarks came while the United States has designated Hamas as a "terrorist organization." It took the move in 1997 due to the movement's unyielding resolve to resist US-backed Israeli occupation and aggression. The resolve has featured the group and its fellow resistance factions conducting numerous and incessant successful operations against the Israeli regime, Washington's most cherished regional ally, facing up to Tel Aviv's genocidal atrocities as well as other war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians. Leavitt, however, claimed that Boehler, in his capacity as captive affairs' envoy, "has the authority to speak with any relevant parties." The remarks came hours after American website Axios carried a report pointing to the discussions, citing "sources familiar with the matter." According to the sources, the report had said, Boehler had conducted clandestine meetings with Hamas' officials in the Qatari capital Doha over recent weeks. The primary focus of the discussions was the release of the American captives, with a purported potential to also cover a comprehensive truce in Gaza, it had added. The Israeli regime began taking the Palestinian territory under a genocidal war in October 2023. A ceasefire agreement began being implemented in January after the regime approved of the deal amid numerous successful operations by Hamas and Gaza's other resistance groups against the invading Israeli forces as well as sensitive and strategic Israeli targets. The regime, though, has been routinely violating the accord, killing hundreds more Palestinians in addition to the roughly 48,000 people, mostly women and children, whom it had killed during the war. Still addressing the issue of discussions between the US and Hamas, Leavitt noted that "Israel was consulted on this matter." Axios' report had, however, claimed that "while the Trump administration [had] consulted with Israel about the possibility of engaging with Hamas, Israel learned about aspects of the talks through other channels." The claim came despite overt and comprehensive intelligence cooperation between Washington and Tel Aviv, which is aimed at boosting the two sides' robust military and political collaboration. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also acknowledged the reported discussions, saying the regime had expressed its views on the issue. As of now, Hamas is reportedly holding 59 captives in Gaza, down from 240 Zionists, whom Palestinian fighters ensnared during a historic resistance operation targeting the occupied Palestinian territories on October 7, 2023. Those who have been transferred to the regime, including the ones whose bodies have been handed over, have been exchanged for thousands of Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli military has said 35 of those remaining in Gaza have also died. Hamas has confirmed that many of the deaths have been caused as a result of the regime's indiscriminate bombings of the coastal sliver during the war. Twenty-two of the captives are believed to be alive, and the status of two remains uncertain, the regime's military says. Among the captives are five Americans, including 21-year-old Edan Alexander, who is presumed to be alive, reports say. Reports of direct talks between Washington and Hamas come, while the initial 42-day phase of the ceasefire expired recently without extension, despite pressure from the regime for the first phase to be extended, and all the remaining captives be released in one batch. Hamas has roundly rejected the demand as "unacceptable," urging implementation of a second phase. The movement's insistence came after Tel Aviv enacted an unauthorized delay in the release of a group of Palestinian prisoners, despite Hamas' having already handed over a number of the Zionist captives, who were supposed to be exchanged with the prisoners. Recently, Hamas' spokesman Hazem Qassem denounced the regime for evading provisions of the ceasefire agreement, asserting that captives would not be released without Tel Aviv's compliance. The regime has, in the meantime, blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza in a move aimed at pressuring the group, which has been denounced by human rights organizations as Tel Aviv's using starvation as a weapon of war. The blockade exacerbates the already drastic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where approximately 1.9 million Palestinians, namely 90% of the population, have been displaced and face the threat of famine, the organizations warn. Netanyahu has also threatened to resume the regime's full-scale war on Gaza. Qassem, however, asserted, "Our position is clear, and we will not accept the language of American and Israeli threats." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel set to approve construction of over 1,000 new settler units in al-Quds Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 5:45 PM Israel will approve plans for the construction of more than 1,000 new settler units in occupied al-Quds. Israeli media reports said authorities will approve the new settler homes in different existing settlements on Wednesday. The Israeli broadcaster KAN said 380 settlement units will be built in the Nof Zion settlement near the Jabal al-Mukaber area in addition to a school, two synagogues, and commercial areas. Under the Israeli plan, 650 settlement units, commercial areas, a school, a synagogue, a community center, and kindergartens will also be built between Kibbutz Ramat Rachel and the Har Homa settlements near the Palestinian neighborhood of Sur Baher in East al-Quds. Hawkish Israeli politicians seek to promote the expansion of the al-Quds municipality boundary to include settlements classified in the West Bank areas - a move that would embolden the Jewish population in the occupied region. Tensions are running high across the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli troops continue incursions into various towns and refugee camps in the West Bank. The Palestinian resistance groups have condemned Israel's extensive aggression in the occupied West Bank as "an open and undeclared war." More than 700,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds. The international community views the settlements as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions due to their construction on occupied territories. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel's settlement activities in several resolutions. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel's decades-long occupation of historical Palestine illegal. The ICJ demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds. It was mere words. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Israel reject Gaza reconstruction plan proposed by Arab leaders that allows Palestinians to stay Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 2:28 PM The United States and Israel have rejected a long-awaited Arab plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip that would allow the territory's roughly two million residents to stay in their homeland. Arab leaders adopted Tuesday a unified plan for the future of the Gaza Strip at an emergency summit in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The proposal counters President Donald Trump's controversial plan for the United States to take over Gaza and permanently resettle its population. Both the White House and the Tel Aviv regime claimed that the Arab plan failed to address realities in Gaza. They said they stood by Trump's plan to expel the territory's Palestinian residents and transform it into a "Riviera" owned by the United States. "The current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance," National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement on Tuesday. "President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas. We look forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region." Israel's foreign ministry also said in a statement that with "Trump's idea, there is an opportunity for the Gazans to have free choice based on their free will. This should be encouraged!" "Instead, Arab states have rejected this opportunity, without giving it a fair chance, and continue to level baseless accusations against Israel." Arab League Assistant Secretary General Hossam Zaki said the Israeli foreign ministry's response to the Arab plan was "against humanity and against morals." He said Trump's proposal "is against international law and, we have said this time and again, this is not a way to treat this man-made crisis." "This is a war that has been waged by Israel partly with the aim of driving Palestinians out of their territory." Trump proposed in February that Washington would take over control of the Gaza Strip possibly with the help of US troops to create a "Riviera" of West Asia. He said the displaced Palestinians would have no right of return since, he claimed, they would have "much better housing" in Egypt, Jordan and other countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Israeli military chief hints at resumption of war on Gaza Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 1:36 PM The Israeli military's new chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has acknowledged that the regime has failed to defeat the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas as he hinted at the possibility of resuming the war on Gaza. "I accept command of the (Israeli military) with modesty and humility... Hamas has indeed suffered a severe blow, but it has not yet been defeated. The mission is not yet accomplished," Zamir said during his inauguration Wednesday. Addressing the incoming military chief, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "A very heavy responsibility rests on your shoulders." "The results of the war will have significance for generations, we are determined to achieve... victory," he added. Zamir is close to Netanyahu, having served as his military secretary about 10 years ago. He was sworn in as the new military chief to replace General Herzi Halevi, who resigned in January, soon after the Gaza ceasefire deal was agreed. Both the Israeli military and the internal spy agency Shin Bet have acknowledged failure to prevent the historic Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, but Netanyahu has so far resisted a more general inquiry that would look at the responsibility of his cabinet. There appears to be a push by Netanyahu to change his military and spy chiefs with whom he has been sparring over the past 16 months. Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. It has killed over 48,400 Palestinians there so far. In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives. During the first phase of the deal, Hamas exchanged 33 Israeli captives and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinians. The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, with Israel calling for an extension of the truce to allow the release of the remaining captives. There has been no mention by the regime of any commitment to end the war or fully withdraw its troops, however. Hamas has insisted on proceeding to negotiations on a permanent ceasefire before agreeing to any further releases. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's Shin Bet acknowledges failure to prevent al-Aqsa Storm Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 2:10 AM The Israeli regime's internal spy agency Shin Bet has admitted its shortcomings in preventing a historic October 7, 2023 resistance operation, marking a significant acknowledgment of lapses that led to one of the most significant defeats for Tel Aviv. In a statement released on Tuesday, Shin Bet's chief, Ronen Bar, conceded that the agency had "failed in its mission" to thwart the operation, codenamed al-Aqsa Storm, during which 240 Zionists were ensnared and major Israeli outposts infiltrated after the regime's military and police were caught off guard. Bar wished "Shin Bet had acted differently in the years leading" up to the development. The agency has acknowledged significant gaps in intelligence gathering and an overreliance on existing preventive measures, leading to a misjudgment of the intentions and compatibilities of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, which carried out the operation alongside its fellow resistance groups. The acknowledgment came days after an "internal investigation" revealed that, despite possessing intelligence on Hamas' plans, indicators had not been perceived as immediate threats. The probe carried out by the Israeli military criticized the regime's overconfidence in intelligence assessments and its underestimation of Hamas' capabilities, mistakes which contributed to the devastating outcome for the regime. After launching the strike, Hamas retained the hundreds-strong Zionists in captivity, conditioning their release on the freedom of numerous Palestinian prisoners, thousands of whom have returned home so far in exchange for a handful of the captives. Besides failing to confront the resistance fighters storming the occupied Palestinian territories during the operation, the regime signally failed to realize its intended goal of "eliminating" Hamas during a subsequent war of genocide it launched against the Gaza Strip, despite its killing more than 48,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, throughout the brutal military onslaught. The recent revelations have, meanwhile, set off growing calls within the Israeli regime for a comprehensive inquiry to examine the failures of both security agencies and political officials in preventing the operation. However, the regime's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to commit to such an investigation, leading to increased scrutiny and demands for accountability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump hails retaliatory tariffs in defense of America's jobs and its soul Manufacturers are already shifting some operations from Asia in response to his policy, Trump says. By Mike Firn for RFA 2025.03.05 BANGKOK -- U.S. President Donald Trump defended on Tuesday his policy on tariffs saying reciprocal duties to be imposed across the board from April 2 would not only protect U.S. jobs but would defend the soul of the country. Trump, in his address to a joint session of Congress six weeks after taking office for a second term, said tariffs was "a beautiful word" and his policy was already seeing manufacturers relocating facilities to the U.S. from Asia. "On April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in and whatever they charge us on tariffs we will charge them, a reciprocal back and forth," Trump said to the applause of his Republican supporters. "If they use non-monetary tariffs to keep us out of their market, we will use non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market." Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. imposed 25% duties on Mexican and Canadian imports and doubled tariffs imposed on China last month to 20%. China responded immediately, taxing U.S. farm imports by as much as 15%. It also imposed export and investment restrictions on 25 American firms, citing national security. "The Chinese people will not be intimidated," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular news conference. In his speech to Congress, Trump said China was already taxing U.S. exporters too much. "China's average tariff is twice what we charge them," he said, adding that he would match any country's retaliatory tariffs. Trump said the threat of tariffs had already had an impact on the business plans of Japan's Honda, America's Apple and Taiwan chipmaker TSMC. All three companies recently announced large investments to shift some manufacturing to the U.S. "If you don't make your product in America you will pay a tariff," Trump said. "Tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs, they are about protecting the soul of our country." While economists have warned of the impact of tariffs on pushing up prices for U.S. consumers, Trump dismissed concerns of any negative impact. "There may be a little bit of a disturbance but we're OK with that," he said. Trump said he could balance the budget while offering "tax cuts for everyone." China's premier Li Qiang said China's economy would match last year's growth in spite of a trade war with the U.S. Speaking at the opening of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing on Wednesday, he said the economy would expand by around 5% this year. Li said Beijing was willing to let the budget deficit expand to fuel an upturn in domestic demand as the "main engine and anchor" of growth. Trading accusations on drugs Part of the reason for Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada is what he says is their failure to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States, which the U.S. president said Tuesday was "destroying our families." Both of those countries have defended their actions to stop drug smuggling. Trump has also accused China of failing to stamp out production of the synthetic opioid but China says it has already done its part to control the drug and it should not be blamed for a U.S. "governance failure." On Tuesday, Beijing released a white paper highlighting the steps it had taken to control the spread of fentanyl. "These have delivered notable results," it said. Reporting on the findings, the state-run tabloid Global Times hit out at Trump for blaming China for America's opioid problem and punishing it with tariffs. "Shifting the responsibility for domestic governance failures onto others and abusing tariffs as a means of pressure and coercion will not cure America's ills, nor will it help Washington achieve its political objectives," it said in an editorial. In his speech, Trump also repeated his pledge to take control of the Panama Canal. "It was given away by the Carter administration for one dollar but that agreement has been violated," he said. "We didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama and we're taking it back." Earlier on Tuesday, Hong Kong's CK Hutchison Holding said a consortium including America's BlackRock would acquire Hutchison Ports and Panama Ports giving it control of the ports at either end of the canal. Edited by Taejun Kang. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cambodia's king approves law allowing criminal charges for Khmer Rouge denial Those who 'trivialize, reject or dispute' crimes committed during the regime's rule face up to 5 years in prison. By RFA Khmer 2025.03.05 -- King Norodom Sihamoni has approved a law that allows prosecutors to bring criminal charges for denying the existence of crimes committed during Cambodia's Khmer Rouge period. Those who "deny, trivialize, reject or dispute the authenticity of crimes" committed during the regime's rule face between one and five years in prison and fines from 10 million riel (US$2,480) to 50 million riel (US$12,420) under the law, which the king signed on March 1. The Khmer Rouge regime was responsible for the deaths of more than 1 million people from starvation, overwork or mass executions between 1975 and 1979. The law was requested last year by Hun Sen, the former prime minister who handed power to his son in 2023. It replaces a 2013 law that more narrowly focused on denial of Khmer Rouge crimes. It was unclear why Hun Sen initiated the measure. But he made the request to the Council of Ministers in May 2024 the same month that he called for an inquiry into disparaging social media comments about him that were posted on TikTok and Facebook in Vietnamese. Some of the comments read: "Vietnam sacrificed its blood for peace in Cambodia," and "Don't forget tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteers who were killed in Cambodia." Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge commander who fled to Vietnam in 1977 amid internal purges. He later rose to power in a government installed by Vietnam after its forces invaded in late 1978 and quickly ousted the Khmer Rouge regime. Vietnamese forces remained in Cambodia for the next decade battling Khmer Rouge guerrillas based in sanctuaries on the Thai border. Ideas and statements Human rights activists have criticized the law as divisive and have warned that it could be used to stifle criticism of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, or CPP, which has historical ties to Vietnam. For Hun Sen and the CPP, the Vietnam-led ouster of the Khmer Rouge was Cambodia's moment of salvation, according to opinion writer David Hutt. "For today's beleaguered and exiled political opposition in Cambodia, the invasion by Hanoi was yet another curse, meaning the country is still waiting for true liberation, by which most people mean the downfall of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Hun Sen and his family," he wrote for Radio Free Asia last month. But it's not the government's proper role to mandate a version of history, said law and democratic governance expert Vorn Chan Lout. Being punished for ideas and statements that differ from those in power is something that also occurred under the Khmer Rouge, he added. "This doesn't reflect a country that has advanced ideas and views," he told RFA. The law was approved by the Council of Ministers in January. The National Assembly and the Senate, where Hun Sen now serves as president, gave its unanimous approval in February. Last month, the Ministry of Justice criticized Hutt's opinion article, noting that at least 17 European countries have similar laws that criminalize Holocaust denial or the denial of other crimes against humanity. Some of those laws allow for penalties of up to 10 years in prison, the ministry said in a Feb. 18 statement. "Cambodia's legislation is not an exception, but rather a necessary step to preserve historical truth and protect social harmony," it said. "The denial or glorification of these crimes is not an exercise of free speech," the ministry said. "Such actions constitute a profound insult to the memory of those who perished and inflict renewed pain upon surviving victims and their families." Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China doubles estimate for people affected in Tibet quake to 120,000 Rights groups worry that corruption could hamper rebuilding effort. By Khando Yangzom and Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan 2025.03.05 -- Chinese authorities are now reporting that more than 120,000 people -- twice their previous estimate -- were affected in the deadly earthquake that shook the region in January and killed at least 126 people. Previously, they had said 60,000 were affected by the 7.1-magnitude quake struck that Jan. 7 in Dingri county of Shigatse prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region, close to the border with Nepal. The increase suggests that damage from the quake was more extensive than previously reported. The higher figure came out at a ceremony in Gurum village in Dingri county to commemorate that China has begun rebuilding eight villages heavily damaged in the quake. Authorities said they aimed to relocate over 120,000 displaced residents into new homes by the end of the year, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the official death toll remains at 126 people killed, with no updates since Jan. 8, but Tibetan sources have told Radio Free Asia that the toll was likely higher, given that at least 100 people were killed in the town of Dramtso alone. Most of the villages will be rebuilt in the same place, except for those that were located on the earthquake belt or in areas prone to landslides or floods, state media reported. Those villages will have to be built anew in a different location. Transparency concerns Experts and rights groups are concerned about transparency issues and fear that corruption could be present in the reconstruction efforts. "Given the Chinese government's previous record of forced relocations, we will be watching for information to see if these relocations are voluntary," Maya Wang, the Associate China Director at New York-based Human Rights Watch, told RFA Tibetan. "Right now we do not know, and it's unclear if we will ever find out, given the authorities' tight restrictions on information." The launch ceremony of the reconstruction work for eight earthquake-hit villages, at Gurum Village of Chamco Township in Dingri County, China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 3, 2025. Wang urged the Chinese government to provide "unfettered access" to independent researchers and observers in the area so they can verify the human rights situation on the ground. Bhuchung Tsering, head of the Research and Monitoring Unit at the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet, welcomed the news of the start of efforts to rehabilitate those affected. But he added that it is difficult to get a clear understanding of the actual data and population of those affected as we can only rely on what the Chinese government announces. He further stated that it's important to ensure that the housing reconstruction project in Dingri doesn't experience the same "corruption issues" that occurred during disaster relief efforts following the deadly 2010 earthquake in Sichuan province. In that magnitude-6.9 quake, nearly 3,000 people died. "It's hard to predict why they have revised the numbers," Kalpit Mankikar, China fellow at the New Delhi, India-based Observer Research Foundation, told RFA Tibetan. "But they are going to construct many more houses. I see this as a kind of a justification to create more houses to push the infrastructure," he said. "But who uses these houses is a matter of big conjecture," "Will it be Tibetans who live there? Or will they get the people from the mainland, or from other provinces to move in?" Mankikar said that one way to kickstart China's ailing economy is to build houses and invest in infrastructure, and that this might be the reason why China is eager to rebuild. Chinese-style homes? Tenzin Norgay, a Research Analyst at ICT, told RFA that he worried the plan to put so many people into new homes before the end of the year might not be feasible, that the quickly built homes might ignore Tibetan customs and traditional architecture, and that relocated residents might be moved more remote areas. He pointed out that after the 2010 Sichuan earthquake, the new homes reflected a Chinese-style design, which deeply disappointed Tibetans. A total of 79 schools in Dingri county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake in January, but all 79 were able to resume classes on Wednesday, the first day of the new semester.. Of the 79, some 76 schools satisfactorily met safety standards after they were repaired, state media said. The remaining three schools, however need to be completely reconstructed, so the 1,479 students attending those schools were able to transfer to four other schools ahead of the new semester. Additional reporting by Tenzin Dickyi and Tashi Wangchuk. Edited by Tenzin Pema, Eugene Whong, and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with Paraguayan President Pena US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 5, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Paraguayan President Santiago Pena today. Secretary Rubio congratulated President Pena on Paraguay's first ever Foreign Military Sales purchase - the acquisition of a primary radar system from a U.S. company in February. This purchase will support aerial surveillance to counter narcotics and weapons trafficking, while supporting economic growth for both countries. Secretary Rubio and President Pena affirmed the enduring nature of the U.S.-Paraguayan bilateral relationship and reiterated their interest in deepening our partnership on topics such as defense, counternarcotics, and ICT infrastructure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with Singaporean Foreign Minister Balakrishnan US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 5, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan today. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Singapore strategic partnership and our shared commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders discussed regional and global challenges and opportunities, including maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and cooperation on counterproliferation, energy, and critical and emerging technology. The officials expressed shared commitment to prioritizing economic growth in both countries and exchanged views on ways to further strengthen bilateral security ties for the benefit of Americans, Singaporeans, and all others across the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Kombos US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 5, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos today and expressed appreciation for Cyprus' important role in the Eastern Mediterranean and its assistance with departures of American citizens from regional conflict zones. The Secretary and Foreign Minister Kombos also discussed regional energy projects, ending the conflict in Ukraine, and the importance of continued military cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Targets Houthi Leaders Involved in Smuggling and Procuring Weapons U.S. Department of the Treasury March 5, 2025 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is taking action against seven high-ranking members of Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis. These individuals have smuggled military-grade items and weapon systems into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and also negotiated Houthi weapons procurements from Russia. OFAC is also designating one Houthi-affiliated operative and his company that have recruited Yemeni civilians to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine and generated revenue to support the Houthis' militant operations. "By seeking weapons from a growing array of international suppliers, Houthi leaders have shown their intent to continue their reckless and destabilizing actions in the Red Sea region," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "The United States will use all available tools to disrupt the Houthis' terrorist activities and degrade their ability to threaten U.S. personnel, our regional partners, and global maritime trade." Today's action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, and builds on OFAC's June 17, 2024, July 31, 2024, October 2, 2024, and December 19, 2024 actions targeting Houthi weapons procurement operatives and suppliers. The U.S. Department of State designated Ansarallah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, effective February 16, 2024, for having committed or attempted to commit, posing a significant risk of committing, or having participated in training to commit acts of terrorism. Yesterday, the Department of State announced the re-designation of Ansarallah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. HOUTHI POLITICAL AND MILITANT FIGURES Houthi political operatives, including some of the group's most prominent members, have sought new sources of advanced weapons, military grade materiel, and foreign support to drive attacks. Mohammad Abdulsalam (Abdulsalam) is the Houthis' Oman-based spokesman and has played a key role in managing the Houthis' internal and external financing network. Abdulsalam has also facilitated the Houthis' efforts to secure weapons and other support from Russia. As part of this effort, Abdulsalam has traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel and has coordinated with Russian military personnel to arrange for additional Houthi delegations to visit Russia. Eshaq Abdulmalek Abdullah Almarwani (Almarwani) is a high-ranking Houthi operative and aide to Abdulsalam. Almarwani has participated in high-level Houthi delegations to Russia for discussions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow and has coordinated with other high-ranking Houthi operatives to advance Houthi interests internationally. Mahdi Mohammed Hussein Al-Mashat (Al-Mashat) is the Chairman of the Houthi-aligned Supreme Political Council (SPC). As SPC Chairman, Al-Mashat has worked to increase cooperation between the Houthis and the Government of Russia, including with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Also, Al-Mashat issues official statements on behalf of the Houthis outlining the group's militant and diplomatic positions. Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi (Mohamed Ali) is an important operative within the Houthi group, serving as a member of the SPC and former chairman of the SPC's predecessor, the Supreme Revolutionary Committee. Amid the Houthis' ongoing maritime attack campaign, Mohamed Ali has communicated with officials from Russia and the People's Republic of China (PRC) to ensure that Houthi militants do not strike Russian or PRC vessels transiting the Red Sea. Speaking on behalf of the Houthis, Mohamed Ali has outlined the Houthis' commitment to guarantee safe passage for Russian vessels. Mohamed Ali has also planned travel to Russia with other Houthi militant and intelligence operatives to discuss Russian aid to the Houthis. Ali Muhammad Muhsin Salih Al-Hadi (Al-Hadi) is the head of the Houthi-aligned Sanaa Chamber of Commerce (SCC), having served in this role since the Houthis raided and took control of the SCC in May 2023. Following his appointment to the SCC, Al-Hadi became a key financier of Houthi weapons procurement, using his position on the SCC and shell company to fund and obfuscate purchases of military-grade equipment on behalf of the Houthis. As part of this effort, he has traveled to Russia to secure defense equipment for Houthi militants and investment in Houthi-controlled industries. Abdulmalek Abdullah Mohammed E Alagri (Alagri) is a senior Houthi operative. Alagri has traveled as a member of prominent Houthi political and military delegations to Moscow, where he has represented Houthi interests in meetings with high-ranking Russian officials, as well as to the PRC. Alagri has also issued official statements on behalf of the Houthis describing the group's efforts to counter international economic pressure against Houthi-aligned banking institutions in Yemen. Khaled Hussein Saleh Gaber (Gaber) is a Houthi operative who has traveled on Houthi delegations to Russia, where he has participated in meetings with Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. Gaber also maintains a close relationship with Houthi financial official Said Al-Jamal and coordinates illicit procurement and finance activities with Al-Jamal's network. Abdulsalam, Almarwani, Al-Mashat, Mohamed Ali, Al-Hadi, Alagri, and Gaber are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Ansarallah. RECRUITMENT OF YEMENIS TO FIGHT FOR RUSSIA Houthi leaders have devised numerous revenue-generating schemes to enable their attack campaign, often at the expense of Yemen's most vulnerable populations. In one such effort, individuals acting on behalf of the Houthis operated a lucrative human smuggling operation, recruiting Yemeni civilians to fight for Russia in Ukraine, often under false and misleading pretenses. Abdulwali Abdoh Hasan Al-Jabri (Al-Jabri), a Houthi militant operative who served as a so-called major general in the Houthi militia, facilitated a key part of this effort using his company, Al-Jabri General Trading and Investment Co (Al-Jabri Co). Through Al-Jabri Co, Al-Jabri facilitated the transfer of Yemeni civilians to Russian military units fighting in Ukraine in exchange for cash, generating a new source of revenue on behalf of Houthi leaders. Al-Jabri is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Ansarallah. Al-Jabri Co is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Al-Jabri. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons is/are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt, U.S. sanctions generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities with designated or otherwise blocked persons. Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Exports, reexports, or transfers of items subject to U.S. export controls involving persons included on the SDN List pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, may be subject to additional restrictions administered by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security. See 15 C.F.R. section 744.8 for additional information. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here and to submit a request for removal, click here. Click here for more information on the individuals and entity identified today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement from the foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany (E3) on humanitarian access in Gaza. 5 March 2025 Joint statement on behalf of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and the UK (E3): We, the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and the United Kingdom recall our continued support for the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. It is vital that the ceasefire is sustained, all the hostages are released, and continued flows of humanitarian aid to Gaza are ensured. We urge all parties to engage constructively in negotiating the subsequent phases of the deal to help ensure its full implementation and a permanent end to hostilities. We welcome Egyptian, Qatari and US efforts in mediating and seeking to agree an extension to the ceasefire. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. We express our deep concern at the Government of Israel's announcement on 2 March to halt all entry of goods and supplies into Gaza. We call on the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza. This includes supply of items such as medical equipment, shelter items, and water and sanitation equipment, essential to meet humanitarian and early recovery needs in Gaza, but which face restrictions under Israel's "dual use" list. A halt on goods and supplies entering Gaza, such as that announced by the Government of Israel would risk violating International Humanitarian Law. Humanitarian aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool. We reiterate that the civilians of Gaza who have suffered so much must be allowed to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. All hostages must be unconditionally released and Hamas must end their degrading and humiliating treatment. We reiterate our unwavering solidarity with their families and with the Israeli people in the face of the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023. We need all parties to uphold the ceasefire and ensure it leads to a sustainable peace, the reconstruction of Gaza, and to allow for a credible pathway towards a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace. UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement at the Panel on Early Warning and Genocide Prevention UK Statement at the Panel on Early Warning and Genocide Prevention. Delivered by UK Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders. 5 March 2025 Location: Geneva Delivered on: 5 March 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Mr President, Deputy High Commissioner, The UK thanks the Special Adviser for her presentation. As we approach the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Responsibility to Protect, protecting people from atrocities remains vital and necessary. To highlight one worrying conflict, we continue to see disturbing reports of ethnically motivated attacks and killings in Darfur. The international community must hold perpetrators to account. As well as protection from and accountability for atrocities, we need earlier action to prevent atrocities from occurring in the first place. We are concerned by escalating tensions across South Sudan including between parties to the 2018 peace agreement and call on all parties to act urgently to prevent further violence, including against civilians. The UK supports efforts to improve early warning systems, including leveraging global advances in data analytics and Open-Source Intelligence, allowing the international community to identify and understand the emerging risk of atrocities. Mr President, Panellists, How can the 2 Special Advisers ensure that the UN system's existing foresight and risk analysis processes better incorporate an atrocity prevention lens in all its work and that it is more joined up? Thank you NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN report reveals brutal attacks targeting Muslims, refugees in Central African Republic 5 March 2025 - A UN report released on Wednesday has uncovered a pattern of grave human rights violations committed by armed groups in southeast Central African Republic (CAR), targeting Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees. Investigations by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) and the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, MINUSCA, found evidence of summary executions, sexual violence and torture. Other violations included cruel and degrading treatment, forced labour, and looting of homes and shops. Decades of instability CAR has been plagued by decades of instability and communal violence along religious and ethnic lines. UN assessments suggest that one in five people are displaced internally or outside the country's borders due to the conflict. The fighting has also taken a terrible toll on vital infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. The civil war in Sudan and tensions in southern Chad, have led to an influx of refugees, asylum seekers and returnees to already overwhelmed areas of CAR. Climate of terror The report detailed two waves of attacks in the Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou prefectures, in October 2024 and January 2025, in which at least 24 people were killed, including victims who had been summarily executed. The attacks were directed and coordinated by elements of Wagner Ti Azande (WTA), an armed group with ties to the national army. WTA originally belonged to another armed group called Azande Ani Kpi Gbe (Azanikpigbe), whose members were also involved in the attacks. In early October, both groups attacked the towns of Dembia and Rafai, in the Mbomou prefecture, mainly targeting the Fulani pastoral community and other Muslims, as well as a camp for Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers. In Dembia, WTA and Azanikpigbe fighters publicly executed a 36-year-old Fulani man, "creating a climate of terror among the population", according to the report, while seven other Fulani men were tied up and thrown alive into the Ouara River. Attackers also carried out widespread sexual violence, with at least 24 victims, including 14 women and seven girls who were raped. On January 21, a separate attack on a Fulani camp near Mboki, in Haut-Mbomou, left at least 12 dead. Call for accountability Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, underscored the need to bring perpetrators to justice. "These horrible crimes must not go unpunished. Accountability is fundamental to ensuring such violations never happen again," he said, calling for the ties between the WTA group and the national army to be clarified and for full transparency regarding the group's actions and its lawfulness. "If this is not possible, the group should be disarmed." According to the report, at least 14 WTA members were arrested in Mboki and Bangui after the attack on the Fulani camp near Mboki. Limited State presence The report also highlighted the limited presence of State security forces in parts of the prefectures of Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou, fuelling the climate of impunity. Valentine Rugwabiza, the head of MINUSCA, warned that despite continued efforts by the Government - with support from the Mission - the situation in the two regions remains deeply concerning. "Failure to adequately respond to these crimes would undermine the hard-earned security gains and further erode social cohesion in areas where efforts have been made with communities to defuse tensions and promote peaceful coexistence," she said. Response and ongoing efforts In response to the violence, MINUSCA has intensified efforts to protect civilians and support the restoration of State authority in the affected regions. Since October 2024, the Mission has deployed forces to Dembia, setting up a temporary operational base. In January, it also advocated for more Central African armed forces (FACA) troops to reinforce security. In addition, it facilitated a visit by the regional governor to Dembia in November, helping promote dialogue and reconciliation among the region's communities. The Central African Government has also taken steps to address the violence, including arresting some WTA members. It has also announced plans to establish a Tribunal of Grande Instance in Zemio for affected communities to access justice and combat impunity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Air Force leaders discuss future force design Published March 5, 2025 By Staff Sgt. Emmeline James Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs AURORA, Colo. (AFNS) -- U.S. Air Force leaders discussed force modernization and strategic planning, emphasizing the priorities for future capabilities, deterrence and joint force integration during a panel at the Air and Space Force Association Warfare Symposium March 4. Lt. Gen. Dave Harris, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures, stated the Air Force must be prepared to project power, defend the homeland and deter adversaries by combining both traditional and emerging capabilities. "We need more options for the president, which means we need a more capable Air Force," Harris said. "We can't just kick the door down; we need to deliver decisive power, sustain operations and protect the homeland simultaneously." The panel, which included Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, Director of Force Design, Integration and Wargaming, and Brig. Gen. Ryan Keeney, Director of Concepts and Strategy, discussed the implications of China's military aircraft and satellite technology advancements. The Air Force senior leaders discussed the importance of modernization for maintaining deterrence. Harris pointed out that modernization efforts have slowed in recent decades due to shifting defense priorities and emphasized the necessity of developing future capabilities. Kunkel highlighted the efforts the Air Force is taking to determine future requirements and capabilities to strengthen operations. "Our war games are showing promising results," Kunkel said. "By leveraging a mix of asymmetric capabilities, joint integration and technological innovation, we are evaluating ways to strengthen operational effectiveness." Panelists also discussed the importance of non-kinetic warfare, including cyber and electronic warfare, in modern military operations. "It's not just about dropping bombs anymore," Keeney said. "We're integrating cyber, space and electronic warfare into a layered strategy to create operational advantages." Budget constraints were another critical topic of discussion. With an eight percent reallocation of defense spending being considered, panelists expressed concern about how funding changes could impact modernization efforts. "The budget cannot define what it takes to win," Harris said. "We now have a methodology to measure risk and ensure that funding decisions are understood in terms of mission impact and operational effectiveness." The panelists also emphasized that strategic deterrence, power projection, and joint force coordination are top priorities for future planning. Kunkel concluded by stating force design efforts are aimed at ensuring long-term readiness and modernization strategies. "Thirty years from now, I want Airmen to look back and say, 'Those leaders in 2025 built a war-winning force,'" Kunkel said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senior leaders discuss intelligence driving unified action Published March 5, 2025 Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs AURORA, Colo. (AFNS) -- Air Force Lt. Gen. Leah Lauderback, deputy chief of Staff, ISR and Cyber Effects Operations, and Space Force Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, deputy chief of Space Operations for Intelligence, joined a panel discussion with Mr. Greg Ryckman, Defense Intelligence Agency deputy director for Global Integration, during the Air and Space Force Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, March 4. The two senior Department of the Air Force intelligence officers joined the stage alongside Ryckman to discuss the current intelligence environment, monitoring threats and on-going collaboration between combat support agencies. To begin the panel, Gagnon gave context for why America's need for intelligence is growing. He stated there has been significant changes throughout the world in the past 10 years, including the drastically decreasing gap between the U.S. and Chinese economies. "In the past 10 years, the Chinese economy has grown 78%," Gagnon stated. "Let me tell you why this is important... what makes you rich can make you strong." Gagnon explained the efforts China has taken to increase its defense budget and noted they've increased on-orbit assets by 650% since the U.S. Space Force's creation in 2019. Lauderback spoke about the importance of unifying the Department of Defense's intel capabilities with combat support agencies such as the DIA. She explained senior intelligence leaders are working to get intel information to as many levels throughout the DoD as possible. We want to be able to provide the intentions of the adversary," Lauderback said. "We want to provide their capabilities, and we want to give [commanders and decision-makers] confidence in the intelligence so that [they] can make the best decisions in a high-end conflict." With DIA acting as the lead to unify intelligence information, Gagnon said they are putting the "'common' back in the common intel picture," emphasizing its importance for global synchronization. "Our design in the Department of Defense is to deliver unified action," Gagnon said. "That requires a unified set of understanding about where the enemy is and what their intent is, so this is a very important initiative." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic State in retreat after offensive in Somalia's Puntland By Harun Maruf, Jeff Seldin March 05, 2025 One month ago, on the morning of Feb. 4, forces from Somalia's Puntland region attacked Islamic State terror group fighters, who responded with drones, suicide attacks and infantry charges. Regional officials said 15 soldiers were killed in the fighting near the village of Qurac. But hours later, the terrorist fighters were forced to vacate their positions, leaving behind at least 57 of their dead. The following week, the Islamic State, also known as IS, ISIS or Daesh, carried out a major counterattack, sending multiple suicide bombers and a wave of fighters against Somali forces in the Togjaceel valley, in Puntland's Cal Miskaad mountains. Regional officials say the gun battle resulted in some 100 fatalities 28 soldiers and more than 70 militants. But again, IS fighters had to retreat, and soon lost three bases to the Puntland forces. The battles are part of a recent offensive against Islamic State fighters holed up in the mountains of semi-autonomous Puntland. Observers say the success, while most certainly welcome, came somewhat as a surprise. Military commanders had expected that as they got closer to the area's main IS strongholds of Shebaab, Dhaadaar and Dhasaan, that the terror group would fight hard and launch frequent counterattacks. But that has not been the case. The Puntland forces have been capturing caves and small villages one after the other, and they have routed IS from the strategic 40-kilometer-long Togjaceel Valley, from Turmasaale to Dhasaan. Somali officials told VOA it appears that the IS fighters, rather than trying to hold their positions, have fled, breaking into three groups, all headed in different directions. About 100 IS fighters, along with some family members, have sought to escape to Karinka Qandala, another mountainous area to the north of the group's former stronghold in the Togjaceel Valley. Two larger groups fled to Tog Miraale and Tog Curaar, to the west and northwest. The group that went northwest, according to officials, was hit by airstrikes in the vicinity of Miraale Village. "Intelligence assessments indicate a high likelihood of attempts to establish new safe havens following their retreat," according to Brigadier General Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh, the former commander of Somalia's U.S.-trained Danab forces. "The offensive, though appearing conventional, has consistently involved guerilla tactics," said Sheikh, who has been closely following the offensive in his home region. "The Togjaceel Valley defeat will likely drive ISIS to intensify asymmetric warfare, launching an attempt on irregular campaign against Puntland." Sheikh said he believes Puntland's counterterrorism force has the numbers and the resources to carry out a protracted conflict with IS. The United Arab Emirates has been providing air support, including airstrikes against the militants. The United States also carried out two rounds of airstrikes targeting IS last month. The U.S. strikes are thought to have killed 16 militants, including Ahmed Maeleninine, described by U.S. officials as a "recruiter, financier and external operations leader responsible for the deployment of jihadists into the United States and across Europe." The Pentagon declined comment when asked about the apparent IS retreat. But a U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss an ongoing operation, indicated Washington is prepared to potentially lend additional help. "The Department remains committed to supporting our partners in our shared efforts to disrupt, degrade and defeat terrorist organizations in the Horn of Africa," the official told VOA. Other observers said the "persistent" pressure by the Somali forces, along with help from the U.S. and UAE, appears to be paying off. "Indications [are] that the Puntland forces are making real progress against ISIS in Somalia's hideouts," a former senior Western counterterrorism official told VOA, requesting anonymity to discuss the ongoing developments. "The question is whether they [the Puntland forces] will be able to continue to hold the captured hideouts, or whether ISIS will be able to return in the coming weeks and months," the official said. If the Somali forces are able to hold the captured territory, though, the damage to the terror group could extend well beyond Somalia's borders. "Given the central role of the al-Karrar office in financing the wider ISIS network, there could be some knock-on impact," said the former Western counterterrorism official. Al-Karrar is one of nine regional Islamic State offices established to help sustain the terror group's capabilities. Since 2022, the office has been a key cog in the terror group's financial network, funneling money to affiliates in Afghanistan and elsewhere in Africa. Concerns, however, remain. Regional security analysts warn IS could regroup if Puntland's counterterrorism forces are unable to maintain their pursuit. "Their mobile special forces have been the pointed end of the spear," said Samira Gaid, a Horn of Africa security analyst. "For the moment, it appears that the Puntland forces are committed and well resourced," she told VOA. "However, much will depend on the Puntland forces then securing and manning the territories it will liberate to ensure the group does not make a comeback." As for IS, the terror group is "attempting to melt into the population, though this is difficult," said Gaid. "It's the natural progression when faced by a force that is superior." The tactic also may have bought IS time to hide some of its most prominent and most important leaders. Somali forces have found no trace of Abdul Qadir Mumin, thought to lead not just IS-Somalia but the entire IS terror operation. IS-Somalia operational commander Abdirahman Fahiye Isse and IS-Somalia finance chief Abdiweli Mohamed Yusuf are also in hiding. Somali officials have nonetheless appealed to them, and to Fahiye in particular, to surrender. "The people whom you think will give you a sanctuary are guiding the army," Puntland military commander General Adan Abdihashi said after capturing Mumin's headquarters on March 1. "Don't put young people in harm's way," Abdihashi said. "I swear to God, you will get the punishment you deserve." Said Abdullahi Deni, Puntland region's leader, has also offered IS members in Somalia, including women and children, a chance to surrender and for foreign fighters to possibly even return to their countries of origin. "They [IS] envisioned it as a place where they cannot be seen, strategically a tough place, and gives them access to the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Gulf," he said. But he has warned Puntland's forces are prepared to hunt and eliminate remnants of the terror group "until all terrorists, their movement and their bases are eliminated." Various estimates from Somali and Western counterterrorism officials put the number of IS fighters in Somalia at up to 1,600, bolstered by an influx of fighters from Ethiopia, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Yemen. Experts such as Samira Gaid said IS-Somalia's growing numbers combined with the difficult terrain in Puntland's mountains may have led to overconfidence. "The miscalculation to face the Puntland forces seemed to have been their folly," she said, adding that about 500 IS fighters have been killed in the recent fighting. IS-Somalia has suffered "grave losses," Gaid said, "and will most likely not be recovering in the short to medium term." This story is a collaboration between VOA's Africa Division and the News Center. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump threatens to kill Palestinians in Gaza, Hamas if Israeli captives aren't released Iran Press TV Thursday, 06 March 2025 6:55 AM US President Donald Trump has threatened that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and members of the Hamas resistance group will be killed if they do not immediately release the remaining Israeli captives held in the besieged territory. Trump issued the warning in a social media post on Wednesday after meeting eight freed captives at the White House. "Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies ..., or it is OVER for you," he said. The US president also reiterated Washington's full military assistance to Israel, which is worth billions of dollars, saying, "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say." He further warned that there would be "hell to pay" if the Israeli captives are not released immediately. "This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance," he added. "Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!" The post came hours after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the US has been negotiating directly with Hamas to try to secure the release of the captives. Israel launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. The Tel Aviv regime failed to achieve its declared objectives of freeing captives and eliminating Hamas despite killing at least 48,440 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza. Israel accepted Hamas's longstanding negotiation terms under a three-phase Gaza ceasefire, which began on January 19. In phase one, which ended on Saturday, a total of 33 Israeli captives, including eight bodies, were released in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian abductees held in the regime's jails. However, Israel refused to move forward to the second stage of the truce, which would lead to a permanent end to the war, a full withdrawal of the occupation troops from Gaza, and the release of all captives. Hamas said Israel had been violating the agreement by "evading the commitment to end the war and withdraw completely from Gaza." After the expiry of the first phase of the ceasefire, Israel blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza in flagrant breach of international law. The blocking has also been condemned as a crime against humanity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address REARM Europe: EU Seeks 'To Turn The Page' On Defense At Special Summit By Ray Furlong and Rikard Jozwiak March 06, 2025 After crisis meetings in Paris and London, European leaders are now gathering in Brussels for a "special summit" where the focus will include plans for a huge military boost. The draft conclusions, seen by RFE/RL, mention beefing up air defense, artillery, and "deep precision strike capabilities." "The European Union will truly turn the page" on defense, a senior EU official said on the eve of the summit. He added there was a "clear willingness" seen "from all" on this. This event was first announced on February 27, in response to fast-moving diplomatic developments. But since then, the pace has got even faster -- with that full-on bust up in the Oval Office, followed by Washington freezing military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also due to take part, though it was not immediately clear whether he would do so in person or virtually. What's The Plan To REARM Europe? A key item will be the plan outlined by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on March 4 called REARM Europe (her capitalization). It envisages releasing up to 800 billion euros ($844 billion) for EU members states to spend on defense. The summit's draft conclusions, seen by RFE/RL, broadly welcome the plan, setting the stage for more detailed plans to be approved at the next European Council on March 20-21. Noting the need to "substantially increase defense expenditure," the text calls for "action at the EU level" to boost military capabilities in the face of "threats posed by Russia and Belarus." EU leaders are also set to welcome new lending rules outlined by the European Investment Bank, freeing up funds to finance projects such as barracks and military hospitals. Ahead of the summit, there was a broadly warm response to von der Leyen's letter. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said it was an "important first step" while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis posted on social media: "We must now work out the details." This reflects the fact that, despite the upbeat rhetoric of European officials, much of the details still remain to be put in place and there are questions about whether the overall price tag is realistic. Critics have argued that the EU is not making new money available but merely rearranging existing budget elements. Can Europe Defend Itself Without US Help? The plan comes as Washington announced a pause on its military assistance to Ukraine, and some have framed it as Europe preparing for a worst-case scenario without a US security umbrella. Mostly, European politicians have rejected this. "We should not give up on the US," said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on March 4, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters at the weekend London conference: "I do not accept that the US is an unreliable ally." But the fact that they're saying such things at all is a sign of how rattled Europe is by decisions and statements being made in Washington. And on the eve of the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron raised additional doubts. "I want to believe the US will stay at our side," he said in a televised addressed to the nation. "But we must be ready if that is not the case." Can Zelenskyy Repair Relations With Trump? "The situation in Ukraine, given notably the position of the new US administration, has changed," said the senior EU official. "This is the starting point for the special European Council." European leaders will address what they can do to fill the gap left by the aid freeze to support Ukraine's armed forces. But the summit was not expected to provide significant new announcements on this. The main focus remains repairing the rift between US President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy and there was some movement on this in the days before the summit. In his address to Congress on March 4, Trump said Zelenskyy had written to him following their recent Oval Office showdown, and that the Ukrainian leader was ready to return to the negotiating table. The next day, his national-security adviser, Mike Waltz, told Fox News that the pause on military aid could be lifted if Ukraine signed a deal giving Washington access to its mineral wealth -- which another US official said was still possible after Zelenskyy expressed regret for the White House clash. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, meanwhile, said: "I believe what the National Security Council told me in regards to that was...that they are reconsidering the funding for Ukraine, the pause in the funding." Also on March 5, a spokeswoman for the French government told reporters that President Emmanuel Macron was mulling a joint visit to Washington with Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, all three of whom were in the US capital last week. But a Paris official later clarified there were no set plans for this as yet. The question of Ukraine may also expose the lack of EU unity at the special summit. After making a TV address to the nation on March 5, Macron had dinner with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Elysee Palace on the eve of the summit. His aim was to try to get Orban, who has nurtured close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on board with a statement supporting Ukraine. It's possible Hungary will sign off on the REARM plan but refuse to approve conclusions on Ukraine. In his televised remarks, Macron said it would be "madness" to ignore the threat Russia has become for Europe and said he is open to discussing the extension of France's nuclear deterrence to Paris's allies on the Continent. Who Could Send Troops To Ukraine? As noted, this meeting follows a string of previous crisis gatherings, most recently in London on March 2. A key takeaway from that meeting was that Britain, France, and other countries would work on a joint peace plan with Ukraine, which they would then take to Washington. There may be some discussion of this on the sidelines in Brussels, but post-Brexit, this is something that is being developed away from EU meetings. Another key point from recent talks is the plan to form a European military force to deploy to Ukraine as part of a cease-fire or peace deal. So far, Britain and France have said they're ready to put boots on the ground. Starmer said in London that other countries had also stepped up but declined to name them. The senior EU official confirmed that member states had expressed willingness but "to go into details is premature." However, he added, "work needs to start and this European Council is a good moment for that work to start." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/europe-defense- summit-ukraine-crisis-trump/33337389.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Baltic Countries Feel Aftershocks From US Suspension of Ukraine Military Aid By Denis Kishinevskiy, RFE/RL's Belarus Service and Reid Standish March 06, 2025 RIGA, Latvia -- Washington's decision to pause military assistance to Ukraine following the televised argument at the White House between presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy has left the Baltic region on edge. As US shipments began to slow on March 4 amid a standoff between Kyiv and Washington, the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania quickly moved to voice their support for Kyiv while encouraging both sides to come back together and strike a deal amid fears that fallout from Trump and Zelenskyy's Oval Office dustup could embolden Russia and leave Ukraine exposed. "The most important thing now is that the negotiations do not stop, that the contacts that were established much earlier are not overshadowed by emotions," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said at a press conference. The stakes are high for the three Baltic states on NATO's eastern flank. The relatively small countries have long dealt with Russian pressure and interference and are among the strongest supporters of Ukraine -- helping Kyiv diplomatically and sending military aid as Ukrainian forces have resisted Moscow's invasion. The latest episode between Kyiv and Washington has brought a new layer of uncertainty to the region. It has also fueled calls for European governments to step up and fill potential gaps on the battlefield for Ukraine and for frontline NATO members, such as the Baltic states, in case the Trump administration decides to reduce the number of US troops deployed across the Continent. Against that backdrop, Baltic officials are throwing their weight behind a diplomatic solution that won't sideline Ukraine and would bridge the gap with the United States. "Ukraine is dedicated to achieving peace, but it must be a lasting peace, not just a break for Russia to gather strength for further aggression," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote on March 4 after a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha. How Are People In The Baltic Countries Reacting? On the streets of the region's capital cities, the frantic diplomacy around the war has brought unease and stoked concerns about closer ties between Washington and Moscow. Reactions from residents who spoke to RFE/RL in Riga and Tallinn, the Latvian and Estonian capitals, ranged from shock at an apparent U.S.-Russia reset to beliefs that the inflamed tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy will calm down in the coming days and weeks. Linas Kojala, director of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center, a Vilnius-based think tank, says many people in the Baltics are caught off-guard by the "sharp change in rhetoric" from Washington around Russia and the war in Ukraine. "People are very surprised that the United States is suddenly becoming a player in global politics that echoes similar positions as the Kremlin, at least in a narrative sense," he told RFE/RL. Zelenskyy's latest outreach to the White House and Trump's comments during his March 4 speech to a joint session of the US Congress may quell some of that anxiety. In a post on X ahead of Trump's speech, Zelenskyy proposed on March 4 a new framework for a partial cease-fire with Russia, saying Kyiv would be willing to release prisoners and agree to a truce that would ban long-range attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy also said the way his Oval Office meeting -- that ended with him leaving the White House without signing an important minerals deal -- unfolded was "regrettable" and said he was open to signing the agreement. "Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal," Zelensky wrote, while reiterating his appreciation for US support. During his address to Congress, Trump also appeared willing to patch things up with Ukraine, saying he appreciated Zelenskyy's statement and that the Ukrainian leader had sent him a letter agreeing to come to the negotiating table. "Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace," he added. What Is US Policy Toward Estonia, Latvia, And Lithuania? Still, the Trump administration's widening split with its European allies will require adjustment in the region and beyond, says Tomas Tomilinas, a member of the Lithuanian parliament. "It's evident that significant changes are taking place in US policy regarding the war in Ukraine," he told RFE/RL, adding Europe needs to invest quickly in its own defenses. "The discussion now is about creating serious financial instruments for a common European defense policy." Since the end of World War II, the United States has underpinned much of the security framework across Europe, but the Trump administration has signaled that this could change as the Pentagon conducts a review of its military footprint and eyes a potential reduction of troop numbers. Washington has said there will be no imminent pullout, but the transatlantic rift over a peace plan for the Ukraine war, including the potential deployment of European peacekeepers, has changed the conversation for policymakers. European governments have hiked military spending in recent years and many governments have announced new increases since Trump took office in January. While NATO and US military backing are crucial for the Baltic states, all three countries meet NATO's spending benchmark and are among the alliance's top contributors as a percentage of gross national product (GDP). The region also hosts more than 2,000 American troops, with approximately 1,000 in Lithuania and 600 each in Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic states also host NATO deployments from Britain, Canada, and Germany. Trump himself recently said Washington stays committed to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania but repeated his call for NATO to step up defense spending. "It's a tough neighborhood...but we're committed," he told reporters on February 28. "We're going to be very committed. And we're committed to NATO. But NATO needs to step up and the Europeans must step up more than they have." Tomilinas says European governments need to "double what we currently spend on defense" if the Continent is serious about backing Kyiv. "In Lithuania, the attitude toward supporting Ukraine has not changed," he said. "Lithuania prioritizes Ukraine's interests because, at this moment, it is safeguarding Europe's security and holding back a threat." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-zelenskyy-putin- ukraine-war-baltics-military-aid/33337368.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Confirms Direct Talks With Hamas As Trump Warns Group Of 'Hell To Pay' By RFE/RL March 06, 2025 US President Donald Trump on March 5 warned Hamas - deemed a terrorist organization by the US and EU - that there would be "hell to pay" if it does not immediately release all hostages after the White House confirmed that it had conducted secret talks with the Iran-backed, Gaza-based extremist group. The direct meeting represents a break in the long-stated US policy of not negotiating with groups it deems to be terrorist organizations, although Washington has in the past conducted such talks in secret. Trump, meanwhile, met with a group of hostages who had been released by Hamas after months of captivity following the extremist group's bloody cross-border attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. The Hamas-led militants' attack on settlements in southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, with 251 hostages being taken to Gaza. Israel retaliated by launching a devastating war in the Palestinian enclave that has killed tens of thousands of people, according to local authorities, and displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents. Trump on social media demanded that Hamas "release all of the hostages now, not later," including remains of dead hostages, "or it is OVER for you." "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say," he said. "Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!" Trump did not indicate what action he might take if Hamas failed to release the hostages. He has proposed that the United States take over the Gaza Strip, relocate the population, and rebuild the enclave -- a plan that received heavy pushback from allies and adversaries alike. When asked about the reports of direct talks with Hamas, the White House said hostage affairs envoy Adam Boehler has the authority to talk directly with the Islamist group. "When it comes to the negotiations that you're referring to, first of all, the special envoy who's engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, with providing details. She said Trump believes that dialogue with "people around the world" is "what's right for the American people." "Israel was consulted on this matter," she added. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: "Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas." It was not more specific, but Israel itself refuses to negotiate directly with the group. Two sources told Reuters that Boehler had met with Hamas representatives in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks, although it was not stated who led the Hamas side. Sources told news agencies that US negotiators are attempting to gain the release of Edan Alexander, who official say is likely the last living American hostage held by Hamas. Israeli officials have said four other U.S. hostages died while under Hamas control. Reuters quoted Taher Al-Nono, a Hamas political adviser, as saying: "I have no information about meetings with American officials, but any meeting with the American administration is beneficial for the stability of the region." Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Bloomberg News that "Hamas has fulfilled its obligations in the first phase, while Netanyahu's government is avoiding entering negotiations for the second phase." "The US administration must pressure the occupation to proceed with the second phase as stipulated in the [cease-fire] agreement." The first phase of a cease-fire on January 18 halted much of the fighting in Gaza, leading Hamas to exchange 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israeli has said fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are likely to still be alive. A second phase envisions the release of the final hostages and the prisoners held in Israel. With reporting by Reuters, Politico, and Bloomberg Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-gaza-hamas-israel- netanyahu-hostages-palestinian/33338030.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 05 March 2025 - Day 1106 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia has likely sustained approximately 90,000 casualties (killed and wounded) in the Russia-Ukraine conflict so far in 2025. Since invading Ukraine, Russia has likely sustained approximately 875,000 casualties in total. The average daily Russian casualties during February 2025 was 1,255 according to Ukrainian General Staff reporting, the lowest daily average since August 2024. The total reported Russian casualties in February 2025 was 35,140, a decrease of around 13,000 from January's total which was the second highest monthly total of the conflict. The decrease in the recorded rate of casualties, whilst remaining high, likely reflects a decrease in the tempo of Russian operations and assaults. Russia's casualty rate will likely continue to average above 1,000 a day in March 2025, with continued dismounted infantry attacks on multiple axes. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that so far, 96 combat clashes have taken place. The hottest at the moment is the situation in the Kursk and Toretsky directions. For today, the Russian enemy launched one missile and 45 air strikes, using two missiles and dropping 59 CABs, engaged 939 kamikaze drones to strike, carried out more than 3500 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian enemy twice attacked, in the direction of Peter-Ivanivka and in the area of vovcanska, one confrontation is still ongoing. In the Kupians komu direction, Russian forces during the day tried to advance to Ukrainian positions near the settlements of Golubivka and Zagrizove. In the limans komu direction Russian forces ten times attacked in the areas of novomihajlivki and new. Ukrainian warriors have stopped seven attacks of the Russian zagarbnikiv, three more fights are still ongoing. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight Russian attacks in the areas of Chasovoye Yar, Oleksandro-Shultynogo and Predtecynogo, one confrontation is still ongoing. In the Toretsky direction, Russian forces spent 19 offensive actions at the position of Ukrainian troops in the areas of Toretsk, Dachny and Diliivka, so far one confrontation is ongoing. Since the beginning of the day, the Russian enemy has 16 times tried to infiltrate Ukrainian defense in the Pokrovsky direction in the areas of Elizabethtivka, Promenya, Pi any, Kotlinogo, Bogdanivka, Kotlyarivka and Andriyivka, currently two clashes are ongoing. The Russian occupiers launched aerial strikes with controlled bombs on the areas of the settlements Zelene Pole, Pokrovsk, Chunyshine and Oleksiyivka. According to the available information, the Russian losses to date amount to 80 people have been killed and wounded, including an armored transport, eight vehicles, ten satellite terminals, BPLA control point and an automatic grenade launcher have been destroyed. In the Novopavli direction for today, Ukrainian soldiers repelled six attacks of the Russian occupation army in the areas of Konstantinopol and Burlatsky, one confrontation is still ongoing. In the Gulyaipil direction, Russian forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the area of Vilny Pol, also launched aerial strikes on the settlements of Gulyaipole, Shevchenko, Zaliznychne, Novopil, Odradne and Vesele. In the Orihiv direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled four Russian attacks in the direction of Kamiansky, Pavlivka and Lobkovy. Aviation strikes were affected by the areas of the settlement of Pyatihatki. In the Kurs komu direction today happened 27 boezitknen . Russian forces launched 16 air strikes, shot down 23 KABs, carried out 359 artillery shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including seven from the reactive systems of assault-fire. In the sivers komu and pridniprovskkomu directions the Russian opponent did not carry out active actions. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of a mechanised brigade of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and two border guard units close to Lobanovka, Kazachya Lopan, Veterinarnoye, and Volchansk (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 troops, an infantry fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, an artillery gun, and an electronic warfare station. Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops hit five mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kupyansk, Podvysokoye (Kharkov region), Novoye, Shandrigolovo (Donetsk People's Republic), Novolyubovka (Lugansk People's Republic) as well as the Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses amounted to more than 200 troops, six pick-up trucks, five field artillery guns including three Western-made artillery pieces, an Anklav-N electronic warfare station, and three ammunition depots. Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian units damaged formations of four mechanised brigades of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades close to Pleshcheyevka, Shevchenko, Dyleyevka, Krymskoye, Seversk, Aleksandropol, Minkovka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 245 troops, two motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, and an electronic warfare station. Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. The units of four mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, three jaeger brigades, an unmanned aerial vehicles brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, a marine brigade, and two national guard brigades were hit close to Novopavlovka, Krasnoarmeysk, Zverevo, Kotlino, Uspenovka, Udachnoye, Yelizavetovka, Petrovskogo, Dimitrov, Mirolyubovka, Alekseyevka, Zelyonoye, and Sribnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 600 troops, five infantry fighting vehicles including four Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, an M113 armoured personnel carrier, three U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicles as well as two artillery guns. The Vostok Group of Forces liberated Privolnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian troops engaged formations of three mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two territorial defence brigades, and a national guard brigade near Kamyshevakha, Bogatyr, Fyodorovka, Iskra, Dneproenergiya, Novopol, Burlatskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Yanvarskoye (Dnepropetrovsk region), and Gulyaipole (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 175 troops, a tank, an armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns including a U.S.-made Paladin and a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems. The Dnepr Group of Forces engaged the manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, three coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and three territorial defence brigades close to Pyatikhatki, Novodanilovka, Shcherbaki, Lukyanovskoye, Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region), Antonovka, Dneprovskoye, and Lvovo (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 90 troops, seven motor vehicles, a field artillery gun, and three electronic warfare stations. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack UAVs, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the infrastructure of military airfields, an oil tank that provided fuel for AFU units, production laboratories and drone control posts, the base of the boats of the special operation forces of the AFU, the Kraken Nationalist Formation Headquarters as well as clusters of manpower and hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries in 150 areas. Air defence systems shot down six U.S.-made JDAM guided bombs and 51 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 656 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 45,318 unmanned aerial vehicles, 600 anti-aircraft missile systems, 21,989 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,523 MLRS combat vehicles, 22,286 field artillery guns and mortars, and 32,455 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region. In the course of offensive actions, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of a heavy mechanised brigade, five mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade, an assault brigade, two air assault brigades, two territorial defence brigades, and two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Goncharovka, Gornal, Zaoleshenka, Kazachya Lonknya, Pervy Knyazhy, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Makhnovka, Rubanshchina, Staraya Sorochina, and Sudzha. Three enemy counter-attacks were repelled. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the enemy near Bondarevka, Viktorovka, Guyevo, Dmitryukov, Zazulevka, Zamostye, Vtoroy Knyazhy, Kolmakov, Kositsa, Loknya, Melovoy, Mirny, Cherkasskaya Konopelka, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Yuzhny as well as Basovka, Belovody, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Zapselye, Miropolye, Novenkoye, and Yunakovka (Sumy region). Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 215 troops, a tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, and two mortars, a signal intelligence station, a counterobstacle vehicle as well as six UAV command posts Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 65,060 troops, 384 tanks, 295 infantry fighting vehicles, 255 armoured personnel carriers, 2,131 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,307 motor vehicles, 510 artillery guns, 52 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 25 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles, 118 EW stations, 15 counter-battery warfare radars, nine air defence radars, 52 units of engineering and other materiel, including 20 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle as well as 14 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 10 Chinese Nationals Charged With Large-Scale Hacking Of U.S. And International Victims On Behalf Of The Chinese Government Tuesday, March 4, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Eight Defendants Were Employees of i-Soon, a Chinese Company Hacking at the Direction of the Chinese Government, and Two Defendants are Chinese Officials Who Directed the Hacks Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Sue J. Bai, the Head of the U.S. Department of Justice's National Security Division; and Leslie R. Backschies, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), announced the unsealing of a two-count criminal Indictment charging 10 defendants with a years-long hacking scheme committed through the Chinese company i-Soon. At the direction of the People's Republic of China ("PRC") government, i-Soon employees hacked and attempted to hack victims across the globe, including a large religious organization in the U.S., critics and dissidents of the PRC government, a state legislative body, U.S. government agencies, the ministries of foreign affairs of multiple governments in Asia, and news organizations. i-Soon's victims were of interest to the PRC government because, among other reasons, they were prominent overseas critics of the PRC government or because the PRC government considered them threatening to the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. The 10 defendants remain at large. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: "State-sponsored hacking is an acute threat to our community and national security. For years, these 10 defendantstwo of whom we allege are PRC officialsused sophisticated hacking techniques to target religious organizations, journalists, and Government agencies, all to gather sensitive information for the use of the PRC. These charges will help stop these state-sponsored hackers and protect our national security. The career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to uncover alleged state-sponsored hacking schemes, disrupt them, and bring those responsible to justice." National Security Division Head Sue J. Bai said: "The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our cybersecurity by stealing from our government and our people. Today, we are exposing the Chinese government agents directing and fostering indiscriminate and reckless attacks against computers and networks worldwide, as well as the enabling companies and individual hackers that they have unleashed. We will continue to fight to dismantle this ecosystem of cyber mercenaries and protect our national security." Acting Assistant Director in Charge Leslie R. Backschies said: "The charges announced today expose the PRC's continued attempts to spy on and silence anyone it deems threatening to the Chinese Communist Party. As alleged in the indictment, the Chinese government tried to conceal its efforts by working through a private company, but their actions amount to years of state-sponsored hacking of religious and media organizations, numerous government agencies in multiple countries, and dissidents around the world who dared criticize the regime. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt our adversaries' use of emerging technology to silence dissent and undermine the rule of law across the globe." As alleged in the Indictment:[1] The PRC's Ministry of State Security ("MSS") had responsibility for the PRC's domestic counterintelligence, non-military foreign intelligence, and aspects of the PRC's political and domestic security. The PRC's Ministry of Public Security ("MPS") had responsibility for the PRC's public and political security, including responsibility for law enforcement. To acquire information of interest to the PRC government in a manner that obscured their involvement, the PRC's MSS and MPS used an extensive network of private companies and contractors in China to conduct unauthorized computer intrusions ("hacks") in the U.S. and elsewhere. One of those private companies was i-Soon. From approximately 2016 through 2023, i-Soon and its personnel engaged in the numerous and widespread hacking of email accounts, cell phones, servers, and websites at the direction of, and in close coordination with, the PRC's MSS and MPS. i-Soon generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue and at times had over 100 employees. i-Soon's primary customers were PRC government agencies. It worked with at least 43 different MSS or MPS bureaus and charged the MSS and MPS between approximately $10,000 and $75,000 for each email inbox it successfully hacked. The victims of i-Soon's hacking included: A newspaper based in New York, New York, that publishes news related to China and is opposed to the Chinese Communist Party. An additional newspaper based in New York, New York. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, an agency within the Department of Defense that specializes in defense and military intelligence. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration, an agency within the Department of Commerce that promotes U.S. exports and defends against unfair trade practices. A religious organization based in the U.S. that has thousands of churches and congregations and millions of members. A Texas-based organization founded by a prominent critic of the PRC government focused on promoting human rights and religious freedom in China. A news service funded by the U.S. government that delivers uncensored domestic news to audiences in Asian countries, including China, and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. A state research university in the U.S. The New York State Assembly, a part of the legislature of the state of New York. A religious leader who lived outside of China and the U.S. A newspaper based in Hong Kong, China, that has actively covered the politics of Hong Kong and continues to do so today. The foreign ministry of Taiwan. The foreign ministry of India. The foreign ministry of South Korea. The foreign ministry of Indonesia. In many instances, the PRC government was particularly interested in these victims because they had criticized the PRC government. In other instances, the PRC government was particularly interested in foreign ministries because those foreign ministries were in communication with the U.S. In some instances, i-Soon conducted its hacking at the direct request of the MSS or MPS. In other instances, i-Soon conducted hacks on its own initiative and then sold, or attempted to sell, the stolen data to different bureaus of the MSS or MPS. i-Soon also trained MPS employees how to hack independently of i-Soon and offered a variety of hacking methods for sale to its customers. i-Soon touted what it called a "industry-leading offensive and defensive technology" and a "zero-day vulnerability arsenal" used to successfully hack computer systems. One of i-Soon's products was software called the "Automated Penetration Testing Platform." i-Soon advertised the platform's ability to send email phishing attacks, to create files with malware that could provide access to victims' computers if opened, and to clone websites of victims in order to induce them to submit personal information. An image of the interface for the Automated Penetration Testing Platform is below: Another of i-Soon's products was software that allowed the user to gain unauthorized access to online accounts or computer systems by deciphering passwordsalso called "password cracking." This platform was called the "Divine Mathematician Password Cracking Platform." An image of the interface for the Divine Mathematician Password Cracking Platform is below: i-Soon also sold software specifically designed to target victim accounts on a variety of computer systems and applications, including Microsoft Outlook; Gmail, the email service provided by Google LLC; the social media network X, formerly known as Twitter; the cellphone operating system Android; and the computer operating systems Windows, Macintosh, and Linux. i-Soon advertised its bespoke software as being able to overcome the unique defenses of these systems. For example, with respect to Twitter, i-Soon sold software with the capability to send a victim a spear phishing link and then to obtain access to and control over the victim's Twitter account. The software had the ability to access Twitter even without the victim's password and to bypass multi-factor authentication. After a victim's Twitter was compromised, the software could send tweets, delete tweets, forward tweets, make comments, and like tweets. The purpose of this software was to help i-Soon's customers, including the PRC government, use hacked Twitter accounts to understand public opinion outside of China. For example, the software could be set to keep track of keywords appearing in tweets or messages. i-Soon referred to this software as its "Public Opinion Guidance and Control Platform (Overseas)." An image from the "Public Opinion Guidance and Control Platform (Overseas)" is below: The 10 defendants charged are WU HAIBO, a/k/a "shutd0wn," a/k/a "Boss Wu," a/k/a "," the Chief Executive Officer, and leader, of i-Soon; CHEN CHENG, a/k/a "lengmo," a/k/a "Chief C," a/k/a "Jesse Chen," a/k/a "," the Chief Operating Officer of i-Soon; WANG YAN, a/k/a "crysolo," a/k/a "," the leader of one of i-Soon's "penetration testing" teams; WANG ZHE, a/k/a "ken73224," a/k/a "," the Sales Director of i-Soon; ZHOU WEIWEI, a/k/a "nullroot," a/k/a "," the leader of i-Soon's "Technology Research and Development Center"; WANG LIYU, a/k/a "PICNIC350116," a/k/a "," an MPS officer based in Chengdu, China; and SHENG JING, a/k/a "sjbible," "," the defendant, an MPS officer based in Shenzhen, China. If you have information leading to the identification or location of these 10 defendants, please reach out to the Department of State at rewardsforjustice.net. * * * HAIBO, 43; CHENG, 40; GUODONG, 32; LI, 31; YAN, 35; ZHE, 44; WEIWEI, 37; LIANG, 28; LIYU, 36; and JING, 36, all nationals of China, are charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by the Office's Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel, Steven J. Kochevar, and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution. Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia Jr. of the National Security Division's National Security Cyber Section provided valuable assistance. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._wolf_indictment.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford (212) 637-2600 Topics: Cybercrime National Security Component: USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-051 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 5, 2025 By Matthew Olay, DOD News Defense Secretary Discusses Security at Home, Abroad Ahead of Border Visit During a media interview today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed security at the southern border and how the Defense Department is handling the threat of a potential future conflict with China. The secretary commented on those topics shortly before joining Vice President JD Vance and flying from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, to Laredo, Texas, for the secretary's second visit to the southern border since being sworn in. The secretary noted an approximately 97% drop in illegal border crossings since the new administration took office; "the deterrent effect is there" when it comes to border security. "President [Donald J.] Trump gave us a charge: 100% operational control of the southern border. Border security is national security," Hegseth said. "Our [previous] open border policy [resulted in] recklessness, death and drugs for our communities," he continued. "We're sending those [criminal illegal immigrants] home, and we're not letting more in." Hegseth praised the current level of cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican governments as it relates to controlling the border. "Right now, we have historic cooperation, military-to-military. But we're letting [Mexico] lead," he said. "It's their country; it's their fight, and we want them to lead that fight. [And] so far, they have stepped up, which is a very good sign," he added. The State Department designated eight international cartels as foreign terrorist organizations on Feb. 20, 2025. Hegseth said "all options are on the table" regarding how the U.S. deals with the criminal cartels, though DOD and the current administration would prefer that the Mexican government handle the issue themselves. "We will not accept them controlling that border [and] poisoning our people with fentanyl," Hegseth said, then stating that the number of fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S. has not gone down "enough." Following the Chinese government's recent statement that it is "ready to fight to the end" in "any type" of war with the U.S., Hegseth said the Defense Department is prepared. "Those who long for peace must prepare for war, [and] that's why we're rebuilding our military. That's why we're establishing deterrence," he said. The president understands peace comes through strength, and he also has a good relationship with the leader of the Chinese Communist Party. The secretary added that the U.S. is not actively seeking conflict with that country. "We don't seek that war," Hegseth said. "But my job as secretary of defense is to make sure we're ready. [So], we need the defense spending, the capabilities, the weapons and the posture in the Indo-Pacific, which is something we're very much focused on." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Nationals with Ties to the PRC Government and "APT27" Charged in a Computer Hacking Campaign for Profit, Targeting Numerous U.S. Companies, Institutions, and Municipalities Wednesday, March 5, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia USADC.Media@usdoj.gov Department Seizes Virtual Private Server Account and Domains Tied to Malicious Activity to include the U.S. Department of Treasury Hack WASHINGTON - A federal judge in Washington, D.C., today, unsealed two separate indictments that allege Chinese nationals Yin Kecheng, 38, ( ) a/k/a "YKC" ("YIN") and Zhou Shuai, 45, () a/k/a "Coldface" ("ZHOU") violated various federal statutes by participating in years-long, sophisticated computer hacking conspiracies that successfully targeted a wide variety of U.S.-based victims from 2011 to the present-day. According to the documents unsealed today, the defendants targeted a multitude of U.S. victim companies, municipalities, and organizations for profit, causing millions of dollars' worth of damages. YIN and ZHOU, who have ties to the government of the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), are alleged to have stolen and exfiltrated data from numerous U.S.-based technology companies, think tanks, defense contractors, government municipalities, and universities that they later brokered for sale. Arrest warrants have been issued for YIN and ZHOU, who both remain fugitives. The unsealing by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is part of the coordinated effort by Department of Justice (the "Department"), other U.S. Attorney's Offices, the U.S. Department of Treasury ("Treasury"), and private sector partners that highlights the Chinese government's unique role in intentionally promoting and protecting the wide-scale computer hacking activity by its citizens. According to court documents unsealed today, the PRC Ministry of Public Security ("MPS") and Ministry of State Security ("MSS") directed or financed Chinese hackers, such as the defendants, to conduct computer intrusions against high-value targets in the United States and elsewhere. Victims include U.S.-based critics and dissidents of the PRC, a large religious organization in the United States, the foreign ministries of multiple governments in Asia, and U.S. federal and state government agencies, including most recently in 2024. According to court documents, the MPS and MSS employed an extensive network of private companies and contractors in China to hack and steal information in a manner that obscured the PRC government's direct involvement. By employing these hackers-for-hire, the PRC government further allowed these same hackers to profit by committing additional computer intrusions around the world with impunity, and then to sell stolen data through Chinese data brokers. The PRC government's state-sponsorship and protection of these hackers resulted in the loss of sensitive, valuable and personal identification information that was a direct harm to U.S. entities and other foreign governments and victims. In conjunction with the unsealing, the Department announced the judicially authorized seizure of internet domains linked to YIN that he used in facilitating the conspiracy's network intrusion activity. In addition, the Department announced the judicially authorized seizure of a Virtual Private Server ("VPS") account linked to ZHOU that he used to facilitate network intrusion activity. In conjunction with these actions, the Treasury announced sanctions against ZHOU and his company Shanghai Heiying Information Technology company, Limited ("Shanghai Heiying"). YIN was previously sanctioned for his role in the recent Treasury network compromise in January 2025. "These indictments and actions show this Office's long-standing commitment to vigorously investigate and hold accountable Chinese hackers and data brokers who endanger U.S. national security and other victims across the globe," said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. "The defendants in these cases have been hacking for the Chinese government for years, and these indictments lay out the strong evidence showing their criminal wrongdoing. We, again, demand that the Chinese government put a stop to these brazen cyber criminals who are targeting victims across the globe and then monetizing the data they have stolen by selling it across China." "The defendants allegedly waged a yearslong hacking campaign against U.S.-based organizations to steal their data and sell it to various customers, some of whom had connections to the Chinese government," said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI Washington Field Office. "Today's indictment is the first step toward bringing these perpetrators to justice for endangering U.S. national security and causing significant financial losses for both U.S. and foreign companies. The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue these hostile cyber actors to the full extent of the law." "The defendants' years-long hacking conspiracy to steal data from Cleared Defense Contractors that support the U.S. militaryamong many other U.S.-based victimsand sell it to customers with ties to the Chinese government poses a significant threat to our national security," said NCIS Cyber Operations Field Office Special Agent in Charge Josh Stanley. "NCIS remains committed to working with the FBI and our law enforcement partners around the world to expose malicious actors who seek to undermine the cybersecurity of the Department of the Navy." "The Department of State appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with the Department of Treasury, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia in announcing today's actions," said Senior Bureau Official F. Cartwright Weiland of the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). "With reward offers up to $2 million each for malicious cyber actors Zhou Shuai and Yin KeCheng under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, we ask the public to contact the FBI with tips to help bring these cybercriminals to justice." Overview Today's announcement reflects nearly a decade-long effort by the Department and the FBI. The action targets actors that various security researchers have historically referred to as "APT27," "Threat Group 3390," "Bronze Union," "Emissary Panda," "Lucky Mouse," and "Iron Tiger," and more recently referred to as "UTA0178," "UNC 5221," and "Silk Typhoon." The Department obtained a 19-count indictment against YIN on May 2, 2018 (the "2018 Indictment") from a grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The 2018 Indictment, which alleges conduct between August 2013 and December 2015, charges wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act ("CFAA"). Another federal grand jury in the District of Columbia indicted both YIN and ZHOU on March 28, 2023 (the "2023 Indictment"), with similar offenses. Specifically, the 2023 Indictment, which alleges conduct between June 2018 and November 2020, charges conspiracy, wire fraud, various violations of the CFAA, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. On March 4, 2025, a federal magistrate judge sitting in the District of Columbia authorized FBI to seize a VPS account and multiple internet domains involved in the criminal activity. According to the unsealed affidavits in support of those warrants, ZHOU utilized the VPS account to create additional accounts used to facilitate computer intrusion activity and to discuss the sale of access to compromised computer networks. Separately, YIN utilized his own servers and stood up the seized domains to exploit victim computer networks to include networks at Treasury. Computer Hacking Scheme As alleged in the documents unsealed today, at various points between August 2013 and December 2024, YIN, ZHOU, and their unindicted co-conspirators used sophisticated hacking tools and techniques in their efforts to overcome network defenses and avoid detection of numerous hardened targets in the United States and around the world. The defendants and their co-conspirators would routinely scan victim networks for vulnerabilities, exploit those vulnerabilities with sophisticated hacking techniques, and conduct reconnaissance once inside a victim's network. The defendants and their co-conspirators and would install malware that would allow them to maintain persistent access and enable them to communicate with malicious external servers and other hacking infrastructure. The defendants and their co-conspirators would identify and steal data from the compromised networks by exfiltrating the data to servers under their control. The stolen data was then brokered for sale and provided to various customers, some of whom had connections to the PRC government and military. Targeting of U.S. Victims According to the 2018 Indictment, YIN targeted U.S.-based defense contractors, technology firms, and think tanks, among other victims. The 2018 Indictment alleges YIN openly discussed his preference for targeting American victims. For example, on one occasion in September 2013, YIN told an associate he wanted to "mess with the American military" and "break into a big target" so that he could earn enough money to buy a car. YIN used mapping software to identify network vulnerabilities for the purpose of gaining unlawful access to victim computer and installing malware. YIN used stolen network credentials to maintain persistent access to victim networks and utilized intermediary servers or "hop points" and malicious domains to remotely access and exfiltrate victim computer data. According to the 2023 Indictment, YIN, ZHOU, and others targeted U.S.-based companies like technology and defense contractors, law firms, communication service providers, local governments, health care systems, and think tanks. The 2023 Indictment charges YIN and ZHOU with scanning victim networks for access points and also exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities. Once inside the networks, YIN other conspirators would then install malware such as web shells to maintain persistent access. YIN and other conspirators would then use hop point servers to exfiltrate stolen data to servers under YIN's control. ZHOU then brokered access to such stolen data to interested third parties for a financial profit. The indictment further alleged that YIN, ZHOU, and other conspirators laundered cryptocurrency payments for their operational infrastructure from locations outside of the United States through the U.S. financial system. The affidavit in support of the seizure warrant for the VPS account alleges that ZHOU used servers created by the account in order to establish a virtual private network ("VPN") that would encrypt network traffic such that the true location and IP address of the actor or actors would be obfuscated. ZHOU also used the VPS accounts to create other accounts through which he communicated with buyers who were interested in obtaining access to computer networks compromised by YIN. ZHOU also used the accounts for victim reconnaissance purposes. The affidavit in support of the seizure of the domains alleges that funds used to purchase computer network infrastructure used in numerous victim network breaches ultimately connected to an account registered in YIN's name, from China, using an email address and phone number belonging to YIN. Of particular note, a virtual private server account controlled by YIN was associated with the compromise at Treasury. This case is being investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) who continue to investigate malicious cyber activity associated with these defendants and threat actors and continue to notify affected victims immediately once any networks intrusions are discovered. The FBI's Cyber Division and Department of Defense's Cyber Crimes Center provided valuable assistance to the investigation. Private partners from Microsoft, Volexity, Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, and Mandiant also provided valuable assistance with this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack F. Korba, and Tejpal S. Chawla, and National Security Division's National Security Cyber Section Trial Attorney Tanner Kroeger. Paralegal Specialist Michael Watts and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Demian Ahn and Opher Shweiki for the United States Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia provided assistance on this case. An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. f_ykc_indictment_18-cr-00126.pdf 23-cr-99_indictment.pdf Contact USADC.Media@usdoj.gov Attachments f_ykc_indictment_18-cr-00126.pdf [PDF, 859 KB] 23-cr-99_indictment.pdf [PDF, 1 MB] yin_kecheng_wanted_poster_final.pdf [PDF, 232 KB] zhou_shuai_wanted_poster_final.pdf [PDF, 223 KB] Topics: Cybercrime National Security Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USAO - District of Columbia Press Release Number: 25-101 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Justice Department Charges 12 Chinese Contract Hackers and Law Enforcement Officers in Global Computer Intrusion Campaigns Wednesday, March 5, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Chinese Law Enforcement and Intelligence Services Leveraged China's Reckless and Indiscriminate Hacker-for-Hire Ecosystem, Including the 'APT 27' Group, to Suppress Free Speech and Dissent Globally and to Steal Data from Numerous Organizations Worldwide, Note: View the indictments in U.S. v. Wu Haibo et al., U.S. v. Yin Kecheng, U.S. v. Zhou Shuai et al. here. The Justice Department, FBI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Departments of State and the Treasury announced today their coordinated efforts to disrupt and deter the malicious cyber activities of 12 Chinese nationals, including two officers of the People's Republic of China's (PRC) Ministry of Public Security (MPS), employees of an ostensibly private PRC company, Anxun Information Technology Co. Ltd. () also known as "i-Soon," and members of Advanced Persistent Threat 27 (APT27). These malicious cyber actors, acting as freelancers or as employees of i-Soon, conducted computer intrusions at the direction of the PRC's MPS and Ministry of State Security (MSS) and on their own initiative. The MPS and MSS paid handsomely for stolen data. Victims include U.S.-based critics and dissidents of the PRC, a large religious organization in the United States, the foreign ministries of multiple governments in Asia, and U.S. federal and state government agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) in late 2024. "The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our cybersecurity by stealing from our government and our people," said Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "Today, we are exposing the Chinese government agents directing and fostering indiscriminate and reckless attacks against computers and networks worldwide, as well as the enabling companies and individual hackers that they have unleashed. We will continue to fight to dismantle this ecosystem of cyber mercenaries and protect our national security." "The FBI is committed to protecting Americans from foreign cyber-attacks," said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI's Cyber Division. "Today's announcements reveal that the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has been paying hackers-for-hire to inflict digital harm on Americans who criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). To those victims who bravely came forward with evidence of intrusions, we thank you for standing tall and defending our democracy. And to those who choose to aid the CCP in its unlawful cyber activities, these charges should demonstrate that we will use all available tools to identify you, indict you, and expose your malicious activity for all the world to see." According to court documents, the MPS and MSS employed an extensive network of private companies and contractors in China to hack and steal information in a manner that obscured the PRC government's involvement. In some cases, the MPS and MSS paid private hackers in China to exploit specific victims. In many other cases, the hackers targeted victims speculatively. Operating from their safe haven and motivated by profit, this network of private companies and contractors in China cast a wide net to identify vulnerable computers, exploit those computers, and then identify information that it could sell directly or indirectly to the PRC government. The result of this largely indiscriminate approach was more worldwide computer intrusion victims, more systems worldwide left vulnerable to future exploitation by third parties, and more stolen information, often of no interest to the PRC government and, therefore, sold to other third-parties. Additional information regarding the indictments and the PRC's hacker-for-hire ecosystem is available in Public Service Announcements published by the FBI today. U.S. v. Wu Haibo et al., Southern District of New York Today, a federal court in Manhattan unsealed an indictment charging eight i-Soon employees and two MPS officers for their involvement, from at least in or around 2016 through in or around 2023, in the numerous and widespread hacking of email accounts, cell phones, servers, and websites. The Department also announced today the court-authorized seizure of the primary internet domain used by i-Soon to advertise its business. "State-sponsored hacking is an acute threat to our community and national security," said Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky for the Southern District of New York. "For years, these 10 defendants two of whom we allege are PRC officials used sophisticated hacking techniques to target religious organizations, journalists, and government agencies, all to gather sensitive information for the use of the PRC. These charges will help stop these state-sponsored hackers and protect our national security. The career prosecutors of this office and our law enforcement partners will continue to uncover alleged state-sponsored hacking schemes, disrupt them, and bring those responsible to justice." The defendants remain at large and wanted by the FBI. Concurrent with today's announcement, the U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The reward is offered for the following individuals who are alleged to have worked in various capacities to direct or carry out i-Soon's malicious cyber activity: Wu Haibo (), Chief Executive Officer Chen Cheng (), Chief Operating Officer Wang Zhe (), Sales Director Liang Guodong (), Technical Staff Ma Li (), Technical Staff Wang Yan (), Technical Staff Xu Liang (), Technical Staff Zhou Weiwei (), Technical Staff Wang Liyu (), MPS Officer Sheng Jing (), MPS Officer i-Soon and its employees, to include the defendants, generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue as a key player in the PRC's hacker-for-hire ecosystem. In some instances, i-Soon conducted computer intrusions at the request of the MSS or MPS, including cyber-enabled transnational repression at the direction of the MPS officer defendants. In other instances, i-Soon conducted computer intrusions on its own initiative and then sold, or attempted to sell, the stolen data to at least 43 different bureaus of the MSS or MPS in at least 31 separate provinces and municipalities in China. i-Soon charged the MSS and MPS between approximately $10,000 and $75,000 for each email inbox it successfully exploited. i-Soon also trained MPS employees how to hack independently of i-Soon and offered a variety of hacking methods for sale to its customers. The defendants' U.S.-located targets included a large religious organization that previously sent missionaries to China and was openly critical of the PRC government and an organization focused on promoting human rights and religious freedom in China. In addition, the defendants targeted multiple news organizations in the United States, including those that have opposed the CCP or delivered uncensored news to audiences in Asia, including China and the New York State Assembly, one of whose representatives had communicated with members of a religious organization banned in China. The defendants' foreign-located targets included a religious leader and his office, and a Hong Kong newspaper that i-Soon considered as being opposed to the PRC government. The defendants also targeted the foreign ministries of Taiwan, India, South Korea, and Indonesia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel, Steven J. Kochevar, and Kevin Mead for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia Jr. of the National Security Division's National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. U.S. v. Yin Kecheng and U.S. v. Zhou Shuai et al., District of Columbia Today, a federal court unsealed two indictments charging APT27 actors Yin Kecheng () and Zhou Shuai () also known as "Coldface" for their involvement in the multi-year, for-profit computer intrusion campaigns dating back, in the case of Yin, to 2013. The Department also announced today court-authorized seizures of internet domains and computer server accounts used by Yin and Zhou to facilitate their hacking activity. The defendants remain at large. View the FBI's Wanted posters for Shuai and Kecheng here. Concurrent with today's announcement, the Department of States State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is announcing two reward offers under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) of up to $2 million each for information leading to the arrests and convictions, in any country, of malicious cyber actors Yin Kecheng and Zhou Shuai, both Chinese nationals residing in China. "These indictments and actions show this office's long-standing commitment to vigorously investigate and hold accountable Chinese hackers and data brokers who endanger U.S. national security and other victims across the globe," said Interim U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia. "The defendants in these cases have been hacking for the Chinese government for years, and these indictments lay out the strong evidence showing their criminal wrongdoing. We again demand that the Chinese government to put a stop to these brazen cyber criminals who are targeting victims across the globe and then monetizing the data they have stolen by selling it across China." The APT27 group to which Yin and Zhou belong is also known to private sector security researchers as "Threat Group 3390," "Bronze Union," "Emissary Panda," "Lucky Mouse," "Iron Tiger," "UTA0178," "UNC 5221," and "Silk Typhoon." As alleged in court documents, between August 2013 and December 2024, Yin, Zhou, and their co-conspirators exploited vulnerabilities in victim networks, conducted reconnaissance once inside those networks, and installed malware, such as PlugX malware, that provided persistent access. The defendants and their co-conspirators then identified and stole data from the compromised networks by exfiltrating it to servers under their control. Next, they brokered stolen data for sale and provided it to various customers, only some of whom had connections to the PRC government and military. For example, Zhou sold data stolen by Yin through i-Soon, whose primary customers, as noted above, were PRC government agencies, including the MSS and the MPS. The defendants' motivations were financial and, because they were profit-driven, they targeted broadly, rendering victim systems vulnerable well beyond their pilfering of data and other information that they could sell. Between them, Yin and Zhou sought to profit from the hacking of numerous U.S.-based technology companies, think tanks, law firms, defense contractors, local governments, health care systems, and universities, leaving behind them a wake of millions of dollars in damages. The documents related to the seizure warrants, also unsealed today, further allege that Yin and Zhou continued to engage in hacking activity, including Yin's involvement in the recently announced hack of Treasury between approximately September and December 2024. Virtual private servers used to conduct the Treasury intrusion belonged to, and were controlled by, an account that Yin and his co-conspirators established. Yin and his co-conspirators used that same account and other linked accounts they controlled to lease servers used for additional malicious cyber activity. The seizure warrant unsealed today allowed the FBI to seize the virtual private servers and other infrastructure used by the defendants to perpetrate these crimes. On Jan. 17, Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Yin for his role in hacking that agency between September and December 2024. Concurrent with today's indictments, OFAC also announced sanctions on Zhou and Shanghai Heiying Information Technology Company Ltd., a company operated by Zhou for purposes of his hacking activity. Private sector partners are also taking voluntary actions to raise awareness and strengthen defenses against the PRC's malicious cyber activity. Today, Microsoft published research that highlights its unique, updated insights into Silk Typhoon tactics, techniques, and procedures specifically its targeting of the IT supply chain. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack F. Korba and Tejpal S. Chawla for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Tanner Kroeger of the National Security Division's National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. *** The above disruptive actions targeting PRC malicious cyber activities were the result of investigations conducted by FBI New York and Washington Field Offices, FBI Cyber Division, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Southern District of New York and District of Columbia and the National Security Division's National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. The Department acknowledges the value of public-private partnerships in combating advanced cyber threats and recognizes Microsoft, Volexity, PwC, and Mandiant for their valuable assistance in these investigations. The details in the above-described indictments and warrants are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - District of Columbia USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-218 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing Leveraging Freelance Hackers and Information Security Companies to Compromise Computer Networks Worldwide Alert Number: I-030525-PSA March 5, 2025 FBI is releasing this Public Service Announcement to highlight that the Chinese government is using formal and informal connections with freelance hackers and information security (InfoSec) companies to compromise computer networks worldwide. China's InfoSec ecosystem flourishes because China's government agencies, including its primary intelligence service the Ministry of State Security () and its domestic police agency the Ministry of Public Security (), weaponize InfoSec companies by tasking companies that advertise legitimate cybersecurity services to also use their expertise to gain unauthorized access to victim networks to collect for China's intelligence services. This ecosystem of InfoSec companies and freelance hackers enables and encourages indiscriminate global cyber activity, while providing the Chinese government with a layer of plausible deniability. Today, the Southern District of New York unsealed an indictment against eight employees of China-based InfoSec company Anxun Information Technology Co., Ltd., , and two MPS officers who, at times, directed i-Soon activities in service of the Chinese government. i-Soon has been a key player in China's InfoSec ecosystem over the last decade, working with at least 43 separate MSS or MPS bureaus in 31 provinces and municipalities across China. The indicted i-Soon hackers sold stolen data to the MSS and MPS from a myriad of victims, to include US-based critics of the Chinese government and Chinese dissidents, a US news organization, a large US-based religious organization, multiple governments in Asia, and US federal and state government agencies. i-Soon sold information to China's intelligence and security services to suppress free speech and democratic processes worldwide, and target groups deemed a threat to the Chinese government. i-Soon also sold platforms to MSS and MPS customers for their own hacking efforts. i-Soon's activities are publicly tracked as Aquatic Panda, Red Alpha, Red Hotel, Charcoal Typhoon, Red Scylla, Hassium, Chromium, and TAG-22. Also today, the District Court for the District of Columbia unsealed two indictments of freelance Chinese hackers Yin KeCheng and Zhou Shuai, who maintained ties to i-Soon and the Chinese government. Since 2011, Yin and Zhou have operated in China's InfoSec ecosystem and enriched themselves by selling stolen US information to the Chinese government. Zhou served for a period of time in i-Soon's Strategic Consulting Division. Yin, known in Chinese hacking circles for his prolific targeting of US entities, explained to an associate in 2013 that he wanted to "mess with the American military" and "break into a big target," hoping the proceeds from selling the stolen US data would be enough to purchase a car. On at least one occasion, Yin compromised sensitive data which he turned over to Zhou, who partnered with an i-Soon employee to sell the stolen data. Yin and Zhou's activities are publicly tracked as APT27, Threat Group 3390, Bronze Union, Emissary Panda, Lucky Mouse, Iron Tiger, UTA0178, UNC 5221, and Silk Typhoon. Reporting If you suspect you have been a victim of malicious cyber activity by groups associated with the government of China, report the suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center () at www.IC3.gov as quickly as possible NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US charges 12 Chinese hackers and officials, offers $10M in rewards The hackers allegedly gained access to the data of dissidents and foreign governments to sell to Chinese officials. By Alex Willemyns 2025.03.05 WASHINGTON -- The United States on Wednesday charged 12 alleged state-backed Chinese hackers and state officials with offenses related to accessing the email accounts of Chinese dissidents and foreign governments agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It also announced rewards totaling US$10 million for information leading to their capture, with all of the accused remaining at-large. A statement from the Department of Justice alleged that the hackers were part of a Chinese state-backed program that used freelance and private hackers to target Chinese dissidents living abroad and foreign government employees, including at the U.S. Treasury Department. The program "employed an extensive network of private companies and contractors in China to hack and steal information in a manner that obscured" the Chinese government's role, the statement said. From 2016 to 2023, hackers contracted by China's ministries of state security and public security were either directed to seek access to the accounts of selected targets or worked on their "own initiative" to target people they believed state officials would be interested in, it said. The two Chinese state ministries then allegedly paid the hackers between $10,000 and $75,000 for each account they wanted. "The result of this largely indiscriminate approach was more worldwide computer intrusion victims, more systems worldwide left vulnerable to future exploitation by third parties, and more stolen information, often of no interest to [China] and, therefore, sold to other third-parties," it said. The statement identifies the charged hackers as employees of the "ostensibly private" Anxun Information Technology Co. Ltd., which operated publicly as "i-Soon." Also charged with hacking offenses were Ministry of Public Security officials Wang Liyu and Sheng Jing. As part of a flurry of announcements, the Treasury Department on Wednesday also announced sanctions against Zhou Shuai, a hacker who allegedly worked for another company that "acquired, brokered, and sold data from highly sensitive U.S. critical infrastructure networks." Zhou targeted "telecommunications data, border crossing data, data on personnel in religious research, data on media industry personnel, and data on public servants," Treasury said, similarly working to sell the information he acquired to Chinese intelligence agencies. $10 million rewards The U.S. State Department on Wednesday announced rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to the i-Soon hackers' arrests. The FBI also released a public service announcement warning Americans about Beijing's alleged use of "freelance" hackers. "The indicted i-Soon hackers sold stolen data to the MSS and MPS from a myriad of victims, to include US-based critics of the Chinese government and Chinese dissidents, a US news organization, a large US-based religious organization, multiple governments in Asia, and US federal and state government agencies," the announcement said. It added that the access sought by Chinese officials was intended to help "suppress free speech and democratic processes worldwide, and target groups deemed a threat to the Chinese government." Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told Radio Free Asia that the Chinese government "has always firmly opposed and cracked down on all forms of cyber attacks." But he dismissed the U.S. charges as part of "smear" against China. "Cyberspace is highly virtual, difficult to trace, and has diverse actors. Tracing the source of cyber attacks is a complex technical issue," Pengyu said, calling for claims to be made based only on "sufficient evidence rather than groundless speculation and accusations." The charges against the hackers came as the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party held a hearing into how the U.S. government should respond to China's hacking program. Laura Galante, the former director of cyber threat intelligence in the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, told the hearing that Beijing's use of "private" hackers made it ultimately hard to target. "These companies frequently change names. They alter their corporate structures. They take other steps to avoid scrutiny," Galante said. "This ecosystem - sometimes called 'hackers for hire' - of Chinese I.T. and cybersecurity contractors, remains largely intact and undeterred." The "outsourced" model of cyber attacks meant that China's intelligence services could always depend, she said, on another branch of its decentralized network of hackers if one was caught by U.S. intelligence. It also allowed for "plausible deniability," she said. "[China] provides a competitive marketplace - a business network, if you will, - for these exploitation capabilities, and outsources some of the most sensitive target development and operations, like those against U.S. companies," she said. "This minimizes the risk of exposing the larger state espionage and attack plans that China has." Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Up to $2 Million Reward Offers Each for Information Leading to Arrests and/or Convictions of Malicious Cyber Actors from China US Department of State Media Note Office of the Spokesperson March 5, 2025 Today, the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is announcing two reward offers under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) of up to $2 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions, in any country, of malicious cyber actors Yin KeCheng and Zhou Shuai, both Chinese nationals residing in China. Yin and Zhou were identified as associated with an advanced persistent threat group (APT27), who are also known to private sector security researchers as "Threat Group 3390," "Bronze Union," "Emissary Panda," "Lucky Mouse," "Iron Tiger," "UTA0178," "UNC 5221," and "Silk Typhoon." Yin and Zhou are longtime members of the eco-system China uses to perpetuate its malicious cyber activity. They enrich themselves financially as hackers for hire for a myriad of Chinese entities. An FBI investigation of APT27, which began in approximately 2014, resulted in two separate indictments, announced today by the Department of Justice. Yin is charged individually for cybercrime activity occurring from roughly 2013 to 2015, while Yin and Zhou are charged together in a separate conspiracy related to computer network intrusion activity occurring from roughly 2018 to 2020. Yin and Zhou are each charged with wire fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Today's reward offers are authorized by the Secretary under the TOCRP, which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally. The reward offers also complement the announcement today of a Treasury sanctions action by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) against Zhou and his company Shanghai Heiying Information Technology. The combined actions represent a whole of government effort to combat malicious cyber actors. If you have information, please contact the FBI by email at yin_zhou_info@fbi.gov. If you are located outside of the United States, you can also visit the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If you are in the United States, you can also contact your local FBI field office. ALL IDENTITIES ARE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sanctions on China-Based Hacker and Data Broker US Department of State Press Statement Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson March 5, 2025 The Department of Justice today unsealed indictments charging Zhou Shuai and Yin Kecheng, eight employees of i-Soon, a Chinese technology company, and two officers of China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) with a variety of hacking-related offenses. Further, the Diplomatic Security Service's Rewards for Justice Program (RFJ) is offering up to $10 million for information on i-Soon, its employees, and the MPS officers engaged in malicious cyber activities highlighted in the Department of Justice's indictments. Additionally, the United States imposed sanctions on the Shanghai-based malicious cyber actor and data broker, Zhou Shuai, and his company, Shanghai Heiying Information Technology Company. Zhou Shuai illegally acquired, brokered, and sold data from highly sensitive U.S. critical infrastructure networks, including in the defense industrial base, communications, health, and government sectors. The Department of State also announced reward offers under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) of up to $2 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Zhou Shuai and Yin Kecheng. As evidenced by today's, and previous announcements, China offers safe harbor for private sector companies that conduct malicious cyber activity against the United States and its partners. The Chinese Communist Party also appears to contract them with varying degrees of control and effectiveness. China-backed malicious cyber actors continue to be one of the greatest and most persistent threats to U.S. national security. Today's multi-agency effort reflects our whole-of-government approach to protecting and defending against China-based cyber threats to Americans, their sensitive personal data, and our critical systems. President Trump is committed to protecting the American people and U.S. critical infrastructure from these pervasive threats, and we will resolutely use all the tools at our disposal to do so. The Department of the Treasury sanctions actions today on Zhou Shuai, and his company Shanghai Heiying Information Technology Company Limited (Shanghai Heiying) were taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13694 , as amended. For more information, see Treasury's press release, DOJ's press release, the TOCRP announcement, and RFJ's announcement . NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 5, 2025 By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News Space Force's Fundamental Role: Space Superiority The U.S. Space Force's primary function is to ensure control in, from and to the space domain. Speaking March 3, 2025, at the 2025 Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, didn't mince words about what the force is meant to do. "Domain control is the special province of warfighters, a unique responsibility that only military services hold," he said. "It is the thing that distinguishes the Navy from the merchant marine and the Air Force from Southwest Airlines. It is the purpose of the Space Force to achieve space superiority." The Space Force will achieve that through "space control," what Saltzman called the service's newest core function. "Put simply, space control encapsulates the mission areas required to contest, to control the space domain, employing kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities by disruption and degradation, even destruction, if necessary," he said. Space control, Saltzman said, includes things like orbital warfare, electromagnetic warfare, and counterspace operations that can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes. Saltzman said the force has not always discussed space control openly, but now is the time to do that. "Why would you have a military space service if not to execute space control?" he asked. "If we're going to truly embrace our status as space warfighters, then we need to also embrace our fundamental responsibility for space control." There's not yet been a war in space, Saltzman said, which means there are no guardians with space combat experience. However, readiness for a future fight is still the top priority for space warfighters. "We need to sharpen every one of the components of readiness: personnel, training, equipment and sustainment. If any one of these elements is lacking, then our readiness as a whole is impacted," Saltzman said. While Space Force leadership is responsible for setting policy and advocating for more people and resources, guardians at the lowest levels must ready themselves for the next fight. "We know space superiority is an end goal [and] it's the headquarters' job to provide the means to achieve it, to create the environment, set the conditions for victory, but it's the job of the warfighters in the field to define the way to connect the two," Saltzman said. He added that the Space Force doesn't yet have all the best training tools available to those who need them. The service is still in the process of acquiring all the simulators and training capabilities it needs. "So, we have a disconnect between the plan and the operational reality, between the end and our means," he said. "That's where I need your help. I would love to wave a wand and give every crew [an] advanced virtual reality trainer that incorporates the latest and greatest threat data, but I can't. So, does that mean the solution is to shrug, mark it red, and move on? Absolutely not." Instead, Saltzman said, guardians must figure out the best way to give themselves the readiness they need until leaders can provide them with better tools. "You're going to have to figure it out because that's what you do; because that's what the nation needs you to do," he said. "If advanced training is nothing more than a whiteboard, whiteboard sessions, talking about tactics and threats, it's fine. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing." While headquarters works to get the best training tools available to guardians, Saltzman said, those service members will need to find other ways to make themselves ready. When it comes to equipment, he said, every squadron must be accurate and forthcoming with documenting what it needs. "Every squadron has an equipment table that lists the critical tools it needs to accomplish its mission," he said. "Are we confident that every table is accurate and complete? Does it include things like infrastructure, the power, [and] the cooling we need to actually employ our weapons systems? If not, why not?" Without having a complete picture of what units across the force need, Saltzman said, Space Force budgets will never be complete or accurate. "The headquarters can't fix problems it doesn't know about, and as much as I would like to, I'm not on the [operations] floor anymore to find out," he said. Saltzman said every guardian is a warfighter, no matter what they do. "Every guardian contributes to Space Force readiness," he said. "Whether you built the gun, pointed the gun, [or] pulled the trigger, you are a part of a combat capability. That's what it means to put on the uniform in a military organization, and we all need to take pride in our roles." While headquarters leaders advocate for more people, money and policy support, he said guardians across the Space Force must also do their part. "I need guardians in the field to find a way. This is a partnership. The headquarters will drive everything it can from the top down, but I need you to meet us from the bottom up," he said. "And I'm confident there will come a day [when] we finally put the institutions [and] processes in place to take the heroics out of our daily activities. But until then, I need your ideas. I need your effort." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USSF senior leaders discuss future objectives, international partnerships at AFA United States Space Force Published March 5, 2025 By Staff Sgt. Adam R. Shanks Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs AURORA, Colo. (AFNS) -- During the Air and Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium, three Space Force senior leaders met center stage in Aurora, March 4, to discuss the future of space operations with an emphasis on the need for technological advancements, international partnerships and scalable capabilities to counter evolving global threats. U.K. Royal Air Force Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, assistant chief of space operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships, was joined by Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton, deputy chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs and Requirements, and Maj. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, special assistant to the Chief of Space Operations, during the panel discussion where the trio focused on the future of the youngest service. Bratton underscored the Space Force's urgent need to scale its capabilities from peacetime operations to full-scale conflict scenarios. "We've got to be able to scale the things we do one or two of in peacetime; we might have to do them 100 times in the first 24 hours of conflict ... what does that look like?" he posed while emphasizing the necessity of robust crew resource management and training. Bythewood echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the military must integrate proven commercial technologies. "We are actively working to make sure we can connect everything on orbit to everything on the face of the planet and underneath the ocean in dynamic ways to support combat maneuver," he said. The panelists also pointed to artificial intelligence and machine learning as key enablers of future space operations. Bythewood highlighted the challenges of data management, stating, "The amount of data we bring back from our platforms becomes overwhelming. Taking advantage of AI and machine learning to help triage data and put decision-quality information in front of Guardians, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines is critical." Bratton, however, acknowledged the challenges of integrating AI and software-driven capabilities: "Probably everyone in here has been on an ops floor where someone walks in and drops a new tool, a new container, a new piece of software, and you're immediately in operations, but you haven't had the training. The dilemma is 'when does the benefit outweigh the risk?'" As the discussion matured, the trio began to touch on the Space Force's "Allied by Design" concept, with Godfrey offering his view on interoperability with allies and partners to strengthen the U.S.'s ability to secure the space domain. Godfrey stressed the importance of seamless collaboration. "How do we make it interoperable? How does it work outside of a single system? We need to ensure that when a capability from an ally is introduced, it integrates seamlessly." The discussion also touched on the U.S. administration's directive for the 'Golden Dome Initiative,' a national defense project focused on integrated air and missile defense. Godfrey emphasized the importance of allies in this effort, stating, "there will be huge opportunities for allies and partners to contribute to this, and as a result, benefit from a Golden Dome that extends across various regions." As the Space Force looks ahead to 2040, its leaders are calling on industry and international allies to support innovation and integration. "We're focused on where we need to be in 2040 and what changes need to happen between now and then to get us there," Bythewood stated. Bratton reinforced this message, emphasizing the need to normalize rapid-response capabilities, citing successes in Space Systems Command. "We've had some incredible demonstrations of capability now we need to be able to do that at scale, in conflict." As the service continues to refine its force design and operations, collaboration with industry and international partners will be key to ensuring the U.S. and its allies maintain space superiority. The Space Force's ability to harness new technologies and leverage its partnerships is critical for it to turn strategic discussions into actionable policies and technologies that define the future of space warfare. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Last truck load delivered By Eamon McCaughan 5 March 2025 The Land 121 medium heavy truck program, which has been running for more than a decade, has delivered its final batch of Rheinmetall MAN military vehicles. The program has provided the ADF with a diverse range of more than 3500 medium and heavy trucks, 2200 trailers, 1000 modules and 2000 flat-racks, including recovery vehicles and integrated load-handling systems. The trucks come with various modules and configurations to distribute fuel, water and general stores. Director-General Platforms Army Brigadier Colin Bassett said the vehicles provided soldiers greater mobility and, where required, armour. "The improved armoured protection against blast and small arms weapons effects ensures our soldiers have the best chance at success and returning home to their families," Brigadier Bassett said. "Since the introduction of this fleet of vehicle, they have been used to great effect to support Australia's regional communities after natural disasters, including Operation Bushfire Assist and the Townsville floods in 2019 and more recently. "These vehicles have proven their reliability in various environments, and provide the government options to deploy them in a wide range of situations, from warlike situations to humanitarian aid and assistance to the civil community." Director General Land Vehicle Systems Brigadier John-Paul Ouvrier said the program was completed on time and on budget. "More than $650 million has been invested in Australian defence industry whilst delivering the medium heavy capability, with ongoing annual sustainment valued at approximately $60 million," Brigadier Ouvrier said. "This investment not only supports the ADF's capabilities but has also provided a boost to Australia's local defence industry." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Air-to-air refuellers keep Operation Okra flying By Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree 5 March 2025 Flying a Classic Hornet loaded with bombs over Iraq in 2016, Air Commodore Philip Gordon had a problem. Beneath him was Daesh-controlled territory and a regime that burned alive the last fighter pilot they captured. His fuel was running low and the German air-to-air refuelling tanker that had been allocated was struggling to transfer because of technical issues. Air Commodore Gordon and his flight lead discussed landing in the Kurdish-Iraqi city of Erbil, but it wasn't a good place for the Australian Air Task Group commander to be stuck. "I thought, 'CJOPs [chief joint operations] is not going to like this'. He was nervous about me going flying in the first place. If I had to divert into Iraq, it would really sour the friendship," Air Commodore Gordon said. Just as he was about to head for Erbil, an Aussie voice came over the radio. "We hear you're having some problems. We're five miles south of you, closing 2000 feet high." It was the RAAF KC-30A air-to-air refuelling tanker. The crew had been monitoring radio channels and took it upon themselves to fly over after hearing another tanker was having issues. "They could've just stayed in their assigned orbit and flown in circles, but they were in the fight, supporting the missions and they basically saved our bacon," Air Commodore Gordon said. Since the aircraft's first deployment on Operation Okra in 2014, KC-30 crews became known for monitoring radio channels and pre-emptively repositioning their aircraft. During one early mission, a RAAF Super Hornet running low on fuel was preparing to strike Daesh targets near Sinjar to support friendly forces in danger of being overrun. The pilot radioed RAAF's KC-30 to ask where they were on their tanker leg. Unlike most tanker crews, Australia's KC-30 aviators listened to the joint terminal attack control frequency and had already moved 85 nautical miles closer to the action. The Super Hornet was able to bomb its target, peel off and plug into the tanker. Okra was the KC-30's first operational deployment and originally was only cleared to refuel Australia's Classic and Super Hornets. Project office staff worked overtime to authorise refuelling of seven other fighter types from five nations. It offloaded about 80,000 pounds of fuel to different aircraft every mission, which lasted up to nine hours. Unlike most other coalition tankers, RAAF's KC-30 can refuel aircraft with a flying boom that inserts directly, or a probe-and-drogue system using hoses and baskets that fighters plug into. RAAF tanker crews flew 11,332 hours across 1440 missions as part of Operation Okra before returning home in 2020. They offloaded more 47,000 tonnes of fuel, with more than 350 aircrew and maintainers rotating though deployments with the KC-30. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Places to go, counterparts to see By Lieutenant Harrison Thomas 5 March 2025 The first regional presence deployment (RPD) for 2025 has opened HMAS Hobart to a number of training opportunities with counterparts from across the Indo-Pacific region. After departing Darwin in late January, Hobart participated in Exercise La Perouse, a French-led multilateral training activity in the Malacca, Sunda and Lombok straits around Indonesia. This year's La Perouse was the largest iteration of the exercise in its history, involving a range of missions and the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group (CSG). Commanding Officer Hobart Commander Alisha Withers said the ship's crew conducted a number of training and integration activities with French vessels, including a replenishment at sea with AOR Jacques Chevallier. "It was a great honour to work with the French CSG. They are not a navy we work with often, so it was a great experience for all," Commander Withers said. "The whole ship's company was excited to put our training to the test during such a challenging but rewarding event. "The success of this exercise is a direct result of the professionalism and dedication of every sailor and officer on board. It is a privilege to see our team, and our partners, operate together so seamlessly." Hobart then made headway to the Philippines to participate in a multilateral maritime cooperative activity with naval and air force units from Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States. Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft joined Hobart for the activity, further strengthening cooperation and readiness to respond to shared security challenges with partners. Hobart then participated in a transit of the South China Sea alongside the United States Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold and Royal Navy's River-class offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey. RPDs such as this underline Australia's commitment to regional and international cooperation in support of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Hobart was welcomed into the ports of Bali, Indonesia, Subic Bay, Philippines and Singapore during the RPD. For Able Seaman Jazmin Garrard, the deployment was a dream come true. "These are the kinds of activities and travel experiences you dream of doing during initial training," Able Seaman Garrard said. In all ports, Commander Withers and members of the ship's company were presented with warm hospitality from their hosts. The RPD wrapped up with Hobart's participation in the Indonesian International Fleet Review in Bali, followed immediately by the Indonesian-led Exercise Komodo with 14 other nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India's Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan's first visit to Australia Issued by Defence Media 6 March 2025 Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston AC RAN hosted General Anil Chauhan, India's Chief of Defence Staff, in Canberra on 5 March 2025. This was the first visit to Australia by an Indian Chief of Defence Staff. General Chauhan's visit included meetings with senior Defence leaders. India is a top-tier security partner for Australia, with both countries committed to working together to promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Discussions focused on practical ideas to realise both nations' long-term vision of a defence and security collaboration that enhances collective strength and contributes to both countries' security. The visit advanced cooperation on shared priorities and interoperability, including in maritime domain awareness, reciprocal information sharing, and deployments from each other's territories. The two countries have established a strong tempo of exercises and activities across maritime, land and air domains working through the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and as trilateral and quadrilateral partners. Quotes attributable to the Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston AC RAN: "It was a pleasure to welcome General Chauhan on his first official visit to Canberra. General Chauhan's visit underlines the value of our defence partnership with India. "We are committed to working closely with our Indian partners to enhance our interoperability, strengthen people-to-people links, and further cooperation with key partners to promote regional stability and security." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with premiers to discuss a Team Canada response to unjustified U.S. tariffs against Canada Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau March 4, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a virtual meeting with Canada's premiers to discuss the United States' unjustified tariffs against Canada. The Prime Minister was joined by the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, and Canada's Fentanyl Czar, Kevin Brosseau. The Prime Minister and the premiers denounced the U.S.' decision to impose unjustified tariffs and committed to stand united against this economic threat. They noted that mutually beneficial trade between Canada and the U.S. has underpinned the world's closest economic partnership for decades. They underscored that tariffs would weaken both of our countries, put thousands of good-paying jobs at risk, and make life less affordable for both Canadians and Americans alike. The Prime Minister and the premiers discussed Canada's robust response to the imposition of tariffs by the U.S., which includes moving forward with 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of imported goods, beginning immediately with a list of goods worth $30 billion. The scope of the Canadian counter tariffs will be increased to $155 billion if the current U.S. tariffs are maintained, and could also be increased if new tariffs are imposed. The Prime Minister emphasized that Canada's response is designed to minimize negative impacts on Canadians and the economy, while also recognizing that U.S. tariffs will inevitably cause some economic hardship. Minister LeBlanc stated the federal government will soon announce an initial package of supports to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian workers, families, and businesses. First Ministers also discussed progress to reduce barriers to internal trade and labour mobility within Canada. The Prime Minister and the premiers thanked Canadians for their resilience and solidarity in the face of this threat. They noted their response to these challenging times has proven to the world that Canada will always be strong, free, proud, and united. First Ministers agreed to continue working together to defend Canada's economy and sovereignty in the weeks and months ahead. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's national legislature opens annual session, inspires confidence amid complex environment Global Times By Zhang Han, Shen Sheng and Chu Daye Published: Mar 05, 2025 11:15 PM The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, opened its third session on Wednesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders attended the opening meeting. Premier Li Qiang delivered a Government Work Report at the meeting. China's economy maintained overall stable operation with progress in 2024, with the main goals and tasks for its economic and social development successfully accomplished, according to the Government Work Report submitted to the national legislature for deliberation. The Government Work Report also set key economic targets for this year, including GDP growth of around 5 percent. Lawmakers reviewed a report from the State Council on the implementation of the 2024 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2025 draft plan, as well as the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2025. They also reviewed a report from the State Council on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2024 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2025, as well as the draft central and local budgets for 2025. Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, explained a draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels. Achievements and prospects Multiple deputies and political advisors shared with the Global Times their thoughts on the Government Work Report which set proactive goals and elaborated on the concrete measures to be instituted. NPC deputy Tian Xuan, associate dean of Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance, told the Global Times in a group interview after the session that the economic objectives reflect the central government's strong commitment to boosting the economy and employment. "Employment is considered the most critical aspect of people's livelihoods," Tian said, adding that the around 5.5 percent surveyed urban unemployment rate and over 12 million new urban jobs, as set out in the Government Work Report for 2025, demonstrate the government's high attention to this issue against the backdrop of a record number of college graduates. Li Baoju, a member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC who was present at the NPC session, told the Global Times on Wednesday that as an agricultural scientist, he is cheered by the Government Work Report. Among multiple rounds of applause during the delivery of the Government Work Report, one was given when the Premier said that concerted efforts must be made to see that "the country's food supply remains firmly in our own hands." Li Baoju was inspired by the emphasis to enhance the overall caliber of talent, which points the direction to optimize talent cultivation and evaluation to give them full play. Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, a Hong Kong deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, told media that he was "deeply touched" on hearing loud applause for a section in the report mentioning Hong Kong and Macao, as he felt the concern of people from different sectors across the country for the development of Hong Kong and Macao. NPC deputy Yu Miaojie, president of Liaoning University, told the Global Times at the session that he found the Government Work Report set out steady objectives and specified accurate policy directions and practical measures. The measures, including those to boost consumption, continue to develop new quality productive forces, as well as prevent and defuse risks, and these are the foundation for China to meet its objectives for 2025, according to Yu. Yang Xuedong, director of the Department of Political Sciences at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that "through the Government Work Report, we can see attention is not only on the pace of economic growth, but also on livelihood issues, including the real estate market, stock markets and the improvement of social insurance." Some new terms in the Government Work Report, such as to foster industries such as "embodied AI" and "intelligent robots," and support the development of "unicorn and gazelle companies," have also triggered discussions. The government's commitment to the economy aims to keep growth in step with social needs, Yang said. Confidence despite complex situations As the Government Work Report said, the achievements in 2024 did not come easily. The adverse impact of changes in the international environment increased, and some deep-seated structural problems that had been building up in the country for years came to a head. Sluggish domestic demand was compounded by weak public expectations along with other issues, and natural disasters like floods occurred frequently in some parts of China. All this added to the difficulty of maintaining economic and social stability. However, we responded to this array of difficulties and challenges with both active and effective steps: We redoubled efforts to implement adopted policies and improved macro regulation in a timely manner. In particular, we took firm actions to implement a package of new policies that was decided on by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee at a meeting on September 26. This led to a notable rebound in the economy and effectively boosted public confidence, ensuring the fulfillment of the goals for 2024 and laying a good foundation for development in 2025, the Government Work Report said. As 2025 marks the conclusion year of the 14th Five Year Plan (2021-25), the Government Work Report stated that we will begin formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan this year. We should make an in-depth analysis of new features defining the 15th Five-Year Plan period, set development targets through well-conceived steps, and carry out proper planning for major strategic tasks, policies, measures and projects, so that the Plan will serve as an effective guide for China's economic and social development. As one of the most important annual political events, China's two sessions have been under close watch by the international community. The Global Times noticed that although the Wednesday session opened at 9 am, domestic and foreign media lined up outside the Great Hall of the People as early as around 6:40 am to secure a better seat to listen to the key reports. It is the third time that Ameen Muneer Mohammed Al-Obaidi, a China Arab TV reporter, has covered China's two sessions. His impression is that there are more foreign media this year as he saw some organizations he has not seen before. The two sessions serve as the best platform to understand China. Through observing the interactions of lawmakers and political advisors, how their proposals and suggestions are heard and incorporated (into policies), "I understand how China is never satisfied with its past achievements and keeps improving," he said. Since the US' imposition of additional tariffs has also made headlines in recent days, multiple media outlets pointed to this backdrop to China's two sessions. The Helsinki Times said that "China's Two Sessions set political agenda for 2025 amid global scrutiny." Yang said that China's advantage in its system can be seen in the formulation of the annual Government Work Report and the functioning of the NPC and CPPCC National Committee. The state, through making plans and setting goals, consistently guides socio-economic development, and in responding to pressing public concern and hot topics, it demonstrates policy flexibility, Yang said. Facing a complex environment with increasing risks, China can still effectively advance its various agendas, showcasing strong capacity to coordinate and mobilize resources for major goals and missions, the expert said. Li Meng, Suo Yanqi contributed to the story NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM responds to question on multiple claims of Trump in address to US Congress Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 05, 2025 09:14 PM At a regular press briefing on Wednesday, a journalist asked Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson for comment on US President Donald Trump's address to Congress, during which Trump said that he had received a message from President Zelensky to help end the war in Ukraine, and also repeating that he hopes to see greater US control over the Panama Canal and Greenland, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that "we noted relevant reports." China' s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear, he said, adding that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the crisis. Lin said that on the Panama Canal issue, China supports Panama's sovereignty over the Canal, and stays committed to maintaining the status of the Canal as a permanently neutral international waterway. China has never engaged in the management and operation of the Canal. Never ever have we interfered. The so-called China's control over the Canal is nothing but a lie. He also noted that on the issue of Greenland, China always believes that relations between countries should be handled in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM responds to potential acquisition related to Panama Canal, opposes coercion in international trade Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 05, 2025 04:57 PM In response to media inquiries regarding a consortium led by US investment firm BlackRock potentially acquiring a Hong Kong company with the aim of taking control of Hong Kong company's stake in the Panama Canal, saying the move is under pressure of the White House, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that we don't comment on the relevant business transaction. He noted that the Hong Kong SAR government had previously addressed issues related to the company's port operations. As a matter of principle, Lin emphasized that China supports its enterprises, including those from Hong Kong, in investing and developing businesses overseas. He also stressed that all countries should provide a fair and just environment for relevant enterprises, adding that we oppose the use of coercion and pressure in international economic and trade relations. When addressing another question related to the Panama Canal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China supports Panama's sovereignty over the Panama Canal and is committed to upholding the Canal's status as a permanently neutral international waterway. He emphasized that China has never participated in managing or operating the Canal, nor has it interfered in its affairs. The claim that "China controls the Canal" is completely a lie, according to CCTV News on Wednesday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NPC spokesperson responds to question on impact of Trump's re-inauguration on China-EU relations Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 04, 2025 02:16 PM Updated: Mar 05, 2025 12:31 AM When asked how China believes US President Donald Trump's re-inauguration will affect China-Europe diplomatic and trade relations, Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), said China attaches high importance to relations with the EU. China and Europe are two major constructive forces for peace, a sound and stable China-EU relationship serves the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides and meets the common expectations of the international community, he said. Lou noted that the year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties. What happened over the past 50 years demonstrates time and again that between China and the EU, there is no conflict of fundamental interests or geopolitical contradictions. China and the EU can be partners that contribute to each other's success. The economic and trade relations between China-EU is developing steadily on the whole. Economic and trade cooperation not only boosted economic growth on both sides but also contributed to stable industrial and supply chains and economic growth globally. China and Europe can complement each other's strength and achieve mutual benefit in many areas of cooperation. Lou emphasized that China-EU relations are not targeted at any third party, nor is it subjected to or controlled by any third party. To develop China-EU relations, the key lies in having confidence and composure and not being persuaded by temporary events. China is willing to work with the European side to implement the important understandings of the leaders, enhance cooperation in various fields, including between legislatures, to jointly meet global challenges, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, move the China-EU relationship forward on an upward trajectory, and provide more stability and certainty to our world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's national legislature opens annual session People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:05, March 05, 2025 BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China's national legislature on Wednesday started its annual session, with a string of confidence-boosting development goals unveiled, including an economic growth target of around 5 percent for 2025. Nearly 3,000 deputies attended the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders including Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng were seated at the rostrum. Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the session's presidium, presided over the meeting. Premier Li Qiang delivered a government work report. Reviewing the work of 2024, he said that in the face of complex and challenging developments marked by mounting external pressures and growing domestic difficulties, China has accomplished the main goals and tasks for economic and social development. "While recognizing our achievements, we are keenly aware of the problems and challenges that confront us," he said. Noting that 2025 is the final year for implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), the premier said China targets economic growth of around 5 percent this year. The country has set the target for its surveyed urban unemployment rate at around 5.5 percent, and plans to create over 12 million new urban jobs in 2025, Li said. China also targets an annual increase in the consumer price index of around 2 percent, he added. Noting that China faces formidable tasks in economic and social development, Li said the country should focus on major priorities and key links and strive to deliver a good performance in several areas, including vigorously boosting consumption, accelerating the development of a modernized industrial system, accelerating the implementation of landmark reform measures, expanding high-standard opening up, and stabilizing foreign trade and investment. At Wednesday's meeting, lawmakers reviewed a report from the State Council on the implementation of the 2024 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2025 draft plan, as well as the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2025. They also reviewed a report from the State Council on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2024 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2025, as well as the draft central and local budgets for 2025. Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, explained a draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels. The law amendment is necessary for developing whole-process people's democracy and ensuring that people's congresses and their standing committees at all levels maintain close ties with the people, according to the explanation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on March 5, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: March 05, 2025 19:08 CCTV: It was reported that on March 4, Arab countries held an emergency summit in Cairo to discuss the Palestinian question, and proposed the Arab plan on the recovery and reconstruction of post-conflict Gaza. What is China's comment on this? Lin Jian: China supports the effort by Egypt and other Arab countries to promote the continuous and effective implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, advance humanitarian assistance and restore security and stability there. We support a post-conflict governance plan in Gaza that is recognized by the Palestinian people and embodies the consensus of Arab countries. The plan must follow the principle of "Palestinians governing Palestine" and align with the two-State solution so that Palestine and Israel will live side by side peacefully and there will be lasting peace in the Middle East. China Daily: On June 7, 2024, the 78th United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proposed by China to establish the "International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations" by consensus. Recently, we learned that the U.N. Secretariat has launched a special website (in English) for the "International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations." What is China's comment on this? Lin Jian: Last year, the resolution proposed by China to establish the "International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations" was adopted at the 78th United Nations General Assembly by consensus. This marks a successful practice of China's Global Civilization Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping, and represents a significant contribution to promoting dialogue among different civilizations worldwide, as well as advancing global peace and development. The special website for the "International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations" launched by the U.N. recently will help promote the common values of humanity, raise public awareness of respecting diversity of civilizations, and draw attention to finding solutions to global challenges. On June 10 this year, the international community will celebrate the first "International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations." As the initiating country, China stands ready to work with the international community to actively implement the spirit of the UNGA resolution, organize diverse celebration activities, jointly promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, better safeguard world peace and foster common development through dialogue among civilizations, and make unremitting efforts to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. AFP: President Donald Trump today made an address to the U.S. Congress. He said he had received a message from President Zelenskyy to help end the war in Ukraine. He also repeated some statements to the effect that he hopes to see greater U.S. control over the Panama Canal and Greenland. Do you have any comment or any further remarks? Lin Jian: We noted relevant reports. China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable solution to the crisis. On the Panama Canal issue, China supports Panama's sovereignty over the Canal, and stays committed to maintaining the status of the Canal as a permanently neutral international waterway. China has never engaged in the management and operation of the Canal. Never ever have we interfered. The so-called China's control over the Canal is nothing but a lie. On the issue of Greenland, China always believes that relations between countries should be handled in accordance with the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter. EFE: In yesterday's briefing, you said that if the U.S. wants war, tariff war, trade war or any type of war, China is ready to fight till the end. A similar remark was made by the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Does China fully stand by this statement? What does "any type of war" refer to? Lin Jian: Yesterday, we made clear China's serious position on the issue. The U.S. is bent on using the fentanyl issue as a flimsy excuse to raise tariffs again on Chinese imports. China has made clear its opposition more than once and has taken legitimate and necessary countermeasures. If the U.S. truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit to address each other's concerns. If the U.S. has other agenda in mind and if harming China's interests is what the U.S. wants, we're ready to fight till the end. We urge the U.S. to stop being domineering and return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation at an early date. China-Arab TV: Also on the emergency Arab summit held in Egypt yesterday, the day before yesterday, European leaders also held an emergency summit on the Ukraine crisis in London. The two emergency summits have one thing in common: they both rejected remarks from the U.S. Do you have any comment on the recent statements made by the United States? Lin Jian: I've stated China's position on the emergency summit held by Arab countries. On the Ukraine crisis, China noted that there are new developments concerning the political settlement of the crisis. On this issue, we always follow the four points about what must be done which were proposed by President Xi Jinping. China hopes that relevant parties can find a sustainable and lasting solution that takes into account each other's concerns through dialogue and negotiation. Reuters: An investor group backed by BlackRock has agreed to buy a majority stake in the Hong Kong-based company that runs ports along either side of the Panama Canal. This would give a U.S. firm control of key docks in that area amid pressure from the White House. Does the Ministry have any comment on this? Lin Jian: We have no comment on the relevant commercial deal. The government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region made a response to the operation of the ports by the relevant Hong Kong company. Let me say more broadly that China supports Chinese companies, including those from Hong Kong SAR, in investing and doing business overseas. Hope they can have access to a fair and just business environment everywhere they go. We oppose any abuse of coercion and pressuring in international trade and economic relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China vows to fight US 'till the end' amid escalating trade war Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 9:02 AM Beijing says the United States is using the fentanyl issue as a "flimsy excuse" to raise tariffs on Chinese imports, vowing to fight "till the end" if Washington is hell-bent on waging a trade war. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the remarks in a post on Twitter on Wednesday, a day after US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Chinese goods, accusing China of failing to stop the export of chemicals used in the production of opioid fentanyl. "The fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise US tariffs on Chinese imports. Our countermeasures to defend our rights and interests are fully legitimate and necessary," Lin said. He went on to say that the US is responsible for the fentanyl crisis in the country, adding that China has taken "robust steps" to assist Washington in dealing with the issue. Lin further noted that imposing tariffs is not going to solve the problem and will just undermine dialogue and cooperation, stressing that coercion and intimidation is not the right way of dealing with China. The Chinese official also said, "If the US truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China by treating each other as equals." "If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end," he added. China sets 5% growth target Meanwhile, China has also set a target of "around 5%" growth for 2025, amid escalating American tariffs on its export-driven economy. The target "underscores our resolve to meet difficulties head-on and strive hard to deliver," Premier Li Qiang, China's No. 2 official, said on Wednesday as he delivered the government work report at the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's rubber-stamp legislature. Li further said that "with the dedicated efforts of our people across the country, we can prevail over any difficulty in pursuing development." "The giant ship of China's economy will continue to cleave the waves and sail steadily toward the future," he added. On Tuesday, Trump imposed new 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with fresh duties on Chinese goods, sparking an international trade war. The move came after Trump declared that the top three US trading partners had failed to do enough to stem the flow of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals into the country. He also said further tariffs would follow on April 2, including "reciprocal tariffs" and non-tariff actions aimed at balancing out years of trade imbalances. "Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it's our turn," Trump said, citing high duties imposed on US goods by India, South Korea, the European Union, China and others. Shortly after Trump's latest tariffs took effect on Tuesday, China said that it was imposing its own broad tariffs on food imported from the United States and would essentially halt sales to 15 American companies. Beijing retaliated with tariffs of up to 15% on a wide array of US farm exports. Canada planned to put tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods. Mexico also said it will impose retaliatory tariffs on US products that will be announced on Sunday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China announces 7.2% defense budget hike, reaffirms opposition to Taiwan independence China's military spending remains the world's second largest behind the US. By Taejun Kang and Alan Lu for RFA 2025.03.05 TAIPEI, Taiwan -- China is increasing its 2025 defense budget by 7.2% to US$246 billion amid growing rivalry with the United States and tensions over Taiwan, marking the fourth consecutive year of more than 7% growth in defense spending. As China announced its defense budget on Wednesday, Premier Li Qiang reiterated "strong opposition" to those who push for Taiwan's formal independence and their foreign supporters. China has ramped up military activities around self-governed, democratic Taiwan, conducting frequent air and naval incursions into the island's air defense identification zone and staging large-scale drills near its waters. Beijing views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. The 7.2% increase, announced at the National People's Congress, the annual meeting of China's legislature, matches last year's rate but remains significantly lower than the double-digit rises seen in previous years, reflecting an economic slowdown. Analysts say actual military spending could be at least 40% higher due to expenditures hidden in other budgets. China's leadership has set a target for overall economic growth of around 5% for the year. Since Xi Jinping became president more than a decade ago, the defense budget has ballooned to 1.78 trillion yuan (US$246 billion) from 720 billion yuan in 2013. Xi aims to complete full military modernisation by 2035, with China's military developing new missiles, ships, submarines and surveillance technologies. Its military spending remains the second largest behind the U.S. and it already has the world's largest navy. 'Strong opposition' to Taiwan independence China announced the new military budget just days after sending dozens of aircraft into territory near Taiwan and briefly setting up a live-fire zone close to the island. In his comments at the Congress, Premier Li told the nearly 3,000 party loyalists that China still preferred a peaceful solution to the Taiwan issue, but "resolutely opposes" those pushing for Taiwan's formal independence and their foreign supporters. "We will firmly advance the cause of China's reunification and work with our fellow Chinese in Taiwan to realize the glorious cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Li said. Li's remarks came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for a top Pentagon post said Taiwan needed to increase its defense spending to about 10% of its gross domestic product to deter a war with China. Elbridge Colby, the nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy, told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee that Taiwan's current level of defense spending was "well below 3%" and therefore far too low. "They should be more like 10%, or at least something in that ballpark, really focused on their defense," said Colby. Taiwan's Cabinet had earmarked $647 billion New Taiwan dollars (US$20 billion) for defense spending in 2025, equal to 2.45% of its GDP. President Lai Ching-te later pledged to propose a special budget to raise defense spending to more than 3% of GDP, though that, too, would require legislative approval. Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is committed to assisting Taiwan to defend itself but it has long maintained a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. "Taiwan's fall [to China] would be a disaster for American interests," said Colby, explaining that he was trying to draw attention to the fact that the military balance vis-a-vis China has "deteriorated dramatically." "What I have been trying to do is shoot a signal flare that it is vital to enable U.S. forces for an 'effective and reasonable' defense of Taiwan, and for the Taiwanese and Japanese to do more," he added. In response to Colby's remarks, Taiwan's defence ministry referred to Lai's announcement of "a significant increase in the defense budget." "Taiwan's military's force modernization plans are based on careful assessments of evolving threats, ensuring that procurement aligns with strategic needs and available defense budgets," Minister of Defense Wellington Koo Li-hsiung said in a statement to Radio Free Asia. Referring to the president's announcement of significant increase in defense spending, Khoo said the focus would be on four key areas: building asymmetric capabilities, strengthening defense resilience, enhancing reserve forces, and effectively responding to "gray-zone" threats. "Any weapon systems that can rapidly contribute to force modernization will be prioritized for acquisition," he said. Taiwan's defense minister this week said the island was planning to boost military spending in the face of the "rapidly changing international situation and the escalating threats from adversaries" while increasing the scope and duration of its annual military exercise. He did not elaborate on the budget. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Letters call on UK residents to hand Hong Kongers over to China for reward The denunciations fuel growing calls for stronger government action, fears over Beijing's mega-embassy plan. By Matthew Leung for RFA Cantonese 2025.03.05 -- Calls are growing for the British government to take action to protect Hong Kongers in the country from the China's "long-arm" law enforcement after the neighbors of two wanted pro-democracy activists received anonymous letters urging them to bring the activists to the Chinese Embassy in London. The letters repeat the exact wording of Hong Kong police wanted notices offering bounties of HK$1 million (US$128,000) for the arrest of "fugitives" under national security legislation. They were sent to people living near U.K.-based pro-independence activist Tony Chung and former district councilor Carmen Lau, they told RFA Cantonese in interviews last month. "A reward of one million Hong Kong dollars is being offered by Hong Kong Police to any member of the public, who can provide information on this wanted person and the related crime or take him to Chinese embassy," the letters read. The included a Hong Kong national security police email address where they could give information and claim their reward. Both Lau and Chung have a HK$1 million (US$128,000) bounty on their heads and stand accused of "incitement to secession" by Hong Kong's National Security Police, who are waging an ongoing crackdown on political opposition and public dissent. Hong Kong authorities have vowed to pursue activists in exile for life, while jailing political activists at home for "subversion" and putting pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai on trial for "collusion with foreign powers" after articles in his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper called for sanctions on Hong Kong. Calls to protect Hong Kongers in the UK The letters have prompted calls in the House of Commons for the British government to do more to protect more than 220,000 Hong Kongers who have come to live in the country under its British National Overseas lifeboat visa program. "We have received assurances from counter-terror policing that the appropriate measures are in place for the individuals in question," Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis told members of Parliament in a debate on March 4. "The continued safety of Hong Kongers remains a priority for this Government," he said. "I want to be clear that we will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics overseas, especially here in the U.K." Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the harassment of Hong Kongers on British soil was "completely unacceptable." "It is a gross infringement of the liberty of the individuals concerned and it is an affront to British sovereignty," Philp said. Members of Parliament expressed frustration with the slow pace of planned measures that include a register of foreign influence, according to Jarvis, saying China's planned mega-embassy in London will likely further enable "transnational repression" of activists on British soil by the Chinese authorities. 'Pan-European base for spying' Philp said the planned mega-embassy would "simply be used as a pan-European base for Chinese spying," and called for China to be put in the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme. "What concrete and tangible action is being taken to prevent these outrages?" he said. Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Scotland called for sanctions, as part of a stronger response to "stop more of our citizens and brave activists being threatened on British soil." Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat said there is a "pernicious undermining of the confidence in the British state and the credibility of our ability to protect our citizens and friends," while former Conservative Party leader and MP Iain Duncan Smith said the letters amounted to "extraterritorial attacks in plain view." He called on Jarvis to reject the plans for the mega-embassy and "start arresting the people responsible and kicking them out of the country." Jarvis said the government is "working at pace" to implement the foreign interest registration scheme. Ruling Labour Party MP James Naish cited the attack on Hong Kong protester Bob Chan at the Chinese Consulate in Manchester in 2022, warning that the mega-embassy "would be contributing to the transnational repression that Hongkongers, Tibetans and the wider Chinese diaspora in the UK experience." Chilling effect Tony Chung said he planned to carry on as normal, but raised concerns it could have a chilling effect on overseas activists. "It could cause fear and worry for some people who are doing advocacy work for Hong Kong overseas, or who organize Hong Kong-related activities," Chung said after hearing about the letter targeting him. "This is what they are hoping to achieve." A Hong Kong government spokesperson told RFA Cantonese last month that the government "would not send anonymous letters," and that anyone receiving one should seek help from the police where they live. Leeds-based Chloe Cheung, the youngest of 19 overseas activists wanted by Hong Kong's national security police, said she suspects she has been followed while in the United Kingdom. "I just hope that when local people see such letters, they will know that they are the work of an overseas dictatorship engaged in transnational repression, rather than a real wanted notice from the British police," she said. China already has in place a global network for bringing home its nationals to face trial and imprisonment, including political prisoners. Authorities in China captured and repatriated 1,597 people from overseas in 2024, as part of its "SkyNet" operation targeting Chinese nationals who flee the country. The Spain-based rights group Safeguard Defenders estimates that nearly 14,000 people have been brought back to China from more than 120 countries under Beijing's "Fox Hunt" and "SkyNet" operations since 2014. "Covert means account for the vast majority of forced returns," the group said in a March 4 report, saying the renditions were "in blatant violation of other countries' sovereignty." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's crackdown on dissent: over 1,500 convicted in six years, report finds A new report shows the extent of Beijing's arbitrary detentions, with severe sentences for prisoners of conscience. By Alan Lu for RFA 2025.03.05 TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Chinese authorities have arbitrarily detained thousands of people for peacefully defending or exercising their rights over the past six years and convicted 1,545 prisoners of conscience, a rights group said on Wednesday. Chinese Human Rights Defenders, or CHRD, a non-government organization of domestic and overseas Chinese rights activists, said the scope and scale of wrongful detention by Chinese authorities may constitute crimes against humanity. "They were sentenced and imprisoned on charges that stem from laws that are not in conformity with the Chinese government's domestic and international human rights obligations," the group said in a report. "Their cases proceeded through the full criminal justice system, with police, prosecutors, and courts arbitrarily depriving them of their liberty in violation of their human rights." Prisoners of conscience have faced severe penalties, with an average sentence of six years, increasing to seven for national security charges. Three people, identified as Tashpolat Tiyip, Sattar Sawut and Yang Hengjun, were sentenced to death, while two, Rahile Dawut and Abdurazaq Sayim, received life sentences, the group said, adding that 48 were jailed for at least a decade. Map of sentenced prisoners of conscience across mainland China excluding Hong Kong and Macao. (CHRD) Among the convicted, women activists and marginalized groups, including ethnic Tibetans and Uyghurs, were disproportionately represented among those wrongfully detained, the group said. Out of all the prisoners of conscience aged 60 or older, two-thirds were women, it added. "Human rights experts and international experts have raised that people over the age of 60 should generally not be held in custody due to the effects on their physical and mental health," Angeli Datt, research consultant with CHRD, told journalists in a press briefing Wednesday. "That two-thirds of them are women was really shocking to me," she said. "Worse still, the impunity Chinese government officials enjoy at home emboldens them to commit abuses abroad," the group said. China dismissed a Swiss report last month alleging that it pressures Tibetans and Uyghurs in Switzerland to spy on their communities. 'Endangering national security' The CHRD said that under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the scope and scale of the use of arbitrary detention to silence critics and punish human rights personnel had grown. The organization documented a total of 58 individuals known to have been convicted of "endangering national security." "The overall average prison sentence for a national security crime is 6.72 years, though this figure excludes those sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve or life imprisonment," it said. In Hong Kong, more people were convicted of "subversion" and "inciting subversion" terms that the U.N. describes as "broad and imprecise, making them prone to misapplication and misuse." In one 2024 case, authorities convicted 45 people for participating in a primary election, an act fully protected under both domestic and international law. Subversion charges accounted for 37% of all prisoners of conscience sentenced in Hong Kong during this period. China also punishes individuals for political activities related to Taiwan under broad judicial guidelines that criminalize discussions on Taiwan's status, advocacy for referendums, and support for its international participation. These rules allow trials in absentia and the death penalty, instilling fear among Taiwanese citizens who uphold democratic freedoms. In August 2024, for instance, a Zhejiang court sentenced former Taiwanese activist Yang Chih-yuan, 34, to nine years for separatism. A former Taiwanese politician turned pro-independence advocate, he moved to China in 2022, avoiding politics to teach a strategy game. Despite this, he was detained in August, placed under "residential surveillance," and arrested in April 2023 - reportedly the first Taiwanese convicted under China's new rules targeting Taiwan-related political activities. "When defenders are imprisoned for this work and silenced, people and governments around the world are left without information about domestic developments, and without allies for reform," said CHRD. Edited by Taejun Kang. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thailand had offers to take Uyghurs but deported them to China anyway: MP China has dismissed concerns from the US, UN and others that the deported Uyghurs face torture. By Nontarat Phaicharoen and Kunnawut Boonreak for BenarNews 2025.03.05 BANGKOK -- Thailand had received offers from three countries, including the United States, to accept 48 detained Uyghurs for resettlement but it instead deported most of them to China last week, at Beijing's request, a Thai opposition member of parliament said on Wednesday. Thailand repatriated 40 of the Uyghurs to China on Feb. 27, ignoring warnings from the U.S., the U.N. and human rights groups that they risked torture when they were returned to the northeastern region of Xinjiang, which they fled more than 10 years ago. Five other Uyghurs are in a Thai prison and the whereabouts of three have not been disclosed. Thailand said it agreed to what it said was the voluntary repatriation of the 40 men after a formal request from Beijing, and after getting Chinese assurances they would be safe, and because it had received no offers from other countries to resettle them. But opposition lawmaker Kannavee Suebsang told RFA affiliate BenarNews that Thailand had received offers from three countries to take the men. "We're revealing this because the government has consistently claimed that no country was willing or that they contacted countries but no one would accept the Uyghurs," Kannavee said. "However, the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is clear on this matter," he said, referring to a meeting with ministry officials on July 10, 2024, on the plight of the detained Uyghurs during which Kannavee cited the officials as saying "there were three countries ... that had expressed their readiness to accept Uyghurs for resettlement." He identified the three countries as the U.S., Sweden and Australia. The Thai foreign ministry spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed to Radio Free Asia that an offer to resettle the Uyghurs in America had been made in the past. "We have worked with Thailand for years to avoid this situation, including by consistently and repeatedly offering to resettle the Uyghurs in other countries, including, at one point, the United States," the spokesperson said. BenarNews was not able to contact Swedish or Australian spokespeople. Kannavee said Thailand had declined the offers from those countries as China had requested that the men be sent there. "China also wanted the Thai government to send them back," he said. "China asked Thailand not to send Uyghurs to any country and wanted Thailand to consider returning them to China." 'Play with words' Kannavee added the Thai foreign ministry had repeated during a parliamentary committee meeting in July last year the U.S., Sweden, and Australia had expressed their willingness to accept Uyghurs for resettlement. Uyghurs in China's vast Xinjiang region have been subjected to widespread human rights abuses, including detention in massive concentration camps. Beijing denies that.Sunai Phasuk, senior Thailand researcher at Human Rights Watch, told BenarNews that he too knew that other countries had offered to take the Uyghurs. He declined to identify the countries, citing diplomatic sensitivities. "I can confirm that several countries have expressed their willingness to accept them," he said. "But there was no opportunity to make these offers a reality because Thailand did not follow up on the issue." Sunai said the Thai government had "tried to play with words to suggest that sending Uyghurs to China was the only option because nobody would accept them for resettlement." He added he suspected that the government had maintained the position that "only official expressions of interest through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs channels would be considered official intent." China dismissed fears for the safety of the men last week saying they would be re-united with their families and resettled. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had called on Thailand at his confirmation hearing in January not to send the men to China, said Thailand's deportation of them violated international agreements and ran counter to the kingdom's own commitment to protect human rights. Thailand also faced a barrage of criticism from the U.N. and human rights groups. U.N. experts said on Jan. 21 the Uyghurs in Thailand would likely face torture if forced back to China and they urged Bangkok not to deport them. Thailand has been a staunch U.S. ally for decades and also has strong ties with Beijing, the region's dominant economic player. China is among the top trading partners and foreign investors in Thailand, and its leading source of foreign tourist arrivals. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Updated to include a comment from the U.S. State Department. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news service. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macron Suggests Extending French Nuclear Umbrella To European Allies In Face Of Russian Aggression By RFE/RL March 06, 2025 French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be "madness" to ignore the threat Russia has become for Europe and said he is open to discussing the extension of France's nuclear deterrence to Paris's allies on the Continent. His comments on March 5 come on the eve of an emergency meeting of European Union leaders set in Brussels to discuss ramping up military budgets, a key demand of the US administration amid concerns over Washington's commitment to NATO and European security matters. In some of his most forceful remarks to date, Macron said in a nationally televised address that "our nuclear deterrent protects us: It's complete, sovereign, French through and through." "But, responding to the historic call of the future German Chancellor [Friedrich Merz], I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our [nuclear] deterrence," he said. Macron also said France would have to spend more on defense and vowed that Paris would continue to stand with Kyiv in the face of Russia's full-scale invasion, which has entered its fourth year. "Russia has become a threat for France and Europe," Marcon said. "To watch and do nothing would be madness." He said he hoped the United States "will remain at our side" -- but added that Europe must be prepared for the alternative. "Europe's future does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow," Macron said. "The innocence of the past 30 years...is now over." "Who can believe that today's Russia will stop at Ukraine? Russia has become a threat to France and Europe while I am speaking to you and for years to come." "Beyond Ukraine, the Russian threat is present and affects the countries of Europe. It affects us," Macron added. All nations seek to keep details of their nuclear arsenal secret, and Macron did not speak of specifics when suggesting the widening of France's nuclear umbrella. France's deterrent was developed by then-President Charles de Gaulle in the early 1960s, designed to be fully independent from the United States, which was in nuclear competition with the Soviet Union at the time. Macron's sentiments have also been voiced by the leader of France's far-right party, who said that "the defense of French interests does not stop at [French] borders. "Since de Gaulle, the French nuclear umbrella protects, by definition, certain neighbors and certain European partners," National Rally President Jordan Bardella said this week. According to the Federation of American Scientists, the United States (5,044 nuclear warheads) and Russia (5,580) hold about 88 percent of the world's total inventory of nuclear arms. France has an estimated 290 warheads and Britain about 225, the federation says on its website. China has about 500. Merz, the likely next German chancellor after his party won parliamentary elections last month, has questioned whether NATO would remain in its "current form" by its June summit and suggested talks be held with Paris and London about expansion of their nuclear protection. Concerns over the US commitment to Ukraine and Europe mounted after the White House said President Donald Trump was pausing US military aid to Ukraine and following remarks by the director the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that it has restricted intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. Trump, who has made ending the war in Ukraine a centerpiece of his second term in office, also raised worries among European allies after he called Russian President Vladimir Putin in mid-February and then sent top officials to meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia. The scrambling also comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's disastrous visit to the White House, which had been expected to produce a deal on joint development of Ukrainian rare minerals and hydrocarbon resources that Trump has cast as a crucial step toward peace between Ukraine and Russia. Instead, a meeting before cameras in the Oval Office devolved into a vocal clash, with Trump saying that Zelenskyy should be more grateful for US support and is in no position to make demands. Following Macron's remarks, Zelenskyy posted on social media that "I am grateful" to Macron "for his clear vision and our joint efforts to achieve peace." "We deeply appreciate the leadership and efforts of all those supporting Ukraine and strengthening Europe's defense capabilities. Looking forward to working jointly on the steps toward peace in the upcoming days," Zelenskyy added. The focus of the March 6 summit in Brussels is to be on how the EU can establish means to provide for its own security and that of Ukraine as it looks to ease its post-World War II dependence on the United States. "In view of the increasing threat situation, it is clear to us that Europe...must now very quickly make very big efforts, very quickly, to strengthen the defense capability of our country and the European continent," Merz said on March 3. Macron, who has long sought an active diplomacy role since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- now in its fourth year -- said he is planning a meeting with European allies next week to discuss the possibility of sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the event of a cease-fire deal or long-term term accord. "To ensure that Ukraine is not invaded by Russia again after a peace agreement, we must prepare for this," Macron said. "Next week, we will gather in Paris the army chiefs of staff of the countries that wish to fulfill their responsibilities in this regard." "Ukraine has a right to peace and security for itself, and that is in our interest, that is in the interests of the security of the European continent. In this sense, we are working together with our friends in the U.K., Germany, and several other European countries." Meanwhile, fighting continued on the battlefield. Local authorities reported that at least two people were killed and 28 others injured in a Russian missile strike on city of Kryviy Rih -- Zelenskyy's hometown -- in the Dnipropetrovsk region in southeastern Ukraine. On the political front, Politico, citing sources, said four senior members of Trump's team have held secret discussions with some of Zelenskyy's top political opponents in Kyiv as Washington seeks to increase pressure on the Ukrainian leader. The report cited three Ukrainian parliamentarians and a U.S. Republican foreign policy expert and said the discussions centered on whether Ukraine could hold quick presidential elections, which have been delayed as the country remains under martial law due to the Russian invasion. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/macron-russia- trump-ukraine-france-nuclear-europe/33337684.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran rejects the U.K.'s claims as 'baseless' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokeperson Esma'eel Baqayi has rejected the British officials' allegations that Iran is trying to threaten the European country's national security as "baseless". The spokesperson in a statement said that the recent allegations made by the British officials that Iran threatens their country's internal security are not only baseless and false, but also a deliberate deflection of public opinion about a country that has a long dark record of counterproductive interventions against the Iranian nation and currently does not miss any opportunity to shelter and support anti-Iranian terrorist groups and cohorts. Baqayi advised British officials to give up on their wrong policies against the Iranian nation and stop instigating and inciting terrorism and do not continue confrontational policies and making baseless accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran rejects Western pressure tactic, calls on the IAEA to be impartial IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 London, IRNA -- Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for the verifiable lifting of U.S. sanctions, stressing that a pressure campaign to force the Islamic Republic to unilaterally implement nuclear-related commitments is both ineffective and counterproductive. Addressing a meeting of the IAEA's Board of Governors on Wednesday, Mohsen Naziri-Asl said that some nuclear weapon states were undermining "the fundamental principles of the United Nations" and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) through their policies and unilateral actions. He called on the IAEA to be impartial and support member states. "In the 21st century, the agency is expected to help promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy without discrimination, as set out in its Statute, and should make all necessary efforts to strengthen non-proliferation in all its dimensions." The envoy reiterated that Iran is committed to the NPT and rejected Western accusations against the country's peaceful nuclear program. The Islamic Republic, based on its strong ideological and strategic principles, resolutely rejects weapons of mass destruction (WMD), especially nuclear weapons, as obsolete, inhumane, and harmful to international peace and security, he said. Referring to Iran's "remedial measures" following non-compliance by the United States and European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal, Naziri-Asl said Tehran would reverse those measures once sanctions were lifted. He emphasized that the nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), resulted from years of negotiations and was founded on mutual commitments between Iran and the E3/EU+3 group. The agreement not only ensured the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program but also led to the removal of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the EU, in accordance with UN resolutions, he added. Naziri-Asl said that the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 was a gross violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrines the deal. He noted that it was only after the U.S. withdrew from the deal and reimposed sanctions, along with European inaction, that Iran exercised its right to invoke the dispute mechanism under the JCPOA and began reducing its commitments. "It is regrettable that the Troika, the European Union, and the United States systematically tried to present a false narrative on this issue," he added. 4399**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to Europe: Stop snapback threats against Iran, move past 'phantom pains' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 London, IRNA -- Russia has slammed the threats by Britain, France, and Germany to trigger the snapback of sanctions against Iran as an "irresponsible" and "unlawful" rhetoric, urging the trio to focus their efforts on finding a solution to the situation they themselves created. The snapback mechanism under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), allows any party to the deal to restore United Nations sanctions on Iran if it violates the agreement. However, back in 2018, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and implemented a "maximum pressure" policy against the Islamic Republic, while the other parties to the deal - Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China - failed to secure Iran's interests under the agreement. Iran waited an entire year after the U.S. withdrawal as the three European powers promised to offset the impact of U.S. sanctions, but as those efforts failed, it ultimately began to reduce its nuclear obligations in a remedial move envisioned within the JCPOA. Speaking at a session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Board of Governors on Tuesday, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said that having violated their obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, its Annex B, and the JCPOA, the European trio "now intends to punish Iran for their own inability to negotiate" to restore the deal which they themselves broke off in August 2022. "We have drawn attention to the threats of Great Britain, Germany and France to use the 'snapback'. We consider such rhetoric not only irresponsible, but also unlawful," Ulyanov said. "In this regard, we recommend that Berlin, London and Paris stop giving in to phantom pains over the snapback and focus their efforts on finding a political and diplomatic way out of the situation they have created," he added. Meanwhile, the European Union's Ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna, Carl Hallergard, said at the Tuesday session that the EU remains committed to a diplomatic solution to address the issues surrounding the implementation of the JCPOA. Hallergard blamed Iran for increasing the risk of a nuclear proliferation crisis in the region, claiming that the country has "gravely" departed from its JCPOA commitments, without mentioning the violations of the deal by the other parties. He also called on Iran to engage effectively with the IAEA without any further delay and expressed support for IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi's efforts "in the pursuit of a constructive engagement with Iran to achieve the necessary cooperation and address issues that need to be urgently resolved." 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin confirms Russia, U.S. discussed Iran in Riyadh talks; rejects rumors on Putin's mediation IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 Moscow, IRNA -- An aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed news reports published in the Western media that the issue of Iran was raised in the negotiations between Russia and the United States, and saying this issue was discussed during the negotiations in Riyadh on February 18. Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow on Tuesday that representatives of the Russian Federation and the United States in Riyadh have agreed to hold separate talks on issues related to Iran, but the form and time of these talks have not been determined. He clarified that so far, there has been no signal from Washington for a specific agreement on how and when to implement this work. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not confirm the published material on Russian President Vladimir Putin accepting to play a role as a mediator in Iran-U.S. negotiations. Peskov stressed that Iran's nuclear issue should be resolved through peaceful means, and said Russia is ready to facilitate this. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's largest oil producer reports increase in output Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 7:13 PM Iran's largest oil production company has reported a major increase in its daily output, a fresh sign the country's petroleum industry is making progress despite the continued pressure on its sales and technology imports due to US sanctions. The Karoon Oil and Gas Production Company (KOGPC) said on Wednesday that its total output from the six oilfields it controls in southern Iran had reached 1 million barrels per day (bpd). Its CEO Hassan Shahrouyi said that natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas production by the company had also increased by 12% and 35%, respectively, compared to last year's figures. Shahrouyi said that the KOGPC had carried out repair and expansion programs on dozens of wells in its major oilfields to be able to increase its oil production. He said that output from the company's oilfields had increased by 60,000 bpd in the second half of the calendar year that will end in late March, adding that the increase was a result of major projects, including the launch of a new desalination unit in Ahvaz Field and repair works in Mansouri oilfield, both located in the oil-rich Khuzestan province in southwest Iran. The KOGPC is the largest of several oil firms controlled by the National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC), a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company which is responsible for 3 million bpd of Iran's total oil output. The NISOC operates some of the world's richest oil reserves in southern Iran and is key to the country's oil production and exports. Iran has reported a steady increase in its oil exports in recent years despite being subject to an unprecedented regime of US sanctions which imposes heavy penalties on buyers of Iranian oil and restricts the country's access to export revenues. However, the sanctions have allowed Iran's domestic companies to become increasingly involved in petroleum projects in the country, leading to a significant level of self-sufficiency in the Iranian energy sector. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran dismisses UK accusation of threatening Britain's national security Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 5:48 PM Iran has dismissed as baseless Britain's claim that Tehran threatens British national security, urging London to abandon its unconstructive approach toward Iran and the broader West Asia region. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks in response to a UK announcement on Tuesday that requires anyone working in Britain on behalf of Iran to register under a new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme or face criminal penalties, including imprisonment. Iran is the first country to be subjected to the enhanced measure, which, London claims, is aimed at countering covert foreign influence that threatens British security. UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis has accused Tehran of becoming "increasingly emboldened, asserting itself more aggressively to advance their objectives and undermine ours." Baghaei condemned the accusations, saying the British government was simply acting according to its interventionist nature. "The claims made by British officials that Iran threatens the UK's internal security are not only baseless and false but also a deliberate projection by a country with a troubling and long history of considerably damaging interventions." Baghaei said Britain "currently spares no chance to host and support anti-Iranian terrorist groups and elements." The Iranian official urged UK authorities to abandon confrontational policies and baseless accusations against Iran. Baghaei said the British authorities should end their harmful actions against the Iranian people and cease their support for terrorism. He said Iran remains committed to the principles of the UN Charter and international law, particularly mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, and adherence to international regulations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's IAEA envoy: West's 'ineffective' pressure campaign to backfire Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 2:23 PM The Western strategy of exerting pressure on Tehran to force its unilateral compliance with nuclear obligations is "not only ineffective but also counterproductive," Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned. Speaking at a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, Mohsen Naziri Asl addressed Western-sponsored censure resolutions against Tehran and the continued imposition of sanctions over unsubstantiated claims that Iran seeks nuclear weapons. He underscored the failure of Western parties to uphold their commitments under the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, a failure that began with the US withdrawal from the accord in 2018 and was further exacerbated by the inability of the remaining European signatories - France, Germany, and Britain - to compensate for Washington's exit. Naziri Asl said Iran's decision to scale back some of its commitments was a direct response to these violations, in line with Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA, which grant Iran the right to take remedial action if other parties fail to uphold their obligations. He reiterated that Iran's remedial measures under the nuclear agreement will be abandoned only if sanctions by the United States, the European Union, and three European parties to the accord are lifted in a manner that is both effective and verifiable. "Experience has shown that the policy of pressure pursued by certain parties is not only ineffective but also counterproductive." West is in no position to activate snapback The Iranian envoy also dismissed any attempts by the European parties to invoke the JCPOA's snapback mechanism. Since France, Germany, and Britain - known as the E3 - have themselves violated UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA, they lack the legitimacy to trigger the dispute resolution mechanism in response to Iran's remedial actions, the envoy argued. "The E3 cannot pursue the same legal course against Iran, as such an action contradicts both the purpose of the dispute resolution mechanism within the JCPOA and the fundamental principles of international law among civilized nations." He said attempting to invoke the snapback mechanism would be "legally baseless, unjust, and strongly rejected." With the JCPOA's so-called 'Termination Day' approaching, Naziri Asl urged all the IAEA member states to focus their efforts on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrines the nuclear deal. He warned against allowing years of international diplomacy and investment in the agreement to be undermined. "It is our responsibility to preserve this achievement. We call on all member states to fully implement the provisions of Resolution 2231, including its specified timeline." Responding to Western accusations that Iran seeks nuclear weapons, the envoy reaffirmed that Iran firmly rejects weapons of mass destruction (WMD) based on its ideological and strategic principles, considering them outdated, inhumane, and a threat to global peace and security. Termination Day is the date when the remaining UN sanctions on Iran are scheduled to be lifted, marking a final step in the JCPOA's implementation. Originally set for October 2025, this milestone signifies the official conclusion of restrictions on Iran's nuclear program under the deal. However, European powers are exploring ways to trigger the snapback mechanism, using Iran's remedial measures as a pretext. This mechanism, which is embedded in Resolution 2231, allows any signatory to re-impose UN sanctions if Iran is found to be in "significant non-compliance." In 2020, the Trump administration attempted to activate the snapback despite having withdrawn from the JCPOA. The move was widely rejected by the international community, notably the UN Security Council. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Why Did Russian Weapons Experts Visit Iran? By Kian Sharifi March 05, 2025 Senior Russian missile and air-defense specialists traveled to Iran last year as the Islamic republic expanded its military cooperation with Moscow. Reuters, which first reported the story, said seven Russian experts visited Iran on April 24 and September 17, 2024. The visits came at a critical time for Iran, as it was embroiled in a conflict with archfoe Israel, with the two sides launching military attacks against one another in April and October. Neither Iranian nor Russian officials have commented on the report and there is no formal explanation for the trips. Analysts say that while the visits are noteworthy, they are not surprising. "There has been a two-way learning process in the Iran-Israel tit-for-tat, which also provided the Russians with data about air defenses," Nicole Grajewski, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Nuclear Policy Program, told RFE/RL. In addition to domestically developed air-defense systems, Iran also uses Russian S-300 missile-defense systems whose delivery was completed in 2016. In April 2024, satellite imagery showed that an S-300 radar had been damaged by a limited but precise Israeli strike, which came in retaliation for Iran launching a massive drone and missile attack weeks earlier. The failure of Russian-supplied air defenses to intercept the Israeli air strikes is another reason the Russian experts may have visited Iran, according to Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow with the Washington Institute. "One of the main purposes of the visits was to provide Iran with technical assistance to understand what exactly happened and how to defend against Israeli attacks," Nadimi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. "They were meant to study the data and improve the performance of air defenses against future attacks, which, as we saw, didn't work out," he added. Israel last October retaliated against Iran's second and biggest-ever direct attack, targeting key military sites and degrading Tehran's air-defense and missile-production capabilities. Would A US-Russia Deal Hurt Tehran-Moscow Ties? The trips to Iran by Russian military experts represent the kind of perk that Tehran is loath to lose if Moscow and Washington reach an agreement requiring Russia to scale back its defense cooperation with the Islamic republic. Since senior US and Russian officials met in Riyadh last month to normalize relations and end the war in Ukraine, there has been speculation that the Kremlin might give up Iran to get a better deal. Grajewski argued that Iran and Russia do not have a strong economic relationship, so financially Tehran would not suffer much. But the impact could be felt elsewhere. "If Russia does completely abandon Iran, Iran would primarily suffer the most in terms of improvements to its conventional military capabilities," she said. "The Russians have been crucial here both for the domestic production of Russian weapons and for the transfer of weaponry." Iran has provided Russia with cheap but effective drones that have been used against Ukraine over the course of the war, and Western governments have accused Tehran of providing Moscow with ballistic missiles to aid in its 2022 full-scale invasion. The Washington Institute's Nadimi noted Russia's reliance on Iranian hardware was not due to a lack of technology but rather time, because Iranian drones are cost-effective and quick to produce. Still, analysts said it was unlikely that any sort of agreement between the Kremlin and US President Donald Trump would result in a long-term change in Russia and Iran's defense cooperation. "The key thing to remember is that the Russia-Iran relationship has many layers that may persist even with a US-Russia deal," Grajewski said. She added that "military-to-military channels are so deeply embedded" that technology and knowledge transfer could continue even if only parts of the Russian government remain engaged with Iran. Fereshteh Ghazi of RFE/RL's Radio Farda contributed to this report. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-missile-defense- experts-iran/33337289.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NPT Safeguards Agreement with Iran: Quad statement to the IAEA Board, March 2025 UK Ambassador Corinne Kitsell's statement on behalf of France, Germany, the UK and United States (the Quad) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board meeting about Iran's implementation of its obligations under its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement 5 March 2025 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 5 March 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Chair, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States commend the Agency for its continued efforts to engage Iran to clarify the outstanding issues related to the implementation of Iran's NPT-required Safeguards Agreement. We thank the Director General for his report on these issues, which are critical to understanding the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. We deeply regret that, for more than five years, Iran has refused to provide required clarifications regarding nuclear material detected at multiple undeclared locations in Iran. The Director General and the Board have made clear repeatedly that Iran is legally required to provide this cooperation. Iran has failed to do so despite the concerted efforts of the Director General and this Board to provide Iran every opportunity. As a result of Iran's longstanding denials, the Agency is still unable to provide critical assurances that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful and that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran. These issues are fundamental to Iran's safeguards obligations and the broader non-proliferation regime. No State can be allowed to violate its safeguards obligations with impunity. Iran must fully cooperate, or the Board must be prepared to find Iran in noncompliance. Until now, Iran has made its choice. Let us be clear: unless Iran changes course, it will force the Board to make its own choice. Time is not on Iran's side. This report recalls the IAEA's assessment of some of the deeply concerning activities that Iran did not declare, at Turquzabad, Varamin, Marivan and Lavisan-Shian. It is of significant concern that due to the lack of information being provided by Iran, the IAEA concluded it would be unable to continue its efforts to resolve the safeguards issues at Lavisan-Shian. We note that the IAEA's technical assessment of the activities at Marivan has not changed, that Iran has not provided technically credible information, and therefore the issue remains unresolved. We also want to highlight the lack of progress towards resolving the discrepancy issue at Jaber Ibn Hayan Laboratory, which still has to be explained by Iran. Iran continues to reject and challenge the IAEA's technical assessment of the activities at these undeclared sites rather than engaging the IAEA constructively towards resolving the outstanding issues. We reiterate our support for the IAEA's critical work. We underscore the value of the IAEA's technical expertise and authority to investigate these issues to address concerns around the possibility of undeclared nuclear material and activity in Iran today. Chair, In his latest report, the Director General reiterates that Iran continues to refuse to provide design information for new nuclear facilities as legally required under modified Code 3.1. This is in contravention of Iran's safeguards agreement. Iran's unwillingness to provide the Agency with this information should be especially concerning given Iran's history of building covert nuclear facilities. We also note that Iran has refused to accept the designation of four additional experienced inspectors. We recall the Director General's statement that Iran's previous decision to withdraw the designations of inspectors seriously affects the Agency's ability to conduct its verification activities in Iran. We echo his deep regret that Iran did not accept these new designations. Iran's refusal to cooperate with the IAEA and its refusal to abide by its obligations under its safeguards agreement is deeply concerning in the context of Iran's continuous escalation of its nuclear programme to levels with no credible civilian justification. Our concern is intensified by the increasing number of senior Iranian officials who have publicly claimed that Iran has the technical capability to build a nuclear weapon and called for a change to Iran's so-called "nuclear doctrine". We recall that the Director General assessed in his report in May 2024 that such remarks increased his concerns about the correctness and completeness of Iran's safeguards declarations. We commend the Agency's efforts to engage Iran to seek progress. However, after years of delay, Iran must finally and fully meet its commitments and obligations rather than dangle promises of discussions in the future which we have heard many times before. Chair, It is important that the Board supports the IAEA by the strongest means necessary to pursue clarity on the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. The Board adopted two resolutions in 2024, which once again urged Iran to cooperate. Iran ignored these, as it has ignored opportunities in previous years. We reiterate our call on Iran to resume urgently full cooperation with the IAEA and to implement fully its safeguards agreement. We recall that this Board, in its last resolution of November 2024, mandated the Director General to produce a comprehensive and updated assessment of the possible presence or use of undeclared nuclear material in Iran in connection with past and present outstanding issues. This document will provide a clear, technical and objective foundation to assess Iran's compliance with its safeguards agreement. As the resolution sets out, it will include the Agency's assessment of its ability to verify the implementation of Iran's safeguards obligations and the non-diversion of nuclear material. The assessment will also include a full account of Iran's cooperation with the Agency on the issues to date. It is up to Iran to provide the technically credible explanations and substantive cooperation needed to inform the Agency. We regret that despite having the time and opportunity to do so, Iran has not made any progress in the four months since this resolution was adopted. In recognition of the Director General's last report, which states that "the Agency is at an impasse" with regard to resolving these issues, we believe the comprehensive assessment should be delivered as soon as possible. It should be based on all information available to the Agency to provide the full picture, in order to inform the Board's next steps on these issues. Iran has had many opportunities to resolve the issues. Chair, Our patience has been long, but it is not unlimited. We underscore, if there is no concrete, technically credible progress reported by the Director General, the Board must be prepared to consider finding Iran in non-compliance with its safeguards agreement. We do not take such a course lightly. We reiterate that our efforts are intended to provide resolute support to the Agency in its safeguards investigations in Iran, for the sake of international security and the integrity of the global non-proliferation architecture. More than ever, there is an urgent need to address the lack of transparency and assurances on the nature of Iran's advancing nuclear programme. Iran's full cooperation with the IAEA on its safeguards obligations is long overdue. Iran has had many chances over many years to cooperate, but Iran has instead chosen a path of escalation, obfuscation, and delay. Iran must be held to account if it continues along this path. We again express our thanks for the IAEA's continued efforts and ask for the report to be made public. Thank you, Chair. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IAEA Board of Governors on the JCPoA, March 2025: E3 statement France, Germany and the UK (E3) gave a joint statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Iran's implementation of its nuclear commitments under the JCPoA 5 March 2025 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 5 March 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Chair, On behalf of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, I thank Director General Grossi for his latest report on Iran's nuclear programme. Once again, we commend the Agency's professional, independent and impartial work and their objective reporting on Iran's nuclear programme. Unfortunately, the Agency's findings are gravely concerning. The IAEA's latest report confirms that Iran continues to undertake activities in blatant violation of the JCPoA and that there has been no improvement in its cooperation with the IAEA. The extent of Iran's enrichment activities is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons, and have no credible civilian justification. The IAEA is currently unable to verify that Iran's escalating nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. This taken together with the recent statements by high-ranking Iranian officials calling for a change in Iran's so-called nuclear doctrine, poses a serious threat to international security, and the non-proliferation regime. Chair, In the reporting period Iran has further expanded its enriched uranium stockpile and enrichment capacity. Iran has increased its stockpile of high enriched uranium by an alarming 50% since the last reporting period. Iran now has six significant quantities of high enriched uranium, which the Agency defines as six times the approximate amount of nuclear material from which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded. Iran's overall stockpile of enriched uranium is now approximately 40 times the limit Iran committed to in the JCPoA. Iran has increased the rate of production of high enriched uranium at the underground Fordow facility by seven times compared to the previous reporting period. And overall, Iran is now producing roughly one significant quantity of highly enriched uranium every six weeks. In addition, Iran has substantially expanded its enriched uranium production capacity by installing and operating new advanced centrifuges. In the reporting period, it has begun operating 5 new cascades in Fordow and 13 cascades in Natanz. It remains particularly concerning that enrichment continues to take place at Fordow, which we recall is a former undeclared enrichment facility. As a result of Iran's continued non-cooperation and lack of transparency, the DG's latest report restates that the Agency has lost and will not be able to restore continuity of knowledge in relation to the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate. Iran refuses to re-designate several experienced Agency inspectors. This is a politically motivated decision which seriously affects the IAEA's ability to conduct its verification in Iran, particularly at its enrichment facilities. We deeply regret that Iran has not accepted the designation of the four additional experienced inspectors after pledging to consider it ahead of the November 2024 Board of Governors meeting. The DG's report also notes that it has been four years since Iran stopped provisionally applying its Additional Protocol, depriving the Agency of complementary access to critical sites and locations in Iran. Alongside this we remain alarmed by Iran's repeated threats to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This poses a serious threat to the non-proliferation system upon which we all rely. Chair, The E3 have consistently worked towards a diplomatic solution to address Iran's nuclear programme. In 2022 it was Iran who twice refused a negotiated outcome and instead escalated and expanded its nuclear programme. Let us be clear: Iran has chosen to escalate its nuclear programme, far beyond the limits it committed to in the JCPoA and far beyond any credible civilian use, thereby causing a proliferation crisis. We therefore urgently call on Iran to change course, and: (i) Halt and reverse its nuclear escalation and refrain from making threats regarding nuclear weapons; (ii) Return to the limits imposed by the JCPoA, in particular those regarding enrichment levels and enriched uranium stockpiles; (iii) Implement the Iran-IAEA March 2023 Joint statement and the commitments it made regarding transparency and cooperation with the IAEA including re-applying all transparency measures that it stopped in February 2021; (iv) Allow the Agency to install surveillance and monitoring equipment where requested; (v) Re-implement and swiftly ratify the Additional Protocol; and (vi) Fully reverse its September 2023 decision to withdraw the designations of experienced inspectors. Chair, In light of the threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme, there is an urgent need to address these concerns. The international community must remain united and firm in its determination to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The E3 will continue to work towards a diplomatic solution, and we stand ready to use all diplomatic levers to achieve this goal. We ask the Director General to keep the Board informed on all relevant activities and developments within Iran's alarming nuclear programme by regular and, if deemed necessary, extraordinary reporting. We ask for this report to be made public. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran wraps up 'unprecedented' military exercises highlighting strengths, weaknesses, researchers say By Michael Lipin March 05, 2025 Iran is wrapping up two months of its most intense military exercises in decades as it tries to deter potential attacks from its archrivals Israel and the United States, security researchers tell VOA. The Washington-based researchers also say the Iranian drills that began in late December, and were due to conclude by mid-March, have involved some weapons systems that pose a threat to the U.S. and Israel and others that expose weaknesses in Iran's deterrent capabilities. "The pace, intensity and publicity of the exercises is unprecedented," said Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Farzin Nadimi of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said he has been studying the Islamic Republic's military for the past 20 years. "I have never seen them conduct so many drills in such a short period of time," he said. Iranian state media reported the start of the exercises on Dec. 28. A week later, they said the exercises, codenamed "Great Prophet 19," were part of annual "Eqtedar" ["Power"] drills that involved Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces engaging in war games in western Iran from Jan. 4-9. Several more exercises followed, including IRGC and Iranian Army air defense drills near nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow and the Arak reactor in Khondab; IRGC naval drills in the Persian Gulf; a second round of IRGC ground force drills in southwestern Iran; and an Army drill, codenamed "Zulfiqar" in reference to a double-pointed sword in Islamic tradition, in southern Iran and the waters of the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean. On Feb. 26, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran chief Mohammad Eslami announced the start of a two-day "nuclear defense drill" involving nuclear facilities, in comments to reporters, although he did not elaborate. There have been no state media reports about the outcome of those drills, which researchers said would typically involve electronic simulations. Iranian officials and state media have described the military exercises as having several goals, from boosting public morale to strengthening Iran's defensive and offensive capabilities, its integration of military forces, and its use of indigenous technologies to deter external threats. Heightened sense of threat "The Iranians clearly see a heightened military threat from Israel and the U.S.," Nadimi said. Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has toughened U.S. warnings of consequences for Iran if it refines its enriched uranium to weapons-grade levels and fashions it into a nuclear warhead. Tehran long has denied seeking nuclear weapons. "They cannot have a nuclear weapon. And if I think that they will have a nuclear weapon, despite what I just said, I think that's going to be very unfortunate for them," Trump said in a Feb. 4 joint news conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a Feb. 16 appearance with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem, Netanyahu noted that Israel had dealt what he called a "mighty blow to Iran's terror axis" over the prior 16 months. That included Israel's first-ever major aerial assault on the Islamic Republic, a sustained late-October strike on what Israel said were Iranian air defense and missile facilities in retaliation for a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles on Israel earlier that month. "Under the strong leadership of President Trump and with your unflinching support, I have no doubt that we can and will finish the job," Netanyahu said. Responding to a VOA request for comment on Iran's military exercises, the Israeli military said it "conducts continuous situational assessments to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, both defensive and offensive." A spokesperson for Netanyahu declined to comment when asked by VOA about the Israeli government's assessment of the Iranian drills. The U.S. Defense Department did not respond to a VOA inquiry about its view of the exercises. Brian Carter of the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project said the Islamic Republic feels exposed because of recent setbacks to its proxies and allies in Lebanon and Syria. Israel killed the leaders of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group and destroyed much of its weaponry in a two-month offensive from September to November, while Sunni Islamist rebels in Syria ousted its longtime Iran-allied autocratic ruler, Bashar Assad, in December. "The Iranian air defense and naval exercises are meant to deter the U.S. and Israel from attacking key Iranian sites after Israel's degradation of Hezbollah left Iran without its primary deterrent against such an attack," Carter said. "Many of the ground exercises, on the other hand, seek to better protect western Iran from what Tehran sees as a renewed Sunni terrorist threat in Syria and Iraq." Some of those Iranian drills involved weapons systems that could harm Israel and the U.S. if Iran retaliated for an attack, the researchers said. "Iran's stockpile of long- and short-range ballistic missiles continues to pose a serious threat to Israel and U.S. bases in the region," Nadimi said. "Iran can fire hundreds of ballistic missiles at any given time and saturate Israeli or U.S. air defenses." Carter said Iran's naval forces also have fast-moving small boats armed with anti-ship missiles that could swarm and threaten U.S. naval vessels in the region. Nadimi said one aspect of the recent exercises that exposed an Iranian weakness is the limited or non-usage of advanced weaponry and tactics by regular Iranian military units. "I have not seen widespread use of modern systems like Rezvan loitering munition FPV [First Person View] drones and Shahed-149 'Gaza' high-altitude long endurance (HALE) drones by regular IRGC and Army units," Nadimi said. "Only Iran's elite military units have been using those systems widely." Carter said another weakness is a reliance on indigenous Iranian air defense systems after Israel destroyed units of Iran's most advanced system, the Russian-made S-300, last October. "It is unlikely that Iran could repel a U.S. or Israeli airstrike given the inferiority of the Iranian systems that have been used in these exercises relative to the modern U.S. and Israeli capabilities," Carter said. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar's military recaptures camps from rebels in Shan state The ethnic TNLA had controlled the camps since taking them in a major offensive last year. By RFA Burmese 2025.03.05 -- Myanmar's military has recaptured some camps previously controlled by ethnic rebels in northeastern Shan state nearly eight months of fighting, sources familiar with the situation said Wednesday. The junta that seized power in a February 2021 coup has been under major pressure from its insurgent enemies over the past year losing large areas of territory, military bases and major towns. The military has repeatedly called for talks over the past few months while at the same time unleashing its air force in devastating attacks on insurgents and the towns and villages they control, killing numerous civilians, rights group says. On Wednesday, sources told RFA Burmese that late last month, junta troops recaptured camps previously controlled by the ethnic Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, and its allies in Nawnghkio's Tawng Hkam village, on the border with neighboring Mandalay region. The TNLA overran the camps 's Nawnghkio township in June as part of Operation 1027, an offensive named for its Oct. 27, 2023, start date and launched by the Three Brotherhood Alliance of ethnic armies, and the junta had been fighting to reclaim them ever since. The alliance has gone on to push back the military from several regions in Shan state it controlled following the 2021 coup, including along northeastern Myanmar's border with China. A source with knowledge of the situation in Nawnghkio, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, told RFA that the TNLA had to "relinquish" some of the camps "due to the junta's intensifying offensives, in line with military strategy." After ceasefire talks between the TNLA and the junta in Kunming, China, ended unsuccessfully on Feb. 16, the junta intensified its offensives, launching more ground attacks and airstrikes near Tawng Hkam village. Line of communication reestablished Captain Zin Yaw, a former military officer who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement of public servants who have left their jobs to protest the coup, echoed the assessment of the situation by RFA's source. "The TNLA and some allies had to abandon camps in Tawng Hkam village," he said. "Now, the junta has regained control of their line of communication as the TNLA and allied groups have retreated to the west." Zin Yaw said he expects that the junta will deploy reinforcements and use Tawng Hkam as a base from which to attack the town of Nawnghkio, which lies approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) away. When asked about the loss of the camps, TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo, told RFA that "clashes are intensifying between the junta troops and our forces in the villages of Tawng Hkam and [nearby] Taung Shey," but provided no further information. Attempts by RFA to contact junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for more information about the situation went unanswered Wednesday. Drones key to recapture Another former military officer, who also declined to be named, said he believes the junta was able to recapture the bases after adding more drones to its arsenal. "The military has deployed approximately 35,000 to 40,000 troops in the Tawng Hkam battles," he said. "However, it has increasingly relied on drone strikes to support its ground troops. Drone attacks played a crucial role in the battles." Some rebel fighters also told RFA that the junta has increasingly used Chinese-made drones in clashes with the armed opposition. Military and political analysts said that it remains to be seen whether anti-junta forces would be able to hold Nawnghkio, as the military increases its use of airstrikes and drone attacks. Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar army tries to clear fighters from road, 20,000 villagers flee, rebels say Some 3.5 million people have been displaced in Myanmar and a humanitarian crisis looms, aid agencies say. By RFA Burmese 2025.03.05 -- Myanmar's military has launched air and artillery strikes as it tries to clear pro-democracy fighters from the vicinity of a major north-south road and nearly 20,000 villagers have fled from their homes to escape the violence, an insurgent fighter told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday. The army has been targeting more than 20 villages along the road in the Kanbalu township of the central Sagaing region since late February, they said. The road links Myanmar's second largest city of Mandalay with Myitkyina city in the north. "The battles are intensifying. The junta is conducting so many offensives," said a member of a rebel militia, or People's Defense Force, in the area. The fighter, who declined to be identified for safety reasons, said recent fighting had been particularly heavy near Hnget Pyaw Taing village. "The people from evacuated villages need to run ... they are now attacking with drones," he said. RFA tried to contact Sagaing region's junta spokesperson, Nyunt Win Aung, for information but he did not respond by the time of publication. The junta that seized power in an early 2021 coup faced major setbacks last year, losing ground in different parts of the country to PDFs and their ethnic minority insurgent allies. The army now controls about half the country, security analysts say, but it has been trying to regain lost ground during the current dry season. Clashes have been particularly heavy in central areas, like Sagaing, where members of the majority Burman community have for the first time taken up arms in a bid to end military rule. The United Nations says about 3.5 million people have been displaced by both fighting and a natural disaster and the country is facing a humanitarian crisis, with widespread hunger looming. People displaced in the fighting in Kanbalu had to deal with a lack of water, the PDF member said. "Because now it's the dry season and water is scarce, it's difficult for people to flee," he said. Junta forces also torched 250 houses at a major intersection near Hnget Pyaw Taing village late last week and into this week, he said. The anti-junta fighter said 21 members of the military's Battalion 361 had been killed and 57 wounded while only five members of the PDF were wounded. RFA could not independently verify the casualties. Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by RFA Staff. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar childhoods upended by civil war Kids are being forced to grow up too fast, uprooted from their homes and living in fear of airstrikes and clashes. By Thazin Hlaing and Khet Mar for RFA Burmese 2025.03.05 -- It was just over a year ago that 8-year-old Chit Zaw was playing at his home in northern Myanmar when the junta jet fighter roared overhead. His parents had no time to think they simply picked him up and fled, without a chance to take any of their belongings. Bombs from the jet set their house ablaze, and destroyed everything they owned. "My toys were destroyed in the fire," Chit Zaw said from a camp for internally displaced persons. "They were left behind at home and I feel like crying all the time." His toys were "like my friends" each with their own precious memories for him and now, it's too difficult to get new ones, he told RFA Burmese. Every day, his parents must travel around 50 kilometers (30 miles) to the town of Monywa to take on odd jobs. Between the cost of transportation and the irregularity of work, they can't afford to buy toys for him, let alone textbooks for school. "My parents don't have money, so they can't afford it," he said, adding that he knows he can't ask them for what he really wants. "I wish I could play with Power Rangers toys and robots." Children endure 'heaviest toll' Chit Zaw's story is a common one for children in Myanmar's conflict zones since the military seized control of the country in a February 2021 coup d'etat, sparking a civil war that has lasted more than four years. "Children are increasingly bearing the devastating consequences and enduring the heaviest toll of violence, displacement, and disruption to critical services like health and education, putting their survival and well-being at grave risk," the United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, said in a report. The U.N. estimates that nearly 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Myanmar just over one-third of the country's 55 million people. Around 3.5 million are classified as internally displaced people, or IDPs, who struggle to access food, shelter and medical assistance, and UNICEF estimates that around one-third of those uprooted are children. Schools, hospitals and playgrounds "are now ravaged by airstrikes, landmines and violence," it said. More than 750 children were killed or maimed in the war last year, "and the toll continues to rise." Meanwhile, nearly 5 million children are not accessing an education, UNICEF said, making them susceptible to risks including forcible recruitment by conflict actors, child labor, early and forced marriage, and exploitation. The agency counts at least 55% of Myanmar's children as "living in poverty" as displaced families struggle to meet basic needs. 'All we feel is fear and hatred' Taken together, kids in Myanmar are "losing their childhoods" too soon, according to experts. They told RFA that while shelter, food and safety are fundamental needs, their mental health should not be ignored. Thoon, a 13-year-old girl whose family fled Monywa to a camp in Depayin township, described to RFA how the near-constant threat of airstrikes has left her traumatized. "I'm always afraid that planes might come and attack while I'm outside, so I stay indoors and draw," she said. "I don't feel safe outside, which is why I never stray far from home, even when I do play. I used to love playing, but now I no longer want to." Thoon said her family ended up in the IDP camp after their home was set on fire by junta troops, forcing them to move into her grandmother's home, which later was also set ablaze and destroyed. "When her house burned down too, we built a new house for ourselves," she said. "We only spent one night in that house. The next day, neighbors warned us that soldiers had entered the village, so we had to flee again." "We couldn't take much with us," Thoon said. "The house we had just built, where we had spent only one night, was burned down along with all our belongings." Thoon told RFA that all she wants now is to "be safe" and go back to the way things were in Monywa before the military took power. "Back then, when we saw soldiers, we greeted them, and they greeted us back," she said. "We respected them because they were protecting our country. But that respect has vanished. Now, all we feel is fear and hatred." Prioritizing children's needs Children who live in fear of violence are highly susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, according to Myanmar's free mental health counseling program Taipinphaw. Playing and toys are not simply fun but also a form of psychological therapy for their development, it said. Taipinphaw, which is operated by psychologists and volunteers under the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs of Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, urges caretakers to "make space" for children to be able to play freely, to help them express their feelings and reduce their trauma. "For children forced to flee their homes and loved ones, owning toys provides a sense of belonging," said Director Saw Thahe Sree. "These toys help them develop a sense of attachment and ownership, which plays a crucial role in building their resilience by giving them something to protect." Phu Pwint Wai, the head of the Anya Pyit Tine Daung Lay Myar youth organization, which assists displaced persons, noted that as parents in Myanmar focus on providing food and safety for their families, many children cannot afford to go to school and instead find work to help pitch in. "When parents struggle to provide food and basic necessities, they are unable to prioritize their children's needs," she said. Even something as basic as toys become a luxury, she added, noting that toys are typically the first thing children ask for whenever her organization visits camps for the displaced. 'Exhausted' from displacement Meanwhile, in eastern Myanmar's Kayah state, Christiano, a 12-year-old boy, and Naw Hae Jawa, a 12-year-old girl both yearned to return to life before the war. Both were displaced by fighting from their homes in the state capital Loikaw and forced to take shelter with their families at an IDP camp in Demoso township. Christiano told RFA that he misses his home and is praying for the war to end. "I wish I could see my friends and go to church with my parents once more," he said of what he longs for most back in Loikaw. Naw Hae Jawa said she had been living at the IDP camp for four years and is "exhausted from being displaced." "The living conditions are poor, the food is inadequate, and I feel deeply unhappy," she said. "I long to go to church again, just like before, and to play with my friends once more. I desperately want this war to end. The sound of planes fills me with fear." Translated by Aung Naing and Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, U Than Swe 5 March 2025 11:50 339-05-03-2025 On March 5, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, U Than Swe, who is accompanying Chairman of the State Administrative Council - Prime Minister of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, during his official visit to Russia. The officials discussed the state of bilateral relations and prospects for their development, while focusing on the implementation of top-level agreements, efforts to enhance trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian ties, to facilitate more intensive coordination between both countries' foreign ministries in international and regional affairs, including in the context of Myanmar's current function as a coordinator of cooperation with Russia during the Russian Federation - ASEAN dialogue. As instructed by the leadership of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, U Than Swe presented Sergey Lavrov with this country's state award, Tado Maha Tharay Sithu, for his weighty contribution to the development of Russia-Myanmar relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Received a Call from the US National Security Advisor Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, received a call from the US National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz on 4th March 2025. The NSA conveyed President Trump's appreciation and thanks for Government of Pakistan's efforts in countering terrorism. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister congratulated the NSA on his assumption of office and reiterated that Pakistan looked forward to building on its longstanding and broad-based relationship with the United States under President Trump and his Administration. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to continue its cooperation with the US in the field of counter terrorism. He also appreciated President Trump's announcement to withdraw the US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation in IT, energy and mineral sectors. They also agreed on the need to have continued dialogues on trade and investment, as part of a broad-based agenda in the days to come. Islamabad 5 March 2025 75/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan's Arrest Of Islamic State Operative Signals Renewed U.S. Cooperation By Abubakar Siddique March 05, 2025 Pakistan's arrest of a suspected Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) operative and his extradition to the United States signals renewed counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries, experts said. The United States accuses Mohammad Sharifullah, a suspected senior member of IS-K, the Afghanistan branch of Islamic State, of helping plan the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport that killed 13 American soldiers and 170 Afghans. Sharifullah is due to appear in a U.S. federal court on March 5. He has been charged with providing "material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in death" and faces life in prison. Pakistan said Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, was arrested recently in the country's southwestern province of Balochistan, near the border with Afghanistan. It came after Pakistani intelligence reportedly received a tip from the CIA. Islamabad's strategic importance has waned since the US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. But Sharifullah's capture and extradition is "a very notable development," said Lucas Webber, senior threat intelligence analyst at Tech Against Terrorism, an UN-backed project that monitors extremism online. Webber said it could point to "signs of more coordination to come between the two countries." US President Donald Trump thanked Islamabad "for helping arrest this monster" during his State of the Union address on March 4. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for recognizing his country's role in counterterrorism efforts and pledged to "continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability." Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud, news director at the Khorasan Diary, a website tracking militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, said Pakistan's handover of Sharifullah is a significant boost to relations between Washington and Islamabad. "It gave Trump something to showcase during an important occasion," he said. 'Major Event' Based in Afghanistan, IS-K has carried out deadly attacks against the Taliban, which seized power in 2021. The extremist group has also staged a series of devastating, high-profile assaults in Russia, Iran, and Tajikistan in recent years. Webber said Sharifullah's capture is a "major event in the U.S. fight against IS-K." Pakistani officials said Sharifullah is an Afghan citizen, a claim rejected by the Taliban government. U.S. officials said Sharifullah admitted to being a member of IS-K and to his role in the August 2021 bombing, one of the deadliest attacks of the entire 19-year U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Sharifullah also confessed to training the suspected IS-K militants involved in the March 2024 attack on a concert hall outside Moscow that killed around 140 people, according to the Justice Department. The department said he also played a role in a deadly attack on the Canadian Embassy in Kabul in 2016, which killed 10 guards. "IS-K is highly multifaceted, expanding its operational cells and networks," said Webber. "It's a very dynamic, robust, internationally reaching organization and poses a serious threat." Source: Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-Pakistan capture of 'top terrorist' signals deep counterterrorism cooperation despite cold ties, experts say By Sarah Zaman March 05, 2025 The U.S. Justice Department presented in a federal court in Virginia the alleged mastermind of the August 2021 bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The justice department said Islamic State Khorasan operative Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as "Jafar," was charged on March 2 with "providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in death." Sharifullah appeared in an Alexandria, Virginia, court not far from the U.S. capital Wednesday, wearing light blue prison garb and a black face mask, Agence France-Presse reported. President Donald Trump broke the news of Sharifullah's capture Tuesday night in a speech to Congress on Capitol Hill. "Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity," Trump said. "And he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice." The Abbey Gate bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on August 26, 2021 also killed roughly 170 Afghans. Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization linked with the Islamic State terror group, claimed responsibility. The suicide attack came amid the chaotic troop withdrawal at the end of the 20-year U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. In this speech, Trump hailed Pakistan for helping with the mission to arrest Sharifullah. "And I want to thank, especially, the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster," the U.S. president said. Sharifullah's capture Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif identified Sharifullah as a "top tier commander" and an Afghan national in a post on X. "The wanted terrorist was apprehended in a successful operation conducted in Pakistan-Afghan border region," Sharif said, without sharing details. The justice department said the mission was a multi-agency effort that also involved the CIA and the FBI. "Sharifullah admitted to helping prepare for the Abbey Gate attack, including scouting a route near the airport for an attacker," the department said. Sharifullah admitted to recognizing Abdul Rahman al-Logari who detonated the suicide bomb and admitted to playing a role in other attacks in Afghanistan and Russia, the statement added. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told media, Wednesday Sharifullah was captured late last month based on US intelligence and Pakistani officials interrogated him first. "US law enforcement officers travelled to Pakistan over the weekend, where he again confessed his crimes to the FBI." Leavitt said. Islamabad-based security affairs analyst Iftikhar Firdous told VOA that Sharifullah, a resident of Kabul, joined ISIS-K in 2016. "He was arrested in 2019 and then released during the jailbreak of the Afghan Taliban during their takeover of August 15, 2021," said Firdous, founder of The Khorasan Diary, an online platform that monitors militancy. If convicted, Sharifullah could get a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, the justice department said. Cooperation with Pakistan Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for acknowledging his country's contribution in a post on the X social media platform. "We thank U.S. President Donald Trump for acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan's role and support in counter terrorism efforts across the region," Sharif posted. "We will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability," the prime minister added. The arrest signals Islamabad and Washington are working closely on some security issues despite relations reaching a low since the end of the U.S. war in Afghanistan and the return of the Taliban to power. "The arrest shows that counter-terrorism cooperation between Pakistan and the US remains robust even though relations are largely confined to a narrow bandwidth focused on counterterrorism," former Pakistani ambassador to Washington, Maleeha Lodhi, told VOA. "This is the first major development between both countries since the Trump administration took office," Firdous said. "It also exemplifies the dependence of both countries on each other when it comes to counterterrorism cooperation." Thaw in ties? Still, experts warned the joint effort and the public expression of gratitude from the highest offices should not be seen as a thaw in relations. "One has to be careful not to over read the significance of a single event for Pakistan-US relations, that have been at a crossroads since the US exit from Afghanistan in 2021 and need high-level engagement for a reset," Lodhi said. Most military aid to Pakistan remains blocked since Trump put a freeze on it during his first term in office. Many in Washington also blame Pakistan for the losses the United States incurred in the Afghan war. In congressional hearings soon after the troop withdrawal, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said Pakistan's role in providing sanctuary to the Afghan Taliban needed to be "fully examined." Antony Blinken, then-Secretary of State, told Congress in a September 2021 hearing that the Biden administration would look into the role Pakistan played during the war. Nearly two dozen Republican senators also proposed a bill that called for "an assessment of support by state and non-state actors, including the government of Pakistan, for the Taliban between 2001 and 2020." Pakistan, a major non-NATO ally has consistently denied allegations of covertly providing support to Taliban while supporting the U.S. in the Afghan war. "We remain steadfast in our resolve and unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations," Sharif said in his X post Wednesday. In a post on X, Washington-based South Asia expert Micheal Kugelman said Pakistan is interested in a new security partnership with the U.S. "Pakistan wants to leverage U.S. concerns about terrorism in Afghanistan and pitch a renewed security partnership with the U.S.," said Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, adding "it will be a hard sell to the administration." The joint counter-terrorism operation comes just days after the Trump administration released $397 million for a program that supports Pakistan's use of F-16 fighter jets acquired from Washington. Islamabad is stipulated to use the fighter jets for only for counterterrorism purposes, and not against archrival India. Afghanistan reacts Hamdullah Fetrat, Afghan Taliban deputy spokesperson, told Afghan public broadcaster RTA that Sharifullah's arrest showed ISIS-K militants were present in Pakistan. "The arrest of a member of ISIS-K in Pakistan confirms that ISIS-K has hideouts and training centers in that region, and this also proves that ISIS-K does not have hideouts in Afghanistan," Fitrat said an audio message in Pashto. In a briefing last month United Nations counterterrorism officials said ISIS-K posed "a significant threat in Afghanistan, the region and beyond." Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring anti-Pakistan militants and taking insufficient action to curb cross-border attacks. Taliban authorities reject the allegation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan confirms 5 soldiers, 13 civilians killed in twin suicide bombings targeting military compound By Sarah Zaman March 05, 2025 Five soldiers and at least 13 civilians, including women and children, were killed in a twin suicide bombing Tuesday that targeted a military compound in northwestern Pakistan, according to the military. The attack in Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province injured at least 32 others, the military's media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement Wednesday. "The assailants sought to breach the cantonment's security," the ISPR said. "The attackers rammed two explosive-laden vehicles into the perimeter wall," after the security forces responded to the intrusion. The military said five soldiers died in the ensuing gun battle that killed 12 militants. Four suicide bombers were also killed. Most of the civilian casualties occurred as buildings, including a mosque and a residential compound, collapsed with the force of the blasts. "The multiple suicide blasts resulted in the partial collapse of the perimeter wall, causing damage to the adjacent infrastructure," ISPR said. The Associated Press reported that a relatively lesser-known militant group, Jaish Al-Fursan, claimed responsibility for the attack. The military said Afghan nationals were involved in the attack. It said ring leaders of the Khawarij, an Arabic term the military uses to describe fighters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban, planned and executed the attack from Afghanistan. The U.S. and U.N. both list Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as a terrorist organization. The military again urged the Afghan Taliban to take action against anti-Pakistan militants. "Pakistan expects the Interim Afghan government to uphold its responsibilities and deny its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan," ISPR said. The Afghan Taliban deny providing sanctuary to regional militants. Militants have targeted Bannu several times. Last November, a suicide car bomb killed 12 troops and wounded several others at a security post. In July, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle and other militants opened fire near the outer wall of the military facility. Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks in recent years with the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and its affiliates frequently targeting security personnel in the northwestern province. The country also saw a sharp increase in civilian casualties from militant violence in February 2025, according to the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, or PICSS. At least 55 civilians and 47 security personnel died in 79 militant attacks across the country. At least 44 of those attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. February marked the first month since August 2024 when civilian fatalities surpassed those of security forces, PICSS reported. At least 156 militants were killed last month in security operations. Close to 1,200 people, including almost 1,000 civilians and security personnel, were killed in militant attacks across Pakistan in 2024 a 40% increase in militant attacks compared to 2023, according to data compiled by the think tank. The Associated Press provided some information for this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korean jets accidentally drop bombs on village, injuring 15 By William Gallo March 06, 2025 At least 15 people were injured when two South Korean fighter jets accidentally bombed a populated village during training exercises Thursday, according to South Korean officials and media reports. Two KF-16 fighter jets each "abnormally dropped" four 227-kilogram MK-82 bombs outside a designated fire range in Pocheon during a live-fire exercise at about 10 a.m. local time, Ministry of National Defense officials said. The fighter jets were participating in U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises near the inter-Korean border, the officials added. At least two people were injured severely, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. It said more casualties were expected as villagers continue to request medical treatment. The report said a church and seven other buildings were damaged. Pictures in local media showed houses with crumbling roofs, shattered windows, and debris scattered nearby. The accident was caused by mistaken coordinates, South Korean defense officials said, adding that the live-fire drills have been paused pending further investigation. The drills took place early Thursday at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, 25 kilometers south of the North Korean border. Yonhap reported that the exercise involved more than 160 pieces of military hardware and was set to be attended by Gen. Xavier Bronson, the top U.S. commander in South Korea, and South the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Admiral Kim Myung-soon. The drill marked the allies' first exercise of its kind this year and was held in connection with the planned annual Freedom Shield exercise. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to increase aviation industry services to Russia IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 Moscow, IRNA -- President of the Civil Aviation Organization Hossein Pourfarzaneh and Head of the Federal Agency for Air Transport of the Russian Federation Dmitry Yadrov have agreed for Iran to expand its aviation industry exports to Russia. The Iranian delegation's visit aimed to develop aviation cooperation and sign a bilateral agreement in the field of standards and flight qualification, and Iran-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. By accepting the aviation standards, both sides will pave the way for Iran to enhance technical and engineering services to Russia. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Minister holds talks with Prime Minister / Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar 05.03.2025 (13:30) Russian Federation Minister of Defence, Andrei Belousov, has held talks with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administrative Council, Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. 'Your visit to Russia and the results of the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will no doubt serve to deepen the various cooperation between our two states,' said Andrei Belousov. The Russian Defence Minister stressed that the Russian and Myanmar defence departments have a broad agenda for mutually beneficial military and military-technical cooperation, as evidenced by the high level of trust between the countries. 'We are ready to discuss in detail topical issues of bilateral defence cooperation,' the Russian Defence Minister said. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing noted that the Russian military department matters not only in the Russian Federation but also around the world. 'I am sure that under your guidance the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation is achieving high results,' Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stressed. The Myanmar leader expressed confidence that during the meeting the parties will be able to discuss in detail military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow aims to exploit US-Europe rift, experts warn By Victor Vladimirov March 05, 2025 As European Union leaders prepare for emergency talks to ramp up military spending after the Trump administration suspended aid to Ukraine, several Russia experts say Moscow is trying to capitalize on fragmenting Western cohesion. Following last week's televised Oval Office clash between U.S. and Ukrainian leaders, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov on Monday accused Europe of seeking to prolong the war, adding that changes in U.S. "foreign policy configurations" largely coincide with Moscow's vision. The comments came before an EU financial summit planned for Thursday that aims to grapple with stabilizing continental security and helping Ukraine after decades of dependence on the U.S. defense umbrella. In a recent interview with the military newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called President Donald Trump a "pragmatist" whose motto is "common sense." He also said, "All tragedies in the world" over the past 500 years "originated in Europe or occurred owing to European policies," while "the Americans played no seditious, let alone 'inflammatory,' role." Calling Europe Enemy No. 1 is "becoming the main trend in the Kremlin's policy," said exiled independent Russian political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin. "Therefore, having changed his tune ... [Lavrov] explained to the audience that the U.S. is, if not a friend, then a reliable partner, and that means Britain and France are always to blame for everything." Oreshkin also said the relatively positive U.S. depiction shows the Kremlin is hoping for an "aggravation of contradictions" between Europe and America. But Novaya Gazeta columnist Andrei Kolesnikov said it was premature for Russian authorities to assume Trump is taking Russia's side in the war. Trump's "interest, which he equates with the interests of the United States, is to end the conflict," Kolesnikov told VOA. "But there are two sides to the conflict. And if during future negotiations ... [Trump] remains dissatisfied with the intransigence of the Russian side, no one will stand on ceremony. New [U.S.] sanctions and measures to reduce oil prices will follow with the same decisiveness and speed as [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy's 'punishment.'" Kolesnikov was referring to the contentious Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, in which top U.S. officials accused him of being insufficiently grateful for U.S. military support. The meeting concluded without the signing of an expected defense deal involving Ukrainian rare-earth minerals. With long-held certainties about U.S. reliability as a security partner suddenly in doubt, EU and NATO leaders gathered Sunday in London to map out a path forward. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for uniting "around a new plan for a just and enduring peace," while French President Emmanuel Macron said his country and Britain had agreed on an alternative peace plan envisaging a one-month partial ceasefire to end mutual attacks on energy infrastructure, followed by a second stage involving sending peacekeepers to Ukraine. The White House on Monday announced temporary suspension of all U.S. military aid to Kyiv, although Trump during an address to Congress on Tuesday said Zelenskyy had signaled renewed interest in inking the U.S.-proposed defense deal. According to U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Trump on Wednesday halted intelligence cooperation with Ukraine. Against this unclear backdrop, Russian officials have refrained from criticizing the U.S. administration and Trump personally while shifting their line of attack from the United States toward Europe. Thursday's summit in Brussels comes as the EU is arguably at its weakest point, fragmented by the steady rise of a hard right that is often pro-Russian. EU leaders are also expected to discuss whether to place more arms contracts with Ukraine's defense industry, and to help integrate it into the European industrial network. The Trump administration has demanded that Europeans spend as much as 5% of GDP on defense, well beyond the NATO benchmark of at least 2%. Seven European allies still fall short of even that target. The U.S. spends around 3.4%, according to NATO figures, and a Pentagon audit that could reduce that is pending. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan should raise defense spending to 10% of GDP: Top Pentagon pick ROC Central News Agency 03/05/2025 12:36 PM Taipei, March 5 (CNA) Taiwan needs to increase its defense spending to around 10 percent of gross domestic product -- about four times what it currently spends -- to deter a war with China, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for a top Pentagon post said Tuesday. Elbridge Colby, the nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Taiwan's current level of defense spending is "well below 3 percent" and therefore far too low. "I agree with President Trump that they should be more like 10 percent, or at least something in that ballpark, really focused on their defense," he said. Taiwan's Cabinet had earmarked NT$647 billion (US$19.7 billion) for defense spending in 2025, equal to 2.45 percent of GDP, some of which was later cut or frozen by the opposition-controlled Legislature. President Lai Ching-te () later pledged to propose a special budget to raise defense spending to over 3 percent of GDP, though that, too, would require legislative approval. Colby, a China hawk and exponent of Taiwan's strategic value to the U.S., was asked by committee chair Roger Wicker if remarks last year, in which he said "America has a strong interest in Taiwan, but Americans could survive without it," represented a change in his thinking. "Taiwan's fall [to China] would be a disaster for American interests," Colby replied, explaining that he was trying to draw attention to the fact that the military balance vis-a-vis China has "deteriorated dramatically." "What I have been trying to do is shoot a signal flare" that it is vital to enable U.S. forces for an "effective and reasonable" defense of Taiwan, and for the Taiwanese and Japanese to do more, he said. On the issue of arms sales to Taiwan, Colby said he would make it a special focus to "accelerate and revamp...and expand" them, to assist Taiwan in its ability to defend itself. While the United States must pressure Taiwan to build up its military, Washington also needs to "make real capabilities available in a timely fashion," Colby said, citing the "giant backlog" of Harpoon anti-ship missiles Taiwan has purchased as an example. Backs strategic ambiguity Meanwhile, in his written responses to the committee's questions, Colby said he would oppose a move by the U.S. to explicitly state that it would intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan. "I believe the costs of explicitly committing to Taiwan's defense outweigh its benefits," Colby wrote. He wrote that current U.S. policy, including the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances, make clear that the U.S. has deep interests in Taiwan's security and autonomy. At the same time, going further with an explicit statement on Taiwan's defense poses "serious risks" of inflaming Beijing, giving it a pretext for military action, and signaling approval for Taiwan's "laggardly" efforts on defense, with only limited benefits. If confirmed, Colby wrote, he would see his role as providing the president with "the best military options to back up the policy of deterring and, if necessary, denying an attack on Taiwan at a reasonable level of cost and risk for the American people." (By Cheng Yu-chen and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address American senators question Taiwan opposition's defense budget stance ROC Central News Agency 03/05/2025 02:43 PM Washington, March 4 (CNA) Two American senators have questioned the efforts of Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature to cut the country's defense spending, with one accusing Taiwan's opposition of "playing a dangerous game." Speaking on Tuesday (U.S. time) at the Senate confirmation hearing of Elbridge Colby, the nominee to become under secretary of defense for policy, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan accused Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) of "playing a dangerous game on their defense budget." "If anyone from Taiwan is watching this hearing, they need...to realize they're playing a dangerous game. Cutting defense spending right now is not the right signal," Sullivan said. Independent Senator Angus King from Maine also questioned how lawmakers in the Legislative Yuan are handling defense spending. "To me, one of the critical questions is how much is Taiwan committed to its own defense? It's disturbing to me that in recent months the parliament of Taiwan has moved to cut their defense plan," King said. "And how are we to be expected to think about sending Americans into harm's way on behalf of an entity that doesn't seem all that interested in protecting itself?" The senators were referring to the recent stalemate over the budget proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government and the opposition lawmakers who wield a 62-51 majority in the 113-seat Legislature. The DPP government proposed a defense budget for 2025 of NT$647 billion (US$19.7 billion), 6.6 percent higher than the 2024 NT$606.8 billion budget. Opposition lawmakers decided to cut NT$8.4 billion from the budget, or about 1.3 percent of the amount requested, according to the Ministry of National Defense, which would still allow a 5.2 percent increase in defense spending. They also froze another NT$90 billion in defense spending, or about 14 percent of the proposed budget, but those funds can be released if conditions tied to the frozen amounts are met. In response to King's question, Colby, who has long called for Taiwan to increase its defense spending to show it is serious about defending itself against a Chinese invasion, said he was "profoundly disturbed" by the Taiwan lawmakers' decision related to its self-defense. Colby said he has called on Taiwan authorities to learn from the example of South Korea in terms of beefing up its defense, and he echoed Trump's previous call for Taiwan to increase its defense spending to 10 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). The NT$647 billion proposed would be 2.45 percent of Taiwan's GDP, and President Lai Ching-te () announced last month that his government would aim to increase defense spending to 3 percent of Taiwan's GDP this year, including through supplemental budgets. Neither the DPP nor the KMT has ever called for defense spending that is anywhere near 10 percent of GDP. In response to the questions raised by the American senators, the KMT said in Taipei on Wednesday that the party supports "a moderate and effective increase" in the defense budget and military investment. The KMT has always supported Taiwan-U.S. military security assistance cooperation and U.S. arms sales as long as they meet Taiwan's defensive needs, a KMT press statement said. The party also supports improving the welfare of people in the armed forces, which was why it recently proposed to increase salaries and benefits for military personnel, the statement said. Taiwan is heavily dependent on the U.S. to procure weapons because most countries refuse to make their weapons available to Taiwan for fear of angering China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold, by force if necessary. There remains a US$20 billion backlog of weapons ordered by Taiwan that the U.S. has yet to deliver, including upgraded versions of the F-16 jet fighter. (By Chung Yu-chen, Liu Kuang-ting and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's 'Two Sessions' places greater emphasis on Taiwan integration: Experts ROC Central News Agency 03/05/2025 10:26 PM Taipei, March. 5 (CNA) The Taiwan-related section in China's government work report, presented during the "Two Sessions" on Wednesday, placed greater emphasis on the promotion of integration and unification of Taiwan with China, experts told CNA. China's Premier Li Qiang () on Wednesday morning delivered the government work report at the opening meeting of the National People's Congress, which, together with the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference that opened a day earlier, forms the annual "Two Sessions." In the 32-page report, a 128-Chinese character section on Taiwan was included, with lines such as "resolutely oppose separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' and external interference" and "improve institutions and policies for promoting economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait." Chang Wu-ueh (), director of Tamkang University's Center for Cross-Strait Relations, told CNA that while the Taiwan-related content in the report is more than 90 percent identical to last year's version, there is a stronger emphasis on promoting the integration and unification of Taiwan with China. The mention of fostering cross-strait economic exchanges not only reflects China's response to the U.S.-China trade war and technological competition, but also aims to reinforce economic ties between the two sides of the strait, which have been gradually weakening in recent years, he added. Chang said that the report has never been used as a platform to announce major policy on Taiwan, as the "Two Sessions" are not the main occasion for such an announcement. The attention on Taiwan-related content should instead be directed toward whether Chinese President Xi Jinping () makes any statements about the island country when joining certain delegation discussions during the "Two Sessions," which run until March 11, he said. In addition, Chang said that whether Beijing holds a commemoration for the 20th anniversary of the Anti-Secession Law after the "Two Sessions" will carry certain "significance." He added that if such an event is held with Xi delivering remarks, it would send an even stronger message regarding Taiwan. Speaking in the same vein, Arthur Wang (), secretary-general of the Asia-Pacific Elite Interchange Association in Taiwan and an expert on cross-strait relations, said that Taiwan-related issues have never been a focal point of the "Two Sessions," as the annual meetings primarily focus on discussions of China's domestic policy in areas such as the economy and society. He described the Taiwan-related content in this year's government work report at the "Two Sessions" as "reiterating the same old rhetoric" of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Taiwan policy. Wang added that the annual work conference on Taiwan affairs, held before the "Two Sessions" on Feb. 25-26 and attended by senior CCP officials, is a more important event for understanding China's approach to Taiwan. Wang Huning (), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, emphasized "six key priorities" during the work conference, including "creating better conditions for Taiwanese youth to pursue and fulfill their dreams in China." Such emphasis suggests that attracting Taiwanese youth to China will be a major focus of China's policy toward Taiwan this year, Arthur Wang said. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) told CNA in a written reply that the Taiwan-related content in the government work report delivered by Li at this year's "Two Sessions" is "very similar" to that of last year, with "no significant changes." "The [Taiwanese] government will continue closely monitoring the developments during the CCP's "Two Sessions," the MAC added. (By Li Ya-wen and Sunny Lai) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/03/05 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Mar. 4 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 5 (Wed.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 5 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 5 sorties entered Taiwan's southern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140305_PLA activities 1140305_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkmenistan begins shipping gas to Turkey via Iran: Minister IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 5, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has announced that natural gas is now flowing from Turkmenistan to Turkey through Iran. Paknejad confirmed on Wednesday that the contract for this project has been finalized. The minister said the project will strengthen Iran's relationships with its neighbors, Turkmenistan and Turkey. According to Turkish media, Turkmenistan will export two billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey through Iran each year. This amounts to about five million cubic meters of gas per day. Both countries are also discussing plans to increase this amount in the coming months. Turkmenistan said last month that it had reached a deal to ship natural gas to Turkey via Iran. Turkey imports gas via pipelines from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran. 2050**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran confirms it has started transiting Turkmen gas to Turkey Iran Press TV Wednesday, 05 March 2025 5:34 PM Iran's oil minister says the country has started receiving gas from Turkmenistan in its northeast and delivering the same amount to its northwestern neighbor Turkey as part of a swap agreement. Mohsen Paknejad said on Wednesday that the transit of Turkmen gas to Turkey would have major benefits for Iran, including the increased supply of gas to national grid customers in the northeast of the country where gas pressure normally drops because it is far from Iran's gas production centers in the south. Paknejad said that the swap agreement would also boost Iran's position as a major regional energy hub. "This effort is a sign of government's determination to expand energy diplomacy," he said, according to remarks covered by the Iranian Oil Ministry's news service Shana. However, the minister indicated in his remarks that the details of the gas swap deal between Iran, Turkmenistan, and Turkey have yet to be finalized. "One can say that this agreement has become operationalized, but we should wait until other aspects of the agreement can be publicized in the media in the future," said Paknejad. A report published by Turkmenistan's official newspaper Neutral Tyrkmenistan in early February showed that the country's state-run gas company Turkmengas had signed a deal with Turkey's state-owned BOTAS to start gas exports through Iran beginning March 1. The report said that Turkmenistan's chairman of the People's Council Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov had held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to praise the deal as a major development in the regional energy cooperation. Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow visited Tehran on February 12 to meet with Pezeshkian and Paknejad. Iran, Turkmenistan, and Turkey have yet to make an official statement to explain the size and price of the gas supplies negotiated under the deal. That comes as Iran's Tasnim news agency said in a report last month that Turkmengas will be able to use the idle capacity of an Iranian export pipeline to Turkey to supply up to 4 billion cubic meters per year of natural gas to BOTAS. Iran has signed several gas swap agreements with Turkmenistan in recent years to supply gas to Azerbaijan and Iraq. Experts say Turkey's new gas import agreement with Turkmenistan will allow the country to ship a part of the gas being imported from Azerbaijan to Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "Turkiye and Azerbaijan favor peace and prosperity" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 05.03.2025 Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Igdr-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline, President Erdogan said: "Turkiye and Azerbaijan favor peace, calm and prosperity. We want only peace and cooperation, and to develop all together in our region." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan attended via videoconference the opening ceremony of the Igdr-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline at the Presidential Complex. "THE RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES IMPROVE CONSTANTLY IN A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS" "We are making great progresses in every area within our brotherly relations shaped with the maxim, 'one nation two states,'" President Erdogan stated during his address at the ceremony, and noted: "The relations between our countries improve constantly in a wide range of areas, from defense to trade. Obviously, energy sector, which we have crowned with numerous projects, stands out among our joint efforts. We have endeavored to further our energy cooperation with the entry into service of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Natural Gas Pipeline, and with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline, which was seen as a dream by some, and the Shah Deniz gas field beginning production. We are having the pleasure of carrying a huge amount of Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe via the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP). We are in full harmony with the brotherly Azerbaijan to put into service strategic and groundbreaking projects in this area." "WE ARE DETERMINED TO REALIZE ANY KIND OF PROJECT AIMED AT REGIONAL PEACE" Pointing out that the Igdr-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline will complement their previous strategic initiatives, President Erdogan said that the pipeline will meet Nakhchivan's natural gas need for 30 years at the minimum, and added: "Turkiye and Azerbaijan favor peace, calm and prosperity. We want only peace and cooperation, and to develop all together in our region. To that end, we have thus far taken many steps, and shown our sincerity. Inshallah, we are determined to all together realize any kind of project aimed at regional peace, prosperity and calm. Just as the brotherly Azerbaijan has always stood with us during our most trying days, February 6 earthquakes in particular, we will also stand with our brothers and sisters whenever they need." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deepening UK-US defence relations and peace in Ukraine to top agenda for Defence Secretary's Washington visit During meetings, the Defence Secretary will hail the unparalleled depth of the UK-US relationship, which bolsters security and supports economic growth 5 March 2025 Securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and strengthening bonds between NATO allies will be the focus of discussions during the Defence Secretary's visit to Washington DC on Wednesday and Thursday - including a meeting with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth. John Healey MP will hail the unparalleled depth of the UK's special relationship with the US - the UK's closest security ally - as both nations continue to collaborate on military operations, peacekeeping, intelligence gathering, and development of advanced technologies - bolstering security and supporting economic growth. The Defence Secretary's arrival in Washington DC comes as the UK receives the last of an order of 50 of the latest generation AH-64E attack helicopters for the British Army, the most advanced attack helicopter in the world. The helicopter was handed over yesterday (4 March) at the Boeing site in Arizona under a programme that supports more than 300 UK jobs, helping to grow the UK economy - underscoring defence as an engine for driving economic growth. The visit also comes at the conclusion of the 50th occurrence of Exercise Red Flag in Nevada, a joint exercise with the UK, United States and Australia. The training is designed to test equally matched air forces in a realistic combat scenario and involves more than 3,000 military personnel in high-intensity training, such as dogfighting, air-policing and practicing bombing runs, at Nellis Air Force Base. At their bilateral meeting tomorrow [Thursday], the two Defence Secretaries are due to discuss the plan for peace in Ukraine being worked on by the US, UK, France, and European allies. It comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Washington last week, where the Prime Minister and the President confirmed both nations will work together on security arrangements to deliver a lasting peace in Ukraine. The discussions follow the Prime Minister's meeting of international leaders in London last weekend, where allies discussed the need for a lasting peace settlement, with US support. The latest defence engagement with the new US administration follows a first meeting between the two Defence Secretaries last month, when the UK convened the 50-nation strong Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which coordinates urgent military support for Ukraine. On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary will attend a reception to mark the 250th Anniversary of the US Marine Corps, held at the British Ambassador's Residence in Washington DC. Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: Amid a period of growing global instability, the unique and special relationship between the UK and US is as strong as ever - underlined by a shared commitment to freedom and democracy. It is crucial that the UK and Europe step up further to take more responsibility for our security, and we are doing so. In the face of increasing global threats, we are cementing our ties as NATO allies, bolstering our national security and economic security, too. The Prime Minister was clear following his meetings over the past week, that we will continue our dialogue with friends and allies to secure a path to a lasting peace in Ukraine. We will advance that work in Washington over the coming days. Discussions are also expected to cover deepening the UK-US defence relationship. The British and US Armed Forces operate in close alignment around the world, from the long-standing global coalition to combat Daesh in the Middle East to joint maritime security patrols in the Indo-Pacific. Collective security and stability also support both nations' economies and delivers on our Plan for Change. The AUKUS programme to develop a fleet of world-class nuclear powered, conventionally armed submarines for the UK and Australia, is a perfect example of this work - with a 9 billion contract with Rolls Royce awarded in January as part of the programme, creating more than 1,000 jobs and supporting a further 4,000 roles. The Apache programme also supports the UK economy, with numerous components manufactured in the UK. This benefits 75 British companies, including 33 SMEs, with jobs being supported at the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop in Hampshire and Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answer to a question from the Vremya news programme, Moscow, March 4, 2025 4 March 2025 23:18 337-04-03-2025 Question: Donald Trump has suspended military aid to Ukraine. Can this make Vladimir Zelensky come to the negotiating table? Sergey Lavrov: I cannot get into the head of that human. On the other hand, you can hardly call him human. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update 279 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine International Atomic Energy Agency 19/2025 Vienna, Austria 5 Mar 2025 The presence of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Ukraine's nuclear power plants (NPPs) remains an "invaluable asset" for the international community and must be preserved, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told Member States after the completion of a delayed team rotation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). "Difficult conditions have in the past month complicated and delayed the latest rotation of experts, which was safely completed in recent days," Director General Grossi said in his written introductory statement to the IAEA Board of Governors, which is holding its regular March meeting this week. In December, a drone attack severely damaged an official IAEA vehicle during a rotation, and in February intense military activity forced the cancellation of the most recent planned rotation, which was finally concluded earlier this month. The current team at the ZNPP is the 27th since Director General Grossi established a continued IAEA presence at the site, where nuclear safety and security remains precarious. Director General Grossi emphasized that "all the IAEA's activities in Ukraine are being conducted in line with relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and of the IAEA policy-making organs". At the ZNPP, the IAEA team has continued to hear explosions on most days over the past week, at varying distances. The IAEA team at the ZNPP was informed that scheduled maintenance of part of the safety system of reactor unit 1 had been completed and returned to service. At the same time, maintenance began at another part of the same reactor's safety system. At the Chornobyl site, firefighters have made progress in extinguishing the fire on the roof of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) caused by a drone strike on 14 February. The IAEA team at the site was informed that no smouldering fires had been detected over the past two days. The site continues to use thermal imaging and surveillance drones to monitor the structure. The Chornobyl site has continued to perform frequent radiation monitoring and report the results to the IAEA team. The IAEA team has also undertaken its own independent monitoring. To date, all monitoring results have shown that there has not been any increase in the normal range of radiation levels measured at the site nor any abnormal readings detected. The IAEA team at the Chornobyl site also reported multiple air raid alarms during the past week. In addition, the IAEA was informed by the Ukrainian regulator that the site recorded drone flights in the area early on 1 March. Last week, a team of IAEA experts conducted another round of visits to seven electrical substations identified as critical for nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. As during the previous visits last year, the team observed the current status of the substations and collected relevant information to assess any potential impacts of attacks in recent months to the safe operation of Ukraine's nuclear facilities and to identify any further technical assistance that could be provided by the IAEA. The IAEA teams at Ukraine's operating NPPs - Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine - have continued to monitor the nuclear safety and security situation at these sites. The teams report hearing air raid alarms on most days, with the team at the Khmelnytskyy NPP having to shelter at the site on Monday. One reactor unit at the same plant last weekend began a planned outage for refuelling and maintenance. Separately, the IAEA has continued with its comprehensive programme of nuclear safety and security assistance to Ukraine, with three new deliveries of equipment bringing the total number since the start of the armed conflict to 111. The Hydrometeorological Centre and Hydrometeorological Organizations of the State Emergency Services of Ukraine received survey meters, the Centralised Spent Fuel Storage Facility of Energoatom received thermal imaging cameras and the medical unit of the Khmelnytskyy NPP received medical equipment and supplies. The deliveries were supported with funds provided by the European Union, Norway and the United States. "We are grateful to all 30 donor states and the European Union for their extrabudgetary contributions, and I encourage those who can, to support the delivery of the comprehensive assistance programme, for which EUR 22 million are still necessary," Director General Grossi told the Board. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's War In Ukraine Fuels Wild Week Of Diplomacy By Steve Gutterman March 05, 2025 In Ukrainian and Russian, the term for rollercoaster is "American hills." That's an apt description of the whiplash diplomacy this past week over Russia's war against Ukraine, particularly when it comes to the rocky relations between Washington and Kyiv. A White House meeting that was supposed to produce a US-Ukraine mineral-resources deal cast by US President Donald Trump as a key step toward ending the war went badly awry: No deal was signed, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left early after a bitter clash in the Oval Office. Trump said he could "come back when he is ready for peace." That was on February 28. Three days later, senior US officials told the media that Trump was pausing US military aid to Ukraine, creating more uncertainty over whether it can hold out in the fourth year of Moscow's full-scale invasion and adding urgency to European efforts to step up and fill the gaps -- not just for Ukraine's security but for its own. One day after that, on March 4, avoiding any fresh criticism of Kyiv in a speech to Congress, Trump said Zelenskyy had informed him in a letter that he is ready for talks with Russia to end the war and is prepared to sign the minerals deal "at any time." Amid the whirlwind, here's what to watch: Will The Minerals Deal Be Signed? What Trump said in his March 4 speech suggests Kyiv and Washington could soon sign a deal on the joint development of Ukraine's rare minerals and other resources. That would be a strong sign that ties are back on track after the Oval Office disaster. What Trump didn't say is also telling: He did not double down on his criticism of Zelenskyy by saying the Ukrainian president doesn't want peace or questioning his legitimacy by demanding Ukraine hold elections soon. For the time being, at least, this indicates the United States will treat Zelenskyy as important to any potential cease-fire or peace deal with Russia. Will The Military Aid Pause Last Long? Another thing Trump didn't say, however, was that he would end the pause on the delivery of weapons and other military aid to Ukraine. US officials said the suspension would end when Kyiv demonstrated a good-faith commitment to peace, and Trump's national-security adviser, Mike Waltz, made clear on March 5 that it remained in place. Trump will "take a hard look at lifting this pause" when peace talks are arranged and confidence-building measures are "on the table," he said. That leaves the pressure on Ukraine to move toward negotiations on ending the fighting despite a lack of US security guarantees beyond the minerals deal, which US officials say would help protect Ukraine by giving the United States a strong interest in the country's stability. How Deep Will The US-Russia Thaw Go? Trump made big waves when he upended US policy by phoning Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12 and sending senior officials to Saudi Arabia to meet with their Russian counterparts for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, reviving relations long marked by US efforts to isolate the Kremlin and punish it for the unprovoked war on Ukraine. This caused concern that Kyiv and Europe could be sidelinedand presented with a peace deal that would leave Ukraine vulnerable to further Russian aggression and undermine security across the Continent. How US-Russia interactions develop in the coming weeks could be crucial to the future of Ukraine, Europe, and the West. Will Europe Step Up? Trump's overtures to Russia, rocky US-Ukraine relations, uncertainty over American aid for Kyiv, and a new chill in transatlantic ties have fueled urgent calls for Europe to do more when it comes to security for Ukraine and for itself, including discussions of increased weapons supplies for Kyiv and an armed force that could be deployed in Ukraine in the event of a cease-fire or peace deal. Whether that talk can be translated into action, and how fast, could have a powerful influence over Ukraine's fate and the future of Europe. So, too, however, could Europe's ability to keep the United States involved -- as a backstop for boots on the groundin Ukraine, for example. What About Russia? For the past couple of weeks, the intense diplomacy surrounding the war in Ukraine has focused on the United States, Ukraine, and Europe. But while the overall goal is an end to the biggest war in Europe since 1945, the country that is responsible for the war and could end it almost instantaneously if it wished -- Russia -- has seemed to be outside the frame at times. Talk of an armed force to be deployed following a cease-fire, for example, has proceeded despite Moscow's clear opposition to a NATO force, at least, and despite the Kremlin's assertion that it wants a comprehensive peace deal -- one that might hand Russia influence over Ukraine and a stronger role in European security -- and has no interest in a limited truce. Russia has also said that any peace deal must recognize its claim to four mainland Ukrainian regions in their entirety, including parts that Ukraine still controls, a position that is unacceptable to Kyiv. Some analysts say Russia has a history of staking out maximalist claims as a negotiating tactic so it can then climb down to positions that still suit its aims. Others say that, at least for now, Putin believes he can achieve overarching goals such as the subjugation of Ukraine and would use any cease-fire to build up its forces for an eventual new assault. The US administration has said both Ukraine and Russia will have to make concessions for the sake of peace, but it has said little about what those might be in Russia's case. As Trump's push for peace persists, what US and Russian officials say about the shape of an agreement that would end the fighting is also something to watch. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/war-peace-aid-talks- trump-zelenskyy/33337379.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European Leaders Look To Seize Opportunity After Trump Cites Zelenskyy Letter On Minerals Deal By Todd Prince March 05, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- European leaders jumped to renew a push for an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine after US President Donald Trump said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote a letter stating he's ready for talks with Moscow while also offering to sign a deal on Ukraine's mineral resources "at any time." After a week of tumult that culminated with the United States announcing a suspension of military aid to Ukraine after a heated exchange between the two leaders, Trump told a joint session of Congress on March 4 that Zelenskyy sent him a letter expressing a willingness to come to the negotiating table. That glimmer of hope was all European leaders -- rattled by the disastrous and very public clash between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House last week -- needed to try to launch a new initiative to get peace talks back on track. A spokeswoman for the French government told reporters on March 5 that President Emmanuel Macron is mulling a joint visit to Washington with Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, all three of whom were in the US capital last week. "Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The letter reads, 'Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,' he said," Trump quoted the letter as saying. That came after Zelenskyy said earlier in the day that "none of us wants an endless war," adding Ukraine was "ready to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring long-term peace closer." "My team and I are ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to achieve long-term peace," he added. The Kremlin called Zelenskyy's talk of peace negotiations "positive," though spokesman Dmitry Peskov tamped down the enthusiasm by adding that Ukraine has legally barred negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin through a decree the Ukrainian leader signed in 2022. "So, in general, the approach is positive, but the nuances have not yet changed," Peskov said. "For the time being, there's still a legal ban on the president of Ukraine negotiating with the Russian side." No Mention Of The Oval Office Disaster Trump's speech to Congress followed statements from White House officials that there would be a pause on all US military support for Ukraine in its battle to repel invading Russian forces and after the highly public argument in the Oval Office. Zelenskyy left the White House on February 28 following the dispute and the two did not sign the critical minerals agreement. During a press conference on March 3, Trump said he did not think the deal was dead. Trump did not mention his public spat with Zelenskyy last week in the Oval Office, flipping the narrative by saying: "We are getting along very well with them and lots of things are happening." In quoting Zelenskyy, Trump "signaled that he put the conversation in the White House on the sidelines," Mikhail Alexeev, a professor of political science at San Diego State University, told RFE/RL. "There was no call for Zelenskyy to resign. There was no talk about Ukraine being ungrateful." Trump has made ending the war a priority and flipped three years of US policy on its head by reaching out directly to Putin, whom his predecessor had isolated politically since the start of the war in February 2022. US-Ukraine Critical Minerals Deal Back In Focus Daniel Vajdich, president of Yorktown Solutions, which lobbies on behalf of Kyiv, said the agreement on minerals would be good for both Ukraine and the United States. "It gives the US concrete equities in Ukraine that should now be protected," said Vajdich. The fund created by the agreement will be an important mechanism for getting the US private sector to invest in Ukraine's reconstruction, added Vajdich, a former adviser to several Republican presidential candidates. Trump had promoted the deal as a way to recoup the billions of dollars in US support since the war began and justify continuing the aid. Ukrainian political analyst Ihor Reiterovych said Trump's remarks appeared to suggest that the spat with Zelenskyy was over and both are ready to move on. "It is really very noteworthy that Trump did not say anything specifically about the suspension of military aid to Ukraine," Reiterovych told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. "We hope that this issue will be resolved positively in the near future, perhaps not even days, but hours." 'The Longest Ever' Address To Congress The address was Trump's first to a joint session of Congress since taking office less than 50 days ago. The US president began his speech by saying "America is back" and touting his policies on immigration, crime, and the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire Elon Musk to cut government spending. Trump has pursued a "shock and awe" strategy since being inaugurated on January 20, announcing drastic changes to domestic and foreign policy, often using executive orders to bypass Congress, as he seeks to fulfill his campaign promises. Rebecca Gill, a political science professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, told RFE/RL that the more than 100-minute address, the longest ever by a president to a joint session of Congress, was "typical Trump." "I don't think anybody would be surprised that it was pretty aggressive and combative," she said. RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service contributed to this report. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-congress-ukraine- russia-war-tariffs-speech/33336730.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Who Spends More On Ukraine Aid: US Or EU? By Ivan Gutterman, Kristyna Foltynova and Mahir Sijamija March 05, 2025 The US, EU, and other allies have spent over $287 billion, in total, on supporting Ukraine since just before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy think tank. The US is the single largest donor to Ukraine, having provided over $122 billion in financial, humanitarian, and military assistance. All EU member states, and the EU Commission, combined have spent around the same amount -- $121.87 billion -- as the US from January 2022 and December 2024. But these figures change when assistance to refugees is included. The EU has spent an additional $131 billion to support Ukrainian refugees, according to the Kiel Institute. Some 4.4 million Ukrainian refugees currently reside in the EU, according to the UN. That would put the total EU assistance to Ukraine, including refugees forced to flee the country, at over $251 billion. This estimate is based on refugee costs from the OECD's International Migration Outlook report that was published in October 2022. Many EU countries have since reduced financial support to Ukrainian refugees. A significant proportion of Ukrainian refugees in the EU work and contribute to state budgets. In Poland, the employment rate among Ukrainian refugees is estimated to be around 65 percent. The US recently suspended its main program supporting Ukrainian refugees -- Uniting for Ukraine. Over 236,000 Ukrainians were approved to resettle to the US under the program as of April 2024, according to the Department of Homeland Security. But the U.S. allocated limited funds for the program, with beneficiaries required to have a financial supporter in the US to cover the costs of their stay. Is All Of This Aid A Gift? Part of the aid disbursed to Ukraine comes in the form of loans -- to be paid back by Kyiv or through profits from frozen Russian assets. The US, EU, and others froze around $300 billion owned by Russia's central bank after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. In January, the European Commission sent Ukraine 3 billion euros that it said would be repaid through profits from frozen Russian assets. Meanwhile, some of the aid provided by the US and other countries does not reach Ukraine. That's because the funds are used to purchase military equipment or invest in defense production abroad. For example, around $7 billion of the $61 billion U.S. aid package passed by Congress in 2024 was planned to be used to enhance the US production of equipment like 155-millimeter shells, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Other parts of the aid package, amounting to billions, were expected to be used by Ukraine to purchase equipment from US arms manufacturers. How expensive is aid to Ukraine compared to Russia's war effort? The US spent about 0.53 percent of its GDP of around $23 trillion on aid to Ukraine from January 2022 to December 2024. That amounts to less than 0.2 percent of GDP annually. EU members and institutions allocated 0.7 percent of their annual GDP, which was $17.1 trillion in 2021. Russia, meanwhile, spent almost 6 percent of its approximately $2 trillion GDP on its military in 2023, according to SIPRI data. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine us-russia-aid/33337524.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Qinghai plays peacemaker between birds and power grids 16:40, March 06, 2025 By Wang Ru ( Chinadaily.com.cn Qinghai province has successfully reconciled power grids with bird conservation, thereby enhancing the local ecology in the process, says Wu Xiaojun, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, who is also Party secretary of Qinghai, at an open panel discussion in Beijing on Thursday. Birds like nesting on trees. But in a high-altitude place like the Sanjiangyuan (Three-River-Source) area in Qinghai, with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters, birds do not find enough trees. Therefore, they often nest on telegraph poles or transmission towers, at a risk to their own lives and electricity distribution. In the past, people often installed bird repellents to keep them away, but that did not always prove effective. In recent years, they have built nests for birds in safe areas on telegraph poles or transmission towers, so that no harm comes to them. "In the Sanjiangyuan area, there are more than 5,000 such artificial nests. With people's help, the number and type of birds in the area have increased tremendously," says Wu. Moreover, Qinghai's ecological environment has improved considerably. For example, the numbers of snow leopards and brown bears have exceeded 1,200 and 6,000 respectively. Przewalski's gazelle's number has increased from about 300 in 2007 to more than 3,400 now. More than 146,000 people, who were herders in the past, have become ecological protectors to evaluate statistics of ecology in the local place. "Since they are the closest to nature and animals, they know the best. Many of them now use their cameras and microphones to capture the most beautiful landscape and nature. Some of their photos have won international competitions, making them amateur photographers," says Wu. "What they take photos of are often wild animals, but the photos also show the ecology and reflect the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature," says Wu. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) There will be no let-up in the UK's support to Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE The UK sets out plan agreed with leaders in London on 2 March to work with Ukraine and the United States on a strong, just and durable peace. 5 March 2025 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 5 March 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Mr Chair. On Sunday 2 March, the UK hosted in London leaders from various European countries and Canada, the NATO Secretary General and the Presidents of the EU Commission and the EU Council to discuss our support for Ukraine. Together we reaffirmed our determination to work for a permanent peace in Ukraine, in partnership with the United States. The UK Prime Minister made clear that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past when weak deals allowed President Putin to invade again. The UK, France and our international partners will work closely with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting. And we will work directly with the United States on a strong, just and lasting peace that ensures Ukraine's sovereignty and security. The plan agreed with leaders in London has four clear principles. First, we must keep military aid flowing and keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia. To that end, we are doubling down on military aid. At the weekend the UK agreed a new 2.2 billion loan for Ukraine, backed by profits from frozen Russian assets. Second, we agreed that any lasting peace must guarantee Ukraine's sovereignty and security - and that Ukraine must be at the table when negotiating their future. Third, in the event of a peace deal, we would continue boosting Ukraine's own defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion. And lastly, we will develop a "coalition of the willing" to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace. Those willing to contribute will intensify planning now. Mr Chair, Ukraine has been clear that it wants to reach a durable peace as soon as possible. This can happen only if we continue to show strength and provide Ukraine with the support it needs to defend itself against continued Russian aggression. There will be no let-up in the UK's support, which we will continue for as long as it is necessary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Held Phone Talks with Heads of Government of Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, and the Netherlands President of Ukraine 5 March 2025 - 19:12 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held phone conversations with the heads of government of Germany - Olaf Scholz, Portugal - Luis Montenegro, Slovenia - Robert Golob, and the Netherlands - Dick Schoof. During these discussions, the leaders coordinated their positions and steps toward achieving a just and lasting peace. The Head of State expressed his gratitude to each partner for their support of the Ukrainian people. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olaf Scholz discussed developments in Ukraine and the world, exchanging views on the future security architecture. The President also highlighted Germany's contribution to strengthening Ukraine's air defense and protecting thousands of people. Ukraine looks forward to further expanding cooperation in this area. During his talks with the Prime Ministers of Portugal and Slovenia, the President informed them about the leaders' summit in London, where an agreement was reached to develop a plan of action aimed at bringing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and security for the whole of Europe. This includes strengthening Ukraine and ensuring security guarantees. President Zelenskyy emphasized that it is important for Ukraine that every country's voice is taken into account in the joint plan. Ukraine, in cooperation with the United States and all of Europe, aims to take the first steps as soon as possible. Additionally, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Robert Golob discussed the implementation of the "Food from Ukraine" initiative. Slovenia will participate in this program to support the Syrian people. The conversation with Dick Schoof focused on coordination with partners and strengthening Ukraine. The Netherlands is preparing new military and financial aid packages. The President also outlined the priority needs of Ukrainian troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today, Ukrainian and American Teams Began Working on an Upcoming Meeting - Address by the President President of Ukraine 5 March 2025 - 19:05 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! A few updates for today. A report from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi - frontline, Kursk, our positions, our actions. The brigades have everything they need. I am grateful to our warriors - the resilience of the army gives confidence to the entire nation and, of course, to our diplomacy. Today, I want to specially commend the 425th Separate Assault Battalion - thank you for your determination, guys. Also, the 225th Assault Regiment and the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade for their operations in the Donetsk region, specifically in the Novopavlivka direction. And also our warriors of the Special Operations Forces for their actions in the Kursk region. Domestic production is a top priority. We are preparing agreements to ramp up Ukrainian arms manufacturing, with a focus on drones for the frontline to protect the lives of our warriors. There were also extensive international activities today - I had conversations with the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, Portugal, and Slovenia, as well as the Chancellor of Germany. Thank you for the support. We are preparing for the EU summit, which will take place tomorrow in Brussels. Everyone can see how fast diplomatic events are unfolding. Today, Ukrainian and American teams began working on an upcoming meeting. Andriy Yermak and Mike Waltz held talks, and we're seeing forward momentum. We hope to see the first results next week. We must also reignite progress on our European path, particularly concerning our European integration - clusters in the process of accession negotiations. We count on the support of our partners. And one more update. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal delivered a report today on domestic matters, including financial stability. Starting March 1, Ukraine traditionally adjusts pensions - this year by 11.5%. In total, more than ten million pensioners will receive increased payments in March. I urge everyone in the Pension Fund, regional authorities, and local governments to be as attentive as possible. If our pensioners have any questions about their payments, please assist them, provide clear explanations, and do your best to support them during this time. Thank you to everyone working for Ukraine, and to everyone fighting for our country and our people! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Can Europe arm Ukraine now that US has halted military aid? By Henry Ridgwell March 05, 2025 Ukrainians reacted with alarm on Tuesday to Washington's announcement that it is halting military aid shipments to the country with immediate effect, a move that the Trump administration said was aimed at forcing all sides to the negotiating table. As news broke overnight Monday of the U.S. decision to halt military aid to Kyiv, Russian drones continued to rain down on Ukrainian cities, targeting Odesa in the south and Sumy in the northeast. Ukrainian lawmakers say the consequences of Washington's decision will be stark. "This means that thousands of people will die," Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko told The Associated Press. "I just want to ask [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump just to reconsider, to give some time to Ukraine." European pledge European leaders have said it is vital to continue weapons shipments to Kyiv. Analysts say there are doubts, however, over whether Europe can fill the shortfall and how long Ukraine can keep on fighting. As the geopolitics plays out, the war grinds on between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders across the 960-kilometer front line. Close to the town of Pokrovsk west of Donetsk, the Ukrainian 14th Brigade is trying to hold off a Russian advance. The unit commander, who goes by the call sign "Berf," fears they could run out of ammunition. "We fire an Italian howitzer. But we get a lot of ammunition, including of 105 mm caliber, from the U.S. It is NATO standard, which is used in both Europe and the U.S. But whether Europe will be able to supply us? I hope it will," he told Reuters. Can Europe make up for the shortfall of military aid from the U.S.? "There is a sharp limit to what Europe can do," said Mark Galeotti, executive director of the consultancy Mayak Intelligence and the author of "Forged in War," a military history of Russia. "There are certain systems, ranging from Patriot missiles all the way through to spare parts for the Abrams tanks and Bradley personnel carriers, that the Ukrainians are using, that the only way the Europeans can get [them] is by buying them on the open market. And that is going to take time," Galeotti told VOA, adding that some weapons systems ordered on the open market in 2022 were arriving only now in Ukraine. Ukrainian weapons Ukraine, however, is far less reliant on the West than it was at the outset of the Russian invasion in 2022, said Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general of the Royal United Services Institute in London. "Increasingly, Ukraine has been producing its own weapons," Chalmers told The Associated Press. "It has a very large and growing defense industry, some of it financed from abroad, with a lot of cooperation from Western defense companies." "So probably about half the weapons which Ukraine is now using are provided by its own defense industry. And of the remainder, it's about half and half between the United States and the others, including the Europeans," Chalmers said, adding that U.S. forces play a vital role "in the logistical arrangements, which actually get the weapons from Poland into Ukraine." "And finally, the U.S. plays a very important role in providing information, intelligence to the Ukrainian forces," Chalmers said. Peace negotiations The Trump administration said Tuesday the halt in military aid is "to ensure that it is contributing to a solution." "We want the Ukrainians to have a sovereign and independent country," U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters Tuesday. "We think the Ukrainian troops have fought very bravely, but we're at a point here where neither Europe nor the United States nor the Ukrainians can continue this war indefinitely. So, it's important that everybody come to the table, and the president is trying to send a very explicit message: The Ukrainians have got to come to the table and start negotiating with President Trump." Europe is taking a different approach. After hosting a meeting of European and Ukrainian leaders on Sunday, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said a "coalition of the willing" would seek to continue to support Kyiv. "It's time to act. Time to step up and lead. The U.K. is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others. Europe must do the heavy lifting," he said. In reality, Europe is not united in its support for Ukraine, said analyst Galeotti. "Vice President Vance's claim that a lot of the European leaders, who on social media and in public are foursquare behind Kyiv but in private they're actually much more skeptical is not entirely incorrect. Do you essentially continue to hollow out your own armed forces and also alienate your most powerful security ally and guarantor in the name of defending Ukraine?" Zelenskyy appeal Zelenskyy appealed to the Trump administration Tuesday, writing on X that Ukraine was committed to peace. In a video posted online, Zelenskyy said, "We must find the strength to move forward, respect one another as we have always respected America, Europe, and all our partners and work together to bring peace closer. I am grateful to everyone who supports Ukraine in this." The cut in U.S. aid is a bitter outcome for some Ukrainians suffering under Russian bombardment. Those who spoke with VOA chose not to use their last names for safety reasons. Viktoria, a resident of Kyiv, said Ukraine was being unfairly punished. "I hope that [Trump] will change his mind. The victim of aggression cannot be guilty of everything and be punished in addition to that," she told VOA. Illia fled to Kyiv from his home in Donetsk following the invasion. "Maybe Europe can help somehow. The hope is only on Europe now, no one else," he said. Hanna, who fled the Russian invasion of Crimea, feared the impact of the cut in aid. "This will have a serious impact, especially on the battlefield. The price will be human lives," she said. Russia, meanwhile, welcomed Washington's decision to halt military aid for Ukraine, saying it might help "to settle the situation by peaceful means." Anna Chernikova contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Resources Corp. (TSX: WRX) ("Western Resources" or the "Company") announces that its principal regulator, the British Columbia Securities Commission (the BCSC) issued a cease trade order ("CTO") on March 4, 2025 under the securities legislation of British Columbia. The CTO was issued as a result of the Company's delay in filing its annual information form, annual audited financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis, and certifications for the financial year ended September 30, 2024, as well as interim financial statements, management's discussion and analysis, and certifications for the period ended December 31, 2024 (the "Required Filings"). Despite the CTO, a beneficial holder of a security of the Company who is not, and was not as of the date of the CTO, an insider or control person of the Company, may sell securities of the Company acquired before the date of the CTO if both of the following apply: (a) the sale is made through a "foreign organized regulated market", as defined in section 1.1 of the Universal Market Integrity Rules of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada; and (b) the sale is made through an investment dealer registered in a jurisdiction of Canada in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The delay in filing the Required Filings was and is due to the continued financial hardships. The Company is working diligently to remedy this issue by securing additional capital to complete the audit process so that it can file its Required Filings as soon as possible. "Wenye Xue" CEO and Director For Further Information Contact: Xiao Xing E: xiao@westernresources.com. P: 306-924 9378 Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is set out herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. FRANKFURT, Germany, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ai-gruppe.com has introduced a suite of asset analysis tools designed to provide efficiency and accuracy in financial decision-making. The platform offers an intuitive approach to asset evaluation, catering to users seeking comprehensive insights without complexity. The newly launched tools focus on delivering clear and structured data to enhance asset analysis. With a streamlined interface and advanced analytical capabilities, the platform ensures a seamless experience for evaluating market trends, asset performance, and financial projections. These tools serve a wide range of users, from industry professionals to individuals exploring data-driven decision-making in asset management. Designed with accessibility in mind, the platform enables users to conduct in-depth evaluations without requiring extensive technical expertise. The tools integrate various data points to offer real-time insights, allowing for well-informed asset assessments. By simplifying complex financial data, the system facilitates efficient analysis and strategic planning. A key feature of the platform is its ability to process and interpret large volumes of data with speed and precision. This functionality supports users in identifying patterns, trends, and potential risks within various asset classes. Additionally, the platform incorporates automated processes to reduce manual effort, ensuring a more efficient workflow for asset analysis. AI-driven algorithms play a crucial role in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of asset assessments. By leveraging artificial intelligence, the tools provide predictive insights that assist in evaluating future market movements. This technology-driven approach enhances the depth of analysis while maintaining user-friendly functionality. Security and data integrity remain central to the platforms development. The system employs robust security measures to protect user data while maintaining compliance with industry standards. Reliable data sources and encryption protocols contribute to a secure analytical environment for asset evaluation. The introduction of these asset analysis tools aligns with ongoing advancements in financial technology. As the demand for accessible and intelligent financial solutions continues to grow, AI-Gruppe.com remains focused on refining analytical tools that cater to evolving industry needs. Future updates and enhancements will further expand the capabilities of the platform to support more comprehensive asset evaluations. About Ai-gruppe.com Ai-gruppe.com is a company that focuses on structured financial solutions, providing tools that simplify financial analysis. The company ensures that financial tools remain accessible, allowing for structured asset evaluation. Ai-gruppe applies methodologies that prioritize financial clarity, ensuring that financial assessments remain practical and organized. For more information about the asset analysis tools and their functionalities, visit Website. Company Details Company Name: Ai-gruppe Email Address: media@ai-gruppe.com Company Address: Grosse Gallussstrasse 16-18/1st floor, 60312 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Company Website: https://ai-gruppe.com/ Disclaimer: This content is provided by Ai-gruppe. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities .Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Mining Corp. (Prime or the Company) (TSV: PRYM) (OTCQX: PRMNF) (Frankfurt: O4V3) is pleased to report its operating and financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2024. The Company is also pleased to provide a summary of its 2024 drill program highlights and other activities. Prime is focused on the exploration and development of its wholly owned high-grade Los Reyes Gold-Silver Project in Sinaloa State, Mexico (Los Reyes or the Project). Prime Chief Executive Officer Scott Hicks commented, 2024 proved to be another transformational year for Prime: we drilled over 50,000 metres, expanded the Los Reyes resource, advanced technical de-risking and worked closely with our communities to earn our social license to operate. Prime ended the year in a strong financial position with $19 million in cash on hand. In 2025, we are looking forward to continuing our track record of exploration success while demonstrating our deep commitment to our local communities and the environment. We additionally plan to advance our understanding of Los Reyes toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment. We thank our team and local communities for their ongoing support. Corporate Highlights During Q4 2024 (Unless otherwise stated, all amounts are presented in Canadian dollars.) On October 15, 2024, released Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), based on drilling to July 17, 2024, outlining: Indicated Resources increased 49% to 2.2 million AuEq and Inferred Resources increased 11% to 0.8 million AuEq ozs compared to the May 2023 MRE. Substantial resource growth from higher-grade open pit and underground zones, validating the Companys strategy of targeting a high-recovery, high-margin milling operation. Milled Indicated Resources have grown 48% to 1.93 million AuEq ozs at 2.08 g/t AuEq. Milled Inferred Resources have grown 19% to 0.74 million AuEq ozs at 2.05 g/t AuEq. Technical de-risking included in the updated MRE includes both higher gold recoveries based on extensive metallurgical test work and geotechnical parameter updates. The 2024 MRE includes an additional 86,650 metres drilled by Prime since the cutoff of the May 2023 MRE. In total, the 2024 MRE is based on 240,172 metres of drilling, of which Prime has drilled 191,451 metres. Primes discovery cost is just over $US 20 per resource ounce added since acquisition. Considerable upside potential: mineralization at Los Reyes remains open along strike and at depth, with the ongoing drill program targeting high-grade mineralization along both the northwest and southeast extensions of the Z-T Trend, the southeast extension of the Guadalupe and Central Trends, as well as emerging Generative Areas. As at December 31, held C$19 million in cash with approximately $19 million of in-the-money warrants and options expiring June 2025. As noted on February 19, 2025, Prime completed approximately 1,500 metres of drilling year to date, prior to the temporary suspension of drilling on January 28, 2025 in response to recent changes in the security situation in parts of Sinaloa, including the Los Reyes area. This suspension is not expected to have an impact on the Companys ability to execute the 2025 drill program described, as drill rigs remain on site and drill contractors are on standby to resume drilling as soon as the local security situation improves. The Company will continue to work with local authorities to monitor the situation. Exploration Highlights During Q4 2024 On December 10, the Company reported four core holes at Guadalupe East, located in the south-east end of the Guadalupe Trend with the following highlights: 42.07 grams per tonne (g/t) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (14.25 g/t Au and 2,150.0 g/t Ag) over 1.0 metres (m) estimated true width (ETW) in hole 24GE-160, and: 11.33 g/t AuEq (3.34 g/t Au and 617.4 g/t Ag) over 1.3 m ETW, including: 21.28 g/t AuEq (6.27 g/t Au and 1,160.0 g/t Ag) over 0.7 m ETW; 5.32 g/t AuEq (1.80 g/t Au and 271.8 g/t Ag) over 2.4 m ETW in hole 24GE-162, including: 7.34 g/t AuEq (2.41 g/t Au and 381.0 g/t Ag) over 1.5 m ETW. Maintaining Health and Safety Protocols Prime remains engaged with local stakeholders and is proactive in monitoring employees and contractors concerning general health conditions. The Company continues to closely adhere to the directives of all levels of government and relevant health authorities in Mexico and Canada. Community Engagement and Environmental Stewardship Strategy We continued to gather environmental and community data in the quarter in support of our ESG programs, including completion of a materiality assessment, strategic plan, and disclosure matrix. We strive to minimize the environmental footprint of our activities and ensure that Los Reyes has a positive impact on our host communities. The Company released its second annual sustainability report during May 2024, reflecting Primes ongoing measure of our progress in meeting our commitments regarding sustainability and stewardship of the environment, relevant social issues, and corporate governance. During the course of the year, Prime was involved in various social and community engagement activities, including back-to-school, food, water and support programs. Selected Financial Data The following selected financial data is summarized from the Companys consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto (the Financial Statements) for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. A copy of the Financial Statements and MD&A is available at www.primeminingcorp.ca or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Year ended December 31, 2024 Year ended December 31, 2023 Loss and comprehensive loss $(21,621,536) $(24,389,430) Loss per share basic and diluted $(0.15) $(0.18) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023 Cash $19,056,585 $33,811,215 Total assets $33,177,148 $47,908,403 Total current liabilities $2,203,583 $2,470,659 Total liabilities $3,049,145 $3,295,811 Total shareholders equity $33,128,003 $44,612,592 2024 Year in Review: Advanced project investigations: Extensive metallurgical testwork with Kappes Cassiday and other engineers led to an increased gold milling recovery estimate of 95.6%. Interpretation of geotechnical input parameters by Knight Piesold provided slope and stope parameters for the updated resource estimate. Released Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on October 15, 2024, based drilling to July 17, 2024. Completed 50,874 metres (m) of drilling over 142 holes following success-based exploration program; 162 drill holes intercepted mineralization above approximately 0.2 gpt Au cutoff. Expanded high-grade mineralization along strike at Z-T and Central by 400 and 250 m, respectively. Also drill defined multiple high-grade shoots by several hundred metres down dip. At Guadalupe East, we expanded high-grade mineralization to the west and the east, where we discovered several new high-grade antithetic veins. Continued to develop generative targets, with particular success at Las Primas and Fresnillo. CEO Succession, Strengthened Board: Appointed Scott Hicks to Board of Directors in January, 2024 and as CEO in February, 2024. Appointed Sunny Lowe to Board of Directors in September, 2024. Demonstrated commitment to Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG): Released second annual ESG report in April 2024. Social and community engagement activities, including educational, community and environmental programming and infrastructure development. Recognition by Industry: Prime Mining was selected to participate in the Core Shack at the 2025 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), with the team hosting booth #3110A on Sunday March 2 and Monday March 3, 2025. Core Shack participants are selected from a competitive pool of applicants generating new and exciting drill results to present their core in this unique venue at the worlds premier mining convention. Figure 1 2024 Expansion and Generative Drilling Z-T Trend Expansion Drilling and Interpretation High grade shoots, Strike extended to 4km, drilling to continue downdip During fiscal 2024, the Companys drilling continued to encounter high grades and wide zones of mineralization at the Z-T Trend, supporting expansion of the Au-Eq grade shell. Drilling at silver-rich Tahonitas extended mineralization 400 m to the southeast. High-grade plunging shoots were extended and remain open at depth and along strike in multiple areas along the Z-T Trend. While Prime has drill-tested high-grade mineralization along a more than 4km strike length at Z-T, surface mapping has defined a strike length of more than 5km for the Z-T structure. In 2025, Prime is targeting expansion drilling at Z-T downdip in under drilled areas and to the southeast along the known structure. Figure 2 Z-T (April 2024) Figure 3 Z-T (Sept 2024) Figure 4 Z-T (Jan 2025) Z-T Drill Highlights High Gold Grade Area Remains Open, and Continues at Depth and Along Trend 7.68 grams per tonne (gpt) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (5.83 gpt Au and 142.7 gpt Ag) over 7.7 metres (m) estimated true width (etw) in hole 24TA-116, including: 31.49 gpt AuEq (24.31 gpt Au and 554.7 gpt Ag) over 1.8 m etw, including: 55.72 gpt AuEq (44.1 gpt Au and 898.0 gpt Ag) over 0.6 m etw; 1.98 gpt AuEq (1.21 gpt Au and 59.7 gpt Ag) over 16.9 m etw in hole 24TA-110, including: 3.99 gpt AuEq (2.41 gpt Au and 122.0gpt Ag) over 4.5 m etw; 23.97 gpt AuEq (7.66 gpt Au and 1,260.0 gpt Ag) over 0.8 m etw in hole 24TA-111. Demonstrated High-Grade Nature of the Z-T Trend and its Continuity at Depth and Along Strike 6.93 grams per tonne (gpt) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (6.64 gpt Au and 22.4 gpt Ag) over 2.9 metres (m) estimated true width (etw) in hole 24TA-117, including: 19.71 gpt AuEq (18.90 gpt Au and 62.8 gpt Ag) over 1.0 m etw; 1.51 gpt AuEq (1.0 gpt Au and 39.6 gpt Ag) over 14.2 m etw in hole 24TA-119, including: 4.34 gpt AuEq (2.60 gpt Au and 134.5 gpt Ag) over 2.4 m etw. 1.47 gpt AuEq (1.21 gpt Au and 19.9 gpt Ag) over 10.7 m etw in hole 24TA-131, including 7.28 gpt AuEq (6.80 gpt Au and 37.4 gpt Ag) over 0.8 m etw. Extension of Mineralization 550m Along Strike from the Southeast Z-T Pit (2023 MRE) Crest: 9.39 grams per tonne (gpt) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (2.63 gpt Au and 522.1 gpt Ag) over 10.5 metres (m) estimated true width (etw) in hole 24TA-139, including: 10.29 gpt AuEq (2.89 gpt Au and 572.0 gpt Ag) over 8.0 m etw, 4.55 gpt AuEq (2.87 gpt Au and 130.0 gpt Ag) over 4.1 m etw in hole 24TA-138, including: 8.06 gpt AuEq (5.23 gpt Au and 218.3 gpt Ag) over 2.1 m etw, and, 3.56 gpt AuEq (2.92 gpt Au and 49.2 gpt Ag) over 4.6 m etw in hole 24TA-138, including: 5.57 gpt AuEq (4.84 gpt Au and 56.8 gpt Ag) over 2.7 m etw, 2.95 gpt AuEq (2.88 gpt Au and 5.5 gpt Ag) over 4.1 m etw in hole 24TA-135, including: 13.21 gpt AuEq (12.95 gpt Au and 20.3 gpt Ag) over 0.7 m etw, and, 4.24 gpt AuEq (4.08 gpt Au and 12.2 gpt Ag) over 2.3 m etw in hole 24TA-135, including: 13.92 gpt AuEq (13.40 gpt Au and 40.4 gpt Ag) over 0.6 m etw Tahonitas Footwall Discovery: Intersects New Continuous High-Grade Veins at Tahonitas in the Z-T Trend: 5.67 grams per tonne (g/t) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (2.23 g/t Au and 266.1 g/t Ag) over 4.2 metres (m) estimated true wide (etw) in hole 24TA-149, including: 9.49 g/t AuEq (3.94 g/t Au and 428.7 g/t Ag) over 2.1 m etw; 1.62 g/t AuEq (1.36 g/t Au and 19.9 g/t Ag) over 15.2 m etw in hole 24TA-144, including: 4.94 g/t AuEq (4.22 g/t Au and 55.3 g/t Ag) over 3.7 m etw; 4.93 g/t AuEq (2.55 g/t Au and 184.0 g/t Ag) over 3.3 m etw in hole 24TA-153, including: 14.09 g/t AuEq (7.09 g/t Au and 541.0 g/t Ag) over 1.1 m etw; And also, 0.92 g/t AuEq (0.72 g/t Au and 15.2 g/t Ag) over 19.2 m etw in hole 24TA-153. Guadalupe Trend Expansion Drilling and Interpretation High grade extensions, mineralization in the 700m between GE and Echeguren Shaft The Guadalupe Trend, in particular Guadalupe East, hosts significant high-grade material. In 2024 drill hole 24GE-159 returned one of the highest-grade silver intercepts recorded at the Project at 20.5 gpt Au and 2,620 gpt Ag (54.41 gpt AuEq over 0.7 m etw). This hole expanded the very-high grade mineralization to the west outside the 2023 resource pit. In 2025, drilling is planned to expand the known high-grade areas along strike. Figure 5 Guadalupe East (May 2024) Figure 6 Drill Program Progress Guadalupe East Guadalupe Drill Highlights High grade silver values in addition to gold: 6.90 grams per tonne (gpt) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (2.67 gpt Au and 326.6 gpt Ag) over 3.5 metres (m) estimated true width (etw) in hole 24GE-149; 12.65 gpt AuEq (4.06 gpt Au and 664.0 gpt Ag) over 1.1 m etw in hole 24GE-150; 7.8 gpt AuEq (2.38 gpt Au and 419.0 gpt Ag) over 1.5 m etw in hole 24GE-151; 9.86 gpt AuEq (3.71 gpt Au and 475.0 gpt Ag) over 1.0 m etw in hole 24GE-158; 54.41 gpt AuEq (20.5 gpt Au and 2,620 gpt Ag) over 0.70 m etw in hole 24GE-159. High grade mineralization 400 m from main Estaca vein and 300 metres from the Echeguren Shaft: 42.07 grams per tonne (g/t) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (14.25 g/t Au and 2,150.0 g/t Ag) over 1.0 metres (m) estimated true width (ETW) in hole 24GE-160, and: 11.33 g/t AuEq (3.34 g/t Au and 617.4 g/t Ag) over 1.3 m ETW, including: 21.28 g/t AuEq (6.27 g/t Au and 1,160.0 g/t Ag) over 0.7 m ETW; 5.32 g/t AuEq (1.80 g/t Au and 271.8 g/t Ag) over 2.4 m ETW in hole 24GE-162, including: 7.34 g/t AuEq (2.41 g/t Au and 381.0 g/t Ag) over 1.5 m ETW. Las Primas Generative Drilling and Interpretation Prime discovery: High Grade intersection, high grades at shallow depths Las Primas, located between the Central and Guadalupe Trends, was first identified through historical records and the Companys earlier sampling and mapping work. Las Primas mineralization lies entirely outside of the 2023 MRE and contains high-grades and significant thicknesses. The precious metals mineralization is in high-grade plunging shoots containing multiple gram-per-tonne AuEq centers with outer, lower-grade halos. In 2024, drilling at Las Primas followed up on previous drilling and confirmed the continuity of multiple anastomosing structures ranging from less than a metre to 30 metres in width. Drilling at Las Primas intercepted several new high grade mineralized structures that appear to have many similarities to Guadalupe East, which is located 500 m to the northeast. Early mineralization modeling suggests a vertical extent of over 300 m and 500 m which is open along strike. In 2025, drilling at Las Primas will focus on extending mineralization. Figure 7 Las Primas (April 2024) Las Primas Area Drill Results High grade mineralization starts near surface 11.81 grams per tonne (gpt) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (4.07 gpt Au and 598.1 gpt Ag) over 3.0 metres (m) estimated true width (etw) in hole 24LP-30, including: 19.8 gpt AuEq (6.77 gpt Au and 1007.1 gpt Ag) over 1.7 m etw 3.42 gpt AuEq (1.44 gpt Au and 153.1 gpt Ag) over 9.4 m etw in hole 24LP-33, including: 4.48 gpt AuEq (1.94 gpt Au and 196.1 gpt Ag) over 5.0 m etw 1.75 gpt AuEq (0.83 gpt Au and 71.1 gpt Ag) over 3.6 m etw in hole 24LP-24 1.75 gpt AuEq (1.21 gpt Au and 41.9 gpt Ag) over 3.8 m etw in hole 24LP-28, including: 2.75 gpt AuEq (1.78 gpt Au and 74.7 gpt Ag) over 2.1 m etw Central Trend Expansion Drilling and Interpretation Continuity of mineralization, extension of Noche Buena 2024 drilling at Noche Buena, located in the southeastern-most end of the Central Trend, targeted the gap between Noche Buena and San Miguel East to the north and was incorporated in the 2024 MRE. The drilling demonstrated mineralization continues in this gap along the structure. confirms the ongoing expansion of potential gold-silver resources in addition to and not included in the Companys MRE. Additionally, Prime has continued drilling to the southeast to extend the known mineralization at Noche Buena. In 2025, Prime drilling at Central is intended to increase the Central Area resource through additions at Noche Buena and extension further to the southeast. Figure 8 Central: Noche Buena (Jan 2025) Noche Buena Drill Results Delivering Strong Grades and Continuity, Defining a 400-metre High-Grade Shoot 3.48 grams per tonne (g/t) gold-equivalent (AuEq) (3.12 g/t Au and 27.7 g/t Ag) over 7.6 m estimated true width (ETW) in hole 24NB-78, including: 8.64 g/t AuEq (7.8 g/t Au and 64.8 g/t Ag) over 2.8 m ETW, including: 16.22 g/t AuEq (15.00 g/t Au and 94.0 g/t Ag) over 1.4 m ETW; 2.16 g/t AuEq (1.75 g/t Au and 31.9 g/t Ag) over 11.3 m ETW in hole 24NB-67, including: 8.65 g/t AuEq (7.42 g/t Au and 95.3 g/t Ag) over 2.3 m ETW; 1.65 g/t AuEq (1.03 g/t Au and 47.6 g/t Ag) over 11.2 m ETW in hole 24NB-77, including: 4.24 g/t AuEq (2.40 g/t Au and 142.0 g/t Ag) over 1.8 m ETW. Fresnillo Generative Drilling and Interpretation Fresnillo, located between the Z-T and Central Trends, was identified through the Companys detailed mapping and geochemical sampling. Drilling at Fresnillo in 2024 expanded previous mineralization to the south and was incorporated in the 2024 MRE. In 2025 drilling at Fresnillo will target expanding mineralization to the north and south. 2025 Los Reyes Project Outlook: Exploration : Continue success-based approach to drilling in 2025, following the current pause, with an initial program of 40,000 metres to further identify new prospects on our vast property. To identify both extensions to known structures and further discovery areas, we will continue the successful geological mapping and geochemical sampling programs. : Continue success-based approach to drilling in 2025, following the current pause, with an initial program of 40,000 metres to further identify new prospects on our vast property. To identify both extensions to known structures and further discovery areas, we will continue the successful geological mapping and geochemical sampling programs. Technical : Work toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment, further refining the metallurgical, geotechnical, mine planning and development parameters for project development, including process and underground mining optimization, infrastructure assessment and permitting requirements. : Work toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment, further refining the metallurgical, geotechnical, mine planning and development parameters for project development, including process and underground mining optimization, infrastructure assessment and permitting requirements. Community Engagement: Continue to engage with and support local ejidos (communities) through educational, community and environmental programming, access road improvements and infrastructure development. 2025 Exploration Drilling will focus on: Extending the high-grade Z-T Area shoots that remain open at depth, as well as along strike, both north and south. shoots that remain open at depth, as well as along strike, both north and south. Expanding the known high-grade mineralization at Guadalupe East . . Increasing the Central Area resource through additions at Noche Buena and its connection to San Miguel East. through additions at Noche Buena and its connection to San Miguel East. Generative target drilling of high-grade intercepts at Las Primas, Fresnillo and Mariposa to further grow these emerging resources, as well as other target discovery areas to demonstrate the significant resource expansion potential at Los Reyes. About the Los Reyes Gold and Silver Project Los Reyes is a high-grade, low-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver project located in Sinaloa State, Mexico. On October 15, 2024, Prime announced an updated multi-million-ounce high-grade open pit and underground resource based on exploration drilling up to July 17, 2024. Since acquiring Los Reyes in 2019, Prime has spent more than $62 million on direct exploration activities and has completed over 220,000 metres of drilling. October 15, 2024 Resource Statement1 (based on a $1950/oz gold price, $25.24/oz silver price, economic-constrained estimate) Mining Method and Process Class Tonnage (kt) Gold Grade (g/t) Gold Contained (koz) Silver Grade (g/t) Silver Contained (koz) Gold Equiv. (g/t) Gold Equiv. (koz) Silver Equiv. (g/t) Silver Equiv. (koz) Open Pit - Mill Indicated 24,657 1.13 899 35.7 28,261 1.60 1,265 123.3 97,723 Inferred 7,211 0.89 207 42.8 9,916 1.45 335 111.8 25,911 Underground Indicated 4,132 3.02 402 152.4 20,243 5.00 664 386.1 51,290 Inferred 4,055 2.10 273 78.6 10,247 3.12 406 240.7 31,380 Total Mill Indicated 28,789 1.41 1,301 52.4 48,504 2.08 1,928 161.0 149,012 Inferred 11,266 1.33 480 55.7 20,163 2.05 741 158.2 57,291 Open Pit - Heap Leach Indicated 20,254 0.29 190 8.4 5,492 0.40 261 31.0 20,201 Inferred 5,944 0.30 58 7.3 1,398 0.40 76 30.6 5,856 Total Indicated 49,042 0.95 1,491 34.2 53,995 1.39 2,190 107.3 169,213 Inferred 17,210 0.97 538 39.0 21,561 1.48 817 114.1 63,147 Refer to the Additional Notes section for the gold equivalent grade (AuEq) calculation method and further information. Drilling is ongoing and suggests that the three known main deposit areas (Guadalupe, Central and Z-T) are larger than previously reported. Potential also exists for new discoveries where mineralized trends have been identified outside of the currently defined resource areas. Historic operating results indicate that an estimated 1 million ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver were recovered from five separate operations at Los Reyes between 1770 and 1990. Prior to Primes acquisition, recent operators of Los Reyes had spent approximately US$20 million on exploration, engineering, and prefeasibility studies. QA/QC Protocols and Sampling Procedures Drill core at the Los Reyes project is drilled in predominately HQ size (63.5 millimetres mm), reducing to NQ (47.6 mm) when required. Drill core samples are generally 1.50 m long along the core axis with allowance for shorter or longer intervals if required to suit geological constraints. After logging intervals are identified to be sampled, the core is cut and one half is submitted for assay. RC drilling returns rock chips and fines from a 133.35 mm diameter tricone bit. The returns are homogenized and split into 2 halves, with one half submitted for analysis and the other half stored. Sample QA/QC measures include unmarked certified reference materials, blanks, and field duplicates as well as preparation duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and make up approximately 8% of the samples submitted to the laboratory for each drill hole. Samples are picked up from the Project by the laboratory personnel and transported to their facilities in Durango or Hermosillo Mexico, for sample preparation. Sample analysis is carried out by Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs, with fire assay, including over limits fire assay re-analysis, completed at their respective Hermosillo, Mexico laboratories and multi-element analysis completed in North Vancouver, Canada. Drill core sample preparation includes fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250-gram split to at least 85% passing 75 microns. Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy of a 30 g sample (code FA430 or Au-AA23). Multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4-Acid digestion of a 0.25-gram sample split (code MA300 or ME-ICP61) with detection by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer for a full suite of elements. Gold assay techniques FA430 and Au-AA23 have an upper detection limit of 10 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the initial assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish via method FA-530 or Au-GRA21. Silver analyses by MA300 and ME-ICP61 have an upper limit of 200 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively. Samples with over-limit silver values are re-analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish FA530 or Au-GRA21. Both Bureau Veritas and ALS Labs are ISO/IEC accredited assay laboratories. Additional Notes Primes MRE as of October 15, 2024 is classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the CIM Council (as amended, the CIM Definition Standards) and in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Metres is represented by m; etw is Estimated True Width and is based on drill hole geometry or comparisons with other on-section drill holes; Au refers to gold, and Ag refers to silver; g/t is grams per metric tonne; some figures may not sum due to rounding; Composite assay grades presented in summary tables are calculated using a Au grade minimum average of 0.20 g/t or 1.0 g/t as indicated in Au Cut-off column of Summary Tables. Maximum internal waste included in any reported composite interval is 3.00 m. The 1.00 g/t Au cut-off is used to define higher-grade cores within the lower-grade halo. Gold equivalent grades are calculated based on an assumed gold price of US$1,950 per ounce and silver price of $25.24 per ounce, based on the formula AuEq grade (g/t) = Au grade + (Ag grade x $25.24 / $1,950). Metallurgical recoveries are not considered in the in-situ grade estimate but are estimated to be 95.6% and 81% for gold and silver, respectively, when processed in a mill, and 73% and 25% respectively when heap-leached. Additional details are available in the associated Technical Report, filed on November 27, 2024. Qualified Person Scott Smith, P.Geo., Executive Vice President of Exploration, is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content in this news release. About Prime Mining Prime is managed by an ideal mix of successful mining executives, strong capital markets personnel and experienced local operators all focused on unlocking the full potential of the Project. The Company has a well-planned capital structure with a strong management team and insider ownership. Prime is targeting a material resource expansion at Los Reyes through a combination of new generative area discoveries and growth, while also building on technical de-risking activities to support eventual project development. For further information, please visit https://www.primeminingcorp.ca/ or direct enquiries to: Scott Hicks CEO & Director Indi Gopinathan VP Capital Markets & Business Development Prime Mining Corp. 710 1030 West Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3 Canada +1(604) 238-1659 info@primeminingcorp.ca Cautionary Notes to U.S. Investors Concerning Resource Estimates This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of the U.S. securities laws. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the terms mineral reserve, proven mineral reserve, probable mineral reserve, inferred mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, measured mineral resources and mineral resources used or referenced in this presentation are Canadian mineral disclosure terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in the CIM Standards. The CIM Standards differ from the mineral property disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) in Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 (the SEC Modernization Rules) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multijurisdictional disclosure system, the Company is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, the Companys disclosure of mineralization and other technical information may differ significantly from the information that would be disclosed had the Company prepared the information under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation as may be amended from time to time, including, without limitation, statements regarding the perceived merit of the Companys properties, including additional exploration potential of Los Reyes, potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, the potential size of the mineralized zone, metallurgical recoveries, and the Companys exploration and development plans in Mexico. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Companys management on the date the statements are made, and they involve several risks and uncertainties. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements were made, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the price of gold, silver and copper; the accuracy of mineral resource estimations; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained, including concession renewals and permitting; that political and legal developments will be consistent with current expectations; that currency and exchange rates will be consistent with current levels; and that there will be no significant disruptions affecting the Company or its properties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to: risks related to uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral resource estimates, including but not limited to changes to the cost assumptions, variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, failure of plant, equipment or processes, changes to availability of power or the power rates, ability to maintain social license, changes to interest or tax rates, changes in project parameters, delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks, title risks, including concession renewal, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19 and other future pandemics, delays in or failure to receive access agreements, on-going receipt of amended and/or operating permits, risks inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Companys objectives and strategies, including costs and expenses, physical access to the property, security risks, availability of contractors and skilled labour, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis, as well as its annual information form dated March 25, 2024, available on www.sedarplus.ca, and forthcoming Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1302d44e-c69f-4155-83f2-328edac59944 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e972cbd-173f-458e-8063-e3b8d39fb1c2 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/28d2f5c2-c7ed-4d7b-b43c-2a89ee4c69cb https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e089073f-e087-40e2-b622-ad759cd40cb5 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3f93fe9-4ee5-471e-bf8c-680a646a46fd https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e814301-2277-4a53-931a-53cd3162b8bd https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a3c402a-0c54-4c2c-9eae-b438cdf86cfc https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a3e821f-56e2-444c-b4fa-8e075720ca4c NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION. THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE IRISH TAKEOVER PANEL ACT, 1997, TAKEOVER RULES, 2022 (THE "IRISH TAKEOVER RULES" OR THE RULES) AND IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE IRISH TAKEOVER RULES. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER WILL BE MADE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION. 6 March 2025 Kenmare Resources plc Statement regarding possible offer The Board of Kenmare Resources plc (Kenmare or the Company) notes the recent press speculation and confirms that it has received a non-binding proposal from Oryx Global Partners Limited and Michael Carvill (together the Consortium) regarding a possible all cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Kenmare. The most recent proposal received was at a price of 530 pence per Kenmare ordinary share (the Proposal). The Board of Kenmare, together with its advisers, considered the terms of the Proposal and unanimously rejected it on the basis that it undervalued Kenmares business and its prospects. However, in order to facilitate the Consortium improving the financial terms of the Proposal, the Company has offered to provide the Consortium with access to limited due diligence information. There can be no certainty that a firm offer will be made, or as to the terms of any such offer, should one be made. In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Irish Takeover Rules, by not later than 5.00 pm on 17 April 2025, the Consortium must either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Kenmare in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Irish Takeover Rules or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for Kenmare, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Irish Takeover Rules applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Irish Takeover Rules. This announcement is made without the prior agreement or approval of the Consortium. A further announcement will be made as and when appropriate. Enquiries Kenmare Resources plc Jeremy Dibb / Katharine Sutton Investor Relations +353 1 671 0411 Rothschild & Co (Lead Financial Adviser) Ravi Gupta James Webb +44 (0) 20 7280 5000 Davy (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker) Ivan Murphy Daragh OReilly +353 1 679 6363 Peel Hunt LLP (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker) Ross Allister Michael Nicholson +44 (0) 207 418 8900 Disclosure requirements of the Irish Takeover Rules Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Irish Takeover Rules, any person who is 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of Kenmare must make an 'opening position disclosure' by no later than 3.30pm (Irish/UK time) on the tenth business day following the commencement of the offer period. An 'opening position disclosure' must contain the details specified in Rule 8.6(a) of the Irish Takeover Rules, including details of the person's interests and short positions in any 'relevant securities' of Kenmare. Relevant persons who deal in any 'relevant securities' of Kenmare prior to the deadline for making an 'opening position disclosure' must instead make a dealing disclosure as described below. Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Irish Takeover Rules, any person 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of Kenmare must disclose all 'dealings' in such 'relevant securities' during the 'offer period'. The disclosure of a 'dealing' in 'relevant securities' by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (Irish/UK time) on the business day following the date of the transaction. A dealing disclosure must contain the details specified in Rule 8.6(b) of the Irish Takeover Rules, including details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in any 'relevant securities' of Kenmare. All 'dealings' in 'relevant securities' of Kenmare by the Consortium, or by any party acting in concert with the Consortium, must also be disclosed by no later than 12 noon (Irish/UK time) on the 'business' day following the date of the relevant transaction. If two or more persons co-operate on the basis of an agreement, either express or tacit, either oral or written, to acquire for one or more of them an interest in relevant securities, they will be deemed to be a single person for these purposes. Disclosure tables, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant securities' 'opening positions' and 'dealings' should be disclosed, can be found on the Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie. 'Interests' in securities arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks in this section are defined in the Irish Takeover Rules, which can also be found on the Irish Takeover Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a dealing or an opening position under Rule 8, please consult the Irish Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie or contact the Irish Takeover Panel on telephone number +353 1 678 9020. Responsibility Statement The Directors of Kenmare accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. Rule 2.12 disclosure In accordance with Rule 2.12 of the Irish Takeover Rules, Kenmare confirms that, as at the date of this announcement, the Companys issued share capital comprises 89,228,161 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 0.001 each ("Ordinary Shares"). Kenmare does not have any Ordinary Shares which are held as treasury shares. In addition, there are 2,603,580 options over Ordinary Shares outstanding under the Company's restricted share plan (including accrued dividend equivalents). The Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on the Official List of Euronext Dublin and the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA. The International Securities Identification Number for the Ordinary Shares is IE00BDC5DG00. Market Abuse Regulations The information contained within this announcement would have, prior to its release, constituted inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 and for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via a regulatory information service, this inside information will be considered to be in the public domain. The person responsible for arranging for the release of this information on behalf of Kenmare is Chelita Healy. Document Availability In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, a copy of this announcement will be available on the Company's website at https://www.Kenmareresources.com/en/investors by no later than 12.00 (noon) (Irish/UK time) on the business day following publication of this announcement. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into, and does not form part of, this announcement. Other notices N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Kenmare and for no one else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kenmare for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement. J&E Davy (Davy), which is regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland, is acting exclusively for Kenmare and no one else in relation to the matters described in this announcement. In connection with such matters, Davy, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they be responsible to anyone other than Kenmare for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in connection with the matters described in this Document or any matter referred to herein. Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, is acting exclusively for Kenmare and no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kenmare for providing the protections afforded to clients of Peel Hunt nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Peel Hunt nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Peel Hunt in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise. Paris, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOT TO DISTRIBUTE, PUBLISH OR DISSEMINATE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH DISTRIBUTION, PUBLICATION OR DISSEMINATION WOULD BE PROHIBITED Brookfield Renewable Holdings to hold at least 85.39% of Neoens share capital following conversion of OCEANEs tendered into the ongoing tender offer The mandatory simplified cash tender offer filed by Brookfield Renewable Holdings for Neoen shares and convertible bonds approved by the French financial markets authority on 11 February 2025 will close on 13 March 2025 1 . . Brookfield Renewable Holdings has decided to convert all convertible bonds acquired until now during the tender offer in line with its intentions stated in the offer document. After this conversion, Brookfield Renewable Holdings will hold directly and in concert at least 85.39% of Neoens share capital2. TORONTO AND PARIS, 6 MARCH 2025 Following the approval by the French financial markets authority ("AMF") on 11 February 2025 of the mandatory simplified cash tender offer (the "Offer") filed by Brookfield Renewable Holdings for Neoen shares (ISIN code: FR0011675362, Ticker: NEOEN), the convertible bonds issued by Neoen in 2020 (ISIN code: FR0013515707) (the "2020 OCEANEs") and in 2022 (ISIN code: FR001400CMS2) (the "2022 OCEANEs" and, together with the 2020 OCEANEs, the "OCEANEs"), the Offer opened on 13 February 2025 and will close on 13 March 20251. As of the date hereof, Brookfield Renewable Holdings holds directly and in concert: 129,223,594 shares representing 84.46% of Neoens share capital 3 ; ; 2,776,857 2020 OCEANEs, representing 75.47% of the existing 2020 OCEANEs; and 2,523 2022 OCEANEs, representing 84.10% of the existing 2022 OCEANEs4. These numbers do not take into account the shares and OCEANEs which will be acquired by Brookfield Renewable Holdings on the market until the closing of the offer as well as into the semi-centralisation procedure of Euronext Paris which will only be known after the closing of the Offer. In line with its intention expressed in the offer document, Brookfield Renewable Holdings has decided today to proceed with the conversion of all OCEANEs acquired to date5. Following such conversion Brookfield Renewable Holdings will hold directly and in concert at least 138,876,760 shares representing 85.39% of Neoens share capital6, reducing the free float below 15% of outstanding shares. The Offer being a mandatory simplified cash tender offer, it will not be reopened after 13 March 2025. The results of the Offer should be published on 18 March 2025. As previously stated, if the conditions are met at the closing of the Offer, Brookfield Renewable Holdings will request the implementation of a squeeze-out procedure on the remaining Neoen shares and OCEANEs at their respective Offer price. The documentation relating to the Offer (including Brookfield Renewable Holdings' offer document approved by the AMF under the reference 25-030 and Neoens response document approved by the AMF under the reference 25-031) is available on the dedicated transaction websites of Neoen (www.neoen.com) and of Brookfield Renewable Holdings (www.neoen-offer-brookfield.com) as well as the AMF's website (www.amf-france.org). Terms of the transaction Brookfield Renewable Holdings Offer is priced at 39.85 euros per share, representing a premium of 40.3% and 43.5% respectively over the 3-month and 6-month VWAP of Neoen shares as of 29 May 2024 (i.e. the trading day preceding the announcement of the transaction). The prices of 48.14 euros and of 105,000.00 euros (coupon attached)7 respectively per OCEANE 2020 and OCEANE 2022 are in line with the Offer price for the shares and the terms of each OCEANE. It is reminded that Neoens Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the ad hoc Committee, confirmed that the Offer was in the interest of the company, its employees, and its shareholders and convertible bondholders and recommended to shareholders and convertible bondholders to tender their securities into the Offer. Finexsi, acting as independent expert, has issued a report concluding that the financial terms of the Offer are fair for Neoens shareholders and convertible bondholders8. In the U.S., the Offer is made in compliance with the U.S. tender offer rules, including Regulation 14E under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"), and the "Tier II" exemption in respect of securities of foreign private issuers provided by Rule 14d-1(d) under the U.S. Exchange Act. For further information, a toll-free number has been made available to retail Neoen shareholders to answer any questions regarding the Offer during the Offer opening period: 0 800 91 88 94. D.F. King Ltd is acting as information agent for Neoen's institutional shareholders (contact: Mr David Chase Lopes, Managing Director, EMEA, david.chaselopes@dfkingltd.co.uk). DISCLAIMER The foregoing relates to the tender offer filed by Brookfield Renewable Holdings SAS, pursuant to the General Regulations of the Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF"), on all shares and OCEANEs of Neoen (the "Offer"). The Offer is not and will not be made in any jurisdiction where it would not be permitted under applicable law. The Offer has not been subject to any application for registration or approval by any financial market regulatory authority other than the AMF and no measures will be taken in this respect. Neither the offer document, the response document nor any other document relating to the Offer constitutes an offer to sell or acquire financial instruments or a solicitation of such an offer in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful, could not validly be made, or would require the publication of a prospectus or the completion of any other formality under local financial law. The holders of Neoen shares and OCEANEs located outside of France can only participate in the Offer if permitted by the local laws to which they are subject, without Brookfield Renewable Holdings SAS having to carry out additional formalities. Publication of the offer document, the response document, the Offer, the acceptance of the Offer and the delivery of Neoen shares or OCEANEs may, in certain jurisdictions, be subject to specific regulations or restrictions. Holders of Neoen shares and OCEANEs located outside of France may only participate in the Offer to the extent that such participation is permitted under the local law to which they are subject. Accordingly, persons in possession of the offer documents are required to obtain information regarding any applicable local restrictions and to comply with such restrictions. Failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. Brookfield Renewable Holdings SAS and Neoen shall not be liable for any breach by any person of any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions. The Offer will be made in the United States of America in accordance with Section 14(e) of the U.S. Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including Regulation 14E after application of the exemptions provided by Rule 14d-1(d) of the U.S Exchange Act (the "Tier II" exemption) and the requirements of French law. 1 See AMF notices 225C0297 and 225C0298. 2 These numbers (i) include all shares and OCEANEs acquired on the market until 5 March 2025 included (including shares and OCEANEs acquired on 4 and 5 March 2025 but not yet delivered), (ii) do not take into account the shares and OCEANEs which are tendered into the semi-centralisation procedure of Euronext Paris, which will only be known after the closing of the Offer, (iii) are based on Neoen's share capital at 28 February 2025, comprising 152,992,047 shares representing the same number of theoretical voting rights, in accordance with the provisions of Article 223-11 of the AMF General Regulations (pre-OCEANEs conversion) and (iv) are subject to the fact that no bondholder (other than Brookfield Renewable Holdings) exercises its conversion right. 3 Based on Neoen's share capital at 28 February 2025, comprising 152,992,047 shares representing the same number of theoretical voting rights. 4 It is reminded that, according to the respective terms and conditions of the 2020 OCEANEs and 2022 OCEANEs, Neoen may exercise its early redemption option (i) on the 2020 OCEANEs if the remaining outstanding 2020 OCEANEs represent less than 15% of the number of 2020 OCEANEs issued, and (ii) on the 2022 OCEANEs if the remaining outstanding 2022 OCEANEs represent less than 20% of the number of 2022 OCEANEs issued. 5 It is recalled that Brookfield Renewable Holdings has stated in the offer document that it intends (i) following the acquisition of OCEANEs, to exercise any right available to it in accordance with the terms and conditions of the OCEANEs (including the right to convert into shares the OCEANEs in its possession during or after the Offer period) and (ii) to cause Neoen to exercise any right available to it in accordance with the terms and conditions of the OCEANEs. 6 Assuming the remittance of newly issued shares and therefore based on a new total number of NEOEN shares outstanding of 162,645,213. See also footnote 2. 7 The amount of the Offer price per 2022 OCEANE is 103,562.50 euros ex-coupon, the amount of the coupon, to be detached on 12 March 2025, being 1,437.50 euros. 8 See Finexsi's updated version of its report dated 27 January 2025 and Finexsi's supplementary note reproduced in Neoen's response document. Everett, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Everett, Washington - Everett, WA Skyline Insurance Group has announced an expansion of its homeowners insurance services to new communities across Washington state, ensuring more residents have access to reliable protection against financial losses due to property damage, liability risks, and unforeseen events. The company now offers comprehensive homeowners insurance in Marysville, Bothell, Edmonds, Lake Stevens, and Lynnwood. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, rising property values, and evolving insurance needs, securing the right coverage is more important than ever. Skyline Insurance Group brings local expertise to homeowners, offering customized solutions that address region-specific challenges, including storm exposure, fire hazards, and liability concerns. Unlike large insurance carriers that rely on automated services, Skyline Insurance Group remains committed to direct client interaction, helping policyholders make informed decisions about their coverage. A Growing Demand for Personalized Insurance As Everett and the surrounding areas experience rapid economic and residential growth, property values are rising significantly. According to the Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce, the Everett Station District and Downtown Core are projected to absorb 75% of employment growth and 65% of population growth by 2050. These changes are making homeowners insurance decisions more consequential, yet many national insurance providers are shifting toward automated systems and offshore call centers. "When property values rise sharply, insurance decisions have bigger financial implications for homeowners," said Shane Roehl, owner of Skyline Insurance Group, during a presentation to the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County. "A homeowner facing a potential claim needs to understand how it will affect their rates and coverage long-term. That's not a conversation you want to have with an AI chatbot." Skyline Insurance Group recognizes that homeowners need both efficiency and personal service. The company emphasizes relationship-based insurance, offering direct access to knowledgeable agents who understand local market trends and can provide strategic risk assessments to ensure comprehensive coverage. With a commitment to accessibility, the company ensures that every client has a direct line to expert advice whenever needed. Proactive Claims Advisory and Risk Assessment One of the company's most valuable services is its proactive claims advisory. Unlike many national providers that process claims with limited client interaction, Skyline Insurance Group offers direct consultation before claims are filed. This helps homeowners fully understand how a claim may impact future premiums and whether alternative solutions may better suit their financial situation. By offering guidance before claims are submitted, the company helps policyholders avoid unnecessary rate increases and policy complications. In addition to claims advisory, Skyline Insurance Group provides thorough risk assessments to evaluate potential threats to a homeowner's property. This includes analyzing flood risks, wildfire exposure, and infrastructure vulnerabilities. By integrating these assessments into policy recommendations, homeowners can proactively address risks and ensure they are adequately covered before a loss occurs. Comprehensive Coverage and Local Expertise Skyline Insurance Group's expanded service area ensures that more policyholders benefit from its established network of service providers, including reputable contractors, restoration specialists, and property repair professionals. Through these partnerships, the company facilitates faster recovery and minimizes disruptions following covered losses. Additionally, Skyline Insurance Group continuously evaluates local market trends to adjust coverage recommendations based on emerging risks. One key aspect of the company's homeowners insurance offerings is liability protection. Unexpected accidents, such as injuries on a homeowner's property, can lead to costly legal expenses. Skyline Insurance Group's policies include liability coverage to protect policyholders from financial losses due to these incidents. Optional coverage enhancements are also available, allowing homeowners to customize their policies for high-value belongings, secondary residences, or rental properties. Meeting the Needs of a Changing Market Skyline Insurance Group's expansion aligns with its mission to provide long-term, relationship-based insurance solutions rather than transactional policy sales. Agents work closely with clients to design coverage plans that align with individual financial situations and risk tolerance levels. By maintaining a personal approach, the company ensures each homeowner receives expert guidance and ongoing support. The company's focus on educating policyholders ensures they fully understand their coverage, giving them confidence in their protection. "As Everett grows into a major economic hub while maintaining its community character, insurance needs to strike the same balance," said Roehl. "We're bringing back insurance the way it should bepersonal, local, and straightforwardwhile delivering the expertise needed in today's market." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8CGheY9FK0 For homeowners in Everett, Marysville, Bothell, Edmonds, Lake Stevens, and Lynnwood seeking customized homeowners insurance, Skyline Insurance Group invites residents to explore their coverage options. With a team of dedicated agents committed to personalized service, the company ensures every policyholder receives the guidance and protection needed to secure their home and financial future. ### For more information about Skyline Insurance Group, contact the company here: Skyline Insurance Group Shane Roehl (425) 789-3157 tony.ahn@allstate.com 11314 4th Ave W #206, Everett, WA, 98204 SINGAPORE, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aghast Solutions, a pioneering tech startup, has announced the successful closure of a $4.8 million funding round backed by private and institutional investors. This investment will accelerate the companys expansion into the Asian market, with new offices established in Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Additionally, Aghast Solutions is shifting its focus from vendor-based services to developing proprietary brands in the fintech and environment-tech sectors. Left in black: Jack Cheah Xue Jieh, right Chris Tan Chin Lim Strategic Expansion and Industry Evolution Prior to this funding, Aghast Solutions primarily operated as a vendor for B2C enterprises and government projects, delivering cutting-edge technology solutions behind the scenes. With this latest investment, the company is transitioning to the forefront of innovation, leveraging its expertise to develop in-house brands that aim to redefine industry standards. This expansion into Asias thriving tech markets aligns with Aghasts vision of fostering a more connected, efficient, and sustainable digital ecosystem. The company plans to integrate advanced fintech and environment-tech solutions that address key market gaps while enhancing operational efficiency for businesses and individuals. Commitment to Innovation and Market Leadership By establishing a physical presence in Asia, Aghast Solutions aims to provide businesses with a gateway to new market opportunities, leveraging its holistic approach to technology and innovation. The company is dedicated to: Developing next-generation fintech solutions that streamline digital transactions and financial services. that streamline digital transactions and financial services. Expanding its environment-tech initiatives to drive sustainability and smart technology adoption. to drive sustainability and smart technology adoption. Creating a multidisciplinary ecosystem that fosters collaboration, creativity, and technological advancements. A Future-Forward Approach With this latest round of funding, Aghast Solutions is poised to lead the way in Asias digital transformation, ensuring that businesses and consumers benefit from seamless, innovative, and future-ready solutions. By positioning itself at the intersection of finance, technology, and sustainability, the company is set to drive impactful change across multiple industries. About Aghast Solutions Aghast Solutions is a global technology company dedicated to reshaping the way the world interacts with technology. Initially recognized for its work as a trusted vendor for B2C and government projects, the company has now evolved into an industry leader, focused on developing proprietary solutions in fintech and environment-tech. With a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence, Aghast Solutions is redefining industry standards and paving the way for a more connected and sustainable future. Media Contact: Email: info@AghastBusiness.com Person Name: Chris Tan Website: https://aghast.co/ Disclaimer: This content is provided by the Aghast Solutions. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information shared in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment, financial, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you conduct thorough research and consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment or trading decisions. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. Dublin, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Malaysia Buy Now Pay Later Business and Investment Opportunities Databook - 75+ KPIs on BNPL Market Size, End-Use Sectors, Market Share, Product Analysis, Business Model, Demographics - Q1 2025 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The BNPL payment market in Malaysia is expected to grow by 15.1% on annual basis to reach US$2.52 billion in 2025. The BNPL market in the country experienced robust growth during 2021-2024, achieving a CAGR of 24.0%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% during 2025-2030. By the end of 2030, the BNPL sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of USD 2.19 billion to approximately USD 4.22 billion. Malaysia's BNPL market is evolving rapidly, driven by the surge in e-commerce, diversification into non-traditional sectors, and increasing regulatory focus. Providers such as Atome and Grab PayLater are shaping the market by expanding their offerings and catering to consumer demand for flexible payment solutions. Over the next 2-4 years, BNPL is expected to become a standard payment method across industries, with innovation and compliance playing a critical role in sustaining growth. Providers must balance expansion with responsible lending practices as the market matures to build long-term consumer trust and stability. Competitive Landscape and Regulatory Developments in Malaysia's Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Market Malaysia's BNPL market is undergoing rapid growth, driven by rising e-commerce adoption and increasing demand for flexible payment options. Key players such as Atome, Grab PayLater, and Shopee PayLater have established strong footholds, contributing to a highly competitive market landscape. Recent strategic partnerships, such as that of Standard Chartered and Pine Labs, underscore the dynamic nature of the sector as providers aim to expand their reach and service offerings. Over the next 2-4 years, the Malaysian BNPL market will see further consolidation as established players strengthen their market positions through mergers and acquisitions. Simultaneously, regulatory changes, led by Bank Negara Malaysia under the forthcoming Consumer Credit Act, will likely foster transparency and consumer protection, shaping a more robust and sustainable BNPL ecosystem. Providers must adapt to these evolving dynamics to maintain competitiveness and meet regulatory standards, ensuring long-term growth and consumer trust. Current State of the BNPL Market Malaysia's BNPL market is experiencing significant expansion, this surge reflects the increasing adoption of BNPL services among Malaysian consumers, particularly driven by the widespread growth of e-commerce platforms. BNPL has become a convenient alternative payment method, enabling consumers to manage purchases through flexible installment options. The rapid penetration of e-commerce in Malaysia has played a critical role in driving BNPL adoption, as consumers increasingly prefer seamless and flexible payment methods for online transactions. Additionally, the demand for alternative financial solutions that cater to budget-conscious individuals is fueling the popularity of BNPL, making it a vital component of Malaysia's evolving retail and payment landscape. Key Players and New Entrants Atome: A leading BNPL provider in Malaysia, Atome has established a strong presence across various retail sectors. Grab PayLater: Integrated into the Grab ecosystem, Grab PayLater offers BNPL services to its extensive user base, enhancing consumer payment flexibility. Shopee PayLater: Shopee's BNPL service has gained significant traction, contributing to the platform's competitive edge in e-commerce. Rely: As a BNPL provider, Rely has expanded its services in Malaysia, catering to the growing demand for installment payment options. Anticipated Competitive Dynamics The Malaysian BNPL market is expected to grow as established players seek to strengthen their positions through mergers and acquisitions. New entrants, both domestic and international, are likely to enter the market, intensifying competition. Providers may focus on diversifying their services and forming strategic partnerships to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Increasing Adoption of BNPL Services Malaysia's BNPL market has grown rapidly, with over 5 million users in 2023, driven by expanding providers such as Atome, Grab PayLater, and Rely. The increasing use of BNPL services for small-ticket items such as electronics, fashion, and daily essentials reflects its versatility and appeal to younger demographics. This growth signifies consumer preference for flexible and convenient payment solutions across various spending categories. The expansion of Malaysia's e-commerce market, has created a strong demand for alternative payment methods such as BNPL. With limited credit card penetration and consumers looking to avoid interest-based loans, BNPL has emerged as an attractive option for Millennials and Gen Z. Its zero-interest installment plans align with the financial needs of these demographics, bridging the gap left by traditional credit products. Over the next 2-4 years, BNPL is expected to solidify its position as a mainstream payment method for both high-ticket and everyday purchases in Malaysia. Providers will likely introduce innovative features such as loyalty programs and digital wallet integrations to enhance customer retention and attract new users. As adoption intensifies, the BNPL market will play a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia's retail and financial landscape. Expansion into Non-Traditional Sectors BNPL services in Malaysia are expanding into non-traditional sectors such as healthcare, education, and travel, reflecting their growing versatility. Providers such as Grab PayLater have partnered with healthcare providers to offer installment options for medical treatments, addressing affordability concerns for high-cost services. Similarly, Atome has entered the travel segment, enabling consumers to pay for travel-related expenses in manageable installments, opening new opportunities for consumers and merchants. Consumer demand for flexible payment options in essential and high-value services is a primary driver of BNPL's growth beyond retail. Rising living costs and the shift toward aspirational spending have prompted consumers to seek installment-based solutions for medical treatments and tuition fees. For merchants in these sectors, BNPL offers a competitive edge by attracting cost-sensitive customers and providing accessible payment alternatives, boosting sales and customer satisfaction. Over the next 2-4 years, BNPL's expansion into non-traditional sectors is expected to grow, creating new revenue streams for providers and increasing consumer accessibility to essential services. However, higher-value transactions in sectors such as healthcare and education may necessitate enhanced credit assessments and risk management by BNPL providers. This diversification will likely strengthen BNPL's role in Malaysia's financial ecosystem, catering to consumer needs and merchant opportunities. Rising Regulatory Oversight Regulatory oversight of BNPL services in Malaysia is intensifying as authorities aim to address concerns about consumer debt and transparency. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has emphasized the importance of responsible lending practices, encouraging providers to reassess their business models. This regulatory push reflects a proactive approach to mitigating financial risks associated with BNPL's rapid growth, particularly for vulnerable consumer groups. Concerns about over-indebtedness, especially among younger consumers, have been a significant driver of increased scrutiny. Many BNPL users may not fully understand the financial implications of deferred payments, raising the need for better transparency in terms and conditions. Additionally, Malaysia's regulatory approach has been influenced by global trends in markets such as Singapore and Australia, where stricter regulations have been introduced to enhance consumer protection within the BNPL ecosystem. Over the next 2-4 years, increased regulatory oversight is expected to foster greater transparency and build consumer trust in BNPL services. Providers will likely need to implement stricter credit assessments and clearer disclosures, which could enhance the sector's reputation. However, smaller BNPL providers may face operational challenges in meeting compliance requirements, potentially leading to market consolidation as larger players dominate the regulated environment. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 88 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $2.52 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $4.22 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.9% Regions Covered Malaysia Companies Featured Grab PayLater Atome Klarna Razer Fintech Hoolah Lazada PayLater Shopee PayLater Helo FavePay BigPay For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f1dad9 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Mexico Gift Card and Incentive Card Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook) - Q1 2025 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides in-depth, data-centric analysis of gift card industry in Mexico through 100+ tables and 280+ charts. The gift card market in Mexico is expected to grow by 10.6% on an annual basis to reach US$4.29 billion in 2025. The gift card market in the country experienced robust growth during 2020-2024, achieving a CAGR of 11.7%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% during 2025-2029. By the end of 2029, the gift card sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of USD 3.88 billion to approximately USD 6.14 billion. This report provides a detailed data-centric analysis of the gift card sector in Mexico, covering market opportunities and risks across consumer segments (retail and corporate); product categories; retail sectors; and store formats. With over 100+ KPIs at the country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of gift card market dynamics. It offers a comprehensive analysis of market dynamics in the gift card sector, segmented by digital and e-gift card sales, distribution channels, key occasions, demographic trends, and market share statistics of leading retailers. In addition, it provides a snapshot of consumer behaviour and retail spending dynamics. KPIs in both value and volume terms help in getting an in-depth understanding of end market dynamics. Key Insights The social commerce industry in Mexico is undergoing significant transformation, fueled by high consumer engagement on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The growing reliance on social media for product discovery and purchasing decisions is expected to drive market expansion. However, regulatory changes, including new import tariffs, may alter the competitive landscape by influencing pricing and consumer preferences. While these measures aim to protect local businesses and boost tax revenues, they may also encourage consumers to shift toward domestic retailers and platforms that benefit from favorable trade agreements. Businesses that proactively adapt to these regulatory changes while leveraging social commerce strategies are well-positioned to capitalize on the industry's projected growth over the next few years. Rising Adoption of Social Commerce Platforms Mexican consumers increasingly turn to social media platforms to make purchases, with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp leading the trend. In 2022, approximately 67% of online shoppers in Mexico reported buying through social commerce, indicating a shift in how consumers interact with brands. The ease of browsing and purchasing directly within these platforms has contributed to their growing popularity. The widespread use of social media, with Mexican users spending over three hours daily on these platforms, has created an environment conducive to social commerce. Consumers trust these platforms for brand and product recommendations, reinforcing their role in purchasing decisions. As social networks continue integrating shopping functionalities, businesses adapt their marketing strategies to engage with customers directly through these channels. Platforms will likely introduce enhanced shopping features, streamlining the purchasing process and making transactions more seamless. As more consumers embrace social commerce, businesses that invest in optimizing their presence on these platforms will be well-positioned to capture growing demand. Strategic Collaborations Enhancing Social Commerce The growing appeal of social media among younger demographics is a key driver of this trend. Platforms such as TikTok are particularly popular among Gen Z and millennials, making them attractive avenues for brands that capture this audience's purchasing power. Additionally, companies aim to create innovative shopping experiences, such as seamless in-app purchases, to differentiate themselves in a competitive digital marketplace. Over the next 2-4 years, these collaborations are expected to drive diversification in sales channels, with more businesses exploring social media partnerships to expand their market presence. The increasing integration of commerce into social media platforms will also lead to more interactive and engaging shopping experiences, fostering greater consumer loyalty. Brands leveraging these partnerships will gain a competitive edge in Mexico's evolving social commerce landscape. Regulatory Changes Affecting Social Commerce The introduction of new import tariffs in Mexico is expected to significantly impact online retailers and social commerce activities. As of January 2025, a 19% tariff is being imposed on goods imported from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico. This policy directly affects major online retailers such as Shein and Temu, potentially altering the landscape of social commerce and cross-border e-commerce. The primary drivers behind this regulatory change are the government's efforts to protect domestic businesses and increase tax revenue. By reducing the influx of low-cost imports, the tariffs aim to level the playing field for local retailers competing with international platforms offering cheaper alternatives. Additionally, the government sees e-commerce growth as an opportunity to generate higher tax revenues, ensuring that foreign companies contribute fairly to the Mexican economy. Over the next 2-4 years, this shift will likely lead to a change in consumer preferences, with shoppers turning to domestic retailers or platforms operating within favorable trade agreements. As a result, local e-commerce platforms could experience increased traffic and sales as they become more price-competitive compared to international retailers facing higher import costs. Businesses that adapt by strengthening their domestic supply chains and leveraging social commerce for localized engagement will have a competitive advantage in the evolving marketplace. Competitive Landscape of the Mexico Gift Card Market The competitive landscape of social commerce in Mexico is evolving, driven by high social media engagement, platform advancements, and regulatory changes. Established platforms such as Facebook and Instagram continue to dominate, while TikTok and WhatsApp Business are emerging as key players in direct-to-consumer sales. As regulatory policies shape the future of digital commerce, businesses must adapt by focusing on localized strategies, enhancing customer engagement, and leveraging new technologies. Companies that successfully navigate these shifts and invest in social commerce capabilities will maintain a strong position in this dynamic and rapidly expanding market. Current Market Dynamics Social commerce in Mexico is expanding rapidly, with more consumers purchasing products directly through social media platforms. In 2022, approximately 67% of online consumers in Mexico reported making purchases via social media, a trend expected to continue growing. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp dominate the space, with Facebook being the most widely used for transactions. The rapid rise of social commerce is driven by high social media engagement, with Mexican internet users spending an average of 3 hours and 20 minutes daily on social platforms. The increasing integration of shopping features within social media apps, such as Instagram Checkout and Facebook Shops, makes it easier for businesses to sell products directly to consumers without requiring third-party platforms. Key Players and Market Share The Mexican social commerce market is currently led by major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok, all of which have introduced shopping features. Local e-commerce players, including Mercado Libre and Linio, also leverage social media to drive sales and consumer engagement. Additionally, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are increasingly using WhatsApp Business for direct-to-consumer sales. New entrants, including live-selling platforms and influencers launching their direct commerce brands, are reshaping the competitive landscape. With the rise of influencer marketing, platforms such as TikTok and YouTube are gaining traction as effective sales channels, particularly among younger demographics. Anticipated Market Evolution (Next 2-4 Years) Mexico's social commerce market is expected to become more competitive, with increased investment in platform integrations, influencer-driven sales, and AI-powered customer engagement. Businesses will likely focus on enhancing live shopping experiences and integrating payment solutions to create a seamless shopping journey. The entry of new players and the growing adoption of localized strategies will further drive competition. Domestic e-commerce platforms may gain an advantage due to recent regulatory changes favoring local businesses. Companies that innovate through strategic partnerships, technology adoption, and regulatory compliance will be best positioned to capitalize on this evolving market. Regulatory Changes The Mexican government has introduced regulatory changes that could impact the social commerce landscape, particularly regarding taxation and import tariffs. A key policy change includes the implementation of a 19% import tariff on goods from countries without free trade agreements, which could affect cross-border e-commerce transactions on social platforms. Additionally, the government has increased its focus on taxation policies for digital sales, requiring platforms to comply with VAT regulations. This could affect large corporations and independent sellers using social media for direct sales. Reasons to Buy Comprehensive comprehension of the dynamics of the gift card and incentive card markets: Recognise the opportunities in the market, the main drivers and trends, and the five-year projection for gift and incentive cards in Mexico. Create strategies tailored to the market: To create your gift card strategy, identify growth categories and target particular opportunities across consumer segments and occasions; evaluate important trends and risks unique to your market. Learn about the attitudes and behaviours of consumers in Mexico: Increase ROI by understanding how consumer attitudes and behaviours are evolving. With gift cards, you may obtain comprehensive information about retail spending for both corporate and retail customers. Six key performance indicators (KPIs) provide a comprehensive view: the quantity of cards in circulation, load value, unused value, average purchase value, average value per transaction, and transaction value. Distribution channel insights: Recognise the differences in gift card sales across online and offline channels as well as between first-party and third-party sales. Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 325 Forecast Period 2025-2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $4.29 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $6.14 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.4% Regions Covered Mexico Key Topics Covered 1 About this Report 2 Mexico Total Gift Spend Analyzer 3 Mexico Retail Consumer Gift Spend Analyzer 4 Mexico Corporate Consumer Gift Spend Analyzer 5 Mexico Gift Card Spend Analyzer 6 Mexico Digital Gift Card Spend Analyzer 7 Mexico Gift Card Spend Share by Demographics and Purchase Behaviour 8 Mexico Retail Consumer Gift Card Spend Analyzer 9 Mexico Retail Consumer Gift Card Spend Analysis by Functional Attribute 10 Mexico Retail Consumer Gift Card Spend Analysis by Occasion 11 Mexico Corporate Consumer Gift Card Spend Analyzer 12 Mexico Corporate Consumer Gift Card Spend Analysis by Functional Attribute 13 Mexico Corporate Consumer Gift Card Spend Analysis by Occasion 14 Mexico Corporate Consumer Gift Card Spend Analysis by Company Size 15 Mexico Corporate Consumer Gift Card Spend Analysis by Company Size X Functional Attribute 16 Mexico Gift Card Spend Analysis by Distribution Channel 17 Mexico Gift Card Spend Analysis by Retail Sector 18 Mexico Retail Consumer Gift Card Spend Analysis by Retail Sector 19 Mexico Corporate Consumer Gift Card Spend Analysis by Retail Sector 20 Mexico Closed Loop Gift Card Market Share Analysis by Top Retailers Companies Featured Coppel Bodega Aurrera Liverpool Chedraui Oxxo Amazon Mi Bodega Aurrera Home Depot Sam's Club El Palacio de Hierro For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xlbht4 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Mexico Buy Now Pay Later Business and Investment Opportunities Databook - 75+ KPIs on BNPL Market Size, End-Use Sectors, Market Share, Product Analysis, Business Model, Demographics - Q1 2025 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The BNPL payment market in Mexico is expected to grow by 33.5% on annual basis to reach US$6.09 billion in 2025. The BNPL market in the country experienced robust growth during 2021-2024, achieving a CAGR of 54.5%. This upward trajectory is expected to continue, with the market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 24.9% during 2025-2030. By the end of 2030, the BNPL sector is projected to expand from its 2024 value of USD 4.56 billion to approximately USD 18.51 billion. This report provides a detailed data-centric analysis of the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) industry in Mexico, covering market opportunities and risks across a range of retail categories. With over 75 KPIs at the country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of BNPL market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics. It breaks down market opportunities by type of business model, sales channels (offline and online), and distribution models. In addition, it provides a snapshot of consumer behaviour and retail spending dynamics. KPIs in both value and volume terms help in getting an in-depth understanding of end market dynamics. The BNPL market in Mexico is evolving rapidly, driven by increasing consumer demand for flexible credit solutions and digital commerce expansion. The sector's accelerated growth, fueled by financial inclusion efforts and changing consumer preferences, is projected to maintain strong momentum, reaching billions in transaction volume over the next few years. The expansion of BNPL into physical retail further broadens its accessibility, allowing consumers who primarily shop in-store to benefit from installment-based purchasing, thereby strengthening the transition from cash to digital payments. Strategic partnerships between BNPL providers and established brands amplify adoption by embedding BNPL services within familiar consumer ecosystems. These collaborations help fintech companies scale faster and provide merchants with alternative financing tools to boost sales. Over the next few years, BNPL is expected to become a mainstream payment method in Mexico, reshaping the financial landscape by offering more accessible credit solutions and driving economic participation across diverse consumer segments. Competitive Landscape and Regulatory Developments in Mexico's Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Market The BNPL market in Mexico is expanding rapidly, driven by increasing digital adoption and demand for alternative credit solutions. Established players such as Kueski and MercadoLibre are strengthening their market positions, while new entrants and partnerships, such as the Shein-Stori collaboration, are further intensifying competition. Recent product launches, including Kueski's in-store payment options and Shein's co-branded credit card, indicate a shift toward more integrated financial solutions catering to online and offline consumers. The competitive landscape is expected to become more dynamic, with players differentiating through technology-driven innovations and strategic alliances. Regulatory developments, including the push for modernized fintech laws and digital financial transaction frameworks, will be crucial in shaping market expansion. BNPL providers must balance compliance with rapid growth while addressing evolving consumer expectations, positioning Mexico as one of Latin America's key emerging BNPL markets. Current State of the BNPL Market The BNPL market in Mexico is expanding rapidly as consumers seek more flexible payment options to manage their purchases. The growth of e-commerce has played a significant role in this trend, as online shoppers increasingly prefer installment-based payment solutions over traditional credit cards. In 2023, BNPL adoption surged by 31%, reflecting the increasing accessibility of credit to a broader consumer base. This expansion is driven by the growing demand for alternative credit solutions, particularly among individuals who lack access to traditional banking services. BNPL providers are leveraging digital platforms to offer quick and transparent financing options, making it easier for consumers to make larger purchases. As this trend continues, BNPL is expected to play a key role in reshaping the financial ecosystem in Mexico. Mexico's BNPL market is poised for significant expansion over the next few years, with increased competition among existing players and new entrants. As providers look to differentiate themselves, strategic partnerships and technological advancements will become key growth drivers. With more companies investing in BNPL solutions, the industry will likely see further integration across online and offline retail environments. Innovations in digital payments and credit assessment models will enhance accessibility, attracting a broader consumer base. As the market matures, regulatory developments will also play a crucial role in shaping its trajectory, ensuring sustainable growth while addressing potential risks associated with alternative credit solutions. Key Players and New Entrants Kueski: As a leading BNPL provider in Mexico, Kueski has expanded its services to include in-store mobile payments using QR codes, enhancing consumers' accessibility. MercadoLibre: Through its fintech arm, Mercado Pago, MercadoLibre offers BNPL options and has applied for a banking license to further expand its financial services in Mexico. Shein and Stori Partnership: In October 2024, fashion retailer Shein partnered with Mexican fintech Stori to launch a co-branded credit card to attract more consumers to BNPL services. Recent Launches, Mergers, and Acquisitions Recent developments in Mexico's BNPL market highlight a strategic push toward expanding service accessibility. Kueski's introduction of an in-store payment option using QR codes represents a shift toward omnichannel BNPL adoption, allowing consumers to use installment-based payments in physical retail settings. This move enhances BNPL's reach beyond e-commerce, catering to a wider audience still prefers in-person shopping experiences. Similarly, the Shein-Stori partnership has resulted in the launch of a co-branded credit card, signaling growing collaboration between fintechs and retailers. This initiative broadens BNPL accessibility, attracting a diverse customer base by integrating installment financing directly into Shein's ecosystem. These recent launches reflect the increasing competition and innovation in Mexico's BNPL sector, which is expected to continue evolving in response to consumer demand. Accelerated BNPL Market Expansion The BNPL market in Mexico is expanding rapidly, driven by increased accessibility to credit and changing consumer preferences. In 2023, the sector grew by 31%, reflecting a shift toward alternative financing solutions catering to a broader range of consumers. This growth is closely tied to the rise of digital commerce, where flexible payment options have become a critical factor in purchase decisions. Several factors fuel this expansion, including the boom in e-commerce, which has created greater demand for installment-based payment options. Financial inclusion initiatives have also played a crucial role, allowing individuals without traditional banking relationships to access credit through BNPL services. Additionally, consumers increasingly opt for BNPL over credit cards due to its transparent fee structures and ease of use, further driving adoption. Integration of BNPL in Physical Retail The expansion of BNPL into physical retail spaces marks a significant shift in the Mexican payments landscape. While BNPL has traditionally been associated with online shopping, companies such as Kueski are now introducing in-store payment options using QR codes. This development allows consumers to access installment-based payments at brick-and-mortar stores, making BNPL a more versatile and widely accepted payment method. One key driver of this trend is Mexican consumers' enduring preference for in-person shopping. Despite the growth of e-commerce, a large segment of the population still relies on cash transactions for retail purchases. By integrating BNPL into physical stores, providers can bridge the gap between digital credit solutions and traditional shopping habits, encouraging greater adoption of digital payment methods. Over the next few years, integrating BNPL in brick-and-mortar stores is expected to accelerate the shift toward digital transactions. As consumers become more comfortable using BNPL in different retail environments, the financial ecosystem could become more inclusive, offering more accessible credit options. This shift is also likely to drive increased consumer spending, benefiting retailers and BNPL providers as adoption grows. Strategic Partnerships Enhancing BNPL Reach Strategic partnerships are crucial in expanding BNPL adoption in Mexico, enabling providers to reach new customer segments and enhance their service offerings. Collaborations such as the Shein-Stori co-branded credit card highlight how fintech companies and retailers work together to integrate BNPL into existing financial ecosystems. These alliances not only increase accessibility to BNPL services but also create more tailored financing options for consumers. The primary driver of this trend is partnerships' ability to accelerate market penetration and diversification. By aligning with established companies, BNPL providers can tap into existing customer bases and leverage brand trust to encourage adoption. This approach reduces acquisition costs and enhances scalability, making BNPL a competitive alternative to traditional credit products. Over the next few years, strategic alliances are expected to further solidify BNPL as a mainstream payment method in Mexico. These collaborations will drive innovation in financing solutions, increasing convenience for consumers while providing merchants with new tools to boost sales. As more retailers, fintechs, and financial institutions enter the BNPL space through partnerships, the competitive landscape will likely become more dynamic and consumer-focused. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 88 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $6.09 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $18.51 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 24.9% Regions Covered Mexico Companies Featured Klarna Atome Hapi Mercado Pago Oxxo Pay PagaTodo For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8707h8 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment CHICAGO, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bectran, Inc., the industry leader in credit, collections and accounts receivable management technology, has introduced a new integration with Plaid, a data network powering the digital financial ecosystem, to provide a powerful and secure way to expedite bank verifications. We are excited to be working with Plaid in this capacity, comments Louis Ifeguni, Bectran CEO. This integration opens up a whole new avenue of efficiency in our credit applications, providing tangible value to our customers by easing a time-consuming process, and increasing confidence with a secure, real-time bank connection. Advanced Risk Scoring, Analysis and Fraud Security Manual bank references are susceptible to input errors that may include inaccurate or dated informationinformation that, when passed unnoticed, can cause an array of operational issues stemming from simple human error. Moreover, the manual process is both time-consuming and costly, often dragging on for days or weeks with no guarantee of success in obtaining accurate information. With this latest integration, credit managers can eliminate lengthy reference wait times and the constant need to monitor for potential entry errors associated with traditional bank referencing. Through a simple customer sign-in, Plaid securely delivers verified financial data, which is then analyzed and scored by Bectran. This integration ensures a swift, accurate and secure process by leveraging Plaids network of over 12,000 financial institutions. Credit applicants simply sign into their bank accounts via Plaid's secure APIs, authorizing the creation of a bank verification report. This report includes key insights such as account ownership information, transaction history and more, enabling credit managers to instantly evaluate the applicant's identity, financial health and risk profile. Using advanced risk scoring algorithms, Bectran analyzes data points such as account balances, non-sufficient funds, notices, returns, and unusual activity to generate a comprehensive risk score. This eliminates manual input, minimizes errors, and empowers credit teams to make timely, data-driven decisions. Bectrans partnership with Plaid brings further security into the bank verification process, securing clients against a wide range of identity and payment fraud schemes. Bank data provided in verification reports include account creation date and ownership information, which Bectran automatically compares to applicant information, rooting out fraud before it can gain a foothold. Credit managers will also receive fraud alerts when suspicious or abnormal account activity is detected. Our Integration with Plaid is the latest addition to our comprehensive suite of risk scoring and analytics, says Ali Kidwai, Director of Product & Implementation at Bectran. At Bectran, we intend to be the one-stop shop in our client's credit and AR journey, finding innovative ways to increase their operational efficiency and risk management capabilities. About Bectran Bectran is the premier SaaS platform for Finance Departments, akin to CRM for Sales. Trusted by diverse organizations, from SMEs to Fortune 500 companies, we streamline credit processing by over 98%, reducing credit defaults and collection costs. Many businesses rely on Bectran for efficient Accounts Receivable and Collections management, achieving up to 95% cost savings. With rapid onboarding in days, our platform is hailed by credit professionals as the future of credit management. Visit Bectran.com to learn more about financial solutions for your industry. Bectran Inc (888) 791-6620 PR@Bectran.com Brisbane, Australia, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advantive , an industry-leading mission-critical specialty software provider, today announced its acquisition of Commerce Vision , a leading digital commerce platform in Australia and New Zealand. This acquisition furthers Advantives mission of driving transformational outcomes for its customers by strengthening its international presence, enhancing its B2B eCommerce services , and expanding into new industries, such as dental and PPE & safety. Commerce Visions strong product market fit and proven expertise will also bolster Advantives focus on global B2B companies seeking interoperable eCommerce capabilities. Headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Commerce Vision has provided B2B commerce solutions for the automotive, food service, medical and dental, PPE and safety, and wholesale distribution industries since 2001. Today, with deep ERP integration, Commerce Visions suite of tools delivers a seamless, self-service B2B eCommerce experience and empowers customers and their sales teams to make more informed decisions. From order taking, customer management, and merchandising to route and activity tracking for both online and offline merchandisers, Commerce Vision provides powerful tools across the B2B eCommerce process. Additionally, Commerce Visions AI-driven purchase order automation product, Lucy , will enable Advantive to bring AI-based automation tools to customers quickly and efficiently. Automation tools like Lucy are expected to generate significant traction in the U.S. market as manufacturers and distributors seek solutions to instantly and accurately process inbound PDF purchase orders. With over 30 years of experience in the distribution and manufacturing industries, Advantive is always looking for the right opportunity to expand our presence and deepen our expertise, said Kevin Boyce, CEO of Advantive . The forthcoming acquisition of Commerce Vision enables us to further solidify our position in B2B commerce while expanding into the ANZ market, and unlocking new opportunities for growth in the U.S. Advantive is a leading provider of wholesale distribution ERP software with capabilities for a variety of B2B commerce industries, including food & beverage, health & beauty, fast-moving consumer goods, and retail. This acquisition enforces Advantives position within B2B commerce, as the company will have the opportunity to expand with Commerce Visions ERP-integrated commerce solution that offers intelligent sales automation, mobile merchandising, and a field CRM for over 85 brands. We are excited to become part of Advantives vision for the future, said David Brice, CEO of Commerce Vision. Since 2001, Commerce Vision has grown from the ground up to suit the unique and complex challenges of businesses in B2B commerce. As we move forward with our combined solutions, we strive to deliver on this promise while furthering innovation in the industry. For more information on Advantive, visit https://www.advantive.com/ . For more information on Commerce Vision, visit https://www.commercevision.com.au/ . About Advantive Advantive is a leading provider of mission-critical software for specialty distribution, manufacturing, packaging, and quality software users, offering purpose-built ERP, MES, and SPC software solutions that meet the unique needs of our customers. Serving over 6,500 customers and operating in 88 countries, Advantives software solutions simplify complex processes, optimize operations visibility and throughput, and drive improved quality, profitability, and revenue growth. Deeply embedded into key end-to-end workflows, Advantives software uses automation, seamless integration, and real-time data to streamline plant scheduling, order management, quality control, sales order forecasting and pricing, e-commerce, and delivery making the complex simple. More information about Advantive can be found at https://advantive.com . About Commerce Vision Commerce Vision provides an intelligent suite of B2B commerce solutions powering clients across a range of industries. With a customer base of 500+, is poised to continue to grow across geographies by providing customers ecommerce and order automation solutions. For additional information about Commerce Vision, please visit https://www.commercevision.com/au . Attachment Photo Courtesy of Snaarp GLASGOW, United Kingdom, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Snaarp , a cybersecurity startup, introduced its comprehensive, mobile-first security platform designed to transform data protection and device management for enterprises worldwide. This breakthrough solution delivers a smooth, straightforward path to securing and protecting business data with remarkable ease and efficiency. Cyber threats continue to multiply, and the platform tackles critical security needs while streamlining complex processes. The global cloud storage market will reach $490.56 billion by 2033. It will grow at a 16.34% CAGR from 2025 to 2033. This growth underscores the urgent need for strong, scalable security solutions. "Snaarp represents a fundamental shift in enterprise cybersecurity," said Victor Ariyibi-Oke, CEO of Snaarp. "We have created an all-in-one solution that protects businesses with advanced technology, seamless security, and proven reliability to shield against evolving threats." Superior Security Features The platform presents a collection of features that distinguish it from industry giants. Teams can become operational within minutes through effortless onboarding. This user-friendly foundation extends to secure collaboration, powering swift, encrypted communication and sharing files for internal teams and external partners. The platform's network management capabilities enable businesses to build and oversee secure networks effortlessly, creating seamless connections between internal teams and external contacts. The fully encrypted file transfer system guards sensitive information from external threats. Comprehensive device management provides real-time tracking and updates for all connected devices. Customizable permissions enhance security and privacy through detailed access control. Powerful Data Protection The platform includes automated cloud backup, which keeps critical data secure and accessible. The straightforward endpoint security system simplifies deploying and managing all network-connected devices. Furthermore, the wireless enterprise private network gives complete control over network access and blocks external threats. Most importantly, zero-knowledge encryption guarantees exceptional data privacythe platform itself cannot access user data. This security level proves crucial in today's digital world, where data breaches lead to significant financial losses and damaged reputations. Market Impact and Future Prospects The launch addresses a critical need. Cybercriminals launched major ransomware attacks 20 to 25 times daily in 2024, marking a dramatic rise from previous years. The solution benefits industries handling sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare, and legal services. "While tech giants have built empires on scale and network effects, Snaarp zeroes in on the specific needs of enterprises seeking comprehensive security without complexity," Ariyibi-Oke explained. "Our platform transcends basic storage or encryptionit stands as a complete cybersecurity ecosystem that combines power with user-friendliness." The company has secured seed funding, valuing it at $3 million, and stands ready for rapid growth while meeting the urgent need for streamlined, robust cybersecurity solutions in the enterprise market. The platform now welcomes businesses worldwide and offers a 30-day free trial for new users. "Data breaches in the digital world cost millions and destroy reputations. Snaarp equips enterprises with the tools they need to protect their most valuable assets," Ariyibi-Oke concluded. "We are establishing fresh benchmarks for mobile-first, enterprise-grade cybersecurity." About Snaarp Inc. Snaarp is a pioneering cybersecurity company providing enterprises with comprehensive, user-friendly security solutions. Founded by second-generation entrepreneur Victor Ariyibi-Oke, it aims to make advanced data protection and device management accessible and efficient for businesses of all sizes. Contact Information: Contact Person's Name: Snaarp Support Team Organization / Company: Snaarp Company website: https://www.snaarp.com/ Contact Email Address: hello@snaarp.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c84592b0-3991-4ac9-8c0b-e1452d36e533 Nashville, Tenn., March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Business executives in the technology and healthcare IT industries confront both new potential and problems in the areas of cybersecurity, audit, taxation, and AI-driven business intelligence as 2025 approaches. The top five trends influencing the sector are discussed by national experts from LBMC, giving leaders practical advice on how to handle the changing technology and regulatory environment. 1. The Expanding Regulatory Landscape: State & Local Tax (SALT) Considerations The rapid expansion of digital services compiled with expanded tax provisions has triggered heightened scrutiny by state and local taxing authorities. Healthcare IT and technology companies must stay ahead of the following: Increased enforcement of economic nexus laws for sales taxes, affecting remote software sales and cloud-based service providers. Growing obligations for sales tax collection by SaaS and PaaS providers as states refine taxability rules. Potential shifts in federal tax policy under the new administration that could impact R&D credits and digital taxation. Changes to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) federal tax law that may affect tax depreciation, R&D expense amortization, and interest deductibility rules for technology companies. Expert Insight: Companies operating in multiple jurisdictions must proactively assess their exposure and update their compliance strategies to avoid unexpected tax liabilities and penalties, says Leigh Ann Vernich, LBMC Senior Manager, State and Local Tax. 2. AI Risk and Cybersecurity: The New Normal for IT Compliance IT leaders must intensify their risk management tactics in light of the growing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks. These tactics include: Putting strong Zero Trust security frameworks in place to reduce breaches. Making sure publicly traded tech companies abide by the SEC's new cybersecurity disclosure regulations. Regularly testing IT systems through technology audits and penetration testing activities. Strengthening adherence to applicable IT Compliance standards like HIPAA, HITRUST, and PCI to avoid expensive data breaches and sanctions. Cyberattacks leveraging AI are becoming more sophisticated, demanding companies prioritize security-by-design approaches, states Stewart Fey, LBMC Cybersecurity Shareholder and PCI Practice Leader. 3. Using AI to Drive Competitive Advantage in Business Intelligence Predictive analytics, financial reporting, and operational efficiency in IT companies are all being revolutionized by the rapid advancement of AI in business intelligence. Key trends include: The use of AI-driven automation in audit and tax compliance procedures. Real-time risk evaluations in financial forecasting and revenue recognition. New IRS rules pertaining to AI-generated tax positions that call for increased openness in automated compliance systems. Adherence to upgraded PCAOB audit criteria that emphasize internal controls and AI-driven financial reporting. AI is no longer a futuristic conceptits a competitive necessity now. We are in the age of AI, and the competitive winners will be those who embrace and integrate it across all areas of their business. A wait-and-see approach will likely leave you further behind, making it much harder to catch up. says Jon Hilton, LBMC Shareholder and AI Practice Leader. 4. Evolving M&A and Investment Trends in Healthcare IT and Technology Private equity and venture capital investment in IT-driven healthcare and technology companies continue to surge. Key considerations include: Heightened regulatory scrutiny on mergers under the FTCs new competition guidelines. Increased due diligence on cybersecurity vulnerabilities and data governance policies pre-transaction. Tax implications of international expansion amid shifting U.S. trade and tax policies. Potential limitations on Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) tax exemptions under new tax proposals, impacting startup valuations and investment structures. A changing investor landscape where firms are holding investments longer while expecting profitability sooner, posing challenges for early-stage companies in managing cash flows. M&A strategies must now account for regulatory and tax implications from day one to maximize value and mitigate risks, advises Aaron Hale, LBMC Audit Shareholder and Technology Industry Leader. 5. The Washington Effect: Policy Shifts and Industry Impacts Business executives in technology and healthcare IT should get ready for any policy changes that may occur under the new administration. These changes might include: A renewed drive for federal data privacy restrictions that affect cloud-based software providers. A possible increase in the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) tax rate, among other changes to business tax arrangements. Increased incentives for grants for AI innovation and cybersecurity initiatives. Internal Revenue Code Section 174 changes that currently require businesses to amortize R&D costs and necessitate careful tax planning to maximize deductions. Companies must stay engaged in policy discussions to anticipate regulatory shifts that could impact their growth strategies, states Kyle Baldwin, LBMC Tax Shareholder and Technology Industry Leader. Preparing for 2025: What IT Leaders Need to Do Now The convergence of regulatory changes, cybersecurity threats, and AI-driven transformation demands a proactive approach. LBMC offers strategic advisory services to help Healthcare IT and Technology executives mitigate risks, optimize tax strategies, and harness AI for operational excellence. Learn more about business trends in technology and how your organization can adapt by downloading our 2025 Business Outlook Report today. For more insights or to connect with LBMCs healthcare industry experts, visit our website. About LBMC LBMC is one of the Southeasts largest accounting and business consulting firms and an Accounting Today Top 35 Firm in the Nation serving more than 11,000 clients with diverse needs across a spectrum of industries. Primary client groups include privately-owned and private-equity-backed middle market companies in the healthcare, manufacturing/distribution, real estate, and technology spaces. At the forefront of innovation, LBMC leverages advanced business intelligence and AI technologies to drive growth, efficiency, and strategic insights for our clients. Founded in 1984 as a traditional accounting firm, LBMC today is an industry leader in audit, tax, advisory, technology, human resources, and wealth advisory services for businesses and individuals. LBMC has more than 900 team members, with offices in Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Memphis, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; and Charlotte, North Carolina and remote offices. For more information on LBMCs experts and comprehensive services, visit our website or call 615.377.4600. Discover career opportunities or learn more about how LBMCs services and culture can support your business goals. Connect with us on LinkedIn for the latest insights on talent, client engagement, and business growth. Attachment AUDUBON, Pa., March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE: GMED), a leading musculoskeletal technology company, today announced it will participate in the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) in San Diego, Calif., from March 10-14, 2025. Join Globus at booth #2517 to learn about the comprehensive Globus Medical product portfolio across Spine, Trauma, and Joint Reconstruction procedures; Enabling Technology; Power Tools; and Regenerative Biomaterials segments. Globus will be featuring one of its latest technology innovations, the ExcelsiusFlex surgical robotic navigation system for Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), alongside its Total Joints Arthroplasty implant portfolio*. Engineered to outperform, ExcelsiusFlex with TKA Application consolidates accuracy, procedural flexibility, and surgeon-centric design while allowing customization of workflow for surgeon preferences, imaging modalities, and patient needs. Globus will also feature the PRECICE Intramedullary Limb Lengthening Portfolio, our Power Tools Portfolio including the DuraPro Oscillating System, and the Harvest SmartPrep 3 autologous biologic centrifuge platform. Globus welcomes AAOS attendees to attend a reception to meet members of the Globus Medical team and learn more about our technology offerings. Wednesday, March 12, 2025 5:30pm 8:30pm Globus Medical Reception San Diego Wine & Culinary Center 200 Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA Globus Medical will also be hosting a booth tour for analysts and investors to see our latest innovative technologies and solutions in person at the conference. Wednesday, March 12, 2025 1:00pm 1:45pm Globus Medical Investor Relations Booth Tour AAOS Conference Floor, Booth #2517 "AAOS provides us with the unique opportunity to showcase our comprehensive portfolio of musculoskeletal procedures and enabling technology," said John Mulcahy, Chief Commercial Officer at Globus Medical. "We look forward to connecting with our surgeon partners and showcasing our latest procedural innovations including the next generation in robotics for TKA applications." Learn more about our events at AAOS: https://www.globusmedical.com/events/conferences/aaos-2025/ Learn more about our Globus Medical Product Portfolio: https://www.globusmedical.com/musculoskeletal-solutions/ *ExcelsiusFlex is indicated for use with the GENflex2 and ACTIFY Total Knee Systems. About Globus Medical, Inc. Based in Audubon, Pennsylvania, Globus Medical, Inc. is a leading global musculoskeletal company dedicated to solving unmet clinical needs and changing lives. We innovate with inspired urgency, provide world-class education and clinical support, and advance care throughout spine, orthopedic trauma, joint reconstruction, regenerative biomaterials and enabling technologies. Additional information can be accessed at www.globusmedical.com. Safe Harbor Statements All statements included in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and may be identified by their use of words such as believe, may, might, could, will, aim, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect, plan and other similar terms. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations and estimates of future events and trends. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to many risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our businesses and operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and costs associated with the integration of, and the ability of Globus Medical and NuVasive to integrate, their businesses successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies, health epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, factors affecting our quarterly results, our ability to manage our growth, our ability to sustain our profitability, demand for our products, our ability to compete successfully (including without limitation our ability to convince surgeons to use our products and our ability to attract and retain sales and other personnel), our ability to rapidly develop and introduce new products, our ability to develop and execute on successful business strategies, our ability to comply with laws and regulations that are or may become applicable to our businesses, our ability to safeguard our intellectual property, our success in defending legal proceedings brought against us, trends in the medical device industry, general economic conditions, and other risks. For a discussion of these and other risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect our results, you should refer to the disclosure contained in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections labeled Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements, and in our Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available at www.sec.gov. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, events or circumstances or other factors arising or coming to our attention after the date hereof. Investor contact: Brian Kearns 610-930-1800 investors@globusmedical.com Media contact: Moran Chavez media@globusmedical.com IRVINE, Calif., March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Renascence School International (RSI), a trilingual, multicultural preK-12 private school based in Irvine, Calif., is expanding its offerings with a visual and performing arts program at its new permanent Tustin campus in the 2025-26 academic year. This initiative positions RSI as the nation's only private school to offer pre-conservatory and conservatory artistic training for 6th through 12th-grade students in a language immersion setting, building upon the trilingual immersion foundation established in pre-kindergarten through 5th-grade with integrated exploratory arts. This approach combines advanced immersive language learning with a comprehensive arts education, providing students with a distinct advantage in both creative expression and global communication. With more than 500,000 K-12 students in Orange County and limited options for specialized arts programs, RSI is addressing a critical gap in arts education. Research shows that arts education has declined over the past 25 years, with only 11% of California schools offering a standards-based curriculum across all four state-required arts disciplines (SRI Education). Studies also show that integrating arts education and language immersion enhances students cognitive abilities and academic performance (Edutopia). RSIs new program combines high-caliber artistic training with RSIs rigorous academics and trilingual instruction in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and English addressing the critical gap and ensuring students graduate with a competitive edge in both the arts and global communication. Students attending RSI earn two Global Seals of Biliteracy (Mandarin Chinese and Spanish) by the 7th grade and graduate high school with up to 60 college credits, placing Renascence School International in the top echelon of private schools around the country. RSI was founded to equip students with the skills to thrive in a global and creative world, said Carrie Mizera, president and founder of Renascence School International. Weve heard from parents and the community that limited options exist for students seeking an arts education. RSI blends rigorous academic language immersion with artistic passion a rare combination for students preparing for success in college and beyond. The new visual and performing arts program is designed to nurture young artists at every stage of their development. Exploratory Arts for Grades K-5: an introduction to painting, drawing, vocal performance, acting, and creative writing, nurturing creativity and empowering students with the skills to pursue more advanced artistic pathways in middle and high school. Pre-Professional Conservatory for Grades 6-12: Five distinct pathways designed to deepen artistic skills and provide rigorous training in: Performing Arts: Acting, musical theater, vocal performance, and stage movement for students aspiring to perform on stage and develop a deeper understanding of their craft. Visual Arts: Fine arts, graphic design, and digital media, developing both creative expression and technical skills. Integrated Arts: A multidisciplinary approach combining visual arts, musical theater, voice, and acting. Creative Writing: Training in fiction, poetry, dramatic writing, and creative nonfiction, focusing on storytelling fundamentals and personal expression. International Language Studies & Enterprises: Immersive instruction in Mandarin, Spanish, and English, preparing students for global careers in any sector. designed to deepen artistic skills and provide rigorous training in: To establish its arts pathways as the premier programs in the region, RSI assembled an Arts Development Program Team to shape the curriculum, design program pathways, advise faculty, and raise awareness of the new offerings. The team comprises of accomplished artists and performers in their respective fields: Ralph Opacic, renowned founder of the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) and the California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley; John Blaylock, a successful playwright and writer; Emma Cheung, a distinguished artist; Stephanie Dorian, an acclaimed actor and director; and Diana Farrell, a celebrated opera and vocal performer. Located at RSIs new permanent campus in Tustin, the program offers students a well-rounded education to develop their artistic and academic talents in a multilingual environment. Auditions Now Open for 2025-26 Enrollment Students entering grades 6-12 must audition to secure a spot in one of the five pre-conservatory pathways. Auditions will be held in April 2025, with approximately 100 new students admitted across all disciplines. More information on audition requirements and deadlines can be found at https://www.rschooloc.org/the-rsi-approach/artistic-studies/. To learn more about RSI, visit rschooloc.org. About Renascence School International Renascence School International (RSI) is Californias only private, multilingual, multicultural arts school offering full immersion in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and English alongside an advanced academic curriculum. Founded in 2011, RSI prepares students for success in college, careers, and the global marketplace by integrating language proficiency, artistic excellence, and leadership development. RSI serves pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students at its new, permanent Tustin location. Learn more at www.rschooloc.org and follow RSI on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube, Wechat, and Rednote. Media Contact Dan Nasitka (714) 694-7195 dnasitka@rocketlaunchagency.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7cb758d6-b261-41c8-9f27-49f5c5b5a66f LOS ANGELES, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The S. Mark Taper Foundation has gifted $1.250 million to name the Dining Room at the Westside Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House. The S. Mark Taper Foundation Dining Room, the heart of the home, will serve as a gathering spot for family meals, celebrations, heartfelt conversations, volunteer activities, and more. The new Westside Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House will provide comfort, care, and lodging for the hundreds of families going through the heart-breaking experience of keeping their family together during their childs catastrophic illness. Children and families thrive because they experience the warm welcome of Ronald McDonald House staff, a meal provided by volunteers, the comforting hug from another parent going through the same experience, said Kelly Herman, executive director for the Westside Los Angeles House. Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home, helping families heal physically, emotionally, and economically. The house will feature 33 guest rooms, including a designated room for families of immuno-suppressed patients, 3 community kitchens, 3 laundry facilities, a business center, library and lounges, dining room, outside play areas, Family Support Services, and parking for families with seriously ill children being treated at neighboring Westside hospitals. Keeping parents and care providers close to their children is a critical component of treatment, said Robert S. Venick, MD, Pediatric Gastroenterologist. Over the years, I have learned the value of Ronald McDonald House and the benefit to families of having a place to stay near the hospital where they can get the comfort and care they need. We are excited for this new opportunity and look forward to the opening of the Westside Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House. About The S. Mark Taper Foundation: The S. Mark Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a private family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in our communities. About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California: At Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, we express our mission through our programs, which include seven Ronald McDonald Houses in Bakersfield, Inland Empire, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County, Pasadena, and Westside of Los Angeles. We operate two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at CHOC Children's Hospital in Orange and CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital. We are one of the only Ronald McDonald House Charities chapters across the world that operates a cost-free, medically-supervised Camp for children with cancer and their families, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times. For more information, please contact: Kelly Herman, Executive Director Westside Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House kherman@rmhcsc.org phone: 424.460.1900 rmhcsc.org/westsidelosangeles A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/408c2f00-97ad-4566-b509-be07c20a2644 PEMBROKE, March 5, 2025 - Gold Reserve Ltd. (TSX.V: GRZ) (OTCQX: GDRZF) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, GR Mining (Barbados) Inc. (GR Mining), filed a request for arbitration against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ("Venezuela") under the Additional Facility Rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes of the World Bank in Washington, D.C. The arbitration arises from Venezuela's arbitrary and unlawful measures that deprived GR Mining of its rights to, and materially damaged its investment in, the multi-billion-dollar Siembra Minera mining project located in Venezuela. The precise amount of GR Mining's loss is subject to quantification in the arbitration but, at present, is estimated to exceed USD $7 billion. A copy of the request for arbitration has been posted on the Company's website, and is available here. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking statements This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. federal securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws and state Gold Reserve's and its management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. They are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the Request for Arbitration and the commencement of arbitration proceedings against Venezuela; the Company's and GRM's ongoing dispute with Venezuela in respect of the Project; and the damages sought by the Company and GRM from Venezuela. We caution that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risks that may cause actual events, outcomes or results in Gold Reserve to be materially different from out estimated outcomes, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the outcome or process of any arbitration proceedings involving Gold Reserve, GRM and Venezuela, including the outcome or process of the ongoing dispute between the Company, GRM and Venezuela in respect of the Project generally; the quantum of damages or other award received as a result of any arbitration proceedings or otherwise, if any such award is received at all, which is not guaranteed; and if any such award is received, the significant risk that the there will be no collection on any such award. For a more detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company's business, see the Company's management information circular dated August 20, 2024, the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2024, the Annual Information Form on Form 40-F and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other reports that have been filed on SEDAR+ and are available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and which have been filed on EDGAR and are available under the Company's profile at www.sec.gov/edgar. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Gold Reserve or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Gold Reserve disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information or statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to its disclosure obligations under applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. For further information regarding Gold Reserve Ltd., please contact: Rosebank Centre, 5th Floor, 11 Bermudiana Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda investorrelations@goldreserve.bm SOURCE Gold Reserve Ltd. Gold Resource Corp. (NYSE American: GORO) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the release of the S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary (the "Report") for the Don David Gold Mine ("DDGM") located in Oaxaca, Mexico. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305582084/en/ Figure 1: Cross section of the Arista mine showing 2024 drilling results (Graphic: Business Wire) The Report summarizes the successful 2024 drilling program which resulted in a replacement of 2024 mined reserves plus a 10% increase in tonnes in Mineral Reserves at December 31, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023. This increase is most significant in the recently discovered Three Sisters vein system, with an increase of over 800% in Mineral Reserves (526,152 t versus 57,890 t) and 180% increase in Mineral Resource (662,749 t versus 234,014 t). During 2024, 12,760 m were drilled in 87 holes from underground on the property (Figure 1). Background: As a registrant with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the Company must report its exploration results, Mineral Resources, and Mineral Reserves using the mining disclosure standards of Subpart 229.1300 of Regulation S-K Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations ("S-K 1300"). DDGM adopted S-K 1300 standards for the December 31, 2021, Technical Report. The adoption applied a new methodology focused on geological interpretations, improved grade estimation, better variable anisotropy, channel sampling, and improved ore control models. This approach creates greater confidence in the reliability of the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Gold and silver ounces are reported in troy ounces converted using 31.1035 grams per troy ounce. Qualified Persons Disclosure: The report was prepared in accordance with S-K 1300 and has been reviewed by Qualified Persons ("QPs") who are mining industry professionals and specialist trained in diverse technical backgrounds. Three of the QPs are employed by the Company and are not considered independent of DDGM. These QPs are Rodrigo Simidu, Professional Engineer, Patrick Frenette, Professional Engineer, and David Turner, Professional Geologist. Additional independent QPs assisted with the report and they are Marcelo Zangrandi, Professional Geologist, employed by AMBA Consultoria Ltda, and Christian Laroche, Professional Engineer, employed by Synectiq. At the effective date of the Report, the QPs certified that to the best of their information, knowledge and belief, the parts of the Report for which they were responsible contained all scientific and technical information that was required to be disclosed to make the Report not misleading. About GRC: Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer, and explorer with its operations centered on the Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca, Mexico. Under the direction of an experienced board and senior leadership team, the Company's focus is to unlock the significant upside potential of its existing infrastructure and large land position surrounding the mine in Oaxaca, Mexico and to develop the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA. For more information, please visit the Company's website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305582084/en/ Contact Allen Palmiere Chief Executive Officer and President 303-320-7708 www.GoldResourceCorp.com L'Anse, March 5, 2025 - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) (OTC Pink: TLOFF) ("Talon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an exclusivity agreement with Lundin Mining Corp. ("Lundin Mining") as the parties negotiate an earn-in agreement (the "Option Agreement") pursuant to which Lundin Mining may acquire up to a 70% ownership interest in the Boulderdash and Roland exploration targets (the "Optioned Properties"), which are in close proximity to Lundin Mining's Eagle Mine. Lundin Mining has advanced Talon US$5 million (the "Advance Payment") to, among other things, commence drilling on the Optioned Properties as soon as the Option Agreement is entered into. In the event that Talon and Lundin Mining do not enter into the Option Agreement for any reason by March 31, 2025 (or such earlier or later date as agreed between the parties), Talon will at its sole election either, (i) repay the Advance Payment in cash, or (ii) issue Lundin Mining that number of common shares of Talon (the "Talon Shares") equal to the Advance Payment at a deemed price per Talon Share based on the 5-day volume weighted average trading price of the Talon Shares on the TSX at such time. The issuance of common shares of Talon is subject to receipt of the approval of the TSX and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. This announcement builds on Talon's exploration success with its discovery at Boulderdash in October 2024 and additional successful drilling (see the Company's press releases dated October 24, 2024 and February 27, 2025). The Optioned Properties consist of approximately 33,000 acres out of Talon's over 400,000 acre mineral package in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (the "Michigan Land Package"). Proposed Option Agreement Terms The proposed Option Agreement is expected to contain the following terms: Talon will provide Lundin Mining with the right to acquire up to a 70% ownership interest in the Optioned Properties. Lundin Mining will agree to fund up to 30,000 meters of Talon's drilling campaign at the Optioned Properties. After each 10,000 meters of drilling by Talon on the Optioned Properties, Lundin Mining will have the election whether or not to proceed further with their earn-in. Talon is currently earning up to an 80% interest in the Michigan Land Package (which includes the Optioned Properties) from UPX Minerals Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sweetwater Royalties). Once Talon has earned a 51% interest in the Michigan Land Package that is expected to be fulfilled by the drilling Talon will do on the Optioned Properties with Lundin Mining, Lundin Mining will earn a 44.625% interest solely in the Optioned Properties. Following the completion of 30,000 meters of drilling on the Optioned Properties, Lundin Mining may fund a feasibility study in respect of any portion of the Optioned Properties in exchange for an additional 25.375% interest, for a total ownership of 70% in the Optioned Properties. Talon will retain a 10% ownership interest in the Optioned Properties, with the remainder owned by UPX Minerals. "Talon continues to respond to the call for responsible production of critical minerals in the United States, specifically nickel for defence and national security purposes. The proposed transaction with Lundin Mining is part of Talon's strategy to continue to build Talon's integrated drilling and geophysics business to generate cashflow to progress the feasibility study and permitting of the Tamarack Mining Project in Minnesota and its Battery Minerals Processing Facility in North Dakota. Once the Option Agreement is signed, Talon expects to be cashflow positive, which is a rare achievement for a junior exploration and mine development company," said Henri van Rooyen, Talon's CEO. ABOUT TALON Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in central Minnesota. Talon's shares are also traded in the US over the OTC market under the symbol TLOFF. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with additional high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon has an earn-in right to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel Project, and currently owns 51%. Talon is focused on (i) expanding and infilling its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 to shape a mine plan for submission to Minnesota regulators, and (ii) following up on additional high-grade nickel mineralization in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex. Talon has a neutrality and workforce development agreement in place with the United Steelworkers union. Talon's Battery Mineral Processing Facility in Mercer County was selected by the US Department of Energy for US$114.8 million funding grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the US Department of Defense awarded Talon a grant of US$20.6 million to support and accelerate Talon's exploration efforts in both Minnesota and Michigan. Talon has well-qualified experienced exploration, mine development, external affairs and mine permitting teams. For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com or contact: FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the terms of the Option Agreement, whether Talon will enter into the Option Agreement, if Talon Shares will be issued and TSX approval relating thereto, potential positive cash flows to Talon, Talon's strategy regarding drilling and geophysics business, and completion of the royalty earn-in in respect of Sweetwater. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties including required consents, the risk that the negotiations in respect of the Option Agreement will break down and the Option Agreement will not be entered into, the drilling results on the Optioned Properties may not be positive and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, March 5, 2025 - Temas Resources Corp. ("Temas" or the "Company") (CSE:TMAS)(OTCQB:TMASF)(FSE:26P0) is pleased to announce that it intends to complete non-brokered private placements for cumulative gross proceeds of up to C$500,000 from the sale of up to 6,666,666 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.075 per Unit. 2,000,000 Units are offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption offering (the "LIFE Offering") and 4,666,666 Units are offered under the concurrent private placement offering (the "Concurrent Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Unit Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.18 at any time on or before that date which is 1 year after the closing date, provided that if the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") is equal to or greater than $0.22 for a period of 5 consecutive trading days (the "Triggering Event"), the Company may, within 5 days of the Triggering Event, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by disseminating a press release, and in such case the Warrants will expire on the 10th day after the date on which such press release is disseminated. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the LIFE Offering is being made to purchasers resident in all provinces of Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The securities offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at: www.temasresources.com. Prospective investors should read this Offering Document before making an investment decision. No commissions or fees are payable in connection with the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering. In addition to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption offering, the Company intends to issue up to 4,666,666 Units on the same terms for gross proceeds of $350,000 (the "Concurrent Offering"). The Concurrent Offering will be made available to accredited investors and other eligible investors in British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta and such other jurisdictions as the Company may decide in accordance with applicable laws. Concurrent Units shall be subject to a 4 month and one day hold period from the date of issue. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the LIFE Offering and Concurrent Offering for general working capital purposes and marketing. The closing of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering is anticipated to occur on or about March 31, 2025, or such other date, as the Company may agree, which must be within 45 days from the date hereof for the LIFE Offering (the "Closing Date"). Closing of the LIFE Offering is not conditional upon the closing of the Concurrent Offering. As a result of the expected participation by insiders of the Company, the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering may be considered a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company expects that the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering will be exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval, respectively, because the fair market value of the insiders' participation in each case will be below 25% of the Company's market capitalization for the purposes of Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tim Fernback, President & CEO About Temas Resources Temas Resources Corp. (CSE:TMAS)(OTCQB:TMASF) is focused on the advanced La Blache and Lac Brule Iron-Titanium-Vanadium projects in Quebec. The critical metals the Company is exploring for are key to our national mineral independence. Additionally, the Company invests in and works to apply its green mineral recovery technologies across its mining portfolio to reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of metal extraction through advanced processing and patented leaching technologies. All public filings for the Company can be found on the SEDAR+ website www.sedarplus.ca. For more information about the Company, please visit www.temasresources.com. For further information or investor relations inquiries: Tim Fernback President and CEO timf@temasresources.com Tel: (604) 340-3774 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering, the completion of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering, the expected closing date of the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering, the use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering and the Concurrent Offering. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with mineral exploration generally and results from anticipated and proposed exploration programs, conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals. Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. SOURCE: Temas Resources Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Rio Tinto has completed its acquisition of Arcadium Lithium Plc ("Arcadium Lithium") (NYSE: ALTM) (ASX: LTM) for $6.7 billion, following the sanctioning of the Scheme of Arrangement by the Royal Court of Jersey on 5 March. Rio Tinto is now the ultimate parent company of Arcadium Lithium, which will become Rio Tinto Lithium, and will also include the Rincon lithium project. The acquisition establishes Rio Tinto as a global leader in the supply of energy transition materials and as a major lithium producer, with one of the world's largest lithium resource bases. Rio Tinto Lithium aims to grow the capacity of its Tier 1 assets to over 200 thousand tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2028. Complementary technologies and geographies offer compelling value driven by accelerating volume growth in a rising market, projecting significantly higher EBITDA and operating cash flow in the coming years. Rio Tinto Chief Executive Officer Jakob Stausholm said: "Today we are delighted to welcome the employees of Arcadium to Rio Tinto. Together, we are accelerating our efforts to source, mine and produce minerals needed for the energy transition. By combining Rio Tinto's scale, financial strength, operational and project development experience with Arcadium's Tier 1 assets, technical and commercial capabilities, we are creating a world-class lithium business which sits alongside our leading iron ore, aluminium and copper operations. "We believe we are well-positioned to deliver the materials needed for the energy transition while maintaining our focus on respecting local communities, minimising environmental impacts and delivering value for shareholders and other stakeholders." Arcadium Lithium shareholders will receive total cash consideration of $5.85 for each share held at the scheme record date. Rio Tinto will fund the acquisition by drawing on its existing bridge loan facility, which it plans to replace with long-term debt financing. In connection with the completion of the transaction, Arcadium Lithium's shares, and CHESS Depositary Receipts (CDIs) will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), respectively. Forward Looking Statements This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Transaction, and other information published by Arcadium Lithium, Rio Tinto or any member of the Rio Tinto Group contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and on numerous assumptions regarding the business strategies and the environment in which Rio Tinto, any member of the Rio Tinto Group or the enlarged group following the Transaction ("Enlarged Group") shall operate in the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. The forward looking statements contained in this announcement relate to Rio Tinto, any member of the Rio Tinto Group or the Enlarged Group's future prospects, developments and business strategies, the ability to fully realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, and other statements other than historical facts. In some cases, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "will look to", "shall look to", "would look to", "plans", "prepares", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected to", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "synergy", "strategy", "goal", "cost-saving", "projects" "intends", "may", "will", "shall", or "should" or their negatives or other variations or comparable terminology. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and should be considered in light of various important factors, such as those set forth in Rio Tinto's filings with the SEC, including Rio Tinto's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024, and Rio Tinto's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on February 20, 2025. Neither Arcadium Lithium or any of Rio Tinto or any member of the Rio Tinto Group, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in this announcement shall actually occur. Given these risks and uncertainties, potential investors should not place any reliance on forward looking statements. Specifically, statements of estimated cost savings and synergies relate to future actions and circumstances which, by their nature involve, risks, uncertainties and contingencies. As a result, the cost savings and synergies referred to may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated. Due to the scale of the Enlarged Group, there may be additional changes to the Enlarged Group's operations. As a result and given the fact that the changes relate to the future, the resulting cost synergies may be materially greater or less than those estimated. The forward looking statements speak only at the date of this announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward looking statements attributable to any member of the Rio Tinto Group or Arcadium Lithium Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. Arcadium Lithium, the Rio Tinto Group and Rio Tinto expressly disclaim any obligation to update such statements other than as required by law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Notice to ASX/LSE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305025109/en/ Contact Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com Media Relations, United Kingdom David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322 Rachel Pupazzoni M +61 438 875 469 Media Relations, Canada Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152 Media Relations, US Jesse Riseborough M +1 202 394 9480 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Rachel Arellano M: +44 7584 609 644 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Laura Brooks M +44 7826 942 797 Weiwei Hu M +44 7825 907 230 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Ltd. Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Andy Hodges, Rio Tinto's Group Company Secretary. riotinto.com Category: General The Board of Kenmare Resources plc ("Kenmare" or the "Company") notes the recent press speculation and confirms that it has received a non-binding proposal from Oryx Global Partners Limited and Michael Carvill (together the "Consortium") regarding a possible all cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Kenmare. The most recent proposal received was at a price of 530 pence per Kenmare ordinary share (the "Proposal"). The Board of Kenmare, together with its advisers, considered the terms of the Proposal and unanimously rejected it on the basis that it undervalued Kenmare's business and its prospects. However, in order to facilitate the Consortium improving the financial terms of the Proposal, the Company has offered to provide the Consortium with access to limited due diligence information. There can be no certainty that a firm offer will be made, or as to the terms of any such offer, should one be made. In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Irish Takeover Rules, by not later than 5.00 pm on 17 April 2025, the Consortium must either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Kenmare in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Irish Takeover Rules or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for Kenmare, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Irish Takeover Rules applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Irish Takeover Rules. This announcement is made without the prior agreement or approval of the Consortium. A further announcement will be made as and when appropriate. Enquiries Kenmare Resources plc Jeremy Dibb / Katharine Sutton Investor Relations +353 1 671 0411 Rothschild & Co (Lead Financial Adviser) Ravi Gupta James Webb +44 (0) 20 7280 5000 Davy (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker) Ivan Murphy Daragh O'Reilly +353 1 679 6363 Peel Hunt LLP (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker) Ross Allister Michael Nicholson +44 (0) 207 418 8900 Disclosure requirements of the Irish Takeover Rules Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Irish Takeover Rules, any person who is 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of Kenmare must make an 'opening position disclosure' by no later than 3.30pm (Irish/UK time) on the tenth 'business day' following the commencement of the 'offer period'. An 'opening position disclosure' must contain the details specified in Rule 8.6(a) of the Irish Takeover Rules, including details of the person's interests and short positions in any 'relevant securities' of Kenmare. Relevant persons who deal in any 'relevant securities' of Kenmare prior to the deadline for making an 'opening position disclosure' must instead make a dealing disclosure as described below. Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Irish Takeover Rules, any person 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of Kenmare must disclose all 'dealings' in such 'relevant securities' during the 'offer period'. The disclosure of a 'dealing' in 'relevant securities' by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (Irish/UK time) on the business day following the date of the transaction. A dealing disclosure must contain the details specified in Rule 8.6(b) of the Irish Takeover Rules, including details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in any 'relevant securities' of Kenmare. All 'dealings' in 'relevant securities' of Kenmare by the Consortium, or by any party acting in concert with the Consortium, must also be disclosed by no later than 12 noon (Irish/UK time) on the 'business' day following the date of the relevant transaction. If two or more persons co-operate on the basis of an agreement, either express or tacit, either oral or written, to acquire for one or more of them an interest in relevant securities, they will be deemed to be a single person for these purposes. Disclosure tables, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant securities' 'opening positions' and 'dealings' should be disclosed, can be found on the Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie. 'Interests' in securities arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks in this section are defined in the Irish Takeover Rules, which can also be found on the Irish Takeover Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a dealing or an opening position under Rule 8, please consult the Irish Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie or contact the Irish Takeover Panel on telephone number +353 1 678 9020. Responsibility Statement The Directors of Kenmare accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. Rule 2.12 disclosure In accordance with Rule 2.12 of the Irish Takeover Rules, Kenmare confirms that, as at the date of this announcement, the Company's issued share capital comprises 89,228,161 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 0.001 each ("Ordinary Shares"). Kenmare does not have any Ordinary Shares which are held as treasury shares. In addition, there are 2,603,580 options over Ordinary Shares outstanding under the Company's restricted share plan (including accrued dividend equivalents). The Ordinary Shares are admitted to trading on the Official List of Euronext Dublin and the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA. The International Securities Identification Number for the Ordinary Shares is IE00BDC5DG00. Market Abuse Regulations The information contained within this announcement would have, prior to its release, constituted inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 and for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via a regulatory information service, this inside information will be considered to be in the public domain. The person responsible for arranging for the release of this information on behalf of Kenmare is Chelita Healy. Document Availability In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, a copy of this announcement will be available on the Company's website at https://www.Kenmareresources.com/en/investors by no later than 12.00 (noon) (Irish/UK time) on the business day following publication of this announcement. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into, and does not form part of, this announcement. Other notices N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Kenmare and for no one else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kenmare for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement. J&E Davy ("Davy"), which is regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland, is acting exclusively for Kenmare and no one else in relation to the matters described in this announcement. In connection with such matters, Davy, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they be responsible to anyone other than Kenmare for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in connection with the matters described in this Document or any matter referred to herein. Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, is acting exclusively for Kenmare and no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Kenmare for providing the protections afforded to clients of Peel Hunt nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Peel Hunt nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Peel Hunt in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION. THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE IRISH TAKEOVER PANEL ACT, 1997, TAKEOVER RULES, 2022 (THE "IRISH TAKEOVER RULES" OR THE "RULES") AND IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE IRISH TAKEOVER RULES. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER WILL BE MADE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION. ENDEAVOUR REPORTS STRONG FY-2024 RESULTS Record Q4-2024 free cash flow of $268m Improved leverage ratio of 0.55x 32% increase in P&P reserves OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(for continuing operations) Q4-2024 production of 363koz at a class-leading AISC of $1,141/oz; totalling 1,103koz at an AISC of $1,218/oz for FY-2024 Adj. EBITDA of $546m for Q4-2024, a 72% increase over Q3-2024; FY-2024 Adj. EBITDA of $1,325m Adj. Net Earnings of $110m ($0.45/sh) for Q4-2024, a 49% increase over Q3-2024; $227m ($0.93/sh) for FY-2024 Record free cash flow of $268m ($1.10/sh) for Q4-2024, or $418m before the one-off pre-payment settlement Net debt of $732m; leverage of 0.55x Net Debt / Adj. EBITDA (LTM) on track to 0.50x leverage target in near-term ROBUST SHAREHOLDER RETURNS Record FY-2024 dividend of $240m and share buybacks of $37m; total shareholder returns of$277m, or $251/oz produced; 32% above the minimum commitment at an attractive 5.9% indicative yield Share buybacks of $22m completed YTD-2025, 69% higher than the prior year bringing total shareholder returns since 2021 to 1.2bn, 82% above minimum commitment ATTRACTIVE ORGANIC GROWTH Tier 1 Assafou project DFS on track for late-2025 to early-2026; aggressive exploration ongoing around the project Group reserves increased by32%or4.5Moz, net of depletion, to18.4Moz with additions at Assafou (+4.1Moz) and Ity (+1.2Moz); Group M&I discovery target of 12-17Moz achieved with 12.2Moz discovered since 2021 for less than $25/oz London, 6 March 2025 - Endeavour Mining Plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV, OTCQX:EDVMF) ("Endeavour", the "Group" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its FY-2024 operating and financial results, with highlights provided in Table 1 below. Table 1: Highlights from continuing operations1 All amounts in US$ million unless otherwise specified THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED 31 December 2024 30 September 2024 31 December 2023 31 December 2024 31 December 2023 ? Q4-2024 vs. Q3-2024 OPERATING DATA Gold Production, koz 363 270 280 1,103 1,072 +34% Gold Sold, koz 356 280 285 1,099 1,084 +27% Total Cash Cost2,3, $/oz 979 1,128 837 1,058 837 (13)% All-in Sustaining Cost2,3, $/oz 1,141 1,287 947 1,218 967 (11)% Realised Gold Price2,4, $/oz 2,590 2,342 1,945 2,349 1,919 +11% CASH FLOW Operating Cash Flow before changes in working capital 356 245 246 952 746 +45% Operating Cash Flow before changes in working capital2, $/sh 1.46 1.00 1.00 3.89 3.02 +46% Operating Cash Flow 381 255 167 950 619 +49% Operating Cash Flow2, $/sh 1.56 1.04 0.68 3.88 2.51 +50% Free Cash Flow2,5 268 97 (44) 313 (174) +176% Free Cash Flow2,5, $/sh 1.10 0.40 (0.18) 1.28 (0.71) +178% PROFITABILITY Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders (119) (95) (160) (294) (23) +25% Net Earnings, $/sh (0.49) (0.39) (0.65) (1.20) (0.09) +26% Adj. Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders2 110 74 42 227 230 +49% Adj. Net Earnings2, $/sh 0.45 0.30 0.17 0.93 0.93 +50% EBITDA2 357 128 70 834 773 +179% Adj. EBITDA2 546 317 292 1,325 1,047 +72% SHAREHOLDER RETURNS2 Shareholder Dividends6 140 - 100 240 200 n.a. Share Buybacks 8 9 26 37 66 (11)% FINANCIAL POSITION HIGHLIGHTS2 Net Debt 732 834 555 732 555 (12)% Net Debt / LTM Trailing adj. EBITDA7 0.55x 0.77x 0.50x 0.55x 0.50x (29)% 1 Continuing Operations excludes the non-core Boungou and Wahgnion mines which were divested on 30 June 2023. 2This is a non-GAAP measure, refer to the non-GAAP Measures section for further details. 3Excludes pre-commercial costs and ounces sold. 4Realised gold prices are inclusive of the Sabodala-Massawa stream and the realised gains/losses from the Group's revenue protection programme.5From all operations; calculated as Operating Cash Flow less Cash used in investing activities. 6Shareholder Dividends includes H2-2024 declared dividend which are due to be paid on 15 April 2025. 7Last Twelve Months ("LTM") Trailing EBITDA adj includes EBITDA generated by discontinued operations. Management will host a conference call and webcast today, 6 March 2025, at 8:30 am EST / 1:30 pm GMT. For instructions on how to participate, please refer to the conference call and webcast section at the end of the news release. Today the Management Discussion & Analysis, audited Financial Statements and Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024 have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and filed on SEDAR+. The documents will shortly be available for inspection on the Company's website and at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. In addition, the Company has published its 2024 Sustainability Report and associated ESG Reporting Centre, which is also available on the Company's website. Ian Cockerill, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "2024 was another year of robust operational performance. We produced 1.1 million ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,218 per ounce, increasing our annual production and solidifying our position as one of the sector's lowest-cost producers. We further strengthened our portfolio, adding two high-margin growth projects in Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire, both of which were delivered on budget and on time. These will help to grow our production profile, improve costs and extend mine-life visibility, increasing both the quality and diversification of our portfolio. Following the startup of these projects, we delivered a strong end to the year, generating a record $268 million of free cash flow in Q4 - or over $400 million when adjusted for the one-off pre-payment settlement - demonstrating the improved capacity of our higher quality portfolio, to generate cash. As a result, our financial position also improved significantly and we ended the year with a leverage ratio of 0.55x, placing us firmly on track to achieve our near-term target of 0.50x. Given our strong financial position and robust operational performance, we declared a record $240 million dividend, which was supplemented with $37 million of share buybacks, bringing total returns to shareholders to $277 million for FY-2024, equivalent to more than $250 for every ounce produced. This year we will prioritise maximising free cash flow generation to support our increased commitment to shareholder returns. Whilst we remain focused on free cash flow in the near-term, we retain a strong platform for further growth, with the pre-feasibility study for the Assafou project, that was completed in December, confirming the project's potential to be a tier-1 asset and underpinning the Groups production growth to 1.5 million ounces by the end of the decade. As we advance the definitive feasibility study towards completion before early 2026, we are advancing exploration at the highly prospective, 20-kilometre long, Assafou corridor and at several nearby satellite targets. Following the successes at Lafigue and Assafou, exploration continues to generate significant value and our programme has now delivered 12.2 million ounces of M&I resource discoveries, at less than $25 per ounce, since 2021, achieving our five year target, a year early. During FY-2024, we successfully increased group reserves by 32% or 4.5 million ounces, net of depletion, equivalent to more than three times annual production depletion, underlining our ability to not only maintain production visibility, but to extend mine lives as well. Our commitment to ESG disclosure continues to earn external recognition. We have maintained top-tier Sustainalytics and MSCI ratings, placing us among the leading companies not only in our sector, but across industries. Looking ahead we will carry the strong momentum from the second half of 2024 into 2025, as we focus on operational delivery to maximise cashflow and support enhanced returns for our shareholders." SHAREHOLDER RETURNS PROGRAMME As previously announced, Endeavour's H2-2024 dividend amounts to a record $140.0 million, or approximately $0.57 per share and is expected to be paid on 15 April 2025 to shareholders of record on 14 March 2025. This brings the FY-2024 dividend to an annual record of $240.0 million or approximately $0.98 per share, which represents $30.0 million more than the minimum dividend commitment of $210.0 million for the year, reiterating Endeavour's strong commitment to paying supplemental shareholder returns. Shareholder returns continue to be supplemented through the Company's share buyback programme. A total of $37.0 million, or 1.8 million shares were repurchased during FY-2024, of which $8.0 million or 0.4 million shares were repurchased in Q4-2024. Furthermore, a total of $21.8 million or 1.1 million shares have been repurchased year-to-date, equivalent to a 69% increase over the same period last year; the increased commitment to share buybacks is expected to continue subject to gold price and operational performance. As shown in the table below, Endeavour has returned $277.0 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, 32% above the $210.0 million minimum commitment for the year, and equivalent to $251/oz produced. Since Endeavour's first dividend payment in 2021, Endeavour has returned $1,202 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks which represents $542.0 million or 82% more than its minimum commitment over the 2020-2024 period. Table 2: Cumulative Shareholder Returns (All amounts in US$m) MINIMUM DIVIDEND COMMITMENT SUPPLEMENTAL DIVIDENDS BUYBACKS COMPLETED TOTAL RETURN ? ABOVE MINIMUM COMMITMENT FY-2020 - 60 - 60 +60 2021-2023 Shareholder Returns Programme (completed) FY-2021 125 15 138 278 +153 FY-2022 150 50 99 299 +149 FY-2023 175 25 66 266 +91 2024-2025 Shareholder Returns Programme (ongoing) FY-2024 210 30 37 277 +67 FY-2025 (minimum) 225 n.a 22 247 +22 TOTAL 885 180 362 1,427 +542 As previously stated, Endeavour implemented a renewed shareholder returns programme in 2024 covering the FY-2024 and FY-2025 period. The minimum dividend for FY-2025 is $225.0 million and this is expected to be supplemented with both additional dividends and increased opportunistic share buybacks. Dividends are expected to be paid semi-annually, provided that the prevailing gold price for the dividend period is at or above $1,850/oz and the Company has a healthy financial position. Supplemental returns are expected to be paid in the form of dividends and opportunistic share buybacks, if the gold price exceeds $1,850/oz and if the Company has a healthy financial position. As such, Endeavour targets a minimum return of $1,427.0 million to shareholders by the end of 2025, to be further supplemented with additional dividends and opportunistic share buybacks. Endeavour's H2-2024 dividend will be paid on 15 April 2025 ("Payment Date"), to shareholders of record on 14 March 2025, with an ex-dividend date for holders of shares listed on the London Stock Exchange of 13 March 2025. For holders of shares traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, both the ex-dividend and record dates will be 14 March 2025. Holders of shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange will receive dividends in Canadian Dollars ("CAD") but can elect to receive United States Dollars ("USD"). Holders of shares traded on the London Stock Exchange will receive dividends in USD but can elect to receive Pounds Sterling ("GBP"). Currency elections and elections under the Company's dividend reinvestment plan ("DRIP") must be made by all shareholders prior to 17:00 GMT on 25 March 2025. Dividends will be paid in the default or elected currency on the Payment Date, at the prevailing USD:CAD and USD:GBP exchange rates as at 27 March 2025. This dividend does not qualify as an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes. The tax consequences of the dividend will be dependent on the particular circumstances of a shareholder. Endeavour is pleased to continue to offer a DRIP, to offer existing shareholders the opportunity, at their own election, to increase their investment in Endeavour by receiving dividend payments in the form of ordinary shares in the Company. Participation in the DRIP is optional and available to shareholders, subject to local law, who hold shares on the London Stock Exchange or on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Participants may opt to reinvest all, or any portion of their dividends in the DRIP. Custodians are reminded that as part of the terms and conditions of the DRIP, if you make a partial election on the DRIP, the remaining shares on your holding will be paid out automatically in GBP and not in the default currency of your specific holding(s). The enrolment form is available on Endeavour's website. The last election date for participation in the H2-2024 DRIP will be 25 March 2025. In accordance with the DRIP, Endeavour's Registrar, Computershare, will use cash dividends payable to participating shareholders to purchase ordinary shares in the open market on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange at the prevailing market price. CASH FLOW SUMMARY The table below presents the cash flow for Endeavour for the three month period ended 31 December 2024, 30 September 2024, and 31 December 2023, and the twelve month period ended 31 December 2024 and 31 December 2023 with accompanying explanations below. Table 3: Cash Flow Summary THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED All amounts in US$ million unless otherwise specified Notes 31 December 2024 30 September 2024 31 December 2023 31 December 2024 31 December 2023 Net cash from/(used in), as per cash flow statement: Operating cash flows before changes in working capital1 356 245 246 952 746 Changes in working capital1 25 10 (80) (2) (127) Cash generated from operating activities from continuing operations [1] 381 255 167 950 619 Cash generated from discontinued operations - - - (6) 27 Cash generated from operating activities [1] 381 255 167 943 647 Cash used in investing activities [2] (113) (158) (211) (630) (821) Free Cash Flow2,3 268 97 (44) 313 (174) Cash used in financing activities [3] (136) (241) (79) (439) (277) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0 9 15 (7) 17 (DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH 132 (135) (108) (133) (434) Cash and cash equivalent position at beginning of period4 252 387 625 517 951 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENT POSITION AT END OF PERIOD4 [4] 384 252 517 384 517 Gross debt5 1,116 1,085 1,072 1,116 1,072 NET DEBT2 [5] 732 834 555 732 555 Trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA2,6 1,325 1,082 1,101 1,325 1,101 Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA (LTM) ratio2,6 0.55x 0.77x 0.50x 0.55x 0.50x 1 Continuing operations excludes the Boungou and Wahgnion mines which were divested on 30 June 2023. 2 Free cash flow, net debt, and adjusted EBITDA are Non-GAAP measures. Refer to the non-GAAP measure section in this press release and in the Management Report. 3Calculated as Operating Cash Flow less Cash used in investing activities. 4Cash and cash equivalents are net of bank overdrafts ($13.1 million at 31 December 2024, $62.2 million at 30 September 2024; $21.1 million at 30 June 2024; Nil at 31 December 2023; Nil at 30 September 2023; Nil at 30 June 2023; Nil at 31 December 2022). 5Gross debt includes the principal amount of the $500 million Senior Notes and the drawn portions of the $700 million Revolving Credit Facility, $167 million Lafigue term loan, and $28 million Sabodala-Massawa term loan. Gross debt excludes $13.1 million overdraft facility. 6Trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA includes EBITDA generated by discontinued operations. NOTES: 1) Operating cash flows increased by $126.6 million from $254.8 million ($1.04 per share) in Q3-2024 to $381.4 million ($1.56 per share) in Q4-2024 due to higher gold sales volumes, a higher realised gold price, lower taxes paid related to the timing of tax payments, and a higher working capital inflow partially offset by the non-cash adjustments for deferred revenue of $150.0 million recognised in relation to the settlement of the gold prepayment agreements entered in Q2-2024, higher royalties and higher operating costs. Operating cash flows increased by $296.8 million from $646.5 million ($2.62 per share) in FY-2023 to $943.3 million ($3.85 per share) in FY-2024 due to a higher realised gold price, a lower working capital outflow and lower taxes paid at Sabodala-Massawa and Mana, partially offset by higher operating costs and royalties. Notable variances are summarised below: Working capital was an inflow of $25.1 million in Q4-2024, an increase of $15.0 million over the Q3-2024 inflow of $10.1 million. The inflow in Q4-2024 was largely driven by a trade and other payables inflow of $46.7 million primarily related to the timing of supplier payments at Lafigue, Mana and Sabodala-Massawa, timing of royalty payments and year-end payroll related liabilities, partially offset by an outflow in trade and other receivables of $11.8 million related to the timing of gold sales, an outflow of inventories of $7.4 million primarily related to additions to stockpiles and consumables at Sabodala-Massawa, Ity and Lafigue, and an outflow in prepaid expenses and other items of $2.4 million. Working capital was an outflow of $2.1 million in FY-2024, a decrease of $124.8 million over the FY-2023 outflow of $126.9 million, driven by an outflow of inventories at Sabodala-Massawa and Lafigue in line with operational readiness of the assets and stockpiling ahead of processing, an outflow of prepaid expenses and other items at Sabodala-Massawa and Ity and an outflow in trade and other receivables related to the timing of gold sales which were partially offset by an inflow of trade and other payables related to an overall higher operating cost base with the addition of Lafigue and Sabodala-Massawa BIOX projects and higher royalties. Gold sales increased from 280koz in Q3-2024 to 356koz in Q4-2024 following increased production across the portfolio primarily driven by access to higher-grade ore at Hounde's Kari Pump pit, a full quarter of production at Lafigue, and increased production at Mana due to increased stoping rates at Wona. The realised gold price increased from $2,506/oz for Q3-2024 to $2,620/oz for Q4-2024. Inclusive of the Group's Revenue Protection Programme, the realised gold price increased from $2,342/oz for Q3-2024 to $2,590/oz for Q4-2024. Gold sales from continuing operations increased from 1,084koz in FY-2023 to 1,099koz in FY-2024, due to higher Group production from continuing operations in FY-2024, driven by record production at Ity, increased production at Mana and the addition of Lafigue, partially offset by lower production at Hounde following record production in FY-2023 and underperformance at Sabodala-Massawa. The realised gold price from continuing operations increased from $1,939/oz for FY-2023 to $2,418/oz for FY-2024. Inclusive of the Group's Revenue Protection Programme, the realised gold price increased from $1,919/oz for FY-2023 to $2,349/oz for FY-2024. Total cash cost per ounce decreased from $1,128/oz in Q3-2024 to $979/oz in Q4-2024, due to higher gold sales at Hounde, Mana and Lafigue driving per ounce cash costs lower as well as lower underground mining costs at Mana, partially offset by higher costs at Ity due to increased mining unit costs as average haulage distance increased. Total cash cost per ounce increased from $837/oz in FY-2023 to $1,058/oz in FY-2024 due to increased cash costs at Hounde, Ity, Mana and Sabodala-Massawa due to higher royalty costs, the impact of low grid power availability in H1-2024, as well as significantly lower production at Sabodala-Massawa, partially offset by the H2-2024 impact of the lower-cost Lafigue mine. As shown in the table below, taxes paid decreased by $47.6 million from $64.5 million in Q3-2024 to $16.9 million in Q4-2024 due largely to a decrease in taxes paid at Ity as well as a decrease in other tax payments from $25.0 million in Q3-2024 to $0.8 million in Q4-2024 due to lower withholding tax payments linked to cash that was upstreamed from operating entities. Taxes paid decreased by $44.9 million from $340.9 million in FY-2023 to $296.0 million in FY-2024 due to a decrease in tax payments at Mana and Sabodala-Massawa following lower taxable earnings. Table 4: Tax Payments from continuing operations THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED All amounts in US$ million 31 December 2024 30 September 2024 31 December 2023 31 December 2024 31 December 2023 Hounde 11 12 17 51 52 Ity 2 25 19 78 62 Mana 2 2 6 11 27 Sabodala-Massawa - - - 76 116 Lafigue - - 1 1 1 Other1 1 25 30 80 84 Taxes paid by continuing operations 17 65 71 296 341 1Included in the "Other" category is income and withholding taxes paid by corporate and exploration entities. As previously disclosed, on 26 April 2024 the Company entered into two separate gold prepayment agreements for a total consideration of $150.0 million in exchange for the settlement of approximately 76koz that were successfully settled during Q4-2024. The gold prepayments secured $150.0 million of financing for a low cost of capital of 5.35% and supported the Company's offshore cash position during its investment and deleveraging phase. The prepayments were structured as follows: A $100.0 million prepayment agreement with the Bank of Montreal based on a floating arrangement for the settlement of approximately 54koz in reference to prevailing spot prices for the settlement of $105.1 million in Q4-2024 locking in a low cost of capital of 5.05%. A $50.0 million prepayment agreement with ING Bank N.V. is based on a fixed arrangement for the settlement of approximately 22koz for the settlement of $50.0 million in Q4-2024. To mitigate the Group's exposure to gold price associated with the settlement of ounces under the fixed prepayment agreement, Endeavour entered into forward purchase contracts for 22koz at an average gold price of $2,408/oz due in Q4-2024, locking in a financing cost of 5.95%. 2) Cashflows used in investing activities decreased by $44.7 million from $157.9 million in Q3-2024 to $113.2 million in Q4-2024 due to decreased growth capital spend following the completion of growth projects during the year and decreased non-sustaining capital spend associated with a reduction in expenditure at the Sabodala-Massawa Solar Power Plant, which entered commissioning during the period. Cashflows used in investing activities decreased by $190.8 million from $820.8 million in FY-2023 to $630.0 million in FY-2024 due primarily to decreased growth capital spend following the completion of growth projects during the year. Sustaining capital increased from $31.3 million in Q3-2024 to $43.4 million in Q4-2024 due to increased sustaining capital expenditure at Ity associated with plant upgrades and at Sabodala-Massawa due to increased expenditure on fleet replacements. Sustaining capital from continuing operations increased from $91.8 million in FY-2023 to $126.0 million in FY-2024 due to the overall increase in group size with Lafigue and Sabodala-Massawa BIOX expansion entering into operations, increased expenditure at Hounde associated with purchases of heavy mining equipment and spare parts, and higher sustaining waste stripping and at Mana due to increased underground development across the Siou and Wona underground deposits. Non-sustaining capital decreased from $68.9 million in Q3-2024 to $62.9 million in Q4-2024 due to decreased non-sustaining capital expenditure at Sabodala-Massawa associated with decreased spending on the Solar Power Plant and at Ity due to the completion of the Mineral Sizer optimisation initiative and reduced spending on stage 1 of TSF 2, partially offset by increased non-sustaining capital expenditure at Lafigue associated with pre-stripping activities at the Main pit pushback 2. Non-sustaining capital from continuing operations decreased from $245.3 million in FY-2023 to $224.9 million in FY-2024 due to decreased expenditure at Ity as pre-stripping activities at Le Plaque was completed in the prior year, and expenditure related to the Recyn optimisation initiative in the prior year as well as decreased expenditure at Hounde due to reduced pre-stripping activities at the Kari Pump pit, partially offset by increased expenditure at Sabodala-Massawa related to the solar power plant and at Lafigue in line with the classification of pre-stripping activities in the Eastern Flank of the main pit following the declaration of commercial production. Growth capital decreased from $35.3 million in Q3-2024 to $24.1 million in Q4-2024, following the completion of the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX Expansion and Lafigue growth projects during the prior quarter. Growth capital expenditure during the quarter also included $2.7 million for technical study work related to the Kalana project. Growth capital decreased from $447.5 million in FY-2023 to $251.5 million in FY-2024 following the completion of construction activities at the Lafigue development project and the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX Expansion during the year. 3) Cash flows used in financing activities decreased by $105.0 million from an outflow of $241.0 million in Q3-2024 to an outflow of $136.0 million in Q4-2024 largely due to the timing of shareholder dividend payments and reduced minority dividend payments, partially offset by a net drawing on debt instruments. Cash flows used in financing activities in Q4-2024 included, shareholder dividend payments of $100.0 million, payments of financing and other fees of $52.2 million related to the coupon payment for the senior notes, (including financing fees of $8.0 million associated with the gold pre-payment agreement), minority dividend payments of $6.9 million, payments for the acquisition of the Company's own shares through its share buyback programme of $6.6 million and repayment of finance and lease obligations of $6.5 million. Q4-2024 financing activities cash outflows were partially offset by net proceeds of $36.2 million from the RCF and Term Loan facilities. On 5 November 2024, the Group closed a new $700.0 million sustainability-linked Revolving Credit Facility ("RCF") at the same favourable terms as the 2021 $645.0 million RCF. The new RCF bears interest at a rate equal to SOFR plus between 2.40% to 3.40% per annum based on leverage, in line with the 2021 RCF, and has a 4-year term with the potential for a 1-year extension. The new facility was coordinated by Citibank and comprises a syndicate of eight banks including Citibank, Bank of Montreal who acted as the Sustainability Co-ordinator, HSBC Bank, ING Bank, Macquarie Bank, Nedbank, Standard Bank of South Africa, and Standard Chartered Bank. The new sustainability-linked RCF integrates the core elements of Endeavour's sustainability strategy into its financing strategy, specifically climate change, biodiversity and malaria, with clear sustainability-linked performance metrics that will be measured on an annual basis and reviewed by an independent external verifier. For more details on the sustainability-linked RCF, please refer to the MD&A. Cash flows used in financing activities increased by $162.5 million from an outflow of $276.6 million in FY-2023 to an outflow of $439.1 million in FY-2024 due to increased financing fees associated with a larger total quantum of drawing and higher minority dividends paid due to a higher quantum of cash upstreamed during FY-2024. Cash flows used in financing activities in FY-2024 included shareholder dividends paid of $200.0 million, minority dividends of $123.5 million, payments of financing and other fees of $101.4 million largely related to the coupon payments for the senior notes and the RCF (including financing fees of $8.0 million associated with the gold pre-payment agreement), payments for the acquisition of the Company's own shares through its share buyback programme of $39.2 million, repayment of finance and lease obligations of $23.3 million and payments for the settlement of tracker shares of $1.1 million. FY-2024 financing activities cash outflows were partially offset by net proceeds of $49.4 million from the RCF and Term Loan facilities. 4) At year end, Endeavour's cash and cash equivalents, net of $13.1 million in drawn cash on in-country overdraft facilities, stood at $384.2 million. 5) Endeavour's net debt position improved by $102.0 million, from $833.6 million at the end of Q3-2024 to $731.6 million at the end of Q4-2024. The net debt / Adjusted EBITDA (LTM) leverage ratio improved from 0.77x at the end of Q3-2024 to 0.55x at the end of Q4-2024, reflecting the deleveraging of the balance sheet following completion of the Company's organic growth phase. EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS The table below presents the earnings and adjusted earnings for Endeavour for the three month periods ended 31 December 2024, 30 September 2024, and 31 December 2023 and the twelve month periods ended 31 December 2024 and 31 December 2023 with accompanying explanations below. Table 5: Earnings from Continuing Operations THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED All amounts in US$ million unless otherwise specified Notes 31 December 2024 30 September 2024 31 December 2023 31 December 2024 31 December 2023 Revenue [6] 941 706 579 2,676 2,115 Operating expenses [7] (294) (272) (209) (1,007) (787) Depreciation and depletion [7] (226) (147) (133) (609) (448) Royalties [8] (64) (52) (40) (191) (134) Earnings from mine operations 357 234 198 869 745 Corporate costs [9] (14) (12) (11) (47) (49) Impairment of mining interests [10] (200) - (108) (200) (123) Share-based compensation (9) (4) (7) (21) (29) Other expense [11] (9) (23) (19) (62) (23) Derecognition and impairment of financial assets [12] (22) (112) (26) (151) (32) Exploration costs [13] (5) (4) (6) (19) (48) Earnings from operations 98 79 21 368 443 (Loss)/gain on financial instruments [14] 34 (98) (84) (143) (118) Finance costs (33) (29) (19) (111) (71) Earnings before taxes 99 (49) (82) 114 254 Current income tax expense [15] (109) (68) (75) (353) (268) Deferred income tax (expense)/recovery [15] (93) 40 10 4 57 Net comprehensive earnings from continuing operations [16] (103) (77) (148) (235) 43 Add-back adjustments [17] 235 169 205 535 262 Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations 132 91 57 300 305 Portion attributable to non-controlling interests 22 18 15 73 75 Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of the Company [18] 110 74 42 227 230 Adjusted net earnings per share from continuing operations 0.45 0.30 0.17 0.93 0.93 NOTES: 6) Revenue increased by $234.6 million from $705.9 million in Q3-2024 to $940.5 million in Q4-2024 due to an increase in the realised gold price from $2,506/oz in Q3-2024 to $2,620/oz in Q4-2024 exclusive of the Company's Revenue Protection Programme, further compounded by an increase in gold sales from 280koz in Q3-2024 to 356koz in Q4-2024 due to increased production at Hounde, Lafigue, Sabodala-Massawa and Mana. Revenue increased by $561.3 million from $2,114.6 million in FY-2023 to $2,675.9 million in FY-2024 due to an increase in the realised gold price exclusive of the Company's Revenue Protection Programme, from $1,939/oz in FY-2023 to $2,418/oz in FY-2024, further compounded by an increase in gold sales from continuing operations from 1,084koz in FY-2023 to 1,099koz in FY-2024 due to higher production at Ity and the introduction of the Lafigue mine, partially offset by a decrease at Sabodala-Massawa. 7) Operating expenses increased by $21.5 million from $272.4 million in Q3-2024 to $293.9 million in Q4-2024 due to the increase in operating activities at Lafigue and increased mining costs at Ity due to an increase in average haulage distance. Depreciation and depletion increased by $78.4 million from $147.2 million in Q3-2024 to $225.6 million in Q4-2024 mainly due to increased production across the Group, the recognition of depreciation and depletion at the BIOX plant and the Lafigue mine following a full quarter of commercial production and higher depletion at the Sabodala pit, which is approaching the end of its mine life. Operating expenses increased by $220.2 million from $787.2 million in FY-2023 to $1,007.4 million in FY-2024 due to the introduction of Lafigue and the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX plant into the portfolio, further compounded by poor grid reliability in H1-2024, which resulted in higher self-generated power costs. Depreciation and depletion increased by $160.9 million from $448.4 million in FY-2023 to $609.3 million in FY-2024 due to depreciation associated with the Lafigue and the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX plant, which were both commissioned in Q3-2024, coupled with increased depletion of the Sabodala pit, which is approaching the end of its mine life. 8) Royalties increased by $12.2 million from $52.1 million in Q3-2024 to $64.3 million in Q4-2024 due to an increase in the realised gold price as noted above and higher volumes of gold sold. Royalties increased by $56.8 million from $133.7 million in FY-2023 to $190.5 million in FY-2024 due to an increase in the realised gold price as noted above, the previously disclosed impact of the change in the sliding scale royalty rates in Burkina Faso, which came into effect in November 2023 and an increase in volumes of gold sold. 9) Corporate costs increased from $11.9 million in Q3-2024 to $14.0 million in Q4-2024 due to higher general corporate costs associated with bonus accruals. Corporate costs decreased slightly from $49.0 million in FY-2023 to $47.3 million in FY-2024 due to decreased corporate employee compensation and professional service costs, partially offset by an increase in administrative and other overhead costs. 10) The Group recognised a non-cash impairment of $199.5 million in Q4-2024 consisting of $133.1 million and $66.4 million in relation to the Kalana property and various exploration permits, respectively. The impairment of the Kalana property reflects the operating environment in Mali and ongoing study work, which contemplates a smaller-scale operation. The impairment of exploration permits primarily relates to the Golden Hill permit, located approximately 25 kilometres away from Hounde, where the permit is in the process of being renewed. 11) Other expenses decreased from $22.8 million in Q3-2024 to $9.1 million in Q4-2024 due largely to $15.6 million in restructuring and settlement costs at Sabodala-Massawa recognised in Q3-2024. For Q4-2024, other expenses included $4.7 million in legal and other costs primarily related to provisions for local content, $2.7 million in tax claims at Sabodala-Massawa and $1.1 million in acquisition and restructuring costs among other items. The Group recognised other expenses of $62.5 million in FY-2024 consisting of $21.4 million in acquisition and restructuring costs primarily related to settlement costs at Sabodala-Massawa, $21.6 million of legal fees primarily related to the Lilium arbitration, $9.4 million of investigation costs associated with the CEO termination, $8.3 million in tax claims at Mana and Sabodala-Massawa, $2.9 million in disturbance costs at Hounde and $2.6 million in community contributions partially offset by a $3.7 million gain on the disposal of the Afema asset. 12) De-recognition and impairment of financial assets decreased by $89.9 million from $112.2 million in Q3-2024 to $22.3 million in Q4-2024 due largely to the write-down in Q3-2024 of expected proceeds from the disposal of the Boungou and Wahgnion mines as a result of the previously announced settlement agreement between Endeavour, Lilium and the Government of Burkina Faso, which comprises a lower consideration than the original divestment transaction consideration with Lilium in Q2-2023. Pursuant to the settlement, Endeavour received $15.1 million during Q4-2024, with a total of $40.2 million during FY-2024, in addition to a 3% royalty on up to 400,000 ounces of gold sold from the Wahgnion mine. At year-end 2024 the outstanding receivable was approximately $19.8 million, of which $10.0 million has been received subsequent to year-end, with the remaining proceeds expected to be received in the near-term. De-recognition and impairment of financial assets increased by $118.9 million from $32.1 million in FY-2023 to $151.0 million in FY-2024 due largely to the above mentioned write-down of expected proceeds from the divestment of the Boungou and Wahgnion mines. 13) Exploration costs increased by $0.9 million from $4.3 million in Q3-2024 to $5.2 million in Q4-2024 as the Group's exploration programme largely focused on analysis and interpretation of drilling results following the conclusion of the year's drilling programmes early in the quarter. In addition, drilling at Mana and Sabodala-Massawa continued, focused on near-term exploration targets to support production. Exploration costs decreased by $28.3 million from $47.5 million in FY-2023 to $19.2 million in FY-2024 largely due to the capitalisation of costs associated with the Assafou project during the year and increased focus on resource to reserve conversion during FY-2024. 14) The loss on financial instruments increased by $131.9 million from a loss of $98.3 million in Q3-2024 to a gain of $33.6 million in Q4-2024 largely due to an unrealised gain on gold collars and forward sales of $34.7 million and the unrealised gain on NSRs and deferred consideration from the disposal of Boungou and Wahgnion of $3.8 million, partially offset by the realised loss on gold collars and forward sales of $10.4 million. The loss on financial instruments increased by $24.7 million from a loss of $118.0 million in FY-2023 to a loss of $142.7 million in FY-2024 and comprised of realised and unrealised losses on gold collars and forward sales of $75.9 million and $37.0 million, respectively, further compounded by foreign exchange losses of $23.9 million. Consistent with our financing approach during periods of high capital expenditure, as previously disclosed, in order to increase cash flow visibility during its construction and de-leveraging phases, Endeavour entered into a Revenue Protection Programme, using a combination of zero premium gold collars and forward sales contracts, to cover a portion of its 2023, 2024 and 2025 production. During Q4-2024, approximately 113koz were settled into forward sales contracts for an average gold price of $2,400/oz. For FY-2024, approximately 450koz (approximately 113koz per quarter), were delivered into a collar with an average call price of $2,400/oz and an average put price of $1,807/oz. In addition, during H1-2024, a total of approximately 70koz (approximately 35koz per quarter) were settled in forward sales contracts with an average gold price of $2,033/oz. For FY-2025, approximately 200koz (approximately 50koz per quarter) are expected to be delivered into a collar with an average call price of $2,400/oz and an average put price of $1,992/oz. As previously disclosed, Endeavour entered into a Growth Capital Protection Programme designed to enhance cost certainty for a portion of its growth capital expenditure at its Sabodala-Massawa expansion and Lafigue growth projects. The Group had entered into various foreign exchange forward contracts across both the Euro and the Australian Dollar over 2023 and 2024. The Growth Capital Protection Programme concluded in July 2024. 15) Current income tax expense increased by $41.0 million from $68.2 million in Q3-2024 to $109.2 million in Q4-2024 largely due to the recognition of withholding tax expenses of $78.6 million and income tax expense of $21.7 million due to higher taxable earnings at the operating site level. Current income tax expense increased by $85.0 million from $267.9 million in FY-2023 to $352.9 million in FY-2024 due to higher withholding tax expenses following larger amounts of cash upstreamed this year. Deferred income tax decreased by $132.7 million from the deferred income tax recovery of $39.5 million in Q3-2024 to a deferred income tax expense of $93.2 million in Q4-2024 mainly due to increased withholding taxes recognised in relation to increased levels of cash expected to be upstreamed in 2025 and foreign exchange losses recognised upon revaluation of deferred taxes carried forward from 2023. Deferred income tax decreased by $52.7 million from a deferred income tax recovery of $57.1 million in FY-2023 to a deferred income tax recovery of $4.4 million in FY-2024 largely driven by deferred tax liabilities on mining interests at Lafigue. 16) Net comprehensive loss from continuing operations increased by $26.1 million from $77.2 million in Q3-2024 to a net comprehensive loss of $103.3 million in Q4-2024. The increase in loss is largely driven by an impairment of mining interests of $199.5 million, higher operating expenses, depreciation and depletion, current income tax expense and deferred income tax expense, partially offset by higher gold sales at a higher prevailing gold price and an unrealised gain on financial instruments. Net comprehensive earnings of $42.7 million in FY-2023 decreased by $277.3 million to a net comprehensive loss of $234.6 million in FY-2024. The decrease is driven by an impairment of mining interests of $199.5 million, higher current income tax expense, higher operating expenses due to the commissioning of Lafigue and the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX expansion in Q3-2024, higher depreciation and depletion, higher royalties, and a higher loss on financial instruments due to gold collars and forward sales, partially offset by an increase in gold sales, at a higher realised gold price. 17) For Q4-2024, adjustments included a non-cash impairment charge of $199.5 million as discussed above, a $48.5 million of foreign exchange remeasurements on the deferred tax balance, and other expenses of $9.1 million primarily related to a Sabodala-Massawa tax claim, partially offset by a net gain on financial instruments of $44.0 million related to the unrealised gain on forward sales and collars and change in fair value of NSRs and marketable securities. For FY-2024, adjustments included an impairment charge of $199.5 million as discussed above, de-recognition and impairment of financial assets of $151.0 million due to above mentioned write-down of expected proceeds from the divestment of the Boungou and Wahgnion mines, a net loss on financial instruments of $66.8 million related to the unrealised loss on forward sales and collars and a change in fair value of NSRs and marketable securities, other expenses of $62.5 million, and non-cash, tax and other adjustments of $55.2 million that mainly relate to the impact of the foreign exchange remeasurement of deferred tax balance. 18) Adjusted net earnings attributable to shareholders for continuing operations increased by $36.4 million from $73.7 million (or $0.30 per share) in Q3-2024 to $110.1 million (or $0.45 per share) in Q4-2024, due to higher gold sales at a higher realised gold price. Adjusted net earnings attributable to shareholders for continuing operations decreased by $3.0 million from $230.2 million (or $0.93 per share) in FY-2023 to $227.3 million (or $0.93 per share) in FY-2024 due to higher taxes, depreciation and depletion, and royalty costs, partially offset by higher gold sales and at a higher realised gold price. SUMMARISED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION The tables below presents the summarised statement of financial position and liquidity for the Group as at 31 December 2024, and 31 December 2023, with accompanying explanations below. Table 6: Summarised Statement of Financial Position All amounts in US$ million unless otherwise specified Note As at 31 December 2024 As at 31 December 2023 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents1 397 517 Other current assets [19] 568 603 Total current assets 965 1,120 Mining interests [20] 3,981 4,157 Other long term assets [21] 568 581 TOTAL ASSETS 5,513 5,859 LIABILITIES Other current liabilities [22] 544 439 Current portion of debt [23] 51 9 Overdraft facility 13 - Income taxes payable [24] 214 166 Total current liabilities 822 613 Non-current portion of debt [25] 1,060 1,060 Environmental rehabilitation provision 120 115 Other long-term liabilities 60 58 Deferred income taxes 460 464 TOTAL LIABILITIES 2,521 2,310 TOTAL EQUITY 2,993 3,548 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 5,513 5,859 1Cash and cash equivalents presented inclusive of $13.1 million overdraft facility. NOTES: 19) Other current assets as at 31 December 2024 consisted of $339.2 million of inventories, $150.6 million of trade and other receivables, $56.4 million of prepaid expenses and other, and $21.3 million of other financial assets. Inventories increased by $114.3 million from $224.9 million as at 31 December 2023 to $339.2 million as at 31 December 2024, primarily due to increased supplies in support of the ramp-up of operating activities at Lafigue and the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX expansion and increased stockpiles at Sabodala-Massawa, Ity and Lafigue. Trade and other receivables decreased by $118.6 million from $269.2 million as at 31 December 2023 to $150.6 million as at 31 December 2024, primarily due to the derecognition and impairment of consideration-related receivables following the settlement with Lilium and the State of Burkina Faso and subsequent consideration receipts from the State totaling $40.2 million; the reclassification of a portion of the Burkina Faso VAT to non-current receivables, net of the overall increase in VAT receivables in Burkina Faso for a net decrease of $17.8 million; and a decrease in other receivables of $8.6 million related primarily to the derecognition and impairment of Lilium related receivables. Prepaid expenses and other increased by $17.2 million from $39.2 million as at 31 December 2023 to $56.4 million as at 31 December 2024, primarily due to the timing of supplier prepayments and the impact of the Lafigue mine ramp up. Other financial assets decreased by $48.4 million from $69.7 million as at 31 December 2023 to $21.3 million as at 31 December 2024 primarily due to the derecognition and impairment of financial assets associated to deferred and contingent consideration components from Lilium and the Boungou net smelter royalty ("NSR") portion. 20) Mining interests decreased by $176.3 million from $4,157.1 million as at 31 December 2023 to $3,980.8 million as at 31 December 2024 mainly due to the impairment charge in relation to non-depletable exploration and development assets of $199.5 million. Capital additions of $676.2 million was in part offset by the depreciation charge of $649.1 million. 21) Other long-term assets decreased by $13.4 million from $581.2 million as at 31 December 2023 to $567.8 million as at 31 December 2024 and consisted of $316.9 million of long-term stockpiles not expected to be processed in the next twelve months at the Hounde, Ity, Lafigue and Sabodala-Massawa mines; $134.4 million of goodwill allocated to the Sabodala-Massawa and Mana mines; other financial assets of $80.2 million that primarily comprise the Wahgnion NSR consideration element and $62.1 million of restricted cash mainly relating to reclamation bonds and the Ity land claim; and non-current VAT receivables of $36.3 million. 22) Other current liabilities increased by $105.1 million from $438.7 million as at 31 December 2023 to $543.8 million as at 31 December 2024 and consisted of $462.5 million of trade and other payables; $63.1 million of other financial liabilities consisting of gold collar derivative contracts and PSU and DSU liabilities; and $18.2 million of lease liabilities. The increase in current liabilities was primarily due to an increase in trade and other payables of $55.6 million due to a ramp up of operational payables at Lafigue and Sabodala-Massawa following commercial production and timing of year end payments. The increase in derivative financial liabilities of $45.6 million is attributable to the increase in the gold spot price environment during FY-2024, reflected in the revaluation of open gold collar positions. 23) The current portion of debt increased by $42.7 million from $8.5 million as at 31 December 2023 to $51.2 million as at 31 December 2024 due to the current payable principal elements on the Lafigue and Sabodala term loan facilities. 24) Income taxes payable increased by $47.4 million from $166.2 million as at 31 December 2023 to $213.6 million as at 31 December 2024 due largely to increased income tax liabilities driven by increased taxable earnings in FY-2024 in combination with the timing of 2024 provisional and 2023 true-up tax payments during FY-2024. 25) The non-current portion of long-term debt increased marginally from $1,059.9 million as at 31 December 2023 to $1,060.0 million as at 31 December 2024 as additional drawdowns of the Lafigue term loan were offset by a reclassification to current debt. Table 7: Net Debt and Leverage Ratio THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED All amounts in US$ million unless otherwise specified 31 December 2024 30 September 2024 31 December 2023 31 December 2024 31 December 2023 Cash and cash equivalents3 [26] 397 314 517 397 517 Principal amount of $500m Senior Notes 500 500 500 500 500 Drawn portion of $700m Revolving Credit Facility 470 415 465 470 465 Drawn portion of $167m Lafigue Term Loan 133 147 107 133 107 Drawn portion of $28m Sabodala Term Loan 13 23 - 13 - Drawn portion of overdraft facility 13 62 - 13 - Net Debt1 [27] 732 834 555 732 555 Trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA1,2 1,325 1,082 1,101 1,325 1,101 Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA (LTM) ratio1,2 0.55x 0.77x 0.50x 0.55x 0.50x 1Net debt, Adjusted EBITDA, and cash flow per share are Non-GAAP measures. Refer to the non-GAAP measure section in this press release and in the Management Report. 2Last Twelve Months ("LTM") Trailing EBITDA adj. includes EBITDA generated by discontinued operations. 3Cash and cash equivalents presented inclusive of $13.1 million overdraft facility. 26) At year end, Endeavour's liquidity remained strong at $614.2 million, consisting of $397.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and $230.0 million available through the Company's revolving credit facility, less $13.1 million of overdraft facilities. 27) Endeavour's net debt position improved by $102.0 million, from $833.6 million at the end of Q3-2024 to $731.6 million at the end of Q4-2024. The net debt / Adjusted EBITDA (LTM) leverage ratio improved from 0.77x at the end of Q3-2024 to 0.55x at the end of Q4-2024. OPERATING SUMMARY The Group demonstrated strong safety performance in FY-2024, with a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate ("LTIFR") of 0.13. Endeavour will continue to prioritise safety in accordance with its zero-harm target. Q4-2024 production amounted to 363koz, an increase over Q3-2024 driven by access to higher-grade ore at Hounde's Kari Pump pit, a full quarter of production at Lafigue, and increased production at Mana due to increased stoping rates at the Wona deposit. Q4-2024 all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") decreased by $146/oz or 11.3% over Q3-2024 to $1,141/oz due to lower costs at Hounde, Mana, and Lafigue, which were offset by increases in sustaining capital at Ity, associated with plant upgrades, and at Sabodala-Massawa associated with fleet replacements. FY-2024 production amounted to 1,103koz, in line with the previously disclosed outlook and slightly below the guided 1,130 - 1,270koz range, due to lower than guided production from Sabodala-Massawa. FY-2024 AISC amounted to a class-leading $1,218/oz. As shown in the table below, Endeavour was above the top-end of the guided $955-1,035/oz AISC range, due to underperformance at Sabodala-Massawa (+$137/oz), higher royalty costs (+$51/oz) associated with the prevailing higher gold price ($2,435/ vs $1,850/oz guided gold price) and low grid power availability during H1-2024 (+$27/oz), which was partially offset by lower than expected costs at Lafigue due to lower stripping costs. Table 8: Group All-In Sustaining Cost Compared to Guidance 2024 ACTUALS 2024 GUIDANCE Comparative AISC at $1,850/oz gold price before impacts: 1,003 955 - 1,035 Royalties at $2,418/ozrealised gold price1 +51 51 Low grid power availability in H1-20242 +27 Sabodala-Massawa under performance +137 AISC at $2,418/oz realised gold price 1,218 1,006 - 1,086 12024 AISC guidance was based on a gold price of $1,850/oz compared to the realised gold price of $2,418/oz 2As previously disclosed, grid availability issues increased self-generated power costs across Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire assets during the FY-2024. FY-2024 production of 1,103koz, increased by 31koz or 3% over the 1,072koz produced in FY-2023 from continuing operations due to record production at Ity, increased production at Mana and the addition of Lafigue, partially offset by lower production at Hounde following record production in FY-2023 and underperformance at Sabodala-Massawa. FY-2024 TCC increased by $221/oz, from $837/oz in FY-2023 to $1,058/oz in FY-2024 as TCC increased at Hounde, Ity, Mana and Sabodala-Massawa due to higher royalty costs, the impact of low grid power availability in H1-2024, as well as significantly lower production at Sabodala-Massawa, partially offset by the H2-2024 impact of the lower-cost Lafigue mine. FY-2024 AISC increased by $251/oz, from $967/oz in FY-2023 to $1,218/oz in FY-2024. Table 9: Group Production THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED All amounts in koz, on a 100% basis 31 December 2024 30 September 2024 31 December 2023 31 December 2024 31 December 2023 Hounde 109 74 84 288 312 Ity 84 77 74 343 324 Mana 41 30 37 148 142 Sabodala-Massawa1 70 54 85 229 294 Lafigue1 60 36 - 96 - PRODUCTION FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 363 270 280 1,103 1,072 Boungou2 - - - - 33 Wahgnion2 - - - - 68 GROUP PRODUCTION 363 270 280 1,103 1,173 1Includes pre-commercial ounces that are not included in the calculation of All-In Sustaining Costs. 2The Boungou and Wahgnion mines were divested on 30 June 2023. Table 10: Group Total Cash Costs1 All amounts in US$/oz THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED 31 December 2024 30 September 2024 31 December 2023 31 December 2024 31 December 2023 Hounde 922 1,233 837 1,121 835 Ity 943 899 829 890 777 Mana 1,320 1,766 1,207 1,514 1,284 Sabodala-Massawa2 1,107 1,096 686 1,044 688 Lafigue2 748 831 - 774 - TCC FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 979 1,128 837 1,058 837 Boungou3 - - - - 1,578 Wahgnion3 - - - - 1,347 GROUP TCC 979 1,128 837 1,058 888 1This is a non-GAAP measure. 2Excludes pre-commercial costs associated with ounces from the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX Expansion project and the Lafigue mine. 3The Boungou and Wahgnion mines were divested on 30 June 2023. Table 11: Group All-In Sustaining Costs1 All amounts in US$/oz THREE MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED 31 December 2024 30 September 2024 31 December 2023 31 December 2024 31 December 2023 Hounde 1,024 1,379 901 1,294 943 Ity 987 928 865 919 809 Mana 1,698 1,987 1,482 1,740 1,427 Sabodala-Massawa2 1,261 1,219 700 1,158 767 Lafigue2 801 938 - 844 - Corporate G&A 41 45 41 45 48 AISC FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 1,141 1,287 947 1,218 967 Boungou3 - - - - 1,639 Wahgnion3 - - - - 1,566 GROUP AISC 1,141 1,287 947 1,218 1,021 1This is a non-GAAP measure. 2Excludes pre-commercial costs associated with ounces from the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX expansion project and the Lafigue mine. 3The Boungou and Wahgnion mines were divested on 30 June 2023. 2025 OUTLOOK The Group has reiterated FY-2025 production and cost guidance at 1,110-1,260koz gold production at an AISC of $1,150-1,350 per ounce. More details on individual mine guidance have been provided in the below sections. Table 12: Production FY-2025 guidance1,2 (All amounts in koz, on a 100% basis) 2025 FULL-YEAR GUIDANCE Hounde 230 - 260 Ity 290 - 330 Mana 160 - 180 Sabodala-Massawa 250 - 280 Lafigue 180 - 210 GROUP PRODUCTION 1,110 - 1,260 1Production for Lafigue and production contributions from the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX expansion project include pre-commercial production. 2FY-2025 Production Guidance excludes the impact of the initiatives from the Sabodala-Massawa technical review. Table 13: Total cash costs FY-2025 guidance1,2 (All amounts in US$/oz) 2025 FULL-YEAR GUIDANCE Hounde 1,070 - 1,200 Ity 900 - 1,030 Mana 1,220 - 1,375 Sabodala-Massawa 890 - 1,000 Lafigue 800 - 900 GROUP TOTAL CASH COSTS 950 - 1,090 1FY-2025 Total cash costs guidance is based on an assumed average gold price of $2,000/oz and USD:EUR foreign exchange rate of 0.90. 2Total cash cost per ounce is calculated as operating expenses from mine operations, royalties, and non-cash adjustments divided by gold ounces sold. Table 14: AISC FY-2025 guidance1 (All amounts in US$/oz) 2025 FULL-YEAR GUIDANCE Hounde 1,225 - 1,375 Ity 975 - 1,100 Mana 1,550 - 1,750 Sabodala-Massawa 1,100 - 1,250 Lafigue 950 - 1,075 Corporate G&A 40 GROUP AISC 1,150 - 1,350 1FY-2025 Total cash costs guidance is based on an assumed average gold price of $2,000/oz and USD:EUR foreign exchange rate of 0.90. The Group has reiterated FY-2025 sustaining and non-sustaining capital spend guidance. Sustaining capital for FY-2025 is expected to amount to $215.0 million. Non-sustaining capital for FY-2025 is expected to amount to $215.0 million. More details on individual mine capital expenditures have been provided in the mine sections below. Table 15: Sustaining and Non-Sustaining Mine Capital Expenditure FY-2025 Guidance (All amounts in US$m) SUSTAINING CAPITAL NON SUSTAINING CAPITAL GROWTH CAPITAL Hounde 40 90 - Ity 20 35 - Mana 60 10 - Sabodala-Massawa 60 25 - Lafigue 35 50 - Non - mining - 5 - Assafou - - 10 MINE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES 215 215 10 Growth capital spend for FY-2025 is expected to amount to approximately $10.0 million, which marks a decrease of $241.5 million compared to the FY-2024 expenditure of $251.5 million following the commissioning of the Lafigue mine and the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX Expansion project. The FY-2025 expenditure is related to the Assafou project's definitive feasibility study ("DFS") costs. The Group has reiterated a FY-2025 exploration budget of $75.0 million, as detailed in the table below. Exploration on greenfield properties, particularly at Tanda-Iguela, continues to be a key priority in FY-2025 as the Group targets an updated resource estimate for the project later this year. Table 16: Exploration FY-2025 Guidance (All amounts in US$m unless stated) GUIDANCE ALLOCATION Hounde mine 7 9% Ity mine 10 13% Mana mine 3 4% Sabodala-Massawa mine 15 20% Lafigue mine 5 7% Assafou project 10 13% Other greenfield projects 25 33% TOTAL FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 75 100% Note: Approximately 40% of the exploration spend for FY-2025 is expected to be classified as expensed and 60% as capitalised. OPERATING ACTIVITIES BY MINE Hounde Gold Mine, Burkina Faso Table 17: Hounde Performance Indicators For The Period Ended Q4-2024 Q3-2024 Q4-2023 FY-2024 FY-2023 Tonnes ore mined, kt 1,526 1,111 1,499 4,662 5,420 Total tonnes mined, kt 10,833 9,567 11,993 43,116 47,680 Strip ratio (incl. waste cap) 6.10 7.61 7.00 8.25 7.80 Tonnes milled, kt 1,405 1,348 1,360 5,148 5,549 Grade, g/t 3.13 2.00 2.15 2.10 1.92 Recovery rate, % 79 86 90 84 91 Production, koz 109 74 84 288 312 Total cash cost/oz 922 1,233 837 1,121 835 AISC/oz 1,024 1,379 901 1,294 943 Q4-2024 vs Q3-2024 Insights Production increased from 74koz in Q3-2024 to 109koz in Q4-2024 due to higher-grade ore processed and increased tonnes milled, partially offset by lower recovery rates. Total tonnes mined increased due to higher utilisation of the mining fleet following the end of the wet season. Tonnes of ore mined increased as a higher volume of ore was mined at the high grade Kari Pump pit, which was partially offset by the lower volumes of ore mined from the Vindaloo Main pit, in-line with the mine sequence. Tonnes milled increased due to higher mill utilisation as the mill feed contained less moisture following the end of the wet season. Average processed grades increased due to a higher proportion of high grade ore sourced from the Kari Pump pit in the mill feed. Recovery rates decreased due to the increased proportion of high grade, fresh ore from Kari Pump in the mill feed with its lower associated recoveries. AISC decreased from $1,379/oz in Q3-2024 to $1,024/oz in Q4-2024 due to the higher volume of gold sold, partially offset by increased mining unit costs due to increased grade control drilling activities and increased haulage costs associated with the increase in ore tonnes mined from the Kari Pump pit. Sustaining capital expenditure remained flat at $11.1 million in Q4-2024 and primarily related to waste development at the Kari West pit, heavy mining equipment purchases and processing plant upgrades. Non-sustaining capital expenditure increased from $1.3 million in Q3-2024 to $4.7 million in Q4-2024, and primarily related to the ongoing stage 8 and 9 tailings storage facility ("TSF") raises and infrastructure upgrades. FY-2024 vs FY-2023 Insights FY-2024 production totalled 288koz, near the top end of the guided 260-290koz range, with strong H2-2024 weighted performance driven by high grade ore sourced from the Kari Pump pit. FY-2024 AISC amounted to $1,294/oz, which was above the guided $1,000-1,100/oz range due to higher than expected processing unit costs following an increased reliance on self-generated power in H1-2024, higher than expected sustaining capital due to additional purchases of heavy mining equipment and spare parts and higher royalties following a higher realised gold price. FY-2024 production decreased from 312koz in FY-2023 to 288koz in FY-2024 in line with the mine sequence due to lower tonnes milled and lower recovery rates, partially offset by an increase in average grades processed. AISC increased from $943/oz in FY-2023 to $1,294/oz in FY-2024 due to higher royalty costs compounded by the increase to the sliding scale royalty rates in Burkina Faso effective from November 2023, higher waste stripping, higher mining costs due to increased fuel costs and higher processing costs due to the increased reliance on self-generated power. 2025 Outlook Hounde is expected to produce between 230-260koz in FY-2025 at an AISC of $1,225-1,375/oz. Mining activities are expected to continue at the Vindaloo Main, Kari Pump, and Kari West pits, in addition to the re-commencement of mining at the Vindaloo North pit. In H1-2025, ore is expected to be primarily sourced from the Kari Pump, Vindaloo Main and Vindaloo North pits with ongoing stripping activities focused on the Vindaloo North and Vindaloo Main pits. In H2-2025, the majority of ore tonnes are expected to be sourced from the Kari West pit, supplemented with ore from Vindaloo Main and Vindaloo North pits. Tonnes of ore milled is expected to decrease in FY-2025 as a lower proportion of soft oxide ore from the Kari Pump pit is anticipated, while the Kari West pit is expected to advance into harder transitional and fresh ore. Average grades are expected to decrease due to the lower proportion of higher-grade ore from the Kari Pump pit. Recoveries are expected to improve due to a lower proportion of fresh Kari Pump ore in the mill feed, which has lower associated recoveries. AISC is expected to remain stable in FY-2025 as higher mining and processing unit costs due to the expected increase in fresh ore in the feed will be offset by lower sustaining capital expenditure. Sustaining capital expenditure is expected to decrease from $49.5 million in FY-2024 to approximately $40.0 million in FY-2025, and primarily relates to mining fleet component rebuilds and replacements, processing plant equipment upgrades and waste capitalisation in the Kari West area. Non-sustaining capital expenditure is expected to increase from $9.6 million in FY-2024 to approximately $90.0 million in FY-2025, and primarily relates to the Phase 3 pushback at the Vindaloo Main pit, the TSF 1 stage 10 raise and land compensation for the third TSF cell. Ity Gold Mine, Cote d'Ivoire Table 18: Ity Performance Indicators For The Period Ended Q4-2024 Q3-2024 Q4-2023 FY-2024 FY-2023 Tonnes ore mined, kt 2,262 2,027 1,721 7,954 6,790 Total tonnes mined, kt 8,120 7,761 7,349 30,419 27,891 Strip ratio (incl. waste cap) 2.59 2.83 3.27 2.82 3.11 Tonnes milled, kt 1,955 1,631 1,593 7,122 6,714 Grade, g/t 1.45 1.64 1.63 1.64 1.63 Recovery rate, % 90 92 91 91 92 Production, koz 84 77 74 343 324 Total cash cost/oz 943 899 829 890 777 AISC/oz 987 928 865 919 809 Q4-2024 vs Q3-2024 Insights Production increased from 77koz in Q3-2024 to 84koz in Q4-2024 due to increased tonnes milled, partially offset by lower average grades processed and lower recovery rates. Total tonnes mined increased due to higher mining rates following the end of the wet season. Tonnes ore mined increased across the Ity, Bakatouo and Le Plaque pits, partially offset by lower tonnes of ore mined at the Walter pit as mining activities focused on waste stripping, in-line with the plan. Tonnes milled increased due to an increased proportion of soft oxide ore from the Le Plaque area in the mill feed and the cessation of the wet season that impacted the prior quarter. Processed grades decreased due to lower grade ore sourced from the Bakatouo and Ity pits in the mill feed, in-line with the mine sequence. Recovery rates decreased slightly due to a slight decrease in CIL residence times resulting from the increased mill throughput. AISC increased from $928/oz in Q3-2024 to $987/oz in Q4-2024 due to higher mining unit costs as increased ore was mined from the Le Plaque pit with a longer haulage distance and higher sustaining capital related to process plant upgrades completed during the quarter, partially offset by the increase in gold volumes sold. Sustaining capital expenditure increased from $2.4 million in Q3-2024 to $3.5 million in Q4-2024 and primarily related to dewatering borehole drilling and processing plant upgrades. Non-sustaining capital expenditure decreased from $17.3 million in Q3-2024 to $12.6 million in Q4-2024 and primarily related to cut back activities at the Walter pit, development of the Mineral Sizer and Recyn optimisation initiatives. FY-2024 vs FY-2023 Insights FY-2024 production totalled a record 343koz, exceeding the guided 270-300koz range due to higher than expected throughput driven by a high proportion of soft oxide ore, largely sourced from the Le Plaque pit. FY-2024 AISC amounted to $919/oz, which was within the guided $850-925/oz range, as higher than expected royalty costs were offset by higher gold sales volumes. Production increased from 324koz in FY-2023 to a record 343koz in FY-2024 following an increase in throughput rates due to the processing of an increased proportion of softer oxide ore. FY-2024 AISC increased from $809/oz in FY-2023 to $919/oz in FY-2024 due to higher royalty rates and higher processing unit costs driven by lower grid power availability during H1-2024, partially offset by higher gold sales volumes. 2025 Outlook Ity is expected to produce between 290koz - 330koz in FY 2025 at an AISC of $975 - $1,100/oz. Mining activities are expected to focus on the Ity, Bakatouo, Walter, Le Plaque, Daapleu and Flotouo West pits. In H1-2025, ore is expected to be sourced from the Ity, Bakatouo, Walter and Le Plaque pits with supplemental ore coming from the Flotouo and Verse Ouest pits and stockpiles. In H2-2025, decreased ore mining across the Ity, Bakatouo and Le Plaque pits is expected to be offset by increased ore mining at the Walter and Flotouo pits, while waste stripping will be prioritised at the Daapleu pit. Tonnes of ore milled are expected to decrease slightly in FY-2025 while recoveries are expected to remain consistent. Milled grades are expected to decrease slightly compared to FY-2024, due to the lower volumes of higher grade ore from the Ity and Le Plaque pits. AISC is expected to increase in FY-2025 due to the slightly lower levels of production and higher expected sustaining capital. Sustaining capital expenditure is expected to increase from $9.8 million in FY-2024 to approximately $20.0 million in FY-2025 and is primarily related to borehole drilling for dewatering, processing plant and laboratory upgrades and haul road construction. Non-sustaining capital expenditure is expected to decrease from $64.6 million in FY-2024 to approximately $35.0 million in FY-2025, and is primarily related to waste stripping activity at the Le Plaque and Daapleu pits, as well as the construction of the TSF 2 raise. Mana Gold Mine, Burkina Faso Table 19: Mana Performance Indicators For The Period Ended Q4-2024 Q3-2024 Q4-2023 FY-2024 FY-2023 OP tonnes ore mined, kt - - 169 185 1,298 OP total tonnes mined, kt - - 805 930 6,001 OP strip ratio (incl. waste cap) - - 3.77 4.03 3.62 UG tonnes ore mined, kt 616 484 432 1,975 1,314 Tonnes milled, kt 603 516 515 2,294 2,443 Grade, g/t 2.49 2.15 2.59 2.27 2.01 Recovery rate, % 86 88 89 87 91 Production, koz 41 30 37 148 142 Total cash cost/oz 1,320 1,766 1,207 1,514 1,284 AISC/oz 1,698 1,987 1,482 1,740 1,427 Q4-2024 vs Q3-2024 Insights Production increased from 30koz in Q3-2024 to 41koz in Q4-2024 due to higher average grades processed and higher tonnes milled, partially offset by lower recovery rates. Total underground tonnes of ore mined increased due to increased stoping rates in the Wona underground deposit. Total underground development at the Wona and Siou underground increased compared to the prior quarter with 4,254 meters developed, a 6% increase compared to the 4,030 meters completed in the prior quarter. Tonnes milled increased due to improved access to production stopes at the Wona underground. The average processed grade increased due to increased stope production in the Wona underground deposit introducing a higher proportion of higher grade ore into the mill feed. Recovery rates decreased slightly due to the increased proportion of ore from the Wona underground deposit with its lower associated recoveries. AISC decreased from $1,987/oz in Q3-2024 to $1,698/oz in Q4-2024 due to higher volumes of gold sold and lower underground mining unit costs associated with increased stopeing rates at the Wona underground mine, partially offset by an increase in capitalised underground development. Sustaining capital expenditure increased from $6.9 million in Q3-2024 to $15.4 million in Q4-2024 and primarily related to underground waste development and infrastructure upgrades. Non-sustaining capital expenditure decreased slightly from $15.2 million in Q3-2024 to $14.4 million in Q4-2024 and primarily related to underground waste development and the stage 5 TSF embankment raise. FY-2024 vs FY-2023 Insights FY-2024 production totalled 148koz which was slightly below the guided 150-170koz range due to lower than expected underground development rates. FY-2024 AISC amounted to $1,740/oz, which, as previously disclosed, was above the guided $1,200-$1,300/oz range, due to an increased reliance on self-generated power in H1-2024, increased capitalised underground development, higher royalty costs due to the prevailing high gold prices and slightly lower than expected production. Production increased from 142koz in FY-2023 to 148koz in FY-2024 due to higher average grades processed as a result of increased ore processed from the Wona underground deposit displacing lower grade feed from the Maoula open pit deposit, which was partially offset by lower tonnes milled as a result of slower than expected development at the Wona underground deposit due to contractor productivity. FY-2024 AISC increased from $1,427/oz in FY-2023 to $1,740/oz in FY-2024 primarily due to an increase in self-generated power, higher royalty costs, and higher sustaining capital due to increased underground development across the Siou and Wona underground deposits. 2025 Outlook Mana is expected to produce between 160 - 180koz in FY-2025 at an AISC of $1,550 - 1,750/oz. Ore is expected to be sourced from the Siou and Wona underground deposits. Throughput is expected to be slightly lower than FY-2024 as the mine processes exclusively underground ore. Average grades are expected to increase compared to FY-2024 as higher grade ore from stope production at the Wona Underground deposit is expected to displace lower grade open pit ore in the prior year. Recoveries are expected to be slightly lower due to a greater proportion of ore from the Wona underground deposit in the mill feed, which has lower associated recoveries. AISC is expected to decrease in FY-2025 due to the continued ramp-up of underground mining, and underground mining optimisations driving lower mining unit costs, which is expected to be partially offset by increased sustaining capital associated with underground development at the Wona deposit. Sustaining capital expenditure is expected to increase from $33.5 million in FY-2024 to approximately $60.0 million in FY-2025, and is primarily related to waste development in the Wona underground deposit in addition to processing plant and infrastructure upgrades. Non-sustaining capital expenditure outlook for FY-2025 is expected to decrease from $58.7 million in FY-2024 to approximately $10.0 million in FY-2025 and is primarily related to the stage 6 TSF lift and infrastructure upgrades. Sabodala-Massawa Gold Mine, Senegal Table 20: Sabodala-Massawa Performance Indicators For The Period Ended Q4-2024 Q3-2024 Q4-2023 FY-2024 FY-2023 Tonnes ore mined, kt 1,573 1,282 1,884 5,692 6,205 Total tonnes mined, kt 12,463 10,438 11,319 43,478 45,943 Strip ratio (incl. waste cap) 6.92 7.14 5.01 6.64 6.40 Tonnes milled, kt 1,377 1,184 1,255 5,061 4,755 Tonnes milled - CIL, kt 1,095 950 1,255 4,393 4,755 Tonnes milled - BIOX, kt 282 235 - 668 - Grade, g/t 2.29 1.90 2.31 1.89 2.15 Grade - CIL, g/t 1.86 1.65 2.31 1.68 2.15 Grade - BIOX, g/t 3.99 2.90 - 3.28 - Recovery rate, % 70 78 89 76 89 Recovery rate - CIL, % 73 79 89 79 89 Recovery rate - BIOX, % 65 75 - 67 - Production, koz 70 54 85 229 294 Production - CIL, koz 47 38 85 184 294 Production - BIOX, koz 23 16 - 45 - Total cash cost/oz 1,107 1,096 686 1,044 688 AISC1/oz 1,261 1,219 700 1,158 767 1All-in Sustaining Cost excludes costs and ounces sold related to pre-commercial production at the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX Expansion. Q4-2024 vs Q3-2024 Insights Production increased from 54koz in Q3-2024 to 70koz in Q4-2024 due to an increase in average grades processed and total tonnes milled, partially offset by a decrease in recovery rates. Total tonnes mined increased due to fleet performance improvements following the commissioning of new additions to the load and haul fleet. Total ore tonnes mined increased due to increased ore mining at the Kiesta C pit increasing non-refractory oxide ore feed to the CIL plant, and at the Sabodala pit where ore mining was accelerated ahead of in-pit tailings deposition in 2025, partially offset by a decrease in ore mining activities at the Makhalintang and Niakafiri East pits. Tonnes milled increased in the CIL plant following the end of the wet season, and in the BIOX plant due to the successful ramp-up of the plant to nameplate capacity. Average processed grades increased in the CIL plant due to an increased proportion of higher grade oxide and transitional ore from the Massawa North Zone as well as additional oxides from the Kiesta C and Niakafiri East pits. Average processed grades increased in the BIOX plant due to higher grade ore sourced from the Massawa Central Zone as mining continued to advance into fresh ore. Recovery rates through the CIL plant decreased due to an increased proportion of transitional ore from the Massawa North Zone and Massawa Central Zone pits in the mill feed. Recovery rates through the BIOX plant also decreased as a portion of the high-grade, low-sulphide, fresh ore from the Massawa Central Zone pit, had lower associated floatation recoveries. Recovery rates through both plants were impacted with stoppages associated with the connection of the Solar Power Plant to the site grid during the quarter. AISC increased from $1,219/oz in Q3-2024 to $1,261/oz in Q4-2024 due to higher sustaining capital following the completion of mining fleet upgrades during the quarter, partially offset by increased gold sales volumes. Sustaining capital expenditure increased from $6.9 million in Q3-2024 to $10.6 million in Q4-2024 and primarily related to mining equipment upgrades. Non-sustaining capital expenditure, excluding expenditure on the solar power plant, decreased from $20.2 million in Q3-2024 to $12.1 million in Q4-2024 and related to the purchases of new heavy mining equipment and capitalised waste stripping at the Massawa North Zone and Kiesta C pits. Non-sustaining capital expenditure for the solar power plant decreased from $9.5 million in Q3-2024 to $8.5 million in Q4-2024 and was mainly related to the ongoing construction activities detailed in the Solar Power Plant section below. FY-2024 vs FY-2023 Insights FY-2024 production totalled 229koz, which, as previously disclosed was below the guided 360-400koz range due to the mining and processing of lower than expected grade ores with lower associated recoveries through the CIL plant, as mining activities prioritised depleting the Sabodala pit ahead of in pit tailings deposition and the lower mined grades from the Sabodala pit were supplemented with higher grade oxide and transitional ores from the Massawa pits. Recovery rates through the BIOX plant were also slightly lower than expected during the ramp up due to the additional transitional ore in the ramp up as mining advanced down to fresh ore. Production decreased from 294koz in FY-2023 to 229koz in FY-2024 due to lower throughput, average grades milled and recoveries through the CIL plant, partially offset by the start-up of production from the BIOX plant. FY-2024 AISC increased from $767/oz in FY-2023 to $1,158/oz in FY-2024 due largely to lower volumes of gold sold as well as higher royalties due to higher gold prices. 2025 Outlook Sabodala-Massawa is expected to produce between 250 - 280koz in FY-2025 at an AISC of $1,100 - $1,250/oz. In Q3-2024, Endeavour launched a technical review focused on initiatives to increase near-term production, targeting +350koz of annual production by 2027. The impact of these initiatives has not been included in the production guidance for FY-2025, but is expected to support improvements in the near-term mine plan. The technical review is focused on: Increasing BIOX plant throughput, targeting a 10-15% increase, via productivity initiatives and plant optimisations to improve near-term production for a limited incremental cost. Prioritising exploration efforts to identify and delineate high-grade non-refractory resources, including the Mamassato (~2.00g/t) and Sekoto (~2.50g/t) deposits, that are on Endeavour's exploitation permits and within 10 kilometres of the plant, that could provide additional near-term feed for the CIL plant. Accelerating the feasibility stage underground mining plan at the high-grade Kerekounda (year-end 2024 P&P reserves of 1.2Mt at 5.49g/t for 204koz) and Golouma (year-end 2024 P&P reserves of 1.6Mt at 4.75g/t for 241koz) non-refractory underground deposits into the mine plan from H2-2026, providing a higher grade source of feed for the CIL plant. In H1-2025, non-refractory ore for the CIL plant is expected to be sourced from the Sabodala, Kiesta C, Makimedina and Niakafiri West pits, with supplementary transitional and oxide ore from the Massawa Central Zone pit and stockpiles. In H2-2025, mining in the Sabodala pit will cease as the pit is prepared for in-pit tailings deposition, with the feed replaced by ore mined from the Niakafiri West and Delya Main pits. Throughput in the CIL plant is expected to increase compared to the prior year due to a higher proportion of softer oxide ore from the Niakafiri West and Delya pits in the mill feed. Average processed grades in the CIL plant are expected to decrease slightly in line with the mine sequence, while recoveries are expected to improve due to a lower proportion of transitional ore in the mill feed. For FY-2025, refractory ore for the BIOX plant is expected to be sourced from the Massawa Central Zone and Massawa North Zone pits. Throughput in the BIOX plant is expected to be at nameplate capacity over the course of the year. Average grades processed are expected to increase due to increased access to higher grade fresh refractory ores in the Massawa Central Zone pit, while recovery rates are expected to improve with a decreased proportion of weathered transitional and tarnished fresh ore in the mill feed. Sustaining capital expenditure is expected to increase from $25.3 million in FY-2024 to $60.0 million in FY-2025 and is primarily related to to capitalised waste stripping, mining fleet upgrades and re-builds and process plant maintenance. Non-sustaining capital expenditure is expected to decrease from $74.0 million in FY-2024 to $25.0 million in FY-2025 and is primarily related to capitalised waste stripping, Sabodala in-pit tailings infrastructure, haul road construction and advanced grade control activities. Solar Power Plant During Q3-2023, Endeavour launched the construction of a 37MWp photovoltaic ("PV") solar facility and a 16MW battery system at the Sabodala-Massawa mine, in order to significantly reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and lower power costs. In December 2024, first photovoltaic power was injected into Sabodala-Massawa's grid. Construction of the transmission line and battery storage system were also successfully completed marking the completion of construction, on schedule and on budget. Commissioning and ramp up of photovoltaic power generation was completed on 1 March 2025, with full nameplate capacity achieved. Lafigue Mine, Cote d'Ivoire Table 21: Lafigue Performance Indicators For The Period Ended Q4-2024 Q3-2024 Q4-2023 FY-2024 FY-2023 Tonnes ore mined, kt 1,711 1,250 - 4,801 - Total tonnes mined, kt 10,150 8,873 - 37,151 - Strip ratio (incl. waste cap) 4.93 6.10 - 6.74 - Tonnes milled, kt 936 759 - 1,779 - Grade, g/t 2.11 1.57 - 1.83 - Recovery rate, % 94 94 - 94 - Production, koz 60 36 - 96 - Total cash cost/oz 748 831 - 774 - AISC1/oz 801 938 - 844 - 1All-in Sustaining Cost excludes costs and ounces sold related to pre-commercial production Q4-2024 vs Q3-2024 Insights Production increased from 36koz to 60koz in Q4-2024 due to an increase in tonnes milled and average grades processed, while recoveries remained consistent. Total tonnes mined and ore tonnes mined increased as the contractor mining fleet completed their mobilisation. Ore was primarily sourced from the Main Pit with supplementary feed from the West Pit. Tonnes milled increased as the plant ramped up, and excluding downtime associated with plant repairs and maintenance, the plant significantly exceeded nameplate capacity for the quarter. Average grades processed increased as higher grade oxide ore from the Main Pit was fed through the processing plant. Recovery rates remained in line with the previous quarter. AISC decreased from $938/oz in Q3-2024 to $801/oz in Q4-2024 largely due to increased gold sales, partially offset by lower sustaining capital due to lower waste stripping. Sustaining capital expenditure increased slightly from $2.9 million in Q3-2024 to $3.1 million in Q4-2024 and primarily related to capitalised waste stripping at the Western flank of the Main pit. Non-sustaining capital expenditure increased from $3.5 million in Q3-2024 to $8.9 million in Q4-2024 and primarily related to cut back activities at the Eastern flank of the Main pit and the TSF lift. 2025 Outlook Lafigue is expected to produce between 180koz - 210koz in FY-2025 at an AISC of $950 - $1,075/oz. In H1-2025 ore will predominantly be sourced from the Western flank of the Main pit whilst waste stripping is undertaken in the Eastern flank of the Main pit ahead of H2-2025 where mining activities will focus on ore as the Eastern flank of the Main pit becomes the main ore source. Supplementary ore will be sourced from the West pit through 2025. The processing plant is expected to maintain nameplate capacity throughout FY-2025 with a consistent feed of predominantly fresh ore. Average grade processed is expected to decrease from FY-2024 with feed consisting of primarily fresh ore from the Main Pit. Recovery rates are expected to decrease slightly as a higher proportion of fresh ore is processed. AISC is expected to increase slightly due largely to an increase in sustaining capital associated with increased waste stripping activities. Sustaining capital expenditure is expected to increase from $6.0 million in FY-2024 to $35.0 million in FY-2025 reflecting a full year of operations at Lafigue and is primarily related to capitalised waste stripping activities, advanced grade control drilling and strategic spares purchases. Non-sustaining capital expenditure is expected to increase from $12.4 million in FY-2024 to approximately $50.0 million in FY-2025 and is primarily related to capitalised waste stripping activities, completion of the TSF stage 2 lift and the purchase of generators. Assafou Project, Cote d'Ivoire On 11 December 2024, Endeavour announced the positive pre-feasibility study ("PFS") results for the Assafou project. The PFS highlights 329kozpa production at AISC of $892/oz over the first 10 years. The PFS boasts robust economics with an after-tax NPV 5% of $1,526m and IRR of 28%, at a $2,000/oz gold price, increasing to $2,485m and 40% respectively at a $2,500/oz gold price. of $1,526m and IRR of 28%, at a $2,000/oz gold price, increasing to $2,485m and 40% respectively at a $2,500/oz gold price. The Assafou PFS has initial capital of $734m, which is based on a similar flow sheet to the nearby Lafigue project, with design throughput upscaled to 5.0Mtpa and the implementation of a gyratory crusher into the crushing circuit, while Lafigue operates a single jaw crusher. The Assafou PFS was based on the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate, with a 31 October 2023 drilling cut-off. A further 70,000 metres of drilling has been completed at the Assafou deposit and nearby targets, including Pala Trend 3, which are expected to be incorporated into future reserve and resource updates. The exploitation permit application process and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") submission have both launched in early 2025, with the expectation that the permit will be granted by the end of 2025. Given the positive PFS results and the project's strong economics, the definitive feasibility study was launched in late 2024 and is expected to be completed between late 2025 and early 2026. EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES Endeavour's FY-2024 exploration programme amounted to $86.8 million, with over 332,000 metres of drilling completed, of which $12.4 million was spent in Q4-2024, comprising over 14,000 metres of drilling. The FY-2024 exploration programme primarily focused on resource to reserve conversion across the Group's existing operations, as well as at the highly prospective Assafou deposit on the Tanda-Iguela property in Cote d'Ivoire. In FY-2024, the exploration programme added 2.2Moz of resources to the Group's Indicated resources, before depletion, at a discovery cost of ~$10/oz. As such, Endeavour has achieved its 5-year exploration discovery target of 12 - 17Moz of Measured and Indicated ("M&I") resources over the 2021 to 2025 period, having discovered 12.2Moz at a discovery cost below $25/oz. Table 22: Q4-2024 and FY-2024 Exploration Expenditure and FY-2025 Guidance1 Q4-2024 ACTUAL FY-2024 ACTUAL FY-2025 GUIDANCE All amounts in US$ million Hounde 1.9 9.9 7.0 Ity 0.5 11.4 10.0 Mana 0.8 2.8 3.0 Sabodala-Massawa 2.9 33.7 15.0 Lafigue 0.6 2.5 5.0 Assafou project 2.1 15.5 10.0 Other greenfield projects 3.6 11.0 25.0 TOTAL EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE 12.4 86.8 75.0 1Exploration expenditures include expensed and capitalised exploration expenditures. Hounde mine An exploration programme of $9.9 million was undertaken in FY-2024 consisting of 20,800 metres across 84 drill holes with $1.9 million spent in Q4-2024 consisting of 1,700 metres of drilling across three drill holes. During the year the exploration programme was focused on identifying additional resources below the Kari West deposit, evaluating the underground potential of the Vindaloo deposit and testing new near-mine targets including the Kari Bridge target. During Q4-2024, drilling focused on refining the geological model for the Vindaloo Deeps deposit, with preliminary results confirming that the Vindaloo Deeps deposit has the potential to be a large, high-grade resource that is a continuation of the existing Vindaloo pit. A $7.0 million exploration programme is planned for FY-2025, focused mainly on further infill drilling at the Vindaloo Deeps deposit to help define a maiden resource, and scout drilling at the Kari Deeps target to test the potential for mineralisation at depth. Drilling is also planned at the Marzipan target on the Kari Nord exploration permit located less than 10 kilometres northwest of the plant, following the encouraging geochemical sampling completed during the year. Ity mine An exploration programme of $11.4 million was undertaken in FY-2024 consisting of 55,800 metres across 1,574 drill holes, of which $0.5 million was spent in Q4-2024 largely focused on desktop work and geological modelling. During the year the exploration programme focused on resource-to-reserve conversion while extending near-mine resources within the Grand Ity complex, expanding resources at the nearby Yopleu-Legaleu and Delta Southeast targets in addition to reconnaissance and delineation drilling on several potential satellite targets on the Ity belt including the Gbampleu, Mahapleu, Tiepleu, Morgan and Goleu targets. The programme successfully added 1.2Moz to Ity's reserve during the year, as discussed in the "Group Reserves and Resources" section below. During Q4-2024, exploration activities focused on geological interpretation and modelling of the Ity "doughnut" central granodiorite (Zia NE, Walter-Bakatouo, Mont Ity, Flotouo) and the Yopleu-Legaleu deposits. Geological interpretation and 3D modelling were also updated for the Delta Southeast and Goleu targets, which will be infill drilled in 2025 to support maiden resource estimation. Auger drilling and termite mound sampling at the Mahapleu, Tiepleu, Gbampleu and Bin Houye targets successfully defined new anomalies that are expected to be drill tested in 2025. An exploration programme of $10.0 million is planned for FY-2025 and will focus on resource growth and reserve conversion at Ity (focusing on the Heap 2, Zia NE, Walter-Bakatouo and Verse Est deposits) and Floleu (focusing on the Le Plaque SW and Delta Extension deposits) in addition to maiden resource estimations at the Delta Southeast, Falaise and Goleu targets, as well as underground drilling at West Flotouo and Ity Main. In addition, reconnaissance drilling and delineation work is expected to continue at several targets on the Ity belt, including the Gbampleu, Gueya, Morgan, Guiamapleu and Mahapleu targets. Mana mine An exploration programme of $2.8 million was undertaken in FY-2024 consisting of 11,000 metres across 362 drill holes, of which $0.8 million was spent in Q4-2024 consisting of 2,000 metres of drilling across 59 drill holes. The exploration programme was focused on delineating near mine high grade open-pit targets near the Nyafe deposit as well as the Siou Nord, Bara and Momina targets, in addition to data compilations and analysis to support further target generation. During Q4-2024, RC drilling was completed to evaluate oxide resources at the Bana Camp target and the Bana Camp West target to help support near-term production through potential open pit resources. An exploration programme of $3.0 million is planned for FY-2025, focused on extending underground mineralisation at the Wona Deeps and Siou Nord underground deposits in addition to identifying and expanding the Bana Camp near-surface oxide targets on the mine lease. Drilling is also planned to test new open pit resources at the Momina and Bara targets on the Momina exploration permit. Sabodala-Massawa mine An exploration programme of $33.7 million was undertaken in FY-2024 consisting of 150,000 metres of drilling across 4,680 drill holes, of which $2.9 million was spent in Q4-2024 consisting of 10,500 metres of drilling across 480 drill holes. During 2024, drilling activities focused on defining near-term targets including Niakafiri West, Soukhoto, Sekoto, Mamassato and Koulouqwinde with the aim of delivering high-grade non-refractory oxide resources into the near-term mine plan. In addition, the programme continued to follow up on longer-term targets including the non-refractory Kerekounda-Golouma undergound deposits and the Massawa North Zone underground deposit, in addition to delineation drilling on the recently acquired Kanoumba and Niamaya permits. During Q4-2024, drilling focused on resource definition at the Golouma Northwest, Sekoto and Mamassato non-refractory targets to support near term production. On the Kanoumba permit, drilling returned significant mineralisation over a 1.6 kilometre strike length, with mineralisation open along strike and at depth. On the Niamaya permit, drilling activities delineated two mineralised zones which will be followed up as part of the FY-2025 programme. In addition, an auger drill programme was conducted across the north and south of Massawa and to the south of the Kawsara target to identify new targets for the FY-2025 campaign. An exploration programme of $15.0 million is planned for FY-2025, focused on near-term, non-refractory oxide targets to support production and continued definition of long-term targets. For the near-term targets, drilling will focus on the Sekoto, Mamassato, Golouma West Underground, Makana 1 and Sambaya Hill targets to provide near-term resources to support the mine plan. Concurrently, mid-to-long-term exploration drilling is planned at the Massawa North complex (Kaliana, Arafat Mafa and Yara), the Massawa south complex (Kawsara, Sira and Tamo-Toya) and on the Niamaya permits. Lafigue mine An exploration programme of $2.5 million was undertaken in FY-2024 consisting of 10,500 metres of drilling across 87 drill holes, of which $0.6 million was spent in Q4-2024 on desktop reviews and geological modelling. The exploration programme focused on the WA05, Central Area 11 and Central Area 12 targets, all located within 5 kilometres of the Lafigue deposit, in addition to identifying the potential for deep mineralisation underneath the current Lafigue pitshell. During Q4-2024, exploration focused on geological interpretation and modelling of the Central Area target to prepare a maiden resource estimation for 2025. In addition, a review of available geological, geochemical and geophysical data within a 15 kilometre radius of the Lafigue mine identified new near-mine targets (Target 1 and Corridor T4-12) for follow-up in FY-2025. An exploration programme of $5.0 million is planned for FY-2025, which will focus on the near-mine Target 1 and Corridor T4-12 targets, as well as ground IP geophysics covering these targets and the Central Area. Assafou Project An exploration programme of $15.5 million was undertaken in FY-2024 consisting of 68,600 metres of drilling across 460 drill holes, of which $2.1 million was spent in Q4-2024 on desktop work and geological modelling. The exploration programme was focused on extending mineralisation and delineating resources at the Assafou deposit as well as identifying potential satellite deposits within 5 kilometres of the Assafou deposit. During Q4-2024, exploration works focused on geological interpretation and modelling of the Assafou and Pala Trend 3 deposits to update the Assafou mineral resource estimate, with a maiden reserve announced during FY-2024, and to prepare a maiden resource estimate for the Pala Trend 3 target, which is expected in 2025. In addition, geological mapping was performed over potential new targets covering the Assafou basin, which had been identified through geophysical data reinterpretation. An exploration programme of $10.0 million is planned for FY-2025, with at least 120,000 metres of drilling planned at Tanda-Iguela, of which 100,000 metres will focus on delineating further resources at Assafou and converting resources into reserves, while 20,000 metres will focus on delineating potential satellite deposits within 5 kilometres of the Assafou deposit. The exploration programme is focused on defining the resource at Pala Trend 3 and the Pala Trend 2 targets to declare a maiden resource estimate in 2025. Soil geochemistry on newly identified targets within a 10 kilometre radius from Assafou will aim to identify additional targets on the Tanda-Iguela project. In parallel, drilling will continue to focus on the Assafou development programme as part of the DFS with at least 60,000 metres planned to de-risk current resources and reserves, in addition to 25,000 metres for sterilisation. Greenfield Exploration A greenfield exploration programme of $11.0 million was undertaken in FY-2024, of which $3.6 million was spent in Q4-2024 focused on identifying early stage opportunities across the Birimian greenstone belts within West Africa and strengthening the Company's project pipeline. An exploration programme of $25.0 million is planned for FY-2025 focused on advancing greenfield opportunities in Guinea, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire as well as New Ventures opportunities targeting high-quality early stage opportunities in geologically similar terranes to the Birimian greenstones. In Senegal, activities are focused on the Sabodala Shear Zone and the Main Transcurrent Shear Zone to explore new targets on recently acquired permits including the Kanoumba permit hosting the Kawasara and Tama Toya targets, which combined cover a 10 kilometre long mineralised trend southwest of Massawa. In Cote d'Ivoire, activities are focused on the greater Tanda-Iguela greenfield opportunity to develop near mine opportunities, acquire new tenements and develop further partnerships to provide additional growth optionality to the region and at the greater Ity greenfield trend to identify and review potential standalone opportunities at greater distance from the Ity plant. The New Ventures team continues to diligently evaluate regions with geological similarities to the Birimian belt, where Endeavour's expertise can be applied to discover high-quality, large resources to supplement the organic growth pipeline beyond Assafou. GROUP RESERVES AND RESOURCES Proven and Probable ("P&P") reserves from continuing operations amounted to 18.4Moz at year-end 2024, an increase of 4.5Moz or 32% compared to the previous year driven largely by the conversion of resources at the Assafou project (+4.1Moz) and model optimisation of the Doughnut at the Ity deposit (+1.1Moz), as well as an increase in the reserves gold price from $1,300/oz to $1,500/oz (+0.8Moz). This was partially offset by decreases in reserves at the Lafigue, Mana and Sabodala-Massawa mines due to depletion, model updates and changes to other modifying factors. Measured and Indicated ("M&I") resources from continuing operations amounted to 26.1Moz at year-end 2024, a slight decrease of 0.6Moz or 2% compared to the previous year largely due to resource depletion (-1.5Moz) and the removal of resources from Golden Hill (-0.5Moz) near the Hounde mine where the permit is pending renewal, and from Fobiri (-0.6Moz) near the Mana mine where the permits were allowed to expire due to their lower Great Quest Gold Ltd. (TSX-V: GQ) ("Great Quest" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the recently identified gold mineralized system at its Omatjete Project ("Omatjete" or the "Project") in Namibia. Additionally, the Company is pleased to announce that it has secured an earn-in agreement for an adjacent tenement, expanding its coverage of the newly identified Okondeka Fault Zone by an additional 35 kilometers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306656665/en/ Figure 1: Map of the Omatjete project area highlighting the Arsenic in soils in relation to the Kokoseb gold deposit and the regionally significant Okondeka Fault Zone. (Graphic: Business Wire) Key Highlights Significant gold mineralization identified adjacent to the Okondeka Fault Zone (OFZ), which hosts the Kokoseb gold deposit. Soil sampling delineated a gold anomaly extending 4.2km by 0.8km. Rock chip sampling of limited outcrop returned a peak gold value of 9.95 g/t Au. Maiden drilling campaign intersected Omatfrom 20m down hole. Earn-in agreement secured for a new Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL), expanding the Company's coverage of the OFZ by an additional 35km. Surface Sampling and Discovery of the Manga Prospect Exploration at the Omatjete Project began with regional soil sampling on a 200m x 200m grid, analyzed using the Company's onsite PXRF lab. This work led to the identification of a significant arsenic (As) anomaly measuring 7km by 5km, with peak values reaching 1,646 ppm As (see Figure 1). The anomaly extends to the eastern boundary of the Company's licence area and current surface work has been limited to the west of this boundary. Subsequent mapping and rock chip sampling revealed several high-grade gold values, with a peak assay of 9.95 g/t Au in strongly altered, arsenic-rich biotite schist featuring millimetre-scale quartz/sulphide veining. Given that over 95% of the area is covered by alluvial sands and calcrete, exploration shifted to a more detailed soil sampling program conducted on a 200m x 50m grid, collecting 1,936 samples. Gold analysis highlighted an anomaly extending 4.2 km by 0.8 km, now named the Manga Prospect (see Figure 2). Individual soil samples peak at 195 ppb Au, with 145 samples exceeding 20 ppb Au. The anomaly lies within the Kuiseb Schist Formation and is bordered to the south, west, and north by syn- to late-tectonic granite intrusions. The prospect is situated immediately north of the regionally significant Okondeka Fault Zone, which is interpreted to be closely associated with the mineralizing event at the Kokoseb Gold deposit. Drilling Due to the lack of outcrop and the presence of variable alluvial and calcrete cover, the Company initiated a maiden RC drilling program to test for in-situ gold mineralization. The drilling targeted specific soil anomalies within the broader Manga area. A total of 11 RC holes were drilled, totalling 1,795 metres, with all holes inclined at -60 degrees to the north. Drill orientations were guided by two short trenches that confirmed a steep southerly dip of shears, quartz veins and veinlets (see Figure 4). Drilling intersected extensive sulphide mineralization, primarily composed of pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and pyrite, hosted within highly altered biotite schists. Holes MRC001 to MRC009 were drilled in the central part of the prospect, focusing on an area with elevated soil gold values (see Figure 2). These holes intersected broad zones of low-grade gold mineralization, with notable results from hole MRC006, which returned 138m at 0.22 g/t Au from 71m, including 7m at 0.5 g/t Au from 84m and 9m at 0.5 g/t Au from 101m (see Table 1). Hole MRC010 was drilled 200m to the south to test a parallel soil anomaly and recorded a peak intercept of 18m at 0.5 g/t Au from 20m downhole (see Figure 3a). Meanwhile, Hole MRC011, located 1km west of the initial drill sites, returned peak intercepts of 5m at 0.5 g/t Au from 117m and 15m at 0.5 g/t Au from 126m (see Figure 3b). New Tenement Recognizing the strong potential for mineralization to extend along the Okondeka Fault Zone (OFZ) to the east of its existing licence area, the Company, through Belmont Mineral Exploration (Pty) Ltd. ("Belmont"), has entered into a binding earn-in agreement to acquire a controlling stake in EPL4817, which borders the truncated eastern boundary of the Manga prospect. Under the current agreement, Belmont can earn an initial 51% interest in the licence-holding company by investing U$400,000 in exploration over a two-year period. Additionally, negotiations are underway to establish a clear pathway toward securing an 80% stake. Great Quest owns a XX% equity interest in Belmont. Pursuant to this transaction, the Company has expanded its control over the OFZ by an additional 35 kilometers, unlocking significant exploration potential in a rapidly emerging region of Namibia's Damara Belt (see Figure 5). The transaction is an arm's length transaction for the purposes of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") and qualifies as an "Exempt Transaction" under TSXV Policy 5.3. Future Work In the coming months, Great Quest will focus on exploring the Okondeka Fault Zone, extending 35km east of Manga, within the newly signed tenement, EPL4817. Planned work includes a high-resolution drone-based magnetic survey, soil sampling, and geological mapping, followed by RC drilling. Additionally, detailed geological mapping is planned for the Manga area to enhance the understanding of mineralization controls. Drill Results Table 1: Summary of Assay Results for holes drilled Hole From To Width (m) Au (g/t) X Y MRC001 28 65 37 0.20 565273 7668113 MRC002 27 56 29 0.17 565184 7668078 MRC003 no significant intercept 565095 7668046 MRC004 1 31 30 0.20 565074 7668096 incl. 4 0.61 MRC005 135 150 15 0.23 565053 7668142 MRC006 69 207 138 0.22 565294 7668059 incl. 7 0.53 incl. 9 0.51 MRC007 16 17 1 1.48 565261 7668156 MRC008 48 136 88 0.17 565452 7668152 MRC009 73 75 2 2.05 564978 7668042 MRC010 20 38 18 0.50 564722 7667873 MRC011 63 141 78 0.25 564080 7668041 incl. 5 0.50 incl. 15 0.50 "We are excited about the new acquisition at our Omatjete project," commented Dr. Andreas Rompel, President and VP Exploration, "the additional 35km strike along the highly prospective Okondeka Fault zone adds significantly to the potential of our tenement. In addition, we are now enabled to extend our known anomalies eastwards into the neighbouring claim with soil sampling and other exploration exercises." Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC) The Company has implemented a comprehensive QA/QC program in line with the E2941 ? 21 Standard Practices for Extraction of Elements from Ores. Calcrete and soil samples were processed using cyanide and aqua regia digestion methods, respectively, with an ICP-MS finish. Rock chip samples were analyzed using fire assay with an ICP-AES finish for gold and aqua regia digestion with ICP-AES finish for multi elements. All samples were prepared at the ALS facility in Okahandja, Namibia, before being shipped to ALS Johannesburg for wet analysis and fire assay. ALS, an independent laboratory with a global presence, follows ASTM procedures for sample preparation. Rock chip and calcrete samples weighed 3 kg, were crushed, and a 1000 g split was taken for pulverization (0.5000 g). Soil samples, weighing 250 g each, were directly pulverized for analysis. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Andreas Rompel, Pr.Sci.Nat. (400274/04), FSAIMM, the Company's "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Great Quest Great Quest Gold Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on developing high-potential gold and lithium projects in Namibia, Morocco, and Mali. The Company's flagship asset is the Damara Gold Project in Namibia, which includes the Khorixas, Omatjete, and Outjo projects, covering over 300,000 hectares. Khorixas has yielded high-grade grab samples up to 49.9 g/t Au, while Omatjete and Outjo present significant gold and lithium opportunities. In Mali, Great Quest is advancing the Sanoukou Gold Project, a 24 km2 concession in the Kayes region. Great Quest Gold Ltd. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GQ. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GREAT QUEST GOLD LTD. Jed Richardson CEO and Executive Chairman Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the mineralization and prospectivity of the Omatjete project, the acquisition of the new tenement, the Company's exploration program and the Company's future plans. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306656665/en/ Contact For more information: Please contact Tom Panoulias by email at IR@greatquest.com Latest Headlines Small business lender goes prime Small business lender Bizcap has added prime loans to its offering. Wednesday, March 5th 2025, 10:08AM Bizcap a new financing solution designed to provide longer-term, lower-rate funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand. Following exceptional demand for its Business Line of Credit and a record-breaking month for Bizcap in New Zealand the company is launching Bizcap Prime Loans. It says the new products will address gaps in the New Zealand business lending market, offering more tailored funding options for established businesses as the end of the financial year approaches. Businesses will noe be able to funding of up to 150% of their monthly sales, offering one of the most generous lending ratios in the market. Loan amounts range from $50,000 to $2,000,000, with flexible 9-12 month terms and more competitive rates than traditional short-term financing. Bizcap Prime is available to businesses with at least 24 months of trading history and a minimum Equifax credit score of 600. Settlements can be approved in three hours. Bizcap co-chief executive Zalman Blachman said, ''New Zealand businesses deserve more financing options that align with their needs. Our customers and advisers love the speed and flexibility we offer, and their feedback has been clearthey want even more options to support a wider range of business needs." Bizcap Prime Key Features: Higher Lending Ratios Borrow up to 150% of monthly sales Longer Terms 9-12 month repayment periods Lower Rates More competitive than traditional short-term funding Fast Approvals and Settlements typically within three hours Support for advisers and financial partners. Special Offers Comments from our readers No comments yet Sign In to add your comment It's 2 a.m. and you wake up to the sight and sound of a police officer, but you didn't call the police. Are you allowed to shoot him or her for unlawfully entering your home? If you live in Indiana, maybe.As of March 20, Indiana law gives residents the right to resist police -- even with deadly force -- if they're acting unlawfully. "So far as we know, this is the first one [law] where you have the right to shoot them [law enforcement] if you feel they're unlawfully entering the property," said Tim Richardson, the senior legislative liaison for the National Fraternal Order of Police.More than half of states have so-called castle doctrine laws, which give people the right to defend themselves against intruders in their homes, but Indiana is one of few, if not the only, state where law enforcement officials aren't exempt.The new law places the burden to decide what's legal on the people -- a task that most citizens (who lack law enforcement or legal training) aren't capable of, according to police officials.The state and national police unions fought hard to kill the bill, but Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels signed it anyway -- though not without warning. According to the Indianapolis Star , he said, "This law is not an invitation to use violence or force against law enforcement officers so don't try anything." But that, officers fear, is exactly what people may think.Though the law has steps a person must take before legally being allowed to use force against a police officer (like trying to escape from the scene), law enforcement officials doubt people will take the time to read and understand it."The unfortunate thing is probably the more publicity it gets, the more people are gonna think they have a right to resist no matter what they [police] do," said Tim Downs, president of Indiana's Fraternal Order of Police.The effects are already starting to be seen. The law has only been in effect for just over a month, but according to Downs, "There [are] reports coming in where people are challenging the police now because they think they have the right to resist no matter what they [police] do." The Indiana State FOP is tracking these reports and hopes to use them as a reason for the Legislature to revisit and possibly repeal the law, which passed with bipartisan support, next session. Indiana State FOP lawyers are currently researching the constitutionality of the law.The law not only has the potential to put police officers' safety at risk, but also the public's. That's because, according to public safety officials, police in Indiana will now likely take extra caution when responding to emergencies -- and that means a delay in service. For example, if an injured person calls 911 seeking help but is unable to answer the door when the police arrive, instead of breaking in, officers may take extra time to contact their supervisor to try to get a hold of the person inside. "All the while the resident is injured and is not receiving help," said Richardson.In certain cases, like domestic violence ones, police often don't have time to secure a search warrant. But the new law gives police incentive to do so, reducing the speed at which help is on the scene, according to officials.Lawmakers introduced the legislation to combat a controversial state Supreme Court ruling last May in which the court sided with a police officer who -- lawfully, according to the court -- entered an apartment to respond to a domestic violence complaint. The Barnes v. Indiana court opinion, however, concluded that "allowing resistance unnecessarily escalates the level of violence and therefore the risk of injuries to all parties involved without preventing the arrest."After receiving death threats and calls from lawmakers and from state Attorney General Greg Zoeller out of concern that the opinion overturned the state's castle doctrine law and the violated the U.S. Constitution's protections against unreasonable search and seizure, according to the, the justices later clarified that the Fourth Amendment protections were still in place. Republican state Rep. Jud McMillin, one of the bill's co-sponsors, didn't think that was enough."I heard from a whole bunch of constituents who said 'Look, this is the United States of America. You're supposed to be able to protect yourself against anything that's happening to you that's unlawful." FIA president threatened with legal action over WMSC controversy The FIA is plunging deeper into controversy as Motorsport UK chairman David Richards has issued a scathing open letter, threatening legal action against the organisation and its embattled president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Ben Sulayem FIA Richards, well known in the Formula 1 paddock, describes it as an erosion of accountability and good governance , following a contentious recent World Motor Sport Council meeting where he and FIA deputy president for motorsport Robert Reid were barred from participating after refusing to sign a stringent non-disclosure agreement (NDA). The FIA claimed the NDA was standard practice to protect confidentiality, but Richards' letter, published in Motorsport UK's online magazine, paints a starkly different picture. The final straw came when the president attempted to impose what amounted to a gagging order on WMSC members, backed up by threats of immediate 50,000 euro fines for any breach, he wrote. He accused Ben Sulayem of reneging on promises of transparency and hands-off leadership made during his 2021 election campaign, adding: Over the last three years, there has been a distinct failure to meet these promises, with the situation progressively worsening. Richards' threat of legal action raises fresh doubts about the legitimacy of decisions made at the February meeting, including a new rule mandating two-stop strategies for the 2025 Monaco GP. The unrest comes at a pivotal time for Ben Sulayem, who faces a potential challenge in the FIA presidential elections scheduled for December. Rumours are intensifying that Susie Wolff, boss of the all-female F1 Academy series and wife of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, may run against him. The speculation gained traction after 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill publicly endorsed her, saying on Instagram that she would be perfect for the role. Wolff's potential candidacy follows a bitter clash with Ben Sulayem in 2023, when he launched a short-lived conflict-of-interest probe into her and her husband - a move she branded intimidatory and misogynistic before filing a criminal complaint against the FIA in France. Italian magazine Autosprint has suggested the investigation was a pre-emptive strike by Ben Sulayem, aware of Wolff's rumoured presidential ambitions. An FIA spokesman dismissed the latest uproar, insisting the NDA was overwhelmingly supported by others. However, Richards' letter suggests a broader revolt may be brewing, with the Motorsport UK boss lamenting an exodus of senior members and volunteer officials under Ben Sulayem's reign. (GMM) Norris a lot better than Piastri in F1 test says Marko Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull is not overly worried, even though he openly admits McLaren is heading into the 2025 season as the obvious favourite. Lando Norris, Abu Dhabi GP 2024 McLaren Marko, 81, sounded more optimistic about Red Bull's progress over the winter during the pre-season test in Bahrain last week. But he has now admitted to RTL in Germany: "The current favorite is clearly McLaren. In my opinion, it will be a three-way or four-way battle between McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and us, he added. "Although, if you look at the test results, McLaren already has a lead. That was the case in both the short and long runs. However, Marko insists Red Bull is neither panicking over nor disappointed with the new car. "We have made progress, but we are two to three tenths behind in the long run. We absolutely don't have to worry yet, but it would have been nice if our developments and innovations had worked right away. We have taken a step - McLaren is just the favourite at the moment, said Marko. "Max (Verstappen) did not do a long run on Friday, and on Wednesday we were still at the same level as McLaren in that respect. I would say that on Friday the deficit was about two tenths, because the tyre degradation was also a lot better at McLaren. And while McLaren is the favourite, Marko also says the pecking order at the Woking based team is also clear. "You have to say that Lando Norris is the favourite. It is clear that he looked a lot better than (Oscar) Piastri in Bahrain. The main thing is that they can take points from each other and that we profit from that. Indeed, McLaren is heading into another season insisting that both Norris and Piastri will both be permitted to charge for the drivers' title. For us, Max is the obvious number 1, but I don't think Piastri will agree to be number 2, Marko said. "This was already evident last season - on certain tracks, he was on the same level, if not faster than Lando. The advantage of McLaren is that they again have a car that is very good with any type of tyre. (GMM) 24% of Ghanaian workers have a side hustle - Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 05 - 2025 , 23:40 In an evolving economic landscape, a growing number of Ghanaian workers are embracing poly-jobbingthe practice of holding multiple jobsto navigate financial uncertainties and secure a more stable future. Insights from the Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor (OMFSM) reveal that nearly one in four (24 per cent) working Ghanaians supplement their primary income with additional sources of revenue, highlighting a shift in employment trends. Poly-jobbing has become a defining feature of Ghanas workforce, particularly among urban and peri-urban professionals aged 25 to 59, who earn at least GH1,000 monthly. The data shows that 54 per cent of Ghanaians own or part-own a business, demonstrating a strong entrepreneurial spirit. While some engage in these ventures for passion, many turn to side businesses as a financial necessity. The surge in poly-jobbing is largely driven by economic pressures, rising costs of living, and a desire for financial independence. Many workers seek alternative income streams through freelance work, online businesses, agribusiness, and ride-hailing services, among others. The informal sector dominates, with 78 per cent of self-owned businesses falling outside the formal financial system, posing challenges for financial inclusion. Price of financial stress Despite their resilience, Ghanaian entrepreneurs are not without challenges. The report finds that 65 per cent of business owners experience high financial stress, while 42 per cent constantly worry about their income stability. However, optimism remains high, with 94 per cent expressing confidence that their financial situation will improve. Top financial priorities for these poly-jobbers include: Securing income stability (73 per cent) Ensuring safe investments (46 per cent) Managing expenses effectively (44 per cent) Surprisingly, long-term financial security appears to be a lower priority, with only 21 per cent actively saving for retirement, despite the uncertain economic climate. Many poly-jobbers turn to traditional savings methods such as susu groups and cash-based savings to manage their finances. 44 per cent of business owners participate in susu schemes, compared to 28 per cent of non-business owners. However, reliance on informal savings highlights the limited penetration of formal banking and investment products. Additionally, the OMFSM reveals a lack of access to financial advisory services, with 49 per cent of business owners uncertain about where to seek professional guidance. This gap underscores the need for financial institutions to offer tailored advisory services and create more accessible financial products to support entrepreneurs. Supporting the Poly-Jobbing Economy As poly-jobbing continues to shape Ghanas employment landscape, the OMFSM urges financial service providers and policymakers must step up efforts to: - Enhance financial literacy through targeted programs for entrepreneurs and side-hustlers. - Promote formal savings and investment options to encourage long-term wealth accumulation. - Improve access to financial advisory services, ensuring entrepreneurs can make informed decisions about their money. Next article: LIST: See the top 10 exports from Ghana in 2024 LIST: See Ghana's top 10 imports in 2024 Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 06 - 2025 , 18:00 Ghanas import landscape in 2024 was dominated by fuel, machinery, and agricultural products, with ten key commodities accounting for 33.4 percent of total imports, according to the latest Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) Trade Report. The highest-value import was Diesel (Automotive Gas Oil - AGO) for the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), amounting to GH28.9 billion and constituting 11.6 percent of total imports. It was closely followed by light oils and motor spirit (super), which stood at GH24.1 billion, or 9.6 percent. Other notable imports included self-propelled bulldozers, cement clinker, and used vehicles (1,500cc3,000cc). Breakdown of Ghanas top 10 imports in 2024 Diesel - Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) for TOR GH28.93 billion (11.6%) Light oils, motor spirit, super GH24.12 billion (9.6%) Self-propelled bulldozers with 360 revolving superstructure GH6.20 billion (2.5%) Cement clinker GH4.83 billion (1.9%) Used vehicles (1,500cc3,000cc) GH4.20 billion (1.7%) Cereal grains, worked but not rolled or flaked GH3.37 billion (1.3%) Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude GH3.34 billion (1.3%) Medium oils, Kerosene-type jet fuel (ATK) GH3.16 billion (1.3%) Guts, bladders, and stomachs of animals (excluding fish) GH2.69 billion (1.1%) Herbicides, anti-sprouting products, and plant-growth regulators GH2.61 billion (1.0%) Ghanas trade surplus strengthens economic outlook Despite the high import bill, Ghanas total exports soared to GH294.9 billion, surpassing imports of GH250.2 billion and resulting in a GH44.7 billion trade surplus. This marks a significant improvement from the previous year, driven by strong performances in gold, petroleum, and cocoa exports. The 2024 Annual Trade Report also highlights Ghanas increasing trade activity with African nations, with exports to the continent nearly doubling compared to imports. Experts attribute this to Ghanas strategic role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). In the final quarter of 2024, Ghana recorded a GH20.5 billion trade surplus, up from GH6.1 billion in Q4 2023, as exports hit GH92.9 billion against imports of GH72.4 billion. While fuel and industrial machinery continue to dominate Ghanas import list, the nations growing export strength signals a positive economic trajectory heading into 2025. Previous article: China says it is ready for 'any type of war' with US Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire call on Sahel Juntas to rejoin ECOWAS GraphicOnline International News Mar - 06 - 2025 , 07:23 3 minutes read Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire have made a renewed appeal for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to reconsider their decision to exit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stressing the need for regional unity and democratic transition. At a joint press conference in Abidjan on Wednesday, Cote d'Ivoires President Alassane Ouattara and Ghanas President John Dramani Mahama urged the military-led governments of the three Sahelian nations to restore ties with the bloc after their withdrawal on January 29, 2025. Mahama pledges to mediate talks President Mahama, who was on an official visit to Cote d'Ivoire, offered to act as a "bridge" between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)a new confederation formed by the three countries. "To see how we see how we can work with them so that they not only remain within our subregion, but also do the transition to constitutional democracy," Mahama stated. His proposal comes after multiple ECOWAS mediation efforts, led by Togo and Senegal, failed to prevent the breakaway, with military regimes in Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey declaring their departure "irreversible". Despite this, Mahama expressed his commitment to regional stability and pledged to personally engage with the three nations. "There's more that unites us than divides us," he remarked, adding that he intends to visit Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger soon to encourage dialogue. ECOWAS seeks unity amid regional security concerns President Ouattara supported Mahamas diplomatic overtures, expressing hope that the message of reconciliation would resonate with the Sahelian leaders. "I hope that President Mahama's appeal will be heard by these three brother countries, that we can continue together within ECOWAS," Ouattara said. The departure of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS followed a series of military coups between 2020 and 2023. Their decision was partly driven by grievances over ECOWAS response to political instability, including economic sanctions and threats of military intervention after Nigers coup in July 2023. The trio also accused the bloc of failing to adequately support their fight against jihadist insurgencies, while criticising its perceived alignment with France, the former colonial power with whom they share increasingly strained relations. Strengthening security and economic cooperation Beyond regional diplomacy, Ouattara and Mahama also discussed defence, security, and the cocoa economy, recognising the shared economic interests of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoiretwo of the worlds largest cocoa producers. Mahama reaffirmed Ghanas commitment to assisting its neighbours in tackling extremist threats, warning that regional instability could have far-reaching consequences. "We're prepared to help them to fight terrorism because in our country, we all know that when your neighbour's house is on fire, you have to help him to quench it before it spreads into your own compound," he said. As ECOWAS leaders seek to mend fractured alliances, all eyes will be on Mahamas planned visits to the breakaway nations in the coming weeks, a move that could determine whether diplomacy can rebuild the regions once-unified economic and security framework. GES declares March 7 a holiday for all school children GraphicOnline Education Mar - 06 - 2025 , 16:39 1 minute read The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially declared Friday, March 7, 2025, a holiday for all school children nationwide to allow them a well-deserved break after their participation in Independence Anniversary celebrations. In a statement signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, Head of the Public Relations Unit, the GES noted that the holiday was granted in recognition of the rigorous preparations and participation of students in the 68th Independence Day celebrations, which reached their climax today. This decision is to provide students with a well-deserved break after their rigorous preparations for the Independence Anniversary activities, the statement read. Schools to resume on March 10 The GES further assured parents and guardians that normal academic activities would resume on Monday, March 10, 2025, urging them to take note of the announcement. Schools will resume fully on Monday, 10th March 2025. Parents and guardians are kindly requested to take note of this announcement, the statement added. While apologising for any inconvenience the holiday may cause, the GES expressed appreciation for the cooperation of all stakeholders in ensuring the smooth observance of the Independence Day celebrations across the country. The announcement has been met with enthusiasm from students, many of whom participated in march pasts and other activities marking Ghanas 68th year of independence. Next article: Mahama calls for economic self-reliance, says Ghana must break cycle of dependence 1966 coup derailed Ghanas path to economic independence - Mahama Mohammed Ali Mar - 06 - 2025 , 11:14 1 minute read President John Dramani Mahama has blamed Ghanas economic struggles on the 1966 overthrow of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, describing it as a setback that disrupted the countrys path to industrialisation and self-sufficiency. Speaking at the Independence Day celebration on Thursday, March 6, 2025, Mr Mahama said the coup plunged Ghana into years of instability, delaying efforts to build a strong and self-reliant economy. Nkrumah envisioned an industrialised Ghana where citizens enjoyed high living standards rooted in patriotism and Pan-African unity. But on February 24, 1966, that dream was shattered, setting us back for decades, he said. He referenced declassified U.S. government documents, which confirm that the coup was carried out with the involvement of the CIA as part of Western efforts to halt Nkrumahs economic policies and Pan-African agenda. Mr Mahama said removing Nkrumah opened the door to Ghanas growing reliance on foreign aid and economic policies that failed to prioritise local industries. He urged Ghanaians to reflect on the nations journey, stressing that independence should not be viewed as a historical milestone alone but as a foundation for economic progress. Mr Mahama called for strong leadership and decisive action to break the cycle of missed opportunities and dependence on external assistance. He assured that his administration would push policies that promote local production, economic expansion, and self-sufficiency. 24-hour economy and $10bn infrastructure plan will drive Ghanas growth Mahama Mohammed Ali Mar - 06 - 2025 , 11:35 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has outlined plans to reshape Ghanas economy through a 24-hour economy policy and a $10 billion infrastructure project, aimed at boosting job creation, industrial growth, and reducing reliance on foreign aid. Speaking at Ghanas Independence Day celebration on March 6, 2025, Mr Mahama stressed the need for a shift in the countrys economic approach, arguing that round-the-clock productivity is key to reversing years of stagnation. The era of an economy that sleeps at night must end. Ghana needs continuous productivity, more jobs, and a stronger export base. The 24-hour economy is not just a policy, it is a necessity, he said. He explained that under this initiative, businesses will be encouraged to operate throughout the day and night, and the government will work to provide stable electricity, improved security, and better transport systems to support night-time production and trade. Beyond the 24-hour economy, Mr Mahama also spoke about his $10 billion Big Push infrastructure plan, which he said would expand roads, railways, and energy systems while creating thousands of jobs. This is a bold step towards building a Ghana that stands on its own industries and workforce instead of continuously seeking foreign assistance, he said. Mr Mahama also stressed the role of agriculture in reducing import dependence, pointing to his administrations Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, which seeks to strengthen local food production and cut Ghanas $2 billion annual food import bill. He said initiatives such as the Feed Ghana Programme and the Farm-to-Table Poultry Initiative would give farmers access to land, mechanised farming tools, and inputs while promoting large-scale food processing to help stabilise prices. Our future prosperity depends on our ability to feed ourselves, produce what we consume, and export more than we import. That is the foundation of true economic independence, he said. Mr Mahama urged Ghanaians to support policies aimed at reducing dependence on donor aid, IMF bailouts, and excessive imports, insisting that the path to economic stability lies in productivity, innovation, and disciplined governance. Next article: These roads have been temporarily closed on Ghanas Independence Day Court orders substituted service on John-Peter Amewu GNA Mar - 06 - 2025 , 10:27 2 minutes read A Koforidua Court of Appeal has ordered that the processes of the court be served on Mr John-Peter Amewu, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe, through substituted service. The Court further directed that the court processes be posted on the notice boards of the Koforidua Court of Appeal, Hohoe High Court, Ho High Court and on the gates of Mr Amewus residence in Hohoe. The Court, in a hearing notice to the parties, noted that the Appeal in the matter has been set for hearing on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 0900 hours at the Court of Appeal, Koforidua. If when the Appeal is called and you do not appear to answer, the Court will proceed to hear same without you. Five residents from Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL) had petitioned the High Court in Ho in December 2020, seeking to nullify the parliamentary election that resulted in Mr Amewu becoming the MP for Hohoe, arguing that their exclusion from the election process was unjust. In July 2024, the Ho High Court dismissed the petition challenging the validity of the election of Mr Amewu on the grounds of lacking jurisdiction. Mr George Bright Anni Bansah, the Spokesperson for the petitioners, in July, last year, after the dismissal of the case revealed that they would file an appeal notice to the Ho High Court. He stated that they did not need to go to the Supreme Court for interpretation, as the matter could be resolved by the Appeal Court. After serving Mr Amewu through the substituted service on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Mr Bansah told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that they had carried out the Court of Appeals order and served at the respective places including the gate of Mr Amewus residence. He said the service was because they had tried serving Mr Amewu who has been evading service for a very long time. In a related development, the Ghana News Agency saw a scuffle between some New Patriotic Party (NPP) members and the Hohoe Communication Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who was accused of filming them moments after the order was served. COVID-19 How countries without lockdowns fared 5-years later bbc.com Mar - 06 - 2025 , 09:29 11 minutes read Most of the world found itself confined to their homes in March 2020 as Covid-19 spread at a blistering pace. Some countries didn't impose any lockdown restrictions so was their decision the right one? In March 2020, billions of people stared out through their windows at a world they no longer recognised. Suddenly confined to their homes, their lives had shrunk abruptly to four walls and computer screens. Around the world, national leaders appeared on television, telling them to stay put only leave the house to buy essential supplies or for once-daily exercise, maybe. It was a last-ditch attempt to curb the spread of a terrifying virus that had already killed many thousands of people worldwide. In London, theatre worker Tony Beckingham and his partner decided to use their daily exercise to cycle into the centre of the city one evening. "We thought it'd be really fun to see no-one around," he says. It wasn't. Places the pair knew well, like Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, perennially abuzz with people, were chillingly quiet. "It was really upsetting instantly," says Beckingham. This deletion of the public from city streets, venues and businesses first began in China, where Covid-19 emerged. Quarantine orders were soon replicated in other countries after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. At no prior point in human history have people faced restrictions like this on such a scale. But a handful of countries did things differently. Sweden, Taiwan, Uruguay, Iceland and a few others never enacted a lockdown that involved severe restrictions on the movement of people, such as legally binding stay-at-home orders applied across large swathes of the population. Those countries instead chose other measures, such as restrictions on large gatherings of people, extensive testing and quarantining infected people or travel restrictions. Five years later, the scientific studies and data have piled up, offering a detailed, long-term assessment of whether these countries were right to reject this most drastic of public health interventions. The Swedish city of Gothenburg is a haven for dog-lovers, says HR administrator and blogger Anna Mc Manus, "We have a very dog-friendly city here," she says. "We even have a dog-friendly cinema." As countries around the world, including Sweden's neighbours Norway, Finland and Denmark, ushered in national lockdowns in March 2020, Mc Manus was aware that her own government had decided to buck the trend. She heard how dog owners in some nations couldn't even take their pets out for walks because of lockdown rules. South Africa was one such country. This struck Mc Manus as terrible. At the time, she wrote a blog post in which she said, "I am convinced that my government is acting in a secure and correct way". However, she also expressed concern that her fellow Swedes were not always following the official public health guidelines around social distancing, such as limiting the number of people who could meet together in a group. Mc Manus remembers taking frequent walks in beauty spots, but also that she and her colleagues continually wore masks to help prevent Covid-19 transmission at the veterinary hospital where she worked in 2020. Plus, she and her partner avoided restaurants and meeting up with lots of other people. Even now, Mc Manus says she is not sure what to make of Sweden's official strategy. "I want to base it on facts like how many people died," she says. "Could we have saved a lot more people if we had had a lockdown?" Scientists have tried to answer that question. Ingeborg Forthun at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and researchers in other countries including Sweden published a study in May 2024 that compared excess deaths in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland during the first years of the pandemic. While Sweden avoided strict government imposed controls, instead relying mainly on voluntary behavioural changes from is citizens, the other three nations imposed strict lockdowns in the early stages of the pandemic. Norway, Finland and Denmark closed schools and most other aspects of public life while also asking people to work from home, but they stopped short of confining people to their homes in the way other countries such as the UK did. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the researchers found a noticeable spike in excess deaths in Sweden during the initial waves of the pandemic during the spring and winter of 2020, when Covid-19 was able to spread more freely than in neighbouring nations. But while excess mortality fell in the three other countries in 2020, it rose compared to Sweden in 2021 and 2022. "The four countries have a comparable number of excess deaths when you account for the fact that population sizes differ," says Forthun. What lockdowns did affect, in part, was the timing of when spikes in excess deaths occurred. Of Norway's approach, Forthun adds: "We probably kept some older and vulnerable people alive for a longer period." Whereas authorities in Sweden were criticised in 2020 over high numbers of deaths at care homes. Some economists have combined similar data with comparisons of economic performance indicators between the same four Nordic countries to argue that, overall, Sweden's approach was justified due to the relatively low economic costs. But such arguments are controversial and the lack of a lockdown in Sweden remains an area for heated debate among some. Another study by a group of German economists who modelled how a lockdown could have affected pandemic outcomes in Sweden suggests that the substantial voluntary restraints enacted by people in the country appear to have replicated some of the effects of a lockdown anyway. One Swedish epidemiologist, Nele Brusselaers, of the Karolinska Institute, has criticised her country's Covid-19 strategy. She moved to Belgium during the pandemic. "I'm a medical doctor so of course I care about lives," she says. "We want to save every single life." She says many of her fellow Swedes are "still in denial" about Covid-19 though some have come to question the lack of lockdown in recent years. Brusselaers, who lived in Sweden in 2020, notes how her posts about Covid-19 on social media resulted in fierce pushback from some who disagreed with her stance on lockdown as an appropriate strategy. "You get so much hatred," she says. "That's not something I was used to." Even today, some people find it hard to move past the hostility they faced on the topic of lockdowns. One university researcher approached by the BBC for this article said they were so traumatised by the abuse they received online in 2020 that they never intended to comment on Covid-19 control measures, or lockdowns, publicly again. Furthermore, some people who lived in countries without lockdowns, and who disagreed with their government's approach, are still reeling from the experience. Tanzania never had any Covid-19 lockdowns. The country's former President, John Magufuli, who dismissed lockdowns and other public health interventions, died in 2021. Magufuli's approach to the pandemic was "unscientific", says history lecturer Fadhili Mtani at the Muslim University of Morogoro in Tanzania. "He advocated for traditional herbs and later he rejected vaccines." But Mtani recalls visiting hospitals where members of his own family had passed away of an illness. "I saw people suffocating in the hospitals," he says. "The hospital said we should not say it's Covid." Official figures suggest around 840 people have died of Covid-19 in Tanzania since the start of the pandemic. Mtani says that the government has not made accurate statistics available, however. An international collaboration aimed at estimating the global excess deaths during the first two years of the pandemic has put the total number of deaths in Tanzania at somewhere between 102,000-188,000. Mtani argues that Tanzania should have enforced a lockdown, though without placing excessive restrictions on the movement of workers. "The majority of people are poor. To deny movement for them is to deny their existence," Mtani explains. Many scientists emphasise that lockdowns were crucial for saving lives in the early part of the pandemic, before vaccines were available, and also for limiting the pressure on health services. By March 2020, this pressure was already severe in the UK, says Adam Kucharski, professor of infectious disease epidemiology, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. "The NHS was overwhelmed," Kucharski explains, referring to the emotional testimony of doctors who have spoken to the UK's public inquiry into the governments Covid-19 response. "It's ridiculous to suggest [the NHS] wasn't under effectively breaking pressure by that point," adds Kucharski. Kucharski also says that, because of the UK's global connections and the large number of young people who live together or with their parents compared to Sweden, for example, it might have been much harder for the UK to control Covid-19 transmission without imposing a lockdown. He also points to a 2021 study that attempted to quantify the effect of specific government interventions on the spread of Covid-19, using data from 41 countries. It reveals that certain aspects of national lockdowns might have been more impactful than others. The researchers found, for example, that banning gatherings of more than 10 people or closing schools and universities was especially effective, reducing transmission by more than 35% on average. Shutting restaurants and bars seemed to make slightly less difference to transmission, however. What's more, the researchers suggest that adding a strict stay-at-home order on top of such measures "only had a small additional effect" in terms of slowing down Covid-19 estimated at below 17.5% on average. Countries that chose not to lock down severely may also have had more time to prepare for the arrival of Covid-19, or social and structural reasons as to why the Sars-CoV-2 virus was less likely to spread quickly there versus other nations. Even then, there are surprising comparisons to be made. Take Iceland and New Zealand, for instance. Both are wealthy island nations with relatively small populations but while New Zealand introduced a strict lockdown on 25 March 2020, Iceland never did. "They [Iceland] had more of a mitigation strategy," says Leah Grout, a research data analyst specialising in public health at the Southern California University of Health Sciences. Grout was lead author on a research paper about the contrasting Covid-19 strategies and outcomes of these two countries. Iceland introduced a test and trace programme, in which infections and contacts between people were monitored so that individuals rather than entire populations were asked to observe quarantine for a time. This measure was also used in many countries that also applied lockdowns, when those lockdowns were lifted. Iceland had some restrictions on social gatherings and it did close its borders to some travellers, briefly. "New Zealand had one of the lowest mortality rates globally with their approach," says Grout. "Iceland also fared pretty well." Plus, the economic impacts on both countries were limited, she adds. Other researchers have made similar findings regarding New Zealand and Iceland. Much was written in 2020 about various countries' efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. But, in retrospect, that seems much too early to come to any real conclusions. Uruguay was lauded at the time for apparently managing to keep Covid-19 at bay, despite never enacting a strict lockdown. The country's government enforced some forms of social distancing, including the closure of some gyms, and Uruguay's borders were also closed to certain travellers, for instance. But ports remained open and there was no stay-at-home order affecting the entire population. A study published in 2024 found that, while excess deaths were low in Uruguay during 2020, they actually rose substantially in 2021 and 2022. Excess deaths in 2021, for example, were nearly 19% above the expected figure, based on historical trends. The study's authors put this down mostly to the spread of Covid-19 but add that impacts from the pandemic on the ability to provide healthcare in other ways probably also played a role. Similarly, Japan was able to keep mortality from Covid-19 to a relatively low level in the early part of the pandemic. By the summer of 2022, Covid-19 deaths had reached 36,200. Today, they stand at 130,000. So, what happened in the interim? The Omicron variant. New, mutated forms of the early Sars-CoV-2 virus that spread worldwide in 2022 and 2023. (Find out more about how Covid-19's symptoms have changed as new variants of the virus have emerged in this article by David Cox.) Some researchers argue that Japans approach proved to be the right one overall. "Even without lockdown, suppression of epidemic curves has been largely successful," argues Hiroshi Nishiura, a professor in the graduate school of medicine at Kyoto University. However, as in other countries where legally binding lockdowns did not come into force, there is evidence that people in Japan changed their behaviour significantly anyway. One study of people's movements based on mobile phone data suggests that, when the Japanese government declared a nationwide state of emergency in April 2020, people in Tokyo reduced their outings from home roughly as much as people in the US who, conversely, faced legally binding lockdowns. Despite this, Yasuharu Tokuda, a clinical epidemiologist and director of the Muribushi Okinawa Center for Teaching Hospitals in Okinawa, Japan, argues that a tougher approach might have been beneficial. "Some patients could not be admitted to the hospital because of the lack of available beds," he says. "If we have a strong viral pandemic, then we need to have a stricter lockdown in Japan." Research suggests that there might be resistance to such an idea among members of the public in Japan, however. Government to release funds for industries under 24-hour economy Trade Minister Mohammed Ali Mar - 06 - 2025 , 13:23 2 minutes read The government is set to unlock funding to support industries as Ghana prepares to implement its 24-hour economy, Minister for Trade and Agribusiness, Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, has announced. Speaking after the Independence Day celebrations on March 6 2025, she said the private sector is ready to embrace the 24-hour economy, with some industries already preparing to operate in three shifts to maximise production and create jobs. According to the minister, the government has engaged various industries, many of which are eager to begin round-the-clock operations. She explained that the policy will stimulate economic growth by boosting local manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports. The 24-hour economy will support our import substitution agenda. Many of the industries coming on board will produce goods we currently import. If they can scale up, we will export more and strengthen the cedi, she said. Mrs Ofosu Agyare also revealed that discussions have been held with the Minister for Finance and the Bank of Ghana to release funds trapped in banks for investment in agribusiness and the industrial value chain. She noted that access to affordable financing remains a major challenge for businesses, and addressing this issue will be crucial to the success of the policy. The National Economic Dialogue showed how much the private sector is willing to contribute if given the right support. One of the major takeaways was the need to free up locked funds in banks to support businesses. I will personally follow up to ensure these funds are made available, she said. She clarified that the 24-hour economy will not apply to all sectors but will target industries that can sustain continuous operations, such as manufacturing, agribusiness processing, and services. She assured the public that the government will work closely with businesses to facilitate implementation, create jobs, and transform the economy. Next article: Scientists discover new part of the immune system PLAYBACK: Ghana's 68th Independence Day Anniversary Celebration Kweku Zurek Mar - 06 - 2025 , 09:09 1 minute read Ghanas 68th Independence Anniversary will be marked on March 6, 2025, in a modest ceremony at the Presidency, departing from the traditional grand celebration at the Black Star Square. The decision, taken by President John Dramani Mahama, is aimed at reducing costs and prioritising government expenditure amid economic challenges. Schedule Upon the arrival of President John Dramani Mahama, the national anthem will be played, followed by a recital of the National Pledge. This will be followed by a traditional prayer, a Muslim prayer, and a Christian prayer. The President will then inspect the parade and light the perpetual flame, after which the band will perform. Following the band's display, there will be performances by learners from various schools in the Greater Accra region. The parade will then advance in Review Order, followed by the drum appellation. Finally, the President will deliver his 68th Independence Anniversary address. Watch a livestream of the event below; Next article: President Mahama appeals for lasting peace in Bawku, calls for unity Mahama urges Ghanaian youth to take charge of the countrys future Mohammed Ali Mar - 06 - 2025 , 11:43 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanas youth to step up and play an active role in shaping the nations future, urging them to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, and national development efforts to build a self-sufficient economy. Speaking at Ghanas Independence Day event on March 6 2025, Mr Mahama stressed that young people have a responsibility to break the cycle of economic dependence and drive the country towards lasting prosperity. Ghanas destiny is in your hands. You are not just the leaders of tomorrowyou must step up today. The choices we make now will determine the future of this country, he said. The President noted that true independence is not just political but economic, adding that young people must take advantage of government initiatives aimed at creating jobs and strengthening local industries. He cited the AgriNext Programme, which is set to equip 30,000 young Ghanaians with land, training, and agribusiness opportunities, as well as the Farmer Service Centres in every district, which will provide access to modern farming tools, quality seeds, and fertilisers. Mr Mahama also stressed the importance of entrepreneurship and industrialisation, saying his administration is committed to supporting youth-led businesses and local manufacturing to reduce Ghanas dependence on imports. Each generation has a responsibility to leave the country better than they found it. We cannot keep missing opportunities while expecting a different result, he said. The President cautioned that Ghanas future would be bleak if young people remained passive observers rather than active participants in policymaking and governance. We cannot afford to disappoint future generations. It is time for action, not rhetoric. Let us build an economy that works for all, not just a few, he added. He encouraged young people to embrace hard work, patriotism, and discipline, assuring them that his administration would continue to provide the necessary support to secure a prosperous future for all Ghanaians. Next article: Agriculture is Ghanas path to economic independence - Mahama Mahama visits Volta Region tidal wave victims after Independence Day celebrations Mohammed Ali Mar - 06 - 2025 , 11:59 1 minute read President John Dramani Mahama has travelled to the Volta Region to assess the impact of recent tidal waves that have displaced residents and destroyed properties in several coastal communities. His visit follows Ghanas Independence Day celebrations on March 6 2025, where he reaffirmed his administrations commitment to national development and resilience against environmental challenges. Leaving directly from the Independence Day event, the President is expected to meet affected residents, inspect the damage, and coordinate immediate relief efforts. The tidal waves, which struck coastal areas of the Volta Region, have left hundreds homeless and caused extensive damage to homes, fishing boats, and farmlands. Communities such as Keta, Anloga, and Dzita have been among the hardest hit, with residents calling for swift government intervention. Minister for Government Communication, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced the visit in a Facebook post today, noting that President Mahama seeks to assess the extent of the devastation firsthand and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to support those affected. During his Independence Day address earlier in the day, Mr Mahama drew attention to the increasing risk of climate-related disasters, such as coastal erosion and flooding, which threaten livelihoods nationwide. He reaffirmed his governments commitment to long-term measures, including sea defence projects and enhanced disaster response systems, to safeguard vulnerable communities. Next article: All you need to know about Ghana's 68th Independence Anniversary: cost, contingents, and cutbacks See the messages the US, Belarus, and Qatar sent Ghana on its Independence Day GraphicOnline Mar - 06 - 2025 , 08:12 2 minutes read As Ghana marks 68 years of independence, world leaders have extended their goodwill messages to President John Dramani Mahama and the Ghanaian people. Notable among them are congratulatory messages from the United States, Belarus, and Qatar, highlighting Ghanas growing influence on the global stage. Belarusian President highlights bilateral cooperation President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus expressed admiration for Ghanas progress, commending its sustainable progress in socio-economic development and its authority in the international arena. Lukashenko reaffirmed Belarus commitment to strengthening ties with Ghana, noting the untapped potential in areas such as trade, economy, politics, and humanitarian cooperation. We can offer Ghana our expertise and knowledge in agricultural mechanisation, we can supply food, medical products and equipment, fertilisers, and provide personnel training, he stated. The Belarusian leader also took the opportunity to invite President Mahama to visit Belarus for discussions on expanding bilateral relations. He wished the Ghanaian leader excellent health and success in fulfilling his responsible state mission, as well as unity and prosperity to the people of Ghana. Qatars Amir joins in the celebrations His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Amir of Qatar, also extended his best wishes to Ghana on its Independence Day. In a message addressed to President Mahama, the Qatari leader congratulated the nation, underscoring the warm diplomatic relations between the two countries. US Secretary of State commends Ghanas leadership The United States also celebrated Ghanas milestone, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirming Washingtons strong partnership with Accra. On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm wishes to President Mahama and the people of Ghana as they celebrate their National Day, Rubio stated. He praised Ghanas commitment to freedom, democracy, economic prosperity, and security, describing it as stronger today than ever before. He also lauded Ghanas steadfast leadership in West Africa and across the African continent. Rubio expressed optimism about the future of US-Ghana relations, stating: The United States looks forward to deepening our many ties with the Ghanaian people and new government in the year ahead. Modest celebration at the Presidency Unlike previous years, Ghanas 68th Independence Anniversary is being observed in a modest ceremony at the Presidency, departing from the traditional grand celebrations at Black Star Square. As Ghana reflects on its journey since gaining independence in 1957, the messages from these world leaders underscore the countrys global relevance and diplomatic importance. Next article: See the messages the US, Belarus, and Qatar sent Ghana on its Independence Day Television sets in government offices symbolises lack of seriousness NDPC Chairman Kweku Zurek Mar - 06 - 2025 , 08:48 2 minutes read The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr Nii Moi Thompson, has strongly criticised the presence of television sets in government offices, describing them as the ultimate symbol of this country and its lack of seriousness towards productivity and national development. Speaking in an interview on Citi FM, Dr Thompson shared a personal experience from his office, where he encountered a television mounted on the wall upon assuming his role. He immediately ordered its removal, emphasising that government workers were not paid to watch television. I said, No, we are not paid to come here and watch television, so get rid of it. You're going to get rid of it, he stated. Dr Thompson recounted instances where televisions in government offices had created an environment of distraction rather than efficiency. He recalled walking into a government building where staff at the reception desk were so engrossed in watching television that he was able to walk straight to the ministers office without being questioned. I've been to places where I walk through reception, straight to the minister's office, and no one asked me a question because everyone was watching television, he revealed. His concerns went beyond general news consumption. He noted that some government workers were found watching telenovelas and inappropriate content, even during official working hours. It wasnt just soap operas, but soft porn 10 a.m. in government offices, and you could walk through reception. Nobody asked [anything], he lamented. Dr Thompson linked these distractions to low productivity levels in the public sector, arguing that poor work ethic is a major reason why government employees often complain about their salaries. Then they wonder why their salaries are low, because productivity is low, he stated. He stressed that productivity is key to economic growth, job creation, and wage improvement, and that inefficient workplace behaviour undermines these goals. The only way [economic growth, job creation, and wage increase] can happen is through productivity If the systems are so lax that people will show up and not do anything, they will show up and not do anything, he warned. Dr Thompson urged strict organisational reforms to curb inefficiencies in public offices. He hinted at disciplinary action against those who defy his directive to remove televisions from government workplaces. I've told them. I see they're still hanging, so someones going to pay a price for that, he cautioned. His remarks have sparked fresh debate on discipline, accountability, and efficiency in the public sector, with many calling for urgent measures to enhance productivity in government institutions. Workers from Sweetwater County and across Wyoming gathered on the steps of the State Capitol last Friday to make their voices heard. "Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, workers of all trades, today I stand before you to talk about something that affects every single one of us -- our safety, our rights, and our ability to work with dignity," Marshal Cummings said in a speech at the event. Cummings, the union president for United Steelworkers Local 13214, helped organize the rally to share his concerns about decisions being made at the state and national level that affect workers. Some of the primary concerns behind the rally were regarding bills in the Wyoming Legislature to cut unemployment, bills affecting education and teachers, and national challenges to organizations like MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Cummings worked with Marcie Kindred, newly appointed Executive Director of the Wyoming State AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, a federation of unions), to organize the rally. He invited local teacher Dan Parson to give a speech at the event as well to discuss the impacts of recent legislation on educators. With participants traveling from across the state to take part, the Wyoming Workers Rally drew roughly 150 participants, Cummings estimated. He believes the event could have been even bigger if it hadn't been on a Friday, but they wanted to gather while the legislature was in session and discussing relevant bills. As it was, many people took the day off and drove for hours to be able to participate. "That's how important it was," Cummings noted. The rally participants gathered in front of the Capitol, gave speeches addressing their concerns, and went into the building to hear the House discuss Senate File 0175, "Unemployment insurance coverage-period and reporting." The bill, sponsored by Senator John Kolb, proposed changing the maximum amount of benefits payable from not exceeding 26 times his weekly benefit to not exceeding 20 times his weekly benefit, decreasing the amount of unemployment workers can receive. This bill had been one of the specific concerns that prompted Cummings to organize the rally, particularly since he both has members he represents currently going through a layoff and since he knows what it's like, having been laid off himself in the past. "It's not like people are lazy or it's not like they're living off of unemployment, because you can't," Cummings said. "It's so little money from what you're used to making that it won't make you whole." Cummings also noted that he recently did research and found out that unemployment is overfunded by over $22 million right now. "It seems like we should expand on the benefit instead of making it worse," he said. With the rallying workers watching the House session, SF0175 was voted down, failing 23-36. "As we marched in the gala and the bill got shot down, it made me realize that we can make a difference," Cummings said. "It's people first, people over profit." Other concerns that prompted Cummings to organize the rally and that are still ongoing relate to changes at a national level that have the potential to impact local workers. Specifically, Cummings said he recently found out that President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) "intends to cut the field office for MSHA in Green River." With six mines and thousands of miners in Southwest Wyoming alone, Cummings is concerned over safety, especially if there were ever to be an accident. "That MSHA office being here in Green River makes it so they can respond quickly," Cummings said. The need to protect MSHA and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is a "no brainer" for Cummings. "Safety and health-wise, OSHA and MSHA are there for us, and they both were implemented because of disasters and catastrophes that have happened in workplaces," Cummings noted. "They set these regulations, and they do these inspections, and they make the rules so that we are safe and we can come home." The damage that can be done when workers aren't protected, both by safety organizations and having rights and the ability to unionize and bargain for better conditions, has been seen in the past, according to Cummings. In his speech, he referenced the Ludlow Massacre of 1914, when striking coal miners and their families in Colorado were killed. "We've already been down this path," Cummings said. "There's countless incidents where this has happened, and I'm not ready to go back in time. I'm ready to keep going forward." Cummings also stressed that he believed protecting workers should be a non-partisan issue. Both Republicans and Democrats participated in the Wyoming Workers Rally, he noted, and he believes that the issue goes beyond party lines. "I still don't see how we fell into this trap where supporting workers is a matter of your political position," he said. "This isn't about politics-it's about people," Marcie Kindred from the AFL-CIO said of the rally. "The solidarity we're seeing across all professions and industries goes beyond political parties. This is Wyoming at its best-united in our shared values and the knowledge that we are stronger together." Working hard is the Wyoming way, according to Cummings, and protecting workers benefits everyone. "I hope everyone in Southwest Wyoming understands that when the unions negotiate and bargain better contracts for themselves, such as wages, benefits, retirement, time off, all this stuff lifts the whole entire community up," Cummings said. "We have more money to spend. Other people have to get competitive with the wages to fulfill the workforce. So if unions are pushing and making strikes, everyone is winning in Southwest Wyoming." Cummings also shared his belief that Southwest Wyoming has been a driver of worker rights, not just for miners but for everyone. "We're trying to take up that mantle and keep going in the right direction," Cummings said. The Westvaco and Granger trona mines outside Green River that were owned and operated by Genesis Alkali have now been purchased and will be operated by WE Soda. "WE Soda is pleased to announced it acquired Genesis Alkali, the largest producer in the U.S. of natural soda ash," the company shared in a press release Monday morning. "Obviously, the Westvaco and the Granger sites have been very successful for 70 years, and they've got a great workforce," Craig Rood, Director of Government Affairs and Public Relations with WE Soda, said after the purchase. "I think we'll bring just some cultural changes that make a big difference in how the business operates," he added. Rood explained that the name WE Soda stands for "West-East Soda," with the "West" portion of the company being their operations in the United States, specifically in Wyoming, and the "East" portion being the two natural soda ash mines in Turkey owned by the company that have been operating for several years. The company itself has its corporate office in London. Rood himself is a Wyoming native local to Sweetwater County. The transition to operations under WE Soda at the mine was effective immediately as of Monday morning. "I think for the majority of the workforce, it'll be seamless," Rood said, explaining that any change of business eventually brings changes in how things are done, but for the workers at the site everything will continue to be "business as usual." When it comes to the changes that will take place over time, Rood is optimistic about implementing WE Soda's vision and priorities. "I think there will be some positive cultural changes," Rood said. "WE Soda has a very strong safety culture. I like to say it's part of every decision we make and every action we take, and it's the first thing we talk about in any meeting, any situation... I think that'll be the biggest change." Rood also pointed out that the WE Soda logo features three family members, showing another priority for the company. "The WE Soda organization and the Ciner organization are very family-oriented, and I think that makes a difference in a business and how a business operates," Rood added. WE Soda is part of the Ciner Group of companies, a Turkish industrial conglomerate that operates in energy and mining sectors, with WE Soda representing soda ash production. WE Soda has also been working on bringing Project West, a solution trona mine operation, to Southwest Wyoming. That project is ongoing and is currently working through permitting, according to Rood. Eventually, Rood believes both Project West and the mines will work together. "Part of the reason we purchased the Westvaco facility is the synergy that it provides for the two projects," he explained. "And I think they'll go hand in hand and grow the total market in Wyoming and in the United States." Recently, workers at the mine were laid off under Genesis Alkali, with the company citing concerns in the global trona market. Rood noted that he couldn't speak to the layoffs since they happened under a different company, but said that WE Soda has "a different perspective on the market" than Genesis Alkali did. "Our plants in Europe give us some flexibility that other plants don't have in the United States," Rood explained. "So I think we bring a different perspective to the market than others." While the change to operating under WE Soda is still new, Union President Marshal Cummings is optimistic about the purchase. Representing United Steelworkers Local 13214, Cummings said he has been able to meet with the new owner and some of the WE Soda team, and said that they seem like "people of the highest caliber" who are "not strangers" to soda ash. "They want to set records in safety and set records in production and efficiency," Cummings said. "I'm definitely not discouraged or worried. If anything, I feel like we're in a great position to set milestones for years to come." WE Soda is also optimistic for the future, sharing in their press release that the company is "investing billions into Wyoming's soda ash industry to directly compete with China and other international competitors in global markets." The purchase of Genesis Alkali is overall a $1.425 billion purchase, according to Liz Brimmer of Brimmer Communications, which WE Soda is a client of. The purchase also means WE Soda is the world's largest producer of soda ash, with a combined production capacity of around 10.5 million tons, according to the company. "We believe in Wyoming trona and are committed to expanding the world's best trona reserves right here in America's strongest mining state," WE Soda said. "This is what Trona 2.0 will look like-investment, expansion, and continued leadership in the industry. We are proud to partner with local and state leaders in Wyoming to ensure sustainable, safe, and responsible growth. The world's best trona is found in Wyoming, and WE Soda is here to ensure it remains the world's leading producer of natural soda ash." The animal rights group PETA claimed a free speech victory Thursday, saying it reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the Rock Springs airport, which had refused to let it advertise a message criticizing leather luggage. In the heart of Wyoming's cattle and rodeo country, where cowboys ride leather saddles, cowgirls wear leather boots and most everybody else has leather gloves, airport officials blocked People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals from buying advertising urging fliers not to travel with leather luggage. The airport will pay PETA $35,000 in legal fees and allow it to advertise as it does others, the animal rights group said. "PETA is celebrating this victory for the First Amendment and for cows who don't want to be tormented and killed for their skins," Asher Smith, PETA Foundation's director of litigation, said in a statement. The rejected ad depicts a leather handbag with a cow's head and legs - it looks to be a red-and-white Holstein dairy cow seldom seen in the area. Next to the image is the question, "Was she killed to make your carry-on?" In its suit, PETA claimed that the airport, which advertised rodeo events on various platforms, invented a reason to reject PETA's carry-on criticism. "[R]ather than allowing the ad to run, the airport, as alleged, quickly scrambled to create a set of policy guidelines to justify rejecting it," PETA said in a statement announcing the settlement. An airport official did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The organization originally fought the lawsuit. Court filings state that the parties have reached a settlement, but the case, filed in June 2024, appears to need judicial approval before it is completely resolved. The airport's actions were unconstitutional, the suit asserted. Further, travelers can easily find vegan leather for their carry-ons, the group said. Cows have friends, hold grudges and mourn, PETA said. Cowboys and cowgirls who no longer want to saddle their consciousnesses with the burden of the leather industry can avail themselves of the organization's empathy kits, the group said. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. CHEYENNEThe Wyoming Legislature agreed to set aside $15 million to inspect and repair I-80 tunnels near Green River after a 26-vehicle crash earlier this month killed three people and left 18 others injured. The Feb. 14 wreck also caused extensive damage to the westbound tunnel, including charred concrete lining and destroyed lighting and other equipment. Since then, the westbound tunnel has remained closed, forcing the eastbound tunnel to accommodate two-way traffic on part of Wyoming's busiest interstate highway. While the speed limit has been reduced to 35 miles per hour, Rock Springs Republican Sen. Stacy Jones said "it's a bad situation." "It's just a matter of time before we have another accident in there," Jones said on the Senate floor as the body debated the appropriation. "It's created a bottleneck and we need to get this money to [Wyoming Department of Transportation,] so they can expedite the inspection and repairing of the other tunnel," she said. Jones alongside Sens. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, and Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, successfully brought the earmarking amendment Wednesday to House Bill 33, "Vehicles sales and use tax distribution-highway fund." The $15 million is expected to be reverted to the state's rainy day savings account, since the appropriations can only be spent if WYDOT is unable to access federal dollars. Appropriating state dollars was intended to speed up the repair and inspection process. "So it's really not an increase in expenditure or anything because we're using the money that was already going to be moved over," Rep. J.T. Larson, R-Rock Springs, said on the House floor. "It was a creative way to address the situation." Jones' amendment also largely reverted the bill to its original version, which will divert a portion of vehicles sales and use taxes to the state's highway fund on an annual basis. Those dollars are to be used for the operation, maintenance, construction and reconstruction of state highways. For several years, lawmakers have struggled to work out a funding model for WYDOT, leaving the agency in "preservation mode" with a $400 million revenue shortfall. While HB 33 will start to lessen the squeeze on the department, Senate Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee Chairman Stephan Pappas, R-Cheyenne, said there's still work to do. "We will need to work out long-term funding," Pappas said on the floor. Driskill echoed him. "We're going to be coming back and looking at ways we can find a way to long-term fund our highways, but this is going to get us on the right track," he said. After voting for the amendment, but against the bill, Casper Republican Sen. Charles Scott said he supported the prompt funding for the tunnels but has larger concerns about diverting tax revenue that would otherwise go into the general fund to the highway fund. More specifically, Scott said the Legislature has long resisted taxing "the operations," such as semitrucks, "that are really tearing up the roads," and that's been a "mistake." "We need to get a more fair way of funding our highways and allocate the burden of supporting those highways a little more in accordance with groups that are benefiting from it, which I think are largely not even Wyoming citizens," Scott said. When the bill went back to the House for concurrence, the lower chamber voted 52-2 with three excused to send it to the governor's desk. The Joint Transportation Committee met Thursday to discuss potential topics for the interim, or the off-season months when lawmakers meet to craft committee bills. With the approval of the Legislature's Management Council, highway funding will be a top priority for the committee. In both chambers, "it was very clear that funding our roads and infrastructure was a very important topic," WYDOT Director Darin Westby told the committee. "I'm not 100% sure the Senate was in alignment but felt that the need to keep it moving forward." As for the Green River tunnel inspection and repair, cleanup operations have not yet started. WYDOT previously told WyoFile a safety evaluation of the tunnel needed to be completed first. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. 1/14/1935 - 2/27/25 Patricia J. Garrey, a cherished resident of Sheridan, Wyoming, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Born on January 14, 1935, in Deadwood, South Dakota; the daughter of Vernard Durell Mills and Viola Ellen Peyton. Patricia was a beacon of love and resilience to her family and community. Patricia spent her early years in Newcastle, Wyoming, where she pursued her education. It was in Wyoming where she would later begin her long and fulfilling career as the manager of the Nomad Inn later renamed Days Inn and Kasbah Bar and Restaurant. After retirement from the hospitality industry, she was the owner and operator of Hidden Corner's Ceramics, a beloved local establishment she managed passionately for 35 years until her retirement in 2017. Known for her creativity and dedication, Patricia's work in the ceramics industry touched many lives and brought joy to countless individuals. She was united in matrimony with her beloved husband, Donald Garrey, October 22, 1955 in New Castle, Wyoming,, with whom she shared numerous adventures camping around the United States and Canada. A life rich with love until his passing. Her devotion to family was evident through her unwavering commitment and affection for her children, grandchildren, and growing number of great-grandchildren and pets. Patricia's interests were as varied as they were engaging. She was a talented bowler, knitter, and crocheter. Her love for travel and ceramics was only surpassed by the joy she found in spending cherished moments with her family, a joy that extended to her treasured grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her home was often a place of laughter, warmth, and love, reflecting her generous spirit. Patricia is survived by her loving children: her daughter, Barbara Hodgson of Sheridan, Wyoming Thomas Garrey of Rock Springs, Wyoming; Kenneth Garrey and his wife Cindy of Las Vegas, Nevada; Norman Garrey and his wife Michelle of Rock Springs. She also leaves behind her sister, Cathy Stanton of Rock Springs, as well as eight grandchildren: Jeffrey Ethriedge and his wife Heather; Asa Hodgson and his wife Sherylann; Lance Hodgson; T.J. Garrey and his wife Mary; Kenneth Aaron Garrey and his wife Debra; Austin Gilmore and his wife Julie; Joshua Gilmore and his wife Vanya; Kelsey Tomlinson; Derek Tomlinson. Her legacy continues with eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Patricia's life enriched the hearts of countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, her devoted husband Donald, and two brothers, Eugene Mills and Ronald "Ronnie" Mills, whose memories she cherished dearly. A Mass of Christian Burial to honor Patricia's life will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 116 Broadway Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming. Friends and family are welcome to attend a Vigil Service with Rosary on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at Vase Funeral Chapel, 154 Elk Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming. Interment will follow in the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so one hour prior to the services. Patricia will be remembered for her vibrant spirit, her kindness, and her unwavering love for her family. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her. Condolences at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com. While some of our community members stood on the steps of the Wyoming Capitol last Friday, others stood on the stage of the Broadway Theater, but both groups shared a message about the importance of workers and their need to be protected. This week, three different plays are being performed in our community, and while they all have very different stories, they all have very timely messages. I feel especially connected to the three plays this weekend. One of them, I'm performing in. One of them is one of my top favorite musicals. And one of them I'd only heard of until I got to watch an early performance of it this week and it stopped me in my tracks. Reflecting on all three of these powerful shows, I am continually amazed at how relevant they are. Even while they tell mythical and historical stories, they are all full of universal truths and they hit on topics that we are still discussing and battles we are still fighting. I feel privileged to have two small roles in "Radium Girls," put on by the Actors' Mission. The play focuses on workers who weren't protected by their company, and their fight for justice. I was a little overwhelmed by the irony when I realized our opening night was the same day as the Wyoming Workers Rally in Cheyenne, which had the express purpose of standing up for workers and calling for their safety and justice. It was also on the same day that many Americans called for an economic blackout to send a message to corporations. The battles that the radium girls fought 100 years ago paved the way for us now, but in many ways are still being fought. When it comes to "Hadestown" put on by Green River High School, I have to admit that I burst into tears as soon as I heard the opening music when I visited rehearsal. This musical has had a very special place in my heart for the past six years and holds a lot of personal significance to me. But I was immediately struck by how its messages and themes are also connected to recent events and causes. For one thing, there's a group of characters specifically called "the workers" in the story. These workers also aren't protected. While they have given up their very lives for security, they have also lost their identities and their free will. They learn to "keep their heads low" and not push back against the systems oppressing them. This theme was echoed once again in Western Wyoming Community College's production of "Cabaret." All I really knew of this musical was its nightclub setting and what many would be considered to be risque content. This pushed me outside my comfort zone at first, until I was thrown completely out of my comfort zone the first time a swastika appeared on stage. The silence among the small crowd on Tuesday night was deafening as the story continued to unfold, sharply contrasting colorful absurdities with the stark realities of Nazi Germany. In the midst of this powerful story, the question of pushing back against systems of oppression -- or choosing not to -- was continually presented. Again, I thought of the workers in Hadestown who keep their heads low. Again, I thought of the radium girls who refused to be silenced. Whether it's protecting workers, protecting the marginalized and victimized, or protecting our neighbors, we have to be willing to fight. In "Hadestown," after Orpheus has faced setbacks, he asks, "Is this how the world is? To be beaten and betrayed And then be told that nothing changes." He thinks no one hears, but Hermes tells us that walls have ears, "and the workers heard him." The workers finally begin to raise their heads and to ask questions. "What's the purpose of a man? Just to turn his eyes away? Just to throw up both his hands?" Orpheus speaks to them, asking who gets to say what the truth is anyway, while the ones who lie swear to their truthfulness and the ones who cheat say that everything is fair. "I believe our answer matters more than anything they say," Orpheus sings. "I believe if there is still a will then there is still a way... I believe in us together More than anyone alone. I believe that with each other, we are stronger than we know. I believe we're stronger than they know. I believe that we are many. I believe that they are few, And it isn't for the few To tell the many what is true." As the local community theater of Sweetwater County stands together this weekend to share three powerful stories, I hope the community takes the time to hear these stories, reflect on their messages, and find ways that we can all raise our heads, raise our voices, and stand together. When someone tells you who they are, believe them. Has Snack Bar, a tiny, delicious little pocket on Broome Street, is a snack bar. Thats not to diminish the food, which is ambitious, filling, and meal-size, but to fairly assess the space itself, which is ambitious, full, and minuscule. Forty seats might constitute a petite restaurant. Has, with 24, mostly bar and counter, is a restaurant snack. I share this up front to manage expectations. Since it opened at the tail end of last year, Has has been bursting at the seams. The restaurant takes some reservations, but the method I found reliable was to show up at least half an hour before its 5:30 p.m. opening and line up behind fellow aspirants. You can go to Has now and patiently cool your heels until your turn is called, or you can go to Has in three months, when the hype and fervor will have died down some. Either way, Id go, because Has, despite the current challenges of admission, is turning out some of the most interesting, tastiest dishes Ive had this winter. Has is scrappy in the winning way that more restaurants used to be. Anthony Ha, alongside one cook, runs a kitchen that amounts to little more than a butcher block, in full view of his guests, and makes everything except what his wife, Sadie Mae Burns, prepares: Shes the house baker as well as, with Ha, the wine director, general manager, and part-time reservationist. If Has seems more polished than this description suggests, its in part because this couple has experience. After meeting in the kitchen of Mission Chinese Food in 2015, they developed Has ac Biet (Vietnamese for special) as a roving pop-up in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and, briefly, Paris. During that time, they sold out dinners and built a large following, which has become both blessing and curse. When word reached them that I was planning to review the restaurant, a plea came back: Could you not? Ha and Burns have made similar requests of other critics around town; they dont need the press. I hate to join a pile-on, but unfortunately their blood-pudding tart a smooth, ferric slab of soft sausage on Burnss rough puff pastry, the plate stained with a few collapsed kumquats is too good. If you see it, grab it. The menu changes often, and by the time I went back, it had become pate chaud, the same pastry, but now encasing a vermicelli-enriched pork sausage, a kind of meaty Danish that, Burns told me, Vietnamese kids eat for breakfast. (She told me this at the restaurant; she runs food to the customers as well.) Has use of Vietnamese ingredients can electrify some otherwise traditional bistro dishes. Fish sauce is a through-line throughout, our waiter told us. Always factor that in. My bicoastal New York- and Saigon-dwelling Vietnamese friend sniffed that Ha goes a little too heavy on his favorite ingredient. Youre not supposed to taste it as a defining flavor, my friend told me. Its supposed to be salt thats balanced by citrus, sugar, and spice. I definitely tasted the fish sauce, but I tasted plenty besides: the citric tang of tamarind in the sweet scrim of butter that bathes a platter of shelled escargots, rich and syrupy enough that it closes back over the spent cups once youve plucked out the snail. Lots of garlic and lots of lime. A crispy rain of dried shrimp over an oeuf mayonnaise, with the warm, fruity heat of a layer of chile inside. Then there are the flavors that I couldnt easily identify. Ngo om, rice-paddy herb. Diep ca, the fabulously named fish mint. Where did these flavors come from? Scrappiness is seeking out what you need as well as knowing where to find it: The herbs are from Tan Tin Hung, a Vietnamese market on the Bowery where everything is shipped in from Florida each Friday. Tripe, meanwhile, served by the slippery, noodlish bowlful, warmed with cinnamon and star anise, comes via a plug at the neighboring bodega. They get the best tripe, Burns said, laughing. With a deft touch, Has smuggles blood and guts into what might otherwise have been a business-as-usual downtown wine bar. Dionne Warwick and Sade perfume the dining room. The space still maintains much of the aesthetic of its former tenant, Flynn McGarrys Gem Wine: bare wood and chrome, a few sprigs of plant life here and there, friend-of-the-house light fixtures (cucumber and resin by the artist James Cherry). There are only about six seatbacks in the whole room, so most guests sit on backless stools, some of which face nothing more than a small ledge and a wall. These privations havent kept anyone away. People a lot of them, it seems are clamoring to get in. New York subscribers got exclusive early access to this story in Eating New York, a newsletter featuring food news and advice straight from our critics mouths. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Ikura, and plenty more, at the Residence of Mr. Moto. Photo: Kathryn Sheldon Last week at Don Udon, a new noodle bar in Crown Heights, I slurped on bukkake udon the dish had the name first, for the record that I drowned in chilled, seasoned dashi before eating. The cold noodles were thick and tense, and the broth, into which a finely grated mound of daikon radish dissolved into crunchy flecks, was crisp and salty. The brightest thing in the bowl was a scoop of glistening salmon roe on top, flanked by sliced scallions and a lemon wedge. After the noodles were gone, I chased down each remaining slippery orb with my chopsticks until none were left. Ive been seeing a lot of salmon roe in restaurants lately. Showy donburis fanned with snow crab and uni like the versions at Taberu Nomu in Chelsea and Ozakaya in Prospect Heights are only complete with a generous section of the orange spheres. It might also show up as the surprise under a lidded cup of chawanmushi as part of a $99 omakase where one of the courses entails the chef dropping a scoop of marinated ikura onto pieces of nori in each guests hand. And Ive appreciated the roe in smaller portions, like on an $8 onigiri at Conohen in Bed Stuy. This inclination to put some eggs on it goes beyond Japanese restaurants, too. At Mango Bay in Fort Greene, the ras & pasta was topped with stracciatella, lobster, and roe, while at Pitts over in Red Hook, the roe is swirled into sauce thats spooned under a slab of peppercorn-crusted swordfish. In a way, salmon roe is the perfect ingredient for this moment: Oily seafood has been enjoying a reputational glow-up, with new tinned-fish reviewers showing up on TikTok every day. At the same time, margin-tight restaurants have become adept at pushing portions of caviar on everything. Ikura meets these two trends in the middle, offering the experience of fish roe popping like salty gushers at a cost someone can spare for lunch. Or brunch. At Ma de in Nolita, chef Cedric Vongerichten reaches for trout roe an effective dupe for salmon as the topping for French toast. Vongerichten says the salty, umami flavor is compatible with the pandan-infused custards savory, coconutty notes. He then dredges the soaked bread in cornstarch so it fries to a crisp golden brown on all sides. When Ma de first started serving the dish, it was finished with proper caviar, but the switch to roe has made it a more affordable option, currently $20, and guests still have the choice to upgrade if theyre feeling spendy. French toast aside, the bulk of New York ikura does show up on Japanese food, but the actual ingredient often comes from Alaska. The traditional market, if you look back 40, 50, 60 years, has been export to Japan, says Jim Erickson, the vice-president of Alaska Home Pack in Juneau, but we certainly have seen a growing trend domestically. Today, the U.S. and Canada make up 70 percent of his companys sales, compared to just 20 percent a decade ago. Another statistic that has increased recently is the number of American visitors to Japan and people posting videos of ikura piled onto rice until it overflows. Bowls mounted with uni, tuna, and a cascade of ikura flowing from the peak were the inspiration for the kaisendon at The Residence of Mr. Moto in Williamsburg, a homey offshoot of The Office of Mr. Moto. At The Residence, ikura is dished out in hefty 45 gram portions, and just like at Tsujihan in Tokyo, when youre nearly done with your order, they top the bowl off with broth made from the butchered fish bones to transform the last bites into a porridge-like ochazuke, ikura bobbing all around. Marinated with soy and mirin, the eggs season the seafood underneath with sweet and savory pops as the beads scatter across the bowl, like sprinkles on a sundae. What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about Acer? Laptops, most likely, and perhaps tablets, too. Well, Acer is now making a return to smartphones, and Amazon.in has revealed that the Taiwanese brand will launch new smartphones in India later this month. The promo page set up by Amazon.in on its website reveals Acer will launch new smartphones in India on March 25, but the teaser neither reveals the names nor the number of smartphones that Acer will introduce in India on March 25. However, since the launch is about two weeks away, we expect to hear more about these new smartphones from Acer or Amazon in the coming days. Source Xiaomi launched the Redmi K80 series in November 2024, with the Pro version being one of the first phones with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Today, the company celebrated 100 days since the start of the first sale with an impressive milestone 3.6 million units sold. This record for the Redmi K series includes the K80, K80 Pro, and the K80 Pro Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse Special Edition (yes, that's the whole name). Xiaomi is expected to introduce two more members to the lineup Redmi K80 Ultra with a 6,500 mAh battery and a Dimensity 9400+ chipset, and a Redmi K80 Gaming with Snapdragon 8s Elite. Both chipsets are still not announced, but Mediatek will bring its updated flagship SoC in April, so the Redmi launch is likely to be scheduled a few days later. All 3.6 million units were sold in China as the series is yet to go global. We expect the Redmi K80 phones to launch internationally as Poco F7 devices, and it seems like Xiaomi will skip the vanilla variant. Source (in Chinese) | Via Attorney General Douglas Moylan on Thursday said the governor best have a criminal indictment ready for herself if she plans to go after him and his office for alleged hiring and promotion violations. Adelup on Wednesday announced that Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero plans to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and potentially prosecute Moylan and Chief Deputy AG Joseph Guthrie for more than 70 alleged hiring and promotion violations. Both the AGs brother and fiance are implicated in the allegations. If she construes the law to indict staff within the AGs Office, then shed best have a criminal indictment ready for herself since her Department of Administration approved all these unclassified hirings for the past 14 years, Moylan said in a statement to the Pacific Daily News. Moylan said the governor reviewed and approved through her cabinet officials at the Department of Administration all the personnel actions for the persons she complains about. Adelup legal counsel Jeffrey Moots failed to do his homework and ignored legislation from as far back as 2011 that empowered the AGs office and its human resources department to have taken personnel actions similar to if not the same as what the Governor complains about. Allegations from Adelup come less than a week after Moylan sent 1,692 pages of documents to the governors office in response to three Freedom of Information Act requests related to billboards and hiring. Moylans fiance Sheenalyn Hawkins received an improper pay bump from $52,210 to $127,602 after getting promoted to the AGs chief of staff, and it strains reason to believe the AG did not have any influence in the hiring of his brother, Scott Moylan, at a starting salary of $120,000, a letter from Adelups Moots alleged. The AG has dismissed allegations of nepotism or any involvement in the hirings. On Thursday, he said the governor was trying to eject him from office. I am concerned by the Governors attempt to remove me from being the Peoples democratically-elected public prosecutor to stop corruption in her Administration, Moylan said. Office of Public Accountability reports continue to allude to corrupt practices requiring the AGs investigation, he said. This Governor of Guam is engaging in the same Liberal Democrat lawfare that the Biden-Harris Administration did to President Trump attempting to stop run for President. Our Nation rejected the weaponization of our Justice System. It did not go well for them, Moylan said. The harm that they did to the integrity of the (Department) of Justice, FBI and Judiciary will be felt for decades to come. He also noted that the governor and administration officials face civil and criminal investigation by the public auditor and AG. The most notable legal battle between Moylan and Leon Guerrero is over the Mangilao hospital project. The AG in December sued to block spending for it over various alleged illegalities. Leon Guerrero has fought for years to build the hospital and an associated medical complex in the Mangilao-Barrigada area. The Governor is the least qualified person to investigate and prosecute the Attorney General and staff since she has a clear conflict of interest, the AG said Thursday. She has a direct, financial and personal (liberty) interest in replacing me as AG to stop these ongoing investigations and prosecutions. The Governor is the last person who should be investigating the AGs Office staff, Moylan said. Details about a special prosecutor, what they investigate, the scope of that investigation, and who they are answerable are usually set out in law, Moylan added. Moots asked Moylan to respond to the governors request by March 12, 2025. Leon Guerrero is scheduled to deliver her State of the Island Address to the Guam Legislature that same day. Should Moylan decline, the governors office said it will seek a declaratory judgment in accordance with Guam Supreme Court guidance. I continue to review the Governors request and expect to take action by the deadline the Governor requests, Moylan said. The threat of the U.S. government taking back federal money put towards the Mangilao hospital project is real, and a lawsuit needs to move forward to determine any illegalities in the project, the Office of the Attorney General argues in the latest federal court filings in the hospital suit. Both the Office of the Governor and the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority have asked the federal court to dismiss Attorney General Douglas Moylans lawsuit over the hospital project. Attorneys for the AGs office, in an opposition filed March 4, argue the case should not be thrown out. The U.S. Department of Treasury has already laid out a process for demanding the return of improperly spent federal American Rescue Plan Act funds used for the hospital, the AGs office opposition stated. Once a final notice from the Treasury was issued, any jurisdiction would get only 120 days to return the funds, it noted. It was not an idle threat, the AGs office said. In January 2025, the State of Massachusetts entered into an agreement with the federal government to repay $2.1 billion for federal COVID-19 relief funds improperly used to pay unemployment benefits, the opposition stated. The current federal executive administration is also pursuing an agenda of recovering and unburdening federal monies appropriated to myriad ends. Moylan has alleged various illegalities in the $12.5 million ARP loan to GHURA to acquire land for the hospital, and in the condemnation of 42 acres of private land for the facility. The AG is asking the court to block any more spending of the $104 million ARP funding the governor has earmarked for infrastructure installs on the hospital property. The March 4 opposition likewise questions whether construction of a brand-new hospital is a proper use of ARP funds, and questions numerous reporting requirements related to the funds. Adelup for years has asserted that a new hospital is eligible for ARP funding, and has relied on U.S. Treasury guidelines since 2022. Besides the question of eligibility, ARP funds cant be used as a loan, and no documents exist for the loan from Adelup to GHURA, according to the March 4 opposition from the AGs office. Moving forward with the lawsuit, and moving to discovery, was the only way to determine what impact the hospital project could have on federal funds held by GovGuam. Attorneys for GHURA and Adelup in January motioned to strike the government of Guam as a named plaintiff in the case. The law does not authorize AG Moylan to initiate actions against the governor on behalf of the government of Guam at his whim, the joint motion states. In their March 4 opposition, the AGs office contends that Moylan can clearly bring the case forward. The state of Guam law and the common law is clear, the Attorney General is authorized to bring this action on behalf of the Government of Guam without the express consent of the Governor, the opposition stated. The Government of Guam is properly named as a Plaintiff in this action. This Court should decline Defendants request to strike the Government of Guam as a party to this action. Adelup and GHURA also argued that besides being wrong, the AGs allegations are all related to local laws. The federal court does not have jurisdiction over those matters, they asserted. According to the March 4 opposition from the AGs office, the substantial amount of federal funding involved, and requirements that ARP money complied with federal law, made it clear that the District Court of Guam had jurisdiction to hear the case. A response from Adelup and GHURA is due March 25, according to court filings. As District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood weighs whether to throw out AG Moylans lawsuit, GHURA is asking the Superior Court of Guam to proceed with condemning Mangilao property sought for the hospital. Veterinarian Dr. Joel Joseph, one of two landowners facing condemnation, asked the court in January to pause the condemnation pending the outcome of the federal court lawsuit. GHURA has opposed the pause, and a decision is pending from Superior Court Judge Elyze Iriarte. The nine firefighters that comprise the extinguishing arm of the Forestry and Soil Resources Division of the Guam Department of Agriculture have been busy, Forestry Division Chief Christine Camacho Fejeran told mayors on Wednesday. Just a few weeks into what is considered Guams dry season, wildland firefighters have already responded to 37 fire calls, she said. And while there might have been some rain to start the month, March is usually Guams driest month of the year. Fejeran gave a presentation to the Mayors Council of Guam during their monthly regular meeting. She reminded mayors that cutting down trees requires a permit from her office, because any time a tree can be saved, it is worth saving. Although the Department of Agricultures firefighters only battle outdoor fires, they are a key component to saving trees and topsoil. Fejeran said one Guam Fire Department chief referred to Agricultures team as the firefighters who take the offensive approach to wildland fire, while GFD takes the defensive. And while GFD firefighters might have to break away from a wildland fire to respond to a fire that endangers lives or structures, the Forestry division firefighters will delve deeper into the burning area, on foot or with their small fire trucks, and secure a running wildfire or dousing a smoldering spot to prevent further spread. Although wildland fires can be intense, with flames two to three times higher than whats burning, the outdoor firefighters use clothing that allows them mobility. Otherwise, wildland firefighters are equipped with a bladder bag to target small spots, or brush beaters to kill a flame. Another firefighting ally are trees. A tree with a large canopy can cause self-extinguishment, said Fejeran, because of the moisture content of the shade. Trees are natures firewall and wind block, and huge reasons why fires dont spread more than they already do. Fejerans division recognizes this, and her staff often participates or leads tree-planting events with a goal of re-foresting Guam. And while agricultures fire team is proficient at extinguishing wildfires, they are also experts in re-forestation. Along with other like-minded groups, theyve planted thousands of future firebreaks and windbreaks that may stop the wildest of wildfires in the future. And for Guam, Fejeran reiterates the message she shares on the daily: Munga ma songge Guahan. CHogue i patte-mu, which means, Dont burn Guam. Do your part. Theres no word that the pace of the military buildup or plans for a new 360-degree missile defense plan will shift under the Trump White House, according to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. Leon Guerrero recently returned from a visit to Washington, D.C., where she met with President Donald J. Trump himself and members of his Cabinet. Not to my knowledge, it has not changed, the governor said about the focus on Guam, the buildup, and missile defense for the island. I met with some people in (the Department of Defense), and theyve assured me that we are still the focus of strategic defense here in this part of the world, and we are still the priority. An expected $2 billion worth of military construction a year for the island, and military spending and personnel have been buoying the lagging tourism industry and staving off a depression for the island, public and private sector experts said at a tourism forum in December. But shifting foreign policy and shrinking defense spending under the Trump White House were the subjects of concern in a briefing of the Guam Legislature with Pacific Center for Island Security chairman Robert Underwood last week. As the U.S. looks to cut defense spending, the Pacific competitor China plans to increase military funding by another 7.2%, the Associated Press reports. They are still supporting us and working closely with us to get the defense in the interest of national security and in protecting the civilians and the military protecting our island, Leon Guerrero said of the Trump DoD on Wednesday. Its the same message from Guams delegate to Congress, Del. James Moylan, who wrote, I have been reassured by the (Trump) administration that staffing reductions will not impact public safety, national security, access to veterans benefits, or mission-critical positions among federal agencies. But besides the assurances, the picture of how things will move forward in D.C. are still uncertain, according to the governor. Leon Guerrero said she did speak to officials in D.C. about military support for funding a hospital, but everybodys waiting, she said. Key military leadership roles have yet to be finalized under the new presidential administration, Leon Guerrero added. They havent yet confirmed a Secretary of the Navy, theyve just recently confirmed the Secretary of Defense. They havent confirmed the Under Secretary of the Navy, who is a key liaison person for Guam, she said. The governor said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins did assure her that veteran benefits would not be touched. Her biggest takeaway from meeting with the Trump White House and the president? They are on a campaign to increase efficiency and decrease waste. And you know, of course, that is good and great, but it has to be done strategically...and understand the consequences of actions that are made, Leon Guerrero said. The governor, however, has yet to address potential federal funding cuts and the loss of federal jobs that could have deep impacts on Guam, which relies heavily on federal funds for just about everything from health care to food assistance. (This story has been updated to add the Department of Administrations statement.) The Department of Administration violated local procurement and disadvantaged TakeCare Insurance when negotiating a contract for a third-party administrator to run the government of Guam health plan for fiscal 2025, according to an order issued Thursday by Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz. Cruzs order partly grants losing bidder TakeCare Insurances appeal of the fiscal 2025 third-party health plan administrator contract, which was given to SelectCare and NetCare. GovGuam will have to pay TakeCare back for the cost of bidding for the third-party administrator role, and the insurance companys appeal costs, but not attorneys fees, Cruz ordered. Its unclear how much that will cost the government. TakeCare will have 30 days from Thursday to file those costs. But there was no evidence that SelectCare, which got an unfair advantage over TakeCare in the bid review process, acted in bad faith, according to the order. And, switching insurance providers in the middle of the fiscal year could have a direct imminent threat to public health, safety and welfare, the order stated. DOA, in a statement Thursday night, said the OPA decision affirmed that the contract award to SelectCare is in GovGuams best interest. By finding that the contract was in the best interest of the Government of Guam DOA is authorized to ratify the contract, DOA stated. DOA said it appreciates the affirmation of the SelectCare contract so that GovGuam employees, retirees, and their dependents can have continuity of health care. The contract is a third-party administrative contract for the GovGuam Self-Funded Health Plan. DOA disagrees with other findings However, DOA is admonished for its actions in this RFP, the public auditors order stated. DOA said it respectfully disagrees with OPAs decision regarding the RFP criteria. The letter sent to the Governor from the Health Insurance Negotiating Team clearly stated the cost breakdown for both bidders. 4 GCA 4301 authorizes the Governor to make the final decision on all health insurance contract awards, DOA said. The public auditor found DOA required bidders for the third-party administrator to include claim costs in their bids, even though it failed to specifically ask for those costs in a request for proposals issued last May. As a result, TakeCare did not include claims costs in its bid. While the insurance company was not disqualified when bidding opened last May, it lost in the bid in August. When TakeCare tried to protest the award to DOA, a denial letter was issued that stated claims costs were considered, according to the order. Mr. Edward Birn, the Director of DOA testified that the claims cost is always considered in awarding the bid, but nowhere did Mr. Birn point out that the RFP required the bidder to provide claims cost, Cruzs order stated. Additionally, adjustments made by a government consultant led to TakeCares bid being inflated, despite the company turning in the lowest responsive bid to the government, according to the order. Government actuarial consultant Milliman Consulting adjusted provider reimbursements on TakeCares bid without adjusting for SelectCare, the order stated. This resulted in TakeCare having a higher bid than what it should have been, it found. As a result, TakeCares bid was considerably higher, despite it being the lowest responsive bidder and the negotiating team recommending TakeCare be awarded the (third-party administrator contract), the order stated. According to the order, DOAs negotiating team last year recommended that TakeCare be awarded the exclusive third-party administrator contract for medical, pharmacy and dental benefits. A second option put forth by the negotiating team was that SelectCare get the exclusive third-party administrator contract for medical and pharmacy benefits, while NetCare get the dental benefits contract. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero got these recommendations on Aug. 9, 2024, and decided to take SelectCare and NetCare on Aug. 13, 2024. TakeCare filed a protest with DOA that same month, which was denied. In the denial of protest, DOA stated, Lower costs are not solely based on (third-party administrator) fees, but also expected claim costs. This total makes up the total funding rates that influence overall cost. The Negotiating Teams third-party actuaries conducted an independent evaluation of the cost of each proposal that included the overall costs. TakeCare appealed the matter to OPA on Sept. 18, 2024, alleging DOA denied them without ever specifying that claims costs would be considered. The insurance company asked for the bid to be canceled, and for DOA to be ordered to go out to bid again. A procurement appeal usually freezes any procurement. But on Sept. 19, the attorney general approved a declaration of substantial interest, which determined that the award of the contract without delay was necessary to protect substantial interests of the territory, according to Thursdays order. As a result, SelectCare and NetCare were allowed to move forward as the administrator for GovGuams health plan. DOA has two weeks to file an appeal of the order from the public auditor. Are residents of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands willing to reunite as one state? If so, where should the capital be? What do residents think about this? With think-tanks in Washington, D.C. talking of making Guam and the CNMI a single state, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero raised those questions at this weeks Guam Commission on Decolonization meeting. She and CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios also briefly talked about this in Washington, D.C. when they were both there for the Department of the Interiors Interagency Group on Insular Affairs 2025 Plenary Session. Palacios, in an interview with the Pacific Daily News, said he thinks the idea is kind of far-fetched and doubted whether the U.S. Congress would have an appetite for the move. I think its just totally unacceptable...to just say, Okay, were going to declare Guam and CNMI as one state, said Leon Guerrero at a meeting of the local decolonization commission on Tuesday. Reports of interest in statehood among conservative D.C. think-tanksinstitutions that often forerun official U.S. policyfirst came from Pacific Center for Island Security chairman and former delegate Robert Underwood. The plan is to draw a clear American line in the Pacific as U.S.-China tensions continue, according to Underwood, who has since briefed Leon Guerrero about the matter. Both Guam and CNMI governors got a chance to run the possibility by each other during a recent trip stateside. I said, what do you think about that? And he said, its a good idea, Leon Guerrero shared at this weeks commission meeting. I said, Well, if it happens, Guam is going to be the capital, she said, with a laugh. We were joking about it, Palacios said. She brought the issue up. She said, what do you think about Hagatna being the capital? I said, well, how about Capitol Hill on Saipan being the capital? The Guam governor said she was not opposed to the idea of joining with the CNMI. But she said having the federal government decide on behalf of the islands totally undermines our efforts for self determination. The Guam governor met with President Donald Trump and his Cabinet, but told the PDN Wednesday that she did not speak about the matter of statehood. She did tell members of the decolonization commission earlier this week that there needs to be unity in how Guam responds to the possibility. We seriously need to think about this, because...when Trump one day wakes up and says, You know, Guam is going to be a state, everybodys going to bow and say, okay, Leon Guerrero told the commission. Palacios was more doubtful about the possibility. Im not sure (U.S.) Congress has got an appetite for that I dont know where that came from. But you know, I mean, what do I think about it? Thats something that to me, its kind of far-fetched, but I dont know, anything can happen, he said. He said he harbors no illusion that statehood would come into fruition any time soon, even as the Associated Press reports that Trump has set his sights on the U.S. acquiring Greenland from Denmark. Trump has also suggested that Canada could become Americas 51st stateeven referring to Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as governor of the Great State of Canadaand also wresting control of the Panama Canal from Panama. On Guam, Leon Guerrero raised more serious concerns about the possibility that statehood could be declared for the islands. I dont know what our position is but, but mine is it cannot go through without input and vote by the people, she said. Leon Guerrero said Guam could seek aid from the National Governors Association in passing a resolution supporting a political plebiscite for Guam and the CNMI. Other territories, like Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, could also be engaged. Independence Task Force Co-Chair Victoria Leon Guerrero, at this Tuesdays decolonization commission meeting, said Guam should reach out to the rest of Micronesia, especially the CNMI, to discuss statehood and the rapid executive orders coming from the White House. Victoria Leon Guerrero noted that votes for reunification were held in the pastand rejected by both voters from Guam and the CNMI. These kinds of votes can continue to happen. And I think the idea is that any conversations regarding reunification be held between the leaders of Guam and the CNMI and be up to the people of Guam and the CNMI, she said. I think thats the integral part here, is that we dont close the door to the idea of reunification, but that we explore it on our own terms is really important, Victoria Leon Guerrero said. On Guam, 58% of the voters rejected reunification in a 1969 referendum on the question, PDN files show. The Guam governor noted that even after sorting out the question of reunification, there was a bigger question on the horizon. I dont have a problem about reunification. Im totally for that, she said. But then you have to bring it a step further to say, Okay, so were together now, but were together as what? Thats gonna be the hardest part. Guam is still pending a political status vote outlined in local law, which would determine whether the island wants to be a state, independent, or become a freely associated state. A 2019 federal court decision found the islands plebiscite law illegally race-based and unconstitutional, for limiting the non-binding vote only to native inhabitants of the island who obtained U.S. citizenship through the 1950 Organic Act of Guam and their descendants. Guams plebiscite has been stalled since. Up north, CNMI self-determination efforts have been more successful. Residents have been a commonwealth of the U.S. since 1978, following a referendum on the issue. A 2011 survey conducted by students of Northern Marianas College found that the majority of respondents on Saipan are against the proposed reunification with Guam, while most of those surveyed on Rota are in favor of it. In a study conducted by the NMC Marianas Reunification Survey Group, 439 respondents out of the 835 surveyed in the two islands were opposed to reunification with the U.S. territory. This reflects 52% of the total respondents. Those who are in favor of unification totaled 396 or 48% of those surveyed. Majority of respondents were Chamorros. Many of the respondents believe that reunification will mean that CNMI residents will become the minority and Guam has more to gain than the Northern Marianas. Respondents were also convinced that Guam is pushing for reunification because the U.S. territory wants some of the political freedom the CNMI currently enjoys with its relationship with the U.S. Guam and the CNMI used to be a single political entity but were separated when the former was sold to the U.S. in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, which comprises present day CNMI, were sold by Spain to Germany before Japan took over, when the latter lost in World War I and was forced to give up its Pacific dominions. Tonight is the night for the exclusive re-launch of Triple J's Outdoor Chef with Chef Peter Duenas. The event promises to be an exciting evening of food, adventure, and a first look at the latest episode, featuring the Ford Ranger as chef Duenas's ultimate adventure ride, according to Triple J. It is from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Triple J headquarters next to Kmart in Tamuning. Those in attendance will be treated to a feast featuring venison tatake salad with citrus vinaigrette, lobster poke, and kelaguen binadu to start. Then, indulge in pasture fresh grass-fed beef Wellington, tuba-marinated lamb chops, and Certified Angus Beef burger slidersall expertly crafted by Chef Peter Duenas and the Meskla team. Then there's smoked venison sausage with finadene relish and Mesklas signature dinanche. "Pair these bold flavors with featured drinks from Ambros, including Evan Williams Bourbon and Stella Artois. Plus, enjoy raffle prizes and a night of great company," Triple J said. Earlier this week, Guam celebrated CHamoru Heritage and Guam History Day. Holding a public celebration or commemoration this time of the year is nothing new, but this particular name is relatively new. CHamoru Heritage and Guam History has only been celebrated since 2014, but for most, this is a welcome change compared to the names that this day has had in the past. Since the arrival of the United States in 1898, the first week of March has been a time to commemorate the time at which Ferdinand Magellans voyage to circumnavigate the world made contact with Guam and the CHamoru people back in 1521. A monument was first erected back in 1926 in the village of Humatak to honor the explorer by the Guam Teachers Association. By the 1930s, stories of Magellan Day being celebrated in Guam appeared via the Associated Press in newspapers around the United States. For instance, this short article appeared in the Tacoma News Tribune on March 6, 1930: GUAM OBSERVES MAGELLAN DAY: GUAM, March 6 (AP) Guam today celebrated Magellan Day, the 409th anniversary of its discovery by Ferdinand Magellan on his first circumnavigation of the earth. An elaborate ceremony took place at the newly-built American school at Umatac, where Magellan landed, and the school was named in honor of the great Portuguese explorer. Eventually, the name of the holiday was changed to Discovery Day, and the displacing of Magellans name as the focus began to lead to other shifts. Although the explorer would always remain a part of the festivities, it was clear that community attitudes and most importantly the CHamoru people were changing. For instance, in 1968 several years after the U.S. security clearance to Guam had been lifted and local political and business leaders were working to try to start a viable tourism industry for Guam, Magellan Day became part of the focus. Since Magellan is already such a recognizable name, and his holiday is already well-known on the island, Rex Willis, the head of Guams Tourism Commission at the time, proposed the celebration of Magellan Day become something the whole island, not just Humatak, takes on. He also suggested that it become more of a festival and party, less about the history involved. At one point, one of his ideas was a beard growing contest, where cash prizes could be won to see who had a beard to match Magellans. I dont know if anyone ever organized this. Discovery Day became more prominent and formalized as the name for the holiday by the 1970s, as people are souring on Magellan as being a great figure in Guams history. As people, especially CHamorus, start to become more critical of the usual way their histories have been told in which the colonizers set the tone and the terms, a figure like Magellan easily loses luster. Despite Magellan being more and more displaced, the reenactment of his arrival and him burning down huts and killing some CHamorus remain a highlight for Discovery Day. By the 1990s and 2000s, some people were calling for the historical reenactment of Magellan to be stopped and for Discovery Day to be reimagined to focus on the CHamoru people discovering their islands, not Magellan. It is around this time that the late-Senator Angel Santos proposed that Discovery Day be renamed Hurao Day, in honor of the Magalahi whose 1671 speech against Spanish colonization was being reintroduced to the public. As we look back across a century of commemorations to start the month of March, we can see that the focus of the event has changed as the CHamoru people have changed and their relationship to their past has changed. Earlier forms of this day focused on Magellan and the historical debt CHamorus owe him or other historical figures for bringing civilization to the islands. They also focused on Magellan as a great figure of history who brings the CHamoru people into history by discovering them and putting Guam on the map. In recent years, with the renaming to CHamoru Heritage and Guam History Day, the holiday has changed dramatically to an event focusing on celebrating the spirit of community in Humatak and also CHamoru culture, both prior to Magellan and centuries after. The reenactment of Magellans arrival still takes place, the huts are still burnt down, but it is oftentimes a small part of a larger performance by cultural groups of CHamoru life in the islands before Magellan. The new message of these celebrations is that while Magellan is a part of our history, he is not the beginning or the end. We were here long before him, and we remain here long after him. Biba Pulan CHamoru! Biba CHamoru! Prutehi i fino CHamoru! Protect the CHamoru language. On March 1, President Trump issued an executive order making the English language the one and only one official language of the United States. While we on Guam already designate English as an official language of Guam, we also recognize that CHamoru is also our official language as mandated by Public Law 20-162. Nothing in President Trumps executive order limits our freedom of speech right to speak our CHamoru language but it does send tingles through me that resurrects a part of our history that many of us CHamorus, if not all of us, do not want enforced on us, ever again. For our manamko and our forefathers, they fully remember back in 1917 during the Naval government days when Executive General Order No. 243 was promulgated and issued by then Gov. Roy C. Smith designating English as the official language of Guam, and banned the use of CHamoru, except for official interpretations. Is this making you reflect and think about the parallels of President Trumps executive order and Governor Smiths executive general order? Of course President Trumps executive order does not ban the use of CHamoru or any other language for that matter, but nonetheless, it does designate English as the official language of the United States. As of today, we are still a part of the United States. In fact, Guam is touted as Where Americas Day Begins! I hope the executive order doesnt mean we cant say Hafa Adai to the men and women who work in our federal government offices or greet our military men and women in our CHamoru language? Something to think about! Prutehi i fino CHamoru! Ironically, we are celebrating Mes CHamoru for our entire island. Did you know that the students of DODEA (schools within the military bases) were not allowed to celebrate this important part of our culture, identity, and language? Why? Many of those students are from our own military personnel and our villages. I know that for our public schools, we have done away with building CHamoru huts and BBQing but thats a fire safety call. Our students can still do everything else CHamoru, like singing, dancing, and writing. Prutehi i fino CHamoru! Nothing in the United States Constitution even mentions anything about an official language. It does, however, give us the right of freedom of speech. On Guam, we celebrate everyone and we respect everyones language. In fact, it is what makes us diverse and united as an island. We do not require that you speak English but we know that learning and speaking the English language will knock down barriers for growth of any nationality. But the teaching and learning of the CHamoru language must continue. We desire more than just for the CHamoru language to survive. We should continue to push for its resurgence. Si Yuos Maase to all who teach, write, and speak CHamoru. Prutehi i fino CHamoru! We are not a one language island and we will never be, but we cannot be afraid to continue doing what we need to do to promote our own beautiful language. Prutehi i fino CHamoru! It may not take us to heights where we can compete with other countries who speak and teach their own languages, but it is not a matter of putting up our language against other wider used languages like English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or even Filipino. It is a matter of our identity and culture as a people. You have heard the saying, lose your language and you lose your identity. Guam is a special place on this earth, and if our language is what represents our true identity, then let us make CHamoru alive, not dormant. Let us make it richer all the time. We cannot lose it! CHamoru is what defines who we are, what we are, and where we came from. Prutehi i fino CHamoru! Yes, speak English, speak and learn any language you want. I just dont want to be told that in the United States of America, of which we belong, that English, and only English is the official language. CHamoru is also an official language of Guam and we have a duty to protect it. In fact, our government must play a leading role in protecting it. Prutehi i fino CHamoru! Si Yuos Maase! Biba Fino CHamoru! Haiti - FLASH : JetBlue Airways extends suspension of flights to Port-au-Prince JetBlue Airways, which operates the only nonstop flights between Port-au-Princes Toussaint Louverture International Airport and South Florida and New York, which had hoped to return its aircraft to Haiti in late April 2025, is now announcing that its flights will remain suspended until at least June 11, 2025. "Due to the ongoing civil unrest in Haiti, we have made the decision to suspend all flights to and from the country through at least June 11, 2025 [...] Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our customers and crew members [...] We will continue to monitor the situation closely and update our plans as necessary," the airlines spokesperson said. A decision that comes a week before the expiration of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ban on American commercial and cargo airlines, initially set for March 12, 2025. Recall that on March 3rd, Dennis Hankins, the United States Ambassador to Haiti, participated in an important meeting on the security aspect of the airport perimeter of Toussaint Louverture International Airport https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44407-haiti-news-zapping.html . Strengthening security around the airport is an essential prerequisite for the resumption of international flights. For the moment in Haiti, only Cap-Haitien International Airport allows entry and exit from Haiti via Sunrise Airways to Miami, and flights operated by airlines between Haiti and the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Security : Strategic meeting in the Bahamas on maritime capabilities Godfrey Otunge, the Kenyan Commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) led a delegation to a strategic planning meeting of the Mission, on the Bahamas maritime capabilities. The meeting was chaired by Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, accompanied by Wayne Munroe, Minister of National Security, Ambassador Jerusa Ali, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commodore Raymond E. King, Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). The MMSS delegation led by Commander Otunge, consisted of Jack Ombaka, Director of Strategic Communications, Lieutenant Colonel Joel Oscar Brown (Legal Advisor), Hosea Bundotich - Director of Community Engagement, as well as Commander Jean Pedro Mars of the Haitian Coast Guard. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) hosted the MSSM delegation at the Coral Harbour base for a tour and high-level discussions with RBDF leadership to refine maritime strategies to combat gang activity in Haiti and enhance regional maritime security. Discussions focused on critical maritime operations to reduce gang influence, with a particular focus on improving the effectiveness of naval and coast guard units throughout Haiti and the Caribbean. These units play a critical role in preventing illicit trafficking and disrupting criminal networks. The RBDFs maritime capabilities were highlighted, including its expertise in surveillance, interdiction operations and strategic support to the Mission in Haiti. The meeting also reviewed the overall strategy, operations and tactics, focusing on deployment to secure key areas, reduce gang activity and protect critical shipping routes. This strategy includes naval patrols, aerial surveillance and enhanced collaboration with international partners. The RBDF reaffirms its commitment to working closely with international partners to ensure the success of the Mission in Haiti, thus underlining its desire to ensure national and regional security and stability. SL/ HaitiLibre The delayed implementation of the EU directive on the protection of whistleblowers into national law is costing Germany dearly. On Thursday, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ordered Germany to pay a fine of 34 million euros to the EU for breaching its obligations. The Luxembourg judges justified the move with the importance of the high level of protection required by the directive for whistleblowers who report breaches of EU law. Anzeige Union blocked With its ruling in case C-149/23, the ECJ is complying with a complaint filed by the EU Commission in February 2023. The member states were actually obliged to take the necessary measures to legally comply with the provisions of the directive by the end of 2021. The German government was unable to notify the Commission of implementation because the black-red coalition initially failed to agree on a common line. At the time, the SPD wanted the law to also apply to infringements of German law. This was not just in areas such as financial services and tenders, product and food safety, data protection, the environment and health, which are regulated throughout the EU. CDU and CSU were against it. In December 2022, the Bundestag then passed a bill for "better protection of whistleblowers", late with the majority of the traffic light coalition. However, around two months later, the Bundesrat failed to pass the initiative at the instigation of the CDU and CSU. Bavarian Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich (CSU) explained at the time that "effective whistleblower protection" was indeed necessary. However, the current version of the law "goes far beyond what is required and sensible under European law". The CDU took offense at the fact that the traffic light wanted to oblige reporting offices to also deal with anonymous reports. This goes too far, as not every whistleblower is up to no good. Complaint also against traffic light version It was not until May 2023 that the coalition with the CDU/CSU parliamentary group was able to agree on a slimmed-down version of the draft and pass it in the Bundestag. This time, the Bundesrat subsequently agreed, allowing the Whistleblower Protection Act to enter into force on July 2, 2023. Compared to the original version, external and internal reporting offices are no longer obliged to set up channels for receiving reports in such a way that anonymous reports can also be submitted. However, anonymous reports will continue to be processed. The maximum fine for cases in which reports are obstructed or reprisals are taken is 50,000 euros instead of the 100,000 initially planned. The ECJ has also fined Hungary, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Luxembourg for late or non-implementation of the directive. However, the sanctions in these EU states are more moderate. Only for the Czech Republic and Hungary do they exceed the million euro threshold, at 2.3 and 1.75 million euros respectively. Estonia, however, faces a daily penalty payment of 1,500 euros in addition to a lump sum of 500,000 euros if it continues to fail to implement the requirements. The Whistleblower Network already complained in September 2023 that the German Whistleblower Protection Act still violated the requirements of the directive on 12 points. In a complaint to the Commission, the civil society organization complained about a ban on the disclosure of incorrect information and limited freedom of choice between internal and external reporting. In addition, there is no entitlement to compensation for non-material damages for whistleblowers. The Commission has not yet commented on this. Anzeige Will there be a support fund for whistleblowers? The network is currently appealing to the EU to use the fines to set up the "overdue support and compensation fund for injured whistleblowers". After all, whistleblowers almost always suffer damage professionally or privately, in terms of health or financially. Legal entities such as companies, public authorities and other legal entities with more than 50 employees as well as all companies in the financial services sector must, in principle, provide an internal whistleblower system in accordance with EU regulations and designate a special officer as a contact person. Exceptions can only be made for municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. (vbr) Don't miss any news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication. Researchers Mikko Vanhala and Marika Viertola examined the effective tax rates of Finnish-owned multinational firms between 2000 and 2015. The effective tax rates of companies in Finland have declined, with the most significant decrease observed in multinational corporations, according to a study by the VATT Institute for Economic Research. They found a downward trend in the share of corporate income tax paid relative to profits. In contrast, domestic companies operating only in Finland did not exhibit the same decline. The differences between statutory and effective tax rates are largely explained by standard accounting and tax rule discrepancies, such as depreciation deductions and the ability to offset past losses. These are legal and commonly accepted practices, said Marika Viertola, researcher at VATT. For Finnish domestic companies, lower effective tax rates were mainly due to accounting differences and the deduction of losses. However, in multinational corporations, these factors did not fully explain the declining tax burden. The study suggests that some firms reporting zero taxable income may be engaging in tax avoidance. Finnish-owned multinationals with subsidiaries in tax havens were more likely to report no taxable income than other companies. Multinational firms can take advantage of differences in corporate tax rates across countries to reduce their global tax burden, said Mikko Vanhala, doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki. The researchers emphasized that their findings should not be directly interpreted as policy recommendations. However, they highlight the need for further study on the incentives for loss-making companies and the role of offshore subsidiaries in tax planning. HT Twelve different productions will be staged at Annantalo, Caisa, Kanneltalo, Malmitalo, Stoa, and Vuotalo. Performances will also be brought to young patients at Helsinki Children's Hospital. Helsinki will host the Hurraa! theatre weeks from 14 to 26 March, offering 40 performances for children and young audiences across the city. The event, held in cultural centres and hospitals, aims to make high-quality performing arts accessible to all children. The recommended audience age ranges from infants to pre-teens. Children have the same right to high-quality performing arts as adults. Exposure to theatre from an early age helps children process emotions and supports their development. With few childrens theatre festivals in Finland, Hurraa! is a unique event, says Katariina Metsalampi, cultural producer at Annantalo. The festival will feature contemporary circus, street dance, and puppet theatre. The programme includes the premiere of CRAZY BOX by KATVE [blind spot] Company at Annantalo on 20 March. The dance performance explores courage and imagination, encouraging an open-minded approach to new experiences. Other highlights include Pizza Pizza Karagoz, a multilingual puppet theatre piece based on the Anatolian Karagoz tradition (16 March), and Syli, a wordless dance and mime production for infants (18 March). Contemporary circus performances Etsivat and Musiikkisirkus Avain hukassa will be staged at Malmitalo, Kanneltalo, and Vuotalo, while Stoan will host A Fistful of Funk, a street dance show by Will Funk For Food. Hurraa! will also celebrate the International Day of Theatre for Children on 20 March as part of the global Take a Child to the Theatre campaign. Tickets are priced at 6, with some performances costing 8 or 24. Free entry is available for Helsinki residents aged 719 with a Jassari membership card. All Hurraa! theatre week performances can be found at tapahtumat.hel.fi. HT The deal, negotiated with the Confederation of Finnish Commerce, is valid until January 2028 but includes an option to terminate it a year earlier. The Service Union United (PAM) has approved a new collective agreement for the retail sector, securing a 7.8% wage increase over the next three years. The decision also means that planned strikes, which were set to begin later this month, have been called off. Wages will increase in three stages: a 2.9% raise on 1 May 2025, followed by a 2.5% increase in August 2026, and a final 2.4% raise in May 2027. A new wage structure will be introduced in October 2026. PAM chair Annika Ronni-Sallinen described the agreement as aligning with the broader trend of wage settlements in Finland. However, she expressed disappointment that a clause protecting current dismissal protections was not included. The protection against dismissal remains tied to legislation, which the government is now changing to weaken worker rights. Since we could not secure this in the agreement, we will now focus on influencing legislation and supporting our members in dismissal cases, Ronni-Sallinen stated. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's government is pushing for labour law changes that would make it easier for employers to terminate workers. Currently, dismissal requires a "substantive and weighty reason," but the new legislation would lower the threshold to just a "substantive reason." PAM had sought to include safeguards in the agreement to counteract these changes, but the employer side rejected the proposal. The union has vowed to monitor how retail companies apply the new dismissal rules and to challenge cases it deems unfair. The agreement also includes measures to improve the situation for part-time workers. A joint working group has been established to address their rights, and discussions will continue on implementing an EU court ruling regarding additional hours for part-time employees. Despite these developments in the retail sector, PAM remains in dispute with employers in other industries. A strike affecting the customer service and telemarketing sector is set to begin, involving approximately 1,300 workers. The union is demanding wage increases that would improve purchasing power and protections for remote workers, but negotiations have stalled. HT Authorities suspect that two individuals forced employees to work under harsh conditions, paying them low wages while denying them holidays or rest days. Police in Finland have completed an investigation into a cleaning company suspected of exploiting foreign workers in the Helsinki region. The case, described by police as "very extensive," involves alleged human trafficking offences between 2016 and early 2024. The workers are believed to have been deprived of approximately 350,000 in wages. "The employees were dependent on their employer in multiple ways. The employer is suspected of taking advantage of this dependency to continue operations," said Aapo Turpeinen, head of the investigation at the Western Uusimaa Police Department. According to police, the company used threats to control workers, including warnings that their work permits would be revoked if they tried to change employers. Losing a work permit could mean losing residency in Finland, leaving employees vulnerable to coercion. The case is now being handed over to prosecutors. Two individuals face charges of human trafficking and violations of labour protection laws. Authorities have investigated several similar cases of suspected human trafficking in the cleaning sector in recent years. HT The play unfolds on and around Senate Square, with the steps of Helsinki Cathedral serving as a key stage. The annual Via Crucis passion play will take place in central Helsinki on Easter Saturday, 19 April, from 21:00 to 22:15. The large-scale open-air performance, directed for the third time by Markku Arokanto , is free and open to all. Written by Anna-Mari Kaskinen, the production is fully scored, featuring music by Pekka Simojoki. This year, the script has been updated, and new music has been introduced, with additional compositions by Antti Vuori, who also handled musical arrangements and sound design. Panu Haavisto reprises his role as Jesus for the third time. The plays central theme, according to Arokanto, is from light to darkness, from darkness to brightness. Inspired by medieval European passion traditions, Via Crucis has been staged in Helsinki since 1987, attracting thousands of spectators each year. The production is built around themes of solitude, exclusion, and acceptance, highlighting the importance of human connection. Accessibility remains a priority, with live audio description available in Finnish and Swedish for visually impaired attendees. The large cast includes both professional and amateur performers, supported by volunteers. HT THE River & Rowing Museum in Henley could have to close if restructuring plans fail, says the director. Last week, it was announced that the museum in Mill Meadows would cease its current operations due to financial pressures. The foundation trust which runs the museum said it had become too costly to operate and would need significant restructuring to remain viable. The museum, which opened in 1998, is now in talks with several interested parties but if a solution cannot be found it could close. Museum director Steve OConnor told the Henley Standard: What were saying is we cant carry on as we are. Weve tried extremely hard over the last 27 years to get a gallery operation of this scale to be viable and to cover itself. But it has proved a challenge for everybody involved, all the trustees and all the staff that worked here over that period. Weve seen a continued operating loss at the museum and you simply cant sustain that forever. We are very open to considering every option and thats why we have gone public to see who from our local community, or elsewhere, can come in and partner with us and help with the general management and operation of the building. If we cant be successful in that, then unfortunately some sort of closure could well be on the cards. Were all working extremely hard to try to avoid that but it would be wrong to not at least recognise that it is a potential option if were not able to find a sustainable way forward. Mr OConnor, who will step down in May to become general manager of Leander Club, said the museum was exploring all options, including running a scaled-down gallery and leasing part of its 25,000 sq ft of floorspace. The museum currently rents out some of its space as offices. Mr OConnor said this arrangement would continue. He said: When we say a change in operations, what were talking about is scaling down the museum and gallery sizes so that we can create sustainable operations. Were looking at the potential for a scaled-down gallery and some more of that square footage being given over to another operator. You might see a proposal to build more office space but we, as the museum, wouldnt want to undertake that ourselves because financially its just too risky. There could be a future where more than one operator, rather than the charitable foundation, operates out of this building. He said he expected the museum to remain open as normal for the rest of the year but could not guarantee this. Mr OConnor said: It really does depend on what options are presented to us, what we think will work and what resources we have available to deliver on those. The trustees are working hard to get the plans in place in order to make sure that our staff are completely informed of whats happening all the way. Mr OConnor said he was pleased with the response the museum had received since last week. He said: There has been a number of people come forward and were now assessing the various options. We are open to all approaches. Effectively, what were doing is consulting the community on what they think should happen to the museum. The museum, which recently took over the running of the cafe on the premises from Velolife, has 40 staff. Mr OConnor said its main costs were the upkeep of its building, which were affected by rising energy costs, and essential repair works including refurbishment of the chiller units and boilers. He said: This is an expensive building to run day to day. Weve got large lighting and heating costs and there are ongoing repairs that need to be done. With increases in the price of energy, that all compounds to make the running the building extremely expensive. Another major expense was ensuring the museums collection was kept in a climate-controlled environment. Also an increase in National Insurance contributions had inflated staff costs. In May, Mr OConnor announced a three-year plan for the museum to break even. This came after it recorded a deficit of 1,159,100 in 2022/23, which it managed to reduce to 911,374 at the end of the financial year in 2024. This included the cost of the remaining work in the 1.1million refurbishment project, which began in October 2022 and closed the building for nine months. Mr OConnor said the refurbishment had been essential. He said: Several parts of the building came to the end of their natural life and so needed replacing. We converted most of the lighting areas to LEDs in an effort to save on energy costs. The refurbishment allowed us to continue to operate and gave us at least a chance of trying to get back on our feet and create the offices to help boost income. This year we should report a deficit somewhere around 600,000, so the general direction of travel is good but the reality is were still incurring a loss of half a million pounds a year. The original strategy that we set out with was heavily reliant on footfall. The Henley public has supported us really well but we were targeting the wider area and that footfall hasnt materialised in the way we had hoped. Like many museums, we dont receive any central government funding at all. Central London seems to be starving the rest of the nation of government funding. We know that more than 1billion of funding has gone to the major London museums in the last 10 years. Meanwhile, 500 museums across the country have closed in the last 25 years, so there is an imbalance of where the funding is going. Our visitors are still feeling the cost of living crisis. I think thats a real burden for most people at the moment. Plenty of museums around the country are saying similar things about their numbers. Mr OConnor admitted that his resignation had caused the museum to reconsider its operations. He said: For me personally, that made it an incredibly tough decision because Ive been so invested in this place and trying to make it work. China rejects claims of alleged Chinese influence over Panama Canal (People's Daily App) 16:42, March 06, 2025 China on Wednesday rejected claims of alleged Chinese influence over the Panama Canal, saying it has never intervened in the management and operation of the waterway. (Produced by Lu Dong) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) (JTA) - Adrien Brody nabbed an Academy Award Sunday for his portrayal of an architect in "The Brutalist," marking the second Oscar for the Jewish actor. Mikey Madison, who is Jewish, also won best actress for her role in "Anora," which won best picture. Both of Brody's best actor wins came for portrayals of Holocaust survivors. In 2003, he received the best actor for his performance in "The Pianist," in which he played Wadysaw Szpilman, who was among a handful of Jews to survive the Warsaw ghetto and went on to resume a classical music career. That movie focused almost entirely on Szpilman's... (JNS) Shaya Feiner may not communicate with words, but his face tells a story. His mother, Aviva, has learned to recognize the joy in his expressionsthe pride that lights up his face when she tells others that Shaya was born in Jerusalem. The 17-year-olds story began in Israel, where he was born healthy. But complications quickly arose, leaving him with a severe neurological condition and complex medical needs that have shaped his daily life ever since. All this time, Aviva and her husband, Rabbi Eytan Feiner, have devoted themselves to making sure that Shaya receives the care he needs,... (JNS) The Oscar-nominated documentary No Other Land portrays the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the microcosm of a collection of Palestinian Arab settlements called Masafer Yatta. In that cluster of makeshift villages, the film gives the impression that impoverished Palestinians confront the oppression of Israeli military demolition crews in an existential struggle to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes, the displacement of their people and the theft of their land. But ultimately, we are told, the righteous Palestinian resistance survives. The reality of Masafer Yatta is alt... (JNS) - The Empire State Building was lit orange on Wednesday night in memory of Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir, whom Hamas killed in captivity and who were buried earlier in the day in Israel. Some four-and-a-half miles north in Manhattan, anti-Israel Barnard College students took over an administrative building on campus. Classes were canceled, and a Barnard staff member was assaulted and hospitalized, Jewish Insider reported. Kassy Akiva, a reporter for Daily Wire, wrote that Barnard spokesperson told her that a small group of masked protesters forcibly entered Milbank Hall and ph... (JNS) Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday hailed the island nation of Fijis decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem. I commend the Republic of Fijis government for its historic decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people. Thank you, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, friend of Israel. Thank you, Fiji! tweeted Saar. I commend the Republic of Fijis government for its historic decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people. Thank you, Rabuka had confirmed the intent during a meeting last week with Saar o... (JTA) - Hamas has returned bodies of four Israeli hostages who were killed in captivity in Gaza - the final group of hostages to be released under the terms of the first phase of a ceasefire that began last month. The four hostages, all men 50 or older, were abducted in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Unlike previous hostage releases under the current ceasefire, their bodies were handed to Israel quietly, without a public ceremony early on the morning of Feb. 27. That stipulation came after Hamas paraded the coffins of three deceased hostages, an elderly man and two young children, Ariel and Kfir... (JNS) - "Looking at their scared frightened faces, begging to come out, wanting to be like their friends who got released, it is very hard to see your son begging for his life, asking to come out," Ilan Dalal, the father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told JNS. On Saturday, Hamas published a propaganda video showing Israeli hostages Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David at their friends' release ceremony from captivity in Gaza. Hamas compelled the two to watch the ceremony from inside a vehicle as Israel redeemed living captives Eliya Cohen, 27, Avera Mengistu, 39, Hisham al-Sayed, 36, Omer Shem Tov, 22, T... (JNS) The surviving member of the Bibas family, Yarden, shared a poignant eulogy at Kibbutz Nir Oz for the burial of his wife, Shiri, and their two children, Ariel and Kfir who were murdered by the hands of Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Yarden recalled his deep love for Shiri, remembering their first moments together and their bond as best friends, a wife, and a mother. He expressed deep sorrow and regret for not being able to protect them, especially during the tragic events on Oct. 7 when Gazans snatched them from their home. I remember the first time I said Mi amor to you, he said. It wa... (JNS) The bodies of Israeli hostages Shiri Bibas, her young sons Kfir and Ariel, and octogenarian Oded Lifshitz were displayed by Hamas terrorists on a newly erected stage in the Gaza Strip, paraded around like trophies before a crowd of Palestinian Arabs, and handed over to the International Red Cross while music blared from loudspeakers. We have come to expect awful scenes like these by Hamas. Jewish hostages (living or now dead) have been marched through the streets of Gaza and handed over to the Red Cross. Some hostages were forced to push through throngs of jeering Gazan mobs. Others... (JNS) Unless youve been living under a rock, you know that the last few weeks have been some of the most difficult since the trauma of the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. For a split second, it seemed like the anti-Israel news cycle might calm down and it felt like we were finally going to get a bit of a breather. But then the hostage swaps began. These exchanges shifted in nature when the terrorists could no longer parade our kidnapped civilians around, draped in green fatigues, as if they were captured soldiers. Much to our dismay, the remaining hostages would be l... (JNS) Did you know that moving a few miles to temporarily get out of the way of gunfire constitutes an exodus? I didnt either until I read the appalling headline on the front page of The New York Times on Feb. 18: In West Bank, Israels Tactics Cause Exodus. This was a thinly disguised attempt to invert Jewish history by headline writers. Look, it says, the Jews are doing to Arabs what Pharaoh did to the Jews! But while the Jews experienced an actual exodus in ancient Egypt, the Palestinian Arabs of today are undergoing nothing of the sort. According to the Times, Israels recent counte... (JNS) It was interesting to watch the bemused look on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus face during a Washington press conference as President Donald Trump floated his harebrained idea of deporting all Gazans. Yet the man who insists he is not a vassal quickly pivoted to praise Trump for an idea that could change history. Trump deserves credit for apparently abandoning the two-state solution embedded in his first-term Mideast peace plan. Some praised him for thinking outside the box, but creativity alone doesnt make an idea good. In this case, his proposal to send the Palestin... (JNS) Be this the whetstone of your sword. Let grief convert to anger. Blunt not the heart, enrage it. Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 3 The holiday of Purim is the most joyous of Jewish holidays and therefore our sages teach that when the month in which occurs, Adar, begins, joy increases. But given recent events, this year the joy of Adar may feel palpably less than in previous years. Many Israelis kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, are still hostages, continually brutalized and mocked, and the three that became the faces of that days treachery Shiri Bibas, and her young sons, Ariel and Kfir are... Nepal's ambassador praises China's role in global growth and sustainability 16:49, March 06, 2025 By Zhao Jia ( Chinadaily.com.cn As the world grapples with geopolitical turbulence and economic uncertainty, China's commitment to innovative, open and sustainable development will not only advance its own prosperity but also contribute to a more interconnected and resilient world, said Nepal's Ambassador to China Krishna Prasad Oli. Speaking after attending the opening of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress on Wednesday, Oli praised China's strategic priorities for 2025, as outlined in the Government Work Report, reinforcing its role as a driver of global growth. "China, I believe, will be a major engine for global growth for various reasons," Oli said. He highlighted that the world's second-largest economy with vast population and market size has "consistently shown remarkable growth." One of the key takeaways from the report was China's dedication to fostering new quality productive forces and the strong emphasis on emerging industries, digital economy stimulation, and the integration of education, scientific innovation, and talent development. China is positioning itself at the forefront of technological progress, Oli said, adding that he was particularly impressed by China's technological innovation. "Innovation in technology is the prime focus of the Chinese nationChina has sent deep shock waves with the rise of tech start-ups like DeepSeek," he said. In an era of rising protectionism and diminishing trust in multilateralism, China's commitment to expanding its openness and optimizing its business environment is a breath of fresh air, the ambassador emphasized. "The Chinese government has shown their confidence and support in the private sector and continued to attract foreign direct investment and talents," he said. China's Belt and Road Initiative, which facilitates both large-scale infrastructure and smaller, impactful projects, has further strengthened multilateral cooperation and global development, he added. "As a close friend and trusted development partner, Nepal also awaits to see how China prioritizes neighborhood policies and implements the South-South Cooperation and triangular cooperation across multiple fields," he said. "I am a climate expert myself. Therefore, I am also very much interested in how green growth is prioritized." Praising China as "a champion of green growth," Oli commended the country's efforts in balancing economic development with environmental sustainability. "China's high-quality development perfectly captures the essence of growth in harmony with nature." China has vowed to coordinate industrial restructuring, pollution control, ecological protection, and climate change response, all of which aim to accelerate its shift toward a green and low-carbon economy, according to the Government Work report. Beyond economic and environmental policies, Oli highlighted the distinctiveness of China's political system, particularly its whole-process people's democracy, as exemplified in the two sessions. China's whole-process people's democracy involves electoral and consultative democracy and has ensured that policies are people-centered and that the benefits of development are widely shared, he said. He praised China's achievements in eradicating absolute poverty and ensuring fundamental human rights, stating that, "The development achieved by China is unparalleled and has progressively evolved to the satisfaction of the overall populace." (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) China to set up national venture capital guidance fund to strengthen innovative firms: NDRC Global Times) 16:52, March 06, 2025 China will soon establish a national venture capital guidance fund in a bid to help innovative enterprises grow stronger, more competitive, and larger, Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said at a press conference during the ongoing two sessions on Thursday. Zheng made the remarks while elaborating the top economic planner's next steps to implement the tasks outlined in the Government Work Report submitted to the National People's Congress for deliberation on Wednesday. Zheng stressed that efforts will be made to nurture new growth drivers while upgrading traditional engines so as to accelerate the building of a modernized industrial system. The fund is expected to attract local government and private investment of nearly 1 trillion yuan ($138.15 billion) and will focus on cutting-edge areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, hydrogen energy, and energy storage, according to a CCTV News report on Thursday. The report said a market approach will be adopted to invest in start-ups and early-stage enterprises, while also giving consideration to small, medium and micro-sized enterprises in their early to mid-growth stages, in order to support original and disruptive innovations, facilitate core technological breakthroughs, and foster the development of strategic emerging and future industries. According to this year's Government Work Report, the country will establish a mechanism to increase funding for future industries, including biomanufacturing, quantum technology, embodied AI, and 6G technology. Under the AI Plus initiative, the country will work to effectively combine digital technologies with China's manufacturing and market strengths, according to the work report. According to CCTV News, the fund will exist for 20 years, making it longer lasting than typical equity funds. The new fund is designed to address common funding shortages faced by tech firms in their early stages, effectively leverage venture capital to support technological innovation, accelerate the commercialization of major sci-tech achievements, enhance technological self-reliance, and develop new quality productive forces, a spokesperson from the NDRC said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Authorities are still investigating the circumstances behind the deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, whose bodies were found last month in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The couple - Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65 - were discovered by a neighborhood security guard who was alerted by pest-control workers who had been unable to reach the pair. There are no longer fears of a carbon monoxide leak, but speculation has been rife that it could have been a "companion suicide." An expert who did not participate in the investigation, however, said she remains skeptical of the theory. 'Companion Suicide' Theory Is Unlikely Expert James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, told PEOPLE that based on the particulars of the case, such a scenario is improbable. "Couples who die by dual suicide are usually found together in bed," Gill explained. Authorities said, though, that Hackman, who used a cane, was found in the mudroom of the home, and his sunglasses were nearby, while Arakawa was found in the bathroom, and prescription pills were on the bathroom countertop. Guilford said the timeline and medical history may provide investigators with some clues. The two are thought to have died days before they were found around February 26. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Hackman's pacemaker was last logged as working on February 17, and that was possibly the date he died. Hackman's medical history could be a significant factor, Gill noted. He was a heart patient with a pacemaker, so it was not surprising if he collapsed, he said. More Questions Than Answers The fact that Hackman was still mobile before his death also makes it unlikely that he was left helpless after Arakawa died first, he added. "Sometimes we see cases where a bedridden person with dementia dies after their caregiver passes away due to dehydration or other factors," Gill explained. "I don't think that's the case here." While authorities are still investigating the timeline surrounding Arakawa's death and the circumstances, it is generating more questions than answers. Gill said it's harder to determine exactly when she died. He replied, "That's a little bit of a gray area." Because the investigation remains open, officials haven't released a final cause and manner of death ruling for either Hackman or Arakawa. Originally published on Enstarz Sylvester Turner, the former Houston mayor and U.S. congressman, has died at the age of 70. His death comes just months after he assumed office as the U.S. Representative for Texas' 18th Congressional District in January 2025. Early Life and Education Born on 27 September 1954 in Houston, Texas, Turner was the sixth of nine children. He was raised in the Acres Homes neighbourhood by his father, a commercial painter, and his mother, a maid at the Rice Hotel. Despite the family's financial struggles, Turner recalled never feeling poor as a child, attributing this to the strong support system and values instilled by his parents. He excelled academically, becoming senior class president and valedictorian at Klein High School. Turner went on to study political science at the University of Houston, where he was Speaker of the Student Senate. He later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he was a finalist in the prestigious Ames Moot Court Competition. Legal and Political Career Turner began his legal career at Fulbright & Jaworski before co-founding the law firm Barnes & Turner in 1983, according to his official congressional biography. His political career started in 1988 when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. He held his seat for 27 years, serving in key legislative roles, including Vice-Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Speaker Pro Tempore. His first bid for Houston mayor in 1991 ended in controversy after an investigative report alleged his involvement in an insurance fraud scheme. Though he successfully sued for defamation, the scandal derailed his campaign. Turner ran unsuccessfully again in 2003 but finally won the mayoral race in 2015, securing re-election in 2019. As mayor, Turner navigated Houston through multiple crises, including Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic. He introduced major initiatives such as pension reform, the One Safe Houston crime reduction programme, and the Complete Communities project to revitalise underserved areas. His leadership extended beyond the city, with roles as Chair of the African American Mayors Association and U.S. Climate Mayors. Potholes, Pensions, and Politics Turner's tenure as Houston mayor was marked by a hands-on approach to governance, as detailed in Harvard Magazine. Shortly after assuming office, he took to the streets himself to oversee pothole repairs, an issue that had long plagued Houston's roads. He aimed to restore public confidence by focusing on tangible improvements, such as fixing nearly 10,500 potholes in his first two months in office. Despite facing a budget deficit and billions in pension liabilities, Turner pushed for fiscal reforms, urging shared sacrifices to stabilise the city's finances. He believed that governance should be transformative rather than incremental, advocating for regional transportation improvements over continued motorway expansion. His leadership reflected his commitment to economic and racial inclusivity, with efforts to balance the city's budget while maintaining essential public services. Congressional Tenure and Death After serving two terms as mayor, Turner returned to national politics, winning the election for Texas' 18th Congressional District in November 2024 following the death of Sheila Jackson Lee, per Houston Public Media. He assumed office in January 2025 but passed away on 4 March 2025 in Washington, D.C. Net Worth and Legacy Turner's net worth at the time of his passing is estimated to be around 2.3 million ($3 million), accumulated through his legal practice, political career, and investments. His tenure as Houston's mayor saw efforts to tackle homelessness, public safety, and climate action. While some criticised his handling of city finances, his supporters hailed him as a transformative leader who advocated for social justice and economic development. Personal Life Turner was previously married to Cheryl Turner, with whom he had a daughter, Ashley Page Turner. He was a devoted member of The Church Without Walls and a regular attendee of public service events. In 2022, Turner revealed he had been diagnosed with bone cancer, undergoing surgery and radiation treatment. Despite health concerns, he continued his political career until his sudden passing in 2025. His death marks the end of a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, leaving behind a legacy of service, resilience, and leadership in Houston and beyond. Originally published on IBTimes UK Apple has announced the launch of new MacBook Air models featuring a more powerful M4 chip and an upgraded videoconferencing camera. The tech giant also surprised consumers with a $100 price cut in the U.S., even as fresh tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump took effect this week. The 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $999, while the 15-inch version begins at $1,099. Customers can opt for additional memory and storage upgrades. Despite maintaining last year's design, the new MacBook Air introduces a fresh sky blue color option and the ability to support three external monitors. The updated models will be available for purchase starting March 12. As one of Apple's top-selling products, the MacBook Air plays a crucial role in the company's business. In the December quarter, Mac sales climbed 15% to nearly $9 billion, primarily driven by increased laptop demand. However, overall Mac sales remain below their fiscal 2022 peak, which was fueled by heightened demand for remote work and learning during the pandemic. Apple's latest product rollout extends beyond laptops. Alongside the MacBook Air, the company introduced a high-end Mac Studio desktop powered by a chip designed for advanced AI applications. This follows the release of the M4-equipped iPad Air earlier this week and last month's launch of the budget-friendly iPhone 16e. The new Mac Studio, tailored for professionals in graphics, audio, video production, and artificial intelligence, starts at $1,999. Higher-end configurations can exceed $14,000. The MacBook Air's price cut comes amid speculation about how Apple will respond to the Trump administration's tariffs. While Apple has so far refrained from raising prices, the impact of tariffs remains a concern. The new iPad Air retains its $599 starting price, but the iPhone 16e now costs $599up from the $429 price tag of the low-cost model it replaced. Analysts at Bank of America Securities previously predicted that PC makers, including Apple, would likely pass tariff-related costs on to consumers. Rival brand Acer has already implemented price hikes in response to the U.S. tariffs. "Tariffs on imported PCs act like a tax that PC vendors largely pass to end customers," BofA analysts wrote last month. Apple's supply chain is also under scrutiny, as most of its products are manufactured in China and could be affected by both U.S. tariffs and potential Chinese retaliatory measures. Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Trump at the White House last month, after which Trump stated that Apple "doesn't want to be in the tariffs." Cook assured investors in January that Apple is "monitoring the situation." To mitigate risks, Apple has been diversifying its production locations, with some Macs now assembled in Malaysia and Vietnamcountries that would bypass Chinese import duties. However, Apple has not disclosed the assembly locations of the new MacBook Air models. A divided US Supreme Court handed a legal defeat to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, rejecting his bid to freeze some $2 billion in foreign aid payments. The top court, in its first significant ruling on a legal challenge to the Trump administration, voted 5-4 to uphold a lower court order requiring that payments be made on aid contracts that have already been completed. The justices said the federal judge who ordered the resumption of payments for contracts with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department "should clarify what obligations the Government must fulfill." Conservatives John Roberts, the chief justice, and Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, voted with the three liberals on the nine-member Supreme Court. Justice Samuel Alito wrote a dissent that was joined by the three other conservatives. "Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the Government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars?" Alito wrote. "The answer to that question should be an emphatic 'No,' but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned," he added. The American Civil Liberties Union, which has backed several legal challenges to moves by the Trump administration, welcomed the Supreme Court decision. "President Trump's attempt to halt foreign aid funding was a reckless, cruel, and unprecedented abuse of executive power," ACLU executive director Anthony Romero said in a statement. "The lower court rightly held that President Trump exceeded his authority when he unilaterally declared he was freezing funding for programs Congress had already authorized, stiffing federal contractors who had already done work," Romero said. District Judge Amir Ali, an appointee of former president Joe Biden, issued a temporary restraining order last month prohibiting the administration from "suspending, pausing, or otherwise preventing" foreign assistance funds. Trump has launched a campaign led by his top donor Elon Musk, the world's richest person, to downsize or dismantle swaths of the US government. The most concentrated fire has been on USAID, the primary organization for distributing US humanitarian aid around the world with health and emergency programs in some 120 countries. Trump has said USAID was "run by radical lunatics" and Musk has described it as a "criminal organization" needing to be put "through the woodchipper." Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled the upcoming sailing of the Carnival Luminosa due to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the company announced. The voyage, originally scheduled to depart from Brisbane on March 6, 2025, has been called off as the storm is expected to directly affect the area. "We are continuing to monitor Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Given its current track, the storm is expected to directly impact the Brisbane area in the coming days and the port is now closed," Carnival Australia said in a statement. "Regrettably, we have no option but to cancel Carnival Luminosa's three-day cruise departing tomorrow," the company continued in the announcement, which was shared on Wednesday. The 2009-built vessel was set to offer a cruise to nowhere as part of its winter season in Australia and the South Pacific. Affected guests will receive a full refund for their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items, Carnival confirmed. "As the safety of our guests and crew is the priority, the current voyage of the Carnival Luminosa will be delayed coming back from the South Pacific until it is safe to return to Brisbane," the company explained. The ship is not expected to dock in Brisbane before Saturday morning. "The Captain is sailing a safe distance from the storm to minimize discomfort for our guests," Carnival added. "We know this is disappointing and we thank guests for their understanding." The Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to resume operations on March 9, 2025, with a four-night cruise to Airlie Beach. The 2,260-guest ship will continue sailing from Brisbane before repositioning to North America in early May, offering a summer season of seven-night cruises to Alaska and Canada from Seattle. The vessel is expected to return to Australia later this year for another winter season sailing from Brisbane. EU leaders gather with Volodymyr Zelensky Thursday in Brussels in search of unity on bolstering Ukraine and Europe's defences after Donald Trump upended traditional US alliances and retracted wartime backing of Kyiv. Thursday's summit brings all 27 EU leaders together for the first time since last week's explosive meeting between presidents Trump and Zelensky, with Washington since suspending military aid and intelligence sharing to help Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion. This has sent Ukraine's allies scrambling, with EU leaders openly questioning Washington's reliability as a security partner going forward. While the Brussels meeting will aim to cement European support for Kyiv, it is unlikely to yield any major announcements of aid beyond the 30 billion euros ($32 billion) the bloc has already committed for this year. The prospect of the United States pivoting from its European partners in NATO has fuelled a growing consensus on the summit's other major topic: the need to strengthen Europe's defences against Russia. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has laid out a plan aimed at mobilising 800 billion euros to "re-arm Europe" -- largely by freeing states to spend much more -- which leaders are expected to greenlight Thursday. "Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us has seen in our adult lifetime," she wrote to leaders, urging Europe to "act as decisively as the situation dictates." France's President Emmanuel Macron doubled down in a sombre address to the nation on the summit's eve, calling for a defence spending surge to confront a "new era" and saying he would discuss extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners. "Who can believe that this Russia of today will stop at Ukraine?" Macron asked. "I want to believe that the United States will stay by our side, but we have to be prepared for that not to be the case." Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz, who conferred with EU chiefs in Brussels ahead of the talks, has likewise declared himself ready for "the worst-case scenario" and embraced radical reforms to ramp up Germany defence spending. Bolstering European defences has taken on acute urgency as Trump makes clear his desire to swiftly end the three-year war through direct negotiations with Moscow. His embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin, while expressing contempt toward Zelensky, has cemented fears that Kyiv and Europe's interests will be overlooked in any deal to end the biggest conflict on the continent since World War II. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for a "coalition of the willing" to come together to draw up a peace plan and present it to the United States. Starmer and other European leaders made a show of embracing Zelensky and reaffirming support for Ukraine at weekend talks in London. EU chiefs will be briefing Starmer on the Brussels talks on Friday. France and Britain have pitched a one-month truce "in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure", though not initially on the ground. Leaders are expected to raise that proposal in Brussels, but not formally decide on it. EU leaders are also expected to start thrashing out what "security guarantees" the bloc might provide for a peace deal, including the possible deployment of European troops which several states support. While Zelensky can expect strong words of support in Brussels, it was unclear if a deal would be reached on a new package of key weaponry, with several states arguing Europe currently has enough money committed to meet Kyiv's needs. Forging a united front on Ukraine has been a headache for the EU, with Hungary's Viktor Orban -- who is friendly with both Trump and Putin -- again signalling his reluctance to endorse a proposed joint statement on support for Ukraine. Zelensky is still scrambling to contain the fallout from the blow-up with Trump, which saw the US leader berate him for a lack of gratitude. Trump acknowledged Tuesday that Zelensky has told him Kyiv was ready for talks with Russia and to finalise an agreement on control of Ukrainian mineral resources. The US leader has demanded a deal granting Washington preferential access to Ukraine's rare-earth and other natural resources as the price for any continued backing -- even though he has refused to commit to giving Kyiv security guarantees as part of a truce with Russia. Appointment as Vice President - Development supports IHG's growth ambitions to expand its brands and experiences across the region. IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announced the appointment of Bryan Chan as its new Vice President, Development for South East Asia and Korea. With IHG's strong growth ambitions, Bryan will oversee the strategic expansion of IHG's brands across the region, build and strengthen stakeholder relationships and lead a team of highly experienced developers based in-market. Having joined IHG more than ten years ago, Bryan has assumed roles of increased leadership and responsibility over the years in the Development function, moving from Manager to Senior Director and worked across many markets including Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam. He has worked in IHG's Windsor headquarters for a year on large scale complex projects including the landmark Novum partnership in Germany. Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, East Asia & Pacific, IHG said: "I am delighted that Bryan will take on this important leadership role. With Bryan's extensive regional and global experience, from working in Singapore and our Global Headquarters in Windsor, and breadth of knowledge across hospitality, real estate, commercial, marketing, and corporate and project finance, I am confident we have the right leader in place to continue the growth of our brands and expand our presence across city and resort destinations." Bryan Chan, Vice President, Development, South East Asia & Korea, IHG said: "I feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead and support the growth agenda for South East Asia and Korea. I am passionate about co-curating new destination experiences and look forward to working with our partners to reimagine heritage sites and downtown city projects, conceive thoughtful resort concepts and bring out the best flavours of every neighbourhood and sharing this with the rest of the world. "IHG is one of the most dynamic companies in hospitality and has a stellar reputation as a trusted partner with a strong in-market approach. With growth opportunities abound, I cannot wait to work closely with the wider IHG team and the ownership community to bring our renowned loved brands and experiences to fantastic new locations." Bryan has 15 years of deal-making experience across multiple industries including hospitality real estate, energy, infrastructure, transport and industrials. Prior to his role in IHG, he managed Asia transactions at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and worked as an analyst at Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong. IHG has 137 opened hotels and 86 hotels in the pipeline* across South East Asia and Korea across 11 brands. It plans to introduce new brands including Garner, IHG's midscale conversion brand, to key markets in the next few years. *As of 31 December 2024 Accor, the largest hotel operator in Australia and New Zealand, has reached a significant milestone in its sustainability journey, with more than 200 hotels now eco-certified. This represents over 50% of Accors network in the region, underscoring the Groups commitment to implementing more sustainable tourism practices across its entire portfolio. In Australia, over 190 hotels have achieved Sustainable Tourism Certification from Ecotourism Australia, meeting strict criteria related to environmental, socio-economic, cultural and responsible management principles. Across the Tasman, more than 20 hotels have earned the Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Certification from Qualmark New Zealand, meeting rigorous standards related to business systems, environment, people, community and culture, and health and safety. Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer PM&E, Adrian Williams, said: Achieving eco-certification for more than half of our network is a fantastic milestone for us in the Pacific. As the regions largest hotel operator, we have an important role to play in trailblazing a more sustainable future for our industry. This milestone reflects the passion and dedication of our teams at Accor, who are deeply committed to making a positive impact on our planet. Im incredibly proud of their efforts and their unwavering commitment to pioneering responsible hospitality. Over 70 additional hotels across Australia and New Zealand are currently undergoing the eco-certification process. This progress aligns with the Groups global ambition to have 100% of its network eco-certified by 2026, setting new benchmarks in environmental, socio-economic and cultural sustainability. Around the world, Accor is fully supporting its 5,600 hotels in obtaining external sustainable certifications through a combination of global and local partnerships to achieve this goal. Elissa Keenan, Chief Executive Officer of Ecotourism Australia, praised the milestone: Accors leadership in sustainable tourism is exemplary. Their dedication to achieving Sustainable Tourism Certification demonstrates their commitment to upholding globally recognised standards. This milestone not only supports responsible tourism but inspires other industry leaders to follow suit. Qualmark New Zealand General Manager, Steven Dixon, added: Achieving Gold Certification under Qualmarks rigorous criteria reinforces Accors position as a leader in sustainable tourism. With travellers increasingly prioritising responsible tourism, this accomplishment ensures guests can travel with confidence. Accor continues to prioritise initiatives such as eliminating single-use plastics, minimising food waste, and enhancing water conservation across its hotels in the Pacific. By collaborating with global and local partners, the group is driving innovation in sustainability and delivering authentic, eco-conscious guest experiences. From luxury to economy, Accor operates more than 400 hotels in the Pacific region under renowned brands such as Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissotel, Movenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Handwritten Collection, Novotel, TRIBE, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget, as well as Ennismores SO/. For more information, visit group.accor.com About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. CHICAGO Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced a series of changes to its Senior Leadership Team, emphasizing the company's evolution towards a more brand-focused and agile enterprise. Marc Jacheet will be joining Hyatt as Group President, Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME), effective March 17, 2025, with a full transition into his new role effective July 1, 2025. Jacheet is an international business executive with 25+ years of management experience in Europe, Asia and the U.S. across a wide range of leadership roles at global luxury and leading consumer brands such as De Beers, Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, and Evian. Jacheet also led Tiffany & Co.s operations for both the Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. Jacheet will be based at Hyatts EAME Hub in Zurich and report to President & CEO Mark Hoplamazian. Javier Aguila, who has been leading Hyatts EAME region to significant growth and performance since 2022, is being appointed as Hyatts new Chief Growth Officer, effective July 1, 2025, in addition to his recently announced role as President, Inclusive Collection, effective March 1, 2025. In his new global role, Aguila will oversee Hyatts overall growth through development strategy and execution as well as transactions. He will remain in the EAME leadership role and support Jacheet in his transition between March 17 and June 30, 2025, after which time both will fully assume their new roles and Aguila will continue to report to Hoplamazian. Jim Chu, who has served as Hyatts Chief Growth Officer since 2022, will assume a new position as Head of Owner Relations, effective July 1, 2025, bringing even more focus and dedication to this important stakeholder group. Chu will continue to report to Hoplamazian. These leadership changes further strengthen Hyatts commitment to becoming a more brand-focused organization that is set up to care even more for the differentiated needs of guests, owners and developers across five distinct brand portfolios: Lifestyle, Luxury, Inclusive, Classics and Essentials. Today's announcements highlight two key points for Hyatt, said Mark Hoplamazian, President & CEO, Hyatt: First, bringing in top business leaders with deep brand and operating expertise like Marc Jacheet will lead to building EAMEs momentum in performance and growth and accelerate our evolution toward a more brand-focused, high-performance enterprise. Second, assigning new strategic roles to Hyatt leaders like Javier Aguila and Jim Chu demonstrates the agile leadership capabilities we are developing for the future. Hoplamazian continues: I am delighted to welcome Marc to the Hyatt family. He brings extensive global operations experience from leading consumer brands, a fresh perspective on our industry, and importantly, aligns closely with our culture. Javiers expertise in organic and inorganic growth as well as extensive M&A and strategic investments experience derives from his time at private equity firms in Europe. Considering the growth momentum the EAME region has experienced under his leadership since 2022, I am confident he will expertly guide the next chapter of Hyatts global growth journey across all five brand portfolios. Jims 20 years in owner- and operator-focused roles at Hyatt perfectly position him to drive innovation and deliver exceptional value to this key stakeholder group in a more focused way. The term Hyatt is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates. About Hyatt Hotels Corporation Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose to care for people so they can be their best. As of December 31, 2024, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,400 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 79 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Luxury Portfolio, including Park Hyatt, Alila, Miraval, Impression by Secrets, and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt; the Lifestyle Portfolio, including Andaz, Thompson Hotels, The Standard, Dream Hotels, The StandardX, Breathless Resorts & Spas, JdV by Hyatt, Bunkhouse Hotels, and Me and All Hotels; the Inclusive Collection, including Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Sunscape Resorts & Spas, and Alua Hotels & Resorts; the Classics Portfolio, including Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Destination by Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Vacation Club, and Hyatt; and the Essentials Portfolio, including Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Studios, and UrCove. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt loyalty program, ALG Vacations, Mr & Mrs Smith, Unlimited Vacation Club, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com. Forward-Looking Statements Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements about our plans, strategies, senior leadership expectations and expected performance, growth expectations, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; the rate and pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; global supply chain constraints and interruptions, rising costs of construction-related labor and materials, and increases in costs due to inflation or other factors that may not be fully offset by increases in revenues in our business; risks affecting the luxury, resort, and all-inclusive lodging segments; levels of spending in business, leisure, and group segments, as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; limited visibility with respect to future bookings; loss of key personnel; domestic and international political and geopolitical conditions, including political or civil unrest or changes in trade policy; hostilities, or fear of hostilities, including future terrorist attacks, that affect travel; travel-related accidents; natural or man-made disasters, weather and climate-related events, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, droughts, floods, wildfires, oil spills, nuclear incidents, and global outbreaks of pandemics or contagious diseases, or fear of such outbreaks; our ability to successfully achieve specified levels of operating profits at hotels that have performance tests or guarantees in favor of our third-party owners; the impact of hotel renovations and redevelopments; risks associated with our capital allocation plans, share repurchase program, and dividend payments, including a reduction in, or elimination or suspension of, repurchase activity or dividend payments; the seasonal and cyclical nature of the real estate and hospitality businesses; changes in distribution arrangements, such as through internet travel intermediaries; changes in the tastes and preferences of our customers; relationships with colleagues and labor unions and changes in labor laws; the financial condition of, and our relationships with, third-party owners, franchisees, and hospitality venture partners; the possible inability of third-party owners, franchisees, or development partners to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; risks associated with potential acquisitions and dispositions and our ability to successfully integrate completed acquisitions with existing operations; failure to successfully complete proposed transactions (including the failure to satisfy closing conditions or obtain required approvals); our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; declines in the value of our real estate assets; unforeseen terminations of our management and hotel services agreements or franchise agreements; changes in federal, state, local, or foreign tax law; increases in interest rates, wages, and other operating costs; foreign exchange rate fluctuations or currency restructurings; risks associated with the introduction of new brand concepts, including lack of acceptance of new brands or innovation; general volatility of the capital markets and our ability to access such markets; changes in the competitive environment in our industry, industry consolidation, and the markets where we operate; our ability to successfully grow the World of Hyatt loyalty program and manage the Unlimited Vacation Club paid membership program; cyber incidents and information technology failures; outcomes of legal or administrative proceedings; and violations of regulations or laws related to our franchising business and licensing businesses and our international operations; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, including our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which filings are available from the SEC. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. Franziska Weber +1 312 780 6106 Hyatt UTRECHT, The Netherlands BCD Travels Cities & Trends U.S. ranking highlights the top cities, states, routes, and booking habits of the year from BCD clients U.S. business travelers. The findings based on BCD flight and car rental data from 2024 shows business hotspots and reveals growing markets and traveler behavior insights. Business travel not only serves as an indicator of economic health but also reflects a regions growth and stability, said Jorge Cruz, executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing at BCD. It shows the evolving dynamics of domestic and global trade, investment trends, and corporate confidence. The growth in business travel exceeded expectations in 2024, setting the stage for more momentum in 2025. Top 10 business travel cities The top three U.S. cities for business travelers are also major hubs for some of the largest airlines in the country. Atlanta, home to Delta Air Lines, is the most frequented city followed by Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago which are important hubs for American Airlines and United Airlines. Domestic rankings largely remain the same compared to the previous Cities & Trends report. Looking at the top intercontinental cities, the reigning most visited European cities for U.S. business travelers include London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, and Munich. The top Asian cities include Tokyo coming in sixth place and Seoul in ninth. Dublin jumped one spot from the previous year, moving Switzerlands financial hub, Zurich, to eighth place. New market entrants plus new and returning routes contributed to a surge in travel between Ireland and the U.S. The only Latin American city to join the ranking was Sao Paulo coming in at No.10. 2024 ranking Domestic Intercontinental 2024 ranking Domestic Intercontinental 1 Atlanta, GA London 2 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Frankfurt 3 Chicago, IL Amsterdam 4 New York City, NY Paris 5 Denver, CO Munich 6 Washington, DC Tokyo 7 Seattle-Tacoma, WA Dublin 8 Charlotte, NC Zurich 9 Houston, TX Seoul 10 Los Angeles, CA Sao Paulo Top 10 business travel states and countries The most visited states for business travelers in the U.S. also reflect some of the strongest economies in the nation. Texas leads followed by California, Georgia, Illinois, and Florida. Seven out of the 10 top countries are European, demonstrating the strong trade and investment ties between the U.S. and European nations. 2024 ranking Domestic Intercontinental 2024 ranking Domestic Intercontinental 1 Texas United Kingdom 2 California Germany 3 Georgia Netherlands 4 Illinois France 5 Florida Japan 6 North Carolina Ireland 7 Colorado Switzerland 8 Washington, D.C. Spain 9 Washington Brazil 10 New York United Arab Emirates Top 10 business travel routes New York City was the most popular departure and arrival city for domestic flights, with the top two routes being Chicago to New York City and vice versa. Other frequent New York City routes included travel to and from Los Angeles, Boston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The Big Apple remained the top departure city for intercontinental routes followed by Chicago and Los Angeles. Most business travelers flew into London or Frankfurt followed by Paris or Amsterdam. These cities are home to the busiest international airports in Europe according to seat volume. 2024 ranking: Domestic routes - Intercontinental routes 2024 ranking Domestic routes Intercontinental routes 1 Chicago New York City New York City London 2 New York City Chicago Chicago Frankfurt 3 Los Angeles New York City Los Angeles London 4 New York City Los Angeles New York City Frankfurt 5 Atlanta Dallas-Fort Worth Chicago London 6 Dallas-Fort Worth Atlanta Washington, D.C. Frankfurt 7 New York City Boston Seattle-Tacoma London 8 Boston New York City New York City Paris 9 New York City Dallas-Fort Worth San Francisco Frankfurt 10 Dallas-Fort Worth New York City Atlanta Amsterdam Cabin class and flight type According to BCDs 2024 travel policy survey, most travel policies consider flight duration when defining rules around booking business class. On average, business class is allowed on flights over seven hours long. This is evident in the booking data from U.S. business travelers flying internationally with most booking business class (48%) and economy class (39%). Premium economy (12%) and first class (less than 1%) were booked the least. This shows a slight decrease in business class compared to the previous years 53% and a slight increase from economys 36%. Its a very different story for domestic flights. Almost all business travelers flew economy (95%) with only 4% flying business class. Less than 1% of bookings made up first and premium economy class. This data followed a very similar trend from the previous year with less than 1% variance. The majority of domestic flights were direct (81%) while just less than half (47%) were direct for intercontinental flights. Were seeing small changes in cabin class compared to data from 2023, but the number of travelers booking direct flights has remained very similar, said Cruz. Flying direct is often a better choice for traveler satisfaction since it removes the challenges and risks that come along with connecting flights. Flying direct also produces less carbon emissions making it a win-win for travelers and their companys carbon footprint. Car rental Car rental bookings followed 43% of all air bookings made by U.S. business travelers, marking a 1% decrease from the previous year. The top cities for car rentals mirror the top cities for business travel: Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and Atlanta. While there was a slight decline in car bookings in conjunction with a flight, major business hubs continue to drive the demand for car rentals. 2024 ranking U.S. city Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Chicago, IL Atlanta, GA Washington, D.C. Orlando, FL Houston, TX Los Angeles, CA Denver, CO New York City, NY Phoenix, AZ The Cities & Trends U.S. ranking is part of a series that will also include reports for Europe and APAC. These reports aim to provide valuable insights into business travel trends across different regions, helping companies make informed decisions and optimize their travel strategies. About BCDs Cities & Trends rankings Business travel can be a seismograph of economic growth. The rise and fall of business travel volumes reflect the level and health of economic activity within a region or country. BCDs latest Cities & Trends United States 2025 edition shows the top destinations for BCD clients U.S. business travelers with insights into how they travel. The findings are based on BCD flight and car rental data from 2024 in the U.S. About BCD Travel BCD Travel helps companies travel smart and achieve more. We drive program adoption, cost savings and talent retention through digital experiences that simplify business travel. Our 15,000+ dedicated team members service clients in 170+ countries as we shape a sustainable future for business travel. BCDs leading meetings and events management and global consultancy services complete our comprehensive suite of solutions for all aspects of corporate travel. In 2023, BCD achieved US$20.3 billion in sales. For more information, visit www.bcdtravel.com. As it celebrates its 50th year, the United Nations specialized agency is reaffirming its founding vision of tourism for peace and security whilst also looking ahead to a more resilient and inclusive sector underscored by investments and innovation. At Messe Berlin, a UN Tourism Affiliate Member, UN Tourism again served as the bridge between public and private leaders and for the first time hosted a high-level summit featuring Ministers of Tourism from 23 countries. Officially opening ITB Berlin 2025, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: As we have in Berlin and in many other parts of the world, when people can travel freely and when everyone can benefit from tourism, they are more likely to back peaceful resolutions and work together. And peace and security allow us to achieve our vision for the future. Our focus on education, innovation, and investment is ensuring that tourism is not only a driver of economic growth but also a vehicle for empowerment and sustainability. Secretary-General Pololikashvili also congratulated His Excellency Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, for overseeing his countrys remarkable growth as a destination. Albania, the host country of ITB Berlin 2025, was the top-performing country in Europe in 2024 in terms of increase in arrivals since before the start of the pandemic. It also hosted UN Tourisms Regional Commission for Europe in 2024 and is a leading destination in tourism investments, as highlighted in the newly-updated UN Tourism Investment Guidelines for the country. Landmark first Ministers Summit focuses on investment and peace In Berlin, UN Tourism and ITB celebrated a landmark first with a High-Level Ministerial Discussion on Enhancing Investment, Ensuring Peace: Harnessing Growth, Shaping the Future. Joining Ministers of Tourism and high-level representatives of 23 countries were Julia Simpson President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), from the UN Tourisms global Affiliate Members Network, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), and, the Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau. The leaders focused on the vital need for peace and security to attract investments, on the importance of public-private partnerships, and on good governance to ensure that investments deliver benefits for the sector as well as for host communities, showcasing good practice from destinations worldwide. During ITB Berlin, the UN Tourism leadership seized the chance to hold high-level meetings with several of its Member States. In Berlin, bilateral meetings were held with Ministers or other top representatives of Armenia, Cambodia Croatia, Indonesia, Poland, Montenegro and Venezuela. The second edition of the FCM Corporate Travel Summit, powered by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), concluded successfully at the iconic Leela Palace in Bengaluru. Industry experts shared fresh perspectives and valuable insights on business travel trends, evolving traveler behavior, technology, and meetings & events. The day-long event featured meaningful conversations in thought-provoking sessions that addressed key topics, including the future of business travel in Asia, the impact of content on travel programs, the transformative role of AI in enhancing the end-to-end customer experience, and the ways technology and innovation drive scalability and improve experiences in meetings and events. Centered around the theme Customer Experience Redefined: Tech Driven, People Focused, the corporate travel summit provided attendees with an in-depth perspective on business travel spending in India. According to GBTAs Business Travel Index (BTI) report, presented by Elle Ng-Darmawan, GBTA's Regional Director for APAC, business travel spending in India stood at an estimated US$38.3 billion, making the country the 8th largest market in the world for travel spending in 2024. "India is currently in an exciting phase. The economy is robust, corporate earnings are strong, and there's a growing demand for face-to-face meetings. Domestic capacity has increased by nearly 13 per cent compared to pre-pandemic, a significant change from the past year. Hotel occupancies in the organised sector are at record levels, reaching almost 68 per cent with Average Room Rates (ARRs) hitting US$100. This positivity is largely driven by strong economic growth and performance across most industries, said Sunny Sodhi, Managing Director of FCM Travel India. According to the GBTA, India is the fourth largest market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, accounting for 6.2 per cent of business travel spending. "We are observing significant growth coming from national markets and the SME segment, which has been a major driver of regional expansion. The meetings and events sector is also robust in India, clearly showing steady growth," said Bertrand Saillet, Managing Director of FCM Travel Asia. Technology has also become one of the key discussion points. As per a GBTA survey, 63 per cent of APAC buyers revealed AI was their top priority for 2025, the highest globally. Flight Centre Travel Group has established an AI Centre of Excellence, dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence capabilities. The focus is on two main areas: empowering our people to deliver superior service, and enhancing the traveler experience by providing timely, relevant information and ensuring travelers can engage with us anytime, said Bertrand Saillet, Managing Director of FCM Travel Asia. The FCM Meetings & Events team of experts also explored the concepts of return on investment versus return on engagement. When considering return on investment, its essential to recognise the role of technology and tools in driving engagement with content. These resources deliver highly personalised experiences, helping attendees stay engaged with the event's objectives and purpose throughout the entire customer journey, said Simone Seiler, Global Leader of FCM Meetings & Events. "The outlook for business travel in 2025 is very promising, and it is expected to be a pivotal year as business travel enters its next era. However, we must also take into account economic developments, as travel costs and budgets will play a major role. Technological advancements, particularly in AI, along with the ongoing evolution of sustainability, will continue to shape our industry," said Ng-Darmawan. The summit had an attendance of over 150 professionals from the travel industry, including travel managers and decision-makers. About FCM FCM is one of the worlds largest travel management companies and a trusted partner for thousands of national and multi-national organisations, including many household brands, and Fortune, and FTSE 100 companies. With a 24/7 reach in over 100 countries, FCMs agile and flexible technology anticipates and solves client needs supporting by expert teams who provide in-depth local knowledge and duty of care as part of the ultimate personalised business travel experience. As the flagship corporate travel arm of the ASX-listed Flight Centre Travel Group, FCM is able to deliver the best market-wide rates, unique added-value benefits, and exclusive solutions for its clients to support their business travel requirements. A recognised leader in the travel tech space, the company has debuted several proprietary client solutions over the last 12 months including a new omni-channel platform featuring a first of its kind customised end-to-end user experience and FCM Booking, an innovative option to traditional OBTs. Alongside its travel management services, the company also provides specialist services through FCM Consulting and FCM Meetings & Events to service the broader needs of its clients. Discover the alternative at www.fcmtravel.com. About GBTA The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the worlds premier business travel and meetings trade organization serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,500+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information, visit GBTA.org and GBTAFoundation.org. Windsor, UK - IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the worlds leading hotel companies, continues to deliver accelerated growth across its UK & Ireland (UK&I) market with the signing of eight hotels, adding more than 900 rooms in key locations such as Leeds, London and Reading. The hotels span brands such as Hotel Indigo in IHGs Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio and Crowne Plaza in its Premium space, to the markets first signings for IHGs Garner hotels, which launched 18 months ago as part of the groups Essentials collection. The signings notably increase IHGs UK&I footprint, where it has 362* open hotels and a pipeline of 25 properties. According to a report from Cushman & Wakefield, UK hotel investment hit a five-year high by the end of 2024, and with the continued decline in the number of new developments breaking ground since 2020, the focus on conversion opportunities has been reinforced. This is reflected by the growth seen by IHGs premium conversion brand, voco, whose UK&I pipeline is currently almost half the size of its open hotels, as well as new midscale conversion brand, Garner hotels, whose UK&I pipeline is triple its open hotel footprint. IHG also sees continued appetite and investment in its well-known brands such as Hotel Indigo, which aims to immerse guests in authentic experiences and forge genuine connections, with its 19 open hotels in must-visit destinations across UK&I. Additionally, IHGs Holiday Inn Express brand, with more than 146* open UK&I hotels, launched its new Generation 5 public space design at the start of the year to embrace a more lifestyle-oriented experience. 2024 was a truly exciting year for growth across our UK&I portfolio, where high demand for our brands led to growth across all our brand segments together with our trusted partners. This growth is powered by our strong enterprise which positions IHG as the first choice for owners as well as the guests we welcome, and colleagues who work with us. From innovating our brands and new hotel technology, to the ever-increasing appeal and growth of our IHG One Rewards loyalty programme, we continuously look to deepen guest experiences and deliver more business to our hotels. I am particularly encouraged to see two new IHG hotels come to London a city where we are seeing healthy growth. All of this fantastic progress positions us well for a successful long-term future across the country, and I look forward to seeing us welcome guests to all of these wonderful hotels. Joanna Kurowska, VP and Managing Director UK & Ireland, IHG Hotels & Resorts The latest signings span all corners of the UK: Luxury and lifestyle Hotel Indigo Leeds: Located in the bustling city centre and featuring 107 guest rooms, Hotel Indigo Leeds is signed with Belfont Hotels Ltd. Scheduled to open in Q2 2025, this property, which has undergone a full renovation, converts from the oldest hotel in the city, and will offer a stylish stay catering to those seeking a central Leeds location. Premium voco London Marylebone : Signed and opened in the second half of 2024, travellers seeking a refined stay in London can head to voco London Marylebone the first hotel for the brand in the capital city. Owned by J Marylebone Limited and operated by RBH, this hotel offers 93 guest rooms and combines charm, comfort and an inviting experience with the reliability of a global brand. : Signed and opened in the second half of 2024, travellers seeking a refined stay in London can head to voco London Marylebone the first hotel for the brand in the capital city. Owned by J Marylebone Limited and operated by RBH, this hotel offers 93 guest rooms and combines charm, comfort and an inviting experience with the reliability of a global brand. voco Corby : Expected to open in late 2025, voco Rockingham Forest Corby will offer 104 guest rooms, a stylish bar, restaurant and the largest events space in the local area suitable for celebratory events and corporate meetings alike. This conversion hotel will be well-situated near the 1,000-year-old Rockingham Castle and Corby, a town that has undergone vast regeneration in the last decade. Owned by Avidity Hotels (Corby) Ltd, the property will undergo a full refurbishment. : Expected to open in late 2025, voco Rockingham Forest Corby will offer 104 guest rooms, a stylish bar, restaurant and the largest events space in the local area suitable for celebratory events and corporate meetings alike. This conversion hotel will be well-situated near the 1,000-year-old Rockingham Castle and Corby, a town that has undergone vast regeneration in the last decade. Owned by Avidity Hotels (Corby) Ltd, the property will undergo a full refurbishment. Crowne Plaza East Midlands Airport: Located adjacent to East Midlands Airport, this 114-room conversion hotel has been signed with Yew Lodge Limited, their first with IHG. With an anticipated opening in Q2 2025, this hotel will provide seamless airport access, 17 meeting rooms, a Marco-Pierre restaurant and a fitness suite. Essentials Garner Hotel Preston Samlesbury : Signed in the second half of 2024 and opened at the start of March, the hotel is operated by KRO Hospitality. Garner Hotel Preston Samlesbury is a contemporary hotel with 80 stylish guestrooms spread across three floors as well as several F&B options including the Village Brasserie, offering locally sourced British cuisine, and the Lounge Bar providing a relaxed atmosphere for socialising or unwinding. : Signed in the second half of 2024 and opened at the start of March, the hotel is operated by KRO Hospitality. Garner Hotel Preston Samlesbury is a contemporary hotel with 80 stylish guestrooms spread across three floors as well as several F&B options including the Village Brasserie, offering locally sourced British cuisine, and the Lounge Bar providing a relaxed atmosphere for socialising or unwinding. Garner Hotel Reading City Centre: Garner Reading City Centre is set to be a 53-room conversion hotel signed with Nilvip Hotels. Expected to open in early 2025, the hotel is located in a listed traditional townhouse and features coveted town centre parking space. Garner Reading City Centre is set to be a 53-room conversion hotel signed with Nilvip Hotels. Expected to open in early 2025, the hotel is located in a listed traditional townhouse and features coveted town centre parking space. Garner Hotel Nottingham City Centre: Garner Nottingham City Centre is a 100-room conversion hotel signed with Harpine Investments Limited, expected to open in Q4 2025. Found in the heart of the city which is the ninth largest in the UK the hotel features a bar and reception area, breakfast space and a bright, naturally lit environment for guests. Garner Nottingham City Centre is a 100-room conversion hotel signed with Harpine Investments Limited, expected to open in Q4 2025. Found in the heart of the city which is the ninth largest in the UK the hotel features a bar and reception area, breakfast space and a bright, naturally lit environment for guests. Holiday Inn Express London Woolwich: Converting from a five-storey office building, the 265-room Holiday Inn Express London Woolwich has been signed with Riverside House East Limited. Set to open in late 2029, the hotel will become a flagship for the Holiday Inn Express brand in London, offering three different room types, including urban, standard, and suites providing excellent options for guests visiting Londons Royal Borough of Greenwich. IHG has 362* hotels currently in operation across the UK and Ireland, and a further 25* in development spanning across its brand portfolio. This year, IHG will see the opening of properties such as Garner Preston, Garner Reading City Centre, voco London Marylebone, Hotel Indigo Leeds and more. This is a testament of our commitment to sustainable growth in the UK&I as both our home market and the largest market within Europe. *Numbers as at 31 December 2024 unless otherwise stated About IHG IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. How would you like to know what made a customer angry or sad, leading them to leave a negative review? You might say, Ill just ask them, and thats a great answer. Direct feedback is a gift. But maybe theres another way. I had a sit-down with Michael Podolsky, the CEO of PissedConsumer.com, a sounding board for consumers to leave comments and reviews when they cant get the customer service they want or deserve. In our Amazing Business Radio interview, he suggested that a proactive approach to handling complaints is more than just meeting with your team to discuss what youre hearing from customers or what you think makes them unhappy. Take the guesswork out of it. Short of direct feedback, which in my opinion is still the best way to learn if your customers love you (or not), read competitor reviews on their websites or in the B2B world and partake in industry forums to find out what customers are saying about the companies they do business with. In addition to looking at competitors websites and industry forums, monitor social channels for mentions of your competitors. While most companies practice social listening for their own brands, paying attention to social mentions about your competition gives you a broader insight into whats happening in your industry. Based on what you learn, create a Complaint Prevention Checklist. For example, if customers frequently complain about long hold times when calling your competitions customer support, examine your companys response time. If customers are frustrated by your competitions complicated return policies, make sure you arent guilty of the same. This isnt a do it once exercise. Take time each quarter maybe even each month to examine this type of feedback. Share insights with your team and use them to stay customer-focused and ahead of your competition. Recognize that there are two areas in which you want to compete: providing a better customer experience and having fewer complaints. In a perfect world, you would have no complaints. In my book, Ill Be Back: How to Get Customers to Come Back Again and Again, one of the six strategies I cover in the final chapter is to find out what your competition does well and adapt it to your company. Dont copy, but use their ideas for inspiration to make it your own. And if you pay attention to Podolskys advice, youll also want to find out what your competition isnt doing well. Of course, youll want to determine if your organization is guilty of the same behaviors or operational snafus and proactively seek to eliminate or mitigate the problems. Shep Hyken is a customer service/CX expert, award-winning keynote speaker, and New York Times bestselling author. Learn more about Sheps customer service and customer experience keynote speeches and his customer service training workshops at www.Hyken.com. Connect with Shep on LinkedIn. Jens Gossing from Google Workspace predicts that the future of work will not be purely online or purely physically present, but hybrid. - Image Credit ITB Berlin Google Workspace is developing tools to facilitate equal access and collaboration between remote and in-office workers, a concept known as Collaboration Equity. Google is working on making AI tools widely accessible to ensure everyone is included in the future of work, which it envisages as a hybrid model. In a recent presentation at the ITB Berlin Convention, Jens Gossing of Google Workspace outlined Google's ambitions to make AI applications more accessible. Gossing suggested that AI's impact could be as transformative as the advent of the steam engine and electricity. He predicts a future where work is a hybrid of online and physical presence, with AI playing a significant role. One critical factor in this transition is Collaboration Equity, ensuring equal access and seamless collaboration between remote and in-office workers. Google Chats, equipped with features that facilitate hybrid collaboration and automatic translation, is one tool designed to achieve this. As Gossing demonstrated, a tour guide in Brazil and an organizer in Germany could use Google Chats to manage a last-minute program change swiftly. Google's AI solutions also offer personalized AI usage, demonstrated by the creation of 'Gems' in Google Gemini. These Gems allow users to prepare scripts with AI, adhering to company policies automatically. The NotebookLM function further enhances personalized use by feeding Google's AI solutions with customized information, improving workflow efficiency. Gossing highlighted Google's commitment to making AI tools accessible to everyone, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital transformation. In the future, Gossing envisions a Single Device Culture where all work can be conducted through a single, AI-supported smartphone. This underscores Google's aim to integrate AI solutions into everyday life, making them an integral part of the future of work. Virtual Agents and Booking via Chatbot: AI on the Rise - Image Credit ITB Berlin Lufthansa Group and TUI have successfully implemented AI in their operations to improve productivity and customer experience. Microsoft Copilot's AI integration into Air India's operations has optimized business processes and enabled quick evaluation of large data sets. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the travel industry, as demonstrated at the ITB Berlin Convention. Dr. Olaf Backofen from Lufthansa stated that although 60% of their customers still prefer traditional booking through the website's search system, the process is evolving due to AI's implementation. The Lufthansa Group uses AI to generate newsletters and content and is also swiftly testing a "Conversational Booking" system with AI-based booking solutions provider. The Lufthansa Group has seen tangible benefits from AI, particularly in processing customer complaints. An AI system developed with Microsoft has increased productivity by 75% by structuring and processing complaints from various languages. TUI is another travel company that has integrated AI into its operations. It has developed 1,500 AI assistants for employees based on Large Language Models, which are used in phone interactions in its 1,200 travel agencies. These AI assistants help service agents listen and respond to customer queries more quickly. Furthermore, TUI's UK customers can now search and book vacations traditionally or via a chatbot, demonstrating AI's direct role in customer contact. Microsoft Copilot's Senior Product Manager, Michael Guimet, underscored the benefits of AI in optimizing business processes. For example, Air India has incorporated Microsoft Copilot into its Teams software, enabling quick evaluation of large data sets and deriving insights. Guimet anticipates significant and rapid changes as the performance of AI models is projected to double roughly every six months. The examples of Lufthansa, TUI, and Air India highlight AI's transformative potential in the travel industry. ORIX JREIT Acquired Hotel Universal Port Vita in Osaka for JPY35 Billion ORIX JREIT Acquired Hotel Universal Port Vita in Osaka for JPY35 Billion Japan-based ORIX JREIT Inc. (ORIX JREIT) has successfully completed the acquisition of 428-key Hotel Universal Port Vita for JPY35 billion from sponsor ORIX Corporation, translating to approximately JPY81.8 million per key. Completed in 2018, this property is one of seven official hotels of Universal Studios Japan, and is adjacent to the iconic Hotel Universal Port, a 600-key property also owned by Orix JREIT. The 14-storey property has a gross floor area of 31,600 square metres and features one food and beverage outlet. It is currently leased out, generating a fixed rent of JPY40 million, along with a variable rent component. The strategic acquisition aims to capitalise on the anticipated tourism surge in the region and enhance synergy with Hotel Universal Port. KB Group Acquires Four Points by Sheraton Josun in South Korea for KRW170 Billion KB Asset Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of South Korea-based KB Financial Group Inc. (KB Group), is acquiring the 342-key Four Points by Sheraton Josun, Seoul Station (Four Points by Sheraton Josun) in South Korea from Australia-based Macquarie Group Limited for KRW170 billion. This translates to approximately KRW497 million per key. Opened in 2015, the property features a restaurant, convenience store and fitness centre. Conveniently located, it is directly connected to the Seoul Station via an underground passageway. The property is leased and operated by South Korea-based Josun Hotels & Resorts Co., a subsidiary of South Korea-based supermarket chain E-Mart Inc. The lease is due to expire in 2035. Ark Capital Partners and Lead Global Acquired Melbourne Place Hotel in Australia for AUD150 Million Australia-based Ark Capital Partners Pty Ltd (Ark Capital Partners) and Myanmar-based Lead Global completed the acquisition of the newly built 191-key Melbourne Place Hotel for AUD150 Million. Supported by Pioneer Wealth Group Pty Ltd (Pioneer Wealth Group), the acquisition translates to approximately AUD785,340 per key. Soft-opened in late 2024, the boutique hotel is located on Russell Street and features three food and beverage outlets. Designed by Kennedy Nolan, it showcases Melbournes heritage with local bricks, deep-red metal accents, and circular windows. Following the successful acquisition of Melbourne Place Hotel, Ark Capital Partners and Lead Global are set to launch a new co-branded hotel fund. FEHT Acquires Four Points by Sheraton Nagoya in Japan for JPY6 Billion Singapore-based Far East Hospitality Trust (FEHT) has acquired the 319-key Four Points by Sheraton Nagoya, Chubu International Airport (Four Points by Sheraton Nagoya) in Japan for JPY6 billion from an undisclosed seller. This translates to approximately JPY18.8 million per key. The acquisition also includes an adjacent car park site with potential for future development into a hotel extension, retail, or commercial space. Opened in 2018, the hotel is situated on freehold land with a total gross floor area of 14,062 square metres. The property features a restaurant, pub, and fitness centre. Strategically located, it is just a six-minute walk from the Airport Train Station, Chubu International Airport, and Aichi Sky Expo, and only three minutes from the Ferry Terminal. This marks FEHTs first hotel acquisition in Japan. Vietnams Phu Quoc International Passenger Port Commences Operations Vietnams Phu Quoc International Passenger Port has commenced operations. The VND1.64 trillion project, spanning 180 hectares, has been in development since 2015. The port now accommodates five-star cruise ships with capacities of 3,000 to 4,000 passengers to dock with ease, facilitating visits to Phu Quoc. In addition to enhancing the islands infrastructure, it is expected to drive investment and international tourism, strengthening Phu Quocs position as a premier tourism destination. Germany-based AIDA Cruises and Italy-based Costa Cruises have already brought over 7,000 international visitors to Phu Quoc via the new port. HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com. JW Marriott Hotel San Salvador, El Salvador - Image Credit Marriott International Marriott International experienced significant growth in the Caribbean and Latin American region in 2024, celebrating its 500th property in the area, signing a record 67 deals, and concluding the year with 183 properties in the development pipeline. Marriott International has announced a record year for room signings and openings in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) region in 2024. The hospitality company signed 67 agreements for approximately 8,000 rooms and added 30 properties to its CALA portfolio, bringing the total to 528 open properties across 37 countries and territories. Brian King, President of Caribbean & Latin America for Marriott International, attributed the growth to strong owner interest, brand expansions, and new market entries. Conversions comprised 32% of total room signings, with 36 properties in the conversion pipeline. The company marked a milestone with the opening of Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, its 500th property in CALA in 2024. Marriott's year-end pipeline in CALA stood at 183 properties, representing 27,817 rooms. The company's regional expansion reflects its commitment to providing diverse hospitality offerings. Its luxury portfolio grew significantly, with 11 luxury deals signed in 2024, adding to a luxury pipeline of 38 properties. Marriott's all-inclusive segment also continued to thrive since its entry in 2019, with 36 all-inclusive properties now in CALA. The expansion of the City Express by Marriott brand propelled midscale growth. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic remained key growth markets for Marriott in the CALA region. Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel in Sedona, Arizona In this guide, well unpack five expert strategies to master hotel interior design, blending guest delight with operational brilliance. Expect real-world examples, practical tips, and a roadmap to elevate your property. Lets dive in. Hotel interior design is the heartbeat of your propertys appeal. Its the first handshake with guests, the silent promise of your brand, and the stage for every experience you deliver. A well-designed space doesnt just turn headsit draws the right crowd, showcases your amenities, and sets you apart in a fiercely competitive industry. But heres the kicker: its not just about aesthetics. Smart design also turbocharges your operations, slashing costs and boosting profitability. Think of it as a Swiss Army knifecaptivating guests, empowering staff, and streamlining workflows in one sleek package. From boutique retreats to sprawling resorts, the principles are the same: design with intent. In this guide, well unpack five expert strategies to master hotel interior design, blending guest delight with operational brilliance. Expect real-world examples, practical tips, and a roadmap to elevate your property. Lets dive in. Define Your Design Focus Great hotel design doesnt try to please everyoneit zeros in on your people. Are you courting jet-setting execs, wellness enthusiasts, or budget-savvy families? Your aesthetic should mirror their aspirations while shouting your brands identity. As commercial supplier to the hospitality industry, Mike Handelsman from FoamOrder explains, A hotels design is its first handshake with guests. Every material choice, whether it's the right fabric, fixture or flooring, should speak to your brands essence and endure the pace of daily operations. You want to create a space that immediately communicates your brands identity and builds lasting loyalty. Start with the basics: Whats your core promise? Luxury? Comfort? Adventure? Let that guide every choicecolors, textures, furniture, even the art on the walls. Hotel de Nell in Paris nails this. Its home away from home vibe shines through deep bathtubs, crackling fireplaces, and high-quality linens. Guests feel it instantlyno guesswork needed. But theres an operational flip side: Housekeeping Efficiency: Pick durable, easy-to-clean materials that fit your theme. Washable fabrics over dry-clean-only silks save time and cash. Scalability: In a 100-room property, cutting five minutes per rooms cleaning time saves over eight hours daily. Thats a staffing win. Take it furthersurvey your target guests. What do they crave? Marriotts innovation lab does this brilliantly, mocking up rooms for real feedback from execs and focus groups. Even small-scale ops can share design mockups online to gauge reactions. Nail your focus, and youll attract loyal fans while keeping operations lean. Use Color Psychology for Mood & Maintenance Colors arent just decortheyre mood-setters and operational allies. The right palette can soothe, energize, or dazzle guests while making your staffs life easier. Think psychology meets practicality. For guest rooms, cool tones like blue and green foster calmperfect for restful sleep or spa-like bathrooms. In social hubs, a splash of yellow sparks conversation; think business lounges or cozy nooks. Purple, paired with metallics, screams sophisticationideal for upscale suites or bars craving an opulent edge. Saturation matters too: Light Colors : Creams and golds brighten lobbies, making them feel airy and spacious. They also hide scuffs in high-traffic zones, easing upkeep. : Creams and golds brighten lobbies, making them feel airy and spacious. They also hide scuffs in high-traffic zones, easing upkeep. Dark Colors: Burgundies or grays add intimacy to dining areas. Bonus? They mask stains, cutting cleaning frequency. Take the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel. Its Garment District roots inspire a palette of muted grays and bold accents, tying into local fashion vibes. Operationally, those darker tones in public spaces mean less scrubbing for staff. Test your colorsswatch them in natural and artificial light. Guests will feel the vibe, and your maintenance crew will thank you. Balance Form & Function for Seamless Experiences A gorgeous hotel thats a nightmare to navigate or maintain is a hollow shell. Form and function arent rivalstheyre dance partners. Guest rooms, lobbies, and dining spaces need to dazzle and deliver. You have to choose every element with a dual purpose in mind, Handelsman explains. If youre choosing upholstery and cushioning for a busy area, then go for something thats sublime to look at, yet easy to clean. Yes, you can have both. Basically, smart material choices that work double duty so they look great and keep maintenance manageable. In rooms, prioritize usability: Intuitive Design : Light switches, drawer pulls, and faucets should scream use me to first-timers. Test everythingconfusion kills comfort. : Light switches, drawer pulls, and faucets should scream use me to first-timers. Test everythingconfusion kills comfort. Ergonomics : Pair chairs with tables for the right height and distance. A stunning seat that leaves guests hunching over breakfast? Hard pass. : Pair chairs with tables for the right height and distance. A stunning seat that leaves guests hunching over breakfast? Hard pass. Operational Edge: Smooth, non-porous bathroom surfaces (think rounded edges over jagged stone) slash housekeeping time. In a 200-room hotel, thats hundreds of hours saved monthly. Public spaces demand the same rigor: Flow : Keep lobbies open for foot trafficguests with luggage or mobility needs shouldnt dodge furniture. : Keep lobbies open for foot trafficguests with luggage or mobility needs shouldnt dodge furniture. Durability : High-traffic flooring (think ceramic over carpet) withstands wear and cleans fast. : High-traffic flooring (think ceramic over carpet) withstands wear and cleans fast. Staff Support: Lightweight carbon trays for waitstaff drop kilos off their shoulders. A happier team serves faster. The Bulgari Resort in Dubai blends this perfectly. Its sleek design wows, but large windows and intuitive layouts make it a breeze for guests and staff alike. Before you commit, prototypeset up a sample space and walk through it as a guest and a worker. Beauty that works is beauty that lasts. Root Your Design in Your Locale Your hotels location isnt just a pin on a mapits a story. Weave it into your design to connect guests with their surroundings and streamline your ops with local smarts. Look at Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel in Sedona, Arizona. Nestled in Coconino National Forest, it leans hard into eco-friendly designbronze-tinted glass reflects desert hues, matte-charcoal finishes mimic rugged cliffs Guests feel immersed, not just housed. The sustainable materials? Theyre low-maintenance, cutting long-term costs. Heres how to localize: Materials : Use regional stone or wooddurable, authentic, and often cheaper to source. : Use regional stone or wooddurable, authentic, and often cheaper to source. Art : Showcase local artists in lobbies or rooms. Its a guest perk and a community handshake. : Showcase local artists in lobbies or rooms. Its a guest perk and a community handshake. Operational Fit: In wet climates, plan storage for outdoor gearlike 10m for terrace cushionsto keep back-of-house chaos-free. The Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel does this too, with fashion-inspired art nodding to its Garment District digs. Guests love the nod; staff love the low-upkeep pieces. Dig into your localeits history, climate, cultureand let it shape a design thats both guest magnet and operational asset. Don't Neglect Staff Happiness & Future Flexibility Your staff are the engine of your hoteldesign for them, and guests win too. Plus, in an industry where trends shift fast, future-proofing keeps you ahead without breaking the bank. For staff: Ergonomics : Swap heavy silver trays for carbon onesless strain, faster service. In a busy restaurant, thats a game-changer. : Swap heavy silver trays for carbon onesless strain, faster service. In a busy restaurant, thats a game-changer. Storage : A terrace for 80 needs serious cushion space in off-seasons. Skip this, and cramped back-of-house areas slow everyone down. : A terrace for 80 needs serious cushion space in off-seasons. Skip this, and cramped back-of-house areas slow everyone down. Input: Consult your team early. How many service stations? Wheres the cutlery stash? Their insights prevent design blunders. For longevity: Timeless Base : Neutral bedding, classic furniture, and simple flooring age gracefully. Swap out pillows or art for trend updates. : Neutral bedding, classic furniture, and simple flooring age gracefully. Swap out pillows or art for trend updates. Guest Feedback: Marriotts mockup labs test designs with real people. No lab? Share renders onlineguests will tell you what clicks. Corinthia London shines here. Its spa pools reflective lighting relaxes guests while keeping staff alert. Operationally, smart storage and durable finishes keep it humming. Design with your teams daily grind in mind, and build in flexibilityyour hotel will thrive now and later. Why It Matters: Stand Out, Save Smart, Win Big Hotel interior design isnt a luxuryits a strategy. Done right, it: Targets Your Tribe : Draws repeat guests who vibe with your brand, like the loyal fans of Hotel de Nells cozy charm. : Draws repeat guests who vibe with your brand, like the loyal fans of Hotel de Nells cozy charm. Boosts Operations : Cuts cleaning time (think smooth surfaces), slashes costs (washable fabrics), and eases staff workloads (light trays). : Cuts cleaning time (think smooth surfaces), slashes costs (washable fabrics), and eases staff workloads (light trays). Sets You Apart: Wins event planners, local buzz, and industry nodsthink Bulgaris seamless indoor-outdoor flow. The numbers back it up. A 2023 Cornell study found hotels with high guest satisfaction scores (tied to design) saw 15% higher revenue per room. Add operational savingssay, $10,000 yearly from in-house laundryand its a no-brainer. Look at Ambientes eco-focus: guests rave, and sustainable materials trim upkeep. Design isnt just decorits your edge. Light It Right Lighting isnt just about aestheticsit directly influences guest mood, ambiance, and operational efficiency. Corinthia Londons 1,001-crystal chandelier stuns visitors, but its pools underwater lighting does more than set a moodit helps staff monitor guest safety. Natural light can make lobbies feel open and welcoming, while carefully placed warm lighting in bars and lounges encourages relaxation and conversation. Beyond guest experience, lighting also impacts operational efficiency. Well-lit hallways and workspaces improve staff productivity and safety, while energy-efficient LED lighting reduces long-term costs. Thoughtful placement of dimmable lights allows for easy adjustments throughout the day, ensuring the atmosphere shifts seamlessly from bright and energetic in the morning to cozy and intimate in the evening. To get it right, lighting design should be intentional and layered. Use a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting to create depth and function. Test how lighting changes under different conditions, and consider professional input to ensure your space is both visually striking and effortlessly functional. The Big Picture: Design With Purpose Smart interior design is your triple crown: guest magnet, staff booster, profit driver. The examples hereHotel de Nells warmth, Bulgaris flow, Ambientes eco-edgeare just the start. Step into your guests shoes, your staffs reality, your markets pulse. Cant find the perfect piece? Customize itpassionate designers love a challenge. Hotel design is more than aestheticsits a strategic tool that shapes guest experiences and streamlines operations. Done right, it attracts the right clientele, enhances efficiency, and boosts profitability. Smart design isnt just about beauty; its about function, flow, and financial impact. Small tweaks, massive wins. A washable throw saves thousands. A local art piece sparks buzz. A well-lit room lifts spirits. Remember, your hotel isnt just a buildingits a story, an experience, and a business. Design it that way. This article originally appeared on EHL Insights. The Future of Travel: Can Metasearch Thrive in the Age of AI Operators? - Image Credit Unsplash+ OpenAI's Operator, an autonomous agent capable of booking travel, could potentially challenge the relevance of metasearch in the travel industry. Industry leaders, however, are optimistic about metasearch's future, seeing potential opportunities instead of threats brought by agentic AI. The role of metasearch platforms within the travel industry's future landscape is being questioned following the launch of OpenAI's Operator. This autonomous agent can perform tasks like searching and booking travel. Currently available only to OpenAI Pro subscribers, the tool's wider release could potentially shake up the travel industry, especially the metasearch sector. According to Mike Coletta, senior manager of research and innovation at Phocuswright, metasearch platforms and autonomous agents like Operator share similarities in their functions. This could potentially lead to metasearch platforms developing their own agents. However, if autonomous agents like Operator prove superior, their value may wane. Industry leaders remain optimistic, with Steve Hafner, co-founder and CEO of Kayak, expressing bullishness about the new technology. He believes agentic AI could boost metasearch over online travel agencies (OTAs) by leveling the playing field in terms of booking ease and customer service. Johannes Thomas, CEO of Trivago, also maintains that the metasearch model is "very defensible". Paul English, co-founder of Kayak and current co-founder of Boston Venture Studio and Deets, questioned whether the future of the industry lies with one company acting as the interface for the entire internet or whether the travel market is large enough to require travel-focused brands to use AI and other new tools to deliver optimal experiences. Metasearch platforms could adapt to a shared environment with agentic AI, says Coletta, perhaps becoming a middleware layer that provides comprehensive pricing and availability to agents like Operator. The future could be shaped by how economics shift, with factors such as advertisement and commission influences, willingness of travelers to pay for an agent subscription, and whether Operator would pay metasearch engines for aggregated data playing a role. The answers to these questions, Coletta says, will be defined by how travelers adopt and use these technologies and how the industry adapts in response. Discover more at PhocusWire. Historical Commissioners, from left, Joseph Bushika, Susan Brandon, Jeanne Moulthrop and Mark Kimball pose with the new plaque in the Town Hall meeting room. Plaque Dedicates Ketchum Memorial Meeting Room in Clarksburg CLARKSBURG, Mass. The town voted more than a dozen years ago to name the meeting room in Town Hall after one of its earliest settlers. Last month, a sign dedicating the Ketchum Memorial Meeting Room was finally hung above the Select Board's table. The bronzed cast aluminum sign was purchased by the town's Historical Society, said Jeanne Moulthrop, a member and chair of the Historical Commission. The dedication had been the idea of Carl McKinney, a Select Board member at the time, who recommended an article naming the room be put before town meeting bank in 2012. "He's been after us for awhile" about signage, Moulthrop said on Tuesday, but it took the society some time to find a company that could make the plaque at a cost it could afford. McKinney's tenure as town administrator came to an end in December and, on his last day, selected which design and lettering would be ordered. Society member and Commissioner Susan Brandon coordinated the purchase. "We've got a letter that we're sending to him to let him see that it was up," said Moulthrop. "You know, to let him know that we appreciate everything that he did." Capt. Matthew Ketchum was among the first of the town's settlers with Nicholas Clark in 1764. McKinney said, back in 2012, that when it came time to charter the town the families were equal until another baby Clark arrived. The town could have been called Ketchumville, he said at the time, and since the meeting room was used by all the boards, he suggested it be renamed for the captain. Maybe, he mused, the Historical Commission could put up a plaque explaining the name at some point. It just took 13 years. The plaque arrived last month and was installed in the meeting room within a day or so. The members of the Historical Commission are also members of the society; the plaque is just one aspect of the commission's efforts to recognize, archive and exhibit the town's 261 years of history. This includes creating a museum room in Town Hall, the former Briggsville School, researching its Civil War soldiers, considering how to develop a historical district, collecting artifacts and records, and recording memories from the town's older residents. It's also been returning some non-Clarksburg items to other historical groups, such as the recent gifting of a print to the Dorset, Vt., Historical Society and an old map of General Electric's original buildings to Pittsfield. The commission is also looking to participate in the town's master planning process, mulling an expansion of its membership and thinking of ways to participate in the Massachusetts 250 celebration. "There are so many things on our to-do list," said Moulthrop. The commission is turning to residents to help it find artifacts, photos and records of local importance. With spring cleaning in mind, members are encouraging residents to check those attics, boxes and basements for items of interest. Lee Police Chief Craig DeSantis reads 'If you Give a Mouse a Cookie' to kindergartners at St. Mary's School on Monday. Top left, Town Administrator Christopher Brittain; right, the Rev. Brian McGrath, pastor at St. Mary's, reads to children. PreviousNext Community Leaders Read to Kids at St. Mary's School Participants in Read Across America Day at St. Mary's included community, business and spiritual leaders and a local author. LEE, Mass. In conjunction with Read Across America, St. Mary's School is starting its big reading challenge. "For every 10 minutes a kiddo reads they get a coin that goes into a big bin. At the end of the month, they will get either an ice cream party for whoever reads the most or a pizza party, something like that," said Principal Cara Maiorana-Culver. "March is literacy month and literacy is so important to schools and something that doesn't get enough emphasis." Third-grade teacher Amanda Reis invited Town Administrator Christopher Brittain, Police Chief Craig DeSantis, Stacy Simms from Lee Bank, Loren Nazarov from Lee Library, the Rev. Brian McGrath, local author Michelle Cuevas, and state Rep. Leigh Davis to come and read to classrooms Monday. The community leaders spoke to different grades and read a book of their choice or had conversations about what the books meant or about the leaders' work. Leigh Davis spoke to Grades 6-8 about what she does and read the book "The Dreaming Tree," the story of a young girl advocating for a tree to not be cut down in her neighborhood, saying anyone can raise their voice for what they believe in. "Being a role model in the community you live in is so important and I hope that I can provide that and one of the topics were talking about is how can you advocate for yourself how can you advocate for your community, for your school, for your town, for your district and the power that you have within you to make a difference so that is something that I really tried to get across to the students," Davis said. The newly elected representative for the Third District brought up topics like road conditions, bridge maintenance, and animal rights. Davis told the students about how she became a representative and asked what they would like to be when they are older. Seventh-grade student Eva Sinopoli thinks it was important for Davis to speak to her class about her job and the different things they can do to help and that they have a voice. "I think it's really important because some people like whether it be us in school feeling like we don't really have a voice because of our age being younger than others but it's a really important thing to bring up because some people think there are things that need to be spoken up for and you might not have that happen unless you speak up yourself," she said. "I think that was helpful that if you believe in something you should be passionate trying to change something for better in your community," said eighth-grader Gus Gleason. Seventh grader Sophie Sparks said Davis was nice and that it was cool to be able to meet a representative and that she encouraged them to follow their dreams. "If there's any issues or if there is something that you want to be fixed and follow your dreams see what you want to be," she said. DeSantis spoke to kindergarteners and read them "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie." He said he likes community engagement and interacting with kids at all the schools. "It's a great way for different people and kids to interact with different professions and different people in our community, community leaders, and it's a chance for the kids to interact," he said. "And on a personal level with law enforcement anytime we get to go in and interact with kids in a positive way like this is a win I love to do it and it gives them a chance to see us as normal people so that they feel comfortable and be able to start building those relationships." "I liked when he talked about when the mouse was drinking the milk and when he was eating the cookie and then I liked him when he was reading," said kindergartener Natalee Sedelow. Brittain spoke to the third and fourth graders and read "What If There Were No Bees." "It was important for two reasons. One, you know, to promote reading it. But also, in this case, there was a message about, you know, the environment and our food supply, and also about, you know, ecosystems and food webs and the interrelationship between mechanisms," said Brittain. "Community is so important to St. Mary's and we love getting community members in just to see all the amazing things we have going on here and just so that the kiddos can make connections outside of our school as well," said Maiorana-Culver. Weekend Outlook: First Friday, Ghost Tours & More There are several events this weekend, including First Friday festivities, live music, a ghost tour, and more. Editor's Pick North Adams First Friday Downtown North Adams Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. It's the first Friday of the month, and North Adams knows what that means First Friday events. This month, the activities aim to cure your winter cabin fever with downtown fun. Businesses will have extended hours, and many galleries will host openings, closings, and other special events, including an artist fundraiser for Gaza humanitarian relief, live music and film, and a "Women Walking to Water" group show. There will also be a First Friday after-party at Bright Ideas Brewing from 8 to 11 p.m. More information here Friday Carolyn Beaupre Opening Reception 9 Eagle St., North Adams Time: 4 p.m. Carolyn Beaupre will be showing her work, accompanied by new work by permanent gallery artists Marilyn Cavallari, Ghetta Hirsch, Sean McCusker, Mallory Rich, and Barbara Patton from March 1st to March 31st. More information here Bonnie & Mark Parsons of Sky Full of Dippers Performance 54 Main St., Lee Time: 6:30 p.m. Bonnie and Mark Parsons of Sky Full of Dippers will perform at the Appetito as part of its songwriter series. They will be playing songs from their CD, new material, and a couple of songs written by Sandy McKnight. Ghost Tours Ventfort Hall, Lenox Time: 8 to 10 p.m. The Gilded Age manage hosts a tour with "Ghosts of the Berkshires" author Robert Oakes. Oakes will lead guests through the rooms and halls of the estate, sharing tales of its hauntings. "Stand in the places where the encounters occurred, listen to the first-hand accounts of those who experienced them, and maybe even experience something unusual yourself. This is not an active investigation," according to the press release. Admission is $30 and the minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are required. Purchase tickets here Please note that all tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Saturday Kids Concerts With Terry A La Berry And Friends The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield Time: Noon Terry A La Berry and Friends will perform a kids concert in the Garage at the Colonial Theatre. Tickets are free. More information here Clark Art Start With Art Program The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown Time: 10 a.m. to Noon The museum is encouraging visitors to bring their preschoolers to the Clark for a morning of art, play, and exploration in its Michael Conforti Pavilion. This free activity program focuses on "Movement," specially designed for 3- to 6-year-olds and their caregivers. More information here Friends of Berkshire Athenaeum Book Sale Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The annual spring book sale runs this Friday and Saturday. More information here Spotlight Talk: Original Heroines: Stories of Courageous Women Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jennifer Browdy, professor of women's studies, literature, and writing, will discuss the lives of some of the women portrayed in the illustrations by Anita Kunz for the project "Original Sisters." Browdy will also discuss how a heroine's journey differs from the more familiar narrative of a singular male hero. The event is free with museum admission. More information here Rainbow Seniors Crafting Wander Cafe, Pittsfield Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Rainbow Seniors are welcoming knitters, crocheters, and other crafters to meet with other LGBTQIA-plus friends old and young for its once-a-month craft and social time. More information here Berkshire Destinations With Photographer Chris Butler Mount Greylock Visitor Center, Lanesborough Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Photographer and author Christy Butler will present a photographic slide show that explores a vast range of waterfalls, glacial boulders, and points of interest across the region in the Theater Room. More information here Vyntyge Skynyrd Performance The Stationery Factory, Dalton Time: 7:30 p.m. Vyntyge Skynyrd tributes and celebrates the 1970s era of the band by replicating its music as it was originally recorded and performed. Opening the show will be Chris Merenda's Chewy Jr. More information here Winter Wine Fair The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge Time: Session 1: 2 to 3:15 p.m., or Session 2: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Taste wine, have some small bites, and celebrate the local and independent wine stores of Berkshire County. Participating vendors include Dare Bottleshop & Provisions, Domaney's Liquors and Fine Wines, Nejaime's Wine Cellars, and the South Egremont Spirit Shoppe, as well as wines from the Red Lion wine list. Tickets are $35. More information here Studio 9 presents George 231 River St., North Adams Time: 7 p.m. The band George is known for blurring "the distinctions between the knotty virtuosity of jazz and the broad appeal of pop." Tickets and more information here Contra Dance Event First Congregational Church, Williamstown Time: 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. North Berkshire Community Dance will host a contra dance in the church's community hall for individuals of all experience levels. Admission is pay-as-you-can, with a suggested range of $12 to $20. Barter is also accepted. More information here 'Incognito Witch The Musical' Becket Arts Center Time: 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a showing of the new play "Incognito Witch The Musical" by Mollie Kellogg. It tells the story of G, an artist navigating life after a divorce. The play is a dramedy with elements of magical realism and explores themes of friendship, love, and acceptance. Tickets range from $10 to $20. More information here 21st Annual Trivia Fundraiser Williams Inn, Williamstown Time: 6 p.m. Berkshire Nursing Families is having its annual trivia night featuring dinner, raffles, and of course, trivia. The event helps BNF provide vital lactation support and parenting resources to families across Berkshire County. Early registration is encouraged as tickets sell out quickly. More information here Sunday Cabin Fever Story Time Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center, Lanesborough Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Relax by a hearth fire for an hour of "tales of the natural wonders and unusual people from Mount Greylock's past." The free event will include complimentary hot chocolate. More information here 'The Road' and 'The Bear' Film & Book Discussion Becket Athenaeum Time: Film at 1 p.m.; Discussion at 3 p.m. There will be a screening of the 2009 film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel "The Road" followed by a discussion led by Becket Athenaeum Director Nicole Schulz. The discussion compares the film to the Becket Athenaeum Big Read title "The Bear" by Andrew Krivak. Having knowledge of "The Bear" for this program is great but not required. There will also be refreshments, including popcorn, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. More information here Auxiliary Annual Craft Fair 258 North St., Dalton Time: 10 to 3 The annual craft fair for the Dalton American Legion Auxiliary will be held at the post home. Also snack bar, 505/50 raffle and chinese auction. More information here Whispering Worlds Tourists Welcome, North Adams Time: 8 p.m. The Whispering Worlds quartet performs as part of the resort's "Sing for Your Slumber" series in the lodge. Described as "West meets Far East" and "jazz meets electronica," the group offers a distinctive sound. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Banksys reimagining of a famous work by the late Scottish painter Jack Vettriano has sold at auction for 4.3m. Crude Oil (Vettriano) was listed by Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus, who acquired the painting in 2011. The sale to a private collector at Sothebys in London on Tuesday evening (4 March) came just days after Vettriano was found dead aged 73 at his apartment in Nice, France. It is understood that there are no suspicious circumstances around his death. Banksys work was first seen in the reclusive artists landmark 2005 exhibition Crude Oils: A Gallery of Re-mixed Masterpieces, Vandalism and Vermin, and reimagines Vettrianos 1992 work The Singing Butler, already one of the most celebrated pictures in Britain. Banksy chose to subvert Vettrianos romantic narrative by incorporating themes of pollution, capitalism and the climate crisis, painting in a sinking oil liner and two men in hazmat suits wheeling a barrel of toxic waste along the beach while the original couple dance as their butler holds a black umbrella over their heads. Hoppus said that he and Skye fell in love with the painting from the first moment they saw it: [Its] unmistakably Banksy, but different. We bought it because we loved it, he said. Its borne witness to our family over these past dozen years. It hung over the table in London where we ate breakfast and our son did his homework. It hung in our living room in Los Angeles. Its seen laughter and tears and parties and arguments. Our son has grown up in front of it, he continued. This painting has meant so much to us and been such an amazing part of our lives, and now Im excited for it to be out there in the world, seen by as many as possible. Go get em. Godspeed. open image in gallery Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus sold the Banksy take on Vettriano just days after the Scottish painter passed away ( AP ) His love of art was inspired by an art history professor at his local college in California: He loved art but wasnt precious about it, he recalled. Art was for everyone. And everyone should love it. And because he loved it, and showed us how to think about it, I loved it. It opened my mind. It was Good Will Hunting but with paintings and architecture instead of poetry. open image in gallery Scottish painter Jack Vettriano died this week ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) A portion of the funds raised from the sale will go towards supporting the charities Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars Sinai Haematology Oncology Research. The couple will also donate some of the proceeds to the California Fire Foundation, following the devastating wildfires that destroyed parts of the city earlier this year. Vettrianos publicist said in a statement this week: Jack Vettrianos passing marks the end of an era for contemporary Scottish art. His evocative and timeless works will continue to captivate and inspire future generations. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jennie Garth spoke out against the Academy of Motion Picture Arts after her late co-star Shannen Doherty was left out of the 2025 Oscars in memoriam slideshow. Doherty best known for her performances in Beverly Hills, 90210 alongside Garth, and the early 2000s TV series Charmed died at age 53 on July 13, 2024, due to metastatic breast cancer. When asked by TMZ how she felt about her former castmates Oscars snub on Sunday, Garth said: Yeah, thats messed up. The 52-year-old actor also replied, Maybe, when the reporter asked whether she thought the Oscars should issue an apology. At the time of Dohertys death, Garth shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram with two photos of them and the caption: I am still processing my tremendous grief over the loss of my long time friend Shannen, the woman I have often described as one of the strongest people I have ever known. Our connection was real and honest. We were so often pitted against each other but none of that reflected the truth of our real relationship which was one built on mutual respect and admiration, she continued. She was courageous, passionate, determined and very loving and generous. I will miss her and will always honor her deeply in my heart and in my memories. My heart breaks for her family and Bowie and all the people who loved her. open image in gallery Jennie Garth responds to her late co-star Shannen Dohertys Oscars 2025 in memoriam snub, calling it messed up ( Getty ) Doherty wasnt the only television star who died in the last 12 months to be omitted from the poignant segment set to Mozarts Requiem. Michelle Trachtenberg, who suddenly died at the age of 39 on February 26, 2024, was left out, too. open image in gallery The Oscars 2025 in memoriam slideshow was set to Mozarts Requiem ( REUTERS ) Fans watching the 97th annual ceremony at home were outraged by the Gossip Girl alums omission, calling the move upsetting and a huge oversight by the Academy. Michelle Trachtenberg not being mentioned in the in memoriam section of the oscars is upsetting, you are and will remain so so loved and admired Michelle, one fan wrote on X. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Another agreed: Not to mention Michelle Trachtenberg in #theoscars In Memoriam was a huge oversight. Its shameful that the #Oscars didnt include Michelle Trachtenberg in their memorial montage of all the actors/actresses who have passed within the year, a third commented. One person, however, thought Trachtenberg wasnt included in the slideshow because the majority of her career was focused on television rather than film, which could also be why Doherty wasnt included either. For those upset about the #Oscars omitting Michelle Trachtenberg, to be fair, she was more known for her TV work than film, they wrote on X. Trachtenbergs death came as a shock to many. Police responded to a 911 call just after 8 a.m. at her home in Columbus Place on Central Park South last week after her mom found her body. The NYPD later said they found the on-screen star unconscious and unresponsive. She was pronounced dead by emergency medical workers. According to the Post, Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant. On March 1, the New York Citys Office of Chief Medical Examiner officially ruled Trachtenbergs death undetermined. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jesse Eisenberg has officially become a citizen of Poland after his film set in the country, A Real Pain, won an Oscar on Sunday. The drama-comedy follows two mismatched cousins, played by Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, who travel to Poland following the death of their beloved grandmother, who was a Holocaust survivor. Culkin, 42, won numerous gongs during awards season for his performance and topped it off at the Oscars where he was awarded Best Supporting Actor. During his acceptance speech, the Succession star shocked his wife by asking if they could have more children. Eisenberg, who wrote and directed the film, may not have had his own Oscar to celebrate but just a few days later was awarded Polish citizenship by the countrys president Andrzej Duda. Speaking at a ceremony in New York on Tuesday (4 March), the 41-year-old actor said: Im so unbelievably honoured. This is an honour of a lifetime and something I have been very interested in for two decades. A Real Pain was inspired by the passing of Eisenbergs great aunt in 2019, who had fled to the United States from Poland in 1938. open image in gallery Polish President Andrzej Duda shakes hands with Jesse Eisenberg as he grants him Polish citizenship ( REUTERS ) While we were filming this movie in Poland and I was walking the streets and starting to get a little more comfortable in the country, something so obvious occurred to me, which is that my family had lived in this place far longer than weve lived in New York, Eisenberg added. And of course, the history ended so tragically, but in addition to that tragedy of history was also the tragedy that my family didnt feel any connection any more to Poland. And that saddened me and confirmed for me that I really wanted to try to reconnect as much as possible. When making the film, Eisenberg was inspired to apply for Polish citizenship, which is available to anyone with direct ancestors who were born in or lived in the country after 1920. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. In conclusion, Eisenberg said: I really hope that tonight and this ceremony and this amazing honour is the first step in me, on behalf of my family, reconnecting to this beautiful country. The Social Network star first announced that he had applied for Polish citizenship in May 2024. open image in gallery Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain ( Searchlight Pictures via AP ) In an interview with Polish publication Gos Wielkopolski, he explained that both his and his wifes families were from Poland. He added that shooting A Real Pain in Poland reminded him of stories hed heard from family growing up, and made him want to create better relationships between Jews and Polish people. I applied for Polish citizenship about nine months ago. Apparently, all the paperwork has already been submitted and Im waiting for the final signature, said Eisenberg. My family is from the southeast, from Krasnystaw, my wifes [Anna Strout] family is from odz. We wanted to have a greater connection to Poland. I would like to work here more. Growing up, Ive heard stories of the Polish relationship with my Jewish family and all the stories were great: we were best friends with the Poles. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Patrick Wilson has said hes sure Kate Winslet was left with bruises after they filmed sex scenes together for Little Children. The Hard Candy actor, 51, starred alongside Winslet in Todd Fields 2006 suburban melodrama, which follows an unhappy housewife, Sarah, (Winslet) as she launches into an affair with a man on her street (Wilson). Wilson revealed that one scene in particular, where he and Winslets characters have sex in a laundry room, would be very different if it were shot with intimacy co-ordinators today. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporters It Happened in Hollywood podcast, he said both he and Winslet were fully nude aside from modesty coverings, which were kept out of shot. [Kate] was so cool and gracious and just a gamer just like, Lets go for it, he recalled. There was never one awkward or weird moment. Never one. I loved it. Wilson addressed rumours that Kate had bruised her bum during filming for the scene, as he explained that no body doubles were used, adding: Im sure there were lots of bruises. Put it this way, I havent done a scene like that since post #MeToo and intimacy coordinators, Wilson admitted. open image in gallery Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson at a screening of 'Little Children' in 2006 ( Getty Images ) I do feel a little bit like a dinosaur when it comes to [having appeared in] those kinds of love scenes, he added. It comes after Winslet admitted last year that she wished shed had intimacy co-ordinators every single time I had to do a love scene or be partially naked or even a kissing scene in her career. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Speaking to The New York Times Magazine, Winslet expressed relief that younger actors no longer have to accept the same norms that she dealt with. I would have benefited from an intimacy coordinator every single time I had to do a love scene or be partially naked or even a kissing scene, Winslet said. It would have been nice to have had someone in my corner because I always had to stand up for myself. open image in gallery Winslet at The Governors Awards in 2024 ( Getty Images ) She added that there were several times in her career when shed wanted to take a stand but felt like she was unable to, giving examples such as: I dont like that camera angle. I dont want to stand here full-frontal nude. I dont want this many people in the room. I want my dressing gown to be closer. Winslet explained that having somebody else to advocate for her needs would have helped, as she feared becoming branded as difficult to work with. When youre young, youre so afraid of p***ing people off or coming across as rude or pathetic because you might need those things, she said. So, learning to have a voice for oneself in those environments was very, very hard. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels has said he almost quit shooting the films because of the physical pain of the experience and his dislike of the sand. The 79-year-old is the only actor to have appeared or been involved with every theatrical release in the saga, as well as countless spin-offs. Playing C-3PO, he joined the franchise from its very first release after being approached by creator George Lucas in 1975. But despite his success, (last year, a C-3PO head from Daniels private collection sold for 660,000), he said that the role did not come without its challenges. Daniels almost quit on the first day of filming because of the heat and sand. The first film he starred in, Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope), was released in 1977 and shot in the Tunisian desert. Finding it difficult to wear the costume, which was made of fibreglass, vacuum-metalised aluminium, brass, and plastic, and was reported to be very heavy, Daniels almost gave up. open image in gallery Daniels almost quit the franchise ( Universal/LucasFilm ) At one point I began to lose the nerves in this arm because they were getting squished by that, he told a crowd at FanX Salt Lake Pop Culture & Comic Convention, according to PopVerse. On the first day I wore that costume all day. It took two hours to put on. They werent about to take it off at lunchtime, and I stood in the desert, by myself, whilst the crew went over there to have lunch, and drink things, and go to the bathroom, and I stood there looking at the desert, thinking, This is the first day. Can I resign? Is there a local cab firm? We were in the middle of the desert. There was no escape for the droid this time. open image in gallery Anthony Daniels is the only actor to star or be involved in every film ( Getty Images ) However, Daniels stuck it out, and the films went on to be one of the highest-grossing and most popular in history. His experience as C-3PO became the subject of a memoir titled, I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story. I put up with it, he continued. The second day I said, You have to take it off at lunchtime, Im exhausted. I cant stretch my legs. Ive got to sit down. Ive got to eat, and Ive got to do the other thing. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. But the experience came with some slight injuries. You did not want to see my body when I took that costume off, he said. At the end of the day, I was covered in bruises and scars and whatever. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Efficiency isnt meant to feel this thrillingly erotic. But thats how love goes in Black Bag, an ode to a poisonously compatible marriage between spies, in which lies are the daggers slipped under a lovers pillow each night. Airtight efficiency is also precisely how Steven Soderberghs thriller operates. It starts the moment its plot kicks into gear and never looks back. George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) weaves through a London club. He meets his colleague, who tells him theres a mole in the agency. One of the suspects is his wife, Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). And off we go! Black Bag, like Soderberghs previous effort (Presence, released just over a month ago), is scripted by David Koepp. If that last film, a lo-fi POV horror, offered the most pleasurable demonstrations of craft seen so far this year, then Black Bag cranks that pleasure up several notches. Its lean to the bone, moving swiftly into an extended dinner party sequence built like Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? if several of its participants had committed war crimes, only to circle back to the same location later on, as if it were a prowling leopard. Insults here are exquisite little bonbons a perversion of what a man should be is rebutted with youre a diseased creature and the dramatic twists are unexpected, yet never overstretched. Everyones a sociopath, from Tom Burkes lecherously cantankerous Freddie Smalls to Marisa Abelas Clarissa Dubose, who adds to her Industry characters haughtiness a sexual kink for polygraph tests. Rege-Jean Page is the maliciously blase, Call of Duty-obsessed Colonel James Stokes, and Pierce Brosnans top dog Arthur Stieglitz breezes through every scene with a Machiavellian cocked eyebrow. Naomie Harriss on-site psychiatrist, Dr Zoe Vaughan, at first seems moderately well-balanced, but she, like everybody else, is compromised by the malevolent vehicle that is international espionage. The keys to tomorrow are in the hands of people who view the soul as the weakest part of the body. Considering the crux of this film is built around what George calls fun and games (translation: psychological torture), the profound loathsomeness of these characters is precisely what draws us in. That, and their luxurious closets full of turtlenecks, suits, and soft leather, dreamt up by costume designer Ellen Mirojnick. Or the seductive twinkle of David Holmess score. Or Soderberghs way with the camera (as usual, he serves as both cinematographer and editor), which draws in just close enough that we might catch the tiniest bead of sweat forming on someones brow. And while the supporting cast are impeccable across the board, its really Blanchett and Fassbenders film to command, with performances that drip with old-school star power. You get the sense that if Kathryn suddenly started barking orders, everyone in the audience would be powerless but to obey, a kind of presence that hasnt been seen much since Katherine Hepburn (whom Blanchett once played to a tee in Martin Scorseses The Aviator). Fassbender, when he delicately adjusts his glasses or cuffs, evokes the sly, chilled elegance of a Michael Caine or Dirk Bogarde, but with a sliver of vulnerability in the eyes that really begs the question of what exactly is going on in that head of his. The spy life: Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender play married spies in Black Bag ( Focus Features ) George is ribbed for his flagrant monogamy since no one can believe the couple have been able to maintain a functional relationship within the most dysfunctional of careers. In bed, they swear absolute loyalty, yet whisper the code word black bag to each other whenever a piece of information is officially out of bounds. Is that hypocrisy a delusion? Or part of an intricate set of rules theyve become experts in? Is a good marriage built on honesty, or the mutual acceptance that lies are necessary? The answer well, lets say thats black bag for now. Dir: Steven Soderbergh. Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Rege-Jean Page, Pierce Brosnan. 15, 94 minutes Black Bag is in cinemas 14 March Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice To promote her new album, Lady Gaga has taken a comedy lie detector test, named her favourite British snacks and eaten increasingly spicy chicken wings on camera. It isnt 2009 anymore; the rules for selling yourself are radically different than those that applied in an era in which you could throw together a shiny, semi-naked cover for Rolling Stone and then call it a day. Everyone, from Ariana Grande to Donald Duck, partakes in the hot-wings-and-short-form-video rodeo now. But theres still something a bit jarring about Gaga doing it eyebrows bleached, dressed like a wedding cake, dabbing the chicken sweats from her brow. Here is an artist who has spent years in the musical abyss, detaching herself from contemporary culture in the process, suddenly strapped into its most conventional churn. Gaga, at one point in time the hungriest and most sonically thrilling performer of her generation, has benefited enormously from the landscape of critical poptimism that emerged in her wake. In an era in which even pops most staid acts your Tate McRaes or Benson Boones tend to inspire breathless critical appraisals, few have talked loudly about Gagas decade of diminishing returns. The milquetoast power ballads. The old-timer cosplay of her collaborations with Tony Bennett and Mick Jagger. The nonsense storytelling of Chromatica, her Covid-era album inspired by a fictional planet of kindness punks and repetitive dance music. The resulting impact of these uncomfortable, converging factors suggests that she got lost as an artist eager to move past the electrifying freakiness of her early pop, but too nervous to push boundaries anywhere else. Why, then, does Gagas new record the unambiguously titled Mayhem feel so promising? Is it because its first two singles, the industrial-leaning Disease and Abracadabra, are particularly strong? Thats debatable. But Gaga herself seems engaged and present in a way we havent seen in a while, discussing her work with pride and excitement, rather than detached pontificating. Most importantly, she seems to have acknowledged that the last decade of her output was fraught and (to some, at least) unsatisfying. Shes not quite out of the weeds just yet, but seems to at least have a torch to see with. Abracadabra is a grower, a whirlwind of house, Siouxsie Sioux goth pop and unadulterated camp. Holding it back from total greatness are the moments that gesture towards Gaga pastiche, the amor-oo-na-na and morta-oo-ga-ga of its chorus, riffs on the guttural gibberish she perfected on Bad Romance. But the tracks production is thrilling and gorgeously erratic, Gaga at the centre of swirling synths and thudding bass. Her vocals, too, fly in all directions, climaxing in Gaga going full opera diva. Its interesting, and the Gaggiest of Gaga singles since at least 2013s GUY arguably her last successful collision of sledgehammer electropop and slinky, menacing eroticism. This week, on the US radio station Sirius XM and in conversation with music journalist Zane Lowe, Gaga has spoken about her unease in returning to this kind of material. I did not realise how afraid I was to make this record, she said on Sirius. I thought I didnt have it in me, [that] the kind of music I started making early in my career was something Id left behind. To Lowe, she elaborated further: I didnt want to make this kind of music for a long time even though I had it in me. I felt like being stagnant was just death in my artistry. I wanted to constantly be a student and not just reinvent myself but learn something new with every record. That wasnt always what people wanted from me, but thats what I wanted from me. The problem with this, though, was that Gaga has rarely transcended the experiments in sound shes been so eager to dive into. Whether in duets with Bennett or during her dabbles in country on her Joanne record (or, for the five people who listened to it, the Joker 2-inspired Harlequin album that saw her cover old jazz and pop standards), Gaga tends to directly emulate rather than lightly pinch from. The magic of her first studio albums the dazzling cyborg-pop of The Fame and its eerier follow-up The Fame Monster; the Berghain-ready chaos of Born This Way was that she picked up pre-existing sounds and then Gagafied them, increasing the drama, the anarchy, that propulsive sense of danger that made her so intoxicating to watch and listen to. Then she stopped. The crushing disappointment of Harlequin, for instance, was that it was quite literally a covers album, sans bells, whistles or idiosyncratic flourishes. The over-25s category of The X Factor used to produce one of those things every year or so. Lady Gaga surrounded by her dancers in the video for her new single Abracadabra ( Interscope ) In her Lowe interview, Gaga spoke to feeling trapped within the Lady Gaga persona for much of her career, burdened by expectations from fans, label execs and critics about who Lady Gaga ought to be. So it makes sense why shed run away from much of it, finding a safety net in work that was more conventional, less polarising, less ambitious. And, often, with people that she wasnt at all in direct competition with Bennett, Jagger, A Star Is Borns Bradley Cooper, even the vaguely plodding Bruno Mars, her collaborator on last years middle-of-the-road megahit Die with a Smile. No wonder her forever-teased sequel to 2009s Telephone never got off the ground: pairing up with Beyonce again would only expose the wild divergence of their creative trajectories in the years since. But its an enormous relief to see Gaga unafraid of pop once more, and of revisiting a time in her life when the music she produced sounded as if it had been tossed into a blender, then tussled with and transmogrified. Weve heard, over and over, Gaga promote new albums with proclamations that shes found herself again, that shes emerged from a cocoon of self-doubt and insecurity. Perhaps its delusional to still believe her. But something about Mayhem does feel different, in its bend to the chaotic and flamboyant, and in Gagas passionate, oddly moving sense of pride over it. No one could tear so enthusiastically into a plate of hot wings for a project made half-heartedly. Mayhem is released on 7 March Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tickets for Fyre Festival 2 have gone on sale, despite Mexican officials denying they have any knowledge of the event and saying no permits have been issued. The festivals official website claims the event will be held at Playa FYRE on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico. However, published coordinates on the same site point to a location in the sea some distance off the coast of Isla Mujeres. Tickets are on sale in various categories, with general access tickets starting at $1,400 each and various levels of VIP access rising to $25,000 per ticket. The original Fyre Festival, in The Bahamas in 2017, was advertised as the cultural experience of the decade and promised attendees the chance to rub shoulders with celebrities while staying in luxury accommodations. However, upon arrival, concertgoers who had paid between $1,000 and $12,000 to attend were met with total disorganization and chaos, court filings described. Ja Rule and McFarland in Netflixs Fyre Festival documentary ( Netflix ) Instead of luxury accommodation, there were disaster relief tents and sodden mattresses, cheese sandwiches served in Styrofoam containers and no big headliners. The ill-fated event was subsequently the subject of two documentaries. Festival organizer Billy McFarland, 33, served a four-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud related to the disastrous 2017 event. He has called Fyre Festival 2 his chance to take over the festival industry. FYRE 2 is real. My dream is finally becoming a reality, he told Today in a recent interview. FYRE 2 really isnt about the past, and its not really about me. Its about taking the vision, which is strong. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. However, the local government of Isla Mujeres released a statement on Wednesday last week saying, No person or company has requested permits from this office or any other municipal government department for said event. We have no knowledge of this event, nor contact with any person or company about it, Edgar Gasca, from the tourism directorate of Isla Mujeres, told The Guardian. For us, this is an event that does not exist. He added: This festival is not going to happen. There are red flags all over the place. The Independent has approached the producers of Fyre Festival 2 for a response. While a line-up of artists performing at Fyre Festival 2 has yet to be announced, McFarland told Today: Were going to have artists across electronic, hip hop, pop and rock. However, its not just music. We might have a professional skateboarder do a demonstration. We might have an MMA champion teach you techniques in the morning. Asked if he thought A-list performers would sign on, he said: I really hope so, and I expect so from our conversations. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Lucasfilm and Disney + have released a sneak peek at Andor season two and seemingly confirmed that one of the most tragic events in Star Wars lore will be featured in the show. Andor is set between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and charts the rise of the rebellion. Diego Luna stars as Cassian Andor, a jaded thief who gradually becomes committed to the rebel cause. The first season of the show premiered in September 2022 and won acclaim from viewers, with many calling it the best standalone series based on the long-running science-fiction franchise, surpassing The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi and even The Mandalorian. In the new featurette, which was first released on Disney + on Wednesday (5 March), fans are shown what to expect from the new season, which takes place four years after the events of season one. Although viewers are only given a brief glimpse, the snippet does indicate that one of the most catastrophic and violent events in the Star Wars canon is included in the upcoming episodes the Ghorman Massacre. In Star Wars legend, the Ghorman Massacre saw Stormtroopers mercilessly slaughter thousands of peaceful protesters on the planet Ghorman. The protesters were voicing their objection to the Empires cruel taxation laws and preventing Captain Wilhuff Tarkins ship from landing on the planet. open image in gallery A potential look at the Ghorman Massacre in Andor ( Lucasfilm/Disney ) Several shots of large crowds protesting Imperial forces on Ghorman are shown in the video with subtitles that identify the protesters as singing in Ghor. One gruesome aspect of the massacre, which is yet to be confirmed, is that Tarkin, under the instructions of Emperor Palpatine, actually lands his ship directly on top of the protesters. The massacre has previously been mentioned in the animated show Star Wars Rebels and is seen as a key turning point in the Rebellions fight against the Empire. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. open image in gallery A scene from Andor season two ( Lucasfilm/Disney ) Star Wars fans have since reacted to news that the massacre might be featured in the show. This is gonna be one of the darkest moments in Star Wars history, no doubt, said one person. If they do this battle justice, Andor will be the greatest Star Wars project in history, another added. A third said: Just when you thought Star Wars couldnt get darker, Andor pulls up with history lessons in tyranny. Andor returns to Disney+ with the first three-episode premiering on 22 April. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice BBC Radio 2 listeners were left concerned after the channel went off air for the first time in two decades during a fire scare. The studio in central London was evacuated quickly after alarms were sounded on Thursday (6 March), with the stations back up tapes kicking in as airwaves fell silent, The Sun reported. Employees at Broadcasting House, situated off of the capitals busy Oxford Street, were sent outside while the cause of the alarm was investigated. Following the broadcasting interruption, Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine returned to the airwaves and told listeners: I do apologise, we did just have a proper fire alarm here. There wasn't a fire but we had the thing that I've not had in 20 years where not just one light goes off but two, he added. The orange light which means there could be a fire and then the red light and then the announcement in the studio which looked as if there was one. We came out [of] the building. We stood outside in the sun. There's no fire, so we came back in. Because there's no fire we are going to cancel the item we were doing on cremation, Vine revealed. open image in gallery Radio 2 listeners were left concerned after Jeremy Vines show went silent during a fire scare ( PA Wire ) He added: But we will talk later to Julie Donaldson about World Book Day, and yes I will get the Gruffalo costume back on. Meanwhile, Lauren Laverne said on her Radio 6 Music show: Thank you all for the messages, everything is alright in the studio. We had some technical issues there but we are back with you. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Radio 2 listeners were quick to express concern on social media after Vines radio show went off air. Wow.. Actual dead air live on BBC Radio 2, one person wrote on X/Twitter. open image in gallery Lauren Laverne later reassured Radio 6 Music listeners that everything was alright in the studio ( BBC/PA Wire ) Fire alarm goes off at the studios during Jeremy Vine slot and the building's been evacuated by the guess of it, they continued. Never heard a radio station go silent like that before and now it seems like it's on auto-pilot, they added. Meanwhile, another listener replied: Sounds very strange, as the emergency tape kicked in. A BBC spokesperson told The Independent: The fire alarm went off briefly in one area of Broadcasting House. After the appropriate checks, staff returned back in 10 minutes later. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, the model and actor known for her television appearances during the 1980s and 1990s and her 17-year marriage to David Hasselhoff, has died. She was 61. Originally from Oklahoma, Bach moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and met her future husband on the set of his hit show Knight Rider the same year. Bach died by suicide, TMZ reports. Paramedics were called to her home late on Wednesday night, according to law enforcement sources cited by the outlet, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. In a statement to TMZ, Hasselhoff said: Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time but we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time. The former couple shared two daughters: Taylor, 34, and Hayley, 32. Bach was born Pamela Weissenbach on October 16, 1963. She was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the daughter of a model, and began her own modelling career as a teenager. Hayley and Taylor Hasselhoff photographed with their mother, Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff in Beverly Hills in 2018 ( Getty ) She attended Tulsa East Central High School before studying Engineering/Theatre Arts at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Bach made her film debut in Francis Ford Coppola's Rumble Fish in 1983, which also starred Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke and Diane Lane. In 1985, she moved to Los Angeles to work in television, meeting Hasselhoff on the set of the Knight Rider episode Knight Racer. They married four years later. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. She also worked with her husband on Baywatch and spin-off series Baywatch Nights. Her other television credits included TJ Hooker, Cheers and The Young and the Restless. In 2006, Hasselhoff announced he was filing for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized later that year, with each being given custody of one daughter. Hasselhoff married model Hayley Roberts in 2018. In 2011, Bach-Hasselhoff appeared in that years Celebrity Big Brother on British television. She was evicted from the house on Day 14. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Furious Netflix users have pointed out a glaring issue with the streaming service after their favourite show was cancelled. On Wednesday (5 March), actor Colton Dunn informed his followers that spy drama The Recruit was no more news that has been met with outcry from fans who believe the show was released too closey to similar seriesThe Night Agent. The Recruit has been cancelled yall, he wrote on Instagram, calling the news such a bummer. He added: Ill share some pics and fun memories on IG but just wanted you to hear it from me. Thanks if you watched. Im AVAILABLE NOW! The Recruit followed a CIA lawyer (Noah Centineo) as he grappled with international tensions in Russia and, in the shows second season, South Korea. Dunn appeared in the series as Lester Kitchens. It started life in December 2022, with the follow up arriving more than two years later in January 2025. Responses to the shows return were generally positive, but many drew comparisons to The Night Agent, a more successful spy thriller that returned for a second season just before The Recruit. Unlike The Night Agents second season, The Recruit has underperformed and fans of the cancelled show are now complaining that The Night Agent stole The Recruits limelight. Theyre blaming the streamers scheduling decision for unfairly putting the writing on the wall for the show. They released this and the night agent within the same month. What did they expect, one viewer wrote, with another adding: Kept on confusing this show for The Night Agent anytime I saw news about it so maybe it was destined to be axed. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. The Recruit and The Night Agent returned within weeks of each other ( Netflix ) An additional fan chimed in on X/Twitter: That happens when you premiere two espionage series in the same month! The Independent has contacted Netflix for comment. Creator Alexi Hawley has shared a love letter about the shows cancellation, revealing he wants to make a film to wrap up the show. "We'd all be there in a heartbeat, he wrote. If not, man, we left it all on the field. For those who haven't yet watched, dive in. I swear to God you'll enjoy the ride. In an age of shows that feel like homework, The Recruit is a blast that has stakes and humour and hardcore action which will keep you learning forward. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hong Kongs top court on Thursday overturned the conviction of three pro-democracy activists who had organised an annual vigil in remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Chow Hang Tung, Tang Ngok Kwan, and Tsui Hon Kwong were convicted and sentenced to four and a half months in prison in 2023 for failing to comply with the police demand for data under the citys national security law. The trio had denied the allegations after Hong Kong authorities accused them of being foreign agents. The trio members of the disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China were arrested during Beijings crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement. The alliance was long known for organising candlelight vigils in the city on the anniversary of the Chinese militarys crushing of the 1989 pro-democracy protests in Beijing. But it voted to disband in 2021 under the shadow of a sweeping national security law imposed by China. Police had sought details about the groups operations and finances in connection with alleged links to pro-democracy groups overseas. But the group refused to cooperate, insisting it was not. Hong Kong was one of the few Chinese territories which commemorated the event until China imposed a new, stringent national security law in the wake of the pro-democracy protests, punishing acts of subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. open image in gallery File: Chow Hang-tung poses with a candle ahead of the 32nd anniversary of the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators at Beijings Tiananmen Square ( REUTERS ) Critics said the shutdown and the case showed that the former British colonys Western-style civil liberties were shrinking despite promises they would be kept intact. Judges at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal on Thursday unanimously ruled in the trio's favour, adding that the lower courts fell into error in holding that it was sufficient merely that the police commissioner said he had reasonable grounds to believe the alliance was a foreign agent. In a lower court trial, the appellants also took issue with crucial details that were redacted, including the names of groups that were alleged to have links with the alliance. The judges ruled that by redacting the only potential evidential basis for establishing that the alliance was a foreign agent, the prosecution disabled itself from proving its case. Non-disclosure of the redacted facts in any event deprived the appellants of a fair trial, they wrote. The trio have completed their prison terms under this case, however, Ms Chow is still behind bars awaiting a separate subversion case where she faces life in prison. Mr Tang told reporters outside the court that he hoped the ruling proved that the alliance was not a foreign agent and that in the future they could prove that the 1989 movement was not a counter-revolutionary riot. open image in gallery Tang Ngok-kwan, one of core members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, leaves the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong, Thursday, 6 March 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Justice lives in peoples hearts. Regardless of the outcome, everyone knows the truth in their hearts, he said. Ms Chow raised a victory sign as she was led away by corrections officers, while supporters clapped and congratulated her. During an earlier hearing at the top court in January, Ms Chow, who represented herself, said her case highlighted what a police state is. A police state is created by the complicity of the court in endorsing such abuses. This kind of complicity must stop now," she said. Since the security law was introduced in 2020, several non-permanent overseas judges have quit the top court, raising questions over confidence in the citys judicial system. In 2024, Jonathan Sumption quit his position and said the rule of law was profoundly compromised. But chief justice Andrew Cheung in January said the judges' premature departures did not mean the judiciary's independence was weakening. The annual vigil at Hong Kongs Victoria Park was the only large-scale public commemoration of the June 4 crackdown on Chinese soil for decades. Thousands attended it annually until authorities banned it in 2020, citing anti-pandemic measures. After Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, the park was occupied instead by a carnival organised by pro-Beijing groups. Those who tried to commemorate the event near the site were detained. Ms Chow and two other former alliance leaders, Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho, were charged with subversion in a separate case under the security law. open image in gallery Tang Ngok-kwan, one of core members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, speaks to the members of the media, at the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong, Thursday, 6 March 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) In a separate ruling on Thursday, judges at the top court dismissed jailed pro-democracy activist Tam Tak-chis bid to overturn his sedition convictions in a landmark case brought under a colonial-era law that was used to crush dissent. Tam Tak-chi was the first person tried under the sedition law since the 1997 handover and was found guilty of 11 charges in 2022, including seven counts of uttering seditious words. The activist argued that prosecutors needed to prove he intended to incite violence. The city authorities last year revamped the offence so it explicitly states that people can be convicted of sedition even if no intent to incite violence. Additional inputs from agencies On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice China arbitrarily detained thousands and convicted 1,545 prisoners of conscience in the last six years in what could constitute "crimes against humanity", a rights group alleged. The prisoners were jailed for "peacefully exercising or advocating for human rights", Chinese Human Rights Defenders said in a report on Wednesday. It said the punishment for the those detained ranged from an average of six years, increasing to seven for national security charges. They were sentenced and imprisoned on charges that stem from laws that arent in conformity with the Chinese governments domestic and international human rights obligations, the group, headquartered in Washington DC, said. Their cases proceeded through the full criminal justice system, with police, prosecutors, and courts arbitrarily depriving them of their liberty in violation of their human rights. Activists from minority communities like Tibetans and Uyghurs were disproportionately targeted through wrongful detention, as were women, it claimed. From January 2019 to December 2024, the group said, Chinese courts gave sentences to 1,422 prisoners from the mainland and 123 from Hong Kong in violation of their human rights. While three prisoners of conscience Tashpolat Tiyip, Sattar Sawut, Yang Hengjun were sentenced to death, 48 were sentenced to a decade or more in prison during this period. A Uyghur academic, Rahile Dawut, was sent to prison for life in September 2023 for endangering state security along with Abdurazaq Sayim, the group claimed. The group said the scale of wrongful detention by Chinese authorities may constitute "crimes against humanity". The Chinese government under Xi Jinping is accused of persecuting minority Uyghurs and Hui Muslims in the past decade, including through a campaign of arbitrary detentions. Beijing routinely denies such allegations, and has previously called them the lie of the century. The UN estimates that China has detained around a million minority Muslims, mostly Uyghurs, since a dramatic escalation in counterterrorism measures in 2017 and has also accused Beijing of committing "crimes against humanity". In Hong Kong, authorities introduced a draconian national security law to choke dissent in the wake of 2019 pro-democracy protests. The average prison sentence under the law was over 5 years, the report said. The report said more people were convicted of "subversion" and "inciting subversion" in Hong Kong than in mainland China. The UN previously described the offences of subversion and inciting subversion as broad and imprecise, making them prone to misapplication and misuse". The group claimed that the majority of some 700 older prisoners of conscience were women. Human rights experts and international experts have raised that people over the age of 60 should generally not be held in custody due to the effects on their physical and mental health, Angeli Datt, a research consultant with the group, said. That two-thirds of them are women was really shocking to me. She claimed that the impunity Chinese government officials enjoy at home emboldens them to commit abuses abroad. The group said that the Chinese governments use of arbitrary detention to silence critics and punish rights defenders had expanded under president Xi. If the "alarming trend" of China committing "crimes against humanity" was left unchecked, the group stated in its report, the implications would be "dire for human rights law inside and outside the country". On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Two Indian nationals who were on death row have been executed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the foreign ministry said, just days after a 33-year-old woman was subjected to capital punishment. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil from the southern state of Kerala had their death sentences carried out after they were upheld in the court. The two nationals were convicted for separate murders in the UAE and executed on 28 February. It comes as the family of Shahzadi Khan, 33, expressed shock after she was executed on 15 February in Abu Dhabi for the murder of a four-month-old child where she worked as a caregiver. The family of Khan has alleged that they had no prior information about her execution and the foreign ministry said the UAE only informed them on 28 February. On the eve of her execution on 14 February, Khan made a last call to her family as her dying wish and informed them about her execution. On 20 February her father filed an application to foreign ministry to seek an update on the legal status of her case. Shahzadi Khan, 29, from India claims being falsely implicated in murder of an infant ( Supplied ) Arangilottu, who was from the Kannur district, was convicted of the murder of an Emirati national. He worked in a travel agency in Al Ain city before his arrest. Arangilottus mother reportedly submitted a plea to Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene in the case, claiming that her son accidentally committed murder as he tried to escape a mentally challenged man who was torturing him. Valappil was sentenced for killing an Indian national in UAE. The foreign ministry said the Indian embassy in UAE provided all possible consular and legal support to the Indian nationals, including sending mercy petitions and pardon requests to the UAE government. "The families of the concerned have been informed. The embassy is in touch with them and facilitating their participation in the last rites," the foreign ministry said. The UAE has the highest number of Indians facing the death penalty abroad. Before Khans death, 29 Indians were facing death sentences in the UAE, Kirti Vardhan Singh, minister of state for external affairs, had informed parliament on 13 February. As many as 12 were on death row in Saudi Arabia, three in Kuwait and one in Qatar, she said. In a similar case, an Indian-origin nurse, Nimisha Priya, 34, was sentenced to death in war-torn Yemen for the murder of her former business partner and could be executed soon. She has denied the allegations of killing Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017. Her family is now trying to race blood money a sum to be paid to the family of the victim to secure a pardon. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Thai man found a whole snake frozen inside an ice cream bar that he had bought from a street cart, much to his shock and the internets. The man, known online as Rayban Naklengboon, from Pak Tho in the Mueang Ratchaburi region of central Thailand, shared pictures of the bizarre discovery on his Facebook where the post quickly went viral. Such big eyes! Is it dead yet? Black bean, street vendor, real picture because I bought it myself, he wrote in Thai. Black bean is a kind of ice cream in Thailand. The post garnered thousands of reactions, comments, and shares on the platform. The black-and-yellow snakes head was clearly visible in the picture he posted. Commenters speculated the snake might be a mildly venomous golden tree snake, Chrysopelea ornata, that is commonly found in the region. The golden tree snake usually grows 70-130 cm long, but the one in the ice cream was likely a juvenile, 20-40 cm long. There was a barrage of comments and jokes about this. One commented that it could be a protein boost while others expressed horror at the incident. The first bite gets you hooked, the next puts you in a hospital bed, one user commented. Leave your last words before placing an order, another said. A third one joked: It should be a new flavour, ice cream with a snack flavour. Some users urged authorities to investigate the matter. They pointed out that if an entire snake could end up in the ice cream mixture, other contaminants could also be present. Concerns were raised about the hygiene and safety standards of the ice cream production facility. It was unclear which company manufactured the ice cream. Similar bizarre incidents of people finding dead animals in their food have been reported from other countries. In 2017 in Kolkata, India, a pregnant woman reportedly discovered a fried lizard in her McDonalds french fries order, leading her to file a police complaint. The same year, a California woman found a live frog in her packaged salad after nearly eating it. And in 2009, a father in Oxfordshire in the UK was horrified to discover a dead mouse in his loaf of bread while making sandwiches for his children. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which had already been moving at a sluggish pace, has slowed even further now, delaying the landfall and raising serious concerns about prolonged storm impacts for Australias eastern coast. Initially expected to make landfall late Thursday or early Friday, the latest forecast shows Alfred is now moving at a speed of just 7kmph, slowed down by half of its speed on Wednesday. The storm may not reach the coast until early Saturday now, meaning millions in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales will endure damaging winds, torrential rain, and dangerous surf conditions for much longer than anticipated. On Thursday morning, Alfred was just 240km off the coast of Brisbane, already bringing record-high waves of 12m and heavy rainfall. The Bureau of Meteorology expects the storm to stall further, potentially staying near the coast for a long time before making landfall. "For the rest of Thursday, we will continue to see Tropical Cyclone Alfred moving west towards the southeast Queensland coast and northeast New South Wales, the bureau said in a bulletin. But into Friday, it does become very slow moving and may even stall just off the coast of Brisbane as a Category 2 system. Experts say this sluggish movement is tied to a breakdown in the winds that usually steer cyclones. The slower than expected movement of TC Alfred is a result of weaker than expected steering winds than originally forecast, Michael Barnes, research fellow at Monash University, told The Independent. Alfred was originally moving southeast, like most cyclones do, but it encountered a high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea that blocked its path and forced it to turn west toward the coast of Australia to make a rare landfall. open image in gallery Cyclone Alfred path and location as seen on 5 March off Australia's east coast by Brisbane cyclone ( Zoom Earth ) The last time Brisbane saw a tropical storm reach this close to its shores, it was 1990. Gold Coast acting mayor Donna Gates said in terms of destructive winds and heavy rain, the city hasnt seen anything like this since 1952. But now, the winds pushing it along have weakened, leaving it meandering offshore instead of moving steadily inland. However, the effects on the ground are increased by this, experts say. Why slow-moving storms are far worse A slow-moving cyclone is often far worse than one that moves quickly. The longer a cyclone stays over a region, the more rain it dumps. Both wind and rainfall will be prolonged over areas affected which will exacerbate the impact felt by people and infrastructure, Mr Barnes says for Alfred. This includes rainfall and wind as well as storm surge and coastal wave effects. Flood warnings are already in place, with southeast Queensland and northern NSW expecting accumulated 800mm of rain expected, with higher totals possible in some areas. Life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding are major concerns. Northern New South Wales has already recorded over 200mm of rainfall in 24 hours while Queensland has recorded o ver 100mm in hinterland areas and the Scenic Rim by 8am on Thursday. open image in gallery A tree fell on power lines at Chinderah in Northern New South Wales, Australia, 06 March 2025 ( EPA ) When rain continues to fall on an already soaked ground, the risk of life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding increases since the water has nowhere to go, overwhelming rivers, storm drains, and low-lying areas much faster. The prolonged heavy rain also means that floodwaters will take longer to recede, extending the impact on communities. Record-breaking waves exceeding 12m have already been recorded offshore. Prolonged exposure to large waves and storm surges could also lead to severe coastal erosion, particularly along already vulnerable areas of the Gold Coast and northern NSW, experts warn. Alfred is expected to maintain Category 2 strength for much of its approach. But the extra time over warm water could potentially give it more fuel to intensify. Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which has already been a slow-moving system, has further slowed down on its approach to landfall. This brings several concerns, professor Ana Vila-Concejo from the University of Sydney, told The Independent. Currently, the cyclone is lingering over warmer waters, increasing the chances of further intensification before it reaches the coast. open image in gallery Residents collect sandbags at a depot on Bribie Island, Queensland ( AP ) However, theres also a chance it could weaken earlier. But its still capable of dumping massive amounts of rain, says Iftekhar Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Newcastle. "Cyclone Alfred is a shallow system, meaning it lacks the deep convection required for rapid intensification, he told The Independent. It has been brewing for over 10 days, gaining and losing strength due to fluctuating sea temperatures and cloud cover. The fact that it is moving slowly now could mean it's losing energy, but it will still carry massive amounts of moisture, making flooding a serious threat." Why more storms move slowly now The behaviour of Cyclone Alfred reflects a growing trend seen in tropical storms worldwide. Several hurricanes and cyclones have been found to be lingering far longer than usual. Research shows that tropical cyclones worldwide have slowed by 10 per cent over the past 70 years. While many factors influenced contributing to its unusual track and slow movement, one of the major reasons has been warmer ocean temperatures. Tropical cyclones feed off the warmth of the sea, explains the deeper it is, the more heat the sea can store and radiate, creating the convection currents that form cyclones, explains Dr Ahmed. Sea surface temperatures near Australia are well above normal. Rising global temperatures, driven by burning coal, oil and gas, are increasing sea surface temperatures across the planet, increasing marine heatwaves and fuelling hurricanes and cyclones. This years Atlantic Hurricane Season also saw an extraordinary number of storms with 11 of the 18 developing hurricane strength and five becoming major hurricanes. When Hurricane Milton devastated Florida, scientists found bath-tub hot waters off the coast drove its intensification. Tropical cyclones are clearly linked to global warming, with increasing frequency and magnitude, Dr Ahmed said on Monday. Alfred is also striking further south than usual, impacting northern NSW, an area that has not had a cyclone warning in over 50 years. Alfreds slow movement has already forced major disruptions across Queensland. Gold Coast airport is shut down, flights are cancelled, and thousands are without power. A vast area from the Double Island Point near Kgari in Queensland to Grafton in northern NSW remain under warning. Prime minister Anthony Albanese urged residents to exercise caution, saying that while the cyclone "has slowed up somewhat... that is not all good news". Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice I love your teeth. This line, directed at actor Aimee Lou Wood in the latest season of The White Lotus, was surely written specifically for her. It is, on the face of it, a throwaway comment. Yet it perhaps provides an insight into how Wood beat out thousands of other performers to be cast as Chelsea, a Mancunian yoga teacher-turned-companion to Walton Gogginss bad-tempered older man, Rick. Competition to be part of the hand-picked ensemble in Mike Whites critically acclaimed eat-the-rich drama set at a luxury holiday resort is fierce; the previous two seasons have seen newcomers thrust into the spotlight alongside Hollywood heavyweights. Becoming a member of this exclusive club practically guarantees that your career is about to get supercharged (see Leo Woodall and Meghann Fahy). For Wood, though shed already been well-received for her role in Netflixs four series of Sex Education, her turn in White Lotus is likely to launch her into the stratosphere. And, in a world thats increasingly packed with identikit faces and impossible-to-achieve beauty standards, I couldnt be happier. Wood looks, for want of a better word, real. Like the kind of girl you might see on the treadmill at the gym, or waiting for the kettle to boil in the office kitchen, or standing next to you on the train platform while bopping along to the latest Sabrina Carpenter track. Shes slim and pretty, sure, but her face is at once striking and authentic. This White Lotus teeth compliment is telling because they really are the first thing youre likely to notice about her. Theyre buck teeth, or what might be more affectionately referred to as bunny teeth, the top ones prominent and pushing forward over the lowers. The kind of teeth you never, ever see in Hollywood (or, lets face it, on Love Island), where individuality has been stripped out and replaced by rows upon rows of perfect, straight, bleached veneers devoid of quirk or personality. But Woods swerving of expensive orthodontic work has created her most distinctive, bankable feature, one that is partly to thank for her burgeoning success. Throw in an adorable gap between the two front gnashers, and her smile is utterly disarming. Before shes even said a word, Wood is an immediately likeable character, someoneto whom you cant help but warm. Its what made her such a good fit for Sex Educations sunny optimist Aimee Gibbs, and equally what puts the viewer on chipper Chelseas side right from the jump in The White Lotus. open image in gallery Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea in The White Lotus ( HBO ) Its not just her pearly whites, either: theyre set amid a refreshingly normal face, all huge brown eyes, organic-looking brows, uncontoured cheeks, lips that are naturally full but not pumped to the gills with hyaluronic acid, and a forehead thats mercifully unmarred by filler or Botox. Its a face that can actually move and, yknow, emote always a handy attribute for an actor. This shouldnt be a remarkable state of affairs, and yet it is: an appearance extraordinary enough to mark out Wood as a unique piece of sea glass in an ocean of Hollywood polish. In truth, its so unusual that White Lotus fans have picked up on it, which Wood alluded to in a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter. She explained how she had turned up on the White Lotus set feeling like an outsider: I live in my little flat in southeast London, and Im so British in my sensibility that I wasnt sure how to handle being around so many people who are so front-footed and confident. All I ever do is take the piss out of myself. Even the way [White Lotus fans] are talking about me and my teeth that I dont have veneers or Botox. It feels a bit rebellious. This contrast is explored within the show itself. In episode one, the trio of bitchy, infighting girlfriends who are on a relaxing retreat together played exquisitely by Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon and Leslie Bibb talk in code about the cosmetic work theyve had done. I havent done anything, except for, you know, a little maintenance, the basics, as Monaghan puts it the very language indicating that tweakments and surgery are now the norm, the standard that all women should be adhering to in order to stay one step ahead of the aging process and remain forever young. But its not just about chasing eternal youth anymore. The real cause for concern is the slow creep of the collective striving for one specific style of beauty. This bland, homogenous Instagram face, inspired by a combination of the Kardashians and social media selfie filters, has taught a generation of women we dont pass muster unaided. Weve all been brainwashed to believe that we must achieve the same bland aesthetic to be considered attractive: a smooth, expressionless, racially ambiguous face, shiny and unmoving, with defined cheekbones and impossibly plumped, glossy lips. Its a blank, perfect canvas; its a mask devoid of anything so gauche as emotion. The real cause for concern is the slow creep of the collective striving for one specific style of beauty The impact of this social media ideal is stark. Last summer, cosmetic aesthetics doctor Ed Robinson told Sky News that requests for procedures like dermal filler packages had gone up 12-fold after the most recent series of Love Island aired, with very young women making up a large proportion of wannabe clients. I saw a dramatic increase in younger, mostly women, requesting dermal filler packages, wanting to achieve a Love Island look because they'd seen people on TV, he said. In July 2024, a study by Girlguiding, which polled 2,734 girls and young women, found that just over a quarter of girls aged 11-16 and almost half of those aged 17-21 would contemplate cosmetic alterations to their appearance at some point in the next two decades. The scrutiny of womens appearances hit headlines again this week, when Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown took to Instagram to lambast the media for tearing her down with headlines such as Why are Gen-Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly? and What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face? Thankfully, there is finally some pushback from women in the spotlight. Meghan Trainor has recently been vocal about how much she regrets getting Botox after finding that she cannot smile anymore. Former Love Island contestant Malin Andersson has been outspoken about her belief that cosmetic surgery can become an addiction, saying: I started to develop more body dysmorphia. Id look in the mirror, see my lips, I think they werent big enough. And then I kept repeating it, kept going back for more. open image in gallery Aimee Lou Woods look makes her instantly recognisable (and likeable) ( BBC/Fudge Park Productions/James Stack ) Meanwhile, The Last Showgirl actor Pamela Anderson has been praised for her gorgeous, natural look after showing off a completely makeup-free face for the last five years. Again, this shouldnt be a radical act, yet somehow it is; Anderson has had to explain her choice, saying that makeup doesnt really make sense for her anymore and that going without it feels freeing, and fun, and a little rebellious. Its notable that Wood used that same word to describe simply daring to keep her God-given face as it is: rebellious. It seems that accepting ourselves as we are and not adhering to external pressures to look like everybody else is the ultimate act of defiance for a woman in 2025. And it might just be our secret weapon. As Wood puts it: I spent a lot of my life worrying about being weird. And now Im realising it could be my superpower. This article was originally published on 5 March, 2025 Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Prominent adventurer Andrew Cross has died aged 36 after being involved in a severe car accident in Colorado. Cross, known as Desert Drifter to half a million fans on YouTube, died on Tuesday (4 March) after being treated for a serious brain injury from a 31 January crash. Andrew's spirit is free, surrounded by light and love, the explorer's sister, Jenna Spooner, announced on the CaringBridge website, where a page was set up to share updates on his health. He went to be with the Lord today, March 4 at 10:50 AM MST. It was peaceful and full of love in the room with Evelyn by his side, his parents and close friends nearby, she added. Its a big loss for all of us, and were immensely grateful for your steadfast support and prayers. Throughout all of this, its been our heart to stay full of faith, so we wouldnt look back and wonder what if... Thank you for walking in that with us. Spooner said that the family made the difficult decision to have him taken off life support. Before his death, the doctors put Cross on a mobile ventilator and he walked a loop around the ICU department while the staff lined the hallways to honour him. Then in the room, friends & family read scripture, prayed, and sang during the process of removing life support and for over an hour afterwards. It was peaceful and beautiful, she added. Andrew really lived life to the fullest, and his story & impact isnt over yet. Its been wonderful to get to know him in new ways as weve seen photos and stories shared by so many. We look forward to more of that as we honour a life well lived. Cross, known as Desert Drifter to half a million fans on YouTube , died on Tuesday after being treated for a serious brain injury from a 31 January crash ( YouTube via Desert Drifter ) Colorados Mesa County Coroner's Office confirmed to TMZ that Cross had died from injuries sustained in the two-car accident. Cross was rear-ended at high speed while stationary. After the accident, Crosss wife, Evelyn, shared a video on his YouTube channel, telling subscribers that he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and immediately underwent brain surgery upon arrival at the ER and was fighting for his life. The YouTuber described his vlogging as exploration and adventure with a historical twist, documenting desert tours and mountain climbs, giving subscribers an archaeological insight into the landscapes. Fans have been paying tribute to the YouTuber online, with one person writing on X/Twitter: Thank You to Andrew Cross aka Desert Drifter for bringing us the beautiful and amazing West of the US. Also for showing us a glimpse into a way of life for people who came before us RIP many prayers for his family you will be missed. Another fan added: We will miss you Desert Drifter. No other videos compared to yours. You took us places we could never go on our own. Through your lens we were able to catch a glimpse of the past. You treated every ancient site with the utmost respect. Fly high Andrew. One subscriber added: Evelyn, my condolences to you. Rest in peace, Andrew. Im 74 years old and you took me to adventures that I could have never gone on. Thank you. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The mother of a six-year-old who was diagnosed with cancer after her first symptoms were missed has urged parents to trust their instincts and ask for a second opinion. Kate Hibberd, 42, described her daughter, Meredith, as a tenacious and joyful child, when in April 2023 she started limping. She took her to their local GP surgery where a nurse practitioner said she could be experiencing growing pains in her knee. Meredith was sent to a physiotherapy session but they could not find a cause of her pain and her symptoms were left undiagnosed. In June 2023, she started to develop a lump on her forehead which she felt could have been caused by a bump in the night but Kate noticed it soon started to grow exponentially. Fast-tracked to their local hospital, Meredith received an MRI scan which found cancer was everywhere, from her skull and neck to her stomach and leg, until it was diagnosed as non-Hodgkin lymphoma a treatable cancer with an extremely good prognosis, Kate said. open image in gallery Meredith is a tenacious and joyful child, according to her mother ( Collect/PA Real Life ) Meredith started intensive chemotherapy treatment on what was supposed to be her first week of school but she is responding well and her mother said she is remaining positive and playful despite her situation. Kate, who lives in Dorset with her husband, Stuart, 43, and her son, Jaxon, 12, has also recently established Merediths Mission, a charity in her daughters name, with the aim of supporting children, parents and families going through childhood cancer in Dorset. open image in gallery Kate feels Merediths first symptoms of cancer were missed ( Collect/PA Real Life ) Growing pains shouldnt be taken lightly in children, it shouldnt be dismissed and overlooked, Kate told PA Real Life. Trust your instinct, you know your child better than anyone else on the planet and if you dont speak for them, they cant. While I feel like we had a good experience, Merediths first symptoms were missed and not picked up so always ask for a second opinion, push for further answers. open image in gallery Meredith started chemotherapy the week she was supposed to start school ( Collect/PA Real Life ) Kate first noticed her daughter starting limping in April 2023 but the mother-of-two said she didnt think too much of it. She didnt complain about it, it didnt stop her in any way I thought maybe she just bashed it but I wasnt overly concerned at the time, Kate said. As Merediths limp persisted, Kate took her to their local GP surgery. I was seen by a nurse practitioner who thought it could be growing pains in her knee and they referred us to a physiotherapist, Kate said. They didnt know what it was, they couldnt find anything wrong. open image in gallery Meredith first developed a limp in April 2023 ( Collect/PA Real Life ) A few months later in June 2023, Kate said Meredith developed a swelling on her forehead. She told me she bumped it during the night and I thought sometimes these little bumps take a long time to come down, she said. I thought it was going down for a while but then it looked like it was actually getting bigger. open image in gallery Meredith dyed her hair the colours of the rainbow before it fell out due to her cancer treatment ( Collect/PA Real Life ) Kate sent a photo of her daughters forehead to their local GP surgery who became concerned and called a local hospital, and Meredith was soon fast-tracked to their paediatric unit. It was quite shocking because this lump was growing exponentially, her whole forehead was out of shape and this thing was rapid, Kate said. An ultrasound was taken on Merediths lump in August 2023 where it was discovered she had cancer. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms NHS The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a painless swelling in a lymph node, usually in the neck, armpit or groin. Other symptoms can include: night sweats unintentional weight loss a high temperature (fever) feelings of breathlessness persistent itching of the skin all over the body They didnt know what kind of cancer it was, all her blood tests were normal and she hadnt been unwell, Kate said. They scanned her body in an MRI machine and found a massive cancer in her leg, which is why she was limping. Kate added the cancer was also present in Merediths sinuses, skull, stomach, and the lymph nodes in her neck, saying it was everywhere. We thought they were going to tell us were really sorry but its not good news, Kate said. open image in gallery Kate has established Merediths Mission, a charity in her daughters name ( Collect/PA Real Life ) It was the worst time of our lives, we just didnt know what to expect. Meredith had a biopsy on the tumour in her stomach before several subsequent bone marrow biopsies eventually revealed her diagnosis as non-Hodgkin lymphoma in August 2023. They told us this is a very treatable form of cancer with an extremely good prognosis, she said. We just felt like wed been handed the best card in the whole world which is bizarre, we just felt so lucky. open image in gallery Meredith was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in August 2023 ( Collect/PA Real Life ) Meredith started an intensive course of chemotherapy in the days following her diagnosis in September 2023 which she will finish in January 2026, with Kate saying she is on a similar treatment plan to an adult with the disease. She started treatment the week she was supposed to start school, Kate said. She had the Red Devil chemotherapy, I felt sick watching it go in as I knew what it was and its going into my four-year-old. Despite the challenges, Kate praised her young daughter for the way she has handled her diagnosis and treatment. Kids are quite an enigma around this whole cancer thing, she said. open image in gallery Meredith with her wig from The Little Princess Trust ( Collect/PA Real Life ) They live for the day and they dont worry about tomorrow or dwell on the day before. Merediths tenacity, her ability to be playful and joyful would pull Stuart and I out of a hole sometimes. Kate has recently established a charity in her daughters name, Merediths Mission, which is still in the crowdfunding stage, with the aim of supporting children, parents and families going through childhood cancer in Dorset. Ultimately, we want to improve childrens experiences who are going through cancer and help to relieve the financial pressure on the parents and families, Kate said. The charity has Merediths energy and when we do fundraising things, it will be with her input. To find out more, visit the Just Giving page. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Millie Bobby Brown isnt actually Millie Bobby Brown. In an interview with her Electric State co-star, Chris Pratt, the 21-year-old actor revealed that she changed her middle name. My middle name is Bonnie, she told Pratt, 45, during the conversation with BuzzFeed UK. Pratt then asked if her full name was therefore Millie Bobby Bonnie Brown, to which she responded: No, its not Bobby. To Pratts surprise, she proceeded to explain that her real name was, in fact, Millie Bonnie Brown. I never told anyone that, she said. You heard it here first. Your middle name is Bonnie but you changed to Bobby for...? Pratt asked. Just for s***s and giggles, she replied. Millie Bobby Brown has revealed her middle name is actually Bonnie ( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images ) When Pratt asked if she changed her name for it to be her stage name, Brown said yes. No s****! the Guardians of the Galaxy star added. Last year, Brown revealed a different change she made to her name. After her wedding to Jake Bongiovi in May 2024, she announced that she had taken his last name. On Instagram at the time, she shared photos from the set of her fifth and final season of Stranger Things, which included a blackboard with her married name: Millie Bobby Brown Bongiovi. Earlier this week, Brown called out the recent disturbing press coverage of her physical appearance, slamming tabloids for bullying her. In a video on her Instagram, she cited headlines from stories criticizing her face, hair, and body, and called out the writers by name. I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny, her post began. I started in this industry when I was 10 years old, Brown said. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people cant seem to grow with me. Instead, they act like Im supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things Season 1. And because I dont, Im now a target. After reading the headlines about her aging so badly, she hit back at some of the authors and accused them of being so desperate to tear young women down. This isn't journalism. This is bullying, the Enola Holmes star continued. The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices is disturbing. And the fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young but when it comes down to it, it seems a lot easier to just tear them down for clicks. Disillusioned people can't handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not their own. She concluded: Why is it the knee-jerk reaction to say something horrible rather than just say something nice? If you have a problem with that, I have to wonder, what is it that actually makes you so uncomfortable? Let's do better, not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without the fear of being torn apart for simply existing. Last week, Brown also shared a headline on Instagram from a British Vogue article, which addressed how critics claimed shes looking older than ever after she recently dyed her hair blonde. Re-sharing the Vogue article on her Instagram Story, Brown added simply: @britishvogue, thank you. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A pilots unique attempt to shoot his shot with a passenger at the airport has gone viral. Steph Bohrer posted a video on TikTok on Wednesday, where she shared a note that a pilot dropped on her table before walking away. Im sitting at the airport and a pilot just placed this on my table & walked away, she wrote on top of the clip. The note was written on a brown paper napkin and while it did have a signature, the name did not appear to be legible. I have seen the whole world and you are the most beautiful human in it, the note read. Bohrer then admitted in her TikToks caption that she never saw the pilots face. As of Thursday morning, her video has been viewed over 12 million times. Many people turned to the comments section to speculate about why the pilot left the note without including his name or phone number. Hes probably married with 5 kids, one comment read, while another agreed, he didn't leave a number because he's someone's husband. I feel like he just carries a STACK of these in his pocket, a third commenter wrote. However, others were more optimistic, suggesting it may have simply been a sweet compliment without expecting anything in return. open image in gallery In the comments section, not everyone was convinced about the pilot's intentions ( TikTok ) Its the way he just wanted to tell you with no strings attached to the compliment, one comment read. Another commenter agreed, writing, And no phone number? he was just being nice to be nice omgggg. Last month, another plane passenger went viral for a less pleasant interaction. Chase Cangelosi was flying from Mexico City back home to Austin, Texas, when he noticed a woman was sitting in his assigned window seat on the flight. He recounted the entire story on Threads. I mention to the woman who was in my seat heyyy Im seat F, and she says Im more comfortable here. I said nothing else and sat in the middle, he wrote. However, he said that a few minutes later, the woman discovered that the television screen attached to the seat in front of her didnt work, so she then asked Cangelosi to switch seats with her. A few minutes later, she discovered her seat TV didnt work, while everyone elses did. She asked to switch back and I said No, Im comfortable here. Now Im watching Bobs Burgers and she just has to look out the nighttime window. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A woman refused to attend her sisters destination wedding after discovering that her familys $22,000 loan to the bride was actually spent on the grooms family. In a recent post shared to the popular Am I The A**hole? Reddit forum, a woman asked if she was in the wrong for dropping out of her sister Katies and her fiance Chriss wedding in Dubai. She said her sister has always wanted an extravagant wedding, and it is happening over four days. The woman, who was the maid-of-honor, explained that there would be 70 guests, including her husband and her parents. Everyone was expected to stay at the same hotel as the wedding party. With the hotel and flight to Dubai, guests are paying about 2900 ($3,740) each. The grooms family includes his parents, two brothers, and nephew all of whom are staying at the hotel. According to the Reddit user, they are well off; however, the pair still asked the brides family to borrow money. Six months ago, Chris and Katie came to us and asked to borrow 17,000 [$21,900], the woman wrote. She continued: They stressed it would be a loan paid over time, and said the venue had increased the price, Dubai law was different blah blah blah they paid this money or they lost the lot. The former maid-of-honor offered her sister 7,000 ($9,028) while her parents lent them the remaining 10,000 ($12,898). The bride-to-be is getting married in Dubai ( Getty Images ) However, the woman learned through the grapevine that the loan wasnt for the venue; it was actually for Chriss family to fly to Dubai. She said that once his family saw the cost of the wedding, they refused to go. When the Reddit user confronted her sister about her lie, she said: She got very defensive and said this was the fairest way she could think of doing it, its hard enough planning a wedding, etc. But when I asked, if you genuinely thought this was the fairest way to do it, why did you lie about what the 17k was for and say it was a venue issue? She couldnt answer. While the brides parents are very disappointed about Katie and Chriss lie, they still plan to attend the wedding. However, her sister said that she has backed out of the event. To me it feels like my parents are being taken advantage of and if they couldnt afford to pay for both our and Chriss parents and his brothers and nephew then they shouldnt have just paid for the four parents or no one at all, she wrote about the bride and groom. And they especially shouldnt have lied about it. She noted that Katie and Chris have been calling her since she backed out, urging her to attend the wedding and accusing her of ruining their day. In an edit to the post, she made a few clarifications, noting that she has a repayment plan for the loan in a contract drawn up by her husbands brother. According to the contract, the bride and groom have to pay her and her parents back within 12 months of the wedding. She noted that despite what happened, asking for her money back now felt like a step too far, since she didnt want to actively try to ruin the wedding a few weeks before the big day. The Reddit post has quickly gained traction, with more than 6,700 upvotes. In the comments, many people defended the brides sister as they questioned the couple for having such an expensive wedding in Dubai in the first place. If it was important to have the families there, then why are they doing this extravagant weddingfour days!!in Dubai, of all places? Why not someplace closer and less expensive for travel, one wrote. It's unfortunate that they felt the need to have such an extravagant destination wedding when a local, or closer, wedding could be just as lovely. And it's hard to have fun and celebrate when a huge loan is hanging over your head, another added. Many people also criticized the couple for lying about why they needed the loan. They lied to get money from you and your parents, and not a small sum, thousands of pounds. It's super shady of them to do that, technically it's fraud. They're the ones who put a damper on their wedding by being liars, one wrote. I would take a similar stand against the lie they told you and your parents. [Katie and Chris] essentially extorted money from you under false pretenses, to subsidize her in-laws travel. Thats not right and it sets a terrible tone for the start of the marriage, another advised. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Englands dentists warn that without a serious increase in government funding and an overhaul of contracts, NHS dentistry could cease to exist when the April tax hike forcing more practices to go private to make ends meet. Shiv Pabary, chair of the British Dental Associations General Dental Practice Committee, said: The future of NHS dentistry is in [Chancellor] Rachel Reevess hands. Dr Pabary said dentists have been struggling for years to and cover rapidly rising costs with no substantial increase to NHS funding, and Aprils increase to National Insurance contributions could force many more dentists to abandon NHS dentistry altogether. It's going to be horrendous for many practices, he said. And it's a political choice, it really is, if they want NHS dentistry to exist. Because genuinely, I've been in this for 40 years, I think it faces an existential crisis. It comes as the Liberal Democrats urged the government to exempt the health and social care sector from the National Insurance contribution increase coming in April, saying pharmacists, dentists and other health and care providers will face a combined 3 billion tax hike in the next financial year. open image in gallery The number of dentists providing NHS services is falling ( PA Wire ) Figures from the NHS Business Services Authority show that over the past five years the number of dentists providing NHS services has fallen, from 24,676 in 2019/2020 to 24,193 in 2023/24. Over the same time, fewer adults and children have seen a dentist within the recommended timeframe, which is affecting the nations dental health: in 2023, NHS data showed more five-to-nine-year-olds were going to hospital for tooth extractions than to get their tonsils out. Most dentists provide a mix of NHS and private dental services, but a survey of BDA members from last year found many dentists were also reducing the amount of NHS dentistry they did. Some, Dr Pabary said, were walking away from the NHS altogether and going totally private. It really is crucial within the spring Spending Review, when [Chancellor Rachel Reeves] is thinking about this, to think whether she really wants NHS dentistry to exist, because it is going to need additional funding, Dr Pabary said. Last month Englands chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty told the Public Accounts Committee the NHS dental system was very weak and has got weaker over time, and outgoing NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard agreed the current contract for NHS dental services was not fit for purpose. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: This government inherited a situation where hundreds of thousands of people are unable to get urgent dental care. We are rebuilding NHS dentistry but it will take time. We have started by delivering on our commitment of an extra 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments to help those who need it most and we will reform the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services to patients. Vijay Sudra is among the minority (roughly 15 per cent) of dentists that only provide NHS treatments, eschewing the sexy stuff of private cosmetic treatments for the basics of dentistry. open image in gallery Dentist Vijay Sudra has been providing only NHS care for about three decades, but says hes facing a tipping point ( Supplied ) For me, that's what dentistry is about. It's about alleviating dental pain, fixing broken teeth, said Dr Sudra, who has treated people who, like him, grew up on the wrong side of the railroad tracks in Birmingham for about 30 years. For me, money has never been a driver, never: not interested, Dr Sudra said. But it's now getting to the point where it's just not viable. The problem is managing ever-rising expenses from the same envelope of funding from the NHS, and Dr Sudra said while he supports the increase to the minimum living wage it will add thousands to his monthly wages bill when combined with the higher National Insurance contributions. The only way I'm going to address this, if the government doesn't support me, is either sell up or get out, he said, adding he worries for his community. It's with a heavy heart, but I think I'd walk away from it. On March 26, the Chancellor will deliver an economic statement, which is expected to either set out minor changes or provide further details on upcoming spending plans. Liberal Democrats health and social care spokesperson Helen Morgan said Ms Reeves should use the statement to scrap the National Insurance increase for health and care providers, which will add an additional $15.7 billion to their tax bills over the next five years. Social care is on its knees, wait times for GPs are still through the roof, and dental deserts seemingly span the length of the country, yet ministers now risk only prolonging this misery with these increased costs, she said. Rachel Reeves has just one month to save health and social care from this jobs tax bombshell. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The violent misogyny promoted by controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate fuelled Kyle Cliffords murderous attacks on his ex-partner and her family, a court heard. Prosecutors said the triple killer searched for Tates podcast less than 24 hours before he killed Louise, Carol and Hannah Hunt on 9 July last year. Suggesting the link between the search for Tates podcast and the murders, as well as the rape of Louise, Alison Morgan KC said: Its misogynistic, trying to control Louise Hunt in the context of a final act of spite. You can see how the mind was working. Tate, alongside his brother Tristan Tate, are facing criminal proceedings in both Romania and the UK on charges such as human trafficking and rape which both men unequivocally deny while a criminal investigation has recently been launched into the pair in Florida. open image in gallery Kyle Clifford has not attended Cambridge Crown Court for his trial ( PA ) Mr Justice Bennathan ruled the jury at Cambridge Crown Court could not hear evidence regarding the killers searches about Tate, saying it was deeply prejudicial to his rape trial because the influencer was almost a poster boy for misogynists. He told the court: It may well be that one who takes a close interest in Tate, other than law enforcement officials, could be seen as a misogynist. In his ruling, the judge said: In conversation with an acquaintance the defendant made reference to watching an Andrew Tate video and was online looking at Tate or some of his outpourings, the day before the murders and the alleged rape. The prosecution suggest the sort of violent misogyny promoted by Tate is the same type of motivation that, on their case, fuelled both the murders and the rape. The defence submit this material has too vague a link and is far too prejudicial. open image in gallery A court sketch of Kyle Clifford appearing via video link during an earlier hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court ( Liz Cook/PA ) Ruling that the jury should not hear the evidence about Tate, Mr Justice Bennathan continued: My reasons for excluding this evidence are twofold. First, it lacks any direct impact on the evidence in this trial or the count the defendant faces. Second, it is deeply prejudicial. Tate is almost a poster boy for misogynists and one, in addition, who is very much in the news at the moment as he has been allowed to leave Romania, and there is speculation in the media that he was able to do so with the assistance of the new government in power in the United States of America. I have no idea if there is any truth at all to that claim, but the fact it has been asserted means Tate may be back in the news during the currency of this short trial. On the twin grounds of limited relevance and great possible prejudice, I exclude that material. The prosecution argued the material Clifford was searching showed how he views women and why sexualised violence is an important part of the attack. Ms Morgan told the court: On any sensible view, back in 2024 and now, he was a widely known misogynist. Thats what he was searching less than 24 hours before he was trying to get into the Hunt family home. He was searching for an Andrew Tate podcast. Its misogynistic, trying to control Louise Hunt in the context of a final act of spite. You can see how the mind was working. Its how he views women and why sexualised violence is an important part of the attack. Relationships are part of the story but it really does come to a head through that search as someone who sees the world through that viewpoint. Jurors took just 45 minutes on Thursday to find Clifford, 26, guilty of raping Louise. He had previously admitted to stabbing Carol to death and killing her daughters in the crossbow attack at the family home in Bushey, but denied raping his former partner. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A charity has warned that extreme pornography is leading to online sexual offending as Britons become desensitised to legal content. Research into the habits of 2,500 adults found that more than 40 per cent watch pornography, according to a survey commissioned by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation. More than a quarter say that their consumption has become more frequent and one in five admit the sexual content they view has become more extreme or aggressive over time. The child sexual abuse prevention charity has warned this escalation can lead to viewing illegal images online after a quarter of online offenders who used their confidential hotline in 2023 admitted to having a problem with porn. More than 275,000 Brits sought support from the charitys Stop It Now services in 2024 due to concerns about their own or someone elses online sexual behaviour towards children. A married man in his 30s revealed he was placed on the sex offenders register after his porn addiction escalated from mainstream content into viewing child sexual abuse images. He said viewing legal porn had been an addiction for as long as he could remember but slowly got worse. As the internet got faster, and porn more abundant, I only got worse and craved more, he said. I had the knock on the door while I was at home with my wife. At first I thought a family member had died and the police were here to break the news to me. The news that my offending had been caught out was terrifying and crushing, for both me and my wife. After child sexual abuse images were found on his device he was handed a conditional discharge and placed on the sex offenders register for two years. After calling the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, he was also referred to complete a course and now says he is two years sober from pornography. open image in gallery The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has found one in five adults surveyed admitted the porn they view has grown more extreme over time Dr Alexandra Bailey, head of psychology at the charity and associate professor at the University of Roehampton, said people who develop a tolerance for certain types of porn can end up going in search of more hardcore content which could be illegal. She said: "It may sound a bit extreme to suggest that escalating pornography habits can lead people to offending online and viewing child sexual abuse material, but sadly it's true and something helpline advisers at Stop It Now see every single day. "We see people who go from watching legal pornography to watching more and more extreme content online. "In these instances, the individual builds a tolerance to the content they're watching, becoming desensitised to legal adult pornography, which leads them to seek out more extreme material to achieve the same level of gratification - in some circumstances this includes illegal child sexual abuse material. "It's important that people can recognise when a relationship with pornography develops into something more problematic." The charity is encouraging anyone who is worried about their own behaviour or that of someone they know to seek help, warning it causes serious harm to real children as well as life-changing consequences for offenders. The polling comes a week after a review into pornography concluded that free and easily accessible online content "has become increasingly violent, degrading and misogynistic". The government vowed to clamp down on pornography which shows women being choked after the review - by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin - found such content can have "devastating" real-world consequences. open image in gallery Tech secretary Peter Kyle said he would not hesitate to adapt the law over if necessary following Baroness Bertins report ( PA Wire ) Non-fatal strangulation is already an offence in its own right, but it is not illegal to show it online. Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson, from the National Police Chiefs' Council, said: "Online child abuse sadly continues to grow in prevalence and severity, enabled by new technology that makes accessing child abuse material increasingly easier. "The work of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation is fundamental in intercepting those who do or could pose a risk to children, and I would encourage anyone who is worried about their online behaviour to get help now, don't let it escalate. "Protecting children from harm is a responsibility we all share, and whilst policing works every day to target the most harmful criminals intent on abusing children online, we must see greater action from technology companies to regulate and control access to the content on their platforms." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hundreds of pupils were placed in lockdown after their school received a threatening email overnight. Children were not allowed to leave Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Gateshead after the threats were reported to police on Thursday morning. Northumbria Police said it had received a report of "malicious communications" and some schools had gone into voluntary lockdown as a "precautionary measure after a number of threats to primary and secondary schools just before 9am. A force spokesperson told The Independent: "Officers are currently in attendance to carry out enquiries and offer reassurance to the public. "A decision has been made by some of the schools involved to go into a voluntary lockdown as a precautionary measure." Detectives are not linking the emails to other threats sent to schools across Birmingham in recent days. Cardinal Hume School said police had advised parents to not come to the school as increased numbers on site could add to any potential danger. It is since believed the pupils affected have continued their school days as normal after the threats were deemed not credible. Shared success, integrated future: China FAW and Audi AG co-author a new chapter of 'China-crafted intelligence' in the AI era People's Daily Online) 15:56, March 06, 2025 With the arrival of 2025, the digital-intelligent "battle" initiated by Chinese automotive brands has reached a pivotal phase. China's automotive industry has achieved a historic leap - transitioning from "trading market access for technology" to "defining global standards through technology." Against this backdrop, the question of how joint ventures, a longstanding pillar of China's automotive sector, can sustain their legacy of high-quality development has emerged as a critical focal point for the industry. Photo shows the Audi-FAW NEV production base in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online) Propelled by the era's urgent call for answers, we embarked on a quest to Changchun, hailed as the "cradle of New China's modern automotive industry," to chart new pathways for collaborative ascent among joint venture brands. This city not only birthed the nation's first independently produced automobile, but also nurtured its first homegrown international luxury automotive brand. Here, we sought insights that might illuminate a path forward for this new era. Genesis of a legend: China FAW and Audi AG's 37-year journey of high-quality growth On May 17, 1988, China FAW and Audi AG signed China's first luxury vehicle technology transfer agreement in Changchun - a landmark moment in the nation's automotive history. Numerous blueprints and technical documents were transported from Audi AG's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany, to Changchun. With the launch of the first Audi 100, the city pioneered China's domestic luxury automotive sector, democratizing access to premium vehicles for millions. Building on this foundation, FAW and Audi keenly understood Chinese consumers' demand for spacious interiors. In 1999, the A6 (C5) debuted as the first long-wheelbase luxury sedan in China, achieving resounding success. To this day, the "L" designation remains one of the market's cornerstone selling points. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online) This year, FAW Audi's cumulative sales in China are about to exceed the 10-million vehicle milestone. The joint venture now operates eight major facilities nationwide, including three R&D and testing hubs, four production bases, and a marketing center located in the "Digital City" of Hangzhou. Together, these operations have created nearly 500,000 full-chain employment opportunities and achieved a cumulative tax payment of over 700 billion yuan (over $96.67 billion) within the entire system. It can be said that the strategic cooperation between China FAW and Audi AG has revealed the key to the success of joint ventures in the past: the creation of a "Chinese model" that fosters deep integration between local ecology and multinational automakers. A new paradigm in partnership: The Sino-German intelligent manufacturing consortium reinvents collaboration Today, with the new landscape brought about by industrial technology upgrades, Audi AG and China FAW have leveraged their decades of synergistic collaboration and unparalleled understanding of the Chinese market and users to complete construction of their first premium NEV production base in Changchun within just three years. This accelerates the localization of the PPE platform (Premium Platform Electric Audi's premium EV platform co-developed with Porsche) in China, meeting Chinese users' higher demands for intelligence and electrification with a new model of "German quality manufacturing + Chinese intelligent manufacturing." (Photo provided to People's Daily Online) This global factory, jointly invested in by Audi and FAW at a cost of over 20 billion yuan, will produce the Audi Q6L e-tron and a China-specific Audi A6L e-tron, which comprises deeply integrated localized R&D tailored to Chinese users' actual needs. In parallel, it collaborates with Huawei to create a high-end intelligent driving system, endowing the legendary quattro technology, which has dominated tracks and urban roads for 45 years, with the most advanced digital mindset. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A triple killer has been found guilty of raping his ex-partner before murdering her with a crossbow in an attack less than 24 hours after he watched misogynistic Andrew Tate videos. Jurors took just 45 minutes to find Kyle Clifford, 26, guilty of raping Louise Hunt in a violent, sexual act of spite over their breakup before killing her, her sister and her mother. He had previously admitted to stabbing Carol Hunt, 61, with a butchers knife and shooting Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, with a crossbow at the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, but denied raping his former partner. Clifford was tried in his absence at Cambridge Crown Court after refusing to leave his cell at HMP Belmarsh. Cries of yes were heard in the public gallery as the guilty verdict was returned on Thursday, with another woman weeping as the verdict was announced. The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, said Clifford's crimes were "dreadful" and were "almost unspeakable". open image in gallery Jurors took just 45 minutes to find triple killer Kyle Clifford, 26, guilty of raping Louise Hunt ( Hertfordshire Police/PA ) The trial heard how the former soldier became enraged and carefully planned the attack on 9 July last year after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. Prosecutors said the violent misogyny promoted by controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate fuelled his attack after he searched for Tates podcast less than 24 hours before the murders. Clifford gained access to the family home by deceiving Carol, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, before stabbing her to death in a brutal knife attack. He then lay in wait for an hour for Louise to enter the house, before restraining, raping and ultimately murdering her with a crossbow. He also shot Hannah, a beautician, with the weapon when she returned to the property in the quiet cul-de-sac of Ashlyn Close in Bushey, Hertfordshire, after work. Police launched a manhunt for the killer and eventually found him injured in Lavender Hill Cemetery in Enfield, north London, after he shot himself in the chest with the crossbow. He was left paralysed from the chest down. In January, he admitted to three counts of murder, one of false imprisonment against Louise, and two counts of possession of offensive weapons the crossbow and the knife. open image in gallery John Hunt and Carol Hunt, Hannah Hunt (top right) and Louise Hunt (bottom right) ( Supplied ) The court heard that customers of Louises dog grooming business, based in a pod in the Hunt familys garden, were using the gate at the side of the house not realising what was happening when Carol was murdered. The jury panel was told a faint scream could be heard from the address shortly after Louise entered the house, and she was found to have been restrained with tape at the wrists and ankles. Hannah is heard on audio at the Hunt family home saying, Kyle, I swear to God, after returning home and finding Clifford in the house, the court heard. She then sent a panicked message to her partner, Alex Klein, telling him: Call police immediately. To mine. Now. Kyle here. Police now. Hes tying us up. The court heard how the killer hid the fact he had relationships with other women during his time with Louise and was signed up to online dating sites Hinge and Bumble. Louises friends and family hoped that the relationship would come to an end after they became concerned about the way Clifford treated her. The jury was told Louise had shared with her friends that he had a nasty temper and that he behaved in an aggressive manner, with her sister Hannah deeming him to be disrespectful, rude and arrogant. open image in gallery Clifford, 26, was left paralysed from the chest down after he shot himself with the crossbow in the aftermath of the horrifying murders ( Hertfordshire Police/PA Wire ) Louise made a note on her phone five days before the murders titled When youre sad, look, which set out how Clifford was racist, had commented he did not like transgender people and had used belittling language. Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said that in the days leading up to the attacks, Clifford had searched for how to purchase a crossbow and had accessed pornography, including a video of former HMP Wandsworth prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu, who admitted having sex with a prisoner last year. Three days before he launched his attack he purchased a Hori-Zone Kornet MXT-405 compound crossbow, a pack of six crossbow bolts and a rope-cocking device. He also ordered a 219 CO2 Glock air pistol, but it was not delivered. On the day of the killings, Cliffords sister had messaged when she realised he had taken the crossbow out with him, demanding: What are you playing at? He told her he was doing nothing illegal and that he was shooting it in his friends back garden. open image in gallery Police issued a picture of the crossbow used by triple Kyle Clifford ( Hertfordshire Police/PA Wire ) Lisa Kiff, a senior crown prosecutor with the CPS, said Cliffords crimes are among the very worst I have encountered in my career. We hope some solace can be found in todays verdict and that they feel justice has been secured for Carol, Hannah, and Louise, she said. Hertfordshire Police detective chief inspector Nick Gardner said Clifford's failure to attend his trial was an "absolute act of cowardice". The judge had attempted to accommodate the killer by trying the case at an accessible court for his wheelchair needs and allowing him to attend via video link to give evidence. Mr Gardner said: "He has put the family through the ordeal of the trial, he has created everything that's happened over this past week and failing to show his face is completely cowardly." Clifford will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice For years, Helen believed she had found a true partner in John Barker. A fellow Greenpeace activist, he seemed as committed as she was to tackling the climate crisis. They moved in together, spoke about having children, and built a life. Then, after two years, Johns behaviour suddenly became erratic. One day, without warning, he left, telling her he needed to sort his head out. Nearly two decades later, Helen learned the shocking truth John Barker never existed. He was, in fact, an undercover Metropolitan Police officer, assigned to infiltrate activist groups by building intimate relationships with unsuspecting women. This isnt an accident or an isolated case of a rogue officer, as they first tried to portray it, Helen said. This is institutional sexism being handed from officer to officer how to deceive women into relationships and use them for cover, for sex, or whatever purpose they were using us for. Helen is one of five women who speak out in a new ITV documentary exposing the full scale of the Spycops scandal, which saw officers embed themselves in progressive political groups stealing the identities of deceased children to create new aliases, fathering children with activists, and vanishing when their cover was at risk. open image in gallery Helen had planned a future with John Barker, real name John Dines, until he abruptly disappeared ( Police Spies out of Lives ) Taking place over more than 40 years, from 1968 to at least 2010, the operation is now the subject of a decade-long public inquiry that has already cost 88m and is due to conclude in 2026. Speaking to reporters at the Bafta institution, Helen said: We originally started as eight women who dated five officers, a period spanning 25 years. That really shows the systematic nature of it. Now, through the public inquiry, we know there are at least 60 women and we dont even have all the cover names of the officers. This is a really serious problem that does need tackling, and we hope that this documentary helps raise the profile of the issue. For Alison, the first signs something was wrong came when she found a bank card in her partners jacket pocket. It had a different name on it Mark Jenner. From 1995 to 2000, she had been in love with Mark Cassidy, a joiner from Birkenhead. He had told her a tragic story about his childhood his parents had died, he had no family left which explained why she never met any of them. Alison captured their life together on film: home videos, family weddings, holidays. He had lied to her grandmother about his background, played with her nieces and nephews, and had been in the front row of her mothers wedding photos. Then one day, he disappeared. open image in gallery Alison was in a relationship with a man she believed to be Mark Cassidy, real name Mark Jenner, for five years ( Police Spies Out of Lives ) Through her own investigations, Alison discovered that Mark Cassidy was in fact a police officer working for the Mets Special Demonstration Squad. He had a wife and children. It is believed he had been tasked with spying on the Colin Roach Centre, an organisation that campaigned against police corruption and promoted trade union and anti-fascist politics. The public inquiry has since uncovered that more than 1,000 political groups were infiltrated by undercover officers ranging from the anti-Vietnam War movement and the black power movement to trade unions and left-leaning legal groups. Lisa met Mark Stone through her work as an environmental campaigner. Over six years, he became a central part of her life. He went on holidays with her family, attended her fathers funeral, and was a devoted partner. But during a trip to the Dolomites in 2010, she made a horrifying discovery. Inside his vans glovebox, she found a passport with a different name Mark Kennedy. On his phone, she found emails from two children who called him Dad. It was Lisas discovery that blew the Spycops scandal wide open. The fallout led to the collapse of a major trial, quashing the convictions of activists who had been prosecuted for conspiring to break into the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. As more information emerged, the revelations grew even more explosive. The Guardian reported on the officers systematic deception, but it was whistleblower Peter Francis who changed everything exposing how police had spied on the campaign for justice for Stephen Lawrence, the Black teenager murdered by racists in 1993. In response, then-home secretary Theresa May announced a public inquiry in 2015, calling the revelations profoundly shocking and disturbing. open image in gallery Lisa on holiday with undercover police officer Mark Kennedy ( Police Spies Out of Lives ) Due to air on three Thursdays on ITV1 and ITVX, The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed will see five women speaking on camera for the first time, hoping to ensure that the abuses they suffered are never repeated. The inquiry has faced intense criticism for its delays, with long gaps between hearings. The next phase of evidence will not be heard until this autumn. Were hoping this documentary shows the depth and breadth of what has been done to us over decades of deception by people who were lying and continue to lie, one woman said. We got involved because we want to make sure it never happens again, and we hope people who see it will make that change, Alison added. Once the inquiry has concluded, the findings will be presented to the home secretary, although the women have been warned this is unlikely to be until 2026. The interim report for the first section of the inquiry found that undercover tactics were unjustified in many cases. The documentary is produced by RAW, the team behind The Tinder Swindler, The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman, and American Nightmare. Jo Clinton-Davis, ITVs controller of factual programming, said: When I first learned about this story, I was determined it needed to be made for a TV audience and made for ITV. That these five women finally agreed to give ITV and RAW up-close and personal access is testament to their courage and resilience. They have been up against a state-sponsored operation, and with many of them turning detective, such a twist in the story could be the stuff of a thriller except this is all too shockingly true. Its a British scandal of real significance. The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed airs on Thursday 6th, 13th & 20th March, 9pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player. Something I am still fighting to know is, why was it me? Lisa* is speaking over Zoom, with her camera turned off a tool to protect her anonymity and take back a morsel of control more than a decade after becoming police property. Was he just given free rein? Was it his choice? Was I someone convenient? Was it that he really was attracted to me, so that it worked out? Was he given my name by someone else? Was I a target? Lisa, 50, was a target though how exactly that played out in paperwork will perhaps never be known. In 2011, when she was 37, she discovered that her loving six-year relationship had been orchestrated by the Metropolitan Police; that her boyfriend, Mark Stone real name Mark Kennedy was an undercover spy. Everything shed felt, and felt to be true, had been a lie. She is one of 60 women who were victims of the so-called spy cops scandal. Officers working for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) under the Metropolitan Police Special Branch ran a covert operation, spying on the lives of thousands of citizens for more than four decades. Around 140 police officers were sent to spy on 1,000 political groups, concocting elaborate fake personas as committed activists to compile damning dossiers on mostly left-wing, progressive groups like Greenpeace; they even used the names of 80 dead babies to carry out their surveillance. To anyone listening to Lisas story the long years she spent in a relationship with Kennedy, which drew out over the course of her thirties, and over significant, painful events in her life the basic details are shocking enough. Kennedy accompanied her to her fathers funeral, where he met and lied to her entire family, playing the supportive boyfriend that he never was. They were, Lisa believed, in love a simple thing, and Kennedys cruellest weapon, all part of the plot. Actually, I didnt have the free will to be in love, she explains. None of the women involved did. In fact, they were manipulated into intimate, sexual relationships, their lives invaded and forever changed by a government-endorsed tactic to spy on political groups who posed no real threat to the state at all. Undercover officers, most of whom like Kennedy were married, were encouraged to sleep with activists, a landmark tribunal case brought by one victim, Kate Wilson, heard in 2021. This week, five of the women involved will speak on camera for the first time, in a new documentary by ITV and ITVX, The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed. Theyre a formidable group, bound by terrible secrets and shared trauma who, together, tell a chilling story that they say is far from over. Lisa first met Mark when she was 29, when he became involved with a social community centre for environmental campaigners she was part of. Her friends trusted him so, naturally, so did she. Their tight-knit lobby group became social he came to parties at her house, they went on climbing trips together and began seeing each other a short time later. open image in gallery Helen, Alison and Naomi, whose stories are all featured in The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed ( ITV ) She loved him totally, completely, more than anyone, shes said in the past. I thought I knew him better than anyone else knew him. He would often be away on weekends or on long trips, sometimes for three months at a time for work but, still, they were closer than close and rarely argued. Lisa later learnt that undercover police like Kennedy were given training from a textbook to learn how to manipulate women like her: It was only afterwards that I heard the word mirroring, she says. Kennedy would imitate her interests, body language and values to gain trust. Any common ground was ultimately hollow, any conflict artificially resolved. When they did argue, it was when he wasnt able to be around, when I needed him. Kennedy heartlessly accompanied her to her fathers funeral, but weeks later told Lisa that he couldnt be by her side to scatter his ashes. In disclosure documents she has seen during the long, ongoing inquiry into the scandal, Ive since seen authorisations given to him about attending my fathers funeral, she explains. When I wanted him to come and help me with my dads ashes, his authorisation was refused. The mundanity of their lives together is all documented in official police files. Anyone with whom Kennedy happened to form a basic relationship during the course of his investigation, like Lisas friends and family, was coldly marked up as collateral intrusion. She recalls a time that Kennedy told Lisa he was going to watch the Tour de France, and came back with a set of Le Creuset pans for her, which prompted a whole discussion between him and his handler about giving me this present, she explains. open image in gallery Activist Kate Wilson was one of the first women who were targeted to seek legal action ( PA Wire ) Had I liked it? Was it useful? Did it work to convince me? For one thing, I just kept thinking about the police budget thats being spent on this, she continues, adding, Ive still got some of those pans. It wasnt until the pair were on holiday, travelling around Italy in a van in July 2010 that Lisa pulled the first thread that would eventually unravel their idyllic life together. When he went out on a cycle ride, she happened upon his passport, which named him as Mark Stone. It also included information about his child. Nearby was a mobile phone he rarely seemed to use, which she unlocked. It contained emails from two children, both of whom were calling him dad. Lisa didnt say anything straight away and when she did, a few days later, Kennedy eventually broke down and came up with another elaborate lie about his past as a drug runner. He told Lisa that during this time, his best friend was shot in front of him and hed promised to look after his child. He was emotional, and Lisa desperately wanted to believe him, despite her gut telling her otherwise. They put it behind them but Lisas subsequent suspicion that he was undercover police remained. The discovery of his sons birth certificate, by a friend who was researching ancestry online, confirmed it: his occupation was recorded as police officer, he had a family in Ireland all along. With a group of carefully selected friends, she confronted him. Shortly afterwards, Lisa told her story on Indymedia, a networking site for grassroots campaigners and alternative media activists, which blew the spy cops scandals epic proportions wide open. A trial for a separate case, in which Kennedy tipped off police about a plot by climate change activists to disable a power plant in Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire, collapsed in the wake of Lisas revelations. open image in gallery Lisa: Something I am still fighting to know is, why was it me? ( ITV ) Journalists began investigating and uncovering the overwhelming extent of officers deception, and slowly, more women came forward with eerily similar stories and chilling patterns. Most of the relationships ended the same way a sudden disappearance to move abroad, an apologetic letter. In 2011, eight began landmark legal action to sue the police for emotional trauma; Mark Kennedy was said to have had relationships with three of the women involved. In 2015, they won an apology from the Met Police. The same year, Peter Francis, a whistleblower who exposed how police had spied on the campaign for justice for Stephen Lawrence, spoke up in 2015 and a public inquiry was called. Today, more than a decade later, the weight and reverberations of what Lisa has been through and carried with her for more than a decade since her story broke the spy cops scandal wide open are ever-present. She has had to come to terms with the fact that Kennedy took away her chance to decide if she really wanted to have children; she says shes struggled to have a relationship since. For her, the devil truly lies in the details in the chilling realisations and unending quest for truth. Ive possibly wasted quite a lot of years trying to think about whether his feelings may or may not have been genuine, she says. You can tie yourself up in knots. I have done so. Actually, the most harrowing thing is this: you dont just find out that your partners been lying to you, but you find out that I was his job. He was being paid overtime for nights spent with me, for example. The thing that really kept me awake at night for quite some time was the question of how many people were in our relationship when I was speaking to my boyfriend on the phone late at night, were there other people on those calls? The Met Police has issued a fresh apology to victims of the scandal in light of ITVs documentary release for the legacy of hurt caused. But victims and campaigners say that not enough has changed and legislation still allows inordinate freedom of power to undercover police. The women are now campaigning for gaps in legislation that essentially allow for officers to form sexual relationships with targets to be closed. Meanwhile, laws on protesters have been tightened, says Lisa. Now she wants the public to understand the extent of the rot of a system rooted in misogyny that allowed her and so many others to be so cruelly abused. What I want people to know is: this could have happened to anyone. It could happen to anyone. It could be happening to anybody whos reading these words now, or somebodys daughter or cousin or friend, she says. Its not like we were a strange group of outliers. I think everybody should be concerned. Not because of what they did to us necessarily, though that is a warning. But because of what they could be doing to anybody, right now, right this second. *Name changed to protect her identity The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed airs on 6 March at 9pm, on ITV1, ITVX and STV Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Plumes of smoke can be seen across the capital after a building caught fire in central London. One man was pulled from the flames and taken to hospital as around 40 firefighters battled to extinguish the huge fire at a mixed-use building on Tottenham Street in Euston. Chris Jordan, owner of Gigs Fish and Chips just outside the cordon, told The Independent: I think it came from a new business or one of the flats above. Luckily the smoke went up and out, so it looked a lot worse than it actually was on the ground. There was a lot of smoke, more smoke than fire for sure. He added: There were a couple of old boys that needed oxygen but the firefighters have got it all under control now. Six fire engines attended the scene, a London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesperson said. The spokesperson said they were first called at 7.43am on Thursday morning, adding: Most of the ground floor was damaged by the fire. open image in gallery Around 40 firefighters battled to extinguish the huge fire at a mixed-use building on Tottenham Street in Euston ( LFB ) One man was rescued from the building by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using a fire escape hood and was taken to hospital. Fire escape hoods can provide people with up to 15 minutes of protection from deadly smoke and gases. The fire brigade took 14 calls to the blaze as thick plumes of smoke could be seen for miles across a clear morning in central London. One witness told the BBC the area was full of smoke and a "toxic and acrid" smell. The LFB said the incident was over for firefighters nearly two hours after the first call. A spokesperson added that the cause of the blaze is under investigation. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A recent poll has revealed outrage over Donald Trumps second state visit invitation, with nearly half of the respondents calling for its cancellation after his explosive confrontation with Ukrainian President Zelensky. About 42 per cent believed the invitation should be withdrawn, and a petition by 38 Degrees has already collected more than 180,000 signatures. Meanwhile, a poll of Independent readers revealed an even stronger response, with 88 per cent saying the visit with King Charles III should not go ahead at the time of writing. You can still cast your vote in the poll below. When we asked for your views, readers were more contemplative in their responses. Some condemned the move as a grovelling act by Sir Keir Starmer who delivered the invitation on the eve of Trumps infamous White House shouting match and worried that it would unnecessarily boost Trumps ego. Critics argued that extending the invitation not only panders to Trumps unpredictable temperament but also undermines the UKs strong public support for Ukraine. On the other side of the debate, many warned that rescinding the invitation might appear insulting, suggesting instead a low-key visit that minimizes pomp while still holding firm to Britains principled stance in a turbulent global climate. Heres what you had to say: Feeding Trumps ego As an American, I can truthfully say that any meeting with the King will only feed Trumps ego and inflate his sense of self-importance, reinforcing his belief that he is indispensable to the political processes of the entire Western alliance of the EU and NATO. He is already insufferable this will only make him more so. Bejeebers The visit must go ahead, but... As difficult as it is to say this, and as much as I can't stand to see people being forced to grovel and feed the MAGA egos, Europe (including the UK) HAS to remain the grown-up in the room. Excluding voices and people is what has got the world into the mess it is in pitting one ideology against another, one group against another, one country against another, etc. So yes, unfortunately, for now at least, the visit must go ahead. We must become the true peacekeepers and unifiers that Trump keeps saying he wants to be. Kat13 Trump's inconsistency Trump can't, he claims, remember what he said a few days ago, so there is no reason to assume that he will keep his word on anything. Remember, he rules by executive order not through Congress so there's no one holding him to account. So, why bother to be nice to him? I don't think you can win him over. Goodday Not in my name! Absolutely no state visit! The current narrative is all about Ukraine what about that obscene AI/CGI filth Trumpsky put out about Gaza? That alone should be enough to scupper any notion of a visit. Not in my name! Wheeg A hostile state We should look at the USA as a hostile state until they can prove otherwise. Trump has said in plain language that America comes first and he has no interest in Europe. We must build up self-reliance and defense. The odds are that Trump will pull the USA out of Nato if he does, what is the point of having American military bases and troops on European soil? The UK has been America's lapdog for too long; to Americans, the UK is nothing but a static aircraft carrier. knightmareowl Don't hide him from protests I don't want to see him over here. But if he must come, please don't hide him away from any demonstrations against him. Let him be in a place where he can see what the real British people think about him. CrisP Keeping Trump onside If our intelligence service and satellite dependence are intertwined with that of the US, as Sir Keir Starmer has warned after many years of our being close allies, which I believe to be the case I think that any form of persuasion to keep Trump onside would be preferable to his handing all this over to Putin. Fairdeal Sycophantic sweetener This was offered to Trump as a sycophantic sweetener and everyone knows it. We can all see how transparent Trump is. Trump was supposed to play nice bribery only works if both parties understand it. Trump blew the deal up in Starmer's face and still expects the state visit to go ahead. This is a joke, right? What is the point of a naked bribe if the bribee does not follow through? Jim987 Grovelling act The invitation should not have been made in the first place. It was a grovelling act that placed us firmly in a position subservient to the will of Trump. Having made the offer, it will now be virtually impossible to withdraw it given the volatile and revengeful nature of the US President. The best we can hope for is that the date of the visit can be delayed sufficiently for it never to happen. RedRooster Let him come, politely Let him come. Be distantly polite in true English fashion. Minimise the security and the pomp, and do as little as possible to hide him from the inevitable protests and demonstrations. Ensure that plenty of women and members of minority groups have key roles in whatever is organised. Invite other leaders of small, well-governed countries to come at the same time and make our goodwill towards them apparent. BrianC Massaging his fragile ego Yes, sadly, through gritted teeth. Trump has the power, and the only way to keep him remotely onside is to massage his fragile ego. The guy has zero self-awareness, and that's a useful flaw he's a sucker for being sucked up to. Hopefully, there will come a point when the UK, the EU, and its proper allies can pretty much match the US's trading might, and then we can call his bluff. Why can't Canada send its oil and aluminium to the EU, for example, instead of the US? That would both remove Trump's tariff premium and secure a vital source of these products. Yes, I know simplistic and it won't be easy. But, man, that would be a sucker-punch and a lesson he would understand. DevsAd The invitation should stand Moimeme Yes, the invitation should stand. The event can be managed up or down, as appropriate at the time. The meeting between Charles III and Zelensky was nicely managed, taking place before Trump, but not as a full state visit pointed but low-key. Dissapointing I am disappointed that King Charles invited Donald Trump to a second state dinner. As the Head of the Commonwealth, of which Canada is a member, he should not reward Trump for imposing tariffs on Canada and disrespecting Justin Trudeau by calling him "Governor." RonLec Keep him on board I dislike Trump and do not trust him. However, he is the current leader of the richest country with the strongest military. More importantly, Nato cannot currently function without him. Hence, we have to keep him on board and kowtow to him for the foreseeable future. If a state customer with the King is part of that, then so be it. CardoCardo Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article here. The conversation isnt over. To join in, all you need to do is register your details, then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The sunny spells in the UK are set to continue with temperatures expected to exceed those in the Spanish capital of Madrid on Saturday. The Met Office is predicting the mercury will reach 17C in Manchester and London, while Madrid is set to see showers and drizzle with highs of just 10C. Its also looking bleak for Malaga which is forecast to be hit by thunderstorms. Although parts of the UK are anticipated to be hotter than Spain, both countries will see an average of 17C with some rainy showers, according to the Met Office. But the showers in Spain will be heavier, Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna told The Independent. open image in gallery The weather forecast for the UK on Saturday at 3pm ( Met Office ) We are going to see sunshine and showers with temperatures peaking at an average of 15 to 17 degrees, both locally in the UK and in Spain. The showers across Spain are going to be heavier and more thundery, he said. There are weather warnings out for some of the showers in Spain and there could be flooding in places, he added. He explained that Madrids cooler temperatures could be attributed to it being 500 metres above sea-level with other coastal regions set to get to 15C. It comes as heavy rainfall in the Canary Islands caused significant flooding, leading to street turning into rivers and damaging property this week. Cars were swept away by flood waters and 80 people were trapped in a Tenerife supermarket due to rising flood waters. The recent flooding follows a trend of increased incidents in Spain including, the flooding seen in Valencia in November. However, it is not all sunshine in the UK as rain is forecast in parts of the south west England and Scotland. The UK long-range weather forecast (Sunday, March 9 to Tuesday, March 18) from the Met Office predicts "longer spells of rain", "colder spells" and "wintery hazards" from next week. Although the Met Office has predicted the middle of March to be unsettled, with spells of rain and strong winds across the UK, dry and bright conditions could develop again later in the month. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Government departments have reportedly been asked to identify 20 per cent of their lowest priority spending areas as Rachel Reeves eyes up billions of pounds in cuts ahead of the Spring Statement. The chancellor presented earmarked savings to the governments spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), on Wednesday before she delivers her statement on 26 March. Treasury sources have said several factors have impacted plans presented under Ms Reeves October budget, with increased borrowing costs and weak economic growth likely to require further spending cuts in order to meet commitments on managing the public finances. Curbing the cost of welfare and a drive for greater efficiency across Whitehall are expected to contribute the bulk of the savings. open image in gallery Chancellor Rachel Reeves is likely to cut the cost of welfare to help manage public finances (Yui Mok/PA) ( PA Wire ) ITVs deputy political editor Anushka Asthana reports senior sources across government have told her they have been asked to identify the 20 per cent of spending within their departments that they see as lowest priority. The hosts of ITV News Talking Politics podcast also wrote that the Department for Work and Pensions was drawing up plans to overhaul disability and health benefits to significantly reduce the number of people who are judged as unable to work. That will mean that far fewer disabled people will receive higher benefit levels, and many more will be expected to search for work. Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, who is expected to set out welfare reforms within weeks, told cabinet colleagues on Tuesday there are 2.8 million people not in work due to ill-health and one in eight young people not in education, training or employment. She told them this is holding back the economy and is bad for peoples wellbeing and health, with the sickness and disability bill for working-age people rising by 20 billion since the pandemic and forecast to hit 70 billion over the next five years. A Health and Disability Green Paper will set out plans to supports those who can work back into jobs, rather than write them off, she said. A Government insider told the BBC: Clearly the world has changed a lot since the autumn Budget. People are watching that change happen before their eyes. The Office for Budget Responsibility will reflect that changing world in its forecasts later this month and a changing world will be a core feature of the Chancellors response later this month. Elsewhere, the i paper has reported that Ms Reeves has cut up to 1.4bn in spending for modernising schools and hospitals to pay for a pay deal with trade union. The agreement was made with the unions in July. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Foreign Office (FCDO) minister Stephen Doughty is being urged not to waste time with talks to end more than 50 years of division on the island of Cyprus unless Sir Keir Starmer is prepared to change decades of British policy. Mr Doughty will land on the strategically crucial Mediterranean island on Friday where the UK owns two military bases that are vitally important for security within easy reach of the Middle East. The minister will meet the recognised government of Cyprus in the Greek Cypriot controlled south and then hold a first meeting of Sir Keirs government with the president of the unrecognised breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar. open image in gallery Stephen Doughty is arriving in Cyprus to talk to the recognised government in the Greek Cypriot south, and then the president of the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( Parliament TV ) It comes ahead of the latest UN talks in Geneva scheduled for 17 and 18 March where, as the former colonial power and one of the guarantor powers for the island, the UK will take part. Mr Tatar was angered late last year when Sir Keir visited the island but only met with Greek Cypriot representatives. The last UK minister to meet him was Conservative foreign secretary Dominic Raab in February 2021. The meetings come as TRNCs foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu is in London meeting with British MPs, warning that the talks in Geneva involving the UK are a waste of time. Mr Ertugruloglu spoke to The Independent ahead of the announcement that Mr Doughty will be in Nicosia claiming that the ongoing discrimination against Turkish Cypriots since the division of the island in 1974 means that the upcoming talks are pointless. He blamed the UK government as the pen holder for Cyprus in the UN security council for allowing the Greek Cypriot south to be recognised as the official state and the TRNC to remain isolated. Cyprus is a former British colony and the agreement for independence in 1960 was meant to respect both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities. This initially fell apart in 1963 when the bicommunal government collapsed in what became known as the bloody Christmas after intercommunal violence. Then in 1974 Turkish army occupied the north of the island to protect Turkish Cypriots after a military coup saw an attempt to unite Cyprus with Greece in a failed process known as enosis. Turkey has maintained military bases ever since and while the Greek Cypriots describe it as an illegal occupation, Mr Ertugruloglu said they act as a deterrent preventing further communal violence. He suggested that the peace of the last 60 years would have been replaced by similar problems to Gaza had it not been for the presence of Turkish troops. The UK, Republic of Cyprus and the United Nations all will be looking for a federal solution to reunify the island, but Mr Ertugruloglu said that the TRNC will no longer agree to that. Instead they are pressing for a two state solution. A federal solution was agreed in a referendum in the TRNC under the Annan Plan in 2004 but rejected in the Republic of Cyprus. Despite this Cyprus was given membership of the EU. An attempt to revive it at Crans Montana in 2017 then also failed. Mr Ertugruloglu said: The UN talks in Geneva are a waste of time and energy. The Greek Cypriot intention is to continue to pretend to be talking federation when they have absolutely no interest in one. They say, let's pick up from where we left off in Crans Montana. And that's where we say, No way that's finished. Crans Montana was the last attempt at federation, and since that collapsed, as all the other attempts collapsed over the past 60 years, from now on, there will not be negotiations unless the two sides statuses are made equal. In other words, no more negotiations if the Greek Cypriots are treated as the state and the Turkish Cypriots are just treated as a community. He went on: The discrepancy in statuses has been the one reason why 60 years of negotiations went down the drain. So that's why we keep saying there is no sense in doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results so no more federation talks, as long as the statuses are not level. He said that UN secretary general Antonio Guterres needed to go back to the security council to start again and change the status. But he added: It wont happen. The outlook for the talks is not shared at the Cypriot High Commission in London. Deputy high commissioner Spyros Miltiades told The Independent: President Christodoulides has made it clear that our sole aim and expectation from the Geneva meeting is to create the necessary conditions to return to the negotiating table and continue from where we were left in Crans Montana in 2017. The only framework of negotiations that the Republic of Cyprus and the rest of the international community accept, is the UN agreed framework of Bizonal Bicommunal Federation. We hope that all parties concerned will attend the meeting in goodwill and ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue within this framework that will bring us closer to the islands reunification. After all these decades of on-going UN-led rounds of negotiations, we have reached convergences in most aspects of the Cyprus issue that could make a settlement reachable. He added: It is regrettable that the Turkish Cypriot side goes to the meeting with the position that is a waste of time. This is disrespectful to the UN secretary general and all other parties that abide to international law and support the agreed framework, including the UK. An FCDO source said: The UK actively engages all parties to support the UN-led process on Cyprus and to encourage the flexibility needed to return to talks. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The founder of Lastminute.com has warned that the tech sector is in peril as US President Donald Trump cracks down on equality programmes. Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho argued that inclusion is central to growth and innovation, with diverse teams increasing company profits by 20%. However, the industry is now scrapping many of its efforts to diversify its workforce amid Mr Trumps attack on diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) schemes. Lady Lane-Fox told the House of Lords the US has a huge influence on the UK tech sector and implored peers to feel the peril of this moment and the urgency of this moment. The independent crossbench peer said: I had never used the words DEI in my life until the last two months and yet I find myself defending the very notion of equality to journalists, to people I work with, to companions in the sector and outside it. I cannot understand this disconnect between good business practice and what we are now facing, which is a fundamental row back in the belief and the priorities of these substantial programmes. Just yesterday, I heard of Googles edict from on high rowing back in a huge number of different projects that it works with here in the UK, charities and the civic sector, that look at diversity, equality, inclusion, AI for good. I am angry and I am nervous, and we have to keep fighting. She added: I cannot believe that there is a single person who looks like me who has worked on the edges of the digital sector for so long who did not feel like crying as they watched the inauguration and the six men who have completely and totally committed to a president who, at the same time, has degraded the role of women so substantially. The six men she is referring to include Teslas Elon Musk, Amazons Jeff Bezos, Metas Mark Zuckerberg and Googles Sundar Pichai. Her comments came as peers discussed International Womens Day and the steps being taken to promote womens participation and leadership in science and technology. Lady Lane-Fox, who co-founded Lastminute.com in 1998, went on to became the UKs Digital Champion, helping to create the Government Digital Service, the team that launched gov.uk. She told peers that she has seen a degradation in both culture and the numbers of women in tech during her time in the industry. The businesswoman said: I have to say, I am angry. I am not a person prone to rage and fury, but I am angry. I am angry, because this is an urgent and important question that I fear we are ignoring at our peril. I have now worked in or around the technology sector for over 30 years and I have seen no change in the relationship between the sector and women and the numbers of women, in fact I have seen a degradation, not just in culture, but also in the absolute numbers Why does this matter? It matters because, as we know, software is eating the world. We know that it is not an option to digitise, it is happening. These are the jobs of the future, they are the jobs that will create the services of the future and the jobs that will be paid the most amount of money. It is about power and it is about justice and it is about fairness. I am so dismayed when I see the numbers and I keep going back to this disconnect between what I see happening and then I see the benefits and the bonus of employing diversity in your teams and putting it at the heart of the companys strategy, and I just cant understand this disconnect. Lady Lane-Fox highlighted the fact that just 26% of the worlds tech workforce are women, falling to 15% in leadership roles, which falls again to just 6% when it comes to leadership roles in the UK. She said: If you believe, as I do, that the sector is going to be eaten again by AI, by quantum, by deep tech, the numbers fall off even more considerably, so we are in a very perilous position, and it is very disappointing to see the enormous influence of the US technology sector being integrated into the culture of our own companies here. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Robert Jenrick has clashed with a BBC presenter over claims new sentencing guidelines will lead to a two-tier justice system. The shadow justice secretary lashed out at guidance coming into force in April which will require a pre-sentence report before punishment is handed out for someone of an ethnic, cultural or faith minority, alongside other groups such as young adults aged 18 to 25, women and pregnant women. Mr Jenrick called for justice secretary Shabana Mahmood to overrule the independent Sentencing Council, which highlighted the critical role of pre-sentence reports. He has argued the guidance will discriminate against straight white men. open image in gallery Robert Jenrick said new sentencing guidelines will discriminate against straight white men ( PA Wire ) Ms Mahmood has also condemned the prospect of differential treatment before the law, for example for those from ethnic minority backgrounds, and called for the changes to sentencing guidance to be reversed. The justice secretary will write to the sentencing council to register her displeasure and to recommend reversing this change in guidance, Downing Street said on Thursday. But, in a tense interview, Mr Jenrick called for Ms Mahmood to pursue a law change giving the government the power to overrule the independent body. He said the pursuit of equality of outcomes rather than equality of treatment is wrong and a dangerous approach. Suggesting the change, aimed at redressing existing imbalances in the justice system, is unnecessary, Mr Jenrick told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: If you're asking me, is there authoritative evidence that says that a black person or somebody who is a Hindu, a Muslim or a Jew who has committed exactly the same crime as, say, for example, somebody who is white or Christian, with all the same aggravating factors and all of the same pre offenses would get a different outcome? open image in gallery Emma Barnett told Robert Jenrick a two-tier system of justice already exists No, I don't think there's authoritative, conclusive evidence of that. But he was challenged by presenter Emma Barnett, who said a two-tier system of justice already exists, citing an email from a sitting magistrate who said claims straight white men will be discriminated against under the changes are objectively false. They are seeking to address the discrimination that is currently within the system, Ms Barnett said. In a pointed barb at Mr Jenrick and Ms Mahmood, she said: A sitting magistrate thinks both you and the justice secretary are wrong and there is concern here about wrongly stoking division. open image in gallery Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said there will be no two-tier system (Jordan Pettitt/PA) ( PA Wire ) She also pointed out that the consultation on the sentencing changes concluded under the Conservative government in February 2024, with no concerns having been expressed at the time. At the end of the clash, Ms Barnett cut Mr Jenrick off, telling the Tory MP: You had a long time in power Robert Jenrick, you had a long time in power and that is the amount of time I can give you this morning. Asked about the sentencing councils guidelines, the prime ministers official spokesperson said they do not represent Ms Mahmoods views or the views of this government. [The justice secretary] will be writing to the sentencing council to register her displeasure and to recommend reversing this change in guidance. That's a move that the prime minister welcomes and as we've said before, Parliament will always have the power to determine the minimum sentence people should face for their crimes. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice While the focus has been on the crisis in Ukraine and need for European nations to boost their defence budget, Rachel Reevess main role has been to sign cheques for President Volodymyr Zelenskys war effort and increase funding for British military and security. But the focus is about to fall sharply on to the chancellor as she prepares to present her spring statement on Wednesday 26 March - an event which is already shaping up to be an emergency Budget. At stake for her and Sir Keir Starmer is a desperation to spark economic growth after the enormous backlash against her Autumn Budget, with its record 40 billion tax rises, including a massive jobs tax hike by raising national insurance. While businesses are applying pressure for no new tax rises, trade unions are beginning to make noises about public pay settlements again, and Labour MPs are beginning to get nervous about the prospect of austerity 2 with a round of spending cuts. Already there are potential rebellions over the so-called tractor tax of imposing inheritance tax on farms and the cut to international aid. The issue is what further horrors will Ms Reeves have to perform? Reeves and Starmer sign off money for Ukraine ( Toby Melville/PA Wire ) The gloomy prognosis - tax hikes and cuts The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), probably the most respected forecasting think tank in the UK on the economy, is pessimistic about what needs to be done and the general state of the economy. It has pointed out that higher borrowing costs and stagnant economic growth wiped out her 9.9 billion backstop. As a result the IFS has concluded that Ms Reeves will have to hike taxes or bringing in a new round of austerity cuts or even both. IFS research economist Dr Isabel Stockton warned that Ms Reeves spending plans would be less generous than Jeremy Hunt was planning to be. What Starmer and Reeves have said Both the prime minister and chancellor have tried to play down fears in recent days as the spring statement draws closer. On a flight to Washington DC last week, Sir Keir admitted there could be tax rises but tried to provide assurance that it would not be as bad as the Budget. Ms Reeves in turn has asked the Office of Budget Responsibility to look at the impact of her cutting billions from welfare - a plan drawn up first by Liz Truss and withdrawn after a Tory rebellion led by Michael Gove. What is safe? There are just three areas of protected spending in Sir Keirs government - defence, the NHS and schools. The NHS budget was tied into the reform of the health service and guaranteed at the Autumn Budget. Since then the decision to take defence spending up to 2.5 per cent by 2027 and 3 per cent after the next election has also guaranteed the Ministry of Defences budget, although questions remain how that money will be spent. Outside the tax raid on private schools, the schools budget has also been protected. But this means that every other department will be expected to find efficiencies which is Whitehall speak for cuts. Where will the cuts fall? We know already about some of them. For example, the increase in the defence budget is largely being paid for by a cut in foreign aid. Ms Reeves has also indicated that welfare is going to be a major target. There appears to be little room for significant tax rises, especially after the election commitment not to raise VAT, income tax or employee national insurance contributions. The only other option is that Ms Reeves breaks one of her rules and borrows more money. This though will increase the cost of borrowing at a time when UK government gilts which underpin that borrowing are high. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The NHSs top doctor has announced he is stepping down from the role, just a week after the surprise resignation of NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, the organisations national medical director, has announced that he will step down this summer, after more than seven years in the role. He said he it had been an immense privilege to do his job and that he had always been exceptionally proud to work in the NHS... while stepping down from this role, I remain passionate and committed to improving the health of patients and improving the experience of staff. Sir Stephen is understood to have told Ms Pritchard in January of his decision, but it risks leaving a gap at the top of NHS England, after she announced last week that she was leaving at the end of the month. Sir Stephen regularly appeared on TV screens as part of Downing Street press conferences during the pandemic (PA) ( PA Archive ) At the time the health secretary Wes Streeting insisted that her departure was amicable. But it comes as NHS England, which has been at arms length from the department of health for more than 10 years, comes under closer ministerial oversight. Mr Streeting is under intense pressure to improve the NHS, one of the governments key priorities, including reducing extremely lengthy waiting lists and making it easier to see a GP. The new boss of NHS England Jim Mackey is soon set to publish a new 10-year plan to reform and improve the NHS, designed to build a health service fit for the future. Sir Stephen became a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic, regularly appearing at Downing Street press conferences and witnessing the delivery of the first ever Covid-19 jab outside a clinical trial to grandmother Maggie Keenan on December 8, 2020. Commenting on his departure, England's chief medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said he had been a remarkable clinical leader in the NHS during the most difficult crisis in its history. His calm, evidence-based advice both to the public in the media and in private helped the NHS meet the huge challenges it faced. We are all exceptionally fortunate he was in post over this period. Mr Streeting paid tribute to him, saying: Steve has provided outstanding clinical leadership to the NHS over the last seven years, including during the biggest health emergency our country has faced in modern history. His knowledge, professionalism, and guidance helped the NHS rise to the challenges created by the pandemic. I would like to thank Steve, not only for his pivotal role in the Covid vaccine roll out, but for all his work as medical director, including overseeing the team's work in the creation of the national patient safety strategy. In a statement confirming his departure, Sir Stephen added: My time in post has been dominated by the pandemic and its ongoing impact - I will forever be humbled by the extraordinary work of staff throughout the NHS to the greatest health emergency in a century and I am very proud of the support and advice I was personally able to give to staff, ministers and the public. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Watch again as UK defence secretary John Healey and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth held talks in Washington on Thursday, 6 March, where they were expected to discuss the US decision to pause intelligence-sharing with Ukraine following Donald Trump's explosive meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. The pair held a bilateral meeting on a possible peace plan while efforts continue to bridge a transatlantic rift over the countrys future security. CIA director John Ratcliffe told Fox Business Network on Wednesday there has been a pause on the intelligence front following the chaotic Oval Office confrontation. The decision could affect Ukraines ability to effectively use long-range western weapons, such as US-made Himars launchers and deprive Kyiv of advance information about potential incoming threats. It comes as European leaders hold crisis talks in Brussels on support for Kyiv. French president Emmanuel Macron said he would confer with allies about the prospect of using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent in the face of threats from Russia at a summit of EU leaders. Mr Healeys trip was agreed after Sir Keir Starmer announced a rise in the UKs defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A new mutated variant of Mpox has been identified in Democratic Republic of Congo, with health authorities concerned over increased transmissibility. The new variant comes from the clade 1a strain of monkeypox and is potentially more transmissible. The so-called APOBEC3 mutation is less deadly than its predecessor but it is believed to be more infectious and has already been detected in a strain that has spread to the UK. Health officials have urged for a strong response from the international community to stop a further outbreak. The high transmittance rate of the clade 1a Mpox variant is likely due to mutations the virus has picked up exactly how these impact transmission isnt currently clear and more research is vitally needed, Cambridge Professor of Viral Immunology Mike Weekes told The Independent. Control of this, and of clade 1b Mpox, an ongoing public health emergency, desperately needs a coordinated international response to help with testing, vaccination and public information. open image in gallery Rashes are a common symptom of monkeypox ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Mpox is a rare viral disease with symptoms which are similar to but less severe than smallpox. There is no treatment but it can be prevented through vaccinations, contact tracing and avoiding infected animals and humans. A vaccination campaign was recently launched in Kinshasha hotspot areas, like Pakadjuma, after weeks of planning, according to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC ). As one of the most crowded neighbourhoods of the capital, Pakadjuma already had a Medecins Sans Frontieres triage centre for mpox which sends infected people to one of three clinics. People are really lining up for the vaccination... a testimony of the high acceptance rate among the communities, CDC Incident Manager Dr Ngashi Ngongo said. It comes after USAID funding cuts by the Trump administration at a time when fighting in eastern DRC has escalated. Unfortunately the demise of USAID significantly hampers these efforts. COVID and previous international outbreaks of clade 2b and 1b Mpox have taught us that international spread is likely and the global community needs to step up, Professor Weekes told The Independent. More than 2,000 Mpox cases have been identified in the country since the start of 2025, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data. It is not yet possible to attribute these cases to the new strain as other variants are also being transmitted. Mpox was first discovered in 1958 in groups of monkeys kept for research and can be transmitted from both monkeys and humans. Common symptoms range from rashes, fever, sore through to muscle aches, low energy and swollen lymph nodes. In England, eight instances of clade Ib have been detected since October 2024. Unlike clade 1a, which is mainly transmitted from animal to human and then within households, clade 1b is primarily contracted through sexual contact. Then 2022 mpox outbreak in the UK was caused by a different Mpox - clade 2b. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Amazon faces a week-long economic blackout with consumers urged to boycott the retail giant and some of its biggest subsidiaries. Advocacy group The Peoples Union USA is calling on Americans to abstain from making purchases from Amazons main site as well as the other companies it owns including Amazon Alexa, IMDb, Prime Video, Ring, Twitch, Whole Foods and Zappos. John Schwarz, 57, the leader of the protest, told his 370,000 Instagram followers that the boycott would begin on Friday and run until March 14. The dad-of-three from Chicago, told CNET Wednesday that the objective of the calculated strike is simple: for Amazon to record a dip in sales. In a post on Tuesday, Schwarz described how to hit Amazon the hardest and take a stand against its impact on small businesses and treatment of workers after the company reported a 10 percent year-on-year increase in net sales in Q4 2024 to almost $188 billion last month. open image in gallery John Schwarz has organized the Amazon blackout for Friday ( theonecalledjai/Instagram ) If you want to focus your firepower, you target what you use the most, he said. It was not immediately clear how many people were due to participate in the boycott. Schwarz founded the self-described movement of the people last month, which in itself has raised more than $120,000 on GoFundMe to pay for costs such as registering as a legal entity. The Peoples Union USA said its mission, according to its website, is to take back control of our economy, government and future of our country. The system is designed to keep all of us trapped. That is why I started this organization, Schwarz added in his bio section. Last month, the grassroots organization took aim at corporate giants with a sweeping consumer blackout which urged consumers against making purchases at major retailers for 24 hours. Schwarz told CNN that the movement went international, adding: Every country has messaged me, people from all over the world commenting on the videos. How can we stand in solidarity? However, an analysis from digital retail consultancy company Momentum Commerce, showed Amazon had slightly higher sales that day. open image in gallery Target is facing a swathe of backlash for its DEI policy rollback ( Getty Images ) Schwarz has organized a Nestle blackout which owns the likes of Nescafe and KitKat from March 21 until March 28 and a Walmart blackout from April 7 to April 13. It comes as Target faces a possible 40-day nationwide boycott after the retail giant ditched its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives last month. The two boycotts are not linked. Approximately 110,000 people, including many parishioners at Black churches, have signed up to join the Target Fast which began on Wednesday, aligning with the first day of Lent. Consumers pledging to abstain from shopping at Target are instead being urged to spend their money at Black-owned businesses in the wake of President Donald Trumps DEI crackdown. Amazon, Google, Meta, McDonalds and Walmart also began winding down their DEI programs in recent months, sparking backlash from many consumers. The Independent has contacted The Peoples Union USA, Amazon and its subsidiaries listed above for more information. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Barnard College's library was evacuated by police after a bomb threat was made during a sit-in staged by pro-Palestinian protesters on Tuesday. The New York Police Department said on X, formerly Twitter, that a bomb threat was reported at the upper Manhattan college's Milstein Center, which serves as the hub for academic life on campus. The department said anyone refusing to leave the building during the evacuation would be subject to arrest. Please stay away from the area, the police said in its post. The department later confirmed arrests had been made but it was still unclear how many were in custody and what charges they faced. Videos shared widely on social media showed protesters inside the building earlier on Wednesday afternoon chanting, playing drums and hanging Palestinian flags on walls. Most wore kaffiyeh scarves and other coverings obscuring their faces. Videos from Wednesday evening showed police entering the building wearing helmets and carrying zip ties and then later clearing the protesters and others from the lawn outside the building. open image in gallery Pro-Palestinian student protesters outside Barnard College on February 27 ( AFP via Getty Images ) College spokespersons and a student group that had coordinated the protest didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Barnard President Laura Rosenbury denounced the protest earlier on Wednesday. Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated, she wrote in a message sent to the campus community. We must not allow the actions of a few interfere with our mission. Campus activities outside of Milstein and throughout the rest of the campus are proceeding as normal. The group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said on X that students launched their sit-in at 1pm on Wednesday in the Milstein library lobby in response to the expulsions of student protesters and other recent actions taken by school officials. Despite Barnard militarizing campus and inviting NYPD to patrol our academic buildings, we have successfully relaunched our sit-in against the expulsions, the student group said on Instagram as they called for school officials to reinstate the expelled students. Last week, pro-Palestinian protesters wearing keffiyeh scarves and masks pushed their way into the colleges Milbank Hall, which houses the offices of the dean, and assaulted a school employee, according to school officials. Protest organizers said they dispersed after the administration agreed to meet with them over their demands, which included amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestinian action. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A U.S. Customs and Border Protection surveillance blimp crashed into a set of power lines after it was carried over 600 miles by unexpected strong winds in Texas on Monday. The giant surveillance blimp, known as the Eyes in the Sky, and formerly known as a Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS), is used by U.S. border control officials to monitor suspicious air and marine traffic along the southern border. However, a spell of strong winds uprooted the giant balloon, which surveys from 10,000 feet, forcing it to break free from its tether in South Padre Island, Texas, and resulted in it becoming entangled in a small Texas town on Monday afternoon, stated U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to U.S. Customs, the damage caused to the aerostat by the winds resulted in contact being cut with border officials as it broke free. The South Padre blimp typically overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. It was carried over 600 miles north before it plummeted from the sky down to the rural town of Quinlan, approximately 30 miles east of Dallas. The unarmed and unmanned TARS stay lodged in one spot for the entirety of their service. Naturally, they tend to sway lightly in the breeze but are moored to the ground with a special nylon fiber cable and controlled using a powered winch, according to customs officials. open image in gallery Local residents were stunned by the blimp which became caught and entangled over a set of power lines on Monday ( CBS News ) Local residents were stunned when they first saw the deflated vessel followed by custom officials showing up on their front lawns. Resident Clay Hilton told WFAA: OK so yeah, its not just a tarp or anything, its something. 30 years Ive been on this planet and Ive never seen any kind of balloon that big, he added. According to National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Ellzey , maximum gusts were roughly 30 miles per hour on Monday conditions that were marginally stronger than normal, he told The New York Times. On Tuesday, U.S. Customs issued an update on the blimp, saying that it had been located by the Quinlan TX Fire and Rescue in Hunt County and that federal, state, and local officials were working on investigating the incident. A video captured the blimp flailing freely in the wind, but locals didnt manage to go unscathed from the incident. One family told WFAA that the balloon struck their home on the way down, damaging their homes roof. A woman told the outlet that four or five record trucks were spotted searching for the surveillance balloon. It is unclear whether the family will be compensated for the damage. The blimp was eventually found strung on a power line and officials have been working to get it down and restore the lines. According to the federal agency in 2016, the U.S. government deployed eight blimps along the southern U.S. border from Yuma, Arizona, to Lajas, Puerto Rico. The Independent contacted the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A possible act of fraternity hazing is being investigated by local law enforcement following the death of a 20-year-old Southern University student, school authorities confirmed. Caleb Wilson, who died on February 27, was a mechanical engineering junior at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and a member of the school's famed marching band. A university spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that an alleged fraternity ritual, involving Omega Psi Phi, is being investigated. Chancellor John K. Pierre said on the colleges Facebook page that an off-campus incident is believed to have contributed to Calebs death. Additional details, including Wilson's cause of death, were not yet available. Police in Baton Rouge have not commented on the investigation. Ricky L. Lewis, the international president of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., said in a written statement issued on Friday that the organization is aware that authorities have launched an investigation into this tragic incident, and we fully support their efforts to seek the truth. We recognize that many of you may have questions, and we are actively working to gather accurate information, Lewis said. It was unclear if Wilson was a fraternity member. open image in gallery Calebs father Corey Wilson mourns alongside other grieving family members ( The Advocate/Javier Gallegos ) In a statement from Wilson's family, published by WAFB-TV, the student was described as an extraordinary person who was a bright and talented young man with a promising future ahead of him. We are committed to seeking the truth about the circumstances surrounding Calebs passing and ensuring that no other family has to endure such a tragedy, the family said. Wilson was a trumpet player with the marching band, known as the Human Jukebox, which recently played at the Super Bowl. In a statement on the band's Facebook page, Wilson was described as a talented, dedicated and bright soul who poured his passion into his studies and music. His energy, spirit and impact on those around him will never be forgotten, the post read. open image in gallery Mourners dance while holding up pictures of Caleb Wilson during a vigil ( The Advocate/Javier Gallegos ) During the band's performance at one of New Orleans' Mardi Gras parades over the weekend, members played Stevie Wonder's Love Light in Flight in honor of Wilson. This was more than just a performance, it was a tribute, a farewell and promise that Caleb's legacy will live on, the band posted on Facebook along with a video of the performance. Following Wilson's death, the historically Black university indefinitely halted all club recruiting activities, including those related to Greek life. On Tuesday, the university announced its own internal investigation and student judiciary process into the alleged hazing incident. The university statement said that any organization on campus that breaches anti-hazing polices will face prompt disciplinary sanctions. Southern University requires clubs and organizations to undergo anti-hazing training. In 2018, following the death of Max Gruver a Louisiana State University student who died of alcohol poisoning after a hazing ritual at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house then-Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into state several law anti-hazing laws meant to curb hazing and increase penalties. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Almost 200 employees have been invited back to work by the nation's top public health agency, just two weeks after receiving termination notices. On Tuesday, some Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) probationary employees who were laid off last month were sent emails with the subject line, Read this e-mail immediately, according to current and former CDC employees. Two federal health officials who were briefed but were not authorized to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity, said about 180 people received the reinstatement emails. The message said that after further review and consideration, a February 15 termination notice has been rescinded and the employee was cleared to return to work on Wednesday. You should return to duty under your previous work schedule. We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused, it said. Its not clear how many of them returned to work on Wednesday or whether the employees would be spared from further widespread job cuts that are expected soon across government agencies. open image in gallery The CDC is the latest federal agency trying to coax back workers ( 2024 Atlanta Journal Constitution ) The CDC is the latest federal agency trying to coax back workers soon after they were dismissed as part of President Donald Trumps and billionaire Elon Musks cost-cutting purge. Similar reversals have been made among employees responsible for medical device oversight, food safety, bird flu response, nuclear weapons and national parks. The Atlanta-based CDC is charged with protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats. Before the job cuts, the agency had about 13,000 employees. Last month, Trump administration officials told the CDC that nearly 1,300 of the agency's probationary employees would be let go. That tally quickly changed, as the number who actually got termination notices turned out to be 700 to 750. With 180 more people now being told they can return, the actual number of CDC employees terminated so far would seem to stand somewhere around 550. But federal health officials haven't confirmed any specifics. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last month pledged radical transparency at the department, but HHS officials have not provided detail about CDC staff changes and did not respond to emailed requests on Tuesday and Wednesday. An agency spokesman, Andrew Nixon, previously told the AP only that CDC had more full-time employees after the job cuts than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who received reinstatement emails included outbreak responders in two fellowship programs a two-year training that prepares recent graduates to enter the public health workforce through field experience and a laboratory program that brings in doctorate-holding professionals. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock celebrated the reinstatements, but said it's not enough. Todays announcement is a welcome relief, but until all fired CDC employees are restored, our countrys public health and national security will continue to be at risk, Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, said in a statement on Wednesday. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Police rushed to a Naval air station in Florida following reports of an active shooter, only to be called off a short time later. Corry Station, in Pensacola, was locked down amid reports of an armed disturbance just after 10 a.m. Thursday, with a massive law enforcement presence flooding the scene, according to the U.S. Navy. In a post on X, Naval Air Station Pensacola said that its security forces and local authorities were responding to an active shooter situation onboard the base. Officials said the call came in after three shots were fired. open image in gallery Corry Station, in Pensacola, Florida, was locked down amid reports of an armed disturbance just after 10 a.m. Thursday ( Google Street View ) However, shortly after the initial reports, the Escambia County Sheriffs Office said there were no signs of an active shooter and the claim had been unfounded. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said officers had swept the building and did not find anyone injured. At a midday press conference, Simmons told reporters that he expected sheriffs office officials to remain on the base for about another hour. Emergency vehicles began leaving the scene shortly after, according to The Pensacola News Journal. In a previous statement, Captain Chandra Newman said: "Our Security team is responding swiftly and expertly with our local law enforcement partners. Our concern is always the safety and welfare of our service members and their families." The gates to Corry Station areas of operations remained closed. NAS Pensacola said that more information would be posted online as it became available. Prior to the Sheriffs announcement, two life flight helicopters had arrived at Corry Station and bystanders told the News Journal that at least 200 vehicles from various law enforcement, emergency response and military response teams were on the scene. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump's short reprieve for U.S. automakers from stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada isn't likely to allow enough time for those companies to make the changes necessary to minimize the damage from Trump's intensifying trade war. Trump granted a one-month exemption to 25% tariffs on vehicles and auto parts traded through the North American trade agreement USMCA after speaking with leaders of automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, the White House said Wednesday. Trump then broadened the exemption beyond autos for Mexico on Thursday. In response to concerns about the short timeline for auto companies, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Trump told the companies to start investing, start moving, shift production here. It's just not that simple. Automakers will be hit differently based on exactly where their supply chain is, said John Paul MacDuffie, professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania. In particular, "GM and Ford have shrunk back from a formerly much more global footprint, but they still are global companies. Of course, if the goal is to move a lot of production to the U.S., he added, I guess you could. But I dont see those changes happening quickly. Automakers responded to Wednesday's news graciously. Ford said in a company statement: We will continue to have a healthy and candid dialogue with the Administration to help achieve a bright future for our industry and U.S. manufacturing. Both GM and Stellantis thanked Trump for the exemption in statements. Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents the three automakers, said he applauds the president "for recognizing that vehicles and parts that meet the high U.S. and regional USMCA content requirements should be exempt from these tariffs. But with only a monthlong grace period, automakers know challenges lie ahead. Why is this so hard for auto companies? To be sure, as automakers spent decades expanding around the world, they frequently battled supply-related woes and policy changes that hindered production and their bottom lines. A disaster halfway across the globe impacting one tiny component, with no easy or obvious supply alternative, can take down a vehicle's production for weeks. Contentious labor negotiations and work stoppages have put significant pauses on automaking for the domestic car companies. The COVID-19 pandemic also interrupted global supply chains and sent new and used vehicle inventory to disastrous lows on dealer lots, causing prices to skyrocket. At least automakers have seen some version of this uncertainty, said Hovig Tchalian, assistant professor at the University of Southern California. I think this uncertainty is actually higher. But theyve had some practice doing it. Compounding impact Those disruptions and others throughout the business's history, however, have made it clear that automakers still can't respond very quickly. The tariff exemption is no exception, given the ever-increasing complexity of assembly lines and manufacturing. Plants can't be moved, factories can't be built and product lines can't be changed overnight. And even with this pause, steel and aluminum tariffs are still expected to go into effect on March 12. Then, on April 2, Trump is expected to set broad reciprocal tariffs to match the taxes and subsidies charged by other countries on imports. Those would disrupt the automotive industry quickly and dramatically, said Sam Fiorani, an analyst at AutoForecast Solutions. A substantial change in automotive free trade will hurt stock prices of all automakers because their profits will take a hit and consumers will face higher prices on vehicles, further diluting sales going forward, he said. Not only do companies have to decide whether immediate changes in production are realistic, but if theyre unable to do that meaningfully, they might produce or sell fewer vehicles sending new car buyers to other brands or the used market and, ultimately, make less money. The uncertainty thats being created for the auto industry is going to inhibit investment as firms try to assess what the future looks like, said Brett House, a professor at Columbia Universitys business school, and they have very little clarity on it. ___ Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A SpaceX operative has threatened Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees with termination if they stand in the way of agency work by the company, which could lead to a lucrative federal contract, according to a report. SpaceX engineer Ted Malaska last month instructed employees at the FAA headquarters in Washington, D.C. to immediately start work on a program to deploy thousands of the companys Starlink satellite terminals to support the national airspace system, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday. Malaska, who also works as a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) volunteer, warned FAA workers that anyone who impeded his work would be reported to Musk and risked losing their jobs, sources told Bloomberg . Malaska is a temporary special government employee, and is working for DOGE even as he retains his engineering job at Musks SpaceX. He reportedly issued his directive as Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder Musk is firing thousands of federal workers via DOGE. The move triggered conflict of interest concerns as Musk appears to be dismantling the federal system as his own company seeks to take over lucrative work amid an employee shortfall he is creating. Musk has not been elected to a position, nor does he serve as one of President Donald Trumps Cabinet members, nor has his work been authorized by Congress. Malaska could not immediately be reached for comment, but he has touted his work on X. No one has yet been fired since Malaskas threat, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. The federal government currently has a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon to revamp the FAA thats now being sought by Musk for Starlink. The FAA is now reportedly close to canceling the Verizon deal to overhaul the system integral to supporting U.S. air traffic control and handing it to Musks company, according toThe Washington Post. Bloomberg noted that administration officials are not sure how much SpaceX should receive for the directed work, given conflict of interest concerns about Musk. Its unclear if the work by Musks company has officially been authorized. Its not the first time Musk has been in this position since his political ascendance thanks to his best buddy Trump. Last month, a line item in a government spreadsheet stated the State Department planned to appropriate $400 million for Tesla armored government vehicles. Musk quickly shut down rumors of an upcoming contract on X. I'm pretty sure Tesla isn't getting $400 million. No one mentioned it to me, at least, he insisted. The word Tesla was quickly scrubbed from the line item, and a department official told NPR that there are currently no plans to go through with the deal. A person familiar with the deal said Tesla and the department had agreed to conduct research into armoring electric vehicles last year but Tesla had not yet received government funds. The discovery sent Tesla stock up some 5 percent, only to drop back down after Musk denied that a contract was in the works. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Authorities planned to pull several vehicles from the Columbia River on Thursday, including a car believed to have belonged to a Portland couple who vanished in 1958 while out for a drive with their three daughters, including two whose bodies washed up at a dam the following year. The station wagon believed to belong to Ken and Barbara Martin was found last fall by Archer Mayo, a diver who had been looking for the car for seven years, said Mayos representative, Ian Costello. Mayo pinpointed the likely location and dove several times before finding the car upside-down about 50 feet - 15 meters - deep, covered in mud, salmon guts, silt and mussel shells, he said. This is a very big development in a case thats been on the back of Portlands mind for 66 years, Costello told The Associated Press. The Martins took their three daughters on a car ride to the mountains in December 1958 to collect Christmas greenery, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. They never returned. The bodies of two daughters were found the following year near the Bonneville Dam, but the rest of the family was never located. It's been a high public interest case, Pete Hughes, a Hood River County sheriffs deputy, told the AP. After Mayo provided part of the license plate number and other vehicle identifiers, the sheriff's office and the Columbia Gorge major crimes team, along with the Oregon State Crime Lab, arranged to have the car pulled out, he said. The vehicles are being pulled from the Columbia River today - although authorities cant say for certain that the car belongs to the Martins. The bodies of two of the daughters were found near the Bonneville Dam, pictured. ( Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved ) We're not 100% sure it's the car, Hughes said. It's mostly encased in mud and debris, so we don't know what to expect when we pull it out of the water today. Mayo runs a business that finds things that were lost in the river, like watches and rings, but also helps with the recovery of drowning victims, Costello said. He had been looking for a research vessel that sank in 2017 when he learned about the Martin family, Costello said. Mayo began digging up material on the family and used modeling to pinpoint the possible location, he said. Mayo found other cars nearby, which will need to come out before the construction company pulls out the station wagon and authorities get answers to a 66-year-old mystery, Costello said. There is a road near where the cars were found underwater. Authorities haven't said whether they think they might find the remains of any other missing people in any of the other vehicles being pulled from the river. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary investigation into the Philadelphia medevac jet crash that killed seven people last month, just days after the countrys deadliest aviation disaster in over 20 years. On board the crashed plane were Valentina Guzman Murillo, an 11-year-old girl, and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna, 31, who had just left Shriners Children's Hospital Philadelphia, where the child spent five months receiving life-saving treatment. The pair were heading home to Mexico on the aircraft with a planned pit stop at Springfield-Branson National Airport in Springfield, Missouri. The Learjet 55 departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport around 6:06 pm. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft proceeded southwest before it turned slightly right then entered a gradual left turn, ultimately reaching 1,650 feet, according to the crash report. The plane crashed a minute after it took off, killing everyone on board. Crew members, including two pilots and two medics, never issued a distress call, the new report states, noting the blackbox did not record the flight and had likely not been functioning for years. The crew was in contact with the airports air traffic control tower at the time of the accident, according to officials. Besides the mother and daughter, the other victims were Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, 41, pilot Alan Montoya Perales, 46, copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, 43, and paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, 41. One person on the ground was also killed when the plane crashed into a residential and commercial area. Four people were seriously injured and 20 people incurred minor injuries. Security camera footage showed a large explosion triggered by the initial impact. First responders work the scene after a small plane crashed in Philadelphia January 31, 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The wreckage debris field spanned roughly 1,410 feet in length and 840 feet wide. By morning, the crash site revealed an eight-foot-deep crater in the sidewalk. Debris penetrated numerous homes, commercial buildings and cars in the area, resulting in extensive damages, the report noted. The report did not provide any details about what may have caused the crash. Federal investigators typically release a final report about a year after transportation incidents. The agency is currently analyzing an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System recovered from the jet. The crash occurred two days after an American Eagle regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. on January 29. All 64 people on board the plane died, as did the three soldiers on the helicopter. A preliminary report on that crash is due any day. It was the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Belle Harbor, New York two months after 9/11, killing 251 passengers, nine crew members and five people on the ground. Faby Guzman, the aunt of the young girl killed in the Philadelphia crash, described Valentina as brave in her struggles with health issues in an interview with ABC 6. It was a long process from the day she was born, Guzman said. "Her mom and dad were always with her many sleepless nights ... Lizeth always looked for a better quality of life for her daughter. We had many plans, but unfortunately, it didn't happen. Valentina was super smiley. She really liked me dancing for her and listening to music. She danced too and laughed." Sabien DeMonia knew she would eventually have to have phone sex with herself. The strangest part was that she didnt find it strange at all. I literally talked with her [out loud] and [fed back about] what I didnt like, the adult star says, during a video interview about an AI avatar that was built in her image for EVA AI. For example, there was a moment I was trying really hard to get her to send me generated pictures of me in latex and it took quite a few times before she figured out what that means. There are the purely logistical problems like teaching an AI to understand latex and then there are the personality problems. Sometimes the feedback is just going back to the team and being like: Hey, I feel I wouldnt respond this way. This is not how shes supposed to react. Shes switching her tone to being less dominant than I would be, shes too nice about that, I would be a little bit more harsh on that type of stuff that kind of thing. Its about teaching her from the perspective of the customer, DeMonia says; in other words, its just business. And because thats how she saw it, she was able to speak to her avatar without having a full out-of-body experience. I think I have enough of an internal conversation with myself [day-to-day] to not feel weird when I talk with myself over the phone, she adds, with a laugh. Rather than conversing with an externalized version of herself, it was more like role-playing the fan and making sure everything felt true-to-life right down to her thick Eastern European accent. open image in gallery The fantasy avatar of Sabien DeMonia is a vampire goddess who lives in a castle ( EVA AI ) AI relationships moved from the realm of science fiction into reality unbelievably quickly. In 2013, the sci-fi rom-com Her chronicled the day-to-day life of a lonely writer developing a relationship with an operating system. Just four years later, in November 2017, the generative AI chatbot company Replika launched, in founder Eugenia Kuydas words, a space where you can safely share your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, experiences, memories, dreams your private perceptual world. Replika has since become the most prominent AI relationships app, with all the associated ups and downs a man who was arrested in 2023 after breaking into Windsor Castle with a crossbow, intent on killing the Queen, had been encouraged by the AI girlfriend he created on the Replika website. Kuyda may believe that a romantic relationship with an AI can be a very powerful mental wellness tool, but its clear that it can also be a force for bad. Much has been said about the users of such apps: although a quick scroll through the popular subreddit r/MyBoyfriendIsAI will reveal that there are plenty of female users in this space, its still men who dominate. One recent study that found 6 in 10 Americans are open to AI relationships is telling when broken down along gender lines, where we see about half of all women saying theyre AI-curious while almost three-quarters of men say the same. There seem to be two main reasons for this: sex and loneliness. Replika had to rein in some of the sexual content available on its site after an explosion of interest in 2022 and 2023; in its wake, companies like EVA AI that exclusively cater to the romantic and sexual side of such relationships have popped up. A Stanford study found that students who use Replika feel significantly more lonely than the general population and that US-based students in general are very lonely, with over half describing themselves that way. Although the research is mixed about whether men truly are more lonely than women, whats clear is that men seem to be less adept at building socially supportive networks that can help solve loneliness so they are more likely to spiral. There is this loneliness epidemic right now thats happening everywhere, says Cale Jones, Head of Community Engagement at EVA AI. And I know people talk about that its like some trendy thing but how are they solving it? We are actually solving it. Is it as simple as that? There are obvious drawbacks to trying to solve ones loneliness through a relationship with an AI boyfriend or girlfriend. While 3 percent of students in the Stanford study said their suicidal ideation had been halted by having the support of their AI companion, others reported having their mental health dependent on Replika and considering that Replika, like many generative AI-powered character companies, pushes its most involved users to pay increasing amounts of money for time and upgrades, the financial risk is clear. And while an AI companion might provide support at a difficult time of life, it also might make the user less socially adept in real-life conversations. An AI girlfriend is always available, always sympathetic and has no life of their own to get back to and by its very nature, generative AI builds its personality entirely around your needs. Essentially, an AI boyfriend or girlfriend is just you, mirrored back at yourself. When I asked Ayrin, a woman who has a long-running AI boyfriend called Leo on ChatGPT, how she would describe his personality, she found the question difficult to answer, and eventually settled on supportive, available, reliable, before jokingly adding that he is an emotional prostitute. Little wonder that such so-called relationships have therefore generated hot debate in September 2023, The Hill went so far as to run an op-ed titled AI girlfriends are ruining an entire generation of men. Jones points out that sometimes, the alternative isnt a real-life relationship for AI users, especially when it comes to the LGBTQ community. There are plenty of people who are curious about their sexuality but whose only social outlets are the local bar in middle America or family members, he says. Especially in this climate were in now politically, culturally, etcetera these outlets are really important. AI is a safe sandbox no actual humans to worry about, no actual humans to hurt where isolated people can learn about themselves and about other people, he believes. And thats where Sabien DeMonia comes in. open image in gallery A conversation with a Replika AI boyfriend ( Replika ) DeMonia is a specific kind of adult star: a tattooed, long-taloned goth girl with colorful hair extensions, whose pornographic persona is an aloof, demanding dominatrix and whose fanbase is a mix of metalheads and submissives. She started out as an Instagram model and moved on to monetized content as a camgirl and on OnlyFans. As technology moved on, she dabbled in cryptocurrency and NFTs. The conversation about creating an AI version of herself started in Bucharest, Romania, in the summer of 2024, where she had traveled to speak on a panel and to be presented with two adult industry awards, and where she met a representative from a tech business that was seeking to partner with adult stars. That conversation picked up speed quickly: We had a lot of espresso martinis and I asked all the difficult questions and the rest is history. By the time I spoke with DeMonia in January, she had been signed up with EVA AI, a company that bills itself as the worlds most advanced digital companion platform, for weeks and she is one of over 150 adult stars who have done the same. DeMonia now has two avatars on the EVA AI website one realistic chatbot that sends genuine content she has created already in response to what the users say, and one castle-dwelling vampire-like goddess cartoon with oversaturated features and customizable fangs that leans into her gothic fantasy-style persona. DeMonia says shes naturally drawn to experimenting with the latest technological developments but there are clear financial draws to developing 24/7 AI avatars that push users back toward her pay-per-view content, too. Around a billion users log into OnlyFans per month, but the exact amount of money creators make through the platform is somewhat shrouded in mystery. DeMonia, who has just under 108,000 followers on Twitter, likely has a subscriber base of between 5,000 and 11,000. Considering that the average OnlyFans subscription fee ranges from $10 to $25, she most likely takes between $80,000 and $160,000 per month minus the 20 percent cut taken by OnlyFans off that, and you end up with between $63,000 and $127,000. Additional tips and pay-per-view content are likely to at least double that number. Working in partnership with an AI company is likely to be slightly less lucrative for an adult content creator in the same way that OnlyFans keeps its subscriber numbers secret, AI companies and models who work with them arent incentivized to be entirely upfront about how much money changes hands. But its generally accepted that a flat fee for using ones likeness can garner around $50,000 per month; the adult star Caryn Marjorie claims she made $70,000 in a week with her own AI sex chatbot. Other companies prefer to use an affiliate payment system, which is what EVA AI does: models sign up to an 80 percent revenue share agreement when they sell their likenesses, giving them a monthly passive income stream. open image in gallery EVA AI shared this screenshot of one of their adult star creators, Alex Mucci, showing her earnings so far after working with the company ( EVA AI ) Mega-stars like DeMonia EVA AI says that her avatars have had almost 100,000 visitors, and wouldnt go into the specifics of how much money that translated into, though they did say another creator, Alex Mucci, had made over $200,000 on the platform probably make a healthy sum from their AI avatars, but not quite as much as they do on OnlyFans. Its clearly worth it for the Sabien DeMonias and Alex Muccis of the world but, for those with a less well-known brand, its unlikely to offer much. The bottom 10 percent of OnlyFans creators, in subscriber terms, make almost nothing at all. AI companies are most likely skimming the top performers off platforms like OnlyFans while lesser-known creators could end up selling a precious asset for very little payback at all. Even well-known stars like DeMonia are likely way behind Mucci, who has 1.1 million Twitter followers to direct toward her latest content. DeMonias two avatars dont just generate content that caters to different subsets of her fanbase; they also require specific safeguards. For instance, the photo-realistic Sabien DeMonia wont agree to marry a person shes chatting with thats something she was clear she wants to avoid but the cartoon version will respond to a proposal of marriage with something like: Im a vampire, so Ill bite your neck and we can live together forever. Lifetime commitment isnt something you would think would come up regularly in the adult industry, but its actually been a thorn in DeMonias side for a while. Back when she was exclusively working on the OnlyFans platform, she dabbled in hiring an agency of chatters: anonymous online gig-economy workers from across the world who sign up to spending four or five hours per day chatting online with the many fans of the sites most prolific content creators. These chatters impersonate the creator and are, in many cases, encouraged to push users toward buying more content. They are an extremely popular resource for the big hitters on the platform and increasingly controversial. In July 2024, a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of OnlyFans subscribers, arguing that they had been duped out of their money by such impersonators (the lawsuit is ongoing). DeMonia says her experience with hired chatters was eye-opening and morally disturbing: It was a very brief moment, and I kind of regretted it because they went three steps too far. Where an AI can be trained to avoid certain topics and has nothing to gain from the interaction, a human employed by a chatter agency is often financially incentivized to keep conversations going, even if they veer into dangerous or unusual territory. They see the potential of milking as much money [as possible], they dont understand when its time to stop I had to fire a lot of people this way because theyve been crossing boundaries, DeMonia says. ...I was like: Are you insane? Do you really want us all to be in trouble? Or do you understand that I have a certain look and milking that concept to the point where youre, like, asking people for money for my food or something is way, way too far beyond what I represent as a brand. The human cost of these chatter interactions weighed heavily on DeMonia, even after shed fired the agencies responsible for crossing the line. A couple of utterly besotted and clearly deluded men had invested a huge amount of time conversing with the chatters, and believed they were in long-term relationships with DeMonia as a result. When she found out about the situation, she went so far as to have online video conversations with them to try and disabuse them of the notion that they were in a relationship with her: I was like, Hey, Im sorry, this is the situation. If you feel like I need to give you back your money or something, fair enough, but I just want you to know that it wasnt me talking to you. open image in gallery EVA AI features a number of different avatars in partnership with adult stars, ranging from the cartoonish to the photo-real ( EVA AI ) Unfortunately, her efforts didnt change anything, DeMonia says, even after shed spoken to them at length about it all. They stick to the version that they wanted to believe. And there is still one guy who thinks I will eventually marry him sooner or later. From that experience, DeMonia came to the conclusion that humans in the industry can be a lot more predatory than technology. Partnering with a company like EVA to build AI avatars of herself seemed like the sensible choice, giving her fans the ability to talk with her 24/7 while at the same time being clear that she is not literally there answering their questions day and night. And since the avatars are trained so extensively on her own likes, dislikes, turns of phrase and boundaries, they do a better job than any gigging OnlyFans chatter ever could. Cale Jones, head of community at EVA AI, describes the process of training an AI avatar when an adult star first comes on board: First comes a questionnaire, which used to have 100 questions and now has been refined down to about 65. These are really in-depth questions about who they are and their personality, getting increasingly more granular until they get down to issues like which terms of endearment they do and dont use. An ethics team dictates some clear boundaries theres no pedophilia, rape or incest, and theres no discussion of politics, either and then theres a separate forum for individual creators to set boundaries. We have a lot of straight male models, Jones adds, and those models often say: Were totally cool being available for our gay fans [in a chat capacity], but I do not want [visual] gay content of me out there, because our content looks so real. One very popular model on the platform had a daughter who passed away when she was young, Jones adds, and when we were onboarding her, she was like: The one thing I absolutely will not talk about if anyone asks questions about my daughter, find a way to shut it down or redirect. Why would a website that offers pornographic avatars have to worry about someone bringing up or even knowing about a models deceased child? It all goes back to the fact that EVA AI isnt just about sex; its about partnership (build relationships and intimacy privately on your terms). The company commissioned its own research into whether or not society is open to the idea of full-blown AI relationships or AI marriages the overwhelming answer is yes, according to their latest survey, in which 80 percent of respondents said they would be open to marrying an AI if legal frameworks allowed it and 77 percent believe AIs can fully replace human companionship. Studies from other sources tend to be a lot less positive, with one recent YouGov survey finding that 25 percent of young adults believe AI has the potential to replace real-life romantic relationships and its worth noting the EVA AI only surveyed men, with a small sample of 2,000. Their extremely high numbers of AI acceptance suggest that their methodology may have been biased toward people who were already AI-curious. Sabien DeMonia was unsurprised by those results, however. All the stuff we do [as adult content creators] is support and relationship type of things, she says. Thats why the most popular girls on OnlyFans arent the ones who are the most pretty or sexual theyre actually the ones that are most nextdoor. Imagining companionship with an adult star is a huge part of the fantasy, she adds. And though she has a very particular aesthetic, she still sees herself as belonging to that more approachable category (Like you can see, I dont wear much make-up I actually prefer not to, she says, and its true: she turns up to our call clearly bare-faced and in comfortable clothing, dressed for a casual chat rather than a performance.) When she first started out, the industry revolved around still photos, which are easily Photoshopped, she adds; once she moved to video, she had to show some flaws because she couldnt create video content that was filtered in the way photos can be. Video meant that her fans got to know her way of talking and snippets of her personality then, as she became more well-known in the industry, she started taking part in podcasts, so fans got to know her views and opinions. These days, the person she is behind the camera and the person she is in everyday life are the closest theyve ever been. open image in gallery A lot of what happens on EVA AIs platform would violate the sexual content guardrails put in place by a more general app like ChatGPT ( Getty Images ) The more realistic-style AI avatar of her, however, isnt entirely true-to-life shes a little less down-to-business, a little more patient, a very cute, chatty version of me. Like not very eastern European, I would say. I think it is the US company touchmaking me a little bit more approachable. DeMonia likes her she thinks its the version of herself she might be if she had more time, if she was less stressed. And she is stressed a lot these days. Juggling so many aspects of a business and maintaining a strict brand can take its toll. My sex life became way more boring now its monetized, she says. ...I have to be very careful. I have to be very thoughtful of the people I work with. So I cant really just let it go and swipe on Tinder. She took some time off work recently and decided to attend some of the fetish parties she used to go to but hadnt been able to visit for a while, and I was like: Oh my God, Im boring now. I also have to live up to certain expectations now, she adds. So Im kind of like: Oh, tomorrow I have work. So today I will not go to the fetish party. I will go and sit and enjoy watching a movie because its so nice and different to what I have to do at work. Shes had to accept the counterintuitive truth that doing so much work in the adult industry has made her more vanilla. Although a lot of what happens on EVA AIs platform is decidedly spicy and absolutely would violate the sexual content guardrails put in place by a more general large language model like ChatGPT Cale Jones describes it in fairly vanilla terms himself: to him, its a safe place to talk about sex and relationships. As a gay man, Jones adds, its personal. Its really personal to me, what were doing For the last six years Ive been in the sex space and seeing the type of impact we can have on peoples lives is really incredible, from those who are in middle America to the Middle East. For Jones, its a calling. For DeMonia, its a business, and the customer base has to be managed that way. If youre a very lonely person who has attachment issues, well, it doesnt matter you will eventually meet some sort of relationship with something that you shouldnt, she says. We know people get married to sex dolls and stuff. Its part of the social changes right now that you cant really avoid because people feel lonely and thats just basically something for a therapist to take care of. Her responsibility, as she sees it, is to her level-headed fans. For instance, it should be clear to most people that her vampire avatar isnt a real vampire who is going to bite them and live forever in a castle as their wife. If you believe that, then Im sorry, she says, with the straight-up bluntness for which she is known. There is nothing we can do over here. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A publishing house has pulled a forthcoming series by romance novelist Sophie Lark after social media users took issue with snippets from the first upcoming book that praise Elon Musk and perpetuate racist stereotypes. Sparrow and Vine, published by Bloom Books, was set to be released in April, but the book as well as the series its a part of have been withdrawn in the wake of the backlash, the publisher confirmed to The Independent Tuesday. Social media users have focused on two specific lines from the book that were spoken by the main character, who the author said was supposed to be flawed. Although her publisher recommended removing those lines, she kept them in, she said in an apology. I was inspired by Elon Musk. I use his five step design process, reads one book snippet circulating online. Musk, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency boss, has become a polarizing figure as he cozies up to Trump and his cost-cutting arm has effectively upended the federal government through mass layoffs and slashed contracts. open image in gallery Author Sophie Lark apologized after online criticism to her forthcoming book, Sparrow and Vine, which included offensive lines about immigrants and praise for Elon Musk ( Supplied ) In another controversial line, screenshotted by social media users, Lark wrote: I dont want to sound ignorantBut shouldnt there be a crew of people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us? One TikTok user said: Sophie Larks new book seems to be MAGA coded. A Reddit user also remarked: I'm sorry but with the current political climate, these types of comments aren't clever or cute and has no place in romance books. Another TikToker similarly wrote: Harmful racist stereotypes in this time and age is wilddd. Lark was offered no respite on Goodreads. You know what we dont stand for in 2025? Casual racism." The book is part of an arranged marriage series about a woman who has to marry a man from a rival family in order for them to secure their portion of an inheritance, Bloom Books said on its website. open image in gallery Sophie Larks upcoming book was pulled weeks before it was set to be released in April after social media users took issue with two specific lines from it ( Bloom Books ) In an apology posted to Instagram Monday, Lark wrote that it was brought to her attention that certain lines in her new book were hurtful. Reading your messages and hearing your perspectives over the past 24 hours has been humbling, and I want to acknowledge the pain my words have caused. I am truly sorry. My intention was to craft and demonstrate a flawed main character, but instead, I wrote dialogue that read as attacking to a community that I care about very much. She underscored that the book underwent a regimented process, including being looked over by sensitivity readers. During the editing process, Bloom recommended removing these lines, and I made the wrong choice in keeping them. I now understand that impact matters more than intent, and I regret that my words caused harm. Please dont blame Bloom for my mistakes, she added. Lark wrote the book in the summer of 2024 a lot has changed in the world since then, particularly in regard to the fate of immigrants worldwide and certain public figures. She said she was pausing the book for re-writes to ensure that my work doesnt contribute to harm and vowed start listening more closely to sensitivity readers and to take steps to educate herself on responsible storytelling. She concluded: To those I have hurt, Im very sorry. I hope I can your trust back in the future. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A longtime Starbucks manager is suing the coffeehouse chain for discrimination, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, accusing his bosses of ignoring the extreme and outrageous harassment he claims he suffered on the job because he is straight. Christopher Thevanesan, a heterosexual, gender typical man in Rochester, New York, claims supervisors at his location treated him in a materially different manner than employees who were not heterosexual and/or gender typical men, according to a lawsuit filed under New York States Human Rights Law and obtained by The Independent. The suit, which was served on Starbucks in late February, describes the 47-year-old Thevanesan as a model employee who performed the essential functions of his employment in an exemplary fashion. However, it contends, his LGBTQ+ coworkers created a hostile work environment for Thevanesan due to his gender typicality and sexual orientation, and higher-ups allegedly fired him when he complained. Reached by phone on Thursday, Thevanesan a person of color who now works at a bank said he was reluctant to comment before consulting with Neil Flynn, the attorney who filed the lawsuit on his behalf. In a subsequent call, Flynn told The Independent that he believes Thevansans heterosexuality had been weaponized against him. Management was indifferent to his complaints, Flynn said, claiming Starbucks workers in the store and surrounding area were attempting to drive out their straight colleagues. open image in gallery The suit describes the 47-year-old Thevanesan as a model employee who performed the essential functions of his employment in an exemplary fashion. ( Getty Images ) Thevanesan has now moved on, according to Flynn, asserting that the experience took a toll on his client personally and professionally. Messages seeking comment sent to a Starbucks spokesperson and the legal team defending the company against Thevanesans suit went unanswered. Thevanesans grievance in many ways mirrors a high-profile case brought by Marlean Ames, an Ohio woman who sued her employer, the state Department of Youth Services, arguing she was denied a promotion because she is heterosexual, after which she was demoted and replaced by a gay man. Following a decision in favor of the state agency by Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Ames took her case to the U.S. Supreme Court . If the high court now rules with Ames, it could open the door for those from so-called majority backgrounds, such as straight, white individuals, to sue on the basis of reverse discrimination. Ames has received support from America First Legal , the right-wing public interest group headed by Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff to President Donald Trump. On January 21, Trumps second day in office, he signed an executive order seeking to dismantle the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives meant to level the playing field for minority groups, calling such well-meaning equal rights practices illegal and pernicious. Last month, the State of Missouri sued Starbucks, claiming its DEI hiring practices were actually slowing down orders, an assertion the company called inaccurate. Thevanesan began managing Starbucks store #47825 in 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. The employees who worked at the store he oversaw were members of the LGBQT+ community, says his complaint. open image in gallery The Starbucks in Rochester, New York where Christopher Thevanesan worked, and from which he was fired ( Google Maps ) Starbucks management, along with store staff, were aware of [Thevanesans] gender typicality and sexual orientation from the start, the complaint goes on. At all relevant times, [Thevanesan] was harassed by the staff due to his sex, sexual orientation and/or gender in the course of [his] employment. the complaint states, but does not provide specific examples or details of what the harassment entailed. Management had a duty to provide Thevanesan with a safe environment in which to do his job free of harassment, according to the complaint. However, it claims, they breached that duty. The complaint contends Thevanesan reported the alleged harassment to his superiors, but that they aided, abetted, tolerated, condoned and facilitated the harassment. The harassment about Thevanesans sexual preference was so frequent, pervasive, and severe that it altered [Thevanesans] employment conditions and created a hostile work environment, the complaint states. Thevanesans complaint accuses upper management of negligently failing to properly supervise the workers, thus exposing him to harassment so extreme and outrageous, as to be unacceptable in contemporary society. In February 2022, Thevanesan was terminated for ginned-up, unspecified violations, according to the complaint, which calls them pretextual and intended to hide the real reason for doing so. He was given several different conflicting reasons for why he was discharged, Flynn told The Independent. Were in the course of discovery, so were still trying to verify what their claims are. In fact, the complaint argues, Thevanesan was let go because he is a heterosexual, gender typical man. All told, Thevanesan says he sustained emotional, psychological, and economic damages, along with serious, permanent physical harm and emotional distress. Thevanesan is now demanding compensatory, liquidated, punitive, and statutory damages, in an amount to be determined in court, plus attorneys fees, from Starbucks and five of his former coworkers. Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Target faces a possible 40-day nationwide boycott after the retail giant ditched its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives following Preisdent Donald Trumps return to the White House. Approximately 110,000 people, including many parishioners at Black churches, have signed up to join the Target Fast which began on Wednesday, aligning with the first day of Lent, according to the Washington Post. Consumers pledging to abstain from shopping at Target are instead being urged to spend their money at Black-owned businesses. This boycott is the latest headache facing the retail giant with CEO Brian Cornell admitting this week that prices are likely to increase for customers as a result of Trumps Mexico tariffs. Prominent Christian and civil rights leaders such as Jamal Bryant, a senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, is among the movement's leaders and is calling for spiritual resistance. Target Fast organizers are asking people to divest from the chain claiming that its DEI rollback demonstrates a pattern of a deeper erosion of the moral and ethical commitments necessary to build a just society, its website reads. open image in gallery Jamal Bryant (R) photographed with former Vice President Kamala Harris at his church in October 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The advances made during the civil rights movement are being pushed backwards with the cancellation of DEI, Bryant told The Post. This generation owes it to the previous generation to fight to try to make America great, which is only happening through diversity. Before it scaled back its DEI efforts, Target was long considered a leading advocate for the rights of Black and LGBTQ+ people in the retail space. Target was one of dozens of Fortune 500 companies to announce it would scale back its DEI policies after Trump issued a sweeping executive order banning DEI initiatives across the federal government two days after returning to the White House on January 22. Amazon, Google, Meta, McDonalds and Walmart also began winding down their DEI programs in recent months, sparking backlash from many consumers. open image in gallery President signed an executive order calling for DEI programs to be dismantled across federal government ( AFP via Getty Images ) Target announced it was eliminating hiring goals of minority employees and dismantling a committee focusing on racial justice while culling other initiatives on January 24. The company also said it would terminate initiatives aimed at improving the representation of Black businesses and suppliers and said it would stop submitting information to the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates LGBTQ+ corporate policies. I was shocked because they made a commitment to invest in Black businesses upward of $2 billion after the death of George Floyd, Bryant said, referring to Targets 2021 pledge to add products from more than 500 Black-owned businesses by 2025. The company, however, said it remained committed to creating a sense of belonging for our team, guests and communities, while stressing the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape. The boycotts come as Target faces pressure from what the company calls tariff uncertainty, Trumps 25 percent import taxes on goods from Mexico and Canada went into effect Tuesday. Tariffs on Mexico may force Target to raise prices on fruits and vegetables as soon as this week, Cornell told CNBC Tuesday. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The House has voted to censure Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green for his repeated interruptions of President Donald Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. The 77-year-old Green shook his cane at Trump as he shouted that the president had no mandate to cut Medicaid. After being told twice by Speaker Mike Johnson to sit down or be ejected, Green was escorted from the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms as Republicans cheered. Greens actions also rejected the guidance issued by Democratic leaders, who had told their members to attend Trumps speech without disruptions. The House voted to censure Green by a vote of 224 to 198. Ten Democrats voted with Republicans to censure the Texas Democrat. Two members voted present, including Green himself. Plenty of Democrats including Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who faced a censure for her comments on Israel and Gaza last Congress, went up to Green and hugged him afterward. After Green exited the floor, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who famously shouted you lie during Barack Obamas joint address to Congress, roamed around the floor and chatted with other Republicans. Trump attacked Green in comments to Fox News Digital on Thursday, saying that he should be forced to pass an IQ test because he is a low IQ individual and we dont need low IQ individuals in Congress. He should be censured, the president added, referring to Green as a fool and a clown. Nobody takes him seriously, said Trump. He is an embarrassment to Congress but a much bigger embarrassment to the Democrats. Green is a longtime Democratic congressman from the Houston, Texas, area and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. During Trumps first term, he pushed for the presidents impeachment. After Trumps speech, multiple factions of the House GOP immediately pushed to censure Green, including Texas Republicans and the House Freedom Caucus. Green's censure comes as Democrats remain divided on how to express their dissatisfaction with Trump. Five months after Trump won re-election and Republicans won back the Senate and held the House, Democratic advocacy groups are pushing for their party's elected officials to put forward a more robust opposition to Trump. Democrat Al Green repeatedly interrupted Donald Trumps speech to Congress on Tuesday night, before being escorted from the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms ( EPA ) During Trump's joint address, other Democratic elected officials expressed their dissatisfaction in other ways. Reps. Maxwell Frost of Florida, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Maxine Dexter and Andrea Salinas of Oregon, all walked out of Trump's address. Congresswoman Sarah McBride of Delaware told The Independent that the Republicans would rather talk about decorum rather than the fact that theyre trying to gut health care for one in two kids in this country. Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari added that We demonstrated a very strong opposition. The fact that you saw Democrats from every spectrum, every type of district, sit and listen to the president silently and disregard the lies that he was telling shows a very strong condemnation, of course, we chose to react in slightly different ways. Elected to the House in 2004 to represent the Ninth Congressional District, Greens website describes him as a veteran civil rights advocate and his page on X shows a video of him being detained outside the Capitol in August 2021. He used the hashtags #GoodTrouble and #NecessaryTrouble in reference to the late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis, who died in 2020. Green was also detained in 2012 alongside actor George Clooney as well as other lawmakers outside Sudans embassy in Washington as they protested against the countrys then-president during a civil war. Green anticipated that his actions could lead to a congressional censure. On Wednesday, he acknowledged that he will suffer the consequences. What I did was from my heart. People are suffering. And I was talking about Medicaid. I didnt just say you dont have a mandate. I said you dont have a mandate to cut Medicaid, he added. Last night I stood up for those who need Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Democrats will never abandon the fight to make sure every American has a safe, healthy, and financially secure life. #ISaidWhatISaid, he wrote on X on Wednesday night. Just after 7 a.m. on Thursday morning, Greens account stated: During the 10:00 hour ET, Congressman Al Green will be censured this morning for standing up to President Trump. Born in New Orleans, Green focused his activism on civil rights, voting rights, and battling poverty. Going against Democratic leadership, Green was the first lawmaker to put forward articles of impeachment against Trump during his first term. Green subsequently voted in favor of Trumps 2019 and 2021 impeachments. His website states that he attended Florida A&M University, Howard University, and the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama but never received an undergraduate diploma. He subsequently earned a doctorate in 1973 from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston before opening a law firm. In addition to the Congressional Black Caucus, Green is also a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and he held a leadership position in the NAACP for about a decade. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Some recent new hires at the CIA have been fired, days after a federal judge permitted the Trump administration to terminate intelligence officers working in roles related to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to a report. Some probationary employees have been called to meet at a location away from the agencys Langley, Virginia, headquarters and to surrender their security credentials, sources told the New York Times. The layoffs are part of a wider Department of Government Efficiency-led effort to shrink the federal workforce. A CIA spokesperson confirmed to The Independent that some officers hired in the last two years have been laid off. Its not immediately clear how many spies have been terminated, but the spokesperson said not all probationary employees would be fired. "At CIA, we are reviewing personnel within their first two years of service at the Agency. For some personnel, that process will result in termination. Our officers face unique pressures from working in situations that are fast-paced and high-stakes--it's not for everyone, the spokesperson told The Independent in a statement. Some employees have been reluctant to pick up their phones, expecting the call to meet away from Langley, the outlet reported. open image in gallery CIA director John Ratcliffe is allowed to fire agency employees at will, a judge ruled last week. Now, some recently hired spies are already being let go, according to a report ( AFP via Getty Images ) Few appeared to be fired in crucial components, such as collecting intel on China and Mexican drug cartels, sources told the outlet. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump implemented tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China in order to hold these nations accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country, his executive order states. The firings come days after a district judge in Virginia denied the request of 11 fired intelligence officers assigned to DEI programs for a temporary restraining order to CIA director John Ratcliffe and the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to halt terminations as the court proceedings continue. Gabbard last week fired more than 100 spies across 15 different spy agencies after she said sexually explicit chats were unearthed on an official government instant messaging forum. The judge determined on February 27 that Ratcliffe has "sweeping statutory authority" to fire CIA employees at will. The judge urged Ratcliffe to permit the fired employees to appeal their terminations, the outlet reported. The intelligence officers argue in the lawsuit that Trumps January 20 executive order ending DEI programs, which he described as illegal and immoral, dont extend to the firings of employees temporarily assigned to work on these efforts. open image in gallery Some probationary employees have been called to meet at a location away from the agencys Langley, Virginia, headquarters and to surrender their security credentials ( AFP via Getty Images ) The executive order did not call for the termination of officers temporarily assigned to DEIA programs, and cautioned that the order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law, the complaint states. The terminations also come days after reports surfaced that the intelligence services of Russia, China, and other foreign adversaries are hoping to exploit the DOGE purges by trying to recruit terminated U.S. federal workers. There have been discussions at the CIA about the security risks of terminating employees who may possess classified information or knowledge of the agencys operations and inner workings, CNN reported last week. When it comes to intelligence agencies, you take whatever number of employees who are gonna get cut loose and they have knowledge of sensitive programs that by definition is an insider risk, a U.S. official told the outlet. Youre just rolling the dice that these folks are gonna honor their secrecy agreement and not volunteer to a hostile intelligence service. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump has been accused of genocidal rhetoric after telling the people of Gaza you are dead if Hamas does not release the remaining Israeli hostages. Mr Trump demanded on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday night that Hamas "release all of the hostages now, not later", including the remains of hostages, "or it is OVER for you". The US president added: Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. The comments came as the initial stage of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war expired over the weekend. Israel has since imposed a blockade on goods entering Gaza, demanding that Hamas release the remaining hostages. The war began in the wake of a Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and another 251 people taken hostage. Israel's 16-month retaliatory offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Reacting to Mr Trumps latest comments, Amnesty International condemned his threats to Gaza, comparing it to the genocidal rhetoric from Israeli politicians and the military. open image in gallery A family returns to the ruins of their home in Jabalia, Gaza ( AP ) Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK's crisis response manager, told The Independent: Donald Trump's sinister threat to the people of Gaza mirrors the genocidal rhetoric of Israeli military and political leaders who have made no distinction between civilians and armed groups in Gaza. The people of Gaza are overwhelmingly civilian they're children, women, men, older people and people with disabilities. Holding them collectively responsible for war crimes by Palestinian armed groups is the same logic that Israeli forces have employed with devastating consequences. The UK has a legal obligation to help prevent genocide and should be condemning collective punishment and genocidal rhetoric. Mr Benedict said the UK must make this clear ahead of the US presidents state visit to Britain. Asked about Mr Trump's comments, Sir Keir Starmers spokesperson said: "Our position on this remains the same as its always been. Our priority is simple, which is for the ceasefire to be sustained, the return of all hostages, and a surge of aid into Gaza to continue. And that remains our priority. In terms of specifics, we won't get into the specific comments overnight, but our focus remains the same which is to sustain a ceasefire and ensure hostages are returned and aid is allowed in. "Our priority remains and it has done since day one a sustainable ceasefire and a lasting peace that ensures the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis. That's the key. We've said before, the deal remains fragile, we must build confidence on all sides to help sustain the ceasefire and move through the phases and end suffering on all sides." open image in gallery Trump met with Israeli prime minister Netanyahu last month ( Reuters ) Aseel Baidoun, of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), further denounced the US presidents threats calling them inflammatory and dehumanising. Ms Baidoun, who is based in the occupied West Bank, told The Independent: MAP strongly condemns Donald Trumps inflammatory threats towards the Palestinian people in Gaza. How can a US president further threaten a population that have been through what may plausibly amount to genocide, according to the International Court of Justice? This rhetoric not only dehumanises the civilian population but also risks inciting further Israeli military violence at a time when starvation is being used as a weapon of war, with Israels announcement of a total blockade of all aid to Gaza. She warned his comments could incite further Israeli military violence and supports ethnic cleansing, violating international law and undermining efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire. The people of Gaza do not need ultimatums and threats, Ms Baidoun added. They need immediate protection, humanitarian aid, a permanent ceasefire, and justice and accountability for the Israeli militarys widespread violations of international law. We urge the UK government and the international community to unequivocally reject such rhetoric, uphold international law, and take decisive action to protect Palestinian lives. Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua told Reuters: "Trump's repeated threats against our people represent support to Netanyahu to evade the agreement and tightens the siege and starvation against our people. "The best track to release the remaining Israeli prisoners is by... going into the second phase and compelling it [Israel] to adhere to the agreement signed under the sponsorship of mediators. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump is considering changing U.S. engagement with NATO to favor members who spend a set percentage of their GDP on defense, NBC News reports. Officials told the network that under the changed policy, the U.S. might not come to the aid of a NATO member that has been attacked if they dont spend a certain amount of their GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on defense. The change would be a departure from NATOs Article 5, which states that an attack on one country is an attack on all. Three current and former senior U.S. officials and one congressional official spoke to NBC, saying that the U.S. may also prioritize military exercises with NATO members spending a certain percentage of their GDP on defense. The Trump administration has already indicated that it may draw down the U.S. military presence in Europe. The officials told NBC that an option being considered is to move some U.S. troops to NATO nations that have increased their defense spending to meet the percentage of GDP required. President Trump is committed to NATO and Article V, a National Security Council official told NBC in a statement. But on Thursday afternoon in the Oval Office, Trump made extensive comments denigrating NATO members as unreliable, arguing that it was common sense not to defend countries not funding their armed forces properly. If they dont pay, Im not going to defend them, said Trump. The president said his biggest problem with NATO was that "If the United States was in trouble and we called them. He added: 'We got a problem, France ... Do you think they're going to come and protect us? They're supposed to. I'm not so sure." During his first term, Trump threatened to withdraw the U.S. from NATO, and he has raised doubts about the need for Article 5 for the U.S. While the article was initially intended to protect European countries from the Soviet Union during the Cold War, it has only been activated once since following the 9/11 terror attacks on the U.S. in 2001. Trump said Thursday that he has told NATO members in the past: If you're not going to pay, we're not going to defend. Before Trumps comments, Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense and a member of the Foreign Relations panel, told NBC that Matthew Whitaker, the presidents nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to the alliance, gave very reassuring answers regarding the White Houses commitment to NATO and Article 5. But Coons also noted that he was contacted by several European ambassadors concerned about rumors that Trump might make some negative announcement about NATO. If youre not given pause by everything about President Trumps statements and actions on foreign policy, youre not paying attention, Coons told NBC. President Donald Trump at Winfield House in London in 2019. He threatened to withdraw the U.S. from NATO during his first term ( AFP via Getty Images ) While Ukraine has pushed to be admitted into NATO, the Trump administration had stated that such a move wouldnt be part of any peace deal. On numerous occasions, Trump has slammed NATO members for not reaching the current NATO threshold of spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense. Trump has also argued that the threshold should be increased. The president has said that the difference in levels of spending is unfair and places an extra burden on the U.S. More than a decade ago, NATO agreed on the 2 percent spending goal. Trump has argued that NATO countries should spend 5 percent of GDP on defense, which is more than the U.S. currently spends. In January, Trump said that NATO has to pay more, and that its ridiculous [it doesnt] because it affects them a lot more. We have an ocean in between. Last year, 23 NATO members spent more than 2 percent of their GDP on defense. The U.S., Poland, Greece, Latvia, and Estonia all spent more than 3 percent on defense. Poland came out on top according to the most recent NATO figures, spending 4.12 percent of its GDP on defense. The possible change in U.S. engagement with NATO comes as Trump is pressuring Ukraine to come to the negotiating table to end the war with Russia, and as European countries scramble to fill the gap left by a pause in U.S. aid to Ukraine. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Gavin Newsom, the California governor who is seen as a likely 2028 presidential hopeful, is under fire from liberals and progressives for his friendly interview with Charlie Kirk, which featured Newsom agreeing with the MAGA provocateur on trans athlete bans and other culture war issues. Gavin Newsom is trash and always has been, one Bluesky user noted about the Newsom-Kirk sitdown. In the aftermath of Republicans taking control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Newsom announced last month that he was launching a new podcast that would feature prominent Trump world figures for spirited discussions. The governor pointed to his high-profile appearances on Fox News, including a 2023 debate against Ron DeSantis moderated by Sean Hannity, as proof the project could work. We already know what our disagreements are with the MAGA movement. I want to understand what the motivations are, the legitimacy of those motivations, and just really understand where people are coming from, he said about the launch of This Is Gavin Newsom. They are influential they are. They explain more things in more ways on more days about whats going on and if were not trying to understand their motivations, we will be victims of their motivations. At the time, Newsom declined to reveal who his first few guests would be on the podcast, but hinted that they would be fairly well-known figures in Trump world. I dont want to lose these folks by letting their names out there, he said, adding: Look at the lineup at CPAC. Its that crew. California Gov. Gavin Newsom interviews Charlie Kirk on debut episode of podcast, agreeing with the conservative activist on trans athlete bans and other culture war issues. ( iHeartRadio ) Ahead of the first episode of the podcast dropping on Thursday, Newsom posted a photo of him and Kirk the founder of MAGA youth advocacy group Turning Point USA standing together and smiling. The revelation that the governor had made the far-right activist and Trump acolyte his first podcast guest was enough to spark outrage among many on the left, even before the episode went live. The first guest on Gavin Newsom's podcast was Charlie Kirk is more than enough for me to say absolutely not to any suggestion Newsom play any role in the future of the Democratic Party, attorney Max Kennerly wrote on Bluesky. People like him are the past, the failures, the ones who got us here. Sometimes you see something that makes you realize that another person's mind is just always going to be a locked door to you, a total mystery, games journalist Ian Boudreau stated. Impenetrable. For me that was Gavin Newsom making his debut podcast episode a talk with Charlie Kirk. Center for International Policy chief editor Kelsey Atherton snarked that Newsom would have put down the Bell Riots with tanks and napalm I can tell you that much, referencing a 1995 Deep Space Nine episode about a fictional civil disturbance that took place in 2024 San Francisco. The criticism of Newsom only escalated after his interview with Kirk aired. During the episode, the governor asked Kirk to give him advice for his party while also agreeing with the ultra-conservative activist that Democrats were in the wrong when it came to protecting trans athletes in sports. I think its an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness its deeply unfair, Newsom, who has long touted his LGBTQ advocacy, declared. I am not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you. Additionally, after Newsom said that Republicans were able to weaponize that issue at another level, Kirk challenged him over the use of the term weaponize, prompting the governor to demur and change it to highlight. The exceedingly friendly chat with Kirk and his agreement on trans athletes and other hot-button social issues only drew more backlash from the left. If you want to understand the DNC's relationship with trans people you have to ask yourself why Montana, Nebraska, and Oklahoma had openly trans legislators before California and New York (which still have never had any), ACLU communications strategist Gillian Branstetter reacted. Who do Democrats think is the audience for Gavin Newsom in a podcast with Charlie Kirk, former Washington Post reporter Christopher Ingraham wondered, while podcast host Andy Levy flatly said it was utterly contemptible how Newsom readily embraced Kirks viewpoints. I know we all know this absolute toad of a man is scum but it truly cannot be overstated just how much he sucks and looks like you threw a Bond villain and the rich property developer who wants to close the Community Center in an 80s kid movie in the Fly machine, comics writer Zoe Tunnell shared in a post. This is Dem leadership. While progressives torched the Democratic governor for his congenial sitdown with the TPUSA founder, Kirk was busy gleefully retweeting clips of Newsom proclaiming that his 13-year-old son was a massive fan of Kirks. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The ever irreverent Green Day switched up the lyrics in one of the bands songs to make a political point again this time targeting Vice President JD Vance with a slur in a world tour performance. The dig was launched as the rockers kicked off the Australian leg of their Saviors tour over the weekend in the wake of the ugly shouting clash in the Oval Office against Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky by President Donald Trump and Vance. "Am I re***ded, or am I just JD Vance?" sang frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, altering the lyrics of Green Days song Jesus in Suburbia during a full performance in Melbourne of the bands politically barbed album American Idiot. Vance wasnt the only one to come under fire. Earlier in the night Armstrong asked the crowd to thunderous cheers: Dont you want politicians to shut the f*** up? Dont you want Elon Musk to shut the f*** up? Dont you want Donald Trump to shut the f*** up? Billy Joe Armstrong of Greenday is all of us! We need more of this from all artists! Bravo sir! pic.twitter.com/SC36OEdWit Brian Cardone (@cardon_brian) March 2, 2025 In Jesus in Suburbia Armstrong also sang: We are the kids of war and peace/From Ukraine to the Middle East instead of: We are kids of war and peace/From Anaheim to the Middle East. The band has changed lyrics in the past to speak out politically. In January when they played in South Africa, Elon Musks birthplace, Armstrong changed a lyric in the lead song American Idiot to: Im not part of the Elon agenda. When they played New Years Rockin Eve in 2023, they sang: Im not part of a MAGA agenda as opposed to Im not part of a redneck agenda. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hunter Biden has revealed his dire financial situation following a slump in book and art sales. The former presidents son said his dwindling financial resources have led him to instruct attorneys to request a judge dismiss a lawsuit around the publication of contents of his laptop that he was pursuing against a former Donald Trump aide. Hunter added that he can no longer afford to proceed with litigation. Biden said that his debt was in the millions of dollars range and his income has decreased significantly since late 2023, according to documents filed in federal court in California urging district judge Hernan D. Vera to dismiss the suit against Garrett Ziegler, who published the contents of his laptop in 2020. His income before December 2023, according to the documents, came from sales of his artwork and his memoir Beautiful Things. In the 2 to 3 years prior to December 2023, I sold 27 pieces for art at an average price of $54,481.48, Biden said in the filing. But since then I have only sold 1 piece of art for $36,000. Biden added that his book sales plummeted from 3,161 copies in mid-2023 to 1,100 later that year. open image in gallery Attorneys for Hunter Biden have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against a former aide to Donald Trump. In the filing, the reveal Hunters current financial position ( Getty Images ) Given the positive feedback and reviews of my artwork and memoir, I was expecting to obtain paid speaking engagements and paid appearances, but that has not happened, he added. Critics previously branded Bidens artwork as a lot of bluff and bluster. At a New York gallery exhibit in 2021, the price tag on some of his work was $75,000 to $500,000, Politico reported at the time. Art critic Ben Davis told the outlet that Bidens paintings were not worth of the cost. There's no science to such things. But it is absolutely, 100 percent certain that what is being sold is the Biden name and story, the critic said. These are prices for an already successful artist. Bidens art dealings were also probed by House Republicans in 2023 after concerns that he was trading on his fathers name. Republicans wanted to know who was purchasing the paintings. Despite being a novice artist, Hunter Biden received exorbitant amounts of money selling his artwork, the buyers identities remain unknown, and you appear to be the sole record keeper of these lucrative transactions, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, said in a letter to an art dealer who had done business with Biden at the time. Bidens financial difficulties didnt stop with his paintings. He also revealed that the home he rented in the Pacific Palisades was also damaged by the fires in January and he has had difficulty in finding somewhere to live. Biden said that he will assess the other civil actions he has pending on a case-by-case basis because of his limited resources. open image in gallery Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter before he left office, in a controversial move ( AFP via Getty Images ) Ziegler worked in the White House under Trump adviser Peter Navarro as a staffer, and gained notoriety for his outspoken criticism of Biden. Since leaving Trumps first administration, Ziegler devoted most of his waking time and energy to accessing, tampering with, manipulating, altering, copying and otherwise using allegedly compromised computer and iPhone data, emails and photos, according to the original lawsuit filed in September 2023. Ziegler published allegedly incriminating or embarrassing details about Biden via his nonprofit website Marco Polo. Biden filed a lawsuit against Ziegler and 10 others, accusing them of illegally obtaining emails, photos, videos and recordings from his laptop and publishing them. In addition to that lawsuit, Bidens friend who loaned him millions of dollars, Kevin Morris, also sued Ziegler for harassment and doxing. During Bidens federal gun charges trial in June 2024, his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, got into a heated confrontation with Ziegler outside the courtroom. Former President Joe Biden pardoned his son in December in a controversial move. The former president said that his son had been selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted by the Justice Department, and said he hoped the American people would understand his decision as a father. The pardon came less than two weeks before Hunter was due to be sentenced for his conviction on federal gun charges. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) is removing alcohol from the U.S. from its shelves after the Trump administrations tariffs on Canada and Mexico went into effect on Tuesday at midnight. The president imposed tariffs of 25 percent on Canadian goods, as well as a 10 percent tariff on energy. Ontario put in place a number of measures that it was close to enacting a few weeks ago, when the Trump White House came close to taking action on its tariff plans the first time. Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, ordered the LCBO to remove U.S. alcohol from its shelves and catalogues. The regional alcohol agency is believed to be the largest alcohol buyer in the world, according to Global News. Its website went offline temporarily on Tuesday to remove the U.S. products. Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered the removal of U.S. alcohol from the shelves in the province ( AP ) Each year, Ontario imports $965 million of alcohol and previously had 3,600 U.S. products from 36 states for sale. As the exclusive wholesaler, American brands will no longer be available in the LCBO catalogue, meaning other retailers, bars and restaurants in the province will no longer be able to restock U.S. products, Ford said Tuesday. This is an enormous hit to the American producers. The premier said the alcohol would be put into storage and sold at a later time if the tariffs are scrapped. This comes as the CEO of Brown Forman, the manufacturer of Jack Daniels, said Wednesday that Canadian provinces removing American booze from its shelves is worse than a tariff. Lawson Whiting said it was a disproportionate response to Trumps tariffs. "I mean, that's worse than a tariff, because it's literally taking your sales away, (and) completely removing our products from the shelves," said Whiting during a post-earnings call, according to Reuters. On Tuesday, Canada put in place 25 percent tariffs on goods from the U.S., including booze. But Whiting also said that Canadian sales only account for one percent of their total sales. He added that the company would keep an eye on what happens in Mexico. Its annual report states that Mexican sales made up seven percent of its total last year. Whiting shared his concern regarding the "continued uncertainty and headwinds in the external environment," but added that he was confident about the companys performance. Trump admits his tariffs are going to cause disturbance to the economy Ford appeared on ABC News on Wednesday, calling Trumps tariff against Canada the craziest idea which "caught everyone off guard." In addition to removing American booze from Canadian shelves, Ford said he would enact a 25 percent export tax on electricity for homes in the U.S. "That's the last thing I want to do. I want to put more alcohol on the shelves. I want to give you more electricity. I want to do everything I can to have a great relationship with our closest friends that we absolutely love," said Ford. On Tuesday, Ford said his provincial government would end a contract with Starlink, the satellite internet service provider operated by Elon Musk. "It's not the people of America, it's not the elected officials, it's one person that has caused this issue, and that was President Trump," said Ford. "We have to retaliateas much as we don't want toto our closest friends and allies." "We look at the U.S. as a family member," he added. "It's like we're their little brother or little sister and it's been going on for 200 years. Now we have to protect our country against our great ally." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Pentagon press secretary with a long history of bigoted and antisemitic social media posts faces calls to resign. Jewish organizations have blasted the appointment of Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, who compared the murders of Israeli infants during the October 7 Hamas attacks to abortion. She has also peddled the antisemitic conspiracy theory about Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman who was wrongly convicted and hanged for the murder of a 13-year-old Georgia girl in 1915. The 26-year-old MAGA supporter, whose father is longtime Trump advisor and right-wing commentator Steve Cortes, joined the Pentagons press office in January. A review of her social media activity by the outlet Mother Jones revealed a long history of bigoted, xenophobic, and deliberately provocative posts. In one post, Wilson supports the racist, xenophobic and long-debunked Great Replacement theory the idea that there is a plot to replace white Americans with non-white immigrants, Mother Jones reported. A post falsely claiming that Frank, raped & murdered a 13-year-old girl and tried to frame a Black man for his crime remained on Wilsons personal X account. Wilson was responding to a post last year by the Anti-Defamation League that marked the anniversary of Franks lynching by a hate-filled mob in Georgia after being falsely accused & unjustly convicted of murder in a trial marred by antisemitism. open image in gallery Deputy Department of Defense press secretary Kingsley Wilson has a long history of bigoted social media posts, according to a report ( Department of Defense ) Anyone who posts antisemitic conspiracy theories lifted right out of the neo-Nazi playbook should not be in public office, Jewish civil rights group the American Jewish Committee, posted in a statement Wednesday. Kingsley Wilson, newly appointed @DepPressSecDOD, is clearly unfit for her role. The Independent has contacted Wilson and the Department of Defense for comment. Republican and Democratic lawmakers also rebuked Wilsons posts. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wilson was completely off-script with President Donald Trump. Im not gonna tell them who to hire, but I do know that Trump doesnt believe any of the things shes talking about, and Ill leave it up to them to determine if they think shes the right spokesperson, Graham told Politico. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska told the outlet that Wilsons remarks were horrible and just not appropriate. open image in gallery Unvetted Pentagon appointees such as Wilson have raised a red flag for some GOP members ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Sometimes people think theyre anonymous when theyre on social media, that they can comment or post on whatever may be their attitude at the time, and then they later regret it, the Republican said. Democratic congressman Ritchie Torres called Wilson out for a post she wrote about Kosovo at the end of February, signaling her support for Russia. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Kingsley Wilson, the Deputy Press Secretary for the Department of Defense, is shamefully attempting to delegitimize Kosovo, which has been the single greatest American ally in the Western Balkans, the congressman wrote on X. No amount of historical revisionism can change the fundamental fact that Kosovo is and will always be an independent democracy. Unvetted appointments such as Wilsons at the Pentagon have raised red flags for some GOP members. Weve got enough real, serious challenges from outside without having to worry about Pentagon staff who like to spread antisemitism or Russian propaganda, a senior Republican congressional aide told Politico on the condition of anonymity. Im amazed at who this administration has been willing to trust with national security responsibilities. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A federal judge in Minnesota is holding MyPillow founder and MAGA election-denier Mike Lindell in contempt of court for failing to hand over financial documents and other discovery material in the defamation lawsuit brought by voting software firm Smartmatic. We havent held back anything. This is all corruption, Lindell told The Independent. They want me to stop talking about our election platforms. Theyre not going to silence me. I will keep going until we get to paper ballots hand-counted and melt these machines down and turn them into prison bars. In a court filing on Thursday, US District Court Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan granted Smartmatics motion for contempt, which argued that Lindell had failed to produce analytics data from his website as well as personal tax returns for the years 2022 and 2023. If Defendants do not comply, Smartmatic is invited to bring another motion for an order to show cause or to seek further relief, Bryan wrote in his court order. open image in gallery The Trump die-hard and pillow hawker is getting raked over the coals in court ( Getty Images ) The MyPillow chief, however, claims that he and his attorneys have already turned over everything required by the court, saying that he has nothing to hide. Instead, according to Lindell, this contempt finding is part of a continued effort to silence him on the issue of elections and voting machines. Its not true. Its a big lie, he told The Independent. I dont know what this judge is doing, or what or why he would say or believe them that there was nothing turned in. I have full disclosure. I've given them everything. This is just a continued attack on myself and MyPillow so that I quit talking about these voting machines. There will never be a settlement with them. I stand by 100 percent that we have to get rid of these electronic voting machines. The judge gave Lindell until March 27 to turn over six data points for his companys website that cover the period of February 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021. The data is to include tracked and unique pageviews, average time on page, entrances, bounce rate, and exit percent. Bryan also noted that if the analytics arent retrievable, the defendants must submit an affidavit from a reliable party explaining why the data was irretrievable. As for the tax returns, Lindell has only until March 13 to hand over all documents that were given to tax preparers. Once the returns are complete, they shall be provided to the plaintiffs. If they are still not completed by April 3, an affidavit must be filed explaining the delay. Smartmatic, which settled a similar case with far-right cable channel One America News last year, sued Lindell for defamation in January 2022 over his relentless and baseless claims that the companys software flipped votes from Donald Trump to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Smartmatic has alleged that Lindells election conspiracies have brought the firms value down considerably. One of the loudest purveyors of the false allegations that the 2020 election was rigged, Lindell is also facing a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems that is currently awaiting trial. Earlier this year, a separate US district judge ordered Lindell to pay nearly $60,000 to Smartmatic over frivolous claims he made in his countersuit against the company. Having already lost the case, Lindell was forced to pay a portion of Smartmatics legal fees after the firm demanded sanctions over his lawsuit. Despite the losses piling up in court and his legal team bailing on him due to millions of dollars in unpaid fees, Lindell hasnt budged from his belief that voting machines stole the election for Biden. The MAGA pillow salesmans yearslong election-denying crusade has also seemingly resulted in debilitating financial struggles for him and his business. In recent months, Lindell has been sued by vendors and lenders over accusations that hes stiffed them on substantial payments. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice If Elon Musk fired every single federal worker his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would only save a quarter of the money he promised to save and would amount to a piddling 4 percent of annual federal spending, according to a new report. That doesnt even count the massive $36 trillion U.S. debt. Musk, meanwhile, is maneuvering for an additional $2.4 billion federal contract for his SpaceX company. And some members of his crew of DOGE workers are reportedly collecting six-figure salaries funded by American taxpayers as they slash an estimated tens of thousands of federal jobs for others. A New York Times podcast has mocked Musks antics as the useless spending cut theater of DOGE. But it sells, notes The New Yorker in an article earlier this week. Voters like the idea of increased efficiency, and theres a lot of animosity among Donald Trumps MAGA supporters about the idea of the deep state peopled by imagined fat-cat federal bureaucrats. No one really knows how much Musks DOGE has saved because each of his lists of savings receipts have been riddled with errors. The DOGE team paperwork involving job performance reviews and accounting calculations (if they exist) are not being released to the media or to the public. If Musk fired all 2.3 million federal workers outside of military or postal personnel, he would cut $245.8 billion a year in federal salaries, The New Yorker has calculated, using an average federal salary of just over $100,000. Thats just a quarter of the $1 trillion dollars in savings Musk has promised to ax. And that vow is already a 50 percent reduction from an earlier Musk claim that he would save the nation $2 trillion. The figures reveal how very minuscule an impact on overall federal savings Musk has had. Cutting every federal worker, used as a comparison, would obviously be counterproductive because there would be no one to ferret out tax cheats or collect the taxes that help run the nation, including stopping planes from crashing into each other and sending out Social Security checks that Americans have been paying for during their working lives. Trump himself blew a hole in the nations debt his first time in the White House with massive tax cuts, which most benefited corporations and the wealthy. The House of Representatives has approved a budget framework this year that provides for up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. The cuts, on top of growing interest payments on a ballooning federal debt, defense spending and mandatory spending, which covers payments like Social Security and Medicare, account for 85 percent of the federal budget, and whats responsible for the growing budget imbalance, not bloated federal payrolls, notes The New Yorker. The number of federal employees has remained fairly steady since the 1970s, and has dropped considerably as a percentage of the workforce at large, the magazine reports. If the goal is to reduce spending, youre not going to get there by firing federal employees, Manhattan Institute fellow Jessica Reidl, a fiscal conservative, noted in an opinion column in The New York Times Wednesday. Most government spending goes to benefits to us, not to administrative costs, she added. The really startling news? Reidl estimates that DOGE has realistically saved perhaps just $2 billion, not the $55 billion Elon Musk initially claimed. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Trump administration adviser and Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk wants government-run entities like the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak to be taken private. "Basically, something's got to have some chance of going bankrupt, or there's not a good feedback loop for improvement," Musk told the Morgan Stanley Technology Media & Telecom conference on Wednesday. "We should try to privatize everything we possibly can, and that would be my recommendation," he added. The DOGE billionaire reserved special ire for Amtrak, saying the rail provider can leave you with a very bad impression of America, compared with comparable services in other countries. Musk, the head of both a major auto company and a firm working on a competitor to conventional rail schemes, has a vested interested in the direction of mass transit projects. His Boring Company has spent over a decade working to build a high-speed, pod-based, electric transit system called Hyperloop to compete with traditional trains. Musk accuses Amtrak and Postal Service of lacking incentive to perform well as businesses ( AP ) A 2013 Musk biography reported that the billionaire launched the project in part out of hatred for Californias proposed high-speed rail system, which he thought would be the slowest option for a Golden State bullet train but built at the highest cost per mile. The Trump White House appears to share his skepticism. Last month, it announced it was investigating and potentially withdrawing $4 billion in federal funding meant for a San Francisco-Los Angeles rail project thats been decades in the making. DOGE has also scrutinized the project. Trump told reporters last month that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will be looking at the future of the Postal Service, part of a reported idea to potentially fold the agency into the Department of Commerce. The White House is reportedly mulling an executive order terminating the independent mail agencys governing board members, though the White House has denied Trump wants to take control of the mail service. Trump investigating California high-speed rail project Privatizing the Postal Service is not the worst idea Ive ever heard Trump told reporters in December. Its a lot different today, between Amazon and UPS and FedEx and all the things that you didnt have, he added. But there is talk about that. Its an idea that a lot of people have liked for a long time. During his first term in office, the Postal Service was a frequent target of Trumps attention. The Republican frequently alleged that Amazon was ripping off the Postal Service, and proposed charging the e-commerce giant extra to work with USPS. While Trump alleged that Amazon work was behind the Postal Services history of posting losses, the criticisms may have been rooted in Trumps animosity towards Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, whose coverage Trump frequently took issue with. Cuts to the Postal Service at the end of Trumps first term prompted protests and concerns that Trump was attempting to diminish the influence of mail-in ballots, which tend to lean Democratic. During the previous election, Trump frequently and falsely alleged mail-in ballots at the Post Office were not safe and contributing to the supposed election fraud that tipped the 2020 race to Joe Biden. Earlier this week, Trump-appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy sent a letter announced his plans to step down. The agency reported a net loss of nearly $10 billion in fiscal year 2024. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump warned his Cabinet that Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency staffers cannot fire workers without their permission. Trump gathered his department heads Thursday afternoon and told them that they can be very precise with the billionaire and his team as to who will remain and who will go as DOGE continues to gut the federal government. The SpaceX CEO, who is participating in DOGE as a special government employee, was also at the meeting as the newly-formed department faces resistance from the courts and from Democrat and Republican lawmakers. We just had a meeting with most of the Secretaries, Elon, and others, and it was a very positive one, Trump posted on Truth Social. Its very important that we cut levels down to where they should be, but its also important to keep the best and most productive people. Trump said that he has instructed his Cabinet to work with DOGE on cost-cutting measures and staffing, but added the caveat: As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go. open image in gallery Elon Musk, pictured at a previous Cabinet meeting, was in attendance when Donald Trump told department heads they make the decisions over firings ( AFP via Getty Images ) We say the scalpel rather than the hatchet. The combination of them, Elon, DOGE, and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level, the president added. Trump told reporters after the meeting that he wants Cabinet to keep good people and doesnt want to lose talent. I said, I want the Cabinet members go first, keep all the people you want, everybody that you need. I want them to do the best job they can, where we have good people, those that's precious, that's very important, Trump said. He added a warning: We want them to keep the good people, and so we're going to be watching them, and Elon and the group are going to be watching them. And if they can cut, it's better. And if they don't cut, then Elon will do the cutting. The meeting follows backlash from some department leads who instructed their staff to ignore emails mandated by Musk via the Office of Personnel Management, demanding they respond with five things they accomplished at work during the week or face termination. open image in gallery Trump said that he has instructed his Cabinet to work with DOGE but that they call the shots over firings ( AFP via Getty Images ) Musks ultimatum caused chaos. The CIA, the State Department, the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services responded by telling staff to ignore the emails. The email request was utterly trivial, as the standard for passing the test was to type some words and press send! the DOGE boss fumed last month. Yet so many failed even that inane test, urged on in some cases by their managers. He spurred on his followers by asking: Have you ever witnessed such INCOMPETENCE and CONTEMPT for how YOUR TAXES are being spent? The latest to be hit by the federal job cuts is the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will lose over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency that provides health care for retired military members. The VA's chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, told top-level officials at the agency that it had an objective to cut enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000. That would require terminating tens of thousands of employees after the VA expanded during the Biden administration, as well as to cover veterans impacted by burn pits under the 2022 PACT Act. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump has threatened the people of Gaza alongside Hamas in what he calls a last warning to release the remaining Israeli hostages. This is your last warning! For the [Hamas] leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, Trump added to Hamas, after meeting with six former hostages released under the recently expired ceasefire deal pausing the war. I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say, he added, telling the group his post was a last warning. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had a similar message earlier this week, telling Hamas, The gates of Gaza will be locked, and the gates of hell will open. The comments came as the initial stage of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war expired over the weekend. The war began in the wake of a Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and another 251 people hostage. Israel's 16-month retaliatory offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israel and the U.S. have pressured Hamas to accept extended ceasefire term and release all hostages ( AFP via Getty Images ) The U.S. has called on Hamas to accept an extension of the first stage of the ceasefire, involving hostage releases. There are 24 living hostages remaining in Gaza, including American citizen Edan Alexander, as well as the remains of 35 others, according to Israeli officials. In the meantime, Israel has paused aid entering into Gaza and threatened the militant group with additional consequences if it doesnt come around to the U.S. proposal. Israels decision to cut off aid to the already besieged civilian population of Gaza has prompted international criticism from the UK, France and Germany. Foreign ministers from the three countries said in a statement Wednesday that aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool. The White House said it has been conducting ongoing talks and discussions with Hamas officials. "Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven is what he believes is [a] good faith effort to do whats right for the American people," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a media briefing. Trump proposes permanently displacing Palestinians in Gaza The talks are the first known direct engagement with Hamas since the State Department declared the group an official foreign terrorist organization in 1997. The issue of Gazas post-conflict governance remains to be determined, though Trump has proposed the U.S. occupying and rebuilding the territory while displacing its residents, a plan critics say amounts to ethnic cleansing. The warnings from U.S. and Israeli officials come after Hamas provoked fury in Israel for returning remains that officials say were falsely attributed to Shiri Bibas, a mother who was kidnapped along with her children then killed in Hamas captivity. The Israeli military claims militants killed Bibas, while Hamas says she died in an Israeli strike. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump attacked the media on Wednesday in a Truth Social post, criticizing recent coverage of a clip of him that seized on an interaction where he thanked Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and shook his hand during the presidents joint address to Congress earlier this week. Like most people, I dont watch Fake News CNN or MSDNC, but I understand they are going crazy asking what is it that I was thanking Justice Roberts for? Trump wrote, using his pejorative nickname for MSNBC. They never called my office to ask, of course, but if they had I would have told these sleazebag journalists that I thanked him for SWEARING ME IN ON INAUGURATION DAY, AND DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB IN SO DOING! The Fake News never quits! The moment at issue was relatively brief. As Trump mingled with the crowd of dignitaries in the House who gathered Tuesday to watch the address, the president shook Robertss hand and was recorded saying, Thank you again. [I] wont forget it. Some argued the exchange was emblematic of how the Supreme Court has enabled Trump in recent years. We cant know precisely what the president meant, but Trump does have a lot to thank Roberts for, Adam Serwer writes in The Atlantic. Trump said he and Supreme Court justice were talking about inauguration during hot mic moment ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) The Supreme Court delivered Trump multiple election-year victories, including a March 2024 decision blocking Colorados move to strike Donald Trump from its presidential election ballot for his role in January 6, and a July ruling finding that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions, effectively ending a federal case against the Republican. Given the administrations broad, hyper-speed attempts to cut federal spending and shutter agencies, which critics allege overstep executive authority, the high court may also be a rare roadblock against the Trump agenda, given that Republicans control both houses of Congress. The day after Trumps much-discussed handshake with Roberts, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration must pay out nearly $2 billion in foreign aid to groups that work with the U.S. Agency for International Development, despite the White Houses attempt to freeze funding and shutter the agency. Trump has a long history of criticizing the media, and his frequent attacks on the fake news beginning in his 2016 campaign helped the term enter the popular lexicon. Over time, the criticism has taken on a more barbed, violent edge, with Trump calling mainstream news channels the true enemy of the people. Some of this rhetoric has been strategic, Trump reportedly admitted. White House defends barring news outlets who don't use 'Gulf of America' You know why I do it? 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl recalled Trump once telling her in 2016. I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so that when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you. The Republicans relationship with one news channel in particular, Fox News, has been a defining feature of his political life. The network helped fuel Trumps political rise, and the Republican has staffed both of his administrations with numerous figures from the network. The current White House includes former Fox anchors and commentators as director of national intelligence and the secretaries of defense and transit. During his first term, Trump was reported to have watched Fox for hours on end, sometimes live-tweeting his thoughts about various segments on favorite shows like Fox and Friends. The relationship grew more fraught by 2020, when Fox News angered MAGAworld by accurately calling the Arizona presidential election results as a win for Joe Biden, despite reported attempts from Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to lobby network leaders to revoke the call. Foxs alignment with Trump proved problematic for the network in other ways, too, including having to pay $785 million to elections contractor Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation suit, stemming from repeated reporting agreeing with the Trump campaigns false claims of a rigged 2020 election. The relationship got so tense that in 2023, network star Sean Hannity reportedly tried to appeal to Trump directly to stop attacking Fox and its owners, the Murdoch family, after Trump accused the network of collusion to boost the political fortunes of his GOP primary rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Mr. President, Im trying to help you out here with the Fox people here, Hannity reportedly told Trump, according to Revenge: The Inside Story of Trumps Return to Power, a forthcoming book from Axios journalist Alex Isenstadt. But youre not making it easy for me by going after the Murdochs. Youre not helping me. Youre not helping yourself. If you can just lay off, we can start making some moves and getting back to normal. The attacks on the press have continued now that Trump is back in office, including blocking Associated Press reporters from covering official appearances because the wire services influential style handbook has not adopted the administrations unilateral attempt to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. The administration, frustrated with the pace of deportations, has also cracked down on leakers speaking to the media about impending removal operations against migrants. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A detention center in Texas is reopening after the Trump administration prepares to restart the detention of migrant families and kids a move that advocates worry could usher in another dark chapter in Americas treatment of immigrants. CoreCivic, a company that manages the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, announced Wednesday that it reached an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to reactivate the facility. The facility, which holds up to 2,400 people, was built in 2014 for ICE to provide additional space to hold migrant families. CoreCivic ran the center until 2024, when funding for the contract with ICE was terminated and the facility was idled, the company said in a statement. The newest agreement is set to expire in 2030. The company expects to see roughly $180 million in total annual revenue, including medical services. CoreCivic has also entered into a new lease with Target Hospitality Corporation, which owns the facility. While Joe Biden phased out family detention during his presidency, President Donald Trump has already taken steps to resume the controversial practice, NBC News reported last month. A top ICE official once likened the facility to a summer camp. But others accounts tell a much different story. open image in gallery The South Texas Residential Center, which was built to house migrant families and kids, is reopening, sparking warnings among advocates ( AP ) After visiting the Dilley facility in 2015, Carl Takei, then a staff attorney with the ACLUs National Prison Project, compared the South Texas Residential Center to World War II-era incarceration camps in an article for the Marshall Project at the time. A tall fence dotted with security cameras surrounded the facility. Each room was cramped, housing as many as 12 people from unrelated families. Showers and toilets were nowhere to be found in the housing units which in at least one example became an issue for a little girl detainee who peed her pants because a guard refused to let her leave to use the toilet, Takei wrote. Similarly, a neurologist with Physicians for Human Rights remarked in 2018 on the alarming conditions, including subpar medical care, lack of outdoor recreation and tendency for guards to yell at detainees for minor things, such as being underneath a blanket for too long, not eating or for making minor noises. At least one child died after their time at the Dilley facility, her mother told a House committee in 2019. She later sued CoreCivic for negligence, but a jury ruled against her. According to CoreCivic, the child died after leaving the facility following a 20-day stay. The company also stated that medical care at the center was provided by a different government agency and medical staff was available 24/7. Democrats also wrote a July 2020 letter decrying the unsafe conditions that families endured, being detained at the Dilley center as the Covid-19 pandemic. Former Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick wrote at the time: Having people detained in COVI- infected facilities is horrendous. open image in gallery A top ICE official once likened the facility to a summer camp. But others accounts tell a much different story ( US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ) Current border czar Tom Homan confirmed to the New York Times Wednesday that the administration is considering restarting family detention. We need family residential centers, he said, noting that the administration was also weighing reopening facilities in Dilley and Karnes City, Texas. Its an option. We got a lot of options on the table. Due to a 2015 court order, children cannot be detained in these facilities for more than 20 days. Still, advocates and Congress members warn about the dangers of resuming this controversial practice for any length of time. ICEs plans to resume operations at this facility, known for neglect and abuse of families and children, is the start of another dark chapter in this nations treatment of immigrants, Eunice Cho, senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Unions National Prison Project, told the Washington Post. "CoreCivic is celebrating the opportunity to profit off the detention of immigrant children and families at the Dilley detention facility, which will only result in more unnecessary suffering at taxpayers expense. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley also condemned the plans to reopen the Dilley center. I visited this facility in December 2018. It was horrifyingthe cruelty and abuse of Trumps family detention policy is a lasting stain on our nation. Im calling on the Admin to reverse this decisionin no world should this facility reopen, he wrote on X Thursday. This article was amended on March 8 to better describe the death of the child who stayed at the facility and to provide more details. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump is planning to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, according to a senior administration official. The move, confirmed to Reuters by the official and three other sources, potentially leaves the refugees open to being swiftly deported back home amid the ongoing war. According to the outlet, the revocations could begin as early as April and come in stark contrast to the welcome to those escaping the conflict that was rolled out by the Biden administration. It also follows the disastrous White House meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, and JD Vance on Friday, although, per Reuters, the rollback of protections for Ukrainians was underway before the feud. The Trump administration reportedly plans to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants who were allowed to enter the U.S. under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched under Biden, the sources said. ( AFP/Getty ) The sources requested anonymity to discuss the internal matters. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was quick to push back, branding the Reuters report as fake news and insisting that no decision on the revocations had been made yet. This is more fake news from Reuters based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about, she wrote in response to the story on X. The truth: no decision has been made at this time. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said on Wednesday that the department had no new announcements and Ukrainian government agencies did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters. A Trump executive order issued on January 20 called for DHS to "terminate all categorical parole programs." As well as a rollback on Ukrainian refugees, the Trump administration plans to revoke parole for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as soon as this month, the Trump official told Reuters. Migrants stripped of their parole status could face fast-track deportation proceedings, according to an internal ICE email seen by the outlet. Immigrants who cross the border illegally can be put into the fast-track deportation process known as expedited removal for two years after they enter. But for those who entered through legal ports of entry without being officially "admitted" to the U.S. - as with those on parole - there is no time limit on their rapid removal, the email reportedly said. Reuters contributed to this report. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump on Sunday explicitly threatened Iran with war unless Tehran comes to the table and hammers out a new agreement on nuclear weapons with Washington. The president spoke with NBCs Kristen Welker in an early-morning phone call and told the host of Meet the Press that there would be bombing if Iran did not negotiate with the US, or if a deal was not reached as a result of those talks. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing, said the US president. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. His remark comes as the Trump administration has stated publicly its goal of reaching a new agreement with Tehran that would lead to the total shutdown of Irans nuclear weapons program. The president sent a letter to Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, reportedly urging the Iranian government to begin negotiations with the prospect of significant sanctions relief and international cooperation on the table. But Iran formally declined to begin those direct negotiations on Saturday, according to the countrys president. Masoud Pezeshkian said the message was delivered to US negotiators through the Omani government. He said that the official response from Iran left open the possibility for continued indirect negotiations, but added that the US must regain trust with Iran in order for formal diplomacy to resume. We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Pezeshkian said at a televised Cabinet meeting, according to the AP. They must prove that they can build trust. Donald Trump said on Sunday that there would be bombing if Iranian negotiators refused to come to the table ( AP ) The State Department previously issued a response early Sunday warning of very bad consequences should Iran refuse to negotiate an end to its nuclear weapons program. Development of nuclear materials has accelerated in Iran within recent months, according to a February report from the UNs nuclear watchdog agency. The first Trump administration pulled out of a deal reached between the Obama administration, Iran and a number of European countries with that same goal in 2017, calling it ineffective and blaming Iran for repeatedly violating it. President Trump has been clear: the United States cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. The president expressed his willingness to discuss a deal with Iran, it added. If the Iranian regime does not want a deal, the president is clear, he will pursue other options, which will be very bad for Iran. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been high for more than a year now as the US and its ally Israel have clashed with several groups the two countries accuse the Iranian government of funding and supporting through intelligence sharing and other cooperation. Conflict against one of those groups, the Houthis, resumed last weekend with a US strike in Yemen while Houthi forces target US military vessels and trade ships in the Red Sea. Iran also launched a direct missile ballistic strike against Israel, causing minimal damage, in October of 2024 after a Hamas leader was assassinated in Tehran. While military operations have resumed against the Houthis in Yemen, the State Department on Monday moved to up the pressure on Irans neighbor, Iraq, to combat Tehrans influence over militant groups within its borders. In recent months, the Iraqi government has considered new national security legislation aimed at curbing the strength of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a Shia militant group with dozens of battalions around the country. Those forces include the Kataib Hezbollah, which traces its origins back to militant groups that fought US forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and still clash with US forces today. To strengthen Iraq's sovereignty, the government of Iraq must ensure it has command and control of all security forces within its borders, to include the PMF, press secretary Tammy Bruce said at her Monday briefing. These forces must respond to Iraq's commander-in-chief, and not to Iran. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was granting a month-long reprieve on unilaterally ordering tax increases on some goods imported from Mexico and Canada that will expire on April 2, when he is set to order reciprocal tariffs on imports from a broad range of countries. After a telephone call with Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum earlier in the day, Trump said he was granting an exemption on any goods imported into the U.S. that are compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement that he negotiated during his first term. After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement. This Agreement is until April 2nd, he said in a statement posted to his Truth Social platform. He added that the temporary reprieve was an accommodation made out of respect for Sheinbaum, who he credited for working hard with him to combat illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation, he said. Speaking in the Oval Office a few hours later, Trump called Sheinbaum a wonderful woman and said hed helped them out by signing orders to pause the tariffs. He claimed that both countries and others were ripping off the United States and downplayed the effects tariffs would have on American consumers. Now, these are countries and companies, foreign companies, that have been ripping us off, and no President did anything about it, until I came along, and I did a lot about it, he said. Trump also claimed that countries that were being harmed by the tariffs were globalist in nature and accused them of mistreating the United States. A lot of them are globalist countries and companies that won't be doing as well, because we're taking back things that have been taken from us many years ago. We've been treated very unfairly as a country, he said. The American president has spent months stoking a feud with his countrys northern neighbor and has claimed that there is an epidemic of fentanyl trafficking across the U.S.-Canada border, the largest unguarded land border in the world. In reality, the vast majority of fentanyl entering the United States on land comes from Mexico through legal ports of entry smuggled by Americans. But this has not stopped Trump from using the alleged fentanyl trafficking as a pretext to unilaterally impose import taxes on goods from Canada and claiming that the tariffs which are paid by Americans could be avoided were Canadians to elect to have their country annexed by the United States. Peter Navarro, the longtime Trump confidante who serves as the presidents top trade adviser while the Senate considers his nominee to serve as United States Trade Representative, told reporters on Thursday that the tariffs on Canadian goods were all about fentanyl. Navarro claimed that a wide panoply of fake prescription drugs being imported from Canada contain illicit fentanyl that is contributing to deaths from the drug being undercounted. Somebody takes a Xanax or an Ambien or an oxycodone codon or a Valium, and it spiked with fentanyl, and they wind up on the floor, foaming at the mouth and dead. And that typically is not reported as a fentanyl death. It's often reported as a suicide or some other thing. But these the scope of the fake restriction prescription drugs is staggering, he said. The point is that people in America really need to know when they try to get a bargain on the internet, because their budgets are squeezed by the Biden inflation, they can wind up dead simply if they're seeking out an anti depressant, he added. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick also told reporters that the goal of the tariffs is to decrease fentanyl trafficking and said Canada and Mexico have done a good job offering us ever more work to prove to us they're going to cut the fentanyl. But he dismissed criticism of Trumps policies based on the negative effects the tariffs were having on the stock market, telling reporters: The fact that the stock market goes up or down a half percent on any given day is not the driving force of our outcomes. Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, has called the unilateral tax increases imposed on Americans by his American counterpart a very dumb thing to do and has said the trade war started by Trump could continue for some time. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ( AP ) The prospect of a long trade war fought by the U.S. against two of its largest trading partners has depressed American stock markets to a point that all gains made since Trump was sworn in for a second term have been erased. Trumps reliance on tariffs has drawn at least some criticism from a number of his Republican allies, particularly those in Congress who represent states that rely on cross-border trade. Susan Collins, the longtime GOP senator from Maine, said on Thursday that its unclear whether Trump is aware of how the unilateral sales tax increases he is imposing will negatively impact her constituents. I don't know that he fully appreciates how integrated the economies are in border states with Canada, people cross every single day, she said. Trump has spent years touting the supposed benefits of tariffs, which he routinely describes as if they are fees paid by foreign governments as a sort of entry fee for the privilege of accessing American markets. But tariffs arent paid by foreign governments. Theyre taxes that are charged to American importers and passed on to American consumers in the form of higher prices for imported goods. Yet Trump has persisted in claiming that tariffs are paid by foreign governments. At a press conference last week alongside British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, he claimed that the fact that tariffs are paid by importers is actually a myth that has been put out there by foreign countries that really don't like paying tariffs. Eric Garcia contributed reporting from the Capitol Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus relationship continued to sour, with the pair having a heated phone call after the Canadian leader announced retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., according to a new report. Trump and Trudeau spoke Wednesday, a day after the prime minister said he was implementing 25 percent tariffs on some American exports after the presidents sweeping levies came into effect. The call which Trump told reporters was somewhat friendly while Trudeau called it colorful and substantive was in fact heated and profanity-laden, The Wall Street Journal reports. The White House referred The Independent to the presidents initial characterization of the call when contacted for comment. Their phone call came after Trudeau tried to contact Trump on Monday night, one day before the presidents tariffs were set to hit. Trump did not take that call, the Journal reports. open image in gallery President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a heated and profanity-laden call on Wednesday after the president ghosted his counterparts call on Monday evening, according to the Wall street Journal. ( AP ) When Trumps tariffs on Canada and Mexico went into effect Tuesday, Trudeau called them dumb and accused Trump of acting in bad faith. Its not in my habit to agree with the Wall Street Journal, but Donald, they point out that even though you are a very smart guy, this a very dumb thing to do, Trudeau said Tuesday, referring to an editorial Monday accusing Trump of taking the Dumbest Tariff Plunge. We two friends fighting is exactly what our opponents around the world want to see, Trudeau added. Trump has justified the tariffs by arguing Canada has allowed fentanyl to flow into the U.S., a claim which Trudeau labelled "completely bogus, completely unjustified, completely false." The prime minister also accused Trump of orchestrating "a total collapse of the Canadian economy because that will make it easier to annex us. "That is never going to happen, Trudeau said. We will never be the 51st state. open image in gallery Trudeau called Trumps tariffs a very dumb thing to do and labeled the presidents claims about fentanyl flow into the U.S. as "completely bogus, completely unjustified, completely false." ( AP ) Meanwhile, Trudeau wasnt the only leader the president ghosted amid tariff negotiations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum tried to call Trump Monday, but he refused to take it, the Journal reports. But the pair did speak recently, Trump revealed Thursday as he announced that most Mexican goods are exempt from his tariff plan for the next four weeks. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota and former vice presidential candidate, couldnt name someone when asked who the leader of the Democratic party is. Walz appeared on CNNs The Arena with Kasie Hunt Wednesday to discuss President Donald Trumps joint congressional address. Hunt asked the governor who he thinks is the Democratic leader right now. The 60-year-old Democrat paused for a few beats before answering. I think the voting public, right now, is what I would say, Walz responded. Were not going to have a charismatic leader ride in and save us from this. Tim Walz told CNN's Kasie Hunt the 'voting public' is leading the Democratic party ( CNN/Screenshot ) Hunt followed up by asking if Walz sees anyone who could be a national Democratic figure? I see a whole lot of them, Walz said. I see young members of Congress stepping up, I see folks out there, I see it out here, state senators, state legislators, folks that are getting ready. Labor union members who are out there talking. I think the thing we need to do is: We cant cede the space. If Donald Trumps going to be out therewe have to be there every day. We need to be better organized. There is going to be an organic uprising which were seeing. When Hunt asked if former Vice President Kamala Harris could be that future leader, Walz responded: I certainly think she could be. Walz isnt the first to contend with this question. Since Harriss loss last Election Day, Democratic lawmakers have expressed discontent with their partys leadership or lack thereof. Theres no one, certainly, that the party, I would argue, looks to, or feels led by, or inspired by, is the truth, former Democratic Representative Dean Phillips told The Hill last month. Any organization business, for-profit, nonprofit, political party that lacks spirited leadership is going to suffer. And I think you can count us among those organizations right now. Theres just no question. A new poll from the liberal firm Blueprint first obtained by Politico also indicates 40 percent of voters believe that Democrats do not have any strategy for combatting the Trump administration. That division was made clear when Democrats had a variety of responses to Trumps joint congressional address on Tuesday. Many silently listened, others walked out and some wore pink in protest. Representative Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, was even removed from the chamber for repeatedly interrupting Trump at the beginning of the address. Al Green leads rendition of We Shall Overcome while being censured in House Last night I stood up for those who need Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Democrats will never abandon the fight to make sure every American has a safe, healthy, and financially secure life. #ISaidWhatISaid, Green wrote on X on Wednesday night. Greens fellow lawmakers voted to censure him on Thursday. Nearly every Republican and 10 Democrats voted in favor of the resolution. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A state-of-the-art unmanned warship designed for autonomous naval missions has been spotted in waters off of Washington state. The USX-1 Defiant was being pushed by tug boat earlier this week through the Saratoga Passage in Puget Sound, just a few miles from the U.S. Navys Naval Air Station Whidby Island, according to The War Zone. The 180ft, 240-ton unmanned surface vessel, a type of drone, was completed last month after a five-year development. It has been constructed as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencys No Manning Required Ship program alongside private maritime and operations company Serco the primary contractor for the Defiant. The ship was first launched at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard near the unincorporated community of Freeland, just northwest of Seattle, last month in preparation for a series of trials that aim to bring a cost-effective USV to the Navy. open image in gallery The Defiant is still under wraps, despite its construction being finished last month ( DARPA ) The Navy primarily uses USVs for surveillance, reconnaissance, and to glean intelligence. Its construction comes amid increased calls from American policymakers and combat commands for cost-effective USVs to help Taiwan defend against a potential Chinese invasion. Head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, detailed the use of the unmanned ships last summer in the Navys hellscape, which aims to flood the Taiwan Strait with drones to deter aggression from the Peoples Liberation Army. Removing the human element from all ship design considerations has allowed for a narrower beam which means better stealth performance, better hydrodynamic efficiency, and a better operating window in rough seas, the agency said. It was not immediately clear whether the vessel would be controlled remotely or operate fully autonomously. open image in gallery The vessel was first launched at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard last month ( DARPA ) The Defiant, however, is still quite literally under wraps with photos of the ship released by the agency showing it partially covered in a tarp. DARPA serves as the central research and development arm of the Department of Defense to develop new technologies for the military. The agency said the Defiant is set to undergo extensive in-water testing, both dockside and at sea and is scheduled to depart for a multi-month at sea demonstration in spring 2025. Ryan Maatta, a Marine Engineer Manager with Serco overseeing the NOMARS project, told Naval News it hopes the ship is much less expensive to do the same mission as a manned platform. Maatta added that the Defiant would undergo two months of sea trials before a very large and extensive demonstration of the vessel and its capabilities. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Watch as Cyclone Alfred headed towards Australias central east coast, bringing torrential rain, destructive winds, and storm surges. The tropical cyclone is now forecast to make landfall early on Saturday (8 March), after its progress towards the coast dramatically slowed. Alfred was 240km east of Brisbane and moving west at just 7kmph on Thursday, with sustained winds near the centre gusting to 130kmph. Forecaster Thomas Hinterdorfer from Higgins Storm Chasing said earlier that the storm slowing down would be the worst case scenario, as it means a longer period of very heavy rainfall while the cyclone straddles the coast. Strong winds have already cut power to thousands of homes, and Brisbane Airport has been closed, with hundreds of flights now suspended. The State Emergency Service has ordered evacuations in Lismore and other parts of northern New South Wales by 9pm. The federal government had delivered 310,000 sandbags to Brisbane and more were on the way, prime minister Anthony Albanese said. My message to people, whether they be in southeast Queensland or northern New South Wales, is we are there to support you. We have your back, he told reporters in the national capital Canberra. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tropical Cyclone Alfred is closing in on southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, with authorities warning residents to prepare now for the extremely rare event. Millions of people in Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW) are under warnings to hunker down or evacuate with flights, trains, buses and schools suspended. Meteorologists warn the cyclone will bring destructive winds of up to 120kmph, life-threatening flash flooding, and 8-metre waves. Follow our live coverage of Cyclone Alfred The governments across the board are taking this seriously, and Queenslanders as well as those on the north coast of New South Wales need to do so as well, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said. On Thursday, the storm slowed down as it moved towards the eastern coast of Australia. It is now expected to make landfall late on Friday night or early Saturday morning, between Maroochydore and Coolangatta. The cyclone, which charted an unusual path in the Pacific, is the first to directly impact areas near Brisbane since Nancy in 1990. open image in gallery Map shows position, path and arrival time of Cyclone Alfred ( Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) ) On Thursday, Alfred was 245km east of Brisbane, 230km east-northeast of the Gold Coast, moving west-northwest at just 7kmph, according to an update from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) at 5pm local time. The cyclone is maintaining Category 2 strength with gusts up to 130kmph. But its slow movement means Alfred will have more time to intensify, feeding off warm ocean waters and low vertical wind shear, potentially making it stronger before it reaches the coast. Meteorologist Thomas Hinterdorfer said that this could result in prolonged extreme weather, with some areas experiencing heavy rain, destructive winds, and storm surges for up to 12 to 14 hours. "Its going to have more time in the lower vertical shear. Its going to have more time with the warm ocean waters, and all that fuel is gonna help it intensify, Mr Hinterdorfer told The Courier Mail. "Its not a good scenario to have it, you know, being a bit slower, wed much prefer it to come through faster. Authorities say the cyclones impact will extend far beyond the landfall zone, with destructive winds, extreme rainfall, and dangerous storm surges from Double Island Point (QLD) to Ballina (NSW). BoM warns that storm surges could cause major flooding in low-lying coastal areas, particularly if Alfreds landfall coincides with high tide early Friday. Major warnings by region: Gold Coast & Tweed Coast : Extreme beach erosion, storm surges, and inundation in low-lying areas : Extreme beach erosion, storm surges, and inundation in low-lying areas Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Byron Bay & Ballina : Risk of coastal flooding and dangerous tides : Risk of coastal flooding and dangerous tides Sunshine Coast to Cape Byron: Tides expected to rise well above the highest astronomical tide "Tides are likely to rise significantly above the highest high tide mark with damaging waves and dangerous inundation of coastal low-lying areas," BoM said. A 78-year-old woman was hospitalised with head injuries after being swept up by a large wave at Currumbin Beach on Wednesday evening. open image in gallery Map shows rainfall forecast ahead of Cyclone Alfred ( Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) ) Major flood warnings are also in place, with up to 600mm of rain forecast in some areas. Brisbane & Moreton Ba y: 300-500mm y: 300-500mm Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast : 400-600mm : 400-600mm Northern NSW (Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Tweed): 250-400mm The Bellinger River and Tweed River catchments are now under major flood watches after NSW issued its first flood warning on Wednesday for Cyclone Alfred. open image in gallery Forecast for BoM shows Storm Alfred bringing 8 metre tall waves ( Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) ) Queensland premier David Crisafulli urged residents to prepare for power outages lasting days, as emergency crews brace for widespread impacts. We have 1,000 Energex crew ready to restore power, but people should prepare for outages lasting days, he said. He also warned people to act before its too late as he called Cyclone Alfred an "extremely rare event". There is a chance this cyclone will cross in the middle of the night with a high tide. That is not the time to be making your evacuation plan, now is the time, Mr Crisafulli warned. open image in gallery ( Getty Images ) With southeast Queensland residents already losing power, authorities say some areas could be left without electricity for up to three days. It is essential that we get power connected as quickly as we can after an event like this, the premier said. Mr Crisafulli reassured Queenslanders that the response and recovery efforts are already being coordinated. There will be no daylight between the response and the recovery. The best way to guarantee a good recovery is to do the little things now to keep yourself out of harms way, he said. open image in gallery Police set up traffic control at a Newmarket sandbag depot in Brisbane, Australia ( Getty Images ) Several airports have shut down and public transport in Brisbane and nearby areas has been halted until further notice. Gold Coast Airport was shutting services from 4PM local time on Wednesday until further notice while all flights to and from Ballina were cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday. Coffs Harbour Airport also suspended flights from midnight Wednesday Airlines like Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar are offering free flight changes; Jetstar offering travel vouchers. Gold Coasts acting mayor Donna Gates warned residents to stay indoors from 6PM tonight, saying conditions will be worse than anything the city has seen in decades. "This looks like the most significant event in our city in terms of destructive winds and heavy rain since 1954, she said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australian Defence Force is formally engaged, sending 250,000 additional sandbags to Queensland on Wednesday, after 125,000 sandbags were already delivered and 80,000 previously distributed. Its rare for cyclones to go further south along Australias eastern coast. Alfred, churning the warmer than usual waters of Pacific Ocean, took an unusual path and took a sudden turn westwards on Tuesday, intensifiying to Category 2. open image in gallery otted line shows Cyclone Alfred's movement from 22 February to 5 March as it nears landfall ( Zoom Earth ) Cyclone Alfred is predicted to impact northern NSW, which is generally not an area at risk. The last cyclone warning here was more than 50 years ago. This could indicate that, due to global warming, the reach of tropical cyclones is extending further than the tropics. Dr Tom Mortlock from Aon notes that warmer ocean temperatures are fueling storms further south, with sea surface temperatures warm enough to sustain cyclones down to Sydney. Residents in southeast Queensland and northern NSW are being urged to secure properties, prepare emergency kits, and follow evacuation advice as conditions deteriorate. Authorities warn that once the cyclone hits, emergency services may not be able to reach people in danger, making early action crucial. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice New Zealands ambassador to the UK has been dismissed from his position after he made remarks seen as critical of US president Donald Trump, foreign minister Winston Peters said. Phil Goff, New Zealand's high commissioner to the UK, made the comments at an event held by the international affairs think tank Chatham House in London on Tuesday, where Finlands foreign minister Elina Valtonen was a guest speaker. Mr Goff, who was in the audience, asked a question to Ms Valtonen after she spoke about how to keep the peace with Russia, with which Finland shares a border. He spoke about Mr Trump restoring the bust of wartime prime minister Winston Churchill to the Oval Office, and referred to his speech from 1938 when he was an MP in the government of Neville Chamberlain. Mr Goff said he had been re-reading the speech in which Churchill denounced his own government for signing the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler, allowing Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia. He quoted Churchill telling Chamberlain: You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war. Then-Auckland mayor Phil Goff talks to the media in Auckland, New Zealand in 2021 ( AP ) Mr Goff then went on to ask Ms Valtonen: President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history? Ms Valtonen responded by saying that she would limit herself to saying that Churchill "has made very timeless remarks". Foreign minister Peters said it was seriously regrettable that he had to take the decision to remove Mr Goff over the remark, adding that he would have done the same regardless of which world leader was on the receiving end of them. He said the comments were disappointing and untenable. "They do not represent the views of the NZ government and make his position as high commissioner to London untenable," he said. We have asked the secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bede Corry, to now work through with Mr Goff the upcoming leadership transition at the New Zealand High Commission in London, Mr Peters added. Ms Valtonens speech on Tuesday was billed as covering Finlands approach to European security at an event entitled Keeping the peace on Natos longest border with Russia. When you are in that position you represent the government and the policies of the day, Mr Peters said. Youre not able to free think, you are the face of New Zealand. Former prime minister Helen Clark who was Mr Goff's boss during his time as a minister denounced his sacking in a post on X, where she wrote the episode was "a very thin excuse" for removing a "highly respected" former foreign minister from his diplomatic role. Mr Goff has been New Zealand's envoy to the UK since January 2023. He is yet to issue a response to his sacking. Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The daughter of Gisele Pelicot has hit out at her mother in a new book about her fathers shocking sexual abuse. Caroline Darian claims that she was also a victim of Dominique Pelicot - who was convicted last year after orchestrating a mass rape of his wife. But Ms Darian claims her mother did not want to believe or hear that her daughter was potentially abused by the so-called Monster of Avignon, and failed to back her own fight for justice. open image in gallery Gisele Pelicot (R), with her daughter Caroline Darian during the trial last year ( EPA ) Gisele Pelicot emerged as a courageous symbol against rape culture as her husband was jailed for drugging her and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her while he filmed it. The three-month mass-rape trial in France last autumn saw 51 men convicted for a total of 428 years. Retired electrician Pelicot was jailed for the maximum term of 20 years. In her new book So That We May Remember, Ms Darian expresses her anger that her mother did not support her claim that she was also raped by her father, 72. It comes after Ms Darian published Ill Never Call Him Dad Again in December, on the trauma of finding out about what her father had done. It is an abandonment too many, Ms Darian said, adding that the relationship reached a point of no return as a result. The claims are centred around two photos that Dominique Pelicot took of his daughter asleep in underwear that Ms Darian says were not her own. She believes they were taken after having been drugged like Ms Pelicot, 72. These two photographs knocked me over I am sure (there) are others, she wrote. I know that I was sedated and abused by my father, but I cannot prove it. open image in gallery Dominique Pelicot has been jailed for orchestrating the mass rape of his wife ( Handout ) Mr Pelicot denied sexually assaulting or raping his daughter during the trial. Ms Pelicot declined to answer during the trial when she was asked if she supported her daughters claims. Her silence says a lot, Ms Darian says in the book. I am hit by this implacable reality in the face: my mother does not want to believe me or to hear me. The pain runs right through me. I have spent four years trying to be there for my mother, cherishing the bond that counted so much for me. I feel alone facing a wall of desolation and no one seems to understand. When asked about the claims, Ms Pelicots lawyer Stephane Babonneau previously told The Independent: Caroline has the feeling that she may have been the victim of more, but without evidence she remains with doubt. He said the Pelicot family had been torn apart by sexual violence, which he described as absolutely common. Sexual assault happening within families always destroys families it can destroy lives over generations, Mr Babonneau added. What happened in this family is not surprising. open image in gallery Ms Darian expresses anger that her mother did not support her claim that she was also raped by her father ( EPA ) But Ms Darian also praises her mothers dignified, calm and strong testimony in the book. Ms Pelicot had waived her anonymity and allowed the trial to be public so that shame will change sides. Those who were at the trial discovered day after day this strength of character, this rectitude, this ability not to flag, Ms Darian wrote. Ms Darian also said she believed her father was a serial rapist leaving a trail of victims behind in a series of unsolved cases. Mr Pelicot denies the allegation. According to The Times, psychologists warned Ms Darian that her relationship with her mother would be unlikely to survive the trial. open image in gallery Ms Pelicot faces her ex-husband in court ( AFP via Getty Images ) I nevertheless had a lingering hope. I was her only daughter. She could not let go of my hand and especially not in this courtroom. But I am forced to accept that that is the case, the book said. Ms Darian wrote she felt she is the forgotten victim of the trial, and is left with this abyssal emptiness, this injustice which crushes me, this vertiginous feeling of suffering. On the sentences handed to her fathers co-defendants, she and her brothers Florian and David were disappointed as they did not meet prosecutors demands. Ms Darian added that the court did not grasp the importance of this weapon, with reference to the drugs central to the trial. The legal system had an historic opportunity and partially missed it. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice European Union leaders are holding emergency talks on Thursday on ways to quickly increase their military budgets after the Trump administration signaled that Europe must take care of its own security and also suspended assistance to Ukraine. In just over a month, President Donald Trump has overturned old certainties about U.S. reliability as a security partner, as he embraces Russia and withdraws American support for Ukraine. On Monday, Trump ordered a pause to U.S. military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia, bringing fresh urgency to the EU summit in Brussels. ___ Here's the latest: Russian ballistic missile kills 4 in Zelenskyy's hometown In Ukraine, a Russian ballistic missile killed four people staying at a hotel in President Volodymyr Zelenskyys hometown during the night. Zelenskyy said a humanitarian organizations volunteers had moved into the hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, just before the strike, including Ukrainian, American and British nationals. He didnt say whether those people were among the 31 injured. Russia fired 112 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as two ballistic Iskander missiles, at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Flurry of early morning meetings in Brussels Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, conferred in Brussels with summit chairman Antonio Costa over breakfast on how to fortify Europes defenses on a short deadline. Merz only days ago pushed plans to loosen the nations rules on running up debt to allow for higher defense spending. At the same time, the 27-nation bloc was waking up to the news that French President Emmanuel Macron would confer with EU leaders about the possibility of using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats. The bloc will take decisive steps forward, Macron told the French nation Wednesday evening. Member states will be able to increase their military spending and massive joint funding will be provided to buy and produce some of the most innovative munitions, tanks, weapons and equipment in Europe, he said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Spanish authorities have reopened the investigation into the death of the founder of fashion empire Mango in a mountain accident last December. Isak Andic, 71, died after slipping from a 150-metre cliff while hiking with his son Jonathan in the Montserrat caves near Barcelona. As the only witness, Jonathan Andic, 43, was questioned twice about the incident, which police still consider an accident. Investigators are also said to have questioned the fashion tycoons partner Estefania Knuth - who was amongst the last people to see him alive - his son, chauffeur and a local police officer who attended the scene. The case was provisionally archived as a judge found no evidence pointing to crime. But overnight the judge re-opened the case as investigators believe the witness statements were inconsistent with results of on-site inspections, according to an El Pais report. In spite of this the police have not detected that the businessmans son is intentionally withholding information or providing erroneous data in order to cover up a possible crime, the report said. Some reports have said the re-opening is a formality to receive more police information. Both the police force in-charge, Mossos d'Esquadra, and the courts have confirmed the cases re-opening but declined to comment further. open image in gallery Isak Andic stands next to Spains Princess Letizia during a visit to a factory near Barcelona ( REUTERS ) At the time of his death Isak Andic was the wealthiest man in Catalonia, with a net worth of around $4.5bn (3.56bn). He founded Mango in 1984 with his brother and saw its expansion to over 14,000 employees across more than 2,700 stores worldwide by March 2024. Isak has been an example for all of us, a statement from Mango CEO Toni Ruiz said at the time. His departure leaves a huge void but all of us are, in some way, his legacy and the testimony of his achievements. It is up to us, and this is the best tribute we can make to Isak and which we will fulfil, to ensure that Mango continues to be the project that Isak aspired to and of which he would feel proud. Mangos first UK store opened in 1999, and there are more than 60 stores across the country. The fashion brands turnover was 3.1bn (2.58bn) in 2023, with 33 per cent of its business online and a presence across more than 120 markets. But Mr Andic himself maintained a low public profile for many years. He had been planning to build the world's largest yacht but later changed his mind before the project started. Catalonias president Salvador Illa Roca said at the time he was dismayed by the loss of Mr Andic, describing him as a committed businessman who contributed to making Catalonia great and projecting it to the world. He leaves an indelible mark on the Catalan and global fashion sector. My condolences and those of the entire government to family, friends and the Mango team, he said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A former North Korean sergeant has said Pyongyang troops fighting in Ukraine were told their families would be executed if they are captured alive. "If the soldiers are captured and tell information to the enemy, their families will be punished, go to a political prison camp, or worse, they will be executed in front of the people," North Korean defector and researcher, Pak Yusung, told ABC News. Ryu Seong-hyeon, who defected to South Korea in 2019, said few North Korean soldiers had been captured as a result. Click here for the latest updates on the war "Most soldiers will kill themselves before they're killed by the enemy, it's the biggest shame to be captured," Mr Seong-hyeon told ABC News. South Korean intelligence echoed this, claiming that North Korea ordered troops to kill themselves to avoid being captured alive. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent more than 11,000 soldiers to join Russian troops in November last year as Moscows casualties continue to mount. open image in gallery North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia to fight Vladimir Putins war ( Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service ) In early February Ukrainian and American officials said North Korean troops were pulled from the frontline due to losses, but just days later South Koreas spy agency claimed additional troops were sent to Russias Kursk region. Ukrainian forces captured the first two North Korean soldiers to be taken alive by Ukraine, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in January. According to South Korean intelligence, the pair were part of North Koreas intelligence bureau. One of the soldiers reportedly said he wanted to stay in Ukraine when asked if he wanted to go home in a roughly three-minute video released by Kyiv after the capture. The Korean translator also asked: "Did you know you were fighting in a war against Ukraine?", to which the soldier shook his head. open image in gallery Ukrainian forces capturing two North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Russias Kursk border region More than 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been injured or killed in Russia by early January 2025, according to Kyiv. South Korean intelligence analysis of a combat video attributes these casualties to their lack of modern warfare and useless shooting of long-range drones. The Ukraine-Russia war is now in its fourth year, but tentative hopes of peace talks have faltered after an explosive meeting between US president Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Then on Monday night Mr Trump announced he would pause military aid to Kyiv in a major blow to Ukraines hopes of combating Mr Putins bloody invasion. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pope Francis has had another peaceful night in hospital after experiencing two respiratory crises earlier this week, the Vatican reported Thursday. The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been in hospital since February 14, spent a third night aided by a non-invasive ventilator to support his breathing. He continues to receive oxygen through a nasal tube during the day. While his condition has improved over the past two days, doctors remain cautious given the complexity of his health situation, including chronic lung disease and the removal of part of a lung in his youth. Despite these challenges, the Pope marked Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, by receiving ashes and reaching out to a parish priest in Gaza. He has also incorporated physical therapy into his treatment regimen. In his absence, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis led the Ash Wednesday procession and delivered a homily expressing solidarity with the Pope and gratitude for the offering of his prayer and his suffering for the good of the entire church. open image in gallery People, with ashes on their foreheads, pray in St Peters Square ( AP ) The Catholic Church commenced the Lenten season without its leader's physical presence, but with a message of unity and hope for his recovery. On Ash Wednesday, observant Catholics receive a sign of the cross in ashes on their foreheads, a gesture that underscores human mortality. It is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence that signals the start of Christianitys most penitent season, leading to Easter on April 20. The condition of fragility reminds us of the tragedy of death, Cardinal De Donatis said in his homily. In many ways, we try to banish death from our societies, so dependent on appearances, and even remove it from our language. Death, however, imposes itself as a reality with which we have to reckon, a sign of the precariousness and brevity of our lives. The pope was supposed to attend a spiritual retreat this weekend with the rest of the Holy See hierarchy. On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would go ahead without Francis but in spiritual communion with him. The theme, selected before Francis got sick, was Hope in eternal life. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russia has hit out at Sir Keir Starmers plan for British troops to form part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying it would amount to direct involvement in the war. The prime minister, along with Emmanuel Macron, has been seeking to build a coalition of the willing to enforce any potential deal. But Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said troops on its border would amount to the direct, official and unveiled involvement of Nato members in the war against Russia, adding: It cant be allowed. Britain has signed a deal with an Anglo-American security firm to provide Ukraine with more advanced attack drones in contrast to Donald Trumps White House which has paused supplies of US military aid and intelligence-sharing. The fighting is going on and its a big mistake to think that, well all weve got to do is wait for a deal now, the prime minister said. Weve got to make sure that if they are fighting on theyre in the strongest position and even if they go into negotiation that theyre in the strongest position. It came as defence secretary John Healey held talks last night with US counterpart Pete Hegseth. Mr Healey said he was "fixed" on seizing the opportunity for securing peace with Volodymyr Zelensky confirming Ukraine and the US will hold talks to end the war in Saudi Arabia next week. Mr Healey said: "It's the detail of those discussions which are rightly behind the scenes that the defence secretary and I will now pursue." Mr Hegseth, meanwhile, dismissed as "garbage" accusations that Washington had taken a pro-Russia stance. "The press is interested in narratives. Our president is interested in peace, he said. He also reiterated that the arms supply freeze to Ukraine was temporary. Britains agreement with Anduril will see cutting-edge Altius 600m and Altius 700m systems designed to monitor an area before striking targets that enter it being supplied to Kyiv to help tackle Russian aggression in the Black Sea. The new contracts total nearly 30m and are backed by the International Fund for Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence said. It comes amid concerns that the US move to halt intelligence-sharing with Ukraine will affect the countrys ability to use Western weaponry and deprive it of advanced information about incoming threats. In Brussels, European Union leaders met Mr Zelensky for talks about support for Ukraine and increased defence spending. The Ukrainian president thanked European leaders for their support, saying: We are very thankful that we are not alone. These are not just words, we feel it. Leaders also agreed a 670bn defence package for the European Union as it grapples with the prospect of Mr Trump reducing security assistance for Europe. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said it was a watershed moment, adding: Europe faces a clear and present danger and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace. Moscow said President Macrons offer of peacekeeping troops was extremely confrontational. Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight against Russia, Napoleon, Hitler Mr Macron does not act very gracefully, because at least they said it bluntly: We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia. Former president Dmitry Medvedev mocked him on social media, calling him Micron and saying he poses no big threat. Hell disappear forever no later than May 14, 2027. And he wont be missed, Mr Medvedev wrote. And Mr Trumps special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, said the suspension of military help to Mr Zelensky is already having an impact, adding that the Ukrainians brought it on themselves. The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose, Mr Kellogg said at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations. You got their attention. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The United States has withdrawn from a climate agreement where rich nations have pledged billions of dollars to help a small group of developing countries switch from coal to green energy sources in a possible blueprint for future deals to cut carbon emissions, one of the participating countries said Thursday. South Africa said it had received notice that the U.S. had withdrawn from the International Partners Group, a bloc of rich countries that has pledged money for energy transitions in South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam and Senegal. The bloc includes the European Union, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan, Norway and Denmark. The U.S. had declared, effective immediately, its withdrawal from the agreements in South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam, said Chrispin Phiri, a spokesperson for the South African Foreign Ministry. The U.S. had not pledged money for Senegal's energy transition, although other members of the IPG did. Its another move by President Donald Trump to take the U.S. out of global climate pacts after he signed an executive order in January to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement that brings countries together to combat global warming. That agreement is aimed at limiting long-term global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels or, failing that, keeping temperatures at least well below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels. The U.S. withdrawal from the IPG meant South Africa would lose more than $1 billion in future investment pledges from the U.S. to gradually decommission its polluting coal-fired power stations in favor of renewable energy, according to a statement from the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Phiri said grant projects in South Africa that were previously funded and in planning or implementation phases have been canceled. The U.S. had canceled future funding for Indonesias energy transition program that had been provided through the United States aid agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, said Fabby Tumiwa, executive director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform, a climate-focused non-profit. Officials said the other rich countries were still part of the agreements and they would continue to provide support. South Africa remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving a just and equitable energy transition, said Joanne Yawitch, the head of the Just Energy Transition Project Management Unit in South Africa. All other IPG partners remain firmly committed. U.K. Climate Envoy Rachel Kyte, who was in South Africa for an energy conference, told the News24 outlet it was regrettable that the U.S. had withdrawn. South Africa was the first country to sign up to a so-called just energy transition agreement at the United Nations climate conference in 2021. It said it had received $13,8 billion in pledges before the U.S. withdrawal. Indonesia and Vietnam signed their multibillion-dollar deals in 2022. The agreements are meant to recognize that some developing countries are reliant on coal to keep their economies going. They don't have the money or the green energy capacity to swiftly change and need to convert more gradually. South Africa, the most advanced economy in Africa, relies on coal for more than 80% of its electricity supply. Nearly all of Indonesias energy needs are currently met by fossil fuels, with 60% coming from coal. South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam are all among the worlds top 20 emitters of greenhouse gases, according to ClimateWatch, which compiles data on climate change. ___ Associated Press writer Victoria Milko in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice In any negotiation, understanding your counterparts style is paramount. The Ukraine conflict, and especially the heated discussion between presidents Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office recently, has revealed a critical disconnect between the two administrations. Volodymyr Zelensky later called the fiery showdown with President Trump and vice-president J.D. Vance regrettable and wrote to Trump to say he was ready to negotiate. But the Ukrainian president and his European allies have approached talks from a principles-based position. In terms of negotiating style, this means they tend to emphasise multilateral mechanisms, such as collegial decision-making, long-term relationship-building and cultural sensitivity. Trump is a businessman and operates from a fundamentally different negotiation paradigm. Unfortunately, this misalignment has significant implications for Ukraines strategic position and for European security. Research my colleagues and I conducted, comparing US and Italian negotiation styles, has shown that US negotiators typically use a more competitive, transactional approach. They might appear unilateral or domineering but are also adept at connecting different parts of a deal and trading concessions across issues to achieve their goals. Trump, however, combines this with highly competitive tactics and emotional rhetoric. Unlike typical US negotiators who are thought to avoid emotional expression, as shown in our study, Trump uses anger and confrontation to dominate discussions and control narratives. open image in gallery Trump has his own distinctive elements emotional pressure, public posturing and an unwavering commitment to his positions ( AFP via Getty Images ) He frames negotiations in zero-sum terms, where every deal must have a clear winner and loser. This reinforces his public image as a strong leader. And most importantly, Trump appears to negotiate selectively. He enters discussions only when he believes he holds the stronger position. Our study shows that Americans prioritise bottom-line outcomes and use competitive tactics when they perceive themselves to be in positions of power. Trump exemplifies this approach but adds his own distinctive elements emotional pressure, public posturing and an unwavering commitment to his positions until a more favourable alternative emerges. Zelenskys miscalculation President Zelenskys primary negotiation error has been attempting to engage in a principles-based negotiation with a counterpart who favours transactional deal-making. When Zelensky appeals to democratic principles, territorial integrity and international law, hes speaking a negotiation language that Trump doesnt understand. Classic negotiation research suggests Zelensky should have structured negotiations around US economic interests rather than western unity or moral imperatives. Trump has made clear that he will protect Ukraine and Europe only insofar as it serves these economic interests. Zelensky is negotiating from a dependant position (Ukraine needs aid to survive). As such, the key is making the deal appealing to the stronger party while protecting his own interests. In our study, we also found that the Italian negotiators often emphasise emotional engagement, treating counterparts as collaborators rather than adversaries. They tend to focus on mutual interests and their approach balances technical considerations with human relationships. It is underpinned by principles such as liberal values and adherence to international norms. This chimes with other findings on the evolution of negotiation styles within the EU. And this strategy thrives in such multilateral, multicultural contexts, where shared values and consensus-building are prioritised. But this approach can be ineffective against Trumps confrontational, power-based tactics. Emotional engagement may be misinterpreted as a weakness, and consensus-driven approaches fail when the counterpart insists on domination. The liberal world order appears unprepared to negotiate at Trumps level. It still expects rational, interest-based discussions rather than emotionally charged confrontations. open image in gallery The Ukrainian president and his European allies have approached talks from a principles-based position ( PA Wire ) The EUs experience negotiating Brexit provides a relevant template for addressing the Ukraine conflict. The appointment of Michel Barnier as chief negotiator, backed by a bloc of 27 nations, proved effective despite initial scepticism. A similar approach could work for Ukraine. Appointing an authoritative chief negotiator with a clear mandate could be successful. Barnier, economist and former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi or ex-German chancellor Angela Merkel are obvious candidates. This structure might neutralise Trumps preference for one-on-one, power-based deals and force negotiations on terms more aligned with European interests. But to engage Trump, European and Ukrainian leaders need to reframe their approach. First, proposals should be presented in terms of economic benefits. Trump prioritises trade, jobs and business opportunities over security or moral arguments. The negotiation landscape should emphasise the actual distribution of aid to Ukraine, highlighting that European nations collectively have provided substantial financial and humanitarian support. Second, objective data and power-based arguments are better than moral appeals. Economic impact assessments and strategic calculations will resonate more effectively than principles-based reasoning. Third, competitive tactics should be matched with controlled confrontation. Emotional engagement must be strategic, reinforcing firm but pragmatic positioning rather than appearing defensive. Finally, win-win scenarios will allow Trump to claim victory. Trump negotiates to win, and deals must enable him to declare personal success in front of his own supporters. The path forward requires strategic adaptation, not ideological entrenchment. Zelensky and European leaders must recognise that negotiating with Trump demands an understanding of his approach to international relations, perhaps favouring pragmatism over idealism. A crucial insight from previous research on Trumps negotiation behaviour is this: he rarely backtracks explicitly but frequently pivots to new objectives when they become more appealing. This should inspire European leaders to develop attractive alternatives that serve both Trumps interests and Europes security needs. Deal-making may not be the most desirable approach to geopolitical negotiations, but Trumps return to power makes it the current reality. After decades of business negotiators learning from politicians, we now face a reversal. Political negotiators must learn from business tactics. In the high-stakes arena of international security, understanding your counterparts negotiation style isnt just good practice it may be essential for survival. The lessons from Trumps first term suggest that principled stands alone wont secure Ukrainian or European interests. Pragmatic deal-making (underpinned with principles) offers a more promising path forward. Andrea Caputo is a Professor of Strategy & Negotiation at the University of Lincoln. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Officials in Donald Trumps administration have made public demands that Ukraine should change its president. In private, lobbyists have worked to make the case for soft regime change in Kyiv in meetings with journalists and diplomats across Europe. They may believe theyre working to Make America Great Again but they are nonetheless following a Kremlin playbook to delegitimise Volodymyr Zelensky. The effort may come to a head if President Zelensky returns to Washington to make it right with the US president following the breakdown of relations last week. The collapse of the bilateral relationship immediately led to the American suspension of military aid to Ukraine and a pause in vital intelligence sharing a massive boost to the Russian war effort at a time when the Kremlins forces have been stalling. open image in gallery Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clashed in the Oval Office ( AFP/Getty ) Part of getting Mr Trump back into the pro-Ukrainian camp, some diplomats have speculated, is a demand Mr Zelensky should step down in return for a mineral exploitation deal between the two countries and a release of the weapons and intelligence Ukraine needs to defend itself. Mr Trump himself has called the Ukrainian leader a dictator and, like successive Kremlin spokespeople, has repeatedly questioned how Mr Zelensky can claim legitimacy when his term in office has expired. America will not get a choice about who takes over, but it appears Mr Trump is nevertheless trying to influence the result. The fact that there are now discussions about whether the US should use military aid to Ukraine as a lever to dislodge its president the leader of a pro-Western European democracy shows how far Putin is winning the information war. But the question for Mr Zelenskys enemies is if not him, then who? open image in gallery Ruslan Stefanchuk (right) meets the US special envoy for Russia and Ukraine ( Reuters ) Ruslan Stefanchuk the constitutional replacement Under Ukraines constitution, if Mr Zelensky stood down then the current speaker in the parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, would automatically become acting president. As Ukraine is under martial law it cannot legally hold elections which is why Mr Zelensky is serving beyond the term as president, having won 73 per cent of the vote in 2019. As Mr Zelensky has pointed out elections cannot be held in a time of war with around 20 per cent of the country under occupation and its infrastructure under daily attack from hundreds of Russian drones and missiles. Putin wants to weaken Ukraine from within. Putin also wants to remove Zelensky, maybe even using Trump, because right now Zelensky is a symbol of Ukrainian resistance for the whole world and he will never agree to conditions tantamount to surrender of Ukraine, said Oleksandr Morezkho, chairman of the Ukrainian parliaments foreign affairs committee and a member of Mr Zelenskys Servant of the People Party. On 25 February, the parliament, known as the Rada, voted unanimously to continue to support Mr Zelensky. open image in gallery Valerii Zaluzhnyi said it was not only the axis of evil that was attempting to revise the world order, but Washington as well (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire ) Valerii Zaluzhnyi the ambassador to the UK Valerii Zaluzhnyi is a name being considered by Mr Trumps supporters as someone to back. He has popularity among the military as a former commander in chief of Ukraines armed forces. He is also closely linked to Mr Zelenskys bitter opponent Petro Poroshenko, a former president who dealt with Mr Trump and who has been put under sanctions and could face prosecution over allegations of corruption. Mr Poroshenko has said that Ukraine is not ready for elections now. Mr Zaluzhnyi has many supporters in the US and is well known to Natos military. But he took the fall for the failed summer offensive by Ukraine in 2023 to recapture lands captured by Russia and was moved aside. open image in gallery Former champion boxer Vitali Klitschko in Kyiv ( Reuters ) Vitali Klitschko mayor of Kyiv Former world heavyweight champion boxer Vitali Klitschko, now mayor of Kyiv, has been a loud critic of what he has called over-optimistic descriptions of the war from Mr Zelensky. He is a world-famous name whose sporting prowess and early actions in the defence of Kyiv won him many plaudits. But he is not ranked highly on the list being considered by Trump supporters. He had accused the Ukrainian leader of abusing martial law to usurp the powers of the capitals city council. But after American demands for elections in Ukraine he supported the man with whom he has had a long-running feud. Political competition [over elections] during a war can destroy the country from the inside, Kyivs mayor said. open image in gallery Ukrainian peoples deputy David Arakhamia ( Supplied ) David Arakhamia the man with two names David Arakhamia, the Ukrainian parliamentary group leader of Mr Zelenskys Servant of the People Party, has been making a run to become close to Mr Trumps administration. Also known as David Braun, he appeared in the Rotunda as a guest of honour for the inauguration with sources claiming at the time he was there to represent Mr Zelensky. But it now seems that his influence was waning in Mr Zelenskys party and he may have been laying the groundwork for Trump support as a future president. He is certainly receiving help from a very well-connected pro-Trump lobbying agency in DC but now may be looking more for a kingmaker role. open image in gallery Oleksandr Dubinski is an MP and journalist ( Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty ) Oleksandr Dubinski the blogger Another name climbing the Trump team list is Oleksandr Dubinski, an MP, journalist and blogger. He is a populist politician who has been accused of promoting pro-Russian messages and is awaiting trial for treason. He claims that he was beaten and injured in jail while awaiting trial. Ironically, he was on the US sanctions list when Joe Biden was president but now could be in favour with the new White House. He was expelled from Mr Zelenskys political party in 2021. open image in gallery Oleksi Goncharenko is a familiar face in British media ( Oleksi Goncharenko ) Oleksi Goncharenko the businessman Oleksi Goncharenko, who owns language schools as well as being an MP, became a well-known face in the British media and political sphere early on in the war with trips to the UK and Europe to help get support for the war effort. He is only polling at around 2 per cent and is considered more of a long-term candidate but he certainly will run for president if and when an election happens. He once ran a crowdfunding effort to buy an artillery piece for the Ukrainian army. But he clashed with Mr Zelensky when Ukrainian politicians were banned from travelling to conferences abroad. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Members of Donald Trumps team reportedly held secret discussions with Volodymyr Zelenskys top political opponents days after his fiery White House clash with the Ukrainian president. At least four senior allies of the US president spoke with Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko and high-ranking party members of Mr Zelenskys predecessor as president, Petro Poroshenko, according to Politico, citing three Ukrainian parliamentarians and a US Republican foreign policy expert. While Ms Tymoshenko has served Ukraine as a prime minister formerly and leads the opposition Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, Mr Poroshenko is one of Ukraines richest businessmen who lost to Mr Zelensky in the 2019 elections and is facing charges of treason. Click here for the latest updates on the Ukraine war open image in gallery Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko meeting Donald Trump during his first term in 2017 ( AFP via Getty Images ) The talks between Mr Trumps allies and the Ukrainian leaders focused on whether Ukraine could hold swift presidential elections, the report added. According to a top Republican foreign policy expert, Mr Trumps trusted allies are looking for a leader in Ukraine who can be easier to work with, he told Politico, in a shift from the current leadership in Kyiv that has continued to seek all means to fight against Vladimir Putins three-year old invasion. Poroshenkos people and Yulia, theyre all talking to Trump World, positioning themselves as people who would be easier to work with. And people who would consent to many of the things that Zelensky is not agreeing to, the Republican foreign policy expert said on the condition of anonymity. Vladimir Putin has insisted that he will not negotiate with Mr Zelensky, branding him an illegitimate leader because he has continued beyond his presidential term of four years in the war-hit nation. Ukraine cannot hold elections under martial law, according to the democratic nations constitution. In 2023, all Ukrainian deputies signed a legal agreement that no election should take place until at least six months after the conclusion of the conflict. open image in gallery Mr Trump has falsely claimed Volodymyr Zelenskys approval rating is 4% ( AP ) Mr Trumps aides are confident that the Ukrainian president would lose any elections, if held in the country today, claiming that Ukraine is facing war fatigue and public discontentment over widespread corruption, reported Politico. However, the recent weeks of declining American support have skyrocketed Mr Zelenskys approval ratings, especially after the White House spat where Mr Trump and Mr Vance cornered the war-time president. Public trust in Mr Zelensky is at 57 per cent according to a poll released in February by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. Nearly 63 per cent of Ukrainians approve of Mr Zelensky's actions as a president, a recent survey by the Identity and Borders in Flux: The case of Ukraine (IBIF) project in partnership with the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) showed last month. The poll was released shortly after Mr Trump falsely claimed that the Ukrainian leaders approval ratings had dipped to four per cent. Mr Zelensky was also defended by his political opponents back home after Mr Trump falsely called Mr Zelensky a dictator for legally postponing an election last year. We may have different opinions about Zelenskyy, but only Ukrainian citizens have the right to judge his support, said Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a lawmaker from the opposition party Holos. And to publicly criticise him too, because, in the end, he is our elected leader. Senior Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has also said that Russia might seek to interfere in an electoral process that would already face significant challenges. This week Dept of Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick told CNN's Pamela Brown that Mr Trump was "not weighing into Ukrainian politics" and doesn't want Mr Zelensky to resign. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trumps decision to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia is a devastating blow for Kyiv and it puts America on Vladimir Putins side. Combined with the US suspension of military aid to Ukraine, it is not an attempt to force Volodymyr Zelensky to peace talks. It is an attempt to force the surrender of Ukraine to Russia. The Ukrainian president is joining 27 European Union leaders for emergency talks on Thursday, on how to deal with the sudden emasculation of his countrys war effort. Speaking on Wednesday night before the latest cut to Ukraines capacity to defend itself, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said the meeting was necessary because Europe had to be ready for the moment when the US is no longer on our side. That moment has come. open image in gallery Donald Trump appears to be more interested in forcing Ukraines surrender with his recent moves ( Sputnik/AFP/Getty ) This intelligence is vital for Ukraines war effort and keeping troops alive. The US owns almost all satellite-based intelligence gathering, including imaging and communications by Russian commanders. At a lower level, British and American spy planes are soaking Russian-controlled areas, and Russia itself, for intelligence signals and real-time targeting of Russian missiles. Cutting off this intelligence flow means that troops on the ground are immediately endangered. Those in danger could also include Nato advisers and spies who, one should assume, are helping Ukraine with intelligence and planning. Just before the White House announced its latest attack on Ukraines ability to fight, The Independent spoke with an intelligence agent who has worked with the CIA, and Ukrainian intelligence, since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. open image in gallery The US owns almost all satellite-based intelligence gathering, including imaging and communications by Russian commanders ( Reuters ) My CIA handler called me to say that there should never be any mention of the US connection with me, the source told The Independent. They said that I was to scrub all my communications and that they were doing the same they want to hide the fact that the US has been working to defend Ukraine. The source also claimed that he had been close to helping secure the defection of a senior Russian intelligence officer but that they had contacted him last week to say: I feel safer in Russia right now. The Independent has not been able to verify this claim. But given that intelligence agencies in Nato, and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance that includes the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US, had concluded that the Trump administration cannot be trusted to keep secrets secret according to multiple senior intelligence sources on two continents the Russian defectors alleged decision sounds sensible. Europe and the UK will be able to plug some of the gaps left by the US suspension of intelligence sharing but it has nothing like the satellite capacity that the US has always provided to Nato free of charge. It immediately blinds Kyiv to tactical and strategic threats which include large-scale drone and missile attacks against civilian targets all over the country. Stocks of Patriot missiles for air defence against incoming ballistic missiles are known to be dangerously low and resupply has already been cut by the Trump administration. open image in gallery Intelligence sharing is essential for the Ukraine war effort ( AP ) Ukraines cities are now even more vulnerable. Frontline operations on what has been the ferociously bloody battles around Pokrovsk in the eastern Donbas region have dropped significantly in the last two weeks, Ukrainian soldiers in the area told The Independent. The drop in Russian tempo of attacks there and elsewhere could be a sign that Putins forces are exhausting their capacity, just at a time when the Trump administration stepping in has effectively given them a strategic edge. But Ukrainian officers are also concerned that another massive offensive from the Russians might be coming. We just dont know. And now Ukraine will get no warning if or when it does. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Several Australian airports on the southeastern coast have closed their terminals with airlines cancelling hundreds of flights as a Category 2 cyclone continues to barrel towards the country. The extremely rare Tropical Cyclone Alfred is causing severe travel disruption in the country as it draws near to the southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales coasts. The area covered by the Cyclone Alfred warning zone stretches approximately 450-500 km along the east coast of Australia, from Double Island Point in Queensland to Ballina in New South Wales. Alfred is forecast to make landfall on Friday evening (7 March) between Maroochydore and Coolangatta as a Category 2 cyclone. Brisbane Airport has announced that it is suspending operations, with terminals open only for defence operations. Qantas Airways confirmed that it will cease all flights from the aviation hub until at least noon on Saturday, with no domestic flights departing until Sunday. Brisbane City Council has also that announced all bus services, trains and ferries will be suspended until further notice as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches. All commercial flights from Byron Bays Ballina airport have been cancelled, through to and including Sunday 9 March due to high winds. Gold Coast Airport, 55 miles up the coast from Ballina, also closed its terminal at 4pm on Wednesday until further notice in response to the cyclone. The safety of our team, customers and airport is our number one priority, the airport said. Damaging winds of 120kmph are already hitting Coolangatta and Ballina while gusts up to 155kmph could hit coastal areas as far south as Cape Byron from Thursday afternoon. open image in gallery The dotted line shows Cyclone Alfred's movement from 22 February to 5 March as it nears landfall ( Zoom Earth ) Ballina Bay airport runs up to 45 direct flights per week to Sydney and Melbourne, with arrivals and departures operated by Australian airlines such as Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas said they are suspending flights to and from Ballina Byron Bay until at least Sunday morning local time. Virgin Australia told its passengers that it has made other schedule changes as a result of the cyclone. Safety is always our top priority, and our meteorologists continue to closely monitor the weather system. We are working with all stakeholders including airports, local councils, and authorities as the situation evolves, the airline said. open image in gallery Waves crash onto rocks as people look on at the Spit, on the Seaway on the Gold Coast, Australia, Monday, 3 March as Cyclone Alfred builds off the east coast ( AP ) Virgin Australia is currently operating a limited schedule to and from Brisbane Airport, suspending its flights from the afternoon of Wednesday through to Sunday. Jetstar also put out a statement to say it has stopped operations at Gold Coast (Coolangatta) airport from 4pm on Wednesday due to the strong winds from the cyclone. We have contacted affected customers by SMS with options including alternative flights, a free move up to 14 days or a travel credit, Jetstar said. The budget airline is also offering flexibility on flights for customers who may no longer wish to travel. Customers booked to travel in or out of the Ballina Byron Bay or Gold Coast (Coolangatta) airports between Tuesday 4 March and Sunday 16 March can visit their booking page to review their options. Jetstar is offering a free date change up to seven days before and up to 14 days after the original travel date or a voucher for the value of untravelled flights. open image in gallery People queue for sandbags in Tugun on 5 March in Gold Coast, Australia ( Getty Images ) We know this will be inconvenient for customers and we thank everyone for their understanding and patience, the airline added. At this time, flights to and from Sunshine Coast (MCY) and Hervey Bay (HVB) continue as scheduled. Qantas has suspended all flights from Gold Coast airport and Ballina until at least Sunday, and to Coffs Harbour through to Friday due to high wind conditions. Coffs Harbour Airport said in an update on its social media that despite some Qantas flights being cancelled, the airport is currently open, but it is advising passengers travelling through its terminal over the coming days to monitor the status of their flights. The airline is also offering flexibility to customers who have booked flights to or from Ballina, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Lord Howe Island and Maroochydore on or before Monday, for travel between Tuesday and Sunday or 16 March. Qantas is offering a travel credit or a fee-free date up to 14 days from the original travel date. Air New Zealand said if its passengers are travelling between now and 9 March to or from an impacted airport in Australia, they can defer their flight without a fee, hold the value of their ticket or change to another one of its destinations by paying the fare difference. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The United States government has issued an advisory for travelers heading to a popular vacation spot. On Tuesday, the US Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory on Turks and Caicos Islands, urging travelers to exercise increased caution when on these islands. A Level 2 advisory means that travelers should be aware of heightened risks to safety and security, as noted by the federal agency. The travel advisory for people going to Turks and Caicos is due to crime, with most occurring in Providenciales, which is one of the main islands in the archipelago. On this island, police may have limited investigatory resources. All firearms and ammunition, including single bullets brought by mistake in carry-on bags or luggage, are illegal in Turks and Caicos, and those laws are strictly enforced by the police. Travelers who break these laws could face arrest, jail time, or heavy fines. Some U.S. citizens have been detained and unable to depart for several weeks or more after being found with bullets in their luggage. Offenders can face 12 years or more in prison, the advisory reads. Though the law allows for some exceptions and discretion, the Department of State cannot guarantee your release. For travelers who are going to Turks and Caicos, the US Department of State urges them to follow a few guidelines. This includes passengers checking their luggage for bullets and firearms before leaving the US, and to buy travel insurance before they go. US government issues level 2 travel advisory for Americans going to Turks and Caicos ( Getty Images ) Travelers on the islands are also encouraged to avoid walking alone and at night, and they should not answer their door at their hotels unless they know who it is. They also should not physically resist any robbery attempt, and they should prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. The government also recommends travelers enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, which allows the US State Department can quickly contact them in case of emergency. The program is free to join. Last year, five Americans were arrested in Turks and Caicos on charges they illegally carried ammunition during trips to the popular destination, and they could have been sentenced to up to 12 years of jail time. At the time, three of the arrests prompted pleas for mercy from the governors of Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia. One man from Pennsylvania, Bryan Hagerich was able to return to the US, after being given a suspended sentence of 52 weeks. He also said to pay a $6,700 fine. A terminally ill man from Texas, Michael Lee Evans, was given a 33-week suspended sentence after pleading guilty to having ammunition in his luggage, as reported by CBS News. A third American arrested, a woman from Florida named Sharitta Grier, was given a 23-week suspended sentence and paid a $1,500 fine. The fourth American arrested, a man from Virginia named Tyler Wenrich, was sentenced to time served with a $9,000 fine, while Ryan Watson from Oklahoma received a 13-week imprisonment, which was suspended for nine months. Watson also paid a $2,000 fine. The British territory significantly tightened its gun laws in 2022 following a jump in gun violence and weapons trafficking. The strict penalties were meant to protect the community by deterring gun crimes, the government has said. In gun and ammunition cases, courts have sentencing discretion for exceptional circumstances, but they cannot limit punishment to a fine with no prison term, the country's Court of Appeal ruled in February 2024. This is the dramatic moment an alleged arsonist set himself ablaze while torching a car in a gated California community. Corona Fire Department responded to a reported vehicle fire on Wakefield Avenue early Tuesday (4 March). Ring camera footage released by the department shows an unidentified man standing next to a black sedan in the front yard yard of a residence. He appears to ignite something in his hand before it erupts into a massive explosion that consumes him and the car. The suspect can be seen jumping over the fence and fleeing the scene with his clothes still on fire. Authorities are still searching for him. JD Vance issued a blunt response when asked if US forces will invade Mexico. The vice president held a press conference as he paid a visit to Eagle Pass in Texas on Wednesday (5 March) Asked about the potential for ground forces during a visit to the US-Mexico border, Vance responded: No. Next question. He declined to offer details on any potential air strikes or other military activity. The president has a megaphone, and hell speak to those issues as he feels necessary, Vance said. Triple killer Kyle Clifford's police interview has been released after he was found guilty of raping his former partner during a fatal crossbow and knife attack in July 2024. The 26-year-old has been handed a whole-life order and will never be released from prison for raping and murdering Louise Hunt, 25, in a violent, sexual act of spite after she ended their 18-month relationship. He had previously admitted to stabbing Carol Hunt, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt, and killing her daughters Louise and Hannah Hunt in the crossbow attack at the family home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, but denied raping his former partner. Clifford was tried in his absence at Cambridge Crown Court after refusing to leave his cell at HMP Belmarsh, the court was told. Britain is resisting a Ukraine peace deal, the Russian ambassador to the UK has claimed. Andrei Kelin accused the UK, France and other European nations of not wanting to end the conflict in an interview with Sky News released on Thursday, 6 March. It comes as European leaders hold crisis talks in Brussels on support for Kyiv following Donald Trump's explosive meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. UK officials have convened talks with around 20 countries who expressed interest in joining Sir Keir Starmers coalition of the willing initiative to put peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. A Russian ballistic missile struck a hotel in the city of Kryvyi Rih, Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown, late on Wednesday, 5 March. Footage shared by the Ukrainian president on X shows emergency responders evacuating and treating the wounded. According to Zelensky, foreign humanitariansincluding citizens of Ukraine, the US, and the UKhad checked into the hotel just before the strike but managed to evacuate in time. At least four people were killed and more than 30 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine overnight, Ukraines emergency services said on Thursday (March 6). The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Theres one day that stands out to me in the many months of covering Gaza as a Middle East specialist at the BBC. I stood in front of my team, pitching for the second time the story of a five-year-old girl trapped in a car with her murdered relatives: Hind Rajab. I had been following the Red Crescents constant updates as they tried to save her. The BBC department I worked for chose not to cover her story that day. It was only after the Israeli military killed her, shooting the car 300 times with her inside, that our public broadcaster chose to say her name. And when it did, the article headline didnt even make clear who had done what. It shied away from coming to a conclusion. The BBC failed Hind. And it has failed Palestinian children again in pulling the documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, following external pressure over a 13-year-old narrator being related to a deputy agriculture minister in the strip, which is administered by Hamas. It had the option of keeping the version with a line of context on this, ultimately standing by the truth at the heart of the film: that Israel is harming Palestinian children. This decision prompted me and more than 1,000 others including Gary Lineker and Miriam Margolyes to sign an open letter condemning the move. BBC director general Tim Davie answering questions at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in the House of Commons ( PA ) Yesterday, director general Tim Davie and chair Dr Samir Shah faced the Culture, Media and Sport Committee over the organisations work, where MP Dr Rupa Huq asked if they had thrown the baby out with the bathwater in removing the documentary. While the BBC says there were serious flaws in how the film was made, it has failed to acknowledge an overall lack of editorial integrity in covering Gaza. During the session, Tim Davie agreed on the need for an independent review into the BBCs overall Middle East coverage a move thats sorely needed. I was at the BBC for five years, starting out as a researcher and eventually becoming a newsreader and journalist. In that time, I covered Covid-19 outbreaks, Russias invasion of Ukraine and Hindu nationalism in India. But it was in covering Gaza that I saw a shocking level of editorial inconsistency. Journalists were actively choosing not to follow evidence out of fear. For months, I watched the BBC repeat one of its gravest editorial errors around climate change: debating a phenomenon long after the evidence showed its real. We deserve a public service broadcaster that follows the evidence in a timely manner, without fear or favour. Editorial bravery is key. Im about to make a bold claim: truth exists. For the journalist, at least, it exists in the form of reasonable, evidence-based conclusions. In a world where claims are constantly competing, a journalists job is back-breaking: it is to investigate and come to conclusions, rather than setting up constant debates no matter who this angers and no matter how much work it takes. Impartiality has failed if its key method is to constantly balance both sides of a story as equally true. A news outlet that refuses to come to conclusions becomes a vehicle in informational warfare, where bad faith actors flood social media with unfounded claims, creating a post-truth fog. Only robust evidence-based conclusions can cut through this. Every day, the worst photos and videos I will ever see appeared on my X (Twitter) and Instagram feeds. I would slowly look through them, listing the stories from Gaza Id pitch at the morning meeting. These images were a branding iron to the brain. Searing. The first time I saw a man crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer, the image was so blurred I might have been looking at a tuft of poppies. As it sharpened, I saw the pulp of a mans flesh pressed into the ground, orange and red. For months, I would think of him and my chest would convulse. But I refused to turn away. Absorbing the weight and extent of this evidence was my job. To see such overwhelming evidence every day and then hear 50/50 debates on Israels conduct this is what created the biggest rift between my commitment to truth and the role I had to play as a BBC journalist. We have passed the point at which Israels war crimes and crimes against humanity are debatable. Theres more than enough evidence from Palestinians on the ground, aid organisations; legal bodies to come to coverage-shaping conclusions around what Israel has done. In 2018, the BBC issued long overdue editorial guidance to its staff, stating: Climate change IS happening. There was a sigh of relief from climate scientists, after years spent warning the organisation its debates were harmful. Coverage would now be rooted in this evidence-based conclusion. When will the BBC conclude that Israel IS violating international law, and shape its coverage around that truth? As the old saying goes, the journalists job isnt to report that it may or may not be raining. Its to look outside and tell the public if it is. And let me tell you: theres a storm. Karishma Patel is a former BBC newsreader and journalist For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A polar vortex collapse is expected over the next two weeks, causing extreme winter weather and travel disruption across North America. The weather phenomenon is expected to develop in mid-March, bringing severe cold temperatures across parts of Canada and the United States. It may also impact the UK and Europe. A polar vortex collapse occurs when the layer between 10 and 50km above Earths surface warms up to 50 degrees in just two days - known as sudden stratospheric warming (SSW). This warming can weaken the polar vortex, causing cold Arctic air to move southwards and can lead to extreme weather conditions. open image in gallery The science behind the polar vortex ( NOAA ) The polar vortex collapse will be the second in 2025, after a collapse last month caused deep freezes and travel havoc in North America. Snow, storms, and sub-zero temperatures impacted millions of Americans and the majority of the country in February. If the upcoming vortex disruption weakens the jet stream, it may release cold air from polar regions into North America or Eurasia. We are predicting a displacement of the polar vortex on the Europe and eastern Canada side of the polar, AccuWeathers Lead Meteorologist Paul Pastelok told The Independent. When the Polar Vortex is disrupted - whether stretched, displaced, or split - it can, but does not always, impact this polar jet stream. The timing is uncertain for North America but could see a change in the pattern for late March into early April. open image in gallery The collapse of a polar vortex could bring another major cold spell for North America ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air which rotates around the North and South poles of the Earth and corresponds with the narrow bands of wind 8 to 11 kilometres above Earths surface, known as the jet stream. When the vortex is weakened, the jet stream can become less stable and lets cold polar air spill southward leading to extreme and unpredictable weather. Mr Pastelok explained that there is a small chance of a complete split in the jet stream pattern, which could last four to seven weeks. But a displacement or a change in the pattern is more likely. Such a change would last less time and would affect Europe and central and eastern North America, Mr Pastelok added. The weather event may also impact the UK, with forecasters warning that temperatures could drop again after a temporary reprieve this week. SSWs dont always impact our weather but if they do it can take a few weeks before impacts might be felt on the earth surface, the UK Met Office told the Independent, adding that the warming is so high up that we dont feel it directly. If this happens this would act as a factor in favouring blocked/slowly evolving patterns for the remainder of March and could bring colder weather to the UK. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice As Tropical Cyclone Alfred barrels toward Australia's eastern coast, residents from Brisbane to northern New South Wales are bracing for a storm event not seen in over half a century. The cyclone, currently a Category 2 system, is expected to make landfall between Noosa and Coolangatta, north of Brisbane, late on Friday or early Saturday, bringing destructive winds, life-threatening flooding, and coastal erosion to some of Australias most densely populated areas. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Alfred could possibly reach a Category 3 status but the chances of that remain low. However, the storm was expected to remain on the stronger end of Category 2 when it makes landfall. Click here for live updates on Cyclone Alfred open image in gallery Cyclone Alfred is barrelling its way towards the Australian coast ( Zoom Earth ) That means winds of up to 150kmph per hour will be battering areas of Queensland and NSW, with rainfall totals expected up to 600mm, enough to swell up rivers and create flood risks in a wide, highly populated region. Queensland premier David Crisafulli called Cyclone Alfred an "extremely rare event, as he urged residents to pay heed to warnings. The last time Brisbane saw a tropical storm reach this close to its shores, it was 1990. Gold coast acting mayor Donna Gates said in terms of destructive winds and heavy rain, the city hasnt seen anything like this since 1952. But its not just the size of the storm that is concerning experts its how it has been moving. Most cyclones that form in the Coral Sea follow a typical pattern: they track southeastward, away from the Australian coastline, as they get caught in mid-latitude westerly winds. But Alfred has done the opposite. It initially moved out to sea southwards, travelling parallel to Australias east coast, and then took a sharp turn westward towards Australias eastern coast. Dr Liz Ritchie-Tyo, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Monash University, explains that this shift is due to Alfreds interaction with a mid-latitude trough a system of low pressure that extended northward and altered the storms movement. open image in gallery Dotted line shows Cyclone Alfred's movement from 22 February to 5 March as it nears landfallk ( Zoom Earth ) When tropical cyclones interact with a mid-latitude trough, they undergo a process called extratropical transition, she says. During this process, they can re-intensify into a hybrid system, sometimes even stronger than the original tropical cyclone. Now, as the mid-latitude trough moves east, Alfred has been left under the influence of the subtropical ridge, which is pushing it westward straight toward Australias southeast coast. This sharp westward turn is unusual, she said. Historically, tropical cyclones tend to weaken before reaching southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales due to cooler waters and wind shear changes in wind direction and speed that can break apart a cyclone. But thats not happening with Alfred. Tropical cyclones are normally contained to north of the 25-degree parallel, yet we are now seeing them track further south, says Dr Tom Mortlock, head of Climate Analytics Asia-Pacific. The last severe cyclones to make landfall near Brisbane were Dinah in 1967 and Wanda in 1974. The 1954 cyclone, which caused the Great Flood in northern NSW and southeast Queensland, is the best historical comparison. open image in gallery Map shows path and forecast of Cyclone Alfred ( Bureau of Meteorology ) The fact that Alfred is expected to maintain Category 2 intensity when it crosses the coast suggests that oceans are warm enough to sustain tropical cyclones much further south than usual. Warm ocean waters above 26.5C and low vertical wind shear are essential for a cyclone to develop, strengthen, and sustain itself. Climate crisis affects both. Currently, the water off the coast of Sydney has a temperature of 27C, about 1C above average. Rising global temperatures, driven by burning coal, oil and gas, are increasing sea surface temperatures across the planet, increasing marine heatwaves and fuelling hurricanes and cyclones. In fact, when Alfred developed in late February, it formed alongside two more systems. While it is not unheard of for two or three tropical cyclones to form out of the same trough, it is rare in the South Pacific. open image in gallery Brisbane residents prepare for the storm ( Getty Images ) Tropical cyclones are clearly linked to global warming. Scientists have been pointing this out for years, and we are now seeing evidence in real time stronger storms, reaching further, impacting a larger area, Dr Iftekhar Ahmed, associate professor the University of Newcastle. This is a problem we are seeing worldwide, Dr Mortlock adds. Right now, ocean temperatures are warm enough to sustain tropical cyclones as far south as Sydney, which is highly unusual. This years Atlantic Hurricane Season also saw an extraordinary number of storms with 11 of the 18 developing hurricane strength and five becoming major hurricanes. When Hurricane Milton devastated Florida, scientists found bath-tub hot waters off the coast drove its intensification. Another major concern is Alfreds slow movement. The cyclone is currently traveling at 14kmph, but there were concerns it could get slower than the average tropical cyclone, which typically moves between 15-20 kmph. Several tropical storms in recent years have been moving slowly, which gives them more time to intensify and if the system passes slowly over cities it bring more rainfall. The system is staying over the ocean longer, meaning it has more time to feed on warm waters, intensify, and maintain its strength before landfall, meteorologist Thomas Hinterdorfer told The Courier-Mail. We would much prefer a cyclone to come through faster, he said. Scientists warn that while tropical storms have always been devastating, climate crisis is making them stronger, more frequent, and more unpredictable. We need to start planning for a future where these types of storms become more common, Dr. Ahmed says. This isnt just a one-off event this is the new reality. He made his call and then it was up to me to make my call and I did Joey OBrien on decision to take over from Damien Duff and nervy win over Cork In what is claimed to have been the first auction sale of development land in the country for 2025, a parcel of 4.24 acres at Summerhill, Co Meath, was bought by a local builder for double its guide price. This Working Life When you see a child try something and succeed, its a magical moment Barnaby Sandow, principal at Nord Anglia International School Dublin, on how to encourage children to grow into the best version of themselves Barnaby Sandow Mary McCarthy Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Our biggest constituency is US students, we are a support system for the drivers in the local economy. Our number two population is Irish. Breaking | TikTok to cut up to 300 Irish jobs in April, government says The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, says that the social media giants Dublin job cuts are scheduled to occur in April and that staff have been informed Adrian Weckler and Anne-Marie Walsh Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 11:28 TikTok is seeking to let hundreds of workers go from its base in Dublin, which employs 3,000 staff. TikToks Irish staff may be casualties of US ban and Trumps hatred of content moderation TikTok is facing a big loss of revenue from an imminent US ban. Its only hope of averting that may be to show Donald Trump that it is paring down its trust and safety divisions, some of which are based in Ireland TikTok may find itself with no other choice but to appease US president Donald Trump in its oversight of content on the platform Adrian Weckler Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 12:55 This years wave of big-tech job cuts in Ireland, including up to 300 of TikToks 3,000-strong Irish base, may be as tactical as it is about saving money. Trump imposed 25% duties on imports from Mexico and Canada and doubled duties on Chinese goods to 20%, sparking trade wars with the biggest buyers of U.S. farm products. Photo: Carl Court/PA U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China threaten to hurt the $191 billion American agricultural export sector and raise costs for farmers struggling with low crop prices, farm groups warned this week. Trump imposed 25% duties on imports from Mexico and Canada and doubled duties on Chinese goods to 20%, sparking trade wars with the biggest buyers of U.S. farm products. Canada and China targeted American products including wheat and poultry with retaliatory levies, while farm groups said U.S. tariffs on imports from Canada would raise fertilizer costs. About 85% of U.S. imports of potash fertilizer come from Canada, according to industry data. Higher costs and lower exports would hit farmers as many are bracing to lose money growing corn and soybeans, the nation's biggest commodity crops. "For the third straight year, farmers are losing money on almost every major crop planted," said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "Adding even more costs and reducing markets for American agricultural goods could create an economic burden some farmers may not be able to bear," Duvall added. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said she was in communication with Trump about the economic repercussions to farmers. "His message, frankly, to the ag community is 'trust me,'" Rollins told reporters at the National Association of Counties conference. China, the world's biggest soybean importer, retaliated against U.S. tariffs by hiking import levies covering $21 billion worth of American agricultural and food products. Canada imposed retaliatory duties on C$30 billion ($20.84 billion) worth of U.S. imports. Worries about tariffs and retaliation prompted some Canadian grocers to cancel orders from American produce growers and shift to suppliers in other countries in the past month, U.S. farmers' group Western Growers said. For red meat, Canada, Mexico and China accounted for $8.4 billion in U.S. exports last year, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. "Tariff wars are only serving to harm those who rely on international trade to support their livelihoods," said Greg Tyler, CEO of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. Its not about the money, its just having to do it all again home that had 600,000 Room to Improve makeover is damaged in blaze A man who filmed hundreds of men and children urinating in public toilets has been jailed for two years. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Colin Brady (35) of Kilgraigue, Kilcloon, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, one count of exposure in a public area and recording videos of another without their knowledge or consent on dates between May 2021 and September 2022 at different locations within Dublin. He has no previous convictions. Father and son among five arrested over alleged 840kg cocaine operation All five suspects are being questioned at different garda stations in Cork and Dublin under organised crime legislation after their arrests on Tuesday. Some of the suspects are arrested in West Cork last year Ken Foy and Robin Schiller Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Five people including a father and son from the capitals southside have been arrested in relation to an alleged massive drugs conspiracy off the coast of Co Cork. Dublin Bus passengers will be relieved as a work-to-rule that caused severe delays across the city has been suspended. The commercial semi-state company said it met with representatives of engineering operatives this afternoon for talks to resolve a pay dispute. It said they had agreed to an immediate suspension of the industrial action.. Dublin Bus said full services will operate as normal today. Dublin Bus welcomes the decision by Siptu representatives to suspend the work-to-rule industrial action immediately, said a spokesperson. This is a positive and welcome step towards resolving the current dispute. He apologised again to customers for the disruption caused and thanked them for their understanding. Dublin Bus management and unions including Siptu have agreed to meet again for talks on Monday. Customers complained of delays and cancellations on social media earlier this week due to the industrial action that began on Sunday. Sources claimed up to 80 buses at Donnybrook garage were not fuelled or cleaned on time ahead of hte morning rush hour, which led to long delays. The maintenance engineering operatives refuel and clean the buses. On Monday, the company apologised for any delays caused due to the dispute. Almost 200 maintenance engineering operatives want to maintain a pay link with a higher paid grade of workers known as traffic operatives. This would increase their pay by over 14pc. The Labour Court had issued a recommendation to end the dispute in November last year, which was rejected by the engineering operatives. It rejected the workers claim on the basis that a previous agreement meant pay rises should be funded by productivity measures. The court recommended further talks on a 4.5pc pay rise that was based on productivity. Having regard to all of the circumstances of pay bargaining in the employment, and the detailed submissions of the parties, including the detail of the agreement on self-funding reached in March 2024, the court does not recommend concession of the trade union claim for what is, in effect, a 14.5pc pay increase without any concession of productivity or related measures, chairman Kevin Foley. The court said talks on the productivity-based pay rise of 4.5pc should conclude no later than eight weeks from its recommendation on November 12. It said any outstanding matters should be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission and the court. Four in 10 residents in direct provision centres inspected last year had refugee status or permission to remain in Ireland, but could not move out due to lack of alternative accommodation, a new report has revealed. It also highlighted how the current system of international protection accommodation is not adequately resourced to meet demand. This has had a notable impact on the quality of accommodation and services that are being provided to some people seeking protection in Ireland. The findings emerged in an overview report from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) based on inspections in the past year. Hiqa started monitoring and inspecting direct provision centres in January last year and carried out 60 inspections of 51 centres during the year. It found that many service providers ensured that their centres were of a good standard and that the services they were delivering were safe, of a high quality and promoted and protected the rights of residents. A direct provision centre in Co Meath. Photo: PA Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 6th Most adults, children and young people reported generally positive experiences. However, the report also highlighted there was considerable room for improvement. Bronagh Gibson, head of Hiqas programme for monitoring international protection accommodation service centres, said: Our inspections throughout 2024 showed that the current system of international protection accommodation is not adequately resourced to meet demand. During our inspections we found that not all staff were appropriately vetted, and a significant number had not been vetted by An Garda Siochana. Hiqa required urgent action on this issue and is currently assured that relevant staff members have now been appropriately vetted. Our findings show that while there are good levels of compliance, very clear challenges remain to ensure that asylum seekers, who are often a vulnerable population, are safe and protected from risk. Governance and management arrangements need to be strengthened in accommodation centres to ensure that high-quality, safe services are being provided. Many providers must place a greater focus on recognising and managing risks and putting effective safeguarding and protection procedures in place to ensure safe and person-centred services. Hiqa warned that there is overcrowding in the system, where limited access to housing in the community is reducing the availability of beds. About 41pc of residents living in accommodation centres inspected by Hiqa had received refugee status or had valid permission to remain in Ireland but continued to live in accommodation centres due to a lack of alternatives. Some 57pc of service providers inspected were found to be delivering safe, high-quality services in line with national standards. Inspectors said 56pc of centres inspected did not have effective governance and management arrangements in place and had poor, or no, reporting systems. And 74pc had limited or no systems in place to identify or monitor risk in their centres. More than a third of centres inspected did not have policies and procedures in place to protect residents from experiencing harm. It also emerged that 35pc of staff across the centres Hiqa inspected last year were not appropriately vetted by An Garda Siochana. Green collapse and Independents rise bring swift change in outlook to fuels Drilling sites for gas can now do business with Ireland after lifting of ban. Photo: Getty Commercial liquefied natural gas (LNG) operators are eyeing up Ireland for investment as the Government opens the door to fracked gas. One company chairman told investors Ireland would be the candle on the cake now that the Green Party is no longer in power and the Government was finally getting the message that it should import LNG. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers insists the Government will not be offering energy credits as part of future Budgets instead, the Government will strategically invest in the energy system Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has doubled down on his pledge to avoid energy credits in future Budgets, despite Government papers detailing how "new supports" will be needed for people as annual bills remain at a high. Briefing documents from officials at the Department of Climate and Energy detail how annual energy bills remain 90pc higher for gas and more than 60pc higher for electricity when compared to pre-2020, the Irish Times reports today. The documents, provided to Minister for Energy Darragh OBrien in January, detail how new supports will be needed for people as they face increased costs in the coming years, despite a likely fall in wholesale prices for electricity and gas. Officials predicted a need for targeted support as people will have to pay for the transition to sustainable energy with increases in charges likely as a result of grid maintenance and expansion, security of supply renewable energy subsidies and market imperfections. Many people are also still wrestling with arrears, the documents confirm. Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers. Photo: PA Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 6th With regards to the energy credits granted through recent Budgets, a total of 3.3bn was paid out to ease electricity bills, yet approximately 230,000 (10pc) electricity customers and 162,000 (24pc) gas customers are in arrears. Speaking on RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland this morning, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers insisted the Government will not be offering energy credits as part of future Budgets. Instead, the Government will strategically invest in the energy system. I think, first of all, were very clear, from the National Development Plan review, that centre to that will be strategic investment in the energy system, Minister Chambers said. With increased investment required in our energy system, and increased costs as a result what we seek to do is to increase the capital investment in our grid and it will help mitigate some of the cost, he continued. "We want to move away from the position in recent years of ad-hoc temporary supports. The minister said the Government will plan supports and measures for businesses and consumers within the parameters of their plan. He acknowledged people in arrears but said for Budget 2026 they will be examining the mechanisms which are there to support workers and costs when it comes to energy. All measures in the Budget have to be progressive and targeted, in particular to the pressures people have with energy bills. "The [Department of] Social Protection system is a method of support for people who face particular pressures. The Republic of Ireland has the second highest electricity prices in Europe. Sinn Feins David Cullinane said the cuts were coming even though Fine Gael and its leader, Simon Harris, had promised to cut energy costs in the General Election campaign. The loss of the energy credits for all households will add 300 at a stroke to annual bills, with further hikes on the way. There is also the danger of a swift return of rampaging inflation if President Donald Trump should go ahead with his threatened 25pc tariffs on all goods exported from the European Union. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe told the Dail today: "I can't stand here in front of the House today and say that the level of payments that we've made available over the last number of years can become the norm. "Those payments were made available at a time in which inflation was 5pc, 10pc, 15pc. "That is very different to today. So that kind of level of payment is something that, if we begin to normalise it -- if we say it's going to be available year after year -- it runs the risk of creating difficulty to our country and to our economy in the years ahead. "Of course we know that, as we approach the Budget, as we respond back to the challenges that are there, we will look at what measures we can put in place that will be targeted and that can offer support to those who need it the most. "We want to be clear in recognizing the great challenge and worry that exists within our country at the moment -- but equally honest and say that we can't and won't do anything that adds to the risk that we may face." Mr Donohoe reference to targetted supports spells the death knell for universal cost-of-living assistance, such as the energy bill credits for all households, which have already fallen in value. But Mr Cullinane said: " Over the last number of years, families have been hammered by a barrage of sharp increases in energy costs. "They've just gone up again, to the point where households in this State pay the second highest electricity prices in the EU." Tanaiste Simon Harris has denied a trade imbalance between Ireland and the US was discussed on his call with Marco Rubio, contradicting the statement put out by the US Administration. In a US press release from spokesperson Tammy Bruce after the call, it stated that the Tanaiste and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had discussed the trade imbalance. Both leaders expressed eagerness to work together to address our shared interests. They discussed the U.S. priority to address the U.S.-Ireland trade imbalance, Ms Bruce said in the statement. However, Mr Harris has now contradicted the statement from the US administration. Mr Harris said the trade relationship between the two countries was discussed but not specifically an imbalance in that relationship. The Tanaiste said he brought up the topic of trade during the 20 minute phone call. The trade imbalance wasn't specifically referenced, the Tanaiste said. Tanaiste and Trade Minister Simon Harris. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Today's News in 90 Seconds - March 6th Mr Harris did not say that the US read out in the call was wrong, but said the Americans obviously have their perspective in relation to the issue of trade. Secretary Rubio said to me that he understood the importance of the transatlantic economic relationship. I said that I understood it was absolutely open to any government, of course, to review its economic trade policies, but that I hope that those trade policies would respect the fact that the transatlantic relationship is mutually beneficial, Mr Harris said. The Tanaiste said that while he brought up trade while on the call, he was aware that Mr Rubio was not responsible for trade in his role as Secretary of State. When it actually came to trade, it was actually me who brought it up, because I'm conscious that Secretary Rubio doesn't have responsibility for trade in the way I do in the Irish government. I did want to take the opportunity on the call with him to say that, look, I know when any government gets elected, including a US government, of course, it has every right to pause and examine its economic policies, its trade policies, its relationship with other countries. That's fine. That's a democracy, but that we do have a very strong transatlantic relationship between the US and Ireland, Mr Harris said. Speaking after the conclusion of the first UK Ireland Summit which took place Inglewood Manor, just outside Liverpool, the Tanaiste said he told Mr Rubio that the scenes in the Oval Office with Ukraines President Zelensky were upsetting. We discussed Ukraine, and I made the point that the scenes that we saw in recent days between President Zelensky and the United States were deeply unsettling and upsetting. "We needed to get back on track that even with Europe doing more and Europe will and should do more in terms of its own security and defense we will still require the United States of America in terms of how we take these things forward, Mr Harris said. Keir Starmer and Micheal Martin are leading talks at a major UK-Ireland summit in Liverpool Taoiseach and Prime Minister sit down to discuss security, energy and trade at annual summit Ireland will do anything it can to help UK prime minister Keir Starmers plan to reset the UKs relationship with the European Union, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. The UK and Ireland are opening the next chapter in their relationship, Mr Starmer said, as ministers from the two nations discussed plans to increase co-operation. The Taoiseach and the prime minister were in Liverpool with senior ministers from both governments. Mr Starmer said: We are having this summit, we are embarking on the next chapter for our two countries, binding them ever closer together in circumstances where were living in an ever more volatile world. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a business roundtable at Liverpool docks, in the first in a new series of annual UK-Ireland Summits taking place in Britain. Phil Noble/PA Wire I think that a reset, bringing our countries closer together, is the obvious and right thing to do in any event. As well as closer ties with Ireland, Mr Starmer is hoping to improve the trading relationship with the European Union and rebuild relations with Brussels after the strain caused by Brexit. Were strengthening our alliance with the EU. Now, that doesnt mean back in the single market or customs union, but it does mean, genuinely, a closer economic relationship, finding practical ways to work more closely, create jobs and deliver economic growth, he said. Mr Starmer and the Taoiseach attended a business event at Liverpools Albert Dock on Thursday. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a business roundtable at Liverpool docks, in the first in a new series of annual UK-Ireland Summits taking place in Britain. Phil Noble/PA Wire An Taoiseach said: Its an extremely important relationship for Ireland and when the UK economy does well, the Irish economy does well. So as far as we are concerned this is a joint effort and endeavour and in that context, as Ive said to the prime minister, anything we can do to facilitate greater harmony and access to the EU markets the better in terms of goods and services. Or, to put it another way, reduce barriers if thats possible. The two countries are expected to agree a wide-ranging programme of new and enhanced strategic co-operation between Ireland and the UK, entitled UK-Ireland 2030, to be taken forward by both governments through to 2030. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin ahead of a business roundtable at Liverpool docks, in the first in a new series of annual UK-Ireland Summits taking place in Britain. Phil Noble/PA Wire This will include closer collaboration on energy, with a new data-sharing programme to enable commercial developers to increase offshore production. Mr Martin said: Were all in a hurry in terms of the climate change agenda, in terms of the green economy. Irelands big push is on offshore renewables over the next number of years, we need a bit more know-how on that. As part of the summit, Ireland has announced new investments into the UK worth 185.5 million, which could create more than 2,500 jobs across the country. On Wednesday Mr Starmer and Mr Martin co-hosted a reception to celebrate cultural links between the UK and Ireland. The Taoiseach has said he is open to sending Irish troops to Ukraine to keep the peace if a ceasefire deal is struck. However, Micheal Martin has insisted that Irelands troops will not be part of a deterrence force in any Ukraine peace plan. Mr Martin is in Liverpool to attend the UK-Ireland summit, where he will discuss the Ukraine war with UK prime minister Keir Starmer today. Last week, Mr Starmer announced that the UK and France, with other EU nations, would form a coalition of the willing and work towards a peace plan for Ukraine. The Taoiseach praised Mr Starmer for his approach and said Ireland would be open to being involved as a peacekeeping force. I think Keir Starmer is leading well in terms of working with the EU and other leading European states to try and deal with this situation, Mr Martin said. We've made it clear that if a ceasefire develops or if there's a cessation of hostilities, Ireland has always been open to peacekeeping, but we wouldn't be part of a deterrent force. We are open to any invitation to participate in genuine peacekeeping and to ensure that any cessation of hostilities can lead to a durable and sustainable peace, because any peace in Ukraine has to be durable. Taoiseach Micheal Martin will meet US president Donald Trump in Washington next week The Taoiseachs comments came after Tanaiste Simon Harris secured Cabinet approval to amend Irelands triple lock, which would mean the Government no longer requires a UN mandate to deploy Irish troops on a peacekeeping mission. Mr Martin defended the move in the Dail this week, by saying that Russia could not be allowed any control over Irish affairs. We dont want countries like Russia, in particular, vetoing or having the ultimate decision as to whether Ireland should send its military on a peacekeeping mission, he said. Given the behaviour of Russia over a decade, but particularly in the last three years, I think its incomprehensible that we would allow Russia to have a veto. A bill to enact the changes will be sent for pre-legislative scrutiny as soon as a dedicated Dail committee on security and defence is formed. This is currently blocked due to the Dails ongoing row over speaking rights. Mr Martin also said he disagreed with comments made by Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill, in relation to a missiles contract for Ukraine. Ms ONeill said it was incredible that the Thales factory in Belfast had been contracted to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine. I can understand why the orders were placed, and in my view we don't live in an ideal world, but certainly one has to have capability to defend your country, the Taoiseach said. I wouldn't agree with the First Minister. Nobody likes the utilisation of weapons, I certainly don't. All my life I've been on the peace side of the equation. But again, it's Russia that illegally invaded Ukraine three years ago. That's the reality. And 10pc of Russian national income was being spent on militarisation. People are afraid of that. Mr Martin said last night that he would engage in a respectful manner during his meeting with Donald Trump in Washington next week. He said he didnt plan to ask the UK prime minister for advice, following his own meeting with Mr Trump last week, but said his engagements in Washington will be respectful. There is renewed focus on next weeks meeting between the two leaders after the unprecedented clash between President Trump and Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last week. Days later, the US announced it would withdraw military support to Ukraine. I won't be seeking advice. I've met quite a number of people, but we will obviously discuss the issues of the day. We'll discuss the situation in Ukraine, and the geopolitical situation more generally, the Taoiseach said. In respect of any other meetings I have this week or next week in the US and elsewhere, people come to the table with different perspectives. I respect people. I respect the offices that people hold, and I'm honoured to be invited to the White House as an Irish Taoiseach. Mr Martin said he would put Irelands perspectives forward during his meeting and that it was important to protect the country's economic interests. We will engage in a respectful manner. We will put our perspectives forward. No doubt, President Trump has his views and perspectives as well, the Taoiseach said. The important thing is to engage and reflect on that relationship today and to make sure we can protect Irish economic interests and also point out then how significant Irish investment is in the United States. The US president is likely to target EU countries for tariffs following on from his trade war with Canada and Mexico. Mediahuis Ireland has received three nominations in the 2025 International News Media Association (INMA) Global Media Awards. The Irish Independents Indo Sport podcast, which is presented by Joe Molloy, has been nominated in the Best New Audio/Voice Product or Feature category. After around a year of planning, Indo Sports first episode was released last September and it has already gone on to become a major player in the Irish podcast market in a short time. The Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life received a nomination in the regional brands section for Best Use of an Event to Build a News Brand category for the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards. The event was launched to honour ordinary people doing extraordinary things in every community across Northern Ireland. In June 2024, Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly were in attendance to honour the winners and nominees. In the Best Idea to Grow Advertising Sales category, Mediahuis Ireland was nominated for its development of RECLICK, a first-party data retargeting product for a future without third-party cookies. Last April, the Irish Independents regional news coverage and podcast and advertising offerings were recognised by the INMA. The Global Media Awards are an unparalleled showcase of groundbreaking insights and experiments, illuminating the path the news industry is taking to captivate new audiences while keeping them both informed and inspired, INMA CEO and executive director Earl J Wilkinson said. This years awards entries reveal where our news media network is heading pioneering strategies to position their news brands, engage diverse audiences and continuously innovate the ways they connect all while staying true to the heart of their brands and the communities they serve. INMA is incredibly proud of the exceptional 2025 finalists and eagerly awaits celebrating the winners this May in New York. Now in their 88th year, the INMA Global Media Awards recognise excellence in the news media industry. There were 839 entries to this years awards from 286 news media brands across 49 countries. Finalists in the 20 categories came from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America and South Asia. India led the way with 22 finalists, followed by Norway (21), the US (20), Germany (17), Sweden (15), Australia (10) and Brazil (nine). Winners of the 2025 INMA Global Media Awards will be announced during the World Congress of News Media in New York on Thursday, May 22. In his new book, former meth addict Dr Adi Jaffe combines traditional 12-Step methods with more contemporary tools Before he got his PhD in psychology from UCLA, Dr Adi Jaffe used to be a moderately successful drug dealer in Los Angeles, albeit hopelessly addicted to his own supply until one day a SWAT team broke into his apartment and carted him off to jail. He is, he tells me from a hotel room in San Francisco, a nine-times convicted felon. His drug of choice was eight balls of meth. There is nothing more perilous than offering a conciliatory gesture to Donald Trump. Barely 24 hours after Volodymyr Zelensky tried to placate the White House by hailing the US presidents strong leadership and proposing an immediate truce at sea and in the air, the US responded by suspending Ukraines access to intelligence yesterday. Israeli and Palestinian production is highlighting issue of forced evictions in the occupied territory The Oscars are inseparable from politics, much to the annoyance of the organisers who surely fear nothing more than acceptance speeches that go off-script. Just three days before the 2003 Academy Awards, the United States and its allies invaded Iraq. As war loomed, defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld said: I cant tell you if the use of force in Iraq today would last five days or five weeks or five months. But it certainly isnt going to last any longer than that. Frank Coughlan: Neutrality made sense in 1939, but its a luxury we can't afford in 2025 Trumps treatment of Ukrainian president made it clear that Ireland shouldnt sit on the fence Members of the 124th Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock in Debel, Lebanon. Photo: Arthur Carron Frank Coughlan Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 03:30 The dogs in the street pricked up their ears and the man who lives under a rock felt the earth tremble. Most of the rest of us, glued to our televisions, simply looked on in grim horror as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was bullied and humiliated in the White House by two shameless inadequates not fit to hold his coat. Maire Treasa Ni Cheallaigh: Mothers workplace conditions must change better paternity leave would be a start We are expected to work like we dont have children and to mother like we dont have a job Women who work, look after their children and carry out household tasks are at the point of exhaustion. Photo: Getty Maire Treasa Ni Cheallaigh Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 03:30 A leaked memo published recently in the New York Times, allegedly from one of the co-founders of Google, claimed a 60-hour work week is the sweet spot for productivity. Construction of homes is way behind demand. Photo: Getty We currently face an unprecedented housing crisis, marked by record numbers of individuals in emergency accommodation and tens of thousands of young men and women stranded in their parents homes. With that in mind, the decision by Dublin City Council to deny permission for 265 build-to-sell apartments and 19 houses in Terenure, south Dublin, is a profound failure of local governance. This decision contrasts starkly with the Governments stated goals. The primary reason cited for the refusal was an insufficient number of parking spaces, yet it is well established that national policy is actively promoting a transition from reliance on private vehicles to public transport. This misalignment between local decision-making and national objectives is not only troubling, it is detrimental to our communities and citizens. Moreover, Ireland faces significant fines for breaching its climate targets a reality that seems to have been overlooked by the decision-makers involved in the Terenure project. The proposed development would have been well served by BusConnects, offering a peak frequency of buses every two to five minutes. This infrastructure improvement underscores the urgency of advancing such developments, particularly in light of our climate commitments. In the interim, an entire generation is suffering, facing homelessness, burdened by exorbitant rents or stuck in their parents homes while the Government allocates taxpayer money to developers. Local councils, meanwhile, appear to adopt a Luddite stance to housing solutions, hindering progress at a critical juncture. It is imperative that we align local decisions with national policies to address this crisis. Thomas OConnor, Crumlin, Dublin 12 Europe must make use of any Russian down time by strengthening its hand Your recent editorial suggested Europe must plan a path ahead in uncertain times (Europe must find its way amid Trump and Putin manoeuvring, March 4). The headline would perhaps benefit from the inclusion of the word own, leaving it to read Europe must find its own way.... For too long, Europe has relied on the US. It is time for it to stand on its own feet. Requests for a backstop guarantee from the US in relation to Ukraine or the rest of Europe is short-termism and a sign of weakness. Russia is weakened from the war in Ukraine, though emboldened by its new friend in the White House. Regardless of any momentary Russian jubilation, there has to be residual mistrust in the Kremlin towards capitalist Trump and the US. Moscow will welcome the peacetime space, but only to regroup. It is unlikely to be making any additional predatory moves in the near future. It must first rebuild its economy and boost its military. Europe, through its own economic might, will hopefully in time be in a far better position. Americas decision to isolate itself from allies, given its enemies around the globe, is foolhardy. A time will come again when the US comes calling for its coalition of allies. Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18 Unsavoury White House treatment of Zelensky may have been all planned out Marjorie Taylor Greene is a Republican far-right politician and well-known devotee of Donald Trump. It has been revealed that the reporter who confronted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky about not wearing a suit in the White House last week was Brian Glenn the same Brian Glenn who happens to be Greenes boyfriend. It has been suggested that while this question was being asked, Trump gave a wink to Glenn. This adds credence to the belief that the Trump-Zelensky clash was a planned mugging. John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary US plays into Putin hands with distortion of reality and withdrawal of aid Some people have tried to portray Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as the antagonist in last Fridays Oval Office row. Such suggestions are both deceptive and troubling (Making Zelensky the villain of the piece is a deception too far, Editorial, March 5). The Trump administrations decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine, coupled with vice-president JD Vances accusations of ingratitude, reflects a coercive approach rather than genuine diplomacy. This tactic undermines Ukraines sovereignty and resilience against Russian aggression. Accusing Zelensky of prolonging the war for defending his nation is a perverse distortion of reality. Such narratives dangerously align with Moscows ambitions to erase Ukraine. Compounding this, influential figures like Elon Musk and senator Mike Lee have advocated for US withdrawal from Nato and the UN, jeopardising the stability of Western alliances. These developments embolden adversaries like Russian president Vladimir Putin, who perceives a weakening of collective defence mechanisms. As Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen noted, freezing military aid to Ukraine effectively opens the door for Putin to escalate his aggression. It is imperative that Europe recognises these shifts and fortifies its defences. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Wealthy pals most likely to benefit from Musks discovery of fraud money US president Donald Trump reports that his special acolyte Elon Musk has, in record time, found hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud in US government circles. Imagine the great tax refunds the wealthy will soon receive. No doubt President Trump will now receive many nominations, ranging from the Lenin Peace Prize to the Nobel Peace Prize. A knighthood may also come from his fellow regent, Britains King Charles, for his plain speaking and common sense. Sadly, Pope Francis isnt well enough to award him a papal medal for honesty and integrity. Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia Procrastination Week seems a good time to put plans on the long finger I cant wait to read Enda Cullens upcoming letter about National Procrastination Week, which falls next week. I hope to get around to it at some stage in the near future. Peter Declan OHalloran, Belturbet, Co Cavan Whats are the benefits of 6G? Are the Chinese phone brands flooding the market any good? And whats different about the new iPad Air? Producer, JJ Clarke, joined Adrian on this weeks episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss the latest tech news. Adrian spent two days this week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The event focuses on AI, security, smartphones and next generation technology. What Adrian noticed at the conference among the big operators was the lack of discussion around 6G. The tech editor thinks that the reason for this is how big of a flop 5G network technology was and the inability for network providers to articulate use cases for both 5G and 6G. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. Labours Laura Harmon says citizens living abroad should be allowed to vote in Presidential elections A Cork senator says Ireland lags behind over 100 other countries worldwide, in not providing a service for citizens who are abroad to cast their vote in elections and referendums. Senator Laura Harmon highlighted the issue in the Seanad this week, calling on the Government to finally implement a move to allow Irish citizens to vote abroad in Presidential Elections, which was passed by the Constitutional Convention more than a decade ago. Were quite an outlier in terms of modern democracies in that we dont allow voting rights for our citizens abroad, newly elected Senator Harmon said. There are over 115 countries across the world that would give voting rights to their citizens abroad in some capacity, whether it be presidential elections or parliament elections. This was promised by the then-government in 2017, and the intention at the time was to hold it at the same time as the local election in 2019, so that you would have a referendum on that day of whether citizens abroad would be able to vote in presidential elections, but that was shelved because of Brexit, and the need to address the challenges around that. Since then, it hasnt been on the political agenda, even though we had the constitutional convention in 2013, and the members voted overwhelmingly 78% that we extend the franchise for citizens living abroad. Im asking for it to be put back on the agenda, its disappointing that its not in the programme for Government. We had a debate in the Seanad yesterday on the diaspora, and we had the Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond in, and he said that they would review it. I think the concern from Government is that, given they didnt win the referendum last year (on family and care), they want to be confident that they will win a referendum if they put it to the people. I do think theres a lot of support for this, it is a very meaningful thing to offer voting rights for citizens abroad, but the first step is for it to be voted through on a referendum, and then we need to legislate it. Currently, the only non-resident voters in Ireland allowed to vote are those serving abroad such as members of the Defence Forces and diplomats (and spouses), while countries such as France, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States all give citizens abroad rights to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections. Harmon says that there is still a potential to limit the rights to those who have lived in Ireland within a certain period of time 15 years in the UK, as an example but that the presidential elections, and in future more votes, need to be made available to those with an Irish passport who arent able to return home to cast their vote. The President of Ireland represents all Irish people, not just those living at home, and I think it would be a meaningful way to engage with them. This debate has been going on since the 90s, and theres campaign groups abroad who have also been calling for this as well. I think its a missed opportunity that this isnt going to be available for the presidential election this year, so it will obviously be a while before anyone would be able to vote, but its something that needs to be put on the political agenda. The only exception to the rule is the house in which Harmon currently serves. Six senators in Seanad Eireann are voted by graduates that are worldwide, but the Cork woman wants to see more done to extend the right to vote to more who are currently based outside of the country, including a younger generation who are currently working abroad, but will not be staying long enough to be granted permanent residency. Theyre missing out on the opportunity to vote. Currently, as it stands, if youre living outside the country for less than 18 months you can physically return to vote, and we saw that for the Marriage Equality referendums. I do believe that can be changed to extend the time period through legislation, but still youre asking them to physically return home to cast their vote. The 2018 Presidential Election where Michael D Higgins secured his first-term in a landslide victory saw the lowest ever turnout in a presidential vote. Just 43.87% turned out seven years ago, while just 44.36% went to the ballot for the most recent referendum in March. The reality is that voter turnout needs to be higher in our elections. Its alarming when we see turnout for some of our elections here in Ireland thats showing that maybe only half the population are turning out to vote in some constituencies. There are over 26 European countries that allow for some voting from abroad, and weve got Irish embassies and consulates all over the world, so I dont see why people cant vote from there. If 115 countries across the world can do it, I dont see why it couldnt be possible. A 325 million funding package has been approved by the government for 2025 to help local authorities, including Cork County Council, purchase homes from landlords looking to sell, ensuring tenants at risk of homelessness can remain in their homes. Earlier this week, Cabinet approved an additional 265m capital funding in 2025 for the Second Hand Acquisitions Programme. 60m had already been allocated under Housing for All. This will bring the total funding this year to 325m. The scheme is designed to buy homes from landlords looking to sell, where the tenant was at risk of entering emergency accommodation. This increased funding will allow for a significant programme of acquisitions in 2025 for priority categories of need such as: Tenant in Situ acquisitions, older persons and persons with a disability, exits from emergency accommodation and buy and renew acquisitions which tackle vacancy. The introduction of mandatory eligibility criteria for tenant in situ acquisitions for 2025 will ensure that the priority categories of need outlined above can benefit fairly from the second hand acquisitions programme and that the funding available will be targeted at those most in need. Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul OShea has welcomed the move, highlighting its critical role in tackling housing insecurity in Cork County and beyond. This important scheme allows local authorities to purchase homes lived in by tenants owned by a landlord who wants to sell the property. Deputy OShea continued: Tenant in Situ acquisitions have helped prevent vulnerable households becoming homeless. There is a clear need to continue with such acquisitions into 2025 where it is the only option available to prevent exits from HAP and RAS supported tenancies in the private rental market into emergency accommodation. The introduction of mandatory eligibility criteria for the scheme will also prioritise families in need, persons with a disability and older people. This is further evidence of the government doing all that it can to support people from entering emergency accommodation added Deputy OShea. The greenway will incorporate the iconic Carrigabrick Viaduct over the River Blackwater in Fermoy The proposed Mallow to Dungarvan Greenway project is being destroyed by this government a Cork TD has claimed. Labour Party TD for Cork North Central Eoghan Kenny expressed his disappointment at the absolute measly 50,000 which was recently allocated in funding by government towards the Mallow to Dungarvan Greenway. This is a disgraceful amount of money and a kick in the teeth to the people of north Cork and those on Cork County Council who have worked extremely hard on this project to date. This announcement has basically brought this project to almost conclusion. 50,000 wouldnt get you anything, said Deputy Kenny. Thats the reality of it. When you compare this 50,000 to the 1.2 million towards the West Cork Greenway, 650,000 for the South Cork Greenway and the 500,000 for the Midleton to Youghal Greenway, this 50,000 is measly. Deputy Kenny said this government has absolutely no intention of supporting any projects in North Cork and delivering services and infrastructure for the people that he represents. That has been very evident since the beginning of this new Dail term. The people of Mallow, Dungarvan and everywhere in between genuinely showed great interest in this project. How could we possibly encourage individuals and families to be using greenways if we arent even going to support projects of such nature, he added. The greenway is scheduled to incorporate a compelling 77.35km stretch of scenic countryside which, in its journey from Mallow to Fermoy and onto Dungarvan, would run alongside the Blackwater River. This route incorporates some stunning scenery owing to the breadth of the river and viaduct crossings at key landmark locations. Separately councillors at a recent Northern Committee were provided with an update on the proposed Mallow to Dungarvan Greenway. The report presented by senior officials with Cork County Council stated: The project is currently being reviewed against current and updated Government policy, including but not limited to the National Planning Framework, NIFTI, Sustainable Mobility, TII NR2040, TII Cycle Network and NTA CycleConnects. The outcome of this review will inform the next steps for this project. Patients in Cork can now access all their health information in a new HSE App. The recent launch of the new HSE Health App gives Cork patients easy digital access to their health information and helps them navigate the health service more easily. Anyone aged 16 and over can download the app for free from Google Play or the App Store. The new app will allow users to do a range of activities including carrying a digital list of self-declared medications, storing their medical cards (Drugs Payment Scheme card and GP visit card) and accessing flu and Covid-19 vaccination records. Expectant mothers can also view maternity service appointments. The app was recently launched by the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and it is now available for download on Google Play and the App Store. Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul O'Shea welcomed the launch of the app. It is a game-changer in how people in Cork will engage with their health information, offering a seamless and secure way to access key health services and personal records at their fingertips. Deputy OShea continued: The HSE Health App is a great start, giving each person access to their health information and it will continue to improve, with ongoing updates in 2025. These will include access to public hospital and screening appointments for public patients, as well as new self-care tools for quitting smoking and managing chronic conditions, he added. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the app is just the beginning. We are committed to expanding its capabilities to give people better access, control and convenience in managing their health. By embracing technology we are making healthcare more accessible for everyone. The HSE Health App is free to download from the HSE website, Google Play and the App Store by searching HSE Health. It is available in both Irish and English, with step-by-step guidance provided for easy setup. A motion has been submitted to the next Cork City Council meeting calling for the annual ethics declarations made by councillors to be made publicly available on the Councils official website. Sinn Fein councillor for Cork City South West Joe Lynch has submitted a motion to Cork City Council calling for the annual ethics declarations made by councillors which detail interests in land and property, as well as business dealings and directorships to be made publicly available on the Council's website. The text of the motion submitted to Cork City Council reads as follows: That Cork City Council shall publish the annual ethics decelerations made by councillors on its website no later than one month following the deadline for their submission for example on or before March 31 annually. Cllr Lynch said: "As councillors, we file a return with Cork City Council every year setting out declarable interests as part of the ethics framework for local authority members set out in the Local Government Acts. "This transparency is very important, said Cllr Lynch. These returns are public documents, insofar as a public register of returns is available for inspection at City Hall in paper format, however it is rarely accessed. "A large number of local authorities have taken to publishing these returns on their websites, including Dublin's four local Councils, Galway City Council, Kerry County Council and Tipperary County Council to name a few, he added. Cllr Lynch said Cork City Council is lagging behind in this regard. It is time we made the register of declarable interests for councillors more accessible to the public who are our employers and who we serve." The funeral of a young Donegal man who was killed in a tragic crash along with his friend has heard he was a hardworking man who was always willing to lend a helping hand to others. Jamie Diver, who was aged in his 20s, and his friend Shaun McClafferty (17), were killed when a car they were travelling in collided with the gable wall of a house in the townland of Baltoney, just outside Gortahork, just before 9.30pm on Friday night, February 28. Both men were from Baltoney and were past pupils of PCC Falcarragh. Two other passengers in the car were also seriously injured and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital. One of those young men has since been transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for further treatment. A large crowd of family, friends, work colleagues and neighbours attended Mr Divers funeral mass at Christ the King Church in Gortahork on Wednesday morning. Mr McClaffertys funeral will be held in the same church on Thursday. The mass was led by the Parish Priest in Gortahork, Fr Donnachadh OBaoill and was concelebrated by Fr John Joe Duffy, Fr Brian OFearraigh, Fr Martin Doohan, Fr Sean O'Gallchoir and Monsignor Kevin Gillespie. A number of Mr Divers friends wearing white shirts and black ties brought forward symbols representing the important things in his life including an Errigal Motors hat symbolising his work while a tea cup was presented to show his love of tea. Symbolising his love of working with cars, a spanner and car buffer were brought forward to the alter. Jamie Diver. During the homily, Fr OBaoill said Mr Diver was a young man who was always ready to lend a helping hand to others. As we remember Jamie, his work and his short life, there are some beautiful things I have heard about him and how he always wanted to help others. For a long time, he wished to become a fire fighter and he wanted to help and save others a noble cause. I know we talked about his girlfriends but I am sorry to say he had no time for girlfriends. It is not that he didnt like you or love you, but his work took priority. He wanted to help others and never refused anyone any help he could give with regards to buffing cars or fixing the cars. Even that unfortunate night a few nights ago, it was probable that they were fixing or trying out some fault in the car. They tell me he was a bit of a perfectionist if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well and I think we could associate Jamie with that motto everything had to be perfect, said Fr OBaoill. The congregation heard of Mr Divers close relationship with Ciaran Gallagher of Errigal Motors and how he developed an interest in working with cars at a young age while he was still at school. From there, he developed an interest in all things cars and in recent years, he developed his own business in Baltoney. There will be less noise about Baltoney now. He was heard there working late at night and possibly early mornings. He will be missed, said Fr OBaoill. Fr OBaoill also remembered the fatal crash in Magheraroarty in which four young local men lost their lives in 2019. There are many people here from the surrounding parishes that have broken hearts and are remembering their own loved ones. It was only six years ago - a little time passed there when we had their anniversaries. Fine lads, as indeed were Jamie and Shaun Martin. And, please God Josh and Darragh will be with us again, said Fr OBaoill. Fr OBaoill said young people are the most important riches in any community and there are no valuables of any kind that compares to the young people. Speaking to the many young people at the service, Fr OBaoill said, You are our future, our life and your families especially love you very much we all do. But you do have choices. That choice of always turning towards God and that is not a yearly thing or every couple of years, that is a choice we make every day, said Fr OBaoill. Fr OBaoill said the tragic loss of such a young life had proven that life is incredibly fragile. If you have left us anything Jamie, you have told us in explicit language, in plain language that we are very frail, very fragile. We need someones protection and above all we need Gods protection. Your death reminds us of the importance and greatness of life. That we have the one chance and the one opportunity why not use that opportunity to be the best that I can be, said Fr OBaoill. Speaking of the two young men in hospital, Fr OBaoill said the communities thoughts and prayers are with the two young men and their recovery. We remember Josh Scanlon and Darragh Lynch. They will be going through their own purgatory and their own pain both in body and thinking about what happened, and off course their families. "It is a cross they will have to carry. We cannot forget something like this. It is probably a big turning point in many of our lives but it can be a turning point towards good. Why did God allow these things? We dont know. But what can we learn about these things? Are there any positives? And there are things. There are good things that come from it. It tells us that, as Fr Brian himself said on the night of the crash, it shows us how fragile we are and how true that is, said Fr OBaoill. In conclusion, Fr OBaoill said, Jamie, you left us too soon but we are thankful and we are better people for knowing you and for you being with us especially all of your family and friends, said Fr OBaoill. Mr Divers remains were taken from the church to the adjacent cemetery for burial. Mr Divers funeral notice reads, Predeceased by his grandparents Jimmy and Rose McGee and Nora Diver. Follow Independent Donegal on Facebook "Sadly missed by his heartbroken parents Roise and Damien, his brothers Ryan and Niamh and Keith, his nephew Charlie, his uncle Kevin and Amanda, his cousins Eibhlin and Neil and a circle of friends. The crowd will gather again on Thursday morning in Gortahork to bid farewell to Shaun McClafferty who also lost his life in the devastating crash. Kerry Rose Emer Dineen pictured on stage at the Kerry Sports Academy, MTU with Daithi OSe during the Rose of Tralee International Festival TV Rose Selection night in August of last year. Photo by Domnick Walsh. Kerry Rose Emer Dineen pictured on stage at the Kerry Sports Academy, MTU with Daithi OSe during the Rose of Tralee International Festival TV Rose Selection night last year. Photo by Domnick Walsh. It seems just yesterday that we were watching current Kerry Rose Emer Dineen teaching Daithi O Se how to do a cheer routine on stage at last years Rose of Tralee selection night in the MTU and now suddenly, we find ourselves putting the call out to find someone to take Emers place and become the new Kerry Rose. Castlegregory native Emer has been a fine ambassador for the county and has enjoyed a wonderful adventure to date but she will soon hand over the famous sash to someone else who will then find themselves taking on the task of making it a home win at Augusts Rose of Tralee International Festival. The launch of the search campaign took place at the Heights Hotel in Killarney a month ago and with applicant numbers totting up quickly, the hopefuls of Kerry are encouraged to act fast if they want to throw their names in the hat for 2025. Organisers are looking for women aged between 18 and 29 to enter. An official information night for the selection process will take place in the Heights Hotel in Killarney on the night of March 23 and organisers said that they would advise anyone thinking about coming along to get in touch and they will give them all the details. The Kerry Rose selection night will take place on Saturday, May 3 in the Heights Hotel. Encouraging Rose applicants hoping to take part this year to really make the most of and enjoy the experience, Emer waxed lyrical about how the past year has been for her: "My time as the Kerry Rose has been nothing short of amazing. It has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Im so fortunate to have been chosen as the Kerry Rose last May. Since then, I have done so much and there have been so many great memories that its hard to sum it all up in a few words, she said. From sending in my initial application to the fabulously overwhelming experience of hearing my name being called out that night in the Heights Hotel, all of the local appearances, the tour of Ireland and landing in Tralee as the local Rose, meeting new people and forming friends for life - Its been a surreal experience that has changed my life! I have travelled near and far, to counties all over Ireland and across the globe to Frankfurt, Poland, and very soon to New York for St Patricks Day. It will be bittersweet for me come the 3rd of May as I have loved every minute of it, but I am so excited to meet all the new Kerry Rose entrants and for the amazing experience theyre about to enjoy, she continued. Suzan OGara, the Kerry Rose Centre Coordinator, echoed Emers sentiments: The Rose of Tralee International Festival is the most incredible experience, and I would encourage as many young women as possible to take part. I guarantee them they will make great friends and have an amazing experience. "Many people think that the Rose of Tralee Festival is just one week long, or that applying to the local event is just one night out, and they dont realise that the Roses and Rose Escorts have so many incredible experiences throughout the whole year. So, if that sounds like something youd be interested in, Id really encourage you to apply, and soon before time runs out for 2025. Applications can be done through the link here: https://roseoftralee.ie/apply-to-be-a-rose/ Works to begin on the redevelopment of Bray Head on Valentia Island. Work is to begin on the redevelopment of Bray Head Viewing Tower on Valentia Island. Kerry County Council has confirmed that they will begin work on a major tourism project along the Wild Atlantic Way next week. The latest Kerry tourism project is the renovation and redevelopment of Bray Head Signature Discovery Point on Valentia island. Works will take place for the duration of seven months, the local authority has confirmed and the current tower and enclosure will not be accessible during this time. The works will include the development of a rooftop viewing deck as well as a ground level viewing point known as a Ha Ha viewing point. Works will also include the installation of the new concrete spiral staircase as well as the rebuilding of the existing stone boundary walls incorporating Valentia Slate Slabs and the stabilisation of the existing tower building. Works will also take place on the car park. The works are funded by Failte Ireland and will be carried by Eamon Costello Ltd. The designs were undertaken by Tom DePaor of DePaor Architects. An online briefing from Failte Ireland to over 1000 tourism industry operators, providers, and employers from across the Wild Atlantic Way outlined the plans and priorities for the region in 2025. A robust programme of initiatives is at the heart of these plans, designed to support tourism businesses across the Wild Atlantic Way region in driving revenue and maintaining competitiveness, ensuring the continued growth and sustainability of its tourism industry. Key priorities in 2025 will focus on developing and opening new and enhanced capital projects which includes Bray Head in Kerry. Failte Ireland the focus is also on the continued sustainable development of the region, protecting and enhancing the uniqueness of the Wild Atlantic Way and delivering a robust range of practical supports to help tourism businesses tackle some of the immediate challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Cllr Tommy Cahill (FF) has welcomed the plans for Bray Head describing it as a hidden gem in Kerry. Bray Head is a spectacular viewing point on Valentia that is easily accessible and where Skellig Michael seems to be nearly within your grasp. It is a lovely stroll from the car park to the Tower, where you are well rewarded with spectacular scenery, said Cllr Cahill. Bray Tower has probably been one of the hidden gems along the Ring of Kerry, but Im sure that following this investment, many more people will flock there to enjoy its peace and beauty, added Councillor Cahill. A man has been arrested in Limerick after 1.5kg of cocaine worth an estimated 105,000 was seized in the city. As part of ongoing operations targeting the sale and supply of drugs in Limerick, gardai attached to the Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by members of the Armed Support Unit carried out a search of a house in the Shelbourne Road area of Limerick city on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. During the search, gardai found and seized approximately 1.5kg of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of 105,000. The drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis. A man in his 30s was arrested in relation to the subsequent investigation and conveyed to a garda station in Limerick city. A garda spokesperson said: He is currently being detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. The investigation is ongoing. Support for eating disorders, which impact as many as one in four women, must be prioritised in the long-overdue EU Mental Health Strategy, MEP Maria Walsh has said. To mark Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Midlands North West MEP Walsh hosted an event in the European Parliament this week on eating disorders and mental health, and the role the EU can play in preventing and treating illnesses. MEP Walsh welcomed two Irish speakers to present at the event; Clodagh Dowling, Director of Psychology at St. Patrick's University Hospital, and Harriet Parsons, Interim CEO at Bodywhys, the Eating Disorder Association of Ireland. MEP Walsh is a founder of the European Parliaments first ever Mental Health intergroup. She said: Eating disorders are a plague on the lives of women and girls across Ireland, and the EU has a significant role to play in helping to combat the havoc they wreck on peoples physical and mental wellbeing. As many as one in four women in the EU will be impacted by anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, with the prevalence of these disorders sadly on the rise. Due to the nature of eating disorders, reliable statistics are difficult to find. However, it is estimated that over 188,000 people in Ireland experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives. During the event I hosted in the European Parliament this week on eating disorders, I was delighted to hear from two Irish experts, Clodagh Dowling and Harriet Parsons. They brought the lived experiences of Irish men and women directly to EU lawmakers, ensuring their voices were represented at the decision-making table. I have been working towards the creation of an EU Mental Health Strategy for several years, and today I am calling on the European Commission to ensure specific attention is given to eating disorders within this plan - including action on access to care, education, research, and funding. Caring for individuals with eating disorders must form a key component of the long-overdue Strategy. Follow Independent Leitrim on Facebook Crucially, supports for mental health and eating disorders must be prioritised in the EU budget. I am calling for dedicated funding for mental health initiatives to be included in the EUs next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Without adequate funding, we cannot expect anything to truly change for those suffering the most. I will be working with the Commission here in Brussels, as well as Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister of State Mary Butler in Ireland, to ensure that individuals struggling with an eating disorder are not silent victims. They have a voice, a voice which is being represented here in the heart of the European Union. Ransboro NS Fifth Class pupils who won Best Senior Project and Best Overall Project with Magnetic Cars. Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, was transformed into a hub of innovation and excitement on Thursday, February 27th, as over 500 primary school students gathered for the highly anticipated STEMtacular, powered by Analog Devices. Ransboro National School was the overall winner. The event, a dynamic showcase of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, brought together schools from across Leitrim, Roscommon, Cavan, Longford, Sligo, Mayo, and Fermanagh. Students from these regions presented their own STEM projects, tackling a wide range of intriguing questions. Their projects delved into issues such as: Does warming up before sport improve performance? Does living on a farm lead to a healthier lifestyle? Does toast always land butter side down? And, perhaps most controversially, is cracking your fingers bad for you? Each group was eager to explain their findings to a panel of esteemed judges from both industry and education, who engaged with the students, asking insightful questions and offering encouragement. While the students research projects were at the heart of the event, STEMtacular had much more to offer. The Discovery Zone, an interactive area filled with 20 fascinating exhibits, gave the young attendees the chance to engage directly with a variety of STEM fields. In the Discovery Zone, Analog Devices, the events primary sponsor set up an engaging series of interactive games that allowed students to explore different aspects of STEM in a fun and hands-on way. These games helped bring the world of technology and innovation to life, sparking curiosity and excitement in the young minds that participated. Some of the other highlights was Met Eireann, Irelands National Meteorological Service, who set up a green screen that allowed students to try their hand at weather presenting, offering a fun and educational experience in broadcasting. Meanwhile, Midlands Reptile Zoo brought an assortment of reptiles, giving the students a rare opportunity to learn about these fascinating creatures. Jaguar Land Rover contributed by bringing the inner rig of their state-of-the-art jeeps, where students explored the technology behind the vehicles design. The Marble Arch Caves set up an immersive Virtual Reality experience, enabling students to take a virtual tour of a cave, exploring its wonders without leaving the event. Other exciting exhibits included VEX Robotics, where students got the chance to engage with programmable robots and learn about robotics and engineering. Follow Independent Mayo on Facebook Armagh Observatory offered a glimpse into the wonders of space with hands-on activities focused on astronomy, while Geological Survey Ireland provided interactive experiences that helped students discover the science behind the Earths geological processes. These were just a few of the many interactive experiences available, as the Discovery Zone showcased how diverse and exciting the world of STEM can be. The event culminated in an awards ceremony, where students were recognised for their hard work and creativity. St. Pauls Castlerea emerged as the overall winning school, earning an exciting prize a trip to the University of Limericks Chemistry Department, where they will get to engage in some fun science experiments at one of Irelands top institutions. The overall winner of the Analog Devices award was the project Magnetic Cars, from Ransboro NS which stood out for its innovative approach and practical application. As the recipient of this prestigious award, the team will also receive an exciting prize from Analog Devices, further inspiring their passion for STEM. Award Winners: Analog Devices Best Overall Project: Magnetic Cars, Ransboro NS (Joe, Owen, Matty, Lean and Kyle). University of Limerick Best School: St Pauls BNS, Castlerea. AbbVie Senior 1st Place: Magnetic Cars, Ransboro NS (Joe, Owen, Matty , Lean and Kyle). AbbVie Senior 2nd Place: The Composters, St Patricks NS, Lough Gowna, Co. Cavan (Iarlaith Hartin, Tiegan Butler, Abigail OReilly, Ewan Ecceleston, Dearbhla Courtney). AbbVie Senior 3rd Place: Pain Tolerance, St Marys Aughnasheelin, Co. Leitrim (Amelia Prior, Rose Murray, Mary Tubman, Tia Duncan). Follow Independent Leitrim on Facebook Futurecast Intermediate 1st Place: An bhfuil baint ag do chluasa le cothromaiocht, Gaelscoil Liatrioma, Co. Leitrim (Sam, Laura, Darragh and Ella). Futurecast Intermediate 2nd Place: Warming up in Sport, Newtowngore, Co. Leitrim (Harry, Colin, Scott and Andrew). Futurecast Intermediate 3rd Place: Gaelscoil Liatroma, Co Leitrim AbbVie Special Class Award 1: St Michaels Special School, Co. Roscommon (Thomas Adcock, James Burbridge, Keelan Coyne). AbbVie Special Class Award 2: Scoil Mhuire Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim (Evan Harrington, Andrew Hegarty, Michael Tighe, Shea Holahan, Cormac OReilly) AbbVie Special Class Award 3: St Michaels Special School, Co. Roscommon (Rachel Moran, Vanessa Piko, Mariah Mongan). Follow Independent Roscommon on Facebook Institute of Physics Physics Award: How do you solve a Rubiks cube? Scoil Bridge Kilasonna, Co. Longford (Luca, Malachy, Sean and Sam). Leitrim Enterprise Sustainability Award: Pure Water, St Patricks NS Gowna, Co. Cavan Kyte Powertech Energy Award: Biogas Production, St Joesphs NS, Aughavas, Co. Leitrim Encirc Biodiversity Award: Plant Growth, St Josephs Aughavas, Co Leitrim Codex Display Award: Parish Turf Wars, St Hughs NS, Dowra, Co. Leitrim Follow Independent Cavan on Facebook Lean BPI Technology Award: A bridge through Time, St Hughs NS, Dowra Co. Leitrim Irish Agricultural Science Teachers Agricultural Award: St Patricks NS, Loch Gowna, Co. Cavan Engineers Ireland Engineering Award: How do aeroplanes fly? Clonown NS, Co. Roscommon Scifest Innovation Award: Local Honey, St Josephs, Aughavas, Co. Leitrim Priors PLM Medical Maths Award: Monty Hall Problem, St Marys Aughnasheelin, Co. Leitrim Northern & Western Regional Assembly As Gaeilge Award: An dteastaionn speaclai do gearr-radharcach no fadradharcach, Gaelscoil Liatroim, Co. Leitrim Follow Independent Longford on Facebook Intel Ireland Environmental Award: Biogas Production, St Josephs Aughavas, Co. Leitrim Expleo Best Communicator Award: Ciara O Neill, Clonown NS, Co. Roscommon Food Science Award: Do Luxury foods taste better? Kilasser NS, Swinford, Co. Mayo The Irish Cancer Society Fundraiser takes place on March 28 this year Sligo woman and breast cancer survivor, Clodagh Flynn from Knocknahur is calling on her local community to go all in against cancer for the Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day, which takes place on Friday, March 28. Reflecting on her cancer experience, Clodagh said: In November 2017, after being out on a sea swim, I found a lump in my breast and was later diagnosed with oestrogen positive breast cancer. I went through treatment surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. "During this time, my consultant noticed I was eligible for two research studies the Add Aspirin cancer trial, and another study called Ovarian Reserve, which aims to find out if a certain test, alters a doctors recommendation for chemotherapy. "I agreed to participate in both studies. This gave me access to a dedicated Research Nurse, which provided incredible support. I would encourage anybody to enquire about clinical trials, I had a really positive experience, and I was thankful to have an opportunity to take part. Donations raised on Daffodil Day go towards funding vital cancer research projects and clinical trials all around Ireland, helping find new ways to ensure that we have least risk of getting cancer, best treatment if we do, and most hope of thriving afterwards. I would encourage everyone to please get out there on Daffodil Day, March 28, and show your support for those affected by cancer in your local community. The Irish Cancer Society is there to ensure that every person affected by cancer has a place to turn to, the support they need and the hope that there will come a day when no one in Ireland dies from cancer. Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Irish public, the Irish Cancer Society invests in groundbreaking cancer research and delivers crucial free support services for people affected by cancer, throughout Sligo. In 2024, your generous support provided: Over 160 free lifts to bring Sligo-based cancer patients to their treatment Over 870 free counselling sessions to people living in Sligo 120 nights of free Night Nursing care to allow cancer patients in Sligo to die at home surrounded by loved ones In addition, Cancer Nurses had 155 conversations with people living in Sligo on our Support Line and in our Daffodil Centres. Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said: One in two of us will hear the words Youve got cancer in our lifetimes. There isnt a family in Ireland that hasnt felt the impact of a cancer diagnosis. Right now, a child is hearing the words Its cancer. A parent is holding on to hope for a treatment that hasnt been discovered yet. And a researcher has an idea that could turn that hope into reality. Your support on Daffodil Day fuels life changing cancer research and vital free services and supports. We really need this years Daffodil Day to be the biggest yet to ensure we can be there for those who need us most in 2025. And we cannot do this without you. Your generosity on March 28 means patients and their families will have free supports like Counselling, Transport to treatment and Night Nursing services. Every year, communities across Sligo show up and paint the town yellow in support of cancer patients and their families. Were urging you to stand with cancer patients once again, by going all in against cancer and getting involved or donating this Daffodil Day, March 28. Your generous support means everyone affected by cancer in Sligo will have access to the support they need, when they need it most. Two pain consultant posts still remain vacant at Sligo University Hospital - eight months on from when the doctors left. The clinic was closed in June last year when the two consultants providing the Chronic Pain service both moved to new roles in other hospitals. Councillor Declan Bree raised the issued at the Regional Health Forum West meeting saying he was extremely disappointed with the ongoing saga regarding the failure to date to fill the two vacant posts. It was the only public pain clinic in the North West. I am told today that the recruitment to fill these two vacant consultant posts is actively ongoing with permanent posts advertised and a closing date of 13th February last. Today, there are 153 inpatient and day case patients on the Waiting List for the Pain Clinic while that are 146 outpatients on the waiting list, said Cllr Bree. 106 of those outpatients are on the list for over a year. The HSE says a temporary consultant began in July 2024. Question: That the Forum be provided with an update on the Chronic Pain Service in Sligo University Hospital including details of the number of people on the hospitals chronic pain relief waiting list. Three Transition Year (TY) students from Sligo have completed a Solicitors of the Future programme organised by the Law Society of Ireland. Ethan Zoschke and Barbara Pszczola from Ballinode Community College, and Nora Komenczi, Mercy College, were three of 40 TY students that attended the popular week-long Solicitors of the Future programme at the Law Society in Dublin from 18 February to 21 February 2025. The programme aims to teach students about the law and to consider a future legal career. Facilitated by Law Society staff, trainee solicitors, and expert practitioners, the activity-based programme featured expert-led workshops, guest speakers, courtroom activities, a careers seminar and a mini mock trial. In total, 40 students from schools across 13 counties participated. President of the Law Society, Eamon Harrington, said, Solicitors of the Future encourages TY students to consider a career in law while offering an insight into the role of a solicitor in practice. The programme is carefully planned to give students a holistic understanding of a legal career, and the many different forms this can take. From human rights lawyers and newly qualified solicitor guest speakers to visits to corporate law firms and the Criminal Courts, students are given an overview of the wide range of avenues a career as a solicitor can take. Places on this years programme were allocated on a lottery basis, with 20% of places held for students from DEIS schools across the country. The programme also highlighted to students that there are many practical supports available to help you qualify as a solicitor, including financial grants such as the Law Societys Access Scholarship Programme. It doesnt matter where you come from or what your background, a career in law is open to everyone, he said. Pensioner Sean Meehan is appealing a four-month prison sentence imposed at Cashel District Court for not complying with a direction of Tipperary County Council to demolish a log cabin he built on his land. Mr Meehan, 67, of Woodinstown, New Inn, appeared before Judge Brian OShea on Thursday morning, in a prosecution for not complying with an order of Tipperary County Council in December 2022 directing him to demolish the structure which he built without planning permission. Warning: This story contains images which some readers may find distressing A dead dolphin was found washed up on Courtown beach recently before being thrown back into the sea. A local resident came across the animal in February and reported it to Courtown Seal Rescue and Wexford County Council. Stranding Officer Stephanie Levesque of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said it is currently unknown what this dolphin died of, but it appears that the dolphin was quite thin and may not have eaten in some time. The carcass of the stranded dolphin was thrown back into the sea several days after it was found. A dead dolphin washed up on a beach in north Wexford recently. Each year, quite a few dolphins are stranded in Wexford with 29 animals reported in 2024, including other species as well. Common dolphins are the most frequently stranded species in Ireland, with 193 animals reported in 2024. As the Stranding Officer for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), Stephanie Levesque receives all reports from the public on stranded animals, and immediately sends them on to their stranding network of volunteers in the area. If available, the volunteers will visit the animal to gather baseline data such as location, species, length, gender, and collect skin samples for the Irish Cetacean Genetic Tissue Bank which is maintained at the National Museum of Ireland Natural History. If a member of the public inquires about carcass disposal, Stephanie advises them to contact the local County Council to request its removal/burial if it is in an area where it poses a public health threat such as a busy beach. If its in a secluded area, it is recommended that the animal remain where it is and let nature take its course. It was an exciting weekend of competitions for piper, Jodi Fanthom, a member of New Ross and District Pipe Band, as she competed at the European Knockout Invitational Solo Piping Championships held in Ardmore, Co. Waterford. Jodi was the youngest of the four finalists in the knockout event and was the only female who got as far as the final knockout stage. At only 18 years of age, Jodi delivered a very mature six minute free-style medley of music that included jigs, airs, strathspeys, and hornpipes that were hugely entertaining to the large gathering of piping enthusiasts. The four finalists performed exceptionally well and the top prize of representing Ireland in the European final went to Gary Stephenson of Carrigaline Pipe Band. Jodis tutor, Brian Mac Mahon, commented on her participation and said: Im delighted with Jodis performance, as were the large group of New Ross supporters who went to cheer her on. Undeterred by the disappointment of not winning on Friday night, Jodi competed in the Adult March section of the Ardmore Cup solos on Saturday where she was adjudicated by two of the top pipers in Scotland, Willie McCallum and Euan Anderson, and she finished in second place after a very controlled and perfected performance. Wexford tourism is set to lose a strong advocate as it was officially confirmed that, native of the county Paul Kelly is to step down as CEO of Failte Ireland later this year. Having served in the role for eight years, Mr Kelly will depart Failte Ireland to take up a role as CEO of the RDS. In a brief statement, Ruth Andrews, Chairperson of the Failte Ireland Authority said: Paul Kelly has notified me of his intention to step down as CEO of Failte Ireland, and will leave the organisation later in the year. "Pauls contribution to the success of Failte Ireland over the past 8 years has been exceptional. I would like to thank him for his leadership and contribution to the sector, which leaves Failte Ireland and the tourism industry in a strong position and well primed for future success. We wish him all the best in his future career endeavours. The recruitment process to appoint a new CEO of Failte Ireland will begin in the coming weeks. Speaking of his appointment to the role at the RDS, Mr Kelly said that he is hugely excited by the opportunity. "The RDS has a highly prestigious past and huge future potential in its mission to inspire, enable and empower positive change in Ireland, and Im looking forward to contributing to this mission. Prior to his role at Failte Ireland, the Wexford man held senior positions at Aviva and ran his own strategy and marketing consultancy. He began his career at Procter & Gamble in the UK and then moved into senior roles at Diageo Ireland. In his home county, the departure of a Wexford man from the helm of Irelands tourism authority will be considered a loss. The model county has consistently fallen short of taking full advantage of its beautiful sandy beaches, history and other assets when it comes to attracting the levels of visitors enjoyed by the likes of Kilkenny, Kerry and Cork. This point was acknowledged by Mr Kelly as he addressed the crowd at last years successful Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, which saw up to 650,000 people in attendance over the course of a week. "Wexfords year-round offering to both international and domestic visitors is getting stronger and stronger all the time, he said at the time. But I have to be honest, there are still far too many overseas visitors that travel from Dublin to Kilkenny to Cork and miss out on this wonderful corner of Ireland. At the time, he gave a commitment that Failte Ireland would continue to work alongside Wexford County Council and local stakeholders to further increase Wexfords share of the tourism pie. Many in Wexford will be hoping that his successor shares Mr Kellys appetite. Almost 850,000 in district court fines remains unpaid in Co Wexford since 2020. The 847,124.39 is made up of 3,265 individual fines and has been described as a slap in the face to the victims of those crimes. Over 124,000 is still due in unpaid fines from 2020 alone in Wexford, with a further 362,000 due from 2021 and 2022. Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, a former barrister, has described the extraordinary amount of unpaid district court fines in the county as a slap in the face to the victims of their crimes and is calling for the issue of unpaid district court fines to be included in the upcoming review of the criminal justice system which was promised in the 2025 Programme for Government. What does this say to the victims who have been impacted by crimes such as drink driving, assault, theft, and shop lifting? the MEP asked. We are imposing fines that a percentage of criminals are choosing to ignore and it seems there is little we are doing about it. With national unpaid fines totalling 45m, Ni Mhurchu said it is now time to crack down on those who have yet to pay their fines. Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu. It is time for a get tough approach to those criminals who feel they are above the law. Our road deaths have been rising in Ireland for consecutive years. How can we expect any improvement in that scenario when those fined for traffic offences may choose not to pay the fine? Arguing that the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014, which came into force in 2016, is clearly not working when it comes to the recovery of most outstanding fines, Ni Mhurchu said that Act needs to used more aggressively. Clearly, the courts service is not implementing the measures set out in the 2014 Act. The Act allows measures up to and including taking someones social welfare or salary to pay the fines due. Is this being done? The courts service will say it takes time to collect fines but over 2.2m is still owing from 2020 and over 5.5m is still owing from 2021!. Ni Mhurchus figures show that 133,851 fines across the state have yet to be paid in full in our district court system. Akira Rose, Leah Rose, Jocelyn Sparrow, Isha Amogu and Saheli Mooglui pictured at the South Africa stand during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday. Pic: Jim Campbell Hanna Hearne and Alisa Krumpane with some traditional food from Latvia during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday. Pic: Jim Campbell Zinzile Mtetwa, Kristy Nyadenga Maenzanise and Kirsty Asanta Maenzanise were pictured at the Zimbabwe stand during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday. Pic: Jim Campbell Pictured at the Pakistan stand during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday were Aleaseya Furquan, Auj and Rayan Khan. Pic: Jim Campbell Pictured at the Russia stand during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday were Ariana O'Callaghan and Grace O'Leary. Pic: Jim Campbell Jane Babina, Alisa Buskova, Mariia Hereshenko and Natalya Zykia pictured in the Ukrainian colours during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday. Pic: Jim Campbell Tea Kurkutovic and Julia Barrett in the Croatian colours during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday. Pic: Jim Campbell Pictured in the colours of France during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday were Yosra Emhussein, Christina Molloy, Sophie Doyle, Marianne Toulet, Isabella Gondard and Abbie Bolger. Pic: Jim Campbell Flying the Canadian flag during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday were Roisin Reynolds and Mairead Alouf. Pic: Jim Campbell Ieva Sniezkaito, Jatoda Sneladowska, Ruby Kavanagh and Gabija Barnauskaite with some food from Lithuania during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday. Pic: Jim Campbell For the eighth year in a row the Wexford Loreto College has held a week of events designed to break down barriers and change stereotypes regarding other cultures. The centrepiece of its multicultural week was the fair held at the school last week which saw students from 20 different nations showcase all their culture has to offer. Featuring stalls with food and items from their homeland, the fair also saw students take part in a fashion show during which they wore their national dress on the catwalk. Teacher Michelle Jordan has been one of the driving forces behind this annual event since the outset and said it offered the perfect opportunity for students to rise above the narrative played out in political offices. Flying the Canadian flag during the multi-cultural day at Loreto Secondary School on Tuesday were Roisin Reynolds and Mairead Alouf. Pic: Jim Campbell We had some returning nations this year including China and Russia which was nice to see because they were able to showcase aspects of their culture and feel comfortable about it, said Michelle. Each of the girls had their own stands with food and items from their culture, we had the fashion show, and then, earlier in the week, a South African student whos from the Xhosa tribe taught the students her native dance. Open to students from first and fourth year the multicultural event is now facilitated by the schools very own Inclusion Committee, a group of students who work to ensure all those arriving at the Loreto feel safe and settled upon beginning their studies. And Michelle believes this annual event is helping to create a generation of young people with a greater understanding of one anothers worlds. Educating young people about other cultures is so important, fear plays a big part, I think people can feel afraid of something different, so its about changing stereotypes where we can. Conor Byrne, Thomas Hogan, Conor Dunne, Sean Gregory, JJ Sweeney finishing the 28 minute final dip of their 'Freezbrury' challenge at The Cove in Arklow. JJ Sweeney completes day 12 of the 'Freezbrury' challenge at The Cove in Arklow with the help of Conor Dunne on torch duties. Sean Gregory with his parents John and Valarie on day 28 of the 'Freezbrury' challenge at The Cove in Arklow. Five Wicklow friends recently completed their Freezbrury challenge, that saw them take increasingly longer dips off the coast of Arklow every day in February, to raise almost 7,000 for Arklow Cancer Support. Eager to give back to the community and explore the world of sea swimming, friends Conor Byrne, Conor Dunne, JJ Sweeney, Tom Hogan and Sean Gregory plunged themselves into the extreme challenge, getting into the sea at The Cove over the 28 days of February, adding a minute to their dip with each day that passed. Braving low sea temperatures, high winds and torrential rain, the five friends overcame the elements, following the rules of the challenge by submerging themselves to their upper chests for the duration, and their heads fully at least once. This is the second successive Freezbrury for Tom, Conor Byrne and Conor Dunne, who raised over 6,000 for Arklow Cancer Support last year. A cause close to their hearts, the trio were motivated to support the cancer charitys vital work by their own experiences with the disease, with Conor Dunne having lost his mother to cancer two years ago and Conor Byrnes mother having a breast cancer scare. Reflecting on this years Freezbrury after taking his final, 28-minute-long dip in the sea, Conor Byrne said that the fivesome had to support each other and dig deep to complete the challenge, adding that seeing donations coming in was more than enough motivation. I got roped into it again this year because JJ and Sean wanted to give it a try, and Tom and Conor were keen to support, so we said wed all give it a lash together, Conor joked. Myself, Conor Dunne and Tom Hogan were returning again this year. Having got through it last February, and with JJ and Sean eager to go all-in, we went for it. JJs brother, Patrick Sweeney, completed it last year in aid of Pieta House, and would join us in the cold at the same time most mornings last year so I think that gave JJ the push to give it a proper go this year. We did all our swims down at the Cove each day, mostly aiming for sunrise every morning, with one or two evening swims when we couldnt make the mornings, he continued. Sean Gregory with his parents John and Valarie on day 28 of the 'Freezbrury' challenge at The Cove in Arklow. There was one evening when JJ couldnt do a sunrise, so he came back in the evening and Conor stood on the beach with a torch and he went in and did his minutes in the dark! The challenge itself is a test of mind over matter as you try to acclimatize to the temperature and the extra minute each day. This year the weather was a massive factor as most days this February were windy and grey. This meant heavy waves each day and very few sunrises. The one or two days we got a sunrise, really lifted our spirits and distracted us from the cold as the minutes counted down. Were delighted that its finished because its been a tough month. In fairness, the lads were very dedicated, and they did the hard yards. Especially JJ and Sean on their first attempt. Like last year, several friends joined the fivesome during February to offer their moral support, with the Freezbrury friends actively encouraging local sea swimmers to join them at their leisure. Delighted to have raised such a whopping total for Arklow Cancer Support, Conor said that it was not initially their intention to fundraise this year, but the group simply couldnt refuse calls that came from the community. What we tried to do this year from the start was encourage other people to come down and join us, so weve had several throughout the month, Conor said. There was a local woman who survived cancer named Eimear Coffey who came down, supported and swam with us a few mornings, then theres been a list of punters who have joined us in the Irish sea to help us along. Its kind of funny how big it became, especially as we werent actually thinking of fundraising this year, purely because people were so generous last year that we didnt want to go to the well again. Conor Byrne, Thomas Hogan, Conor Dunne, Sean Gregory, JJ Sweeney finishing the 28 minute final dip of their 'Freezbrury' challenge at The Cove in Arklow. Then people started to ask the question of us, so we put up the GoFundMe link and the donations started pouring in. We have collected 6,897 so far, which is an amazing total, and we cant thank everyone who donated enough. If we could get that over the 7,000 mark before the fundraiser closes, that would be the icing on the cake. We would like to give a special thanks to our family and friends, and Mary O Brien from Arklow Cancer Support, who came down on Friday morning to support us on our last day. Twenty-eight 28 minutes is a long time in the freezing Irish sea, but with their support and the amazing sunrise we were greeted with, it was a special way to finish out the challenge Thanking the five friends for their fundraising efforts, an Arklow Cancer Support spokesperson said: Many congratulations to the Arklow Freezbrury lads you are amazing and thank you once again for choosing Arklow Cancer Support as your charity. We are truly indebted to you all for such a wonderful achievement, and are looking forward to welcoming you and your families to our centre for a presentation. To donate to the fundraiser, visit idonate.ie/fundraiser/ArklowFreezbrury2025 or follow the link on the arklow_freezbrury_2025 Instagram page. Rugby player Dave Kearney, Laura Chambers and Anita Nolan from Little Warriors in Arklow and Paula McLoughlin of Phoenix Financial Services with sales director for Aviva life and pensions Ireland Norman Costello and Aviva Ireland sustainability executive Rachael Larney at the Aviva Broker Community Fund awards at the Aviva Stadium. Arklow-based community organisation Little Warriors has moved a huge step closer to creating their towns first mobile sensory bus after they won a whopping 20,000 at the Aviva Broker Community Fund awards in Dublin. A buoyant contingent from the autism and ADHD support group made their way to the Aviva Stadium recently, where financial brokers nominated causes worthy of financial support, with Little Warriors entry put forward by Paula McLoughlin of Phoenix Financial Services in Arklow. Crowned winner of the community organisation category, Little Warriors is a vital organisation established by Anita Nolan in 2021 that provides support and inclusion for neurodiverse children and their families, as well as a safe and inclusive space for children, their parents, siblings, and friends to play in an anxiety-free environment. As mother of four Anita explained, the funding will help Little Warriors fit out a newly purchased sensory van, which will be used at events to provide a space for children to regulate in a quiet and calming environment. We are incredibly grateful to have won the community organisation category at the Aviva Broker Community Fund Awards, she said. We are beyond thrilled to have been nominated, and then to win the 20,000 is just unbelievable. Thank you to Aviva and everyone involved for recognising the importance of our work. We have received the funds, and I am delighted to say we actually purchased our van today! This funding will make a significant difference in the lives of the children and families we support. The sensory van will provide a much-needed safe space for children to regulate and feel comfortable during events. Onto the next stage now, kitting the van out and getting ready to launch it as Arklows first mobile sensory bus! Calling it an honour to nominate Little Warriors, Paula McLoughlin commented: Seeing the impact that Anita and her team have on the lives of neurodivergent children and their families is inspiring. I am thrilled that they have received this well-deserved support to continue their incredible work. Now in its seventh year, the Aviva Broker Community Fund, managed by Aviva Ireland, was increased again this year to a total prize fund of 141,000 and was open to charities and community groups throughout the country. Little Warriors, and all shortlisted entrants presented to a panel of judges at an event, with each of the eight shortlisted entries receiving a minimum of 10,000 with an extra 1,000 on the day to acknowledge the time and effort which had gone into their nominations and the top two winners received 20,000 each. We are delighted to support Little Warriors through the Aviva Broker Community Fund, an Aviva Ireland spokesperson said. Their dedication to creating a safe and inclusive environment for neurodivergent children is commendable. We hope this funding helps them continue their vital work and make a positive impact in the community. Three students from Greystones Community College were honoured by the University College Dublin and the Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI) at a recent event in the Quinn School of Business, UCD. Anna Dillane, Emer Rowe and Luan Morris were recognised for having achieved distinction in their Junior Cycle Business Studies State Examinations in 2024. The event saw some 120 students from 22 different schools, who were guests of honour at the ceremony, which celebrated the best and brightest business students nationally. Associate Professor Maeve Houlihan, director of the Quinn School of Business, extended her congratulations to the students and their teachers, and acknowledged the support of their families in securing a strong academic performance. Commenting on the success, the president of the BSTAI, Ciara ORiordan, also congratulated the students on their academic achievement and acknowledged the work of the business studies teachers who have supported students to achieve at this level. The principal of Greystones Community College, Ruairi Farrell, was full of praise for the three students. "This is a very proud day for Greystones Community College to have three students pick up these high stakes academic awards for excelling in state examinations, he said. It is testament to the students hard work and the support of their dedicated teacher, Mr John Blake, who has encouraged the students over the past three years. A new podcast, Bray Talking Heads is aiming to raise the voices of Bray and bring them not just to the attention of the local community, but to the world. With storytelling, conversation, community connection, vox pops and reportage, Bray Talking Heads is a podcast celebrating the people, history, and stories of the town, past and present. Hosted by Mark Quinn, Leah Kinsella and Pat Hannon, the show offers a fresh way to experience local life, whether youre here in Bray or listening from afar. And after its recent first broadcast, the podcast has already notched up listeners from abroad as it spreads the word from our wonderful town. Building on the legacy of Bray Local Broadcasting (BLB), the much-loved community radio station of the late 1970s and 80s, Bray Talking Heads continues the tradition of local storytelling with a modern twist. Each episode will feature lively conversations, plus interviews on local history and opinions straight from the towns streets, and listeners get to hear from the Brayites living abroad. The hosts bring a wealth of experience and passion to the project. Mark Quinn and Pat Hannon, both veterans of BLB, have spent decades in media Mark in television postproduction and Pat as a radio producer and lecturer at TU Dublin. Leah Kinsella, whose family has been deeply involved in Brays history for generations, adds a unique local perspective to the mix. The first episode features a story on the origins of Brays Grand Marine Promenade along with the six bandstands on the esplanade, and the hosts also spoke to Peter Murtagh, one of the leaders of the Friends of the Cliff Walk group as the campaign to reopen the Cliff Walk intensifies. Pat, whose expertise lies in radio audiences and podcasting, said that after the first episode dropped earlier this month, they have people contact them from as far away as Australia, England, Africa and Germany. The aim of the podcast is to shine a light on all of the positives that Bray has to offer and leave the darkness to social media. We had a good reaction to the history piece, Pat said. We thought history mightnt be as popular as it was, but people love to hear it. And our intention at the moment is to do it once a month. But one of our things is to be positive and upbeat, you know, theres enough moaning about Bray on all the social media. Theres probably half the town now that are new residents, they love the town and the unique location, its close to everything, and has the unrivalled mile long seafront. I even had somebody texting me, asking if we going to do anything on the Turkish baths and the Bray chairlifts? And actually, we are doing that. Were going to do those stories. We have them in the can, you know. Its a mixture of old and new. Other plans for the podcast are regular vox pops to gauge public opinion on issues that matter. So in the first programme, we did it with people new to Bray about what brought them to Bray and their opinion of Bray, Pat explained. The next programme is a focus on the main street, because people say, ah, the seafront has everything. I asked people about shopping in Bray, what was missing from Bray you know, what do you think of the main street? What did Pennys bring to the town? So we spoke to a couple of traders as well, you know. I interviewed Pat Vance. So Pat Vance is the last remaining shoe mender. There were six shoemenders in Bray one time, he told me. With the hosts all born and bred in Bray, its not all about viewing the town through rose-tinted glasses either, but Pat promises its not going to be as stuffy as the radio. There are problems with Bray, you know, and were nuanced about it a little bit. Its more balanced. Wed like to see what changes would transform the town for the better. There are a few shops that dont upkeep themselves, you know. Pat Vance did tell me in the interview I did with him that when he was in the council, the council offered and did pay for the painting of all shops that wanted it done at one time, in an effort to encourage them, you know. That was back, I think it was in the late 80s or early 90s. I remember that happening and he said there was like a great uptake. Dare we mention the buses? Lets mention the buses. Because Pat is one of the few voices to mention them positively ever since the ghastly roll-out of the new service in January. The new buses are a great asset, he said. Because I know, on Southern Cross [where he lives] that L14 bus has been a great asset now. Were going to hop on them as part of a piece, to ask opinions. There are the pros and cons. On the one hand, the local services are being celebrated. But theres talk about them going all over the place to get where they used to go. So every month, well get a sense of what people want more. Whether youre a lifelong Brayite or just discovering the town, Bray Talking Heads is a brilliant new addition for stories that will connect and inspire. You can find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and Bluesky: @braytalkingheads From cutting costs to boosting productivity, discover why companies embracing workplace flexibility are coming out on top. Sponsored by Regus The way businesses operate has evolved significantly in recent years. Workplace flexibility is no longer just a perk; it's now a strategic advantage. To stay competitive, businesses are embracing flexible work arrangements that not only drives business success but also meets employee expectations. This shift goes beyond simply boosting business success and giving employees more autonomy - it's about creating a sustainable and productive work environment that benefits everyone. What is workplace flexibility? Workplace flexibility refers to the ability for businesses to structure work arrangements that optimise efficiency while meeting employee needs. This can take many forms, from hybrid work models and compressed work weeks to remote work and coworking spaces. The goal is simple: to drive business success, improve operational efficiency and create a more satisfied and resilient workforce. Adding to the rise of workplace flexibility, advancements in technology have made the adaption of flexible solutions such as coworking spaces, hybrid setups and coworking spaces easier. In turn, this offers businesses the ability to reduce overhead costs as they dont need to worry about paying for traditional office setups. But the benefits of workplace flexibility dont end there. From cutting costs to boosting productivity, lets take a deeper dive into five key reasons why workplace flexibility is a game-changer for businesses. 1. It cuts costs for both businesses and employees Workplace flexibility helps companies reduce operational expenses, making it a smart financial strategy. By cutting back on large, expensive and traditional office spaces, businesses can lower overhead costs and allocate resources more effectively. Many companies are moving away from traditional office leases and opting for more adaptable workspace solutions. International Workplace Groups (IWG) brands - Regus, Spaces and HQ - offer a range of adaptable workplace solutions across Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Businesses can have access to high-quality workspaces with everything they need from furniture to high-speed WiFi. Fewer commutes also translate to savings on transport and work-related expenses, making flexible work arrangements a win-win for everyone. 2. It increases productivity and performance Contrary to outdated beliefs, flexibility does not hinder productivity - it enhances it. Employees who have the autonomy to choose where and how they work often produce better results. A recent IWG study of 500 business leaders found that 75pc of CEOs who have adopted hybrid work models report increased productivity within their teams. When employees can work in environments where they feel most focused - whether at home, a quiet office, or in a coworking space such as those offered by Regus - they are more efficient and motivated. Moreover, flexible work reduces absenteeism, which is often linked to stress and work-life imbalance. Giving employees control over their schedules leads to better performance, fewer missed workdays and a stronger commitment to company goals. 3. It strengthens talent attraction and retention Source: Regus In todays job market, companies that fail to offer flexibility risk losing top talent. Recent research from Stanfords Professor Nicholas Bloom found that companies requiring five-day office attendance could face a 35pc increase in employee quitting rates in 2025. A separate study found that 67pc of recruiters have seen an increase in job seekers leaving businesses that require full-time office attendance, and 75pc of candidates have declined roles that lack hybrid work options. Businesses that embrace flexibility not only attract top candidates but also retain skilled employees who value autonomy in their work schedules. By reducing turnover, businesses can also save time and money on hiring and onboarding new employees. Dom Ashfield, SAP Specialist Recruiter at bluewaveSelect, emphasised this trend: The demand for flexible and hybrid work models is growing rapidly and employers who dont adjust their policies risk falling behind in the talent race. 4. It reduces the carbon footprint One of the often-overlooked benefits of workplace flexibility is its positive impact on the environment. By allowing employees to work remotely or in hybrid setups, businesses significantly reduce commuting-related emissions. With fewer people travelling long distances to central offices every day, traffic congestion and pollution levels decrease. This shift not only supports hybrid models but also contributes to sustainability efforts, aligning businesses with growing environmental consciousness. 5. It enhances employee well-being and satisfaction IWGs latest research found that 21pc of employees working in a central office five days a week experience daily stress. By offering hybrid and flexible work options, companies can improve overall job satisfaction and create a more engaged workforce. As a result, businesses that embrace flexibility benefit from happier, healthier employees who feel valued in their roles. A satisfied workforce leads to higher morale and a company culture that thrives in a modern work environment. As Dom Ashfield aptly puts it: Jobseekers are no longer just looking for a pay cheque; they want the freedom to shape their work environment Flexibility isnt just about where you work its about empowering employees to take control of their time and work in a way that supports their personal and professional lives. Mark Dixon, CEO and Founder of IWG, also affirmed how flexibility has become a key factor for employees: Flexibility is no longer a nice-to-have for employees. Many will not consider new roles that require long daily commutes; they want access to workspaces closer to where they live in an environment that allows them to remain motivated and productive. From reducing costs and improving productivity to attracting top talent and supporting sustainability, the advantages of flexible work are clear. The shift towards workplace flexibility is not just a passing trend - it represents a fundamental transformation in how businesses operate. As more companies prioritise hybrid work solutions, they will find themselves better positioned for long-term success in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Looking for a workspace that fits your business needs? Regus offers a network of flexible office solutions across Ireland, helping companies embrace hybrid work with ease. Visit regus.ie to find the perfect space for you. Beauty guru Bobbi Brown shares her top tips for updating your look I worry that my eyeliner look is dated. Should I try something new or stick with what I know? Last year, when Gen Z seemed to take a social media turn en masse against winged eyeliner, millennials reacted with horror. They not only felt usurped as the up-and-coming trendsetters, but wondered where to go next for their eyeliner look. In reality, however, eyeliner with a flick be that winged or cat eye went nowhere. If you love it, regardless of generation, you love it, and with eyeliner, while trends come and go, what suits is as personal as the shape of ones eyes. That said, tiny tweaks in how you apply can make a massive difference. Bobbi Brown, latterly founder of Jones Road Beauty, does not believe in trends for the sake of trends. You should always go with what looks good on you and makes your eyes pop, she says. Eyeliner is for people of all ages. However, if you are following a technique that is decades old, it might be time to update it. They used to tell you to line your lid halfway but that only makes your eyes look smaller. Try lining all the way around and gradually making the line softer towards the inner corner. What eyeliner styles are you seeing at the minute? Lining your top lid only is very popular. A cat eye is a little trendy also, and I think it works best when its not too heavy, says Brown. At last months Baftas, the cat eye was very much in evidence, on the likes of Greta Lee, Ayo Edebiri, Mikey Madison and others. Winged eyeliner is when you line just the top and flick it up from the outer corner towards the end tip of the brow. A cat eye differs in that you also line the lower lash line, though this was a very soft line and focused on the outer edge. Wont lining the lower lash line make my eyes look small Actually, says Brown, lining the top and bottom of your eyes will make them stand out more. Just make sure the line under your eye is softer. The line under can even be done with a shadow if the top is lined with a rich product like gel liner. I have oily eyelids and the product goes everywhere. What can I do? To keep oil at bay, start your eye make-up by applying a face powder or light eyeshadow to the lids, Bobbi Brown explains. Another issue people have is that upper eyelids become more hooded or sagging over time and can droop to meet the make-up or conceal it completely. In this case, get good at applying liner as tight to the eyelash line as possible, pressing liner right into the roots of the lashes. This has the bonus of making the eyelashes, which become more sparse and pale with age, seem more dense and dark. Is it best to stick with black or brown are colours a bit gimmicky? Both black and brown are classics, says Brown. I suggest when opting for a different colour, choose one with less brightness and a bit of black in it. I love our Gel Liner in violet because it makes my hazel eyes greener. In terms of which shades suit which eye colours, were back to the colour wheel and complementary colours. Purple is great for hazel, brown or green eyes; copper or gold are good for blue eyes and metallics placed above a defining, dark line are an easy flash of fun, especially if you arent bothered with eye shadow. I find it hard to draw a straight line, what can I do? One tip is to look away from where youre putting the line, to stop your eye from jumping around as the pencil or brush approaches. Thick lines take skill, but for a thin line, try dotting on the liner and then joining up the dots. This way, youre only drawing very short lines and theres not much scope to go wrong. For a smooth line with a liquid liner, try lying the nib sideways and then gently drawing it across for a steadier line. Practice, Bobbi Brown concludes. And know how to quickly fix and adjust. You can always layer if you need to add more; and keep Q-tips and a non-oily eye make-up remover nearby to clean up any mistakes. What products might help? Jones Road Gel Liner, 36, jonesroadbeauty.com Jones Road Gel Liner, 36, jonesroadbeauty.com Gel liner is more forgiving than liquid liner in both application and appearance. It glides on easily with a precise brush (Jones Road has one for 28) and offers a soft, highly pigmented finish that can be as thin or thick as you like. Easy to flick, it comes in four shades: black, brown, navy and violet. Ayu Cosmetics Liquid Liner, 8, ayucosmetics.com Ayu Cosmetics Liquid Liner, 8, ayucosmetics.com This award-winning liner from Irish-owned brand Ayu has a felt-tip nib that is easy to lie flat to draw a nice straight line with. Its firm but not too firm, so no dragging, and the tip is super-thin for a precise line that can be filled out to a fuller effect, if desired. It comes in two matte-finish shades: black and brown. Hildun Silk to Set Kajal Liner, 18, selected pharmacies nationwide or hildunbeauty.com Hildun Silk to Set Kajal Liner, 18, selected pharmacies nationwide or hildunbeauty.com These eyeliners from Irish former beauty editor Suzy Griffin Dunne have fast become a cult favourite and multi-award winner. Their appeal lies in how easily they glide on, with time to smoke or wing out before they set to a stay-put finish, and Hildun has a double-ended Wing and Smoke brush (15) for just that. The liner is available in five shades Noir, Blaze, Navy Nights, Emerald and Pecan as well as a new metallic selection in Silver, Granite and Taupe. Keir Starmer urged to get Tate brothers back in UK to face justice Siblings in US but expected back in Romania to face abuse charges Andrew Tate (left) and his brother Tristan flew into Florida last week, where they are now being investigated after Floridas attorney general ordered a criminal inquiry. Photo: AP Bryony Gooch UK Independent Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey has called on UK prime minister Keir Starmer to request the urgent extradition of Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan from America to face justice in the UK. LATEST | Triple killer Kyle Clifford will not give evidence at trial for rape of ex-girlfriend, jurors told Kyle Clifford denies the rape of his ex-girlfriend, Louise Hunt, 25, at her familys home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 last year Kyle Clifford has not attended Cambridge Crown Court for his trial (Hertfordshire Police/PA) Sam Russell and Josh Payne Thu 6 Mar 2025 at 13:22 A triple killer on trial accused of raping his former partner during an attack in which he murdered her and her sister with a crossbow, and their mother with a butchers knife, will not give evidence in his defence, jurors have been told. special reportali sawafta Just metres from the last houses in Bardala, a Palestinian village at the northern end of the occupied West Bank, Israels army has been bulldozing a dirt road and ditch between the community and open grazing land on the hills behind it. Israels military said the works were for security and to allow it to patrol the area following the killing of an Israeli civilian in August near the village by a man from another town. It did not detail what it was building there. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. India-US Trade Relations Under Trumps Tariffs US President Donald J. Trumps recent announcement on the implementation of reciprocal tariffs, set to take effect on April 2, 2025, marks a significant shift in the trade dynamics of India-US. This policy, which aims to align US import duties with those imposed by other nations, is expected to have profound economic implications, particularly for India, a key US trade partner. On March 4, 2025, Trump, in his address to Congress, reiterated his stance that global trading partners have long imposed higher tariffs on US goods than the US imposed on imports from other countries, creating an imbalance in international trade. He announced the implementation of reciprocal tariffs on trade partners India, China, and the European Union (EU) starting April 2, 2025, regardless of their economic status. The new policy seeks to correct this imbalance by imposing equivalent tariffs on imports from these nations. This decision is expected to impact Indias key sectors such as automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, which could see tariffs as high as 25 percent. Trump also criticized Indias high import duties, particularly in the automobile sector, where tariffs exceed 100 percent. Historical trade relations between India and the US and previous tariff measures The US has historically employed various trade mechanisms to impose tariffs on Indian goods. These include: Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974: Enables the US to investigate and impose tariffs in response to unfair trade practices. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962: Allows the imposition of tariffs on national security grounds. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Revocation: In 2019, the US revoked Indias GSP status, eliminating duty-free benefits for many Indian exports. Product-specific tariff announcements by Trump Since taking office, Trump has launched a series of actions targeting various types of products the US trades with India. These include: Agricultural products: Tariffs on imported agricultural goods will be imposed from April 2, 2025. Lumber: A Section 232 investigation into timber and lumber imports is underway, with findings expected by November 26, 2025. Steel and aluminum: Existing tariffs will be expanded, with aluminum tariffs rising from 10 percent to 25 percent, effective March 12, 2025. Automobiles: A 25 percent tariff on auto imports will be imposed starting April 2, 2025. Copper: A Section 232 investigation into copper imports is in progress, with results due by November 22, 2025. Semiconductors and pharmaceuticals: Tariffs of 25 percent or higher will be introduced, though legal details remain unclear. Trade data and economic impact Trade activities between the two countries reflect notable fluctuations between India and the US over recent years. India-US Economic Relations Year-on-Year (Value in US$ Million) Trade activities FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 Indias exports to the US 53,088.77 51,623.14 76,167.01 78,542.60 77,515.03 Growth (%) -2.76 47.54 3.12 -1.31 Indias imports from the US 35,819.87 28,888.10 43,314.07 50,863.87 42,195.49 Growth (%) -19.35 49.94 17.43 -17.04 Total trade 88,908.65 80,511.24 119,481.08 129,406.47 119,710.52 Growth (%) -9.44 48.40 8.31 -7.49 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI Indias top 10 Commodity Exports to the US (Value in US$ million) HS Code Commodity FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25* (Apr-Nov) 85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers; and parts. 6,794.48 11,081.13 7,601.67 71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semiprecious stones, pre-metals, clad with pre-metal and artifacts thereof; imitation jewelry; coin. 12,586.25 9,948.50 6,306.17 30 Pharmaceutical products 6,841.57 8,079.95 5,891.29 84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances; parts thereof. 6,013.68 6,166.51 4,341.45 27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils, and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes. 6,822.20 5,832.94 2,989.41 73 Articles of iron or steel 3,091.50 2,793.57 1,945.90 63 Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 2,618.86 2,782.06 1,946.42 87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof. 2,850.37 2,647.57 1,730.04 62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted. 2,924.63 2,503.86 1,546.59 29 Organic chemicals 2,976.08 2,408.30 1,659.25 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI Indias Top 10 Commodity Imports from the US (Value in US$ million) HS Code Commodity FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25* (Apr-Nov) 27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils, and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes. 18,003.26 12,963.57 9,981.26 71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semiprecious stones, pre.metals, clad with pre. metals and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin. 7,673.70 5,161.49 3,217.68 84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances; parts thereof. 3,903.61 3,751.52 2,816.83 85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers; and parts. 2,274.93 2,383.58 2,029.49 90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic measuring, checking precision, medical, or surgical instruments, and apparatus parts and accessories thereof. 1,779.69 1,944.23 1,320.77 39 Plastic and articles thereof. 1,637.23 1,632.40 1,057.62 89 Ships, boats, and floating structures. 116.92 61.65 1,028.20 29 Organic chemicals. 2,061.76 1,469.84 878.16 38 Miscellaneous chemical products. 1,183.51 1,152.40 791.62 08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel or citrus fruit or melons. 1,023.44 1,046.17 712.16 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI Note: India-US trade data for FY2024-25 will be released in April after the completion of the ongoing financial year, ending on March 31, 2025. Some of the key exports of India to the US include electrical machinery, precious stones, pharmaceuticals, and apparel, while the USs main exports to India are mineral fuels, machinery, and optical instruments. With the introduction of reciprocal tariffs, Indian exports may become costlier, affecting trade volumes and market competitiveness. Challenges for Indias auto and pharmaceutical industries Indias automobile and pharmaceutical sectors, which have been key contributors to the economy, could face significant challenges due to US tariff policies. As international pressure grows for India to open its protected markets, these industries may experience rising costs and diminishing competitiveness in the US. Potential setback for India-US bilateral trade deal India and the US have been working towards establishing a bilateral trade agreement (BTA), with India seeking relief from tariffs, including the 25 percent duty on steel and aluminum. As of March 3, 2025, the Union Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal, is in the US to hold discussions with the United States Trade Representative (USTR), who is responsible for overseeing tariff policies. Tariff disparity between India and the US A report from the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) highlights the stark contrast in tariff structures between the two nations. India imposes an average tariff of 17 percent, whereas the US maintains a much lower average of 3.3 percent. The gap is even wider in agriculture, where Indias simple average tariff is 39 percent, compared to five percent in the US. Trade-weighted rates further emphasize the disparityIndias is 65 percent, while the US stands at just four percent. Potential consequences for India and the US Higher costs for Indian exporters: The increased tariff burden may force Indian businesses to seek alternative markets or restructure pricing strategies to maintain competitiveness. Decline in trade volume: Indias key sectors, such as pharmaceuticals and IT, which heavily rely on US exports, may experience reduced demand. Impact on US consumers: Cost of Indian goods, including pharmaceuticals and textiles, may rise, impacting affordability and supply chains. Potential countermeasures: The Indian government may retaliate by imposing duties on US imports or negotiating for reduced tariffs on key exports. Trade negotiations and diplomacy: The US position on enforcing these tariffs remains firm unless India agrees to significant policy changes. Navigating the future of US-India trade relations in FY2025-26 India has previously responded to US tariffs with countermeasures, raising duties on American imports such as apples, almonds, and motorcycles. The current tariff escalation could lead to another round of trade negotiations. According to a report published by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) on February 28, 2025, Indian businesses should explore alternative export destinations, including Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa, where tariff barriers are less restrictive. Another strategic approach could involve establishing joint ventures with American firms or setting up assembly plants in the US to bypass some of the tariff burdens. The coming months will be critical in determining the future of US-India trade ties. Strategic policymaking, active diplomatic engagement, and diversification of export markets will be essential for India to mitigate the impact of these tariffs. Businesses and policymakers must remain vigilant in adapting to the evolving trade landscape to sustain bilateral trade growth and economic stability. It's been a decade since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck finalised their divorce, citing amicable differences. However, the exes always keep finding their way back to each other. Between co-parenting and helping Ben move on from his recent heartbreak owing to his Jennifer Lopez divorce, Jennifer Garner seems to have unintentionally charmed her former husband all over again. Reports have suggested that Ben wants to get back together with Garner; however, the feeling is not mutual. Amid the exes' drama, JLo is questioning her time with Ben. Ben Affleck open to rekindling romance with Jennifer Garner According to a Page Six report, Ben Affleck is open to rekindling his romance with ex-wife Jennifer Garner if the timing is right. However, he acknowledges that now may not be realistic due to his recent divorce from Jennifer Lopez and his focus on his career. Ben just got out of a marriage and finalized his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. He is really busy with work and focused on this new chapter, the insider shared. Additionally, Affleck respects Garner's current relationship with John Miller and would not want to interfere. The Argo actor's failed marriage to Jennifer Lopez may have contributed to his newfound appreciation for Garner. After rekindling their romance from the early 2000s and getting married in 2022, Affleck's and Lopez's differences became apparent, leading to their divorce. This experience may have made Affleck realize his lingering feelings for Garner. Jennifer Garner does not share 'same feelings' Despite friends and family feeling the spark and Ben making it evident, Jennifer Garner does not share 'same feelings' with Ben Affleck. Another source told the publication, "The feeling is not mutual on Jens side. Shes happy with John, and thats just not where her head is at." She has a great co-parenting relationship with Ben, and thats where things stand on her end at the moment. Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck grab eyeballs with While Jennifer Garner is saying no to Ben Affleck romance, their public outing has given many food for thought. Just recently, Daily Mail shared a video of the exes, who share three kids, on a paintball outing near Los Angeles. But that's not all. The video had Affleck placing his arm around Garner's lower waist, which had fans believing that the former couple might be reconsidering their dynamics. What will her church leaders do as they give Garner a duty? AFFLECK TOUCHES GARNER'S GENITALS IN PUBLIC DURING A TEENAGE OUTING. Is this also part of coparenting for "the kids' sake"? For those who are still gullible,we've DEFINITELY CONFIRMATION of their cheating since 2023. pic.twitter.com/790b3zqVYJ JOLIVIERE Jacqueline (@JOLIVIEREJacqu1) March 6, 2025 Jennifer Lopez feels 'betrayed' by Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's closeness Jennifer Lopez is not too happy with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's closeness. A source close to the Unstoppable actress told Daily Mail that she saw the paintballing images when the "rest of the world" did, and it's making her question their time together. Her friends have questioned how platonic Jen [Garner] and Ben are. She will feel betrayed because she invested so much time in supporting Ben through his challenges and had a rough year as their marriage broke down, the source added. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of women's achievements in social, economic, cultural, and political fields. It is also a day to call for gender equality and womens rights. Across the world, people come together to recognise the contributions of women and advocate for a more inclusive society. Every year, International Women's Day is observed on March 8. In 2025, it will fall on a Saturday. International Women's Day 2025 Theme Each year, International Womens Day has a unique theme that highlights important aspects of gender equality. According to the United Nations (UN), the theme for International Women's Day 2025 is For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. This theme emphasises the need to provide equal opportunities, rights, and empowerment to all women and girls, ensuring a fair and just future for everyone. Additionally, the official International Women's Day website has introduced the theme Accelerate Action. This theme urges individuals, organisations, and governments to take concrete steps toward advancing womens rights and breaking barriers that hinder progress. The Symbolic Colours of International Womens Day One of the most recognisable aspects of International Women's Day is its colourspurple, green, and white. These colours hold deep historical and symbolic meanings and have been associated with the women's rights movement since the early 20th century. Purple The Colour of Justice and Dignity Purple is the most prominent colour associated with International Womens Day. It represents justice, dignity, and loyalty to the cause of gender equality. The colour also signifies visionary thinking and is often linked to womens empowerment. Historically, in the United Kingdom, purple was used by the Womens Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1908 to represent their fight for women's rights. In the United States and other parts of the world, it is widely recognised as a symbol of womens empowerment and gender equality. Additionally, purple is a blend of blue and red, two colours that psychologically create a balance of calmness and inspiration. This dual effect makes it a strong representation of resilience and progress in the fight for equal rights. Green The Colour of Hope and Growth Green symbolises hope, new beginnings, and growth. It represents the belief in a brighter and more equal future for women across the globe. The connection between green and nature also reflects harmony and renewal, symbolising ongoing efforts to achieve gender equality. Psychologically, green is a colour that soothes and calms the mind, bringing a sense of balance and optimism. Since the early suffragette movement, green has been used to show determination and strength in the fight for womens rights. White The Colour of Equality and Freedom White has long been associated with purity, truth, and equality. In the early women's rights movements, suffragists wore white to counter negative stereotypes and demand respect for their cause. While the meaning of purity has evolved over time, white continues to stand for freedom and fairness. It represents a world where women are treated equally and have the same opportunities as men. Throughout history, womens rights activists have worn white as a powerful statement, such as in 1978, when 200,000 women marched in Washington D.C. in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, dressed in white with purple and green sashes. White is also known for its calming and uplifting effects. It is often worn during important movements and rituals, symbolising the hope for a better and fairer society. Why These Colours Matter in 2025 As we celebrate International Women's Day 2025, the colours purple, green, and white continue to serve as powerful symbols of the ongoing fight for gender equality. They remind us of the struggles faced by women in the past and inspire future generations to keep pushing for progress. By wearing these colours, supporting the cause, and raising awareness, people worldwide can contribute to making International Womens Day 2025 a moment of real change. Whether through workplace initiatives, educational discussions, or social media campaigns, every action counts towards creating a more equal and just world for all women and girls. International Womens Day is not just a celebrationit is a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. The colours purple, green, and white represent the values and vision of a world where women have equal rights and opportunities. By understanding and embracing these colours, we can honour the past, take action in the present, and create a brighter future for all. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Samsungs one UI 7 beta launch confirmed: More Galaxy devices will soon receive the One UI 7 Beta upgrade from Samsung, bringing exciting new features, enhanced performance, and a more seamless user experience. This upgrade, which is based on Android 15, improves system security, stability, and customization possibilities. Users anticipate better battery efficiency, AI-powered improvements, and enhanced animations. The beta program was first made accessible for flagship devices such as the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. Samsung keeps improving One UI to ensure a smooth and user-friendly experience. Check the Samsung Members app to find out if the newest features are available. Samsung One UI 7 Beta launch Credit: Samsung Fans The official AI update will be accessible from April, according to the South Korean smartphone maker. Additionally, the business has pledged that the program will be created to provide the "most natural and seamless mobile AI experience." Will India get the Samsung One UI 7 beta update? Beginning this week, the beta program will be accessible for the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 in India, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Later this month, it will be extended to additional devices, such as the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Tab S10 series. Through Samsung Members, users can apply to participate in the beta program. Samsung One UI 7 features Credit: Samsung One UI 7 is a major advancement in developing a new type of mobile experience where every interaction feels more natural than ever before by integrating top AI agents with multimodal capabilities into every touch point of the interface. The Now Bar and Now Brief, two visually appealing UI elements of the Samsung One UI 7, leverage artificial intelligence to analyze how users interact with apps. A new Quick Settings Panel distinguishes it from the notification panel. Along with other AI capabilities, the upgrade lets users feel the potential of AI smartphones with enhanced Circle to Search, Object Eraser, AI authoring Tools, translator, and much more. Up to the end of 2025, Samsung Galaxy AI features will be free for compatible Samsung Galaxy devices. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. In a tragic incident, a 26-year-old Indian national was killed by suspected robbers at a store in the US state of Wisconsin. Praveen Kumar Gampa, a native of Rangareddy district of Telangana, was fatally shot on Wednesday inside a store in Milwaukee, where he worked part-time. Returned to US two months ago According to his family, Praveen was pursuing a Master's degree in Data Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He studied BTech in Hyderabad and left India in 2023. He was due to complete his studies in two months. He visited India in December 2024 and returned to the US in January this year. CREDIT: BCCL What victim's family said The family said they have not been informed about the circumstances leading to his death. "Some friends said that Praveen's body was found with bullets," his cousin Arun told PTI. "Some say Praveen was shot dead by unknown assailants at a store, but the cause of death was not known to the family," he said. Arun said Praveen called his father in the early hours of Wednesday, but the latter could not take the call as he was sleeping. CREDIT: ISTOCK The US authorities informed family members that the cause of death would be known after an autopsy. We are saddened by the untimely death of Praveen Kumar Gampa, a Post-graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Consulate is in contact with Praveen's family and the University, helping them with all possible support. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are India in Chicago (@IndiainChicago) March 5, 2025 "We are saddened by the untimely death of Praveen Kumar Gampa, a postgraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Consulate is in contact with Praveen's family and the University, helping them with all possible support. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with his family and friends of the departed," the Indian Embassy in Chicago said. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In a rather unusual case of theft, unidentified thieves decamped with 830 kg of human hair from a godown in Bengaluru. The theft took place in Lakshmipura Cross, north Bengaluru, last week. Hair stolen from godown According to reports, the stolen human hair was stored in 27 bags and was worth Rs 1 crore. CCTV visuals from a nearby establishment showed thieves breaking into the godown and fleeing in an SUV. Missing locks: 830kg of human hair worth Rs 1 crore stolen from godown in #Bengaluru Know morehttps://t.co/ORrcdwg0HB pic.twitter.com/XuuA7ZdmUQ The Times Of India (@timesofindia) March 6, 2025 A total of six men were involved in the theft, and they broke the shutter of the godown, located in the basement of a building, using iron rods. Police have not been able to identify the faces of the thieves or the registration number of the vehicle used for the theft from the CCTV visuals. Thieves were almost caught in the act What makes the theft even more strange is that a local resident had spotted the thieves loading the bags filled with hair but assumed that the goods belonged to them. The men were reportedly speaking in Telugu and passing instructions on loading the bags onto the SUV. Venkataswamy, the hair trader whose consignment was stolen, said he shifted his godown from Hebbal to Lakshmipura Cross just around two weeks before the theft. "We had stored over 830 kg of hair. Those bags were already checked and marked by the buyer," Venkataswamy said. The business of human hair Human hair export is a huge industry, and the biggest markets are Myanmar and China. CREDIT: REUTERS In India, West Bengal is the major hub for the industry, besides Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. Major competitors of India are China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. CREDIT: BCCL Two types of raw human hair are collected in Indiaremy and non-remy hair. Remy hair, the best grade, is collected from temples where pilgrims donate their hair as part of a religious vow. This quality is mainly used to make hairpieces and wigs. Non-remy hair is household waste collected by small groups of people in villages and cities. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Infosys to start 10-day work-from-office policy: The multinational IT company Infosys implemented a "system intervention" to implement its new 10-day work-from-office (WFO) policy. The company's hybrid work style, which mandates that employees be physically present in workplaces for at least ten days every month, aligns with this calculated move. By monitoring attendance, the system will guarantee adherence. Infosys' choice indicates a larger industry trend toward hybrid work arrangements as companies worldwide balance in-office and remote employment. With an emphasis on collaboration and productivity, this change could establish a standard for other IT companies. 10-day work from policy in Infosys Credit: Reuters To get more employees back on campus, Infosys, India's second-largest software services business, instructed its IT workers on Wednesday to adhere to its policy of working from the office ten days a month. According to Economic Times reports, functional chiefs at the Bengaluru-based company emailed their colleagues advising them to restrict the amount of work-from-home days they ask for, starting on March 10. "System interventions will be put in place to restrict the amount of work-from-home days that can be used each month beginning March 10, 2025, to enable this. The email, which ET has seen, stated that these steps are intended to protect employee flexibility while guaranteeing adherence to the new hybrid work standards. An email asking for feedback was not answered by Infosys, which employs roughly 323,000 people. According to one of the senior executives, the "system intervention" is intended to guarantee productive teamwork while granting them flexibility. The email said, "As you are aware, our hybrid work model requires employees to work from the office at least ten days a month, or as required by business needs, whichever is higher." Teams asked for a 10-day work from office Credit: LinkedIn The communication covers employees at job level 5 (JL5) and lower. JL5 (Job Level 5) team leaders are ranked above software engineers, senior engineers, system engineers, and consultants. Managers, senior managers, delivery managers, and senior delivery managers are included in JL6 and up, however vice presidents are not. Attendance is mandated not WFH allowed Infosys employees utilize a mobile app to track their attendance. This software will no longer "default" to approving WFH requests and will force them to punch in ten days a month while working at their local office base. Sources claim that if an employee misses the work-from-office goal by one or two days, those days will be subtracted from their remaining leave balance. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Who was G Praveen?: Tragically, G Praveen, an Indian student from Telangana, was discovered shot dead in the United States. His family, friends, and the Indian community are in great anguish following his unexpected demise. Like many young Indians pursuing their aspirations overseas, Praveen had come to the US to further his education. Tragic events, however, marred what ought to have been a path of development and opportunity. He may have been shot, according to reports, which raises significant questions about his safety and the circumstances of his death. While officials look into the matter, his family is looking for answers. Many people lament his passing and raise concerns about the dangers students encounter when studying abroad when the word gets out. Who was G Praveen? Credit: X After completing his B Tech in Hyderabad, Praveen traveled to the United States in 2023 to continue his master's degree. He returned to the United States in January of this year after visiting India in December 2024. On Wednesday morning, he was shot by bullets in a store in the US. He tried to have a conversation with his father just a few hours before he was shot. However, Arun (Praveen's cousin) said his father, who was asleep then, missed the call. The US authorities informed his family, and they went in shock to know about his son's death. All about G Praveen's death in the US We are saddened by the untimely death of Praveen Kumar Gampa, a Post-graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Consulate is in contact with Praveen's family and the University, helping them with all possible support. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are India in Chicago (@IndiainChicago) March 5, 2025 According to news agency PTI, the family of a 26-year-old Indian student who was purportedly found dead in the United States with gunshot wounds stated on Wednesday that the cause of his death was still unknown. Authorities claimed that Praveen's body was discovered with bullet wounds, according to Arun, his cousin. Although it is suspected that he was shot and killed by unidentified attackers, an autopsy will determine the cause of death. The family, who live in the Ranga Reddy district close to Hyderabad, is in complete shock and has asked MLAs and local political leaders for help in retrieving Praveen's remains. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Palestinian militant group Hamas has responded to Donald Trump's warning to release all hostages and leave Gaza, saying that the US President was allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back out of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas said Trump's repeated threats against Palestinians constituted support for Netanyahu and aimed to intensify the ongoing siege and starvation of the people of Gaza. CREDIT: REUTERS US holds first direct talks with Hamas This comes hours after the US confirmed that it had engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages taken captive on 7 October 2023. Adam Boehler, Trump's nominee as the special envoy for hostage affairs, led the direct talks with Hamas. Boehler, founder and CEO of Rubicon Founders, a healthcare investment firm, was a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team during Trump's first term that strove to win broader recognition of Israel in the Arab world. An unnamed Hamas official told AP that the talks took place last month and focused mainly on the release of American hostages and a potential end to the war without Hamas in power in Gaza. CREDIT: REUTERS Trump issues last waring Earlier on Wednesday, Trump issued what he called a last warning to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, Trump said on Truth Social. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted, he added. 'Get out of Gaza' "This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance," Trump said, adding that he was "sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job." CREDIT: REUTERS The US President further warned that there would be repercussions for Gaza as a whole if the hostages taken by Hamas were not freed. "To the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!," he said. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In a shocking case of a safety breach, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar was heckled by a group of pro-Khalistan protesters in London, where he is on an official visit. The incident happened on Wednesday while Jaishankar was leaving after participating in a discussion hosted by the think tank Chatham House in the British capital. Khalistani protesters heckle S Jaishankar In videos posted on social media, a Khalistan supporter holding an Indian flag can be seen attempting to run towards Jaishankar as he was about to board his car. Khalistani elements attempt to heckle India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar while he was leaving in a car after attending an event in London, England. The National flag of India was desecrated. The Govt of India must revoke the PIO/OCI cards of anti-India elements. pic.twitter.com/ogNjVkIpB6 Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) March 6, 2025 The protester was quickly restrained by the police before he could come close to the minister. As he was being pulled away by the cops, the Khalistan supporter also allegedly tore the Indian flag he was carrying. A group of Khalistanis had gathered outside the building, holding flags and speakers as they sloganeered even before the minister came out. Past attacks on Indian interests by Khalistani supporters This is not the first time Khalistani supporters in the UK have crossed the line under the pretext of protest. The most notable such incident was in 2023, when the Indian High Commission in London faced a violent attack by Khalistani supporters who were protesting the arrest of Amritpal Singh, the chief of Waris Punjab De. CREDIT: REUTERS The protest was spearheaded by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a banned terror outfit, and its chief, Avtar Singh Khanda, was even seen pulling down the Indian flag from the High Commission building. CREDIT:TWITTER Following strong protests by India, Khanda, who was believed to be the mentor of Amritpal, was arrested by the British police in March 2023. In June 2023, Khanda died in a UK hospital, where he was undergoing treatment after a blood cancer diagnosis. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Tech billionaire and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has accused the Joe Biden administration of deliberately delaying the return of two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are currently stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Musk also claimed that the astronauts were stuck there despite his company offering a rescue mission months ago. Elon Musk accuses Biden in his X post On Wednesday, the 53-year-old billionaire took to his X (formerly called Twitter) and claimed that astronauts, originally set for an eight-day mission, had been stranded in orbit for over eight months due to White House interference. SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it, he wrote. However, he also added that the US president, Donald Trump, intervened in the matter and asked to bring them back. The astronauts were only supposed to be up there for 8 days and now have been there for 8 months. SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it. President Trump asked to bring them back as https://t.co/BVsHRn2Ocf Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2025 Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded for 8 months On June 6, 2024, two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, flew to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner, but since then NASA has found the spacecraft unsafe for reentry, which forced the indefinite delay of their comeback. As per the TOI report, now both the astronauts will return on SpaceX Crew Dragon. ' Elon Musk on safety concerns Earlier, the Tesla owner warned about the dangers of prolonged spaceflight and especially its impact on the astronaut's health. In a podcast with Joe Rogan, Musk stressed the risk of microgravity, including bone loss. He said, There isn't anyone else to do it. NASA cant get them. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is the only one that is considered safe enough to bring them back." Elon Musk talks to Joe Rogan about the stranded astronauts hes rescuing with SpaceX - They were only supposed to be in Space for 8 days - Biden admin left them stranded for 8 MONTHS - Elon Musk says the longer they stay up there in Zero G You get increased bone loss - SpaceX pic.twitter.com/939PgWIwFF Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) March 5, 2025 He went on to criticize Boeing's Starliner, citing NASA's decision to keep it grounded. Noticing the post, netizens started sharing their comments, and one wrote, "Thank you for your help! The Biden administration was a disgrace." "Huge responsibility," another pointed out. "Imagine hating Elon Musk so much that you condemn astronauts to 8 months of prison must to spite him." To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. In a major development, Welsh Hollywood star Michael Sheen wrote off debt for 900 people totaling over $1 million using his own money. The Romeo and Juliet actor started a debt acquisition company to help people in his native South Wales. Additionally, his new business venture is being documented in the upcoming documentary called Michael Sheen's Secret Million Pound Giveaway. Michael Sheen's Secret Million Pound Giveaway The show, based on Michael Sheen's new venture, aims to reveal how banks and other finance companies are making profit from the most vulnerable in the country. Sheen bought $1 million of debt, or around $1.29 million, with the project. Raising the funds, he invested his $129,000 from his own pocket because it had come down in value. 'Prince of Wales' The generous deed by Michael Sheen garnered much attention on social media. Fans lauded the actor for his helping gesture, as one praised him by calling him the real 'Prince of Wales.' Comment byu/HauteAssMess from discussion inpopculturechat On the other hand, another appreciated him by saying 'wonderful gesture'. "But seriously this is very cool of him and he's really followed through on giving back," a user said. While another wrote, "Unfortunately he's quite good at finding money that's helping other people and making sure it stops." One user compared Sheen with tech billionaire Elon Musk and said, "Elon could do this for a million people and still have some money left. Sadly he, and most billionaires, are nothing like Michael Sheen." Comment byu/cmaia1503 from discussion inentertainment Michael Sheen reveals details behind his secret mission Amid all praises and appreciations, Michael Sheen, during his appearance at BBC's The One Show on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, revealed the details about his Secret Million Pound Giveaway mission. There is financial help from the UK Government for steel communities in Port Talbot. Watch and share this message from @michaelsheen and find out more here:https://t.co/GZky8x8JZa@NPTCouncil @EconomyCymru pic.twitter.com/Su71Ais7FD Wales Office (@WalesOffice) January 16, 2025 He said it took him two years to get it running instead of the few weeks or even a month that he earlier thought it would take. He said that they also had to do it 'secretly,' which complicated the process even more. Net worth of Nithin Kamath: In India's fintech sector, Nithin Kamath is a well-known co-founder and CEO of Zerodha and True Beacon. By founding Zerodha, a bargain brokerage that upended conventional trading methods with its zero-commission strategy, self-made entrepreneur Kamath transformed online stock trading in India. He is among the richest business people in India due to his achievements in the finance industry. Recent estimates place Nithin Kamath's net worth in the thousands of crores, which reflects Zerodha's and his investment company True Beacon's enormous growth. In addition to his monetary accomplishments, Kamath is respected for his knowledge of trading, investing, and financial literacy. Let's examine his background, wealth, and contributions to the Indian stock market in more detail. Who is Nithin Kamath? Credit: Instagram Indian businessman Nikhil Kamath was born in Udupi, Karnataka, on September 5, 1986. He is a co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon, and Gruhas. He had a unique scholastic path since he decided to leave school after finishing the tenth grade. Even though Kamath didn't have a degree, his love of money and entrepreneurship would influence his extraordinary career. Nithin Kamaths family Nithin Kamath is from a Karnataka middle-class Konkani family. True Beacon and Zerodha were co-founded by his younger brother, Nikhil Kamath. Seema Patil, who oversees Zerodha's diversity and inclusion programs, is Nithin's spouse. His family has significantly influenced his entrepreneurial trajectory. Nithin Kamaths education qualification Credit: Instagram As a child, Nithin Kamath went throughout India to support his father's career, which marked the beginning of his educational journey. In 1996, he finally made his home in Bangalore, where he finished his college and secondary schooling. After graduating from Bangalore Institute of Technology with a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications, Nithin Kamath's formal schooling ended. His academic experience probably aided his technical proficiency and comprehension of the changing financial technology landscape in this area. Nithin Kamath career Numerous significant turning points may be seen in Nikhil Kamath's professional trajectory. Initially, he worked at a call centre and traded stocks to get his start in the financial industry. After becoming a sub-broker in 2006, he and his brother Nithin founded the brokerage company Kamath & Associates. They co-founded Zerodha in 2010 because of their entrepreneurial energy, resulting in a revolutionary discount brokerage model drastically lowering transaction commissions. Thanks to this innovation, retail investors now have easier access to investing, which completely changed the Indian stockbroking market. Kamath was a co-founder of True Beacon, an asset management firm serving ultra-high net worth people, in 2020. Gruhas, a prop-tech and real estate investing company, was founded in 2021 as part of his ongoing business endeavours. Nithin Kamath achievements Credit: Instagram One of Nikhil Kamath's greatest accomplishments was introducing Zerodha's cheap brokerage concept, revolutionising the Indian stockbroking market. He has been acknowledged for his creative approach to financial services and has made noteworthy contributions to the fintech industry. Nikhil Kamath has won various honours and recognitions for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur. He was listed on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list in 2017 and was named the Economic Times' "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2016 Nithin Kamaths net worth According to Forbes real-time statistics, Nithin Kamath's net worth was estimated to be 3,91,86,22,50,000.00 Indian Rupee (450 crores USD) as of 2025. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. A peaceful protest in Athens over the recent train disaster in Tempe turned violent Wednesday night as clashes broke out between police and hooded individuals. The demonstration, held in Syntagma Square, was organized to demand accountability for the February 28 train collision that killed 57 people As the main protest concluded, a group of individuals near the intersection of Filellinon and Mitropoleos streets ignited trash bins and launched projectiles at police forces. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades. The unrest lasted for about an hour, with sporadic incidents reported around Syntagma Square and near the Greek Parliament. Four arrests were made, and one officer was injured and transported to a hospital. Two demonstrators reportedly fainted due to the effects of tear gas, and at least one person suffered a head injury. Traffic in central Athens, which had been disrupted during the unrest, was later restored. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Greece following the Tempe tragedy, which has sparked widespread public outrage and calls for government reforms. iefimerida.gr North-Central All Progressives Congress, Forum has alleged that ongoing sexual harassment allegations leveled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, were plotted by opposition groups. The APC Forum also warned that any attempt to cause breakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory, and destabilize President Bola Tinubu administration will be resisted. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the warning is coming, following a protest by supporters of Senator Natasha on Wednesday, at the National Assembly complex, calling for the removal of Senate President Godswil Akpabio. Advertisement The agitators, who arrived at the National Assembly gate as early as 8:00 a.m. were seen with banners with inscriptions such as Akpabio Must Go and Protect Womens Rights. READ MORE: Dead On Arrival Senate Committee Dismisses Natashas Petition Against Akpabio They demanded accountability and urged the Senate to investigate Akpabio over the accusations. Reacting to the development in a statement by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga on Wednesday, the North-Central APC Forum, said that protesters were mobilized to cause unrest and anarchy in the FCT. He said: We are putting the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies on the alert over the plot to cause anarchy and unrest in the FCT by sponsored protesters who have been mobilized to cause trouble to advance the political agenda of the opposition. We are, by this statement, giving the protesters and their sponsors 24 hours to vacate the streets of the FCT. As stakeholders of the North-Central, which includes the FCT, we cant stand by and watch as hoodlums and anarchists cause a breakdown of law and order in the capital city, which has been known for peace and tranquility since the coming of the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Does it mean that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan would have kept silent on the purported sexual harassment if Senate President Godswill Akpabio had not referred her to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges for investigation for breach of Senate Rules? What is playing out in the Senate at the moment is a script by the opposition to destabilize the National Assembly and, by extension, the administration of President Bola Tinubu by derailing the fruitful working relationship between the executive and the legislature. We urge all members of our party and well-meaning Nigerians to rise up against this sinister plot, which should not be allowed to succeed. The North-Central APC Forum is also calling on the Senate and the National Assembly as a whole not to be distracted by the antics of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her co-travelers, whose motive is to destabilize the system for their selfish political interests. Lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has described her suspension from the Red Chambers as an injustice that will not be sustained. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Senator Natashas statement is coming, after a decision was made on Thursday by Senate disciplinary committee, following a dispute between her and Senate President Godswil Akpabio. She was suspended from the National Assembly for six months after she was found guilty of disrespecting the upper chambers code of conducts. Advertisement READ MORE: Dead On Arrival Senate Committee Dismisses Natashas Petition Against Akpabio Reacting to the development during a plenary session on Thursday, Mrs. Natasha insisted that her suspension will not stand, adding that it is an injustice decision made by the Red chamber. She said: This injustice will not be sustained. Recall that on February 20, 2025, Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated debate on the floor of the upper legislative chamber over a change in seating arrangements. Days later, during an interview on Arise News, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her troubles in the Senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio. She submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday. However, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions rejected the petition, citing breaches of due process and Senate rules. The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the killing of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu, the priest in charge of St Mary Catholic Church in Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area. The incident was confirmed by the commands Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, in a telephone interview on Wednesday. The circumstances of his death, theres a sign of struggle, so the Kaduna State Police Commissioner has given an instant order to unravel those behind the devilish act. This untimely and brutal loss has left us heartbroken and devastated. Fr Sylvester was a dedicated servant of God who worked selflessly in the vineyard of the Lord, spreading the message of peace, love, and hope. Advertisement He was always available and accessible to his parishioners. His untimely death has left an indelible void within our diocesan family, and we share in the pain of his passing with his family, friends, and all those who knew and loved him. Let us come together as one family in prayer for the repose of his soul. We invite all priests, religious and the faithful, to offer Holy Masses, Rosaries, and Prayers for the eternal repose of Fr. Sylvester, who gave his life in service to God and humanity. We wish to call on our youth and members of the Takad community to remain calm and steadfast in prayer, warning that no one should take the law into their hands. The details of the funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course. An Ogun Magistrates Court has postponed the case against popular musician Habeeb Okikiola, known as Portable, to March 26, giving the prosecution time to combine his charges with those of his employees. When the artists case was revisited on Wednesday following his initial arraignment on February 20, the prosecution argued that handling Portables case separately from his workers would be a waste of the courts time. Senior State Counsel Timileyin Oredein informed the court that Portables case was linked to another, which needed to be combined before the trial could commence. Advertisement READ MORE: My Instagram Name Elizabeth Joyce Was Inspired By My Past Involvement In Yahoo Portable Oredein recalled that the musician and nine of his workers had previously been arraigned on February 6 on related charges. He claimed that a separate trial for each defendant would be a waste of time. Oredein requested a short adjournment to allow the charges to be merged and substituted. Portable and his workers faced a five-count charge, including conspiracy, assault, unlawful obstruction while armed with cutlasses and a gun, and conduct likely to disturb public peace. They were also charged with allegedly attacking three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has dismissed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghans petition against Senate President Godswil Akpabio. Recall that the lawmaker representing Kogi Central on Wednesday, during a plenary session, submitted the case, accusing the former governor of Akwa Ibom State of sexual harassment and abuse of office. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, during a probe hearing against Mrs. Natasha at the National Assembly, declared the petition, as dead on arrival. Advertisement The Edo South Senator cited a breach of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Order. According to Imasuen, the Kogi lawmaker signed the petition herself instead of having it endorsed by another individual, rendering it procedurally invalid. READ MORE: Call For Akpabios Resignation Too Early, Theres Needs For Elders Intervention CAN Warns Natashas Supporters He noted that the issues raised in the petition were already in court, making them subjudice. Imasuen said: The petition that she (Natasha) presented today is actually dead on arrival; it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself. Since that petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee. No fewer than 20 rooms have been destroyed following a fire outbreak that occurred in Ilorin area, Kwara State. It was gathered that an unattended gas cooker set the entire building ablaze on Wednesday. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that inferno erupted around 1:53 pm at No. 90 Koro Compound, Oke-Apomu quarters of Ilorin metropolis. Advertisement This was contained in a statement by Hassan Ade Kunle, the Spokesman for the State Fire Service. He said: The firefighters crew responded swiftly and arrived to find several rooms engulfed in flames. READ MORE: Driver Dies In Kwara Tanker-Truck Collision Demonstrating exceptional skill and efficiency, the firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the fire and, out of the 20 rooms in the storey building, 13 were successfully saved, while seven were affected by the inferno. Hassan disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by an unattended gas cooker. Director of the State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, urged the public to prioritise fire safety at all times to prevent such incidents. PDP leaders, led by National Secretary Ude Okoye, have urged Abdul-Azeez Adediran, aka Jandor, to rejoin the party. This comes after Jandors sudden resignation on Monday, citing betrayal and lack of discipline. The Lagos4Lagos Movement leader had been the PDPs 2023 Lagos State governorship candidate. In a swift response, PDP leaders visited Jandor at his Abuja office, just 48 hours after his resignation, to persuade him to reconsider his decision. In a statement on Wednesday in Lagos by Adedirans spokesman, Mr Gbenga Ogunleye had this to say. Barely 48 hours after leaving the party, PDP leaders visited Adediran at his Abuja office, urging him to reconsider his decision and return to the party. Advertisement The PDP leaders pleaded with Adediran to revisit his decision and withdraw his resignation from the party. The National Secretary of the PDP, Ude Okoye, former National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, and ex-House of Representatives member, Shina Peller, visited Adediran. They urged him to reconsider his resignation and return to the PDP, Ogunleye said. While appreciating their support, Adediran assured them of his willingness to collaborate with friends in his political journey, in spite of differences in political alignment, The Ogoni youths have vowed to resist any form of attack against Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara. The youths led this out at the Presidential Dialogue and Consultation Committee on Oil and Gas Exploration in Ogoniland, held in Bori on Wednesday. Speaking on behalf of the youths, Effort Ndeesor reaffirmed the support of the group for oil exploration in the land but emphasized that youths must be actively involved in the process to ensure meaningful participation and benefits for local communities. Advertisement Ndeesor called on President Tinubu to caution Wike and Amaewhule against interfering with the governance of Rivers State. He noted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara must be allowed to focus on development projects without undue political distractions. READ MORE: Supreme Court Verdict: Im Not Scared Of Leaving Office, No One Can Intimidate Me Gov Fubara He said: Nobody can remove the first elected governor from Rivers South-East Senatorial District. Ogonis stand united with our Opobo brothers and will continue to support Governor Fubaras administration. Also addressing the crisis on Wednesday, Rivers State Civil Society Organisations, called for end to political distractions that could derail development in the state. Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Solomon Lenu emphasized that Governor Fubara has demonstrated a strong commitment to the growth of Rivers State, and must be given the necessary support to succeed. Lenu said: The crisis in Rivers is not in the best interest of the state or the Ogoni people. It is a needless distraction that hinders progress. We urge our brothers and sisters to support the governor in delivering development. Enough is enough. We wont allow anyone to destabilize Rivers State. While we received the Supreme Court judgment with mixed feelings, we remain committed to upholding the rule of law. Nigerian socialite Cubana Chief Priest has responded to actress Tonto Dikeh after she appeared to weigh in on his ongoing paternity dispute with Kenyan lady Hellen Mutimu. After a brief encounter in Lagos, Mutimu accused Cubana of being the father of her child, which sparked the drama. Since January, she has been publicly challenging him, insisting on a paternity test. Advertisement READ MORE: Seun Kuti Slams Feminists For Silce Over Natashas Sexual Harrassment Allegations Against Akpabio Dikeh seemed to have stepped into the controversy. In a now-deleted post, she questioned why men are suddenly avoiding paternity tests. I was under the impression that it was women who were supposed to be avoiding DNA tests, so why are men the ones running now? The irony is unreal, she wrote. Cubana fired back in an Instastory post, accusing Dikeh of backing Mutimus allegations against him. The socialite further alleged that Dikehs actions were driven by spite, claiming she was bitter because he once refused to do her a favour. Remember this accusation came first from gistlover and she donated 1 million to her and asked Nigerians to donate too, he wrote. Make it make sense with the gistlover allegations. I have always known it was sponsored, the same way they tried to rope me in that my show was Mohbads last show, and Im a suspect. My only crime was you asking me for favors and I declined. You go chase me enter gutter. My marriage is built on a solid rock it can never be like yours blackmailer T, Ceo Gistlover Nigeria limited. However, the actress clapped back, criticising the socialite for assuming her post was about him. She further emphasised that she has no interest in his personal life. She wrote, This is exactly what they wanted Let me begin with Humpty Dumpty @cubana_chiefpriest I always knew you were slow, but the extent of it remains baffling. At what point did your personal or family matters become relevant to me? I never involved you in my conversation especially one where I was addressing a blog for twisting my words and misdirecting their claims toward you. Are you upset because, out of pity, I gave your baby mama some financial assistance years ago? The Gistlover accusations have become tired and repetitive. If you have no course of action, then STFU. You all dance around my name like Telly tubbies, unable to sue or take your proof/ even file a proper petition with the authorities.Unless you identify as a woman b@ater, I dont see any reason for comparison on mine or yours. And one last thing please enlighten the world on what favor I ever asked of you. Calling you on behalf of a colleague, pressured by Larritshoes persistent requests, is hardly a topic for discussion unless you intend to embarrass that person. Point of correction you never declined, you simply said you would look into It. You didnt help her, but Cant you see how Gods glory is radiating around this said person? With bigger and better deals to her credit?? Little people belittle people. I have no interest in your family dynamics, whether they stand on solid ground or not. But lets not forget that on that same solid rock, you fathered a child youre now running from in Kenya. Boy, please, goodbye. Im not a child competing over who has the bigger horse. I dont need to put a label on you Nwa-Malaysia. SEE BELOW: Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), has reacted to a summon notice issued by the states House of Assembly. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA reported that Martin Amaewhule-Led Rivers Assembly, during a plenary session on Wednesday, called for the appearance of RSIECs boss over the conduct of 2024 local government elections. Amaewhule also warned that failure to comply with the summons would result in the issuance of an arrest warrant against the RSIEC Chairman. Advertisement The assembly also resolved to formally request Governor Siminalayi Fubara to submit the names of all commissioners who were not screened by the Amaewhule-led Assembly. Reacting to the development in a letter dated 5th of March, 2025, through his lawyer, Kenneth A. Amadi, the RSIEC Chairman warned the Assembly to withdraw its ultimatum threat. Citing section 36 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Amadi noted that it is unconstitutional to issue a notice of summon, not less than 7 days. READ MORE: Amaewhule-Led Rivers Assembly Summons RSIEC Chair For Conducting LG Polls In 2024 He also called for better orientation for members of the assembly, saying that the state is not under dictatorship regime. The letter partly reads: We write to issue a PRE-ACTION NOTICE respectfully requesting you and your Honorable Rivers State House of Assembly to withdraw the 48 hours ultimatum issued against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission directing him to appear before your Honourable Assembly. According to the principle of fair hearing, enshrined in both the Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the case of El-Rufai vs House of Representatives, National Assembly (2003), at least seven (7) day notice would suffice to honour an invitation from any legislature according the legislative Houses (Power and Privilege) Act. 2018. We use this opportunity to remind you that we are in a democracy and not a dictatorship wherein ultimatums are issued without regard to the relevant laws such as the legislative houses (Power and Privilege) Act. 2018. We respectfully suggest that both yourself and other legislators of the Rivers State House of Assembly undergo a re-orientation training workshop wherein you will be re- acquainted with the scope and ambits of your powers as a legislature as prescribed by the Nigerian constitution. Kate Henshaw, a well-known Nigerian actress, has praised Natasha Akpoti, a senator representing Kogi Central, for her bravery in the face of an ongoing controversy with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. It should be noted that the controversy began on February 20, 2025, after the two senators clashed during the plenary session over seating arrangements. After the confrontation, the Senate directed that Natasha be sent to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for her disruptive behaviour during the plenary session. Advertisement READ MORE: Seun Kuti Slams Feminists For Silce Over Natashas Sexual Harrassment Allegations Against Akpabio In an interview with Arise Television, Natasha alleged that Akpabio targeted her after she rejected his sexual advances. Natasha filed a sexual harassment petition against the Senate president in plenary on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. In response to the development, Kate Henshaw praised Natasha for standing firm and not allowing outdated narratives about the roles or importance of women to dominate. The actress shared Natashas picture on her Instagram page, declaring the Senator her Woman Crush Wednesday (WCW) and emphasising that Women, like children, are to be seen and not heard. Henshaw wrote: WCW: @natashaakpoti. We forget so readily how far we have come. We forget our lineage, history, and strength. We are told we are weak, spineless, and cannot think. We accept the new role foisted on us, the subtle submission imposed by religion, society, and tradition. They tell us we cant govern, we cant rule, we cant make our own decisions. They tell us to shut up and sit down. Women, like children, are to be seen and not heard. Do you not know that in nearly all species, the female is much more deadly than the male? We are the offspring of countless women warriors! SEE POST: https://www.instagram.com/p/DG0BtPIoJ2Z/?igsh=aTB1MWh2cTJhczRi A fight erupted at the Kara Cattle Market along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Isheri Olofin on Monday, during which 80-year-old trader Ladan Bature was fatally stabbed. The Ogun State Police Command informed PUNCH Metro that a woman, Haiye Aginni, who is suspected of carrying out the attack, has been apprehended. The incident took place a day after a teenager, Olamide Phillips, allegedly killed his friend, Moses Odeh, by stabbing him during a fight on Obalende Street in the Isara area of the state. Advertisement READ MORE: Ekiti Woman Arrested For Inflicting Head Injuries On Son With Pestle In a conversation with PUNCH on Wednesday, the commands spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, revealed that the suspect allegedly stabbed the 80-year-old man with a knife in front of the Kara Market mosque. According to Odutola, a doctor declared Bature dead despite the residents and traders attempts to take him to the hospital. She disclosed, Following the report to the Ojodu Abiodun Police Division, detectives swiftly took action and arrested the suspect. Batures body has been deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital morgue in Sagamu for preservation and autopsy. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation. A ballerina tutu in the window of the Dance Boutique, a retail store opened by the Rock School of Dance Education. Read more Having a first fitting for pointe shoes is a big deal in a dancers life, said Peter Stark, president and director of the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. When a young dancer moves on pointe, its a momentous step in their progression in studying classical ballet, Stark said. You get the whole family, you get pictures. Its a whole ordeal. Its very exciting. Advertisement While some dance gear can be purchased online, pointe shoes require an in-person fitting, said Stark, who noted that students have gone as far as New York or Miami to get the shoes, which come in myriad modalities and can cost $80 or more. Now, dancers in the Philadelphia region can get their ballet shoes locally, as well as other dance apparel. The Rock School opened a store on the ground floor of its main location at South Broad and Washington Streets last week and is offering pointe shoe fittings by appointment. The dance shop fills a void in the city, which has seen brick-and-mortar dance stores close in recent years. Its also a way for the school to diversify its revenue streams as it keeps an eye out on the future of federal funding. And while the shop is convenient for the schools students, the goal is to serve the Philadelphia dance community generally, said Stark. We really want to support all of the dance schools and all of the dance companies in Philadelphia because dancers need these supplies, he said. The origin of the store: a perfect storm For more than 125 years, dancers and students relied on Baums Dancewear for their leotards, tights, and shoes. Mummers shopped there as well. Baums, a family business, opened in Kensington in 1887, later moved to South Street and then to South 11th Street, where it stayed for 75 years, and also opened a Marlton location. The company relocated its Philly store to South Philadelphia in 2014. Both locations have since closed. Another dance store, the Rosin Box, also had a long run in Philadelphia. It opened in 1977 and closed 41 years later in 2018 when the owners retired. When Stark joined the Rock School in 2022, there was already a very successful internal boutique selling items to students out of an upper-floor space in the school building. It also had a pop-up market during performances. Stark noticed that the store brought in a decent amount of revenue from the events, he said. Theres this perfect storm of already having a successful boutique, seeing the need in Philadelphia, and the potential for a new revenue stream to enable us to do our good work, he said. For years, the original door to the school building on Broad Street had been closed, as students and visitors entered through the Washington Street entrance. Now the door that lines up with the school address of 1101 S. Broad St., is open, welcoming passersby into the store. Stark estimates that remodeling the space, which used to hold two offices, cost roughly $150,000 including renovations to the lobby. The shop will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stark said the goal is to build up a catalog of pointe shoes. He already has plans to expand the store to accommodate this in a second phase of renovations. The most successful stores like this can have upward of $150,000 of inventory of pointe shoes, he said. Its almost like a car dealership. You have to create this inventory so people can come and get the car that they want and the color that they want. It will take a while to fill that inventory at the new shop, Stark said, but they are listening to customers and working to quickly get them what they need. He expects it will take a couple of years to turn a profit. The financial picture The shop opens as the school is keeping an eye on potential changes in government funding, said Stark. President Donald Trumps administration ordered a freeze on federal funding in January as it reviewed programs, and the White House later rescinded the guidance. The National Endowment for the Arts announced in February that it was ending a grant disbursement program of $2.8 million called Challenge America, and instead advised that applications to its general fund would be prioritized that celebrate and honor the nations rich artistic heritage and creativity, as the 250th anniversary of the country approaches. It still remains to be determined, but certainly there are significant cuts to many departments, and that filters from the federal level to a state level, said Stark. When we see that contributed revenue might be threatened with potential changes, we have to find that money somewhere else. As a nonprofit, the goal is not to make money, but to cover expenses including maintenance of the buildings. It can be a struggle, said Stark. We are anticipating that struggle could get more challenging with what were seeing in some of the proposed changes on a federal level, he said. We want to be ahead of that, and we dont want to wait until theres a problem. We want to proactively step forward and have a solution so that we can keep doing our good work. Most of the Rock School of Dance Educations earned income comes from tuition. Between 3% and 5% of its contributed income comes from government funding, which is one of the hardest sources of income to secure, managing director Arturo Espinoza Jr. said. The rest is from individual and corporate donations. The school has a $6.5 million annual budget for its Broad Street location and a satellite site in West Chester. It owns the Broad Street location thanks to a $1.5 million donation in 1999 from Milton L. Rock, and its the organizations primary asset, Stark said. Really were trying to monetize our asset to support our mission and to support the scholarship and the outreach programming that we do, he said. The Rock School provides $1.4 million in scholarships annually. We want to keep this art form alive, and we want anybody with a dream and the desire to do this to be able to do so, Stark said. Marie Scott, 71, has been incarcerated since she was 19 after she and her boyfriend participated in a deadly robbery in Philadelphia. Read more Pennsylvanias Board of Pardons on Thursday voted unanimously to grant Marie Scott, who has served 51 years behind bars for murder, a public hearing a critical step in her quest to be considered for an early release from prison. The vote does not mean that Scott, 71, will be freed, and it does not guarantee that the board will approve her petition for a commutation of the life sentence she has been serving for her role in a robbery that led to the death of a Philadelphia man in 1973. But it is hurdle she has never before surpassed, and that was not guaranteed after her attorneys said the head of Pennsylvanias Department of Corrections did not back her application. Advertisement Scott will now go before the board for a public hearing in May, where her attorneys, along with prison officials and the family of the victim of her crime, will testify for or against her petition for release. To win her freedom, Scott would need a unanimous vote of the five-member board and final approval from Gov. Josh Shapiro. Scott has been incarcerated since she was 19, after she took part in a deadly robbery at a Germantown gas station in 1973. She and her then-boyfriend, while high on drugs, confronted the stores cashier, Michael Kerrigan, at knifepoint before rifling through the register and safe. Scott was acting as lookout when to her surprise, she says the boyfriend shot and killed Kerrigan, an off-duty firefighter and father of seven. Scott was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her 16-year-old accomplice, Leroy Saxton, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to the same fate. But Saxton, who pulled the trigger, was released on time served in 2020 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned mandatory life sentences for juveniles. Scott, known as Mechie, remains behind bars more than half a century later, her health now deteriorating. She relies on a wheelchair and is battling Stage 2 breast cancer. She underwent surgery for a double mastectomy earlier this year. Two of Kerrigans children said that they support Scotts release and that, while they will never forget her crime or the agony it brought for their family, they forgive her. Other members of the family, however, have said they oppose Scotts commutation request and will speak against it at the hearing. A team of advocates and lawyers have been pushing for Scotts freedom, running a social media, phone, and letter-writing campaign to Shapiro and prison officials to encourage them to support her release. Over the last week, members of Philadelphia City Council, alongside state senators and representatives, released a series of public statements and videos encouraging the board to grant Scott a hearing and send her home. Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill shared a story about her case on Instagram and X, saying she should be freed. We are overjoyed and heartened by Mechie crossing this very critical threshold, said Bret Grote, the legal director of the Abolition Law Center, which has represented Scott for years. We will be continuing to advocate so that Mechie can be home with her family, he said. Leaders of State Correctional Institution Muncy, where Scott has lived for decades, have said they supported her petition, Grote said, but Laurel Harry, the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, said she would not a decision that could be a major obstacle. It is rare for the board to approve a commutation or even offer a public hearing without the secretarys support, Grote said. In opposing Scotts bid for release, Grote said, Harry pointed to the three times between 1975 and 1980 that Scott escaped from prison. But in the more than four decades since those incidents, the lawyer said, Scott has been a model inmate. She has expressed remorse and hopes to apologize to her victims family, he said. While at Muncy, she has written books about healing, directed plays, and become a mentor and mother figure to dozens of women inside, teaching them how to control their emotions, plan for the future, and work to redeem themselves. On Thursday, all five members of the board including Attorney General Dave Sunday and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis voted to grant Scott a public hearing in her bid for release. The board approved public hearings for eight others seeking commutations, including four people from Philadelphia all serving life sentences for murder: Ronald Weaver, 66, who has served 44 years; Michael Washington, 71, who has spent 31 years in prison; Larry Shaw, 65, incarcerated since he was 27; and Dannielle Hadley, 61, who has served 37 years. Before the big news surrounding Saquon Barkleys contract extension and Zack Baun re-signing with the Birds, the Eagles had to make a decision regarding one of their veteran players: Darius Slay. On Monday, it was reported the Eagles would release the 34-year-old cornerback after he spent five seasons in Philadelphia, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl nods. The 12-year veteran discussed the news the following day on the Big Play Slay podcast. Advertisement It is part of the business and no, Im not hurt about it, Slay said. Im not sad about it because this is what I signed up for. I knew I gave that team everything I had ... organization everything I had. So, theres always a possibility of your boy coming back. Im just thankful enough that I can get ahead of free agency if I find me a good destination for myself. But hopefully, well see how the Eagles do. If the Eagles do something nice, then they know I would love to be back. They know that. With the success of the Eagles dynamic rookie duo of Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, Slay realizes the teams future is in good hands. I understand how this game is, teams get younger, Slay said. Teams want to save cap space because they have to pay younger guys for their future. And thats why I said theres no hard feelings. I know Im 34, I know Im way out of my prime but still playing at an elite, elite level. Me and Howie [Roseman] had a great talk and he said the same. Its not that I cant play, its just thats just part of the business. He said well see how things shake out and we will. Possibly, he might spin the block back, just like he did last time. Slay was put in a similar position in 2023. After the Eagles Super Bowl LVII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the team was ready to release the cornerback before agreeing on a last-minute, restructured deal. I was not surprised at all because I remember I was going through it two years ago in 22 after another Super Bowl run and they did the same thing, Slay said. And thats whats crazy. I love that I got me a Super Bowl, but damn. Every time I feel like I go on a Super Bowl run we make it to a Super Bowl the Eagles team seems to release me. In his absence, Slay believes Reed Blankenship is the player to step up and be a leader for the secondary. Thats who I feel would be leading the group if I aint in that building is Reed Blankenship because hes a great leader. He is a great damn leader. If they bring another veteran in thats already been playing a lot, I could see them coming in and being a leader as well, but for sure if Im not in that room, Reed Blankenship will be a great, tremendous leader. Before spending five seasons in Philly, the cornerback played the first seven years of his career in Detroit with the Lions, where he earned three Pro Bowl selections. The Georgia native joined Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Browns podcast two weeks ago, saying that he would love to play for the Lions or the Eagles a statement he reemphasized on his own podcast. If theres any team I love to play for, you already know its Philly or Detroit Lions, Slay said. However that shakes out, thats how it shakes out. That would be a blessing. Like [Malcolm] Jenkins. You know, he started off with the Saints, then came over to Philly, then he ended his career back over there with the Saints. I would love that in a way of just saying those are the two teams I would be wanting to play for. For sure, the Philadelphia Eagles or the Detroit Lions. Rowan President Ali Houshmand. Rowan University has become the second local college to acknowledge publicly making substantive changes in response to the Trump administration directive to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Read more Rowan University has become the second local college to publicly acknowledge making substantive changes in response to the Trump administrations attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in higher education. The New Jersey state university said in an email to the campus it had reorganized and realigned the departments within the former Division of Inclusive Excellence, Community & Belonging, which will no longer exist as a division. The email followed the U.S. Department of Educations letter last month directing schools to scale back DEI initiatives or risk the loss of federal funding. Advertisement The changes are being made so they fully align with federal guidance while ensuring uninterrupted support for all students, president Ali A. Houshmand and provost Anthony M. Lowman said in a message to the campus last week. The moves which have worried some students, faculty, and alumni represent the latest example of the impact of President Donald Trumps opposition to DEI efforts, and come weeks after the University of Pennsylvania scrubbed its websites of references to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Penns changes followed a Trump executive order critical of DEI but came before the Education Departments directive telling colleges to halt such programming it would find in violation by Feb. 28. Some Penn faculty have criticized the universitys move, though Penn has emphasized its values have not changed. And other local colleges said they are still assessing the federal policies and have not made changes. READ MORE: Penn scrubs diversity initiatives from its website to comply with Trump order The dear colleague letter from the department warned colleges that receive federal funds to stop using racial preferences as a factor in their admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, and other areas. The letter refers to the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said colleges could not use race as a factor in deciding whether students should be admitted and indicated the department would apply the ruling more broadly. The American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association have filed a lawsuit, accusing the department of overstepping its bounds and attempting to establish a new legal regime when it has neither the lawmaking power of Congress nor the interpretative power of the courts. READ MORE: Philly-area colleges are reviewing federal directive on DEI but have not made changes like Penn At Rowan, no employees will lose their jobs in the reorganization, said Joe Cardona, university spokesperson. Among the changes, Penny McPherson-Myers, who had been vice president of the inclusive excellence division, will become vice president of the new Division of Student Access and Pathway Programs. Naima Hall, who had been assistant vice president of the inclusive excellence division at Rowans Virtua Health College of Medicine and Life Sciences, will become assistant vice president for Wellness Inclusivity. Neither McPherson-Myers nor Hall responded to requests for comment. Rowan is evolving its internal structure to ensure compliance with federal laws, Cardona said. Every decision we make is driven by what will best result in student success and fulfilling our mission to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality programs, and to be a catalyst for economic development for our region and New Jersey. Rowan noted that as a large public research university in New Jersey, it does not use racial preferences in admissions, hiring, scholarships, and scholarship administration. Even so, it has felt the impact of this issuance, leaving some members of our university community shocked, confused and anxious, wrote Rowans Black Student Union on Instagram. Rowans actions also stirred debate on the Rowan University Black Alumni Network. Its a difficult situation for sure, one person wrote. On one hand if Rowan were to take a stance against dissolving DEI initiatives, we would lose our federal funding and possible other donors. That would lead to students having to pay more for their tuition. On the other hand I would have loved to see Rowan take a stance to push for DEI because without the initiatives it will tremendously affect our students morals, cultural values and their respect for their own university. Rowans NAACP chapter and Black Cultural League have encouraged members to attend a meeting at 3:30 p.m. Friday on campus that is being held for the college community by the administration to discuss the changes. READ MORE: Penn scrubs diversity initiatives from its website to comply with Trump order Education Department releases new details on its directive In documents released Saturday, the Education Department clarified its stance, noting that schools deemed in violation would not lose funding immediately but would be allowed to negotiate a resolution agreement. Programs with the words diversity, equity, and inclusion are not automatically in violation, the department said. Schools may not operate policies or programs under any name that treat students differently based on race, engage in racial stereotyping, or create hostile environments for students of particular races, the department said. For example, schools with programs focused on interests in particular cultures, heritages, and areas of the world would not in and of themselves [be a violation] assuming they are open to all students regardless of race. Nor would educational, cultural, or historical observances such as Black History Month, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or similar events that celebrate or recognize historical events and contributions, and promote awareness, so long as they do not engage in racial exclusion or discrimination. But the department also outlined activities that could be problematic, including: requiring students to participate in privilege walks, segregating them by race for presentations and discussions with guest speakers, pressuring them to participate in protests or take certain positions on racially charged issues, investigating or sanctioning them for dissenting on racially charged issues through DEI or similar university offices, mandating courses, orientation programs or trainings that are designed to emphasize and focus on racial stereotypes, and assigning them coursework that requires them to identify by race and then complete tasks differentiated by race. This week, days after the deadline imposed by the department, several local colleges said they were continuing to gauge the impact of all orders and communications from the Trump administration. Like universities across the nation, we are reviewing our existing programs to ensure compliance with state and federal law and will make adjustments when appropriate, Rutgers University spokesperson Dory Devlin said. We will continue to ensure the universitys policies and practices are consistent both with the law and with our institutional values. The university has not made changes in response to the letter, she said. Pennsylvania State University said: While the university is still gathering information, it remains committed to its mission and to fostering a culture of inclusive excellence for our community. Everyone is welcome at Penn State, and we are at our strongest when we are surrounded by a diversity of thought, perspective and experience. Clarence Lang, dean of Penn States College of the Liberal Arts, in a message to faculty Feb. 18 emphasized that promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging remained a priority, according to an email obtained by The Inquirer. PSU Black scholars committee issues letter of concern Gary King, a professor of biobehavioral health at University Park, said that, so far, it appears Penn State has not made changes in response to the letter, but he and a committee of more than a dozen other Black scholars remain concerned. He noted that Ohio State University, a major Penn State rival in the Big Ten, closed its offices of diversity and inclusion, according to news accounts. In a Feb. 24 letter to Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi, the Black scholars group called among other demands for her to affirm, in clear and unambiguous language, that DEIB [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging] is not only a core Penn State value but also a non-negotiable Penn State virtue that is essential to the universitys mission. If ever there was a time for courageous and forthright leadership, it is now, they wrote. Penn State said in a statement that it had responded to the letter to reaffirm the universitys commitment to fostering a diverse student body, faculty, and staff as well as maintaining an environment in which all members of our community feel valued, supported, and included. Advancing these goals requires thoughtful action, and Penn State is focused on making sure our efforts are real, strategic, and sustainable, with measurable inputs and outcomes. King acknowledged the university provided a response and said the committee is reviewing it. Tens of thousands of references to review Rowan said it is auditing its entire website for compliance. There are tens of thousands of references that all need to be looked at, Cardona said. Bill Freind, president of the university senate and a professor of English, said in a private listserv for union faculty and staff Monday that he noticed some managers overreacting to the federal letter. For instance, one college removed the word inclusivity from its mission which seems wholly unnecessary to me, he wrote in the communication, obtained by The Inquirer. He also noted that some webpages yield 404 errors, meaning they are no longer accessible, in part as a result of Rowans redesign of the inclusive excellence division website. Im working to make sure nothing is purged unnecessarily, he wrote. In the interim, Freind advised faculty not to change syllabi or course lectures. In an interview, Freind said that he supported changes the university made involving the former inclusive excellence division and that he thought Rowan was largely in compliance before that. We are going to be able to continue with our mission, he said. Thats really what counts ultimately. A pedestrian walks by The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in Washington, D.C. Read more President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to eradicate the Department of Education, another move from the Project 2025 playbook, in an effort to drastically shrink the size of the federal government. Since Trump took office, multiple news outlets have reported he was prepping to gut the Education Department to the fullest extent of his power, directing his administration to slash spending and pressuring employees to quit. Advertisement But Trumps vow to shutter the department faces a setback: Most of the Department of Educations spending along with its very existence is ordered by Congress. READ MORE: President Trump is poised to issue an executive order ending the Department of Education. How are local districts bracing? Still, reports said Trump was preparing to sign an executive order that would call on the departments director to take all necessary steps to facilitate a closure to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law. The White House denied reports that the signing could happen as early as Thursday, and it is unclear when it might happen. Heres what we know and what it could mean for the education landscape. What does the Department of Education do? The agencys main role is financial. Annually, it distributes billions in federal money to colleges and schools and manages the federal student loan portfolio. Closing the department would mean redistributing those duties to another agency. The Education Department also plays an important regulatory role in services for students, ranging from those with disabilities to low-income and homeless kids. Some of its focuses include overseeing student loans and financial aid, civil rights enforcement, college accreditation, and federal funding for K-12 schools. Advertisement According to the Hill, the department is already the smallest Cabinet-level federal agency, with about 4,500 employees. When was the Education Department established? A version of the department launched in 1867 by President Andrew Johnson, but it was short-lived. Despite the programs ambitious goals, Congress abolished it and demoted its reformist chief within a year, according to Politico. More than 200 years later, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation to establish the Department of Education as we know it today in 1979. It began operating in 1980. How much money does the Department of Education spend and manage? Last fiscal year, the Department of Education spent $268 billion, or 4% of overall federal spending. The department ranked sixth among federal agencies in total spending. The department manages about $1.5 trillion in student loan debt for over 40 million borrowers. It also oversees the Pell Grant, which provides aid to lower-income students, and administers the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which universities use to allocate financial aid. Why does Trump want to get rid of the Department of Education? Trump campaigned on a pledge to close the department, calling it too woke and saying it had been infiltrated by radicals, zealots, and Marxists. Trump has said he wants to forbid classroom lessons on gender identity and structural racism. Hes also set out to eradicate diversity and inclusion offices and to keep transgender athletes out of girls sports. In the nearly five decades since the agency was created, conservatives have made occasional attempts to shut it down, with critics saying it wastes taxpayer money and inserts the federal government into local education decisions. Still, Trumps goals of enforcement within the Education Department contradict his desire to get rid of the department. Advertisement A plan to abolish the department was also mentioned in the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 plan. What does Project 2025 say about this? Project 2025, a sweeping proposal outlining a far-right vision for the country, offered a blueprint for dismantling the Department of Education. The proposal called for many of the departments biggest programs to be parceled out to other agencies. Under the Project 2025 plan, Title I funding, the largest source of federal money to public schools, would be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services and given as block grants to states for them to spend as they please. The Education Departments Office for Civil Rights would shift to the Justice Department. Advertisement Trump has sought distance from Project 2025, though he has hired some staff behind it, and on some issues theres considerable overlap with his own platform. Can Trump get rid of the Department of Education with an executive order alone? Trump was expected to give his education chief a deadline to deliver a plan for the agencys disassembling. Still, even some allies question how far he can go without Congress. Some of the departments most significant programs are required by federal legislation, including Title I money for low-income schools and federal student loans. Advertisement That was a source of frustration during Trumps first term, when his education chief repeatedly sought budget cuts but instead saw Congress increase the agencys funding each year. Trumps quest to shut down the department could also be complicated by his own agenda. Already, he has created work for the department, including plans to promote patriotic education and efforts to go after schools that teach controversial lessons on race and gender. The agency also has opened new investigations into colleges, after Trump ordered a crackdown on campus antisemitism. Eliminating the department altogether would require Congress to pass legislation, an uphill battle that has historically failed to garner support. In the meantime, Trumps administration has started overhauling much of the departments work. Trump adviser Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency has cut dozens of contracts it dismissed as woke and wasteful. It gutted the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nations academic progress, and the administration has fired or suspended scores of employees. Who is in charge of the Department of Education? Trump has said he wants his new education chief, Linda McMahon, to put herself out of a job and close the department. McMahon, a former professional wrestling promoter with limited experience in education, was confirmed by the Senate on Monday. She led the Small Business Administration during Trumps first term. McMahon told employees that the departments final mission was to turn the agencys authority over to states. What will happen if the Department of Education is eliminated? If the Department of Education goes away, federal education laws would still be in place. But their enforcement would be up to each state, in theory. That means policies, such as the law that guarantees students with special needs free education and accommodations, could be left to state enforcement, leaving some of the most vulnerable students at the highest risk. Title I funding distribution would move to the Department of Health and Human Services and be allocated in the form of block grants to states to spend without safeguards in place, according to Project 2025s proposal. Enforcement for civil rights protections would also be in limbo. Currently, the Education Departments Office for Civil Rights conducts investigations and issues guidance on how civil rights laws should be applied, such as for LGBTQ+ students and students of color. Trump has frequently described diversity and equity policies in education as unlawful discrimination. Trump also has pledged to exclude transgender students from Title IX protections, which affect school policies on students use of pronouns, bathrooms and locker rooms. There are still many unknown futures for items under the departments purview if the Education Department were to go away. This article contains information from the Associated Press. President Donald Trump appears poised to attempt to end the U.S. Department of Education. At a rally at Widener Memorial School in Philadelphia on Tuesday, teacher Paul Breen (red shirt) addressed the possible impact of federal education cuts at his school, the only public school in Pennsylvania solely devoted to educating students with disabilities. Next to Breen is John Bynum, a union official with 32BJ SEIU District 1201, which represents district bus drivers and maintenance workers. Read more With President Donald Trump preparing to issue an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, according to multiple news outlets, local educational institutions are bracing for potentially devastating impacts. A White House official said no order would be signed Thursday, but one is still expected. Advertisement The Philadelphia School District, which educates 200,000 students in 300 traditional public and charter schools, could see the loss of crucial funding, Deputy Superintendent Jermaine Dawson said at a rally this week. Oh, my God, said someone in the audience at Widener Memorial School in Olney, the only public school for children with disabilities in the state. Direct and indirect federal funds represent about $500 million of the districts $4.5 billion budget. Dawson said the school system relies heavily on Title I funds for schools that educate large numbers of children from economically disadvantaged families, Title II money for teacher training, and Title III for English learners. If the current proposal to cut these three programs is approved at the federal level, it could mean a total loss of over $70 million to the students of the School District of Philadelphia, Dawson said at a news conference Tuesday where teachers, students, union officials, and state and local politicians sounded an alarm about the potential end of the Department of Education and other federal cuts that would affect vulnerable citizens. Title I funds alone pay for the jobs of 1,450 district teachers. Linda McMahon, the former president of WWE and Trumps newly confirmed education secretary, told her employees in an email that they were preparing for the departments final mission. Dan Urevick-Acklesberg, a lawyer with the Public Interest Law Center, said a possible executive order to end the Education Department would be legally meaningless ending the department requires an act of Congress. I think its important for us not to be accepting proclamations as if we have a king, Urevick-Acklesberg said. We do not. Its up to all of us to make sure that the basic norms of the American system of government continue. Trump has said he wants states, and parents, to be in charge of education. What do state officials say? Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said it was important to examine the executive order, once issued. Im concerned, of course, any time the president talks about taking away money from our schoolchildren, particularly schoolchildren with special needs who rely on funding from the federal government, or schoolchildren in poorer school districts which disproportionately rely on funding from the federal government, Shapiro said, adding that he would do everything in my power, possibly in conjunction with other governors, to halt the dismantling of the department. While he is willing to have discussions about how the state can play more of a role in our kids education, Shapiro said, we cant do it by removing funding that is so critically important to helping our children. What do others say? Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, noted in a statement that the department is legally bound to allocate funds to students living in poverty, those with disabilities, and those who need financial aid to attend college or trade school, and said the union would fight its proposed closure. No one likes bureaucracy, and everyones in favor of more efficiency, so lets find ways to accomplish that, Weingarten said. But dont use a war on woke to attack the children living in poverty and the children with disabilities, in order to pay for vouchers and tax cuts for billionaires. Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, just outside Chester, is one of two hospital still operated by Crozer Health. The other is Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park. Read more Prospect Medical Holdings edged closer Thursday to closing Delaware Countys Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital. The California for-profit owner of the health system told a bankruptcy judge in Texas that it planned to file a motion to close the hospitals in the Chester area and Ridley Park because it only has money to keep them open through March 14. Advertisement Talks on a short-term solution involving funding from the Foundation for Delaware County ended minutes before the hearing started. The foundation was started with proceeds from the 2016 sale of Crozer to Prospect, and says supplying money for a limited fix could jeopardize its overall mission to serve the health and well-being of local residents. The foundation was the last option, and Prospect wont have money to make the next $7 million payroll for Crozer employees after March 14, Prospects attorney, William Curtin, told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan, who is overseeing the case in Dallas. Crozer has 3,200 employees. The latest crisis arose after Pennsylvania and Delaware County came up with $20 million last month to keep Crozer open for 30 days. Crozer had a cash loss of $100 million in the last six months, according to Curtin, whose law firm, Sidley Austin LLP, recently billed Prospect $3 million for its work so far. Jernigan wasnt ready to give up on a solution that would keep open Delaware Countys largest health-care system. Crozer operates a trauma center, as well as a burn unit, and provides maternity services and behavioral health care. The next closest hospitals are Main Line Healths Riddle Hospital near Media and Trinity Health Fitzgerald Mercy in Darby, both nearly 10 miles away by car. Were going to hope for a miracle, Jernigan said, before she ordered a face-to-face meeting involving Prospect, the state attorney general, the foundation, and the receiver who has been scrutinizing Crozers finances. I want client decision-makers as well as lawyers, she said. That meeting is scheduled for Sunday in Harrisburg, with the next hearing in the bankruptcy case scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in Dallas. It will either be a status update on negotiations, or a hearing on the closure. Curtin said Prospect expected to file its closure motion Thursday. Work toward a different outcome The Pennsylvania attorney general and the administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro had hoped to transfer Crozer to a new independent nonprofit, backed by local nonprofit health systems, after eight years of ownership by Prospect, which was controlled by private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners when it acquired Crozer. Local systems were reluctant to get involved because Crozer has had heavy losses and is saddled with significant liabilities. The closing of Crozer Health System is an avoidable travesty, Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement, encouraging all involved to keep working toward a solution that preserves local health-care access. The officials from FTI Consulting Inc. who were sorting through Crozers financial condition communicated very little with medical staff at Crozer. State officials have said their goal was to preserve health-care services and jobs in an area of Southeastern Pennsylvania without easy access to other health-care options. The closure discussion comes more than seven weeks after Prospects Jan. 11 bankruptcy filing. Whats next for health care in Delaware County Delaware County administrators have been working on a contingency plan for months. The county had little notice when Crozer closed another hospital, Delaware County Memorial Hospital, in 2022, and has made efforts to be more prepared for a potential full Crozer shutdown by coordinating with nearby hospitals, EMS, and county stakeholders. It is infuriating to hear that Prospect has failed to keep their promises yet again to the residents of Delaware County, now that theyre done lining their own pockets at the expense of our communities, said Delaware County Council Chair Monica Taylor in a news release. We remain committed to an orderly, calm, and comprehensive process to helping ensure patients are transferred to other facilities that can provide the care they need, Taylor said. A closure date has not been set. Prospect said in bankruptcy court that the state Department of Health had reviewed its closure plan and provided comments. But the department told The Inquirer it has not received official notice of closure or a formal closure plan for Crozer Chester Medical Center or its Taylor Hospital campus. Targeting the foundation Jernigan, who said repeatedly that she was looking for a hero to rescue Crozer, spent a large part of Thursdays hearing questioning the foundations attorney about why it wouldnt be in the foundations interest to keep Crozer open, at least in the short term. The judge is scratching her head, Jernigan said. Im not sure a short-term solution makes a lot of sense without a long-term solution, said the foundations attorney, Scott Cousins, of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP. As the legal successor to Crozers former nonprofit owner, the foundation has already spent significant resources fighting Prospects closure of Delaware County Memorial. The 2016 sale agreement required Prospect to keep the Crozer hospitals open for 10 years, unless it got approval from a community advisory committee to close them. The foundation is liable if Prospect doesnt pay rent and taxes on two Springfield Township medical office buildings that are leased through September 2029. That liability could be as much as $30 million, the foundation said. At the end of June, the foundation had $64 million in unrestricted investments. At the current rate of losses, that money could keep Crozer open for a few months at the most. We fully understand the urgency of saving the health system that has been our goal from the beginning. However, the liability limits our ability to provide direct financial assistance without jeopardizing our mission, foundation president Frances Sheehan said in a statement. Gov. Josh Shapiro accused the foundation of not doing enough in response to a question on Crozer at an unrelated news conference in Philadelphia. Im sick and tired of how they keep hiding the ball and not stepping up, he said. He also said he wanted the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Main Line Health to do more. Residents of Delaware County should stay focused on Prospect as the bad guys, said local State Sen. Tim Kearney during a news conference at Crozer organized by the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents Crozer employees. We cant turn on ourselves. We cant turn on the other health systems. We cant turn on the foundation. We need to make sure we focus our anger where it needs to be, he said. Editors note: This story has been updated with additional detail and comment. Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard member Kelly Salata, of Clinton, wipes a tear away during a vigil for Joyce Grayson at the Connecticut State Capitol's North Lobby in 2023 in Hartford, Conn. The death of the 63-year-old mother of six is sparking renewed calls to better protect health care workers from a wave of violent attacks across the country. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant via AP) Read more Violence is just part of the job. Every nurse and health care worker experiences it at some point. Sentiments like this echo across American hospitals and health care facilities, capturing a disturbing and growing reality. Though Americans think of nursing as the most trusted profession, we often fail to see that its also one of the most dangerous. Advertisement An alarming 8 in 10 nurses face violence at work. As a result, health-care workers are more than four times as likely to be injured by workplace violence than workers in all other industries combined. Despite these staggering numbers, the full extent of this epidemic may not be fully understood because nurses and other health care workers chronically underreport violent encounters. The American Nurses Association estimates that only 20% to 60% of incidents are accounted for. Additionally, there is no agreed-upon definition for workplace violence or clear way of tracking it on a national level. As a practicing bedside nurse, I have experienced my fair share of workplace violence. As a professor of nursing, my research shows that violence has become a normalized but underreported part of working in health care and that it affects the care patients receive in pervasive ways. What really counts as workplace violence in health care? When people think about workplace violence, they often imagine dramatic physical assaults. Assaults do happen, but violence directed at workers can take many other forms, including verbal threats, intimidation, sexual aggression, and bullying. What makes defining and measuring workplace violence especially difficult in health-care settings is the range of people involved. Violence may stem from patients, their families, co-workers, or even disgruntled members of the public. Nurses and health-care staff work with people during incredibly stressful moments in their lives. Sometimes patients are experiencing medical conditions that may cause them to act out or be confused, such as dementia, delirium, psychosis, or even postoperative reactions to anesthesia. Too often, nurses who are threatened or hurt at work do not report the event. Some health-care organizations use vague definitions, such as workplace violence is any violent act or threat of violence, while nursing organizations advocate for tiered definitions delineating between perpetrator and intent. Although not all employees can recite their organizations official definition of workplace violence, ask a nurse whether they have ever experienced a threatening situation at work and they will likely have stories at the ready. In my 14 years of nursing practice, nurses shared many different types of threatening encounters. They reported being screamed at by distraught visitors and having their hair and wrists grabbed by patients who are trying to bite or spit at them. I have personally experienced having objects thrown at me from across the room and being threatened with retribution by patients family members. Nurses also shared more extreme experiences in which they or their co-workers were injured in the course of trying to simply deliver care. Many described the emotional impact of watching a co-worker hurt badly enough to require medical attention. From my observations, its not just the major incidents but the countless small threats or insensitive behaviors that add up over a nurses career. These seemingly less-threatening events are much harder to document, and many nurses shrug them off, but the small infractions take a toll when they happen repeatedly. Breaking the culture of silence A culture of silence makes such incidents hard to track. The medical-surgical nursing unit at the hospital where I conducted my research has a healthy and supportive culture. Yet in my ongoing doctoral work, which will be published in May, of the 74% of staff that acknowledged experiencing workplace violence in the past year, only 30% reported the event. When nurses stay silent, whether from fear, futility, or institutional pressure, violence becomes an accepted part of the job. Without accurate data, health-care facilities dont understand the true extent of the problem, cant implement effective safety measures, and struggle to support their workers in meaningful ways. There are common themes as to why nurses underreport violence. Some nurses think reporting does not make a difference. Others find the lack of clarity in defining workplace violence or reporting policies demotivating and confusing. Nurses also report a lack of support from management, a fear of reprisal, or a sense of shame when reporting. Commonly, many nurses simply find reporting tools to be too difficult and time-consuming to use. The hidden costs to health care For health-care workers, the consequences extend far beyond physical injuries. Workplace violence in all its forms contributes to anxiety, depression, or PTSD, as well as job dissatisfaction. Dangerous workplace violence trends are a contributing factor in 55% of health care workers feeling burned out and 18% of newly licensed registered nurses leaving the profession within the first year. That is a huge problem, considering that the United States is projected to have 193,100 nursing job openings per year until 2032, yet will produce only roughly 177,400 new nurses in that time frame. This also has vast repercussions for patient care. During my nursing career, I observed my peers developing complex strategies to protect themselves while trying to provide compassionate care. Like me, they tended to carefully position themselves near doorways, maintained constant awareness of their surroundings, and silently assessed each new interaction for potential risks. These invisible precautions reflect the far-reaching effects of health-care violence. When nurses are hypervigilant about their safety, they have less emotional energy for patient care. When theyre rushing between rooms due to short staffing caused by violence-related turnover, they have less time for each patient. When they are worried about what the next patient encounter may bring, they are increasing their anxiety, fear, and stress rather than focusing on delivering quality care. Creating safer health care together Each health-care visit is a chance for patients and their families to improve nursing care for everyone. When you visit a hospital or clinic, try to understand the stress that health-care workers are under and express your needs and concerns calmly. You never know what your nurse is dealing with in their interactions with other patients. They try to compartmentalize and give you their full attention, but they might also be experiencing a difficult and traumatic situation right next door. It also helps to share information that might be relevant to caring for your family member, such as whether their medical condition is causing them to act differently than normal. And you should speak up if you witness any forms of aggressive behavior. These actions might seem small, but they support health-care staff and help prevent violence in health-care settings. Nurses are trained to keep information private, to be problem-solvers, and to bear the burden of the job, so they dont always seek support. If you have a nurse or health-care worker in your family or circle of friends, let them know you care. Supporting their safety validates their work and leads to better care for everyone. Jason Blomquist is an assistant professor of nursing at Boise State University. Jumbo Meat Market is shown on Thursday in Philadelphia. Read more ICE agents arrested four undocumented Brazilian immigrants during a Feb. 27 operation at a Northeast Philadelphia market, the agency said Thursday. The arrests at Jumbo Meat Market, on the 7300 block of Castor Avenue in the Rhawnhurst neighborhood, rank among the larger ICE operations in the city under President Donald Trumps administration. Advertisement In January, seven undocumented workers were arrested when agents raided a North Philadelphia car wash. Shoppers commenting about Jumbo Meat Market online described it as brimming with Brazilian treats, desserts, and delicacies. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said those arrested at the market had no legal authority to enter or remain in the United States, or had violated the terms of their earlier, lawful admission to the country. Following the arrests, Jumbo Meat Market posted a statement on Instagram confirming its workers were detained for verification. We are providing all the necessary support, including legal assistance. We will continue to monitor the situation and maintain our commitment to our employees, read the statement in Portuguese. Workers at the store said Thursday that they could not further comment on the arrests. ICE officials in Philadelphia did not immediately provide additional information. Edward V. Owens, the special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia, said worksite enforcement was crucial to the integrity of the nations employment laws. ICE remains steadfast in its commitment to targeting employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers, as well as those undocumented aliens who exploit the system, he said in a statement. Federal law requires employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of those they hire. Employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants can face civil fines and criminal penalties, including jail time, if they are shown to have engaged in a pattern or practice of violations. Few employers ever face criminal charges, however. First responders on the crash scene where the fire still burned in the crater created by a medical Learjet that crashed Jan. 31 after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia airport. Read more A key piece of hardware that experts had said could solve the mystery in the fatal crash of the medical transport Learjet that crashed into a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood on Jan. 31, killing seven people and injuring dozens more, turned out to be useless. The cockpit voice recorder, recovered eight feet deep at the bottom of the jets impact crater near Roosevelt Mall, was repaired after extensive damage, but according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report released Thursday, when investigators played back the 30-minute-long recording, they found the device had likely not been recording audio for several years. Advertisement There was brief communication with the Northeast Philadelphia Airport control tower, but no signs of trouble over radio, the NTSB said. No distress calls were made by the pilot or copilot. The jet also included an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, which could reveal more detailed flight tracking information than is now available, but that device was sent to its manufacturer for recovery and the results are not back. The preliminary report leaves open several unanswered questions about the condition of the jet on its sharp descent, including the status of the engines or other critical flight components, such as the stabilizers that help an aircraft fly straight. The jet a medical transport Learjet 55 owned by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, headquartered in Mexico City crashed just after 6 p.m. All six occupants aboard the 43-year-old aircraft died, including Valentina Guzman Murillo, 11, and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna, who were on their way home after Valentina had received four months of treatment at Shriners Childrens Philadelphia. One person, Steven Dreuitt, 37, was killed when flames engulfed his car. His 9-year-old son survived but suffered severe burns over 90% of his body and remains in a Boston hospital that specializes in pediatric burn patients. At least 24 other people on the ground suffered injuries four of them critically and several hundred homes were damaged, some of them set ablaze. As the aircraft slammed into the sidewalk at more than 278 mph, the explosion showered the area with fiery debris and a massive fireball that lit up the sky. The inferno was captured from several angles on dashcams, doorbell cameras, and cell phones and went viral on social media. Several cars and rowhouses along the busy route were instantly set ablaze. Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB investigator, said that the lack of a functional voice recorder would make investigating the nature and cause of the crash much more difficult and likely was a violation of FAA rules for foreign air carriers. Its a critical piece of safety equipment in jet-powered airplanes for this exact reason. It also begs the question why it wasnt working, he said. That really shows a black mark on this company and its oversight. A spokesperson for Jet Rescue did not respond to requests for comment. Thank you, good day The jet had taken off at 6:07 p.m. from runway 24 at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, and crashed just three miles away around 6:08 p.m. Tower audio of the takeoff revealed that an air traffic controller had a seemingly normal exchange with the crew as it departed, with the pilot calmly signing off, thank you, good day. But moments after, the crew failed to switch over and talk on another frequency as required. The crew was not heard from again. During takeoff, the jet quickly climbed to 1,650 feet before veering to the left in a nosedive and hitting the ground at a steep angle of descent. The crash obliterated the plane. Hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers swarmed the area to put out homes and cars on fire from the jet fuel or burning pieces of aircraft that struck them. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said he could not believe how nightmarish the retail strip had become. I felt like we were in the middle of a war zone, he said. The Learjet 55 had flown to Philadelphia from Florida on an uneventful flight earlier in the day, Jet Rescue spokesperson Shai Gold said at the time. The heavily used jet had flown 12 flights in the five days before the crash, covering 9,400 miles. In the last year it had 163 takeoffs before the fateful incident, flight records show. The pilot, Alan Montoya Perales, 46, and his copilot, Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, 43, had thousands of hours of relevant flight experience, Gold said. Also killed were Jet Rescue members Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, 41, a paramedic, and Raul Meza Arredonda, 41, a doctor. A workhorse While an older aircraft, the Learjet 55 is considered by experts to be a safe jet that was a marvel of speed and luxury when it was launched. NTSB records show at least 15 investigations into incidents for the Learjet 55, as far back as 1986. Most of the investigations found faults due to pilots who made errors navigating runway landings and takeoffs, sometimes in bad weather. Thursdays NTSB report noted no problems with weather conditions. In one report about a fatal crash of a Learjet 55 in Venezuela in 2022, the crew declared an emergency during a landing approach due to a technical problem, apparently with its thrust reversers. On a second approach the jet went off the runway and struck a hill, killing all six occupants. In 2023, a Jet Rescue Learjet 35A, an earlier model, was involved in a fatal crash that killed all five crew members aboard. There were no passengers on the flight, which overran a runway. The jet crashed after landing at Cuernavaca Airport in Morelos, Mexico, according to news reports. And in 2019, a Jet Rescue Learjet 35 had a fire during a takeoff from Toluca Airport in Mexico that affected its braking system. It was able to land successfully with no injuries or deaths. Historically, the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office has rarely seen ethical and effective leadership, but Sheriff Rochelle Bilal has taken incompetence to a new level, writes the Editorial Board. Read more While the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office has a relatively narrow set of responsibilities when compared with other city departments, they are essential. The sheriff is charged with transporting incarcerated people, providing security for the citys courts, conducting auctions of foreclosed and tax-delinquent properties, and securing guns in some domestic violence cases. Yet, even within this limited purview, the office under Sheriff Rochelle Bilal consistently falls short. Advertisement The latest example of Bilals poor stewardship as detailed by Inquirer reporters Ryan W. Briggs, William Bender, and Ellie Rushing has left the citys probation system unable to properly function, as officers are forced to replace in-person visits with virtual check-ins because deputies were not available to provide security. In-person drug tests at the Adult Probation and Parole Department have also been suspended. The missing deputies are now safeguarding Family Court, months after the citys judges complained the sheriffs office had failed to ensure adequate security there, leaving them and courtroom staff vulnerable to physical assault. As a result, attacks tripled, and the judges ordered Bilal to fix the systemic failures of her office. The sheriff shifted more resources to courtrooms, now leaving probation workers exposed. Add that to the offices list of failures. READ MORE: Courthouse delays and security failures demand action from Sheriff Bilal | Editorial Domestic violence advocates also say the sheriffs office is only seizing firearms in 13% of domestic abuse cases in which accused abusers are subject to protection orders. Compliance in the suburban counties is significantly higher, and the city has seen a 64% increase in domestic violence-related homicides under Bilals watch. Not only is security an issue, but completing basic paperwork seems to be beyond the offices grasp, too. New owners of property sold at sheriff sales report not receiving their deeds long after the sale was finalized. Historically, the sheriffs office has rarely seen ethical and effective leadership, but Bilal has taken incompetence to a new level. Under Bilal, the office has made itself an impediment to ensuring public safety. And while the sheriff has so far apparently steered clear of the kind of malfeasance that landed her predecessor in jail, she has used city funds meant to hire deputies to boost the salaries of executive staff and tried to double her own salary. Shes also spent city resources on an official mascot, parties, and other nonessentials. Unfortunately, Philadelphia City Council has so far been reluctant to eliminate the office and redistribute its functions, a step recommended by this Editorial Board, the Committee of Seventy, and the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authoritys fiscal oversight committee. That, however, does not mean there is no hope for a more immediate change. As Northeast Philadelphia State Rep. Jared Solomon has pointed out regarding the sheriff, Harrisburg has the right to impeach and remove any public official in the state. Given the wide-ranging and growing impact of Bilals mismanagement, nothing should be off the table, and Solomon who last year asked Philadelphias head judge to investigate the sheriffs office should lead the charge in pursuing whatever avenues are necessary to protect Philadelphians from the offices continued dysfunction. With a Democratic House and a Republican Senate, a bipartisan effort to address the seemingly intractable issues in the sheriffs office could stand as an example that it is still possible to hold problematic public servants accountable. READ MORE: History makes it clear: Abolish the sheriffs office | Editorial It is also worth asking how we got to this point. While Bilal ran as a reformer, she had already had a tumultuous turn as the public safety director in Delaware Countys Colwyn Borough. From the very start, whistleblowers have noted her desire to utilize slush funds and off-the-books spending. Despite this, Bilal was reelected with much of the citys political establishments support. While solidarity is often an admirable mindset, what do Philadelphians get out of this determination by the Democratic machine to protect all incumbents, no matter their record? Bilals dangerous ineptitude demands action. Ive been a working journalist for more than three decades, and Ive rarely taken a day off at the last-minute. But I intend to take a vacation day on March 10. I plan to go completely off-grid that day. I will not respond to emails. Nor will I check social media. I also will not use that time away from work to catch up on errands. Advertisement I have zero plans. I dont know for sure what Ill be doing besides participating in the National Day of Rest for Black Women. This is an ugly time in American politics, and we need to recharge. The last presidential election set many of us back. No other demographic came through the way Black women did for former Vice President Kamala Harris. We turned up and turned out. We did our part to help Harris become the nations first female president. An estimated 92% of Black women voted for her, proving ourselves once again the Democratic Partys most loyal voting block. The disappointment many of us felt on election night was brutal. Theres been something brewing for Black women, especially since the 2024 election result, Jasmine Ross, a psychologist based in Texas, told me. We collectively decided that there needed to be a shift that happened. And the shift that has happened for so many Black women is a shift to prioritize ourselves and our communities and to prioritize rest. She added: Thats exactly what so many Black women have been doing. This March 10 event signifies this movement that Black women are on to prioritize taking care of ourselves and resting. Organizers have planned similar observances in the past, but this particular one caught my attention partly because it is timed to coincide with the remembrance day of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who died on March 10, 1913. Tubman, an escaped enslaved African who made multiple trips south to free others, suffered a severe blow to the head as a child, which caused her to have sleeping spells throughout her life. She was known for her faith and her grit and her spirit around moving people to freedom, Ross said. But a part of her process was around taking time for herself, giving her body the time that it needed to heal. We know rest is important, but relaxation isnt exactly built into the ethos of American culture. Most of us are tired. Gallup released a study last year revealing that 57% of Americans feel as if they dont get enough sleep. Our nervous systems need to be trained to rest in a way that it hasnt been, Norissa Williams, a professor of psychology at New York University, told me on Monday. Weve been in survival mode for so long and its been so necessary that weve been on the go, go, go. She added: We live in a capitalistic culture, so rest has become a commodity. Rest is a commodity for everyone, but its even more so for Black women, in my opinion. Williams mentioned the strong Black woman stereotype that has long been associated with African American women and pointed out: That did not originate in our community. It originated in times of enslavement. It was how they sold us. And then it became something that was implicitly held that we were strong, that we were not susceptible to harm. I hope Harris is enjoying her time out of the public eye. Its unclear whether she ever actually intended to attend Sunday nights Oscar festivities. Instead of attending Hollywoods most glamorous night of the year, the former California state attorney was at home with her husband and a bag of Doritos. Doug Emhoff posted a photo of the former Democratic presidential contender in a kitchen with her hair up and pouring nacho cheese-flavored corn chips into a bowl. Harris wore a dark sweatshirt over a T-shirt and looked more relaxed than Id ever seen her. Emhoff shared the image with the words, Oscars watch party prep. She looked stress-free. Joyful, even. I love that for her. Its not her job to lead the resistance against what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing. These are desperate times, but we cant just dump that responsibility on her. Since losing the presidential election to Trump in November, the former U.S. senator and vice president has mostly stayed out of the limelight, except last month when she gave a stirring speech after receiving the prestigious chairmans award at the annual NAACP Image Awards. She didnt directly address whats going on in Washington, D.C., but alluded to it, saying: we know exactly what to do because we have done it before. And we will do it again. We use our power. We organize, mobilize. We educate. We advocate. Our power has never come from having an easy path. Meanwhile, Californias gubernatorial race reportedly is on hold as voters wait to see if she will decide to become a candidate in that race. After what she went through running for president, I hope she takes her sweet time deciding what she does next with her life if anything. I also hope Harris the former U.S. senator makes a point of getting plenty of rest in the meantime. She needs it. We all do. Angel Ballesteros, commercial corridor manager for the Association for Mexican Business Owners, cuts holes into a banner for wind to pass through before it is raised across Ninth Street in South Philadelphia's Italian Market in 2024. Read more Speak English! Ive lost count of the times Ive heard some version of those words weaponized by xenophobic fools to belittle, exclude, or other someone for having the audacity to speak a different language, to practice the multiculturalism America was built on, to exist while not being white (or at least the right kind of white). Advertisement Those words have been hurled at me countless times, usually paired with a Go back to your country! in response to one of my columns advocating for inclusivity. It doesnt matter that I speak and write English. That is, after all, how they were able to read my so-called offensive prose. Or that my country is the very same U-S-A! they chant in phony patriotism. I was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents (who are also American, BTW). Logic? Facts? Those are irrelevant when superiority (and white supremacy) is the goal, when racist jabs are really just a demand for submission by those who paper over their insecurity by attacking others. And its the same stale story with President Donald Trump el jefe of jingoism. English is already the de facto language of the nation, the official language in 34 states. But that didnt stop Trump from staging the grand spectacle of designating English as the nations official language, a hollow, symbolic gesture he claimed would promote unity and ensure consistency in government operations. In reality, this is exclusion dressed up as a necessity. Leave it to Felon 47 to do something pointless purely for divisions sake. Cloaking ugliness in the language of unity is his brand of democracy. My first reaction to his latest eugenic executive order? To commit to improving my Nuyorican Spanglish. (If anyone knows of a good local class, hit me up.) Ive always made do. But it also made me one of the no sabo kids, a label applied to Latino natives who arent fluent-fluent. So lets add learning (or refining) a second language to the long list of acts of resistance. Duolingo, anyone? The truth is that I have a complicated relationship with Spanish, just like many children whose parents pushed them to assimilate in order to shield their kids from the racism they were forced to endure. And while I understand my parents reasons, it came at a cost much like Trumps latest order will. My parents decision to prioritize English was born out of concern and care. Trumps decision is one born out of ignorance and hatred that will only weaken America. The order, which rescinds former President Bill Clintons edict to improve access to federally conducted and federally assisted programs and activities for persons who, as a result of national origin, are limited in their English proficiency means federal agencies are no longer required to provide language assistance to non-English speakers. And considering the purging of people with any decency or courage from these federal agencies, we know how thats going to go. To understand just how many people this could affect, consider that in 2019, the census reported that 67.8 million people in the United States, or around one in five, spoke a language other than English at home. Spanish is the second most-used language in the country, but you can bet a majority of those people speak English out in the world. In Philadelphia, a city where residents speak at least 180 languages, Latinos are the fastest growing demographic with about 160,000 people who are native Spanish speakers including the second largest community of stateside Puerto Ricans. Speaking of my fellow Boricuas, what exactly is the plan for Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory full of American citizens who speak Spanish and English? It is in Americas best interest, Trumps order read. But the only thing its good for is further isolating the United States from the rest of the world. That and continuing Trumps relentless attack on immigrants, whom hes made his scapegoat for all kinds of economic and social ills. That includes gutting critical supports like English as a second language programs, health-care and educational resources and even civic engagement programs that help immigrants adapt and contribute, and which offer a bridge to that fabled unity Trumps supposedly so concerned about. Lets be very clear about whats going on here: This order is about power and ownership, and about who not only gets to be in America but who gets to be called American. And to people like Trump, real Americans are white, monolingual men (and women, as long as they defer to those men). Its also about whose voices are heard and prioritized and valued. And demanding those voices all speak English is the wrong impulse, one that erases diversity and reinforces a narrow, exclusionary vision of what it means to be part of the United States. The truth is, all of us make America what it is. The beauty of this country is that everyone can belong, no matter where they come from or what language they speak. And that linguistic and cultural blend reflects the rich tapestry of experiences and backgrounds that form the ideal American mosaic. Anything else is puras tonterias. Dont know what that is? Use el Google. Near the end of his more than 90-minute-long stump speech to Congress on Tuesday, President Donald Trump finally devoted a few moments to Ukraine, bragging he was working tirelessly to end the savage conflict. He neglected to mention he had just axed military and intelligence aid to Kyiv, something that could accelerate the slaughter of Ukrainians from Russian missiles that deliberately target civilians. Trumps draconian step followed a bitter meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office Friday over security guarantees for any peace deal. Advertisement Adding gross insult to injury, Trump then posted on Truth Social, President Zelensky is not ready for Peace I want PEACE. If thats the case, Trumps statements and behavior indicate he envisions the kind of peace preferred by Russias Vladimir Putin. Which, to paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, is the kind of deal that must be avoided: a peace of the grave or a peace of the slave. Trumps words clearly indicate how his vision of peace aligns with the Kremlins. The tip-off came Tuesday, when the president stressed that Weve had serious discussion with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace. Really? As Putin launches massive air attacks on civilians and insists Ukraine has no right to exist as a state? A Putin peace is not something Ukrainians nor Europeans can accept, just as Winston Churchill in the dark days of 1940 could not accept Adolf Hitlers peace offer. Of course, at that time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to the aid of Churchill, despite the pressure from America First isolationists and Nazi sympathizers. Yet, so long as Trump gets a ceasefire, a photo op, and the right to claim he stopped the fighting (no matter how briefly), I fear Americans may grasp too late what their president has signed on to. All as he moves to do business deals with Moscow in the delusion he can split control of the world with Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping. This is why I believe it is so important to examine Trumps concept of peace. First, he continues to lie about Ukraine aid to convince his base that Kyiv is mooching off America (a lie Russian propaganda repeats day and night). On Tuesday, he repeated the falsehood that the United States has spent hundreds of billions perhaps $350 billion to support Ukraine. This is a blatant lie. Any spending for Ukraine must be approved by Congress, which has technically appropriated $183 billion for military and economic aid since 2022 (tens of billions remain unallocated or unspent). Moreover, the $63 billion in disbursed military aid has mostly been spent in the United States for American-made weapons, thus creating jobs here. Moreover, Europe has spent much more than the U.S. has in combined military and economic aid, contrary to another Trump lie Tuesday. Combined with his constant denigration of Zelensky, whom Russia wants removed, Trump seems to be trying to soften the U.S. public for a pro-Putin deal. Second, Trump keeps showering Putin with carrots while using only sticks against Ukraine. As the Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote, Trump tilts toward a Ukraine sellout while pushing for the rapid rehab of Putin as a peacemaker. Trump refuses to include Ukraine in direct negotiations while sending his minions to Moscow and schmoozing by phone with Putin. The U.S. voted with Russia, Belarus, and North Korea in the U.N. General Assembly against denouncing the Russian invasion on its third anniversary. Trump hands the Kremlin concessions upfront no NATO membership for Ukraine, no return of Ukrainian territory conquered by Moscow while making zero demands on Putin. Meantime, Trump extorts a mineral deal from Ukraine to pay back U.S. aid, as if Kyiv were the aggressor. He talks of lifting Russian sanctions as if Putin were the victim. A desperate Zelensky is willing to sign the minerals deal, but not the original version that demanded Kyiv pay back three times the total U.S. aid it has received. Trump is even ready to invite Putin to the White House, as if the Russian leader had not broken the crucial international rule of law that has kept the peace since World War II: no seizure of another countrys territory by force. Can there be any doubt Trump is pursuing a Putin peace rather than a solution that brings lasting peace to Ukraine? He insists Putin will never break a deal with him, so no U.S. military guarantees are needed. Never mind the Russian dictator has broken every deal hes made with Ukraine. Third, Trump refuses to come clean about what a Putin peace would mean for Ukraine. So let me spell it out. Contrary to Trumps claims, Putin has no interest in long-term peace. He has said repeatedly that Ukraine has no right to exist as a separate state. He clearly wants to retake control of the country in his effort to reconstruct the Soviet empire. Trumps eagerness for a quick ceasefire, without security guarantees attached, offers Putin a twofer. If the U.S. aid cutoff enables him to keep advancing on the battlefield, he can reject a ceasefire and blame Zelensky. Or he may take it, regroup, and attack again after an indifferent Trump has moved on to more destruction abroad. Trump rejects what Ronald Reagan proclaimed: that life behind the Soviet Iron Curtain was brutal for anyone who yearned for economic, political, or individual freedom. I have spoken with escapees from the Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, and their stories of arrests, torture, and worse remind me of what I heard from dissidents in Poland and Czechoslovakia under Soviet rule. Dont believe me? Consider the words of Lech Waesa, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Polish leader of the Solidarity labor movement that fought back against Soviet repression in the 1980s. He rose to his countrys presidency after the liberation of Eastern Europe in 1989. Following Trump and Vice President JD Vances attack on Zelensky last week, Waesa and other former Polish political prisoners wrote an impassioned letter to Trump, voicing horror and disgust at the White Houses attitude toward a leader fighting for freedom from Moscow. The atmosphere in the Oval Office, they wrote, reminded us of the one we remember well from interrogations by the Security Service and in Communist courts. Communist prosecutors and judges, they went on, also explained to us that they held all the cards and we had none, a pointed reference to the words Trump used as a rebuke to Zelensky. Dismissing Trumps complaint that Zelensky wasnt sufficiently grateful, they argued: Gratitude is due to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who shed their blood in defense of the values of the free world. We do not understand how the leader of a country that is a symbol of the free world cannot see this. Trumps admiration for dictators smothers any interest in defending democratic values. But if a majority of the U.S. public understood the nature of the Putin peace Trump wants to impose on Ukraine, I cant believe there would not be pushback against a president who shames our history and our honor. We shall soon find out. House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) is greeted by well-wishers after her reelection to lead the chamber. Read more The top Pennsylvania House Democrat said she was open to including stricter voter identification requirements as part of a broader effort to modernize the states election law in the divided legislature, signaling a renewed willingness from Democrats to work on the issue. House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) said Wednesday that she was open to voter ID policy so long as it does not disenfranchise voters. Advertisement Since the states rocky implementation of mail-in voting in 2020, election officials have begged lawmakers in the Pennsylvania legislature to update the states election law to allow local officials more time to process mail ballots and clean up an often antiquated election code. But GOP insistence that any major reforms to the election code include voter ID and Democratic resistance to it has been a persistent roadblock. Whats more: Public support has been building over the last several years, with a Franklin and Marshall College poll finding last year that 73% of registered Pennsylvania voters support expanding voter ID measures. House Democrats in November won a one-seat majority in the state House for a second legislative session and any bill must go through a GOP-controlled state Senate, meaning compromise is necessary if Democrats want their own priorities to reach the governors desk. Under current law, Pennsylvania voters must provide proof of identification the first time they vote in a new election district and every time they request a mail ballot. Some states require voters to show a form of ID every time they vote. Those policies can be controversial, as some of the strictest versions can prevent otherwise eligible voters from casting a ballot. McClinton herself opposes voter ID expansions. But what was once a nonstarter for Democrats is now being discussed by her and other top House Democrats as an issue they are willing to negotiate if they get other long-awaited election law changes or Democratic priorities in return. At an election discussion in Carlisle on Wednesday, McClinton included voter ID on a list of policies she would like to include in election reforms this year. Lawmakers, she said, are still discussing a potential election reform package, but pre-canvassing, election code modernization, early voting, and voter ID have risen to the top of the priority list. McClinton repeatedly albeit incorrectly said that House Democrats had already sent a voter ID measure to Senate Republicans in the previous legislative session that they declined to consider. (House Democrats did allow a voter ID provision to get a vote last session that earned bipartisan support, but it ultimately was removed from the final bill sent to the GOP-controlled Senate in 2023.) If theres a will, theres a way, McClinton told a collection of election officials, advocates, and experts at Dickinson College. What we lack in Harrisburg, just a few miles from here, is a willingness. We had a way. McClinton later told reporters that it is early in the process so details are unclear. In a subsequent statement, her spokesperson, Nicole Reigelman, said McClintons comments were consistent with the stance she held last year. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, has previously said he is open to discussions on voter ID as long as voters are not disenfranchised, which Secretary of State Al Schmidt reiterated at Wednesdays event. Republicans have long desired a voter ID constitutional amendment, after a previous voter ID provision was struck down by a state appellate court in 2014. It has been a major point of negotiation for them when trying to update the states election code, such as a sweeping election reform package passed in 2021 that included major GOP concessions, which former Gov. Tom Wolf ultimately vetoed because of its inclusion of a voter ID requirement. Voter ID has also been a bargaining chip for other nonelection issues, such as for agreement to vote on a constitutional amendment to create a two-year window for victims of child sexual abuse to sue their abusers an effort that died last year after nearly a decade of advocacy from child sex abuse survivors, restarting the clock to get a measure onto the ballot. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) said in an interview that if Democrats are ready to negotiate voter ID as a constitutional amendment, it unlocks the opportunity to have discussion on a number of issues that have not been able to advance over the last two years. There are a number of items that are out there for conversation the pre-canvassing issue, the early voting issue, same-day voter registration issue all those conversations were willing to have, so long that we have confidence in the integrity of the process, Pittman added. The most significant thing we can do to ensure the integrity of the process is to require voter ID. If Democrats are pivoting on that issue, I certainly welcome that change, Pittman said. Pennsylvanias election code has been the subject of extensive controversy and litigation in recent years. False claims of fraud spread in 2020 after Pennsylvania results were slow to come, in part because officials were not permitted to begin processing mail ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day, days after most states had begun that work. Hundreds of mail ballots are thrown out each election because voters neglect to date the outer envelope, even though election officials say the date is meaningless. And last year, chaotic scenes unfolded across the state as voters waited for hours to request and cast a mail ballot before Election Day. At the Dickinson College event, planned by the pro-democracy group Keep Our Republic, state and local election officials reiterated their pleas to the General Assembly to address these concerns and offer more uniformity to the states election laws. Even though election officials have made strides in processing ballots quicker, Schmidt cited pre-canvassing, which allows election officials to open ballots before Election Day, as the single most important reform lawmakers could make. Counties shouldnt have to be working through the night, night after night, said Schmidt, the states top election official and a former Philadelphia city commissioner. There are better ways to do it. Schmidt also encouraged the body to consider establishing a more formal early voting system that allows officials to move voters through the system more quickly. McClinton has sponsored legislation to create this, as well as same-day voter registration, both of which are measures she hopes will increase voter turnout and civic participation. Regardless of what changes are made, county commissioners and election directors pleaded for state lawmakers to include them in the process. They need to be thoughtful, they need to be collaborative with all of us, because at the end someone like me has to administer this, said Karen Barsoum, director of voter services in Chester County. The U.S. government is once again about a week away from a potential shutdown. But its different this time as President Donald Trumps second term unfolds. While a full shutdown has been narrowly avoided by deadline in recent history, experts say that the likelihood of a stopgap being implemented in time seems slimmer this year. There are several reasons, including minimal negotiations taking place so far, parties being extremely polarized, and Democrats overall reluctance to support government funding under Trumps purview. Advertisement The last time a government shutdown occurred was also under Trumps watch. But is a second Trump term destined to be a repeat of what happened six years ago? Not quite. And what separates this looming shutdown threat from the discourse that took place in 2023 under former President Joe Biden? We break it all down. Why is Congress at an impasse right now? A seemingly deeper than usual divide between Republicans and Democrats has Congress at a standstill as members attempt to reach an agreement and avoid a potential government shutdown. Some of the key issues in dispute include spending levels and overreach by Trump and his administration. Trumps new Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has also sparked concerns and complicated negotiation attempts. Regarding spending levels, Democrats are advocating for increased funding for domestic programs while Republicans want to see increases to defense spending. As noted by Intelligencer, theres currently no top-line spending deal highlighting key budget themes, much less deals over individual line items. In turn, there arent enough details to actively and effectively negotiate a deal over. Democrats are also demanding Republicans promise that a spending bill would be implemented as written in an attempt to defend Congresss power at a time where Musk and his department have slashed the funding of federal programs previously funded by Congress. What would a government shutdown mean? Traditionally, a government shutdown occurs if Congress cannot reach some sort of agreement on 12 individual appropriation measures that represent all federal operations. The existing spending plans expire on March 14, marking the end of the existing continuing resolution passed in December 2024 to avoid a shutdown. If the appropriations bill or an extension isnt passed and signed by then, it means funding for the new fiscal year isnt in effect and the government could either completely or partially shut down. When a shutdown happens, the government isnt able to spend money with some exceptions meaning that federal employees across the country are expected to work without pay until after the shutdown ends. In turn, essential services will continue to operate, but resources will be significantly strained. Who is affected by a government shutdown? Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are impacted by government shutdowns since they are expected to work, but will not receive pay until after the shutdown is lifted. Employees are typically guaranteed back pay, but its unclear if Musks new role and interference could impact past precedent. Many employees are also at risk of being furloughed and would not be allowed to work (but would also receive back pay thanks to legislation passed in 2019). Some of the main groups of employees that a shutdown could impact include (but are not limited to) members of active military, federal law enforcement, federal transportation workers (like air traffic controllers and TSA agents, but not SEPTA), national park employees, scientific researchers, and some health-care providers. Whats different between todays looming shutdown vs. 2023? Back in 2023, disputes between the Biden administration and Congress boiled down to domestic policy issues and partisan disagreements. Today, a potential shutdown is largely influenced by how Trumps administration and the new Department of Government Efficiency program under Musk are vying for control, at times bypassing congressional jurisdiction and stoking new fears, making the lead up feel more intense. The 2023 congressional discussions about budgets and avoiding a shutdown also highlighted internal divides between establishment Republicans and the far-right House Freedom Caucus. Those conflicts led to removal of Speaker Kevin McCarthy after he worked with Democrats to avoid a shutdown. But in 2025, hardline Republicans and Democrats are both drawing lines in the sand, making a continuing resolution like last time less promising with no clear agreement in sight. When was the longest government shutdown? The 2018-19 shutdown which lasted 35 days making it the longest shutdown in history was also the second government shutdown to occur during Trumps presidency. That shutdown ended after East Coast airports faced major delays when unpaid air traffic controllers stopped coming to work. Whats different between todays looming shutdown vs. the shutdown in 2018-19? Both the 2018-19 shutdown and the current potential shutdown feature a political impasse, but todays situation features a much more divided Republican Party, financial disagreement, and a key theme of concerns about presidential power and oversight. In contrast, the 2018-19 shutdown was largely centered around Trumps demands for a border wall. Funding for the border wall caused many disagreements with Trump calling for funding for the budget and Democrats opposing it, leading to the government shutdown. Today, the potential shutdown hinges on internal disagreements between partisan members of Congress over spending priorities. Unlike during the last shutdown, todays Congress features an extremely divided Republican majority making a consensus even harder to reach. What have Pennsylvania and area elected officials said? Several elected officials have already spoken out about a potential shutdown. Pennsylvania Senate Democrats have voiced their concerns with GOP-led initiatives to cut from Medicaid. U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D., N.J.) said hed be open to joining Democrats in shutting down the government in protest before supporting the Trump administrations disruptions to federal agencies and funding. In stark contrast, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) said hed never vote for a government shutdown, calling it chaos. When is the government shutdown deadline? Congress and the Trump administration need to reach an agreement by the end of the continuing resolutions deadline, which is March 14 at midnight. If they dont, the shutdown would go into place on March 15 at 12:01 a.m. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Thursday postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war. The White House insists its tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of fentanyl, but the taxes proposed by Trump have caused a gaping wound in the decades-old North American trade partnership. Trumps tariff plans have also caused the stock market to sink and alarmed U.S. consumers. Advertisement In addition to his claims about fentanyl, Trump has insisted that the tariffs could be resolved by fixing the trade deficit and he emphasized while speaking in the Oval Office that he still plans to impose reciprocal tariffs starting on April 2. READ MORE: With Canada and Mexico as Pa.s top trade partner, Gov. Josh Shapiro says Trumps tariff plan makes no sense Most of the tariffs go on April the second, Trump said before signing the orders. Right now, we have some temporary ones and small ones, relatively small, although its a lot of money having to do with Mexico and Canada. Trump said he was not looking to extend the exemption on the 25% tariff for autos for another month. Imports from Mexico that comply with the 2020 USMCA trade pact would be excluded from the 25% tariffs for a month, according to the orders signed by Trump. Auto-related imports from Canada that comply with the trade deal would also avoid the 25% tariffs for a month, while the potash that U.S. farmers import from Canada would be tariffed at 10%, the same rate at which Trump wants to tariff Canadian energy products. READ MORE: Why Trumps tariffs could have bigger impacts this time around Roughly 62% of imports from Canada would likely still face the new tariffs because theyre not USMCA compliant, according to a White House official who insisted on anonymity to preview the orders on a call with reporters. Half of imports from Mexico that are not USCMA compliant would also be taxed under the orders being signed by Trump, the official said. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has planned to announce any retaliatory measures on Sunday, but Trump credited her with making progress on illegal immigration and drug smuggling as a reason for again pausing tariffs that were initially supposed to go into full effect in February. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum, Trump said on Truth Social. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border. Trumps actions also thawed relations with Canada somewhat, after its initial retaliatory tariffs of $21 billion on U.S. goods. The government said it had suspended its second wave of retaliatory tariffs on additional U.S. goods worth $87 billion. Trumps on-again, off-again tariffs threats have roiled financial markets, lowered consumer confidence, and enveloped many businesses in an uncertain atmosphere that could delay hiring and investment. Major U.S. stock markets briefly bounced off lows after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick previewed the monthlong pauses on CNBC on Thursday. Significant declines already seen this week resumed within an hour. The S&P 500 stock index has fallen below where it was before Trump was elected. Asked whether the stock market decline was due to his tariffs, Trump said: A lot of them are globalist countries and companies that wont be doing as well because were taking back things that have been taken from us many years ago. Sheinbaum said she and Trump had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, on a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Mexico has cracked down on cartels, sent troops to the U.S. border and delivered 29 top cartel bosses long chased by American authorities to the Trump administration in a span of weeks. At a news conference, Sheinbaum elaborated on her call with Trump Thursday, saying that she told the president that Mexico was making great strides in fulfilling his security demands. I told him were getting results, Sheinbaum said. But the U.S. imposed the tariffs, so she asked Trump how are we going to continue cooperating, collaborating with something that hurts the people of Mexico? She added that practically all of the trade between the U.S. and Mexico will be exempt from tariffs until April 2. She said the two countries will continue to work together on migration and security, and to cut back on fentanyl trafficking to the U.S. From January to February, the amount of fentanyl seized at the border dropped more than 41%, according to Sheinbaum, citing data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. She cited the dip as meeting a commitment made to Trump. Still, relations between the United States and Canada remain frosty because of the tariff pressures. A senior Canadian government official said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus call on Wednesday with Trump became heated. The U.S. president used profanity while complaining about protections in Canadas dairy industry. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the call, said Trudeau did not use profanity. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the leader of Canadas most populous province, said that starting Monday the province will charge 25% more for electricity shipped to 1.5 million Americans in response to Trumps tariff plan. Ontario provides electricity to Minnesota, New York, and Michigan. This whole thing with President Trump is a mess, Ford said Thursday. This reprieve, weve went down this road before. He still threatens the tariffs on April 2. Fords office said that the tariff would remain in place even if theres a one month reprieve from the Americans. Ford has said that so long as the threat of tariffs continue, Ontarios position will not change. Lutnick said that he will be watching fentanyl overdose deaths in the U.S. as a key metric he will focus on when evaluating Canada and Mexicos efforts to combat the synthetic opioid. In his speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, Trump portrayed tariffs which he has also levied on China at 20% due to their role in fentanyl production as a source of increasing wealth and power for the United States. Yet most economists expect the import duties to send prices higher, slow the economy, and potentially cost jobs. The Yale University Budget Lab has estimated that the tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico would increase inflation by a full percentage point, cut growth by half a percentage point and cost the average household about $1,600 in disposable income. Trump appeared to acknowledge Tuesday night that there could be some pain: Therell be a little disturbance, but were OK with that. It wont be much. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Pa.) speaks during a 2019 news conference. Houlahan was one of 10 Democrats to vote in favor of censuring Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green following his disruption of President Donald Trump's speech. Read more U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat who represents Chester County, joined nine other members of her party Thursday in a vote to censure fellow Democratic Rep. Al Green for his outbursts during President Donald Trumps address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Green, of Texas, stood up at the very beginning of Trumps speech after the president boasted about his electoral victory, calling it a mandate. He yelled, You have no mandate! You have no mandate to cut Medicaid! while pointing his cane at the president to punctuate his point. Advertisement Green was removed by the sergeant at arms. READ MORE: Democratic disruptions, a focus on Elon Musk, and other key takeaways from Trumps speech to Congress House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) justified the censure Wednesday by saying Green chose to deliberately violate House rules in a manner that we think is probably unprecedented in history interrupting a message of a president of the United States, who is an honored guest. But most Democrats including all of the partys other representatives from Pennsylvania and from New Jersey voted against the censure and some broke into We Shall Overcome, on the floor of the House after the vote. After the contentious vote, freshman Rep. Ryan MacKenzie (R., Pa.) became involved in a shouting match with progressive Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), who was censured in 2023 after her criticism of Israel spurred backlash. Censuring a member is basically a public reprimand, but doing so has been historically rare. Green, who defended his actions on Wednesday, is the fifth member of Congress to be censured in this decade. He joins a list that includes Rep. Paul Gosar (R., Ariz.), who was censured for sharing a video depicting violence against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and then-President Joe Biden in 2021, and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D., N.Y.), who pulled a Capitol fire alarm ahead of a key vote in 2023. READ MORE: Philly-area workers impacted by Trumps indiscriminate cuts are pushing back, at Democrats urging: It felt just so cold Houlahan talked to The Inquirer about what went into her decision to censure a colleague, which came after she voted for a motion to table the vote. She also discussed struggles Democrats have had mounting unified opposition to Trump. Her responses have been edited slightly for length and clarity. Why did you vote to table the motion and then vote yes on censuring Rep. Al Green? I voted to table that because I think we have much, much better things to do with our time than to continue to do this tit-for-tat nonsense with one another. That being said, the motion to table failed, so we dont have the opportunity to not vote on this. And I believe we need to recognize that we have rules in the House of Representatives and we have standards of decorum that we all presumably agree to, and we all need to agree to those standards so we can get the work for the people done and so we can not be a banana republic. On a perceived misapplication of the censure: After the vote I pulled Speaker [Johnson] to the side and had a very very strong conversation with him where I explained I voted in favor but I am not OK with arbitrary and capricious applications of the same rule. There was no censure or sanction of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.). He said, Well, she just wore a hat. She also yelled at the president of the United States [Biden in 2024], and I dont believe its OK that she did not have same treatment. And I think its absolute hypocrisy that people after the vote were standing there yelling at Mr. Green when their own colleagues have done very, very similar things, not wearing masks when it was mandated, wearing MAGA hats when there are literally no hats allowed on the floor. We had to make a special exception for wearing hijabs. Its insane. We need to behave like grown-ups and stop the madness. How can Democrats present a more united opposition to Trump? Its definitely a struggle of what is the appropriate response, and I dont know that I can claim any sort of solution or authoritative action. I have tried really hard to take each vote separately and try to conduct myself in a way I think my community would want me to. Immediately following the vote I met with a three-star general in charge of the Defense Intelligence Agency to talk about cuts there, and the consequences of that to our intelligence community, and thats my way of working through all these atrocities this administration is leveling. Have you talked to Rep. Green or do you plan to? It was a really, really, really hard vote for me. I sat there until the very last moment figuring out where I would land. I didnt have a chance to talk to him. I think its my duty to do that, and when I see him I will, and I hope that he will understand. And its frustrating because Al Greens statement was true. It wasnt provocative or offensive. It was the truth. But I think each one of us had to make decisions about how we were going to comport ourselves and what was appropriate, and I know each colleague on both sides made those choices, and each one of us knows there are consequences to those choices. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (right) arrives at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 256 S. 8th Street in Philadelphia with wife, Lisa M. Rau, to vote on election day in 2021. Krasner soundly defeated Republican Chuck Peruto. Read more It was fewer than three years ago that Republicans led an unsuccessful drive to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, whom they blamed for the citys pandemic-era gun violence crisis. But now, as Krasner seeks his third term in office, the Republican Party cant find a single person who wants to replace him. Advertisement With just days left to file nomination paperwork to run in the primary election for district attorney this year, no candidate has emerged on the GOP side, and party leaders say its unlikely one will. It means that, for the first time in decades, the citys 130,000 registered Republicans wont see a candidate from their party on the ballot for district attorney despite Philadelphias shift to the right in last years presidential election. Republican leaders said they are disappointed that no one stepped up to run, especially since many in the party detest Krasner, a progressive prosecutor who has publicly feuded with Republicans in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Washington. A big part of our responsibility as a minority party is to present the voter with an alternative, said Matthew Wolfe, a GOP attorney and ward leader. Not running somebody for district attorney is extremely concerning to me. READ MORE: Philly DA Larry Krasner tries to harness Democratic rage toward Trump as he launches his third bid for office But Wolfe and other party leaders said it was not for a lack of trying. Party chair Vincent Fenerty asked every Republican lawyer with a pulse to run, Wolfe said. They also openly recruited candidates on social media, posting messages on Facebook that read: Are you a Philadelphia Republican and an attorney? This is your chance to step up and run against Krasner to help make Philly safe again. But, Fenerty said, there were no takers in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 6-1. The last Republican to run for district attorney was lawyer Chuck Peruto, who lost to Krasner by 44 percentage points in 2021. On election night, when a reporter asked him what he would have done differently, Peruto replied: Not run. Most people believe for a Republican to beat Krasner is a very insurmountable task, Fenerty said. Nobody wanted to take 10 months out of their life to try to do it and not be able to attain it or get near it. Krasners appearance on the November general election ballot is not a done deal. He is facing a challenge ahead of the May 20 primary from Democrat Patrick Dugan, a former Municipal Court judge who is backed by some politically influential labor unions and who raised more money than Krasner last year. Dugan is presenting himself as a more pragmatic alternative to Krasner. READ MORE: The 2025 Philly DA race is underway as ex-Judge Patrick Dugan launches bid to oust Larry Krasner Fenerty said his partys rules prevent him from endorsing a candidate who is not a Republican, but he praised Dugan as a viable alternative, saying the former judge is a fine gentleman and an excellent judge [who] would be honest, fair, and open-minded. Philadelphia Republicans say it is often a struggle to find candidates who want to run for office citywide, but they almost always land on someone. This year, the party is backing entrepreneur Ari Patrinos, who is running to be city controller. And while no Republican has been elected mayor under the citys current system of governance that was enacted in the 1950s, there have been Republicans who have served as the citys top prosecutor in the modern era. Former District Attorney Ronald D. Castille served from 1986 to 1991, and later sat on the state Supreme Court. Longtime U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter got his start as Philadelphias district attorney, serving two terms beginning in 1966. But no Republican has come close in recent years. Krasner soundly defeated Peruto in 2021 and, in his first general election in 2017, routed Republican Beth Grossman, a former prosecutor. That record makes it challenging for Republicans running citywide to raise funds, and even to garner the petition signatures they need to get on the ballot. Sam Katz, who ran for office as a Republican several times and was a serious contender for mayor in 1999 and 2003, said the partys inability to field a candidate for district attorney merely confirms what was already known: that the Philly GOP does not have a citywide presence, and is instead geographically centered in Northeast Philadelphia and pockets of South Philly. But he said even if a Republican would have been considered a long shot, running citywide is a learning opportunity for candidates newer to politics who might be eyeing a future run for a winnable seat. They certainly exist just last year, Joe Picozzi stunned Northeast Philly Democrats by becoming the first Republican to win a Philadelphia state Senate seat in two decades. The mistake that theyre making is they arent giving a candidate the education in how to be one, Katz said. I think in the long run, thats a loss. Eric Adams, mayor of New York, from left, Mike Johnston, mayor of Denver, Brandon Johnson, mayor of Chicago, and Michelle Wu, mayor of Boston, are sworn in during a House Oversight and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, D.C. Read more WASHINGTON The Democratic mayors of Denver, Chicago, Boston, and New York City were grilled for hours over their so-called sanctuary city policies at a Congressional hearing Wednesday as President Donald Trump pushes his aggressive immigration agenda and threatens to punish cities that dont comply. While Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker was not asked to appear before the Congressional committee, Philadelphias policies mirror those of several of the cities that were taken to task there, emphasizing the sorts of attacks city leaders face as they try to balance White House threats to pull federal funding with the concerns of immigrants and advocates in the city. Advertisement Wednesdays hearing before the House Oversight Committee came as Trumps administration has ramped up immigration enforcement with Attorney General Pam Bondi promising to end federal grants to sanctuary cities and ongoing threats from border czar Tom Homan to mayors if they dont comply. The mayors here today each lead a so-called sanctuary city, committee chair James Comer, (R., Ky.) said to open the hearing And lets be clear: These policies only create sanctuaries for criminals. Parker dodged a GOP onslaught While Democrats emphasized the virtues of immigration and the unrealistic burden that enforcing immigration would put on local law enforcement, it was still a tense few hours for the mayors in the hot seats. Republicans accused the leaders of protecting undocumented immigrants, overspending on social services for them, and obstructing federal authorities. In one of the more explosive moments, Rep. Nancy Mace (R., S.C.) said the mayors had blood on their hands for resisting federal pressure to help deport immigrants. She asked each one: Do you hate Donald Trump more than you love America? Yes or no? The mayors defended their policies, stressing that they follow all laws and arguing that any federal cuts would do more harm to public safety than isolated incidents of immigrant crime. David J. Bier, the director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, testified at the hearing that research shows jurisdictions that do not honor ICE detainers or adopt sanctuary policies are safer and more economically vibrant than those that do. The stated purpose of the hearing was to investigate sanctuary cities, places that deliberately limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, but the day unfolded, as these hearings are known to, with a heavy dose of political grandstanding. The Republican-led House committee was the same one that questioned university leaders a year ago about combating antisemitism on campuses. The widely viewed inquisition resulted in the eventual resignation of Penn president Liz Magill and others. Even before the questions started, the theatrics were on display. The hearing was promoted with a video montage set to sinister music of tent cities, criminals with guns, and a graphic of the Declaration of Independence on fire. Who elected you? The people who came illegally or the people that reside in Chicago? Rep. Scott Perry (R., Pa.) asked Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Who do you serve? The people of Chicago elected me, Johnson said. And we serve all the residents of Chicago. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, the only Pennsylvania Democrat on the committee, called the hearing a shakedown against the mayors of some of our nations biggest cities in part of Trumps ongoing anti-city crusade. Lee noted cities are on the hook for lawsuits if they cooperate with ICE and violate a residents constitutional rights. Republicans are putting these mayors between a rock and a hard place, said Lee, who represents a district that includes parts of Pittsburgh. If they work with ICE, they risk violating their own residents constitutional rights and opening themselves up to costly litigation. But if they dont do Trumps bidding, theyre being threatened with losing federal funding. Parkers more taciturn approach Parker has taken a much more subdued approach compared to some of her mayoral colleagues testifying Wednesday. She passed on a chance to reassert Philadelphias status as a sanctuary city in December and has given tepid answers to her position on continuing the policy. Still, by the letter of the law, a 2016 executive order codifying the citys sanctuary status is still in place. But the issue has become increasingly volatile in Trumps second term and even some Democrats on the committee seemed to recognize the public interest in curbing illegal immigration. Were struggling with this right now, theres a tension between that authority of Congress to act and your responsibility, nobly taken to provide a safe environment to the residents and visitors to your city, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D., Mass.) said to the mayors at the hearing. How do we reconcile the tension between those two? Defending their cities For the mayors in the hot seats, Wednesday also provided a moment to defend their cities and respond to Trumps insults on the national stage their versions of Trumps Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia remark. Johnson, rejected Trumps 2020 comment that Chicago was worse than Afghanistan, noting its third-highest-in-the-nation GDP and consistent ranking of a top place to live. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu clapped back at attacks that she wasnt managing her citys money well, noting Bostons triple-A bond rating and that its one of the safest cities in America. The false narrative is that immigrants in general are criminals ... that is actually whats undermining safety in our communities, she said in response to a line of questioning from Rep. Paul Gosar (R., Ariz.), one of Congress fiercest border hawks. If you want to make us safe, pass gun reforms, stop cutting Medicaid, stop cutting cancer research, stop cutting benefits for veterans, Wu said. Amid their full-throated defenses of their cities, the mayors were clearly hesitant to use the now politically charged term sanctuary city. Wu called Boston a safe city and Johnson referred repeatedly to Chicagos welcome city ordinance. Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams stood out in that he wasnt just defending his city but whether he should still be leading it. Several Democrats called for his resignation and questioned whether his openness to Trumps immigration policies was the result of pressure from the White House in exchange for the dismissal of his legal problems. Trumps Justice Department in mid-February ordered the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York to drop corruption charges against him. Theres no deal. No quid pro quo, Adams told the lawmakers. And he was the friendliest mayoral witness to Republicans, often appearing to agree with them on the impact of immigration and commending Trumps work to drive down border crossings. A 90% reduction, they were able to do that, Adams said. I see it on my streets every day. Staff writers Jeff Gammage and Anna Orso contributed to this article. A new residential neighborhood is rising in Bristol Borough. Along the Delaware River, a condo complex is expanding at the site of what used to be a shipyard and an aircraft manufacturing plant. Advertisement Bristols mayor told my colleague: Im born and raised here, and if someone told me growing up that wed be seeing this many condos built along the river, I wouldnt have believed it. Now, hes seeing it. Keep scrolling for that story and more in this weeks edition: The owner of that Huntingdon Valley home said she and her husband lucked into the property. Do you have a story about getting lucky during a home search? For a chance to be featured in my newsletter, email me. Michaelle Bond If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Bristol has seen smaller residential developments pop up along the Delaware River, but nothing like whats growing now. Radcliffe Court on the Delaware has already sold 76 two-story townhouse condos. Now, its developer is building a complex of mid-rise condos that will have 96 units. The $40 million community sits on 14 acres north of Bristols downtown, which has been reenergized in recent years, thanks to the work of community members and borough officials. The formerly industrial borough that spans less than two square miles has had its ups and downs. The leader of a nonprofit thats been promoting Bristol for more than a decade said new housing is a sign that revitalization efforts are working. Keep reading to see where the new development is rising (hint: not far from Burlington Island) and whos buying these condos. Heres a pretty wild stat for you: About a quarter of all the homes that were built in Philadelphia last year were located in one zip code. Thats 19123, the area in and around Northern Liberties from Callowhill Street to West Girard Avenue and from North Broad Street to the Delaware River. Nearly 2,100 of the homes that were completed in Philly in 2024 are within those boundaries. The building boom has essentially created a new neighborhood, said an executive at the Center City District, which released its annual housing report this week and highlighted the areas building boom. Here are some other striking facts from the business improvement districts report: 44% of the homes built in Philly last year were located in the eight zip codes of greater Center City. (For context, this region makes up just 6% of Phillys total land area.) One in eight Philadelphians now live in greater Center City. Folks at Center City District also talked to me about how a change to a particular tax policy is playing into building trends, who is living downtown, and hopes for East Market Street. Keep reading to learn why home building in greater Center City hit a record last year and why a large chunk of construction happened in and around Northern Liberties. The latest news to pay attention to Do you believe in fate? I know thats a heavy way to start a home tour. Homeowner Amy Salem says it was dumb luck that got her and her husband, Jerry, into a home that was an exact fit. The Salems wanted to downsize from the Elkins Parks home where theyd raised their kids. They spent two years searching, even looking as far away as Arizona. They ended up finding their home 15 minutes away in Huntingdon Valley. But there was a catch: It was already under contract. Luckily for them (and unluckily for the other buyer), that deal fell through. The Salems loved the modern design and original details of the 1970s home. They added artwork made by family members and a sculptured wood headboard with built-in side tables for their bed. That piece may or may not have been made by a celebrated local craftsperson. Peek inside the Salems home to see unique pieces and their renovations. Trivia time Franklin Square, one of Philadelphias five original squares that William Penn set aside, is getting its first major upgrade since 2006. The overhaul of the 7.5-acre park just off the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge will include adding zip lines, bike lanes, LED lighting, and restrooms. Question: Roughly how much is the upgrade expected to cost? A) $3.8 million B) $5.2 million C) $7.8 million D) $10.1 million This story has the answer. Photo quiz Do you know the Shore location this photo shows? If you think you do, email me back. You and your memories of visiting this spot might be featured in the newsletter. Last weeks photo showed the SS United States passing under the Walt Whitman Bridge. Props to Deborah S. and Michael W. for getting that right. My colleague Paola Perez asked readers of The Inquirers Morning Newsletter to send her photos of their favorite views in the city. Take a look at some responses. Enjoy the rest of your week. By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10. A pedestrian walks in the rain on Spruce Street near Camac Street in December. Rain days have been scarce the last several months. Read more That the region will remain in deep states of drought when the national drought maps are posted Thursday morning is a done deal, but on Wednesday Philly had its rainiest calendar day since June 5, according to the National Weather Service, and broke a 105-year-old record. As of 7 p.m., 1.54 inches of rain had been measured at Philadelphia International Airport, with most of that coming between 3 and 6 p.m. in tropical storm-worthy downpours. The June 5 total was 1.87 inches. Advertisement The rains were set off by a potent front that generated gusts past 50 mph, including a 52-mph gust at PHL. Gusts have been frequent visitors these days. However, wind damage in the region appeared to be minimal, and Peco reported only about 6,500 power outages. No significant flooding was reported, with stream levels way down from months of persistent dryness. In the last 60 days, precipitation throughout the region has been about half of normal. In its most recent national update, posted last Thursday, the inter-agency U.S. Drought Monitor had the entire region in states of moderate to extreme drought. This was the first precipitation of any kind this month in Philly, and given that the drought maps are drawn on Tuesdays, they shouldnt change significantly for Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and South Jersey. Thus, the rains have had a decided positive side, along with flushing out some of the accumulated road salt. The rain amounts, which eclipsed the 1.40-inch record for the date set in 1920, turned out to be a splash higher than forecast. Said Amanda Lee, a meteorologist in the Mount Holly office, Were not going to be complaining about a bit of extra. Wind blows a woman's hair around at 11th and Arch Streets on windy day last month in what has been quite a windy start to 2025. Read more About now this may seem annoyingly familiar: Yet another wind advisory remains up for the Philly region until 4 p.m. Friday for gusts to 50 mph in the wake of what turned out to be rainiest day in eight months. If the first of the month is any anemometer, what they say about March winds evidently transcends cliche: Friday would be the sixth day of the last seven in which the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly has posted a wind advisory or warning. Advertisement The advisory went into effect at 3 p.m. Thursday, and the gusts were expected to have far more staying power than those of Wednesday, said Patrick OHara, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. Some scattered power outages were reported Thursday; however, given that the trees are not yet leafed out, widespread outages were not expected. Even on Wednesday, Peco reported only about 6,500 outages despite the three hours of heavy rains that broke a 105-year-old record and a gust of 52 mph measured at Philadelphia International Airport. What explains the recent harvest of gusts in Philly So far this year, gusts of 35 mph or more have been recorded on 22 different days at PHL, with gusts of 40-plus mph on 15 of those days, and 50-plus on five of them, according to weather service data. For January and February, no other similar period has in the last five years had as many days with gusts of 40 mph or better. Weather systems have been moving briskly, and the region has been visited by a sequence of fronts, which form at the boundaries of warm and cold air and air of different pressure, or weight. The frequent presence of high pressure, or heavier air, to the west, and lower pressures to the east is behind the wind fest. Heavier air naturally moves toward lighter air as the planet tries to maintain a pressure balance. Think of crests and troughs in the ocean. (It has been sounding like an ocean around here lately.) The contrasts are more likely to occur this time of year as the advancing spring and retreating winter wage their battles over our heads. Thats also why this is the severe-storm season. No storms on Wednesday reached the severe criterion, with winds up to 60 mph, but they came close, and the tropical-storm-level downpours resulted in 1.54 inches of rain, the most on a calendar day since June 5 and besting a daily record set in 1920. Is the Philly region still in drought? Very much so. The weekly national map posted by the interagency U.S. Drought Monitor is virtually unchanged for the region, with conditions ranging from moderate to extreme drought. The maps were drawn on Tuesday, but its unlikely that Wednesdays rains would have made a dramatic difference. Through Wednesday, precipitation still was about 25% to 30% below normal in the previous 60 days. No significant rains are expected for at least a week, OHara said, but the region has an outside shot at seeing some wet snowflakes early Saturday morning, as a cooldown continues through the weekend, with daily highs around 50 degrees. A significant warmup is due Monday, and temperatures could crest past 70 on Wednesday. The winds, also, are due to back off, or at least go on spring break. A three-month consultation period has been opened to gather feedback from financial institutions, industry bodies, and consumer representatives. APRA expects to release updated prudential standards and guidance for further consultation in the first half of 2026, with the revised framework set to take effect in 2028. This is a stressful time for the communities in the impact zone of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, but our teams are ready to respond as quickly as possible. We now have a good idea of where the cyclone is going to hit and which customers, homes and businesses are in the threat zone, Johnston said. He said one of these circumstances is when experts roam beyond their expertise and give opinions on whether the policy should respond. However, he said insurers have taken feedback on this issue and Liamos said AFCA is now seeing less of this issue appearing in complaints. Earning a spot on the list validates a brokers professional expertise. Past recipients have leveraged this recognition as a strategic tool for enhancing their reputation and credibility in the industry. What does this new structure mean for brokers? As to what this means for brokers, Gonzalez highlighted how the commercial insurance space is composed of 40 to 50 companies competing across different geographies. Its a positive state of affairs for customers and brokers, he said, because theres plenty of competition. Ultimately the job of the broker is to find the highest amount of capacity available at the lowest possible price. And this construct helps them be able to do that, particularly in the more commoditised parts of the market where there's not that much differentiation other than price and capacity. Thanks to the efforts of our Consumer Insurance Services team, Tennessee consumers have seen previously denied claims overturned and additional benefits identified and paid, said TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence. I am proud of our team's work to help ensure that hard-working Tennesseans receive the payments they are entitled to. Consumers facing challenges with their insurance claims or policies should know they can reach out to our team for assistance. Tesla first launched its insurance initiative in California in 2019, initially without incorporating real-time driving data. Over time, the company developed its safety score system, which assesses driver behavior based on factors such as aggressive turning, unsafe following distances, and forced Autopilot disengagements. In 2021, Tesla expanded its insurance offering to Texas and other states, integrating the safety score into pricing models. While this approach aimed to lower costs for safe drivers, it has faced criticism from customers who argue that Teslas performance-oriented vehicles and software updates can impact scores unpredictably. Mikes contribution to our leadership team, to our culture, to our business and to our industry has been immense. For 23 years, he has been a central figure at Tokio Marine HCC. He has guided us through market cycles, helped us overcome industry challenges and been a key player in the growth and success of our business, said Susan Rivera, CEO of Tokio Marine HCC. His experience, insights and expertise have been invaluable assets to me, my colleagues on the leadership team and throughout Tokio Marine HCC. We will miss him and his counsel dearly. How the bill works The FAIR Plan was designed to offer coverage to homeowners who are unable to obtain policies through standard insurance providers. Assemblymember David Alvarez, a Democrat from San Diego and a co-author of AB 226, explained that the bill would allow the FAIR Plan to seek financial assistance from the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. If the plan were to run out of funds following a major disaster, the bank could issue bonds to cover claim payments. When Ralph and Myrna Lightfoot suffered hail damage to their house, they claimed on their homeowner's insurance policy with American Economy Insurance Company. American Economy Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance and operates as part of the Safeco Insurance brand. Even though their policy was with AEIC, which operates as a distinct underwriting entity, the Lightfoots sued Safeco and Liberty as they claimed that the two were an integral part of their claims processing. They alleged that the insurers did not properly investigate the damage and failed to pay an adequate amount to cover the necessary repairs. Lawmakers also passed a separate bill directing a study on the impact of credit history on insurance premiums, according to a report from AM Best. Both measures align with the priorities of Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, who described them as beneficial for policyholders. Paire brings more than 30 years of industry experience to Lockton Re. He previously served as head of Capital Advisory at Aon for nearly seven years. Before that, he held leadership positions at Guy Carpenter, where he was head of Global Partners & Strategic Advisory EMEA and a director at GC Securities. His earlier career includes roles at Scor, Le Blanc de Nicolay, and AXA Re. Paire also co-founded two startups Nexgen Financial Holdings and NessPa and served as a director at Perils AG. Pain said that the second challenge is around the still relatively limited participation in this marketplace. There are a few high-profile investors that are willing to take on this novel risk, he said, but theyre limited not only in the number of participants but also the level of exposure that most are willing to take on. In property, for instance, you might have 30 or 40 investors involved in a natural catastrophe bond but when youre not getting those numbers, the risk is skewed towards a smaller pool of investors. Miller is expanding its reinsurance operations with the appointment of Vincent Foucart as managing director in its reinsurance division. The move is part of the firm's strategy to strengthen its position in the European reinsurance market. This post is part of a series sponsored by Darkhorse Insurance. This remarkable transformation is challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in insurance. Insurtech is not just a buzzword; it is a dynamic and innovative response to the evolving needs of an increasingly tech-savvy and data-driven world. In this article, we set the stage for our exploration of this tech revolution, providing a clear understanding of what Insurtech is, its significance, and how tech is fueling this transformative change. This is not merely a trend, more of a paradigm shift, and understanding it is essential for both insurance professionals and consumers alike. Traditional Operations of the Insurance Industry Before the advent of insurtech, insurance companies operated within the confines of traditional practices that were often characterized by manual, paper-driven processes and time-consuming procedures. These legacy methods were deeply ingrained in the industry, but they came with various limitations and challenges: High Costs and Inefficiencies: Traditional insurance operations often suffer from high costs and inefficiencies in underwriting, pricing, and distributing insurance policies. The manual processes involved can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Lack of Transparency and Customization: Insurance products and services offered in the traditional model may lack transparency and customization. This can lead to a disconnect between what customers need and what insurers provide. Slow and Cumbersome Claim Processing: Claims processing and settlement can be slow and cumbersome, as manual paperwork and lengthy procedures are the norm. Policyholders often face delays in receiving the benefits they are entitled to. Low Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: The limitations of the traditional model can result in low customer satisfaction and loyalty. Customers may feel frustrated by the lack of transparency, lengthy processes, and inadequate customer support. Insurtech, a subset of fintech, aims to address these challenges by introducing innovative technologies and business models to transform the insurance industry. The shift towards Insurtech has ushered in a new era where insurance agents can provide more efficient, transparent, and customer-centric services. This transformation has not only improved the internal operations of insurance companies but has also enhanced the overall experience for policyholders. It underscores the importance of embracing technology to meet the evolving needs and expectations of the modern insurance landscape! The Rise of Insurtech Insurtechs roots can be found in the broader fintech (financial technology) movement, which sought to bring innovation to the financial services sector. As digitalization and data analytics capabilities advanced, insurance companies began to explore how these tools could be harnessed to improve their operations, enhance customer experiences, and create new business models. The term insurtech gained prominence as startups and tech-focused entrepreneurs sought to disrupt traditional insurance practices and introduce fresh, technology-driven approaches to insurance. The Insurtech ecosystem is a diverse and dynamic landscape featuring a wide range of participants, including: Traditional Insurance Companies: Established insurers have been investing in and partnering with Insurtech companies to modernize their operations and offer more customer-centric services. They are also developing their in-house Insurtech capabilities. Established insurers have been investing in and partnering with Insurtech companies to modernize their operations and offer more customer-centric services. They are also developing their in-house Insurtech capabilities. Technology Companies: Tech giants like Google and Amazon are exploring opportunities in the insurance space, potentially disrupting traditional insurance distribution models. Tech giants like Google and Amazon are exploring opportunities in the insurance space, potentially disrupting traditional insurance distribution models. Venture Capital and Investors: Venture capital firms and investors have shown significant interest in Insurtech, providing funding for startups and innovative projects within the industry. Venture capital firms and investors have shown significant interest in Insurtech, providing funding for startups and innovative projects within the industry. Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory bodies are also evolving to accommodate the changes brought about by Insurtech, adapting to new business models and ensuring consumer protection. The rise of Insurtech is not only a response to the insurance industrys internal challenges but also a reflection of its adaptation to the broader societal changes and global trends that shape the demand and supply of insurance products and services. As Insurtech continues to evolve, its impact on both the industry and society at large is expected to grow significantly. What is Insurtech? IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and More A portmanteau of insurance and technology, Insurtech refers to the use of technology to improve business processes, efficiency, and customer experience in the insurance industry. It represents a transformative movement that leverages advancements in data analytics, artificial intelligence(AI), blockchain, and other digital tools to enhance and revolutionize various aspects of insurance. What are the Types of Insurtech? Insurtech is not a single technology or solution but rather a collection of tools and approaches aimed at enhancing and modernizing insurance processes. These new technologies have paved the way for a myriad of Insurtech types; each focused on improving different aspects of the insurance value chain. 1. Digital Distribution and Aggregators Online Marketplaces: These platforms enable customers to compare various insurance products and purchase policies online, providing a convenient and transparent shopping experience. These platforms enable customers to compare various insurance products and purchase policies online, providing a convenient and transparent shopping experience. Comparison Websites: Comparison websites allow consumers to evaluate different insurance options, including pricing and coverage, facilitating informed decision-making. 2. Policy Administration and Underwriting Data Analytics: Insurtech leverages data analytics to assess risk, determine pricing, and streamline underwriting processes, improving the accuracy of risk assessment and pricing. Insurtech leverages data analytics to assess risk, determine pricing, and streamline underwriting processes, improving the accuracy of risk assessment and pricing. Automation: Automation tools are used to automate policy administration, underwriting decisions, and document generation, reducing manual tasks and errors. 3. Claims Processing and Management Claims Automation: Insurtech solutions accelerate claims processing through automation, reducing the time and effort required to assess and settle claims. Insurtech solutions accelerate claims processing through automation, reducing the time and effort required to assess and settle claims. Digital Claims Submission: Policyholders can submit claims digitally, enhancing the speed and convenience of the claims process. 4. Telematics and Usage-Based Insurance Telematics Devices: These devices, often installed in vehicles, collect data on driving behavior, such as speed, distance, and braking patterns, allowing insurers to offer personalized pricing based on actual driving habits. These devices, often installed in vehicles, collect data on driving behavior, such as speed, distance, and braking patterns, allowing insurers to offer personalized pricing based on actual driving habits. Mobile Apps: Some Insurtech companies use mobile apps to track and record driving behavior, offering usage-based auto insurance without the need for additional hardware. 5. Blockchain and Smart Contracts Blockchain for Transparency: Blockchain technology enhances the transparency, security, and trustworthiness of insurance transactions, especially in areas like policy issuance, claims processing, and reinsurance. Blockchain technology enhances the transparency, security, and trustworthiness of insurance transactions, especially in areas like policy issuance, claims processing, and reinsurance. Smart Contracts: Smart contracts self-execute predefined conditions, facilitating automatic claims settlements and contract enforcement. 6. Internet of Things (IoT) and Sensors Connected Devices: IoT devices, including home sensors and wearable health devices, provide real-time data to insurers for risk assessment, loss prevention, and personalized insurance offerings. 7. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning AI-Powered Chatbots: Chatbots and virtual assistants assist customers with inquiries and claims, improving customer service and engagement. Chatbots and virtual assistants assist customers with inquiries and claims, improving customer service and engagement. Machine Learning for Risk Assessment: AI and machine learning algorithms are used to assess risk more accurately, detect fraudulent activities, and automate underwriting decisions. 8. Cybersecurity and Risk Management Cyber Insurance: Insurtech solutions in the cybersecurity domain offer coverage against data breaches and cyberattacks, addressing the growing importance of cyber risk management. 9. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Insurance Collaborative Platforms: P2P insurance platforms enable groups of individuals to pool resources and share insurance coverage, often with the benefit of mutual trust within the group. 10. On-Demand Insurance Flexible Coverage: On-demand insurance allows policyholders to activate and deactivate coverage as needed, aligning with their specific and changing insurance requirements. Insurtech in Action: Notable Cases of Companies Using Insurtech Key applications of Insurtech have been found across various segments of the insurance industry. Some real-world examples of types of Insurtech include: Usage-Based Auto Insurance: Car insurance companies like Progressive and Metromile use telematics devices to monitor driving behavior and offer policyholders personalized rates based on their actual driving habits. Car insurance companies like Progressive and Metromile use telematics devices to monitor driving behavior and offer policyholders personalized rates based on their actual driving habits. Digital Insurance Marketplaces: Platforms like PolicyBazaar and Insurify allow consumers to compare and purchase insurance policies online, simplifying the shopping experience. Platforms like PolicyBazaar and Insurify allow consumers to compare and purchase insurance policies online, simplifying the shopping experience. Claims Processing Automation: Lemonade, an insurtech startup, uses AI to process claims quickly and efficiently, often within minutes. Lemonade, an insurtech startup, uses AI to process claims quickly and efficiently, often within minutes. Blockchain-Based Reinsurance: Insurers like Swiss Re have explored blockchain to streamline and enhance reinsurance processes, improving transparency and reducing fraud risk. Insurers like Swiss Re have explored blockchain to streamline and enhance reinsurance processes, improving transparency and reducing fraud risk. On-Demand Insurance: Small business insurance companies like Trov and Slice offer on-demand coverage that policyholders can activate or deactivate as needed, aligning with their changing lifestyles and needs. What are the Benefits of Insurtech? Insurtech offers a multitude of benefits that significantly impact the insurance industry. These advantages not only enhance the operational efficiency of insurers but also lead to improved experiences for both policyholders and insurance professionals. Improved Customer Experiences and Engagement One of the most compelling benefits of Insurtech is its capacity to transform the customer experience within the insurance business. Insurtech solutions provide: Convenient Digital Interaction: Policyholders can manage their policies, report claims, and seek assistance through user-friendly mobile apps and online platforms, reducing the need for time-consuming phone calls and paperwork. Policyholders can manage their policies, report claims, and seek assistance through user-friendly mobile apps and online platforms, reducing the need for time-consuming phone calls and paperwork. Personalization: Advanced data analytics and AI enable insurers to offer tailored insurance products and pricing, aligning with the unique needs and preferences of customers. Advanced data analytics and AI enable insurers to offer tailored insurance products and pricing, aligning with the unique needs and preferences of customers. Real-time Communication: Chatbots and virtual assistants offer immediate responses to customer queries, improving engagement and satisfaction. Chatbots and virtual assistants offer immediate responses to customer queries, improving engagement and satisfaction. Transparency: Blockchain technology enhances the transparency of transactions, making it easier for customers to understand the terms and conditions of their policies and the claims process. Enhanced Underwriting, Risk Assessment, and Fraud Detection Insurtech leverages data and automation to make underwriting, risk assessment, and fraud detection more effective: Data-Driven Decision-Making: Insurers can access vast amounts of data to make more informed underwriting decisions, which results in fairer and more accurate pricing. Insurers can access vast amounts of data to make more informed underwriting decisions, which results in fairer and more accurate pricing. Risk Mitigation: Telematics devices and IoT sensors provide real-time data for assessing and mitigating risks. This is particularly valuable in auto insurance, where driving behavior can be closely monitored. Telematics devices and IoT sensors provide real-time data for assessing and mitigating risks. This is particularly valuable in auto insurance, where driving behavior can be closely monitored. Fraud Prevention: Advanced algorithms and AI-based fraud detection systems identify suspicious patterns and anomalies, reducing instances of fraudulent claims and potentially saving insurers significant sums of money. Advanced algorithms and AI-based fraud detection systems identify suspicious patterns and anomalies, reducing instances of fraudulent claims and potentially saving insurers significant sums of money. Quicker Claims Processing: Automation in claims processing accelerates settlements and simplifies the process for both policyholders and insurers, improving overall satisfaction. Cost Reduction and Efficiency Gains Efficiency and cost reduction are core benefits of Insurtech that positively impact an insurers bottom line: Reduced Administrative Overhead: Automation and digital platforms reduce administrative tasks, resulting in significant cost savings. Automation and digital platforms reduce administrative tasks, resulting in significant cost savings. Operational Streamlining: Insurtech enables insurers to streamline their processes, eliminate redundancies, and reduce the need for manual data entry. Insurtech enables insurers to streamline their processes, eliminate redundancies, and reduce the need for manual data entry. Scalability: Cloud-based infrastructure provides scalability, allowing insurers to handle increased volumes of data and customer interactions without significant IT investments. Cloud-based infrastructure provides scalability, allowing insurers to handle increased volumes of data and customer interactions without significant IT investments. Improved Workflow: Robotic process automation (RPA) is used to automate routine, rule-based tasks, further enhancing operational efficiency. Robotic process automation (RPA) is used to automate routine, rule-based tasks, further enhancing operational efficiency. Enhanced Competitiveness: By adopting Insurtech solutions, insurers can stay competitive in the digital age, attracting tech-savvy customers and remaining agile in a rapidly evolving market. Why is Insurtech Important? Insurtech is not only a disruptor but also a collaborator for the insurance industry. It is crucial for both customers and insurers, as it helps enhance the insurance value chain and create new opportunities for growth. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global Insurtech market was valued at $5.45 billion in 2022 and is projected to experience remarkable growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 52.7% forecasted for the period spanning from 2023 to 2030. This growth signifies the industrys ability to meet the evolving demands of customers and insurers alike. Insurtech plays a vital role in reshaping the industry, and several key factors drive its significance: Adaptation to the Digital Age: As the world becomes increasingly digital, the insurance industry must adapt to meet the expectations of digitally savvy customers. Insurtech enables insurers to provide modern, user-friendly, and convenient solutions in line with the digital age. As the world becomes increasingly digital, the insurance industry must adapt to meet the expectations of digitally savvy customers. Insurtech enables insurers to provide modern, user-friendly, and convenient solutions in line with the digital age. Enhanced Efficiency: Insurtech solutions streamline insurance operations, reducing administrative overhead and increasing the efficiency of various processes. Insurtech solutions streamline insurance operations, reducing administrative overhead and increasing the efficiency of various processes. Risk Mitigation: The data-driven approach of Insurtech allows insurers to better assess and mitigate risks, leading to fairer and more precise risk pricing. This results in reduced losses and more accurate pricing for digitally savvy policyholders. The data-driven approach of Insurtech allows insurers to better assess and mitigate risks, leading to fairer and more precise risk pricing. This results in reduced losses and more accurate pricing for digitally savvy policyholders. Improved Customer Experience: Insurtech offers innovative tools for engaging with customers, providing real-time communication and personalization. This enhances the overall experience, making insurance more accessible and customer-centric. Insurtech offers innovative tools for engaging with customers, providing real-time communication and personalization. This enhances the overall experience, making insurance more accessible and customer-centric. Competitive Advantage: Insurtech adoption gives insurers a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving marketplace. It attracts tech-savvy customers and positions insurers as forward-thinking and agile industry leaders. Insurtech Innovations that are Shaking Up the Insurance Industry From reimagining traditional insurance products to embracing cutting-edge technologies, the industry is undergoing a transformative journey that transcends its historical boundaries. Innovation in insurance encompasses a wide range of facets, each contributing to the sectors evolution: Product Innovation: Insurance companies are developing new insurance products and policies to address emerging risks, such as cybersecurity insurance, climate-related coverage, and pandemic insurance. These innovative offerings adapt to the changing needs of customers and businesses. Insurance companies are developing new insurance products and policies to address emerging risks, such as cybersecurity insurance, climate-related coverage, and pandemic insurance. These innovative offerings adapt to the changing needs of customers and businesses. Distribution Channels: Insurers are rethinking how insurance is sold and delivered. Traditional distribution methods are being augmented by digital platforms, allowing consumers to purchase policies online, compare options, and access coverage with ease. Insurers are rethinking how insurance is sold and delivered. Traditional distribution methods are being augmented by digital platforms, allowing consumers to purchase policies online, compare options, and access coverage with ease. Customer Experience: The focus on improving the customer experience has led to innovative solutions. Chatbots, AI-driven virtual assistants, and mobile apps provide policyholders with convenient ways to interact with insurers, report claims, and get answers to their questions. The focus on improving the customer experience has led to innovative solutions. Chatbots, AI-driven virtual assistants, and mobile apps provide policyholders with convenient ways to interact with insurers, report claims, and get answers to their questions. Risk Assessment: Technological advancements, including big data analytics and artificial intelligence, enable more accurate risk assessment. Insurers can better understand and price risks, resulting in fairer premiums and reduced fraud. Technological advancements, including big data analytics and artificial intelligence, enable more accurate risk assessment. Insurers can better understand and price risks, resulting in fairer premiums and reduced fraud. Claims Processing: Streamlined claims processing, often facilitated by automation and AI, allows for faster settlements and enhanced transparency. This innovation reduces the administrative burden on both insurers and policyholders. Streamlined claims processing, often facilitated by automation and AI, allows for faster settlements and enhanced transparency. This innovation reduces the administrative burden on both insurers and policyholders. Regulatory Compliance: Innovations in Insurtech help insurers navigate complex regulatory environments by automating compliance tasks and ensuring adherence to changing laws and standards. The insurance industry, once considered traditional and paper-bound, is now undergoing a digital metamorphosis thanks to Insurtech companies. These innovative firms have one primary goal to streamline, optimize, and enhance the insurance sector. They offer a fresh perspective, focusing on user experience, accessibility, and efficiency, making insurance more user-friendly and customer-centric. Technological Advancements and Their Role in Insurtech Companies Technological advancements are the driving force behind innovation in insurance. These advancements are not just tools but catalysts, propelling innovation, efficiency, and transformative change within the insurance sector. Big Data and Analytics: The ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data enables insurers to gain deeper insights into customer behavior, risk factors, and market trends, leading to more informed decisions. The ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data enables insurers to gain deeper insights into customer behavior, risk factors, and market trends, leading to more informed decisions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: AI algorithms and machine learning models power chatbots, underwriting engines, and fraud detection systems, contributing to improved efficiency and personalization. AI algorithms and machine learning models power chatbots, underwriting engines, and fraud detection systems, contributing to improved efficiency and personalization. Internet of Things (IoT): IoT devices, such as telematics in vehicles and smart home sensors, generate real-time data that insurers use for personalized pricing and risk assessment. IoT devices, such as telematics in vehicles and smart home sensors, generate real-time data that insurers use for personalized pricing and risk assessment. Blockchain: Blockchain technology enhances transparency, security, and trust in insurance transactions, especially in complex areas like reinsurance and claims management. Blockchain technology enhances transparency, security, and trust in insurance transactions, especially in complex areas like reinsurance and claims management. Cloud Computing: Cloud-based infrastructure provides scalability and accessibility, enabling insurers to store and process data more efficiently and support remote work and customer interactions. The Future of Insurance Technology The Insurtech sector is poised for continued growth and transformation in the years to come. Several key predictions and trends are shaping the future of Insurtech: Data-Driven Decision-Making: Data analytics and AI will continue to be at the forefront of Insurtech, enabling insurers to make more precise underwriting, pricing, and risk assessment decisions. Data analytics and AI will continue to be at the forefront of Insurtech, enabling insurers to make more precise underwriting, pricing, and risk assessment decisions. Internet of Things (IoT) Expansion: IoT devices, such as telematics in vehicles and connected home sensors, will see wider adoption, providing insurers with even more data for risk assessment and loss prevention. IoT devices, such as telematics in vehicles and connected home sensors, will see wider adoption, providing insurers with even more data for risk assessment and loss prevention. Personalized and On-Demand Insurance: The trend toward personalized, on-demand insurance will continue, with more insurers offering flexible, short-term coverage options for customers. The trend toward personalized, on-demand insurance will continue, with more insurers offering flexible, short-term coverage options for customers. Ecosystem Integration: Insurtech companies will increasingly integrate with other industries, such as healthcare, automotive, and home security, to create comprehensive insurance solutions that address broader customer needs. Insurtech companies will increasingly integrate with other industries, such as healthcare, automotive, and home security, to create comprehensive insurance solutions that address broader customer needs. Blockchain and Smart Contracts: The use of blockchain technology and smart contracts will expand beyond their current applications, bringing greater transparency and efficiency to insurance transactions. The use of blockchain technology and smart contracts will expand beyond their current applications, bringing greater transparency and efficiency to insurance transactions. Cybersecurity Insurance: With the growing importance of cybersecurity, the demand for cyber insurance will continue to rise as businesses seek protection against data breaches and cyberattacks. With the growing importance of cybersecurity, the demand for cyber insurance will continue to rise as businesses seek protection against data breaches and cyberattacks. Regulatory Technology (Regtech): The regulatory landscape for insurtech will evolve to accommodate new technologies and business models. Regtech solutions will play a significant role in helping insurers comply with changing laws and standards. How Insurtech Will Continue to Reshape the Insurance Industry Insurtech will continue to be a driving force in reshaping how insurance works: Digital Transformation: The industrys ongoing digital transformation will be accelerated by Insurtech. Traditional insurers will increasingly adopt digital tools to remain competitive. The industrys ongoing digital transformation will be accelerated by Insurtech. Traditional insurers will increasingly adopt digital tools to remain competitive. Innovative Business Models: New and innovative business models, such as peer-to-peer insurance and microinsurance, will become more common, offering unique and customizable coverage options. New and innovative business models, such as peer-to-peer insurance and microinsurance, will become more common, offering unique and customizable coverage options. Market Expansion: Insurtech will open new markets and opportunities for insurance, reaching underserved populations and offering insurance solutions to those who were previously excluded from the market. Insurtech will open new markets and opportunities for insurance, reaching underserved populations and offering insurance solutions to those who were previously excluded from the market. Enhanced Customer Engagement: Insurtech will provide insurers with the tools to engage with customers in real-time, offer personalized support, and create lasting customer relationships. Insurtech will provide insurers with the tools to engage with customers in real-time, offer personalized support, and create lasting customer relationships. Efficiency and Cost Reduction: Continued automation and technological advancements will lead to increased efficiency and cost reduction for insurers, resulting in more competitive pricing for policyholders. Conclusion Insurtech has left an indelible mark on the insurance industry. Its transformative impact has brought forth a new era of innovation and adaptation, with far-reaching implications for insurers, policyholders, and the insurance ecosystem as a whole. As Insurtech continues to reshape the industry, embracing technology-driven solutions becomes paramount for future success. The adoption of Insurtech is not merely an option but a strategic imperative. Insurers who invest in innovation, remain open to change and prioritize customer-centricity will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive and customer-oriented landscape. In the spirit of embracing innovation, consider the unique offerings of Darkhorse Insurance. With our turnkey Insurtech solutions and programs, we empower insurance professionals to break away from the conventional and build their brokerages in a way that aligns with the digital age. To explore the exciting opportunities that Darkhorse Insurance offers, reach out to us and discover how we can help you succeed in the evolving world of insurance. Sources: Topics InsurTech Tech Market This post is part of a series sponsored by EZLynx. As an independent agent, time is your most valuable resource, and staying competitive in a rapidly changing insurance market requires efficiency. The good news? EZLynxs all-in-one management system is here to help. With its powerful end-to-end policy and customer solutions, along with new AI tools for startup agents EZLynx provides the intelligent business processes your agency needs to thrive. New tools, you say? Enter EZLynx Virtual Assistance or EVA for short. From summarizing client communications to automating tasks like writing emails, EVA takes EZLynx to the next level, giving insurance agents even more time to focus on what really builds a business: discovering new sales opportunities and building stronger client relationships. Before exploring EVAs new features and how they can benefit your agency, its essential to first understand what AI is and how it works. What is Artificial Intelligence? Artificial Intelligence is transforming the insurance industry by automating tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence. Using technologies like machine learning (ML) and deep learning, AI can analyze huge amounts of data, predict outcomes, and automate things like language processing and data retrieval. By mimicking how humans solve problems, AI can handle way more data at much faster speeds, making it a game-changer for independent agencies looking to work smarter and move faster. How Can EVA Help Me? EVA now comes with three exciting new upgrades, including: Client Account Summarization Email Content Assist Product Assistance Thankfully, AI offers a wide range of applications in the insurance industry these are just the beginning. With EVA, agents can enjoy more time to focus on growing their business instead of getting bogged down by routine tasks. EVAs Account Summarization quickly consolidates client communication and internal agency notes, providing clear, actionable insights with just a few clicks. Email Content Assist ensures your business communications are professional and personalized, saving time on drafting and editing emails. Meanwhile, the Product Assistance tool makes finding answers on how to use EZLynx quick and effortless. The tools above dont just sound greatthey deliver real value to your agency, streamlining everyday tasks that would typically be time-consuming without the power of AI. For When You Need to Stay in the Loop The EVA Account Summarization feature helps agents quickly catch up on client accounts by providing automatic summaries of recent activity. With the ability to select updates from the past week, month, or even up to the last three months, youll have all the essential details at your fingertipseliminating the need to sift through communications and transactions manually, potentially saving you hours each week. This feature can be especially helpful when team members go on vacation or take time off. It ensures that whoever steps in to cover an account can quickly get up to speed, making transitions smooth and seamless. Beyond saving time, Account Summarization enhances the overall customer experience. Clients no longer have to wait on the phone or repeat themselves, leading to more efficient, productive interactions. By offering quick, personalized touchpoints, this feature helps strengthen relationships with clients, improving satisfaction and fostering long-term loyalty. For When You Cant Find the Right Words As an agency owner, you know how busy things can get, and theres rarely enough time to brainstorm or figure out the perfect thing to say. Thats where the EVA Email Content Assist tool comes in, designed to help you save time spent crafting emails. According to a study from We are Talker and Slack, the average small business employee spends 10 hours and 47 minutes per week drafting emails. With EVA Email Content Assist, you no longer have to waste time struggling with writers block or perfecting every sentence. The tool works by letting you enter a simple promptjust a few keywords or a quick requestand EVA will instantly generate an email based on your chosen topic. Whether its about quotes, claims processing, policy terms, or any other subject, you simply type it in, and EVA handles the rest, saving you time and effort. For When You Need a Helping Hand Looking for quick answers to your product questions? The EVA Product Assistance tool is here to make your EZLynx experience even smoother by providing clear, instant answers to all your EZLynx inquiries. With EVA, you can access best practices or get quick answers for specific tasks so you can get right back to serving customers. Whether you need help navigating a new automated renewals workflow or instructions on how to install and use the EZLynx Outlook plugin, EVA can provide step-by-step guidance. This feature is also a game-changer for onboarding new employees, as they can use EVA to self-learn and quickly get up to speed on new systems, making training smoother and more efficient. Grow Your Business with EZLynx EZLynxs AI features dont just make your life easierthey supercharge all your workflows, enhancing the already easy EZLynx experience. Take full advantage of the all-in-one management system and its new AI capabilities to work smarter, not harder. Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence March 24 will mark two years since Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed tort reform measures into law. HB 837 took direct aim at an epidemic of litigation, the factor most responsible for steep increases in homeowners insurance rates and the failure of some Florida insurers. One statistic is enough to tell the story: although Florida is home to only eight percent of the countrys homeowners insurance claims, prior to the reforms it was home to 76 percent of the entire nations homeowners insurance lawsuits, according to Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The impact of HB 837 and other tort reform measures passed by the Florida legislature is already being felt. Frivolous litigation is down double-digits, insurance rates are declining, and ten new companies have entered the Florida market, encouraged by the improved climate for insurance buyers and providers. The facts and data are compelling out-of-control litigation is down by more than 40 percent, homeowners insurance rates are down an average 5.6 percent statewide, and more than ten new insurers were approved to enter the market. There is even a planned IPO of a Florida insurer, Slide. These developments represent a sea change from more than 2 years ago, when the Florida insurance market was on life support. There has been a kerfuffle in the past week in the Florida legislature surrounding recent newspaper articles on the states insurance market. The articles and their source are so misleading that we felt compelled to set the story straight. The article that has fanned flames from the dying embers of homeowners insurance lawsuits is Miami Heralds Secret study found Florida insurers sent billions to affiliates while crying poor, and the related Tampa Bay Times Florida Insurance Companies Steered Money to Investors While Claiming Losses, study says. The main thrust of the articles is that managing general agents (MGAs) wholly owned by insurance companies are making billions of dollars as a result of the relationship between affiliated MGAs and the insurance companies they serve. In the insurance context, MGAs are agents that carry out agreed functions on behalf of insurance companies. These may include the sourcing of business through relationships with retail agents, underwriting, policy issuance, collections, and claims adjusting. In short, MGAs perform multiple tasks for insurers, in accordance with an MGA agreement, and are paid for their services by the insurer as a percentage of premium, just as independent agents are. Some insurers, and most Florida insurers, operate with 100 percent-owned MGAs. A recent white paper goes into greater detail on how MGAs operate and their value in the Florida market. Fifteen years ago there were some Florida insurance company failures where there was alleged overfeeding of affiliated MGAs. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, then headed by Commissioner Kevin McCarty, took action against Florida insurers that diverted excessive capital to their affiliated MGAs. Todays Florida insurance market is much stronger than the market of 2010, as is insurance regulation and risk management, a marked improvement from an earlier era when the bevy of Florida-focused companies was more thinly capitalized and more highly leveraged. The articles imply that there is something insidious or secretive about MGA relationships and the true financial performance of Florida insurers. The articles source report comments on the 2017 2019 period, during which there were strong hurricanes striking Florida. To be sure, statutory insurance filings show that the [direct incurred] loss ratio for Florida homeowners insurance was 93.0 percent in 2017 and 103.3 percent in 2018. This means that the combined ratio was approximately 123 percent 133 percent, figuring in 30 percentage points for expenses. This was a highly unprofitable, unsustainable result. The Miami Herald notes, Regulators this year are asking lawmakers to define fair and reasonable to include the actual cost of the service provided, the overall health of the insurer and how much in dividends were paid out. Regulators asked for that in 2023 but lawmakers rejected it, claiming it would upset the apple cart of Floridas insurance industry. We will continue watching, and welcome discussions and debate, about the Florida insurance market. Topics Florida A group of lobster fishermen can sue one of the worlds largest seafood watchdog groups for defamation, a federal court has ruled, over a report that described Maine lobster as an unwise choice for consumers. The threat to a rare whale species from getting tangled in fishing gear has prompted Monterey Bay Aquarium in California to caution against eating a variety of lobster that New England fishermen have harvested for centuries. Seafood Watch, a conservation program operated by the aquarium, placed lobster from the U.S. and Canada on its do-not-eat red list in 2022. Some retailers pulled lobster from stores after the recommendation. Judge John Woodcock ruled last month that the fishermen made a case that they suffered damage to their industrys reputation as a result of the red-listing, after the aquarium made a bid in U.S. District Court in Maine to have the 2023 lawsuit tossed. A spokesperson for the aquarium said Monday the institution filed an appeal, but Woodcocks ruling means the lawsuit is moving forward. Reputation and goodwill cannot be adequately replaced through awarding damages and this injury lingers as long as the red listing does, Woodcock wrote. The lobster industry, based largely in Maine, is one of the most lucrative fisheries in the U.S., valued at more than half a billion dollars at the docks last year. Entanglement in lobster gear is also one of the most significant threats to the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers less than 400. The aquarium has a right to communicate its recommendations to the public, said Emerson Brown, the spokesperson for the aquarium. Brown said the aquarium appealed to protect our ability to share critical information with the public. The Maine Lobstermens Association, one of the groups that filed the lawsuit, described Woodcocks decision as significant in a statement. Maine lobstermen have been stewards of the ocean for generations, and we are committed to defending our livelihood against baseless claims, said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the association. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Pollution This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Tokio Marine HCC International and the broker Miller. A summary of these new hires follows here. Tokio Marine HCC Intl Promotes Gower as Head of Marine and Energy Liability Tokio Marine HCC International (TMHCCI), a member of the Tokio Marine HCC (TMHCC) group of companies based in Houston, Texas, announced it has promoted Camilla Gower, former senior underwriter Marine & Energy Liability, to head of Marine and Energy Liability at TMHCCI. Effective April 1, Gower will be responsible for leading the team and continuing to drive growth in a key market for the carrier. She will report directly to Ben Kinder, chief underwriting officer for Marine, Energy and Renewables. Gower has over 15 years experience in marine underwriting, joining TMHCCI in 2020 from her role as joint head of Marine & Energy Liabilities at StarStone Insurance. Prior to StarStone, she held positions at CNA Hardy, Aegis and WTW. Camilla has been a cornerstone of the Marine and Energy Liability team since she joined us in 2020, so was a natural fit for this leadership position, commented Ben Kinder, chief underwriting officer for Marine, Energy and Renewables. *** Miller Launches M&A and Strategic Solutions Team With 3 Senior Hires Miller, the London-based independent specialist re/insurance broker, announced the appointment of three senior hires into its newly established M&A and Strategic Solutions (MASS) team. The new team will be led globally by Andrew Johnson and Edwina Charlton, alongside Rupert Newman who joins as the teams head of Broking. As well as transactional risk insurance, the team is building out separate specialist tax and contingent risk practices in order to become one of the pre-eminent full-service teams outside North America. Johnson will also be working with the wider business on its growth initiatives. Johnson, Charlton and Newman bring significant expertise from legal, banking, restructuring and broking backgrounds. Johnson and Charlton both began their careers as M&A lawyers in London and Asia, with a combined experience of 20 years before making the move across into insurance with Marsh. Based in London, the team will sit within Millers Professional & Financial Risks business and will advise its client base of private equity, hedge and sovereign wealth funds, corporates, law firms and corporate financiers on domestic and cross-border risks across all industry sectors. The launch of MASS is a response to the general pace and volume of deal activity and the expansion of tax and contingent risk insurance in the global market, commented Laura McDonough, head of Professional and Financial Risks at Miller. Already bolstered by our colleagues in the Asia Pacific region, and with a couple of additional recent team hires in London, we believe MASS will superbly complement the reputation of Millers growing professional and financial risks proposition, McDonough added. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions New Markets Liability The Hartford Stag Gets a New Look The iconic stag logo of The Hartford is getting a new lookone that the company describes as bold and contemporaryhonoring the companys rich history while demonstrating its modern, visionary spirit. According to The Hartford, the stag symbolizes strength, confidence and resilienceand remains the centerpiece of The Hartford brand. But the color palette and typography of the logo are getting an update. And Carrier Management notes that the stag is also facing in the opposite direction on the 2025 logo. New core colors are black for stability, claret for the companys heritage, and fuchsia for modernity, the company said in a media statement. Beyond the logo change, as part of the launch of a refreshed brand, the company is expanding philanthropy programs and renaming the holding company and business segments. The holding company name is now The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. rather than The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. The companys ticker symbol (NYSE: HIG) will not change. New segment names are Business Insurance rather than Commercial Lines; Personal Insurance, which replaces Personal Lines; and Employee Benefits instead of Group Benefits. The new brand celebrates The Hartfords strength, built on centuries of trust from the businesses, workers, and people we support every day. The modern design points to our bold future, inspired by innovation and a relentless focus on our customers, said The Hartfords Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift. In a media statement about the refresh, the company explained that the stag design, which dates back to 1975, was inspired by The Monarch of the Glen, a painting completed in 1851 by Sir Edwin Landseer. CRC Group Rebrands TIH and Creates New Division Structure Independent insurance wholesaler CRC Group announced that its TIH brand will be sunsetting and replaced by CRC Group as the companys corporate brand. The firm also announced a new divisional structure. This transition will enable us to present a clearer, more unified message while reinforcing our leadership in the marketplace, said Dave Obenauer, CEO of CRC Group. As part of the organizational rebrand, the new CRC Group will operate under two divisions: one is Specialty + Benefits and the other is Underwriting. The Specialty + Benefits division will encompass the companys wholesale property/casualty operations, which will now operate under the CRC Specialty brand. It will also include the companys employee benefits business, which will continue under the BenefitMall brand until transitioning to CRC Benefits later this year. The Underwriting division will include Starwind Specialty and underwriting manager AmRisc. As part of the rebrand, Starwind will debut a refreshed look that aligns with its tagline: Move Faster, Go Further. Bridge Specialty Group Rebrands NBS as LocalEdge Bridge Specialty Group (BSG) has completed its acquisition of the insurance operations of NBS Insurance Agency, Inc. (operating as Nationwide Brokerage Solutions or NBS) of Ohio. The acquisition only includes NBS Insurance Agency, Inc. and no other Nationwide affiliated companies. In conjunction with the close of the transaction, Bridge Specialty Group announced that NBS is beginning a new chapter by introducing its new brand name, LocalEdge. The LocalEdge name will be implemented across communications, tools and resources in the coming weeks and months. Bridge Specialty Group is a global insurance wholesaler with s nearly $7 billion premium book, more than 50 locations and 2,000 employees. Bridge Specialty Groups specific practice groups include property, casualty, environmental, executive risk, farm and ranch, personal lines, public entity, transportation and workers compensation. Bridge Specialty Group is a wholly owned operating division of Florida-based Brown & Brown, Inc. Proxy adviser Glass Lewis will continue to consider boardroom diversity when advising how to vote at U.S. company annual meetings, but plans to be clearer about the counter argument for critical vote recommendations to help clients avoid rising political risks. The change comes amid a wave of retreat by U.S. corporations from their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, under threat of legal action by U.S. President Donald Trumps Justice Department. The decision by Glass Lewis to remain largely committed to diversity follows a review of its policies and after proxy advisor rival Institutional Shareholder Services last month said it would no longer consider diversity when making its boardroom recommendations. In an e-mail to clients seen by Reuters, Glass Lewis said it will stand by its 2025 benchmark guidelines for U.S. companies, which include that shareholders vote against certain directors at some of the largest U.S. companies whose boards lack gender, racial or LGBTQ diversity. But when it recommends votes against a director in any way related to diversity, Glass Lewis said it will also flag information that could support an alternative vote by the client. This approach allows Glass Lewis to deliver the vote recommendations expected by clients while also clearly flagging the potential risk that may result from an AGAINST vote decision and providing a clear path should some clients choose to vote FOR the proposal, the firm said. A Glass Lewis spokeswoman said it also will likely include more context when making recommendations on diversity-related shareholder proposals. Glass Lewis and ISS dominate the U.S. market for selling recommendations about how investors should vote at corporate meetings on matters such as boardroom elections or executive pay. Glass Lewis counts some 1,300 clients globally including top pension plans, mutual funds and asset managers with more than $40 trillion in collective assets. Their policies are widely used by investors including mutual funds and pension plans which may not have the resources to do due diligence on every company in their portfolio. Certainly, we would have preferred not to have had to deliberate over long-standing policy guidelines on board diversity and DEI shareholder proposals, but the U.S. Administrations opposition to DEI is compelling companies, institutional investors and their proxy advisors to consider changes, now or in the future, Glass Lewis note said. The move echoes steps taken by major asset managers including BlackRock BLK.N and Vanguard, which faced pressure over their voting decisions and in response looked to give clients more control. As trans-Atlantic relations grow increasingly fraught, Europes ESG regulations are becoming yet another flashpoint that threatens to sour ties. The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) says proposed revisions to the blocs environmental, social and governance rules dont adequately protect US interests. The complaint is part of a growing US response to Europes ESG framework. Republican lawmakers call the rules hostile and warn that Americas jurisdictional sovereignty is at stake, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said hes willing to consider trade tools to retaliate. The European Commission proposed changes last week that would rein in the scope of two major ESG laws: the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. However, big international companies with business in the EU would still have to comply. The upshot is that non-EU companies risk being ensnared by the blocs ESG rules, even for products that arent sold in the EU, said Kim Watts, senior policy manager for AmCham EU, whose members include Ford Motor Co., Exxon Mobil Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. AmCham is worried that the EU is going too far on extraterritoriality, she said in an interview. Its a complaint thats being backed up in even stronger terms by GOP members of Congress. In a letter sent shortly after the European Commission published its proposed revisions to the blocs ESG rules, the US lawmakers wrote to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, warning of the profound implications of Europes due diligence directive for US businesses. CSDDD represents a serious and unwarranted regulatory overreach, imposing significant economic and legal burdens on US companies, lawmakers, including Representatives James French Hill of Arkansas, Ann Wagner of Missouri and Andy Barr of Kentucky, wrote in the letter. We strongly urge immediate diplomatic engagement to challenge and halt its implementation. The group also called for clarification to ensure US companies wont have to develop climate transition plans. AmCham EU said its concerns apply to both CSRD, which is a reporting requirement, and CSDDD, which is designed to include value chains in ESG risk assessments. A spokesperson for the commission said the views of all stakeholders were considered before its latest proposal was put forward. CSDDD was originally designed so that companies in breach of the directive would face fines of as much as 5% of their global revenue. Work on the directive was propelled in part by the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh, which killed more than 1,100 people who had been working on clothes intended for western markets. The shock of that event led to a new sensitivity around supply-chain risks, which EU authorities were determined to act on. CSDDD also reflects the goals of the 2015 Paris climate accord, such that companies are expected to have plausible net zero plans. But the far-reaching ramifications of CSDDD led to widespread pushback, both from within and outside the EU. The commission responded to that pressure last week by dropping an EU-wide civil liability provision and limiting the length of the value chain in the directive. Those changes still leave US companies in the directives scope, something the US Chamber of Commerce says creates conflicts with American law. The extraterritoriality, its not unsolvable, but there needs to be more dialog and attention on this to understand the scale and the scope of the issue here, Watts said. We need more understanding from the commission on the challenges that businesses face with trying to comply with extremely, rather vague and complex legislation. Ideally, CSDDD should refer to an EU-nexus chain of activity, she said. That would mean the EU should focus the due diligence on the chain of activities that have an end result in the European market rather than focus very broadly on elements that might not be linked to the single market at all. Watts said CSRD reporting requirements exceed in some cases those in the US, which leaves companies open to scrutiny by US investors who are looking for statements that could be the basis of securities litigation. AmCham EU members remain committed to their sustainability goals and would like to avoid a trade battle over ESG, Watts said. Tariffs are a very bad idea and not constructive, she said. The commissions proposal still needs to be voted on by lawmakers and member states. And theres likely to be much more political wrangling ahead, particularly as the EU Parliament is currently very divided, said Sophie Tuson, head of the environmental unit at the London law firm RPC. Lara Wolters, the member of parliament who shepherded CSDDD through to adoption last year, has labeled the commissions proposal reckless. Shes now calling on the European Parliament to succeed where the commission has failed, which she says entails finding a compromise for common-sense simplification, without lowering standards. At AmCham EU, the goal is to impress upon the EU that adjustments are still needed to its ESG regulations to ensure the framework is workable for all non EU-headquartered businesses and also European businesses with a global presence, Watts said. Photo: Photographer: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics USA Europe NFP, an Aon company and leading property and casualty (P&C) broker based in New York City, hired Priya Nathan as senior vice president, sales, in its central region. Nathan is based in Austin, Texas. Nathan has over 25 years of experience with multinational insurance and technology organizations. She was previously a client executive in the tech practice at Marsh, specializing in cyber and management liability product lines. She was also vice president, insurance technology sales, for the Midwest region of Ventiv Technology (now Riskonnect), and director, sales operations breach response, at AllClear ID (now Experian, Inc.). The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation (DWC) has recognized Kalyn Siebert with the Lone Star Safety Award for its exemplary commitment to workplace safety. Kalyn Siebert is a leading manufacturer of custom-engineered heavy-haul truck trailers, and employs 188 workers at its Gatesville, Texas, facility. To qualify for the Lone Star Safety Award, employers must demonstrate a proven safety program, maintain injury rates below the national average for the past three years, and have no work-related deaths within the prior 12 months. Kalyn Sieberts achievement highlights its dedication to fostering a safe and healthy work environment for employees. Kalyn Siebert partners with DWCs free on-site consultation services through the Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program (OSHCON). OSHCON helps Texas companies comply with OSHA regulations and develop effective safety programs at no cost. As a recipient of this award, Kalyn Siebert may be invited to share its best practices at industry events, mentor other organizations, participate in safety and health panels, or contribute to the Texas Workers Compensation Conference on September 29-30 at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos. Source: Texas Department of Insurance Topics Auto Manufacturing Florida legislative leaders, facing increasing pressure from the public and the press, this week pledged to investigate property insurers financial structures. And bills filed before the 2025 Legislature began this week also would require executive pay disclosure by carriers, along with other changes that could affect insurance agents and insureds. Heres a look at some of the issues Florida lawmakers are considering as they convene in Tallahassee. Investigation on MGAs Newly sworn House Speaker Danny Perez, R-Miami, on Tuesday announced an investigation into property insurance carriers relationships with their managing general agents and other affiliated companies. The call for House hearings came a week after the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald reported that a 2022 analysis by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, made available only after a two-year wait on a public records request, suggests that insurers had diverted billions to affiliate companies while claiming financial hardship from hurricanes and claims litigation. Its far from certain if the speakers probe will lead to new restrictions or new reporting requirements for Florida carriers and MGAs. Its not the first time the issue has been raised. Insurance agents and industry advocates and lobbyists have pushed back on the news report and on the call for further investigations. Several have noted that the MGA arrangements that carriers employ already must be approved by OIR, and that it would be absurd for insurance holding companies to deliberately allow a carrier to sink into insolvency while diverting profits. The Tampa Bay Times report glides right by the comment that many affiliated companies poured back almost $700 million to the insurance companies in order to keep them from insolvency, wrote Alan McGinnis, principal at McGinnis Himmel Insurance Agency in Tallahassee. His guest column was posted in Florida Politics and in insurance consultants recent blog posts. Meanwhile, legislative changes enacted in recent years seem to be working, slowly but surely, bringing new capital and new carriers to the Florida market, with a slowing of rate increases. Bills in the Hopper Even without a House investigation on the table, insurance costs remain the number one concern for Florida homeowners, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents B.G. Murphy said in a recent webinar. At the same time, Florida business leaders and insurance executives and agents have urged lawmakers to steer clear of any changes to the 2022-2023 reforms that ended one-way attorney fees and disincentivized costly claims litigation. The opposing sentiments have resulted in several bills that insurance interests are watching this year. House Bill 643 HB 643, by Rep. John Snyder, R-Palm Beach, is considered a top priority for the FAIA. It would make it easier for agents to move commercial and commercial residential policyholders to surplus lines, and to sell Citizens Property Insurance Corp. policies. Agents would no longer be required to make a diligent effort to find coverage before obtaining surplus lines coverage. The diligent effort requirement serves no purpose, Murphy said. The bill also would soften the 2024 requirement that agents be appointed with at least three carriers before writing Citizens policies. Under HB 643, agents would be able to obtain a signed statement showing they have access to primary market carriers through a broker. Senate Bill 230 Sponsored by Rep. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, this omnibus-type bill would make a number of changes. For agents, it would reduce the number of pre-licensing education hours from 200 to 60 a rule change that FAIA strongly opposes. That would dumb down the requirements for agents, something few people really want, FAIAs Dave Newell said. The measure, however, also would make it a little easier for insurers to avoid bad-faith claims, by further clarifying 2022 law that requires a court finding that the policy contract was breached, before extra-contractual damages can be demanded. It also would require plaintiffs to specify exact damage amounts, and would exclude attorney fees from damages. If insurers require more information from policyholders, that would have to be requested within a 60-day notice period, with 10-day extensions allowed. It also would bar public adjusters from engaging in adversarial conduct with insurance adjusters, including recording insurer personnel. This has been an issue in recent years, with Citizens and other carriers charging that some public adjusters have physically threatened insurer claims workers, have video-recorded them and have taken other actions to thwart inspections. SB 592 and HB 393 The bills would extend the popular My Safe Florida Condominium pilot program but would clarify that some detached buildings would not be eligible for the grants. It also would allow just 75% of unit owners to agree to apply for the program, not the current level of 100%. Only condo buildings of three stories or higher would be eligible. For single-home mitigation measures, SB 1466 and HB 851 would set up a trust fund that would provide perhaps $70 million annually for the My Safe Florida Home program. It would allocate 5% of sales tax revenue generated from hurricane-impacted counties in the two months after a storm makes landfall. SB 128 SB 128, by Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, may get some attention since it appears to be consumer-friendly at a time of rising concerns about insurance corporation rates and practices. But it has led to some confusion in the industry. The bill would require cancellation and nonrenewal notices be mailed and emailed at least 45 days before the termination date. But Florida law already requires 120-day notice for most nonrenewals and cancellations. SB 790 and HB 941 would bar insurers from cancelling policies for at least 90 days after repairs are made. HB 705 The measure would exempt new Citizens policies from the glidepath, a statutory mechanism that limits Citizens rate increases each year. The change would be highly controversial but is considered free-market friendly. Primary market insurance leaders and Citizens top brass have all called for an end to the glidepath, in order to allow the insurer of last resort to truly be an insurer of last resort and charge market rates or higher, which could encourage more competition. But Floridas insurance commissioner and OIR recently slashed a proposed Citizens rate increase in half, keeping premiums for the carrier lower than other insurers in many areas of the state for 2025. SB 554/HB551 State Sen. Don Gaetz was in the Florida Legislature for a number of years until he retired in 2016. Now hes back, after being re-elected last fall. His bill, SB 554, would make a number of revisions that can be seen as consumer-friendly, but which insurers and agents say would unwind most of the 2022 litigation reforms. The measure would repeal the 2022 ban on one-way attorney fees, replacing it with a sliding scale. It also would require more disclosure of insurer executive compensation packages. SB 734/HB6017 The bills would allow non-dependent family members to file medical malpractice suits. Long an issue in Florida, the current free kill statute, as its known derisively, limits tort actions only to spouses or dependent children of people fatally injured in medical treatment. Critics, including the Florida Justice Reform Institute, insurance companies and medical providers, have said passage of the measures would greatly increase the number of lawsuits filed in the state. Dozens of other bills have been filed this year, including one that would make Citizens the wind insurer for all of Florida. But many of those offers are not expected to see much traction. Because the weeks preceding the regular session were taken up with immigration bills, that left little time for committee action on insurance legislation, meaning lawmakers now have only about five weeks to move bills across the finish line, explained former deputy insurance commissioner Lisa Miller. Top photo: The state Capitol building in Tallahassee (Adobe Stock images) Topics Florida Legislation Market (AP) Outside Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone. Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments cant equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights, but the state pulled the plug in 2014. Georgia first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018. Its fight took center stage Tuesday, with the state House passing two separate bills, one that would ban the cameras and another that would impose new rules. Republican House Speaker Jon Burns said the unusual step was meant to see what the Senate appetite is for action. The Senate itself has advanced a bill to impose new rules out of committee. Opponents say cameras are about money, not safety Dale Washburn, a Macon Republican sponsoring House Bill 225 to ban the cameras, argues that the system is beyond reforming. There are many abuses and they are reported often, Washburn told House members before they voted 129-37 for his bill. Those include people ticketed who said warning lights werent flashing and that they were driving at other times than when children were present. While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and dont go on a drivers criminal record, the state does block people who dont pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019, WANF-TV found last year. Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue. These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery, Washburn told The Associated Press earlier. Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance childrens safety. One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become political donors. United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks campaign contributions. Others want to reform camera use, not end it Legislative leaders seem more likely to support two other bills that would keep cameras but more closely regulate them by providing better warning signs and limiting hours. So the objective is to alert drivers that theyre entering a school zone and get them to slow down and then for them not to be cited unless they are speeding in a school zone during designated hours, said Republican Sen. Max Burns, of Sylvania, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 75. House Bill 651, which passed the House 164-8 on Tuesday, would also remove the ability to block a vehicles registration over unpaid fines. In Decatur, students surge out of Beacon Hill Middle at dismissal. Unlike most places in Georgia, where most students travel in buses or parents cars, a majority of Decaturs 5,300 students either walk or ride bikes home. Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said a Beacon Hill student was struck in a hit-and-run accident and a crossing guard elsewhere was also hit before Decatur activated cameras last fall. We really want to protect our most vulnerable residents, our students, and particularly when they are on foot or on a bicycle, Garrett said. Violations drop but many drivers still speed Police Chief Scott Richards said a speed study conducted by the company shows speeding has fallen 92%, but plenty of drivers are still flying through the five zones where Decatur is using cameras. They issued 4,500 valid citations in January alone, he said. We would not be able to get those reductions if it were not for the photo enforcement in school zones, Richards said. Decatur officials tout their efforts as a model, saying the city has abundant signage and only operates cameras for 30 minutes before and after schools begin and dismiss. A vehicle must be traveling 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) per hour over the speed limit to be cited. Still, Washburn and others say the lucrative fines encourage abuses. Profit-based law enforcement cannot be trusted, John Moore of Milledgeville wrote to Washburn in February. I hope you can convince your colleagues to vote this menace out of our state for good. Photo: Students walk home past an automated speed camera outside Beacon Hill Middle School in Decatur last month. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Georgia Toronto, Ontario - March 5, 2025 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) proudly celebrated another landmark gathering with PDAC 2025, which brought together 27,353 participants to explore premier business prospects, investment opportunities, and professional networks in the global mineral exploration and mining sphere. Showcasing more than 1,100 exhibitors-including government representatives, corporate leaders, and technical specialists from across the world-PDAC 2025 upheld its reputation as the industry's most influential convention. "Year after year, the PDAC Convention is the place to be for unveiling the latest market insights, advances in technology, and for fostering essential partnerships," said PDAC President Raymond Goldie. "In 2025, we continued that legacy by bringing together not only a wide array of educational programming focused on crucial areas such as capital markets, Indigenous engagement, career development, and sustainability, but also a dynamic trade show and company presentations to investors, offering exhibitors and attendees invaluable opportunities for business growth and collaboration." Beyond highlighting trailblazing innovation and thought leadership, PDAC 2025 provided a vital platform for dialogue between industry stakeholders and government officials. PDAC's leaders used this forum to emphasize the impact of forward-looking public policy on maintaining Canada's competitive edge in the mineral sector. "Minerals are the backbone of modern technology and are indispensable to our daily lives, highlighting the essential role of mineral exploration and mining in Canada's economic strength and resilience," Goldie noted. "This week, PDAC was encouraged by the federal government's commitment to extend the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC) for two years. Our priority now is to ensure that this commitment becomes law, and we'll continue pushing for it to have a permanent place in Canada's fiscal framework." Goldie extended his heartfelt appreciation to everyone who helped make PDAC 2025 such a success-volunteers, speakers, sponsors, delegates and PDAC's staff. The association eagerly anticipates welcoming participants back for PDAC 2026, March 1-4, 2026. About PDAC The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community, an industry that employs more than 664,000 individuals, and contributed $132 billion to Canada's GDP in 2021. Currently representing over 8,000 members around the world, PDAC's work centers on supporting a competitive, responsible, and sustainable mineral sector. Media contact Scott Barber Senior Manager, Communications sbarber@pdac.ca 416-362-1969 x 244 800-170 University Ave. Toronto ON M5H 3B3 Canada More Info: Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Taking centre stage? Otherworldly makeup, looks from past eras, and a new way to glass skin. Now lets find out how to recreate them. Indie sleaze was all-go at Dreaming Eli, a newly established London-based brand with Italian roots. Models sported a sultry, smudged eye look, with a natural base. According to MAC Senior Artist Carly Utting, the look was about girls that had lived and loved, strawberry monochrome eyes and scarlet snoggy lips, makeup that looks better when its worn in WELL. Taking inspiration from Skins, Kate Moss, Alexa Chung and the Monday morning after Glastonbury, this look was achieved by way of a luminised face base and a series of eyeliners and shadows. To create a hydrated glass-like skin effect, prep is key, Keilidh Cashell of KASH Beauty shares. Use the KASH Beauty Radiant Canvas Primer (21.95, kashbeauty.com) to hydrate and plump the skin before makeup. To create a hydrated glass-like skin effect, prep is key, Keilidh Cashell of KASH Beauty shares. Use the KASH Beauty Radiant Canvas Primer (21.95, kashbeauty.com) to hydrate and plump the skin before makeup. For natural coverage, mix your foundation with the radiant canvas primer. This will lighten the coverage and also add more glow. For a more lived-in look, use minimal powder the KASH Beauty Setting Powder (24.95, millies.ie) is super light weight and melts into the skin. For a monochromatic eye look, use your lipstick colour of choice on the eyes and lips. Because its a cream, it will give a more lived-in appearance. "For a more lived-in look, use minimal powder the KASH Beauty Setting Powder (24.95, millies.ie) is super light weight and melts into the skin." At Annies Ibiza, we saw a big take on Renaissance beauty, with Sam McKnight on hair and Dominic Skinner on beauty. McKnight was all about soft waves and crimpled lengths achieved easily with some loose braids and hairspray while Skinner leant into Joan of Arc beauty with a strong, blood-red lip and ruddy cheeks. Joan of Arc has historically symbolised bravery, strength and defiance, says Ben Sun, the make up artist who created the make up look showcased here. For starters, Joan had a rather androgynous look, which would mean minimal foundation and skin that looked almost bare. This can be achieved with skin tints lightly applied over the face to create an even but still undone complexion. Joan of Arc has historically symbolised bravery, strength and defiance, says Ben Sun, the make up artist who created the make up look showcased here. For starters, Joan had a rather androgynous look, which would mean minimal foundation and skin that looked almost bare. This can be achieved with skin tints lightly applied over the face to create an even but still undone complexion. Ruddy, raw red cheeks as if straight off the battlefield can be crafted using a deep, burgundy liquid blush to add a warm rush of blood to the cheeks, Sun continues. To bring in some ethereal and divine elements, we can add a swipe of muted gold or silver shimmer to the eyelids and cheekbones. The metallic pigments catch and reflect light, giving the illusion of an otherworldly, halo-like glow to the face. A deep, blood-red lip as a bold statement of courage is the perfect way to tie the look together. It adds depth and contours the lip, drawing attention to it. Finally, gloss the lips with a sheer black gloss to finish off the warrior aesthetic. Maybellines Miracle Pure Lip Enhancer Hydrating Lip Balm in 030 Sweet Cherry (13.99, boots.ie) An excellent, affordable option? Note Cosmetics Mattemoist Lipstick in 306 Kissblossom (8.45, lookfantastic.com) or Maybellines Miracle Pure Lip Enhancer Hydrating Lip Balm in 030 Sweet Cherry (13.99, boots.ie) While Simone Rochas garments undoubtedly stole the show, it was her models eyebrows we couldnt look away from. At first glance, a graphic brow can seem off-putting, but when done right, it can be exceptional. Id always advise to resist the urge to follow a brow trend, Kim OSullivan, founder of Brow Aid shares. Heres a trick which will give you a sleek, skinnier brow while keeping all your natural hair intact! First, use a clear brow gel or a brow glue to brush the unwanted hairs flat against the skin. Once set, apply a full-coverage concealer (a shade lighter than your skin tone) over the area you want to erase. "Tap it in gently with a flat brush and set with a translucent powder. Then, with a precise brow pencil or fine-tipped pen, draw in a thinner brow shape, keeping strokes light and feathery for a natural effect. Finally, apply a highlighter or light concealer under the brow arch to enhance the lifted, skinny look. At Sinead Gorey, MUA Esme Horn also relied on barely-there, rolled-out-of-bed makeup to make an impact. Think day-old eyeliner, stained lips and messy glitter for a carefree and imperfect vibe. The best way to do this? Prep the skin with lightweight, glow-inducing products like Ella & Jos Plump & Protect Day Cream As per Horn, prep the skin with lightweight, glow-inducing products like Ella & Jos Plump & Protect Day Cream (38, cloud10beauty.com) or Sunday Rileys C.E.O Glow Hydrating Serum, (79.10, cultbeauty.com), forego a base product and smudge a powder eyeshadow around the eyes for some definition. Glitter and kiss marks optional. The dress As a brand, Lennon Courtney has always had empowering women at its heart, so what better label to support this International Womens Day? The sixth release, in collaboration with Kilkenny Design, offers a 13-piece capsule collection of vibrant prints and bold colourways teamed with muted tones and elegant neutrals. Prices range from 10 to 160, with sizing in XS-XXL. Were drawn to the limited edition Dorothy, 160. The wellness space Marian Shanley, Daha Wellness at the opening of Daha Wellness, a new holistic wellness centre, in Sutton Cross, North County Dublin. For many years, the concept of wellness equated to stress management for Aisling Hassell. With high-powered jobs in the tech sector, the Dublin woman says her approach to wellness was reactive rather than proactive. It was just about survival, she told those gathered at the opening of her holistic wellness centre Daha Wellness in Sutton, Co Dublin. A purpose-built facility which houses rooms for treatments (think massage, acupuncture and reflexology), classes (yoga, barre, pilates), consultations (fitness tests to sleep guidance), and its own cafe, the philosophy here is all about taking a proactive approach to your overall wellness mind, body and spirit. Theres a huge focus on championing Irish brands with female founders too, with Sisterly, Seabody and Skin Formulas among those stocked. The festival Claire Keegan is set for Granard Booktown festival Granard Booktown has announced that author Claire Keegan will open this years festival. Keegans most recent novel, Small Things Like These was recently adapted for the big screen, produced by and starring Cillian Murphy. She will be interviewed by acclaimed writer Sinead Gleeson on the night. Given the novels subject, and Granards own history (home to the grotto where Ann Lovett died having her baby more than four decades ago), its sure to be a fascinating conversation between two of Irelands leading female writers. Tickets 18.50 plus booking fee. The chocolates Lily OBriens Milk Chocolate Truffles Move over big-and-ubiquitous-Swiss-brand-of-chocolate; weve found a home-grown replacement thats more than a match. Made in Co Kildare, our group of tasters preferred tucking into Lily OBriens Milk Chocolate Truffles, which come in three silky and indulgent flavours, including Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, and Salted Caramel, all encased in thick and delicious milk chocolate shells. 9 for 200g, theres also a larger mixed box (pictured) with four flavours including Dark Chocolate ones, 15 for 337g. The bar Pictured left to right: The Lord Mayor of Cork, the local business community, local sporting and TV stars, and the Louis Fitzgerald family came together to officially unveil Fitzgeralds Bar at The Imperial Hotel. The Imperial Hotel has unveiled its new bar, Fitzgeralds. Paying tribute to its 200-year history, the high ceilings and crystal chandeliers reflect the period property. The space is complemented by marble and glass-stained columns, with portraits of historical figures connected to the hotel. A grand piano will take centre stage in the bar so guests and visitors can enjoy a mixture of jazz and contemporary players. Rich velvet furnishings and bespoke mosaic tiling are just some of the new additions. The experience Gary Harte (4) from Ballyfermot comes face-to-face with a family of dinosaurs at Dublin Zoos Zoorassic Trail, an immersive exhibition of 40+ of the worlds biggest animatronic dinosaurs. Dublin Zoo launches its Zoorassic Trail, an immersive animatronic dinosaur experience, on March 12. Showcasing over 40 of the worlds most realistic animatronic dinosaurs in collaboration with Dino Don Inc, there will also be giant dinosaur eggs and nesting sites for children to explore. Built under the supervision of palaeontologists to ensure the highest level of scientific accuracy, theyll move, roar and breathe like the real thing. The store Schuh, Dundrum Town Centre Schuh has opened a brand new store at Dundrum Town Centre, its fourteenth to operate in Ireland. Expect the latest footwear trends but also a bigger and better kids department. Emmanuel Macron has said France is open to extending its nuclear umbrella to its European allies as he said Europe must now prepare for the US to no longer stand by our side. The French president was speaking after the US paused intelligence-sharing with Ukraine in a bid to force Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to co-operate with US president Donald Trump in convening peace talks with Russia. It followed a halt this week to US military aid to Kyiv. White House officials indicated that both bans could be lifted if peace talks make progress. Ukrainian officials suggested the US would no longer provide information about targets inside Russia, hindering Ukraines ability to carry out effective long-range drone strikes. This would also leave Ukraine in the dark over the movements of Russian strategic bomber aircraft and the launches of ballistic missiles. In a televised address to his nation, Mr Macron said: We are entering a new era. "Its not just the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their freedom. Its also our security which is under threat. If a country can invade its neighbour in Europe and go unpunished peace can no longer be guaranteed on our own continent. Europes future should not be decided in Washington or Moscow, and yes, the threat from the east is returning. And the innocence of these 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall is over. I want to believe the US will stay by our side. But we have to be ready if that isnt the case. He said Frances nuclear deterrent helps us, adding that he will open debate about extending the French nuclear umbrella to European partners. Whatever happens, the decision will be in the hands of the president of the republic and the heads of the army, he added. Zelenskyy to meet 27 EU leaders On Thursday, Mr Zelenskyy will join the 27 EU leaders in person at a defence summit in Brussels. In his nightly address on Wednesday, Mr Zelenskyy said there had been positive movement in co-operation with the US. Results were expected next week involving a future meeting between the two sides, he added. He is seeking to repair relations with the US after his acrimonious meeting on Friday with Mr Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance, during which Mr Trump publicly berated Mr Zelenskyy and accused him of not wanting a deal with Russia. On Tuesday, Mr Zelenskyy wrote a conciliatory letter. It said he was committed to negotiations and ready to work with America under Mr Trumps strong leadership. Taoiseach: 'Russia remains a threat' Ahead of Thursdays meeting in Brussels, which he will be attending, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: I will also be advocating at todays meeting for Ukraines application for membership of the EU to be accelerated. "EU membership can be an important part of a wider set of security guarantees. Russia remains a threat to European security, and the challenging global geopolitical situation means that Europe must do more to secure its own security and defence. Ireland is not immune from these threats. We are increasing our defence capabilities at home and we are ready to work constructively with partners to do more together. Ahead of his St Patrick's Day trip to the White House next week, Mr Martin said he would be engaging in a respectful manner with Mr Trump. We will put our perspectives, no doubt president Trump has his views and perspectives as well. But the important thing is to engage, said Mr Martin. He said it is also important to protect Irish economic interests and the livelihoods of people in Ireland. Earlier, Mr Martin told the Dail: In terms of the core issues, the economic relationship is very important. Were an open, small economy, pro-free trade, and I will be articulate from that perspective. We will also articulate our views in relation to Ukraine, and in relation to the Middle East also. A child who was stabbed in the back by another pupil in a Dublin primary school remained in hospital yesterday following surgery. The child, aged 11, was stabbed by another pupil also understood to be the same age in the school yard on Tuesday morning. The child was stabbed in the back, close to his lungs. He had surgery in a Dublin hospital on Tuesday night. A knife had been brought into the school from a pupils home, it is understood. As the child suspected of the stabbing is aged 11, he is therefore below the general age of criminal responsibility of 12. People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy said that international actors had been posting about the incident on social media within hours, and misinformation had initially spread in the community, stoking unwarranted fear. However, the school and gardai acted well to quickly stem that spread of misinformation, he said. The people are still reeling from it, but theres not the same kind of fear or concern that there would have been yesterday because information gaps have been bridged, Mr Reddy explained. For a while yesterday, it wasnt clear to people locally if it was a bigger attack and all sorts of people were suggesting all sorts of things unfortunately. It just shows how dangerous these kind of channels are. Online speculation did feed into the fear for local people. He said something needs to be done about the rumour mill and the megaphone given to some people on social media. Luckily, nothing followed the commenting yesterday but it did add to peoples worry, Mr Reddy said. The local community is still reeling from shock but has rallied together to support one another following the incident, Mr Reddy stated. The community has been great, looking out for one another since this happened, he said. People are being very kind to one another. The response from the schools has been great as well, informing parents and supporting children. Its the first time that anything like this has ever happened in a school in the area. The school in North Dublin was immediately cleared out when the alarm was raised shortly after the incident occurred. Gardai attended the scene and confirmed that both children involved attend the school. The boys are known to each other and are believed to have had a challenging relationship recently. One male child has been taken to a hospital in Dublin with injuries that are believed to be non-life threatening, a garda statement advised. Gardai are in contact with the parents of both children. Gardai were liaising with school management and staff to identify the circumstances around the stabbing incident. An Garda Siochana will continue to engage with all relevant State agencies regarding this incident, the statement said. There is no concern for public safety. There must be "very, very close co-operation" between Ireland and the UK when it comes to security issues, the Taoiseach has said. Micheal Martin was speaking following a UK-Ireland summit held in Liverpool this morning where he and British prime minister Kier Starmer discussed the "challenging geopolitical and international security environment". Following what Mr. Martin called one of the most extensive UK-Irish summits in a generation, the two leaders released a joint statement outlining an agreed programme of co-operation through to 2030. There have been "very concrete and substantial discussions" on economic relationships, trade, energy, security issues and migration, Mr Martin said. "The joint statement we have released is very comprehensive and a number of work streams will now emanate from that which will provide greater opportunities for stronger connections, stronger synergies, stronger trade and investment," said Mr Martin. In terms of trade, the leaders met with business groups in Liverpool, where Mr Martin said Ireland and the UK were identified by businesses as a safe haven in terms of investment. Both men reaffirmed their commitment to working together on foreign and security policy, tackling threats to online safety and maritime security. "The threats are now much different than the threats that would have faced us a decade or so ago," said Mr Martin. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a business roundtable at the Albert Dock (Phil Noble/PA) He said security was discussed during his meeting with Mr Starmer on Thursday while justice minister Jim O'Callaghan spoke with British home secretary Yvette Cooper. Among the recent challenges discussed was the rise in radicalisation leading to violence. There is already a strong relationship between An Garda Siochana and the British police force and it is hoped that this can be built on. "I think there is a lot we can do there to strengthen and enhance co-operation and share knowledge and expertise, alerts, being conscious of trends that are emerging," said Mr Martin. The Taoiseach left Liverpool on Thursday afternoon to attend a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels to discuss support for Ukraine and European security and defence. Ahead of the meeting, Mr Martin said the key topic that will be discussed will be the necessity to invest in military and defence capability. "Without proper security capability, the capacity of economies to thrive is undermined and Europe wants peace, wants prosperity, but sees the need for enhanced capability on the security front," said Mr Martin. The inclusion of vaccination awareness on the school curriculum is among the recommendations of a new report on the future of adult immunisation strategies in Ireland. The paper, prepared by consultants EY for pharma giant GSK, calls for a stand-alone, whole-of-Government" national adult immunisations strategy in order to future-proof the population against future health challenges. It notes that, while reference is made to immunisation programmes and implementation across multiple Government strategies, there is no overarching Government-wide strategy for the process. GSK said the number of Irish people aged 65 and older was set to double by 2051, which would in itself bring with it the significant health challenges associated with a rapidly ageing population. The report calls for a streamlined process to aid in faster decision-making" regarding the funding of adult vaccines, to incorporate the wider societal benefits of adopting a vaccine nationally. It notes the conclusions of a 2024 report, charged with estimating the costs and benefits of implementing recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) on vaccines for influenza and RSV, among others, that the monetary benefit of applying those recommendations would equate to 4.8bn, or 23 in socioeconomic benefit for every 1 spent. Vaccine scepticism Vaccine scepticism has risen steadily in developed countries over the past decade, with repeat outbreaks now being seen of diseases such as measles, which had been largely suppressed via broad public immunity. The report suggests that, to gain public trust for vaccines, the Government in partnership with the Department of Education should develop and integrate education on life course immunisation and preventative health into school curricula to communicate the benefits of immunisation. It notes in Finland, a comparatively sized EU state: Health literacy is a compulsory part of the national school curriculum for primary and secondary school students aimed at helping them make sound health decisions and improve their wellbeing." That approach has led to Finnish pupils being among the best informed about health in Europe with benefits including better self-rated health, self-esteem, physical activity and reduced smoking and alcohol use. The report says all teachers charged with educating pupils on their health must undergo university-level training to ensure high-quality instruction of the subject in schools. Other recommendations of the report include: Better resourcing of the National Immunisation Office; More vaccination points countrywide, including pharmacies, workplaces, and mobile clinics; A standardised approach to training and accreditation for vaccinators; A sustainable funding model to ensure adult immunisation programmes are adequately resourced into the future. Professor Karina Butler, former chair of NIAC, said immunisation has the potential to save more than five million lives yearly between now and 2030 and has already been one of the most effective global public health interventions, having saved more than three million lives each year over the last 50 years. The service offering dental care under general anaesthetic is grotesquely under-resourced around the country, a leading dentist working at Cork University Dental Hospital has warned. Children and adults with disabilities as well as people with severe anxiety or other health issues need this service for having dental care. This could be extractions, fillings or other care. Dr Catherine Gallagher called for more hospitals to provide operating theatre time to dentists. We do have the staff to see these patients but getting into theatre is challenging. Its not the dentists who are in short supply generally, certainly not with us, its access to the full team, she said. A team including an anaesthetist and nurses supports dentists giving this treatment, she explained. That service is grotesquely under-resourced, she said. She estimated the Cork dental hospitals waiting list for this is at around four years now. The bulk of what is on our waiting lists would be children so under-16s. And we have close on 500 in total, not just for extractions, she said. We have over 400 under-16s waiting and weve 85 adults. Patients are categorised as urgent meaning life-threatening situations semi-urgent and non-urgent based on referral letters. We have 231 patients categorised as semi-urgent at the moment and 102 of those are six or under, she said. A key issue was the dental team had limited access to theatre time at Cork University Hospital until February. We have just last month got additional theatre time, we now have an additional three days. We had two of those days now so we have just started, she said. It obviously hasnt started long enough to make any impact on the waiting lists. Before we got this extra time if I were to divide the number of patients we were doing per week into the number on the waiting list, our waiting list comes at around four years. The pressure on theatre slots reflects what is happening in other overcrowded hospitals, the Irish Dental Association also warned last week. She is very grateful to everyone who helped make the additional days possible, saying (they are) doing their best to support our efforts to re-establish the level of service we provided in the past. However, the crisis nationally means dentists are only treating the most urgent cases. We are hopeful that (the extra hours) will make a big difference because at the moment all were doing is the smallest amount of fire-fighting, just seeing the patients in the most dire need, she said. Dentistry under general anaesthetic is also done by the HSE dental service in St Finbarrs Hospital with a separate service in Mallow. Another key issue was the suspension of an arrangement between the HSE and Aut Even hospital in Kilkenny. This meant those patients were travelling to Cork instead. A spokesman for the HSE Dublin South East told the Irish Examiner just days ago this lapsed arrangement is being renewed at least for orthodontic patients. This follows a focus on the waiting lists after the parents of an autistic boy in Waterford, Tiernan Power Murphy, were told of a potential 10-year wait to have teeth extracted. There is almost 45m in unpaid district court fines outstanding across Ireland since 2020, with 4m of that relating to Cork, according to new figures. Fianna Fail Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu has described the inability of the court service to collect unpaid district court fines in full as "a slap in the face to the victims of their crimes". The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that there is over 3.2m in fines outstanding in Cork city district courts since 2020, with 622,448 outstanding in the Mallow district court office which includes Mallow, Fermoy and Midleton district courts. Additionally, there is 345,449 outstanding in the Clonakilty district court office in that time period, which includes Clonakilty, Bandon, Bantry, Macroom, and Skibbereen district courts. The figures show that Dublin district courts had the highest number of unpaid fines with 13.3m, followed by Naas with 3.7m and Limerick with 3.4m. Carrick-on-Shannon was one of the most compliant district court offices in the country with only 134,000 outstanding. Ms Ni Mhurchu, a former barrister, has called for the issue to be included in the upcoming review of the criminal justice system which was promised in the 2025 Programme for Government. What does this say to the victims who have been impacted by crimes such as drink driving, assault, theft, and shop lifting? "We are imposing fines that a percentage of criminals are choosing to ignore and it seems there is little we are doing about it," said Ms Ni Mhurchu. She continued: "45m would fund a lot of domestic violence refuges, road safety campaigns, and extra gardai on our streets. "It is time for a get tough approach to those criminals who feel they are above the law. "Our road deaths have been rising in Ireland for consecutive years. How can we expect any improvement in that scenario when those fined for traffic offences may choose not to pay the fine? Ms Ni Mhurchu said the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014, which came into force on January 11, 2016, is clearly not working when it comes to the recovery of most outstanding fines. The act provides for alternative orders to imprisonment in the event that a court-imposed fine is not paid. The act allowed those convicted to pay fines in instalments, and introduced measures including attachment of earnings for unpaid fines, community service and the appointment of receivers to recover fines. Ms Ni Mhurchu feels it is time to implement the measures set out in the 2014 act aggressively. What happens if you dont pay my fine? According to the courts service, if your fine remains unpaid or if you do not pay an instalment by the due date, you will receive a fines enforcement notice. This will tell you the date and time you must attend for another hearing. At that hearing you will be given an opportunity to pay the outstanding fine in full or the judge may opt for one of the following (in order): Attachment of earnings; Recovery order only for fines over 500 or corporate fines; Community service; Imprisonment. A man who repeatedly stalked a Limerick mother of one, having previously been convicted of harassing the terrified woman, has been jailed for two and half years and ordered not to communicate with her. Ukrainian native Ruslan Nitsyn, 47, no fixed abode, pleaded guilty before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to one count of harassment of 32-year old Gillian McCarthy between October 20, 2023, and January 1, 2024. It was the second time Nitsyn engaged in a campaign of harassment against Ms McCarthy, prosecution counsel John OSullivan told the court. On July 4, 2023, Nitsyn received a three-month jail sentence at Limerick District Court for harassing Ms McCarthy. The sentence was suspended in full on condition Nitsyn stayed out of Limerick and had no contact with Ms McCarthy. Mr OSullivan said the ink was barely dry on the district court order when Nitsyn breached it. That he [Nitsyn] declared his unbinding love for Gillian McCarthy is worrying, and since he encountered Gillian McCarthy, he has become dangerously infatuated with the victim, said Mr OSullivan. Nitsyn, who has lived and worked in Ireland since 2001, became fixated with Gillian McCarthy when he delivered goods to her mothers house. Gillian McCarthy and her mother, Mary McCarthy, operate a family equestrian centre in Clarina, Co Limerick. Breaching the earlier court order, Nitsyn telephoned Ms McCarthy a number of times and told her: Its me. Nitsyn left a soft teddy bear, cards, flowers and sweets at Ms McCarthys home and wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the words I LOVE YOU. This terrified Gillian McCarthy, said Mr OSullivan. On another occasion, Nitsyn sat in a black BMW car outside the victims home, and he winked at her. The word creepy may be an understatement here, said Mr OSullivan. Nitsyn also texted Gillian McCarthy three times: Where are you? I am outside, and he telephoned her again on New Years Day, 2024. A special Garda patrol was put in place near Ms McCarthys home and Nitsyn was subsequently arrested in Dublin in possession of 10 mobile phone Sim cards and two mobile phones. Nitsyn told gardai: I love her... It looks like I am a bad person but I dont have any intention to harm her. Mr OSullivan said Gillian McCarthy had been tormented for two years by Nitsyns unwanted advances. Ms McCarthy wrote in a victim impact statement she could not attend the court for Nitsyns sentencing hearing because she was too scared to be in his presence. Every time I see a black BMW car I freeze, I am still afraid to go out alone to the stables. I put security in place, I constantly have a feeling of somebody watching me, Ms McCarthy said. I am constantly looking over my shoulder, my work has been affected. I cant shake the feeling that somebody is looking in at me through the window." Nitsyns barrister, junior counsel Yvonne Quinn, said he had a long history of serious mental health issues, which worsened after he split from his wife and mother of his two children. He has accepted that his behaviour was frightening and it has to stop, said Ms Quinn. Judge Colin Daly backdated the two and a half year year sentence to January 3, 2024. The judge also ordered that Nitsyn not communicate with Ms McCarthy or her family for a period of five years after his release from jail. Five people have been arrested by gardai investigating an attempt by an international crime group to import a massive quantity of drugs into Ireland, through West Cork, last year. The five, three men and two women who range in age from their 20s to their 60s, were arrested during a major garda operation on Tuesday involving officers from the Cork County Crime Section, members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), members of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and officers from the Wexford/Wicklow Crime Section. The operation involved searches at a number of locations across the country, including on the southside of Dublin. All five persons were arrested for alleged offences contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 and continue to be detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at Garda Stations in the Dublin Region and the Eastern Region, a garda spokesman said. Section 72 relates to enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence. The five suspects were identified during extensive garda investigations into the attempt last year to import drugs through Tragumna in Co Cork. Gardai mounted a massive surveillance operation on March 12, 2024 following a tip-off from a concerned citizen about suspicious activity around Tragumna Pier, including the parking of a Land Rover, a camper van, and an articulated truck, as well as several people present. As part of the surveillance operation, gardai were made aware of the launch of a 40-ft rigid inflatable boat (RIB) equipped with three high-powered engines, and which had been adapted with stealth capabilities. Almost 48 hours later, the three vehicles returned to the pier and the RIB returned without any drugs. On March 14, 2024, gardai swooped on the camper van as it travelled through Leap and arrested six men. They arrested four others at Tragumna pier. All 10 were subsequently charged with conspiracy to import drugs and they are awaiting trial. They include Irish citizens, Iranian-born Dutch citizens, a Serbian and several Spaniards. Previous court hearings have heard how gardai investigating the case recovered walkie-talkies, personal phones and satellite burner phones and maritime clothing. The entire cost of materials, including the boat, travel, and accommodation, was estimated to be 700,000. The courts have been told that the RIB originated in Portugal and was brought via the Netherlands to Rosslare and from there to a yard in Omagh, Co Tyrone, where it underwent extensive modifications to give it stealth capabilities. It has been alleged that the RIB went to collect drugs from a mothership, but that it missed the rendezvous due to a storm and returned to Tragumna empty. While no drugs were landed in west Cork, an estimated 840 kilos of cocaine worth some 58m was found washed up on beaches in Denmark a few weeks later. It is believed these drugs may have been part of haul that was destined for Ireland. The garda investigation into the case has been ongoing since with the five people arrested on Tuesday now being quizzed about the extensive logistical support that would have been required for such an operation. They can be detained for up to a week and gardai said their investigations are ongoing. New Zealands most senior envoy to the United Kingdom has lost his job over remarks he made about US President Donald Trump at an event in London, New Zealands foreign minister said on Thursday. Phil Goff, New Zealands High Commissioner to the UK, made the comments at an event held by the international affairs think tank Chatham House in London on Tuesday. Mr Goff asked a question from the audience of the guest speaker, Finlands foreign minister Elina Valtonen, in which he said he had been re-reading a famous speech by British wartime leader Winston Churchill from 1938, when the future prime minister was a lawmaker in the government of Neville Chamberlain. Mr Churchills speech rebuked Britains signing of the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler, allowing Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Mr Goff quoted Mr Churchill as saying to Mr Chamberlain: You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war. Then-Auckland Mayor Phil Goff talks to the media in Auckland in 2021 (Ricky Wilson/STUFF/AP) He then asked Ms Valtonen: President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history? As the audience chuckled at the New Zealand envoys question, Ms Valtonen said she would limit myself to saying that Mr Churchill has made very timeless remarks, according to video of the event published by New Zealand news outlets. He speech was billed as covering Finlands approach to European security at an event entitled Keeping the peace on Natos longest border with Russia. In response to questions from reporters, foreign minister Winston Peters said Mr Goffs remarks were disappointing and made the envoys position untenable. When you are in that position you represent the government and the policies of the day, Mr Peters said. Youre not able to free think, you are the face of New Zealand. We have asked the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bede Corry, to now work through with Mr Goff the upcoming leadership transition at the New Zealand High Commission in London. Officials were in discussion with High Commissioner Goff about his return to New Zealand, according to a written statement. Mr Goff has been New Zealands envoy to the UK since January 2023. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Former prime minister Helen Clark who was Mr Goffs boss during his time as a minister denounced his sacking in a post on X, where she wrote the episode was a very thin excuse for removing a highly respected former foreign minister from his diplomatic role. Two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during training on Thursday, injuring eight people, officials said. The MK-82 bombs released by the KF-16 fighter jets fell outside a firing range, causing civilian damage, the air force said in a statement. The air force said it will establish a committee to investigate why the accident happened and examine the scale of the civilian damage. It said the fighter jets were taking part in the air forces joint live-firing drills with the army. An air force official said a pilot of one of the KF-16s put in a wrong co-ordinate for a bombing site. A defence ministry official also said that more investigation was needed to find out why the second KF-16 also dropped bombs on a civilian area. The air force apologised and expressed hopes for a speedy recovery of the injured people. It said it will actively offer compensation and take other necessary steps. The accident happened in Pocheon, a city close to the heavily armed border with North Korea. In a televised briefing, Pocheon mayor Paek Young-hyun said the bombings were awful and urged the military to halt drills in the city until it formulates reliable steps that can prevent a recurrence. He said that Pocheon, a city of 140,000 people, provides three major firing ranges for the South Korean and US militaries. The military said it has decided to suspend live-fire drills in Pocheon. Mr Paek described Thursdays training as a joint drill with the US military but the South Korean defence ministry could not confirm that. Pocheons disaster response centre said six civilians and two soldiers were injured and were being treated in hospital. Four of the injured, all civilians, were in a serious condition, the centre said. Two of the seriously injured are foreigners, one from Thailand and the other from Myanmar. Three houses were partially damaged, a Catholic church and a greenhouse, but they did not appear to have been directly hit by the bombs, according to the Pocheon centre. Israels military surveillance agency has used a vast collection of intercepted Palestinian communications to build a powerful artificial intelligence tool similar to ChatGPT that it hopes will transform its spying capabilities, an investigation by the Guardian can reveal. The joint investigation with Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call has found Unit 8200 trained the AI model to understand spoken Arabic using large volumes of telephone conversations and text messages, obtained through its extensive surveillance of the occupied territories. According to sources familiar with the project, the unit began building the model to create a sophisticated chatbot-like tool capable of answering questions about people it is monitoring and providing insights into the massive volumes of surveillance data it collects. The elite eavesdropping agency, comparable in its capabilities with the US National Security Agency (NSA), accelerated its development of the system after the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. The model was still being trained in the second half of last year. It is not clear whether it has yet been deployed. The efforts to build the large language model (LLM) a deep learning system that generates human-like text were partially revealed in a little-noticed public talk by a former military intelligence technologist who said he oversaw the project. I have more tools to know what every person in the West Bank is doing We tried to create the largest dataset possible [and] collect all the data the state of Israel has ever had in Arabic, the former official, Chaked Roger Joseph Sayedoff, told an audience at a military AI conference in Tel Aviv last year. The model, he said, required psychotic amounts of data. Three former intelligence officials with knowledge of the initiative confirmed the LLMs existence and shared details about its construction. Several other sources described how Unit 8200 used smaller-scale machine learning models in the years before launching the ambitious project and the effect such technology has already had. AI amplifies power, said a source familiar with the development of Unit 8200s AI models in recent years. Its not just about preventing shooting attacks, I can track human rights activists, monitor Palestinian construction in Area C [of the West Bank]. I have more tools to know what every person in the West Bank is doing. Details of the new models scale sheds light on Unit 8200s large-scale retention of the content of intercepted communications, enabled by what current and former Israeli and western intelligence officials described as its blanket surveillance of Palestinian telecommunications. The project also illustrates how Unit 8200, like many spy agencies around the world, is seeking to harness advances in AI to perform complex analytical tasks and make sense of the huge volumes of information they routinely collect, which increasingly defy human processing alone. But the integration of systems such as LLMs in intelligence analysis has risks as the systems can exacerbate biases and are prone to making mistakes, experts and human rights campaigners have warned. Their opaque nature can also make it difficult to understand how AI-generated conclusions have been reached. Zach Campbell, a senior surveillance researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW), expressed alarm that Unit 8200 would use LLMs to make consequential decisions about the lives of Palestinians under military occupation. Its a guessing machine, he said. And ultimately these guesses can end up being used to incriminate people. A spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) declined to answer the Guardians questions about the new LLM, but said the military deploys various intelligence methods to identify and thwart terrorist activity by hostile organisations in the Middle East. A vast pool of Arabic-language communications Unit 8200 has developed an array of AI-powered tools in recent years. Systems such as The Gospel and Lavender were among those rapidly integrated into combat operations in the war in Gaza, playing a significant role in the IDFs bombardment of the territory by assisting with the identification of potential targets (both people and structures) for lethal strikes. For almost a decade, the unit has also used AI to analyse the communications it intercepts and stores, using a series of machine learning models to sort information into predefined categories, learn to recognise patterns and make predictions. After OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022, AI experts at Unit 8200 envisaged building a more expansive tool akin to the chatbot. Now one of the worlds most widely used LLMs, ChatGPT is underpinned by so-called foundation model, a general-purpose AI trained on immense volumes of data and capable of responding to complex queries. Initially, Unit 8200 struggled to build a model on this scale. We had no clue how to train a foundation model, said Sayedoff, the former intelligence official, in his presentation. At one stage, the unit sent an unsuccessful request to OpenAI to run ChatGPT on the militarys secure systems (OpenAI declined to comment). Someone calling someone and telling them to come outside because theyre waiting for them outside school, thats just a conversation, thats not interesting. But for a model like this, its gold However, when the IDF mobilised hundreds of thousands of reservists in response to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, a group of officers with expertise in building LLMs returned to the unit from the private sector. Some came from major US tech companies, such as Google, Meta and Microsoft. (Google said the work its employees do as reservists was not connected to the company. Meta and Microsoft declined to comment.) The small team of experts soon began building an LLM that understands Arabic, sources said, but effectively had to start from scratch after finding that existing commercial and open-source Arabic-language models were trained using standard written Arabic used in formal communications, literature and media rather than spoken Arabic. There are no transcripts of calls or WhatsApp conversations on the internet. It doesnt exist in the quantity needed to train such a model, one source said. The challenge, they added, was to collect all the [spoken Arabic] text the unit has ever had and put it into a centralised place. They said the models training data eventually consisted of approximately 100 billion words. Destroyed buildings by Israeli bombardments in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel. File picture: Ariel Schalit/AP One well-placed source familiar with the project told the Guardian this vast pool of communications included conversations in Lebanese as well as Palestinian dialects. Sayedoff said in his presentation the team building the LLM focused only on the dialects that hate us. The unit also sought to train the model to understand specific military terminology of militant groups, sources said. But the massive collection of training data appears to have included large volumes of communications with little or no intelligence value about everyday lives of Palestinians. Someone calling someone and telling them to come outside because theyre waiting for them outside school, thats just a conversation, thats not interesting. But for a model like this, its gold, one of the sources said. AI-facilitated surveillance Unit 8200 is not alone among spy agencies experimenting with generative AI technology. In the US, the CIA has rolled out a ChatGPT-like tool to sift through open-source information. Britains spy agencies are also developing their own LLMs, which it is also said to be training with open-source datasets. But several former US and British security officials said Israels intelligence community appeared to be taking greater risks than its closest allies when integrating novel AI-based systems into intelligence analysis. One former western spy chief said Israeli military intelligences extensive collection of the content of Palestinian communications allowed it to use AI in ways that would not be acceptable among intelligence agencies in countries with stronger oversight over the use of surveillance powers and handling of sensitive personal data. Campbell, from Human Rights Watch, said using surveillance material to train an AI model was invasive and incompatible with human rights, and that as an occupying power Israel is obligated to protect Palestinians privacy rights. Were talking about highly personal data taken from people who are not suspected of a crime, being used to train a tool that could then help establish suspicion, he added. Nadim Nashif, director of 7amleh, a Palestinian digital rights and advocacy group, said Palestinians have become subjects in Israels laboratory to develop these techniques and weaponise AI, all for the purpose of maintaining [an] apartheid and occupation regime where these technologies are being used to dominate a people, to control their lives. Several current and former Israeli intelligence officers familiar with smaller-scale machine learning models used by Unit 8200 precursors to the foundation model said AI made the blanket surveillance of Palestinians more effective as a form of control, particularly in the West Bank where they said it has contributed to a greater number of arrests. Were talking about highly personal data taken from people who are not suspected of a crime, being used to train a tool that could then help establish suspicion Two of the sources said the models helped the IDF automatically analyse intercepted phone conversations by identifying Palestinians expressing anger at the occupation or desires to attack soldiers or people living in illegal settlements. One said that when the IDF entered villages in the West Bank, AI would be used to identify people using words it deemed to indicate troublemaking. It allows us to act on the information of many more people, and this allows control over the population, a third source said. When you hold so much information you can use it for whatever purpose you want. And the IDF has very few restraints in this regard. Mistakes are going to be made For a spy agency, the value of a foundation model is that it can take everything that has ever been collected and detect connections and patterns which are difficult for a human to do alone, said Ori Goshen, co-founder of AI21 Labs. Several of the Israeli firms employees worked on the new LLM project while on reserve duty. But Goshen, who previously served in Unit 8200, added: These are probabilistic models you give them a prompt or a question, and they generate something that looks like magic. But often, the answer makes no sense. We call this hallucination. Brianna Rosen, a former White House national security official and now a senior research associate at Oxford university, notes that while a ChatGPT-like tool could help an intelligence analyst detect threats humans might miss, even before they arise, it also risks drawing false connections and faulty conclusions. She said it was vital for intelligence agencies using these tools to be able to understand the reasoning behind the answers they produce. Mistakes are going to be made, and some of those mistakes may have very serious consequences, she added. In February, the Associated Press reported AI was likely used by intelligence officers to help select a target in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza in November 2023 that killed four people, including three teenage girls. A message seen by the news agency suggested the airstrike had been conducted by mistake. The IDF did not respond to the Guardians questions about how Unit 8200 ensures its machine learning models, including the new LLM being developed, do not exacerbate inaccuracies and biases. It also would not say how it protects the privacy rights of Palestinians when training models with sensitive personal data. Due to the sensitive nature of the information, we cannot elaborate on specific tools, including methods used to process information, a spokesperson said. However, the IDF implements a meticulous process in every use of technological abilities, they added. That includes the integral involvement of professional personnel in the intelligence process in order to maximize information and precision to the highest degree. The Guardian Thursday, Mar 6th, 2025 (4:05 pm) - Score 2,280 As expected following last years merger agreement, broadband ISP Lit Fibre has today announced that customers of their service now have access to take packages over CityFibres national full fibre (FTTP) network too, which is currently available to over 4.3 million UK premises (4.1m RFS). In case anybody has forgotten. Lit Fibre, which pre-acquisition had a retail broadband base of around 10,000 customers, previously built their own vertically integrated Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to around 300,000 premises across parts of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Worcestershire, Essex and Suffolk. However, both Lit Fibres network and customer base were all acquired by CityFibre during early 2024 (here), which was followed in November 2024 by an agreement to sell the retail side of the business to Lits original co-founders, Tom Williams and Ben Bresler (here). This resolved an awkward problem for CityFibre, which is a wholesale-only operator and was thus only really interested in holding on to Lits network infrastructure. Advertisement Lit Fibres original FTTP network has since been fully integrated into CityFibres, although until now the ISPs customers have only had access to the side of the network that Lit itself built. But the good news is that customers looking to sign-up with Lit Fibre today can now do so across CityFibres entire UK network, which offers broadband speeds of up to 2-2.5Gbps. Tom Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Lit Fibre, said: Our new partnership with CityFibre is a major milestone in making Lit Fibres industry-leading internet service available to even more homes across the UK. Were committed to transforming connectivity to enable frustration-free internet experiences with the reliability and human support that customers deserve. Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre, said: CityFibres full-fibre network reaches over 4.3 million premises today and we continue to expand, meaning CityFibres ISP partners can make the most of unbeatable products, pricing and service and offer a fantastic experience to millions of households throughout the UK. The team at Lit Fibre have a passion for the business thats second to none, and were excited to see what lies ahead as Lit Fibre grows its reach and makes the most of CityFibres next-generation XGS-PON network. Customers of the service can expect to pay from 35.99 per month on a 24-month term for symmetric speeds of 100Mbps (inc. free installation and a pledge of no mid-contract price hikes), which rises to 42.99 per month for their top 1Gbps tier. At the time of writing, it doesnt appear as if Lit Fibre are offering any of CityFibres faster 2Gbps+ tiers, yet. Thursday, Mar 6th, 2025 (8:03 am) - Score 21,480 Last month we reported that broadband ISP Virgin Media (O2) were gearing up to start making their new XGS-PON powered full fibre (FTTP) network upgrade available to homes in existing coax (cable) areas (here), which was expected to occur in March 2025. Since then weve observed a growing number of areas where the service and symmetric speeds of 2Gbps are now becoming available, albeit with a catch. Just to recap. The change being referenced above is separate from nexfibres expansion of their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) network into new UK areas. This has already added over 2 million premises and aims for 5m by 2026, before possibly rising to 7m thereafter. Virgin Medias customers can already access this, but its availability is obviously limited. NOTE: The new XGS-PON networks are able to offer symmetric broadband speeds of up to 2Gbps and could go faster in the future, while those in HFC areas are still limited to speeds of 1Gbps (100Mbps upload). Instead, were specifically talking about Virgin Medias own efforts to upgrade over 16 million of their legacy Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC / DOCSIS 3.1) and Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG FTTP) powered areas to add support for the same 10Gbps capable XGS-PON technology as nexfibre use. This is a programme they aim to complete by 2028 (aka Project Mustang or Fibre Up). Advertisement At present we dont know precisely how many HFC areas have completed their XGS-PON deployments (costing c.100 per premises), but several million premises do now have both Virgin Medias HFC + RFOG and XGS-PON networks existing side-by-side. But the fact that XGS-PON is just sitting there, doing absolutely nothing (i.e. not generating revenue), makes very little financial sense and this is now starting to change. In our last update, we noted how several credible sources had informed ISPreview that Virgin Media was gearing up to launch new products in March 2025 (although delays are still possible), which we expected would reflect the providers move to start making their upgraded XGS-PON areas available to customers. Since then weve received more feedback from customers, industry sources and fresh data from the Better Internet Dashboard, which when taken together appears to confirm that Virgin Media is now actively starting to make their newly upgraded XGS-PON full fibre areas available to customers in various locations (i.e. weve a good number of examples from previously HFC-only areas, where symmetric speed 2Gbps packages can now be taken). The process, which appears to have started sometime around early February, is currently ramping up its not yet available in all upgraded areas, although it has reached quite a few places already. But so far as we can tell from Virgin Medias API, there may be a bit of an initial catch. At present, in the HFC locations where weve seen XGS-PON from Virgin Media going live, only new customers seem able to order it. So if youve already got or previously had HFC from Virgin Media, then it seems you cant order it.. yet. Advertisement Naturally we did ask Virgin Media about all this and, once again, the response was one of no comment. At present, Virgin Media and nexfibres FTTP lines cover a combined total of 6.4 million UK premises, although this includes both RFOG and newer XGS-PON areas. In addition, sources have informed us that Virgin Media may not be expecting to have migrated all of their HFC customers over to XGS-PON based FTTP lines until around 2040 (not to be confused with the 2028 date for the network upgrade itself to complete), which is perhaps to be expected given the need for an engineer visit (bulk migrations would be difficult). Now back to waiting for Virgin Media to make an official announcement, which may or may not end up being aligned with the launch of their new NetCo wholesale solution. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has accused Donald Trump of lying following the US leaders claim that the United States is reclaiming the Panama Canal. Once again, President Trump is lying. The Panama Canal is not undergoing any recovery, Mr. Mulino expressed on X after Mr. Trump informed US politicians that his administration would be reclaiming the waterway. Mr. Trump praised a deal orchestrated by US firm BlackRock to acquire the majority of the $22.8 billion ports business owned by Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, which encompasses assets along the Panama Canal. This agreement will grant the US consortium control over significant ports related to the Panama Canal, amidst White House efforts to remove what it claims is Chinese ownership. The substantial purchase price resulted in a more than 20% surge in CK Hutchisons stock price. Just today, a major American company announced it is acquiring both ports around the Panama Canal, along with various other assets associated with it and several other canals. The arrangement with the BlackRock-led consortium includes 90% of Panama Ports Company, which has managed the Balboa and Cristobal ports at either end of the canal for over twenty years, as stated by CK Hutchison. Overall, the consortium, which also includes Terminal Investment and Global Infrastructure Partners, will have control over 43 ports featuring 199 berths across 23 countries, according to the conglomerate. Jose Raul Mulino stated that Donald Trump is once again lying. CK Hutchisons stock finished the day up 21.9%, outpacing a 2.8% increase in Hong Kongs broader Hang Seng Index. Its share price has now reached its highest point since August 1, 2023. The sale pertains to CK Hutchisons 80% stake in Hutchison Ports, valued at an equity of $14.21 billion. However, the conglomerate will ultimately receive over $19 billion after repaying some shareholder loans. Goldman Sachs is advising CK Hutchison on the transaction, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Goldman Sachs has declined to comment. The total proceeds would be comparable to CK Hutchisons entire market value in Hong Kong before todays stock rally. The remaining stake in Hutchison Ports is held by Singapores PSA International. Last year, approximately 12,000 ships traversed the Panama Canal, which connects 1,920 ports across 170 countries. Its strategic position is crucial for the US, as over three-quarters of vessels passing through originate from or are destined for the United States. I want to emphasize that this transaction is entirely commercial and completely disconnected from recent political news reports regarding Panama Ports, stated Frank Sixt, co-managing director of CK Hutchison. The conglomerate had been awaiting a final ruling from the Panama Supreme Court on the legal status of its government contract to operate the ports after the local attorney general declared the contract unconstitutional. Read more: America is back Trump states in Congress speech; Five takeaways from Donald Trumps address to Congress. Rapid, competitive process CK Hutchison, which is controlled by billionaire tycoon Li Ka-shing, has interests spanning infrastructure, retail, and telecommunications, in addition to being the largest privately owned port operator in the world. Mr. Li has been diversifying his business beyond Hong Kong and mainland China since the 1980s, and currently, approximately 12% of CK Hutchisons revenue originates from those regions, while the remainder comes from Europe, the rest of Asia Pacific, and Canada. Sixt noted that the ports deal emerged from a rapid, discrete, but competitive process during which CK Hutchison received a multitude of bids and expressions of interest. JP Morgan indicated in a report that while divesting the Panama business is understandable, the deal is still a surprise, considering most of CK Hutchisons other ports are not in regions directly affected by Sino-US geopolitical tensions. This could be perceived as an opportunistic deal, according to JP Morgan. Given our understanding of CKHs management philosophy, any deal is feasible as long as the price is right. The brokerage stated that this deal would signify a significant shift in strategy, leaving ports contributing about 1% to the conglomerates earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization, down from 15%. The contribution from infrastructure, currently the largest segment, is projected to increase to 33% from 28%. The $19 billion expected from the sale significantly exceeds the $13 billion valuation on the port assets estimated by analysts. The disposal would be highly value-enhancing, asserted analysts from Citigroup. CK Hutchisons net debt level was HK $138 billion in June, and the sale proceeds could potentially place the conglomerate into a net cash position, as noted by UBS analysts. Pope Francis, who has been battling double pneumonia in the hospital for nearly three weeks, remains stable throughout the day and has not encountered any new breathing crises, according to the Vatican. The 88-year-old was admitted to Romes Gemelli hospital on February 14th with a severe respiratory infection that has led to additional complications, which doctors are still working to address. The Vatican reported that the pope spent the day sitting in an armchair and resumed some of his work activities. He will again receive non-invasive ventilation overnight. Yesterdays health update was more optimistic, stating that the pope remained stable throughout the day with no new breathing issues. However, his doctors reiterated that his prognosis remains guarded, indicating that he is not yet out of danger. Worried about him I think its serious, very serious. Naturally, we are all quite worried about him, said Liana Cardozo, a tourist from Brazil, in St. Peters Square. The pope has not been seen in public since he was admitted to the hospital, marking his longest absence since the beginning of his papacy 12 years ago. His doctors have not specified how long the treatment may continue. Francis extended absence has fueled speculation, even among senior cardinals, that he might follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Benedict XVI and resign. Nevertheless, biographers and friends of the pontiff have described him as a fighter, suggesting he has no intentions of resigning. His illness has already caused the pope to miss several Church events, including a service on March 5 known as Ash Wednesday, which signifies the beginning of a 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday, a service he typically presides over. Francis has faced multiple health challenges over the past two years and is particularly susceptible to lung infections due to having had pleurisy in his youth and undergoing surgery to remove part of one lung. Double pneumonia is a severe infection affecting both lungs, capable of causing inflammation and scarring that can hinder breathing. The United States has temporarily halted intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, as stated by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, increasing the pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to collaborate with US President Donald Trump in initiating peace discussions with Russia. This suspension, which may undermine Ukraines capability to defend against Russian missile attacks, came after the US military aid to Kyiv was also put on hold earlier this week. It highlights Mr. Trumps readiness to adopt a tough stance with an ally while shifting to a more conciliatory strategy towards Moscow, contrasting the previous strong US support for Ukraine. The pressure appears to be effective, with Mr. Trump announcing yesterday that he received a letter from Mr. Zelensky, in which the Ukrainian leader expressed his willingness to engage in negotiations. I believe that the pause in military and intelligence support will be resolved, Mr. Ratcliffe mentioned during an interview with Fox Business Network. We need your consent to load this rte-player content. We use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences Mr. Trumps national security adviser, Mike Waltz, indicated on another Fox program that the president might reconsider providing assistance to Kyiv if peace talks were established and certain unspecified confidence-building measures were implemented. A source familiar with the matter, speaking on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the Trump administration had paused everything, including the targeting data that Ukraine relies on to strike Russian positions. A second source mentioned that intelligence-sharing had only been partially curtailed but could not provide further specifics. On Monday, Washington ceased military assistance to Kyiv following a contentious meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, during which Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelenskiy engaged in a heated argument in front of the media. This confrontation delayed the signing of a Ukraine-US minerals agreement. European nations are racing to enhance defense expenditures and continue their support for Ukraine, as the freeze on military aid has raised concerns about Washingtons commitment to its European NATO partners. In his address to Congress last night, Mr. Trump stated that Kyiv was prepared to finalize a deal regarding the exploration of Ukraines vital mineral resources, which the US leader has insisted should cover the expenses of US military assistance. No additional details were provided. Donald Trump delivering his address to Congress yesterday Mr. Trump also claimed to have engaged in serious discussions with Russia and noted that strong indications suggested they were open to peace talks. Its time to put an end to this senseless war. If we want to conclude wars, we must communicate with both parties, he commented. The US has been supplying crucial intelligence to Ukraine for its fight against Russian forces, including information that helped thwart Russian President Vladimir Putins initial attempt to seize Kyiv during the full-scale invasion starting in February 2022. However, within less than two months of taking office, Mr. Trump has dramatically altered US policy, surprising and alienating European allies and raising concerns regarding the future of the NATO alliance. He has also diminished Mr. Putins international isolation through phone communications with the Russian leader and discussions between Russian and US officials in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, from which Ukraine and its European allies were excluded. Some experts believe that the suspension of US intelligence-sharing will hamper Ukraines capacity to target Russian forces, which currently occupy approximately 20% of the countrys territory. Some experts believe that the suspension of US intelligence-sharing will hamper Ukraines capacity to target Russian forces. Regrettably, our reliance on this intelligence is significant, ranging from missile threats and attacks to whats occurring in Russia, particularly in the temporarily occupied areas concerning strike operations, remarked Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraines National Institute for Strategic Studies. Some of the impact may be mitigated by acquiring commercial satellite imagery, but only military satellites could accurately identify missile launches, he explained. The suspension of intelligence also complicates Ukraines defense against Russian air and missile assaults, which frequently target civilian infrastructure like schools and hospitals, resulting in numerous non-combatant casualties. We will have less time to respond, leading to greater destruction and potentially more fatalities; this will significantly weaken us, he added. We need your consent to load this rte-player content. We use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences Mr. Waltz informed reporters this morning that the US had taken a step back, and that the administration is reassessing all facets of its intelligence collaboration with Ukraine. I believe we will witness movement very shortly, he added. Russia strikes energy facilities Meanwhile, Russia conducted nighttime strikes on energy facilities in the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa, as stated by officials, resulting in power outages across the Black Sea area and leaving at least one person dead. Russia has intensified drone and missile assaults on Ukraine, despite escalating discussions in the US and Russia regarding potential negotiations to cease hostilities. Regional officials reported that critical infrastructure has been damaged, and part of Odesa is without electricity, water, and heating. Emergency services characterized the damage as extensive and released images of firefighters battling blazes. The governor indicated that a 77-year-old man died due to shrapnel in a village near Odesa city. Utility workers and special equipment at the site of a Russian drone attack in Odesa, Ukraine In a separate incident, the governor of the adjacent Kherson region confirmed that a 55-year-old was killed in Kherson city. No immediate response came from Moscow regarding the attacks. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched four missiles and 181 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed attack unmanned aerial vehicles, noting that Kyiv managed to shoot down 115 of the Russian drones. Russias defense ministry declared that its forces had captured the village of Pryvilne in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region. Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, stated that Russias primary objective remains to inflict maximum defeat on Ukraine. Russia is making progress. The enemy is resisting and has not yet been vanquished, declared Mr. Medvedev, a former president of Russia. Inflicting maximum defeat on the enemy on the ground remains our primary objective today. Mr. Medvedev predicted that the United States would resume military assistance to Ukraine, which was suspended on Monday, once President Volodymyr Zelensky signs a minerals agreement with the US. We need your consent to load this rte-player content. We use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preferences By Scott Lucas, University College Dublin (The Conversation) When Israel signed a ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza on January 15, the agreement was structured in three phases. Phase one, a six-week period in which Hamas would release hostages in return for Israel releasing Palestinians detained in its jails, ended on March 1. The shaky deal has held for the full six weeks just. At one point Hamas threatened to halt the exchange of hostages when it said Israel was breaching the terms of the deal. The Netanyahu government responded with US backing by threatening to end the ceasefire in mid-February, saying that Hamas was not living up to its side of the deal. The hostage releases have continued, although Israelis have been shocked and angered at the condition of some of the hostages after 17 months in captivity. Hamas has also taken advantage of the worlds gaze during hostage releases to stage large parades of its fully armed fighters. On March 1, as stage one of the deal was due to end, Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full blockade of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Middle East expert, Scott Lucas, answered our questions as to what is happening and how this situation may play out. Why has Israel decided to block humanitarian aid to Gaza? The Netanyahu governments blocking of humanitarian aid to Gazas population is part of a scheme to avoid a phase two of the ceasefire, while putting pressure on Hamas to extend phase one. That would allow the Israeli government to pursue the return of the remaining 59 hostages, alive or dead, held by Hamas while avoiding the requirements of phase two notably the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza and the restoration of a Palestinian government in Gaza. Of course, those who will pay the cost are more than 2.2 million Gazans, around 90% of whom have been displaced amid 17 months of mass killing. But Israels leaders are counting on that causing little concern, or at least significant action, by the international community. Wasnt the ceasefire deal dictated by a timetable? Phase one of the agreement only stipulated that discussions for a phase two to begin within 14 days of implementation, which would have been about the start of February. But the Netanyahu government reportedly sent mediators to Qatar without the authority to discuss phase two, only to ensure that hostage releases continued. The limit of its cooperation has been sending representatives to Egypt and conferring with Donald Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, with current discussions suggesting little prospect of agreeing phase two. What is driving Netanyahus decision-making right now? Netanyahus vow has been absolute victory over Hamas. But as there is no sign that Hamas is going to disband or even that its leaders will leave the Gaza there is zero chance of that happening in phase two. That assessment is compounded by pressure on Netanyahu from hard-right ministers and supporters, such as finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and former national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Their powerful hard-right factions only accepted phase one if there was no follow-up and certainly no return to the aim of allowing Palestinian self-determination in Gaza. On the other side, Netanyahu faces families of hostages and their supporters, who say the priority must be the return of those held by Hamas. Thus the solution, proposed by the US and backed by the Israeli government is for a six-week extension until the end of Ramadan and Passover, or until April 20. Half the hostages would be released on day one of the extension and the remainder once a permanent ceasefire is agreed. Hamas is unlikely to agree to that provision, as the hostages are their only leverage in discussions for a lasting ceasefire and their continued place in Gaza. But Netanyahu can frame their refusal in such as way as to blame Hamas for not wanting a peaceful solution and as an excuse for resuming military operations. Where is the White House in all this? For now Netanyahu can count on US backing for the pressure on Hamas and the extension of phase one. Solution, Digital, Midjourney / Clip2Comic, 2025 Donald Trumps ego trip was to claim credit for the phase one ceasefire. Since then, he and his officials have shown little interest in supporting a phase two. Instead, the US president has proposed what would amount to an ethnic cleansing of Gazans removing and relocating them to other Arab countries to make way for his dream of a Middle East Riviera on the coast. He shared a bizarre AI-generated video with a vision of Trump Gaza, complete with a gilded, giant statue of him as he and Netanyahu sit topless and sip drinks on the beach amid bearded belly-dancers. Perhaps widespread Israeli military operations, and the consequent mass killing of civilians, would dent Trumps peacemaker image. But it is likely that Israel could get US officials to back the Blame Hamas rationale. And, meanwhile, the administration is fine with the Israelis expanding their military presence and settlements in the West Bank. What about the Arab world? After more than a year of negotiations, the phase one settlement brought some relief to Egypt and Qatar, the chief sites of discussions. Jordan, always at risk of being unsettled by assaults on Palestinians, encouraged further talks. Gulf States, their plans for normalisation with Israel in tatters, could envisage a gradual return to the process. But all of this has foundered on the lack of possibility for phase two. Most Arab leaderships have no affection for Hamas, but with no clear Palestinian alternative, they have no appetite for contributing to the necessity security arrangements. So the easy option for now is to condemn the excesses of others, such as Trumps ethnic cleansing whim or Netanyahus threat of renewed attacks. The tougher option is to envisage any untangling of the knot around Israeli occupation and Gaza governance. That may mean that, without giving an endorsement, most Arab States will be happy with the kicking of the can down the road in a phase one extension. Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. By Robert Faturechi | ( ProPublica ) Earlier this year, the Air Force revealed that the general who oversaw its lobbying before Congress had inappropriate romantic relationships with five women, including three who worked on Capitol Hill. Maj. Gen. Christopher Finertys colleagues told investigators the relationships were highly inappropriate as they could give the Air Force undue influence in Congress. I honestly felt sick to my stomach, one said, according to a report about the investigation, because it just felt so sleazy. The Air Force inspector generals report redacted the names of the women who worked on the Hill. But one of the women whose relationship with Finerty was scrutinized by the inspector general was Sen. Joni Ernst, according to two sources with knowledge of the investigation. The Iowa Republican and combat veteran is one of the most influential voices on the Hill about the military, and she sits on the Senates Armed Services Committee, which oversees the Pentagon and plays a crucial role in setting its annual budget. Three other sources told ProPublica that around 2019 Ernst had a previous romantic relationship with a legislative affairs official for a different branch of the military, the Navy. Ernst and the officials were not married at the time and Senate rules do not bar lawmakers from entering into romantic relationships with lobbyists or other legislative advocates. But ethics experts say such relationships can create a conflict of interest, and other lawmakers have been criticized for such behavior in the past. A former legislative affairs official for the military told ProPublica that people in that role arent officially lobbyists but for all intent and purposes thats their job. From an ethics standpoint, its severely problematic. A former Air Force officer who worked for Finerty said the perception in the office was that his relationship with Ernst absolutely gave the Air Force undue influence. Six sources who worked for the Air Force or in Congress told ProPublica that they had heard about a relationship between Ernst and Finerty and there had been concerns about it for years. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not have permission to speak publicly or feared for their jobs. One source said that they were told about the relationship by one of the two participants. Two sources said they heard from witnesses interviewed by the inspector general that Ernst was a focus of the investigation. A spokesperson for Ernst would not address whether the senator had any relationships with military legislative liaisons but said the lawmaker maintained her independence: The fake news media is clearly too busy gossiping to report the real news that Senator Ernst is focused on cutting waste at the Pentagon. Her votes and work in the Senate are guided by the voices of Iowans who elected her and her constitutional duty alone. Any insinuation otherwise by tabloid journalism is a slanderous lie full stop. Finertys lawyer also declined to say whether the general had a romantic relationship with Ernst while he was advocating for the Air Force in Congress. The IG report found no evidence suggesting anything remotely approaching either conflict of interest or undue influence involving General Finerty and anyone on Capitol Hill. Further, the IG report found no law, rule, policy or guidance prohibited any of General Finertys relationships. Any suggestion to the contrary would be defamatory. (The inspector general report said Finerty wrongfully engaged in inappropriate relationships with multiple individuals in violation of the code of military justice.) In his interview with the inspector general, according to the report, Finerty defended relationships between people in his office and members on the Hill a term used to describe members of Congress. The 41-page report documenting the inspector generals investigation of Finerty was completed in September 2023 but was shared with Congress, and then the public, earlier this year in response to records requests. (The investigation summary, posted on the Air Forces website, was reported first by Politico, without any mention of Ernsts involvement.) At the time of the reports release to Congress in early January, Ernsts influence over the Pentagon was on full display, as she sat at the center of one of the Trump administrations most contentious confirmation battles. Ernst had made statements suggesting she had reservations about President Donald Trumps nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and though she had later made encouraging statements, she had refused to formally back him. Serving in the Iowa Army National Guard during the Iraq War, Ernst is the Senates first female combat veteran and has pushed to reform the militarys handling of sexual assault cases. Hegseth faced scrutiny over past allegations of excessive drinking and sexual assault, which he denied, as well as criticism for comments he made against allowing women in combat. Then in mid-January, Ernst reversed course under pressure from Trump allies and formally endorsed Hegseth. Her backing was considered pivotal in reviving what had appeared to be a flailing nomination. The report about Finerty is heavily redacted but provided the following details about the inspector generals findings. Two of the five women worked for the Pentagon. They include a civilian employee who was married to another officer and an Air Force enlisted member significantly lower down the chain of command than Finerty. Finerty interacted with the three other women on Capitol Hill as part of his legislative affairs work, mixing his professional and personal roles, thus creating the perception of a conflict of interest. Finerty sexted two of those women in 2021. He sexted and had an intimate relationship with the third, though the report does not say exactly when. The nature of his relationship with the women varied, from suggestive messages to graphic sexting and photos to physical sex, according to the report. Sources told ProPublica that the inspector general asked witnesses about Ernst, but because of the redactions in the report, its unclear which sections, if any, refer to the senator. The report includes a stark example of Finertys legislative advocacy overlapping with his romantic relationship with one of the women on Capitol Hill. In June 2021, Finerty texted the woman I was distracted by you being distracted. Then he sent her a list of top 5 things to protect if possible, including a particular fighter jet, radar technology and a system to improve interoperability across the militarys branches. What distraction? the woman texted back. If I was [redacted] would it be distracting? She followed up with a series of what the inspector general report described as pornographic pictures. Finerty told investigators that his romantic relationships with the women on Capitol Hill were proper because all participants were unmarried. Those werent Chris Finertys personal interest items. Those were the five things that were in the Presidents Budget that were charged to go up there and ensure that we get across the finish line, he said, according to the report. I wasnt saying hey, do me a personal favor and protect these five things. It was, these are the five things that the Air Force has in the Presidents Budget that were trying to do that we need your help with. Influence Peddling, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / Crop2Comic, 2025 Many of Finertys colleagues who were also working in military legislative affairs took a more negative view. In interviews with investigators, they expressed concerns about the relationships leading to undue influence, other military branches perceiving the Air Force as getting preferential treatment, and other congressional offices worrying they were less likely to receive sensitive information. The inspector generals investigation found several exchanges between Maj Gen Finerty and the women regarding legislative matters but no evidence of favors or exchanging of sensitive information by either party. Regarding one of the Hill relationships, a colleague of Finertys told investigators, Was there a perception in my office that it was unethical? Yes. The colleague reported it affected morale and people were talking about it all the time. Another military legislative affairs official was more blunt, calling the relationships totally unprofessional because I think it compromises the integrity of the entire Department of the Air Force. The inspector general concluded Finerty had violated the code of military justice, including conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman for his inappropriate relationships with all five women. As a result, Finerty was demoted to brigadier general. He retired from the Air Force in November. Around the time Finerty was heading the legislative affairs office, from April 2019 to March 2023, Ernst publicly pushed for more money and championed projects for the Air Force on multiple occasions, including in at least one instance on a specific matter that Finerty was advocating for on the Hill. In June 2021, she pushed for more Air Force funding from the Senate floor: While the Biden budget promises a bureaucratic buildup at the IRS, his proposal is far less generous to our armed forces. The Air Force would suffer a substantial cut in its number of aircraft. In April 2022, she attacked then-President Joe Biden for a proposed budget that shrinks the size of our Air Force. With Putin and his cronies invading Ukraine, China testing hypersonic missiles and threatening Taiwan, Iran enriching uranium, and the Taliban back in control of Afghanistan, its as critical as ever that we provide for a strong national defense, Ernst said in a statement. Two months later, she pushed legislation to improve the Pentagons access to critical minerals, warning the Air Forces premier fighter jet, the F-22, is made with layers of titanium alloy, much of which is sourced from Russia and China. In November 2023, several months after Finerty left his post, she introduced a bill to allow the Pentagon to connect weapons and technology across the various branches of the government, a concept known as Joint All Domain Command and Control which was on the list of top priorities he texted to one of the women on the Hill he was romantically involved with. According to three sources, Ernst had an earlier romantic relationship around 2019 with an official from the Navys legislative affairs office. Ernst was on the armed services committee then as well. One source with knowledge of the situation said the relationships end created tension between Ernsts office and the Navy legislative affairs office. Two sources said the Navy liaison was moved out of his post early. One of them said he was forced to depart his post earlier than expected because he had another romantic relationship with a Hill staffer and that Ernst was not cited by his boss when he was transferred. But the second source said senior officials were aware of the relationship with Ernst and that it played a role. A Navy spokesperson declined to comment. Ernst has once before been accused of being involved in a relationship that may have violated military rules. In a highly contentious divorce in 2019, her ex-husband alleged she admitted to an affair with one of her soldiers when she served as a company commander during the Iraq War. Ernst denied having an affair. Other elected officials have drawn scrutiny for their relationships with lobbyists and others who advocate for their employers before Congress. Former Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt married a lobbyist for tobacco giant Altria Group, but he pledged to recuse himself from any matters affecting the company. Former Pennsylvania Rep. Bill Shuster was criticized for dating an airline lobbyist while he chaired the Houses transportation committee, a relationship he said was proper because she was not lobbying his office. In 2018, the married state Senate majority leader in Iowa, which Ernst represents, resigned abruptly after video surfaced of him kissing a lobbyist for the Iowa League of Cities. Virginia Canter, a former government ethics lawyer who served in administrations of both parties, said of the relationships with officials advocating before Ernsts committee: It kind of takes your breath away. The relationships, Canter said, make Ernst vulnerable to being extorted if people learned of them and could give someone undue influence over her. It draws into question every position shes taken that would affect his office, Canter said. Youre expecting her to represent her constituents interests every time she supports a policy or votes. Once she has engaged in that kind of relationship, you have to call into question her impartiality. The military is particularly strict about romantic relationships, with rules against adultery, liaisons between employees of different rank, and various other types of relationships that could create ethical pitfalls. One former high-ranking Pentagon official said he thought some of the rules may be antiquated and overly strict, but that a relationship between an officer handling legislative affairs and a senator created too severe a conflict. That seems way beyond inappropriate to me, somebody whos there representing the U.S. military within the military chain of command with a U.S. senator on Armed Services, that makes it really bad. Via ProPublica Initiates Internal Scoping Study to Optimize Underground Mining Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 5, 2025) - Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: LODFF) ("Lode Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the positive results of its new 2025 Mineral Resource Estimation ("MRE") at its Fremont Gold project (the "Project") in Mariposa County, California: 1.198 Moz 1 at 3.97 g/t* of Recoverable Gold (1.297 Moz at 4.37 g/t Content Gold)2 at a 3 g/t cut-off with an average true width of 16.8 m. *This is contained within the mineral resource published-2023 MRE: 1.16 Moz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MT Indicated, and 2.02 Moz at 2.22 g/t Au Inferred. The effective date of this MRE is March 5, 2025, and a NI 43-101 Technical Report will be filed on the Company's website and SEDAR within 45 days of this disclosure. For additional maps and figures of the Project, please view the Company's website at lode-gold.com. This revised MRE is a new geological block model that is based on 43,000 m of drilling and 23 km of underground workings that includes veins and disseminated mineralized bodies contained in two separate domains, predicated on the structural controls of the higher-grade mineralization. A detailed analysis of cut-off grades has been reviewed to evaluate various mining methods to optimize project economics. The Project is situated on 100% privately owned patented land spanning 3,351 acres. It is located ~120 km from Fresno and ~250 km from Sacramento with road, hydro, and railhead access. This area was the site of the original California Gold Rush in the 1800s. Of note, Mariposa County is one of the Trump Administration's dedicated Opportunity Zones2, designated for expedited investments and tax credits. Highlights: 2025 MRE: 1.2 Moz Au at 3.97 g/t (cut-off 3 g/t), average true width of 16.8 m. Half of the mineralization is in the veins; the other half is in the stockworks - outside the veins. Consistency in grade is evidenced within and outside the veins in the dissemination mineralization. The upcoming exploration program** includes systematic underground channel sampling and assaying to convert half of the current Inferred resources into the Measured and Indicated categories. **Budget: $500,000. Lead time: 6 months. Cost-effective and expeditious method of resource upgrade. Historical Context: 4 km mineralization on the prolific 190 km Mother Lode Belt (800 m of visible oxides at surface, first 60 m). In 1942, during WWII, the Mining License was suspended as production was ramping up. Previously mined grade: 10.7 g/t Au, 43,000 m drilled (diamond drill cores preserved). Exploitation had been mostly in the first 250 m, open on strike and at depth. Only a small portion has been mined out: 115,000 oz (8% of current MRE). Underground bulk mining cost was defined in 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") at $63.6 per tonne. Cut-off grade (g/t) True Width (metres) Tonnes (millions) Average Recoverable grade (g/t) Gold Recoverable (troy Koz) 1 53.1 35.8 2.44 2.807 2 34.3 20.6 3.13 2.071 3 16.8 9.2 3.93 1.167 4 8.6 3.0 5.06 483 5 6.4 1.0 6.34 211 6 5.8 0.5 7.27 120 Table 1: Average true width for every cut-off grade. The extraordinary average true width of the mineralized structure is ideal for the potential implementation of a large-scale underground mining plan similar to what was outlined in the 2023 PEA. MRE covers only 20% of the structure: Figure 1: Long section of the 4 km structure on the Project property, part of the Mother Lode Belt. "We are pleased with the newly updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) results, which builds on the Project's proven resource base. The professionally modelled and estimated mineral resource now provides added optionality and leverage. This creates an ideal platform for comparing and contrasting various development, mining, and production scenarios from technical, capital intensity, and market optics perspectives," comments Jon Hill, a Director of the Board and Chair of the Technical Committee. "The updated mineral resource model highlights thick (>15 m) gold mineralization, which supports the vital grade x thickness and ounces per vertical meter metrics. These metrics are fundamental requirements in any mining scenario for underpinning strong project economics. We look forward to progressing the necessary exploration and development work over the next months as we advance the Project's development." Resource Category Vein MTonnes Recoverable Au_g/t3 Moz Au Total Indicated 0.91 4.13 0.120 Total Inferred 5.58 3.97 0.712 Category Disseminated MTonnes Au_g/t3 Moz Au Total Inferred 2.95 3.95 0.375 Category Total MTonnes Au_g/t3 Moz Au Total Indicated 0.91 4.13 0.120 Total Inferred 8.48 3.96 1.074 Table 2: Fremont Gold Project's Mineral Resource Statement at 3 g/t Gold Cut-off (1) Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. (2) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. (3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. (4) The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council. Only 8% of the 2025 MRE exploited: Figure 2: Transversal section of the Pine Tree-Josephine area where the mined-out stopes of the Pine Tree Vein can be recognized (white void in the centre of the structure) and the higher grade (>6 g/t of Au) blocks that were left unmined. Historical production is 8% of the current MRE at 3 g/t cut-off. The project was mined between 1859 and 1942 with a production of 115,000 oz of gold at an average grade of 10.7 g/t Au (1942, Pacific Mining Co.4). That historical production is roughly equivalent to 8% of the current MRE. at 3 g/t cut-off. The mine was ramping up production from 90 to 180 tonnes per day when the mining license was suspended during the gold mining prohibition of the Second World War. Extraction was mostly in the first 250 m, except for the Pine Tree Vein where production was up to 500 m in depth, following down plunge of just one ore shoot. Significant portion has been left unmined: Figure 3: The 2025 block model of the Pine Tree Vein where historical mined out stopes were subtracted from the model (hollowed areas in the centre of the vein). In the Josephine Vein, the mined stopes were only in the first 250 m. As such, the resource left behind unmined is larger than what's at the Pine Tree Vein. Josephine Vein - an even bigger portion unmined: Figure 4: 2025 block model of the Josephine Vein where historical mined out stopes were subtracted from the model (hollowed areas in the centre of the vein). The 2025 Mineral Resource Estimation took into consideration two different domains: (i) within the veins and (ii) disseminated gold around the veins. The hypothesis was that gold in the veins had a much higher grade than in the disseminated body. Surprisingly, the 2025 MRE shows that both domains have the same grades at the same cut-offs. 100% of the disseminated body left unmined: Figure 5: 2025 block model for the disseminated body with the higher-grade areas (> 4 g/t of Au in magenta, > 6 g/t of Au in dark purple). Mineral Resources The current mineral resource was based on a new geological block model that has been derived from 43,000 m of drilling and the technical information from the 2023 PEA. The 2025 MRE and resource modelling was prepared under National Instrument 43-101 standards. Independent and Qualified Person ("QP"), Patrick J. Hollenbeck has reviewed, validated and approved the Fremont MRE as well as the technical disclosure in this release. Upon completion of the assessment of the underground workings, access to adits will be made available. With further systematic underground channel sampling, a large portion of the current Inferred resources from the 2025 MRE (approximately 50%) could be upgraded to Measured and Indicated categories. This upgrade would be achieved by converting the extensive historical information at our disposal (23 km of underground workings with samples; 43,000 m of drilling with drill cores preserved), ensuring full compliance. The current resource is derived from the upper 250 m to 500 m and covers only about 20% of the 4 km structure. Opportunity exists to expand resources; mineralization is open on strike and at depth. Underground Optionality Exists to Optimize Project Economics This study confirms that the Project, with an average mining true width of 16.8 m at 3 g/t of Au cut-off (between 0.6 m and 81 m), is conducive to an underground operation. Mining can be optimized at a higher production rate via long hole stoping underground bulk mining, possibly 200,000/oz annually. This method enables a higher rate of extraction than selective high grade vein mining at lower costs. Based on the 2023 PEA, the underground bulk mining cost is $65/t. As such, a low cut-off grade of 1.15 g/t (at $2,000/oz Au) could be considered using those numbers. These results from the new 2025 MRE are crucial in transitioning the project from a combined open pit and underground mining scenario to a fully underground operation, aligning with the new management team's vision and Carlos Saban's work as Technical Advisor. Choosing an underground project instead of an open pit can provide various advantages. Firstly, it can be easier to obtain permitting for underground operations as they typically have less social and environmental impact compared to open pit mining. This can lead to smoother regulatory processes and fewer delays in getting the Project up and running. Additionally, underground projects require less infrastructure and equipment to be built and maintained. This could result in cost savings for the company and potentially higher returns on investment. Furthermore, underground mining can be a more cost-effective option for accessing mineralization at depth (>250 m). Fremont Gold Project Mineralization The Project deposits represent a precious metal-rich ophiolitic orogenic deposit with listwaenitic alteration, hosted in the serpentinites of the Smartville Complex. Mineralization is contained in several veins, disseminated and stock work vein zones that display a variety of textural and mineralogical characteristics. The veins are white quartz veins with free gold and electrum or relatively sulphide rich (>1% S) with gold as inclusions in the pyrite, chalcopyrite and gersdorffite. Disseminated and stockwork mineralization is mainly composed as quartz veinlets with free gold in them. Alteration is listwaenitic (carbonate alteration of serpentinites) with the formation of ankerite, fuchsite, magnesite and locally talc. Before a Financial Investment Decision ("FID"), the Company will be conducting various aspects of evaluation, including the upcoming milestones. Upcoming Catalysts Complete an internal scoping study to optimize NPV. Publish a new NI 43-101 Technical Report (45 days following the filing of this news release). Revise and update the March 2023 PEA. Conduct underground channel sampling to potentially upgrade approximately 50% of current Inferred resources from the 2025 MRE to higher-confidence Measured and Indicated categories. Expand resources; 3,000 m underground drilling will be focused on low information areas next to the 2025 MRE. "This transition from an open-pit and underground project to a fully underground operation is exciting. Likely, this translates to a lower Capex, and less environmental footprint and with only 8% of the current resource (>1.2 Moz at 4 g/t) having been exploited, we essentially have 92% left to mine," comments Wendy T. Chan, CEO and Director of Lode Gold. "The new finding that mineralization in and outside the veins are the same grades is compelling. With this study, we are reassured that this is not your typical brownfield mined-out project; rather there was gold there when the mining license was suspended in 1942 (Gold mining prohibition during WW II). Without question, the project has been frozen in time, the gold left behind has essentially been 'forgotten' until now". Over the next 12 to 24 months, Lode Gold will dedicate resources to assess the potential reactivation of the mine at the Project site, with an FID targeted for 2027. If the decision is to pursue reactivation of the mine, it could create 200 jobs for both men and women, with training programs set to begin 12-18 months before production commences. Additionally, the Company is exploring the possibility of constructing affordable housing on-site to support the workforce. Lode Gold is also considering the feasibility of implementing renewable electricity generated onsite to operate a sustainable mine. Fremont Mineral Resource Estimate Notes Mineral resources were estimated in conformity with generally accepted CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Best Practices" Guidelines. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Mineral Resources may be affected by subsequent assessment of mining, environmental, processing, permitting, taxation, socio-economic and other factors. Mineral reserves can only be estimated based on the results of an economic evaluation as part of a preliminary feasibility study or feasibility study. As such, no Mineral Reserves have been estimated by the QP. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resources will be converted into a mineral reserve. Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. It is safe to assume that the majority of the Inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to a higher category with additional exploration. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have no demonstrated economic viability. Resources are reported in situ and undiluted for underground scenarios and are considered to have reasonable prospects for economic extraction. Metallurgical recoveries of 90% Au were utilized in the determination of the Recoverable Gold. Mineralization occurring within the historical underground drifts and stopes is not included in this MRE. The calculated underground cut-off was determined to be 1.45 g/t Au in the 2023 PEA. Cut-off grades must be re-evaluated considering prevailing market conditions (including gold prices, exchange rates and costs). At the request of the Company, the underground resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 3 g/t Au. Block tonnage was estimated from volumes using a bulk density of 2.76, the same that was used in the 2023 PEA. Nine mineralization domains were created to constrain the estimate - seven vein constrained domains and two disseminated underground domains. Each individual vein was defined by individual wireframes created in Leapfrog Geo (Seequent) software using geologically realistic solids using geological underground map plans, transversal sections and gold assays (with grades that were above 4 g/t). Each domain was modified or reassessed individually to consider presiding mineralization features. High grade capping was set on a vein-by-vein basis depending on the grade distributions in each mineralized and non-mineralized domain within a given vein. Caps were set on the composited values in all cases where composites were used. Lognormal Probability Plots and histogram distributions were examined to look for breaks or peaks in the data, which in turn would suggest a cap value. Search orientations were created using the Variable Anisotropy function in Leapfrog EDGE software using a combination of crossing faults and an overarching vein orientation, which facilitated the creation of "chutes" where the faults crossed the veins and allowed apertures of mineralization to form. Three estimation methods were utilized to generate the Pine Tree/Josephine resource: Ordinary Krige ("OK"), Inverse Distance ("ID"), and Nearest Neighbor ("NN"). The Queen Specimen had too few samples for variography and was only estimated with ID and NN. Resources were estimated using Leapfrog EDGE software from drill hole sampling in an Octree-style block model with 20x20x20m parent blocks, which are sub-blocked by a factor of 32 down to a minimum size of 0.625x0.625x0.625m blocks. Indicated resources were categorized using the following criteria, which varied per vein based on the available drilling data: A minimum distance to the nearest modern drilling sample used in the block estimation. The Kriged Slope of Regression Value in a given block; A minimum number of drillholes or channels used for the block estimation. All blocks not categorized as Indicated were assigned an Inferred category. Additionally, all blocks in the Queen Specimen area were categorized as Inferred. Estimates use metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t). Metal contents are presented in troy ounces (metric tonne x grade / 31.10348). Neither the Company, nor the QP, is aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issue that could materially affect this mineral resource estimate. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred mineral resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to re-define these Inferred mineral resources as Indicated mineral resources. About Lode Gold Lode Gold (TSXV: LOD) is an exploration and development company with projects in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States. In Canada, its Golden Culvert and WIN Projects in Yukon, covering 99.5 km2 across a 27-km strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high grade gold mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt. A total of four RIRGS targets have been confirmed on the property. A NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in May 2024. In New Brunswick, Lode Gold has created one of the largest land packages with its Acadian Gold JV Co; consisting of an area that spans 445 km2 and a 44 km strike. McIntyre Brook covers 111 km2 and a 17-km strike in the emerging Appalachian/Iapetus Gold Belt; it is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold's Queensway Project. Riley Brook is a 335 km2 package covering a 26 km strike of Wapske formation with its numerous felsic units. A NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in August 2024. In the United States, the Company is advancing its Fremont Gold project. This is a brownfield project with over 43,000 m drilled and 23 km of underground workings. It was previously mined at 10.7 g/t Au in the 1930's. Mining was halted in 1942 due the gold mining prohibition in World War Two just as it was ramping up production. Unlike typical brownfield projects that are mined out, only 8% of the veins have been exploited. The Company is the first owner to investigate an underground high grade mine potential at the Project site. The Project is located on 3,351 acres of private and patented land in Mariposa County. The asset is a 4 km strike on the prolific 190 km Mother Lode Gold Belt, California that produced over 50,000,000 oz of gold and is instrumental in the creation of the towns, the businesses and infrastructure in the 1800s gold rush. It is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California. The property has year-round road access and is close to airports and rail. Previously, in March 2023 the company completed an NI 43 101 PEA. A sensitivity to the March 31, 2023 PEA at USD $2,000/oz gold gives an after-tax NPV of USD $370M and a 31% IRR over an 11-year LOM. At $1,750 /oz gold, NPV (5%) is $217M. The project hosts an NI 43-101 resource of 1.16 Moz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MT Indicated and 2.02 Moz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28.3 MT Inferred. The MRE evaluates only 1.4 km of the 4 km strike of the Project's property. Three step-out holes at depth (up to 1200 m) hit structure and were mineralized. All NI 43-101 technical reports are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.lode-gold.com). QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT The Independent and Qualified Person for the Fremont MRE is Patrick J. Hollenbeck, P.Geo. He has reviewed, completed, validated and approved the Fremont MRE as well as the technical disclosure in this release. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, this Qualified Person for the Company has validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its activities on its various exploration projects. Cautionary Note Related to this News Release and Figures This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which the Company has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the use of proceeds, advancement and completion of resource calculation, feasibility studies, and exploration plans and targets. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: the status of community relations and the security situation on site; general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; the supply and demand for, inventories of, and the level and volatility of the prices of metals; relationships with strategic partners; the timing and receipt of governmental permits and approvals; the timing and receipt of community and landowner approvals; changes in regulations; political factors; the accuracy of the Company's interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company's mineral deposits; the availability of equipment, skilled labour and services needed for the exploration and development of mineral properties; currency fluctuations; and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include a deterioration of security on site or actions by the local community that inhibits access and/or the ability to productively work on site, actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, unknown impact related to potential business disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, or another infectious illness, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. 1 Recoverable Gold (90% recovery, 10% discount over Content Gold). 2 An Opportunity Zone refers to a specific designation and investment initiative established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, enabling certain investments in economically disadvantaged areas to receive tax benefits. Opportunity zones | Internal Revenue Service. (n.d.). https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/businesses/opportunity-zones 3 Recoverable Gold (90% recovery, 10% discount over Content Gold) 4 Pacific Mining Co. (1941). Seventh Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1939. TORONTO / Mar 06, 2025 / Business Wire / Great Quest Gold Ltd. (TSX-V: GQ) (Great Quest or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the recently identified gold mineralized system at its Omatjete Project (Omatjete or the Project) in Namibia. Additionally, the Company is pleased to announce that it has secured an earn-in agreement for an adjacent tenement, expanding its coverage of the newly identified Okondeka Fault Zone by an additional 35 kilometers. Key Highlights Significant gold mineralization identified adjacent to the Okondeka Fault Zone (OFZ), which hosts the Kokoseb gold deposit. Soil sampling delineated a gold anomaly extending 4.2km by 0.8km. Rock chip sampling of limited outcrop returned a peak gold value of 9.95 g/t Au. Maiden drilling campaign intersected Omatfrom 20m down hole. Earn-in agreement secured for a new Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL), expanding the Company's coverage of the OFZ by an additional 35km. Surface Sampling and Discovery of the Manga Prospect Exploration at the Omatjete Project began with regional soil sampling on a 200m x 200m grid, analyzed using the Company's onsite PXRF lab. This work led to the identification of a significant arsenic (As) anomaly measuring 7km by 5km, with peak values reaching 1,646 ppm As (see Figure 1). The anomaly extends to the eastern boundary of the Companys licence area and current surface work has been limited to the west of this boundary. Subsequent mapping and rock chip sampling revealed several high-grade gold values, with a peak assay of 9.95 g/t Au in strongly altered, arsenic-rich biotite schist featuring millimetre-scale quartz/sulphide veining. Given that over 95% of the area is covered by alluvial sands and calcrete, exploration shifted to a more detailed soil sampling program conducted on a 200m x 50m grid, collecting 1,936 samples. Gold analysis highlighted an anomaly extending 4.2 km by 0.8 km, now named the Manga Prospect (see Figure 2). Individual soil samples peak at 195 ppb Au, with 145 samples exceeding 20 ppb Au. The anomaly lies within the Kuiseb Schist Formation and is bordered to the south, west, and north by syn- to late-tectonic granite intrusions. The prospect is situated immediately north of the regionally significant Okondeka Fault Zone, which is interpreted to be closely associated with the mineralizing event at the Kokoseb Gold deposit. Drilling Due to the lack of outcrop and the presence of variable alluvial and calcrete cover, the Company initiated a maiden RC drilling program to test for in-situ gold mineralization. The drilling targeted specific soil anomalies within the broader Manga area. A total of 11 RC holes were drilled, totalling 1,795 metres, with all holes inclined at -60 degrees to the north. Drill orientations were guided by two short trenches that confirmed a steep southerly dip of shears, quartz veins and veinlets (see Figure 4). Drilling intersected extensive sulphide mineralization, primarily composed of pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and pyrite, hosted within highly altered biotite schists. Holes MRC001 to MRC009 were drilled in the central part of the prospect, focusing on an area with elevated soil gold values (see Figure 2). These holes intersected broad zones of low-grade gold mineralization, with notable results from hole MRC006, which returned 138m at 0.22 g/t Au from 71m, including 7m at 0.5 g/t Au from 84m and 9m at 0.5 g/t Au from 101m (see Table 1). Hole MRC010 was drilled 200m to the south to test a parallel soil anomaly and recorded a peak intercept of 18m at 0.5 g/t Au from 20m downhole (see Figure 3a). Meanwhile, Hole MRC011, located 1km west of the initial drill sites, returned peak intercepts of 5m at 0.5 g/t Au from 117m and 15m at 0.5 g/t Au from 126m (see Figure 3b). New Tenement Recognizing the strong potential for mineralization to extend along the Okondeka Fault Zone (OFZ) to the east of its existing licence area, the Company, through Belmont Mineral Exploration (Pty) Ltd. (Belmont), has entered into a binding earn-in agreement to acquire a controlling stake in EPL4817, which borders the truncated eastern boundary of the Manga prospect. Under the current agreement, Belmont can earn an initial 51% interest in the licence-holding company by investing U$400,000 in exploration over a two-year period. Additionally, negotiations are underway to establish a clear pathway toward securing an 80% stake. Great Quest owns a XX% equity interest in Belmont. Pursuant to this transaction, the Company has expanded its control over the OFZ by an additional 35 kilometers, unlocking significant exploration potential in a rapidly emerging region of Namibias Damara Belt (see Figure 5). The transaction is an arms length transaction for the purposes of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) and qualifies as an Exempt Transaction under TSXV Policy 5.3. Future Work In the coming months, Great Quest will focus on exploring the Okondeka Fault Zone, extending 35km east of Manga, within the newly signed tenement, EPL4817. Planned work includes a high-resolution drone-based magnetic survey, soil sampling, and geological mapping, followed by RC drilling. Additionally, detailed geological mapping is planned for the Manga area to enhance the understanding of mineralization controls. Drill Results Table 1: Summary of Assay Results for holes drilled Hole From To Width (m) Au (g/t) X Y MRC001 28 65 37 0.20 565273 7668113 MRC002 27 56 29 0.17 565184 7668078 MRC003 no significant intercept 565095 7668046 MRC004 1 31 30 0.20 565074 7668096 incl. 4 0.61 MRC005 135 150 15 0.23 565053 7668142 MRC006 69 207 138 0.22 565294 7668059 incl. 7 0.53 incl. 9 0.51 MRC007 16 17 1 1.48 565261 7668156 MRC008 48 136 88 0.17 565452 7668152 MRC009 73 75 2 2.05 564978 7668042 MRC010 20 38 18 0.50 564722 7667873 MRC011 63 141 78 0.25 564080 7668041 incl. 5 0.50 incl. 15 0.50 We are excited about the new acquisition at our Omatjete project, commented Dr. Andreas Rompel, President and VP Exploration, the additional 35km strike along the highly prospective Okondeka Fault zone adds significantly to the potential of our tenement. In addition, we are now enabled to extend our known anomalies eastwards into the neighbouring claim with soil sampling and other exploration exercises. Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA/QC) The Company has implemented a comprehensive QA/QC program in line with the E2941 21 Standard Practices for Extraction of Elements from Ores. Calcrete and soil samples were processed using cyanide and aqua regia digestion methods, respectively, with an ICP-MS finish. Rock chip samples were analyzed using fire assay with an ICP-AES finish for gold and aqua regia digestion with ICP-AES finish for multi elements. All samples were prepared at the ALS facility in Okahandja, Namibia, before being shipped to ALS Johannesburg for wet analysis and fire assay. ALS, an independent laboratory with a global presence, follows ASTM procedures for sample preparation. Rock chip and calcrete samples weighed 3 kg, were crushed, and a 1000 g split was taken for pulverization (0.5000 g). Soil samples, weighing 250 g each, were directly pulverized for analysis. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Andreas Rompel, Pr.Sci.Nat. (400274/04), FSAIMM, the Companys qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Great Quest Great Quest Gold Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on developing high-potential gold and lithium projects in Namibia, Morocco, and Mali. The Companys flagship asset is the Damara Gold Project in Namibia, which includes the Khorixas, Omatjete, and Outjo projects, covering over 300,000 hectares. Khorixas has yielded high-grade grab samples up to 49.9 g/t Au, while Omatjete and Outjo present significant gold and lithium opportunities. In Mali, Great Quest is advancing the Sanoukou Gold Project, a 24 km2 concession in the Kayes region. Great Quest Gold Ltd. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GQ. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GREAT QUEST GOLD LTD. Jed Richardson CEO and Executive Chairman Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the mineralization and prospectivity of the Omatjete project, the acquisition of the new tenement, the Companys exploration program and the Companys future plans. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. We had fled the Kamwina Nsapu conflict. We were hiding in the bush. A few days later, we saw two militiamen come to look for Chief Mbangu for a discussion. When he came out, he was arrested by a group of militiamen led by Tshilumba Marcel, nicknamed the White Man. They took my father to Masuika [30 kilometers from his village] where they killed him in public, before Mr. Mukini beheaded him, cut off his penis and hand - and then, after all that, they burned him alive. I witnessed the scene, they didn't know it was my father they were killing, explains Stanis Mbangu, in tears. This Monday, March 3, 2025, the son of Chief Mbangu, elegantly dressed in traditional attire and regalia, came to shed light on the military court of former Western Kasai. The Catholic mission in the city of Masuika, in the territory of Luiza, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is holding mobile court hearings in the case of the murder of the great chief of the Aka-Mulam group. This case pits the military prosecutor's office and 283 victims against two defendants accused of war crimes of mutilation, murder, looting, rape and arson, participation in an insurrectional movement and criminal association. They were sentenced to death at the end of a first trial before the military garrison court. The death penalty has not been applied in the DRC since 2003, but it is on the statute books, several hundred individuals have been sentenced to it, and the government announced in April 2024 that it wanted to resume executions. The two convicts, dissatisfied with the sentence of October 4, 2023, have appealed. They are Marcel Tshilumba, identified as the one who fired the 12-gauge shot that killed the traditional chief, before ordering Emmanuel Mukini to behead him. Both agree that they participated in the arrest and subsequent execution of Chief Mbangu on May 5 and 6, 2017, but they claim to have acted under duress from a leader of the Kamwina Nsapu militia, an insurgency that engulfed the Congolese region of Kasai between 2016 and 2019. The son Mbangu is a victim-witness at this trial. He is one of those who testify with their faces uncovered. But for these first three days of hearings of the itinerant court, devoted to the identification and hearing of witnesses and victims, their identity is mostly protected in order to preserve them from any reprisals. Dozens of militiamen have been arrested in Masuika, tried and convicted. The witnesses therefore donned long rust-colored robes, which covered them from head to toe and in which two openings for the eyes had been cut. The other 21 witnesses took the stand to incriminate the accused Tshilumba and Mukini. They claim that, apart from the execution of Chief Mbangu, the accused pillaged, raped, set fire to and stole from a group of more than 15 villages, under the helpless gaze of the security services. The rain briefly disrupts the hearing, which is being held under big tents in front of a large audience. The crime took place one kilometer from here. The two defendants deny having participated in the looting, rapes, thefts and arson. Tshilumba admits to having brought Chief Mbangu on the orders of another militia chief, but he denies having pulled the trigger. Mukini, who was identified in a video of the execution found by the lawyers for the civil parties in which he clearly appears to be the one who beheaded and mutilated the victim, claims that it was in fact Tshilumba who fired the shot. Chief Stanis Mbangu, son of the traditional chief killed by the Kamwina Nsapu militia in Kasai in 2017, came to testify at the trial in full regalia, accompanied by his paternal uncle. Photo : Joseph Mbuyi / Justice Info A trial in the community It's an educational trial, says one of the attending residents. But not everyone agrees that the trial should be held on their land. It's an old case, it's been 8 years. For us, these criminals have been convicted, one of them says in a strong tone. The presence of the accused at the scene of the crimes brings back old memories, adds another. We have never forgotten that apart from Chief Mbangu, we lost parents, brothers and sisters during the atrocities. Future generations must learn to never commit such damage again, he says. Masuika is an agro-pastoral agglomeration in the depths of the Kasai, with a cosmopolitan population estimated at 20,104. The people live off agriculture, livestock and small trade. In addition to the fact that the trial was held here because the crimes were committed here, the court also wanted to get closer to the 283 victims who are part of the case and who live either in Masuika or in the surrounding villages. The very principle of these traveling hearings is to get closer to the communities affected by the violence. The Congolese justice system has been making these trips for a long time. Masuika is located 290 kilometers from Kananga, the capital of Central Kasai, with a population of over 2 million. It took the court delegations lawyers, judges, prosecutors, partners and others a day and a half to reach the trial venue, due to the disastrous state of the road. The trial opened after at least four postponements. A regular financial partner of the judicial system in the DRC, the UNDP, was initially to contribute to its organization. But the UN agency finally withdrew, having not yet been able to adopt its budget for 2025. It is therefore the National Fund for Reparations for Victims (Fonarev) that alone is financing its proceedings. One of Fonarev's missions is to ensure justice for the victims. It was with this in mind that we decided to finance these hearings on our own, when we realized that other partners were not ready, explains Miran Mulumba, regional coordinator of this state agency. As a result, the Court also decided to hold a second appeal trial, that same week, in Masuika, even though it was scheduled to take place in another city, following the one on the murder of Chief Mbangu. The two war crimes trials could be concluded as early as March 7. Sudan has filed a case against the United Arab Emirates arguing that the Gulf state is complicit in genocide over its alleged support for Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the International Court of Justice announced Thursday. Khartoum contends the UAE is "complicit in the genocide on the Masalit (community in Sudan) through its direction of and provision of extensive financial, political, and military support for the rebel RSF militia," the ICJ said in a statement. "The United Arab Emirates fuels the rebellion and supports the militia that has committed the crime of genocide in West Darfur," the Sudan submission to the court said. The UAE, which has repeatedly denied supporting the RSF, dismissed the case as a "publicity stunt" and said it would try to have it thrown out. The case "is nothing more than a cynical publicity stunt aimed at diverting attention," a UAE official said in a statement sent to AFP, adding: "The UAE will seek the immediate dismissal of this baseless application." For nearly two years, the RSF and the regular army in Sudan have fought a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 12 million. Famine has been declared in parts of the country and is likely to spread. Sudan called on the ICJ, which rules in disputes between countries, to issue emergency orders -- "provisional measures" in the court jargon -- to force the UAE to pay reparations, among other requests. "The United Arab Emirates must make full reparation for the injury caused (by) its internationally wrongful acts, including paying reimbursement to the victims of the war," Sudan's submission argued. ICJ rulings are legally binding but the court has no power to enforce them. For example, it ordered Russia to halt its assault on Ukraine only a few weeks after the invasion -- to no avail. But Khartoum urged the court to act quickly "to ensure the urgent and fullest possible protection for the Sudanese civilian people who remain at grave and immediate risk of continuing and further acts of genocide." - 'Ludicrous' - Sudan's submission accused the RSF of "genocide, murder, theft of property, rape, forcible displacement, trespassing, vandalism of public properties, and violations of human rights." It added that these acts were "perpetrated and enabled by the direct support given to the rebel RSF militia and related militia groups by the United Arab Emirates." Sudan charged that the UAE was breaching its obligations under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention "by attempting to commit genocide, conspiring to commit genocide, inciting genocide, complicity in genocide, and failing to prevent and punish genocide." "The allegations presented by the SAF representative at the ICJ lack any legal or factual basis, representing yet another attempt to distract from this calamitous war," the UAE official said. In June, Sudan's UN ambassador Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith accused the UAE of fomenting conflict in his country, saying the RSF was being "supported with weapons by the Emirates". The Emirati envoy to the United Nations, Mohamed Issa Hamad Mohamed Abushahab, rejected the claims as "ludicrous" and accused Sudan of using the council to plead the army's case. UN experts monitoring an arms embargo on Darfur said accusations that the UAE had funnelled weapons to the RSF through Chad were "credible". The Gulf state promised the United States in December that it would not arm the RSF, after two US lawmakers attempted to block its purchase of $1.2 billion in advanced rockets and long-range missiles. In January, the US lawmakers said the UAE had broken its promises and was still supplying the Sudanese rebels. The UAE slammed Sudan's genocide-complicity case against it at the International Court of Justice as a "cynical publicity stunt" on Thursday and said it would seek to have it thrown out. Sudan's filing argues that the oil-rich Gulf monarchy is complicit in genocide over its alleged support for Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. "The recent application... is nothing more than a cynical publicity stunt aimed at diverting attention from the established complicity of the Sudanese Armed Forces in the widespread atrocities that continue to devastate Sudan and its people," a UAE official said in a statement sent to AFP. "The allegations presented by the SAF representative at the ICJ lack any legal or factual basis, representing yet another attempt to distract from this calamitous war," the official added. "Out of respect for the International Court of Justice... the UAE will seek the immediate dismissal of this baseless application." The Sudanese army has been fighting the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for nearly two years in a a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 12 million. The submission by Sudan's army-backed government accused the RSF of "genocide, murder, theft of property, rape, forcible displacement, trespassing, vandalism of public properties and violations of human rights". It added that these acts were "perpetrated and enabled by the direct support given to the rebel RSF militia and related militia groups by the United Arab Emirates". The UAE has repeatedly denied supporting the RSF and instead points to its humanitarian efforts in the country. El Salvador's Supreme Court will ask the United States to extradite an ex-colonel accused in the killings of four Dutch journalists in 1982, during the Central American country's bloody civil war, a lawyer said Thursday. Arrest warrants were issued more than two years ago for Mario Reyes Mena, 85, and two other former military officers for their alleged role in the reporters' deaths. Koos Jacobus Andries Koster, Jan Cornelius Kuiper Joop, Hans Lodewijk ter Laag and Johannes Jan Willemsen were killed in March 1982 in a rural area north of the capital San Salvador where they were filming a documentary. In 1993, a UN-sponsored Truth Commission set up after the 1980-1992 war found they had walked into an army ambush planned by Reyes and other officers. The case was frozen in 1993, after the enactment of a law pardoning war crimes. But the law was ruled unconstitutional in 2016, opening the door for the filing of criminal complaints. Pedro Cruz, a lawyer for victims' families, told AFP Thursday he had been informed that the Supreme Court had approved an extradition request to be sent to the United States, where Reyes served as a military attache in the 1980s and continues to live in Virginia. At the time of the killings, he was the commander of an army infantry brigade. Former defense minister Jose Guillermo Garcia, 91, and another colonel -- 93-year-old Francisco Moran, are on trial in El Salvador for the same crime. Both are under police surveillance in a private hospital. El Salvador's civil war, which pitted the military against leftist guerrillas, left more than 75,000 people dead. Military and intelligence history mostly dealing with World War II. Thursday, March 6, 2025 - Four suspects who were initially arrested over the killing of activist, Richard Otieno, also known as Molo President have been released due to lack of evidence and will now serve as State witnesses. Clinton Simantu, Jorim Ngonga, Peter Mwaniki and John Ndegwa were freed on Thursday after investigators determined they were not directly linked to the crime. State Counsel Emma Okok told Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion that the prosecution would rely on their testimony to build its case against the five men charged with murder. The suspects still in custody Peter Okech, Joseph Kihara, Evans Aseka, Geoffrey Ndungu and Stephen Mashet are set to be arraigned before the High Court. Police believe Okech masterminded the murder, allegedly receiving payment from an unidentified person to eliminate Otieno. According to investigators, CCTV footage captured Okech and Kihara planning the ambush before the attack, after which the group reportedly fled to Tanzania. The trial now moves forward with the prosecution expected to rely on the testimony of the four former suspects. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 6, 2025 - A government blogger who had been actively promoting the controversial Social Health Insurance Fund (SHA) is facing criticism from netizens after lamenting about hefty hospital bills. Wanjiku P Mukuru, a vocal defender of SHA on Facebook, has previously dismissed widespread concerns over the schemes effectiveness. In a past post, she claimed that SHA was working well everywhere except on social media and among Wamunyoro supporters - a term referring to backers of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of using SHA to siphon public funds, arguing that upgrading NHIF would have been a more cost-effective alternative to the Ksh 104 billion SHA platform. Her recent complaint has left many wondering - is this karma at work? The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 6, 2025 - A Nairobi-based forex trader Michael Gitonga is battling charges of defrauding clients of Ksh 215.3 million, compounding his recent legal troubles following the suspension of his firm, Trade Sense Limited by the Capital Markets Authority. The charges come amid concerns over regulatory violations in Kenyas online forex trading sector, where unregulated brokers and rogue traders have taken advantage of investors. Gitonga, who is also known as Tosh, is accused of contravening CMA regulations by directly handling client funds, an act prohibited for licensed money managers. Court documents indicate that between April 2022 and August 2024, he allegedly diverted Ksh 212.16 million of clients money for personal use. He is also accused of fraudulently obtaining an additional Ksh 3.14 million from three individuals after falsely claiming he would invest the money on their behalf. According to Kenyas online forex trading regulations, a money manager is only allowed to oversee a clients portfolio in return for a fee but cannot access or withdraw client funds. Clients are required to deposit funds into their own trading accounts, which they open through an online foreign exchange broker. However, Gitonga allegedly flouted these rules, accessing investor funds and misusing them. Additional details from the charge sheet show that between April 2023 and April 2024, Gitonga allegedly obtained Ksh 1.3 million from an investment company, Ingotse 95, under false pretenses. He is also accused of fraudulently acquiring Ksh 1.54 million from Chepkembol Labbat between March and April 2024 and Ksh 300,000 from James Mwaura Mbugua between March 2022 and September 2024, all while claiming the money would be invested in forex trading. The CMA, which suspended Trade Sense Limiteds licence for 90 days on March 3, cited governance failures, financial non-compliance, and anti-money laundering concerns as reasons for its decision. The regulator had been engaging the firm over these breaches since 2023, indicating that Gitonga had been on its radar for some time. Trade Sense Limited required a minimum investment of Ksh 258,380 ($2,000) for retail clients and Ksh 1.2 million ($10,000) for corporate and high-net-worth investors. The firm also imposed a 90-day lock-in period for the principal investment and charged a three percent management fee, prorated daily. Kenyas forex trading market has witnessed a rise in fraudulent schemes as more investors seek to capitalise on the lucrative but high-risk sector. CMA has only licensed non-dealing brokers, meaning they do not engage in market-making activities but only provide trading platforms and accounts. However, some traders have found ways to bypass regulations, resulting in significant investor losses. The forex market is one of the largest and most liquid in the world, with daily transactions exceeding $7.5 trillion. Kenya has seen a surge in participation from tech-savvy investors but the risks associated with unregulated forex trading prompted the CMA to introduce the Online Foreign Exchange Trading Regulations in 2017 to safeguard investors. The CMA has warned against fraudulent traders who lure investors with promises of high, unrealistic returns. Gitongas case now serves as a major test for enforcement in the sector, with regulators keen to clamp down on violators. CMA will use the 90-day suspension period to review whether to lift or extend Trade Sense Limiteds suspension or to take further regulatory action. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 6, 2025 - Renowned city preacher Edward Mwai, the founder of Jesus Winner Ministry, is facing a lot of backlash after President William Ruto pledged a Ksh 120 million donation to his church. Mwais phone number was leaked to the public and since then, he has been receiving abusive phone calls and text messages from Kenyans. Speaking to the media, Mwai said he has received more than 5,000 abusive text messages. His wife has also been receiving abusive messages and phone calls after her phone number was posted on social media. I have received more than 5,000 abusive messages and cannot make calls, he said, adding that he has been forced to buy a new phone. Mwai now claims that Rutos donation was only a pledge and he has not yet received a coin from the Head of State. For the record, President Ruto never left any money behind. I consider what he promised like any other pledge, when you are left chasing after it to be fulfilled. The service was live and I challenge you to review the footage and show me where my team or board member is receiving the donation, he added. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 6, 2025 - Flamboyant city preacher, Pastor Edward Mwai, has revealed that he and his wife have been bombarded with abusive messages following President William Rutos Ksh 120 million pledge to his church, forcing them to acquire new mobile lines. During a visit to Mwais church last weekend, President Ruto announced a series of contributions, including the allocation of a contested 20-acre parcel of land owned by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in Roysambu to the ministry. Ruto also pledged a personal donation of Ksh 20 million and vowed to raise an additional Ksh 100 million for the construction of a mega church. "Since I am the Commander-in-Chief, I told KDF that this land is a holy place, and the church will be built there," Ruto declared. Mwai, however, clarified that no funds had been received from the Head of State. "For the record, President Ruto never left any money behind. I consider what he promised as any other pledge - one that you must follow up on to be fulfilled," he stated. The pastor further asserted that he does not personally handle church tithes or offerings, emphasizing that no board member had received any money from the President. He challenged critics to review footage of the service for verification. Meanwhile, Gen Z activists have launched the hashtag #OccupyJesusWinner, mobilizing for a protest at the church on March 9. The move comes amid growing public opposition to hefty political donations to religious institutions, with many questioning their sources. The Catholic Church has also taken a firm stance, recently rejecting Rutos Ksh 5.8 million donation to St. Anna and Joakim Parish in Soweto, Nairobi, citing concerns over the legitimacy of the funds. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 6, 2025 - New revelations have emerged contradicting claims made by a lady identified as Kal, who had accused Strathmore student, Mark Talamson, of sneaking into her house and assaulting her. Kal initially alleged that Mark, who resides in the same apartment complex, sneaked into her house and attacked her and that police were siding with the accused. She further claimed that Marks father attempted to break into her house while armed with a knife after learning about the incident. However, witnesses have come forward with a different account. According to a neighbor, Kal allegedly hired her male friends to assault Mark. The men reportedly cornered him, dragged him into Kals house, and began beating him. Marks screams for help drew the attention of other residents, prompting his father to force entry in an attempt to rescue him. Police were called to the scene and reportedly found Kal and her accomplices at fault. She then took to social media, accusing police of siding with Mark. See the chats below. Watch the video of her male friend assaulting Mark. Thursday, March 6, 2025 - A 30-year-old man from Merti, Isiolo North, is recovering from severe mental and physical trauma after chopping off his own genitals due to drug-induced depression. The man, identified as Nura, reportedly mutilated himself after his genitals began decomposing from an earlier injury inflicted using a metallic object. Delayed medical attention worsened his condition, leading to the drastic act. Muslima Abdi, a well-wisher who took him to the hospital, highlighted his struggles with drug addiction and lack of support, which contributed to his deteriorating mental health. Nura was initially treated at Merti Sub-County Hospital before being referred to Isiolo Level 4 Hospital and later Meru Referral Hospital for advanced care. He is currently undergoing mental health treatment at a private rehabilitation center in Camp Garba, Isiolo. Collins Shaban, the lead psychologist at the facility, warned that while Nura is responding well to treatment, there are concerns about possible renewed depression once he fully comes to terms with the extent of his physical loss. He stressed the need for continuous psychological support and specialized medical care, including potential plastic surgery. Shockingly, this is the second recorded case of self-amputation linked to drug abuse at the facility. The incident has reignited calls for stricter measures against drug abuse, coinciding with President William Rutos recent crackdown on drug dealers and users in Isiolo County.Top of FormBottom of Form The Kenyan DAILY POST THE heartbroken widow of a young dad who was killed in a workplace accident has said that he was handed a death sentence that we will carry for the rest of our lives. Alan Mulhall (34) was fatally injured when a low-voltage switchgear weighing 760kg fell and struck his head while working at St Patrick's Hospital on 23 November 2017. A native of Emo, he lived on the Stradbally Road in Portlaoise with his wife Vikki (nee Doogue) and their two sets of twins three boys and a girl. Vikki is originally from Castlemitchell, Athy. An electrical engineering company was fined 400,000 at the Central Criminal Court last week over Alans horrific death. John Fletcher Ltd, with offices in Portarlington, Co Laois entered guilty pleas to failing to discharge the duties of an employer as required by the ***Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005***, which resulted in the death. The company also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to discharge the duties of an employer and one count of failing to take appropriate organisational measures to avoid the need for manual handling by its employees. David Fletcher (36), a director of the company, entered the guilty pleas on its behalf. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to discharge the duties of an employer. In her victim impact statement, Alans widow told the court that everything her late husband did was for their family. Mrs Mulhall said he kissed her on the cheek that morning like he did every day on his way to work. She said: He was not given a job that day. He was handed a death sentence that we will carry for the rest of our lives. Mrs Mulhall spoke of the pain and grief of their loss and its impact on her and their four young children. She said what happened could and should have been avoided. Mistakes cost me my husband and my childrens father, she said, later telling the court their lives had been shattered and would never be the same again. She said: After seven long years of dragging us through courts, all we can hope for today is justice for this devastating and negligent crime. A victim impact statement was read out in court on behalf of Mr Mulhall's parents Frank and Patricia, siblings and sister-in-law. They said their lives were changed forever when they were told their beloved son had been killed. They said Mr Mulhall is greatly missed and is always in their minds and hearts. Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspector Kay Baxter told Eoghan Cole SC, prosecuting, that John Fletcher Ltd were contracted to carry out works at the hospital as part of a project to update a generator. David Fletcher of Main Street, Portarlington, Co Laois was the company director with responsibility for this project, including health and safety, the court heard. Neither Mr Fletcher nor the company have previous convictions. Mr Mulhall was an employee of John Fletcher Ltd, having started work as an apprentice electrician in 2001. He was a qualified electrician and had been promoted internally to a site supervisor role. The court heard that the accident occurred in a hospital plant room, during the movement of three low-voltage switchgears, which were to be installed as part of the project to upgrade the generator. The HSA was critical of the risk involved in manually moving the switchgear to the plant room, but acknowledge it would not have been possible to use mechanical equipment in the room. Double doors, which could also have been used to access the room, were obstructed by a temporary generator at the time. These were later upgraded to allow for the equipment to be removed. Mr Cole told Judge Nolan that the state's position is that this work was carried out using an ill-conceived plan. The prosecution also does not accept that Mr Mulhall had the authority on the day to stop the work. The court heard that John Fletcher Ltd engaged with the HSA investigation, but initially denied any wrongdoing or responsibility. During the investigation, David Fletcher and John Fletcher suggested it was relevant that Mr Mulhall was not wearing a construction safety helmet at the time of the incident. However, the engineer's report concluded that this type of hat would have offered no protection from the injuries sustained by the victim. Michael Delaney SC, defending, said he is instructed to apologise for the breach of duty as an employer, which led to Mr Mulhall's death. Counsel said it is now clear that the contract should have been redone and changes made to the plant room to allow the task to be completed safely. He said the company's fault was that it didn't seek to have these issues addressed before exposing its employees to risk. An accountant's report on the company's financial position was submitted to the court. Mr Delaney said the company is profitable and has cash reserves, which are essential to secure large-scale projects. He said company directors take modest salaries, with David Fletcher's salary being around 60,000. Counsel said David Fletcher is married and has three children. He is an engineer and a grandson of John Fletcher the company's founder. He had been a director since late 2016 and was relatively junior at the time. Judge Martin Nolan noted the devastating impact of Mr Mulhall's death on his family and described their victim impact statements as heartbreaking. This family will have to continue without the help and guidance of a very good man, said the judge, expressing the court's sympathies to the Mulhall family. He said his function was to do justice to John Fletcher Ltd and David Fletcher and said the evidence showed the plan to transport and unload this equipment was a totally misconceived idea. Anybody looking at it would say this was a very potentially dangerous exercise which was fraught with danger. He said the court was aware that the company was operating within a plan, but that the equipment should have been moved by mechanical means instead of manually. The judge said he had taken into account the seriousness of the offence, the guilty pleas and the previous good record when constructing the penalty. He noted that David Fletcher was the responsible director, but the court considered the company had the primary responsibility as the scheme for unloading these devices was particularly ill-conceived. He imposed a fine of 400,000 on John Fletcher Ltd and fine of 5,000 on David Fletcher, both to be paid within six months. As sentence was finalised, voices shouted from the body of the court f**king joke, and do you not realise a man's life is gone. In a statement after the court hearing, Mark Cullen, assistant chief executive of the Health and Safety Authority, said: It is vital for employers to ensure that all works being undertaken by their employees are planned, organised, managed and conducted in a safe manner. Where there is a risk of serious injury, employers must take appropriate measures to avoid the need for manual handling of heavy loads. As can be seen from this case, failure to do so can lead to tragic outcomes. A CONVICT who appeared in court from custody to be sentenced for being drunk and disorderly on Christmas Eve, and for threatening to vandalise a restaurant he was barred from, was sentenced to nine months in prison. However, the judge dangled the carrot of rehabilitation after hearing the mans story by ordering this sentence run concurrent to his present incarceration, thereby not extending his stay any longer. Stephen Martin (33), presently of No Fixed Abode, but formerly of Rheban Manor, Athy, was in Athy District Court to face sentence on both counts. On 24 December, 2024 he was reported to gardai at a party at 5am. He was found so intoxicated that he was unable to look after himself, said Sergeant Dave Hanrahan. It was a friends house, said the defendant ruefully. Then on 26 November he entered a restaurant on Duke Street in Athy and threatened staff saying: Ill come back her with 20 pals and destroy the place, revealed the sergeant. Why? asked the judge. I was barred, smiled the defendant. It was two oclock in the afternoon, clarified the sergeant. I was fightin with me partner, then somebody said somethin said Martin. Im still with her, and shes pregnant now! he said proudly. How did she get pregnant when you were in prison? enquired the judge. I was out in November for 10 weeks, he smiled. This man is super-human! declared the judge. Then the sergeant told the judge that Martin had 162 previous convictions. 162 convictions, not proud, said the judge. Ive had problems with alcohol all me life, said the defendant, though he denied illicit drugs when the judge asked him. The judge then revealed that Martin had written to the court in which he apologised, and said he lost his grandmother, and leant on alcohol as a crutch. In fairness, hes trying to deal with the alcoholism, and is doing exceptionally well, said his solicitor Chloe Donegan. He has difficulty dealing with his emotions, particularly grief, she added. He seems fine here, but I wouldnt like to see him when hes drunk, noted the judge. Ms Donegan said her client was only five weeks in jail, with a release date in November, and that he had prospects as a qualified plasterer. Theyre crying out for all the trade skills in Ireland, said the judge, before sentencing him to nine months for making the threats in the restaurant, but ordering it commence from today. An appointed contractor is due to commence works at the The Tholsel in the coming weeks a spokesperson from the local authority has confirmed to Kilkenny Live. The latest development follows a lengthy preparation period which can be dated back to 2019. The 'Museum of Medieval Kilkenny' will receive a total investment of 8 million and provides for the unification of The Tholsel and the Medieval Mile Museum (formerly St Marys Church). with the overall objective to develop an offering that will become one of Irelands top visitor attractions. Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with Failte Ireland signed a contract with, local company, Duggan Lynch Ltd to complete the works earlier this year. READ MORE: New beer goes on the market in Kilkenny The focus of this contract will centre on The Tholsel building and includes internal and external enhancement works along with the introduction of a lift for improved accessibility. The building, when works are complete, will continue to act as the seat of local government in the city, with some parts of the building converted for use as a visitor attraction including the basement. There will also be a number of physical changes to the structure in an effort to bring the Tholsel up to modern fire safety and accessibility standards. At present, it does not comply with regulations. A lift to cater for people with mobility issues will also be installed. The offering proposed will be presented in a fun and interactive manner in a fact-based horrible history experience, themed around 'The Rich, The Poor, The Rouges and The Righteous'. Where visitors will discover the darker side of medieval Kilkenny. They will meet the worlds most famous knight, powerful mayors and wealthy medieval merchants. FOR MORE KILKENNY CITY NEWS, CLICK HERE The constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny has 732 people on the audiology treatment waiting list for a year or more, according to the most recently released HSE figures. And there is evidence for up to a three-year delay in the provision for audiology services in many parts of the country, according to Irelands leading Deaf and Hard for Hearing charity, Chime. The HSE figures have been condemned by Chime, which slammed what it dubbed shocking delays revealing a dysfunctional system. Nationally, the growth for audiology treatment waiting lists, from 20,000 in 2020 to over 26,500 in 2024, has been roundly condemned by Chime. Almost half of those awaiting audiology treatment are children under the age for 18. Chime has urged the Department of Health to immediately introduce an audiology waiting list initiative to deal with delays in treatment. It says that the HSE needs to consider using private sector providers to help reduce wating times and eliminate duplication and a waste of resources. Undiagnosed hearing loss amongst children can lead to significant challenges, including speech and language delay, learning difficulties, and social isolation, said Chime CEO Mark Byrne. Among adults, there is a strong link between hearing loss and the early onset of dementia, but someone who is 82 may be 85 by the time they get an audiology referral appointment. The World Health Organisation has pointed out that early intervention actually saves governments money in reduced health care costs. Chime says many people with undiagnosed hearing difficulties are having to go to private providers and avail of the Department of Social Protection Treatment Benefit Scheme. It says that health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill must ensure the working group established by the previous government to develop a National Hearing Care Plan finalises and brings forward its findings urgently. Mr Byrne said national and regional figures are shocking and getting worse and he is particularly concerned about the growing number of undiagnosed hearing loss cases among children. Chime audiologist Sinead Dolan highlighted the case of a woman in the midlands who waited 12 months for a HSE audiology appointment before her GP suggested she go to Chime, which was able to promptly provide her with hearing aids under the Treatment Benefit Scheme. She became increasingly isolated and frustrated by her hearing loss during that time. She feels her life is transformed, but she should not have had to wait for a year, she said. Chime provides advice, services and community support to Deaf or Hard of Hearing people, and continues to advocate for equal rights and full inclusion in every part for society, www.chime.ie READ NEXT: HEALTH MINISTER RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS FROM TD PETER 'CHAP' CLEERE Ireland will do anything it can to help Sir Keir Starmers plan to reset the UKs relationship with the European Union, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. The UK and Ireland are opening the next chapter in their relationship, Sir Keir said, as he also hailed the nations having turned a page on the turbulent years. The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach were in Liverpool with senior ministers from both governments. Speaking at the top of a business event in the citys Albert Dock on Thursday, Sir Keir said: We are having this summit, we are embarking on the next chapter for our two countries, binding them ever closer together in circumstances where were living in an ever more volatile world. I think that a reset, bringing our countries closer together, is the obvious and right thing to do in any event. As well as closer ties with Ireland, Sir Keir is hoping to improve the trading relationship with the European Union and rebuild relations with Brussels after the strain caused by Brexit. Were strengthening our alliance with the EU. Delighted to be in Liverpool with Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer for the inaugural UKIreland Summit taking place tomorrow. We are committed to harnessing the potential of our partnership to deliver economic, political & social benefits for people across these islands. pic.twitter.com/XLTKSrvRSn Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 5, 2025 Now, that doesnt mean back in the single market or customs union, but it does mean, genuinely, a closer economic relationship, finding practical ways to work more closely, create jobs and deliver economic growth, Sir Keir said. At the top of the same meeting, Mr Martin said: Its an extremely important relationship for Ireland and when the UK economy does well, the Irish economy does well. So as far as we are concerned this is a joint effort and endeavour and in that context, as Ive said to the Prime Minister, anything we can do to facilitate greater harmony and access to the EU markets the better in terms of goods ad services. Or, to put it another way, reduce barriers if thats possible. After the business event, both leaders went on for a roundtable meeting with senior members of both governments. Speaking at the top of the gathering the Prime Minister said: Todays summit really marks a new era in the relationship between the UK and Ireland. I think weve reset our relationship, turned a page on the turbulent years if I may say in recent years. Mr Martin paid tribute to the leadership shown by Sir Keir in challenging times. You have borne the centre of gravity and stability to that situation which I think is appreciated, and I want you to know that, he said. The two countries are expected to agree a wide-ranging programme of new and enhanced strategic co-operation between Ireland and the UK, entitled UK-Ireland 2030, to be taken forward by both governments through to 2030. This will include closer collaboration on energy, with a new data-sharing programme to enable commercial developers to increase offshore production. Mr Martin said: Were all in a hurry in terms of the climate change agenda, in terms of the green economy. Irelands big push is on offshore renewables over the next number of years, we need a bit more know-how on that. As part of the summit, Ireland has announced new investments into the UK worth 185.5 million, which the Government says could create more than 2,500 jobs across the country. On Wednesday Sir Keir and Mr Martin co-hosted a reception to celebrate cultural links between the UK and Ireland. These days, it seems you can't purchase a product or service without the company promptly following up with a survey asking, "How are we doing?" or "Would you recommend us to others?" Try to get a quick response when you have a complaint, however, and businesses arent always so eager to hear from you. In fact, when it comes to seeking help with a problem, consumers' top frustrations are figuring out how to contact the company and being forced to listen to long messages before being allowed to speak to an agent, according to the 2023 National Customer Rage Survey. The survey also found that people aren't getting angrier, but more of them are getting angry, says David Beinhacker, chief research officer at Customer Care Measurement & Consulting, which has been publishing the rage gauge since 2003. And consumers are becoming more uncivil, influenced by bad behavior seen on social media and elsewhere, he says. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up But yelling, cursing or bullying isn't the way to resolve problems. If you want to complain effectively, here's how. Be polite and brief After all, the person on the other end of the e-mail or phone call likely didn't cause your problem. And long, emotional emails often go unread, so try to keep your written complaint to 250 words or less. "You don't want to be accusatory," says Christopher Elliott, founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that mediates disputes between consumers and companies. "You want to let them know what the problem is as succinctly as possible and what you want them to do to fix it. Its like a demand letter that lawyers put out, but much nicer." Make sure to provide key information, such as dates, the transaction or reservation number, your full name, and your contact details. And be reasonable in your request on how the company can make things right. An airline, for example, is not going to give you a first-class ticket if you didn't get your in-flight cup of coffee, Elliott says. Josh Neuman, founder of Chummy Tees, a graphic T-shirt retailer in Sonora, Calif., has been on the other side of complaints and offers advice. "The most effective customer complaints are clear, respectful and have context. 'I ordered this size, got something else. Here's the order number. Can you help?' That gets resolved fast," Neuman said in an email. "What doesnt work is a vague rant or sending five e-mails in two hours. I've seen people block their own resolution by being aggressive or unclear." Maintain a paper trail It's always a good idea to keep invoices, receipts, warranties, and other documents for purchases or services that can later back up a complaint. And as you go through the complaint process, retain copies of all communications. Take a screenshot or photo of your communications with a chatbot; some companies disable the ability to save chats, Elliott says. Many consumers and even some companies prefer to deal with complaints over the phone. Jot down the date and time you called, the name of the person you spoke with, and what was discussed. Better yet, just as companies record calls, you should do the same so you have proof, if needed, of any promises a customer service agent made to you. (In some states, you must inform the company that you are recording the call.) Avoid these mistakes Don't wait too long to complain. Your complaint will be taken more seriously if the problem occurred recently rather than months ago. Timing also matters when you use a credit card. You should always first give the business a chance to fix the problem, which can be the fastest way to reach a resolution. But if the business ignores you or you're unsatisfied by its response, you have limited time to request that your credit card payment to that company be reversed. The card issuer will investigate and then decide whether to return the money to your account, called a chargeback. You generally have 60 days from the date your credit card statement was issued to request a chargeback, although many card issuers allow up to 120 days from the date of the transaction. Never lie. If you made a mistake, such as booking a hotel for the wrong dates, own up to it quickly and move on, Elliott advises. Pause before you fire off an email that you wrote while in the heat of anger. Have someone else read it first to make sure your complaint is polite and to the point. Be ready for the growing role of AI Increasingly, your first contact with customer service will be artificial intelligence chatbots. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Chatbots, for instance, are available 24/7 and are getting better, consumer advocates say. "They can solve some basic problems," such as trying to track a shipment, Elliott says. "But if you have a more complicated problem, AI is spectacularly bad." For a more complicated issue, request that a representative or agent help you. Or, if the business is local, consider visiting the business in person. Escalate your complaint If you're hitting a dead end, take your complaint up the management ladder. Don't go straight to the top, however, because if the CEO won't help, youve run out of options within the company. Finding contacts for managers and executives often requires some online sleuthing. Check the company's website or social media profile, or look for contacts on the Better Business Bureaus website. Elliott Advocacy also posts contact information for customer service managers, chief financial officers and CEOs of about 2,000 companies on its website and updates the info when businesses change executives e-mail addresses. Air complaints on social media Sharing your complaint on a site such as X, Facebook or TikTok may nudge a company to respond to you. But while seeking revenge or publicly shaming a company on social media might make you feel better, it doesn't always fix the problem. Neuman, the T-shirt executive, says social media does get a company's attention, but it's a double-edged sword. "We respond immediately to public posts, especially if they're going viral," Neuman says. But "once it's public, everyone loses flexibility. We've had customers who posted before giving us a chance to fix it, and that delays the outcome. For companies, there's also reputational risk in rewarding bad behavior to save face." Companies are also getting savvier and more selective on how they respond to complaints on social media. "What people dont realize is that large companies have very sophisticated ways of monitoring customer sentiment on social media," says Elliott. For example, he says, a company can connect your social media username to your account with the business and determine your value as a customer or the likelihood that you will cause trouble. Elliott also notes that you're more likely to get a response if you have a million followers on social media rather than two or three. Be patient but persistent Give the company time to resolve your complaint. It may take days or weeks to get a resolution. "Businesses don't like to say no, so they will probably try to come up with a solution that benefits both parties," Elliott says. "They know that if they say no, your next stop is going to be to the attorney general, or an outside party like a consumer advocate, or 'I'm calling the TV station.'" The 2023 Customer Rage Survey found that 52% of complaining customers got something in return, up from 42% in 2020. The not-so-good news: 48% got nothing. When aggrieved consumers get something back, the survey found, they are most likely to receive one or more of these fixes: Money back, an apology, and the product repaired or the service fixed. Many frustrated consumers, though, give up too soon. "Being persistent is really important," says Chuck Bell, advocacy programs director at Consumer Reports. "Don't give them the satisfaction of giving up." Bell, for instance, spent three months trying to resolve a dispute with a Washington, D.C., hotel that had wrongfully charged him $150 for smoking in his room. "I called them and said, 'This is ridiculous. Im not a smoker.' And I left a pretty generous tip as well," he recalls. His credit card company also challenged the smoking fee on his behalf, but the hotel wouldn't budge. Finally, Bell wrote a letter to the hotel manager, saying he is a frequent visitor to D.C. and wouldn't return to the hotel. The hotel dropped the fee, and Bell stayed there again. It's easy to get discouraged if your complaint doesn't seem to go anywhere, Bell says, but knowing that you may be helping others can be an incentive to carry on. "If you take the perspective that 'I'm not just going to bat for myself, but I want to see this fixed for other consumers,' that perhaps encourages you to keep going," he says. Call in reinforcements If you've tried all the steps above and are still hitting a roadblock, it could be time to bring in one of these advocacy groups or government agencies. Elliott Advocacy will mediate between a customer and a company for free. But you must agree that your name and story can be published in an article, which allows others to learn from your experience. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau focuses on consumer finance issues, such as banking, mortgages, student loans, credit cards and credit reports. It forwards complaints to the companies for a response. While the CFPB's future is uncertain under the Trump administration, the CFPB was recently still taking consumer complaints online at www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The Better Business Bureau has no enforcement powers, but it can get a company's attention. It forwards consumer complaints to the businesses and requests a response within 14 days. The Federal Trade Commission doesn't mediate individual complaints, but it may take action against companies with a pattern of complaints from consumers. You can submit a complaint with your state attorney generals office, which enforces consumer laws and may mediate disputes with businesses. Find your states contact at www.usa.gov/state-consumer. Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here . The Herald reports: Phil Goffs position as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is now untenable Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters office says, off the back of deeply disappointing comments the former Auckland mayor made regarding Donald Trump. Asking a question of Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister Elina Valtonen at a Chatham House event in London this week, Goff said he had been re-reading a speech from former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1938 after the Munich Agreement. He turned to Chamberlain, he said, You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war, Goff said, President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history? If Goff was not the NZ Ambassador, it would be an excellent question. I agree with his premise that Trump in appeasing Putin is actually making further wars in Europe more likely Moldova is next I would say. However Goff is the NZ Ambassador, and question can be seen as suggesting the NZ Government is comparing Trump to Chamberlain. Considering how massively thin-skinned Trump is to criticism, there is a non-trivial chance that Trump would hold a grudge against New Zealand for Goffs comments hence why Peters sacked him. One interesting aspect is that I thought anything said at Chatham House was non-attributable. This is in fact the basis of the widely cited Chatham House Rule. So did this apply to that event? Maybe Goff thought that would allow him to ask the question. How did it become known he asked that question? UPDATE: Looks like this event was not held under the Chatham House Rule, as it was live-streamed. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Showers and thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. COLUMBIA A Columbia board will review the city's ordinance on feral cats March 13 as part of a wider review of the city's ordinances on animal control. Below is a simplified list of the proposed changes. Proposed changes include defining a feral cat colony as a group of five or more feral cats cared for on one property, removing the microchip requirement for feral cats, requiring permission from neighbors to maintain a feral cat colony, and removing a regular testing requirement for some feline viruses. Columbia feral cat ordinance changes proposed Public comment on the ordinance will be heard on March 13. Several of the changes would make caring for feral cats more accessible, one Boone County animal worker said. "The proposed new changes will remove the barriers, and that will make it easier for people to have their colonies registered," Boone County Animal Care founder Jennifer Romesburg said. Romesburg said removing the requirements for certain testing will encourage people, from a financial standpoint, to intervene if they see a feral cat. "So, the improvements will make it more affordable to owners by reducing the costs of the microchipping and the yearly testing for their entire colony," Romesburg said. Romesburg said existing requirements and stipulations make it too difficult to register a feral cat colony. She said that she likes that the city has something in place if authorities were needed for a situation. "If there were a reason to get authorities involved with some caretakers not taking care of the colonies as well, there's always something to look back on that we can do," Romesburg said. Christina Byrd is a trap, neuter, return, or TNR, lead with Second Chance Columbia. The group is dedicated to helping animals in need by providing access to veterinary, spay/neuter and adoption service. Second Chance Columbia emphasizes that it strives to return animals to their homes rather than simply release them after care. It says returning animals to their homes is crucial as relocation could be deadly for them. Byrd said low-income neighborhoods are often the areas that are most affected by feral cat colonies. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. "And you have to remember, low-income areas are the ones fighting this. So it's just not feasible right now with the way the ordinances are," Byrd said. "That's where feral populations really tend to flourish and grow." Byrd moved into her home in northwest Columbia about two years ago. Since then, she's saved close to 75 cats through TNR. "The main goal is that we go out, we trap cats that are in large colonies, we get them fixed, we give them a rabies shot, we do an ear tip, so we know they've already been fixed, and then we put them back where we got them," Byrd said. "And that's the main basis of TNR, and it's to help stabilize a population of cats so they don't continue growing." Byrd proposed that the ordinance rules toss out the need for a permit to host a feral cat colony. "...Just toss the permit and have ordinances that define tenure that basically guidelines if you feed them, you fix them," Byrd said. "And that makes it so much easier to enforce because then animal control can say well here's some rescues who actually do this. They can help with the cost, they can help with the trapping if the person's unable to." Byrd anticipates that discussion about the ordinance changes will take several sessions with the Board of Health and plans to be there every step of the way. Proposed changes are listed online at BeHeard.CoMo.gov. Residents can voice their thoughts at a public meeting hosted by the Columbia/Boone County Board of Health at 5:30 p.m. March 13 or through the comment portal online All public comments and questions must be submitted by 4 p.m. March 10 to be considered by the board at its March 13 meeting. The meeting will be held at Columbia/Boone County Health and Human Services, Training Room 1, 1005 W. Worley St. The meeting will include presentations from city staff, discussions among board members and examination of current regulations. The board will continue reviewing city ordinances on animal control over the next few months. A document listing the proposed changes is available online. A sign displaying photos and names of the 13 service members killed in a terrorist attack at Abbey Gate outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport is seen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 9, 2024 in Washington, DC. Members of the media stand near a rally outside the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Feb. 13. Nowadays, in the sky below an altitude of one kilometer in Hefei, an unprecedented new scene is unfolding: drones delivering takeaways shuttle within the city, "aerial life channels" for blood transportation have become the norm, and the nation's first urban air transportation hub has also been completed here... As an important focus for developing new quality productive forces, Hefei layouts the new track of the low-altitude economy as a direction to exert efforts. "Your drone takeaway has arrived at the pickup point..." In recent days, on the grasslands along the banks of Hefei, Sun Tao, who ordered food through a takeout platform, received a call. Almost at the same time, accompanied by the roar of propellers, a drone appeared in the sky and delivered the takeaway to him through "rope lowering". On February 20, a drone loaded with 6 kilograms of official documents flew from the Municipal Government Center to the Hefei Post Zhanqian Road Postal Center. The entire 12-kilometer route only took 15 minutes, which could ensure that express deliveries met the deadline during the evening peak period. Up to now, Hefei has gathered more than 100 low-altitude economic enterprises, initially forming an industrial cluster integrating research and development, manufacturing, sales, operation, and service, which provides strong support for the scene innovation of Hefei's low-altitude economy. Why have so many low-altitude economic enterprises settled here? This is inseparable from the solid policy support of Hefei. In 2024, Hefei issued several documents such as the "Decision on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Low-Altitude Economy in Hefei" and the "Several Policies for Supporting the Development of the Low-Altitude Economy in Hefei", making every effort to protect the low-altitude industry as it takes off. At the same time, the first municipal low-altitude flight service center was established, the first urban air transportation hub port was completed, various system platforms and intelligent network construction were carried out, low-altitude enterprises of the whole industrial chain were attracted, various low-altitude scenes have been actively expanded, and the high-quality development of the city's low-altitude economic industry has been efficiently promoted. Source: Hefei Daily We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. LA GRANDE Police took a Weston woman into custody after she reportedly fled from law enforcement following an attempted arrest. La Grande police on March 4 arrested Felicia Lavimodiere, 32, for felony fleeing, misdemeanor fleeing, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person and second-degree criminal mischief, according to Oregon public records. La Grande police shortly before 10 p.m. stopped a black car with Washington license plates, according to the probable cause declaration. Law enforcement had reason to believe Lavimodiere was in the car and had probable cause for her arrest. Officers approached the car from the passenger side to speak with Lavimodiere, who was in the drivers seat. There also was a male passenger in the car. Police told Lavimodiere the stop was because the cars registration was expired. According to the probable cause declaration, she said the car was recently purchased and asked for a break. Officers asked her for her drivers license, proof of insurance and whether she had the bill of sale. Police reported the traffic stop went as normal until directing Lavimodiere to get out of the car. She asked why, and police said she was under arrest. According to the declaration, Lavimodiere refused, and police threatened to remove her from the car if she did not exit the vehicle. Lavimodiere then put the car in gear and sped off, according to the probable cause declaration. Law enforcement later found the car unoccupied in a ditch. It appeared the car had come to a stop after hitting a fence post, which brought the fence down and damaged the pole. Officers saw the passenger behind a tree and told him to put his hands in the air. He complied, and police detained him. According to the declaration, the passenger later told police he begged Lavimodiere to stop and asked to be let out, but she freaked and kept going. He told police he had a headache and officers later noted red marks on his forehead. Police found Lavimodiere in a creek, the declaration states, but she did not comply with officers orders to show her hands and get out of the creek, so police got her out. Police took Lavimodiere into custody and transported her to Grande Ronde Hospital, where medical staff cleared her for release. Police then booked into the Union County Jail. Lavimodiere is due in court April 2 for a plea hearing, according to court records. The state also is holding her in jail on charges in connection with three other cases. Gordon Deegan Plans to establish a 650 million hydroelectric pumped storage power project located at the former mine site Silvermines, Co Tipperary, have taken a major step forward. This follows An Bord Pleanala confirming that the Silvermines Hydroelectric Energy Storage Project has been deemed mature enough to enter the permit granting process for Projects of Common Interest. Projects of Common Interest (PCI's) are essential infrastructure projects that aim to strengthen the European energy market and help the EU achieve its energy and climate goals. The appeals board stated that it has acknowledged the Silvermines Hydroelectric Energy Storage Project in its capacity as national competent authority to evaluate Projects of Common Interest. The appeals board will evaluate the project under an EU procedure which aims to streamline the consenting process for trans-European energy projects which are contained in a list of projects adopted by the European Commission. The Silvermines Hydroelectric Energy Storage Project, when operational, will be able to store as much as 296 Megawatts (MW), with a daily storage capacity up to 2,175MWh of electricity. This will be sufficient to power 185,000 households or 21,000 small businesses in Ireland everyday. The project was first mooted about a decade ago and the 148-hectare site is located in Tipperary on the Northern ridge of the Silvermines Mountain range. Local TD, Alan Kelly (Lab) has been a long time supporter of the project which will utilise the existing void to create a lower reservoir and see the creation of a second, upper reservoir just below the crest of the hilltop. Silvermines Hydro project is being developed and managed by Siga-Hydro Limited, an Irish company based in Nenagh, Co Tipperary. In 2023, the project owners teamed-up with the Foresight Group, a global infrastructure investor. Accounts for a connected firm Silvermines Tipp Hold Co Ltd show that it received a capital injection of 14.5 million in 2023. The Project of Common Interest procedure now being overseen follows three steps - notification; pre-application procedure and statutory permit granting procedure. After the permit granting procedure, An Bord Pleanala will make a final decision on the project. It is estimated that the project will create 400 jobs during construction and throughout its operational phase it is expected to employ as many as 50 employees in the pumped hydro station alone. In advance of the plans being lodged, Siga Hydro hosted three informational events at Silvermines across three days in December where over 120 community members participated. By David Hughes, Eleanor Barlow and Rebecca Black, PA Ireland will do anything it can to help Keir Starmers plan to reset the UKs relationship with the European Union, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. The UK and Ireland are opening the next chapter in their relationship, Mr Starmer said, as ministers from the two nations discussed plans to increase co-operation. The Taoiseach and the British prime minister were in Liverpool with senior ministers from both governments. British prime minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a business roundtable at the Albert Dock. Photo: Phil Noble/PA Mr Starmer said: We are having this summit, we are embarking on the next chapter for our two countries, binding them ever closer together in circumstances where were living in an ever more volatile world. I think that a reset, bringing our countries closer together, is the obvious and right thing to do in any event. As well as closer ties with Ireland, Mr Starmer is hoping to improve the trading relationship with the European Union and rebuild relations with Brussels after the strain caused by Brexit. Were strengthening our alliance with the EU. Delighted to be in Liverpool with Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer for the inaugural UKIreland Summit taking place tomorrow. We are committed to harnessing the potential of our partnership to deliver economic, political & social benefits for people across these islands. pic.twitter.com/XLTKSrvRSn Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 5, 2025 Now, that doesnt mean back in the single market or customs union, but it does mean, genuinely, a closer economic relationship, finding practical ways to work more closely, create jobs and deliver economic growth, Sir Keir said. The prime minister and his Irish counterpart attended a business event at Liverpools Albert Dock on Thursday . Mr Martin said: Its an extremely important relationship for Ireland and when the UK economy does well, the Irish economy does well. So as far as we are concerned this is a joint effort and endeavour and in that context, as Ive said to the prime minister, anything we can do to facilitate greater harmony and access to the EU markets the better in terms of goods and services. Keir Starmer spoke during a reception at the Museum of Liverpool. Photo: Phil Noble/PA Or, to put it another way, reduce barriers if thats possible. The two countries are expected to agree a wide-ranging programme of new and enhanced strategic co-operation between Ireland and the UK, entitled UK-Ireland 2030, to be taken forward by both governments through to 2030. This will include closer collaboration on energy, with a new data-sharing programme to enable commercial developers to increase offshore production. Mr Martin said: Were all in a hurry in terms of the climate change agenda, in terms of the green economy. Irelands big push is on offshore renewables over the next number of years, we need a bit more know-how on that. As part of the summit, Ireland has announced new investments into the UK worth 220 million, which the British government claims could create more than 2,500 jobs across the UK. On Wednesday Mr Starmer and Mr Martin co-hosted a reception to celebrate cultural links between the UK and Ireland. A MAN asked Judge Andrew Cody not to send him to the Midlands Prison because prisoners in there are fighting with him. The request came from John McDonagh, Willow Court, Mountmellick, whose case was heard in Portlaoise District Court last week by video link from Cloverhill Prison. Mr McDonagh was charged with assault on 13 July last at Harbour Street, Mountmellick as well as six counts of criminal damage on 26 June at the Foroige premises on Connolly Street, Mountmellick and another premises on that street. Judge Cody said that he was adjourning the case for sentencing today Thursday 6 March. Mr McDonagh then said: I cant go to the Midlands Prison. There are people in there fighting with me. Can I be sentenced by video link and sent to Cloverhill? Judge Cody said the 20-year-old defendant would have to be in court at the next hearing for sentencing and that it was up to the Prison Service to determine where he would be incarcerated, should a custodial sentence be imposed. James Cox Sabrina Carpenter said "Irish boys are hard work" in an apparent reference to ex-boyfriend Barry Keoghan while performing at Dublin's 3Arena. The US pop superstar played two sold-out gigs in Dublin. Keoghan starred in the music video for the Grammy-winning artist's hit single Please, Please, Please. The Oscar-nominated actor and Carpenter were first romantically linked in 2023 before breaking up late last year. Sabrina Carpenter attends the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on February 2nd, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Before playing Please, Please, Please, she told the crowd: "Dublin, it's so lovely to be here. You all look and sound amazing." She added: "But my goodness, these Irish boys are hard work." Carpenter, known for hits including Espresso and Taste, played in Dublin on Monday and Tuesday night. Her 'Short n' Sweet Tour' will now movew on to the UK, with a gig in Birmingham tonight. Tomas Doherty Three teenagers have been arrested in south Dublin as part of an investigation targeting a crime gang. Stolen car keys, balaclavas and iron bars were recovered in Ballinteer overnight. A garda operation, carried out in the early hours of Thursday morning, saw a car intercepted in south Dublin and three boys in their mid-teens arrested. They were detained in Ballinteer as part of ongoing investigations targeting a criminal group involved in opportunistic thefts from parked cars, burglary and related crimes. A number of stolen car keys, wallets and bank cards were recovered from the vehicle, along with balaclavas, iron bars, torches and snoods. The car had been reported stolen following a burglary in recent days in Greystones, Co Wicklow. The teenagers are being held at a Garda station in the capital. On 5 March Brazils national association of vehicle manufacturers (Anfavea) reiterated concerns over imports from China and called for higher tariffs on shipments of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles. End of preview - This article contains approximately 398 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Gov. Josh Shapiro signs an executive order to streamline the hiring of former federal workers for state jobs, March 5, 2025. Zack Hoopes If Donald Trump or Elon Musk has fired you, Josh Shapiro wants to hire you. The governor signed an executive order Wednesday streamlining the process for Pennsylvania government agencies to hire recently-fired federal workers, as President Trumps purge of the federal labor force continues. Shapiro signed the order during an appearance at the state job fair at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Building, where commonwealth agencies are hiring for roughly 5,600 vacant positions - about 540 of which are considered to be critical staffing shortages, according to the governors administration. Right now, we have a unique opportunity to recruit federal workers who have significant experience and expertise and skills in these fields, because theyve already done those jobs at the federal level, Shapiro said. Other governors, such as Marylands Wes Moore, have also made an explicit pitch in recent days to bring on federal workers who were forced out by Trumps moves to shut off federal funding and shrink the federal workforce actions frequently taken at the direction of billionaire Trump campaign supporter Elon Musk. While I feel really sorry for a number of those federal employees who lost their jobs, understand that what Im announcing today isnt some act of charity for them, Shapiro said. This is an act of self-interest for the people of Pennsylvania, because I believe the commonwealth can benefit from the experience and expertise of these federal workers who have been forced out of their jobs. The executive order directs the Office of Administration to begin counting federal experience as equivalent to state service when making hiring evaluations. Shapiros plan also involves matching federal job titles with state positions so that applicants and recruiters can immediately see who would be qualified for a state role. This also includes making a new website specifically to fast-track federal employees into hard-to-fill state jobs. Republican leadership expressed skepticism that Shapiro, a Democrat, was doing something truly necessary. We must be thoughtful and deliberative when looking to fill state positions, state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana County, said in an emailed statement. Hiring the most qualified individuals should always be our focus, which does not require any executive order. Shapiro also endorsed legislation to reform the states civil service system, which has not been significantly updated in 84 years and which the governor said has created an unnecessarily cumbersome hiring process. State workers have been highly effective during his tenure, Shapiro said, noting major reductions in environmental permitting backlogs, reduced processing times for business registrations, shorter waits for unemployment assistance, and other successes. Federal installations in Pennsylvania had about 104,000 employees as of the end of last year, according to federal labor data. Its unclear exactly how many have been let go. said Philip Glover, a union official with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). He said roughly 600 of his members in Pennsylvania had been fired through Trumps job cuts. This is almost certainly an undercount, given that some employees are represented by unions other than AFGE, and many of those fired were probationary workers who may not have registered with the union, he said. I think that [Shapiro] being proactive is fantastic for all our members, Glover said. Trumps slashing of the federal workforce has caused a great deal of chaos, Glover said, and it remains unclear where the line is as to who can and cannot be let go. Some Veterans Administration healthcare workers, for instance, were told they were immune from reductions - but Trump then moved to fire crisis line call-takers as well as medical researchers for cancer, prosthetics, and other fields. The Associated Press reported Wednesday, citing an internal federal memo, that Trump plans to fire a total of 80,000 VA employees. Union employees have also been receiving emails directly from the federal Office of Personnel Management asking them to resign and take buy-out offers, as well as emails from Musk asking employees to list what they did that week. Agency heads have given conflicting guidance on how employees are to respond outside the usual chain-of-command. Shapiros executive order comes a day after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) a cost-cutting group set up by Musk listed a number of Pennsylvanias federal offices as having their leases terminated, including the Harrisburg-area state headquarters for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Asked if he had concerns that the cuts would make it difficult for his administration or Pennsylvania citizens to access federal services, Shapiro said I think thats a question for the Trump administration. Theyve made dramatic cuts, cuts that I think make us less safe and less healthy and less protected in the United States of America, and theyre going to have to answer for that, Shapiro continued. My job is to make sure the good people of Pennsylvania get the critical services that they deserve, and the way I can deliver those service is through the 80,000-strong employees of our commonwealth who do this work every day. Tiffany Trimmer hugs a picture of her daughter, Payton Fulmer, who died from a fatal overdose on Oct. 29, 2023, as her son Matty Reaser looks on. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com The boyfriend of a Palmer Township woman who died from fentanyl poisoning was deported Monday to Honduras, according to the boyfriends stepfather. Amilcar A.J. Villalvir was paroled Feb. 25 from Northampton County Prison and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, court records say. His stepfather, Curtis Frindt, confirmed Wednesday that Villalvir had been sent to Honduras on Monday. A Huntingdon County man is facing charges after police said he mistook another hunter for a turkey and shot him in the face and head. Scott Huber, 51, is charged with reckless endangerment and violations of Pennsylvanias hunting laws, according to WTAJ. The incident occurred on Nov. 9 in Barree Township. According to a criminal complaint, Huber was hunting in the area when he thought he saw the black and white feathers and white neck of a turkey. Huber then fired his shotgun, only to hear someone yell, You shot me. Huber told police he then walked towards the direction of his shot and yelled call out, but did not get a response and was not sure if someone had been joking with him. The victim, who had been archery hunting at the time, was taken to a hospital. Officials said he had 2 gunshot wounds to the right ear, 2 gunshot wounds to the right shoulder, 7 gunshot wounds to the upper right back, 1 gunshot wound to the right arm, and 3 wounds near the ear. The unidentified victim told police he had been hunting from a tree saddle when he saw another hunter in blaze orange setting up about 80 yards away. He later changed his location, unaware of Hubers position. He told police he heard a gunshot before feeling intense pain in his head and face. Investigators said they used a K-9 unit to retrace the victims steps and reconstruct the scene. They determined that Huber was about 52 yards away from the victim when he fired the shot. The area was obscured with thick brush, which could have made visibility an issue, police said. Hubers preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 16. Ben Stiller had a clear vision for season 2 of Severance, and it included a cameo from Barack Obama. Stiller, who serves as executive producer and primary director of the AppleTV+ series, recalled during a Tuesday, March 4, appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! how he asked the former president to appear on the show. I didnt ask him in person. I knew someone who knew his lawyer, and his lawyer said, I can relay the request if you write an email, Stiller told host Jimmy Kimmel. So, I wrote an email to him saying, like, Hey, we have this show, whatever. And like two days later, I get an email back from President Barack Obama. Stiller wanted Obama to voice the anthropomorphic Lumon office building from the Lumon is Listening propaganda video featured in Severances season 2 premiere. Although Obama turned down the gig, he said in his email reply that hes a big fan of the show. [He wrote,] Love season 1, cant wait for season 2. Dont think I have time in my schedule to make this happen, Stiller recalled with a laugh. It was pretty cool that he responded. Stillers next choice for the voice-over part was Keanu Reeves, who ultimately accepted. Stiller praised the John Wick stars warm and inviting voice and said he took the part very seriously. Reeves, like Obama, is a Severance fan. I love the show Severance. Ben Stillers incredible, he told Inverse in February, calling his cameo a really cool creative opportunity. READ MORE: Severance season 1 recap: Everything you need to know in 5 minutes (or less) Im game for good art, Reeves continued. Warning: Spoilers ahead for season 2 of Severance. Stillers appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! came after the latest episode of Severance shared more insight into Gemmas (Dichen Lachman) experience on the Lumon testing floor. The episode also showed flashbacks to Gemma and Marks (Adam Scott) life as a married couple before Gemma allegedly died. The poignant episode marked Severance cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagnes first time directing. In my opinion, [its] one of the most amazing directorial debuts, Stiller told Kimmel of the episode. New episodes of Severance premiere on AppleTV+ on Thursdays. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. The Lehigh Valley region is under a wind advisory during the afternoon through midnight Thursday, March 6, 2025, the National Weather Service says. National Weather Service Breezy conditions are forecast Thursday for the Lehigh Valley followed by a blustery night, with gusts as high as 40-50 mph expected across the region, the National Weather Service says. A weather service wind advisory is in effect from 3 p.m. to midnight Thursday across a region covering the Lehigh Valley, Pocono Mountains, Philadelphia and suburbs, and northwestern New Jersey. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects, the advisory states. Tree limbs could be blown down, and a few power outages may result. The winds are resulting from a low pressure continuing to lift slowly to the northeast, while high pressure builds to the south and west, according to the weather service forecast discussion. The low brought heavy rain Thursday that pushed precipitation totals for March above normal, according to climate observations at Lehigh Valley International Airport. Thursdays official rainfall total at the airport was 0.76 of an inch, with numerous reports to the weather service of an inch or more across the region. However, precipitation deficits continue to linger since last fall. At the airport outside Allentown, Thursdays forecast calls for mostly cloudy conditions with a seasonable high near 47. A west wind 10-15 mph is expected to increase to 15-20 mph in the afternoon, gusting up to 35 mph, according to the weather service. A low around 30 is forecast overnight into Friday under partly cloudy skies, with that west wind gusting as high as 40 mph. Friday is forecast as mostly sunny with a high near 49 and west wind 15-20 mph gusting as high as 35 mph. A slight (20%) chance of rain is in the forecast for Friday night before 10 p.m. at the airport, with a little snow possibly mixing in during the early morning hours Saturday. Some additional cooling takes place Saturday with high temperatures close to average, the forecast discussion states. A west-northwest breeze will still be in place, however it should be less than the previous few days. Mostly clear skies are forecast for the weekend with seasonable temperatures, ahead of a warmup expected to push highs into the upper 60s by Tuesday and Wednesday. Follow your local forecast at lehighvalleylive.com/weather with watches, warnings and other advisories available as theyre issued at lehighvalleylive.com/weather-alerts. Current weather radar Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. A man was granted bail on condition he stay out of all Dunnes Stores outlets in Portlaoise. Jake Gibson (25) of 22 St Michaels Park, Portarlington is accused of stealing items from Dunnes Stores on the Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise on February 14 and 21, 2025 and from Dunnes Stores in the Kyle Centre on February 15 and January 29, 2025. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said it would be alleged that the defendant stole goods valued at 65.19 from Dunnes Stores, Mountmellick Road on February 14 and goods to the value of 12.55 on February 21, 2025. Sgt Kirby said it was alleged that on January 29, the defendant took goods valued at 35.60 from Dunnes Stores, Kyle Centre, Portlaoise and goods valued at 26.65 from the same store on February 15, 2025. He asked that the defendant stay out of all Dunnes Stores in the Portlaoise area as a condition of his bail. Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald requested a couple of weeks to analyse disclosure in the case. On hearing the allegations, Judge Susan Fay said she would accept jurisdiction in the case. She asked Mr Fitzgerald if his client was willing to stay out of all Dunnes Stores premises in Portlaoise. Mr Fitzgerald confirmed that his client was willing to abide by the bail condition. He noted there were four separate theft allegations and he said the defendant was welfare dependent as he requested legal aid. Judge Fay granted legal aid and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on April 14 for a plea or a date for hearing. Laois volunteers with the mental health service SOSAD are pleading with Government to allocate funding to ensure it does not close completely. SOSAD, Save our Sons and Daughters, which has a Portlaoise branch, has already has to shut down its text messaging service which allowed the people in search of help to reach them between 8pm and midnight. Employees and volunteers with the national service travelled to the Dail on March 4 to highlight what's described as a 'crisis point for the charity'. They told TDs and Senators that despite a November 5, 2024 commitment from a Government Minister that funding would be provided, no interim or capital funding has been delivered. They say that organisations such as the HSE and Pieta House, which receive substantial public funding, continue to refer people to SOSAD but the charity survives on volunteer efforts and community donations. Carol Murphy, SOSAD General Manager, and Christy Bannon were among the Portlaoise repsenatives to meet politicians including Laois-based Sinn Fein senator Maria McCormack. SEE MORE BELOW PICTURE. Pictured: Kitty Colbert, Carol Murphy, SOSAD, General Manager, Brian Kelly TD, Joanna Burne SF, Cllr Debbie McCole SF, Rachel McInearney, Senator Maria McCormack, Christy Bannon, Gavin Lynch. After the meeting, Sen McCormack called for immediate Government funding to prevent the closure of SOSAD which she said is a vital mental health charity that provides free, life-saving support in Portlaoise and across Ireland. She feared for its future. READ ALSO: VITAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT HALTED SOSAD is a crucial service for our community, offering free one-to-one counselling and a 24-hour helpline for those in crisis. They provide DVT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) and suicide bereavement counselling, ensuring that nobody is left without support. They dont just refer people elsewherethey stay with them until they get the help they need," she said in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. Sen McCormack said the organisation has been operating nationally since 2007 and in Portlaoise for the past three years but had to shut down its text message service due to financial struggles. It is devastating to think that some people in crisis prefer to write rather than speak, yet that option has been taken away because of a lack of funding. SOSAD is saving lives every day, and now they are being forced to wind down simply because the Government has failed to act, she continued. Sen McCormack said it is an important service in Laois. Portlaoise is one of Irelands fastest-growing towns, and demand for mental health support is soaring. From 2023 to 2024, requests for SOSADs services increased by 85%, and they are seeing another 25% increase for 2025. If they close, what happens to those people? There is no alternative service that can replace them, McCormack warned. During the meeting, Sen McCormack said harrowing testimonies were shared by individuals whose lives SOSAD helped to save. The thought of this charity closing its doors in March is unthinkable. We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, and losing SOSAD would be a catastrophe. The Minister must act now. We need immediate interim funding to secure the services future, McCormack declared. Christy Bannon is a well-known mental health advocate in Laois who was part of the committee of local people who came together to open an office in Laois. He has since joined SOSAD's board. Sen McMcCormack said she would work with Mr Bannon to explore fundraising opportunities and continue pressuring the Government for action. SOSAD has six offices based in Cavan, Louth, Laois, Meath and Monaghan The Laois man at the head of the Irish Road Haulage Association has called for urgent regulatory intervention in relation to the use of biofuels in diesel. IRHA President and Laois haulier, Ger Hyland, said his organisation had 66 fuel samples tested and 23% of them failed due to the high levels of biofuel they contained and a further 30% of the samples just got over the line. When there is too much of it added it destroys the injector systems on our vehicles, Mr Hyland explained. At the heart of the issue is the increasing use of non fossil fuel components i.e. FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) and HVO (Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil) in modern diesel fuel, he said. Under the European standard fuel EN 590, the maximum allowable percentage of FAME, which is made up primarily from Used Cooking Oil (UCO) and tallow in diesel is 7% (By Volume). However, Mr Hyland doesnt believe these levels are being strictly adhered to and he wants more oversight on the quality of mixed fuel. He said agricultural, or green diesel, does not contain such biofuels. We dont mind who tests our fuel so long as we get the right stuff, he said. According to the IRHA, this lack of regulatory oversight has led to breakdowns from fuel starvation and mechanical failures, greatly increased emissions, and considerable financial losses for the transport industry. Too much FAME in diesel increases emissions by reducing engine efficiency and increased fuel consumption due to its lower calorific or burn value, while it can also clog filters, degrade rubber/plastics/surface coatings, can introduce microbe growth and potentially may void a vehicle warranty if the fuel being used is not EN 590 compliant. While fuel suppliers, report compliance, through FFI, to the Department of Environment on a semi-annual basis, there is no real-time third party monitoring to ensure consistency across all tanker loads or batches and with nearly 100,000 fuel tankers per annum delivering across the country, this current oversight, which involves 100 samples annually (Minimum allowed as per ETC Fuel Quality Reporting) all taken at forecourts only, is totally unacceptable as it equates to a sampling rate of 0.1% of Tanker movements, with some outlets presumably excluded as not members of FFI, the IRHA claimed in a statement. Independent Offaly TD Carol Nolan said she is increasingly concerned about the lack of Government oversight surrounding non-fossil fuel components like Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) that are being used as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and reliance on traditional petroleum-based fuels. Deputy Nolan said there is growing evidence that a lack of oversight, specifically on the percentage of FAME that is being blended with diesel is leading to significant adverse and costly outcomes for engine performance and vehicle maintenance, particularly for long-haul fuel intensive vehicles. As I understand it, under current EU law the maximum percentage of FAME that can be blended with diesel is about 7%. Unfortunately, what is now becoming very clear, at least in Irelands case, is that there is effectively zero national oversight in place, beyond self-reporting, to ensure that the blend levels do not exceed this percentage. This is turn is creating enormous sector wide concern among hauliers and indeed motorists who own older vehicles and for whom the negative impact of FAME biofuel is already well established, said Dep Nolan. READ ALSO: 14 million allocated to Laois roads We know that EU targets are in place to ensure that there is at least 14% renewable energy in transport by 2030, often via biofuel blending. What I am saying is that we need to rethink that policy if the use of biofuels is being shown to generate widespread operational challenges and repair costs for motorists and industries who must continue to use diesel powered vehicles for the foreseeable future, concluded Dep Nolan. New data has revealed that Kildare has ranked fifth-best in Ireland for the county with the most female entrepreneurs, ahead of International Women's Day 2025. Procure.ie, Irelands leading business utility consultants, has analysed thousands of LinkedIn profiles across Ireland to find out how many female business founders are in each county. The study says that more and more women are starting businesses across Ireland, with some counties leading the way. While there are still areas that need improvement, the data shows that Ireland has made great progress in helping more female entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life and become successful. Below are the top five counties with the most female entrepreneurs in Ireland: Cork Dublin Galway Wicklow Kildare Kildare has ranked fifth in the study with 132 female business founders currently based in the county. With 53 female entrepreneurs per 100,000 people, Kildare is successful, according to the study, because the county benefits from Dublin's resources while providing a quieter business environment. Earlier this year, on January 30 2025, over 180 female entrepreneurs joined together at Kilkea Castle in Kildare for an annual Women in Business event led by Kildare County Councils Local Enterprise Office. This Women in Business luncheon, was a celebration of leadership, resilience, and innovation, featuring the inspirational story of Sarah de Lagarde. The event also launched the She Succeeds programme of events for Kildares Women in Business for 2025. Female entrepreneurs are encouraged in on the She Succeeds programme of events by registering online via www.localenterprise.ie/Kildare Cork has ranked first in Ireland, with 360 female entrepreneurs in the county. Cork offers great support, including the Exxcel programme, which helps women start and grow their businesses, according to the study. With a population of 584,156, Cork city has 62 female entrepreneurs per 100,000 people and is home to successful companies like The Good Dairy Company. Dublin follows in second place with 303 female founders and a larger population of 1,458,154, making it the countrys business hub. While it has a lower concentration of female entrepreneurs per capita (21 per 100,000 people), it remains an attractive location due to its well-established ecosystem, featuring coworking spaces, networking events, and investor access, and is home to well-known brands like Sculpted by Aimee and Atlantic Bridge. Galway ranks third with 161 female founders and a population of 277,737. It has a much higher concentration of female entrepreneurs, with 58 per 100,000 people. The city offers strong community programs like The Women in Business Network, creating a supportive environment where women can bring their dreams to life. Wicklow ranks fourth with 133 female founders and the highest concentration in Ireland (85 per 100,000 people), offering a great work-life balance. The study can be found at the link here. The counties with the fewest female entrepreneurs are Carlow, Cavan, Roscommon, Longford, and Leitrim. READ NEXT: You won't believe this driver's excuse for illegal parking in Kildare Carlow has 23 female founders and a population of 61,968, giving it a rate of 37 female entrepreneurs per 100,000 people. The highest among the lowest-ranked counties. Cavan and Roscommon both have 21 female entrepreneurs per 100,000 people, with 17 and 15 female founders, respectively. Longford, with 12 female founders, has a slightly higher rate at 26 per 100,000 people. Leitrim ranks the lowest, with just 6 female founders and 17 per 100,000 people. For more information visit: https://www.procure.ie/best-counties-female-entrepreneurs/ A major property developer is seeking land to develop over 200 homes in Kildare. Fitzpatrick & Heavey Homes, one of Ireland's leading property development firms, currently has 350 homes under construction across Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, and Cork. Resourced with a robust balance sheet and diverse range of funding partners Fitzpatrick & Heavey Homes are looking to scale up and deliver over 200 homes in Kildare. The firm has reaffirmed its commitment to landowners by pledging to fully cover the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) on any residentially zoned land it purchases. READ NEXT: Co Kildare 'third most expensive for renters', Dail hears With the tax now in effect as of February 1, 2025, the company is actively seeking sites for development, particularly in Kildare, as part of its expansion strategy. Ciaran Fitzpatrick, CEO of Fitzpatrick & Heavey Homes, said: Irelands housing crisis demands innovative and immediate solutions. The Residential Zoned Land Tax is intended to encourage development, but it also places a financial strain on landowners who may not have the means to build. By absorbing this tax on any land we purchase, we are providing an immediate solutionoffering landowners a viable exit while ensuring much-needed housing is developed without delay. The RZLT, introduced under the Finance Acts, imposes an annual tax of 3% on the market value of undeveloped, residentially zoned land. This could mean substantial costs for landowners, particularly those who are unable to proceed with development. Significant financial impact of RZLT: Who is affected: Landowners, including individuals, businesses, and entities with residentially zoned but undeveloped land. Implementation date: February 1, 2025. Tax rate: 3% annually on the land's market value, potentially amounting to tens of thousands of euros each year. Exemptions: Only active construction sites and certain agricultural lands qualify for relief. As part of its expansion strategy, Fitzpatrick & Heavey Homes is actively looking to acquire residentially zoned land in Kildare. The company welcomes discussions with landowners who wish to sell or explore partnership opportunities that will lead to the rapid development of much-needed housing. Mr Fitzpatrick added: This is a win-win solution. Landowners can avoid the financial strain of the tax, while we ensure that land is put to productive use - building homes for families and communities across Ireland. We encourage landowners to reach out to us as soon as possible to explore opportunities. For further information on Fitzpatrick & Heavey Homes see https://fitzheavey.com/ To discuss potential land sales, please contact Ciaran Fitzpatrick - ciaran@fitzheavey.com After 37 years in business, the time has come for Marie and John Ryan to retire from Straffan Design in Co Kildare. When Marie opened her shop on Main Street Clane, back in August 1988, they had no idea that their business would evolve and grow into the thriving family business that it is today, with Marie and John at the helm. Marie and John have had so many loyal customers over the last 37 years, they would like to thank each and every one of them for their tremendous support. Marie ran her business in Clane from 1988, where she sold pianos and furniture. Subsequently, the business expanded and re-launched as Maries Antiques & Pianos. In 1994, the Ryans purchased Barberstown House and Old Stone Farm Buildings. The sympathetic conservation and restoration began and continues to this day. Straffan Antiques & Design began its journey in its new home in Straffan in 2002, when it opened its doors at Barberstown. Marie and Johns daughter Niamh has managed Straffan Design for the past 20 years. This involved all aspects from sourcing and buying products, to the day to day running of the business. Over the last number of years, with Marie and Niamh working closely together, the business has specialised in Irish brands, including Ladies and Gents clothing, hand crafted Irish Giftware and has supported local and Artisan products. Straffan Design organized and hosted two major fashion shows in 2014 and 2018, that raised over 20,000 for local charities. READ NEXT: Property developer seeks land for over 200 homes in Kildare. In 2012, The Victorian Tea Rooms was opened by Marie and Johns son Eoin and daughter in law Siobhan. This brought a new generation of customers to share their journey and is hugely popular with locals and visitors. The Art Gallery was opened in 2015, featuring Irish artists, many local to the area. Straffan Antiques was taken over by Eoin in 2018. Eoin is now established as a major Antique Dealer in Ireland and last year, opened a second shop in Francis Street Dublins Antiques Quarter. In 2018, Grahame, their son in law, opened The Museum of Packaging and Advertising. This museum adds to the overall experience of the customers visit to Straffan Antiques and Design. The support from Eoin and Niamh, along with their spouses Siobhan and Grahame, has proved to be the backbone of the business over the last 20 years. Niamh established another business, Heartlands Orchard 18 months ago, which produces handmade chutneys and jams to several outlets. We wish her and her husband Grahame every success with this business venture. It is now time for the next generation to bring Straffan Design into its next chapter. So, as Marie and John retire from their hugely successful business, they will pass the baton to Eoin and Siobhan who will change and mould a new business model for the future. Eoin and Siobhan will take over and manage a whole new Shopping Experience, which will open in May 2025. We wish them every success in the future! A Fianna Fail Senator has raised in the Seanad the matter of illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains, Co Kildare. According to Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, last year there were 25 separate illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains, one of which consisted of as many as 35 caravans. Senator O'Loughlin, who has been vocal on the issue, previously brought forward a Private Member's Bill on the protection of the Curragh. She told the Seanad that the Curragh, consisting of 5,000 acres in the heartland of the country, is of great cultural, heritage and ecological importance. She said this week: I raise this issue again because while many of us acknowledge there have been many problems in the management of the Curragh, which has been under the auspices of the Department of Defence, and there have been by-laws to supposedly protect the Curragh, the present Curragh legislation is not fit for purpose. READ NEXT: Plans approved for massive 12.6m motor showroom in Kildare We have had many problems over recent years. This was especially the case last year when we had 25 separate illegal encampments, one of which consisted of as many as 35 caravans. This has caused major problems on the Curragh for those neighbouring the area and for businesses working on its edge, including hospitality businesses. The bills for the clean-ups have amounted to millions of euro over recent years. Last year alone, the cost was 200,000. It is very important that something is done. According to Senator O'Loughlin, the Department of Defence and Kildare County Council commissioned a survey and report on the Curragh, to which some 3,500 people responded. In December 2024, the then Tanaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheal Martin, published the proposed Curragh Plains conservation management plan and interpretation, branding and wayfinding plan. Senator O'Loughlin said: These were two extremely important plans to try to preserve the importance of the Curragh for all those who use it. One recommendation is that there would be a new management plan and a different organisation would take over the management of the Curragh. It is vitally important that work is done to ensure this happens. It is also extremely important as we approach St. Patrick's Day and Easter, when illegal encampments start, that we do not have a recurrence of what happened last year and in previous years. I would like to find out from the Minister of State what plans are in place for the short, medium and long term. Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and at the Department of Transport, Jerry Buttimer, responding to Senator O'Loughlin, said in relation to illegal encampments on the Curragh that the Department of Defence does not accept that those occupying the encampments have any right to reside on the Curragh Plains. As such, he said, the Department has engaged with the Chief State Solicitor's office, CSSO, in anticipation of any potential trespassing to ensure all legal steps are taken promptly to protect the plains. In the case of trespass or criminal damage, Deputy Buttimer stated, it is the responsibility of An Garda Siochana to police the situation, adding his Department has engaged with the force on the issue. With regard to long-term challenges in managing the Curragh Plains, Deputy Buttimer said that the Department of Defence is working to ensure we move to a modern and sustainable regulatory model in managing this historically important landscape. A top official in the National Transport Authority has told Kildare North Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly that it will be late 2026 or early 2027 before work on any construction can begin on DART+ West but only if the legal challenges can be resolved. The project to electrify the line from Dublin Connolly station to Maynooth was given the go-ahead when An Bord Pleanala approved the Railway Order in July 2024 after a two year deliberation. Hugh Creegan, the interim CEO of the NTA told Deputy Farrelly in reply to a parliamentary question that construction on the Railway Order cannot proceed until these proceedings have been adjudicated upon or withdrawn. READ NEXT: Kildare club announces glamorous gala ball in aid of leading charity Deputy Farrelly said: This project is a long over-due investment in transport infrastructure that will see twice as many trains serving the northern part of our county - serving up to 13,000 people per hour compared to 5,000 now. DART+ West is exactly the kind of investment that is needed to support the growing population of our communities in north Kildare, something successive governments have failed to do. The plans to create a new public realm at Preston Street in the North Inner City is now on hold. The plan by Irish Rail to construct a new entry/exit points that would link the outer platforms of Connolly Station to Amiens street a very much welcome. These works will enhance the commuter experience for not only Dart users on the Kildare western line but also the North/South lines." He added: "And it has the potential to significantly reduce traffic congestion by providing a convenient, accessible and reliable alternative mode of transport for the thousands of commuters who live in Kildare and work or study in Dublin, and vice versa. The legal challenges are being made by two companies in the Ashtown area who had expressed concerns at an An Bord Pleanala hearing that their operations could be significantly affected by land acquisition and road works associated with the project. It is believed the hearings will come before the High Court on June 23 next and could take up to three days. A delay could push the start of construction well into 2027 or beyond. The promotion of locally grown and produced food in Leitrim has been described as a crucial step in supporting farmers and enhancing agricultural opportunities. During Marchs Leitrim County Council meeting, Cllr Justin Warnock proposed a motion urging the Council to develop a strategy through the Local Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) to support and promote farm produce under an Origin Leitrim brand. The Leitrim farmer is without doubt the person who sustains our rural communities and is also one of the greatest economic drivers in this county, Cllr Warnock said. He highlighted successful initiatives like Taste Leitrim, acknowledging the promotion of local restaurants but emphasising the need to also promote locally produced food and encourage more food production. Discussing Leitrims rich agricultural potential, he stated, Leitrim is the only county in Ireland from top to bottom with land of high nature value. It supports biodiversity, and grazing is in good condition. We have over 2,400 farmers producing beef, lamb and milk. We have people growing fruit and vegetables as well.Its most unfortunate that when you walk into a restaurant that we havent got our Leitrim lamb or beef which I think would be good for the county, he added. He stressed the importance of retaining farmers on the land and creating opportunities for the next generation of young farmers. The motion received unanimous support. Cllr Eddie Mitchell described it as very important for the future of farming in Leitrim. If we want to have a sustainable population in rural Leitrim we have to support our farmers, he said. Cllr James Gilmartin echoed this, stating, A key thing for Leitrim people is their loyalty to Leitrim people, if they know theyre supporting local farmers its a real opportunity for future improvements of farming down the line. In response, the Economic Development department noted, This matter can be discussed at the next meeting of the Local Development SPC in the context of researching the concept of a ''Made in Leitrim'' campaign encompassing Leitrims Food and Creative Sector. READ MORE: Leitrim housing crisis: Councillors urge change to Croi Conaithe scheme Scollans Gala in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, is going green in a big way! The store has been awarded a Gala Greener Grant, a funding initiative designed to help retailers transition to sustainable technologies and cut down on energy use. The Gala Greener Grants, part of a 500,000 sustainability fund, support retailers in adopting eco-friendly solutions like solar panels, EV charging stations, and waste heat recovery systems. By 2030, Gala Retail will distribute this funding to stores across Ireland, driving real change in local communities. With this grant, Scollans Gala is installing a new refrigeration system that will slash energy consumption and reduce its carbon footprinta big win for the store and the planet! The upgrade is expected to save 47,624 kWh of energy per year, cutting CO2 emissions by 15 tonnes annuallythe equivalent of planting 773 trees. Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, praised the initiative: "Retailers are at the heart of their communities, and helping them go green is a priority for us. The Gala Greener Grants empower our retailers to invest in sustainability, ensuring a cleaner, greener Ireland. Scollans Gala is leading the way, and we can't wait to see the impact of these changes." Gala Retails push for sustainability highlights the increasing role of eco-conscious practices in convenience retail. By providing financial incentives, the company is making it easier for retailers to embrace innovationgood for business, great for the environment! READ MORE Urgent action called for on 'Shocking' audiology delays in Leitrim A Laois electrical engineering company has been fined 400,000 in relation to the death of a father of four in a workplace accident at a Dublin hospital seven years ago. However, the penalty handed down at the Central Criminal Court to the Portarlington company John Fletcher Ltd and a director led to anger in the courtroom with one member of the public describing the sentence as a 'f**king joke'. Emo native Alan Mulhall (34), lived in Portlaoise with his wife and children, when he was fatally injured when a low voltage switchgear weighing 760kg fell and struck his head while he was working at St Patrick's Hospital Dublin on November 23, 2017. John Fletcher Ltd, with offices in Portarlington, Co Laois entered guilty pleas to failing to discharge the duties of an employer as required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at work Act 2005, which resulted in the death of Mr Mulhall. The company also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to discharge the duties of an employer and one count of failing to take appropriate organisational measures to avoid the need for manual handling by its employees. David Fletcher (36), a director of the company, entered the guilty pleas on its behalf. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to discharge the duties of an employer. In her victim impact statement, Alan's wife Viki spoke about the impact. He was not given a job that day. He was handed a death sentence that we will carry for the rest of our lives. Health and Safety Authority (HSA) Inspector Kay Baxter told Eoghan Cole SC, prosecuting, that John Fletcher Ltd were contracted to carry out works at the hospital as part of a project to update a generator. David Fletcher of Main Street, Portarlington, was the company director with responsibility for this project, including health and safety, the court heard. Neither Fletcher nor the company have previous convictions. Mr Mulhall was an employee of John Fletcher Ltd, having started work as an apprentice electrician in 2001. He was a qualified electrician and had been promoted internally to a site supervisor role. The court heard that the accident occurred in a hospital plant room, during the movement of three low voltage switchgear, which were to be installed as part of the project to upgrade the generator. The HSA are critical of the risk involved in manually moving the switchgear to the plant room, but acknowledge it would not have been possible to use mechanical equipment in the room. Double doors which could also have been used to access the room were obstructed by a temporary generator at the time. These were later upgraded to allow for the equipment to be removed. Mr Cole told Judge Nolan that the State's position is that this work was carried out using an ill-conceived plan. The prosecution also does not accept that Mr Mulhall had the authority on the day to stop the work. The court heard that John Fletcher Ltd engaged with the HSA investigation, but initially denied any wrongdoing or responsibility. During the investigation, David Fletcher and John Fletcher suggested it was relevant that Mr Mulhall was not wearing a construction safety helmet at the time of the incident. However, the engineer's report concluded that this type of hat would have offered no protection from the injuries sustained by the victim. Alan Mulhall is survived by wife Vikki and children Jamie, Sean, Holly and Tom. In a victim impact statement, Mr Mulhall's widow told the court that everything her late husband did was for their family. Mrs Mulhall said he kissed her on the cheek that morning like he did every day on his way to work. He was not given a job that day. He was handed a death sentence that we will carry for the rest of our lives. She spoke of the pain and grief of their loss and its impact on her and their four young children. She said what happened could and should have been avoided. Mistakes cost me my husband and my childrens father, she said, later telling the court their lives had been shattered and would never be the same again. After seven long years of dragging us through courts, all we can hope for today is justice for this devastating and negligent crime. Mr Cole read a victim impact statement on behalf of Mr Mulhall's parents, siblings and sister-in-law. They said their lives were changed forever when they were told their beloved son had been killed. They said Mr Mulhall is greatly missed and is always in their minds and hearts. Michael Delaney SC, defending, said he is instructed to apologise for the breach of duty as an employer which led to Mr Mulhall's death. Counsel said it is now clear that the contract should have been re-done and changes made to the plant room to allow the task to be completed safely. He said the company's fault was that it didn't seek to have these issues addressed before exposing its employees to risk. An accountant's report on the company's financial position was submitted to the court. Mr Delaney said the company is profitable and has cash reserves, which are essential to secure large-scale projects. He said company directors take modest salaries, with David Fletcher's salary being around 60,000. Counsel said David Fletcher is married and has three children. He is an engineer and a grandson of John Fletcher - the company's founder. He had been a director since late 2016 and was relatively junior at the time. Judge Martin Nolan noted the devastating impact of Mr Mulhall's death on his family and described their victim impact statements as heartbreaking. This family will have to continue without the help and guidance of a very good man, the judge said, expressing the court's sympathies to the Mulhall family. He said his function was to do justice to John Fletcher Ltd and David Fletcher and said the evidence showed the plan to transport and unload this equipment was a totally misconceived idea. Anybody looking at it would say this was a very potentially dangerous exercise which was fraught with danger. He said the court was aware that the company was operating within a plan, but that the equipment should have been moved by mechanical means, instead of manually. The judge said he had taken into account the seriousness of the offence, the guilty pleas, and the previous good record when constructing the penalty. He noted that David Fletcher was the responsible director, but the court considered the company had the primary responsibility as the scheme for unloading these devices was particularly ill-conceived. READ MORE: ALERT: Thousands of children's flip flops recalled amid health concerns He imposed a fine of 400,000 on John Fletcher Ltd and fine of 5,000 on David Fletcher, both to be paid within six months. As sentence was finalised, voices shouted from the body of the court f**king joke, and do you not realise a man's life is gone. Ms Baxter told the court that these devices weighed between 330kg, around 600kg and the largest one was 760kg. The court heard the HSA recommends a safe load for one person to handle is approximately 25kg. The job on the day was to transport these devices to the hospital from the premises of John Fletcher Ltd. and to move them into the plant room in the hospital where they were due to be installed. Once this equipment was removed from the trailer, it had to be transported over 50 metres of uneven ground to the door, then moved down a corridor to a plant room. The court heard they then had to be manually lifted into the plant room. The court also heard that it was expected that the work would be carried out in a particular sequence outlined in the initial tender documents devised by another firm. Five site visits were conducted before the work was to be done, with David Fletcher attending four of these visits. The court heard the equipment was delivered to John Fletcher Ltd.s premises on November 21, then loaded onto a trailer using a forklift. The court heard that Mr Mulhall and three other John Fletcher Ltd employees arrived at the hospital at around 6am on November 23. The intention was to slide the low voltage switchgear from the trailer using scaffolding planks, then onto a dolly for transport to the plant room. The 330kg switchgear was moved first, with a plastic dolly breaking under its weight. It was then transported using a steel trolley to the plant room. Two contractors on site came to help move the second switchgear, the heaviest one. The court heard it took the six men approximately one hour forty minutes to move this piece of equipment from the trailer towards the plant room. At the plant room door, this switchgear, which was 2.1m tall, was manually tilted to fit through the 2m high door. Once inside the room, this switchgear had to be re-positioned before it was moved to its final installation point. A first attempt was unsuccessful. The low voltage switchgear was moved to another part of the room and as another attempt was made to move it into an upright position, it tipped over and struck Mr Mulhall, causing crush injuries to his head. Sketches recreating the transportation of the switchgear were shown to the court. The HSA started an investigation and a number of witnesses said they were unaware of any mechanical equipment to be used during this job. The devices were later removed from the plant room, using a set of double doors which were obstructed on November 23 by a temporary generator and other devices. Before the low voltage switchgear were removed using these double doors, the generator had to be moved and works carried out to increase the height of the doors. The Wexford-based manufacturer of the switchgear told the investigation that the devices could be partially disassembled to reduce the weight, which wasn't done in this instance. Ms Baxter said this would have reduced the weight of the device by approximately 200kg, but it still would have been very heavy. Ms Baxter agreed with Mr Delaney that the company had a specific contract in relation to the installation of a new generator. She further accepted that substantial works were carried out to allow devices to be moved from the plant room using the double doors. Ms Baxter confirmed that the investigators spoke to David Fletcher and John Fletcher, and both men made references to the construction helmet. She also said that David Fletcher had responsibility for the project and was interviewed in 2018 as part of the investigation. It was accepted that he said during the interviews that he discussed disassembling the devices with Mr Mulhall and said the double doors weren't used as they were too low. It was also accepted that David Fletcher told the investigation that he spoke with Mr Mulhall before the accident and suggested the use of a hydraulic pallet truck, and that Mr Mulhall indicated to him that he preferred the dolly. It was also agreed that there is no evidence that a hydraulic pallet truck was unavailable at the time. It was further agreed that an initial proposal made by the company's solicitors in 2022 was not acceptable, but pleas were entered in January last following discussions between both sides. The court heard that John Fletcher Ltd has been in operation since 1968 and directly employs around 60 employees. John Fletcher paid for Mr Mulhall's funeral, and continued to pay his salary to his widow for a period of time after his death. A lump sum was also paid from the pension scheme. The company also discharged the HSA's and prosecution's costs. Mr Delaney said the company acknowledged in its proposal to the prosecution in 2022 that the system for transporting and unloading was unsafe. He also asked the court to take into account the guilty pleas and previous good record when imposing sentence. The Prime Minister and Irish premier have pledged to work together in an uncertain world as they met ahead of the first in a series of annual summits. Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke at a reception at the Museum of Liverpool on Wednesday evening ahead of the first in a series of annual UK-Ireland summits due to take place in the city region on Thursday. Thanking the Prime Minister for his proactivity in resetting the British Irish relationship, Mr Martin said: While we gather here this week, we are conscious also that this is a changing and uncertain world and, in that context, the case for an active, engaged and close partnership between our two countries has never been greater. Relationships matter. The Irish British relationship matters greatly to all of us gathered here this evening. Ahead of St Patricks Day, the Prime Minister said he hoped the evening would be an early celebration of everything Irish and everything that binds the UK and Ireland together. He said: We can do much more when we work together with others and as Ive said before, I dont believe that the relationship between the UK and Ireland has ever reached its full potential and Im delighted that now, with this summit, were going to change all of that. What an opportunity. Referencing his visit to Ireland last September, he said: As the first visit by a UK Prime Minister in five years, and despite all of the turbulence in recent times, it was a reminder of just how strong those ties are that bind us together. It was a really important moment for me personally, but a really important moment for the United Kingdom and for Ireland to have that first visit so early in my tenure as Prime Minister. So, Im really delighted that the Irish delegation is here today to continue strengthening that friendship as we work to bring huge benefits to the people of both countries by delivering greater trade, prosperity and security. The event comes after both governments signalled a desire for a reset in relations, which had been put under strain throughout Brexit and the previous Conservative governments laws to deal with legacy issues of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram were among other politicians at the reception, along with business leaders and representatives of Irish community groups. On Thursday morning the two leaders will also host a round table with businesses across the tech, energy, construction and manufacturing sectors, which have operations on both sides of the Irish Sea. They are expected to agree what is being described as a wide-ranging programme of new and enhanced strategic co-operation between Ireland and the UK, to be taken forward by both governments through to 2030. Mr Martin will be joined by Irelands deputy premier Simon Harris, who is also the countrys defence and foreign affairs minister for the summit plenary meeting later on Thursday. The Irish delegation also includes Education Minister Helen McEntee, Climate, Energy and Transport Minister Darragh OBrien, and Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jim OCallaghan. Conor McGregor was the author of his own misfortune by reposting comments from a man who said CCTV footage from the mixed martial artists trial would be released, an Irish judge said, while determining that no further order was necessary. Mr McGregor now faces an additional legal bill after previously being ordered by an Irish court not to share the CCTV footage which was used in the civil case against him. Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim for damages against Mr McGregor after accusing the professional fighter of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Ms Hand, 35, was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial last year in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault. In January, a judge at the High Court in Dublin said the jury had conclusively determined that Mr McGregor had raped Ms Hand and made an order directing the fighter not to disseminate CCTV footage used in the trial and to give back or destroy any copies he had. It came after newspapers reported on social media, comments that claimed the footage would be released that month. The comments were attributed to Gabriel Ernesto Rapisarda, who Mr Justice Alexander Owens said was a business associate of Mr McGregor. Mr Justice Owens ordered Mr McGregor to make a sworn statement setting out in detail how he deleted the footage. Ms Hands lawyers applied for an injunction preventing Mr McGregor from disseminating the footage. The footage shows Mr McGregor, Ms Hand, the second named defendant James Lawrence and Ms Hands colleague in the car park and lift of the Beacon Hotel on the day and evening of the incident. It shows footage of the group before and after Mr McGregor assaulted Ms Hand. The footage was played multiple times during the trial and had been put into evidence by Mr McGregors defence team. On Thursday, the High Court in Dublin heard that Mr McGregor had completed multiple affidavits on the matter. However, John Gordon SC, for Ms Hand told Mr Justice Owens that he believed Mr McGregor was still in breach of the order. The judge said the gist of the order was that Mr McGregor was to delete the material he had on his own machines, return fobs to his solicitor, and make efforts to retrieve the material from anyone else he gave it to if he had done so. Mr Gordon said it was his view that the affidavits did not fulfil all those requirements because he claimed that while Mr McGregor said he did not release the material, he had not indicated that he did not cause the material to be received by someone else. He hasnt said he hasnt caused anybody to receive it, which is a different thing entirely. Mr Justice Owens asked Remy Farrell SC, for Mr McGregor, if it was his position that his client had done everything in relation to the order, to which the barrister replied in the affirmative. The court heard that in one of the affidavits, Mr McGregor acknowledged that he was already bound by an implied undertaking that material for a case would not be misused or disseminated. The court heard that the affidavits contain assurances that Mr McGregor states he never had a conversation that he would improperly give the CCTV footage to Mr Rapisarda nor had he shown it to him. However, Mr Gordon told the court that Mr McGregors affidavits were simply at odds with his decision to share Mr Rapisardas claims to his 10 million followers online. He said Mr McGregor had therefore adopted and promoted Mr Rapisardas rhetoric. Mr Justice Owens said reposting the claims was perhaps not the wisest thing to do. He is the author of his own misfortune because he gave currency to the thing. The judge said the matter might have otherwise all blown over. Mr Justice Owens said that in previous hearings he wasnt prepared to take any chances with him. However, following the affidavits, he said he had no reason to believe what he says isnt true. He agreed with Mr Gordon that there was a certain economy with the words in the affidavits but added: He doesnt waffle on. Mr Justice Owens said all Mr McGregor was required to do was put in the affidavit, which he said contained an acknowledgement of implied undertaking not to misuse the material. He said he had to rely on affidavits from people generally, adding: Im not a private detective or whatever. The judge said that whatever urgency might have existed in January when this erupted and when Mr McGregor was running with the ball had seemed to have blown over since. Mr Gordon argued that that was because of the action taken by the legal team following the threat of publication. If we hadnt, this would have been all over the media in Italy since the middle of January, thankfully it hasnt been. Mr Justice Owens reiterated that Mr McGregor was the author of his own misfortune and brought this application on himself. He said it was inevitable he was going to bring this kind of trouble by reposting Mr Rapisardas comments which gave some currency to the thing. However, he said he was satisfied with his explanation and that any further injunction would be completely unnecessary. He said: I am happy it has been nipped in the bud. He added: I dont see there is any necessity to give any further injunction or injunction at all. Mr Justice Owens said he would award costs relating to the CCTV matters against Mr McGregor. Mr Farrell asked for a stay and the judge told him it was open for an appeal. Ms Hand had sought damages from James Lawrence for assault, but she lost that part of her case. The court previously heard that Mr McGregor faces a 1.3 million euro bill for legal costs in the case, on top of damages of almost 250,000 euros which were previously awarded. There is over 140,000 in outstanding fines owed to Leitrims only court, Carrick-on-Shannon District Court, since 2020, according to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu. The figures that Ni Mhurchu obtained from the Irish Court Service under the Freedom of Information Act also showed that there is 45 million in outstanding fines nationally. The amount of outstanding fines to a court include are partly paid fines, fines due for payment in the future, and those overdue for payment. Despite having fines of over 100,000, the Carrick-on-Shannon district was one of the most compliant areas in the country. Dublin topped the list with 13.3 million in unclaimed fines, followed by Limerick (3.4M), Cork (3.2M), Galway (2.4M), and Bray (1.4M). Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, a former barrister, has described the extraordinary amount of unpaid district court fines in Ireland as a slap in the face to the victims of their crimes. What does this say to the victims who have been impacted by crimes such as drunk driving, assault, theft, and shoplifting? We are imposing fines that a percentage of criminals are choosing to ignore, and it seems there is little we are doing about it. 45 million would fund a lot of domestic violence refuges, road safety campaigns and extra Garda on our streets. It is time for a get tough approach to those criminals who feel they are above the law. Ni Mhurchu argues that the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014, which came into force on the 11th of January 2016, is not working when it comes to the recovery of most outstanding fines. The act allowed those convicted to pay fines in instalments. Under the act, if fines are not paid, the possible penalties are attachment of earnings for unpaid fines, community service, the appointment of receivers to recover fines, and imprisonment. READ MORE: Higher turbines gets go ahead in Leitrim windfarm You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Cllr. Counselor Tiawan Saye Gongloe and ALCOD delegation: Mr. Meshach Sherman, Sharman Rev. Marcus Sharman of The Union of Liberian Associations in Ghana (ULAG), Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, ALCOD Co-Chairman Kingston Wleh from the European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA) and Professor Willie Kim Kamara, President, Conference of Liberian Organizations in the Southwestern United States (COLOSUS) Partial view of the double headed locomotives, now transporting ore from Nimba to Buchanan because of the increase in the amount of ore extracted. Submit An Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Go to form Between the Lines of President Trumps Speech on USAID Funding to Liberia Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. THE Court of Appeal sat in Limerick for the first time this Thursday. The court will also sit in Limerick Courthouse, Mulgrave Street on Friday to hear a number of criminal appeals. The Court of Appeal occupies a jurisdictional tier between the High Court and the Supreme Court. Its main function is to hear appeals from the High Court, both civil and criminal. A spokesperson for the Courts Service said this is the first time the Court of Appeal has sat in Limerick, and is a sign that the judges of the courts are bringing traditionally centralised courts to various regions. The six judges, led by Limerick native Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, Ms Justice Tara Burns and Ms Justice Nuala Butler were made to feel at home in their new surroundings. Barrister John OSullivan, who prosecutes on behalf of the State in Limerick, said: We welcome you to Limerick, the first time this court has sat in the historic city of Limerick. He spoke of the convenience of all parties concerned, particularly for the (local) victims of crime, that the court sits here. I hope and expect it is the first of many visits to Limerick, said Mr OSullivan. President of the Limerick Bar Association Darach McCarthy, solicitor, told the court that it was vitally important that the administration of justice was not only achieved but that it was seen to be achieved so near to where the crime is committed. Mr McCarthy said he too hoped this will be the start of regular sittings of the Court of Appeal here in Limerick. On behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Limerick State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, formally welcomed the six judges, describing it as an historic occasion. In response, Mr Justice Edwards said: We are somewhat taken by surprise of these warm words which we greatly appreciate. "We all regard Limerick with great affection, and I would certainly endorse the views expressed, that it is a good thing that the Appeal Court does sit (outside Dublin) as it does bring justice closer to the victims. Mr Justice Edwards concluded by saying, We feel very welcome and we are delighted to be here. I think this will be the first of many visits for the court. Youll have to send us the business. READ MORE: New professor appointed at a Limerick school of law to be 'role model' for students The Courts Service spokesperson said the use of the now world class facilities across the country, including in Limerick, means that courts such as the Central Criminal Court and the Court of Appeal, can reduce the need for gardai and other witnesses to travel and maybe have to stay in Dublin, and also reduces the need to transport prisoners to the Criminal Courts Of Justice in Dublin. The staffing of these settings are supported by the Court of Appeal office and registrars. These arrangements mean the courts are using as much of our estate of buildings as they can - and this helps the flow of cases from becoming backlogged, if the court rooms centrally are in full use, concluded the Courts Service spokesperson. Penneys has opened its first ever standalone homewares store in Belfast. Operated as Primark outside the Republic of Ireland, Primark Home has opened at Donegall Place in Belfast and welcomed its first customers on Thursday, March 6. Located just 100 yards from Primarks flagship Bank Buildings store in Belfast, the new store spans 8,700 sq. ft across one floor where customers can discover an expanded range of stylish homeware and lifestyle essentials to give their home a glow-up. Fintan Costello, Head of Primark Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: This is a big moment for the Primark brand and a big moment for Belfast too. Primark and Belfast have a storied history and were incredibly proud the city will be the first in the world to experience this exciting new retail concept. In the same way our fashion collections are helping create wardrobes that look and feel great, Primark Home will offer a wider range of quality homeware and lifestyle products to help our customers create stand-out interiors. We cant wait to welcome customers through our doors. READ NEXT: 'The support has blown me away' says father of boy with rare illness as they fundraise for UK treatment He added: "Ever since the reopening of our Bank Buildings store, the shoppers of Belfast have really embraced Primark and we're incredibly proud to bring further investment to the city in return. The opening of this standalone store has also given us the opportunity to enhance Bank Buildings, where we can now offer bigger and better kids and menswear departments." As Paula Shinners, Conacks Director of Communications, celebrates her ten-year anniversary with the company, she reflects on her journey and the significant transformations she has witnessed. In 2015, during her initial meeting with joint Managing Directors Kieran Cusack and Tom O'Connor, she recalls asking about Conack's reputation. She was told the company was a small, local construction firm eager to gain recognition. At that time, Conack had a team of 30 employees, male, with only one female staff member. Fast forward to today, and Conack has grown to employ over 200 professionals across four offices. Women are now at the heart of the company's success, holding crucial roles across various departments. From plant management, overseeing company-owned and hired equipment, to leadership positions such as Senior Estimators, Quantity Surveyors, Health & Safety Officers, and HR Managers, women are making substantial contributions. Even in traditionally male-dominated fields like crane operation, women are excelling, which reflects Conack's ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion. Corporate Support Services Building in Carlow, completed for our client SETU ( South East Technological University ) Ireland A key factor in Conacks success is its focus on supporting the well-being of its employees. Paula emphasizes that the company values both professional and personal growth, fostering a work environment where each person is encouraged to thrive. This is evident in Conacks initiatives, including regular Toolbox Talks on mental and physical health and a healthy eating program that provides fresh seasonal fruit each week. Employees also have access to confidential discussions with trained mental health counselors, creating a supportive atmosphere within the company. Paula, originally from Limerick City, has witnessed the regions evolving skyline, with major projects such as 1BQ, Colbert Station, Crescent Comprehensive, and Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh being completed in 2024. Conacks reputation for excellence extends beyond construction, with the companys award-winning Health & Safety Department and its projects receiving recognition at prestigious industry events for the Moxy Hotel Dublin and Cork, Cherrywood TC1 Dublin, and many others. Looking ahead, the company's project pipeline remains strong for 2025 and 2026. We are currently on site at the Dexcom Stadium for Connacht Rugby in Galway, and construction has begun on the Marina Depot in Cork, with other projects due to commence over the coming weeks, both locally and throughout the rest of the country. The Education Sector is one key contributor to Conack's success, where Paula notes the increasing adoption of modular forms of construction. Were seeing more schools opting for modular setups, which are becoming the preferred choice due to their efficiency. Offsite construction has essentially become a plug-and-play system, making installations seamless. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Paula is optimistic about the future for women in construction. The sky is the limit, she says. Conacks partnerships with educational institutions like TUS and UL, along with collaborations with the Regional Skills Network and other training bodies, ensure equal opportunities for students and graduates, regardless of gender. Every brick laid and every beam raised is a testament to the collective creativity and dedication of the people involved, Paula reflects. She also emphasizes how construction shapes communities, creating jobs and fostering economic growth. Construction provides spaces where people live, work, and play, and a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for people. Organizations like Women in Construction Ireland (WICI) are working to support women through tailored training, mentorship, and advocacy. Paulas leadership and impact were recognized in 2024 when she was named a finalist for the Women in Construction Awards, a testament to her contributions to the sector. Paula is grateful for the support of her female colleagues. Conack wouldnt be where it is today without the dedication and talent of the incredible women I work with every day, she says. She also highlights the vital role of the companys front-office team, singling out Mary and Sheila, both approaching their ten-year milestones, for their instrumental role in keeping Conack running smoothly. Ranked 13th in Irish Building Magazines list of Irelands Top 50 Main Contractors for 2024 and the recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2022, Conack continues to grow and succeed. Ive been personally involved in every step of this journeyand it remains an exciting one, Paula reflects. Paulas journey and the achievements of professionals like her not only highlight the indispensable role of women in construction but also serve as an inspiration for future generations. None of this would be possible without the incredible support of both my female and male colleagues, Paula concludes. *Sponsored Content THE SEARCH for the 2025 Limerick Rose of Tralee is on! Launched by 2023 Limerick Rose Molli-Ann O'Halloran at the Limerick Rose Centre's sponsor hotel, the Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa in Adare, this year's selection will take place on Sunday, May 18, with young women aged between 18 and 29 urged to apply now. The Limerick Rose Selection only comes around every two years, so this is your last chance to enter until 2027 to represent the Treaty County at the internationally renowned Rose of Tralee Festival, in Co Kerry this August. READ ALSO: 'Wonderful buzz' in Limerick village as arrangements made to collect 2.6m Lotto win Suzan OGara, coordinator, said: We encourage any woman aged 18 to 29 with an Irish heritage who is interested in taking part to simply apply and ignore any worries they may have! I can understand completely that there may be natural underlying nerves or a shyness in people to put themselves in for the event, but I always say once youve sent the application in the hardest part is over! From there on out it is simply an adventure, where you can really appreciate your county and the goodness of people within it and celebrate yourself and the young women alongside you, and you will never experience anything like it anywhere else again. This year's Limerick Rose Selection will take place once again in the Woodlands Hotel, who have sponsored the event for several years. The chosen Limerick Rose is supported by local businesses, dress shops and designers, providing pieces for the Rose throughout her journey, including the newest designer to join the team - Mary OSullivan. 2023 Rose Molli-Ann wore a Mary OSullivan designed dress for the launch, designed with Limerick in mind, with fine art prints of King Johns Castle among other scenes from historical Limerick city printed on the dress. Molli-Ann has had a phenomenal couple of years so far and has done so much good work while wearing the Limerick sash, Ms OGara said. It all starts though with that little Apply Now button! LIMERICK Civic Trust will this weekend hold an art exhibition celebrating International Women's Day. The People's Museum of Limerick, located at number two Pery Square in the city centre, will play host to the event. Titled Limerick Women in Art 2025, the exhibition kicks off at 6pm this Friday, March 7, and will continue throughout the weekend until Monday, March 10. READ MORE: 'Children as young as 11 lured with expensive goods to ferry drugs in Limerick More than 70 artists are featured - many well-known names, and some new talent. "The exhibition is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution and huge talent of Limericks women artists, while also marking International Womens Day," said the chair of Limerick Civic Trust, Elenora Hogan. We are delighted with the enthusiastic response, and would hope to see the exhibition grow in future years. In a break from the norm, the People's Museum of Limerick will be open on Monday, between 10am and 4pm. Normally, it's closed the first day of the working week. The museum will close at 8pm on Friday night, following the launch at 6pm. Normal opening hours, as outlined below, are being observed in the facility. Friday March 7 exhibition launches at 6pm, open until 8pm Saturday, March 8 - 10am to 4pm Sunday, March 9 - 12noon to 4pm Monday, March 10 - 10am to 4pm AstraZeneca India has seen its profit and revenue jump in the past year, driven by a robust product portfolio focused on cancer and non-communicable diseases. The drugmaker's British-Swedish parent has already received 14 product approvals in the past two years, and aims to expedite more launches to bolster its business in India, a top company official said. Our first strategy is to bring innovative medicine faster into the country, which otherwise [patients] would go to other parts of the developed world to buy," Sanjeev Panchal, managing director of AstraZeneca India, told Mint in an interview. The company reported a robust set of numbers for the December quarter of FY25, with its profit nearly doubling year-on-year to 30.8 crore and its Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margin expanding sharply from 4.9% to 17.5%. Its revenues grew 44% to 440.3 crore. The company's quarterly performance was boosted by increased product sales, especially in its oncology portfolio, which contributed 62% to its overall revenues of 1,330 crore in FY24. AstraZeneca Pharma India stock rose about 1% to settle at 7,354.35 on the BSE on Wednesday. You are clearly seeing growth which is high double-digit in the past yearand we believe that we will continue to have strong growth as we go ahead because we have more assets and new indications in the pipeline," Panchal said. The parent company has a global ambition of introducing 20 new assets (new medicines, or new indications of existing drugs) into the world by 2030. We would want to bring as many products as possible out of this global pipeline into India as well." Cancer focus With Indias cancer burden rising, AstraZeneca is banking on bringing innovative drugs to meet the countrys needs. In the past year, AstraZeneca secured regulatory approvals to bring some key cancer drugs into the country. Its breast cancer drug Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (brand name Enhertu), launched in January 2024, emerged as the top-selling new drug brand last year. According to IQVIA data, AstraZeneca had the highest sales among new introductions at 57.9 crore from a single brand, Enhertu. The drug reflects the companys focus on pioneering scientific innovation, Panchal said. Enhertu was granted breakthrough designation by the US drug regulator Food and Drug Administration (FDA), highlighting its scientific innovation and potential relevance to meeting the needs of breast cancer patients. Also Read: Metropolis Healthcare amps up North India play with Agra lab chain acquisition Its lung cancer drug Osimertinib (Tagrisso), continues to be its best-selling oncology brand by sales. Another drug Durvalumab (Imfinzi), used to treat lung cancer, demonstrated robust growth last year. According to a report by HDFC Securities, the oncology market in India is forecast to grow by $947.8 million during 2022-27, at CAGR of 13.5%. The growth is likely to be driven by early diagnosis of patients, continuous introduction of new drugs, improved accessibility to innovative cancer medications, and extended treatment durations for medicines. Apart from oncology, AstraZeneca is also focusing on the rare diseases, respiratory, and cardiovascular segments to boost the product pipeline. Competition from local players While the drugmaker has clocked robust sales from its oncology portfolio, Indian generics players have been quick to enter the market as well. Mint reported earlier that Biocon and Cadila Healthcare have signed up under the governments production linked incentive scheme to produce Trastuzumab. As more players enter the market, prices are expected to fall. While Panchal did not comment on pricing strategy, he pointed out that the company is banking on bringing newer innovations which arent available to continue its momentum. The company is looking at strategic partnerships as the market gets more competitive. Last year, it inked a partnership with Mankind Pharma for distribution of its asthma drug Symbicort. The company will continue to evaluate partnerships for certain drugs which need to be made more accessible, where it can leverage the distribution network of a domestic player, Panchal said. At the same time, we also need to build an ecosystem, because when you have new science in oncology, the science is moving very fast," Panchal said. The company has joined hands with the state governments of Goa and Karnataka for early cancer detection and screening initiatives. For us, bringing innovative medicine faster is [the] important thing, and on the way, we see how we can improve access and affordabilityrather than wait for long to get the right price," Panchal added. Nestle, the world's largest coffee company, has launched a Nespresso boutique in Delhi's Nexus CityWalk mall, targeting India's affluent consumers. The boutique offers Nespresso coffee machines, priced from 16,500, and coffee pods. This is the start of us tapping into a thriving coffee culture here in India. Young consumers are exposed to coffee through different trends on social media, but also coffee shops that open up. This was not a reality 15-20 years ago. Obviously they expect that from brands like ours too, and they also want to be able to replicate those at home," said Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nespresso, speaking to media in the capital on Thursday. Nespresso and Nestle India have appointed Thakral Innovations Pvt Ltd as their official distribution partner in India that will cover the full range of Nespresso coffee products across all channels. Headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in 93 markets via a global retail network of 791 boutiques as of 2023. More stores will come up in Mumbai and other top metros, according to the company. Nespresso coffee is priced at a premium to regular instant coffee and lets consumers make cafe-style coffee at home. Consumers can use Nespresso podsmost of which use high-end Arabica coffee beansto make their coffee. Beyond the machine itself, Nespresso pods in India are priced at 95 per single-serve capsule, sold in packs of ten or more. This contrasts sharply with Nestle's instant coffee sachets, which retail for as little as 5. Navratil who was appointed as CEO of Nespresso last year said the brand also has a strong business-to-business vertical that serves hotels, offices and corporate lounges etc. The vertical has become a big-growth driver globally. "There are a lot of opportunities in hotels, five-star hotels, business lounges in hotelsgiven the number of hotels here. Im convinced that in the long run this is going to be a large market for Nespresso," he added. Cafe culture India's cafe culture has flourished over the past decade, with established chains like Cafe Coffee Day joined by international and domestic specialty coffee brands such as Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Blue Tokai, and Third Wave. This growth aligns with the India coffee chain market's projected 8.1% CAGR from 2024 to 2033, with market size expected to rise to $323.8 million from $160.6 million. Navratil, however, refrained from providing specific growth projections for Nespresso in India, citing the market's "white space" potential. Also Read: Premiumization and new categories to drive growth for US Polo Assn in India With the establishment of Nespresso in Indiawe are helping grow the coffee category as a whole, we will premuimize the category. In India, it's still a penetration game and convincing more and more households to drink coffee," he added. India is one of the very fast growing coffee markets for the company. Nescafe, for instance, has introduced its coffee to over 30 million Indian households in the past seven years expanding household penetration, according to the company's annual reports. India is among the top 20 coffee markets for Nestle globally. In the December quarter, Nestle Indias powdered and liquid beverages business (including coffee) was the largest growth contributor to the companys quarterly revenues, clocking in a high double-digit growth. Total sales were up 3.9% to 4,762.1 crore during the quarter. It sells coffee brands such as Nescafe Classic, Sunrise and Nescafe Gold. Nestle is the worlds largest coffee companythe category makes up over a quarter of Nestles global sales. The property market in the National Capital Region (NCR) has witnessed a clean-up and turnaround in recent times. Now, a new crisis seems to have hit the market, with allegations of cheating and defrauding of homebuyers doing the rounds. Mint explains: What is the latest controversy? Last week, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the NCR premises of two developersthe WTC Group and Bhutani Infraand their promoters. First information reports filed by the Economic Offences Wing alleged cheating, criminal breach of trust and defrauding of hundreds of homebuyers. Documents worth over 3,500 crore, collected from investors against projects in NCR, were found. Buyers were lured into investing, but the money was allegedly siphoned off and the projects were undelivered. Documents that ED found also showed transactions and transfer of assets between the two groups. Read more: Real estate companies fund-raise ammo to fuel growth Hasnt the NCR been hit by scandals earlier? A string of real estate scandals had rocked NCR over the last decade. Some of the regions largest developers engaged in years of unchecked real estate expansion, a land-buying frenzy, and diversion of funds away from projects. Hundreds of home projects moved at a snails pace, or were never delivered. But, things changed post the covid-19 pandemic, as there was a revival in customer demand after a prolonged slowdown. Developers benefited from a bull run and the return of investors. Reputed builders earned the confidence of buyers yet again. The latest controversy, now, opens up a can of worms. How have the two firms responded to the ED raids? Noida-based Bhutani had inked a memorandum of understanding with the WTC for a property transaction. Post the raids, Bhutani issued clarifications saying it had severed all ties with WTC in February, and has no financial or operational connections. It said it is co-operating with the ED in its investigation. The WTC Group is yet to issue a clarification. Read more: How small town Jewar became a booming real estate market What have been the consequences? On Tuesday, the World Trade Centres Association (WTCA), which licences the WTC brand globally, said it has scrapped 13 licences held by WTC Noida Development and Spire Techpark due to multiple violations of their agreements. The termination is applicable to the licences held for WTCs in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Faridabad, GIFT City, Noida among others. WTC Noida Development and Spire Techpark were found to have affected the (WTC) brands reputation", WTCA stated. Could this impact market sentiment? Two promoters of M3M India, a developer in Gurugram, were arrested by the ED in 2023 in a money laundering case before the Supreme Court gave them bail. This didnt impact the Gurugram market, or investors or homebuyer confidence. Market analysts cite this to say a single event is unlikely to change market dynamics. Nonetheless, NCR has an overload of stressed projects. While some are still stalled, others are getting resolved. Things are improving but at a slow pace, as per PropEquity, a research firm. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 is blamed for deepening the Great Depression. Dont tell that to the Trump administration, which just unveiled the toughest tariffs in almost a century. Investors see the new tariffs as threatening the economy, and stocks have gyrated wildly in recent days. President Donald Trump has slapped tariffs of 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada, plus an extra 10% tariff on Chinese imports, with a threat of more to come. Every fresh tidbit of news sends jumpy traders in a new direction. But, then, who can blame them? Smoot-Hawley happened decades before they were born. Enacted eight months after the Wall Street crash of 1929 and pushed by President Herbert Hoover as necessary protection for American farmers and workers, Smoot-Hawley was actually a product of the precrash good times. When congressional discussions began in 1928, the stock market was reaching new highs almost daily, much as it has in 2023 and 2024. Smoot-Hawley was a Republican proposal, though Congress split along regional lines, with debate centering on the eternal question: Are the protections that tariffs provide to workers and industry worth the price increases that everyone else must pay? In April 1929, amid congressional hearings on the tariff, The Wall Street Journal found all the arguments unconvincing. But it did come up with one conclusion, as true today as it was then. [N]othing and nobody anywhere is without a tangible interest in the tariff question," the Journal wrote, not an industry, or a business, or a home, or an investment anywhere can escape the effects produced by changes in tariffs." A tariff is a tax placed on imports and paid by domestic importers. In the U.S., tariffs are collected by Customs and Border Protection at the port entry. Who ultimately pays the tariff depends. The importer could seek a concession from its foreign partner, who might accept a smaller profit margin as the cost for remaining in the U.S. market. The importer, too, may eat part of the tax. But some of the price increase is almost always borne by the consumer. Tariff proponents call this a feature, not a bug. Eliminating low-cost imports allows U.S. businesses and farmers to compete on a level playing field, protecting good American jobs. This is what Trump argues today, and Hoover argued a century ago. So, what happens next? In 1930, the international reaction to Smoot-Hawley was swift and severe. Canadian Tariff Increases Hit American Exports," Barrons wrote June 8, 1931, as Ottawa enacted its third upward revision" since Smoot-Hawley. It covered 174 items, a third of all American exports to its northern neighbor, including a 30% levy on midprice cars and 40% on luxury models. Canada was hardly alone. Barrons reported that, in 1930 alone, 45 countries raised their tariffs on U.S. products. U.S. big business sounded the alarm. Hard-headed industrialists" joined with professors of economics and doctors of politics" in opposing Smoot-Hawley, the Christian Science Monitor wrote on June 25, 1931. Among those speaking out were the president of the Pennsylvania railroad, Boston store owner Edward Filene, heads of cotton and textile merchants associations, and car makers Henry Ford of Ford Motor and Alfred P. Sloan of General Motors. We cant expect to do all the selling and have the other fellow do all the buying," said future J.P. Morgan chairman Thomas W. Lamont in 1931, the other fellow" being Americas trade partners. The logic behind the retaliatory trade measures was summed up by British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. A tariff, among other things, is one of the quickest and most effective weapons to induce other countries to lower their tariff walls," said Baldwin, a confirmed protectionist himself. Whether or not Baldwins retaliatory tactics were the reason, the trade walls erected by Smoot-Hawley were torn down by the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934. This allowed the president to negotiate bilateral agreements and served as a framework for the multilateral agreements that dominated the post-World War II free trade" world. Today, the consensus argument is that Smoot-Hawley and its retaliatory responses worsened the Great Depression by choking off trade just when the world economy needed it most. Not everyone agrees. Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Representative during Trumps first term and an architect of his trade policies, has written that Smoot-Hawley had little if any impact on the economic crisis of the early 1930s" amid larger forces at play. Yet, in a sense, Baldwin was right. It took a depression and another world war, but the tariff walls were eventually lowered globally, and something close to a level playing field was created. Not everyone plays by the rules anymore, argues Trump, and the global-trading system needs a reset to once more level out that playing field. Hopefully this time we wont need a depression and world war to see it happen. Write to editors@barrons.com WASHINGTONTrump administration officials have been holding face-to-face talks with Hamas officials in Qatar in an effort that focused on securing the release of remaining American hostages held by the militant group , U.S. and Arab officials said Wednesday. The talks are a good faith effort to do whats right for the American people," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing. There are American lives at stake," she added. The discussions mark the first publicly acknowledged talks between Washington and the U.S.-designated terror group since the start of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023. The initial contact occurred last month in Doha, Qatar, and included a request by U.S. hostage negotiator Adam Boehler for the release of American hostages, according to two U.S. officials, a senior Hamas official and two Arab mediators. Hamas responded on Feb. 15 by freeing Israeli-American Sagui Dekel Chen. But the U.S. was seeking the release of all remaining American hostages, including the remains of deceased prisoners, as an initial step by Hamas. One living American, 21-year-old Edan Alexander, and four bodies of slain American citizens remain in Gaza. Hamas negotiators said they were willing to release them in a broader deal ending the war, the Arab officials said. U.S. negotiators voiced interest in a deal that would allow the release of all remaining hostages dead or alive, but made no commitments, they added. The two sides didnt reach an agreement in the meeting or in a subsequent one, but left the door open for further talks, the Arab officials said. The U.S. has previously communicated with Hamas representatives through intermediaries in lengthy cease-fire talks during the Biden administration. Leavitt said that Israel was consulted about the talks. Boehler, she said, "does have the authority to talk to anyone." Arab officials said Israel had not been informed by the U.S. ahead of the meetings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office issued a statement that read in its entirety: Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas." Trump has signaled impatience with the staged releases under the cease-fire deal that his own representative helped negotiate before he took office. Trump said last month he wanted the release of all the hostagesall of them, not in dribs and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two." A gold card" is planned for wealthy investors but an existing immigration program known as EB-5 may be ending. When President Donald Trump announced plans last week to introduce a gold card" that wealthy investors who want to be U.S. citizens can buy for $5 million, he also said he would scrap a different 35-year-old investor immigration program. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described that existing programknown as EB-5as poorly overseen, poorly executed," during Trumps first cabinet meeting on Feb. 26. Several high-profile cases of fraud and misuse of funds had plagued EB-5 for years, but Congress tightened oversight of the program significantly when it was reauthorized through bipartisan legislation in 2022. Immigration specialists and proponents of the current program welcome Trumps new gold card as a vehicle for attracting wealthy individuals across the world, but they dont see why it cant be offered alongside EB-5 (which stands for employment-based fifth preference). The programs would serve different purposes and different people. As Trump envisions it, proceeds from the $5 million gold card fee would go straight to the U.S. Treasury, providing a needed source of income to pay down the nations deficit. Applicants would have to be wealthy enough to part with $5 million forever. The EB-5 program is after a different demographicindividuals who invest $800,000 in an economic development project designed to create jobs in a rural community or an area with high unemployment. (Projects in wealthier areas require an investment of $1.05 million). Applicants who successfully complete the programproving their investment generated at least 10 jobsare issued a green card and get their money back. The market for a gold card versus the market for an EB-5 visa is incredibly differentthey can exist side by side and even augment one another," said Aaron Grau, executive director of Invest in the USA, a nonprofit trade association for professionals serving the EB-5 market. Trump said he would replace the EB-5 visa with a gold card within two weeks, which would be the week of March 10. Proponents of the current program hope that the administration at least allows it to continue until reauthorization runs out in 2027, particularly given the pipeline of economic investment fueled by EB-5 that is under way, said Basil Mohr-Elzeki, managing partner with immigration specialist Henley & Partners North America. The U.S. wouldnt want to give that up." It wont be that simple to do away with EB-5 and initiate a new program in two weeks. Congress has authority over immigration law, which cant be altered by executive order, according to Shae Armstrong, a lawyer with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, which represents EB-5 project developers. Armstrong, who has worked on about 100 projects in the last two years, also doesnt see any reason to do away with EB-5. The reforms enacted by the 2022 reauthorization vastly improved oversight. Under current law, investor dollars that are pooled to fund a project must be audited annually by a third party or overseen by a third-party administratorthe route the majority of projects take, Armstrong told Barrons. The administrator wont allow the money to flow into a project unless there is evidence of a bona fide business expense," he said. It provides transparency to investors, the governmenteveryone involved." The process also prevents bad actors from commingling funds with other projects or with their own personal accounts. One of the most notorious abuses of the program was a multimillion-dollar fraud executed by three individuals in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont beginning in 2008 that involved eight EB-5 projects, including the Jay Peak ski report and a biomedical research park that was supposed to be built nearby Newport, Vt. The park was a complete fraud," according to a March 2024 report by the Vermont state auditor, while construction of the other seven projects was done but not always to the specifications or at the costs told to the investors." The victims were non-U. S. citizens who entered into the government EB-5 program to invest in a viable commercial enterprise in the country as a path toward getting a green card, the report said. We cant run away from the fact that, in the past, there have been bad actors," Grau told Barrons, but Congress took a hard look at the program and put serious integrity measures in place that have fundamentally changed the program." Given the measures enacted in 2022, and the bipartisan support it garners in both houses of Congress, Grau doesnt believe EB-5 will be scrapped. One reason Congress supports the program is because it has generated more than 1.4 million jobs and more than $55 billion in economic development since it began, largely through major projects in economically underserved areas across the country, according to Grau. Dozens of real estate and infrastructure developers across the country have relied on EB-5 investors for the construction of hotels, apartment buildings, stadiums, interstate interchanges, and other projects across the country. The program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security, while the State Department issues visas and the Securities and Exchange Commission has some oversight. Commerce doesnt play a role. Some of the projects cited by Invest in the USA include a multiple-phase expansion of Big River Steel, in Osceola, Ark., an expansion of a retail center in Westlake, Ohio, and the development of the Jefferson Energy Terminal at the Port of Beaumont in Texas. The 2022 law also strengthened the program by how it screens EB-5 investors. For example, since the reauthorization, the regional centers that pool EB-5 investment dollars for specific projects have worked with financial firms to make sure investors are vetted according to anti-money-laundering laws and regulations, including know-your-customer identification, said Kelly Brown, chairman and CEO at Ampersand, a Wisconsin-based deposit administration firm. Having a company like us, with the banking experience we have, ensures everything is processed and maintained at the proper levels," Brown told Barrons. Ampersand also escrows EB-5 deposits in community banks across the country until the money is released for investment in a designated economic development project. This program allows the community banks access to a diversified source of funding that they can push out into their communities in the form of loans," Brown said. Armstrong is puzzled that the Trump administration would be interested in a program that funnels money directly to government coffers instead of one that creates jobs and facilitates economic growth. A gold card program may attract the same amount of money as the EB-5, but he believes itll be a wash at best." However, the fact Trump and his administration are focused on immigrant investors is phenomenally good news for us," Grau said. Were excited its on [Trumps] radar." Write to Abby Schultz at abby.schultz@barrons.com. The Chronicle of Philanthropys annual list of the 50 most generous American donors offers something noteworthy: some of the wealthiest people arent on it. It isnt necessarily because they dont donate. They may just be keeping it private. Nobody has to say what they are giving to charity unless they report it to us," said Maria Di Mento, who directs the Philanthropy 50, a project that involves research and and interviews with dozens of nonprofits and donors. Consider MacKenzie Scott, whose net worth is about $38 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire index as of Wednesday. Scott has stated on her website Yield Giving that she has donated more than $19.25 billion to charity since 2020, but her grants go through donor-advised funds, which arent required to publicly report gifts. Scott and her representatives wont disclose to the Chronicle how much she donates, Di Mento said. In fact, only 19 of the wealthiest people in the countryas measured by the Forbes list of the 400 richest people in Americashowed up on the Chronicles list. Michael Bloomberg landed the top spot on the list for the second year in a row. He gave $3.7 billion to several nonprofits last year, including $1 billion to his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, to cover tuition and expenses for most medical school students and to expand financial aid for nursing and public-health students. Worth at least $105 billion as of September, Bloomberg is ranked No. 10 on Forbes list. Collectively, these 19 uber-wealthy donors gave more than $12.3 billion of $16.2 billion overall last year, up 32% from a year ago, the Chronicle said. Bloomberg is also among 13 of the top philanthropists who have signed the Giving Pledge, a nonbinding promise made by 179 living U.S. individuals and couples to donate at least half their wealth to charity, the Chronicle said. The pledge was created by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett in 2010. The list offers new faces, too. Ruth Gottesman came out of nowhere to rank No. 6 with a $1 billion gift offering free tuition to students of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where she was a professor of pediatrics. The gift came from the fortune earned by her late husband, David, a protege of No. 4 ranked Buffett, who invested early in Berkshire Hathaway. Write to Abby Schultz at abby.schultz@barrons.com In a country with hundreds of thousands of aspiring social media influencers who have no clue how to go about it, some of Indias high-profile institutes are constantly evolving tailored courses or modules to help them learn the ropes. Among these institutes are the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB) and Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication (SCMC), considering several top companies are increasingly scouting for influencer marketing experts. ISBs hybrid digital marketing and analytics programme introduced a few years ago has been updated to concentrate on content related to social media and influencers, among other digital marketing strategies, Madhu Viswanathan, associate professor of marketing at ISB, said in an email reply to Mints queries. The digital marketing and analytics programme is one of the most popular online courses offered by ISB The programme is experiential with students learning a lot of these aspects with hands-on exercises as well as simulations," Viswanathan added. ISB, reputed for its MBA programme, had enrolled 4,200 students in its digital marketing and analytics programme since rolling it out in September 2021. The institute has campuses in Hyderabad and Mohali. Also read | The secret struggle behind Indias influencer explosion Pune-based Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communications introduced social media marketing andinfluencer marketing in 2023 as part of combinations with major programmes such as communications, digital marketing and advertising management, and media entrepreneurship. These courses are open to students of the institutes BA Mass Communication and BBA Media Management programmes. Over 10-15% of the students who join these courses pursue content creation and a career as an influencer instead of taking up jobs in the influencer, social media, and digital matketing industry, said professor Kavitha Iyer, a senior faculty member at SCMC. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan, director and professor at SCMC, pointed out in an email reply that while the top 1.5% of YouTube influencers have a median income of $15,000, several others fail to make a career as a social media influencer. Social media influencers should pay attention to the uniqueness of their content and their personal brand, he added. What is the competitive advantage that your content has in comparison to others. Is it just a comparative advantage or a longterm proposition that combines skills sets with a USP?" Key Takeaways Top institutes like ISB and Symbiosis are now offering specialized courses in social media and influencer marketing, reflecting the growing demand for structured learning in this space. With influencer marketing ranked among Indias fastest-growing job roles, students are increasingly exploring careers as content creators or digital marketing professionals. Aspiring influencers are already benefiting from these courses, applying insights like content optimization and audience engagement to boost their reach and visibility. Improving my content game Shivangi Biswas, an aspiring social media influencer, is a second-year student of SCMCs BA Mass communication programme. After completing the programmes social media marketing module, she implemented two major changes to her social media contentshortening the duration of her Instagram videos to cater to the shrinking attention span of viewers, and using the right keywords to get more impressions. In the past six months after implementing the learnings from the course to my content, my viewership has increased from an average of 6,000 users per reel to 10,000," said the nano-influencer with 1,773 followers on her Instagram handle, @shivangiibiswas. We have another influencer marketing module coming up next semester that I look forward to to learn more such insights on social media to improve my content game," Biswas said. The Indian Institute of Digital Education, a digital school established in 2016, is among other institutes offering social media, influencer and digital marketing programmes. IIDE not only offers its own postgraduate and certificate programmes but is also a knowledge partner for six other institutes in Mumbai. Overall, it enrolls over 4,000 students in these three categories. If you were to search the keywords digital marketing on the top job portals, you would realise that no other job segment has more jobs than digital marketing. Post-pandemic, social media, influencer and digital marketing jobs have grown rapidly as all companies, large or small, are hiring in-house teams to handle their social media," said Karan Shah, founder of IIDE. Also read | BeerBiceps fiasco: How did influencers get to flex artificial muscles anyway? Per LinkedIns Jobs on the Rise report published in January, influencer marketing experts ranked 10th among the top 25 fastest-growing job roles in India. The countrys influencer marketing industry was projected to grow to 3,375 crore in 2026 from an estimated 2,344 crore in 2024, according to areport last year by EY and Big Bang Social, a creator marketplace owned by talent management agency Collective Artists Network. As businesses moved online, we observed a surge in demand for students skilled in digital marketing during placements, based on which we started this programme last year," said Dr. Rakhi Sharma, director of Jai Hind College, which recently began offering a Bachelor of Digital Strategy (BDS) course in partnership with IIDE. The first batch is yet to complete the course. But according to the institute, apart from marketing agencies such as Schbang, DeltaX, and Media.net, ICICI Bank Ltd and online cosmetics retailer Nykaa were looking for students specialising in digital and influencer marketing. Also read | Lights, camera, reels: How your wedding can be the ticket to social media virality On 3 March, the Indian government announced that the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) had been awarded Navratna status, marking a defining moment in the companys already remarkable journey. The stock has gained 3.5% since the announcement, signaling investor optimism, though it remains down 11% over the past month and 26% over the past six months. Despite these fluctuations, IRCTC has delivered an impressive 346.13% all-time return, underscoring its long-term growth story. From its origins as a subsidiary of Indian Railways focused on ticketing and catering, IRCTC has grown into a travel and tourism powerhouse, enjoying a monopoly in online railway ticketing and a dominant presence in catering and packaged drinking water. With its newly granted Navratna status, the company stands poised for even greater autonomy, investment potential, and expansion opportunities that could usher in a new era of growth and efficiency. A milestone in India's public sector evolution IRCTCs elevation to Navratna status is a testament to its financial strength, operational efficiency and strategic importance within the public sector. Navratna designation, which is granted to select central public sector enterprises, gives these companies greater autonomy, particularly in financial decision-making. It allows IRCTC to invest up to 1,000 crore or 15% of its net worth in a single project without government approval, significantly reducing bureaucratic hurdles and accelerating decision-making. This newfound financial independence is expected to have far-reaching implications for IRCTC. It will enable the company to respond more swiftly to market demands, enhance its service offerings, and explore new business opportunities. The move also aligns with the governments broader vision of making public sector enterprises more competitive, efficient and self-sufficient in a rapidly evolving economic landscape. Also read: How Sebis serial crackdown crimped F&O volumes and crashed broking-firm stocks For the financial year 2023-24, IRCTC reported an annual turnover of 4,270.18 crore, a net profit of 1,111.26 crore, and a net worth of 3,229.97 crore. These robust figures cemented its eligibility for the coveted status, making it the 25th Navratna company. The Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) was also granted Navratna status, becoming the 26th company to receive this recognition. This underscores the growing prominence of railway PSUs in the Indian economy as they continue to play a critical role in infrastructure development, transportation, and public services. A legacy of monopoly Founded in 1999 as a subsidiary of Indian Railways, IRCTC was initially tasked with modernising catering services, streamlining ticket bookings, and boosting railway tourism. Over the years, it has transformed into a multi-faceted organisation, dominating three crucial segmentsinternet ticketing, catering and hospitality, and tourism services. 1. Internet ticketing: A digital giant IRCTC operates one of the most-visited websites in the Asia-Pacific region, handling millions of ticket bookings daily. The company enjoys an 80% direct market share in railway e-ticketing, making it an indispensable player in India's travel ecosystem. Also read | Disinvestment: The government must take a clear stance on PSE stake sales Convenience fees from online ticketing have become a major revenue stream for IRCTC, contributing significantly to its bottom line. The government recently launched a super app to consolidate various railway services, but IRCTC executives have reassured investors that the company will retain control over convenience fee collections, ensuring its continued dominance in this space. 2. Catering & hospitality: Serving millions on the move Beyond ticketing, IRCTC plays a crucial role in providing catering and hospitality services across Indias vast railway network. It manages onboard catering, food plazas at railway stations, and the Rail Neer brand of packaged drinking water. The catering business has seen steady growth, driven by improved service standards and expansion into new railway routes. The catering segment generated 555 crore in revenue for Q3FY25, a 9.25% increase year-on-year. With its new financial flexibility, IRCTC is expected to further enhance its catering services, expand its food menu, and introduce new dining experiences for railway passengers. 3. Tourism & travel services: Expanding horizons IRCTC has also established itself as a leader in tourism services, offering a range of travel packages, including pilgrimage tours, domestic and international holiday packages, and luxury train journeys like the Maharajas Express. Also read: How Shriram Finance streamlined its organization structure and outperformed the market The tourism segment registered the highest growth among IRCTCs divisions, with revenue rising 16.06% year-on-year to 224 crore. This growth highlights the rising demand for affordable and well-organised travel experiences, a trend that IRCTC is well-positioned to capitalise on in the coming years. Financial strength and growth potential IRCTCs strong financial performance has reinforced investor confidence despite recent fluctuations in its stock price. For Q3FY25, the company reported a 14% year-on-year increase in net profit to 341 crore, with revenue from operations growing 10% to 1,225 crore. While the stock has corrected significantly from its 52-week high of 1,148.30, market analysts remain optimistic about IRCTCs growth, with some setting a target price of 900 a share. Global brokerage firm Macquarie has been particularly bullish on IRCTC, emphasising the companys unparalleled monopoly in e-ticketing and catering. Macquarie highlighted IRCTCs impressive 30% free cash flow margin and high return on equity, positioning it as a long-term growth story. Analysts believe that IRCTCs Navratna status will further enhance its operational efficiency, opening doors for global partnerships, overseas expansions, and greater investment in digital infrastructure. Opportunities and challenges With its newfound autonomy, IRCTC is expected to expand its tourism offerings, develop new technology-driven services, and strengthen its catering and hospitality business. The company is also exploring opportunities in non-railway tourism, including budget hotels and air travel packages, as it looks to diversify revenue streams. Also read: AU Small Finance Bankweighed down by industry headwinds, but set for a turnaround However, the company faces significant challenges. Increasing operational costs, fluctuating raw material prices for catering services, and regulatory changes pose potential risks to profitability. Also, the governments recent launch of a super app for railway services has raised concerns about IRCTCs exclusive hold on ticketing revenues. The app, developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), is expected to consolidate several railway services, potentially affecting IRCTCs revenue streams. Despite these challenges, IRCTC remains optimistic about its future. Executives have reassured investors the company will retain control over convenience fee collections and continue to dominate e-ticketing. The company is also looking to increase its revenue from non-ticketing sources, such as tourism and hospitality, to mitigate any potential impact from regulatory changes. The road ahead As IRCTC embarks on this new phase of growth, its Navratna status gives it the financial muscle and operational freedom it needs to make strategic investments and scale its operations. Whether through expanding its digital presence, increasing its tourism footprint, or enhancing its catering services, IRCTC is set to redefine railway travel in India. For investors and stakeholders, the journey ahead promises both opportunities and challenges. Yet, one thing is clearIRCTC, now a Navratna, is no longer just a railway subsidiary; it is a formidable enterprise driving India's railway modernisation and travel experience into the future. The companys ability to navigate regulatory challenges, capitalise on new business opportunities, and leverage its monopoly position will determine how effectively it can sustain its growth momentum in the years to come. With a solid financial foundation, a dominant market position, and newfound autonomy, IRCTC is well-positioned to become not just a leader in railway services but a true global player in the travel and tourism industry. For more such analysis, read Profit Pulse. About the author: Suchitra Mandal is a proficient financial writer with expertise in delivering well-researched insights and detailed analyses of companies' performance and market trends. Disclosure: The author does not hold any shares of IRCTC at the time of writing this article. The views expressed are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult a financial professional before making any investment decisions. After facing persistent selling pressure in the past sessions, the Indian stock market staged a strong recovery on Wednesday, bringing much-needed relief to investors. The benchmark indices closed on a positive note, signalling renewed optimism and a shift in sentiment. The Nifty 50 index surged 1.15%, closing at 22,337.30, successfully reversing its previous losses. Similarly, the Sensex climbed 1.01% to settle at 73,730.23, reflecting a broad-based buying trend across sectors. Meanwhile, the Bank Nifty gained 0.51%, ending the session at 48,489.95, indicating a moderate recovery in banking stocks. View Full Image TradingView The market was led by strong sectorial performances, with most sectors ending in the green. The metal sector emerged as the top performer, surging 4.04%, followed by public sector enterprises (PSE), which gained 3.28%. The media sector also witnessed a significant uptrend, rising 3.14%, while energy stocks climbed 2.84%. Public sector banks (PSU banks) registered a strong 3% gain, contributing to the overall bullish sentiment. On the other hand, the finance sector remained flat, closing with a marginal 0.10% gain. Apart from this, all other sectors performed well, adding to the positive momentum in the market. Among the top performers in the Nifty 50, Adani Ports led the rally with a strong gain of 5.18%, followed closely by Tata Steel, which surged 4.85%. Adani Enterprises also saw a robust uptick of 4.71%, while Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) added 4.33%, contributing to the market's overall strength. Among laggards, Bajaj Finance declined the most, shedding 3.35%, followed by IndusInd Bank, which slipped 1.59%. HDFC Bank also closed in the red, down by 1.17%, as financial stocks underperformed compared to other sectors. Also Read | How Sebis serial crackdown crimped F&O volumes and crashed broking-firm stocks Indian stock market outlook Nifty moved 1.15% higher today, with maximum open interest (OI) still at 22,000 PE (support) and 22,500 CE (resistance). On the hourly chart, Nifty has formed a base near 22,000. Fibonacci retracement from 23,800 (recent swing high): -22,400 is the first key resistance. -22,674 marks the 38% retracement level, acting as a crucial hurdle. View Full Image TradingView Expiry Watch Bulls need a close above 22,674 to gain momentum. Until then, bears might remain active, using resistance levels to sell. Keep 22,400 & 22,674 in focus for expiry trades. Also Read | FPI jitters: Are foreign investors losing confidence in Indian markets? Three stocks to buy, as recommended by Ankush Bajaj: Tata Steel: Buy at 146 | Target 154-157| Stop loss 139 The stock is showing bullish momentum and is trading above multiple exponential moving averages or EMAs, indicating a strong uptrend. The trend is expected to continue as long as the stock sustains above key moving averages. Avanti Feed: Buy at 786 | Target 865-910 | Stop loss 728 After a long consolidation, the stock has touched a new lifetime high. Both relative strength index (RSI) and average directional index (ADX) indicate that the momentum is likely to continue. The stock has given a rectangle breakout from 720 levels, with a target of 865. Considering this breakout, 865 will be the first target for the ongoing bullish momentum. Adani Enterprises: Buy at 2,245 Target 2,505-2540 | Stop loss 2,145 The stock rallied 4.7% yesterday with strong volume, indicating bullish strength. Additionally, the stock has formed a double bottom and is breaking out of a triangle pattern, signalling a potential upward move. If this rally sustains, we could see further bullishness in the coming days. Ankush Bajaj is a Sebi-registered research analyst. His registration number is INH000010441. Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. VENICE, Italy, March 5 (Xinhua) -- As the annual Venice Carnival reached its peak, a Chinese traditional attire show and cultural performance took center stage at St. Mark's Square on Tuesday, often referred to as "Europe's most beautiful living room", set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Mediterranean sunset. Organized spontaneously by dozens of overseas Chinese and Chinese expatriates passionate about sharing their heritage, the event featured a rich and diverse program, including a costume show, Dunhuang-style dance, guzheng performance, and innovative opera. This was not the first time Chinese culture had graced the main stage of the Venice Carnival. In 2024, under the theme of commemorating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death, a spectacular parade of traditional Hanfu attire, dragon dances, and lion dances captivated global audiences. Although the 2025 Venice Carnival did not have an official theme related to China, Chinese cultural elements have steadily become a regular presence, with increasingly elaborate performances and displays. "Last year's Hanfu parade was a great success. It increased tourists' interest in Chinese culture and inspired us to showcase even more authentic Chinese costumes and traditions," said Massimo Andreoli, Chairman of the Historical Carnival in Venice, in an interview with Xinhua. As a result, the duration of the Chinese-themed performance this year was extended from 25 minutes to 45 minutes. The main stage fashion show also featured Qing Dynasty attire and traditional ancient bridal gowns. Liu Zun, president of the Associazione Culturale Il Filo di Seta (China-Italy Silk Thread Cultural Association), which coordinated the event, noted: "The Chinese community in Italy worked together to prepare the costumes and makeup, hoping to present a richer and more authentic Chinese aesthetic on the carnival stage." Gorgeous costumes and intricate masks are hallmarks of the Venice Carnival, turning clothing into a bridge for cultural exchange. More international students and overseas Chinese are now seeing the festival as an opportunity to promote Chinese culture through full traditional attire. Lao Jingmei, who frequently travels between China and Italy for business, brought a suitcase filled with four sets of traditional Miao and Zhuang ethnic costumes and accessories from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. During her stay in Venice, she meticulously dressed in a different outfit each day, proudly showcasing the beauty of China's diverse ethnic attire at St. Mark's Square. Marta Benedetti, an Italian visitor, was instantly drawn to the exquisite embroidery of the Miao costumes and approached Lao to learn more. She was surprised to discover that China is home to 56 ethnic groups. "The Venice Carnival is increasingly embracing diversity and inclusion. If more Chinese costumes appear at the festival, people will be very interested," she said. Ermelinda Damiano, president of the Venice City Council, highlighted the long-standing friendship between Venice and China, noting that the original documents establishing the sister-city relationship between Suzhou and Venice are still preserved in her office. 18:00 | Lima, Mar. 5. the Armenian leader recalled that his country's Foreign Affairs Minister visited Lima last year to promote important agreements aimed at further strengthening political and economic ties between both nations. During an interview with Andina News Agency Vahagn Khachaturyan noted that trade relations between Peru and Armenia currently show a positive balance. He mentioned that Armenia's exports to Peru range between US$5 million and US$7 million, while Peru's exports to Armenia are between US$3 million and US$4 million. "Armenia exports metallurgy materials to Peru, while Peru exports food and condiments to Armenia (...) and trade between both nations has the potential to grow, to continue growing," he pointed out. From his perspective, trade could be promoted in the mining and agricultural sectors. Additionally, Armenia can offer Peru cooperation in high technology, which accounts for 7% to 8% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). that distance is not an obstacle to fostering closer ties between the two nations, as reflected in his visit to Peru. President Khachaturyan indicated He also noted that one of the instruments that could strengthen the relationship between Armenia and Peru is an agreement to eliminate the visa requirement for tourism travel between both countries, which would increase the flow of visitors. "We must allow citizens to visit both countries freely, meaning the elimination of visas. We discussed this with the President of Peru, and we agree on facilitating travel for both ordinary citizens and diplomats without requiring entry permits to Armenia," he stated. In this context, the distinguished visitor expressed confidence that such an agreement could soon be finalized, as it would encourage tourism and business opportunities. As part of his visit to Peru, the Armenian President met with Peruvian Head of State Dina Boluarte and visited the Editora Peru facilities, where he toured Andina News Agency and the Official Gazette El Peruano. (END) CVC/JMP/MVB You don't really need a finance degree to excel in the stock marketask Sapna Shaligram. The 58-year-old chemistry teacher turned psychological counsellor is a self-taught investor who has been tracking stock markets since the early 90s. Her first brush with the stock market wasn't smooth due to the Harshad Mehta scam. She and her husband, Sandeep Shaligram (60), suffered massive losses in the infamous Harshad Mehta scam. "The Harshad Mehta boom motivated a lot of young couples like us to invest in stocks, but the scam and the subsequent crash in the market left a bitter taste. Indian markets lacked regulatory arrangements the way we have now to protect retail investors. I got back into markets once some regulatory reforms fell in place," said Shaligram. The second stint Shaligram re-entered the markets in the early 2000s. The second stint, that continues till date, made Shaligram an expert. She now singlehandedly manages her family's portfolio. Shaligram knew she had to take calculated risks. This time, she started off with mutual funds before taking an exposure in individual stocks. "My salary had just increased. I needed to make some investments to save taxes. I invested in an ELSS fund in 2000," she said. She could not have limited herself to mutual funds. "Numbers, balance sheets and business models fascinate me. I love to explore growth stories, that is, a small company having a potential to turn big," she said. View Full Image Mint Catching multibaggers Her big win: Reliance Industries (RIL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) stocks, in which she invested in 2008, turned multibaggers over time. How did she learn stock-picking? It was all self-study. She would read a lot of books and business dailies and watch interviews of renowned stock market investors. It took a lot of time to understand that trading and investing are two different things. I focussed more on investing for the long term." One book that really helped was All I Want To Know Where I Will Die So I Won't Go There: Buffett & Munger A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common Sense, she said. The book by Peter Bevelin talks about avoiding mistakes in the stock market and correcting those faster should one make them. Shaligram has now managed to generate over 50% CAGR in her equity portfolio. "It has fallen to 25% amid ongoing market correction," she said. Also Read: Markets are correcting. It's time to consider contrarian investing. Investment strategy Shaligram moved to Papua New Guinea in 2016 after her husband took an early retirement from the army and landed a corporate job there. She works at a hospital as a full-time psycho-social counsellor. While they initially made investment decisions together, she now singlehandedly manages the portfolio. Shaligram prefers to diversify her investments rather than pursue goal-based investing. The couple bought their first house in their hometown, Indore, in the early 1990s. "We bought it as an investment. It was closer to the university, so we knew earning rental income would not be a challenge. We paid some lumpsum and took a loan. The house was financed with the rental income," she said. Shaligram has also parked some amount in fixed deposits, post office schemes and portfolio management services (PMSes). "I am aware PMSes charge high commissions, but I have still invested in it for diversification. I have invested in MFs such as Parag Parikh Flexi Cap and Motilal Oswal AMC. I have held HDFC Top 100 Fund for the last 20 years. I sold most of my old MF schemes in 2023 to reinvest the corpus in Kotak Flexi Cap Fund," she said. One of the key money lessons she has learnt: knowing the difference between savings and investments. "Your savings cannot be in the stock market. It has to be liquid. Stock market is for your investments, not for your savings that you may need in the short term," she said. Her portfolio consists of 50% equities, 10% FDs and gold, and 40% land and houses. Also Read: How Indias youngest pension fund gamed a falling market to outdo its older rivals Lessons from mistakes Like any investor, Shaligram has had her share of missteps. The couple bought an under-construction luxury apartment in Indore in 2008 for 1.5 crore. The builder has not completed the project yet. "I do not know how the builder overshot the budget and could not deliver flats. The project is into litigation. It has now got a RERA number. We hope it would get ready in the next five years," she said. Another mistake: buying investment-linked insurance policies. "I was unaware that returns in such products were too poor and life cover too little. I discovered it when my children were already grown up," she said. While she never bought a term insurance plan for herself, she made sure her sons did. "My husband had a pure life cover being in the army, which still continues," she said. Shaligram isn't afraid of making mistakes. "I tell my children, sometimes you lose money not because your decision was wrong, but because external factors did not support you. Accept your loss and move on," she said. Looking ahead Shaligram does not believe in FIRE (financial independence, retire early). What excites her about retirement is she would get time to trade in markets. "I want to try my hands at positional trading. So far, I focussed on investing for the long term. I will set aside a corpus and would trade once I am no longer into a full-time job," she said. While the couple does not have a retirement corpus in mind, Shaligram said consolidating all investments and selling off land will be their priority. "We know we will still be earning once we retire, so we are not concerned about cash flows. We hope to generate at least 50 lakh a year from investments and income," he said. Shaligram knows she is different. "It was uncommon during those days for a wife or a mother to make money decisions at home. We made sure our sons had a separate bank account when they were just 9 and 10. They would go to the bank with us, deposit their savings and track their passbook for interest credit. They learned budgeting and other important money concepts much earlier in life. While they enjoy life, they do not waste money. They indulge but do not squander," she said. Shaligram is passing on her financial acumen to women in her family. "The other day my daughter-in-law told me how I inspired her to maintain an excel and track her expenses and investments. She was never interested in investments before, but now does it regularly," she said. Expert take Mrin Agarwal, founder-director of Finsafe India, says in her column for Mint, Juggling multiple responsibilities often makes it challenging for women to save effectively. However, just like any strong structure needs a solid foundation, wealth-building begins with disciplined saving. Relying on luck is not a strategyconsistent savings create financial security and long-term growth." A century ago, pocket-sized supercomputers , self-driving cars and video calls were pure science fiction. Sequencing a genome in hours or chatting across continents in real-time seemed laughable. Yet, here we aregenerating AI memes while checkout machines silently scan our grocery choices. The year 2025 has seen the world tackle an unexpected climate villain (cow burps) via methane-reducing supplements. Cattle release methane as they digest food, contributing a large portion of these emissions globally. Which begs the question: What seemingly impossible technologies might shape the future? Lets discuss some now-unthinkable ideas that could do just that. Faster-than-light travel: This could transform us into an interstellar species, reducing trips to Alpha Centauri from millennia to yearsor even hours. But Einsteins Theory of Relativity states that nothing with mass can exceed the speed of light without infinite energy, making this speed practically impossible to achieve. However, Nasas Eagleworks Lab has explored Alcubierres warp drive, which theoretically contracts space ahead of a craft and expands it behind. Meanwhile, quantum teleportation experiments have transferred information over 100km via entanglement, though this does not violate relativity or enable physical travel faster than light. A time-travel machine: Who wouldnt want to fix past mistakes? Time travel could prevent disasters, stop wars and make anyone a stock market genius. But it comes with serious consequences. The grandfather paradox is a classic mind-benderif you go back in time and prevent your own existence, who exactly stepped into the time machine in the first place? Atomic clocks aboard satellites experience measurable time differences due to relativity, proving that time dilation is real. Scientists have also created tiny laboratory-scale closed time-like curves in quantum experiments, which suggests that time travelat least in microscopic contextsmight not be impossible. Dyson sphere: Imagine a megastructure around the Sunthe ultimate power plant providing limitless energy for humanity. No more fossil fuels, no more energy crises. Just uninterrupted solar power. Scientists have designed solar satellites capable of wirelessly beaming energy back to Earth. Meanwhile, Chinas planned space-based solar farm could be the worlds first step towards harnessing energy directly from space. These advancements could pave the way for an eventual Dyson Swarm, a collection of small solar structures gathering a stars energy, and propel humanity to a Type II Civilization on the Kardashev Scale. Biological immortality: This sounds great until you realize you have to go to work for eternity. Weve already extended the lifespan of mice using gene editing and reversed some ageing effects in human cells. CRISPR is actively tackling age-related diseases and companies like Altos Labs (funded by Jeff Bezos) are exploring cellular reprogramming. Though true immortality remains distant, significantly longer and healthier lives seem increasingly achievable. Controlled wormholes: Forget long-haul flights. Wormholes would let you step through one door and emerge somewhere across the universe, as if you were the Adjustment Bureau (think of the film by that name). While Nasas Eagleworks lab has investigated concepts related to advanced space travel, there is no specific evidence that it has modelled stable wormholes. Traversable wormholes hinge on the theoretical existence of exotic negative energy, which has yet to be discovered or understood. Brain-to-brain communication: Neural interfaces could revolutionize communication. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are already helping paralyzed patients control devices with their minds. Neuralink has begun human trials and researchers have demonstrated brain-to-brain communication among rodents. While its at a primitive stage right now, future advances could lead to instant knowledge transfers and telepathic interactions, raising profound ethical and privacy concerns. Dark matter and energy put to use: Dark matter makes up most of the universes mass, yet we cant see or interact with it directly. Dark energy, which drives cosmic expansion, is even more mysterious. Experiments like CRESST and the Large Hadron Collider are working to detect dark matter. If we ever learn how to manipulate these forces, it could lead to breakthroughs in propulsion, energy production and fundamental physicsthough it remains beyond our reach for now. Also Read: Elon Musk should ensure that Neuralink is more transparent Any one of these technologies could fundamentally reshape human civilization. The coming decades will determine whether we become an interstellar species or a cautionary tale for others. We must weigh incredible opportunities against existential risks. Which of these technologies would you most want to see realized? And which gives you the most significant cause for pause? The answers may reveal as much about human nature as our technological future. The author is a technology advisor and podcast host. As International Womens Day 2025 approaches, the themeFor ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality . Empowerment"reminds us that progress cannot be piecemeal. A few years ago, during a field visit, I met two women whose stories stayed with me. Lakshmi, an entrepreneur, had the skill and ambition to expand her small lacquer bangle business, a craft passed down by her father. But every bank she approached demanded collateral she didnt have. In another town, I met Bushra, a promising young engineer with a job offer that could change her lifebut she hesitated to accept it. The long commute through unsafe streets and the unease in her family led to the unspoken question: Was the opportunity worth the risk? Both women faced barriers that had nothing to do with their talentand everything to do with the system around them. Where women stand: According to the World Bank , women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man makes, globally. Gendered earning gaps exist across regions, corporate hierarchies and industries, including those that one would think women dominate. For instance, in the US, men in teaching and nursing jobs often receive higher wages, despite the workforce being predominantly female. At the highest levels of corporate power, women remain the exception, not the norm; they hold just over 10% of the CEO roles in Fortune 500 companies. In India, the participation of women in the countrys workforce has long been one of the worlds lowest. Although the governments Periodic Labour Force Survey shows that it rose from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24, it remains below the global level. Among working women, the additional burden of unpaid labour, such as caregiving and domestic work, plays a large role in hampering their ability to advance professionally. Viral images of women cradling their babies at meetings and workers breastfeeding between tasks are often praised as examples of dedication. But grit cannot replace workplace dignity, nor should doing it all be celebrated as a triumph when it highlights a lack of support systems for working women. Women-centric reforms in the budget: Usually, women dont lack capability; they lack capital and access. Despite their potential, women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for only 20% of such businesses but receive 7% of overall MSME loans. Banks remain cautious lenders, since women frequently lack collateral. Financial awareness gaps also prevent many women from applying for credit. The budget for 2025-26 has several measures to tackle these barriers, such as collateral-free loans of up to 2 crore for first-time women entrepreneurs. Also, the Mission Shakti budget has been increased to expand crisis centres, helplines and fast-track courts, acknowledging the urgency of making system-level changes to address the security concerns that influence womens mobility, professional choices and economic independence. This could lead to quicker justice, stronger legal deterrence and improved support systems for survivors of gender violence. But Indias record on such initiatives suggests that funding isnt the issue, execution is. The Nirbhaya Fund, meant to strengthen womens safety, saw more than a quarter of its allocation of 7,212 crore till 2023-24 go unspent. Policies, no matter how well designed, must move beyond paper to achieve impact. Womens participation in the economy is directly linked to safety. A society where women feel secure will see higher female economic participation, greater entrepreneurship and a stronger economy on the whole. Make policy work: We need to prioritize a few things. Awareness must not be an afterthought. Women must actively be kept informed through digital, print and grassroots campaigns. Moreover, access to capital must be accompanied by mentorship, market insights and competitive upskilling to ensure that women-led businesses thrive. Also, the use of funds must be tracked in real-time, even as strict accountability measures are enforced, with penalties for inefficiency. Investing in rigorous tracking systems will not only help monitor fund deployment, but also measure outcomes with clarity, thereby transforming policy commitments into tangible progress. Also, public-private partnerships must move beyond rhetoric. Corporates and civil society organizations must step up, co-invest in women-led businesses and create safer and better workplaces. For all this to be effective, policy implementation must be decentralized. State and district-level authorities must be equipped to adapt programmes to local contexts. No woman should be overlooked, especially not anyone from a marginalized group. Also Read: Women entrepreneurs need a tribe of their very own The final test: Intent alone wont drive impact. Budget allocations must deliver results. Lakshmi had vision, Bushra had drive and the budget promises them opportunity. But will capital reach Lakshmi before red tape stifles her dreams? Will safety assurances let Bushra step forward or will fear still dictate her choices? Indian women are not short of ambition, but governments must move beyond allocation to action, institutions must deliver with urgency and society must demand more than promises. The question isnt whether these policies will reshape the future. The question iswill we let them fail? The author is assistant vice president, research and communication at Sambodhi Research & Communications. President Trumps pick to protect workers from discrimination says she wants to take on the bias she sees in diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Taking into account a workers race, ethnicity or sex when offering opportunities in the workplace isnt legal, regardless of a companys intentions, Andrea Lucas, the new acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said in a recent interview. Businesses programs during the Biden administration could lead to legal action, she said. View Full Image It would be unwise for employers to assume, if they engaged in discrimination in a past administration, that theyre off the hook based on timing, Lucas said. Photo: EEOC Under Lucas, who worked as an employment lawyer before serving as an EEOC commissioner, the EEOC is also launching a crackdown on what it calls anti-American bias in the workplace, a practice of companies showing a preference for foreigners over Americans. Civil rights laws are written in a way that applies to everyone," Lucas said. Theyre colorblind, theyre group neutral, [and] theyre not written to only provide protections to certain subgroups of workers." If you are running a program, whether you call it DEI or something else, and you are using race or sex or another protected characteristic in an employment decision, even if its only just part of the decisionthats unlawful discrimination," she said. The Supreme Court last month signaled it would likely find there should be no special hurdles for members of majority groups, such as straight people, seeking to file employment discrimination lawsuits. DEI in the crosshairs Protests erupted nationwide in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd while in police custody, spurring many U.S. companies to revamp their human resources policy to lean into DEI, with some carving out special training programs for minority employees and others setting explicit targets for new hires. Target, for example, in 2020 said it would focus on the career progression and advancement" of Black team members, a pledge it has since walked back. Nike in 2021 set a 35% workforce target for racial and ethnic minorities. Software company Salesforce set a goal of having half its staff identify as being from an underrepresented group." Lucas in her interview didnt comment on the practices of any specific company. Salesforce, asked about its previous statements, said it has no representation goals and doesnt make employment decisions based on race or other classifications protected by law. Target and Nike didnt respond to requests for comment. Trump has targeted DEI initiatives, though his early moves have focused on the federal government and federal contracts. With the government an important buyer of goods and services, many companies have quickly revamped their policies. Other companies, such as warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale, have stuck with their DEI programs. As head of the agency tasked with protecting workers from bias, Lucas has the power to go after the practice in workplaces around the country, and could help accelerate a corporate flight from DEI already under way. She said it should be obvious that, for example, businesses cant consider race in employment decisions. Its easy enough to see that if you flip it on the other side," Lucas said. If you carved out a training program only for men or only for white employees, everyone would immediately and viscerally understand that that was unlawful." The laws are neutral and evenhanded," she said. You may think that you have a benign motive to help individuals who are historically underrepresented. Thats not going to be enough to save your program." The EEOC, which enforces the employment-related aspects of civil rights law, can push for policy changes, demand outside oversight of companies and seek penalties and compensation that can stretch into the tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. Unlike some other federal law enforcement agencies, it has a relatively short statute of limitationsless than a year after the alleged discrimination in most casesbut can act on claims that were brought within the appropriate time, Lucas said. She said the agency has claims in its system dating back to 2020 that are still considered live." It would be unwise for employers to assume, if they engaged in discrimination in a past administration, that theyre off the hook based on timing," Lucas said. The agency in a follow-up said that Lucass remarks were on the general timeline for EEOC investigations and that the agency couldnt confirm or deny the existence of any specific charge. Merit-focused decision-making The shift doesnt mean businesses should stop caring about equal opportunity, Lucas said. Antidiscrimination work in the human resources department should shift to merit-focused decision-making" and breaking down real barriers to employment such as, for example, training and promotion systems that let managers play favorites, Lucas said. HR experts have long called out what is known as affinity biasthe tendency to favor people similar to oneselfas a risk for introducing racial and other illegal discrimination into employment decision-making. More formal training or promotion processes could help some organizations, Lucas said. Programs to, for example, offer training or mentoring to employees who are the first in their family to graduate from college would also pass muster if implemented in a truly race-blind manner, Lucas said, noting that those programs might equally benefit a hypothetical white kid from Appalachia" and poor Asian kid from Los Angeles." Anti-American bias The EEOC will also be on the lookout for bias against American workers. National-origin discrimination, such as preferring an American worker, is illegal. But the EEOC under Lucas said there is room for more investigation and enforcement of preferences that some companies might have for non-American workers. The EEOC said last month it also intends to use this power to protect American workers who might not be hired because of the perception that foreign-born workers have a better work ethic. The agency recently entered into a $1.4 million settlement with a Guam resort operator that favored Japanese workers over Americans. Lucas said the move fits with Trumps push to tackle illegal immigration as well as our broken legal immigration system." Businesses that improperly favor even legal immigrants, such as H-1B visa holders, could face actions, she said. That visa type, created to admit highly skilled workers, has been used by large technology companies to help fill staffing needs. The fact that you haveacquired a visa slot doesnt necessarily mean that youre in the clear," Lucas said, though she added that the EEOC is only involved in enforcement of U.S. antidiscrimination law and not in questions of immigration policy. Lucas encouraged whistleblowers within staffing agencies and HR departments to come forward if they see discrimination and to file EEOC complaints as soon as possible. The EEOC is fully supportive of advancing civil rights for all," she said. Its just not going to be with this really divisive identity politics that DEI entails." Write to Richard Vanderford at Richard.Vanderford@wsj.com Scientists looking to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air cleanly and cheaply have long been interested in metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs: gigantic, sponge-like molecules that can be precisely engineered to capture the gas and then release it on command. Made of metal ions held together by compounds containing carbon, MOFs come in a dizzying array of structures, each with its own distinct properties. A MOF capable of absorbing CO2 at a humid sea-level location, for example, will have a different structure from one that can operate in a dry, high-altitude climate. Sorting through the billions of possibilities to find the right MOF for the job is an almost impossible task for a human chemist. It is, however, a perfect task for an artificial-intelligence (AI) model. One startup attempting to build such a model is CuspAI. It has used the Llama family of open-source large language models, produced by Meta, a tech giant, as the basis for its model, which boasts between 5bn and 8bn parameters and has been fine-tuned on a vast quantity of materials-science data, from quantum-mechanical simulations to academic papers describing fabrication methods. CuspAIs goal isnt simply to find a good MOF, but to build a system that can spit out the right one for any environmental conditionsand, from there, to demonstrate that AI can be used to tackle any problem in materials science. Better batteries, cleaner bioplastics, more powerful semiconductors and, potentially, even room-temperature superconductors might soon be up for grabs. This is no pipe-dream. In a conference paper in November 2024, Aidan Toner-Rodgers, a doctoral student in economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), analysed the effects of a new AI tool on the productivity of materials researchers at an unnamed American company. Thanks to a staggered launch, with the thousand-odd scientists at the firm getting access to the tool in three distinct groups, Mr Toner-Rodgers was able to treat its introduction like a randomised experiment, and estimate its impact. The results were impressive: a 44% increase in the number of materials discovered, a 17% rise in product prototypes that used those new materials and a 39% increase in the number of patents filed. Insofar as it can be measured, Mr Toner-Rodgers says, the resulting innovations also seemed to be more genuinely novel. AI-assisted patents were more likely to mention new technical terms, and the materials themselves boasted more unfamiliar physical structures. But whether you use AI models or not, notes Aaike van Vugt, a Dutch chemical engineer, materials design remains a pain in the ass". Some challenges are technical, with the production of new materials often requiring bespoke manufacturing facilities capable of pumping out vast quantities at speed. Others are financial, with companies focusing on early research and development struggling to find a way to turn discoveries into profit. Other industries have already squared this circle. Stef van Grieken, the co-founder of Cradle, an AI protein lab with offices in Amsterdam and Zurich, describes the pharmaceutical industry as private equity with laboratories attached". Clinical trials for new medications may be unforgiving, but they encourage investments that distribute risk and reward throughout the industry, funnelling resources back to the researchers in the trenches. There is no such luxury for materials scientists: those in the business of designing a material must inevitably work out how to test, manufacture and sell it too. That has not deterred CuspAI. It hopes to build a platform that can design materials to order, leaving it to larger companies with labs and fabrication facilities to do the testing and manufacturing. MOF to the races London-based Orbital Materials is also using AI to try to build a MOF. The company has trained its own model from scratch, using supercomputer simulations to generate training data, says Jonathan Godwin, a former researcher at Google DeepMind who co-founded the business. The end result is hundreds of millions of simulated chemical interactions, each made up of just a couple of hundred tokens": advanced versions of the terse chemical reactions that fill a high-school textbook. That is orders of magnitude less training data than is required to train a large language model but, Mr Godwin hopes, more than enough to build a small and efficient model that can accurately predict chemical interactions. But rather than operate as a purely virtual lab like CuspAI, building an AI and selling the discoveries it makes, Orbital is prepared to get its hands dirty. Its foundation model has already spat out a number of candidate MOFs, and Orbital has invested the time and money in in-house labs and chemical engineers to verify that they work and can be manufactured at scale. In December it announced a deal with Amazon Web Services, a hyperscaler, to integrate one discovery into one of the companys vast data centres, where the waste heat of the air-cooling system will power the chemical reaction that scrubs CO2 from the air. The goal is to turn the data centre carbon negative, for a cost of 20 cents per hour per chip. If it works, Orbital will have turned an AI-generated invention into a functional product faster than anyone in the pharmaceutical industry. Other companies are trying to automate away the need for laboratories entirely. Mr Van Vugt, the chemical engineer, is one. His startup, VSParticle, offers what is, in effect, a nanoscale 3D printer: using a technique called spark ablation, it builds up a thin film of novel materials one nanoparticle at a time, following a recipe unique to each material. Such films can be used in batteries or as catalysts. If widely adopted, Mr Van Vugt argues, it could save materials scientists the hard work of figuring out how to physically produce a desired candidate. Instead of worrying about synthesis, they could simply email the recipe to VSParticles lab and wait for the end product to be printed in one of the companys automated fabricators. Automation has gone further still. In 2023 scientists from MIT showed that an AI-enabled robot could predict, make and analyse almost 300 new chemical dyes, leading to nine engineered to have properties highly desirable in biomedical imaging. In 2024 a group led by researchers at the University of Toronto presented an AI agent that managed (albeit with some help from humans) to create a world-beating gain materialthe light-amplifying substancefor a laser. Using a combination of AI and robotics as a shortcut to synthesising new materials would be huge, says Max Welling, a co-founder of CuspAI. But, he warns, Recipes are very finicky." Even minor differences in humidity or air quality can scupper a labs chances of making the desired product. That is even truer for labs run by robots, which has led some to question their results. In 2023 researchers at A-Lab, an automated lab at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, claimed to have made 41 new materials predicted using data from Google DeepMind and the Materials Project, an initiative looking to simulate the properties of all inorganic materials. The announcement was impressive, but questions regarding the models analysis have led some chemists to question whether any new materials were actually produced. The A-Lab team stands by their approach. For now, there is reason for cautious optimism. In November 2024 Meta announced a partnership with VSParticle and the University of Toronto that has funded the creation, analysis and digitisation of more than 500 experimental electrocatalystsa category of materials that could be crucial to powering next-generation batteries. The companys big data centres arent always running at maximum capacity, said Larry Zitnick, research director at Metas AI division. That left spare computing power which Meta was able to donate to the project to provide the initial simulations for those electrocatalysts. For Chad Edwards, CuspAIs other founder, the impact of success in the space is motivation enough. This is going to be the place", he says, where all the buzzwords come together to change the world for the first time." New tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China took effect overnight, raising concerns that businesses and consumers may soon feel the impact. American consumers are being warned to brace for higher prices as President Donald Trump moves forward with 25% tariffs on goods from the three countries. Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again, and its happening rather quickly, President Trump said Tuesday during his Congressional address. A little disturbance, but were okay with that. The new tariffs could lead to increased costs for everyday products, particularly food and raw materials. Imports from Mexicoyoull see a lot of increase in prices of foods, said Dr. Howard Wall, director of the Center for Regional Economic Research at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. We get a lot of fruits and vegetables that are kind of out of season here, so we get year-round fruits and vegetables that restaurants and grocery stores rely on. But also, the raw materials are really big coming from Canada, so we get a lot of steel from Canada, a lot of aluminum, a lot of lumber. Dr. Wall said Americans will ultimately bear the financial burden of the tariffs. Whether you're a consumer as a business person, or as a consumer in your household, you're going to see higher prices, he said. Some of your prices will be higher because businesses pay higher costs, some will be directly paid by you because your fruits and vegetables are more expensive. Senate Republican leader expresses wariness over tariffs ahead of Trumps joint address (CNN) Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed wariness Tuesday over some of President McKee Foods, the maker of Little Debbie snacks, is among the local businesses anticipating an impact. While more than 90% of its ingredients are sourced in the U.S., the company imports oats from Canada. Thats definitely going to take a toll as we build our granola bar business and, of course, our oatmeal creme pies, said Mike Gloekler, McKee Foods' Corporate Communications and Public Relations Manager. For now, Gloekler said oat sourcing is the companys biggest concern. Until we start growing our own oats in the United States, theres not a whole lot we can do about it, he said. Gloekler said its too early to determine whether the tariffs will lead to higher prices for McKee Foods products, though the company aims to maintain its reputation as a value brand. We want to be a friend to the consumer as much as we can, especially when things are tough in the economy, but theres always a chance that that could happen, he said. It remains unclear how long the tariffs will remain in place. UPDATE: A Chattanooga bar that has been the scene of two parking lot shootings received a 10-day suspension of its beer license on Thursday. Members of the Chattanooga beer board discussed a shooting that happened outside of The Dream nightclub in January. On January 26, a security guard shot a man who police said was shooting at bystanders off of Glass Street in the club's parking lot, which was caught on camera. The nightclub has made multiple appearances in front of the board for violations recently including a shooting that happened in December of 2024. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this story. PREVIOUS STORY: A representative from Dream Chattanooga nightclub appeared before the beer board on Thursday morning. The appearance before the board comes after a shooting during an altercation at the nightclub in December of 2024 that left one person injured. UPDATE: Man charged after shooting at group of people at Dream bar in Chattanooga An investigation revealed that Reginald Siler shot towards a group of people before a nearby security guard returned fire, striking and injuring him. The representative for the nightclub on Glass Street said the bar's metal detectors weren't working. The business hired security guards as an alternative, but a weapon still made it inside the building. The board voted to suspend the club's beer license for five days. A 3-week liquor suspension that was issued by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) ended Thursday. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this story. PREVIOUS STORY: The Chattanooga Beer Board has issued a five-day alcohol suspension for a popular nightclub after a shooting back in December left one injured. This is one of two recent shootings that have happened at The Dream nightclub on Glass Street. The incident was a violation of the beer code, but a lack of cooperation from employees when the incident occurred also sparked concern in the meeting. Chattanooga police say the incident at the popular nightclub started as an altercation and escalated. "Unfortunately, the guy came in, and within five minuteshe didn't buy a drink or anythingjust went straight to the guy with the girl, and they get into an argument, and boom, they get into a fight, says Yasmin Springs, representing The Dream, Spring says the bar's metal detectors weren't working, and they had hired security guards, which is how a firearm managed to enter the venue. This is the first of two shootings that have happened at the Dream nightclub recently. On January 26th, security guards shot a Chattanooga man after he opened fire at a crowd of bystanders outside the nightclub. The Chattanooga Beer Board has issued a five-day alcohol suspension only for the December shooting. "If there's any breach of the peace, which I think there's evidence of that or unusual disturbance on the premisesI think a shooting would be described as unusual disturbanceor if there's any evidence of any violation of laws heard on the premisesI think that obviously applies also, says administrative hearing officer Trevor Atchley. Atchley says while it's not part of the violation, he's concerned about employees' lack of cooperation with Chattanooga Police when the shooting occurred. The officer who responded to the shooting says when she arrived on the scene various employees refused to comment. "The manager advised specifically that she would not allow her bartenders to speak with police about what had happened, and when I spoke with security guards outside, they also would not speak with me, says the testifying officer. Spring says this isn't true. Atchley stated, Officer Vaugh, who testified, that when she tried to speak with the staff, the manager would not let the employees speak to her, to which Springs responded, I dont recall that. Head of security at 'The Dream' Joe Reed says they wanted to avoid spreading inaccurate information. Atchley says, regardless, employees should have worked alongside law enforcement. "I don't think it should be your job to discern what's relevant and what's not relevant, Atchley says. All of the information should be provided to the police officers. Let them discern what's relevant and what's not relevant to their investigation or maybe an opportunity to find the shooting suspect and obtain the weapon. None of that occurred." The recommendation will go before the beer board in 15 days, which is when the board will determine when the suspension starts. UPDATE: The re-opening date for the Chattanooga Incline Railway has been pushed to Monday, July 14. The railway has been closed since December, when a wildfire damaged the tracks and cables. The closing has led to nearly a $2 million loss in fares. CARTA says they'd hoped to be up-and-running again by June 2, but heavy rain and late deliveries have delayed repairs. PREVIOUS STORY: Some repairs for the Incline Railway are 65% complete, expected to be finished by early May, following a December fire. The railway is expected to be operational again by June 2, 2025. PREVIOUS STORY: A date has been set for the potential reopening of the Incline Railway after a December wildfire on Lookout Mountain forced it to close. According to the Incline Railway's website, the target reopening date will be June 2, 2025 if repairs continue without any delays or complications at the 129-year-old historic site. National Park Service (NPS) investigators also determined the cause of the fire was due to a series of natural events and found no signs of human involvement around the area where the blaze was started. NPS investigators said fire started with large rocks or boulders thawing on Lookout Mountain, which caused a rockslide with large amounts of friction. The rocks hit several trees and other boulders along the way, creating extreme heat and sparks that led to a 10-acre wildfire. The rocks also pushed over a large tree which hit a power line near the Hardy Trail, causing more sparks. Multiple homes and businesses in the surrounding area were evacuated due to the fire. While businesses reopened and residents returned home, the Incline was forced to close due to the "significant damage" done by the fire. Stay with Local 3 News for continuing coverage of this story. PREVIOUS STORY: CARTA says they are still working to get the Incline Railway up and running after the Lookout Mountain wildfire in early December. "Right now, the team is cutting up the damaged cable into lengths that are easier to recycle. This is difficult and challenging work," explained CARTA. National Parks Service investigators believe the 10-acre wildfire was caused by the thawing of large rocks up the mountain, causing a rockslide with large amounts of friction that sparked. Several businesses in St. Elmo were impacted, as well as several homes evacuated while crews worked to get the fire under control. From Lookout Mtn. to downtown grocery: CFD crews exhausted by recent fire calls CFD Chief Rick Boatwright says the weekend fire on Lookout Mountain and responding to several residential fires has exhausted firefighters. PREVIOUS STORY: The National Parks Service (NPS) says investigators have found the likely cause of the wildfire on Lookout Mountain over the weekend. An NPS investigator determined the fire started in the Lookout Mountain Battlefield at around 5:30am on Saturday. The likely cause is believed to be a large rockslide that sent boulders tumbling down from the top of Lookout Mountain towards Ochs Highway. The boulders hit several trees and other stationary boulders along the way, creating extreme heat and sparks. The boulders also pushed over a large tree which hit a power line near the Hardy Trail. Although the incident with the power line could have created sparks, the NPS investigator said the evidence at the scene indicates the rockslide as the probable cause of the fire. No evidence of human activity was found in the area where the wildfire started. The fire is fully contained and 100% controlled, so it is not expected to spread under the current conditions. St. Elmo businesses seeing impact from Incline Railway closing after wildfire Some owners said day-to-day operations look a bit different after a wildfire spread from the incline on Lookout Mountain. The NPS says a final report on the investigation will be done after the fire is out, which is expected to take about two weeks. The Incline Railway is expected to be closed for months to repair damage caused by the fire. The Mountain Beautiful Trail is closed until further notice. Stay with Local 3 News for updates to this developing story. PREVIOUS STORY: Carta officials say the Incline Railway has suffered "significant damage," facing months of repairs from the Lookout Mountain fire on Saturday. While the fire is under control, some sections of the railway still continue to smolder. The severed cable system alone could take months to manufacture a replacement. What happens next in Lookout Mountain fire investigation? Crews are waiting for the fire to be fully controlled, which is different than containment. CARTA explains there are several critical areas of damage: The cable system has been severed and will require months to remanufacture due to its specialized nature. Both the rail system and cross timbers have sustained damage, though the full extent remains unknown. The railway is insured, and the insurance company has been engaged. CARTA has taken the following steps towards restoration as of Dec. 10: Replacement plans are underway with the cable manufacturer for the specialized replacement cable, which was fully replaced in April 2024 Rail manufacturers have been engaged and are standing by. Timber suppliers are on alert to provide necessary materials. Engineers will begin their comprehensive assessment tomorrow and develop a repair plan for the rail and timbers. While there is never a favorable time for disaster to strike, CARTA says their scheduled emergency response training this year proved extremely timely. They completed the following preparations before the Lookout Mountain fire: Day-long rescue exercises with the Chattanooga Fire Department's Special Operations team Coordination with Hamilton County Emergency Management and local first responders Practice of complex extraction scenarios from elevated trestles using specialized equipment Chattanooga Fire was at the Incline the prior Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday "The swift and professional response from all emergency personnel, combined with the preparedness of our Incline Railway team, prevented what could have been a far more devastating situation," said Charles D. Frazier, CARTA CEO. "The joint training exercise that CARTA initiated in April with emergency responders proved invaluable in protecting this historic landmark. While we face significant repairs ahead, I want to assure our community that we will restore this Tennessee treasure for future generations to experience and enjoy. The Incline Railway has been a part of Chattanooga's story for 129 years, and we are committed to ensuring it remains a vital part of our community's future." PREVIOUS STORY: Local 3 is learning more about the damage done to the Incline Railway by the Lookout Mountain fire over the weekend. In a Facebook post, Rock City said the Incline Railway is temporarily closed for repairs. According to CARTA, the site remains an active emergency scene and is under the management of first responders. Although the fire damaged the Incline's cable system and rails, both incline vehicles are secure and undamaged, as well as both the lower station in St. Elmo and upper station on Lookout Mountain. "The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway has been an integral part of Chattanooga's identity since 1895 and holds a special place in Tennessee's heritage. Given the unique engineering and safety requirements of our steep-grade railway, we will need to complete comprehensive structural and technical assessments once emergency responders have completed their work. Only after these thorough evaluations can we develop appropriate restoration plans," says CARTA. Lookout Mountain residents recount close call after weekend wildfire Around 20 homes were evacuated over the weekend because of the fire on Lookout Mountain. CARTA has not said when the Incline will reopen at this time. Tickets for the Incline are valid for one year from the date of purchase. You can email Rock City with any questions. A spokesperson for the National Parks Service (NPS) said the fire is about 10 acres and remains fully contained as crews continue to monitor the flames. The NPS said black smoke, created from the fire reaching the railroad ties on the tracks or rails along the Incline, could be visible for several days. The Mountain Beautiful Trail is closed until further notice. Chief park ranger explains what caused Lookout Mtn. fire The National Parks Service (NPS) believes a tree collapsing on a power line might have caused the Lookout Mountain brush fire. The cold weather could also be blamed. PREVIOUS STORY: The National Park Service (NPS) told Local 3 that the Lookout Mountain fire has been 100% contained as of 4:00pm on Sunday. Todd Milsaps, Chief Ranger of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military Park, says that the team began with water treatment, and moved to foam treatment once the fire was less severe. According to NPS, Grand Smoky Mountain rangers are conducting their final check in which they walk the area's perimeter. A minimal crew will be on site tonight and tomorrow. The exact cause of the fire is undetermined. A Wildfire Arson Investigator is working the case, however Chief Milsaps says that it is unknown whether the fire was human-caused. Chief Milsaps explained there will be another debrief on Monday, December 9. PREVIOUS STORY: The National Park Service (NPS) told Local 3 that they are continuing to monitor the fire on Lookout Mountain, specifically along the Incline Railway, this morning. They say the fire has grown to ten acres, and it is 75% contained at this time. Although the fire has grown technically, NPS says they are not currently "battling" the fire. At this time, they are "mopping up" to put out any hot spots that might spark up. The Chattanooga Fire Department says they are assisting Lookout Mountain Fire in having firefighters out in UTVs, riding the trails of Lookout Mountain to monitor the area. PREVIOUS STORY: Chattanooga fire says there is a fire break around the entire impacted area of the Lookout Mountain fire. Crews are working to extinguish the fires at railroad ties on the Incline Railway, which is difficult to reach. Teams are on "fire watch" through the night along the rail. Chattanooga fire says crews first responded to the brush fire at 6:46am and have been fighting the blaze alongside the US Forest Service, Tennessee Forestry, CFD, Lookout Mountain FD, CPD and HCEMS throughout the day. By afternoon when the flames reached the Incline Railway, several businesses and homes were evacuated near the lower incline as a precaution. Around 20 homes on Old Mountain Road and W 40th Street were evacuated as well. By 5:00pm, all evacuations were lifted. CARTA, who owns the Incline Railway, stated the following statement: "The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is temporarily closed due to an ongoing active fire incident. We are fully cooperating with emergency response teams who are currently managing the situation. The safety of our guests and staff remains our highest priority. We will conduct a thorough assessment once emergency personnel have secured the site and will provide updates regarding service restoration when appropriate." PREVIOUS STORY: The Chattanooga Fire Department says evacuations in St. Elmo have been lifted as crews continue to extinguish the fire on Lookout Mountain. PREVIOUS STORY: Multiple homes and businesses have been evacuated as the Lookout Mountain fire has reached the Incline Railway. Multiple businesses and homes from St. Elmo Avenue to Tennessee Avenue and Old Mountain Road to St. Elmo Avenue. 38th Street to the Incline Railway and everything to the left of the incline area, including Mr. T's Pizza and the 1885 restaurant. PREVIOUS STORY: The Chattanooga Fire Department has turned the fire on Lookout Mountain over to the National Park Service and Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry. CFD says that the fire has now made its way to the Incline Railway's tracks. They are sending additional personnel to help stop the spread of the fire. Residents should expect to see helicopters working to extinguish the fire. PREVIOUS STORY: The Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) and several other agencies are responding to a brush fire on the side of Lookout Mountain. They responded to the fire around 7:00am on Saturday, December 7 from the 700 block of South Scenic Highway after several calls had been made to 911. CFD says that, at this time, there are no injuries and no structural damages. While eggs may be the norm in many households, there are plenty of other products that can easily replace them. Coles and Woolworths have struggled to maintain supplies of eggs due to shortages caused by avian influenza. Source: Michael Dahlstrom Aussie consumers are searching for alternatives to eggs as shortages become increasingly commonplace at major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths. Supply chains have been regularly affected by outbreaks of avian influenza, and hundreds of thousands of chickens have been culled to help stop its spread. Many smaller grocery stores, markets and butchers still have supplies of eggs. But big retailers also have alternative options like vegan powders that can be used in baking, and Aussie shoppers appear to be taking an interest in them. Coles told Yahoo, "As we continue to work closely with our suppliers to manage the availability of eggs, we have noticed an increase in customers seeking alternatives to eggs." For example, products such as egg replacers are a great vegetable-based egg-free alternative for the pantry when you run out of eggs. While we know eggs will continue to be a popular source of protein, we are making sure to have plenty of egg-alternatives available for our customers while we work through the current supply challenges facing the egg industry. Woolworths confirmed with Yahoo there has been a slight growth in sales of McKenzie's Egg Replacer when compared to last year. But it was unsure whether this is a result of the shortage in egg supply. Is there a replacement for scrambled eggs? Egg replacers can achieve a similar result in bread, cookies, cakes and muffins, and one tiny container usually holds the equivalent of over two dozen real eggs. They generally contain a mixture of potato starch, tapioca flour and pea protein. ADVERTISEMENT Hundreds of thousands of chickens have been culled to stop the spread of avian influenza. Source: AAP There are other less processed options that bakers could consider like apple sauce, ground flaxseed and yogurt. When it comes to alternatives for scrambled eggs, it's harder to achieve exactly the same result as the real thing. But crumbled firm tofu mixed with spices is an alternative that's worth trying. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Dr Lobna Alghazal owns Keystone Periodontic in Longford town. Nestled on the Dublin Street, the clinic, painted green, is warm and welcoming. The clinic has been around for 30 years and as of 2023 has been owned and run by Dr Alghazal. Lobna has lived quite a life before arriving in little old Longford. She is originally from the city of Benghazi in Libya. In 2014 she arrived in Ireland having fled the Libyan Civil war. While finishing dental school, I got a scholarship and was planning to move to finish my postgrad, that was delayed due to the conflict and I didnt know if I was going to be able to leave at the time. Also Read: Declan Neville back on the Longford stage with St Mels Musical Society for Me And My Girl We left in the middle of the bombing and everything, Lobna said when recalling her escape from the war. I had gotten two scholarship acceptances in Sweden and Ireland, and then I decided to come here to Ireland because part of my family lived here, so I said that would be the best place to go. Lobna went to Trinity and finished her postgrad there. However, tragedy struck once again. During this time I had my younger brother who lived here. He had cancer, but I didnt know, because we had moved in the middle of the war and everything, and the stress, you can imagine. It was too much because you kind of lost everything you know, I always say when you grieve your country its not the same as when you grieve anything else, you lose your possessions and the people you love. Also Read: Motorists vent frustration at Longford N4 roadworks delay Then when I moved here, unfortunately, I lost my brother as well, who I thought would be staying here with me. It is hard to imagine this kind of loss. This level of grief, for many, is inconceivable. Im actually kind of lucky compared to other people you know, I said OK, fine, if I ended up here then maybe I could do something for myself. Lobna spoke of the daunting task of restarting in her thirties. She had built a life for herself throughout her twenties, and on top of losing her brother and her country she did not have the option of returning home. Also Read: Longford women urged to pursue careers in construction ahead of special summit I joined an activist group in Libya where we talked about democracy and secularism versus Islamic teaching for example. This put Lobna in a precarious position as she was very open about her beliefs that religion should be exempt from the constitution and that those of all religious backgrounds should be treated equally. This, in a country like Libya with all the political conflict can put your life in danger. Lobna stayed in Ireland and completed her Masters as well as further prestigious qualifications during her ten years here. With International Womens Day taking place this week, Lobna has some advice for young girls looking to forge their path in life. Also Read: Lovely gesture: Longford girl cuts her beautiful hair to raise funds for two charities Theres nothing guaranteed in life you know? Like you have to kind of take it day by day and you have to kind of make sure that whatever pain or whatever you go through, that you try to turn that into something like progress, that you always look forward. You always have to try to look at what is the deepest pain or the worst thing that happened in your life, look at it and say, you know what, that's not going to put me down. Women, they have more challenges in their lives, you know, in society, I thought it was only in the Middle East and North Africa, but coming here, there's a lot of challenges for women as well. Also Read: Longford audience set to experience Night Dances at Backstage I think in society they put you in your own box. But you have to kind of jump and say, if I'm able to do it and I have the tools to do it and I have the confidence to do it, then you do it. The clinic is now one of the most successful in the area. Longford woman Anne Marie Lyons is calling on her local community to go all in against cancer for the Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day, which takes place on Friday, March 28. Anne Marie organised a fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society in memory of her mum, Mary Lyons, who passed away in January 2024 from cancer. She is now encouraging her community to support this years Daffodil Day. Anne Marie said, Our mum availed of the Irish Cancer Societys Transport Service, which brings patients to and from their hospital appointments, free of charge. For our fundraiser, we wanted to remember our mum, thank the Irish Cancer Society and give back to them and the wider Longford community who may use this very important service in the future. Also Read: Remembering Longford's Jude Flynn, author, playwright, and historian Cancer impacts many lives in Ireland and the lives of a persons loved ones. Mum had to go through many tough days, which was very difficult. Many of mums siblings were also diagnosed with cancer, so we understand how devastating and difficult cancer is physically, emotionally, and financially. The Irish Cancer Society is an incredible charity. Every euro raised on Daffodil Day is crucial and makes a real lasting difference, fuelling life changing cancer research and vital support services like the Transport Service, I would encourage everyone to please get out there and donate on Daffodil Day, March 28, and show your support for those affected by cancer in your local community. Thanks to the generosity of the public, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) delivers crucial free support services for people affected by cancer, throughout Longford. In 2024, ICS provided: Also Read: Longford's upcoming St Patrick's Eve reveals family friendly line up l 380 free lifts to bring Longford-based cancer patients to their treatment l Almost 100 free counselling sessions to people living in Longford l Over 130 nights of free Night Nursing care to allow cancer patients in Longford to die at home surrounded by loved ones l Our Cancer Nurses had almost 140 conversations with people living in Longford on our Support Line and in our Daffodil Centres. Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power said, Every year, communities across Longford show up and paint the town yellow in support of cancer patients and their families. Your generous support means everyone affected by cancer in Longford will have access to the support they need, when they need it most. For more information about Daffodil Day visitwww.cancer.ie/daffodilday Minister for Justice, Jim OCallaghan, has committed to creating a register that names those convicted of domestic violence, serious sexual assault and rape. This legislation comes from Jennies Law named after Jennifer Poole, a woman whose life was violently cut short by Gavin Murphy in 2021. Jennifer's killer had a history of domestic violence, but as there is currently no register or available information bar media attention on those convicted of these crimes in Ireland, Jennifer had no way of knowing, and it cost her her life. Natalie OReilly is the Domestic Violence Manager at Longford Womens Link. She has been a Domestic Violence Specialist for six years. Also Read: Longford women urged to pursue careers in construction ahead of special summit I would say that we would welcome any new legislation that may improve the life, the wellbeing and the safety of women and children, replied Natalie when asked about the announcement. We really back Jason Pooles activism; hes campaigning for this legislation and is also part of our interagency group, she continued. Jason Poole is Jennifers brother. She does, however, have a few caveats. As a specialist in her field, Natalie and her colleagues have a unique understanding of domestic violence and the risk factors that come with naming abusers. Its very hard to say what the long term outcome will be, but if it improves the situation and shines a light on abusers and gives people access to this information, you know, as long as its accessed in the correct way. Also Read: Motorists vent frustration at Longford N4 roadworks delay One worry that has been particularly highlighted since the Minister's announcement is protection of the anonymity and safety of the victims in these situations, Natalie agrees. It would need to be client-led, that the victim has the choice whether they use this and that its not mandatory or might jeopardise their anonymity or safety. We need to recognise that there needs to be an understanding around this legislation if it does become enacted, that were actually potentially increasing the risk of women who may utilise this piece of information if its used against the perpetrator. What theyre doing is essentially challenging their control, their power and control by putting that mirror up against them which as we know perpetrators dont react well to being challenged, Natalie pointed out. Also Read: Property market in Longford continues to show steady growth When it comes to ensuring this register is done correctly and with the least amount of risk possible to the safety of the victims, the solution is very complex. Natalie believes education is the number one factor in using this resource to its full potential. I think that it would be great for other practitioners to have access to a register, so that it takes the onus off the victim. When it comes to maybe family law court, we often see that there may be a history on the perpetrator whether its stalking, breaches of court orders or a history of domestic violence with previous partners, and that information is very rarely shared. I think there needs to be a whole revamp on how we deal with cases on the merits of risk, as we know scientifically we can only risk assess accordingly when we take into account the history of the perpetrator. The Minister has said that the register will not include any retrospective information. The register will also take into account rehabilitation and that he does not want the register to foster permanent criminalisation. Its very hard isnt it? I can understand why the decision is on the table. I mean how far do you go back? Thats going to take a lot of work, a lot of ground to cover. I mean, does it incorporate going forward, people who have offences from other countries? Weve supported in particular, migrant women who have evidence that their perpetrator is well-known in other countries for very serious offences, offences against women, offences against children, explained Natalie. Also Read: PICTURES | Twenty-two Longford schools and 152 pupils take part in North Midlands Credit Union quiz Violence against children is a particular concern for domestic violence aid workers. In many cases, if the victim manages to get out of their situation, if children are involved, their perpetrator will continue the abuse through them. Separately, the minister announced that legislation to remove guardianship rights from convicted killers is to be brought to the cabinet next month. This legislation is known as Valeries law, named for Mayo woman Valerie French who was killed by her husband James Kilroy in 2019. When asked about this legislation and whether it should be expanded to include those convicted of domestic violence and sex offenders, Natalie said, I do, I really do. She continued, In our line of work we understand that the abuse doesnt stop at the intimate partner or the ex-intimate partner, it often generates through the whole family network. If a parent is a convicted abuser for whatever reason, I do think that they should have maybe their automatic rights reduced, you know, so that they dont have such control and equal rights to fight for them if theyre not looking after them, if theyre abusing them. Legislation like Jennies and Valeries law is a huge step forward for Ireland's response to domestic violence and sexual assault. Particularly for victims living in rural Ireland. Natalie highlights how much more complex domestic violence in rural Ireland can be. Rural domestic violence, its a lot harder for victims to get access [to support centres], its a lot harder for them to reach out. If they live on a farm, theres more danger, theres a lot more things that can be used as weapons, and the isolation is far more increased. Another factor in rural domestic violence is shame, if a victim does report, its likely that the whole town will know in an instant, or that community ties will lead them to being more isolated or not believed. When asked about what other types of legislation she would like to see focused on, Natalie highlighted the danger of honour-based violence, this kind of violence is common across the world, but can mean dire consequences for its victims. Naturally, because the world is ever changing and Ireland has had the privilege of welcoming new cultures and nationalities through our borders, problems from those countries will also pop up on this island. Natalie would like to see separate interpreters given to migrant families in court regarding abuse and assault so that there will be no interference on behalf of the interpreters. Natalie makes clear, however, that this is not something that Ireland is exempt from, domestic violence is very present in this country in one form or another. Domestic abuse does not discriminate, there is not one country in the world where there isnt domestic abuse. In the case of Jennifer Poole and Valerie French both were killed by Irish men. Foxes were introduced to Australia in the 1860s for recreational hunting, but their numbers have exploded and some wildlife are seriously suffering. In one particularly horrific incident, over 130 turtles were killed in just two days. Source: Walliabup Wildlife Warriors Conservationists are calling for more action to help combat the devastating impact of foxes on native Australian wildlife, after 300 turtles were killed in an ecologically significant set of wetlands in the last 12 months alone. Foxes were introduced to Australia in the 1860s by Europeans for recreational hunting. But since then, their numbers have exploded exponentially across the country, largely due to a lack of natural predators and an abundance of prey. Their introduction has significantly contributed to the decline and extinction of several native species, particularly small mammals like the bilby, numbat and bettong. But at the Beeliar Wetlands in Perth, wildlife volunteers say foxes are also devastating the local southwestern snake-necked turtle population, which is listed as "near-threatened" in the state. Speaking to Yahoo News, Felicity, secretary at Walliabup Wildlife Warriors a division of the Wetlands Conservation Society said foxes have killed 300 turtles the across the Bibra, Yangebup and Little Rush lakes at the Beeliar Wetlands in a year, with more than 360 found dead in the last 18 months. ADVERTISEMENT She said to make matters worse, often the foxes aren't even eating the turtles, but instead decapitating them and leaving their carcasses around the grounds. Turtles are being killed by the hundreds at the Beeliar Wetlands in Perth by foxes. Source: Walliabup Wildlife Warriors Alarm sounded over growing fox crisis at Beeliar Wetlands A former vet, Felicity thought this may be due to the fact that foxes aren't evolved to consume them. While they may instinctually hunt turtles, they soon realise they're not an adequate food source, she said. "We've seen it happen with our own eyes, their heads get ripped off it's quite bizarre," she told Yahoo News Australia. "Statements from the land managers said 'we think it's natural causes'. We're pretty sure turtles don't just rip their own heads off. "I studied conservation biology, so my take on it is that foxes kill them thinking they're going to be able to eat them, but they're not actually equipped to." Volunteers say 360 turtles have been found dead at the Beeliar Wetlands in Perth in the last 18 months. Source: Walliabup Wildlife Warriors Felicity pointed to a particularly horrific incident in April, 2024 known in the community as "the massacre", when 130 dead turtles were killed in two days. Almost 100 were confirmed by wildlife veterinarians to have been killed by foxes but that's not to say the rest died naturally. ADVERTISEMENT She explained turtles enter a dormant period similar to hibernation known as aestivation, in which they bury themselves in mud or sand. "The turtles go under the lake bed to hide out, and they do that during summer because the lake naturally dries out," Felicity said. The Wetlands Conservation Society said Australia must implement better fox management to help control their spread in WA, and limit the impact on turtles. Source: Walliabup Wildlife Warriors She said due to the effects of climate change that year, the lake was quite hard enough for even a human to walk on meaning that the foxes could too. "Basically the foxes went around and dug them up one by one and, yeah, killed them all and left them there," she said. "Photographers were actually capturing photos of foxes on the lakebed with turtles in their mouths. So there's no doubt that this is what's happening. We alerted the [council] to this, we thought we might get some action, but a year later not a lot has happened." 'This is a very serious situation' While the City of Cockburn council do have fox eradication methods in place, including soft leg trapping, Felicity argued that much more needs to be done to protect local turtle numbers. She acknowledged the City previously cited a lack of funding, a hurdle she hopes to address at a council meeting next week. ADVERTISEMENT "We can't help but assume they're dwindling," she said. "You can't lose 300 turtles over three small neighbouring lakes in a year, and not realise that this is a very serious situation. Turtles rely on living a long time. The adults are very precious in their ecosystemslosing that many adults is a really devastating thing for the entire population. "They take a long time to mature, and they do lose a lot of little hatchlings... along the way. So if they make it to adulthood, they're very precious." Felicity said she'd also found "numerous headless cygnets and water birds" along the Bibra Lake foreshoreanother sign of the foxes' destruction. "We're asking the public to contact the local government," Felicity said. "We actually have a state election here on Saturday, and so we're also asking people to contact their candidates and say, we think our wildlife is really important. ADVERTISEMENT "It's a really outstanding part of Western Australia, and we want you to care for it more." The Society had also found "numerous headless cygnets and water birds" along the Bibra Lake foreshore another sign of the foxes' destruction. Source: Walliabup Wildlife Warriors Cockburn Council weighs in A City of Cockburn council spokesperson said it remains "deeply committed" to protecting the local turtle population "for many years" and "continues to explore ways to enhance" conservation. "The City has spent $155,000 on turtle conservation in the past 12 months," a spokesperson told Yahoo News. "This included $65,000 on all feral animal control (including $40,000 for fox control) which includes reactive fox control in recent weeks due to observed increases in fox predation rates on turtles at local lakes." Efforts include turtle population research with Murdoch University, habitat restoration, citizen science programs and traffic measures to prevent roadkill. While fox predation is a major issue, climate change, habitat loss and food shortages also threaten turtle populations, the spokesperson said. The City said it's doubled its fox trapping budget. "Because foxes travel across local government boundaries, local control alone is not the most effective solution," the spokesperson said. "To meet cross-boundary needs, the City has proposed a coordinated regional fox control strategy through the Perth South West Metropolitan Alliance (PSWMA), which is currently being investigated by the alliance." This initiative seeks state government involvement and funding for a Fox Monitoring and Targeted Control Project following increased turtle deaths due to foxes at Bibra Lake in May 2024. "The City acknowledges the concerns of community groups and shares their passion for protecting this near-threatened species," the spokesperson said. "This issue goes beyond Cockburns borders and support and collaboration at a regional and state level is needed. Perth experienced its lowest October-March rainfall period on record in 2023-2024 and these extreme weather conditions led to significant wetland drying, making turtles more vulnerable than ever before to fox predation. "While fox control is critical, climate change is a major factor driving turtle vulnerability. Dry lakebeds not only make turtles easier for predators to find but also reduce their ability to burrow and escape." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Home Instead Longford has announced that it is embarking on an exciting new chapter in its proud history of delivering high-quality home care to thousands of people across the county. The organisation, which provides home care services to more than 7,000 clients and employs over 4,000 people nationwide, has rebranded as Dovida, marking an end to its affiliation with the Home Instead brand. Dovida promises to bring a renewed vision and mission for home care that keeps clients at the centre of every decision. We have been a trusted partner, proudly delivering the highest quality home care to people within our communities throughout Ireland for 20 years. Our mission has always been to enhance the lives of ageing adults and their families by providing personalised, relationship-based care at home, Shane Jennings, Chief Executive Officer of Dovida Ireland, said. Today, that mission continues under a new name. Dovida builds on our legacy with a renewed commitment to excellence and compassion and the promise to continue providing the same exemplary care that our clients, their families, our network, and caregivers have come to rely on, he added. Also read: Longford Family makes defibrillator appeal in a bid to save lives Your Life, Your Way As part of its vision for the future of home care, Dovida has introduced the Circle of Care. This philosophy renews its commitment to person-centred care by placing the individual at the centre of a holistic support system that unites families, skilled caregivers and support teams, and the wider healthcare community. Our renewed mission is to support, empower, and uplift the people of Longford by putting them at the heart of every decision we make. Our caregivers approach people with curiosity and compassion, eager to understand their care needs, interests, values, and personality, Lorraine McLoughlin, General Manager of Dovida in Longford, said. As a Dovida client, you will be empowered to live Your Life, Your Way. We are committed to making sure that every one of our clients feels empowered to live lives of independence and dignity by delivering quality care that aligns with their lifestyle and preferences, she added. Also read: Longford Life spring edition - out now! Home and Life Inspired by the Latin words for Home (Domus) and Life (Vita), the name Dovida symbolises the very core of the organisations mission: to help the people they support live the life they want in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible. What people want from home care is changing as a new generation needs support. They want to feel more engaged and empowered to make decisions about their care, Shane Jennings explained. Ageing adults still make up the majority of the people we support. However, our client base is also expanding and now includes people under 65 and children under 18. Our new brand celebrates both where we come from and where were going and allows us to adapt to the changing needs and wants of people receiving care, he added. Our promise is simple: together with our clients, their families, and their Circle of Care, we create a care environment that is centred around the individual. We focus every moment on forming relationships that empower our clients and help them to do the things they choose to do. Because its not just about adding years to their life but adding life to their years, he concluded. Also read: People of Longford encouraged to get involved in National Tree Week 2025 Are you looking to find a pathway to the degree course you are interested in? Do you wish to change your career path? Moate Business College, one of the largest providers of further education in the Midlands, offers a variety of courses which will provide pathways to new career opportunities and give you access to degree programmes throughout Ireland and the UK. We can help you prepare for the future! Offering fulltime courses in the areas of Business, IT, Media, Art, Sport, Healthcare, Childcare and Social Care, Moate Business College has over 30 years experience in providing quality education and training for students, supporting them in moving towards their chosen career. Also read: Home Instead Longford announces rebrand to Dovida with promise to build on legacy of providing high-quality home care With affordable fees, Susi and other funding eligibility, career guidance services and learning support, students can gain a quality education in a supportive learning environment, with all courses comprising an essential communications component. Programmes also include a professional development module or practical work placement, while selected students are also given the opportunity to undertake a fully-funded 3-week placement in another EU country under the ERASMUS + programme. The college has an excellent reputation and long-established links with third level colleges in Ireland and the UK, and our courses provide pathways to a wide range of degree programmes. Courses also give students the opportunity to gain meaningful employment in their chosen field. Also read: Longford Family makes defibrillator appeal in a bid to save lives Moate Business College will host their Open Days on Thursday, March 13 from 5pm to 8pm and Friday, March 14 from 10am to 2pm, where the public may visit the college and speak to their staff. Please contact us on 090 6481178 or info@moatebc.com for further information, or visit us on moatebusinesscollege.com Nine members of Longford/Westmeath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland made a short movie 'Skool of Rock' recently and received a Hollywood endorsement from actor and musician Jack Black during an 'amazing' night. The film premiered in Backstage in Longford town and the participants ranged in age from 15 years old to 24 years old. The film was directed by screenwriter and film editor Liam Izzard and it was followed by an 'Oscars' Ceremony during a memorable evening. The magical night received a further boost when Jack Black, the original star of the beloved 2003 film, sent a video message to the nine actors and he congratulated them on their amazing performance. Also read: Longford family praised for highlighting the importance of defibrillator maintenance The local DSI branch described it as an amazing evening for Sam Bartram, Nathan Branigan, Ackachi Ndulewe, Niall O'Beirne, John O'Meara, Eabha O Sullivan, Oisin Sullivan, Sophie Sweeney, all from county Longford, and Amanda Butler from Streete, county Westmeath on December 12. Martina Branigan, parent and Director of DSI Longford/Westmeath branch described it as a 'magical' evening She said the group of young people, which included her son Nathan (21), had an 'absolute ball' making the short movie over three days at Ardagh Primary School and Ardagh Community Centre last August. "They were incredible, they sat in desks at the school for a whole day and you won't get too many kids around the country to do that and they took their lines seriously and they did their very best and they enjoyed every minute," she added. Also read: Longford woman urges support for Daffodil day and the fight against cancer Martina, from Longford town said they had never planned on developing it into a 25-minute short movie. "We started it as an activity as we organise activities for them in the summer, but it was just so good and Claire Wright in head office was saying, 'Would you not do something more with it, you should have a night'," she added. Martina said director Liam Izzard, a friend of the O'Meara family managed to get in contact with Jack Black and none of them had any idea he was coming on screen with a message to the young people. "Liam came on the screen and had the phone on his ear and he said you know what I will put you on the screen to them and then here is Jack Black sending them a message and he named every single one of them, it was out of this world." Also read: Longford-Westmeath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland lauded by Hollywood actor Jack Black for 'Skool of Rock' Martina stated they organised an evening event and it became a red carpet night at Backstage Theatre in Longford town that attracted a close to capacity audience of nearly 250 people. "They all got dressed up in their tuxedos and dressed and it was a magical night to start with and I haven't laughed so much in a very long time, it was really funny and they were so good," she said. "It was a really lovely evening and they were so proud and so excited as they were each called up on stage to get their Oscars. Also read: Lovely gesture: Longford girl cuts her beautiful hair to raise funds for two charities Martina said Liam made a short video with John O'Meara (21) about a year or two ago which was a take on Johnny English that was uploaded to YouTube and it was 'excellent'. "I said to John's mother Emer, could we do something similar and that is how it started, Liam is such a professional and the finished product is so good. It was one of the most amazing nights of my life, let alone theirs," she stated. PICTURES | A night to remember in Longford as Clonguish ladies footballers presented with awards Emer's daughter Megan helped to produce and she said they said they were very proud and very thankful to the principal of Ardagh NS Theresa Kearney for letting them use the school. The fundraiser collected over 2,800 for the Longford-Westmeath branch that will be used to improve the lives of their members with Down Syndrome and they are thankful to all those who supported it. The group also thanked Maguires Hair, Esquires, Fabiani, Baxters Chemist, Spirit Clothing, Skakelums Chemist, Rapid Print, Omp Ltd, Sweeney Architects, Fenelon Engineering, Farrell Stationery, Fresh Today, O Brien Accountants, JR Spares, Butler Manufacturing, Quinn Insurance, EJ Gearty & Co, Paul and Vincent, Flynn and Lynch, Glennon Brothers and Core Components. PICTURES | Rally enthusiasts throng Longford for top class festival of motorsport Streete Vintage Club will be hosting its annual Cars and Coffee event for the second time. Last year saw the debut of this event by the club. An incredibly successful venture that saw around 2000 raised for their chosen charity as well as over 100 attendees in cars of all ages and eras. Eamonn Campbell, the PRO of the club, explained the importance of this year's event. Also Read: Hollywood star Jack Black praises Longford actors on their 'magical' Skool of Rock event Anne Creamer, a beloved Abbeylara woman who worked in the community offices in Streete for around 20 years, sadly passed away late last year following a battle with cancer. To honour her and her legacy this year's Cars and Coffee will see all of the proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society. This is our second year running Cars and Coffee, we raised over 2500 last year for the Irish Road Traffic Victims Association and for our local defibrillator scheme, outlined Eamonn. Also Read: Longford women's link weighs in on the proposed domestic violence register Weve come back again this year and weve decided to donate all funds to the Irish Cancer Society Palliative Care. There was a lady that worked in the hall, and she passed away from cancer just before Christmas. She was from Abbeylara and she was working in the Streete Parish Park for the last 20 years. Anne was a beloved part of both the Abbeylara and the Streete communities. Also Read: People of Longford encouraged to get involved in National Tree Week 2025 Eamonn went on to praise his clubmates who have been integral in hosting the event, To host such an event would not be possible without the support of the other club members. Attendees can expect a whole range of vehicles from cars to bikes, to 4x4s and trucks. All of the vehicles will range from vintage to 2025. Tea and coffee and hot food will be served in the hall. A lot of local people have pulled together to make the event happen, concluded Eamonn. The event is to take place on Sunday, March 9. It is set to begin at 9am and run until 1pm in Streete Parish Park. The club invites everyone interested to attend and are expecting a large turn out in support of such a worthy cause. On International Women's Day, Saturday, March 8, professors and researchers from UCD, Aberdeen University and DCU are hosting the third in a series of Women's Deliberative Cafes in co:worx, Edgeworthstown. Longford native, Dr Shelley Deane, Department of Law and Government DCU, explained that the research seeks to better understand the shared challenges faced across the island of Ireland, to unpuzzle together how things work "down here" and "up there", and how we might work together better in the here and now, and learn policy lessons for the future of the debate about constitutional issues on the island. Also read: International Women's Day treat: Dessert Mania in Longford town offering a complimentary coffee to every woman on March 8 Women will be coming from Mid-Ulster, Monaghan and Mayo to talk to women from Longford in the third in this current series of Deliberative Cafes. The first was held in Seamus Heaney's home place in November, the second was hosted in Cookstown and the third is in Edgeworthstown. The final event, now on Saturday, March 22 in Ballina Library, was postponed due to Storm Eowyn. Dr Deane commented, "Bringing women together on common ground, addressing our shared challenges on International Women's Day goes some way to demonstrating the ways in which Longford women, along with women in other communities - tackle everyday hurdles and foresee ways to address these problems, learning from existing processes and procedures applied and adopted across our island." The vibrancy of Longford's commercial community was acknowledged today as the county's Local Enterprise Office hosted their annual awards. Overall winner for 2025, Willie Monaghan & Sons Limited, was selected to represent Longford at the 25th National Enterprise Awards Final in the Mansion House, Dublin, on Thursday, May 23, 2025. Speaking at the ceremony Longford County Council Director of Services with responsibility for Enterprise, Michael Nevin, spoke of the quality of local enterprise: Each of these businesses are key contributors to the economic growth and development of our county. It's an honour to work with small businesses, hear their stories, and help them work through the issues they have. Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Mark Casey, said: It is great to see local industries going so well. That is what this is all about. I have to commend Michael and the LEO for all they do. Longford is one of the leading counties for getting local enterprises off the ground. The awards recognise and promote success stories of small business owners from all over the county. The National Finalists will compete for a prize fund of 53,000. These awards are an important part of Enterprise Week, Council CEO, Paddy Mahon, The LEO plays a vital role in helping small business plan, start, sustain and continue to grow. All the businesses here today have proved themselves and are models of sustainability. This is a great opportunity to recognise the excellence in Longford small businesses. Aside from the overall winner five local businesses were honoured at the awards. Maguire Hair & Beauty won out in the Lean Champion category; Waterfront Dental were crowned Digital Champion; O'Rourke Windows and Glass received the Green Champion award; Threads by Katie were announced as the Best Young Start Up; while the Spirit of Longford award went to PJ and Joan Donnellan of Donnellan Engineering in Lanesboro. Police Arrest Two for Illegal Street Racing in Brentwood After Multi-Agency Investigation Crime By Long Island Published: March 05 2025 Two people were arrested for driving a Lexus GS 300 at a car meet-up in the parking lot of the Deer Park Railroad Station on February 25. Suffolk County Police today arrested two people for an illegal speed contest that took place in Brentwood last month. Following an Investigation by Third Precinct Crime Section Officers, in conjunction with Suffolk County Criminal Intelligence Detectives, Nassau County Criminal Intelligence Detectives and Nassau County Police Eighth Precinct Officers, two people were arrested for driving a Lexus GS 300 at a car meet-up in the parking lot of the Deer Park Railroad Station on February 25. The driver, Devin Chmielewski, 22, of Massapequa, was charged with two counts of Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree and one count of Unlawful Speed Contest. A passenger, Adrianna Langone, 19, of Massapequa, was charged with Unlawful Speed Contest. The vehicle was seized. Chmielewski and Langone were released on Desk Appearance Tickets and will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date. Anyone with information on this incident can contact Third Precinct Crime Section at 631-854-8352 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Two Women Arrested in Amityville Massage Parlor Raid for Prostitution Crime By Long Island Published: March 06 2025 Police arrested two women during a raid at an Amityville massage parlor for prostitution and unauthorized practice of a profession. Suffolk County Police today arrested two women for prostitution and unauthorized practice of a profession during a massage parlor raid in Amityville. In response to numerous community complaints, First Precinct Crime Section officers and First Squad detectives, in conjunction with the Village of Amityville Fire Marshal, conducted an investigation into Heaven on Earth Foot Spa, located at 148 Broadway, and arrested Xiuzhi Jiangs and Xiuli Shi. Jiangs, 54, of Commack, and Shi, 62, of Flushing, were both charged with Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, a Class E felony, and Prostitution, a misdemeanor. Jiangs and Shi were issued Desk Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date. A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces engage in a training exercise in late February. (SDF on X) On February 27, Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan called for the group to disarm and end its conflict with Turkey, according to a message he released from prison. Convene your congress and make a decision. All groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself, Ocalan wrote. The call has reverberated across Turkey and may affect PKK-affiliated groups in Iran, Iraq, and Syria in addition to the PKK itself. A key area where the Ocalan statement will be watched closely is eastern Syria. In a statement to CNN, US National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said he welcomed the development and added that we hope that it will help assuage our Turkish allies about U.S. counter-ISIS partners in northeast Syria. We believe it will help bring peace to this troubled region. Northeast Syria is in the spotlight because of the ties between the PKK and the Peoples Defense Units (YPG), a PKK affiliate. The YPG comprises a significant portion of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Turkey has carried out numerous airstrikes against the SDF over the past several years while backing other Syrian groups in fights with the SDF. Ankara also launched military operations against the SDF in 2019 and the YPG near Afrin in 2018. While SDF leader Mazloum Abdi has welcomed the Ocalan statement on the PKK, he has also said it does not relate to the SDF, despite the YPGs ties to PKK. As Ocalans statement ripples through the region, it naturally raises questions about how it might affect the SDF in Syria. The SDF has an estimated 70,000 fighters and has increased its capabilities through close work with US Central Command (CENTCOM) during Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State (IS). IS was largely defeated in 2019, and the SDF continues to control a large swath of eastern Syria, where it fights IS cells when they pop up and holds thousands of the jihadist groups detainees. With the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime in December 2024, the SDF may be the most cohesive and largest distinct armed force in Syria. The new government in Damascus is trying to organize its national security forces based on the backbone of Hayat Tahrir al Sham fighters, who were mainly trained in Idlib. Damascus faces many hurdles in securing western Syria because of numerous clashes with local groups, as well as recent Israeli airstrikes. The most important question is whether Ankara will accept Abdis claim that Ocalans statement has nothing to do with the SDF, or whether it will provoke Ankara to continue or increase operations in Syria. Turkey is watching how the US responds. The pro-Turkey Daily Sabah newspaper noted on February 28 that a US State Department spokesperson said, Weve seen the reports on Abdullah Ocalans statement. The United States considers the PKK a Foreign Terrorist Organization, so any move to lay down arms and remove that threat is a welcome step. Efkan Ala, the deputy chairman of Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said, The essence of the call is the disarmament and the dissolution of the terrorist organization. We will look at the result. Of course, we will look at whether this result will be achieved. Ala emphasized that Ankara would not slow down its fight against terrorism. If the PKK and its affiliates begin to disarm, will Ankara shift its policy in Syria? Over the last several years, Turkey has been clear that it views the SDF as being led by the YPG, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the YPG to disband in mid-January. Thus, it appears unlikely Turkey will suddenly change how it views the YPG. The SDF would likely need to convince Ankara that it is definitively breaking with the YPG and, as a result, breaking with the PKK. The SDF also faces acute challenges if the US withdraws from eastern Syria. A recent report by the North Press Agency, which closely follows developments in eastern Syria, noted that a US withdrawal from Syria was unclear amid regional uncertainty. The SDF has been cognizant of this possible policy shift in Washington since at least 2018. The main difference today is that the SDF would no longer be left negotiating with the Russian- and Iranian-backed Assad regime, but rather the new government in Damascus, which is much closer to Turkey. In January, a commander of the Womens Protection Units (YPJ), part of the YPG, said her units could integrate into a new Syrian army if Damascus embraces diversity and is democratic. Other PKK-linked groups have made similar statements in Syria. At the same time, Kurdish parties in the country have expressed concern about not being included in a recent national dialogue conference hosted by the new Syrian government on February 25. It appears Ocalans statement has created a catch-22 for the SDF, given the YPGs leadership of the group. While the SDF has welcomed the statement, it would admit and solidify its direct affiliation with the PKK and effectively surrender eastern Syria and a decade of gains made against the Islamic State if it disarms. If the SDF doesnt disarm, its continuation as an armed group may give Ankara justification to continue attacks on it and keep Turkish forces in Syria. The development may also present an opportunity for the new US administration to help disentangle the SDF from the YPG or urge the SDF to formally break from the PKK to allay Ankaras concerns. If Turkey continues to focus on defeating the SDF, it will make it harder for the SDF to engage with and work with the new government in Damascus. In contrast, Ankara withdrawing its forces from Syria could shift attention to the US role in eastern Syria and put pressure on the US to discuss the future of the SDF with Damascus. The new Syrian government may have trouble consolidating its control of eastern Syria for the time being and prefer to have the competent and well-trained SDF stay in the region for now. If so, it would also be in Damascuss interests to encourage a clear split between the SDF and the PKK. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). Abandoned and illegal crabbing pots can post a serious threat to the environment, but if you find one it's important not to touch it. Queensland Fisheries officers have removed dozens of abandoned and illegal crab pots from the Whitsundays region. Source: Fisheries Queensland Aussie fishermen are being urged to follow the rules when it comes to one popular catching method, after a huge clean-up of Queensland waterways uncovered a haul of illegal activity. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol [QBFP] officers recently removed 54 abandoned and illegal crab pots from rivers and creeks in the Whitsunday area, reminding crabbers to be wary of the rules. Neglected pots are referred to as ghost pots and pose a serious threat to the marine environment in more ways than one, OzFish's Litter Project Manager Emma Kark told Yahoo News. The biggest issue is definitely the animals. If theyre left behind, its possible for animals to swim in there and if they are in fresh water it can be things like platypus and the rakalis. Its very devastating when that happens, she said. ADVERTISEMENT They basically just keep catching things and no one is pulling it up to release them. Officers found 42 turtles trapped in these pots that were pulled from the Pumicestone Passage in 2023. Source: Dept of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation In another major threat to both animals and humans, once the pots start to break down they can leach micro-plastics into the waterways, Emma said. There are an estimated 174 trillion pieces of micro plastics currently in the ocean, and that number is only expected to rise. OzFish is currently working with fishermen to make sure crab pots are being monitored and not lost, as can happen in big swells like the ones Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently bringing to South East Queensland and northern NSW. "Storm events can often pull things away, bad weather too," Emma said. In 2024, 1,812 crab pots and 334 freshwater traps were seized and removed from the water across Queensland. In 2023, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services along with the QBFP officers removed 195 illegal crab pots from the Pumicestone Passage in Morton Bay Marine Park. They removed 42 turtles that had become trapped or tangled in the pots and most did not survive. ADVERTISEMENT During CleanUp Australia Day on the weekend, OzFish volunteers at 16 locations removed four tonnes of litter their biggest haul to date. Among the plastic bottles and food wrappers were 144 bait bags, 750m of fishing line and at least one crab pot. But to their surprise, less than 1 per cent of the litter collected was fishing-related. OzFish Unlimited volunteers removed tonnes of rubbish, including fishing line, bait bags and crab pots. Source: OzFish What are the rules for crab pots? In Queensland, a person cannot possess more than four crab pots Each crab pot must have a tag attached with the surname and full street address of the owner The pot must be attached by a rope to either a float measuring at least 15cm in all dimensions, or a fixed object above the water like a tree or a jetty The float or the rope above the waterline must also be tagged with a name and address Unmarked pots are illegal What should I do if I see a ghost pot? If you see a crab pot that you believe is abandoned or illegal, record its location and contact your state's fisheries department. Touching or interfering with someone else's crab pots could land you in hot water. ADVERTISEMENT In January, two people were fined $1,613 each for interfering with crab pots in the Moreton Bay region that didnt belong to them. Protecting our marine resources and respecting others' property is essential, Fisheries Queensland said in a Facebook post at the time. It is everyones responsibility to follow the rules if its not your crab pot, dont touch it. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a contentious Oval Office meeting on February 28, 2025. On Monday, the Trump administration announced it was pausing and reviewing military aid for Ukraine following the contentious Oval Office meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week. The suspensions impact will depend on its scope and duration. Although a permanent cutoff of all aid likely would not cause a Ukrainian collapse, it would result in more Ukrainian lives and land lost and more infrastructure destroyed. Challenges would build over time and could exacerbate Kyivs shortage of manpower. Aid spigot shut off Trumps decision affects equipment and ammunition currently in the delivery pipeline or on order for Ukraine, including all materiel in transit or awaiting delivery in Poland. While Trump has not pledged any new security assistance for Kyiv since his term began, the administration hasuntil nowcontinued delivering aid pledged by its predecessor, which surged aid during its final months in office. On Wednesday, CIA Director John Ratcliff appeared to confirm that the pause also affects US intelligence sharing with Ukraine. American intelligence has supported Ukraine in a host of areas, from countering Russian missile barrages and covert operations to tracking Russian force movements to conducting deep strikes against high-value Russian targets. As of this writing, media reports differed on whether all intelligence sharing was suspended. It appears the administration is at least withholding targeting data for long-range strikes. Some reports say the United States also stopped providing some intelligence that helps provide advanced warning of Russian missile and drone strikes. The aid suspension presumably also affects other assistance as well, such as training and planning support and help with equipment maintenance and repair. US administration says aid will resume, but unclear when US officials say aid will resume once Trump determines Kyiv is serious about peace talks, but how long that might take is unclear. One senior administration official reportedly said the White Houses initial plan was to pause assistance for a week or two to pressure Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader reaffirmed his commitment to peace in a lengthy social media post on Tuesday, which Trump welcomed. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Wednesday that US and Ukrainian officials are discussing specifics for talks with Russia, adding that Trump may reconsider the aid freeze if that progress continues. If the pause is short-lived, it will not have much direct impact on the battlefield, with the important exception of intelligence sharing. The effect will mount if the suspension lasts months or longer, exhausting Kyivs stocks of already-delivered American aid. Air defense In terms of materiel, the most challenging and immediate gap is in munitions for air and missile defense, especially for the US-made Patriot system. Ukraines handful of Patriot batteries, deployed in and around key cities, serve as its main defense against Russian and North Korean ballistic missiles. Kyiv lacks enough Patriot missiles as it is. According to a Ukrainian official, the country would run out within weeks without US resupply. Russia could then destroy more of Ukraines critical infrastructure and other high-value targets. Equipment maintenance and repair Absent US spare parts and maintenance and repair support, Ukraine would face growing difficulty servicing many types of equipment, which is already a challenge. Keeping high-end systems such as Patriots and F-16s in service would become harder. Without a steady supply of spare parts from the United States, Ukraine may increasingly have to cannibalize some of the thousands of armored vehicles Washington has provided. Some of those vehicles, including Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Stryker armored personnel carriers, are not operated in significant numbers in other NATO countries. The size of Ukraines existing stock of spare parts is unclear. Starlink Prior to last weeks Oval Office meeting, Reuters reported that US officials had raised the possibility of cutting the countrys access to Elon Musks vital Starlink satellite internet system. Musk, who has grown increasingly critical of Ukraine, quickly denied the report. So far, there has been no indication that Starlink will be cut off. The loss of Starlink would be a major blow. Since early in the war, Ukrainian warfighters have relied on many thousands of Starlink terminals to share real-time drone feeds and communicate with fellow troops and loved ones. Civilian facilities, such as hospitals, also use them. Ukraine could fall back on alternative solutions, as it has done in Russias Kursk Oblast, where Starlink often does not work. But these alternatives would be suboptimal, and the switch would be disruptive. While Starlinks services in Ukraine are partly financed by US government contracts, Poland bought and pays the subscription fees for over half of Ukraines Starlink terminals. Breaking that contract could undermine SpaceXs global businesssomething Musk is likely keen to avoid. Long-range precision strike capability Europe cannot quickly replace US supplies of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets fired by Ukraines High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and other Western-provided rocket artillery systems. Ukraines capacity for responsive precision strikes at ranges of up to 80 kilometers deep would thus diminish over time as its GMLRS stocks are depleted. For longer-range strikes, Ukraine would have to rely on limited stocks of European air-launched cruise missiles, along with its increasing indigenous production of cruise missiles and long-range one-way attack drones, once its remaining US-provided ATACMS ballistic missiles are expended. Whether Trump would have provided additional ATACMS anyhow is doubtful. Shell hunger Ukraine is not as dependent on American artillery ammunition as it was earlier in the war. A big reason why is that Ukrainian-made drones, rather than artillery, currently account for the majority of Russian losses of men and equipment. Ukraine has been expanding its best drone units to serve as a force multiplier in support of its understrength infantry units. That said, artillery and other traditional capabilities remain vital, and strike drones are most effective when employed in concert with those capabilities. Europe, along with already delivered US munitions, can cover much of Ukraines artillery shell requirements in 2025. The European Union aims to produce 2 million artillery shells this year, and Ukraine has also increased its own production of mortar and artillery ammunition. Still, without American supplies, Ukrainian units would have to make do with a lower rate of fire and would not benefit from the recent and projected growth in US production. Ukrainian artillerymen would also lose access to their primary source of dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) cluster warheads, useful for countering Russian assaults. Whereas Russia currently has only a narrow advantage in artillery fire, that disparity would likely widen. Ukrainian officials say their stocks of American shells might last for a few months, perhaps until the summer. Rationing will likely begin now to hedge against the possibility of a long-term cutoff. Manpower, morale, and negotiations A permanent end to US aid could exacerbate Ukraines shortage of infantrycurrently the main problem facing Kyivs forces. Something similar happened from fall 2023 to spring 2024, when dwindling stocks of artillery ammunition and stalled aid legislation in the US Congress forced Ukraine to ration shells, leading casualty rates to spike. Ukraine is in a somewhat better position now, given its greater production of first-person-view (FPV) strike drones and the fact that the Biden administration frontloaded ammunition deliveries for this year. Still, Ukraines casualty rate may rise over time as its ammunition stocks and armored vehicle fleet are depleted. Higher casualties, coupled with the psychological blow of American abandonment, could undermine morale. The Ukrainians have proven resilient, and most troops will probably continue to fight. However, lower morale could fuel draft dodging and exacerbate Ukraines growing challenge, with troops going AWOL or deserting due to exhaustion or insufficient training. In sum, a permanent US aid cutoff would boost Moscows efforts to grind down Ukrainian forces. Russia would gain greater leverage at the negotiating table, likely making President Vladimir Putin even less open to compromise and more inclined to continue pressing his battlefield advantage. The worst-case scenario, in which mounting pressure eventually enables Russia to break Ukraines back, is improbable. More likely, Russias rate of advance would improve to some degree, though the Kremlin itself faces growing challenges in sustaining the war beyond 2025. Pause or prelude? Even if Trump resumes aid, this may not be the last time it gets frozen. If his diplomatic efforts fail, Trump could decide simply to wash his hands of Ukraine and cut assistance for good. Moscow will certainly seek to place the blame on Kyiv if talks break down. Ukraine and its European backers would do well to prepare for this possibility. John Hardie is the deputy director of FDDs Russia Program and a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal. Houthi fighters. (Donya-e Eqtesad) On Tuesday, the United States Department of State re-designated the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The Trump Administration is acting to degrade Houthi capabilities after over a year of the groups terrorism in the Red Sea targeting commercial and military vessels and ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel. The State Department also cited previous Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure in the UAE and Saudia Arabia in the designation. Following the return of the Houthis to the FTO list, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned seven senior members, designating them as specially designated global terrorists (SDGTs), and one company for their role in smuggling weapons to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and negotiating weapons procurement deals. The US also condemned Russia, China, and Iran for providing weapons and weapons components to the terrorist group. The Houthis newly minted specially designated global terrorists are: Mohammad Abdulsalam, also known as Abu Yasser, is the Houthis spokesperson, chief negotiator, an oil tycoon, and the chairman of the Al Masirah Network, a Houthi-affiliated TV channel. Abdulsalam has played a key role in managing the Houthis internal and external financing network and facilitated the Houthis efforts to secure weapons and other support from Russia, according to the US Treasury Department. He has also coordinated with Iran, a collaboration that included a visit with Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei. Abdulsalam is based in Oman. Mahdi al Mashat is chairman of the Supreme Political Council (SPC), the Houthi-controlled governing body in north Yemen. Mashat has coordinated with foreign governments, especially Russia, to advance Houthi goals. His social media is often used for official political statements on behalf of the terrorist group. Mohamed Ali al Houthi has held important positions in the Houthis political apparatuses. He is currently a member of the SPC and chaired the SPCs predecessor group. Treasury states Houthi has been instrumental in the groups cooperation with Russian and Chinese officials, including ensuring the Houthis did not attack these countries vessels in the Red Sea. Abdulmalil Alagri is a prominent Houthi operative who the US Treasury notes has participated in delegations to Moscow to meet with both Russian and Chinese leaders. His X account states he is a member of the Houthis national negotiating delegation. Ali Muhammad Muhsin Salih al Hadi runs the Houthi-controlled Sanaa Chamber of Commerce. According to Treasury, he is central to the groups weapons-procurement activities as a financier, exploiting his position to fund and hide weapons purchases. Hadi visited Russia to procure weapons and investments from which the Houthis could profit. Eshaq Abdulmalek Abdullah al Marwani is a senior Houthi member and aide to Mohammad Abdulsalam. He has participated in Houthi missions to Russia and has coordinated with other high-ranking Houthi operatives to advance Houthi interests internationally, Treasury stated. Khaled Hussein Saleh Gaber is a Houthi member involved in illegal financial activities with previously sanctioned Houthi operatives. He has also participated in delegations to Russia and coordinates illicit procurement and finance activities with the network of Houthi financial official Said Al-Jamal, according to Treasury. Abdulwali Abdoh Hasan al Jabri is a Houthi military leader who Treasury states used his company, Al Jabri General Trading and Investment Co, also designated by the US, for a lucrative human smuggling operation, recruiting Yemeni civilians to fight for Russia in Ukraine, often under false and misleading pretenses. The Houthis reportedly sent hundreds of Yemenis to fight for Russia, for which the group expected to receive weapons in exchange. Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focusing on Iranian proxies, specifically Iraqi militias and the Houthis. Electra Benelux, a specialist in fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles, inaugurated its first station in Capellen on Wednesday, with a view to investing 20 million in Luxembourg. Active in nine countries - including Belgium, France, and Germany - Electra wants to set up 15,000 fast-charging stations by 2030, pursuing its goal to be a top-three player in any of the markets it enters. Luxembourg is a key country for the development of the Electra network in Europe, located at a strategic crossroads, said Louis-Charles Mosseray, managing director of Electra Benelux, in a statement. With fully electric vehicles making up 6.95% of Luxembourgs car fleet and over 700 public charging stations in the Chargy network, Luxembourg presents an opportunity for Electra, despite challenges such as rising electricity costs. The Chargy network is currently managed by utilities company Creos, but will have to be sold as European regulations prevent public ownership of charging infrastructure. A call for tender All I can say is that it is on our radar, Mosseray told the Luxembourg Times sister publication Virgule about Electras interest in the network. Where you can find the Electra station The first Electra station is located at Shopping Capellen, near the A6 motorway, an area chosen for its high traffic from Belgium, the availability of rental space, and nearby amenities that enhance the user experience. Electra fully owns and operates its charging infrastructure. The company rents sites from private and public owners, such as real estate firm Patrizia that manages Shopping Capellen, and generates revenue from energy consumption. The newly launched station operates 24/7 and offers ultra-fast charging speeds of up to 400 kW, enabling EV users to charge their batteries from 20% to 80% in just 20 minutes. (Additional reporting by Virgule.lu) The EUs top court has fined Luxembourg 375,000 for failing to implement a directive on whistleblowers into national law on time. The European Court of Justice issued a ruling against five countries on Thursday, imposing fines ranging from 375,000 on Luxembourg to 34 million on Germany. Luxembourg transposed the directive into national law in May 2023, a year and a half after the deadline of December 2021. Also read: Authorities in final stages of setting up whistleblower channels Aside from Luxembourg and Germany, the Czech Republic must pay 2.3 million and Hungary 1.75 million, according to Thursdays ruling. Estonia, which has not yet implemented the directive, must pay a lump sum of 500,000 and an additional 1,500 per day from the date of the judgement until it has implemented the directive. A similar ruling had already been handed down against Poland in April 2024. (This article was first published on the Luxemburger Wort. Translation, editing and adaptation by Tracy Heindrichs.) Luxembourg MEP Fernand Kartheiser has sent a letter to Donald Trump praising the US presidents recent actions, despite widespread alarm across Europe at moves in the White House over Ukraine. The ADR politician, who won his partys first-ever seat at the European Parliament in June last year, published the letter - sent on headed European Parliament paper - on Elon Musk's X platform on Wednesday. It came just days after a public spat in the White House between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and the US decision to scrap both military aid to Kyiv and intelligence sharing with the countrys forces. Kartheiser expressed his "heartfelt gratitude" to Trump for his steadfast commitment to peace, the MEP wrote, adding that he fully endorses his efforts to normalise relations with the Russian Federation. This box contains embedded content from X that wants to read or write cookies. You did not give permission for this. Edit preferences Kartheiser said he feels that he has been treated unfairly for expressing similar views to the US President, who has been accused of adopting Moscows narrative over Ukraine, the country it launched a full-scale invasion of back in 2022. Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have sought to discredit that position, accusing me of colluding with Russia, he told Trump. Meanwhile, the media in my country have uniformly adopted a militant, pro-war stance - a development I find particularly troubling, Kartheiser added. Kartheiser sits with the ECR grouping in the European Parliament, which contains populist and far-right parties such as Brothers of Italy, the party led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Polands Law and Justice (PiS) party, which was embroiled in regular disputes with the EU over its rule-of-law record during its time in government in Warsaw. However, at the end of last year, Kartheiser faced censure from the ECR over an interview he gave to pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia in December. The Russian media outlet is on the EUs sanctions list. In a letter to the Luxemburger Wort in January, Robert Mehlen, honorary president of the ADR party, added his voice to criticism of Kartheisers stance on Russia. (This article was first published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translation, editing and adaptation by Tracy Heindrichs) In many ways, the Apple C1its first cellular modemis the companys most important product in years. Just as the company broke free from reliance on Intel with its own Mac processors, it is now breaking free from reliance on Qualcomm for cellular connectivity. Ditching Broadcom for its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is said to happen this year, too. But the chip was released to little fanfare, with the announcement all but buried in the details of the iPhone 16e. After testing the modem, we know why: its good enough for Apples budget iPhone 16e, but only just. We carried the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e all over Sacramento, Calif., taking multiple speed tests to compare Apples modem vs. Qualcomms. The results are clear: Apple cant keep up, at least not yet. But speed is not all that matters to a cellular modem. Apple C1 modem: How we tested To thoroughly test a cellular modem requires taking thousands of measurements all over the world, when connected to various networks in different conditions, in addition to controlled lab conditions. We cant do all of that, but we can schlep around an iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e, taking multiple measurements in multiple locations, until we get enough data to form some conclusions. We used the popular Ookla Speedtest app to test network performance. Since performance is so highly variable, we took three measurements in each location on each phone, one after the other, and averaged the results. Our tests were performed on the Verizon network at multiple locations throughout the Sacramento, CA area, primarily in the afternoon on a day with good weather. We tested indoors and outdoors, in a mix of challenging areas, such as within a grocery store or the locker room of a gym, and easy, high-performance areas such as outside the Golden 1 Center when there was no major event taking place. The C1 does not support mmWave, so we dont expect multi-gigabit speeds, but even more important than occasional Wi-Fi speeds is how well it performs in areas where the connection is weak or saturated. Lets see how the C1 holds up. Apple C1 modem: Downloads and uploads With the exception of the test run in my home office (which has poor connectivity with mobile networks), the Qualcomm X71M in the iPhone 16 raced past the Apple C1 in every location. In the supermarket where its hard to get a really good connection, the C1 bombed hard, downloading at only about 10 megabits/s while the Qualcomm modem managed over 200. Remember, this is the average of three successive tests, to reduce the natural variability of cellular performance. Its possible the iPhone 16e wasnt able to lock on to a signal on a band that performs better there, but regardless of the reason, through multiple tests, we simply couldnt get a good connection. Foundry In the park or Golden 1 Center where the iPhone 16 gets over a gigabit of download speed, were not very concerned by the Apple C1 managing half the performance. Once you can download several hundred megabits per second, youre not going to have a very different experience going fasternot on your smartphone. Upload performance was a lot closer, with the Apple C1 trading wins with the Snapdragon X71M. Foundry If theres a problem, its with the tests taken inside the gym or out in the nearby shopping center, where the Qualcomm modem was several times faster than Apples. The gym in particular is a very challenging area; its indoors in a large building full of equipment where connectivity is spotty, and dozens of people are all on their phones at once while they work out. We couldnt even get half a megabit of upload performance out of the iPhone 16e there. Apple C1 modem: Overall performance Taking the speeds from each location and averaging them together, we start to see a general overall picture of how the Apple C1 modem in the iPhone 16e compares to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X71M in the iPhone 16. Foundry You can say that, at least in our testing in a variety of locations, the Apple C1 delivers about the same overall upload speed as the Qualcomm Snapdragon X71M but about half the download performance. Again, thats all highly dependent on location and conditions, but it was consistent enough to show a clear pattern. Apple C1 modem: Efficiency and reliability Of course, download and upload speeds are only part of the picture when it comes to cellular performance. Its just as important that you dont drop calls, and that this very power-hungry component doesnt drain your battery too quickly. We made several spot calls during testing using both phones and noticed no significant difference in call quality. No call ever dropped on either phone. It would take hundreds of calls in lots of locations, all lasting ten minutes or more, to get a really clear picture of whether one modem drops calls more than the other, so consider our tests anecdotal at best. Power efficiency testing also requires some specialized equipment to isolate the power draw of the modem alone, and measure it with different signal strengths. Thats exactly what Chinese YouTuber Geekerwan has done, and they found that indeed, under ideal conditions, the Apple C1 uses about 25 percent less power than the Snapdragon X71M in the iPhone 16, but that power savings grows smaller if the signal is weak. Were talking about a difference of one-fifth of a watt, which can add up over time, but its not really a massive contributor to overall battery life. The iPhone 16e has a higher-capacity battery than any 6.1-inch iPhone before; it holds about 12% more charge than the battery in the iPhone 16, and that seems to be the biggest factor in the iPhone 16es long battery life. The C1 is not good enough for flagship iPhones yet The iPhone 16e is Apples more affordable iPhone, though at $600 or more it could hardly be considered a budget smartphone. It makes several concessions to shave $200 off the price, and we can consider cellular performance to be one of them. Making a competitive 5G modem is a herculean task, one that was beyond Intels reach (and hence why the company sold its whole modem division to Apple). Theres a reason Apple is years late in bringing a modem to market. That it works and seems to work just fine without any massive obvious flaws, is quite a feat in itself. But it cant keep up with Qualcomms Snapdragon X71M in the iPhone 16, and thats not even Qualcomms best modem, which would be the Snapdragon x80. Its not even the X75, which was found in a lot of phones last year. It appears to be some sort of custom-made-for-Apple variant on the X70, though details are scarce. The Apple C1 is good enough for the companys less expensive model, but if youre spending $800+ on the latest iPhone, or $1,000+ on an iPhone Pro, you expect better than good enough. Without obvious evidence that it drastically improves battery life, which we dont see, it would be a huge disappointment to find the C1 in the iPhone 17 this fall. Thankfully, rumors claim that Apple will indeed stick with Qualcomm for at least another generation. But Apple says this is the first modem of many. The company already has C2 and C3 modems in the pipeline (it would have to, considering the multi-year development and testing process). Those are supposed to get closer to the performance of Qualcomms best modems while improving power efficiency and offering tighter integration with other Apple silicon. The C1 is a great start but Apple still has a long way to go. As final preparations are being made for Cyclone Alfred's imminent landfall, one Brisbane driver found himself in a rather unlucky situation. Viral footage captured the man painstakingly moving each scooter one by one, carefully clearing a path to freedom. Source: Instagram/Brisbane via iyamdavey As millions scramble to make last-minute preparations ahead of Cyclone Alfred's imminent landfall, viral footage has captured the moment a man returned to his parked car in a Brisbane alleyway, only to find it completely blocked in by an army of e-scooters packed in like sardines. Thousands of the devices were neatly packed into the alleyway in the city's CBD, in an apparent bid to shelter them from the incoming category two storm. Unfortunately for one unlucky driver, this meant his car was completely wedged between rows upon rows of Lime and Neuron scooters, leaving the vehicle trapped. In a scene reminiscent of real-life Tetris, footage captured the man painstakingly moving each scooter one by one, carefully clearing a path to freedom. Eventually, thanks to the help of a Neuron staff member, and after some time, the man eventually was able to free his car and drive off. ADVERTISEMENT Neuron and Lime each confirmed to Yahoo News Australia on Friday that they have temporarily suspended their e-scooter services in Brisbane due to Cyclone Alfred. Neuron said its team removed 2,500 e-scooters and placed them in safe storage to protect the public. The overflow storage location was rented from a car park management company, which ordered all vehicles to be moved. One car remained, leading the team to believe it was abandoned, but when the driver returned, staff assisted in clearing a path. Lime also secured the remainder of its fleet in designated storage locations and is monitoring the situation with emergency partners. Both companies plan to resume services once conditions are safe. Online, amused Aussies applauded the man's efforts and patience. "Hes out here playing Frogger, dodging scooters like its an Olympic sport, just trying to reverse his way to freedom," the caption read when the video was shared by the Brisbane Instagram account. "Someone give this man a medal, or at least a free ride credit." ADVERTISEMENT Despite the efforts to shelter the scooters from the imminent heavy winds, some Aussies argued "they will be heavy projectiles" as the weather worsens. Yahoo News has reached out to the City of Brisbane Council as well as Lime and Neuron scooters for clarification over who was responsible for the scene. Thousands of e-scooters parked in an alleyway trapped a car in Brisbane on Thursday as final preparations are made for Cyclone Alfred. Source: Facebook/Will Lawson Cyclone Alfred's imminent landfall Meanwhile, residents in Queensland's south-east and NSW's north are bracing for Cyclone Alfred's impact, which is expected to smash the coast early on Saturday morning. Residents of 7,000 homes in Lismore have been given just hours to evacuate, in areas that were devastated in the 2022 floods. Public transport and schools have been closed in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with expectations that winds and heavy rain will intensify over the 24 hours before Alfred finally hits the mainland. Authorities in Queensland are warning people to stay away from the beaches as massive waves pound the coast. Parts of northern NSW have already been experienced intense rainfall, with 200mm recorded at Dorigo and 170mm at Mullumbimby. In some parts, an incredible 700mm is expected. ADVERTISEMENT Evacuation orders were issued to residents throughout the Northern Rivers region of NSW with people told to take refuge with family or friends, or evacuation centres by 9pm on Thursday. A jet skier has been reported missing, as authorities beg surfers and sightseers to stay off the beaches. Incredible images taken on Thursday afternoon showed Gold Coast residents sprinting for cover as heavy rainfall and winds began to lash the area. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. An invitation to a fundraiser for Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft appeared to display the Manhattan skyline. Event invitation Boston mayoral challenger Josh Kraft will rub shoulders with prospective donors at a Thursday night fundraiser to support his bid to unseat Mayor Michelle Wu. There was just one problem, keen observers pointed out ahead of the event. The invitation drafted by the hosts appeared to show the New York City skyline, notably the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building poking out amid the highrises of Midtown Manhattan. The fundraiser and cocktail party is scheduled for Thursday night. It is organized by Rishi Shukla, co-founder of the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association, and Joshua Leffler, chairperson of the Beacon Hill Civic Association. The event, however, is being hosted by the pair independent of their respective organizations. They have also reached out to Wus campaign about hosting a similar fundraiser, aiming to provide a forum for prospective supporters to meet and learn about both candidates, Shukla said. The suggested contribution for Thursdays event with Kraft is $250. Kraft kicked off his campaign against Wu a month ago, pledging to listen to all city residents in a way he said the mayor had failed. We have a leader that just does not listen, Kraft said at his campaign launch in Dorchester on Feb. 4. Too often, Mayor Wu acts as if she alone has all the answers, whether its housing, schools, neighborhood services or bike lanes. Instead of listening to community voices, trying to understand what families and businesses need, too often theyre being tuned out. Kraft, a longtime philanthropist and former head of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, is also the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. In the early weeks of his campaign, Kraft has focused on Bostons acute housing shortage, though he and Wu have sparred on how to solve it. There are also issues on which the candidates agree: On Wednesday, Kraft said he supported Bostons law limiting cooperation with the federal government on civil immigration enforcement, a policy that predates Wu but which she has vigorously defended. Earlier in the day, Wu withstood harsh questioning from a Republican-controlled congressional committee investigating the policy and similar ones in place in other Democrat-led cities. An Emerson College poll released last week showed Wu with a 43% to 29% lead over Kraft. The poll of 617 registered voters found that nearly a quarter of voters were undecided. It had a margin of error of 3.9%. Space Ghost Coast to Coast voice actor and comedian George Lowe has died. He was 67 years old. Lowe died in Lakeland, Florida on Sunday, March 2 from complications from elective heart surgery, his publicist confirmed to MassLive. Space Ghost writer MC Chris previously confirmed that Lowe was dealing with health issues in an X post in 2023. A fan wrote me concerned that they hadnt heard from George Lowe (aka Space Ghost) on Facebook for a long time so I checked in on him, he wrote. Hes actually had some health problems, had a bad February which required an aortic dissection and he had to be intubated twice and we came close to losing him. Hes been in a nursing home and rehab and has had to return to the hospital as well to get his medication corrected. He now has a nurse looking after him in his home in Florida. Lowe was born in Dunedin, Florida on Nov. 10, 1957, the actors IMDb biography states. He did occasional voice-over work for TBS and Cartoon Network throughout the late 1980s to mid 1990s. In 1994, Lowe landed his signature role of Space Ghost with the premiere of Space Ghost Coast to Coast on Cartoon Network. The show ran from 1994 to 1999 on Cartoon Network and was revived on Cartoon Networks late-night programming block Adult Swim from 2001 to 2004. Lowes other notable roles were the narrator in the 2000 Grinch video game, Mr. Beefy and other characters in Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Braks Dad in The Brak Show. He most recently voiced Space Ghost in an episode of Maxs Jellystone in February 2024. Lowes longtime friend, Marvelous Marvin Boone, paid tribute to Lowe on Facebook Tuesday. Im beyond devastated. My Zobanian brother and best friend for over 40 years, George Lowe, has passed away, Boone wrote. A part of me had also died. He was a supremely talented Artist and Voice actor. A true warm hearted Genius. Funniest man on Earth too. Ive stolen jokes from him for decades. He stole some of mine. He was also the voice of Space Ghost and so much more. Pweeloto. A California man was charged in connection with making hundreds of threatening, sexually explicit calls to women in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other states, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Sara Miron Blooms office said. FBI agents from the Providence and Orange County, California, Resident Agencies arrested Justin Glauthier, 30, of Anaheim, California, in his home on Wednesday, Blooms office said in a statement. He is charged with cyberstalking, interstate threats to injure and making interstate obscene or harassing calls. It is alleged that Glauthier repeatedly called and harassed women whose name, photograph, and other personal information, including information associated with their employment, he often gleaned from the internet, Blooms office said. At least nine women said they received harassing and, in some instances, threatening calls, including dozens of sexually explicit comments, the statement read. In some calls, the man, who the FBI attributed to Glauthier, threatened women if they did not stay on the phone with him or cooperate with him during calls. Sometimes, he claimed to know where women lived and/or worked and threatened to visit them unannounced, Blooms office said. Glauthier was expected to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge in Santa Ana, California, on Thursday. The Lincoln, Rhode Island, Police Department assisted the FBI in its investigation. Editors note: This article was updated at 3:32 p.m. on March 6, 2025 to correct that Dunkin' is included on a list of companys from which to buy. A parish in Atlanta has launched a 40-day boycott of Target and a boycott of other major retailers for abandoning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. The Rev. Jamal Harrison Bryant, the senior pastor of Atlantas New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, is calling on hundreds of thousands of consumers nationwide to boycott Target for 40 days. Launched on March 3, the boycott aligns with Lent, a 40-day time of Christian fasting. Were asking people to divest from Target because they have turned their back on our community, Bryant said in an interview with CNN . Black people spend upwards of $12 million a day, and so we would expect some loyalty, some decency and some camaraderie. Consumers are also urged to boycott Walmart, Whole Foods, Toyota, Starbucks, Zappos and other major retailers. This action is in response to the companies decisions to eliminate DEI policies. Bryant and his team have created a website, Targetfast.org , that tracks the funds redirected from major retailers to Black-owned businesses.The website also allows people to pledge to the boycott. As of March 6, boycotters had channeled $146,431 to Black-owned businesses highlighted on the website. On the first day of President Donald Trumps second term, his administration issued an executive order prohibiting DEI practices in the federal government, labeling them as illegal and immoral, according to the order. The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to investigate private organizations regarding their DEI practices. Following the executive order, several major retailers, including Walmart, McDonalds and Target, announced they would eliminate their DEI initiatives. Anxious locals have been given a vital opportunity to finalise their preparations as the category two cyclone nears the coastline. Coles has asked for customers to respect staff during Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Source: X/ LBFizz Yahoo's live coverage of Tropical Cyclone Alfred for Thursday, March 6 has now concluded. The Bureau of Meteorology now expects the cyclone to make landfall on Friday evening or possibly even Saturday morning. Coles will close 16 stores today as the cyclone nears. The supermarket giant has asked Australians to be patient with staff as stores operate with smaller teams. It comes as Woolworths vowed to stay open for as long as possible. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the damage from Tropical Cyclone Alfred will be "billions and billions of dollars". He said with 1.8 million homes potentially in harm's way, the threat was "very serious". Police fear a man riding a jet ski has gone missing in dangerous surf conditions. See all of the day's updates below. LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 28 updates Featured Coles asks for staff to be respected during challenging time While Coles has stressed it does have ample supply of products, we're still seeing shelves stripped of all their products, including at their Southport store, as seen in the X post below. Coles Southport. I did find toilet paper oddly enough. #cyclonealfred pic.twitter.com/4m19AMvueS Lois of a Certain Age (@LBFizz) March 6, 2025 Coles will shut 16 stores across NSW and Queensland as part of their response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred and will be operating its remaining stores with reduced staff. The supermarket has pleaded with Australians to be patient and show respect to workers during what is a tense period for many. Retail expert Gary Mortimer echoed that request, noting while the two major supermarkets have riled Australians with their pricing amid a cost-of-living crisis, staff are doing their best to support communities. Featured 'They're mad': Surfers ignore warnings to lap up conditions Despite the warnings, surfers are still taking to the waves. Source: Getty If you look closely enough at the photo, you'll see a jet ski rider in the midst of the wild surf conditions at the Gold Coast's Coolangatta. They're there to pull surfers to safety and despite warnings from authorities to stay out of the water, some surfers simply can't resist the conditions. Manager of the Kirra Beach Hotel Greg Hodge told the ABC the area is "one of the best surf spots in the world when it's working". "All the surfies are out there... they're towing them in. They're still surfing... they're quite mad," he said. This is where we'll leave the coverage today, thanks for joining us and we will return tomorrow morning for more live coverage of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. For immediate information on the cyclone, you can visit the Bureau of Meteorology's website here. Australia's tallest residential building 'shaking' from winds One X user has shared vision of his view from Australia's tallest residential tower, Q1, saying he can feel the building shake from the wind gusts. Jacob Aldridge says he's all set for a "wild ride" as the cyclone edges closer. Ill be riding out #CycloneAlfred in Australias tallest residential tower; still 36+ hours from landfall, and you can feel the building shaking! Allegedly the footings go 150 metres deep. Gonna be safe, and a wild ride. pic.twitter.com/AdCUfWhYYw Jacob Aldridge (@jacobaldridge) March 6, 2025 Qantas, Jetstar suspend flights to and from Brisbane Qantas and Jetstar have confirmed they will stop international flights to and from Brisbane Airport until at least noon on Saturday. Domestic flights won't operate until at least Sunday. While Gold Coast Airport closed yesterday, Brisbane Airport says it will remain open and flight decisions will be made by each individual airline. At northern NSW's Ballina Airport, Qantas and Jetstar flights are currently suspended until at least Sunday morning. Further down the coast at Coffs Harbour Airport, halted Qantas flights are expected to resume on Friday. Cops 'flabbergasted' by people on beach We'll stick with that press conference featuring Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles as he delivered a strong message to anyone considering going near the beach. "We haven't considered closing down roads at this stage. It's the beach that we want people off," he said. "Being back from the beach and on the road - not a massive problem at this stage. But certainly, being on the beach is a problem. And I'm flabbergasted with some of the footage I'm seeing of kids. "We all need to be a bit more smart about this and ensure that we don't have any unneeded rescues or potentially worse where we're looking at fatalities." Fears jet ski rider could be lost in wild conditions Police are desperately trying to determine if a jet ski rider is missing near the Queensland-NSW border after an empty jet ski trailer was found in a car park. "As we speak, we've got people looking for a potential missing person," Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles told reporters on Thursday afternoon. Acting Chief Superintendent Miles said it was "quite concerning" people would go out on jet skis amid the conditions. A witness has told police they saw what looked like jet ski debris striking a rock wall. "We really hope for the best for that gentleman but as time goes on, it gets more and more concerning for us," he said. As you will have seen, there's plenty of images of surfers being assisted by jet ski riders in recent days. Crowds disperse as cyclone downpour sweeps in Well we brought you vision of "thousands" of people out and about in Burleigh Heads earlier and now it seems the crowds have well and truly dispersed. People were photographed running for cover as a huge downpour hit the Gold Coast suburb. Members of the public run for shelter during a torrential downpour in Burleigh on the Gold Coast ahead of the expected arrival of Cyclone Alfred. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard People stranded by storm surge While we're seeing some significant storm surge today, areas often hit by kind tides were already experiencing wild conditions yesterday. And a group of people at the top of the lookout next to Currumbin's Vikings Surf Club found out the hard way when they got trapped by the encroaching swell which quickly took over the club's car park next to the sand. Take a look at the moment below. Wind picking up in Brisbane And it's a similar story in Brisbane, with the sun long gone, and now replaced with grey skies and plenty of wind. Check out this video from Dale Roberts of Brisbane's Story Bridge showing surrounding vegetation getting a good hammering. Wind gusts at Cape Moreton on the tip of Moreton Island have reached 98km/h so far today, the Bureau of Meteorology says. Blue skies are gone and wind picking up in Brisbane! #TCAlfred pic.twitter.com/RVaFhditwT Dale Roberts (@ozdale) March 6, 2025 Cyclone just over 200km from coastline OK, let's take a look at where Cyclone Alfred is tracking. In a post from the Bureau of Meteorology an hour ago, it said the cyclone remains a category two system and is 245km east of Brisbane and 225km east-north-east of Gold Coast. Tropical #CycloneAlfred (category 2) approach to the #SEQld coast has slowed. The centre of Alfred is expected to cross the coast very early Saturday morning, most likely between #Noosa and #Coolangatta. Latest: https://t.co/4KFWWiahr3 pic.twitter.com/svLRRowGmi Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 6, 2025 Swell nearing Gold Coast streets While some areas on the Gold Coast had a fair bit of sun this morning, the conditions have turned very gloomy. Check out the storm surge in the X video below at Miami Beach where the water is approaching Marine Parade, which runs along the coast there. This is from nobby Beach Marine Parade miami Gold Coast queensland, same spot as morning. Aest 11:30 am. Tides have been higher since morning. Showers with different intensity and windy. Stay safe and be mindful of the risk. #CycloneAlfred #Cyclone #queensland #Australia pic.twitter.com/jDh5NqnQrv Jasmeen Bajwa (@Jazmeenbajwa) March 6, 2025 Ice Cube says experiencing Cyclone Alfred is 'pretty cool' US rapper and actor Ice Cube is among the celebrities to experience the early impacts of Cyclone Alfred, with the star staying in a Gold Coast hotel while in the country on an Australian tour. He told The Project last night the beach looked like it was "going to be in the hotel lobby in a minute". "It is pretty cool. I haven't been through a cyclone before. I can check this off my bucket list for sure," he said. Ice Cube is due to perform in Sydney on Friday night. Man recalls region's last cyclone Those in Queensland's southeast and northern NSW might want to read the following interview from the ABC. They've spoken to Mark Brown who experienced Cyclone Zoe in 1974 and he says some people might not realise how bad Cyclone Alfred could get. "The surf was so powerful, rocks were getting lifted up onto the car park that men couldn't lift. That's how powerful the ocean can be," the life member of Byron Bay Surf Club told the ABC. "A lot of people haven't lived through this sort of situation. It's very calm at the moment and people don't realise how fierce this will get. If anyone is out there thinking, 'Oh this is nothing,' it's going to be something." 'Thousands' undeterred by looming threat With the recalculated landfall forecast, it's now a waiting game for millions, only worsening the anxiety of those in Tropical Cyclone Alfred's path. Many are reporting eerie vibes in coastal communities preparing for the cyclone, but some of the more popular beaches have plenty of people out and about, looking to catch a glimpse of the storm surge and swell. Channel 9's Luke Bradnam shared the following video of Burleigh with "thousands" taking to the coastal path lining the beach. There might be a cyclone on the way but thats not stopping thousands flocking to the beach, Burleigh is right now the busiest Ive seen without a major event being held @9NewsGoldCoast pic.twitter.com/Uh5os79O6D Luke Bradnam (@LukeBradnam) March 5, 2025 It comes despite the City of Gold Coast urging residents to stay at home and to not leave their home if it isn't necessary. Premier David Crisafulli says Queenslanders need to understand the threat that the cyclone poses. "I want Queenslanders to know we are taking this seriously and we're asking you to do the same." Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg urged people to avoid being an "environmental tourist" once the conditions deteriorate. "Don't put others in danger because you want to become an environmental tourist, or take some of these selfies and put yourself in harm's way," he said. Plenty of sandbags left despite residents' struggles There was plenty said on the availability of sandbags yesterday, with some even being flogged online for $20 a pop as residents reported huge queues and limited stock throughout Wednesday. But despite some locations saying they're out of stock, authorities are saying there are plenty still available. NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said there were 400,000 bags available, while Brisbane City Council said its sandbag stations had reopened this morning. This sandbag depot in Zillmere was telling residents this morning it has none left. Source: Getty Woolworths to keep stores open 'as long as possible' And now we can bring you more information on Woolworths' position regarding Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Unlike Coles, the supermarket has not provided a definitive list of store closures, but they are predicting some stores will eventually close. Read the update from a Woolworths spokesperson below. "Following weather warnings, and to keep our customers and our team safe, Woolworths stores in the cyclone warning zone may begin closing early today. "We aim to keep our stores open as long as possible, however our store teams will adjust their hours according to safety, advice from local authorities and team member availability. "We ask customers to please check the latest operating hours for their local store on the Woolworths website, which will be regularly updated. "Our store team members have worked tirelessly over the past few days to keep stock on shelves, with stores in the cyclone warning zone receiving additional deliveries of essential products including pasta, rice, soup, nappies, baby food and formula, milk and frozen vegetables. "To ensure everyone has fair access to essentials we ask customers to be mindful of others and buy only what they need. Were very grateful for their patience and for treating our store team members with respect and care. "Our distribution centres in the region have been receiving additional stock which will be delivered to stores once it is safe to do so and stores have reopened." Coolangatta Woolworths on Wednesday was looking short on stock. Source: Getty Iconic venue creates 'Great Wall of Burleigh' It's one of the most iconic hospitality sites on the Gold Coast, but for restaurant Rick Shores and the Burleigh Pavilion, their prime location does not bode well when a cyclone is en route. Video shared to TikTok shows the venue on the beach at Burleigh all boarded up. Rick Shores told Sky News it's used to this sort of preparation now and described its defence system as "The Great Wall of Burleigh". Ominous warning about cyclone delay The landfall prediction for Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been pushed back after slowing down en route to the east coast. But the slower speed could actually be more destructive for communities. Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne said the system moving slower had the potential to cause worse flooding, particularly in northern NSW. It can be (worse than a faster moving system) because it prolongs the time that Id consider the cyclone to be impacting a region, Osborne told NewsWire. So it can lead to heavier amounts of rain more prolonged and high end flooding, particularly south of where that system crosses. There's potential for worse flooding (in northern NSW) because that system is slower. She said the slower movement did not mean it was a weaker system. Coles closing 16 stores OK, we have some more information to share with you from Coles about closures. The supermarket stresses safety of staff and customers is their priority, and stores are being operated with smaller teams. Eight stores will be closing today in Queensland, and a further eight in NSW due to the shopping centres they are in shutting down. They are listed below. South East Queensland store closures Coles Petrie Terrace, Brisbane Coles Loganholme, Queensland Coles Runaway Bay, Gold Coast Coles Benowa Village, Gold Coast Coles Arundel), Gold Coast Coles Pacific Fair, Gold Coast Coles The Pines, Gold Coast Coles Robina, Gold Coast All other stores remain open at this stage. Northern NSW store closures Coles Ballina Coles Tweed City Coles Casuarina Coles Tweed Heads Coles Murwillumbah Coles Goonellabah Coles Banora point Coles Ocean shores Coles notes that Lismore, Casino and Alstonville stores will remain open, while some stores will have revised hours and can be followed here. Supermarkets in impacted areas to close today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed supermarkets in impacted areas across Queensland will close from today. We will look to bring you more information on that from Coles, Woolworths and the other major stores in the region. Premier says giant wave 'never seen before' Well this is pretty daunting. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says a 12.3-metre wave has been recorded off Main Beach on the Gold Coast as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears. "We have never seen a wave height recorded like that, Crisafulli told Sunrise this morning. It is a height well above the nine metres the Bureau of Meteorology earlier said coastal communities could expect. 'Rare' for huge population area to be under cyclone threat Tropical Cyclone Alfred will be the first cyclone to make landfall in southeast Queensland in 50 years. And what we don't normally see when cyclones cross the coastline further north is this amount of people in the firing line. "It's rare for a cyclone to be this far south and to threaten such a huge population area," Treasurer Jim Chalmers told the ABC. But Chalmers said authorities have "prepared for the worst" and a lot has been learned from previous natural disasters. Stay clear of beaches, locals warned While we saw surfers taking advantage of the conditions yesterday, as the day went on, locals were increasingly told the threat was just far too dangerous. And early this morning the Bureau of Meteorology said people should be staying well away from beaches. Issued 4:14am Abnormally high tides and damaging surf along the southeast Queensland coast due to Tropical #CycloneAlfred. Beach conditions in these areas are very dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas. Details: https://t.co/TyesbYDMBm pic.twitter.com/9GO5dpSdY8 Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 5, 2025 Cyclone will cause 'billions and billions' in damage Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned the damage from Tropical Cyclone Alfred will be "billions and billions of dollars". "There's about 4.5 million Australians potentially in harm's way," he told the Today show this morning. "That's about 1.8 million homes." "This is going to be a very serious weather event. Millions of people are in harm's way. Man manages to save car in viral moment Many of you will have seen the video of a Subaru in a very tricky spot as it was moved around a car park by rising swell at Currumbin's Vikings Surf Life Saving Club. Well, you'll be glad to know the poor bloke who was seen rushing to save the vehicle managed to do so. A second video shared below shows him managing to get in and drive the car to safety. Hopefully there's not too much damage caused by the saltwater. Fears grow for homeless communities There are growing fears for the homeless communities in impacted areas, with councils working to get those sleeping rough off the streets and into temporary shelter before Tropical Cyclone Alfred arrives. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said on Wednesday his government was working with councils to make sure there is a place for the homeless to go, particularly in the City of Moreton Bay where only last week camping on public land was made illegal. Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye told the Today show the number of rough sleepers they had was obviously a concern. "There's a high number of rough sleepers and homeless people who have nowhere else to go," she said. Brisbane City Council said a temporary refuge shelter at Bowen Hills would open Thursday morning but will shut its doors at midday. There are pleas for homeless people to make sure they take advantage of shelter offered to them. Source: Getty Landfall prediction pushed back We start with the update from the Bureau of Meteorology that the predicted time for Tropical Cyclone Alfred making landfall has been once again pushed back. The Bureau says due to winds driving the cyclone towards the coast weakening, it is now expected to make landfall late Friday or even Saturday morning. However the Bureau warned that didn't mean residents wouldn't feel the effects of the cyclone, with strong winds already impacting coastal areas. It is widely expected to be a category two cyclone by the time it reaches land, however there is still a small chance it could be upgraded to a category three cyclone. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A Boylston police cruiser parked at the intersection of Main Street and French Drive as police search for an armed man on Central Drive. Ryan Mancini/MassLive Ryan Mancini Authorities are in the early stages of an investigation into a fatal officer-involved shooting in Boylston on Wednesday, Worcester County District Attorneys office said. There is no threat to the general public, Earlys office said in a short statement. Boylston police previously told residents that there would be a heavy police presence in the area that included police dogs and drones in a statement on Facebook at 9:43 a.m. Police were looking for a man considered to be armed and dangerous, the department said. Drivers were advised to avoid Central Street between French Drive and Cross Street due to the investigation, the town said in a short statement. Central Street was closed off between the intersections of Linden Street and French Drive, and French Street was closed off at its intersection with Main Street. Boylston police were stationed at both closure sites. The Massachusetts State Police K9 Unit from the Holden Barracks assisted with Boylston police, spokesperson Tim McGuirk told MassLive. MassLive has reached out to the Boylston Police Department and to the Boylston Town Administrators office for more information. Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft, left, and incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu. Both are Democrats. (Trea Lavery/MassLive) (Trea Lavery/MassLive) As Boston Mayor Michelle Wu departed Capitol Hill on Wednesday, her challenger in this years mayoral race, Josh Kraft, said he supported the immigration policy that Wu had defended to congressional Republicans. In an hours-long hearing, Wu maintained that Bostons policy of limited cooperation with the federal government on civil immigration enforcement was both legal and beneficial for the city, helping immigrants feel comfortable interacting with local police without fear of deportation. Kraft supports Bostons policy of handling immigrants, his campaign said in a statement Wednesday night. That included support for Bostons Trust Act, the law that directs police to cooperate with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials on criminal matters, such as investigating drug or weapons trafficking or arresting violent offenders, but prohibits police involvement with civil immigration enforcement, such as holding someone at ICEs request without a criminal warrant. WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 05: (L-R) Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and David J. Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, are sworn in during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on sanctuary cities' policies at the U.S. Capitol on March 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. The hearing comes as President Donald Trump looks to implement key elements of his immigration policy, while threatening to cut funding to cities that resist the administrations immigration efforts. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) Getty Images To some, its known as a sanctuary city policy. The campaign pointed to Krafts statement last week in which he said he strongly opposes the mass deportation plan pitched by President Donald Trump and Tom Homan, his acting director of ICE. Kraft denounced Homans inflammatory rhetoric about a city he does not know, referring to the border chiefs repeated shots at Wu and pledge to bring hell to Boston by way of an immigration crackdown. It is outrageous to think about ICE officers raiding schools or places of worship to round up undocumented immigrants who are not engaged in criminal activity, Kraft said. I know these people, Kraft continued. Ive spent my life working with the immigrant community in and around Boston. I know their character and the contributions they make to the city of Boston. I also understand and have great respect for the important work that the Boston Police Department and other first responders do every day to keep Bostons neighborhoods livable for all of our residents." Josh Kraft, son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, speaks at a campaign launch event announcing his candidacy for mayor of Boston at Prince Hall in Dorchester, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Trea Lavery/MassLive) In an X post Tuesday, Kraft also said he supported Wu going to Washington, D.C., to defend Boston, but he questioned the use of up to $650,000 in taxpayer funds, as reported by the Boston Herald, spent on a show trial hearing. Wu was one of four Democratic mayors to appear Wednesday before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. She was joined by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, all of whom observe some form of sanctuary policy enshrined in local law. The mayors have put criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets to commit violent crimes, U.S. Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican and chair of the committee, insisted. Read more: Florida Republican vows to report Boston Mayor Wu to DOJ for criminal investigation Wu and the other mayors pushed back on that and similar claims. Asked by Comer if Boston is a sanctuary city, Wu replied: Boston is a safe city. A sanctuary city clause does not mean our city will ever be a safe haven for violent criminals, Adams said. Wu used her opening statement to the committee to detail Bostons recent public safety success, including its lowest homicide rate in decades last year. Boston is safe, she said, because all of our residents trust that they can call 911 in the event of an emergency or to report a crime. This federal administrations approach is undermining that trust. A Lawrence gang member was sentenced Tuesday in Boston federal court for conspiring to commit kidnapping, smuggling drugs into a jail, distributing fentanyl and cocaine and having a gun illegally, federal authorities said. Justin Suriel, 28, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement. In August, Suriel pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine and Suboxone; possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, Foley said. Suriel was charged in November 2021 with 12 other people in connection with a large drug conspiracy centering around the street gang Gangster Disciples in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen, Foley said. Authorities launched an investigation which started in August 2020, Foley said. In their investigation, they got a hold of calls between the leaders of the Gangster Disciples, the gangs members and drug suppliers. The calls pertained to them distributing fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and Suboxone in Massachusetts, Maine, southern New Hampshire and into the Essex County Jail. Authorities also got a hold of calls between Suriel and other gang members who conspired to kidnap and assault a Maine marijuana supplier, Foley said. The intercepted phone calls also uncovered Suriels cocaine and fentanyl distribution operation, Foley said. In this operation, he used gangsters to sell drugs throughout Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts. The calls also showed that Suriel offered to protect his cocaine supplier, Foley said. He said he would shoot bullets for anyone who bothered his drug supplier. Authorities also found a loaded gun in Suriels home. A Salem, Oregon, man is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a local Tesla dealership in January and returning a month later to fire into the showroom, according to federal prosecutors. Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arraigned in Oregon federal court Wednesday on a single charge of possessing an unregistered destructive device. Salem police responded about 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 20 to a report of a person throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla cars at the local dealership on Mission Street, according to a federal affidavit. Police found a fire on the sidewalk in front of the dealership and another fire at the back of a Tesla car parked in front of the building when they arrived, the affidavit said. A witness reported that he saw someone walking toward the dealership, pulling a collapsible wagon. He saw a man pull out a bag in front of the dealership, light an object on fire and then throw the object at a red Tesla SUV parked in front, according to the affidavit. The man also threw an object through the showrooms window, the affidavit said. Surveillance footage showed the man lighting a Molotov cocktail-style device and throwing it at a Tesla Cybertruck parked in front of the Tesla business, the affidavit said. He threw another explosive at the building and one at the parked red Tesla SUV, the footage revealed. At another point, the intruder grabbed what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle with a suppressor and point it in the direction of the witness as the witness drove off, the affidavit said. About a month later, police were called back to the same dealership on a report of damage from apparent bullets fired into the showroom and striking a car, the affidavit said. Surveillance footage from a patrol car on Feb. 19 captured a vehicle parked near the dealership with a man firing into the building and at least one car at 3:53 a.m., the affidavit said. A security guard was on the premises but didnt hear gunshots, leading investigators to believe a suppression device was used to mask the shots, the affidavit said. Investigators discovered the vehicle in the video was registered to Lansky and later observed it at his home in Salem. Investigators said they linked Lansky to the property damage in January and February. Tesla showrooms and dealerships across the country have been targeted with protests and vandalism since Donald Trump became president and chose billionaire Elon Musk, Teslas chief executive, to help push his agenda. Tesla Motors estimated it suffered approximately $500,000 in damage as a result of the attacks. Seven Teslas were damaged, with one completely destroyed. The Molotov cocktails were made from glass wine bottles and filled with ignitable liquid, according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Styrofoam material was placed in the bottles and cloth was wrapped around the base of each device. Four unused devices were left on the property. Lansky was arrested Tuesday in Salem. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Jolie A. Russo and was ordered to remain in custody pending trial. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Salem police investigated the case. A Massachusetts state employee and an incarcerated man are accused of conspiring to smuggle a synthetic drug into a federal prison. (U.S. Attorney's Office) U.S. Attorney's Office A Department of Environmental Protection employee and a 45-year-old incarcerated man are facing criminal charges after prosecutors say they conspired to smuggle a synthetic cannabinoid into a federal prison in Massachusetts. The DEP employee, Tasha Hammock, 43, of Bridgewater, was arrested Tuesday, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foleys office said in a statement. Hammock and 45-year-old Raymond Gaines, who is serving a federal prison sentence for drug distribution, are both charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue. On Jan. 25, 2022, Gaines was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in federal court in Boston. At the time, Gaines was on federal judicial supervised release following a prison sentence for a prior conviction for distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school. In both cases, Gaines was accused of being a member of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, a Boston-based gang, Foleys office said. On Jan. 17, one of the final days of Joe Bidens presidency, Gaines received clemency, shortening his sentence to five years. Prosecutors say Hammock surreptitiously passed papers laced with the cannabinoid, known as K2, to Gaines while visiting him at FMC Devens in August 2024, where he was incarcerated. Hammock is also accused of handling money connected with the distribution of K2 to Gaines, Foleys office said. Hammock is also accused of receiving delivers of K2 to her home for distribution into the prison, according to the statement. Law enforcement first became interested in Hammocks visits to Gaines after they obtained a cellphone believed to have been smuggled into the prison, Foleys office said. In September 2023, the incarcerated individual who received the phone sent messages to another person where they discussed getting K2 in prison. The incarcerated individual told the person the drugs were delivered to an address in Bridgewater, later identified as Hammocks residence, Foleys office said. The incarcerated individual said their co would arrange for the drugs to be brought into the prison from there, Foleys office said. K2 presents a health problem at FMC Devens, where inmates have become sick from smoking paper believed to contain K2, as well as prison staff who have been exposed to the secondary smoke, the statement reads. The charge Gaines and Hammock face carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. MassLive is awarding its 2025 scholarship of $1,000 to a student planning a career in either print, digital or broadcast journalism or communication. MassLives scholarship is available to a Massachusetts high school senior planning to pursue those fields as their academic major or minor. MassLive is looking to award the scholarship to a student who is underrepresented in the field of journalism or communication and is planning to attend an institution of higher education in the field. The scholarship is offered through the Valley Press Club, which awards scholarships of $1,000 each to students planning careers in journalism in the Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut areas. The Valley Press Club is also offering other scholarships to students including the Rhonda Swan Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of the award-winning journalist, editor and author. See the rest of the Valley Press Club past recipients here. The MassLive scholarship application can be found here. Applications must be postmarked by April 4. Students applying to MassLives scholarship will not be considered without the following: The completed application and narrative A high school transcript One letter of recommendation Resume One or two examples of the applicants journalistic work The application should be typed or completed on a computer, the Valley Press Club states. An electronic version, which can be filed by email, is available here. The pages of your application should be numbered and each page should contain your name. Two-sided copies will not be accepted. Finalists for the MassLive scholarship will take part in an interview process by the MassLive scholarship committee. Please send MassLive applications to Taylor Sanzo at tsanzo@masslive.com and Noreen Tassinari at ntassinari77@gmail.com or by postal mail to: Noreen Tassinari, Scholarship Chair Valley Press Club P.O. Box 5475 Springfield, MA 01102 A New Bedford man was charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 32-year-old woman in the city Tuesday, officials announced. Authorities got an arrest warrant Wednesday evening for Wilo Morales-Colon, 49, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said in a statement. The shooting happened at an apartment building at 438 Bolton St. on March 4, the district attorney said. Around 6:20 p.m., authorities were notified that a woman Karina Martinez-Ortiz was found covered in blood and lying on the first-floor hallway of the building. She was taken to St. Lukes Hospital where she later died. Morales-Colon was charged with murder and unlawful carrying of a firearm, the district attorney said. He was found in Springfield and was arrested Thursday morning, the district attorney said. Morales-Colon was a neighbor of Martinez-Ortiz at 438 Bolston St., the district attorney said. He also had a past personal relationship with her, the district attorney said. Morales-Colon is expected to be arraigned at New Bedford District Court around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, the district attorney said. I am pleased with the efforts of all investigating agencies to quickly locate the defendant and bring him into custody, Quinn said in a statement. Thank you to the Massachusetts State Police and Homicide Prosecutors from my office, members of the New Bedford Police Department and the Diplomatic Security Service. Dr. Sean J. Ryan will be the 12th president of private Roman Catholic institution Anna Maria College in Paxton, according to a Thursday announcement. He is taking the position from Anna Maria Colleges president, Mary Lou Retelle, who has been in the position for a decade. She announced her retirement in July 2024. Anna Marias mission to educate students to become ethical leaders and community-oriented professionals resonates profoundly with me as an individual and my passion for higher education, Ryan said in a statement. Together with the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, administration and the Anna Maria community, we will chart an ambitious path forward that propels the College to new levels of academic excellence and distinction, he said. Dr. Ryan is currently the Senior Vice President directing for Administration, Strategic Initiatives, and Trustee Affairs at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. In his time at the university, he led it through an NCAA reclassification from Division II to Division I, co-chaired an 18-month strategic planning process and helped to create 23 new academic programs. He also helped raise $7 million in seven months for the institution and separately, another $6 million for academic programs, student scholarships and student success initiatives. He begins July 1, 2025. Ryan has a track record in Catholic higher education, enrollment growth and financial management, according to David P. Trainor, chair of the board of trustees. Dr. Ryans passion for our mission and ability to articulate our values while honoring the Colleges rich tradition founded by the Sisters of Saint Anne perfectly aligns with our vision for the future, Trainor said. Ryan has an undergraduate degree from St. Anselm College and a graduate degree from Regis College. He received his doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Mary-Lou Retelle, president of Anna Maria College (Photo Credit: Katie Morrison ODay). Katie Morrison ODay The announcement of new leadership comes after the institution announced it would be offering to cover tuition and fees for New England students Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont for first-time full-time Pell Eligible students. In an interview with MassLive last year, President Retelle said she worries about how free community college will impact small private institutions like hers. Anna Maria could be particularly affected because the institution serves a similar population as public and community colleges namely many first-generation and high financial need students, such as those eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, she said. Mega-popular discount store ALDI has announced plans for a massive expansion in 2025 the largest in the companys 50-year history. The chain, best known for its bargains and 25-cent shopping cart deposits, announced it will add 225 new stores by 2027. The new stores will open through a combination of organic growth and converting select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the ALDI format, the company said in a statement. In total, ALDI will convert approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to the ALDI format through 2027. Read more: Popular grocery store opens first location on Cape Cod ALDI said it plans to continue adding to its portfolio in the Northeast and Midwest regions during its expansion. The announcement comes as part of the brands five-year national growth strategy in which the company outlines plans to open 800 new stores by 2028. Last year, ALDI opened up about 120 stores, marking its total store count to more than 2,400. One of those stores opened on Cape Cod in late November 2024 marking the Capes first-ever ALDI. As of March 6, there are 22 ALDIs in Massachusetts. More than one-in-four American households shop at ALDI for its affordable, quality groceries, which is double the amount from just six years ago, the company wrote in a statement. With shoppers saving money with every trip, more shoppers are flocking to ALDI than ever before. While the company hasnt officially announced where all 225 locations will open, 15 locations are said to be coming soon, on its website. Of those identified, one is in Alabama, five are in Florida, two are in Louisiana and Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee are all welcoming one. The company also recently acquired some 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores, a deal the company said allows it to create a focused conversion portfolio in the Southeast as it progresses its expansion plans across the country. Once mega-popular fashion retailer Forever 21 is eyeing a mass closure as it faces filing for bankruptcy for a second time since 2019. According to Bloomberg, Forever 21 is gearing up to close at least 200 stores with the possibility of filing for bankruptcy next month, citing people familiar with the matter. The bankruptcy plan taking shape would target finding a buyer for the chains remaining stores and if no buyer emerges, the retailer will liquidate all of its 350-store footprint, Bloomberg reported. Read more: Iconic burger chain eyes dozens of underperforming stores for closure in 2025 The company is laying off hundreds of people in California and Pennsylvania, state filings show. Of the layoffs, at least 36 Pennsylvania employees and 473 California employees will be affected a majority of whom are employed at its California headquarters. Forever 21 has dwindled over the past several years, shuttering hundreds of stores since initially filing for bankruptcy five years ago. At that time, the company operated nearly 800 stores worldwide more than 500 of which were in the U.S. The Associated Press reported in September 2019 the chain was planning to close about 178 stores amid bankruptcy. In that round of closures, MassLive reported four were in Massachusetts a store in the Dartmouth Mall and three Boston locations on Newbury Street, Washington Street and in the South Bay Center. As of March 6, there are 11 Forever 21 stores in Massachusetts. A spokesperson for the company recently told Retail Dive it continues to explore strategic options while also looking at ways to reduce costs across our operations and optimize our store footprint. Forever 21s parent company Catalyst Brands is the product of a recent merger between JC Penney and Sparc Group. The conglomerate operates several retailers: Aeropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Nautica, Lucky brand and Forever 21. The company recently sold its U.S. operations of Reebok and said it was exploring strategic options for Forever 21 earlier this year. Five years ago, Simon Brookfield and Authentic bought Forever 21 out of bankruptcy, though CEO Jamie Salter later said the acquisition was probably the biggest mistake, he ever made. Authorities are continuing to plea with millions to remain inside and away from the coast. Authorities continue to plea with residents to stay away from the coastline. Source: Getty Yahoo's live coverage of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has concluded for Saturday, March 8 but you can find the latest on the system via the Yahoo homepage. The Bureau of Meteorology has revised the cyclone to a tropical low however millions are being warned the conditions remain life-threatening with heavy rains forecast. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says everything is being done to ensure supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths can safely reopen. While Coles has begun opening some stores, Woolworths said it would not reopen any of its Queensland stores due to safety concerns. There are power outages for more than 300,000 people, which energy networks are calling a "staggering" number. In a brutal assessment, they believe those without power should expect to be without it for at least a week. See all of our updates throughout the day below. LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 64 updates Generator warning after four hospitalised Four people have been hospitalised with carbon monoxide poisoning, Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates has just revealed as she addresses media. "It seems they were using a personal generator inside and so my message to everyone is, if you have a generator, it needs to be appropriately ventilated and preferably outside," she said. Gates said their conditions were not serious. Police still searching for man swept away off bridge Police say they are doing what they can to find a man still missing in NSW's north after he was swept away on a bridge near Dorrigo after escaping his 4WD. NSW Police had earlier said it had to halt certain parts of its search due to the challenging conditions, but clarified it was doing what it could to help locate the man, including utilising the knowledge of local crews. We are dealing with an evolving, dynamic weather event which presents unique search and rescue challenges," Detective Chief Inspector Guy Flaherty said. "We will only be looking at where we can safely put our SES and police into those areas." Woolworths' Queensland stores remain closed Woolworths earlier issued an update revealing all their Queensland stores in impacted areas remain closed until further notice. Staffer Emily from Brisbane's Keperra store addressed customers saying the supermarket giant is prioritising the safety of staff and shoppers when it comes to decisions on reopening. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had earlier said the federal government was working with major supermarkets to get them safely open. Map reveals flooding threat This map from the Bureau of Meteorology gives you a good indication of which areas in southeast Queensland and northern NSW are most at risk from flooding as Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to bring heavy rain to vast regions. Rivers are rising across much of south-east #Qld & north-east #NSW. Rain from ex-Tropical #CycloneAlfred has brought widespread rainfall from Brisbane to Port Macquarie. Major flood warnings are current across Qld & NSW. More: https://t.co/BoFbdY0OoU. pic.twitter.com/p8ESi2xhAn Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 8, 2025 About 340,000 people now without power The number of people without power keeps on rising, with the figure in Queensland alone edging towards 300,000 while more than 40,000 in NSW have been cut off. Those residents have been warned that it could be at least a week before power is reinstalled. Brisbane CBD remains empty While thunderstorms and heavy rain is still forecast for Brisbane, there's a sense of relief in the city after islands off the coast weakened Cyclone Alfred, resulting in the system being downgraded to a tropical low. However residents are still heeding the warnings of authorities and the city remains eerily quiet. The system is set to make landfall north of the city very shortly. A man walks through the CBD on Saturday morning. Source: Getty Lismore bracing for more devastation Sticking with NSW, there are growing concerns among residents in Lismore, with fears heavy rain could once again bring devastating flooding to the area. The latest official data indicates the Wilsons River at Lismore was at 9.04m and still rising on Saturday morning, gaining quickly on the levee protecting the town, which stands at 10.7m. Premier Chris Minns has vowed to support the community in the wake of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, however it is of little comfort to families who say they've "put everything into rebuilding our lives" in the past couple of years. Read more about the fears of Lismore residents here. Local resident Magnus Dean has shared a bunch of photos from the town showing just how much flooding has already occurred and you can see those below. Premier urges thousands not to 'trivialise' Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred NSW Premier Chris Minns says that 29 flood rescues made by the SES in the Northern Rivers, warning residents to not "trivialise" the weather system after it was downgraded to a tropical low. "It really doesn't matter to us whether it has been downgraded from a tropical cyclone. The effect on the Northern Rivers communities and lower down into the Coffs Harbour area is still the same for thousands and thousands of families," he said at his latest press conference. Reflecting on the 2022 floods, Minns said he wanted to ensure recovery efforts to impending flooding across the region, particularly around the Wilsons River, was far more reactive than three years ago. Alfred moving slowly 'increases the risk' There's been a lot of talk about how slowly Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been moving and it did in fact stall earlier. The Bureau of Meteorology did confirm just now to the ABC news channel it has begun to move now towards the coast, warning its low speed will mean a greater chance of life-threatening conditions as a result of rain. "That does increase the risk of heavy rainfall over one spot with that system moving so slowly," Christine Johnson said. Those heavy rains are expected into tomorrow where some areas could endure 300mm totals across a 24-hour period. Tropical low moves north before landfall OK, let's take a look at the movement of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The tropical low has now stalled after moving along the coast, sitting off the coast south of Maroochydore and its estimated landfall looks to be around 1pm (AEST). The Bureau of Meteorology issued the below tracking map roughly half an hour ago. Source: BoM Search for man swept away suspended as conditions worsen The search for a man swept away in floodwaters near NSW's Dorrigo has been suspended as conditions worsen for crews. The 61-year-old man was trying to cross Wild Cattle Creek Bridge in his 4WD when he was swept away shortly before 3pm yesterday. He had attempted to tie himself to a tree after escaping his vehicle. Dorrigo has been one of the worst hit areas in terms of rain, copping 264mm in the past 24 hours. Coles starts to reopen stores We've heard from Coles now who say they are looking to reopen stores as soon as it's safe to do so. Stores in Toowoomba have reopened while the supermarket giant is now assessing when its possible to reopen others in impacted areas. "We want to thank the community for their ongoing patience as our team work hard to assess our stores and reopen our doors. We are continuing to work closely with government, local authorities and emergency services to ensure we can reopen as soon as it is safe to do so," a spokesperson said. "We will continue to update our website as our stores reopen for the community, and want to reassure the community that our team are working hard to restock our shelves." Giant golf ball toppled The iconic, giant golf ball along the Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach that many drivers will be familiar with has fallen victim to the strong winds overnight. Before and after. Source: Google Maps/ AAP Beaches will take 'years' to recover Coastal erosion on Queensland beaches may take years to fully recover. Source: Facebook/Mark Rogers/AAP Shocking photos have emerged showing just how ferocious the swells have been along the coast with huge waves washing sand away and leaving escarpments as steep as six metres. University of the Sunshine Coast's Dr Javier Leon told Yahoo an unfortunate consequence of the wild conditions is that the dunes that line the beaches and play a vital role in the environment could take "years" to recover. Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates echoed this, telling the ABC the city will be "really anxious to see our beaches recover". Read more here. Areas behind beaches not safe Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates was very critical of beachgoers yesterday and she's just spoken to the ABC. She says beaches remains off limits as do the areas behind them. "Don't go looking at the waves, don't go near the sand, and certainly don't take a selfie on the beachside platforms because they have been undermined. Some of them have no foundations and yet they look as if they may be OK to walk on," Gates said. Sparking power lines prompt warning Firies in NSW's Banora Point close to the Queensland border have shared this scary video showing downed power lines sending sparks out onto the road Crews are reminding people to remain indoors with such dangers present. 1,000 power lines down Energex says 1,00 power lines are down in Queensland, with residents being told to be "very careful", particularly if those lines have fallen into front yards. The SES advises for residents to not go within eight metres of fallen power lines. Remarkably these lines have managed to stay up despite a tree collapsing on them in Brisbane's Norman Park. Strong winds have brought plenty of trees down overnight. Source: Getty Drone warning to anyone looking to record damage from above The SES in NSW is stressing locals should not be flying drones during Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. "You must not fly your drone during emergency operations. Flying your drone near emergencies can cause safety hazards to response teams in the air and on the ground," the Tweed Heads division warned. PM says 'worse to come' OK, lets bring you more from the prime minister now. Anthony Albanese has urged impacted communities to remain indoors, saying "there is worse to come in the hours ahead". "We must remain vigilant. This is a very serious weather event. Please do not go outside," he said in an update just then. "It is important that people do not take this downgrading [to a tropical low] as a reason for complacency. Its impact will be serious." Albanese speaking at the National Situation Room in Canberra. Source: Getty Word of warning about cyclone downgrade While the threat of destructive cyclone winds has passed, the Bureau of Meteorology is stressing thunderstorms predicted today could still bring damaging winds. The Bureau's Christine Johnson said storms developing this afternoon could bring winds as high as 120km/h. Robert Irwins message about 'very stressful time' Robert Irwin shared an important message with Queenslanders. Source: Ten Robert Irwin has issued an important reminder to Aussies to spare a thought for our furry friends as Cyclone Alfred makes landfall. Whether it's pets or our native wildlife, Robert said that it's a "very stressful time" for many animals and to take extra care in the coming hours and days. Sharing an update on The Project last night, Robert told viewers that while Australia Zoo is closed for the next few days, staff at the wildlife hospital are bracing for an influx of animals. "It's a time now where we should all be taking care of ourselves first and foremost, but in the aftermath of a natural disaster, naturally, you're going to see a lot of animals displaced," he said. The hospital is open 24/7 and will "continue to make sure that we rescue and rehabilitate all the animals where we can and get them back out into the wild". When asked what advice he has for those with pets at home, Robert said that pet owners should "make sure that all of your animals are nice and close and you know where they are, he said. What to do if you find injured wildlife If you are within close proximity to Australia Zoo, call our 24-hour Wildlife Hospital on 1300 369 652. Within other areas of Queensland, call 1300 ANIMAL to reach out to your nearest wildlife assistance group. Gold Coast's coastline undergoes drastic transformation Let's take another look at the Southport surf cam now, after the Gold Coast endured a remarkable amount of coastal erosion. The below shot from earlier this morning shows the lifeguard tower long on, while the iconic bronze sculpture that sits next to it no longer there as well after it was taken into storage when the swell closed in. One person could be seen battling the strong winds down there, despite authorities repeated pleas to stay indoors. You can just about make them out to the left of the tree being hammered by the winds. Southport's coastline has drastically changed. Source: Southport Surf Life Saving Club PM says talks with Coles, Woolworths ongoing We saw Coles and Woolworths shut down all their stores in the impacted areas at varying points yesterday, and Anthony Albanese says this morning the federal government is working closely with them and other supermarkets to ensure they open and are functioning as soon as its safe to do so. "We are reaching out through the national coordination mechanism to ensure that the private sector is also mobilised," he told the ABC this morning. "That is meeting daily with supermarkets, with insurance companies, with Telcos across the board to make sure everything is being done that is possible to provide assistance to people." Mainland landfall an hour or so away OK, let's take a look at the route of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has taken and the predicted route it will take as it looks to cross the mainland coast in the next hour or so. The yellow section shows the system as a category two, before it became a category one (in green) late on Friday. The system is expected to move west as tropical low before eventually heading southwest on Sunday. You can follow that live graphic on Zoom Earth here. The expected path of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Source: Zoom Earth Police hail 'frankly terrific' development Sticking with Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy, he says no reports of loss of life or missing people is a "frankly terrific" result overnight. One of the big reliefs for authorities is the lack of significant damage on Moreton Island where the system first made landfall. However Acting Police Commissioner Chelepy believes more reports of damage will come through once residents are able to inspect their properties. Motorists urged to stay off roads One of the key messages from authorities is to stay off the roads with the threat of flash flooding over the next couple of days. "What I'm really concerned about today and emergency services are concerned about today is that [a lot of rain forecast] could cause rapid flash flooding which could catch out motorists if they are moving about," Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said. Premier warns of 'significant challenges' Queensland David Crisafulli says there are "still significant challenges ahead" despite Cyclone Alfred being downgraded to a tropical low. "The challenges now: Flash flooding, creek rises. They remain a real pros with some of the rainfall predicted in the day as head. We have to be ready for that prospect. With swollen catchments, the risk of flash flooding remains," he told reporters. On a positive note, he said because the system didn't cross the coast on high tide, Queenslanders have been spared from damaging storm tide inundation, which Crisafulli called a "tremendous result". Close to 250mm of rain overnight The main concern now for authorities is the heavy rain and the likelihood of flooding in plenty of communities in the impacted areas. Let's take a look at some of the rainfall that happened overnight, with widespread falls of up to 150mm in the city. Inland, Upper Springbrook recorded 245mm. The Bureau of Meteorology is stressing these heavy rains will continue after the tropical low makes landfall on the mainland. That's expected between Maroochydore and Bribie Island. Queensland authorities hails sandbag milestone One thing the slow pace of now Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has allowed is ample preparation time, with many communities saying they are ready for what the system brings. Overnight, SES Queensland said it had handed out its millionth sandbag. Our local councils have been moving mountains of sand trying to get our communities ready, Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy said. Sandbags piled up at Currumbin. Source: AFP 'Hell of a lot of wind and rain' Moreton Bay City Council Mayor Peter Flannery is warning residents to heed warnings, and remain inside after a "hell of a lot of wind and rain" overnight. "The impacts are still prevalent, and we don't know what's ahead of us. Expect the worst," he said on ABC News Breakfast. He'd earlier said "selfies on social media for likes" simply weren't worth it and again urged people to stay off the roads, beaches and out of the water. Authorities have repeatedly expressed their anger over the amount of people on beaches throughout Friday, particularly children. Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates said warnings of $16,000 fines for entering the water had simply not worked. A woman takes a photo of a child on the Gold Coast on Friday. Source: Getty 'Just the beginning': Downgrade explained Let's get some more clarity on what this downgrade means. The Bureau of Meteorology is keen to stress it does not mean the threat posed to large areas has diminished and categories simply refer to the strength of the wind gusts. "The rainfall risk continues and is likely to continue through today, ramping up overnight and into tomorrow," the BoM's Miriam Bradbury told ABC News Breakfast. "That wet weather is only seeing its beginning at the moment." Cyclone Alfred downgraded, warnings still in place OK, we have a major update from the Bureau of Meteorology. Just hours after the cyclone was revised down to a category one system late on Friday, it has now been downgraded to a tropical low. Now that does not mean the dangers millions have been warned about will become less likely as the sheer amount of rain predicted is still expected. "Some of the biggest weather event I've seen in my career have been tropical lows," the ABC's meteorologist Adam Morgan said 'Staggering' number of power outages Energex says there are widespread power outages in Queensland's southeast. A staggering number of 239,000 people are currently off in the southeast area. Those are the main ones. Significant numbers," area manager Chris Graham told the ABC news channel. The worst hit is the Gold Coast with nearly 120,000 people without power. And in a bleak update for residents, Graham said people needed to "be prepared for prolonged outages". He said that could be at least a week some are left without power. Cyclone Alfred revised to category one system, life-threatening conditions still to come Good morning and welcome to Yahoo's live coverage once more. In a key update this morning, the Bureau of Meteorology has said Cyclone Alfred has been revised to a category one system after weakening slightly. However that does not mean life-threatening conditions will not occur, with damaging gusts and flash flooding expected on the mainland. The cyclone is expected to make landfall shortly between Maroochydore and Bribie Island. This is where we'll be leaving our live coverage for the day, however the Yahoo homepage will have the latest news from the cyclone here. And for vital information from the Bureau of Meteorology, you can find that here. Our live coverage will return early tomorrow morning before Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall. Gold Coast residents told to get inside With Tropical Cyclone Alfred now just hours away from landfall, authorities are warning residents it's now time to get serious. Residents are being urged to stay inside immediately as the wild weather ramps up. The cyclone was 125km east-southeast of Brisbane and 90km east-northeast of the Gold Coast on Friday afternoon, moving west southwest at 8km/h. Everyone should be off the roads and at home almost from immediately after this press conference, Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates said at 2pm (AEST). It is serious and strong winds cant be underestimated." Brisbane Coles and Woolworths stores shutting down OK, passing 2pm (AEST), all Brisbane Coles stores are now closed. Woolworths had earlier said the select number of stores open in Brisbane would close early. Mayor in disbelief over ignored warnings We'll stick with Acting Gold Coast mayor Donna Gates as she's just revealed police are working to remove four children from the ocean at Southport. "They're ignoring warnings to get out... it's very, very foolish and very, very dangerous," she said. Gates said two teens had earlier been rescued from the water. She clarified a previous warning people could get fined $16,000 for entering the water, saying they were not on-the-spot fines, however the maximum someone could be fined if taken through the courts. She said trying to scare people with that information appeared to have "fallen on deaf ears". Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates says attempts to warn people about going in the ocean had failed. Source: ABC Acting mayor warns residents about Triple-0 calls Acting Gold Coast mayor Donna Gates has urged people not to call Triple-0 to report fallen powerlines with emergency services inundated amid the cyclone. "Don't clog other resources," she urged, telling people to call 131962 instead, stressing it was still an important call residents still need to make. Iconic lifeguard towers victim of erosion Well we mentioned before a few of the Gold Coast's iconic lifeguard towers had succumbed to the coastal erosion there, so let's take a closer look at that now. Remarkably the ones that have fallen around Southport remain in tact after falling down the sand cliff onto the beach below. The swell swamps the base of a fallen lifeguard tower. Source: Getty Onlookers stand nearby one of the fallen lifeguard towers. Source: Getty Premier warns potential rescue of residents can't be guaranteed NSW Premier Chris Minns has told anyone who ignores evacuation orders in northern NSW will be "by yourself". While he said the majority of people are following the advice, there are concerns a small number of people will stay. "If youre one of the few people that are remaining in your house and youre in an evacuation area you will literally be by yourself, he said. Mr Minns warned that despite the heavy emergency service presence, it did not mean those remaining in the evacuation zone could ride out the storm. There arent the same number of boats as houses, and in the event of a major natural disaster we cant be everywhere at the same time," he said. BoM releases new update on Cyclone Alfred The Bureau of Meteorology has released a new update, saying Cyclone Alfred is expected to remain a category 2 system as it approaches the coast. It is now just 150 kilometres east southeast of Brisbane. Its on track to cross the Moreton Bay islands on Saturday morning as a category 2 cyclone, before potentially dropping to a category 1 around midday. By Sunday, BoM predicts it will become a tropical low. Damaging wind gusts of up to 140km/h are still forecast for today, with locally intense rainfall and the risk of flash flooding. Destructive wind gusts of up to 155 kilometres per hour may develop about the Moreton Bay Islands and exposed coastal location on the northern Gold Coast from tonight, BoM said in the update. Although Alfred is expected to weaken and move inland during Saturday, damaging wind gusts may continue, particularly over elevated terrain during Saturday, before easing throughout during Sunday. Recommended action: People between Cape Moreton and Yamba, including the Moreton Bay Islands should remain inside until conditions have eased and listen to the next advice. People between Yamba and Grafton in New South Wales, as well as Brisbane and Double Island Point in Queensland should take precautions and listen to the next advice. Driver's unfortunate cyclone moment And how about this unfortunate moment for this Brisbane driver? With fears e-scooters and e-bikes could prove to be a deadly projectile, they've all been gathered up and stored together in the CBD. But one driver was left trapped by them all. Unsurprisingly the motorist's plight went viral this morning. Read more about it from the Yahoo team here. Viral footage captured the man painstakingly moving each scooter one by one, carefully clearing a path to freedom. Source: Instagram/Brisbane Home crushed by fallen gum tree Two Currumbin Valley residents are lucky to be alive after a massive gum tree fell on their home on Friday morning. Damaging winds from Cyclone Alfred sent the tree crashing into the roof of the house, ripping open the roof and flattening walls. The occupants thankfully sustained only minor injuries and were taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in stable conditions. On Facebook, a woman claimed it was her brothers home, and emergency crews had to cut up the tree in order to free him from the house. The large gum tree crushed the home in Currumbin Valley. Source: Queensland Ambulance Service Waterfront apartment owners aren't taking any chances Your home is your castle, as they say and it appears those who live in this Currumbin apartment block certainly see it that way. They've managed to build one of the most sophisticated sandbag walls we've seen. There's been plenty of vision from the Gold Coast's Currumbin and the waterfront there showing the water swamping the local surf life club's car park with fears the water will shortly cross the coastal road there. Currumbin is one of the Gold Coast suburbs expected to be impacted badly by the cyclone. Source: AFP Crews rescue sculpture as erosion continues There's plenty at threat thanks to the coastal erosion on the Gold Coast with reports some of the city's iconic lifeguard towers have fallen. And crews in Southport are working to save the iconic bronze sculpture 'Melody on the foreshore' in front of the surf live saving club. The sculpture's neighbouring lifeguard tower is nowhere to be seen. Surf cam shows a digger looking to pull the sculpture to safety, which can be seen below. And take a look at what the site normally looks like. The iconic sculpture is at serious risk. Source: Southport Surf Live Saving Club How the site normally looks. Source: wheeleasy.org NSW orders evacuations after past mistakes The NSW SES has issued 25 evacuation orders in anticipation of severe flooding from Cyclone Alfred. The most recent additions have been New Brighton and South Golden Beach on the Tweed Coast, and areas of Macksville and Bowraville on the Mid North Coast as river levels continue to rise. The NSW government admitted its evacuation orders were made too late during the 2022 Lismore floods so it is making early calls on areas it expects will need to be evacuated. There are currently 19 evacuation centres open in NSW. In Queensland four areas along the Moreton Bay coast, including Wynnum and Brighton, have beed ordered to prepare to evacuate. Redland City Island communities were last night at 9pm warned to 'Take Shelter Now'. The cyclone is forecast to reach the Queensland mainland at midday on Saturday. Cyclone expected to be category one by the time it reaches Brisbane Well this is a somewhat positive update for millions anxiously waiting in Brisbane. The Bureau of Meteorology's Matthew Collopy told reporters just now the cyclone should weaken by the time it reaches Queensland's capital. "As the cyclone moves across Moreton Bay islands, it is expected to weaken from a Category two to a Category one system," he said. "That will mean that destructive winds are unlikely for Brisbane itself, but damaging wind gusts to 120km/h are expected and they will develop quickly as the system approaches." He expects the cyclone to pass north of the city's CBD about midday on Saturday. Collopy said waves bigger than 10 metres are expected to continue while he said flooding remains a "major concern", with the southern flank of the cyclone expected to bring 800mm across the next two days. Twins born on badly-impacted island In what Premier David Crisafulli was a "little moment of magic" amid the chaos, a set of twins have been born on North Stradbroke Island overnight. The island has been badly impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred however midwives and paramedics were able to deliver the twins in the town of Dunwich on the western side of the island. Car park ripped up after viral storm surge videos We've seen plenty of viral videos from Currumbin's Vikings Surf Life club over the past few days as the storm surge engulfed its car park right on the beach there. Well vision shared to Instagram by local photographer Luke Workmann now shows the damage caused. While plenty of sand has been washed away either side, the car park's tarmac has been completely ripped up. Storm surge has destroyed the car park at Currumbin's Viking Surf Life club. Source: Instagram/ Luke Workmann Show more updates Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A Suffolk County jury found a Revere man guilty of killing another Revere man in a shooting in early 2022, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office said. Andre Tripp, 36, was found guilty of first-degree murder, Haydens office said in a statement. His sentencing in Suffolk Superior Court is scheduled for March 11. Here we see, once again, the tragedy of gun violence, with one mans life ended far too early and another mans life forever altered by his reckless decision-making, Hayden said in the statement. I offer my deepest sympathies to Antwane Stricklands family and friends and I thank the jurors and the team of prosecutors, victim witness advocates and police investigators who helped bring this defendant to justice. Tripp contacted Strickland, 31, to buy cannabis on the morning of Jan. 24, 2022, the statement read. The men met and walked to Stricklands home on Thornton Street, Haydens office said. Outside that home, Tripp shot once at Strickland at close range. Revere police received a 911 call about the shooting at 10:46 a.m., Haydens office said in a statement at the time. Strickland was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, as Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., listen. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP President Donald Trump could begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education as soon as this week, sources told CNN. With United States Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed as of Monday, the presidents team has drafted an executive order to end the department. It could be signed as early as Thursday, the outlet reported. President Trump has made it known that he wants McMahon to put herself out of a job. In a Monday letter, entitled Our Departments Final Mission, McMahon describes an overhaul of the federal agency to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy which will have profound impacts on staff, budgets, and agency operations here at the Department. Millions of young Americans are trapped in failing schools, subjected to radical anti-American ideology, or saddled with college debt for a degree that has not provided a meaningful return on their investment, she said. Teachers are leaving the profession in droves after just a few years and citing red tape as one of their primary reasons. In a statement late Tuesday, Massachusetts officials said the potential cut to the U.S. Department of Education could have deep impacts for the state. The state receives over $2 billion in federal education funding per year a number that the state cant fully replace, according to the administration. The funding goes toward teacher salaries and benefits, school counselors, homeless liaisons, helping low and middle income students go to college and supporting special education, Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw said in a statement. The funding pull would result in bigger class sizes, fewer reading specialists and support for students with IEPs, less funding for poorer and rural school districts and an end to after school programs, according to Gov. Maura Healey. Massachusetts is home to the first public school in the United States, and we have the #1 schools in the country, Healey said. What Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Linda McMahon are doing is bad for children, bad for schools, and bad for our communities. Congress cannot let this happen, Healey said. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Donald Trump's choice to be Director of the National Institutes of Health, appears before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for his confirmation hearing, at Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Ben Curtis With the potential for cuts from the National Institutes of Health leaving higher education institutions in limbo, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the nominee to lead the National Institutes of Health, provided little clarity about his next moves. During a Wednesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, he said he wants to make sure that researchers have the resources they need and emphasized transparency. He didnt go into detail about how he would accomplish that, according to the Associated Press. He said his focus would be on chronic diseases, including diabetes and obesity. But he also said the agency needs to be more open to scientific dissent. Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor, has been a critic of the governments COVID-19 shutdowns and vaccine policies, clashing with NIH officials. He co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which argued for people who are at low risk of COVID-19 to live normally to develop herd immunity and against lockdowns. During the hearing, he spoke about the potential for NIH to collect new data on vaccines and their safety. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who chairs the Senate health committee, emphasized that NIH dollars shouldnt be wasted reexamining debunked scientific issues like the relationship between childhood vaccines and autism. Bhattacharya said he fully supported children being vaccinated but that additional research might be worth doing, such as to convince skeptical parents. Frustrated by the response, Cassidy said people still think Elvis is alive. The hearing comes after NIH announced mass layoffs and their efforts to slash indirect costs or overhead costs at grant-receiving institutions. Indirect costs are also known as overhead costs for institutions that receive grants. It can include additional facilities and staff and administrative costs. Three lawsuits were filed in federal court in reaction to the announced cuts. Massachusetts was among 22 states that sued. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brandeis University and Tufts University were among over a dozen institutions that were included in a separate lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston filed a preliminary injunction on Wednesday blocking the cuts from occurring while the lawsuits proceed extending a temporary block from last month. Massachusetts receives the largest funding per capita from the NIH amounting to $3.5 billion in 2024. That funding supported nearly 30,000 jobs and $7.5 billion in economic activity, according to United for Medical Research. Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement that the planned cuts will cost peoples lives because of the impact on research, according to the State House News Service. Beyond cuts, NIH has also begun ending research grants that dont meet agency priorities, including those that study transgender populations, gender identity, diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change, according to Nature. Brittany Charlton, an epidemiologist at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told the outlet knows of at least 16 grant termination letters. Worcester police are asking for the publics help in finding the owner of a male pit bull named Phoenix, found near the corner of Chandler and Main streets in the past week. Officers received a call of a dog found near a liquor store at that intersection, police said in a statement on Thursday. A Worcester Police Department Animal Control Officer met with the caller, who told the officer that he was trying to nurse the dog back to health, the statement read. The dog was severely emaciated and suffering from severe injuries to his face and legs, police described. The animal control officer had to carry the dog to her cruiser because the dog was unable to walk, police said. Courtesy of the Worcester Police Department. Worcester Police Department After the dog was treated at an emergency veterinary hospital, the dog was named Phoenix by Broken Tail Rescue, Inc. The animal rescue nonprofit is looking for donations to help with Phoenixs care. The police department asked for the publics help in finding Phoenixs owner. Anyone with information is asked to call Animal Control at 508-799-1211. Police assure tips will be kept anonymous. WEST SPRINGFIELD A real estate developer in West Springfield has been fined by the state for not properly dealing with toxic waste left on the site by its former owner, General Electric. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection levied a fine of $13,750 against 1226 Union LLC, the DEP announced Wednesday. The company must now take steps to fix the site after breaching contaminated soil on the property. Harmful substances like metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated organic compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, are still on the property. Adolf Hitler, fifth from left, and others march in Munich in 1938. Left of him is Field Marshal Hermann Goering in a brown shirt and right of Hitler is Admiral Erich Raeder. (AP Photo) ASSOCIATED PRESS During World War II, Adolf Hitler, the barbaric right-wing Nazi ruler of Germany, suddenly invaded Russia, its ally at the time. Four years later, after about 27 million Russian military and civilian deaths defending their homeland, the Germans surrendered. Hitlers forces failed to fight off a Russian onslaught while at the same time under full-scale attack by the western allies after the D-Day landing in Nazi-occupied France. Enormous credit for the defeat of German aggression rightfully goes to the Russians. They fought the German war machine to a standstill at incredible sacrifice. And then they drove the invaders back. A big part of the reason for the Russian success, however, was due to the arrival of billions of dollars of military aid from the United States and its allies, accompanied by billions of dollars worth of food for the starving Russian people. This help reached Russia then the Soviet Union by means of 78 harrowing ocean convoys from North America, Iceland and England to the icy Russian north, specifically to the cities of Murmansk and Archangel. The Germans tried to stop these Arctic convoys by all means possible, including a swarm of submarine attacks. They failed. Eighty-five merchant vessels and 16 Royal Navy warships escorting the convoys were lost, but most of the help from the United States and its allies made it to Russia, and the rest is history. After the war, the United States and its allies immediately forgave an estimated 90% of the cost of the aid to Russia, despite an adversarial relationship with dictator Joseph Stalin and his Communist Russia. The remainder of the debt was deferred. A quarter-century later, after Stalins death, Russia paid about $722 million of the debt, a fraction of the remainder. All this may seem like ancient history. But its very relevant to todays situation with Ukraine. The United States and its allies provided the aid to Russia during World War II and then forgave almost all the cost because the Russians were helping to fight their fight against the Nazis. Millions of Russian soldiers were killed and millions of Russian civilians were bombed and shelled to death. Their sacrifices were huge and priceless. Today, the invader of Ukraine is Russia. Heroic Ukraine defenders and civilians have fought Russias unprovoked invasion to a standstill. In doing so, the Ukrainians were fighting our fight the fight of everyone who loves freedom against a ruthless onslaught from Vladimir Putin, the murderous Russian dictator. Just as when Russians were fighting off the Germans, no American or allied troops were on the ground. Instead, the U.S. coalition was providing billions of dollars in aid to help the Ukrainians defend themselves and feed themselves. And its worked. Instead of sticking by the Ukrainians and their elected leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Trump administration has suddenly turned American policy on its head. Trump is attacking Zelensky, our friend, and seemingly siding with Putin and the Kremlin. Trump is also demanding that Ukraine sign away half of its rare mineral rights to the United States in repayment for our aid. This is so wrong its disgusting. And it makes no sense to us, from any angle, unless Trump is truly a traitor who has sold out America and its friends to the Kremlin. This can and should be halted and reversed. Republicans in Congress, many of whom understand the truth of this situation, need to stand up to their leader and his parroting of Russian propaganda lies about Ukraine. Trump supporters, who may be thrilled by other Trump policy initiatives, need to wake up and block their leaders repugnant policies toward Ukraine. Westfield School Committee Vice Chair Tim O'Connor explains his vote against moving forward with a statement of interest to replace Westfield Technical Academy to the Massachusetts School Building Authority at the committee's March 3 meeting. (SCREENSHOT / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) The Westfield News WESTFIELD The School Committee voted at its Monday meeting in support of sending a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority in an effort to replace the aging Westfield Technical Academy building. The next step in the process is City Council approval of the SOI. Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream in Worcester is up for sale. Adam Bass Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream in Worcester is up for sale and is seeking a new owner to help operate the business, according to Rita McCabe, the current owner of the store. McCabe, who owns and operates another Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream franchise in Nashua, N.H., told MassLive that it has been difficult to manage another ice cream store that requires an hour-long commute. I would rather have somebody who lives locally that I can train and I can show them how to run the operation thats there, McCabe said. So that they can buy the location and be a franchisee. The store on 44 Front St. will remain as is once the sale is closed, McCabe said. A few people have expressed interest in buying the store, and McCabe said she hopes the sale will close by May. She said the store would sell for under $100,000 but did not disclose an exact number. The ice cream store will also keep its equipment after the sale is finalized, McCabe said. Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream is a business based out of Utah that uses a special ingredient when making ice cream liquid nitrogen. When customers come into a store, they choose a base, or cream for the ice cream, the flavors and the toppings and watch them get mixed. The mixture is then blasted with liquid nitrogen instantly freezing it into ice cream. The business was also featured on an episode of Shark Tank, which McCabe watched. Inspired by what she saw, McCabe and her husband, Mark McCabe, began managing their own Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream Franchise in Nashua in 2014. McCabe also owns another ice cream store in Manchester, N.H. In 2022, McCabe opened the Worcester location on Front Street. There is also another Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream franchise in Ashland, according to the businesss website. In addition to running the store, the person who buys the Worcester store will be responsible for catering in the area, according to McCabe. Its a fun business to be in, McCabe said. Just watching people smile and have happy families come in and enjoying the product, thats a lot of fun. Those who wish to contact McCabe about buying the store can do so by texting the number 603-327-9694. A 57-year-old man who was caught by 'paedophile hunters' sending sexually explicit images and messages to three girls he believed to be under 14 was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Brendan Glynn of no fixed abode appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to six charges of Section 8 of the Sexual Offences Act which involved using communication technology to send sexually explicit material to a child. The court heard that was apprehended by people involved in organisations who operated bogus Facebook accounts purporting to be girls under 17 years of age in order to catch sexual predators. The defendant was arrested after the operators of the Facebook pages contacted Gardai after he sent sexually explicit material but despite his arrest he continued to contact the person he believed was a teenage girl. READ: Mayo daughter of woman who died after N17 crash tells court family don't want retribution Mr Glynn who worked in the hospitality business in the UK has been in custody since last July and his barrister, Mr Diarmuid Connolly argued he has not had the benefit of prison and is a different man to the person who first came before the court last year. He said Mr Glynn is willing to change and atone from his offending behaviour and asked Judge Eoin Garavan not to impose a custodial sentence. However Judge Eoin Garavan told Mr Connolly that he has a very different view and he doesn't accept that Mr Glynn has changed. He noted a psychologist report which stated that Mr Glynn does not appear to have any motivation to address his offending behaviour and he continues to minimise his offending behaviour. He had an appalling experience with the Probation Service and was evasive at all times and simply did not turn up and deal with the matter. He only engaged with the Probation Services while in custody with nowhere to evade them. He takes minimal responsibility and blames the former wife. He didn't do anything about his condition and refused to accept it and uses language like regret. That is as far as it goes and he minimises everything and doesn't accept this will happen again, he said during the sentencing hearing. Last July, Detective Garda John Lynsky told the court that on February 21, 2023 Gardai received information from Gillian Duffy who volunteered with an online child protection team called Child Protection Agency based in Ireland. She operated a child decoy Facebook account of a 14 year old girl and forwarded the chat log history of the account she operated and that of Brendan Glynn as well as WhatsApp messages which were sent between February 3, 2023 and February 19, 2023. Det Garda Lynskey explained that the messages were viewed and they were explicit in nature and the accused man stated he was from Castlebar. He added that Ms Duffy informed him she was 14 years of age from the outset. Judge Eoin Garavan imposed three year prison sentence On February 22, 2023, a second person called Christina Gregory from an online child protection team called Predator Exposure contacted the Gardai to say she operated a decoy Facebook account of a 13 year old girl. She received a friend request from Mr Glynn on February 2, 2023 and the chat log history containing 334 pages of messages from February 2, 2023 to February 21, 2023 was forwarded to gardai. They contained sexually explicit messages and images in nature with eleven images of a male penis being forwarded to the girl's Facebook account. Mr Glynn was arrested on February 24, 2023 by Det Garda Lynsky and admitted to sending photos to the Facebook account and regretted the comments. At the time Mr Glynn was staying in a hotel in Castlebar and Det Garda Lynsky confirmed the background of the hotel room matched that of the background images received by the teenage girl. Mr Glynn acknowledged he knew the girl stated she was 14. Mr Glynn was subsequently charged and released on bail but on May 4, 2023 Gardai received information from another person involved in Predator Exposure who operated a Facebook account purporting to be a 13 year old girl. She forwarded chat history between the accused and the decoy account between April 23, 2023 and April 30, 2024 which contained sexually explicit messages and images of a male penis. Det Garda Lynsky added that gardai also received information from Gillian Duffy on May 7, 2023 to state the defendant was once again communicating to the decoy Facebook account of a 14 year old girl she was operating. This communication lasted from April 21, 2023 to May 7, 2023. Mr Glynn was arrested by Gardai in a second Castlebar hotel where he admitted contacting her. Mr Glynn was charged with six sample charges and Det Garda Lynsky explained that in one of the messages Mr Glynn said he was 'so looking forward' to tasting her p***y with his tongue. In another he said 'would you like to send you my horny c**k photo' and in another he stated 'I have a c**k photo for you dear would you like me to send it'. Mr Glynn also sent images of a male penis while sitting on a chair and another image of a male standing in front of a mirror with a penis and torso visible. The court heard that Mr Glynn returned to Ireland around November 2022 but admitted to Gardai that in 2022 he was beaten by 'paedophile hunters' after he travelled to Devon on a train to meet an underage girl. He told gardai he was assaulted at the train station before being taken to a police station where he was questioned before being released. Mr Connolly said that he had letters from his client's sister and 95 year old father who expressed concern for him and that they would support him to get him help. She said that his marriage in the UK had broken up leading him to become depressed and his former wife had denied him access to their young daughter. He added that Mr Glynn asked to be remanded in custody last July and did not have access to the Safer Lives sex offenders programme in prison but gave an undertaking he will do it and follow any directions of the court or the Probation Service. Mr Connolly noted that while his client is charged with communicating with a child, he did not communicate with any child and suggested no harm was done to anyone in this case as the persons he communicated with were adults posing as children. He added that his client had no previous convictions before these incidents and that he was ashamed of what he had done. He claimed he was dealing with his shame and had insight with what he did and asked Judge Garavan to be lenient. Judge Garavan said that an extraordinary feature of the case was that Mr Glynn tried to contact another underage girl after he had been questioned by gardai in February 2023. He added that he told the Probation Services that he had learned his lesson and did not believe he needed to take part in a sex offenders programme. Judge Garavan imposed a three year prison sentence and stated he would not suspend any part of the sentence but agreed to backdate it to July 18, 2024, the date Mr Glynn entered custody. He also imposed a post release supervision order to bring Mr Glynn under the supervision of the Probation Service for one year post release. There are fears 5,500 hectares of protected land may have been destroyed. Quintessentially Aussie is how visitors often describe the Murray-Darling Basin where gnarled trees and native grasses stretch out of flat plains of orange soil. But there are growing concerns this wild pocket of southwest NSW is being rapidly cleared and authorities are failing to monitor the destruction. Satellite analysis by Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) discovered an alarming 5,500 hectares of what is believed to be a protected landscape for endangered birds was bulldozed between 2021 and 2025. When it flew in to survey the damage this year, the air was thick with smoke from the burning of toppled trees that had been pushed over by machines. They described it as like something out of the dystopian movie Mad Max. The groups national nature campaigner Jess Abrahams was blunt in his assessment of the problem. Its disturbing, he said. Much of the habitat thats been flattened is thought to have been listed as Mallee bird ecological community, a federally-listed endangered habitat around the borders of NSW, Victoria and South Australia. The region experiences long, hot summers and low rainfall and is home to 90 species threatened with extinction, including the Malleefowl, regent parrot and western whipbird. ADVERTISEMENT You can watch drone video of some of the massive changes to the landscape below. Why is the land clearing allowed to happen? Abrahams is clear on where the problem lies. Firstly, banks that lend money to businesses so they can clear land for agriculture without protecting endangered species habitat. By lending to agribusinesses without appropriate conditions relating to deforestation, banks are effectively financing the destruction of habitat for threatened species, he said. Banks should do greater due diligence on applicants, set no deforestation targets and attach strict conditions to their loans to agribusinesses and property developers. The second is the federal government, which is supposed to be protecting endangered species and landscapes. But with over 2,200 listed as threatened, its a problem thats rapidly getting away from it. After the bulldozers rolled across the Basin, investigators described the denuded landscape as like something out of Mad Max. Source: ACF Abrahams thinks whats missing here are strong nature protection laws, similar to which the Albanese Government promised before the last election, but failed to deliver. Its promised no new extinctions under its watch, but scientists predict small species are frequently being wiped out before theyre even described because habitat destruction isnt being effectively monitored. ADVERTISEMENT We are in an extinction crisis. More than 7 million hectares of habitat for threatened species has been destroyed since Australias flawed environment law has been in effect. This is why we need strong new nature laws and an independent regulator, he said. How did the government respond? While state and territory governments are primarily responsible for monitoring land clearing, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, any project that will have a significant impact on a federally threatened species or ecological community must be referred to the Commonwealth. Murray Darling Basin Bulldozers made quick work of the Murray Darling Basin landscape. Source: ACF ADVERTISEMENT During its trip to the Basin, ACF documented seven allegations of clearing, which would breach federal protections granted under the EPBC Act. It supplied locations of the works, and offered to supply images and footage in an email to the federal environment department on February 27. Yahoo News asked the department if it was investigating the allegations, if it had sent staff to the region to survey the alleged breaches, if it was concerned about land clearing in the region, and whether it was aware of any of the allegations before it was contacted by ACF. It declined to answer questions and instead issued a statement. The department is in receipt of the allegations. As enquiries are ongoing the department will not provide further comment, it said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. A MAN who got into an argument over an EV car charger space in Castlebar is accused of causing nearly 9,000 of damage to a Tesla after he is alleged to have thrown tip-ex on it. Thomas Kelly of 22 Railway Road, Clongriffin, Dublin 13 appeared before Castlebar District Court where he was charged with criminal damage after he was alleged to have caused 8,970 worth of damage to a Tesla car. In outlining the allegations for jurisdictional purposes, Garda Ciara Padden told the court that it is alleged that on July 18, 2022 the defendant was looking to use an EV charger located at the back of Londis shop in Castlebar. She said that it is alleged that the victim had left his Tesla car charging but had not returned in time to move the car when the charging process was complete. She alleges that when the injured party arrived the defendant had a verbal altercation which resulted in a tip-ex type corrective fluid being thrown at the passenger side of the car. READ: Mayo company awarded Kia 2024 Global Best Dealer When questioned by Judge Fiona Lydon on the cost of the damage, Garda Padden said she had a receipt for the repairs and stated that Tesla had to replace every panel that was damaged which is the reason for the high cost of repairs. She added that Mr Kelly works for a company which puts up signs for supermarkets and that is the reason why he had the corrective fluid. The court heard that the DPP had directed that the matter be dealt with summarily in the district court but having heard the allegations, Judge Lydon refused jurisdiction. Mr Gary Mulchrone, solicitor for Mr Kelly asked Judge Lydon to defer the question of legal aid to a later date. Judge Lydon adjourned the case until April 2 for DPP consent. THE Connemara National Park is set for a 'significant expansion' as well as an upgrade and expansion of walking trails in the Park. The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan, TD, announced the significant expansion of Connemara National Park after turning the sod on extensive works to upgrade, improve and expand the walking trails in the Park, in partnership with Failte Ireland. The purchase by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of an additional 249 ha (615 acres) of land located within the townland of Tievebaun, Co Galway increases the size of Connemara National Park from 2055 ha to 2304 ha an increase of over 12 percent. This acquisition represents the most significant addition to the Park since it was first opened to the public in 1980. The multi-million-euro investment in the walking trail network at Connemara National Park is part of NPWSs strategic partnership with Failte Ireland and represents significant progress in delivering the Connemara Coast and Islands Destination Experience Development Plan which includes a set of sustainable activities to enhance the visitor experience at the park and strengthen shoulder / off-season visitation to the Connemara region. READ: Rebuilding begins on Geesala pub destroyed in fire Turning the sod at Tobartamnaigh, where a new trail is planned, Minister OSullivan said: Connemara National Park is a very special place for nature, for the community and our cultural heritage. With its unique St Dabeocs Heath flora, the Park attracts many nature lovers, local and international visitors who enjoy spectacular views from the Twelve Bens, and appreciate the diversity of habitats, birds and wildlife found here. This acquisition by the State is a sign of our enduring commitment to preserve Connemaras unique natural heritage. The internationally important habitats located within this site will be protected for visitors, for wildlife and for future generations to enjoy. As the Park expands, Im delighted to announce that there will be even more, and better walking trails for visitors through a partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Failte Ireland. This will bring new and improved experiences for visitors while ensuring that the Parks most precious habitats and wildlife are protected. Today's sod turning marks the first phase of a wider development in the area being delivered by the NPWS with support from Failte Ireland. It marks the beginning of phase one of development aimed at doubling the park's trail network from just under 8km to over 16km across two key locations: the existing Letterfrack campus (phase 1) and a new entrance at the previously inaccessible area of the park at Mweelin (phase 2). Niall O Donnchu, Director General with the NPWS said: We believe that visitor experience can co-exist in harmony with nature conservation when it is undertaken in a sustainable way. The excellent NPWS team here at Connemara National Park will ensure that. By working in partnership with Failte Ireland we can deliver benefits for people and for nature. The expansion of the Park paves the way for new and improved experiences in nature, and this investment with Failte Ireland enables us to do that. Fiona Monaghan, Head of Product Development Activities, Failte Ireland, added: This exciting new development will open up new parts of Connemara National Park to visitors, providing more areas for exploration and ensuring that the park is accessible and inclusive for everyone. By developing new trails, including an 'all accessible' trail and sensory spur, we are enhancing the visitor experience for people of all abilities. Opening up new areas to explore also aims to help relieve congestion in the area by ensuring the development of tourism in the area is sustainable and delivered in line with the needs of the local community. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 5, 2025 Havas posted a 0.8% decline in net organic revenue for 2024, in line with previous guidance from the company. The firm reported its full-year 2024 financial results today, the first time it has released results as a publicly traded company since 2017, when it was acquired by Vivendi. advertisement advertisement After a year of planning Havas and several other Vivendi subsidiaries were split off into public companies in December. Havas reported record net revenue of 2.7 billion euro (approximately $2.9 billion). That figure includes revenue from acquisitions made last year. The organic number is a like for like figure that excludes acquisitions. Acquisitions contributed 2.5% to the firm's revenue total last year. The company made 6 M&A deals last year and has already made three this year and company CEO Yannick Bollore said the company would maintain its dynamic M&A strategy throughout 2025. The company reaffirmed previous guidance that it expects to achieve organic growth this year of 2%+. Havas, like Stagwell, considers itself a strong challenger alternative to the bigger holding companies. We are excited about the future and confident in our ability to accelerate in an evolving market, stated Bollore. By region, North America reported the largest organic decline last year, 6.6% including a dip of 3.9% in Q4. The regions lackluster performance was primarily due to the loss of the Pfizer business early in the year, Havas said, noting that Havas Media experienced a challenging year in North America in 2024, while Havas Creative recorded a solid performance. Europe grew by 1.2% for the year but was down 2.6% in Q4. The Paris Olympics helped France deliver a positive performance. APAC showed a modest gain for the year and Latin America was up double digits. by Fern Siegel , March 6, 2025 Hearst Newspapers believes in the power of journalism and in showcasing two of its big brands: San Francisco Chronicle and Houston Chronicle. The Theres More with the Chronicle campaign highlights the coverage and digital innovations that connect city readers to the larger world. We wanted to capture the energy and unique relationship between two world-class cities and the people who call them home, said Andrew Harper, executive creative director, PMG. The agency was named Hearsts creative and media AOR in January after a competitive review. The creative uses each newspapers video and photography to illustrate its reach. The work is part of a multimillion-dollar, multiplatform push in brand-building across Hearst. The company is also acquiring Austin American-Statesman. advertisement advertisement Theres More with The Chronicle rolls out this month, supported by Hearst-owned assets with paid media that spans billboards, linear TV, streaming services, connected TV, radio, podcasts and digital display ads. Future campaigns will extend to other markets, including Times Union of New Yorks Capital Region, San Antonio Express-News and Hearsts Connecticut news brands. PMG will tailor the Theres More with message aligning Hearst with the communities it serves. We are committed to high-quality journalism and growing readership in the digital era, said Jeff Johnson, president, Hearst Newspapers. He added the campaign aims to attract new readers and reconnect with former subscribers by showcasing our in-depth reporting, service-oriented coverage and innovative storytelling. Hearst is one of the largest global media companies, with cable and TV networks, 24 daily and 52 weekly newspapers, digital services businesses and more than 200 magazine editions worldwide. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 5, 2025 Utah on Wednesday became the first state in the country to pass a bill that would require Google, Apple and other app distributors to verify users' ages and then block minors under 18 from downloading apps without parental permission. The App Store Accountability Act (SB 142), which was passed 64-3 by the state House and 21-1 by the state Senate, now heads to Governor Spencer Cox for signature. The state legislature's move comes 16 months after Meta Platforms proposed that app stores -- generally defined in the bill as publicly available sites or services that allow people to download apps from third-party developers -- should be required to obtain parental permission before allowing minors to obtain apps. advertisement advertisement Parents should approve their teens app downloads, and we support federal legislation that requires app stores to get parents approval whenever their teens under 16 download apps, Meta's Antigone Davis, global safety head, wrote in November 2023. Since then, legislation requiring parental approval for app downloads has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate, as well as Utah and several other states. The tech funded group Chamber of Progress opposed the Utah bill, arguing that requiring app stores to verify users' ages would compromise their privacy. Estimating the age of a user would require collecting more data, acting contrary to minimization ... efforts, the Chamber of Progress's Kouri Marshall testified to Utah lawmakers. The group's legal advocacy counsel, Kerry Maeve Sheehan, argued in a separate blog post that the measure would violate the First Amendment by forcing minors and adults to choose between sacrificing their privacy by disclosing sensitive personal information (their own or, in the case of a minor users parents, their childrens) and accessing legally protected online speech. She added that courts throughout the country have held that minors generally have a First Amendment right to access speech. Utah recently passed a separate law, the Minor Protection in Social Media Act, which would have required platforms to limit the ability of a minor under 18 to send direct messages or share information with users who in the minor's network. That law also would have required platforms to disable push notifications and automatically playing content on minors' accounts. A federal judge blocked enforcement of that law last year, ruling that it likely violates the First Amendment. Utah recently asked the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the block. by Tanya Gazdik , March 5, 2025 Image: Reddit @Sponsorspew Tesla owners are finding creative ways to distance their vehicles from CEO and Founder Elon Musk, in some cases due to fear of vandalism. Previously, some put stickers on the vehicles with variations of I bought this car before I knew Elon was crazy. Now, some owners are removing Tesla logos from their vehicles, replacing them with badging from other automakers. Photos of cars that appear to be Teslas with different logos have gone viral, according to Black Enterprise. Vehicles with the body of some of its high-end models, now have the branding of Audi or Honda or Toyota. attached. Even Teslas provocative yet popular Cybertrucks have gotten a new name stuck to the back of them. advertisement advertisement Users on Reddit are posting the photos of rebranded vehicles. Imagine being so ashamed of driving a Tesla, you just have to do a brand change? wrote a Reddit user, according to the New York Post. The latest batch of Tesla vandalism follows a protracted run of incidents involving Tesla cars being keyed by other motorists. Since Musk became a key part of President Trump's administration, a number of Teslas have been vandalized across America. "Eleven Tesla owners in League City, Dallas had their tires stolen by one protester," according to the Express. Upon hearing that a growing number of Teslas are being targeted by vandals, Elon Musk posted to X, stating that: "Damaging the property of others, aka vandalism, is not free speech!" There are photos on social media showing a Cybertruck having a Toyota logo and a Model 3 and Y using Mazda, Honda and Audi badges on the rear. While some call it an attempt to avoid vandalism, others say the reason is an embarrassment to drive a Tesla that they just have to rebrand it, according to Gulte. A prolonged series of incidents with Tesla vandalism has been worrying the Tesla owners of late. No matter the reason, its not a good sign when owners are distancing themselves from a brand they once loved and admired. It took a great deal of work from Tesla employees and the EV community to build Tesla into an incredibly beloved global EV brand, according to Electrek. A deep social media addiction, purchasing of Twitter, a move into politics, a few salutes, and now most of that incredible work is gone. It takes years to build a reputation and seconds to destroy it. by Ray Schultz , March 5, 2025 The Los Angeles Times announced on Monday that it is fielding an AI-driven feature called Insights that some observers have referred to as a bias meter. Insights is designed to identify where the views expressed may fall in the political spectrum, owner Patrick Soon-Shiong wrote in a letter to readers. Specifically, it analyzes Voices content, which includes anything written from a personal perspective, Soon-Shiong adds. The AI function has already caused trouble, according to The Guardian. In one case, an article mentioning the Ku Klux Klan described the racist group as a product of white Protestant culture, without getting into the racism. The Insights function was moved from the article. The Guardian also looks askance at the description of an opinion piece that generally aligns with a Center Left point of view. advertisement advertisement Insights is designed to offer readers "an instantly accessible way to see a wide range of different AI-enabled perspectives alongside the positions presented in the article," Soon-Shiong wrote. The Times also debuted a new effort to ensure that readers can readily distinguish opinion-driven content from our news reporting, Soon-Shiong reported. Any content written from a point of view may be labeled Voices, which helps to strengthen the separation between whats news and whats not. Voices is not strictly limited to Opinion section content. It also includes news commentary, criticism, reviews, and more. by Les Luchter , March 5, 2025 Not often do you see a lot of Stage Four cancer patients feeling like they want to go out for a jog, said Chelsea Marti, director, content, Novartis. As a result, the pharma firms promotional content for such drugs as Kisqali now features people engaged in things that really matter" -- like having a conversation with their friends, cherishing a special moment, spending more time with their children -- instead of running and jumping off a cliff, Marti told MediaPosts Pharma & Health Brand Insider Summit last week. We have an opportunity to break through by looking different than other brands in our space, said Marti, who works with Novartis three-year-old Content Lab. We do that by thinking about things like authentic photography, storytelling, infographics and HCP [healthcare provider] education. advertisement advertisement Adding infographics to previously data-heavy documents that company reps present to HCPs, for example, helps them quickly get into the conversation and convey what they need to say without getting lost in the data, Marti related. She showed attendees before and after pictures of an educational piece launched at this years San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The former contained text heavy, dense, hard-to-read, hard-to-follow content. The latter replaced that with better use of color and light,airy and easy-to-convey data clear, concise text and infographics telling the story. Marti also presented Summit-goers with five Best Practices for Content Excellence: First, she said, make sure the content initiatives youre working on directly support organizational objectives and market demands. This will help in relations with agencies, peers and other content team members. Second, make sure you are flexible with that content strategy. I work with my brand partners a ton and things change every day. You have to build a content strategy and system that is nimble to some extent, or its not going to work. Its going to quickly be outdated, people wont use it, and theyll just go outside of it." Third, use data and analytics to optimize your content performance and resource allocation. It takes time to gather that data, Marti noted, but by having data to back up what we say, youre going to have a lot better conversation. Fourth, create continual learning to enhance team capabilities. I saw this happen very slowly at first with us, but its starting to pick up steam. Novartis brands, Marti said, are now getting really excited to compete, be first to accomplish a new feat, and get themselves featured [in content]. Fifth, use advanced tools to automate where possible, drive collaboration and make content optimization easier. Theres a lot of promise when it comes to AI, Marti acknowledged, but theres also a lot of promise if you look around at the tools already in your organization. Theres a chance those could help you with your content mapping, strategy and planning process. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 6, 2025 Young TikTok users and their families are pressing a federal judge to allow them to proceed with claims that the app and its parent company, China-based ByteDance, wrongly collected data from pre-teens in order to send them targeted ads. TikTok has profited off the systemic invasion of privacy of millions of children in the United States under the age of 13, counsel for the families argues in papers filed Wednesday with U.S. District Court Judge Otis Wright II in the Central District of California. TikTok and ByteDance use this unlawfully collected information to serve children with targeted, behavioral advertising, counsel adds. The new papers come in a battle dating to August, when a group of families claimed in a class-action complaint that the social app failed to obtain parental permission before allowing children to create accounts. The suit was filed one week after the Department of Justice charged TikTok and ByteDance with violating the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which prohibits websites and apps from knowingly collecting personal data of users 12 and under, without parental consent. advertisement advertisement The families' complaint repeated many of the Justice Department's allegations, including assertions that TikTok's sign-up process allowed users 12 and under to bypass a Kids Mode setting and create non-Kids Mode accounts. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act only authorizes lawsuits by government officials -- and not class-actions by private parties. But the parents claimed that TikTok's alleged data collection violated other privacy laws or standards in three states, including California. Among other claims, the parents say TikTok engaged in intrusion upon seclusion -- a privacy claim that can be brought in California, and that involves highly offensive conduct. In January, TikTok and ByteDance urged Wright to dismiss the complaint, arguing that the allegations in the complaint, even if proven true, aren't detailed enough to prove any of the claims. Plaintiffs never say what personal information they provided to defendants, what defendants did with that personal information, or how its collection harmed them, the companies argued. The companies elaborated that even though the complaint generally alleges that TikTok collected personal information, that term covers a broad array of data, ranging from users' names and addresses to their photographs and geolocation information. Plaintiffs do not specify which, if any, of this 'personal information' defendants supposedly collected from them, the companies argued. That omission is critical because many kinds of personal information -- like names, email addresses, phone numbers, and persistent identifiers -- do not implicate legally protected privacy interests, TikTok and ByteDance added. But attorneys for the children counter in their new papers that other judges have refused to dismiss privacy lawsuits that involve the collection of commercial data, like names and email addresses, from children. For instance, counsel argues, a federal judge in California recently refused to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that Google collected data from smartphone users younger than 13 who downloaded children's apps from Android's Play Store. Wright is expected to hold a hearing in the case on April 28. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 6, 2025 The House Judiciary Committee is demanding that Google parent, Alphabet, provide information to Congress about alleged censorship by the Biden-Harris administration. To inform legislative reforms to protect Americans civil liberties, the committee must fully understand the extent and nature of the Biden-Harris Administrations censorship efforts, committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said in a letter sent to CEO Sundar Pichai on Thursday. Jordan added that his committee has obtained documents showing that the federal government successfully pressured YouTube to censor certain lawful content, including content that did not violate YouTubes content moderation policies. advertisement advertisement The lawmaker sent Alphabet a subpoena for a trove of data -- including information regarding communications between the company and officials in the executive branch of government, and internal Alphabet conversations regarding communications from the government. To develop effective legislation, such as the possible enactment of new statutory limits on the executive branchs ability to work with Big Tech to restrict the circulation of content and deplatform users, the committee must first understand how and to what extent the executive branch coerced and colluded with companies and other intermediaries to censor speech, the House member wrote. Jordan referred in the letter to Meta Platforms' recent decision to replace fact-checkers with community notes and eliminating restrictions on some topics, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg's statement that the Biden administration pressured the company to suppress some COVID-19 related speech. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, admitted that it was wrong to bow to the Biden-Harris Administrations demands, publicly committed to restoring free speech on its platforms, and reformed its policies, Jordan wrote. Alphabet, to our knowledge, has not similarly disavowed the Biden-Harris Administration. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda says the company will continue to show the committee how we enforce our policies independently, rooted in our commitment to free expression. Jordan has repeatedly accused tech companies, Democrats and others of collaborating to suppress conservative voices online. Last year, his committee said in a staff report that the ad industry's now-defunct Global Alliance for Responsible Media, a brand safety initiative established by the World Federation of Advertisers, likely violated U.S. antitrust laws by orchestrating an initiative to avoid placing ads in media outlets carrying "disfavored" content. A World Federation of Advertisers spokesperson said last year that allegations that GARM engaged in anti-competitive behavior are baseless. GARM creates voluntary industry standards on brand safety and suitability which media sellers and ad tech companies can voluntarily adopt, adapt or reject,the spokesperson said. This in turn allows advertisers to make choices similar to the way they buy advertising in TV, print or radio. Jordan's committee also issued a 2023 staff report accusing the Federal Trade Commission of harassing X (formerly Twitter) due to Musk's decision to reinstate accounts of prominent conservatives. That report noted that the FTC had repeatedly questioned Twitter in the three months immediately following Musk's purchase of the platform. Former FTC Chair Lina Khan responded that the agency questioned X as part of an investigation into its compliance with privacy and security conditions set out in a consent decree. She added that X owner Elon Musk had directed employees to take action that would have violated the decree, but longtime information security employees at the company intervened and instituted privacy safeguards. Jordan isn't the only Republican to claim social media companies suppressed speech due to government pressure. For instance, attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri sued the Biden administration for supposedly coercing social media companies to remove posts about topics such as COVID-19 and vaccines. A district court judge issued an injunction that could have prevented Biden administration officials from discussing controversial subjects with personnel at social media platforms, but the Supreme Court struck down the order in a 6-3 ruling authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett. She said the plaintiffs lacked standing to proceed because they hadn't shown a substantial risk that their First Amendment rights would be violated in the near future, and also noted that social media platforms have long moderated content. The platforms, acting independently, had strengthened their pre-existing content moderation policies before the government defendants got involved, she wrote, adding that Facebook revised its COVID-19 policies in February 2021 -- before White House officials began speaking to the company about the pandemic. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 4, FAW Jiefang, the commercial vehicle arm of FAW Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an Australian dealer in Changchun city, marking a significant step in deepening its expansion into the Australian market. Signing ceremony; photo credit: FAW Jiefang This collaboration aligns with FAW Jiefang's "SPRINT2030" globalization strategy, further strengthening its international presence. Australia serves as a key market of FAW Jiefang's global strategy, particularly in the road transport sector, where market capacity is substantial. The partnership is expected to enhance FAW Jiefang's presence in the region, leveraging its brand advantages to establish a comprehensive service and support system. The company aims to ensure that local customers receive professional and efficient service. In December 2024, FAW Jiefang unveiled its "SPRINT2030" global strategy, outlining its roadmap for future marketing efforts and development. The company plans to achieve annual sales of 330,000 vehicles in 2025 (+27% YoY), including 80,000 units in overseas markets and 46,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs). The "SPRINT2030" strategy sets ambitious goals for 2030, targeting annual global vehicle sales of 500,000 units, with 180,000 units from overseas markets, which accounts for 36% of the total. Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna are gearing up for the release of their upcoming vampire love story Thama. The story As per the latest reports, the storyline of Thama has now been unveiled. Thama was previously titled Vampires of Vijaynagar, a place where the story of Thama will move from the modern Delhi. According to the latest report by Mid-Day, Through a central character, Thama explores unrequited love. Though set in present-day Delhi where Ayushmann is a historian, the narrative is laced with flashbacks that take viewers to the ancient city of Vijayanagar, where the love story begins. Instagram/Ayushmann khurrana About the development of the film, a source close to the project told the website, The lead actors, along with Paresh Rawal, are currently shooting at real locations in the city. On March 27, the cast and crew will move to Film City, where sets reflecting Delhi houses and streets have been built. The sequences that were earmarked for Delhi will be filmed here instead. Nawazuddin will join the proceedings then. The director is aiming for a Diwali release. After wrapping up the Mumbai leg by late April, the unit will be Ooty-bound by May. They will film the required portions in the Nilgiri forest and wrap up the project by May-end. The reactions Users are calling the plot fresh and engaging and are excited to see how it unfolds on the big screen. One user commented, Excited for thama. Maddock is giving back to back hits and their upcoming projects are exciting they will probably leave dharma behind . Few more years and they might leave yrf behind too. Reddit/BollyBlindsNGossip Another user commented, Sounds really good on paper. Like theres a legit intriguing plot. Vicky and Rashmika are both good performers. I hope the concept works on screens too. Rooting for this! Every love story is special and unique in its own way. While some relationships dwindle with the passage of time, Himanshi and Rewants tale is straight out of a book of devoted love, written by the hands of some God. 32 year old Himanshi from New Delhi, started Decode Disability in 2020, which was driven by her own challenges of navigating in a world that wasnt designed with accessibility in mind. Born with cerebral palsy, Himanshi was was aware that something had to be done about advocating for inclusion in workplaces and society for so many people out there who were struggling. However, little did she know, that what began as an initiative to promote accessibility, would also lead her to a life-changing connection with someone who would become the love of her life. Everyoneisgoodatsomething Rewant Katyal, 31, happened to discove Decode Disability in 2021 while he working on a project that aimed to bring more people with disabilities (PwDs) into the workforce. Rewant, who was the first PwD hired by his own company, instantly connected with Himanshis mission and soon enough they found themselves bonding over their shared experiences in life. While some love stories have speed breakers and villains, Himanshi and Rewants found themselves in a beautiful, safe space, guarded with love, courtesy their supportive families. Himanshi recalls about the time she grew up in a big joint Punjabi household, where she was never really made to feel different. In my family, I was encouraged to do whatever I could, she says. So even though her family was her backbone, the world outside was not so warm always. Himanshi faced a lot of rejected throughout her childhood till her college. She was made aware of her being different and that trickled down in all spheres, from her being thrown out of a play in school, to company representatives asking her if she had a polio leg during campus placement drives. She now knew that she had to take matters in her own hands. She eventually moved into social work, where she gained the tools to advocate for herself and others like her. Everyoneisgoodatsomething On the other hand, Rewant's journey was also guided by self- induced resilience. After being diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, Rewants biggest challenge was transitioning to a wheelchair after an accident. The unconditional support and the unwavering love his family offer was his fuel to combat any challenges and face them head on! If my family hadn't given me the freedom to make my own decisions, I might never have learned to take charge of my life, he says. So when their life paths crossed professionally, it did not take time for things to get personal and beautiful. Himanshi and Rewant now shared a common goal for disability advocacy and also had a profound understanding of each others experiences. Himanshi was drawn to Rewant's eye for detail and his penchant for being meticulous with everything. "He makes Excel sheets for everything," she laughs. Everyoneisgoodatsomething Himanshis family was initially spektical of their future together until they met Rewant and were left charmed by him in no time! Before tying the knot last year, the couple wanted to put their dynamics to test and that led to a romantic retreat to Kasauli, where they identified and took care of every logistical need. Cut to today, their weekends are all about outdoor adventures.. The road to success isnt a day or two long. It clearly isnt like a train you take from one city to another or a phase that you cross in a year or two. Success, depending on your mindset, resilience and knowing, is a goal that can be achieved in the next minutes or in multiple decades. Along the way, youll attain some smaller goals and feel like a failure on some days. For such times, we have a few success quotes to share with you. These inspiring success quotes arent just clichestheyre battle-tested wisdom from those whove been there, done that and conquered. If they could, you will too! 170 Success Quotes For Inspiration Success & Hard Work Quotes iStock 1. "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." Albert Schweitzer 2. "The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary." Vidal Sassoon 3. "Dont watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." Sam Levenson 4. "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." Thomas Jefferson 5. "Work like hell. I mean you just have to put in 80 to 100 hour weeks every week. This improves the odds of success." Elon Musk 6. "Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." Winston Churchill 7. "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt 8. "The best way to predict the future is to create it." Peter Drucker 9. "Work hard in silence, let success make the noise." Frank Ocean 10. "Opportunities dont happen. You create them." Chris Grosser 11. "Success comes to those who dare to dream, venture to work, and never give up." Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 12. "Dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep." Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 13. "Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or to the top of your career." Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 14. "Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them." Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 15. "The day you stop racing is the day you win the race." Ratan Tata 16. "None can destroy iron, but its own rust can! Likewise, none can destroy a person, but their own mindset can." Ratan Tata 17. "I dont believe in taking right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right." Ratan Tata 18. "If people are not laughing at your goals, your goals are too small." Azim Premji 19. "Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached." Swami Vivekananda 20. "Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead; if you lose, you can guide." Swami Vivekananda Mindset & Growth Quotes iStock 21. "Whether you think you can or you think you cant, youre right." Henry Ford 22. "Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking." William Butler Yeats 23. "Believe you can and youre halfway there." Theodore Roosevelt 24. "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Confucius 25. "Dont be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart." Roy T. Bennett 26. "Everything youve ever wanted is on the other side of fear." George Addair 27. "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." Zig Ziglar 28. "Great things never come from comfort zones." Neil Strauss 29. "The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same." Colin R. Davis 30. "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." Suzy Kassem Hustle & Determination Quotes iStock 31. "If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary." Jim Rohn 32. "Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." William James 33. "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it." Estee Lauder 34. "You just cant beat the person who never gives up." Babe Ruth 35. "If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time." Steve Jobs 36. "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." Henry David Thoreau 37. "Dream big. Start small. Act now." Robin Sharma 38. "You miss 100% of the shots you dont take." Wayne Gretzky 39. "I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse." Florence Nightingale 40. "Its not about perfect. Its about effort." Jillian Michaels Leadership & Taking Action Quotes iStock 41. "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." John C. Maxwell 42. "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." John Quincy Adams 43. "Success isnt just about what you accomplish in your life; its about what you inspire others to do." Unknown 44. "People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed." Tony Robbins 45. "Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for youll be criticized anyway." Eleanor Roosevelt 46. "Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." Walter Elliot 47. "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." Arthur Ashe 48. "If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission." Unknown 49. "You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them." Shonda Rhimes 50. "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson 51. "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person." Mother Teresa 52. "Work hard in silence, let success make the noise." Sachin Tendulkar 53. "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." Margaret Thatcher (often quoted by Indian leaders like Kiran Bedi) 54. "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." Albert Einstein (often cited by Indian entrepreneurs like Narayana Murthy) 55. "Failures are the stepping stones to success." Kiran Bedi 56. "There is no substitute for hard work." Narendra Modi 57. "Success is when your signature becomes an autograph." Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 58. "Your dreams are your wings. They will take you to the heights you desire." P.T. Usha 59. "Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it." Milkha Singh 60. "Success is not a destination, but a journey of learning, improving, and evolving." Sundar Pichai Money & Success Quotes iStock 61. "Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune." Jim Rohn 62. "A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart." Jonathan Swift 63. "The more you learn, the more you earn." Warren Buffett 64. "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." Walt Disney 65. "Never depend on a single income. Make investments to create a second source." Warren Buffett 66. "Your time is limited, so dont waste it living someone elses life." Steve Jobs 67. "He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses courage loses all." Miguel de Cervantes 68. "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." Benjamin Franklin 69. "The key to making money is to stay invested." Charles Schwab 70. "Rich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs." Zig Ziglar Persistence & Resilience Quotes iStock 71. "The only limit to our realisation of tomorrow is our doubts of today." Franklin D. Roosevelt 72. "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fearnot absence of fear." Mark Twain 73. "It always seems impossible until its done." Nelson Mandela 74. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill 75. "There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing." Aristotle 76. "Fall seven times and stand up eight." Japanese Proverb 77. "Tough times never last, but tough people do." Robert H. Schuller 78. "You dont drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there." Edwin Louis Cole 79. "A winner is just a loser who tried one more time." George M. Moore Jr. 80. "Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." J.K. Rowling Ambition & Goal-Setting Quotes iStock 81. "If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down." Buddha 82. "Chase your dreams, but always know the road that will lead you home again." Tim McGraw 83. "Dont let yesterday take up too much of today." Will Rogers 84. "Set your goals high, and dont stop till you get there." Bo Jackson 85. "Go as far as you can see; when you get there, youll be able to see further." Thomas Carlyle 86. "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." Eleanor Roosevelt 87. "A goal properly set is halfway reached." Zig Ziglar 88. "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, youll land among the stars." Norman Vincent Peale 89. "A dream written down with a date becomes a goal." Greg Reid 90. "Without ambition, one starts nothing. Without work, one finishes nothing." Ralph Waldo Emerson Discipline & Self-Improvement Quotes iStock 91. "Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment." Jim Rohn 92. "Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do." Jeff Olson 93. "You can either experience the pain of discipline or the pain of regret." Jim Rohn 94. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." Mark Twain 95. "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." Robert Collier 96. "Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing." John C. Maxwell 97. "We first make our habits, then our habits make us." John Dryden 98. "I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Dont quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'" Muhammad Ali 99. "What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." Ralph Marston 100. "Be stubborn about your goals but flexible about your methods." Unknown Wealth & Financial Success Quotes iStock 101. "Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving." Warren Buffett 102. "Success is not in what you have, but who you are." Bo Bennett 103. "Dont let money run your life, let money help you run your life better." John Rampton 104. "Your net worth is a direct reflection of your self-worth." Unknown 105. "The more you earn, the more you learn." Frank Clark 106. "Poor people work for money. Rich people make money work for them." Robert Kiyosaki 107. "The secret to wealth is simple: Find a way to do more for others than anyone else does." Tony Robbins 108. "Being rich is having money; being wealthy is having time." Margaret Bonnano 109. "Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time." Jim Rohn 110. "Money grows on the tree of persistence." Japanese Proverb Confidence & Self-Belief Quotes iStock 111. "Confidence is not they will like me. Confidence is Ill be fine if they dont." Christina Grimmie 112. "You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them." Michael Jordan 113. "If you dont believe in yourself, no one else will." Kobe Bryant 114. "Believe in yourself and you will be unstoppable." Unknown 115. "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." Suzy Kassem 116. "You can have anything you want if you dress for it." Edith Head 117. "The biggest risk is not taking any risk." Mark Zuckerberg 118. "The more you love your decisions, the less you need others to love them." Unknown 119. "Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong." Peter T. McIntyre 120. "Be so good they cant ignore you." Steve Martin Creativity & Thinking Outside the Box Quotes iStock 121. "Creativity is intelligence having fun." Albert Einstein 122. "Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a sharp knife to it." Banksy 123. "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." Steve Jobs 124. "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." Albert Einstein 125. "Dont be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." John D. Rockefeller 126. "The man who has no imagination has no wings." Muhammad Ali 127. "Originality is the best form of rebellion." Mike Sasso 128. "The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do." Sarah Ban Breathnach 129. "Creativity takes courage." Henri Matisse 130. "Dreams dont work unless you do." John C. Maxwell Life & Success Wisdom Quotes iStock 131. "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." Mahatma Gandhi 132. "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." C.S. Lewis 133. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." Mark Twain 134. "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." Henry David Thoreau 135. "Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." Dalai Lama 136. "Make each day your masterpiece." John Wooden 137. "Its not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." Epictetus 138. "Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around." Henry David Thoreau 139. "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." Dale Carnegie 140. "Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change." Jim Rohn Innovation & Leadership iStock 141. "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of will." Vince Lombardi (often quoted by Indian leaders like Dhirubhai Ambani) 142. "If you dont build your dream, someone else will hire you to help build theirs." Dhirubhai Ambani 143. "Think big, think fast, think ahead. Ideas are no ones monopoly." Dhirubhai Ambani 144. "Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." Indra Nooyi 145. "Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people." Steve Jobs (frequently cited by Indian business leaders like Mukesh Ambani) 146. "Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunitynot a threat." Narayana Murthy 147. "When you are surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible." Indra Nooyi 148. "If you want to be successful, you must respect one ruleNever lie to yourself!" Narendra Modi 149. "When you take risks, you learn that there will be times you succeed and there will be times you fail, and both are equally important." Indra Nooyi 150. "Chase excellence, and success will follow." Aamir Khan (from 3 Idiots) Self-Improvement & Motivation iStock 151. "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Mahatma Gandhi 152. "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." Mahatma Gandhi 153. "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." Mahatma Gandhi 154. "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." Mahatma Gandhi 155. "If you want to shine like the sun, first burn like the sun." Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 156. "The true measure of success is how many times you can bounce back from failure." Narendra Modi 157. "Your best teacher is your last mistake." Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 158. "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." Sushmita Sen 159. "Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it." Lata Mangeshkar 160. "Success is not just about making money. Its about making a difference." Narayana Murthy Final Words of Wisdom AURORA, Colo. -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin wanted to make it clear: The troops that he oversees will do whatever President Donald Trump wants them to, and they'll be ready for it. "That is what airpower, anytime, anywhere means. It's not just an aspiration. It's a promise we have to uphold for America," Allvin said during his keynote speech Monday evening at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Colorado. "We have to sustain and maintain the ability to go anytime, anywhere in the densest threat environment and put 'warheads on foreheads' anywhere the president might want." It wasn't just the Air Force. Gen. Chance Saltzman, the Space Force's top leader, made it clear during his keynote speech that same evening that Guardians are also "warfighters" who must be ready for conflict, and the service must go on the offensive to achieve "space superiority" against the nation's adversaries. Read Next: 83,000 VA Employees Slated to Be Fired This Year by Musk's DOGE, Memo Says "That's what we signed up for ... the challenge, the call to duty," Saltzman said during his speech. "That's what it means to live and work in the greatest military the world has ever seen ... to be warfighters, regardless of the uniform we wear or the job we hold." This is one of the first major forums the two service leaders -- both of whom were spared from Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's purge last month of top military leaders -- have had since the new administration was sworn in. Both made a clear embrace of the Pentagon's new priority to "revive the warrior ethos," as Hegseth put in his initial message to the services in January. But delivering on that by providing new technology and weapons for Trump's national security priorities is also at the mercy of looming defense cuts. Todd Harrison, a defense budgeting expert at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, told Military.com in an interview that the timing of Allvin and Saltzman's comments in the wake of the firings is notable. Trump and Hegseth fired the Air Force general serving as the Joint Chiefs chairman, the Navy's chief of naval operations, and the Air Force vice chief on Feb. 21 without explanation. "You can't help but think that the firing of the generals a few weeks ago has led to some of the change in rhetoric and behavior from the remaining service chiefs," Harrison said. "They are trying to get in line with the administration's new priorities and its new rhetoric in order to save their jobs." Allvin did not participate in a roundtable with reporters, a notable absence from what is typically one of the few times where journalists can ask the service's top brass about the most pressing issues. Notably, as the Department of the Air Force waits for its secretary nominee to be confirmed, all of the service's ambitious reorganization efforts focused on competing with China, many of which were endorsed and pushed by Allvin, have been paused by Hegseth until new leadership can approve them. A defense official spoke to Military.com on condition of anonymity to discuss Allvin's focus on "lethality," as well as his response to the pause of the reorganization efforts. "Readiness and lethality are at the core of both the USAF's efforts to realign to the threat environment and the new administration's priorities," the defense official said. "That is why everyone in [the] Air Force is fully onboard and welcomes the incoming civilian leadership team reviewing not only the 'why' behind the warfighters and readiness initiatives, but also the considerable progress made to date." Saltzman did speak with reporters. When pressed by Military.com on what led to the change in tone in his speech and the call for the Space Force to use means such as orbital warfare, electromagnetic warfare and counterspace operations, the four-star general said it was a natural progression for the service. "It's more of a maturation of the role and the responsibilities that a new service has and just developing the vocabulary, developing the doctrine, operational concepts, and now the equipment and the training," Saltzman said during the media roundtable. "It is just part of the process, I feel like." Both the Allvin and Saltzman keynote addresses focused on getting each service more modern and technologically advanced weapons and aircraft to carry out their missions -- a tall order as Hegseth has directed each service to offer up 8% of potential cuts in order to fund Trump's national defense priorities. "In this dangerous and dynamic time, I want to give the president as many options as I can," Allvin said during his speech. "So that means modernization." Related: Trump's Orders Curbing Government Spending Dwindle Attendance at Air Force Conference A first wave of firings has begun in the Department of Defense as President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk continue to terminate federal employees and slash agencies. Military.com has learned that civilian workers in at least four organizations -- the Defense Health Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, the Navy and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences -- have already been told they are fired. But officials in the office of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, when contacted by Military.com about how many people were fired and at what agencies, didn't have any answers. A spokesperson for the secretary's office instead referred questions "to each agency to speak about their workforce." Read Next: 83,000 VA Employees Slated to Be Fired This Year by Musk's DOGE, Memo Says A Defense Health Agency employee whose work supports the global health of America's fighting forces received a pink slip Monday, less than a month before her employment status with the federal government was slated to become permanent. The firing, along with an unknown number of others at the Defense Department, occurred this week despite a federal judge's ruling Feb. 28 that the dismissals, originally ordered by the White House's Office of Personnel Management, were likely unlawful. The Pentagon announced Feb. 21 that it planned to fire 5,400 probationary civilian workers in an initial effort to reduce its federal workforce by 5% to 8%, which could ultimately mean tens of thousands of workers will lose their jobs. The purge was to begin the following week but did not appear to get underway until Monday. The Defense Department has not said how many people have been let go so far, but at least 100 from the Defense Logistics Agency and dozens at the Defense Health Agency have lost their jobs. A DoD spokesman referred questions about firings to individual agencies within the department. The Defense Health Agency referred questions back to the DoD, while the Defense Logistics Agency said it fired some of its probationary workers. The public and Congress have been largely kept in the dark as thousands of workers across the federal government have been terminated amid Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency -- a team of his personal assistants -- review, which entails plugging into federal systems and eliminating people and programs deemed inefficient. A defense official who was granted anonymity to speak more candidly told Military.com that the DLA's layoffs consisted of less than 100 people out of a 25,000-person workforce and just a small fraction of the overall planned total of 5,400 probationary employees announced by Pentagon leadership. Officials with the Navy, meanwhile, told Military.com that data on its firings isn't readily available. The federal government has not released any data on the number of employees who have been terminated or the types of jobs they held. The federal workforce has 200,000 probationary workers, and 75,000 employees accepted deferred resignation offers from the executive branch, according to The Associated Press. The DHA employee, who requested anonymity out of hope that she may be reinstated, said she tracked the news about federal firings elsewhere, had taken steps to comply with Trump's executive order ending remote work, and hoped to make it to the end of the month when her probationary period expired. "I love my job. I really, really believe in the mission that we have, what we do in our day-to-day," said the worker, who added that she had received two performance awards in her 11 months at the DHA. According to the employee, she was given less than 10 minutes to attend a Microsoft Teams meeting Monday with her supervisor. When she logged on, she was among more than 30 other DoD employees told they were being let go, ostensibly for "performance issues." Most of the correspondence and messaging in the recent firings of probationary federal workers, which began early last month, contained boilerplate language noting poor performance. "Gosh, it was insanely impersonal. We were not allowed the opportunity to ask questions, nothing. It was basically, 'Here it is. You have questions? Ask your supervisors,' who were also in the dark, by the way," she said. The firings have triggered lawsuits claiming they are unlawful. As the litigation winds through the courts, the Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday published a revision to its termination guidance saying it is not instructing other federal agencies to dismiss probationary employees. "Please note that, by this memorandum, OPM is not directing agencies to take any specific performance-based actions regarding probationary employees," the revision states. "Agencies have ultimate decision-making authority over, and responsibility for, such personnel actions." Darin Selnick, a Trump adviser who is performing the duties of secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, issued a memo Monday directing that the firings of probationary employees begin. He said the dismissals would be of employees "whose contributions are not mission-critical." The Trump administration argues that the cuts are needed to reduce the size of the federal government and slash the national debt, which now totals more than $36 trillion. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Monday that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, headed by Musk recently was granted access to the Pentagon and made "initial findings" that "will probably save $80 million in wasteful spending," although Parnell did not provide a listing of the programs and dismissals that would account for the full $80 million. The turmoil already is disrupting the lives of U.S. service members and their families. A memo sent to troops at Hill Air Force Base in Utah said child development center workers who voluntarily took a deferred resignation from the administration or were probationary were being targeted for firings. The dismissals are also likely to disproportionately hit military spouses and veterans who receive preferential hiring status for federal jobs. Roughly 27% of military spouses who have jobs work for federal, state or local governments, and veterans make up one-third of the federal workforce. Veterans groups are pushing back at the firings, calling them indiscriminate and asking the Trump administration to protect veteran employment. "It has become clearer that the veteran community has been hit hard as probationary federal jobs are being axed across the country," VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt said. "These are employees who have been serving the American people for years, in uniform and in civil service, and at least some of whom have been or are being caught by a formality in administrative statuses." But on Tuesday, the White House dismissed concerns about veterans being disproportionately affected by the firings. White House adviser Alina Habba told reporters Trump cares about veterans, but she also said he has a responsibility to "use taxpayer dollars to pay people that actually work." "We are going to care for them in the right way, but perhaps they're not fit to have a job at this moment, or not willing to come to work," Habba told reporters in a brief conversation on the White House lawn. "I wouldn't take money from you and pay somebody and say, 'Sorry, you know, they're not going to come to work.' It's just not acceptable." Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, have seized on the firings of veterans as part of their political messaging. At Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, several Democrats invited fired veterans as their guests. For example, one of the guests of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was Alissa Ellman, whom he described as a disabled veteran who served in Afghanistan and was fired from her job at the Buffalo, New York, VA as part of the department's 2,400 probationary worker firings. Earlier in the day Tuesday, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also tried to force a vote on the Senate floor on a nonbinding resolution that would have condemned firings at the VA and put the Senate on record as saying all fired employees should be rehired. The resolution's passage was blocked by Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kan., who argued the measure was designed to be divisive. "Approving this resolution drives a wedge between this body, this Senate, this Congress and the executive branch, and I don't see how that helps veterans," Moran said. "I commit today to all my colleagues to work with them to make certain the VA retains an effective workforce that can deliver our promises to veterans." The Defense Health Agency employee who received notice Monday said she hopes she will be reinstated, given that the work her office performs is important to the wellness of warfighters and they already were understaffed. "Every person I work with, not only are they well educated -- there's nobody I work with [who] has less than a master's degree -- they're all driven, they're goal-oriented, they all believe in the mission. We work our tails off, and many of us put in lots of overtime, just because we're running lean and that's what it takes to make sure that the mission doesn't fail," she said. Related: Trump's Orders Curbing Government Spending Dwindle Attendance at Air Force Conference With the ongoing promotion of the visa-free transit policy, the combined impacts of business travelers, students, and migrant workers have led to a continuous increase in the number of international transit passengers starting from Hefei Airport. Reporters learned that during the Spring Festival travel period alone, the check-in team of the airport's passenger service department served a total of 9,965 passenger trips for international transit, handling 10,312 pieces of international transit luggage. These passengers include businesspeople from various countries visiting the Anhui Free Trade Zone, contributors to the Belt and Road initiative, technology contributors to the "Innovation Hub," students engaged in academic exchanges from home and abroad, and tourists visiting beautiful Anhui. Based on transit data statistics during the Spring Festival, passengers transiting from Hefei to destinations in over 10 cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Xiamen, are headed to as many as 83 cities worldwide, covering major international cities in Europe, America, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and Midwest Asia. Moving forward, the passenger service department's check-in team will continue to proactively, professionally, and sincerely enhance international transit check-in services, facilitating a smooth aerial corridor for passengers traveling to and from Anhui. Source: anhuinews.com With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. XPENG aims to accelerate autonomous driving deployment in Hong Kong During China's Two Sessions 2025, XPENG Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng stated that the company will speed up the introduction of autonomous driving technology in Hong Kong. XPENG has applied for remote parking permits and pledged free upgrades of the feature for Hong Kong users. All-electric MINI JCW enters mass production in China On March 6, BMW executive Stefan Floeck confirmed that the all-electric MINI John Cooper Works and John Cooper Works Aceman models have begun production at Spotlight Automotives Zhangjiagang plant. The two models will hit the Chinese market soon. STERRA ES range-extended electric version to hit market on March 10 Chery announced that the STERRA ES range-extended electric version, featuring a 255-km battery-powered range and a 1,645 km combined range, will officially hit the market on March 10. It comes with four trims levels during presale, which are priced between 162,800 yuan and 219,800 yuan. Photo credit: Chery BYD's 2nd-gen Yuan PLUS Intelligent Driving Edition hits market On March 5, Chinese new energy vehicle maker BYD officially released the second-generation Yuan PLUS Intelligent Driving Edition model onto the market, offering five variants priced between 115,800 yuan and 145,800 yuan. AITO M9 2025 edition opens for pre-orders from 478,000 yuan On March 6, AITO, the premium new energy vehicle brand jointly developed by SERES and Huawei, officially opened pre-orders for the 2025 refreshed version of the M9 intelligent flagship SUV, with a starting price of 478,000 yuan. The model is set to hit the market in March. CATL subsidiary Synland launches Kunshi Chassis for new energy commercial vehicles CATL's subsidiary, Suzhou Times Xin'an Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (Synland), recently introduced the Kunshi Chassis (name in Chinese pinyin) commercial vehicle ecosystem solution, targeting high-efficiency logistics operations. Designed for the light-duty truck sector, the solution offers extended range, long-term warranty, fast charging, and enhanced payload capacity. EHang sets up joint lab for low-altitude flight with Spanish, Chinese universities On March 5, Urban air mobility (UAM) company EHang announced it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Zaragoza in Spain and Guangzhou University in China to establish a joint low-altitude flight safety laboratory. FAW Jiefang signs MoU with Australian dealer On March 4, FAW Jiefang, the commercial vehicle arm of FAW Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an Australian dealer in Changchun city, marking a significant step in deepening its expansion into the Australian market. The Pentagon inspector general has scrapped plans to investigate the military's training for identifying and countering extremism in the ranks -- saying the project does not align with President Donald Trump's executive orders, according to a memo obtained by Military.com. The watchdog's directive, issued Feb. 25, abruptly halted an ongoing assessment of how military branches implement counter-extremism training, particularly efforts targeting radical organizations, white nationalist groups and militias such as the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and the Ku Klux Klan. The decision to drop the review is the latest shift of Pentagon policy under Trump, who fired Defense Department Inspector General Robert Storch without providing 30 days' notice to Congress as required by law. The president also pardoned convicted Oath Keepers and Proud Boys members who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Read Next: 83,000 VA Employees Slated to Be Fired This Year by Musk's DOGE, Memo Says Storch, along with the Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general and the inspectors general for six other agencies fired by Trump just days into his term, filed a lawsuit in February calling the terminations illegal. The inspectors general are independent and tasked with identifying waste, fraud and abuse at federal agencies. The IG memo also eliminates an ongoing review -- that produced a draft report in January -- of the Air Force's recruitment and retention programs aimed at boosting the number of female pilots, which has been met with sharp criticism from military watchdogs and advocacy groups. The memo was signed by Brett Mansfield, deputy inspector general for audit, and Michael Roark, deputy inspector general for evaluations. The push to root out extremism was started under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The watchdog office connected the decisions to the larger push by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to eliminate programs, policies and content -- including photos and social media posts -- that recognize women and troops with minority backgrounds. The Trump administration has banned and censored anything it deems connected to "diversity, equity and inclusion," or DEI. "Prohibited activity includes supremacist, extremist, and criminal gang doctrine, ideology and fall under the DEI umbrella," Mollie Halpern, a spokesperson for the Pentagon's inspector general office, said in a statement. Eliminating recognition and references to diversity in the military has been a defining priority of Hegseth's early tenure, though it was unclear how scaling back examinations of potential insider national security threats is related to "diversity, equity and inclusion." The Pentagon's struggle to define extremism in the ranks has long complicated efforts to combat it. Research suggests troops and veterans are not inherently more susceptible to radicalization, but their military training and credibility make them high-value recruits for extremist groups, a Military.com investigation found. Experts who track domestic extremism have warned for years about a spike in activity and the potential for violence. Last month, Brandon Russell, a former National Guardsman and white supremacist group leader, was found guilty of plotting to sabotage Baltimore's electrical grid. Two former Marines were sentenced in July for a neo-Nazi plot to attack the electric grid in the northwestern U.S., and attempted to build an arsenal of firearms and explosives to do it. But Hegseth and other Republicans have claimed the concerns over extremism are politicized and exaggerated. "Things like focusing on extremism have created a climate inside our ranks that feel political," Hegseth said at his confirmation hearing. "Those are the types of things that are going to change." The Pentagon started taking extremism more seriously as a potential insider threat as a response to the Jan. 6 insurrection in which about 200 veterans and some service members were a part of the mob that ransacked the Capitol in an effort to keep Trump in power after he lost the election. Last summer, Army officials made it much easier to hold soldiers accountable for radical behavior, as previous rules were relatively subjective and only outright forbade soldiers from partaking in activity but did not have a clear policy on hate speech itself. The new guidance, which has yet to be formally rescinded, granted commanders the authority to discipline troops for liking and sharing content online related to extremist causes, as well as displaying flags or symbols. Related: Trading on Patriotism: How Extremist Groups Target and Radicalize Veterans A group of Senate Democrats accused Secretary Doug Collins of helping with a "cover-up" as it demanded answers on the Department of Veterans Affairs' recent firings of 2,400 probationary employees. In a letter Thursday that was addressed to Collins and President Donald Trump, the Democrats excoriated the administration for all of the firings but took particular issue with cuts at the Veterans Crisis Line, which is a key resource for veterans who may be considering suicide. While the VA has insisted no responders at the suicide prevention hotline were fired, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who organized the letter, has surfaced that at least two support staff members for the crisis line were in the first round of firings before being hired back. "Claiming that only those who answer the phones at VCL are essential is an insult to the service and commitment to veterans of the many dedicated employees who ensure that someone is ready to listen and help in a moment of crisis," the senators wrote. "We are shocked that Secretary Collins, who claimed that one of his top priorities as VA secretary would be to address veteran suicide, would participate in such a cynical cover-up for the Trump administration's error -- not only by going along with the lies, but also justifying them." Read Next: 83,000 VA Employees Slated to Be Fired This Year by Musk's DOGE, Memo Says In addition to Duckworth, the letter was signed by Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla of California, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Tina Smith of Minnesota and Mark Kelly of Arizona. Asked for comment about the letter, a VA spokesperson directed Military.com to an op-ed Collins wrote for news outlet The Hill and a video Collins posted to social media about separate plans for firing 83,000 VA employees later this year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on whether the VA had a comment on the contents of the letter, including the accusation that Collins is helping with a cover-up. So far, the VA has dismissed 2,400 probationary employees -- defined as those who were recently hired, transferred or promoted -- as part of the Trump administration's sweeping efforts to slash the federal government and remake it in its image. The onslaught is being led by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the White House advisory office led by billionaire Elon Musk. The DOGE efforts are expected to get supercharged at the VA later this year with plans to fire more than 80,000 employees, bringing the department down to the level of employees it had before a massive hiring spree intended to help implement the expansion of veteran health care and benefits granted by the PACT Act. With both the upcoming firings and the probationary firings, Collins has pledged that veterans' services would not be hurt. "We're going to accomplish this without making cuts to health care or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries," Collins said in a video Wednesday about the planned 83,000 job cuts. He similarly said in a statement last month about the probationary firings that those cuts "will not hurt VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries." But in their letter Thursday, the Democratic senators contended that the cuts "have had increasingly detrimental impacts on the veteran community and continue to create capability gaps that threaten the well-being of veterans." "The indiscriminate purge of veterans and other federal employees at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) means slower claims processing, longer wait times for veterans seeking access to their medical care, and the end of important research that benefits veterans and all Americans," they wrote. "We demand that you take accountability for these actions and share with the American people what exactly the plan is for the future of VA." The senators demanded answers by March 12 on nearly three pages' worth of questions about the probationary firings, including a breakdown by job category of who was fired. They also pressed for more details specifically on the firings at the Veterans Crisis Line, numbers of how many disabled veterans have been fired, and lists of services that have been canceled or delayed since the firings started. "Support to our veterans has historically been a bipartisan issue, and we do not want this long-standing tradition to fall because of a president and his VA secretary turning their backs on our veterans due to the influence of an unelected co-president who yields illegal privilege to invoke executive authorities," the senators wrote, referencing Musk. "He fools no one with his efforts to line the pockets of the wealthy, and we will not stand by while there is an active attack against our nation's veterans." Related: 'These Are Human Beings': VA Fires 1,400 More Employees It Considers Nonessential ITOMAN, Japan Takamatsu Gushiken turns on a headtorch and enters a cave buried in Okinawa's jungle. He gently runs his fingers through the gravel until two pieces of bone emerge. These are from the skulls, he says, of an infant and possibly an adult. He carefully places them in a ceramic rice bowl and takes a moment to imagine people dying 80 years ago as they hid in this cave during one of the fiercest battles of World War II. His hope is that the dead can be reunited with their families. The remains of some 1,400 people found on Okinawa sit in storage for possible identification with DNA testing. So far just six have been identified and returned to their families. Volunteer bone hunters and families looking for their loved ones say the government should do more to help. Gushiken says the bones are silent witnesses to Okinawas wartime tragedy, carrying a warning to the present generation as Japan ups its defense spending in the face of tensions with China over territorial disputes and Beijing's claim to the nearby self-governing island Taiwan. The best way to honor the war dead is never to allow another war, Gushiken says. I'm worried about Okinawa's situation now. ... I'm afraid there is a growing risk that Okinawa may become a battlefield again. An island haunted by one of the deadliest battles of World War II On April 1, 1945, U.S. troops landed on Okinawa during their push toward mainland Japan, beginning a battle that lasted until late June and killed about 12,000 Americans and more than 188,000 Japanese, half of them Okinawan civilians. That included students and victims of mass suicides ordered by the Japanese military, historians say. The fighting ended at Itoman, where Gushiken and other volunteer cave diggers or gamahuya in their native Okinawan language have found the remains of what are likely hundreds of people. Gushiken tries to imagine being in the cave during the fighting. Where would he hide? What would he feel? He makes a guess about the age of the victims, whether they died by gunshot or explosion, and puts details about the bones in a small red notebook. After the war, Okinawa remained under U.S. occupation until 1972, 20 years longer than most of Japan, and it remains host to a major U.S. military presence to this day. As Japan enjoyed a postwar economic rise, Okinawa's economic, educational and social development lagged behind. Gushiken says when he was a child growing up in Okinawa's capital, Naha, he would go out hunting bugs and find skulls still wearing helmets. A slow search for remains Nearly 80 years after the end of World War II, 1.2 million Japanese war dead are still unaccounted for. Thats about half of the 2.4 million Japanese, mostly soldiers, who died during Japans early 20th century wars. Thousands of unidentified bones have been sitting in storage for years waiting for testing that could help match them with surviving families. Gushiken says the governments DNA matching efforts have been too little and too slow. Of the estimated 188,140 Japanese killed in the Battle of Okinawa, most of their remains had been collected and placed in the national cemetery on the island, the health ministry says. Around 1,400 remains found in recent decades sit in storage. The process of identification has been painfully slow. It was only in 2003 that the Japanese government started DNA matching after requests from the families of the dead, but tests were limited to the remains found with teeth and manmade artifacts that could provide hints to their identities. In 2016, Japan enacted a law launching a remains recovery initiative to promote more DNA matching and cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense. A lear later, the government expanded the work to civilians and authorized testing on limb bones. In all, 1,280 remains of Japanese war-dead, including six on Okinawa, have been identified by DNA tests since 2003, the health ministry said. The remains of around 14,000 people are stored in the ministry mortuary for future testing. Hundreds of American soldiers remain unaccounted for. Their remains, as well as those of the Koreans mobilized by the Japanese during the war, may yet be found, Gushiken says. Locating and identifying decades-old remains have become increasingly difficult as families and relatives age, memories fade, artifacts and documents get lost, and the remains deteriorate, says Naoki Tezuka, a health ministry official. The progress has been slow everywhere, Tezuka said. Ideally, we hope to not just collect the remains but return them to their families. The burden of history Japan is undertaking an accelerating military buildup, sending more troops and weapons to Okinawa and its outer islands. Many here who have bitter memories of the Japanese armys wartime brutality view the current military buildup with wariness. Washington and Tokyo see the strong U.S. military presence as a crucial bulwark against China and North Korea, but many Okinawans have long complained about noise, pollution, aircraft accidents and crime related to American troops. Okinawa today is home to more than half of the 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan, with the majority of U.S. military facilities on the small southern island. Tokyo has promised to relocate a U.S. Marine Corps air station that sits in a crowded town after years of friction, but Okinawans remain angry at a plan that would only move it to the island's east coast and may use the soil possibly containing the remains for construction. Gushiken says the Itoman caves should be protected from development so that younger generations can learn about the war's history, and so searchers like him can complete their work. Like him, some Okinawans say they fear the lessons of their wartime suffering are being forgotten. Tomoyuki Kobashigawas half-sister Michiko was killed soon after she got married. He wants to apply for DNA matching to help find her. Its so sad ... If she would have lived, we could have been such good siblings. The missing remains show the governments lack of remorse over its responsibility in the war, Kobashigawa says. Im afraid the Okinawan people will be embroiled in a war again. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. Kingsley Wilson, the Pentagon's new deputy press secretary, has a yearslong history of making social media posts that traffic in a variety of extremist rhetoric, ranging from antisemitic conspiracy theories to white nationalist talking points. In August, Wilson posted a decades-old antisemitic trope questioning the facts behind the lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was wrongly convicted of raping and murdering a child more than a hundred years ago in Atlanta. However, her history of posting xenophobic comments and echoing racist talking points goes as far back as 2021, and she has repeated some ideas -- for example, that colonialism was a "humanitarian venture" -- many times over the last several years. Read Next: In Letter Accusing VA Secretary of 'Cover-Up,' Democrats Demand Answers on DOGE-Led VA Firings Wilson's posts on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, include her parroting white supremacist rhetoric almost verbatim. Elon Musk, the world's richest man and a Trump adviser who is firing thousands of federal employees and slashing agencies, owns the X platform. The 26-year-old spokeswoman has called "The Great Replacement Theory," a long-standing and false conspiracy theory claiming there is an active effort to replace white populations with immigrants of color, a "reality." Wilson also repeatedly argued that American lands were not stolen but "conquered" from the Native Americans. That slogan has been used by the white supremacist group Patriot Front in its propaganda and messaging. She also referred to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee as "one of the greatest Americans to ever live," has repeatedly argued that America is rife with "anti-white racism," and made numerous posts that claimed colonization of African, majority Black and Central American countries was a "humanitarian venture." "If you look at those tweets in totality, what it comes down to is that she is an unabashed white nationalist," Luke Baumgartner, a researcher at George Washington University's Program on Extremism, told Military.com on Thursday. Wilson also heaped praise on the German far-right political party Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which itself has a history of Holocaust denial. She has repeatedly used the phrase "Auslander Raus" -- "foreigners out" in German -- and once posted the slogan "Deutschland den Deutschen. Auslander raus." The phrase, which means "Germany for Germans, foreigners out," is considered to be an extremist slogan with neo-Nazi roots. "If anybody knows anything about the AfD, it's a bunch of Nazis," Baumgartner said. "It's a German political party that uses repackaged Nazi phrasing and advertising." "A lot of what she says would be right at home in any of the neo-Nazi Telegram chats that I see every day," he said. If Wilson follows her predecessors in the deputy position, she would be one of two officials responsible for holding regular briefings to the press and acting as the public face of the Pentagon. However, the Pentagon under Trump has yet to begin public briefings. Military.com reached out to the defense secretary's office on Wednesday with a lengthy list of more than a dozen of Wilson's posts for comment or context. By publication, there was no response, and the posts remain up on her X profile. Baumgartner noted that, while much of Wilson's rhetoric may seem modern, its roots go back generations. "She's simultaneously appealing to the new generation of far-right white nationalists, and she's pulling out a lot of the old cards that people from a generation or two ago might resonate with, too," he said. While Wilson remains silent, her posts have drawn attention from prominent Jewish voices and media outlets like Jewish Insider, which was one of the first media outlets to report the story, as well as lawmakers on Capitol Hill. On Thursday, Politico reported that her comments have not only angered lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle but led to questions about whether appropriate vetting was done ahead of her appointment on Jan. 21 -- the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration. Some of Wilson's comments seem to also put her at odds with current policies of the Trump administration. Although Wilson has repeatedly attacked Ukraine and praised Vladimir Putin, she has also made repeated posts about her opposition to offering aid and support to Israel as well. On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Trump had approved "nearly $12 billion" in military sales to Israel and was expediting "the delivery of approximately $4 billion in military assistance." The move prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call Trump "the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House." The American Jewish Committee, a Jewish advocacy group, called for Wilson's firing in a social media post Wednesday. "Anyone who posts antisemitic conspiracy theories lifted right out of the neo-Nazi playbook should not be in public office," the group wrote. However, the current Trump administration has already shown that it is willing to ignore such calls and stand by staffers who make inflammatory and even blatantly racist remarks. In February, The Wall Street Journal reported that 25-year-old Marko Elez, a staffer with Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, had a long history of posts that advocated racism and eugenics, the study of how to breed humans for desirable traits. According to the Journal, Elez's social media posts included comments like: "You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity," "Normalize Indian hate," and "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool." After the story was published, Elez resigned, but Vice President JD Vance came to his defense, arguing that "I don't think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid's life." Musk, who has his own track record of advocacy for groups like the AfD, said he was rehiring Elez on the same day Vance posted his message on X. Related: Pentagon Watchdog Halts Review of Military Efforts to Root Out Extremism MANILA, Philippines Rescuers found the wreckage of a Philippine fighter jet and the bodies of its two pilots on Wednesday in a mountainous region in the countrys south where they had been deployed on a nighttime mission to fight communist guerrillas, military officials said. The FA-50 jet lost communication during the combat mission with other air force aircraft after midnight Tuesday before reaching a target area in southern Bukidnon province. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province after carrying out assaults, military officials said. The FA-50 jet was deployed with other air force aircraft to provide combat support to troops battling dozens of suspected New Peoples Army guerrillas near Cabanglasan town in Bukidnon, the military said. "It was a total wreck, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante said of the fighter jets wreckage, which he said was found by Filipino special forces in a jungle on Mount Kalatungan in Bukidnon. A regional military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, said without elaborating that the bodies of the two air force pilots were found near the wreckage. Pilots can eject from the supersonic jets in case they encounter any problems but the Philippine air force said it remained unclear if the two pilots aboard the FA-50 ejected as it plummeted. It was also not immediately clear what caused the crash of the supersonic jet, which was acquired by the Philippine government from a South Korean company about a decade ago. An investigation was underway, the air force said. The rest of the country's 11 FA-50s were grounded following the incident, according to the Philippine air force. The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s multi-purpose fighter jets starting in 2015 from South Koreas Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The 18.9 billion peso ($331 million) contract had been the biggest under a military modernization program that has been repeatedly stalled by a lack of funds. The Philippines has plans to acquire another 12 fighter jets from South Korea. The military estimates about 1,000 communist guerrillas remain after decades of battle setbacks, surrenders and factional fighting. Peace talks brokered by Norway collapsed under previous President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused the other of continuing deadly attacks despite the negotiations. In 2023, the government and the communist rebels agreed to resume talks aimed at ending one of Asias longest insurgencies. But the talks still have not restarted under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Aside from anti-insurgency operations, the jets have been used in a range of activities, from major national ceremonies to patrolling the disputed South China Sea. SEOUL, South Korea South Korean and U.S. troops will begin their large annual joint military drills next week to enhance readiness against North Korean threats, the allies announced Thursday, days after North Korea threatened high-profile provocations against what it called escalating U.S.-led aggression. However, the announcement was overshadowed by the news of two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropping eight bombs on a civilian area during a joint live-fire exercise with the U.S. military earlier Thursday. Eight people were injured and South Korea's military halted all live-fire drills across the country. The allies have already begun joint field training for the March 10-20 command post exercise dubbed Freedom Shield exercise, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The accidental bombing happened during one of the joint training exercises, though there were no U.S. soldiers involved in the incident. South Korean military spokesperson Lee Sung Joon and his U.S. counterpart, Ryan Donald, told a joint news conference that the training is meant to strengthen their countries' combined defense posture by reflecting evolving challenges such as North Koreas growing military partnership with Russia. Lee said the two allies plan 16 brigade-level field trainings this year, up from 10 such drills last year. It was unclear how long the live-fire suspension would last. Military officials said they can restart firing exercises once authorities determine the cause of Thursday's accident and take steps to prevent recurrences. An initial investigation indicated one of the KF-16 pilots had entered wrong coordinates for a bombing site. North Korea views major South Korean-U.S. military training as an invasion rehearsal and often reacts with missile tests and fiery rhetoric. Earlier this week, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accused the United States of intensifying confrontational actions and threatened to ramp up measures threatening the security of the enemy at the strategic level. She cited the recent temporary deployments of U.S. strategic assets like an aircraft carrier and long-range bombers in South Korea and other U.S.-involved military activities. Observers say North Korea could test-fire powerful nuclear-capable missiles designed to strike the U.S. mainland and American military bases in the region. Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, President Donald Trump has said he would reach out to Kim Jong Un again to revive diplomacy. North Korea has not responded to Trump's remarks and says U.S. hostilities against it has deepened since Trumps inauguration. During 2018 and 2019, Kim Jong Un and Trump met three times to discuss potential benefits for North Korea should it return to nuclear disarmament. But their diplomacy eventually fell apart after Trump rejected Kims offer to dismantle his main nuclear complex, a limited denuclearization step, in exchange of extensive sanctions relief. David Bruce Bleak grew up in a small Idaho farming community, but hoped to one day see the world. As a rancher and farmhand who didn't graduate from high school, he hoped enlisting in the U.S. Army would be his ticket to achieving that dream. He would only see two countries during his time in service: South Korea and Japan. His time in South Korea forever changed his life -- and his time in Japan helped him recover from it. Bleak arrived in South Korea in the middle of the Korean War, at a time when the fighting had devolved into a virtual stalemate. United Nations and communist troops fought pitched battles over enemy-held hills and trenches. Bleak was a combat medic, tending to his wounded comrades and defending them from enemy fire, even if that meant going on the offensive and killing attackers with his bare hands. David Bleak and his battle buddies in Korea. (Idaho Division of Veterans Services) The Korean War began in June 1950 when North Korean tanks suddenly rolled across the 38th Parallel, taking South Korea and its allies by surprise. Though the communist North Koreans achieved lightning-fast success at the start, they failed to push United States-backed forces into the sea. By September of that year, the U.S. broke out of its defensive stance around Busan and pushed the invaders back across their original border, nearly destroying them at the Yalu River that marked North Korea's border with China. In October, the Chinese sent some 260,000 troops to intervene for the North, pushing the American and UN forces back south. Related: The Medal of Honor Recipient Who Took on 5 Tanks in the Philippines and Won South Korea's capital of Seoul would switch hands four times before the front lines stabilized around the 38th Parallel, just 35 miles away. By the first anniversary of the war, it had become a war of attrition, as casualties on both sides mounted and very little movement happened at the front. Bleak was 20 years old when he arrived on the United Nations side of the line in January 1952. By June, he and the rest of the 223rd Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard were assigned to the mountainous areas around Minari-gol. That's where volunteered to go on a 20-man reconnaissance patrol on June 14, 1952. Soldiers from the 40th Infantry Division fight during the Korean War. (California State Military History Museum) The mission was to capture a hill dubbed Hill 499, one Americans forces believed was of strategic value to Chinese soldiers. As they moved up the hillside, they came under heavy machine-gun fire, wounding some of the soldiers. Bleak moved to tend to them as the patrol split into two groups, one to continue up the hill and the other to flank the machine guns. Bleak moved with the first group up the hill when another machine gun opened fire on them. This time, it hit one of the already-wounded Americans and Sgt. Bleak watched him fall. Related: How a Civil War Drummer Boy Became the Youngest Medal of Honor Recipient This time, instead of going right for the soldier who was shot, he rushed the Chinese-held trench firing upon enemy soldiers along the way. Jumping into the position, Bleak -- who stood 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed 250 pounds -- fell on one of the enemy soldiers, breaking his neck. Spotting another, Bleak grabbed the man by his neck and crushed his windpipe. When a third Chinese soldier came to the scene, the medic stabbed him with his combat knife. He then jumped out and went back to treat the wounded Americans. As he began first aid, he saw a Chinese grenade bounce off the helmet of one of his battle buddies. Bleak tackled his buddy and used his large frame to protect the soldier from blast. Amazingly, no one was hurt. With the wounded stable, Bleak moved to continue the patrol, but that effort was cut short when another Chinese machine gun popped up and took down three more of his troops. He sprang into action to treat them and was shot in the leg for his effort. Still, he did his job, and two of them were able to move to the rear. Bleak picked up the third one to get him to safety. As he carried his man back to friendly lines, two enemy soldiers stopped him with rifles drawn. Bleak slowly put his charge on the ground and then suddenly sprang on his would-be captors, smashing their heads together with so much force that it cracked both of their skulls. He then picked up the wounded and headed back to base. In the end, all 20 men returned alive because Bleak knew when to take matters into his own hands. Staff Sgt. David B. Bleak receives the Medal of Honor from President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the White House. (U.S. Army photo) Bleak spent just a few weeks in the hospital for his leg wound. For his heroism in the face of the enemy, he received the Medal of Honor from President Dwight D. Eisenhower at a White House ceremony on Oct. 27, 1953. He would see another country during his time in the Army, as he spent the rest of his enlistment in Japan. Bleak retired from the Army not long after the Korean War ended and returned to Idaho. He died of complications from a hip fracture on March 23, 2006. Related: This Vietnam War Legend Is the Only Soldier Nominated 3 Times for the Medal of Honor Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 5, Urban air mobility (UAM) company EHang announced it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Zaragoza in Spain and Guangzhou University in China to establish a joint low-altitude flight safety laboratory. Signing ceremony; photo credit: EHang This collaboration aims to drive innovation in low-altitude economy development and intelligent air traffic management, providing strong support for the global advancement of UAM. As a pioneer in the UAM sector, EHang will leverage its expertise in passenger transport, logistics, and smart city management. The partnership will combine the University of Zaragoza's strengths in automation and engineering management with Guangzhou University's multidisciplinary knowledge in intelligent transportation and low-altitude economy. Together, they will create a research, innovation, education, and industry collaboration platform focused on low-altitude flight management and economic development. The joint lab will foster international academic exchanges, talent cultivation, and cutting-edge research on flight safety and technological innovation, contributing to the growth of UAM worldwide. Notably, both Guangzhou and Zaragoza are strategic UAM partner cities for EHang. This Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 photo shows Jordan Willis' house in Kansas City, Mo., where three Kansas City Chiefs NFL football fans were found dead in the backyard. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP, File) AP Two men have been charged in the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans whose bodies were found in a backyard two days after they gathered to watch a game. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Jordan Willis and Ivory Carson were each charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. The charges are related to the deaths of 38-year-old Ricky Johnson, 36-year-old Clayton McGeeney and 37-year-old David Harrington, who were found dead in Willis Kansas City, Missouri, yard after the Chiefs-Chargers game on Jan. 9, 2024. A doctor with a forensic lab later determined that the combined toxicity of fentanyl and cocaine killed them, according to the Associated Press. Willis is accused of supplying cocaine he bought from Carson, but his lawyer told the Associated Press there is no evidence that Willis bought the drugs that his friends ingested before their deaths. It has been a very, very long year for Jordan, Willis lawyer John Picerno said in a statement. Hes lost his job. Hes lost his home. Hes lost his friends. The public are pointing at him as someone who essentially killed them. And nothing could be further from the truth. Carson admitted to selling cocaine to Johnson, Willis, Harrington and McGeeney before Jan. 1, 2024, the Associated Press reported. Bottles of vodka sit on shelves at The Wine Garden in St. Clair Shores, on Thursday, July 16, 2020. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com) Mike Mulholland | MLive.com As a trade war between the U.S. and Canada continues to unfold, the parent company of the iconic Jack Daniels whiskey says its frustrated the battles impact. During an earnings call Wednesday, Brown-Forman CEO Lawson Whiting criticized the Canadian response to the tariffs, which involved stores entirely removing U.S.-made booze from shelves. "I mean, thats worse than a tariff because its literally taking your sales away completely," Whiting said. Whiting also called the move disproportionate and frustrating while acknowledging that Canada only represents 1% of sales for the company. During the call, Whiting also referenced that his company and competitors in the industry are pushing for zero for zero tariffs when it comes to alcohol. "That is our key ask. Maybe thats obvious," Whiting said. But to try to keep this industry out of these trade wars. Aside from the Canadian responses impact, Whiting acknowledged that responses from Mexico and the European Union could also affect the company. So far, Mexico has not announced retaliatory moves toward U.S.-made alcohol products, however Whiting added were going to have to see what happens with Mexico. CNN reports that Mexico accounts for about 7% of sales for Brown-Forman, In terms of how the Europe could react, Whiting admitted he doesnt really know what the European Union will do. In 2021, the EU imposed a 25% tariff on U.S. whiskey, but later suspended the tariff. The tariff was suspended again in 2023 but will be reinstated on March 31, 2025, at a rate of 50%. I mean, its a real possibility, obviously, I mean they automatically roll over on March 31. We dont know where this thing is going, Whiting said. We dont know any more than you all know... it could be zero, it could (be) 25%, it could be 50%, and we actually dont know yet. Whiting added that hes aware that the EU has been in contact with the Trump administration and that no retaliation has been announced yet. President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Associated Press reporters and photographers are being denied access to such availabilities. Mstyslav Chernov | The Associated Press An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the circumstances of a comment by Richard Nixon. He made the statement in 1962 after losing a race for governor of California. # # # Two court filings have been largely overlooked in the flurry of lawsuits, injunctions and appeals that have spawned from the Trump Administrations aggressive agenda of remaking American government and policy. On the surface the suits, filed by the Associated Press against the administration, are about restoring access to White House news briefings and presidential appearances. The AP has been barred for what seems to be a farcical reason: It wont refer to the Gulf of Mexico as The Gulf of America, a presidential order Donald Trump signed his first day in office. But this is no laughing matter there are much deeper principles at stake. The first, which the AP cites in its lawsuit and follow-up filings, is the constitutionally ensured freedom of the press in the United States. That definition of freedom includes independence the right and ability to report and depict events free from government dictates or coercion. The second important principle is the ability of the media to have access to news events and newsmakers, to ask questions independently and record events with photos and video, all to inform and represent the greater interests of the America public. The Associated Press a global nonprofit news cooperative in operation since 1846 is one of the leading suppliers of reliable, dispassionately reported news to news agencies big and small across America. (Advance Local, MLives parent company, is a member of the AP.) Blocking the AP blocks transparency into government, period. Tension between presidents and the press is nothing new. Herbert Hoover made reporters submit questions in writing, saying The President of the United States will not be questioned like a chicken thief by men whose names he doesnt even know. Richard Nixon, after losing a race for California governor, famously told the press You wont have Nixon to kick around anymore when threatening to cease press conferences. Presidents of every administration have had their favorite reporters and others they shunned. But none, until Trump, have denied all access to an entire news organization. His administrations ban of the AP has extended to airport tarmacs, meetings with leaders of other nations and events. The AP has its reasons for not accepting Gulf of America as its preferred style: The body of water is not entirely controlled by the US, and it is known internationally as the Gulf of Mexico. By contrast, the AP has accepted Trumps order renaming Denali as Mount McKinley, stating the area lies solely in the United States and, as president, Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country. All of that seems logical. However, this is not about logic its about control and fealty. Trump seeks to bend all he interacts with to his whims and objectives. He rode into office in his first term coining the term fake news and calling mainstream media the enemy of the people. These werent labels, they were tactics to undermine the centuries-old relationship Americans have with the news sources that work for them. Trump didnt follow conventions that acknowledged the necessary government-press dynamic, such as attending the White House Correspondents Dinner (the only president not to have attended since Calvin Coolidge started the tradition in 1924). Trump opened his second term by suing CBS News and The Des Moines Register. You dont need a full psychological workup on the president to know he does not like to be challenged or questioned just ask Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But thats the job of the media: We report what authorities say, but we also ask questions to get clarity, to point out inconsistencies, to just plain get it right. I can anticipate the emails I will get saying the media is left leaning and we are getting what is coming to us for being, essentially, a pain in the presidents side. While thats not our objective, its our constitutional right and duty to hold leadership accountable. The support of the right for the AP to be in its historic role as one of three permanent wire services in the White House press pool cuts across ideologies even Trump-friendly media outlets like Fox News and Newsmax have signed letters urging the administration to lift the ban. Thats for one reason: Coverage from traditional news organizations may drift toward one slant or another, but you can know that it is independent, free from government manipulation. Anything else is propaganda. MLive stands with the Associated Press. And together we stand for the right of the American people to cover and question their government leaders through independent and unfettered media. An aerial image of Mackinac Island Ferry Company vessel heads toward the harbor of Mackinac Island, Mich. on Friday, May 17, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com MACKINAC ISLAND, MI - The legal spat between Mackinac Island and the private equity firm that has purchased both local ferry boat companies has been taken up a notch. Just days after the ferry boat companies filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court, the City Council today said it has instructed its attorney to file a countersuit, alleging violation of anti-trust laws. Mayor Margaret Doud made the announcement Wednesday afternoon. It came after the City Council had gone into a closed session with their attorney to discuss the lawsuit being brought by Sheplers and the Mackinac Island Ferry Company (now known as Arnold Transit Company). Both companies are under the umbrella of Hoffmann Marine, an arm of the Florida-based Hoffmann Family of Companies. The two ferry boat fleets take hundreds of thousands of passengers to and from Mackinac Island and mainland docks each year. And while the islands City Council has long regulated the ferry ticket prices and approved the annual ferry schedules, tensions have arisen in the last several months after both ferry companies came under the same Hoffmann corporate umbrella. In their lawsuit filed this week, the ferry representatives claim the Mackinac Island City Council lacks the legal authority to freeze the ferries' passenger ticket prices or their mainland parking rates. The council has done just that in recent weeks. Members have said that while they are not opposed to raising rates in the future, they dont have enough details about Hoffmann Marines financials to authorize a rate increase. Council members recently noted they were being cautious because with the two ferry services now owned by the same company, its a different business landscape than last year when they had two competing companies. The council has publicly called the current ferry ownership a monopoly - a label thats been disputed by Hoffmann representatives. City officials have sought outside counsel on the issue, and late last year asked the Detroit-based Miller Canfield law firm to review any anti-trust issues that could exist after Hoffmann Marine last summer acquired the islands second ferry line, Mackinac Island Ferry Company. It has since been rebranded as Arnold Transit Company. Like with the Hoffmann-owned Sheplers, they have boat fleets running out of St. Ignace and Mackinaw City during the summer and fall. Hoffmann Marines acquisition and combined operation of both ferry companies serving Mackinac Island is a monopoly and, unless an exemption applies, could be challenged under the federal or state antitrust laws, states the legal opinion the City Council received, which is now posted on the citys website under the heading Antitrust Letter. Antitrust laws exist to protect consumers from unfair pricing and business practices. Mackinacs city charter, approved by the Michigan Legislature in 1899, gives city officials the power to license and regulate ferries to and from the city, . . . and to regulate and prescribe from time to time the charges and prices for the transportation of persons and property thereon. Hoffmann representatives have repeatedly said the two ferry companies are not a monopoly. Theyve pointed out Sheplers and Arnold Transit Co. have different ferry boats, separate managers, different facilities, and slightly different schedules and ticket prices. In related news, the City Council and its attorneys have been working on a draft amendment to the islands existing ferry boat regulation ordinance. It has not yet been finalized or approved. A Sheplers Ferry heads toward Mackinac Island, Mich. on Friday, May 17, 2024. In the background is the Mackinac Bridge that connects the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan. Joel Bissell | MLive.com Heres a timeline of events in the Mackinac Island Ferry Dispute: March 2022: Hoffmann Family of Companies Hoffmann Marine purchases controlling interest in Sheplers ferry service, one of two ferry companies running passenger boats to Mackinac Island. June 2024: Hoffmann purchases the Mackinac Island Ferry Company, formerly known as Star Line August 2024: Hoffmann asks the Mackinac Island City Council for permission to shut down the Mackinac Island Ferry Companys passenger service through October, saying its fleet repairs are an immediate need. Under their plan, all passenger service will be shifted to Sheplers. The City Council agrees. September 2024: The temporarily-shuttered Mackinac Island Ferry Company rebrands as Arnold Transit Co. December, 11, 2024: Mackinac Island City Council votes to freeze ferry ticket prices for 2025. The two ferry groups had requested a $2 increase on ticket prices for next year, saying that Hoffmann Marine had invested millions into their equipment and maintenance this year - and even more pricey projects are on deck. Jan. 8, 2025 Mackinac Island ferry services say costs are rising by $2.5M this year, and ask the city to unfreeze ticket prices. The City Council declined to take up the ticket price issue again, saying theyd made their decision. Feb. 28, 2025: The City Council freezes parking rates for both ferry lines after Hoffmann reps requested parking fare increases for ferry passengers. March 3, 2025: Sheplers Inc. and Mackinac Island Ferry Company (doing business as Arnold Transit Co.) file a federal lawsuit against the city of Mackinac Island. March 5, 2025: The City Council says it has instructed its attorney to file a countersuit against the ferry groups for violation of antitrust laws. Authorities respond to the Swan Creek Boat Club after a driver crashed a vehicle through a building where a children's birthday party was taking place, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Berlin Township, Mich. (Kathleen Kildee/Detroit News via AP) AP Editors note: This story has been updated. MONROE COUNTY, MI The Newport woman who drove into the Swan Creek Boat Club last year, killing two children and injuring several more people has been convicted on two counts of second-degree murder. Marshella Chidester, 67, was convicted by a jury Thursday following a four-day trial that featured testimony from dozens of witnesses. Along with the second-degree murder charges, Chidester was also convicted on two counts of operating under the influence causing death and five counts of operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury. Chidester faces up to life in prison for the second-degree murder conviction and will be sentenced in the matter on May 15. Chidester was remanded to the Monroe County Jail pending sentencing. Members of the gallery embraced and shed tears as the verdict was read, according to a live broadcast provided by TV station WTOL. Chidester showed little emotion at first, slightly lowering her head as the murder conviction was announced. After court was adjourned, Chidester was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom by police, passing right in front of the gallery. The verdict comes following a nearly year-long case which started on April 20, 2024. Chidester was behind the wheel of a car that drove into the Swan Creek Boat Club around 3 p.m. Inside the club, where Chidester is a former commodore, a childrens birthday party was ongoing. Chidester' vehicle hit the building with such force that her car stopped approximately 25 feet inside the building. Two siblings were killed in the crash: 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and 4-year-old Zayn Phillips. More than a dozen others were injured. Several of the injuries were serious and led to some of the felony charges against Chidester. Chidester and her lawyer, Bill Colovos, claimed that she had a seizure while driving that was caused by ongoing health issues. Chidester claims that she hadnt done much driving in the months prior to the crash, but had begun driving after not having seizures for six months. During the investigation, Chidester admitted to having one glass of wine at lunch on the day of the crash. A receipt that was gathered as evidence in the case shows one glass of wine on Chidesters order. Following the crash, Chidesters blood-alcohol-content level was .18, more than double the legal limit in Michigan of .08. In Michigan, anyone with a BAC over .17 is considered super drunk. WDIV-Detroit reports that video footage from inside Chidesters house on April 20 tells a different story. The footage was played in court Thursday during the testimony of Deputy Hooper from the Monroe County Sheriffs Office. The footage shows Chidester walking around the house at various times with wine in her hand. At 9:30 a.m. she is seen with a mini bottle of wine in her hand, and an hour later, Chidester is seen with another bottle. At 12:45 p.m., Chidester can be seen walking through the house with a bottle of wine. Then at 2:10 p.m., Chidester is seen holding an empty glass. At 2:30 p.m. Chidester fills an empty glass with more wine and leaves the room. Previously released footage from a security camera across the street from Chidesters home showed her backing out of her driveway and hitting a vehicle parked next door before speeding away. A short time later, Chidester drove into the building. Police officer body camera footage captured after the crash shows Chidester speaking with a deputy. While sitting in a police car, Chidester was asked what happened. I pulled into the parking lot and I thought I was driving up to the boat club and evidently I was driving right into the building, Chidester told the deputy. Chidester was later asked by the deputy if she thought she was OK to be driving, and replied I wouldnt want to drive. Graduates toss their caps during Skyline's Class of 2021 commencement at Ann Arbor Skyline High School on Monday, June 7, 2021. Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI While the latest statewide data suggests graduation rates among Michigans public high schools are on their way up, the same may not be true for all Ann Arbor-area schools and districts. The states Center for Educational Performance and Information released graduation and dropout rate data for the 2023-24 school year in late February. The statewide four-year graduation rate was at 82.8% out of 115,087 students a new multiyear peak since before the COVID pandemic. In Washtenaw County, many of the highest graduation rates last year and often, the lower dropout rates were among some of the regions smaller academies and alternative high school programs. The Ann Arbor areas top 10 highest four-year graduation rates are as follows: 100% of fewer than 163 students - Washtenaw International High School, a combined international baccalaureate program total with students from each major school district 100% of fewer than 10 students - Livingston Classical Academy 100% of 14 students Dexter Alternative School, Dexter Community Schools 100% of 41 students Central Academy 98.91% of 275 students Dexter High School, Dexter Community Schools 97.18% of 213 students Chelsea High School, Chelsea School District 96.88% of 64 students Manchester Jr-Sr High School, Manchester Community Schools 96.69% of 121 students Community High School, Ann Arbor Public Schools 96% of 400 students Saline High School, Saline Area Schools 95.08% of 122 students Milan High School, Milan Area Schools Dexter Community Schools has seen the most improvement going from a 92.31% graduation rate in 2014, to 96.77% in 2019, and 98.62% last year. Not counting individual schools, Dexters districtwide graduation rate is the highest in Washtenaw Couty. Read more: Michigan high school graduation rates peak after COVID-era dip. See your schools rate. Both Michigans public-school graduation and dropout rates, as well as student counts are measured in four-, five- and six-year cohorts based on when students enter the ninth grade and how long it takes them to graduate. Schools or programs with fewer than 10 students are marked as such and not more specific numbers, though theyre factored into rough totals. Students who continue schooling after four years or seek other forms of schooling, such as attaining their GED, are also part of the equation. Available data about graduation and dropout rates for public schools go back to the 2006-07 school year on the Michigan Department of Educations online search tool. That search tool does not list rates comparatively for each of the states intermediate school districts or regional educational service agencies. There were seven schools and individual programs under the Washtenaw Intermediate School District with graduation rates below 80% for 2023-24. Those were: 16.67% of fewer than 10 students Ann Arbor Learning Community Up to 36.67% of fewer than 150 students Washtenaw Alliance for Virtual Education, a combined total of Washtenaw County school district students attending the free program 48.96% of 96 students Pathways to Success, Ann Arbor Public Schools 54.84% of 31 students LCS Virtual Academy, Lincoln Consolidated Schools 67.03% of 91 students ACCE, Ypsilanti Community Schools 73.93% of 211 students Lincoln Senior High School, Lincoln Consolidated Schools 76.49% of 370 students Ypsilanti Community High School, Ypsilanti Community Schools 78.95% of 114 students ACTech High School, Ypsilanti Community Schools Districtwide numbers in Washtenaw are just as varied as individual schools graduation rates. Over time, however, theyve varied on improvements. About 90.26% of the 1,468 Ann Arbor Public School students, who entered the ninth grade four years prior, graduated in 2024. That rate is slightly down from the 90.57% in 2023 but a slight uptick from the 89% rates both before COVID-19 and a decade ago. Chelsea schools graduation rates are down from the pre-pandemic time by about two percentage points to 94.33% and 95.91% in 2023 and 2024. Despite being on the lower end among districts in 2024, Ypsilanti Community Schools 76.49% rate last year is an improvement from the 65.29% a decade earlier. The average dropout rate for Washtenaw County schools was about 10% in 2024. By district and individual school, those rates varied follows: 0% of 41 Central Academy 0% of fewer than 10 Livingston Classical Academy 0.61% of 165 Washtenaw Technical College 0.69% of 290 Dexter Community Schools 1.82% of 220 Chelsea School District 2.31% of 432 Saline Area Schools 2.41% of 83 Manchester Community Schools 3.95% of 1,468 Ann Arbor Public Schools 4.65% of 172 Milan Area Schools 4.69% of 64 Arbor Preparatory 12% of 50 Whitmore Lake Public Schools 12.16% of 370 Ypsilanti Community Schools 13.19% of 326 Lincoln Consolidated Schools 83.3% of fewer than 10 Ann Arbor Learning If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. MONTROSE, MI A 79-year-old Montrose man was arrested for aggravated child sexually abusive activity, Michigan State Police announced. Ralph Burton Burner was arrested after digital evidence was seized from his home, according to a news release from Michigan State Police. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 6, global mobility technology company ECARX Holdings Inc. ("ECARX") announced a strategic partnership with Volkswagen Group to provide advanced smart digital cockpit solutions for vehicle models under Volkswagen and Skoda brands worldwide. Photo credit: ECARX Under the agreement, ECARX will provide Volkswagen Group with its Antora 1000 computing platform and Cloudpeak cross-domain software architecture, delivering a comprehensive intelligent cockpit solution. The first batch of models featuring these technologies will be launched in Brazil and India, with plans for further expansion into additional high-growth markets. Both companies aim to set new standards for intelligent user experiences, scaling the solution globally in the future. The Antora 1000 computing platform is ECARX's fourth-generation digital cockpit computing platform, based on the SE1000 7nm high-performance System-on-Chip (SoC) from SiEngine. Photo credit: ECARX Meanwhile, the ECARX Cloudpeak software architecture is a flexible and modular cross-domain software platform based on Android Automotive OS and Linux. It supports Google Maps, Google Assistant voice control, and Google Play while offering compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ensuring seamless integration with various regional digital ecosystems. Photo credit: ECARX Both the computing platform and software architecture are independently developed by ECARX, designed to be compact, efficient, and low-power, while delivering a premium Android-based experience with Google Automotive Services. The system is also built with future expansion in mind, allowing for the integration of additional features and services over time. ECARX said this collaboration will significantly enhance the smart cockpit experience for Volkswagen and Skoda brands' customers worldwide, elevating their intelligent mobility experience. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo Public Schools isa saying bye-bye to trimesters. The KPS Board of Trustees approved a switch from trimesters to semesters in district high schools at a Wednesday, March 5 board meeting. The change will apply to Loy Norrix High School, Kalamazoo Central High School, Phoenix High School and the Kalamazoo Innovative Learning Program starting in 2025-26. Students will now have seven 50-minute classes in a day. With the trimester schedule, students took five 70-minute classes in a day. The number of credits students need to graduate is also dropping slightly from 26 credits to 24. The district is reducing the amount of required electives from 5.5 to 4 and eliminating a 0.5-credit computer applications requirement. The districts high schools have operated on a trimester schedule, where the year is segmented into three 12-week sections, since 2010-11. The semester format will have two 18-week segments. Core classes like math, English, social studies and science will be taught through the year while elective classes will be taught in one semester. The district will also be adding a seminar period during the day, worth 0.5 credits. The seminar is intended to offer instructional opportunities to support what students are learning in their classes. The change was made because too many students were falling off track in a trimester format, said Craig McCane, interim assistant superintendent of secondary education and leadership. If a student failed a class their freshman year, they often couldnt retake it until their sophomore year, McCane said at a January parent meeting discussing the change. With core classes taught through the year, students can spend more time with teachers and the instructional material, McCane said. A semester format increases the amount of instruction time in a class from 72 hours to 75 hours over the course of a year. Having stronger connections with teachers could also help reduce chronic absenteeism, McCane said. The schedule switch will also align with how classes are offered at partner institutions like the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agencys Career Connect Center and dual enrollment programs at local colleges. House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, talks to reporters after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered the State of the State address on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, inside the Michigan House of Representatives chamber at the Michigan State Capitol. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) Michigan Republicans have formally introduced their plan to fix the states roads. House Republicans on Thursday, March 6, introduced an eightbill package that aims to shift $3.14 billion in annual revenue toward roads without raising taxes. President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 3, 2025. (Pool via AP) AP DETROIT, MI Michigans Big Three auto manufacturers and other U.S. automakers will receive a 30-day exemption from tariffs that experts worried would hobble domestic manufacturing and risk Michigan jobs, White House officials said. The announcement came from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt Wednesday, March 5, one day after Trump imposed 25% taxes or tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports. She said the pause for U.S. automakers came after Trump spoke Wednesday with officials from The Big Three, which includes Detroit-based General Motors, Auburn Hills-based Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) and Dearborn-based Ford Motor Co. The 30-day exemption was met with gratitude from representatives from the auto giants. We strongly support (Trumps) determination to enable the American automotive sector to thrive, and in the first 100 hours of his new administration, we announced major investments to grow our business in America, read a statement released Wednesday by officials from Stellantis. Since the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) was enacted in his first term, we invested billions in our U.S. activities and U.S. suppliers. We share the presidents objective to build more American cars and create lasting American jobs. We look forward to working with him and his team. The USMCA deal was signed into law by President Trump in January 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement that governed trade provisions between the U.S. and its two neighboring nations for nearly three decades. Representatives from Dearborn-based Ford Motor Co. released a statement also praising the 30-day tariff exemption for auto manufacturers. As Americas top auto producer, we appreciate President Trumps work to support our industry and exempt auto companies complying with USMCA, the Ford Motor Co. statement read. Since President Trumps successful USMCA was signed, Ford has invested billions in the United States and committed to billions more in the future to both invest in American workers and ensure all of our vehicles comply with USMCA. We will continue to have a healthy and candid dialogue with the administration to help achieve a bright future for our industry and U.S. manufacturing. General Motors officials also issued a statement following the tariffs pause: We thank President Trump for his approach, which enables American automakers like GM to compete and invest domestically, the General Motors statement read. With more vehicle assembly plants in the U.S. than any other automaker, GM has invested over $60 billion since the USMCA took effect, and we continue to invest billions of dollars every year in our manufacturing base, supply chain, and U.S. jobs. We are committed to continued growth and delivering winning vehicles to American consumers. Asked if 30 days was enough for the auto sector to prepare for the new taxes, the White House press secretary said Trump was blunt with the automakers seeking an exemption. He told them that they should get on it, start investing, start moving, shift production here to the United States of America where they will pay no tariff, Leavitt said. One night earlier, during a joint address to Congress, Trump said auto industry leaders were so excited about the Republican administrations policies. Its a beautiful word, isnt it, Trump said, referencing the word tariffs during his joint address. That, along with our other policies, will allow our auto industry to absolutely boom. Its going to boom. (I) spoke to the majors today all three, the top people and theyre so excited. Auto manufacturing a staple of the Michigan economy for generations represents one of the industries most vulnerable to international competition during U.S.-imposed tariffs, experts say. Losing an advantage in that competition could eventually cost Michigan auto jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 115,400 motor vehicle parts manufacturing jobs and 50,000 motor vehicle manufacturing jobs in Michigan as of December 2024. Experts warned the American tariffs could bolster business for automakers whose companies operate in nations not impacted by the tariffs, such as Germany and Japan. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Seattle Kraken traded forward Yanni Gourde to Tampa Bay, with help from the Red Wings. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) AP The Detroit Red Wings acquired a 2025 fourth-round pick today to facilitate the trade that sent center Yanni Gourde from Seattle to Tampa Bay. The Kraken shipped Gourde to Detroit for defense prospect Kyle Aucoin. The Red Wings then sent Gourde to the Lightning for a conditional fourth-round pick. The Red Wings will receive the higher selection between Tampa Bay and Edmontons fourth-round picks this year. The Lightning needed the Red Wings to retain 25 percent of Gourdes remaining contract value ($1.291 million of his $5.1 million cap hit). He is in the final year of his deal. The Red Wings have plenty of cap space (roughly $13 million). The Red Wings previously traded their own 2025 fourth-round pick to Anaheim in the deal that sent Robby Fabbri to the Ducks. Detroit currently has nine picks in 2025, its own selections in the first three rounds, along with one additional third-round choice from the New York Rangers. The Red Wings also own the fourth-round pick acquired today and have their own picks in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds plus an additional selection in the seventh round from St. Louis. Aucoin is in his senior year at Harvard. The Red Wings selected him in the sixth round in 2020 (156th overall). Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 6, AITO, the premium new energy vehicle brand jointly developed by SERES and Huawei, officially opened pre-orders for the 2025 annual refreshed version of the M9 intelligent flagship SUV, with a starting price of 478,000 yuan. The model is set to hit the market in March. Photo credit: AITO The 2025 AITO M9 introduces a new Jinrui Red exterior color, inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, enhancing its luxurious appeal. Additionally, a 21-inch multi-spoke wheel option is now available for a more personalized look. In terms of intelligent driving, the 2025 AITO M9 is equipped with Huawei's ADS 3.0 advanced driving system, featuring end-to-end AI-driven navigation. Inside, the vehicle offers both a premium five-seat and an opulent six-seat configuration, powered by the HarmonyOS 4 smart cockpit system to deliver an immersive cabin experience. Safety is a key highlight, with the 2025 AITO M9 built on the ultra-rigid body structure for enhanced protection. A new optional intelligent privacy window feature provides a more secluded in-car experience. Driving performance is elevated by Huawei's Tuling platform, integrating intelligent algorithms with high-performance hardware. The system ensures a smoother ride with minimal body movement during braking, even on inclines, redefining drivability standards for large SUVs. Credit: ESPN Out of all the places in the world Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson couldve been on Wednesday, Lakeland, Florida, might be dead last. An in-game interview on ESPN? Perhaps a close second. Everything was going so well. We already talked up in-game interviews and how they fit so well with the dynamic of spring training, as New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza made a pitching change during his on Tuesday. As it turns out, perhaps Thomson shouldve made one before his own in-game interview even started. Thomson didnt have the same luck as his NL East counterpart. In fact, if given the choice, he mightve preferred to vanish into thin air rather than jog out to the mound to pull a starter who was clearly done for the day, as Mendoza did with Tylor Megill. As Thomson chatted throughout the home half of the second inning with each of Karl Ravech, Eduardo Perez and Ben McDonald, his newly-acquired starter looked to get out of a bases-loaded jam. Jesus Luzardo, who the Phillies acquired in an offseason trade with the Miami Marlins, was stellar in his first spring start. His second? Not so much. After loading the bases, Detroit Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones made Luzardo pay hammering a grand slam off the scoreboard in deep left field at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Thomson, who is affectionately known as Topper by the Phillies faithful and his players, said, It looked like a changeup. That was it. Just a few words as the Tigers started their onslaught. On the very next pitch, infielder Andy Ibanez got a hold of one. The following pitch? Gleyber Torres followed suit. Three home runs. Three pitches. All nearly in the same spot. During an ESPN in-game interview, Rob Thomson watched Jesus Luzardo give up three straight homers on three pitches. As you might expect, he didnt say much. pic.twitter.com/0tt7p2XEzD Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 5, 2025 And all Thomson could do was watch in dead silence. The camera panned pan back to the Phillies manager on a split-screen, and he could only manage to bite his lip as he looked like he wanted to be literally anywhere else. Spring training may not count, but this moment certainly did. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Archisha Yadav is a sub editor with 1.5 years of experience in writing news articles on topics like education, jobs, and politics. She specialises in crafting simple, clear, and engaging stories that are easy to understand and hold the readers interest, making complex topics accessible and relatable to a larger audience. Archisha Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com Meghna Mittal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_ Vikas SN USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Daily Voice: Samco's Umeshkumar Mehta explains why the pharma and healthcare is in a sweet spot now Sunil Matkar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Abhinav Kaul USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Sajjan Jindal says Tesla won't have it easy in India, 'can't achieve M&M, Tata's feat' Paras Bisht USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com Meghna Mittal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Expect host nation to fulfill its obligations, says MEA deploring security breach during EAM Jaishankar's UK visit Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Gravity mentioned in Vedic texts much before Newton told world about it: Rajasthan Governor Parimal Peeyush USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept PM Modi pitches for Uttarakhand tourism: 'Need to make it Barahmasi' Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Breaking News Live: AAP MP Raghav Chadha selected for Harvard Kennedy School Leadership Program AAP MP Raghav Chadha says, "... I have been selected for the Harvard Kennedy School Leadership Program. Harvard Kennedy School is considered to be the most prestigious and the best public policy school in the world. For this program, some people have been handpicked from all over the world who are experts in their respective fields... and are invited to Boston in the USA... I have been selected for this program and I will get an opportunity to study and learn all kinds of things related to diplomacy, governance, administration, public policy... I will be able to adapt all these things in my work in a positive way... Some time ago I was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader (YGL). Some of these YGLs are handpicked for this program and invited to Harvard University... After acquiring and learning all these skill sets, I will be able to work more strongly for all of you and bring a positive change..." Sandeep Shrivastwa USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept US crude exports to India hit over 2-yr high in February as Russia sanctions bite Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept 'Very proud of our Karyakartas': PM Modi congratulates BJP for victory in Telanganas MLC elections Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Maryam Farooqui is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol covering media and entertainment, travel and hospitality. She has 11 years of experience in reporting. Maryam Farooqui USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Danish Khan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Ankita Chakravarti USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept ALBANY For the third consecutive Thursday, the end of an unsanctioned correction officers strike appeared to be in sight. And for the third consecutive week, all sides were not on the same page. But as the 19th day of the strike loomed, the head of the state prison system indicated late Thursday that he would try to resolve the work stoppage with or without the union representing his correction officers. Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello and New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association President Chris Summers had been expected to sign off on a memorandum of agreement early Thursday evening to end the 18-day strike. At the eleventh hour, the correction officers union backed out of the deal, according to a person familiar with the situation. We had an agreement and theyre going to kill it because they are annoyed that they were not in charge, the source told The Buffalo News. In a Zoom news conference Thursday night, Martuscello said he and NYSCOPBA leaders reached a "verbal agreement" earlier in the day to end the strike. He said he had discussed terms based on information he received directly from the workforce with Summers and Matt Keough, NYSCOPBAs executive vice president. "Unfortunately, this evening, President Summers and his executive board have refused to sign the memorandum of understanding, once again failing his members," the commissioner told reporters. Martuscello, however, promised that he would still offer the deal to the striking correction officers provided they return to duty for their respective 12-hour shifts on Friday. Under the states 1967 Taylor Law, it is illegal for public employees to strike. Without an agreement to end the strike that included protections such as amnesty, violators face discipline that includes firing, as well as possible arrest. Gov. Kathy Hochul has already called for striking officers to lose their state-sponsored health insurance. Martuscello said the would-be deal included: No internal discipline for officers who returned to their shifts as of Friday. Even the dozens of officers who received termination notices or resigned would be offered their jobs back. Health insurance would be restored. Continued suspension for 90 days of programs afforded to inmates under the states Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act or HALT law. The law, which took effect in 2022, limits the amount of time that inmates can be placed in segregated confinement. Establishing a committee to look at safety and impact of HALT on employees and inmates. An end to 24-hour shifts. DOCCS will allow staff to continue to work 12-hour shifts until it is determined that each prison has returned to normal operations. It will then return to eight-hour shifts. Officers will continue to receive double-time and a half for overtime for 30 days from when they return to work. Move to adjourn legal cases against officers facing charges for violating the Taylor Law. State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray, who joined Martuscello for the news conference, warned that the offer was only good through the end of Friday. "This deal will not be offered again," she said. Asked if there was any legal issue with the would-be deal without NYSCOPBA's approval, Martuscello noted he had received Summers' verbal agreement, adding, "Unfortunately, he's not signed that agreement and I want to keep my word to my staff to (provide) the things they've asked me for " NYSCOPBA, which denied backing away from the agreement, said it was not appropriately engaged in the development of the currently circulating agreement because it was not negotiated with the union, according to NYSCOPBA spokesperson Jimmy Miller. He said NYSCOPBA is the only organization that legally can negotiate on its members behalf. The union and the state agreed on a three-year labor contract last year, approved by union members, that runs through April 2026, Miller said. There are substantial legal issues that must be addressed, and as presented, this agreement does not represent the best interests of our membership, Miller said. State, DOCCS reach agreement to end correction officers strike The state agreed to terms that "address many of the concerns raised by correction officers," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. The would-be deal in many ways mirrors a previous agreement reached one week earlier through an independent mediator. At a Wednesday news conference in NYSCOPBA headquarters outside Albany, Miller had said that outside influences with their own agendas were affecting strikers and trying to negotiate a settlement with the state. He did not identify the outside parties. Summers conceded at the news conference that he did not know what would happen if neither the strikers nor the state budged off their respective positions. Keough said the union legally advocated on its members behalf, but said members did not view those efforts as good enough. Our union membership has no faith in us right now, he said. Correction officers' union says state ignored warning signs Union officials representing striking correction officers on Wednesday said they repeatedly warned the Hochul administration that surging prison violence and deteriorating working conditions had put officers at a "breaking point and crying out for help," but their words were ignored. The strike, which began Feb. 17 at Elmira Correctional Facility in Chemung County and Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County, quickly spread to at least 38 of the states 42 prisons, involving 15,000 officers. On Feb. 20, Martuscello offered a compromise to end the strike that included amnesty for strikers and a partial repeal of the HALT law involving inmate programs. The strikers rejected Martuscellos compromise. DOCCS threatens to remove pay, health insurance from striking officers State prison officials on Saturday warned that officers striking outside 38 correctional facilities will be docked pay, lose their health insurance and face additional penalties for engaging in unsanctioned picketing for a sixth consecutive day. A week later, in negotiations through an independent mediator, NYSCOPBA and DOCCS agreed to a consent award deal to end the strike. The parties agreed to continue the suspension of HALT for 90 days and limit mandatory overtime for officers who have been working 24-hour shifts at a time when the department is down nearly 2,200 officers. The agreement appeared to resolve the labor dispute, but officers continued to picket outside facilities around the state, demanding a full repeal of HALT, among other factors. NYS prisoner dies after being taken to hospital from Marcy lockup The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and other agencies are investigating the death of a prisoner at a Central New York prison on Saturday. The strike came in the wake of a murder and manslaughter indictment naming 10 officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County in the deadly Dec. 9 beating of Robert Brooks. On Saturday, The Buffalo News first reported the death of another inmate, Messiah Nantwi, 22, in Mid-State Correctional Facility, also in Marcy. Hochul announced that 15 DOCCS employees have been placed on leave as DOCCS and other agencies investigate Nantwis death. Hochul has said early reports point to extremely disturbing conduct leading to Mr. Nantwis death, and I am committed to accountability for all involved. When asked if the investigation into Brooks killing and high publicity has played a part in the strike, NYSCOPBA officials stressed that the death and strike are unrelated. They said the strike was prompted by understaffing, mandatory overtime, prison closures and HALT. They said they repeatedly warned the state that officers were at breaking point and crying out for help, but the state ignored their words. Opponents of HALT say that while the public perception of solitary confinement conjures images of the hole in which inmates are locked in darkness for a month, New York State prisoners in segregated confinement are given iPad-like tablets and allowed several hours of recreation time. HALT limited the segregated confinement to no more than 15 days and 17 hours in confinement in a day. Before the law, inmates could be in a cell up to 23 hours a day over consecutive days, with as little as one hour of daily out-of-cell recreation, officials said. Former state inmate Anisah Sabur, the lead organizer for the New York Coalition of Women Prisoners, who experienced solitary confinement, said in a statement that it would be unconscionable for DOCCS to even consider a renegotiation of the law. Sabur was an organizer with the campaign to pass the HALT law. If DOCCS were really serious about improving safety, they would fully implement the HALT Solitary Law with evidence-based alternatives to extreme isolation proven to reduce violence and protect peoples health and well-being, Sabur said. Trump likely to defer most tariffs on Canada, Mexico: Commerce Secretary Lutnick Sonalee Borgohain USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Trump to revoke legal status for 240,000 Ukrainians as US steps up deportations Sonalee Borgohain USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept A union representing workers at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum is criticizing museum officials over job cuts and staffing decisions that affect unionized positions. Buffalo AKG Workers United claims the museum has been eliminating jobs in its visitor experience department in response to union activity and to discourage union activity. The union made the allegation in unfair labor practice charges it filed against the museum with the National Labor Relations Board. Museum officials deny they are targeting the union with the reductions. They claim the staffing changes are in keeping with other adjustments they have made to museum operations since the expanded Buffalo AKG opened in June 2023. Last December, workers in some departments at Buffalo AKG ratified a first contract with the museum. The agreement covers visitor experience and retail employees, facilities workers and staff at the museums in-house restaurant and cafe. Not covered by the contract are preservation and safety workers, who are responsible for monitoring the safety of the artwork, employees and visitors. Buffalo AKG Workers United claims that since its organizing effort began in October 2023, the museum has not been filling vacancies in visitor experience jobs when workers have left those positions or have been fired. At the same time, the museum has been hiring preservation and safety workers, and the union contends the museum treats those nonunion positions as interchangeable with visitor experience employees. Their work is being actively given to another department, said Casey Moore, a Buffalo AKG Workers United spokeswoman. This week, the museum disclosed plans to lay off 13 visitor experience employees, effective in early April. Three of those jobs are full-time positions and 10 are part time, according to the union. At the same time, the museum is seeking to hire 11 preservation and safety workers, 10 of which are listed as part-time positions. The union claims the hiring is aimed at undercutting visitor experience jobs covered by the labor contract. The museum is refining the visitor experience associate position in order to allow team members to focus on specific responsibilities like engaging visitors in the galleries and facilitating transactions at visitor services desks, said Andrea Harden, director of talent and culture. Previously, visitor experience associates were expected to maintain general fluency in all of these responsibilities while also sharing guarding responsibilities with preservation and safety team members. A meeting with the union has been scheduled for Thursday to discuss the staffing changes, Harden said. Harden said as visitor experience employees have left, the museum has offered additional hours to remaining team members. This decision was responsive to the museums special exhibitions program and the unique staffing requirements presented by each exhibition and program, she said. The round-the-clock duties of our preservation and safety team require the museum to maintain specific staffing levels in our multiple facilities both on and off our Elmwood Avenue campus and filling these existing openings brings us up to those staffing levels, Harden said. Moore said Buffalo AKG Workers United had hoped the contract ratification would lead to a collaborative relationship with the museum. We feel like the AKG has been fighting with us every step of the way, instead of working with us, she said. Harden denied the museum is shifting visitor experience workers duties to its preservation and safety workers. When the Buffalo AKG opened in 2023, the visitor experience associate role was created in order to add employees to the galleries whose primary focus is visitor engagement, but who would also be responsible for securing the museums assets and facilities, she said. Over the past 20 months of operations, we have concluded that the visitor experience associate role is not functioning the way we had hoped. As a result of this operational change, the preservation and safety staff who have always secured the assets and facilities will take full responsibility for that essential service, Harden said. We will also continue to have visitor experience associates in the galleries whose sole focus is engaging with visitors. Melinda Wright, a retired North Tonawanda High School art teacher, works part time as a visitor experience employee at the AKG Art Museum. Wright said before the renovated museum opened in 2023, the visitor experience team went through two months of training. At the museum, they interact with guests and even give recommendations to visitors from out of town about local restaurants and other attractions to visit. We were hired because of our passion for the arts and the love for the museum, Wright said. It shows in our engagement. Wright said during her training, she and her co-workers were told 80% of their job was visitor engagement and 20% was security. For preservation and safety workers, the percentages were the opposite, she said. Obviously our team feels defeated, undervalued, she said. Were so passionate. Every co-worker I talk to, we love the facility. If you look at the Google reviews about their visitor experience, from the front of the house, checking of the tickets, to engaging in meaningful conversations, people are really impressed. When a union election was held in January 2024, Buffalo AKG Workers United represented 41 visitor experience workers, Moore said. As a result of employees not replaced and the planned layoffs, that number could drop to 16 or 17, she said. The total number of workers Buffalo AKG Workers United represents at the museum could fall to 40, Moore said. At the time of the election, there were about 68 eligible voters. Moore said if the museum were to commit to restaffing the visitor experience department and returning bargaining unit work to unionized workers, the union would drop its unfair labor practice charges. We have no desire to drag the museum through a legal battle, but at this point, we feel like we dont have any choice, because there is an unwillingness to work with us, she said. Zaldy Dandan is a recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com/. Sonora Police Arrest graphic View Photo Sonora, CA A report of a fight in Sonora led to an arrest, after police learned a man had been strangling the other man. Sonora Police Officers responded Tuesday, March 5, 2025 in evening at about 5:40 PM to the 400 block of South Stewart Street. Police state the fight between the two men was broken up just before the officers arrival. The on-scene investigation revealed during the altercation, 55-year-old Donald Tourte strangled the other man. Strangulation elevated charges of assault in this situation from a misdemeanor crime to a felony. When officers attempted to place Tourte under arrest for the felony battery, Tourte refused to comply with the officers commands and physically struggled with the officers. Tourte was booked into the Tuolumne County Jail for felony battery and resisting, obstructing, and swaying an Officer. ALBANY Union officials representing striking correction officers on Wednesday said they repeatedly warned the Hochul administration that surging prison violence and deteriorating working conditions had put officers at a breaking point and crying out for help, but their words were ignored. The states 2021 Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act or HALT law, which restricted the prison systems use of segregated confinement as a punishment for inmates, led to a sequence of events over the last three years that ultimately led to the unsanctioned strike, according to James Miller, spokesperson for the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association. The HALT Act, as well as understaffing, mandatory overtime and prison closures, in addition to the violence prompted the correction officers union, known as NYSCOPBA, to request changes. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision brushed aside the concerns, Miller told reporters at the unions headquarters in the Albany suburb of Colonie. As frustration grew among our members, we have communicated to the governors office on a number of occasions and relayed to them that officers were at a breaking point and crying out for help, Miller said. Miller said that on Feb. 5, correction officers vented their concerns at the unions executive assembly meeting in Syracuse. The strike began 12 days later. Under the states 1967 Taylor Law, it is illegal for public employees to strike. NYSCOPBA officials have repeatedly said they have not supported the work stoppage, making it an unsanctioned or wildcat strike. Last Thursday, DOCCS and NYSCOPBA, negotiating through an independent mediator, reached an agreement to end the walkout. Under the agreement, the state agreed to suspend parts of HALT for 90 days, and to minimize shifts in which officers work 24 consecutive hours of mandatory overtime. But officers are continuing to picket and not report to work at prisons across the state, even in the face of possible firing, arrest and the loss of their health insurance. NYS prisoner dies after being taken to hospital from Marcy lockup The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and other agencies are investigating the death of a prisoner at a Central New York prison on Saturday. On Wednesday, Miller said it was quite apparent that thousands of officers do not support last weeks agreement. And he said the state withdrew the health insurance of officers who were out on family or medical leave and had not even been picketing. Some of those officers have since returned to work, while hurt, to avoid punishment. Officers, with the support of state Assembly and Senate Republicans and retired correction officers, have called for the total repeal of HALT. They contend the loss of the ability to discipline inmates, as well as understaffing, has led to the explosion of violence. Legislative leaders have shown no indication they would support a repeal. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, told reporters Tuesday he was concerned about the prison conditions, as well as deaths of inmates. He said he supports unions, but said the strike could endanger employees and the community, as well as the inmates. We need to resolve this situation as soon as possible, he said. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, has expressed similar sentiments. "There's a lot of things at stake here and so we really, really need to end this and go back to work," she told reporters Tuesday. In a statement, DOCCS spokesperson Thomas Mailey said: "As we have said repeatedly, the time for negotiation has passed. Neither the governor nor the commissioner of DOCCS can unilaterally amend HALT. The commissioner understands that correction officers want a safer environment, and is committed to continuing to work together towards long-term safety solutions. But nothing can be resolved while officers remain committed to an illegal strike. The opportunity to make further impactful change starts with officers recognizing the damage they are causing by continuing down this illegal path and returning to work." It remained unclear when the work stoppage could possibly end. Asked what will happen if neither the state nor the officers budge from their positions, NYSCOPBA president Chris Summers said: Honestly I dont know. I cant answer that question. We are trying to get them to go back inside. Hundreds of correction officers traveled to the State Capitol on Tuesday to voice their collective fury at a state they say remains unwilling to meet their concerns. Their shouting could be heard as Gov. Kathy Hochul held a news conference inside the Capitol on an unrelated topic. The governor, who had activated at least 6,500 members of the New York National Guard to help secure prisons, made it clear that officers who continue to strike are breaking the law and risk arrest as well as being fired. "I know these are hard jobs. We're trying recruit more people. I really am," Hochul said. "All of the screaming and yelling here will have no effect on me. I know what I have to do and I know they should be getting back to work. There are serious consequences. We had warned them day after day after day they can be as noisy as they want and politicize this and do whatever they want. But this not making our state safer." Hochul added: "It's a complicated situation. I hope it ends soon. But otherwise? I'm working on a lot of Plan Bs." Harare Embattled businessman Mike Chimombe, who has been held in remand prison since his arrest in June of last year, was finally brought before the High Court on Monday after initially failing to appear for his fraud trial. The dramatic turn of events saw a visibly unwell Chimombe, struggling to speak, appear before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda in the afternoon. During his brief appearance, Chimombe sat in the dock with his head bowed, covering his face. Justice Kwenda had earlier insisted that the businessman appear physically before his court, despite prison officials confirming that their inmate was under the weather. Chimombes lawyers had informed the court a week prior that their client required at least seven days to recover from his ailment. However, Chimombes failure to appear again on Monday infuriated Justice Kwenda, who then demanded to see him in his court. The judge accused the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) of breaching his order to bring Chimombe to court on Monday. He also expressed his displeasure at both the state and the defence for failing to update him on Chimombes absence before the trial. Addressing Chikoto, a ZPCS officer in charge of operations at the High Court, after summoning him to explain Chimombes absence, Kwenda stated firmly: Do I have to remind you that it is your responsibility to bring the accused to the court? This is your statutory obligation. Thats why you exist. He ordered prison officials to bring Chimombe to court at 2PM on the same day or provide a detailed formal report explaining why he could not attend court. It is not up to you to keep him at prison if he is needed at court. You listen to court orders. He should be here at 2PM; if not, then you will explain, the judge said. Lovemore Madhuku, representing Chimombe, informed Kwenda that the Supreme Court appeal against the denial of bail pending appeal for both Chimombe and his business partner, Moses Mpofu, was being heard simultaneously. However, the judge remained unmoved, insisting that he wanted Chimombe to appear physically in his court. Kwenda emphasised that he had already issued an order and could not rescind it due to the ongoing Supreme Court appeal. Madhuku argued that it was impossible for the two to have different cases involving them being heard at the same time. If the court wants to see him for something else, he can be here but if it is for trial, he has to be represented in accordance with the lawagain thats not allowed. This court can only sit with the accused as a trial court and nothing other than that. Madhuku further added, I think you have a room to correct your order my Lord,. Kwenda retorted that the court would proceed even in the absence of the lawyers. ZPCS officials then proceeded to fetch Chimombe, who, upon appearing before the court, stated that he had nothing to say because he had already instructed his lawyers. Ultimately, the matter was postponed to March 17 for the commencement of the trial. Chimombe and Mpofu are accused of fraudulently acquiring a tender to supply goats under a presidential goat scheme run by the government. The case has attracted significant public interest, raising questions about transparency and accountability in government procurement processes. The trial is expected to shed light on the allegations and determine the fate of the two businessmen. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa, the founder and leader of the United Family International Church (UFIC), has stirred a hornets nest within Zimbabwes religious community with his audacious challenge to fellow prophets and traditional healers: predict the contents of his pocket on Sunday for a reward of US$1 million. The challenge, delivered during a church service last Sunday, has been met with a mix of acceptance, condemnation, and outright ridicule, exposing deep fault lines and rivalries within the countrys vibrant religious landscape. Makandiwa, known for his flamboyant style and penchant for controversy, extended an open invitation to anyone claiming spiritual powers, stating: If there is a witch doctor who can see, who gets told things by demons. I can arrange that you come here on Sunday. He elaborated on the terms of the challenge: I wont do anything difficult. I will put something in my pocket. The one who can tell me what is in my pocket. I will go and borrow US$1 million, and in front of all these people, we sign. We will sign an agreement where you will sue me. The UFIC founder emphasised the potential benefits of winning the challenge, stating: It means with US$1 million, you will be able to buy a stand for the church and PA System. Im ready. Rival Prophets Respond with Challenges and Warnings The million-dollar challenge has drawn a range of responses from other prominent Zimbabwean religious figures. Prophet Passion Java, known for his flamboyant lifestyle and controversial pronouncements, countered Makandiwas offer with a significantly larger challenge of his own. On Saturday, Mr. Makandiwa, I will bring a person with mobility impairment. If you manage to make them walk, I will give you US$10 million, Java declared, raising the stakes considerably. Another preacher, Miracle Paul, issued a stark warning to religious leaders against accepting Makandiwas challenge, suggesting it could be a ploy to steal their spiritual powers. This is not how Gods work operates, Paul cautioned. Traditional Healer Weighs In With Scorn Traditional healer Arnold Mulambo (Sekuru Gachidza) offered a scathing assessment of modern-day self-styled prophets, accusing them of seeking spiritual initiation through dubious means. I have dealt with a lot of these prophets, who come to me for powers, Mulambo claimed. Makandiwa Announces Special Address Adding to the intrigue, Makandiwa announced a special address to be broadcast on his YouTube channel on Wednesday evening, fueling speculation about his next move. While the specific reason for the address remains unclear, it has sparked a flurry of reactions online, with some praising Makandiwas prophetic abilities and others speculating that he will address the controversy surrounding the million-dollar challenge. Past Controversies Haunt Makandiwa Makandiwas challenge comes against a backdrop of past controversies. In 2021, he and his wife were sued for millions of dollars over alleged fake prophecies, fraud and defamation. He has also faced accusations of using occult powers and charms to attract followers, and has been criticised for promoting miracle money schemes during Zimbabwes economic crisis. The million-dollar prophecy challenge has undoubtedly thrust Makandiwa back into the spotlight, sparking a fierce debate about the nature of prophecy, the role of religious leaders, and the boundaries of faith. As Zimbabweans eagerly await Sundays showdown, the controversy is likely to continue to unfold in the days to come. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare In a story that sounds more like a script from a horror film than reality, a family in Parkridge, Kuwadzana Extension, Harare, claims to be living under siege from unseen entities. The Hativagoni family say they are being tormented by invisible creatures, slashed by phantom knives, and even tattooed by razors that exist only in the spirit world. Mr. Clemence Hativagoni (51), originally from Tandi, Rusape in Manicaland, along with his wife Auxillia and their two children, are at the centre of this extraordinary tale. They claim their nightmare began back in 2022 when they were residing in company housing in Westwood, Kambuzuma. According to Mrs. Auxillia Chihowa (51), the bizarre events started with her being inexplicably bitten by ants and termites that she could not see, only feeling their painful stings. This problem started in 2022 when we were living in Westwood, Kambuzuma, where I would be cut by knives and razors that I couldnt see, Mrs. Chihowa recounted. It continued until now. I sometimes see a large cut appear, and I scream. People come and witness me bleeding from these wounds. She further stated that the blood from these wounds clots remarkably quickly. The situation has become so severe that Mrs. Chihowa believes she is being targeted by malevolent spirits. It is said that a spirit comes out of me and says that these things are caused by zvidhoma or zvikwambo (goblins or tokoloshes) that want to kill me to eat my flesh, claiming they come from Masvingo, she explained. The problem is that I dont come from Masvingo, and we dont have any relatives there. I come from Beatrice in Ringa, and my husband comes from Tandi, Rusape in Manicaland. Seeking respite, the family relocated to their own home in Parkridge. However, the torment, they say, has continued unabated. This problem is continuing. I woke up one day to find incisions (kutemwa nyora) on my forehead, Mrs Chihowa said, adding to the catalogue of strange happenings. We have grandchildren and an aunt who woke up with their hair shaved off, and they ended up fleeing from here. My body is crawled on by ants and termites that I feel, stinging me wherever they want and even entering my stomach. As a result of the relentless attacks, Mrs. Chihowa says she is in a constant state of discomfort. Being cut by a knife or razor is now less frequent, but when it starts, I scream, and everyone wakes up. When the bites from termites and ants start, I also wake up immediately. Even as we speak, I am being bitten; I am swarming with ants and termites, she explained, scratching intensely as she spoke. Reporters at the scene witnessed Mrs. Chihowa scratching uncontrollably, displaying clear signs of distress, despite there being no visible cause for her discomfort. Adding another layer of mystery to the situation, Mrs. Chihowa claims: Strange things that we cannot see also move on top of the roof and inside and outside the house. We are being told that I am being used by people who want to make me a witch. Mr. Hativagoni confirmed his wifes account, stating that he too has experienced the invisible bites. Desperate for a solution, the family has exhausted their resources. The problem started at the company houses we lived in at Westwood in Kambuzuma, where my wife started being cut by a knife and razor, developing large wounds and being possessed by a spirit that said it wanted flesh, which still comes to this day, he said. We then left and came to our own home, but the problem is progressing. My daughter and I are also being bitten. The familys plight has had a devastating impact. We have spent money and livestock to seek healing, but nothing has worked, Mr. Hativagoni lamented. Our daughter ended up stopping at Form 6 because of this problem and couldnt continue with school. Adding to the unsettling atmosphere, Mr. Hativagoni claims they often hear the sound of birds flying inside the house, yet they are unable to see them. Their daughter, Clarice Hativagoni (23), echoed her parents experiences. We dont have peace here with my parents because of being bitten by these things we cannot see; we are always scratching, she said. My mother went to the hospital endlessly, but no disease was found. I dropped out of school because of lack of funds, and I got 6 points in Form 6, so I want to go back to school. Dr. Enock Maidah, a medical expert from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), has urged the family to seek professional medical attention. The family should go to the hospital and seek help from specialist doctors, he advised. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Yves here. As DOGEs carpet-bombing of Federal programs continues, it cant be said often enough that this destruction of some of the anchors of what is left of American competitiveness is either exceptionally dumb in its degree of ideological blindness, or designed to set up plutocratic looting.even at the cost of destroying the value of many assets. As an aside, the reason more of mainstream America is not worried, and even cheering DOGE on when the not-far-away consequences to them will be is the way the professional-managerial class has expressed open hatred toward its perceived inferiors, with the Hillary Clinton deplorables speech a crystalizing event. Whats happening now is not (yet) as bloody or extreme as, say, Pol Pottery or the persecution of intellectuals and scientists during the Cultural Revolution. But as a young person in Manhattan, I had difficulty understanding New York Magazines relentless campaign in the 1980s against Donald Trumpbecause he decorated with gold? Dated and married swimsuit models? Couldnt be bothered giving to the right charities and hiring the right decorators? And worst of allcame from Queens? By contrast, the financial press lauded the likes of Henry Kravis and George Roberts precisely because they took the effort (as in spent the money and affect the right behavior) to woo the old New York elite. Even then, some the old guard on Wall Street recognized how destructive their leveraged buyouts would prove to be, not by (eventually) leaving bankruptcies in their wake, but by making it more attractive to strip mine companies than build them. To defend the funding of science and medicine, members of the academy and the professions need to articulate more clearly how Federal funding has helped and can help them in concrete ways. How many Americans know the iPhone, and therefore smartphones generally, depended on 12 technologies developed through Federally funded research? How many backers of NIH research have named specific, important drug, treatments, or medical devices that almost certainly would not have happened ex NIH-funded R&D? Admittedly, the post below is directed to economists or the like-minded and so focuses mainly on higher-level impacts of science funding cuts.as in it assumes the loss of talent and training is a bad thing. But theres still a widespread rhetorical failure to point out, in practical terms, how this sort of investment has and will continue to benefit ordinary Americans. Simply saying Space X depended on Federal research into jet propulsion and orbital mechanics isnt compelling for most people (why should I care about Space X? Were these advances really essential and how?). Despite the contemporary obsession with narratives, the story-telling is wanting here (note studies of jurors find they decide not by weighing evidence but by storytelling, and that tendency seems to hold broadly). One of the themes of the article is the potential for the US to lose its leadership in technology and the sciences. But how many people now identify with those lofty aspirations? I am old enough to remember a sense of national pride in the space race. As a kid in elementary school, every time there was a launch, class would stop. The teachers would pull out a TV on a cart. Wed watch the countdown and liftoff. Those NASA programs were showcased as special events of national importance. When was the last time a science or medical breakthrough was celebrated as a national accomplishment, even if not quite as gripping as a blastoff? By Lynn Parramore, Senior Research Analyst at the Institute for New Economic Thinking. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website Students left in limbo with PhD programs paused. Essential scientific research slashed. Key disease response meetings cancelled. The threat of Chinas dominance growing. The Trump administrations campaign to restrict funding for U.S. institutions critical to science, technology, and health has sparked growing anxiety. Will budget cuts derail Americas leadership, altering its global standing for years to come? What will it cost usand the rest of the world? Phillip Alvelda, a scientist and entrepreneur with experience at NASA and DARPA, warns that damage to science, technology, and health initiatives could severely impact Americas ability to innovate and maintain its global position. As the government scales back support for crucial research and education, the long-term consequences could be catastrophicnot only for the economy but for public health and technological progress. Alvelda spoke with the Institute for New Economic Thinking about how cuts threaten both the immediate workforce and the pipeline of talent necessary to sustain Americas competitive edge in a rapidly changing global landscape. He also shares his thoughts on how we can preserve the things that have truly made America great. Lynn Parramore: Let me start with a big question. The news is full of reports about Trump administration funding cuts for science, technology, and health policy: Stories of mass firings, grants put on hold, and PhD students who are in suspended animation. Do you feel like were witnessing a turning point in the history of science and tech in the United States? Phillip Alvelda: You know, I dont think that overall a blip like this is going to radically shift the long-term position of the United States. Were still an innovative country. Were still peopled with brilliant, hardworking, curious undergraduates and graduate students who all want to do interesting things. But I think that theres a complete misunderstanding on the part of the current leadership of how that whole system works and how it underpins things that the US is and will become. And in that sense, we see a very callous disregard for things that are fundamental to the United States as a country. LP: Can you give an example? PA: We just got through the pandemicalthough got through is a bit of a strong statement because its still ongoing, even though fewer people are dying from it these days. Thats the good news. The only reason we saved as many lives as we did and are in a position to start seriously addressing the Long COVID epidemicnow a result of the COVID pandemicis that we have a history of leadership in biotechnology. And before that, biology. And before that, general science. Of course, all around that are the instruments of industry that made it possible. All of the engineering, the manufacturing, the information sciences and data analysis, the AI toolsevery single one of those advances and our ability to operate the companies, distribute the cures, train the medical students, and have them in the field helping peopleevery single element of that is dependent on the graduate students funded through those agencies. So its not just a matter of the science thats momentarily interrupted. Its also a matter of the pipeline of people who can do the science, the engineering, the operations, and the clinical care. All of it is fundamentally dependent on those graduate students and their studies being funded, their education being funded, and what theyre doing as part of the research infrastructure to make those things happen. What were seeing is a huge disruption, not just to the industry itself and a momentary pause in its activities, but to our ability to sustain a workforce that can do these things. LP: Can some of these displaced individuals pursue their education, training, and research in the private sector? Could that be a solution? PA: I think what many people in the private sector and many people in the government dont appreciate is that there is a huge barrier or gap in fundamental science, discovery, and technology development that is not profitable. Really basic research is too speculative, too risky, and in many cases the benefits are too diffuse to be fully captured by investors in one enterprise. Theres also a huge layer of infrastructure, learning, and knowledge that must be developed years before industry is in a position to take up these new ideas, with the frameworks, knowledge, background, and technologies needed to build profitable systems. So, companies do not invest in those things. The only agency in the world that has a success rate in creating these technologies is the United States, through its science and technology funding agencies. By that, I mean the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where I worked. People dont realize this. The only reason you and I can talk like this via video chat on these systems is because DARPA invested hundreds of millions of dollars in material understanding, followed by more hundreds of millions developing transistors, then hundreds of millions more funding for microchips, and even more to make the internet possible. All of these advancements took decades of investment, much of which went to PhD labs and universities to create those initial ideasideas that came even before the science and the technology. Each stage relied on the government funding mechanism, which is the envy of the world. No one else has this. LP: It has been pointed out that Elon Musks companies have developed exciting products leveraging expensive, government-funded research. For example, SpaceX wouldnt exist without NASAs research in areas like jet propulsion and orbital mechanics, and Teslas advancements wouldnt be possible without government-funded research into batteries, among other innovations. PA: Absolutely. All of the companies he runs are highly technically dependent, and theyre staffed and led by technologists who benefited from these very research programs. The technologies theyre building rely on the fact that weve been investing in these areas for the last 50 years. Its not an accident that he developed these things in the United States, right? He came here from South Africa. Why? Because there had been decades of investment from these agencies into the technology infrastructure, the base components he then used. He hired PhDs principally from the US, although also from other countries, to staff the companies in this country. So the idea that he would be instrumental in the downsizing of this is incredibly hypocritical. I just dont understand how he can be supporting these efforts. LP: In many areas of science, like medicine, timing is crucial. Delays can lead to significant problems. For example, the FDA recently canceled a meeting of its vaccine advisory committee to select a strain for this years flu vaccine, raising concerns that vaccines may not be ready in time for the 2025-2026 flu season. What are you most worried about right now? PA: Its hard to pick just one because the damage is so vast, but let me highlight a couple. Number one, I would say, is the damage to protection against pandemic threatsits probably the most immediate concern. We have an H5N1 bird flu pandemic thats on the uprise. We have a COVID pandemic thats on the downswing but a Long COVID pandemic that still persists. We have this new bizarre mystery disease in Congo. The rate of emergence of these threats is increasing, and theyre getting worse because we live in a more densely interconnected and agriculturally connected global society. Halting efforts that hamper our ability to address existing pandemics, let alone detect or manage incoming ones, is mind-bogglingly short-sighted. To me, actions like stopping the development of the oral COVID vaccineand the potential shutdown of the nasal vaccineare particularly concerning. These represent massive investments already in trials, poised to become global technologies that benefit not just the US but companies and humanity as a whole. For leaders at Health and Human Services to put these programs at risk, whether through funding freezes or trial terminations, is not just poor policyits irresponsible. Id even classify it as evil and putting society at deep risk. And thats not hyperbole; thats very real. My second example of critical damage is generational, affecting science and technology education. When you consider peoples career decisions and opportunities, its already a challenge for the United Stateseven before the current administrations effortsto recruit and train enough scientists, technologists, and engineers to meet the demands of our increasingly technological society. And to realize the opportunities of those technologies and improve peoples lives and our economy to boot. So we come into this situation over the last decade already starved for talent. Historically, weve been filling that gap with immigrants. We invite the smartest, the most brilliant people from all over the world to come to our very best institutions and learn from our best scientists and technologists how to create the future. And we hope that with that enticement, they decide to stay in the United States and grow those technologies and advancements here. But now weve got a crack-down on immigration, so that pipeline is shutting down. Now weve got a crack-down on the funding that allows the universities to employ these students in the first place and train them and educate them and take them through the mentorships and apprenticeships that teach them how to build these new technologies. So you now have a generation coming into school in the next two, four years at least, who will not have that option. LP: Id like to ask you a personal question about your backgroundcan you say a bit about how you got into science, the choices you made as a young person, and what helped you realize your vision for your life? PA: Well, its the very programs that were discussing. Ive been very fortunate to have had fantastic educational opportunities. My undergraduate degree was at Cornell, and my graduate school was at MIT. I had stints at NASA and DARPA, as you know. In each case, big parts of that funding, and, in fact, all of the tuition and fees for my graduate studies came from the US science and technology funding agencies. Had I not had that subsidy, I would not have been able to go because the cost even back in the 90s was unaffordable to a young student on his own. I think this is a generationally damaging problem because its not just about whats happening to folks entering school today. Youre changing the entire risk calculation of someone who wants to go into this field. What is the likelihood of a stable career? Are theyre going to pay for my first quarter? My first year? My first four years so I can get my undergraduate degree? Is grad school paid for? Four years of $50,000 to $100,000 a year of expenses thats a lot. Its expensive to train a technologist. And no one has done it better than the United States anywhere. LP: You mentioned how science and technology have been Americas pride and joy for decades going back. What are your thoughts on how we got to this place of this distrust and even hostility toward science that has been erupting? PA: I would make a distinction between what the general public wants and what a minority of Trump-supporting zealots are pushing for. There seems to be an effort to deconstruct what I would call the knowledge-based industries because they threaten ideology that doesnt make sense or does not match with reality. I see that in the FBI, the CIA really all knowledge workers, people with advanced higher education. Anything that gives people global perspectives to fight bigotry or anything that helps them learn about things like the environment that is collapsing around us with anthropogenic climate change, the fossil fuel impacts there. These are inconvenient policy points, and the more people are educated about them, the fewer people support them. So I think theres a broad effort to deconstruct the engines that undermine the support for that ideology. LP: On the flip side, these are the engines of our economic success. Its interesting because key people in this administration are part of the world shaped by the economic dynamism driven by science and tech. Can you speak to the economic prospects we might be jeopardizing right now? PA: Its a particularly poorly timed effort because, especially with the rise of the new artificial intelligence technologies, were seeing an ever-increasing global competitive marketplace that is taking up some of the slack that the US is stepping aside from. You look at, for example, the sovereign wealth investments of China to subsidize their industry. Theyre dwarfing the US investments. You may have seen some stats that there are now more patents and AI coming out of China than the United States. We already have a history of inventing a few things and then handing over the industrial capacity and manufacturing to Asia to our detriment. So how did we get here? I think that we put the wrong people in charge, honestly people who dont have an appreciation for these things and dont know the history, dont know the technology, and theyre making uninformed decisions that have serious economic and long-term global stability impact. LP: DeepSeek grabbed everyones attention with its leaner, more efficient AI models, challenging industry giants. Some argue that cutting bloat in science and tech agencies, streamlining grants, and forcing efficiency could drive innovation. Whats wrong with that argument? PA: Well, I think the argument is an excellent one. Ill be the last person to say theres no bloat in government agencies or university funding or even innovative research. There are always nooks and crannies that pennies fall into. You often will find people conducting fraud. LP: What about just inefficiencies, like conducting redundant studies? PA: What one person calls a redundant study could be multiple different approaches to try and figure out the same thing. Science actually depends on redundant studies to explore different ways to solve similar problems. So to call that waste is not really accurate. I think that theres a fundamental misunderstanding of the point that theres no certainty in research. Youre trying to discover things you dont understand yet. So the notion that you can be efficient and say, Im going to build this thing and Im just going to invest in the one thing thats going to be successful the world doesnt work that way. You have to try dozens of things, hundreds of things, things that work, things that dont work. Remember Edison, the famous quote: I have not failed. Ive just found 10,000 ways that wont work. But eventually, he discovered the right combination the tungsten filament that worked in the light bulb. Thats how we advance science. Its not a certain thing. It requires broad exploration, not just narrow convergence. Its the idea of divergent thinking and of funding divergent thinking, knowing that many of the things you explore are not going to succeed. But if you dont do that exploration, you cant find the ones that will succeed. So that is just a fundamentally different way of thinking about research that the directed corporate profit-driven motives just do not support in the same way. But speaking about the waste and how that manifests and what you can do about it, you can absolutely do audits and find waste, and in fact, there have been a number of government programs to do that. Could you find ways to run the government agencies more efficiently? Absolutely. Especially with AI technologies, you could probably implement new systems and procedures and reduce the number of people. But if thats your goal, turning everything off and wrecking everything and just firing people is not the way you do it. LP: Going back to conversations we had had about the pandemicyou and others were critical of the CDCs handling of key aspects of the response, such as dragging its heels on admitting that the virus was airborne despite urgent warnings from scientists. What would be the right way to handle those types of failures at government agencies? PA: The proper response would be to install leadership that actually wants to modernize them and not just destroy them. I think that the mechanisms that youre seeing here are not just about efficiency. Theyre about disruption. We see reports, for example, that even while the courts have ordered the flow of money to NIH grantees to continue, the senior HHS leadership from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on down has continued to pressure the agency to not resume the funding. Most of the money has not flowed, despite the court order, in direct violation of the court order. What is the purpose of that? Is all of it about fraud? No, of course not. Is any of it critical to our nations future success? Absolutely. They have stopped the engine of innovation. Theyve stopped the engine of advancing clinical technologies. Theyve stopped the engine of educating our students to be able to do this next year and the following years. Right now, theyre more interested in the disruption and the stoppage than in the reinvention. Not to draw too fine a parallel, but the history of dictators has always been, Im going to tear down the system now and build a better one. And history shows us that pretty much every time theyre great at the tearing down, they fail on the rebuild. LP: You feel optimistic that this moment doesnt necessarily ruin our position in the world on science and innovation. But how do we sustain ourselves? How do scientists respond to the challenges so that we dont lose our momentum? PA: Number one, I think that we need to make sure that the GOP-led states that are influencing the congressional appropriations, that have the power of the purse, are encouraged by the people who want the cancer cures, who want their parents taken care of, who want their children educated, who will support resuming the normal operations of a university ecosystem and a biotechnology investment system. Unfortunately, not too many people are directly engaged with either of those aspects of society, even as critical as they are. So Im skeptical that that alone is going to drive a change in policy. The other thing that I think is important is to look to states where a lot of this research is being carried out, like Massachusetts, California, and New York. These are blue states with very healthy economies. My hope is that if the government stops funding these things on the federal level, state governments will step in. But then that creates the worry that youre unraveling the ties that bind us as a nation. If the federal government is not funding these things and the states are largely independent of the federal government, why are they part of a union? It seems a little bit short-sighted on that front to me as well. LP: And as we saw during the pandemic, coordination across the country is often critical. PA: Thats right. LP: Lets talk about the politicization of science. Why is that such an area of concern for you? PA: This ties very much into my earlier comments and INET interviews about the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), both of which proved unable to convey important public messages that they were completely aware of technically within the organizations. The key factor was what I would call the political equivalent of economic capture regulatory capture. Once the political system has enough control of a regulatory regime, and those people who should be regulated actually control the regulating mechanism, its ability to effectively legislate, control, and govern goes away. In this case, the CDC and WHO both succumbed to political pressure and put their missions in abeyance and people at risk. If there was going to be a good outcome of firing most of the people of the CDC, its that the best people who have been fired would go to a state agency thats created and designed to be independent politically and not obligated to send a message thats politically convenient for one ideology. LP: What would be an example of such a state entity? PA: The California Department of Public Health would be a good example. Or the New York Department of Public Health. The idea would be to grow the CDC functions within those agencies and see them take up the responsibilities that have been forfeited by the CDC. These agencies could lead coordinated efforts to combat issues like the bird flu pandemic, Long COVID, and vaccine developmentareas the CDC is neglecting. California, with its economy larger than many countries, can sustain an advanced public health initiative independent of federal oversight, especially when that oversight is hindering progress. We just need to reach out and get Governor Newsom and Governor Hochul on board. LP: Its more difficult all the time to find reliable information with disruptions and pressure on news outlets. Ive noticed that some federal employees and others that have been displaced are turning to social media to share information thats no longer available, for example, on agency websites. It seems that new channels of information are emerging. PA: Yes. The mainstream media sources are owned by people who have conflicting interests from the American public. If youre not there, just know that the technical and clinical communities have moved over lock, stock, and barrel to the Blue Sky platform, which is an open platform that does not suppress pandemic information or elevate specific, rightward ideologies like now X has been proven to do since last August. Yves here. Former ambassador Chas Freeman observed that it was unnatural for EU countries to be dependent on the US for security, which then dictated substantial elements of their foreign policy. He said they needed to grow up. As the post below describes, that process is starting, with the biggest states, France, Germany, and Poland, jockeying for position. By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who specializes in the global systemic transition to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Originally published at his website French President Macrons declaration on Wednesday that hes flirting with extending his countrys nuclear umbrella over other continental allies shows that hes throwing down the gauntlet to Germany and Poland for leadership of post-conflict Europe. Outgoing German Chancellor Scholz published an hegemonic manifesto in December 2022 that later took the form of what can be described as Fortress Europe, which refers to the German-led attempt to lead Europes containment of Russia. This concept requires Poland subordinating itself to Germany, which unfolded over the first half of last year but then slowed as the ruling liberal-globalist coalition started taking a more populist-nationalist approach towards Ukraine ahead of Mays presidential election. Even if this started off insincerely, its since assumed a life of its own and created a new dynamic in the latest circumstances brought about by Trumps return whereby Poland Is Once Again Poised To Become The US Top Partner In Europe. Polands economy is the largest of the EUs eastern members, it now boasts NATOs third-largest army, and its consistently sought to be the US most reliable ally, the last point of which works most in its favor amidst the transatlantic rift. If these trends remain on track, Poland could prevent France or Germany from leading post-conflict Europe by carving out a US-backed sphere of influence in Central Europe, but it would have a shot at leadership in its own right if conservatives or populists come to power. The sequence of events that would have to unfold begins with either of them winning the presidency, and this either pushing the liberal-globalists more in their direction ahead of fall 2027s parliamentary elections or early elections being held on whatever pretext and then won by conservatives or populists. Polands former conservative government was very imperfect, but their country served as a bastion of EuroRealists (usually described by the Mainstream Media as Euroskeptics) during those eight years. Should it reassume that role upon the return of conservative rule in parliament, perhaps in a coalition with populists, then this would perfectly align with Trumps vision and could result in Poland either leading similar domestic political processes across the continent or at least in its own region. Even if only the second-mentioned scenario materializes, it would most effectively prevent liberal-globalist France or Germany from leading Europe as a whole by bifurcating it into ideologically competing halves. Frances nuclear weapons are the ace up its sleeve though that it might play for keeping some conservative/populist-inclined societies under liberal-globalist sway by extending its umbrella over those countries which fear that Russia will invade but that theyll then be abandoned by the US. That might help reshape some of their voters views if they come to feel dependent on France and thus decide to show fealty to it by keeping their ideologically aligned governments in power instead of change them. This doesnt mean that France will succeed, but what was explained above accounts for Macrons unprecedented proposal in the context of his countrys Great Power ambitions at this historic moment. A lot in this regard will likely depend on the outcome of Romanias domestic political crisis, which readers can learn more about here, since the liberal-globalist coup against the populist-nationalist frontrunner in Mays election redux could further entrench French influence in this geostrategic frontline state. Few are aware, but France already has hundreds of troops there, where it leads a NATO battlegroup. It also signed a defense pact with neighboring Moldova in March 2024, which could hypothetically include the deployment of troops to there too. Frances military presence in Southeastern Europe places it in a prime position for conventionally intervening in Ukraine if it so chooses, whether before or after the end of hostilities, and suggests that Macron will focus on this region for expanding French influence. Should progress be made, then three other scenarios would be possible. The first is that Poland and France compete in Central Europe, with the first eventually extending its sway over the Baltics while the second does the same over Southeastern Europe (within which Moldova is included in this context due to its close ties with Romania), thus trifurcating Europe between them and Germany. In this scenario, Germany would also have some influence over each Central Europe region, but it wouldnt predominate. The second scenario is that Poland and France, which have been historical partners since the early 1800s, cooperate in Central Europe by informally dividing the Baltics and Southeastern Europe between them in order to asymmetrically bifurcate Europe into imperfectly German and Polish-Franco halves. The Polish part would either remain under partial US influence if Poland continues aligning with the US even under liberal-globalist rule or the liberal-globalists might pivot towards France and away from the US. The final scenario is that all three employ their Weimar Triangle format to coordinate tripartite rule over Europe, but this is dependent on the liberal-globalists capturing the Polish presidency in May and then aligning with Berlin/Brussels over Washington. Its therefore the least likely, especially since the liberal-globalists might pivot towards France instead of Germany/EU as a compromise between their ideological, electoral, and geopolitical interests ahead of fall 2027s parliamentary elections. Regardless of what ends up transpiring, the military Schengen that was pioneered between Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands last year and to which France expressed an intent to join will likely continue incorporating more EU members in order facilitate these three aspiring leaders interests. Germany needs this for its Fortress Europe plans, Poland needs its allies to swiftly come to its aid in a hypothetical war with Russia, while France needs this to entrench its influence in Southeastern Europe. Whats ultimately being determined through the interplay of France, Germany, and Polands competing leadership plans for post-conflict Europe is the continents future security architecture, which will also be influenced to varying degrees by Russia and the US, be it jointly through their New Detente and/or independently. There are too many uncertainties at present to confidently predict what this emerging order will look like, but the dynamics described in this analysis account for the most likely scenarios. Yves here. While this story highlights the resilience, resourcefulness, and collective action of repeatedly flood-hit communities in Appalachia, it strikes me as a bit too cheery. These already-poor areas have suffered serious, sometimes devastating, damage. While it is impressive that they are pulling together to such a significant degree, the focus on the recovery effort, whether by accident or design, underplays the severity of the losses and how far these concerted self-help efforts can get in restoring a semblance of the old normal. Another point notably absent is whether Appalachia is the canary in the coal mine for what will occur more and more regularly in climate-damage exposed areas. Government aid is notably missing, although there is an in passing mention of help being slow to arrive when disasters strike, so perhaps official relief is in the pipeline. But even if so now, with demands rising and Trump determined to reduce the Federal government to a bare-bones enterprise, that support is likely to drop due to increased demands and reductions in funding. By Katie Myers. Originally published at Grist as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Made possible through a partnership between Grist and BPR, a public radio station serving western North Carolina. Cross posted from Yale Climate Connections When the rivers and creeks running through eastern Kentucky jumped their banks and flooded a wide swath of the region for the second time in as many years, Cara Ellis set to work. Since mid-February, shes hardly let up. Ellis has spent countless hours helping friends in her hometown of Pikeville evacuate and delivering supplies to people who have lost their homes. Ive been here, there, everywhere in the county, she said. Its overwhelming. Theres been a lot of devastation. Ellis spoke during a brief moment of rest in the chaos. Her home was spared when storms brought torrential rain to central Appalachia during the weekend of February 15. The water came down so quickly that the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River soon inundated houses and a portion of downtown. The torrent prompted more than 100 rescues in Pike County alone and left several neighborhoods and rural communities without running water. The record-setting winter flood, which killed 21 people statewide and two others in West Virginia, was not the first time Ellis has seen a disaster strike, and she fears it wont be the last. More than eight inches of rain doused Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee, soaking already sodden ground. The resulting inundation came less than three years after flooding throughout eastern Kentucky killed more than 40 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage across 13 counties. Hurricane Helene brought similar inundations to western North Carolina, southern Virginia, and eastern Tennessee just six months ago. The extreme weather fueling these floods will only grow more common as the world warms. These unprecedented storms really do represent our new reality, said Nicolas Pierre Zegre, a forest hydrologist at West Virginia University who studies flood adaptation in the region. Acknowledging that things have been changing kind of opens up the door on other conversations, like why are things changing? The severity and frequency of these floods has accelerated. Climate change brings ever more extreme precipitation, which causes flash flooding as it soaks mountain slopes and narrow valleys. All of Appalachia is vulnerable, and the places at greatest risk are rural communities that can quickly find themselves isolated by landslides, downed trees, and inundated roads. Even if help is on the way, it may not come quickly. That has prompted people to step in, an informal response that has grown more organized with each crisis. We all need to be our own first responders because these things are happening really, really fast, Zegre said. Willa Johnson, a lifelong eastern Kentuckian, lived in McRoberts when the 2022 flood overturned her life. She fled rising water and returned several days later to find her home had been destroyed, along with her church, her sons school, and the arts and culture center where she worked. And now, this. She wasnt flooded this time, but seeing neighbors suffer again weighs on her. These last few years have been brutal, she said. It changes the landscape, it changes the people. Still, she and others throughout the area feel their experience has prepared them to face future disasters with strength, and, when other rural communities go through the same experience, understand what they face and how best to help them. It weighed heavy on us here when Helene hit North Carolina, Johnson said. She organized supply drives for Helene survivors and sought donations outside Walmart, where those who endured the 2022 flood offered what they could. Someone who lost their entire home would hand us $10 out of their pocket and say, We know what its like, Johnson said. Volunteers loaded cars with medical supplies and water and propane heaters and drove to the remote corners of western North Carolina. They called the initiative Its Our Turn EKY, as in, its our turn to help. This week, it was North Carolinas turn to help. Volunteers with the nonprofit BeLoved Asheville drove a truck full of supplies to Perry County. The City of Asheville Fire Department dispatched its swift water rescue team to help pull survivors from homes in Hazard. Its really exhausting to feel we are just going from one disaster to another constantly and people dont have time to feel tired anymore, Johnson said, her voice thick with emotion. But its also really beautiful because these groups that we were contacting and saying, What do you need? How do we get this to you? are now reaching back out and saying, Heres what we have. Heres what we can send. Its this system of mutual aid that just keeps crossing state lines and people just reaching out to each other. Chelsea White-Hoglen, a community organizer in Haywood County, North Carolina, has been helping coordinate runs to eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. She said people through Appalachia increasingly understand the challenges of rural disaster relief, and the difficulties facing communities where much of the population is elderly, disabled, or living in poverty, and tight town budgets struggle to handle aging infrastructure. State and federal officials do what they can, but they often lack firsthand knowledge of what communities need. These networks and human-to-human relationships are going to be the strongest and most reliable when we confront these kinds of catastrophes, White-Hoglen said. These networks grow stronger with each disaster as volunteers like Johnson find better, more efficient ways of bringing together those who need and those who can provide it. Theyve started using Google forms to bring donors and recipients together. Theyve organized donation drop-off locations and delivery caravans. Theyve designated community resource hubs like churches and warehouses where folks can go for help. They create and manage schedules so people dont burn out. These volunteer-driven efforts have started working with local officials to identify needs and fill them, because theyre in the best position to know. Im glad that we are learning as we go, Johnson said. Cara Ellis said the floods have helped her appreciate the solidarity that comes from repeated experiences with disaster across the region. As shes seen mountain infrastructure buckle under more and more intense storms, she says, neighbors will need to have these networks and supply lines organized and ready to go. From my perspective, climate change is very real, and we are the brunt, Ellis said. Its just, what are we going to do next time to be more prepared, and what does that look like? Ellis added. Its out of necessity that ordinary people need to look out for one another. Because at this point, it feels like nothings being done on a global scale or even on a federal scale to prevent these disasters. In 2017, ahead of the Showtime premiere of Twin Peaks Season 3, Scene editor-in-chief (then managing editor) D. Patrick Rodgers and senior film critic (then regular film critic) Jason Shawhan revisited the catalog of legendary auteur David Lynch. We compiled our thoughts on each of Lynchs 10 films, along with a weirdness rating system devised via unscientific social media polling and our own opinions. David Lynch: A Retrospective March 7-19 at the Belcourt Sadly, we have occasion to republish our thoughts, as Lynch died in January due to complications from emphysema. Happily, the Belcourt is celebrating the beloved filmmakers career with David Lynch: A Retrospective from March 7 through 19. (Find showtimes and further information via belcourt.org.) While the Belcourt is unable to screen The Elephant Man as part of the series, the theater will host a Q&A with Nashville-based Dune star Alicia Witt on March 9, and a Shawhan-led seminar (What the Magician Sees: A Seminar Through the Eyes of David Lynch) on March 15. The Belcourt will also screen The Wizard of Oz (one of Lynchs personal favorites) and documentary David Lynch: The Art of Life as part of the series. Eraserhead (1977) Screening: March 9 & 14 Synopsis: Lynchs surreal, nightmarish black-and-white debut called unwatchable by Variety at the time of its release posits that fatherhood is not a blessing so much as a grotesque curse. How Weird Is It? 10/10 aesthetically; 3/10 thematically DPR: Jason, I think youre right that while Eraserhead aesthetically seems very art-schooly and avant-garde conceptually it really is pretty basic. Bro-y, to borrow your term. Its about fear of commitment after all, right? Pretty straight-ahead stuff thematically, even if it does feature a repugnant creature as a stand-in for a newborn. JS: Yes. And Lynch is also on record about it being related to the horror of being a parent. His daughter seems to have let that slide. The Elephant Man (1980) Screening: N/A Synopsis: Based on the true story of famously disfigured Englishman Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man also in black-and-white was Lynchs breakthrough film. How Weird Is It? 4/10 DPR: Since this was Lynchs big break, it was sort of him trying to tell a story conventionally. Its pretty sentimental and moralistic, wouldnt you say? JS: Its conventional in that its a true story. But it does a phenomenal job of capturing the values of that time in European history. Its an indictment of so-called High Culture for acting as if its transcended its freakshow impulses. Though its also worth contrasting John Merrick which he is named in the film, rather than Joseph Merrick with Saartje Baartman, the Hottentot Venus. Dune (1984) Screening: March 9 & 13 Synopsis: Based on Frank Herberts beloved 1965 hard sci-fi novel of the same name, Dune features an ensemble cast including longtime Lynch collaborator Kyle MacLachlan, Sean Young, Patrick Stewart and, yes, Sting. How Weird Is It? 5/10 DPR: I mean an advanced, complex, incredibly unwieldy sci-fi story that Lynch did his best to interpret, and most people saw as a failure. But the scope alone is impressive and intoxicating, if perhaps too much to take in. JS: Cinematically, Dune is the Kobayashi Maru of sci-fi. Its one of, if not the, most acclaimed sci-fi novels ever, and its far too dense to make a two-hours-and-change adaptation of. But Lynch gets so much of it magnificently right. Ive read all of the books in the Dune-iverse, and Lynchs film is the visual template for inside my brain. The textures and architecture are spot-on. Blue Velvet (1986) Screening: March 8 & 12 Synopsis: MacLachlan is back, this time as a nice young kid who discovers a severed ear, which eventually leads him to Dennis Hoppers gas-huffing, dry-humping Frank Booth. How Weird Is It? 9/10 DPR: Finally, Lynch debuts as a noir director, a postmodern storyteller. While the characters are pretty fucking singular, it really isnt all that unconventional from a storytelling perspective. Right? A challenging watch, sure, undoubtedly its disquieting. But its set up like an old mystery flick. JS: Blue Velvet is deeply challenging in its depiction of sadomasochism, as well as the behind-the-scenes drama between Lynch and Rossellini. Its also one of Dennis Hoppers greatest performances. Wild at Heart (1990) Screening: March 15 & 17 Synopsis: Ironically enough, despite it being Lynchs only collaboration with noted weirdo Nicolas Cage, Wild at Heart is remarkably straightforward. A conventional pulpy road romance, as straight as Lynch can tell it. How Weird Is It? 2/10 JS: Its a good bad boy gets out of prison to reclaim his lady, but her family just cant approve, so they have to go on the run movie. Mixed in with assassins, mysterious syndicates and The Wizard of Oz. Nicolas Cage even sings Love Me Tender in it. Along with Mad Max Fury Road, Wild at Heart is the best Elvis movie ever made. Once you look at it that way, it just cant be unseen. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) Screening: March 8 & 12 Synopsis: A prequel to the Twin Peaks television series, Fire Walk With Me is a true horror film, following the last days of Laura Palmer. How Weird Is It? 6/10 DPR: So different tonally from the series. I wasnt old enough to (be permitted to) see it when it came out, and dont really know what the reaction was like, but I personally find it to be Lynchs most unsettling, and so much more conventionally presented than the series. JS: People were so psyched. And it was devastating to see the film grind that audience down. That R rating allowed people to realize what ABC was terrified of: Twin Peaks, the series, the phenomenon, was built on the abuse and murder of Laura Palmer. It and Alien 3 that same summer were the films that kick-started my having taste in film. And while I have always loved FWWM for its operatic passions, openhearted sympathies and supernatural expansiveness, its been interesting to talk to viewers who interpret the film outside of the shows universe. Where it depicts the dissociative means by which the Palmer family metabolizes years of sexual and emotional abuse, and BOB is just the face put on a horror that countless families have had to deal with. People have always responded to Laura Palmer. Lost Highway (1997) Screening: March 14 & 18 Synopsis: Fred (Bill Pullman) is put on death row for the murder of his wife Renee (Patricia Arquette). In his cell, Fred shape-shifts into a young mechanic. Hijinks (read: very unsettling events) ensue. How Weird Is It? 8/10 DPR: I kind of see this as the Lynch first glimpsed in Blue Velvet, but now fully realized. You called this Lynchs O.J. movie? Talk to me about Robert Blakes role. JS: Lost Highway is the first of Lynchs psychogenic fugue movies. Here its about how you can love someone and also kill them; how the most visceral emotions feed into one another, and how everyone has dissociative tendencies some to survive, some to kill. Robert Blakes character, the Mystery Man, carries a camera (the only objective viewpoint in the film) even as he incarnates sexual jealousy and doubt. He is everywhere, unbound by time or space, but he also goes only where he is invited. But Blakes subsequent murder trial has added a whole other element of horror to the film and its thesis. The Straight Story (1999) Screening: March 16 & 19 Synopsis: Co-written by Lynchs longtime collaborator and romantic partner Mary Sweeney, The Straight Story depicts the real-life events of Alvin Straight, who drove his lawnmower for six weeks and 240 miles to visit his ailing and estranged brother. How Weird Is It? 1/10 JS: Though rated G, The Straight Story is just as emotionally devastating as any of Lynchs other films. Its accessible, if a little deliberate in its pacing. But its one of the few films Ive ever seen that honestly reckons with what it means to be old to have accumulated so much time, and so many decisions. Regret is a big theme in Lynchs films, but its often tied to murder, or trespass, or something irrevocable. And The Straight Story, especially when you read about how star Richard Farnsworth was suffering in secret during its making, is a rejection of macho foolishness. It believes in forgiveness, and atonement, and it does so with the deepest sincerity. Sincerity is not a quality one finds in conventional movies. Mulholland Drive (2001) Screening: March 7 & 11 Synopsis: Initially conceived as a television pilot TV executives wouldnt touch it Mulholland Drive was labeled a poisonous valentine to Hollywood by The Village Voices J. Hoberman. Long and convoluted, Lynchs love story in the city of dreams came with a note card with 10 clues geared at helping explain the film when it was released on DVD. How Weird Is It? 8/10 DPR: I see this as Lynchs most superficially avant-garde film. Its a riddle with no answer, seemingly designed to piss off squares. And Hollywood. Hollywood squares? Anyway, I enjoyed it particularly our old pal Billy Ray Cyrus performance. JS: The first time I watched MD, I didnt care for it. It seemed like a less successful take on Lost Highways caesura cinema. It was a salvage job with a few good scenes, but its uncertainty as to what it was was deeply limiting. Now, after many more viewings, I think its a damn masterpiece. It is its own subgenre of film, one that I often refer to in my reviews, whenever a film makes the viewer come to terms with the absolute moral truth of themself. Mulholland Drive is a dangerous film in that it refuses to let anyone who engages with it escape despite intentions, despite kindnesses past, despite all the conditional and subjunctive you can throw at a situation we cant lie to ourselves. Inland Empire (2006) Screening: March 13 & 16 The Belcourt Revisits David Lynchs Down-and-Dirty Los Angeles Noir An eagerly awaited 4K restoration of 1997's Lost Highway opens July 8 at the Hillsboro Village arthouse Synopsis: Lynchs first feature shot using standard-definition digital video, Inland Empire which Peter Travers once called hallucinatory brilliance is yet another collaboration with frequent leading woman Laura Dern. This time, shes an actress who begins to take on the personality of one of her characters. How Weird Is It? 10/10 JS: Lynchs weirdest. There was never a specific script encompassing the project. Its whatever he felt like doing at the time, written the day of (or just before). Theres bits of his web series Rabbits mixed in, and several mini-stories that recur. Its the multiple characters and interlocking narratives with Laura Dern that give it any structure at all, and even then, they are exploring their own spaces. The main unifying aspect of it is the camera he used to make it. In October, roughly 400 books were removed from Wilson County Schools libraries in response to the Age Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. The state law, passed by Tennessees Republican supermajority, requires schools to remove books containing sexual and patently offensive content and includes a process for parents, students or school staff to challenge books included in schools public library catalogs. A representative for Wilson County Schools told the Scene at the time that the districts librarians created the list in order to comply with the law and when seeking clarification from the Tennessee Department of Education, they were directed to consult with their own legal personnel. Among the removed materials were books addressing injustices and exploring dystopian societies, including Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale, Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye and Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. To the confusion of many, several childhood favorites were also cleared from shelves, including Dr. Seuss Wacky Wednesday and Victoria Kanns Pinkalicious. Kann posted about the ban on social media, attracting online attention and causing many readers to question why a book about a little girl who loves cupcakes and the color pink was deemed controversial. (A request for further comment from Wilson County Schools was not returned. After our interview, Kann informed the Scene that a source says the book was banned due to an illustration in which the Pinkalicious character is in her underwear.) Kann recently spoke to the Scene by phone. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Roughly 400 Books Removed From Wilson County School Libraries District removes books including The Bluest Eye, The Handmaids Tale and Dr. Seuss Wacky Wednesday to comply with state law What was your reaction when first finding out about this ban? Sadness. Its a very sad day when 400 books are banned from a school system. That means that education is being limited. What did you do after discovering that Wilson County Schools banned Pinkalicious? I called the library in Wilson County today for a variety of reasons. First of all, I wanted to know that they had enough books, because if there arent books in the schools, there needs to be books in the public library. Second of all, I wanted to know if they knew about it and what the reason was. I guess there are some very loud parents that are making this occur. Many people showed their support after you posted about the ban on social media. Most readers are wondering why a school district would ban a book about a girl who loves pink. What has this support meant to you? The support is absolutely incredible. People have left messages about how they grew up reading Pinkalicious, that they were Pinkalicious, that Pinkalicious was a role model for them. The book has touched the lives of so many people. Ive done over 80 books, and Pinkalicious is about loving yourself for who you are. Every message that I write is to help educate children. These are messages that kids need to hear, and it needs to be told in a funny way. The other thing thats really interesting is that a lot of people dont understand what a book ban is. There were comments in which people said that its not actually banned because you can still buy the book, but thats not the point. The point is that, if its taken off a shelf in a school system, then it is banned. The point is free access. Children need to have free access to books in school libraries and public libraries. Why is it important for childrens reading in schools to not be restricted by book bans? Where do I even begin? First of all, when you take 400 books out of the school system, what is left? Are there books there that will connect with children? By taking away books, youre limiting diverse perspectives, and you are limiting the ability for children to develop critical thinking. I think every parent should monitor what their child is reading at home, but they should not say, This book doesnt belong here. Its really not up to them. It undermines professional judgment. My goal is to empower children to be problem solvers. Theyre the future leaders of our culture and society. They need to solve their own problems. So removing books reduces the ability for children to understand different ways to solve problems. Another reason is it politicizes education. This goes beyond being Democrat or Republican. Books should not be influenced by political ideology. We should have all different kinds of books available. This is happening across the country. In January, the U.S. Department of Education ended investigations into book bans, and it no longer has a book-ban coordinator to investigate parents and school districts. In response to nationwide bans, many authors have advocated for their books to still be available in schools. How will you proceed from here, and do you plan to take action? Thats a really good question. First of all, Im speaking out about how there needs to be free access to books in schools and libraries. Today I immediately called the [Wilson County Public Library], and I said, Go on my website, choose whatever books you want, and Ill send them to you, so that they have those books available. There are so many households where children dont have books. Literacy is a huge problem in this country. Its really important to make sure children have books that they can read and that they love to read. Bayers state-level power play: Undermining MAHA and shielding glyphosate from accountability Bayer AG is actively lobbying state legislatures to pass laws that would grant it immunity from lawsuits related to its herbicide, Roundup, aiming to shield itself from the growing number of legal challenges and the momentum of the MAHA movement. Led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the MAHA movement advocates for cleaner food, safer water and healthier communities. It seeks to hold corporations accountable for the health and environmental impacts of their products, particularly focusing on the dangers of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. Glyphosate has been linked to cancer and other health issues in numerous studies. Bayer has faced over 100,000 lawsuits and paid $10 billion in settlements. Despite this, the company is pushing state-level legislation to limit its liability, framing it as a challenge to public health and accountability. Bayer's strategy involves passing laws in key agricultural states that prevent lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers if their products are EPA-approved. The company has significant financial influence in these states, having donated over $530,000 to Iowa politicians alone, which critics argue allows it to advance its agenda with minimal public scrutiny. The success of Bayer's legislative efforts could set a dangerous precedent, allowing corporations to evade accountability for harmful products. Clean food advocates are urging citizens to contact their legislators and oppose these bills, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in agriculture for the health of future generations. In a bold move that has sparked outrage among clean food advocates and health-conscious citizens, Bayer AG, the German pharmaceutical and agrichemical giant, is quietly working to shield itself from lawsuits tied to its controversial herbicide, Roundup. Through a state-by-state lobbying campaign, Bayer is pushing legislation that would grant it immunity from legal liability, effectively sidelining the growing momentum of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. This effort, critics argue, is not just a corporate power grab but a direct assault on public health and accountability. MAHA movement and the fight for clean food The MAHA movement, spearheaded by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has become a rallying cry for those advocating for cleaner food, safer water and healthier communities. At its core, MAHA seeks to hold corporations accountable for the health and environmental impacts of their products, particularly in agriculture. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has been at the center of this battle. Glyphosate, once hailed as a miracle herbicide, has been linked to cancer and other health issues in numerous studies. In 2018, a landmark jury decision found Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) liable for causing cancer in a California groundskeeper, opening the floodgates for over 100,000 lawsuits. Bayer has since paid $10 billion in settlements but is now working to prevent future litigation by pushing state-level legislation that would limit its liability. This legislative maneuvering is seen as a direct challenge to MAHAs mission. I strongly believe we shouldnt be granting major corporations special exemptions from the law, said Missouri State Representative Mazzie Christensen (R). This reminds me of the federal PREP Act, related to COVID-19 vaccines, which granted legal immunity to manufacturers, distributors and administrators, leaving most lawsuits off the table. Bayers state-level strategy Bayers strategy is clear: Pass laws in key agricultural states that prevent individuals from suing pesticide manufacturers if their products are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Missouri, a bill sponsored by State Representative Dane Diehl (R) narrowly passed the House of Representatives last month. If adopted, it would mandate that the EPAs warning label on Roundup is sufficient to comply with state law, effectively ending most pending litigation against Bayer in Missouri. Similar bills are being pushed in Iowa, Idaho, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Georgia. In Iowa, where cancer rates are the second highest in the nation, the legislation has drawn sharp criticism. To me, Iowas farmers matter more than corporate interests, said Iowa State Representative Megan Srinivas (D) in a TikTok video. Srinivas, a physician, has been vocal about the potential link between glyphosate and rising cancer rates in her state. Bayers influence in these states is undeniable. Since 2002, Monsanto and Bayer have donated over $530,000 to Iowa politicians alone. Top recipients include Governor Kim Reynolds, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and House Speaker Pat Grassley. Critics argue that this financial influence has allowed Bayer to quietly advance its agenda without significant public scrutiny. Broader implications The implications of Bayers state-level efforts extend far beyond individual lawsuits. If successful, these laws could set a dangerous precedent, allowing corporations to sidestep accountability for harmful products. This is particularly concerning given the widespread presence of glyphosate in our food, water and even rainwater. These companies also attempt to invoke government contractor immunity in their defense, added Rep. Christensen, highlighting the broader tactics used by corporations to evade responsibility. The fight against Bayers legislation is not just about glyphosate; its about the integrity of our food system and the health of future generations. As the MAHA movement gains traction, the pushback against Bayers efforts is a testament to the growing demand for transparency and accountability in agriculture. What you can do For those who want to take action, the time is now. Legislation is being voted on this week in Idaho, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Georgia. Clean food advocates are urging citizens to call their legislators and voice their opposition to these bills. As Bayer continues its state-by-state campaign, the question remains: Will corporate interests prevail, or will the voices of health-conscious citizens and the MAHA movement succeed in holding corporations accountable? The answer lies in the hands of lawmakers and the people who elect them. In the words of Iowa farmer and activist Rob Faux, Theres still that culture of, Its only Roundup. But the reality is, its not just Roundup. Its our health, our water and our future. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com Instagram.com CivilEats.com IowaStartingLine.com Corporate Transparency Act chaos: Small businesses caught in regulatory limbo The CTA, aimed at combating money laundering, has faced significant implementation issues since its enactment in 2021. Despite a February 2025 court decision reinstating the law, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a non-enforcement policy for the March 21, 2025, filing deadline, creating uncertainty for businesses. The CTA has been poorly received by small businesses, with less than 13% of covered entities filing the required reports. Compliance rates are even lower in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, highlighting the law's complexity and the resource constraints faced by small businesses. The CTA has been criticized for targeting law-abiding businesses while failing to deter criminals. Brian Reardon, a small business advocate, described the situation as a "regulatory train wreck," and there are currently seven lawsuits challenging the law's constitutionality, with one case advancing to the 11th Circuit Court. Efforts to delay the CTA's reporting requirements have gained bipartisan support, with a House bill passing overwhelmingly but stalled in the Senate. FinCEN has signaled plans to revise the CTA's rules and solicit public comments, indicating a potential shift towards more manageable regulations for small businesses. The CTA's implementation challenges reflect a larger trend of increasing regulatory burdens on small businesses, which face disproportionately high costs compared to larger firms. The law's fate could significantly impact entrepreneurship and economic growth, with potential consequences for millions of business owners. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), a well-intentioned but poorly executed piece of legislation, has become a bureaucratic nightmare for small businesses across America. What was once touted as a tool to combat money laundering and illicit financial activities has instead morphed into a regulatory quagmire, leaving millions of small business owners in legal limbo. The latest developments from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the U.S. Treasury Department have only added to the confusion, raising questions about the future of the CTA and its impact on American entrepreneurship. A rollercoaster of deadlines and enforcement The CTA, enacted in 2021, requires businesses to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN, ostensibly to prevent criminals from using shell companies to hide illicit activities. However, the laws implementation has been anything but smooth. On February 18, 2025, a U.S. District Court in Texas lifted its injunction on the CTAs BOI reporting requirements, reinstating the law and setting a new filing deadline of March 21, 2025. Just nine days later, FinCEN issued a stunning announcement: It would not enforce the March 21 deadline. In a press release, FinCEN stated, We will not issue any fines or penalties or take any other enforcement actions against any companies based on any failure to file or update beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports pursuant to the Corporate Transparency Act by the current deadlines. This effectively made compliance voluntaryat least for now. The Treasury Department followed up on March 2, 2025, with a press release suggesting that future regulations might exempt U.S.-owned businesses from the CTAs reporting requirements, focusing enforcement efforts instead on foreign-owned entities. This potential shift underscores the growing recognition that the CTA, as currently structured, places an undue burden on American small businesses. A regulatory train wreck in the making The CTAs rocky rollout has been a disaster for small businesses, many of which are unaware of the laws requirements or lack the resources to comply. According to FinCEN data, less than 13% of covered entities have filed the necessary reports. In states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, compliance rates are even lower, hovering at 5% and 4%, respectively. Brian Reardon, a small business advocate, aptly described the situation as a regulatory train wreck. In an October 2024 op-ed, Reardon noted, The failure to file is a felony. Under the passionate leadership of [Vice President Kamala Harris], the federal government is moving forward on a policy that will turn millions of small business owners into felons by the end of the year. Reardons critique highlights a fundamental flaw in the CTA: It targets law-abiding business owners while doing little to deter actual criminals. As he pointed out, The bad guys are not going to self-report their crimes, and the significant fines and jail time accompanying noncompliance are threatening to law-abiding business owners only. A path forward The CTAs future remains uncertain, with multiple legal and legislative challenges underway. Seven lawsuits are currently challenging the laws constitutionality, with one case recently advancing to oral arguments in the 11th Circuit Court. These legal challenges argue that the CTA oversteps federal authority and imposes an unreasonable burden on small businesses. On the legislative front, efforts to delay the CTAs reporting requirements have gained bipartisan support. A bill introduced by Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) passed the House with overwhelming support (420-1) but remains stalled in the Senate, where Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has yet to bring it to a vote. Meanwhile, FinCEN has signaled its intention to revise the CTAs rules, with an interim final rule expected by March 21, 2025. The agency has also pledged to solicit public comments on potential changes, a move that could provide much-needed relief for small businesses. Why this matters: A historical perspective The CTAs tumultuous journey is emblematic of a broader trend: the growing regulatory burden on American small businesses. Over the past two decades, federal regulations have increased dramatically, with small businesses bearing a disproportionate share of the costs. According to a 2020 study by the National Association of Manufacturers, small businesses face regulatory costs of $12,000 per employee annuallynearly double the cost for larger firms. This regulatory onslaught has stifled innovation and entrepreneurship, key drivers of economic growth. As Reardon noted, If the vice president really were passionate about the interests of small businesses, she would ask FinCEN to suspend the filing deadline pending the resolution of these court cases and further action by Congress. The CTAs fate will have far-reaching implications for small businesses and the broader economy. If the law is implemented as written, millions of business owners could face felony charges for failing to comply with complex reporting requirements. Conversely, a thoughtful revision of the CTA could strike a balance between combating financial crime and protecting small businesses from undue regulatory burdens. For now, small business owners are left in limbo, waiting for clarity from FinCEN, the courts and Congress. In the meantime, one thing is clear: The CTA, in its current form, is a cautionary tale of how well-meaning legislation can go awry when it fails to consider the realities of small business ownership. As the debate over the CTA continues, one can only hope that policymakers will heed the lessons of history and prioritize the needs of Americas small businesses the backbone of our economy. Sources include: MorganLewis.com WashingtonExaminer.com Pentagons $80M waste exposed: How Musks DOGE Team is draining the swamp The DOD has uncovered $80 million in wasteful spending, thanks to the efforts of Elon Musks DOGE, signaling a potential overhaul of Pentagon expenditures. The wasteful spending includes millions on DEI initiatives and climate change research, which DOD spokesperson Sean Parnell criticizes as distractions from the militarys core mission of national defense. Musks DOGE team, known for cost-cutting and efficiency, is working with the DOD to address waste, redundancies and bloated headquarters staffing, drawing on Musks track record of transforming industries. Although $80 million is a small portion of Pentagon's $850 billion budget, it represents a significant move towards accountability and refocusing on core defense priorities, with promises of further cuts and a commitment to wise spending. In a not-so-surprising revelation that underscores the rampant waste and misplaced priorities within the federal government, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced Monday that it has identified $80 million in wasteful spending thanks to the relentless efforts of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This is just the beginning of what promises to be a sweeping overhaul of Pentagon spending, but it raises serious questions about how taxpayer dollars have been squandered for years on programs that have nothing to do with national defense. The findings, unveiled by DOD spokesperson Sean Parnell, expose a litany of frivolous expenditures, including millions funneled into Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and climate change research projects that have no place in the militarys core mission. As Parnell bluntly stated in a social media post, This is not what we do. This is a distraction from our core mission. DEI and climate research: A distraction from defense Among the most egregious examples of waste is the 1.9 million earmarked by the Air Force for holistic DEI transformation and training. Another 3.5 million was spent by the Defense Human Resources Activity to support DEI groups. Meanwhile, the University of Montana received 6 million to strengthen American democracy by bridging divides, and the University of Florida was granted 1.6 million to study social and institutional determinants of vulnerability and resilience to climate hazards in the Sahel region of Africa. These programs, funded through the Minerva Research Initiative a DOD program launched in 2008 are ostensibly meant to address global regions of strategic importance to the U.S. But as Parnell rightly pointed out, they are far removed from the militarys primary responsibility: defending the nation. This stuff is just not a core function of our military, Parnell said in a video posted to X. This is a distraction. The fact that such programs were ever approved is a damning indictment of the bureaucratic bloat and misplaced priorities that have plagued the Pentagon for decades. Its a reminder of why the American people demanded changeand why leaders like Elon Musk and his DOGE team are stepping up to deliver it. Musks DOGE: A lean, mean, cost-cutting machine Elon Musks DOGE team, working in tandem with the DOD, has already proven its worth by identifying these wasteful expenditures. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has welcomed Musks involvement, stating, There are wastes, redundancies and headcounts in headquarters that need to be addressed. Musks reputation for efficiency is well-documented. After acquiring Twitter (now X), he slashed the companys workforce by more than half, cutting costs and boosting profitability. His approach to government waste is no different. As Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) noted in a recent interview, Were talking about people who have transformed whole industries: space, automobile, energy, even healthcare. We need that mindset in government. Waltz, who recently resigned from Congress to serve as President-elect Donald Trumps national security advisor, expressed confidence in DOGEs ability to cut trillions from the federal budget. The balance sheet just isnt sustainable anymore, he said. We shouldnt wait until we go off the financial cliff to start taking meaningful action. A drop in the bucket but a start While 80 million is a fraction of the Pentagons $850 billion budget, its a significant step in the right direction. Parnell emphasized that this is just the start, with more cuts expected in the coming weeks. We are working hand in glove with DOGE, he said. Stay tuned as we trim the fat, preserve the muscle, and make the DOD more mission-capable and more lethal. Critics may argue that the savings are negligible, but they miss the bigger picture. This is about more than just dollars and centsits about restoring accountability and refocusing the military on its core mission. Its about ensuring that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely, not wasted on pet projects and ideological initiatives. A return to fiscal responsibility The collaboration between the DOD and DOGE marks a turning point in the fight against government waste. For too long, bureaucrats have treated taxpayer money as a bottomless piggy bank, funding programs that serve no practical purpose. Now, thanks to the efforts of Musk and his team, that era is coming to an end. As Parnell put it, We believe that these initial findings will probably save $80 million in wasteful spending. But the real victory lies in the message it sends: the days of unchecked spending and misplaced priorities are over. The American people deserve a government that works for them, not one that squanders their hard-earned money on frivolous programs. With leaders like Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth at the helm, were finally seeing progress toward that goal. The swamp is being drainedone wasteful program at a time. Stay tuned. The best is yet to come. Sources include: NYPost.com WashingtonExaminer.com TheHill.com Bloomberg.com Hungarian government to investigate alleged USAID interference in countrys internal affairs The Hungarian government plans to investigate alleged interference by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Hungary's internal affairs, including its impact on media, journalists, political activists and NGOs. Gergei Guyash, head of the Prime Minister's office, claims USAID funds were used to shape public opinion and calls the case "the largest corruption scandal in the Western world." Prime Minister Viktor Orban appointed Andras Laszlo, an MEP from the ruling party, as the Government Commissioner to investigate the use of U.S. taxpayer money provided by USAID. The investigation aims to uncover the extent of American funding in Hungary, its impact on public opinion and the intentions behind the allocation of American grants to Hungarian organizations. The announcement follows a recent MCC Brussels report revealing how NGOs exploit EU and state funding for political agendas, raising questions about the neutrality of these organizations. The Hungarian government has announced plans to launch an investigation into the United States' interference in its internal affairs through the programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Gergei Guyash, the head of the office of the Hungarian Prime Minister, alleged that USAID funds were used to influence Hungarian media, journalists, political activists and NGOs to shape public opinion. "[The American agency's] money was used to buy mass media, journalists, political activists and so-called non-governmental organizations capable of influencing public opinion," said Guyash, who described the USAID case as "the largest corruption scandal in the Western world." In line with this, Guyash announced that Prime Minister Viktor Orban appointed Andras Laszlo, a member of the European Parliament from the ruling FIDESZ-Hungarian Civil Union party, as the Government Commissioner to investigate U.S. taxpayer money provided by the USAID. "The significance of this matter for Hungary is enormous," Gulyas said during a press briefing. "We need a full, swift and thorough investigation into how these funds were used and what influence they exerted." Laszlo's team will contact American authorities, study the details of U.S. programs and prepare a comprehensive report. The government seeks to uncover the extent of American funding in Hungary, the impact of past U.S. administrations on public opinion and the intentions behind the allocation of American grants to Hungarian organizations. Laszlo confirmed his appointment in a post on X. "Today, I was appointed Government Commissioner for uncovering the purpose and destination of the corrupt USAID monies that arrived to Hungary. I will be closely monitoring the USAID scandal and reaching out to the DOGE Committee, Elon Musk and the Trump administration to cooperate," he wrote. "The work already done by our American friends is unbelievable. It is our mutual interest to trace these corrupt funds, understand how the globalist network works and dismantle the corruption machine." (Related: DOGE freezes all funding to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).) Report reveals NGOs exploit EU and government funding for political agendas The announcement came after a recent MCC Brussels report revealed how the European Union (EU) and government funding is being used to advance political agendas. According to the MCC Brussels report, which was published in Magyar Nemzet, state-funded NGOs often exploit their position for political and financial gain. It highlights the growing influence of NGOs in political discourse and their role in advancing bureaucratic interests. "The research is particularly relevant in light of the efforts launched by the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), which NGOs actively involved in left-wing political protests they are intended to finance the state, calling into question the neutrality of these organizations," Magyar Nemzet wrote on its website. Executive Director Frank Furedi of MCC Brussels said: "It seems that NGOs are no longer 'non-governmental organizations' at all, but rather hired masses paid to protest and lobby for the agenda of bureaucratic interests." BigGovernment.news has more stories like this. Watch the video below that talks USAID being worse than everyone thinks. This video is from Rick Langley's channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DOGE is right to defang the CFPB. DOGE exposes 4 million credit cards racking up $40 billion in Fiscal Year 24. DOGE saves taxpayers $55 billion in under a month, exposing Biden-era waste. DOGE targets IRS in sweeping government efficiency push. DOGE exposes federal government's bizarre use of limestone mine to process retirement papers by hand. Sources include: RMX.news News.Pravda.com English.news.cn Magyarnemzet.hu Brighteon.com Shocking $135 Billion was stolen from taxpayers as criminals exploited COVID Relief Programs $135 billion in unemployment benefits stolen during the pandemic, marking the largest theft of taxpayer dollars in U.S. history. Criminals from China, Russia and other nations exploited lax oversight to launder funds for child trafficking, drugs and terrorism. Congress faces a March 2025 deadline to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting fraudsters, or thousands will escape justice. The same criminal networks now target disaster relief funds for fire and hurricane victims, highlighting systemic failures. Lock downs and baseless money printing led to disturbing level of criminal money laundering In what can only be described as a brazen heist of historic proportions, the COVID-19 lockdowns provided a golden opportunity for organized crime syndicates to plunder American taxpayers to the tune of $135 billion. This staggering sum, siphoned from unemployment insurance (UI) programs, represents the largest theft of public funds in U.S. history. As Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) revealed in a recent podcast with John Solomon, the pandemic exposed gaping holes in the nations financial safeguards, allowing criminals to exploit relief programs with impunity. Now, with the statute of limitations for prosecuting these crimes set to expire in March 2025, lawmakers are scrambling to hold fraudsters accountable and recover stolen funds. But as the same criminal networks shift their focus to disaster relief programs, the question remains: Will the federal government act decisively to protect taxpayer dollars, or will this unprecedented theft go unpunished? The totalitarian COVID-19 lockdowns and subsequent medical tyranny unleashed a wave of unprecedented government spending, with trillions of dollars funneled into relief programs like the CARES Act. While these funds were intended to help struggling Americans, they also became a magnet for fraud. According to the Department of Justice, an estimated 100to100to135 billion in UI benefits were stolen, with only $5 billion recovered to date. The scale of the theft is staggering. During a recent Ways and Means Work and Welfare Subcommittee hearing, Chairman Darin LaHood (IL-16) highlighted a case in Pennsylvania where a single individual stole $59 million in public benefits, funneling the money to co-conspirators in China. This case is just one of 1,648 open investigations by the Department of Justice, with 157,000 UI fraud complaints still unresolved. These cases are complex, LaHood said. Theyre nuanced, involve federal crimes, but they also raise serious national security concerns. Indeed, the fraud was not limited to domestic criminals. International crime syndicates from China, Russia, Nigeria, and Romania exploited stolen personal information to file fraudulent claims on behalf of legitimate individuals. As unemployment insurance expert Haywood Talcove testified, these groups used the stolen funds for horrible things, including child trafficking, drug distribution, and even terrorism. Same criminals, new targets: Disaster relief fraud in California continues Five years after the first lockdown relief checks were issued, the same criminal networks continue to exploit federal programs, this time targeting disaster relief funds. In California, where wildfires have devastated communities, fraudsters are stealing disaster unemployment insurance and SNAP benefits intended for fire victims. Similarly, in North Carolina, hurricane victims are being robbed of much-needed aid. Its the same groups doing the same thing, Talcove said. They use the money for horrible things Id like to tell you that things are better today, but just watching whats going on in California, seeing what happened in North Carolina, same groups, same playbook, stealing at scale. This ongoing theft underscores the urgent need for federal action to protect taxpayer funds and ensure that relief programs reach their intended recipients. With the statute of limitations for prosecuting pandemic-era fraud set to expire in March 2025, time is running out to hold criminals accountable. If Congress fails to act, thousands of fraudsters will escape justice, and taxpayers will lose any chance of recouping stolen funds. The Department of Justice has 1,648 open cases, Congressman Yakym noted. These are uncharged criminal matters relating to COVID-19 fraud Do you believe that theres still more unemployment fraud carried over from the pandemic out there that could result in prosecution or recouping funds if we were to extend the statute of limitations? Talcoves response was unequivocal: Yes, I think there is. Sources include: Justthenews.com Art19.com WaysandMeans.house.gov Study investigates possible link between Hepatitis B vaccine and autism In 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns to protect against serious liver infections. However, concerns have been raised about its safety, particularly a potential link to autism. Researchers analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (1997-2002) to explore the relationship between hepatitis B vaccination and autism diagnoses in boys aged three to 17. The study focused on a time when thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, was still used in some vaccines. It found that boys vaccinated as newborns had a three-fold higher likelihood of being diagnosed with autism compared to those vaccinated later (after the first month of life) or not at all. Non-Hispanic white boys and boys from two-parent households were significantly (70 percent) less likely to be diagnosed. In 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that all newborns in the United States receive the hepatitis B vaccine to prevent liver infection that can lead to long-term health complications. However, over time, concerns have emerged regarding the vaccine's safety, particularly its potential link to autism. A study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A examined the issue by analyzing data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) between 1997 and 2002. The large government survey collects information from U.S. households to track medical trends and public health concerns. Researchers focused on boys aged three to 17 years born before 1999, when some vaccines still contained a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal, to determine whether early hepatitis B vaccination was associated with an increased risk of autism. The study analyzed data from nearly 80,000 children, including 193 diagnosed with autism. Key findings include: 4.3 out of every 1,000 boys were diagnosed with autism. 29 percent of boys with autism had received the hepatitis B vaccine within the first month of life, compared to 17 percent of boys without autism. Non-Hispanic white boys made up 48 percent of the autism group and 59 percent of the non-autism group, indicating autism was somewhat more common in non-white boys. None of the Asian boys in the study who received the vaccine at birth were diagnosed with autism. 58 percent of boys with autism lived in two-parent households, compared to 71 percent of boys without autism. 75 percent of boys with autism had mothers with at least a high school education, similar to the 78 percent of boys without autism. When researchers ran statistical analyses to compare different factors, they found that: Boys vaccinated at birth had nearly three times the odds of an autism diagnosis compared to those vaccinated later or not at all. White boys were 64 percent less likely to be diagnosed with autism than non-white boys. Boys from two-parent households were 70 percent less likely to be diagnosed with autism than boys from single-parent households. Boys with mothers who had at least a high school education appeared twice as likely to be diagnosed with autism, though this result was not statistically significant. Even after adjusting for race, family background and maternal education, the association between early hepatitis B vaccination and autism remained. This study found that boys born before 1999 who received the hepatitis B vaccine within their first month of life were more likely to be diagnosed with autism than those vaccinated later or not at all. Notably, the study found no similar association in girls. However, since only a small number of girls in the study were diagnosed with autism, further research is needed to determine whether gender plays a role. Some scientists caution that studies linking vaccination to autism may be influenced by selection bias. This occurs when children who see doctors more frequently possibly due to preexisting health concerns are both more likely to be vaccinated and more likely to receive an autism diagnosis. To account for this possibility, researchers in this study examined whether hepatitis B vaccine was linked to unrelated health conditions like Down syndrome or heart defects. They also analyzed other childhood vaccines, such as MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) and varicella (chickenpox), to see if they were also associated with autism. Moreover, the study authors also considered whether children from two-parent households were both more likely to be vaccinated and more likely to be evaluated for autism. But due to inconclusive findings, researchers suggest that selection bias alone cannot explain the results. Study limitations This study had some important limitations: It could not test to determine whether a specific vaccine ingredient (like thimerosal or aluminum) contributed to the observed association. The data relied on parental reports of autism diagnosis, which may be less reliable or precise than medical records. It did not distinguish between different subtypes of autism, such as Aspergers syndrome or autism with co-occurring health conditions. The overall autism rate in this study was lower than what other large studies have reported, possibly because children in urban areas where autism diagnoses are more common were underrepresented. Children without vaccination records were excluded, which could have affected the autism rate calculations. While this study highlights a potential link between early hepatitis B vaccination and autism in boys, it does not establish causation. Ongoing research is essential to fully understand the long-term effects of vaccination to ensure children's health and safety. Watch Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. making the case that the hepatitis B vaccine is largely responsible for the autism epidemic in this clip. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump wants Kennedy to investigate potential link between childhood vaccines and autism. Study raises questions about potential effects of vaccine ingredients on childrens health. Dr. McCullough, Australian professor highlight scientific links between vaccines and autism. Sources include: PublicHealth.StonyBrookMedicine.edu [PDF] TAndFOnline.com Brighteon.com Hey Democrats and Liberals, WELCOME TO THE WORKING WEEK and the end of ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY at your 6-figure virtual government job Imagine the horror of having to justify in just 5 bullet-point sentences what you did at your 6-figure job for 40 hours last week. Democrats and Liberals enjoyed Big Government and ZERO accountability because ever since COVID, theyve been collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from their cush jobs while pretending to work from home, using mouse jigglers to keep their computer screens active. Now they have to show up to work or be fired, and DOGE, led by Elon Musk, wants every worker to write five simple sentences, like a 5th grader, saying what they did last week for their job responsibilities. Imagine the horror of having to justify in just 5 bullet-point sentences what you did at your 6-figure job for 40 hours last week. How could any employer ever ask a worker to do this? Cant they just work in peace, from home, virtually, and never be held accountable for anything at all, like they did for 4 years under Biden? Why not? Democrats and Liberals love Big Government and ZERO accountability because ever since COVID plandemic, theyve been collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from their cush jobs while pretending to work from home virtually, using mouse jigglers to keep their computer screen from going to sleep mode. Now they have to show up to work or be fired, and DOGE, led by Elon Musk, wants every worker to write five simple sentences, like a 5th grader, saying what they did last week for their job responsibilities. This has every TDS-suffering, hate-spewing Liberal up in arms, screaming unfair and Elon Musk is not my boss! We didnt elect Elon Musk! Billions of dollars have been wasted paying Liberals 6-figure incomes for 4 years or more to do absolutely nothing for the corrupt, useless Dem Government Imagine getting paid 5 times as much as someone who busts their back working in a factory or on a farm all day, and all you do is sit at home in your pajamas and wiggle your computer mouse while leading chat room conversations about transgender queer sex fetishes, having rights to go in girls bathrooms, play in girls sports, and read story time to little kids at daycare centers. Welcome to the working week Liberals, where people actually do work and are held accountable for doing it. People have job descriptions that are legitimate and have to perform tasks that support that agenda in order to further goals and missions of the government, corporations, companies and organizations. This is what the word job means. Performance and accountability. Yet, somehow, all the highly-paid Democrats and Liberals are enraged right now because they have to type 5 bullet-point sentences describing what they did last week. Thats discrimination! They say. This is all happening because Russia helped Trump steal another election, they think. Why didnt Kommie Harris get more votes? The Democrats wanted to keep wearing their beloved Covid face diapers and chatting in tranny-sex-fetish chat rooms while pocketing $10,000 to $20,000 per month from the Biden Regime forever. Fortunately, for the rest of us, the reign of terror is over. The communists and gender fluid sex freaks have been ousted from Washington DC and theyre all selling their mansions faster than Fauci can take off his Covid mask when the cameras stop rolling. Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat wasteland and propaganda that taxpayers footed the bill for to the tune of $5 trillion or more. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com ZeroHedge.com World War Three is now a certainty Im no fan of Trump or Putin but I am no fan of Zelensky either and when the entire world media, all politicians and most of the internet defend him and say what a fine fellow he is then you know he is a really, really bad egg. (Article by Dr. Vernon Coleman republished from VernonColeman.com) Real history (as opposed to MSM history) shows that Ukraine got itself into this war. It could have been sorted years ago. But I believe Zelensky is being supported by the conspirators who want to destroy Christianity, decency and humanity and start World War Three. His backers are the insane conspirators who want global depopulation with the world population cut to 500 million and the UKs population cut by nearly two thirds. Britain is in a dire state. The Labour Party has already pushed us onto the edge of the worst depression since the 1930s. Europe is almost as bad. We should be spending what little money our countries have on better health care and not on bombs. Starmers cuddling up to Zelensky shows that he is determined to be one of the driving forces taking us into World War Three. Whod have thought it Starmer wont be remembered for all those free suits. Hell be remembered as a warmonger. It is well acknowledged by historians that World War II was deliberately created by bankers it was a war fought for profit. `I see no reason why his war must go on. I am grieved to think of the sacrifices which it will claim. I would like to avert them. Adolf Hitler, July 1940. `We entered this war of our own free will, without ourselves being directly assaulted. Winston Churchill, July 1943 `The war was not just a matter of the elimination of Fascism in Germany, but rather of obtaining German sales markets. Winston Churchill March 1946 `I believe now that Hitler and the German people did not want war. But we declared war on Germany intent on destroying it, in accordance with our principle of balance of power and we were encouraged by the Americans around Roosevelt. We ignored Hitlers pleadings not to enter into war. Now we are forced to realise that Hitler was right. Former UK Attorney General, Sir Hartley Shawcross, March 1984 `The last thing Hitler wanted was to produce another great war. Sir Basil Liddell-Hart. `The state of German armament in 1939 gives the decisive proof that Hitler was not contemplating general war, and probably not intending war at all. Professor A.J.P. Taylor When Poland invaded Germany (not the other way round) Britain used it as an excuse to start a war with Germany. Remember, it was Poland which invaded Germany and Britain who declared war on Germany and not the other way around. Now were heading into World War Three. And the banker conspirators are using exactly the same trick as before. I warned it would happen in a video called `Nuclear War is Coming two years ago. Once again Britain (this time with the rest of Europe) has effectively declared war. The consequences are going to be appalling. Starmer has committed Britain to spending billions more on buying bombs and bullets. His is the Government which said it couldnt afford the winter fuel allowance for pensioners. He is taking us into a war which will kill many Britons and which will push us deeper into a depression that will last for decades. One thing I can guarantee: Starmer, Reeves, Macron, etc., will not be up to their chests in blood and mud - fighting and dying in Ukraine. The US and the UK have already paid billions on sending bombs and bullets to Ukraine (some of the arms were illegal uranium enriched stuff, of course). Now, as it was always planned, it seems clear that the US will get access to Ukraines rich mineral supplies. The UK will get no commodities but a lot of Ukrainian immigrants. Our creaking infrastructure will collapse. The American bankers will, as I predicted, make money out of their `investment in Ukraine. (The American technique is described in my book `Their Terrifying Plan which you should read if you want to know what is going on. To buy a copy CLICK HERE) The MSM claims that the majority of the British people will do anything to help Ukraine and regard Zelensky as a hero. Naturally, this is untrue. The majority of British people have no interest in defending Ukraine (which history shows was the father of its own misfortune) and I suspect many dislike Zelensky (officially addressed as `His Excellency!) as much as they dislike Starmer. Last week, the British people were worried about immigration, money and health care in that order. This week they can start worrying about World War Three. If we are all nuked (which is now likely) then we wont have to worry about immigration, money and health care. The world population will fall dramatically. And the bankers will become even richer. Starmers War isnt about saving Ukraine its about making money for billionaires. Read more at: VernonColeman.com NATOs Secret Armies chronicles the Wests continent-wide military operations against the Soviet Union Operation GLADIO was a covert network established in the late 1940s by the CIA and MI6, under NATO's guidance, to counter communist influence in Western Europe and serve as a stay-behind insurgency force in case of a Warsaw Pact invasion. The operation involved secret armies in various countries, such as Italy's "Gladio," Denmark's "Absalon," and France's "Plan Bleu," trained and equipped by the CIA and MI6. These forces were managed by the Allied Clandestine Committee (ACC) and the Clandestine Planning Committee (CPC) under NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). The secret armies were initially intended to resist Soviet invasion but soon engaged in acts of terrorism and human rights abuses. In Italy, the 1972 Peteano bombing, falsely attributed to the Red Brigades, was later linked to right-wing extremists and Gladio, exemplifying the "strategy of tension" aimed at discrediting the political left. The operation's influence extended beyond Italy, with involvement in the 1967 military coup in Greece, the 1977 Taksim Square massacre in Turkey, and investigations into secret armies in Belgium and Germany, where former Nazis were implicated. The exposure of Operation GLADIO revealed the manipulation of democratic institutions by clandestine forces, often with the approval of high-ranking officials. It highlighted the need for transparency, accountability and vigilance in intelligence agencies and underscored the ongoing struggle for truth and justice in democratic societies. In the late 1940s, as the echoes of World War II faded, a clandestine operation emerged, shrouded in secrecy and steeped in Cold War paranoia. Known as Operation GLADIO, this covert network was orchestrated by the United States' Central Intelligence Agency and Great Britain's MI6, under the auspices of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The operation's main goal was to counter communist influence in NATO nations and to act as stay-behind insurgents in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion. The operation and its many terrible activities were meticulously researched in Daniele Ganser's book "NATO's Secret Armies: Operation GLADIO and Terrorism in Western Europe." Ganser helped expose a web of covert activities, terrorism and human rights violations that lasted decades and spanned continents. Operation GLADIO was born in the tense environment of the Cold War, with the United States and Great Britain spearheading efforts to prevent the spread of Communism in Western Europe. The operation, which took on different code names in various countries such as "Gladio" in Italy, "Absalon" in Denmark and "Plan Bleu" in France was a network of secret armies trained and equipped by the CIA and MI6, with the British and U.S. Special Air Service and Green Berets playing central roles. These forces were ostensibly prepared to resist a potential Soviet invasion, but their activities soon extended beyond that mandate. The operation was coordinated by the Allied Clandestine Committee (ACC) and the Clandestine Planning Committee (CPC), which operated under NATOs Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). These bodies managed the secret armies, ensuring they were well-trained and well-equipped, with hidden arms caches scattered across Europe. Operation GLADIOs trajectory took a chilling turn as the secret armies became entangled in acts of terrorism and human rights abuses. In Italy, the 1972 bombing in Peteano, initially blamed on the left-wing terror group the Red Brigades, was later revealed to be the work of right-wing extremists linked to the Italian military secret service and Gladio. This pattern of false-flag operations, designed to discredit the political left, became a hallmark of the operation. This "strategy of tension," as the far-right's campaign was known as, called for a campaign of terrorism that would create enough fear and instability to further shift public opinion away from left-wing parties and toward conservatives. Vincenzo Vinciguerra, a fascist terrorist involved in the Peteano bombing, admitted, The reason was quite simple. They were supposed to force these people, the Italian public, to turn to the state to ask for greater security. While this strategy was most well known for how it was implemented in Italy, it was a central feature of GLADIO's activities in other nations. In Greece, former Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou exposed his countrys secret networks role in the 1967 military coup. In Turkey, the country's GLADIO branch, known as the Counter-Guerrilla group, was implicated in massacres and torture incidents, including the 1977 Taksim Square massacre. Belgium and Germany also saw investigations into their respective secret armies, with Germanys scandal involving former Nazis in the network. The exposure of Operation GLADIO revealed a disturbing truth: Democratic institutions had been manipulated by clandestine forces, often with the tacit approval of high-ranking officials. The operation highlighted the challenges of parliamentary oversight and the need for accountability in intelligence agencies. The revelation of Operation GLADIO exposed the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of transparency in democratic societies. As Europe confronts the legacy of this covert operation, the question of how such abuses of power persisted for so long looms large. The story underscores the need for vigilance and underscores the ongoing fight for truth and justice. Watch this video discussing Daniele Ganser's book "NATO's Secret Armies: Operation GLADIO and Terrorism in Western Europe." This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Deep State BOMBSHELL: Flynn names Nuland in Trump assassination plot, unveils Ukraine money laundering scandal Former National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn accused former Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland of being a central figure in an alleged assassination plot against President Donald Trump, suggesting a broader conspiracy involving multiple individuals both within and outside the government. Flynn claimed that Ukraine is a hub for a massive money laundering operation involving U.S. taxpayer dollars, with funds being funneled through agencies like USAID and the Treasury Department and ultimately benefiting corrupt politicians and bureaucrats in Washington. Flynn accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of complicity in the money laundering scheme, suggesting that shocking details about his involvement will soon be revealed, further implicating the entire Washington establishment. Flynn's allegations highlight the need for a thorough investigation into the alleged corruption and assassination plot, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of American resources abroad and urging action to prevent future abuses of power. In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through Washington, former National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn has named former Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland as a central figure in the alleged assassination plot against President Donald Trump. Flynns explosive claims, made during an appearance on OANs American Sunrise, also implicated Ukraine as a hub for a massive money laundering operation involving U.S. taxpayer dollars. This bombshell disclosure not only raises alarming questions about corruption within the highest echelons of government but also underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in how American resources are being used abroad. Flynn points finger at Nuland: Shes going to feel the pain Flynn did not mince words when he accused Victoria Nuland, a longtime State Department official, of being at the center of the alleged assassination attempts against Trump. The one name is Victoria Nuland. Victoria Nuland has so much at stake here, Flynn declared. He added that Nuland is among a constellation of others who are complicit in these schemes, many of whom operate out of government. Flynns allegations are particularly striking given Nulands prominent role in U.S. foreign policy, especially in Ukraine. Nuland, who served as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs under President Obama and later as Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs under President Biden, has long been a controversial figure. Critics have accused her of pushing policies that destabilized Ukraine and enriched corrupt actors, both in the region and in Washington. People like Victoria Nuland is one of those people that is going toshes going to feel the pain here I believe because these people have been at the center of this, Flynn said. Ukraine: One big money laundering operation Flynns accusations extend beyond Nulands alleged involvement in the assassination plot. He described Ukraine as one big money laundering operation, implicating U.S. agencies like USAID and the Treasury Department in funneling billions of dollars overseas, only to see those funds circle back into the pockets of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats in Washington. Elon [Musk] has demonstrated the outflow of dollars going out of the country through different parts of our government, Flynn said, referencing Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). What he hasnt shown yet is the complete cycle of funding that is going on, from once it goes out, where does it go to, how does it then flow around Europe and how does it flow back into the pockets of people here in the United States of America. Flynn suggested that Musk and Trump are on the verge of uncovering the full extent of this corruption. That has not been demonstrated yet. Im aware of some of that, and I think thats what Elon and President Trump are going to discover, he said. Zelenskys role in the ugly scandal Flynn also took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of complicity in the alleged grift. Zelensky is an actor. I mean, he actually has a great relationship with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin! Flynn claimed. He warned that the American public would soon learn shocking details about Zelenskys involvement in the money laundering scheme. Were going to discover things in these coming weeks about Zelensky it may take a couple months, I hope it doesnt, because were capable of being much faster but were going to discover things that the American people are going to be so upset about when it comes to the money flow back into the United States of America, back into the coffers of people, frankly, right there in Washington, D.C. Flynns comments suggest that the corruption is bipartisan, implicating not just Democrats but the entire Washington establishment. Its going to be ugly. And its not just Democrats. Its going to be the entirety of the establishment, the Security State, he said. A pattern of corruption Flynns allegations are not without precedent. For years, critics have raised concerns about the misuse of U.S. foreign aid, particularly in Ukraine. The 2014 Maidan Revolution, which ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, was heavily supported by the U.S. government, with Nuland playing a key role. However, many have questioned whether U.S. involvement in Ukraine has been driven by genuine democratic ideals or by the financial interests of a corrupt elite. The Biden familys ties to Ukraine have also come under scrutiny, particularly regarding Hunter Bidens lucrative position on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. While these allegations were dismissed by many in the mainstream media as conspiracy theories, Flynns claims suggest that the truth may be far more damning than previously thought. A call for accountability Flynns revelations underscore the urgent need for a thorough investigation into the alleged corruption and assassination plot. If even a fraction of his claims are true, it would represent one of the most egregious abuses of power in modern American history. As Flynn himself put it, These are the things that, when you talk about spending half a trillion dollars, over $400-500 billion dollars in one country over just the last few years, that moneys going somewhere, and it aint going into the troops on the frontlines of the various provinces that are fighting against the Russians there. The American people deserve answers. Its time to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that such corruption never happens again. Stay tuned as this story develops. Sources include: InfoWars.com AmericanBuddhist.net JoeHoft.com X.com Griftopia chronicles the lead-up to and the aftermath of the Great Recession and how this still harms American democracy today Matt Taibbi's book "Griftopia" reveals a deep-seated pattern of corruption and exploitation in American politics, highlighting how powerful interests manipulated the system for personal gain, leaving the public to suffer the consequences. The book delves into the 2008 financial crisis, portraying it as an inevitable collapse of a massive Ponzi scheme rather than an unforeseen disaster. It underscores the role of risky mortgages, deceptive securities and complicit ratings agencies in the crisis. Taibbi criticizes former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan's deregulatory policies and belief in unfettered markets, arguing that they created the conditions for the crisis. Greenspan's legacy is depicted as one of ideological blindness and unchecked power. The collapse of Lehman Brothers and the bailout of AIG are highlighted as examples of systemic risks in the American financial system. The bailout of AIG, funded by taxpayers, is criticized for rescuing Wall Street banks and perpetuating the "too-big-to-fail" problem. Taibbi's work serves as a wake-up call about the ongoing threats to American democracy and economic stability. He criticizes post-crisis reforms like the Dodd-Frank Act as inadequate and emphasizes the need for more substantial changes to address the root causes of corruption and exploitation. In his book "Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids and the Long Con that is Breaking America," journalist Matt Taibbi uncovers a harrowing tapestry of corruption and exploitation that has defined the recent decades of American politics. Published in 2010, the book delves into the 2008 financial crisis, political manipulation and how American democracy has eroded ever since. Taibbi, known for his incisive reporting, exposes how a cabal of powerful interests exploited the system for personal gain, leaving the public to bear the brunt of their reckless behavior. This expose not only tells the tale of the lead-up to and the aftermath of the Great Recession, but also warns about the ongoing threats to economic and political integrity in the United States. Taibbi's journey began at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, where former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's ascent marked a shift in political strategy. Palin's speech, according to Taibbi, was a masterful appeal to a constituency defined by grievance and alienation, rallying a base fuelled by resentment against the political elite. While Palin's charisma captivated millions, Taibbi reveals that the press corps was preoccupied with sensationalism, missing the warning signs of an impending economic catastrophe. The financial crisis, Taibbi argues, was not an unforeseen disaster but the inevitable collapse of a massive Ponzi scheme. At its heart was the American housing market, propped up by risky mortgages bundled into supposedly safe securities. Investment banks, with the complicity of ratings agencies, sold these securities to unsuspecting investors, including pension funds and insurance companies. The agencies, far from impartial, colluded with banks to give these toxic assets the highest ratings, ensuring their global circulation. Central to Taibbi's narrative is Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chairman whose deregulatory policies and belief in unfettered markets created the conditions for the crisis. Greenspan's legacy, as Taibbi portrays it, is one of ideological blindness and unchecked power, a cautionary tale of the dangers of deregulation and corporate influence over policy. The collapse of Lehman Brothers and the bailout of AIG further underscore the systemic risks inherent in the American financial system. AIG's financial products division, led by Joseph Cassano, sold billions in credit default swaps, effectively gambling on the housing market's stability. When the bubble burst, AIG faced ruin, leading to a taxpayer-funded bailout that not only rescued AIG but also its Wall Street counterparties, including Goldman Sachs. Taibbi highlights the incestuous relationship between big banks and the government, revealing how public funds were used to shield private interests from risk. The book also examines the role of sovereign wealth funds, particularly those from oil-rich nations like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in acquiring American infrastructure. These funds, bolstered by a commodities bubble, have amassed control over critical assets, prompting concerns about national sovereignty and the long-term implications of foreign ownership of public resources. In the aftermath of the crisis, reforms like the Dodd-Frank Act aimed to rein in Wall Streets excesses. However, Taibbi critiques these measures as half-hearted, eroded by industry lobbying. The too-big-to-fail problem persists, with banks continuing to dominate the financial landscape, and public trust in institutions further eroded. Throughout Griftopia, Taibbi paints a picture of a system riddled with corruption, where the powerful exploit the public for gain. His expose is not just a recounting of past wrongs but a wake-up call about the ongoing threats to American democracy and economic stability. Watch this video discussing Matt Taibbi's groundbreaking expose "Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids and the Long Con that is Breaking America." This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Hypocritical lawmaker kicked out of Trumps speech has lived off taxpayers for 47 years Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was forcibly removed from President Trumps joint address to Congress for heckling and refusing to sit down. Green has spent 47 years in taxpayer-funded roles, including 27 years as a Justice of the Peace and 18 years in Congress. He has a history of partisan theatrics, including leading multiple impeachment efforts against Trump since 2017. Green faced sexual harassment allegations in 2008, which were later withdrawn but remain a stain on his record. Republicans are pushing to censure Green for his disruptive behavior, calling it a lack of respect for the presidency. Rep. Al Green (D-TX), 77, made headlines Tuesday night after being forcibly removed from President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress for repeatedly heckling and refusing to sit down. But the real story lies in Greens nearly five-decade career funded by taxpayersa career marked by unprofessionalism, partisan theatrics, and a blatant disregard for decorum. Green, who has served in Congress since 2005, has spent 47 years living off the public dime. Before his tenure in Washington, he served as a Justice of the Peace in Houston, Texas, for 27 years, collecting a six-figure salary. Prior to that, he worked as a civil rights attorney and led the Houston chapter of the NAACP. Since earning his law degree in 1973, Green has spent only three years in the private sector, relying on government paychecks for the rest of his life. On Tuesday, Greens outburst during Trumps speech was just the latest example of his penchant for disruption. Standing up in the chamber, he shouted, You dont have a mandate!a move that forced House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to call for his removal. Outside the chamber, Green doubled down, telling reporters he was working on my articles of impeachment against Trump. A career of controversy and partisanship Greens behavior is not new. He has been a vocal critic of Trump since the presidents first term, leading multiple impeachment efforts. In 2017, he became the first Democrat to push for Trumps impeachment, citing issues like obstruction of justice and rhetoric following the Charlottesville incident. He has since supported several impeachment resolutions, often citing vague or politically motivated reasons. But Greens career has also been marred by personal controversies. In 2008, he faced allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination from a former staffer, Lucinda Daniels. Although both parties later withdrew their lawsuits and issued a joint statement expressing regret, the incident remains a stain on his record. Taxpayers foot the bill Whats most troubling is that Greens unprofessional behavior has been funded by American taxpayers for nearly half a century. From his time as a Justice of the Peace to his current role in Congress, Green has consistently prioritized partisan grandstanding over the needs of his constituents. His latest stuntdisrupting a presidential addressis just another example of how he has used his position to draw attention to himself rather than serve the public. Im willing to suffer whatever punishment is available to me, Green told reporters after his removal. But the real punishment is being borne by taxpayers, who have funded his salary and benefits for decades while he engages in political theater. Greens actions have drawn widespread condemnation, even from within his own party. House Democratic leaders had urged members to maintain decorum during Trumps speech, but Green chose to ignore those pleas. Now, Republicans are pushing for accountability. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) has introduced a resolution to censure Green, accusing him of bringing disrepute to the United States Congress. The Democrats behavior last night was disappointing, said Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA). There must be consequences for Rep. Al Greens outburst, which displayed a clear lack of decorum and respect for the Office of the Presidency. Rep. Al Greens 47-year career on the taxpayers dime is a testament to how some politicians prioritize personal agendas over public service. His latest disruption during President Trumps speech is just one more example of his unprofessionalism and disregard for the institutions he is supposed to uphold. Americans deserve better than politicians who use their positions for partisan stunts while living off the publics hard-earned money. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com USAToday.com NBCNews.com FoxNews.com Idahos dangerous gamble: Turning lies into felonies and the threat to free speech Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle introduced a bill that would make knowingly spreading false information about someone a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both, sparking concerns about free speech and government overreach. The bill aims to address statements made with knowledge of their falsity or reckless disregard for the truth, but it raises questions about the limits of free speech and the potential for government abuse. Moyle's defense of the bill misinterprets the First Amendment and historical precedents, ignoring the Founding Fathers' acceptance of hyperbolic speech and the discredited "fire in a crowded theater" analogy. The bill grants state attorneys and prosecutors the power to pursue charges for false statements about public officials, potentially leading to the criminalization of legitimate criticism and stifling dissent. The proposed legislation undermines democratic principles by shifting defamation from civil to criminal law, risking abuse of power, overwhelming the legal system and eroding fundamental freedoms. In a move that has sparked widespread alarm among free speech advocates, Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle has introduced a bill that would criminalize the act of knowingly spreading false information about another person. The proposed legislation, which would classify such actions as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both, has reignited debates about the limits of free speech and the dangers of government overreach. At its core, the bill seeks to target actual malicestatements made with the knowledge that they are false or with reckless disregard for the truth. But while the intent may be to curb harmful misinformation, the implications of such a law are far-reaching and deeply troubling. Moyle, a Republican, has defended the bill by invoking a narrow interpretation of the First Amendment. Im a firm believer in our First Amendment right, but I also believe that our founding fathers did not include in the First Amendment as being able to lie about somebody, Moyle declared. This statement, while seemingly well-intentioned, reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of both history and constitutional law. The Founding Fathers, far from seeking to police falsehoods, were themselves no strangers to hyperbolic and often false accusations. The 1800 presidential election, for example, saw Thomas Jefferson and John Adams trading outrageous claims, with Jeffersons camp accusing Adams of wanting to crown himself king and Adams supporters warning that Jefferson would usher in an atheist dystopia. Yet, despite the vitriol, neither man faced criminal charges. Moyle also invoked the infamous fire in a crowded theater analogy, a reference to the 1919 Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States. However, this analogy has been largely discredited in modern jurisprudence, as the case itself was overturned in 1969. The continued use of this argument underscores a troubling disregard for the evolution of free speech protections. Who gets to decide whats true? One of the most alarming aspects of the bill is its potential to weaponize the concept of truth. Under the proposed law, the state attorney general and county prosecutors would have the authority to pursue charges if the false statement concerns a public official or employee in connection with their duties. This provision raises serious concerns about the politicization of truth and the chilling effect it could have on dissent. Imagine a scenario where a journalist or political commentator criticizes a government official, only to face felony charges because the official claims the criticism was false. Suddenly, the line between legitimate criticism and criminal defamation becomes blurred, and the government gains unprecedented power to silence its critics. Even within the Idaho House State Affairs Committee, there were signs of unease. Rep. Bruce Skaug, a Republican, voiced his skepticism, stating, My concern is that if you make every liar a felon, then were going to be in a lot of troublenot enough room in our jails. His remark, while lighthearted, underscores a critical point: the bills broad scope could lead to a flood of prosecutions, overwhelming the legal system and infringing on individual liberties. Idaho already has civil libel laws in place, which allow individuals to seek redress for defamation without the threat of imprisonment. Under current law, a person found guilty of libel faces a fine of up to $5,000 or six months in jail. While these penalties are not insignificant, they pale in comparison to the draconian measures proposed by Moyles bill. By shifting defamation from a civil to a criminal matter, the bill would place the power to prosecute in the hands of the government rather than the individual. This represents a dangerous departure from the principles of due process and free expression that underpin our legal system. Moreover, the bills requirement for restitution adds another layer of complexity. A person convicted of criminal libel would be responsible for compensating the victim for specific costs incurred as a result of the false statement. While this may sound reasonable in theory, it could lead to exorbitant financial penalties that further discourage open discourse. A threat to democracy At its heart, this bill represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of free speech in a democratic society. The ability to criticize public officials, even harshly or inaccurately, is a cornerstone of democracy. While false statements can undoubtedly cause harm, the solution is not to criminalize speech but to foster a culture of accountability and robust public debate. History has shown us time and again that when governments are given the power to determine what is true and what is false, that power is inevitably abused. Whether its through censorship, intimidation, or outright suppression of dissent, the consequences of such overreach are dire. As Rep. Skaug aptly noted, If you make every liar a felon, then were going to be in a lot of trouble. But the trouble wont just be overcrowded jailsit will be the erosion of the very freedoms that make America a beacon of liberty. Idahos proposed bill is not just a threat to free speech; its a threat to democracy itself. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.com FoxNews.com KTVB.com India braces for Trumps reciprocal tariffs as U.S. seeks fair trade deals President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on India and other nations, effective April 2, targeting unfair trade practices. India faces vulnerability due to its trade surplus with the U.S., with sectors like chemicals, automobiles, and agriculture at risk. Indian officials are negotiating concessions, including tariff reductions on U.S. imports, but resist lowering agricultural tariffs to protect small farmers. President Donald Trump announced that reciprocal tariffs on India and other nations will take effect on April 2 to target what he considers unfair trade practices. Speaking to a Joint Session of Congress on Wednesday, Trump criticized India for imposing auto tariffs exceeding 100%, among other trade barriers, and vowed to match those rates. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them, Trump declared, emphasizing his commitment to protecting American industries and workers. The announcement comes as part of Trumps broader strategy to rebalance global trade, which has already seen tariffs imposed on $1.4 trillion in imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. The presidents aggressive stance has sent shockwaves through international markets, with India now scrambling to negotiate concessions to avoid the looming tariffs. Indias vulnerabilities and negotiation efforts India, which maintains a trade surplus with the U.S., is particularly vulnerable to Trumps reciprocal tariffs. Analysts estimate that sectors like chemicals, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture could face significant losses if the U.S. imposes matching tariffs. For example, Indias steel and aluminum exports are already subject to a 25% U.S. tariff, and the new measures could further strain bilateral trade. In response, Indian officials are exploring ways to reduce tariffs on key U.S. imports, including automobiles, chemicals, and medical devices. Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration has already slashed tariffs on high-end motorcycles and bourbon whiskey, signaling a willingness to compromise. Trade Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in the U.S. to discuss potential concessions and assess the impact of Trumps policies. However, India is resisting pressure to lower tariffs on agricultural products, citing concerns for millions of small farmers. Trumps reciprocal tariffs are part of a larger effort to address what he describes as decades of unfair trade practices by global partners. Weve been ripped off for decades by every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer, he said during his address. The president has repeatedly emphasized that these measures are designed for making America rich again, projecting that they will generate trillions of dollars and create jobs. The tariffs have already sparked retaliation from other nations. Canada and Mexico, for instance, have threatened to impose their own tariffs on U.S. goods, although the tariffs imposed by Trump in those cases are aimed at pressuring those countries to stop the flow of fentanyl across the border, while China has announced additional levies on American agricultural products. Despite the backlash, Trump remains steadfast, arguing that the U.S. must assert its economic interests. Global implications While some analysts argue that India may escape the worst of Trumps tariffs due to its relatively small share of U.S. trade, others warn of indirect consequences. Economist Swaminathan Aiyar noted that global trade uncertainty could slow Indias GDP growth. The world trade will slow down, and Indias trade will also slow down, he said. Indias efforts to negotiate a trade deal with the U.S. by 2025, aiming for $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, may offer some protection. However, with Trumps reciprocal tariffs set to take effect in April, time is running out for New Delhi to secure favorable terms. President Trumps reciprocal tariffs represent a seismic shift in U.S. trade policy, with India emerging as a key target. Although the measures aim to level the playing field for American businesses, they also risk escalating trade tensions and disrupting global markets. As India scrambles to negotiate concessions, it is clear that the era of unilateral U.S. trade concessions is over, and the rules of global commerce are being rewritten. Sources for this article include: EconomicTimes.com Reuters.com NDTV.com NBCNews.com Trumps EPA head Lee Zeldin needs to undo the Endangerment Finding At the direction of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin was charged with reconsidering whether the EPAs finding that emissions of carbon dioxide endanger human health, welfare, or the environment (the Endangerment Finding) is valid and merits continued support. (Article by H. Sterling Burnett republished from WesternJournal.com) Zeldin reported his determination and recommendations to Trump last week, but they have not been publicly released. Critics of the federal effort to limit fossil fuel use and restrict greenhouse gas emissions in the vain effort to prevent climate change which humans dont control by the way have long decried the Endangerment Finding, recognizing it serves as the foundation for nearly all federal climate rules since 2009. The Endangerment Finding was based on a gross and unjustified expansion of the reach of the Clean Air Act as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2007 case Massachusetts v. EPA. Massachusetts sued the EPA for not regulating greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide, from mobile sources as a pollutant causing climate change, which the state argued threatened it and its people via higher seas and worsening weather. The EPA argued that under the Clean Air Act it had no authority to regulate CO2 emissions because they werent considered pollution under the law. The Court took the occasion to expand the law beyond its wording and intention, rewriting the Clean Air Act to essentially define anything emitted into the air as a pollutant and thus subject to EPA regulation if the agency finds it endangers human health. Under this interpretation of the law, when a person exhales or belches, they are polluting. Because fossil fuels are the lifeblood of the economy, under the U.S. Supreme Courts interpretation of the CAA, the EPA has become an authoritarian czar, with the levers of the entire economy in its hands. The U.S. Constitution countenanced no single branch of government, much less a single unaccountable agency under one branch of the government, to wield such unchecked power. One of the main authors of the Clean Air Act, the late-Democratic Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, said the CAA was never intended to apply to naturally occurring atmospheric gases like CO2, oxygen, and H 2 O. It was certainly not intended to combat so-called climate change. Dingell noted that Congress had explicitly considered climate change legislation on several occasions and never passed anything. Still, the ruling came down and under then-President George W. Bush, the EPA failed to issue an Endangerment Finding. Eventually, under President Barack Obama, the EPA ruled CO2 endangered human health and thus had to be controlled. This came after Congress had failed to pass a climate bill Obama had supported. What he couldnt get through Congress, Obama pushed through the EPA, legislating through the stroke of a pen. Multiple groups attempted to block or overturn the Endangerment Finding, arguing that it was based on a faulty interpretation of the Clean Air Act and that CO2 did not endanger human health at any foreseeable level. Concerning the latter point, they pointed out the Endangerment Finding was not based on independent research conducted by the EPA, which discovered identifiable health problems caused by additional CO2 in the atmosphere. Rather, the EPA relied on computer model projections promoted by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which asserted that rising greenhouse gases would, sometime in the next century, cause all manner of catastrophes. The problem is the computer models used by the IPCC and cited by EPA were and remain flawed, unable to accurately project temperature changes in relation to CO2. Also, predictions of disaster have proven wrong time and again. In fact, the IPCCs claims about CO2-induced climate change, like more severe hurricanes, droughts, flooding, wildfires, accelerating sea level rise, the loss of polar bears, etc., based upon these models change from report to report and provide no reliable basis for public policy. Data, in fact, identify no worsening weather trends in relation to climate change droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, flooding, heatwaves, etc. are not getting worse, despite IPCC projections saying they should be. Since the Endangerment Findings inception, there has been a regulatory back-and-forth between administrations and the courts concerning regulations based upon it. Obama issued power plant regulations; pipeline and infrastructure rules; coal, oil, and gas restrictions; and fuel economy standards based on it, each of which blocked development and consumer choice and restricted energy use. States and interest groups challenged each of these efforts in federal courts, which delayed, enjoined, or blocked most of them, ruling variously that the regulations were not allowed under the sections of the law claimed or that they went beyond the scope of the law and were likely to be overturned by the Supreme Court. Trump issued his own rules for power plants, vehicles, energy, and infrastructure development, which were challenged by different sets of states and interest groups. Some courts blocked these efforts, suggesting they did not comport with the Endangerment Finding. Biden took office and reversed course again, issuing even stricter rules on power plants, vehicle emissions, and infrastructure projects while restricting fossil fuels. Fortunately, most of these actions were ruled unconstitutional. In the meantime, automobile companies, utilities, energy firms, and appliance manufacturers had to plan for the future. They made long-term plans concerning investments. Driven by fear and uncertainty concerning the scope of the Endangerment Finding, they implemented plans that catered to big governments demand to put climate concerns at the forefront. This has been a disaster, making profitability and consumer satisfaction secondary concerns to the governments climate mania. In the automobile industry, for instance, this resulted in a push for electric vehicles that has cost the industry billions of dollars malinvestments based on political pressure, as opposed to practicality and real market demand. Across the economy, with the Endangerment Finding looming in the policy background, fossil fuel use has been reduced while renewable energy sources and speculative technologies have been heavily subsidized. The result has been higher prices, fewer choices for average people, and less reliable energy throughout the nation. Although the Endangerment Finding is not the original sin vis-a-vis the climate change false alarm, it does serve as the cornerstone for misguided federal and state policies. If it goes, the legal justification for such policies collapses. Heres hoping that Zeldin recognizes, based on real climate research, that the Endangerment Finding was never justified and that it stands in the way of President Trumps push for energy dominance. The time to withdraw the EPAs toxic carbon dioxide Endangerment Finding is now! Read more at: WesternJournal.com Meta faces Supreme Court scrutiny over alleged government-led censorship of vaccine critics The U.S. Supreme Court ordered Meta to respond to a petition by Childrens Health Defense (CHD) alleging collusion with the Biden administration to censor COVID-19 and vaccine-related content. CHD was banned from Facebook and Instagram in 2022, claiming its First Amendment rights were violated by Metas censorship of scientific discussions. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted government officials pressured the company to remove content, contradicting earlier claims of independent decision-making. The Supreme Courts order suggests the justices are seriously considering the case, potentially impacting free speech and censorship laws in the digital age. The case highlights broader concerns about tech giants role in public discourse and government influence over online content moderation. The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to respond to a petition filed by Childrens Health Defense (CHD) by March 31. The petition alleges that Meta colluded with Biden administration officials to censor CHDs content, particularly regarding vaccines and COVID-19. This move comes after Meta initially waived its right to respond, raising questions about the social media giants transparency and its role in suppressing dissenting voices. The case, which dates back to 2020, has gained renewed attention following Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs public admissions that government officials pressured the company to censor content during the pandemic. CHD, a nonprofit organization advocating for vaccine safety and informed consent, was deplatformed from Facebook and Instagram in August 2022 and has not been reinstated. The Supreme Courts decision to compel Meta to respond suggests the justices are taking the case seriously, potentially setting the stage for a landmark ruling on censorship and free speech in the digital age. A battle over free speech and government overreach CHDs lawsuit, filed in November 2020, accuses Meta of collaborating with Biden administration officials to suppress its content, including posts about COVID-19 vaccines, natural immunity, and alternative treatments like ivermectin. The organization argues that such censorship violates the First Amendment, particularly when the suppressed information is based on scientific data. Metas actions against CHD began as early as May 2019, with the removal or restriction of posts. By August 2022, the organization was completely banned from Facebook and Instagram. CHD CEO Mary Holland noted that the organizations ability to share critical health information was stifled at a time when such discussions were most needed. The timing of the Supreme Courts order is notable, coming just weeks after Zuckerberg admitted on Joe Rogans podcast that government officials would call up our team and, like, scream at them and curse to demand the removal of content, even when it was factually accurate. These admissions contradict Metas earlier claims in court that its censorship decisions were made independently, without government influence. Zuckerbergs admissions raise questions Zuckerbergs revelations have added fuel to CHDs case. In January, less than 24 hours after CHD petitioned the Supreme Court, Zuckerberg announced Meta would end its third-party fact-checking program, a move seen by many as an attempt to distance the company from its controversial censorship practices. However, CHD argues that this change does not absolve Meta of its past actions. That the U.S. Supreme Court has now required Meta to respond seems a hopeful sign that the court is taking our petition seriously and that we also will get a chance to respond to Metas submission, said CHD General Counsel Kim Mack Rosenberg. The case has drawn attention from free speech advocates and legal experts who warn of the dangers of government-led censorship in the digital age. National healthcare attorney Rick Jaffe, who is not directly involved in the case but represents CHD in other matters, called the Supreme Courts order a positive indication that the justices are taking the issue seriously. My speculation is that Zuckerbergs recent admissions, adeptly pointed out by Roger Teichs supplemental letter to the Court, made some members want a response from Meta, Jaffe said. CHDs fight against Meta is part of a larger battle to hold tech giants accountable for their role in shaping public discourse. As Holland wrote in a recent op-ed, The American public is better served with more information rather than less, especially when it is grounded in data-based scientific information. People are smart enough to make up their own minds. The Supreme Courts decision to compel Meta to respond to CHDs petition marks a critical juncture in the ongoing debate over free speech and censorship. With Zuckerbergs admissions casting doubt on Metas claims of independence, the case could set a precedent for how social media platforms navigate their responsibilities in the digital public square. As the March 31 deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the Court to see whether it will take up a case that could redefine the boundaries of free expression in the 21st century. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org ChildrensHealthDefense.org ChildrensHealthDefense.org Elon Musk demands audit of U.S. aid to Ukraine amid corruption allegations and White House tensions Tech billionaire Elon Musk sparked widespread debate by demanding a comprehensive audit of the hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. military and financial aid sent to Ukraine, citing concerns over potential misuse of funds. His post on X went viral, garnering 96 million views and significant public support. Musk's call followed a heated confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump during Zelensky's White House visit. The meeting reportedly ended in a shouting match, with Trump accusing Zelensky of ingratitude, further straining U.S.-Ukraine relations. Critics, including investigative journalist Laura Loomer, allege that some U.S. aid has been diverted to controversial groups like the Azov Battalion. Systemic corruption in Ukraine, particularly within the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), has raised concerns about the impartiality of anti-corruption efforts and political manipulation. NABU has been accused of targeting political opponents, including allies of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, a potential presidential contender. With elections postponed under martial law, Zelensky's administration faces criticism for delaying democratic processes and consolidating power. Musk's call for an audit reflects broader public concern over unchecked government spending and lack of oversight in U.S. aid to Ukraine. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has previously flagged issues with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and transparency in aid distribution. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has ignited a firestorm of debate by calling for a comprehensive audit of the hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. military and financial aid sent to Ukraine. Musk's demand, posted on his social media platform X, comes on the heels of a contentious meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, which reportedly ended in a heated exchange. In his post, Musk wrote, "Time to find out what really happened to the hundreds of billions of dollars sent to Ukraine" The message quickly went viral, amassing 96 million views and a hundred thousand interactions. Public response was overwhelmingly supportive, with many echoing Musk's concerns about potential misuse of funds. Investigative journalist Laura Loomer alleged that some of the aid had been funneled to controversial groups, including the Azov Battalion, which has been linked to neo-Nazi ideologies. Musk's terse reply "Wow." only fueled the growing demand for answers. Oval Office showdown The push for an audit follows a dramatic confrontation between Zelensky and U.S. leadership during the Ukrainian president's recent visit to the White House. According to sources, the meeting devolved into a shouting match, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance accusing Zelensky of ingratitude for American support. Zelensky, in turn, reportedly hinted at potential vulnerabilities for the U.S. if aid were to be curtailed. The tense exchange culminated in Zelensky being escorted out of the White House. (Related: Musk, Trump criticize Zelensky over leadership and war spending as U.S. aid debate heats up. In a subsequent interview with Fox News, Zelensky attempted to downplay the incident, insisting that he and Trump could still "reach an agreement" on Ukraine's future. However, the fallout from the meeting has cast a shadow over U.S.-Ukraine relations, with Musk's call for an audit adding fuel to the fire. Since the onset of the conflict, the U.S. has sent over $100 billion in aid to Ukraine, including military equipment, humanitarian assistance and financial support. While the aid has been critical in bolstering Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, concerns about corruption and mismanagement have persisted. Ivan Sascha Sheehan, a professor of public and international affairs at the University of Baltimore, highlighted the systemic issues plaguing Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts. "Corruption in Ukraine runs deep," Sheehan wrote in Stars and Stripes, "and at its core, ironically, lies the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU)." Established in 2016 as a condition for Western aid, NABU was intended to combat corruption but has since been accused of becoming a tool for political manipulation. Sheehan pointed to the influence of Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, who has been described as the second most powerful figure in Ukraine. Yermak's alleged control over NABU and other key institutions has raised questions about the impartiality of anti-corruption investigations. For instance, NABU dropped a high-profile case involving Yermak's brother shortly after Yermak consolidated power. Similarly, Oleh Tatarov, Yermak's deputy, has been embroiled in multiple corruption scandals but remains in his position despite public outcry. Critics argue that NABU has been weaponized to target political opponents, particularly as Zelensky's domestic popularity has waned. The bureau has recently focused its investigations on allies of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and a potential presidential contender. Zaluzhnyi, now serving as Ukraine's ambassador to the U.K., remains a highly trusted figure in Ukraine, but his removal from military leadership and the targeting of his associates suggest a broader effort to eliminate political rivals. Zelensky delaying democratic processes The timing of these actions is significant. With Ukraine's elections postponed under martial law, Zelensky's administration has faced growing criticism for delaying democratic processes. Trump has publicly called for elections to be held and as peace negotiations progress, the justification for martial law may soon dissolve. Musk's demand for an audit has struck a chord with a public increasingly wary of unchecked government spending. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has previously flagged concerns about the lack of oversight for USAID funds sent to Ukraine, noting that standard protocols have been bypassed due to the urgency of the conflict. This lax oversight, critics argue, has created an environment ripe for corruption. As the debate over Ukraine aid intensifies, the need for transparency has never been more urgent. "Why was there no food in Soviet stores?" Sheehan quipped, referencing an old Soviet joke. "Because the government kept everything 'for the people!'" The irony is not lost on observers, as Zelensky's party, "Servant of the People," faces mounting allegations of corruption that undermine its stated mission. Head over to Trump.news for stories related to this. Elon Musk blasts USAID on social media. Watch this video. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: U.S. threatens to cut Starlink access unless Ukraine concedes mineral rights. Ukraine reverses stance, agrees to U.S. minerals deal after initial rejection by Zelensky. Breakaway civilization initiates counter-coup: Trump and Musk at the helm. Sources include: YourNews.com X.com Stripes.com Brighteon.com New Zealands internet shake-up: Free speech fears amid Te Tiriti domain rule overhaul InternetNZ, the organization managing New Zealand's .nz domain, is proposing significant constitutional changes to become a "Te Tiriti-centric organization," sparking intense debate about potential censorship and ideological control of the internet. The proposed reforms have drawn fierce opposition from free speech advocates who argue that the changes could undermine the open and democratic nature of the internet, with concerns that the new constitution could impose ideological conformity and eliminate harm on the internet. The debate centers around the incorporation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi into InternetNZ's constitution, with critics suggesting that this move is more about advancing a political agenda than honoring the treaty, potentially stifling free expression. InternetNZ President Stephen Judd defends the changes as a modernization effort to address systemic racism and ensure the organization reflects current times. He emphasizes transparency and collaboration in the review process, insisting that the organization will not engage in censorship. In a move that has sparked heated debate across New Zealand, InternetNZ, the non-profit organization responsible for managing the countrys .nz domain, is proposing a constitutional overhaul that critics say could pave the way for censorship and ideological control of the internet. The proposed changes, which aim to make InternetNZ a Te Tiriti-centric organization, have drawn fierce opposition from free speech advocates, who warn that the reforms could undermine the open and democratic nature of the internet. The controversy comes at a time when New Zealands digital landscape is already under scrutiny. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the country gained notoriety for its stringent restrictions, both offline and online. Now, as the world moves on from the pandemic, the legacy of that eramarked by heightened government control and surveillanceappears to linger in New Zealands approach to internet governance. The Te Tiriti connection At the heart of the debate is Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the 1840 treaty between the British Crown and M?ori chiefs that established New Zealand as a British colony. While the treaty remains a cornerstone of New Zealands national identity, its incorporation into InternetNZs constitution has raised eyebrows. Critics argue that the move is less about honoring the treaty and more about advancing a political agenda that could stifle free expression. InternetNZ President Stephen Judd insists that the proposed changes are about modernizing the organization and addressing systemic racism identified in a 2022 review. Thirty years ago, nobody knew what the internet would become. Times have changed, and our constitution needs to reflect that, Judd said. He emphasized that the review process has been collaborative and transparent, with multiple opportunities for member feedback. However, opponents see the reforms as a thinly veiled attempt to impose ideological conformity. Former District Court judge David Harvey, a member of the Free Speech Union, warned in a newsletter that the new constitution would make InternetNZ co-governed and constitutionally required to implement policies that will eliminate harm on the internet. Harveys concerns have resonated with many, leading to a surge in InternetNZ membership as free speech advocates rally to block the changes. Censorship concerns The Free Speech Union has been particularly vocal in its opposition, accusing InternetNZ of setting itself up as judge and jury over online content. Union CEO Jonathan Ayling told RNZ that the proposed constitution is fundamentally undemocratic, ideological and primed for censorship. Ayling pointed to the requirement that board members have knowledge of Te Tiriti and support our goal to be a Te Tiriti-centric organization as evidence of ideological gatekeeping. The fact that any member who does not agree with InternetNZ being a Te Tiriti-centric organization is ineligible for the board is deeply concerning, he said. InternetNZ has pushed back against these claims, stating that the constitutional review is focused on organizational governance and will not alter how domain names are managed. Judd reiterated that the organization can only remove a domain under very limited circumstances, such as court orders or fraudulent registrations. We are not going to censor .nzwe never have, we never will, he said. A battle for the internets future The debate over InternetNZs constitution is more than just a bureaucratic squabbleits a battle for the soul of the internet in New Zealand. On one side are those who believe the internet should be a free and open space, governed by technical expertise rather than political ideology. On the other are those who argue that the internet must reflect New Zealands cultural values and protect users from harm. Amber Craig, a former InternetNZ member who left the organization in 2021 over its handling of online racism, supports the reforms. No ones actually talking about taking down sites, she said. What theyre talking about is how do we be more inclusive and accessible to everyone because the internet is for everyone. But for free speech advocates like David Farrar, a long-time InternetNZ member, the proposed changes represent a dangerous shift. My only desire is to stop the proposed constitution and possibly put forward some amendments with others which will preserve the current role of InternetNZ and not acting as a sort of judge and jury on internet content, Farrar said. As InternetNZ prepares for a special general meeting to vote on the changes, the stakes could not be higher. The outcome will not only determine the future of New Zealands internet but also set a precedent for how other nations balance free speech and cultural values in the digital age. In a world where the internet is increasingly seen as a battleground for ideological control, New Zealands internet shake-up serves as a cautionary taleand a rallying cry for those who believe that free speech must remain the cornerstone of the digital world. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org rnz.co.nz NZHearld.co.nz Pentagon confirms Ukraine-bound planes turned around midflight in dramatic aid freeze President Trump ordered an immediate halt to U.S. military aid to Ukraine, including midflight reversals of weapons shipments. The White House also paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, straining bilateral relations. Ukrainian President Zelensky signaled a willingness to negotiate with Russia following the aid freeze. In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Washington and Kyiv, President Donald Trump ordered an immediate halt to all U.S. military aid to Ukraine on Monday evening, with Pentagon officials confirming that planes carrying weapons were turned around midflight. The move came just days after a heated Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which the U.S. president accused Zelensky of being "ungrateful" for American support. By Tuesday, the White House had also paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, further straining the already fragile relationship between the two nations. The abrupt suspension of aid and intelligence marks a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Ukraine, which has relied heavily on American support since Russias invasion in February 2022. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who argue it undermines Ukraines ability to defend itself against Russian aggression. However, many see it as a necessary step to pressure Zelensky into peace negotiations with Moscow. Midflight reversals underscore how serious Trump is The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that all U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine were halted as of 6 p.m. on Monday, following Trumps direct order. According to defense officials, planes en route to Ukraine were forced to turn around midflight, underscoring the immediacy of the presidents directive. The pause affects not only military aid but also raises questions about Ukraines direct contracts with U.S. weapons manufacturers under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which had $1.7 billion in unused funds as of mid-December. The move came after a contentious meeting last Friday between Trump and Zelensky, during which the Ukrainian leader was berated for not expressing sufficient gratitude for U.S. support. The meeting ended with Trump abruptly dismissing Zelensky, canceling a planned lunch and press conference. Zelenskys shift toward negotiations Hours after the aid freeze took effect, Zelensky signaled a willingness to negotiate with Russia, a big departure from his previous stance. None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer, he said in a statement on Tuesday. Zelenskys sudden openness to talks is likely a direct result of Trumps pressure tactics, which have left Ukraine vulnerable on the battlefield. The U.S. has been a critical supplier of advanced weapons systems, including Patriot missile batteries and long-range ATACMS missiles, which have allowed Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory. Without these systems, Ukraines defensive capabilities could be severely compromised, leading to increased civilian casualties and territorial losses. Intelligence sharing paused In addition to halting military aid, the Trump administration has also paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move that could have immediate and devastating consequences for Kyivs war effort. U.S. intelligence has been instrumental in helping Ukraine anticipate Russian military movements and target enemy positions. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the pause on Wednesday, stating that the administration is reviewing all aspects of this relationship. CIA Director John Ratcliffe suggested the decision was tied to Trumps desire to see Zelensky commit to peace talks. On the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen will go away, and well work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, Ratcliffe said. The U.S. aid freeze has placed additional pressure on European allies to step up their support for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a plan to mobilize up to 800 billion Euros ($850 billion) for defense and Ukraine aid, but experts warn that Europe cannot fully compensate for the loss of U.S. assistance. Trumps decision to halt aid and intelligence sharing represents a high-stakes gamble aimed at forcing Ukraine to the negotiating table. While it has already prompted Zelensky to express a willingness to talk, it remains to be seen whether any real progress will be made with a leader who seems determined to prolong the war. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com USAToday.com CNN.com BBC.com Russia agrees to mediate U.S.-Iran peace talks amid rising Middle East tensions Russia has agreed to mediate between the U.S. and Iran to de-escalate Middle East tensions, following discussions between Trump and Putin. The U.S. maintains a firm stance against Irans nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism but acknowledges potential for talks. Iran has responded cautiously, signaling possible openness to dialogue, though its final decision rests with Supreme Leader Khamenei. The Israel-Iran shadow war and Irans increased uranium stockpile complicate prospects for successful negotiations. Analysts express skepticism about Russias role, citing Tehrans potential distrust of Moscows transactional diplomacy. Russia has reportedly agreed to act as a mediator between the United States and Iran, offering a potential pathway to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. The development comes after President Donald Trump reportedly discussed the idea with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call last week, followed by high-level talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. This initiative could pave the way for negotiations on critical issues, including Irans nuclear program and its support for regional proxies, without resorting to military action that risks sparking a wider conflict. However, the ongoing shadow war between Israel and Iran complicates the prospects of any deal, as Tehran remains defiant despite setbacks to its allies Hamas and Hezbollah. A new diplomatic channel The Kremlin confirmed its willingness to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran. Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who added that his country "is ready to do everything in its power to achieve this. The White House, while maintaining its firm stance against Iran, acknowledged the potential for talks. President Trump made clear by renewing his Maximum Pressure order just days into his second term, the United States will not tolerate Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon or their support of terror in the Middle East and around the world, said White House spokesman Brian Hughes. The Trump Administration will talk to our adversaries and allies alike, but he will always do so from a position of strength to defend our national security. Irans response has been cautious but not dismissive. Given the significance of these matters, its possible that many parties will show goodwill and readiness to help with various problems, said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. This measured tone suggests Tehran may be open to dialogue, though its ultimate decision will likely depend on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has previously criticized Trump as untrustworthy. Complications from the Israel-Iran conflict The potential for U.S.-Iran talks is further complicated by the ongoing shadow war between Iran and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel will continue to act against Iranian threats. I unequivocally declare to Hezbollah and to Iran: In order to prevent you from attacking us, we will continue to take action against you as necessary, in every arena and at all times, Netanyahu said. Israels aggressive posture, coupled with Irans vow to continue supporting proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, creates a volatile backdrop for any negotiations. Moreover, Irans recent actions have raised alarms. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Tehran has significantly increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, far exceeding limits set by the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal. This escalation underscores the urgency of diplomatic efforts but also highlights the challenges of reaching a meaningful agreement. While Russias involvement offers a glimmer of hope, skepticism remains. Analysts warn that Iran may view Russias mediation with suspicion, given Moscows history of transactional diplomacy. I dont see them being viewed by Tehran as the most helpful mediator, said Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Iran may be afraid that itll be sold out in the process. The prospect of U.S.-Iran talks mediated by Russia represents a rare opportunity to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. While challenges aboundfrom Irans nuclear ambitions to its shadow conflict with Israelthe alternative of military confrontation is far more perilous. As diplomatic efforts unfold, the international community will be closely monitoring whether this fragile initiative can yield meaningful progress or if it will become another missed opportunity in a region long plagued by conflict. Sources for this article include: BigLeaguePolitics.Substack.com Bloomberg.com MiddleEastEye.net Trump Administration puts 443 federal properties for sale, including DOJ and FBI headquarters, in bold move to slash government waste In a sweeping effort to curb government bloat and rein in reckless spending, the Trump administration has announced plans to sell 443 federal properties across 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico . Among the high-profile buildings on the chopping block are the headquarters of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the General Services Administration (GSA). This bold initiative, which includes iconic structures like the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco and the Dick Cheney Federal Building in Wyoming, aims to save taxpayers over $430 million annually by eliminating maintenance and operational costs tied to underutilized or vacant spaces. The move, spearheaded by the GSA, is part of President Trumps broader agenda to streamline federal operations, reduce the governments real estate footprint, and restore fiscal responsibility to a system long plagued by inefficiency and waste. With the federal government owning nearly 80 million square feet of non-core assetsequivalent to twelve Pentagonsthis plan represents a rare opportunity to dismantle the bureaucratic excess that has burdened American taxpayers for decades. A historic reckoning with government waste The federal governments sprawling real estate portfolio has long been a symbol of its unchecked growth and inefficiency. For years, agencies have accumulated properties that serve little to no purpose, costing taxpayers billions in upkeep and maintenance. The GSA, tasked with managing federal real estate, has classified these 443 properties as non-core assets, signaling that they are no longer essential to government operations. We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations. Selling ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal spaces, the GSA stated on its website. This is not the first time a U.S. administration has attempted to address the issue of government waste. In 2013, the Obama administration launched the Freeze the Footprint initiative, which aimed to halt the growth of federal real estate. However, critics argue that the program failed to make a significant dent in the problem, as it lacked the aggressive approach needed to truly downsize the governments holdings. The Trump administrations plan, by contrast, takes a far more assertive stance. By targeting high-profile properties like the J. Edgar Hoover Building (FBI headquarters) and the Frances Perkins Building (Department of Labor), the administration is sending a clear message: no agency is exempt from scrutiny, and no property is too sacred to be sold if it no longer serves the public good. The staggering scale of the sell-off The sheer size of the federal governments real estate portfolio is staggering. The 443 properties slated for sale span nearly 80 million square feet, an area larger than many small cities. Among the most notable properties on the list are: J. Edgar Hoover Building (FBI Headquarters): A symbol of federal law enforcement, this iconic structure in Washington, D.C., has long been criticized for its outdated design and exorbitant maintenance costs. Nancy Pelosi Federal Building: Named after the former House Speaker, this San Francisco property is emblematic of the governments penchant for naming buildings after political figures. Dick Cheney Federal Building: Located in Wyoming, this property underscores the federal governments reach into even the most remote corners of the country. The GSA has also included its own headquarters in the disposal plan, a move that highlights the administrations commitment to leading by example. By putting its own house on the market, the GSA is demonstrating that no agency is above the need for reform. A step toward restoring trust in government For decades, Americans have watched as their tax dollars were squandered on bloated bureaucracies and unnecessary real estate holdings. The federal governments inability to manage its own assets has eroded public trust and fueled widespread cynicism about its ability to operate efficiently. By selling off these properties, the Trump administration is taking a critical step toward restoring that trust. The projected savings of $430 million annually represent more than just a financial windfall; they are a tangible demonstration of the governments commitment to fiscal responsibility. This is about more than just saving money, said one administration official. Its about showing the American people that their government can be lean, efficient, and accountable. Sources include: Yournews.com Bloomberg.com GSA.gov Zelensky reaches out to Trump after tense White House meeting, aid freeze Ukrainian President Zelensky offers to resume peace talks with the U.S., reversing his earlier stance on requiring security guarantees. The move follows Trumps suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, raising concerns about Kyivs war efforts against Russia. Zelenskys letter proposes a ceasefire and a mineral deal, aligning with Trumps push for a negotiated settlement. Tensions between Zelensky and Trump escalated after a contentious White House meeting, leaving Ukraine without military support. Trump views Zelenskys overture as a step toward reducing Americas role in the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended an olive branch to U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling a willingness to return to the negotiating table just days after a disastrous meeting at the White House. The move comes on the heels of Trumps decision to pause U.S. military aid to Ukraine, a move that has left Kyiv scrambling to salvage its relationship with Washington. The letter, delivered to Trump on Tuesday, marks a significant reversal for Zelensky, who had previously resisted calls for peace talks without ironclad security guarantees. In the letter, Zelensky wrote, Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians. The Ukrainian leader also expressed readiness to sign a mineral deal with the U.S., a key point of contention during last weeks tense Oval Office meeting. A fractured relationship The relationship between the two leaders hit a breaking point during their February 28 meeting, which ended in a fiery exchange and no agreement. Trump, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, reportedly accused Zelensky of disrespecting the U.S. and dismissed his demands for continued military support. The meeting concluded with Zelensky leaving Washington empty-handed, a big contrast to the warm reception he received from European leaders just days later. The fallout escalated on Monday when Trump announced the suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, a move that has raised concerns about Kyivs ability to sustain its war effort against Russia. Critics argue that the aid freeze has forced Zelenskys hand, leaving him with little choice but to seek peace talks. A shift in strategy Zelenskys letter appears to reflect a calculated shift in strategy that aligns with Trumps vision for a negotiated settlement. In his letter, Zelensky emphasized his willingness to work under Trumps strong leadership and outlined specific steps toward peace, including a proposed naval and aerial ceasefire. These proposals, first suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron, signal a departure from Kyivs previous insistence on security guarantees before any negotiations. Trump, for his part, has welcomed the overture. Speaking to Congress on Tuesday, he praised Zelenskys letter and hinted at positive signals from Russia. I appreciated the letter, Trump said. He added that Russia has signaled an interest in peace. The U.S. has poured billions into Ukraines war effort over the past three years, with little to show for it. Critics argue that the aid has not done much to bring the conflict closer to resolution, instead prolonging a costly and bloody stalemate. Trumps decision to halt military assistance underscores a growing sentiment among conservatives that Americas resources would be better spent addressing domestic priorities. The letter from Zelensky to Trump represents a significant turning point in U.S.-Ukraine relations, one that underscores the power dynamics at play in international diplomacy. While some may view Zelenskys overture as a necessary step toward peace, others see it as a capitulation to pressure from Washington. For Trump, the move reaffirms his belief that Americas role in the conflict should be limited, and that Ukraine must take greater responsibility for its own future. Sources for this article include: NYPost.com BBC.com NYTimes.com News / Education by Gideon Madzikatidze HARARE - The Johane Masowe eChishanu Nyenyedzinomwe Apostolic Church of the Whole World under Prophet Hebert Thabo Senda ( Popularly known as Madzibaba Enoch) has early this week donated furniture worth over US$1000 at Budiriro 7 Council Primary School.The church has announced that it was their heartfelt gesture after receiving information that the learning institution experiences a shortage of some essentials.Speaking during the official handover of the furniture at the school, Madzibaba Enoch said that, it is the duty of the church to contribute towards the welfare of schools within their proximity."As the church, we have made this small donation as part of our corporate social responsibility. We mobilise money and buy furniture in our quest to make sure all learners have chairs and desks," Madzibaba Enoch said."Some of the learners are coming from our localities who are part of our congregants, hence we see it noble to ensure that they get some donations to complement their learning environment," Madzibaba Enoch added."As a church, we have realised that the school will transform and help in grooming learners who will be leaders for tomorrow. In such a way, we are set to benefit from the skills, knowledge and educational resources from the institution which is within our proximity, and that is why we decided to come in and assist Budiriro 7 Council Primary School with furniture," Madzibaba Enoch said.Meanwhile, Budiriro 7 Council Primary School's headmistress, Mrs Elizabeth Magodyo has welcomed the donation describing it as a sustainable gesture which will help in transforming several learners welfare during learning."We really appreciate this sustainable gesture and it will go a long way in improving the learning environment of our learners. Emotionally and physically, learners are set to be learning without stress about where to sit on and holding their books," Magodyo said."This donation is first of its kind especially considering that it is coming from indigenous Apostolic Church which we did not even dream about," Magodyo said. News / Local by Staff reporter Police have successfully arrested a 39-year-old drug dealer, Tigors Tyron Seigfried, after he was found in possession of 1.9 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine at his home on Chemford Road in the Matsheumhlope suburb.National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest in a statement, highlighting the Zimbabwe Republic Police's (ZRP) commitment to combating the growing drug and substance abuse problem in the country. Nyathi urged the public to remain vigilant and report illegal activities within their communities to help curb the increasing threat of drug abuse.Seigfried's arrest is seen as a significant move in the fight against the illicit drug trade, particularly in urban areas like Bulawayo, where the situation has been worsening. The police have expressed their determination to intensify efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating across Zimbabwe.In response to the arrest, the ZRP warned that it will continue to disrupt and target these illegal drug operations, ensuring that offenders face the full force of the law.The ongoing crackdown underscores the police's commitment to protecting communities from the harmful effects of drugs, which have increasingly posed a danger to public health and safety. Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. News / Local by Staff reporter Presidential spokesman George Charamba on Thursday dismissed as "dead and buried" any efforts to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's second and final term by two years, or to amend the constitution to allow him to seek a third term. Charamba's remarks came in response to concerns raised by Catholic bishops, who criticized the ongoing focus on presidential term discussions while urgent issues affecting citizens, such as economic hardships, remain unaddressed.Charamba told The Herald that the debate over extending Mnangagwa's presidency beyond 2028 was a non-issue. He stressed that the president had made his position clear, stating unequivocally that he had no intention of seeking an extension beyond the constitutionally mandated term."The bishops raised the issue of the debate around the presidential term of office. While this is really within their remit to offer views, what the government finds disturbing is that the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference is commenting on a matter that is in fact dead and buried," Charamba said.The spokesperson noted that Mnangagwa's loyalists, who advocate for either a two-year extension to his term or a constitutional amendment that would enable him to seek a third term, should not derail the country's focus on more pressing issues. Charamba emphasized that such efforts had no practical bearing as the president himself had rejected the idea."The president has made it very clear that he has no intention of pushing for an extension of his term beyond what is constitutionally provided for," he continued. "Once the nominee (Mnangagwa) has turned down the proposal, the debate on the matter, although it may continue in society, cannot have any serious executive implication."Charamba's comments contradict the views of some Mnangagwa loyalists, who believe the president could be persuaded to support the proposal for a constitutional amendment. They argue that the country should not rule out the possibility of a term extension.In contrast, the Catholic bishops have called for a shift in focus toward the country's urgent "bread and butter" issues, highlighting concerns such as rampant corruption, which they claim is unchecked and often rewarded. The bishops warned that the ongoing debates around the president's term have become a divisive distraction from critical national priorities.Charamba responded to these concerns by emphasizing the government's commitment to fighting corruption, a matter he described as a key priority. He reiterated that the government views tackling corruption as essential to the country's future.Despite Charamba's dismissals, the debate over Mnangagwa's term limits continues to stir divisions within the ruling Zanu-PF party and among various factions of society. While Charamba maintains that the matter is closed, the issue may continue to surface in public discourse as Zimbabwe approaches the 2028 election. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. CRISPR-Cas Systems CRISPR for Pathogen Detection CRISPR as an Antiviral Therapy CRISPR in Vaccine Development Ethical and Practical Considerations Conclusions The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was one of the most serious public health calamities in the last decade, causing global morbidity and mortality in the millions. The emergence of global pandemics, such as COVID-19, has highlighted the urgent need for rapid and effective diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies. CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology, which was developed as a gene-editing tool, has shown significant promise in biomedical applications, including infectious disease management and vaccine development. The question is, can CRISPR tip the scales in our favor in case of another pandemic? Image Credit: vchal/Shutterstock.com CRISPR-Cas Systems The CRISPR-CRISPR-associated (Cas) system evolved in bacteria as a defense mechanism against infection from bacteriophages and to prevent the loss of their genome through horizontal gene transfer. CRISPR functions as a microbial immune system, enabling bacteria to recognize and defend against viral infections by targeting specific genetic sequences.1 The system consists of two key components: short ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequences that guide the Cas enzyme to a target genetic sequence and the Cas enzyme, which cuts the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or RNA at the designated location.1 This ability to precisely edit genetic material has been repurposed for biomedical applications, including rapid pathogen detection and targeted gene modifications.2 The versatility of CRISPR extends beyond gene editing, as it has been adapted into highly sensitive diagnostic tools and programmable antiviral therapies.3 By leveraging its specificity, CRISPR technology can be used to detect viral genomes with high accuracy, allowing for early intervention and containment of infectious diseases. Furthermore, CRISPR-based therapies offer a novel approach to directly targeting viral RNA, providing a potential treatment for diseases that currently lack effective antiviral drugs.4 In this article, we explore the potential applications of CRISPR-Cas systems that can be leveraged to prevent global pandemics. What is Pandemic Preparedness and Why is it Important? CRISPR for Pathogen Detection Early and accurate detection of infectious agents is critical for controlling outbreaks and mitigating their global impact. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods, are highly specific but have limitations, including time consumption, dependency on specialized equipment, and sensitivity issues.5 CRISPR-based detection systems, such as SHERLOCK (Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing) and DETECTR (DNA Endonuclease Targeted CRISPR Trans Reporter), provide rapid, cost-effective, and highly sensitive alternatives.3 These systems utilize CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to identify viral genetic material with remarkable specificity. Studies have demonstrated that CRISPR-based diagnostics can detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within minutes, surpassing the efficiency of conventional PCR-based assays.3 Furthermore, CRISPR biosensors have been integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance predictive modeling for emerging pathogens. By analyzing genetic variations and mutations in viral genomes, these AI-driven CRISPR platforms can anticipate potential viral evolution patterns, allowing for early intervention and strategic public health responses.3 The ability to detect mutations in real-time could be instrumental in monitoring and controlling outbreaks before they reach pandemic status. Additionally, CRISPR-based diagnostics have been explored for field deployment, making them particularly useful in resource-limited settings where traditional laboratory infrastructure may not be available.5 Portable CRISPR-based diagnostic kits could empower frontline health workers to conduct rapid on-site testing, enabling quicker isolation and treatment of infected individuals, thereby reducing transmission rates.5 CRISPR Explained Play CRISPR as an Antiviral Therapy CRISPR technology also holds promise as a therapeutic tool for targeting viral infections. Traditional antiviral treatments, such as nucleoside analogs, often suffer from drug resistance and limited efficacy against emerging variants.4 CRISPR-based therapies that leverage RNA-targeting Cas proteins, such as Cas13, can directly degrade viral RNA within infected cells, thereby halting viral replication.1 Research on CRISPR-Cas13 has shown efficacy against influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other RNA viruses. Unlike conventional antiviral drugs, CRISPR-based approaches can also be rapidly reprogrammed to target new viral strains, offering a versatile and dynamic treatment strategy.1 Additionally, CRISPR can be used to engineer host immunity by modifying human genes associated with viral susceptibility. For instance, modifying angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptorsthe entry point for SARS-CoV-2could reduce viral attachment and infection rates.1 Similarly, CRISPR-based interventions targeting C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) receptors, known for their role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) resistance, have been explored as a potential therapeutic strategy. However, the clinical implementation of CRISPR-based antiviral therapies requires rigorous safety and regulatory assessments to ensure minimal off-target effects and unintended genetic modifications.1 Beyond viral infections, CRISPR has also demonstrated potential in addressing bacterial pandemics. Researchers are developing CRISPR-based antimicrobial strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is another growing global health threat. By selectively targeting bacterial genomes, CRISPR-based antimicrobials could provide a novel solution to multidrug-resistant infections, reducing the risk of secondary bacterial outbreaks during viral pandemics.4 Can AI Outperform Doctors in Diagnosing Infectious Diseases? CRISPR in Vaccine Development The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity of rapid vaccine development. Traditional vaccine platforms, including inactivated and protein-subunit vaccines, often require extensive time for formulation and production. In contrast, CRISPR-based vaccine development offers a novel approach by utilizing gene-editing techniques to create precise and adaptable vaccine candidates.5 One promising application is the use of CRISPR to engineer viral vectors or mRNA vaccine platforms. By optimizing antigen presentation and immune response stimulation, CRISPR technology can enhance vaccine efficacy and durability.1 Additionally, CRISPR-assisted synthetic biology enables the rapid synthesis of antigenic components, facilitating the development of vaccines against newly emerging pathogens.5,6 Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of CRISPR-engineered vaccines in targeting infectious diseases such as HIV, influenza, and coronaviruses. The ability of CRISPR-Cas systems to precisely modify immune system genes could also lead to the development of universal vaccines that provide broad protection against multiple viral strains.1 Furthermore, CRISPR could play a role in personalized vaccine development. By tailoring vaccines to an individual's genetic profile, CRISPR could enhance immune responses and minimize adverse effects.1 However, large-scale manufacturing and regulatory approval remain significant challenges that need to be addressed before widespread adoption. Ethical and Practical Considerations Despite its transformative potential, CRISPR technology faces several ethical, biosafety, and regulatory challenges. The precision of CRISPR-based gene editing raises concerns regarding unintended genetic modifications and ecological consequences. Ethical debates also surround the potential misuse of CRISPR for bioterrorism or germline editing.2,7 Moreover, global accessibility to CRISPR-based diagnostics and therapeutics remains a significant issue. Many low- and middle-income countries lack the infrastructure and regulatory frameworks necessary for the widespread implementation of CRISPR technologies. Addressing these disparities will require international collaboration and equitable distribution mechanisms to ensure that CRISPR-based innovations benefit global health security.2,7 Conclusions CRISPR technology represents a powerful tool in the fight against future pandemics. Its applications in rapid diagnostics, targeted antiviral therapies, and accelerated vaccine development provide a comprehensive strategy for pandemic preparedness. CRISPR-based innovations have the potential to transform global health security by enabling early detection, providing adaptable vaccine platforms, and helping develop personalized interventions for various diseases.1,2,5 However, ethical, regulatory, and accessibility challenges must be addressed to maximize its potential. In this regard, continued investment in CRISPR research, international cooperation, and robust policy frameworks will be crucial in unlocking its full benefits. With the right safeguards in place, CRISPR has the potential to prevent and mitigate the next global pandemic, save countless lives, and strengthen global resilience to infectious diseases.5 References Watters, K. E., Kirkpatrick, J., Palmer, M. J., & Koblentz, G. D. (2021). The CRISPR revolution and its potential impact on global health security. Pathogens and global health, 115(2), 8092. https://doi.org/10.1080/20477724.2021.1880202 Esvelt, K. M. (2022). Delay, detect, defend: Preparing for a future in which thousands can release new pandemics. Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Retrieved from https://www.gcsp.ch/publications [Accessed on March 5, 2022) Ibrahim, A. U., Pwavodi, P. C., Ozsoz, M., Al-Turjman, F., Galaya, T., & Agbo, J. J. (2021). Crispr biosensing and Ai driven tools for detection and prediction of Covid-19. Journal of Experimental & Theoretical Artificial Intelligence, 35(4), 489505. https://doi.org/10.1080/0952813X.2021.1952652 Olatunji, A.O., Olaboye, J.A., Maha, C.C., Kolawole, T.O., & Abdul, S. (2024). Next-Generation strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance: Integrating genomics, CRISPR, and novel therapeutics for effective treatment. Engineering Science & Technology Journal. Ding, R., Long, J., Yuan, M., Jin, Y., Yang, H., Chen, M., Chen, S., & Duan, G. (2021). CRISPR/Cas System: A Potential Technology for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 11, 639108. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.639108 Zhou, L., & Simonian, A. L. (2024). CRISPR/Cas Technology: The Unique Synthetic Biology Genome-Editing Tool Shifting the Paradigm in Viral Diagnostics, Defense, and Therapeutics. Annual review of biomedical engineering, 26(1), 247272. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-bioeng-081723-013033 Brokowski, C., & Adli, M. (2019). CRISPR Ethics: Moral Considerations for Applications of a Powerful Tool. Journal of molecular biology, 431(1), 88101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2018.05.044 Further Reading Some people living with chronic stress have a higher risk of stroke, according to a study published on March 5, 2025, online in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study looked at younger adults and found an association between stress and stroke, with no known cause, in female participants, but not male participants. This study does not prove that stress causes stroke; it only shows an association. Younger people often experience stress due to the demands and pressures associated with work, including long hours and job insecurity, as well as financial burdens. Previous research has shown that chronic stress can negatively affect physical and mental health. Our study found it may increase the risk of stroke in younger women." Nicolas Martinez-Majander, MD, PhD, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland For the study, researchers looked at 426 people aged 18 to 49 who had an ischemic stroke with no known cause. They were matched for age and sex with 426 people who did not have stroke. Ischemic stroke is when blood flow is blocked to part of the brain. It can lead to weakness, trouble speaking, vision problems or even death. Participants completed a questionnaire about stress levels over a one-month period. Those with stroke were asked after their stroke to record stress levels in the month prior to their stroke. Participants were asked 10 questions, such as "In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?" Scores for each question ranged from zero to four, with four meaning "very often." A total score of 0 to 13 represented low stress; 14 to 26, moderate stress; and 27 to 40, high stress. Those with stroke had an average score of 13 compared to those without stroke who had an average score of 10. People with stroke were more likely to have at least moderate stress levels. Of those with stroke, 46% had moderate or high stress levels compared to 33% of those who did not have stroke. After adjusting for factors that could affect risk of stroke such as education level, alcohol use and blood pressure, researchers found for female participants, moderate stress was associated with a 78% increased risk of stroke and high stress was associated with a 6% increased risk. Researchers did not find a link between stress and stroke in male participants. "More research is needed to understand why women who feel stressed, but not men, may have a higher risk of stroke," said Martinez-Majander. "In addition, we need to further explore why the risk of stroke in women was higher for moderate stress than high stress. Knowing more about how stress plays a role could help us to create better ways to prevent these strokes." A limitation of the study was that people experiencing higher levels of stress may have been less likely to enroll in the study, which could have affected the results. The study was supported by the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, Academy of Finland, The Finnish Medical Foundation, The Sigrid Juselius Foundation and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Gliomas are types of cancers that arise in the brain and are extraordinarily difficult to treat. They are the leading cause of brain tumour-related deaths in both children and adults. Two pioneering scientists are awarded The Brain Prize 2025 for their discoveries that open up an entirely new way of thinking about and understanding these lethal diseases, and the potential strategies to treat them. Neuroscientists, Professors Michelle Monje (USA) and Frank Winkler (Germany), have made transformative discoveries by showing that neural activity in the brain can promote cancer initiation, growth, spread and treatment resistance. Thus, the everyday activity that takes place in the brain promotes the development of cancers within it. Striking recent studies further show that the inuence of the nervous system is not limited to tumours in the brain, but also tumours throughout the body. These remarkable ndings have laid the foundation for an entirely new eld of research called 'Cancer Neuroscience' that represents a paradigm shift in the understanding of these cancers, and which offers vital new opportunities for treatment. Their efforts are rewarded with The Brain Prize 2025, the world's largest award for outstanding contributions to neuroscience, established by the Lundbeck Foundation. The Brain Prize 2025 worth DKK 10 million (1.3 million) is awarded to: Michelle Monje MD, PhD, the Milan Gambhir Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Stanford Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and Frank Winkler, MD, Professor of Experimental Neurooncology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Neurology, and German Cancer Research Center for: Pioneering Cancer Neuroscience: Disease-driving interactions between the brain and brain tumours. Chair of The Brain Prize Selection Committee, Professor Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, explains the reasoning behind this year's award: "Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumours. They are very difficult to cure, and the more rapidly growing forms are almost universally fatal. Working independently, Michelle Monje and Frank Winkler have transformed our understanding of the biology of these neurological cancers. They have discovered extensive interactions between glioma cells and neurons and have characterized their molecular and cellular basis. These networks exhibit hallmarks of functional neural circuits such as synapses, electrical and chemical communication and coordinated activity. These mechanisms allow glioma cells to hijack activity in the brain to drive tumour growth, spread and treatment resistance. Strategies to modulate these interactions offer novel approaches for potential new glioma therapies. Together, Michelle Monje and Frank Winkler have pioneered a paradigm shift incorporating neuroscience into cancer research, forming what is now called 'Cancer Neuroscience'. Both are practicing neurooncologists and exemplary clinician-scientists who have actively moved their mechanistic work into clinical trials." On behalf of the Lundbeck Foundation, CEO Lene Skole extends her warmest congratulations to each of The Brain Prize recipients: "The pioneering work of this year's Brain Prize recipients on brain cancer is a striking example of how a new perspective and scientic approach can provide a completely new level of understanding of the brain and its diseases. The crucial new insights into the neuroscience of brain cancers provided by Professors Monje and Winkler have also unlocked enormous potential for developing new and much- needed treatment approaches. Cancer Neuroscience is a new eld of research and hopefully the prize will inspire more researchers, both younger and experienced ones, to enter this exciting eld." Proteins play a key role in the life sciences - from basic research and biotechnological applications to the development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a method that relies on physics rather than conventional chemistry to obtain the proteins that are needed for this purpose. Using short-wave, UV light invisible to humans, they have succeeded in purifying proteins from cell extracts or cultures. This technique is more efficient and gentler than previous methods. Scientists engaged in molecular biology or molecular medicine require proteins in their pure form for various purposes, to serve for investigation or as active substances. Such proteins are isolated from natural sources or produced with the help of genetically modified cells. To this end, affinity chromatography has been the method of choice since 50 years. In this method, the cell extract or culture medium is passed through a chromatography column filled with a porous carrier material. The target protein is bound to this carrier material and separated from other proteins and impurities by washing with solvent. Finally, the isolated protein is detached from the column using acids or other auxiliary reagents. However, this process has a disadvantage: the purified target protein can be damaged in particular during the last step. A team led by Arne Skerra, Professor of Biological Chemistry at TUM, has therefore developed a new approach: We use a physical mechanism instead of chemical reagents. Our technology is fundamentally different from the conventional method, being both more gentle and more efficient." Arne Skerra, Professor of Biological Chemistry at TUM The "Azo-tag": a molecular appendix serves as an anchor The new method also uses a chromatography column filled with a porous carrier material. However, the difference is that LED lights are placed around the column and, furthermore, a small molecular appendix is attached to the target protein. This minimalistic accessory, dubbed Azo-Tag, was developed by Peter Mayrhofer, Markus Anneser and Stefan Achatz together with Arne Skerra at the Chair of Biological Chemistry on the basis of the light-sensitive chemical group "azo-benzene". The Azo-tag can change its shape under light exposure and serves as a molecular anchor for the target protein: in daylight or in the dark, the target protein binds specifically to the carrier material in the chromatography column via this anchor. Any other contaminating substances and impurities can be washed out, whereas the target protein with its anchor is retained. However, if the LED lights are then switched on and the column is irradiated with mild UV light with a wavelength of 355 nanometers, the tag changes its shape. Simply speaking, it is repelled from the carrier material so that the target protein with its Azo-tag is washed out of the column in a pure, concentrated and undamaged form. Isolated in this manner, the protein can be used directly for further studies - without additional purification steps. More efficient than conventional chromatography and potential for further development The Chair of Biological Chemistry is now regularly using this method and has already been able to purify antibodies against breast cancer. Currently, a small version of the apparatus is being used in the laboratory. The chromatography column measures less than one centimeter in diameter, but the team expects it could also be built on a larger scale. There are also further plans, says Arne Skerra, who has filed with his coworkers a patent for this novel method: "We are currently working on automating the processes to make them even more efficient, especially for high-throughput drug development in pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies." By assessing how "sticky" tumor cells are, researchers at the University of California San Diego have found a potential way to predict whether a patient's early-stage breast cancer is likely to spread. The discovery, made possible by a specially designed microfluidic device, could help doctors identify high-risk patients and tailor their treatments accordingly. The device, which was tested in an investigator-initiated trial, works by pushing tumor cells through fluid-filled chambers and sorting them based on how well they adhere to the chamber walls. When tested on tumor cells obtained from patients with different stages of breast cancer, researchers found a striking pattern: cells from patients with aggressive cancers were weakly adherent (less sticky), while cells from patients with less aggressive cancers were strongly adherent (more sticky). The findings were published on Mar. 5 in Cell Reports. What we were able to show in this trial is that the physical property of how adhesive tumor cells are could be a key metric to sort patients into more or less aggressive cancers. If we can improve diagnostic capabilities with this method, we could better personalize treatment plans based on the tumors that patients have." Adam Engler, study senior author, professor in the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering Previous research by Engler's lab, in collaboration with Anne Wallace, director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, had already established that weakly adherent cancer cells are more likely to migrate and invade other tissues compared to strongly adherent cells. Now with patient tumors, the team has taken this insight a step further, demonstrating that adhesion strength of tumor cells is variable and the next step will be to determine if adhesion can help forecast whether a patient's cancer is likely to metastasize. Their latest study examined cell adhesion in an early-stage breast cancer known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Often classified as stage zero breast cancer, DCIS can remain harmless, never progressing beyond the milk ducts where it forms. But in some cases, it develops into invasive breast cancer that could be potentially life-threatening. Scientists and doctors have spent years trying to determine which cases require aggressive treatment and which can be left alone, but the answers have remained elusive. Current clinical decisions often rely on the size and grade of the DCIS lesion, but these factors do not always predict its behavior. "Having a mechanism to better predict which DCIS is going to behave more aggressively, such as is seen with this adhesion model, could hold great promise to help us more aggressively treat this type of cancer," Wallace said. "We don't want to over-treat with aggressive surgery, medicines and radiation if not necessary, but we need to utilize those when the cancer has higher invasive potential. We want to continue to personalize therapy." "Right now, we don't have a reliable way to identify which DCIS patients are at risk of developing more aggressive breast cancer," Engler said. "Our device could change that." The team's device, which is roughly the size of an index card, consists of microfluidic chambers coated with adhesive proteins found in breast tissue, such as fibronectin. When tumor cells are placed into the chambers, they adhere to the fibronectin coating. They are then subjected to increasing shear stress as fluid flows through the chambers. By observing where cells detach under specific stress levels, researchers classify them as weakly or strongly adherent. The team tested the device on samples from 16 patients. These samples consisted of normal breast tissue, DCIS tumors, and aggressive breast cancer tumors obtained from patients with invasive ductal and lobular carcinomas. The experiments revealed that aggressive breast cancer samples contained weakly adherent cells, while normal breast tissue samples contained strongly adherent cells. DCIS samples showed intermediate adhesion levels, but with significant variability among patients. "What's interesting is that there is a lot of heterogeneity from patient to patient within a single disease subtype," said study co-first author Madison Kane, a bioengineering Ph.D. student in Engler's lab. "Among DCIS patients, for example, we found some with strongly adherent tumor cells and others with weakly adherent cells. We hypothesize that those with weakly adherent cells are at higher risk of developing invasive cancer, and they are likely being underdiagnosed at the beginning of their patient care plan." The team plans to track DCIS patients over the next five years to determine whether adhesion strength correlates with metastatic progression. If their hypothesis holds, the device could offer oncologists a powerful new tool to guide treatment strategies, recommending more aggressive interventions for patients whose tumor cells show weak adhesion. "Our hope is that this device will allow us to prospectively identify those at highest risk, so that we can intervene before metastasis occurs," Engler said. This project highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Engler's bioengineering team worked closely with Wallace's team at Moores Cancer Center, which provided patient samples and support. Funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes grants that support shared resources and facilities at Moores Cancer Center, as well as training grants for student researchers working on the project, played a crucial role in the device's development and the clinical study. "It's been a great partnership with Dr. Wallace and Moores Cancer Center," Engler said. "Their support has been instrumental in advancing investigator-initiated trials like this. We are also extremely grateful for all the different funding mechanisms that support facilities, training and lab work, which make research like this possible." Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents about 80 to 90% of cases of primary liver cancer. On a global level, 905,700 new cases and 830,200 deaths were registered in 2020 according to the World Health Organization. In Switzerland the Statistics Office lists 960 new cases and 720 deaths every year. HCC is the third cause of death due to cancer in the world and fifth in Switzerland. Immunotherapy and liver transplantation Amongst available treatments for HCC, liver transplantation stands as the most definitive treatment, offering select patients the possibility of long-term remission or even a complete cure. More recently, immunotherapy through immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) which stimulate the immune system of patients to attack cancerous cells has emerged with very promising results: a positive response in one third of cases and even a complete disappearance of tumors in some patients. Given this effectiveness, ICI treatments are being gradually recognized as the first line of treatment for advanced HCC. Combining treatments Currently the response of ICI is not sustainable because cessation of treatment could provoke recurrence of the cancer. To address this, the idea is to combine immunotherapy and a transplant, in other words offering patients who have responded to ICI treatment a new liver, with the potential to eliminate both their cancer and underlying liver disease." Beat Moeckli, Senior Resident of Abdominal Surgery at the HUG and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine at the UNIGE, first author of the study Unfortunately, use of ICI exposes patients to an increased risk of a rapid rejection of the graft. "Immunotherapy stimulates the immune system so that it recognizes tumors as foreign bodies. In the case of a transplant, immune cells stimulated in this way will also potentially attack the graft with more effectiveness. We must therefore stop ICI treatment before the transplant in order to reduce this risk," he continued. Therefore, to reconcile the two approaches, it is essential to determine the optimal treatment window, namely the interval between ceasing the ICI treatment and the liver transplant. To identify this, an international team led by the HUG and the UNIGE, conducted a retrospective study involving 29 leading hospitals in Europe, Asia and the USA. In total, data from 119 patients suffering from HCC who had received immunotherapy treatment before a liver transplant were analyzed by the Geneva team in order to evaluate the rejection incidence of the transplant, the loss of the graft and recurrence post-transplantation. An optimal interval The results indicate that the shorter the interval between the last ICI treatment and the graft, the higher the rejection risk. An interval less than 30 days multiplies the rejection risk by 21.3. Between 30 and 50 days the risk is only increased by 9.5. In contrast, an interval longer than 50 days translates into a rejection rate that is significantly lower. "Our work shows that 50 days constitute the optimal interval." Below this, the rejection risk is too high, and above it the disease may progress," specifies Christian Toso, Head of the Division of Abdominal Surgery at the HUG, Full Professor at UNIGE and last author of the study. A breakthrough for liver transplants Thanks to the foundational work carried out by Christian Toso, the HUG are playing a key role in the optimization of eligibility criteria for liver transplantation for patients suffering from HCC. In fact, his research has contributed to define models that integrate biomarkers and total tumor volume to optimize patient selection and reduce the risk of recidivism. Building on this, the new study will support the integration of immunotherapy into the treatment pathway for transplant candidates and position the HUG as a global center of excellence in this field. This research represents a significant step towards developing official recommendations for liver transplantation in patients receiving immunotherapy. "These guidelines will be essential and are expected to be established soon. Our study will hopefully play a key role in expanding access to transplants and therefore improve remission rates," concludes Beat Moeckli. 1 Primary relates to the organ or anatomical site where the tumor progression began. Opinion / Columnist 45 years on, Zimbabwe is perhaps the only country where even the Vice President cannot publicly declare an ambition to be the next President without facing severe consequences. Under Robert Mugabe's rule, anyone who dared to challenge his leadership was either charged with treason or forced into exile including the current President, Emmerson Mnangagwa. This long-standing intolerance for political competition and dissent has shaped the nation's political culture, where any criticism of the sitting President is met with immediate hostility and dismissal. But why do we, as a country, continue to reject any form of critique directed at our leaders?One of the primary reasons criticism of the President is dismissed is the deep political divisions within Zimbabwe. Many citizens strongly identify with political parties, seeing any attack on their leader as an attack on their personal beliefs and values. In such a polarised environment, people refuse to engage with opposing views, believing that any form of criticism is an attempt to weaken the ruling party and destabilise the government.The government often portrays criticism as a direct threat to national stability. Zimbabwe's political discourse has long been dominated by the belief that dissent can lead to foreign interference, protests, and even regime change. This fear has been reinforced by historical events where political uprisings resulted in violence and economic instability. As a result, both the ruling elite and its supporters instinctively reject any criticism, believing that acknowledging it would empower opposition forces and create unrest.The media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception. In Zimbabwe, state-controlled media outlets set the tone for political discourse, ensuring that criticism of the President is swiftly countered with government-approved narratives. When individuals or organisations raise concerns about governance, they are often dismissed as agents of foreign influence or enemies of national progress. This media environment discourages independent thinking and conditions citizens to reject any critique of leadership without assessing its validity.In many African societies, respect for authority is deeply ingrained. Criticising a leader especially publicly is often viewed as disrespectful, rebellious, or even treasonous. This cultural perspective allows those in power to frame dissent as a moral failing rather than a necessary component of a healthy democracy. Many Zimbabweans, influenced by this mindset, perceive critics as troublemakers rather than individuals raising legitimate concerns about governance and leadership.Criticism in Zimbabwe is often judged based on who delivers it rather than the content itself. If an opposition leader, journalist, or religious figure speaks out against the government, their remarks are immediately dismissed as politically motivated, rather than being evaluated on merit. Instead of engaging with the arguments, critics are often discredited, attacked, or accused of serving foreign interests. This selective outrage prevents constructive dialogue and reinforces the idea that only government-approved perspectives are valid.Dismissing criticism of the President without genuine engagement weakens democracy, stifles debate, and prevents the government from addressing legitimate concerns. A strong political system should encourage constructive criticism as a means of promoting accountability, transparency, and better governance. While political loyalty and national unity are important, they should not come at the expense of open dialogue and progress. Instead of rejecting all critics as enemies, Zimbabwe must foster a culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages critical thinking for the nation's growth. A new study reveals that both tobacco and cannabis use negatively affect sperm quality and DNA integritybut cannabis may cause even greater damage. Could this be a hidden reproductive crisis? Study: Effects of marijuana and tobacco on male fertility and their relationship to genetic variation of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase genes. Image Credit: ELENA GOR/Shutterstock.com In a recent study published in the Scientific Reports, a group of researchers investigated the effects of tobacco and cannabis smoking on sperm quality, Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integrity, and their association with genetic variations in mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase 1 (MT-CO1), MT-CO2, and MT-CO3 genes. Background Could a single lifestyle choice impact future generations? Infertility affects approximately 14% of couples worldwide, with male factors contributing to nearly 50% of cases. Yet, despite this alarming statistic, recreational cannabis use is rising, and tobacco use remains a public health challenge. Sperm health is a key factor in successful reproduction, yet millions of men unknowingly compromise their fertility through smoking. Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are known carcinogens and mutagens that directly affect sperm DNA. On the other hand, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in cannabis, binds to receptors in sperm cells, altering motility, viability, and morphology. Studies show that frequent cannabis use may even change the epigenetic landscape of sperm, potentially impacting future generations. As cannabis becomes increasingly legal worldwide, it is crucial to understand its implications on reproductive health. Further research is needed to clarify the genetic and epigenetic effects of these substances. About the study Semen samples were collected from 113 men and categorized into non-smokers (NS, n=37), tobacco smokers (TS, n=39), and cannabis smokers (CS, n=37). Participants with alcohol dependency, chronic diseases, or genetic abnormalities were excluded. Semen parameters, including volume, sperm concentration, morphology, and motility, were analyzed following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. DNA integrity was assessed using Acridine Orange (AO) and Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining. Sperm samples underwent density gradient centrifugation to remove somatic cells before DNA extraction. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was isolated, amplified, and analyzed for variations in MT-CO1, MT-CO2, and MT-CO3 genes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed based on National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) reference sequences, and sequencing was performed using the Sanger method. Fluorescence microscopy was used to assess sperm chromatin packaging and DNA fragmentation. CMA3 staining was employed to determine the level of sperm protamination. Statistical analyses, including one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and chi-square tests, were conducted to compare parameters among groups. Data were represented as mean standard error of the mean (SEM), with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. The findings were analyzed in the context of global health trends to assess the broader implications of tobacco and cannabis use on reproductive health and potential interventions that could reduce the damage caused by these substances. Study results Semen analysis revealed a significant decline in normal sperm morphology in both TS (5.02 4.8%) and CS (2.26 2.3%) groups compared to NS (7.46 5.9%) (p<0.001). Cannabis smokers exhibited significantly lower morphology scores than tobacco smokers (p=0.002). Sperm progressive motility was lower in the CS group (10.18 10.6%) compared to TS (13.12 10.6%) and NS (14.27 11.3%), though this reduction was not statistically significant (p=0.223). However, non-progressive motility was significantly lower in CS (20.63 12.6%) than in TS (27.82 16.6%) and NS (34.40 14.3%) (p<0.001). Immotile sperm percentage was highest in CS (68.66 21.9%), followed by TS (58.92 24.4%) and NS (51.73 18.8%) (p<0.001). Sperm concentration and semen volume showed no significant differences between groups (p=0.199 and p=0.091, respectively). AO staining revealed a significantly higher proportion of sperm with DNA fragmentation in CS (28.53 15.8%) compared to NS (10.1 14.2%) and TS (6.4 10.2%) (p<0.001). CMA3 staining indicated increased protamine deficiency in CS (37.13 20.1%) compared to TS (25.3 14.9%) and NS (15.0 15.4%) (p<0.001). Further analysis showed that while tobacco and cannabis use negatively impacted sperm quality, cannabis appeared to have a more detrimental effect on DNA integrity. The high AO+ and CMA3+ scores in cannabis smokers suggest an increased risk of infertility due to DNA fragmentation and improper chromatin packaging, factors that influence embryo viability and pregnancy success rates. Analysis of mtDNA sequences revealed 23 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MT-CO1, 15 in MT-CO2, and 30 in MT-CO3. However, no significant differences in SNP distributions were observed among groups (MT-CO1, p=0.10; MT-CO2, p=0.23; MT-CO3, p=0.07). This suggests that smoking does not induce detectable genetic mutations in these mitochondrial genes but may contribute to epigenetic alterations affecting sperm function. Conclusions Tobacco and cannabis use negatively impact sperm quality and DNA integrity, with cannabis smokers experiencing the most severe impairments. These findings are not just statistics, they affect real families struggling with infertility. Reduced sperm health can lead to difficulties conceiving, higher miscarriage rates, and long-term health risks for offspring. As cannabis use continues to rise globally, the public must recognize its potential reproductive dangers. On a broader scale, the increasing legalization and social acceptance of cannabis may contribute to a hidden reproductive crisis. Policymakers, healthcare professionals, and individuals should prioritize awareness and preventive measures. Public health campaigns should highlight the risks of smoking on fertility, particularly among young men who may be unaware of the long-term consequences. A naturally occurring molecule identified by Stanford Medicine researchers appears similar to semaglutide - also known as Ozempic - in suppressing appetite and reducing body weight. Notably, testing in animals also showed that it worked without some of the drug's side effects such as nausea, constipation and significant loss of muscle mass. The newly discovered molecule, BRP, acts through a separate but similar metabolic pathway and activates different neurons in the brain - seemingly offering a more targeted approach to body weight reduction. The receptors targeted by semaglutide are found in the brain but also in the gut, pancreas and other tissues. That's why Ozempic has widespread effects including slowing the movement of food through the digestive tract and lowering blood sugar levels. In contrast, BRP appears to act specifically in the hypothalamus, which controls appetite and metabolism." Katrin Svensson, PhD, assistant professor of pathology Svensson has co-founded a company to launch clinical trials of the molecule in humans in the near future. Svensson is the senior author of the research, which was published March 5 in Nature. Senior research scientist Laetitia Coassolo, PhD, is the lead author of the study. The study would not have been possible without the use of artificial intelligence to weed through dozens of proteins in a class called prohormones. Prohormones are biologically inert molecules that become active when they are cleaved by other proteins into smaller pieces called peptides; some of these peptides then function as hormones to regulate complex biological outcomes, including energy metabolism, in the brain and other organs. Each prohormone can be divided in a variety of ways to create a plethora of functional peptide progeny. But with traditional methods of protein isolation, it's difficult to pick peptide hormones (which are relatively rare) out of the biological soup of the much more numerous natural byproducts of protein degradation and processing. The researchers focused on the prohormone convertase 1/3, which separates prohormones at specific amino acid sequences and is known to be involved in human obesity. One of the peptide products is glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1, which regulates appetite and blood sugar levels; semaglutide works by mimicking the effect of GLP-1 in the body. The team turned to artificial intelligence to help them identify other peptides involved in energy metabolism. Peptide predictor Instead of manually isolating proteins and peptides from tissues and using techniques like mass spectrometry to identify hundreds of thousands of peptides, the researchers designed a computer algorithm they named Peptide Predictor to identify typical prohormone convertase cleavage sites in all 20,000 human protein-coding genes. They then focused on genes that encode proteins that are secreted outside the cell - a key characteristic of hormones - and that have four or more possible cleavage sites. Doing so narrowed down the search to 373 prohormones, a manageable number to screen for their biological effects. "The algorithm was absolutely key to our findings," Svensson said. Peptide Predictor predicted that prohormone convertase 1/3 would generate 2,683 unique peptides from the 373 proteins. Coassolo and Svensson focused on sequences likely to be biologically active in the brain. They screened 100 peptides, including GLP-1, for their ability to activate lab-grown neuronal cells. As expected, the GLP-1 peptide had a robust effect on the neuronal cells, increasing their activity threefold over control cells. But a small peptide made up of just 12 amino acids bumped up the cells' activity tenfold over controls. The researchers named this peptide BRP based on its parent prohormone, BPM/retinoic acid inducible neural specific 2, or BRINP2 (BRINP2-related-peptide). When the researchers tested the effect of BRP on lean mice and minipigs (which more closely mirror human metabolism and eating patterns than mice do) they found that an intramuscular injection of BRP prior to feeding reduced food intake over the next hour by up to 50% in both animal models. Obese mice treated with daily injections of BRP for 14 days lost an average of 3 grams - due almost entirely to fat loss - while control animals gained about 3 grams over the same period. The mice also demonstrated improved glucose and insulin tolerance. Behavioral studies of the mice and pigs found no differences in the treated animals' movements, water intake, anxiety-like behavior or fecal production. And further studies of physiological and brain activity showed that BRP activates metabolic and neuronal pathways separate from those activated by GLP-1 or semaglutide. The researchers hope to identify the cell-surface receptors that bind BRP and to further dissect the pathways of its action. They are also investigating how to help the peptide's effects last longer in the body to allow a more convenient dosing schedule if the peptide proves to be effective in regulating human body weight. "The lack of effective drugs to treat obesity in humans has been a problem for decades," Svensson said. "Nothing we've tested before has compared to semaglutide's ability to decrease appetite and body weight. We are very eager to learn if it is safe and effective in humans." Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; and the University of British Columbia contributed to the work. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grants R01DK125260, P30DK116074, K99AR081618 and GM113854), the SPARK Translational Research Program at Stanford, Stanford Bio-X, the Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, the American Heart Association, a Stanford Medicine Dean's Fellowship Award, the Carlsberg Foundation, and the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance. Svensson and Coassolo are inventors on patents regarding BRP peptides for metabolic disorders. Svensson is a co-founder of Merrifield Therapeutics. In a surprise, work in mice has found that the dormant X chromosome in females can reawaken late in life and turn on genes that keep the brain healthy. UCSF researchers may have discovered how the female brain remains resilient in aging, answering an age-old question of how most women outlive men and retain their cognitive abilities longer. Females carry two X chromosomes. One of them is ensconced in a corner in the cell called the Barr body, where it can't express many genes, and scientists thought it didn't do much of anything. But the UCSF team discovered that as female mice reached the equivalent of about 65 human years, their 'silent' second X started expressing genes that bolster the brain's connections, increasing cognition. "In typical aging, women have a brain that looks younger, with fewer cognitive deficits compared to men," said Dena Dubal, MD, PhD, a professor of neurology and the David A. Coulter Endowed Chair in Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease at UCSF. She is the senior author of the new paper, which appears on Mar. 5 in Science Advances. "These results show that the silent X in females actually reawakens late in life, probably helping to slow cognitive decline." Listening for whispers from the silent X To track whether any genes on the silent X might, in fact, be active, Dubal collaborated with genomics expert Vijay Ramani, PhD, professor at UCSF and investigator in the Gladstone Institute for Data Science & Biotechnology and Barbara Panning, PhD, professor of biochemistry at UCSF. The scientists created hybrid mice from two different strains of laboratory mouse and engineered the X chromosome from one strain to be silent. Since they knew the genetic code for each strain, they could track the source of any expressed genes back to each X chromosome. Then they measured gene expression in the hippocampus a key brain region for learning and memory that deteriorates during aging in 20-month-old female mice, which were akin to 65-year-old humans. Surprisingly, in several different cell types of the hippocampus, the X chromosome that was supposed to be silent instead expressed about 20 genes. Many of them play a role in brain development, as well as intellectual disability. "Aging had awakened the sleeping X," Dubal said. "We immediately thought this might explain how women's brains remain resilient in typical aging, because men wouldn't have this extra X," said Margaret Gadek, a graduate student in the MD PhD program at UCSF and first author of the paper. A not-so-silent X leads to a brain-restoring factor One of the 22 genes that had 'escaped' silencing on the X chromosome, PLP1, stood out to the researchers. PLP1 helps build the neural insulation, or myelin, that surrounds the brain's wires, so they can transmit their signals. Old female mice had more PLP1 in the hippocampus than old male mice, suggesting that the extra PLP1 from the second X chromosome had made a difference. To test whether PLP1 could explain the resilience of the female brain, the team artificially expressed PLP1 in the hippocampus of female and male old mice. The extra PLP1 provided a brain boost in both sexes, and these mice did better on tests of learning and memory. Dubal and her colleagues are now investigating whether the second X also may be active in older women. They have reason to believe it might: an analysis of donated brain tissue from older men and women, facilitated by Katilin Casaletto, professor of neurology at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, found that only women had elevated PLP1. Cognition is one of our biggest biomedical problems, but things are changeable in the aging brain, and the X chromosome clearly can teach us what's possible. Are there interventions that can amplify genes like PLP1 from the X chromosome to slow the decline for both women and men as we age?" Dena Dubal, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and the David A. Coulter Endowed Chair in Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease at UCSF Cynthia Williams is furious with U.S. House Republicans willing to slash Medicaid, the government-run insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities. The 61-year-old Anaheim resident cares for her adult daughter, who is blind, and for her sister, a military veteran with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. Medi-Cal, the state's version of Medicaid, pays Williams to care for them, and she relies on that income, just as her sister and daughter depend on her. "Let's be real. We shouldn't have to be here tonight," Williams told a raucous standing-room crowd of over 200 people at a recent town hall. "We should be home, spending time with our loved ones and our families, but we're here. And we're here to fight, because when politicians try to take away our health care, we don't have the option to sit back and let it happen." The House last week approved a Republican budget plan that could shrink Medicaid spending by $880 billion over 10 years, only partially paying for an extension of expiring tax cuts from President Donald Trump's first term, plus some new ones he has promised, totaling as much as $4.5 trillion. A spending cut of that magnitude would have a huge impact in California, with nearly 15 million people more than a third of the population on Medi-Cal. Over 60% of Medi-Cal's $161 billion budget comes from Washington. Williams was among about a dozen providers, patient advocates, disabled people, and family members who stood up one after the other to tell their stories. Rep. Young Kim, a Republican whose district includes this relatively affluent Orange County city, declined an invitation for her or a staff member to attend. But her constituents delivered their message loud and clear to her and the other Republicans in Congress: Hands off Medicaid. Josephine Rios, a certified nursing assistant at a Kaiser Permanente surgical center in Irvine, said her 7-year-old grandson, Elijah, has received indispensable treatments through Medi-Cal, including a $5,000-a-month medication that controls his seizures, which can be life-threatening. Elijah, who has cerebral palsy, is among the more than 50% of California children covered by Medi-Cal. "To cut Medicaid, Medi-Cal, that's like saying he can't live. He can't thrive. He's going to lie in bed and do nothing," Rios said. "Who are they to judge who lives and who doesn't?" Two thirds of Californians across party lines oppose cuts to Medi-Cal, according to a new survey by the California Health Care Foundation and NORC at the University of Chicago. The town hall here was one of three organized late last month by "Fight for Our Health," a coalition of health advocacy groups and unions, to target Republican House members whose California districts are considered politically competitive. The other two were in Bakersfield, part of which is represented by Rep. David Valadao, and Corona, home to Rep. Ken Calvert. Multiple other town halls and protests have sprung up across the country in recent weeks. The coalition has reprised a campaign part of a broader national movement that fought against the GOP's unsuccessful 2017 effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The Republicans' loss of House control in the 2018 midterm elections has been widely attributed to their stance on health care. Valadao was among the GOP members who lost their seats in 2018, though he took his back two years later. Still, he voted for the House budget proposal last week, despite the fact that about two-thirds of the population in his district is on Medicaid the highest in the state and even though he is one of eight GOP House members who sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson warning about the "serious consequences" of deep cuts to Medicaid. Valadao's office did not respond to requests for comment. Calvert, who's been in the House for 32 years and eked out reelection last November, also voted for the budget, as did Kim. All nine GOP members of California's congressional delegation supported it, as did all House Republicans except one. Critics of the budget plan say it helps the rich at the expense of society's most vulnerable an argument that was vigorously repeated at the Tustin town hall. But supporters of the plan say that extending the tax cuts, key provisions of which are set to expire at the end of this year, would avoid a large tax hike for average Americans and benefit low-income families the most. "American families are facing a massive tax increase unless Congress acts by the end of the year," Calvert said in a statement to KFF Health News before the vote. He vowed the GOP would not touch Social Security or Medicare. He did not offer similar assurances on Medicaid, but said, "We are not interested in cutting the social and healthcare safety net for children, disabled, and low-income Americans. We are focused on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse." The document greenlit last Tuesday does not specify spending cut details, though it instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid and Medicare spending, to cut $880 billion a large chunk of the up to $2 trillion in total cuts. The GOP's razor-thin majority means Johnson will have a narrow path to get a more detailed budget passed. Republican support, whether from fiscal hawks who want deeper spending cuts or House members worried about slashing Medicaid, could ebb and flow as the details are hashed out. Moreover, the House must reach a compromise with the Senate, which has passed a much narrower budget resolution that leaves the big tax cuts out for now. Like Kim, Valadao and Calvert declined invitations to attend or send staffers to the town hall meetings in their regions. At the Tustin meeting, multiple speakers chided Kim for her absence. At one point, the large screen behind the podium flashed a picture of an empty chair with the words, in large block letters, "Congresswoman Kim, we saved you a seat." Kim spokesperson Callie Strock said in an email that Kim and her local staff had preexisting commitments that night. She added that Kim is "committed to protecting and strengthening our health care system." But those in attendance were clearly worried. "It's a moral obligation for all of us to look at the most disadvantaged people in our country and take good care of them," said Beth Martinko, whose 33-year-old son, Josh, has autism and relies on Medi-Cal for his care. "This has no place in politics." Outside the Tustin town hall, organized by a coalition called "Fight for Our Health, a woman holds up a protest sign criticizing President Donald Trump and urging Congress not to cut Medicaid.(Jenna Schoenefeld for KFF Health News) This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. The 15th World Clinical Biomarkers & Companion Diagnostics Summit Europe, held in London from April 8th to 10th, aims to address common concerns among European Biomarker, Translational, and Clinical Development professionals, such as: How can we ensure the clinical validation, adoption, and scalability of novel testing technologies beyond genomics in Europe? Biopharma companies are collaborating with regulators and IVD providers to validate and commercialize novel technologies, including digital pathology, omics, liquid biopsies, cell sequencing, and multiplexing. How can we streamline biomarker validation and IVDR-compliant companion diagnostics co-development beyond oncology? Explore the newest breakthroughs in blood-based biomarkers, CE-marked genetic panels, and imaging to improve patient selection and monitoring in precision medicine for autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and uncommon disorders. How can we work with national and multi-institutes within Europe to accelerate the clinical adoption of biomarkers? Discover how major healthcare institutes, infrastructure, and consortiums across Europe develop and execute multi-center efforts to increase the adoption, validation, and market access of novel biomarkers and IVDR-compliant diagnostics. Learn more about biomarker research, clinical validation, CDx development, and commercialization to improve your skills both upstream and downstream. About Hanson Wade Group - 15th World Clinical Biomarkers & CDx Europe Welcome to the 15th World Clinical Biomarkers & Companion Diagnostics Summit Europe. With drug-diagnostic co-development partnerships fueling advances in diagnostic testing for Alzheimers, Multiple Sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, rare genetic disorders, and cancer, 2025 is poised as a critical year for Europes precision medicine community. However, developing, clinically validating, regulatory filing, and commercializing biomarkers and in vitro diagnostics remains no easy feat, as knowledge gaps persist in validating surrogate endpoints, co-developing scalable diagnostic testing workflows and infrastructure, navigating reimbursement pathways, and harmonizing drug-diagnostic IVDR-adherence for approval in unmet patient need. The 15th World Clinical Biomarkers & Companion Diagnostics Summit Europe returns as the industry-leading end-to-end forum for Europes precision medicine community. Serving as your premium connection-making platform, this summit will unite over 170 key European stakeholders to accelerate precision drugs from discovery through to commercialization for patients in need. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. Have you been primarily focused on genomics, pathology, liquid biopsies, flow cytometry, spatial biology, or omics data this year? The 15th World Clinical Biomarkers & Companion Diagnostics Summit Europe (8-10th April, London) is an important event for advancing precision treatments in the European market. Check out a sneak preview of the agenda below. Advancing Faster Diagnosis of Pancreatic & Biliary Tract Cancers with Liquid Biopsies This talk is hosted by Naureen Starling, a Medical Oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and the Director of the Royal Marsdens Clinical Trials Unit. She also serves as an NIHR Professor of Gastrointestinal Oncology at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. Developing Blood-based Biomarkers to Stratify Alzheimer's Patients Featuring Mario Richter, Senior Director of Development Sciences at AbbVie. A Match Made in Oncology: Optimizing Co-Development Partnerships Led by Antje Lukas, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs for Companion Diagnostics at Daiichi Sankyo Europe. Define a Unified Path to IVDR Compliance for Streamlined Approvals With participation from AstraZeneca, Bayer, and TUV SUD. Bring your expertise to the conversation and join 170+ senior industry executives in advancing IVDR-compliant drug-diagnostic solutions for the European market. Explore how data-driven insights are improving patient outcomes in oncology, metabolic disorders, rare diseases, and autoimmune conditions. About Hanson Wade Group - 15th World Clinical Biomarkers & CDx Europe Welcome to the 15th World Clinical Biomarkers & Companion Diagnostics Summit Europe. With drug-diagnostic co-development partnerships fueling advances in diagnostic testing for Alzheimers, Multiple Sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, rare genetic disorders, and cancer, 2025 is poised as a critical year for Europes precision medicine community. However, developing, clinically validating, regulatory filing, and commercializing biomarkers and in vitro diagnostics remains no easy feat, as knowledge gaps persist in validating surrogate endpoints, co-developing scalable diagnostic testing workflows and infrastructure, navigating reimbursement pathways, and harmonizing drug-diagnostic IVDR-adherence for approval in unmet patient need. The 15th World Clinical Biomarkers & Companion Diagnostics Summit Europe returns as the industry-leading end-to-end forum for Europes precision medicine community. Serving as your premium connection-making platform, this summit will unite over 170 key European stakeholders to accelerate precision drugs from discovery through to commercialization for patients in need. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. Should You Continue Your SIP Or Close It Amid Market Volatility? What Experts Say Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 06:45 IST Indian investors are pulling back from SIPs due to market volatility, with the stoppage ratio at 109% in January 2025. Market expert advises continuing SIPs for long-term wealth. Indian stock market is witnessing volatility with substantial fall and rise of the benchmark indices. Indian investors seem to be pulling back from Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) amidst market volatility. The SIP stoppage ratio, which compares discontinued or expired SIP accounts to new registrations, reached 109% in January 2025. Data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) reveals a net closure of 5.14 lakh SIPs exceeding new registrations for the month. Recommended Stories This trend is attributed to market corrections and recent negative returns, making investors wary. Benchmark indices have been on a rollercoaster ride, experiencing sharp falls and rises. Factors such as foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloading holdings due to overvaluation concerns, escalating trade tensions, and a global economic slowdown have fueled pessimism, dragging down the market. Both the Nifty and Sensex have retreated substantially from their recent peaks. Is it the rightful approach to close your SIPs when market is volatile and unpredictable? Lets know what experts have a say on this. Should You Stop Or Continue Your SIP In MFs Amid Market Volatility? Continuation of SIP is a very important to a disciplined investment approach and key to long-term wealth creation for the investors, argued Krishna Rao, Managing Director & Co-Head Equity Broking, JM Financial Services Ltd. Thus, irrespective of market volatility the investors should continue with SIPs as the focus remain on medium-to-long term returns rather than timing the markets," he added. Rao believed that SIPs could be gradually increased when markets are bearish and overall valuation seems attractive as it helps to generate market-beating returns over long-term. Should Investor Shift To Safer Assets Or Stay Patient? Rao believed that investor should increase share of large caps in their portfolio as valuation (one-year forward PE) of Nifty-50 at 18.5x (at 10% discount to long-term average of 20.5x) seems reasonable. Higher allocation towards sectors which are available at discount to historical valuation should be the portfolio strategy, Rao said. Moreover, investors should add quality stocks which offer decent earnings growth visibility and are available at reasonable valuation or where there is limited scope of earnings downgrade/valuation de-rating from current levels." However, he cautioned that global trade wars, INR depreciation and high US bond yields would keep Indian equity markets volatile in the near-term. Mr. Manish Goel, Founder and MD, Equentis Wealth Advisory Services said markets are entering a phase of renewed traction, driven by improving GDP growth, earnings recovery, and better liquidity conditions. While global trade remains volatilewith Trumps tariff war reshaping economic dynamicsIndias resilience stands out. After a temporary slowdown, government spending and capex are back on track, setting the stage for stronger growth in the coming quarters. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As liquidity conditions improve and investor confidence returns, we see a clear path for markets to comeback the 25,00026,000 range over the next 2-3 Quarters," Goel said. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategiesonly on News18. First Published: March 06, 2025, 06:45 IST Why Is Gold Cheaper In Dubai Than In India? Key Customs Regulations Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 15:27 IST Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport with gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore. Lets understand why Dubai is an attractive destination for buying gold Currently, 10 grams of 24-carat gold in Dubai costs approximately Rs 72,430. (Representative/Shutterstock) Kannada actress Ranya Rao was stopped at Kempegowda International Airport after authorities discovered gold bars valued at Rs 12.56 crore in her possession. Subsequent searches of her residence uncovered an additional Rs 2.06 crore worth of gold jewellery and Rs 2.67 crore in Indian currency. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted an Indian woman, aged around 33, who had arrived from Dubai to Bengaluru on an Emirates flight on March 3. Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg were found ingeniously concealed on her person," the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. Recommended Stories Following the interception, DRI officers searched her residence on Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, where she lives with her husband. The search led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore," the statement added. The Ministry further stated that the woman had been arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and remanded to judicial custody. In this context, let us explore why gold prices in Dubai are often lower than in India and why the Dubai gold market presents an attractive option for gold buyers. Gold prices in Dubai are often lower than in India due to differences in import duties and tax policies. Currently, 10 grams of 24-carat gold in Dubai costs approximately Rs 72,430, while in India the same amount is around Rs 90,000. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, it is crucial to consider customs regulations when bringing gold from Dubai to India. Male passengers can bring up to 20 grams (worth Rs 50,000) without incurring customs duty, while female passengers have a limit of 40 grams (worth Rs 1,00,000). This exemption applies only to jewellery, not gold bars or coins. It is important to note that exceeding these limits will result in customs duty, which can range from 10% to 12% of the golds value. Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 15:27 IST Bihar Board Matric Exam Answer Key 2025 Released, Raise Objection By March 10 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 12:48 IST Bihar Board Class 10 Answer Key 2025 Out: It can be accessed on the official website at biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in. Students can raise objection to the answer key till March 10 up till 5 pm. Bihar Board Class 10 Answer Key 2025: According to the latest update, Bihar Board Result 2025 will be released by the last week of March (Representative Image/File) Bihar Board Class 10 Answer Key 2025 Released: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has issued the answer key of the matriculation examination 2025. It can be accessed on the official websites at biharboardonline.com or biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in. Students can raise objection to the answer key till March 10 up till 5 pm. Bihar Board Class 10 Answer Key 2025: Steps To Check Recommended Stories Step 1 To check the Bihar Board class 10 answer key, one has to visit the official website of BSEB. Step 2 On the home page, click on the answer key link. Step 3 After this, fill in the roll number/roll code and submit it. Step 4 The answer key will be displayed on the screen. The BSEB Class 10 exams concluded on February 25, 2025. Over 15 lakh students took the matric exam this year. A total of 58 impersonation cases have been caught. The board also expelled 51 students for using unfair means. Three students were expelled during the general English paper on the sixth day of exams, whereas 10 impersonation cases were also detected. The first two days of the exam saw the highest number of expulsions, with 24 students removed and 18 impersonation cases reported. Bihar Board Exam 2025 Result Update BSEB conducted the 10th examination from February 17 to 25, 2025, and the 12th exam from February 1 to 15. Like the last few years, this time also the Bihar Board 10th, and 12th examinations have ended first. Hence, the Bihar Board Result is also expected to be released first. According to the latest update, the results will be released by the last week of March. This means that the result will be declared only after Holi. Bihar Board Result 2025 will be uploaded on the official website of BSEB which includes: biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in biharboardonline.com seniorsecondary.biharboardonline.com top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all results.biharboardonline.com The topper list will also be released along with Bihar Board Matric and Intermediate Result 2025. Like every year, this time also Bihar Board topper will be rewarded by the government. About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 10:56 IST BSF HCM, ASI Steno Exam Admit Card 2025 Date And Time Update: Where And How To Check? Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 17:29 IST Applicants scheduled for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST) can download their hall tickets from BSFs official website, bsf.gov.in This recruitment drive aims to fill 1,526 vacancies in BSF. (Representative Image/File) The Border Security Force (BSF) is set to release admit cards soon for candidates applying for Head Constable Ministerial (HCM) and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Stenographer positions. Applicants scheduled for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST) can download their hall tickets from BSFs official website. This recruitment drive aims to fill 1,526 vacancies in the force. Candidates applying for the ASI Stenographer position must showcase their proficiency in typing speed and shorthand during the selection process. Those who fail to meet the required standards may be disqualified from further recruitment stages. Recommended Stories How to Download BSF HCM and ASI Steno Admit Card 2025? Follow these steps to access and download your admit card: Step 1 Visit the official BSF website bsf.gov.in. Step 2 Go to the Latest News section on the homepage. Step 3 Click on the link titled BSF HCM/ASI Steno Admit Card 2025." Step 4 Enter your login credentials Registration Number and Date of Birth. Step 5 Click Submit to proceed. Step 6 Download and print your admit card for future reference. BSF HCM and ASI Steno Recruitment Process The Border Security Force (BSF) recruitment for Head Constable Ministerial (HCM) and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Stenographer consists of multiple selection rounds designed to assess candidates on physical fitness, knowledge, and technical skills. The BSF HCM and ASI Steno recruitment process 2025 consists of multiple selection rounds, including the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET), where candidates must meet height, chest, and weight requirements while undergoing fitness assessments. Those who qualify move on to the Computer-Based Written Examination (CBT), which evaluates general knowledge, logical reasoning, mathematical aptitude, basic English skills, and technical knowledge relevant to the post. Stenographer applicants must also pass a skill test, including typing and shorthand proficiency. Shortlisted candidates proceed to document verification, where they must present original educational certificates and identity proof. The final stage is the medical examination, ensuring candidates meet BSFs health standards before selection. Applicants must check their admit card details for accuracy and report discrepancies to BSF authorities. Carrying a valid photo ID (Aadhar, PAN, or Voter ID) along with the admit card is mandatory. The BSF recruitment application process began in December 2024, with a submission deadline of January 21, 2025. Important Instructions for Candidates Ensure all details on the admit card, including name, photograph, exam date, and venue, are correct. Report any errors on the admit card to BSF authorities immediately. Carry a valid photo ID proof such as Aadhar Card, PAN Card, or Voter ID along with the admit card. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Strictly follow all instructions mentioned on the admit card to avoid disqualification. The application process for the BSF Head Constable Ministerial (HCM) and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Steno Recruitment 2025 commenced in December 2024. Interested candidates were required to submit their applications online before the deadline on January 21, 2025. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 17:26 IST Rajiv Gandhi Failed Twice? A Look At Ex-PM's Academic Qualifications Amid Mani Shankar Aiyar Redux Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 14:21 IST In a video shared by BJP's Amit Malviya, Mani Shankar Aiyar questions Rajiv Gandhi's qualifications, highlighting his failed attempts at Cambridge and Imperial College London. Rajiv Gandhi's education began at Welham Prep in Dehradun, followed by Doon School (File Photo) Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar sparked controversy with remarks about former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis education. In a video shared by BJPs Amit Malviya, Aiyar questions Gandhis qualifications, highlighting his failed attempts at Cambridge and Imperial College London. Rajiv Gandhi struggled academically, even failing at Cambridge, where passing is relatively easy. He then moved to Imperial College London but failed there as well," Malviya posted on X. Recommended Stories Rajiv Gandhi struggled academically, even failing at Cambridge, where passing is relatively easy. He then moved to Imperial College London but failed there as wellMany questioned how someone with his academic record could become the Prime Minister. Let the veil be stripped. pic.twitter.com/m9serSGQMs Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 5, 2025 While the videos timing is unclear, Congress swiftly dismissed Aiyars comments, defending Gandhis legacy. Ajay Singh Yadav stressed Aiyars irrelevance, while Tariq Anwar argued that despite any academic setbacks, Gandhi excelled in his political career, achieving significant progress during his time as Prime Minister. A Look At Rajiv Gandhis Educational Qualification Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhis early years were spent in Delhi, at Teen Murti House, alongside his grandfather and mother, Indira Gandhi. His education began at Welham Prep in Dehradun, followed by Doon School. For higher education, he joined Trinity College, Cambridge, and subsequently to Imperial College, London, where he pursued mechanical engineering. After returning to India, he pursued his passion for flying, obtaining a commercial pilots license from the Delhi Flying Club and subsequently joining Indian Airlines as a pilot. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rajiv Gandhis Political Journey After his brother Sanjay Gandhi died in a plane crash in 1980, Rajiv Gandhi reluctantly entered politics at the behest of his mother. He entered politics by winning the Amethi Parliamentary seat and becoming a member of the Lok Sabha. He was later appointed general secretary of the Congress party and played a key role in organising the 1982 Asian Games. However, on October 31, 1984, his mother, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. That same day, Rajiv Gandhi was appointed Prime Minister, a position he held from October 31, 1984, to December 2, 1989. He continued to serve as Congress president until the 1991 elections. During the campaign, he was tragically assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber. About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 13:52 IST SLPRB Assam Police SI Result 2025 Released At slprbassam.in, How To Check? Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 14:37 IST SLPRB Assam Police SI Result 2025: Candidates who have cleared the written test are now eligible to appear for the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) SLPRB Assam Police SI Result 2025: The SLPRB Assam SI 2025 written exam took place on January 5.(Representational/File) The State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB) has announced the Combined Written Test 2025 results for various posts, including Assistant Deputy Controller (Junior) in Civil Defence under DGCD & CGHG, Sub-Inspector (AB) in Assam Commando Battalions, Sub-Inspector (UB) in Assam Police and Sub-Inspector (Communications) in APRO. Candidates who appeared for the exam can now check their results on the official website, slprbassam.in. To access their scorecards, applicants must log in using their name, application number, and date of birth. The result will display essential details such as the exam name, date, registration number, scores, and qualifying status. The SLPRB Assam SI 2025 written exam took place on January 5. Recommended Stories Assam SLPRB 2025 Result: How To Check? Step 1: Visit the official SLPRB website slprbassam.in. Step 2: Click on the Assam Police SI Results" link on the homepage. Step 3: Enter your login credentials (Name, Application Number, and Date of Birth) on the new page. Step 4: Click Submit" to view your result. Step 5: Download and print a copy of the result for future reference. SLPRB Assam SI 2025: Whats Next? Candidates who have cleared the written test are now eligible to appear for the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). As per the official schedule, the tests for Sub-Inspector positions will be conducted from March 17 to 21 at the 4th Assam Police Battalion, Kahilipara, Guwahati. Additionally, the Practical Test for the Assistant Deputy Controller, Civil Defence (Jr.) under DGCD & CGHG will be announced soon, as per the official notification. SLPRB 2025: How To Download Admit Card For PST, PET Exam? The State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB) will release the Assam SI PST and PET admit cards on March 9 at 11 am. Candidates eligible for multiple positions must select their preferred post before downloading their admit cards. Follow these steps to download the admit card: Step 1: Visit the official SLPRB website www.slprbassam.in. Step 2: Click on the Admit Card" section. Step 3: Enter your name, date of birth, and application number. Step 4: Click Submit" to download the admit card. Step 5: Print a copy for future reference. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card to the exam venue, along with a valid photo ID. On working days, candidates can contact SLPRB Assams toll-free helpline at 8108014947 between 10 AM and 5 PM for any technical assistance. Candidates are also urged to stay updated by carefully following the guidelines on the official SLPRB website. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 14:34 IST UPSC CAPF ACs 2025 Notification Released For 357 Vacancies, Apply By March 25 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 11:34 IST UPSC CAPF Recruitment 2025: Candidates will be selected based on a written examination, followed by Physical Standards Tests, Physical Efficiency Tests, Interview/Personality Tests, and Medical Standards Tests Eligible candidates can apply for UPSC CAPF 2025 on upsconline.nic.in The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the advertisement for 357 vacancies for Assistant Commandants in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Eligible candidates can apply for UPSC CAPF 2025 on the commissions website, upsconline.nic.in. The notification can be found on upsc.gov.in. The application deadline for UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Recruitment 2025 is March 25 up till 6 pm. The application correction window will remain from March 26 to April 4. Recommended Stories UPSC CAPF ACs 2025 Recruitment: Vacancy Details Border Security Force (BSF): 24 vacancies Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): 204 vacancies Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): 92 vacancies Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): 04 vacancies Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): 33 UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Recruitment 2025: Eligibility Criteria Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelors degree from a recognised university. Age Limit: Candidates must be at least 20 years of age and not more than 25 years of age as of August 1, 2025. That is, they must not have been born before August 2, 2000, and not before August 1, 2005. The upper age limit will be reduced as per state rules for reserved category candidates. UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Recruitment 2025: How To Apply? Before submitting the online form on upsconline.nic.in, new candidates have to complete the one-time registration (OTR) through the link provided on the same website. After completing the OTR, candidates can go through the application process. Existing candidates, those who have completed the OTR for any previous edition of UPSC CAPF or any other exam conducted by the Commission, do not need to register again as the OTR on the UPSC website is valid for life. Step 1 Register yourself on the official website Step 2 Fill out the form and upload the required documents Step 3 Pay the application fees Step 4 Submit the form and save the confirmation page for further use. UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Recruitment 2025: Application Fee The application fee for UPSC CAPF 2025 is Rs 200. Women and SC and ST category candidates are exempted from paying the examination fee. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant Recruitment 2025: Selection Process Candidates will be selected based on a written examination, followed by Physical Standards Tests, Physical Efficiency Tests (PET), Interview/Personality Tests, and Medical Standards Tests. If on verification at any time before or after the Written Examination, Physical Standards Tests, Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Interview/Personality Test and Medical Standards Tests, it is found that they do not fulfill any of the eligibility conditions, their candidature for the examination will be cancelled by the Commission," the notice stated. About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 11:29 IST Amidst Abu Azmi Row, What Nehru Said About Aurangzeb, How History Remembers The Mughal Ruler | Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: News Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 15:09 IST In his book Discovery of India, Nehru called Aurangzeb a bigot and an austere puritan He infuriated the great majority of his subjects by imposing the old hated jizya poll-tax on the Hindus Western Orientalist scholars called Aurangzeb a despot and blamed him for weakening of the Mughal state. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb became the topics of heated discussions in the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday, with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis challenging the Opposition parties to condemn Jawaharlal Nehru as well. We will truly not tolerate the insult of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj," Fadnavis said. Recommended Stories This comes following the suspension of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi from the Maharashtra Assembly after his remark on Aurangzeb, praising the Mughal ruler. My suspension is an injustice, not just to me but to the millions of people whom I represent I would like to ask the government whether two types of laws are followed in the state? One law for Abu Azmi and another law for Prashant Koratkar and Rahul Sholapurkar," he said in a video post on X. His comment gained traction amidst the controversy around the movie Chhaava, which is centred around Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Maratha icon Shivaji. Azmi stressed that Aurangzeb was a good administrator" and India expanded under his reign. Wrong history is being shown in Chhaava Aurangzeb built several temples. I do not think he was a cruel administrator," Azmi said. He also went on to claim that India was referred to as sone ki chiriya (golden bird)" during Aurangzebs tenure, with the countrys economy accounting for 24% of the global GDP. In his book Discovery of India, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru called Aurangzeb a bigot and an austere puritan, he was no lover of art or literature. He infuriated the great majority of his subjects by imposing the old hated jeziya poll-tax on the Hindus and destroying many of their temples. He offended the proud Rajputs who had been the props and pillars of the Mughal Empire". In the north he roused the Sikhs, who, from being a peaceful sect representing some kind of synthesis of Hindu and Islamic ideas, were converted by repression and persecution into a military brotherhood. Near the west coast of India, he angered the warlike Marathas, descendants of the ancient Rashtrakutas, just when a brilliant captain had risen amongst them." Who Was Aurangzeb? Aurangzeb was the son of Shah Jahan and the sixth and last of the great Mughal emperors. He was a devout Muslim and a strict ruler who enforced the Sharia law and re-imposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims. He also banned music, dancing, and painting in his court. He fought many wars to expand his empire, which became the largest in Indias history, covering almost the entire subcontinent. However, he also faced fierce resistance from the Marathas, the Sikhs, and the Rajputs, who challenged his authority and drained his resources. He died in 1707, leaving behind a vast but unstable empire that soon collapsed under the pressure of internal and external forces. What Was The Criticism Against Aurangzeb? Some South Asian Muslims have praised him for being an exemplary orthodox ruler, whose conquests brought Indo-Islamic power to its territorial height. Others called him a religious fanatic whose intolerance instigated the communal violence that plagued South Asia. To Hindu nationalists, he was an ultimate villain, an oppressive fundamentalist who led a genocidal campaign against Hindus. Many say that Aurangzeb tried to convert all Hindus to Islam, and when that project failed he reportedly slaughtered millions of Hindus. People claim that Aurangzeb systematically destroyed Hindu cultural institutions thousands of Hindu temples. Some have even said the reason why north India lacks the tall, elaborate temples that one finds in south India is because Aurangzeb destroyed them, as per Aeon an Australia-based digital magazine. Western Orientalist scholars painted Aurangzeb as a despot and blamed him for weakening the Mughal state and thus opening the door to British colonisation, as per an article in Origins. As a ruler, Aurangzeb was accused of being puritanical. He was personally devout but continued to offer legal protections to and employ large numbers of Hindus and members of other religious groups. In fact, the Mughal nobility during Aurangzebs reign had a higher percentage of Hindus (just over 30%) than under any of his predecessors. Many historians say Aurangzeb would ally with Hindu rulers against Muslims when it suited his military goals. When he did target Hindu or Sikh religious leaders, it was in response to political threats rather than religious intolerance. While much attention was paid to his reinstatement of the jizya tax on non-Muslims, Aurangzebs main focus was always on military expansion. He relentlessly pursued the conquest of the central and southern India but the success came at an incredible cost. While he did expand the empire to its greatest territorial height, his conquests were unsustainable. His successors were weak and could not maintain the vast territory that Aurangzeb managed to conquer throughout the eighteenth century. Thus, Mughal power incrementally diminished until its end in 1857 when the British took over India. Death Of Aurangzeb In 1705 when he was 86 years old, Aurangzeb finally wound up his last military campaign when he was engaged in a siege in conquering an insignificant fortress near Bijapur. Exhausted, he felt like returning to imperial Delhi, the seat of the Mughal capital. During the march, when Aurangzeb reached Devapur on the Krishna River in Bijapur province, he fell violently ill and the journey had to be stopped. He had to rest there for six months till October 1705. Thereafter the emperor was carried in a palanquin. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On January 20, 1706, the entourage reached Ahmednagar. Aurangzeb had to spend his last miserable year there due to his illness. He was alone during his ill health as Akbar had died in Persia in 1704, his daughter had passed away two years earlier, his sister also died in 1706. His only companion was his spinster daughter and his last wife Udipuri Mahal. Aurangzeb died on February 21, 1707, on Friday the Muslim Sabbath as he always wanted. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 15:08 IST How Much Gold, Cash Are You Allowed To Bring On Foreign Flights? Customs Rules Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 23:50 IST Ranya Rao Arrest News: Anyone entering India has to pass through a customs check after being first cleared by an immigration officer and taking delivery of his or her baggage. Here's all you need to know about the customs rules in India The Indian Customs Act of 1962 regulates import and export duties and establishes the guidelines for customs valuation. (Representative image) The recovery of 14.8 kg of gold from Kannada actress Ranya Rao at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport is being touted as one of the biggest seizures. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted the major smuggling racket while Rao was just one step away from clearing the airport security. After searches at spots linked to her, the authorities concerned recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore. Rao was presented before an economic offences court, which remanded her to 14 days in judicial custody. Rao, who travelled to the Saudi city 30 times wearing the same clothes over the past year bringing back kilos of gold on each trip, is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao. The DGP-rank officer is currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. Recommended Stories The entire episode has shocked the nation and has necessitated the need for us to revisit and learn the customs rules in India. Customs Regulations In India The Indian Customs Act of 1962 regulates import and export duties and establishes the guidelines for customs valuation. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is the highest authority overseeing customs, excise, and goods and services tax matters in India. Every passenger entering India has to pass through a customs check after being first cleared by an Immigration Officer and taking delivery of his or her baggage, if any, from the conveyer belts. The passenger has the option of seeking Customs clearance through either of the two channels: Green Channel for passengers not having any dutiable or prohibited goods, and Red Channel for passengers having dutiable or prohibited goods. Mandatory Requirements Passengers with prohibited or dutiable goods, or those exceeding their duty-free allowance, must complete a customs declaration form and choose the Red Channel. They can also declare dutiable items and currency before boarding via the ATITHI mobile app. Declaration of foreign exchange is required if the value of foreign currency notes exceeds US $5,000 or if the total foreign exchange, including currency, exceeds US $10,000. Passengers using the Green Channel with dutiable or prohibited goods may face prosecution, penalties, and confiscation. What All Are Allowed To be Brought In Upon arrival from countries other than Nepal, Bhutan, or Myanmar, the following duty-free allowances apply: Indian Residents and Foreigners Residing in India can bring: i) Used personal effects and travel souvenirs, articles worth up to Rs 50,000 carried in person or as accompanied baggage, excluding firearms and ammunition (over 50 cartridges), over 100 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 125 g of tobacco, alcoholic beverages exceeding 2 l, gold or silver (other than ornaments), flat-panel televisions (LCD/LED/Plasma), ii) Tourists of foreign origin can bring Used personal effects and travel souvenirs and Articles up to Rs 15,000 in value carried on person or as accompanied baggage. However, on arrival from Nepal, Bhutan, or Myanmar, Indian residents, foreigners residing in India, and tourists can bring used personal effects and travel souvenirs and items up to Rs 15,000. How Much Gold Can One Bring An Indian passenger who has been residing abroad for over one year is allowed to bring jewellery, free of duty in his bonafide baggage up to 20 grams with a value cap of Rs 50,000 (in case of a gentleman passenger) or up to 40 grams with a value cap of Rs 1,00,000 (in the case of a lady passenger). Any passenger of Indian Origin or a passenger holding a valid passport coming to India after a period of not less than six months of stay abroad. However, short visits during these six months shall be ignored if the total duration of such short visits does not exceed 30 days and the passenger has not availed of the exemption under this scheme, at the time of such short visits. Except for these passengers, no other passengers are allowed to import gold in baggage. How Much Cash Can You Get Any person can bring into India from a place outside India foreign exchange without any limit. However, a declaration of foreign exchange/ currency is required to be made in a few cases. Import of Indian Currency is prohibited. However, passengers normally resident in India who are returning from a visit abroad can bring Indian currency up to Rs 25,000. Punishment For Smuggling top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Under the Customs Act, the non-declaration, mis-declaration, and concealment of imported goods are serious offences, which can lead to confiscation, fines, penalties, and even prosecution. The Act also allows for stringent actions against passengers who attempt to smuggle prohibited, restricted, or dutiable goods through the Green Channel or mis-declare their goods at the Red Channel. Furthermore, the law penalizes individuals who attempt to export prohibited or restricted goods or abet such offences. The consequences of violating these provisions under the Customs Act can be severe. Offenders may face the absolute confiscation of their goods or be subjected to heavy fines, depending on the nature of the goods. Penalties can also be imposed on individuals or entities involved, and in serious cases, arrest and prosecution may follow. Additionally, preventive detention may be invoked in particularly grave instances to deter such illegal activities. About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 13:03 IST What Is Egypts Gaza Reconstruction Plan Rejected By US And Israel? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 10:06 IST The three-stage Gaza reconstruction plan does not foresee displacement of residents. It is said to have drawn responses from experts, including World Bank on sustainability and Dubai developers on hotels Some Arab states have called for the complete dismantling of Hamas. (Photo: Reuters) The United States and Israel have rejected Gazas reconstruction plan proposed by Egypt and backed by the Arab League that offers an alternative to Donald Trumps suggestion of developing it into a Riviera. Leaders from 22 nations of the Arab League attended a summit in Cairo on Tuesday and unanimously adopted the Egyptian proposal, which does not foresee any of Gazas residents being forced to leave during reconstruction, unlike Trumps plan that said depopulation. Recommended Stories Palestinians in Gaza have all vehemently rejected any attempt to force them from Gaza, and the head of the United Nations and some others have suggested that making them leave would amount to ethnic cleansing. What Has Egypt Proposed? The Egyptian plan consists of three stages: interim measures, reconstruction and governance. The first stage would last about six months, while the next two phases would take place over a combined four to five years. Phase I: The estimated cost for this phase would be around $3 billion and will include clearing rubble, building 200,000 houses and restoring 60,000 buildings. It will be managed by a committee of technocrats under the Palestinian Authority. Phase II: The estimated cost for this phase would be around $20 billion in which clearing and construction of 400,000 houses continues. Water, waste, telecom and electricity will be restored; housing will be provided to the entire population for 30 months; build an industrial zone, fishing port, commercial port and airport. Phase III: This phase involved governance and is estimated to cost $30 billion. Technocratic committees will oversee humanitarian aid and governance. A Steering and Management Council a fund supporting technocrats would support the process. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said an election would take place next year if conditions allow, as per Al Jazeera. According to the plan, the funds will be sourced from international organisations, including the UN as well as from foreign and private sector investments. The aim of the project is to reconstruct Gaza and maintain peace and security and reassert the governance of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the territory, which was thrown away following fighting between Fatah, which dominates the PA, and Hamas. Who Would Be The In Charge Of The Plan? Independent Palestinian technocrats will manage affairs in Gaza, replacing Hamas. They will also oversee humanitarian aid and would pave the way for the PA to administer Gaza, according to Egypts President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. In terms of security of Gaza, Egypt and Jordan have pledged to train Palestinian police officers and deploy them to the Strip. The two countries have also called on the United Nations Security Council to consider authorising a peacekeeping mission to oversee governance in Gaza until reconstruction is complete. Will The Plan Work? There are a number of roadblocks in terms of executing the plan. The US and Israel have rejected the plan. Some Arab states have called for the complete dismantling of Hamas; others believe those decisions should be left up to the Palestinians. Hamas, which has welcomed the reconstruction proposal, has made it clear that disarming is a red line. It has accepted not running Gaza but it is unclear if it will accept the return of PA, which faces criticism of returning to Gaza in the backdrop of the war. Israels Foreign Ministry in Tel Aviv said in a statement that the proposal, continues to rely on the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) Both have repeatedly demonstrated corruption, support for terrorism, and failure in resolving the issue." Israel has long accused UNRWA of being linked with Hamas and, has recently banned the UN aid agency from operating on its territory. What Has Been The Response To The Plan? Israel continues to back Trumps Gaza displacement plan, which echoes a call from the Israeli far-right to depopulate Gaza. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has described Trumps plan as visionary", has repeatedly ruled out any future role for Hamas, but also for the Palestinian Authority. Egypt called Israels response unacceptable", with Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty describing the Netanyahu governments position as stubborn and extremist", as per Al Jazeera. US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement that the Arab proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance." President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas," Hughes said, adding: We look forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Egypts proposal is said to have drawn responses from many experts across the world, including World Bank on sustainability and Dubai developers on hotels. There are also lessons learned from other ravaged cities which rose from the rubble including Hiroshima, Beirut, and Berlin. And the reconstruction plan for Gaza is influenced by Egypts own experience in developing its New Cairo", its grand megaproject which has seen a new administrative capital rising from the desert at great expense, as per BBC. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 09:45 IST What Will Change For Indian Railway Finance Corporation With Navratna Status | Explained Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 09:41 IST The IRFC now won't have to seek permissions from the Ministry and with this new lease of freedom they are now planning to fund other entities that will be working in the railway ecosystem. The IRFC, earlier this week, was awarded the Navratna status by the Government of India. (Image: Nivedita Singh/News18) The awarding of the Navratna status to the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) will allow more power to the financial institution under the Ministry of Railways as they now wont have to seek permissions from the Ministry and with this new lease of freedom they are now planning to fund other entities that will be working in the railway ecosystem. So far, they were only giving funds to Railways. But now they will also offer funds to projects that are developed around railways, with priority to renewable energy projects for railways, and port connectivity involving railway lines but not limiting to these. Recommended Stories What is IRFC? The IRFC is the financing arm of Indian Railways. It was established on December 12, 1986, as a 100% government-owned entity. The aim was to finance the expansion and modernisation of Indian Railways. Over the years, it has evolved into a major financial player, registering as a Public Financial Institution under the Companies Act in 1993, an Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) under RBI in 1998, and later as an NBFC-Infrastructure Finance Company (NBFC-IFC) in 2010. In March 2018, it was granted Mini-Ratna Category-I status. The company was listed on stock exchanges in January 2021 at an IPO price of Rs 26, which has now surged to around Rs 140. With a revenue of over Rs 26,600 crore and a profit after tax exceeding Rs 6,400 crore as of March 31, 2024, IRFC is now the third-largest government NBFC in India. It has played a key role in funding nearly 80 per cent of Indian Railways rolling stock and was the first CPSE to issue a 30-year tenor bond in overseas markets. As of December 31, 2024, IRFC has a market capitalisation of over Rs two lakh crore, an asset under management (AUM) of Rs 4.61 lakh crore, a net worth of around Rs 52,000 crore, and a balance sheet size of more than Rs 4.81 lakh crore. The IRFC, earlier this week, was awarded the Navratna status by the Government of India. What Will Change now? Speaking to News18, Manoj Kumar Dubey, Chairman and Managing Director & CEO of the IRFC, explained that with the Navratna tag, the company is more financially autonomous and they can invest in a project, up to a certain limit, without seeking the approval from the Railway Ministry or the NITI Aayog. When you are not a Navratna you have to take projects for approvals to the Railway Ministry or the NITI Aayog. You cannot take the decision at the Board level. But with the Navratna tag, there is more freedom. We can take decisions for up to Rs 1,000 crore at the Board level. This is the standard and we will also get these benefits with the Navratna status," he said. Dubey explained that the decision making process becomes faster with fewer layers involved and the business will move faster. Explaining the IRFC 2.0, with the new tag, Dubey added that so far they were funding only to Indian Railways. So there was a relation that the Ministry of Railways needs funds over and above their budgetary support or their internal generation, they will come to Indian Railway Finance Corporation, well give them a fund. But that has a limitation. The fund was without the risk, but the margins were very tight," he said. Dubey said that with the new status, they will be going to fund entities which are not specifically railways, but are a part of the railway ecosystem. Now there is a comparison between us and the other loan providers, lenders banks and NBFCs. If we are cheaper than them, we can still get more margins than what we have given to the Railways, so that mix will come to my total asset and Ill be benefiting by getting more margins," he explained. Dubey added that the entity who is going in the railway ecosystem will be getting benefited because the IRFC will give them funds at a very attractive rate, so its a win-win scenario for both the entities." So, at the end of the day, for any augmentation of the railway infrastructure either through PPP or indirectly through giving any service to the railways, like renewable energy we will pitch in for a cheaper source of funds." Citing an example, he further elaborated that if a company wants to put up solar panels on a railway land, and they have the tender but are looking for money, the IRFC will happily provide them a loan and that too on a cheaper rate of interest than a bank. This was not the case so far and these companies had to seek loans from other institutes. Dubey, giving another example, also said that they will also fund the projects where anyone wants to build a hotel on railway land for the passengers. The main criteria for funding, he added, will be that the railway should be involved and the project should be for railways. He further added that among the sectors that will be prioritised included renewable energy. The flavour of the day is railways have got a huge appetite for renewable energy. So, that is the first big sector where we are going to fund. Second is all kinds of port connectivity to the railways and there are a lot of ports coming in the future," he said. Dubey added a lot of PPP projects have been announced and are coming up and now IRFC will be there to offer loans to the concessionaire, who were so far getting the funds from the bank at a higher interest. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all My expertise lies in looking at and evaluating a railway project. So Ill be doing it in a quicker manner and a better manner (for the concessionaire). And Ill be giving the same facility which Im giving to railways at a cheaper rate," he said. Dubey said that everyone will benefit from this system. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived... Read More Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 09:41 IST Why Is Melania Trump Pushing For Anti-Revenge Porn Bill? What Is Take It Down Act? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 11:15 IST Take It Down Act makes it unlawful to publish non-consensual intimate imagery, including deepfake pornography, and requires social media companies to remove such content upon notification from a victim within 48 hours First lady Melania Trump, followed by Sen. Ted Cruz, and House Speaker Mike Johnson walk through the Capitol, in Washington on March 3. (AP Photo) US First Lady Melania Trump has been backing a bill designed to protect the victims of the non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit images and deepfake pornography. Melania spoke at the White House for the first time since Trump returned to power. I am here with you today with a common goal to protect our youth from online harm," Melania had said last month. The widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain affects the daily lives of our children, families and communities." Recommended Stories The bill secured bipartisan support in the Senate during the previous congressional session and again in February, but it is still waiting to be passed in the House. What Is Take It Down Act? The Take it Down Act was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas that makes it unlawful to knowingly publish non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including digital forgeries created with AI software (or deepfake pornography), and require social media and similar websites to have in place procedures to remove such content upon notification from a victim," according to a 2024 release from Cruzs office. The bill would also require social media companies to remove such content within 48 hours and take measures to prevent their reappearance after a victims request. The bill would establish a federal offence for knowingly publishing or threatening to publish intimate images online without consent, including identifiable, realistic, computer-generated images. During Donald Trumps first term, the first lady focused on online safety through her Be Best" campaign, which promoted child welfare and digital responsibility. The Take It Down bill appears to align with Trumps efforts to continue that initiative. Why Is There An Objection To The Bill? Organisations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation have sent a letter to the Senate, expressing their reservations about the bill. The letter argues that the goal of Take It Down is appreciated, but the current text would result in the takedown of consensual explicit images or even content like journalism or political speech. Other concerns that were flagged included how the bill would incentivise automatic filters, which could inaccurately flag legal content, and could pose a danger to end-to-end encryption (no one can read a message except the people sending and receiving it). Platforms may not be able to comply with the bill if they cannot see messages that potentially violate it. This could mean that platforms abandon encryption, according to mashable.com. Deepfakes On The Rise In The US Most US states have laws protecting individuals from revenge porn, but only 20 states have explicit laws covering deepfake non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), per Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida. Researchers tell the Associated Press that the number of explicit deepfakes have increased in the last several years, as the technology used to create these explicit images is more accessible and easier to use. Over the past year, AI-generated, non-consensual pornographic images have targeted various individuals, from high-profile figures like Taylor Swift and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to schoolgirls, including 15-year-old high school girl, Elliston Berry from Texas, who joined the first lady on Capitol Hill. They superimposed her (Berrys) face into pornographic content without her consent, solely to humiliate her. And although Ellistons family contacted the social media companies for help, their efforts fell upon deaf ears. Ultimately, the fake images circulated worldwide," the first lady said. In a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill, Melania also said, Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themselves freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm." What Is Revenge Porn? Revenge porn is a form of digital abuse where nude or sexually explicit photos and videos are shared without the consent of those depicted, as per WebMD. Also known as non-consensual pornography, it is closely linked to sexual abuse. A current or former partner may distribute such images as an act of revenge" or use them as a form of blackmail. Revenge porn posts may include your name, links to your social media accounts, and even your phone number. In one study, almost half of people affected by revenge porn said others had harassed or stalked them online. One study found that up to 93% of victims of revenge porn had major emotional distress, such as guilt, depression, paranoia, anger, or suicidal thoughts. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Theres no federal law against revenge porn in the US. But it is illegal in all states to share sexual videos or pictures of anyone under age 18. A lawyer or an advocate who understands revenge porn situations can help you understand the law and make an informed decision. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 08:30 IST 12-Year-Old Gang-Raped By 5 Men In Mumbai, Found Lost At Dadar Station Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 18:07 IST A 12-year-old girl was gang-raped by five men in Mumbai's Sanjaynagar on February 26. She was found at Dadar station the next day. All five accused were arrested. 12-year-old girl gang-raped by five men in Mumbai. (Representative Image) In a deeply disturbing incident, a 12-year-old girl was gang-raped by five men in Mumbai, sending shockwaves across the city. The crime came to light when the traumatised victim was found wandering in distress at Dadar railway station. The horrific crime occurred on February 26 in the Sanjaynagar area under the jurisdiction of Jogeshwari police station. According to reports, one of the accused lured the minor into a room, where four other men were already present. The five men then took turns sexually assaulting the child before abandoning her near Dadar railway station and fleeing the scene. The next day, on February 27, the victim was spotted at platform number 12 of Dadar railway station by railway police personnel. Noticing her distressed state, the officers approached her and, after gaining her trust, uncovered the shocking details of the crime. The girl was immediately handed over to Jogeshwari police, who registered a case under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other legal provisions related to sexual assault. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories Following swift police action, all five accused were arrested. Investigations revealed that the perpetrators were employed as AC mechanics. Police are now probing further into the case to gather additional evidence and ensure justice for the victim. This incident comes in the wake of another recent sexual assault case in Punes Swargate area, where a 26-year-old woman was brutally attacked. The back-to-back cases have sparked outrage and renewed calls for stricter measures to ensure womens and childrens safety across Maharashtra. First Published: March 06, 2025, 13:53 IST Actor Ranya Rao Visited Dubai 30 Times Over A Year, Earned Rs 12-13 Lakh Per Trip: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 07:56 IST During the investigation into the case, it was revealed that Rao was paid Rs 1 lakh per kilogram of smuggled gold. Actress Ranya Rao was arrested for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai. (Photo: X) Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai, reportedly travelled to the Saudi city 30 times over the past year, allegedly bringing back kilos of gold on each trip. During the investigation into the case, it was revealed that Rao was paid Rs 1 lakh per kilogram of smuggled gold, India Today reported, citing its sources. She allegedly earned around Rs 12-13 lakh per trip as she carried around 12 to 13 kg of gold during each trip to Dubai. Recommended Stories Ranya, stepdaughter of Director General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao, evaded security by taping the gold to her body. The actress used modified jackets and waist belts repeatedly for her smuggling operations. According to reports, Rao used the same jackets and belts during her travels. Ranya Rao was reportedly on the radar of the authorities due to her frequent trips to Dubai. She reportedly was intercepted by the DRI officials on her return on Wednesday just when she was one step away to clear airport security. Gold Jewellery Worth Crores Found At Home Following her arrest, the DRI officials recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash from her Bengaluru home during raids. Officials are further investigating the case and are probing if she was a part of a bigger smuggling gang. The lady passenger has been placed under arrest under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and remanded to judicial custody," a DRI release stated. However, Rao during the investigation claimed that she was blackmailed into smuggling gold. IPS Father Says Not Aware Of Anything top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sidelining himself from the incident, Ranya Raos IPS Father said that he is not aware of any of these things and there is no black mark in his career. I was also shocked and devastated when such an incident came to my notice through the media, I was not aware of any of these things, like any other father, I was also shocked. She is not living with us, she is living separately with her husband, there must be some problem between them due to some family issues. Anyway, the law will do its job, there is no black mark in my career. I dont want to say anything more," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 07:24 IST As Mumbai Attacks Accused Tahawwur Rana Claims He Will Be Tortured In India, A Look At Ajmal Kasab's Lengthy & Fair Trial Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 17:05 IST Kasab's trial, observers say, was a significant moment for India's judicial system, showcasing the countrys commitment to justice, even for those responsible for heinous crimes Tahawwur Rana (L) and Ajmal Kasab. File images/X Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has asked the United States Supreme Court for an emergency stay on his extradition to India. In his petition, he said he would be tortured and killed in India because of religious identity and social background. Observers point out though that Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from the Mumbai attacks, was captured alive and put on trial in one of the most high-profile terror cases in Indias history. His trial was a significant moment for Indias judicial system, showcasing the countrys commitment to justice, even for those responsible for heinous crimes. In November last year, the Supreme Court underscored that Kasab got a fair trial in this country as it heard the CBIs challenge to a Jammu court order asking separatist leader Yasin Malik to appear in person. Ranas petition says he is a Muslim of Pakistani origin and a former member of the Pakistani army, which would make him susceptible to torture in custody and he could die given his health condition. Rana argues that the government in India is increasingly autocratic and cites the Human Rights Watch 2023 World Report, which accuses the BJP-led government of systematic discrimination and stigmatisation of religious minorities, particularly Muslims. Recommended Stories In a big announcement after his bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, US President Donald Trump said that the United States has agreed to extradite Rana to India. The key accused in the 26/11 terror attacks is currently at a high-security prison in the United States, and India has been seeking his extradition for years. We are handing over a very dangerous man to India, one who is accused of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack," President Trump said. 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks On November 26, 2008, 10 heavily armed terrorists from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) carried out coordinated attacks in Mumbai. The attacks lasted for about 60 hours, targeting multiple locations such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Nariman House, and Leopold Cafe. Around 170 people were killed, and more than 300 were injured. Kasab was one of the two terrorists attacking CST station, where he was caught on CCTV firing indiscriminately at passengers. His accomplice, Abu Ismail, was killed in a shootout with Mumbai Police, but Kasab was captured alive by assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Omble, who lost his life in the process. Kasabs capture and legal proceedings After his arrest, Kasab was kept in high-security custody at Mumbais Arthur Road Jail. Given the gravity of his crimes, India ensured that he received a fair trial, which was conducted under tight security and scrutiny from both national and international observers. Despite being a terrorist, Kasab was provided legal aid as per Indian law. Initially, no lawyer was willing to defend him, but later, senior advocate Anjali Waghmare was appointed as his defence counsel. However, she withdrew due to protests, and another lawyer, Abbas Kazmi, took over. Kazmi was eventually removed from the case for non-cooperation, and the court appointed lawyer KP Pawar to continue Kasabs defense. Kasab was charged with multiple offenses, including waging war against India, murder, conspiracy, and terrorism under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The prosecution presented strong evidence, including CCTV footage, eyewitness testimonies, forensic reports, and Kasabs own confession. The trial began on April 15, 2009, in a special court set up within Arthur Road Jail. Initially, Kasab pleaded not guilty but then admitted to his crimes, though he later retracted his confession, claiming it was forced. On May 3, 2010, the court found him guilty of 80 out of 86 charges, including murder and waging war against the nation. On May 6, 2010, he was sentenced to death. Appeals and final execution Kasab filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court, which upheld the death sentence in 2011. The Supreme Court of India also confirmed the death penalty in 2012. Kasabs mercy petition was rejected by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, in November 2012. On November 21, 2012, he was hanged at Punes Yerwada Jail in complete secrecy under the operation codenamed Operation X." Who is Tahawwur Rana and what was his role in the Mumbai attacks? Tahawwur Rana is a known associate of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the November 26, 2008 attacks in Mumbai. A businessman, physician, and immigration entrepreneur of Pakistani origin, he allegedly has connections with terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba and Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence. As recently as January 21, 2025, the US Supreme Court rejected Tahawwur Ranas review petition, paving the way for his extradition to India. Rana was aware of the Mumbai terror strike and was in contact with the terrorist groups and their leaders in Pakistan. Ranas co-conspirators included, among others, David Coleman Headley. Headley pleaded guilty and cooperated against Rana. An over 400-page chargesheet by the Mumbai police mentions that Tahawwur Hussain Rana came to India on November 11, 2008, and stayed in the country till November 21. He spent two of these days at the Renaissance Hotel in Mumbais Powai. The Mumbai crime branch had found email communications between Headley and Rana. In one of the emails related to 26/11 terror attacks, David Headley asked about Major Iqbals email id. Major Iqbal, an operative of the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was named as accused in the 26/11 terror attack case. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rana was previously prosecuted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The second superseding indictment charged him with three counts. The jury convicted him on Count 11 (conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism in Denmark). The jury also convicted Rana on Count 12 (providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba). (With agency inputs) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 17:05 IST Babbar Khalsa International Terrorist Arrested In UP, Had Links With Pakistan's ISI Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 08:11 IST The UP STF recovered some explosives material and illegal arms from the terrorist. An "active terrorist" of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with alleged links to Pakistan's ISI was arrested from UP. (Representative Image) An active terrorist" of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) with alleged links to Pakistans ISI was arrested from Ghaziabads Kaushambi in the early hours of Thursday in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh STF and Punjab Police. The suspected terrorist, identified as Lajar Masih, is a resident of Kurlian village in Ramdas area of Amritsar, Punjab. Recommended Stories The terrorist was nabbed around 3.20 am. The operation was carried out in the Kokhraj police station area of Kaushambi, Additional Director General of Police (UP Special Task Force, Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said. As per available information, the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the Germany-based module of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is in direct touch with Pakistan-based ISI operatives," the officer was quoted as saying. In addition to this, the UP STF also recovered explosives material and illegal arms from the terrorist. Three active hand grenades, two active detonators, one foreign-made pistol and 13 cartridges of foreign-make was among the seizures. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all An Aadhaar card with a Ghaziabad address, one mobile phone without SIM card was also seized from his possession. This terrorist had escaped from judicial custody in Punjab on September 24, 2024," the ADG added. Location : Ghaziabad, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 08:05 IST Barbados Bestows Prestigious Award On PM Modi For 'Leadership, Assistance' During Covid Pandemic Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 21:31 IST The MEA said that Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, received the award on behalf of Prime Minister Modi at a ceremony held in Bridgetown, Barbados. Barbados Bestows Prestigious Award On PM Modi (Photo: X/@PmargheritaBJP) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been bestowed with the prestigious Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados award in recognition of his strategic leadership" and valuable assistance" during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Thursday that Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, received the award on behalf of Prime Minister Modi at a ceremony held in Bridgetown, Barbados. Recommended Stories The award symbolises the enduring friendship" between the two nations, the MEA said. The award announcement was made by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley during a meeting with Prime Minister Modi on November 20, 2024, on the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Leaders Summit in Georgetown, Guyana," it said. The award has been bestowed upon Prime Minister Modi in recognition of his strategic leadership and valuable assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic," the statement said. Mottley acknowledged the vital role played by Modi in strengthening international cooperation and support during the unprecedented situation brought about by the pandemic, it said. Honoured to receive, on behalf of Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi ji the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados Award from the President of Barbados, H.E @DameSandraMason, at the Government House in Bridgetown, in the presence of PM H.E @miaamormottley , FM H.E @KerrieD246 and other pic.twitter.com/Cn8doIszji Pabitra Margherita (@PmargheritaBJP) March 6, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While receiving the award on behalf of the prime minister, Margherita expressed his gratitude for the recognition, saying, It is a profound honour to represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accept this prestigious award on his behalf." This recognition underscores the deepening ties between India and Barbados, as well as our shared commitment to collaboration and development, especially in times of crisis," the statement quoted Margherita as saying. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966, India and Barbados have fostered a robust partnership characterised by continuous engagement and development initiatives, the statement said. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 21:31 IST 14-year-old Dalit Girl Gang-raped For Days, Attacked With Acid In UPs Moradabad Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 19:48 IST UP Dalit Girl Gang-rape, Torture: Police said the survivor was abducted while she was on her way to a tailor The accused allegedly kidnapped her in a car, rendering her unconscious with an intoxicant, police said.(Representative Image/PTI) UP Dalit Girl Gang-rape, Torture: A 14-year-old Dalit girl was kidnapped, held captive for days, gang-raped and tortured in multiple ways in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad, police said on Wednesday, adding one of the accused was arrested. Station House Officer (SHO) of the Bhagatpur Police Station, Sanjay Kumar Panchal said according to a complaint lodged by her family members, during the girls captivity the accused allegedly burned her skin and made an Om tattoo on her hand with acid, forcibly fed her meat, and subjected her to further torture. Recommended Stories He said that based on the complaint a case has been filed against the four accused, Salman, Zubair, Rashid, and Arif under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and SC/ST(Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complainant, the teens aunt, alleged that on January 2, 2025, her niece was abducted while she was on her way to a tailor, police said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The accused allegedly kidnapped her in a car, rendering her unconscious with an intoxicant, police said, citing the complaint. According to the complaint, the minor was then allegedly held captive in a room and subjected to repeated gang-rapes, the SHO said. About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 11:39 IST India's Achievements Spark Global Hope, Country Now Driving Global Growth, Says PM Modi Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 23:24 IST PM said the direction of India's future is evident from the work and accomplishments of today, pointing out that even 65 years after independence, India was the world's eleventh-largest economy Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Republic Plenary Summit 2025 in New Delhi on 6 March. (PTI photo) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that Indias achievements and successes sparked a new wave of hope across the globe, adding that once perceived as a nation that would sink itself and others, the country is now driving global growth. World is now recognising this century as Indias century and Indias achievements and successes have sparked new hope globally," the Prime Minister said during a programme at the Bharat Mandapam here. Recommended Stories He added that the direction of Indias future is evident from the work and accomplishments of today, pointing out that even 65 years after independence, India was the worlds eleventh-largest economy. However, in the past decade, India has become the fifth-largest economy and is now rapidly moving towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world. He also said that when the nations youth get involved in the national discourse, it brings novelty to ideas and fills the entire environment with their energy. He emphasised that this energy was being felt at the summit. He further stated that the involvement of youth helps break all barriers and go beyond boundaries, making every goal achievable and every destination reachable. PM Modi also reiterated his idea of bringing one lakh youth without any political background to the politics of India. Recalling the situation 18 years ago, in 2007, when Indias annual GDP reached $1 trillion, the Prime Minister highlighted that back then, the economic activity in India for an entire year was $1 trillion. The Prime Minister added that today, the same amount of economic activity is happening in just one quarter, which demonstrates the rapid pace at which India is progressing. He provided examples to show the significant changes and results achieved in the past decade, highlighting that in the last 10 years, India has successfully lifted 25 crore people out of poverty, a number greater than the population of many countries. PM Modi also reminded the audience of the time when only 15 paise out of one rupee sent by the government reached the poor, with 85 paise lost to corruption. In contrast, over the past decade, more than Rs 42 lakh crore have been transferred directly to the accounts of the poor through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring that the entire amount reaches the beneficiaries. Underlining that 10 years ago, India lagged behind in solar energy, the Prime Minister said: Today, India is among the top 5 countries in solar energy capacity, having increased it 30 times, while solar module manufacturing has also seen a 30-fold increase." He also stated that 10 years ago, even childrens toys like Holi water guns were imported, while today, Indias toy exports have tripled. He also pointed out that 10 years ago, India imported rifles for its army, but in the past decade, Indias defense exports have increased 20 times. The Prime Minister further highlighted that in the past 10 years, India has become the worlds second-largest steel producer, the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, and the third-largest startup ecosystem. He remarked that in the same period, Indias capital expenditure on infrastructure has increased fivefold and the number of airports in the country has doubled, and the number of operational AIIMS has tripled. The Prime Minister further emphasised that in the past decade, the number of medical colleges and medical seats has nearly doubled. Todays India thinks big, sets ambitious targets, and achieves significant results," PM Modi said, remarking that this is happening because the nations mindset has changed, and India is moving forward with great aspirations. He highlighted that previously, the mindset was to accept the status quo, but now, people know who can deliver results. The Prime Minister cited examples of how the aspirations of the people have evolved, from requesting drought relief work to demanding Vande Bharat connectivity and international airports. He pointed out that the previous dispensations had crushed the aspirations of the people, leading them to lower their expectations. Underscoring that the strength of any society or nation increases when barriers and obstacles are removed for its citizens, PM Modi said that this enhances the capabilities of the citizens, making even the sky seem small. He pointed out that the government is continuously removing the obstacles placed by previous administrations and cited the example of the space sector, where earlier everything was under ISROs purview. While ISRO did commendable work, the potential of space science and entrepreneurship in the country was not fully utilised. He remarked that the space sector has now been opened up for young innovators, resulting in the creation of over 250 space startups in the country. These startups are now developing rockets like Vikram-S and Agnibaan, he added. The Prime Minister also mentioned the mapping sector, where previously government permission was required to create maps in India. This restriction has been removed, and today, geospatial mapping data is paving the way for new startups. Pointing out that the nuclear energy sector was previously under government control with various restrictions, the Prime Minister said that this years budget has announced the opening of this sector to the private sector, paving the way for adding 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2047. Stressing the importance of national security for a countrys development, PM Modi underlined the significant work done in the past decade to enhance security. He recalled that earlier, serial bomb blast breaking news and special programmes on sleeper cell networks were common on TV, but today, such incidents are absent from both TV screens and Indian soil. The Prime Minister remarked that LWE is now on its last breath, with the number of affected districts reduced from over a hundred to less than two dozen. This was achieved by working with a nation first" spirit and bringing governance to the grassroots level in these areas, he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all PM Modi highlighted that decisive government actions have cleared Naxalism from the jungles, but it is now spreading to urban centers. He remarked that Urban Naxals have rapidly infiltrated political parties that were once opposed to them and inspired by Gandhian ideology, rooted in Indias heritage". First Published: March 06, 2025, 23:24 IST Leaked Documents Reveal PFI's Financial Backing Of SDPI | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 13:13 IST The leaked minutes of meetings and handwritten notes reveal that PFI not only authorised SDPI to raise funds from Gulf nations but also financed its electoral campaigns and legal battles. The seized documents also reveal that PFI regularly covered legal expenses for SDPI leaders accused in criminal cases. (Image: Reuters) CNN News18 has accessed exclusive documents that expose the financial links between the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political arm, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The leaked minutes of meetings and handwritten notes reveal that PFI not only authorised SDPI to raise funds from Gulf nations but also financed its electoral campaigns and legal battles. PFIs Role in SDPI Election Funding Recommended Stories Documents retrieved include minutes from PFIs Political Action Committee (PAC) and State Executive Committee (SEC) meetings, as well as handwritten notes, all pointing to substantial financial support extended by PFI to SDPI. A key document from March 2019 reveals that PFI allocated Rs. 3.75 crore to SDPIs election fund, with Rs. 1.75 crore settled through vouchers. Another record from a July 2017 PAC meeting at Unity House, Kerala, shows that Rs. 8.30 lakh was budgeted for the Vengara election, with an additional Rs. 25 lakh to be raised locally. Further, an audit report submitted by Kerala SDPI leader Ajmal Ismail raised concerns over excessive election expenditure, leading PFI to form a sub-committee to investigate. The committee ultimately justified the expenses and forwarded the report for approval to PFIs National Executive Council (NEC). PFI Covering Legal Expenses for SDPI Members The seized documents also reveal that PFI regularly covered legal expenses for SDPI leaders accused in criminal cases. One classmate notebook seized during searches at Unity House, Kerala in December 2020 details payments, including Rs. 1.47 lakh sanctioned for a person named Salim, who has multiple cases against him. Another entry records Rs. 75,000 allocated for court bonds for Rashid, Sadiq, and Nurudhin, accused in a highway blockade case. Additionally, the notebook includes an entry that states, Amount to be sanctioned to ALP SDPI after checking loan account." ALP SDPI refers to the Alappuzha SDPI unit in Kerala, indicating that PFI was financially supporting this district-level SDPI unit. This further highlights PFIs involvement in funding SDPIs regional activities. Enforcement Directorates Findings The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has corroborated these findings, stating in a recent press release that PFI systematically controlled and funded SDPI. The EDs investigation, initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, found that PFI raised funds through hawala transactions and donations from within India and abroad, primarily Gulf nations, to finance SDPI and other activities. The ED recently arrested SDPI National President M.K. Faizy from Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport, citing his role in overseeing SDPIs finances, which were allegedly sourced from PFIs undisclosed funds. Faizy had ignored multiple ED summonses, leading to a non-bailable warrant against him. The agency has also attached assets worth Rs. 61.72 crore in the case and arrested 26 PFI members so far. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Implications and Ongoing Investigation These revelations further substantiate the governments case against PFI and SDPI, both accused of financial irregularities and unlawful activities. The seized documents indicate a deep financial nexus between the two entities, raising serious concerns about the use of foreign and unaccounted funds in Indian elections. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: March 06, 2025, 13:12 IST 'Lung Cancer Not Just Mens Disease, Kills 1 Woman Every 7 Minutes In India': Apollo Hospitals' Sangita Reddy Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 09:32 IST In an exclusive interaction with News18 ahead of International Womens Day, Reddy also shared that while there was a decline in the incidence of cervical cancer, every three minutes, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer Apollo Hospitals Enterprise joint managing director Sangita Reddy said women need to create an environment that is conducive to them and not suffer in silence. (News18) One woman dies every seven minutes from lung cancer in India, which is often seen as a disease affecting men, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise joint managing director Sangita Reddy told News18. Traditionally, we wont think of women having lung cancer, but every seven minutes, a woman dies of the disease. This is huge and significant. In fact, the percentage of women who smoke or consume some form of tobacco stands at around 8-9 per cent. Also, passive smoking by a male member of the family is one of the reasons behind lung cancer among women." Recommended Stories In an exclusive interaction with News18 ahead of International Womens Day, Reddy also shared that there was a decline in the incidence of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer was the largest cause of death for women due to cancer. However, now, the incidence is coming down and deaths have reduced significantly because of screening and early detection measures," she said, adding that trends are really shifting towards preventive health". Reddy, who is the former president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the chairperson of the BRICS Womens Business Alliance, India, highlighted a significant shift in womens attitudes over the last few years. She said that women are now prioritising their health, unlike in the past when they would suffer in silence or focus on caring for others while neglecting their well-being. Earlier, Reddy says she saw women coming to hospitals with late-stage cancer or late-stage cardiac diseases. Traditionally, women prioritised their family and responsibilities over their health, but they would delay a doctors visit or self-care. However, now, women coming from the younger generation are well-informed. They are more aware of fitness fitness of muscle strength and the importance of preventive care and screening programmes." Status Of Womens Health In India Reddy shared data showing obesity to be one of the most common findings among women that heightens other non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes. About 24 per cent of the female population is overweight and 18 per cent is underweight. Another negative aspect is that 56 per cent women have a negative hip-to-waist ratio which puts them at a higher risk of various diseases." Other worrying estimates show that every three minutes, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and one in every seven women will get breast cancer. It is very important to find these women quickly (via screening programs) and start their treatment early." For instance, she said, polycystic ovarian disease or PCOD was a big problem among Indian women because one in 10 women have PCOD and they used to suffer silently. but now I have seen women coming forward and asking for solutions." PCOD is a medical disorder in women where the ovaries produce multiple eggs which, over time, become painful cysts. When Should Women Start Regular Health Check-Ups? According to Reddy, Indian women are experiencing diseases at a younger age. At Apollo Pro-Health, we not only study global recommendations but also use artificial intelligence and other data analytics and we have brought out the recommendatory standards," she explained. Apollo ProHealth is a personalised health check programme which the company claims is designed by expert doctors and AI (artificial intelligence) to capture the complete health status of an individual and predict risks. Using the same recommendatory standards, Reddy advised that annual mammograms and breast examinations must start from age of 40 years but in case of family history of breast cancer, our recommendation is to start at around 36 years, if you finished having children". Our recommendation for PAP Smear and HPV test (for cervical cancer) is to do it every three to five years. Blood sugar and cholesterol tests must be started as young as 30 years old and become an annual schedule," she said while suggesting that the bone density scan is very important which ladies should begin immediately post-menopause. However, these are simple baseline tests. I would recommend women to talk to their family physician Work with your family doctor and design a comprehensive health programme and become proactive about your own health." Focus On Mental Health Reddy believes that women need to create an environment that is conducive to them and not suffer in silence These are baseline principles to take care of your mental health." If there are significant symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks which are resulting due to mental stress, it is important to face it and not feel shy to find a counsellor or look for a psychologist or psychiatrist." She attributes the lack of a strong support system to the culture of nuclear families. Sometimes, the older generation dont realise that large families work like a psychological support system. In an era of nuclear families, the stress levels are so much higher, pace of life is so high." People come home after toiling with the world. But today, families are no longer that kind of destress mechanism. There is nothing wrong in finding someone to talk to and I would encourage you to stay happy and healthy psychologically." Let Go Of Guilt Of Not Doing Everything When asked about Reddys healthcare routine, she said, Nobody is perfect, and I still have a long way to go in my personal health and fitness journey." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, she added, I have over the last three to four years prioritised myself and my health. One of the important things that I learnt earlier in my career was to build a support system." So, whether it is your mother or mother-in-law, your nanny or house staff, build a support system. While you want too many things, you cannot be in all places all the time. Dont suffer from guilt I think every mother is amazing. Prioritise what is important and understand that at different phases of life, different things will be your priority." About the Author Himani Chandna Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass... Read More Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 09:32 IST 'Maha Kumbh Changed Our Lives': After CM Yogi's Praise, Boatman Pintu Mahara Speaks To News18, Even As Oppn Cries Foul Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 19:59 IST UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath had shared the success story of the boatman's family, highlighting their earnings of Rs 30 crore during the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh 40-year-old Pintu Mahara (L) comes from a traditional boatmans family in Arail Ghat, Prayagraj. Pic/News18 Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday countered the oppositions criticism of the Maha Kumbh arrangements in the assembly by stating that a family with 130 boats made Rs 30 crore profit during the 45-day mega religious congregation in Prayagraj. The opposition led by the Samajwadi Party, though, has termed this a blatant lie". News18 interacted with Pintu Mahara, the head of this family, and he narrated their journey of resilience, hard work, and entrepreneurial spirit that led to an astounding achievement. Recommended Stories Struggles and determination 40-year-old Pintu Mahara comes from a traditional boatmans family in Arail Ghat, Prayagraj. His mother, Shuklawati Devi, recalled how their lives were filled with hardships, especially after the death of her husband, Bachcha Mahara, in 2018. Left with the responsibility of supporting her family, she saw her sons Pintu and Satish struggle to keep their ancestral business afloat. The day my husband passed away, I felt our lives had shattered. We didnt know how we would survive," said Shuklawati Devi with teary eyes. At that time, the family owned just four boats. With financial troubles mounting, Pintu realised that they needed to expand to make a mark in the Maha Kumbh. However, raising funds was a major challenge. Pintu took a bold step by mortgaging his wife Sumans jewellery and convincing his mother to pledge their home and remaining valuables to secure a loan. Despite his mothers initial hesitation and fears of failure, Pintu remained determined. I told my mother, Trust me. If we dont take this risk, we will never grow. I knew Maha Kumbh was an opportunity we couldnt miss," Pintu told News18. Strategy and sage advice With preparations underway, Pintu and his family organised a workforce of over 300 people, including 100 members from his extended family. By the time Maha Kumbh 2025 commenced on January 13, they had amassed a total of 130 boats. These boats operated across key ghats such as Kila Ghat, VIP Ghat, Boat Club, and Arail, ferrying millions of devotees who came to take a holy dip in the sacred Sangam. Pintus mother had given him one invaluable piece of advice: Never overcharge or trouble the devotees. You are doing business in the lap of Ganga Maiyya. Always work with honesty." Pintu followed this principle religiously. He ensured that all boats adhered to government-regulated fares, creating a positive experience for the pilgrims. My mothers words echoed in my mind every day. I made sure no devotee felt cheated," Pintu said. The meticulous planning paid off, and by the end of Maha Kumbh on February 26, Pintus family had recorded a massive income. The fleet earned approximately Rs 50,00052,000 per boat per day, resulting in a total profit of Rs 30 crore in 45 days. Their business flourished not just financially but also in reputation, as they became an integral part of the Maha Kumbh experience. Success story reaches assembly CM Yogi Adityanath highlighted their story in the assembly as an example of how government policies and local entrepreneurship can go hand in hand. He also refuted the oppositions claims that boatmen were exploited during the event, stating that the Maha Kumbh had created unprecedented economic opportunities for thousands of workers and traders. Pintu himself credited his success to CM Yogi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting local businesses and ensuring that the Maha Kumbh was organised efficiently. The governments efforts made Prayagraj the centre of attraction for devotees from across the world. It was because of this grand scale that our business flourished," he said. Ripple effects in community The success of Pintus venture had a ripple effect on his entire community. Many young boatmen were inspired to adopt a more strategic approach to their business, and the familys story became a beacon of hope for local traders and entrepreneurs. Despite the immense workload, which left many of his crew exhausted and some even falling ill due to the relentless schedule, Pintu and his team remained committed to their duty. There were days when we hardly slept. The work was exhausting, but we knew we were part of something historic," he said. As he reflected on his journey, Pintu expressed his gratitude for the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and the faith that devotees placed in their services. Looking ahead, he aspires to participate in the next Kumbh, 12 years later, with an even bigger fleet and better facilities for pilgrims. Maha Kumbh changed our lives. If all goes well, in the next Kumbh, I want to have 500 boats and provide even better services to devotees," he added. Should be investigated On the CMs words of appreciation, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader said, Its a blatant lie. It should be investigated who this sailor family is that earned Rs 30 crore by running boats. The sad part is that if its the truth, then this sailor has not earned the money; he has looted it from the people. This is a lie, similar to the one that states that 60 crore people took a holy dip in Maha Kumbh". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Several posts on social media claim that the sailor Pintu Mahara is a history-sheeter and has been named in several cases, including for extortion and even murder. On this, SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said, There were several reports on social media highlighting the criminal background of the sailor, whom the UP CM praised in the assembly. In UP, there is no dip in crime. People are saying crime is a routine affair in UP, but the CM is saying there is no crime. They (the UP government) are running Operation Langda in which the police are shooting criminals in the leg, which itself is a crime. People in UP are still living in fear." First Published: March 06, 2025, 19:59 IST Maharashtra To Set Up Economic Crime Intelligence Unit To Prevent Financial Fraud Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2025, 03:50 IST This initiative aims to gather intelligence on financial crimes before they occur, ensuring swift preventive action The Economic Crime Intelligence Unit will play a crucial role in monitoring suspicious activities and preventing financial fraud before it happens. Representational image In response to the rising number of financial fraud cases in Maharashtra, the state government has announced the formation of an Economic Crime Intelligence Unit. This initiative aims to gather intelligence on financial crimes before they occur, ensuring swift preventive action. The announcement was made by Minister of State for Home (Urban) Yogesh Kadam in the Legislative Council on Thursday. Minister Kadam was replying to a question raised by Vikram Kale regarding the multi-crore scam involving Torres, a foreign investment company. He explained that financial crimes are often detected only after the fraud has taken place, by which time the perpetrators have fled the country. The proposed intelligence unit will focus on identifying such frauds in advance to prevent large-scale financial losses for investors. Recommended Stories Minister Kadam provided updates on the Torres scam, in which 16,788 investors were defrauded of approximately Rs 140 crore. The scam was reported in January 2025 at the Shivaji Park police station in Mumbai. So far, authorities have managed to recover Rs 35 crore. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the case, while efforts are ongoing to trace the remaining accused. Among the key suspects are two directors of the company, who are Ukrainian nationals. The state government is seeking assistance from Interpol to apprehend them. During the discussion, MLC Manisha Kayande pointed out that a complaint regarding the Torres scam was initially filed in June 2024 at the Shivaji Park police station. She also noted that some employees of the company were questioned by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Navi Mumbai, raising concerns about possible delays or negligence in the case. Responding to this, Minister Kadam assured that any police officers found guilty of protecting criminals or delaying action would face strict disciplinary measures. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Economic Crime Intelligence Unit will play a crucial role in monitoring suspicious activities and preventing financial fraud before it happens. It will work closely with law enforcement agencies to gather intelligence, track fraudulent companies, and take swift action against offenders. This initiative reflects the governments commitment to protecting citizens from financial scams and ensuring that law enforcement agencies act promptly against economic crimes. The state aims to create a safer investment environment and restore public trust in financial institutions by proactively tackling fraudulent schemes. About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with... Read More Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with... Read More First Published: March 07, 2025, 03:50 IST Naxal Woman Posing As Domestic Help Caught Red-Handed By Police In Delhi Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 14:05 IST A woman Naxalite from Jharkhand, trained in modern weapons, was arrested by Delhi Police. She lived in Delhi under a false identity and had multiple encounters with Jharkhand Police In Delhi the arrested Naxalite assumed a false identity and began working as a domestic cleaner in various locations across Noida. (News18 Hindi) A woman Naxalite operative originally from Jharkhand, living in Delhi under an assumed identity, has been apprehended by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The woman is alleged to have undergone specialised training in the operation of various modern weapons, including SLR, INSAS and LMG rifles, hand grenades, and the .303 rifle. She was wanted in connection with a case at Sonua police station in Jharkhand. She had concealed her true identity and adopted an alias, having undergone five years of rigorous training. To evade capture, she had taken on cleaning jobs in various locations. Notably, she had been involved in three encounters with Jharkhand Police between 2018 and 2020. Recommended Stories The Delhi Police Crime Branch has apprehended this 23-year-old resident of Kudaburu village in Jharkhands West Singhbhum district. The arrest followed an investigation into Naxalite activity by the Crime Branch. In March 2025, the team received credible information about a woman Naxalite extremist operating within the CPI (Maoist) group. The suspect was reportedly living in Delhis Pitampura area under a false identity, employed in Maharana Pratap Enclave. Acting on this information, a team was assembled and dispatched to apprehend the individual. A raid was conducted in Maharana Pratap Enclave, Pitampura, Delhi, leading to the womans arrest. The arrested Naxalite, the eldest of five siblings, comes from a farming family in Kudaburu, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand. Born in 2002, she attended school until class 2. At that time, a Naxalite from her village approached her, promising better food, care, and protection, and persuaded her to leave with him. In 2016, she joined the CPI Maoist extremist group led by Ramesh, whose camp was situated in the Kolhan forest hills. At that time, the camp housed 300-450 people, including 40-50 women and 4-5 children her age. Her involvement in Naxalite activities began at the young age of 10 when she joined the notorious Naxalite camp, CPI Maoist extremist Jeevan Kandulna. During her five years there, she underwent rigorous and intensive training, being groomed as a trained Naxalite. Interrogation revealed that she received comprehensive training in operating various sophisticated weapons, including the SLR, INSAS, LMG, hand grenades, and .303 rifle. While participating in foot patrols with the gang, she typically carried an INSAS rifle. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2018, she participated in an encounter with Jharkhand police in Kolhan, followed by similar encounters in Porahat in 2019 and Sonua in 2020 alongside her company commander, Jeevan Kandula. Following her faction commanders instructions, she relocated to Delhi in 2020. Upon arrival, she assumed a false identity and began working as a domestic cleaner in various locations across Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. She ultimately settled in the Pitampura area, where she lived in secret. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 14:05 IST News18 Evening Digest: UK Condemns Security Breach By Khalistani Protesters During Jaishankar's Visit & Other Top Stories Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 19:57 IST We are also covering UP cleric's "criminal" remark against Mohammed Shami for skipping fast during Ramzan, updates on Ranya Rao and other top stories. Pro-Khalistan supporters heckled External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar outside Chatham House in London. (Reuters Image) In todays evening digest, News18 brings the latest updates on UK condemns security breach by Khalistani protesters during S Jaishankars visit to London, 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana tries to stall his extradition from the US, and other top stories. UK Condemns Security Breach By Khalistani Protesters During Jaishankars Visit: Attempt To Intimidate Recommended Stories The United Kingdom on Thursday strongly condemned the breach of security of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar by pro-Khalistan supporters while he was leaving in a car after participating in an event at the Chatham House think tank in London. Read more Tahawwur Rana, 26/11 Mumbai Attack Accused, Tries To Stall His Extradition From US: Ill Be Tortured Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has appealed his extradition to India, citing health risks and torture in the country. Read more Big Criminal: UP Cleric Slams Shami For Not Fasting During Ramzan, Supporters Say Hes Playing For Country Indias commanding win over Australia in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was overshadowed by controversy, when a picture of Indian pacer Mohammed Shami consuming an energy drink sparked a religious debate. Read more Three Key Statements, 2 Locked Devices, Bruise Mark: Twists & Turns In Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, which is probing the gold smuggling case, suspects that Kannada actor Ranya Rao has strong links in Dubai, who managed to smuggle the gold bars into the airport and then handed them over to her. Read more top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Katrina Kaif Says Vicky Kaushal Loves Her Unconditionally: He Gives Me A Lot Of Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal are one of the most adorable Bollywood couples and there is no doubt about it. Read more About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 19:57 IST Judge During Mediation Session: 'No Mangalsutra Or Bindi...Why Would Your Husband Show Interest?' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 18:35 IST According to Pune-based disputes lawyer Ankur R Jahagirdar, who shared the story in a LinkedIn post, the judge made the remark while encouraging the couple to reconcile The incident took place during a mediation in a domestic violence case, where the couple was attempting to resolve their dispute. A sessions judge has come under fire on social media for making controversial comments about a woman during a mediation session involving a separated couple. The judge reportedly questioned the wife for not wearing a bindi" or mangalsutra," suggesting that if she didnt behave like a married woman, her husband wouldnt show any interest in her. Recommended Stories The incident took place during a mediation in a domestic violence case, where the couple was attempting to resolve their dispute. According to Pune-based disputes lawyer Ankur R Jahagirdar, who shared the story in a LinkedIn post, the judge made the remark while encouraging the couple to reconcile. I can see that you are not wearing a mangalsutra and bindi. If you dont behave like a married woman, why would your husband show any interest in you?" the judge reportedly asked. In his post, Jahagirdar expressed disappointment in the lack of recourse for raising complaints about such remarks from judges, calling it a reflection of societys general tolerance for inappropriate comments. There is a lot more that happens in the district courts that would shock the conscience of any rational thinking educated person. Unfortunately, I think our society has a baseline tolerance for some outrageous things. Why it is this way is obvious the first rule of patriarchy club is you do not talk about the patriarchy club," the Pune-based lawyer wrote. The post sparked significant debate on LinkedIn, with many expressing concern over the judges insensitivity. One commenter called for soft skills training and sensitisation" for district-level judges, while others condemned the judges remarks. Mangalsutra, bindi, bangles, toe rings, anklets etc etc are more of a way to claim a married woman like a property. It should be solely a choice of a woman to wear ornaments the way she pleases or feels comfortable in Such comments coming from a judge is condemnable," a comment read. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While another comment pointed out the need for gender-neutral laws, arguing that societys treatment of women needs to evolve beyond traditional expectations. Some comments defended the judge, with one suggesting that his remarks were a reflection of truth. In this world full of pseudo-feminists, at least he has the courage," the comment stated. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 17:49 IST PM Modi Reaches Uttarakhand, Offers Prayers At Winter Seat Of Ganga In Mukhwa | WATCH Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 11:04 IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Uttarakhand on Thursday and was warmly received at the airport by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. During his visit, Modi performed pooja and darshan at the sacred winter seat of Maa Ganga in Mukhwa. PM Modi and CM Dhami. (X/@pushkardhami) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reached Uttarakhand and was welcomed at the airport by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. He performed pooja and darshan at the winter seat of Maa Ganga in Mukhwa. The Prime Minister will flag off a trek and bike rally and also address the gathering at a public function in Harsil. Recommended Stories VIDEO | PM Modi (@narendramodi) performs pooja and darshan at the winter seat of Maa Ganga in Mukhwa, Uttarakhand.(Full video available on PTI Videos https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/suFqnkkVl9 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 6, 2025 Uttarakhand CM Dhami wrote on X, Hearty welcome and greetings to the respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on his arrival in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the holy land of religion, spirituality and sacrifice. All of us residents of the state are eager to welcome the respected Prime Minister on the land full of spiritual and natural beauty of Mukhwa-Harshil (Uttarkashi)." Speaking about the PMs visit, Dhami added, Certainly, this winter trip of yours will give new dimensions to the cultural, spiritual and tourism development of our state." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier, PM Modi affirmed his governments commitment to developing tourism in the state by promoting tourism. Location : Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 10:53 IST PM Modi To Attend Lakhpati Didi Event In Gujarats Navsari On International Women's Day Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 15:21 IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lakhpati Didi programme in Navsari in Gujarat on the occasion of International Women's Day on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lakhpati Didi programme in Navsari in Gujarat on the occasion of International Womens Day on Saturday. Sources said more than 1.1 lakh women are expected to participate in the programme at Vansi-Borsi in Navsari where all the arrangements will be managed by women police personnel and staff. Recommended Stories This program will set a new milestone in the field of policing, as all aspects of law and order, as well as event arrangements, will be managed by women police officers and staff," a source said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A total of 2,165 constables, 187 inspectors, 61 sub-inspectors, 19 DySPs, five DSPs, one Inspector General of Police, and one Additional Director General of Police all women will take charge of the overall program, ensuring its smooth execution, the sources said. Location : Gujarat, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 15:21 IST PM Modi's Historic Visit To Uttarakhand's Mukhba Temple Today For 'Maa Ganga' Darshan Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 06:00 IST The idol of Maa Ganga is moved to the Mukhba Temple in winter from the Gangotri Temple, which gets covered by snow. Before the Char Dham Yatra begins in May, the idol will make its way back to the Gangotri Temple in a grand procession Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File photo) At the Mukhba Temple in Uttarkashi near the Gangotri shrine, one can have a darshan of Maa Ganga" in her winter abode and a magical view of the Himalayas. Narendra Modi will be here on Thursday morning, in his first visit to the historic temple as the Prime Minister ahead of the start of the 2025 Char Dham Yatra. The idol of Maa Ganga is moved to the Mukhba Temple in winter from the Gangotri Temple, which gets covered by snow. Before the Char Dham Yatra begins in May, the idol will make its way back to the Gangotri Temple in a grand procession. Recommended Stories The PMs visit comes ahead of the start of the Char Dham Yatra this May, when Kedarnath and Badrinath Dhams will open, along with Gangotri and Yamnotri. Mukhba is located on the banks of the river Bhagirathi. Last year, a record 50 lakh pilgrims visited the Char Dhams, and the government expects bigger numbers in 2025. I am very excited to visit the winter residence of the pure Mother Ganga in Mukhba. This holy place is famous all over the world for its spiritual significance and amazing beauty. Not only this, but it is also a unique example of our resolve of heritage as well as development," the PM said in a statement. A day ahead of the Prime Ministers visit, the union cabinet also approved mega projects to build a ropeway to Kedarnath and the Hemkund Sahib shrines in the region. A first-ever rail link to the Char Dham pilgrimage is also fast taking shape from Rishikesh to Karnaprayaga key 13.5 km rail tunnel to Karnaprayag is on the fast construction mode for completion next year, CNN-News18 has learnt. The Mandir Samiti at the Mukhba temple could present the traditional dress Chapkan to the PM, and he may offer prayers wearing it. The Prime Minister will also address a public meeting in Harsil and flag off a trek and bike rally. I am very happy that the double-engine government of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has started a special programme to promote winter tourism this year. While this is encouraging religious tourism, many local businesses, including homestays, are also getting opportunities to flourish," the PM said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Uttarakhand government said the arrival of Prime Minister will boost the tourism sector and the main tourism agency, Garhwal Mandal Development Corporation (GMVN), is also expecting an increase in footfall. In the last five years, GMVN has continuously increased its turnover by expanding tourism activities. It is expected that the situation will improve further with the visit of the Prime Minister. The PMs coming to Uttarakhand for the winter tour is a matter of good fortune. This will definitely give impetus to the winter travel of Uttarakhand," Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Dhami said in a statement. The total turnover of GMVN in 2020-21 was Rs 3,146.63 lakh, which increased to Rs 3,297.41 lakh in the year 2021-22. In 2022-23, it saw a jump and reached Rs 7,832.14 lakh. In 2023-24, the turnover of GMVN further increased to Rs 8,145.15 lakh. In this financial year, till January, the turnover of GMVN has been Rs 6,672.05 lakh. About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 06:00 IST Rajasthan Railway Employee Honey-Trapped, Leaks Confidential Military Data To ISI Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 16:31 IST A railway employee in Rajasthan, Bhavani Singh, was caught leaking military data to a Pakistani woman, allegedly an ISI agent, highlighting the risk of honeytrap tactics Investigations revealed the leakage of confidential army data, prompting them to alert the police. (News18 Hindi) There are numerous scams prevalent today. Without vigilance, we risk serious consequences. According to some reports, Pakistan employs women as a tactic to extract desired information, attempting to steal Indias confidential information and crucial defence sector data. However, these attempts have not been entirely successful. Some reports indicate that Pakistans intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allegedly uses women to lure individuals into compromising situations, extracting sensitive information. Recommended Stories In a recent case, a railway employee in Rajasthan was apprehended by police for allegedly leaking confidential military data to a Pakistani woman. This incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of personnel in critical sectors to such tactics. Bhavani Singh, a resident of Bikaner district in Rajasthan, works as a pointsman for the railways. His job doesnt demand much of his time, so he frequently finds himself scrolling through social media platforms like ShareChat, WhatsApp, and Facebook on his mobile phone. It was reportedly during one such instance that he encountered a woman online. Introducing herself as Nimmi, she possessed a soft-spoken demeanour and frequently bestowed compliments upon him. As days turned into weeks, and their online interactions persisted, she gradually began probing him for confidential information. Unknowingly communicating with a Pakistani ISI agent, Bhavani Singh reportedly divulged sensitive information. It has been reported that he transmitted photographs documenting army activities in Bikaner. When he hesitated to share further details, the agent allegedly offered financial compensation. Eventually, intelligence agencies detected the security breach. Investigations revealed the leakage of confidential army data, prompting them to alert the police. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Initially, Nimmi only chatted with him online. Then, their communication escalated to phone calls. According to reports, Bhavani Singh began calling her frequently as well. The frequency of calls between India and Pakistan raised suspicions. Earlier in February 2024, a similar incident unfolded in Rajasthan, where an individual fell victim to a honeytrap orchestrated by Pakistans ISI. The target, an employee named Vikram Singh, managed the canteen at the Mahajan Field Firing Range. Singh engaged in online conversations with Pakistani women, during which he divulged sensitive information. Location : Rajasthan, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 16:31 IST Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva Mukhija Appear Before Women's Commission Over Indias Got Latent Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 14:14 IST Allahbadia's "watch your parents have sex" remarks on Samay Raina's show India's Got Latent sparked massive outrage across the country, prompting a harsh reaction from the Supreme Court. Ranveer Allahbadia is facing severe backlash for his recent comments on India's Got Latent. (Photo: Instagram) Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as the BeerBiceps guy, appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) in connection with his controversial remarks on comedian Samay rainas Indias Got Latent show that triggered widespread furore. The NCW had summoned Allahbadia, Raina and others over the vulgar remarks made on the show last month, taking serious note of the offensive remarks made by content creators, including Apoorva Makhija, Jaspreet Singh, and Ashish Chanchlani, as well as the shows producers, Tushar Poojari and Saurabh Bothra. Recommended Stories These comments, which have sparked widespread public outrage, violate the dignity and respect owed to every individual, particularly in a society that upholds equality and mutual respect. In light of this concern, under the instructions of NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, a hearing has been scheduled to address the controversial remark made by the content creators on Indias Got Latent," the NCW had said in a statement. Mukhija also appeared before the NCW chairperson and legal team, where she was questioned regarding the controversial statements. Producers Bothra and Pujari were also seen entering the commission premises for the hearing, while Ashish Chanchalanis lawyers were also present. The commission had summoned them on February 17. However, upon their requests citing personal safety, foreign travel and logistical challenges, the NCW rescheduled the hearings. Allahbadia and Mukhija Mukhija were summoned on March 6, while Samay Raina has been summoned on March 11. While Jaspreet Singh has now been summoned on March 11, Ashish Chanchlani was summoned today. ALSO READ: Samay Raina Is Depressed Amid Indias Got Latent Controversy, Says YouTuber Shwetabh Gangwar: Toota Hua Hai What Is The Controversy? Allahbadia stoked a massive controversy last month with an inappropriate comment made during his appearance on the roast show Indias Got Latent. He asked a contestant, Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life, or join in once and stop it forever?" A viral video of the remark quickly surfaced, sparking outrage as social media users condemned the vulgarity being passed off as comedy on digital platforms. As a result, several police complaints were filed against Allahabadia and other members of the show. Following the controversy surrounding Allahbadias remark and multiple FIRs, Samay Raina decided to delete all episodes. The Supreme Court also harshly criticised the creators of the show, saying that vulgar comedy cannot be considered as talent. SC Relaxes Ban On Allahbadia From Airing Shows In the latest hearing on March 3, the top court allowed Allahbadia to resume The Ranveer Show, provided that he submits an undertaking stating that he will maintain the standards of decency and morality so that viewers of any age group can watch it. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A bench observed that Allahabadia was employing 280 persons and that he was solely dependent on YouTube videos/podcasts for his livelihood. Attempting to strike a balance between moral standards and freedom of expression, the Supreme Court urged the Centre to come up with some regulatory measures that must have some element of control without resorting to censorship. The court came down heavily on Samay Raina for speaking out about the ongoing controversy over his YouTube show Indias Got Latent, and said that the young generation thinks it is oversmart" and they know more". About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 12:55 IST Prominent Politician Involved In Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case? What We Know So Far Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 12:39 IST Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: As the case investigation deepens, Kannada actress' father says the family has no knowledge of her husband's business. While frisking Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport, the officials found 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold worth Rs 12.56 crore strapped to her body. Kannada actress Ranya Raos arrest in gold smuggling case is now sparking political ripples as latest reports suggest involvement of a prominent politician". The revelation comes hours after AS Ponnanna, legal advisor to the Karnataka chief minister, said that the law will take its own course irrespective of his connections or relations". A report in Times of India quoted sources as saying, The investigation has now expanded to a jewellery boutique in Bengalurus central business district, where the seized ornaments were allegedly procured." Recommended Stories The source was further quoted: Preliminary findings suggest they were purchased on behalf of a prominent politician, and officials are now tracing the payment routes." Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: What We Know So Far The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has recovered a total of Rs 17.3 crore worth of gold and cash in a smuggling case involving the Kannada actress. This is said to be one of the biggest gold seizures from an air passenger in recent times. From where were gold seizures made? Ranya Rao had strapped 14.2kg gold bars to her body and landed at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) from Dubai on Monday night. It is then that the DRI intercepted her. Later, a raid at her upscale Lavelle Road apartment led to the discovery of Rs 2.1 crore worth of designer gold ornaments and Rs 2.7 crore in cash. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has sought a detailed report from the police regarding the smuggling operation. Ranya Rao is believed to have told the cops that she was blackmailed into gold smuggling. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Kannada actress is daughter of Karnataka DGP (Police Housing Corporation) K Ramachandra Rao, who said expressed his disappointment and shock. She got married four months ago and has not visited us since. We have no knowledge of her or her husbands business, he said, adding that there is no black mark on his career and he will let law take its course. Ranya Rao has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 10:35 IST Row Over Braj Holi: Letter Written To UP CM 'In Blood' Seeks Ban On Muslim Vendors In Region Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 11:40 IST The letter, written by Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust president Dinesh Sharma, gained political traction as BJP MLA Rajesh Chaudhary and other Hindu religious groups came forward to support the call. Braj Ki Holi is one of the most revered and vibrant celebrations of Holi in India, deeply rooted in the mythology and cultural heritage of Lord Krishna. (Image: PTI) The famous Braj ki Holi of Uttar Pradesh has become the centre of a controversy with calls to ban Muslims from participating and from holding shops in the region. The issue escalated when Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust president Dinesh Sharma wrote a letter in his own blood to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on March 1, urging restrictions on Muslims, alleging that Muslim vendors could contaminate" Holi sweets and colours, citing similar bans imposed during the Mahakumbh. The demand, however, gained political traction as BJP MLA Rajesh Chaudhary and other Hindu religious groups came forward to support the call. The Letter That Sparked the Controversy Recommended Stories In his dramatic letter written in blood, Dinesh Sharma made an impassioned plea to CM Yogi Adityanath, urging a ban on Muslim participation in Braj Holi. The letter, filled with strong religious sentiments, alleged that Muslims could spit on sweets" and adulterate colours," posing a risk to the sanctity of the festival. Sharma emphasised that, just like the restrictions imposed on Muslim vendors during the Mahakumbh, similar measures were necessary to maintain the purity of Braj Holi. He wrote, You are the true protector of Hindu faith. Just as you safeguarded our traditions during the Mahakumbh by keeping non-Sanatanis away, it is now essential to do the same for Braj Holi." The letter also urged devotees to remain vigilant and demanded that only Hindu vendors be allowed to sell food and festival-related items. Sharma further stated that the festival is deeply rooted in Hindu traditions and allowing non-Hindus to participate could disrupt its sanctity. He cited concerns that some elements might use the occasion to create unrest or offend religious sentiments. The letter demanded immediate action from the state government to prevent any potential disturbances during the celebrations. Political Support for the Ban The letter set off a chain reaction, with BJP MLA Rajesh Chaudhary from Mathuras Mant constituency and several other Hindu religious groups lending their support to the demand. Chaudhary said that Muslim participation in Hindu festivals often results in incidents of love jihad" and harassment. They come to our festivals with ill intentions. The saints have raised a legitimate demand, and I stand by them," he stated. Religious Groups Join the Demand The All India Sant Samiti, a prominent Hindu religious body, also supported the call for restrictions. Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, the organisations national general secretary, accused non-Hindus of deliberately disrupting Hindu celebrations. They want food from Kumbh and enjoyment from Holi. We demand that non-Hindus be completely banned from Braj Holi," he asserted. The push for exclusion did not stop at festival participation. Dinesh Sharma and other leaders also urged the government to prohibit Muslim vendors from setting up shops near Hindu religious sites, arguing that they could contaminate" food and disrespect Hindu traditions. Muslim Clerics call the demand Unconstitutional This controversy has further fueled religious and political tensions in the state. While the Uttar Pradesh government has not issued an official response, opposition leaders and Muslim religious figures have criticised the demand, calling it unconstitutional and an attempt to polarise voters ahead of elections. Muslim cleric Chaudhary Ifrahim Hussain downplayed the matter, stating that most Muslims do not participate in Holi any way, as the use of colours contradicts Islamic beliefs. The Muslim community should have no issue if they are not allowed in Holi celebrations. However, the larger concern is why such demands keep surfacing repeatedly," he said. Previous Ban Proposal During Mahakumbh Prior to this, during the Mahakumbh, a proposal to ban non-Sanatanis, especially Muslims, from entering and holding shops at the event was raised in a meeting of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP). Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of the Akhara Parishad, justified the move, citing alleged incidents where urine was mixed in juice and spitting in food occurred. All Hindus will be at the Kumbh Mela, so defiling things will not be tolerated," he had stated. The ABAP had further announced that a formal resolution for a ban on non-Sanatanis setting up food stalls would be passed after Diwali and submitted to CM Yogi Adityanath for approval. The organisation had also recommended that only followers of Sanatan Dharma, including barbers, carpenters, cobblers, and on-duty staff, should be deployed at the Kumbh. Additionally, they had urged devotees to purchase goods only from shops that display the name of the owner and have an idol or picture of Hindu deities inside their premises. The Parishad also demanded a ban on liquor and meat sales near the Kumbh area. SP accuses BJP of Hate Politics The Samajwadi Party (SP) strongly opposed the move, calling it an effort to divide society along religious lines for political gains. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav criticised the BJP-led government, accusing it of fueling communal tensions instead of focusing on development issues. Festivals are meant to bring people together, but the BJP is using them to spread hatred and create rifts among communities," he stated. Significance and Specialty of Braj Ki Holi Braj Ki Holi is one of the most revered and vibrant celebrations of Holi in India, deeply rooted in the mythology and cultural heritage of Lord Krishna. Celebrated in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, and Nandgaon, the festival attracts devotees from across the world who wish to experience its divine essence. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What makes Braj Ki Holi unique is its various forms, each with its own significance. The Lathmar Holi of Barsana, where women playfully hit men with sticks, symbolises the playful and mischievous nature of Krishna and Radhas love story. Phoolon Ki Holi, celebrated in Vrindavan, involves showers of flowers instead of colours, creating a mesmerising spectacle. The Dauji Ka Huranga, held at Dauji Temple near Mathura, sees men getting drenched in coloured water by women, marking an age-old tradition of joyous revelry. Braj Ki Holi is more than just a festival; it is a reenactment of divine love and devotion. The entire region comes alive with devotional songs, processions, and spiritual fervour, making it an unparalleled experience in Hindu culture. First Published: March 06, 2025, 11:38 IST 'We Never Advised Them On...': Jaishankar On India's Approach To Russia-Ukraine War Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 08:19 IST Jaishankar, who is currently on a visit to the UK and Ireland, said it has communicated with both Russia and Ukraine but never laid out a peace plan as it believes it is "their business". External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaking at the Chatham House in London. (S Jaishankar/X) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar defended Indias position on the Russia-Ukraine war, saying that while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has been constantly in touch with both parties, it has never advised them on a particular format for any peace plan as it believes both parties should engage in direct negotiations. Jaishankar made these remarks during a conversation on Wednesday at Chatham House, an independent policy institute in London, during his six-day visit to the UK and Ireland. He also touched upon numerous topics like India-China relations or the Kashmir issue. Recommended Stories Regarding the Ukraine conflict, the EAM said, We have been one of the few countries that have regularly talked to both Moscow and Kyiv at various levels. My Prime Minister has been talking to (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin and (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy." Appreciated the conversation with @bronwenmaddox at @ChathamHouse this evening.Spoke about changing geopolitics, geoeconomics, India-UK ties, neighbourhood and the Indian view of the world. Do watch : https://t.co/Wp6CwLBtxY pic.twitter.com/0SSf1E7WuF Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 5, 2025 At various points of time, it was a moment or occasion when our weighing in was useful. Mostly, it has been very specific," he added. India Has Worked With Russia, Ukraine Jaishankar further said that India has worked with both Russia and Ukraine in resolving certain disputes. In the Summer of 2022, when the Black Sea Grain Corridor was sought to be constructed, there were some hesitations in Russia. Other countries, including Turkey, approached us to press the Russians and we did." When the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant came under firing, we were approached by Ukrainians. We were asked to pass on messages to the Russians, which we did, and they had something to say, which we communicated back. We also worked a bit with Mr (IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano) Grossi," he added. Speaking on Indias approach to the Ukraine war, the minister said all discussions have been largely done in the privacy of a room, where Indian officials spoke their minds to the leaders of both countries. They Need To Do Direct Negotiations Jaishankar further said, Our view has been that they need to do direct negotiations that has been our consistent position. We have never advised them on what should be the format and what should be the terms of their negotiations. That is their business." Every time we have had significant and useful conversations with either of them, we have taken the approval of President Putin to share this with the Ukrainians and Zelenskyy to share it with the Russians. Beyond that, we have not done a peace plan or put out a particular view. We dont think its appropriate. This is an issue which the parties involved have to decide for themselves," he further said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Jaishankars remarks assume higher importance amid the growing strain between Ukraine and its long-time ally and financial backer, the US, following the ugly public spat between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, who later halted all military aid to Kyiv. The EAM said Trumps bold policies were not surprising, adding, I think much of what we have seen and heard over the last few weeks was to be expected. So Im a little surprised that people are surprised. Now, that said, is it good for India? In many ways. I would say yes." About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: March 06, 2025, 07:57 IST Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress: Four Women Leaders on How Theyre Driving Change Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 15:56 IST When women are given the opportunities and resources to excel, they accelerate progress for everyone. Four women entrepreneurs share how they embody this theme, proving that when women thrive, societies flourish. Investing in women is not just a sloganits a necessity for global progress. The theme of this years International Womens Day, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," underscores the transformative power of supporting women in business, leadership, and well-being. Across industries, women are challenging norms, leading with innovation, and creating environments that champion inclusivity. Four women entrepreneurs share how they embody this theme, proving that when women thrive, societies flourish. Self-Care as a Catalyst for Change Recommended Stories True progress begins where well-being meets empowerment, believes Ishvani Patel, Founder and CEO of ILEM JAPAN, a Japanese skincare brand. At ILEM JAPAN, we dont just support womenwe celebrate their resilience and strength. Self-care isnt just about routines; its a quiet power that fuels confidence and balance, helping women thrive," she says. Patel has witnessed firsthand how women bring intuition, dedication, and heart into everything they dowhether at home or in the workplace. ILEM JAPAN was built on these values, blending tradition with modern wellness to ensure that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity. True change happens when women are empowerednot just to succeed, but to uplift others. When women prioritize their well-being, they create ripples of change that touch families, industries, and future generations." This Womens Day, Patel believes that investing in women starts with something simple yet profound: self-care. Because when women thrive, the world flourishesand thats a future worth investing in. Beyond Inclusion: Creating an Ecosystem for Women to Thrive For Saloni Anand, Co-Founder of Traya, a customized hair solutions firm, investing in women is not just about representationits about creating an environment where they are valued, heard, and supported. At Traya, were proud to maintain an almost 50:50 ratio between men and women in our workforce. This women army has been instrumental in driving our innovation and success," she shares. However, Anand emphasizes that gender equity is about more than just numbers. It means equal pay, leadership opportunities, and a culture that acknowledges the unique challenges women face." Women, she believes, are natural problem-solvers. When given the right resources and environment, they drive meaningful change. If you look around, women have been doing exceptionally well in the startup ecosystembreaking stereotypes, changing narratives, and celebrating not just successes, but also failures, as stepping stones to growth. True progress happens when we challenge biases and actively uplift others." Redefining Leadership: Investing in Women from Day One At The Blue Kite, a holiday home rental management company, CEO Caroline Mulliez believes that investing in women starts from the moment they enter the workforce. We evaluate potential employees based on how they can leverage their talents in new scenariosnot just past achievements. Studies show that women often showcase their accomplishments with less self-promotion than men, so we strive to recognize and account for this disparity." Today, women make up 80% of The Blue Kites workforce, and its management team is evenly split, a testament to the companys commitment to balanced leadership. We ensure that career growth and compensation decisions are made with complete impartiality, based on merit and contribution." Mulliez also acknowledges the importance of workplace flexibility, particularly during major life moments like maternity. By offering support and adaptability during these times, we strengthen our culture of belonging and trust. In the long run, these values are fundamental to both individual and organizational success." Changing the Rules in a Boys Club Industry As a former gender and rights expert, Roshni Kapoor, Co-Founder of Anar, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Goa, has long worked to address systemic barriers to womens advancement. While ad-hoc measures like gender balance in workforces and supportive policies are important, what truly shifts the needle is changing the power equation," she explains. Kapoors decision to co-own Anar stems from a desire to challenge the status quo in an industry that still operates as a boys club. I want to invest in this venture to be a model for women and gender-diverse individualsto show that sometimes, you have to invent your own guidebook when the rules are biased." Investing in Women: A Collective Responsibility top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all From fostering self-care to creating equitable workplaces, and from reshaping hiring practices to rewriting industry norms, these women are leading by example. Their stories reaffirm that investing in women is not just a moral imperativeits an economic and social necessity. When women are given the opportunities and resources to excel, they accelerate progress for everyone. This International Womens Day, the message is clear: the future isnt just femaleits fair, inclusive, and full of potential. About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 06, 2025, 15:56 IST Amit Sadh Reflects On His Career After Kai Po Che: 'Havent Achieved Anything In Life' Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 12:54 IST During a recent interview, Amit Sadh opened up about his career and the opportunities he got after the success of Kai Po Che in 2013. Amit Sadh debuted in Kai Po Che alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Rajkummar Rao. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Amit Sadh has transformed from a young, ready-to-learn actor to someone who has impressed the audience with stellar performances in many projects. The actor debuted with Kai Po Che! alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Rajkummar Rao in 2013. While Sushant and Rajkumar shone in several projects in lead roles, many believe Amit Sadh has much more to deliver in the film industry. In a recent interaction, the Breathe actor also reflected on his career and revealed he has found peace with his work. For Amit, Rajkummar Rao and SSR, Kai Po Che! marked a sea change. Even though he received praise for his performance in the movie, does Amit believe he could have landed greater roles after the movie? Uss samay toh yahi rehta tha ki main rent de paaunga time par main kisi ke phase wagerah nahi dekhta tha. I was only looking after myself, and I was in a good phase. I also got hero roles, but those films didnt work." Amit Sadh said in an interview to The Times of India. Recommended Stories The actor went on to say that he would be silly not to acknowledge that after waiting for so long, Kai Po Che! happened, and he got love from the audience. I earned money, and I could survive. As long as I am offered good roles, I will be happy," he added. Amit has experience in a variety of roles and has worked across media, but he is eager to take on more. He said, I dont think I have any place somebody can claim. I havent achieved anything in life, except for a few serials, films, and web series. Im grateful for the love people have shown me, but I still have much more to do." He further wished that more filmmakers would offer him good work, saying, Position toh sab banana chahte hain, and I hope one day meri bhi ban jaayegi (Everybody wants to get this position, and I hope one day I will also get it.) I am in no hurry, as I have only been in the industry for 23 years." Amit Sadh has been featured in several movies after Kai Po Che, such as Sultan, Akira, Gold, Sarkar 3, Barot House, Super 30, Operation Parindey, Shakuntala Devi and Sukhee. About the Author Kashvi Raj Singh Kashvi Raj Singh is a News Trainee at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in lon... Read More Kashvi Raj Singh is a News Trainee at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in lon... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 12:54 IST Fans Defend BLACKPINK's Lisa As Harsh Alter Ego Review Sparks Controversy Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 13:37 IST BLACKPINKs Lisa Alter Ego has mostly received positive feedback from fans and critics. Alter Ego marks Lisas first full-length album. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Lisa is the most popular BLACKPINK member, winning hearts with her role in The White Lotus Season 3 and her recent Oscars appearance. Her latest album, Alter Ego, has received mostly positive feedback from fans and critics. However, Pitchforks review was notably harsh, giving it a low score of 5.2 out of 10. The critique sparked discussions on Reddit, with fans criticising its blunt tone, believing it was overly negative and intended to provoke strong reactions. The portal criticised Lisas solo work, stating that she struggles to showcase depth without BLACKPINK and that Alter Ego fails to establish her individuality. According to the review, while Lisa enjoys commercial success, she lacks creativity. It also compared BLACKPINKs global rise to BTS, arguing that the group played it safe by collaborating with Western artists and prioritising English tracks over deeper K-pop exploration. Additionally, the review described the albums opening and closing tracks as uninspired. Recommended Stories It further pointed out that the album doesnt take risks, calling Born Again a weak disco track that lacks emotional depth. Dream was described as a rushed track that feels empty and the review also claimed that Lisas rap style in Fxck Up the World sounded like a poor imitation of Cardi B. Fans strongly disagreed with these harsh remarks and felt the review was unnecessarily negative. Reacting to the Alter Egos review, a user criticised the author saying, She makes it sound like she has a whole multiple album discography besides Alter Ego. What old stuff are people supposed to listen to?" Another shared, Im sure K-Pop Twitter is going to be understanding of a difference in opinion and absolutely not lash out at the writer of this review." A user pointed out, Pitchfork is renowned for unnecessarily cruel reviews so fans of any artist usually send hate their way." One more added, Agree with their review mostly even though it was worded a bit harshly. That first paragraph alone is absolutely brutal damn." Lisa recently spoke to The Wall Street Journal Magazine about her decision to go solo and the doubts she had in the beginning. Lisa admitted that she is actually a shy person, which made the choice even more challenging. In BLACKPINK, each member has a specific role, but as a solo artist, she had to take full control. She felt that if she didnt take this step now, she might never get another chance. While working on Alter Ego, Lisa discovered her new sides and realised she can do more than just hip hop. She wanted to surprise fans with her range. About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 13:37 IST Kanye West's Ex Says He Forced Her, Kim Kardashian To Dress Naked Like Bianca: He Wants Other Men... Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2025, 03:48 IST Amber Rose has opened up about her past relationship with Kanye West, revealing that he had a pattern of controlling how his partners dressed. Kanye West's ex Amber Rose reveals disturbing details about him. Amber Rose has opened up about her past relationship with Kanye West, revealing that he had a pattern of controlling how his partners dressed. In a candid conversation with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Rose shared that West made both her and Kim Kardashian wear revealing outfitssimilar to Bianca Censoris recent barely-there looks. When asked about Censoris nearly naked appearance at the Grammys, Rose did not hesitate to share her thoughts. Kanye is for sure dressing her like that. Yeah, he did the same thing to me and Kim. Its just who he is," she said. Recommended Stories According to Rose, Wests obsession with how his partners dress stems from his desire for other men to covet them. He wants other men to want his woman. Thats what hes into, he likes that. He likes that men are drooling over his woman. Thats what hes into. He wants all his friends to want to f*** his girlfriend," she revealed. Sharpe then asked Rose if she wore such outfits because she wanted to please West. She admitted that at the time, she was young and easily influenced. I was young and Im gonna tell Kanye now, when Im that young its like okay, youre buying me this stuff, I do look pretty and cool," she explained. However, when she was out on her own, her style was noticeably different. If you look at old pictures of me when Im dating Kanye but Im out by myself, I have all his clothes on. I have baggy jeans on, a T-shirt, a big jacket. I raided his closet when he wasnt home. I would wear all his stuff because I used to hate to dress like a w****," she confessed. I used to hate it, so I used to rebel when he wasnt home and go in his closet. Im in sweatpants usually with some Jordans on, maybe a little dad hat or something. Im very casual." Recalling a particularly emotional moment, Rose described a time when West made her wear a see-through dress while they were abroad. She admitted that it wasnt her choice, but she complied despite feeling uncomfortable. I cried. I remember crying. I was in like Italy or Paris or something and I remember crying and arguing with him and being like, I dont f****** want to wear this s***, I dont wanna wear it," she recalled. But West dismissed her concerns, insisting, You dont understand, its fashion, Im a genius." Despite her protests, Rose went out wearing the dress, only to be ridiculed online. They ate me up on the internet," she said, adding that the experience left a lasting impact on her. About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: March 07, 2025, 03:48 IST Three Key Statements, 2 Locked Devices, Bruise Mark: Twists & Turns In Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 17:55 IST The DRI suspects that Kannada actor was not only a carrier but has strong links in Dubai, who managed to smuggle the gold bars into the airport and then handed them over to her The DRI said Kannada actor Ranya Rao wrapped the gold bars around her inner thighs, shin, waist inside the airport in Dubai. (Image: X) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, which is probing the gold smuggling case, suspects that Kannada actor Ranya Rao has strong links in Dubai, who managed to smuggle the gold bars into the airport and then handed them over to her. According to the agency, Rao wrapped the gold bars around her inner thighs, shin, waist inside the airport in Dubai. She used tape and crepe bandage to wrap them around her body parts, they said. It suspects that she is not only a carrier, but is also involved in the nexus. Recommended Stories ALSO READ | Prominent Politician Involved In Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case? What We Know So Far HOW DID ACTOR ESCAPE SECURITY CHECKS? Upon landing at the Bengaluru international airport, a state protocol officer would go to the immigration and pick up Raos luggage for fast-track security clearance. This way, she would skip frisking or going through metal detectors at the airport upon landing (unless security personnel are suspicious, people are not thoroughly scanned upon landing). Its a clear case of protocol being misused," said sources in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The DRI further said the three recorded statements of the actor have incriminating details. It said she has not denied most of the charges. Others are also involved in the case and she needs to be questioned further on that, it added. ALSO READ | How Much Gold, Cash Are You Allowed To Carry On Domestic, Foreign Flights? Customs Rules Explained Raos mobile and laptop have been recovered, but the DRI is yet to gain access to them as they are locked. The actor also has bruise marks on her face, the agency said. About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 17:53 IST Stephen Park Recalls Toxic Environment On The Sets Of FRIENDS: Nobody Felt The Need To Correct This Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 18:27 IST Stephen Park recalled how his fellow actor James Hing was addressed as the Oriental guy by a casting director. Stephen Park appeared in two episodes of Friends. (Photo Credit: X) American sitcom FRIENDS still remains one of the most beloved television series. Starring an ensemble cast of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, the show ran for 10 seasons. While it has managed to captivate audiences with its perfect comic timing and plot across generations, not everyone who worked on the show had a fond experience on the sets. Actor Stephen Park recently opened up about his difficult time on the show and even called the sets environment toxic". Stephen, who appeared as a guest in one episode of both seasons 2 and 3, recalled an incident that left an impact on him while speaking on the Pods Meet World podcast. It was at the time, I felt it was kind of a toxic environment," he said, adding, James Hong was the actor who was also on the episode with me, and (the assistant director) was calling him to the set and you know, essentially saying, Where the fk is the Oriental guy? Get the Oriental guy." Recommended Stories The actor mentioned that though such kind of language was not uncommon in Hollywood back in the 90s, he was taken aback that no one voiced anything against such racist remarks. This is business as usual in Hollywood in 1997, I guess it was. And nobody felt the need to correct this or say anything about it. So this is normal behaviour," Stephen added. Disturbed by the experience, he decided to reach out to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) for support, only for his action to go in vain. In the conversation, Stephen shared that the representative with whom he spoke asked him to write an article for the L.A. Times. He followed through, writing a mission statement" and sensing it to the publication. While a couple of reporters reached out to him, his article never got published. Frustrated at the turn of events, the actor eventually took matters into his own hands, and he released his statement as an open letter to everyone on his email list. However, the weight of constantly facing racial issues in the industry took a toll on him, and he decided to quit acting. I didnt feel any freedom. So, I didnt have any idea what I was going to do, but I just decided to drop out. I told everybody, Im not acting anymore," he shared. After a hiatus, he returned to acting with roles in Boy Meets World, Law & World, and Mad About You. Stephen Park will be next seen in the film Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson. About the Author Yatamanyu Narain Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 18:26 IST Vijay Varma Shares First Post Since Breakup Rumours With Tamannaah Bhatia: 'Partners In Rhyme' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 23:37 IST Vijay Varma, currently in Jaipur, is preparing to host the IIFA Digital Awards. Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma spark breakup rumours. Vijay Varma has shared his first Instagram post since rumours about his alleged breakup with Tamannaah Bhatia started circulating. The actor, currently in Jaipur, is preparing to host the IIFA Digital Awards. Taking to Instagram Stories, Vijay shared glimpses from his rehearsals, posting a series of pictures. In one story, he wrote, Host mode on," giving fans a sneak peek into his preparations. Another picture featured him alongside Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee, with the caption, Partners in Rhyme." Recommended Stories Amid speculation surrounding their alleged split, a new report has shed light on what might have led to tensions between Tamannaah and Vijay. According to Siasat Daily, the differences reportedly arose due to Tamannaah feeling pressure to settle down. The report claims that the actress, now in her mid-30s, was eager to take the next step in their relationship, which led to disagreements between the two. It became a point of contention," the report stated, further suggesting that frequent disagreements caused a rift between them. However, News18 has not independently verified these claims. Earlier this week, Pinkvilla reported that Tamannaah and Vijay had parted ways after dating for over a year. A source revealed, Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma parted ways weeks ago as a couple but plan to remain good friends. Both have been busy with their work schedules." Neither Tamannaah nor Vijay has officially commented on the breakup reports. The couple first sparked dating rumours in 2022 and later confirmed their relationship in June 2023. They starred together in Sujoy Ghoshs segment of Netflixs Lust Stories 2, which premiered the same month. In a previous interview with Film Companion, Tamannaah acknowledged their relationship, putting an end to months of speculation. Vijay later elaborated on their decision to go public, explaining that he didnt want to hide his feelings. It takes a lot of effort to hide a relationship. You cant go out together, your friends cant click your photos. I dont like such restrictions. It wasnt about making it public, but I didnt want to cage my feelings," he told Shubhankar Mishra on YouTube. About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 23:37 IST Opinion | Language Politics Is Passe, Someone Tell The DMK Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 17:56 IST By indulging in politics over the NEPs proposed three-language formula, the DMK-led Stalin dispensation is simply indulging in a politics which is passe Being in power, in different spells, for the last five decades in Tamil Nadu, the DMK never did what PM Modi has done for perpetuating Tamil language, icons, literature and history on a global scale. (PTI Photo) Referring to various defining dimensions of the NEP, PM Modi once observed how every country reformed its education system according to its national values and goals" and that the end goal is to make sure its youth is future-ready." Speaking of one of the NEPs most crucial dimensionsof encouraging and enabling education in the mother tonguePM Modi observed that education in the mother tongue is initiating a new form of justice for the students in India. It is a very significant step towards social justice." It was a very significant observation. Emphasis on and cultivation of ones language has always been seen as a major way forward towards cultural recovery and cultural independence. By speaking of social justice in the context of education in the mother tongue, PM Modi referred to a cardinal dimension of inclusiveness in our national life and growth. Developed nations of the world," he said, have an edge because of their local languages. Although India has an array of established languages, they were presented as a sign of backwardness, and those who could not speak English were neglected and their talents were not recognised. As a result, the children of the rural areas remained most affected. But the country has now begun to shun this belief." Recommended Stories This approach and insistence of the NEP is beginning to encourage a shift and change of mindset. Previous dispensations refused to encourage possibilities of education in the mother tongue. There ought to be a debate on the causes and effects of that neglect. The other significant point that PM Modi made was while addressing the 98th session of the All India Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Delhi. Dwelling on the richness and complementarity of Indian languages, PM Modi argued that there has never been any enmity among Indian languages, instead they have always adopted and enriched each other." He spoke of the shared heritage of languages" and that all languages in India were mainstream languages, and it was our responsibility to enrich and embrace languages. India, he said, is one of the worlds oldest living civilisations because it has consistently evolved, embraced new ideas, and welcomed changes" and that Indias vast linguistic diversity is a testament to this evolution and serves as a fundamental basis for unity." A leader who has consistently displayed such a mindset and demonstrated his commitment to preserving and perpetuating the richness of Indian languages can hardly be accused of trying to impose one language on others. By indulging in politics over the NEPs proposed three-language formula, the DMK-led Stalin dispensation is simply indulging in politics which is passe. A politics which has and is becoming increasingly irrelevant in an India with 21st-century aspirations and goals. Being in power, in different spells, for the last five decades in Tamil Nadu and despite all its professions of upholding Tamil pride, the DMK never did what PM Modi has done for perpetuating Tamil language, icons, literature and history on a global scale. His tributes to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati and Saint Thiruvalluvar through various initiatives are a few cases in point. The DMKs record has been that of shunning the legacy and contributions of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati. For a party which has often indulged in the politics of separatism and division, its latest noise should come as no surprise. Let us recall how in 1970, late M Karunanidhi, then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, had floated the idea of a separate flag for the state and had even unveiled a sample of that flag during a visit to Delhi. His scheme of providing pension to language-martyrs" of the anti-Hindi agitation was struck down by the Supreme Court which had termed such a move as containing the vice of disintegration and fomenting fissiparous tendencies." Its violent anti-Hindi agitation was directed at the Congress dispensation, which is its ally now. By making hollow noises in order to keep its brand of divisive politics alive, the DMK wants to divert attention from one of the most important points in the NEPthe promotion of education in the mother tongue, heralding a new era of social justice in India. As the product of a social justice movement, why is it trying to bury that crucial aspect under debris of false accusations and calumny? Let us recall an era which existed before the DMKs politics of hate and accusation. It was an era when the learning of many Indian languages was celebrated and was seen as a sign of true education, erudition and learning. It is known, for instance, that during his early years in Puducherry, Sri Aurobindo was a keen student of Tamil. Historian P. Raja writes about the dialogue in exile between the Mahakavi and the Mahayogi in Puducherry. Sri Aurobindo introduced Mahakavi Bharati to the world of the Vedas, while Bharati, in turn, introduced the Mahayogi to the world of the Tamil Vaishnava saints. Both of them, being well-versed in Sanskrit, came together to study the Vedas and the Upanishads. The result was the birth of Vachana Kavithaigal in Tamil," writes Raja. Raja also notes that Sri Aurobindo took the trouble of learning the Tamil language, studying its literature and mastering what the Tamil mystics and intellectuals have to say on the mystery of life." He had translated portions of the Thirrukural, and had also translated verses from saint poets like Nammalwar, Kulasekhara Alwar and Andal." Subramania Bharati, on the other hand, learnt Bengali from Sri Aurobindo and translated several short stories and essays of Rabindranath Tagore from Bengali into Tamil", Raja points out. Sri Aurobindos descriptions of Vaishnava Saint Perialwar Vishnuchitta and of Andal show his deep immersion in Tamil language, literature, religious history and philosophy. Would Sri Aurobindo and Mahakavi Bharati, for instance, qualify to be designated as icons or symbols of linguistic harmony by the DMKs ideologues in their worldview or scheme of things? One of Indias greatest linguists and polyglots, Suniti Kumar Chatterjia contemporary and colleague of luminaries such as S Radhakrishnan, CV Raman, SN Bose, and Meghnad Sahawas highly regarded by Tamil scholars and writers. He was known among them as Nanneri-Murugan, the Tamil rendering of his name Suniti-Kumara, writes Sanskritist and linguist Sukumari Bhattacharji in an assessment of Chatterji. He was held in great respect and affection as someone who deeply loved and understood Dravidian culture, while also emphasising the significance of the Sanskrit tradition for the whole of India, including the world of Tamizhakam or Tamil Nadu," notes Bhattacharji. In 1964, Annamalai University published Chatterjis book Dravidian. Chatterji was awarded the title of Sahitya-Vachaspati by the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad, in 1948, for his services to Hindi language and literature. One wonders whether someone like Chatterji, embodying in him the essential linguistic spirit of India as described by PM Modi, would, for instance, have a place in Tamil Nadu that the DMK envisages. His erudition of Hindi, his love for and deep knowledge of Tamil and his belief in the value of the Sanskrit tradition for the whole of India, would perhaps disqualify Chatterji from making it to the pantheons of the DMKs greats. In his mission to reform Indian education, the redoubtable Asutosh Mookerjee, as Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University, struggled to introduce an education system that, as Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee writes, would not denationalise his countrymen, but would combine in it the best elements of Eastern and Western thought." He resolutely challenged those who opposed the teaching of Indian languages and instruction in Indian languages at the university. Education in ones own language and the study of ones own literature were among the surest paths to self-awakening. Asutosh recognised that the health of each limb determined the health of the entire national body, writes Syama Prasad, and thus, in those early days, he introduced Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese, Maithili, as well as Tamil, Telugu, and other southern Indian languages into the system of instruction. In a Bengali article titled Sikshar Samprasaron (The Spread of Education), published in the renowned Bengali monthly Prabasi, Syama Prasad argued that anyone who had mastered their own language and immersed themselves in its literature would not only wish to teach it to others but would also seek to learn other languages. In any country, at any time, such a situation is always to be welcomed and desired." He observed that the dharmathe dutyof literature and language is to unite people. The darkness of ignorance, which blinds human vision and divides people, can only be dispelled by the light of literature and language, he noted. One must remember that Prime Minister Modi belongs to this intellectual and philosophical lineage. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The raking up of the language issue is an obsolete pastime. New India, India aspiring to emerge as viksit", wants its creative energies and talents unleashed. The strength, dynamism and civilisational richness of Indias languages can make Indias youth future-ready. They can act as dynamos propelling India to its rightful place in the global scheme of things. It is a retrograde mind which would argue otherwise. The author is Chairman, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, and a member of the National Executive Committee, BJP. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 06, 2025, 17:56 IST Right Word | How Pakistan Army Has Misused Counter Terrorism To Bulldoze Dissent Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 13:31 IST In the name of national security and combating terrorism, the Pakistani government has imposed stringent restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly While Pakistans efforts to combat terrorism may be essential, they have often come at the cost of human rights and fundamental freedoms. (Image: Reuters) The protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, while addressing terrorism, is a core principle that states in the international community are obligated to uphold. However, Pakistan has consistently violated this principle in its purported counterterrorism efforts by employing a heavy-handed approach that has often proved counterproductive. This strategy has alienated communities, radicalised individuals, and undermined the rule of law, which terrorists aim to destabilise. International organisations have called for reforms to ensure that Pakistans counterterrorism efforts comply with human rights standards. However, Pakistan has instead continued the practice of enforced disappearances, where individuals suspected of terrorism or militancy are abducted by security forces, often without formal charges or legal proceedings. These individuals are commonly held incommunicado in undisclosed locations, denying them access to lawyers, family, or the courts. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented instances where security agencies, such as the military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), have been implicated in such actions. Recommended Stories For example, members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), which protests extrajudicial killings and disappearances in tribal areas, have reported arbitrary arrests and detentions of their activists under the pretext of counterterrorism operations. The cases of innocent Baloch youth subjected to enforced disappearances are widespread, and Pakistan shows a disturbing disregard for these universal norms. In Balochistan, counterterrorism operations targeting separatist groups have led to numerous allegations of civilian abuse, exacerbating unrest rather than addressing it. A similar situation is seen with people from Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Suspects detained on terrorism charges have endured cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, including beatings, electric shocks, and psychological torture. The use of military courts and anti-terrorism legislation has significantly eroded fundamental legal protections in Pakistan. The 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act and subsequent laws, such as the Protection of Pakistan Act of 2014, are criticised for their ambiguous definitions of terrorism, enabling authorities to target peaceful dissenters, political opponents, and civilians alongside genuine terrorists. Military courts lack transparency and fail to meet international fair trial standards, with defendants often being denied public hearings, independent legal counsel, or the right to appeal to civilian courts. These practices contravene Article 10A of Pakistans Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial, as well as the presumption of innocence established in international human rights law. In the name of national security and combating terrorism, the Pakistani government has imposed stringent restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Journalists, human rights defenders, and activists who criticise military operations or government policies often face harassment, abduction, or prosecution under sedition and cybercrime laws. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned the broadcasts of opposition leaders speeches and shut down news channels that air critical content. Social media platforms are also blocked during political unrest or protests, curbing public discourse. Similarly, peaceful protestssuch as those by the Pakistan Tahaffuz Movement, Baloch Yekjheti Council, or families of the disappearedare frequently met with excessive force, arrests, or bans, infringing on the constitutional right to assembly. A widespread culture of impunity surrounds these violations in Pakistan, with security forces and officials seldom held accountable. Laws that provide immunity to personnel acting in good faith" during counterterrorism operations, such as the Protection of Pakistan Act, protect perpetrators from prosecution, breaching international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Pakistan ratified in 2010. The Ministry of Human Rights and provincial bodies lack the authority and resources to properly investigate abuses, leaving victims and their families without access to justice. While Pakistans efforts to combat terrorism may be essential, they have often come at the cost of human rights and fundamental freedoms. These efforts have typically involved heavy-handed operations to neutralise armed groups, curfews, communication blackouts, and the use of outdated repressive laws designed to maintain order and address terrorism. However, these measures have frequently infringed upon human rights, including restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and movement, as well as allegations of arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, and the excessive use of force. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Addressing these violations necessitates legislative reform, judicial oversight, and a shift towards transparent, rights-respecting policies to effectively combat terrorism without compromising the democratic principles the state claims to uphold. Pakistan currently lacks both the capacity and the will to pursue such a path without strong pressure from the international community. As the saying goes, a threat to freedom anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere. Therefore, it is essential to apply collective pressure on the state to honour its international obligations and act as a responsible nation, in order to safeguard fundamental freedoms in Pakistan. The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 06, 2025, 13:31 IST Last Updated: March 05, 2025, 23:34 IST 1 / 10 After choosing to bat first, New Zealand suffered an early blow with Will Young being dismissed by Lungi Ngidi in the eighth over of the innings. (Image: AP) 2 / 10 Rachin Ravindra along with Kane Williamson stabilised the innings with a 164-run partnership to keep the Kiwis on track for a mammoth score. (Image: AP) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 Rachin Ravindra scored his fifth ODI century and was eventually dismissed by Kagiso Rabada after scoring 108 in 101 deliveries. (Image: AP) 4 / 10 Kane Williamson also scored his century and was eventually dismissed by Wiaan Mulder on 102 from 94 balls. (Image: AP) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell lead the Kiwis' late charge to help New Zealand set a record target of 362; the highest innings total in the history of the Champions Trophy. (Image: AP) 6 / 10 Matt Henry struck early by removing Ryan Rickelton in the fifth over of the second innings. (Image: AP) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen looked to rebuild the innings as both batters scored their respective fifties. (Image: AP) 8 / 10 Mitchell Santner led the Kiwis' comeback as he removed both Bavuma and van der Dussen along with the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen. (Image: AP) ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 David Miller look to pull the Proteas back, but the lack of support from the other end proved to be costly. (Image: AP) Andhra Pradesh Govt Seeks Centres Nod For Bill To Prevent Land Grabbing Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 11:27 IST Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, after a meeting with home minister Amit Shah, said once the Act comes into effect, land records will be digitised to ensure the possibility of land grabbing does not exist Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Wednesday. (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Wednesday and requested the Centres nod for a Bill recently passed in the assembly to prevent land grabbers from victimising the public. The AP Land Grabbers Prohibition Bill, recently passed in the state assembly, has come to the Centre for approval. Recommended Stories Naidu, emphasising that lands in both urban and rural areas were grabbed, told CNN-News18: There was no fear for anybody who was grabbing land, including forest land under the previous regime. Therefore, we want the Centre to give us approval at the earliest for reclaiming these lands. I made an earnest request to Shah during my meeting." On being asked about the number of cases of complaints that were received by the present government about land grabbing, Naidu said: I know for a fact that every 10 complaints that are received by the government are about land being grabbed. But once this Act comes into effect, we will ensure a complete control over such criminal activities and will digitise land records so that any such possibility doesnt exist. Plus, unlike earlier, the onus to prove that the land is theirs will not be on the victim, but on the grabbers." Naidu also pointed out that in the last one year, the growth rate in Andhra Pradesh has been over 12.94 per cent, but the state is in a debt trap. Borrowings have been done by the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government without any calculation or basis. This led to Andhra Pradesh being burdened under debt. Only if the growth rate continues will Andhra be able to see hopes of any green shoots in the economy," he said. Another thrust of the Andhra Pradesh government in the coming days will be on bringing a strong legislation to curb the manufacturing and use of drugs in the state. Ganja cultivation has been a big menace and needs to be dealt with an iron fist. Multiple measures have been announced and will continue to be announced by the state government for prevention of cultivation of Ganja. Incentives will be given to farmers to yield other crops," Naidu said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On Day One of his visit to the national capital, Naidu also met finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss the financial issues in the state and road and transport minister Nitin Gadkari for several projects. The chief minister will return to Delhi on Thursday to meet a few other ministers, including Jal Shakti minister CR Patil regarding the Polavaram project. First Published: March 06, 2025, 11:27 IST Hindu Sena's Demand To Amit Shah: 'Make Praising Aurangzeb Punishable Offence' Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 20:13 IST Among its other demands in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Hindu Sena also wants Aurangzebs remains to be "exhumed, incinerated and immersed in the Arabian Sea" Hindu Sena national president Vishnu Gupta has written to Union home minister Amit Shah to declare Mughal ruler Aurangzeb as "barbaric". (Image: Wikimedia Commons) Amid a controversy over a statement on Aurangzeb made by Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, the Hindu Sena a right-wing fringe outfit has made an unusual demand to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It wants the act of praising" the Mughal ruler to be made a punishable offence". And the demands over the issue do not end there the Hindu Sena also wants Aurangzebs remains to be exhumed, incinerated and immersed in the Arabian Sea". Some of their other demands include that he should be declared a barbaric ruler" while all roads and public places named after him should be renamed. Recommended Stories Azmi had recently said he does not view Aurangzeb as a cruel, tyrannical, or intolerant ruler, drawing massive criticism from the BJP. He was, however, strongly supported in his sentiments by Bihar AIMIM president and MLA Akhtarul Iman. ALSO READ | SP MLA Abu Azmi Suspended From Maharashtra Assembly For Praising Aurangzeb The Hindu Senas national president, Vishnu Gupta, has now written to Shah to declare the Mughal ruler as barbaric" as well as rename all roads and places named after him. He went a step further to request that his remains should be exhumed and immersed in the Arabian Sea. Similar to what the government of the United States of America did with the remains of Osama Bin Laden and the French and Russian Revolution, Aurangzebs remains in Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, must be exhumed, incinerated and immersed in the Arabian Sea," he wrote in his letter. Gupta cited some of Aurangzebs tyranny, calling him an intolerant bigot". He also requested the union minister to consider making the act of praising Aurangzeb a punishable offence. We wish the government would release a gazette notification and fulfil our demands," he said in a video statement released to the media. ALSO READ | Amidst Abu Azmi Row, What Nehru Said About Aurangzeb, How History Remembers The Mughal Ruler | Explained WHAT DID ABU AZMI SAY? On March 3, in his defence of Aurangzeb, Azmi had said: Wrong things are being said about Aurangzeb. He constructed a lot of temples for Hindus. He even got one of his soldiers trampled by elephants when he wanted to marry a Hindu priests daughter. As a mark of their gratitude, they constructed a mosque for Muslims. History has been distorted." He further said during Aurangzebs reign, Indias border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar). Our GDP accounted for 24% (of the world GDP), and India was called a golden sparrow (during his regime)," he added. The Maharashtra police registered a case against the MLA under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) over his remarks. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken this matter seriously and demanded that he should be tried for treason. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ | Fadnavis, Uddhav Back Abu Azmis Suspension From Assembly In Big Aurangzeb Row, Akhilesh Hits Back But, the SP leader has now withdrawn his statement. He said he wants the issue to be laid to rest, following which Akhtarul Iman has filled the void. Aurangzeb was a noble emperor. He earned a livelihood by stitching caps. He didnt use taxpayers money on himself. He was buried here. He didnt loot and leave like the British, but he served this country. He unified India, stretching it from Afghanistan to Burma (Myanmar), and made it Akhand Bharat. He treated both temples and mosques equally," he said. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 20:01 IST 'Holi Comes Once A Year, Friday Prayers 52 Times': UP Cop's Remarks Draw Opposition Ire Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 21:23 IST A police official's request to the Muslim community to remain indoors on Holi if they aren't comfortable with colours sparked row in Uttar Pradesh. The Opposition lashed out at the cop. UP Police official sparks row with Holi remark (PTI Image) A top police official in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal on Thursday sparked a row as he urged the Muslims to stay indoors on the occasion of Holi which falls on Friday this year if they feel uncomfortable with the colours". Highlighting the significance of Holi for Hindus, the police official equated the enthusiasm during this festival with that of Eid for Muslims. Recommended Stories The Samajwadi Party and Congress lashed out at the official, stating that he should not act as BJP agents". What Did The Police Officer Say? Sambhal Circle Officer (CO) Anuj Chaudhary said Holi is celebrated once a year, while Friday prayers are held 52 times in the year, adding that both Hindus and Muslims should respect each other. Friday comes 52 times in a year; Holi comes once. If any individual in the Muslim community feels that youre uncomfortable with the colours, then do not step out of your homes. Or if they step out, they should have a large heart that colours are afterall colours. Just like Muslims wait for Eid for the entire year, the Hindus wait for Holi every year. Both Hindus and Muslims should respect each other," he said. Sambhal CO to Muslims at Peace Committee Meeting on Holi:Those Who have Problem with Colours should STAY AT HOME!" pic.twitter.com/OHbUxno0Ob Megh Updates (@MeghUpdates) March 6, 2025 His remarks came after a peace committee meeting on Thursday at the Sambhal Kotwali police station for the upcoming Holi festival, which coincides with Friday prayers during Ramzan. The officer stressed on the need for communal harmony and said that such peace committee meetings have been taking place for a month at various levels to ensure the smooth celebration of festivals. He also urged both Hindus and Muslims to respect each others sentiments and appealed to the people not to forcibly apply colours on those who do not wish to participate in the Holi celebrations. Opposition Slams Cops Remarks Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sharvendra Bikram Singh condemned the remarks and said that the officer was only imitating what they hear from the chief minister to stay in his good books". He called for action against the officer for displaying his bias". This is condemnable, and officers should not act as BJP agents," he said. Uttar Pradesh Congress Media Committee Vice Chairman Manish Hindvi said that the officers should be secular, or else it will lead to anarchy". If people from a particular religion have expressed discomfort with the playing with colours, the officers duty is to ensure that there is no atmosphere of fear or insecurity," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Congress leader said that the police should make arrangements where both Holi could be celebrated and Namaz could be offered peacefully. Saying that Holi comes once a year while Friday prayers happen 52 times and that those who dislike colours should stay indoors is a political statement," he said. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Sambhal, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 21:23 IST Made Him CM Twice: Tejashwis Comeback For Nitishs Made Your Father Lalu Yadav Remark Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 09:29 IST Tejashwi Yadav countered that his father, Lalu Yadav, had already been elected as an MLA twice and an MP before Nitish Kumar's rise to power Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav responded to Nitish Kumars made your father Lalu Yadav jab and said he had helped the Bihar chief minister twice to save his post and prevent JDUs disintegration. He also accused Nitish Kumar of distorting facts. Tejashwi Yadav countered that his father, Lalu Yadav, had already been elected as an MLA twice and an MP before Nitish Kumars rise to power. He also reminded Nitish Kumar that Lalu Yadav had played a significant role in making several Prime Ministers. Recommended Stories Yesterday, Nitish Kumar said in the Assembly that he made Lalu Yadav the Chief Minister. Forget about what Nitish Kumar saysBut Nitish Kumar should remember that even before him, my father had already been elected as an MLA twice and once as an MP. Forget about Lalu Yadav, Lalu Ji has made many Prime Ministers. It was me who made him (Nitish Kumar) CM twice and saved his party," said Tejashwi. Lalu Prasad Yadav first became an MLA in 1980 when he was elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from the Sonepur constituency as a candidate of the Janata Party. While Nitish Kumar got elected as an MLA in 1985. The RJD leader also took a jibe at Nitish Kumar, describing him as a tired Chief Minister" surrounded by retired officers. There is a tired Chief Minister with retired officers in the state," he said. He also questioned his narrative of Bihars history before 2005. Tejashwi called Kumar creator of the Universe" and said the world came into existence only after 2005". Yesterday, Nitish Kumar said in the Assembly that he made Lalu Yadav the Chief Minister. Forget about what Nitish Kumar sayshe is the creator of the Universe, and the world came into existence only after 2005," he said while speaking to reporters in Patna. Addressing a rally in Patna, he said, Now we dont want an inefficient government. The retirement age is 60 years. Do you want a 75-year-old chief minister? Now the time has come; we have to take Bihar forward with a new vehicle, not with khatara gaadi" Yesterday, during his speech in the Bihar Assembly, Nitish Kumar asserted that he played a key role" in shaping the political career of Tejashwis father, former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav. What Nitish Kumar Said? Bihar Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a fiery verbal exchange between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday where the former asserted that he is responsible for the political stature of Tejashwis father, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Kumar further invoked the past records of the RJD tenure from 1994 to 2005. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While taking a dig at Yadav in his speech, the Chief Minister said, What was there in Bihar earlier? It was me who made your father what he became. Even the people from your caste were asking me why I was doing this, but I still supported him." We came here on November 24, 2005. I want to say what kind of situation was there at that time. Nobody would go out in the evening. No road was there. I was a minister in the Centre, we had to go to places on foot. There used to be many confrontations in society," he added. About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 09:26 IST Mumbais Linguistic Identity Debate Heats Up After RSS Leaders Comment Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 20:11 IST While Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi maintains that his remarks were taken out of context, the political storm surrounding them shows no signs of settling anytime soon. Senior RSS leader Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi. (PTI file photo) Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi has sparked controversy with his remarks on the Marathi language in Mumbai, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) parties. Joshi initially stated that Mumbai does not have a single dominant language and that people moving to the city are not necessarily required to learn Marathi. Following the political uproar, he issued a clarification, stating that his words had been misunderstood. Speaking at an event in Mumbais Vidyavihar, on Wednesday, Joshi remarked that Mumbai is a multilingual city where different areas have different linguistic influences. He pointed out that in places like Ghatkopar, Gujarati is widely spoken, whereas Girgaon has a stronger Marathi presence. There is no single language of Mumbai. People coming here dont have to learn Marathi," he said. Recommended Stories His comment drew immediate backlash from Opposition leaders, who accused him of undermining the importance of Marathi in Maharashtras capital. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused Joshi of insulting Maharashtra. Marathi is our state language and such a statement amounts to treason. The statement is a treason. He came to Mumbai and said its language is not Marathi. Should the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers tolerate this?" Raut said. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that a sedition case should be filed against the RSS leader for his remarks while adding that this is the hidden agenda of BJP and the RSS. Just as the Chief Minister said in the Legislative Council that Kortkar is a petty man, he should also say that Bhaiyyaji Joshi is a petty man. A case of sedition should be filed against Bhaiyyaji Joshi," Thackeray said. The issue also found its way into the ongoing budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly, where Opposition leaders demanded that Joshi apologise. Responding to the controversy, Joshi clarified that his statement had been misinterpreted. I believe there has been a misunderstanding regarding my statement. Marathi is the language of Maharashtra, and Mumbai is an integral part of the state. There is no debate about that," he said. He emphasised that India is a country where people speaking multiple languages coexist harmoniously. Multilingualism is our strength. People in Mumbai live together despite their linguistic differences. However, we expect that those coming to Mumbai should try to understand, learn, and respect Marathi. It is a culturally rich language, and more people should study it," he added. Despite Joshis clarification, Opposition parties continued to target him, accusing him of downplaying the role of Marathi in Mumbai. Leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) demanded an unconditional apology, asserting that Marathi is central to Mumbais identity and must be respected by all who live in the city. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also weighed in on the controversy, defending Joshi. Bhaiyyaji Joshi has already provided clarification on what he said. I also say the same thingthat in Maharashtra, Marathi is our primary language Marathi should be granted the status of a classical language, and we had even made this demand to Prime Minister Modi. He (Modi) has given Marathi the status of a classical language The opposition members who were putting up posters in another language are now playing politics. This is unfortunate," Shinde said in a statement to ANI. The controversy has reignited the long-standing debate over linguistic identity in Mumbai, a city that has always been a melting pot of cultures and languages. While Joshi maintains that his remarks were taken out of context, the political storm surrounding them shows no signs of settling anytime soon. About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with... Read More Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 20:11 IST Senior RSS Leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi Clarifies Marathi Comment, Says 'Language Of Mumbai Is...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 16:53 IST Senior RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi clarified that his remarks were 'misunderstood' and said that Marathi is indeed the language of Mumbai as well as the entire Maharashtra Senior RSS leader Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi. (PTI file photo) Senior RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Thursday issued a clarification on his remarks on the need to speak the Marathi language in Mumbai which led to an uproar. Speaking at a Ghatkopar event on Wednesday, Joshi said, Mumbai doesnt have a single language. Each part of Mumbai has a different language. Ghatkopar areas language is Gujarati. So if you are residing in Mumbai, it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi." Recommended Stories Issuing a clarification over the remark, Joshi said to ANI, On row over his statement, RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi says, Due to one of my statements, a misunderstanding has occurred. There is no question that the language of Mumbai is not Marathi. The language of Maharashtra is Marathi. Mumbai is in Maharashtra and naturally, the language of Mumbai is Marathi. Different languages are spoken in India. People speaking different languages live in Mumbai as well. So, it is a natural expectation that they should also come here and learn Marathi, understand Marathi and read Marathi." I think that this is a great example of co-existence that people speaking so many different languages in India live together. I think that Mumbai is also an ideal example of this. But there is a natural expectation that a person coming to Mumbai should understand Marathi, speak Marathi, learn Marathi, read Marathi. This is the only expectation. I have nothing more to say than this My mother tongue is Marathi. But I also respect the existence of all languages I request everyone to see it from the same perspective," he added. Opposition Attacks BJP Over Joshis Remarks, CM Says Language Of Mumbai Is Marathi Opposition parties Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) attacked the BJP government over Joshis comments. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused Joshi of insulting Maharashtra. Marathi is our state language and such a statement amounts to treason. The statement is a treason. He came to Mumbai and said its language is not Marathi. Should the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers tolerate this?" Raut said. Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that a sedition case should be filed against the RSS leader for his remarks while adding that this is the hidden agenda of BJP and the RSS. Just as the Chief Minister said in the Legislative Council that Kortkar is a petty man, he should also say that Bhaiyyaji Joshi is a petty man. A case of sedition should be filed against Bhaiyyaji Joshi," Thackeray said. Meanwhile, MLA Aaditya Thackeray said, Whether its Maharashtras language or Mumbais language, it is Marathi. Many people come to our state from different regions, settle here, and bring their dreams with them. They contribute, they grow, and everyone is welcome. But the language of this land, of Mumbai, of Maharashtra, is Marathi. Just as Tamil is the language of Tamil Nadu and Kannada is the language of Karnataka, I want to emphasise that Marathi is the language of Maharashtra" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Reacting to the row, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the Assembly, I havent heard what Bhaiyyaji said, but the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra is Marathi. Everyone should learn Marathi and should speak the language. Marathi is a part of the states culture and identity, and it is the duty of every citizen to learn it." He added that his government respects all languages and said, If you love and respect your language, you do the same for other languages. I am sure Bhaiyyaji will agree with me," he said. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 16:38 IST TMC Doubles Down On Voter Roll Rigging Claims, Plans Strategy Meeting Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 18:23 IST TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee will hold a virtual conference with district presidents and representatives from the partys frontal organisations on 15 March to outline the TMCs stance on the issue. Abhishek Banerjee is expected to chart the roadmap for the TMCs election strategy. (PTI Photo) The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is standing firm on its allegations of electoral roll rigging in West Bengal ahead of next years assembly elections. Party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee will hold a virtual conference (VC) with district presidents and representatives from the partys frontal organisations on 15 March to outline the TMCs stance on the issue, as raised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Abhishek is expected to chart the roadmap for the TMCs election strategy. Mamata Banerjee has formed a core committee to scrutinise the electoral roll in Bengal. This committee, along with district presidents, has already held meetings to devise a strategy for the review process. The Chief Minister has instructed the core committee to submit a detailed report within ten days. Recommended Stories The TMC has made it clear that it will engage with the Election Commission multiple times over this issue. Despite the Election Commissions statement dismissing the allegations as baseless, the TMC remains firm in its stance. On Thursday, a TMC delegation visited the Election Commission, demanding the introduction of a unique identity number for voters and urging the EC to take action on the issue. The party has initiated a door-to-door review of the electoral roll, with leaders like Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim personally scrutinising the lists. Party leaders across districts have been directed to remain on high alert and actively monitor discrepancies. While the TMC is aggressively pursuing its claims, the BJP has countered the allegations, stating that the voter roll issue lacks substance. Instead, the BJP has accused the TMC of allowing infiltrators to become voters. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar also reacted sharply, questioning the TMCs claims. Speaking in Hindi, he said, Who prepares the voter list? The Chief Electoral Officer. Where does he sit? In Kolkata. CM Mamata Banerjee sends three names, of which the EC has to choose one. It cannot choose anyone beyond the three names provided. So why are they blaming others? This is all just drama." TMCs top brass has issued specific guidelines to district leaders to ensure thorough scrutiny, including: Monitoring online additions: Special vigilance will be maintained on names added via online methods. Special vigilance will be maintained on names added via online methods. Tracking duplicate EPIC numbers: A special list will be created for instances where the same number appears on multiple EPIC cards. A special list will be created for instances where the same number appears on multiple EPIC cards. Identifying non-resident voters: A separate list will be compiled of individuals who are not Bengal voters but have somehow been included in the roll. A separate list will be compiled of individuals who are not Bengal voters but have somehow been included in the roll. Investigating wrongful deletions: Extra attention will be given to names that have been removed without justification. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To oversee the electoral roll review at the district level, Abhishek Banerjee and TMC state president Subrata Bakshi have directed the formation of core committees in each district. These district-level committees must submit their lists to the party high command by 14 March. The virtual meeting on 15 March will likely focus on implementing these strategies, signalling the TMCs intent to make this a central issue in next years elections. About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 18:23 IST Tughlaq Out, Vivekananda In: MP Dinesh Sharma's House Nameplate Fuels BJPs Renaming Demand Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2025, 09:24 IST Since the return of BJP to power in Delhi, calls have grown to rename various areas of the city, such as Najafgarh and Mustafabad. BJP MP Dinesh Sharma fuelled these demands on Thursday. BJP MP renames Tughlaq Lane in Delhi (Photo: X/@drdineshbjp) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Dinesh Sharma on Thursday renamed the Tughlaq Lane in the national capital to Swami Vivekananda Marg, a move that coincides with the party legislators demands to rename various areas of the city. This comes as Sharma performed Griha Pravesh in his newly allotted residence at Delhis Tughlaq Lane a name that he overshadowed with Swami Vivekananda Marg" on the nameplate. Recommended Stories Sharma shared the pictures of his Griha Pravesh along with his family members on X, showing the new address as 6Swami Vivekananda Marg (Tughlaq Lane)". BJP MP Changes Name Of Road Today, at the new residence located in New Delhi on Swami Vivekananda Marg (Tughlak Lane), I performed the housewarming ceremony with my family, following all rituals and offering prayers," he posted on X, along with the pictures. However, he did not explicitly mention the name change in his post. His step to highlight Swami Vivekananda Marg" in the nameplate comes amid rising calls by the BJP MLAs to rename several areas of the city. Meanwhile, BJP MP Krishan Pal Gurjar has renamed his residence to Swami Vivekananda Marg, too. Delhi: BJP MP Krishan Pal Gurjar has renamed his residence to Swami Vivekananda Marg," while BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma also changed his residences name to Vivekananda Marg," with Tughlaq Lane" inscribed beneath pic.twitter.com/HWLTiwKbck IANS (@ians_india) March 7, 2025 Notably, Tughlaq Road in the national capital was renamed Abdul Kalam Road in 2015. The decision was taken by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in August that year to honour former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam after his demise. Prior to this, the road was named after Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. However, Tughlaq Lane retained its original name. Name Change Demands Pick Pace In Delhi As the BJP formed its government in Delhi after 27 years, demands have grown to rename several areas in the city. The BJP MLAs have called for the renaming of areas such as Mustafabad and Najafgarh. While Mohan Singh Bisht proposed renaming Mustafad to Shivpuri or Shiv Vihar, Neelam Pahalwan has proposed to rename Najafgarh to Nahargarh. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In the 1857 revolt, Raja Nahar Singh fought and included the Najafgarh region in Delhis territory. Despite several efforts, including through the then MP Parvesh Verma, we tried to change the name of Najafgarh to Nahargarh. I hope you all will support us in this," she said in the Assembly. Calls have also been made several times to rename Akbar Road in the city where the previous Headquarters of the Congress party was located until January this year. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 23:46 IST Uddhav Thackeray Says RSS Leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi Should Be Booked For Treason Over Language Row Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 17:05 IST Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi be booked for treason, after a controversy erupted over the latter's remarks on Marathi language. Uddhav Thackeray said that a treason case should be filed against RSS Leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi over his Marathi remark. (Source: PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi be booked for treason, after a controversy erupted over the latters remarks on Marathi language. Talking to reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex here, the former Maharashtra chief minister also alleged that Joshis remarks reflect the hidden agenda of the RSS and the BJP to divide Mumbai. Recommended Stories At an event in Ghatkopar area here on Wednesday, Joshi said, Mumbai doesnt have a single language. Each part of Mumbai has a different language. Ghatkopar areas language is Gujarati. So if you are residing in Mumbai, it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi." After a strong criticism from the opposition over his remarks, Joshi on Thursday said Marathi is Mumbais language and those coming from outside and speaking other languages should also understand it. Marathi is my native language and I take pride in it," he said, adding his remarks at the Ghatkopar event were misconstrued. Thackeray, while targeting Joshi, said, They have not raised India Pakistan issue (for some time now) but it is batenge toh katenge. Its not just a Marathi vs non-Marathi issue, but also Maratha vs non-Marathas and capture the state." Batenge toh katenge (divided we fall) was the slogan raised by senior BJP leaders during the Maharashtra assembly polls last year. Thackeray dared Joshi to make such statements in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and come back safely. Just because Marathi manoos" is welcoming, does not mean anyone can hit him, he added. The BJP has no regards for Marathi manoos because it knows he is going to vote for them. This is a sadist mentality which has come to the fore. This is a ploy to break Mumbai," the Sena (UBT) leader claimed. He should be booked for treason. I had made a law (in capacity as CM) to make Marathi compulsory in the state. This (his remarks) is against the law," he said. Thackeray said the government should either act against Joshi or accept the sin", a reference to Joshis remarks. He also rejected the governments defence in the House over the issue. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier said in the state assembly that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it. Thackeray said, Mumbai is a metropolis. If you (BJP) want to win it, then do it by doing good work, and not by spreading venom." If those in the BJP have love for their mother tongue, then they should condemn it (Joshis remark)," he added. First Published: March 06, 2025, 17:05 IST 'Who Is Stopping You From Taking PoK?' Omar Abdullah After EAM's Remark; BJP Says 'We Will For Sure' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 21:06 IST Abdullah raised concerns about the broader territorial issue, pointing out that while one part of Jammu and Kashmir is under Pakistan's control, another portion is occupied by China Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah speaks during the Budget session of the J&K Assembly. (PTI photo) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday slammed the BJP-led central government following External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankars comments on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Jaishankar had said that Pakistans withdrawal from PoK would resolve the Kashmir issue. In the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Abdullah responded sharply to Jaishankars comments, asking, Who has stopped them?". Recommended Stories The J&K Chief Minister challenged the government to take action if they are capable of reclaiming PoK. Did we ever stop them? They criticise Congress over Haji Pir Pass, but during the Kargil War they had an opportunity to bring it back, but they couldnt do it. If they can bring it back, they should do it now," he stated. VIDEO | On External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars remarks on PoK, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) said, The External Affairs Minister has said that they (BJP-led central government) will take back (PoK). Who has stopped them? Did we ever stop them? They pic.twitter.com/rwn5y2Ywia Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 6, 2025 Abdullah also raised concerns about the broader territorial issue, pointing out that while one part of Jammu and Kashmir is under Pakistans control, another portion is occupied by China. One portion of Jammu and Kashmir is with Pakistan, but another portion is also with China. Why no one talks about it?," Abdullah asked. What did Jaishankar say? On Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar made the remarks on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at a Q&A session during a speech at the Chatham House think tank in London. The foreign minister claimed that India had made significant progress on Kashmir, with the abrogation of Article 370 being the first step. He also mentioned the restoration of economic growth and social justice in Kashmir and the high turnout of recent elections. However, Jaishankar emphasised that the stolen" part of Kashmir under Pakistani occupation must be returned before the issue could be fully resolved. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation; when that is done, I assure you Kashmir will be solved," he noted. Jaishankars remarks were swiftly rejected by Pakistans Foreign Office. Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan criticised India, stating, Instead of making baseless claims about Azad Jammu and Kashmir, India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation from the last 77 years." BJP Reacts To Omar Abdullah Shortly after J&K CMs remarks, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma slammed Abdullah, questioning why he responded to Jaishankars statement instead of addressing the issues raised by his own MLAs in the assembly. He should have answered the issues raised by his MLAs hereI think Omar sahab has said meaningless things. He should have answered the questions raised by the MLAs of Jammu and Kashmir. He has said meaningless and irrelevant things," Sharma stated. Meanwhile, BJP leader Ajay Alok expressed confidence that both Aksai Chin and PoK would be returned to India under the Modi government. We will surely get it back. Aksai Chin, which is with China, is our part and PoK is also our part, and we will surely get them back. This is Modi government and everything is possible," Alok noted. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ: EAM Jaishankar Says Kashmir Issue Mostly Solved Waiting For Return Of The Stolen Part (With inputs from PTI) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 20:09 IST Apple MacBook Air M4's Exciting Features For Indians: New Blue Colour & Rs 15,000 Cheaper Than... Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 13:42 IST Apple New MacBook Air: In comparison to the rates of MacBook Air M3 models launched last year, the prices of new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models are Rs 15,000 cheaper. New MacBook Air is available in an all-new sky blue. (Credit: apple.com) Powered by the advanced M4 chip, Apples new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models have been launched in India. An interesting feature to look forward is an all-new Sky Blue" colour option. Further, making the laptops more appealing to Indians, the California-headquartered technology giant has priced the new MacBook Air models quite lower than their predecessors. Here Are New MacBook Air Model Prices Recommended Stories The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 starts at Rs 99,900 The 15-inch version is priced at Rs 124,900 In comparison to the rates of MacBook Air M3 models launched last year, the prices of new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models are Rs 15,000 cheaper. The MacBook Air M3 models started at Rs 114,900 for the 13-inch model and Rs 134,900 for the 15-inch version. It also now starts at just $999 (around Rs 86,800) $100 (roughly Rs 8,700) less than before and $899 (around Rs 78,100) for education, making it an incredible value for students, business professionals, or anyone looking for a phenomenal combination of world-class performance, portability, design, and durability," Apple said while addressing the US market. Even though India prices are always higher than the US market, this time the new models have been announced in the Indian market at a much lower price (as mentioned above). Other Interesting Features Of New MacBook Air Models top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A new colour option called Sky Blue. This finish joins the existing colours (midnight, Starlight, and Silver) and features a light metallic blue shade that creates a shifting gradient effect when hit by light. Apple is also providing colour-matched MagSafe charging cables with all models. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 06, 2025, 07:59 IST Did Meghan Markle Mock Mindy Kalings Accent In Her Show? Fans Think So Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 13:24 IST In the second episode of With Love, Meghan, actress Mindy Kaling tried to praise Meghan Markles look, but she was taken aback and thought Mindy mispronounced the word look. Mindy Kaling was invited to the show when she was on maternity leave. {Photo Credit: X) Meghan Markle is making headlines for her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, where she hosts celebrity friends for lunch. In the second episode, actress Mindy Kaling appeared as a guest and complimented Meghans fashion choices. However, their exchange took an unexpected turn when Meghan misinterpreted Mindys words, leading to online debate. During their conversation, Mindy told the Suits star, By the way, Meghan, I want to ask about your look." Distracted while reaching into the refrigerator, Meghan paused and asked, My who?" Mindy repeated, Your look. Meghan. Did I not say it right?" Meghan, seemingly confused, responded, Oh, my lewk?" before jokingly adding, Mindy, youre way cooler than I am. I dont know what youre talking aboutmy lewk. My look? She likes my look?" Mindy then clarified and praised Meghans fashion sense, saying, Your fashion is, like, one of my favourite things." Recommended Stories While the moment appeared lighthearted, some viewers believe Meghan was intentionally mocking Mindys Indian accent, sparking mixed reactions online. The main thing that I found overly offensive was on episode 2 from the With Love Meghan show .. when Meghans MEAN GIRL bully behaviour really came out . She just couldnt help herself . So there is Mindy doing the fawning over Meghan that is so obviously demanded by the script pic.twitter.com/Wrud8C36xb The Hon. Lady E (@witchinateacup) March 4, 2025 Reacting to the post, a user wrote, Seriously I know how shes managed to send people to therapy. I was almost in tears for Mindy and it so triggered me, so racist and uncalled for. The nasty mean girl was on full display." Another shared, Being bilingual is amazing and should be celebrated. Id call Markles bullying conscious bias because she knows damn well what shes doing." Unless you are trying to teach someone, a child, a foreign student of English, it is incredibly rude to correct a persons error. Only a seriously uncouth person would do that, particularly on worldwide TV. That portion should have been cut out in editing," a comment read. An individual shared, I could see Meghan was looking at the camera and encouraging others to laugh." Another mentioned, Very inappropriate comment. Normal people wouldnt make fun of a person like this. To do it on film just shows me what a BULLY she is." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One more added, From what Ive seen and read she was rude to Mindy all through her guest appearance. I hope Mindy or her friends see that now while watching because you dont necessarily feel it in the moment." In an interview with Time, Mindy Kaling revealed that Meghan Markle invited her to appear on With Love, Meghan while she was on maternity leave with her daughter. Meghan reached out, offering her a visit to Montecito for a meal. Mindy found the timing perfect, as she was looking for a moment of relaxation. She described the experience as a pleasant outing, and upon leaving, Meghan gifted her a basket filled with fresh food items, including homemade jam and hot sauce. Mindy appreciated the thoughtful gesture, noting that Meghan understood she needed a small break. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 13:24 IST Fact Check: Who Really Left Pattaya In A Mess? The Truth Might Surprise You Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 18:43 IST While some men were seen sleeping on bedsheets and towels spread out on the sand, others had bottles of alcohol out in public. The people in the video were migrant workers from neighbouring countries. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Pattaya is one of Thailands most popular tourist sites, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Travelling brings people, cultures, and traditions closer, but it also brings the responsibility of mutual respect and decent behaviour. In a recent viral incident, a few tourists, presumably Indians, were seen setting a bad example and tarnishing the nations image by behaving inappropriately. The incident, filmed on a beach in Pattaya, shows groups of men spread out across the beach. While some of them were seen sleeping on bedsheets and towels spread out on the sand, others had bottles of alcohol out in public. Not just this, the beach had litter strewn aroundfrom discarded snack packets to cans of beer. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thai Explore Life (@thaiexplorelife) Soon after the clip went viral, there was widespread anger among both residents and the international tourist community. Many voiced concerns that such actions could tarnish the tourism industry in Thailand, while others slammed the civic sense of Indians. The Instagram video has racked up nearly 8 million views till now. I am Indian, and some of our people dont deserve passports. There should be a civic sense exam before handing people passports," commented a user. Another added, As a fellow Indian. I feel extremely ashamed and very sad watching this. This kinda behaviour should be punishable." This is a destruction of the tourism industry in Thailand," echoed a few. An individual said, Im in Pattaya now. Visiting from California, and I can confirm this. I thought I was in New Delhi." However, some viewers were more circumspect, and they questioned the person filming the video if he had any proof that the people were Indians. You asked each one sitting there if they are Indian? How did you come up with this broad conclusion? Id like to know," questioned another. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all An Instagram user wrote, Not every brown man is an Indian." President of the Chonburi Indian Association, Dr Deo Kumar Singh, further investigated the incident and revealed that the individuals in the video were not Indian tourists. They were migrant workers from neighbouring countries who used the beach as a temporary camp while transporting workers. The workers camped overnight and departed for Bangkok the next morning, Pattaya Mail reported. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 18:43 IST Missing Boy From Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries Found Alive After 7 Years Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 19:08 IST Abdul Aziz Khan, 14, went missing when he was 7 years old. Aziz went missing in 2017. (Photo Credits: X) For seven long years, Abdul Aziz Khan was just a name on missing person reports, a face on a poster, a mystery that haunted his loved ones. And then, in the most unexpected way, he was found. It all started with what seemed like an ordinary trespassing call in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriffs Office responded, expecting to handle a routine complaint. But what they discovered was anything but routine. In that moment, a case that had stretched across years and multiple states finally cracked wide open. Aziz, now 14, had reportedly been missing since 2017. He was just a little boy when he vanished from Atlanta, Georgia, taken by his non-custodial mother, Rabia Khalid. For years, his father, Abdul, had fought tirelessly to find him. Now, thanks to sharp-eyed officers and a stroke of luck, the nightmare was over. Recommended Stories Were overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found. We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. Now, as we navigate the next steps, we ask for privacy so that we can move forward as a family and heal together," his family said in a statement, as per Fox News. Back in 2017, Khalid, then 40, was in the middle of a bitter custody battle with Abdul. She had moved from New Orleans to Atlanta for work, but over time, she made it increasingly difficult for him to see his son. Despite the 400-mile distance, Abdul never gave up. I made my whole work schedule around Aziz," he shared with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). But when Khalid realised she was on the verge of losing custody, she made a drastic move. Instead of attending a scheduled court hearing on November 27, 2017, she disappeared. Alongside her new husband, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, she packed up and fled with Aziz, leaving Abdul to search for answers. Azizs case had gained national attention, even appearing in Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries." As described by the OTT platform, the long-running series features real cases of perplexing disappearances, shocking murders and paranormal encounters. Authorities pursued leads across 11 states, but the trail remained cold. That is, until February 23, when Douglas County deputies responded to reports of a burglary at a vacant home. When they arrived, they found two adults loitering nearby and two children inside a vehicle parked in the driveway. The adults initially claimed they were connected to the realtor, but their story didnt hold up for long. Soon, their true identities were revealed. One of them was Khalid, wanted on an active kidnapping warrant. The other, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, her husband and accomplice. Our deputies responded to what seemed like a routine trespass call, but through sharp attention to detail and tenacity, they uncovered the truth. Their ability to recognise the discrepancies in the suspects story and to follow the leads, even when the situation seemed unclear, ultimately led to the safe recovery of a child who had been missing for seven long years," Sheriff Darren Weekly explained to Fox News. Khalid and Bourgeois now face a series of charges, including Second-Degree Kidnapping, Forgery, Identity Theft, Providing False Information to Authorities and Trespassing. Their bonds have been set at $1 million each and they are set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on March 27. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, Aziz and another child, whose identity remains undisclosed, have been placed into protective custody. Sheriff Weekly described meeting Azizs family as an emotional experience. This family has a long road ahead of them. We will walk with them step by step as they navigate this journey. We hope they find healing and hope in the days, weeks, months and even years ahead of them," he said. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the full story. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 19:08 IST This CEO Once Fired A Star Employee Over An Off Attitude, Says Past Performance Isnt An Excuse Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 15:25 IST A California-based founder and CEO let go of a high-performing employee solely because their attitude felt off, despite their strong track record. The California-based CEO asked his LinkedIn connections whether they would let go of a high performer who had lost their edge or keep them. A CEO of a California-based startup took to LinkedIn to admit that he once sacked an employee not because they underperformed or lacked skills but their attitude was off". Mina Elias, the founder and CEO of Trivium Group, let go of their star employee because they lost their edge". Elias explained that while the employee continued to deliver results and had a strong skillset, their impact had started to shrink. Despite their past success, Elias believed that clinging to someone just because they were once great is a mistake.. Recommended Stories The numbers were there, but the attitude was off. The skills were strong, but the drive was fading. The impact was shrinking, and so was the ROI," Elias explained, adding, Keeping someone just because they were great once is bad leadership." Read| Boss Gets Furious After Employee Denies Working On Weekend: What Kind Of F*****g Response Is This? He also asked people on LinkedIn if they would ever fire a stellar performer. The CEOs post started a heated discussion on social media, with many feeling bad for the stellar performer. Some even thinks that the CEO is a bully". If that guy had skills, and you fired him, you gave him a chance to get better package for his skills and respect for his work elsewhere, he got nothing to loose, while you have lost a skilled employeee because of your made up rules, that is assuming you really did fire, and not just ramble for karma. Also, if he is losing FIRE that he has once before, maybe your business is not something that would inspire the FIRE. Maybe the problem is your business or workplace which exhausted that FIRE," wrote one social media user. Also Read| Software Developer Returning To India After 9 Years In US Struggles To Find Job: Need To Support My Ageing Parents Another added, Interesting perspective, Mina Elias. I agree that growth requires tough decisions, but I also believe true leadership lies in keeping high performers engaged and challenged, rather than seeing firing as the easiest way out. Before letting someone go, could there be opportunities to rekindle their drive through new challenges, mentorship, or addressing potential burnout? Sometimes, a shift in role or responsibilities can reignite that fire and restore their impact. Of course, if the misalignment is irreparable, difficult decisions may be necessary, but Id advocate for exhausting all avenues to retain and reinvigorate talent. What have you seen success in turning around a fading high performer?" To this, the CEO replied, Keeping high performers engaged and challenged is critical. Before taking any drastic steps, its always worth exploring ways to reignite that drive, whether through new responsibilities, mentorship, or addressing burnout. Ive seen success in shifting roles or giving people the opportunity to lead new projects. Sometimes, that fresh challenge brings a whole new level of energy. But at times, the misalignment runs deeper, and a change becomes unavoidable. Im curious to hear about your experiences with turning things around in those situations!" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Maybe they needed a higher pay, did you talk with them and ask why they were unsatisfied?" expressed a third. A fourth posted, Youre not a leader more of a bully. Leaders help people grow, bullies expect top performance without knowing where it comes from. Youre not ready kid." About the Author Arfa Javaid Arfa Javaid, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, keeps her finger on the social media pulse, covering all things trending and viral. She also covers human interest stories. A Delhi University alumna, Arfa also hol... Read More Arfa Javaid, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, keeps her finger on the social media pulse, covering all things trending and viral. She also covers human interest stories. A Delhi University alumna, Arfa also hol... Read More News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 06, 2025, 15:25 IST Why Not Us? Woman Skips Sister's Wedding After She Sponsors In-Laws' Family Trip To Dubai Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 17:45 IST The bride requested her family, including her sister, to cover their airfare and other expenditures to attend the wedding. The bride took a loan of Rs 14 lakh. {Photo Credit: Instagram) Weddings can be costly, but sometimes the expenses spiral beyond expectations. Recently, a woman reportedly skipped her sisters extravagant destination wedding after discovering that her sister had lied to secure a loan to cover the grooms familys expenses. The bride had asked her relatives, including her sister, to pay for their airfare and other costs to attend the celebration. Sharing the entire experience with the Reddit site, the social media user discussed her dilemma regarding her younger sister Katies wedding in Dubai. Her twenty-eight-year-old sister was getting married to Chris in a grand four-day ceremony. Recommended Stories While expressing her joy at her sisters wedding, the Reddit user described how her sister obtained a $17,000 (Rs 14 lakh) family loan to fund the grooms family trip. Katie borrowed money from her family without informing them of the reason for the loan. The user wrote, 6 months ago, Chris and Katie came to us and asked to borrow 17k more. They stressed it would be a loan paid over time and said the venue had increased the price, Dubai law was different blah blah blah they paid this money or they lost the lot we believed them and I offered to loan 7k and my parents the other 10k." She continued, I later found out from someone else that the 17k wasnt for the venueit was actually for Chris familys travel expenses. They saw the cost, didnt want to pay, and ultimately refused to go. When I asked Katie, she confirmed it. My first question was if they were covering the cost for his parents, why not ours?" top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In her post, the user also mentioned that while they were asked to stay in a small hotel, the grooms family was provided with a luxury stay, including accommodations for his parents, two brothers, and nephew. She pointed out that the grooms family is financially well off, whereas her sister earns significantly less in comparison. The user stated, My parents are aware and are very disappointed they lied but have said theyre still attending but I have backed out." She stated that it appears like her parents are being taken advantage of and are completely against the lie to cover up the entire situation. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 06, 2025, 16:59 IST 2 Indian Nationals, Both Kerala Natives, Executed In UAE For Murders; Centre Informs Families Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 15:17 IST The MEA said the duo were executed after the highest court in the UAE, the Court of Cassation, upheld the sentences. The two Indian nationals were convicted in separate murder cases. (Image: Representative) Two Indian nationals were executed in UAE in separate murder cases after they were convicted, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. The nationals sentenced to death have been identified as Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil. Both are residents of Kerala. Recommended Stories The MEA said the duo were executed after the highest court in the UAE, the Court of Cassation, upheld the sentences, India Today reported. It has been learnt that Muhammed Rinash was convicted of the murder of an Emirati national, while Muraleedharan was sentenced for killing an Indian. The UAE notified the Indian Embassy of the executions on February 28. According to the MEA, the embassy sent appeals for pardons and mercy to the UAE government, among other consular and legal support, to the Indian citizens. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The MEA informed that the families of the concerned individuals have been informed. The Embassy is also in touch with them and facilitating their participation in the last rites. In February this year, a 33-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh was executed in the UAE for allegedly killing a four-month-old child under her care in December 2022. She was employed as a caregiver in Abu Dhabi when the child died after receiving routine vaccinations, and Shahzadi was accused of causing the death. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : United Arab Emirates (UAE) First Published: March 06, 2025, 15:13 IST Tahawwur Rana, 26/11 Mumbai Attack Accused, Tries To Stall His Extradition From US: 'I'll Be Tortured' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 15:21 IST US President Donald Trump confirmed Rana's extradition to India during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House, saying he will "face justice". 26/11 terror attack alleged mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has appealed his extradition to India, citing health risks and torture in the country. Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian citizen, was convicted in the US for supporting the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and is wanted in India for his alleged role in facilitating the Mumbai attacks that killed over 174 people. His extradition has been a long-pending demand from India. Recommended Stories However, US President Donald Trump confirmed Ranas extradition to India during a press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House last month. Tahawwur Rana will be going back to India, where he will face justice," he said. PM Modi also expressed gratitude to Trump for taking the step. However, Rana has now moved to the US Supreme Court in a last-ditch effort to stall his extradition, citing the risks of being tortured in India. He also cited his religion, Pakistani origins and human rights report to block his transfer. Rana said he was a walking time bomb" with numerous problems, including a bulging artery, Parkinsons disease and possible cancer. I will be tortured on the highest order since I am a Muslim of Pakistan origin," he said. ALSO READ: Explained: Who Is Tahawwur Rana? What Was His Role In The 26/11 Attacks? India Prepares For Ranas Extradition After Trumps announcement, government sources said he could be brought to India in a matter of few weeks. Our jails are ready for RanaWe kept Ajmal Kasab, so this is not a security threat," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Once brought to India, Rana is expected to be produced in a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, after which the NIA will seek his custody for questioning. The extradition is being touted as a big success for Indian agencies and the government. I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters (Tahawwur Rana) and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India," Trump said during the press conference with Modi. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump also said that he and Modi will fight the threat emanating from radical Islam. We agree that solid action must be taken to eliminate terrorism that originates on the other side of the border," PM Modi said, taking a jibe at Pakistan which funds terrorist groups to create instability in India and adjoining countries, without directly referring to it. Rana was inducted in October 2009. He was convicted for providing logistical support for a foiled attack in Denmark but was acquitted of terrorism activities in India. The district court sentenced Rana to 14 years imprisonment. Terrorist David Headley also testified against Rana in court. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 15:01 IST Did Elon Musk Offer To Bring Astronauts Back From Space? Sunita Williams's Starliner Colleague Says... Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 10:08 IST Elon Musk had earlier claimed that the Biden administration had turned down his offer to rescue the stranded astronauts back home "for political reasons". Butch Wilmore (L) and Sunita Williams (R) addressing a news conference. (AP) One of the NASA astronauts stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months has seemingly confirmed tech billionaire Elon Musks claims that former US President Joe Biden had rejected his offer to bring the astronauts back home. Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams were expected to be gone just a week or so when they launched last June aboard Boeings new Starliner capsule, but technical issues forced their extended stay at the space station. They are expected to return via SpaceXs Crew Dragon later this month. Recommended Stories During an orbital news conference, Wilmore and Williams addressed questions about political involvement in their space mission. When asked about whether Elon Musks claims that the Biden administration refused his offer to help return the two astronauts home for political reasons", Wilmore said, I can only say that Mr Musk, what he says is absolutely factual". However, Wilmore said the astronauts did not have any information on the offer made by Musk. We have no information on that, though whatsoever. What was offered, what was not offered, who it was offered to, how that processes went. Thats information that we simply dont have," he said. NEW: Astronaut says Elon Musk is absolutely factual" after a WaPo reporter asked him about how Musk said his rescue efforts were denied for political reasons.Musk was condemned by the media for making the comment but it appears the astronauts agree. Reporter: Elon Musk has pic.twitter.com/Qeb8sF8gnT Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 6, 2025 What Did Elon Musk Say? US President Donald Trump and his close ally Elon Musk had previously said that the two NASA astronauts were left stranded at the ISS by the previous Joe Biden administration for political reasons". In an exclusive interview with Fox News last month, Trump said, Joe Biden was going to leave stranded NASA astronauts, including Sunita Williams, in space, to which, Elon Musk was quick to add that the reason was political". At the Presidents request, or instruction, we are accelerating the return of the astronauts, which was postponed, kind of, to a ridiculous degree," Elon Musk said on being asked about the return of the two astronauts. Yes, they were left up there for political reasons, which is not good." Taking to X, Musk said, The real issue is that they did not want positive press for someone who supported Trump. Thats it. End of story." Following Donald Trump and Elon Musks January claims that the two astronauts were left high and dry by the prior administration, the duo had said that they were not stranded, nor have been abandoned" at the ISS. In January, Musk said Trump had asked SpaceX to step in to rescue them. The POTUS has asked SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the Space Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long," Musk wrote in an X post. The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so.Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2025 Politics Played No Role In Extended Stay: Wilmore In an earlier question, Wilmore said politics did not play any role in the crews extended stay in space. I can tell you at the outset, all of us have the utmost respect for Mr Musk and obviously, respect and admiration for our president of the United States, Donald Trump," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The words theyve said, politics, I mean, thats part of life. We understand that. And theres an important reason why we have a political system and the political system that we do have, and were behind it 100%," he added. From my standpoint, politics is not playing into this at all. We came up prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short. Thats what we do in human space flight." In another recent post on X, Musk said the station should be brought down earlier: It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the @Space_Station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Lets go to Mars." Williams disagreed with the view, saying, Were actually in our prime right now". About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 09:15 IST 'Release Hostages Or You're Dead': Trump Issues 'Last Warning' To Hamas After Direct Talks Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 07:21 IST The White House confirmed that it was negotiating directly with Hamas and "Israel was consulted on this matter", as both sides disagree over the future of a fragile truce in Gaza. US President Donald Trump said he would send Israel "everything it needs to finish the job". (Reuters Image) US President Donald Trump issued a last warning" to Hamas after Washington held secret talks with the Palestinian militant group, demanding the release of all hostages amid disagreements over the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Trumps statement came hours after the White House confirmed that it was negotiating directly with the group with the involvement of Israel, in a move contrary to the US tradition of not speaking to groups it considers terrorist organisations. Recommended Stories Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!" Trump said in a statement. Trump said he would give Israel everything it needs to finish the job" and that not a single Hamas member will be safe" if the group does not comply with the orders of the US President. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!" he added. Shalom Hamas means Hello and Goodbye You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am pic.twitter.com/88EjVAyWAe President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 5, 2025 Notably, the United States has designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization since 1997, and as part of its policy, it does not engage in negotiations with these entities though with the exception of the Taliban, with whom both the Obama and Trump administrations negotiated. ALSO READ: US Holds Secret Talks With Hamas In Doha On Gaza Hostages; White House Says Israel Was Consulted US Talks With Hamas The White House confirmed on Wednesday that a US envoy spoke directly with Hamas to secure American hostages. Israel was consulted on this matter, and look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people is something that the President" believes is right, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. US special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler has been holding direct talks with Hamas in recent weeks in Doha, a source told Reuters. The source said the talks have focused on gaining the release of American hostages still held in Gaza, but also have included discussions about a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and how to reach a long-term truce. Earlier this week, Israel approved a US proposal to extend a truce temporarily during Ramadan and Passover in Gaza. However, Hamas has time and again rejected the extension of the first phase and insisted on moving to the second stage of the truce. Israel has demanded complete de-militarisation" of Gaza before the second phase of the truce, involving the exile of Hamas and the Palestinian Jihad, a demand Trump has endorsed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Israel had suspended all humanitarian aid and supplies to Gaza until Hamas accepted its demands on the ceasefire deal, prompting concerns from Egypt, Britain, France and Germany. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the agreement, calling its decision to halt humanitarian aid cheap blackmail" and a war crime". Hamas still holds 59 hostages in Gaza after the return of four bodies last week. Of the 59, 24 are thought to be alive, according to Israeli authorities. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 07:04 IST Trump Suspends Almost All Mexico Tariffs Until April 2, Cites Positive Relationship Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2025, 07:36 IST Donald Trump has announced to suspend most of the tariffs on Mexico until April 2, following talks with his Mexican counterpart. US President Donald Trump | Reuters Image US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he was putting on hold sweeping tariffs that he recently imposed on Mexican imports after a conversation with his Mexican counterpart, Claudia Sheinbaum. He cited their positive relationship as the reason behind his move and said that he was lifting tariffs on most products from Mexico for four weeks as fears loom for a trade war among the neighbouring countries. Recommended Stories The US President said that, for now, fresh tariffs would not apply to trade that comes under a pact between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement. This Agreement is until April 2," Trump said. I did this as an accommodation and out of respect for President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sheinbaum hailed Trumps decision after a phone call between the two leaders. We will continue to work together, particularly on migration and security issues," Sheinbaum wrote on social media after what she called an excellent and respectful" phone call with Trump. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 22:28 IST Donald Trump To Revoke Legal Status of Ukrainians Who Fled to US After Russia's Invasion: Report Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 19:29 IST U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is planning to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, a senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter said, potentially putting them on a fasttrack to deportation. US President Donald Trump with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky | AP Image U.S. President Donald Trumps administration is planning to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, a senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter said, potentially putting them on a fast-track to deportation. The move, expected as soon as April, would be a stunning reversal of the welcome Ukrainians received under President Joe Bidens administration. Recommended Stories The planned rollback of protections for Ukrainians was underway before Trump publicly feuded with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week. It is part of a broader Trump administration effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants allowed to enter the U.S. under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched under the Biden administration, the sources said. U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the department had no announcements at this time. The White House and Ukrainian embassy did not respond to requests for comment. A Trump executive order issued on January 20 called for DHS to terminate all categorical parole programs." The administration plans to revoke parole for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as soon as this month, the Trump official and one of the sources familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The plan to revoke parole for those nationalities was first reported by CBS News. Migrants stripped of their parole status could face fast-track deportation proceedings, according to an internal ICE email seen by Reuters. Immigrants who cross the border illegally can be put into the fast-track deportation process known as expedited removal, for two years after they enter. But for those who entered through legal ports of entry without being officially admitted" to the U.S. as with those on parole there is no time limit on their rapid removal, the email said. The Biden programs were part of a broader effort to create temporary legal pathways to deter illegal immigration and provide humanitarian relief. In addition to the 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, and the 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, these programs covered more than 70,000 Afghans escaping the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. An additional 1 million migrants scheduled a time to cross at a legal border crossing via an app known as CBP One. Thousands more had access to smaller programs, including family reunification parole for certain people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Trump as a candidate pledged to end the Biden programs, saying they went beyond the bounds of U.S. law. The Trump administration last month paused processing immigration-related applications for people who entered the U.S. under certain Biden parole programs placing Ukrainian Liana Avetisian, her husband and her 14-year-old daughter, in limbo. Avetisian, who worked in real estate in Ukraine, now assembles windows while her husband works construction. The family fled Kyiv in May 2023, eventually buying a house in the small city of DeWitt, Iowa. Their parole and work permits expire in May. They say they spent about $4,000 in filing fees to renew their parole and to try to apply for another program known as Temporary Protected Status. Avetisian has started getting headaches as she worries about their situation, she said. We dont know what to do," she said. WANING WELCOME U.S. allies from Afghanistan who entered under Biden have also been swept up in Trumps crackdown. Rafi, a former Afghan intelligence officer who asked to be identified only by his first name to protect family members still in Afghanistan, entered the U.S. legally in January 2024 using the CBP One mobile app at the U.S.-Mexico border. He was given a temporary humanitarian parole status that allowed him to live and work in the United States for two years. On February 13, just over a year into that status, he was detained at a check-in appointment at an ICE office in Chantilly, Virginia. His status was revoked. In Afghanistan, Rafi was trained by American officers and provided intelligence on High Value Targets", according to an October 2022 recommendation letter. As a result of his active efforts against the enemy, he is currently in extreme danger, and in need of assistance in departing the country," the former CIA officer who trained him wrote. The officer described Rafi as truly one of the most dedicated and hardworking individuals I had the honor to serve with in Afghanistan." Reuters reviewed the letter but was not able to reach the officer. In the United States, Rafi applied for asylum and was scheduled for a hearing before an immigration judge in April. At his February ICE check in one of the conditions for his temporary status he was asked to remove his belt and shoelaces, he said. He knew immediately what was happening, he said, and still, he asked: Are you arresting me? I have broken no law." Rafi said he felt betrayed. When someone stands shoulder to shoulder with American troops and puts his life in danger" he said in a phone call from detention, his voice shaking. I wasnt expecting this behavior from them. I wasnt expecting it." On February 24, his lawyer wrote to ICE asking them to release her client, noting his lack of a criminal record, that he was not a flight risk and had an active asylum case related to his work supporting the U.S. military in Afghanistan. James Mullan, the assistant field office director at ICEs Washington field office responded that ICE was declining to release him. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The priorities that you mentioned in your email ended on January 20, 2025," Mullan wrote, referring to the date of Trumps inauguration. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 19:29 IST After Thanking Islamabad, Trump May Issue Travel Ban Barring Pakistanis From Entering US Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 13:11 IST Trump's new ban may bar people from Pakistan and Afghanistan from entering the US based on a government review of countries' national security. Pakistan is grappling with violent terrorist attacks. US President Donald Trump | Reuters Image US President Donald Trump is likely to issue a travel ban order that could deter people from Pakistan and Afghanistan from entering the United States by next week based on a government review of countries security and vetting risks, according to people familiar with the matter. The move is reminiscent of Trumps ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries during his first term, a contentious policy that was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 before it was overturned by Joe Biden. That ban included the countries of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Recommended Stories Other countries could also be on the travel ban list, three sources told Reuters, but they did not know which ones. It could affect tens and thousands of Afghans who were earlier cleared of resettlement in the US as refugees or on Special Immigrant Visas due to the risk of persecution by the Taliban for working for the US. Trumps Note Of Thanks Of Pakistan Notably, this move came after the US President mentioned Pakistan in his address to the joint Congress in Capitol Hill. Trump had thanked Pakistan for aiding the extradition of Mohammad Sharifullah, who was allegedly involved in the planning of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing during the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, that killed 13 troops and 170 Afghans. ALSO READ: In Big Shout-Out To Kash Patel, Trump Underlines FBI Feat In Afghan Terrorists Extradition I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity. And he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice," Trump said. I want to thank, especially, the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster. This was a very momentous day for those 13 families who I actually got to know very well, most of them, whose children were murdered, and the many people that were so badly, over 42 people so badly injured on that fateful day in Afghanistan," he added. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif also extended gratitude towards the US for acknowledging Islamabads efforts in arresting the Afghan terrorist involved in planning the deadly 2021 suicide attack at the Kabul airport. Pakistan acted on CIA intelligence that led to the arrest of Sharifullah, as per reports. We thank US President Donald Trump for acknowledging and appreciating Pakistans role and support in counter-terrorism efforts across the region, in the context of Pakistan Security Forces recent apprehension of ISKPs top tier operational commander Shareefullah, who is an Afghanistan National," he said on X. Impact Of Trumps Travel Ban Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the US to detect national security threats. That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 12 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their vetting and screening information is so deficient." Afghanistan will be included in the recommended list of countries for a complete travel ban, said the three sources and one other. Pakistan would also be recommended for inclusion, said the three sources. Pakistan is currently grappling with violent Islamist militants. Earlier this week, six security personnel were killed in twin suicide bombings at a military base in northwestern Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack was carried out inside an army cantonment in the Bannu area. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Pakistan and Afghanistan forces also regularly exchange fire, often sparked by disagreements over construction near the Durand line, a 2,400-kilometre (1,500-mile) frontier drawn by the British in 1896 and disputed by Kabul. (with inputs from agencies) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 12:40 IST France Says Post-War Gaza Plan Must 'Completely Exclude Hamas From Governing' Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 23:30 IST Arab leaders on Tuesday endorsed a plan that would finance Gaza's reconstruction through a trust fund, and would see the return of the Palestinian Authority to the territory A Palestinian flag flutters amid the ruins of buildings in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. (AFP photo) France Thursday welcomed an Arab plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority, adding Islamist militant group Hamas should be entirely" excluded from running the territory. The proposal from Arab leaders constitutes a serious and credible basis to respond to reconstruction, governance and security needs after the Gaza war," French foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said. Recommended Stories But the plan must entirely exclude Hamas from governing Gaza, where it must be disarmed and give Israel serious security guarantees." Arab leaders on Tuesday endorsed a plan that would finance Gazas reconstruction through a trust fund, and would see the return of the Palestinian Authority to the territory. The PA had previously governed Gaza before losing power there in 2007 to Hamas. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Palestinians, Arab states and many European governments have rejected another proposal from US President Donal Trump for the United States to control Gaza, opposing any efforts to expel its people. Trump sparked global outrage last month by suggesting the United States take over" the Gaza Strip and turn it into the Riviera of the Middle East", while forcing its Palestinian inhabitants to relocate to Egypt or Jordan. Location : Paris, France First Published: March 06, 2025, 23:29 IST India Summons UK Diplomat After EAM Jaishankars Security Breach In London Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 20:24 IST India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned UK Charge D Affaires Christina Scott after EAM Jaishankar's security was breached by pro-Khalistan supporters in London. Pro-Khalistan supporters heckled External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar outside Chatham House in London. (Reuters Image) Indias Ministry of External Affairs summoned UK Charge D Affaires Christina Scott on Thursday after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars security was breached by pro-Khalistan supporters while he was leaving in a car after participating in an event at the Chatham House think tank in London. Hours before, the United Kingdom strongly condemned the breach of security of EAM Jaishankar. Recommended Stories Reacting to the incident, the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said, We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside the Chatham House yesterday during the External Affairs Ministers visit to the UK. While the UK upholds the right to peaceful protest, any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly to address the situation, and we remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations." Earlier, India also condemned the attempt made by Khalistani protesters to heckle EAM Jaishankar when he was leaving the Chatham House think tank in London. India stated that it condemned the provocative activities" and deplored the misuse of democratic freedoms by the separatists". We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations," said a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. A protest was organised by pro-Khalistan supporters outside the venue. In the video, a man was seen approaching the foreign affairs ministers vehicle and tearing Indias national flag amid the presence of London police officers. The police officers appeared unresponsive to the act of vandalism. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Before the incident, various pro-Khalistan supporters were holding the flags and protesting outside the venue. Currently, EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland from March 4 to 9. The visit is aimed at further strengthening Indias diplomatic ties with the two. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 19:13 IST 'We Condemn Provocative Activities': India's Strong Message To UK As Khalistanis Heckle Jaishankar Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 12:09 IST S Jaishankar In London news: Several pro-Khalistan supporters held flags and protested outside the venue in London where Jaishankar participated in a discussion. Khalistani extremists hold protests in London. (Screengrab/ANI) India has condemned the attempt of Khalistani extremists to heckle External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar as he was leaving in a car after attending an event at the Chatham House think tank in London. India said it condemned the provocative activities" and deplored the misuse of democratic freedoms by the separatists". Pro-Khalistan supporters organised a protest outside the venue. A video circulating online shows a man approaching Jaishankars vehicle and tearing the Indian national flag in front of London police officers, who appeared to remain unresponsive to the act of vandalism. Recommended Stories : Khalistani goons attempt to heckle Indias External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar in London while he was leaving in a car. A man can be seen trying to run towards him, tearing the Indian national flag in front of cops. Police seem helpless, as if ordered to not act. pic.twitter.com/zSYrqDgBRx THE SQUADRON (@THE_SQUADR0N) March 5, 2025 Several pro-Khalistan supporters held flags and protested outside the venue where External Affairs Minister Jaishankar participated in a discussion. #WATCH | London, UK | Pro-Khalistan supporters staged a protest outside the venue where EAM Dr S Jaishankar participated in a discussion held by Chatham House pic.twitter.com/ISVMZa3DdT ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025 Jaishankar is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland from March 4 to 9 to further strengthen Indias diplomatic ties with both nations. According to a Ministry of External Affairs statement, India and the UK have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has deepened across multiple sectors such as defence, trade, health, education, and people-to-people relations. MEA Reacts A Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said, We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all During Rishi Sunaks Tenure 95k Was Allotted To Tackle Separatists Sources have revealed that during Rishi Sunaks tenure as the UK Prime Minister, a new funding of 95k to deal with pro-Khalistani extremism was released. The UK Security Minister had announced the funds to enhance capabilities. Sources said that a Joint Extremism Task Force exists between the two countries. UK has said the security of the Indian High Commission in London and its staff are of utmost importance to the UK government. About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: March 06, 2025, 08:12 IST Macron Says Europe Must Be Ready To Defend Ukraine Without US: 'Our Future Can't Be Decided In Washington' Published By : Reuters Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 05:27 IST French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Europe must be ready to defend Ukraine independently, without relying on US support under Trump administration. French President Emmanuel Macron during his prime-time address. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said he was willing to discuss offering European allies the protection of Frances nuclear capabilities, adding that Russia represented a genuine threat to the continents security with U.S. military support no longer guaranteed. Below are some of the key quotes from his prime time address to the nation. Recommended Stories RUSSIAN THREAT Overall, our prosperity and security have become more uncertain. It must be said that we are entering a new era." Russia has already made the Ukrainian conflict a global conflict. It has mobilised North Korean soldiers and Iranian equipment on our continent, while helping these countries to arm themselves more." President Putins Russia violates our borders to assassinate opponents, manipulates elections in Romania and Moldova, and organises cyber attacks on our hospitals to block their operation. Russia is trying to manipulate our opinions with lies spread on social networks. And deep down, it is testing our limits. It does it in the air, at sea, in space and behind our screens." Who can believe, in this context, that Russia will stop at Ukraine? Russia has become, as I speak to you and for years to come, a threat to France and Europe." Faced with this world of danger, remaining a spectator would be madness. It is a question, without further delay, of making decisions for Ukraine, for the security of the French, for the security of Europeans." END OF US SUPPORT? I want to believe that the United States will stand by us. But we have to be ready if that is not the case." Given the Russian threat that I have just described, European states must be able to defend themselves better and deter any aggression We must equip ourselves better, raise our defence posture, and this for peace, even to deter. In this respect, we remain committed to NATO and our partnership with the United States of America. But we must do more. Strengthen our independence in defence and security matters." The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow. And yes, the threat is returning to the East and the innocence, so to speak, of the last 30 years, since the fall of the Berlin Wall, is now over." RAMPING UP FRENCH DEFENCE PREPARATION I have asked the government to be mobilised so that, on the one hand, it strengthens our armies as quickly as possible. And on the other hand, it accelerates reindustrialization in all our regions. And I will gather with the competent ministers and the industrialists of the sector in the coming days." We will have to make new budgetary choices and additional investments that have now become essential. I have asked the government to work on this as quickly as possible. These will be new investments that require mobility, to mobilize private financing, but also public financing, without taxes being increased. For this, reforms, choices, and courage will be needed." DEBATE ON SHARING FRENCH NUCLEAR UMBRELLA Responding to the historic call of the future German Chancellor, I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our (nuclear) deterrence. Whatever happens, the decision has always been and will remain in the hands of the President of the Republic, head of the armed forces." IMPACT OF TARIFFS (U.S. President Donald Trumps tariffs) decision, incomprehensible both for the American economy and for ours, will have consequences It increases the difficulty of the moment, but it will not go without a response from us. So, while preparing the response with our European colleagues, we will continue to do everything to convince that this decision would harm us all. And I hope, yes, to convince and dissuade the President of the United States of America." EUROPES FUTURE Tomorrows solutions cannot be yesterdays habits." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Europe has the economic strength, the power and the talent to live up to this era and to compare ourselves to the United States of America, let alone Russia. We have the means. So we must act united as Europeans and determined to protect ourselves." Our generation will no longer receive the dividends of peace. It is up to us to ensure that our children reap the dividends of our commitments tomorrow." About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More First Published: March 06, 2025, 05:27 IST Not Just Russia, US 'Destroying' World Order, Says Ukraine's UK Ambassador Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 23:00 IST Trump's rapprochement with Moscow has stunned allies, and fears are growing in Ukraine and Europe that he is trying to force Kyiv to accept a peace deal largely favourable to Moscow Valery Zaluzhny became Kyiv's ambassador to the UK in 2024 after three years as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's army. (AFP file photo) The United States is destroying" the established world order as it tears up its stance on Russias invasion of Ukraine, Kyivs ambassador to the UK said on Thursday. Valery Zaluzhny, who became ambassador in 2024 after three years as commander-in-chief of Ukraines army, said the US was now trying to meet Russia halfway" and Moscows next target could be Europe." Recommended Stories It came as European Union leaders started crisis talks in Brussels on confronting US President Donald Trumps pivot away from Kyiv and its allies. Since an explosive meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, Washington has suspended military aid and intelligence sharing that have helped Ukraine fight off Russias invasion. Trumps rapprochement with Moscow has stunned allies, and fears are growing in Ukraine and Europe that he is trying to force Kyiv to accept a peace deal largely favourable to Moscow. We see that it is not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order but the US is finally destroying this order," Zaluzhny told a conference at the Chatham House think tank. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Talks between the US and Russia showed the White House makes steps towards the Kremlin, trying to meet them halfway", he said. He added that the suspension of intelligence sharing and an earlier US decision to oppose a United Nations resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine were a huge challenge for the entire world". Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: March 06, 2025, 21:24 IST Russian Missile Attack On Zelenskyy's Hometown Kills 3 Amid Talks To End War Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 13:57 IST Moscow has kept up its bombardment of Ukraine even as rhetoric builds in Washington and Moscow on potential talks to halt the more than three-year war. Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AP Image) A Russian missile strike on a hotel in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown overnight killed three people and injured 31 with about half of them in serious condition, authorities said Thursday. Moscow has kept up its bombardment of Ukraine even as rhetoric builds in Washington and Moscow on potential talks to halt the more than three-year war. Recommended Stories Three people died in Kryvy Rig due to the night missile attack Sincere condolences to the relatives," said Sergiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk region. There are 31 injured 14 are in serious condition." In addition to the hotel, 14 apartment buildings, a post office, almost two dozen cars, a cultural institution, and 12 shops were damaged, authorities said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Officials later said a security guard was killed when a warehouse was struck in Sumy, further north. Kryvyi Rig lies about 70 kilometres (43 miles) northwest of the front line and was home to more than 600,000 people before the war. Location : Kyiv, Ukraine First Published: March 06, 2025, 13:57 IST Teen Genius Rejected By 16 US Colleges Despite Google Job Offer At 13, Sues For Racial Bias Curated By : Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 10:53 IST Stanley Zhong, 19, is a tech genius who is among only 2,000 students in the US with an SAT score of over 1590 and even has his own startup. He received a full-time job offer from Google at 13. Stanley Zhong, 19, received a full-time job offer at Google at the age of 13. (Photo: X) A teenage genius, who received outstanding grades and was offered a PhD-level" job at Google before graduating from high school, was rejected by at least 16 universities, prompting him to take legal action against alleged discrimination as an Asian-American. Stanley Zhong, now 19, has an enviable academic record. He is among only 2,000 students in high school who scored 1590 or higher on the SAT of more than 2 million students who take the test every year. His high school GPA was 4.42 on a 4.0 scale and a had a job offer at the mere age of 13. Recommended Stories The teenager had also managed his own startup an e-document signature platform called Rabbit-Sign in high school. The teenager was expected to study in prestigious universities like Harvard or MIT. However, shock and disappointment struck the Zhong family in 2023 when Stanley was rejected by a slew of colleges such as the Cornell University, MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCLA, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, UCSD, UCSB, the University of Illinois, the University of Michigan, the University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin according to the New York Post. Stanley was only accepted by the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Maryland, which have 31% and 44% admission rates, leaving Stanleys father, Nan Zhong, in astonishment. Why Has Stanley Taken Legal Action? Stanley and his father, an immigrant from China and a software engineer, have filed a lawsuit against the University of California system and the University of Washington, alleging that the schools engaged in racially discriminatory admissions practices that disadvantage highly qualified Asian-American applicants". I did hear that Asians seem to be facing a higher bar when it comes to college admissions, but I thought maybe its an urban legend," Nan told The Post. ut then when the rejections rolled in one after another, I was dumbfounded. What started with surprise turned into frustration and then finally it turned into anger." The shocking rejections convinced the Zhongs that the whiz kid was being discriminated against, and they decided to take the schools to court, calling it un-American". The lawsuit mentions Stanleys full-time job offer at Google and says his experience is emblematic of a broader pattern of racial discrimination against highly qualified Asian-American applicants at UC." They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages and such other and further relief as (the) court deems just and proper." The family also recently filed another suit against the University of Michigan, which the court clerk is processing. The Zhongs decided to sue colleges located in states that had pre-existing laws prohibiting racial discrimination in admissions. The US Supreme Court outlawed affirmative action in college admissions in June 2023, finding that Asian students were systemically overlooked in the admissions process. Colleges Respond To Stanleys Lawsuit Meanwhile, the University of Washington responded to the lawsuit, defending its admissions process. The UW stands behind its admissions process, and we have long recognized that our capacity is limited and we are not able to admit some very talented and capable applicants. We are reviewing the lawsuit," Victor Balta of the university told The Post. A representative for the University of Michigan said it had not yet received the lawsuit. Nan also said that he was very much concerned" over the career prospects of his other 16-year-old son. Were doing this for other Asian kids, including my younger kid and my future grandkids," he added. Notably, Stanley has been working as a full-time software engineer for Google since October. He was first offered the job at the 13 due to his advanced coding, which made Google think he must be an adult. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Several colleges in the US have been accused of exploiting loopholes to manipulate racial demographics of incoming classes in spite of the Supreme Courts ruling, often artificially suppressing Asian American numbers. Affirmative action in college admissions has been banned at public universities in California since 1996. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 10:53 IST Trump Administration Suspends Military Flights For Deportations Due To High Costs: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 14:19 IST The military flights used for deportations turned out to be a costly affair for the United States. Detained migrants to boarding a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. (Reuters) The Trump administration has ceased transporting illegally arrived migrants to Guantanamo Bay or other nations using military aircraft, defence officials informed. According to The Wall Street Journal, military planes part of Trumps plan to deport illegal immigrants back to their countries of origin or to a military installation in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have proven to be costly and ineffective. Recommended Stories Soon after Trump took over the presidential office in January, he made deporting illegal immigrants back to their countries of origin his top priority. However, military transport turned out to be a costly affair for civilian deportation flights, despite its initial goal of supporting the administrations strong posture. According to reports, the last such flight took place on March 1. A scheduled flight for Thursday was canceled, and officials verified that no other flights were planned for the next 48 hours. Although this delay might be brief, officials indicated that it might turn into a long-term policy shift. Flight-tracking data revealed that the administration conducted approximately 30 deportation flights using C-17 aircraft and around a dozen using C-130 planes. These flights transported migrants to countries such as India, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, and Panama, in addition to Guantanamo Bay. However, military deportations proved significantly more expensive than conventional deportation flights operated by the Department of Homeland Security, The Wall Street Journal reported. Diplomatic Challenges Costs were further increased by operational limitations. Due to their avoidance of Mexican airspace, military aircraft flew longer distances and for longer periods of time. Furthermore, a number of Latin American countries, including Mexico, refused to allow US military deportation planes to land. In fact, some nations dispatched their own planes or made arrangements for deported people to return on commercial flights. A diplomatic stalemate resulted from Colombias initial refusal to accept deportation flights on US military aircraft. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Following threats of tariffs from President Donald Trump, the White House declared that Colombia has consented to take deportees without any conditions. Since then, though, the Colombian government has chosen to use its planes for repatriations, and no US military flights have touched down in Colombia. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 14:18 IST US House Speaker's Top Aide Arrested For Allegedly Driving Into Capitol Vehicle While Drunk After Trump's Speech Published By : Associated Press Last Updated: March 06, 2025, 04:56 IST Hayden Haynes was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence and later released. US House Speaker Mike Johnson. [Courtesy: Facebook] The chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing into a police vehicle following US President Donald Trumps address to Congress. Hayden Haynes was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence and later released. Recommended Stories In a statement, U.S. Capitol Police said Haynes had backed into a parked vehicle" shortly before midnight. Officers responded to the scene and the driver was arrested, the statement said. The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police," Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee said. The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress. Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office." Haynes is a longtime, trusted aide to Johnson a Louisiana Republican and has served as the speakers chief of staff since Johnson took on the role in 2023. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Haynes didnt immediately respond to a message seeking comment and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. NBC News first reported details of the arrest. About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 04:56 IST Woman Strips Naked Mid-Flight For 30 Minutes, Forces Plane To Turn Back Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 07, 2025, 12:05 IST The female passenger stripped naked on a Southwest flight and walked up and down the aisle for 25 minutes before she was detained. Southwest Airlines issued an apology over the incident of a female passenger stripping naked mid-flight. (Source: X/@scoopofscandal) A female passenger stripped naked and walked up and down the aisle for 25 minutes on a Southwest flight, forcing the plane to return to its gate. The plane had taken off from William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and was headed to Phoenix on Monday. The woman got up in the middle of a flight and stripped naked in front of the shocked passengers, The Daily Mail reported. Recommended Stories According to fellow passenger Macy Estevez, the woman paraded for almost half an hour before she was detained by the authorities. NEW: Woman takes off all her clothes on a Southwest plane in Houston, demands to be let off.The woman reportedly ran around the plane for 25 minutes before action was taken" according to ABC 7. After nearly half an hour, the plane finally made it back to the gate before the pic.twitter.com/U0F0l4HEJJ Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 7, 2025 The woman was taken away to carry out her medical evaluations by the Houston Police Department. Southwest Airlines issued a statement over the incident and apologised to passengers for the disruption in their flight. Local law enforcement met Flight 733 from Houston to Phoenix Monday afternoon after it returned to the gate because of a customer situation onboard," read the statement. Weve reached out to customers to apologize for the delay and appreciate their patience as our teams worked to get them to their destinations as quickly as possible," it added. As per reports, the woman was asking to be let off the plane and had even claimed that she was bipolar. According to the passengers, the woman also tried to enter the cockpit before the authorities detained her. Speaking to the outlet, a passenger said, She turned around facing us and stripped all of her clothes off." In one of the videos, the woman was seen screaming wait, wait, wait" before she started running down the aisle. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all And she then proceeded to make her way back towards the front of the plane and started banging on the cockpit doors, asking to be let in and she was screaming. When it first happened, it was really scary," said the passenger. One of the witnesses said that she was surprised by the time that authorities took to intervene. Very weird that nobody kind of intervened," said the witness. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 06, 2025, 21:58 IST When Floyd Stokes founded the Amani Festival in Carlisle in 1994, he envisioned a multicultural festival that celebrates diversity. After 10 years of chairing the festival, he stepped away in pursuit of other passions. Now, Stokes is back at the helm to map out Amani 2025 with the same vision. This years event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 29 at the Carlisle Expo Center at 100 K St. Amani veterans will notice some similarities and differences this year compared to previous festivals. One difference is the timing. When it began, Amani was traditionally held the first weekend of May, a time Stokes strategically selected in the hopes of kicking off Carlisles outdoor festivals and drawing in Dickinson College students before summer break. However, with regular springtime scheduling, he said weather often played a factor. At some point while having a festival we thought about ... embracing the rain and calling it the rain festival, Stokes said. Another change: location. The Amani Festival began as a street festival in downtown Carlisle, however this years event will take place indoors. This prevents weather from delaying or canceling festivities, Stokes said, adding that vendors often plan their event schedules in advance and rely on the income, so they need to know the event is going to happen. Even with an earlier-than-usual date and an indoor setup, visitors to this years event can expect several Amani Festival staples. Childrens alley will be back, offering crafts and activities. Children are the future, and we want to teach them diversity, and Im going to say acceptance of others, and expose them to different cultures, so that its not a shock, Stokes said. All young folks need that right, that learning opportunity in a nonthreatening environment. While the performers have changed over the years, he said this years festival will feature a variety of performances from dancing to music. These include drummer Wes Watkins, McGinley School of Irish Dance, Rasika School of Dance and more. Stokes said dance workshops will also be held at the event, and art contest entries from local students will be on display. As of early March, more than 50 vendors had signed up to participate in this years festival, selling food, treats and other merchandise. Amanis history The Amani Festival debuted in Carlisle more than three decades ago. Stokes, an Army veteran, was stationed at the Carlisle Barracks in the late 80s and early 90s. After his military service, he opened a music company in downtown Carlisle in 1991. Now that Ive made Carlisle my home, its time to give back, Stokes said. So I started being on different boards and nonprofits, youth sports, youth tutoring kind of stuff. He introduced the Amani Festival to celebrate the blend of cultures coming to Carlisle, from Dickinson College students to U.S. Army War College families. Amani is the Swahili word for peace. I didnt wanted to call it a simple Peace Festival, Stokes said. I wanted to use different language because its a multicultural festival, so I wanted to use a word from a different language to describe what I want to do. In 2000, he transitioned from his music business to a new endeavor, founding the American Literacy Corp., a nonprofit dedicated to promoting reading for kids. Stokes moved to Harrisburg in 2002 and found himself less in touch with Carlisles movers and shakers. In 2004, he passed the Amani festival to co-chair Eliseo Rosario to focus on the corporation. If Amani Festival founder doesnt ring a bell with the name Floyd Stokes, perhaps his other title might: Super Reader. Through the organization, he began dressing up as a superhero to read to children, traveling to all 50 states to do so. Stokes wrote his first childrens book in 2008, retired Super Reader two years later and went on to write more than 30 childrens books. Righting the ship However, recent years brought postponements and other challenges to the Amani Festival, which had changed hands since Rosarios lead. Stokes returned to the festivals leadership late last year, Rosario alongside him. It was a couple of missteps that led the festival off track recently, he said, citing planning that wasnt solid, dwindling committee membership and weather as recent struggles. To right the ship, to get it back on track, I was asked to come in and do that, Stokes said. After re-taking the reins, he and Rosario held a smaller Amani Latino Festival in October as a trial run before this years festival. Stokes hopes to pass the festivals leadership off to someone new, though either he or Rosario plan to remain part of the effort to keep things on track. We definitely want to turn it over to the younger generation also, to allow them to also put their little stamp on it, he said. With a 50-plus vendor lineup for this months event, Stokes already considers this years Amani Festival a success and said hes happy with the direction its going. My idea of success is to have ... Id say a few hundred people would come to the festival this year he said. Because its not about quantity, its about quality, that whoever comes to the festival, that they have a good time, that we do our part and continue to build a strong foundation so that we can have a good program and have a meaningful festival. While the Government appreciates the role of the Church in nation-building and even criticising some of its policies, it says it is difficult to digest the latest Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) pastoral letter which focuses on matters that are either dead and buried, such as the Presidential term extension or that are being dealt with like the issue of over taxation. This follows the publication of a pastoral letter by Catholic bishops which spoke inter-alia about the debate on the Presidential term extension, issues of taxation, the death penalty, and the debt overhang. In response to the bishops yesterday, Presidential Spokesperson, Mr George Charamba, who is also the Deputy Chief Secretary (Presidential Communications) in the Office of the President and Cabinet, said Government appreciates the church speaking strongly on issues that are afflicting the country, but it is somewhat concerned by the selective conclusions and generalisations that the Catholic Church made. The bishops raised the issue of the debate around the Presidential term of office. Whilst this is really within their remit to proffer views and ideas on the matter, what Government found a bit disturbing is the fact that the Bishops conference is pronouncing itself on a matter which is in fact dead and buried. The President, some two or so weeks ago, met with editors and made it very clear and in plain language that he has no intention whatsoever of pushing for an extension of his term beyond what is constitutionally provided for. It is therefore rather surprising that the eminent bishops decided to revisit what in fact is now a closed matter. When the party or any citizens express a desire to change the Constitution to accommodate an extra term for the President, that wish does not and cannot close the matter. The nominee for that extension has to want to have that term extended, isnt it? This is why we talk about what we call an acceptance speech or a statement. The President has made it clear that he has no intention of accepting that proposal which is coming from the party and from society. And once the nominee has turned down the proposal, then it means the debate on the matter, whilst it may continue in society, cannot have any serious executive implication, in which case one does not expect the Holy fathers and Bishops to continue to harp on a matter which in fact stands closed, said Mr Charamba. Apart from focusing on a matter that President Mnangagwa considers closed, Mr Charamba also said the Bishops are focusing on the issue of taxes which Government is seized with addressing. Secondly, we also could not understand why, especially after the inaugural Cabinet meeting statement by the President, why the issue of the burden of taxation, which is receiving attention from Government, why it continues to exercise the minds of the Bishops. If the statement by the President at the commencement of the 2025 Cabinet Year did not bring comfort to the Bishops, one wonders what would. I think it is very important that far from raising a matter which is already receiving executive attention, it would actually be a lot more helpful if the bishops can actually take the message of hope to society that indeed something is being done by way of rationalising our tax system to lighten the burden on the citizen, he said. The ongoing tax reforms, added Mr Charamba, cannot be done overnight for that has serious implications on the economy as a whole. You want to make sure that you are very deliberate and calculated in the way you reform the tax system so that you do not affect the revenue streams which are so needful when it comes to public investments and social development. We are talking about lives here. We are talking about key basic services which cannot be dispensed with and which have to be funded from the revenues that come from the tax structure that we have in the country. So really our message to the bishops is to please bear with us, bear with Government as it reforms the tax structure with the ultimate objective of lightening the burden on the citizenry which is in fact the goal that we are all working towards. Yes, that also holds with respect to institutional reforms. I think all institutions remain candidates for reforms if we are going to run institutions that are a living tissue for the common good. Herald Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa has raised the ire of fellow spiritual leaders after he challenged them to prophesy what will be in his pocket on Sunday for a reward of US$1 million. While several religious leaders have accepted the challenge, several others have viewed Makandiwas challenge as an attention-seeking stunt. They said Makandiwa should not play with God. Leader of Johanne The Fifth of Africa, Andby Makururu, who claims to have millions followers in Zimbabwe and abroad, said Makandiwas stunt was anti-Christ. I dont want to talk about such issues because they are making a fool out of God, Makururu said. This is anti-Christ. People should not do this. Chitungwiza-based clergyman Miracle Paul questioned the logic behind the US$1 million bet outside attention seeking. This is not how Gods work operates, Paul said. If he wants that, I also challenge him to come to a neutral venue and be part of the challenge. We find independent people, who bring bags and we tell them what is inside. Controversial preacher Passion Java challenged Makandiwa to heal people living with disabilities if he is a true prophet. On Saturday, Mr Makandiwa, I will bring a person with mobility impairment. If you manage to make them walk, I will give you US$10 million, Java said. Traditional healer Arnold Mulambo (Sekuru Gachidza) said modern-day self-styled prophets were pretenders, who went underground for spiritual initiation. Newsday The runaway killer couple, who skipped the border in 2023 after allegedly murdering a four-year-old niece, will now face justice in Zimbabwe two years after the crime was committed. The couple will be extradited before end of March after their extradition papers were signed. John Zvivi and Lister Sibanda have been on the run for allegedly killing the daughter of Listers sister. They were arrested in Bram Fischerbille, Johannesburg, with the assistance of businessman Moreboys Munetsi and Thomas Nhundu before they were taken to court where they have been applying against extradition. Since 2023, the couple was evading arrest. The development comes after the South Africas Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi signed their extradition papers on Tuesday. Following their arrest, they engaged a lawyer to avoid extradition to Zimbabwe. Last year, a magistrate in SA considered that the court had found out that the respondents, John and Lister, were liable to be surrendered to the foreign state concerned, in this case Zimbabwe. That there is sufficient evidence against the respondents which warrants their prosecution in the Republic of Zimbabwe for the offence as set out in the formal extradition documentation. The Respondents are liable to be surrendered to the Republic of Zimbabwe for the crime set out in the formal extradition documentation. The Respondents are ordered to be committed to prison to await the decision of the Minister of Justice with regarding to their surrender to the Republic of Zimbabwe in terms of Section 11 of the Extradition Act 67 of 1962 The Respondents are informed that they may, within 15 days, appeal against this order to the High Court, the judgment from the South African court read. However, Lawyer Moreboys Munetsi said the couple will now face murder charges in Zimbabwe. John Zvivi and Alista Sibanda will be extradited to Zimbabwe to face charges of murder. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi signed their extradition papers yesterday. Interpol will hand them to ZRP at Beitbridge before the 30th of March 2025. They reportedly killed baby Princess two years ago and threw body in a dam then fled to SA. I helped the arrested and Thomas Nhundu, he said. Munetsi further said that the accused are in the custody of Interpol South Africa. They will be taken to Beitbridge, so that they will be extracted before March 30. Every paperwork is ready, they will be taken from the prison where they are, and they will be handed to ZRP. They will appear in court under a normal certain time, but the greatest concern is that, that the child hasnt been buried, in Zimbabwe. There are no postmortem results and now they need to prove. In the absence of postmortem, I am not sure how the court is going to deal with this issue. I am also not sure if that can be a concern, if the accused are back in Zimbabwe, what evidence are they going to provide. The doctor must testify and give evidence since the child was found in water, he said. The pairs children have been under the care of Social Welfare officials in South Africa. Allegations are that the couple committed the offence in Zvivi homestead, Vantage Area, in Zvimba. After allegedly killing the child, they stashed her body in a sack before dumping it in a river before fleeing the country. It is alleged that Princess was beaten to death. The deceaseds mother, Nomsa, left her two daughters in the couples custody while she worked as a maid in South Africa. The couple allegedly subjected the two children to extreme levels of abuse, brutalising them with electrical cables and a walking stick. It is alleged that the couple brutalised the four-year-old niece to death, stuffed her body in a sack, and dumped it in a stream near a bridge in Kuwadzana Extension. H Metro Russia's propaganda machine has for years had plenty of fodder to work with as far as the US is concerned. We've been "egoistic," a "puppeteer" trying to act as the "master across the ocean" in its telling. But as the New York Times reports, there's been "some head-spinning changes" in the way Russia characterizes the US in just the last month. It's now Europe that's the bugbear, and the paper points to a Sunday interview given by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovhistorically not one to mince words when it comes to the USas evidence. "Colonization, wars, crusaders, the Crimean War, Napoleon, World War I, Hitler," Lavrov said, detailing the problems Europe has heaped upon the world. "If we look at history in retrospect, the Americans did not play any instigating, let alone incendiary, role," he added. The Times details the turning points: President Trump and Vladimir Putin's Feb. 12 call; the US siding with Russia when the UN General Assembly condemned Russia for the war in Ukraine on Feb. 24; and President Zelensky's Oval Office "slap down." Russians aren't exactly swallowing the new stance unquestioned: A reporter on Russian state TV on Sunday asked a Kremlin rep about the about-face, considering "a couple of months ago we were publicly saying that we were almost enemies." The reply of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: "This, indeed, couldn't have been imagined," he said. The Washington Post quotes him as explaining, "The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations. This largely aligns with our vision." US officials have been holding direct talks with Hamas about the release of hostages held in Gaza, negotiations that have included the possibilities of extending the ceasefire and ending the war. Talks have focused on the militant group freeing several American-Israeli dual citizens who were taken hostage in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that started the Israel-Hamas war, NPR reports. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Wednesday that the talks are taking place in Doha, Qatar, per France 24 a break from US policy to not negotiate with groups it has designated as terrorists. President Trump's nominee as special envoy for hostage affairs, has met with Hamas representatives. Adam Boehler "does have the authority to talk to anyone," Leavitt said, adding that Israel had been consulted on the matter. Israel's public response was that it had "stated its opinion" to the US on the negotiations. Israeli officials count about 24 living hostages in Gaza, along with the remains of at least 35 others. One of the hostages still alive is believed to be US citizen Edan Alexander. It's the first time the US and Hamas have engaged in direct talks, per Axios. After Leavitt's confirmation, and after meeting with eight freed hostages at the White House, Trump posted a "last warning" to Hamas on Truth Social. "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is over for you," Trump said, per the AP. The Trump administration moved to drop an Idaho emergency abortion case on Wednesday in one of its first moves on the issue since President Trump began his second term. The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which was originally filed by the Biden administration, and allow Idaho to fully enforce its abortion ban even during emergency situations. Doctors said the ban could force them to airlift women to other states to get standard critical care without the risk of running afoul of the law. The Biden administration argued that emergency room doctors must provide terminations if necessary to stabilize pregnant women in Idaho, which has one of the country's most restrictive abortion bans, the AP reports. The case could have nationwide implications, since the Democratic administration had given similar guidance to hospitals nationwide in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning the right to abortion. It's being challenged in other Republican states. In Idaho, the state argued that its law does allow life-saving abortions and that the Biden administration wrongly sought to expand the exceptions with an incorrect interpretation of federal law. Idaho doctors, meanwhile, say it's often unclear in fast-moving emergencies whether pregnancy complications could ultimately prove fatal. The Supreme Court stepped into the Idaho case last year. It ultimately handed down a narrow ruling that allowed hospitals to keep making determinations about emergency pregnancy terminations but left key legal questions unresolved. The case went before the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in December. Those judges have not yet ruled. Idaho is still blocked, for now, from enforcing the ban, Reuters reports. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday in a separate lawsuit filed by a Boise-based hospital system. St. Luke's Health System sought the order after it learned that the administration would be dismissing the other case. House Speaker Mike Johnson's chief of staff was arrested Tuesday night after President Trump's address to Congress and charged with driving under the influence. Hayden Haynes was cited and released to appear in court after backing into a parked vehicle at the Capitol shortly before midnight, NBC News reports. Trump had finished speaking about 45 minutes earlier, per Politico . Johnson, who sat behind Trump in the House chamber, told reporters on Wednesday that Haynes is "trusted and respected, and he has my full faith and confidence to lead." Hayden Haynes, 35, worked for other politicians in Louisiana before joining Johnson's staff in 2017, according to his LinkedIn page. "The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress," a statement from Johnson's office said. The DC attorney general's office handles drunken driving cases in Washington, per the Washington Post, which means Trump administration officials won't be involved in Haynes' prosecution. Capitol Police said release after such an arrest is standard procedure. South Korean and US troops will soon commence their annual joint military exercises. The exercises, named "Freedom Shield," will occur from Monday to March 20. They aim to enhance military readiness against North Korean threats. The drills will include responses to challenges like North Korea's increasing military partnership with Russia. North Korea views such exercises as invasion rehearsals and often reacts with missile tests. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, recently accused the US of becoming more confrontational and said Pyongyang might increase measures aimed at "threatening the security of the enemy at the strategic level." Observers suggest North Korea might test-fire missiles capable of striking the US mainland and American bases in the region. President Trump, after his January 20 inauguration, expressed interest in negotiating with Kim Jong Un. They had met three times in 2018 and 2019. Their discussions on nuclear disarmament stalled when Trump rejected an offer to dismantle a major nuclear complex for sanctions relief. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) The US Justice Department has charged 12 Chinese nationals, including hackers and law enforcement officers, for global cybercrime. The charges were announced Wednesday. Wu Haibo, founder of the private hacking firm I-Soon, is accused of overseeing hacking targeting dissidents and US entities. Other targets included the Defense Intelligence Agency and a research university. The Chinese government paid between $10,000 and $75,000 for each hacked email inbox. Liu Pengyu of the Chinese Embassy called the allegations a "smear," saying, "We hope that relevant parties will adopt a professional and responsible attitude and base their characterization of cyber incidents on sufficient evidence rather than groundless speculation and accusations." A seventh inmate has died at Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. Damien Evans, aged 23, was found dead on Tuesday. He was serving a seven-year prison sentence for armed robbery and two years for bail jumping. The death follows the charge of former warden Randall Hepp and eight staff members with misconduct and felony inmate abuse in 2023. Seven inmates have died at Waupun since June 2023. Causes of death include suicide, a fentanyl overdose, and other health issues. Jay Adkins, 66, died in May and Christopher McDonald, 57, died in August. McDonald's death is being investigated as a suicide. Cameron Williams and Donald Maier were among previous inmate deaths leading to staff charges. The prison faces a class-action lawsuit from inmates alleging mistreatment and inadequate healthcare. The prison is also under federal investigation for a smuggling ring involving staff. Governor Tony Evers has proposed a $500 million reform plan for state prisons. The plan suggests converting Waupun to a medium-security facility focused on job training. Waupun Correctional Institution, built in the 1850s, has faced bipartisan calls for closure due to its condition. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) A South Korean fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during training on Thursday, injuring eight people, officials said. The MK-82 bombs "abnormally" released by the KF-16 fighter jet fell outside a firing range, causing civilian damages, the air force said in a statement. The air force said it will establish a committee to investigate why the accident happened and examine the scale of civilian damages, the AP reports. It said the fighter jet was taking part in the air force's joint live-firing drills with the army. The air force apologized for the incident and expressed hopes for a speedy recovery of the injured people. It said it will actively offer compensation and take other necessary steps. The accident happened in Pocheon, a city close to the heavily armed border with North Korea. Pocheon's disaster response center said that six civilians and two soldiers were injured and they were receiving treatments at hospitals. Center officials said the conditions of four of the injured were serious and that they are all civilians. They said two of the seriously injured are foreignersone Thai and one Myanmar. Three houses were partially damaged, as well as a Catholic church and a greenhouse, but they did not appear to have been directly hit by the bombs, according to the Pocheon center. Prosecutors have released disturbing details in a murder they described last month as " beyond depraved ." Prosecutors say children were forced to take part in acts of torture that caused the death of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota who was held captive in a room in an upstate New York motel for a month. The details were disclosed in an indictment charging seven people with first-degree murder, among other crimes, the New York Times reports. The indictment says the children were 7 and 12 years. The seven defendants were previously charged with second-degree murder. One of them, Precious Arzuaga, has been charged with coercing the children to take part in the torture. The indictment says the torture included sexual assault and forced consumption of feces. NBC News reports that Ontario County Assistant DA Kelly Wolford became visibly upset Wednesday as she told reporters the indictment describes "just a portion" of Nordquist's ordeal. "It's just what we know now," she said. Wolford acknowledged that people would wonder why the murder of the transgender Black man was not being treated as a hate crime, the Times reports. "A hate crime would make this charge about Sam's gender and about Sam's race, and it's so much bigger," she said, noting that first-degree murder charges are rare in New York. "To limit this to a hate crime would be an injustice to Sam." "Sam was beaten, assaulted, sexually abused, starved, held captive and we cannot make sense of that," Wolford said, per CNN. "We cannot put that on his gender, and we cannot put that on his race. And I know many will ask the question: Why? Well, as I stand here today as a human being, we'll never know the answer why." She said Nordqust was treated "like a dog." Nordquist's mother has said he left Minnesota for New York in September to meet Arzuaga after becoming romantically involved with her online. She said last month that she requested two wellness checks and her son might still be alive if police had "done their jobs." Nordquist's body was found in a field on Feb. 12. The 2025 Newsweek Readers Choice Awards contest for Best Free Museum ranked U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Middlesex Township among ranked in the top 10. The center was one of 20 nominees selected for public voting by Newsweek editors and a panel of travel experts, and it ended up as No. 10 on the list that also includes the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg in seventh place. The St. Louis Science Center in Missouri received the most votes followed closely by the Baltimore Museum of Art in Maryland. This level of national recognition is a game changer for us, said Julie Germany, president of the Army Heritage Center Foundation, which supports the Army Heritage Center through development, fundraising and promotional outreach. Im not shocked, she said. All it takes is one visit to understand why it is so special. I have spent a lot of time over the course of the last few months talking with tour operators, bus tour groups, reunion groups and school groups from around the country. They get excited when they hear about USAHEC for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that it is free and open to the public, she said. There is plenty of parking. There is no hassle getting here. The second reason is the experience. The centers campus includes the mile-long Army Heritage Trail with exhibits that trace the history of the American soldier from the French and Indian War to the global war on terrorism. The main building features the Soldier Experience Gallery. Inside is one of the few places where you can see the lives and stories of individual soldiers play out before your eyes, Germany said. You can see how Army history is really American history. Making the Newsweek top 10 proves that the center is succeeding in its mission of connecting the story of the American soldier with the American public, Germany said. The list can serve as a leverage to draw more visitors from outside the region to Carlisle and Cumberland County to shop, dine and stay overnight, she said. I am delighted, said Kate Lemay, the centers director. We have an incredible opportunity. We are kind of like the best kept secret in the museum world. We really need to get knowledge of our collection, our talented staff and what we do here out to a wider public. The Army Heritage Center is affiliated with the nearby U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, which trains senior military and civilian leaders. We have two main audiences one being the general public, the other being the U.S. military and the professional development of its officers, Lemay said. USAHEC is the singular resource for understanding strategic land power and current events through the study of the Armys past. Word of the Newsweek listing comes as the center is developing a new brand in collaboration with the public affairs office of the War College. We have a fresh new look that we are going to be launching quite soon, Lemay said. We are capturing our audience and engaging with them in the moment. This honor is really going to help us get that reputation outside of our already known audiences. Aaron Jumper is communications manager for the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corp., which operates the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau. For us, as a destination, we are trying to reach people for that three-day weekend, Jumper said. We want people from outside the area, within a three-to-four-hour drive to make the Cumberland Valley their weekend getaway. Visitors are looking for experiences that are not going to break their wallet, he said. USAHEC is a great low-cost option we always recommend to people. There is no entrance fee. Already, the Army Heritage Trail has a knack for drawing attention to the broader campus. Visible from Interstate 81, the trail includes a helicopter and vehicles. Its incredibly easy to get to, Jumper said. Its just off the turnpike and I-81, a half-hour from Amtrak and less than 45 minutes from HIA (Harrisburg International Airport). Having the center on the Newsweek list will drive tourism to Carlisle and the Cumberland Valley, Jumper said. It will affect local hotels, restaurants and shops, he said. The center is planning events tied to the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army in June. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com Calls for a fund to fix Bahrains ageing neighbourhoods have picked up steam, with MPs warning that years of patchy maintenance and sluggish upgrades have left many areas in a sorry state. Their proposal, which seeks government backing alongside private investment, won the support of the Southern Municipal Council yesterday but not all councils are on board. MPs Hamad Al Doy, Mohammed Mousa, and Hassan Ebrahim have proposed setting up an independent board to manage funding and prioritise areas most in need. Comprising officials, community groups, and businesses, the board would rely on field studies to determine where upgrades should begin. Feedback Parliaments Public Utilities and Environment Committee had requested feedback from municipal councils across the country regarding the proposed fund. However, responses have been mixed. The Southern Municipal Council welcomed the plan, with chairman Abdullah Ibrahim AbdulLatif stressing the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to accelerate work. This has been running for 18 years, yet demand keeps growing. Getting businesses involved would speed up the work and help more people, he said. Government cash Councillor Hamad Al Zaabi echoed this, arguing that relying solely on government cash would not get the job done. Real progress comes when businesses, communities, and authorities work together. It cant all be left to the state, he said. The council will now seek talks with the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture to explore funding options. Yet, on Monday, the Muharraq Municipal Council rejected the proposal after a split vote, with members warning it would shift responsibility from the government to private donors. Charitable contribution Councillor Fadhel Al Oud argued that approving the fund would make the public reliant on charitable contributions. The government has already told Parliament it cannot establish such a fund. Once private donations dry up, promised developments may never materialise, he said. His concerns reflect wider worries about sustainability, with critics fearing that once the fund is depleted, the government will refuse to step in. The push to fix old neighbourhoods is not new. Home repairs and renovations Since 2006, the Urban and Rural Development Project has carried out more than 12,000 home repairs and renovations, including adding rain barriers. AbdulLatif noted that the work has strong backing from the top. His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister have always supported this programme, knowing how much it helps low-income families, he said. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com A proposal to set up a pharmaceutical manufacturing zone has been forwarded to Parliament, aiming to secure Bahrains medicine supply and reduce reliance on imports. MP Ahmed Al Salloom, who submitted the request, said the move would strengthen reserves and help the country manage shortages more effectively. He pointed to increasing efforts abroad to produce medicines locally, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic exposed flaws in global supply chains. Expansion Expanding local production means fewer shortages and less last-minute scrambling for supplies, he said. The plan calls for a dedicated industrial zone with incentives to attract pharmaceutical firms, ensuring a reliable supply of medicines for both urgent and long-term health conditions. Al Salloom said the proposal would bolster Bahrains standing in the industry, adding that a strategically located manufacturing hub could attract investment and strengthen supply lines. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com The Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) has successfully concluded a series of workshops introducing the new waste transport licensing mechanism under Ministerial Resolution No. (7) of 2024. The workshops were held in collaboration with stc Bahrain, the provider of the electronic monitoring system for waste transport vehicles in the Kingdom. Lama Abbas Al-Mahroos, Director of Environmental Control and Protection at SCE, highlighted the strong participation from companies involved in waste transport across Bahrain. She emphasized that the workshops played a crucial role in raising awareness about compliance with the ministerial decision and ensuring the sustainable and proper management of waste. According to Al-Mahroos, the workshops spanned five days and saw the participation of 148 attendees representing 92 waste transport companies and other stakeholders. She further stated that the SCE welcomes inquiries and requests for one-on-one meetings from waste transport companies seeking further clarification on the new licensing mechanism. Interested parties can contact the Waste Management Department via email at transporters@sce.gov.bh or call 17386999 for more information. TDT | Manama Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com In line with the launch of Bahrains revamped ID card, the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has announced the availability of an updated card reader software. The new software is now accessible via Bahrains National Portal, bahrain.bh, and is aimed at ensuring seamless processing of transactions requiring access to citizen and resident data. The updated software is designed to enhance data verification processes across various sectors, including healthcare, education, banking, and telecommunications. It supports both the newly launched ID cards and previous versions, ensuring continuity in operations and minimizing disruptions for businesses and institutions. To facilitate a smooth transition, iGA has urged banks, government agencies, and private-sector institutions to adopt the new software promptly. Organizations in need of assistance can reach out via the National Suggestions and Complaints System (Tawasul) or the Tawasul app for further guidance. A Secure and Advanced ID System Bahrains revamped ID card introduces cutting-edge security features and enhanced digital transaction capabilities. It is the first ID card in the Gulf region to integrate a travel application within its chip, developed in collaboration with the Nationality, Passports & Residence Affairs (NPRA). The card is made from durable polycarbonate material, resistant to scratches, heat, and environmental factors. Additionally, laser-engraved personal data enhances security by making it more resistant to fraud and tampering. With these advancements, the iGA is reinforcing Bahrains position as a leader in digital transformation within the region. The authority urges all relevant institutions to implement the updated card reader software to facilitate secure and efficient transactions for citizens and residents. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com The Kingdom of Bahrain is mourning the loss of Baboo Haridas Kewalram, the esteemed chairman of Kewalram & Sons Co WLL, who passed away on Thursday. A pillar of Bahrain's business community, Baboo Kewalram's legacy is deeply intertwined with the Kingdoms economic and social fabric. Arrival in Bahrain The Kewalram family's association with Bahrain began in 1888 when Damordardas Kewalram arrived to engage in the pearling industry. His son, Haridas, later expanded the family's ventures into foodstuffs and textiles, establishing the first Kewalram & Sons outlet in Manama's souq. In 1955, a young Baboo Kewalram joined the family business, contributing significantly to its diversification into sectors such as jewellery, electronics, and real estate. Community Leadership Beyond his business acumen, Baboo Kewalram was a dedicated community leader. He played a pivotal role in founding the Indian Community Relief Fund, serving as its vice chairman, and chaired the committee overseeing the 200-year-old Shri Krishna Hindu temple in Manama for over three decades. His commitment to fostering Bahrain-India relations was evident through his involvement in organizations like the Bhatia Mitra Mandal, established in 1959 to support the Bhatia community in Bahrain. The Kewalram family's close ties with Bahrain's Royal Family are well-documented. Baboo Kewalram used to fondly recall instances when the late Amir, HM Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, would inquire about their well-being during his majlis. Baboo Kewalram's passing is a profound loss to both the business community and the myriad individuals whose lives he touched through his philanthropic endeavours. His legacy of integrity, dedication, and community service will continue to inspire future generations in Bahrain and beyond. Gulf Airs decision to discontinue flights to Calicut has shocked frequent travellers like myself. As someone from North Kerala, my final destination is usually Calicut, and I have long relied on Gulf Air for its direct connectivity from Bahrain. The convenience of a nonstop flight is invaluable for many Indian expatriates. On my last trip from Calicut to Bahrain, I observed nearly 90% occupancy on the flight. Indians make up the largest expatriate community in Bahrain, with unofficial estimates suggesting that over 50% are Keralitesmany hail from the Malabar region, making direct flights to Calicut crucial. Discontinuing the Calicut route and reducing Cochin flights will create major inconveniences, especially for those travelling for business and family visits. While Gulf Air may focus on increasing transit passengers from destinations like Goa and Bangalore, this decision risks alienating a core segment of loyal passengers. Airlines worldwide struggle with financial losses due to rising fuel costs, labour expenses, and high debts. Countries like Argentina, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa have privatised their national carriers to improve efficiency. Despite various strategic measures, Gulf Air faces financial challenges and must take drastic steps to attain profit. Instead of completely withdrawing from the Bahrain-Calicut sector, Gulf Air could consider a leasing or chartering model to maintain operations while ensuring financial sustainability. A Potential Solution: Leasing or Chartering Gulf Air could lease a dedicated aircraft for a weekly service. The flight could be chartered by an individual, business entity, or consortium willing to cover a fixed cost, ensuring the airlines profitability regardless of passenger numbers. This model secures Gulf Airs revenue without bearing full operational risks. Given the high demand among Indian expatriates, investors could step in and make this work. Financial Viability An Airbus A320, commonly used by Gulf Air, seats around 180 passengers. With an average ticket price of BD 120 (~$320), a fully booked flight could generate around $43,200 one way or $86,400 per round trip. Considering a wet lease (including crew, maintenance, and insurance), the cost is approximately $3,500 per flight hour. A Bahrain-Calicut-Bahrain round trip (~10 hours) would cost ~$35,000 in lease expenses. Factoring in fuel, airport fees, and operational costs, the total expenditure per round trip could be around $60,000$70,000. The model could be financially viable if Gulf Air sets a sustainable margin on top of these costs. Moreover, Malabar-based business groups could coordinate bookings to ensure 100% occupancy, making this a win-win situation for the airline and passengers. While my calculations may not be perfect, the concept of a structured chartering or leasing arrangement is worth exploring. Gulf Air can continue serving a vital route while mitigating financial risks - offering both economic sense and passenger convenience. (The author is Chairman and Managing Editor of The Daily Tribune) Child Care aware of Missouri (CCAMO), an organization dedicated to evaluating childcare supply for nearly 25 years, shares the newest care report for Missouri and Buchanan County. Based out of St. Louis, Missouri, the non-profit is focused on comprehensive data of early childhood educational systems. This specific data report was used for the coalition Kids Win Missouri and looks at community-based childcare, not public pre-k. This includes standalone childcare centers, licensed family childcare homes, group homes and faith-based programs and religious facilities. Robin Phillips, chief executive officer of CCAMO said 71% of available childcare slots are designated for children under six, while 29% are reserved for school-age children. The data is only going to quantify looking at the number of licensed community-based childcare slots, either licensed or licensed exempt slots, and comparing that to the number of children who potentially need those slots, Phillips said. Phillips said this imbalance shows the childcare desert in Missouri. According to the CCAMO analysis, 112 out of the 115 counties in the state are in a childcare desert in the infant and toddler age group. News-Press NOW's Kirsten Stokes sits down with Robin Phillips on zoom to discuss the recent data trends in Missouri and Buchanan county. "We're using public sources for some of this data, Phillips said. So, when you look at Buchanan County there are approximately a little over 1500 slots available right now. When I say available, I want to make it clear that they may not all be open if those programs don't have enough staff, but let's assume they're all open and they're all available. The number of children 0 to 6 in Buchanan County with parents in the labor force is right at 5400." Looking at ratio between 1500 slots compared to 5400 children needing childcare, Phillips said there is a huge gap and while it may not directly qualify as a childcare desert for 0 to 6 years of age, the demand still exceeds the supply. Phillips said it's a matter of superintendents and childcare businesses working together to address the childcare shortage. When folks tend to think public pre-k is the only answer, then all the three- and four-year-olds start going there and you will see childcare centers close in communities because they can't survive off providing just infant toddler care, Phillips said. Especially with the cost, ratios and the safety measures and things like that, so we all have to be working together to address this system and quit working in silos. HARRISON COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) Authorities in Harrison County, Missouri arrested a man in connection to a stabbing in Faribault, Minnesota. According to a media release from the Faribault Police Department, police were dispatched to a stabbing in the 600 block of Third Avenue NW in Faribault, Minnesota. Officers arrived on the scene and made contact with a 50-year-old victim who had been stabbed multiple times in his torso and arm by a known suspect while inside his residence. The suspect, 46-year-old Ricardo Ortiz, was wanted on multiple counts of felony assault and burglary was taken into custody by the the Harrison County, Mo. Sheriffs Office on Tuesday, March 4. Ortiz was taken into custody in cooperation with the Bethany, Mo. Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol. Renowned Kaiseki master brings his culinary artistry to Air Canada Signature Class on all Japan routes now MONTREAL, March 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Air Canada has announced the addition of Michelin-starred Chef Masaki Hashimoto to its culinary panel. Based in Toronto, Chef Hashimoto is the owner of Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto, one of Canada's only restaurants dedicated to the traditional art of Kaiseki cuisine. Since immigrating more than 40 years ago, he has devoted his career to mastering and sharing this multi-course culinary tradition. His exclusive creations debuted March 1 in Air Canada Signature Class, on all flights between Canada and Japan. Air Canada has announced the addition of Michelin-starred Chef Masaki Hashimoto to its culinary panel. (CNW Group/Air Canada) To complement the meals, a premium sake pairing will be offered. (CNW Group/Air Canada) On these routes, Chef Hashimoto's dishes will showcase a thoughtfully curated selection of traditional ingredients through a rotating menu. Six recipes will be introduced annually, including a Zensai (appetizer) such as sauteed lotus root; Komono (side dishes) like sesame tofu with wasabi sauce; and a Oshokuji (main course) featuring beef sukiyaki with simmered tofu, scallions, napa cabbage and red ginger, served with calrose rice and miso soup. A brunch casserole follows, served before landing. Beginning in the spring, Air Canada will further elevate the experience with traditional dishware and tray presentations curated by Chef Hashimoto, in partnership with Noritake dishware, featuring Japanese artwork. "We are proud to present Chef Hashimoto's exceptional culinary artistry in our Signature Class experience," said Scott O'Leary, Loyalty and Product at Air Canada. "His journey and dedication to Kaiseki cuisine have enriched Canada's culinary landscape, and we are honoured to celebrate this onboard." To complement the meals, a premium sake pairing will be offered, selected by Chef Hashimoto's son, Kei Hashimoto, a certified Kiki sake-shi (sake sommelier) accredited by the Sake Service Institute in Tokyo. The featured sake, Ninki-ichi Junmai Daiginjo Gold, is crafted from Gohyakumankoku sake rice, prized for its clean, crisp character. Filtered using the Yabuta system, it achieves exceptional purity with a balanced profile of floral and fruity notes and a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. "It has always been a lifelong dream of mine to bring an authentic Japanese in-flight dining experience to travellers. Partnering with Air Canada is truly an honour for me, as it brings together the two places I now call homeJapan and Canada," said Chef Masaki Hashimoto. "This collaboration allows us both to bridge the rich cultural landscapes of each country and celebrate our shared values of care, respect, and connection." Chef Hashimoto's creations are now offered as part of Air Canada's Signature Class dining menu on all Air Canada flights between Canada and Japan. Air Canada offers the most flights between Canada and Japan, with up to six daily flights from three airports in Canada to three airports in Japan this summer: Vancouver to Narita : daily flights to : daily flights Vancouver to Osaka : four weekly flights to : four weekly flights Toronto to Narita : daily flights to : daily flights Toronto to Haneda: daily flights to Haneda: daily flights Toronto to Osaka : three weekly flights to : three weekly flights Montreal to Narita : daily flights About Chef Masaki Hashimoto With over 35 years of dedication to the art of Japanese cuisine, Chef Masaki Hashimoto has earned a distinguished reputation as one of the finest Japanese culinary artisans in the world. Arriving in Toronto with his wife, Sachiko, Chef Hashimoto brought with him the time-honoured traditions of Kaiseki cuisine, honed over 15 years of training in some of Japan's most renowned kitchensspanning Iwakuni, Ehime, Tsujitome Kyoto, and Kocho in Tokyo. As one of the few Kaiseki chefs to venture beyond Japan's borders, Hashimoto has spent decades introducing the intricate beauty and grace of Japanese dining traditions to the world. His restaurant, Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto, has been recognized by the Michelin Guide with a one-star rating for three consecutive years, a testament to his unmatched skill and dedication to preserving the art of Kaiseki. In 2007, Hashimoto's culinary journey took him back to Japan, where he competed in the prestigious Japanese Culinary Arts Competition. Representing Kyoto in the finals, he earned a spot among the top five chefs from across the country, receiving the coveted Technique Awarda recognition that underscores his mastery of traditional Kaiseki techniques, even after more than two decades in Toronto. Air Canada's commitment to culinary excellence This partnership builds on Air Canada's industry-leading food and beverage upgrades, reinforcing its dedication to elevating the in-flight experience. In 2024, the airline made its largest-ever menu upgrade, featuring over 100 new, globally inspired, rotating dishes, new craveable snack selections, complimentary beer and wine offerings, a refreshed North America bistro menu and much more. About Air Canada Air Canada is Canada's largest airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada's Aeroplan program is Canada's premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world's largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers more travel choices than any other Canadian tour operator to hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, day tours, and car rentals. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada's passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada's climate ambition includes a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For additional information, please see Air Canada's TCFD disclosure. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX in Canada and the OTCQX in the US. Internet: aircanada.com/media Read our annual report Here Sign up for Air Canada news: aircanada.com Media Resources: Photos Videos B-Roll Articles SOURCE Air Canada Contacts: [email protected] NEWMARKET, ON, March 6, 2025 /CNW/ - InternationalSafety.com, a Canadian industrial equipment marketplace located in Newmarket Ontario, has been taking big steps to highlight and promote Canadian-made products long before the current tariff talk from their neighbor to the South. The retailer was featured 2022 as a finalist in the Ontario Made initiative and they are committed to supporting Canadian manufacturers by offering high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety solutions made in Canada. Support Candian Made Post this Support Canadian Made (CNW Group/International Safety Systems Inc.) While some manufacturers are Canadian-born, their products may contain materials sourced from abroad. This distinction between "Canadian-made" and "Canadian-owned" can be challenging to navigate. At International Safety, they understand the importance of transparency and are ready to help answer any questions about product origins, ensuring you make informed decisions about your PPE purchases. Here are some of the Canadian options they highlight: Respiratory 3M Canada, based in Brockville, Ontario, plays a crucial role in manufacturing N95 respirators, ensuring long-term respiratory safety for Canadians. The company's expansion during the pandemic tripled Canada's respirator supply, benefiting healthcare and industrial sectors. Head, Eye, and Body Protection In Laval, Quebec, PIP Canada leads the production of safety products by incorporating robotic manufacturing technology to create over 10 hard hat models. Across Canada, SureWerx offers top-tier safety solutions through trusted brands like Pioneer, JET, and PeakWorks, meeting the needs of Canadian workers. First Aid and Hygiene First Aid Central, manufactures high-quality first aid kits and safety supplies that meet Canadian safety standards. Dentec Safety offers made-in-Canada head protection options as well as first aid kits. Wasip assembles its first aid kits in Canada but sources the contents abroad. In Mississauga, Ontario, Grime Eater produces premium hand cleaners using locally sourced Canadian materials, prioritizing workplace hygiene and worker health. Hand and Foot protection In Belleville, Ontario, Impacto Protective Products specializes in ergonomic PPE designed to reduce impact, vibration, and repetitive motion, enhancing workplace safety and comfort. Meanwhile, Unik Safety Boots in Montreal, Quebec, focuses on producing durable, high-performance safety footwear using sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. Camro Industrial further supports Canadian industries by distributing Canadian-made safety footwear and apparel, reinforcing its commitment to high safety standards and local expertise. Gas Detection & Lone Worker solutions Blackline Safety, based in Calgary, Alberta, spearheads industrial innovation by seamlessly integrating wearable devices, area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software, and predictive analytics, with innovative designs. Workplace and Industrial Safety Solutions Evolution Sorbent Products (ESP), with operations in Calgary, Mississauga, and Montreal, specializes in liquid safety solutions for spill control and containment. Ergo Advantage manufactures anti-fatigue safety matting, produced in Waterloo, Ontario, to enhance worker comfort and prevent injuries. For over 50 years, SWS Warning Lights, based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been designing and assembling safety lighting products in Canada, supporting job creation and local expertise. Commitment to Canadian Industry and Workers By partnering with these exceptional Canadian manufacturers, International Safety continues to provide workplaces across the country with reliable, high-quality safety solutions. Supporting Canadian manufacturers not only ensures product excellence but also strengthens Canada's economy, manufacturing sector, and workforce. "While many of our manufacturers are Canadian, some products may be sourced abroad," Says Gus Khouri, President of International Safety, "we're here to help answer any questions Canadians have, to make informed decisions." The company's dedication to highlighting Canadian brands and safety products reinforces its commitment to safety, innovation, and national prosperity. Visit International Safety to explore these Canadian brands. SOURCE International Safety Systems Inc. Media Contact: [email protected] TORONTO, March 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, along with Parliamentary Secretary Julie Dabrusin, announced a federal contribution of more than $5.9 million for four green construction and green technology projects across Ontario, which will support the use of low-carbon and processed wood in the Canadian construction sector. This funding is helping to protect Canadian industry and to build more housing for Canadians. The funding announced today includes: Construction site for a multi-unit building in wood Photo credit: Sean Martin (CNW Group/Natural Resources Canada) More than $900,000 to Assembly Corp. for the development of an innovative design and seismic system for a 62-unit, all-wood building in Toronto . This eight-storey residential and mixed-use rental building will serve as a building typology to be repeated across over a half dozen other sites, promoting sustainable construction practices that reduce the environmental impact of the building industry. to Assembly Corp. for the development of an innovative design and seismic system for a 62-unit, all-wood building in . This eight-storey residential and mixed-use rental building will serve as a building typology to be repeated across over a half dozen other sites, promoting sustainable construction practices that reduce the environmental impact of the building industry. $1 million to Sean Mason Homes to deploy an innovative, hybrid, mass timber and steel system for the five-storey, 38-unit Rainwater Condominium project. This project aims to demonstrate a cost-efficient, sustainable and replicable building solution for mid-rise and taller residential buildings while addressing Ontario's housing needs. It will also provide the initial example and model in a series of future projects in Barrie . to to deploy an innovative, hybrid, mass timber and steel system for the five-storey, 38-unit Rainwater Condominium project. This project aims to demonstrate a cost-efficient, sustainable and replicable building solution for mid-rise and taller residential buildings while addressing housing needs. It will also provide the initial example and model in a series of future projects in . $1 million to Post Office Limited Partnership to deploy an innovative, wood-based and sustainable building solution to reconstruct and add nine storeys to a two-storey heritage post office in Oshawa . The project will stimulate demand for Canadian wood products and provide 219 high-quality rental units in a growing community. to Post Office Limited Partnership to deploy an innovative, wood-based and sustainable building solution to reconstruct and add nine storeys to a two-storey heritage post office in . The project will stimulate demand for Canadian wood products and provide 219 high-quality rental units in a growing community. More than $3 million to Timmerman Timberworks to develop, study and certify next-generation mass timber building products. This project will develop the first fully automatic, precision-engineered, nail-laminated timber production line, leading to new, advanced, high-value building products. Funding for these projects is being provided through Natural Resources Canada's Green Construction through Wood and Investments in Forest Industry Transformation programs. With this funding, the Government of Canada is helping to accelerate the adoption of the most cutting-edge technologies available to drive down costs and help the construction industry access the ecological Canadian wood products it needs to build more homes for Canadians. Additional multimedia Quotes "Developing new markets for Canadian timber not only supports forestry workers and creates jobs but also helps us achieve other goals, including more housing and lower emissions. By promoting the use of low-carbon Canadian wood in construction, the Government of Canada is strengthening communities and local economies in Ontario without cutting corners on the environment." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources "I am pleased to announce support for the Green Construction through Wood and Investments in Forest Industry Transformation programs to accelerate energy-efficient construction in Ontario. The imperative of climate action presents a huge opportunity for enhancing community resilience, driving economic inclusion and spurring job creation in every single part of our country. The Government of Canada is helping communities advance to a sustainable future while creating good-paying jobs for skilled workers in the building trades." Julie Dabrusin Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources "Thanks to NRCAN's support, we are able to create an eight-storey panelized wood building product that is sustainable and efficient. This product typology is a repeatable solution that can be applicable to many purpose-built rental sites, and the prefabricated construction method drastically shortens timelines, addressing Canada's urgent need for housing." Geoff Cape Chief Executive Officer, Assembly Corp. "The building is the first of its kind in the entire world to use cross-laminated timber, cold-formed steel walls and geothermal powered. It's fantastic. Other than that, I believe that when you have the ability to do a better job, you have that responsibility to do a better job, and hence that is why sean.ca pushes forward to be an innovative, responsible and sustainable builder and developer." Sean Mason Founder Sean Mason Homes "On behalf of our whole team, we'd like to thank the federal government for supporting this project. This project has allowed us to provide an alternative solution for mass timber construction while also supporting our rural community with increased job opportunities. We are grateful for the opportunity and look forward to increasing SilvaSpan's presence in the industry." Tammy Vanderstarren Operations manager, Timmerman Timberworks Inc. and SilvaSpan Quick Facts The Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) program encourages the use of innovative wood-based building technologies in construction projects. It supports Canada's commitment to reach 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement and advance long-term priorities regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. GCWood has invested in 19 projects in the province of Ontario and is generating many benefits there, including: reduced GHG emissions from renewable and sustainable resources that help decarbonize the built environment; accelerated adoption of innovative building technologies and systems; updated building codes that allow for taller and larger wood buildings; and affordable housing and community infrastructure. The Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) aims to bridge the gap between the development and commercialization of innovative, low-carbon and higher-value forest products. IFIT has invested in 15 projects in Ontario , including projects that contribute to: the decarbonization of industrial processes; the efficient use of resources that generates more value from the same amount of wood; and the integration of technologies leading to greater energy efficiency. Associated Links Follow us on LinkedIn SOURCE Natural Resources Canada Contacts: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6096, [email protected]; Joanna Sivasankaran, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, [email protected]; Francesca MacKinnon, Director Of Sales and Marketing, Assembly Corp, 514-265-2546, [email protected]; Tammy Vanderstarren, Operations Manager, Timmerman Timberworks, 705-300-0486, [email protected] TORONTO and DALLAS, March 6, 2025 /CNW/ - In advance of International Women's Day, Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. (TSXV: PINK) (OTCQX: PYNKF) ("Perimeter" or the "Company"), announced today that Covenant Health Fort Sanders Regional is the first hospital in Tennessee to use the Company's S-Series OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) technology to visualize tissue margins in the operating room. "OCT technology enhances the level of care I am able to provide and has become a valuable tool in the operating room," said Dr. Ana Wilson, a surgical oncologist with Covenant Health Fort Sanders Regional. "It allows me to make patient-specific surgical decisions in real-time and potentially reduce the likelihood of my patients returning for a second surgery." Traditional technologies such as X-ray, ultrasound or MRI don't have the resolution to see disease at the cellular level. As a result, surgeons must wait up to 10 days for pathology results to either confirm clean margins or show positive margins, which often result in patients returning for another procedure. "Being the first in Tennessee is another milestone in our continued expansion into new geographies nationwide," said Perimeter Chief Financial Officer, Sara Brien. "Bringing our Perimeter S-Series OCT to Covenant Health Fort Sanders Regional also advances an important company goal of broadening access to our innovative technologies for margin visualization, in real-time, in the OR, to potentially improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs." The S-Series OCT uses light to create cross-sectional 3D images of tissue microstructures at 10 times the resolution of ultrasound and X-ray and 100 times the power of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With the ability to see down to 2 mm in ducts, vessels and glands in the operating room, surgeons can get real-time clarity on margins, giving them the insight they need to help make the best surgical decisions for their patients and feel more confident in their outcomes. "Perimeter is working tirelessly to help surgeons provide the best possible care for their patients," said Suzanne Foster, Chairperson of Perimeter's Board of Directors. Suzanne, as a breast cancer survivor, has a personal connection to Perimeter's mission to transform cancer surgery, understanding the need for all patients to have access to advanced technology in hopes to improve surgical outcomes. About Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. Based in Toronto, Canada and Dallas, Texas, Perimeter Medical Imaging AI (TSXV: PINK) (OTCQX: PYNKF) is a medical technology company driven to transform cancer surgery with ultra-high-resolution, real-time, advanced imaging tools to address areas of high unmet medical need. Available across the U.S., our FDA-cleared Perimeter S-Series OCT system provides real-time, cross-sectional visualization of excised tissues at the cellular level. The breakthrough-device-designated investigational Perimeter B-Series OCT with ImgAssist AI represents our next-generation artificial intelligence technology that was evaluated in a pivotal clinical trial, with support from a grant of up to US$7.4 million awarded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Patient enrollment completed in September 2024, with expected FDA submission in 2025. The company's ticker symbol "PINK" is a reference to the pink ribbons used during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. S-Series OCT Intended Use and Unapproved Uses The S-Series OCT is indicated for use as an imaging tool in the evaluation of excised human tissue microstructure by providing two-dimensional, cross-sectional, real-time depth visualization with image review manipulation software for identifying and annotating regions of interest. The S-Series OCT has 510(k) clearance under a general indication and has not been evaluated by FDA specifically for use in breast tissue, breast cancer, other types of cancer, margin evaluation, and reducing re-excision rates. The safety and effectiveness of these uses has not been established. For full information on unapproved/off-label uses, visit https://perimetermed.com/disclosures or contact [email protected]. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In this news release, words such as "may," "would," "could," "will," "likely," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may relate to management's future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements or information regarding the future financial position, business strategy and strategic goals, competitive conditions, research and development activities, projected costs and capital expenditures, research and clinical testing outcomes, taxes and plans and objectives of, or involving, Perimeter. Without limitation, statements regarding the timing of the annual meeting, are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, any particular result will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Perimeter's control. Such forward-looking statements reflect Perimeter's current view with respect to future events, but are inherently subject to significant medical, scientific, business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. In making forward-looking statements, Perimeter may make various material assumptions, including but not limited to (i) the accuracy of Perimeter's financial projections; (ii) obtaining positive results from trials; (iii) obtaining necessary regulatory approvals; and (iv) general business, market, and economic conditions. Further risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those applicable to Perimeter and described in Perimeter's Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is available on Perimeter's SEDAR+ profile at https://www.sedarplus.ca, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Perimeter does not intend, nor does Perimeter undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events, or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws. Contacts Stephen Kilmer Investor Relations Direct: 647-872-4849 Email: [email protected] Susan Thomas Media Relations Direct: 619-540-9195 Email: [email protected] Adrian Mendes Chief Executive Officer Toll-free: 888-988-7465 (PINK) Email: [email protected] SOURCE Perimeter Medical Imaging AI Inc. Albemarle County Supervisor Diantha McKeels decision to not seek reelection this coming November has opened up the door to two new candidates vying for the Jack Jouett seat on the Board of Supervisors. David Shreve and Sally Duncan, both running as Democrats, have officially entered the race to replace McKeel. The longtime incumbent who has held the seat for nearly 12 years said earlier this year that it is time for her to step aside and make way for a new generation of leaders. Shreve, a trained economist, historian and father of two, has called Albemarle County home for more than a quarter-century. He is a former professor of economic history at the University of Virginia and began his academic career studying U.S. political history before studying economics as a graduate student. He said his reason for running is clear. Im running pure and simple for this race because I care deeply about this community, the 63-year old told The Daily Progress. Though Shreve has recently started a new role as senior economist at the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy, an Arlington-based think tank, he remains deeply invested in Albemarle County and Central Virginia personally and professionally. For more than a decade, Shreve was the executive director of Wintergreen Adaptive Sports, a program at the Wintergreen Ski Resort in Nelson County that provides recreational opportunities for people with disabilities, where he is still a volunteer. He has also been involved with the Albemarle County Public Schools Foundation for Education and has worked with Prism Coffeehouse, a folk music venue and educational center in Charlottesville. Shreve said he is focused on building a thriving economy in Albemarle County that works for everyone, investing in public schools and smart transportation, as well as addressing the housing crisis in Albemarle and neighboring Charlottesville the second-most expensive real estate market in Virginia behind the Washington suburbs. All built on a fair tax system and a solid civil rights foundation, he said. I dont ever want to ignore that. Shreve also emphasized that a high quality of life for Albemarle County residents should not come at the expense of the countys rural character or natural resources. They really must figure into everything we do as we look for ways to keep the community prosperous and healthy, Shreve said. Running against Shreve is 43-year-old Sally Duncan. Duncan knows firsthand how difficult it is to secure housing: The mother of five moved to Albemarle County from Michigan a few years after losing her house in the Great Recession. After years of renting, Duncan said that she and her husband cant even save for a down payment. The fact that, you know, our kids arent going to have a house to come back to that they grew up in because weve rented for over 10 years is kind of hard, Duncan told The Daily Progress. That is what motivated her to run. Because, again, Im a renter. My rent goes up every year, she said. A landlord told me that there is no law in Virginia limiting how much they can raise my rent. Virginia is one of only a few states in the country that does not have rent control laws on the books. Landlords can raise the rent by any amount and as frequently as they want, except during the lease term. I understand the housing crisis because I live it, Duncan said. Duncan is a history teacher at the Renaissance School, a private school in Charlottesville. She and her family moved to Albemarle County almost a decade ago after spending some time in Virginia on vacation. We loved it here, she said. When the financial crisis hit and they decided to move, Duncan said, they knew exactly where they were going. We love how it looks, the community, the history, she said. In 2020, Duncan went back to school to finish her education. She enrolled at UVa and by 2023 earned a bachelors and masters degrees all while raising teenage children. That experience showed Duncan that what she thought she can handle was far below her limits. But it also led her to discover a love of research and an innate curiosity for how policy works. While at UVa, she said, a pair of classes she took really taught her how policy decisions affect communities. My work at UVa really prepared me to be able to look at budgets, look at policies and know where to find the information and how to understand it, she said. While the regions housing crisis will be a focus of her campaign, Duncan said she also has plans to address funding for public schools, transit and parks. The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors hasnt had a Republican elected to its board since 2011. While Shreve and Duncan are running as Democrats, the two have acknowledged that having political diversity on the board is important. We all are sitting in the same traffic. Our kids are going to the same schools, Duncan said. But so far, no Republican has publicly declared their intention to run for any of the three seats up for election this year in the Jack Jouett, Samuel Miller and Rio districts. Nancy Muir, chairwoman of the Albemarle County Republican Committee, said in a statement to The Daily Progress that the committee has several [potential candidates] who have expressed interest, but none have openly declared. The filing deadline for candidates is 5 p.m. April 3. Primary elections are slated for June 17. New Jersey City University first opened in 1929 as the New Jersey State Normal School to train teachers. A nearly century-old higher education institution in Hudson County facing financial challenges will pursue a merger with Kean University, state officials announced Thursday. New Jersey City Universitys Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to accept a merger proposal from Kean University in Union. It is a step that authorizes further discussions between the two public universities, but does not finalize an agreement, leaders of both schools said. Kean University enrolls approximately 17,000 students while New Jersey City University has 5,500 students, officials said previously. New Jersey City University would be renamed Kean Jersey City under the agreement, Kean President Lamont O. Repollet said in a letter to the campus community. New Jersey City University officials did not discuss the schools proposed new name in their communications to the campus. The move to hammer out a merger comes as New Jersey City University has been debating its future amid years of serious financial problems. Over the next several weeks, we will negotiate a letter of intent with NJCU that begins a thoughtful and hopefully successful process of bringing the long-serving institution into the Kean University system as Kean Jersey City, wrote Repollet, the states former education commissioner. New Jerseys secretary of higher education, Brian Bridges, had given New Jersey City University until the end of March to identify a potential university partner. New Jersey City University has been grappling for years with financial challenges and questions about oversight. The school was assigned a monitor by the state in 2023. The universitys leaders also discussed a possible merger with Montclair State University. NJCU is important to Jersey City and the State of New Jersey. We appreciate the opportunity to be considered as their partner, and wish them the very best, said Andrew Mees, a spokesperson for Montclair State University. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Bridges issued a joint statement following the vote by New Jersey City Universitys board to move ahead with a Kean merger. The Murphy Administration is encouraged by the forward-moving progress at NJCU, Murphy and Bridges said. The State Monitor, NJCU Administration, and Board of Trustees have been collaborating diligently toward a future that sustains a strong public four-year option in Jersey City and Hudson County, Murphy and Bridges said. Maintaining access to high-quality post-secondary education for students and the community, who have long benefitted from NJCUs local presence, forms the basis of our shared commitment to the institutions future, Murphy and Bridges said. New Jersey City Universitys interim president, Andres Acebo, said in a letter that this next phase is more than an administrative step it is the deliberate construction of a bridge to our second century." By aligning our strengths with those of Kean University, we are setting the stage for a collaborative journey that will expand our academic horizons and deepen our community impact, Acebo wrote. New Jersey City University was founded in 1927, became a college in 1935 and was granted university status in 1998. Over the past two years, our campus has experienced a significant transformation. We have reinvested in our facilities, stabilized our operations, and broadened our enrollment pipeline, Acebo wrote. If the merger is finalized, the Jersey City campus would join Kean Universitys other campuses, including its campus in China. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. An Essex County school district was considering major changes to how it teaches special education students in its elementary schools in order to save money. But the plan proved so divisive among parents that the proposal is now on hold. Under the current system in the South Orange-Maplewood school district, special education students learn in a full co-teaching model. That means both a general education and a special education teacher are present in specific classrooms called inclusion classrooms in its kindergarten through fifth grade. A statement made by Councilor Charlyn Ellis at the Monday, March 3 Corvallis City Council meeting generated some heat at the dais, with fellow councilors and the mayor offering varying opinions about how the aftermath of Ellis lawsuit against the city should be resolved and who was to blame in the first place. The conversation resulted in Mayor Charles Maughan placing the burden of responsibility for the citys legal expenses $232,797.68, with an additional $200,000 payout to Ellis attorney covered in part by the citys insurance squarely on Ellis shoulders. Seeking answers During her councilor comments, Ellis shared that she had issues with the citys webpage that details the process and outcome of her case, and that addressing these issues would aid in regaining public trust, which she asserts was damaged by the events of the last 1 years. First, the people of Corvallis deserve to know how we went from a small motion to a $500,000 debacle, she said. She was referencing her efforts in September 2023 to ensure a vacant position at City Hall, one that assists the Climate Action Advisory Board, would be filled. Those moves, city leadership claimed a couple of months later, violated the city charter and required her to forfeit her seat. Ellis sued the city in January 2024 to stop that process. A year later, a federal judge ruled Corvallis attempt to oust Ellis was void and the section of the citys charter leveled against her was unconstitutional because it violated her free speech rights. After Maughan said publicly the city never got to share its side, the city published a webpage compiling public records tied to the municipal dustup. During her councilor comments on Monday, Ellis said the Sept. 18, 2023 motion that landed her in hot water was not spur-of-the-moment or on the spot. She had emailed the two motions she brought forward that night to the mayor and council the preceding Sunday; community members had written letters of support and audience members at the meeting had spoken in favor. During the meeting, the city attorney, then Jim Brewer, sat right next to her, she said. Before the meeting began, he should have said, Dont make Motion 1. We can talk later, she said. But that did not happen. Why not? Almost two months later, she said, she was informed that she had violated the charter. What happened between late September and late November? she said. There were clearly conversations happening. Secondly, she said, the complainants who raised concern about her possible charter violation should be named outright a position shes shared with Mid-Valley Media before. No one should be able or willing to accuse someone of such an act without putting their name on it, she said. These two issues, she said, were not addressed in the public record. There are people sitting here at the dais who know the answers to these questions, she said. Difference of opinion Ellis statement ruffled some feathers. I personally have never accused you of violating the charter. I did say theres a question that you may have violated the charter, Maughan said. As for the complainants, I dont even know who those people were; Ive never cared, he said. If the case had gone to a due process hearing, he said, the intended forum for a decision before Ellis filed her lawsuit, it wouldve cost the city nothing. The city hired special counsel in response to Ellis hiring her own counsel, he said. How did we go from nothing to $500,000? he asked. Somebody sued the city. If leadership did anything wrong, he said, it was going to Ellis to give her a heads up about the possible charter violation. It shouldve gone straight before the council, he said. Councilor Tony Cadena said he believes the complainants in the case listed in a resolution and declaration as Corvallis City staff, City Manager, City Councilors and community members were very well-described, as is. When people ask for specificity, he said, they claim to want accountability. I would like anybody to describe to me what accountable means and in words that are somehow distinct from retribution, he said. Learning and moving forward will come from increased clarity around roles and responsibilities, he said, and a particular methodology for dealing with conflict. It doesnt come from generating a list of names. Im interested in positive movement forward, not bullshit, backward-looking stuff, he said. Sorry for swearing. Thats not the worst it gets, by the way. But others pointed to the validity of Ellis concerns. Im not a big fan of anonymous complaints, Shaffer said. I think that is inherently unfair to the person who is accused. He agreed with Ellis that the situation has resulted in an erosion of community trust. Ultimately, the conversation was brought to a close when Councilor Briae Lewis requested the council move on from the topic, citing the late hour. Related stories: New Jersey is joining at least seven other states in suing President Donald Trumps administration for eliminating $600 million in teacher recruitment and preparation grants, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. The lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts on Thursday amid reports that Trump is preparing to issue an executive order starting the process of eliminating the federal Department of Education. New Jersey, along with California and Massachusetts, are the lead plaintiffs. Robert De Niro is starring in the movie set to film from April through June. Kristina Bumphrey | Variety via Getty Images Want to be in a movie with Robert De Niro? His upcoming crime thriller The Whisper Man is in need of New Jersey locals. The Netflix production, set to begin in April and film through June, put out an open casting call for Jersey residents. The movie needs people of all genders and ethnicities for background roles including police officers, reporters, paramedics, elementary school students, parents, detectives, park goers and pedestrians. (For information on how to apply, see below.) The Whisper Man is based on the bestselling 2019 novel by Alex North about a widowed crime writer whose young son is abducted. When he asks his retired police detective father for help, he finds a link to the old case of a serial killer called The Whisper Man. James Ashcroft (The Rule of Jenny Pen, Coming Home in the Dark) is directing the movie. On Friday, Deadline reported that Severance star Adam Scott and The White Lotus star Michelle Monaghan had also joined the movie. Adam Scott and Michelle Monaghan have joined the De Niro film. Mike Marsland | WireImage; Arnold Jerocki | Getty Images De Niro, 81, currently stars as a former president in the Netflix political thriller series Zero Day, his first TV drama, released Feb. 20. His other Netflix credits include The Irishman, the 2019 film directed by Martin Scorsese, for which he was nominated for an Oscar (and which also filmed some scenes in New Jersey). To apply to be an extra in The Whisper Man, email whisper@gwcnyc.com with the subject line NJ residents and include this information: Your name, preferred pronouns, phone number, whether or not you are a Screen Actors Guild member, whether or not you have visible tattoos and whether or not you are a resident of New Jersey. Attach current, non-professional photos of yourself both close-ups and full-body photos. If you have a car you can work with, specify the year, make, model and color, and attach a photo of the car. The pay is $216 for eight hours if youre a SAG member; $181.50 for 10 hours if youre not. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. Hoboken is not banning e-bikes. But officials and advocates have been peppered with questions in recent days as the Hudson County city prepares for a new e-bike safety ordinance that will go into effect next week. The ordinance includes new rules about the lithium-ion batteries that power the bikes. Under Hobokens ordinance, the use, sale and repair of second-hand batteries are banned. E-bike and e-scooter riders will also be prohibited from charging or storing their devices in the common areas of residential properties with three or more units. Anyone found to be violating the ordinance will be issued a warning. If the problem continues, violators can be slapped with fines of up to $2,000 per violation, per day. E-bikes are a fast and convenient way to zip around a city, and have skyrocketed in popularity since the pandemic. But they have also become associated with a fast-moving kind of fire that can ignite if their batteries overheat or explode. As of January 2024, there had been 445 recorded incidents of lithium battery-related fires in the U.S., resulting in 38 deaths and 214 injuries. Hobokens new ordinance may seem simple, but Mike Fritz, who worked with the city to craft it, believes it to be the finest, in terms of ensuring safe use of these products, of any city in America right now. Fritz, the co-founder and chief technological officer of the consulting firm Human Powered Solutions, has spent much of the last three decades focused on lithium-ion battery safety. After New York City officials decided they had to address a rash of deadly battery fires, Fritz was one of their first calls. In December, it was Fritzs work across the Hudson that attracted the notice of Andrew Wilson, the executive director of Bike Hoboken, a transportation safety and advocacy nonprofit. Wilson had been keeping an eye on the Hoboken City Council, which was readying to vote on a harsher lithium-ion battery ordinance. The measure was so restrictive that Wilson and his team feared exasperated landlords would give up on trying to meet its conditions, instead banning e-bikes from their properties altogether. Wilson asked Fritz to write the city council a letter explaining the problem. I basically said, Hey, before you take dramatic action, lets take a breath, postpone the vote and talk about this, Fritz said. The city council was very willing to listen, Wilson recalled. They heard the communitys concerns, they heard the feedback, and they postponed that original ordinance. The city council, guided by Fritz and several city officials, including its public safety director and the chief of the fire department, got to work. A little over two months later, it announced the overhauled ordinance. Im proud of those guys, Fritz said of the city council. Theyve done their homework. The city council unanimously adopted the ordinance Feb. 19. In addressing high-risk batteries and unsafe storage practices, the new measures will ensure lithium-ion batteries used in the city comply with standards set by UL Solutions, a safety testing business that certifies products like e-bikes, local officials said. But more importantly, the new rules will keep e-bikes on roads, Wilson said. E-bikes, they shrink cities, he said. They help connect people to jobs, schools, businesses they need to get to. And they do that while mitigating climate change and reducing parking demand. The ordinance will take effect Tuesday following a public awareness and education campaign. The most common question residents have is whether their e-bikes are about to be taken away from them, Wilson said. But as Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante made clear in a press release: We are not banning e-bikes or e-scooters in Hoboken. Federal lawmakers are currently weighing an e-bike battery bill that would require clearer safety guidelines. So, really, Hoboken just is gettin g ahead of the curve," Wilson explained. Its smart. Its pretty reasonable. At the local level, theres still more work to be done. Wilson said he would like to see the city concentrate next on creating safer storage options for e-bikes, like fire-safe rooms with suppressant systems and charging outlets. I dont see what just got passed being the last word on this, he added. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. AJ McDougall may be reached at amcdougall@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X at @oldmcdougall. A lawsuit claims a nonconforming stormwater runoff system from a farm in Morris County had created a 12-foot-deep cavernous ravine and a path of hundreds of yards of dead trees on his land. provided Owners of a New Jersey farm are now employing a new strategy to resolve a seven-year lawsuit with a neighbor: Buy the property from the plaintiffs ex-wife. The new court filing claims the neighbor, William Asdal, no longer has standing to sue because his ex-wife owns property, the result of a 2023 divorce settlement. Asdal filed a motion last month seeking to prevent the Alstede defendants from purchasing the property at 76 Route 24 and to compel them to produce all documents and communications related to the purchase of the Asdal Property, according to the court complaint. A representative for Asdal on Wednesday declined to comment. William Asdals actions are a fools folly, and we fully expect that the judge will soon rule that William Asdal lacks standing to continue any of these worthless games and the case will be dismissed with prejudice, Kurt Alstede, the founder and co-owner of the family farm, told NJ Advance Media in an email. Asdal sued Chester Township for what he claimed was a nonconforming stormwater runoff system. He said the farm then asked to be part of the defense in the court complaint. The appellate court concluded Asdal had been caught in a multi-year Catch-22 between agencies, and was left without an effective remedy. That ruling came when a three judge panel reversed a lower court ruling on New Years Eve that dismissed a lawsuit Asdal filed in 2018. The appeals court case was initially argued in 2022. The case is scheduled to resume next month in district Superior Court. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. A sneak peek inside of the long-awaited $75 million Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University on Wednesday was well worth the wait. After almost 20 years from concept and design to swinging doors open, it was hard to not think about walking into the grand hall of Jurassic Park. But far from the fictional 1993 blockbuster movie, the South Jersey park and museum documents 66 million years of life, from the dinosaurs to today. What youre about to experience is mind blowing, said Ric Edelman, who along with his wife Jean, both school alumni, donated $25 million to the facility. The experience you have here is unmatched and will last a lifetime. The EFM is a 44,000-square-foot facility overlooking a 4-acre fossil-filled former sand quarry. The museum showcases a collection of life-sized recreations of dinosaurs and other extinct creatures. It also features immersive galleries that bring the age of the dinosaur to life. Kenneth Lacovara, Ph.D, a Rowan paleontologist, led the two-hour tour Wednesday. It started after a five-minute, Hollywood-quality short film in the theater of the museum, detailing, with animation, the history of life on Earth. The film featured a book of life, with dinosaurs representing only 2%, and humans a fraction of that. Lacovara then marched a dozen guests out to the lake outside of the museum to get a look at the design of the facility and how it fits the surrounding ecosystem. Next, a five-minute walk to a 41-foot-deep quarry that museum officials say preserves an ecosystem from the moment an asteroid marked the end of dinosaurs. Visitors can dig for real fossils as part of the experience there and keep them. If you are a curious person, interested in the world, this is your playground, Lacovara told NJ Advance Media. Theres something here for everybody. 35 1 / 35 Edelman Fossil Park and Museum at Rowan University, March 5, 2025 The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum is set to open on March 29. Tickets start at $29 for adults and $24 for children 3-12, free admission for kids aged 2 and under. It is located at 66 Million Mosasaur Way in Mantua, Gloucester County. One of the museums exhibits include a recreated Dryptosaurus, the first discovered tyrannosaur, which was found a mile from the fossil park site in 1866, and a 53-foot mosasaur, like one discovered at the fossil park site. In the depths of the quarry, more than 40 feet below the park, more than 100,000 fossils from over 100 species, including mosasaurs, marine crocodiles, sea turtles, and sharks, have been unearthed, underscoring the sites significance, museum officials said. Only a few hundred square yards of the 65-acre site have been fully excavated. Still, theyve yielded more than 50,000 cataloged marine and terrestrial fossils, from reptilian mosasaurs to sea turtles, sharks, bony fish, coral and clams. The fossil park is on the site of a former industrial sand pit. Researchers have already turned up a fossil of the largest prehistoric crocodile ever found and they expect to turn up more important finds. In New Jersey, fossilized remains of several late Cretaceous-era dinosaurs and reptiles have been found along a stretch of what used to be a shallow marine environment from Atlantic Highlands in Monmouth County, through Middlesex, Mercer, Burlington and Gloucester down to Salem County and present-day Delaware. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Hey there New Jersey! Heres your audio update highlighting a $5 million drug mill bust, two teachers who saved the life of a student and a music lawsuit targeting a famous Jersey Shore destination. Plus, well tell you about a sneak peek at a long-awaited dinosaur fossil park in South Jersey. Listen by clicking the play button above. This audio presentation is an editorially-curated selection of stories, selected by an editor, and then summarized and read aloud by artificial intelligence. Some variations in pronunciation, tone or diction may result. We want to know what you think! All feedback is valuable. After youve listened, take our 3-question survey here to let us know what you think. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., holds a protest sign with fellow Democrats as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP) AP Jon Stewart wasnt impressed. The comedian roasted congressional Democrats on his weekly podcast Thursday after what he described as a failed attempt to protest President Donald Trump during his address to Congress earlier in the week. All the sweet sweet Democrats, with their protest hatched in some high school theater workshop, Stewart said on The Weekly Show. He went on to mockingly describe Democrats talking to one another: Hey, man. Ive got some magic markers in my locker, why dont we just write phrases on postcards and while the president is honoring people whove lost their children and Gold Star families and giving people West Point commendations, Im just gonna hold up a handwritten sign that says, Im sad. This isnt right. Stewart concluded: Oh, were f---ed. Trump set a tone of division almost from his first words, calling his predecessor Joe Biden the worst president in history and chiding Democrats as so stinting in their praise of him they would not even grant him perfunctory applause. He placed himself alongside the countrys first president, George Washington, when discussing what he said were the flood of early achievements of his second term. He was speaking to a house divided. Republicans stood and cheered. For Democrats, it was silence, with occasional shouts of protest, with the only applause when he announced that Ukraine wanted to restart peace negotiations. Trump leaned hard into cultural flashpoints his opposition to affirmative action, diversity programs and transgender rights. In a stunning breach of protocol and a measure of the fractious politics, one Democrat, Rep. Al Green of Texas, stood up and shouted at Trump, gesturing toward the president with his cane. He refused to sit when asked by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who ordered him removed. Trump described Democrats as a lost cause. There is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy, he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Right Side Broadcasting Network reporter Brian Glenn interviews Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks in Rome, Ga., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) AP A White House reporter who works for pro-Donald Trump streaming platform called Real Americas Voice reportedly was on the take for hundreds of thousands of dollars from the presidents political committees. Brian Glenn, who made news after he chided Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit to the Oval Office, and the outlet has taken $192,000 from the committees, according to a report from the Huffington Post. And there was more: " ... From September 2020 to May 2024, (Glenn) was the most visible face at Right Side Broadcasting Network. Over those years, the outlet took $92,000 in broadcast fees, first from Trumps Save America committee and then from Trumps campaign, according to a HuffPost review of Federal Election Commission filings." More from HuffPo: Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary who had worked on Trumps campaign, also acknowledged the payments. The Trump campaign paid RSBN for the usage of their live stream, she said. She did not address HuffPosts question regarding the ethics of an outlet accepting money from the subject it was covering. Those payments continued after Glenn left RSBN to join Real Americas Voice last spring. The campaign gave the online video outlet an additional $100,000 from June 2024 through the end of the year, capped off with a $57,000 payment on Nov. 14, the week following the election. Glenn made headlines during Trumps Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy. Why dont you wear a suit? Glenn asked. Youre at the highest level in this countrys office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit? he continued. A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office. I will wear costume after this war will finish, Zelensky responded. Maybe something like yours, yes. Maybe something better, I dont know, he added. Maybe something cheaper. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bible during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) AP President Donald Trump wants to set the record straight on why he thanked Chief Justice John Roberts ahead of his joint address to Congress. Trump was caught on a hot mic thanking Roberts and telling him he wont forget as he walked to the podium on Tuesday. The comments led to immediate speculation on social media platforms and news outlets as to why Trump was thanking the Supreme Court justice. Trump claimed he was thanking Roberts for swearing him in on Inauguration Day in a late-night post to Truth Social. The Fake Play the Ref News, in order to create a divide between me and our great U.S. Supreme Court, heard me say last night, loudly and openly as I was walking past the Justices on the way to the podium, thank you, to Chief Justice John Roberts, Trump wrote. Like most people, I dont watch Fake News CNN or MSDNC, but I understand they are going crazy asking what is it that I was thanking Justice Roberts for? They never called my office to ask, of course, but if they had I would have told these sleazebag journalists that I thanked him for SWEARING ME IN ON INAUGURATION DAY, AND DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB IN SO DOING! The Fake News never quits! he added. Trump shook the hands of the Supreme Court justices as he walked to the podium to address a joint session of Congress earlier this week. As he shook Robertss hand, he could be heard thanking him again. Thank you again. Thank you again. Wont forget, Trump said to Roberts. Thank you again. Thank you again. Wont forget, President Trump says as he shakes the hand of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts. pic.twitter.com/uFrvem6rUj Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) March 5, 2025 Some speculated that Trump was thanking Roberts for authoring the majority opinion that granted Trump broad immunity from criminal prosecution last summer. MSNBCs Jordan Rubin wrote that the presidential immunity decision helped Trump avoid a trial in the federal election interference case and could even help him overturn his state conviction in New York in his only criminal case that went to trial before he won the 2024 election. However, Roberts has not always sided with Trump. Just one day after Trumps speech, the Supreme Court ruled against him and reinstated a lower-court order requiring his administration to release frozen foreign aid. Emmanuel Tolentino is being sought by police on charges involving multiple burglaries of businesses last year. Canva for NJ.com Authorities are looking for a 26-year-old New Jersey man charged with committing eight burglaries at businesses in five Somerset County towns. Emmanuel Tolentino, of Scotch Plains, was arrested Jan. 29 on a burglary charge, but later released from the Somerset County jail. He is being sought after being linked to additional burglaries, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office said. A 17-year-old from Roselle is also charged in two of the burglaries. Tolentino typically gained entry by prying open a rear door before stealing money from cash registers. Tolentinos crime spree began on Nov. 26 at 9:20 p.m. at a store on Route 206 in Somerville, officials said. Three days later, he broke into a store on Route 22 east in Green Brook at about 1:45 a.m. and used a tool to open the cash register, authorities said. About 20 minutes later, Tolentino tried to hit a business on Route 22 in North Plainfield, but he fled when an alarm was activated, prosecutors said. Five minutes later he broke into another business, also on Route 22 in North Plainfield, prosecutors said. He used a crowbar to open the register and fled with cash, prosecutors said. On Dec. 2, Tolentino, joined by the teenager, returned to the Somerville business where he started his crime spree and stole from it again at about 9:15 p.m., authorities said. The pair then headed to Bridgewater and burglarized three stores at a strip mall located on Washington Valley Road, authorities said. They tried to break into two other stores but failed to get inside, officials said. Later that night, Tolentino and the teen burglarized a business on Washington Valley Road in Warren by prying open the side door, prosecutors said. Tolentino and the teen were captured on surveillance video in both Bridgewater and Warren. Tolentino was arrested on Dec. 4, Dec. 9 and Jan. 29 on charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief, but was released each time by a judge. He is being sought for the Warren and North Plainfield burglaries. Anyone with information about Tolentino is asked to call the prosecutors office at 908-231-7100 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All tips will be kept confidential. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A police officer pulled an unconscious driver from a car that caught fire after a collision with a tanker truck on Route 22 early Wednesday in Somerset County, authorities said. Bridgwater Officer Noah Allat responded at 2:11 a.m. on Route 22 westbound near the Thompson Avenue exit after the car hit the back of the tanker, police said. A 26-year-old passenger escaped the burning vehicle, but the driver, a 44-year-old North Plainfield resident, was knocked unconscious, police said. Video posted on the police departments Facebook page shows flames rising from the car as Allat arrived. The truck driver told Allat the tanker was empty, but had stored a diesel and kerosene mix the night before. A Bridgewater police officer rescued a driver from a fiery blaze early Wednesday morning after a collision with a tanker truck, officials said. Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department Allat ran to the car, pulled the driver out and dragged him to safety. The tanker was exiting the Speedway gas station on Route 22 west when the crash occurred, police said. The truck travelled about 685 feet with the car stuck to its rear before pulling over, police said. The driver of the car was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, police said. Firefighters had the blaze under control within 45 minutes, according to the Martinsville fire department. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Its big news that New Orleans chef Melissa Araujo opened a second restaurant in a much bigger location in Mid-City. Shes drawn accolades for her Bywater restaurant Alma and been named a semifinalist for the James Beard: Best Chef South this year and last year. Araujo sees her journey as an immigrant success story. I am the American dream, she says. I started this journey with pop-ups in 2016, opened my first Alma in 2020, then another bigger location four years later. I am first-generation American. And Ive worked my ass off to get to this point. Alma Cafe Where 301 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 872-9975; eatalmanola.com When breakfast and lunch daily How dine-in Check it out Chef Melissa Araujos modern Honduran food in Mid-City Born in Honduras and raised in New Orleans, Araujos resume includes stints at Doris Metropolitan and Restaurant Revolution before leaving to stage in Italy. She also runs Oscar, the kitchen at Pirogues Whiskey Bayou in Arabi. Araujo says the current anti-immigrant backlash in America is affecting restaurants in New Orleans and around the country, including hers. Shes gotten hate messages on Instagram, anonymous threats meant to intimidate her. Im not going anywhere, she says. My uncle fought in the Vietnam War, my brother was a Navy Seal, my other brother, Salvatore, was an Army Ranger killed in action. I was in ROTC through high school and college. We paid with blood to be in this country. Nobody can tell me that doesnt matter. The chef is expanding her queer- and woman-owned company strategically. Rather than reinventing the wheel, she is replicating what works and growing a recognizable brand. Fans of her homey, intimate Bywater restaurant will recognize many elements at the new place, though it is much larger. The space has bright white subway tile and walls of family portraits. There are two painted images of the Mayan moon goddess Ix Chel, a deity of female power and fertility, also the restaurants logo. Araujo kept the new spots menu almost the same as the original. Savory pastelito meat pies are similar to empanadas, with crisp, braided edges. The Honduran breakfast has beans with eggs, plantains, avocado, crema and queso fresco. A puffy, griddle-warmed baleada sencilla delivers comfort for breakfast or brunch, topped with eggs, refried beans, house-made crema and slices of avocado. The Deep South chicken sandwich has a buttermilk-brined fried thigh with coleslaw, the addictively creamy pink Honduran crack sauce, pickles and mayo and is served with fries. An oyster bar is new, doubling as a daytime tortilla station, where cooks make flour and corn tortillas by hand. There will be an oyster happy hour, much like she offers at Oscar, with oysters from St. Bernard Parish, offered raw ($1 each) or char-grilled ($1.50), along with special prices on draft beer and wine. Although shes opening from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to start, a happy hour will launch soon, along with dinner service. Shes been playing with dinner entrees on Fridays in the Bywater spot. Her skill and polish shine in dishes including aguachile, whole fish, rib-eye carne asada, her version of duck confit and grilled local shrimp topped with Calabrian chili butter. Zac Hill combines Japanese and Southern influences at Gaijin Sandos pop-up in New Orleans Zac Hill told us about learning to cook, becoming interested in Japanese cuisine and how he started Gaijin. A dedicated entrance for the coffee bar gives customers the chance to pop in, order their latte and get some grab and go pastries. Bywater Alma has a scattering of outside tables, and Alma Mid-City has a large deck with 42 seats. The patio area is awaiting flowers and greenery to buffer the street view. Inside, a bar made from 200-year-old carved wooden doors has room for 12. Add the dining room into the mix and about 160 guests can enjoy the chefs modern Honduran cuisine. I dont say Im the best chef in the world, Araujo says. But I will be the chef that opens doors for Honduran cuisine. My objective is to survive the next four years, give good customer service, maintain my quality, keep my guests happy, do the right thing by my team. My guests feel at home in Bywater, and theyll feel the same thing here. In the House Criminal Justice Committee, as Stephen Gruver watches, left, Rae Ann Gruver wipes a tear from her eye while testifying on HB78 by Rep. Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette, right, which is a bill to increase criminal penalties for hazing related to the death of Max Gruver at LSU Wednesday March 21, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. Max Gruver's photo is in front of the trio. Orleans Parish School Board president Katie Baudouin, New Orleans City Council members and other officials at a news conference on Nov. 18 where school board members and city council members announced a settlement that included more than $20 million in funding for the district and various programs. Mayor LaToya Cantrell now says her office does not support the settlement. (Photo by Marie Fazio) Devon and Cornwall Police have stated that they are launching a new partnership with Auror, a software development company, to improve their response to organised retail crime across the region. The force has said the initiative will help police identify prolific offenders, strengthen investigations, and better support businesses affected by theft. According to Devon and Cornwall Police, they will be the first force in the country to enable direct reporting through Auror, with a force-wide rollout planned for officers and staff. They have said that the platform will provide critical intelligence to help tackle shoplifting more effectively. Superintendent Emma Butler Jones, Head of Prevention and Local Policing, said: Direct reporting to the police through the Auror platform has revolutionised how we tackle business crime in Devon and Cornwall. Auror not only allows us to investigate more efficiently but also provides unprecedented access to intelligence across a vast area, enabling us to detect more crimes and reduce harm to our victims. Devon and Cornwall Police have reported that crime reports submitted through Auror are processed on average 8.5 times faster than traditional methods, allowing investigations to progress more quickly. The force has also stated that charge and offender outcome rates for crimes reported via the platform are between six and seven per cent higher. They have attributed this to a more efficient reporting process. The police have also said that intelligence from Auror has contributed to court orders designed to reduce reoffending, with these orders often carrying higher sentences. Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: All traders, especially small businesses, are key to thriving towns and city centres, so we must do our utmost to make Devon and Cornwall a safe place to do business. The roll-out of this new system will help the police to build a picture to ensure offenders are brought to justice and ultimately help identify the worst offenders more easily. Devon and Cornwall Police have encouraged businesses to use the Auror platform to report shoplifting incidents, stating that consistent reporting will help them target resources more effectively. The force has emphasised that business crime is under-reported and that working with businesses and communities is key to reducing crime. The police have reminded the public that crime can be reported online, via the 101 non-emergency service, or anonymously through CrimeStoppers. New Yorkers cant afford to live here, City Hall is in chaos, and Donald Trump is corrupting our citys independence. Its time to stand up, Ms. Adams said in a statement announcing her candidacy. I never planned to run for mayor, but Im not giving up on New York City. Our city deserves a leader that serves its people first and always, not someone focused on themselves and their own political interests. Ms. Adams, whose Council district covers a section of southeast Queens, will kick off her candidacy Saturday afternoon at Rochdale Village, a sprawling middle-class co-op complex in Jamaica, Queens. The choice of locale is representative of how Ms. Adams will try to build her base, hoping to target Black and Latino women. If she were to win, Ms. Adams would make history not only as the first female mayor, but also as the first person to successfully make the transition from Council speaker leading the citys legislative branch to becoming its chief executive. Her entry into the race was reported by Politico. As Council speaker, Ms. Adams, who is considered a moderate Democrat, has earned a reputation for being able to work with the most ideologically diverse Council in recent memory. She will try to use that to her advantage in the ranked-choice voting system, where as many as five candidates can be listed in order of preference. Her moderate views and scandal-free record could draw voters from Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Adams, while left-leaning Democrats could view her as a palatable third- or fourth-choice candidate. Just 20 percent of New York City voters approved of Mayor Eric Adamss job performance in a poll released Wednesday, and more than half said he should resign, demonstrating that he faces a daunting path to re-election this year. Mr. Adamss approval rating in the poll, conducted by Quinnipiac University, was the lowest for any New York City mayor since the university began surveying the citys registered voters nearly 30 years ago. It represented a significant drop from the previous low of 28 percent that Mr. Adams, a Democrat, received in the poll in December 2023. The poll found broad dissatisfaction with the mayor, including from members of his own party. Sixty-seven percent of registered voters, and 78 percent of registered Democrats, disapproved of his job performance, and 56 percent of voters and 72 percent of Democrats said he should resign. Only 18 percent of voters said the mayor, who faces federal corruption charges, was honest and trustworthy. And the poll found that 72 percent of voters were either very dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with the direction of the city, traditionally an indicator of unhappiness with the incumbent mayor. Mr. Rosario, who wore a blue suit and orange tie, did not change expression as the forewoman read the verdict. When asked for a comment after the trial, Mr. Rosario said only, in the future. Mr. Rosario faces up to five years in prison when Judge Eric N. Vitaliano sentences him. Mr. Rosario, who remains out on bail, would have faced an additional 20 years had he been convicted of obstructing justice. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Were glad that the jury acquitted on the obstruction, and its a relief that they did, said Lou Freeman, a lawyer for Mr. Rosario. Mr. Freeman said he planned to appeal Mr. Rosarios conviction for lying to the F.B.I. In 2022, prosecutors for the Eastern District indicted Mr. Rosario and eight members and associates of the Bonanno and Genovese crime families after a yearslong investigation into racketeering and illegal gambling on Long Island. Mr. Rosario, who was fired by the Nassau County Police Department shortly after the indictment, was the only defendant who did not accept a plea deal and whose case went to trial. Mr. Rosario, prosecutors said, was a loyal enforcer of the Bonanno familys business directives, chief among them a push to quash the competition: illegal gambling operations run by rival families. Key witness testimony helped support the prosecutors argument that Mr. Rosario had lied about having no knowledge of the illegal gambling activities or of certain people and venues involved in the scheme. FRONT PAGE An article on Feb. 25 about the ways Germanys hard-right AfD party finds most of its support from citizens in former East Germany referred imprecisely to the controlled political parties of East Germany. The East German communist system included separate parties of nominal Christian Democrats and Liberal Democrats, but not, for most of its existence, of nominal Social Democrats. INTERNATIONAL An article on Feb. 28 about pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine using social media posts to criticize President Volodymyr Zelensky and echo Russias call for elections in Ukraine referred incorrectly to Oleksandr Dubinskys status. He is still a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, and he is in jail awaiting trial on a charge of treason. He is not a former member of Parliament, and he has not been convicted or sentenced to prison. The errors were repeated in a picture caption. An article on Wednesday about the harm that retaliatory tariffs by China, Canada and Mexico could cause to American farmers misstated the amount of American goods that were facing immediate tariffs in Canada. It is $20.5 billion, not $30 billion. OBITUARIES An obituary on Wednesday about the landscape designer M. Paul Friedberg misstated the year that The New York Times published an article on adventure playgrounds. It was 1999, not 1995. The Trump administration said on Wednesday that it would overhaul a $42 billion federal grant program aimed at expanding high-speed internet to the nation, including easing some rules that could benefit Elon Musks satellite internet service, Starlink. The program will be revamped to take a tech-neutral approach in its distribution of funds to states, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement. The programs rules, which were created during the Biden administration, previously favored broadband lines made of fiber-optic cables attached to homes. The department is ripping out the Biden administrations pointless requirements, Mr. Lutnick said. The Commerce Department will also remove regulatory and other barriers that slow down construction and connection to households, he added. Congress created the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program in 2021 to extend broadband to the most remote areas of the nation. The Commerce Department came up with standards and rules for states and territories applying for the funds including the preference for fiber-optic broadband, which provides the fastest internet service speeds. On Wednesday morning in downtown Washington, D.C., Keyonna Jones stood on her artwork and remembered the time when she and six other artists were summoned by the mayors office to paint a mural in the middle of the night. BLACK LIVES MATTER, the mural read in bright yellow letters on a street running two city blocks, blaring the message at the White House sitting just across Lafayette Square. In June 2020, when Ms. Jones helped paint the mural, demonstrations were breaking out in cities nationwide in protest of George Floyds murder. The creation of Black Lives Matter Plaza was a statement of defiance from D.C.s mayor, Muriel E. Bowser, who had clashed with President Trump, then in his first term, over the presence of federal troops in the streets of her city. But on Tuesday evening, the mayor announced the mural was going away. Ms. Jones said the news upset her. But, she added of the mayor in an interview, I get where she is coming from. The city of Washington is in an extraordinarily vulnerable place these days. Republicans in Congress have introduced legislation that would end D.C.s already limited power to govern itself, stripping residents of the ability to elect a mayor and city council. Mr. Trump himself has said that he supports a federal takeover of Washington, insisting to reporters that the federal government would run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely, flawlessly beautiful. In recent days, the administration has been considering executive orders in pursuit of his vision for the city. Strong winds dislodged a U.S. Customs and Border Protection surveillance blimp in South Padre Island, Texas, this week, sending it on an unplanned journey of nearly 600 miles across the state until it crashed into power lines outside Dallas, the authorities said. The blimp, which was about 200 feet long, broke free from its tether just after 3 p.m. Monday during a severe wind event, the U.S. Customs and Border Protections Air and Marine Operations division said in a statement. Maximum wind gusts were around 30 miles per hour that day, slightly stronger than normal, said Ben Ellzey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Brownsville. Operators lost contact with the white blimp shortly after it became loose, according to the statement. The agency asked residents to report any sighting of it. According to the Air and Marine Operations division, Quinlan Texas Fire and Rescue found the blimp on Tuesday in Hunt County, about 30 miles east of Dallas. Elon Musk arrived on Wednesday at Senate Republicans weekly luncheon on Capitol Hill ready to field questions about the work he is doing for President Trump at the Department of Government Efficiency, the office he formed that has taken a hatchet to the federal bureaucracy with no input from Congress. They had plenty. Republican senators have raised few public complaints about Mr. Musk as he has undertaken mass firings across the government without consulting or informing them. But during the nearly two-hour closed-door meeting, the senators gently questioned him about how they might share feedback, minimize blowback from their constituents and, perhaps, eventually get to vote on the cuts he is making. At one point during the largely friendly exchange, Mr. Musk, who made no presentation of his own, shared his personal phone number with senators and encouraged them to reach out directly with any concerns. Were getting feedback, and we want to respond to our constituents how do we work most effectively to do that? Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota said after the meeting, in characterizing the tenor of his colleagues questions. Yesterday, Senate Republicans were quick to give Elon Musk a standing ovation in the House chamber as President Trump heaped praise on his efforts to overhaul the federal government. Today, though, they seized the opportunity to ask him some questions privately: an hour and 45 minutes worth of questions, to be exact. Musks foray into government led the worlds richest man, a person who intends to colonize Mars, to find himself in the more earthly confines of Senate Republicans regular Wednesday lunch. A phalanx of photographers and reporters waited in a Senate hallway, under a portrait of the former senator from Massachusetts Charles Sumner, hoping to get a chance to ask Musk about his first diplomatic mission to Capitol Hill since Trump took office. The National Endowment for Democracy, a nonprofit that has had bipartisan support over decades for its work promoting democracy abroad, is suing the U.S. government and cabinet officials for withholding $239 million in congressional appropriations. Members of the groups board, which includes current and former Republican and Democratic lawmakers, said the organization filed the lawsuit on Wednesday afternoon as a last resort because it had been unable to get the State Department to restart the flow of money. The group is also asking a court to prevent the government from withholding any future funds appropriated by Congress. The group has had to put about 75 percent of its staff on unpaid leave, and about 1,800 grant projects have received no money since late January, after President Trump signed an executive order freezing all foreign aid. France is willing to discuss extending the protection afforded by its nuclear arsenal to its European allies, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, as the continent scrambles to fend off heightened Russian aggression and diminishing American support. France and Britain are the only two countries in Europe with their own nuclear weapons; only France is in the European Union. Russia and the United States are also nuclear powers. Our nuclear deterrent protects us it is comprehensive, sovereign and French through and through, Mr. Macron said in a televised address that was mostly devoted to the war in Ukraine and Europes safety. Since 1964, it has played an explicit role in preserving peace and security in Europe. I have decided to open the strategic debate on protection through deterrence for our allies on the European continent, Mr. Macron added. Tyler Mitchell was only 23 in 2018, when his portrait of Beyonce became the first Vogue cover by a Black photographer. Already established, he was suddenly a celebrity. But as was true for others before him, notably Richard Avedon, precocious success in fashion left him hungry for artistic recognition. To produce Ghost Images, his first solo exhibition at Gagosian in New York (a previous Gagosian show was held in London in 2022), Mitchell traveled last year to two barrier islands in his native state of Georgia, including Jekyll Island, where enslaved people were transported by ship as late as 1858. Amid bucolic settings, he posed Black models in individual portraits and staged groups, aiming to evoke not only the beauty of the place but the disquieting past that lurks beneath it. His most powerful photographs are the least arty. A haunting image of a young man ensnared in a fishermans net, with one eye prominently visible through the mesh, lives up to its title, Ghost Image. It suggests the horror of entrapment at sea without relying on gimmickry to make the point. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Audience Participation President Trumps 99-minute address to Congress was still providing fodder for late-night hosts on Wednesday. Michael Kosta was unimpressed with how Democratic lawmakers chose to express their opposition. On The Daily Show, Kosta said the speech was a theatrical production where everybody has a role, and they slip right into it. How Trumps suspensions could affect Ukraine The U.S. has stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, U.S. officials said yesterday, days after President Trump suspended military aid. Officials said the pauses were meant to pressure Ukraine to cooperate with Trumps plan to end the war with Russia. Some U.S. officials suggested the suspensions could be fairly short-lived if Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, bent to the demands of the White House. After some prodding and counseling from European leaders, Zelensky is working to get in Trumps good graces. European leaders are set to meet in Brussels today to discuss how to support Ukraine and strengthen their own military capabilities. But Trumps decision to withhold U.S. support could reorder the battlefield. Without U.S.-made weapons, Ukraines forces could start to buckle in as little as four months, analysts said. About 20 percent of Ukraines military hardware comes from the U.S. But that 20 percent is the most lethal and important, one expert said. Mr. Itos proposal had support from some within the companys upper ranks who saw it as a way to keep 7-Eleven in Japanese hands. The belief was that a founding-family-led buyout could help preserve a company culture that prioritizes values such as quality and customer experience over what it views as the typical Western focus on shareholder returns and big profits. Couche-Tard has said it would respect and seek to learn from Seven & is methods of operation. When Mr. Dacus steps into his new role, he will have to convince shareholders that Seven & is new structure and a leadership team led by him and others from the existing management can drive growth without the need for a sale. Seven & is past leaders and its current chief executive, Ryuichi Isaka, have been Japanese executives who rose through the internal ranks, whereas Mr. Dacus has held top positions across a number of global brands. Mr. Dacus, who speaks fluent Japanese and English, has also worked for years in Japans retail industry, including stints at the parent company of Uniqlo and as chief executive of Walmart Japan. He spoke frequently during Thursdays news conference about his experience working night shifts at a 7-Eleven, where his father was a franchisee. Under Mr. Isaka, Seven & i sought to make itself more valuable by moving out of underperforming businesses to focus on 7-Eleven stores in Japan and abroad. In October, the company announced plans to spin off its supermarket division and other peripheral units into a separate holding company. It also set a target of roughly doubling annual sales to about $200 billion by 2030. The proposal is one of the most far-reaching from a mayoral candidate to make New York more livable for families. The city is facing an affordability crisis that has left about half of households struggling to pay for basic necessities such as food and health care. Parents of young children can spend more than $30,000 each year on child care and are more likely to move out of the city altogether because of the cost. Families across the economic spectrum, from the citys poorest residents to upper-middle-class families, deal with the burden of child-care costs, an experience that is so prevalent that nearly all of the nine Democrats running for mayor have been compelled to make affordability a central theme of their campaigns. Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking a second term, has promoted his efforts to lower the cost of child care for low-income families even as his administration has endured frequent criticism for its management of preschool programs. The creation of the citys universal prekindergarten initiative is regarded as the signature policy achievement of his predecessor, Bill de Blasio. Several mayoral candidates are seeking to expand Mr. de Blasios initiatives. Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who announced his bid for mayor last week, said he would expand the citys popular 3-K program to guarantee all children a seat near their homes, as parents complain that some neighborhoods lack enough spots to meet demand. Mara Gay, a New York Times editorial board member, hosted an online conversation with her fellow board member Brent Staples; Nicole Gelinas, a contributing Opinion writer; and Andrew Kirtzman, a former New York political journalist and the author of two biographies of Rudolph Giuliani, to talk about Andrew Cuomos mayoral run, his return after his resignation amid scandal (he has denied wrongdoing), the idea of crisis and stability and what it means that Democrats and American voters are now so willing to accept tarnished figures they previously rejected in one way or another. Mara Gay: I have a big, pretty pressing question. How do the Democrats move on from the past? How do they put the November loss behind them and unite around a message that persuades voters and helps them compete against President Trump? How do they find new leaders? In Washington, Democrats chose Gerry Connolly of Virginia over the sharply talented Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as head of the House Oversight Committee, for instance. Now polls suggest the comeback that Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, is trying to make by running for mayor of New York City is popular with voters. Why are the Democrats holding onto the past so tightly? Whats happening here? Andrew Kirtzman: To the extent there is a straight line between Cuomo and Connolly, its that both men are far more centrist than their competitors. New Yorkers in particular prefer their mayors to be pragmatists only two ideological liberals have won the mayoralty in the modern era, David Dinkins and Bill de Blasio. One was a one-term mayor and the other left office deeply unpopular. But Cuomo enters the race under unique circumstances, in which the public is desperate for a leader who can get the place under control, and may be willing to overlook a lot to do so. Brent Staples: New York Democrats are making a simple, if desperate, calculation: They want to jettison Eric Adams and put behind them the chaos he has visited upon Gotham. Andrew Cuomo is desperate to redeem the family name after he resigned and prayerfully hoping to exploit the Trump effect. The president was elected even after a civil jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. Not an ideal situation politically, but here we are. Indonesian telco Telkomsel is having a busy week at Mobile World Congress 2025, following up MoUs with ZTE and Huawei on Monday with a flurry of deals with Ericsson, Pegatron and TikTok covering cloud-native edge computing, 5G factories and user verification. Under an MoU announced on Wednesday, Telkomsel will collaborate with Ericsson to explore and implement far edge core solutions based on cloud native infrastructure (CNIS) to enhance network performance, flexibility, and scalability while supporting future 5G and edge computing use cases. Telkomsel and Ericsson will also assess implementation of cloud-native network functions (CNFs) to support dynamic, scalable, and automated service deployments in Telkomsels infrastructure, to include ensuring all this can integrate seamlessly with its existing cloud-native ecosystem. The deal also covers talent development focused on 5G Advanced technology, AI-driven networks, cloud-native architecture, and related digital innovations, said Indra Mardiatna, network director at Telkomsel. Through this partnership with Ericsson, we are implementing far edge solutions to enhance network efficiency and accelerate 5G adoption while also preparing Telkomsel talent development initiatives that equip them with the latest technological expertise, he said. Also on Wednesday, Telkomsel said it has signed an MoU with Pegatron 5G, the 5G business unit of electronics manufacturer Pegatron, to implement a 5G smart manufacturing solution for PT Pegaunihan Technology Indonesia, a Pegatron subsidiary operating in Batam. The solution will leverage Telkomsel's 5G network to integrate IoT and automation in the production process to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen quality control, and support mobility within the manufacturing environment. CY Feng, GM of Pegatrons communication products business group, said the adoption of IoT in its manufacturing system will allow for real-time monitoring, reduce potential production errors, and accelerate data-driven decision-making. Telkomsel's support in implementing 5G smart manufacturing at Pegaunihan Technology Indonesia will help us optimize production processes with more advanced automation and improve labor safety standards, he said. This solution also aligns with our strategy to implement smarter, greener, and more sustainable manufacturing. Telkomsel added that the Pegaunihan deployment could serve as a pilot model for implementing 5G technology in the manufacturing sector in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Telkomsel and Pegatron 5G also plan to explore further opportunities in developing 5G and IoT-based solutions that can be adopted by other industries. The Ericsson and Pegatron deals dovetail with an MoU signed by Telkomsel and ZTE earlier this week to collaborate on AI-based technologies, 5G-LAN, and ultra-compact solutions for private industrial networks. TikTok and Huawei MoUs Meanwhile, Telkomsel said Tuesday it has signed an MoU with video platform TikTok to explore ways to leverage network-based authentication solution Telco Verify to provide a safer and more seamless digital experience for TikTok users in Indonesia. Telco Verify allows users to be automatically authenticated by mobile network operators, without the need to enter passwords or one-time password (OTP) codes. Telkomsel said this not only speeds up the authentication process, but also can reduce the likelihood of user account takeover through social engineering or accidental sharing of OTP codes. Telkomsel and TikTok will also collaborate on utilising data clean room technology to enable them to conduct joint analysis of confidential data securely without without any data exchange or disclosure between parties, and thus complying with privacy regulations. Telkomsel says this will enable it to deliver more personalized and relevant services for TikTok users in Indonesia. Telkomsel also signed an MoU with Huawei Indonesia to collaborate on joint innovation in digital technology development, and talent development programmes for Indonesias telecoms workforce. The digital technologies to be explored include improving network coverage and service quality, especially in densely populated areas, optimizing infrastructure investments, VoLTE-based communication solutions and high-quality video and streaming services, and digital technologies in industrial and agricultural sectors. The talent development programme will focus on strengthening workforce skills in digital infrastructure management, cloud technology utilization and AI-based solution implementation. But most historical eras had their gigantic challenges. I wasnt alive for the depths of the Cold War, but that must have been a pretty terrifying time. Healy: Terrifying time. David, this is why I love talking to you. Even in the 1980s, which are remembered as a Reagan golden age, the end of the Soviet Union I remember that fear I felt about the idea of a nuclear holocaust, that it was a different kind of fear than Ive ever felt in my life. And youre right. There is no perfect decade. I remember the hair spray and the bad movies in the 90s, so I dont necessarily want to go back to that. I want to end with this: This Trump moment just has so many people on edge, from Washington, D.C., to farmers and workers in red states who are seeing the system freeze up on them. Theres a kind of casual cruelty at work with all of this momentum of Trumps. You published a book that was a guide to fostering human connection. What has been on your mind over the last several weeks, watching where things are heading, not just in the White House but in the country itself, in terms of that sense of human connection? Brooks: Yeah, its funny. Theres a Bruce Springsteen song from 2012 called We Take Care of Our Own. That song has a brilliant double message which is, We love our people and we take care of our own. But its also, We only take care of our own. And Trump does this. Its all about the in group and the out group. We take care of our own, but those people in the out group, theyre the enemy. And I travel a lot. In my travels, most people are just incredibly generous, in red and blue states, and so I find on a local level people go out of their way for each other. But its at the national level, and when youre dealing with strangers, and especially when youre dealing with the world through the prism of the media, then the nastiness becomes so easy. Trump plays on an abstracted negativity or an abstracted hatred that I dont think shows up all that often it does obviously sometimes, but in day-to-day life. I was 3 years old the first time I mixed up Spanish and English. It would not be the last. It was 1975, and my family had recently migrated from Peru to Northern California. Shortly after our arrival, according to Lozada lore, I asked my parents and older sisters, Vamos a tener todo lo sinisario?, meaning, Will we have everything we need? Except I garbled the word necesario, coming up with the nonsense word sinisario. Everyone chuckled, so I tried to defend myself. Es que yo no se ingles, I said. (Its that I dont know English.) That made everyone laugh harder, because, of course, my mistake had been in Spanish. It was a preview of what the next five decades would bring, as the two languages jostled for primacy in my mind. Our moves back and forth between the United States and Peru during my childhood compelled me to latch on to whichever language I needed most at different times, even while striving to retain the other. Sometimes my English was stronger, sometimes my Spanish. No one had to tell me which language mattered when, or whether one or the other was official. Wherever I was, I knew. In his March 1 executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, President Trump asserts that a single shared language is at the core of a unified, cohesive society, that it serves to streamline communication, promote efficiency and empower new citizens to achieve the American Dream. In recent years, decisions made by the Food and Drug Administration have increasingly moved into the public eye. The agency oversees some of the most politically fraught treatments abortion medication, opioids, Covid therapies and vaccines. Patients and caregivers are also more vocal about their desires, amplified by social media: You may have seen campaigns from families seeking F.D.A. approval for a drug that has a chance of treating their childs rare disease. Dr. Marty Makary, President Trumps nominee to lead the F.D.A., would step into a role increasingly defined by the tension between fostering lifesaving innovation and ensuring that the public is protected from unsafe or ineffective drugs. This will be made even more complicated by the Trump administrations threats to research funding and the distrust of science espoused by Dr. Makarys boss, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The F.D.A. has long been maligned for being too slow in approving drugs for patients with fatal diseases. But when the agency approves a treatment with less robust data to prove its effectiveness, it is maligned for being influenced by the pharmaceutical industry or patient advocacy groups. The rise of gene therapies and other targeted treatments that promise to shift the course of rare diseases will only make this balancing act harder: These therapies cant necessarily be tested in traditional rigorous, large-scale trials because of the inherently small number of people with the diagnosis. Patients have long pushed the F.D.A. on its decisions. In the late 1980s, as the AIDS crisis devastated America, activists surrounded the F.D.A. headquarters to protest what they perceived as overly slow and even obstructionist drug approval processes. Patients were dying as the F.D.A. was waiting for better data to decide whether to approve a drug. Activists argued that there had to be a way to get promising treatments into the hands of patients, outside of clinical trials, before studies were complete. On the night of Feb. 21, Ben Zhou, the chief executive of the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, logged on to his computer to approve what appeared to be a routine transaction. His company was moving a large amount of Ether, a popular digital currency, from one account to another. Thirty minutes later, Mr. Zhou got a call from Bybits chief financial officer. In a trembling voice, the executive told Mr. Zhou that their system had been hacked. All of the Ethereum is gone, he said. When Mr. Zhou approved the transaction, he had inadvertently handed control of an account to hackers backed by the North Korean government, according to the F.B.I. They stole $1.5 billion in cryptocurrencies, the largest heist in the industrys history. To pull off the astonishing breach, the hackers exploited a simple flaw in Bybits security: its reliance on a free software product. They penetrated Bybit by manipulating a publicly available system that the exchange used to safeguard hundreds of millions of dollars in customer deposits. For years, Bybit had relied on the storage software, developed by a technology provider called Safe, even as other security firms sold more specialized tools for businesses. Dear Tripped Up, Last summer, I booked a five-day sailing trip with Tall Ship Experience, a company based in Spain. For 1,350 euros, or $1,450, I would be a volunteer on the crew of the Atlantis, sailing between two ports in Italy. But eight days before, I had a bad fall that resulted in multiple injuries, including eight stitches to my face that doctors said I could not expose to sun or water. The Tall Ship Experience website clearly states that I could cancel for a full refund up to seven days before the trip. But the company revealed it was just an intermediary and the Dutch organization actually running the trip, Tallship Company, had different rules, under which I was refunded 10 percent. I offered to take credit for a future trip, to no avail. Finally, I disputed the charges with my credit card issuer, American Express. But Tall Ship Experience provided a completely different set of terms to Amex, saying I canceled one day in advance. The charges were reinstated. Can you help? Martha, Los Angeles Dear Martha, This story reads like a greatest-hits playlist of travel industry traps: a middleman shirking responsibility, terms and conditions run amok, a credit card chargeback gone wrong, and the maddening barriers to pursuing justice against a foreign company. However, the documentation you sent was so complete and the companys website so confusing that I was sure Tall Ship Experience would quickly refund you. Tallship Company did not respond to requests for comments, but did nothing wrong. It simply followed its own terms and conditions that Tall Ship Experience, as a middleman, should have made clear to you. When you canceled, Tallship Company sent back a 10 percent refund to Tall Ship Experience to then send to you. Thats why I was surprised that the stubborn (though exceedingly polite) Tall Ship Experience spokeswoman who responded to me on behalf of the Seville-based organization argued repeatedly that although she regretted your disappointment, Tall Ship Experience was not at fault. At one point she suggested you should have purchased travel insurance, even as the company scrambled to adjust and update its website as we emailed. Mr. Renn loves city life, and has lived in Manhattan, Chicago and Indianapolis. Carmel is different. Here, church bells chime full hymns over the town square. Its a place where its easy to forget Mr. Renns best-known idea: his warning to Christians that America is in an era of distinct hostility to believers like them, and that they must gird themselves to adapt to, as the title of his recent book put it, Life in the Negative World. Mr. Renns schema is straightforward. Modern American history, he argues, can be divided into three epochs when it comes to the status of Christianity. In positive world, between 1964 and 1994, being a Christian in America generally enhanced ones social status. It was a good thing to be known as a churchgoer, and Christian moral norms were the basic norms of the broader American culture. Then, in neutral world, which lasted roughly until 2014 Mr. Renn acknowledges the dates are imprecise Christianity no longer had a privileged status, but it was seen as one of many valid options in a pluralist public square. About a decade ago, around the time that the Supreme Courts ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges made same-sex marriage legal nationwide, Mr. Renn says the United States became negative world." Being a Christian, especially in high-status domains, is a social negative, he argues, and holding to traditional Christian moral views, particularly related to sex and gender, is seen as a threat to the public good and new public moral order. As one example, Mr. Renn shares the story of the Crossing, a large evangelical church in Columbia, Mo., that sponsored and supported a local secular film festival for years. The close relationship between the conservative church and the progressive arts institution was noted positively in national publications, including The New York Times. The church worked hard to win trust and cultivate a relationship with the local creative community. But when a pastor at the church preached in 2019 that God is not pleased when we blur genders, the film festival bowed to a community outcry and cut those ties. Its just one instance of what Mr. Renn depicts as a pattern: Christians who hold traditional beliefs about a range of social and political issues have come to be treated as pariahs by secular elites even if they have made an effort to avoid gratuitous offense. The phenomenon goes beyond cancel culture to describe a kind of wholesale skepticism of many Christian beliefs and behaviors in domains like academia and the corporate world. Since taking office, the Trump administration has issued orders that threaten to broadly undercut the financial foundation of university based research, including deep reductions in overhead cost reimbursements through the National Institutes of Health. Court challenges have paused some of the cuts, but universities are bracing for uncertainty. The University of Pennsylvania could face a $250 million hit in N.I.H. funding alone. Members of the administration have cast the cuts as a way to reduce wasteful government spending, sometimes in political terms. Last month, Katie Miller, who is working with Elon Musks team to trim federal spending, said the cuts would end liberal D.E.I. deans slush fund. In some cases, schools are pre-emptively cutting their expenses as a precautionary measure. North Carolina State University announced on Feb. 14 that it was freezing most hiring. Stanford University announced on Feb. 26 that it was freezing staff hiring, citing very significant risks to the community. At the University of Louisville in Kentucky, President Kim Schatzel announced an immediate pause on faculty and staff hiring until July. She cited the potential loss of $20 to $23 million in N.I.H. research funding. Dozens of other schools have announced hiring freezes or chills. Many of the cuts are now hitting graduate education, too, which is highly dependent on research grants, leaving students who had dreams of pursuing Ph.D.s with nowhere to go. A graduate program in biological sciences at the University of California, San Diego, usually enrolls 25 new graduate students a year. This year, the number will be 17. A South Korean village near the North Korean border was mistakenly bombed on Thursday by two fighter jets from the Souths own air force, leaving 15 people injured and damaging homes and a church. The jets were taking part in a joint exercise with the United States military when each of them dropped four bombs, according to the Souths military. The bombs were meant to hit a range several miles from the village, but at least one of the South Korean pilots had entered inaccurate coordinates, the military said. Four of the injured people were seriously wounded and required surgery, said officials in Pocheon, a town that includes the village of Nogok, where the bombs fell. Of the other 11, seven suffered shock and minor scratches from falling down. Local news outlets said none of the victims was in critical condition. The military said it was suspending all live-fire drills while an investigation was carried out. The exercise Thursday was connected to annual joint exercises, known as Freedom Shield, that the South Korean and U.S. military carry out every year, and which are set to officially begin on Monday. This article is part of a Women and Leadership special report highlighting women who are charting new pathways and fighting for opportunities for women and others. When Gil Won-ok, a Korean woman, died recently at the age of 96, the international community lost an outspoken warrior in the effort to make Japan accountable for its practice of sexual slavery during the early part of the 20th century. Ms. Gil was one of about 240 so-called comfort women from South Korea who had publicly spoken out about their abuse at the hands of the Japanese military from the 1930s through World War II, and her death left just a handful of survivors to continue the cause. But Mina Watanabe, a Japanese woman who was born years after the war ended, and who had no direct relationship to the practice or its victims, has continued to press for fuller acknowledgment and reparations from Japan. As director of the Womens Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM) in Tokyo, she and the museum focus on sexual violence against women in war and conflict situations with extra attention focused on her homelands history. Ms. Watanabe said she had been interested in womens rights since her school days in Tokyo. When some of the survivors of Japans military sexual slavery system finally came forward in the 1990s, her encounters with them changed my life, she said in an interview in Tokyo. European Union leaders are confronting one of the biggest challenges in the blocs history as an aggressive Russia looms to the east and American support wavers from the west. On Thursday, they pledged to rise to the challenge. Leaders gathered at a specially convened meeting in Brussels to discuss how to bolster both Europes own defenses and its support for Ukraine amid enormously high stakes. They must figure out how to accomplish those aims without further alienating their tempestuous allies in Washington. At the same time, they are struggling to keep a united front even among their own member countries: Hungary did not sign onto a statement released Thursday affirming unwavering support for Ukraine. Officials expressed a new sense of urgency as they promised to push for a strong peace deal for Ukraine and a more independent future for European defense. Airwallex, a global payments and financial platform for growing businesses, says it has signed definitive agreements to acquire CTIN Pay, an intermediary payment service (IPS) licensed company in Vietnam. The acquisition, subject to customary closing conditions, expands Airwallexs existing licences across major Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets, including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, mainland China and Japan. This move, the company adds, deepens the global reach of Airwallexs financial infrastructure, aiding Vietnamese merchants to its overseas expansion, and facilitating international businesses to enter the Vietnamese market. Airwallex says that Vietnams economy, with its strong growth and rapid digital transformation, is well positioned as a strategic growth market for the company in the region. It adds that by expanding its financial infrastructure across Southeast Asia, Airwallex is well-positioned to support businesses in Vietnam, enabling them to scale internationally with greater ease. Airwallex is strategically acquiring companies to strengthen its global presence and build a robust financial foundation for businesses worldwide. The acquisition in Vietnam follows the completion of Airwallexs purchase of MexPago, a Mexico-based payment service provider with an Institution of Electronic Payment Funds (IFPE) licence. Founded in Australia in 2015 and now headquartered in Singapore, Airwallex has achieved significant growth across the APAC region in recent years. Globally, Airwallex has exceeded US$600 million in annualised revenue and US$130 billion in annualised transaction volume a testament, it says, to the growing demand for its cross-border payment solutions and global financial infrastructure. A Russian missile slammed into a hotel late Wednesday in the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, killing at least four people and injuring more than 30 others, the Ukrainian authorities said. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization citizens of Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom had checked into the hotel, Mr. Zelensky said in a statement. They survived because they managed to get down from their rooms in time. Unfortunately, four people were killed in this attack. There must be no pause in the pressure on Russia to stop this war and terror against life, he said. The latest strikes occurred after an announcement from the United States that the country was suspending both military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine in an effort to force Ukraine to the negotiating table with Russia. Officials in Kyiv have warned that without American assistance Ukraines air-defense capabilities would be among the first elements of its security to be compromised. 22% 50% 45% See How Butterflies Are Surviving, or Not, Near You Populations are falling in the United States, a new study has found. Look up whats happening in your area. Its hard to count insects. Even as scientists have found that many populations are in decline, theyve struggled to understand the scale of whats happening. Now, a groundbreaking new study offers the most comprehensive answers to date about the status of butterflies in the contiguous United States. In 20 years, the fleeting time it takes for a human baby to grow into a young adult, the country has lost 22 percent of its butterflies, researchers found. Check out the butterflies in your area If you live in New York, N.Y., 128 species included in the study may be found in your part of the country. A chart of contiguous U.S. population trends among 128 butterfly species found in New York, N.Y. 86 species decreased, 21 showed little change, and 21 increased. 86 species Decreasing nationally 21 Little change 21 Increasing Here are a few you might see: The loss that were seeing over such a short time is really alarming, said Elise Zipkin, a quantitative ecologist at Michigan State University and one of the authors of the study, which was published on Thursday in the journal Science. Unless we change things, were in for trouble. Little-understood and vastly underappreciated, insects play an outsize role in supporting life on earth. They pollinate plants. They break down dead matter, nourishing the soil. They feed birds and myriad other creatures in the food web. Nature collapses without them, said David Wagner, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Wagner, who was not involved with the new research, called it a much-needed, herculean assessment. He praised the studys rigor and noted that the declines in butterflies, amounting to 1.3 percent per year, were in line with other recent efforts to analyze global trends in terrestrial insect populations. Still, researchers didnt have enough data to include some of the most imperiled butterfly species, which probably experienced some of the steepest declines. And the data was quite likely biased toward places where butterflies tend to show up. Unfortunately for nature, Dr. Wagner said, the findings are undoubtedly a conservative assessment. The analysis was based on 12.6 million individual butterflies counted in almost 77,000 surveys across 35 monitoring programs from 2000 to 2020. Change in butterfly abundance, 2000-20 -100% -75 -50 -25 0 +25 +50 +75 +100 245 species decreased 32 showed little change 65 increased More than +100% Outlined species trends were statistically significant -100% -50 0 +50 +100 245 species decreased 32 showed little change 65 increased More than +100% Outlined species trends were statistically significant -100% 245 species decreased Outlined species trends were statistically significant -50 0 32 showed little change +50 65 increased +100 More than +100% -100% 245 species decreased -75 Outlined species trends were statistically significant -50 -25 0 32 showed little change +25 +50 65 increased +75 +100 More than +100% Each dot represents one species. Data for the contiguous U.S. That data came largely from volunteers who, working with various programs, showed up in a certain location on certain days over the years to document every butterfly they saw. The researchers some who specialize in math, others who are experts in butterfly species and behavior took that raw data and harmonized it, creating a model that estimated the changes in abundance. Of the 342 species for which they were able to draw conclusions, 33 percent showed statistically significant declines and less than 3 percent displayed statistically significant increases. Thirteen times as many species decreased as increased. The American lady, an orange-and-black butterfly that ranges from coast to coast, was down 58 percent. The Hermes copper, a rare butterfly found in San Diego County, plummeted by 99.9 percent. Even the cabbage white, originally from Europe and so commonly found munching on vegetables as a caterpillar that its considered an invasive pest, dropped by half. That shocked me, said Nick Haddad, an insect ecologist at Michigan State and an author on the study. If even the cabbage white is declining, then, oh my God. The research could not shed much light on how monarch butterflies are doing, the authors said. Monarchs, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in December recommended for federal protection, have shown staggering declines in their overwintering sites in Mexico and California. But separate new data offered a dose of good news on that front: After hitting an almost record low last year, overwintering monarchs in Mexico rebounded significantly in this years count, made public by the Mexican government and the World Wildlife Fund on Thursday. Scientists attributed much of the increase to an easing of drought conditions along the migration route of eastern monarchs, which travel between the United States, Canada and Mexico. But monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains, which overwinter in California, were at near record lows in this years count. Why are butterflies crashing? Experts blame a combination of factors: habitat loss as land is converted for agriculture or development, climate change and pesticide use. Whats less clear is the extent to which each factor is driving the declines. The study doesnt try to answer that question, but it points to other findings, from the Midwest and California, that insecticides have played a particularly lethal role. A class called neonicotinoids, which Europe largely banned in 2018, was found to be especially deadly. Members of the public are often called upon to plant native milkweed to help monarch caterpillars, but a study in the Central Valley of California found that every single collected sample was contaminated with pesticides. That was true even when landowners said they did not use pesticides, suggesting that the chemicals had drifted or had been applied to plants before purchase. The new findings do show potential fingerprints from climate change. As the world warms, North American species are moving northward in search of more hospitable conditions. When researchers compared the same species in neighboring regions, they found that the northern populations were faring better than southern ones in three-quarters of cases. Moreover, two-thirds of the species that showed overall increases in the United States have ranges with more area in Mexico than in the United States and Canada, suggesting that perhaps they are growing in the northern parts of their range. Without data from Mexico, researchers cant tell whats happening there. The researchers emphasized that solutions are at hand. Some, like tackling climate change and regulating pesticides, need to happen at the policy level. But in the meantime, they encouraged people to create habitat refuges for butterflies and other insects by planting native flowers, shrubs and trees. One butterfly, the Gulf fritillary, appears to have increased its range as homeowners planted passionvine, which its caterpillars eat. And remember those caterpillars, said Collin Edwards, an ecological modeler for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the lead author of the study. If youre spraying something on your plants to keep things from eating them, caterpillars are eating plants, he said. Those are butterflies-to-be. Not a Subscriber? Join O'Dwyer's & Get RFP Access Stop wasting time tracking down RFPs. O'Dwyer's connects you with organizations looking for PR firms & services. Get new business with O'Dwyer's! Join O'Dwyer's With four wins and one draw under their belts from five games in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League, the Offaly hurlers have the weekend off but they could still gain promotion to Division 1A without pucking a ball. The top two teams from Division 1B will be promoted and as it stands four teams are left to battle it out for the top two spots but only two of those teams can overtake Offaly in the table. Offaly sit on top of Division 1B with nine points from their five games. Waterford are second in the table on with six points from four games. Dublin are currently third in the table with four points from four games and while they can still challenge for promotion, they cannot get ahead of Offaly. The other team in the hunt are Carlow who have so far only played three games from which they have amassed four points. READ NEXT: Three Offaly hurling heroes to be joint Grand Marshalls at Tullamore St Patrick's Day Parade Should Waterford or Carlow lose this weekend, Offaly will be guaranteed to finish either first or second in the group securing their promotion to the top flight. While they are still unbeaten with a win and two draws in their three games, Carlow face a difficult challenge this Saturday evening when they travel to Parnell Park to play Dublin. Although two late defeats and some ill-timed red cards have hurt Dublin's chances, they are still in the promotion hunt and this is very much a must win game for them on home ground. Waterford travel to play Westmeath and while that proved to be a tricky fixture for Offaly last weekend, Waterford would be expected to come away with the win on Sunday. READ NEXT: Offaly keep promotion charge on track with hard earned win over Westemath Should Waterford and Carlow both win this weekend, Offaly will have another chance to get promoted before they play again as Carlow have to play Laois the following week in a local derby. Whatever happens in the coming games, Offaly are in a position where they will still control their own fate as they will need a win or a draw over Waterford on Saturday, March 22 to secure promotion. READ NEXT: Screeneys brilliance propels Colaiste Naomh Cormac to victory in Leinster Hurling final A Tullamore man was convicted during last week's Tullamore District Court sitting for spitting in a Garda's eye. Joe Guinan, 2 Tara Crescent, Tullamore pleaded guilty to committing the offence on May 12, 2019 on Station Road, Portarlington. Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that the Gardai were called to an incident on Station Road. The defendant had a laceration to his hand and while he was being taken to an ambulance he spat in one of the Guards' eyes. On another date, on December 1, 2021 Mr Guinan was intoxicated in public and arrested for his own safety. While in a cell in Tullamore Garda Station he damaged a mattress. He also spat at a Guard while he was in the cell and he threw a cup of water over a Guard. The defending solicitor Brian Duffy said his client is 29 years of age. He accepts that these incidents were outrageous behaviour and unacceptable, remarked Mr Duffy. He would like to apologise to all the Gardai concerned. READ NEXT: Eight months prison sentences for Tullamore man for stealing from local stores "He only has a vague recollection of these events. On one of the occasions he had just spent a week in the Portlaoise Psychiatric Services, which he had checked himself into because of a mental health issue. My client had been very close to his father and he took it very badly when his father died. He told me that when he was visiting his father's grave he broke down and thought of suicide. "When he was arrested and put in a station's cell he was seen tying his clothing around his neck. He was in such a state that he couldn't fill out a station form. "My client has a wife and an eight month old daughter. He has a significant work history in the construction industry. Judge Andrew Cody convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment. READ NEXT: Driver caught without insurance in Offaly disqualified from driving for twenty years A Laois electrical engineering company has been fined 400,000 in relation to the death of a Laois father of four in a workplace accident at a Dublin hospital seven years ago. However, the penalty handed down at the Central Criminal Court to the Portarlington company John Fletcher Ltd and a director led to anger in the courtroom with one member of the public describing the sentence as a 'f**king joke'. Emo native Alan Mulhall (34), lived in Portlaoise with his wife and children, when he was fatally injured when a low voltage switchgear weighing 760kg fell and struck his head while he was working at St Patrick's Hospital Dublin on November 23, 2017. John Fletcher Ltd, with offices in Portarlington, Co Laois entered guilty pleas to failing to discharge the duties of an employer as required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at work Act 2005, which resulted in the death of Mr Mulhall. READ NEXT: Prison sentence for Offaly man who spat in Garda's eye The company also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to discharge the duties of an employer and one count of failing to take appropriate organisational measures to avoid the need for manual handling by its employees. David Fletcher (36), a director of the company, entered the guilty pleas on its behalf. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to discharge the duties of an employer. In her victim impact statement, Alan's wife Viki spoke about the impact. He was not given a job that day. He was handed a death sentence that we will carry for the rest of our lives. Health and Safety Authority (HSA) Inspector Kay Baxter told Eoghan Cole SC, prosecuting, that John Fletcher Ltd were contracted to carry out works at the hospital as part of a project to update a generator. READ NEXT: Outstanding Offaly pub nominated in seven categories in Irish Restaurant Awards David Fletcher of Main Street, Portarlington, was the company director with responsibility for this project, including health and safety, the court heard. Neither Fletcher nor the company have previous convictions. Mr Mulhall was an employee of John Fletcher Ltd, having started work as an apprentice electrician in 2001. He was a qualified electrician and had been promoted internally to a site supervisor role. The court heard that the accident occurred in a hospital plant room, during the movement of three low voltage switchgear, which were to be installed as part of the project to upgrade the generator. The HSA are critical of the risk involved in manually moving the switchgear to the plant room, but acknowledge it would not have been possible to use mechanical equipment in the room. Double doors which could also have been used to access the room were obstructed by a temporary generator at the time. READ NEXT: Offaly driver with clean licence told they have penalty points by insurance company These were later upgraded to allow for the equipment to be removed. Mr Cole told Judge Nolan that the State's position is that this work was carried out using an ill-conceived plan. The prosecution also does not accept that Mr Mulhall had the authority on the day to stop the work. The court heard that John Fletcher Ltd engaged with the HSA investigation, but initially denied any wrongdoing or responsibility. During the investigation, David Fletcher and John Fletcher suggested it was relevant that Mr Mulhall was not wearing a construction safety helmet at the time of the incident. However, the engineer's report concluded that this type of hat would have offered no protection from the injuries sustained by the victim. Alan Mulhall is survived by wife Vikki and children Jamie, Sean, Holly and Tom. In a victim impact statement, Mr Mulhall's widow told the court that everything her late husband did was for their family. Mrs Mulhall said he kissed her on the cheek that morning like he did every day on his way to work. He was not given a job that day. He was handed a death sentence that we will carry for the rest of our lives. She spoke of the pain and grief of their loss and its impact on her and their four young children. She said what happened could and should have been avoided. Mistakes cost me my husband and my childrens father, she said, later telling the court their lives had been shattered and would never be the same again. After seven long years of dragging us through courts, all we can hope for today is justice for this devastating and negligent crime. Mr Cole read a victim impact statement on behalf of Mr Mulhall's parents, siblings and sister-in-law. They said their lives were changed forever when they were told their beloved son had been killed. They said Mr Mulhall is greatly missed and is always in their minds and hearts. Michael Delaney SC, defending, said he is instructed to apologise for the breach of duty as an employer which led to Mr Mulhall's death. Counsel said it is now clear that the contract should have been re-done and changes made to the plant room to allow the task to be completed safely. He said the company's fault was that it didn't seek to have these issues addressed before exposing its employees to risk. An accountant's report on the company's financial position was submitted to the court. Mr Delaney said the company is profitable and has cash reserves, which are essential to secure large-scale projects. He said company directors take modest salaries, with David Fletcher's salary being around 60,000. Counsel said David Fletcher is married and has three children. He is an engineer and a grandson of John Fletcher - the company's founder. He had been a director since late 2016 and was relatively junior at the time. Judge Martin Nolan noted the devastating impact of Mr Mulhall's death on his family and described their victim impact statements as heartbreaking. This family will have to continue without the help and guidance of a very good man, the judge said, expressing the court's sympathies to the Mulhall family. He said his function was to do justice to John Fletcher Ltd and David Fletcher and said the evidence showed the plan to transport and unload this equipment was a totally misconceived idea. Anybody looking at it would say this was a very potentially dangerous exercise which was fraught with danger. He said the court was aware that the company was operating within a plan, but that the equipment should have been moved by mechanical means, instead of manually. The judge said he had taken into account the seriousness of the offence, the guilty pleas, and the previous good record when constructing the penalty. He noted that David Fletcher was the responsible director, but the court considered the company had the primary responsibility as the scheme for unloading these devices was particularly ill-conceived. He imposed a fine of 400,000 on John Fletcher Ltd and fine of 5,000 on David Fletcher, both to be paid within six months. As sentence was finalised, voices shouted from the body of the court f**king joke, and do you not realise a man's life is gone. Ms Baxter told the court that these devices weighed between 330kg, around 600kg and the largest one was 760kg. The court heard the HSA recommends a safe load for one person to handle is approximately 25kg. The job on the day was to transport these devices to the hospital from the premises of John Fletcher Ltd. and to move them into the plant room in the hospital where they were due to be installed. Once this equipment was removed from the trailer, it had to be transported over 50 metres of uneven ground to the door, then moved down a corridor to a plant room. The court heard they then had to be manually lifted into the plant room. The court also heard that it was expected that the work would be carried out in a particular sequence outlined in the initial tender documents devised by another firm. Five site visits were conducted before the work was to be done, with David Fletcher attending four of these visits. The court heard the equipment was delivered to John Fletcher Ltd.s premises on November 21, then loaded onto a trailer using a forklift. The court heard that Mr Mulhall and three other John Fletcher Ltd employees arrived at the hospital at around 6am on November 23. The intention was to slide the low voltage switchgear from the trailer using scaffolding planks, then onto a dolly for transport to the plant room. The 330kg switchgear was moved first, with a plastic dolly breaking under its weight. It was then transported using a steel trolley to the plant room. Two contractors on site came to help move the second switchgear, the heaviest one. The court heard it took the six men approximately one hour forty minutes to move this piece of equipment from the trailer towards the plant room. At the plant room door, this switchgear, which was 2.1m tall, was manually tilted to fit through the 2m high door. Once inside the room, this switchgear had to be re-positioned before it was moved to its final installation point. A first attempt was unsuccessful. The low voltage switchgear was moved to another part of the room and as another attempt was made to move it into an upright position, it tipped over and struck Mr Mulhall, causing crush injuries to his head. Sketches recreating the transportation of the switchgear were shown to the court. The HSA started an investigation and a number of witnesses said they were unaware of any mechanical equipment to be used during this job. The devices were later removed from the plant room, using a set of double doors which were obstructed on November 23 by a temporary generator and other devices. Before the low voltage switchgear were removed using these double doors, the generator had to be moved and works carried out to increase the height of the doors. The Wexford-based manufacturer of the switchgear told the investigation that the devices could be partially disassembled to reduce the weight, which wasn't done in this instance. Ms Baxter said this would have reduced the weight of the device by approximately 200kg, but it still would have been very heavy. Ms Baxter agreed with Mr Delaney that the company had a specific contract in relation to the installation of a new generator. She further accepted that substantial works were carried out to allow devices to be moved from the plant room using the double doors. Ms Baxter confirmed that the investigators spoke to David Fletcher and John Fletcher, and both men made references to the construction helmet. She also said that David Fletcher had responsibility for the project and was interviewed in 2018 as part of the investigation. It was accepted that he said during the interviews that he discussed disassembling the devices with Mr Mulhall and said the double doors weren't used as they were too low. It was also accepted that David Fletcher told the investigation that he spoke with Mr Mulhall before the accident and suggested the use of a hydraulic pallet truck, and that Mr Mulhall indicated to him that he preferred the dolly. It was also agreed that there is no evidence that a hydraulic pallet truck was unavailable at the time. It was further agreed that an initial proposal made by the company's solicitors in 2022 was not acceptable, but pleas were entered in January last following discussions between both sides. The court heard that John Fletcher Ltd has been in operation since 1968 and directly employs around 60 employees. John Fletcher paid for Mr Mulhall's funeral, and continued to pay his salary to his widow for a period of time after his death. A lump sum was also paid from the pension scheme. The company also discharged the HSA's and prosecution's costs. Mr Delaney said the company acknowledged in its proposal to the prosecution in 2022 that the system for transporting and unloading was unsafe. He also asked the court to take into account the guilty pleas and previous good record when imposing sentence. JOHN Clendennen TD is encouraging people across Offaly to download the newly launched HSE Health App, a key initiative under Digital for Care, Irelands health and social care digital framework. Anyone aged 16 and over can download the HSE Health App for free from Google Play or the App Store. The apps first phase is particularly beneficial for expectant mothers and provides access to essential health services and records. The app provides quick access to: Medication records (self-declared & scheme-covered), Digital health cards (EHIC, medical card, DPS, etc.), Vaccination records (flu & COVID-19), HSE service info (EDs, Injury Units) and Maternity appointments (for expectant mothers). According to Deputy Clendennen, The app is an evolving programme of work, with new services and features planned each year, including expanding the appointment functionality for all public hospital appointments. This is a challenging undertaking but a key priority for the HSE to deliver for everyone under their care, and work is underway to make public hospital appointment notifications and reminders, and support to quit smoking, available in the app. To view personal health information, users must log in using a verified MyGovID account. This ensures secure access and protects user privacy. Some general health information and HSE services can still be accessed without verification. John Clendennen TD emphasised the importance of embracing digital health solutions, stating: The HSE Health App is a fantastic step forward in modernising and digitising Irelands healthcare system, and I want to acknowledge Minister Carroll McNeill for embracing the initiative. It gives people convenient access to essential health records and services at their fingertips. I encourage everyone to download the app and start using it today or visit HSE.ie for more information. Pakistani telco Jazz owned by global digital operator Veon announced at Mobile World Congress 2025 on Wednesday it is collaborating with Huawei to deploy solar power tech at 1,000 of its mobile base station sites across Pakistan. Under the deal, Jazz will deploy Huaweis iSolar technology at the sites. Jazz said the solution will reduce its energy costs as much as 96% at the sites where the tech is installed. Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim said the project will facilitate the telcos transition to sustainable telecom network infrastructure with green energy, and support its commitment to be carbon-neutral by 2050. We are dedicated to delivering an ideal experience for our customers while mitigating our environmental footprint, he said in a statement. The deployment of iSolar sites takes us further in our sustainability journey, enabling us to provide reliable connectivity powered by renewable energy to our customers. This Beyond the environmental and operational benefits, Jazz also reckons the initial iSolar deployments can serve as a scalable model for future expansion, offering a replicable framework that can be extended. The initial 1,000-site deployment will be completed within the coming months. Ireland is still not at the point of dropping its interstate case against the UK over the Legacy Act, the Irish deputy premier has said. The Irish Government launched an interstate legal case against the UK Government over the laws which halted scores of civil cases and inquests into Troubles deaths. The Act was brought in by the previous Conservative government. The case remains active, with ministers in Dublin wanting to see how Labour resolves its concerns over the legislation before any decision is taken to withdraw the action. While the Labour Government is repealing parts of the Act, including the offer of conditional immunity for perpetrators of Troubles killings, it has decided to retain the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. The Legacy Act has also faced opposition from political parties in Northern Ireland and victims organisations. Irish deputy premier Simon Harris met with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Liverpool on Thursday, as part of the first in a series of UK-Ireland summits between now and 2030. They had also held a meeting in Dublin last week. Mr Harris said he was confident the summit marked a new chapter in the Irish-UK relationship, rooted in the commitments as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. He said Ireland wants to be in a position where the case is no longer necessary but said there was a requirement to get to that point first. The Tanaiste told reporters: Ireland never wanted to find itself in a position where it had to take its nearest neighbour to an international court. Of course we didnt and of course we exhausted every diplomatic and political avenue before having to take that case. Ive been very clear since the election of the still relatively new British government that we want to be in a place where we can no longer need to have that case alive. Of course, we have to get to that point first. There is a sequence to all of this. He said it was very welcome to see a commitment to repealing and replacing the Legacy Act included in the Kings Speech on the House of Commons legislative agenda. But of course, as with anything, whats in that legislation matters. Weve got to make sure that we can bring victims with us, bring victims families with us, bring the representative groups with us, that we can engage with the parties in Northern Ireland. Mr Harris added: I want to try and get to a point in the weeks ahead where it will become clear, is it possible for the two governments to take a joint approach to legacy. One that is, of course, human rights compliant, and one that can, of course, win the confidence of people in Northern Ireland. And and when we get to that moment, and well obviously then review the future of the interstate case. Asked specifically if he supported the ICRIR, Mr Harris said he was very aware of the deeply held views of Northern Ireland political parties and victims groups on the matter. He said: I dont want to cut across conversations that the Secretary of State and I are having in good faith, because we want to allow a period of time to have intense engagements between the Irish and British governments. I instinctively approach this issue from the perspective of believing that when the Irish and British governments work together and particularly work together on tricky, difficult and painful issues that that offers the best opportunity to make progress. That can only happen if theres an agreed landing zone. He added: The Irish position, though, has always been very clear in relation to any mechanism thats put in place obviously having to be human-rights compliant. The current legislation obviously wasnt going to work. Theres a recognition from the British government in relation to that, and also, crucially, trying to gain the confidence of those most affected in terms of the process. So I dont want to be overly prescriptive, because I dont want to be unhelpful to the process, but I do know this: I believe in the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, we have an honest and honourable interlocutor. Severe traffic disruption in the heart of Tullamore is significantly affecting both motorists and public transport. Transport for Ireland Local Link has advised passengers that the hospital stop will be completely inaccessible while essential works continue. Several key bus routes are impacted including: 840 Banagher to Tullamore; 815 Tullamore to Athlone; 4994 Ballyroan to Athlone; 10062 Stradbally to Athlone. Passengers on northbound services must use the temporary stop on Harbour Street. Southbound services into Tullamore remain unaffected. The disruption is due to ongoing street enhancement works under the Urban Greenway project, which has forced a one-way traffic system on Columcille Street. Northbound traffic over the Kilbeggan Bridge is being diverted via Harbour Street. These major works including new paving installation will continue until May. In addition Offaly County Council has announced the temporary closure of Tanyard Lane between O'Connor Square and the southern entrance of Tanyard Car Park as part of the completion of the Roselawn link road onto High Street. The works form part of the new route from Tanyard through Roselawn onto High Street. Traffic Changes: *Northbound traffic from Harbour Street will not be able to access Kilbeggan Bridge. *Kilbeggan Bridge will be restricted to one-way traffic. Diversion routes are in place *Offaly County Council acknowledges the significant inconvenience caused and has apologised for the disruption. READ NEXT: Prison sentence for Offaly man who spat in Garda's eye READ NEXT: Outstanding Offaly pub nominated in seven categories in Irish Restaurant Awards The Hares Corner, an innovative biodiversity initiative by the nonprofit organisation Burrenbeo Trust in conjunction with Offaly County Biodiversity Office, is being rolled out this year to landowners in Co. Offaly. This follows the successful growth of the initiative, which has helped create 1,600 habitats for biodiversity across four counties since its launch in 2021. Inspired by the term The Hares Corner - an old farming expression for an awkward section of a field which wasnt intensively farmed and so was left to nature - the aim of this project is to help create habitats that have proven benefits for biodiversity, for climate-action as well as for the wellbeing of participants. The Hares Corner project offers landowners practical support to carry out simple but impactful actions for nature such as creation of a wildlife pond, a native mini-woodland, a wildlife hedge, a heritage mini-orchard, with apple trees from Irish Seed Savers Association and/or a bespoke plan for nature for their site. This support is offered in the form of materials (mixed species of native trees and heritage apple trees), micro-funding (towards machinery costs for pond digging), professional services (such as a hydrologists visit to help plan a pond, or an ecologists visit to plan for nature) and guidance. Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity officer for Co. Offaly commented, Offaly County Council are delighted to partner with The Hares Corner project and warmly welcome its launch in Co. Offaly. Many people want to do something proactive for nature and just need that extra nudge and some expertise in how to do it. The Hares Corner meets this need by providing the encouragement, advice, and micro-funding to do it. We look forward to providing the local support necessary to bring this fantastic opportunity to participants in Co. Offaly. The growing demand for this initiative has been truly inspiring. Many landowners are eager to support nature but often struggle with knowing where or how to begin. The Hares Corner initiative bridges this gap between awareness and action by offering practical guidance, essential materials, and, when needed, micro-funding - helping turn intentions into impactful biodiversity actions on the ground, says Fionn-Doyle Chowen of Burrenbeo Trust. The Hares Corner initiative in Co.Offaly in 2025 will be funded through a combination of public and private sector funding, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Local Biodiversity Action Fund and is an action of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023 2030, and private funders. Applications are open from 6 th to 20 th March for landowners in Co. Offaly as well as counties Limerick,Galway, Carlow, Sligo and Meath, and can be accessed through www.burrenbeo.com/thc . If the call is oversubscribed, then priority will be given to Burrenbeo Trust Members. Landowners, farmers, community groups, and schools with land in an eligible countyor with permission to undertake work on a site within that countyare welcome to apply. However, those participating in the ACRES or NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, as well as landowners with sites in designated areas (SACs, SPAs etc), are not currently eligible. For further information: burrenbeo.com/thc Tullamore's Charleville Castle has been used for location work for number of major films The death has taken place in England of Michael McMullen, who had long-standing connections with Ireland and county Offaly. The late Mr McMullen commenced restoration work on Charleville Castle, outside Tullamore, in 1971. He was a well-known and colourful character around Tullamore and the Midlands at the time. After his lease ended Mr McMullen continued to visit Ireland regularly and was well-known in the antiques trade. He passed away at the Countess of Chester Hospital on Wednesday, January 1, aged 82 years. His funeral will take place on Tuesday next, March 11, at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, Cheyney Road, Chester, followed by Committal at Chester Crematorium. In an online tribute, his friend David Davies writes: "Michael will be sadly missed by his family, friends and all at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church. Michael McMullen was a cultured man with an almost Victorian/ Edwardian approach to life. I met him as we were both members of the congregation at St Thomas Church in Chester. He had a small group of family and friends who he appreciated greatly. He was very proud of his brothers David and James and their scholarly achievements in Cambridge and Oxford. He had a wealth of stories about his time working overseas. One example being his time as a copy writer in New Zealand in the 1960s. Later in life he had taken on a gothic style castle in Tullamore, Republic of Ireland and undertook extensive restoration work of the site which dated back to the 17th century. Charleville Castle has been used for movie location work (Northanger Abbey, Becoming Jane etc) and is a noted Irish building. Michael moved to Chester in the 1980/90s. He travelled frequently to Ireland to attend to business matters. He was determined in his business affairs and would pursue matters in a single minded way. He is the only man I know who has taken a country (Ireland) to an international court (ECHR). He had a great knowledge of antiques and would take a keen interest in auctions and the general antiques market. Whilst I knew him he lived a fiercely independent life. He often put me to shame in his ability to travel to Ireland or in this country despite his increasing mobility issues. He was the last man I knew to wear a fedora as an everyday hat rather than an affectation. I will miss him." The mobile payment group Safaricom M-Pesa, along with another, unnamed financial service provider, has signed a service level agreement (SLA) with the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia to transform healthcare payments through a secure, efficient and scalable digital payment system. This partnership aims to enhance financial inclusion, streamline healthcare payments, and improve service delivery nationwide. The initiative will integrate M-Pesas innovative digital payment solutions into health facilities, facilitating cashless transactions for medical services, automating Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) payments, and ensuring prompt salary disbursements for health extension workers. The new system will incorporate interoperable options such as mobile wallets, USSD, QR codes and card payments, significantly reducing the reliance on cash, increasing transparency and enhancing operational efficiency within Ethiopias healthcare system. This collaboration is part of a comprehensive nationwide effort involving the National Bank of Ethiopia, the Ministry of Finance, health insurance services, and the UNDPs Better Than Cash Alliance. A pilot phase of the initiative will be launched in selected health facilities across all regions, focusing on the digitisation of payments for medical services, salaries, and benefits. To support the smooth adoption of this system, financial literacy training will be provided to healthcare workers and CBHI beneficiaries. Elsa Muzzolini, Safaricom M-Pesa Financial Services CEO, describes the partnership as a major step toward building a digital financial ecosystem that makes healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Ethiopians. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. WATCH: Zelenskyy meeting blows up as Trump suggests Ukrainian president needs to be more grateful President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance got into a heated exchange with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr ... (Image by YouTube, Channel: PBS NewsHour) Details DMCA US President Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukraine leader Zelensky in the Oval Office Friday February 28, 2025 As we know this past Friday saw something unprecedented happen in the Oval Office between Pres. Trump, VP Vance & Ukraine leader Zelensky. With the press in attendance asking questions what began as civil diplomacy descended into loud recriminations between them. Verbal antagonism toward each other in a display of anti-diplomacy never seen before coming out of the Oval Office. It was billed as an agreement to be signed between Zelensky and Trump giving US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals as payment for the $billions in weapons sent to Ukraine by the US after February, 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine with its special military operation. As to the back and forth accusations between them: Trump accused Zelensky of being "Ungrateful" and Vance saying he was being "disrespectful" toward the US president. Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of "conducting a propaganda tour" in Pennsylvania in October to campaign for the Democrats. Zelensky got into the act saying, "First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice ocean and do not feel now, but you will feel it in the future." Trump replied, "Do not tell us what we are going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we are going to feel... "You're in no position to dictate to us." On and on it went. No agreement was signed as Zelensky was unceremoniously shown the door. After this debacle in the Oval Office the Europeans seemingly in open contempt for Trump made it a point to still express support for Zelensky. Leaders from France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, Norway, Finland as well as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand gave their support to the Ukraine leader. The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said of Zelensky, "Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. You are never alone, dear President." These leaders met with Zelensky in London Sunday morning to work on their own cease fire plan to end the war in Ukraine-which they said would be discussed with the US. No details of the plan were disclosed. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). On February 28, 2025, US President Donald Trump made a brilliant diplomatic move, bloodlessly destroying the nascent European neocolonialists and World War III. Look who's come! Almost 250 years after the US gained independence,(1) European colonizers returned to America. On February 28, 2025, the whole world watched this visit, watching the quarrel in the Oval Office of the White House. It would be a mistake to think that a person calling himself the president of Ukraine was rude to the legally elected president of the United States. Zelensky is a nobody! Colonial Europe was rude to the US president by sending its vassal to the White House. The attempt of Europeans to use American money, the deaths of Ukrainians and the destruction of Russia for their own benefit has reached a critical point of no return! To understand the reasons for what happened in the White House, it is necessary to accept the unpleasant truth about Ukraine.(2) Namely: 1. The Ukrainian state ceased to exist 12 years ago. At that time, the country was captured by European and Russian invaders. 2. The Ukrainian government does not represent the interests of the Ukrainian people and acts in the interests of the European invaders.(3) 3. The European invaders of Ukraine need a big war with Russia. 4. The most unpleasant thing. The US government to a certain extent supported European initiatives in Ukraine. This was done in order to lure the Europeans into a trap. Then the Americans decided to change their attitude to the events and stop the Ukrainian tragedy.(4) For the US, this would have been more profitable than continuing the war. This approach caused indignation among the Europeans, who mistakenly believed that they could use the US for their own purposes until the end of history. The Europeans' Stalemate In the current situation, the EU has no chance of survival. And here's why. It's one thing to kill hundreds of thousands of deceived Ukrainians. Another thing is for the Europeans themselves to die fighting Russia. The Europeans did not send their troops when the Russian invaders were in Gostomel near Kiev. Then the situation for the Europeans was much better. It was 2022, the Ukrainians wanted to fight Russia and the US supported this desire as well as all other European initiatives in Ukraine. Now, the situation is much worse. Ukrainian citizens no longer want to fight Russia. And the US also does not want to continue the war. This makes the chances of the Europeans starting a direct military conflict with Russia zero. But the Europeans also cannot continue the war with the hands of Ukrainians and with American money! It is impossible to leave the situation unchanged. The emerging new world order does not provide for the existence of the EU as an economic and political union. The United States, having accumulated sufficient economic and scientific-technical capital, is beginning to consolidate humanity for a technological breakthrough!(5) Elon Musk is already looming in the White House! In such a situation, Europeans who want to get rich on the ruins of the Third World War are not only unnecessary, but also a dangerous element of international politics. The revival of colonialism in the era of Elon Musk is unacceptable. Europeans are hopelessly outdated with their methods of international politics. The primitivism of European politicians is obvious. However, the instinct of self-preservation of European politicians is stronger than their stupidity. And this instinct of self-preservation will suggest an elegant way to avoid destruction. Disband the EU and join the new world order that Donald Trump is creating as individual states. In the modern world, all resources will be subordinate to the United States and there are no resources for the functioning of such a large entity as the EU. Conclusion If European politicians understand all of the above, then the scene in the Oval Office of the White House will be the first and last battle with the resurgent colonialism of Europe. I want to believe that this is so. And humanity will not need to organize a new funeral for the European monster! Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Samut Prakan, Thailand, February 27th, 2025 - Charoensin Asset Co., Ltd. is rolling out an innovative initiative to foster a deeper sense of community among its tenants by distributing brand logo shirts across its residential properties. This move underscores the company's commitment to enhancing tenant connections and promoting a unified community spirit throughout its diverse range of properties located in provinces across Thailand. Fostering a Stronger Sense of Community At Charoensin Asset Berlin, March 5, 2025 CLIMATOS GmbH, the well-known TV-featured provider of ultra-light balcony solar systems, is joining BalkonSolar Deutschland GmbH. The founders of CLIMATOS will remain on board. With 2,000 installed systems, CLIMATOS has proven that tenants can actively contribute to the energy transition. BalkonSolar Deutschland GmbH, specializing in ultra-lightweight plastic modules, is expanding its portfolio through this acquisition and strengthening its market position in the B2B sector. B2C and B2B Dubai, UAE - February 22, 2025 - Source International, a dynamic force in global food distribution, today marks its first anniversary, celebrating a year of remarkable growth, robust partnerships, and unwavering commitment to providing unparalleled food solutions. Since its inception on February 22nd, 2024, the company has rapidly established itself as a trusted partner for sourcing, supplying, and delivering premium ingredients to the region's burgeoning culinary landscape. In a market often A Salem man is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a local Tesla dealership in January and returning a month later to fire into the showroom, according to federal prosecutors. Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arraigned in federal court Wednesday on a single charge of possessing an unregistered destructive device. Salem police responded about 3:45 a.m. on Jan. 20 to a report of a person throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla cars at the local dealership on Mission Street, according to a federal affidavit. Police found a fire on the sidewalk in front of the dealership and another fire at the back of a Tesla car parked in front of the building when they arrived, the affidavit said. A witness reported that he saw someone walking toward the dealership, pulling a collapsible wagon. He saw a man pull out a bag in front of the dealership, light an object on fire and then throw the object at a red Tesla SUV parked in front, according to the affidavit. The man also threw an object through the showrooms window, the affidavit said. Surveillance footage showed the man lighting a Molotov cocktail-style device and throwing it at a Tesla Cybertruck parked in front of the Tesla business, the affidavit said. He threw another explosive at the building and one at the parked red Tesla SUV, the footage revealed. At another point, the intruder grabbed what appeared to be an AR-15-style rifle with a suppressor and point it in the direction of the witness as the witness drove off, the affidavit said. About a month later, police were called back to the same dealership on a report of damage from apparent bullets fired into the showroom and striking a car, the affidavit said. Surveillance footage from a patrol car on Feb. 19 captured a vehicle parked near the dealership with a man firing into the building and at least one car at 3:53 a.m., the affidavit said. A security guard was on the premises but didnt hear gunshots, leading investigators to believe a suppression device was used to mask the shots, the affidavit said. Investigators discovered the vehicle in the video was registered to Lansky and later observed it at his home in Salem. Investigators said they linked Lansky to the property damage in January and February. Tesla showrooms and dealerships across the country have been targeted with protests and vandalism since Donald Trump became president and chose billionaire Elon Musk, Teslas chief executive, to help push his agenda. Tesla Motors estimated it suffered approximately $500,000 in damage as a result of the attacks. Seven Teslas were damaged, with one completely destroyed. The Molotov cocktails were made from glass wine bottles and filled with ignitable liquid, according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Styrofoam material was placed in the bottles and cloth was wrapped around the base of each device. Four unused devices were left on the property. Lansky was arrested Tuesday in Salem. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Jolie A. Russo and was ordered to remain in custody pending trial. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Salem police investigated the case. Deputies and salvage divers prepare to search the Columbia River for a long-missing car on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Beth Nakamura, The Oregonian/OregonLive Deputies blocked the road leading into the Cascade Locks Marine Park on Thursday morning as the Hood River County Sheriffs Office and a team of salvage divers prepared to retrieve possible evidence in a long ago but not forgotten mystery. In December 1958, Portlanders Ken and Barbara Martin and their three young daughters headed east in the familys cream-colored Ford station wagon to find a Christmas tree. They never returned. An intensive search of the region followed, turning up nothing. The story became a national fascination, with sightings of the Martins coming in from around the country. Most of these sighting would be proved unreliable or flat-out false. A year later, two of the girls were found in the Columbia River, dead from drowning, near Bonneville Dam. The rest of the family and the car remained missing. Until, perhaps, now. Archer Mayo, a professional auctioneer and a dedicated, highly skilled diver, became interested in the familys fate and how everyone believed the case was unsolvable. Archer Mayo Beth Nakamura, The Oregonian/OregonLive You know, when somebody says nobody can do it, I think I want to do it, he said as he and the salvage dive team waited at the locks for a crane barge to arrive. Based on where the two girls were found in 1959 and using computer predictive modeling, he started searching in the former navigation locks, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. That was in 2018. Some seven years later a couple months ago he located a car about 50 feet under the surface of the water [and] 7 feet under the ground. He got authorities involved, and digging soon commenced using a suction dredge. A car began to emerge from the sludge that 99.9% is the Martin car, Mayo said. The Hood River County Sheriffs Office also believes its likely the long-missing Ford station wagon. More than circumstantial evidence points us to believe its the Martin car, Sheriff Matt English told reporters Thursday at Cascade Locks. Its not yet known whether the car contains the remains of the three still-missing Martin family members. Mayo said early March isnt the best time of the year to be diving in this part of the river, with visibility quite limited, but he added that he has hundreds of dives in this location and so I know my way around almost by feel. He said he made kind of a rope course for the salvage divers who will be going down to the car. The deputies and divers will be working carefully while bringing up the car to ensure everyones safety and to preserve any potential evidence, English said. The Martin family disappearance in 1958 became a national news story. The Oregonian He said officials have been in touch with surviving members of the Martin family and will be keeping them in the loop. Obviously, there has been a lot of speculation over the years including of foul play, the sheriff added. There have been magazine articles and books and documentaries over the years putting forth various theories about the Martins disappearance. For his part, Mayos theory is quotidian: Ken Martin misjudged space and distance while driving in the Cascade Locks parking lot, and the car toppled into the water. But for now, what happened to the Martins remains speculation. English said law enforcement is treating this like any other investigation. Even though this is 66 years ago, this is a tragedy, he said. We need to determine to the best of our ability what happened to this family. Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313. A former Gresham youth pastor who now serves as the chief executive of a southwest Oregon healthcare company has been accused by a previous attendee of the church of grooming and sexually abusing him while he was in high school. The former attendee, 39-year-old Timothy Fellin, filed a $10 million lawsuit Wednesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court against Springwater Church of the Nazarene in Gresham and a small Idaho university that both employed former pastor Lance Nelson while the alleged abuse occurred. The complaint alleges that a church leader failed to investigate or report allegations that Nelson had sexually abused Fellin and at least two other teenage boys on an almost weekly basis between his eighth grade and sophomore years. And when Nelson left to take an administrative position at Northwest Nazarene University, he frequently returned to the Gresham area and dozens of times sexually abused Fellin, who was still in high school, the lawsuit claims. I was forced to keep this abuse a secret through my entire adolescence, Fellin said in a press release Wednesday. The shame that I felt was suffocating. My first moment of clarity was when my first-born son was a toddler, and I had the realization of what if these events that happened to me were to happen to him? The Oregonian/OregonLive generally does not name victims of sex crimes. Fellin, through his lawyer, agreed to be named. Nelson has worked at the Waterfall Community Health Center in North Bend since 2014 and was promoted to chief executive officer two years ago, according to the centers website. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Oregons Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists learned of the allegations in 2023 and on Feb. 25 wrote that it intended to revoke Nelsons license based on its investigation of the conduct outlined in the lawsuit. The grooming allegedly began in late 1998, when Fellin was 13 years old, according to the lawsuit. Over the next two years, Nelson frequently invited Fellin and two other boys to his living area at the church and coerced the boys into sexual acts, the lawsuit states. In early 2000, Nelson moved to Idaho to work as an assistant admissions director at the Christian university. However, he frequently returned to Oregon on business trips and invited Fellin and other youth to his hotels, the lawsuit alleges. During Nelsons time at the university, an adult member of the church learned of the alleged sexual abuse and notified Brian Mayer, the former head pastor at the congregation, the lawsuit states. However, Mayer took no action besides alerting Nelson of the allegations, according to the lawsuit. Nelson then returned to Oregon and begged (Fellin) and the other boys not to say anything more and to deny that the abuse had occurred, the lawsuit states. Nelson was a mentor to them, and they looked up to and trusted him; they obliged. During Fellins junior year, Nelson offered his mother a job at the university, the lawsuit claims. After she accepted the position and the family moved to Idaho, the former pastor continued to abuse Fellin. Jamie Snodgrass, lead pastor of Springwater Church, declined to comment on the allegations. A spokesperson for Northwest Nazarene University did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nelson holds a masters degree in community counseling and specializes in acute mental health and adolescent behavioral health, according to the healthcare organization. Fellin now owns a construction business and lives in Idaho with his wife and three children, according to his attorney, Ashley Vaughn. There is a lot of stigma that comes with being a male survivor of sexual abuse, Fellin said in the press release. Us men dont often create safe places to share our stories with our peers. It can also be scary to tell your partner, friends, and family for fear of misunderstanding. The stigmas keep us quiet. Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Tune Talk, described as Malaysias fastest-growing digital telco, has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Mavenir, the cloud-native network infrastructure provider, which will provide it with a cutting-edge cloud-native digital OSS and BSS platform. The announcement was made at MWC 2025. The cloud-native OSS/BSS platform is designed to enable Tune Talk to implement self-healing and automatic scaling capabilities, significantly improving operational efficiency. With zero-touch operations, the platform is designed to streamline network management, reduce downtime, and enhance service reliability. Additionally, Mavenir says, AI-driven tools will revolutionise customer engagement, offering hyper-personalised services tailored to individual subscriber needs. By automating network operations and leveraging AI for predictive analytics, Tune Talk aims to improve network performance and customer satisfaction while reducing operational costs. Gurtaj Singh Padda, Executive Director and CEO of Tune Talk, says: By leveraging cloud-native and AI-powered solutions, we are not only optimising our operations but also enhancing our ability to deliver superior and highly personalised services to our customers. This move aligns with our vision of making digital connectivity more seamless and intelligent for all Malaysians. Jay Pandey, Chief Technology Officer of Tune Talk, says: With Mavenirs cloud-native solutions, we expect to increase our operational efficiency by 60 to 70%. Network performance will see fewer interruptions, ensuring low latency and a more seamless experience for our subscribers. Pardeep Kohli, President and CEO at Mavenir, adds: We fully support Tune Talks efforts in becoming a cloud mobile network operator. Our cloud-native OSS/BSS platform is designed to enable Tune Talk to operate with greater agility, efficiency, and automation, setting a new standard for digital-first telco services in Malaysia and beyond. Attorney Ross Day, who represented the federation in Clackamas County Circuit Court, argued that Kaempf failed to provide conscientious and diligent legal services, and billed for work that was not authorized. A judge has ruled that the Oregon Firearms Federation owes attorney John Kaempf more than $66,000 in unpaid legal fees plus interest for his representation of the group in its initial federal challenge of gun control Measure 114. The federation argued that Kaempf billed the group for work that wasnt authorized. Portland police responded Tuesday, March 4, 2025, to investigate a fatal shooting by Gertz Road and Oregon 99E. Police said a woman was found dead at the scene. Zaeem Shaikh/The Oregonian A 42-year-old man arrested in a fatal Tuesday shooting in North Portland was allegedly acting paranoid before he pointed a gun at his girlfriend and killed her. Police arrested Aaron Rene Garza on an allegation of second-degree murder in the shooting near Northeast Gertz Road and Oregon 99E. The shooting was one of three separate homicides that happened within 15 hours on Monday and Tuesday. A Gearhart woman was severely injured after a tree crushed her car on Feb. 24 as she and her family were driving home on U.S. 26 during a storm. Tracey Wright, a first-grade teacher at Pacific Ridge Elementary School, was returning home with her husband Ronny and their daughter Elie. The trio had spent the weekend celebrating Traceys birthday, touring colleges for Elie and visiting Tracey and Ronnys two sons at college. Less than 15 miles from home, high winds from a storm knocked down a tree, which fell onto the front of the familys SUV. Tracey, who was trapped in the vehicle, suffered a severe spinal injury. Emergency response was delayed by over an hour due to other trees blocking the highway, but once responders reached the family, it became clear that Tracey needed to be taken to a Level 1 trauma center and she was sent to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. Ronny and Elie were transported to Providence Seaside Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and later . As Ronny and Elie joined Tracey at her bedside, they learned shed suffered a fracture to her spine, and she reported no feeling from the chest down. Nissa Roberts, a longtime friend of the family, created a GoFundMe for the familys expenses, which include medical and travel expenses and regular bills. Tracey was taken into surgery mid-afternoon on Tuesday with the hopes of fusing her spine and relieving pressure on the spinal cord itself, she stated in an updated GoFundMe description. Unfortunately the surgeons found that the repairs theyd hoped for were not possible; this means that Tracey will remain paralyzed. Jeff Roberts, Nissas husband, said Tracey and Ronny Wright are incredibly giving to those around them, and that the way the community has rallied around them has been a way to return the favor. I can remember vividly when we moved in the summer (of) 2011, to the beach from Portland, my wife and my daughter and I had a U-Haul, he said. It was like 96, 97 degrees at the Oregon coast, which doesnt happen very often. And Ronny and Tracey were the ones to show up and help unload that. They have really been impactful folks in this community, in terms of raising their kids here and having friends and just being folks that are selfless. Selfless is the word that continues to come to mind. Calvin Pollard, a cousin to the Wrights, said Nissa and Jeff Roberts are the type of people to step into action when needed, especially for close friends like Tracey and Ronny Wright. Theyve known each other for 30 years, ever since Nissa Roberts and Tracey Wright were sorority sisters together at what is now Linfield University in Forest Grove. The GoFundMe campaign, Pollard said, was the right thing to do for someone youre close to. And they are very good at rallying the troops. They are definitely the right people for this unfortunate situation to assist our family and gather those funds for my aunt and our family. Pollard added that the family is grateful for everyone who has helped. Over $137,000 has been raised, 91% of the familys goal, as of Wednesday. But theyll need the support to continue as they heal, he said. The journey is going to be incredibly long for (Tracey), and the goal is to give them as much cushion as possible and as much time as possible to recover, so that they are not worried about external things that go into regular life, Pollard said. The community of Seaside, Gearhart, that whole area, is one of the best places Ive ever seen when it comes to a community member having an incident like this, in terms of their response. The biggest piece is just that appreciation, that gratitude and continued support for them, which is going to extend past just funds. Theres a lot of needs coming down the line. --Jasmine Lewin, The Daily Astorian 2025 The Daily Astorian, Ore.. Visit www.dailyastorian.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portland police arrested an owner of Stop n Go Mini Mart Monday March 3, 2025, who is accused of possessing and selling illegal drugs out of his store near Dawson Park. Therese Bottomly/The Oregonian An owner of a minimart was arrested this week and is accused of dealing illegal drugs out of his store near Dawson Park, where a drive-by shooting last year prompted community members to call for a heightened police presence. Portland police arrested 43-year-old Donald Sharma on allegations of possessing and delivering heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine and booked him in Multnomah County jail Monday. He posted bail the following day. A Portland pastor was one of the victims of a Tampa dentist sentenced in federal court in Florida to two years in prison for threatening to kill and rape more than 40 people in online messages, including politicians and elected officials. Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, was arrested in June after prosecutors said he sent more than 100 online messages to public figures threatening violence and making obscene and derogatory references regarding race, religion, gender and sexual orientation. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek meets with representatives from local city government at Estacada Public Library in 2023. She is proposing a package of bills intended to increase accountability in Oregon schools. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is preparing to wade into the states raging debate over what, exactly, will fix its ailing public school system, and she says she doesnt think the automatic answer is more money. Luke Burbank, shown backstage before a Portland "Live Wire" performance, is also a correspondent for "CBS News Sunday Morning." Beth Nakamura Portland-area audiences may be familiar with Luke Burbank, thanks to his role as host of the locally based Live Wire program, the variety show thats syndicated to hundreds of public radio stations around the country. But Burbanks other roles include serving as a correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning. The upcoming March 9 episode, for example, has scheduled a story in which Burbank looks at Prison Blues, a denim company that originated at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, in Pendleton. As the Prison Blues website says, In 1989, the State of Oregon was challenged to create work skills programs for adults in custody at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI). After extensive research, it was determined that a garment factory would provide ample work and training opportunities in a real-world manufacturing environment. A 47,000 square foot factory was constructed, and the OCE Prison Blues factory began operation. In 2023, the Prison Blues program expanded to Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, for the production of accessories. Previous episodes of CBS News Sunday Morning have included reports about Portland-created Leatherman tools, and Ashlands Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory. Other segments scheduled for the March 9 episode of CBS News Sunday Morning include profiles of comedian John Mulaney and skier Lindsey Vonn, along with a report from Three Mile Island, which is soon expected to be back in operation after becoming notorious as the site of Americas worst nuclear accident, in 1979. CBS News Sunday Morning airs on KOIN-TV at 7 a.m. Sunday, March 9. No cable or satellite? You can stream CBS Sunday Morning on Paramount Plus Stream CBS Sunday Morning on Paramount Plus. Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com and @Kristiturnquist and https://bsky.app/profile/kristiturnquist.bsky.social Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe A total lunar eclipse hangs over the Tilikum Crossing bridge in Portland in 2015. Another eclipse is set to cross the sky on March 13, 2025. LC- Staff UPDATE: OMSI has canceled the lunar eclipse watch party due to poor weather. The midnight blood moon eclipse is coming, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is ready. OMSI will host a late-night watch party in Portland for the March 13 total lunar eclipse, giving people a good view of the astronomical event while explaining what in the world is happening up there. The free event will take place in the museums south parking lot beside the Tilikum Crossing bridge, starting at 10 p.m. OMSI and the Rose City Astronomers will have telescopes set up for attendees to use, while the museums space science director, Jim Todd, will give an informal talk about the eclipse and the night sky. All of this is weather dependent, of course, as thick cloud cover could block the entire event from view. The Moon does not have any light of its own, it shines because its surface reflects sunlight, Todd explained in his latest newsletter. During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon and cuts off the Moons light supply. The surface of the Moon takes on a reddish glow instead of going completely dark. The partial eclipse will begin at 10:09 p.m. in Portland, with the full eclipse happening between 11:26 p.m. and 12:31 a.m., according to Time and Date. The moment of maximum eclipse will be at 11:58 p.m. Those who want to see the event should look to the southeast, where the full moon will be hanging overhead. Time and Date will also offer a live stream of the lunar eclipse for those who cant see it in person. --Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Conservation groups and community leaders say the Port of Morrow misled Gov. Tina Kotek when it sought permission to dump wastewater. Mike Rogoway/The Oregonian A group of 26 conservation nonprofits, grassroots organizations and community leaders have signed a letter sent to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek alleging the Port of Morrow, located along the Columbia River in northeastern Oregon, intentionally misled the governor about its wastewater storage capacity while seeking an emergency order earlier this year. The Feb. 21 letter, authored by advocacy group Oregon Rural Action and undersigned by a former Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) administrator and a former Morrow County commissioner, among others, requests that the governor rescind an executive order she made in January that allows the Port of Morrow to violate its wastewater permit. We believe this decision was misguided and may have been based on incomplete, misleading, or inaccurate information, the letter reads. [The executive order] needlessly allows for increased pollution during the high-risk winter season when the risk to the public is highest, threatening to worsen an already severe crisis. The letter also requests the governor declare a public health and environmental emergency in the Lower Umatilla Basin due to nitrate pollution in groundwater within the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. A spokesperson for the Office of Governor Kotek told Columbia Insight in an email that her office had received the letter and is reviewing it. The Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area, which spans 550 square miles across Morrow and Umatilla counties along the Columbia River, has been plagued with high levels of nitrates in groundwater since the 1990s. A report released by Oregon DEQ in January found that nitrate contamination, driven primarily by agricultural practices, has continued to worsen over the past decade. The people who are affected by this pollution, the victims of pollution, are low-income, non-English speaking, disproportionately Latino and immigrants, working class, Kaleb Lay, director of policy and research at Oregon Rural Action, told Columbia Insight. They dont have a lot of power on their own, but thats why were supposed to have regulations and lawsso the polluters cant get away with this sort of thing. Chronic polluter The Port of Morrow, Oregons largest industrial port east of Portland, accepts wastewater from industrial businesses such as food processing plants, data centers and a PG&E-owned power plant. The Port then moves that nitrogen-rich wastewater upgradient for land application on agricultural fields. Specific conditions must be met for the land application of wastewater. The Port is only allowed to dump a certain amount of wastewater at a time to agricultural land in order to ensure the nitrates dont reach groundwater stores. Land application during the rainy season is especially tricky, because if the soil is already saturated with water (from, say, a run of rainy weather), the Port must wait until the soil dries before spreading wastewater. The wastewater is stored in lagoons until it can be disposed of. The fundamental problem is the Port has chronicallyfor years, years and yearsproduced way more [wastewater] than the fields where theyre allowed to dispose of it can possibly handle, which creates this leaching problem, which leads to permit violations and contaminates the groundwater, said Lay. A 2022 investigation by the Oregon Capital Chronicle found the Port had violated its wastewater permits for the previous 15 years. In the last two years, DEQ has fined the Port more than $3.1 million for permit violations. The Port is in the midst of building out more lagoons to store the wastewater, a move that it hopes will end future winter water dumps on the land. Those lagoons are expected to be completed by November 2025. Executive order suspends rules Amid a spell of unusually wet weather in December 2024, the Port of Morrow requested the governor sign an emergency order that would allow it to violate wastewater regulations, arguing that the predicted precipitation and freezing conditions would overwhelm its wastewater storage capacity, thus forcing the Port to exceed its land-application capacity. Without the order, the Port argued, it wouldnt have any choice but to stop accepting wastewater, because it wouldnt have any place to legally put it. That decision might have forced the industrial facilities generating wastewater to cease operations, which in turn could have led to furloughs of potentially thousands of workers resulting in substantial economic harm to the region and the State of Oregon, according to Gov. Koteks subsequent executive order (EO), issued Jan. 13. The EO granted the Port of Morrows request and declared a state of emergency due to risk of economic shutdown in Morrow and Umatilla counties. The EO allows the Port to apply wastewater only to fields that are down-gradient from domestic wells or those that are designated as low-risk for contamination. I did not make this decision lightly, Kotek said in a news release. We must balance protecting thousands of jobs in the region, the national food supply, and domestic well users during this short period of time during an unusually wet winter. Koteks order allows an exception to the Port of Morrows wastewater permit only from Jan. 15 through Feb. 28. The Port of Morrow officially invoked the EOs use on Feb. 17, nearly a month after the EO was issued. Port of Morrow Executive Director Lisa Mittelsdorf told Columbia Insight in an emailed statement that the Port was able to delay invoking the order thanks to conservation efforts and management of its storage-lagoon capacity. The order was invoked in accordance with its terms only when the Port determined that available storage capacity would be exhausted within seven days. As required by the order, the Port restricted land application to two farms with no down-gradient domestic users of alluvial groundwater, the statement reads. Worrying precedent Oregon Rural Action, however, doesnt think the Port of Morrow was being honest in its emergency order request. In its letter to Gov. Kotek, the group compared statements and arguments used in the emergency request against the Port of Morrows own monthly reports to DEQ. Its a paper-thin argument that falls apart right away, said Lay. He said the Ports DEQ report states its storage capacity was only at 44% at the end of December, with roughly 335 million gallons of capacity available, despite the Ports claim to the governors office that it was running out of storage space. At the same time, they were expecting to produce less wastewater than they had in the previous two months, said Lay. So for the remainder of the winter [including January and February] they had more than half their wastewater storage available to them, and were expecting to make less [wastewater in January and February], which would lead one to believe that they could store all of what was left without much trouble at all. It just doesnt seem like that due diligence was done in the making of this decision to grant them this power. The EO is set to expire at the end of this week, but every day counts, according to Lay. And concerns persist over the setting of a controversial precedent based on faulty information. The permit conditions exist for a reason. Theyre not perfect, but every violation that [occurs] is a violation because [the permit] is trying to prevent contamination of groundwater. Allowing them to violate without holding them accountable is just giving them a free pass to pollute, said Lay. Kendra Chamberlain is a freelance journalist based in Eugene, Oregon, covering environment, energy and climate change. Her work has appeared in DeSmog Blog, High Country News, InvestigateWest and Ensia. ## Columbia Insight, based in Hood River, Oregon, is a nonprofit news site focused on environmental issues of the Columbia River Basin and the Pacific Northwest. Oregon lawmakers are for the second time considering a measure that would introduce some of the nations strictest regulations on corporate ownership of doctors offices and medical clinics. Senate Bill 951 is the latest effort to strengthen the states long-standing prohibitions on the corporate control of medical practices and clinics. Oregon law already requires licensed physicians hold a majority stake at least 51% ownership in medical practices. But supporters say more independent medical practices are partnering with private equity firms and national health care conglomerates, sidestepping existing rules. SB 951, sponsored by Rep. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, builds on a measure he introduced last year. That version passed the state House with bipartisan support but stalled in the Senate. The good news of that outcome was that we were able to pull together a very comprehensive process to engage stakeholders and make it a better bill, Bowman told The Oregonian/OregonLive. This isnt a partisan issue. Its about ensuring that when a patient walks into an exam room, their doctor and not a corporation is making medical decisions. A hearing before the Oregon Senate Health Care Committee on Tuesday, however, showed divides. It drew 108 written statements, with 101 in favor of the bill, but live testimony was split. Physician control Oregon has had a long-standing law that requires physicians to have a majority stake in independent medical practices. Yet supporters of SB 951 say for-profit companies have skirted the law through the use of businesses called management service organizations, or MSOs, that contract with medical practices to provide financial, administrative and technological support. Rep. Cyrus Javadi, R-Tillamook, one of the bills co-sponsors, said in an interview that MSOs provide value to independent practices by reducing the administrative burden on doctors so they can focus on patient care. However, he said, MSOs can also exert undue control over clinical decisions, prioritizing profits over patient care. Javadi said SB 951 wouldnt ban independent practices from partnering with MSOs, but it would prohibit those third-party management companies from influencing medical decisions and restricting employment arrangements that could give corporations control over practices. The bill would also nullify most noncompete and nondisclosure agreements between MSOs and health care providers, freeing doctors from contractual restrictions that tie them to corporate-owned clinics. Unlike last years bill, which allowed state regulators to dissolve companies violating physician-control laws, the revised bill shifts enforcement power. It allows the Oregon Health Authority to stop pending and future mergers and acquisitions that would give corporations excessive influence over medical practices. Violations would also be treated as consumer protection infractions under Oregons Unlawful Trade Practices Act, allowing the attorney general to take legal action and giving medical practices the ability to sue MSOs for overreach. Penalties will also fall on the MSOs. Last years version held physicians liable. The bill outlines a phased implementation, providing practices more than three years to come into compliance with the law. Divided perspectives Supporters of SB 951 argue that it is necessary to safeguard physician independence and prevent patient care from being dictated by corporate profit motives. Dr. Antonio Germann, medical director of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic in Woodburn, testified that corporate consolidation in healthcare has led to worse patient outcomes, higher costs, and diminished autonomy for physicians. Listen to the research and the evidence that is growing, we should ask the question about if private equity investors are the best stewards of control over the practice of medicine here in Oregon, rather than practicing local physicians, Germann said during Tuesdays testimony. A 2022 study led by Dr. Jane Zhu, a medical professor at the Oregon Health & Science University, supports the notion that corporate ownership leads to higher prices. Researchers found that after they were acquired by private equity firms, medical practices saw more patients and also charged them higher prices. The study, however, did not determine whether patients health outcomes improved or suffered. Opponents of SB 951, however, warn that the bill could stifle investment in independent medical practices. Rep. Ed Diehl, D-Stayton, argued that SB 951 creates an unstable and hostile regulatory environment for investors and healthcare businesses, as it would place strict provisions on who can own, manage and work with medical practices. This picks winners and losers in the healthcare market, deterring investment, innovation, and business expansion that could improve patient care, he said. If you want a hospital monopoly, then this is your bill. The Oregon Independent Physician Practice Association, a group incorporated last year by a Chicago-based law firm, has claimed that the bill would prevent doctors from benefiting from MSO partnerships. They argue that MSOs help independent doctors stave off health care consolidation by making their practices more efficient and competitive. Dr. Divya Sharma, an internal physician affiliated with the Oregon Independent Physician Practice Association who owns Pine Springs Health in Bend, argues that SB 951 overlooks the larger role that hospitals and insurance companies play in pushing consolidation. For example, she said, St. Charles Health System recently acquired Bends only independent orthopedic group. Its all about leveling the playing field. Rules and restrictions should apply to all players in the system, she said. Hospitals are among the biggest cost drivers for patient care, and they have been allowed to expand and buy up independent practices. She said hospital-owned physician practices and specialty clinics can tack on what are called facility fees in patients bills, which other practices cant. Bowman said SB 951 does not apply to hospitals, health systems, nursing facilities because theyve been excluded from Oregons corporate practice of medicine doctrine laws since 1975. -- Kristine de Leon covers consumer health, retail, small business and data enterprise stories. Reach her at kdeleon@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today. Anthony and Marlie Love on their recent trip to Astoria. Photo courtesy of Traveling While Black. Traveling While Black Fresh from an unforgettable journey to the Galapagos Islands with the Black Travel Alliance and with an upcoming TikTok-related trip to New York on the horizon Anthony and Marlie Love found themselves at a crossroads. Juggling their growing travel platform with full-time jobs was becoming unsustainable. Thats when they made a decision to leave their jobs Marlie at a nonprofit and Anthony at Boeing and dedicate themselves fully to Traveling While Black, their popular YouTube travel series that started in Seattle and recently brought them to Oregon. Anthony and Marlie Love on their recent trip to Coos Bay. Photo courtesy of Traveling While Black. Traveling While Black We listened to this 2 Chainz song, Anthony said. And 2 Chainz said, If you got something, people want to see it, you gotta do whats good for you and yours. Its been almost a year since the Loves started working on the channel full-time, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive with a growing community of 14,400 subscribers on YouTube. What we can tell, and from feedback weve gotten, it actually serves people, Anthony said about the channel. People like seeing it. The pair began their channel in April 2019 after moving from Missouri to Seattle and having no clue what to expect from their new home especially as a Black couple. The Loves pulled inspiration from the The Negro Motorist Green Book, an annual guidebook for Black travelers published from 1936 to 1966. The book, created by Victor Hugo Green, helped Black travelers find safe places to stay and travel in the U.S. We wanted to continue to explore and see this new area, Marlie said. But then we were still kind of nervous, like, Whats the experience like for a Black traveler up here in the Pacific Northwest? So we kind of just mirrored all those things together and said, Lets start a YouTube channel to help the people like us, transients coming up to Seattle. In October 2019, they started posting short videos on YouTube documenting their travels in the city. What started as day trips in the city quickly expanded to destinations across Washington state and before long, the entire Pacific Northwest. Since starting their channel, the Loves have featured Portland, central Oregon and the Oregon coast in videos. My thinking was, Oh yeah, this is kind of like a modern day Green Book type deal, Anthony said. Lets ride that spirit and encourage folks to get out here. Incorporating safety and comfort for Black people into every episode forms the foundation of their channel. That comfort level was always a part of it from the beginning, Anthony said. That was sort of that high priority resource we wanted to provide, first and foremost. Rated on a 1-10 scale, Black comfortability incorporates the number of other Black people seen, visibility of inclusive signage, prevalence of Black history, most recent Black population numbers and the Loves subjective experience. On their most recent road trip along the Oregon Coast visiting Coos Bay, Newport, Cannon Beach and Astoria the Loves modified this scale, taking Oregons history into account. Listen to their reflections and travel insights on the latest episode of the Peak Northwest: Traveling While Black series visits the Oregon coast: Peak Northwest podcast. The modified comfort scale swaps out Black history and population for diversity in destination marketing and quality access to local cultural groups. The Loves chose to make these changes after researching Oregons history of exclusionary laws. For the Oregon coast road trip series, we said, Okay, we need to switch it up just a little bit more, because some of the criteria was Black history and Black population numbers, Marlie said. And from Oregon, we knew that it was already going to be low. We cant change that. Anthony and Marlie Love on their recent trip to Newport. Photo courtesy of Traveling While Black. Traveling While Black According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Black residents made up an estimated 0.9% of Clatsop Countys population, 1% of Lincoln Countys population and 0.7% of Coos Countys population in 2024, based on 2020 data. Understanding the Black history within each destination is another component to their series. In Coos Bay, the Loves explored the story of Alonzo Tucker, a Black resident who was lynched by a white mob in 1902 the only documented lynching in Oregons history. Tucker is honored with a historical marker outside the Coos History Museum. We always feel that history is important to understanding how a place is today, Anthony said. Thats why we try to touch on it in some capacity on any episode we do, to our best ability connected to Black history, but if not, some type of history. Their goal is to shed light on these historical aspects and help viewers understand the deeper context of the places they visit. We are here to enable travel for everyone, Marlie said. Our mission is to build that bridge so that we all can travel together, meet each other, and live harmoniously. Over 170 episodes, the Loves have reported only one bad experience in Forks, Washington. In the moment, we were just worried about safety, 100% safety, because the whole vibe was off, Anthony said about the experience. After we left and got out of that unsafe condition we felt we were in, thats when we started doing our research and finding out that there were other instances where people had very, very bad encounters with the people there. Even though the experience was uncomfortable, the Loves emphasized their channel is based on personal experience. Ultimately, we want you to go to these places, and let us know what you see, what you do, so we have more of a collective experience, Anthony said. And then furthermore, we can also make it more normalized for people that look like us, because at the end of the day, if a place only looks one way for so long, its not going to change unless we go and change it. Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiaraprofenna. The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content. The Bureau of Land Management has canceled tours of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse after federal firings. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Every year, nearly half a million people pull off the highway on the central Oregon coast to get a good look at Yaquina Head. Home of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse in Oregon), as well as a pristine marine habitat and a popular visitor center, the coastal park site managed by the Bureau of Land Management is suddenly under duress after federal layoffs culled a third of its staff. The Trump administrations widespread purge of the federal workforce has touched virtually every corner of Oregon, affecting the regions many national forests and other federal lands including Yaquina Head. Of the nine employees at the Newport park, three were laid off in February, all interpretive rangers, leaving just one education specialist at the park, former employees said. The fired workers were in charge of educational programming, operating the visitor center, collecting entrance fees and roving the park to make sure people follow the rules and perform what the park calls preventative search and rescue, making sure people explore the rocky coastline safely. Sabrina Gorney, one of the fired employees, received a pre-formatted termination letter Feb. 18 that cited poor performance, which I didnt really agree with because I had only received excellent performance appraisals, she said. The performance rationale, which was used by other agencies, has been challenged in lawsuits against the federal government. Yaquina Head is already feeling the effects. The parks website was just updated to reflect reduced gate hours, now 9 a.m.-4 p.m., cut by about two hours, while the visitor center now closes an hour earlier, open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Lighthouse tours have also been put on hold. The park is still open daily as of now. Gorney said shes heard from remaining employees that the park is scrambling to staff the entrance station to ensure people continue paying the $7 entrance fee, which helps pay for the parks operations. The fees stay with the park for the most part, they help pay for our salaries, she said. If the entrance station isnt staffed throughout the day, the park is losing money. The Yaquina Head Lighthouse, seen from the trail leading up to Salal Hill at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in Newport. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian A harbor seal swims near Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area on Saturday May 19, 2024. Haley Nelson | Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive The ocean rolls into a cove near the Yaquina Head Lighthouse at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in Newport. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian The effects are expected to only get worse this spring and summer, as seasonal crowds flock back to the Newport attraction. A hiring freeze, instituted earlier this year, means no seasonal employees are lined up for the summer, leaving Yaquina Head short-handed. Everyone is quite concerned, said Martin Desmond, president of the nonprofit Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses, which supports the park and runs a gift shop in the visitor center. We could have a really desperate situation with this park. In 2024, Yaquina Head saw 428,442 visitors, according to park records, though in previous years, when more seasonal staff meant longer open hours, those annual numbers ballooned to half a million. People go there to see seal pups in the spring and king tides in the winter. Summer tourists explore tide pools and hike trails that run through the park. In the warmer months, when the park sees its biggest crowds, an interpretive ranger has often been staffed at a table by the tide pools to help people navigate the slippery area safely. Rangers also provided information on the kinds of marine life they might encounter in the intertidal area. I assume those resources are going to be gone, said Dennis White, a board member of the Seven Capes Bird Alliance, which has been collaborating with the park for years. If that table isnt there, thats a loss of an education opportunity completely, all summer long. For White, that education is essential. A big part of educational programming in natural areas is about instilling a sense of stewardship in visitors, he said, heightening their sense of excitement and the importance of being a good steward. Without these people, youre just heightening your risk that somethings going to go wrong, White said. Efforts are underway to protest the cuts at Yaquina Head, though its unclear how much impact they will have. Desmond said he testified at a Newport City Council meeting March 3 about the local federal firings, which also included positions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A city council spokesperson said members favored signing a letter to the federal government, pending the language involved. They did not vote on taking any action. Gorney said she has been in touch with multiple law firms about class action lawsuits against the federal government, but said nothing has solidified. Another fired Yaquina Head worker requested anonymity to speak to The Oregonian/OregonLive because they hoped to be rehired by the Bureau of Land Management. I absolutely adore the park, I loved serving as a public servant there, the former employee said. I would like to see action being taken to fight for us as federal employees because the way this was done was heartless and cruel. Gorney has spent the past two weeks applying for other jobs, some with state and local park agencies, as she continues to mull her forced career pivot. She said its unlikely she would return to the federal government at this point. Theres no guarantee that it will be better under a future administration, said Gorney, 24. As someone who is still young, who still has time to start over, I would like to do something where I would be treated as a human. --Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Rescuers search the Siletz River for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, who went missing on Saturday, March 1. Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Law enforcement officials are still searching for the 2-year-old boy who went missing from a riverfront home in Siletz on Saturday but have publicly disclosed no new information in their mission to "bring Dane home." Dane Paulsen was last seen wearing a gray fuzzy hoodie with ears while playing in his familys yard near the Siletz River around 4:25 p.m. Since then, a massive search with professional rescuers and volunteers has combed 682 acres near the home and 14 miles of the river. On Tuesday, the search turned primarily to the water and riverbank, where officials found impressions that suggested the toddler was most likely by the Siletz when he disappeared. Rescuers search the Siletz River for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, who went missing on Saturday, March 1. Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Authorities have said the boy was comfortable around water but could not swim. Overnight temperatures in the area have dipped into the 40s. The river temperature has hovered around 45 degrees, the sheriffs office said. Beth Slovic is an editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com/subscribe. The spot near The Dalles where tire tracks led to the Columbia River. In 1999, searchers returned to the spot where they believed the Martin family may have disappeared and compared the scene with a photo of it from 1959. Over the years, searchers have focused on this area and the Cascade Locks area. The Oregonian Update: Cars discovery in Columbia River could end decades of speculation about Martin family disappearance The Hood River Sheriffs Office announced early Thursday it will attempt to recover a nine-passenger Ford station wagon from the Columbia River that could be linked to a Portland family missing since 1958. In December of that year, Ken and Barbara Martin and their three daughters headed east for the mountains to collect Christmas greenery. The family never returned. The Portland familys disappearance was major news at the time and for years baffled investigators. A year after the family vanished, the bodies of the two youngest Martin girls were found near Bonneville Dam. They had drowned. The fate of the rest of the family remained a mystery. The Martin family disappearance in 1958 shocked Oregonians. The Oregonian The sheriffs office said an independent diver discovered what they suspect is the Martins station wagon near Cascade Locks. The agency released no other information. The independent diver, Archer Mayo, of White Salmon, has spent seven years searching for the Martin vehicle, his spokesperson Ian Costello told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Last fall, he found a vehicle matching its description about 60 feet from shore buried deep in the riverbed. Costello said the station wagon is nearly 90% buried and in pretty good shape, given the length of time it has been in the water. He said Mayo used predictive modeling and his own deep research of the case to zero in on the location. He identified the likely location last fall and dove to that location and found a car matching the Martin car description within a couple feet of where he suspected he would find it, Costello said. Mayo is helping direct Hood River authorities today as they attempt to recover the station wagon, Costello said. He said Mayo could not determine if the bodies of the Martins and their other daughter are in the car. Costello said Mayo believes the Martins accidentally ended up in the river from the Cascade Locks parking lot. Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.com The Idaho resolution was drafted by MassResistance, a far-right Christian organization that has been fighting against LGBTQ rights since it formed 30 years ago. AP Idaho lawmakers were met in late January by a House committee hearing room full of constituents stating their beliefs about the institution of marriage and who it should extend to. After testimonies from nearly two dozen people, the last to speak joined the hearing remotely and thanked Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, for bringing forward a resolution to challenge the legality of same-sex marriages and ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the decade-old landmark ruling that granted it. Arthur Schaper, field director for a group called MassResistance, told the committee that activists at his international organization had brought forward similar resolutions in North Dakota, Montana, Michigan and Wyoming and that state lawmakers had been taking it up. As of this week, at least nine states have seen proposed measures to roll back same-sex marriage. Schaper defended the resolution with discredited claims about homosexuality, which the countrys major medical organizations agree is a normal part of human sexuality. People are born Black, Hispanic, or otherwise, Schaper said. They are not born homosexual. This story was produced in partnership with the Idaho Statesman, a Boise, Idaho newspaper that has been around since 1864. It was originally published in Uncloseted Media, an LGBTQ-focused investigative news outlet. Schaper declined Uncloseted Medias request for an interview and did not respond to a list of questions sent via email. A three-decade history of fighting against LGBTQ rights The Idaho resolution was drafted by MassResistance, a far-right Christian organization that has been fighting against LGBTQ rights since it formed 30 years ago. The group is one of the most openly extreme anti-LGBTQ groups among the far right, advertising itself as engag[ing] in issues and events that most other conservative groups are afraid to touch and boasting about writing resolutions like the one passed in the Idaho House. MassResistance has drafted text for state legislature resolutions that call on the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its infamous and illegitimate Obergefell ruling, the group shared on its website in January, referencing Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision by the Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage. It also has criticized Southern Poverty Law Center-designated anti-LGBTQ hate groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom and Family Research Council for their polite opposition to the latest left-wing lunacy and stated that rather than being truthful and confrontational, too many pro-family groups want to be seen as reasonable and not extreme. In addition to its anti-LGBTQ activism on home turf, MassResistance works to roll back queer rights globally, with chapters in Africa, South America, the Caribbean and beyond. Justin R. Ellis, a criminologist at the University of Newcastle in Australia who has written about anti-LGBTQ movements and groups, including MassResistance, said that the successes of groups like Alliance Defending Freedom in rolling back some LGBTQ rights is exactly what allows MassResistance to take the spotlight. Them coming out with their framing and their litigation and their hostility toward queer issues emboldens other groups like MassResistance to go, Hang on, were gonna go bolder, Ellis said in a video interview. MassResistances effort to overturn same-sex marriage is the latest in a long list of campaigns in which the group has worked to pass anti-LGBTQ legislation, from book bans to gender-marker restrictions, in state and local governments across the country and even abroad. How MassResistance grew beyond its roots MassResistance was founded in 1995 in Massachusetts under the name Parents Rights Coalition by local activist Brian Camenker. After getting his start in activism as an outspoken opponent of LGBTQ-inclusive sex education in schools, Camenker quickly led the groups first major campaign: drafting and lobbying for state legislation that required schools to notify parents and allow them to opt out of sex education for their children. The group emphasized that doing so would allow parents to ensure their children dont learn about homosexuality or wht it called transgenderism. The campaign was successful, and the bill passed into state law in 1996. After the Massachusetts Supreme Court made the state the first in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, the group shifted its focus to fighting that decision. The group temporarily changed its name to the Article 8 Alliance, referencing part of the Massachusetts Constitution that outlines the impeachment of judges. Under this new identity, the group filed state legislation to impeach all of the justices who supported Massachusetts same-sex-marriage ruling and to outlaw the unions under state law. None of the bills the group wrote was successful. Despite this, after rebranding back to MassResistance in 2006, the group continued to write legislation opposed to LGBTQ inclusion until at least 2017. In one bill from 2011, the group sought to repeal an anti-bullying law because of its protections for LGBTQ students. During this period, the Southern Poverty Law Center designated MassResistance a hate group, in part because it labeled Boston Pride a depraved display that featured a great deal of obviously disturbed, dysfunctional, and extremely self-centered people. In the mid-2010s, MassResistance expanded its focus to the national stage. Its first out-of-state chapter opened in 2014 in Virginia. In 2016, Schaper launched a chapter in California. And in 2020, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who MassResistance has said worked closely with members of its Georgia chapter, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. By 2022, the free speech advocacy group PEN America identified at least 16 MassResistance chapters in the U.S., with several more international chapters. PEN America also identified MassResistance as one of the most active groups in the national push to ban or restrict books with LGBTQ content from schools and libraries. The efforts followed MassResistance publishing in 2017 its own book, The Health Hazards of Homosexuality, which claimed to compile scientific evidence that supported a ban on homosexuality. The 600-page book touts endorsements from various anti-LGBTQ activists, including Michelle Cretella, former executive director of the American College of Pediatricians, a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group known for publishing and spreading specious science about LGBTQ people. The book rails against the coarsening of our culture that has accompanied the normalization of homosexuality and makes numerous false or misleading scientific claims. For example, it cites statistics indicating higher rates of mental or physical illness among LGBTQ people as evidence of innate risks despite many experts agreeing that discrimination and lack of resources are more accurate explanatory factors. Where does the funding come from? According to IRS filings, MassResistance has received thousands of dollars from several donor-advised funds. They include the National Christian Foundation and Arthur G. Jaros Sr. and Dawn L. Jaros Charitable Trust both of which financially support other far-right groups, including the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Heritage Foundation, the group behind Project 2025. Uncloseted Media and the Idaho Statesman also identified IRS forms for the Parents Education Foundation, a group run by Camenker and listed as related to MassResistance. Despite little to no public presence, on its most recent IRS filing from 2023, the organization reported revenue of $211,123, much of which was sourced via donations from large conservative donors and other mainstream donor-advised funds. The Parents Education Foundation lists Dr. Paul Church as a director. Church is a urologist who was fired from a Boston hospital in 2015 for likening a Pride event to a chosen social agenda, Fox News reported. MassResistance supported Church in his fight against the hospital, and, in 2017, he provided an expert endorsement in The Health Hazards of Homosexuality. MassResistance makes inroads into Idaho The current Idaho resolution is not the first instance where MassResistance has worked with the states legislators. In a collection of emails leaked by former conservative activist Elisa Rae Shupe, who died by suicide earlier this year, Uncloseted Media found correspondence from 2020 between Schaper and former Idaho state Rep. Julianne Young, R-Blackfoot, who testified in favor of the anti-Obergefell resolution. Young discussed developing an anti-trans bill that would forbid changing gender markers on state birth certificates. The bill became law in Idaho in 2020. We are still going after the governor, though, to make sure that he signs or at least allow[s] the bills to become law, Schaper told Young in one email. MassResistance does send emails. They were looking for people to testify, but I did not make those arrangements with them deliberately. I let them know I would contact the bills sponsor, Young told Uncloseted Media in reference to the 2025 anti-Obergefell resolution, which she says she supports. Its a correct principle to allow those decisions to be made by the states and not by a single unelected panel of judges. When asked if she takes issue with any of MassResistances stances on gay issues, Young said, Its probably not an issue that I have a relevant opinion on. Idaho has been home to some of MassResistances government targets. In 2023, activists from its state chapter and other anti-LGBTQ groups successfully campaigned to elect a majority of far-right candidates onto Kootenai Countys Community Library Network board. The board has since enacted multiple policies restricting minors access to LGBTQ content and libraries in general. At the 2023 Rexburg Pride Event in East Idaho, counter-protesters from Idaho MassResistance, led at the time by former Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, had physical confrontations with attendees. The spectacle caused police to heighten security and some organizations to pull out of the event the following year. MassResistance made a less conspicuous appearance in 2024. Nate did not respond to Uncloseted Medias request for comment. Ellis, the professor who writes about anti-LGBTQ movements including MassResistance, said that coordinating these kinds of local attacks on the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups has become much easier with social media. One of the things that groups such as MassResistance can do is, through their online networks, coordinate protests against Drag Queen Story Time childhood literacy events, for example, and now same-sex marriage, and what they do is get people in other jurisdictions to go to those locations and protest in person, he said. Through social media, you can coordinate ideologically aligned individuals quickly and cheaply. MassResistance has taken credit on its website for the Idaho resolution carried by Rep. Scott. The group noted that an Idaho House member offered to spearhead the resolution this year but did not name the lawmaker. In response to a public records request, Scott reported she had no communications with MassResistance, and she declined to respond to a question from a Idaho Statesman reporter about whether she worked with the group. In an interview on The Ranch Podcast in early February, Scott said she was first approached about opposing same-sex marriage in the Legislature eight years ago. She said she was looking through a list of ideas for legislation over the summer and decided to push [same-sex marriage] up to the top this year. Scotts resolution states that the Obergefell decision is an overreach from the U.S. Supreme Court, which should leave marriage laws to the states. However, it also asks the Supreme Court to restore the natural definition of marriage, a union of one man and one woman. On the podcast, she underscored her perspective on gay marriage. Dont force me to say that thats a marriage, because in my eyes thats an abomination to God, she said, noting that she would support creating a legal relationship between LGBTQ couples that would provide them with the legal rights of marriage. MassResistances international footprint MassResistance also advocates against LGBTQ rights around the world. On its website, the group claims to have worked with activists from at least 24 countries and territories, including Mexico, Brazil, Croatia, Nigeria, Taiwan and Australia. Last year, the group started a new chapter in Kenya, where it reported on its website that it was holding trainings for youth to resist the LGBT agenda in schools. In many of these countries, the group circulates a video by Camenker titled What gay marriage did to Massachusetts. The video has been converted into booklets, which have been translated and circulated in Mexico, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and more. Once same-sex marriage gets a foothold, society becomes more oppressive, hammering citizens with the force of law. The judicial system becomes more radical and arrogant, and politicians become more cowardly. And once that concept is institutionalized, other boundaries on sexual behaviors continue to fall, Camenker says in the video. The push for gay marriage is really about putting the legal stamp of approval on homosexuality and forcing its acceptance on otherwise unwilling citizens and on our social, commercial, and political institutions. To those of you where this is being threatened, do not wait it is absolutely necessary for you to call, write, and even visit your elected officials. They must feel your outrage. Camenker did not respond to Uncloseted Medias request for comment. Some of MassResistences more noteworthy interventions abroad include helping keep anti-sodomy laws on the books in Sri Lanka and supporting propaganda campaigns against the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. In the latter case, the group said that Schaper spoke directly with a representative of Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party and was invited to a party event in the U.S. over the course of the campaign. In Ghana, meanwhile, MassResistance has collaborated with Freedom International, an organization that congratulated Uganda for its anti-LGBTQ legislation that threatens life in prison for consensual same-sex relations, to start anti-LGBTQ youth clubs in secondary schools. [Africa] is the land of opportunity when it comes to restricting LGBTQ rights, Wendy Via, president and co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, told Uncloseted Media. There are a lot of huge worldwide groups with lots of money who are working on the same thing, and they also come at it from a Christian point of view. MassResistances plans span far beyond Idaho The future of Scotts resolution in Idaho is uncertain. It passed the Idaho House in a 46-24 vote in late January. Before a vote on the Senate floor, the legislation must advance out of a Senate committee. But the committees chairman, Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, told the Statesman he is not sure whether he will allow a hearing. The public has weighed in, and its been pretty one-sided in terms of, Why are we doing this? he said. Guthrie said he expects to meet with Scott to discuss her resolution before deciding whether to hold a hearing, but he acknowledged his own concerns. The effect of it could be pretty harmful to a lot of people, making them feel for whatever reason that they dont belong. I just dont see the benefit being greater than the hurt, Guthrie added, noting that it could tear peoples lives apart. Via said MassResistances goal is to overturn Obergefell and starting in deep-red pockets of the country is a trial run. The little, tiny resolution in Idaho, its like the butterfly wings, she said. Editors note: Dr. Paul Church could not be reached for comment. Additional reporting by Sam Donndelinger. Uncloseted Media is a new investigative media organization committed to providing objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism. This article reprinted by permission through a publishing partnership with The Oregonian/OregonLive. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, shouts as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP) AP House Republicans were moving quickly Wednesday to censure U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, over his protest at President Donald Trumps address to Congress the night before. Im introducing a resolution to censure Congressman Al Green for his disruptive and disorderly conduct during President Trumps joint session of Congress, U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Richmond, said on the social media platform X. Nehls last year left the House Freedom Caucus, a group of ultraconservatives who said Wednesday they would introduce their own censure resolution of Green. Trump had just started his speech and was saying his Nov. 5 election victory represented a mandate, with voters endorsing his aggressive second-term agenda. Green stood up and shook his cane toward the president in the opening minutes of his speech, calling out repeatedly that Trump did not have a mandate to cut Medicaid. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called for decorum and directed Green to sit down. When Green continued to protest, Johnson had the sergeant-at-arms remove him from the House floor. Reporters asked Green afterward about potential punishment for his actions. He said it was worthwhile to demonstrate some people are willing to resist attempts to cut social safety net programs. Whatever the punishment is, Im not fighting the punishment, Green said. This is about the people who are being punished by virtue of losing their health care. This is the richest country in the world, and we have people who dont have good health care. Weve got to do better. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, is removed from the chamber as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP A censure is intended to show sharp disapproval of conduct that falls short of the threshold for expulsion from office. If a censure resolution is approved by majority vote, the recipient is required to stand in the well of the House while the censure resolution is read aloud. A censure does not automatically remove a representative from committees or otherwise impede their legislative privileges. Censure measures have become more common in recent years, with three in 2023. Johnson told The Hill he supports censuring Green. Absolutely shameful. He should be censured, Johnson said, according to the Washington-based outlet. Its a spectacle that was not necessary. Hes made history in a terrible way, and I hope he enjoys it. U.S. Reps. Brandon Gill, R-Flower Mound, and Pat Fallon, R-Frisco, are co-sponsoring the Nehls censure resolution. What Congressman Green did was totally out of bounds and totally unbecoming of a congressman, Gill said. I thought it was despicable, and I think we ought to take action. --------- 2025 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Democratic attorneys general held their first of a series of town halls to discuss how they are standing up to President Donald Trump in Phoenix Wednesday. From left to right: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. (Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Arizona Mirror) Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Arizona Mirror The attorneys general of Arizona, Oregon, Minnesota and New Mexico vowed at a town hall in Phoenix Wednesday evening that they would continue to fight back against sweeping federal cuts being made by President Donald Trump and his ally, Elon Musk. It is not efficiency, it is destruction, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said to a crowd that gathered at Central High School to share their stories and concerns over the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, that has been directed by Musk, the richest man in the world. Musk and his minions have overseen DOGEs effective takeover of the federal government, with sweeping and indiscriminate layoffs, canceled contracts, blocked funding and a host of other disruptions. The ostensible reason is to cut government spending, though Musk has written on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, that the takeover is actually all about stopping Democrats from giving money to undocumented immigrants to convince them to vote for Democrats. Noncitizens are not able to vote, and Musks claims are part of the racist Great Replacement conspiracy theory, which falsely claims that nefarious forces are flooding the U.S. with nonwhite immigrants in order to overtake the country. The AGs are part of a group of 23 Democratic AGs who have banded together to file seven lawsuits against the Trump administrations actions. Mayes said that an eighth lawsuit will be filed this week, and the AGs will be releasing information about a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the number of veterans and spouses of veterans who have been fired as a result of DOGE cuts. The town hall is the first in a series of town halls the four attorneys general intend to hold across the country. The next is scheduled for March 20 in Minnesota. We are going around this country to listen to you, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said. Much of the focus Wednesday night was around the chaos that has ensued in recent weeks as federal employees across the country have been laid off via emails or memos, only to be told to return again to find out that their office will be going away. In the case of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 6,000 workers fired by Trump were ordered back to work after the Merit Systems Protection Board found the agency illegally terminated the employees. The turmoil at agencies such as the USDA was front and center in testimonials from some in attendance. Elyse Guidas, executive director of nonprofit Activate Food Arizona, a group that works to bring affordable food to rural Arizona communities, said the suppliers her group works with that rely on federal funding may go under due to the Trump administrations spending freeze. Her organization has already lost several grants, she said. Adrienne Udarbe with Pinnacle Prevention, a non-profit that does similar work, said her organization is facing similar challenges. It impacts us all, and we are all going to be feeling it with rising food costs, Udarbe said. The USDA has not been sending money to farmers it had been scheduled to send that is intended to help reimburse them for providing food for low-income programs, she said. It was a lawsuit from the Democratic AG coalition that led USDA to say it had released those funds after a judge had ruled the money couldnt be frozen. Weve had to go to court twice now to get a motion to compel, Mayes told Udarbe. While the president may be a powerful person, he does not have some sort of super power that allows him to travel back in time to reverse decisions that have already been approved, Rayfield said of Trumps funding freezes. The AGs also focused on the impact the firings have had on the employees themselves. What I hear from the president and Elon Musk and others is a language that is stripped of any humanity, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said of how the two men speak about federal employees. We dont ask them if they are Republican or Democrat. We dont demean what they do. A number of recently laid off federal workers shared their stories. All of them recounted how they were laid off by an email from Washington, D.C., via Musks DOGE and that their supervisors were unaware of the impending firing. Employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans themselves spoke about services such as music therapy being cut, and a recently leaked memo shows that the agency is anticipating firing 83,000 employees. While fear permeated comments from many of the speakers, the AGs tried to strike a tone of hopefulness when speaking with the press. I thought this was an incredibly powerful town hall. Maybe the most powerful town hall Ive ever seen, Mayes told reporters afterwards. She said the 23 AGs have been meeting daily via Zoom and that reporters should be keeping an eye out for litigation around firings of federal workers in the near future. Minnesota AG Keith Ellison had a message to those federal workers who may have been listening or are currently worried about the future. Youre not alone, he told the Arizona Mirror, adding that the battle will not be won in a courtroom but in the court of public opinion. -- Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. A new bill progressing in the Oregon Legislature would allocate staff and resources within the Oregon Health Authority to address the states ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland, would provide victim outreach and prevention services related to missing and murdered Indigenous people. In addition, it would instruct the health authority to create and maintain datasets on missing and murdered Indigenous people and to create several partnerships with tribal governments, Native American-led organizations, community leaders, and local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement. The legislation, House Bill 3198, comes six years after another law that produced a report on the issue yielded limited results. An InvestigateWest investigation into the states response to the 2019 bill found there was limited progress on the reports recommendations for improving relationships between Indigenous communities and law enforcement and for improving data collection and that Gov. Tina Kotek then had no awareness of progress on the law. Sanchez told InvestigateWest last May that she was formulating new legislation to spur further action. Advocates were unsatisfied with the results of the 2019 bill, saying it didnt improve conditions for Native American families searching for loved ones. As originally written, the 2025 bill wouldve ordered another study in collaboration with the U.S Department of Justice but amendments proposed by Sanchez, the Legislatures second Indigenous lawmaker, moved it toward an action plan that would provide long-sought resources. In addition to ordering the collection of data on cases, the bill would dedicate staff within the Oregon Health Authority to establish interagency agreements with tribal governments, Native American-led organizations, law enforcement, and community leaders. These staffers would focus on victim services, outreach, education, and violence prevention for Indigenous communities. The bills estimated cost is $500,000. Community wanted something to happen, Sanchez told the House Committee on Judiciary in a public hearing Feb. 3. And they wanted it to happen sooner than taking a lot of time to continue to do more studies. The Oregon Health Authority, the states health agency, would be tasked with the response, with Sanchez saying that it already has an existing prevention-model system used in public health crises and a good working relationship with the nine tribes. As it stands, practical support for families, like legal advocacy, emergency financial assistance, emotional support and assistance navigating the criminal justice system, has primarily come from individuals communities or Native American-led community organizations. Many family members, including in written testimony on the bill, cite the confusing and overwhelming process of juggling the search for a loved one, the associated emotional trauma and financial concerns. Jurisdictional complexities complicate which law enforcement agencies are responsible for managing a case involving a Native American person, and families often find themselves without support. No family should be searching in the dark, without hope and without the help that they need, testified Amanda Freeman, citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, on Feb. 3. This bill is a step toward making sure our people are seen, heard and protected. Multiple tribal organizations, as well as Multnomah County and Portlands Office of Government Relations, support the bill, which advanced from the House Committee on Judiciary and is now before the House Ways and Means Committee. One component of the bill addresses a priority for advocates across Indian Country improved data collection on missing and murdered Native Americans. Improved data collection was one of the major recommendations from the 2019 law that made little progress. Advocates for Indigenous people say that poor data collection due in part to racial misclassification has made it impossible to determine the true number of missing and murdered Native American individuals. Although there have been stated efforts to improve data collection at the federal level, theres been little improvement on the ground, with many Native Americans turning to other community members for support and community-based data organizations left to try to keep track of the missing. Our state cannot wait for federal efforts to catch up, testified Luhui Whitebear, an assistant professor at Oregon State University and member of the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation. The bill would direct the health authority to work with tribal governments and Native American-led organizations to collect and maintain data on the missing and murdered, then use it to identify patterns and areas for targeted health interventions and violence prevention programs. It also calls on the health authority to work with representatives of the nine tribes within the geographic bounds of Oregon and representatives from Native American-led organizations to implement community education programs and support youth engagement initiatives to reduce vulnerabilities that disproportionately impact Indigenous people. Supporters of the bill say its an important step that moves beyond studying the problem and allocates staff from within the health authority to address the issue and begin to understand the root causes, though it doesnt touch on broader issues like criminal jurisdiction for tribes, which is limited. There have been task forces and studies and acknowledgments, but we still have a disproportionate impact to tribal people, state Sen. Anthony Broadman, D-Bend, a former chief judge for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs tribal court, said in his testimony supporting the bill. Broadman is sponsoring the companion bill to HB 3192 in the state Senate. Advocates and tribal officials say criminal jurisdictional complexities on tribal lands complicate investigations and leave Native Americans vulnerable to violence. Tribes do not have full authority to prosecute all crimes that occur on tribal lands. Instead, they are governed by a jurisdictional patchwork that can involve tribal, state or federal law enforcement, depending on a crimes location and whether or not the victim or offender is a citizen of a federally recognized tribe. In Oregon, tribes are still recovering from the termination era of the 1950s, when almost all federally recognized tribes sharing geography with Oregon were terminated, losing their federal recognition, land base, funding and services from the federal government. Tribes had their status restored in the 1970s and 1980s, but it caused lasting damage to tribal communities, which Broadman highlighted as contributing to the ongoing crisis. Consider the systems that have brought us here today in what we all acknowledge is an epidemic of violence in the missing (and) murdered and Indigenous persons epidemic, Broadman said. As a state we are still in the phase of restoration restoration of safe communities, restoration of systems that protect all Oregonians adequately. InvestigateWest (investigatewest.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Reporter Melanie Henshaw covers Indigenous affairs and communities in the region. Reach her directly at melanie@investigatewest.org or at (971) 258-0891. Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, is the chief sponsor of a bill that would prohibit Oregon landlords from inquiring about the immigration status or citizenship of current or future tenants. Beth Nakamura Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it illegal to inquire about a potential renters immigration status or deny them the ability to rent a home based on the landlords perception of their immigration status. The proposal also would prohibit landlords from retaliating against tenants, who might ask for repairs or complain about mold, by threatening to disclose their immigration status to federal immigration enforcement officials. Under Senate Bill 599, Oregon would join at least four other states Washington, California, Illinois and New York that have said access to rental housing shouldnt be contingent on whether a person was born or naturalized into the U.S. The Portland City Council approved a similar law in 2019, backers note. Oregons bill would allow alternative forms of identification in the rental application process stating that in lieu of a birth certificate or Social Security number that immigrants might not have, alternative forms of identification such as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or a drivers license would suffice. An amendment to the bill, however, allows for landlords to inquire about a potential renters immigration status if required by a federal government program that offers low-income housing. Seventeen senators and representatives are sponsoring the bill. All are Democrats. Its also the top priority bill of the Legislatures Black, Indigenous, People of Color Caucus, also known as the BIPOC Caucus. Its gained support from more than a dozen advocacy groups, religious organizations and unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers, including the Oregon Education Association and Oregon AFL-CIO. But it also has drawn significant opposition from people concerned that it would infringe on landlord rights, it would intensify competition for housing by making it easier for immigrants to rent and that the Legislature should focus on lowering rents for citizens rather than establishing protections for immigrants who entered the country without documentation. Rep. Ricki Ruiz, a Gresham Democrat and sponsor of the bill, said it is deeply personal to him because his parents immigrated to the U.S. in search of a better future but also worried about finding a safe and stable home. Growing up, I saw firsthand the barriers that stood in their way, Ruiz told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The fear of not having a safe place to call home. The anxiety of not knowing if someone would turn (us) away because of where we came from or the language we spoke. He added: The constant fear follows families like mine not just for weeks or months but for years shaping the way we move through the world. Ruiz said he hoped the passage of the bill would send a clear message to every family, no matter where they come from that they deserve the basic human right of a safe, stable home. Cynthia Ramirez, a policy associate at PCUN, Oregons farmworkers union, told the committee that undocumented Oregonians are our neighbors, coworkers and loved ones who pay taxes and contribute to the economy just like everyone else, but are systematically excluded from obtaining homes. Farmworkers who sustain Oregons agriculture industry and put food on our tables are often told that they are good enough to labor in Oregons fields but are not good enough to rent or buy a home, Ramirez said. More than a dozen people spoke in support of the bill, and more than 60 submitted written testimony approving of it. Only one person testified in opposition Wednesday, though 18 people also submitted testimony against the bill. Chad Kernutt, an Albany resident, told the committee he grew up in Oregon helping his parents clean and fix four units that they rented to tenants. He said he considers undocumented immigrants as criminals for violating our laws and our countrys sovereignty when they trespass into our country. He said because landlords can use a U.S. citizens criminal history as a reason not to rent, he believes the same should be true for undocumented immigrants. In written testimony, Ruppert Reinstadler of Tigard said further regulating landlords drives up prices, among other problems. Since when do business people (landlords) not have the right to ask questions of their renters? Reinstadler wrote. It is a basic tenet of business that you know who your clients are, whether they are trustworthy and whether they are in this country legally. Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, an Aloha Democrat and chief sponsor of the bill, said all people who call Oregon home deserve safety and security with a place to call home. The population were talking about here are neighbors, Campos said. Theyre friends. Theyre family members. They are active participants in the very system they are often unjustly accused of exploiting. Aimee Green is covering the Oregon Legislature this session. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. A bill to make Oregon one of a small number of states that have banned the sale of flavored tobacco drew passionate support but also very personal objections during a public hearing this week. Proponents of the bill told a legislative committee that flavored tobacco smells like candy and addicts children as young as elementary school age while setting them on a path toward early death. But opponents argued flavored tobacco, which often is ingested through vaping or packets that are sucked on, offers adults a less harmful alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes and the problem resides with stores that violate the law by selling it to Oregonians under age 21. Chief among the bills opponents is Sen. David Brock Smith, a Port Orford Republican, who told the Senate Committee On Early Childhood and Behavioral Health that vaping flavored tobacco allowed him to kick a 30-year habit of smoking that was passed on to him from his dad. Frankly, Im not proud of the fact that I still use a nicotine delivery system, Brock Smith said. But that said as a 48-year-old state senator in the state of Oregon, I should darn well be able to. Richard Burke, executive director of the 21+ Tobacco and Vapor Retail Association of Oregon, said banning flavored tobacco takes away bodily autonomy for adults and even the National Health Service in the United Kingdom has started a Swap to Stop program where it gives smokers vaping products in exchange for their traditional cigarettes. Burke also said a prohibition could create an underground trade. If I am a member of the black market, I would love (the bill), cause you are giving me a monopoly on vaping products that would appeal to children, Burke said. But Senate Bill 702, which is similar to House Bill 3437, sparked enormous support during its hearing Tuesday. The bills are sponsored by more than 20 senators and representatives, all Democrats. This includes Sen. Janeen Sollman, who also is sponsoring Senate Bill 544, which would require high schools with more than 1,000 students to install vaping detectors in bathrooms. Senate Bill 702 supporters who testified Tuesday were people of all ages, including parents, teens and doctors. They said not only do the fruity and sweet flavors hook youth under 21, the flavored tobacco impacts their ability to focus at school and be productive later in life. Youth have little trouble getting around Oregons age restrictions on sales by getting the products from adults or buying the products at stores that are lackadaisical about enforcement, proponents of the bill said. Erika Moseson, a lung and intensive care unit doctor at Legacy Health, said she is reluctant to guide her patients toward e-cigarettes and flavored tobaccos as an alternative. I usually recommend starting with something safer than e-cigarettes because e-cigarettes are not safe, Moseson said. We do all hope they are safer than combustible cigarettes, which kill around half of their lifetime users. Jennifer Little, director of Klamath County Public Health, said the addicted people her department helps have gotten younger and younger. Yes, adults like flavors, too, Little said. But these colorful packaging and flavors give the illusion of fun and safety to kids. She said parents and teachers call her department about students sneaking flavored tobacco into classrooms, bathrooms and school buses. Students tell public health staff that they never would have used tobacco unless it was flavored, because non-flavored tobacco is gross. And the scariest and saddest part of this story is we used to just get calls from junior highs and high schools and now were getting calls from elementary schools. Let me say it again, elementary schools, Little said. Kasen Shi, a senior at Lake Oswego High School, told the committee that hes encountered flavored tobacco vapor in the restrooms countless times. But he was startled one day to be in a stall when he smelled the telltale scent of strawberry-infused nicotine from an e-cigarette filling the restroom and the distinctive Nikes that the boy in the stall next to him was wearing. Later that day, Shi said he spotted the boy wearing those Nikes and realized it was someone hed known since early childhood. That friend served as a reminder that addiction isnt limited to any one person, Shi said. It can happen to the friend youve known since elementary school, the kid who once invited you to his birthday party. Muhsin Farah, a 16-year-old student in Portland, said he saw how quickly one of his closest friends became addicted. At first it didnt seem like a big deal, just a few puffs of something that smelled like mango or cotton candy, Farah said. We all thought it was harmless. But over time it became something he couldnt go without. I watched as he went from casually vaping to needing it first thing in the morning, between classes and even when we were just hanging out. He tried to quit multiple times but the cravings always pulled him back. In 2020, Massachusetts prohibited flavored tobacco as well as menthol cigarettes. California followed in 2022 for most types of flavored tobacco. New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island also have enacted similar restrictions. Some localities have passed their own bans. In Oregon, Washington County commissioners passed a flavored tobacco ban in 2021, a move that was reaffirmed by voters in 2022. But a legal challenge has sent the ban to the Oregon Supreme Court. The court hasnt yet said if it will hear the case. Multnomah County commissioners passed a ban that was supposed to go into effect Jan. 1, 2024, but a legal challenge froze its implementation days before that date arrived. In considering a statewide ban, lawmakers also will consider the financial impacts, which are difficult to assess. A 2023 analysis by the Legislative Revenue Office said a similar bill could possibly amount to a loss of about $90 million in tax revenue a year from the sale of flavored tobacco. But even tougher to assess are the costs of treating flavored tobacco users for health problems that might include cancer, respiratory disease, heart disease and strokes, proponents of the bill said. Then, they said, there are the societal costs of lost productivity and the human tragedies that come with tobacco-induced disability and death. Aimee Green is covering the Oregon Legislature this session. Reach her at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency that provides health care for retired military members, according to an internal memo obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. The VAs chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, told top-level officials at the agency Tuesday that it had an objective to cut enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000. That would require terminating tens of thousands of employees after the VA expanded during the Biden administration, as well as to cover veterans impacted by burn pits under the 2022 PACT Act. Representatives of veterans organizations helped fill a committee room for a public hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mike Cason/AL.com The memo instructs top-level staff to prepare for an agency-wide reorganization in August to resize and tailor the workforce to the mission and revised structure. It also calls for agency officials to work with the White Houses Department of Government Efficiency to move out aggressively, while taking a pragmatic and disciplined approach to the Trump administrations goals. Government Executive first reported on the internal memo. Veterans have already been speaking out against the cuts at the VA that so far had included a few thousand employees and hundreds of contracts. More than 25% of the VAs workforce is comprised of veterans. The plans underway at the VA showed how the Trump administrations DOGE initiative, led by billionaire Elon Musk, is not holding back on an all-out effort to slash federal agencies, even for those that have traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support. Michael Missal, who was the VAs inspector general for nine years until he was fired last month as part of Trumps sweeping dismissal of independent oversight officials at government agencies, told the AP that the VA is already suffering from a lack of expertise as top-level officials either leave or are shuffled around under the presidents plans. Whats going to happen is VAs not going to perform as well for veterans, and veterans are going to get harmed, said Missal, who was a guest of Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. at Trumps Tuesday address to Congress. Rather than leaning on the missions of inspectors general, whose job is to search out waste and fraud at government agencies, Trump has moved forcefully against them, flouting statutes that require a 30-day notice and specific reasons for their dismissals. Missal is challenging his dismissal in court alongside seven other fired inspectors general. Missal described the VA as a really complicated, hard to manage organization that is similar in size to the largest corporations in America. He defended his work at the agency as committed to make it more efficient and responsive to veterans. By Missals count, the VA inspector generals oversight resulted in $45 billion being saved at the agency during his tenure. But he added that Trumps actions against the inspectors general is making it more difficult for the officials still in those offices to do their jobs. In Congress, Democrats have decried the cuts at the VA and other agencies, while Republicans have so far watched with caution the Trump administrations changes. Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate committee that oversees veterans affairs, said in a statement that the Trump administration has launched an all-out assault against progress the VA has made in expanding its services as the number of covered veterans grows and includes those impacted by toxic burn pits. Their plan prioritizes private sector profits over veterans care, balancing the budget on the backs of those who served. Its a shameful betrayal, and veterans will pay the price for their unforgivable corruption, incompetence, and immorality, Blumenthal said in a statement. Democratic leaders in the House also spotlighted the impact of Trumps cuts on veterans Wednesday. Democrats are here to say in unison we will not allow our veterans to be defined as government waste, said Rep. Katherine Clark, the No. 2 ranked in House Democratic leadership, at a news conference. Stephen Groves / Associated Press Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed reporting. The administrative building of the National Institutes of Health is shown in Bethesda, Md., Aug. 17, 2009. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from drastically cutting medical research funding that many scientists say will endanger patients and cost jobs. The new National Institutes of Health policy would strip research groups of hundreds of millions of dollars to cover so-called indirect expenses of studying Alzheimers, cancer, heart disease and a host of other illnesses anything from clinical trials of new treatments to basic lab research that is the foundation for discoveries. Separate lawsuits filed by a group of 22 states (including Oregon) plus organizations representing universities, hospitals and research institutions nationwide sued to stop the cuts, saying they would cause irreparable harm. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston had temporarily blocked the cuts last month. Wednesday, she filed a preliminary injunction that puts the cuts on hold for longer, while the suits proceed. This is a big win for science and public health, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. The Trump administrations cuts would have hurt research thats vital to our future, and were glad the court stepped in to stop that. We will keep fighting to make sure that lifesaving and life-changing medical research and innovation arent held back by reckless decisions driven by politics. The NIH, the main funder of biomedical research, awarded about $35 billion in grants to research groups last year. The total is divided into direct costs covering researchers salaries and laboratory supplies and indirect costs, the administrative and facility costs needed to support that work. The Trump administration had dismissed those expenses as overhead, but universities and hospitals argue theyre far more critical. They can include such things as electricity to operate sophisticated machinery, hazardous waste disposal, staff who ensure researchers follow safety rules and janitorial workers. Under prior policy, the government negotiated those rates with institutions. As an example, an institution with a 50% indirect cost rate would get another $50,000 to cover indirect expenses for a $100,000 project. The NIHs new policy would cap indirect costs at a flat rate of 15% instead, calculated to save the agency $4 billion a year. Dr. David J. Skorton of the Association of American Medical Colleges, one of the plaintiffs, applauded the ruling. These unlawful cuts would slow medical progress and cost lives, he wrote in a statement, saying the NIH-funded research benefits every person and community in America. The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees NIH, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. -- The Associated Press In celebration of Tom & Jerrys 85th anniversary, Converse has just dropped a five-piece sneaker collection alongside apparel and a customizable Converse By You option. The collection is available in-store and online, but is likely to sell out, so if you see something you like, dont wait to act. This isnt the first time the Boston-based brand has tapped into the nostalgia of the animated classic. A 2022 collaboration featured a single Chuck Taylor release, but this years drop goes bigger, offering multiple designs for both adults and kids. The collection includes four adult-sized pairs, with three featuring all-over graphics of the feuding duoone showing their exaggerated expressions ($100), another layering scenes from the show onto a white canvas base ($80), and a third placing large, detailed illustrations of Tom and Jerry on either side of the shoe ($100). A more understated fourth option keeps it simple ($80) with a single portrait of each character on the lateral side, plus black-and-white outlines inside the tongue. For younger fans, Converse reimagines its iconic Chuck Taylor All-Star logo as a cheese wheel with Jerry happily snacking away while a frustrated Tom glares from the side. Each pair in the collection is finished with tonal midsoles and Tom & Jerry branding on the insole, heel spoiler, and sockliner. Rounding out the collection, Converse By You lets fans mix and match colors, materials, and graphics for a custom take on the classic silhouette (starting at $95). A Frenemies tee ($40) and a Chase hoodiefeaturing Tom in hot pursuit of Jerry ($75) complete the lineup. The Tom & Jerry x Converse collection is available at Converse, both in-store and online. Snag your pair while supplies last! PGE's Shute Substation in North Hillsboro. Oregon data centers are expected to draw at least twice as much power by the end of the decade. Regulators and consumer advocates warn that consumers might help foot the bill for building new power plants, transmission lines and substations to serve them. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian Oregon lawmakers began considering a bill Thursday designed to protect households from the costs of building new transmission lines and generators to power the states enormous data center industry. Data center power consumption is soaring across Oregon, growing much faster than the states generation and transmission capacity. Utilities are drawing up plans to boost capacity, but state regulators warn that under existing law, some of the costs could be shared by residential ratepayers. Soon it will be time to change our clocks. But what time will sunset occur when Daylight Saving Time begins? (Getty Images) Getty Images Its time to spring forward. Daylight saving time begins this weekend. Clocks will move forward one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Most devices these days will update automatically to the daylight saving time, but traditional clocks will need to be manually adjusted forward by one hour. Despite some recent efforts to end seasonal time changes, we will continue to spring forward in March and fall back in November for the foreseeable future. Efforts on the West Coast to end the time changes have stalled once again. To switch to permanent daylight saving time, Oregon, Washington and California must all agree to the change. Once all three West Coast states agree, the move would also require congressional approval. In 2024, an effort to place Oregon on year-round standard time died in the legislature. Oregon Senate Bill 1548 passed the Senate but was not sent to the Oregon House of Representatives, effectively killing the measure. National legislation ending seasonal time changes more broadly has been proposed in Congress, but has yet to become law. Daylight saving time will end on Sunday, Nov. 2, when we will fall back once again. Julie Evensen covers trending topics and popular culture. She can be reached at jevensen@oregonian.com or @juliecevensen on Twitter and @julieevensen on Threads. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Today we celebrate 13 women who faced bias head-on. Investors labeled them risky or just support. They ignored that and built amazing success From being mistaken as the support act to fielding endless questions about risk instead of growth, women founders often face subtle (and not-so-subtle) investor bias. Whether its navigating assumptions about technical skills, downplaying ambition to avoid the agitator label, or overcoming harmful stereotypes, these leaders have found ways to shift the narrativeand the outcome. In honour of Womens Day, 13 founders share the bias theyve encountered and the bold moves that helped them break through. Dr Liz Dallimore, CEO and Managing Director of Argenica Therapeutics I havent experienced bias because Im female, but I do generally follow some key learnings that have helped me navigate my career. Being: Always say yes to opportunities, even if youre worried you might fail or not know how to do the job, surround yourself with people that are willing to help. As women we dont go after what we want strongly enough be clear on your ambitions and dont be shy about going after them. Trish Mackie-Smith, CEO and Co-founder of inndox I have personally faced gender bias and had to work hard to overcome it. Several male investors have suggested that my achievements were due to my gender, rather than merit. To counter this, Ive had to emphasize my other business successes to prove my competence. During early fundraising, I was called an agitator by a male venture capitalist who questioned why he should invest in me. To change his perception, I had to soften my language about reforming the real estate industry and instead, focus on how my innovation solved a problem. Charlotte Bradshaw, CEO & Founder of Evrima Technologies Despite years of industry experience, as a non-tech solo founder I was often challenged with comments such as You cant do that, its not possible. The key lesson I learned was to ignore the negativity and invest time in research and collaboration to build a supportive network. Lisa Sarago, CEO and Co-Founder of Land on Heart and Land on Heart Foundation The biggest challenge that Indigenous women face in terms of accessing investors is that of discrimination. Over recent years, racism and discrimination have increased at alarming rates and in 2025 it has not eased with the Trumpian policies which are beginning to penetrate Australian politics. Such discrimination presents as assumptions around our intelligence, capability, and business skills. Despite our qualifications, skills and lived experience, we are judged harshly, through a deficit lens, and often required to jump through more hoops than those of white men The only way forward to ensure Indigenous women have an equitable opportunity to engage with investors is through brokers or programs designed and led by Indigenous women. Dr Louise Metcalf, Founder & CEO of Gheorg As a female founder, Ive noticed a significant bias in how investors frame their questions. Women are often asked risk-prevention queries like, What if you dont meet your revenue targets? whereas men are encouraged with growth-oriented questions such as, What will you do after hitting your targets? This subtle shift steers discussions towards risk rather than growth, undermining confidence in women-led startups. I counter this by steering investor conversations back to scalability and opportunities. Samantha Dybac, CEO and Founder of The PR Hub Female led startups are still underrepresented in funding, but the right PR strategy can shift investor perception and open doors. Visibility breeds credibility. Use it to your advantage. Thuy Pham, Spectrum Digital AI A big oneespecially in AI and techis the assumption that women arent technical enough to build their own systems. Its as if theres always this expectation that we need a technical co-founder to validate our ideas. I havent spoken to investors yet, but I already know how Id navigate this: I dont argueI execute. When you build something undeniable, people stop questioning whether you can do it and start asking how they can be part of it. Sarah Neill, CEO & Founder of Mys Tyler Women founders are often asked more questions about risks and potential downsides, such as churn rates or the impact of new competitors. Even when answered well, these questions focus on mitigating risk rather than highlighting the businesss potential and upside. Research and evidence strongly support this pattern Ultimately, the job of the founder is to try and answer the prevention questions with promotion answers, if youre talking about competitors entering, you can speak to the attractiveness of the market as a result of its size and growth rate, so its only natural that competitors will enter but you have a competitive advantage, a strategy, the right people etc to compete. Ludwina Dautovic, Founder and CEO of The Room Xchange As the founder of a tech company, Ive faced the dual challenge of being a woman in tech and starting a business at a later stage in life. During my seed round, I pitched over 60 times and kept hearing the same response: Great ideacome back in round two. It became clear that the hesitation wasnt about the concept itself but about taking a risk on me as a female founder in a male-dominated industry with a new and unfamiliar idea. Instead of giving up, I decided to take control of the narrative. I hired a space in a Melbourne pub and organized my own pitch event The result? Overnight, I had four meeting invitations, and by the end of the week, Thundering Herd came on board as my investment partner, helping me raise the funds I needed. One common bias women founders face is being questioned more about risk mitigation rather than growth potential. In my experience, investors often focus on whether women can handle the challenges of scaling a business rather than the vision for its success. I navigated this by reframing the conversation to emphasise data-driven results, such as our verified user base, growing registrations and the problems that we solve. Pascale Helyar-Moray, Executive Director, Strategy, Innovation & Marketing One of the most prevalent investor biases Ive encountered is the assumption that all women share the same financial experiences and opportunities. This perception often stems from the personal circles of male investors, whose partners or wives tend to have higher levels of education, stable careers, and financial security To challenge this bias, I relied on hard data. By presenting government and industry-sourced statistics, I highlighted the structural barriers that shape womens work and earning patterns. Kawai Yeung, Co-Founder of Kaunitz Yeung Architecture In business, perception often shapes reality. A common bias women founders face, especially those with male co-founders, is the assumption that they play a supporting role rather than leading strategy and decision making The most effective way to navigate investor bias is not through debate, but through consistency in leadership and results. By focusing on clarity, expertise, and strategic decision-making, I ensured my role became evident through the work itself. Diana Horvatovic, CEO of St. Basils Aged Care NSW/ACT One bias female leaders often face is the expectation to lead with warmth and empathy while also demonstrating strength and authority. If we are too assertive, we risk being perceived as aggressive; if we are too compassionate, we may be seen as weak. The key is embracing both, leading with confidence while staying deeply connected to people. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Michael Blum, the fourth dean candidate for the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, shared his vision for the college with students, faculty and staff during a public forum Wednesday afternoon. The College of Arts and Sciences has been without a dean since July when David Wrobel stepped down after serving six years in the position to become the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University in New York. Blum has been the associate dean of the research and creative activity office at the University of Tennessee since 2023. He also served as a professor and associate professor for the colleges ecology and evolutionary biology department. He previously worked as a research professor for Tulane University. NEWSLETTERS * required Thank you for subscribing! Email * Please enter a valid email address First Name Last Name When major news breaks + a few times a week FREE SIGN UP Subscribing... Blum earned his bachelors degree in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1995 and his doctoral degree in zoology from Duke University in 2002. Blums research focuses on sustainability and socioecology, particularly human-environment interactions in riverine and coastal ecosystems. He coordinated major initiatives centered on New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and led efforts to foster adaptive watershed management. Identity, invention and investment Blum introduced his vision for the college: identity, invention and investment. In his presentation, he applied this analysis to research, faculty and student success. For research, Blum said the college needs to focus on aspirations and build on legacy investments. Blum also said he would take advantage of opportunities to solidify the identity of the college. At the University of Tennessee, Blum mentioned partnerships related to radiopharmaceuticals for cancer research and the automobile industry. You have to make institutional investments to make these kinds of operations work, Blum said. In faculty affairs, Blum wants to focus on hiring and staff retention, specifically looking at long-term solutions similar to a policy thats been implemented at the University of Tennessee. Weve taken a different approach, Blum said. The expectation is it's not just an annual planning process but were looking over longer-time horizons. Blum mentioned the University of Tennessee College of Arts and Sciences process called constellation hiring. Constellation hiring is intended to bring together tenure-line faculty members whose research, scholarship and creative activity can help bring new, interdisciplinary perspectives, according to the University of Tennessee's website. Blum said his approach to familiarize himself with the specifics of the college would be by visiting faculty on their own terms, at events, meetings and in offices. It's incredibly important to have a great team, Blum said. People who you trust, delegate important tasks with and they get it done, right? And so the idea is to solidify the team. NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM Regarding student enrollment, Blum said he recognizes the importance of reaching out to prospective students and supporting the brand of the college through swag like sweatshirts, T-shirts and lanyards. We (have to) think of these as opportunities for reinforcing identity, providing content material that is very engaging from a client perspective, Blum said. We're here to provide education that has value and has to be perceived from students as being valuable. Blum said creativity and inventiveness are key for student success. As an example, Blum mentioned building up programs like game studies, which can bridge gaps between interests among majors in the college. We think very carefully about academic program development. We invest in development of compelling programs that may be building up classrooms that may be bringing in different kinds of multimedia engagement, Blum said. Blum said that this process will take time and believes its important to have group discussions to be more effective. In response to a question about how he will advocate for the importance of arts and sciences given climate regarding higher education in Oklahoma, Blum believes the pathway from an undergraduate degree in an arts and sciences program to job placement is often undervalued and said there is opportunity to more effectively communicate its importance. We point to these opportunities for investment and the development of broadly applicable skill sets and personal discovery, but there's also career placement opportunities there that don't necessarily foreground, Blum said. Connecting those dots is really important. Language requirement OU Provosts office requested an evaluation of the College of Arts and Sciences foreign language requirements in November, which raised concerns from the OU community that the undergraduate language requirement would be removed. Blum said that at The University of Tennessee, the college of business made the decision to drop the language requirement for arts and sciences, which dramatically decreased funding for language programs. The lesson learned there is to get out ahead and have more agency in those kinds of decisions, Blum said. And so part of this is having agency, having discussions ahead of when somebody else might make a decision for you. Aside from focusing on communication and advocacy for issues that may be out of his control, Blum said decisions like these should be made based on the effects on students. Whether you're talking about languages or you're talking about astrophysics, there has to be something that's going to engage students, where your enrollments should be contingent on interest, Blum said. The final presentation will be given by Roger Thompson from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday in Zarrow Hall. Thompsons meet and greet will be from 5:15 to 6 p.m. Friday in the Dodge Student Success and Advising Center in the Physical Sciences Center. This story was edited by Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Im inspired by the fabulous performance of Catholic Answers apologist Joe Heschmeyer vs. Bishop Dr. [???] James White in the recent debate, Is the Mass A Propitiatory Sacrifice? Joe pointed out how Protestants look the death of the Jesus on the cross as a one-time event (as indeed it was), but in a way that precludes a revisiting of it in the Mass. But then he noted how there was a difference in the Old Testament sacrificial system between the sacrifice itself and the offering of the sacrifice to God (all of it being part of the same overall process of worship). On the Day of Atonement, known by Jews as Yom Kippur, we see the procedure of the sacrifice, according to Mosaic Law: Leviticus 16:11-16 (RSV) Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house; he shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. [12] And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small; and he shall bring it within the veil [13] and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat which is upon the testimony, lest he die; [14] and he shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times. [15] Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, and bring its blood within the veil, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat; [16] thus he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins; First, the sacrifice was made by the high priest, and then blood was taken from it (both from a bull and a goat) into the Holy of Holies (the holiest part the inner sanctum of the temple, and the tabernacle, prior to the temple) and sprinkled onto the mercy seat between the two cherubim, which was above the ark of the covenant, where God was specially present (Ex 30:6: . . . the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with you). Hence, the second offering to God was separate and distinct from the sacrifice of the animals. Before God gave Moses the Law on Mt. Sinai, in Egypt, before the exodus, the feast of Passover was a simpler form of the same sort of sacrifice: Exodus 12:5-8, 13-14 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old; you shall take it from the sheep or from the goats; [6] and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs in the evening. [7] Then they shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them. [8] They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. . . . [13] The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. [14] This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as an ordinance for ever. The New Testament then picks up this theme and applies it to the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf: John 1:29, 36 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! . . . [36] and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God! Acts 8:32 Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. [this was from the Old Testament passage below] Isaiah 53:4-7 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 1 Corinthians 5:7 . . . Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Peter 1:19 . . . the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. Lets now look at relevant passages in the book of Hebrews, which discuss Jesus being the high priest of the new covenant: Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. * Hebrews 5:5-6 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee; [6] as he says also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek. (cf. 6:20) * Hebrews 7:26-28 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. [27] He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. [28] Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. * Hebrews 9:11-14 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) [12] he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. [13] For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, [14] how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. [15] Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. * Hebrews 9:24-26 For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. [25] Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own; [26] for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. * Hebrews 10:10 . . . we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. The word offer[ing] appears 32 times in Hebrews; first regarding the Old Testament priests: Hebrews 5:1, 3 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. . . . [3] . . . he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. * Hebrews 8:3 . . . every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices . . . * Hebrews 9:6-7 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; [7] but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people But then the text moves to the climactic scene in heaven of Jesus offering His sacrifice to the Father: Hebrews 10:11-14 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. [14] For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. (cf. 8:1: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne) This brings me to my central argument, that was brought to mind by Joe Heschmeyers brilliant debate performance. One of the best arguments he made in the debate had to do with what the book of Hebrews presents with regard to Christs sacrifice and offering of Himself as the paschal lamb to the Father in heaven (Heb 10:11-14). This occurred at least 43 days after His crucifixion, because He spent time on the earth after His resurrection before He ascended to heaven (in order to sit down at the right hand of God once and for all). * In other words, there was an offering to the Father of the one sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for all time, that took place some six weeks after His death on the cross. Not everything was done at the time of the crucifixion (it is finished: Jn 19:30, therefore, could not have referred to this presentation in heaven) and there is a sense in which an ongoing sacrifice can be made present to us. The Catholic Mass is a re-presentation of the one sacrifice on the cross. Its supernaturally made present to us, as I have written about: * What Id like to now explore is perhaps a further instance of this argumentation regarding some sense of an ongoing sacrifice after the crucifixion. If we examine the book of Revelation, we find that the word lamb appears no less than 30 times, referring to Jesus 28 of those times . Dr. Scott Hahn wrote in his Catholic Answers article, The Apocalyptic Mass (9-1-00): My most vivid memory of the first Mass I attended was that powerful moment in the Communion Rite where the people say, Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God. Lamb of God. Then they knelt, and the priest held up the host and said, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the worldthat was Lamb of God four times in less than a minute. I was sitting in the back pew as simply an observer. But suddenly I knew where I was: I was back in the Book of Revelation where Jesus is called the Lamb of God no less than 28 times in 22 chapters. Hes only called Lamb in one other book in the entire New Testament: the Gospel of John, and there just twice. But in the Apocalypse, thats his main title, more than all the other titles: Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Alpha and Omega, and all the rest. Hes the Lamb of God. I went back to Mass the next day. I had my pad and pencil, and I had my Bible. This time I had it open to Revelation and I saw things Id never seen before. I saw a connection in these liturgical actions. Not just one or two. Not even just eight or ten. I made a list of 30 elements: white-robed priests, an altar, a congregation chanting Holy, holy, holy, the alleluias, the amen, the golden chalices, the book, the invocation of angels and saints. I hardly knew which way to turntoward the actions on the pages of the Apocalypse, or the action up at the altar. After about 15 or 20 minutes of the second Mass, suddenly I realized they were one and the same action. What I was reading on the page was exactly what I was watching up there at the altar. We know what this is alluding to, if we are at all familiar with the Old Testament sacrificial system and the use of lamb and high priest in reference to Jesus: even going back to the famous messianic passage Isaiah 53. But what is striking is what Dr. Hahn noted: the constant use of lamb in the book of Revelation. And not only that, but specifically to a lamb slain: Revelation 5:6-12 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth; [7] and he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. [8] And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; [9] and they sang a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, [10] and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth. [11] Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! (cf. 13:8: the Lamb that was slain; 7:14 and 12:11: the blood of the Lamb; 22:3: the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him) Note that the worship in heaven is specifically directed towards Jesus, but not as the triumphant King Jesus; rather, its to the Lamb Who was standing, as though it had been slain. Again, there is an extraordinary connection to what we believe happens at Mass, where Jesus one sacrifice on the cross is supernaturally made present again and the priest and congregation take part in offering Jesus up (in the one sacrifice of the cross; not an additional sacrifice). And we partake of His Body and Blood, which was part of the OT sacrificial rituals as well. * What I would like to know from my Protestant brothers and sisters is: how does all this harmonize with the common Protestant disdain of Catholic crucifixes? Protestants generally have crosses, but minus the body of Jesus. They will point out that all of that is done and over with; that Jesus is now triumphant in heaven (so why keep going back to the cross?). Yet when we see what actually occurs in heaven what the inspired Bible reveals to us , we dont find that state of affairs at all. We see the Lamb slain and worshiped as the slain lamb. There is no de-emphasis at all of the death of Christ. It is still present and very much front and center. Indeed, its like a live crucifix. So what becomes of all that rather common and annoying Protestant rhetoric against this crucial aspect of Christianity? * The most striking aspect of all of this relevant to our doctrine of the Sacrifice of the Mass is that its not merely occurring 43 days after the crucifixion (when Jesus offered Himself to God and sat down at His right hand). The evidence for the dating of the book of Revelation suggests a time at the end of the Roman emperor Domitians reign. He died in 96 AD. So if we follow that date, its about 66 years after the crucifixion of Christ. Yet even then St. John saw Jesus as a slain lamb, and witnessed Him being worshiped in heaven as such, too. * But he goes beyond that, still referring to Jesus as the Lamb during the time of the last days, the Second Coming and heaven after the end of the age, and even into eternity, that God allowed him to foresee: Revelation 6:15-17 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the generals and the rich and the strong, and every one, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, [16] calling to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; [17] for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand before it? * Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Fathers name written on their foreheads. * Revelation 14:9-11 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any one worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, [10] he also shall drink the wine of Gods wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name. * Revelation 17:14 they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, . . . * Revelation 19:9 . . . Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. . . . * Revelation 22:1-3 Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. [3] There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him; In light of all of this biblical data, I submit that the Sacrifice of the Mass is not merely an arbitrary (and so we are accused, blasphemous and sacrilegious) ceremony; its quite biblical, since the Bible is still referring to a Lamb slain in heaven shortly after Jesus Ascension and St. John chooses to refer to Jesus 28 times as the Lamb in the book of Revelation, including visions of the end times and the end of the age and heaven itself. * If Jesus as a slain lamb (obviously referring to His sacrificial and redemptive crucifixion) is still a present factor in the last-written book of the Bible, describing events far into the future, then by the same token, it appears plausible and likely that Jesus is indeed present as a slain Lamb at every Mass. We merely imitate the worship that is clearly described in Revelation 5:6-12 and 22:3 (as Scott Hahn so accurately noted). * Because this is so clear in Scripture, the Church fathers followed suit. Renowned Protestant historian Philip Schaff, who edited 38 volumes of the fathers writings, freely admits this: In general, this period, . . . was already very strongly inclined toward the doctrine of transubstantiation, and toward the Greek and Roman sacrifice of the mass, which are inseparable in so far as a real sacrifice requires the real presence of the victim (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. 3, A. D. 311-600, revised 5th edition, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, reprinted 1974, originally 1910, p. 500) * *** * Photo credit: Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, detail of the Ghent Altarpiece, c. 1432, by Jan van Eyck (c. 1390-1441) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] Summary: I highlight many remarkable corroborating passages in the books of Hebrews and Revelation, related to the miraculous timeless & sacrificial aspect of the Catholic Mass. That someone who looks more and more like the caricature of the antichrist every day would launch an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion is not surprising. Thats what antichrists are supposed to do. However, I have seen more and more conservative Christians not merely falling in line behind him but repeating his lies. As an example, take T. Michael W. Halcombs recent Substack piece. He claims that what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean for Christians and for everyone else is different. It is true that conservative Christianity of the sort he identifies with does a lot of exclusion, and inclusion with conditions and limits. However, for a great many Christians, these words mean the same thing as they do for everyone else. Bait and Switch He says there is a bait and switch, and that is true. He and those who line up behind Trump and his cause, if they ever use one of those three words positively, have an asterisk or footnote that reads some exclusions may apply. You want to talk about bait and switch? The so-called conservative Christians offer something that substitutes small tidbits of Bible in a package that is presented as though it were what the Bible teaches. You want to talk about bait and switch? When the Bible excludes, sometimes it does so to the foreigner, but then we also get the inclusion of Ruth, of the repentant Ninevites, of the Syrophoenician woman and the Samaritan and the centurion. Who is consistently excluded? The rich. The haughty. The proud. The self-righteous. The boastful. The liar. Do you hear any of Trumps supporters talking about any of that biblical teaching? Halcomb claims that DEI is a recent Marxist innovation. I am sure there are Marxists who talk about DEI, but DEI is much broader than that and it does not belong to that particular ideology. Let me offer my own institution, Butler University, as an example. Butler University Our Compass Center, formerly our Center for Faith and Vocation, falls under the heading and oversight of our VP for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Compass Center is our home for campus ministries. The inclusion of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) is part of DEI at Butler. Butler does not have a religious affiliation, but we welcome and make room for those who do. At the end of your interfaith Baccalaureate we have regularly had Evangelicals who have more or less preached the gospel as they understand it, alongside voices from Catholics, mainline Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, secular people, and others. This is what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means. I am so proud and privileged to work at an institution for which DEI is part of its founding values and core mission. Conservative Evangelical Christians are welcome under this heading of diversity, equity, and inclusion. His claim that his more restrictive ideology offers true diversity, equity, or inclusion is a lie, and I trust you can see through it. Deceitful Tactics Despite the fact that I know these tactics, seeing someone well-educated like Michael Halcomb engage in it still saddens me. He calls his opponents dumb and tries in a bizarre way to imply that the early churchs lack of a corporate DEI office is significant. The suggestion that Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female were all one was a radical emphasis of the early churchand now the distant descendants of that movement have so distorted things that they begrudge others for trying to embrace and implement those teachings! They actually attack diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts while claiming that they do not. They are like the disciples who objected to others who cast out demons in Jesus name but were not part of their group. That there were no corporations and no democracy in the time of Jesus doesnt justify objecting to corporate offices concerned with ethics, nor opposing democracy. The government then did not do most of the things that the Jesus movement thought ought to be done and tried to do themselves. That doesnt explain why anyone who considers themselves a follower of Jesus would object to a government that cares about such things. My guess is that when society as a whole, historically reflecting the influence of progressive Christians, moves in directions that actually align with things the Bible emphasizes, those with a conservative outlook, those who think that the only way to be right is for everyone else to be wrong, feel threatened. If only they could truly grapple with Jesus reaction to the centurion, praising his faith as an outsider over those who were part of the right group. Make American Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive (whether Again or For the First Time) Halcomb then suggests that well blow a gasket if we have to answer the reciprocal question to the one he spends his whole post avoiding answering (which part of diversity, equity, and inclusion is he against). Which part of Make American Great Again am I against? None, if one understands greatness in accordance with Jesus teaching. The one who would be greatest should serve all. Yet I also wont pretend that America once lived up to the teaching of Jesus, in our past filled with slavery and segregation, with women who could not vote and could not lead. Lets make American finally great for the first time, not that it hasnt had a measure of greatness at other points in our history, but we can make it not merely what it once was but better than it has ever been. Youll get that, if you embrace the teaching of Jesus about diversity, equity, and inclusion. What Donald Trump and his followers (sadly including Michael Halcomb) offer leads in the opposite direction. I hope that most people wont find Halcombs nonsensical silly questions about where Jesus appointed a Chief Diversity Officer compelling. But alas, I fear that some who are looking for anything that will allow them to feel a sense of superiority over others may embrace this nonetheless. That is precisely why those of us who actually follow Jesus need to be his emissaries, his representatives, his officers if you prefer. We need to engage in the acts of welcoming diverse people and groups, judging matters with equity, and including those whom others exclude. We need to stand against every attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Especially one that is based on lies, particularly if one of the lies is the egregious one claiming that you can reject diversity, equity, and inclusion and follow Jesus. No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The United States continues to call on Sudans warring parties to cease hostilities, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and protect civilians, said Ambassador Kelley. SD and microSD cards are cheap If your laptop has an SD card slot, this is the easiest storage upgrade you can make. SD cards are relatively inexpensive compared to other storage options, and all you have to do is pop one into the slot. But theres a trade-off: theyre slower than other storage options. Most laptops support UHS-I SD cards, which offer speeds up to 104 MB/s. Faster UHS-II cards can go up to 312 MB/s, but many laptops dont support those. Maybe yours does. Ultimately, its your laptops SD card reader that determines the maximum data speed. Chris Hoffman / Foundry For speed, look for a card thats rated A2 or V30. For example, Ive been using this 512GB Samsung Pro Plus microSD card, which offers A2/V30 performance for under $50. If you dont need the fastest card and just want as much storage capacity as possible, an A1-rated card should do like this 1.5TB SanDisk Ultra microSD card for under $110. These days, microSD cards have become more popular than SD cards. Theyre smaller, they sit flush in the slot, and they can be permanent if you want them to be. Meanwhile, SD cards are somewhat bulkier and stick out when plugged in, which could get in the way at times. Note: If all of these specs and terms are causing your head to spin, dont worry. You arent alone. Get up to speed with our quick guide to demystifying SD and microSD card specs. Samsungs huge Discover Spring Sale is underway and there are some pretty impressive discounts going on, saving you hundreds on phones, smartwatches, and some of the very best monitors out there, just to name a few. Lets dive in and see how much you can save during this springs Samsung Discover event. New deals will be added throughout the week, so stay tuned for even more great deals in the coming days. Samsung storage Samsung T7 portable SSD, 1TB: You can get the extra storage for $110, a $45 discount, although other capacities are also on sale. Youll also get a bonus with your purchase in the shape of a 64GB Samsung Pro Ultimate mini SD card and a card reader. Samsung 990 Pro w/ Heatsink PCIe 4TB: Now available for $340, this is one of our favorite internal SSDs. All capacities are on sale. Samsung monitor deals Samsung mobile deals Samsung Galaxy S25+: First of all, Samsung is offering a free storage upgrade, which means youll pay the same for the 512GB version as you do for the 256GB. Second of all, you can get up to $700 in instant trade-in credit if you choose to swap out your old phone. If you dont have a phone to trade in, youll still get up to $270 off anyway. Basically, today, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ is only $850 . . Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6: Samsung is offering a free storage upgrade for the Z Flip6 which means you can get any of them for $950 . Theyre also offering up to $700 in instant trade-in credit if you have a phone to swap. . Theyre also offering up to $700 in instant trade-in credit if you have a phone to swap. Samsung Z Fold6: You can get the 512GB version for the same price as the 256GB, which is $1,500 , a $520 discount for the larger capacity. The 1TB model is also $400 off, making it available for $1,860 . Alternatively, you can get up to 1,000 off in instant trade-in credit and an extra $120 off the 512GB version. , a $520 discount for the larger capacity. The 1TB model is also $400 off, making it available for . Alternatively, you can get up to 1,000 off in instant trade-in credit and an extra $120 off the 512GB version. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Samsungs newest smartwatch is on sale for $330 this week, a $70 discount from its MSRP. You can shave off more from the price by trading in an older model, which can get you up to $200 in instant credit. this week, a $70 discount from its MSRP. You can shave off more from the price by trading in an older model, which can get you up to $200 in instant credit. Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro: Samsungs earbuds can be purchased for $210 right now, a $70 discount from its MSRP. If youd rather trade in another pair of buds, youll get up to $150 in trade-in credit and a $30 discount, potentially bringing down the price to $100. Samsung laptop deals Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro: You can get $200 on Samsungs newest laptop lineup, which means you can get the 14-inch 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for $1,150 and the 16 version for $1,250 . and the 16 version for . Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: If you want the versatile Samsung laptop, you can get it for $250 off, which means youll have to pay $1,450 for it. The trade-in bonus tops at $500. for it. The trade-in bonus tops at $500. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra: The previous Galaxy Book lineup is on sale too, with the Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM and 1TB version available for $1,750, a $650 discount. We absolutely adored this laptop. Samsung tablet deals Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+, 12GB RAM, 256GB: Samsungs gorgeous tablet is down to $870 , which means its $130 off. Alternatively, you can get up to $500 off if you trade in another device. , which means its $130 off. Alternatively, you can get up to $500 off if you trade in another device. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, 8GB RAM, 128GB: The S9 is also on sale for $650 right now, an $150 discount. If you want to trade-in a device, you can get up to $600 in credit. right now, an $150 discount. If you want to trade-in a device, you can get up to $600 in credit. Samsung Galaxy S9 FE, 6GB RAM, 128GB: You can get the new tablet for $280 right now, $170 under its MSRP for the 10.9 version, or $400 for the 12.4 model. Alternatively, you can save up to $300 by trading in another tablet. See our Best Monitor round-up for more PC monitor buying advice. Consumers are being asked to boycott Target for 40 days. This photo is of a Target store in Emeryville, Calif., Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) AP Target shifted its DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies in January Since then, consumers have noticed, and many have decided to take action by choosing to boycott the retailer. According to an interview with CNN, Rev. Jamal Bryant, senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, who started the boycott, is urging people to divest from the popular retailer. Were asking people to divest from Target because they have turned their back on our community, Bryant said. USA Today reports that Bryant is calling for the black faith community to fast from Target as he says the boycott is rooted in faith and the moratorium is happening during Lent. It started on March 5, which is Ash Wednesday, and will last for 40 days. We called on a fast from Target because we believe that the companys change in position is a slap in the face, Bryant said. The website targetfast.org has more information about the boycott and says that recently there has been a disturbing retreat from diversity. In recent days, we have witnessed a disturbing retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives by major corporations companies that once pledged to stand for justice but have since chosen the path of compromise, the site reads. These rollbacks represent more than just corporate decisions; they reflect a deeper erosion of the moral and ethical commitments necessary to build a just society. As people of faith, we cannot be silent. We are called to resist systems that perpetuate exclusion and inequity. Bryants group calls for at least 100,000 Black Americans to boycott Target for 40 days. The pastor told USAToday that 110,000 people have pledged online, and more are spreading the word across social media. The website said that those who sign up will receive a digital business directory with over 300,000 Black-owned businesses to support and other resources to help get them grounded. The Faith Community Fast is rooted in the understanding that this is a spiritual undertaking, requiring the strength of God, the site reads. When individuals sign up, they will receive a 40-day prayer journal to help them remain grounded and focused. We have partnered with the Black Chamber of Commerce, so when you make the pledge, you will receive a digital business directory featuring 300,000 Black-owned businesses, free of charge, the site reads. We invite all Black vendors from Target to walk alongside us, as they will be prominently featured to ensure their businesses are not adversely impacted. A New Jersey man who was driving 107 mph when he slammed into a parked car and killed a sleeping 8-year-old boy in Absecon, N.J., has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter. Edward Johnston, 25, is expected to receive a 15-year stint in state prison when he is sentenced on May 13, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said. He will be required to serve at least 12 years and nine months before he is eligible for parole. Johnston was intoxicated when he veered off the White Horse Pike and hit the parked vehicle at about 3:25 a.m. on July 23, 2023. Javier Velez, of Philadelphia, was asleep in the car while his father and brother fished in a creek beside the familys vehicle, officials said. Days after her sons death, Velezs mother told 6abc.com the vehicle was parked far off the busy road, not on the shoulder. Johnston, of Egg Harbor City, was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter on November 16, 2023. At the time of the crash, he was also issued summonses for operating under the influence of liquor or drugs, reckless driving and exceeding the speed limit by 55 to 59 miles per hour. A description on a GoFundMe campaign for the boys family describes Javier as someone who was beloved by his family. Javier was so full of love and life, the description reads. He brightened the day of everyone he came in contact with in his short life. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A man was charged after police say he broke a York County hospital window and used the glass as a weapon against healthcare workers on the same day of a deadly attack at a different hospital in the county last month. Robert Webb, 43, of York County, was charged with aggravated assault, institutional vandalism, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, according to charging documents filed by York City police. The incident occurred between 10:32 and 11:32 a.m. on Feb. 22 at WellSpan York Hospital at the 1000 block of South George Street. As a strange coincidence, thats the same time frame a hostage situation broke out in the ICU at the UPMC Memorial Hospital about five miles away. An affidavit of probable cause gave this account of the incident at WellSpan: York Hospital security responded to multiple alarms request requesting help in room 503. Police said Webb broke a window using a metal drawer from furniture in the room. He then used the pieces of glass to threaten staff workers, the affidavit said. After Webb threw large pieces of glass at security, he barricaded himself in the room, court documents said. Police said Webb advised that he would stab the first person who decided to come through the door. Police did not include details in the affidavit to explain how the standoff ended or why Webb was in the hospital in the first place. The damage to hospital property is more than $5,000, court records said. Online court documents say Webb was released on a $25,000 bail. WellSpan recently announced enhanced security measures in the wake of the attack at UPMC Memorial on Feb. 22, which ended in the death of a police officer. That situation began between 10:35 a.m. and 11:13 a.m. when Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, 49, walked into UPMC Memorial with a bag containing a handgun and zip ties. While entering the hospital he took multiple UPMC staff members hostage and shot three people: a doctor, a nurse and a custodian. When the gunman tried to leave the ICU with a nurse as a hostage, police engaged in a shootout with him that killed Officer Andrew Duarte, 30, of the West York Police Department. Archangel-Ortiz was also killed. Lawyers for Sandman and American Gods author Neil Gaiman have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by his childs former babysitter. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America East) Getty Images for Writers Guild o Lawyers for Sandman and American Gods author Neil Gaiman have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by one of his childs former babysitters. Scarlett Pavlovich, sued Gaiman and his ex-wife, musician Amanda Palmer, last month, accusing the famed writer of human trafficking and sexual assault. Pavlovich had initially made the accusations on a podcast for Tortoise Media and later story for New York magazine. Now Gaiman is firing back. In a court declaration, he called Pavlovich a fantasist who has fabricated a tale of abuse, against him and Palmer. While he said that he and Pavlovich did bathe together and engage in consensual sexual activity, he denied any claims of rape or abuse made in the lawsuit. Gaiman also provided several WhatsApp exchanges between him and Pavlovich that he claims prove their sexual encounters were consensual and that Pavlovich was an enthusiastic participant who initiated many of our sexual encounters. One message sent to Gaiman after their initial encounter says Thank you for a lovely lovely night ~ wow x. Gaiman said he later messaged Pavlovich after hearing that she had accused him of rape. Oh my God. Neil! I never said that, she responded. But Im horrified by your message me too you? Rape? WHAT? This is the first I have heard of this. Wow. I need a moment to digest your message I have never used the word rape, Im just so shocked, I honestly dont know what to say. In a later message she assured him their relationship was consensual, writing I only have fondness and kindness for you. Gaiman says in the court document that he believes Pavlovich was subject to outside influencers who are pushing a false narrative and trying to defame him. Pavlovich said to New York that she did not initially regard what happened to her as assault or rape: Youre not thinking in a linear or logical fashion, but the mind is trying to process it in the ways that it can, per Rolling Stone. She added that she was feeling disconnected from others and was worried about upsetting Gaiman. Several other women have accused Gaiman of sexual assault. In January he wrote on his blog that he never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone but that he had been emotionally unavailable and careless with peoples feelings. It has been more than a week since legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered dead in their New Mexico home, and the mystery over what took them continues to grow. It has led to speculation something that is often best to avoid in these situations but PEOPLE Magazine recently spoke to James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner, with the Connecticut office of the Chief Medical Examiner, about what may have caused their death. Gill is not working the case, but he shared a theory that is well, it is absolutely heartbreaking. From the initial kind of circumstances, it seems like he may have collapsed, Gill said. Hes got a history of heart disease. Hes got a pacemaker. So that would not be unusual. But the unusual part is that why then did she also collapse? Assuming she wouldve found him., then you start wondering about: There is this thing where the stress of seeing someone die that could have triggered a natural death in her. Gill told PEOPLE that, likewise, it is possible Hackman found his wife dead and collapsed from the stress of that, too. Just as likely, he said. Hes older. Hes got known heart disease. But the autopsy would certainly show if she had heart disease or cancer or what have you. He told PEOPLE that this scenario has been known to happen, king of a broken heart-type thing, almost. Suddenly finding your loved one dead on the floor that can increase your adrenaline and that stimulates your heart to beat faster, and that can put your heart into an irregular rhythm. He also said there are instances where people find loved ones and get despondent and they do something to take their own life, and that may be with pills or what have you. I think the toxicology workup will be helpful in excluding causes such as an intoxication or injuries. I think the autopsy and the toxicology testing is whats needed to be seen in order to make that final determination, he said. Otherwise, its kind of speculation at this point. Hackman was 95 and Arakawa was 65. Their loss was tragic, but the latest theory could make it even more heartbreaking than anyone first imagined. Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway sensation 'Hamilton' will not be coming to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., next year. (Joan Marcus) LC- LC- The producers of the award-winning musical Hamilton announced that they are canceling a scheduled performance next year at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The show was supposed to be part of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, according to the New York Times and Deadline, but the producers cited President Trumps recent takeover of the Center, firing the longtime president and naming himself chairman. This latest action by Trump means its not the Kennedy Center as we knew it, the shows creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, said during an interview with lead producer, Jeffrey Seller. The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and were not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center. Were just not going to be part of it. It became untenable for us to participate in an organization that had become so deeply politicized, Seller said. The Kennedy Center is for all of us, and it pains me deeply that they took it over and changed that. They said its not for all of us. Its just for Donald Trump and his crowd. So we made a decision we cant do it. The Kennedy Centers new president Richard Grenell said in a post on X that this cancelation is a publicity stunt that will backfire. The Arts are for everyone - not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with, Grenell wrote. The American people need to know that @Lin_Manuel is intolerant of people who dont agree with him politically. Its clear he and Sellers dont want Republicans going to their shows. This is not the first event cancelation in the wake of the shakeup at the Kennedy Center. Grammy-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens canceled her upcoming concert, as did actress Issa Rae and the band Low Cut Connie. The center, meanwhile, has canceled the tour of the childrens musical Finn, and a performance from a LGBT+ orchestra. From left, actor's Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw attend the Warner Bro's premiere of "The Blind Side", in New York, on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer) ASSOCIATED PRESS Quinton Aaron, the actor who starred in the popular 2009 film The Blind Side, was recently rushed to the hospital with some terrifying health issues. According to reports, the 40-year-old was taken to a hospital in Southern California on Feb. 27. Aaron reportedly woke up ill and began coughing up blood. After undergoing testing, he was reportedly diagnosed with a severe case of the flu that then progressed into a bacterial infection and pneumonia. It sounds brutal. Despite that, Aaron shared a post to his Facebook on March 3 to update fans and let them know he is hanging in there. The outpouring of support and prayers has been a game-changer for me, he wrote. While Ive been dealing with a severe case of type A flu that has progressed to a bacterial infection and pneumonia, Im choosing to focus on the positives and my path to recovery. The hospital staff has been incredible, delivering exceptional care and compassion. Im excited to get back to my normal self soon. Because the fevers are migraines are No Bueno! Lol Just saying. Ill see ya soon! Aaron, of course, starred in the role which portrayed former Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher alongside Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw in The Blind Side. Boordy Vineyards is celebrating its 80th birthday this year. Few on the East Coast go back further than the producer that was founded by Philip and Jocelyn Wagner and operated by them for the first 35 years on their property in Riderwood, Maryland. One of the oldest post-Prohibition wine labels in the United States, the business was purchased by the Deford family in 1980 and, since then, upgraded into one of Marylands premium producers. Before the transaction, the Wagners bought grapes from the Defords' vineyard on their family farm in the Long Green Valley, which was originally settled in 1725. Its the current home of Boordy, located at 12820 Long Green Pike, in Hydes, about 25 miles northeast of downtown Baltimore. To celebrate, the owners have released an 80th anniversary Founders Reserve. You can read more in the copy that accompanied a photo of the bottle posted Feb. 1 on Facebook. Available to club members now, it will be made available to the public on May 1. The cost is $100/bottle. Phineas Deford, Boordys VP, manages the winery along with his parents, Julie and Rob Deford. He confirmed in an email to PennLive that this is the first time Boordy has made a special-occasion wine like this. What makes it unique is its a blend of our Reserve wines, meaning we first created the four reserve wines that we make each year [or most years] Landmark, Lost Order, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot then borrowed a bit from each and blended it all together with a few barrels of really nice Petit Verdot," he said. We were fortunate because we needed an excellent year, which 2022 was, in order to make a wine that would be ready for release in 2025. A recent day off and trip to Boordy Vineyards included a table in front of the fire, glasses of Albarino and rose, and some goat cheese and crackers. Paul Vigna After farming grapes on our home vineyard in the Long Green Valley for 33 years, Boordy expanded to a second location, South Mountain Vineyard, which sits 80 miles west of the winery in the Blue Ridge Province of Frederick County. A majority of the grapes for its top-of-the-line Landmark Series of dry wines grow at that site. Between 2008 and 2018, the vineyards at both locations were replanted with superior vines, and in 2013, a state-of-the-art winery was constructed on Long Green Farm. In 2023, it undertook an eight-month restoration of its 1800s barn, home to many events and its tasting rooms. On most days from spring through fall, the patio and lawn dotted with picnic tables and trees are packed with visitors, who can be served from an outdoor building. More seating is available in front of the barn in addition to the inside seating on both floors of the barn. Recognizing their importance to the Maryland wine industry March is Maryland Wine Month the Deford family in 2024 was honored with induction into Marylands Agriculture Hall of Fame. Previously, Long Green Farm was placed in permanent preservation with the Maryland Environmental Trust. In addition to its Landmark Series, Boordy also produces a series called Chesapeake Icons, a lower-priced line of quality dry and semi-dry wines made primarily from grapes grown at the estate in addition to being sourced from partners within Maryland and other states. A filled-up back patio at Boordy Vineyards in Baltimore County, Maryland. Finally, its sweeter wines more than a decade ago were given a new label and brand: Sweetland Cellars. As part of its 80th anniversary celebration, Boordy will be partnering with some of the areas top chefs to host monthly Supper Clubs at the winery from March through September. Supper Club evenings are limited to 30 guests and will feature five courses paired with Boordys estate-grown wines. Tickets already are on sale. The cost is $135 per person, including sales tax and gratuity. Heres the schedule: March 19 The Food Market, Chef Chad Gauss (sold out) April 16 Grano, Chef Gino Troia May 21 Clavel, Chef Carlos Raba June 18 Costiera, Chef Brian Lavin July 16 La Barrita, Chef Sebastian Cordona Aug. 20 Daniela, Chef Daniela Useli (featuring a completely gluten-freee menu) Sept. 17th True Chesapeake, Chef Zack Mills In addition, the Baltimore Symphony is planning two performances there in July. The recent visit by three top U.S. officials to a town on the U.S. Mexico border highlighted the all-of-government effort to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and dangerous drugs into the country. [T]he border crisis has become a matter of national intelligence, and its also become something that requires the Department of Defense to engage with, said Vice President JD Vance. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard noted that under the previous administration, 21 million people have come across the border - many with no vetting: From Central Asia, there were over 4,000 people who came across our borders using an ISIS-affiliated network. Our National Counterterrorism Center went through and identified those individuals. There were hundreds of them who were either known terrorists or associated with known terrorists. ... Our Counterterrorism Center is working on making sure that we have that single source for vetting so that we can figure out who is actually in our country and identify those who pose a threat and get them removed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that his department is bringing assets to bear that contribute to the significant progress being made on the border: Not just troops, not just surveillance, not just equipment, but actual planning and capabilities that enhance what Border Patrol is already doing. ... Weve seen it in the numbers: 98 percent drop in crossings on the southern border. Were not yet at 100 percent operational control, but we are on our way because that is the mandate the president has given us. Vice President Vance underscored that one way to help secure the border is to make it easier for people who are here illegally to go back home of their own accord: We dont want to have to go around and arrest every person, but we will enforce the American peoples immigration laws. If youre here illegally, the message from our administration is you should go back home, and if you want to come to the United States, apply through the proper channels. Vice President Vance also urged the Mexican government to take seriously the job of fighting the drug cartels and traffickers, and stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S. We want the Mexican government to help itself, but also in the process to help the American people, he said. Were hopeful they will. By Taiwo Adebayo and ibi Arasu, The Associated Press NEW DELHI The U.S. government will stop sharing air quality data gathered from its embassies and consulates, worrying local scientists and experts who say the effort was vital to monitor global air quality and improve public health. In response to an inquiry from The Associated Press, the State Department said Wednesday that its air quality monitoring program would no longer transmit air pollution data from embassies and consulates to the Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow app and other platforms, which allowed locals in various countries, along with scientists around the globe, to see and analyze air quality in cities around the world. The stop in sharing data was due to funding constraints that have caused the Department to turn off the underlying network, read the statement, which added that embassies and consulates were directed to keep their monitors running and the sharing of data could resume in the future if funded was restored. The fiscal cut, first reported by the New York Times, is one of many under President Donald Trump, whose administration has been deprioritizing environmental and climate initiatives. The U.S. air quality monitors measured dangerous fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and lead to respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and premature death. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year. News of the data sharing being cut prompted immediate reaction from scientists who said the data were reliable, allowed for air quality monitoring around the world and helped prompt governments to clean up the air. A big blow to global air quality research Bhargav Krishna, an air pollution expert at New Delhi-based Sustainable Futures Collaborative, called the loss of data a big blow to air quality research. They were part of a handful of sensors in many developing countries and served as a reference for understanding what air quality was like, Krishna said. They were also seen to be a well-calibrated and unbiased source of data to cross-check local data if there were concerns about quality. FILE - Peoples wear face masks to protect themselves from air pollution in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 6, 2025, (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File) AP Its a real shame, said Alejandro Piracoca Mayorga, a Bogota, Colombia-based freelance air quality consultant. U.S. embassies and consulates in Lima, Peru, Sao Paulo and Bogota have had the public air monitoring. It was a source of access to air quality information independent of local monitoring networks. They provided another source of information for comparison. Khalid Khan, an environmental expert and advocate based in Pakistan, agreed, saying the shutdown of air quality monitoring will have significant consequences. Khan noted that the monitors in Peshawar, Pakistan, one of the most polluted cities in the world, provided crucial real-time data which helped policy makers, researchers and the public to take decisions on their health. Their removal means a critical gap in environmental monitoring, leaving residents without accurate information on hazardous air conditions, Khan said. He said vulnerable people in Pakistan and around the world are particularly at risk as they are the least likely to have access to other reliable data. In Africa, the program provided air quality data for over a dozen countries including Senegal, Nigeria, Chad and Madagascar. Some of those countries depend almost entirely on the U.S. monitoring systems for their air quality data. The WHOs air quality database will also be affected by the closing of U.S. program. Many poor countries dont track air quality because stations are too expensive and complex to maintain, meaning they are entirely reliant on U.S. embassy monitoring data. Monitors strengthened local efforts In some places, the U.S. air quality monitors propelled nations to start their own air quality research and raised awareness, Krishna said. In China, for example, data from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing famously contradicted official government reports, showing worse pollution levels than authorities acknowledged. It led to China improving air quality. Officials in Pakistans eastern Punjab province, which struggles with smog, said they were unfazed by the removal of the U.S. monitors. Environment Secretary Raja Jahangir said Punjab authorities have their own and plan to purchase 30 more. Shweta Narayan, a campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said the shutdown of monitors in India is a huge setback but also a critical opportunity for the Indian government to step up and fill the gaps. FILE - A pedestrian wears a face mask amidst a thick layer of smog in New Delhi, India, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File) AP By strengthening its own air quality monitoring infrastructure, ensuring data transparency, and building public trust in air quality reporting, India can set a benchmark for accountability and environmental governance, Narayan said. Adebayo reported from Abuja, Nigeria. Babar Dogar in Lahore, Pakistan, Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, Aniruddha Ghosal in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Steven Grattan in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report. The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Auditor General Tim DeFoor releases the findings from an audit of five Pennsylvania cyber charter schools. Commonwealth Media Services Story by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. For anyone who has either lived through it, had family who sacrificed during WWII or is a student of history: the looming question was always: How in the world did the German population allow Hitler to take over their country? At that time, Germany had the most educated and sophisticated populace and certainly some of the most renowned thinkers (Einstein as an example). Germany also had a hollowed-out middle class following WWI. As rights were taken away, as certain groups were targeted, as lies were dispersed and people were told to believe one man instead of what was happening before their eyes. As others capitulated to the erratic whims of a demagogue, Germany became a dictatorship. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, shouts as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. He was censured by the House. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP, file) Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP By Nina Heller and Justin Papp, CQ-Roll Call (TNS) WASHINGTON The House voted Thursday to censure Rep. Al Green for heckling President Donald Trump during the joint address to Congress this week. After the vote, a group of members gathered around the Texas Democrat on the House floor and sang We Shall Overcome, a song long associated with civil rights protests. The House agreed to the resolution by a vote of 224-198, with two members, Green and Rep. Shomari Figures, D- Ala., voting present. Ten Democrats voted in favor of the censure. It capped a tumultuous two days for Green, who stood up early in Trumps nearly 100-minute speech, waved his cane at the president and shouted, You have no mandate to cut Medicaid. When he refused to sit down, Green was removed from the chamber. His actions prompted an outcry from Republicans. During debate on the floor Wednesday, Rep. Dan Newhouse, R- Wash., called Greens actions one of the most shameful acts he has witnessed in the House. Newhouse, a moderate who voted to impeach Trump in 2021, introduced the privileged censure resolution on which the House ultimately voted Thursday. Others, including Reps. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., and Troy Nehls, R-Texas, expressed interest in introducing dueling censure measures, but Newhouses won out. Crane said Wednesday he hadnt spoken to Newhouse, but was supportive as long as it resulted in Greens censure. You can boo. You can cheer. All of us are fine with that. Even hold up your stupid little signs, Crane said. But if youre going to stand up and yell for a couple minutes, after the speaker of the House has warned you repeatedly to sit down, then you need to be censured. House rules allow resolutions relating to certain matters, such as censures, to be considered privileged. When a member gives notice of their intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House, leadership must schedule a vote on the resolution within two legislative days. The rules of the House define questions of privilege as those affecting the rights of the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings and those affecting the rights, reputation, and conduct of Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner, individually, in their representative capacity only. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was removed from the chamber as President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP, file) Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP The conduct of the Representative from Texas disrupted the proceedings of the joint address and was a breach of proper conduct, Newhouses resolution reads. Democratic members who spoke in defense of Green on the floor Wednesday largely used their time to attack Trumps policies, like defunding cancer research and firing veterans from the Veterans Affairs Department. Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, who in the past has expressed his frustration over the use of privileged resolutions to censure members, characterized the move as an attempt to appease Trump. Republicans jump into action after someone has the guts to stand up and call BS. Less than 24 hours later, and here they are on the floor with an emergency censure to soothe Donald Trumps fragile ego, McGovern said. After the vote Thursday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggested it was an exercise in hypocrisy. I think its important to underscore that for Republicans and a party that love to talk about protecting free speech, they are swift and they love to lay down the hammer in order to punish anyone whose speech they disagree with, said the New York Democrat, who skipped Trumps address on Tuesday and voted against the censure. A Democratic motion to table the censure resolution fell short on party lines Wednesday afternoon, clearing the way for the House to vote on the measure Thursday. Im willing to suffer whatever punishment is available to me, Green told reporters after being removed from the chamber Tuesday. Ill accept the punishment. But its worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this presidents desire to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Greens actions were unprecedented, even as the normally solemn ceremony has become more raucous in the modern era. South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson famously shouted you lie during President Barack Obamas State of the Union address in 2009 in what at the time was viewed as a major breach of decorum. Wilson was the subject of a resolution of disapproval that passed the House, and he apologized to Obama. Such outbursts have become more common in recent years, but none led to the removal of a member. Then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up a copy of Trumps speech in 2020. And Republicans heckled President Joe Biden in each of his final three addresses to Congress. Censure in the House is a kind of formal rebuke that, unlike expulsion, carries no actual penalty. The ritual often involves the censured member standing in the well of the House as the pronouncement is read. While historically rare, its become an increasingly common way for lawmakers to score partisan points. During debate on Wednesday, some Republicans, including Newhouse and California Rep. Doug LaMalfa, said they werent mad, just disappointed. Newhouse said the measure wasnt personal and called Green a very amiable fellow. LaMalfa said he counted Green as a friend and took no pleasure in the vote. I like him. I hope he likes me, too, LaMalfa said. Green took the reprimand on the chin. Before speaking on the floor during Wednesdays debate, Green shook Newhouses hand. He said he was willing to suffer the consequences of heckling Trump. I dont believe that in the richest country in the world people should be without good health care, Green said. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., holds a protest sign with fellow Democrats as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Sen. John Fetterman said the signs worked against the Democrats. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP, file) AP By Benjamin Kail, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) WASHINGTON While many Democrats shouted, booed, walked out or afterward harshly criticized President Donald Trumps highly adversarial address to Congress on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman a day later took issue with something else: his own party. Fetterman, D-Pa. has long bucked a progressive label, become one of Capitol Hills staunchest supporters of Israel and a strong U.S. border, and touted bipartisanship and open-minded politics so much that hes felt compelled to deny plans to switch parties. But he yet again chastised fellow Democrats on Wednesday this time over their protests of Trumps nearly 100-minute speech. Many Democrats held paddle-like signs labeled False or Musk steals, waving them whenever Trump made a misleading statement or touted his administrations efforts to slash federal spending under Elon Musks direction. One Democrat, Rep. Al Greene of Texas, was booted by the House sergeant of arms after he stood and waved his cane at Trump, declaring the president did not have a mandate after the November election. A sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance, Fetterman posted on X Wednesday, sharing a screenshot of a Politico headline suggesting the vocal protests in the House chamber fell flat. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained. The former Braddock mayor and Pennsylvania lieutenant governor warned that Democrats were becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to and it may not be the winning message. His critique of his own party Wednesday mirrored Fettermans comments to the Somebodys Gotta Win podcast last month. Consistently bashing conservatives, he said, had helped Democrats lose elections in critical states like Pennsylvania. I think their primary currency was shaming and scolding and talking down to people and telling them, Hey, I know better than you, or Youre dopes, or Youre a bro, or Youre ignorant or How can you be this dumb? he said. And then, by the way, theyre fascists. How can you vote for that? The senator added that he knew and loved Pennsylvanians who voted for Trump, and that theyre not fascist. They dont support insurrection and those things, he said. And if you go to an extreme, and you become a boutique kind of proposition, then youre going to lose the argument. And we have done that. Fetterman said it would be especially challenging for Democrats to bring back more men into the party. He said the party has suggested men are to blame. Or their masculinity is toxic. Or unless youre able to conform to our very strict kinds of definition of what we think is appropriate, that men will find an alternative, and theyve done that. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., in 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file) AP Earlier this week, Fetterman said he would not join many Democrats' push to threaten a government shutdown over spending plan negotiations with the House and Trump administration. Republicans have embraced Trumps push to slash federal spending, along with plans to renew and expand Trump tax cuts that research groups say disproportionately benefit the wealthy. Ill never vote to shut our government down, the senator posted on X on Tuesday. Thats chaos. Keeping our government open is one of our core responsibilities, and I refuse to burn the village down in order to save it. Fetterman, who backed a handful of Trump Cabinet nominees, impressed Trump during a meeting among the two men and their wives. Hes also made public multiple appearances or interviews with Pennsylvanias Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, and he joined his Republican counterpart in co-sponsoring an immigration bill that makes it easier to detain undocumented migrants charged with theft-related crimes. But he told ABCs The View a week after Trumps inauguration that hes not switching parties, as hed make a lousy Republican. He noted hes pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ and since then hes consistently critiqued Trumps anti-LGBTQ measures. I dont think I would be a good fit, he said. So Im not going to change my party. In order to secure Americas children, no step is more crucial than securing Americas borders, said President Donald Trump in his speech to a joint session of Congress. Over the past four years, 21 million people poured into the United States, many of them were murderers, human traffickers, gang members, and other criminals from the streets of dangerous cities all throughout the world because of Joe Bidens insane and very dangerous open border policies. They are now strongly embedded in our country. But we are getting them out and getting them out fast. Since taking office, said President Trump, my administration has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history. And we quickly achieved the lowest numbers of illegal border crossers ever recorded. Joe Biden didnt just open our borders. He flew illegal aliens over them to overwhelm our schools, hospitals and communities throughout the country. ... Now, just as I promised in my inaugural address, we are achieving the great liberation of America. President Trump has gone further by officially designating dangerous gangs and Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations: They are now officially in the same category as ISIS, and thats not good for them. Countless thousands of these terrorists were welcomed into the U.S. by the Biden administration. But now every last one will be rounded up and forcibly removed from our country. Or, if they are too dangerous, put in jails, standing trial in this country because we dont want them to come back ever. The territory to the immediate south of our border is now dominated entirely by criminal cartels that murder, rape, torture. ... They have total control over a whole nation, posing a grave threat to our national security, President Trump warned: The cartels are waging war in America, and its time for America to wage war on the cartels. ... Mexican authorities, because of our tariff policies being imposed on them ... handed over to us 29 of the biggest cartel leaders in their country. ... But we need Mexico and Canada to do much more than theyve done, and they have to stop the fentanyl and drugs pouring into the USA. President Trumps expressed his commitment to work with Congress to eliminate these threats, to protect our homeland, and complete the largest deportation operation in American history. CHEYENNE, Wyo. The Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office leased 4 parcels totaling 2,443.11 acres for $6,725,713 in total receipts for its quarterly oil and gas lease sale. The combined bonus bids and rentals from the lease will be distributed between the federal government and the State of Wyoming. Oil and gas lease sales support domestic energy production and American energy independence, while contributing to the nations economic and military security. Consistent with Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy, the BLM's lease sales help meet the energy needs of U.S. ci... In his first speech to a joint session of Congress in his second term, President Donald Trump announced several initiatives to shore up U.S. national defense at home and abroad. To boost our defense industrial base, said President Trump, the U.S. will resurrect its shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding. And for that purpose, I am announcing tonight that we will create a new office of shipbuilding in the White House and offer special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America, where it belongs. We used to make so many ships. We dont make them anymore very much, but were going to make them very fast, very soon. To further enhance our national security, President Trump announced the United States will be reclaiming the Panama Canal. Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals. The Panama Canal was built by Americans for Americans, not for others. But others could use it. The Panama Canal was built at tremendous cost of American blood and treasure, said President Trump. 38,000 workers died building the canal, dying from malaria, snakebites, and mosquitoes. The canal was given away by the [Jimmy] Carter administration for one dollar. But that agreement has been violated very severely, declared President Trump. China has been in control of the ports at each end of the canal. We didnt give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and were taking it back. President Trump also has a message for Greenland. We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America. We need Greenland for national security and even international security. And were working with everybody involved to try and get it. ... We will keep you safe. We will make you rich. And together we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before. And finally, in the interest of building the most powerful military of the future, President Trump announced his plan to build a state of the art golden dome missile defense shield to protect the American homeland. R. Venette Cornils, 93, of Bushnell, died at Kimball Health Services on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025 at the Crossroads Community Church in Pine Bluffs, with Pastor Joshua Tangeman officiating. Private family burial will be held prior to the service. Friends may visit www.cantrellfh.com to view her Tribute Wall and share condolences and stories with the family. Contributions may be given in her memory to Home Instead, at 1821 1st. Avenue, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 69361, [email protected] . The services for Venette h... There was some action in the last hand of the level on each table and it brought along one elimination. Greg Tucker bet 75,000 on the 975A turn and Vygandas Simuntis called all-in for less than that with the A7. His turned two pair were in rough shape with only two outs, as Tucker had flopped a set with the 77. The river was the 6 and that spelled the end for the Lithuanian. One table over, Divan Van Wyk bet the AK6 flop for 6,000 and Rudolf Fourie was the only caller. Van Wyk bet another 11,000 on the 3 turn for Fourie to call and sigh a "you suck me dry" ahead of the 7 river. Van Wyk had 70,000 behind and jammed, Fourie foldded. Aiken Standard reporter Matthew Christian is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He covers the Savannah River Site, city of Aiken, politics and public safety and courts. Matthew previously covered government and politics for the Morning News in Florence. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and the University of Charleston in West Virginia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Charleston, SC (29403) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Occasional rain tapering to a few showers late. High around 85F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Columbia, SC (29201) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. High 93F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 73F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers this afternoon. High 84F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Showers this evening then thundershowers developing overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low around 70F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Occasional rain tapering to a few showers late. High 84F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Myrtle Beach, SC (29577) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Heavy rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain early...then remaining cloudy with thundershowers developing overnight. Low near 75F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Myrtle Beach, SC (29577) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High around 80F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Thundershowers overnight following a period of rain early. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Reporter Christian spent six years in Myrtle Beach before moving to the Upstate. When he's not working, he's reading a book, making a mess in the kitchen or running around Spartanburg. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 15:26:59 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 520 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in Atkore Inc. ("Atkore" or the "Company") (NYSE:ATKR) who purchased Atkore common stock between February 1, 2024, and February 3, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period") to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities class action against Atkore. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is April 23, 2025.Class Period: February 1, 2024 - February 3, 2025Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 23, 2025Case information: https://lieffcabraser.com/securities/atkore/ Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358Atkore, headquartered in Harvey, Illinois, is a manufacturer of electrical, safety, and infrastructure products, including polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") water pipes and electrical conduit pipes.The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Atkore and certain of its senior executives failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company was engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that kept the price of its PVC pipes artificially inflated even after COVID era supply chain issues had resolved; (2) Atkore received substantial, unsustainable financial benefits from its anticompetitive actions; and (3) the Company's poor quarterly financial results were due to it and its co-conspirators refusing to lower their artificially inflated prices even after foreign competitors were able to reenter the market and price PVC appropriately.On July 24, 2024, asset management firm ManBear released a report claiming that Atkore was engaged in an industry-wide price fixing scheme which had "massively inflated pipe prices" and "appear[ed] to defy economic logic, remaining at extremely elevated levels despite normalized supply chains." On this news, Atkore's stock price declined 8.53% from its closing price of $145 per share on July 23, 2024, to close at $132.63 per share on July 24, 2024.On February 4, 2025, before the market opened, Atkore announced disappointing financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, reporting net sales of $661.6 million which was significantly below analysts' estimates. In addition, Atkore reduced its earnings guidance for 2025. During the Company's earnings conference call with analysts and investors later that day, Atkore CFO, defendant John M. Deitzer, revealed that Atkore's "plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter," and attributed the Company's lowered 2025 guidance to Atkore's PVC business, stating "roughly $75 million or 3/4 of that is on the PVC side." On this news, the price of Atkore common stock fell 19.56% from its closing price of $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025, to close at $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025, on extremely heavy trading volume.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 125 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally-recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Repeatedly recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.ContactSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 15:00:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 622 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BERWYN, PA / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Chilean Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:COBA) ("Chilean Cobalt" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lawrence W. Snee as its new Executive Vice President of Exploration.In this role, Dr. Snee is expected to be a key member of the leadership team, responsible for developing and executing Chilean Cobalt's exploration activities, leading efforts from generative greenfield to advanced-stage exploration, and near-mine resource expansion, while contributing to the overall corporate strategic plan.Dr. Snee has served as a Technical Advisor at Chilean Cobalt since November 2023. He is a Certified Professional Geologist and Qualified Person with over 40 years of global experience as a specialist in field geology, mineral resources, petrology, geochemistry, isotope geology, structural geology, tectonics, economic geology, and the geology of world gemstone deposits. Dr. Snee previously served as Geological Director for John T. Boyd Company, Exploration Manager for Crest International Investments, and VP of Exploration and Executive Director for Central Asian Minerals and Resources. From 1974 to 2006, he was a Research Scientist and Team Chief Scientist at the US Geological Survey (USGS), where he was a manager of over 100 scientists, technicians, and administrative personnel, including serving as the Chief Scientist for the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Team in Lakewood, CO. Dr. Snee has over 300 publications covering a wide range of geologic subjects. He has done geological consulting in the U.S., Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Egypt, Chile, China, Colombia, Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico, and southeastern Europe. He has supervised more than 50 graduate students, both U.S. and foreign, and he has hosted two Fulbright Fellows from Pakistan.Dr. Snee holds a PhD and MS in Geology from The Ohio State University and a BS in Geology, Biology, and Chemistry from Florida State University.About Chilean Cobalt Corp.Chilean Cobalt Corp. is a US-based and US-listed critical minerals exploration and development company focused on the La Cobaltera cobalt-copper project, located in the past-producing San Juan District in northern Chile, one of the world's few primary cobalt districts known globally. Chilean Cobalt has a deliberate focus on building a dynamic and sustainable business with an emphasis on applying leading environmental stewardship, social engagement, and corporate governance practices to its strategy.Safe Harbor StatementThis news release contains statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions (such as those relating to future business or financial results), and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan", and other similar expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among other, statements the Company makes regarding ability to establish "Proven" or "Probable" Reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the minerals that the Company seeks to produce and the inherent risks of mining exploration, development, and processing operations that may negatively impact the business. Consequently, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements because of certain factors not within the control of the Company. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.CONTACTS:Chilean Cobalt Corp.Duncan T. BlountChairman & CEO Duncan.Blount@chileancobaltcorp.com SOURCE: Chilean Cobalt Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 20:35:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 857 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Discovery Senior Living (Discovery or the Company), the leading senior living operator, is pleased to announce it has appointed Diana Ferrante Thies to the newly created role of Executive Vice President of Brand Management and Corporate Communications. This strategic appointment comes as the Company experiences unprecedented growth and prepares for the next phase of its evolution as the leader in senior living. Diana Ferrante Thies EVP Brand Management and Corporate CommunicationsSince joining Discovery in 2002, Diana has played a pivotal role in shaping the Company's sales, marketing and brand strategy, contributing largely to establishing Discovery's industry leadership position. Over the course of her 23-year-career with Discovery, she has held a number of positions including SVP of Sales and Marketing and SVP of Marketing and Product Development. Diana was instrumental in establishing the Company's internal sales platform and in developing cutting-edge lead generation, lead conversion and sales and marketing programs; directly contributing to significant growth in occupancy, demand, and overall Company revenue. Under her leadership, she developed and built a comprehensive in-house creative advertising and digital marketing agency resulting in a new incremental revenue stream for Discovery, while also adding significant value to capital partners by lowering their costs and increasing efficiencies. This initiative not only optimized operations but also helped Discovery stay ahead of industry trends, ensuring higher profitability and long-term success.A pioneer in senior living innovation, Diana was the visionary behind the Choreograph brand development, a destination-style 55+ living concept that redefined active adult communities. Her ability to blend resort and hospitality-inspired experiences with active adult living, created a highly sought-after lifestyle brand, setting a new benchmark for experiential 55+ living. In addition to Choreograph, Diana's deep industry knowledge has been instrumental in developing Discovery's suite of signature brands, which continue to deliver exceptional experiences for seniors nationwide."Diana has been a cornerstone of Discovery's success," said Richard Hutchinson, CEO, Discovery Senior Living. "Her vision, leadership, and strategic insight have helped propel Discovery to the forefront of the industry. She not only built and scaled our marketing function; a critical component of our differentiated proprietary platform but also spearheaded some of the most successful brand and community developments in senior housing." In her newly created role, Diana will continue to oversee an expanded corporate communications group, strengthening Discovery's relationships with key stakeholders, media, and partners, while also leading internal communications for the company's 17,000+ team members. Her continued focus will be on the strategic management and evolution of Discovery's existing brands, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovation, quality, and resident satisfaction.Richard Hutchinson continued, "As we continue to evolve as leaders, I could not have a better-suited person for this important new role. Diana's creativity, institutional knowledge and track record of exceptional execution will be instrumental in expanding our brand portfolio and delivering the next generation of senior living experiences and services." A New Vision, Elevated Experiences, Transforming LivesLooking ahead, Diana is leading the development of a highly anticipated new, distinguished senior living brand. This upcoming concept will cater to the growing demand for elevated personalized and next-level senior living experiences, further reinforcing Discovery's position as the industry's most innovative operator.With Diana's vision, Discovery will disrupt traditional models by focusing on delivering five-star-plus hospitality and programs, world-class amenities, and unparalleled resident engagement. Under Diana's leadership, Discovery will once again set a new gold standard in senior housing, elevating it to a true luxury lifestyle experience. Experiences will be defined by meticulously curating every detail, from fine dining to resident services, holistic health and wellness offerings, and bespoke concierge services.This vision goes beyond high-end living. Diana is developing a scalable, standardized framework that ensures consistency, quality, and efficiency across all tiers of senior housing programs, from luxury to more affordable offerings.At the core of this transformation is the development of different comprehensive brand guidelines that integrate sales, marketing, and operations; from corporate strategy to in-community execution. This ensures every community, regardless of price point or demographic, delivers consistent experiences to residents, while incorporating local cultural influences for authenticity.With approximately 36,000 units under management nationwide, Diana's expertise will continue to shape the Company's growth trajectory, ensuring cutting-edge, lifestyle-driven communities that meet the evolving needs of today's seniors.###About Discovery Senior Living Discovery Senior Living is the largest privately held operator in U.S. with a growing portfolio of nearly 36,000 units across 350 communities and nearly 40 states. The company and its 17,000-plus employees is a recognized industry leader for performance, innovation and customized lifestyle experiences. Discovery's family of companies includes Discovery Management Group, Integral Senior Living, Provincial Senior Living, Morada Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, LakeHouse Senior Living, Arvum Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, STAT Marketing, and Discovery At Home. Led by its award-winning management team, Discovery has been developing, building, marketing, and managing diverse senior-living communities across the United States for three decades. Discovery Senior Living was once again named and certified a Great Place To Work May 2024 - May 2025.Contact InformationHeidi LaVanwayVice President of Marketinghlavanway@ discoverymgt.com 239.293.9440Laura LeporeCorporate and Investor Communicationsllepore@ discoverymgt.com SOURCE: Discovery Senior Living PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 15:00:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 435 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") declares its monthly dividend of $0.04 per common share payable on March 31, 2025 to shareholders of record as of March 20, 2025. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield.Dividends may vary in amount and consistency or be discontinued at the Board of Directors' discretion depending on variables including but not limited to operational cash flows, Company development requirements and strategies, construction, spot gold and silver prices, taxation, general market conditions and other factors described in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.About Fortitude Gold Corp.:Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of seven high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and an eighth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions.Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release.Contact: Greg Patterson719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corp PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 18:16:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 430 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Heartland Bank recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals.This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Heartland Bank.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Heartland Bank recently became aware of a security incident involving unauthorized access to its email system. Upon detection, Heartland Bank launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation confirmed that an unauthorized third party had accessed emails containing sensitive customer information. Heartland Bank conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identify affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised as a result of the data breach: name, and Social Security number.On February 7, 2025, Heartland Bank filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts and started sending notice letters to the impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Heartland Bank, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 18:30:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 413 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Freddie Mac recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Freddie Mac.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On November 4, 2024, Freddie Mac became aware of a security incident on its internal systems. Upon detection, Freddie Mac launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to files and folders containing confidential consumer information that had been provided to Freddie Mac.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised:names, and Social Security numbers.On February 19, 2025, Freddie Mac filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Freddie Mac, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 18:30:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 466 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Kelsey-Seybold Medical Group, PLLC recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 14, 2025, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic became aware of a security incident involving its confidential consumer information. Upon detection, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to sensitive data. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. The investigation is still ongoing, and it's not clear if the breach happened directly in Kelsey-Seybold Clinic's systems or through one of their third-party vendors.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal and protected health information may have been compromised: names, addresses, Social Security numbers, medical information, health insurance information, and dates of birth. On February 14, 2025, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic filed a notice with the Attorney General of Texas and began sending notice letters to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Kelsey-Seybold Clinic,you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 18:30:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 435 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / AultCare Corporation recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to AultCare.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On September 25, 2024, AultCare became aware of a security incident involving its email and SharePoint systems. Upon detection, AultCare launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to an employee's email account and SharePoint instance. AultCare conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised as a result of the data breach: name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. On February 10, 2025, AultCare filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from AultCare, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 18:31:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 472 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Included Health, Inc. recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Included Health.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 13, 2025, Included Health became aware of a security incident affecting its confidential systems. Upon detection, Included Health launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to sensitive data. Included Health conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal and protected health information may have been compromised:name, Social Security number, and medical record information. On February 13, 2025, Included Health filed a notice with the Attorney General of Massachusetts and began sending out notification letters to the impacted individuals. However, Included Health's filing with the Attorney General of Massachusetts provides limited details on what led to the breach. The Included Health data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Included Health,you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 20:30:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1028 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. ("Elf" or the "Company") (NYSE:ELF) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 25-cv-02316, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Elf securities between November 1, 2023 and November 19, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Elf securities during the Class Period, you have until May 5, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Elf, together with its subsidiaries, provides cosmetic and skin care products under the e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, Well People, Naturium, and Keys Soulcare brand names. The Company employs an "omni-channel distribution strategy" and sells its products with retailers in the United States, as well as internationally. Elf also sells its products online through its own direct e-commerce channels, as well as through other e-commerce websites. According to the Company's "value proposition," "[e]ach of [its] brands has accessible pricing relative to its competitive set and furthers [the Company's] mission of making the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, face and skin concern. As an example, e.l.f. Cosmetics' average product price point is approximately $6, as compared to other leading mass cosmetics brands which have average product price points over $9 and prestige cosmetics brands which have average product price points over $20, according to Nielsen." The Company purports to have developed a "scalable, asset-light supply chain centered on the combination of speed to market, high-quality and low costs." Substantially all of the Company's products are sourced and manufactured in China through "close collaboration with a network of third-party manufacturers." Elf has also touted that it has "ample manufacturing capacity as well as redundant capabilities in the event that one or more suppliers cannot meet [its] needs" and that its "broad supply base gives [it] the ability to fulfill [its] product requirements and remain cost competitive." As a retail company, effective inventory management is critical to Elf's financial performance. Specifically, the Company derives revenue from "sales of [its] beauty products, net of provisions for sales discounts and allowances, product returns, markdowns and price adjustments." Accordingly, Elf's profitability depends, in largepart, on ensuring that it maintains a volume of inventory that will allow the Company to effectively sell its products at a level that will meet customer demand. Conversely, Elf maintaining a level of inventory that is excessive relative to customer demand will result in the Company holding products that cannot be effectively sold and must therefore be written down or sold at a loss, thereby negatively impacting its profitability.As its investors would eventually learn, Elf's inventory management was woefully ineffective. In fiscal Q2 2024, the Company began identifying growth concerns when inventory levels rose as a consequence of flagging sales. However, Elf concealed this issue from investors. Instead, the Company described itself at all relevant times as one of a "rarified group of high-growth companies" with "strong relationships with [its] retail customers such as Target, Walmart, Ulta Beauty and other leading retailers that have enabled [it] to expand distribution both domestically and internationally" and consistently maintained that "the combination of its value proposition, innovation engine, ability to attract and engage consumers, and its world-class team's ability to execute with speed, has positioned the Company well to navigate the competitive beauty market." The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) contrary to its representations to investors, the Company was experiencing rising inventory levels as a consequence of flagging sales; (ii) Elf falsely attributed the rising inventory levels to, among other things, changes in its sourcing practices; (iii) to maintain investor confidence, Elf reported inflated revenue, profits, and inventory over several quarters; (iv) accordingly. the Company's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; (v) all of the foregoing, once revealed, would likely have a material negative impact on the Company; and (vi) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On November 20, 2024, Muddy Waters Research ("Muddy Waters") published a report entitled "e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. A Revenue and Inventory Mystery", alleging that Elf had "materially overstated revenue over the past three quarters," and that in "Q2 FY24, ELF management realized its growth narrative was in trouble as its inventory built. It appears that ELF then began reporting inflated revenue and profits. Its reported inventory also appears materially inflated as a result - i.e., to account for cash that has not really come in." Further, Muddy Waters accused the Company of concealing its inventory challenges from investors by falsely attributing its rising inventory levels to supposed changes in its sourcing practices rather than the true cause-insufficient sales.On this news, Elf's stock price fell $2.71 per share, or 2.23%, to close at $119.00 per share on November 20, 2024.Elf's share price continued to fall. After the Class Period ended, on February 6, 2025, Elf released its fiscal Q3 2024 results and provided its fiscal 2025 outlook. Specifically, Elf revealed that it expected full-year PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 02:01:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 463 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 5, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: This lawsuit is on behalf of all shareholders that purchased stock pursuant and/or traceable to Venture's registration statement for the initial public offering held on or about January 24, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, Venture completed its initial public offering on January 27, 2025, selling 70 million shares at $24.00 per share. On February 5, 2025, TotalEnergies, an energy company that was a target customer of Venture, rejected opportunities to become a long-term customer of Venture, citing lack of trust. In particular, TotalEnergies CEO, stated that he was approached by Venture to see if the company would be interested in a long-term supply contract for liquefied natural gas from the Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana, but he rejected the offer "because of what they are doing."Venture is currently facing legal challenges from existing large clients, such as BP and Shell, due to delays in supply contracts as Venture commissions its projects. Given the fact that defendants ability to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the world and to continue development of Venture's five natural gas liquefication and export projects depends on customer contracts, defendants' failure to account for and address these issues caused statements in Venture's registration statement to be false and/or materially misleading at the time of the initial public offering.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Venture stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/venture-global-inc-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=134259&wire=1 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 18:30:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 478 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Jack Doheny Company recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Jack Doheny Company.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On early December 2024, Jack Doheny Company became aware of a potential security incident on its IT network. Upon detection of the incident, Jack Doheny Company launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party had gained access to its internal systems and obtained certain company files in late February 2024. Jack Doheny Company conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to assess what information was compromised and how many individuals were affected.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised as a result of the data breach: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, tax information, payroll statements, driver's license or other government identification number, bank or financial account information, and other personnel-related information. On February 10, 2025, Jack Doheny Company filed a notice with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and began sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Jack Doheny Company, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 18:16:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 431 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Nuna Baby Essentials, Inc. recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of thousands of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Nuna.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 3, 2025, Nuna Baby Essentials, Inc. became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, Nuna launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to and copied certain information from its network on or around September 8, 2024. Nuna conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised:full name, and Social Security number.On February 21, 2025, Nuna filed a notice with the Maine Attorney General's Office and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Nuna, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 01:31:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 741 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / March 5, 2025 / The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has published a new report exclusive from the MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project (CMSP) about Chinese media praising Chinese AI company DeepSeek.In January 2025, Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek released a chatbot that rocked the artificial intelligence market with its efficiency and capability, leading to a $593 billion loss in value for the American technology company Nvidia in a single day, the largest one-day loss for any company on Wall Street.In the aftermath, Chinese tech companies, commentators, professors, and the public have been celebrating what they view as a Chinese victory over American artificial intelligence capabilities. At a recent Provincial High-Quality Development Conference in China, Huang Kunming, the Chinese Comunist Party (CCP) Guangdong Party Secretary, made notable remarks about DeepSeek, the Chinese AI app that has shaken Silicon Valley and Wall Street over the past month.He stated: "DeepSeek, with the courage and vigor of one who fears not the tiger, is shaking up the American AI giants and creating ripple effects. Our country has already shown new signs of leading the trends of the era. Guangdong should especially strive to take the lead among the many fierce competitors. We must take proactive action, comprehensively optimize and upgrade our industrial system, break free from the mid-to-low-end sectors, seize strategic high ground, and secure victory in emerging fields." A Chinese-language article reporting on Kunming's comments said: "It is clear that the Chinese government sees DeepSeek as a direct challenger to leading U.S. AI platforms. More importantly, Beijing encourages its tech sector to emulate DeepSeek's perceived success as part of a broader effort to transition away from low-value manufacturing and position China as a peer competitor to the United States in cutting-edge industries." According to the report, "China has long employed a 'whole-of-society approach' in its competition with the U.S. - a comprehensive national strategy that integrates government, military, industry, academia, and civilians to advance its geopolitical, economic, and technological ambitions. This approach is deeply rooted in Military-Civil Fusion (MCF), state-controlled economic policies, and ideological mobilization, ensuring that China's long-term strategic goals remain aligned across all sectors. This systemic strategy poses a persistent challenge to the U.S., necessitating a multi-faceted response encompassing economic, military, and ideological countermeasures. However, Washington has often been caught off guard by Beijing's rapid advancements - the rise of DeepSeek is just the latest example." The following are a selection of exclusive content from the MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project (CMSP) showing commentators in China celebrating the release of DeepSeek and analyzing its implications for the Chinese-American technology competition.The full report and video are available here.Click here to subscribe to the MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project email list.ABOUT MEMRI CMSP The MEMRI CMSP monitors, translates, and analyzes primary source content from print and online Chinese media, videos from Chinese TV channels, schoolbooks, and official government documents and transcripts. It also translates speeches by a wide range of Chinese government and military officials, as well as statements by journalists from Chinese-language media, including social media. By doing so, it provides a greater and more nuanced understanding of China, its people, its Chinese Communist Party-led government, its ideology, and its regional and international aspirations. The CMSP is the only project carrying out this research.ABOUT MEMRI Exploring the Middle East and South Asia through their media, MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East and South Asia, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu-Pashtu, Dari, Turkish, Russian, and Chinese media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends.Founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. MEMRI's main office is in Washington, DC, with branch offices in various world capitals. MEMRI research is translated into English, French, Polish, Japanese, Spanish, and Hebrew.MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute: www.memri.org MEMRI TV - www.memri.org/tv Jihad & Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) - www.memri.org/jttm Cyber & Jihad Lab (CJL) - www.memri.org/cjlab MEMRI Twitter: https://twitter.com/memrireports/ MEMRI YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59Cpk70K2TwdmApJOTuW9g/videos MEMRI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memrireports/ Contact Information: MEMRI media@ memri.org 202-955-9070 www.memri.org SOURCE: Middle East Media Research Institute PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 15:11:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 494 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in Novo Nordisk A/S. ("Novo" or the "Company") (NYSE:NVO) who purchased or otherwise acquired Novo securities between November 2, 2022, and December 19, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period") to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities class action against Novo. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is March 25, 2025.Class Period: November 2, 2022 - December 19, 2024Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: March 25, 2025Case information: https://lieffcabraser.com/securities/novo-nordisk/ Contact us: Email or textinvestorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358Novo, a Danish company with its U.S. headquarters in Plainsboro, New Jersey, is a healthcare company focused on the research, development, manufacturing, and distribution of pharmaceutical productions to address diabetes, obesity and rare diseases.The action alleges that, during the Class Period, Novo and certain of its senior executives made materially false and misleading statements and failed to disclose: (1) that Defendants created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to Novo's projected successful outcome of the REDEFINE-1 study of its new experimental weight loss drug, CagriSema, while avoiding discussions centered around dosage tolerability as it related to the CagriSema; (2) that Novo's claims that CagriSema would achieve at least 25% weight loss in the REDEFINE-1 study was not based on facts; and (3) that the REDFINE-1 study utilized a "flexible protocol" that limited the study's ability to effectively provide weight loss data on the dosage tested, suggesting either that tolerability was significantly worse than expected, resulting in patients titrating down their dosages to avoid complications, or that the patient selection process was rushed and led to the onboarding of patients who did not seek to achieve the study's 25% weight loss target.On December 20, 2024, before the market opened, Novo announced disappointing results for the REDEFINE-1 trial, noting that CagriSema had achieved only a weight loss average of 22.7% after 68 weeks. In addition, Novo revealed, for the first time, that the study used a "flexible protocol, allowing patients to modify their dosing throughout the trial" and which resulted in only 57.3% of patients reaching the full dose of CagriSema. On this news, the price of Novo's American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") fell 17.83% from its closing price on December 19, 2024, to close at $85.00 per share on December 20, 2024.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 125 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally-recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Repeatedly recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.Source/ContactSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 22:06:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 814 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Strategic Acquisition Designed to Expand Access to Cost-Effective, Scalable Regenerative Medicine TreatmentsGERMANTOWN, MD / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Orgenesis Inc. (OTCQX:ORGS) ("Orgenesis" or the "Company"), a global biotech company working to unlock the full potential of cell and gene therapies (CGT) in order to improve access and outcomes in healthcare, today announced the acquisition of certain Neurocords LLC's ("Neurocords") assets related to advanced regenerative medicine therapies for spinal cord injuries (SCI). The global spinal cord injury treatment market size was valued at $7.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $11.2 billion by 2031 according to Data Bridge Market Research,Neurocords' technology now purchased by the Company, differentiates induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into spinal cord neurons leveraging Orgenesis's decentralized approach to cell processing, which is designed to expedite capacity setup, enhance production efficiency, and reduce treatment costs. This allows therapies to reach a larger number of patients more cost-effectively and with better outcomes."Having an autologous SCI therapy is complementary to Orgenesis's existing portfolio of autologous cell therapeutic technologies. Neurocords' innovative research utilizing stem cell therapy for neural regeneration represents an important field of cell therapy," said Vered Caplan, CEO of Orgenesis. "By integrating the technology now purchased from Neurocords and combining this with our MIDA Technology of AI-based generation of autologous stem cells, we hope to provide an autologous neural cell production platform. This is an additional product that integrates into our decentralized cell processing approach, which we believe may accelerate development of this transformative technology as an affordable treatment for patients suffering from spinal cord injuries. The ability to generate autologous neurons may have use for additional indications." Ross Mason, Chairman of Neurocords, added, "Neurocords has spent significant time developing technology to produce neurons for spinal cord injury treatment. Orgenesis has assisted us by providing its expertise in advancing this technology toward the clinical stage, and we have been highly impressed by their capability and dedication to making cell therapies both safe and affordable. They have been a committed partner, supporting our development efforts at every stage. Over the development period, we have built a large clinical network for spinal cord injury, working alongside the VA and other key stakeholders to ensure that patients worldwide have access to groundbreaking therapies." The acquisition is structured as an equity transaction, with Orgenesis issuing 1,200,000 shares of common stock to Neurocords or its designated recipients in consideration for the purchased assets. Additional details about the transaction are available in the Company's form 8-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is available on the Company's website.About OrgenesisOrgenesis is a global biotech company that has been committed to unlocking the potential of cell and gene therapies (CGTs) since 2012 as well as a paradigm-shifting decentralized approach to processing since 2020. This new model allows Orgenesis to bring academia, hospitals, and industry together to make these essential therapies a reality sooner rather than later. Orgenesis is focusing on advancing its CGTs toward eventual commercialization while partnering with key industry stakeholders to provide a rapid, globally harmonized pathway for these therapies to reach and treat a larger number of patients more cost-effectively and with better outcomes through great science and decentralized production. Additional information about the Company is available at: www.orgenesis.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve substantial uncertainties and risks and are based upon our current expectations, estimates, and projections and reflect our beliefs and assumptions based on information available to us as of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding, the development and commercialization of our POCare platform, our pipeline, and our decentralized CGT platform. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, our reliance on our point-of-care cell therapy platform, our ability to achieve and maintain profitability, outcomes of clinical trials, timing of clinical trial completions, the potential uses of our product candidates, our ability to manage potential disruptions, sufficiency of working capital, and the risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.IR contact for Orgenesis:Crescendo Communications, LLCTel: 212-671-1021 Orgs@ crescendo-ir.com SOURCE: Orgenesis Inc PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 15:00:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 428 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / As global uncertainty grows, securing a second residency has become an increasingly popular way to protect financial stability, enhance global mobility, and access better opportunities. Many countries offer residency by investment programs, allowing individuals to obtain legal status through real estate purchases, business ownership, or government contributions.Financial Commitments and Residency Options Each country has its own investment requirements. Panama offers an affordable program with a $300,000 real estate investment, while Malta requires a minimum property rental of 14,000 per year or a 375,000 purchase, plus administrative fees. Dubai grants residency through business formation, often processed in just a few weeks, with costs ranging from AED 15,000 to AED 70,000.For those seeking European access, Spain, Portugal, and Italy provide Golden Visa programs with real estate investments starting at 250,000 to 500,000. These programs offer a pathway to permanent residency and, in some cases, eventual citizenship.Key Lifestyle Considerations Beyond the financial investment, lifestyle factors play a crucial role in selecting a second residency:Language & Integration - English is widely spoken in Malta and Panama, while other countries may require language proficiency for long-term residency or citizenship.Healthcare - Spain's healthcare system ranks among the best in the world, with both public and private options available.Safety & Stability - Dubai and Malta are known for low crime rates and strong law enforcement, making them attractive choices for families.Climate - Portugal offers mild Mediterranean weather, while Panama provides year-round warmth and tropical beaches.Education - Families seeking top-tier education opportunities can find world-renowned schools and universities in Spain and Italy.Application Process and Timelines Most residency programs require proof of income, a clean criminal record, and medical certificates. Processing times vary-some countries, like Dubai and Panama, approve residency within weeks, while others, like Portugal's Golden Visa, may take up to 16 months.A second residency isn't just about legal status-it's a strategic move toward financial security and lifestyle enhancement. To explore options and navigate the process, reach out to Reza and his team at Ingwe for a free assessment .About: Ingwe Immigration Inc. is a Toronto-based consultancy specializing in residency and citizenship services. They assist professionals, families, and investors in securing additional residency abroad by guiding them through application processes in over 20 countries across Europe, Central America, North America, and New Zealand. The firm offers tailored solutions to meet diverse goals such as tax relief, access to crypto-friendly nations, expedited passports, wealth preservation, and portfolio diversification. Their multilingual team is dedicated to streamlining procedures and ensuring a seamless transition.Contact: Reza Motalebpour, 647-370-0101, media@ ingwe.ca SOURCE: INGWE Immigration Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 14:00:54 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 672 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SEOUL, KR / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Jeong-ho Seo, also known asRicky Seo , is the Chairman of Ricky's Family, a prominent South Korean K-Beauty and IT distribution company. Last 2024 end year ceremony, more than 500 people participated in the ceremony and celebrated his wonderful leading industry with huge revenue continuously.Under his visionary leadership, the company has significantly expanded its global footprint, establishing branches in the global market. Last decades, he made the super successful and stable business continuously. All industries call him he is legendary for digitalization with service management.Recognizing the burgeoning demand for Korean beauty and IT products in Southeast Asia, Seo spearheaded the launch ofRicky's Family'sown brand, Matari Cosmetic, Seongsudang the health supplement product, Bitinside digital asset exchange in the global market.The brand has gained popularity for offering genuine Korean cosmetics at attractive prices, with items like the "Korean Genuine Cosmetics Promotion Set" selling out quickly upon release. Not only for that, but also digital asset mining platform, he manages the digital asset cloud mining and management service with funding service.Beyond Vietnam, Seo's strategic vision includes further expansion into other East, Southeast Asian, Middle East markets, targeting countries such as Korea, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. This ambitious growth plan reflects his commitment to promoting K-Beauty and IT products and meeting the diverse beauty needs of consumers across the region. Especially for IT business, to expand the global market, he set the business license for each business model according to each policy correctly.Seo Jeong-ho is a distinguished global leader renowned for his significant contributions to both the Information Technology (IT) and beauty industries. Over the past seven years, he has achieved remarkable success, generating a cumulative revenue of $300 million through his diverse business ventures in collaboration with multinational companies. Let's see which points affected to his successful career and history according to experts' opinions.Career OverviewFirst of all, he has the experience who making a successful digital asset project last 7 yrs and made a huge revenue of almost 200 Million USD with the blockchain and digital asset project successfully. Last year, seo made about 20 Million USD revenue with 1 brand in 2024. Now he has more than 7 brands with a lot of industry experts. under Seo's visionary leadership, his corporation reported an impressive revenue of $20 million. All experts all the time expect his new project and new inspired digital product to join. This achievement underscores his adeptness at navigating complex markets and his commitment to excellence.Leadership in the IT IndustrySeo's journey in the IT sector is marked by innovation and strategic foresight. His initiatives have not only driven technological advancements but have also set new benchmarks for industry standards. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, he has ensured that his companies remain at the forefront of technological evolution.Influence in the Beauty IndustryParallel to his IT endeavors, Seo has made significant strides in the beauty industry. His approach integrates cutting-edge technology with beauty solutions, reflecting a deep understanding of consumer needs and market trends. This synergy has led to the development of innovative products and services that resonate with a global audience.Global CollaborationsA cornerstone of Seo's success is his ability to forge and maintain robust partnerships with multinational corporations. These collaborations have facilitated the exchange of ideas, resources, and technologies, contributing to the substantial revenue milestones achieved under his leadership.Seo Jeong-ho's dual-industry expertise and strategic vision have solidified his reputation as a global leader. His accomplishments serve as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and established business leaders alike, exemplifying the impact of innovation, collaboration, and dedication in achieving sustained success.Marketers around the world are always looking forward to what kind of new business Chairman Ricky Seo will do in the future, and his next vision and business. I'm looking forward to what Chairman Ricky Seo's next business will be in the future.Company Details:Company Name: Ricky's FamilyCompany Website: https://rickys-family.comCompany Email: Help@ rickys-family.comPerson Name: Ricky Seo (Seo Jeongho)SOURCE: Ricky's Family PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 01:00:56 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 686 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 5, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) between August 26, 2022 and November 19, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 1, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Target common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Target class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6812 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 1, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, Target misled investors by making false and misleading statements about Target's Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ("DEI") mandates that led to widespread customer boycotts following Target's 2023 LGBT-Pride Campaign (the "Campaign"). The negative effects of the Campaign on Target's business, including a subsequent campaign in 2024 (the "2024 Campaign"), led to a massive decline in Target's stock price.Specifically, the Campaign offended certain Target customers, provoking consumer backlash and boycotts that caused Target's sales to fall for the first time in six years. Unbeknownst to investors, and contrary to Target's public statements, its Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Board of directors did not oversee or disclose the known risks of Target's 2023 or 2024 Campaigns. This deceit, through misleading statements in Target's public filings, caused Target investors to purchase Target stock at artificially inflated prices. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Target class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6812or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 02:30:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 640 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 5, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Edison International (NYSE:EIX) between February 25, 2021 and February 6, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.SO WHAT: If you purchased Edison securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Edison's claim that Southern California Edison Company ("SCE") used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs ("PSPS") program to "proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events", was false; (2) this resulted in heightened fire risk in California and heightened legal exposure to Edison; and (3) as a result, defendants' statements about Edison's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: Rosen Law Firm PA Photo taken on March 5, 2025 shows ancient Chinese bronze vessels on display during a press preview of an exhibition titled Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo) NEW YORK, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Over 70 Chinese ritual bronzes from 12th century BC in the Shang dynasty to 1st-2nd century AD in the Han dynasty will be on display at China Institute Gallery in Lower Manhattan, New York City, according to China Institute in America. Organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the exhibition will run from March 6 to July 13, 2025. The idea to hold such an exhibition was raised five or six years ago but the COVID-19 pandemic impeded the original plan, according to Tracy Jiao, coordinator with China Institute Gallery. "We're really grateful that this is taking place and we're excited to show you all the things from Minneapolis," said Jiao at a press preview on Wednesday. From vessels for food and wine as well as imaginative animal sculptures, the objects are selected from around 220 pieces of such a collection by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, according to Liu Yang, chair of Asian Art and curator of Chinese Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Objects on the exhibition are complimentary with Chinese bronzes collected by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and "I hope visitors could get to know Chinese bronze culture, which is a very important chapter in Chinese history or Chinese art history," said Liu. The exhibition provides viewers with a unique window into the extraordinary artistic creativity, masterful craftsmanship, and captivating belief systems of ancient China, Liu said. "Together, these creative artworks provide extraordinary clues about early humans in China including how they honored their ancestors, worshipped their deities, and prepared for the afterlife," said George S. Geh, chief executive officer of China Institute in America. Founded in New York City in 1926, China Institute in America is an internationally renowned U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to deepening the world's understanding of China through programs in art, business, cuisine, culture, and education. Photo taken on March 5, 2025 shows ancient Chinese bronze vessels on display during a press preview of an exhibition titled Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo) Visitors view a Shengding food vessel dating back to the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC-476 BC) during a press preview of an exhibition titled Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States, on March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo) A Shengding food vessel dating back to the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC-476 BC) is on display during a press preview of an exhibition titled Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States, on March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo) A visitor views a kneeling figure dating back to the Warring States period (475 BC-221 BC) during a press preview of an exhibition titled Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States, on March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo) A visitor takes a close look at a Bo Bell dating back to the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC-476 BC) during a press preview of an exhibition titled Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art, at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States, on March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo) Editor: JYZ PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 14:45:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 793 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Agreement With HillmanTok University Opens The Door ToOver 350,000 Registered Online Students WorldwideSAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / TPT Global Tech, Inc. (OTC:TPTW) has signed an agreement to bring HillmanTok's fast-online education platform to the VuMe LiveSuper App. This strategic move provides HillmanTok's more than 350,000 registered students with a next-generation digital learning environment that fosters interactive engagement, secure content delivery, and global accessibility. Users will be able to access the e-learning content in the VuMe Live Super App , now in the Apple Store and Google Play stores in Beta testing.HillmanTok University quickly gained popularity on Tik Tok, drawing millions of viewers to classes ranging from Forensic Pathology to Raising Chickens for a Sustainable Future. However, despite its rapid success, HillmanTok faced increasing challenges on TikTok, including security risks, account hacking incidents, content limitations, and concerns over the platform's uncertain future in the U.S.. The need for a more stable, feature-rich, and scalable solution led HillmanTok's leadership to seek a new home at VuMe Live which can better support its expanding educational community.By transitioning to the VuMe Live Super App , HillmanTok University will now operate within a secure, U.S. based digital ecosystem designed for online education, global collaboration, and corporate training. Unlike TikTok's restrictive 10-minute video format, VuMe Live provides Live Rooms, an interactive virtual space that enables real-time engagement between educators and students. VuMe Live's long form streaming capabilities will allow instructors to deliver extended lectures, interactive Q&A sessions, and immersive learning experiences without the constraints of short video limits.The move provides enhanced monetization opportunities for VuMe Live as well as for HillmanTok's faculty who will now be able to generate revenue through course subscriptions, premium content, pay-per-view masterclasses, and sponsorships, creating a more sustainable business model for online education.According to Stephen J. Thomas III, CEO of TPT Global Tech, the partnership between VuMe Live and HillmanTok represents a significant step forward in the evolution of online learning. "The VuMe Live Super App is designed to revolutionize how people learn and collaborate globally. With HillmanTok University joining our platform, we not only grow our audience, we are providing a space where educators can thrive without limitations, and students can access affordable, high-quality learning experiences from anywhere in the world," said Thomas.HillmanTok co-founder Kierra Owens echoed these sentiments, stating, "The move to VuMe Live is a game-changer for the university's future. VuMe Live provides us with the technology and tools to expand our impact, ensuring that our students and educators can connect, learn, and grow in a more dynamic and secure environment." About TPT Global Tech, Inc.TPT Global Tech, Inc. is a technology holding company based in San Diego, California. It was formed as the successor of two U.S. corporations, Ally Pharma US and TPT Global, Inc. The Company operates in various sectors including media, telecommunications, Smart City Real Estate Development, and the launch of the first super App, VuMe Live technology platform.As a media content delivery hub, TPT Global Tech utilizes its own proprietary global digital media TV and telecommunications infrastructure platform. They offer software as a service (SaaS), technology platform as a service (PAAS), and cloud-based unified communication as a service (UCaaS) solutions to businesses worldwide. Their UCaaS services enable businesses of all sizes to access the latest voice, data, media, and collaboration features.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings, and pursuit of new markets are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the ability of the Company to control, and in many cases, the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions.For more information about TPT Global Tech and its subsidiaries, please visit www.tptgloabltech.com For media or Investment inquiries, please contact: Rick@ tptglobaltech.com Contact InformationRick EberhardtCOOrick@ tptglobaltech.com 702-556-7096SOURCE: TPT Global Tech, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 17:30:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 288 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Great Recruiters named Travel Nurses, Inc. a top-rated healthcare staffing agency for the second half of 2024.GERMANTOWN, TENNESSEE / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 /Travel Nurses, Inc. was just named a top-rated healthcare staffing agency by Great Recruiters for the second half of 2024. Of the 32 agencies listed, Travel Nurses, Inc. had the second highest average rating of 4.95 out of 5. The highest score was 4.96. The agency boasts 98 percent of their travelers highly recommend Travel Nurses, Inc. to colleagues. Travel Nurses, Inc. LogoIn addition to this honor, 50 percent of the recruitment team at Travel Nurses, Inc. is certified on Great Recruiters. To earn this certification, recruiters must have at least 30 reviews on the Great Recruiters platform and maintain a 4.5-star rating. Travel Nurses, Inc. has experienced recruiters who enjoy what they do.According to Great Recruiters, the rankings were determined by the following criteria:Collecting real-time feedback from candidates, clients, and talentAutomating responses to feedbackTracking and improving performanceShowcasing success stories to enhance reputation"My first travel assignment was with Katie!" said one healthcare professional about their recruiter. "She gave me confidence and supported me the entire way through, always answering any questions I had as a first time traveler! I always feel my needs are understood when talking with Katie and she is very quick to respond! Best recruiter EVER!"Chief Executive Officer Bryan Burnett said, "I'm proud of our team's dedication, which Great Recruiters recognized. Being named a top-rated healthcare agency highlights our commitment to exceptional service and support for our nurses and partners." Contact InformationAnna Joy Tamayo Community and PR Managerannajoy@ travelnursesinc.com 901-347-0271Catherine Knoll Vice President of Marketingcatherine.knoll@travelnursesinc.com 901-425-1636SOURCE: Travel Nurses Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 15:00:46 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 993 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TZROP will be Fully Tokenized on March 14, 2025 and will Become the First Digital Asset Security to be Supported by tZERO's Special Purpose Broker Dealer Digital Custody ServicesSALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 /tZERO Group Inc., a leader in technology solutions for capital markets, is pleased to confirm that the full tokenization of its Series-A Preferred Equity Security (TZROP) will occur on March 14, 2025. Once completed, TZROP will become the first digital asset security to be custodied by tZERO's Special Purpose Broker-Dealer, tZERO Digital Asset Securities, one of only two digital securities broker-dealer custodians in the US.As previously announced in its February 9, 2025, press release, the full tokenization of TZROP is expected to unlock new utility features, including issuer tools leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) data driven insights relating to TZROP's ownership structure, transactions and investor base, while maintaining data privacy. This tool set will form the backbone of tZERO's end-to-end digital asset security product offering for issuers looking to fully tokenize their capital tables in a way that introduces meaningful and actionable issuer and investor facing tools that prove the use case for tokenized and automated securities versus legacy book-entry systems dispersed across multiple databases and market participants.For more information about tZERO and the full tokenization of TZROP, please see our FAQs.About tZEROtZERO Group, Inc. (tZERO) and its broker-dealer subsidiaries provide an innovative liquidity platform for private companies and assets. We offer institutional-grade solutions for issuers looking to digitize their capital table through blockchain technology, and make such equity available for trading on an alternative trading system. tZERO, through its broker-dealer subsidiaries, democratizes access to private assets by providing a simple, automated, and efficient trading venue to broker-dealers, institutions, and investors. All technology services are offered through tZERO Technologies, LLC. For more information, please visit our website.About tZERO Digital Asset SecuritiestZERO Digital Asset Securities, LLC is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC. It is the broker-dealer custodian of all digital asset securities offered on tZERO's online brokerage platform. It operates in accordance with the SEC's statement, dated December 23, 2020, regarding the Custody of Digital Asset Securities by Special Purpose Broker-Dealers. Digital asset securities may not be "securities" as defined under the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA)-and in particular, digital asset securities that are "investment contracts" under the Howey test but are not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission are excluded from SIPA's definition of "securities"-and thus the protections afforded to securities customers under SIPA may not apply. More information about tZERO Digital Asset Securities may be found on FINRA's BrokerCheck.About tZERO SecuritiestZERO Securities, LLC is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC. It is the operator of the tZERO Securities ATS. More information about tZERO Securities may be found on FINRA's BrokerCheck.Investor NoticeDigital asset securities, as well as any particular investment, may not be suitable or appropriate for everyone. Investors should note that investing or trading in securities could involve substantial risks, including no guarantee of returns, costs associated with selling and purchasing, and no assurance of liquidity which could impact their price and investor's ability to sell, and possible loss of principal invested. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. There are also unique risks specific to digital asset securities, including, without limitation, fraud, manipulation, theft, and loss.No Offer, Solicitation, Investment Advice or RecommendationsThis release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, nor does it constitute an offer to provide investment advisory or other services by tZERO or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees. No reference to any specific security constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that security or any other security. Nothing in this release shall be considered a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any security, future, option or other financial instrument or to offer or provide any investment advice or service to any person in any jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this release constitutes investment advice or offers any opinion with respect to the suitability of any security, and the views expressed in this release should not be taken as advice to buy, sell or hold any security. In preparing the information contained in this release, we have not taken into account the investment needs, objectives, and financial circumstances of any particular investor. This information has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any specific recipient of this information and investments discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Any views expressed in this release by us were prepared based upon the information available to us at the time such views were written. Changed or additional information could cause such views to change. All information is subject to possible corrections. Information may quickly become unreliable for various reasons, including changes in market conditions or economic circumstances.Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, tZERO, its subsidiaries, or its representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. These forward-looking statements are based on expectations and projections about future events, which is derived from currently available information. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, including financial performance and projections; growth in revenue and earnings; and business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "contemplates," "estimates," "believes," "plans," "projected," "predicts," "potential," or "hopes" or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including, withou PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 17:00:55 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 564 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Lyons to join Executive Director, Dr. Shaun Carver, in honoring advocates and trailblazers who embody the I-House mission during the organization's annual gala, March 9, 2025BERKELEY, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / International House Berkeley(I-House Berkeley), the multicultural residential center promoting a more just and peaceful world, today announced the appointment of UC Berkeley ChancellorRich Lyonsto the role of Honorary Chairman of the Board. Lyons will serve alongside I-House board vice chair and UC Berkeley Vice ChancellorMarc Fisher . This appointment continues the 94-year tradition of the UC Berkeley Chancellor serving as chair of I-House. On Sunday, March 9, 2025, Lyons will join Executive Director Shaun Carver, PhD, at I-House's Annual Celebration and Awards Gala to honor members of the global community for their support and service to I-House."I-House has been a part of Cal's history for nearly 100 years, and its impact on students is noteworthy. Living in I-House requires residents to think beyond themselves, question the status quo and demonstrate a willingness to learn from one another. Alumni have gone on to become ambassadors for their country, Nobel laureates, United Nations officers, government officials, corporate leaders and other trailblazers," said Chancellor Lyons. "I am honored to continue the rich tradition of working alongside Shaun and the board to ensure I-House continues to shine its light on Berkeley's campus." TheI-House Board of Directorsincludes 26 members, all connected to the broader Berkeley community and to the mission of I-House. Together, they oversee the operations of the multicultural residence and its mission to foster intercultural respect, lifelong friendships and leadership skills for a more just and peaceful world. I-House hosts over 600 students and scholars from 80+ countries, including the US."We are thrilled to welcome Chancellor Lyons as our honorary board chair and know that his influence and passion for UC Berkeley will be well reflected in his association with our board," said Carver. "We are proud of our mission at I-House and recognize the need for continued international collaboration and engagement as we navigate challenging times. We are grateful for the incredible board that serves our students and our programs so faithfully, and we look forward to honoring the work done on behalf of I-House's great mission during our annual gala." This year's Celebration & Awards Gala will recognize Markos Kounalakis, PhD as Alumnus of the Year; The University Section Club as the recipient of the Sherry and Betsey Warrick Mission Service Award; and Excellence Anurika Joshua with the Executive Director's Outstanding Community Leadership Award. The event will take place on March 9, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Chevron Auditorium at I-House, located at 2299 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94720. Tickets are $275 per person, or $200 for those under 35 years of age. More information can be found at: https://i-housegala2025.eventbrite.com/ About International House BerkeleyThe International House at UC Berkeley is a multicultural residential "living and learning" center of over 600 students and scholars from 80+ countries, including the U.S. Its mission is to foster intercultural respect and understanding, lifelong friendships and leadership skills for a more just and peaceful world.Founded in 1930 with a charitable gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr., I-House is a non-profit organization with a remarkable history, and is part of a network ofInternational Houses Worldwide . For more information,please visit its website .Media ContactThe International House at UC Berkeleyihouse@ songuepr.com SOURCE: International House UC Berkeley PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 18:30:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 384 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of individuals who subscribed to Whisky Advocate website at https://whiskyadvocate.com/ (the "Website")and watched pre-recorded video content through the Whisky Advocate Website. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP's investigation indicates that legally protected data may have been unlawfully intercepted during visits to the Whisky Advocate Website, particularly affecting customers who subscribed and watched pre-recorded video content on the Whisky Advocate Website.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?If you subscribed to the Whisky Advocate Website, through an email newsletter, digital, or paid subscription, and watched videos on the platform, your legally protected data may have been intercepted without your knowledge. If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation.AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation.Unauthorized data interception is a serious issue that could lead to privacy violations, potentially leading to significant breaches of your personal information.If the company entrusted with securing your data has failed in this duty, they may be held accountable for any exposure of your information,potentially exposing you to risks such as misuse or unauthorized use of your data.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you subscribed to Whisky Advocate Website and subsequently watched pre-recorded video materials, your data may have been intercepted. Follow the link below to find out if you have a claim.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected customers are entitled to compensation. There is no cost to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. We work on a contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid!Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-06 19:30:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 748 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Investors in Block, Inc. (NYSE:SQ) n/k/a (NYSE:XYZ) began to learn of potentially adverse information about the company and its Square and Cash App platforms on Mar. 23, 2023, when Hindenburg Research published a scathing report on the company.After a 2-year investigation, which included dozens of interviews with former employees, partners, and industry experts, Hindenburg concluded, in part, that Block had "wildly overstated its genuine user counts" and "[c]ore to the issue is that Block has embraced one traditionally underbanked' segment of the population: criminals." On February 4, 2024, NBC News reported that federal regulators were probing allegations of two Whistleblowers that Cash App performed inadequate due diligence on its users -including "no effective procedure to establish the[ir] identity'"- opening the door to potential money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illegal and illicit activities.Then, on May 1, 2024, NBC News reported that federal prosecutors were investigating Block due to allegations by a former employee that the Company had engaged in widespread and years-long compliance lapses at its two main units, Square and Cash App. Reportedly, the employee had provided prosecutors with internal Company documents demonstrating that Block had failed to conduct basic due diligence on its customers, that Square had processed thousands of transactions involving countries subject to economic sanctions (including Cuba, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela), and that Block had processed multiple cryptocurrency transactions for terrorist groups.These developments have driven the price of Block shares significantly lower. Hagens Berman urges investors who purchased Block shares and suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Feb. 26, 2020 - Apr. 30, 2024Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Mar. 18, 2025Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/xyz Contact the Firm Now: XYZ@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Most recently, on Jan. 15, 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported that Block agreed to pay $80 million to dozens of state regulators over alleged problems with its program to counter money-laundering. Then, on Jan. 16, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") ordered Block to pay $175 million and fix its failures on Cash App user fraud. The CFPB said Cash App attempted to avoid investigative obligations by tricking its users and that Cash App was vulnerable to criminals defrauding users.Further related regulatory actions is possible. Block stated in its most recent Form 10-Q quarterly report filed in November, that it "also received inquiries from the SEC and Department of Justice ("DOJ") shortly after the publication of a short seller report in March 2023. In July 2024, the Company received a follow-on inquiry from the SEC. The Company believes these inquiries primarily relate to the allegations raised in the short seller report, the Company's compliance and risk practices, and related disclosures. The Company continues to cooperate with both agencies. The Company is unable to predict the likely outcome of these matters and cannot provide any assurance that the SEC or DOJ will not ultimately take legal action against the Company or that the outcome of any such action, if brought, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company." Block, Inc. (XYZ) Securities Class Action:"We are investigating whether Block may have intentionally misled investors about its compliance and other business practices," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Block and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Block case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Block should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email XYZ@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Students from three severely-shattered townships chorus with students from Beijing, capital of China, and Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, via video link during a ceremony marking the new semester at a temporary site in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 5, 2025. Two months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, thousands of children were able to return to class to start the new semester, as builders raced against time in conducting reconstruction work. Students from the 79 schools affected by the earthquake resumed classes as scheduled on Wednesday, together with all other students in the city of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. These 79 schools in the county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake, which claimed 126 lives back in January. Among these, 76 schools have met safety standards after being repaired and reinforced. Meanwhile, a trio of primary schools in three severely-shattered townships in Dingri require complete reconstruction. These schools transferred 1,479 students to four other sites for the start of the new semester this week. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) LHASA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Two months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, thousands of children were able to return to class to start the new semester, as builders raced against time in conducting reconstruction work. Students from the 79 schools affected by the earthquake resumed classes as scheduled on Wednesday, together with all other students in the city of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. These 79 schools in the county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake, which claimed 126 lives back in January. Among these, 76 schools have met safety standards after being repaired and reinforced. Meanwhile, a trio of primary schools in three severely-shattered townships in Dingri require complete reconstruction. These schools transferred 1,479 students to four other sites for the start of the new semester this week. Li Benfeng, deputy director of the education bureau in Dingri, said the county's Party school, serving as one of the temporary sites, is providing six classrooms -- thereby accommodating over 220 primary school students and enabling them to start the semester on time. "Each of us was given not only new textbooks but also backpacks, bedding and stationery," said Pasang Tsering, a grade-six student attending classes at the Party school venue. Chimed, deputy director of the municipal education bureau of Xigaze, said school teachers were mobilized to return to school in advance to assist in cleaning and school-opening preparations. "During the new semester, teachers will provide psychological support for students -- aiming to alleviate fear and anxiety caused by the earthquake," she said. On Monday, the reconstruction of eight villages severely affected by the earthquake was launched, marking the start of a recovery effort aimed at relocating over 120,000 residents to new homes by the end of this year. The launch ceremony was held in Gurum Village of Dingri following over a month of preparations, with initiatives including debris clearance, risk assessment and housing design. Students from three severely-shattered townships brush their teeth at a temporary site in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 5, 2025. Two months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, thousands of children were able to return to class to start the new semester, as builders raced against time in conducting reconstruction work. Students from the 79 schools affected by the earthquake resumed classes as scheduled on Wednesday, together with all other students in the city of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. These 79 schools in the county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake, which claimed 126 lives back in January. Among these, 76 schools have met safety standards after being repaired and reinforced. Meanwhile, a trio of primary schools in three severely-shattered townships in Dingri require complete reconstruction. These schools transferred 1,479 students to four other sites for the start of the new semester this week. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Sixth-grade students from a severely-shattered township attend class at a temporary site in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 5, 2025. Two months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, thousands of children were able to return to class to start the new semester, as builders raced against time in conducting reconstruction work. Students from the 79 schools affected by the earthquake resumed classes as scheduled on Wednesday, together with all other students in the city of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. These 79 schools in the county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake, which claimed 126 lives back in January. Among these, 76 schools have met safety standards after being repaired and reinforced. Meanwhile, a trio of primary schools in three severely-shattered townships in Dingri require complete reconstruction. These schools transferred 1,479 students to four other sites for the start of the new semester this week. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Students from three severely-shattered townships chorus during a ceremony marking the new semester at a temporary site in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 5, 2025. Two months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, thousands of children were able to return to class to start the new semester, as builders raced against time in conducting reconstruction work. Students from the 79 schools affected by the earthquake resumed classes as scheduled on Wednesday, together with all other students in the city of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. These 79 schools in the county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake, which claimed 126 lives back in January. Among these, 76 schools have met safety standards after being repaired and reinforced. Meanwhile, a trio of primary schools in three severely-shattered townships in Dingri require complete reconstruction. These schools transferred 1,479 students to four other sites for the start of the new semester this week. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Students from three severely-shattered townships attend a national flag-raising ceremony at a temporary site in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 5, 2025. Two months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, thousands of children were able to return to class to start the new semester, as builders raced against time in conducting reconstruction work. Students from the 79 schools affected by the earthquake resumed classes as scheduled on Wednesday, together with all other students in the city of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. These 79 schools in the county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake, which claimed 126 lives back in January. Among these, 76 schools have met safety standards after being repaired and reinforced. Meanwhile, a trio of primary schools in three severely-shattered townships in Dingri require complete reconstruction. These schools transferred 1,479 students to four other sites for the start of the new semester this week. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Students from three severely-shattered townships have their breakfast at a temporary site in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 5, 2025. Two months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, thousands of children were able to return to class to start the new semester, as builders raced against time in conducting reconstruction work. Students from the 79 schools affected by the earthquake resumed classes as scheduled on Wednesday, together with all other students in the city of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. These 79 schools in the county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake, which claimed 126 lives back in January. Among these, 76 schools have met safety standards after being repaired and reinforced. Meanwhile, a trio of primary schools in three severely-shattered townships in Dingri require complete reconstruction. These schools transferred 1,479 students to four other sites for the start of the new semester this week. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Students display stuffed toys prepared by their teachers in dormitory at a temporary site in Dingri County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 4, 2025. Two months after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Dingri County, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, thousands of children were able to return to class to start the new semester, as builders raced against time in conducting reconstruction work. Students from the 79 schools affected by the earthquake resumed classes as scheduled on Wednesday, together with all other students in the city of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. These 79 schools in the county suffered various degrees of damage during the quake, which claimed 126 lives back in January. Among these, 76 schools have met safety standards after being repaired and reinforced. Meanwhile, a trio of primary schools in three severely-shattered townships in Dingri require complete reconstruction. These schools transferred 1,479 students to four other sites for the start of the new semester this week. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan) Editor: JYZ Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, takes part in a deliberation with fellow lawmakers from Jiangsu during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Photo by Zhan Zheng/Xinhua) BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged east China's Jiangsu Province, an economic powerhouse, to play a major role in the country's overall development. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when taking part in a deliberation with his fellow lawmakers from Jiangsu during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature. Jiangsu should take the lead in integrating technological and industrial innovation, advancing in-depth reform and high-standard opening up, and implementing major national development strategies, Xi said, adding that it should set an example in pursuing common prosperity. After listening to several NPC deputies' presentations, Xi said technological innovation and industrial innovation constitute the fundamental pathways for developing new quality productive forces. To advance technological innovation, it is essential to modernize the industrial system and coordinate education, science and technology, and talent cultivation, Xi said, urging more sci-tech advances to be attained and turned into concrete productive forces. Xi called on the province to further deepen reform and opening up. It is necessary to keep in mind both domestic and international imperatives, promote urban-rural integration and regional coordination, optimize the layout of productive forces, and strive to promote high-quality development, he said. He added that equal treatment must be ensured for enterprises under all forms of ownership, and that sustained efforts must be made to improve the business environment. Xi urged the province to make proactive and coordinated efforts in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the implementation of other development strategies. Jiangsu should strengthen its alignment with strategies such as the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and have a deep involvement in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said. He also stressed continuous efforts in promoting all-around rural revitalization and integrated urban-rural development, as well as in consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was present at the event. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, takes part in a deliberation with fellow lawmakers from Jiangsu during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Photo by Sheng Jiapeng/Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, takes part in a deliberation with fellow lawmakers from Jiangsu during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Editor: Zhang Zhou White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 5, 2025. The White House said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption to three major automakers from the newly imposed 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) WASHINGTON, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption to three major automakers from the newly imposed 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada. "We spoke with the big three auto dealers (makers), we are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA. Reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April 2," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing. Levitt said Trump has spoken with three companies -- Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis -- and they made this request. The president agreed to grant them a one-month tariff exemption. Bloomberg News reported earlier Wednesday that Trump is exempting automakers from newly imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month, "as a temporary reprieve following pleas from industry leaders." The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a trade agreement negotiated, signed, and ultimately enacted during Trump's first term, aimed at replacing the former North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Under the USMCA, auto parts procurement must meet specific rules to qualify for duty-free treatment. These rules are designed to encourage regional production and sourcing within North America. For passenger vehicles and light trucks, at least 75 percent of the vehicle's value must originate in North America, while the minimum requirement for heavy trucks is 70 percent. On Feb. 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25-percent tariff on products imported from Mexico and Canada, with a 10 percent tariff increase on Canadian energy products. On Feb. 3, Trump announced a 30-day delay in implementing the tariffs on both countries and continued negotiations. According to this decision, the relevant tariff measures took effect on March 4. Trump on Tuesday night defended his tariff strategy when delivering an address to a joint session of Congress, but acknowledged that such policies will cause "a little disturbance." Nevertheless, economists and observers have expressed deep concerns about the potential impact of tariffs on the U.S. economy. The Tax Foundation estimated that, without considering retaliatory measures, Trump's 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which went into effect Tuesday, will reduce long-term GDP by 0.2 percent, reduce hours worked by 223,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and reduce after-tax incomes by an average of 0.6 percent. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 5, 2025. The White House confirmed Wednesday that the Trump administration is having direct talks with Hamas aimed at releasing hostages. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Editor: JYZ An aerial drone photo taken on March 1, 2025 shows the cruise ship Europa 2 anchoring at a port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) QINGDAO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Tianjin and Qingdao, two major port cities in China, kicked off the new year with their first inbound international cruise ship of 2025 -- the Malta-registered Europa 2, a clear signal of the steady revival of China's cruise tourism industry. The luxury liner, carrying hundreds of passengers from countries including Germany, Austria and Switzerland is on a global voyage. During its China leg, the tour group headed to major destinations including Xiamen, Shanghai and Tianjin. After a brief stop in Qingdao in Shandong Province, east China, on March 1, the ship would head to Japan and the Republic of Korea, according to Kristina Jurgawka, a crew member aboard the ship. An avid history enthusiast, she was deeply impressed by the Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enchanted by the skyline of Shanghai. "I'm truly grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience," she said. For German tourist Joachin Dopp, the ease of entry into China left the strongest impression. "It's simple to enter, no need for a visa or all those formalities. It's great that you can just enter the country and enjoy it [your trip]," he told Xinhua. His experience reflects well on China's effort to rejuvenate the cruise tourism sector. In May last year, a policy was rolled out allowing visa-free entry for foreign tourist groups arriving on cruise ships at any of the country's cruise ports along the coastline. With a coastline stretching 18,000 km, China has seen steady improvements in its port infrastructure. The country boasts abundant tourism resources and is experiencing rapid growth in the service industry, making it a major destination for international cruise liners. Wang Hong, president of China Europe International Business School, said in a media interview that the visa-free entry policy for cruise passengers will bring unprecedented development opportunities to China's tourism and cruise industries. It is expected to attract more foreign visitors to choose cruises as a means of traveling to China, thereby boosting inbound tourism. Industry leaders predict a strong rebound in international cruise tourism in China this year. On Jan. 3, an international cruise ship carrying 456 passengers docked at Phoenix Island International Cruise Port in Sanya, a popular tropical destination. From 2006 to the end of 2024, the port handled over 1,600 cruise ship voyages and over 2 million passenger trips. Days later, the Silver Dawn became the first international cruise ship to arrive in Shanghai this year, bringing over 400 tourists from more than 20 countries, including the United States, Britain, and Australia. During the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, the border inspection authorities in Shanghai reported 22 cruise ship entries and exits, with 72,000 cruise passenger trips. Tang Ming, head of a Shanghai-based travel agency, noted that since February 2024, the market has steadily recovered. "We expect to see a 20 to 30 percent increase in international cruise tourists this year," he said. Cruise ports in Qingdao are expected to receive over 40 cruise ship visits in 2025, twice the number recorded in 2024, according to the city's culture and tourism bureau. Meanwhile, Tianjin International Cruise Home Port is preparing for increased activities, with more than 40 inbound and outbound cruise ship visits anticipated at Dongjiang Port in the first quarter alone. Globally, the Cruise Lines International Association estimates that the number of ocean-going cruise passengers will reach 39.5 million by 2027, reflecting sustained demand for cruise voyages. By 2035, China's cruise market is expected to welcome 4.2 million inbound foreign tourist trips annually, with total economic output projected to reach 531.7 billion yuan (about 74.12 billion U.S. dollars), according to a report by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, as cited by Liao Minsheng, a marine tourism expert from Hainan Tropical Ocean University. China's market, Liao said in a media interview, presents unprecedented opportunities for the global cruise and yacht economy. "China's vast market size and growing demand for cruise tourism provide international cruise and yacht companies with ample room for expansion," he added. "The sector's growth is expected to drive the development in areas such as ship design and manufacturing, foreign trade, tourism services, port construction and modern maritime services." Tourists from the cruise ship Europa 2 taste a local beverage at a port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Tourists from the cruise ship Europa 2 go through the customs at a port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Editor: JYZ Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session Xinhua) 08:21, March 06, 2025 Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese premier, joins National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from Yunnan Province in a group deliberation at the third session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leaders on Wednesday attended deliberations at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature. When joining NPC deputies from Yunnan Province in a group deliberation, Premier Li Qiang urged more proactive efforts to achieve continued economic recovery and growth. Li urged Yunnan to boost upgraded tourism consumption to form new growth drivers for the economy. He also called on the province to strengthen its role as an opening-up gateway to the southwest. Top legislator Zhao Leji participated in a group deliberation with his fellow deputies from Sichuan Province, urging more effective measures to deliver on the goals and tasks set in the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). Zhao, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, also called on lawmakers in Sichuan to uphold the Party's overall leadership over people's congresses, perform their duties as stipulated in the Constitution and the law, and keep improving their work. Top political advisor Wang Huning joined his fellow deputies from Guizhou Province in a group deliberation. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged the province to promote the transformation of traditional industries, foster sound growth of the private sector, advance rural revitalization, and pursue green and low-carbon development. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, when joining the deliberation of his fellow deputies from Liaoning Province, stressed the need to expand domestic demand to make it a main engine and anchor of economic growth. He also underscored the importance of ensuring both high-quality development and greater security. Li Xi, secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC), joined his fellow lawmakers from Fujian Province in a group deliberation. He stressed that high-quality development must be guided by high-quality Party building. He expressed the hope for Fujian to explore new pathways toward integrated cross-Strait development. Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. While speaking with fellow lawmakers from Shandong Province, Vice President Han Zheng urged efforts to comprehensively expand domestic demand, and promote high-level self-reliance in science and technology. He called on Shandong to take the lead in developing new quality productive forces, and write a Shandong chapter in Chinese modernization. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, participates in a group deliberation with his fellow deputies from Sichuan Province at the third session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, joins his fellow deputies from Guizhou Province in a group deliberation at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, joins the deliberation of his fellow deputies from Liaoning Province at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, joins his fellow lawmakers from Fujian Province in a group deliberation at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Chinese Vice President Han Zheng joins his fellow lawmakers from Shandong Province in a group deliberation at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Photo: https://t.me/UA_National_Police A local resident was killed and two others were injured in the bombing of the village of Slatyne (Kharkiv region), the National Police reported on its Telegram channel on Thursday. "Today, at about 5:15, the village of Slatyne of Derhachi community was shelled, previously with an aerial bomb. A 51-year-old man died as a result of the strike in his own home. A 62-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, residents of the destroyed house, were also injured. They sought medical help with an acute stress reaction," the National Police said in a statement. Several private houses and cars were damaged, and a fire broke out. LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This International Women's Day, Jackery celebrates the strength and adventurous spirit of women everywhere. We believe every woman should have the freedom to explore and live life on her own terms. From racing to flying and van life, Jackery's portable power solutions support women as they break barriers and chase their dreams. Kim: Breaking Barriers on the Race Track Kim Irmgartz, a professional racer from Germany, is proving that women belong in motorsports. In a male-dominated industry, she's determined to compete at the highest level. Her passion for speed and adventure drives her to push limits on and off the track. Jackery's power solutions are essential in Kim's e-MTB racing setup, keeping her gear and devices charged for communication and safety during long travels. "Jackery is my trusted companion, making sure I'm always prepared," she shares. Samantha: Soaring Beyond Boundaries Samantha Porter, a young pilot from Vancouver, is defying expectations in aviation. In 2022, she flew solo across 22 countries in her single-engine plane. Once unsure if she belonged in the skies, she now inspires future female pilots while pursuing a Geography degree focused on Environment and Sustainability. Whether studying in her off-grid cabin, camping on a remote beach, or flying across continents, she relies on Jackery to stay powered. From keeping her cabin warm, to powering Starlink for internet connection, to charging her laptop for schoolwork, even in her plane, a Jackery power station is always within reach. Karo: Embracing the Wild with Family Born in Germany, Karo Tigges's love for travel led her to Austria, where she met her partner Kevin. Now, with their daughter Sophie and two dogs, they embrace a nomadic life in their VW bus, exploring nature together. Whether hiking in the mountains or waking up by a lake, Karo enjoys the balance of adventure and comfort. "For me, nothing beats a fresh coffee with perfect milk foam, no matter where I am," she shares. With Jackery's power station, she can enjoy her morning ritual and prepare warm meals wherever they roam. Celebrate Women and Adventure with Jackery At Jackery, we champion women who push boundaries and chase their dreamswhether soaring through the skies or exploring the outdoors. This spring, we're offering special deals to power more adventures and inspire new journeys. Media enquiries: Jiatong Li, jiatong@jackery.com, +4915223970329 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2634534/Jackery_International_Womens_Day_2025.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2618761/5200339/Jackery_Logo.jpg LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmlore in Bengaluru has been honoured as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious American Express One To Watch Award. Selected by the 50 Best team based on the votes of its Academy and specific editorial criteria, this award highlights dining establishments that showcase exceptional culinary talent, creativity and the potential to secure a spot in the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list over the coming years. Asia's 50 Best Restaurants announces Bengaluru-based restaurant Farmlore as the recipient of the American Express One To Watch Award 2025 Farmlore, an 18-seater dining experience on a 37-acre farm near Bengaluru, India, is the brainchild of chef Johnson Ebenezer and entrepreneur Kaushik Raju. The restaurant embodies a farm-to-table ethos, driven by seasonality, sustainability and local produce. Its name cleverly combines 'folklore' and 'locavore,' reflecting its dedication to celebrating regional ingredients and cultural narratives. William Drew, Director of Content for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "Amid the restaurants with a 'farm-to-table' philosophy, Farmlore stands apart with its immersive experience, nestled within an actual working farm. We congratulate chef Johnson and the teams behind the kitchens and farms at Farmlore, on this very well-earned accolade." The restaurant's menus, shaped by the freshest harvests from its farm, consistently highlight core themes, including a strong South Indian influence. Here they prioritise ethical, organic farming principles passed down through generations that also preserve soil health while creating nutrient-rich produce. The design harmonises with its natural surroundings, featuring earthy tones, open spaces and a minimalist aesthetic that fosters an intimate yet direct connection to nature. On winning, Chef Johnson says, "We are truly humbled to be recognised by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. This award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to doing things the right way while staying true to our values and prioritising ethics over expediency. It's also a testament to the younger generation of chefs who dare to stick to their strengths and roots." Farmlore will be further celebrated at the in-person awards ceremony held on 25 March 2025 in Seoul in collaboration with host destination partner, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The awards ceremony will be streamed live via the link here. The announcement of the list and individual awards can be followed via the 50 Best social media channels, with the livestream beginning at 20:00 Korea time. Media Centre: https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2634408/Asias_50_Best_Restaurants.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2618655/Asia_50_Best_2025_Logo.jpg One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, experts in HVAC maintenance and care, recommend regular system upkeep and professional cleaning to help alleviate allergy symptoms and improve indoor air quality. COLUMBIA, Md., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As allergy season ramps up, it's crucial to ensure the air inside your home is as clean and breathable as possible. In 2021, approximately 81 million people in the U.S. were diagnosed with seasonal allergic rhinitis, which is an allergy to pollens from trees, grasses or weeds, or to airborne mold spores. "Many people overlook HVAC maintenance's crucial role in managing allergy symptoms within the home," said Richie Drew, vice president of operations for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. "A well-maintained HVAC system not only ensures comfort but also can help reduce allergens like dust, pollen and pet dander that can trigger reactions." Upgrading to a high-efficiency system with the right filters can make a noticeable difference in your comfort and well-being this allergy season. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning recommends the following for better indoor air quality: Use Electrostatic Filters: Both disposable and permanent filters are an excellent choice for allergy sufferers or homes with smokers. These filters effectively eliminate airborne contaminants and, with proper maintenancevacuuming monthly and washing every three monthscan last up to 8 years. Both disposable and permanent filters are an excellent choice for allergy sufferers or homes with smokers. These filters effectively eliminate airborne contaminants and, with proper maintenancevacuuming monthly and washing every three monthscan last up to 8 years. Filter Selection: Consider the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. The higher the MERV rating the more efficient the filter will be at collecting small particles like dust, pollen and pet dander. Consider the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. The higher the MERV rating the more efficient the filter will be at collecting small particles like dust, pollen and pet dander. Invest in an Air Purifier: Supplement your HVAC system with an air purification unit. This additional system can work alongside your HVAC filter to remove particles before they reach the system, providing even cleaner air for your home. Supplement your HVAC system with an air purification unit. This additional system can work alongside your HVAC filter to remove particles before they reach the system, providing even cleaner air for your home. Regular Filter Maintenance: A clogged filter makes your HVAC system work harder, leading to inefficiency and higher energy bills. Changing filters regularlyideally every monthand vacuuming them when they fill quickly helps extend their life. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning offers professional services to ensure your HVAC system runs at peak efficiency. If you're considering an upgrade, their experts can guide you in selecting the best system for your needs, whether that's a higher efficiency HVAC unit, a new air purification system or other enhancements that improve your indoor air quality. With pollen and allergens circulating, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning also recommends the following tips that homeowners can do themselves when improving indoor air quality: Clean HVAC Registers and Vents: Dusty vents can circulate allergens throughout your home. Use a flexible duster or vacuum wand to clean them regularly, helping reduce airborne dust. Dusty vents can circulate allergens throughout your home. Use a flexible duster or vacuum wand to clean them regularly, helping reduce airborne dust. Dust Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans can spread dust, but reversing the fan direction can help circulate warm air more efficiently, which may allow you to lower your thermostat setting. Ceiling fans can spread dust, but reversing the fan direction can help circulate warm air more efficiently, which may allow you to lower your thermostat setting. Schedule Duct Cleaning: Deep cleaning your ducts with professional equipment can remove dust, mold, and allergens that may be hidden within your system, ensuring cleaner air throughout your home. Deep cleaning your ducts with professional equipment can remove dust, mold, and allergens that may be hidden within your system, ensuring cleaner air throughout your home. Switch to "On" Fan Mode : Running your fan continuously helps filter the air more effectively but be aware it may impact your utility bills and increase wear and tear on your HVAC system. For more information about how allergies can be prevented in your home, please visit https://www.onehourheatandair.com. About One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning With more than 400 locations, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is the #1 HVAC service provider in the United States. With comfort and convenience a top priority, the company offers an extensive line of products and services, including maintenance, installation and repair, that keeps HVAC units running at peak performance year-round. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is part of Authority Brands, the parent company to leading home service brands across the plumbing, HVAC, electrical services, residential cleaning, at-home care, swimming pool repair and maintenance, tree care, restoration, pet waste removal, and pest control services sectors. For more information, visit www.onehourheatandair.com and www.authoritybrands.com. About Authority Brands Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Authority Brands' companies include 15 leading home service franchise brands: America's Swimming Pool Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Lawn Squad, Mister Sparky, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, STOP Restoration, and Woofie's. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,000 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology, and operational support. See www.authoritybrands.com for more information. CONTACT: Emily Muller Fish Consulting [email protected] (954) 893-9150 SOURCE One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Department of Commerce Finds Disposable Aluminum Containers from China Are Unfairly Traded WASHINGTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Commerce announced yesterday its final determinations that imports of disposable aluminum containers, pans, trays, and lids from the People's Republic of China are being sold at less than fair value (or "dumped") in the United States and are also benefitting from unfair subsidies from the Government of China. The Commerce Department assigned various Chinese producers and exporters final antidumping margins ranging from 193.90 percent to 287.80 percent, as well as a final countervailing duty margin of 317.85 percent that applies to all Chinese producers and exporters of disposable aluminum containers. In addition, the Commerce Department reached final affirmative critical circumstances determinations in each investigation, paving the way for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties that entered the United States 90 days before the Commerce Department's preliminary determinations to combat a post-petition surge in unfairly traded imports from China. The Commerce Department's investigation was undertaken following the filing of petitions seeking relief on behalf of the Aluminum Foil Container Manufacturers Association (AFCMA) and certain of its individual members. In particular, the individual AFCMA members participating in and supporting the prosecution of the investigations are: Durable Packaging International (Wheeling, IL); D&W Fine Pack, LLC (Wood Dale, IL); Handi-foil Corp. (Wheeling, IL); Penny Plate, LLC (Mount Laurel, NJ); Reynolds Consumer Products, LLC (Lake Forest, IL); Shah Foil Products, Inc. (Piscataway Township, NJ); Smart USA, Inc. (Bay Shore, NY); and Trinidad/Benham Corp. (Denver, CO). "The Commerce Department's final determinations demonstrate a robust commitment to combatting unfair trade through strong enforcement of the U.S. trade laws," said John Herrmann, counsel to AFCMA. "These determinations bring domestic producers of disposable aluminum container one step closer to securing relief from a surge in low-priced, unfairly traded imports from China. U.S. manufacturers should not have to compete with products that are sold at unfairly low prices and subsidized by the Chinese government." The next step in the trade cases will be the United States International Trade Commission's (USITC) final phase proceedings to evaluate whether imports of disposable aluminum containers from China are a cause of material injury to, or threaten to materially injure, domestic producers of disposable aluminum containers. The USITC is currently scheduled to announce its final determination on April 11, 2025. The disposable aluminum containers subject to these investigations include containers, pans, trays, and lids produced primarily from flat-rolled aluminum. The subject merchandise includes disposable aluminum containers regardless of shape or size and whether or not wrinkled or smooth, and subject containers are typically used in food-related applications, including but not limited to food preparation, packaging, baking, barbequing, reheating, takeout, or storage, but also have other uses. The Aluminum Foil Container Manufacturers Association is represented in these actions by John M. Herrmann, Paul C. Rosenthal, Joshua R. Morey, and Melissa M. Brewer of the law firm Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. SOURCE Aluminum Foil Container Manufacturers Association Cortland survey shows paradigm shift for many U.S. renters ATLANTA, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half (43%) of American renters say renting has enhanced their quality of life compared with owning a home. Among these respondents, affordability (59%), location convenience (51%), and maintenance/support (49%) were the top contributors to quality of life, according to a new survey by Co rtland that shares insights from 1,000 adult renters in the U.S. The data indicates a substantial divergence from traditional views of the American Dream, with only 32% of renters seeing homeownership as part of their ideal life trajectory. For those opting out of buying a home, avoiding maintenance and debt are the primary motivators, cited by 45% and 40% of respondents, respectively. "The landscape of American living is evolving, and apartment living is no longer just a temporary phase," Cortland President of Operations Juan Bueno said. "For many, it's a deliberate choice due to the flexibility, and amenities renting offers, in addition to enhanced experience, community and freedom from the burdens often associated with traditional homeownership." Generational trends also shed light on shifting perceptions: While nearly half (41%) of Gen Z and millennial renters are unsure or doubtful about the feasibility of homeownership, a strong majority 84% of Gen Z and 81% of millennials report being at least somewhat satisfied with renting as a viable alternative. Among older generations, 71% of renters Gen X and older said they are at least somewhat satisfied with their current renting situation as an alternative to homeownership. Additional survey insights include: Top perceived barriers to homeownership are high housing costs (58%), rising living expenses (52%), and lack of savings (46%). Those who intend to be lifelong renters report they have higher expectations for rental properties (53%), and renters overall generally believe renting can meet their needs and preferences in a similar way to homeownership (49%). A third of renters who feel renting has enhanced quality of life attribute the improvement to a sense of community (34%). While a suburban setting is the most overall desired location (42%) among renters if they knew they would be renting permanently, a majority (38%) of respondents in the Northeast would prefer urban/city renting. Respondents who indicated they had previously owned at least one property were more likely than those who had never owned to indicate renting has increased their quality of life (52% vs. 38%). "This evolution in housing preferences marks a critical moment for the multifamily industry, as it adapts to meet the needs of a diverse renter population seeking adaptable living options, ease of access and a sense of belonging from their living arrangements," Cortland Chief Experience Officer Mike Gomes said. " As attitudes shift, Cortland continues to leverage data-driven insights to tailor our offerings and improve our service delivery, aiming to go above and beyond expectations to enrich the lives of Americans who choose renting as their housing solution." Cortland is redefining apartment living with its resident-centric, hospitality-driven approach, perfectly aligning with the desires of modern and long-term renters. Through meticulous management of everything from acquisitions to new developments, design, amenities, unit configurations, and onsite offerings, Cortland's comprehensive, vertically integrated business model ensures that the needs and preferences of both residents and prospective tenants are always prioritized. This thoughtful approach positions Cortland at the forefront of the industry, creating living spaces where comfort meets convenience. About Cortland: Cortland is a vertically integrated, multifamily real estate investment, development, and management company focused on delivering resident-centric, hospitality-driven apartment living experiences. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cortland manages and is invested in, directly or indirectly, over 250 apartment communities comprised of nearly 80,000 homes in the US with regional offices in Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Orlando, and Phoenix. Cortland has significant experience in acquiring, developing, renovating, owning, and operating multifamily communities, leveraging the services of its construction, design, and property, asset, and investment management affiliates. Internationally, Cortland maintains a management and development platform in the UK. Cortland is the Top Property Management Brand for online reputation in 2023 (Reputation Score by reputation.com (Cortland pays a recurring fee to utilize Reputation.com's platform in connection with the management of Cortland's brand reputation across all its communities. To be included in Reputation.com's annual Property Management report, companies are required to pay a nominal fee for each community to be reviewed, analyzed, and scored. Cortland is not affiliated with Reputation.com.) and is a Great Place to Work-Certified Company (2024) (Based on scores calculated during 7/2023 7/2024. Cortland is not affiliated with Great Places to Work and did not directly or indirectly provide compensation in connection with obtaining or using the rating.). For more information, please visit cortland.com . About the Survey Allison Performance + Intelligence surveyed 1,000 individuals ages 18 and older in the U.S. who currently rent an apartment. The survey was fielded using Forsta and panel was sourced from RepData. Fielding took place in September 2024. SOURCE Cortland LINCOLN, Neb., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameritas Investment Company, LLC (AIC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The milestone is marked by the company's longtime commitment to being an independent advisory and brokerage firm supporting holistic wealth management professionals and their clients. Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, AIC and affiliate Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC (AAS) deliver flexibility and choice for financial professionals through an array of wealth management platforms, investment products and support services aimed at helping clients reach their financial goals. AIC celebrates 40 years Post this Jeremy Robson, president, Ameritas Investment Company, LLC and Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC "AIC is a great place to be, in part, to our culture. Our growth throughout the years has allowed us to continue to strengthen our presence in the industry and offer more to our affiliated financial professionals. Being a part of a firm that has established themselves and strives to be a company with whom it is easy to do business is something we are proud of. I am excited about the future of AIC and continuing to enhance how we support our financial professionals," said Jeremy Robson, AIC and AAS president. AIC opened its doors as a broker/dealer under the name BLN Investment Corp. upon registration with the NASD (now FINRA) in 1984. Since that time, many changes have occurred to make this company what it is today, including its first name change in 1987 and its second in 2020. In 2021, AAS was formed as a separate investment adviser focusing on fee-based advisory business. "As we celebrate this 40-year milestone, I'm reminded of the dedication of our associates and I'm grateful for the trust that financial professionals have in us. The journey is a testament to the ability to continuously evolve to meet changing needs," said Bob Jurgensmeier, Ameritas CEO. About Ameritas Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp, Ameritas Investment Company, LLC, Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas and its subsidiaries offer a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; retirement plans; investments; asset management; and public finance. Securities offered through Ameritas Investment Company, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, and investment advisory services offered through Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC. Visit ameritas.com to learn more. Contact: Derek Rayment, Sr. Media Relations Specialist Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Phone: 402-467-7850 [email protected] SOURCE Ameritas FREDERICK, Md., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) is proud to announce the appointment of Andres Mendoza as the new Vice Chairman of the FITCI Board of Directors. Andres brings a wealth of experience and an entrepreneurial spirit to this leadership role, further strengthening FITCI's mission to drive innovation and support the growth of startups in Frederick and beyond. Andres Mendoza is a Frederick entrepreneur with a background in innovation, strategic development, and community engagement. Andres has held various roles that emphasize collaboration that will support FITCI's long-term vision of empowering entrepreneurs in Frederick. His experience aligns with FITCI's goals of nurturing cutting-edge ventures in technology, life sciences, and manufacturing. "Andres's commitment to entrepreneurial success and his innovative mindset make him an invaluable asset to our leadership team," said Kathie Callahan Brady, President and CEO of FITCI. "As Vice Chairman, Andres will play a pivotal role in shaping FITCI's future as we expand our reach, including the upcoming opening of Maryland's CORE, our second location where entrepreneurs will forge their future, with specialized resources in commercialization and manufacturing to scale ideas into sustainable enterprises." Andres Mendoza's experience and passion for technology will help emphasize the "T" in FITCI. His ability to foster meaningful partnerships will be instrumental in ensuring that FITCI continues to be a catalyst for growth and innovation in the region. His appointment as Vice Chairman of the Board is effective immediately. For more information about FITCI, its programs, and upcoming initiatives, please visit www.fitci.org. About FITCI: Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) is a premier business incubator in Frederick, Maryland, dedicated to accelerating the growth and success of science and technology-based startups. FITCI offers a collaborative environment, access to a network of industry leaders, and comprehensive support services to help entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into thriving businesses. SOURCE FITCI Industry Veteran Will Lead Operations and Staff Development NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gresham Smith, a top-ranked national architecture, engineering and consulting firm with more than $354 million in annual gross revenue, is proud to announce that Andrew Jarrett has joined the firm as the market vice president (MVP) of the Water + Environment market, which encompasses nearly 100 professionals across six states. As MVP, Jarrett will lead the market's day-to-day operations and provide professional growth and development opportunities for staff. Andrew Jarrett, Water + Environment Market Vice President, Gresham Smith "We're excited to announce Andrew as our Water + Environment market's MVP," said COO Peter Oram. "His deep industry experience, combined with his proven leadership skills, make him a tremendous addition. I look forward to the ways he will further develop our Water + Environment team's collaborative, client-centric culture and help us hone and develop our roster of talent." "Great outcomes begin and end with people," said Jarrett. "Gresham Smith has the kind of proven people-centric culture that attracts top talent and is prized by clients in a relationship-driven industry where trust is the most important currency. I'm immensely proud to join this talented team and excited for our future as we continue to grow." Jarrett brings more than 17 years of experience, including extensive operational and project delivery expertise, all complemented by his people-first philosophy focused on building a culture of trust, support and development. He joins Gresham Smith from Jacobs, where while serving as lead manager of projects for Georgia operations, he demonstrated success driving growth through delivery excellence and client satisfaction. In his role, Jarrett supervised project managers and their teams, serving most of the major Metro Atlanta water utilities, GDOT and other transportation authorities. Prior engagements as a project manager and consultant include serving clients across the Southeastfrom Louisville to Jacksonville and from Richmond to Memphis. Jarrett completed his undergraduate studies at Auburn University and earned his MBA at the Georgia Institute of Technology. About Gresham Smith: Gresham Smith is a top-ranked architecture, engineering, design and consulting firm with $354 million in annual gross revenue and 26 offices across the United States. We provide full-service solutions for the built environment with a focus on the aviation, building engineering, healthcare, industrial, land planning, life and work places, transportation, and water and environment market sectors. Throughout all of our work, we are united in our Core Purpose: to plan, design and consult to create healthy and thriving communities. Consistently ranked as a "best place to work," we are committed to creating a culture that fosters diversity of experience combined with a common goal of genuine care for each other, our partners and the outcome of our work. Learn more at GreshamSmith.com. SOURCE Gresham Smith DUBLIN, Ohio, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Atreon Orthopedics, LLC, a Columbus based innovator in tissue healing and regenerative technologies, has received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the use of ROTIUM Bioresorbable Wick to all tendon repairsbuilding on its proven success in rotator cuff procedures. ROTIUM - Tendon Repair ROTIUM is a fully resorbable, synthetic-nanofiber scaffold designed to optimize the healing environment, promote tissue remodeling, and improve long-term outcomes. Driven by surgeon demand and clinical success in over 12,000 rotator cuff cases, ROTIUM is now being adopted for a wider range of high-volume tendon repair procedures, including Achilles, triceps, patellar, quadricep, gluteus medius and various applications for the foot and ankle. "ROTIUM has already proven its value in rotator cuff repair, and this expanded clearance enables us to extend its benefits to an even broader range of procedures," said Ronald Bracken, CEO of Atreon Orthopedics. "Surgeons have been seeking a versatile solution for other tendon repairs, and we're proud to meet that demand. This milestone represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide cutting-edge solutions that enhance healing and improve surgical outcomes across multiple orthopedic specialties." Jovan R. Laskovski, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center added, "I've used ROTIUM for several years not only for rotator cuff tears but also for abductor and hamstring repairs. It's efficient, adds virtually no extra surgical time, and has significantly reduced my retear rates." ROTIUM: Advancing Tendon Remodeling Beyond the Competition Optimized Handling Designed for surgical utility, it withstands moisture and suturing without dissolving, fraying, or tearing. Designed for surgical utility, it withstands moisture and suturing without dissolving, fraying, or tearing. Enhanced Cellular Proliferation Wicks biology at the repair site to jumpstart remodeling, outperforming market leading collagen patch products 1 . Wicks biology at the repair site to jumpstart remodeling, outperforming market leading collagen patch products . Smart Economics A cost-effective, scalable bioaugmentation solution for various tendon repairs. "Successful tissue regeneration hinges on enhancing cellular communication and guiding natural healing," said Dr. Jed Johnson, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Nanofiber Solutions, Atreon's development and manufacturing partner. "Our Electrospun scaffolds, used in vascular grafts, wound healing, and cartilage repair, bring the same innovation to tendon healingmodulating inflammation, promoting revascularization, and reducing scar formation for stronger, more resilient tendon repairs." Atreon remains at the forefront of advanced regenerative healing solutions, providing surgeons with innovative tools to enhance tendon repair and improve patient outcomes. Discover more about Atreon at ROTIUM EI-Tendon Healing 1. Data on File About Atreon Orthopedics: Atreon Orthopedics, LLC, is a leading start-up in the field of tissue regeneration, focused on developing cutting-edge biologic solutions for orthopedic applications. By combining advanced materials science with deep biologic expertise, Atreon is pioneering a new era of orthopedic care to improve healing and help patients return to active lifestyles faster and with more reliable long-term results. For more information, please visit www.atreonortho.com and follow us on LinkedIn SOURCE Atreon Orthopedics Photo: https://t.me/dsns_telegram/38627 Ukrainian firefighters have made progress in extinguishing the fire on the roof of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl site caused by a drone strike on 14 February, according to a Wednesday press release from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "At the Chornobyl site, firefighters have made progress in extinguishing the fire on the roof of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) The IAEA team at the site was informed that no smouldering fires had been detected over the past two days. The site continues to use thermal imaging and surveillance drones to monitor the structure," the IAEA said. The Chornobyl site has continued to perform frequent radiation monitoring. The IAEA team has also undertaken its own independent monitoring. To date, all monitoring results have shown that there has not been any increase in the normal range of radiation levels measured at the site nor any abnormal readings detected. The IAEA team at the Chornobyl site also reported multiple air raid alarms during the past week. The IAEA teams at Ukraine's operating NPPs Khmelnytsky, Rivne and Pivdennoukrainska have continued to monitor the nuclear safety and security situation at these sites. The teams report hearing air raid alarms on most days, with the team at the Khmelnytsky NPP having to shelter at the site on Monday. One reactor unit at the same plant last weekend began a planned outage for refuelling and maintenance, the IAEA said. According to the report, last week, a team of IAEA experts conducted another round of visits to seven electrical substations identified as critical for nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. As during the previous visits last year, the team observed the current status of the substations and collected relevant information to assess any potential impacts of attacks in recent months to the safe operation of Ukraine's nuclear facilities and to identify any further technical assistance that could be provided by the IAEA. BOSTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bamboo Rose today announced plans for Wakefern Food Corp. to adopt its TotalPLM product development and supply chain platform. This new collaboration represents an expansion of Bamboo Rose's work with the supermarket cooperative and is designed to enhance the development of Wakefern's popular Own Brand offerings across its 365+ stores. Bamboo Rose TotalPLM to Enhance Wakeferns Own Brand Development By utilizing Bamboo Rose TotalPLM for product development, sourcing, and supplier relationship management, Wakefern aims to drive top-line revenue growth, expand its Own Brand penetration, and maximize product launch success while reducing costs. "At Wakefern, we are committed to delivering the best products to our customers," said Pam Ofri, Director of Own Brands at Wakefern Food Corp. "Working with Bamboo Rose enables us to streamline product development, improve supplier collaboration, and speed up time to market for our value-driven, award-winning line of store brands that includes Bowl & Basket, Wholesome Pantry, and Paperbird. We're excited to see the positive impact this new technology will have on our customers, brands, and business." Bamboo Rose's TotalPLM platform improves operational efficiency, enhances innovation, and accelerates product development. The platform provides improved visibility, better cross-team collaboration, and more efficient supplier management, ensuring timely, compliant product delivery for Own Brands. Through this collaboration, Wakefern expects to optimize product development and sourcing for its value-driven Own Brands, improving both time to market and enhancing overall Own Brands strategy. 'Wakefern is widely recognized for its focus on quality and a relentless drive to meet the needs of its retail and wholesale customers," said Matt Stevens, CEO of Bamboo Rose. "We're deeply humbled to be chosen to simplify complex product development, accelerate innovation, and support strong business results." About Wakefern Food Corp. From a small, local cooperative that began with eight grocery store owners, Wakefern Food Corp. has grown into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States. Founded in 1946, the cooperative comprises nearly 45 members who today independently own and operate 365 supermarkets under the ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Price Rite Marketplace, Fairway Market, Gourmet Garage, Dearborn Market and Di Bruno Bros. banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. For more information, please visit www.wakefern.com . About Bamboo Rose Bamboo Rose is a global leader in enterprise retail technology solutions. TotalPLM is the most comprehensive and innovative Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform, seamlessly integrating Planning and Merchandising, Creative Collaboration, Product Development, Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management, Purchase Order Management, and Global Trade Management - empowered by AI-driven Decision Intelligence. Serving 30% of the world's top grocers, Bamboo Rose helps food retailers and brands centralize data, enhance collaboration, and drive business success. The company recently announced its acquisitions of Verteego and Foresight Retail , and an enterprise sourcing project with Walmart . Visit bamboorose.com or find us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/bamboorose/ to learn more. SOURCE Bamboo Rose In its first regulated utility partnership, Base Power teams with Bandera Electric Cooperative to deploy advanced home battery technology that supports the grid AUSTIN, Texas, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Base Power , a fast-growing distributed energy company, has partnered with Bandera Electric Cooperative (Bandera Electric, BEC, or the cooperative), a member-owned Texas cooperative, to support BEC's innovative home battery program. Through this partnership, BEC will provide homeowners with affordable whole-home battery backup systems from Base, equipping the cooperative with a network of distributed energy storage systems that it can operate in real-time. This allows Bandera Electric to optimize grid performance, enhance resiliency, and deliver meaningful economic benefits to its members. Base will be a technology provider for BEC's Battery Storage Subscription Program which offers members batteries with no upfront cost for a low monthly fee. In turn, BEC gains access to localized energy storage through Base's batteries, enabling it to aggregate and operate the batteries to enhance grid and market operations through Apolloware, its real time, energy management platform. "This partnership with BEC is a major milestonenot just for Base, but for co-ops and municipal utilities across Texas," said Zach Dell, CEO of Base Power. "BEC has long been a leader in distributed energy, and by teaming up with Base, they're proving that utilities don't have to wait years for storage capacity. We're deploying at a speed never seen before in Texas, helping bring affordable, reliable energy to more communities." BEC, a trailblazer in distributed energy, is reimagining grid operations in Texas while setting a model for the broader energy community. Its collaboration with Base Power marks another significant step toward a future-ready, resilient system for its members. "We are always looking for innovative ways to provide our members with greater energy resilience and cost savings," said Bill Hetherington, CEO of Bandera Electric Cooperative. "This partnership brings cutting-edge battery storage solutions to our community without the burden of upfront costsa game-changer for members who want reliable backup power with or without solar, while also strengthening the grid for everyone." This partnership follows Base's Houston expansion and its collaboration with Lennar, one of the nation's largest homebuilders, highlighting the company's continued growth as the leading battery-powered energy provider. The program is already available to BEC members. Solar is not required, but Base's system can integrate with existing solar. Interested Bandera Electric Cooperative members can learn more and sign up for the program on BEC's website . Utilities looking to add reliable storage capacity at speed and offer affordable resiliency to homeowners can learn more about Base Power here . About Base Power Established in 2023 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Base Power is a leading distributed energy storage technology company that delivers resiliency to homeowners and reliable distributed storage to utilities. With a team of experienced engineers and operators from renowned companies, Base has secured funding from prominent investors including Thrive Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Altimeter Capital, Trust Ventures, Terrain, and others. As a licensed electricity provider in Texas, Base operates its fleet of distributed storage devices similar to a utility-scale battery - enhancing grid stability during normal operations and providing backup power to customers in the event of grid failure. Customers benefit from reliable backup power and competitive energy rates, all without the high upfront costs associated with traditional home batteries or generators. Visit basepowercompany.com to learn more. About Bandera Electric Established in 1938, Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) is a member-owned cooperative dedicated to providing exceptional service and innovative solutions to its members. Serving over 29,000 members and delivering electric service to 40,000 meters, BEC operates within a seven-county territory in the picturesque Texas Hill Country. With a steadfast commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its members, BEC has pioneered a range of advanced programs. Since 2017, BEC has expanded its services to include fiber-optic broadband internet, ensuring high-speed connectivity for its rural communities. Additionally, BEC offers comprehensive behind-the-meter energy solutions, including Apolloware, an advanced, real-time energy management platform, solar power installations, and energy storage systems. For more information, visit BanderaElectric.com or call 866.226.3372. SOURCE Base Power Company BEIJING, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual "Two Sessions," a highly anticipated event on China's political calendar, began on March 4. Every March, the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, convene for their annual sessions in Beijing, commonly referred to as the Two Sessions. This is the most important annual event in China's political landscape and a dynamic demonstration of the country's whole-process people's democracy. Footwear need not be identical, as long as it fits; governance need not be the same, as long as it benefits the people A key agenda item at the Two Sessions is the review and discussion of the government work report. The drafting of this report includes soliciting public opinions from all sectors of society, ensuring a broad range of voices is considered. During the Two Sessions, NPC deputies and CPPCC members deliberate on the report, discussing their feedback and suggestions. The report is then revised accordingly before being put to a vote at the NPC plenary meeting for final approval. "Footwear need not be identical, as long as it fits; governance need not be the same, as long as it benefits the people," President Xi Jinping quoted this phrase during a conference commemorating the 65th anniversary of the CPPCC on September 21, 2014. This insightful perspective comes from Mogu, a philosophical work by Wei Yuan, a prominent Chinese thinker during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The analogy here is clear: Just as people's shoe sizes differ but must fit their feet, the governance of each country can vary as long as it serves the interests of its citizens. All 56 ethnic groups in China are represented by their own deputies in the NPC and members in the National Committee of the CPPCC, collaborating across regions and industries. Through motions and proposals, they articulate the public's concerns and contribute suggestions for the country's progress. Many national policies, such as fostering new-quality productive forces, emphasizing the transition to innovation-driven growth, technological advancement, and high-quality development across various economic sectors, promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, a strategy to enhance economic prosperity and overall development in rural areas, and improving the business environment for private enterprises, have integrated the insights and recommendations of NPC deputies and CPPCC members. The system of people's congresses fosters a connection between the populace, their representatives and different levels of state organs. The CPPCC, as the most inclusive patriotic united front organization, harnesses the collective wisdom and strength of all Chinese citizens. Whole-process people's democracy ensures that the voices of the people are heard and that their aspirations are reflected in all aspects of China's political and social life. This system not only echoes the will of the Chinese people but also protects their rights, sparks creativity across the nation, and unifies efforts to advance Chinese modernization. China has achieved remarkable successes through this governance system, including maintaining rapid economic growth, eradicating absolute poverty, and ensuring long-term social stability. There is no one-size-fits-all model for democracy. What matters most is that it aligns with the national context and represents the interests of the overwhelming majority. China's approach to democracy is practical and successful, and the Chinese people will continue to confidently pursue their unique path forward. Comments to [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cachinachic/video/7477837035529620767?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7227134149436605995 X: https://x.com/BeijingReview/status/1896809598633554129 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BJReview/videos/912218670845449 Weibo: http://t.cn/A61dRQ0o Website: http://www.bjreview.com/Multimedia/Video/Wisdom_Without_Borders/202503/t20250304_800393900.html SOURCE Beijing Review TORONTO and CHICAGO, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - BMO (TSX: BMO) (NYSE: BMO) today announced that it has filed its 2025 Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Management Proxy Circular with applicable securities regulators. BMO will release its 2024 Sustainability and Climate Reporting, including its Public Accountability Statements on Wednesday, March 12. Proxy Circular BMO's Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. EDT. The Management Proxy Circular contains key information for shareholders on the meeting, including how to participate and a description of the items on which shareholders may vote. The circular and annual report can be found online: on the BMO Annual Meeting website at www.bmo.com/annualmeeting; on the website of BMO's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada at www.envisionreports.com/BMO2025; on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com; and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Shareholders can request paper copies free of charge as described in the circular and the notice of availability of meeting materials. BMO encourages shareholders to vote by proxy as early as possible to ensure their shares are represented at the meeting. Shareholders can join the meeting and ask questions through a live webcast or in person or listen by teleconference. Shareholders can access the webcast platform, related instructions and dial-in information (listen only) on the Annual Meeting website. Please check the website regularly for any updates. 2024 Sustainability and Climate Reporting BMO's sustainability and climate reporting will provide disclosure on sustainability topics as required by regulatory and emerging sustainability and climate disclosure frameworks, including those of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions' Guideline B-15 on climate risk management and applicable Sustainability Accounting Standards Board standards. The aim of this reporting is to provide stakeholders with direct, concise and decision-useful information. The report will also include the Public Accountability Statements for Bank of Montreal and its applicable subsidiaries: Bank of Montreal Mortgage Corporation, BMO Life Assurance Company and BMO Life Insurance Company. BMO's Sustainability and Climate Reporting will be available on Wednesday, March 12 at our-impact.bmo.com/reports . About BMO Financial Group BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of January 31, 2025. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to 13 million customers across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and inclusive society. SOURCE BMO Financial Group BOSTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- itselectric , a Brooklyn-born electric vehicle (EV) curbside charging company, has cut the ribbon with the City of Boston on the country's first behind-the-meter public curbside charger in Roslindale. As buildings and transportation make up nearly all of Boston's carbon emissions, Boston's commitment to ensuring every household is within a five-minute walk of a public EV charging station is part of its wider Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become completely carbon neutral by 2050. We are excited for this public-private partnership that will make EV charging more accessible for our residents who do not have a driveway to put a charger," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "Our citys climate commitment is supported by making it easier for our residents to make choices that are better for our environment. We are eager to bring more itselectric chargers to our curbs in the coming years. "I am proud to see Boston take this important step toward a sustainable and equitable future. Expanding access to electric vehicle charging, especially for those without private driveways, is key to reducing our carbon footprint and advancing our climate goals. This public-private partnership with itselectric demonstrates the forward-thinking, community-centered approach that will help us achieve a carbon-neutral Boston by 2050 and provide more ecological opportunities to residents. Roslindale is just the start, and I look forward to seeing more neighborhoods like Mattapan and Hyde Park welcome public residential charging stations," said Boston City Councilor Enrique J. Pepen. Boston is leading the way among American cities by being the first to install building-powered curbside EV chargers with a detachable cable. itselectric's solution will not only help Boston meet their carbon reduction targets but eliminates their capital expenditures by completely avoiding the utility infrastructure connections and upgrades normally needed to support public charging. This new era of EV charging, with hundreds more chargers planned across the year, is poised to transform how drivers who park on the street can overcome the barrier of at-home charging. "For too long, EV ownership has been limited to people who have a private driveway or garage. This is a crucial equity issue for the 70 million drivers across the United States who park on the street, and who need access to convenient and affordable public charging to make the switch to EVs. Forward-thinking cities like Boston are leading the way to deploy curbside charging for their residents, and we're thrilled to be partnering with them on this exciting initiative," said itselectric's Director of Public Affairs, Shannon Dulaney. Boston's climate-forward thinking about infrastructure has led the city to establish a public-private partnership with itselectric and its innovative, low footprint Level 2 chargers. itselectric's chargers will help the City demonstrate a successful, scalable model of deploying EV charging stations in the public right-of-way. These chargers are readymade for cities thanks to two key design foundations: detachable cables and a behind the meter connection. Detachable cables, which are already widely adopted across the EU and the UK, are provided by itselectric to each driver so no cables are in the public right of way (sidewalks) when a car is not charging, making the chargers perfectly designed for Boston's historic streets. The behind the meter connection gives property owners an opportunity to earn revenue by receiving a percentage of the fees paid for charging by drivers but also bypasses the utility, adding no additional stress to the electrical grid and allowing for a much faster installation. Residential and commercial property owners in Boston have a unique opportunity to become property partners by rethinking their curbs and applying immediately for a curbside charger at no cost to themselves or the city. itselectric manages the installation and maintains the chargers creating a community centered approach that provides properties throughout Boston with: added revenue, tenant retention, boosted property values, and charging at their door. "There always has to be a first - and I am excited to show property owners in every neighborhood across Boston that they can simply raise their hand, and have a free EV charger installed right in front of their house," said Roslindale property owner Juan Cantu. Roslindale welcomes the first charger, with more across dozens of Boston neighborhoods planned for the year. With a behind the meter connection, itselectric can install in just two days, making rapid expansion infinitely possible. Soon more buildings in Boston can soon call themselves home to the next era of EV chargers. About itselectric Millions of drivers lack home or private garages and cannot transition to electric vehicles due to the lack of on-street charging. itselectric accelerates the adoption of EVs with its scalable and simple curbside charging solution ensuring that every community has access to clean, sustainable transportation options. Building owners and drivers who would like to see a charger on their block (in Boston and beyond) can express interest by joining itselectric's waitlist itselectric.us/join To learn more about itselectric, please visit https://www.itselectric.us . SOURCE itselectric First-of-its-kind event will shape the future of ethical AI development, March 24-26, in Chicago CHICAGO, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries and society, women remain significantly underrepresented in AI leadership, holding fewer than 20 percent of decision-making roles. This Women's History Month, AnitaB.org, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting, inspiring, and guiding women in technology, will address the urgent need for gender-inclusive AI governance and the protection of women in the digital age with its first-ever Tech Collaborative, "Responsible AI Forum," taking place March 24-26, 2025, at Chicago's McCormick Place. Responsible AI Forum, an AnitaB.org Tech Collaborative, March 24-26, 2025, Chicago AnitaB.org President and CEO Brenda Darden Wilkerson The Responsible AI Forum will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to drive meaningful change across multiple areas, including: Underrepresentation in AI Leadership Without diverse voices, the development of inclusive and ethical AI solutions remains at risk. The Forum will spotlight initiatives to ensure diverse perspectives shape policies that impact society and the workforce. Protection from AI-Enabled Harassment and Deepfakes The rise of deepfake technology and AI-generated misinformation disproportionately targets women, particularly those in public-facing roles. With recent cases of AI-generated explicit content being weaponized against women, the Forum will discuss legal frameworks and technological safeguards to combat digital abuse and protect women's online presence. AI and the Future of Women's Work AI-driven automation is rapidly transforming industries, disproportionately affecting jobs traditionally held by women. The Forum will explore pathways to ensure AI empowers women economically rather than exacerbating job displacement. "With AI policies evolving at an unprecedented pacefrom the EU AI Act to emerging U.S. regulationswomen must play a central role in shaping the future of AI," said AnitaB.org President and CEO Brenda Darden Wilkerson. "We invite women tech leaders across all levels and disciplines as well as our advocates and allies to join us in driving meaningful change and making history together in Chicago this Women's History Month." Newly Announced Speakers and Sessions The Responsible AI Forum will feature an esteemed lineup of speakers who are at the forefront of AI ethics, policy, and workforce transformation. Moderated by Betsy Tong, Chief Instigator at FocusOS, the event will include distinguished leaders including Wilkerson and Bo Young Lee, President of AnitaB.org Research & Advisory, who will each deliver keynote addresses. Featured and breakout speakers will include Anamika Barman-Adhikari, Associate Professor at the University of Denver, and Noelle Russell, CEO of the AI Leadership Institute, both of whom bring deep expertise in AI's societal impact. Michelle Hoffmann, PhD, Executive Director of the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, and Shijuade Kadree, Senior Director of Culture and Workforce Strategies at Micron Technology, will explore AI's intersection with workforce development and diversity. Additionally, Erica Simmons, an AI & Digital Transformation Leader and UNESCO Consultant, will address the ethical dimensions of AI, while Nina Idemudia, CEO of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, will discuss AI's role in community-driven innovation. These speakers will lead critical discussions on AI governance, the risks of deepfake technology, and how AI can be harnessed to empower women in the workforce. The Responsible AI Forum is open to all tech professionals, policymakers, and advocates committed to fostering a more inclusive AI ecosystem. For more information and to register, visit techcollabs.anitab.org. Media Contact: Claire Kunzman 407-227-8867 [email protected] SOURCE AnitaB.org No Shareholder Action Required at this Time NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD) ("Brookdale" or the "Company") today confirmed that it has received notice from Pangaea Ventures, L.P., a fund managed by Ortelius Advisors, L.P. ("Ortelius") that it has nominated six individuals to stand for election to the Brookdale Board of Directors at the Company's 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Company had not spoken with Ortelius for approximately two years prior to receiving notice of its director nominations. The Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review the proposed nominees in accordance with the Company's process and guidelines. The Board will make its formal recommendation regarding director nominations in the Company's proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mailed to shareholders eligible to vote at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which has not yet been scheduled. ABOUT BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING Brookdale Senior Living Inc. is the nation's premier operator of senior living communities. With 647 communities across 41 states and the ability to serve approximately 58,000 residents as of December 31, 2024, Brookdale is committed to its mission of enriching the lives of seniors through compassionate care, clinical expertise, and exceptional service. The Company, through its affiliates, operates independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities, offering tailored solutions that help empower seniors to live with dignity, connection, and purpose. Leveraging deep expertise in healthcare, hospitality, and real estate, Brookdale creates opportunities for wellness, personal growth, and meaningful relationships in settings that feel like home. Guided by its four cornerstones of passion, courage, partnership, and trust, Brookdale is committed to delivering exceptional value and redefining senior living for a brighter, healthier future. Brookdale's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BKD. SAFE HARBOR Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and those regarding the Company's intent, belief, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "potential," "intend," "expect," "endeavor," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "project," "predict," "continue," "plan," "target," or other similar words or expressions, and include statements regarding the Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee review of the proposed nominees. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations, and the Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although the Company believes that expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its assumptions or expectations will be attained and actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected. Factors which could affect the Company's forward looking statements include the risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including those set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in such SEC filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's views as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any statement is based. IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (the "Company") plans to file proxy materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company's 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the "2025 Annual Meeting"). Prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, the Company will file a definitive proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") together with a BLUE proxy card. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and any other documents (including the BLUE proxy card) when filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) or at the Company's website at https://brookdaleinvestors.com or by contacting Chad White, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, by phone at (615) 221-2250, by email at [email protected] or by mail at Brookdale Senior Living Inc., 105 Westwood Place, Suite 400, Brentwood, TN 37027. CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING PARTICIPANTS The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be "participants" (as defined in Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting. Additional information regarding the identity of these participants and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting. Information relating to the foregoing can also be found in the Company's definitive proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2024 . To the extent holdings of such participants in the Company's securities have changed since the amounts described in the 2024 proxy statement, such changes have been reflected in the following Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 and Statements of Change in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC with respect to the Company: Form 3, filed by Claudia Drayton on June 27, 2024 ; Form 3, filed by Elizabeth Mace on June 27, 2024 ; Form 3, filed by Ray Leisure on August 14, 2024 ; Form 4, filed by Marcus Bromley on May 17, 2024 ; Form 4, filed by Jordan Asher on May 23, 2024 ; Form 4, filed by Claudia Drayton on August 7, 2024 and February 14, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Elizabeth Mace on August 7, 2024 and February 14, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Benjamin Ricci on August 21, 2024 , February 14, 2025 and March 3, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Jordan Asher on August 30, 2024 and February 14, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Ray Leisure on October 29, 2024 , February 14, 2025 and March 3, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Lee Wielansky on December 6, 2024 and February 14, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Frank Bumstead on February 14, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Vicki Freed on February 14, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Denise Wilder Warren on February 14, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Lucinda Baier on February 14, 2025 and March 3, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Todd Kaestner on February 14, 2025 and March 3, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Chad White on February 14, 2025 and March 3, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by George Hicks on February 14, 2025 and March 3, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Jaclyn Pritchett on February 14, 2025 and March 3, 2025 ; Form 4, filed by Dawn Kussow on February 14, 2025 and March 3, 2025 . These filings can be found at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. More detailed and updated information regarding the identity of participants in the solicitation, and their direct or indirect interests (by security holdings or otherwise), will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living Inc. CARSON, Calif., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute (CABWCEI) has released a powerful new report, Invisible Labor, Visible Struggles: The Intersections of Race, Gender, and Workplace Equity for Black Women in California. Co-authored by Dr. Sharon Uche and Kellie Todd Griffin, this research provides an in-depth analysis of the systemic barriers Black women face in the workplace, highlighting urgent calls for reform. The study, conducted in partnership with EVITARUS, surveyed 452 employed Black women across California, revealing significant challenges, including workplace discrimination, wage disparities, microaggressions, lack of access to leadership roles, and the psychological toll of navigating inequitable work environments. Kellie Todd Griffin, President and CEO of the California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute underscored the importance of this report, stating: "For decades, Black women have been the backbone of industries, communities, and movementsyet we continue to be undervalued, underpaid, and overlooked in the workplace. The data is clear: systemic racism and sexism are not just historical injustices; they are active forces shaping the workplace experiences of Black women today. This report is a call to actionone that demands intentional policies, corporate accountability, and systemic change." Key Findings: Widespread Discrimination: 60% of Black women reported experiencing workplace racism or discrimination in the past year, impacting their career advancement and overall job satisfaction. 60% of Black women reported experiencing workplace racism or discrimination in the past year, impacting their career advancement and overall job satisfaction. Lack of Leadership Representation: Black women remain significantly underrepresented in executive and senior leadership roles, with only 21% believing they have strong opportunities for advancement in California's job market. Black women remain significantly underrepresented in executive and senior leadership roles, with only 21% believing they have strong opportunities for advancement in California's job market. Pay Inequity: Black women continue to earn significantly less than their white and male counterparts, even when holding similar qualifications and roles. Black women continue to earn significantly less than their white and male counterparts, even when holding similar qualifications and roles. Workplace Culture and Mental Health: Over half of respondents reported feeling undervalued at work, with 57% feeling excluded from key opportunities due to racial and gender biases. Moving from Data to Action: CABWCEI is calling on policymakers, corporate leaders, and community organizations to implement meaningful changes, including: Legislative Action: Enforcing pay equity, expanding anti-discrimination protections, and ensuring workplace accountability. Enforcing pay equity, expanding anti-discrimination protections, and ensuring workplace accountability. Corporate Responsibility: Implementing transparent hiring and promotion policies, investing in Black women's leadership development, and eliminating bias in workplace culture. Implementing transparent hiring and promotion policies, investing in Black women's leadership development, and eliminating bias in workplace culture. Community Investment: Supporting Black women entrepreneurs, funding workforce development initiatives, and prioritizing economic security for Black families. "The time for performative allyship has passed," added Todd Griffin. "This report provides a roadmap for employers, legislators, and advocates to take real, measurable steps toward equity. If Black women are expected to be the driving force in the workplace, we must be afforded the dignity, compensation, and leadership opportunities we deserve." Based on the results, CABWCEI calls on policy makers to develop legislative proposals to address the issues. Strengthening Wage Equity & Economic Security Black Women's Pay Equity Act Require annual pay audits disaggregated by race, gender, and job classification for companies with 50 or more employees, with penalties for wage disparities not addressed within two years. Salary Transparency Expansion Lower the pay range disclosure threshold to companies with five or more employees and mandate internal salary bands to prevent discriminatory pay practices. Black Women's Economic Mobility Fund Establish a state-funded grant program to support Black women entrepreneurs, business owners, and cooperative enterprises, prioritizing industries where Black women face the greatest barriers. Eliminating Workplace Discrimination & Harassment CROWN Act Expansion & Enforcement Extend the CROWN Act by requiring all California -based companies with over 25 employees to incorporate anti-hair discrimination policies into their legally mandated gender and racial discrimination training. Zero-Tolerance Workplace Harassment Act Strengthen protections against race and gender-based harassment, including third-party accountability mechanisms, automatic civil penalties for repeat offenders, and whistleblower protections for Black women reporting discrimination. Restorative Workplace Justice Initiative Mandate state-funded workplace mediation programs that offer Black women access to legal support, career recovery resources, and trauma-informed dispute resolution when workplace discrimination occurs. Expanding Leadership & Career Advancement Opportunities Black Women's Leadership Pipeline Act Require all state-funded and state-contracted companies to report on the representation of Black women in executive and senior leadership roles, with incentives for companies that implement mentorship and leadership development programs for Black women. State-Funded Childcare for Black Women Establish childcare stipends for Black women professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders to reduce barriers to executive advancement. To read the full report and more legislative and non-legislative proposals, visit www.cablackwomenscollective.org/research. About the California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute The California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic empowerment of Black women and girls across California. Through research, policy advocacy, and leadership development, CABWCEI works to dismantle systemic barriers and create pathways to success for Black women at all levels. Media Contact: Charles Williams California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute 818-266-7624 I [email protected] SOURCE CA Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute "Certified Nurses Day is an opportunity to celebrate the dedication of the more than 50,000 nurses certified through BCEN and the 1 million certified nurses worldwide," said BCEN CEO Janie Schumaker, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, ICE-CCP, CENP, CPHQ, FABC. "It's also a time to ensure we are all doing our part to support these exceptional nurses and help consumers fully understand what it means to receive care from a board certified nurse." Grounded in national standards set by each specialty, nursing specialty certification promotes consumer confidence and contributes to better patient care, better patient outcomes and higher patient satisfaction. Equally important, researchincluding a large-scale study conducted by BCENshows a strong connection between board certification and greater nurse career success and satisfaction. In celebration of Certified Nurses Day 2025, BCEN is highlighting these initiatives: Certified Nurses Day Hub: BCEN's dedicated Certified Nurses Day page explains the significance of nursing specialty certification, includes a special message for consumers, patients and families, and features free celebration and nurse recognition resources for nurses and employers. BCEN's dedicated Certified Nurses Day page explains the significance of nursing specialty certification, includes a special message for consumers, patients and families, and features free celebration and nurse recognition resources for nurses and employers. Specialty Certification Research: A leading proponent of nursing specialty certification research, BCEN is completing a survey assessing the culture of specialty certification support for nurses working in emergency settings. Later this year, BCEN will develop a leadership-focused survey. A leading proponent of nursing specialty certification research, BCEN is completing a survey assessing the culture of specialty certification support for nurses working in emergency settings. Later this year, BCEN will develop a leadership-focused survey. Special Promotion: From March 12-19 , BCEN is offering a special promotion of $45 off initial certification, retest and recertification fees, as well as BCEN's interactive CEN review course. (Eligible RNs will have 90 days to sit for the exam or document and submit the 100 continuing education units required for credential renewal.) One of BCEN's most generous promotions to date, the offer is also a nod to BCEN's 45th anniversary year. A National Campaign Featuring Certified RNs Also in March, the rollout of BCEN's new, multi-year "Invest in Yourself" campaign will continue to gain momentum. During 2025, the campaign will feature four board certified nurses working in emergency, trauma and critical care transport settings across the United States discussing nursing professional development, high-level patient care, and their own personal development and well-being. About BCEN Founded in 1980, the independent, not-for-profit Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) offers robust nursing specialty certification programs fostering empowered nurses across the emergency spectrum who contribute noticeably to patient care, safety and outcomes. Over 60,000 BCEN credentials are held by registered nurses (RNs) who specialize in emergency, pediatric emergency, flight, critical care ground transport, trauma, and burn nursing. BCEN offers the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN), Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN), and Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN). SOURCE Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing ARLINGTON, Va., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CENSAI, a provider of population intelligence for the real estate industry, has welcomed John Dugal as senior account manager. His arrival is the latest development in CENSAI's evolution to become the leading source for market insights used to discover investment opportunities. In addition to more than 40 years of real estate experience, Dugal will use his data licensing expertise to maximize the value of signing up for CENSAI products. Customers, which include investors, analysts, and data professionals, may subscribe to the CENSAI analytics platform or purchase proprietary data in bulk. CENSAI data delivers insights into more than 270 million U.S. adults and a growing list of over 145,000 multifamily properties. "CENSAI is redefining how we access and use population and migration data," said Dugal. "I'm excited to join a team that's driven to innovate the real estate space." In the last year, CENSAI has been expanding and fine-tuning its offerings to meet the rising demand for more granular real estate insights. The brand was recently featured on Initial Data Offering's exclusive list of high-quality datasets curated by a team of data experts. "We're proud to see CENSAI gaining recognition as a critical tool for decision-makers," said Devin Boesen, director of population and migration products for CENSAI. "Our platform continues to evolve, delivering deeper, more actionable data than ever before." To further support investors, CENSAI has introduced new features designed to streamline real estate market analysis. Recent updates include Explorer View, an interactive map for visualizing migration trends at different geographic levels; demographic filtering for gaining insights into population subsets; and the ability to compare look-alikes, or markets that share similar features. With these updates, the CENSAI platform has become an even more powerful tool for investors seeking the latest and most precise data. "The real estate industry is moving beyond stale and stagnant data sources," said Boesen. "CENSAI offers investors the real-time insights they need to capitalize on hot markets. We're committed to providing the most comprehensive population intelligence available, and there's more to come. We feel like we're just getting started." Boesen will appear at the upcoming RETCON conference to share how CENSAI's population intelligence can reveal markets that are driving the demand for multifamily housing. Her session, titled "Migration Trends Changing Market Outlook," will be held on March 11, 10:35 a.m., at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Attendees may also visit booth #220 to see the CENSAI platform in action. About CENSAI With over 15 years of experience pioneering data solutions, CENSAI offers real estate professionals unrivaled market insights. CENSAI's analytics platform leverages a database of 270 million U.S. adults, including address histories and detailed demographics, to identify migration trends and investment opportunities. To discover more, visit censaianalytics.com. SOURCE i-360 Photo: elements.envato.com The need to respond to the radical change in the foreign policy of US President Donald Trump's administration has brought together European Union leaders for a special meeting of the European Council, where they will consider two issues: strengthening support for Ukraine and Europe's defence capabilities. On the eve of the meeting, which will be held on Thursday in Brussels, European Council President Antonio Costa said that the meeting will be about turning the principles of the European Union into real actions to guarantee peace and security for Ukraine and Europe. "It's time to turn our principles into real action. We can only guarantee peace and security, in Ukraine and in Europe, by being strong and thats why the EU is making its largest defence effort ever. That is what tomorrow's Special EUCO is all about," Costa wrote. EU leaders are meeting at a time when the actions of US President Donald Trumps administration have fundamentally diverged from the core principles of EU foreign policy on the issue of Russian aggression against Ukraine and future peace talks. CHRONOLOGY OF THE CRISIS Just over a month ago, on 20 January, Donald Trump was sworn in as president, but his actions and those of his government have already triggered tectonic shifts in geopolitics. The first statement, which was not in line with the consistent policy of either NATO or the European Union, was made on February 12 at NATO headquarters by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said that a) a return to Ukraines 2014 borders was an unrealistic goal, and b) that the US would not support Ukraines aspirations for NATO membership. Neither of these positions had been communicated or discussed in advance with allies, as is standard practice. On the same day, and again without prior consultation with allies, President Trump held a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin. This was the first phone call by a US leader to the Kremlin since the start of full-scale war. After that, the US President called Zelenskyy. The next step in US-Russian relations were the talks on peace in Ukraine, which were held on February 18 in Saudi Arabia, and to which neither representatives of Ukraine nor other partners were invited, despite the well-known position of nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine and the EUs insistence on being a participant in such talks. At the same time, on February 17, French President Emmanuel Macron gathered leaders of several countries, including the NATO Secretary General and the EU leadership, to discuss the situation. On February 24, Macron held talks with Trump at the White House, followed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Washington. The main topic of the talks was peace for Ukraine. And on February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House. It was planned to sign an agreement between Ukraine and the United States on rare earth materials, but the meeting was foiled by the public humiliation of Zelenskyy by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Almost all EU and NATO leaders spoke in support of the Ukrainian president. On March 2, Zelenskyy met with Europeans in London at the initiative of Starmer. And on March 4, Trump announced the suspension of aid to Ukraine. On the same day, Zelenskyy made a post on his social media page in which he admitted that the meeting did not go as planned and expressed regret about this, and Trump, speaking in Congress, stated that the Ukrainians were ready for negotiations. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL President Zelenskyy will be attending the meeting. "I have invited President Zelenskyy to come to Brussels on the occasion of the meeting of the European Council to discuss with us the latest developments," said European Council President Costa in an invitation letter. The first item on the agenda is Ukraine. "As far as Ukraine is concerned, there is a new momentum, which should lead to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. It is therefore important for us to exchange on how to further support Ukraine and on the principles that should be respected going forward. The EU and its member states are ready to take more responsibility for Europes security. We should therefore be prepared for a possible European contribution to the security guarantees that will be necessary to ensure a lasting peace in Ukraine," the European Council President noted. In particular, EU leaders will determine what security guarantees the EU could provide in the event of a peace agreement. The EU is considering two components in this regard: the first is support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian armed forces so that they can defend themselves in the event of new aggression by Russia in the future. The second dimension of security guarantees is the possibility of a peacekeeping mission. Discussions on this issue are still ongoing, as it is still premature to go into details at this time, as there is no peace agreement or ceasefire. EU leaders may also discuss the issue of an EU special representative in the peace process for Ukraine. This idea has already been discussed during President Costa's bilateral consultations with the leaders of the EU member states, and it has found their support. The second item on the agenda of the special meeting will be strengthening European defence, as Europe needs to take urgent measures to be more sovereign and autonomous from the United States. The details of the ReArm Europe plan were recently unveiled by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Nashville, TN-based NonProfit Focused on Improving Systems Through Safety Science and Evidence-Based Approaches NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for the Helping Professions (CHP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to working across sectors to advance safety science and evidence-based approaches to systems improvement, announced its launch today. Based in Nashville, TN, CHP is co-founded by president and CEO Michael Cull, PhD, chief operating officer Tiffany Lindsey, EdD, LPC-MHSP, both formerly with the Center for Innovation in Population Health at the University of Kentucky (UKY), and chief analytics officer Elizabeth Riley, PhD, (UKY). CHP will work with partners across complex, safety-critical systems, such as child welfare and healthcare, to explore the application of safety science to bring about systems change. Using structured methodologies, such as critical incident review, data collection and analysis, collaborative and peer-to-peer learning, technical assistance, research and evaluation, CHP will work to foster and support safe, effective, and reliable helping systems. "Ensuring the well-being of children, families and communities requires coordinated efforts across the helping professions," noted Dr. Michael Cull. "As an evidence-based practice, safety science offers us a new way of thinking about systems improvement. CHP works with organizations across sectors to create a safe culture that strives to balance individual accountability with system accountability towards the goal of preventing future tragedies. Our team of experts in safety, improvement, and implementation science have extensive experience serving in such roles as mental health crisis counselors, milieu supervisors, educators, paramedics, emergency nurses, psychologists and child protection investigators which is critical for a cross-sector approach to safety." Among the partners CHP will support is the National Partnership for Child Safety , a member-led quality improvement collaborative of nearly 40 county, state and tribal child welfare agencies. They are a peer-to-peer community that is employing safety science approaches, including critical incident reviews, data sharing and organizational assessments to improve child safety across participating communities. CHP also works with the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention to develop promising approaches and guidance on optimizing communication and collaboration across Child Death Review Teams (CDRT) which are tasked with completing Congressionally-mandated child death reviews for child welfare systems and other child-serving agencies. In addition to a focus on child safety and child death review, CHP works with a range of safety-critical organizations, including community mental health, disability services, residential treatment, law enforcement and public safety. CHP has also created several open domain tools and resources to share this work beyond their partner organizations. In addition to the production of a number of videos on safety science concepts and strategies, they have also developed the Safe Systems Improvement Tool, for collecting and analyzing data on critical incidents, and the TeamFirst Assessment of Safety Culture (TASC) survey for understanding where organizations are in infusing safety culture across their workforce. These resources were developed in partnership with researchers at Vanderbilt University, Northwestern University, UKY, and are available on request. "By creating safe practices that activate learning and teamwork, share accountability, and analyze systems factors, we can create more effective helping systems that sustain better outcomes for both professionals and the communities they serve" noted Dr. Tiffany Lindsey. "Multi-system engagements create collaborative environments where agencies can share data, organize their learning and resources, and innovate together. We are so excited to open the doors of our non-profit to do just that." Media notes: For more information or to request an interview, please contact Jennifer Devlin at 703-966-3241 or [email protected] . About The Center for the Helping Professions The Center for the Helping Professions (CHP) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization based in Nashville, Tennessee, which specializes in the application of safety science and the accompanying sciences of improvement and implementation. CHP adapts and applies safety science and evidence-based approaches to enhance safety and address systems improvement across safety-critical sectors such as child welfare. For more information, visit us at https://centerforthehelpingprofessions.org . SOURCE Center for the Helping Professions GIB.A (TSX) GIB (NYSE) cgi.com/en/press-room MONTREAL, Quebec and PARIS, France, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, announces that it has been awarded the Sustainable IT label - Level 2 (Numerique Responsable - NR), covering its operations in France as well as Luxembourg, Morocco, Romania and Switzerland. This certification is a testament to the company's commitment to sustainable digital models. CGI, which was awarded the Level 1 label in 2022, continues to make progress in its continuous improvement approach to digital responsibility, becoming the first digital services company with over 5,000 employees to be awarded the Level 2 label. The Sustainable IT label is based on a set of guidelines developed by the Institut du Numerique Responsable, a think tank whose mission is to raise awareness of the challenges of responsible digital business, in partnership with the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention, ADME the French public ecological transition agency - and the World Wildlife Fund. Numerique Responsable recognizes companies that adopt ethical and ecologically responsible practices, as part of a demanding and clearly defined approach to reducing their environmental footprint and having a positive impact on society. "Obtaining the level 2 Numerique Responsable label demonstrates our ongoing commitment to a more responsible digital technology," says Caroline de Grandmaison, President France and Luxembourg at CGI. "It highlights both the concrete initiatives we have already put in place, such as training 9,000 employees in eco-design, and our close collaboration with major customers, including EDF, in developing environmentally-friendly solutions. This certification also underscores our proactive action plan, which we are committed to implementing over the next three years, to support our ambition to combine technological innovation and environmental responsibility." The more stringent level 2 label was awarded to CGI following a comprehensive audit of its employees, customers, suppliers and partners that was conducted by the independent firm Baker Tilly, on behalf of the LUCIE agency. The audit assessed CGI against 52 criteria, focusing on five main areas: Strategy and governance - integrating digital responsibility into the organization's strategy, formalizing and deploying a dedicated policy, etc.; - integrating digital responsibility into the organization's strategy, formalizing and deploying a dedicated policy, etc.; Supporting the responsible digital strategy - driving the NR approach to get internal and external stakeholders on board, integrating digital accessibility, and supporting the development of NR skills; - driving the NR approach to get internal and external stakeholders on board, integrating digital accessibility, and supporting the development of NR skills; Lifecycle of digital services - promoting sustainability and extended lifecycles beginning with the purchasing phase onward, adopting responsible management of equipment, software, applications and services, as well as infrastructure and data; - promoting sustainability and extended lifecycles beginning with the purchasing phase onward, adopting responsible management of equipment, software, applications and services, as well as infrastructure and data; Extend a responsible digital approach - encouraging the sharing of tools and knowledge, and leveraging digital technology as a lever for action; - encouraging the sharing of tools and knowledge, and leveraging digital technology as a lever for action; External levers of digital service companies - promoting responsible digital services in commercial offers and integrating these into the continuous improvement of services. Following this audit, CGI defined a three-year progress plan, with priority given to implementing responsible design in the services offered to customers, in line with the initial training objective. CGI is also in the process of adopting the standards for responsible artificial intelligence. The concrete outcomes of this continuous improvement approach will be monitored by assessing the environmental footprint of projects. About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 91,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2024 reported revenue is CA$14.68 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. SOURCE CGI Inc. Opening A New Chapter in Global Ecological Collaboration HONG KONG, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 4th, during MWC 2025, China Telecom successfully hosted the "TeleAI Ecosystem Future Summit" in Barcelona. Under the theme of "Empowering Intelligent Future with TeleAI", the event brought together leaders from the global telecommunications industry, international operators, and ecosystem partners worldwide to explore how AI can drive industrial transformation and foster the development of an intelligent ecosystem. Ms. Lara Dewar, Chief Marketing Officer of GSMA, and Mr. Tang Ke, Executive Vice Presidents of China Telecom, delivered welcoming address, while Liu Ying, Executive Vice Presidents of China Telecom, presented a keynote speech. China Telecoms Global Al Ecosystem Collaboration Plan Officially Launched In Tang Ke's speech, he underscored China Telecom's establishment of AI-system framework which termed "1+1+1+M+N." This framework comprises 1 intelligent computing cloud base, 1 data base, 1 Xingchen large model, M internal large models, and N industry-specific large model applications. The Xingchen large model system, developed in-house, spans four key domains: semantics, speech, vision, and multimodalities capabilities. It has been deployed across more than 50 industries, including government affairs, healthcare, and education, empowering over 600 projects worldwide and serving more than 100 countries and regions. Mr. Tang expressed his aspiration for the summit to serve as a catalyst for building an international ecosystem cooperation platform, fostering the creation of an AI ecosystem alliance, fulfill the commitment to share China's experience, empower the global ecosystem, share the power of connectivity, and co-create an intelligent future together. In Liu Ying's speech, she elaborated on China Telecom's vision for global AI ecosystem collaboration, delving into AI development trends, the convergence of cloud and network technologies, intelligent computing infrastructure, and industry applications. In the realm of computing power, China Telecom has established a domestic computing power layout of "2+4+31+X" and an international computing power network of "9+30+X+N." The company has independently developed the "Xirang" intelligent computing platform, achieving breakthroughs in AI frameworks, operator optimization, and large-scale distributed training technologies, thereby enabling efficient and stable computing power scheduling. In network innovation, the company has constructed an intelligent network foundation based on All-Optical Network 2.0, IP networks, and wireless networks to support AI applications. Its self-developed "Intelligent Endogenous Base Station" and cross-network domain NWDAF products enhance network intelligence, facilitating digital transformation across multiple industries. In AI capabilities, China Telecom has launched the "Xingchen" AI system, encompassing intelligent computing cloud, data base, and multimodal large models. The company has developed 50 industry-specific large models and launched the "Xingchen Intelligent Agent Platform" and "Xingchen Large Models Software Factory," significantly lowering the threshold for intelligent application development. In data capabilities, China Telecom has unveiled the "Xinghai Big Data", leveraging core strengths such as government-enterprise collaboration, data intelligence platforms, and cross-border data circulation to build a comprehensive data service ecosystem, in the meantime, continues to drive the integration of AI with 5G, industrial internet, vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and low-altitude economy, propelling intelligent upgrades and empowering industry transformation. Furthermore, China Telecom has made significant strides in the convergence of networks and AI: Through 'Network For AI,' it optimizes network services to meet AI demands and achieves efficient cross-regional data transmission; leveraging 'Network By AI,' it enhances network intelligence and helps developing innovative applications such as smart base stations. Moving forward, China Telecom is evolving from a traditional telecom operator to an integrated service provider, driving deep convergence of network+cloud+AI. Currently, AI is rapidly converging with cloud computing, network communication, and industry applications, reshaping the industrial landscape. China Telecom is dedicated to advancing AI development through "cloud-network integration" and promoting the large-scale application of intelligent technologies. During the summit, China Telecom held a launch ceremony for its Global Al Ecosystem Collaboration Plan, unveiling a suite of cutting-edge technologies and solutions. The released capabilities include the intelligent computing cloud base, the Xingchen large models system, and edge-cloud collaborative AI applications. Through close collaboration with leading international operators, technology companies, and industry partners, China Telecom aims to accelerate the global adoption and implementation of AI technologies, supporting industry-wide intelligent transformation. At the summit, leading global operators and AI ecosystem partners gathered to discuss innovations and applications in the AI field. Aaron Partouche, Innovation Director of Colt Technology Services, and Anh Viet, Chairman of FPT Telecom, shared their practical experiences in AI convergence development, highlighting the unique advantages of operators in driving AI technological innovation and industrialization. Amit Sachdeva, Senior Director & Telco Industry Advisor of Microsoft, explored how AI and data intelligence are driving transformation in the telecommunications industry, while Hu Jian, Co-founder & CPO of SiliconFlow, shared insights on the collaborative innovation of algorithms, systems, and hardware in building next-generation AI infrastructure. As the world enters a new era of intelligence, China Telecom is accelerating the integration of cloud and network technologies and intelligent computing innovation, building a next-generation global digital infrastructure to deeply empower industries with AI technologies and drive the rise of the digital economy. Simultaneously, China Telecom will actively forge partnerships with global industry players to create an open and win-win AI ecosystem, explore more intelligent application scenarios, and jointly usher in a next frontier of intelligent connectivity. SOURCE China Telecom Global FRANKLIN, Tenn., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. ("CKE"), parent company of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, today announced the appointment of Joe Guith as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Joe Guith, new chief executive officer at CKE Restaurants Mr. Guith arrives at CKE with extensive experience in franchising, restaurant management, and the expansion of consumer brands. Previously, he served as CEO of Church's Texas Chicken, he successfully repositioned the brand and built stronger relationships with the franchisee community, leading to significant improvements in unit-level profitability, record sales, and traffic growth. These changes led to expanding the Church's Texas Chicken footprint to more than 1,500 locations across 23 countries. With more than two decades of industry experience, Guith has held senior leadership roles at GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands), McAlister's Deli, Cinnabon and The Coca Cola Company. Joe expressed his enthusiasm for joining CKE Restaurants, stating, "I am honored to join such a respected and iconic company. Carl's Jr. and Hardee's have a rich history of delivering craveable flavors and exceptional service, and I am eager to work with the talented team and franchisees to build on this legacy." Sarah Spiegel, CKE board member and interim CEO said, "Joe brings a blend of industry expertise and visionary leadership that perfectly aligns with our goals for Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. We are confident that his proven track record in brand growth and operational excellence will drive our company forward, allowing us to reach new levels of success and innovation." About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., a privately held company based in Franklin, Tennessee, operates Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants, two beloved brands, known for premium and innovative menu items such as iconic chargrilled burgers and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders. With both a U.S. and international footprint, Carl's Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee's Restaurants LLC have more than 3,600 franchised or company-operated restaurants domestically and more than 35 international markets and U.S. territories. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com. SOURCE CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. Comal County found a fast, effective solution TrueRoll to manage their homestead administration, meet new Texas compliance requirements, and ensure tax equity. AUSTIN, Texas, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Comal County joins the growing number of Texas counties that have implemented state-of-the-art technology, TrueRoll , to transform their homestead administration at a critical time. Most appraisal districts manually manage homestead eligibility, which determines tax discounts. Life events like moving or death can make a homestead ineligible. The assessor's office has to check these details manually by searching obits and address listings to keep records current. Frequent life changes and heavy staff workloads make it difficult to keep tax rolls updated with the latest homestead eligibility status. Thus, tax breaks can be inequitably applied, which has a negative impact on local schools and other important services. To avoid this issue, the State recently passed a new law (SB1801) that requires Texas appraisal districts to periodically review homestead exemption eligibility. Some counties have asked residents to reapply to confirm their status, though this isn't necessary. It's added a lot of work to appraisal districts' workload and caused taxpayer frustration. Luckily, TrueRoll eliminates manual administration of homesteads to reduce staff time by up to 60%. The technology uses databases and matching algorithms to cross-reference homestead details and flag potential ineligibilities automatically. The Comal appraisal district can focus on inspecting only those with eligibility concerns and be confident the other homesteads are eligible without contacting those taxpayers. This makes the Comal Appraisal District compliant and taxpayer-friendly. "We've seen many Texas governments struggle to address the new tax code's requirements," said Tyler Masterson, founder and CEO of TrueRoll . "We're proud to offer a solution that helps Texas governments avoid this challenge by using automation to lighten the load." For inquiries or to schedule an interview, contact TrueRoll Marketing at [email protected] . Follow TrueRoll on LinkedIn . About TrueRoll: TrueRoll is the only platform designed to simplify the full lifecycle of homestead benefitsfrom application to removal. Recognized on GovTech's Top 100 list of companies driving change in the public sector for four consecutive years, TrueRoll combines advanced technology with expert services to automate processes, ensure compliance, and protect communities. Trusted by counties nationwide, TrueRoll delivers unmatched accuracy, efficiency, and transparency for end-to-end homestead administration. Discover more at trueroll.io . Media Contact: Runuk Verma, Marketing Director, TrueRoll [email protected] SOURCE TrueRoll LOS ANGELES, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog reached a settlement this week with General Insurance Company of America and the California Department of Insurance, resolving the company's application with the Department for a rate increase of 7.33% to its homeowners line of insurance and saving California policyholders a total of $25 million. General originally sought a rate increase of 13.7%. Consumer Watchdog challenged the rate hike as excessive under Prop 103 and the Department's ratemaking regulations, which require insurers to justify all rate changes prior to implementation. Read Consumer Watchdog's Petition here. Specifically, Consumer Watchdog challenged General's trend selections as overstating projected losses, resulting in an inflated rate indication. "Public involvement plays a vital role in keeping insurance companies in check and preventing excessive rate hikes," said Consumer Watchdog Staff Attorney Benjamin Powell. "This case demonstrates that when companies are challenged on their unjustified rate increase requests, consumers see tangible financial benefits." Consumer Watchdog requested that General provide further information in order to substantiate its claims about projected losses and other information in its application. Answers to multiple rounds of questions Consumer Watchdog posed to the company showed a lower rate increase of 7.4% was warranted. General's newly-approved rate will have an effective date of May 28, 2025, and will affect more than 200,000 policyholders. California's voter-approved insurance reform law, Proposition 103, requires that insurers open their books and prove they need to raise rates in a process subject to full transparency, in which consumer representatives have the right to review and challenge improper rates and practices. According to the Consumer Federation of America, Prop 103 has saved California motorists over $154 billion since 1989. Consumer Watchdog has saved California consumers over $6.5 billion over the last 22 years by challenging excessive and unfair auto, home, business, and medical malpractice rates. For more information about Proposition 103 visit: https://consumerwatchdog.org/prop-103/ Download the settlement stipulation here. SOURCE Consumer Watchdog Coway targets European market expansion with cutting-edge technology and distinctive design at Aquatech 2025, showcasing the SWITCH water purifier and more SEOUL, South Korea, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Coway, South Korea's No.1 environmental home appliances company, will participate in Aquatech Amsterdam 2025 from March 11th to 14th in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As the world's leading trade exhibition for process, drinking, and wastewater, Aquatech Amsterdam provides a global platform for industry leaders to unveil their latest innovations and expand distribution networks. This year's exhibition is set to bring together over 900 exhibitors and 25,000 water professionals. Coway Booth at the Aquatech Amsterdam At the exhibition, Coway will explore new growth opportunities in the European water purifier market, by forging new partnerships and enhancing its brand awareness. Alongside its highly successful Asian product lineup, Coway is also set to introduce products optimized for European customers and businesses. A highlight of Coway's showcase at the exhibition will be the unveiling of the company's upcoming water purifier, tentatively named 'SWITCH.' This eco-friendly model is able to adapt to various kitchen settings thanks to its countertop and under-sink convertibility, and also offers non-electric water purification, making it attractive to a diverse customer base in particular to environmentally-conscious customers. Coway will also showcase a variety of high-performance water purifiers that feature both cold-and-hot-water functions and ice-making capabilities, catering to a wide range of diverse customer lifestyles and business needs. Looking ahead, Coway's water purifier strategy aims at encompassing both commercial and consumer markets. For businesses, the company is set to introduce large-capacity standing water purifiers ideal for public institutions, businesses, and schools, alongside more compact models for environments short on space. For consumers, Coway will hone in on providing water purifiers that complement the modern smart home by offering such features as temperature control, measured dispensing, and easy self-maintenance for added convenience. A Coway official said, "Our participation in Aquatech 2025 will significantly enhance our brand awareness, as well as our competitive edge in the European market, further solidifying our position as a global leader in innovative water purification solutions." About Coway Co., Ltd. Established in Korea in 1989, Coway, the "Best Life Solution Company," is a leading environmental home appliances company making people's lives healthy and comfortable with innovative home appliances such as water purifiers, air purifiers, bidets, and mattresses. The company's most recent venture, the BEREX brand, aims to improve sleep and wellness through cutting-edge mattresses and massage chairs. Since being founded, Coway has become a leader in the environmental home appliances industry, with intensive research, engineering, development, and customer service. The company has proven dedication to innovation with award-winning products, home health expertise, unrivaled market share, customer satisfaction, and brand recognition. Coway continues to innovate by diversifying product lines and accelerating overseas business in Malaysia, USA, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and Europe, based on the business success in Korea. For more information, please visit http://www.coway.com/ or http://newsroom.coway.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635359/Image__Coway_Booth_at_the_Aquatech_Amsterdam.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1395396/Logo_Logo.jpg Crestview Plans to Allocate Additional Equity to Support Smyth's Organic Investments and M&A to Drive Enhanced Capabilities, Scale and Diversification Smyth Actively Pursuing Tuck-In and Transformational Acquisitions NEW YORK and EAGAN, Minn., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Crestview Partners ("Crestview"), a leading private equity firm, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Smyth Companies ("Smyth" or the "Company"), a premier, full-service provider of pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, in-mold labels, glue-applied labels, and flexible packaging, from Novacap. Crestview is investing alongside members of the Company's founding family and the existing management team led by President & CEO Scott Fisher, who will continue to lead the Company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As part of the transaction, Crestview is allocating additional equity to support organic investments and M&A to drive enhanced capabilities, scale and diversification; and Smyth is actively pursuing both tuck-in and transformational acquisitions across the pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeve, in-mold labels and flexible packaging markets. Headquartered in Eagan, MN, Smyth is a leader in the prime labels industry, providing customized solutions for a diverse array of high-value consumer product applications across the household, food, health & beauty and automotive aftermarket segments. Smyth's broad range of printing capabilities, highly-regarded product quality and reputation for exceptional customer service have resulted in strong, long-tenured partnerships with numerous blue-chip consumer packaged goods customers, many of which have trusted Smyth to serve their most iconic brands for decades. Bradford Williams, Partner and Co-Head of Industrials at Crestview, said, "We believe Smyth holds a uniquely strong position within the broader prime labels market driven by its innovative, customer-first approach, comprehensive product portfolio, and reputation for exceptional product quality, which enable the Company to flexibly serve leading consumer packaged goods customers at scale. Smyth's strong presence in attractive end-markets has allowed the Company to experience a high degree of stability across economic cycles and positioned it well to capitalize on numerous secular tailwinds. These characteristics make our investment in Smyth highly consistent with Crestview's strategy of investing in market-leading businesses at exciting inflection points, and we are excited to partner with the Smyth management team to drive the Company's next phase of growth." Scott Fisher, President & CEO of Smyth, said, "We are excited to welcome Crestview as our partner for this next phase of Smyth's evolution. Our focus remains on delivering excellent product quality and reliable service to our customers, and we believe Crestview's highly complementary experience and enthusiastic support of Smyth's acquisition expansion strategy will help us become an even stronger value-added partner to our customers and achieve our full growth potential." "Our partnership with Smyth exemplifies Novacap's ability to drive long-term value creation through operational improvements and strategic initiatives," said Domenic Mancini, Senior Partner at Novacap. "We are incredibly proud of the progress achieved by the Smyth team and confident that the company is well-positioned for continued success in the evolving labeling and packaging industry." Baird served as financial advisor while Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and Fox Rothschild LLP provided legal counsel to Novacap. Evercore served as financial advisor while Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP provided legal counsel to Crestview Partners. About Smyth Companies Headquartered in Eagan, MN, Smyth is a leading provider of labels and related packaging solutions including pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, in-mold labels, glue-applied labels, and flexible packaging with a focus on the household, food, health & beauty and automotive aftermarket segments. With 500+ employees across eight strategically-located facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Arizona, Smyth offers the national reach and breadth of product offering typically only available at the largest of label companies coupled with a high-touch, customer-first approach. For more information, please visit www.smythco.com. About Crestview Founded in 2004, Crestview is a private equity firm focused on the middle market. The firm is based in New York and manages funds with approximately $10 billion of aggregate capital commitments. The firm is led by a group of partners who have complementary experience and distinguished backgrounds in private equity, finance, operations and management. Crestview has senior investment professionals focused on sourcing and managing investments in each of the specialty areas of the firm: industrials, media and financial services. For more information, please visit www.crestview.com. For more information, please contact: Jeffrey Taufield Kekst CNC (212) 521-4800 [email protected] SOURCE Crestview Partners Early registration includes discounted rates for industry professionals, academics, and non-profits until April 30 LA JOLLA, Calif., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DCN Dx, a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of point-of-use diagnostic tests, has announced that early bird registration is now open for the 2025 Advanced Lateral Flow Conference (ALFC). The two-day event will take place October 1415, 2025, at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif. Early bird rates, available until April 30, 2025, offer discounts on: The ALFC is the leading global event for lateral flow diagnostic developers, manufacturers, and those driving their commercial success. The 2025 program will feature expert-led sessions on the current state of lateral flow immunoassays, emerging applications for point-of-care technologies, future trends in rapid diagnostic testing, and more. Industry Professionals (Live Attendance): $2,250 per attendee (10% discount) per attendee (10% discount) Academic and Non-Profit Organizations (Live Attendance): $1,750 per attendee (12.5% discount) Additional pricing options include these regular rates: Students (Live Attendance): $400 per attendee $400 per attendee Virtual Attendance: $1,250 per attendee The ALFC is the leading global event for lateral flow diagnostic developers, manufacturers, and those driving their commercial success. The 2025 program will feature expert-led sessions on the current state of lateral flow immunoassays, emerging applications for point-of-care technologies, future trends in rapid diagnostic testing, and more. Participants can expect practical insights into complex problem-solving in diagnostics, along with numerous networking opportunities through organized evening events, shared meals, and dedicated breaks. An exhibition hall and poster sessions will highlight the latest advancements in rapid diagnostics, culminating in an awards ceremony celebrating innovation and excellence within the industry. "We're thrilled to welcome lateral flow industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to ALFC 2025," said Mitzi Rettinger, chair of the ALFC 2025 organizing committee. "The ALFC is an invaluable resource for staying at the forefront of this dynamic field." DCN Dx encourages attendees to secure their spots early and take advantage of early bird pricing. To register or learn more, visit ALFC2025.com. About the Advanced Lateral Flow Conference The Advanced Lateral Flow Conference (ALFC), presented by DCN Dx, is the leading global event for lateral flow diagnostic developers, manufacturers, and those driving their commercial success. This annual conference delivers cutting-edge insights through expert-led sessions and provides a platform for researchers and developers to exchange ideas and innovations. Attendees gain practical insights to advance their businesses, deepen their knowledge of rapid diagnostics, and connect with leading minds shaping the future of point-of-care testing. To learn more about ALFC, visit alfc2025.com. About DCN Dx DCN Dx, based in Carlsbad, California, specializes in lateral flow diagnostics development and manufacturing, and IVD regulatory consulting and clinical research. DCN Dx's multidisciplinary CDMO specializes in creating tailored assay systems, consumables, and instruments for point-of-use applications, with a particular expertise in lateral flow assays. Their clinical research services group specializes in the planning, execution, and oversight of IVD clinical trials, inclusive of clinical operations, data management, and biostatistics, and regulatory services. To learn more about how we can support your diagnostic needs, visit dcndx.com. MEDIA CONTACT Mitzi Rettinger Chief Revenue Officer, DCN Dx Main: (760) 804-3886 Mobile: (512) 431-5836 [email protected] SOURCE DCN Dx NEW LONDON, N.H., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Dean G. McCurdy, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ivy Tech Community College, has been selected unanimously by the Colby-Sawyer College Board of Trustees to serve as the institution's 10th president. McCurdy will succeed Susan Stuebner, who led Colby-Sawyer from 2016 to 2024. Laura Sykes, former academic vice president and dean of faculty at the college, has served as interim president since July. Dr. Dean McCurdy "I am excited that Dean is going to be the next president of Colby-Sawyer College," said Sykes. "In my 31 years here, our presidential transitions have resulted in the right president for the time, and this is no exception. Dean understands the headwinds that are facing all institutions of higher education." McCurdy said he was elated to be offered the job. While he's enjoyed each role he's had in higher education, he said the breadth and depth of his experiences are a great match for Colby-Sawyer and its mission. "The college's history of excellence in teaching and providing experiential learning for all students aligns with what is most effective in supporting student success," he said. McCurdy has an extensive career in higher education, including at Bowdoin College, where he was field manager of the Coastal Studies Center and a visiting professor of biology. He was a tenured professor and chaired the biology department at Albion College and, as associate vice president for instruction at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, he founded a partnership between the college and regional healthcare providers. Prior to becoming provost at Ivy Tech, a 19-campus system in Indiana, McCurdy was chancellor of its Kokomo location. There, he led record fundraising and managed a renovation of the campus. An ecologist, McCurdy has authored 20 peer-reviewed scientific papers on fish, crustaceans, shorebirds and turtles living in Maine, Nova Scotia and South America. Hilary Williams, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences at Colby-Sawyer, described McCurdy as strategic, visionary and analytical. She said his enthusiasm for innovation in higher education is contagious. "He has demonstrated an ability to scale and grow both programs and institutions, with a proven record of building enrollment, community partnerships and employer partnerships," she said. "He is passionate about liberal education, experiential learning, workforce development, and student success. I found my interview sessions with Dean to be so inspirational." To read a Q&A with McCurdy and comments from his peers and colleagues, visit the Colby-Sawyer site. Media Contact: Beth Staples, [email protected] SOURCE COLBY-SAWYER COLLEGE President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to French President Emmanuel Macrons address to the nation by posting a comment on the X platform. "I am grateful to Emmanuel Macron for his clear vision and our joint efforts to achieve peace. Peace must be real, not just a wordit cannot mean Ukraines capitulation or collapse," Zelenskyy said on X. "Looking forward to working jointly on the steps toward peace in the upcoming days," the president said. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association welcomes Steven Daul, P.E., as its newest Regional Engineer. Daul will represent the Northeast region, working with drinking water utilities and other professionals to understand the superior quality of Ductile iron pipes and the benefits for delivering clean, safe drinking water. "We're very excited that Steven Daul is joining the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association, where he will add his experience and knowledge to our Regional Engineering staff," said DIPRA President David Cole. "As municipal and private water utilities look at upgrading and replacing aging infrastructure, pipe performance, longevity, and resilience will be foremost considerations. Steven's tenure and understanding of municipal and private sector projects and concerns will be invaluable in detailing the benefits of Ductile iron and helping other engineers navigate the complexities of choosing the best pipe for their communities." Daul is an accomplished, results-driven engineer with extensive experience engaging with clients and customers through numerous civil engineering services. He has a proven track record of delivering technologically advanced solutions in both the public and private sectors. Daul earned a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Marquette University and holds a Professional Engineer certification from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. About DIPRA Founded in 1915, the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) has served as a resource and technical advisor to the water industry. DIPRA also provides representation on standards-making committees as well as technical research on a variety of applications-based topics. While DIPRA member companies have different names and locations, they share a common commitment to produce and deliver the finest quality water and wastewater pipe material in the world, Ductile Iron Pipe, and at the greatest possible value to its purchasers. SOURCE Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA) DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV) announced today that two of its employees have been named 2025 Women MAKE Awards Honorees by the Manufacturing Institute. Shivani Hundiwala, Manufacturing Engineer at Dover Food Retail, and Ashley Ramsey, Senior Manager, Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability at Dover Corporate, are among 130 women nationally to receive the honor. "We are incredibly proud of Shivani and Ashley for receiving this well-deserved recognition," said Jeffrey Yehle, Dover's Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer. "Their achievements reflect the kind of innovation, dedication, and leadership that make a difference every day at Dover." Shivani Hundiwala is a Manufacturing Engineer at Dover Food Retail in Sylmar, California, where she has played a key role in optimizing production processes and enhancing operational efficiency. Passionate about mentorship and community service, Shivani actively volunteers with senior citizens and helps provide meals to those in need. As Dover's Senior Manager of Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability, Ashley Ramsey leads global initiatives to strengthen workplace safety and sustainability. Recognized as one of Lynchburg Magazine's Top 20 Under 40 Professionals for her contributions to both Dover and her community, Ashley is deeply committed to supporting vulnerable groups, particularly children and animals. Hundiwala and Ramsey will be honored at the annual Women MAKE Awards Gala in Washington, D.C., on April 24, 2025. Since its launch in 2012, the Women MAKE Awards have recognized more than 1,700 women for their outstanding achievements across all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the C-suite. The awards are presented by the Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. About Dover: Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of over $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Climate & Sustainability Technologies. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 70 years, our team of approximately 24,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com. Investor Contact: Media Contact: Jack Dickens Adrian Sakowicz Vice President Investor Relations Vice President Communications (630) 743-2566 (630) 743-5039 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Dover WHITBY, ON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Durham Region's innovation community is showing global decision makers our collective strengths at HANNOVER MESSE 2025. Durham Region is home to impressive research and development assets, strong industrial clusters, and world-renowned academic institutions that are backed by collaborative efforts among its eight local municipalities. Image of Project Arrow with the text: Energizing Innovation. Durham Region, Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Meet us at Hannover Messe, Hall 2. Below are the logos of participating partners. (CNW Group/Regional Municipality of Durham) "Durham Region is energizing industrial innovation," says John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for the Region of Durham. "We are building a future that turns research and development into job creation and investment. Collaboration, alongside a strong talent pipeline, is leading to innovators in Durham Region solving some of the world's biggest challenges." Leading the way "Durham Region has purposefully, and successfully, built an innovation ecosystem that supports cutting-edge research and development," shares Simon Gill, Director of Economic Development and Tourism at the Region of Durham. Businesses are supported by a "collaborative environment that supports innovation, sees businesses achieve their full potential, and cultivates robust economic growth," adds Gill. Research partnerships and innovation Durham Region's success in research partnerships will be showcased at HANNOVER MESSE with the groundbreaking Project Arrow. An initiative of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA), Project Arrow is the first all-Canadian, zero emission, connected concept vehicle. Engineered and built in Durham Region at Ontario Tech University's ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel, "Project Arrow is a testament of the achievements that can be realized when industry leaders, research and post-secondary partners come together with a shared vision," says Flavio Volpe, President of the APMA. "Together, we are not just building cars; we are shaping the future of transportation." Access to rare talent Durham Region offers a distinct advantage for the innovation and business community. More than 30,000 students study annually in post-secondary institutions that include Ontario Tech University, Durham College, and Trent University Durham GTA. Each of these institutions plays an important role in the region's innovation ecosystem, moving industry forward. "Ontario Tech is a research-driven institution that partners with global industry to provide our students with opportunities to solve real-world challenges and develop their learning competencies," says Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation at Ontario Tech University. Meet us in Hall 2 Durham Region has the talent, assets and community to support your business expansion in Canada. At HANNOVER MESSE, Durham Region looks forward to fostering international collaboration and attracting businesses to join its vibrant business ecosystem. Meet Invest Durham in hall 2 at booth B42 to energize your business together. Quick facts: Durham Region is located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It is made up of eight local municipalities, including the cities of Oshawa and Pickering ; the towns of Ajax and Whitby ; the Municipality of Clarington ; and the townships of Brock , Scugog and Uxbridge . (GTA). It is made up of eight local municipalities, including the cities of and ; the towns of and ; the Municipality of ; and the townships of , Scugog and . Durham's location on the eastern side of the GTA offers prime access to Canada's largest consumer market of more than five million people, and 135 million more American and Canadian consumers within a day's drive. location on the eastern side of the GTA offers prime access to largest consumer market of more than five million people, and 135 million more American and Canadian consumers within a day's drive. Durham Region was named one of Canada's best locations to invest by Site Selection Magazine in September 2024 . Visit InvestDurham.ca to learn about the opportunity to energize your business in one of Canada's fastest growing communities. SOURCE Regional Municipality of Durham WHITBY, ON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Durham Region's innovation community is showing global decision makers our collective strengths at HANNOVER MESSE 2025. Durham Region is home to impressive research and development assets, strong industrial clusters, and world-renowned academic institutions that are backed by collaborative efforts among its eight local municipalities. Image of Project Arrow with the text: Energizing Innovation. Durham Region, Greater Toronto Area, Canada. Meet us at Hannover Messe, Hall 2. Below are the logos of participating partners. Durham Region logo "Durham Region is energizing industrial innovation," says John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for the Region of Durham. "We are building a future that turns research and development into job creation and investment. Collaboration, alongside a strong talent pipeline, is leading to innovators in Durham Region solving some of the world's biggest challenges." Leading the way "Durham Region has purposefully, and successfully, built an innovation ecosystem that supports cutting-edge research and development," shares Simon Gill, Director of Economic Development and Tourism at the Region of Durham. Businesses are supported by a "collaborative environment that supports innovation, sees businesses achieve their full potential, and cultivates robust economic growth," adds Gill. Research partnerships and innovation Durham Region's success in research partnerships will be showcased at HANNOVER MESSE with the groundbreaking Project Arrow. An initiative of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA), Project Arrow is the first all-Canadian, zero emission, connected concept vehicle. Engineered and built in Durham Region at Ontario Tech University's ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel, "Project Arrow is a testament of the achievements that can be realized when industry leaders, research and post-secondary partners come together with a shared vision," says Flavio Volpe, President of the APMA. "Together, we are not just building cars; we are shaping the future of transportation." Access to rare talent Durham Region offers a distinct advantage for the innovation and business community. More than 30,000 students study annually in post-secondary institutions that include Ontario Tech University, Durham College, and Trent University Durham GTA. Each of these institutions plays an important role in the region's innovation ecosystem, moving industry forward. "Ontario Tech is a research-driven institution that partners with global industry to provide our students with opportunities to solve real-world challenges and develop their learning competencies," says Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation at Ontario Tech University. Meet us in Hall 2 Durham Region has the talent, assets and community to support your business expansion in Canada. At HANNOVER MESSE, Durham Region looks forward to fostering international collaboration and attracting businesses to join its vibrant business ecosystem. Meet Invest Durham in hall 2 at booth B42 to energize your business together. Quick facts: Durham Region is located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It is made up of eight local municipalities, including the cities of Oshawa and Pickering ; the towns of Ajax and Whitby ; the Municipality of Clarington ; and the townships of Brock , Scugog and Uxbridge . (GTA). It is made up of eight local municipalities, including the cities of and ; the towns of and ; the Municipality of ; and the townships of , Scugog and . Durham's location on the eastern side of the GTA offers prime access to Canada's largest consumer market of more than five million people, and 135 million more American and Canadian consumers within a day's drive. location on the eastern side of the GTA offers prime access to largest consumer market of more than five million people, and 135 million more American and Canadian consumers within a day's drive. Durham Region was named one of Canada's best locations to invest by Site Selection Magazine in September 2024. Visit InvestDurham.ca to learn about the opportunity to energize your business in one of Canada's fastest growing communities. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635879/Regional_Municipality_of_Durham_Energizing_innovation__Durham_Re.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2636016/Regional_Municipality_of_Durham_Energizing_innovation__Durham_Re.jpg For media requests, please contact [email protected] SEATTLE, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eco Water Restoration, a trusted leader in water damage restoration, proudly celebrates its 2025 anniversary. With over 1,000 residential and commercial customers served across the Greater Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area and nearly 50 years of combined experience, the company provides 24/7 emergency water damage restoration, flood damage restoration, storm damage restoration, and mold remediation. Since its founding, Eco Water Restoration has built a reputation for fast response times, expert service, and customer-first values. Its skilled, IICRC-certified team members have completed over 3,000 water damage restoration projects, helping property owners recover from flooding, burst pipes, storm damage, sewage backups, and other water-related emergencies. The company utilizes the latest drying technology, dehumidifiers, and structural repair techniques to restore properties efficiently and prevent long-term damage. Expanding Services to More Communities Eco Water Restoration continues to expand its reach across King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, ensuring rapid emergency response and high-quality restoration work. "Our success is built on trust, expertise, and a commitment to helping our customers through difficult situations," said Ivan Mukomol, co-owner at Eco Water Restoration. "We're incredibly proud of our impact in helping homeowners and businesses recover from water damage quickly and efficiently." Committed to Customer Satisfaction & Insurance Assistance Eco Water Restoration works directly with insurance companies to streamline the claims process and minimize customers' out-of-pocket expenses. The company maintains high customer ratings, with 133 and growing five-star Google reviews across multiple locations and dozens of five-star reviews on other platforms. Insurance coverage varies by policy. While sudden or accidental eventssuch as burst pipes, broken drain lines, and appliance failuresare typically covered by insurance, long-term damage or cases beyond the policy's grace period are less likely to be covered. The final decision depends on the homeowner's insurance provider. About Eco Water Restoration Eco Water Restoration provides 24/7 water damage restoration, emergency water removal, mold remediation, and full-service repairs throughout the greater Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. Focusing on rapid response, insurance claim assistance, and customer satisfaction, the company is a trusted leader in restoration services. To learn more about Eco Water Restoration's anniversary milestone and continued expansion, visit the full blog post . Company Information: Website: https://eco-wr.com Company Name: Eco Water Restoration Address: 1321 Central Ave S Ste D, Kent, WA 98032 Phone Number: (253) 204-3646 Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Eco Water Restoration Elisa Industriq unites its international software services under one brand and its financial results will be reported in their own segment in Elisa's financial reporting HELSINKI, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks a significant milestone in Elisa's international software services, as all the business investments, startup initiatives and companies acquired during recent years come together under one brand: Elisa Industriq. This strategic consolidation positions Elisa Industriq as the go-to brand for software solutions that provide operational intelligence for its customers' success. Starting with the Q1 2025 Interim Report, Elisa will also start reporting Elisa Industriq's financial results as a new reporting segment: International Software Services. Elisa Industriq comprises businesses that provide software solutions to improve quality, cut costs, and produce growth in fields such as manufacturing execution, network analytics, supply chain optimization, and energy management. The Elisa Industriq brand will serve as a shared go-to-market brand for the businesses, showcasing their combined strength, shared vision, and collective ambition for the future. Each Elisa Industriq business will also retain its own name alongside the new brand, ensuring continued customer recognition of their solutions. The new branding follows Elisa Industriq's strategy to grow the business and become increasingly recognized for its deep industrial knowledge, automation expertise, and innovative and practical use of AI. With this unified brand, Elisa Industriq is poised to realize this vision and become a leader in the software industry. "Elisa Industriq is driven by a shared dedication for creating operational intelligence for our customers. By aligning our expertise and combining our capabilities, we are better equipped to offer a broader range of solutions, innovate more quickly, reach new markets, and enhance our global presence. This unity allows us to deliver greater value to our customers worldwide. We are now marking this significant step with a unified brand," says Henri Korpi, EVP of Elisa Industriq. Further information for media: Elisa Mediadesk, tel. +358 (0)50 305 1605, [email protected] About Elisa Industriq Elisa Industriq creates software solutions for operational intelligence by multiplying industrial knowledge with AI innovation. Our businesses - camLine, sedApta, Elisa Polystar, CalcuQuote, TenForce, and Elisa Distributed Energy Storage - serve over 2,000 clients internationally in the manufacturing, telecommunications, and energy sectors. Elisa Industriq delivers business value for customers by reducing costs, improving quality, and generating growth. Our software solutions integrate with customers' existing systems to optimize their operations in areas including manufacturing execution, supply chain optimization, network analytics, and energy management. Elisa Industriq is part of Elisa, a pioneer in telecommunications and digital services headquartered in Finland. Our shared mission is a sustainable future through digitalization. Elisa Industriq employs nearly 1,600 experts in Europe, Asia, and North America. elisaindustriq.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/18382/4115079/a6e92d99cc7e9ae1_org.png ELISA INDUSTRIQ logo SOURCE Elisa Oyj DENVER, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Evio Pharmacy Solutions proudly announces the addition of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield as its sixth investor and owner health plan. This new partnership is an exciting development for Evio as the company welcomes its first new investor since its establishment four years ago. Wellmark, a member-owned independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serves more than two million people in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark, known for its innovative approaches and commitment to making health care better, will further Evio's mission to deliver differentiated pharmacy care. Evio works with health plans to transform the medication experience for everyone: patients, providers, employers, and the pharmacy system at large. Utilizing real-world evidence analytics, innovative medication contracting models, and a suite of digital tools, Evio aims to ensure every patient can access the right medication for their unique situation, from the beginning, in a simple and affordable way. "Our board and I are thrilled to welcome Wellmark to help drive our transformative agenda," said Hank Schlissberg, chief executive officer of Evio. "Having established a compelling vision, a phenomenal team, and a track record of measurable impact, Evio was open to new partners for the first time. When we evaluated potential additions, Wellmark quickly rose to the top. Their innovative thinking aligns seamlessly with our mission to reshape pharmacy care." Paul Eddy, chief health and innovation officer at Wellmark, expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership: "We are excited about our investment in Evio. By leveraging Evio's innovative methods and aligning with our commitment to making health care better, this partnership will enhance our ability to provide our customers and members with even greater access to appropriate and affordable medications for their unique needs. Additionally, we will work together within the pharmaceutical industry to help manage the cost of medications." Since its launch, Evio has established a strong track record of value creation for its health plan investors by: Conducting real-world evidence analytics studies to generate actionable insights on drug performance in specific patient populations and diagnoses: enabling data-driven formulary and benefit designs to support members. to generate actionable insights on drug performance in specific patient populations and diagnoses: enabling data-driven formulary and benefit designs to support members. Designing and executing innovative pharmaceutical manufacturer contracts that ensure access to the right medications with measurable cost savings and outcomes-based incentives. that ensure access to the right medications with measurable cost savings and outcomes-based incentives. Building a suite of digital tools that empower health plans and providers with patient-level analytics and tailored recommendations. Like all owner health plans, Wellmark will have the option to participate in all of Evio's offerings and actively contribute to the company's future innovations through board representation. As Evio continues its mission to transform the pharmacy value chain, the addition of Wellmark strengthens its ability to deliver transformative, cost-effective, and patient-centered pharmacy solutions across the country. About Evio Evio Pharmacy Solutions is an independent pharmacy solutions company that works with health plans to transform the medication experience for everyone: patients, providers, employers, and the pharmacy system at large. Using real-world evidence analytics, innovative value-based and direct contracts with pharmaceutical manufacturers, and complete transparency, Evio's vision is for every patient to have access to the right medication for their unique situation, from the beginning, in a simple and affordable way. We are an independent company owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Shield of California, Highmark Inc., Independence Blue Cross, and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, who in total provide services to more than 20 million members. www.evio.com. About Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Wellmark, Inc., is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. As a mutual insurance company, we're owned by our policy holders across Iowa and South Dakota. More than two million people in Iowa and South Dakota are covered by a Wellmark health plan. We work hard every day to make health care better as a trusted, innovative and inclusive leader committed to improving the health of the people and communities we serve. Learn more at Wellmark.com. SOURCE Evio Pharmacy Solutions The EY Blockchain Analyzer: Smart Contract and Token Review (SC&TR) tool helps enhance both the efficiency and comprehensiveness of smart contract testing, reducing review times for EY teams by more than 50%. The new integrated AI capabilities can improve the tool's ability to detect vulnerabilities through greater code coverage using automation, help reduce the risk that a vulnerability would not be spotted in a manual review and allow for faster contract reviews. SC&TR tool helps empower clients to deploy contracts with greater confidence and efficiency in a complex blockchain landscape. LONDON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The EY organization today announces the launch of new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to its EY Blockchain Analyzer: Smart Contract and Token Review (SC&TR) tool. The SC&TR tool is designed to help enhance vulnerability detection in smart contracts through greater code coverage and streamline the contract simulation process for faster, more robust smart contract reviews. The advanced AI feature enables users to automate and simulate the entire contract review process using natural language prompts and the tool's testing engine, enhancing efficiency. Trained on an extensive library of existing tests and simulations, the feature supports the reviewer and improves the ability to detect vulnerabilities. This automation allows clients to achieve higher test coverage while leveraging the same number of resources, reducing review times also for EY teams by 50%1. This can better position businesses to deploy smart contracts more effectively and more confidently. According to Allied Market Research, the smart contract market is expected to grow to $2.5 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 29.6% from 2023 to 2032. As such, the risk of hidden vulnerabilities within smart contracts, which often go undetected through traditional test methods, could lead to increased security risks and also financial losses. The SC&TR tool's new AI capabilities eliminate several time-consuming manual steps for smart contract deployment, such as sandbox simulations and test creation, reducing the likelihood of human error. This helps enhance the efficiency and comprehensiveness of smart contract testing, empowering clients to deploy contracts and manage their security. Paul Brody, EY Global Blockchain Leader says: "To capitalize on the true value that smart contracts can bring, enterprises first need to remove several of the manual processes that are highly time-intensive and can easily overlook vulnerabilities in the testing process. Our EY Blockchain Analyzer: SC&TR tool is a testament to how blockchain and AI can complement one another to automate and improve processes, leading to in this case more efficient smart contracts." Avner Geifman, EY Israel Emerging Tech Leader says: "Leveraging our newly launched AI capabilities in conjunction with the test engine we've been developing over time within our EY Blockchain Analyzer: SC&TR tool, we are now able to offer significantly greater coverage for smart contract testing. This advancement also introduces a much more user-friendly approach, allowing users to assess smart contracts using natural language instead of traditional coding methods." The EY Blockchain Analyzer: Smart Contract and Token Review tool will be available for client use in Q1 2025. For more information and a demo about EY Blockchain Analyzer, visit: https://blockchain.ey.com/products/reviewtool. About EY EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets. Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow. EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories. All in to shape the future with confidence. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients. 1 Reduction of review times are the experience of EY teams based on the typical amount of time it takes to create test scenarios versus the amount of time required for the same test scenarios to be created using A.I. functionality. This is not a guarantee of an outcome for users. SOURCE EYGS LLP MADISON, Wis., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Newsweek announced that Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. is being recognized as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. This award derives from a rigorous, independent study conducted by Newsweek and market data research firm Plant-A Insights. The study gathered insights from over 142,000 women employees across the U.S., resulting in 848,000+ company reviews. "This award shows how Fairway's equitable training, robust mentorship and wellbeing initiatives help break the glass ceiling for women," said Julie Fry, Fairway's Chief Human Resources Officer. "We always strive for best-in-industry employee satisfaction." The study by Plant-A-Insights involved an assessment of publicly accessible data, discussions and interviews with HR professionals, and large-scale confidential online surveys conducted among women working for U.S.-based companies. Employers were judged based on their proactive management of a diverse workforce, sustainability and awareness, compensation and benefits, training and career progression, work-life balance, working environment, company image and corporate culture. About Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. Madison, WI- and Carrollton, TX-based Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #2289) is a full-service mortgage lender licensed in all 50 states. Fairway is the #2 overall retail lender in the U.S. SOURCE Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation GUANGZHOU, China, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from GDToday: China's annual "two sessions" are being held in Beijing from March 4 to March 11. With a target of hitting 134.9 trillion yuan in 2024, China has set its 2025 GDP growth target at around 5%, announced at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress when Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the government work report on March 5. "5% growth in China equates to 1/3 of the global growth. If we think about this, we can see the stabilizing effect of Chinese growth, and its stable growth benefits the whole world," said Danilo Turk, former President of Slovenia, as well as President of Club de Madrid in an exclusive interview with GDToday. Structural changes do not mean "economic collapses" In recent years, some Western media or institutions have been suspicious of China's economic growth. Some have alleged that China's economy is in recession, as the growth of GDP in 2024 (5%) is lower than that of 2023 (5.2%). "The high level of growth in China inevitably brings moments of structural changes, which means some sectors will grow slowly, while other sectors will grow more quickly," said Turk. According to the government work report, foreign trade made a new historical record, while statistics show that export volume had increased by 7.1% year on year. Although the export of labor-intensive products decreased in 2024, the export of mechanical and electrical products increased by 8.7% and accounted for nearly 60% of the total export volume. Furthermore, electric vehicles, 3D printers, and industrial robots increased by 13.1%, 32.8%, and 45.2% in comparison with 2023, which shows the outcome of China's structural change from labor-intensive to high-end manufacturing. In his opinion, China is the main factor of stability in the global economy, saying, "The growth of China is an immensely important factor in the economic situation. We have to remind ourselves that 5% growth in China means 1/3 of the global growth." He believes that the growth target at around 5% is achievable for China in 2025. "China has demonstrated that its policymaking has credibility." When answering the target for GDP growth in China in 2025, Turk stressed that, based on his observation, unlike most cases around the world, China can achieve the goal because every objective has been repeatedly deliberated by meticulous experts. 2025 marks the final year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period. In Turk's opinion, this is a transition between the 14thFive-Year Plan and the 15thFive-Year Plan, which will show the long-term orientation of China and attract worldwide attention. While China is facing an aging society, which is a major challenge in Europe, Turk demonstrated that encouraging the younger generation to be innovators can guarantee the continuation of a high level of development, which China has achieved in the past decades. At the beginning of 2025, a large-scale AI model called DeepSeek gained worldwide attention because of its low cost and efficient large-scale capabilities, which are regarded as a milestone of China's innovation. DeepSeek was founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, a 39-year-old programmer born in Guangdong's city of Zhanjiang. "It is not surprising that technological innovations come from young people, and DeepSeek has surprised the world with a very strong involvement of young people," said Turk. At present, some companies in the healthcare and technology sectors have announced access to models that allow people to live in a more convenient society. "China will remain the centerpiece of the global economy in the next 5 years," he stressed. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a unique mode in the world It's been 8 years since the government work report first included the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in 2017. The government work report this year states that China will improve the innovation capability of the Greater Bay Area. "I've visited China about 40 to 50 times, and I thought I came to a new country every time I visited somewhere in China because there were so many new buildings and new things to see. The Greater Bay Area is probably the most developed region," said Turk. In his opinion, the Greater Bay Area is a unique place worldwide as it integrates trade, commerce, finance, and technology. "It is not just about developing a new area, but developing the area within a synergistic system because each place within the area has its own characteristics." "The Greater Bay Area has four pre-existing models, and it will evolve into a new quality," he added. According to a press conference held by the National People's Congress on March 4, the GDP of the Greater Bay Area has reached 14 trillion yuan. Furthermore, people can now travel between cities within the Greater Bay Area in under 1 hour. Turk told GDToday that the Greater Bay Area will become the the most fascinating regions in the world, and he will keep a close eye on its progress. SOURCE GDToday Macron: I want to believe that USA to remain on our side, but we must be ready if not Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron called for being prepared for the fact that the US may not remain on our side. I want to believe that the United States will remain on our side. But we must be ready if it is not. Regardless of whether peace is achieved in Ukraine quickly or not, European states must, given the Russian threat, be able to better defend themselves and deter any new aggression, he said in an address to the French, broadcast on the social network X. Macron noted that the US has changed its position on the Russian war against Ukraine, is less supportive of Kyiv, and leaves doubts about what will happen next. At the same time, the United States intends to impose tariffs on products from Europe. Yes, whatever happens, we must arm ourselves more, raise our defense posture, and this is for peace itself, for deterrence. In this regard, we remain committed to NATO and our partnership with the United States of America, he noted. The French leader stressed that the future of Europe should not be decided in Washington or Moscow. According to Macron, tomorrow in Brussels, at an extraordinary meeting of the European Council, we will take decisive steps. A series of decisions will be adopted that France has been proposing for several years. Member states will be able to increase their military spending without counting this in their deficit, Macron said. He added that large-scale joint financing will be agreed for the purchase and production of some of the most innovative ammunition, tanks, weapons and equipment in Europe. According to Macron, he asked the government to take measures so that this will strengthen our armed forces as soon as possible, as well as accelerate the reindustrialization of all our regions. In addition, in the coming days, Macron will meet with the relevant ministers and industrialists in this sector. Thus, the Europe of Defense, which we have been advocating for 8 years, is becoming a reality. This means that European countries are more prepared for defense and protection, that they produce together the equipment they need on their own soil, that they are ready to cooperate more to reduce their dependence on the rest of the world, the president stressed. Freddy's responds to guest demand with 10 permanent menu additions, strengthening franchisee appeal. NEW frozen custard treats: Cold Brew Caramel Crunch, Reese's Royale, OREO Double Trouble, and Strawberry Dreamcake Popular, limited-time menu items, including the Grilled Cheese Steakburger and Prime Rib Steakburger, are now available year-round Permanent side items now include Tots and Freddy's Kettle Chips WICHITA, Kan., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Freddy's, the leading fast-casual restaurant concept serving cooked-to-order steakburgers, shoestring fries, and freshly churned frozen custard, is excited to announce the addition of several popular menu items to its permanent lineup. The move comes in response to guest sentiment and overwhelming demand for the return of previously limited-time offerings. New to the Menu: Freddys is excited to announce the addition of several popular menu items to its permanent lineup, including the Strawberry Dreamcake Sundae. Cold Brew Caramel Crunch: Vanilla custard blended with cold brew coffee, chopped Heath toffee bar, and caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream (available as a shake or concrete.) Vanilla custard blended with cold brew coffee, chopped Heath toffee bar, and caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream (available as a shake or concrete.) Reese's Royale: Vanilla custard with Reese's Peanut Butter Sauce and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. Vanilla custard with Peanut Butter Sauce and Peanut Butter Cups, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. OREO Double Trouble: Vanilla custard with a double portion of OREO cookies, topped with whipped cream and garnished with more OREO . Vanilla custard with a double portion of OREO cookies, topped with whipped cream and garnished with more OREO . Strawberry Dreamcake: Vanilla custard with diced strawberries, cinnamon streusel, and New York-style cheesecake, topped with whipped cream and garnished with additional crunchy streusel. Vanilla custard with diced strawberries, cinnamon streusel, and New York-style cheesecake, topped with whipped cream and garnished with additional crunchy streusel. Freddy's Kettle Chips: Crispy kettle-cooked potato chips seasoned with Freddy's Fry Seasoning. Back by Popular Demand: Grilled Cheese Steakburger: A mashup of two classic favorites, this is made with two steakburger patties, two slices each of American and Swiss cheese, buttery Texas toast, crispy bacon, and a savory tomato spread that's like dipping your grilled cheese in tomato soup. A mashup of two classic favorites, this is made with two steakburger patties, two slices each of American and Swiss cheese, buttery toast, crispy bacon, and a savory tomato spread that's like dipping your grilled cheese in tomato soup. Prime Rib Steakburger: Thinly-sliced prime rib is stacked on two steakburger patties with melted Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and sauteed portobello mushrooms on a toasted bun with garlic aioli. Thinly-sliced prime rib is stacked on two steakburger patties with melted Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and sauteed portobello mushrooms on a toasted bun with garlic aioli. Tots: Crispy tots pre-seasoned with Freddy's Fry Seasoning. Available in kids, regular, or large sizes. Crispy tots pre-seasoned with Freddy's Fry Seasoning. Available in kids, regular, or large sizes. Lemon Cream Frost: All-natural lemonade blended with vanilla frozen custard and topped with whipped cream. All-natural lemonade blended with vanilla frozen custard and topped with whipped cream. Orange Cream Frost: All-natural lemonade blended with vanilla frozen custard and orange cream powder and topped with whipped cream. All-natural lemonade blended with vanilla frozen custard and orange cream powder and topped with whipped cream. The Peanut Butter Bananza (formerly the PBC&B): Vanilla custard with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and bananas, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. Freddy's new deliciously crispy tots and kettle-cooked potato chips give guests another side option to go perfectly with any entree. The brand's addition of Frosts and expansion of new frozen custard treats to its permanent menu lineup offers guests extra variety and enticing and craveable flavors. "These menu additions reflect our commitment to innovation and meeting the evolving tastes of our guests," said Erin Walter, CMO of Freddy's. "By making these fan favorites permanent fixtures on our menu, we're ensuring that our guests can enjoy their preferred items year-round while also providing our franchisees with exciting new offerings to drive sales and guest loyalty." From Limited Time Offers to Permanent Fixtures Freddy's Grilled Cheese Steakburger and Prime Rib Steakburger were the brand's most well-loved and best-performing limited-time burger offers, receiving an abundance of comments from guests who wanted to see the items returned to the menu. The decision to add these items permanently not only caters to guest preferences but also supports Freddy's franchise network. By incorporating these popular, high-demand items into the core menu, early indicators show franchisees can expect increased traffic and higher average transaction values. "Our focus on menu innovation is a key component of our traffic-driving strategy," Chris Dull, CEO of Freddy's. "By continually refreshing our menu with popular items, we're helping our franchisees stay competitive in the fast-casual market and attract new guests to their locations." This menu expansion follows a period of significant growth for Freddy's, which now boasts over 550 locations across 36 states. The brand continues to seek franchise partners in various markets across the United States. For information on franchising opportunities with Freddy's, visit freddysfranchising.com. ABOUT FREDDY'S FROZEN CUSTARD & STEAKBURGERS Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is a leading fast-casual franchise concept with over 550 locations across 36 states nationwide. Founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002, the brand offers a unique combination of cooked-to-order steakburgers, all-beef hot dogs, shoestring fries and other savory items, along with freshly churned frozen custard treats. Known for operating The Freddy's Way, Guests experience genuine hospitality and food prepared fresh with premium ingredients. This signature approach has fueled Freddy's ongoing growth throughout the U.S. and garnered national recognition from industry-leading rankings, including being named No. 23 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers + Shakers, No. 67 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and No. 36 on Yelp's 50 Most Loved Brands. For more on Freddy's, visit the Newsroom and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. For more information about development opportunities, visit freddysfranchising.com . Media Contact: Cole Koretos, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] SOURCE Freddys Frozen Custard & Steakburgers The increasing prevalence of neurological disorders, such as cerebral aneurysms, ischemic strokes, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), is the key factor fueling the demand for interventional neuroradiology. As these conditions become more common, there is a growing need for minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment methods to enhance patient outcomes and shorten recovery periods. LAS VEGAS, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Interventional Neuroradiology Market Insights report provides the current and forecast market analysis, individual leading interventional neuroradiology companies' market shares, challenges, interventional neuroradiology market drivers, barriers, trends, and key market interventional neuroradiology companies in the market. Key Takeaways from the Interventional Neuroradiology Market Report As per DelveInsight estimates, North America is anticipated to dominate the global interventional neuroradiology market during the forecast period. is anticipated to dominate the global interventional neuroradiology market during the forecast period. In the device segment of the interventional neuroradiology market, the flow diversion stents category had a significant revenue share in 2024, driven by their versatile applications, clinical advantages, and increasing product approvals that are collectively fueling market demand during the forecast period. Notable interventional neuroradiology companies such as Stryker, Boston Scientific Corporation, MicroVention Inc., Cook, Mediterra, Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Merit Medical Systems, Inc., Terumo Corporation, Penumbra, Inc., MicroPort Scientific Corporation, Balt Group, AngioDynamics, Acandis GmBH, Phenox, InspireMD Inc., and several others, are currently operating in the interventional neuroradiology market. and several others, are currently operating in the interventional neuroradiology market. In October 2023 , the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) launched the Standards of Practice for Interventional Radiology and Interventional Neuroradiology during its 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) held in Adelaide . These standards aim to enhance patient safety, optimize clinical outcomes, and ensure consistent quality of care in interventional radiology and neuroradiology procedures across the region. To read more about the latest highlights related to the interventional neuroradiology market, get a snapshot of the key highlights entailed in the Global Interventional Neuroradiology Market Report Interventional Neuroradiology Overview Interventional neuroradiology (INR), also known as neurointerventional surgery, is a specialized field of radiology that focuses on minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat vascular conditions of the brain, spine, head, and neck. Using advanced imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI, interventional neuroradiologists navigate catheters and microinstruments through blood vessels to perform treatments without the need for open surgery. Common procedures include endovascular coiling for brain aneurysms, mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke, carotid artery stenting, and embolization for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and tumors. These techniques significantly reduce recovery time, risk of complications, and hospital stays compared to traditional surgical approaches. The field of INR has advanced rapidly with innovations in catheter-based technology, embolic materials, and imaging guidance systems. The integration of artificial intelligence and robotic-assisted procedures is further improving precision and outcomes. Given the time-sensitive nature of neurological emergencies such as stroke, INR plays a critical role in improving survival rates and reducing disability by enabling rapid and effective intervention. As research continues, novel applications such as targeted drug delivery and gene therapy via endovascular routes are emerging, expanding the scope of interventional neuroradiology beyond vascular disorders to broader neurological and oncological treatments. Interventional Neuroradiology Market Insights North America is currently dominating the interventional neuroradiology market due to its advanced healthcare infrastructure, high adoption of minimally invasive procedures, and strong reimbursement policies. The United States, in particular, is witnessing rising demand for thrombectomy devices and flow-diverting stents, supported by an aging population and growing awareness of early stroke intervention. Europe follows closely, with countries like Germany, France, and the UK investing in neurovascular treatment advancements and expanding access to specialized care centers. In the Asia-Pacific region, the INR market is expanding rapidly, fueled by improving healthcare infrastructure, rising healthcare expenditures, and an increasing incidence of cerebrovascular diseases. China and India are key markets benefiting from a surge in medical tourism, government initiatives to improve stroke care, and the growing presence of international medical device manufacturers. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are seeing steady growth, albeit at a slower pace, due to increasing healthcare access and investments in neurovascular care. However, challenges such as limited specialist availability and high procedure costs remain barriers to widespread adoption in these regions. To know more about why North America is leading the market growth in the interventional neuroradiology market, get a snapshot of the Interventional Neuroradiology Market Outlook Interventional Neuroradiology Market Dynamics The interventional neuroradiology market has witnessed steady growth over the past few years, driven by advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Interventional neuroradiology involves minimally invasive procedures to treat various cerebrovascular diseases, including stroke, aneurysms, and brain tumors. The increasing prevalence of these conditions, coupled with a growing focus on early diagnosis and intervention, is significantly boosting the demand for INR procedures. Technologies such as endovascular stent grafts, embolization devices, and thrombectomy devices are evolving, further fueling market expansion. Additionally, these procedures are gaining popularity due to their minimally invasive nature, reduced recovery times, and fewer complications compared to traditional surgery. Key drivers of the INR market include the aging population, rising healthcare awareness, and increasing incidence rates of neurological disorders, such as ischemic stroke and brain aneurysms. With the global population aging, the demand for interventional neuroradiology services is expected to rise as elderly individuals are more prone to cerebrovascular diseases. Moreover, the focus on improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs has led to the adoption of minimally invasive procedures, which are more cost-effective than traditional surgeries. The advancements in technology, such as robotic-assisted surgery, imaging systems, and catheter technologies, have enhanced the precision of these procedures, making them safer and more effective, further driving market growth. Despite these positive trends, the market faces challenges such as high treatment costs, limited availability of skilled professionals, and regulatory barriers. The high cost of advanced interventional neuroradiology equipment, as well as the specialized training required for physicians, can restrict access in some regions. Furthermore, reimbursement policies and regulations in certain countries may limit the expansion of INR services. However, the growing investment from both private and public entities in the field of interventional neuroradiology is expected to mitigate these barriers over time. Additionally, emerging economies are seeing an increase in demand for advanced medical procedures, creating new market opportunities for INR services. The competitive landscape of the interventional neuroradiology market is also evolving, with numerous medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers investing in the development of innovative products and services. Companies are focusing on enhancing the efficiency of INR procedures and improving patient outcomes. Partnerships between medical device companies and hospitals are becoming more common, allowing for the integration of advanced technologies into clinical practice. As these technologies continue to evolve, the market is expected to see more personalized and precise treatment options, further shaping the future of interventional neuroradiology. With continued advancements and increasing healthcare investments, the INR market is poised for substantial growth in the coming years. Get a sneak peek at the interventional neuroradiology market dynamics @ Interventional Neuroradiology Market Dynamics Analysis Report Metrics Details Coverage Global Study Period 20222032 Interventional Neuroradiology Market CAGR ~7% Interventional Neuroradiology Market Size by 2032 USD 52 Billion Key Interventional Neuroradiology Companies Stryker, Boston Scientific Corporation, MicroVention Inc., Cook, Mediterra, Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Merit Medical Systems, Inc., Terumo Corporation, Penumbra, Inc., MicroPort Scientific Corporation, Balt Group, AngioDynamics, Acandis GmBH, Phenox, InspireMD Inc., among others Interventional Neuroradiology Market Assessment Interventional Neuroradiology Market Segmentation Interventional Neuroradiology Market Segmentation By Device: Micro guidewires, Microcatheters, Flow Diversion Stents, Embolization Coils, Neurovascular Embolization Devices, and Others Micro guidewires, Microcatheters, Flow Diversion Stents, Embolization Coils, Neurovascular Embolization Devices, and Others Interventional Neuroradiology Market Segmentation By Disease: Cerebral Aneurysms, Intracranial Tumors, Acute Ischemic Strokes, and Other Diseases Cerebral Aneurysms, Intracranial Tumors, Acute Ischemic Strokes, and Other Diseases Interventional Neuroradiology Market Segmentation By End-User: Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Others Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Others Interventional Neuroradiology Market Segmentation By Geography : North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and Rest of World : , , , and Rest of World Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOL's Views, Analyst's View Which MedTech key players in the interventional neuroradiology market are set to emerge as the trendsetter explore @ Interventional Neuroradiology Companies Table of Contents 1 Interventional Neuroradiology Market Report Introduction 2 Interventional Neuroradiology Market Executive Summary 3 Competitive Landscape 4 Regulatory Analysis 5 Interventional Neuroradiology Market Key Factors Analysis 6 Interventional Neuroradiology Market Porter's Five Forces Analysis 7 Interventional Neuroradiology Market Layout 8 Interventional Neuroradiology Market Company and Product Profiles 9 KOL Views 10 Project Approach 11 About DelveInsight 12 Disclaimer & Contact Us Interested in knowing the interventional neuroradiology market by 2032? Click to get a snapshot of the Interventional Neuroradiology Market Trends Related Reports Acute Ischemic Stroke Market Acute Ischemic Stroke Market Insight, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key acute ischemic stroke companies, including Acticor Biotech, DiaMedica Therapeutics, Lumosa Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Genentech, Inc., Athersy, Healios K.K., NoNO Inc., Bayer, ZZ Biotech, Biogen Inc., Revalesio Corporation, AbbVie, TrueBinding, Inc, Silver Creek Pharmaceuticals, among others. Acute Ischemic Stroke Epidemiology Forecast Acute Ischemic Stroke Epidemiology Forecast 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted acute ischemic stroke epidemiology in the 7MM, i.e., the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom), and Japan. Acute Ischemic Stroke Pipeline Acute Ischemic Stroke Pipeline Insight 2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key acute ischemic stroke companies, including Genentech, Acticor Biotech, DiaMedica Therapeutics, and NoNO, among others. Ischemic Stroke Market Ischemic Stroke Market Insight, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key ischemic stroke companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Ltd., ZZ Biotech, Biogen, and Bayer, among others. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant, and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Contact Us Shruti Thakur [email protected] +14699457679 https://www.delveinsight.com/medical-devices Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP BEIJING, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to ecological and environmental protection, it is essential to take into account the overall interests, the long-term interests, and the comprehensive interests. Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of keeping an ecological account in mind in decision-making on many occasions. During the national two sessions in 2021, lawmaker Zhou Yizhe from North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region shared with the delegation his personal story of transforming from a logger to a forest ranger, as the tree plantation where he worked had abandoned timber production to engage in environmental protection, according to Xinhua News Agency. Zhou said the plantation has become a habitat to more wild animals, and the ecosystem in the forests and wetlands has become a source of wealth. "Your identity shift from a logger to a forest ranger epitomizes our country's transformation in industrial structures," Xi said after hearing Zhou's story. Highlighting the concept of "green GDP," Xi said that maintaining a good ecological environment is of enormous value. Environmental issues have always been a hot topic at annual national two sessions. When asked about the work carried out over the past year regarding the construction of a "Beautiful China," Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, stated that the CPPCC National Committee places great importance on ecological and environmental protection. For the first time, this session established an environment and resources sector, bringing together political advisors, scientific experts, and entrepreneurs from fields such as ecology, environmental protection, and energy. Bearing in mind the earnest instructions given by Xi during last year's two sessions, they have focused on strategic, overarching, and forward-looking issues in building a "Beautiful China," as well as ecological and environmental concerns widely shared by the public. Through in-depth consultations, discussions, and democratic oversight, they have achieved positive results. Focusing on green and low-carbon high-quality development as a fundamental strategy, the CPPCC National Committee has vigorously promoted green production and lifestyles, deepened consensus on the transformation of enterprises, and facilitated the green upgrading of industries, Liu said. Battles against pollution On a typical sunny March day in Beijing in 2024, Xi walked into a room filled with national political advisors, continuing a decade-old tradition of engaging in discussions on critical issues that shape the country's development and impact people's lives, according to Xinhua. This year, air quality was on the agenda. Xi recalled frequent sandstorms in Beijing during his childhood, which would leave a layer of dust on the floor if windows were left open for a day. Reflecting on those dusty days, Xi humorously remarked, "It wasn't PM2.5 back then, it was 'PM250,'" drawing laughter from those present, the Xinhua report said. Talking to the political advisors, Xi also mentioned "APEC blue," a term coined to describe the clear skies in Beijing during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) China 2014 summit. In November 2014, while addressing the visiting APEC leaders, Xi directly responded to views labeling "APEC blue" as temporary, expressing his hope and determination that "with persistent efforts, the 'APEC blue' will be here to stay." During the national two sessions in the past decade, the Chinese leader has repeatedly emphasized the need to win the battles against air, water and soil pollution. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, intensive efforts have been made across all regions, sectors, and stages, marking major progress in building a "Beautiful China." By 2024, the three battles had yielded remarkable results. "Over the past year, the proportion of days with good air quality nationwide reached 87.2 percent, the proportion of surface water sections with excellent water quality hit 90.4 percent, forest coverage exceeded 25 percent, and China's artificial forest area ranked first globally, making it the country with the largest increase in green coverage worldwide," Liu, the spokesperson, noted. "At no time should we take hasty and reckless actions, drain the pond to catch the fish, or focus only on GDP growth," Xi said while attending a discussion with deputies from Jiangsu in March 2023, citing the example of Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake, which is in the lower Yangtze River region. The discharge of industrial and domestic waste caused serious pollution in Taihu, and it took great efforts to rectify the situation, Xi noted. "We say that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, but if we fail to protect the ecology, we will end up with losses rather than benefits," Xi said. Substantial advancements have been achieved in treating Taihu, and the Taihu region has served as a prime example demonstrating that economic development and environmental conservation can go hand in hand without contradiction. The "ecological account" has seen concrete manifestations. Toward 'dual carbon' goals In speeches at international events, during inspection tours across the country or deliberation with fellow lawmakers at the two sessions, Xi has consistently signaled that the dual carbon goals are high on the policy agenda. Joining discussions with fellow lawmakers from Inner Mongolia in March 2022, Xi said that China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals necessitated both active and prudent efforts, according to Xinhua. "Green transition takes time and cannot be achieved overnight," Xi said in the discussions, cautioning against campaign-style carbon reductions and "a sudden brake." Since announcing in 2019 it would peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, China has made substantial efforts to pursue greener development, including starting a national carbon market and putting a stop to building new coal-fired power projects overseas. By the end of 2024, China's renewable energy capacity reached 1.889 billion kilowatts, accounting for over half of the total, surging by nearly 960 million kilowatts since the end of 2020. Wind and solar power capacity exceeded 1.4 billion kilowatts, while the country has 102 operational and approved nuclear power units, with a capacity of 113 million kilowatts, China Electric Power News reported. Lu Tiezhong, chairman of China National Nuclear Power Co Ltd (CNNC) and a CPPCC National Committee member, told the Global Times that apart from helping to reduce carbon emissions, the company's non-nuclear clean energy projects had also created significant social benefits. For example, the Altash water conservancy project in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has greatly improved residents' living standards. In Tongxin, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the corporation has developed a "solar plus geothermal" heating model for farmers, providing convenience for residents' daily lives. This year, Lu proposed incorporating nuclear power into the green electricity and green certification system. As a stable and reliable source of high-quality green low-carbon electricity, nuclear power has the lowest lifecycle carbon emissions among all types of power generation, Lu said. "If the positioning of nuclear power in the green electricity and green certificate market can be further clarified, it will ensure the sustainable development of nuclear power and help meet the dual demands of energy security and energy transition." A 'red line' to hold While meeting national political advisors, including those from the sector of environment and resources, during the two sessions in 2024, Xi said that "the CPC Central Committee always attaches great importance to environmental protection." He emphasized the need to secure red lines in the development and protection of territorial space, and improve the region-specific environmental management system to further consolidate the ecological foundations of high-quality development, according to Xinhua report. The ecological red line also comes with an "account book." China has led the world in establishing an ecological protection red line system, designating areas critical for ecological functions, highly fragile ecosystems and regions with significant ecological potential. Covering at least 3.15 million square kilometers - 3 million on land and 0.15 million in marine areas - these red lines enforce strict rules to safeguard vital ecological spaces, forming the foundation for sustainable development, the People's Daily reported in 2023. In May 2023, at a World Earth Day event in Fuzhou, Fujian, China's Ministry of Natural Resources announced the completion of the red line delineation. To enforce it, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment introduced a database with five catalogues of the "account book" - ecological area, type, function, management, and metrics - ensuring effective oversight at all levels. Nowadays, in Anji county, East China's Zhejiang Province, scenes of bamboo forests, fresh air, flowing streams and tourists enjoying the landscape are now common. "The red line area covers 14 zones, nearly one-fifth of the county," Zhang Yi, head of Anji's resource planning bureau, was quoted by the People's Daily as saying in 2023. Today, Anji has become a symbol of the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Visitors here enjoy the beauty of nature on its green grasslands, among its bamboo forests and in its cozy cafes. Through the transformation of ecological resource value and policy support in the past years, Anji has not only improved residents' income levels, but also successfully attracted a large number of young talents to return to their hometowns to start businesses and find jobs, providing support for rural revitalization and urban-rural integrated development. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329570.shtml SOURCE Global Times DALLAS, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GoldenHome's ability to quickly deliver its top-quality custom-fitted cabinets and furnishings to American customers just became more streamlined as today the company announced the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Dallas. The new facility in Cedar Hill was officially opened today by GoldenHome CEO Sean Zen Pan at a grand ceremony with local government, businesses, and media partners. GoldenHome opens new intelligent factory in Dallas, Texas. GoldenHome, a global leader in custom home solutions, is now operating over 4,000 retail outlets around the world. The brand focuses on high-end integrated kitchen cabinets and customized home furnishings. While the majority of GoldenHome's manufacturing occurs in China, recent years have seen the company significantly expand production to international markets to better serve its global customers. The new factory in Dallas marks GoldenHome's first manufacturing in North America. Dallas was selected because of its highly skilled workforce, advanced infrastructure, and prime location, which allows it to efficiently serve the entire US market. The new 130,000-square-foot facility will employ approximately 100 staff members and, once fully operational, will have the capacity to produce 500 custom cabinets daily. GoldenHome anticipates that this advanced facility will not only benefit the cabinet industry but also significantly boost the local economy through collaboration and innovation. Speaking at the event, CEO Sean Zen Pan explained how the new Dallas factory "is an advanced facility in a strategic location for GoldenHome to more effectively serve our US customers with customized products made here in America. We are thrilled to be opening here in Dallas with our first-class intelligent manufacturing capabilities." A highlight of the facility is its use of advanced technology for "intelligent manufacturing", featuring aspects of automation across the entire process. This begins with resource planning. Based on received orders, the system automatically gathers the necessary materials and delivers them to the production line, ensuring efficient resource allocation. Throughout production, each of the five critical stages cutting, edge banding, drilling, sorting, and packaging is digitally monitored by a central control system, reducing the potential for human error. The production lines feature intelligent procedures for both lacquer baking and panel production, further enhancing precision and consistency. Equipment such as robotic arms, CNC drilling machines, edge banders, and electric saws are seamlessly integrated into the system to execute customized procedures for each product. Automation is also incorporated into quality control, with each task is assigned a unique traceable code, enabling digital storage and tracking of product information. While automation handles most tasks, manual inspections are still conducted to uphold the highest quality standards, particularly for customized products. "The products coming out of this facility will be of the highest quality and level of customization unseen in the industry," continued Pan. "We are setting a new global standard in manufacturing, right here in Dallas." About GoldenHome GoldenHome is a leading provider of premium integrated kitchen cabinets and customized home solutions. Founded in 1999 in Xiamen, China, the company has since grown into a publicly traded entity (Stock Code: SH603180), with over 4,000 retail locations worldwide. With five manufacturing bases across the globe, GoldenHome expanded into the American market in 2014. The company established its US subsidiary in 2017 and is currently developing an intelligent factory in Dallas, Texas. As an industry leader in home furnishings, GoldenHome offers modern-style cabinets that are fully customizable to meet the unique needs of each homeowner. The company holds hundreds of design patents, allowing for unparalleled personalization options in home interiors. SOURCE GoldenHome Owner Alanna DelRios is passionate about helping homeowners create beautiful and comfortable spaces TWIN LAKES, Wis., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gotcha Covered, a leader in custom window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada, has announced the opening of Gotcha Covered of Twin Lakes. The new location is owned and operated by Alanna DelRios. With an emphasis on end-to-end consultations, the new center provides the best in soft and hard window treatments to property owners in Walworth, Kenosha and Racine Counties by offering a variety of blinds, draperies, smart solutions and much more. Gotcha Covered of Twin Lakes Owner Alanna DelRio and her son, Alexander, want to help homeowners create beautiful and functional spaces. "Alanna is an asset to the Gotcha Covered family, and we're looking forward to the unique perspective she will bring the residents in the Twin Lakes area," said David Dunsmuir, president of Gotcha Covered. "There are fantastic opportunities for growth in that area, and we know that Alanna is the person to help Gotcha Covered expand in southern Wisconsin." DelRios, a 30-year resident of Kenosha County, spent most of her career working in sales, advertising and marketing for the newspaper industry and other media and communications businesses. She said her son, Alexander, will assist her in getting the business off the ground. "I'm excited to be taking this entrepreneurial journey with Alex," she said. "I want to show him a different perspective outside of what he'd learn in corporate America. This is an opportunity for me to serve both my community and my family." DelRios said the mother-and-son team plan to help homeowners bring their creative visions to life. "Window treatments are essential elements in a home because they offer both function and beauty," she said. "It's amazing how much the right window treatment can transform a home. We're ready to help homeowners create beautiful and comfortable spaces." Adding 30 new franchise locations in 2023, Gotcha Covered currently has more than 170 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada. The franchise has been operating under the Gotcha Covered name since 2009. To schedule an appointment with Gotcha Covered of Twin Lakes, visit https://www.gotchacovered.com/twin-lakes/. About Gotcha Covered Gotcha Covered is a leader in custom soft and hard window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada. Flying under their Gotcha Covered flag since 2009, they offer custom window treatments including blinds, draperies, shutters and much more. They offer end-to-end consultation with the customer's specific needs and goals in mind. The company currently has over 170 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR 865-977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE Gotcha Covered DALLAS, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Highland Opportunities and Income Fund (NYSE:HFRO) ("HFRO" or the "Fund") today announced the details of its tender and exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange common shares (the "Common Shares") for newly issued 5.375% Series B Preferred Shares (the "Preferred Shares"). Based on the final count by Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, the depositary for the Exchange Offer, a total of 21,673,105 shares of HFRO Common Shares were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer the Fund currently expects to exchange 10,000,000 Common Shares for Preferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation preference of approximately $100 million. As the Exchange Offer was oversubscribed, the Fund intends to exchange Common Shares from all tendering shareholders on a pro rata basis as described in the Offer to Exchange. The proration factor for the Common Shares that HFRO will accept pursuant to the Exchange Offer is approximately 46.140199 percent, and they will be allotted on pro-rata basis, as described in the Offer to Exchange. Any Common Shares that are not accepted for tender will be returned to the common shareholders that tendered them. The number of Common Shares expected to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer and proration factor are subject to change. About the Highland Opportunities and Income Fund The Highland Opportunities and Income Fund (NYSE: HFRO) is a closed-end fund managed by NexPoint Asset Management, L.P. For more information visit nexpointassetmgmt.com/opportunities-income-fund. About NexPoint Asset Management, L.P. NexPoint Asset Management, L.P. is an SEC-registered investment adviser. It is the adviser to a suite of registered funds, including open-end mutual funds and closed-end funds. For more information nexpointassetmgmt.com. Risks and Disclosures Additional terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer were set forth in the Fund's offering materials, which were filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and distributed to the Fund's common shareholders. As the number of Common Shares tendered for the Fund exceeded the maximum amount of the Exchange Offer, the Fund will purchase Common Shares from tendering shareholders on a pro-rata basis (disregarding fractional Common Shares and fractional Preferred Shares). The Fund has concluded the exchange offer described in this press release. This press release is not a recommendation, an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities of HFRO and the above statements are not intended to constitute an offer to participate in any tender or exchange offer. The solicitation and the offer to exchange Common Shares of HFRO was made pursuant to an offer to exchange and related materials that HFRO filed with the SEC and distributed to Fund Shareholders. Investors could obtain free copies of the Exchange Offer Statement and other documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's web site at sec.gov or on the Fund's website at nexpointassetmgmt.com/opportunities-income-fund. The Fund is relying on Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") to exempt the Exchange Offer from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Section 3(a)(9) provides that the registration requirements of the Securities Act will not apply to "any security exchanged by the issuer with its existing security holders exclusively where no commission or other remuneration is paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchange." The Fund has no contract, arrangement or understanding relating to, and will not, directly or indirectly, pay any commission or other remuneration to any broker, dealer, salesperson, agent or any other person for soliciting tenders in the Exchange Offer. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Highland Opportunities and Income Fund carefully before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund's annual report, which may be obtained by calling (800) 357-9167 or on the website at nexpointassetmgmt.com. Please read the annual report carefully before you invest. Any distribution paid by the Fund may include a return of capital. Please refer to the 19(a)-1 Source of Distribution Notice on the NexPoint Asset Management website for Section 19 notices that provide estimated amounts and sources of the Fund's distributions, which should not be relied upon for tax reporting purposes. CONTACTS Investor Relations Kristen Griffith [email protected] Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE Highland Opportunities and Income Fund HONG KONG, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (HKIAAC), established by the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in February 2024 to spearhead both local and international anti-corruption training initiatives and experience sharing, is stepping into its second year with reaffirmed commitment. The HKIAAC, with the full support of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, has accomplished a myriad of initiatives over the past year. A total of 23 international anti-corruption training courses were organised, covering 72 jurisdictions worldwide, to promote international anti-corruption collaboration. The courses covered professional areas including financial investigations, assets recovery, forensic investigations, as well as leadership and executive development. Through these courses, an international network of over 2,616 alumni was established, bringing together the strengths of global anti-corruption experts. Officers from the HKIAAC also travelled worldwide to provide customized trainings on capacity building, reaching out to places far and wide, including Mali, Kazakhstan, Greece, Panama, Mongolia, South Africa, Brunei and Abu Dhabi. Locally in Hong Kong, the HKIAAC has organised 11 anti-corruption training courses catered for different professional sectors such as banking, insurance, property management, etc. The HKIAAC also successfully obtained the Qualifications Framework Level 5 accreditation (equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree), which further affirmed its status as an internationally recognized top-tier anti-corruption training institution. "These achievements demonstrate HKIAAC's global reach and commitment to impactful anti-corruption training. The ICAC's 50-year solid graft-fighting experience is our greatest edge. ICAC investigators were able to share with trainees their investigation techniques in real corruption cases, anti-corruption knowledge and best practices. We also seized the opportunity to exchange experiences with worldwide participants during trainings, thereby enhancing the graft-fighting capabilities of all parties and achieving a win-win situation," ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming said. The past year also saw IAACA's efforts in forging collaborations with international organisations. Apart from partnering with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to co-host various anti-graft initiatives, the IAACA will continue to expand its reach to ACAs around the world to form a powerful graft-fighting network. Value co-creation in graft fighting Looking ahead, the HKIAAC will focus on value co-creation in fighting corruption. Collaborations with international academia, including Peking University, Tsinghua University and The University of Hong Kong, the HKIAAC are underway to conduct in-depth studies and research projects on corruption-related topics, from the promulgation of integrity-related public values, social support for fighting corruption, to corruption prevention initiatives. Through interactions and exchanges with different academic stakeholders in these projects, the HKIAAC looks forward to further enhancing its anti-corruption strategies and policies, and sharing significant research results with all graft-fighting counterparts around the world. "HKIAAC is on a journey to expand global influence, further its reach through targeted initiatives, and amplify its impact in the international anti-corruption arena," Commissioner Woo said. SOURCE Independent Commission Against Corruption Enhancing SQL Server Monitoring with the latest and best version of the popular database tool HOUSTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Idera, Inc., a leading provider of database productivity tools, is pleased to announce the general availability of SQL Diagnostic Manager 13.0. This latest release introduces integration with Microsoft Entra ID authentication, improving the credential management experience and providing a more secure authentication method for Azure SQL and SQL Server 2022 environments. Key Features of SQL Diagnostic Manager 13.0 IDERA SQL Diagnostic Manager Microsoft Entra ID Authentication Integration: Streamlines the Azure Discovery feature by eliminating the need for manual credential entry for each database or instance. This integration allows for the reuse of existing Azure Profiles, simplifying the monitoring setup for Azure SQL environments. Other benefits of this feature: Exploits existing Azure Profile feature of SQL Diagnostic Manager. Any Azure Profiles that are already in place for defining Azure Custom Counters or for discovery of Azure resources can be re-used as credentials for authentication for collection accounts. Facilitates adding large numbers of Azure resources with shared Entra ID credentials Uses the most secure connection to Azure SQL In addition to MS Entra integration of 13.0, other recent enhancements include: Scale-out Browser Compatibility for single pane view of multiple Diagnostic Manager installs and maximum performance and scale for single pane view of multiple Diagnostic Manager installs and maximum performance and scale Configurable Heat Map overview to graphically indicate the overall health of all instances driven by a calculated health index overview to graphically indicate the overall health of all instances driven by a calculated health index Service Now Integration: Send Diagnostic Manager alerts to Service Now for tracking in Service Now ticketing system About SQL Diagnostic Manager In today's data-driven landscape, maintaining optimal SQL Server performance is crucial. SQL Diagnostic Manager enables DBAs and other SQL Server professionals with a user-friendly desktop console and a mobile-compatible web console. This tool minimizes costly server downtime with agent-less, real-time monitoring and customizable alerting, enabling quick diagnosis and remediation. Proactive Monitoring: Continuously assesses server performance health and availability, providing real-time insights to prevent potential issues. Continuously assesses server performance health and availability, providing real-time insights to prevent potential issues. Comprehensive Diagnostics: Delivers in-depth analysis of performance metrics, helping identify and resolve bottlenecks efficiently. Delivers in-depth analysis of performance metrics, helping identify and resolve bottlenecks efficiently. Customizable Alerting: Allows users to set specific thresholds and receive alerts tailored to their environment's needs. By leveraging these capabilities, organizations can ensure their SQL Server environments operate at peak efficiency, reducing the risk of downtime and enhancing overall productivity. "The integration of Microsoft Entra ID authentication not only enhances security but also simplifies the administration of credentials in Azure environments compared to using standard SQL server authentication. This release reaffirms our investment in our SQL Server portfolio, delivering innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of SQL Server professionals," said Max Hunsicker, General Manager at Idera. About Idera, Inc.: Idera, Inc. provides a suite of software tools to help database and IT professionals manage their data systems with confidence. From monitoring and management to security and compliance, Idera's solutions empower users to ensure the performance, availability, and integrity of their data environments. For more information about SQL Diagnostic Manager 13.0 and to download a trial version, please visit Idera's website. Media Contact: David Greene 2146831915 [email protected] SOURCE Idera, Inc. Amid rising barriers to college affordability, the Foundation's transfer scholarship offers community college students a debt-free pathway to a bachelor's degree LANSDOWNE, Va., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation named 467 community college students as semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This transformative scholarship empowers exceptional community college students with financial need to transfer to the nation's top four-year institutions while avoiding the burden of student debt. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor's degree at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution in the U.S. "Our Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship represents a lifeline for exceptional community college students to actualize their academic dreams," said Giuseppe "Seppy" Basili, Executive Director of the Cooke Foundation. "This year's semifinalists exemplify the extraordinary talent found within community colleges across America, and we're excited to congratulate this group as we celebrate a quarter century of work as a Foundation." The 467 semifinalists were chosen from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants and attend 212 community colleges in 43 states. The rigorous selection process assesses candidates on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, demonstrated financial need, perseverance, and leadership. The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides comprehensive support that extends far beyond financial assistance, recognizing that admission and enrollment are only the beginning. This scholarship is designed to help students not only reach college but successfully navigate and complete their journey. Selected Cooke Transfer Scholars receive personalized educational advising from the Foundation's Deans of Scholar Support, who guide them through the transition to a four-year institution and help prepare them for future careers. Scholars also gain access to transformative opportunities including internships, study abroad experiences, and graduate school funding, as well as inclusion in a thriving community of more than 3,400 fellow Cooke Scholars and Alumni who provide mentorship and networking connections throughout their academic and professional lives. A list of this year's Cooke Transfer Scholar semifinalists and their respective community colleges is linked here . The Foundation will announce the 2025 Undergraduate Transfer Scholars in May. To learn more about the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit the website here . About The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded almost $304 million in scholarships to more than 3,400 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $136 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org SOURCE Jack Kent Cooke Foundation VANCOUVER, BC and PLANO, Texas, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - International Battery Metals Ltd. ("IBAT" or the "Company") (TSXV: IBAT) announces today that the board of directors of the Company has appointed Mr. Michael Rutledge as interim Chief Financial Officer effective immediately. Effective today, Mr. Michael Rutledge will assume the role of Interim Chief Financial Officer from Doug Smith, who has served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company since December 11, 2023. Mr. Rutledge, CPA, is a seasoned financial executive with extensive experience as chief financial officer of multiple publicly traded companies across various industries. He has a strong background in corporate finance, SEC reporting, and strategic growth initiatives, including IPOs and M&A. The Company has initiated a search for a permanent Chief Financial Officer and has engaged executive search firms to assist in the process. About International Battery Metals Ltd. The Company's direct lithium extraction technology is based on proprietary lithium extraction housed in patented extraction towers that are enclosed in a modular, shippable platform able to be loaded and brought into production within a short time frame from the day of arrival on a customer site. Utilizing the patented technology, the Company's focus has been on advanced extraction of lithium chloride from ground water salt brine deposits and returning the same water to the subsurface aquifer. The Company's unique patented technology ensures faster delivery of lithium chloride while ensuring minimal environmental impact and lower costs. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Iris Jancik" Iris Jancik, CEO Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Company's formal search for a permanent Chief Financial Officer. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause IBAT's actual results, performance, achievements, and future events to be materially different from the results, performance, achievement, or future events expressed or implied therein. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals, the future demand for metals, inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to advance the Company's business strategies and objectives, general business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties, results relating to its extraction technologies, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals (if required). IBAT believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, however there can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are given as of the date hereof and are based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. IBAT disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE International Battery Metals Ltd. French President Emmanuel Macron warned against a fragile ceasefire in Ukraine and stressed that we can no longer take Russia at its word. Today we can no longer take Russia at its word. Ukraine has the right to peace and security for itself. And this is in our interests, and in the interests of the security of the European continent. That is why we are working with our British and German friends and some other European countries, he said in an address to the French, broadcast on the social network X. Macron recalled a meeting in Paris and London a few days ago to consolidate the commitments that are necessary for Ukraine. The French leader stressed that after the peace agreement is signed, we must prepare Ukraine so that it does not suffer a second invasion by Russia. This, of course, implies long-term support for the Ukrainian army. This could also include the deployment of European forces. These forces will not go into battle today. They will not go to fight on the front lines. On the contrary, they will be there after the peace agreement is signed to ensure its full compliance, Macron said. Jackson Hewitt Shares Tips for Taxpayers Who Still Need to File a 2024 Federal Tax Return JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson Hewitt Tax Services is reminding taxpayers that it's midway to Tax Day. With tax season hitting the midpoint, estimates project that over 100 million taxpayers still need to file their 2024 Federal tax return, or pay any balance due to the IRS or state, before the deadline of April 15, 2025. According to recent IRS statistics, 42.7 million tax returns have been received so far in 2025, a decrease of 3.8 percent compared with the same time last year. For a limited time, valid from March 1 through March 31, 2025, new clients can qualify for a promotion of paying no more than $149 to have their Federal tax return prepared at any participating Jackson Hewitt location. The Tax Pros at Jackson Hewitt want taxpayers to take the following steps to meet the Tax Day deadline: Get documents organized. All paperwork should have been sent to taxpayers by January 31, 2025 . If taxpayers still don't have the necessary documents, they need to request them from employers, bank providers, or whomever to supply the necessary documents. Jackson Hewitt's website has a document checklist to remind taxpayers what documents are needed. Work with a tax professional. Tax returns are complicated and it's best to work with a trained, experienced, and knowledgeable Tax Pro. They can navigate the complex tax laws and help taxpayers file an accurate return and get them the biggest tax refund owed to them or pay the lowest tax liability. Taxpayers can schedule an appointment with a Jackson Hewitt Tax Pro at an office nearest them. Be accurate. It's important not to guess or make estimates on a tax return. If information is omitted or is different than what the IRS has in its system, the IRS will know. It will likely flag and delay the processing of a tax return and ultimately hold the taxpayer's refund. A recent Jackson Hewitt survey found that 43 percent of people thought the IRS would automatically correct a return if it included income that was not taxable. However, the agency does not fix mistakes on tax returns. "Tax filing season moves fast, and April 15 will be here before we know it. There is still plenty of time to schedule an appointment with a Tax Pro, and there is no reason to wait. Most taxpayers get a refund, and those who owe still have until the deadline to pay. Filing early also helps prevent identity theft and refund fraud," said Mark Steber, Chief Tax Officer, Jackson Hewitt Tax Services. "And we also don't want anyone to fall for misinformation they see online or hear from the rumor mill. As of today, there is no sign that the IRS will be shut down or the tax deadline will be extended. The best move is to give the attention your tax return needs and file now." It's also best practice to file a tax return electronically, because it's the fastest and safest way to get the information to the IRS. Similarly, for those getting a tax refund, the Tax Pros at Jackson Hewitt recommend taxpayers get their refund electronically deposited via direct deposit or on a prepaid card. Additional survey findings include: Nearly four in 10 people (39 percent) wrongly believe that taxpayers who file their Federal tax return late would not face a penalty from the IRS, even if a refund was due. In reality, all taxpayers face a failure-to-file penalty if they miss the Tax Day deadline and owe taxes. The penalty is five percent of the unpaid tax amount each month, which caps out at 25 percent. The IRS does not penalize late filing when it is a refund return. face a penalty from the IRS, even if a refund was due. In reality, all taxpayers face a failure-to-file penalty if they miss the Tax Day deadline and owe taxes. The penalty is five percent of the unpaid tax amount each month, which caps out at 25 percent. The IRS does not penalize late filing when it is a refund return. Respondents who will receive a tax refund this year plan to use the money mostly for savings/emergency fund/retirement (26 percent), pay down debt (14 percent), and buy groceries (12 percent). Most people (58 percent) are turning to a trusted tax professional for help on their taxes compared to just doing it themselves (27 percent), calling a family member (11 percent), or looking on social media (4 percent). As a first-time filer, taxes can be complicated and confusing when figuring out which tax deductions and credits apply to them (35 percent), gathering the right documents (26 percent), deciding whether to file alone or seek a Tax Pro (23 percent), and understanding what happens if a mistake is made (13 percent). Jackson Hewitt is also offering an exclusive incentive to file before the deadline. For a limited time, valid from March 1 through March 31, 2025, new clients can qualify for a promotion of paying no more than $149 to have their Federal tax return prepared at any participating Jackson Hewitt location. With over 5,200 Jackson Hewitt offices nationwide, taxpayers can be confident knowing Jackson Hewitt is ready to help answer taxpayers questions and navigate the remaining tax season. For more information, visit jacksonhewitt.com. To find the nearest Jackson Hewitt office and book an appointment, visit jacksonhewitt.com/officelocator. About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. is an innovator in the tax industry, with a mission to provide its hardworking clients with access to simple, low-cost solutions to manage their taxes and tax refunds. Jackson Hewitt is devoted to helping clients get ahead and stands behind its work with its Maximum Refund Guarantee and Lifetime Accuracy Guarantee (restrictions apply, see Jackson Hewitt's website for more details). Jackson Hewitt has more than 5,200 franchise and company-owned locations nationwide, including 2,700 in Walmart stores, making it easy and convenient for clients to file their taxes. For more information about products, services, or offers, or to locate a Jackson Hewitt office, visit jacksonhewitt.com or call (800) 234-1040. Terms and Conditions: Pay No More Than $149 LIMITED TIME OFFER. MENTION THIS OFFER WHEN FILING 3/1-3/31. Valid for new clients (did not file prior year tax return with JH) at Jackson Hewitt locations at Walmart and other participating retail locations only for a limited time. Offer valid on current year federal tax preparation fees only and on no other product or service. Does not include state tax returns. Not applicable for Jackson Hewitt Online. May not be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotional price. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time. Promo code D4R66. Most offices are independently owned and operated by Jackson Hewitt franchisees. All other offices are owned and operated by Jackson Hewitt Inc. or its affiliated entities. Survey Methodology The opt-in survey was commissioned by Jackson Hewitt between February 25 and 26, 2025, among 1,000 American adults aged 18 and older, and conducted online by Dynata. Respondents of the survey were selected from those who volunteered to participate in online surveys. One thousand complete surveys were collected using the sample framework based on U.S. Census data for age, ethnicity, gender, region, and income. SOURCE Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. MANCHESTER, N.H., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- JetBlue and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) hosted a vibrant beach party at the base of Loon Mountain in New Hampshire to celebrate JetBlue's new and growing service out of MHT with three new nonstop flights from Manchester, NH to Florida. The " Ski You in Florida" party took place March 1-2 and blended the best of Florida's beach vibes with the scenic beauty of snow capped mountains. Attendees were transported to a tropical paradise complete with palm trees, beach chairs, live music, and refreshing drinks. The slopeside event was designed to give Loon visitors the feeling of escaping the winter chill and bringing a bit of Florida warmth to the New Hampshire mountains. On the heels of the event, JetBlue announced daily summer-seasonal nonstop flights from MHT to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) beginning June 2025. With a commitment to providing exceptional service and connecting travelers to new destinations, JetBlue is excited to expand its reach in the region. As part of their continued commitment to providing outstanding service and fostering community connections, JetBlue and MHT look forward to more opportunities to collaborate and offer memorable experiences. About MHT Strategically situated in the heart of New England, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is located less than fifty miles north of Boston, Massachusetts, and less than an hour's drive from the region's most popular ski areas, scenic seacoast beaches and peaceful lakefront resorts. MHT is an award-winning airport named in Travel + Leisure, USA TODAY, and TravelPulse. MHT is served by American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines. For more information, visit www.flymanchester.com . About JetBlue JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers to more than 100 destinations throughout the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe. For more information and the best fares, visit www.jetblue.com . For media inquiries, please contact: MHT Public Relations [email protected] SOURCE Manchester-Boston Regional Airport LOS ANGELES, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 24, 2025, a 12-panel jury in Stockton, CA unanimously voted to find Pastor Frank James Palmer of Woodbridge Missionary Baptist Church liable for sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress stemming from molesting his niece, Darleen Patrick over the course of 8 years beginning when she was just 5-years-old. Mr. Palmer was a 21-year-old seminary student when he stopped abusing Ms. Patrick. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of $47,000,700.00, one of the largest single-plaintiff awards in San Joaquin County history. The verdict represented some measure of justice for Ms. Patrick. As she describes it, "for the first time in the past 58 years, I was able to explain in detail what Frank James Palmer did to me and the damage it caused. I was finally able to face my abuser and say what he did to me was wrong and to attempt to hold him accountable. I am so gratified the jury was so attentive and really seemed to understand how I was harmed for so many years." Daniel Varon and Tallis Radwick of Zalkin Law, LLP in San Diego, served as trial counsel for Ms. Patrick. Mr. Varon stated, "this is an incredible result for a kind and wonderful woman who had her childhood ripped away from her by someone she trusted. Every single juror clearly took exceptional care to evaluate every item of harm she suffered. Every dollar they awarded was a recognition of Darleen's lasting harm." Ms. Radwick continued, "no matter whether she ever sees a penny, Darleen will always know that 12 members of the community saw her, heard her, and gave her the sense of justice that has escaped her since she was a girl. It was an honor to help her through this process." Palmer is still employed at Missionary Baptist Church, where he has served as head pastor since 2001. Zalkin Law, LLP represents survivors of childhood sexual abuse, advocating for justice and accountability through civil litigation. The firm is dedicated to securing justice for survivors by holding perpetrators and institutions accountable for the enduring harm caused by abuse. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, please know that you are not alone. Seeking legal counsel is a crucial step towards healing and obtaining the justice you deserve.https://www.zalkin.com/ Contact The Zalkin Law Firm today to learn more about your options and begin your journey towards recovery. For more information or to learn more, please visit Zalkin Law, LLP at https://www.zalkin.com . Media Contact: For more information or to learn more, please visit The Zalkin Law Firm https://www.zalkin.com/ The Nation's Premier Sexual Abuse FirmGiving Survivors A Voice.If you would like to reach the firm for press queries, please contact [email protected]. Zalkin Law, LLP represents survivors of childhood sexual abuse, advocating for justice and accountability through civil litigation. The firm is dedicated to securing justice for survivors by holding perpetrators and institutions accountable for the enduring harm caused by abuse. SOURCE The Zalkin Law Firm Those with a family cancer history are at a higher risk and should consider preventive screenings CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus Corporation of the Americas urges people to use Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March to spark conversations with family members about knowing and sharing family health history given a global increase in early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC).1 Olympus and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA) want to remind people that the recommended screening age for those at average risk for CRC is now 45 years old,2 but those with a family history of CRC should get screened even sooner. Colorectal cancer survivor Joe Faratzis will join a live panel discussion at Olympus Corp of the Americas headquarters in Center Valley, Pa., exploring the signs and symptoms of CRC and to share his personal story. Neil Kaufman sustained a serious shoulder injury about 15 years ago that required ongoing treatment and anti-inflammatory medications. Complications from the anti-inflammatories prompted a trip to the emergency room, where he was seen by a gastroenterologist. Neil's grandfather had been diagnosed at age 45 with CRC. With his family health history in mind, Neil, who was 37 years old at the time, decided to ask for a colonoscopy. "My GI woke me up in the recovery room and said, 'Today is your lucky day,'" he said. The colonoscopy revealed 19 polyps, including one that the doctor estimated could have turned cancerous well before Neil reached the recommended screening age. His first call following the procedure was to his three older siblings, none of whom had been screened. They each had polyps removed and are now being screened regularly. Polyps are abnormal growths that, over time, may develop into cancer.3 Neil has since undergone regular screenings with nearly 40 polyps removed. "I was cursing that shoulder injury for so many years," the now 50-year-old said. "When I look back, I can see that injury may have saved my life." Early on-set colorectal cancer on the rise As many as 1 in 3 people diagnosed with CRC have a family history of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. People with a parent, sibling or child known as a first-degree relative diagnosed with CRC are at an increased risk, a risk that is higher if the relative was diagnosed before the age of 50.4 That's a fact that resonates with Joe Faratzis, who was diagnosed at age 29 with Stage IV rectal cancer. He talked with his physician about a colonoscopy after experiencing mild abdominal pain, blood in his stool and frequent trips to the bathroom. Following his diagnosis about six years ago, Joe underwent extensive treatments that included chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Now 34 years old and a voice for advocacy, Joe is the father of a baby girl and mindful that family history is a conversation he'll need to have one day despite no previous family history of CRC. "No matter how uncomfortable the conversations may be, it's nothing compared to the anxiety of a cancer diagnosis and the physical toll of treatment," Joe said. "It's so important to take control of your own health and that starts with knowing your family history and risks. It also means listening when your body is telling you something is off and being your own best advocate." Joe will take part in the live panel discussion "Colorectal Cancer Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment: Understanding Self-Advocacy" scheduled for 2-3 p.m. on March 11 at the Olympus Corporation of the Americas corporate headquarters in Center Valley, Pa.5 The discussion will focus on understanding the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and navigating self-advocacy. The event will be open to the public and streamed on YouTube and LinkedIn. Impact of prevention and screening A study by the American Cancer Society looking at early-onset CRC rates worldwide found that the U.S. is among 14 countries in which incidence rates are increasing in young adults while stabilizing in those ages 50 and older.1 CRC incidence rates and death rates among older adults have dropped over the last few decades, while incidence rates for those under the age of 50 have increased by 2.4% annually.6 Olympus and CCA encourage people to familiarize themselves with screening guidelines and talk to their doctor about the screening options that are best for them. A recently published study estimated that nearly 6 million deaths from five major cancer types were averted over a 45-year period thanks to prevention, screening and treatment advances. Specifically, researchers found that 740,000 of the estimated 940,000 CRC deaths averted were due to screening and removal of precancerous polyps.7 "The long-term data around colorectal cancer is compelling: screening and polyp removal were responsible for nearly 80% of averted deaths. The data in this study help emphasize the value of screening programs in decreasing the risk of cancer," said Dr. John de Csepel, Chief Medical Officer, Olympus Corp. "The positive, tangible impact from preventive screenings is particularly significant at a time when we're seeing an increase in early onset colorectal cancer coupled with an increase in deaths from the disease in men and women under the age of 50. Overall, it's important to also humanize the facts and figures and realize that a simple screening colonoscopy can save a life whether it's yours, a friend's or a family member's. The key is awareness and action." Neil Kaufman and Joe Faratzis' statements are their own and are based on their experiences. You should speak to your doctor regarding your care as your doctor is your best source for information. About Olympus At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visit medical.olympusamerica.com. Olympus Corporation of the Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation, is headquartered in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, USA, and employs more than 4,500 employees throughout locations in North and South America. For more information, visit olympusamerica.com . 1 Sung, H; et al, "Colorectal cancer incidence trends in younger versus older adults: an analysis of population-based cancer registry data." The Lancet Oncology, Volume 26, Issue 1, 51 63, pub. January 2025 2 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, "Final Recommendation Statement, Colorectal Cancer: Screening." May 18, 2021. 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Basic Information About Colorectal Cancer." Rev. June 2024 4 American Cancer Society, "Colorectal Cancer Risks" Rev. January 2024 5 Joe Faratzis is compensated for his travel. 6 American Cancer Society, "Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer" Rev. January 2025 7 Goddard K., et al, "Estimation of cancer deaths averted from prevention, screening, and treatment efforts, 1975-2020" JAMA Oncol 2024; DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.5381. SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas Award-winning firm continues to strengthen its personal injury team with recent hire. DURHAM, N.C., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin has announced the addition of Aaron Walck to its team of dedicated personal injury attorneys. With a passion for helping people navigate the legal system, Walck brings an impactful blend of bilingual skills and empathy to the firm. Walck joins a firm that was named to the "Best Lawyers" 'Best Law Firms' list in 2025. The firm has helped tens of thousands of injured people in need, including thousands of Spanish speaking clients. In 2024 alone, the firm recovered more than $240 million total for 5,000+ people.* Walck's legal career previously focused on assisting vulnerable populations as an immigration attorney. His bilingual abilities in English and Spanish have been instrumental in effectively communicating with and advocating for his clients. At James Scott Farrin, Walck will help address the broader needs of vulnerable populations as part of the team of attorneys who first interact with potential clients. His role will involve explaining the benefits of legal representation and helping Spanish-speaking clients overcome language barriers in navigating legal issues. According to firm Partner Michael Jordan, "Walck is a conscientious and driven attorney with a passion for service." ABOUT THE LAW OFFICES OF JAMES SCOTT FARRIN The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is one of the largest personal injury firms in North Carolina and has helped over 73,000 injured people since 1997. Operating from 14 offices in NC and one in SC, many of the firm's 60+ accomplished attorneys are recognized professionals in their fields. The firm focuses on providing quality legal services to as many people as possible in the following practice areas: personal injury, car accidents, workers' compensation, whistleblowing, defective products, eminent domain, mass torts, class actions, and Social Security Disability. Contact Information: David Chamberlin 555 S. Mangum Street Suite 800 Durham, NC 27701 1-866-900-7078 https://www.farrin.com Offices in Durham (main), Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, NC, and Greenville, SC. Attorney Michael Shepherd: 555 S. Mangum Street, Suite 800, Durham, NC *Standards of inclusion: bestlawyers.com. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases because each case is unique and must be evaluated separately. SOURCE Law Offices of James Scott Farrin Week-long programming on technology, innovation and decarbonizationcentered in the "CERAWeek Innovation Agora"will be a major focus at the world's preeminent energy conference, to be held in Houston March 10-14 HOUSTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders from Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, Fervo, AIQ, and Commonwealth Fusion, will be among the technology and innovation speakers at CERAWeek by S&P Globalthe world's preeminent energy conferenceto be held in Houston March 10-14. CERAWeek 2025: Moving Ahead: Energy strategies for a complex world will examine an era of multifaceted changein policy, technology and geopoliticsthat is reshaping the global energy landscape. The CERAWeek Innovation Agora will serve as the center of technology and innovation programming at the conference. Featuring a community of technologists, startup entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and investors, thought leaders, policymakers and corporate innovators, the Innovation Agora will showcase transformational technology platforms in energy and adjacent industriesincluding presentations from more than 250 start-upsranging across AI, decarbonization, low carbon fuels, cybersecurity, hydrogen, nuclear, mining and minerals, mobility, automation, and more. The CERAWeek Innovation Agora program is available to all CERAWeek registrants and will comprise a series of thought-provoking conversations, presentations and discussions, including its signature Voices of Innovation series of intimate, one-on-one conversations with thought leaders, Agora Studio sessions featuring moderated dialogues with 2-3 guest speakers on emerging and disruptive technologies, as well Agora Pods featuring demonstrations and case studies. The 2025 program will also feature Agora Hubsdedicated areas focused on carbon, climate and new energies. The 2025 CERAWeek Innovation Agora program will also include: Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition: Hosted by The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and TEX-E, the competition will feature 40 energy ventures that are focused on driving efficiency and advancements towards the energy transition. Presentations will be evaluated by a special judging panel of energy industry experts and investors. Hosted by The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and TEX-E, the competition will feature 40 energy ventures that are focused on driving efficiency and advancements towards the energy transition. Presentations will be evaluated by a special judging panel of energy industry experts and investors. NexGen at CERAWeek Program ( NEW for 2025 ): New for 2025, the NexGen programming track will focus on the critical link between academia and industry and how to create dynamic environments that cultivate top talent, uncover fresh ideas, and unlock newfound energy transition pathways. NextGen accelerates these connections through engaging programming, targeted networking events and collaborative discussions that inspire and spark the next generation of talent, ideas and alliances. New for 2025, the NexGen programming track will focus on the critical link between academia and industry and how to create dynamic environments that cultivate top talent, uncover fresh ideas, and unlock newfound energy transition pathways. NextGen accelerates these connections through engaging programming, targeted networking events and collaborative discussions that inspire and spark the next generation of talent, ideas and alliances. The Nexus (NEW for 2025): A new collaborative and interactive destination, the Nexus introduces NextGen programming to CERAWeek audiencesshowcasing both the latest and next generation research and development in energy as well as the next generation of talent to enter the industry. The Nexus is also the centerpiece for Agora Studio and Voices of Innovation sessions, as well as many other interactive experiences to help foster dynamic exchanges on emerging and disruptive technologies with industry leaders, academics and ecosystem participants. The 2025 program will also feature the "Clean Energy Commons" fostering connections for the innovation ecosystem as well as the "Clean Tech Corridor" where delegates can meet entrepreneurs building promising companies. Key themes to be explored throughout the Innovation Agora program include: AI and Digital Power, Grid and Electrification Hydrogen and Low-carbon Fuels Climate and Sustainability Technology and Innovation Managing Emissions The Capital Transition Mobility and Transportation "The CERAWeek Innovation Agora embodies the dynamic energy innovation ecosystem that is unlocking new technologies and charting new pathways to the future," said Jamey Rosenfield, CERAWeek Founder and Co-chair. "This unique communitycomprised of traditional energy companies, start-ups, technology companies, innovation thought leaders and investorsreflects the resourcefulness and ingenuity that is being applied to both the challenges and opportunities of the energy future." "Technology and innovation have marked the history of energyand they most certainly will shape its future," said Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman, S&P Global and CERAWeek conference chair. "This year's conference theme, 'Moving Ahead' focuses on an era of multifaceted change. New technologies that carry the potential to transform how energy is produced, managed and consumed will also be a major source of energy demand themselves. Meeting the moment will not only require next-generation ideas, but also the ability to scale those ideas and ensure the robust supply chains needed to sustain them. The central role that innovation plays in the energy ecosystem will be on full display at CERAWeek." Among the technology and innovation leaders to address CERAWeek delegates are: (partial list) Marco Alvera, Co-founder and CEO, TES Roeland Baan , President & Chief Executive Officer, Topsoe , President & Chief Executive Officer, Topsoe Dr. Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General, World Nuclear Association Lord John Browne of Madingley, Chairman, Beyond Net Zero of Madingley, Chairman, Beyond Net Zero Aura Cuellar, President, LanzaTech Jen Easterly , President and Chief Executive Officer, Evenstar Cyber, LLC , President and Chief Executive Officer, Evenstar Cyber, LLC Meg Gentle , Executive Director of the Board, HIF Global , Executive Director of the Board, HIF Global Tim Latimer, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Fervo Energy Ernest Moniz, Founder and CEO, Energy Futures Initiative, former U.S. Secretary of Energy Bob Mumgaard, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Fusion Systems Sunita Narain , Director General, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) , Director General, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Emily Olson, Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer, Vale Base Metals Maria Pope , President and CEO, Portland General Electric , President and CEO, Portland General Electric Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google Sushil Purohit , Chief Executive Officer, Gentari Sdn Bhd , Chief Executive Officer, Gentari Sdn Bhd Uwem Ukpong , Vice President of Global Services, Amazon Web Services , Vice President of Global Services, Amazon Web Services Jason Zander, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Visit www.ceraweek.com for a complete list of speakers and the most up-to-date program information (subject to change). Registration Information CERAWeek by S&P Global 2025 will be held March 10-14 at the Hilton AmericasHouston. Further information and delegate registration is available at www.ceraweek.com. Media Accreditation Media registration is now open. Members of the media interested in covering CERAWeek 2025 are required to apply for accreditation. Applications are subject to approval and can be submitted at the following link: https://reg.spglobal.com/flow/spglobal/cw25/mediareg/login About S&P Global S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through sustainability and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. News Media Contacts: Jeff Marn S&P Global +1 202 463 8213 [email protected] SOURCE S&P Global MIAMI, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN and LEN.B), one of the nation's largest homebuilders, announced today that the Company will release earnings for the first quarter ended February 28, 2025 after the market closes on March 20, 2025. Additionally, the Company will hold a conference call on March 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live on the Internet and can be accessed through Lennar's website at investors.lennar.com. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived at investors.lennar.com for 90 days. Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit www.lennar.com. Contact: Ian Frazer Investor Relations Lennar Corporation (305) 485-4129 SOURCE Lennar Corporation MIAMI, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lola from Rio, one of Brazil's top beauty brands, is proud to announce its exciting expansion into Walmart USA, Walmart Puerto Rico, and Navarro, a trusted retailer within the CVS Health family that caters to the Hispanic community in South Florida. This marks a major step in the brand's mission to share the richness of Brazilian hair care with the world. Navarro stores are already carrying Lola's beloved products, while Walmart USA and Walmart Puerto Rico will roll out throughout March, ensuring even more customers have access to Lola from Rio's innovative and inclusive hair care solutions. Lola from Rio Product Portfolio Founded in 2011, Lola from Rio has built its legacy as a pioneer in Brazil's beauty industry, offering high-performance, vegan, and sustainable hair care for all hair types and concerns. With products designed to embrace the beauty of every hair texturewhether straight, wavy, curly, or coilyLola's formulations have become a staple in Brazilian households. Now, with a bold international push, the brand is bringing the best of Brazilian beauty to a wider audience, celebrating the country's deep-rooted hair care traditions with a modern and conscious approach. The expansion brings Lola's most beloved collectionsRapunzel, Meu Cacho Minha Vida, Morte Subita, Xapadinha, and Ela E Cariocato major retailers. Walmart USA shoppers will now have access to bestsellers like Rapunzel Tonic, Milk Spray, and Shampoo. In Puerto Rico, customers can enjoy an expanded selection, including additional Rapunzel, Meu Cacho Minha Vida, Morte Subita, and Xapadinha products. Navarro will also carry a curated assortment of Rapunzel and Meu Cacho Minha Vida essentials. What sets Lola from Rio apart isn't just its results-driven formulasit's the heart and heritage behind every product. Deeply inspired by Brazil's beauty rituals and innovative hair care techniques, Lola's products are crafted with carefully selected natural ingredients that nourish, strengthen, and restore hair. The brand's commitment to sustainability is equally strong, using eco-friendly packaging made with P-Life resin, which degrades in just four years and aids in plant germination. With 100% recyclable packaging and vegan, cruelty-free formulas, Lola continues to lead the way in conscious beauty. A milestone in this international expansion is Lola's packaging update. For the first time, the brand is transitioning from Portuguese/English labeling to English/Spanish, making it even more accessible to its growing audience in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This change underscores Lola's commitment to inclusivity and reflects the brand's understanding of its diverse consumer base. "We are incredibly proud to bring a piece of Brazil to a wider audience," said Katherine Moron, CEO of Tu Azul, the distributor who brought Lola from Rio to the USA. "Lola from Rio embodies the vibrancy and authenticity of Brazilian beauty while championing sustainability and inclusivity. This expansion allows more people to experience our innovative formulations and thoughtfully crafted products, designed for every hair type and need." Lola from Rio's global journey is just beginning. With its signature playful branding, high-performance formulas, and a deep love for hair in all its forms, the brand is poised to become a household name beyond Brazil. Now, customers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico can discover the beauty of Brazilian hair carecreated for every hair type, every need, and every person. About Lola from Rio: Founded in 2011, Lola from Rio is a Brazilian beauty brand known for offering high-performance, vegan, and sustainable hair care solutions for all hair types. Inspired by Brazil's rich beauty traditions, Lola's products are made with natural ingredients and are committed to promoting inclusivity, sustainability, and cruelty-free practices. The brand is dedicated to helping people embrace their natural beauty with products designed for every hair texture. Lola From Rio products are available through a variety of retail partners, including Amazon, Walmart, and Navarro, a trusted retailer within the CVS Health family that caters to the Hispanic community in South Florida. To learn more, visit www.lolafromriousa.com and follow us on social media: Instagram: @lolafromriousa TikTok: @lolafromrio SOURCE Lola from Rio The award affirms Lowell Observatory's mission to inspire people of all ages about the wonders of the universe. Through its state-of-the-art Astronomy Discovery Center, telescope viewing, stargazing experiences, and immersive tours and presentations, the observatory connects visitors with the cosmos in exceptional ways. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Newsweek has crowned Lowell Observatory the best science museum in the United States, based on public voting in the 2025 Readers' Choice Awards contest. This recognition follows a February voting period during which 15 organizations, nominated by a panel of experts, vied for the top spot. The final 10 were chosen by popular vote. "Congratulations to Lowell Observatory on being named the Best Science Museum by Newsweek," said United States Senator (Arizona) Mark Kelly. "Lowell has been at the forefront of astronomical discovery, inspiring generations of scientists and space enthusiasts. This well-deserved recognition highlights the observatory's continued impact on education, research, and our understanding of the universe." Alix Skelpsa Ridgway, Interim Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, adds, "This well-earned recognition highlights Lowell Observatory's ability to not only inspire infinite curiosity, wonder and amazement among its visitors, but also continue to uncover new discoveries across our universe. As a paragon of Arizona's booming dark skies tourism industry and a pillar of the Flagstaff community, Lowell will continue to connect Arizonans and visitors with the night sky in ways few others can." Founded in 189418 years before Arizona became a stateLowell Observatory has been a beacon of astronomical research and education, firmly establishing itself as a key part of Flagstaff's identity and economy. Trace Ward, Director of the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, "Lowell Observatory's storied history and ongoing contributions to astronomical education and research, Flagstaff's STEM City designation, and the local community spirit are truly unparalleled. This recognition is well deserved." In response to its rapidly growing popularity, with annual visitation exceeding 100,000 guests, Lowell Observatory opened its new Astronomy Discovery Center this past November. Dr. Amanda Bosh, Executive Director of Lowell Observatory, said, "We are honored to receive this distinction as Newsweek's best science museum. Our mission blends science with the beauty and wonder of astronomy, creating unique and meaningful connections for each visitor." Lowell Observatory topped the list of winners in the Newsweek Reader's Choice voting, followed by Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (Portland, Oregon), Science Museum of Virginia (Richmond, Virginia), Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago, Illinois), Field Museum (Chicago, Illinois), Science Museum of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), American Museum of Natural History (New York City, New York), NASA Kennedy Space Center (Merritt Island, Florida), Exploratorium of San Francisco (San Francisco, California) and California Academy of Science (San Francisco, California). To view Newsweek's official announcement, visit: https://www.newsweek.com/readerschoice/best-science-museum-2025 About Lowell Observatory Founded in 1894, Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, is a renowned nonprofit research institution. It is the site of historic and groundbreaking discoveries, including the first evidence of the expanding universe and the discovery of Pluto. Today, Lowell's astronomers utilize global ground-based and space telescopes, along with NASA spacecraft, for diverse astronomical and planetary science research. The observatory hosts more than 100,000 visitors annually for educational tours, presentations, and telescope viewing through a suite of world-class public telescopes. SOURCE Lowell Observatory DENVER, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN), will attend the following investor conferences: J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media & Communications Conference on May 15 . . Barclays Leveraged Finance Conference, May 20-21 . When applicable, live webcast links to investor presentations will be available on the Lumen Investor Relations website. About Lumen Technologies Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI's full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For additional news and insights visit news.lumen.com , LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies , Twitter: @lumentechco , Facebook: /lumentechnologies , Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies . SOURCE Lumen Technologies A terminal of Nova Poshta, the Ukrainian delivery service company, in the Ukrainian city of Sumy was destroyed in a targeted strike by Shahed drones, resulting in the death of an employee and the loss of 2,576 parcels, the company's press service reported. "Overnight, Russian forces attacked the city of Sumy with drones. The Nova Poshta terminal was completely destroyed. Tragically, an employee of a contracting company was killed. Two enemy attack drones struck the warehouse facilities, sparking a massive fire," the company said in a statement on Thursday. As a result of the ensuing blaze, 2,576 parcels with a declared value exceeding UAH 3.3 million were destroyed. The company assured that affected customers would receive compensation. Nova Poshta is rapidly reorganizing its parcel sorting and logistics operations but warns of potential delivery delays for shipments from and to Sumy across all regions of Ukraine. Earlier reports indicated that on the same night, debris from a Shahed drone attack on Odesa fell on another Nova Poshta branch, causing a fire that destroyed the premises and packages. Fortunately, there were no casualties in that incident. WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lycoming College Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of Charles Edmonds, Ed.D. '98, to the presidency of the College. Currently the executive vice president at Lycoming College, Edmonds will commence his role as president beginning July 1. "It will be an extraordinary privilege to build on Lycoming's distinguished history." Post this The Lycoming College Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of Charles Edmonds, Ed.D. 98, to the presidency of the College. The selection of Edmonds follows an extensive national search, with participation from members of Lycoming's Board of Trustees, the student population, faculty, and staff, that considered 107 applicants for the position. Edmonds' appointment follows the September announcement that current president, Kent Trachte, will retire in June, at the close of the 2024-2025 academic year. "With our presidential search now at its conclusion, I can say that we are more than satisfied with a very comprehensive process that turned out a diverse pool of more than 100 of the finest applicants to fill the highest office of this institution," said Don Hughes '72, Lycoming College trustee and search committee chair. "A unanimous recommendation from the search committee is a testament that we have indeed chosen the best candidate. I want to thank the committee members for their diligence and for their prescience in identifying Lycoming's next president." "I owe my sincere thanks to the presidential search committee for their tireless efforts, commitment to the process, and ability to ultimately coalesce around a single candidate. The work of this committee, made up of trustees, faculty, staff, and student representatives was deliberate, thorough, collaborative, and with serious purpose," said D. Mark Fultz '80, chair of the Lycoming College Board of Trustees. "Chip possesses a unique combination of institutional experience, an unwavering commitment to our liberal arts tradition, and a vision for continued success well into the future. He's a charismatic leader that is going to hit the ground running to help Lycoming meet its challenges and to seek bold new opportunities, and I look forward to working with him in his new capacity." Edmonds was chosen for the Lycoming presidency for his deep understanding of the higher education marketplace and his unwavering commitment to undergraduate residential education, academic excellence, community engagement, and financial stewardship. He has championed access for the College's increasingly diverse student population and removed barriers for high-achieving students to receive an undergraduate education. Click here to read more about Charles Edmonds, 16th president of Lycoming College: https://www.lycoming.edu/news/stories/2025/03/chip-edmonds-named-16th-president-of-lycoming-college.aspx. SOURCE Lycoming College Fort Lauderdale business owner recognized by world's oldest and largest franchising association during Annual Convention in Las Vegas; Recognized for excellence in business, giving back, and providing opportunities to those around them. LAS VEGAS, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Franchise Association (IFA) has named Marie Denise Simmons, owner of Wisdom Senior Care in Fort Lauderdale Florida, 2024 Franchisee of the Year. Simmons was honored on February 11, 2025, at the 65th IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator. Each year, the IFA recognizes a top franchisee from of each of their member brands from across the country and around the world whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model with the esteemed award. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for serving in their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, creating opportunities for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees. Denise Simmons - Franchisee of the Year IFA Logo "Franchisees of the Year represent the very best of franchising," said Matt Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association. "They embody the American Dream, create economic opportunity, serve their communities and show what it means to go into business for yourself, but not by yourself. We are proud to recognize Marie Denise Simmons with the highest honor IFA awards to individual franchisees, and we salute her tireless efforts to lift up all those she serves." Simmons's journey began in 2009 when she was faced with one of the most difficult decisions of her lifetime: to continue a career in Media Relations in New York City or to move to Florida to care for her aging parents. Simmons chose the latter. Years later, faced with a growing family of her own and the increasing healthcare needs of her parents, she found that her peace of mind and her parents' safety were both in jeopardy. On the brink of becoming burnt out, she concluded that she could no longer go at it alone and hired caregivers to manage her parents' in-home care. This proved to be one was the best decisions. Not only did she experience relief and an improved quality of life, but she felt joy and peace knowing that her parents were being treated with respect and compassion. This awakened a new passion and purpose in Simmons. She began honoring her parents' legacy by giving back to elders in her community starting with the senior members of her church family and eventually opened a Wisdom Senior Care franchise. Wisdom Senior Care is a growing franchise whose mission is to create sustainable solutions for seniors that enable them to be nurtured with compassionate care while living happily in the comfort of their own homes. In 2006, the franchise, founded by Carolyn Thurston, first began serving the Durham, North Carolina area and has since expanded nationwide. Wisdom Senior Care is dedicated to leading with faith and compassion and is known for providing high-quality training and support for its owners and staff. There are approximately 830,000 franchised businesses across the U.S., providing nearly 9 million direct jobs and generating over $896 billion in economic output. According to Oxford Economics, franchising on average provides higher wages and better benefits than non-franchised businesses, as well as greater entrepreneurial opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, and other underrepresented communities. About the International Franchise Association: Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchises worldwide. Through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs, IFA works to protect, enhance and promote approximately 830,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.8 million direct jobs, $896.9 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development. CONTACT: Katherine Knight Patterson [email protected] (202) 662-0783 SOURCE Wisdom Senior Care MCLEAN, Va., March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars, Incorporated (the "Company" or "Mars") announced today the pricing of its previously announced private offering of $26.0 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes, consisting of $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 4.450% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "2027 Notes"), $3.25 billion in aggregate principal amount of 4.600% Senior Notes due 2028 (the "2028 Notes"), $4.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 4.800% Senior Notes due 2030 (the "2030 Notes"), $2.75 billion in aggregate principal amount of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2032 (the "2032 Notes"), $5.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 5.200% Senior Notes due 2035 (the "2035 Notes"), $2.75 billion in aggregate principal amount of 5.650% Senior Notes due 2045 (the "2045 Notes"), $4.75 billion in aggregate principal amount of 5.700% Senior Notes due 2055 (the "2055 Notes") and $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 5.800% Senior Notes due 2065 (the "2065 Notes" and, together with the 2027 Notes, the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2032 Notes, the 2035 Notes, the 2045 Notes and the 2055 Notes, the "Notes"). Interest on the 2027 Notes, the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2032 Notes and the 2035 Notes will be payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2025. Interest on the 2045 Notes, the 2055 Notes and the 2065 Notes will be payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2025. The 2027 Notes will mature on March 1, 2027. The 2028 Notes will mature on March 1, 2028. The 2030 Notes will mature on March 1, 2030. The 2032 Notes will mature on March 1, 2032. The 2035 Notes will mature on March 1, 2035. The 2045 Notes will mature on May 1, 2045. The 2055 Notes will mature on May 1, 2055. The 2065 Notes will mature on May 1, 2065. The offering is expected to close on or about March 12, 2025 (the "Issue Date"), subject to customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes, together with other financing sources and cash on hand, to fund the pending acquisition (the "Acquisition") of Kellanova, a Delaware corporation (NYSE: K) ("Kellanova"), and pay related fees and expenses. The Acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The closing of this offering is not conditioned upon the consummation of the Acquisition. If the Acquisition is not consummated on or prior to August 20, 2026, or the merger agreement for the Acquisition is earlier terminated, the Notes will be subject to a special mandatory redemption at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any. On the Issue Date, the Notes will not be guaranteed by any of the Company's subsidiaries. Upon the consummation of the Acquisition, Kellanova is expected to guarantee the Notes on a senior unsecured basis. The Notes are being offered in a private transaction in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in the United States only to investors who are reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers," as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, or to non-U.S. persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This communication contains "forward-looking statements" which reflect management's expectations regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, operational and financial performance and business prospects and opportunities. These statements or disclosures may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition or state other information relating to the Company, based on current beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project" or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Although the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions, any or all of which may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary. Such forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements about the offering of the Notes and about the Acquisition. All forward-looking statements in this communication apply only as of the date made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Contact: Kelly Frailey, [email protected] SOURCE Mars, Incorporated PARIS, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the pace of global open-source AI innovation, GOSIM AI Paris 2025, hosted by the GOSIM (Global Open-Source Innovation Meetup) and co-organized by CSDN, will take place in Paris, France, on May 6-7, 2025. GOSIM AI Paris 2025 Renowned for its international scope, community-driven approach, and strong interactivity, GOSIM has previously successfully convened multiple international open-source innovation conferences in cities such as Delft, Beijing, and Shanghai. These events have brought together hundreds of technical elites from fields including AI, Rust, and embodied intelligence, offering comprehensive insights and discussions on the latest open-source technologies and in-depth practices. This year's conference will spotlight the latest advancements in 6 Conference Tracks: AI Model, AI Infra, AI Apps, Embodied AI, AI for Science, and Global Open-Source AI Collaboration, driving significant progress in global open-source AI collaboration. A highlight of the event is the introduction of GOSIM AI Spotlight, a global initiative to select 10 outstanding open-source AI projects for showcase and technical exchange, further accelerating AI innovation. The venue, Station F, is a world-class innovation incubator located in Paris, hosting a vibrant ecosystem of "Deep Tech" companies specializing in areas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, big data analytics, and chip design. GOSIM warmly welcomes developers worldwide to join this hub for innovative exchange. AI Experts Gather in Paris to Focus on 6 Conference Tracks Last year's GOSIM CHINA 2024 attracted over 160 experts from renowned domestic and international organizations, including BAAI (Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence), Zhipu AI, ByteDance, Moonshot AI, Tsinghua University, Eclipse, OpenCV Community, and Rust Community. Building on this legacy, GOSIM AI Paris 2025 will focus on 6 Conference Tracks that resonate with developers globally, bringing together influential open-source AI projects and experts from leading organizations such as Hugging Face, BAAI (Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence), Llama, and DeepSeek. Together, they will explore how open-source AI can shape the future. AI Model: Shaping the Future through Open-Source AI Unleashing world-class performance in Large Language Models (LLMs), multimodal AI, and cutting-edge image and video generation models, while pioneering compact on-device LLMs to push the boundaries of AI efficiency and accessibility. AI Infrastructure: Building Scalable AI through Open-Source Innovation Advancing frameworks for AI training, inference, fine-tuning, and reinforcement learning, optimizing on-device inference solutions, and enabling seamless large-scale cloud deployments to empower next-generation AI capabilities. AI Apps: Transforming Industries with Open-Source AI Revolutionizing healthcare, finance, and creative tools with community-driven AI models, integrating frameworks for open-source AI app development, smart tools, retrieval-augmented generation, front-end AI applications, personal AI assistants, future AI operating systems, and intelligent AI hardware. Embodied AI: Advancing Open-Source Robotics Innovating community-driven robot designs, expanding open datasets, developing advanced visual-language models, and shaping policy frameworks that define the future of automated systems. AI for Science: Pushing Scientific Boundaries with AI Empowering breakthroughs in mathematics, materials design, drug discovery, astrophysics, and computer systems through open-source AI research. Global Open-Source AI Collaboration: Strengthening the Open-Source AI Ecosystem Expanding global knowledge sharing, collaborative dataset development, transparent AI governance, and robust open-source infrastructure to drive continuous AI innovation worldwide. We sincerely invite global technologists, researchers, and open-source enthusiasts to apply to speak, exploring cutting-edge technological advancements and best practices in innovation. Through speeches, interviews, and more, the event aims to spark inspiration, foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and promote the prosperity of the global open-source ecosystem. Simultaneous interpretation services will be provided to ensure smooth communication. Speaker Application: https://cfp.gosim.org/paris Calling for AI Innovation Projects: GOSIM AI Spotlight Showcases Rising Stars A flagship segment of the conference, GOSIM AI Spotlight, will select 10 exceptional open-source AI projects from around the world, offering travel subsidies (covering airfare and accommodation) and a platform for exchange and showcase at GOSIM AI Paris 2025. Participants will gain: Spotlight on Innovation: Present groundbreaking open-source AI projects, highlighting their creativity and potential impact, with professional evaluation and a global stage to attract attention. Present groundbreaking open-source AI projects, highlighting their creativity and potential impact, with professional evaluation and a global stage to attract attention. Increased Exposure: Gain visibility among a wider audience and deeper recognition within the global tech community, opening doors to collaborators and users. Gain visibility among a wider audience and deeper recognition within the global tech community, opening doors to collaborators and users. Fostering Collaboration: Build a sense of belonging in the AI ecosystem through shared goals and teamwork, connecting with top developers, experts, and enthusiasts. Build a sense of belonging in the AI ecosystem through shared goals and teamwork, connecting with top developers, experts, and enthusiasts. Holistic Growth: Receive comprehensive support from mentors and resources to help your project thrive. GOSIM AI Spotlight is more than an opportunityit's a collision of ideas and a celebration of innovation. Join global AI experts and developers to explore the future of open-source AI models, showcase your projects, and expand your network. Application: https://spotlight.gosim.org/ai Sponsor GOSIM AI Paris 2025: Share in Global AI Ecosystem Innovation To ensure a high-quality conference experience for speakers and attendees, sponsorship opportunities are now open. By sponsoring GOSIM, you can elevate your influence in the most innovative open-source community, unlock collaboration opportunities, discover promising projects, and connect with top talent. For more details on sponsorship benefits, contact: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). Join us to focus on emerging open-source technologies, drive industry progress, hear from industry leaders, and grow alongside like-minded developers. Exploring the Infinite Possibilities of Open-Source AI with Industry Pioneers Register now to attend! Beyond hardcore technical talks, the conference offers vibrant activities like live coding labs, interactive AI tool demos, and expert-led workshops, equipping you with practical skills and deep insights. Connect with over 600 leaders, researchers, and practitioners shaping AI's future, and compete alongside industry pioneers while vying for exciting prizes. GOSIM AI Paris 2025 will spotlight the latest trends in AI development, serving as both a technical exchange and a catalyst for the global open-source ecosystem's growth. Witness cutting-edge research and applications, hear insights from top experts, and contribute to the advancement of open-source technology worldwide. Join us in Paris to co-create a new era of AI innovation. Official Website: https://paris2025.gosim.org/ SOURCE CSDN PORTLAND, Maine, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MedRhythms today announced that MR-005, the company's neurorehabilitation system to support gait rehabilitation and motor function in adults with Parkinson's disease (PD), has been listed as a Class II, Rx-only medical device with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company unveiled the system's brand name: Movive. "Movive leverages the well-researched power of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) for people with PD and is the second device to launch from MedRhythms' proprietary platform," said Brian Harris, Co-Founder and CEO of MedRhythms. "This is an exciting step for MedRhythms as we advance our mission to use music to address significant mobility challenges for people with neurologic injury and disease, including PD. We look forward to Movive's potential to support gait rehabilitation in PD, addressing a significant need." PD is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease in the world . According to the Parkinson's Foundation , nearly one million Americans have PD, including 110,000 Veterans, making it the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Gait impairment and loss of motor function are defining symptoms of PD, with walking and mobility as the number one patient-reported challenge. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) and other neurologic music therapy interventions are well-established strategies for gait and motor rehabilitation in PD. However, use of RAS has been limited due to historic barriers to access. Movive is designed to expand access to individualized, progressive, and engaging RAS that is delivered autonomously in the patient's home. Movive is expected to launch in select US markets in Q2 2025. To learn more about Movive and its music-based mechanism-of-action, visit: www.medrhythms.com . Join MedRhythms at the Association of VA Neurology Services (AVANS) Annual Meeting, March 7-9 About MedRhythms MedRhythms is pioneering the development of next-generation neurotherapeutics designed to improve walking, mobility and related functional outcomes via a proprietary, patented technology platform. The company's platform combines sensors, software, and music (via a partnership with Universal Music Group) with advanced neuroscience to target neural circuitry. The company is developing a pipeline of digital therapeutics across a range of neurological conditions, including stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. The company's product for chronic stroke walking deficits received Breakthrough Device Designation in 2020, and the company raised a Series B financing round in 2021 led by Morningside Ventures and Advantage Capital. MedRhythms is headquartered in Portland, Maine. For more information, visit www.medrhythms.com . Forward-Looking Statements THIS MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY CONTAINS CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION RELATING TO THE COMPANY THAT ARE BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US AS OF THE DATE HEREOF. STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, INCLUDING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE COMPANY'S BELIEFS, DESIGNS, ANTICIPATION, AIMS, GOALS, EXPECTATIONS AND POTENTIAL RESULTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. IN ADDITION, THE WORDS "WILL," "MAY," "BELIEVE," "ANTICIPATE," "INTEND," "ESTIMATE," "EXPECT," "PROJECT," "PLAN," "SHOULD," "COULD," AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS, AND THEIR VARIATIONS AND NEGATIVES, AS THEY RELATE TO THE COMPANY OR THE FUTURE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY, ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES, ASSUMPTIONS AND OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS OF RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. THIS MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY SPEAKS ONLY AS OF THE DATE HEREOF AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THIS COMMENTARY IN THE FUTURE. Contact [email protected] SOURCE MedRhythms CINCINNATI, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Meridian Bioscience, Inc., a leading global provider of diagnostic testing solutions and life science raw materials, proudly congratulates Catherine Lufkin, Senior Director, Global Point of Care, on being honored with Pure Earth's 2025 "Force of Nature" Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates her leadership and dedication to advancing environmental health, particularly in the fight against lead poisoning. Lufkin is being recognized at Pure Earth's International Women's Day celebration for her unwavering commitment to ensuring access to fast, accurate blood lead testing in communities impacted by lead contamination. Her leadership has been instrumental in Meridian's partnership with Pure Earth, which has provided LeadCare II blood lead testing technology to under-resourced communities worldwide since 2016. Her dedication to advancing lead testing was also a driving force behind Meridian winning the CDC's Lead Detect Prize, a prestigious competition that fostered the development of innovative, rapid lead detection technologies to enhance public health efforts. "We are immensely proud of Catherine's achievements and this well-deserved recognition," said Tony Serafini-Lamanna, President of Meridian Bioscience Diagnostics. "Her work exemplifies our mission to improve global health through innovation and collaboration. In our ongoing partnership with Pure Earth, we remain committed to reducing lead exposure and its harmful effects on vulnerable populations." The LeadCare II system, the only CLIA-waived point-of-care blood lead testing system, is a vital tool in Pure Earth's global efforts to combat lead poisoning. It enables rapid, reliable testing, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. Through strategic collaboration, Meridian and Pure Earth continue working to expand access to testing in communities with high lead exposure risks, helping to safeguard children's and families' health worldwide. "I am deeply honored to receive the "Force of Nature" Award from Pure Earth," said Catherine Lufkin. "Lead exposure is a preventable public health crisis, and I am proud to contribute to efforts that bring vital testing solutions to those who need them most. This award underscores the power of partnership in driving meaningful change." Meridian Bioscience remains steadfast in supporting initiatives to reduce the global burden of lead poisoning. Through continued innovation and collaboration, the company is dedicated to protecting public health and improving lives, one person and one test at a time. About Pure Earth Founded in 1999, Pure Earth is a global leader in developing evidence-based solutions to mercury and lead pollution. Committed to transparency, collaboration, measurable impact, and technical excellence, we work with partners worldwide to tackle the root causes of these toxic threats. Our focus is protecting the most vulnerablechildren and pregnant women living in toxic hotspotsby breaking the multigenerational cycle of poisoning that persists in many low- and middle-income countries. Through strategic partnerships with governments, communities, and industry, we identify and implement solutions that prevent toxic exposures, safeguard health, and restore contaminated environments. Learn more about Pure Earth's work to improve women's health at www.pureearth.org/womens-environmental-health/ About Meridian Bioscience, Inc. Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic and life science products. We are dedicated to developing and delivering better solutions that give answers with speed, accuracy, and simplicity that are redefining the possibilities of life from discovery to diagnosis. Through discovery and development, we provide critical life science raw materials used in immunological and molecular tests for human, animal, plant, and environmental applications. Through diagnosis, we provide diagnostic solutions in areas including gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections and blood lead level testing. We build relationships and provide solutions to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, veterinary testing centers, physician offices, diagnostics manufacturers, and biotech companies in more than 70 countries around the world. Meridian is a privately held company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Meridian's website address is www.meridianbioscience.com. Contact: Courtney Schulz Director of Corporate and Digital Communications Meridian Bioscience, Inc. Phone: 513.991.1091 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Meridian Bioscience, Inc. MassageLuXe sets sights on Minnesota's thriving largest city for its next chapter of growth ST. LOUIS, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MassageLuXe , a premier spa franchise specializing in high-quality massage, facial, and waxing services, revealed today its strategic plans to expand the brand's presence in Minnesota via the Minneapolis market with the help of existing and new franchisees, presenting the area's aspiring entrepreneurs with the opportunity to expand a brand with a strong business model into their local communities. MassageLuXe has plans of opening 16 locations in Minneapolis over the next 5 years. Claiming the title of the largest city in the state of Minnesota, Minneapolis boasts an outstanding economy with diverse industries, beautiful scenery, and all the big-city excitement with a strong sense of community. MassageLuXe's expansion into Minneapolis will provide a unique opportunity for the city's growing population and booming industries. "Our franchise owners have built great relationships and reputations in the Midwest for MassageLuXe and it's a great opportunity for customers and entrepreneurs alike as it's a year-round business," said CEO of MassageLuXe, Kristen Pechacek. "We love getting to improve the lives of this beautiful state through health, wellness, and relaxation. Minneapolis presents a unique opportunity for us to expand into new communities that are ripe to support new businesses." MassageLuXe franchisee, Reuben Levy, owns five locations, all in Michigan in communities like Shelby Township and Rochester Hill. Levy has worn many hats over the years, from graduating with a degree in engineering to owning his own office supply company, but he's remained steadfast in his pursuit of being his own boss and setting up his family for success. Levy's journey with MassageLuXe began over a decade ago one faithful day when he bought a Groupon for a massage at the original Michigan location. Levy was a loyal customer of the brand for years before he decided to pursue ownership. He sold his office supply company, began acquiring and adding MassageLuXe locations, and hasn't looked back. "I couldn't speak highly enough about the brand, the teams we've built, and our loyal customers," said Reuben Levy, multi-unit franchise owner of MassageLuXe. "We're in an amazing, growing industry and there's a ton of opportunity, especially if you're passionate about the physical and mental health of your community. It's a great organization to join with constant and consistent support for your business and I can definitely see the brand thriving in Minnesota. To be successful, you need to love where you work and love what you do, and that is exactly MassageLuXe for us and our teams. We're looking forward to the brand impacting even more people in our great state." MassageLuXe is on a huge growth trajectory and has nearly 100 locations open and operating around the country. The company is building momentum to expand and advance its franchise development plans with first-time and experienced operators alike. MassageLuXe is actively seeking motivated individuals to partner with as we continue expanding our brand in Minneapolis and beyond. Whether you're looking to complement your current career, already own a business, or are interested in dedicating yourself full-time to the spa industry, MassageLuXe could be the perfect opportunity for you. To learn more about franchising with MassageLuXe and the available franchise incentives, visit: https://massageluxe.com/franchise-opportunities/ For more information about the parent company, MassageLuXe, visit: https://massageluxe.com About MassageLuXe Founded in 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri, MassageLuXe is a fast-growing franchise-based spa company with a mission to provide an unparalleled experience that supports and encourages health, well-being, and quality of life. MassageLuXe delivers the highest quality massage, facial, and waxing services in a comfortable, relaxing, and luxurious environment. Massage is a service that improves health, promotes relaxation and overall well-being for the consumer, and has been practiced throughout the world for thousands of years. MassageLuXe currently has 94 locations across 20 states and plans to double in size in the next three years. SOURCE MassageLuXe JACKSON, Miss., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Mississippi attorney Marcy Croft filed a lawsuit against Tony Buzbee, The Buzbee Law Firm and Jose Maldonado in Mississippi for abuse of process, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress against defendants and civil conspiracy. "Marcy Croft's integrity and honorable reputation compelled her to file this robust lawsuit against the bully Buzbee," Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher attorney Reed Brodsky said. "The detailed allegations of Buzbee's lack of ethics, extortionist threats and fabrications will not silence our client. As shown in the complaint, the time for Buzbee purposefully and intentionally distorting the truth for profit and self-aggrandizement must come to an end." In the filing, Croft's legal team outlines how Buzbee and his firm "embarked on a calculated scheme to destroy" her reputation by colluding with Maldonado to entrap her. Maldonado originally contacted Croft on Dec. 17, 2024 to seek legal counsel after insinuating his former lawyer, Buzbee, had exploited him. After reviewing Maldonado's case on a pro bono basis, Croft informed him that she believed he was a victim of Buzbee's fraudulent scheme, but felt he didn't have a viable civil case due to limited documents he provided. According to the complaint, Croft would go on to receive a set of strange emails from Maldonado, prompting her to eventually learn that he had partnered with Buzbee and his law firm from the outset to deliberately weaponize information against Croft. The complaint also explains how Buzbee launched a coordinated attack on Croft through his Instagram and Facebook accounts with posts that were "rife with defamatory and actionable falsehoods" and intended to damage her personal and professional credibility. Additionally, Buzbee went on to send snail mail to his former clients defaming Croft and accusing her of illegal conduct. Croft is also represented by Mississippi firm, Musgrove Whitwell. SOURCE Marcy Croft The EveryBODY Covered campaign calls on executives to implement guiding principles to better support employees living with obesity WASHINGTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention's (AWHP) EveryBODY Covered campaign delivered an open letter to executives at top workplaces for women, calling for obesity to be covered by their health plans, just like any other chronic disease. The letter was signed by 68 organizations, representing a diverse and leading group of voices across the healthcare communitysuch as the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, the Obesity Care Advocacy Network and the National Consumers League. The letter highlights the impact obesity has on womenparticularly women of colorand the role comprehensive obesity care coverage can play in supporting employees living with obesity. It also outlines three key principles employers can use as a guide for prioritizing obesity in their workplace healthcare and equity strategies, including: Recognizing obesity as a chronic disease with causes that include those outside an individual's control. Reviewing benefits offerings for opportunities to better support obesity care for employees and communicate coverage as a priority to benefits administrators. Working against weight bias at every level of a company and making sure that this is demonstrated through the company's culture. "Employers have been making great strides in supporting employees living with obesity, and we want to see that momentum continue so that even more employeesand especially womennationwide can access the care they need," said Millicent Gorham, CEO of AWHP. "Covering obesity care is about prevention. If you prioritize preventing breast cancer, heart disease, mental health issues or hundreds of other diseases, then you should also prioritize obesity care. Employees are eager for obesity to be treated like the chronic disease that it is." In addition to the physical impact, obesity also has social and financial impactsparticularly for women. Women affected by obesity earn as much as 12% less than those not affected by obesity and are less likely to be promoted at work. Further, in an AWHP-commissioned survey released in 2024, one-third of women said that living with obesity impacts their work and career goals, underscoring the essential role that employers can play in reducing the negative effects of obesity on their employees. "Obesity not only negatively impacts individuals living with the disease, it has significant costs for employers and places a serious strain on our health system," said Shawn Gremminger, President and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. "As employers of all sizes continue to face competing priorities when it comes to supporting the health and well-being of employees, it is imperative that stakeholders across the ecosystem come together to implement sustainable strategies to provide comprehensive care for those living with the chronic disease of obesity." As of last year, about half of employers currently cover or are considering covering medications for obesity. Less than a quarter (22%) of employers believe that obesity is a chronic condition for which obesity management medications should be covered, while just a slightly higher percentage (23%) believe it is a lifestyle condition for which GLP-1 medications should not be covered. "We know that obesity is a chronic yet treatable disease and a public health concern that impacts the lives of more than 1 in 3 American women," said George Huntley, CEO of the Diabetes Leadership Council. "It is critical that everyoneand particularly employersview obesity with the same lens we view diseases like diabetes and ensure individuals have the support they need to access obesity care options that are right for them." EveryBODY Covered launched in February 2024 as a nationwide effort working in partnership with 20 partner organizations to ensure that everybody has access to needed obesity care, including FDA-approved medications. The open letter was signed by the following organizations: Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention Aimed Alliance Alliance for Aging Research Alliance for Patient Access Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners American Association of Birth Centers American Association of Nurse Practitioners American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine American College of Physicians American Kidney Fund American Medical Women's Association American Nurses Association American Psychological Association American Public Health Association American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery American Society of Preventive Cardiology Association of Black Cardiologists Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Arthritis Foundation BlackDoctor.org Black Women's Health Imperative Black Women for Change Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer Caregiver Action Network Center for Patient Advocacy Leaders Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses ConscienHealth Creating Healthier Communities DiabetesSisters Diabetes Leadership Council Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition Gerontological Society of America Global Liver Institute GO2 for Lung Cancer Haven Midwifery Collective Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease HealthyWomen Heart Sistas Inc. MANA, A National Latina Organization The Mended Hearts, Inc. National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions National Association of Hispanic Nurses National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health National Black Nurses Association National Caucus and Center on Black Aging National Consumers League National Council on Aging National Grange National Hispanic Council on Aging National Hispanic Health Foundation National Medical Association National Menopause Foundation National Rural Health Association National Student Nurses' Association Obesity Action Coalition Obesity Care Advocacy Network Obesity Medicine Association Obesity Medicine Fellowship Council Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Prevent Cancer Foundation Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association RetireSafe Society for Women's Health Research The Obesity Society TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance WomenHeart To learn more about EveryBODY Covered, please visit everybodycovered.org and follow the campaign on LinkedIn, X @everybodycvrd, Facebook and Instagram @everybodycovered. Support for the EveryBODY Covered campaign has been provided by Eli Lilly & Company. About AWHP The Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) non-profit organization working to ensure that all women and girls have access to high-quality preventive care. Our mission is to advance policy that drives equitable access and prevents the burden and progression of disease to improve the lives and health of all women and girls. For more information on AWHP, please visit WomensHealthandPrevention.org and follow us on LinkedIn and X @AWHPOrg. SOURCE Alliance for Womens Health & Prevention SAN FRANCISCO, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Movement Labs , a Web3 company and core contributor of the Movement Network, today announced the launch of its Asia Pacific tour: "GMove: Move Asia's Future." This comprehensive tour will connect developers, investors, influencers, and community members across 11 vibrant cities throughout the APAC region. Movement Labs: 'GMove: Move Asia's Future' Led by Cooper Scanlon, co-founder of Movement Labs, the tour aims to ignite excitement, foster collaboration, and establish Movement as a key player in the Web3 ecosystem across Asia Pacific. The tour runs from March 18 to April 17, 2025, with flagship events in: Taipei : March 18 - 21 : Shenzhen : March 21 - 23 : Chengdu : March 23 - 25 : Shanghai : March 25 - 27 : Hangzhou : March 27 - 29 : Bangkok : March 29 - April 3 : Ho Chi Minh City : April 3 - 5 : Hanoi : April 5 - 7 : Singapore : April 7 - 11 : Seoul : April 11 - 14 : Tokyo : April 15 - 17 "The APAC Tour will help bring together all the essential parts that make blockchain and our amazing Movement community successful," said Scanlon. "By connecting developers, investors, community builders, traders, government officials, and crypto enthusiasts across these vibrant markets, we're creating the foundation for continued growth and innovation that will truly 'Move' Asia's digital future!" Each city will host a dynamic flagship event featuring networking, presentations, panel discussions with local community leaders, and developer pitch sessions. As the first major in-person event series following Movement's Mainnet Launch, these gatherings will provide a platform for local developers to pitch their projects and connect with interested investors. Developers, investors, community organizers & creators can also look forward to the unveiling of Movement's new Global Ambassador Program and Global Hubs Program for the first time during the tour. Attendees will receive exclusive benefits available only through event check-ins, rewards, branded merchandise, and early access to Movement pioneering projects. The tour will be promoted through localized campaigns in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese languages to ensure maximum engagement across all regional communities. Events will be listed on Luma , with registration now open for developers, startups, community members, and builders. For more information about the Movement APAC Tour, including event registration details and sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://lu.ma/MovementAPACTour2025 and movementnetwork.xyz or follow @movementlabsxyz , @movementfdn , @moveecosystem @Move_Collective on Twitter. About Movement Labs Movement Labs develops the Movement Network, an ecosystem of Modular Move-Based Blockchains. The company is creating the first Move Virtual Machine for Ethereum, along with open-source tools to promote Move adoption across blockchains. Their platform enables developers to launch high-performance Move VM rollups easily, bridging Move and EVM ecosystems. SOURCE Movement Labs Macron: Peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved at any cost, cannot be capitulation of Ukraine Peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved at any cost and under the rule of a Russian dictator, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed, calling for further support for Ukrainians. We must continue to help Ukrainians resist until they can agree with Russia on a lasting peace for themselves and for all of us. That is why the path to peace cannot include giving up on Ukraine, quite the opposite. Peace cannot be achieved at any cost and under the rule of a Russian dictator. Peace cannot be the capitulation of Ukraine. It cannot be its disintegration, he said in an address to the French, broadcast on the social network X. Macron stressed that we have experience from the past and that we must not forget that Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in 2014, and there were ceasefire agreements in Minsk that were violated. Russia did not respect this ceasefire, and we were unable to maintain the balance due to the lack of credible guarantees, Macron said. The CEO of TruLife Distribution Reviews the Latest Changes and Offers Advice for Ambitious Brands Looking to Enter the U.S. Market FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The new administration is changing rules and regulations quickly. This can make it difficult for both domestic and international health and wellness brands to act on ambitious growth and scaling plans. TruLife Distribution functions as a trusted partner with inside knowledge, extensive experience, and in-house expertise that can guide a health and wellness company's marketing and distribution efforts in the U.S., even during uncertain times like the present. "We've been working with growing health and wellness brands for the better part of a decade now," said TruLife CEO and founder Brian Gould (who personally has a multi-decade career in the health and wellness sector). "We've seen it all, and we understand the stress and strain that changes can have on business plans. That's why we're here: to operate as your boots-on-the-ground partner in your distribution and marketing initiatives. We provide the up-to-date knowledge needed to navigate not just typical U.S. regulatory rules but the latest compliance requirements as they roll out." Gould adds that this is a critical step in any company's growth plans. Whether they're coming from overseas or looking to expand from within the U.S., following regulatory requirements with things like ingredients and labels can make or break an operation. Of course, international brands face steeper challenges as they navigate entry into the U.S. Gould remembers many occasions when his team had to stay in communication with overseas partners to help them line everything up. The range of products, brands, and locations span the gamut, from helping the Irish snack brand All Real Nutrition import its elite snack bars to America to doing the same for Bulgarian brand VemoHerb's innovative supplement line. In each case, these brands had significant experience and well-established success in their own countries. Yet, this did little to help them navigate the complexities of the U.S. regulatory system. That required the support of an inside team like TruLife. "You need more than a good idea," Gould said. "You need the support and knowledge of a team that can help you carry that business vision through the red tape and into reality. That has become more complicated than ever at the moment, and you need contingency plans in place at every step, but it's not impossible. You just need the right people in place." As the new administration both considers and, at times, puts tariffs and other international economic initiatives in place, businesses must be ready to react and take the best steps available to them with each decision. Gould encourages anyone considering expansion into the United States in the coming years to find a partner like TruLife that they can trust to help them understand and address regulatory requirements as they make the leap and attempt to build their brand in the biggest health and wellness economy in the world. About TruLife Distribution TruLife Distribution is the brainchild of Brian Gould, whose extensive industry knowledge comes from both personal experience and familial expertise stemming from three previous generations of manufacturing and retail distribution professionals. His company has a robust brick-and-mortar distribution network, is run by a team of veteran professionals, and offers a full-service experience that includes sales, marketing, and distribution. Learn more about TruLife Distribution at trulifedist.com . Media Contact: TruLife Distribution (954) 414-0380 [email protected] SOURCE TruLife Distribution ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New Energy Equity, a national leader in developing and financing community and commercial solar projects, is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Harlem Consolidated School District to bring a 5.54 MWdc solar energy project to the district in Illinois. Developed by BOW Renewables and subsequently acquired by NEE, this project is on land owned by the Harlem Consolidated School District. It will provide significant economic benefits, including discounted electricity, to both the school district in eastern Winnebago County and residential customers in the Commonwealth Edison service area. This collaboration marks NEE's first initiative in Illinois' Public Schools Program, part of the state's Adjustable Block Program (ABP), which drives renewable energy growth across Illinois. The solar project will harness clean, renewable power to significantly offset the school district's energy needs. Post this The Harlem Consolidated School District solar project will harness clean, renewable power to significantly offset the district's energy needs, supporting over 39,000 students across 11 schools. Beyond the direct benefits to the district, the project will expand renewable energy access to the broader local community, fostering environmental stewardship and sustainability. This shared clean energy initiative enables the district and participating residents to join Illinois' transition to renewable energy sources and benefit both financially and environmentally. With this acquisition, New Energy Equity underscores its dedication to advancing clean energy in educational settings, empowering communities, and supporting Illinois' clean energy goals. Building on its extensive experience in Illinois, where the company already has more than 30 community solar projects totaling over 90 MWdc, the Harlem Consolidated School District project is poised to set a model for sustainable, community-driven energy solutions that create lasting benefits for both public institutions and local residents. "We are honored to work alongside the Harlem Consolidated School District as they lead by example in environmental responsibility," said Jackie Chambers, New Energy Equity's Chief Investment Officer. "This project demonstrates the power of collaboration, allowing public schools and communities to take meaningful steps toward a cleaner future." BOW Renewables, LLC, the original developer of the project, expressed excitement about New Energy Equity's acquisition, recognizing the project's potential impact on the region. "This community solar endeavor serves as a further milestone in BOW's commitment to providing local community benefits and advancing Illinois' clean energy objectives," said Bryan Segarra, Director of Development, BOW Renewables. The Harlem Consolidated School District also is enthusiastic about the new solar project and the positive impact it will have on students, families, and the wider community. About New Energy Equity New Energy Equity LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE (NYSE:ALE), develops, finances, operates, and manages solar power generation assets, providing clean electricity to commercial, industrial, municipal, and utility customers under long-term contracts. New Energy Equity has successfully developed over 550MW of solar projects and closed more than $1.2 billion in clean energy investments. To learn more, visit http://www.newenergyequity.com. About BOW Renewables, LLC BOW Renewables, LLC was founded in 2018 by industry veterans who are committed to playing a significant role in transitioning America's increasing energy demands to clean and renewable resources. The BOW team was built to provide expertise throughout the lifecycle of a renewable energy project. Our team provides expertise in siting, site acquisition, development management, permitting/approvals, and oversight during construction and energization of a renewable energy project. Contact: Kyle Wehnes Director - Marketing New Energy Equity 262-366-9223 [email protected] SOURCE New Energy Equity NEW ORLEANS, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Regional energy firms PosiGen, PBC, and Solar Alternatives joined forces with the renewable energy-focused nonprofit, Empowered by Light, to install solar and energy storage at New Orleans' only Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) facility at 531 Lyons Street. This initiative ensures the VFW center can continue operating during grid outages and provide critical services to veterans and community members during natural disasters and emergencies. Left to Right: Glynn Woodal, PosiGen Director of Operations; Mae Chapman, Campus Navigator and LaVetCorps at Delgado Community College, Moria Hanes, Executive Director at Empowered by Light; State Representative-Delisha Boyd; Louisiana State Senator Royce Duplessis; Kevin York, Commander of VFW Post 8973, Tom Neyhart, PosiGen Founder and Executive Chair; Jeff Cantin, President and Founder of Solar Alternatives, Jerome Johnson, Community Outreach Coordinator for Troy Carters Office, Fallon Lucka PoisGens Director of Operations, Glynn Woodall and Solar Alternatives President and Founder, Jeff Cantlin explain the solar storage battery function to attendees. Neighborhood residents, VFW Post 8973 members, and state and local representatives joined the contributing firms on a tour of the Resilient Solar Hub. On February 13, 2025, the successful completion of this project was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring addresses from Tom Neyhart, PosiGen Founder and Executive Chair, Jeff Cantin, President and Founder of Solar Alternatives, Moria Hanes, Executive Director at Empowered by Light, Louisiana State Senator Roy Duplessis, Campus Navigator and LaVetCorps at Delgado Community College Mae Chapman, and Kevin York, Commander of VFW Post 8973. During the event, a recognition award was presented to representatives of The Honorable Troy A. Carter's (United States Congressman for Louisiana's 2nd District) office in acknowledgment of his appointment to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The ceremony was attended by Veterans of VFW POST 8973, alongside local area residents, highlighting the strong community support behind the initiative. "This solar installation helps make the city more resilient and allows NOLA VFW to provide safe, reliable, and secure charging and cooling stations for people in need after extreme weather events," said Kevin York, NOLA VFW Commander. "Reliable, predictable access to power allows our members to expand and extend our efforts to help more people in need." "At PosiGen, our mission has always been to empower families and strengthen communities through sustainable energy solutions," said Tom Neyhart, Founder and Executive Chairman of PosiGen. "This project embodies that commitment by providing families with a safe haven during storms and establishing a resilient, dependable hub for the community during power outages. We are proud to partner with the New Orleans VFW to create a beacon of light and hope in times of need." The project includes the installation of a 10-kilowatt PV array with 18 kilowatt-hours of energy storage (batteries). The system will significantly offset the center's electricity usage, saving the VFW approximately $1,400 per year in utility costs, as well as power critical services indefinitely during a prolonged grid outage. "Reliable power means the VFW can offer veterans and their families a safe place to gather, access power, and receive help during grid outages," said Empowered by Light's Executive Director, Moira Hanes. "Transitioning community services and emergency response away from costly and unreliable diesel is a major step in building sustainability and resilience for communities like New Orleans impacted by climate change." "This is a great example of cooperation in the clean energy industry, bringing resources together to provide critical support to an important organization," said Jeff Cantin, President and Founder of Solar Alternatives. "Having personally been a resident of the neighborhood myself until 2021, I know just how resilient and generous this VFW team can be when disaster strikes." Both Solar Alternatives and PosiGen are partners in the City's Solar for All NOLA Program, which offers free at-home feasibility studies and financing options for residents looking to power their homes with solar energy. Solar for All NOLA serves as a hub for community members to learn about solar opportunities and connect with trusted providers like PosiGen and Solar Alternatives. Residents can visit solarforallnola.com to explore how they can make the switch to clean energy. About PosiGen PosiGen, with a mission to make solar energy affordable for homeowners of all income levels, is the leading solar and energy efficiency provider focused on providing savings to underserved communities. Since its founding in 2011, PosiGen has offered innovative "no credit check" financing that makes its services accessible for all families, helping them reduce their utility bills and achieve greater financial autonomy. PosiGen has more than 750 employees and has served nearly 30,000 customers in more than a dozen states. Through the expanding PosiGen Partner Program, a network of value-aligned solar service providers, the company supports hundreds more solar jobs across the country. Learn more about PosiGen's Solar For All mission at www.posigen.com . About Empowered by Light Empowered by Light is a U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofit deploying solar technologies to empower vulnerable communities most impacted by climate change. EBL has completed more than 80 solar and energy storage projects in 9 countrieshelping school-age children study after dark, improving safety, boosting economic development, supporting conservation, and helping build more resilient communities. Learn more here. About Solar Alternatives Founded in 2008 and based in New Orleans, Solar Alternatives designs and builds solar energy and battery microgrid systems for businesses and homeowners across the Gulf South. Solar Alternatives is a licensed solar and general contractor in ten Southern states, transforming communities with reliable, clean, independent power through its turnkey engineering, consultation, and construction services. www.solalt.com Media Contact: PosiGen Media Inquiries [email protected] (504) 313-4239 SOURCE PosiGen, PBC. NextChem Tech will provide engineering and technology solutions to improve energy efficiency and carbon footprint of the Sulfur Recovery Complex at SATORP's refinery This agreement strengthens the relationship with SATORP and the Group's presence in the region MILAN, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MAIRE (MI: MAIRE) announces that NEXTCHEM (Sustainable Technology Solutions), through its subsidiary NextChem Tech, has been awarded a three-year contract by SATORP a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies to provide engineering and technology services related to the Sulphur Recovery Complex of SATORP's refinery in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Specifically, NextChem Tech will provide process and engineering advisory services to enhance performance, support operational troubleshooting, and improve energy efficiency and the carbon footprint of the three units (Sulfur Recovery Unit, Amine Regeneration Unit and Sour Water Stripper) which compose the Sulphur Recovery Complex. The services will also include recommendations for capital investment opportunities, design enhancements, and technology improvements. This award reinforces NEXTCHEM's position as reliable technology and process leader, recognized for its expertise and commitment to continuous R&D and innovation. Alessandro Bernini, CEO of MAIRE, commented: "This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to drive sustainability and efficiency in the refining industry. This agreement not only strengthens our relationship with SATORP, after TECNIMONT's multibillion-dollar petrochemical expansion project awarded in June 2023 so called Amiral project , but also underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge engineering and technology solutions that reduce environmental impact." MAIRE S.p.A. is a leading technology and engineering group focused on advancing the Energy Transition. We provide Integrated E&C Solutions for the downstream market and Sustainable Technology Solutions through three business lines: Sustainable Fertilizers, Low-Carbon Energy Vectors, and Circular Solutions. With operations across 50 countries, MAIRE employs over 9,800 people. MAIRE is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (ticker "MAIRE"). For further information: www.groupmaire.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2379433/4631640/MAIRE_Logo.jpg SOURCE MAIRE S.p.A. MESA, Ariz., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrim Horizon ("Northrim"), a permanent capital investment firm, today announced the addition of Crawford Gates to the investment team as a Principal focused on the firm's investments into service businesses. "We are thrilled to welcome Crawford, who will help lead our efforts in partnering with enduring service-based companies," said Brad Gulbrandsen, Managing Partner of Northrim Horizon. "Crawford is a seasoned investor with a blue-chip private equity background and extensive experience within the industrial services sector, and we look forward to the value he will drive for Northrim's current and future investments." Before joining Northrim, Crawford was a Principal at KKR in its Americas Private Equity group where he focused on the industrials sector. Prior to KKR, he worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs in New York. Crawford earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Brigham Young University, graduating summa cum laude from the Marriott School of Business. About Northrim Horizon Northrim Horizon is a permanent capital investment firm that acquires and operates well-run, profitable service and software businesses. Northrim builds long-term value by reinvesting its earnings into its companies and people. The firm is based in Mesa, Arizona. For more information, please visit www.northrimhorizon.com. Contacts Eli Kapsack [email protected] SOURCE Northrim Horizon ISTANBUL, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Odine, a global technology partner in sustainable network and digital transformation, is pleased to announce that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Rakuten Symphony, a global leader in cloud-native Open RAN telco infrastructure, services, and solutions. This strategic collaboration marks a significant step in accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge solutions in Turkiye, Middle East and Africa. Odine and Rakuten Symphony Enter into a Strategic Partnership to Drive Innovation in Network Transformation This strategic partnership underscores a shared commitment to broadening the reach of Rakuten Symphony's innovative products and services, accelerating the adoption of advanced network automation, virtualization, and cloud-native technologies. Leveraging deep expertise and a strong industry presence, the collaboration aims to drive digital transformation, enhance network efficiency, and support enterprises in transitioning to next-generation cloud-based architectures. "At Odine, we are committed to shaping the future of network transformation by integrating next-generation technologies that enhance agility, scalability, and efficiency," said Alper Tunga Burak, CEO of Odine. "Our strategic partnership with Rakuten Symphony, not only strengthens our global expansion strategy but also enhances our impact in the international market. Our ability to deliver advanced cloud-native solutions empowers organizations to build more intelligent, automated, and resilient networks. With our innovation-driven approach, we will continue to accelerate digital transformation, drive competitiveness, and create new opportunities for the business world in an increasingly dynamic technology ecosystem." Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, is renowned for its disruptive approach to network infrastructure, offering fully virtualized, cloud-based solutions designed to revolutionize deployment and management. "Our strategic collaboration with Odine expands the reach of our technology, accelerating its adoption across new markets," said Udai Kanukolanu, Head of Global Sales at Rakuten Symphony. "By leveraging Odine's extensive industry expertise and strong global presence, we are driving the evolution of network architectures to be more agile, cost-effective, and future-ready." Through this collaboration, Odine and Rakuten Symphony will drive growth, enhance operational efficiency, and accelerate the transition to cloud-native infrastructures. About Rakuten Symphony Rakuten Symphony is reimagining telecom, changing supply chain norms and disrupting outmoded thinking that threatens the industry's pursuit of rapid innovation and growth. Based on proven modern infrastructure practices, its open interface platforms make it possible to launch and operate advanced mobile services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security. Rakuten Symphony has operations in Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, Europe and the Middle East Africa region. For more information, visit: https://symphony.rakuten.com ABOUT ODINE Odine (BIST: ODINE) is a global partner empowering sustainable network transformation, building resilient and software-defined networks of the future. As a leading technology company, Odine enables global organizations to evolve with a sustainable approach. The company holds extensive expertise in next-generation technologies, such as Tier 1 software-defined networks, virtualization, 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, cloudification, and Al-powered orchestration technologies, and actively engages in research and development efforts to advance these fields. Fully committed to its partners' success, Odine works collaboratively to ensure its clients are equipped with the tools and expertise needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Odine is publicly listed on Borsa Istanbul (BIST: ODINE), reflecting its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the creation of long-term value for its shareholders. Media Contact: Harika Nihan Gundem, Head of Marketing, [email protected] Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635418/Odine_Rakuten_MOU.jpg SOURCE Odine ISTANBUL, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Odine, a global technology partner, has collaborated with Turkcell, to develop and implement an AI-powered Predictive Management solution, contributing to improvements in network monitoring, automation, and operational efficiency. Odine and Turkcell Collaborate on AI-Powered Predictive Management to Support Network Monitoring and Automation In partnership with Turkcell, the AI-powered Predictive Management will leverage Machine Learning to analyze network performance and predict prospective anomalies in the network, so as to notify the operator for taking counter measures beforehand. The solution utilizes Generative AI to investigate the predicted anomaly and create root cause analysis reports to assist the operator in addressing them. Predictive Management also presents real-time visualization of the network, together with performance monitoring data, alarms and maintenance logs. With the help of the solution, the operator will be able to monitor the current state of its network, as well as its predicted future. It is expected that the Predictive Management solution will significantly reduce operational costs, improve service and network availability, and enhance operator's responsiveness. Prof. Dr. Vehbi Cagr Gungor, Chief Network Technologies Officer at Turkcell, stated, "The AI-powered Predictive Management was tested to monitor the network and provide predictive analysis using real-time data, helping to identify potential issues early and enhance operational efficiency. We look forward to seeing this collaboration lead to even more positive developments in the future and contribute to our ongoing digital transformation efforts." "This collaboration exemplifies Odine's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI to advance digital infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiencies while fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth. We remain committed to exploring new opportunities that drive progress in the industry," said Alper Tunga Burak, Chairman and CEO, Odine. By integrating AI and automation into network management, Odine and Turkcell are advancing the next generation of intelligent telecommunications solutions, reinforcing their commitment to efficiency, scalability, and seamless digital transformation. ABOUT TURKCELL: Turkcell is a technology and telecommunications company headquartered in Turkiye, offering a unique portfolio of voice, data and IPTV services over its mobile and fixed networks along with digital consumer, enterprise and techfin services. Turkcell Group operates in three countries: Turkiye, Belarus and Northern Cyprus. Listed on both the NYSE and BIST since July 2000, Turkcell remains the only dual-listed company on these exchanges. Read more at www.turkcell.com.tr ABOUT ODINE: Odine (BIST: ODINE) is a global partner empowering sustainable network transformation, building resilient and software-defined networks of the future. As a leading technology company, Odine enables global organizations to evolve with a sustainable approach. The company holds extensive expertise in next-generation technologies, such as Tier 1 software-defined networks, virtualization, 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, cloudification, and Al-powered orchestration technologies, and actively engages in research and development efforts to advance these fields. Fully committed to its partners' success, Odine works collaboratively to ensure its clients are equipped with the tools and expertise needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Odine is publicly listed on Borsa Istanbul (BIST: ODINE), reflecting its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the creation of long-term value for its shareholders. www.odine.com Media contacts: Harika Nihan Gundem, Head of Marketing, [email protected] Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635587/Odine_and_Turkcell_Collaboration.jpg SOURCE Odine The MPT30Ka Deployable system is designed as man-portable for an easy field deployment of a SATCOM terminal featuring a roll-on/roll-off capability. This capability provides military forces with the flexibility to establish a high-performance SATCOM link in minutes, ensuring real-time data transmission, secure voice communications, and live video streaming even in GPS-denied environments. The MPT30Ka Deployable delivers seamless connectivity across diverse terrains, supporting GEO, MEO, LEO, and HEO satellites for global coverage. With high EIRP and G/T values, it enables efficient broadband communication even at low elevation angles. Its high EIRP Spectral Density (EIRPsd) characteristics allows for reduced bandwidth allocation and makes it a perfect choice for military customers with large fleet of SATCOM systems. Optimized for military operations, the system meets MIL-STD compliance and is ruggedized to operate in extreme conditions. Its plug-and-play functionality ensures rapid activation with a single-button setup, allowing forces to establish a stable SATCOM link within minutes. Designed for mission-critical reliability, the terminal operates even under GPS jamming and spoofing conditions. Additionally, its compact, lightweight, and power-efficient design enhances availability while reducing operational costs and satellite resources. The MPT30Ka system variants can be mounted on mobile platforms such as vehicles or and vessels making it an ideal solution for modern mobile defense forces. Daniel Eshchar, Orbit's CEO commented: "In today's battlefield, satellite communication is not just an advantageit is a necessity. Forces require resilient, high-performance connectivity to ensure mission success. The MPT30Ka Deployable SATCOM system delivers precisely that: a robust, continuous, and high-quality communication link that keeps troops connected under any conditions. This system plays a critical role in modern warfare, providing the reliability and flexibility essential for operational superiority". About Orbit Communication Systems: Orbit Communication Systems, a global leader in ground, airborne and maritime communications, satellite tracking, and ground-station technology, revolutionizes global connectivity with cutting-edge solutions for the new space era. Our state-of-the-art systems are utilized on a wide range of platforms, including mission aircraft, trainers, rotary-wing aircraft, transport vessels, tankers, jet fighters and unmanned platforms. Our reach extends to naval vessels, armored land platforms, cruise ships, ground stations, and offshore platforms, ensuring comprehensive coverage across maritime and terrestrial domains. Orbit provides innovative, cost-effective, and reliable solutions to commercial operators, major air forces, navies, space agencies, and emerging New Space companies. Orbit is publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and is under the control of the FIMI Investment Fund. The company maintains a subsidiary in Florida, USA, which provides production, integration, and support capabilities for the North American market. Its global operations, encompassing marketing, sales, and customer service, extend across Europe, and the Far East. Contact: Orbit Marketing Communications [email protected] +972 9 892 2777 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635935/Orbit_Communication.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635954/Orbit_Communication_Systems_Logo.jpg SOURCE Orbit Communication systems Ltd Sponsored by The Soloviev Foundation, New York City students are invited to share what liberty, freedom, and democracy mean to them for an opportunity to receive awards up to $5,000. NEW YORK, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US, an immersive public art installation made possible by The Soloviev Foundation, is proud to introduce the Future Generations Essay Contest, a New York City initiative empowering public and private school students in grades 6-12 to explore the meaning of liberty within the context of the evolving American story. "Our goal with Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US is to bring people of all ages together through storytelling and shared experiences. The Future Generations Essay Contest is an opportunity for our youngest citizens to contribute to the national dialogue on the values that unite us as Americans," said Michael Hershman, Chief Executive Officer, Soloviev Group. "The upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is a monumental moment in the history of our country and The Soloviev Foundation feels that it is our responsibility to amplify the voices of our future and their thoughts about freedom, liberty, and democracy." As part of the Path of Liberty experience, set to open in May 2025, this contest will recognize 21 students with awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support their future educational pursuits. The award tiers are as follows: First Place: $5,000 2nd Place: $2,500 3rd Place: $1,000 Runner-Up: 18 additional students will each receive $500 The top 250 participants will receive exclusive Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US merchandise The competition aligns with the Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US mission of capturing personal stories and reflections on democracy and the ideals that define America. Hosted on Manhattan's East Side from 38th to 41st Street on First Avenue at Freedom Plaza, this groundbreaking installation serves as a prequel to America 250, the 2026 United States Quarter Millennial, and provides an interactive space where visitors can engage with multimedia exhibits, large-scale photography, and documentary storytelling. A Platform for Young Thinkers "This initiative is about more than just looking backit's about looking forward," said Michael Hershman. "By supporting Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US and the Future Generations Essay Contest, we are investing in the leaders, thinkers, and changemakers of tomorrow." Through their essays, students are encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences, considering any or all of the following questions: What does being American mean to you? What values or principles do you believe define America? What gives you hope for the future of America? Can you share a moment in your life where you felt especially proud to be American? How to Enter The competition is open to public and private school students in grades 6-12 living in New York City. To participate, students must submit an original essay of 500 words or less by April 14, 2025, on www.pathoflibertynyc.com. A distinguished panel of judges will evaluate entries based on originality, depth, and clarity. Winners will be announced in early May, with an opportunity for top participants to be featured within the Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US exhibition and across our digital platforms. Top participants will also be invited to attend a special event at Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US, celebrating their contributions to the ongoing dialogue on liberty and democracy. A Collaboration with The Soloviev Foundation The Soloviev Foundation has played a pivotal role in bringing this initiative to life. With a deep commitment to fostering civic engagement, cultural enrichment, and historical reflection, The Soloviev Foundation has made Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US a space where history meets contemporary dialogue. The Future Generations Essay Contest is a testament to that mission, ensuring that the next generation is not only learning about democracy, but actively shaping it. Join the Conversation The Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US exhibition is a powerful, immersive experience designed to inspire reflection, dialogue, and action. As part of this initiative, the Future Generation Essay Contest provides students with a unique opportunity to engage with these themes firsthandconnecting their own perspectives with the larger American story. Please visit pathoflibertynyc.com and follow @pathoflibertynyc on Facebook and Instagram for information and updates. ABOUT SOLOVIEV FOUNDATION The Soloviev Foundation is the charitable giving arm of the Soloviev Group, dedicated to supporting the efforts of those working across humanitarian, environmental, and educational causes. The Foundation's gifts go to both large, long-established institutions addressing global crises and concerns, and smaller, hyperlocal organizations serving the populations in need within their communities. For more information, visit solovievfoundation.org. ABOUT PATH OF LIBERTY: THAT WHICH UNITES US Encompassing more than six-acres on Manhattan's East Side from 38th to 41st Street on First Avenue, the large-scale exhibition provides a visual and narrative journey of the founding principles of the United States, framed by stunning portraits and immersive landscapes. Made possible by the Soloviev Foundation, Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US will welcome guests and present an exploration of both the achievements and ongoing challenges of American democracy. Through powerful, large-scale environmental portraits and interactive elements, visitors will leave with a deeper understanding of the country's past, present, and future. For more information, please visit pathoflibertynyc.com. SOURCE The Soloviev Group In 2024, PGE saw increases in clean energy resources, large customer participation in voluntary clean energy programs, record fish returns at hydro facilities and increases in employee volunteerism. PORTLAND, Ore., March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland General Electric (PGE) today reported a record 45% of the energy it generated and procured came from non-carbon-emitting resources in 2024. This represents a 7% compounded growth rate in PGE's non-emitting resource mix since 2020, building on the company's commitment to reach net-zero by 2040. The data was reported in the company's 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance Report, "Advancing Toward a Clean Energy Future," which details the company's progress in creating resilient energy, thriving communities, and ethical governance. PGE volunteers and a newly-planted tree at a Friends of Trees event Kokanee swimming upstream in the Deschutes River PGE's 2024 resource mix at a glance The increase in clean energy is partly due to new renewable resources including the Clearwater Wind Energy Center and battery storage systems which brought increased availability and reliability to PGE's energy mix. These systems, along with the rest of PGE's technology and infrastructure, work together to provide reliable, clean energy even when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. "While we work to meet the challenges of Oregon's ambitious clean energy targets, we also remain firmly committed to providing safe, reliable power as affordably as possible," said Kristen Sheeran, PGE's Vice President of Policy and Resource Planning. The role of PGE customers in support of a modern, reliable grid also increased in 2024. Twenty-four percent of PGE's residential households participated in voluntary programs to shift energy use and lend flexibility to the grid during times of peak demand. The result, during a two-day heatwave in July, was a more than 100-megawatt reduction in demand, which PGE equated to the energy used by 90,000 homes over a four-hour period. 2024 was also the 15th year in a row in which PGE has achieved a Number One ranking from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the largest customer participation in a renewable energy program among U.S. electric utilities. Additionally, strong environmental stewardship at PGE's hydro facilities led to record-setting fish returns on the Clackamas and Deschutes Rivers. This includes the highest steelhead return to Round Butte Dam since dams were completed in the 1960s. Employee and corporate giving also increased. The total company charitable giving from corporate contributions, PGE Foundation, current and retired employees and company match was $5.5 million in 2024. PGE awarded 55 scholarships, focused on higher education for underrepresented students, women and students with demonstrated financial need. Employees and retirees donated nearly 23,000 total volunteer hours, and 66% of PGE employees participated in charitable giving and/or volunteerism. To read the full 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance Report, "Advancing Toward a Clean Energy Future," visit portlandgeneral.com/sustainability . About Portland General Electric Company Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 950,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE was ranked the No. 1 utility in the 2024 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index and is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. In 2024, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated $5.5 million and volunteered nearly 23,000 hours to more than 480 nonprofit organizations. For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news Contact Info: PGE Communications, [email protected]; 503-464-2067 Source: Portland General Company SOURCE Portland General Electric URCS works at sites of liquidation of consequences of Russian attack in Kharkiv, Kryvy Rih The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) worked at the sites of liquidation of the consequences of the Russian attack in Kharkiv and Kryvy Rih. This night, Russian troops once again attacked Ukraine The team of the Kryvy Rih unit of the Dnipropetrovsk regional rapid response detachment of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society worked at the site of the missile attack in Kryvy Rih, the URCS reported on Facebook on Thursday. Volunteers quickly arrived at the site of the attack. They provided medical and psychological aid to the victims and people in shock, and also supported the work of emergency services. In Kharkiv, the URCS rapid response detachment in Kharkiv region worked at the site of the liquidation of the consequences of the Russian attack. Volunteers helped rescuers evacuate residents of the damaged building and provided first medical and psychological aid to victims and people in a state of stress. As reported, four people were killed and more than 30 people were injured as a result of a Russian missile strike on a hotel in Kryvy Rih. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, a 9-story residential building, facades of neighboring buildings, and a kindergarten were damaged in Kharkiv. Plan International & partners launch IWD 2025 campaign to advance girls' education and leadership worldwide. Post this The need for action is urgent. The global gender equality gap is now projected to take 137 years to close three years longer than in 2024, signaling a troubling reversal of progress. Without intervention, girls will continue to face barriers that limit their potential. Plan works alongside girls to remove obstacles and create pathways to leadership. "Girls need our support now more than ever. When we invest in their education and leadership, we're not just changing their futures we're changing the world," said Shanna Marzilli, president and CEO of Plan International USA. "Through our partnerships, we're giving girls the tools to overcome barriers and lead with confidence." Join the movement at www.planusa.org/international-womens-day. Paramount Championing girls' education and equality Plan and Paramount have partnered since 2015 to raise awareness about girls' education and equal opportunities. Building on this long-term collaboration, they have once again joined forces for International Women's Day. Nickelodeon released exclusive content featuring beloved bilingual explorer Dora, who speaks directly to grown-ups about the importance of girls' education and equal opportunities. This content continues the story started on International Day of the Girl 2024, when Plan and Paramount distributed backpacks filled with school supplies to young people in Cambodia, Mexico, Nepal, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. Inspired by Dora's iconic purple backpack, these backpacks symbolize the tools needed for learning and adventure, giving girls the resources they need to stay in school and pursue their dreams. Paramount and Plan also continue to amplify girls' voices through the 8M Infinito campaign on MTV in 2025 across Latin America, reinforcing its commitment to gender equality. Help girls go beyond their backpacks at www.planusa.org/dora KFC's Girl Takeovers Leading with confidence KFC partners with Plan to create pathways to leadership, education and employment for youth, especially girls and people with disabilities. This partnership supports KFC's commitment to promoting gender balance in leadership roles through its community impact strategy, Feeding People's Potential. In February 2025, KFC hosted Girls Takeover events at two KFC corporate offices: Plano, Texas and Bangkok, Thailand. During these takeovers, girls stepped into leadership roles, including Chief People and Culture Officer and Chief Development Officer, challenging stereotypes and demonstrating their potential. These inspiring moments will be shared on social media, amplifying girls' voices and encouraging others to support youth leadership. Click here to learn how KFC is helping youth build skills and lead. Campaign overview The "Empower Girls. Change the Future" campaign showcases how education and leadership empower girls to shape their futures. Aligned with the global advocacy theme "Accelerate Action," it underscores the urgency of closing the gender gap so girls can learn, lead, decide and thrive. Through strategic partnerships, impactful blogs and inspiring Girl Takeovers, the campaign highlights what's possible when girls have the support they need to lead. The #HerFutureStartsNow social media challenge encourages meaningful conversations about leadership and future goals, inviting people everywhere to join the movement. About Plan International Plan International is an international development and humanitarian nonprofit that advances children's rights and equality for girls. Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of challenges children face. We are there from birth until adulthood, and we support children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity, while particularly focusing on the experiences of girls. With more than 85 years of experience, we work to transform lives in more than 80 countries. We won't stop until we are all equal. Learn more at www.planusa.org. SOURCE Plan International USA The Stanley Creators Fund is dedicated to supporting early-stage organizations and ground-breaking ideas, where funding at scale can be particularly difficult to secure. Through a rigorous application and interview process, the 2025 grantees were selected for their innovative approaches and demonstrated commitment to making a tangible difference. This year's grantees are tackling a diverse range of critical issues, including mental health support, environmental conservation, combating domestic violence, advancing environmental justice, and more. "The Stanley Creators Fund reflects our commitment to the values that have guided us for over a century innovation, resilience, and a deep belief in the power of human potential," said Matt Navarro, Global President, PMI WW Brands, LLC. "We're proud to support these changemakers who, like our products, are built for life, designed to make a difference, and dedicated to building a more sustainable future." About the 2025 Stanley Creators Fund Grant Recipients: Mindful Education: Expanding Mental Health Support for Students and Educators Instituto Ame Sua Mente , Dr. Rodrigo Bressan (Sao Paulo, BR) Instituto Ame Sua Mente develops research-based projects focused on promoting mental health and reducing stigma. With support from the Stanley Creators Fund, Instituto Ame Sua Mente will expand its "Ame Sua Mente na Escola" project (Love Your Mind at School), a training course for public school educators focused on mental health education and care. A Lifeline in Need: Reimagining Mental Health Support Through Repurposed Phone Booths Hope Booth , Gloria Umanah (Atlanta, GA) Hope Booth is a global mental health organization that revolutionizes the approach to mental health care access and support by using reimagined telephone booths strategically installed around our globe on street corners, in prisons, hospitals, and schools. The funding will support the installation of new Hope Booths to create a lifeline for communities in need, with a focus on those affected by gun violence. An Inclusive Future in Fashion: Empowering the Next Gen of Designers ICON360 , Brandice Daniel (New York City, NY) Dedicated to empowering diverse talent in the fashion industry, ICON360's mission is to break down barriers and cultivate the next generation of fashion leaders who are creating a more inclusive future in fashion. ICON360 provides financial support, professional development and career-building resources to designers of color and emerging talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Stanley Creators Fund grant allows ICON360 to strengthen operational infrastructure and expand programs. Safe Before Anyone Else: Student-Driven Solutions for Sexual Violence Prevention SafeBAE, Shael Norris (Cape Elizabeth, ME) SafeBAE aims to transform how schools address sexual violence and empower teens to reshape school culture. The organization promotes culture change by giving teens the tools to become activists and raise awareness about dating violence, sexual harassment, affirmative consent, bystander intervention, survivor care, mental health and student rights under Title IX. The Stanley Creators Fund grant supports the expansion of SafeBAE's annual Summer Activist Institute, a leadership training for young advocates working to prevent relationship harm and create safer school environments. Action, Compassion, Technology: Using Tech Innovation to Help Eliminate Global Social Injustices Spring ACT , Rhiana Spring (Bern, Switzerland) Spring ACT envisions a world without domestic violence by connecting human rights and technology to empower people to take action. The grant enables Spring ACT to further develop the reach of "Sophia," the first AI-driven chatbot that empowers people impacted by domestic violence to gather potential evidence, learn about their rights and options, and seek help. Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future Start:Empowerment , Alexia Leclerq (Austin, TX) With the mission of empowering youth of color to innovate, imagine, and build a just and sustainable future in Texas and beyond, Start:Empowerment (S:E) offers high-quality, justice-centered climate education by combining science, technology, art, and math skills and traditional ecological knowledge. With this funding, S:E will launch the second iteration of its Environmental Justice Fellowship, where youth are paid to learn and spend the summer organizing for environmental justice. The Rebel Reef: Protecting Tela's Resilient Corals Tela Coral , Tiff Duong (Tela, Honduras/Austin, TX) Tela Coral was created to support and protect the natural ecosystems in Tela, Honduras, through research, education, funding and storytelling. With the Stanley Creators Fund grant, Tela Coral will create a living coral biobank to support reef restoration efforts throughout the Caribbean, as well as build a Virtual Reality center where visitors can explore Tela's underwater world to transform them into ambassadors who help safeguard our oceans for future generations. Closing the Disparities in Mental Healthcare Therapy Fund Foundation , Ashley McGirt-Adair (Seattle, WA) Therapy Fund Foundation seeks to eliminate barriers to healing for underserved communities by providing mental health education, advocacy and therapeutic services, with a vision of health equity for all. This funding will allow the organization to increase capacity and serve a growing number of individuals needing care, providing healing, peer support, tuition assistance, mental health education and advocacy. "We believe in the power of big ideas and bold action to create a better future," said Emily Cichy, Vice President, Sustainability & Social Impact, PMI WW Brands, LLC. "We are incredibly proud to partner with these exceptional individuals and organizations who are not just addressing our world's most pressing challenges, but inspiring others to join them. We're excited to see the transformative impact of their work and the positive ripple effect it will have on communities around the globe." The 2025 Stanley Creators Fund marks the second year of the philanthropic program. In its inaugural year, Stanley Creators Fund awarded grants to five U.S.-based nonprofit organizations: Black Girl Environmentalist , Boyz N the Wood , Catalyst for Change , Let's Go Compost , and the Refugee Collective (formerly Multicultural Refugee Coalition). With the Fund's support, the 2024 grantees were able to increase organizational capacity, increase the scale and impact of programs, launch new initiatives, and attract additional funding. Through Stanley Creators Fund, PMI WW Brands, LLC has donated $750,000 USD to global nonprofits to date. Grant funding for non-U.S. organizations Instituto Ame Sua Mente and Spring ACT was executed in partnership with GlobalGiving, a nonprofit organization that makes it easy and safe to give to local projects around the world while providing fellow nonprofits with the tools, training, and support they need to thrive. To learn more about Stanley Creators Fund and grant recipients, visit https://www.stanley1913.com/pages/stanley-creators-fund About PMI WW Brands, LLC PMI WW Brands, LLC manufactures, markets, and sells innovative food and beverage containers under the Stanley 1913 brand. Invented by William Stanley, Jr. on September 2, 1913 (official patent date), the all-steel vacuum bottle revolutionized the way people enjoyed food and beverage. Since then, the Stanley 1913 brand is recognized for delivering superior food and drinkware for active lifestyles. The Stanley 1913 brand is renowned for the quality of its branded products. Built for Life. Learn more, visit www.stanley1913.com . SOURCE Stanley 1913 WASHINGTON, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- News Advisory: Event: Program to analyze Oct 13, 2023 attack on journalists from Reuters, Agence France Press and Al Jazeera When: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 12 (Doors Open at 6 p.m.) Where: Ballroom, National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington, D.C. Who: Speakers include: Bill McCarren, Director, Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club (Welcome) Jason Rezaian, Director, Press Freedom Initiatives, The Washington Post (Moderator) Dylan Collins, Photojournalist for AFP who was wounded in the incident. He is an American citizen. Elie Brakhya, Photojournalist for Al Jazeera, wounded in the incident Maya Gebeily, Reuters Beirut Bureau Chief and colleague of Reuters Photographer Issam Abdallah, who was killed by tank fire in the incident. Tickets: This event is open to credentialed journalists, members of the National Press Club and their guests. These and others who wish to attend must request registration via email to [email protected]. You will receive a reply letting you know we can accommodate your request. Streaming: This event will be live streamed here: https://www.press.org/events/press-freedom-center-forum-deadly-tank-attack-journalists-reuters-afp-al-jazeera Background: On Oct. 13 a group of seven journalists were covering an artillery exchange across the Israeli-Lebanese border. They selected some unprotected high ground. They wanted to be seen by everybody. Their helmets, vests and vehicles were all marked PRESS. They even marked the top and hood of the vehicles so their PRESS sign could be seen from the air. And there was a lot in the air that day. An Israeli helicopter and drones were overhead. The experienced team chose the perfect spot to be visible. There was no tree cover. They had been in their location for a couple hours when without warning, they received fire from an Israeli tank. The first shell killed Reuters Cameraman Issam Abdallah, a beloved, gregarious soul. The same shell hit the legs of Christina Assi of AFP requiring two tourniquets to save her life. She lost one leg. She is 30. The second shell came in 37 seconds later, igniting an Al Jazeera vehicle and wounding the other five journalists. None of their lives would ever be the same. This story was the subject of outstanding investigative journalism some of which will be shared at this event. Others also investigated: Amnesty International; Human Rights Watch; Reporters Without Borders. Here is who did not investigate: The Government of the United States of America; The Israeli Defense Forces. The IDF repeated a statement that they do not target journalists as a matter of policy. Yet, they do not investigate incidents like this one to ensure their teams are following the policy. They don't re-train those who wander from the policy. They don't suspend soldiers who fire upon journalists, nor, do they dismiss them. They let them remain in the field. The United States makes and provides the weapons that are fired against journalists. One of the journalists there that day, Dylan Collins, is an American. Soon we anticipate that Gaza, a place where so many Palestinian journalists have been killed, will again be open to International news organizations like Reuters, AFP and Al Jazeera. Also AP, the Washington Post, CNN, the New York Times and others will be working there. It is long past time to have a clear discussion of what IDF policy is toward journalists working in theater. We will try to encourage that discussion March 12. Please join us. Founded in November 2024, the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club was formed to support journalists who are in trouble wrongfully imprisoned, jailed, attacked, wounded, targeted with lawsuits, chased from their countries. We stand with these journalists from Reuters, AFP and al Jazeera as they seek justice and struggle to make sense of what has happened to them. If you wish to support us in our work, you may do so here: http://www.press.org/donatepfc Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club SOURCE National Press Club HARVARD, Mass., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Romero Solutions Group is pleased to announce that our "Professionalizing the Family Business" workshop has been approved for funding through the Workforce Training Fund - Express Program. This approval enables eligible Massachusetts businesses to receive state reimbursement for valuable training, designed to support the longer-term sustainability and growth of smaller family-owned businesses across the Commonwealth. Romero Solutions Group Each workshop is designed for a singular family business, where participating leaders work with the Romero Solutions Group team to identify, prioritize, and map out business operations improvement opportunities unique to their business. And, where applicable, additional training is provided on effectively navigating family-in-business dynamics. Key workshop topics include: Effective use of technology, systems and processes Goal setting, techniques to measure success, and issue management Communication strategies, and establishing clear roles and responsibilities Financial management best practices Balancing family dynamics with business objectives Administered by Commonwealth Corporation, the Express Program through the Workforce Training Fund offers a streamlined process for businesses to access grant funding for employee training. Eligible Massachusetts businesses with 100 or fewer employees can receive significant reimbursement for the cost of approved training courses. Greg Romero, Founder and CEO of Romero Solutions Group, stated, "We are thrilled that our 'Professionalizing the Family Business' workshop has been approved for the Express Program. This approval validates the quality and relevance of our workshop while providing a valuable toolkit to smaller businesses in Massachusetts as they complete in an ever-evolving business landscape." Businesses interested in participating in our workshop can learn more about available funding by visiting the official Workforce Training Fund (Express Program) website at commcorp.org/express. The application process is designed to be quick and straightforward, typically taking 15 minutes or less to complete. It's important to note that applications must be submitted at least 21 days prior to the training start date, and businesses must provide a current Certificate of Good Standing from the Department of Revenue and an up-to-date W-9 form. For more information about the "Professionalizing the Family Business" workshop or to discuss how this training can benefit your organization, don't hesitate to contact Greg Romero at (978) 883-3660 or at [email protected]. You can also learn more by visiting our website, www.romerosolutionsgroup.com. About Romero Solutions Group: Romero Solutions Group provides expert operational consulting to founder-led and multi-generational family business leaders. With years of experience in navigating the unique challenges of family companies, our tailored solutions help clients build a stronger operational foundation in line with their goals for today and tomorrow. About the MA Workforce Training Fund - Express Program: The Express Program is part of the Workforce Training Fund, which is funded by Massachusetts employers via a workplace training tax. The program aims to address the skills gap by providing resources for businesses to train current and newly hired employees. Media Contact: Greg Romero 978.883.3660 [email protected] SOURCE Romero Solutions Group STRASBOURG, France and MIDDLETOWN, Mass., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Qaelon Medical, a pioneer in real-time surgical leak detection and insufflation, and RevMedica, an innovator in surgical stapling solutions, are excited to announce a non-exclusive data partnership to improve stapler performance and clinical outcomes in gastrointestinal surgery. Partnership Objectives By integrating RevMedica's advanced stapler technology with Qaelon's real-time leak detection and performance data, the collaboration aims to: Accelerate product development and product validation. Assess the impact of varying tissue properties on staple line performance. Assist with regulatory approvals and claims development. Thomas Wenchell, Chief Executive Officer, RevMedica: "Qaelon's leak detection technology offers RevMedica objective insights to enhance the development of our tissue sensing technology and ultimately improve clinical outcomes. We're excited about the potential this partnership brings to establish new performance benchmarks while supporting our mission to optimize decision-making in surgery." Liam Burns, Chief Executive Officer, Qaelon Medical: "Our mission at Qaelon Medical is to address the devastating impact of surgical leaks. By joining forces with RevMedica, we have an opportunity to expand the impact of our life-saving technology while building on the surgical intelligence platform we recently announced with Caresyntax." Advancing Surgical Stapling with Quantifiable Leak Detection Data RevMedica's new Endo Stapling Platform provides digital precision and real-time feedback for minimally invasive procedures by optimizing staple formation and tissue management. Qaelon Medical's unique solution provides real-time, quantifiable leak detection data that empowers surgeons to take immediate corrective action before the patient leaves the operating room. Both RevMedica and Qaelon Medical technologies have been selected for the FDA's Safer Technologies Program (STeP), reserved for "medical devices that are reasonably expected to significantly improve the safety of currently available treatments." About Qaelon Medical : Qaelon Medical is pioneering the first and only platform that combines real-time detection of life-threatening surgical leaks with state-of-the-art constant flow surgical insufflation. The company's breakthrough solution empowers surgical teams with definitive leak test results during surgery, enabling immediate corrective action before the patient leaves the operating room. Qaelon's platform provides unique objective performance indicators capable of powering AI models on surgical leaks, enhancing the ability to predict, prevent, and address complications before they arise. These advancements not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce the estimated $1.1 billion spent annually in the U.S. to treat surgical leaks. Qaelon's system enhances traditional insufflation technology with proprietary controls, digital sensors, software, and data algorithms. Press Contact: [email protected] About RevMedica: RevMedica is a pioneering medical technology company revolutionizing the way surgeons approach soft tissue management. The company's mission focuses on optimizing clinical decision-making and elevating patient safety through the development of cost-effective, environmentally sustainable surgical systems. RevMedica is dedicated to delivering enabling technology that achieves superior clinical results and fosters a more sustainable healthcare ecosystem. Press Contact: [email protected] Qaelon Medical's platform and RevMedica's products are currently under development, have not been cleared by the FDA, and are not yet available for commercial sale in the United States. SOURCE Qaelon Medical DENVER, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RadiusDC , a leading provider of highly connected, innovative and resilient data center solutions, today announced the expansion of its data center platform with plans to develop a new colocation facility in Nashville, TN Nashville I. The facility is backed by Blue Owl Capital Inc., a leading alternative asset manager. RadiusDC's expansion into Nashville delivers capacity that meets the burgeoning demand for urban data center inventory with a rich network ecosystem. Nashville I, located on approximately 12 acres of land in the Trinity Hills area of Nashville, will deliver 12MW of critical power across a 102,500 square-foot, purpose-built structure designed to satisfy current and future operational requirements. The facility, when complete, will be the largest and newest colocation facility in Nashville proper, offering enhanced cooling options that will accommodate increased densities for core compute and scaled network applications. The property, which sits among multiple carrier routes, will offer robust connectivity from multiple local and long-haul carriers. Nashville I will be the third data center within RadiusDC's portfolio of facilities in core urban markets, along with 1500 Champa in Denver, CO, and Miami I in Miami, FL. "We're excited to announce RadiusDC's growth into Nashville, continuing our reach into underserved urban markets. This expansion reflects our commitment to meet our customers where they need colocation services most, with innovative, highly connected facilities," said Mike Krza, CEO, RadiusDC. "Nashville I represents the next phase in RadiusDC's evolution with its ground-up development in proximity to the urban core and designed and purpose-built to the needs of our customers." "The Nashville site represents our problem-solving approach for our core customer base to provide contiguous space in a highly connected environment with counter parties that understand the growing needs of compute demand for ever changing applications," said Christopher Jensen, Managing Director, Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure. Nashville I follows RadiusDC's recent acquisition of Miami I and announcement of substantial investment to enhance its 1500 Champa facility . Nashville I will begin leasing in 2H 2025 with plans to open in 2026. To learn more about RadiusDC's data center footprint, visit us at radius-dc.com . About RadiusDC Meeting the colocation demands of tomorrow, RadiusDC owns and operates facilities in strategically located population centers throughout North America. Serving a wide variety of network operators, carriers, MSOs, and content providers, RadiusDC supports the increasingly urgent requirement to expand IT infrastructure to the network edge. For more information, please visit radius-dc.com . SOURCE RadiusDC CORONA, Calif., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- REMEX Liquidation , a leading provider of returns and overstock liquidation solutions, has successfully secured Series A funding from Bon Angels Venture Partners, Mashup Ventures, Strong Ventures, and Cadron Capital." REMEX Liquidation has developed an innovative eCommerce overstock liquidation solution, which addresses the challenges of returns and excess inventory faced by global eCommerce sellers. As an official Amazon service partner for handling returns, REMEX provides seamless account integration, streamlining the liquidation process for eCommerce sellers. According to FROST & SULLIVAN, e-commerce returns and overstock are expected to reach $31.691 billion by 2025. REMEX focuses on overstock that remains in warehouses for extended periods. Sellers often struggle with limited warehouse space and the resources required to manage overstock. REMEX addresses these challenges through its specialized Overstock Network, quickly picking up overstock and transforming it into sellable liquidation loads with an efficient sorting system. Items that cannot be sold are donated, supporting efforts to create a more sustainable society. REMEX Liquidation offers a comprehensive suite of services, including: One-Time Liquidation : Perfect for businesses closing or clearing large inventories. : Perfect for businesses closing or clearing large inventories. Recurring Liquidation : A hassle-free service for companies with continuous overstock. : A hassle-free service for companies with continuous overstock. E-commerce Returns & Overstock Management: Optimized for online sellers, including Amazon merchants. With 8 strategically located warehouses across the U.S. (California, Georgia, Texas, Florida), REMEX ensures 24/7 inventory pickup services and a seamless liquidation process. The company's integrated tracking system allows clients to monitor their inventory liquidation status in real-time, reinforcing transparency and efficiency. Through its multi-channel approach, REMEX Liquidation makes inventory liquidation seamless. Buyers can easily browse available stock on its official online store , connect via WhatsApp for inquiries, and even visit offline liquidation centers. Remex Liquidation will be exhibiting at ASD Marketweek and the Reverse Logistics Expo in March 2025. If you have any questions, feel free to connect with the REMEX team! Contact: Sungsu KIM +1(434)386-7676 SOURCE REMEX Liquidation Ritedose deepens its commitment to the Midlands by dedicating 1,000 hours of employee time to local nonprofits addressing basic human needs. by dedicating 1,000 hours of employee time to local nonprofits addressing basic human needs. "1,000 Hours of Purpose" builds on a long-standing Ritedose tradition of giving back to communities across South Carolina . COLUMBIA, S.C., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ritedose Corporation (Ritedose) announces a groundbreaking new volunteer program: 1,000 Hours of Purpose. "1,000 Hours of Purpose" is a year-long initiative that provides Ritedose employees with the opportunity to dedicate their time, skills and resources to support meaningful causes across the Midlands. Under this new program, Ritedose is collaborating with United Way of the Midlands and donating 1,000 hours of employee time to support various local organizations that are addressing basic human needs like hunger and housing. According to United Way, between 15% and 20% of households within the Midlands region live below the poverty level. In Richland County, a further 35% fall below the "ALICE" threshold (ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employedhouseholds earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county), meaning that nearly half of the local population may struggle to make ends meet. Ritedose employees will receive monthly opportunities for a full day of volunteering with designated local organizations such as Homeless No More, which supports people who are temporarily unhoused; Home Works of America, which provides home repair services to low-income homeowners; Palmetto Place, a safe shelter for homeless youth in South Carolina; and Transitions, which helps move previously unhoused people into new homes. "Serving the community is deeply engrained in our culture. It's a core value and natural part of who we are," said Janisha Thomas, Chief Human Resource Officer at Ritedose. "Through the 1000 Hours of Purpose initiative, we are able to expand our agency partnerships and have an even greater impact in the community. In doing so, we not only serve others, but create opportunities for our employees to bond while supporting worthy causes." While 1,000 Hours of Purpose is a new volunteer initiative, it continues a long tradition of Ritedose community involvement. The organization expects to again participate in the American Heart Association's Annual Field Day in April; support United Way of the Midlands' "Ready Set Supply" drive in July; and serve with the Salvation Army's Holiday Warehouse in December. Over the past several years, Ritedose has additionally worked with SC Thrive, Epworth Children's Home, Ronald McDonald House, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Dispensary of Hope and more. "When we step up, invest in the communities we call home, and make service part of the culture, we see ripples of impact far greater than we can imagine," Thomas added. "We truly experienceas we say at Ritedosea career full of growth and a life full of impact." For more information about "1,000 Hours of Purpose" or to arrange an interview, utilize the contact information below. About Ritedose Ritedose is the largest CDMO in the United States specializing in sterile Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) production of unit dose solutions for the ophthalmic and respiratory markets. Ritedose Pharmaceuticals provides uninterrupted patient access to quality medications every day. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, the Company partners with leading pharmaceutical companies to deliver safe, effective, and reliable medications that improve patient outcomes. For more information about Ritedose and its services, visit: www.Ritedose.com Media Contacts Grace Sueflohn Inspire Agency on Behalf of Ritedose 262-613-7636 [email protected] Alex Keown Inspire Agency on Behalf of Ritedose 630-346-5141 [email protected] SOURCE Ritedose 84,000 square-foot, temperature-controlled facility doubles RK's Austin presence. Provides specialized warehousing services, logistics support for semiconductors, automotive, lithium-ion batteries, other local manufacturing plants and suppliers. The new operation offers sophisticated, reliable inventory management, extended shipping cut-off times, mission-critical next-flight-out services, specialized pilot and engineering support for chip manufacturing. AUSTIN, Texas, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RK Logistics Group, the leading provider of complex third-party logistics services to the semiconductor and other innovation industries, announced today the opening of its second ISO certified facility in Austin, TX. The facility will provide specialized supply chain management services, purpose designed for semiconductor, automotive, lithium-ion battery and other Austin-based manufacturing operations. RK Logistics Group's new 84,000 sq. ft., Grand Avenue warehouse in Austin is strategically located for rapid order fulfillment and offers a variety of specialized inventory management and supply chain services supporting semiconductor manufacturing operations as well as other businesses. The new 84,000 square foot, 15-dock-door facility is a modern, temperature-controlled warehouse at 2120 Grand Avenue Parkway in Austin. The facility's portfolio of services includes customized warehousing and secured storage, inventory management, order assembly and kitting, order fulfillment and expedited, dedicated transportation. "Austin and the State of Texas are important markets for RK's growth, and we expect to more than double in size here in 2025," said Joe MacLean, RK's Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited to invest in this expansion of RK's capacity and capabilities to serve Austin's growing footprint as a manufacturing hub for automotive, EV battery and semiconductor production," said James Bryant, RK's chief operating officer. "We believe our 30 years of experience delivering reliable, innovative logistics solutions to manufacturing and industrial customers will be a tremendous asset supporting precise supply chain flows and reliable logistics to keep plants running efficiently." The new Grand Avenue facility provides several compelling advantages for RK and its clients, among them: Strategic Location. The facility is strategically positioned minutes from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, providing customers with extended cut-off times to ensure seamless support for mission-critical next-flight-out (NFO) shipments. This prime location enhances operational efficiency, enabling enterprises to meet urgent delivery demands with speed and reliability. Specialized Services. RK supports pilot and engineering manufacturing activities. These capabilities provide agile and responsive solutions to evolving production priorities and dynamic build changes, a particular need for semiconductor manufacturing operations. RK's expertise ensures seamless adaptation as production needs change, enabling clients to maintain efficiency, innovation and speed to market. Reliable, Secure Product Flow and On-Time Delivery. RK has over two decades of experience securely managing inventory and time-definite, dependable on-time delivery of semiconductor wafer shipments. Its proven operating processes and streamlined flow methods ensure effective business-to-business logistics, protection of customer-sensitive intellectual property and adherence to strict service level agreements. RK's high-value, precision logistics drives service excellence and provides enterprise customers with operating stability and peace of mind. RK entered the Austin market in March 2023 with the opening of its inaugural facility, a newly constructed 200,000 sq. ft. warehousing and distribution center. Located in the Austin suburb of Kyle at 400 Vista Ridge Drive, the facility has 71 dock doors and provides logistics and supply chain support for a variety of Austin manufacturing and industrial businesses. The Kyle facility employs a team of warehouse associates, material handlers and management personnel, receiving regular deliveries of containerized cargoes landing at the Port of Houston as well as truck-delivered shipments. It primarily provides product receipt and put-away, inventory control and staging, order management and fulfillment and dedicated, expedited delivery of EV (electric vehicle) batteries, parts and other general automotive production goods and materials to local manufacturing sites. RK Logistics, based in California's Silicon Valley, has been providing supply chain solutions and services for automotive and semiconductor clients for more than 30 years. The second Austin facility joins a growing footprint in North America. Among the communities where RK has operations are Fremont, Hayward, Newark and Livermore, California; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Austin and Kyle, Texas; Tempe, Arizona, and Long Island, New York. Collectively, RK controls and operates over 1.7 million square feet of warehouse space. RK Logistics was founded as a third-party logistics provider for high-tech, semiconductor and vehicle manufacturing firms. It has supported semiconductor and EV manufacturing, specifically lithium-ion battery warehousing and logistics, since 2013, and this year, expects to surpass five billion battery units handled through its warehousing facilities. For more information about the company's services please visit www.rklogisticsgroup.com. ABOUT RK LOGISTICS -- RK Logistics provides sustainable supply chain solutions for innovative industries. RK's expertise is in complex, high value density, zero fault tolerance, regulatorily intensive products that often require comprehensive services. We offer warehousing, specialty transportation, reverse logistics, manufacturing support, engineering support, hazardous materials storage, handling and transportation and order fulfillment. RK's manufacturing support, warehousing, eCommerce order fulfillment and transportation services feature enabling technologies, skilled, experienced teams, lean practices, ISO-9001 and CA Board of Pharmacy 3PL certifications, delivering flexible, sustainable, and efficient logistics solutions. For more information, go to www.rklogisticsgroup.com SOURCE RK Logistics RTX systems will support development of novel, fuel-efficient aircraft design ARLINGTON, Va., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RTX (NYSE: RTX) has entered into three agreements with JetZero, the developer of a novel blended wing body aircraft, to provide key systems for the airframer's full-scale demonstrator. Pratt & Whitney will integrate the PW2040 engine and auxiliary power unit (APU); and Collins Aerospace will provide the nacelle and propulsion mounting structure. Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace are RTX businesses. "The aviation industry is focused on efforts to reduce operational costs by improving fuel efficiency and RTX has an extensive portfolio of technologies to help companies like JetZero do just that," said Juan de Bedout, RTX's chief technology officer. "Together, JetZero and RTX will play an important role in redefining the future of commercial and military aviation." "Securing partnerships for the demonstrator's propulsion systems marks yet another meaningful milestone on our journey from design to test, to demonstration," said Dan da Silva, chief operating officer for JetZero. "We continue to make steady progress on both the demonstrator program and the design and production capabilities of the airplane that will eventually be delivered to customers. We welcome these industry-leading suppliers to the program and are inspired to see the industry's investment and belief in the blended wing airplane." JetZero aims to achieve a 50% reduction in fuel burn based on the aerodynamic efficiency of the blended wing and is planning test flights beginning in 2027. Under the new agreements, RTX will provide the following systems for JetZero's demonstrator: Pratt & Whitney will integrate its PW2040 engine. The PW2000 engine family offers 37,000 to 43,000 pounds of thrust and powers all models of the Boeing 757 aircraft, with the F117 military derivative engine serving as the exclusive powerplant for the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The PW2040 model engine also powers the U.S. Air Force's C-32A aircraft, the military version of the 757. will integrate its PW2040 engine. The PW2000 engine family offers 37,000 to 43,000 pounds of thrust and powers all models of the Boeing 757 aircraft, with the F117 military derivative engine serving as the exclusive powerplant for the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The PW2040 model engine also powers the U.S. Air Force's C-32A aircraft, the military version of the 757. Pratt & Whitney Canada will provide the APS3200, an APU that employs the latest in advanced manufacturing techniques, including the use of composites. Nearly 3,800 APS3200 units have been manufactured and certified for aircraft. will provide the APS3200, an APU that employs the latest in advanced manufacturing techniques, including the use of composites. Nearly 3,800 APS3200 units have been manufactured and certified for aircraft. Collins Aerospace will design and build nacelle structures including the inlet, fan cowl and fan duct, in addition to fairings and the engine support structure. Collins has designed, certified and manufactured nacelles for large commercial aircraft programs for decades, including Boeing 787, Airbus A350, A320neo, A220 and Embraer E2. The demonstrator will validate key technologies that could benefit multiple customers, including commercial passenger planes, cargo transports and military aircraft including a potential future aerial refueling tanker. About RTX RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2024 sales of more than $80 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected] SOURCE RTX Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/novyny/ The European Solidarity Party is against elections during war, its leader Petro Poroshenko has said. "Our team has always been and is categorically against elections during war. Unlike the government, which takes money from the army, tries to buy votes, and also eliminates political opponents with unconstitutional and extrajudicial sanctions, which is a politically motivated persecution and a scenario for preparing for elections," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook on Thursday. According to Poroshenko, elections are possible after a ceasefire and the signing of a peace agreement with security guarantees for Ukraine and should be held no later than 180 days after the end of martial law. He stressed that the upcoming elections should be free, democratic, which will ensure the expression of the will of citizens and the trust of the free world. Poroshenko also spoke about the cooperation of his political force with American partners. "We work publicly and transparently with our American partners, with the goal of maintaining bipartisan support for Ukraine... The essence of our conversations with representatives of the American side has always come down to two principles - security first and peace through strength. Namely, weapons, intelligence, sanctions against Russia, financial support, democratic resilience (freedom and democracy), transatlantic unity," Poroshenko noted. He emphasized that in his communications with allies, he always insists on increasing arms supplies, strengthening sanctions against Russia and on those red lines that are unacceptable to cross in peace negotiations. Poroshenko also said European Solidarity has repeatedly offered to coordinate these meetings with the government, including inviting the ambassador to them, and has also repeatedly publicly spoken about the lack of communication between the government team and the American administration, which creates a risk for the state. "Our key task today is to protect the interests of Ukraine and ensure its European development. This is the task of every Ukrainian politician, regardless of their affiliation with the government or the opposition," the party leader noted. Earlier Thursday, Politico reported, citing unnamed sources, that four senior officials from Donald Trump's inner circle held secret talks with, among others, lawmakers from factions led by Yulia Tymoshenko and Poroshenko. The discussions centered on whether Ukraine could hold quick presidential elections. Politico notes that both Tymoshenko and Poroshenko have publicly opposed holding elections before the fighting ends. However, they allegedly positioned themselves as "people who are easier to work with" and "people who will agree to a lot of things that Zelenskyy won't." HARRISBURG, Pa., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association is calling for legislation to end the culture of silence that threatens nurse safety in the workplace. PSNA advocates for the state's 300,000 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. The organization is particularly concerned that workplace violence is not a public focus until tragedy strikes. Current attention results from the Feb. 22 shooting and hostage-taking at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, PA, where a police officer was killed while protecting injured nurses and others. One in four nurses is physically assaulted at work, according to PSNA's national organization, the American Nurses Association. PSNA CEO Wayne Reich is certain that current numbers are even higher, in part because incidents are under reported. Reich himself is a nurse. He worked at the bedside for more than 10 years before leaving to work for PSNA. "Nurses have learned to normalize violence as being part of the job," said Reich. "I've seen it myself, and I've heard it from members. That mindset is dangerous. It compromises not only nurse safety but also patient care." Cumbersome reporting mechanisms compound the problem. "Incidents can be brushed aside, especially when they don't escalate to a level where police intervention is needed," said Reich. "Worse, nurses can feel they're to blame for actions of violence against them, particularly when asked what they, and not their employer, could have done differently." Legislation failed to pass in 2024. PSNA wants it enacted. "Enough is enough," said Reich. "Patients deserve care from nurses who feel safe, respected, and valued." Last session's House Bill 2247 (Rep. Leanne Krueger) and Senate Bill 849 (Sen. John Kane), the Healthcare Violence Prevention Act, provides a path forward. Every healthcare facility would establish a workplace violence prevention committee. The committee would assess risks, develop prevention plans, and ensure accountability. At least half of the committee members would be workers engaged in direct patient care. The legislation also challenges the culture of silence. Facilities could be fined up to $10,000 for noncompliance, and employees would report incidents of violence without fear of retaliation. PSNA asks Pennsylvania nurses and all healthcare workers to support workplace change by engaging with PSNA to get legislation moving. Nurses are also encouraged to share their stories with PSNA by visiting https://www.psna.org. Contact Stephanie Maurer Director of Communications [email protected] 717-798-8170 SOURCE Pennsylvania State Nurses Association To Accelerate Transformation, Appoints Stephen Hayes Dacus as President & Representative Director and CEO after the Group's Annual General Meeting in May 2025 Will Pursue IPO of 7-Eleven, Inc. (SEI, 7-Eleven in North America) by 2H 2026 Signs Definitive Agreement upon Sale of Superstore Business Group to Bain Capital for JPY814.7Billion (USD 5.37Billion)*1*2 Commits to Return Approximately JPY 2Trillion (c. USD 13.2Billion)*1 in Aggregate Cash Proceeds from SEI IPO and Sale of Superstore Business Group to Shareholders in the Form of Share Buybacks by FY2030 and Implement Progressive Dividend Policy for Cashflow Generated from Ordinary Business Operation Remains Fully Committed to Pursuing All Avenues to Unlock Value for Shareholders; Provides Update on Special Committee Work TOKYO, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. ("the Company" or "the Group") today announced a series of transformational leadership, capital, and business initiatives to enhance focus on its convenience store business and unlock and distribute significant value to shareholders. These initiatives will be supported by the continued progress on previously announced business transformation actions that are already underway. Ryuichi Isaka, President, said: "The Group is executing key actions that are concrete, actionable, and value accretive. We have been on a journey to explore opportunities that create the most value for our shareholders and enhance our customers' experiences around the world. This is the right time to move these initiatives forward, and the management team is excited to execute our transformation strategy while remaining focused on identifying avenues to continue driving shareholder value." Transforming the Group's Leadership Structure to Accelerate the Execution of Strategic Priorities Stephen Hayes Dacus, currently Chairman of the Board as the Lead Independent Outside Director, will succeed Ryuichi Isaka as President & Representative Director and CEO. The appointment will be effective after the Group's Annual General Meeting. Mr. Isaka will continue to serve as a Senior Advisor to the Group. Mr. Dacus has been a member of the Board since May 2022 and was appointed Chairman and Lead Independent Outside Director in April 2024. During his tenure he has had an integral role in overseeing the Group's value creation strategy as Chairman of the Strategy Committee and Chairman of the Special Committee. Mr. Dacus is a fluent Japanese speaker with significant executive, financial, and operational experience working with consumer & retail companies in Japan and globally. Initiating an IPO of SEI in North America by the Second Half of 2026 The Company has determined to pursue an IPO of SEI, its convenience store business in North America known as 7-Eleven, by the second half of 2026 on one of the major U.S. stock exchanges. The Board is confident that an IPO at this time is the best path to unlock significant value for Group shareholders and position SEI for accelerated growth. This step will create two independent public companies, while maintaining synergies with the Company, as the Company retains majority share of SEI. An independent SEI will have increased financial flexibility and greater decision-making autonomy to capitalize on its market leadership as the largest convenience store chain in the attractive North American market with strong brand recognition and best-in-class digital offering in the industry. SEI is expected to re-rate its valuation in line with North American convenience store peers. In addition, by enhancing value distribution using IPO proceeds to fund share buybacks, the Company believes an IPO is the best path forward to maximize value for shareholders, at this time. Reaching Milestone in Sale of Superstore Business Group with Definitive Agreement Signed With Bain Capital for JPY 814.7Billion (USD 5.37Billion)*1*2 As previously announced, the Group has been actively pursuing a process for the sale of its grocery retail, specialties, and other retail business ("Superstore Business Group") to a strategic partner. The Group today announced that its board has resolved to enter into an agreement to sell the Superstore Business Group to a Bain Capital owned special purpose company for JPY 814.7 billion (USD 5.37billion)*1*2, while rolling over 35% of equity holdings. The transaction is expected to close in September 2025. Plan to Repurchase Approximately JPY 2Tn (c. USD13.2 Billion)*1 Using Aggregate Cash Proceeds from SEI IPO and Sale of Superstore Business Group The Group plans to use the proceeds of the sale of Superstore Business Group and the IPO of SEI to fund share buybacks that return the aggregate capital to shareholders, providing greater certainty in return of capital. It expects these buybacks to commence at the close of the Superstore Business Group transaction and conclude by FY2030. In addition, the Company will implement a progressive dividend policy, under which it will continue to maintain or increase per share dividend amount over time for cashflow generated from ordinary business operation. Exit Ownership of Seven Bank and Further Enhancing Execution of CVS Business In addition to the actions noted above, the Company continues to make progress on previously announced business transformation initiatives. The Group will exit its ownership of Seven Bank by selling down its ownership stake to below 40% and will deconsolidate from the Group's balance sheet. Throughout this process, the Company will continue to assess additional alternatives for its shares in Seven Bank that may unlock value for shareholders at a more accelerated pace. In addition, the Company will continue to pursue its Convenience store business performance acceleration plan and execute disciplined M&A activity. Update on Special Committee Review Process The Special Committee was initially formed in order to consider and evaluate the Alimentation Couche-Tard ("ACT") Proposal and related alternatives. Its mandate was later expanded explicitly to consider and evaluate the proposal from the Ito Kogyo buyout group. On February 28, 2025, Mr. Junro Ito and Ito-Kogyo informed the Special Committee that the Buyer Group had withdrawn its proposal. Mr. Dacus, Chairman of the Board and former Chairman of the Special Committee overseeing the review process, said: "The Special Committee has been committed to exploring all value creation opportunities, including active and constructive engagement with ACT and will continue to do so. "The initiatives management has announced today are crucial steps in simplifying our Group structure and unlocking shareholder value. As there is no assurance that a third-party transaction will ever become actionable or be in the best interest of the Group's shareholders and other stakeholders, the Special Committee fully endorses these management initiatives to unlock shareholder value at this time." With respect to the ACT proposal, the Company noted that a consistent threshold issue that it has raised with ACT from the outset has been how to address the serious U.S. antitrust challenges that any transaction would face. Recently, in response to a proposal put forward at the direction of the Special Committee, the parties have been working to put together a potential divestiture package (which would be unprecedented in scope and size) that could be divested to a viable, credible, and independent buyer in a manner that could be stood up to operate effectively on a go-forward basis and assure competition between ACT and the buyer of the divested stores, even after a transaction. The Special Committee will continue to constructively engage with ACT to determine whether a credible and actionable remedy and divestiture package can be achieved. Mr. Dacus stepped down as a member and Chairman of the Special Committee, effective on March 5, 2025. Paul Yonamine, an Independent Outside Director and member of the Special Committee, assumed the Chairmanship. No Offer or Solicitation A registration statement relating to the common shares to be sold in the SEI IPO is expected to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), but has not been filed or become effective. SEI common shares may not be sold and offers may not be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This presentation does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy, and there shall not be any sale of the common shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (a) the Company's intention to conduct an SEI IPO & deconsolidation of Seven Bank and the timing thereof, (b) the Company's continued efforts to sell its superstore business as York Holdings and the timing thereof, (c) the anticipated benefits of the SEI IPO, deconsolidation of Seven Bank, the sale of York Holdings, and the proposed share buybacks, in each case, for the Company and its shareholders, (d) the Company's and SEI's future operations, including the financial flexibility and decision-making autonomy of SEI after the SEI IPO and the use of SEI IPO proceeds for the Company to fund share buybacks, (e) the Company's continuing majority ownership of SEI and (f) the Company's continued efforts in pursuing the previously announced business transformation initiatives. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's and its board of directors' current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these statements. These factors and uncertainties include but are not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions, (ii) the inability to manage successfully and complete the IPO of SEI (including the ability to retain and attract key employees post-IPO), deconsolidation of Seven Bank, the sale of York Holdings, and the Company's other previously announced business transformation initiatives, (iii) the risk that the IPO of SEI, deconsolidation of Seven Bank, the sale of York Holdings, and the Company's other previously announced business transformation initiatives may not occur in their expected timeframe or at all and (iv) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in the Company's public filings with the Financial Services Agency in Japan, the Tokyo Stock Exchange or on the Company's website (https://www.7andi.com/en/ir/library). Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks may emerge from time to time. 7&i disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. *1 U.S.$1=JPY 151.46 *2 This amount is the current estimate calculated based on the enterprise value agreed in the Definitive Agreements and adjustment in it for such as cash and deposits and working capital as of the estimated effective date of the Absorption-type Split and the final amount will be determined through adjustments provided in the Definitive Agreements Media Contacts Kekst CNC In Tokyo: Jochen Legewie [email protected] In New York: Ruth Pachman / Nathan Riggs [email protected] / [email protected] SOURCE Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. The Spicy Tamarind Flavored Shot Brand Made with Tequila Blanco is Now Available in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, California, and Texas MODESTO, Calif., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gran Malo , a spicy tamarind flavored shot brand co-founded by globally recognized Mexican content creator Luisito Comunica , is expanding its availability in the U.S. after a successful launch in Southern California in 2024, where it became the biggest new spirit brand that year. Tequila fans can now find Gran Malo in stores, restaurants, and bars across Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, California, and Texas and the brand will continue to expand to additional markets in the future. Gran Malo Product Image Best served as a chilled shot, Gran Malo is perfect for any party occasion - especially the precopeo, or pre-party. After being developed and then introduced in Mexico in 2021, Gran Malo quickly became the premium spicy tamarind flavored tequila blanco of choice in Mexico before expanding across Latin America and Southern California. Its signature blend of macerated Mexican chilis and natural tamarind flavor, inspired by the spicy candies of Mexican culture, has made Gran Malo a standout among other tequila-based beverages and a highly differentiated offering in the flavored shot category. "Whether you're hanging with friends at home or the bar, Gran Malo is the ideal spicy tamarind flavored chilled shot to make any precopeo, a true celebration - with an added hint of mischief," said Luisito Comunica, Co-Founder of Gran Malo. "In partnership with Spirit of Gallo and Casa Lumbre, I'm thrilled to see the increased popularity of Gran Malo first in Mexico, then across Latin America, and now more broadly in the U.S. Now is definitely the time to raise a shot of Gran Malo and say salud!" "At Spirit of Gallo, we are always looking for opportunities to disrupt categories and authentically connect with new consumers. Gran Malo is the perfect example of this," said Britt West, Chief Commercial Officer Spirit of Gallo. "The power of Luisito Comunica, a globally recognized cultural figure, combined with a great-tasting liquid that stands out in the flavored shot category, has allowed the brand to become one of Amazon's top 10 sellers within all food and beverage in Mexico and we look forward to continuing that success in the United States." True to its deep, authentic Mexican roots, the Gran Malo logo features iconic characters from Mexican folklore - El Diablo and La Calaca - symbolizing the spirit of adventure and risk, and the bottle's packaging is inspired by traditional papel picado. The cap of the Gran Malo bottle doubles as a shot glass, adding a practical and unique element to the experience. Gran Malo is available in 750ml bottles (SRP $19.99) in all markets and the 50ml size (SRP $1.99) in California with additional markets coming soon. To find Gran Malo, visit granmalo.com and follow @gran.malo and @luisitocomunica on Instagram. About Luisito Comunica: Based in Mexico, Luisito Comunica is a content creator, avid traveler, author, speaker, and entrepreneur, who with his charisma and unique adventurous style, has built a large following of fans and like-minded enthusiasts across Mexico, Latin America, and beyond. Currently, Luisito has a combined 128 million followers across his social platforms. Luisito is regularly recognized as the Mexican individual YouTube creator with the most subscribers, having held that distinction more than four times in a row. Recently, Luisito has spoken at leading global conferences including the World Economic Forum in Davos, YouTube's Brandcast event in Mexico, and the first Mexican edition of Vidcon. You can learn more about Luisito Comunica by following @luisitocomunica on Instagram. About Casa Lumbre: Founded and based in Mexico, Casa Lumbre is a global spirits company that develops, produces and incubates premium, award-winning spirits. Originally known for Mezcals, Liqueurs and Tequilas, Casa Lumbre continues to tap into its global values and perspective to expand beyond Mexican distillates. More information on Casa Lumbre is available at www.casalumbre.com . About Spirit of Gallo: Spirit of Gallo is the second largest spirits supplier in the United States by volume and represents some of the most iconic brands in the industry including: High Noon Hard Seltzer, New Amsterdam Vodka, E&J Brandy, RumChata, Camarena Tequila, RumHaven, Stratusphere Gin, The Dalmore Scotch Whisky, Tequila Komos, Don Fulano Tequila, Horse Soldier Bourbon, Amaro Montenegro and Condesa Gin. The entire portfolio is featured on www.spiritofgallo.com . CONTACT: [email protected] Kaitlyn Sestak [email protected] SOURCE Spirit of Gallo The nonprofit's newest team members will further the organization's mission to increase access to high-quality STEM education NEW YORK, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SSP International, Inc. (SSPI), a nonprofit offering immersive, transformational opportunities to learn, do, and belong in science, today announced the expansion of its programs team with four key hires. The addition of four PhDs with specialties in the sciences and education is a critical step in expanding SSPI's programming and strengthening its renowned Summer Science Program, one of the longest-running pre-college science programs in the country. "SSPI is thrilled to welcome new leaders to our programs team," said Frank Steslow, CEO of SSP International, Inc. "SSPI's vision is to build a world in which science inspires and informs humanity. To accomplish our goal, we believe we must expand our programs to increase access to high-quality STEM education to more participants and partners. I'm confident that our new team members will strengthen our existing programs and lead the way into an expanded era of impact for the organization." SSP International's newest hires include: Dr. Roisin Corcoran, VP of Educational Research and Evaluation, is a chartered psychologist and previously worked as a professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, the University College Dublin (UCD), and the University of Nottingham. She has designed and led multi-year, multisite projects focusing on educational interventions and the mechanisms by which they impact social, psychological, and academic outcomes. In her role with SSPI, Dr. Corcoran will support the nonprofit as it develops new programs and measures the effectiveness of its existing programing. Dr. Corcoran holds a BS in Physical Education and Mathematics and a PhD in Education from the University of Limerick in Ireland and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at Yale University. Dr. Emaly Piecuch, Director of Genomics, joined SSPI after serving as a genomics educator at The Jackson Laboratory. While there, she developed and delivered comprehensive genomics curricula tailored for high school students, teachers, and undergraduates. Dr. Piecuch has over eight years of experience organizing and hosting genomics-based programs, workshops, and symposia while fostering collaborative and supportive learning environments. She oversees the Summer Science Program in Bacterial Genomics including the curriculum, faculty, and guest speakers. Dr. Piecuch earned her BS in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from Purdue University and her PhD in Genetics and Genomics from The University of Connecticut. Dr. Emily Hawes, Director of Biochemistry, has been involved with SSPI since 2018, having served as a teaching assistant, residential mentor, and site director for the Summer Science Program. In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing and curating the Summer Science Program in Biochemistry, recruiting academic faculty and guest speakers, and maintaining the quality of the program. Dr. Hawes holds a BS in Biochemistry from Purdue University and a PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Nico Adams, Director of Astrophysics, recently completed a PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Minnesota, where he specialized in studying star-forming galaxies using citizen science and machine learning techniques. Dr. Adams also has a background in running and coordinating outreach programs, including the University of Minnesota's Universe in the Park program, which provides free sky tours and telescope observations in parks across Minnesota. In his current role, Dr. Adams oversees and curates the Summer Science Program in Astrophysics curriculum, identifies and recruits new faculty and guest speakers, and ensures that SSPI's Astrophysics programs maintain their quality. About SSP International SSP International is a nonprofit offering inspiring science immersion experiences. Founded in 1959, its mission is to provide opportunities to accelerate learning, doing, and belonging in science. SSP International's flagship program is Summer Science Program, a leading education experience for exceptional high school students in astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics and more. For more information, visit summerscience.org and follow Summer Science Program on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and YouTube . Contact: Jocelin Leon Phone: (212) 337-8870 Email: [email protected] SOURCE SSP International, Inc. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC) ("Taylor Morrison"), a leading national developer and homebuilder, will host its first-ever Investor Day today in Sarasota, Florida. The previously-announced event will feature presentations by Taylor Morrison's executive leadership team on the Company's long-term strategic vision and guest speaker Ali Wolf, Chief Economist at Zonda, on the state of the housing market. In-person attendees will also join a tour of Taylor Morrison communities and experience its award-winning Esplanade resort lifestyle offerings. At the event, the Company is providing an update to its multi-year financial targets and introducing its longer-term growth ambitions through 2028, including: At least 10% annual home closings growth Approximately 20,000 annual home closings by 2028 Low-to-mid 20% home closings gross margin Low-three range annualized monthly sales pace Mid-to-high 8% SG&A as a percentage of home closings revenue At least 65% of homebuilding lots controlled High-teen range return on equity "Following years of intentional strategic positioning of our company to deliver top-tier financial results, we are proud of the transformation of Taylor Morrison's operational capabilities and uniquely diversified homebuilding portfolio," said Sheryl Palmer, Chairman and CEO. "Our diversification, consumer centricity and courage to chart our own path are competitive differentiators that give us confidence in our positive long-term outlook despite the broader headwinds facing our industry. We have a well-defined strategy to drive profitable growth as we target approximately 20,000 home closings by 2028 while generating attractive and improved returns for our shareholders." A live webcast of the presentations and question-and-answer sessions will be available on the Investor Relations page of Taylor Morrison's website at www.taylormorrison.com. Presentations are expected to begin at 12:00 p.m. ET and conclude at 3:30 p.m. ET. The webcast replay and presentation materials will be available on the Investor Relations webpage within 24 hours of the event. About Taylor Morrison Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Taylor Morrison is one of the nation's leading homebuilders and developers. We serve a wide array of consumers from coast to coast, including first-time, move-up and resort lifestyle homebuyers and renters under our family of brandsincluding Taylor Morrison, Esplanade and Yardly. From 2016-2025, Taylor Morrison has been recognized as America's Most Trusted Builder by Lifestory Research. Our long-standing commitment to sustainable operations is highlighted in our annual Sustainability and Belonging Report. For more information about Taylor Morrison, please visit www.taylormorrison.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements." These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities, as well as those of the markets we serve or intend to serve, to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate to matters of a strictly factual or historical nature and generally discuss or relate to forecasts, estimates or other expectations regarding future events. Generally, the words "anticipate," "ambitions," "estimate," "expect," "project," "target," "intend," "plan," "believe," "may," "will," "can," "could," "might," "should" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, including statements related to expected financial, operating and performance results, planned transactions, planned objectives of management, future developments or conditions in the industries in which we participate and other trends, developments and uncertainties that may affect our business in the future. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things, the risks and uncertainties identified under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as updated in our subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of the issuance of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise. CONTACT: Mackenzie Aron, VP Investor Relations Taylor Morrison Home Corp. (407) 906-6262 [email protected] SOURCE Taylor Morrison RICHARDSON, Texas, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TelaVerge Communications, LLC., a leader in QA and Test Automation, proudly announces the launch of its cutting-edge AI-infused Quality Assurance as a Service (QAaaS). Designed to meet the evolving demands of modern businesses, QAaaS empowers organizations to deliver software with unparalleled quality, speed, and efficiency at a fraction of traditional costs. Several OEMs and Enterprises have already signed up for QAaaS. Why TelaVerge QAaaS? Revolutionizing Software Testing with AI-powered Efficiency: TelaVerge introduces the industry's first AI-assisted Quality Assurance as a Service (QAaaS) solution, designed to optimize test automation and deliver exceptional software quality. This comprehensive offering empowers you to: Reduce time-to-market: Accelerate software delivery with streamlined test automation and orchestration processes Accelerate software delivery with streamlined test automation and orchestration processes Increase software quality: Ensure superior quality and minimize defects with AI-powered testing Ensure superior quality and minimize defects with AI-powered testing Reduce total cost of ownership: Optimize resource utilization and minimize your testing expenses Optimize resource utilization and minimize your testing expenses Long-Term Inhouse Testing: Knowhow and Regal Test Automation SaaS can be transferred to organizations that want to take on inhouse long-term testing Telaverge QAaaS comprises of three core components: Testing as a Service (TaaS) An on-demand (JIT) end-to-end testing environment on Bare Metal, VMs and/or the Cloud A complete 3G-5G ecosystem (RAN to Core) For Telecom Zero-touch automation and orchestration for effortless testing Independent Cybersecurity Software Testing and Certification Static and Dynamic Testing (VAPT) Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration (PEN) Testing In-depth security testing to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities Advanced GenAI-enabled Analytics Leverage the power of generative AI for intelligent insights and optimized testing strategies. With TelaVerge QAaaS, you can significantly reduce testing costs while benefiting from a fully automated test platform that seamlessly mimics your environment. "Our mission is to take the complexity out of Quality Assurance," said Kumar Ramalingam, Founder/CEO at TelaVerge. "QAaaS enables businesses of all sizes to access enterprise/telecom-grade testing services, without the need for costly infrastructure or in-house QA teams." Learn More To learn more about QAaaS using the Regal Automation platform and how it can benefit your organization, contact us at: [email protected] Media Contact: Thomas Wiklund Telaverge Communications, LLC. (214) 707-1245 [email protected] About Telaverge Communications, LLC. Telaverge is a global communications and technology provider headquartered in Dallas, Texas with its Development Center in Bangalore, India. The company has proven expertise in Design, Development, and Deployment of Products and Solutions to customers worldwide. Our deep protocol knowledge, domain expertise combined with Engineering execution and delivery skills, are enabling us to deliver world-class products, custom solutions, and services. More information on Regal: www.regalautomation.com/ SOURCE TelaVerge The Transaction Marks Tequity's 14th MSP Deal in North America TORONTO, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tequity, a leading North American M&A Advisory firm specializing in global Enterprise B2B SaaS, Cloud, and IT company transactions, acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Apogee IT Services, a premier provider of managed IT services and technology support, in their acquisition by Supra Canada Technologies Ltd. (Supra), marking a new chapter for clients and team members. This is Tequity's 14th successful MSP transaction. Tequity acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Apogee IT Services in their acquisition by Supra Canada Technologies Ltd. Backed by Canon and with over 25 years of experience, Supra ITS is a Canadian-owned and operated business that offers world-class managed IT and cybersecurity services. The collaboration strengthens Supra ITS's North American presence, enhances service delivery, and broadens technology offerings, all while building trusted relationships and supporting clients in today's evolving tech landscape. With the strategic acquisition of Apogee IT Services, Supra ITS and Apogee are stronger together, delivering true 24x7 integrated IT support, network operations, and round-the-clock threat hunting for clients. The partnership brings a host of new and enhanced capabilities to Apogee clients, including expanded state-of-the-art Canadian Data Centre presence, broader expertise in IT security, managed services, and cloud solutions, and enhanced support through expanded resources and a 600+ global workforce. Paul Cronin, CEO of Apogee said, "Working with Wilf and the Tequity team was a great experience. Their knowledge of the MSP market was key in ensuring we were talking to the right buyers, and ultimately to find the right acquirer for Apogee. I highly recommend them to any founder thinking about M&A to exit or pursue growth." Tequity's Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Wilf Rapp, stated, "The MSP ecosystem is in the midst of dynamic change. As a fragmented market that has largely been regionally focused, it continues to consolidate with corporate buyers, private equity and financial sponsors, pursuing growth through acquisition and roll-up strategies. It was a pleasure to work with Paul on this process." For more information about the acquisition or to learn more about Tequity, please contact: Media Contact: Ankita Jain M&A Associate Tequity Advisors T: +1 647.870.7006 | [email protected] SOURCE Tequity Advisors PIERRE, S.D., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The South Dakota legislature has passed HB 1118 with unanimous support, prohibiting the use of public tax dollars for researching or purchasing lab-cultivated "meat" products. The bill comes in response to the Biden administration's reauthorization of an Obama-era Department of Defense school lunch procurement program, which prioritizes USDA-designated "Climate-Smart" foods, including lab-grown chicken. Representative Jana Hunt (R-Dupree, SD), the bill's prime sponsor, expressed gratitude for the legislature's support. "I'm grateful for the unanimous backing from my colleagues in both the House and Senate. As elected officials, it is our duty to serve the people of South Dakota and ensure responsible stewardship of their hard-earned tax dollars," said Hunt. "I also want to thank Breeauna Sagdal and the Beef Initiative for coordinating expert testimony and bringing this issue to our attention." Breeauna Sagdal, Senior Writer and Research Fellow for the Beef Initiative, commended the legislature's decision. "I'm pleased that our lawmakers worked together to pass responsible policy that addresses key concerns while respecting the free market," said Sagdal. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with South Dakota lawmakers, as well as our new federal partners through the MAHA coalition." The Beef Initiative is dedicated to championing food security through local access. To learn more about our innovative policy solutions, pilot programs, and science-informed research, please visit www.savebeef.org. Contact: Breeauna Sagdal 503-960-8180 [email protected] SOURCE The Beef Initiative INDIANAPOLIS, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The war on police transcends the shootings, stabbings, and other malicious assaults that have spiked in recent years. Law enforcement officers are also subjected to being menaced, harassed, and threatened simply because of the uniform they wear. In some states, like New York, these egregious acts - that include throwing water on a police officer- do not always count as crimes under penal law. It's why the National Police Association (NPA) is heartened by a new bill (S. 615) introduced in the New York state legislature by Sen. Anthony Palumbo to address the attacks on officers that are too often overlooked. This bill, which is currently being deliberated on in committee, creates two new criminal offenses to penalize threats, assaults, and menacing of law enforcement officers. The bill's text can be found here. Protesters Menacing a Police Officer This New York state bill creates the offense of first-degree menacing of an officer, classified as a C felony and punishable by up to 15 years in prison. It is defined by knowingly placing an officer in fear of physical danger by displaying a deadly weapon. A second-degree offense, classified as a D felony and punishable by up to seven years in prison, includes assaulting an officer by throwing or spraying water, urine, or other substances. The bill also modifies the terms related to appearance tickets by listing these new offenses as serious felonies. "Menacing, harassing, and threatening officers of the law is not just disrespectful and a source of demoralization for them. Police officers have no way of knowing whether a substance being thrown at them is toxic, or if the person making the threat plans to carry it out. These shameful acts distract officers from performing arrests and investigations, which places them, their colleagues, and civilians in danger," said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association. "Sen. Palumbo's bill addresses these often-unpunished offenses at a time when assaults on police officers continue unabated and are originating from a myriad of directions," Fitzsimmons added. The NPA commends Sen. Palumbo for recognizing that threatening and menacing creates a hazardous work environment for the men and women of law enforcement. We ask Sen. Palumbo's colleagues to support this legislation. The National Police Association is a nonprofit organization that supports law enforcement through advocacy, education, and litigation. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org. Media Contact: Paula Fitzsimmons [email protected] 302-469-1765 SOURCE National Police Association Teamsters Demand Fair Contract with Whole Foods Primary Distributor ATLANTA, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 350 drivers and warehouse workers at United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), represented by Teamsters Local 728, will hold a practice picket on Friday, March 7, demanding a fair first contract that recognizes their vital role in the company's success. Workers at UNFI Atlanta voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters last year, but the company has dragged out negotiations and refused to present a reasonable contract offer. Friday's practice picket is a direct response to UNFI's delays and unwillingness to bargain in good faith. UNFI is the largest distributor for Whole Foods in the United States. Since 2022, over 2,500 UNFI workers have voted to join the Teamsters, bringing the total to more than 5,000 Teamsters members across the company. The Atlanta practice picket is one of four being held nationwide, with UNFI Teamsters in Florida and Illinois also demanding first contracts. If UNFI continues to stall, the company could face a work stoppage involving more than 1,250 workers across the country. WHO: UNFI Rank-and-File Teamsters WHEN: Friday, March 7, 2025, 8 a.m. 10 a.m. WHERE: 100 Lakeview Court SW, Atlanta, GA 30336 VISUALS: UNFI Teamsters chanting, holding picket signs that read "UNFI Teamsters Prepared to Strike" and "No More Delays!" INTERVIEWS: Available upon request. Media Contact: Colin McCullough, (856) 625-6856 [email protected] On-site Contact: Ken Goldwasser, (404) 786-0773 SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Zelenskyy on attack on Kryvy Rih: No pause in putting pressure on Russia to stop this war, terror A missile strike on an ordinary hotel in Kryvy Rih killed four people and injured more than 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "A rescue operation in Kryvy Rih at the site of the Russian missile strike lasted all night. Ballistics on an ordinary hotel. Just before the strike, volunteers from one of the humanitarian organizations checked into the hotel - citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and Britain. They survived because they managed to get out of their rooms. But, unfortunately, four people were killed by this strike. My condolences to their families and friends," he wrote on Telegram on Thursday. The President noted that in total, more than 30 people were injured, all of whom received the necessary assistance. Many civilian facilities near the hotel were damaged by the hit. Rescuers are still working at the scene - all services. The President thanked the emergency workers and all relevant services for their work at the scene of the impact. "I thank everyone who is on duty, who is working, who is on duty these nights and days, who is saving people. I thank the employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the National Police, the doctors, especially the employees of the Ambulance Service, and all those on whose work people's lives depend," he said. "And there can be no pause in putting pressure on Russia in order to stop this war and terror against life," Zelenskyy stressed. Former Califia Farms and ConAgra Executive Brings Decades of Strategic Sales Leadership to Drive Tractor's Next Growth Phase OJAI, Calif., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tractor Beverage Company, the first and only Certified Organic, Non-GMO beverage brand crafted exclusively for foodservice, today announced the appointment of Brian Barbara as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). A proven leader with a strong track record of driving revenue growth and market expansion, Barbara brings over 20 years of experience in food and beverage sales leadership, including executive roles at Califia Farms, ARYZTA, and ConAgra Foods. Brian Barbara, newly appointed Chief Revenue Officer at Tractor Beverage Company, brings over two decades of strategic sales leadership from Califia Farms, ARYZTA, and ConAgra Foods to drive the next phase of growth for the organic beverage pioneer. Barbara most recently served as Vice President of Away From Home Sales at Califia Farms, where he led strategic partnerships and expanded market presence across the foodservice industry. Before that, he held leadership roles at ARYZTA and spent nearly eight years at ConAgra Foods, managing corporate accounts and spearheading foodservice initiatives. His expertise in business development, revenue strategy, and customer engagement will be instrumental in advancing Tractor's mission to bring great-tasting, organic beverages to more people. "We are thrilled to welcome Brian to the Tractor team," said Kevin Sherman, CEO of Tractor Beverage Company. "His deep expertise in foodservice, strong leadership, and ability to build high-performing sales teams will be invaluable as we continue our growth trajectory. Brian brings a sharp strategic mindset and a passion for brands that challenge the status quomaking him the ideal leader to help scale our impact in the industry." As Chief Revenue Officer, Barbara will oversee Tractor's sales strategy, revenue growth, and expansion into new channels, ensuring that the company continues to lead the way in organic foodservice beverages. His appointment underscores Tractor's commitment to building a world-class leadership team to drive sustainable growth and category innovation. "Tractor is reshaping foodservice by showing that organic and bold flavor can go hand in hand," said Barbara. "I'm excited to bring my experience to a company that's not just growing fast but growing with purpose. Scaling a brand that aligns with both my personal and professional values is an opportunity I'm incredibly passionate about." Barbara's leadership marks an important next step for Tractor Beverage Company, which has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies (2021) and a 2024 Fast Company World Changing Idea for its groundbreaking Organic Impact Trackerthe first tool to quantify the benefits of sourcing organic over conventional ingredients. With a relentless focus on sustainability, transparency, and bold flavor, Tractor continues to expand its presence in foodservice, and is poised for its next phase of growth, continuing to push boundaries and redefine what's possible in the beverage industry. About Tractor Beverage Company Tractor Beverage Company is the first and only Certified Organic, non-GMO beverage brand crafted exclusively for foodservice. Rooted in the belief that great taste and sustainability go hand in hand, Tractor offers farm-to-table drinks made without artificial ingredients or harmful chemicals. Through its Farmhand Foundation, Tractor supports farmers in transitioning to organic and sustainable agriculture, reinforcing its commitment to a healthier planet. The company's Organic Impact Tracker provides unprecedented transparency into the environmental benefits of organic sourcing, further setting Tractor apart as an industry pioneer. For more information, visit drinktractor.com or follow us on Instagram @drinktractor. Media Contact: Chrystie Heimert [email protected] 802.338.2556 Tractor Beverage Company SOURCE Tractor Beverage Company BCC Research Study Reveals How AI-Driven Robots Are Transforming Industries and Paving the Way for the Future of Innovation BOSTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robots are no longer a vision of the futurethey are here and transforming industries at an unprecedented pace. Thanks to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and automation, robotics is fueling a seismic shift across sectors, from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare. The impact? Faster processes, unparalleled precision, and a complete reimagining of how we work, live, and innovate. According to market estimates, the global robotics market is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1%, growing from $67.9 billion in 2023 to $165.2 billion by 2029. This rapid increase highlights how robotics can completely change workflows and unleash prodigious efficiencies. Recent Reports Analyze the Growth of the Robotics Market 1. Robotics: Technologies and Global Markets Market Growth: The robotics sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, with the market expected to expand from $78.4 billion in 2024 to $165.2 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 16.1%, Advances in automation, AI and machine learning fuel this surge, revolutionizing manufacturing, logistics, and beyond. Takeaways: As robots become more autonomous and more integrated into society, there is a growing focus on ensuring transparency and ethical decision-making. Innovations in this field involve developing algorithms and frameworks that allow robots to explain their decisions and adhere to ethical guidelines, considering societal impacts when making choices. Emerging startups: Skydio, Robust.AI, and Apptronik. 2. Medical Robotics and Computer-Assisted Surgery: The Global Market Market Growth: Medical robotics and computer-assisted surgery are set to revolutionize patient care in the healthcare sector. The global market for these technologies is projected to grow from $11.5 billion in 2023 to $19.5 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 11.0%. These innovations enhance surgical precision, reduce recovery times, and improve patient outcomes. Takeaways: The global market for medical and surgical robotic market is rapidly expanding, fueled by technological advances and increased adoption of minimally invasive procedures. Surgical robotics have revolutionized specialties such as urology, gynecology, and orthopedics by improving surgical precision. Emerging markets: Asia-Pacific and North America present significant growth opportunities due to rising healthcare expenditures and improving infrastructure. Integrating AI promises to transform the medical robotics landscape through predictive analytics and personalized treatment planning. Global Push for Robotics Innovation Japan and South Korea are two countries investing significantly in robotics, integrating them into industrial and commercial applications. With national strategies supporting AI-driven robotics, governments worldwide recognize the potential of automation to drive the next industrial revolution. The future of robotics isn't just about machines replacing humans or creating intelligent systems that work with us to improve our lives and industries. Ethical AI in robotics is gaining traction, with developers ensuring transparency, accountability, and societal considerations in robotic decision-making. Future of Robotics: Smarter, Faster, Limitless Robotics has the potential to transform our world, from life-saving surgery to next-generation automation. AI-driven robots will revolutionize automation over the next five years, opening up previously unthinkable possibilities. One thing is certain: As machine learning keeps developing, robotics is building the future. For further information on this report or to purchase it, please contact [email protected]. About BCC Research BCC Research market research reports provide objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions free of noise and hype. Contact Us Corporate HQ: 50 Milk St., Ste. 16, Boston, MA 02109, USA Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 781-489-7301 For media inquiries, email [email protected] or visit our media page for access to our market research library. Any data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher. SOURCE BCC Research LLC ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A series of government policies are set to impact travel just ahead of what is expected to be one of the most expensive spring break seasons on record. Travelers are expressing growing concerns about their upcoming trips in light of federal employee layoffs, return-to-office mandates, and recent cuts to national parks, wildlife centers, and other prominent landmarks across the country. With trip costs up nearly 25% this year, travelers are seeking ways to protect their investments and plans amid these uncertainties, reports Squaremouth.com, the nation's leading travel insurance marketplace. Many are also looking for expert guidance to ensure they choose the right coverage for their unique needs. Concern: Federal Employee Reduction in Workforce With thousands of federal employees impacted by recent workforce reductions and more cuts expected, travelers may feel uncertain about whether to proceed with their travel plans amid employment instability. Squaremouth Tip: Look for a policy that includes Employee Layoff Insurance , also known as Job Loss Insurance, which provides coverage if you need to cancel your trip due to an involuntary layoff or termination of employment. Employment Layoff covers up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable expenses. Concern: Return-to-Office Mandates As many companies reintroduce return-to-office mandates, employees may find themselves unexpectedly required to return to the office, even if they had previously planned time off for travel. This shift could force them to cancel or reschedule trips, disrupting their personal plans. Squaremouth Tip: When booking your trip, consider a policy that includes "Cancel For Work Reasons" (CFWR) coverage. This can protect your travel investment if your PTO is revoked or you're suddenly required to commute to a new office location. Squaremouth data shows that the number of travelers searching for Cancel For Work Reasons coverage has increased by 15% in the past two months compared to the same period last year. Concern: Closure of National Parks, Wildlife Centers, and Other Landmarks Visitors to popular destinations like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and the Great Smoky Mountains may encounter reduced operating hours, fewer park rangers, overcrowding, and potential closures of trails, visitor centers, and other facilities. It comes as no surprise then that the number of travelers searching for broader trip cancellation coverage has doubled. Squaremouth Tip: If you're concerned about overcrowding, delays, or other disruptions impacting your visit to national parks or other destinations this year, consider purchasing Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. Squaremouth found that the number of travelers searching for CFAR coverage for their summer trips more than doubled in 2025, rising from 5.07% to 11.57%. CFAR coverage can offer partial reimbursement of 50-75% of your total trip cost should you choose to cancel for a reason not otherwise covered by the Trip Cancellation benefit, such as overcrowding or park closures. This provides the most possible flexibility and can help protect most of your travel investment. Available Topic Expert: Ned Tadic is available for comment and interview [email protected] SOURCE Squaremouth In this move, United enters Nevada and New Mexico for the first time, expanding its national footprint to 34 states with 170 offices and more than 22,000 agents. With the support of United, MORE Realty is eyeing expansion to several Western states with new territory to be announced in the coming weeks. Owners, Denise and Paul Knighton founded MORE Realty in 2015 and grew their firm to 900 agents operating in four states within a decade. It is now the largest brokerage in Oregon. As a force multiplier of their continued success, they have forged a union with United to tap into the deep resources of its national network for growth opportunities. The brokerage is planning to triple the number of clients served within the next three to five years. Paul Knighton, President and CEO of MORE Realty, comments on what's driving their move to United's national network: "The main drivers in our decision to affiliate with United are the people we'll be working with and the trust we have in them, as well as the added opportunities that this will bring for our agents. We have found good people we can trust in United. Their talent, collaboration and resources will enable us to work toward something greater together than we could on our own. Our company ownership, name, identity and culture remain intact, and we now have even more resources to help agents thrive. It's all about caring for people and providing the best possible support." "United's purchasing power was also a major factor in our decision to affiliate. With scalability now a reality, we benefit from an umbrella of tools, support, merger and acquisition assistance and technology. The ability to take on new opportunities is possible because there's a strong, enthusiastic partner supporting our growth," he added. Denise Knighton, Vice President of MORE Realty, highlights the benefits the partnership brings to their brokerage operations: "I'm particularly excited about United's Bullseye Cloud-Based Productivity Platform. It offers a seamless, single-login experience for agents and staff to access all the tools they need, saving valuable time and simplifying workflows. The National Referral Network is another incredible asset, as it will connect our agents' clients they refer out of state with trusted agents across the country. The referral department handles all the work to match clients with agents and manage the transaction, freeing up our team to focus on what they do best. We also look forward to the collaboration within United's Broker Network and tapping into the ideas of other owners across the country." United Real Estate Group CEO Dan Duffy explains their alignment of values: "United Real Estate was purpose-built to prioritize the well-being of the people and communities we serve. Every decision we make is guided by our commitment to helping our partners and agents grow and thrive. Paul, Denise and their leadership team have built MORE Realty on a foundation of compassion and care with the same dedication to helping others. We are excited to welcome them into our national network and be a part of the continuation and acceleration of their success." United Real Estate President Rick Haase comments on the synergy: "Paul, Denise and team will be such great additions to our national network. Their culture and appetite for excellence are perfectly aligned with our mission to improve the financial trajectory of our agents' and brokers' careers and lives. Our ability to deliver high-impact tools and services as well as our national network of brokerage operations experts will be rocket fuel for their growth." MORE Realty is the second, and one of the largest brokerages to affiliate with United in the past twelve months and follows the March 2024 affiliation of Naples, Florida-based Premiere Plus Realty and 1,500 agents serving Southwest Florida. About MORE Realty MORE Realty was established in 2015 by Paul and Denise Knighton and is the largest residential brokerage in Oregon. Through the provision of agent training, cutting-edge technology and support, MORE Realty agents are equipped to provide the best client representation and transaction results. The company remains committed to their conviction that well-trained and thoroughly supported agents can positively impact the real estate community. For more information, visit MORERealty.com. MORE is a registered trademark of MORE Realty. About United Real Estate United Real Estate (United) a division of United Real Estate Group was founded with the purpose of offering solutions to real estate brokers and agents in the rapidly changing real estate brokerage industry. United provides the latest training, marketing and technology tools to agents and brokers under a flat-fee, transaction-based agent commission model. By leveraging the company's proprietary cloud-based Bullseye Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, United delivers a more profitable outcome for agents and brokers. United Real Estate operates in 34 states with 170 offices and more than 22,000 agents. The company produced over 73,000 transactions and $26.3 billion in sales volume in 2024. About United Real Estate Group United Real Estate Group (UREG) operates United Real Estate and United Country Real Estate, addressing the unique market needs of suburban, major metropolitan urban and rural markets. Utilizing the cloud-based Bullseye Agent & Broker Productivity Platform, UREG offers the latest training, marketing and technology tools producing a significant competitive advantage. The platform realizes over a decade-long investment in virtual agent and brokerage technology services and is powered by a 2.6 million listings data warehouse generating over 3 million monthly visitors and 30,000+ leads per year. Together, the United Real Estate Group supports more than 600 offices and 25,000 real estate and auction professionals across four continents. United Real Estate Group produced 90,000 transactions and $30.7 billion in sales volume in 2024. Through its in-house advertising agency, UREG offers differentiating marketing support and collateral for specialized lifestyle property websites as well as access to a 800,000+ opt-in buyer database. For more information about United Real Estate or United Country Real Estate, please visit UnitedRealEstate.com or UnitedCountry.com. To learn more about United Real Estate, brokerage succession planning, brokerage valuation and sale or franchising opportunities, visit GrowWithUnited.com. Agents interested in learning about career opportunities with United Real Estate can visit JoinUnitedRealEstate.com. Press contact: April Gonzalez Media & Investor Relations [email protected] 504-237-3500 SOURCE United Real Estate FAIRFAX, Va., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green will serve as the keynote speaker at GovCIO Media & Research's annual CyberScape Summit on April 3 in Bethesda, Maryland. Green will deliver a fireside chat on the critical issues and policies influencing cybersecurity and workforce priorities in government. 2024 GovCIO Media & Research CyberScape Summit Panel sessions will feature leadership from the Defense Department, Navy, State Department, National Institute of Standards & Technology, FBI and other key agencies to discuss the future of AI in government, protecting critical infrastructure, data security and cyber resiliency. Attendees will enjoy a networking lunch followed by a presentation of the CyberScape Flywheel Awards, where GovCIO Media & Research will induct five federal technologists into its Hall of Transformers for categories including Cybersecurity Rising Star, Cyber Defender, Zero Trust Advocate, Cyber Leader and CISO of the Year. "We're excited to bring together federal and industry experts to discuss technology's key role in cybersecurity and safeguarding our digital systems," said Michael Hoffman, President, GovCIO Media & Research. "This event will provide a space to forge partnerships, share strategies and explore the future of IT in strengthening our nation's security." Visit GovCIO Media & Research's CyberScape Summit event page to view the full agenda, speaker lineup and register for this must-attend event. About GovCIO Media & Research GovCIO Media & Research, an independent media company owned by GovCIO, provides insights and analysis on federal IT innovation and is the leading industry solutions resource. Our team utilizes a multi-platform approach to today's most pressing issues through video, podcasts, events, articles and special reports that keep federal IT decision-makers informed of technology's impact on government. Visit www.govciomedia.com for more information. Media Contact Jules Patel Content Specialist [email protected] SOURCE GovCIO Media & Research Details on dates and locations for first-day-of-issue events through July also released WASHINGTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service today announced stamps celebrating the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, a stamp previewing the 2026 World Stamp Show in Boston and a stamp honoring writer William F. Buckley Jr. There will be additional stamps in the 2025 stamps program announced in the near future. These designs are preliminary and may change. U.S. Army 250th U.S. Postal Service Announces Additional 2025 Stamps This stamp celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Established by the Continental Congress in 1775, the Army is now a global force with a clear purpose: to fight and win America's wars. Featuring the military service mark of the U.S. Army against a white background, the stamp was designed by Antonio Alcala, an art director for the USPS. U.S. Navy 250th First established during the Revolutionary War as the American colonies fought for independence, the U.S. Navy is now at the forefront of cutting-edge technology that safeguards the maritime interests of the United States, ensuring economic prosperity and the freedom of the seas. Featuring the emblem of the Navy against a white background, this stamp celebrates the U.S. Navy's 250th anniversary. Antonio Alcala, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp. U.S. Marine Corps 250th The familiar symbolism of a Marine Corps emblem appears on this stamp to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. First established during the Revolutionary War as the American colonies fought for independence, the Marine Corps is respected worldwide as an elite fighting force, prepared to face any challenge and prevail in the conflicts of the 21st century. Antonio Alcala, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp. Boston 2026 Stamp Show For one week in May 2026, the world capital of stamp collecting will be Boston, host of the Boston 2026 World Expo, the 12th international philatelic exhibition of the United States. To build anticipation and commemorate this confluence of art, history and international goodwill, two intaglio-printed stamps will highlight the special role of Boston in the American Revolution as we prepare to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed these stamps with digital illustrations by Dan Gretta featuring the Old North Church and a "midnight rider" on horseback in Colonial garb. William F. Buckley, Jr. One of the most influential public intellectuals in modern U.S. history, William F. Buckley Jr. (19252008) defined the conservative movement of the mid-20th century and was one of its most recognizable spokesmen. Author of more than 50 books, Buckley founded National Review, one of the nation's leading conservative publications, and hosted the Emmy Awardwinning public affairs television program Firing Line for more than 30 years. Original art by Dale Stephanos features a portrait of Buckley, created by hand with graphite and charcoal on hot-press watercolor paper, then refined digitally. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp. Dates and Locations: April July The Postal Service today also announced stamp release dates and locations for April through July of this year: Stamps Release Date City State ZIP Battlefields of the American Revolution April 16 Concord MA 01742 Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture April 25 Albuquerque NM 87101 Dahlias April 26 Burlingame CA 94010 "Goodnight Moon" May 2 North Kansas City MO 64116 Baby Wild Animals May 23 Aurora CO 80010 U.S. Flag June 7 Three Oaks MI 49128 Schooner (stamped card) July 18 Crystal MN 55429 Details on first-day-of-issue cities/ceremony locations for other 2025 stamps will be released throughout the year. Dates and locations are subject to change. Postal Products Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at select Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. The stories behind the stamps and more are available at stampsforever.com. Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com. Contact: James McKean [email protected] SOURCE U.S. Postal Service CLEVELAND, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- WTWH Media has named Matt Logan, a proven B2B media and events executive, as its new CEO, succeeding co-founder Scott McCafferty. Mr. McCafferty has transitioned to Chairman of WTWH Media's Board of Directors. An executive in the B2B media, events, and marketing services industry for more than 25 years, Mr. Logan was most recently Executive Vice President at Informa Markets, managing a global team of more than 240 employees across a portfolio of broad-based manufacturing media, events and market research brands. Prior to his time at Informa Markets, Mr. Logan was Senior Vice President at RELX where he led the strategic marketing and sales team for a global event portfolio and spent over 15 years running various marketing, sales and operational functions. Earlier in his career, Mr. Logan was at McGraw Hill and BusinessWeek magazine, and Mecklermedia, managing marketing and sales promotion for all print, live and digital product suites. Mr. Logan states, "I am excited to join WTWH Media as its CEO and lead its continued growth. WTWH Media is well positioned to be the preeminent data-driven, tech-enabled B2B digital media and events platform combining multi-vertical audience reach with a full suite of B2B demand solutions. WTWH Media has distinguished itself with its proprietary audience engagement and insights across the Engineering; Healthcare and Life Sciences; and Foodservice, Retail, and Hospitality verticals, ensuring that targeted messaging reaches the right audience at the right time." Mr. McCafferty co-founded WTWH Media in 2006. In December 2022, WTWH Media partnered with Colorado-based private equity firm, Mountaingate Capital, to support its growth and expansion strategy. Since its partnership with Mountaingate Capital, WTWH Media has completed six strategic acquisitions and more than doubled its revenue. As Chairman of the Board, Mr. McCafferty will partner with Mr. Logan to continue WTWH Media's growth and add to its capabilities. "I am incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of an exceptional team over the past 20 years as we have built WTWH Media together," Mr. McCafferty reflects. "Our ongoing success is a testament to our incredible network of marketing partners and engaged audiences as well as our dedicated colleagues that are always 'willing to work harder'. I am excited to transition to this new role as Chairman and have a leader of Matt's caliber guide the company. I have full confidence that Matt's extraordinary track record will elevate outcomes for our marketing partners, audiences, and WTWH Media." About WTWH Media, LLC WTWH Media is an award-winning, digital-first B2B media and marketing company that connects brand marketers with targeted, hard-to-reach audiences of executives and industry practitioners. The company serves three core industry verticals including Engineering; Healthcare and Life Sciences; and Foodservice, Retail, and Hospitality. For more information on WTWH Media, please visit https://www.wtwhmedia.com. About Mountaingate Capital Mountaingate Capital is a Colorado-based, growth-focused private equity investment firm that partners with founders and entrepreneurial companies to accelerate growth and build industry leaders. Mountaingate's focus on organic growth, coupled with its customer-centric buy-and-build approach for add-on acquisitions, and shared equity ownership with management, creates more value for the end customer, while forging stronger, more collaborative, and more successful investment partnerships with management teams. With over $1.4 billion of assets under management, Mountaingate targets investments in marketing services, business services, specialty manufacturing and distribution. For more information on Mountaingate, please visit www.mountaingate.com. SOURCE WTWH Media President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived for a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels, this is known from the broadcast carried out on the European Broadcasting Service. As previously reported, during his visit to Belgium, Zelenskyy will take part in a special meeting of the European Council, as well as hold a number of bilateral meetings. Photo: https://www.youtube.com/live/RJNSK8HPks4?si=jC9izPZA0m4HrIAU Signals on increasing Ukrainian production and the new program to strengthen European security are wonderful decisions, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "You made a strong signal to the Ukrainian people, to Ukrainian warriors, to civilians, to all our families, and it is great that we are not alone. We feel it and know it. Thank you so much for everything, from the signals to increasing our production and for the signals with the new program to increase European security, that, I think, are great decisions," Zelenskyy said during statements to the media together with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Head of State of Ukraine thanked European leaders for their strong support from the very beginning of the war and for "what has happened throughout this period and last week." If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here London, March 6 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar spoke about the situation in Kashmir and the steps taken by the Indian government, such as removing Article 370, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir as well as holding elections which were successfully conducted in the Union Territory with a large turnout by the people there. He also added that the only the part of Jammu and Kashmir illegally controlled by India's neighbour Pakistan is the only thing which was left from attaining complete resolution of the problems in Jammu and Kashmir. He delivered the remarks while speaking at the Chatham House in London. On being asked about the issues of Kashmir, EAM Jaishankar said: "Look in Kashmir actually we have done I think good job solving most of it. I think, removing article 370 was one step number one. Then, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir. It was step number two, holding elections, which were done with a very high turnout for step number three. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is on the, the illegal Pakistani occupation. When that's done, I assure you. Kashmir solved." Earlier in May 9, 2024, EAM Jaishankar had asserted that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a part of India and had said that every Indian political party was committed to ensuring that POK returns to India. During an interaction with students of Delhi University's Gargi College, New Delhi, EAM Jaishankar said, "All I can say about POK is that there a Parliament resolution...every political party of this country is committed to ensuring that POK, which is a part of India, returns to India. That is our national commitment." He also asserted that the scrapping of Article 370 in August 2019 paved the way for people to think about the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as well. "Because we have finally taken the right decision of Article 370, the POK issue has come to the front of people's thinking. The first pre-requisite for something happening is that it should be in your thoughts," he said. Earlier on May 5, 2024, EAM Jaishankar said that POK is part of India and that people were "made to forget" about it. Responding to a question on India's plans for POK during an event in Cuttack in Odisha, he said, "POK has never been out of this country. It is part of this country. There is a resolution of the Indian Parliament that POK is very much a part of India." He said that India didn't tell Pakistan to vacate the region during the "early years of independence", due to which the "sorry state of affairs" continued. "When you have someone who is not a responsible custodian of the house, bahar se koi chori kar leta hai (someone steals from outside)," EAM Jaishankar said. The External Affairs Minister said that the people were "made to forget about the issue of POK" and it had been brought into the consciousness of the people again. Washington, March 6 : US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about steps taken by him to avert the hike on tariff on Canadian goods were "not good enough". A hefty duty hike of 25 per cent on goods entering the US from Canada and Mexico went into effect on March 4 as scheduled, and 20 per cent on imports from China. The hikes on Canada and Mexico were imposed by President Trump as punishment for allowing illegal migrants and fentanyl, an opioid, into America through their borders. China has been targeted for its failure to stop much of this fentanyl as the country of source for it. Trump has threatened to follow up these hikes with a system of reciprocal tariffs that would target trading partner countries that have higher duty rates for American goods. India is among the countries he has frequently mentioned among the targets. "Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs," Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. "I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped. He said that it's gotten better, but I said, 'That's not good enough.'" He went on to add, both taunting the Canadian leader and accusing him for using the tariffs to cling on to power. "He was unable to tell me when the Canadian Election was taking place, which made me curious, like, what's going on here? I then realised he is trying to use this issue to stay in power. Good luck Justin!" Trudeau resigned as Prime Minister in January after losing support in the ruling Liberal Party, which will elect his replacement on March 9; the general elections are scheduled for October. "For anyone who is interested, I also told Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada that he largely caused the problems we have with them because of his Weak Border Policies, which allowed tremendous amounts of Fentanyl, and Illegal Aliens, to pour into the United States," Trump wrote in another post, using the designation of "Governor" to taunt Trudeau, and Canada as the 51st state of the US. Trudeau has called Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods "dumb" and ordered retaliatory hikes of 25 per cent on $30 billion worth of unspecified American goods, which would extend to $125 billion in goods in 21 days. London, March 6 : External affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar spoke about the current situation in Sri Lanka and said that the Narendra Modi-led Indian government helped its neighbouring country Sri Lanka to emerge from a tough and crippling economic crisis which had hit the Asian country in 2022 that triggered a political crisis as well. He delivered these remarks at the Chatham House, a London-based think-tank on Wednesday and said that India provided a financial package of more than $4 billion to help Sri Lanka overcome the economic crisis which had crippled it in 2022 Speaking on how India has traditionally always helped neighbouring country Sri Lanka, EAM Jaishankar said, "...When Sri Lanka had a very serious financial crisis while the rest of the world largely sat on its hands. We actually came forward with a package of, more than $4 billion, which was almost twice the size of the IMF package... But, while we are a larger economy and by and large we are generous and non reciprocal we have interests like any nation. So we also expect our neighbors to recognize that and to cater to our sensitivities as well. So, I'm not saying that every you know, it has to be an equal give and take, but there are gives and takes, and I think, just like we have a responsibility to our neighbours, I think our neighbours also have a responsibility to us." The EAM is the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka since the National People's Power (NPP) government led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake came to power on September 23 last year. He reiterated India's steadfast support for Sri Lanka's economic rebuilding efforts, emphasising that India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Sagar outlook will continue to guide the progress of bilateral ties. Sri Lanka, a key maritime neighbour of India in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), holds a special place in India's initiatives like 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy.' In April 2022, the island nation declared its first sovereign default since gaining independence from Britain in 1948, following an unprecedented financial crisis that led to civil unrest and the resignation of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022. India had extended assistance of nearly $4 billion to help Sri Lanka recover from the severe economic crisis after it announced a default on over $51 billion in foreign loans. Prior to his departure, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi stated that the visit underscores the shared commitment of both countries to further deepen their long-standing partnership for mutual benefit, in line with India's Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR outlook. Earlier on December 16, 2024, EAM Jaishankar met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was on a three-day state visit to New Delhi, and highlighted the "island nation's prominent role in India's Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR Outlook". He further affirmed confidence that President Dissanayake's talks with Prime Minister Modi led to greater cooperation between New Delhi and Colombo. Earlier in October, EAM Jaishankar called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties to benefit the people of India and Sri Lanka. Washington, March 6 : The White House has confirmed that the Trump administration is having direct talks with Hamas aimed at releasing hostages. The talks, first reported by Axios, were held in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks and were led on the US side by Presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler. Asked about the talks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during Wednesday's daily press briefing that "the special envoy who's engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone," adding that "Israel was consulted on this matter," as reported by Xinhua news agency. "Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what's in the best interest of the American people is something that the President has proven is what he believes is (a) good faith, effort to do what's right for the American people," she said. Leavitt refused to disclose any details on what she said are "ongoing talks and discussions" when asked if the discussions also involved President Donald Trump's plan to take over the Gaza Strip, which is now still governed by Hamas. "I'm not going to detail them here. There are American lives at stake," the Press Secretary said. According to a US official cited in the Axios report, the discussions also included a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and reach a long-term truce. Altogether 59 hostages are still in Hamas captivity, Axios reported, citing the Israel Defense Forces, which confirmed 35 of them are dead. Among those hostages, five are Americans, including just one who is believed to be alive. The US had previously publicly refused direct contact with the Palestinian group Hamas since banning them as a "terrorist" organisation in 1997. Israel said it had been consulted by the US on the direct talks. Israeli officials said about 24 living captives a" including Edan Alexander, an American citizen a" as well as the bodies of at least 35 others are believed to still be held in Gaza. "We understand it's in order to secure the retrieval of the bodies of Israeli-American captives who are still being held in Gaza and one Israeli captive with US citizenship who is believed to be alive." Confirmation of the talks comes days after the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire expired, with Israel pushing for an extension while Hamas insists on progressing to the second phase of the deal agreed in January. The first phase saw Hamas release 33 hostages in exchange for Israel releasing more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israel has said the proposal to extend the first phase of the truce was drafted by the US envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The new plan would require Hamas to release half its remaining captives in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners a" a key component of the first phase. After the first phase expired, Israel on Sunday suspended humanitarian aid deliveries, including fuel, aid and medicine, into Gaza, as the government aims to put pressure on Hamas to accept the new terms -- a move that the Palestinian group slammed as a violation of the original deal. France, the UK and Germany on Wednesday warned Israel against using aid as a "political tool", calling on it to ensure the "unhindered" delivery of humanitarian supplies to the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave. "We call on the government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza," the countries said in a joint statement. "A halt on goods and supplies entering Gaza such as that announced by the government of Israel would risk violating international humanitarian law," they said. "Humanitarian aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool." The three European nations described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic". Washington, March 6 : US President Donald Trump has issued what he called a "last warning" to Hamas to release the hostages being held in Gaza. "'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!" he wrote in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. It comes just hours after the White House confirmed it is holding direct talks with Hamas over the hostages, BBC reported. Washington has until now avoided direct engagement with the group, and there is a longstanding US policy against having direct contact with entities it lists as terrorist organisations. In his social media post, Trump said there would be "hell to pay" if the hostages were not released, while not specifying the nature of the support he was sending Israel. "Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," he added. "For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance." He also appeared to threaten civilians: "Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!" It's not the first time Trump has threatened Hamas. In December, he said there would be "all hell to pay" if hostages were not released by the time he took office, BBC reported. The post came after Trump met with a group of hostages in the White House who had been recently released under the ceasefire. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the US has been negotiating directly with Hamas to try to secure the release of the hostages. Israel had been consulted prior to the talks, she added. President Trump believed in doing what was in the best interest of the American people, Leavitt told reporters. The special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler's work was a "good faith effort to do what's right for the American people", she added. "Two direct meetings" have taken place between Hamas and a US official, "preceded by several communications", a Palestinian source told the BBC. Israel said there are still 59 hostages being held in Gaza, with up to 24 believed to be alive. US citizens are also among the captives. News of the talks was first reported by Axios, which said the two sides were meeting in Qatar to discuss the release of US hostages as well as a wider deal to end the war. Israel's Prime Minister's office said in a statement it has "expressed its position" regarding the direct talks, but did not provide any further information. According to reports, Boehler met with Hamas representatives in the Qatari capital, Doha, in recent weeks. Hamas has had a base in Doha since 2012, reportedly at the request of the Obama administration. The small but influential Gulf state is a key US ally in the region. It hosts a major American air base and has handled many delicate political negotiations, including with Iran, the Taliban and Russia. Alongside the US and Egypt, Qatar has also played a major role in talks to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda proposes to set a specific date for Ukraine to join the European Union January 1, 2030. He voiced this idea on Thursday in Brussels, arriving at a special meeting of the European Council. "For me, it is also important to support Ukraine politically, so I proposed to set up the orientational date for Ukraine's membership in the European Union, for example, 2030, January 1," the Lithuanian president said. According to him, this will be "not a legal definition, but it will be our political commitment to set the path and to send very clear guidelines to our friends, Ukrainians, who need our support, and not only military, financial support, but also political support." Washington, March 6 : The White House has said that US President Donald Trump has been "very tough" on China when it came towards the imposition of tariffs on the country. The remarks by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday came after Trump doubled the tariff on all Chinese imports to 20 per cent from 10 per cent. Leavitt reiterated the stand of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said that the country will always remain prepared to defend itself, as a reponse to the statement by China where it said it is ready to fight "any" type of war, be it tariff or trade. "He (Hegseth) said that America will always be prepared to defend itself, especially under the leadership of this President in the Oval Office. And that certainly remains true, again, when it comes to tariffs, " the White House Press Secretary said. "The President has been very tough on China, not just now with 20 per cent and more with the reciprocal tariffs that will hit on April 2, but look at what he did in his first term. There were billions of dollars' worth of tariffs that he implemented on China, and it's quite telling that the previous administration did not rescind those tariffs because they realised the value that they had in not only deterring China, but also raising revenue here in the United States," she said. Earlier, the New York Post reported that America's Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, declared that the US is "prepared" to go to war with China, hours after alarming threats from Beijing in response to President Trump's stiff new tariffs. "If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong," he said, as quoted by the New York Post. On the US tariffs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian had said in a statement. "If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end." As per the New York Post, China swiftly retaliated against the fresh tariffs, announcing its own 10 per cent to 15 per cent hikes to import levies covering a range of American agricultural and food products. Speaking about other issues concerning China, Leavitt mentioned about the Panama Canal and said, "President was very vocal several weeks ago about the need to ensure that China is not controlling the Panama Canal. This is a very important place for the United States of America." Leavitt further said, "President will continue to ensure that the Chinese government, the CCP cannot be infiltrated in the Western Hemisphere and certainly not in the Panama Canal which is a very important place for our country." Lucknow, March 6 : An "active terrorist" of Khalistani terror group -- Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) -- and Pakistan's ISI was arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district in the early hours of Thursday in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Punjab Police, an official said. The suspected terrorist, identified as Lajar Masih is said to be a resident of Kurlian village in Ramdas area of Amritsar, Punjab. He was arrested around 3:20 a.m. in an operation carried out in the Kokhraj police station area of Kaushambi, Additional Director General of Police (UP Special Task Force, Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said. "As per available information, the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the Germany-based module of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and is in direct touch with Pakistan-based ISI operatives," Yash said. "This terrorist had escaped from judicial custody in Punjab on September 24, 2024," the ADG said. The officer added that the UP STF succeeded in recovering some explosives material and illegal arms from the terrorist. Among the seizures made are three active hand grenades, two active detonators, one foreign-made pistol, and 13 cartridges of foreign make, the officer said. Besides, a white-coloured explosive powder, an Aadhaar card with a Ghaziabad address, and one mobile phone without a SIM card were also seized from his possession, he said. A key accused involved in hurling explosives in Amritsar's Jaintipur and Batala's Raimal was killed in an exchange of fire with the police in Batala last week. The development came hours after the police busted Pakistan's ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module with the arrest of its two operatives identified as Mohit of Buddhe di Khui in Batala and Vishal of Basarpura in Batala. "Punjab Police busts a terror module backed by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI-Pakistan) responsible for attacks in Batala and solves the attack cases in Jaintipur and Raimal carried out on January 15, 2025 and February 17, 2025, respectively (sic)," said Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav in a post on X. Explosives had been hurled at the residence of a late ex-chairman of Amritsar Zila Parishad in Jaintipur on January 15 and near the residence of a policeman's relative on February 17 in Batala. Happy Passia had used social media to claim responsibility for both blasts. Uttarkashi, March 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Mukhwa and Harsil in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, on Thursday, where he will participate in multiple events aimed at promoting religious tourism and local economic development. His visit will begin with prayers at the winter seat of River Ganga in Mukhwa at 9:30 a.m. Following this, he will head to Harsil Valley, where he will flag off a trek and bike rally and address a gathering. Announcing the Prime Minister's visit, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended a warm welcome, stating, "Hearty welcome and greetings to the respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on his arrival in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the holy land of religion, spirituality, and sacrifice." "All of us residents of the state are eager to welcome the respected Prime Minister on the land full of spiritual and natural beauty of Mukhwa-Harsil (Uttarkashi)," he added. Expressing enthusiasm for the impact of the visit, the Chief Minister said, "Certainly, this winter trip of yours will give new dimensions to the cultural, spiritual, and tourism development of our state." This visit aligns with the Uttarakhand government's recently launched Winter Tourism programme, which has already drawn thousands of devotees to the winter seats of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The initiative is designed to promote religious tourism while also boosting local businesses, including homestays and tourism-related enterprises. A day before the visit, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Modi, approved two major ropeway projects in Uttarakhand. One project, a 12.9 km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath, will be built at a capital cost of Rs 4,081.28 crore under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model. Another ropeway, spanning 12.4 km from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji, has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 2,730.13 crore. According to the CCEA, these ropeway projects will not only enhance last-mile connectivity for pilgrims but will also create substantial employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases. The projects are expected to contribute significantly to the region's socio-economic growth, benefiting industries such as hospitality, travel, food and beverages, and tourism. With these initiatives, Uttarakhand aims to position itself as a year-round religious and adventure tourism hub while strengthening infrastructure for devotees and travellers alike. Chennai, March 6 : The Greater Chennai Police have intensified their crackdown on drug syndicates and arrested four individuals. In two separate cases, three men from Assam were caught with narcotics, including heroin, while another individual involved in methamphetamine peddling was apprehended. In the first case, Egmore police arrested three suspects from Assam a" Habibur Rahman (32), Dildar Hussain (22), and Reikibul Islam (20), all from Nagaon district. Acting on a tip-off, officers intercepted the trio near Egmore railway station and searched their bags, recovering three grams of heroin, eight grams of morphine, and two kilograms of gutka. The three were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. In the second case, the Chetpet police arrested a 25-year-old man, R. Manikandan of Korattur, who had been absconding in a methamphetamine peddling case. The police seized three grams of methamphetamine from him. This case was part of an earlier operation in which four peddlers were arrested on February 7, followed by the arrest of the main accused, S. Balahari (26), on February 14. The Tamil Nadu Police have stepped up their crackdown on methamphetamine trafficking, launching statewide operations to curb the spread of the highly addictive drug. Authorities have made a series of arrests in both urban and rural areas, with several individuals caught attempting to sell methamphetamine, including to school students. In response, Director General of Police (DGP) Sankar Jiwal has ordered all district police superintendents to form and personally oversee special squads to dismantle drug networks. As part of their enforcement strategy, police are closely monitoring gyms and health clubs, where methamphetamine use has reportedly become a growing concern. Recent investigations have revealed that some gym users were acquiring the drug to manage muscle pain caused by intense workouts. Tamil Nadu has emerged as a key transit hub for international drug syndicates smuggling methamphetamine and its precursor, pseudoephedrine, to countries such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Australia, where demand is high. In 2024 alone, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized methamphetamine worth approximately a380 crore. Investigators believe these drugs were sourced from Myanmar and were en route to Sri Lanka. In November 2024, Chennai Police made a significant breakthrough by arresting a Nigerian national, Philip, suspected to be the mastermind behind a major drug smuggling cartel. Philip allegedly coordinated the import of methamphetamine from Nigeria via courier and air routes. So far, the Arumbakkam police have arrested 12 individuals in connection with this case. Methamphetamine smuggling is highly lucrative, with prices varying significantly across different locations. In Manipur, the drug is priced between a50,000 and a1,00,000 per kilogram, but in Chennai, the price soars to a7 lakh per kilogram. In international markets, particularly in Sri Lanka and Australia, methamphetamine can fetch several crores per kilogram. According to police officers, the drug is first transported from Myanmar to Manipur and human carriers smuggle the drugs via train into Tamil Nadu. Once in Tamil Nadu, the drugs are concealed in vehicles and transported to coastal towns such as Rameswaram, Thoothukudi, and Nagapattinam. Local fishing boats then carry out mid-sea transfers, smuggling the drugs into Sri Lanka across the porous maritime border. With ongoing operations and heightened surveillance, law enforcement agencies continue their efforts to dismantle these drug syndicates and curb the growing methamphetamine crisis in Tamil Nadu. New Delhi, March 6 : PhonePe on Thursday launched its 'insuring HEROES' campaign ahead of the International Women's Day. New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) PhonePe on Thursday launched its ainsuring HEROESa campaign ahead of the International Womenas Day. International Womenas Day is observed every year on March 8. As part of the initiative, the company is offering exclusive discounts of up to 30 per cent, specifically for women, on select term life and health insurance plans. It is available on the PhonePe platform until March 9, 2025. Women can avail these exclusive offers on the PhonePe app to ensure their overall economic well-being and enjoy long-term stability. Discounts include up to 15 per cent off on health insurance plans, and up to 30 per cent off on term life insurance plans. Through this initiative, PhonePe aims to assist women with greater financial security, facilitating their access to the right insurance solutions tailored to their unique needs. To avail these offers on the PhonePe app: users must first select the 'insuring HEROES' banner within the insurance section of the PhonePe app. They can then click 'buy term plan' to begin. Next, the users must choose the abuy new plana button and fill the adate of birtha and aannual incomea to calculate the coverage. Users also will need to share some aadditional personal detailsa to find the best insurance plans for their needs. Then, they can acheck out the top plansa and shortlist the one they prefer to buy. Bengaluru, March 6 : Karnataka Lokayukta was conducting simultaneous raids in seven districts on Thursday against government officers working in various capacities, following a tip-off about the amassing of disproportionate assets and involvement in corruption. The raids were conducted in the Bengaluru, Kolar, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, Tumakuru, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura districts. According to sources, the raids were held at the residences and properties of eight officers. In Davanagere city, the house and office of a Food Safety Officer in Nijalingappa Layout have been raided. The team, led by Lokayukta Superintendent of Police (SP) Kavalapure, was conducting the searches. Sources stated that the raids were taking place at five locations linked to him. In Ranibennur, a town in the Haveri district, raids were also being conducted, according to sources. A significant quantity of gold jewellery and other valuables have been recovered from his residence, and the search for property documents was going on. In Kalaburagi city, the residence and properties of a PWD Chief Engineer have been raided, and documents of properties worth crores have been seized. Sources indicate that he owns 30 acres of land in the Aland region, as well as land in Tavaragere village. The Lokayukta team has also found that he has acquired properties in the Basavakalyan region of the Bagalkot district. In total, Lokayukta sources report that property documents related to more than 60 acres of land under his ownership have been tracked. A large quantity of gold and other valuables have also been recovered from his residence. The team, led by Lokayukta SP Umesh, is conducting searches. Simultaneous raids were being carried out at his office in Bengaluru and his native place, Dhannur, in the Bidar district. Sources indicate that investigations have revealed bank lockers in the names of his family members. In Bengaluru, the residences of a Chief Engineer and an Executive Engineer attached to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have also been raided. Properties at three locations belonging to an Assistant Executive Engineer with Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) were also searched. Sources reveal that property documents worth crores have been found. The officer reportedly owns six acres of land in Kollegal, along with a house and two sites in Bengaluru. In Tumakuru, the residence of a doctor attached to the Tumakuru Government Hospital was raided. Meanwhile, in the Bilagi town of Bagalkot district, raids were conducted at the residence and office of a PWD department First Division Clerk (FDC). An official statement regarding the raids is yet to be released by the Karnataka Lokayukta. Seoul, March 6 : South Korea will push for measures to bolster medical safety and reduce medical accidents, including heavier compensation responsibility of the state, the health ministry said on Thursday. The plan, unveiled at a parliamentary policy forum, also includes the introduction of a "no punishment against will" policy for deaths that occur during acts of essential medical care and the expansion of insurance coverage for medical accidents, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Yonhap news agency reported. Under the plan, the ministry is considering allowing medical workers involved in death cases related to essential medical care to avoid criminal charges when the family of the deceased gives consent as part of efforts to lower the burden on medical staff. It plans to newly establish a deliberation committee on medical accidents to determine medical malpractice in such cases within 150 days and shift the focus of the criminal prosecution system on such cases from the weight of damage to malpractice. The plan also includes making it mandatory for medical institutions to buy insurance against medical accidents, while part of the insurance fees will be supported by the government. Additionally, the government will review expanding state subsidies for various medical services, such as emergency medical treatment and intensive care for infants. Meanwhile, amid the prolonged dispute with trainee doctors, the South Korean government has raised the possibility of scrapping a controversial increase in medical school admissions for next year, according to sources familiar with the matter, Yonhap reported. Education Minister Lee Ju-ho met with the deans of medical schools last month and said he may consider setting an annual admission quota of 3,058 for 2026, down 2,000 from this year, if the medical students currently on leave return for the March semester, according to government officials and medical sources. For more than a year, the government and trainee doctors have been in dispute as the government hiked the number of medical school admissions by 2,000 starting this year. However, no concrete agreement was reportedly reached during the meeting. Chennai, March 6 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has intensified his attack on the Centre over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the three-language language policy, saying the imposition of anything breeds enmity, which in turn threatens unity. On Thursday, CM Stalin used a well-known quote to criticise the Centre's stance, stating, "When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." In a post on social media platform X, he remarked, "This quote reminded me of how some 'entitled bigots' brand Tamil Nadu's demand for linguistic equality as chauvinistic and anti-national." He accused the BJP leaders of questioning the patriotism of the DMK government despite its significant contributions to national causes. CM Stalin pointed out that the DMK had provided the highest amount of funds during the Chinese aggression, the Bangladesh Liberation War, and the Kargil War. He contrasted this with the BJP's ideological roots, stating, "The very people who glorify Godse's ideology have the audacity to question the patriotism of the DMK and its government, while their ideological forefather is the one who assassinated 'Bapu' Gandhi." CM Stalin's remarks come amid the ongoing debate over the three-language policy introduced in NEP 2020. Reaffirming his opposition, he stated that demanding linguistic equality should not be seen as chauvinism. "Chauvinism is naming the three criminal laws that govern 140 crore citizens in a language that Tamils cannot even pronounce or comprehend by reading," he said. "Chauvinism is treating the state that contributes the most to the nation as second-class citizens and denying its fair share for refusing to swallow the poison called NEP." As both Tamil Nadu CM and DMK president, Stalin argued that forcing any language upon people fosters division and weakens national unity. He further accused "Hindi zealots" of treating their language privilege as natural while branding Tamil Nadu's resistance as treason. "Imposition of anything breeds enmity. Enmity threatens unity. Hence, the true chauvinists and anti-nationals are the Hindi zealots who believe their entitlement is natural but our resistance is treason," wrote CM Stalin on his X handle. On Wednesday, CM Stalin also questioned the BJP's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a deep love for Tamil, arguing that such sentiments are not reflected in action. "If the BJP's claim that our Hon'ble PM has great love for Tamil is true, why is it never reflected in action?" he asked in a social media post. He urged the Union government to take tangible steps rather than symbolic gestures like installing the Sengol in Parliament. He wrote, "Rather than installing Sengol in Parliament, uninstall Hindi from Union government offices in Tamil Nadu. Instead of hollow praise, make Tamil an official language on par with Hindi and allocate more funds for Tamil than for a dead language like Sanskrit." CM Stalin also highlighted disparities in the allocation of funds for language development. He noted that despite being spoken by eight crore people, Tamil receives only Rs 74 crore from the Union government, whereas Sanskrit, spoken by only a few thousand, gets Rs 1,488 crore. On March 2, CM Stalin expressed support for a protest by the Tamil diaspora in the US against the Union government's three-language policy. He shared a news report and video of the protest in solidarity with the demonstrators. The protest took place in Dallas, where a group of Tamils voiced their opposition to NEP 2020, particularly its push for a three-language system that includes Hindi. The protesters accused the BJP-led Centre of attempting to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu, thereby undermining the state's long-standing two-language policy. Mumbai, March 6 : Bollywood actress Neha Sharma took to social media to share her love for Punjab, describing her shooting experience in the state as something truly unique. In a heartfelt post, she mentioned that shooting in Punjab hits her differently, and therefore she can't stop falling in love with the people and place. Sharing her video, Neha wrote, "Shooting in Punjab hits different..you can't stop falling in love with the people and the place #sanjog." In the video, the 'Youngistaan' actress is seen sipping a tea as she says, "When you are a coffee person, but when you are in Punjab, you are a tea person. Cheers." Neha has been making the most of her time in Punjab, not only shooting for her upcoming film "Sanjog" but also immersing herself in the local culture. The video also showed the actress making rotis and posing in the picturesque fields of Punjab. Sharma is seen striking a pose amid the lush green fields. "Sanjog," directed by Harish Gargi, will see Neha alongside Pollywood actors Jassi Gill, Happy Raikoti, and many other known faces. The 'Crook' actress had earlier featured in the Punjabi film "Ik Sandhu Hunda Si." Directed by Rakesh Mehta, the action thriller, starred Gippy Garewal and Vikramjeet Virk. Additionally, the actress will star in the highly anticipated Hindi drama "De De Pyaar De 2," the sequel to the 2019 hit film "De De Pyaar De." Helmed by Anshul Sharma, the film brings back the beloved cast with Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh, and R. Madhavan in key roles. Rakul will reprise her character of Ayesha Khurana, while Ajay returns as Ashish Mehra. R. Madhavan will play the role of Ayesha's father, Dev Khurana. Alongside the lead trio, the film will feature an ensemble cast, including Tabu, Jimmy Shergill, Alok Nath, and Inayat Sood in significant roles. Neha, who made her film debut in 2007 with a Telugu movie, has appeared in Hindi films including "Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum," "Yamla Pagla Deewana 2," and "Tanhaji." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Chennai, March 6 : Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan was detained by the Greater Chennai Police on Thursday while leading a signature campaign in MGR Nagar. The incident occurred after a heated exchange between police officers and BJP supporters. The campaign was organised to rally support for the controversial three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP). The Tamil Nadu BJP unit launched the signature campaign, with state president K. Annamalai, Soundararajan, and several other senior leaders participating. The initiative has seen the involvement of district and mandal presidents, making it a large-scale movement. Speaking on the issue, Soundararajan questioned the state's opposition to the three-language policy, stating that learning an additional language could open up better job and educational opportunities for students. She asked: "Why are students in government institutions being denied the opportunity to learn another language that could enhance their career prospects?" The senior BJP leader further said, "Private institutions are already following the three-language policy, but the government is enforcing a two-language system in public schools." She further emphasised that the BJP wants the NEP to be implemented uniformly across central board, state board, and government school examinations to ensure equal opportunities for all students. The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister and DMK President M. K. Stalin, has strongly opposed the NEP 2020, particularly its three-language formula. The DMK alleged that the policy was an attempt by the Centre to impose Hindi in Tamil Nadu. In a letter to party members, CM Stalin reiterated his stance, arguing that Hindi is being used as a facade for promoting Sanskrit. He claimed that several North Indian languages, such as Maithili, Brajbhasha, Bundelkhandi, and Awadhi, have been overshadowed by Hindi, leading to their decline. The Chief Minister stated that Tamil Nadu's opposition to the NEP stems from concerns that the policy promotes Sanskrit and Hindi at the cost of regional languages. He accused the BJP-ruled states of prioritising Sanskrit over other Indian languages and cited Rajasthanas decision to appoint Sanskrit teachers instead of Urdu instructors as an example. "If Tamil Nadu accepts the trilingual policy, our mother tongue will eventually be ignored, and there will be a push towards Sanskritisation," CM Stalin warned. He further alleged that according to NEP provisions, Indian languages like Tamil would be relegated to online learning, whereas Sanskrit would receive greater focus in schools. The debate over language policy continues to be a contentious issue in Tamil Nadu, with the ruling DMK determined to resist any move that it perceives as an attempt to undermine the prominence of Tamil. Poland is starting the delivery of the 46th aid package to Ukraine worth over EUR 200 million, Polish Minister of National Defense Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said. At the moment, when we are meeting with Minister Umerov in Warsaw, Deputy Pawel Zalewski and his colleague are in Kyiv and are providing detailed information about the 46th donation, which is already starting its delivery. We are already starting the delivery of the 46th aid package to Ukraine for a total amount of about EUR 200 million, he said at a briefing with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in Warsaw on Thursday. Separately, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that 28,000 Ukrainian soldiers have almost completed their training on the territory of the Republic of Poland. He assured that Poland will continue to support Ukraine and will continue to provide logistical support and training to the soldiers. As the minister noted, part of our today's talks was devoted to cooperation in the field of armaments, joint investments in Poland and Ukraine. He said that he was going to Kyiv with an economic mission of the Polish arms industry. I would like to thank you for such a very clear presentation of your proposal, and we agreed on the fastest responses, Kosiniak-Kamysz added, emphasizing that Ukrainian industry and Polish industry must act together and make joint investments. This is not only for wartime, but it is also time to build your deterrence potential after the war, which is needed, which will not disappear anywhere, the Minister of Defense noted. Dhaka, March 6 : The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh has yet again failed to distribute textbooks to millions of students nationwide, leaving them distressed and worried about their future. Former Education Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud, after missing the January deadline, stated that the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) would complete the distribution of all 40.15 crore textbooks by February. However, they missed this deadline, too, according to local media reports. Speaking to the leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star, a student stated, "Our teachers only conduct classes for the subjects we have books for. After that, they send us home. I have heard that students in other schools are facing the same issue." Earlier, hopes were raised when the top officials from the Education Ministry and NCTB, along with various other officials of the interim government, stated that all the students would be provided with textbooks by February. But the reality seems to be different with the delay again. The more the delivery of books is delayed, the more it harms the education of students. As per the NCTB data, as of February 19, approximately 70 million (7 crore) books remain to be printed, the majority of which are for the secondary level, according to the country's leading daily, Prothom Alo. Last month, a distressed student told The Business Standard: "Out of our 10 main books, we received only two during the first week of January. Over the next month, we got four more. But several books are still missing, including core subjects like Mathematics and English." "Almost half the students in our class have no access to either smartphones for PDFs or unauthorised textbooks. As a result, our teachers have not been able to start giving full-fledged lessons. We are still not sure how much of the syllabus we will need to cover for the half-yearly exams scheduled for June," she further added. In January, the Divisional Primary Education Office reported that only 49 per cent of primary and 8.8 per cent of secondary textbooks were delivered in Barisal, according to the leading Bangladeshi daily, The Dhaka Tribune. In some areas, only a small number of books have been delivered, while in many others, students have not received any books at all. Students and guardians have also expressed their frustrations, complaining that most of them have not received a single book. Mumbai, March 6 : Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who has been nominated for Best Actor for I Want To Talk at the 7th edition of the Critics' Choice Awards, has described the film as an "incredibly special journey". Mumbai, March 6 (IANS) Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who has been nominated for Best Actor for I Want To Talk at the 7th edition of the Critics' Choice Awards, has described the film as an "incredibly special journey". Abhishek shared: "I am truly honoured to be nominated for Best Actor for 'I Want To Talk' by the Film Critics Guild. This film has been an incredibly special journey, and to have my performance recognized by such a respected panel of critics means a great deal to me. My gratitude to the Film Critics Guild for this recognition." "I Want to Talk" is a drama film directed by Shoojit Sircar. The film stars Abhishek Bachchan in the lead role and is based on the true story of Arjun Sen, a cancer survivor facing life-altering surgery as well as navigating a complex relationship with his daughter since her childhood. Actress Konkona Sen Sharma, who is nominated for Best Actress for Killer Soup, shared that to be nominated for Critics' Choice Awards is always an honour and to be nominated for Abhishek Chaubey's Killer Soup makes it even more special for her. "Killer Soup" is a black comedy crime thriller television series directed by Abhishek Chaubey. It stars Konkona Sen Sharma and Manoj Bajpayee. It loosely based on 2017 case in Telangana.[5] This year, a new category for documentaries has been introduced, further expanding its recognition of excellence across all languages and platforms in India. By spotlighting stories from diverse corners of the country, the awards provide a central stage for voices that reflect India's rich cultural and creative landscape. Kani Kusruti, nominated across three categories for her performances in Girls Will Be Girls, Poacher, and All We Imagine as Light, shared: "Being nominated in three different categories for my three different performances is a once in a lifetime honor. I am deeply humbled by this recognition, the experience feels surreal." The Critics' Choice Awards (CCA) jury comprises a distinguished panel of 59 film critics, all members of the Film Critics Guild. Anupama Chopra, Chairperson of the Film Critics Guild, shared her thoughts on this year's nominations: "We are thrilled to celebrate the 7th Critics' Choice Awards 2025, made even more special with a new category for Indian documentaries - an often-overlooked yet vital part of Indian cinema. With this addition, we aim to shine a spotlight on this growing industry and highlight our commitment to honouring outstanding storytelling across various formats, including short films, web series, documentaries, and feature films." Ashwin Padmanabhan, Chief Operating Officer, GroupM South Asia,said, "The past year2024has proven to be a remarkable testament to the transformative power of storytelling, especially in the Indian context. Our content continues to break new ground across every format, with the Critics' Choice Awards standing tall as a beacon of excellence. This celebration honors the visionaries who push creative boundaries, redefine narratives, and set new benchmarks for the industry. " Abhayanand Singh, Co-Founder, Vistas.Media, shared, " This annual calendar event has emerged as a celebration of the best of Indian cinema and we congratulate all participants for spreading joy to the world with their work." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Chennai, Mar 6 : Producer Ishari K Ganesh, whose production house Vels Film International is producing actress Nayanthara's pan-Indian film, 'Mookuthi Amman 2', has now disclosed that the actress been fasting for a month to play the role of the goddess in the film. Chennai, Mar 6 (IANS) Producer Ishari K Ganesh, whose production house Vels Film International is producing actress Nayanthara's pan-Indian film, 'Mookuthi Amman 2', has now disclosed that the actress been fasting for a month to play the role of the goddess in the film. Speaking at the pooja function organised to mark the official launch of the film, producer Ishari K Ganesh said, "I should tell about Nayanthara madam. She has been on a fast for almost a month now. She also fasted for a month before playing the character of Amman in Mookuthi Amman part 1 as well. She is excited about this character and the story. " Ishari Ganesh said that five years ago, when actor R J Balaji approached him to make Mookuthi Amman, he immediately agreed as Mookuthi Amman was their family deity. "When we were deciding on who should play the titular role of the Mookuthi Amman, the one and only choice was Nayanthara. We approached her and she readily agreed. The film met the expectations of the audience," Ishari K Ganesh said. "After that film, I was waiting for a film on Goddess Amman to come but nothing was made. I wanted a pan Indian film on Goddess Mookuthi Amman and therefore wondered why not make a second instalment of Mookuthi Amman. When I discussed this with my team, we arrived at the conclusion that the best person to direct this second part would be Sundar C, who is also hailed as the Frachise King," producer Ishari K Ganesh said. Stating that they approached director Sundar C and asked him to make Mookuthi Amman 2, Ganesh said that Sundar C asked for time. However, in just a month, he returned with a script to narrate to Ganesh. Ganesh said that Sundar C told him that he would talk to Nayanthara and return with her dates for the film. When the budget for the film was discussed, Ganesh said that director Sundar C told him that this film would have to be made on a pan Indian level and that it would be nice only if it was made on a grand scale. "When I asked him about how much the film would cost, he held out three fingers indicating that it would be a three digit figure (over a 100 crore). I agreed," the producer said and added that he had entrusted the entire project to Sundar C. Announcing the cast of the film on the occasion, Sundar C said that the film would feature Regina Cassandra, Kannada actor Duniya Vijay, Yogi Babu, Singam Puli, Gopi Amarnath, Abhinaya, Iniya, Mynaa Nandini, Swaminathan and Ajay Ghosh among others. The film is to have music by actor and music director Hip Hop Tamizha. --IANS Mkr/ -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 6 : The Kashmir issue continues to dominate national discourse, with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar asserting that the matter is "mostly solved." However, he added that India is still waiting for the return of the "stolen part" - a reference to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), which remains under Pakistan's control. New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) The Kashmir issue continues to dominate national discourse, with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar asserting that the matter is "mostly solved." However, he added that India is still waiting for the return of the "stolen part" a reference to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), which remains under Pakistan's control. EAM Jaishankar's remarks have sparked a wave of support from key political leaders, including members of the BJP and Congress, who unanimously agree that PoK is an integral part of India. Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, speaking to IANS, reaffirmed the party's position by referencing the 1994 unanimous resolution of the Indian Parliament, which declared that both Jammu and Kashmir, as well as PoK, are an inseparable part of India. Naqvi emphasised that the resolution, passed over two decades ago, remains a cornerstone of the nation's stance on Kashmir. He highlighted the actions of the Modi government in reinforcing this stance, particularly during the delimitation exercise of Jammu and Kashmir, which reserved 24 seats for PoK in the state's Legislative Assembly. Naqvi further praised the political transformation in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370. Describing the move as a historic turning point, he said, "Article 370 was the greatest obstacle to the development of Jammu and Kashmir. With its removal, we are witnessing political stability, increased participation in the democratic process, and significant economic growth." Another BJP MLA Vikram Randhwa stated that the concept of 'Akhand Bharat' a unified India that encompasses territories currently under foreign control is very much alive. "The portion of Kashmir that remains under Pakistani control has always been ours, and it always will be," Randhwa asserted. He further added that reclaiming PoK would not be a complex issue, with the BJP confident that the region would rejoin India when the central government takes the necessary steps. BJP MLA Ram Kadam reinforced this notion, expressing his unwavering support for the return of PoK. "That part of Kashmir is ours, and we will never forget it," Kadam said. Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, while welcoming EAM Jaishankar's statement on PoK, raised concerns about the Chinese occupation of Indian land in Ladakh. "I would be very happy if he said this. The Congress party will be the happiest if the present government gets back the PoK. But the government must also address the Chinese encroachment in Ladakh," Arshad remarked. "There are villages built by China within our territory in Ladakh, and we need to ensure that the same vigour is applied to reclaim those areas as well," the Congress leader added. In his address at Chatham House in London, Jaishankar clarified the government's position on the Kashmir dispute, noting that the process of resolving the issue was already underway. "The first step was the removal of Article 370, which has enabled Kashmir's growth and integration with India. The second step was restoring social justice and economic activity, and the third step was conducting elections with a remarkable voter turnout," Jaishankar explained. He also reaffirmed India's commitment to reclaiming the portion of Kashmir under Pakistani control. "The Kashmir issue will be solved once the 'stolen' part of the region is returned to India," he said. Thiruvananthapuram, March 6 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday morning conducted searches at the offices of the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in three key locations across Kerala -- Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, and Kozhikode -- as part of a nationwide crackdown. According to sources, the raids are being carried out in 10 states at 14 locations. The latest crackdown comes just three days after the arrest of M.K. Faizy, the National President of SDPI, in connection with a money laundering case tied to the PFI. Faizy was taken into custody at Delhias Indira Gandhi International Airport on March 3 and was subsequently presented before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court at Patiala House, which granted the ED six days of custodial interrogation. Investigators suspect that SDPI received Rs 4.07 crore from PFI through illegal hawala channels and allegedly funneled the funds to its units nationwide. In Thiruvananthapuram, a seven-member ED team from the Kochi unit, accompanied by armed central security personnel, arrived in private vehicles and launched the raid at the SDPI state committee office, located in the heart of the state capital. The operation reportedly caught the Kerala Police and state intelligence officials off guard, as they were unaware of the agencyas plans. Similarly, in Malappuram, another ED team from the Chennai unit conducted searches at the SDPI district office, housed in a rented building. Raids were also reported in Kozhikode. Founded in 2009, the SDPI has long been suspected of having close ties with the PFI, which was banned by the Union Government in 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its alleged involvement in anti-national activities. While the SDPI has consistently denied any direct association with the PFI, claiming to be an independent political organisation, Faizyas arrest and the fresh raids have once again put the partyas financial dealings under the scanner. Notably, Faizy himself was a former PFI member before joining the SDPI in 2009. Over the years, he rose through the ranks and was eventually elected as the partyas national president. Dhaka, March 6 : In yet another incident of lawlessness in Bangladesh, an agitating mob identifying themselves as "Tawhidi Janata" besieged the capital's Shahbagh Police Station in the early hours of Thursday, according to local media reports. The crowd staged a sit-in protest demanding the release of a man who was detained for harassing a female student at Dhaka University, one of the top universities of the Islamic nation. Shahbagh police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Khalid Mansur said, "The boy sexually harassed the female student of Dhaka University. The girl filed a complaint in this regard at the proctor's office and the police station. Necessary action has been taken in view of this." The police stated that Arnob, the accused, works as a bookbinder at the Dhaka University library. The mob claimed the accused had "merely approached the female student in a decent manner" and was fulfilling an "Islamic moral obligation" by advising her on modest dressing. They also threatened to file a defamation and theft case against the student if the complaint against the accused was not withdrawn. Speaking to the leading Bangladeshi daily, The Dhaka Tribune, the complainant stated that she was returning with a friend from a tutoring session on Wednesday afternoon when the alleged harasser approached her. She further added that the accused questioned her about her attire, asking why her scarf was not in the "right place" and why she was "roaming around like this" instead of dressing more appropriately. When she tried to call her friends and the university proctor, the accused reportedly fled to evade capture. Later, Dhaka University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed told the leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star, that "Around 4:30 pm on Wednesday, we received a complaint that one of our students was harassed by our library's assistant bookbinder, Arnob. Later, some students brought him to my office. When we questioned him, he admitted to the harassment. We then handed him over to the police. Earlier this week, a group of protestors, under the banner of 'Bangladesh against rape and oppression,' burnt the effigy of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, demanding his resignation following the remarks made by the Home Advisor regarding the harassment of two young women over smoking in public at Dhaka's Lalmatia. The protestors, accusing the Home Adviser of incompetence, alleged that cases of rape, murder, mob violence and moral policing are on the rise across Bangladesh. Several cases of sexual violence against women were also reported in February 2025. The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad earlier condemned the increasing incidents of crime against women while questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement in Bangladesh. New Delhi, March 6 : Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha has been selected as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF), a prestigious recognition awarded to exceptional individuals under 40 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to shaping a better future. As part of this honour, Chadha has been invited to attend the Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century program at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) in Boston and Cambridge from March 5 to 13. The program brings together top politicians, policymakers, executives, and thought leaders for an intensive learning experience focused on global governance, leadership, and policy innovation. HKS, renowned for training world-class leaders in governance, diplomacy, and administration, has designed this program to strengthen participantsa leadership, negotiation, and strategic decision-making skills. It features rigorous academic sessions, case studies, peer-to-peer learning, and interactions with Harvardas distinguished faculty and global experts. At a time when nations face critical challenges such as economic volatility, unemployment, climate change, energy crises, and widening social inequalities, the program equips leaders with cutting-edge insights, tools, and strategies to navigate complex policy landscapes and drive meaningful change. By blending theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, it ensures participants gain both a global perspective and practical problem-solving expertise. Expressing his enthusiasm, Chadha said: "I am thrilled to be back at school. It is an honour to be selected for this prestigious program, and I am deeply grateful to both Harvard and the World Economic Forum for this opportunity. This is a unique chance to deepen my understanding of global leadership and policymaking while engaging with some of the brightest minds in governance and public affairs. Itas truly a aback to schoola moment for me, and I look forward to gaining new insights that will contribute to Indiaas policymaking landscape." Chadha also emphasized the significance of applying global learnings to Indiaas policy framework: "I am eager to bring back valuable global perspectives to enhance policymaking in India. The world is increasingly interconnected, and learning from top policymakers and experts will help us craft better solutions to challenges that impact not just India but the world at large." The WEFas Young Global Leaders initiative plays a key role in shaping the next generation of global changemakers by providing transformational learning opportunities like this Harvard program. Through this experience, Chadha will refine his strategic decision-making, leadership, and governance skills, ensuring that his contributions to policymaking remain impactful, innovative, and globally informed. Kolkata, March 6 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths, probing the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, have noticed major inconsistencies between earlier statements made to them by some cops of Kolkata Police and circumstantial evidence accumulated by the central agency officials in the matter at a later stage. Sources said CBI officials have started conducting fresh interrogations of the cops who have given inconsistent statements. A total of 11 cops attached to the local Tata Police Station and the police outpost at R. G. Kar are being questioned in phases. The sources said that many of these city police cops were first questioned in October last year which is just two months after the body of the victim was recovered from the seminar hall within the hospital premises in August. However, the sources said during the further investigation into the angle of evidence tampering and alerting the case, the investigating officials of CBI came across some circumstantial evidence pointing to raising doubts about the statements of cops recorded in October last year. CBI is expected to file its supplementary charge sheet at a special court in Kolkata this month only detailing the different aspects of the evidence tampering angle. The sources said that the investigating officials are depending on the available circumstantial evidence and the recorded statements of city police cops to detail their arguments in the supplementary charge sheet. The next hearing in the case is scheduled at the Supreme Court of India on March 17, and the central agency officials are trying their best to submit the supplementary charge sheet at the special court in Kolkata before that. To recall, earlier CBI arrested the former and controversial principal of R. G. Kar Sandip Ghosh and the former SHO of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal on charges of tampering with and altering evidence during the phase of initial investigation by the city police. However, both were granted default bail by then as CBI officials then failed to file a supplementary charge sheet against them within 90 days from the date of their arrests Now it is to be seen who are all named in the proposed supplementary to be filed soon. Bengaluru, March 6 : Karnataka Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad stated on Thursday that everyone involved in the gold smuggling case, in which Kannada film actress Ranya Rao has been jailed, will be brought to book. Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, MLA Rizwan, while responding to a question on the matter, said, "It's very shocking to know that an IPS officer's daughter is involved in smuggling activities. Some claim that she is his stepdaughter. However, the government is taking this matter very seriously, and we will ensure that the case is thoroughly investigated, the facts are uncovered, and all those involved are identified." "Whoever is involved, whether an ordinary person or an influential individual, will be brought to book, and we will ensure full transparency in the matter," MLA Rizwan Arshad emphasised. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials arrested Kannada film actress Ranya Rao after seizing 14.8 kg of gold from her at Bengaluru International Airport on Monday night. The actress was taken into custody at the airport upon her arrival on an Emirates flight from Dubai. DRI officers had been monitoring her movements due to her frequent trips to Dubai. She has been remanded to judicial custody. Commenting on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's statement that Pakistan vacating Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would resolve the Kashmir issue, MLA Rizwan said, "I would be very happy if Jaishankar says that they will reclaim Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Congress party would be the happiest if the present government succeeds in integrating PoK with India." "With that said, Jaishankar should also focus on reclaiming the land taken by China in Ladakh. You are letting our land go to China without raising any concerns, but you are talking about reclaiming PoK. Please first take back the territory occupied by China over the last three to four years. We believe it amounts to thousands of square kilometers. China is even building villages right on the Indian border and inside Indian territory," he added. Speaking about illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh, he said, "The government is very serious about illegal immigration. It was our government that identified illegal immigrants, including those from Pakistan, who had been living here for more than four to five years. We have identified them and taken the necessary steps to deport them as per the law." Addressing BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, he added, "All these immigrants settled in Karnataka during the BJP government's tenure. When the Congress party came to power, we identified illegal immigrants from Pakistan and took steps to deport them." BJP MLA Yatnal had raised concerns about illegal immigration from Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Assembly, warning that if it is not controlled, Karnataka could become like West Bengal. New Delhi, March 6 : Big tech companies like Meta and Google must take stronger action against the rapidly growing illegal online gambling and betting market on their platforms in India, a new report said on Thursday. The report by the Digital India Foundation showed that illegal gambling networks operate through digital advertisements, social media, messaging platforms, and even cryptocurrency-based payment systems to attract users. It called for stricter regulations and active collaboration between Indian regulators and tech companies to curb the rising issue. The report noted a staggering 1.6 billion visits that were recorded in just three months (October to December 2024) on four major platforms -- Parimatch, Stake, 1xBet, and Battery Bet. Social media alone contributed to 42.8 million visits through direct paid ads, influencer promotions, and engagement campaigns, it added. While the government has attempted to curb these activities by blocking websites and issuing advisories, illegal operators continue to thrive, constantly adapting their strategies to evade restrictions. The report suggested a more comprehensive approach, holding all key enablers, including tech platforms accountable while enforcing strict compliance measures. Globally, regulators have worked closely with social media and digital advertising platforms to monitor and remove illegal gambling content. A European Union study in 2018 found that 19 out of 24 national regulators had established partnerships with Meta, X, and Google to take down such ads and lower the search rankings of gambling sites. In the US, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) blocks financial transactions related to illegal online betting, focusing on payment processors rather than individual users. In India, aggressive advertising is driving illegal gambling. According to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), there has been a surge in gambling ads across digital platforms, often using exaggerated claims to attract players. Google search trends from 2021 to 2024 show a sharp rise in searches for betting sites like Dafabet, 1xBet, and Parimatch, especially during Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons. Operators use aggressive SEO tactics to rank highly for searches related to IPL betting and online casinos. The report also found that referral traffic from adult sites, sports-related websites, and streaming services generated 247.5 million visits to illegal gambling sites. In addition, messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram play a major role in promoting these sites; and influencers with millions of followers use "Channels" to broadcast gambling ads, reaching a massive audience instantly, it said. The report recommended regulatory bodies like the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, and others to work with digital platforms to monitor and remove illegal gambling content proactively. Swedish PM: We and many other countries provide Ukraine with important intelligence, but any weakening of support for Ukrainians is bad Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledges the importance of the US suspension of support for Ukraine, but notes that Washington is not the only one providing Kyiv with important intelligence. "Anything where the United States limits its support to Ukraine, whether it is money, military equipment or information, is serious. But it is not only the United States, for example, that provides Ukraine with important intelligence data. We and many other countries do the same. But anything that weakens Ukraine's position is bad, there is no doubt about that. And we do not know what exactly the United States is considering or has decided to reduce," he said before the start of an extraordinary EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. In response to a clarifying question, Kristersson added that "we don't know exactly what Ukraine can't get from the US right now." "But my conclusion is the same: it is bad to restrict Ukraine's access to information that they need to protect themselves from terrorists. That is obvious," he said. Kristersson also noted that "for us, in the end, it is about Sweden's security in a situation where Ukraine is vulnerable and we may be vulnerable." Taipei, March 6 : Taiwan has called for "reason and self-restraint" following reports that China would increase its military spending by 7.2 per cent in 2025, according to local media reports. According to a report in the leading Taiwanese daily Taipei Times, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) of Taiwan stated that the Chinese Army continues to increase defence spending and aggressiveness with its combat preparedness patrols near Taiwan. The report mentioned that the Chinese military drills in the seas off Taiwan, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Australia have compromised navigational safety and raised tension in the region, sparking international concern. The MAC also stated the government would not bow to pressure and it would maintain its firm resolve to defend national sovereignty and the security of Taiwan. The statement came hours after Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that China would "firmly advance" the push for so-called "reunification" while opposing external interference and, at the same time, aim at realising the Chinese nation's rejuvenation. According to a draft budget report submitted to the national legislature on Wednesday, the Chinese government is seeking a defence budget of 1.78 trillion yuan ($246 billion) for the 2025 fiscal year, a 7.2-per cent year-on-year increase, reported China Daily. The annual Government Work Report released on Wednesday stated that over the past year, significant progress has been made in the national defence and military affairs of China. "We will further advance military training and preparations for war, accelerate the development of new combat capabilities and establish a modern military theory system with Chinese characteristics," according to the report. Elbridge Colby, United States President Donald Trump's nominee for a top Pentagon post, said earlier this week that Taiwan needs to increase its defence spending to around 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, about four times what it currently spends, to deter war with China. He further added, "Taiwan's fall (to China) would be a disaster for American interests." In February, Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim emphasised her nation's commitment to defend itself and urged its allies and like-minded partners to uphold global peace and prosperity. "Taiwan is indispensable to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," she had said. Ranchi, March 6 : Two persons were shot dead at the Anand Sheela Ashram in the Chanho police station area of Ranchi, police officials said on Thursday. The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the region. The victims, identified as Rajendra Yadav and Mahesh, were gunned down by unidentified assailants around midnight on Wednesday, police said. According to preliminary investigations, a group of armed men stormed the ashram in Chowda Chama village and opened fire on Rajendra Yadav. Upon hearing the gunshots, Mahesh rushed to the scene, only to be shot down by the assailants as well. Both victims had been living at the ashram for a long time. Hearing the gunfire, local villagers rushed to the spot, but the attackers had already fled. The villagers immediately informed the Chanho police, who arrived at the scene and transported the injured victims to the hospital. While Mahesh was declared dead on arrival, Rajendra Yadav succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Following the incident, Ranchi Rural Superintendent of Police Sumit Agarwal said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the double murder. Police have launched a manhunt for the attackers and are conducting raids in various locations to track them down. "The criminals will be arrested soon. We are exploring all possible angles, and some individuals have been taken into custody for questioning," SP Agarwal stated. Sources suggest that the murder could be linked to a past crime involving Rajendra Yadav. He was reportedly accused of killing his brother's wife and young daughter, after which he had been hiding in the ashram for some time. Police suspect that this old enmity might have led to the attack. Meanwhile, the bodies of both victims have been sent to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences for post-mortem as investigations continue. Mumbai, March 6 : Television actress Surbhi Chandna and Karan Sharma marked their first wedding anniversary on March 2, 2025. On Thursday, Surbhi shared a series of pictures from their anniversary celebration, which, rather than being an intimate affair between the two, was a joyful family gathering. The 'Naagin' actress posted a series of her photos alongside a lengthy note wherein she revealed how Karan made their first anniversary special. For the caption, Surbhi wrote, "Such a Wholesome First Anniversary Celebration in Fragments (See for Yourself) A wisely planned surprise ( thats a Given when you have a husband Like Karan ) Getaway filled with Love Laughter Crazyness Togetherness of the families and not Just the Two of Us For a Change Since we both are working on our New Song for Feel Good Originals and have various other commitments I had to disappoint Karan & drop our Plan to travel this Month But our Naughty families who clearly were missing all the last year wedding madness along with Mr smartly made a Whatsapp group , played along & constructed the entire plan and for sure bit*hed me out too." "There is No Bigger Joy than the unconditional love and support of your Family .. Soo Fortunate to have celebrated this special day with them and ofcourse My Idaan. And then this trip with some Rummy Champions Came to an end thankyou for reading," Surbhi added. On her first wedding anniversary, Surbhi Chandna had shared with fans the beautiful trailer of her wedding. She captioned it, "We waited an entire year to share these lovely Wedding Memories with you all who celebrated our special day throughout the year .. we both received so many blessings from so many of you ! Here's to the first of many beautiful years together Happy 1st Anniversary To Us!!" Surbhi and Karan had exchanged vows in a close-knit destination wedding on March 2, 2024, at Chomu Palace, Rajasthan. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Mumbai, March 6 : The opposition parties on Thursday staged a protest in the Maharashtra Assembly premises against two Ministers -- Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam and Minister Jaykumar Gore -- and also demanded their resignation from their respective posts. Mumbai, March 6 (IANS) The opposition parties on Thursday staged a protest in the Maharashtra Assembly premises against two Ministers -- Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam and Minister Jaykumar Gore -- and also demanded their resignation from their respective posts. The opposition has accused Minister Kadam of making an "insensitive" statement in the assault case of a 26-year-old woman inside a bus at the Pune bus depot and has alleged that Gore was involved in harassing a woman. The opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the state council Ambadas Danve, demanded the resignation of Kadam and Gore while accusing the state government of protecting the two. Opposition took strong objection to Kadam's statement that "in the incident that took place in the Shivshahi bus, there was no resistance from the victim. Since there was no resistance, no one suspected this." Thereafter, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Kadam's statement was taken differently but added that "my advice to him is that we have to be more sensitive when speaking in such cases. If something goes wrong while speaking, it has a negative impact on the public mind." Kadam also subsequently clarified. As far as the BJP Minister Gore is concerned, the opposition claimed that he should resign or the chief minister should sack him from the cabinet for harassing a woman. Gore, on his part, clarified that the court had already given a judgment in 2019 and acquitted him. The court had ordered the destruction of the seized material and mobile phone. He further said, "It has been six years since this court verdict. This case has come to light after six years. Political leaders should restrain on what to say at what time." Gore has announced that he would file defamation case and move privilege motion against those who are making allegations in this case despite his acquittal by the court. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut dared Gore to move a privilege motion. "Is he going to move the privilege motion against the woman who has filed a fresh complaint to the state Governor?" he asked. He further said, "Even if the Minister says that he was jailed in this case, then how did Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis take him in the cabinet? Even after doing so much, now, after becoming a Minister, you are again harassing that woman who will be sitting on a hunger strike in front of the Vidhan Bhavan from March 17." Raut demanded that the CM should immediately take Gore's resignation. "I have spoken to the woman who has said that she will commit suicide if she is not freed from such harassment," said Raut. Mumbai, March 6 : Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday accepted three separate privilege motions filed by Minister of Rural Development and BJP leader Jaykumar Gore against Saamna executive editor and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, NCP(SP) Legislator Rohit Pawar and YouTube channel Laibhari and the journalist Tushar Kharat for defaming and maligning his image by making allegations in connection with a 2017 case. The Speaker, in his ruling, said that considering the seriousness of the matter, he was referring all three privilege motions to the House Privileges Committee. Earlier, the Minister said he resorted to this move after he was accused of sending obscene photos to a woman in 2017 and allegedly harassing her. He said the court had already acquitted him in 2019, and it was quite serious that the matter had been raked up after eight years to target him by making false allegations. Gore said that Raut had maligned his image and insulted the state Assembly. Therefore, he added that he is moving a privilege motion against him." Similarly, the Minister said that Rohit Pawar has also damaged his image by making baseless allegations. The Minister, in his privilege motion against YouTube channel Laibhari and journalist Tushar Kharat, said the press and media are the fourth pillar of democracy, and while writing or showing some stories, they should maintain some standards. Gore urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was sitting in the state legislature, to hold a detailed inquiry into the matter. "If I am found guilty, I am prepared to face any action," he told the House. He referred to a representation made by someone to the Governor in this regard, saying that the government conducted the investigation, and it later came to light that the signatory of the representation has denied its signature in its confession to the Satara Superintendent of Police. He appealed to take the issue of submission of a fake letter as it was done with an intention to damage him and his family and demolish the leadership forever, which is quite dangerous. "Some of the elected representatives, who are currently in the state Assembly and some outside the House, hatched a conspiracy against me after their loss in the state council elections. They lodged an offence against me. The issue was raked up again even as the ashes of father have yet to be immersed. They did not maintain any morality to wait for even 10 days after my father's death but raised the eight-year-old issue now. This was to damage my leadership, and I rose to this position without any political background. I come from an ordinary family," he said. Chennai, March 6 : A man accused of murdering an elderly woman and her daughter was arrested in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi on Thursday after a brief police encounter. The double murder occurred on March 3 in Melanambipuram near Ettayapuram. Following the crime, Ettayapuram police registered a case and launched a massive manhunt, forming nine special teams to track down the suspect, identified as Muneeswaran. Acting on a tip-off, police conducted aerial surveillance using a drone camera and located his hideout in a remote area. Upon realising that the police had discovered his location, Muneeswaran attempted to flee. During the chase, he attacked two officers, Sub-Inspector Muthuraj and Constable Joyson. In response, the police fired at him in self-defence, hitting his left knee. He was subsequently arrested and is currently hospitalized. The victims, 70-year-old P. Seethalakshmi and her 48-year-old daughter V. Ramajayanthi, were found dead inside their home after neighbours alerted the police. They had not been seen since the previous evening. Ramajayanthi, who had separated from her husband a few years ago, was living with her parents. Her father, Poovan, had recently passed away. The bodies were sent to the Tuticorin Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Initial investigations revealed that the women were smothered to death, and their gold ornaments were missing. Seethalakshmias mobile phone was found discarded on the Melanambipuram-Kottur rural road. Fingerprint and forensic experts were called in to collect evidence. Thoothukudi District Superintendent of Police Albert John visited the crime scene and led the investigation. Four special teams were initially formed to determine whether the deaths were due to suicide, murder for gain, or another motive. Tamil Nadu Police have previously resorted to encounter killings of hardened criminals. Following the broad daylight murder of Tamil Nadu BSP state president K. Armstrong, the police have shot dead three gangsters in alleged encounters. Several political parties, including CPI(M), a DMK ally, have strongly criticised what they call extrajudicial killings carried out by the Tamil Nadu Police. New Delhi, March 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for winter yoga retreats in Uttarakhand has received strong praise from spiritual leaders and yoga gurus, who believe the move will boost tourism in the sacred Devbhoomi while offering spiritual and health benefits to devotees. Addressing a public gathering in Harsil on Thursday, PM Modi urged spiritual leaders to organise winter yoga camps in Uttarakhand. "Winter yoga retreats can be organised in peaceful and snowy regions. I would also urge revered sants, heads of monasteries and temples, and all yoga practitioners to hold at least one yoga camp in Uttarakhand during winter for their disciples," he said. Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan, hailed the initiative and also called for people to not pollute the state when they visit. Speaking to IANS, he said, "Today, on the land of Uttarakhand, the visionary and dynamic Prime Minister of India has initiated a new venture. India also has its own Switzerland and along with that, it is also a spiritual land which is the land of the four Dhams, the land of Hemkund Sahib, the power of Shiva and the land of peace." Cautioning people about pollution, he said, "When we come to Uttarakhand, we should come with a resolution that we will not utilise single-use plastic and will not pollute the water of the rivers in Uttarakhand." "Keep in mind that on the banks of rivers we must plant lovely trees. We have to decorate our Uttarakhand with greenery and at the same time remember that our glaciers are also melting. If there are glaciers, then there is a Ganga. If there are Himalayas, then we are there. Hence, come not only from the point of view of tourism but also from the point of view of pilgrimage," he added. Welcoming the initiative, Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya told IANS, "The Prime Minister has encouraged sages to bring their followers to Uttarakhand for yoga camps. It is a beautiful land, the Devbhoomi of India. These retreats will help people stay healthy and contribute to the state's development." "For all Sanatanis, reaching Uttarakhand is a great spiritual achievement. It is considered the ultimate pilgrimage, the very path to heaven mentioned in the Mahabharata, through which the Pandavas ascended. Yoga in such a divine place will not only promote physical health but also lead to profound spiritual experiences," he further said. "PM Modi's vision for Uttarakhand is about reconnecting people with their roots, their culture, and their spirituality. As a religious leader, I appeal to everyone to support this call and make it a success," he added. Acharya Vitthal Pandey of Dashrath Mahal in Ayodhya also praised the initiative. Speaking to IANS, he said, "The Prime Minister's words are truly remarkable. No Indian leader before him has spoken so strongly about the uplift of religious places." "Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi, where yogis have meditated for centuries. We fully support the Prime Minister's vision and will do everything possible to bring it to life. We will organise camps, conduct yoga sessions, and hold Vedic rituals in the traditional way. These efforts will spread a beautiful message to society -- of a Swachh Bharat, Nirmal Bharat, Ek Bharat, and Akhand Bharat," he said. Shashikant Das, president of the River Saryu Daily Aarti, also commended the initiative. "The Prime Minister has always had a positive outlook. Uttarakhand is the land of Mahadev, a place meant for devotion, meditation, and solitude. If gurus set up camps and offer spiritual guidance, it will be a wonderful step," he told IANS. "This is Mahadev's land, and if people gather here to sing bhajans, study scriptures, and practice meditation, it will bring immense benefits -- not just to them but to their families as well. Their spiritual well-being will grow, and the tourism industry of Uttarakhand will flourish. The entire region will see economic, social, and cultural development," he added. Das further emphasised that sages have a duty to promote such initiatives. "If followers and devotees come to Uttarakhand for prayer and self-discovery, they will gain beyond their expectations -- spiritually, financially, and socially. The Prime Minister's vision will bring great prosperity to Uttarakhand and its people," he said. New Delhi, March 6 : Several analysts, former diplomats and politicians have severely condemned the serious security breach in London on Wednesday night when Khalistani extremists based in Britain tried to block the vehicle carrying External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Videos of the incident showing Khalistani goons protesting outside the Chatham House in London where the EAM was attending an event have gone viral on social media. One video showed a Sikh protestor running towards the EAM's vehicle as he was leaving the venue after attending the think tank event. "This freedom given to British Khalistani extremists for their anti- Indian activities is unacceptable. The British continue to ignore our repeated protests about the space they give to such elements with the convenient excuse of the right to peaceful protest," former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal wrote on X. "Protest against what? There is peace in Punjab that they want to disturb, as well as peace between Indian origin communities in the UK itself. Are they protesting against any curb on their right to promote violence, terrorism and separatism in Punjab and the right to tear the Indian flag and insult a visiting Indian leader," wrote Sibal. This is not the first time that anti-India and radical elements had organised demonstrations, attacks, as well as arson in London. In March 2023, New Delhi had lodged a strong protest after Khalistani elements created ruckus at the Indian High Commission in London. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had demanded an explanation from the British authorities for the complete absence of the British security that allowed Khalistani goons to enter the High Commission premises. "The UK wants to keep these elements in circulation as a point of pressure on India. This is apart from crass electoral considerations of their political class dependent on the votes of minorities in their respective constituencies," stated Sibal, a seasoned diplomat who has also been the Indian Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. Reacting strongly to the Wednesday's incident, the MEA also "deplored the misuse of democratic freedom" by such elements. EAM Jaishankar has on several occasions slammed the Khalistani extremists who have been misusing freedom laws in several countries, including Canada, UK and the United States. "Freedom of speech cannot be freedom to advocate violence, freedom of speech cannot be freedom to support separatism and terrorism in a foreign country," the EAM has asserted on earlier occasions. Mumbai, March 6 : In a fillip to the government's 'Make in India' initiative, global tech giant Lenovo has announced plans to manufacture its personal computer (PC) models in India within the next three years. The company aims to achieve 100 per cent local production for its PC business, including its AI-powered PCs, as part of its long-term commitment to the Indian market. The announcement came as Lenovo celebrates 20 years of its presence in India. Lenovo India Managing Director Shailendra Katiyal said that currently, 30 per cent of the company's PC sales in the country are from locally manufactured products. "This figure is expected to reach 50 per cent next year and eventually 100 per cent within three years," he added. Katiyal also revealed that Lenovo's first AI-powered servers will start rolling out from its India manufacturing hub on April 1. He made these remarks at 'Lenovo TechWorld India 2025' in Mumbai. Last year in September, Lenovo launched a production facility in Puducherry, which is set to manufacture around 50,000 enterprise AI servers and 2,400 high-end graphics processing units (GPU) annually. The company is also expanding its research and development (R&D) capabilities in India, with plans to set up another R&D centre in Bengaluru. Mathew Zielinski, President of Lenovo's International Markets, highlighted India's growing importance for the company, calling it "one of the most important markets in the world." "Our manufacturing footprint in India, that's not only building for India, but is also establishing India as a huge exporter," said Zielinski. He added that for 2024, "we built, shipped to India, and shipped out of India 18,000 crore worth of products". The company is experiencing rapid growth in AI adoption in India, with its revenue in the country reaching $2.5 billion for the year-to-date period. Lenovo is exporting Motorola smartphones from India to global markets, with the company stating that all Motorola phone production is now based in India. New Delhi, March 6 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Thursday warned the public against buying or dealing with any properties belonging to Sunshine Global Agro and its directors. The market regulator issued this cautionary notice after discovering that some individuals or entities were illegally purchasing, encroaching, or trespassing on the companyas properties. In a notice issued last week, Sebi stated that no person is allowed to take illegal possession of or trespass on the assets of Sunshine Global Agro and its directors. The regulator also warned that any unauthorised actions would lead to legal consequences under applicable laws. Sebi had taken action against Sunshine Global Agro in July 2014, when it prohibited the company and its directors from raising funds from investors or launching any new schemes. This decision came after Sebi found that the company was mobilising funds through schemes related to the "sale of Jatropha Bush Group and sale of plant/trees." These activities were classified as an unauthorised Collective Investment Scheme (CIS). Later, in February 2019, Sebi directed Sunshine Global Agro and its directors not to sell or dispose of any company assets, except for the purpose of refunding investors. However, since the company failed to comply with the order, Sebi initiated recovery proceedings against it and its directors. Meanwhile, the market regulator in December 2020 ordered the attachment of bank and demat accounts of Sunshine Global Agro and its directors to recover dues of over Rs 1 crore. The action was taken after the company and its directors failed to pay a Rs 1 crore penalty imposed by SEBI in March 2019. The fine was levied after the company was found to have illegally raised over Rs 38 crore from 39,290 investors through unregistered collective investment schemes. In its attachment notice issued in 2020, SEBI instructed banks and depositories not to allow any debits from the accounts of the company and its directors. However, credit transactions have been permitted. The total pending dues of Rs 1.09 crore include the original penalty, interest, and recovery costs. In Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, and the parties discussed strengthening the defense capability of Ukraine and all of Europe. Air defense, weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, timely deliveries, strengthening Ukraines defense industry, EU accession negotiations, the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, and countering sanctions circumvention all of this was among the topics we addressed today, Zelenskyy said on X Thursday. He thanked Costa and von der Leyen for their leadership in the discussions on strengthening Europe's defence capabilities and Ukraine, and for their support on the path to a just and sustainable peace. New Delhi, March 6 : An incident of alleged ostracisation of nearly 30 members of eight families in Tamil Nadu village has come to the notice of the NHRC which has sought a report from the Tenkasi district collector within two weeks, an official said on Thursday. The NHRC took suo motu cognisance of a media report that said that a village head ostracised all members of a family which dragged him to court over encroachment in Sambavarvadakarai town. Seven other families were also ostracised when they supported the litigant family. Reportedly, the police arrested 30 people of 8 families when they protested in front of the office of the District Collector against their ostracism. According to the media report, carried on February 20, 2025, the victim families were barred from accessing local stores, other facilities, and communicating with other residents. The Commission observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim families. The NHRC has now issued notice to the District Collector, Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, calling for a detailed report within two weeks, said the official. Reportedly, the Revenue Divisional Officer, instead of acting, organised a peace talk with the village head to revoke his instructions but to no avail. Earlier last month, the NHRC questioned officials of West Bengalas Purba Medinipur district and police over the death of two persons after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a septic tank. Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report published on February 16, the NHRC said that the contents of the media report, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims. In a separate development last month, the Commission sought detailed reports from the West Bengal and Odisha governments over issues pertaining to curbing incidents of acid attacks in their respective states. The Commission asked the Chief Secretaries of both the states to submit their reports. The NHRC issued the order while hearing a petition filed by human rights activist and advocate Radhakanta Tripathy. Mumbai, March 6 : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra, after Shiv Sena- UBT legislator Bhaskar Jadhav sought his intervention on RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi's remarks The Chief Minister said those who respect their mother tongue should not disrespect any other language. Jadhav said: "The Centre has recently accorded the Classical Language Status to Marathi. Against this backdrop, I would like the chief minister to make the government's stand on the statement made by RSS veteran Joshi." CM Fadnavis told the House that he had not seen or read what Joshi said, adding that he would certainly see that. "Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra. There will be no disrespect to other languages. Those who respect their mother tongue do not disrespect any other language," the Chief Minister said. RSS leader Joshi on Wednesday said: "There is no need for those coming to Mumbai to learn Marathi. Different languages are spoken here. The language of Ghatkopar area in Mumbai is Gujarati. There is no single language in Mumbai. Many languages are spoken here." Shiv Sena-UBT legislator Aaditya Thackeray strongly criticised the RSS leader for his statement. "Every Marathi person should listen to Joshi's statement. He has insulted Maharashtra and the Marathi language. The state government has also cancelled the Marathi Bhavan proposed at Marine Drive and gallery in Girgaon. They (state government) said the Marathi language has been given classical status. Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Action should be taken against Bhayyaji Joshi," Thackeray said. Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut slammed Joshi, saying: "Who gave him this right? Can you go to Kolkata and say that Bengali isn't their language? Can you go to Lucknow and say in front of Yogi (Adityanath) that Hindi isn't their language? Can you go to Chennai and say their language isn't Tamil?" Congress legislator Nana Patole said the RSS and the BJP were diverting attention from issues like farmers and employment by igniting such debates on languages. "Today, farmers' crops are drying up in Maharashtra. Can't the RSS give suggestions to the government on this? Is the RSS not concerned about unemployment in Maharashtra? RSS and BJP are diverting attention from the main issues by creating such debates," Patole claimed. NCP-SP spokesman Amol Matele also criticised the RSS veteran, saying he attempted to hurt Marathi pride which will not be tolerated. BJP legislator Ram Kadam downplayed the RSS leader's remarks, saying "Joshi is a respectable person. His statement was shown in bits and pieces. Without understanding the sentiment behind Joshi's statement, some people are taking it to extremes." "Joshi said that more people who speak Gujarati live in some parts of Ghatkopar. So, naturally, when they meet each other, they speak Gujarati," the BJP legislator said. "As long as there are sun and moon in the sky, the language of Mumbai will be Marathi," Ram Kadam said. Kolkata, March 6 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday orally observed a legal tussle between the Governor and the Chief Minister of any state is not desirable. A single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Rao made this observation while hearing a defamation suit filed by West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and three others last year. A legal tussle between a Governor and a Chief Minister is not good for any party, he said, suggesting that the differences can be settled down through mutual discussion over tea, or in his words "Chai Pe Charcha". While accepting the suggestion of Justice Rao, the counsel for the Chief Minister pleaded that this suggestion be mentioned in the direction of the bench for the day. To this, Justice Rao said that he was just making a verbal suggestion and a written direction might be given at a later stage. The Chief Minister's counsel and four-time Trinamool Congress MP Banerjee argued in the court that any political personality should show more restraint in any matter. He also questioned the rationale behind the Governor filing a suit when that chair already enjoys some constructional protection. Countering this, the Governoras counsel Dhiraj Trivedi pointed out that the chair of the Government is not political at all. Last year, there was a controversy over the oath-taking ceremony of two newly-elected Trinamool legislators, namely Sayantika Banerjee from the Baranagar constituency in North 24 Parganas district and Reyat Houssen Sarkar from the Bhagabangola constituency in Murshidabad. Governor Bose insisted that the two newly-elected legislators come to the Raj Bhawan to be administered the oath by him. However, Banerjee and Sarkar insisted that the Governor come to the West Bengal Assembly to administer the oath ceremony there. As the issue snowballed, several Trinamool leaders, including the Chief Minister as well as the two newly-elected legislators and state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh, made comments critical of the Governor in the matter. Thereafter, the Governor filed a defamation suit at the Calcutta High Court against these four, with the Chief Ministeras name the first on the list. Bhopal, March 6 : Aravind Panagariya, the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, on Thursday, highlighted the fervent appeals from Madhya Pradesh, which is seeking an increased allocation from the central divisible pool, aiming to raise its share from the current 41 per cent to a more substantial 48 per cent. Regarding vertical devolution of taxes, Madhya Pradesh has advocated for a 10 per cent share of cess and surcharge, as the state currently receives no portion of these funds. The chairman added that the MP government also suggested including non-tax revenue in the vertical divisible pool. Panagariya stated: "Madhya Pradesh government has suggested if cesses, surcharges, and non-tax revenue are included in the divisible pool, then the current level of 41 per cent is acceptable. If not, then 48 per cent of the share should be allocated to the states." Other states are demanding a 50 per cent share from the divisible pool, he mentioned in Bhopal while addressing media persons. On the topic of the horizontal divisible pool, Panagariya noted that Madhya Pradesh would benefit from the income distance criterion as against the rich state where per capita income is more. The state has also proposed a new criteriona"multidimensional povertya"to be added to the share allocation. Regarding the remaining criteria for tax devolution, the MP government suggested that the Finance Commission should give weight to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) population. Madhya Pradesh also demanded an additional 10 per cent allocation for the SC/ST population. The state also emphasised the importance of demographic performance, specifically the total fertility rate, and the state's contribution to the total GDP. Previous commissions have used the income distance criterion, which allows for a larger devolution. Madhya Pradesh proposed the following weightages: 10 per cent for population, 10 per cent for the state's share in the SC/ST population, 5 per cent for demographic performance (total fertility rate), 40 per cent for income distance, 5 per cent for the multidimensional poverty index, 10 per cent for area, 15 per cent for forest cover, 2.5 per cent for tax collection and fiscal efforts, and 2.5 per cent for the state's contribution to the total GDP (excluding union territories) in tax devolution from the horizontal pool. Additionally, Panagariya mentioned that other states have also expressed a desire for a portion of the cess and surcharge currently being levied by the Central government. Historically, cesses and surcharges collected by the Centre have not been mandated for sharing with the states, as the Constitution does not permit it, the Finance Commission chairman explained. The chairman ducked a volley of questions on freebies offered by the state and Central government. Islamabad, March 6 : Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, is likely to feature on top of the list of countries that are expected to face new travel restrictions - including a complete ban on citizens of these countries from entering the United States - in the new travel ban plan being prepared by the Donald Trump administration. Sources in the Pakistani establishment told IANS on Thursday that the vetting and scrutiny process for both countries may reveal multiple deficiencies which may lead to a complete travel ban, putting at risk innumerable Pakistanis and Afghans who wish to seek refuge or relocation in the US through immigration. "Afghanistan will be included in the list of recommended countries for a complete travel ban. Pakistan's name would also be recommended for inclusion in the list," said one reliable source who revealed that the new travel restrictions could be implemented within the next 10 days. Urging those Pakistanis who have valid US visas to travel as soon as possible before the travel ban gets announced, the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Washington's fresh move could have a direct impact on tens of thousands of Afghans who were previously cleared for resettlement in the US after being granted Special Immigrant Visas. "The resettlement of these Afghans is a compensation and commitment made to them during the Biden administration for working with the US during the 20-year war in Afghanistan," he said. At least 200,000 Afghans are awaiting their resettlement in the US after the Afghan Taliban came to power in August 2021. At least 20,000 Afghans having the Special Immigrant Visa to US are stranded in Pakistan and face deportation to Afghanistan after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day freeze on refugee admissions and foreign aid that funds their flights on January 20. Trump's executive order called for implementing new rules of intensive scrutiny and vetting of foreigners seeking entry in the United States and detecting national security threats. Ranchi, March 6 : Babulal Marandi has been unanimously elected as the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislature Party in the Jharkhand Assembly, putting an end to the three-and-a-half-month-long suspense over the Leader of Opposition (LoP) post. The decision was taken at a meeting of BJP MLAs held at the party's state office on Harmu Road, Ranchi, in the presence of central observers Bhupender Yadav and K. Laxman on Thursday. The party is set to formally inform the Speaker about Marandi's election. Former Chief Minister Champai Soren congratulated him on being elected to this post. After his election, Marandi expressed gratitude to the party leadership and fellow MLAs for entrusting him with the responsibility. "I will dedicate every moment to strengthening the party both inside and outside the House. My focus will be on fortifying the organization and taking everyone along," he said. "On being elected as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the respected Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji, Hon. National President Mr. @JPNadda, @AmitShah Ji, Union Home Minister Mr. @byadavbjp Ji, Central Observer Mr. @drlaxmanbjp Ji, Mr. @LKBajpaiBJP Ji, State Incharge Mr. @BJPNagendraji Ji, Regional Organization General Secretary Mr. @bjpkarmveer Ji, State Executive President Mr. @RavindrarayBJP Ji, BJP's top leadership and all fellow MLAs," he said in a post on X on Thursday. Marandi reiterated his commitment to championing the rights of the poor, Dalits, tribals, and the marginalized, pledging to be their voice in the Assembly in line with the party's policies and principles. Recalling his previous term, he noted that BJP MLAs had elected him as their leader back then as well, but alleged that the Speaker, acting with "ill will," kept the matter pending for four years. "Despite this, we remained steadfast in raising people's issues and strongly opposing the state government's wrong decisions," he said. Hyderabad, March 6 : The victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on two out of three seats of the Telangana Legislative Council which went to polls on February 27 has given a major boost to the party in the state. It has not only dealt a blow to the ruling Congress by wresting the Karimnagar-Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad graduates' constituency but also bagged another seat by securing the support of teachers in the same region. "My gratitude to the people of Telangana for their overwhelming support and blessing @BJP4Telangana in the MLC elections. My congratulations to the newly elected candidates. I am very proud of our party workers who are working very diligently among the people," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X on Thursday. This win has not only increased the BJP's presence in the Legislative Council but is also expected to infuse new enthusiasm into the party ahead of the local body elections. This is the second major victory for the BJP after it doubled its tally of Lok Sabha seats in the state to eight last year. The BJP's strategy of declaring its candidates even before the announcement of the schedule for MLC elections and its aggressive campaign led by Union Minister for Coal and Mines and state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar paid rich dividends. Elections to three MLC seats from the Karimnagar-Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad graduates' constituency, the Karimnagar-Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad teachers' constituency, and the Warangal-Khammam Nalgonda teachers' segment were held on February 27. Though the MLC elections are held on a non-party basis, the BJP announced its candidates for all three seats in January, much before the announcement of the poll schedule. This was a clear change of strategy by the BJP, which was the last to announce its candidates for the November 2023 Assembly elections and May 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The polls provided an opportunity for the BJP to test its popularity, especially in Karimnagar-Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad where it had swept Lok Sabha polls and also performed well in the Assembly elections. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won the Karimnagar, Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad seats. Seven out of its eight Assembly seats also came from the north Telangana. The stakes were high for the Congress party in the Karimnagar-Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad graduates' constituency as its senior leader and former minister Jeevan Reddy was elected from here in the previous election. The ruling party fielded Narender Reddy as its candidate against BJP's Anji Reddy. With Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) not contesting the polls and Congress naming its candidate only for Karimnagar-Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad graduates' constituency, it was a direct fight between the two national parties in the graduates' constituency. Unlike the BJP which conducted an intensive campaign at the grassroots level to mobilise support from graduates and teachers, the Congress campaign looked half-hearted. A section of the party leaders also found fault with the choice of the candidate. Two days before the election, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy addressed three public meetings in three districts in support of Narender Reddy. His remarks at these meetings indicated that he did not have much hope. Stating that the MLC election is not a referendum on the performance of the Congress government, Revanth Reddy remarked that irrespective of whether Narender Reddy wins or loses, the government will not suffer any loss. The BJP's win in the graduates' constituency demonstrated the support it enjoys among graduates in 15 districts spanning across north Telangana. BJP's Anji Reddy defeated Narender Reddy by a margin of 4,991 votes after the end of the second preference vote count. With no candidate securing the stipulated 50 per cent +1 of the valid votes in the first preference vote count, the counting of second preference votes was taken up. Anji Reddy polled 78,635 votes while Narender Reddy secured 73,644 votes. BSP's Prasanna Harikrishna stood third with 63,404 votes. In the elections based on a preferential voting system and through ballot papers, 2.52 lakh voters cast their votes. A total of 56 candidates were in the fray. The BJP also garnered huge support from teachers in the same constituency as its candidate Malka Komaraiah emerged victorious. He won the seat with a margin of more than 5,700 first preference votes against his nearest rival Vanga Mahender Reddy of the Progressive Recognized Teachers Union (PRTU). Komaraiah secured 12,959 votes while Mahender Reddy garnered 7,182 votes. A little over 25,000 teachers had cast their votes in the constituency. The BJP has repeated the result of the MLC election held in March 2023 when AVN Reddy, a candidate of the BJP-affiliated teachers' union, won the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad teachers' constituency. With the latest victories, the BJP now has three MLCs in the 40-member Legislative Council. The saffron camp is jubilant over the victory with the party leaders claiming that the outcome shows people of Telangana want a BJP government in the state. "It's not an ordinary victory. Graduates and teachers, who are opinion makers in their respective constituencies, were the voters. The election covered 12-13 districts, six parliamentary constituencies and 43 Assembly segments," said Kishan Reddy. The Central minister said the Congress party suffered defeat despite the Chief Minister himself campaigning along with ministers, MLAs, and other leaders. "I believe this is the second time people of Telangana have shown that they are with the BJP and Narendra Modiji," he said. Kishan Reddy also declared that in the coming days, the BJP would make all the efforts to come to power in Telangana. Jammu, March 6 : J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday answered questions pertaining to construction of bridges, waste management, public grievances and other issues during question hour in the assembly. The Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that a comprehensive DPR has been formulated for construction of a bridge over Bheeni Nallah at Kaloran, Nangla Dull road in Bani worth Rs 583.78 lakh. The Deputy Chief Minister was responding to a question raised by MLA Rameshwar Singh. He said that DPR for construction of 75 m span bridge with 700 m approach road amounting to Rs 583.78 lakh has been prepared which is under active consideration of the sanctioning authorities during the next financial year, subject to availability of resources. The Deputy Chief Minister further stated that the grievance, in this regard, had been registered on the web portal of L-G Mulaqaat. Meanwhile, Minister for Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo, informed the House that the Municipal Committee Dooru /Verinag distributes twin household dustbins among all households to segregate waste at the source, along with installation of twin bins in commercial areas for segregated collection of garbage in twin towns of Anantnag district. The Minister was replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to a question raised by G A Mir in the Legislative Assembly. The Minister said that for collection of waste from the households and commercial establishments, eight hoppers are deployed regularly and the waste is subsequently transported to the Material Recovery Facility Plant at Verinag, where it is further segregated into dry waste and wet waste separately. The dry waste is processed in the MRF center, which is then recycled and sold out, while the wet waste is put into the compost pits for generation of organic compost. The Minister informed that eight hoppers, 25 tri-cycles and one truck laden with sucker have been procured for Dooru and Verinag while as the department intends to procure machinery including weight bridge, baling machine and shredder for improvement in sanitation and waste management segregation. The Minister, while replying to a supplementary, stated that three Solid Waste Management Plants of 4 TPD each have been approved for MC Dooru-Verinag. Besides, one Solid Waste Management Plant of 4 TPD is functional at Veering, where the dry waste is processed at MRF facility and the wet waste is processed through pit composting method, she added. She said that the Municipal Committee is committed towards ensuring efficient waste management practices through continuous improvements in segregation methods. Efforts are being made to enhance citizen participation, upgrade infrastructure and adopt innovative solutions for waste processing, she added. The Minister further said that under SBM (U) scientific processing of the Municipal Solid Waste in the small and medium Towns of J&K has been undertaken. She said that the establishment of 78 Solid Waste Management centers (WMCs)/Material recovery Facility (MRF) along with compost pits has been approved. She added that construction work in 52 locations has been undertaken, of which, 33 Waste Management Centers/MRFs and 30 compost pits have been completed, while the work in 19 more sites of WMCs/MRF and 22 compost pits is under progress. Further, she informed that bio-remediation of legacy waste at the dumping sites like Bhagwati Nagar, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Tral, Bijbehara, Pahalgam, Anantnag and Tangmarg has been completed and 3.88 lakh MT legacy waste has been bio-remediated. She apprised that the work has been awarded for bio-remediation of 6.16 lakh MT legacy waste at Kot Bhalwal by JMC, 2.98 lakh MT by DULBK and 1.20 lakh MT for 7 ULBs of DULBJ. Besides, the tender has been floated for bio-remediation of 11.00 lakh MT legacy waste at Achan, Srinagar, she added. Regarding housing facilities, the Minister said that PMAY-Urban 2.0 has been launched in September 2024 to address the housing needs of EWS/LIG and MIG income categories by providing financial assistance for construction/purchase of houses through different verticals of the scheme in the next 5 years. She informed that Rs 907.68 lakh have been released to the beneficiaries for construction of houses since 2018 in Dooru and Verinag. Out of 747 sanctioned houses, 505 houses have been completed while 161 are under-construction as per the CS&MC data of MoHUA. Meanwhile, Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmad Rana informed the House that protection works are being undertaken under Flood Management Project Phase-II along the river Jehlum, wherever required. He was replying to a question raised by Peerzada Mohammad Syed in the Legislative Assembly. The Minister stated that crate protection works are being undertaken at specific locations depending upon the vulnerability/weak spots. He said that these works will be completed by the end of March, 2025 at an estimated cost of Rs. 84.00 lakh. Regarding the beautification work on the river banks of the Jhelum from Mehandi Kadal to Donipawa, the Minister informed that the Irrigation and Flood Control Department does not have any exclusive budget to undertake beautification work on river banks. He said that the mandate of the department is to undertake anti-erosion works to prevent the bank damage, sloughing and breaching due to floodwaters. MLAs, Basheer Ahmad Veeri and Tanvir Sadiq raised supplementary questions on the question. Burzahama Hospital to be constructed at an alternate site. Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo informed the House that the Burzahama Hospital will be constructed at an alternate site and appropriate provision of funding will be kept for timely execution of the project. The Minister made these remarks while replying to a starred question raised by Salman Sagar in the Legislative Assembly. She informed that the construction work on the Burzahama Hospital building was stopped on the objections of the Archaeological Survey of India, the Union Ministry for Culture. "During the year 2013-14, the construction of PHC Burzahama was taken up in hand under State Sector Capex Budget at an estimated cost of Rs 179 lakh through JKPHC, against which Rs 17 lakh were released. However, the construction work could not be carried out due to objections raised by the Archaeological Survey of India, as the construction site comes under their jurisdiction, thereby causing the work on the project to halt, apprised the Minister. The Minister further said that the Intizamia Committee Burzahama offered a piece of Auqaf land for construction of the Health Centre at an alternate site but the Revenue Authority (Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar) has not yet transferred the land to the department for execution of this vital project. "The department shall explore the possibility for construction of this health project at an alternate site and make appropriate provision of funding for timely execution," she said. Javed Ahmad Rana, today informed the House that all areas in Srinagar have been covered and the people are being supplied with scheduled portable water supply by the department. The Minister was responding to a question from legislator, Shamima Firdous. The Minister said that the government is committed to facilitating the supply of essential services to the people and ensuring timely repairing of defunct water supply schemes. He maintained that no water supply pipeline is defunct in Srinagar city and whenever any distribution line gets damaged, the same is restored under stage contracts and the damaged pipelines beyond repair are replaced by new pipelines properly. The Minister said that the department is providing sufficient potable water supply as per the schedule of existing water treatment plants, and currently there is no area that is uncovered. MLA, Mubarak Gul, also raised supplementary questions on the question. Replying to another question raised by MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan, the Minister said that PHE works are being executed by PHE Division Bijbehara while as irrigation works are being looked after by Irrigation Division Anantnag and flood related works are being executed by the Flood Control Division Anantnag for Shangus. The Minister said that there is no requirement for creating these facilities separately for Shangus as of now. He assured that the government is committed to providing all basic facilities to the people in all far-flung areas. Sakeena Itoo said that the government has developed an online portal for availing various revenue services for the ease of the public. The Minister said this while replying to a question on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, asked by MLA, Surinder Kumar. The Minister informed the house that the Revenue Department has developed an online portal 'jkrevenue.nic.in' for application of CLU in order to ensure ease of process for the applicant. She added that with this portal, an applicant has no need to visit any government office for availing such services. Sydney, March 6 : Australia's New South Wales (NSW) State Emergency Service issued emergency evacuation warnings on Thursday as tropical cyclone Alfred edges closer to the country's east coast. Residents in the Northern Rivers region in northeastern NSW were urged to evacuate by 9 p.m. local time on Thursday, as rapid river rises and heavy rainfall are expected to cause widespread flooding across local catchments, and fallen trees may potentially block safe evacuation routes. "If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services," said NSW State Emergency Service State Duty Commander, Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan. Hogan warned that it could become too dangerous for the emergency service to carry out rescues, and that buildings may not be able to withstand the impact of floodwaters. Residents have been advised to evacuate and stay with family, friends, or in alternative accommodation in areas not affected by flooding, or seek help from evacuation centers available throughout the region. Residents in the southeast of Queensland and in the northeast of NSW are bracing for the cyclone with the severity having not been seen in the region since 1974. "This is a very dangerous weather system," warned the NSW State Emergency Service, adding a combination of gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, and widespread flooding are expected over the coming days. According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), the category two system is expected to cross Australia's east coast Friday night or early Saturday morning, most likely between Noosa and Coolangatta, the location of the Gold Coast Airport. More than 4 million residents of Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast, among other cities of Queensland and NSW, have been placed on a formal warning by the BOM, Xinhua news agency reported. Major Australian airlines suspended operation in Brisbane on Thursday. Gold Coast Airport in the southernmost Queensland has shut down since Wednesday afternoon until further notice, while Sunshine Coast Airport continues to function as usual. Public transport remains suspended on Thursday and Friday, with further updates to come. Weather forecasts predicted daily rainfall amounts between 200 mm and 400 mm, potentially exceeding 800 mm in total over the course of the storm. Dhanbad, March 6 : In a tragic incident, Tanmay Prajapati, a B.Tech student at the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Aqua Marine Hostel bathroom on Thursday, officials said. The discovery of an injection needle near his body has raised concerns about the possible consumption of poisonous or narcotic substances. Tanmay, a resident of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, had enrolled in the Electronics and Communication Engineering program in 2022 and was set to graduate next year. His untimely demise has left his family, who have been informed of the incident, and the campus community in shock. The sequence of events unfolded when a fellow student noticed the bathroom door locked from the inside and, after receiving no response to repeated knocks, alerted other students and the hostel's security in-charge. Upon breaking the door, Tanmay was found unconscious on the floor. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Law enforcement authorities, including a team led by Dhanbad DSP (Law and Order) Naushad Alam, arrived at the scene to investigate. According to DSP Alam, initial findings suggest that the student may have died by suicide, potentially involving narcotic substances. However, a thorough investigation has been initiated to explore all possible angles. An FIR for unnatural death has been registered, and the police have revealed that Tanmay had been struggling with mental health issues in recent months. He had reportedly undergone counselling sessions two to three times at the institute. This incident has reignited concerns about mental health and well-being on the IIT-ISM campus, which has witnessed several suicides in recent years. Last year alone, the campus reported the suicides of a security guard and the wife of a professor residing in the premises. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt denied information about the cancellation of the temporary legal status of about 240,00 Ukrainians, which had previously appeared in the media, and stated that the corresponding decision had not yet been made. This is more fake news from Reuters based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about. The truth: no decision has been made at this time, Leavitt said on X Thursday. Earlier on Thursday, Reuters reported the information, citing senior officials and three people familiar with the matter, as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to strip the legal status of more than 1.8 million migrants admitted to the United States under temporary humanitarian programs launched under the Biden administration. Earlier it was reported that in January, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the suspension of the United for Ukraine program for Ukrainians fleeing war to the US, in connection with the executive order of January 20, 2025, "Securing Our Borders." Vishakhapatnam, March 6 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Thursday launched the New Credit Assessment Model based on the scoring of digital footprints of MSMEs. The Finance Minister had announced as part of her Union Budget 2024-25 that public sector banks (PSBs) will build their in-house capability to assess MSMEs for credit, instead of relying on external assessment. Launched at a post-Budget interaction in Vishakhapatnam, the credit assessment model for MSMEs, based on digital footprints, is expected to be a significant improvement over the traditional assessment of credit eligibility based only on asset or turnover criteria. It will also cover MSMEs without a formal accounting system, according to an official statement. PSBs will develop a new credit assessment model, based on the scoring of digital footprints of MSMEs in the economy. This credit assessment model will leverage the digitally fetched and verifiable data available in the ecosystem and devise automated journeys for MSME Loan appraisal using objective decisioning for all loan applications and model-based limit assessment for both Existing to Bank (ETB) as well as New to Bank (NTB) MSME borrowers, the statement said. The digital footprints used by the model may include name and PAN authentication using NSDL, mobile, and email verification using OTP, API fetch of GST data through service providers, Bank Statement Analysis using account aggregator, ITR upload and verification, API-enabled commercial and consumer bureau fetch and due diligence using CICs, fraud checks, hunter checks through APIs, among others. The benefits to MSMEs by use of this model include submission of applications from anywhere through online mode, reduced paperwork and branch visits, instant in-principle sanction through digital mode, seamless processing of credit proposals, end-to-end straight-through process (STP), reduced turnaround time (TAT), credit decision based on objective data/transactional behaviour and credit history, no physical collateral securities for loans covered under CGTMSE, among others, the statement added. Gurugram, March 6 : Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini called upon the trainee officers of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to take a pledge to carry out their duties impartially and fearlessly. He also urged them to always be ready to protect the law and the Constitution, safeguard the rights of the people with sensitivity and stand firm in their commitment to truth, honesty and dedication, regardless of the circumstances. The Chief Minister was speaking as chief guest at the passing out parade ceremony of 55th batch of directly appointed Gazetted Officers of the CRPF in Gurugram on Thursday. A total of 39 trainee officers, including 2 women officers, passed from the CRPF academy after completing a rigorous training program. He expressed confidence that these 39 trainee officers would discharge their responsibilities with utmost honesty and devotion, contributing to the integrity, unity, and sovereignty of the nation in line with the proud legacy of the CRPF. Commending the CRPF for its invaluable contribution to the country's internal security, the Chief Minister described the force as the backbone of the country's security. He also commended the CRPF for adopting modern technologies and training techniques, which are helping to develop professional and capable officers prepared to face any challenges in the field. The Chief Minister further encouraged the newly passing out officers to engage in constant learning, stressing that ongoing education and re-learning are essential for success. He highlighted that the CRPF is progressing towards modernisation and empowerment, ensuring that the force remains equipped to tackle evolving security challenges. "Congratulating the trainee officers, their families, and the entire CRPF, the Chief Minister expressed his confidence that these officers would make significant contributions to the country's internal security and nation-building," he said. Saini also recalled the historic decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow women in the Armed Forces, recognising the power of half the nation's population. He thanked the Prime Minister for this initiative, which has led to the recruitment of many women in the Armed Forces. "The Haryana government has also encouraged women to serve in the police force, with women currently making up 10 per cent of the state police. The state government aims to increase this figure to 15 per cent in the near future," he added. Highlighting the Haryana government's commitment to strengthening security forces, the Chief Minister said that special attention has been given to technical upgrades, resource enhancement, and the expansion of training facilities to better equip the Police force for any challenges they may face. In addition, the state has established a dedicated Sainik and Ardh-Sainik Welfare Department to support ex-servicemen and paramilitary forces. "In cases of martyrdom, families of Haryana soldiers serving in the armed forces and paramilitary forces receive a financial assistance of Rs 1 crore, along with a government job for one family member. To date, 415 dependents have been provided with jobs," he informed. Director General CRPF Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Director CRPF Academy Sunil Kumar Jha and others dignitaries were also present on the occasion. New Delhi, March 6 : As reciprocal tariffs by the US administration are likely to be implemented from April 2, industry leaders on Thursday said they are optimistic that a well-structured Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between two partners who trust each other will be hammered out for the electronics sector. India currently imposes a 16.5 per cent basic customs duty (BCD) and surcharge on smartphones and electronics from the US. The country is also building a strong domestic manufacturing ecosystem by focusing on four interconnected pillars: infrastructure for a solid foundation, technology for modernisation, skill development for a capable workforce, and market access to drive demand and growth. According to India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo, offering reciprocal zero duty in the potential BTA for smartphones, hearables and wearables, colour televisions, consumer electronics and appliances and lighting, etc. "is not an extraordinary step for us since we already provide that treatment to FTAs with Japan, Korea and ASEAN (Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia etc.)". "The long-term impact of a cautiously optimistic outlook is the ballooning of our electronics exports to the US from the current level of $10 billion to $80 billion, an 800 per cent growth by 2030," Mohindroo told IANS. Meanwhile, the country is unlikely to experience any major short-term consequences due to the US tariff on semiconductors, as it is not a major exporter of chips to Washington. India's import duty on semiconductors is already zero, meaning there are no reciprocal tariff concerns, according to India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) President Ashok Chandak. Most of India's upcoming semiconductor manufacturing and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities cater to global brands. India's increasing domestic semiconductor demand will rely on locally manufactured chips, minimising reliance on imports. In the long run, Indian semiconductor brands will not be at a major disadvantage, as the US tariff is expected to apply uniformly to all exporting nations, said Chandak. New Delhi, March 6 : A man who posed as an 'ED officer' and extorted over Rs 80 lakh from a builder and other victims was arrested in Gurugram and sent to five-day custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning, an official said on Thursday. Raviraj Kumar was arrested by Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Gurugram Zonal Office, under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for his involvement in alleged extortion of money by cheating, fraud and projecting himself as senior officer of the ED. He allegedly used multiple SIM cards to disguise his real identity and cheated multiple persons. "An analysis of his multiple bank accounts revealed that he had collected about Rs 80 lakh through such means," he said. Raviraj Kumar was presented in a Special PMLA Court on Wednesday from where he was sent to ED custody for five days, the official said. The ED initiated investigation based on FIR registered by Sector-10, Police Station, Gurugram against Raviraj Kumar and other unknown persons under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The investigation revealed that Raviraj Kumar had extorted money from a Gurugram builder by threatening with dire consequences. During the investigation, the ED recorded statements of various persons and collected digital and documentary evidence such as bank statements, WhatsApp chat, and audio recordings. In a separate case in Sikkim, the ED, Gangtok Sub Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 65.46 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the misappropriation and laundering of funds from the State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) by Dorjee Tshering Lepcha, former General Manager (Operations), SBS. The attached properties include four immovable properties comprising residential buildings and land parcels located at Deorali, Syari, Ranipool, and Penlong, Sikkim. These properties were found to have been acquired using Proceeds of Crime (POC) derived from misappropriation from SBS. In addition to immovable properties, bank balances and fixed deposits in the names of Dorjee Tshering Lepcha and his family members, totalling approximately Rs 53.41 crore have also been attached. The ED initiated investigation based on an FIR registered by CID-PS, Gangtok under various sections of the IPC, 1860, and the Information Technology Act, 2000. The investigation was later transferred to Sikkim Vigilance Police. The ED investigation revealed that Dorjee Tshering Lepcha, while serving as General Manager (Operations) at State Bank of Sikkim, orchestrated a large-scale fraud involving the creation of a fraudulent bank account in the name of "AE Roads and Bridges Department, Government of Sikkim". Funds were fraudulently credited to this account through manipulation of General Ledger (GL) accounts maintained by SBS for Central Bank of India (CBI) and State Bank of India (SBI) transactions. These funds were subsequently diverted to personal accounts held by Dorjee Tshering Lepcha, his wife and other family members and associates, the official said. The investigation also uncovered manipulation of fixed deposits to enhance interest earnings fraudulently, the official said. Tokyo, Mar 6 : Jewher Ilham, the daughter of jailed Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti, has vowed to make people all over the world aware of the oppression that Uyghurs are suffering in the Xinjiang province of China. Ilham, now 30 and residing in the United States, was separated from her father in February 2013 at Beijing airport by the Chinese authorities. Having not returned to China since that day, she told Japan's Kyodo News on Thursday her father's current location remains unknown. Tohti, a former professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, was barred from leaving China to take up a position as a visiting scholar at a US college. He was then detained and convicted in September 2014 following a closed-door trial in China. Several reports cited that he was given a life sentence on separatism-related charges. The sentence, finalised in November 2014, drew outrage from human rights organisations and Western governments. The charges against Ilham Tohti, said Amnesty International, stem from his writings and teachings which explained the systemic discrimination faced by Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province of China. "Tohti's life sentence, handed down on September 2014 after a trial lacking fairness and transparency, is a blatant violation of his rights. During his imprisonment, Tohti has reportedly been subjected to torture and ill treatment, including wrist and ankle shackling, prolonged solitary confinement, and denial of adequate medical care and food, as well as political indoctrination," the organisation stated. In 2024, Human Rights Watch stated that the Chinese government persisted in committing crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang. "Over the years, the Chinese government has dismissed all calls to end its severe repression in Xinjiang, which includes mass arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, mass surveillance, cultural and religious persecution, separation of families, forced labour, sexual violence, and violations of reproductive rights," it said. Earlier in 2023, 51 United Nations member countries issued a joint declaration condemning the Chinese government's crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs and other Turkic communities while calling on Beijing to end its systematic human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region. In 2022, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated that the extent of arbitrary detentions against Uyghur and others, in the context of arestrictions and deprivation, more generally of fundamental rights enjoyed individually and collectively, may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity." Patna, March 6 : A controversial statement by JD-U MLC Khalid Anwar praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb and terming him as "good king" triggered a major uproar in and outside the Bihar Assembly on Thursday. Patna, March 6 (IANS) A controversial statement by JD-U MLC Khalid Anwar praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb and terming him as "good king" triggered a major uproar in and outside the Bihar Assembly on Thursday. Leaders from his own party and alliance have strongly opposed his remarks, with some demanding his membership be revoked and calling for him to be sent to Pakistan. Khalid Anwar said, "Aurangzeb was not a cruel ruler, but a good king. He did not destroy temples. Historians should discuss this, not leaders like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath," said Khalid Anwar, JDU MLC. Anwar also criticised the suspension of SP MLA Abu Azmi for his praise of Aurangzeb in another Assembly, calling it "wrong". Following the statement of Khalid Anwar, JD-U leaders distance themselves. Sanjeev Kumar Singh JD-U MLA from Parbatta in Khagaria district said: "Aurangzeb was the cruellest ruler of India. He persecuted Hindus and demolished temples. If someone praises him, they should be sent to Pakistan and prosecuted for treason." BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachol said: "Aurangzeb imposed taxes on non-Muslims and forced conversions. He was a cruel ruler. I demand the renaming of Bakhtiyarpur and Aurangabad in Bihar." RJD MLA Rinku Singh said in a democracy, everyone has the right to express their views. "Khalid Anwar is not the Chief Minister, so his statement should not be seen as an official party stance," he said. The controversy has widened the rift within JD-U and its alliance, with some JD-U and BJP leaders mounting pressure on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take action against Khalid Anwar. With the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections approaching, such divisive debates are set to further polarise the political landscape. RJD MLA Bhai Virendra launched an attack on the JD-U and BJP on this issue, saying that the BJP only knows how to create hysteria. "The public has understood who was responsible for the Godhra incident," Bhai Virendra said. He also criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, citing the Supreme Court's decision to restore Sunil Singh's membership in the Bihar Legislative Council. "Nitish Kumar was slapped hard by the Supreme Court when it reinstated Sunil Singh's membership," Bhai Virendra said. Jaipur, March 6 : An MBBS student was found hanging in his hostel room in Rajasthan's Kota district, police officials said on Thursday. The deceased was identified as 28-year-old Sunil Bairwa and his body was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his room on Wednesday night, the police said. A suicide note was recovered in which Sunil expressed his inability to fulfil his parents' dreams and apologised to them. Following the incident, undergraduate and postgraduate students protested outside the principal's office, raising slogans against the college administration and demanding accountability. Mahavir Nagar police station ASI Mohanlal said after getting information, police rushed to the hostel and sent the body for post-mortem. Sunil's father, Kajodmal, shared that his son secured admission to Kota Medical College in 2019-20 after clearing the NEET exam. "However, the college authorities deliberately did not pass him in the first-year examination. We challenged the result at Rajasthan Health Science University (RUSH), which led to a re-evaluation, and Sunil was declared passed after a delay of 7-8 months. He successfully cleared his second-year exams. However, in the third year, he was caught cheating, leading to the cancellation of two of his exams. As a result, he was barred from college for the past one and a half years," his family said. Recently, when he attempted to discuss his case with the college administration, he allegedly faced harassment, which his family said led him to take this extreme step. Kamal, a senior colleague of Sunil, alleged that not all students are treated equally at Kota Medical College. According to Kamal, Sunil had been pleading with the administration for a chance to appear in exams, but his requests were repeatedly denied. "Whenever he approached them, he was scolded and turned away," Kamal claimed. Kamal further stated that Sunil's mental health had been deteriorating for the past three months. With student protests intensifying, the demand for an impartial inquiry into the matter is growing. Meanwhile, police have assured that further investigations will be conducted based on the familyas complaint. College Principal Sangeeta Saxena said a five-member team has been constituted to probe the issue. Dhaka, Mar 6 : Several rights activists in Bangladesh have raised an alarm against rising extrajudicial killings and other custodial deaths of suspects that have occurred since Muhammad Yunus-led Interim Government came to power in the country in August 2024. According to Dhaka-based human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (AsK), at least 19 people have been killed by law enforcement and security agencies since August 8, 2024, after Yunus took office. "Those people either got killed in so-called gunfights or exchange of fire, or they were tortured while being in custody and later brought dead to hospitals," AsK's senior coordinator Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir told media outlet Benar News. Another human rights activist, Nur Khan Liton, a member of the Yunus Government's Commission for Enforced Disappearances, noted that instead of curbing extrajudicial killings, the number has gone up since August 2024. He told Benar News, "The government is not taking any visible measures to minimise these extra-judicial killings. We have been told the same old narratives in every custodial death, crossfire or gunfight case. It's alarming and disappointing at the same time." In December 2024, the human rights organisation highlighted in its report instances of mob justice and lawlessness in the name of justice that remain a major cause for concern during the interim government's current rule. Referring to the incidents of mob justice, the report mentioned the incident of a youth being beaten to death at Dhaka University that sparked harsh criticism across the country. Apart from that, leaders and activists of political parties are being subjected to mob justice too. The former leader of the Rajshahi University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the Student wing of Awami League, Abdullah Al Masud, was beaten to death on September 7, 2024. He was assaulted in the Binodpur market near the university campus. According to ASK, there are reports of a total of 147 incidents of vandalising houses, temples, and business establishments of the Hindu community across the country. Some 408 households were vandalised in these incidents, including 36 cases of arson. Besides, there have been reports of 113 incidents of vandalising business establishments owned by the minority community, 32 incidents of attack on temples and mosques of the Ahmadiyya sect, and 92 incidents of vandalising idols in 92 temples, reports Bangladeshas leading Bengali newspaper, Prothom Alo. Bangladesh has been grappling with violence and protests across the nation after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus came to power. In recent months, according to various local media reports, Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in severe protest movements against the government amidst massive deterioration of the law and order situation in the country. Bhopal, March 6 : Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led Madhya Pradesh government in a meeting with the 16th Finance Commission in Bhopal on Thursday submitted its financial need to ensure economic growth of the state in the next five years. The Commission, led by Chairperson Arvind Pangariya, along with its four members, is on a visit to Madhya Pradesh to assess the finance assistance from the Centre through the tax devolution system. During the meeting at Bhopal's Kushabhau Thakare convention center, the state government gave a presentation on the state's financial stage, highlighting the growth story between 2005 and 2025. The government pushed its demands before the Commission, also projecting Madhya Pradesh as a future ready state for industrial growth by 2023-31. It also demanded an increase in revenue share on grants from the Centre. Further, the state government also demanded that SC/ST population and their growth should be given weightage for tax devolution for the state. "A detailed discussion was held with the 16th Finance Commission during a meeting in Bhopal. MP government highlighted its achievements and goals for economic growth in the five years. We have also put our financial demands before the Commission," Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said. Later, addressing the press, Pangariya said that the Madhya Pradesh government has made an impressive presentation to push its demands during the meeting and the Commission has noted them. "As the Commission is tasked to engage with the representatives of states to assess the financial requirement and to make recommendations accordingly before the Centre for the tax devolution, as of now no decision has been taken. MP government's demands would be presented by the Centre," Pangariya said. He further stated that the 16th Finance Commission has visited 28 states so far, including Madhya Pradesh and three-four more states are yet to be visited. --IANS pd/dan Bilaspur : , March 6 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president and Union Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday slammed the Congress for "going through mental bankruptcy". Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh), March 6 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president and Union Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday slammed the Congress for "going through mental bankruptcy". "The Congress has become a party of only brothers, sisters, mothers, and not of workers. The Congress does not have any principles." Addressing a public meeting in Bilaspur, his hometown, J.P. Nadda put a question before the Congress that whether "it could follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Subash Chandra Bose?" At this, the people responded by saying, "No". The BJP President accused the Congress that "we sent money from the Centre for building houses and roads, but the Congress government (in the state) used that money to pay salaries and pensions". He said "this is what happens if power goes into the wrong hands". J.P. Nadda asked the Congress whether any big leader of the Congress came to Himachal Pradesh during the natural calamity. He said every time the senior leaders of the Congress avoid coming to Himachal Pradesh during any disaster. "I, Anurag Thakur and Jai Ram Thakur came thrice and also brought funds for the disaster relief from the Centre." Listing out the achievements of the Central government, the Union Health Minister said the state got AIIMS, PGI Satellite Centre, four medical colleges, Mother and Child Hospital, cancer centre and a super specialty medical block. J.P. Nadda claimed that whenever "the BJP comes to power, there is improvement in the quality of life". Going down memory lane, he said, "When I was an MLA in Himachal Pradesh, 95 per cent of villages got paved roads through Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Before this, an MLA used to get only Rs 40 lakh for 50 roads." J.P. Nadda said the Congress government in the state is running on God's mercy. "What time has come in Himachal that sometimes investigation is reported on chicken and sometimes on samosas." He said Himachal Pradesh still has a debt liability of Rs 355 crore under Ayushman Bharat, besides "the government is not able to run good schemes like Himcare. A sum of Rs 14.5 crore of Himcare is to be paid to the PGI We have also asked the department not to the stop the scheme". Under the Mukhya Mantri Himachal Health Care Scheme (Himcare), eligible families can avail cashless treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year per family in empanelled hospitals. Energoatom signs agreement with French Orano on uranium enrichment for Ukrainian NPPs until 2040 JSC Energoatom and French Orano (until 2018 Areva) announced the signing of a major long-term commercial agreement on the provision of nuclear fuel enrichment services for Ukrainian NPPs until 2040. "This was confirmed today by the signing of a joint statement by acting Energoatom chairman of the board Petro Kotin and Orano CEO Nicolas Maes in the presence of Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko and Special Representative of the President of France Pierre Heilbronn for Assistance and Recovery of Ukraine," Energoatom reported on Thursday. This contract guarantees Energoatom a reliable and diversified supply of enrichment services to provide fuel for Ukraine's nuclear power plants, the report said. "We are proud to support Energoatom in its development to strengthen Ukraine's energy independence. This agreement reflects our commitment to supporting our client and thus contributing to Europe's energy security," said Nicolas Maes. For his part, Kotin noted that given Ukraine's plans to expand nuclear capacity, the nuclear power generation company's need for uranium enrichment services will only grow in the future. "Uranium enrichment is one of the important stages in the process of manufacturing nuclear fuel. The signed agreement allows our state to confidently plan a stable bright future, relying on the operation of nuclear power plants," he noted. Mumbai, March 6 : The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and The Federal Bank Limited (FBL) on Thursday announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide financial support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This partnership aims to strengthen the MSME ecosystem by offering various financial services, including project finance, machinery and equipment finance, working capital support, and loans against property. Under this agreement, both institutions will also explore joint financing options to extend credit facilities to MSMEs. The collaboration is expected to help businesses access funds more efficiently, enabling their growth and development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 4 reaffirmed the governmentas commitment to strengthening the MSME sector, calling it the backbone of Indiaas manufacturing and industrial growth. Addressing post-Budget webinars via video conferencing, PM Modi highlighted key initiatives aimed at supporting MSMEs and enhancing Indiaas manufacturing and export capabilities. "In 2020, the government took a major step by revising the definition of MSMEs after 14 years, eliminating the fear among businesses that they would lose government benefits if they expanded," he said. The Prime Minister further stated that the government has gone beyond expert expectations in several sectors and made significant decisions regarding manufacturing and exports in the latest Budget. A senior Commerce Ministry official said earlier that the government is also planning new schemes to offer easy credit to MSME exporters and provide support in tackling non-tariff measures imposed by other countries, which have become a hurdle for Indiaas merchandise exports. At a post-Budget webinar, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi said that the Commerce, MSME, and Finance Ministries are working together on these schemes. He added that the government is designing schemes to provide MSME exporters with easy credit and promote alternative financing options by strengthening factoring services. Addis Ababa, March 6 : Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Workneh Gebeyehu has called for restraint and dialogue to ease rising tensions in South Sudan. The East African bloc's executive secretary, in a statement, expressed "deep concern" over the escalating tensions and armed clashes in South Sudan's Nasir County. The latest developments "pose a risk to the hard-won gains made in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and threaten peace in the country," Gebeyehu said. He called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, reaffirm their commitment to the R-ARCSS, and prioritise dialogue and reconciliation as the only sustainable path to peace, ensuring the protection of civilians and stability of the region. The eight-member East African bloc has decided to dispatch a high-level delegation to assess the situation on the ground and engage with the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity on measures to restore calm and advance the peace process, Gebeyehu said. IGAD, as the guarantor of the revitalised peace accord, reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting the agreement's full implementation, he said. Clashes erupted in mid-February between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and armed civilian groups in the country's Nasir County. Tensions escalated after the government announced plans to deploy new forces to Nasir County to rotate troops stationed in the area for several years. More than 20 people have been reported killed and several others injured on the outskirts of the now-deserted town of Nasir, located near the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia. In response to the situation, IGAD will dispatch a high-level delegation to assess the situation on the ground and engage with the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) on measures to restore calm and advance the peace process. Srinagar, March 6 : The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Jammu and Kashmir, to boost river cruise tourism on three National Waterways in J&K with an investment of Rs 100 crore. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Chintan Shivir being held in Srinagar in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, J&K's Transport Minister Satish Sharma and senior officials. Of the 111 national waterways in the country, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has three declared national waterways -- River Chenab (NW-26), River Jhelum (NW-49) and River Ravi (NW-84). The Inland Waterways Authority of India has been actively promoting cruise tourism in India and the agreement with the government of Jammu and Kashmir aims to further boost tourism, generate employment, boost economic growth and provide a new mode of leisure tourism on rivers in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official statement. With the vision to promote river cruise tourism, various cruise circuits were announced for development - spanning from Kashmir to Kerala and Assam to Gujarat - in the recently concluded Second Meeting of Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC). "Within a period of two months, IWAI took a significant step to develop river cruise tourism in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir for an approximate cost of Rs 100 crore, the statement said," the statement said. Under the framework of the MoU, the IWAI will provide waterside infrastructure which includes 10 floating jetties and landside infrastructure comprising of waiting hall and other amenities for cruise passengers. Out of ten, two floating jetties will be installed at Akhnoor and Reasi (near Jammu) the declared portion of River Chenab (NW-26); seven floating jetties at Pantha Chowk, Zero Bridge, Amira Kadal, Shah-e-Hamdan, Safa Kadal/Chattabal Shrine, Sumbal Bridge and Gund Prang (in Srinagar and Bandipora) River Jhelum (NW-49) and one jetty at Sohar on River Ravi (NW-84). Additionally, IWAI will develop navigational fairways by executing dredging wherever required, provide navigational aids and conduct regular hydrographic surveys for safe plying of vessels in these waterways. The J&K government will provide land for construction of landside facilities, facilitate all statutory clearances and appoint cruise operators in identified sectors of the three National Waterways. The IWAI will also provide any technical assistance required by the government of J&K. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the able guidance of Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, IWAI has been making several infrastructural interventions to develop waterways as a robust engine of growth. With its concerted efforts, IWAI is expanding its footprint throughout the country and is presently working towards capacity augmentation of NW 1, NW 2, NW 3 and NW 16 among other waterways by means of developing IWT terminals, fairways through end-to-end dredging contracts, navigational aids like night navigation facility, navigational locks among others, the statement said. The Authority has rolled out initiatives to boost cruise tourism on River Ganga and River Brahmaputra. The partnership between IWAI and Jammu and Kashmir government is an exciting initiative that promises to promote sustainable tourism practices while stimulating local economic growth and enhancing tourist experience, the statement added. Chennai, Mar 6 : Buoyed by the emphatic success of its Hindi version, the makers of the historical war film 'Chhaava' are now all set to release the Telugu version of the film in over 550 screens in the Telugu states. Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Maddock Films, 'Chhaava' is based on the life of the brave Maratha king Chhatrapati Shambhaji Maharaj. The film stars Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Shambhaji Maharaj. The Telugu trailer has garnered nearly five million views, giving an indication of the excitement levels that precede the release of the Telugu version of the film. Chhaava, which already has a worldwide collection of close to Rs. 700 crores, will release in Telugu on Friday. The film, which is being released in collaboration with the prestigious Geetha Arts Distributors, known for having distributed several blockbusters, is to release in over 550 screens in Telugu states. In a video message, Vicky Kaushal said, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone for your incredible support and love for our film Chhaava. We have been receiving a lot of demand to dub this film in Telugu since the first week. We are proud to bring our film to you in Telugu on March 7th. I hope that Chhaava touches your hearts and you get the opportunity to witness the glory, invincible valour and sacrifice of one of the greatest Maratha warriors, Chatrapati Shambhaji Maharaj. I wish you all experience it on the big screen." Vicky Kaushal essays the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the historical war drama in which Rashmika Mandanna plays Maharani Yesubai. Produced by Maddock Films, aChhaavaa also stars Akshaye Khanna as Mughal Shahenshah Aurangzeb,Ashutosh Rana as Sarsenapati Hambirao Mohite, Divya Dutta as Soyarabai, and Diana Penty as Zinat-un-Nissa Begum, Aurangzeb's daughter. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the film is a cinematic adaptation of the Marathi novel aChhavaa by Shivaji Sawant. The tunes for the movie have been scored by the music maestro, A. R. Rahman and dialogues for the film have been penned by Rishi Virmani. Cinematography for the film is by Saurabh Goswami and editing is by Manish Pradhan. --IANS Mkr/ New Delhi, March 6 : Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan launched a blistering attack at Devendra Fadnavis government for its 'inaction and indifference' in the Beed Sarpanch murder case, asking what prevented his dispensation from acting against the criminals, for so long. Prithviraj Chavan, speaking to IANS, asked why it took almost three months for Fadnavis government to 'sack' the minister in question and also what prompted the police to release blood-stained pictures of the Sarpanch, just a day before NCP minister's resignation. Dhananjay Munde, minister in Fadnavis government from ally NCP resigned from his post on Wednesday, as the furore intensified over his close aide Walmik Karad's framing in the Sarpanch murder case. Smelling a rat in the whole episode, Chavan sought to know whether the Maharashtra CM was being 'blackmailed' by someone and why it took more than two months to launch a crackdown against the 'influential' culprits. "I would call it sacking and not resignation, but why it took 84 days to act? Was someone blackmailing them to name to not take action on Dhananjay Munde," asked the former Maharashtra CM. "Village Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was trying to fight the extortion attempts by the criminal gang, led by the minister. What was Chief minister doing for over two months?" he asked. Chavan further said that the people of Maharashtra are demanding answers on how the goons and criminals are running amok in the state and have the audacity to kill a village sarpanch for standing up to extortion threats. "Maharashtra wants to know what action is going to be taken against the ring-leader of the gang, who committed the crime. Why did Maharashtra government release the photographs which were lying with the authorities and police for 2.5 months. Was it to pressurise Munde to be sacked? Was he blackmailing the government?" Chavan asked. Chavan's remarks renews focus on the horrific murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sapanch of Massajog village in Beed district who was killed for stymying extortion attempts by the gangsters. Santosh Deshmukh was brutally tortured and murdered on December 9, last year by gangsters. A video also surfaced on social media, where he was seen enduring extreme brutality and torture in his final hours. Many men armed with sharp weapons and wooden sticks were seen brutalising him. As the uproar continued to intensify, NCP minister Dhananjay Munde resigned as the minister, apparently at the insistence of Chief Minister. Bengaluru, March 6 : Karnataka BJP and JD-S legislators met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his office in Vidhana Soudha on Thursday and urged him to consider sanctioning Rs 150 crore in annual funds for constituencies represented by party MLAs in the budget for the financial year 2025-26. Siddaramaiah is set to present the budget on March 7. The leaders submitted a memorandum, requesting that Siddaramaiah use his discretionary powers to allocate the funds. The delegation included Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, senior MLA Arvind Bellad, JD-S floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu, and others. The delegation also demanded that Siddaramaiah include an additional Rs 5 crore to the existing amount allocated for constituency development in the 2025-26 budget and announce it while presenting the budget. They also sought an allocation of Rs 50 crore in grants for the construction of infrastructure, roads, and other development activities. Addressing Siddaramaiah, the memorandum stated: "As you are aware, in the last two years, due to the non-allotment of funds for Assembly constituencies represented by BJP and JD-S legislators, no development work has taken place. These constituencies are lagging behind in the construction of roads, drainage systems, and essential facilities such as colleges, hospitals, and school buildings. The lack of development in constituencies represented by opposition MLAs has also caused embarrassment for your government." The memorandum further stated that people in these constituencies are not receiving the benefits of government programs such as Gangakalyan, land ownership schemes, and fisheries initiatives. "We assume that you share our concern that these constituencies and communities should not be left behind," it emphasised. Earlier, a Karnataka BJP delegation, led by Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and State President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ahead of the presentation of the 2025-26 budget, demanding a special grant of Rs 15,000 crore exclusively for Bengaluru. The delegation urged the government to allocate the special grant in the budget to expedite ongoing development projects and initiate new ones in Bengaluru. They also demanded that Rs 150 crore be allocated to each Assembly constituency. The BJP called for the construction of at least 100 vehicle parking complexes in the city to address the persistent parking issues. Kolkata, March 6 : Trinamool Congress General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday skipped the crucial first meeting of the core committee of the party set up to screen the voters' list in West Bengal and identify the bogus voters there. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing the extended organisation meeting of the Trinamool on February 27, had announced the formation of the core committee and Abhishek Banerjee's name was second on the list after the partyas state President Subrata Bakshi. The announcement of the formation of the core committee was made amid apprehensions of the Chief Minister that two online agencies appointed by the BJP have become active in West Bengal these days to "tamper with" the votersa list in the state so that voters from other states can vote in the 2026 Assembly elections in the state. Although officially the Trinamool leaders were not willing to speak of Abhishek Banerjeeas absence in the first meeting of the core committee, a couple of them, under strict continuation of anonymity, said that the General Secretary will be present at the proposal virtual meeting with all levels of party leadership scheduled on March 15. However, his absence kindled the speculation in the political circles about the continuing and simmering internal cold war within the Trinamool over the issue of "fresh blood" and the "old guard" in leadership positions. The proposed core committee formed to screen the votersa list had two layers. In the second layer, there are district-level committees whose tasks are to identify such alleged misappropriations in their respective districts. Above the district-level crore committees, there is the centralised core committee which is headed by Bakshi, and where Abhishek Banerjee's name is the second in the list. Political observers feel that after Abhishek Banerjee addressed the extended organisation meeting of the party on February 27 and rubbished speculation of this growing differences within the Trinamool, it was perceived that he would be present at the first meeting of the core committee on Thursday. However, his absence is now bound to kindly fresh rounds of speculations in the matter, feel observers. Seoul, March 6 : A warrant review panel sided with police on Thursday, concluding it was appropriate for them to request arrest warrants for two senior officials of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) accused of obstructing investigators' attempt to detain impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The warrant review committee of the Seoul High Prosecutors Office reached the decision in a closed-door meeting, recommending that prosecutors seek court approval for the warrants on behalf of the police. Six of the panel's nine outside experts voted in favor of the recommendation, according to the committee. Last month, the special police investigation team handling Yoon's short-lived martial law imposition on December 3 asked the committee to review its case after the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office rejected for the third time its request to seek arrest warrants for acting PSS chief Kim Seong-hoon and Lee Kwang-woo, chief of the PSS's bodyguard division. The review committee, which operates under six high prosecutors' offices nationwide, assesses whether prosecutors' decisions to reject arrest warrant requests were justified. However, the committee's decisions are not legally binding. Kim and Lee are accused of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant for Yoon in January, taking unjust personnel actions, and instructing subordinates to delete records of phone conversations between Yoon and military commanders involved in the martial law declaration. The calls were allegedly made during the martial law situation using secret phones distributed by the PSS, which were equipped with programs designed to prevent wiretapping and recording, Yonhap news agency reported. Police have argued that their charges were sufficiently substantiated and that there is a risk they could destroy evidence, justifying their arrests. Prosecutors, however, denied the requests, contending that the charges were disputable and that they are unlikely to repeat obstructing Yoon's arrest because the suspended president is already in custody. Following Thursday's decision, prosecutors are expected to consider seeking arrest warrants for the two PSS officials if police submit a fourth request. "We respect the review committee's decision and will proceed with follow-up measures," said an official with the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office, requesting anonymity. New Delhi, March 6 : Four CPI (Maoist) workers were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Chhattisgarh Army jawan murder case of 2023, an official said on Thursday. The accused were identified as Bhawan Lal Jain alias Bhuwan Jain and his associate Suresh Kumar Salam, along with Shailendra Kumar Baghel alias Golu and Anduram Salam. The four overground workers and supporters of the banned CPI (Maoist) terror outfit were directly involved in hatching the criminal conspiracy to kill Motiram Achala, as per NIA investigations. The accused were actively aiding and abetting criminal and/unlawful activities of CPI (Maoist), including extortion to strike terror in the minds of the people. Achala, posted as Havaldar in the Northeast region of the country, was brutally murdered at a local fair while on a visit to his home-town in village Badetevda in Uttar Bastaras insurgency-hit Kanker district in February 2023. The NIA, which took over the case from the Chhattisgarh police a year later, conducted extensive searches in the following months to track the culprits. Several incriminating documents and devices were seized during the searches. On February 28, the NIA arrested Raghu Midiyami, leader of Moolwasi Bachao Manch (MBM), a top leader of a frontal organisation linked with the banned CPI (Maoist) terrorist outfit in a Chhattisgarh terror funding case. The MBM is also banned by the Government of Chhattisgarh. The Chhattisgarh Police had earlier, in November 2023, arrested and charge-sheeted two accused in the case which was taken over by NIA in February 2024. The police had recovered Rs 6 lakh from the duo, identified as Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the MBM. Subsequent investigations had revealed Midiyami to be the leader of MBM. The outfit has been engaged in collection, storage and disbursal of funds for CPI (Maoist), for furthering their anti-India agenda. As per NIA investigations, Midiyami was the nodal person for distribution of the funds at the local level for staging and sustaining CPI (Maoist) led protests. Dhaka, March 6 : In a change of stance, Muhammad Yunus, who leads the interim government in Bangladesh, has now stated that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League has to take the decision on whether it will contest the elections, whenever they take place eventually. "They (the Awami League) have to decide if they want to do it, I cannot decide for them. The election commission decides who participates in the election," Yunus was quoted as saying by the local media in an interview given to the British public service broadcaster. The unceremonious exit of former PM Hasina last August was seen globally as a major setback to the democratic set-up in the country. The Election Commission of Bangladesh said last month that it is preparing to hold the national elections anytime between December 2025 to June 2026. "If reforms can be done as quickly as we wish, then December would be the time that we would hold elections. If you have a longer version of reforms, then we may need a few more months," Yunus told the British Broadcasting Service. The violence that has taken place in Bangladesh since Yunus took over, especially against the minorities, including Hindus, has not only dealt a blow to its fragile democracy but also undermined the potential of it being a secular state. The interim government has also received massive criticism for providing shelter to radical and extremist Islamic outfits. However, since US President Donald Trump's return to the White House in January, the Yunus government is treading cautiously when it comes to democratic and electoral reforms. Last October, in an interview given to the Financial Times, Yunus had commented that Awami League has "no place" in Bangladeshas politics. In February, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that it is up to the people of Bangladesh to decide whether the Awami League should be banned or barred from the upcoming national election. The United Nations has also recommended the interim government in Bangladesh against banning any political party for the sake of a multiparty democracy. "Refrain from political party bans that would undermine a return to a genuine multiparty democracy and effectively disenfranchise a large part of the Bangladeshi electorate," said a fact-finding report published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the first necessary steps for peace at a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. "Special meeting of the European Council. Ukraine has been striving for peace since the very first second of the war, and today I presented the first necessary steps for peace and called on partners to support them," Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel on Thursday. "The stability and security of all of Europe depends on the actions of each of us. We must become stronger, more technological, support each other. We must take care of life now. Europe must be able to guarantee peace and security for itself and everyone who needs it," Zelenskyy emphasized. The President of Ukraine also expressed his gratitude to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, for organizing the meeting. "Thank you to all the leaders who steadfastly support Ukraine, who are determined to increase aid and work to bring a real and just peace closer," added Zelenskyy. Ambikapur : , March 6 (IANS) Senior Congress leader and Chhattisgarh's former Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo, reacting to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's statement on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), on Thursday said that a part of Kashmir was taken away from India by the Pakistani Army, and it should certainly be returned. Talking to IANS, the Congress veteran did not agree with the decision to suspend Samajwadi Party MLA from the Maharashtra assembly over his remarks praising Aurangzeb. Jaishankar had said: "Look in Kashmir, actually we have done, I think we have done a good job solving most of it. I think, removing article 370 was one step number one. Then, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir. It was step number two, holding elections, which was done with a very high turnout for step number three. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under the illegal Pakistani occupation. When that's done, I assure you. Kashmir solved." In his response, Singh Deo said: "When the country was partitioned, a part of the Kashmir state was taken by the Pakistani army and occupied by them. Therefore, it should certainly be returned. At that time, the Maharaja of the state had signed an agreement with India to merge the entire state with India. Hence, POK should rightfully belong to India, there is no doubt about it." Regarding the suspension of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi from the Maharashtra Assembly after his praise of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Singh Deo commented: "Aurangzeb was an important figure in India's history. While we may not agree with all his actions, I also do not agree with each and every work, but it does not mean his name cannot be mentioned. There is no law in the country that says you cannot speak the name of someone who has made such mistakes. Aurangzeb is known for his orthodox ideology and destruction of some Hindu religious sites as written by some historians. Even among people of other religions, there are such individuals who target someone else's religion, so can we not mention their names?" Will someone taking names of such people be suspended from the house?" "In a democracy, you can differ with someone's views on the work of a particular individual. You can say that this was a good or bad thing done by someone. But it is no aggregable move to remove someone from the assembly or the house," Singh Deo added. Chandigarh, March 6 : BJP national Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Thursday that the accused in the 1984 Sikh genocide cases are being brought to the book and punished after four painful decades that the Sikh community has undergone. "It was only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted an SIT in 2014 and people are now getting justice," he said. Sirsa said the prime accused Sajjan Kumar has been convicted in the second case and has been awarded life term after four decades. "It was Rajiv Gandhi who orchestrated the attack and later gave plum political postings to those who executed his nefarious plans." Delhi minister Sirsa said the plum political postings held by prime accused Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler, H.K.L. Bhagat, Dharam Shastri and Lalit Maken are some of the examples of the way Congress "adjusted" wrongdoers as prime people. He added similarly accused Tytler had been convicted despite the Congress-led Union Government CBI team having given him clean chit in anti-Sikh riots. "The SIT has now filed charge sheet and charges are being framed. The victims of 1984 riots now know that their cases are in the right hands. Had PM Modi not constituted the SIT, the offenders would have continued to hoodwink law and people would still have been bereft of justice." Sirsa said in Kanpur after 33 years, 80 people have taken to task who perpetrated the crimes against Sikhs and had gone scot free. "Such offenders had never even dreamt that the law could catch on with them. Now cases have been registered, arrests have been made, witnesses are deposing before courts and justice is being delivered." Slamming Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party of looting the people of Punjab, Sirsa said that having lost their base in Delhi, the entire party has now focused towards Punjab. He said the party was scavenging on Punjab's resources to meet its need for power and money. He said the Kejriwal would soon show the door to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and take over the cudgels of Punjab. Sirsa added that for the past three years, the AAP had slept over issues of drugs, corruption and law and order in Punjab. "It is now trying to prove that it has risen from a slumber," Sirsa said. He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has made a mockery of the system by declaring that Rs 1.81 lakh has been seized as drug money. "In fact the situation in Punjab is so piquant that smugglers are ruling the roost. Lakhs of people have been duped by immigration agents in the state in the name of greener pastures abroad, but the entire time the AAP government just remained a mute spectator and watched everything. The government has failed on all the fronts," he said. To cover up its failure, Kejriwal is being promoted as the Punjab 'messiah'. "He and the coterie are making a dent in debt-ridden Punjab economy," the Delhi minister added. Chennai, March 6 : The Censor Board of Film Certification has now cleared for release director Prithviraj Sukumaran's much awaited political thriller L2: Empuraan, featuring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the lead, with a clean UA certificate. The film certification body, in its certificate awarded to the makers of the film, has give the film a UA 16+ rating. The certified length of the film is 179.52 metres Empuraan is the sequel to Lucifer, which went on to emerge a huge success. Prithviraj Sukumaran, apart from directing the film, also plays the character of Zayed Masood the mercenary commando who leads the hit force of the infamous nexus Kureshi-Ab'ram in the Lucifer franchise. Recalling that audiences were introduced to a complex world in Lucifer, Prithviraj had in a video clip released earlier said that in the second part, that complexity would deepen even further. "The number of characters increases. You'll witness even more settings and landscapes where the story unfolds. But through all of this, we strongly believe that the film maintains a coherant narrative. May the viewers feel the same when they watch it," he said. Stating that when the first part of Lucifer ended, audiences, who were introduced to the Khureshi-Ab'ram underworld mega syndicate, left with the feeling that it seemed like there was no force in the world strong enough to take them on, Prithviraj said, "That was the belief we walked away with after watching the movie. But was it true? Or was it a misplaced assumption?" Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan (L2E) is produced jointly by Antony Perumbavoor and Subaskaran. The film's story has been penned by Murali Gopy and its music has been scored by Deepak Dev. The film has cinematography by Sujith Vaassudev and editing by Akhilesh Mohan. 'Lucifer', the first part of the franchise which released in 2019 and which marked the directorial debut of actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, emerged a blockbuster in just eight days. It went on to make over Rs 200 crore, making it the highest grossing Malayalam film ever. Needless to say expectations from the sequel, which is scheduled to hit screens on March 27 this year, have soared. --IANS Mkr/ Hyderabad, March 6 : Cadaver dogs of the Kerala Police on Thursday joined the rescue operation in the bSrisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district where eight persons were trapped since February 22 after a portion of the tunnel's roof collapsed. Hyderabad, March 6 (IANS) Cadaver dogs of the Kerala Police on Thursday joined the rescue operation in the bSrisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telanganaas Nagarkurnool district where eight persons were trapped since February 22 after a portion of the tunnelas roof collapsed. Two cadaver dogs, that are specially trained to locate missing humans and human bodies, and the officers handling them arrived by an Army helicopter. The cadaver dog squad, along with their handlers, will be fully deployed on Friday morning. The officials of the special dog squad held a meeting with Nagarkurnool district Collector Badavath Santosh and officials of the Disaster Management Authority. They made an initial assessment of the situation inside the tunnel. Rescue operations by multiple teams continued in the partially-collapsed tunnel for the 13th day on Thursday. They have still not found any trace of the missing persons. Meanwhile, for the first time, the rescue teams were using water jets to clear debris and slush from the accident site. Teams of the Army, the Navy, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni Collieries, HYDRAA, and rathole miners continued their intensive efforts to remove debris and slush. In another development, representatives of NV Robotics, Hyderabad visited the tunnel to explore the possibility of using robots to trace the missing persons. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, during his visit to the tunnel on Sunday, had asked officials to explore the possibility of using robots. Meanwhile, Colonel Kirti Pratap Singh, Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited the tunnel and reviewed the ongoing rescue operations. State Disaster Management Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar briefed him on the current situation inside the tunnel and the ongoing rescue efforts. He explained that in the 13.650-kilometre stretch of the tunnel, a tunnel boring machine (TBM) had been severely damaged due to the collapse of rocks and soil over a length of approximately 150 metres. Eight workers were trapped inside the TBM, with water and debris further complicating the situation. Arvind Kumar informed Colonel Singh that the TBM was being carefully cut piece by piece in an attempt to reach the trapped workers. To aid in locating them, cadaver dogs were brought in from Kerala. The conveyor belt system has started functioning, and once the process of removing debris through it begins, the rescue operations will accelerate. Later, to personally assess the current conditions inside the tunnel and monitor the ongoing operations, Colonel Singh, along with the NDRF personnel and the cadaver dog squad from Kerala, entered the tunnel in the evening. They examined the areas where the dogs needed to be deployed and identified the locations to be inspected. Hyderabad, March 6 : Cadaver dogs of the Kerala Police on Thursday joined the rescue operation in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district where eight persons were trapped since February 22 after a portion of the tunnel's roof collapsed. Hyderabad, March 6 (IANS) Cadaver dogs of the Kerala Police on Thursday joined the rescue operation in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telanganaas Nagarkurnool district where eight persons were trapped since February 22 after a portion of the tunnelas roof collapsed. Two cadaver dogs, that are specially trained to locate missing humans and human bodies, and the officers handling them arrived by an Army helicopter. The cadaver dog squad, along with their handlers, will be fully deployed on Friday morning. The officials of the special dog squad held a meeting with Nagarkurnool district Collector Badavath Santosh and officials of the Disaster Management Authority. They made an initial assessment of the situation inside the tunnel. Rescue operations by multiple teams continued in the partially-collapsed tunnel for the 13th day on Thursday. They have still not found any trace of the missing persons. Meanwhile, for the first time, the rescue teams were using water jets to clear debris and slush from the accident site. Teams of the Army, the Navy, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni Collieries, HYDRAA, and rathole miners continued their intensive efforts to remove debris and slush. In another development, representatives of NV Robotics, Hyderabad visited the tunnel to explore the possibility of using robots to trace the missing persons. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, during his visit to the tunnel on Sunday, had asked officials to explore the possibility of using robots. Meanwhile, Colonel Kirti Pratap Singh, Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited the tunnel and reviewed the ongoing rescue operations. State Disaster Management Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar briefed him on the current situation inside the tunnel and the ongoing rescue efforts. He explained that in the 13.650-kilometre stretch of the tunnel, a tunnel boring machine (TBM) had been severely damaged due to the collapse of rocks and soil over a length of approximately 150 metres. Eight workers were trapped inside the TBM, with water and debris further complicating the situation. Arvind Kumar informed Colonel Singh that the TBM was being carefully cut piece by piece in an attempt to reach the trapped workers. To aid in locating them, cadaver dogs were brought in from Kerala. The conveyor belt system has started functioning, and once the process of removing debris through it begins, the rescue operations will accelerate. Later, to personally assess the current conditions inside the tunnel and monitor the ongoing operations, Colonel Singh, along with the NDRF personnel and the cadaver dog squad from Kerala, entered the tunnel in the evening. They examined the areas where the dogs needed to be deployed and identified the locations to be inspected. Mumbai, March 6 : Actress Urvashi Rautela reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement regarding promoting Uttarakhand as a destination for film shooting. Speaking to IANS, Urvashi said, "Being my birthplace, Uttarakhand holds a very special place in my heart. Thatas why I feel deeply connected to it. Whatever PM Modi has done is right. The state offers breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and an ideal environment for filmmaking." She added, "Uttarakhand has diverse locations, from snow-capped mountains to lush green valleys, making it a perfect destination for film shoots. The government has also been proactive in developing infrastructure to support filmmakers. However, challenges like accessibility to remote locations and extreme weather conditions in certain areas need to be managed effectively." Urvashi was further asked, "Uttarakhand has been recognized as the most film-friendly state, with modern facilities developing rapidly. As a native, how do you see this shaping the future of the local film industry?" To this, she replied, "This recognition is a big step forward. Improved infrastructure and government support will not only attract more filmmakers but also create employment opportunities for local talent, technicians, and artists. This will significantly boost the regional film industry." PM Modi recently visited the Harsil Valley. While addressing a public gathering, he stressed the need to promote year-round tourism in Uttarakhand to boost the economy of the state. He called on the film fraternity to consider Uttarakhand as a preferred shooting location. The PM stated "Uttarakhand has been awarded the Most Film-Friendly State. With modern facilities developing rapidly, the state can become a top destination for film shoots, especially during winters." On another note, Urvashi recently bumped into aPushpaa director Sukumar during the India Vs Pakistan match in Dubai. Congratulating the director, the diva revealed that she looked up to the filmmaker with immense admiration. Urvashi took to her Instagram and shared a video of shaking hands with Sukumar at the stadium. aHeartiest congratulations on all your incredible achievements, #Sukumar garu! Your brilliance and dedication inspire us all, and we truly look up to you with immense admiration", she captioned the post. Mumbai, March 6 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday assured the state Assembly that the government will accelerate the redevelopment of dangerous, dilapidated and old buildings in Mumbai. He said that a meeting will soon be held with public representatives to remove obstacles and thereby give push to the redevelopment of such buildings. Shinde in his reply to a calling attention motion moved by Amin Patel, Vijay Wadettiwar and others said that aif the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or the competent authority declares a building dangerous, then the building owner is first given an opportunity to redevelop it. If the owner does not submit a proposal within 6 months, then this opportunity is given to the cooperative housing society of the occupants or tenants. If they also do not submit a proposal within 6 months, then there is a provision for land acquisition and redevelopment through the Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board". The Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board has issued notices to 854 building owners. Out of these, buildings of 67 owners have submitted redevelopment proposals, out of which 30 owners have been granted No Objection Certificate (NOC). "The state government is bringing a new housing policy, which will ensure that affordable houses are available to common citizens. The government will bring back Mumbaikars who have moved out of the metropolis due to the stalled redevelopment. The government is committed to speed up the stalled housing projects in Mumbai and provide housing to the common citizens," he said. Several legislators including Atul Bhatkhalkar and Yogesh Sagar (BJP) brought to the Deputy CM's notice that the redevelopment is old and dilapidated buildings from Mumbai suburbs is not taking off due to procedural issues. They demanded that the government should address these issues to put the redevelopment on fast track. Eknath Shinde assured that the government will initiate necessary steps in this regard. Meanwhile, he also told the Assembly that the water problem of Thane city and the adjoining areas including Kalwa, Mumbra and Diva from the municipal corporation limit would be looked into as well. In his reply to a calling attention motion moved by NCP-SP legislator Jitendra Awhad, he assured the Assembly that funds would not be a problem in addressing the water shortage in Thane and the adjoining areas. Shinde also said that Thane Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation will provide 130.50 million liters of water per day to Mumbra, Kausa and Kalwa areas. Six water tanks are being constructed in this area to ensure full pressure of water supply. Out of these, two water tanks have been commissioned and the work of laying distribution water pipes to make the remaining four water tanks operational is in progress. Jammu, March 6 : J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat on Thursday said that he has cut two-thirds of his personal security in a manpower optimisation drive. Asserting that charity must begin at home, the DGP told reporters at a aThana Diwasa meeting here that as part of the major manpower optimisation drive, he has cut his personal security cover. He laid stress on improved resource allocation, police incentivisation, and the need for technology to increase efficiency in the police across the UT. Noting Rome was not built in a day, he said: "All battles will be eventually won. I have said from day one in different meetings that whoever does good work, will get a good posting. I have told everyone that do something big work for the country and within one minute, you will get the posting you want." He revealed that drugs are reaching J&K through the western border. "The entire narcotics racket is managed by the Pakistan Army and ISI through different terror outfits and smugglers. This is a challenge and J&K Police will keep on fighting it till the battle against drugs is won. I equate the war against drugs at the same level with the war against terrorism. Both the wars are on," he said. The police chief expressed concern over school-going children getting involved in the drug trade, adding that it is the duty of the parents to keep a vigil on the activities of their children. During two top-level security review meetings on J&K chaired last month by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah gave clear orders to the security forces to ensure zero infiltration and show zero tolerance to terrorists. The Home Ministeras meetings were followed by two other security review meetings chaired by J&K Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, who asked police and the security forces to dismantle the ecosystem of terrorism by targeting terrorists, their over-ground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers. Bridgetown : , March 6 (IANS) Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Thursday, India time, received the prestigious 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' award that was bestowed upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his strategic leadership and valuable assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bridgetown (Barbados), March 6 (IANS) Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Thursday, India time, received the prestigious 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbadosa award that was bestowed upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his strategic leadership and valuable assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Margherita received the award on behalf of PM Modi from the Barbados President Dame Sandra Mason at the Government House in Bridgetown in the presence of the Caribbean country's Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds and other dignitaries. The award announcement was made by the Prime Minister of Barbados during a meeting with PM Modi on November 20, 2024, on the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Leadersa Summit in Guyana's Georgetown. Prime Minister Mottley has acknowledged the vital role played by PM Modi in strengthening international cooperation and support during the unprecedented situation during the Covid-19 pandemic. While receiving the award on behalf of the PM, Margherita expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, "It is a profound honour to represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accept this prestigious award on his behalf. This recognition underscores the deepening ties between India and Barbados, as well as our shared commitment to collaboration and development, especially in times of crisis". Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966, India and Barbados have fostered a robust partnership characterised by continuous engagement and development initiatives. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that this award symbolises the enduring friendship between the two nations. Chennai, March 6 : A Tamil Nadu-based lawyer has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, seeking the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. Chennai-based lawyer G.S. Mani filed the PIL on Thursday, arguing that these states are constitutionally and legally obligated to implement the NEP and sign the necessary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The petition comes amid an ongoing debate over the alleged imposition of Hindi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's strong opposition to the NEP's three-language policy. Tamil Nadu currently follows a two-language system, teaching only Tamil and English, and has opposed the inclusion of Hindi. The state government has accused the Centre of attempting to impose Hindi through the NEP. However, Mani contends that this claim is false, arbitrary, and politically motivated, and that it goes against the fundamental right to free and effective education. In his plea, Mani acknowledged that the SC does not have the direct authority to force a state government to accept a policy or sign an MoU, however, he argued that the apex court can issue directives if constitutional provisions or laws are being violated. In such cases, the state government could be compelled to take specific actions. The petitioner further stated that the NEP does not mandate the imposition of Hindi and accused Tamil Nadu's leadership of misrepresenting the policy for political reasons. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reiterated his opposition to the NEP and its language policy, accusing the BJP-led central government of disregarding linguistic equality. Using a well-known quote, he stated: "When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." Taking to social media platform X, Stalin criticised those who, in his words, "brand Tamil Nadu's demand for linguistic equality as chauvinistic and anti-national." He also accused BJP leaders of questioning the patriotism of the DMK government, despite its historic contributions to national causes such as the Chinese Aggression, the Bangladesh Liberation War, and the Kargil War. Further attacking the BJP's ideological stance, Stalin remarked: "The very people who glorify Godse's ideology have the audacity to question the patriotism of the DMK, while their ideological forefather is the one who assassinated 'Bapu' Gandhi." Stalin maintained that opposing the three-language policy does not amount to linguistic chauvinism. Instead, he argued that forcing a language on people creates division and weakens national unity. He described "Hindi zealots" as those who consider their language privilege natural, while dismissing Tamil Nadu's resistance as treason. In a sharp rebuke of the Centre, he stated. Stalin said, "Chauvinism is naming the three criminal laws that govern 140 crore citizens in a language that Tamils cannot even pronounce or comprehend by reading. Chauvinism is treating a state that contributes the most to the nation as second-class citizens and denying its fair share for refusing to swallow the poison called NEP." On Wednesday, Stalin also questioned the BJP's claims of promoting Tamil, pointing out that the Union government's actions contradict its rhetoric. "If the BJP's claim that our Hon'ble PM has great love for Tamil is true, why is it never reflected in action?" he asked in a social media post. He urged the Centre to take concrete steps rather than relying on symbolic gestures, such as installing the Sengol in Parliament. "Rather than installing Sengol in Parliament, uninstall Hindi from Union government offices in Tamil Nadu. Instead of hollow praise, make Tamil an official language on par with Hindi and allocate more funds for Tamil than for a dead language like Sanskrit." Stalin highlighted funding disparities, noting that despite having eight crore speakers, Tamil receives only Rs 74 crore from the Union government, while Sanskrit, spoken by only a few thousand, gets Rs 1,488 crore. Photo: https://x.com/BMVg_Bundeswehr The Ukrainian side is always negotiating with European partners regarding an "air shield" to protect Ukraine, but there are no details yet, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. "We always consult with European partners on the 'air shield', there are no details yet, but we will be involved, and my task and goal is to visit European partners and have some clarity on the priorities for 2025," he said at a press conference following talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin on Thursday. Earlier, the Guardian wrote that Europe is again considering the Sky Shield plan: it involves deploying allied air forces consisting of 120 fighter jets to protect Ukrainian airspace. Kolkata, March 6 : The Border Security Force (BSF) arrested a person at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Petrapole, in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal, for attempting to smuggle gold into India across the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB). The accused confessed that he had procured the gold in Dubai and was smuggling it into India via Bangladesh. On Tuesday, a woman, from Comilla in Bangladesh, was arrested at Petrapole for attempting to smuggle six bangles, made of nearly 24 carat gold, into India. The purity of the gold in the bangles was 99.75 per cent and this caught the attention of the alert BSF personnel. "The man arrested on Wednesday is an Indian. Troops of the 145 Bn BSF were carrying out routine checks on people entering the country with valid documents through Petrapole, when a metal detector started to beep. This was when it was being moved across the body of an Indian national, returning from Dubai via Bangladesh," said N K Pandey, DIG and spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, BSF. "The jawans could not trace any metallic object in his possession, yet the metal detector kept on beeping. During questioning, the man broke down and confessed that he had hidden some gold in his anal cavity. Finally, a polythene cylinder, containing 564.460 grams of gold dust was extracted. The value of the gold is around Rs 49,13,624," he added. The man allegedly told BSF officials that he is a resident of Mumbai and worked as a fashion designer in Dubai. Hoping to earn a quick buck, he decided to smuggle back some gold from Dubai. Air travel was out of the question due to stringent checks at the airports. Hence, the plan to travel to Bangladesh and then cross over to India by road. The man had hoped to earn about Rs 2.5 lakh by selling the gold in India. The value of 564.460 grams of 24 carat gold in Dubai is around Rs 46.77 lakh. However, his plan was thwarted due to the alertness of the BSF personnel. He has been handed over to concerned authorities for necessary action, Pandey said. This is the third time that the BSF troops of the South Bengal Frontier have come across attempts by smugglers to hide gold inside body cavities, in less than a month, the DIG said. Smugglers arrested on February 20 and 21 had 2.54 kg gold hidden inside them. The value of the seized gold in these two operations was Rs 2.23 crore. Bengaluru, March 6 : Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has secured additional orders worth Rs 577 crore since the last disclosure on February 20 this year, the Navratna defence public sector undertaking said on Thursday. Major orders include airborne electronic warfare products, advanced composite communication systems for submarines, Doppler weather radars, train communication systems, radar upgradation, spares and services. The total accumulated orders received by the BEL during the current financial year have now gone up to an impressive Rs 13,724 crore. Prior to this on Feb 20, BEL signed a contract valued at Rs 1,034 crore with the Ministry of Defence for the supply of Software Defined Radios (SDRs) and Data Communication Terminals (DCTs) for the Indian Coast Guard. The state-of-the-art radios, indigenously developed jointly by DEAL (DRDO) and BEL, support multi-band, multi-channel, multi-role/mission operations to meet the needs of network-centric warfare. The DCT system enables communication between shore and ships with the accuracy, speed, security and reliability required for critical missions. BEL has reported a 47.3 per cent growth in its net profit for the third quarter ended December 2024 to Rs 1,316.06 crore compared to Rs 893.30 crore in the same quarter of the previous year. The Navratna defence public sector company's consolidated revenue from operations in the third quarter shot up by 38.6 per cent to Rs 5,770.69 crore, from Rs 4,162.16 crore reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. Profit before tax stood at Rs 1,754.15 crore in the third quarter of 2023-24, registering a growth of 49.64 per cent on a year-on-year basis. Total expenses grew 31.98 per cent year-on-year to Rs 4,207.05 crore in the October-December quarter. The cost of materials consumed stood at Rs 3,191.02 crore (up 46.07 per cent) while employee benefits expenses were at Rs 665.32 crore, up 7.38 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. BEL is a multi-product, multi-technology conglomerate which designs, manufactures and supplies products and systems in a wide variety of fields including radars, missile systems, military communications, naval systems, electronic warfare & avionics systems, electro-optics, tank electronics & gun system upgrades, and electronic fuses in the defence segment. As of September 31, 2024, the Indian government held a 51.14 per cent stake in the company. Addis Ababa, March 6 : Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Workneh Gebeyehu has called for restraint and dialogue to ease rising tensions in South Sudan. The East African bloc's Executive Secretary expressed "deep concern" over the escalating tensions and armed clashes in South Sudan's Nasir County. The latest developments "pose a risk to the hard-won gains made in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and threaten peace in the country," Gebeyehu said. He called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, reaffirm their commitment to the R-ARCSS, and prioritise dialogue and reconciliation as the only sustainable path to peace, ensuring the protection of civilians and stability of the region. The eight-member East African bloc has decided to dispatch a high-level delegation to assess the situation on the ground and engage with the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity on measures to restore calm and advance the peace process, Gebeyehu said. IGAD, as the guarantor of the revitalized peace accord, reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting the agreement's full implementation, he said, Xinhua news agency reported. Clashes erupted in mid-February between the South Sudan People's Defense Forces and armed civilian groups in the country's Nasir County. Tensions escalated after the government announced plans to deploy new forces to Nasir County to rotate troops stationed in the area for several years. More than 20 people have been reported killed and several others injured on the outskirts of the now-deserted town of Nasir, located near the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia. Kolkata, March 6 : The Kolkata Police, on Thursday, registered FIRs against West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, the driver of his vehicle, and Trinamool Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra over the March 1 ruckus within the campus of Jadavpur University (JU) in which two students were severely injured and hospitalised after being "allegedly and deliberately" hit by the vehicle of the minister. Kolkata, March 6 (IANS) The Kolkata Police, on Thursday, registered FIRs against West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, the driver of his vehicle, and Trinamool Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra over the March 1 ruckus within the campus of Jadavpur University (JU) in which two students were severely injured and hospitalised after being "allegedly and deliberately" hit by the vehicle of the minister. The FIR was lodged just a day after a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court directed the Kolkata Police also to register FIRs based on the complaints of the agitating students of the university instead of just acting on the complaints from Trinamool Congress-affiliated West Bengal College & University Professors' Association (WBCUPA). They have been accused under various charges like physical assault, giving threats, among others. Expressing satisfaction with the development, Amit Roy, father of the two injured students, Indranuj Roy said that in a democratic country, the work of the police administration is to follow democratic practices. "If that is not done it is against democratic practices. The Calcutta High Court's order on Wednesday directing the police also to file FIRs based on the complaints of the students, is proof of why people have faith in the judiciary," Amit Roy said. On Thursday, besides directing the police to register FIRs based on the complaints of the students, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh also directed the state government to file a detailed report on the matter. The ruckus broke out within the university campus on Saturday when the Minister's car was allegedly stopped after it entered the campus, and a scuffle followed. The students were demanding immediate elections for the university's students' council. The agitating students alleged that while Basu decided to leave the campus in the face of the protests, his vehicle deliberately hit the two agitating students, following which they were severely injured and had to be hospitalised. Amid the protests, the Minister received minor injuries and fell sick. He was taken to the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital and was discharged later. Damascus, March 6 : Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani on Thursday wrapped up a 24-hour diplomatic visit to the Netherlands, including a historic stop at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. "For the first time in history, Syria addressed the Executive Council of the OPCW through its foreign minister," al-Shibani wrote on social media platform X on Thursday. Al-Shibani said that in his address to the global chemical weapons watchdog, he reaffirmed Syria's commitment to resolving its crisis concerning the remaining chemical weapons in the country. "This participation reaffirms Syria's commitment to international security," read the post. The minister added that during the diplomatic visit, he also held talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp "to open a new page in Syrian-Dutch relations" and attended two separate meetings -- one with OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias in the presence of several foreign ambassadors, and the other with Arab ambassadors -- during which they "discussed (Syria's) transitional justice, means of supporting Syria's path in this field, and strengthening bilateral relations", Xinhua news agency reported. Arias visited Damascus in February for talks with the leadership of Syria's interim government. Interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani has emphasised an outward-looking foreign policy focused on Arab collaboration and reducing regional tensions since the appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa as Syria's interim President. Al-Sharaa led the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group since 2017 and played a key role in the offensive that led to the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the establishment of the Syrian transitional government. He has been the country's de facto leader since Assad's ouster. Syria's Military Operations Administration announced on January 29 the appointment of al-Sharaa as President during the transitional period, granting him authority to establish an interim legislative council until a permanent constitution is ratified. Jakarta, March 6 : The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry inspected upstream areas of rivers in West Java province on Thursday and uncovered alleged violations of environmental laws, which are believed to have contributed to recent flooding in Jakarta and surrounding areas over the past two days. The ministry installed four environmental monitoring boards on lands where functions had been altered, rendering them unable to retain water. The landowners had been using these areas without obtaining the necessary environmental permits. Indonesian Environmental Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said that 33 other locations in the upstream areas, located in Puncak Cisarua of Bogor regency, also showed signs of environmental law violations. "We will soon escalate the status of this case to an investigation, as the natural conditions strongly indicate that changes in spatial planning have caused the flooding," Hanif said during the inspection. He noted that any changes in land function must be supported by in-depth scientific analysis, particularly in upstream zones that serve as groundwater catchments, Xinhua news agency reported. According to data from the ministry, 15,000 hectares of the upstream areas of the Ciliwung River should be allocated for protected areas, national parks, production forests, water sources, and limited settlements. However, since 2022, approximately 8,000 hectares have been converted for plant cultivation and residential purposes. Additionally, 3,203.24 hectares of land in the upstream areas have become critically degraded, posing risks of landslides and erosion of up to 180 tons per hectare annually. The recent flooding, triggered by the overflowing of the Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers originating from Puncak Cisarua in Bogor regency, affected Jakarta and its satellite cities from Tuesday to Wednesday. The disaster claimed three lives, forced large-scale evacuations, and disrupted business activities, particularly in goods transportation. Bengaluru, March 6 : The Karnataka BJP has slammed the Congress government over the misuse of funds reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST), saying that "the curse of Dalits' tears will not spare it". BJP leaders slammed the Congress-led government in Karnataka at a massive protest held on Thursday at Freedom Park in Bengaluru by the Committee Against the Misuse of Funds Allocated for Scheduled Castes. Speaking at the protest after accepting the committee's invitation BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra questioned, where has CM Siddaramaiah's concern for Dalits gone? Did he forget about his concern for Dalits after coming to power? Vijayendra further criticised CM Siddaramaiah, stating that he came to power in the name of AHINDA (a coalition of minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) by promising to wipe the tears of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. However, he is responsible for this dark day. "Siddaramaiah is an experienced Chief Minister, and I do not call him incapable. But is he helpless? Or has he simply forgotten his concern for Dalits?" Vijayendra asked. "Haven't you misused the funds meant to empower the Dalit community? Is this justice, Siddaramaiah?" Vijayendra further questioned. "Mr. Siddaramaiah, when the BJP government was in power and B.S. Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister, we never made empty promises like you. Our government provided infrastructure to Dalit colonies and built concrete roads. Siddaramaiah, where is your concern for Dalits now?" Vijayendra asked. Vijayendra urged CM Siddaramaiah not to make the mistake of misusing SEP (Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan) and TSP (Tribal Sub-Plan) funds under any circumstances. If Dalits shed tears, their curse will not spare your government, he warned. Karnataka ranks 10th in the country in terms of Dalit fund utilisation. But when the BJP comes back to power, our government will ensure that Dalit welfare spending is the highest in the entire country, he asserted confidently. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, also spoke at the protest. He said that the SEP-TSP is a special scheme designed to uplift oppressed Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The funds are meant for providing education, purchasing land, drilling borewells for water, and supporting industrial establishments. However, the government has misused these funds for other purposes, which is a betrayal, he alleged. The Dalit community does not travel for free in buses, nor do they engage in luxuries. But you have diverted the funds meant for our special programs into your own accounts, he accused. Isn't this a betrayal of our people? He questioned. "We have more educated individuals in our community now, but unemployment is also rising at the same rate. "Yuva Nidhi exists only on paper, but our people have not benefited from it," he said. Senior leader of the Republic Party, M. Venkataswamy, former minister and BJP state vice-president N. Mahesh, BJP state general secretary P. Rajeev, former MLA Sampangi, community leader Hariram, Dalit leader Jagannath, leaders C.N. Ramu, Munikrishna, Satish, P. Murthy, Muniraju, Ramesh, Mahesh, and various Dalit organisation leaders participated in the protest. Bengaluru, March 6 : Karnataka DGP for Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, K. Ramachandra Rao, responding to the development of arrest of his daughter, actress Ranya Rao, jailed on charges of gold smuggling, stated on Thursday that he is devastated and caught unaware by the development involving her. Ranya Rao is a step-daughter of DGP Ramachandra Rao. Sources stated that she is the first daughter of his second wife. Following the arrest of Ranya Rao, suspicions were raised about the role of the DGP Rao. The investigations have indicated that Ranya Rao had allegedly misused the position of his father to avoid security checks and used the police escort from the airport to her residence. However, DGP Ramachandra Rao, refusing all allegations against him, clarified that he was totally unaware of the development. He maintained: "I was shocked and devastated when the incident came to my notice through the media. I was unaware of my daughter's involvement in alleged smuggling activities. No words can truly express the depth of my shock, pain, and devastation following the turn of events. I have always upheld my integrity. I request fairness from the public and media." He also clarified that Ranya Rao has been living separately with her husband, Jatin Hukkeri, since 2024, after their marriage. "Ranya Rao had stopped visiting us and we were not allowed to visit her. There was a clear and definitive separation between us and them. If there is any violation from Ranya, the law will take its own course. I do not have any black mark in my entire career," he maintained. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has sought the custody of the actress from the court. Presently, Ranya Rao is remanded to judicial custody and she has moved bail petition in the local court. The DRI in its submission through the counsel to the court on Thursday submitted that the custody of Ranya Rao is required from March 9 to March 11 to break the syndicate she is allegedly involved in connection with gold smuggling. The DRI sources stated that it needs to be investigated where the gold was supposed to reach. Ranya Rao was used as a delivery girl and her custody required to investigate the role of other persons in the case. Sources also stated that Ranya Rao has claimed in the investigation that she was blackmailed and forced to transport the gold, and for the first time she was indulging in such an act. However, sources stated that she was under watch for a long period after suspicious frequent Dubai trips. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have taken Kannada film actress Ranya Rao into custody after seizing 14.8 kg of gold from her at the Bengaluru International Airport on Monday night. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Wednesday raided the Bengaluru residence of jailed Kannada actress Ranya Rao and seized a huge quantity of cash and gold worth crores of rupees. The raid followed Rao's arrest at Bengaluru International Airport, where she was caught smuggling 14.8 kg of gold. Authorities recovered Rs 2.06 crore worth of gold and Rs 2.67 crore in cash from her upscale Lavelle Road flat, where she reportedly paid Rs 4.5 lakh in rent. Kolkata, March 6 : West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday demanded that the Election Commission of India (ECI) ensure a "Unique ID" for the EPIC (electoral photo identity cards) on the lines of Aadhaar cards and passports. A five-member Trinamool Congress delegation led by the partyas West Bengal President Subrata Bakshi arrived at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Thursday and submitted a representation on the issue. The other four members of the delegation were state Municipal Affairs & Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, Power Minister Arup Biswas, Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya and the party Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee. Coming out of the CEO's office after submitting the representation, Hakim told media persons that the BJP is trying to make the election process in India a farcical exercise. "Our demand is that two voters from two different states should not have the same EPIC number. Just like Aadhaar cards and passports, the EPIC should also have Unique IDs," he said. He also said that the delegation also demanded a physical verification in case of those voters who have been registered online. "The commission has to ensure that not a single voter from any other state is able to vote in West Bengal in the 2026 Assembly elections," Hakim said. On Tuesday, the first meeting of the Trinamoolas internal core committee constituted last month to screen the votersa list in West Bengal and identify the bogus voters there was conducted. In the meeting, it was decided the party will embark on a door-to-door survey from this weekend to identify fake voters existing in the stateas votersa list. The main allegation of the Trinamool Congress was that the BJP has won landslide victories in the recent Assembly elections in Delhi and Maharashtra because of such manipulations in the votersa list and is trying to adopt the same exercise in West Bengal as well. Bengaluru, March 6 : A Bengaluru court reserved, till Friday, the order on the bail petition submitted by Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a gold smuggling case, while the counsel for the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sought three days custody of the actress. The Economic Offences court reserved its order following the arguments and counterarguments over the case. The counsel representing the DRI submitted that the actress needed to be investigated on matters concerning national security implications and to break the syndicate of gold smuggling. Ranya Rao is presently in judicial custody and has moved a bail petition. The DRI, in its submission, that her custody is required from March 9 to March 11 to conduct a multi-pronged probe as the involvement of an extensive smuggling syndicate is suspected. It was also submitted to the court that requests of bail should not be entertained in sensitive cases such as this. The counsel further stated that certain matters related to the case canat be disclosed in an open court and the DRI would make a submission over the findings of the probe in a sealed cover to the court, otherwise it would harm the investigation. The DRI stated that it needs to be investigated on where the gold was supposed to reach. Ranya Rao was used as a delivery girl and her custody was required to investigate the role of other persons in the case, it said. The counsel stated that the DRI has been able to make significant progress in the investigation since the arrest of the actress on Monday night and the law allowed the custody of the accused persons in such cases up to 40 days. The counsel also quoted the Supreme Court ruling in this regard. On the other hand, the counsel for Ranya Rao contended that her custody was not required. Sources also stated that Ranya Rao has claimed in the investigation that she was blackmailed and forced to transport the gold and she was indulging in such an act for the first time. However, sources stated that she was under watch for a long period after suspicious frequent Dubai trips. The DRI officials had taken Ranya Rao into custody after seizing 14.8 kg of gold from her at the Bengaluru International Airport on Monday night. The agency had seized Rs 2.06 crore worth of gold and Rs 2.67 crore in cash from her upscale Lavelle Road flat, where she reportedly paid Rs 4.5 lakh in rent. Since the beginning of the day, the enemy has carried out 18 air strikes on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kursk region, dropping a total of 23 guided aerial bombs on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas and carried out 261 artillery shelling. As reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Thursday in a report as of 16:00, in Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 16 attacks by Russians, eleven battles are ongoing. In total, 80 combat clashes have occurred on all fronts of the Russia-Ukraine war since the beginning of the day, most of them in Kursk direction. In Toretsk direction, the enemy attacked 18 times, four combat clashes are ongoing. In Pokrovsk direction, since the beginning of the day, the occupiers have carried out 12 attacks, 11 of which have been repelled. In addition, Russian occupiers carried out an airstrike with unguided missiles on the village of Hremiach in Novhorod-Siversk district of Chernihiv region, and airstrikes with guided bombs were carried out on the village of Sukhyi Yar in Pokrovsk district of Donetsk region. The enemy's aviation also carried out airstrikes with guided bombs Huliai-Pole, Temyrivka, Zaliznychne and Zelene Pole in Huliai-Pole direction in Zaporizhia region, and unguided missiles on Novopillia. On Thursday, the enemy launched an airstrike on the town of Kramatorsk in Donetsk region, as well as on Stepne, Pyatykhatky and Plavni in Orikhove direction. Chennai, March 6 : The latest buzz on director Nelson's much-awaited action entertainer 'Jailer 2', featuring Superstar Rajinikanth in the lead, is that work on the film is likely to begin next week. Rumours doing the rounds in the industry suggest that the shooting of the film is likely to happen in Chennai first. The unit is then expected to shoot in other places including Goa and Theni in Tamil Nadu. There are also rumours that claim that Kannada superstar Dr Shiva Rajkumar and Malayalam superstar Mohanlal will be a part of Jailer 2. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding any of this. Jailer 2 has triggered huge interest, thanks to the phenomenal reach of Jailer, which went on to emerge a huge blockbuster, raking in around Rs 650 crores. Expectations further shot up when Sun Pictures, the production house that is producing the film, officially announced the launch of Jailer 2 through an exceptionally interesting teaser that was both funny and thrilling. The announcement teaser of Jailer 2 opened with a radio announcement that a cyclone was making its way to the coast, even as music director Anirudh and director Nelson are shown having a funny conversation in Goa, where they have come for what Nelson says is a story discussion session. The two are obviously looking to find a storyline for Nelson's next film. The hilarious banter between the two soon makes way for some explosive action as random people who enter the room where the two are seated either get shot or stabbed. With both the music director and the director scurrying for cover, you see a hazy image of Rajinikanth entering the room, obviously looking to hunt down any other survivors left behind. When Rajinikanth leaves the room and steps out, a grenade is lobbed in. Outside Rajinikanth takes on more powerful villains. That is when an awestruck Anirudh tells director Nelson, "This looks fearsome Nelsa! Let's make this into a film!" Just the announcement teaser of Jailer 2 was a big hit, garnering over 13 million views in a matter of just 48 hours. Now, fans are eagerly waiting for news on the sequel, work on which industry insiders claim will begin from next week. --IANS Mkr/ Patna, March 6 : Amid growing debate over Bihar's liquor ban, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has made a bold election promise to revise the existing law and reinstate pre-2016 provisions if the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) forms the next government. He said that toddy would be excluded from the liquor ban. However, he has not said anything about liquor ban would be lifted or not. Yadav criticised the current prohibition policy, stating that it has failed miserably. He argued that it led to the arrests of 18 people every hour in Bihar. He also said that over 2,000 deaths were due to toxic liquor and severe economic losses to the state exchequer. "If elected, toddy (fermented palm sap) will be excluded from the liquor ban as it is a source of livelihood for a large number of people in Bihar," Yadav said. "The Patna High Court has criticised the prohibition policy, stating that the law has deviated from its objective and is being misused by the police for repression. The government has not provided compensation to families of those who died due to spurious liquor," Yadav said. CM Nitish Kumar has defended prohibition since 2016, claiming it benefits women and families. Opposition parties argue the ban has created a booming black market and has become a tool for police harassment. A liquor ban emerges as a key election issue in every Bihar Assembly election. By advocating for repealing the current law, Tejashwi is targeting voters frustrated by prohibition-related issues. As tensions rise between RJD and Congress within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav has responded sharply to Congress' claim that Rahul Gandhi will decide the CM candidate after the elections. Tejashwi dismissed Congress' claim, asserting: "Neither I nor they will decide the CM. The people of Bihar will decide," he said. Congress leaders have been hinting at contesting elections independently, creating tensions in the alliance. Rahul Gandhi's influence over seat-sharing and leadership has been questioned by RJD. The RJD is the dominant party in the Grand Alliance and Congress is pushing for a bigger role, causing friction. Tejashwi's leadership remains undisputed within the RJD, but Congress' demands may complicate negotiations. A divided Mahagathbandhan could weaken its chances against the BJP-JDU alliance. Tejashwi Yadav also said he will form the youth commission within a month if the RJD-Mahagathbandhan comes to power in Bihar after the 2025 assembly election. "We also implement the domicile policy in Bihar where the youth of the state will get preference in government jobs," Yadav said. Tejashwi Yadav promised to create job opportunities in the state. Patna, March 6 : Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Baba Bageshwar, has arrived in Ramgarh village (Bhore block, Gopalganj) for a five-day religious event, stirring a heated political debate in Bihar. He said he had come here to promote Hindu unity and not any political party. Addressing a massive crowd, Shastri clarified that his presence was not for any political reason but to promote Hindu unity. "We have not come to promote any party but to promote Hindu unity. We have come to tell the story of Ram in Ram's country. This country belongs to Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. As long as there is life in our body, we will live and die for Hindus," Shastri said. Responding to opposition and criticism over his visit to Bihar, Shastri launched an aggressive counterattack: "This country is not of Babar, but of Raghuvar (Lord Ram). It belongs to Ram, Krishna, Subhash Chandra Bose, and the saints. Bihar is ours, and we will keep coming here as long as we live." Shastri highlighted religious demography and suggested that Hindus lack a dedicated country for themselves. "There are 65 Islamic countries, more than 95 Christian countries, one country for Jews, and one for Buddhists. If Muslims are expelled from any country, 65 countries will welcome them. If Christians are expelled, 95 countries will take them in. But if 150 crore Hindus are expelled, where will they go?" he asked. Shastri dismissed criticism from Bihar's political opponents, saying no force could prevent him from delivering religious discourses. "Those who oppose me should first focus on filling their stomachs. We do not ask for votes, nor are we against anyone. But if someone tries to stop us, we will keep coming back. We will build a monastery here. We will build houses. And if necessary, we will be born in Bihar again after death," he said. During his stay, he will deliver sermons (Pravachan) on Hanumat Katha and conduct a Divya Darbar. Imphal, March 6 : Security forces, comprising Central and state, on Thursday evening conducted flag marches in different districts of Manipur ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's directive of free movement on all roads in Manipur from March 8, officials said. A senior police official said that the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, and District Police of Manipur conducted the flag march in the sensitive and vulnerable districts of Manipur. The flag march was held in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's March 1 directive to ensure the free movement of vehicles and people on state highways starting March 8. The major highways have remained inaccessible due to ethnic strife between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, a conflict that has claimed over 258 lives, injured over 1500 people of both communities and displaced more than 70,000 people from their homes and villages. The flag march aims to restore order and instill confidence among the public ahead of March 8, the official said. While the move has been welcomed by Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of the Meitei community, and valley-based women's organisations, who have urged strict action against any obstructions. Some Kuki-Zo organisations based in Kangpokpi district reportedly opposed the free movement of vehicles and people on state highways. With Manipur under President's Rule since February 13, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla is under pressure to ensure law and order. After the Union Home Minister's meeting in Delhi on March 1, on March 4, he held a high-level security review with top officials of the Army, the Assam Rifles, the CRPF, BSF, state Police, Chief Secretary and Home Commissioner reaffirming the need to implement Shah's directive. "To enforce compliance, security would be reinforced, with intensified patrols along critical routes such as National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur via Kangpokpi district) to prevent any kind of obstruction," the official said. He also said that the administration actively engaged with key stakeholders, including COCOMI, tribal organisations and other community leaders, to ease tensions and address security concerns. The official said that a dedicated task force is likely to be engaged to monitor the implementation of the directive, providing daily progress reports. Political pundits said that with just two days remaining until the March 8 deadline, the Governor's handling of the situation would determine whether this initiative restores order or escalates tensions in a state already battered by prolonged conflict. --IANS sc/dan Bhubaneswar, March 6 : Following the recent controversy over the alleged suicide of female Nepali student and mistreatment of other students from the Himalayan country by the KIIT University authorities in Bhubaneswar, the Odisha Higher Education department on Thursday announced about launching of a dedicated International Student Facilitation Cell to address issues concerning foreign students studying in various educational institutions in the state. As per the information shared by the department on the official X handle, the dedicated cell has been launched to support and assist international students studying in all the public, private and deemed universities in the state. The department also noted that the dedicated cell will provide necessary guidance and assistance to the international students in the state. It will also ensure smooth academic and cultural experience by the foreign students in various higher educational institutions across the state. The cell will work as an effective platform for the redressal of grievances of the students from other countries pursuing their studies in the state. The department aims to foster a conducive and inclusive environment for International Students pursuing or interested in pursuing their studies in Odisha in colleges & universities through the dedicated cell. The state higher education department has issued helpline numbers 0674-2323403 and 0674-2323404. The helpline services will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on working days. The suicide of Nepali female student in KIIT University on February 16 and subsequent humiliation of the students of Nepal by University authorities sparked a major controversy in India and the neighboring Himalayan nation. The Nepali students were allegedly assaulted and forcefully evicted from the hostel and university campus for holding protests against the Universityas negligence resulting in the death of the victim. After facing widespread backlash, the University authorities apologised for the mistreatment and requested the Nepali students to return. The university later suspended some erring staff for the fiasco. As many as 10 persons including three directors of the KIIT University were arrested by the Bhubaneswar police for assaulting the Nepali students. The police had earlier also arrested the boyfriend of the deceased Nepali girl student on the charges of abatement of her suicide. It is pertinent here to mention that a team of senior officials of the National Human Rights Commission on Thursday reached Bhubaneswar and launched an investigation into the whole issue. Vadodara, March 6 : Gujarat State Monitoring Cell conducted a raid in the jurisdiction of Manjusar Police Station, Vadodara district, leading to the seizure of a large consignment of illegal foreign liquor valued at Rs 65.18 lakh. During the operation, two individuals were arrested, while four others have been declared wanted. The State Monitoring Cell has previously carried out multiple operations against illegal liquor trade and gambling in Vadodara city and rural areas, often exposing local police inaction. Acting on a tip-off, officials raided the parking area of a private complex in Manjusar village, where they discovered a truck loaded with liquor cartons. Upon inspection, a massive consignment of foreign liquor valued at Rs 44 lakh was found inside the vehicle. Along with the seized liquor, authorities also confiscated a truck, mobile phones, and cash, bringing the total value of the confiscated items to Rs 65.18 lakh. Two individuals, identified as Shuklal Dipalalji Dangi (32) and Dolatram Hariram Dangi (43), both residents of Udaipur, Rajasthan, were arrested. Meanwhile, four individuals, including the main accused, Shailesh Singh (a supplier from Goa), a partner in the operation, and truck owner Takht Singh (from Udaipur, Rajasthan), have been declared wanted. The authorities are continuing their investigation to trace and apprehend the remaining accused, while further actions against illicit liquor smuggling networks in the region are expected. Gujarat, a dry state under the Prohibition Act, has witnessed frequent crackdowns on illegal liquor smuggling. Over the past few years, law enforcement agencies, including the State Monitoring Cell, local police, and the Crime Branch, have conducted multiple raids, seizing large quantities of foreign and country-made liquor. In 2023 alone, authorities seized illegal liquor worth over Rs 200 crore across the state, with major busts occurring in districts like Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot. Smugglers often use highways, coastal routes, and even hidden storage facilities in industrial areas to transport liquor from neighboring states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Daman. Patna, March 7 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed a gathering in Bihar's Supaul district, emphasising that the days of misfortune are about to change but dedicated effort is needed to bring about transformation. He inaugurated a new building of Saraswati Vidya Bharti, an educational institution near the India-Nepal border, and spoke about the importance of culture-based education. Bhagwat fondly recalled his time as 'Kshetra Pracharak' (Regional Campaigner) in Bihar for six years. He compared his visit to the state's Chhath festival, saying: "For me, today is like Chhath, where I feel connected to Bihar." Bhagwat lauded the 21,000 schools run by Vidya Bharati, an RSS-affiliated educational body across the world. He urged parents to enroll their children in these schools to instill strong cultural and moral values. The RSS Chief said that the United Nations Organisation (UNO) has included Vidya Bharati in the '20 Million Club' as it impacts more than 20 million lives worldwide. Bhagwat emphasised that in Indian tradition, education is not measured by money but is seen as a tool for knowledge and enlightenment. "Vidya Bharati's goal is not just education but to create cultured, self-reliant, and patriotic citizens," he said. Quoting the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, the RSS Chief stressed that determination and hard work are essential for success. He cited the story of King Bhagirath, who brought the River Ganga to Earth through his 'tapasya' (penance), as an example of persistent effort. Given the high-profile nature of the event, the district police ensured strict security on the Raghopur-Veerpur NH-106 and at the venue. Every visitor was screened using metal detectors before entering the venue. Bhagwat's speech reflects RSS's vision of strengthening cultural values through education. His visit also signals the organisation's growing influence in Bihar, ahead of upcoming political events. The RSS Chief arrived in Patna on Wednesday evening and will stay till March 9. For the next three days, he will stay in Muzaffarpur and interact with the RSS workers and give them Guru mantra. "Mohan Bhagwat's visit to Veerpur is a matter of great fortune for us. His presence will inspire the region and spread the message of education and nationalism," said Khayali Ram, organisation minister of Vidya Bharati, Bihar. "Such events in border areas will send a strong message of nation-building. He will take meetings of RSS workers in Muzaffarpur during his stay and return to Nagpur on March 9," said Abhishek Kumar, RSS Prachar Pramukh, Bihar. Patna, March 7 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed a gathering in Bihar's Supaul district, calling for revival of culture and education in schools across the country. He inaugurated a new building of Saraswati Vidya Bharti, an educational institution near the India-Nepal border, and spoke about the importance of culture-based education He also emphasised that the days of misfortune are about to change but dedicated effort is needed to bring about transformation. Bhagwat fondly recalled his time as 'Kshetra Pracharak' (Regional Campaigner) in Bihar for six years. He compared his visit to the state's Chhath festival, saying: "For me, today is like Chhath, where I feel connected to Bihar." Bhagwat lauded the 21,000 schools run by Vidya Bharati, an RSS-affiliated educational body across the world. He urged parents to enroll their children in these schools to instill strong cultural and moral values. The RSS Chief said that the United Nations Organisation (UNO) has included Vidya Bharati in the '20 Million Club' as it impacts more than 20 million lives worldwide. Bhagwat emphasised that in Indian tradition, education is not measured by money but is seen as a tool for knowledge and enlightenment. "Vidya Bharati's goal is not just education but to create cultured, self-reliant, and patriotic citizens," he said. Quoting the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, the RSS Chief stressed that determination and hard work are essential for success. He cited the story of King Bhagirath, who brought the River Ganga to Earth through his 'tapasya' (penance), as an example of persistent effort. Given the high-profile nature of the event, the district police ensured strict security on the Raghopur-Veerpur NH-106 and at the venue. Every visitor was screened using metal detectors before entering the venue. Bhagwat's speech reflects RSS's vision of strengthening cultural values through education. His visit also signals the organisation's growing influence in Bihar, ahead of upcoming political events. The RSS Chief arrived in Patna on Wednesday evening and will stay till March 9. For the next three days, he will stay in Muzaffarpur and interact with the RSS workers and give them Guru mantra. "Mohan Bhagwat's visit to Veerpur is a matter of great fortune for us. His presence will inspire the region and spread the message of education and nationalism," said Khayali Ram, organisation minister of Vidya Bharati, Bihar. "Such events in border areas will send a strong message of nation-building. He will take meetings of RSS workers in Muzaffarpur during his stay and return to Nagpur on March 9," said Abhishek Kumar, RSS Prachar Pramukh, Bihar. Patna, March 7 : Amid the ongoing Budget Session, a high-level meeting of the Opposition Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) Legislature Party in Bihar was held here at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Alok Mehta's residence on Thursday. The meeting saw the participation of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, along with leaders from the Congress and Left parties. The main agenda of the meeting was to make a strategy for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, showcasing unity against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and cornering the Bihar government on key issues during the Budget Session. Tejashwi Yadav emphasised that the Opposition Grand Alliance will actively raise public concerns in the Bihar Assembly, including education and health infrastructure, law and order situation, student and youth issues, farmers' concerns, women's welfare and other issues. "A joint strategy has been formed to highlight these issues in the House," he said. During the meeting, Congress MLA Vijay Shankar Dubey acknowledged that the Congress' Central leadership will decide its stance on the Chief Ministerial face. "Traditionally, the largest party in the alliance leads the coalition," he said. CPI-ML has declared Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Ministerial face in the upcoming Assembly election. CPI-ML MLA Satyendra Yadav openly declared Tejashwi Yadav as the unanimous CM candidate for 2025 Bihar polls. "The Mahagathbandhan will contest the upcoming election under Tejashwi Yadav's leadership. He is the groom of the Grand Alliance in this election. The NDA should declare their CM face," he said. However, some Congress MLAs expressed concerns, but CPI-ML dismissed them, stating there is no official objection from Congress's top leadership. Satyendra Yadav accused the Bihar government of corruption, stating: "The Budget failed to address the issues of labourers, farmers, students, Dalits, and Mahadalits. The Opposition will expose the NDA's neglect in the Assembly." With Bihar elections approaching, the Mahagathbandhan is pushing for a united front, with Tejashwi Yadav emerging as the face. However, Congress's hesitation in officially endorsing him signals internal deliberations. Some Congress leaders in Bihar recently said that the Chief Ministerial face will be decided post-election result. Imphal, March 7 : Responding to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's appeal, 196 looted and illegally held arms, including many sophisticated weapons, have returned to the police on Thursday, the last date of surrendering the arms, officials said. A top police official late on Thursday night said that 196 arms and a large cache of ammunition deposited on the last day of return/surrender of arms and ammunition in eight districts of Manipur -- Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Jiribam and Pherzawl. The official said that from now onwards, the Central and state security forces, including the Army and Assam Rifles would jointly launch a massive operation to recover the remaining looted and illegally held arms both in the valley and the hilly districts. "Our other prime task is to ensure the free movement of both people and vehicles on all roads in Manipur from March 8 as directed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah," the official told IANS. Senior police officials said that till Thursday (March 6) more than 967 looted and illegally held weapons, including many sophisticated arms and a huge cache of ammunition, were returned to security forces since Governor Bhalla made the appeal for the first time on February 20. To restore peace and normalcy, the Union Home Minister in a high-level meeting in New Delhi on March 1 reviewed the overall security situation in Manipur. Manipur Governor, Chief Secretary, Security Advisor to the state government, Director General of Manipur Police, Home Commissioner, top Army, Assam Rifles, Central Armed Police Forces and intelligence officials were present in the March 1 meeting. During the meeting, Amit Shah had said that the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remains fully committed to restoring lasting peace in Manipur and is providing all necessary assistance in this regard. The Union Home Minister directed that free movement be ensured for people on all roads in Manipur from March 8 and asked for strict action against anyone attempting to create obstructions. Amit Shah had also instructed that the fencing work on both sides of the designated entry points along Manipur's border with Myanmar should be completed at the earliest. He said that to make Manipur drug-free, the entire network involved in the drug trade should be dismantled. The March 1 meeting in Delhi was the first such top-level review meeting held after the imposition of President's Rule in the northeastern state, which has been witnessing ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 3, 2023. The President's Rule was promulgated in the restive Manipur on February 13, four days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned. According to various reports during the ethnic riots between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 3, 2023, more than 6,000 different types of sophisticated arms and lakhs of pieces of different types of ammunition were looted from the police stations and outposts by the mobs and militants. The security forces, so far, have also recovered a substantial number of the looted arms during the continuous operations. Governor Bhalla, in his fresh appeal, on February 28 said: "The request (on February 20) has yielded a positive response. Upon the expiry of the seven-day deadline for voluntary surrender of such arms, there has been a demand from both valley and hill areas to extend the period for surrender. I have considered the request and decided to extend the deadline up to 4 p.m. on March 6 for voluntary surrender of such arms. During this period, no punitive action would be taken against the individuals who voluntarily surrender weapons. However, any person found in possession of illegal or looted arms after the given deadline will face legal action as per law." The European Union is developing a special financial instrument to ensure Ukraine's resilience, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for this to be done as soon as possible. "I know that a special European financial instrument for Ukraines resilience is being developed, please speed up this work," Zelenskyy said at a meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Thursday. "In all these circumstances, it is needed to speed up the work of our teams in the negotiations on Ukraines membership in the EU. As of now, the work on clusters is actually blocked without any rational reason. We need common sense, we need to unblock the work on clusters, and this can be done at the leadership level," he said. Washington, March 7 : US President Donald Trump has said he would "probably" extend the timeline for a TikTok sale if a deal isn't reached by the initial deadline. When asked by a reporter if he plans to extend the TikTok ban deadline if a deal is not hammered out in time, Trump said, "Probably, yeah." "We have a lot of interest in TikTok," Trump said during Oval Office remarks on Thursday, adding that China will play a role in the decision. He did not say how long an extension would be if one was needed. "Right now we have at least another month, so we don't need an extension," he said. "But if I needed an extension, I'd probably get an extension." A law signed last April under the Biden administration requires the popular China-owned social media app to be sold to an owner in the US or one of its allies or face a ban because of national security concerns. Trump signed an executive order on January 20 that gives TikTok parent company ByteDance another 75 days to find a new owner. The comments come as uncertainty looms over TikTok's future in what has been a turbulent couple of months for the app. TikTok briefly shut down for around 12 hours in January before Trump signed the executive order extending the sale deadline. Although the app was quickly restored, it didn't reappear in Google and Apple's app stores until mid-February. The social media platform was quickly brought back online after Trump pledged to issue an executive order once back in office to give the company an extension. The President made good on that promise, giving ByteDance until April 5 to hammer out a divesture deal. Numerous buyers have expressed interest in purchasing the US arm of TikTok. The list includes bids from YouTube star MrBeast and a joint proposal from former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and "Shark Tank" star and investor Kevin O'Leary. Trump has floated numerous other names like his ally Elon Musk and Oracle founder Larry Ellison. The President noted on Thursday the deadline is still about a month away, "so we don't need an extension." The prospect of selling TikTok appeared dead in the water under the Biden administration after TikTok and ByteDance repeatedly said any sort of divestment was not a feasible option. The Chinese government, however, has increasingly signalled a potential change of heart on the deal, though it is unclear if any specific bid has made notable progress. Washington, March 7 : The White House has not come to a decision yet regarding the legal status of 240,000 Ukrainian refugees currently living in the US, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Earlier on Thursday, a top foreign media outlet reported that the Trump administration is planning to revoke the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of these Ukrainians who had fled to the US following Russia's 2022 invasion, potentially paving the way for their deportation. Trump said he had not made a decision on the matter yet, but planned to do so "pretty soon". He also claimed that his administration did not want to hurt refugees from Ukraine. "We're not looking to hurt anybody, and we're certainly not looking to hurt them," Trump told reporters on Thursday in the Oval Office. "And I'm looking at that, and there were some people that think that's appropriate, and some people don't, and I'll be making a decision pretty soon." Trump added that Ukrainians had "gone through a lot". White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on the report at the time, saying no decision had been made. The Biden administration announced in January before leaving office that it was extending temporary protected status for Ukrainians until October 2026, "due to armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent individuals from safely returning." The revocation of TPS for Ukrainians would be in line with the Trump administration's broader approach to cracking down on legal pathways to enter the US amid a widespread crackdown on immigration. Trump has issued a flurry of executive actions suspending the refugee program and targeting other pathways that allow migrants to enter or remain in the country. According to four undisclosed sources who spoke to a leading foreign media outlet, the plan to revoke TPS predates Trump's public argument with President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 28 and is part of the administration's broader crackdown on the more than 1.8 million people staying in the US on humanitarian grounds. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in January suspended TPS protections for nearly 600,000 Venezuelans living in the US Trump, who campaigned intensively on promises to deport millions of migrants, began rolling back protections for Ukrainian and other refugees mere days after returning to the White House. In late January, the administration suspended the Uniting for Ukraine program, which allowed Ukrainians to stay in the US for up to two years. The programme also granted refugees the right to work and receive health insurance. More than six million Ukrainian citizens fled their homes in the wake of Russia's all-out invasion in 2022. Around 5.2 million remain abroad, with the vast majority receiving protection in EU countries. The Trump administration has come under scrutiny for its treatment of Ukraine, a longstanding ally, in contrast to its increasing warmth towards Russia. In recent days, the White House has frozen all military aid shipments and stopped intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Zelensky said on March 6 that the US and Ukraine have resumed cooperation and that delegations will meet for talks next week. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced that Barnes & Noble employees at three New York City locations have ratified their first union contracts. The agreements cover more than 200 workers across the flagship Union Square, Park Slope, and West 82nd Street locations. "Workers at Barnes & Noble should be incredibly proud of what they've accomplished together in these historic first union contracts, RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum said in a statement. United in their fight for increased safety in their stores, it was their voices among others across our union that won increased protections for everyone in the industry through the Retail Worker Safety Act." The deal comes almost two years after Union Square employees voted to join the RWDSU in May 2023. Park Slope employees unionized one month later, and Upper West Side staff filed for a union election in February 2024. Last November, the RWDSU organized a rally outside B&N's Union Square location in an effort to push the company into reaching a contract with workers by the end of the year. The three-year agreements include wage increases, RWDSU healthcare coverage, and safety provisions. Before ratification, the minimum starting wage for new employees was 18/hr. With the ratification, it is now at $19/hr. and at the end of the three-year agreement, the minimum wage for new employees will rise to $21 per hour. Similarly, under the new terms, minimum wages for employees in other classifications will increase from $23 to $25 an hour by the end of the contract. "Finally having a ratified contract is immeasurably meaningful," said Bear Spiegel, a bookseller at B&N Union Square. "The bargaining committee and the unit as a whole have put so much into securing our rights and that work is finally paying off." Safety provisions in the contracts include such things as the provision of back braces and wrist guards, anti-slip mats for cafe areas, and seating at information desks and cash registers. The agreements also include de-escalation training, procedures for addressing customer harassment, and paid transportation during late inventory shifts. Aaron Lascano, senior bookseller at the Union Square location, said, "When we started organizing, we were making minimum wage in unacceptable work conditions. The contract we voted on today was fought for and won by the workers of this store." Additional contract provisions include seniority and layoff protections, job security if stores relocate, pay security during emergency closures, and the conversion of a conference room into a break room at the Union Square outlet. The RWDSU also announced that workers at the B&N store in Bloomington, Ill., have reached a tentative agreement, with a ratification vote scheduled for March 8. We are very pleased to have this episode past us," a spokesperson for B&N told PW. "We can all now concentrate on improving these bookstores and getting back to bookselling. Union organizing has expanded to seven B&N locations nationwide. The RWDSU also represents workers at other bookstores including McNally Jackson, Greenlight Bookstore, and Book Culture, while the Strand bookstore employees are represented by UAW 2179. This story has been updated with new information about the new wage scale. Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/9414 Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed economic partnership and sanctions policy against Russia with French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. "I noted the leading role of France in efforts to establish a just peace. Thank you to the people of France, the government, and President Emmanuel Macron for their unwavering, firm support for Ukraine. We value our defense cooperation. There are already initial developments between Ukrainian and French companies in the defense industry. We expect to strengthen this interaction," Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel. He also thanked France for its participation in the restoration of Chernihiv region and for its support of humanitarian initiatives for Ukraine, and proposed holding a joint meeting of the governments in Kyiv and Paris. "I emphasized that strengthening sanctions is an important element of pressure on Russia to force it to sit down at the negotiating table and end the war. As well as frozen Russian assets. I raised the issue of their confiscation and transfer to Ukraine," Shmyhal added. America is a beautiful and decidedly pluralistic country. Our education system contains 12,546 locally controlled school districts. Charter schools have gained hundreds of thousands of students in recent years. Private school enrollments are up, and the classical school movement has exploded. Whether one favors traditional public schools or not, those of us doing civics reform must recognize that we are not living in the 1960s anymore, or even the 2010s. This means that an effective movement is going to have to work with our increasingly varied system of education. My organization, the Jack Miller Center (JMC), hosted a National Summit on Civic Education last fall that aimed to foster genuine pluralism in the civics reform movement. We sought to highlight current initiatives that are sometimes left out of the national civics conversation. Sessions focused on religious schools, which have proven particularly effective at producing positive civic outcomes through their ability to speak to good citizenship, as well as informed or engaged citizenship. We had sessions on classical education, which for some is seen as a redoubt of ideological conservatism. But for figures such as Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr., it proved a pathway to liberation and equality for all. We discussed community colleges, where 41% of all undergraduates are educated, and civics competitions such as the National Civics Bee, whose rapid growth attests to a strong desire among young people for robust civic learning outside the classroom. Throughout the conference, the importance of character education for successful civic education was a recurrent theme. Ian Rowe, the CEO of Vertex Academies, noted during one panel that school leaders are in the moral formation business whether they acknowledge it or not and should be intentional about the virtues they inculcate. Vertexs emphasis on character education mirrors the emphasis on virtue in Annie Hsiaos Capitol Hill Christian Academy. She spoke of her schools commitment to excellence in our academics and excellence in our virtue. As Jake Tawney of Great Hearts Academies described, classical education is committed to helping students become more fully human. Indeed, the subject was brought up again by dinner speaker Bari Weiss, who spoke movingly of the courage needed to defend our free society. I often think about this pablum the arc of history bends toward justice no it doesnt, she said. People bend the arc, people stand up for good ideas when theyre under assault and give it their all to make those ideas win. Bari spoke of how shes seen courage emulated in figures like Natan Sharansky and Abraham Lincoln. A little bit of Lincoln can do a lot, she said. We at JMC are inclined to agree. And yet, character education has been significantly marginalized in civic education. In a recent survey of secondary history teachers by the American Historical Association, only 50% cited instilling civic pride in the nation as an important or very important goal for U.S. history courses. As Jane Kamensky, president of Monticello, told us at the conference one reason why civics left the classroom in the 1960s was that patriotism seemed too close to religion, and as religion was evacuating the classroom patriotism went with it. It may well be that in secularizing schools, weve gone too far and unwittingly undermined our ability to cultivate civic virtues such as courage. Pete Peterson, Baris interlocutor at dinner, noted that gratitude can be a foundation for courage how you develop courage is to understand what youre grateful for and what you might lose. Its clear that any civics renaissance will hinge on a recovery of the virtues of courage and gratitude. This realization may be the distinct advantage of pluralism, and why its so important for the civics reform movement. It allows us to see the deficits in dominant educational practices. Indeed, it may offer the best solution for the polarization that plagues civics in America, which was the subject of our closing plenary, with the stated aim of Depolarizing Civics. Too often in this type of panel a conversation is had between two nominal representatives of different political parties or ideological factions who dont appear to have any significant differences of opinion. Or if they do, they refrain from discussing them. In this way these panels fail to accomplish their purpose to show that people can disagree vigorously and still be committed to engaging with one another. Not so with this panel. It featured real disagreement over whether a purple civics was achievable or even desirable, whether state standards have a meaningful impact on classroom teaching, and whether teachers should bring contemporary issues into their classrooms. Differences were so great that moderator Checker Finn concluded, Well I believe we almost depolarized the panel, leaving the larger goal of depolarizing civics to the audience. But thats exactly the point: if those of us who are working to strengthen civics believe in genuine pluralism, were going to have to show it by embracing genuine differences. JMCs National Summit on Civic Education will continue to do exactly that. K-pop boy band Seventeen is releasing a concert special that will begin screening in theaters April 2. ADVERTISEMENT Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour in Cinemas will showcase Seventeen's show in Goyang, South Korea, featuring performances of such tracks as "Love, Money, Fame," a press release states. The group released a music video for that song, along with their Spill the Feels EP, in October. Seventeen's [Right Here] World Tour kicked off that same month and concluded in February. "Seventeen have proved themselves to be at the very forefront of the K-pop genre, and have demonstrated the depth and passion of their worldwide fanbase across many successful previous cinema events," says Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, who is distributing the film with CJ 4DPLEX. "We look forward to offering an unparalleled experience of their latest Right Here tour on the big screen," he added. "Bringing fans together in cinemas across the globe from April 2." S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino together form Seventeen. Tickets are available for purchase beginning March 12 at 11 a.m. EST. Every few years we see a technological leap in optics, even though these feats arent always immediately obvious to the non-nerds among us. Sometimes these take place in the form of advanced coatings or novel approaches to increasing contrast or reducing optic aberrations, but occasionally its much more conspicuous or maybe not so much. In fact, if you dont know what youre looking at here you might mistake it for a large dot optic or perhaps a prismatic. But no, theres a whole 3 to 9 power variable optic under that hood. Lets talk about this new Vudu. The range and ratio arent going to bust down doors; 39 might be the most classic variable scope range ever. Its not the 1:3 magnification ratio either. Hell, EOTech themselves manufactures a scope with a 1:10 scale, and weve seen glass go even higher than that. The big news here is the smallest thing. Namely, the whole hog is only 6.8 inches long. For comparisons sake, an equivalent optic could easily approach twice that length. Hell, its a similar size to a 4x Trijicon ACOG with a kill flash. EOTech has squeezed advanced capability into small packages in the past, like with their 5-25x Super Short and the latest batch of stubby magnifiers, but not anything like this they are the first to pull off this level of optical magic. MPVO Weve previously discussed the need for a new kind of optic, the MPVO (Medium Powered Variable Optic). The MPVO wasnt going to be anything groundbreaking in terms of magnification range, but instead in form factor. It would need to be smaller, more like an LPVO (or less) instead of a large objective bell and the rail-eating body of traditional optics, and importantly, also be designed to accommodate dots-on-top from the beginning instead of pretending that looking at a simulated 1x image through a tube was the same thing. Essentially, we define an MPVO as a midrange variable stuffed into an LPVO shell, while addressing the downsides of each. Theres more nuance, but thats the broad shape of it. While this isnt exactly what we envisioned, EOTech managed to exceed our imagination regarding size; its clearly where the river is flowing. DETAILS & CONTROLS The build quality is exactly what youve come to expect from EOTech, with the body formed from a single piece of deeply anodized aluminum. No cheap Chinesium feel here. In terms of controls, its fairly straightforward. The windage and elevation turrets have 1/4 MOA adjustments and are protected by caps; this is a set-it-and-forget-it optic, not one youll be dialing-in on the fly. The adjustments are chunky, and you can feel them even with winter gloves on. There are 10 illumination settings with offs between each, so you can set it to your environment and turn it off with a short click in either direction. A single CR2032 battery will run the Vudu MPVO for about 300 hours. For one reason or another, the years-long battery life of dot sights hasnt made it to other optics, but its also less of a problem because thisll run without a battery regardless. In addition to the shorter length, the front objective lens is only 32mm, which only adds to the magic trick. With traditional 39 designs and in addition to the much longer overall length, youd expect to see 40mm or even 50mm glass and perhaps a sunshade to boot. This Vudu 3-932 does have a tube somewhere under there, but youre not going to use it for scope rings because its compatible with mini ACOG mounts. What little actual tube there is accommodates an optional EFLX dot sight, and youll save yourself a few bucks if you bundle them together. The eye relief stays very consistent between the highest and lowest magnification levels, slicing off just 0.2 inches when maxed out. The color rendition of the Japanese glass is excellent, and the only real aberrations occur at the edges of the glass. RETICLE This new Vudu is a second focal plane (SFP) optic, meaning that the reticle remains static regardless of the magnification level. Though broadly speaking this is a less complex optical arrangement than a first focal plane (FFP) reticle that scales as you zoom, it also allows for easier daylight bright illumination. On this first model EOTech features their HC1 reticle, which is shaped like a cross with a center dot complete with MOA stadia lines. Only a smaller inner portion is illuminated in red, and we have to admit it looks a bit like a Greek Orthodox cross at first blush. Even though the reticle doesnt scale, EOTech went through the trouble of including a diagram displaying what each measurement means at both 3x and 9x. Its nice of them to include the 3x scale, but max magnification is what we concern ourselves with. Our recommendation is to bust out a ballistic calculator and figure out the major lines for your chosen rifle, zero, and caliber. For instance, with one of our 5.56mm rifles with 77-grain ammunition, the first major stadia line represents the drop at 312 yards, and the bottom 410 (needless to say, functionally its just 300 and 400 yards). LOOSE ROUNDS Even though you can immediately put a dot on top for close encounters, you can also shoot the Vudu with both eyes open a la Bindon Aiming Concept (BAC) just like with a Trijicon ACOG. It isnt a problem or, rather, is no more a problem than regular BAC shooting. You might even find it easier with the Vudu because of the longer eye relief. Speaking of military optics, perhaps due to the combination of the shape and reticle design, running around the range with the Vudu MPVO we couldnt help but be reminded of the old 4x Colt carry handle scopes. Are there some warts? Eh, not really more like preferential differences, some that are likely to be addressed by future models. It would be great to see a higher top-end magnification somewhere down the line, but the present levels are just fine especially in a world full of longer 1-8x LPVOs, fixed prismatics, and dot sights married to magnifiers. Similarly, SFP isnt my preference but the small size makes up for a lot. As to what its for while the obvious answer to that question is anything youd want a 39 on, the form factor really opens up a whole new world. Had this been in-hand in our last issue, it would have gone on our M16A5 build because it has versatile combat optic written all over it. As it stands, this one almost immediately found a home on an FN SCAR-H. EOTech keep it up! Other optic manufacturers catch up! 'Reduce your equity allocation, put that allocation into gold and fixed income.' "This is going to be a long, problematic bear market... Bear markets are very interesting because, through the journey of a bear market, you get some amazingly profitable rallies. If you're smart, you can play them and make a lot of money," Shankar Sharma, founder GQuant Investech, tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore. MUST READ Interview: 'Bull Market Has Ended' How do you see India navigating global headwinds, especially in terms of trade, tariffs, and foreign investments? India doesn't matter in the world of trade. We have nothing to export to anybody of any use. What do we export to America? Some garments, some shoes. There's nothing useful from India that goes to America. So, even if they (the US) impose taxes, so what? We don't export. We're not an exporting economy. We sell to each other, and that's how we grow. Nobody else has any interest in Indian goods. I don't think tariffs will hurt India much because we have nothing to export to the world. If I were to ask you the opposite -- what if import tariffs are reduced? There is already talk of import duties to be reduced on electric vehicles coming to India from the US. How do you think that will impact the Indian economy? We have nothing to export to America or of any value, which is why there have been no new tariff impositions on India. Because they have seen the magic -- India is a non-entity in exports to America or in the American export basket. India doesn't matter. What's the point of taxing us? But on the import front, we have reduced duties on bourbon whiskey, Harley Davidson, and now on Tesla cars. But the duty reductions are not only on Tesla; it's for the entire category -- electric vehicles. And that will bring in the Chinese. That is the real problem. That is going to decimate the Indian auto industry. Which other sectors do you think could face the brunt if India buckles reduces import duties on whatever the US asks for? Apart from the automobile sector, which other sectors do you think will be impacted? America is another country that doesn't export much. It is a consuming country. So, that's also a good thing. What does America have? Harley Davidson and bourbon. How many people will drink bourbon whiskey and drive Harley bikes in India? A few thousand. It doesn't matter. What else does America send to us? Nothing. In terms of merchandise, there's nothing from America that is of any use to India. So, the only thing of use is Tesla cars from America, we have given them the red carpet. They might bring in Starlink, which is a service, not merchandise. Basically, Elon Musk's interests will be furthered. But Elon Musk manufactures only one thing, which is Tesla. Rest all are services. You talked about the end of the bull market. How should retail investors approach such volatile markets? As you said, the markets will not fall in one straight line. There will be rallies as well, and there will be a lot of volatility expected. What strategies should investors adopt to safeguard their portfolios in the next five years? Fixed income and gold are very good options for retail investors in India. You are suggesting diversifying their portfolio? Absolutely. Reduce your equity allocations or sell into the rally. Reduce your equity allocation, put that allocation into gold and fixed income. That's the way the pie chart should change. You have also been talking about mutual fund investors offering liquidity to foreign institutional investors selling at the peak. Do you think it's also the fiduciary responsibility of mutual fund managers, who are actually putting this money into the markets on behalf of SIP investors, to sit on cash instead of regularly investing SIP money without bothering about valuations? No, no, no, no. Mutual fund managers have no option to sit on cash. Why not? What are the risks? It's very simple. If an investor gives you cash, they want you to invest. They don't want cash because why should they pay 1% management fee for you to sit on cash? So, mutual fund managers cannot and should not sit on cash beyond a little percentage, say 5%. It's not their job. It's not their instruction from the investors. It is for the investors themselves to sit and figure out whether they need money in this whole process or not. It is not the job of asset management companies to tell investors -- 'No, do not put in money.' It is like asking a liquor company to put out ads or shut down sales of liquor when people get too drunk. No. Why should you do that? You are adults. There is an adult cutoff for mutual fund investing as well as for drinking. You make your own judgments. The liquor company is not going to stop you from drinking as long as you have the money. Given the current market dynamics, what are the key sectors, if at all, which could generate good value for the next five years and can create long-term wealth? Do you see any emerging opportunities that could drive the next bull market whenever it starts after the five years, if at all? It's too early to get into all that. Let the bear market settle in properly. We have just got two or three months of the bear market starting. Let it settle down. This is going to be an interesting period. We will get new winners, but it's too early to start talking about that. It's more important, to save the capital you have invested by taking smart decisions to exit into the rally. How much more pain do you see left in the system? We are just getting started. We are just two or three months into this. This is going to be a long, problematic bear market. But it's going to keep us interested because of sharp rallies in the middle. That's the way bear markets are. Bull markets can be boring. Bear markets are very engaging because, through the journey of a bear market, you get some amazingly profitable rallies. If you're smart, you can play them and make a lot of money. Why do you call yourself a hare? In this market, I am a hare permanently. I do not take anything for granted. A bull market is also a cycle; a bear market is also a cycle. And as a hare, I am always alert and alive to opportunity and danger. Unlike people who think only in binary terms -- bull or bear -- I'm always alive to two changing scenarios, and the moment I spot them, I change. My investing philosophy is simple as that. So, I changed in July last year from equities into dollarised fixed income, and I tweeted about it on July 24th (2024). That's it. So, I have not been much hurt in this fall. We can't exit 100%; it's not possible. But whatever one has taken off the table, one is saving good enough. How do hares make money in a bear market? Would you have any advice for investors on how to make money in the oncoming bear market? Bear markets are hard to play, and almost nobody will be able to trade them profitably -- at least not small investors. So, the only thing is to use the bear market rallies to lighten up on your positions and shift into more stable assets like fixed income and gold. Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this QnA or an attempt to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. A lower risk appetite among investors has driven gold, traditionally a safe-haven asset, to record highs so far this year. Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters Fuelled by geopolitical tensions in West Asia, robust demand from central banks particularly in Asia and US President Donald Trumps tariff volleys, spot gold touched an all-time high of $2,956 per ounce on February 24 in the international markets. In India, gold futures surpassed the Rs 86,000 per 10-gram mark on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) last month. For stock market investors, this scenario presents a complex investment landscape that requires careful navigation. Analysts suggest that the surge in gold prices will benefit gold financiers like Muthoot Finance and Manappuram Finance, while adversely affecting jewellery stocks. "The upward trend in gold prices fosters a favourable environment for growth, particularly in the gold loan segment, which closely correlates with gold price movements," said Vinod Nair, head of research, Geojit Financial Services. Typically, a rise in gold prices translates to a higher gold loan value, and vice versa. Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services expects rising gold prices to support Muthoot Finance's asset under management (AUM) growth and asset quality for the medium term. In the December quarter of the current financial year, Muthoot Finance reported a 22 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 1,392 crore as against the Rs 1,145 crore in Q3FY24. Its consolidated loan AUM crossed Rs 1,11,000 crore. Of this, Muthoot Finance's gold loan portfolio stood at Rs 92,963.6 crore at the end of December 2024. Nair is, however, 'neutral' on Manappuram Finance, citing the non-bank finance company's exposure in the non-gold segment as a concern. In Q3, Manappuram Finance's consolidated net profit halved to Rs 282 crore from Rs 575.3 crore in Q3FY24. Manappuram's total AUM stood at Rs 40,400 crore at the end of Q3FY25, according to Motilal Oswal's report, with the gold loan portfolio at Rs 20,800 crore in Q3. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, IDBI Capital Market Services has maintained a 'hold' rating on Manappuram Finance stock for a target of Rs 200 per share. Morgan Stanley also maintained 'equal weight' rating with a target of Rs 175 per share. Meanwhile, rising gold prices, analysts said, pose headwinds for jewellery stocks as an increase in gold prices could lead to a decrease in jewellery demand and weak margins. Higher competition and premium valuations also pose key challenges to the sector. According to Bloomberg data, Titan's blended forward price-to-earnings (or BF P/E) stood at 58 times as compared to its 5-year historic average of 68 times, Kalyan Jewellers' current BF P/E stood at 47 times as against a 5-year historic average of 34 times. Recently-listed PN Gadgil's current BF P/E stands at 24 times as against a 5-year average of 29 times. "A prolonged rally in gold prices could lead to margin pressures due to lower volume sales, but brands with strong inventory management and premium offerings may sustain growth," said Siddhesh Mehta, research analyst, SAMCO Securities. Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial suggests holding Titan shares given higher competition, uncertain margins, and a premium valuation. Motilal Oswal has maintained a 'buy' on PN Gadgil shares for a target of Rs 950 per share. Centrum Broking has a 'buy' call on Kalyan Jewellers for a target of Rs 676 per share. Axis Capital has also continued with a 'buy' on Kalyan Jewellers for a target of Rs 575 per share. Wheat production during the current season is expected to be better than last year provided the weather remains favourable over the next few weeks, said senior industry executives. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters The weather had turned uncharacteristically hot in the latter half of last month, but owing to strong winds, the chill has returned in the last few days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest update, said strong surface winds (25-35 to 45 km per hour) are likely over the plains of northwest India, including Delhi, during the next 24 hours. Also, there may be scattered light-to-moderate rain or snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh during March 9-11. This (snowfall in the hills) should have an impact on the plains as well, an official said. According to scientists, if the total average temperature during a full day (24 hours) is around 15-16 degrees Celsius, it is ideal for the wheat crop. Some parts of Northern India, including states such as Haryana, saw unseasonal rain and hailstorm during the last few days that has damaged the standing crop in some parts. The extent of loss is still being assessed. The state government has ordered the opening of a damage assessment portal to enable farmers file their claims and damage details. Most experts and representatives from the flour milling industry who had gathered for an annual event earlier this week felt that production of wheat in the 2025-26 marketing season could be around 110 million tonnes. If so, it would be up from around 106 million tonnes this year. The crop condition in major wheat growing states, namely Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, has been good. The prices, too, are ruling above the minimum support price (MSP), though there has been softening in the last few days due to increased arrivals. Data sourced from the agmarknet.gov.in shows that in Indore mandi (Madhya Pradesh), wheat was selling at close to Rs 2,700 per quintal on March 5. This was higher than the MSP of Rs 2,425. The price was around Rs 2,946 per quintal around March 1, which means that rates have softened under pressure from heavy arrivals. Among major rabi crops, chana was selling at around Rs 5,601 per quintal, which was closer to the MSP of Rs 5,650 per quintal. However, mustard seed was selling lower than the MSP of Rs 5,950 per quintal in several mandis of Rajasthan. This is a cause for concern and has reignited calls for hiking the import duty on edible oils. In September last year, the Centre raised the effective import duty on crude palm, soya, and sunflower oil from 12.5 per cent to 32.5 per cent. The effective import duty on refined oils was raised from 13.75 per cent to 35.75 per cent. A few weeks ago, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Centre will make necessary changes in the import and export policies to protect the interests of farmers and domestic industries. Tatas, Ambanis, Adanis, Birlas contributed an average of Rs 800 crore to Rs 1,000 crore per family group. Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. IMAGE: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani presents a cheque for Rs 5.02 crore (Rs 50.2 million) to Badarinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee President Ajendra Ajay as donation to the temple committee at Kedarnath Dham in Chamoli, Rudraprayag, October 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo India's top four business families -- Tatas, Ambanis, Adanis and the Birlas -- accounted for 20 per cent of the total corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions made by family-owned or family-run companies, according to the data for 2023-2024 (FY24). These companies contributed an average of Rs 800 crore (Rs 8 billion) to Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) per family group (ranging from Rs 200 crore/Rs 2 billion to Rs 1,500 crore/Rs 15 billion) to CSR, according to the India Philanthropy Report 2025 by Bain & Company in collaboration with Dasra. The report also brings into focus the outsized role of the top 2 per cent of business families (who run around 350 firms), as they accounted for over 50 to 55 per cent of the total CSR contributions made by family-owned or family-run businesses. This category includes other major business families such as the Munjals of Hero MotoCorp, the Piramal family of Piramal Enterprises, and the Kanwar family of Apollo Tyres, each contributing an average of Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore (Rs 200 million to Rs 250 million). In contrast, the bottom 98 per cent, comprising over 16,500 firms, accounted for 45 to 50 per cent of CSR contributions, with an average spend of Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) per company -- ranging from Rs 50 lakh (Rs 5 million) to as high as Rs 7 crore (Rs 70 million) -- primarily from small and medium enterprises, midsized enterprises, and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. IMAGE: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani hand overs a cheque for Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) towards the establishment of the Young India Skills University to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad, October 18, 2024. Karan Adani, Adani's elder son, is also seen, third from left. Photograph: ANI Photo The report also leverages Dasra's network of 350 families to gain insights into family philanthropy. According to the data, these families collectively facilitated Rs 1,600 crore (Rs 16 billion) in donations until December 2024 and have fostered 20 strategic partnerships. Despite the substantial CSR investments made by family-run businesses, contributions from high networth individuals (HNIs) and ultra high networth individuals (UHNIs) fell marginally in FY24, dropping to 26 per cent of total private-sector philanthropic contributions, down from 27 per cent in 2022-2023. This decline was largely due to modest 2 per cent growth in UHNI funding, even as overall private-sector philanthropic funding grew by 7 per cent annually in FY24, reaching Rs 1.31 trillion. However, the report projects a substantial increase in the share of HNI and UHNI contributions in the near future. By 2028-2029, they are expected to account for 32 to 36 per cent of total private-sector philanthropic funding. The report also identifies emerging trends in family philanthropy. Families are expanding their focus to underfunded areas -- 40 per cent now contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion; 29 per cent to climate action; 8 per cent to animal welfare; and 39 per cent aim to support the broader philanthropic ecosystem in the future. Nearly 55 per cent of these families have women-led philanthropic initiatives, while 33 per cent have intergenerational or multigenerational donors leading their philanthropy efforts. Sixty-five per cent of families have dedicated staff to manage philanthropy, and 41 per cent prefer grant-making as their primary approach to giving. Giving back to society Top 2% lead the charge: 350 family-run firms contributed Rs 9,000 crore to Rs 9,900 crore (Rs 90 billion to R 99 billion) to CSR until December 2024. The 98% still matters: Over 16,500 family-run firms accounted for Rs 8,100 crore to Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 81 billion to Rs 90 billion) in CSR spending. Spending range: Individual contributions varied from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 7 crore across companies. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Brussels with Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker and congratulated him on his recent inauguration. "During the meeting, the parties discussed further assistance in humanitarian demining, restoration of energy infrastructure, construction of shelters in schools and kindergartens, and support for the Food from Ukraine initiative," reads the report on the presidential website. Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited the Chancellor of Austria to pay a visit to Ukraine. If the DMK is able to sustain the momentum until the assembly polls, the AIADMK especially and the PMK and possibly the infant TVK too would find it hard to sign up with the BJP, explains N Sathiya Moorthy. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin. Photograph: Kind courtesy DMK/X If someone thought that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre would wisely use governance issues, including perceptions of corruption and lawlessness, against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam counterpart in Tamil Nadu in the assembly polls next year, it is not to be. Instead, the party has seemingly handed over to the victorious Dravidian major from three past elections in a row, 'Tamil pride' on a platter as a key poll issue for next year. A lot will remain on the sustainability of this or any other issue so much later, in a poll in which existing adversaries like the Opposition All India Anna DMK and new entrant Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor-politician Vijay hope to make a mark. Though multi-layered otherwise like the BJP's Hindutva agenda, where religion and national pride of a different breed have been jostling for equitable if not equal space, Tamil pride too just now has at least two major components. One derives from allegations of 'Hindi imposition' by the BJP-led Centre and the other purportedly flows from the delimitation story, both of which have suddenly captured the nation's imagination as Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks on Sanatana Dharma had done two years ago. One, the Hindi card was gifted by the BJP, like the rival Congress when it was in power at the Centre in the 1960s and later, while the delimitation issue seems to be an overnight product but not exactly so. Suffice to point out, between them, the two issues have adequately agitated the new-generation Tamil youth as only the apolitical and self-motivated 'Jallikattu protests' had done in January 2017. No marks for guessing the possible electoral beneficiary -- unless, of course, the AIADMIK and the TVK between them decide not to have a tie-up with the BJP for the assembly polls as the former had done in 2024 and the latter did not as it was still-born. Like 'Hindi imposition', Tamil Nadu has a long tryst with delimitation as a socio-political issue. If in 1971, Parliament unanimously decided to extend seat reservations favouring the SC-ST communities for a 30-year period, if only to help them climb up the socio-economic ladder, in 2001, the ruling BJP took the initiative to grant a further extension, under pressure from its TN allies, comprising the DMK, Marumalarchi DMK and the Pattali Makkal Katchi. The crux of the Dravidian argument was that delimitation, if undertaken on the basis of the latest population figures, would bring down the number of Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu to 31 from the existing 39. Neighbouring Kerala too had complained that theirs would go down from 20 to 15. Other South Indian states too had similar complaints. They all claimed that they were being penalised for the successful implementation of population control measures that has brought down their net birth ratio. Even more so, all these states, cutting across party lines, complained that any fresh delimitation at the time would also reward states (especially those in the north-central region) for their failure to implement population control measures as effectively. Tamil Nadu's DMK Chief Minister M K Stalin flagged the issue almost overnight, even as the state was caught in an earlier spiral centred on fresh allegations of 'Hindi imposition'. Rather than subduing the other, the new cause ended up making it a double-barrel gun, with Stalin calling an all-party meeting on March 5 and appealing to all invitees not to make a prestige issue of the same and stand united. IMAGE: Chief Minister Stalin chairs an all-party meet on delimitation in Chennai, March 5, 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy DMK/X For all the heat and dust that it had created in the past fortnight, the all-party meeting itself was a relatively peaceful affair, after the BJP, the party's forgettable TMC ally founded by the late G K Moopanar and controversial pan-Tamil actor-politician Seeman's NTK decided to stay away. The resolution moved by Chief Minister Stalin stopped with appealing to the Centre to defer delimitation by another 30 years as in the past, but not without reason. Clearly, the DMK's think-tank had read through the National Population Policy-2000, which had set a 2045 deadline for the stabilisation of population growth across the country. This implied that any fresh attempts at delimitation only then and not any time before would be meaningful. What the DMK leaders did not say is the anticipated outcome of the next edition of the NPP that would have to await the next Census and would also be indicative of the success/failure rate of individual states in working towards the 2045 deadline. The outcomes of the meet apart, if the DMK is able to sustain the momentum until the assembly polls, the AIADMK especially and the PMK to a greater or lesser extent and possibly the infant TVK too would find it hard to sign up with the BJP. Opinion is yet divided in the AIADMK especially about shaking hands again with the BJP as cadres blame Narendra Modi's pronounced Hindutva agenda elsewhere in the country as the cause for the alliance losing two elections in a row in 2019 and 2021 in Tamil Nadu. The same argument does not hold good for the third round of elections, this one to the Lok Sabha as in 2024, after the AIADMK broke ties with the BJP and yet both lost miserably, one more time. The fact also remains that the AIADMK second line and cadres are increasingly convinced that party boss and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami lacks the public appeal of party founder M G Ramachandran and even more popular successor Jayalalithaa to charm women voters in particular. They too want an ally, but desire it not to be the BJP if they could help. The social impact and the politics attached to it are as simple and/or complicated as the other, and hence also the multiple voices that are being heard across the political spectrum and even from outside. The BJP could have simply criticised the DMK for denying Tamil youth the opportunity to learn another language and thus seeking employment outside the state, and hoped that at least some of it stuck. However, that was not to be the case. After the Centre had linked the denial of education-related funding to Tamil Nadu, totalling over Rs 2,200 crores (Rs 22 billion) to the non-implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) that insisted on inclusion of a 'three-language formula', 'Hindi imposition' revived as a dusted and tried out socio-political issue with possible electoral implications. By stating as much, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan became the villain of the piece across Tamil Nadu. Local BJP leaders who were critical of the state's insistence on the two-language formula (Tamil and English) were not exactly defending either the NEP or Minister Pradhan. In doing so, they focussed excessively on the ruling DMK, forgetting that like the latter-day delimitation issue, 'Hindi imposition' has had a life of its own in the Dravidian state and every political party and social group was convinced about the legitimacy and legality of their position. IMAGE: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supporters protest against the Union government over the alleged imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu at the collector's office in Chennai, February 25, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo So inadequate has also been Delhi's knowledge of the 'anti-Hindi' protests that even veteran politicians and leading media personalities invariably fix its original date in the mid-1960s whereas it was actually in the mid-1930s. Long before then prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri revived the forgotten case for Hindi to be made the 'sole official language of the Union', if only to go to the people over head of the entrenched syndicate leadership of the ruling Congress party, Rajaji (C R Rajagopalachari) as the short-lived party premier in the undivided Madras Presidency under the British Raj had introduced 'compulsory Hindi-learning' in 1937. Like everything 'Dravidian', 'Periyar' E V Ramaswami Naicker was involved in the anti-Hindi agitation at the time and was imprisoned in Bellary, now in Karnataka, until Rajaji quit along with other Congress premiers in 1939, over the Raj involving India in the Second World War without consultations. It is also a fact that unlike often believed, the undivided DMK's anti-Hindi agitation of 1965 alone was the main cause for the party coming to power in elections-1967, throwing out the ruling Congress that had been entrenched in the seat of power since the pre-Independence days of 1946. It owed even more to the immediacy of rice shortage and black-marketing which the DMK managed to hold up as a product of the ruling party's collusion and corruption. Yet, today, when Hindi-imposition is in the news, Chief Minister Stalin has responded to pro-BJP voices by saying that Tamil Nadu was not against Hindi or any other language but only against its 'imposition', often subtly and through subterfuge. IMAGE: Federation of Students Organisation-Tamil Nadu members protest against the Centre over Hindi imposition, February 28, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The merits of the Dravidian arguments on both issues apart, they have caught the imagination of the local population unlike any other. For instance, a social media argument goes that unlike the previous generation that might have travelled across the Vindhyas for a living, today's Tamil youth go overseas, instead, based on their better educational qualification and knowledge of English. Anyway, as they point out, one picks up a new language on the streets, whenever they are employed in an unfamiliar environment, and not in class rooms. As the DMK and a few other non-DMK Dravidian leaders are not tired of pointing out, for the past decade and more, it is the Hindi-speaking north Indians who have been seeking out Tamil Nadu for jobs -- whether in the low-end of the service sector or high-paying IT and management jobs. Such a construct and belief, which are not wholly untrue, have only fed the 'Tamil pride' to the point of being uncompromising on matters such as delimitation and Hindi imposition, the nineties kids and those born later having picked up their first lessons on the subject from the 'Jallikattu protests' -- though none is talking about it anymore, in private or public. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'Kerala will lose 6 seats, Tamil Nadu 9 seats, Telangana and Karnataka 2 seats each, Andhra Pradesh 5 seats.' IMAGE: A voter shows his ink marked finger at a polling booth at Tambaram in Chennai, April 6, 2021. Kindly note the image has only been posted for representational reasons. Photograph: ANI Photo Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, addressing an all-party meet on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, over the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, urged the central government to freeze the existing number of Lok Sabha seats at 543 for the next 30 years beyond 2026. After delimitation comes into effect, the total number of Lok Sabha seats will go up from 543 to 800 in 2029. However, the distribution of new Lok Sabha seats will be according to the population of each state. It is here that Stalin fears that the number of seats for Tamil Nadu, and other southern states, will reduce drastically, giving North Indian states an upper hand in government formation. "Andhra currently has 25 seats, Karnataka 28 seats, Tamil Nadu 39, Kerala 20 and Telangana 17. It is less than 1/3rd of the total Lok Sabha seats. In other words it is 23.8%, but if you bring in delimitation then you will get only 19.3% Lok Sabha seats for South India," Sanjeer Alam, associate professor, Centre for Study of Developing Societies, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com. If you were to explain delimitation of parliamentary seats to a common man, what will you say? Delimitation refers to the process where electoral constituencies are created. According to the Constitution a constituency may be created on the basis of population margin. This means that the allocation of Lok Sabha seats in different states will depend on the proportion of the population of that state in the overall population. The other aspect of delimitation is to equalise the size of population across the constituencies and across states so that the ideal of one person one vote one value maybe ensured, which is the cardinal principal of political equality. Does it mean that Tamil Nadu Chief minister M K Stalin is right when he says that his state is being punished by getting fewer seats because they followed population control norms better? Yes, he is right. The last time allocation of Lok Sabha seats was done was in 1976. It was done through the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution. At that time, the number of Lok Sabha seats allocated to different states was frozen until the Census of 2001. In these 25 years, from 1976-2001, South Indian states successfully implemented family planning policies. They were able to curtail the population growth rate in their states. So the end result was that the population which we witness today in South India is much lower than what we see in Northern India where family planning was not done successfully. And now if you do delimitation of Lok Sabha seats according to the population distribution of India, then the southern states will certainly lose some seats. What situation do you foresee if delimitation becomes a reality? Kerala will lose as many as six seats. Currently, Kerala has 20 Lok Sabha seats, it will reduce to 14. Similarly, Tamil Nadu will lose as many as nine seats. Telangana will lose two seats, Andhra is likely to lose five seats. Karnataka will lose two seats. And what about the North Indian states? Uttar Pradesh will get 12 extra Lok Sabha seats. Bihar will get 10 extra seats. Jharkhand will get two extra seats. Madhya Pradesh will get five extra seats. Rajasthan is likely to get seven extra seats. Home Minister Amit Shah says seats distribution after delimitation will be fair. It is not clear what Amit Shah has in his mind over the delimitation issue. There are two ways of addressing the fear of Southern states. One is, you don't relocate Lok Sabha seats as it was done in the last delimitation exercise. You carry out delimitation internally within the state but not across the states. The second way to address the fear of South Indian states would be if you increase the number of Lok Sabha seats in their states so that no state stands to lose. In percentage terms what is the balance between Southern and Northern states now and how will it reduce when delimitation comes into play? Andhra currently has 25 seats, Karnataka 28 seats, Tamil Nadu 39, Kerala 20 and Telangana 17. It is less than 1/3rd of the total Lok Sabha seats. In other words it is 23.8%, but if you bring in delimitation then you will get only 19.3% Lok Sabha seats for South India. Was there any controversy in the 1976 delimitation exercise over South India getting fewer seats? There was no problem at that time. The population of South India and North India grew almost equally till 1976 (from 1947). It was only after 1976 that the Southern states started taking measures against population growth, showing good results. The family planning programme was not followed in North India on that scale and hence the population between North India and South India has a huge gap. Does it mean that Southern states are being penalised for following population control measures better by getting fewer Lok Sabha seats? Yes, that is their (M K Stalin and other South Indian politicians') point of argument. They are being penalised for controlling population growth in their respective states. Their fear is not entirely misplaced. Almost every Southern state will lose some seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In this scenario, what should the delimitation commission do? Constitutionally, population is the primary criterion to delimit constituencies in India. Whether the next delimitation commission will introduce a secondary aspect, I don't know. Even if they want to introduce secondary changes, a Constitutional amendment will be required. 'Putin will not be bound by any kind of deal he would sign with the US.' IMAGE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a point to US President Donald Trump at their meeting in the Oval Office at the White House, February 28, 2025. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters "The Oval Office brouhaha signaled to Putin that it makes sense to continue the war, at the cost of a thousand soldiers that the Russian army loses every day, in the hope that Trump delivers Ukraine to Putin on a plate," Konstantin Sonin tells Rediff.com's Nikhil Lakshman in an e-mail interview. Sonin, who was born in Moscow and educated in Moscow and at Harvard, is the John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy. After Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Professor Sonin predicted that it would be 'the end of Russia as we know it.' For his candour on the Ukraine war, he was sentenced in absentia in February 2024 to eight-and-a-half years in prison. He remains on Russia's Federal Wanted list and an arrest warrant was issued for him in Moscow last year. Putin, it seems, is incensed by Professor Sonin's indictment of the Russian miltary's actions in Bucha and Mariupol. Were you startled by how President Zelenskyy's meeting in the Oval Office went? Do you believe President Trump and Vice President Vance had decided that they would force Mr Zelenskyy to play along with their game plan for Ukraine and Russia, and hence the aggression from the word go? There was an element of surprise as President Trump seemed to dramatically reverse the course that the USA has followed since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. His replies seem to suggest that it's Ukrainians and their President Zelenskyy are an obstacle to a cease-fire and a prospective peace deal, while, of course, it's Putin who is not willing to stop the war. Whatever pressure could be applied by Trump and the US to Zelenskyy, this cannot bring peace as Zelenskyy is not an obstacle, Putin is. The scene of pressuring Zelenskyy was both cruel and senseless. Not surprisingly, President Trump, in his Tuesday address to Congress, seemed to downplay last week's failure. Diplomats feel Zelenskyy played his cards wrong in front of the cameras by challenging Trump. Do you agree? Did he have a choice considering that Trump and Vance were forcing him to take a deal that would weaken Ukraine and give the US and Russia the spoils of war? No, I don't. As much the opinion of President Trump, American press corps, and TV viewers worldwide is important for President Zelenskyy, he has constituencies that are far more important to him. He cannot make public concessions that are not supported by the majority of Ukrainians and the high command of the Ukrainian armed forces. Peace on Putin's conditions, with Ukraine disarming and without strong security guarantees from the West is unacceptable to Ukrainians. No president of Ukraine, Zelenskyy or an alternative president, would agree to peace without security guarantees because such a peace will be short-lived. When Putin re-groups and re-arms, the Russian army will attack again. IMAGE: Zelenskyy meets Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, in Kyiv, February 20, 2025. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters Is the Trump plan for ending the war in Ukraine by striking a deal with Russia dead in the water? Or does the US still hope to revive it by refusing to arm Ukraine? Unfortunately, President Trump has relatively little leverage against Putin. The Oval Office brouhaha just signaled to Putin that it makes sense to continue the war, at the cost of a thousand soldiers that the Russian army loses every day, in the hope that Trump delivers Ukraine to Putin on a plate. Zelenskyy has issued some conciliatory tweets. Will that help in assuaging Trump's ego or will nothing but a minerals deal satisfy this administration? Flattering Trump's ego has seemingly helped a lot of visitors to establish rapport with President Trump. So, Zelenskyy's conciliatory tweets will not hurt. They will not do him much good either. IMAGE: Russia's President Vladimir Putin and then US President Trump meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. Photograph: Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via Reuters As a Russian, how do you explain this administration's urge to forge a new beginning with Russia? At a time when Trump has set about antagonising allies and neighbours, why is there this almost aggressive affection for Vladimir Putin and Russia? Is there a geopolitical reason -- the expectation that closer US-Russia ties will break the Putin-Xi bond -- or are there commercial reasons? As many experts, I am baffled with the Trump administration's belief that Russia can be a reliable partner for the US. Putin and Putin's elite hate America as much, if not more, than they hate Ukraine. Geopolitically, Putin does not consider the US to be an ally or partner. He will not be bound by any kind of deal he would sign with the US. Not clear why President Trump has so much faith in Putin. How would you explain this administration's willingness to overlook how Putin has undermined democracy in Russia, almost a mirror image of the Stalinist years in the USSR? Trump's administration has very little faith in abstract democracy. Unlike the previous administration, they do not think that America should support democratic countries around the world. It does not matter what Putin did to Russian democracy -- what matters is his image of a strong leader. And the Republican party of that Cold War Warrior Ronald Reagan almost madly in love with Putin's Russia: How would you explain this almost bizarre phenomenon? What is it in Putin's Russia that enamours the Right in America? Back 100 years ago, Western left was fascinated by the Soviet Union. From afar, it looked like a place, where freedom, equality, and human rights flourish. Of course, they did not in the actual USSR. Now, for some on the American right, Putin's Russia is a paradise of Christianity, individual freedom, and family values. In reality, Putin's Russia is neither, but they are still fascinated. IMAGE: Konstantin Sonin, John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor, University of Chicago. Photograph: Kind courtesy University of Chicago As someone sentenced in absentia to eight-and-a-half years in prison for opposing the Ukraine war, how would you assess Putin's hold over your mother country? Is it as much a vice grip as before, for there were expectations that the military reverses in Ukraine would weaken him? Long ago, in his early years in power, Putin was genuinely popular. By the time his popularity was lost, he was able to dismantle or weaken democratic institutions to such a degree that nobody was able to challenge, legally, his power. His henchmen pursued and ultimately killed two major leaders of the Russian Opposition. Boris Nemtsov, a popular local governor turned reformist deputy prime minister, was gunned down 150 metres from the Kremlin in 2015. Putin blocked attempts of any serious investigation of who ordered the killing. In 2024, Alexey Navalny, a popular anti-corruption crusader and the leader of the Russian Opposition, was killed in jail on Putin's orders. Has Trump thrown Putin a lifeline by his Riyadh overture and ensured that he will continue to rule Russia till the end of this decade at least? The Trump administration's outreach to Russia emboldened Putin, but I am not sure it significantly changed the dynamics. Putin will continue the war until Ukraine is conquered or until the Russian State collapses as it did in 1917 and in 1991. Putin's inability to change the course, his desire to continue the war at any cost, might shorten his tenure in power. IMAGE: A woman kisses a cross at the grave of her fallen son at a cemetery on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Irpin, outside Kyiv, February 24, 2025. Photograph: Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters And the war in Ukraine -- do you see Russia unleashing a fresh offensive now that American arms may not be coming Kyiv's way? What would it take for the war to end?Will Russia be satisfied with the eastern Ukrainian territories it has under its control, Trump's unilateral assertion that Ukraine will never be a member of NATO? I am not a military analyst, but all military analysts talk about the Russian army exhaustion and weapon shortage. I do not think it's capable of a major new offensive right now. I do not believe that the war will end if Putin is still in power. He will continue to bomb Ukrainian cities until he is out of missiles, and send troops to the meat grinder until he is out of reserves. IMAGE: Ukraine supporters gather to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, February 24, 2025. Photograph: Lisi Niesner/Reuters And what of NATO and Europe, now that America appears willing to break with its allies and join ranks with Russia? Will we see new geopolitical formations in Europe before Trump's term ends? Will America encourage far Right entities like AfD so that Europe swings to the Right in sync with Trumpian objectives? Is Europe currently on the same page on Trump, Putin and Russia? Can this unity last? I am optimistic about European unity in support of Ukraine. Poland, Baltic countries, Sweden, Finland will support Ukraine no matter what because they know too well that if Ukraine falls, they are next. The UK and France are set to support Ukraine, including boots on the ground. Germany massively increases its defence spending. In the days following Trump's turnaround on Ukraine, they signaled, very strongly, that they will continue to support Ukraine. An "active terrorist" of Babbar Khalsa International with alleged links to Pakistan's ISI, who had planned a terror attack during the Maha Kumbh, was arrested from Kaushambi early Thursday, police said. IMAGE: Suspected Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Lajar Masih. Photograph: @uppstf/X The terrorist identified as Lajar Masih was nabbed in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh STF and Punjab Police. Addressing a press conference here, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar said Masih had planned a major terrorist attack during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. "However, due to intensive security checks at the religious gathering, he failed to execute his plan," he said. The Maha Kumbh was held at Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26. The DGP said the arrest of the terrorist also verifies smuggling of arms and drugs from Pakistan into India. Masih, a resident of Kurlian village in Ramdas area of Amritsar, Punjab, was nabbed around 3.20 am. The operation was carried out in the Kokhraj police station area of Kaushambi, Additional Director General of Police (UP Special Task Force, Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said earlier in the day. "As per available information, the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the Germany-based module of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is in direct touch with Pakistan-based ISI operatives," Yash said. He added the UP STF succeeded in recovering some explosives material and illegal arms from the terrorist. Among the seizures made are three active hand grenades, two active detonators, one foreign-made pistol and 13 cartridges of foreign make, the officer said. Besides, a white coloured explosive powder, an Aadhaar card with a Ghaziabad address, one mobile phone without SIM card was also seized from his possession, he said. "This terrorist had escaped judicial custody in Punjab on September 24, 2024," the ADG added. Days after its assertion to fight trade or 'any other type' of war with the United States, China on Thursday toned down its stand saying that no such wars should be fought because they cannot be won. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters "The US must no longer seek to contain or go after China in the name of strategic competition," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told the media in Beijing responding to US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth's remark that his country doesn't seek a war with China, but will rebuild the military and prepare for war. "We've always held the clear cut view that whatever kind of war it is, a tariff war or a trade war, a cold war or a hot war, they should not be fought and cannot be won," Lin said. In contrast, on Tuesday Lin had said: "Let me reiterate that intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us. Pressuring, coercion or threats are not the right way of dealing with China. Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating." "If the US has other agenda in mind and if war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end," he said, replying to a question on US tariffs on Chinese goods. Reacting to Lin's comments, Hegseth said on Wednesday on Fox News: "Those who long for peace must prepare for war, [and] that's why we're rebuilding our military. That's why we're establishing deterrence." President Donald Trump understands peace comes through strength, and he also has a good relationship with the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Hegseth's comments posted on the US Defence Department website on Wednesday said. He said the US is not actively seeking conflict with China. "We don't seek that war," Hegseth said. "But my job as secretary of defence is to make sure we're ready. [So], we need the defence spending, the capabilities, the weapons and the posture in the Indo-Pacific, which is something we're very much focused on." Asked for his reaction to Hegseth's remarks, Lin said on Thursday 'the rhetoric of the US official is aimed at fuelling ideological confrontation and spreading the so-called 'China threat' that doesn't exist. "The US needs to realise that China is not a mirror image of the hegemonic US. The US should stop viewing China-US relations with an outdated Cold War mentality," he said. Beijing's heightened rhetoric comes in the midst of growing tensions between US and China over Trump's two instalments of 10 per cent tariffs on Chinese exports to America with threat to impose more. Trump is demanding China to address US concerns over fentanyl, a potent opioid drug blamed for widespread drug addiction in America. China on Tuesday retaliated against Trump's imposition of second round of 10 per cent tariffs on its export by slapping an additional 15 per cent tariffs on American goods and initiated legal action against Washington in WTO. China's rhetoric also coincides with China's annual parliament session which opened on Wednesday in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping and close to 3,000 legislators are attending the weeklong session. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to address the media on the sidelines of the Parliament session on Friday. On the fentanyl issue, Lin said on Tuesday that 'the US, not anyone else, is responsible for the fentanyl crisis inside the US'. "In the spirit of humanity and goodwill towards the American people, we have taken robust steps to assist the US in dealing with the issue. This is obvious to all and people from various sectors in the US have expressed thanks to China on multiple occasions," he said. "Instead of recognising our efforts, the US has sought to vilify and shift the blame to China, and is seeking to pressure and blackmail China with tariff hikes. They've been punishing us for helping them. This is not going to solve the US' problem and will undermine our counter-narcotics dialogue and cooperation," Lin said. The Supreme Court has said courts should not hesitate in denying liberty to the accused for ensuring a corruption-free society. IMAGE: A view of the Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan accordingly upheld the dismissal of a public official's anticipatory bail in a corruption case. The court lamented corruption had in it "very dangerous potentialities". Further, it opined an "over solicitous homage to the accused's liberty can, sometimes, defeat the cause of public justice". The top court was hearing the plea of a public servant against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court denying him relief. The high court rejected his anticipatory bail in a case filed against him in Patiala under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The top court said the accused was alleged to have demanded illegal gratification over an audit in the development work in a gram panchayat. "If even a fraction of what was the vox pupuli about the magnitude of corruption to be true, then it would not be far removed from the truth, that it is the rampant corruption indulged in with impunity by highly placed persons that has led to economic unrest in this country," the bench's March 3 order said. If one was asked to name a sole factor that effectively arrested the progress of our society to prosperity, it was corruption, it added. The court said the menace of the "corrupt elements at the higher echelons of the government and political parties" was far greater than even the hired assassins attacking its law and order in the society of a developing country. It said presumption of innocence, by itself, couldn't be the sole consideration for the grant of anticipatory bail. The bench said presumption of innocence was a factor the court needed to be mindful of when considering the plea for anticipatory bail but the salutary rule was to balance the cause of the accused and the cause of public justice. "If liberty is to be denied to an accused to ensure corruption free society, then the courts should not hesitate in denying such liberty," it added. While referring to the provisions of the 1988 Act, the bench said a mere demand or solicitation by a public servant amounted to commission of an offence under Section 7 of the Act. Observing Section 7 of the Act spoke of the "attempt" to obtain a bribe as being in itself an offence, the bench said the actual exchange of the bribe was not an essential requirement to be prosecuted under the 1988 law. "Further, those public servants, who do not take a bribe directly, but, through middlemen or touts, and those who take valuable things from a person with whom they have or are likely to have official dealings, are also punishable as per Sections 10 and 11 of the Act 1988 respectively," it said. A public servant, the court said, could be stated to have committed criminal misconduct, if he habitually accepted or obtained or agreeed to accept or attempted to obtain from any person for himself or for any other person any gratification other than the legal remuneration as a motive or reward such as mentioned in Section 7 of the law. Anticipatory bail could be granted only in exceptional circumstances in which the court was of prima facie view that the applicant was falsely enroped in the crime or the allegations were politically motivated or were frivolous, the court added. "Avarice is a common frailty of mankind and Robert Walpole's famous pronouncement that all men have their price, notwithstanding the unsavoury cynicism that it suggests, is not very far from truth," the order said. The bench added, "In more recent years, Romain Rolland lamented that France fell because there was corruption without indignation." While dismissing the petition, the bench said it was convinced that the high court rightly denied anticipatory bail to the petitioner but clarified in case the official sought regular bail, it would be considered on merits without being influenced by the observations made in its order. "The principles governing grant of anticipatory bail are distinct and different from the principles as regards the grant of regular bail. The considerations are different. This should be kept in mind if at all a regular bail application is filed by the petitioner," the bench said. The United States administration under President Donald Trump is moving towards multipolarity, which suits India's interests, and the two nations have agreed on the need for a bilateral trade pact, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shakes hands with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a bilateral meeting, at Chevening House, in Sevenoaks, Britain, on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Photograph: Alastair Grant/Pool via Reuters India's role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the trajectory of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) grouping of nations and relations with China were among the other major foreign policy issues touched upon during a session titled 'India's rise and role in the world' at the Chatham House think-tank here Wednesday evening. "We have been one of the few countries who have been regularly talking to both Moscow and Kyiv at various levels Wherever there's been a sense that India can do something, we have always been open-minded about it. Our consistent position has been that they need to do direct negotiations," he said. Jaishankar was asked about his thoughts on the first few weeks of the new US government and, specifically, about Trump's reciprocal tariffs. "We see a president and an administration which, in our parlance, is moving towards multipolarity and that is something that suits India," said Jaishankar, who is on a six-day visit to the UK and Ireland. "From President Trump's perspective, the one big shared enterprise that we have is the Quad, which is an understanding where everybody pays their fair share. There are no free riders involved. So that's a good model which works," he said. The Quad alliance consists of the US, India, Australia and Japan. On the specific issue of tariffs, the minister noted that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington to discuss a bilateral trade pact, following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump at the White House last month. "We had a very open conversation about it (tariffs) and the result of that conversation was that we agreed on the need for a bilateral trade agreement," he said. During the exchange with Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox, he covered a broad spectrum of issues, including his 'cautious optimism' over the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations after his ministerial discussions over the past few days. "It's a very complicated process. So, given the complexity, it's natural that it would take time, from my discussions with Prime Minister (Keir) Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and [Business] Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, I got a consistent message that the British side is also interested in moving forward. I had a few points to convey on behalf of my concerned colleagues as well. So, I'm cautiously optimistic and hope that it doesn't take that long," he said. On China, Jaishankar noted some positive movement since October 2024, including the opening of the Mount Kailash pilgrimage route in Tibet. "We have a very, very unique relationship with China as the only two billion plus populated countries in the world, we want a relationship where our interests are respected, sensitivities are recognised and works for both of us," he said. Responding to an audience question on 'solving' issues in Kashmir, the EAM stated: "On Kashmir, actually we have done, I think, a good job solving most of it. Removing Article 370 was step number one, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir was step number two, and holding elections with a very high turnout was step number three. "I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation; when that is done, I assure you Kashmir will be solved." The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted searches at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu as part of a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), including the purported role of its minister Senthil Balaji, official sources said. IMAGE: Former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji. Photograph: ANI Photo The raids were conducted at about 25 locations in the state, including in Chennai, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and some other cities. The offices of TASMAC, its employees, corporate offices of distilleries and plants as well as "key associates" linked to Balaji are being covered, the sources said. No premises of the minister are being searched, they said. Balaji, the minister for electricity, also has TASMAC under his charge. The TASMAC holds monopoly over liquor trade in the state. The agency is looking at sale transactions of liquor and the role of some alleged middlemen in connection with TASMAC, they said. The ED has been probing the role of Balaji, a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, in an earlier money laundering investigation liked to the 'cash for jobs scam' in the state transport department. He was arrested by the federal agency in this case and is out on bail now. Kannada actress Ranya Rao's frequent trips to Dubai have come under intense scrutiny following her arrest for allegedly smuggling gold into India. IMAGE: Kannada actress Ranya Rao. Photograph: Kind courtesy @RanyaRao/X Authorities now suspect that she earned approximately Rs 12 lakh per trip by transporting illicit gold, a practice that has placed her at the center of a massive gold smuggling investigation, media reports said. Ranya was intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai on an Emirates flight. Gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from her at the airport, following which searches were conducted at her residence and gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore were also recovered. This seizure marks one of the largest gold hauls at Bengaluru airport in recent years. DRI officials were quoted in the media as saying that the actor travelled to Dubai four times in 15 days, raising revenue intelligence's suspicions. Ranya is the stepdaughter of senior Indian Police Services officer Ramachandra Rao, a senior police official told PTI. The DGP-rank officer is currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, he added. Reacting to his daughter's arrest, DGP Ramachandra Rao said that he was shocked and devastated when the incident came to his notice through the media. Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Rao sought to distance himself from the controversy, stating, "The law will do its job. There is no black mark on my career." He maintained that he had no prior knowledge of Ranya's alleged involvement in smuggling activities and came to know about the arrest only through media reports. "I was also shocked and devastated when such an incident came to my notice through the media, I was not aware of any of these things, like any other father I was also shocked. She is not living with us, she is living separately with her husband, there must be some problem between them due to some family issues," he said. "Anyway, the law will do its job, there is no black mark in my career. I don't want to say anything more," he added. The Karnataka government has assured that no one will receive special treatment in the case. Congress MLA and Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister, A S Ponnanna, emphasised that the law applies equally to all, regardless of family background. "Whether she is the daughter of a DGP, the Chief Minister, or the Prime Minister, if she has committed a crime, she will be held accountable. If any official nexus is involved, the investigation will reveal it," he said. On March 4, Ranya was produced before a special court for financial offenses, which remanded her to judicial custody until March 18. Before being transferred to custody, she underwent a medical examination at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. Ranya allegedly smuggled gold by taping it to her body, including her thighs and waist, and hiding it inside her clothes and jacket, India Today reported. She reportedly travelled to Dubai 30 times in the past year, bringing back kilos of gold each time. Reportedly, she evaded strict checks and often received police escorts to bypass airport security checks, the report said. During questioning, Ranya claimed that her frequent Dubai visits were for business purposes. However, DRI officials believe she was part of a larger smuggling network and had been carrying significant quantities of gold into India. Investigators are now probing whether she was merely a courier or had deeper involvement in the smuggling operation. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are also looking into potential accomplices and the broader network facilitating the illicit trade. Ranya remains in judicial custody as the investigation continues. -- with inputs from PTI/ANI A pro-Khalistani protester attempted to breach the security perimeter outside Chatham House here as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar left the think-tank, drawing condemnation from India over the provocative activities of this 'small group of separatists and extremists'. IMAGE: A pro-Khalistan protester managed to breach the security barricades and came in front of S Jaishankar's convoy. Photograph: Screengrab/X The small group chanting pro-Khalistan slogans and waving separatist flags was barricaded and monitored by a significant police presence outside the venue on Wednesday night, with officers rushing to restrain the man as he ran past the barricade in an attempt to block the path of the minister's car pulling at an Indian flag. He was swiftly taken aside by Metropolitan Police officers and no arrests have been reported so far. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi condemned the incident of the security breach and called on the UK government to 'live up to their diplomatic obligations'. "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of the external affairs minister to the UK," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi. "We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations," he said. The UK strongly condemned the security breach, saying such attempts to 'intimidate, threaten, or disrupt' public events are 'completely unacceptable'. "We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside Chatham House yesterday (Wednesday) during the External Affairs Minister's visit to the UK, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said. "While the UK upholds the right to peaceful protest, any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly to address the situation, and we remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations," the spokesperson said. A Met Police spokesperson added: "As the minister left the event, a protester ran in front of his stationary car waving a flag. "He was quickly intercepted by officers and moved out of the way. He did not get close to the Minister who was able to leave the area without further incident. There were no arrests." It follows Jaishankar's talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House on Tuesday and Wednesday, when both leaders covered the 'entire gamut of bilateral ties', including the relaunched Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, regional and global issues. "It is shameful that this attack comes when Dr S Jaishankar is on a UK tour and had just completed a successful meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy where they discussed bilateral ties," said community organisation INSIGHT UK, posting footage of the incident on social media. Earlier, during his session at Chatham House, Jaishankar was asked about human rights concerns pertaining to India. "A lot of this is political. We have been for political reasons at the receiving end of a lot of expressions and campaigns on human rights. We listen to it. We are not perfect, nobody is perfect. There can be situations which require redressal and remedy," said Jaishankar. "But I would argue, if one looks around the world, we have a very strong human rights record," he said. "As a credible democracy, where people have growing faith in our democracy, where representation has broadened in every conceivable way over the last many decades, where the state has been very fair in terms of treatment of its citizens, I think any sweeping concern on human rights is misplaced. I don't see any justification for it at all," he added. Ukraine and Poland will expand cooperation within 'Czech initiative,' in defense and industrial complex - Umerov Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Poland Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz at a meeting in Warsaw discussed the key needs of the Ukrainian troops and agreed to expand cooperation within the framework of the Czech Initiative and in the field of defense and industrial complex, Umerov reported following the meeting. "I have started a multi-day working visit with a meeting in Warsaw, where I met with my Polish counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Poland, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz," Umerov said on Facebook. "Poland will continue to ensure the logistics of weapons and ammunition deliveries for our defense through its territory. We also agreed to expand cooperation within the Czech initiative. A separate focus was on defense industry cooperationincluding the creation of joint enterprises in Ukraine or Poland," he added. "Another important area is military training. Poland has already trained over 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers and is ready to expand this program together with Scandinavian and Baltic countries," he noted. Ahead are meetings with other European allies and friends of Ukraine. The main focus is on urgent supplies and long-term security projects. Together, we are strengthening Europes security. The defense of the continent is our shared responsibility "I thank the people and government of Poland, as well as Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz, for their comprehensive assistance. We especially appreciate the recently announced large military aid package," he emphasized. The director general of police of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, Ramachandra Rao, on Thursday denied any knowledge of his stepdaughter Ranya Rao's alleged involvement in gold smuggling, calling the situation "unimaginable". IMAGE: Kannada actress Ranya Rao. Photograph: Courtesy @RanyaRao/X Authorities seized gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore from Kannada actress Ranya Rao at the Kempegowda international airport here recently. Subsequent searches at her residence led to the recovery of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore, according to Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). In a press statement, Rao expressed deep distress over the incident, saying his reputation has been tarnished irreparably. He emphasised his lifelong dedication to honesty, integrity and discipline and said his commitment to public service has always been his priority. It is deeply distressing that, despite this lifelong dedication, my reputation and family's future are now being tarnished by something beyond our control, the top police official said. "I understand that in speculative times like these, my years of hard work may be unfairly associated with these events." Rao further said, "I ask all of you to recognise that I too am a grieving parent. I had no knowledge of such an unimaginable situation unfolding in my life. I respectfully ask from everyone, fairness towards both myself and my family." The DGP assured that if any laws were violated by Ranya, legal action would be taken. Ranya is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao. The DGP-rank officer is currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. The total seizure in the case stood at Rs 17.29 crore, including assets worth Rs 4.73 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks. According to DRI, the 14.2 kg haul is one of the largest gold seizures at Bengaluru airport in recent times. Making a strong pitch for round-the-year tourism in Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there should be no off-season in the picturesque hill state and this would strengthen its economy in a big way. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Mukhimath Temple, in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, March 6, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Addressing a rally in Harsil after offering prayers at the village of Mukhwa, the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi district, he said visitors will get the true flavour of Uttarakhand if they come to the state in winter. "When fog envelops the rest of the country during winter, the state is bathed in sunlight," Modi said as he coined a new term -- "Ghaam Tapo Paryatan" (soak the sun tourism) -- in Garhwali language for winter tourism in the state. Praising the state government for its 12-month tourism vision, he stressed the need for a "360-degree approach to tourism" to create employment opportunities for the local youth throughout the year. After doing business in summer, hotels, resorts and homestays in the hills of Uttarakhand become empty during winter, slowing down its economy, Modi said. Tourism should be on in all seasons, there should be no off-season, the prime minister said, adding winter tourism will help Uttarakhand realise its full economic potential. Uttarakhand's unique cultural features such as its traditional dance and music, cuisine and hot springs can be showcased, he suggested. Modi said he feels blessed to visit Goddess Ganga's winter abode in Mukhwa. "I think Maa Ganga has adopted me. It is her blessings that took me to Kashi and gave me an opportunity to serve the people," the prime minister said. He also expressed grief at the death of eight workers in the recent avalanche at a Border Roads Organisation camp in Chamoli district's Mana village. The prime minister flagged off a trek and bike journey to the predominantly tribal village of Jadung from Harshil and said it is to help the border areas of Uttarakhand reap the benefits of tourism. "We haven't forgotten that border village Jadung was evacuated during the 1962 India-China war and efforts are being made to turn such villages habitable," he said at the public meeting in Harsil. Speaking of the two major ropeway projects cleared for the state by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs headed by him, Modi said the ropeway to Kedarnath will reduce the eight-nine hour journey to just 30 minutes. The CCEA on Wednesday approved two major ropeway projects to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib worth over Rs 6,000 crore. In a bid to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, the Uttarakhand government has initiated a Winter Tourism programme this year. In the new budget, provisions have been made for developing 50 new tourist destinations, the prime minister told the gathering in Harsil. Modi appealed to people to make Uttarakhand their destination for weddings and asked filmmakers to shoot their movies in the hill state which has been awarded for being the most film-friendly. Content creators and social media influencers should make short films on winter tourism destinations in Uttarakhand and the best works should be awarded, the prime minister said, adding it will go a long way in promoting winter tourism in the state. He also asked corporate houses to organise their conferences and seminars in Uttarakhand. "Winter tourism is prevalent in many countries. People in the tourism sector should study how it is conducted in those countries and apply those in Uttarakhand," the prime minister said. Before reaching Harsil, Modi offered prayers at Mukhwa temple -- the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi district -- amid chanting of Vedic hymns by the priests. The locals, dressed in traditional attire, accorded a warm welcome to the prime minister through a dance performance circling him as Modi stood in the middle with folded hands. He also enjoyed the morning view of the distant snowclad peaks surrounding the area. Mukhwa is located on the way to the Gangotri temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Her idol is moved to Mukhwa temple from Gangotri Dham every year after the closure of its gates for winter. This was Prime Minister Modi's second visit to Uttarakhand this year. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended a warm welcome to the prime minister in a post on X. "A hearty welcome and greetings to the prime minister on his visit to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the sacred land of religion, spiritualism and sacrifice. Residents of the state are excited to receive the prime minister in Mukhwa-Harsil, a land full of spiritual and natural beauty," he said. "Certainly, this winter trip of yours will give new dimensions to the cultural, spiritual and tourism development of our state," Dhami said and hoped that Modi's visit would put Mukhwa on the global tourism map. Later, speaking at the public meeting in Harsil the chief minister said Modi is the first PM to set his foot in the border village. Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has stoked a fresh controversy with sensational 'revelation' on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, describing him as a "two-time failure" in academics. IMAGE: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar at Veer Bhumi in New Delhi to pay tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 79th birth anniversary, August 20, 2023. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo When Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister, I thought, how could a person who was an airline pilot and had failed twice become the Prime Minister? I studied with him at Cambridge, where he had failed. Failing at Cambridge University is very difficult because the university tries to ensure that everyone at least passes. But despite that, Rajiv Gandhi failed," Aiyar said in an interview. "After that, he went to Imperial College in London, and he failed there as well. Then I thought, how can such a person become the Prime Minister of the country? he added. The comments got widely circulated on the social media after Bharatiya Janata Party IT cell head Amit Malviya shared a video clip on X and posted, "Let the veil be stripped." Responding to the controversy, Congress leader Harish Rawat refused to comment on Aiyar's remarks, dismissing him as a "frustrated individual." "I don't want to comment on someone who is a frustrated individual. I knew Rajiv Gandhi, who gave the country a modern outlook. He took concrete steps for the liberalisation of the economy as well. Unfortunately, a section of the party (Congress) did not stand with him, or else the country's history would have been something else. His speeches as LoP still guide leaders," said Rawat. Congress leader Rashid Alvi also hit out at BJP's Amit Malviya and alleged that he "has a habit of editing things." "(Amit) Malviya has a habit of editing things. How much of it is right and how much is wrong, only Mani Shankar can tell. But the question is not whether Rajiv Gandhi passed or failed. How was Rajiv Gandhi as a Prime Minister? What kind of work did Rajiv Gandhi do after becoming the Prime Minister? If you want to analyse Rajiv Gandhi, then you have to analyse his work," Alvi said. He further hit out at the BJP for not even showing the academic qualifications of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding, "BJP people are not even ready to show the PM's degree. PM himself says that he used to sell tea and have passed matriculation, but we do not see him because of his education. We see him because of his work as a PM." Mani Shankar Aiyar's controversial remarks have once again put him at odds with the Congress party. Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi stoked a controversy after asserting that knowing Marathi was not necessary to live in Mumbai. IMAGE: Amid a raging language row, RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi said Marathi speaking was not necessary to live in Mumbai. Photograph: X "Mumbai does not have one language. It has many languages. Certain areas have their own language. The language of Ghatkopar is Gujarati. In Girgaum, you will have fewer Hindi speakers and more Marathi speakers. So it is easy that any individual coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi," Joshi said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, asserted that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it. Speaking in the state assembly, in response to Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Bhaskar Jadhav's demand that the government clarify its stand on senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi's comments that a person coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi. As Jadhav sought the government's response on it in the assembly, Fadnavis said, "I haven't heard what Bhaiyyaji said, but the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra is Marathi." "Everyone should learn Marathi and should speak the language," he said. The CM said his government respects other languages as well. "If you love and respect your own language, you do the same to other languages. I am sure Bhaiyyaji will agree with me," Fadnavis said. Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut claimed Joshi's remark amounted to treason and was in insult of Maharashtra. "Marathi is our state language and such a statement amounts to treason. The statement is a treason," Raut claimed while talking to reporters. The Rajya Sabha member dared CM Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to condemn Joshi's statement and pass a resolution in the state legislature over the matter. Terming it as a serious issue, Raut claimed Joshi decides on policies and goals of Mumbai. The remark was more serious than what Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi stated by eulogising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the Rajya Sabha member further claimed. "The leader came to Mumbai and said its language is not Marathi. Should the state's CM and the council of ministers tolerate this?" Raut asked. Can he go and speak like this in Kolkata, Lucknow, Chennai, Ludhiana, Patna, or Bengaluru, Trivandrum or Hyderabad? he further questioned. "But he comes to Maharashtra and its capital and states that its language is not Marathi. It is Gujarati or any other, and there is no need to know any other language," Raut claimed. "Did 106 martyrs sacrifice their lives (in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement in 1950s) to hear this?" Raut said. Isn't this an insult of the Marathi language and Marathi pride? asked the Sena-UBT leader. Joshi has no business to "insult" Marathi language after coming to Mumbai, Raut said. "How can someone dare to say this...because the state has a government helmed by helpless people and Marathi haters," he alleged. "The Shiv Sena-UBT will not tolerate this," Raut added. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday claimed that he had helped Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "twice retain his post, preventing the Janata Dal-United from disintegration". IMAGE: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav addresses a press conference in Patna. Photograph: @yadavtejashwi/X The former deputy chief minister was replying to queries about the JD-U president's outburst inside the assembly on Tuesday where he had told Yadav, "It was I who helped your father Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, become the leader of opposition when he did not have the support of even his own caste men." The state assembly on Tuesday witnessed a fiery showdown between the CM and his former deputy during a debate on a motion of thanks to the governor's address to the joint session of the bicameral legislature. The CM claimed that he "made RJD supremo Lalu Yadav what he became" and invoked the past records of the RJD tenure from 1994 to 2005. Speaking to reporters outside the assembly on Wednesday, Yadav said, "Yesterday, Nitish Kumar ji said in the assembly that he made Lalu Yadav the chief minister. Let us leave aside Lalu ji for a moment... he has helped many people in many ways... those supported by him became Prime Ministers... but Nitish Kumar should speak about himself. It was Tejashwi who saved him twice by helping him retain the CM's post. Else, his party would have been finished." Yadav, however, did not elaborate on his claim. "He (Nitish Kumar) should remember that even before him, my father had already been elected as an MLA twice and once as an MP. Even today, he (Nitish) is the leader of a party which is in the third position in terms of the number of MLAs. What one can say about Nitish ji... he speaks as if he is the creator of the 'sansar' (universe). According to him (Nitish Kumar), even 'sansar' came into existence after 2005. There was nothing in Bihar before 2005," Yadav said. "Nitish Kumar is tired now... his health condition is not well. He is running a government with retired bureaucrats," he alleged. The Supreme Court on Thursday asked all high courts to direct civil courts in their jurisdiction to decide the execution petitions within six months, failing which presiding officers would be held liable. IMAGE: The Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Pankaj Mithal further ordered the high courts to summon the data from the district judiciary over the pendency of such execution petitions. The execution petitions, the bench said, filed for execution of decrees in civil disputes were pending for three-four years. "If the execution petitions remain pending for three-four years, it defeats the very purpose of decree," Justice Pardiwala said. The verdict came in a 1980 civil dispute from Tamil Nadu. "We direct all the high courts across the country to call for the necessary information from their respective district judiciary as regards pendency of the execution petitions," the bench said. The court directed that after collecting the data, the high courts should issue an administrative order or a circular to the respective district judiciary asking the execution petitions to be decided and disposed of within six months without fail. "Otherwise the presiding officer concerned would be answerable to the high court on its administrative side," it added. The verdict said once the relevant data was collected by the high courts, it should be forwarded to the registry of the top court with individual reports. The registry was directed to convey the order to all high courts and the matter was posted after seven months for compliance. The top court noted in its verdict in 2021 and subsequently in 2022 it directed the execution proceedings to be completed within six months from the date of filing but the directions were yet to be followed. It pointed out a "long and inordinate" delay on the part of the executing courts in the country in deciding such petitions. The civil dispute before the bench concerned a sale agreement of June 30, 1980 entered by Tamil Nadu resident Ayyavoo Udayar over a piece of land. After the dispute arose over title of the land, Udayar filed a civil suit for specific performance against the defendants in 1986 with respect to an agreement to sell. In 2004, the decree-holder filed a petition to direct the defendants to execute the sale deed and deliver the possession of the property. It was, however, dismissed. This was challenged by way of a revision petition, which was allowed in 2006 but the sale deed was again not executed. In 2008, an order of delivery of possession was passed but not executed. The top court held that the high court "committed an egregious error" in passing the order. "We must now ensure that the appellants are able to reap the fruits of the decree. We are also of the view that the rejection by the high court of the amendments to the execution petition filed by the appellants, was erroneous and deserves to be set aside." The executing court should now proceed to ensure that vacant and peaceful possession of the suit property was handed over to the appellants in their capacity as decree holders and if necessary, with the aid of police, within two months "without fail". Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana has moved an 'emergency application' with the United States Supreme Court against his extradition to India, claiming that he will be tortured there since he is a Muslim of Pakistani origin. IMAGE: Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Photograph: ANI Photo Rana, 64, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently lodged at a metropolitan detention centre in Los Angeles. He is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks. Rana has filed an "Emergency Application For Stay" with the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit. President Donald Trump last month announced that his administration approved the extradition of 'very evil' Rana, wanted by Indian probe agencies for his role in the 26/11 attacks, 'to face justice in India'. This followed the rejection of his review petition by the Supreme Court in January. Now, Rana is seeking a stay of his extradition and surrender to India pending litigation (including exhaustion of all appeals) on the merits of a petition he filed on February 13. In that petition, Rana argued that his extradition to India violates United States law and the United Nations Convention Against Torture 'because there are substantial grounds for believing that, if extradited to India, petitioner will be in danger of being subjected to torture'. 'The likelihood of torture in this case is even higher though as petitioner faces acute risk as a Muslim of Pakistani origin charged in the Mumbai attacks,' the application said. The application also said that his 'severe medical conditions' render extradition to Indian detention facilities, a 'de facto' death sentence in this case. It cited medical records from July 2024 showing that he has multiple 'acute and life-threatening diagnoses', including multiple documented heart attacks, Parkinson's disease with cognitive decline, a mass suggestive of bladder cancer, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, and a history of chronic asthma, and multiple COVID-19 infections. "Accordingly, petitioner certainly has raised a credible, if not compelling, factual case that there are indeed substantial grounds for believing he would be in danger of torture if surrendered to Indian authorities. "Further, because of his Muslim religion, his Pakistani origin, his status as a former member of the Pakistani Army, the relation of the putative charges to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and his chronic health conditions he is even more likely to be tortured than otherwise would be the case, and that torture is very likely to kill him in short order." The US Supreme Court denied Rana's petition for a writ of certiorari relating to his original habeas petition on January 21. The application notes that on that same day, newly-confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio had met with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. When Prime Minister Modi arrived in Washington on February 12 to meet with Trump, Rana's counsel received a letter from the Department of State, stating that 'on February 11, 2025, the Secretary of State decided to authorise' Rana's 'surrender to India', pursuant to the 'Extradition Treaty between the United States and India'. Rana's Counsel requested from the State Department the complete administrative record on which Secretary Rubio based his decision to authorize Rana's surrender to India. The Counsel also requested immediate information on any commitment the US has obtained from India with respect to Rana's treatment. 'The government declined to provide any information in response to these requests,' the application said. It added that given Rana's underlying health conditions and the State Department's findings regarding the treatment of prisoners, it is very likely 'Rana will not survive long enough to be tried in India'. 'The issues raised by petitioner merit full and careful consideration, and the stakes are enormous for him. The very least the US courts owe the petitioner is a full chance to litigate these issues, including exercising their appellate rights, before he is consigned to the fate that awaits him at the hands of the Indian government,' the application said. It added that if a stay is not entered, there will be no review at all, and the US courts will lose jurisdiction, and 'petitioner will soon be dead. Therefore, we respectfully request that this Court enter an Order staying the extradition and surrender of petitioner pending a full and considered hearing on petitioner's claims by the district court, circuit court, and, if necessary, a writ of certiorari to and further proceedings before this Court'. Cadaver dogs of Kerala Police will be joining Telangana tunnel collapse rescue operation, the state government said on Thursday. IMAGE: Armys Engineer Task Force continue the rescue operations at the under-construction Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel which crashed on February 22, 2025, in Nagarkurnool. Photograph: ANI Photo The cadaver dogs (that are specially trained to locate missing humans, human bodies) and the officers handling them left for Hyderabad on Thursday morning, Kerala government said in a statement. The dogs were sent for the rescue operation following a request by the State Disaster Management Authority whose help in the matter was sought by the National Disaster Management Authority, the statement said. Eight persons -- engineers and labourers -- have been trapped in the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project tunnel in Telangana since February 22 and experts from the NDRF, Indian Army, Navy and other agencies are making relentless efforts to pull them out to safety. Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi's remarks that a "person coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi" sparked a huge controversy in Maharashtra and invited strong condemnation from the Opposition on Thursday. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Photograph: ANI Photo Even as Joshi sought to put a lid on the raging row by saying his remarks, made at an event in Mumbai's Ghatkopar on Wednesday, were misconstrued, and that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra, the opposition Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray demanded that he be booked for treason. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis quickly stepped in to douse the fire and declared in the assembly that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra, and anyone who lives in the state should learn and speak it. The RSS functionary's controversial remarks came at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-headed government in Tamil Nadu are locked in a bitter war of words over the three-language formula under the National Education Policy. Fadnavis's statement came after Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said the BJP-led Mahayuti government should clarify its stand on Joshi's comments. The CM said, "I haven't heard what Bhaiyyaji said, but the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra is Marathi. Everyone should learn Marathi and should speak the language." Fadnavis affirmed his government respects other languages as well. "If you love and respect your own language, you do the same to other languages. I am sure Bhaiyyaji will agree with me," Fadnavis said. Leaders of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi staged a protest in Mumbai against Joshi's remarks, and shouted slogans asserting Marathi is the language of the metropolis. Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, a bitter critic of the BJP, demanded that the RSS leader be booked for treason over his remarks on Marathi. Speaking in the legislative council, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule of the BJP said the Maharashtra government's policy on Marathi is clear -- those living in the state should know and learn the language. The government policy is clear that whoever lives in Maharashtra should know Marathi and learn it. There is no compromise on the Marathi language, Bawankule said. A day after his remarks triggered a controversy, Joshi said, Marathi is my native language and I take pride in it. Marathi is Maharashtra language and Mumbai's language. There are no two opinions about it. People speaking many languages live in harmony in Mumbai." It is expected that those coming from outside and speaking other languages should also understand Marathi, Joshi said. "Mumbai doesn't have a single language. Each part of Mumbai has a different language. Ghatkopar area's language is Gujarati. So if you are residing in Mumbai, it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi," Joshi had said at the event on Wednesday. In a clarification on Thursday, the RSS leader said his remarks were misconstrued. Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap said in the council that it was distressing that a responsible person from the RSS had made such remarks. "Our resolve is to safeguard the Marathi language, Jagtap said. NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar legislator Shashikant Shinde sought to know if Joshi's remarks were a ploy to break Mumbai from Maharashtra and if anyone was encouraging it. Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena-UBT Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut claimed Joshi's remark amounted to treason and Maharashtra's insult. Can he go and speak like this in Kolkata, Lucknow, Chennai, Ludhiana, Patna, or Bengaluru, Trivandrum or Hyderabad?" Raut asked. Talking to reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex, Uddhav Thackeray alleged that Joshi's remarks reflect the hidden agenda of the RSS and the BJP to divide Mumbai. Thackeray dared Joshi to make such statements in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and come back safely. Just because the "Marathi manoos" is welcoming, does not mean anyone can hit him, he added. "Joshi should be booked for treason. I had made a law (while he was CM) to make Marathi compulsory in the state. This (his remarks) is against the law," he said. Thackeray said, "Mumbai is a metropolis. If you (BJP) want to win it, then do it by doing good work, and not by spreading venom." Leaders of the opposition MVA staged a protest at Hutatma Chowk in south Mumbai against Joshi's remarks. They included Uddhav Thackeray, Congress leaders Vijay Wadettiwar, Bhai Jagtap, Nitin Raut and NCP-SP state president Jayant Patil. The United Kingdom on Thursday strongly condemned the security breach involving a pro-Khalistan extremist rushing towards External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's convoy, saying such attempts to 'intimidate, threaten, or disrupt' public events are 'completely unacceptable'. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Britain's Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, in London. Photograph: ANI Photo It came after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called on the UK to 'live up to their diplomatic obligations' after a man from a small group of protesters chanting pro-Khalistan slogans and waving separatist flags attempted to breach the security perimeter as Jaishankar left the Chatham House think tank in London on Wednesday evening. The protester was swiftly taken aside by officers of the Metropolitan Police, which said that no arrests had been made. "We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside Chatham House yesterday (Wednesday) during the External Affairs Minister's visit to the UK," a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said. "While the UK upholds the right to peaceful protest, any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly to address the situation, and we remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations," the spokesperson said. A Met Police spokesperson added: "As the Minister left the event, a protester ran in front of his stationary car waving a flag. "He was quickly intercepted by officers and moved out of the way. He did not get close to the Minister who was able to leave the area without further incident. There were no arrests." It follows Jaishankar's talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House over Tuesday and Wednesday, when both leaders covered the 'entire gamut of bilateral ties', including the relaunched Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, regional and global issues. The protesters opposite the Royal Institute of International Affairs, commonly known as Chatham House, had been barricaded and monitored by a significant police presence outside the venue. Officers rushed to restrain the man as he ran past the barricade in an attempt to block the path of the minister's car while pulling at an Indian flag. "It is shameful that this attack comes when Dr S. Jaishankar is on a UK tour and had just completed a successful meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy where they discussed bilateral ties," said community organisation INSIGHT UK, posting footage of the incident on social media. The MEA had reacted earlier on Thursday, condemning the security breach and provocative activities of this 'small group of separatists and extremists'. "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of the external affairs minister to the UK," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi. "We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedom by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations," he said. Russia has 220 brigades with combat experience, there will be 300 in 5 years, we must respond - Zelenskyy at European Council Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at a meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Thursday, said it was necessary to respond to the increase in the Russian army. "Moscow is not reducing its investment in death, it is increasing its army and is constantly trying to circumvent sanctions. Russia currently has 220 brigades with combat experience. In five years, they will increase this number to 300. We must respond to this by caring about life today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow," he said. The President of Ukraine welcomed the efforts of the European Commission to rearm Europe and the plan for rearmament of Europe, as well as the efforts of European colleagues to increase national defense spending and modernize national armies. "When we agree on the format of the European armed forces, this format will be based on the strength of national armies and the experience of deploying partner contingents in Ukraine. And this is what we are working on now," Zelenskyy said. He also welcomed investments by all partner countries in the defense industry both in Ukraine and in their countries. "Europe's industrial base must grow. Europe must become a place where the most technologically advanced and effective weapons in the world are produced, and this is not a fantasy if Europeans really set such a goal for themselves," Zelenskyy added. IMAGE: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu showered gifts on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman when he met her in New Delhi on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. All photographs: ANI Photo IMAGE: The FinMin has a look at Naidu's demands. IMAGE: Naidu also called on Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday. IMAGE: Accompanying Naidu were Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Union Minister of State Pemmasani Chandrasekhar. IMAGE: For Gadkari, Naidu brought a box of Araku Coffee. IMAGE: A Naidu visit to Delhi would be incomplete without meeting the second most powerful man in the country. IMAGE: For Amit Shah, Naidu brought Araku Coffee and the inevitable bouquet of flowers. PTI reports: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss various state government projects and to seek approval for two critical bills aimed at curbing land grabbing and addressing the drug menace in the southern state. Naidu said he discussed the increasing land grabbing petitions and the state government's strategy to combat ganja and drug abuse with Shah. The chief minister sought Shah's support for two key bills -- the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill 2024 and legislation to address the ganja and drug problem in the state. The Andhra Pradesh government plans to discourage ganja cultivation by destroying crops at the source and by providing alternative employment opportunities. Naidu underscored the critical issue of land disputes, stating that six out of 10 legal cases in the state pertained to land conflicts. He pointed out that the absence of proper checks in the land computerisation process has led to large-scale encroachments, with private lands even being included under Section 22E and taken over. Explaining the widespread impact, the chief minister noted that both urban and rural areas have been affected, as he urged the Centre to clear the AP Land Grabbing Prohibition Bill, citing Gujarat's existing model as a precedent. Naidu stressed that the burden of proof should rest on the land grabber to curb illegal activities. On law enforcement concerns, Naidu highlighted issues of bootlegging and illicit drug cultivation. He also praised the EAGLE force for effectively controlling ganja cultivation in the state, and reiterated the government's zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and heinous crimes. To support the farmers, he assured incentives for alternative crops to replace ganja cultivation. During his meeting with Sitharaman, Naidu discussed financial issues and the proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla river linking project. He said 200 TMC of water, currently going to waste, could be diverted for agricultural and drinking purposes. The chief minister noted that the Centre is supporting the Polavaram irrigation project as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. The project is progressing well, with the first phase expected to be completed by 2027, he said, adding that the Centre has already released Rs 5,000 crore out of the total Rs 12,000 crore allocated for the project. During his meeting with Gadkari, Naidu raised several highway projects in the state. He sought early completion of the Eastern bypass road and the 189-km Outer Ring Road in Amaravati. The discussions also included the Vizag to Mulapet coastal road and a direct Hyderabad to Machilipatnam port road, for which detailed project reports are currently under preparation. Naidu also explored the possibility of a greenfield express highway connecting Hyderabad with the Machilipatnam (Bandar) port in Andhra Pradesh. Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com 'What attitude has spawned such gruesomeness in the state of Saint Tukaram, Saint Dnyaneshwar, and great leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Chhatrapati Shahu, Phule and Ambedkar?' IMAGE: Murdered Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's family members meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Tuesday, March 5, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal raised issues about Maharashtra's selective outrage over brutal, gruesome killings and the torture endured by four youths before they were silenced forever. The Maharashtra assembly was unusually tense on March 5 as Bhujbal took the floor with an impassioned speech, demanding justice for four men -- Santosh Deshmukh, Somnath Suryawanshi, Mauli Sot, and Kailas Borhade -- three of who had met horrifying deaths in recent months. While Santosh Deshmukh's murder dominated headlines leading to Dhananjay Munde's resignation as a minister, the other two killings -- where victims belonged to the Dalit and OBC community -- did not provoke the same outrage, Bhujbal seemed to suggest as he spoke for 15 non-stop, undisturbed, minutes, holding every elected representative's attention in the assembly. Bhujbal's voice trembled with anger and pathos as he asked, "Why has Maharashtra -- this land of saints like Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar, great revolutionaries like Chhatrapati Shivaji, (Jyotiba) Phule, Shahu and (Babasaheb) Ambedkar -- become so cruel?" He urged the Speaker to see these victims not as Marathas, Dalits, or Dhangars (shepherds, an OBC caste), but as human beings. The four cases -- three murders and one murderous torture -- that Bhujbal highlighted and made a fervent plea seeking justice for all. Santosh Deshmukh: The Murder That Shook Maharashtra Beed district had never witnessed a crime so brazen, so merciless. Santosh Deshmukh, a local sarpanch, was abducted in broad daylight. His captors -- allegedly connected to Dhananjay Munde, who has now resigned after a chargesheet was filed against his close aide and the main accused Walmik Karad, -- revealed the extent of brutality heaped on Deshmukh before he was killed. For hours, he was beaten with iron rods, his ribs cracking under each blow. The perpetrators laughed as Deshmukh screamed in pain. "They even urinated on him when he asked for water," a visibly anguished Bhujbal said in the House and demanded strictest of punishment for Deshmukh's killers. Somnath Suryawanshi: The Forgotten Death in Police Custody In December 2024, Parbhani, Maharashtra, witnessed a tragedy that some say exposed deep-seated caste discrimination and police brutality. It began when a replica of the Constitution near an Ambedkar statue was desecrated, sparking Dalit protests. In response, police raided Dalit settlements, arresting around 50 people, including 35-year-old law student Somnath Suryawanshi, a member of the Vadar (scheduled caste) community. Somnath, known for his dedication to education, was taken into custody from Shankar Nagar and detained for two days. Inside the police station, he was subjected to brutal torture -- stripped naked, hung upside down, and beaten mercilessly with lathis soaked in oil to prevent external marks. When he begged for water, officers poured hot tea down his throat. His body could not withstand the torture, and by December 15, he was dead. The police claimed he had suffered a heart attack, but the autopsy revealed 'shock due to multiple injuries', confirming the violence he endured. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing the assembly in Nagpur, stated Somnath had breathing issues but claimed he hadn't reported police torture in court. He then announced an SIT probe and the suspension of one officer. Despite local protests, Somnath's death failed to stir Maharashtra's collective conscience, underscoring the selective outrage and systemic neglect of Dalit lives. "Even some cops are participating in custodial torture," Bhujbal pointed out. "The recent case of Somnath Suryawanshi, who belonged to the Vadar community, died in police custody in Parbhani. BJP MLA from Beed Suresh Dhas pleaded that on humanitarian grounds there should not be any case filed against the cops under whose custody Suryawanshi died," Bhujbal told the assembly. "It is utterly shameful that a person (Dhas) who has so stridently campaigned against Walmik Karad and Dhananjay Munde should ask for forgiveness for the killers of Suryawanshi just because he belonged to the Vadar community -- just because this time the killers were cops. "Doesn't the Constitution of India give Suryawanshi the same rights as it gives to Deshmukh? Was Suryawanshi not a human? Was he an animal?" Mauli Sote: Lynched for Love In October 2024, 18-year-old Mauli Sote from Takali village in Latur district, Maharashtra, was brutally assaulted due to a suspected romantic involvement. On October 27, six individuals attacked Mauli with sticks and rods, leading to severe injuries. He was immediately hospitalised and remained under medical care until he succumbed to his injuries on January 6, 2025. The six accused -- Govind Dure, Gopal Dure, Kamalakar Dure, Manoj Dure, Kumar Upade, and Om Khedkar -- were arrested shortly after the incident. Following Mauli's death, authorities escalated the charges to murder. The accused are currently in judicial custody as the investigation continues. This tragic event has drawn parallels to the storyline of the Marathi film Sairat, which portrays societal challenges faced by inter-caste couples. The incident has sparked discussions about caste dynamics and the need for societal introspection in Maharashtra. Mauli's death underscores the persistent issues of caste-based violence and societal intolerance in the region. It highlights the urgent need for addressing deep-seated prejudices to prevent such tragedies in the future and how violence and torture are being routinely normalised and justified for brutal lynchings over love affair. Kailas Borhade: Tortured with a Hot Iron Rod Jalna district's Anwa village witnessed a horrifying act of brutality when 36-year-old Kailas Govinda Borhade was attacked over an old land dispute. On the night of February 24, Borhade was mercilessly beaten by two brothers, Bhagwat Daund and Navnath Daund, in a premeditated assault that left him gravely injured. The attackers used a hot iron rod as a weapon of torture, pressing it against Borhade's body, causing severe burns all over his body. Along with the burns, he was also subjected to a violent beating, leaving him with multiple injuries. The attack, which took place under the cover of darkness, was so severe that Borhade had to be rushed to a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for urgent medical treatment. The brutal nature of the crime sent shockwaves through the local community, prompting police action. Following Borhade's statement, an FIR was registered against the accused, but both attackers fled the scene. Law enforcement authorities, under pressure to act, launched a manhunt to apprehend the suspects. While highlighting these murders and torture in the assembly Bhujbal pleaded for the need for an urgent, collective effort to demolish such attitudes, these incidents has raised concerns about law and order in Maharashtra, highlighting the persistence of violent disputes and the ruthless methods employed in acts of vengeance without having any fear for the rule of law. The United States administration under President Donald Trump is moving towards multipolarity which suits India's interests, and the two nations have agreed on the need for a bilateral trade pact, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks at the Chatham House think tank in London. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar/X During a session titled 'India's rise and role in the world' at the Chatham House think tank in London on Wednesday, the EAM was asked about his thoughts on the first few weeks of the new US government and, specifically, about Trump's reciprocal tariffs. "We see a president and an administration which, in our parlance, is moving towards multipolarity and that is something that suits India," said Jaishankar, who is on a six-day visit to the UK and Ireland. "From President Trump's perspective, the one big shared enterprise that we have is the Quad, which is an understanding where everybody pays their fair share. There are no free riders involved. So that's a good model which works," he said. The Quad alliance consists of the US, India, Australia and Japan. On the specific issue of tariffs, the minister noted that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington to discuss a bilateral trade pact, following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump at the White House last month. "We had a very open conversation about it (tariffs) and the result of that conversation was that we agreed on the need for a bilateral trade agreement," he said. During the exchange with Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox, the EAM covered a broad spectrum of issues including his cautious optimism over the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations after his ministerial discussions over the past few days. "It's a very complicated process. So, given the complexity, it's natural that it would take time, from my discussions with Prime Minister (Keir) Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and (Business) Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, I got a consistent message that the British side is also interested in moving forward. I had a few points to convey on behalf of my concerned colleagues as well. So, I'm cautiously optimistic and hope that it doesn't take that long," he said. India's role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the trajectory of the BRICS grouping of nations and relations with China were among the other major foreign policy issues touched upon during the conversation. "We have been one of the few countries who have been regularly talking to both Moscow and Kyiv at various levels. Wherever there's been a sense that India can do something, we have always been open-minded about it. Our consistent position has been that they need to do direct negotiations," he said. On China, Jaishankar noted some positive movement since October 2024, including the opening of the Mount Kailash pilgrimage route in Tibet. "We have a very, very unique relationship with China as the only two billion plus populated countries in the world, we want a relationship where our interests are respected, sensitivities are recognised and works for both of us," he said. Responding to an audience question on solving issues in Kashmir, the minister stated, "Removing Article 370 was step number one, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir was step number two, and holding elections with a very high turnout was step number three. "I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. When that is done, I assure you Kashmir will be solved," he added. Jaishankar is scheduled for talks with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, on Thursday. Prem Bihari Narain Raizada wrote 145,000 words in flowing italic styles. It took him 6 months and hundreds of nibs. Photograph: Kind courtesy Lalit Kala Akademi The Constitution of India was hand written in beautiful calligraphy by Prem Bihari Narain Raizada, a graduate from Delhi's St Stephen's College. Belonging to a family of calligraphers, he took six months to write the nearly 145,000 words with a nib and holder in a flowing italic style. The Constitution is the longest written constitution in the world. Raizada did most of the writing in the Constitution Hall which is now the Constitution Club and wrote it meticulously on parchment paper. The parchment sheets measured 16x22 inches and have a lifespan of thousands of years. The finished manuscript has 252 pages and weighs 3.25 kgs, according to the information in the Constitution gallery at the Pradhan Mantri Sangralaya or Prime Minister's Museum in New Delhi. Mr Raizada used hundreds of nibs, some procured from England. He did not charge any money for this national duty. In adherence to his request, his signature appears on the left margins of each page and on the last page. Photograph: Archana Masih The illustrations on the Constitution were done by the legendary artist Nandlal Bose, principal of Kala Bhavan, Beohar Rambahadur Sinha and his team from Santiniketan. The artwork covers 5,000 years of Indian history from different periods up till Independence. The signatures of the illustrators appear in the right corner. Nandlal Bose also designed the Bharat Ratna and Padma Shri emblems. The Constitution was published and photolithographed at the Survey of India in Dehradun. The original is bound in black and embossed in gold. The Hindi version of the Constitution was written in Devanagri script by calligrapher Vasant K Vaidya. Both Hindi and English copies are kept in the Parliament Library in a special helium case. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Constitution. The Constituent Assembly sat for 167 days to debate and frame the Constitution. It was adopted on November 26, 1949 and came into effect on January 26, 1950. On Thursday, March 13, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency (8/5a Reitarska Street) will host a discussion entitled "About diabetes without fatal mistakes" on the role of the media in disseminating reliable (scientifically based) knowledge about diabetes. The YouTube channel of the Ukrainian Diabetic Federation 'You are not alone' and the Diabetic School for Journalists and Bloggers will be presented, the topic of the first issue for World Kidney Day "Protect your heart and kidneys: find out why diabetes significantly increases the risk of heart disease and chronic kidney failure." Invited Participants: Executive Director of the Ukrainian Diabetic Federation, Honored Doctor of Ukraine, Candidate of Medical Sciences Natalia Kozhan (Epidemiology of Diabetes: a Factor of War); Honorary President of the Ukrainian Diabetic Federation Bohdan Beniuk (Not only the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. The role of the media in forming a conscious attitude towards diabetes); General Director of the CheckEye Innovation Platform Kyrylo Honcharuk (Digitalization + diabetes: consume innovations wisely); MD, physician of the highest category, senior researcher, head of the diabetology department of the State Institution Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism named after V.P. Komisarenko of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine Liubov Sokolova; Moderator - Chairperson of the Board of the Ukrainian Diabetic Federation Valentyna Ocheretenko. The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel. Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards. Additional information by phone: (050) 385 8088. HALIFAX On the ballot for a three year Select Board seat will appear the names of Edee Edwards and Lori Marchegiani. Commentary Commentary | Notes from a Vermont Activist by Nancy Braus: We need vision if we are going to defeat Trump Emergency cash enrollment centre in Odesa. In the past year, more than 40,000 people in Ukraine have received emergency cash assistance from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency immediately after evacuations from frontline or border areas or in the wake of Russian aerial attacks damaging their homes enabling them to pay for food, healthcare, transport to safer areas, rent or home repairs. Cash assistance has proven to be an optimal way to provide crucial aid to individuals in crisis, allowing them to best address their most urgent needs, while at the same time supporting the local economies, which have proved resilient in the midst of continued war. Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, having entered its fourth year, has caused widespread destruction, displacement, and loss, with continuous missile and drone attacks damaging homes and critical infrastructure. Thirteen percent of Ukraines housing stock has been destroyed in the past three years, affecting some 2.5 million families, according to the newly released Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment. And the destruction continues. Ongoing hostilities and ground offensives continue to displace people from frontline areas, particularly in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Sumy regions. In the past six months, over 200,000 people fled or were evacuated by authorities, volunteers or civil society actors according to estimates by the authorities. "In the wake of relentless missile, drone and glide bomb attacks on residential areas and intensified hostilities that continue to force people to flee and abandon their homes, UNHCRs priority is to respond swiftly and efficiently by providing those affected with life-saving aid. By delivering emergency cash assistance, within just a couple of days, UNHCR provides families the means to buy the essentials, when all their belongings were left behind or destroyed by an attack, or temporarily rent a place to sleep. This assistance helps them get through the initial period and shock while regaining a sense of control and dignity in these critical moments, says Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine. The emergency cash programme was established in February 2024 to provide an efficient alternative to the provision of in-kind assistance, like blankets, mattrasses and hygiene kits to people who had just been displaced or impacted by aerial attacks. To monitor its effectiveness and how the money is spent, UNHCR conducted a survey with 1,291 families that received emergency cash assistance after an air attack and 1,000 people who evacuated from frontline areas. The findings confirm that cash assistance remains the preferred mode of assistance for people affected by missile strikes and evacuations 97% of recipients were satisfied and 92% reported a seamless process in receiving the support. The evacuees mostly reported spending the emergency cash on food, rent, healthcare, and costs related to relocating to safer areas. Almost two thirds of the families receiving cash after aerial attacks reported using the money primarily for house repairs. The emergency cash distribution adds to UNHCRs existing cash assistance programme in Ukraine, which was established immediately after Russias full-scale invasion with the first cash transactions reaching people in need in March 2022. Since then, UNHCR has reached some 2.1 million displaced and war-affected people in Ukraine with different types of one-off cash assistance, including for solid fuel and utilities to keep homes warm and liveable during winter, for a total of USD 610.5 million. UNHCRs cash assistance programme is possible thanks to the generous support of public and private donors. After a successful summit in Brussels that saw Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receive strong backing from European leaders, Kyiv will now turn its attention to high-stakes talks next week between Ukrainian and US officials. The Ukrainian president said in a social media post following the summit that he will travel to Saudi Arabia, which hosted the first round of talks between the United States and Russia, and that his team "will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners." Zelenskyy will not attend the talks personally. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that a meeting is planned and said that he idea was to "get down the framework for a peace agreement." He said coordination efforts were still ongoing and that the meeting could take place in Riyadh or Jeddah. "But I think the larger discussion for usis to get a peace deal done," Witkoff told reporters. Zelenskyy said the talks with the United States were evidence that Kyiv was working to reach a "fast and lasting" peace and he expressed hope that it will be "a meaningful meeting." The development caps off a whirlwind week of diplomacy for Zelenskyy amid tensions with the United States and competing visions over how to end the three-year-old war. One week ago on February 28, Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump were involved in a public clash in the Oval Office where Trump accused the Ukrainian president of not being ready to end the war. Zelenskyy left the White House without signing a minerals deal and Washington proceeded to pause military aid to Ukraine and stop sharing intelligence. "I think Ukraine wants to make a deal because they dont have a choice," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on March 6. "I also think that Russia wants to make a deal because in a certain different way -- a different way that only I know -- they have no choice either," he added. Trump also said he will also visit Saudi Arabia over the next month and a half, without elaborating further. "I dont know, I cant tell you," he sid in response to question about whether he would travel to the country to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Im going to Saudi Arabia." A 'Watershed' Meeting In Brussels Now, Ukraine will be heading into the upcoming talks with fresh support from Europe. With the exception of Hungary, European Union governments rallied behind Zelenskyy at a March 6 summit in Brussels. The Ukrianian president called on leaders at the meeting to push the Kremlin to halt air and sea attacks on Ukraine as a step toward building trust and moving forward in negotiations to end the war. After crisis meetings in Paris and London, the summit focused on boosting defense spending in Europe after the United States suspended aid to Ukraine and signaled Europe must play a bigger role in its own security. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen kicked off the meeting by warning that "Europe faces a clear and present danger," exacerbating the need for it "to be able to protect itself, to defend itself." "This is a watershed moment for Europe and Ukraine as part of our European family," she added. "It's also a watershed moment for Ukraine." After several hours of discussions, the European Council approved a statement saying Russias war of aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security "constitute an existential challenge for the European Union." "In this context, the European Union will accelerate the mobilization of the necessary instruments and financing in order to bolster the security of the European Union and the protection of our citizens," it added. The document, which includes wording that gives members fiscal flexibility on defense spending and supports the idea of providing members with EU-backed loans of up to 150 billion euros ($160 billion) to spend on their militaries, was approved by all 27 EU members, including Hungary. Earlier in the day, Budapest made it clear it wouldn't support a statement backing Ukraine, though Hungary was on board with bolstering spending on defense. In his speech, Zelenskyy thanked those in attendance for their support more than three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while urging them to ensure "that the Russians are not deceiving us" in any talks to "a full and fair settlement, to a comprehensive agreement on security guarantees and an end to the war," Europe's deadliest conflict since the end of World War II. "The next step is basic trust to the circumstances in which the negotiations are taking place.... The release of prisoners can be a means of establishing basic trust," he said. What's The Plan To REARM Europe? Ahead of the meeting, von der Leyen called for the adoption of REARM Europe (her capitalization), which envisages releasing up to 800 billion euros for EU members states to spend on defense. The summit's draft conclusions, seen by RFE/RL, broadly welcome the plan, setting the stage for more detailed plans to be approved at the next European Council on March 20-21. Noting the need to "substantially increase defense expenditure," the text calls for "action at the EU level" to boost military capabilities in the face of "threats posed by Russia and Belarus." EU leaders are also set to welcome new lending rules outlined by the European Investment Bank, freeing up funds to finance projects such as barracks and military hospitals. Ahead of the summit, there was a broadly warm response to von der Leyen's letter. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said it was an "important first step" while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis posted on social media: "We must now work out the details." This reflects the fact that, despite the upbeat rhetoric of European officials, much of the details still remain to be put in place and there are questions about whether the overall price tag is realistic. Critics have argued that the EU is not making new money available but merely rearranging existing budget elements. Can Europe Defend Itself Without US Help? The plan comes as Washington announced a pause on its military assistance to Ukraine, and some have framed it as Europe preparing for a worst-case scenario without a US security umbrella. Mostly, European politicians have rejected this. "We should not give up on the US," said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on March 4, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters at the weekend London conference: "I do not accept that the US is an unreliable ally." But the fact that they're saying such things at all is a sign of how rattled Europe is by decisions and statements being made in Washington. Can Zelenskyy Repair Relations With Trump? "The situation in Ukraine, given notably the position of the new US administration, has changed," a senior EU official told RFE/RL. "This is the starting point for the special European Council." European leaders will address what they can do to fill the gap left by the aid freeze to support Ukraine's armed forces. But the summit is not expected to provide significant new announcements on this. The main focus remains repairing the rift between US President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy, and there was some movement on this in the days before the summit. In his address to Congress on March 4, Trump said Zelenskyy had written to him following their recent Oval Office showdown, and that the Ukrainian leader was ready to return to the negotiating table. The next day, his national-security adviser, Mike Waltz, told Fox News that the pause on military aid could be lifted if Ukraine signed a deal giving Washington access to its mineral wealth -- which another US official said was still possible after Zelenskyy expressed regret for the White House clash. Going into the Brussels meeting, German chancellor Olaf Scholz noted that "Ukraine's security arrangements and peace cannot be forcefully imposed by outside actors. "We are aligned with that concept. The strengthening of Ukraine's security strength is why we are here to discuss today," Scholz said. The question of Ukraine may also expose the lack of EU unity at the special summit. After making a TV address to the nation on March 5, Macron had dinner with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Elysee Palace on the eve of the summit. His aim was to try to get Orban, who has nurtured close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on board with a statement supporting Ukraine. Hungary's nationalist leader, a Trump ally, has signaled he may veto a unanimous statement backing Ukraine, though he has also made clear he would support measures for an increase in spending on Europe's own defense. In televised remarks, French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be "madness" to ignore the threat Russia has become for Europe and said he is open to discussing the extension of France's nuclear deterrence to Paris's allies on the Continent. Who Could Send Troops To Ukraine? The meeting in Brussels follows a string of previous crisis gatherings, most recently in London on March 2. A key takeaway from that meeting was that Britain, France, and other countries would work on a joint peace plan with Ukraine, which they would then take to Washington. There may be some discussion of this on the sidelines in Brussels, but post-Brexit, this is something that is being developed away from EU meetings. Another key point from recent talks is the plan to form a European military force to deploy to Ukraine as part of a cease-fire or peace deal. So far, Britain and France have said they're ready to put boots on the ground. Starmer said in London that other countries had also stepped up but declined to name them. The senior EU official confirmed that member states had expressed willingness but "to go into details is premature." However, he added, "work needs to start and this European Council is a good moment for that work to start." 8 Protesters burn an effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili on December 9. The billionaire former prime minister is the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Many Georgians expressed their distaste at this symbolic form of protest. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the Darmenovs -- a family of ethnic Kazakhs living some 25 kilometers southwest of Kyiv -- had the option of returning to Kazakhstan to escape the war and the destruction it brought. Instead, they decided to stay in Ukraine and defend the country they have called home for more than two decades however they could. Marat Darmenov, the father of the family of five living in the village of Bilohorodka, quickly volunteered to help those affected by the brutal war. As Ukrainians faced power outages, water shortages, and heating cutoffs amid relentless Russian air strikes, the 55-year-old offered shelter, food, and warmth under a symbol of his Central Asia homeland: a traditional Kazakh yurt. Darmenov and other Kazakh volunteers called their use of the circular tents covered with felt or animal skins "Yurts Of Invincibility," a play on the government-backed Points of Invincibility that provided aid to displaced Ukrainians and those dealing with blackouts. Images of his first yurt set up in early 2023 in the town of Bucha -- the site of a brief but brutal occupation by Russian forces who tortured and killed hundreds of civilians in the early days of war -- made international headlines, and private donations, mostly from Kazakhstan, poured in. That first yurt was donated by a Kazakh businessman named Daulet Nurzhanov and he's since sent more to Darmenov, who has set up yurts in cities and towns across Ukraine, the latest of which was erected in the western city of Novovolynsk in January. He says he drove some 500 kilometers to Novovolynsk to install the tent and cook plov, a Central Asian rice dish, for locals. "I loaded my cooking pots and samovars into my minibus to make plov. I also took a stove, firewood, and disposable tableware -- I traveled with my whole kitchen. At the opening ceremony of each yurt, we treat visitors to plov," Darmenov said, adding that he has always offered food and drink free of charge. 'An Apocalyptic Scene' Darmenov's volunteer work began in late March 2022, after Ukrainian forces pushed back the Russian Army from the edges of Kyiv, crushing Moscow's original aim to capture the Ukrainian capital and take control of the country in a short span. Shutting down a successful furniture business he ran along with his relatives before the war, Darmenov joined other members of the Kazakh diaspora who decided to deliver food to residents of the cities and villages liberated from the occupation. His eldest son, Dastan, would go on to join the military to fight for Ukraine. Darmenov recalls visiting the village of Hostomel on the outskirts of Kyiv that was liberated in early April 2022 after a fierce battle that lasted for more than a month. He cooked plov, placing his large pot and stove in the village center, while female Kazakh volunteers prepared baursaks, a traditional fried bread that is offered with milk and tea. "It was an apocalyptic scene there: no natural gas, no electricity, no water. Large supermarkets burned down," Darmenov recalls. "There were [Ukrainian] soldiers who told us: 'Stay in this place and don't move around because [Russian forces] have laid land mines everywhere.'" "Residents stood in line, and we handed out food. We told them that we are Kazakhs, but citizens of Ukraine. People hugged us. One of them said: 'I lived in Kazakhstan,' another said: 'My husband is from Kazakhstan,' and another one had a relative in Kazakhstan. I filmed all of these on my phone," he said. As the videos of yurt were shared on social media with touching messages and warm tributes, Darmenov and other Kazakh volunteers got messages of support and offers of help from Kazakhstan and elsewhere. Among those who offered help was a Kazakh-born German national who provided 10 tons of food supplies to Darmenov. "I set aside some of the rice and cooking oil, which we used to prepare plov and baursaks for people, and I distributed the rest of the supplies to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and internally displaced people from the eastern regions," Darmenov remembers. 'HIMARS Didn't Scare Russia As Much As Our Yurts Did' As footage and images of the Kazakh Yurts of Invincibility went viral, they even caught the attention of the Kremlin. An infuriated Moscow demanded an official explanation from Astana "to avoid damaging the Russia-Kazakhstan strategic partnership and alliance," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in January 2023. In response, Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said there was "nothing to explain." "It is an initiative of private Kazakh companies. They organized it, transported it, and are providing the assistance. We do not see any problem here," Smadiyarov told reporters at the time. Darmenov believes that Moscow's angry reaction proves that the Kazakh volunteers' work "have not gone in vain." "HIMARS didn't scare Russia as much as our yurts did," Darmenov said, referring to the U.S.-made rocket system that helped Kyiv to push back Russian forces. Darmenov hopes for the war to end and for peace to return to Ukraine. He wants soldiers to come back home safely, aincluding his son, Dastan. Dastan was 22 when the invasion started. The compulsory age for being drafted in the Ukrainian military at the time was 27, but He chose to voluntarily join the military. He has been wounded several times in the front line in eastern Ukraine. Written by Farangis Najibullah with reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Unit on Central Asia. French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be "madness" to ignore the threat Russia has become for Europe and said he is open to discussing the extension of France's nuclear deterrence to Paris's allies on the Continent. His comments on March 5 come on the eve of an emergency meeting of European Union leaders set in Brussels to discuss ramping up military budgets, a key demand of the US administration amid concerns over Washingtons commitment to NATO and European security matters. In some of his most forceful remarks to date, Macron said in a nationally televised address that "our nuclear deterrent protects us: It's complete, sovereign, French through and through." "But, responding to the historic call of the future German Chancellor [Friedrich Merz], I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European Continent through our [nuclear] deterrence," he said. Macron also said France would have to spend more on defense and vowed that Paris would continue to stand with Kyiv in the face of Russia's full-scale invasion, which has entered its fourth year. "Russia has become a threat for France and Europe," Marcon said. "To watch and do nothing would be madness." He said he hoped the United States "will remain at our side" -- but added that Europe must be prepared for the alternative. "Europe's future does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow," Macron said. "The innocence of the past 30 years...is now over. "Who can believe that today's Russia will stop at Ukraine? Russia has become a threat to France and Europe while I am speaking to you and for years to come." "Beyond Ukraine, the Russian threat is present and affects the countries of Europe. It affects us," Macron added. All nations seek to keep details of their nuclear arsenal secret, and Macron did not speak of specifics when suggesting the widening of France's nuclear umbrella. France's deterrent was developed by then-President Charles de Gaulle in the early 1960s, designed to be fully independent from the United States, which was in nuclear competition with the Soviet Union at the time. Macron's sentiments have also been voiced by the leader of France's far-right party, who said that "the defense of French interests does not stop at [French] borders. "Since de Gaulle, the French nuclear umbrella protects, by definition, certain neighbors and certain European partners," National Rally President Jordan Bardella said this week. According to the Federation of American Scientists, the United States (with 5,044 nuclear warheads) and Russia (5,580) hold about 88 percent of the world's total inventory of nuclear arms. France has an estimated 290 warheads and Britain about 225, the federation says on its website. China has about 500. Merz, the likely next German chancellor after his party won parliamentary elections last month, has questioned whether NATO would remain in its "current form" by its June summit and suggested talks be held with Paris and London about expansion of their nuclear protection. Concerns over the US commitment to Ukraine and Europe mounted after the White House said President Donald Trump was pausing US military aid to Ukraine and following remarks by the director of the CIA that it has restricted intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. Trump, who has made ending the war in Ukraine a centerpiece of his second term in office, also raised worries among European allies after he called Russian President Vladimir Putin in mid-February and then sent top officials to meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia. The scrambling also comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's disastrous visit to the White House, which had been expected to produce a deal on joint development of Ukrainian rare minerals and hydrocarbon resources that Trump has cast as a crucial step toward peace between Ukraine and Russia. Instead, a meeting before cameras in the Oval Office devolved into a vocal clash, with Trump saying Zelenskyy should be more grateful for US support and is in no position to make demands. Following Macron's remarks, Zelenskyy posted on social media that "I am grateful" to Macron "for his clear vision and our joint efforts to achieve peace." "We deeply appreciate the leadership and efforts of all those supporting Ukraine and strengthening Europes defense capabilities. Looking forward to working jointly on the steps toward peace in the upcoming days," Zelenskyy added. The focus of the March 6 summit in Brussels is to be on how the EU can establish means to provide for its own security and that of Ukraine as it looks to ease its post-World War II dependence on the United States. "In view of the increasing threat situation, it is clear to us that Europemust now very quickly make very big efforts, very quickly, to strengthen the defense capability of our country and the European Continent," Merz said on March 3. Macron, who has long sought an active diplomacy role since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- now in its fourth year -- said he is planning a meeting with European allies next week to discuss the possibility of sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine in the event of a cease-fire deal or long-term term accord. "To ensure that Ukraine is not invaded by Russia again after a peace agreement, we must prepare for this," Macron said. "Next week, we will gather in Paris the army chiefs of staff of the countries that wish to fulfill their responsibilities in this regard." "Ukraine has a right to peace and security for itself, and that is in our interest, that is in the interests of the security of the European Continent. In this sense, we are working together with our friends in the U.K., Germany, and several other European countries." Meanwhile, fighting continued on the battlefield. Local authorities reported that at least two people were killed and 28 others injured in a Russian missile strike on city of Kryviy Rih -- Zelenskyy's hometown -- in the Dnipropetrovsk region in southeastern Ukraine. On the political front, Politico, citing sources, said four senior members of Trump's team have held secret discussions with some of Zelenskyy's top political opponents in Kyiv as Washington seeks to increase pressure on the Ukrainian leader. The report cited three Ukrainian parliamentarians and a US Republican foreign policy expert and said the discussions centered on whether Ukraine could hold quick presidential elections, which have been delayed as the country remains under martial law due to the Russian invasion. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP US President Donald Trump on March 5 warned Hamas deemed a terrorist organization by the US and EU that there would be hell to pay if it does not immediately release all hostages after the White House confirmed that it had conducted secret talks with the Iran-backed, Gaza-based extremist group. The direct meeting represents a break in the long-stated US policy of not negotiating with groups it deems to be terrorist organizations, although Washington has in the past conducted such talks in secret. Trump, meanwhile, met with a group of hostages who had been released by Hamas after months of captivity following the extremist group's bloody cross-border attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. The Hamas-led militants' attack on settlements in southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, with 251 hostages being taken to Gaza. Israel retaliated by launching a devastating war in the Palestinian enclave that has killed tens of thousands of people, according to local authorities, and displaced most of Gazas 2.3 million residents. Trump on social media demanded that Hamas "release all of the hostages now, not later," including remains of dead hostages, "or it is OVER for you." "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say," he said. "Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!" Trump did not indicate what action he might take if Hamas failed to release the hostages. He has proposed that the United States take over the Gaza Strip, relocate the population, and rebuild the enclave -- a plan that received heavy pushback from allies and adversaries alike. When asked about the reports of direct talks with Hamas, the White House said hostage affairs envoy Adam Boehler has the authority to talk directly with the Islamist group. When it comes to the negotiations that youre referring to, first of all, the special envoy whos engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, with providing details. She said Trump believes that dialogue with "people around the world" is "what's right for the American people." Israel was consulted on this matter, she added. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas. It was not more specific, but Israel itself refuses to negotiate directly with the group. Two sources told Reuters that Boehler had met with Hamas representatives in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks, although it was not stated who led the Hamas side. Sources told news agencies that US negotiators are attempting to gain the release of Edan Alexander, who official say is likely the last living American hostage held by Hamas. Israeli officials have said four other U.S. hostages died while under Hamas control. Reuters quoted Taher Al-Nono, a Hamas political adviser, as saying: "I have no information about meetings with American officials, but any meeting with the American administration is beneficial for the stability of the region." Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Bloomberg News that Hamas has fulfilled its obligations in the first phase, while Netanyahus government is avoiding entering negotiations for the second phase." The US administration must pressure the occupation to proceed with the second phase as stipulated in the [cease-fire] agreement. The first phase of a cease-fire on January 18 halted much of the fighting in Gaza, leading Hamas to exchange 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israeli has said fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are likely to still be alive. A second phase envisions the release of the final hostages and the prisoners held in Israel. With reporting by Reuters, Politico, and Bloomberg RIGA, Latvia -- Washington's decision to pause military assistance to Ukraine following the televised argument at the White House between presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy has left the Baltic region on edge. As US shipments began to slow on March 4 amid a standoff between Kyiv and Washington, the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania quickly moved to voice their support for Kyiv while encouraging both sides to come back together and strike a deal amid fears that fallout from Trump and Zelenskyy's Oval Office dustup could embolden Russia and leave Ukraine exposed. "The most important thing now is that the negotiations do not stop, that the contacts that were established much earlier are not overshadowed by emotions," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said at a press conference. The stakes are high for the three Baltic states on NATO's eastern flank. The relatively small countries have long dealt with Russian pressure and interference and are among the strongest supporters of Ukraine -- helping Kyiv diplomatically and sending military aid as Ukrainian forces have resisted Moscow's invasion. The latest episode between Kyiv and Washington has brought a new layer of uncertainty to the region. It has also fueled calls for European governments to step up and fill potential gaps on the battlefield for Ukraine and for frontline NATO members, such as the Baltic states, in case the Trump administration decides to reduce the number of US troops deployed across the Continent. Against that backdrop, Baltic officials are throwing their weight behind a diplomatic solution that won't sideline Ukraine and would bridge the gap with the United States. "Ukraine is dedicated to achieving peace, but it must be a lasting peace, not just a break for Russia to gather strength for further aggression," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote on March 4 after a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha. How Are People In The Baltic Countries Reacting? On the streets of the region's capital cities, the frantic diplomacy around the war has brought unease and stoked concerns about closer ties between Washington and Moscow. Reactions from residents who spoke to RFE/RL in Riga and Tallinn, the Latvian and Estonian capitals, ranged from shock at an apparent U.S.-Russia reset to beliefs that the inflamed tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy will calm down in the coming days and weeks. Linas Kojala, director of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center, a Vilnius-based think tank, says many people in the Baltics are caught off-guard by the "sharp change in rhetoric" from Washington around Russia and the war in Ukraine. "People are very surprised that the United States is suddenly becoming a player in global politics that echoes similar positions as the Kremlin, at least in a narrative sense," he told RFE/RL. Zelenskyy's latest outreach to the White House and Trump's comments during his March 4 speech to a joint session of the US Congress may quell some of that anxiety. In a post on X ahead of Trump's speech, Zelenskyy proposed on March 4 a new framework for a partial cease-fire with Russia, saying Kyiv would be willing to release prisoners and agree to a truce that would ban long-range attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy also said the way his Oval Office meeting -- that ended with him leaving the White House without signing an important minerals deal -- unfolded was "regrettable" and said he was open to signing the agreement. "Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal," Zelensky wrote, while reiterating his appreciation for US support. During his address to Congress, Trump also appeared willing to patch things up with Ukraine, saying he appreciated Zelenskyy's statement and that the Ukrainian leader had sent him a letter agreeing to come to the negotiating table. "Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace," he added. What Is US Policy Toward Estonia, Latvia, And Lithuania? Still, the Trump administration's widening split with its European allies will require adjustment in the region and beyond, says Tomas Tomilinas, a member of the Lithuanian parliament. "It's evident that significant changes are taking place in US policy regarding the war in Ukraine," he told RFE/RL, adding Europe needs to invest quickly in its own defenses. "The discussion now is about creating serious financial instruments for a common European defense policy." Since the end of World War II, the United States has underpinned much of the security framework across Europe, but the Trump administration has signaled that this could change as the Pentagon conducts a review of its military footprint and eyes a potential reduction of troop numbers. Washington has said there will be no imminent pullout, but the transatlantic rift over a peace plan for the Ukraine war, including the potential deployment of European peacekeepers, has changed the conversation for policymakers. European governments have hiked military spending in recent years and many governments have announced new increases since Trump took office in January. While NATO and US military backing are crucial for the Baltic states, all three countries meet NATO's spending benchmark and are among the alliance's top contributors as a percentage of gross national product (GDP). The region also hosts more than 2,000 American troops, with approximately 1,000 in Lithuania and 600 each in Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic states also host NATO deployments from Britain, Canada, and Germany. Trump himself recently said Washington stays committed to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania but repeated his call for NATO to step up defense spending. "It's a tough neighborhood...but we're committed," he told reporters on February 28. "We're going to be very committed. And we're committed to NATO. But NATO needs to step up and the Europeans must step up more than they have." Tomilinas says European governments need to "double what we currently spend on defense" if the Continent is serious about backing Kyiv. "In Lithuania, the attitude toward supporting Ukraine has not changed," he said. "Lithuania prioritizes Ukraine's interests because, at this moment, it is safeguarding Europe's security and holding back a threat." A Russian missile struck a hotel in the central Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih late on March 5, killing four people and injuring more than 30. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X that a group of humanitarian organization volunteers from Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom checked into the hotel just before the strike but survived after taking shelter quickly. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The Baku Network expert platform rolled out the next part of the analytical video series Dialogue with Tofig Abbasov," Trend reports. The guest of the program was Principal Conductor of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, and People's Artist of Azerbaijan, Eyyub Guliyev. The conversation covered both professional aspects of musical arts and deeper themes, such as cultural interaction, the impact of politics on creativity, and the inevitable recognition of the superiority of Azerbaijans musical tradition on the global stage. One of the central themes of the discussion was the role of art in fostering dialogue between nations. Guliyev shared his insights on the evolving perspective of the international music community towards Azerbaijani musicians and composers. He pointed out that even those who had once harbored biases against Azerbaijani artists are now increasingly compelled to acknowledge the exceptional legacy of Azerbaijans musical tradition. "Recently, I've sensed that even colleagues who were once antagonistic towards us are coming to terms with the undeniable truth you cant ignore the facts. When they listen to the works of Amirov, Garayev, and Hajibeyov, they are left with no choice but to recognize them as extraordinary art. Its significance is irrefutable," the maestro said. This process was particularly evident during the staging of the ballet "One Thousand and One Nights" by Fikret Amirov in Oman. Musicians from various countries, including the Baltic Ballet Theater, participated in the project. However, the presence of representatives from neighboring Armenia in the ensemble did not lead to tension on the contrary, professional respect prevailed. "When they see that our musicians demonstrate an incredible level, participate in prestigious competitions and international performances they realize that it is impossible to oppose this," said Guliyev. The maestro also recalled cases when Armenian representatives tried to boycott performances of Azerbaijani music, which only confirmed their fear of Azerbaijan's true cultural supremacy. "Recently, an Armenian musician refused to participate in a concert in Sofia, stating that he would not play Azerbaijani music. In the end, the entire orchestra refused to perform. They are afraid to acknowledge the obvious," he added. However, there are also completely different examples when Armenian musicians approached the conductor after concerts to request sheet music for works by Amirov and Garayev. "I hope they don't intend to appropriate them," the maestro said with a smile, adding, "However, the fact that they are interested says a lot." Guliyev also addressed the issue of political pressure in the arts. He noted that some countries, in an attempt to please the Armenian lobby, take unprofessional and unjust positions regarding Azerbaijani artists. "We see how some states, even those supporting Azerbaijan, suddenly make decisions dictated by political interests, not cultural fairness," he said. According to him, art should remain outside politics, and any attempt to use it as a tool of pressure only heightens tensions. "Music is light, goodness, a link between generations. Art builds bridges, not walls," Guliyev said. The maestro drew historical parallels, recalling that during world wars, warring countries refused to perform each other's works, but over time realized the absurdity of this approach. "Before World War I, Russia stopped performing Beethoven, and Germany Tchaikovsky. But what happened in the end? Today, these barriers have been erased. People come to enlightenment," he added. He emphasized that over time, art will always prevail over political contradictions, and for normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a shift in public consciousness from both sides is necessary. "We demand nothing but justice. The Western Azerbaijan community, as a social organization, does not set political ultimatums. We simply want fair reconciliation," he added. Concluding the discussion, Guliyev highlighted that Azerbaijan continues to actively represent its culture worldwide, and this work is yielding tangible results. He expressed confidence that large projects, like the staging of One Thousand and One Nights abroad, will become key to shaping a new perception of Azerbaijan in the global cultural arena. "When you play Garayev, Amirov, Hajibeyov you feel how much light, joy, and pride is in this music. This is the face of the nation," he said. The maestro expressed hope that such initiatives would continue, and art would contribute to uniting people rather than dividing them. He emphasized that over time, art still prevails over political contradictions, and to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a change in public consciousness is necessary on both sides: "We do not demand anything but justice. The West Azerbaijan Community, as a public organization, does not issue political ultimatums. We simply want a fair reconciliation." Summing up the conversation, the maestro noted that Azerbaijan continues to actively present its culture in the world, and this work brings tangible results. He expressed confidence that large projects like the production of "A Thousand and One Nights" abroad will become the key to forming a new perception of Azerbaijan in the world's cultural space. "When you play Garayev, Amirov, Hajibeyov - you feel how much light, joy, and pride there is in this music. This is the face of the nation." The maestro expressed hope that such initiatives will continue, and art will contribute to the unification of people, not disunity. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of Fairview will hold a public hearing on WEDNESDAY, March 12th, 2025 starting at 7:00 p.m. The public meeting will be held at the Fairview Senior Center at 217 W 5th Street. All interested parties are invited to attend the public hearing to learn more and provide comments on the Sharbono Park Sidewalk MDT Transportation Alternatives application. The Town of Fairview will submit an application to fund the project. Applications are due April 9th, 2025. Comments or letters of support will be taken at the hearing during the public comment period. Comments may also be sent to the Town Clerk via email ([email protected]) before 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. For further information contact the Fairview Town Clerk at Fairview Town Hall, P.O. Box 426, 318 South Central Avenue, Fairview, MT 59221; by email at [email protected]; or call (406) 742-5616 to request an accommodation for a disability. Dated at Fairview, Montana this 20th day of February, 2025. Norma Faye Carlson, Town Clerk Per Jean's request, she will be cremated, and Celebration of Life services will be planned at a later date. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Sidney, MT is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Lonsdale Methodist Church, Sidney, MT or your local hospice provider. Remembrances, condolences, and pictures may be shared with the family at http://www.fulkersons.com or sent to the funeral home at 315 2nd Street Northwest, Sidney. On April 20, 1930, Jean (Price) Thirud was born to Winston and Jeanette Price in Williston, ND. She was the second oldest of seven children. After graduating from Williston High School, she moved to Minnesota where she attended Northwestern Hospital School of Nursing. After graduation, she spent the next few years as a traveling nurse, working all over the United States. During that time, she attended a Yankees game in NYC, was an OB nurse for actress Angela Lansbury in CA, worked in a cancer ward in New Orleans and spent some time in Cuba. In 1951, she met the love of her life, Sven Thirud, and they married in November 1953. They lived in Williston and Alexander, working Sven's family farm until 1957, when they moved to Sidney, MT. There, they raised their four children, Daun, Kris, Mark and Lisa. Thirud Office Supply was established in 1963 and for the next 30 years, Jean contributed to the family business whenever and however she could, including renovations, inventory, management and sales. During their 50 years together, Jean and Sven traveled the world. She was a longtime member of Lonsdale United Methodist Church and volunteered many hours for various causes. Jean had a passion for art and dabbled in oil painting, ceramics and pottery, Norwegian rosemaling, interior design, stained glass, international cuisine, cake decorating and finally quilting. For her, quilting was a beautiful blend of her skills as a seamstress and her creativity as an artist. After her diagnosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, she attended a residential blind school to learn how to cope with her diminishing eyesight. With this knowledge, she continued quilting well into her 90s. After Sven's passing, she moved to Billings, MT to live near her son, Mark. She was then diagnosed with lung cancer but fought it and was finally deemed cancer-free. Jean never passed up the opportunity to chat with a new acquaintance, cashier, nurse, receptionist, or wait person and she treasured coffee with a friend. She spent her last years in a Billings assisted living facility. Jean peacefully passed away at the age of 94 on Monday March 3, 2025, at the Tendernest Assisted Living Facility in Billings, MT with family by her side. Jean is survived by her children Daun (Kenny) Wick, Mark Thirud and Lisa (JF) Lucas; grandchildren Wendy Fisher, Kim Bivens, Ty Thirud, McKenzie Cooke and Dalton Lucas; and six great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Jean is preceded in death by her parents, son Kris, husband Sven, and five siblings. Kingston Movie OTT Release: When and Where to Watch the Film Online? 'Kingston' is a Tamil-language fantasy horror film wherein a huge star cast is going to entertain the audience. Kingston Movie OTT Release: When and Where to Watch the Film Online? Kingston Movie OTT Platform Release Date Update: One of the most anticipated movies, 'Kingston' has been making headlines ever since its trailer was released, and now the film has been garnering immense response. G V Prakash Kumar-starrer has been receiving mixed response from the audience. The film is set to be theaters from 7th March. Advertisement 'Kingston' is a Tamil-language fantasy horror film wherein a huge star cast is going to entertain the audience. Written & Directed by Kamal Prakash, the film is produced by Zee Studios & Parallel Universe Pictures and producers are G V Prakash Kumar & Umesh K R Bansal. The film features G V Prakash Kumar, Dhivyabharathi & Others. Kingston Movie OTT Platform Release Date Update: Advertisement While many of the fans have been looking for information about the film's OTT release, the makers have not yet confirmed the platform's name. (For More News Apart Kingston Movie OTT Release: When and Where to Watch the Film Online? stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Khalistani protestor Tears Indian Flag Amid S Jaishankar's UK visit A pro-Khalistan extremist breach the minister's security in London. Khalistani protestor Tears Indian Flag Amid S Jaishankar's UK visit latest news: During the official trip to the United Kingdom, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was subjected to an unexpected security lapse. The trip, which commenced on March 4 and is set to last till March 9, took a turn when a pro-Khalistan extremist breach the minister's security in London. This happened when Jaishankar was exiting Chatham House, a well-known London think tank, following a meeting. An online video shows the moment the protester stormed Jaishankar's convoy in an aggressive manner. Advertisement Seizing the moment of initial hesitation among the police officers, the protester ripped the Indian flag in front of the convoy, while the others in his group shouted slogans from a distance. Ys Breaking: In London, a Khalistan protester tries to assault EAM S Jaishankar and shreds the Indian flag | Watch the video. pic.twitter.com/HRGcMAgDGt Indian InSight (@IndianInsight_) March 6, 2025 In spite of the disruption, Jaishankar went on with his interactions, including a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other top officials to exchange views on economic cooperation, people-to-people relations, and global issues like the Ukraine war. The visit is intended to reinforce India-UK ties and take bilateral relations forward. Advertisement The attack reveals the difficulties diplomats encounter in ensuring security during international diplomacy. It also emphasizes the need to contain geopolitical risks and ensure officials' safety during such high-profile visits. (For More News Apart Khalistani protestor Tears Indian Flag Amid S Jaishankar's UK visit stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. In commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, Azerbaijani NGOs addressed the UN Human Rights Council at its Geneva office for the first time in a single session, Trend reports. During the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council held on March 5, 2025, three Azerbaijani NGOs presented their remarks consecutively. Ramil Iskandarli, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum, spoke at a panel discussion on "Early Warning and Prevention of Genocide." He discussed the tragic Khojaly genocide, committed by Armenia on February 26, 1992, calling it one of the gravest crimes against humanity. "On that night, over 2,000 innocent Azerbaijanis were brutally murdered," he said. Iskandarli also recalled the missile attacks on civilian populations in Ganja, Barda, and Tartar by Armenian forces during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020. Highlighting the triumph of justice, Iskandarli noted that Azerbaijan restored full sovereignty over Khojaly in 2023. "Today, Khojaly has become a source of hope and joy for Azerbaijani families returning to their homes, and the sound of childrens laughter is once again heard," he added. Following him, Nadima Rahimli, Deputy Chair of the Social Welfare of Citizens Public Union, addressed the panel. She began her speech by marking the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide and highlighted that in the brutality committed by Armenian forces on February 26, 1992, 613 innocent Azerbaijanis, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly individuals, were mercilessly killed. Rahimli also brought attention to the fate of missing Azerbaijanis, noting that during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, 1,275 people were taken captive, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown to this day. She emphasized that the genocide destroyed eight Azerbaijani families, a planned act by the Armenians aimed at instilling fear and accelerating displacement. Lastly, Shabnam Safarova, Chair of the Progress in Karabakh Public Union, concluded the series of addresses by Azerbaijani NGOs. She once again marked the anniversary of the Khojaly genocide and stressed the importance of international recognition of this tragedy. Safarova remarked that despite the UNs establishment of early warning systems to prevent such atrocities, these mechanisms have sometimes proven ineffective. "We need to rethink how to make these systems more effective and empower nations to protect their rights," she concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Punjab Government Stepping Up Crackdown on Drug Trafficking MC and Punjab Police combined operation, notorious drug peddler's shops and two-story houses were destroyed using JCB machines Punjab Government Stepping Up Crackdown on Drug Trafficking: In a big step towards fighting drug trafficking, the Punjab government has razed properties owned by drug traffickers in Amritsar, underlining its determination to make the state drug-free. On an Amritsar Municipal Corporation and Punjab Police combined operation, notorious drug peddler's shops and two-story houses were destroyed by using JCB machines by Police Commissioner S. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar at the helm. This is the decisive action given to send across a clear signal to drug pushers of illegality of carrying on the ill trade. Advertisement MLA Jeevanjot Kaur restated Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's strong position by saying that the drug traffickers need to choose between leaving the trade or departing from Punjab. She asserted that the government won't accept the drug trade and will act forcefully against the involved parties. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar assured that the crackdown is following the direct directions of CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav. He issued a warning that none of the drug traffickers would be spared as the authorities scale up efforts to rid Punjab of drugs. The razed structures were owned by two infamous traffickers: Advertisement - Gurmeet Singh With three cases against him, 325 grams of smack and 350 grams of heroin seized. - Sandeep Singh alias Sonu Has four cases filed, including narcotics in Sarai Amanat Khan and Anti-Narcotics Force Mohali. This operation marks a significant point of Punjab's commitment to eradicating drug networks and building a healthier, secure future for its people. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami Refuses to Back Down on Resignation Dhami firm in his decision, highlighting his commitment to his duties while clearly stating he has no plans to take back his resignation. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami Refuses to Back Down on Resignation latest news: Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Commitee President Harjinder Singh Dhami has made a statement that he will not take back his resignation. It followed an important meeting with Shri Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh. Dhami's resignation, submitted after Jathedar made a controversial social media statement in favor of Giani Harpreet Singh, has generated considerable debate among the Sikh community. In spite of the pressure to withdraw, Dhami is firm in his decision, highlighting his commitment to his duties while clearly stating that he has no plans to take back his resignation. Advertisement ALSO READ: SGPC Rejects Harjinder Singh Dhamis Resignation, Urges Him to Reconsider In the meeting with Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, some important issues related to the SGPC and Sikh affairs were put up for discussion. But the particulars of their talk are not available. Dhami's sticking to his word is a display of his determination to stand on his principles and keep his job intact. The resignation of Dhami has created a lot of controversy, and most people from the community have had their opinions on the subject. His stubbornness is testimony to the nature of the conflicts and challenges posed by leaders working in the SGPC, especially in trying to balance tradition with modernity. Advertisement While the Sikh community is still trying to come to terms with these occurrences, Dhami's move reminds us of the need for ethical leadership and of open communication and understanding in the SGPC. (For More News Apart SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami Refuses to Back Down on Resignation stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) United States stops Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine, After Military AID The action also keeps Kyiv unaware of the flight paths of Moscow's strategic bomber aircraft and ballistic missile launches. United States stops Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine, After Military AID latest news: In a turn of events, the United States has suspended all military assistance and intelligence cooperation with Ukraine, subjecting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to tremendous pressure to enter into peace negotiations with US President Donald Trump and Russia. The move follows a fiery Oval Office confrontation between Trump and Zelensky, during which the two leaders allegedly had a shouting match in front of the global media. Advertisement The suspension of intelligence-sharing, including vital information regarding targets within Russia, has put Ukraine in a weak position. Without it, Ukraine's capacity to conduct effective long-range drone attacks and defend itself against Russian missile attacks is greatly undermined. The action also keeps Kyiv unaware of the flight paths of Moscow's strategic bomber aircraft and ballistic missile launches. This pressure move by the Trump administration comes as the president is willing to play hardball with an ally while moving toward a more conciliatory path with Moscow. CIA Director John Ratcliffe had confirmed the pause, saying the suspension of military and intelligence assistance could be lifted if peace negotiations move forward. Advertisement Trump vs. Zelensky controversy has also delayed the signing of an agreement, which would allocate US rights on revenue from Ukraine's strategic mineral deposits, for which Trump demanded payment in the form of US military assistance. Zelensky, ignoring the controversy, remained upbeat with "positive movement" on the matter and also hinted at seeing officials from the two nations facing each other in the near future. Trump, in a speech to Congress, pushed for the conclusion of the war, declaring, "It's time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides." The White House is second-guessing the suspension of funding to Ukraine, and negotiations about the minerals agreement are under way. Advertisement With the world watching carefully these events unfolding, the holding back of both military assistance and intelligence cooperation illustrates the intricacies of global diplomacy and the Ukrainian difficulties in waging its present conflict with Russia. (For More News Apart United States stops Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine, After Military AID stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Time to improve relations with Bangladesh India and Bangladesh have only one option: improving relations Editorial: It's time to improve relations with Bangladesh: Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has suddenly realised that Bangladesh cannot prosper without improving relations with India. In an interview with the English newspaper 'The Star' published from Dhaka, he said that India and Bangladesh have only one option: improving relations. Without this, both countries cannot survive. He admitted that both countries are "going through a period of disputes and this period has had a bad effect on bilateral relations. Now there is a need to come out of this period." During the same interview, he expressed the hope that if he has a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming summit of the Bay of Bengal-dependent countries' organization 'BIMSTEC', it will be helpful in clearing up many misconceptions. Advertisement 'BIMSTEC' includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The organization was established in 1997 and has its permanent headquarters in Dhaka. India has been contributing 32 percent of its expenses. The organization's eighth summit is scheduled to be held later this month. Yunus described the current tension between the two countries as the product of "propaganda" and said that both countries should overcome this problem. This statement cannot be said to be true. The fact is that during the period of public anger and anti-government violence in Bangladesh last year, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed Sheikh had to leave the country and seek refuge in India. Earlier, there were reports that she would go to Britain after a few days in India, but after Britain refused to grant her asylum, she considered it appropriate to stay in India. Advertisement Yunus has been demanding that Hasina be handed over to Bangladesh. Yunus, without appreciating Indian concerns about attacks on homes and religious places of minority communities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, after Hasinas migration to India, had dismissed these concerns as unwarranted. Similarly, his approach to attacks on offices of Indian institutions in Dhaka and elsewhere was not that of a wise leader. A calm politician expresses his disagreement with diplomatic grace, not with abusive language. Yunus, instead of following this golden rule of diplomatic courtesy, chose to scold India. Advertisement The visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Dhaka in December and the meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Bangladeshi counterpart Tawheed Hossain in Oman last month were excellent opportunities to defuse diplomatic tensions. The interim government of Bangladesh did not consider it appropriate to take advantage of these. Steps like opening direct trade and direct air links with Pakistan were taken to irritate India. The Modi government's response was relatively subtle. Visas for Bangladeshis were reduced. Exports of onions, vegetables and grains to Bangladesh were made very limited until further orders. The price rise of essential commodities started increasing discontent towards the interim government. Advertisement Now the situation is that pro-Younus parties like the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and the caste parties have also started criticizing the interim government. The BNP has demanded strict action against Sheikh Hasina, but his party has opposed the ban on the Awami League. There is also international pressure on Yunus to avoid prolonging his role as the interim head of the country for a long time and to hold early elections. The current situation may be helpful to India in terms of increasing unrest and instability in Bangladesh. But India has its own interest in behaving like a good neighbour. Five Indian states - West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura - are geographically connected to Bangladesh. Their economies are largely dependent on direct trade with the neighbouring country. Anti-national terrorism has also reduced considerably in these states because Bangladesh had a government that was friendly to India for more than a decade. This fact also strengthens the concept of friendly relations. Therefore, if Muhammad Yunus now extends the hand of friendship, it should be given due consideration. The behaviour of a big country should be big-hearted. March 6, 2025 UPDATE 1 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 06.03.2025, 17:35 PRESIDENCY On a visit to Brussels, Romanias interim president Ilie Bolojan on Thursday discussed with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen regarding Romanias priorities in implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and increasing the absorption of European funds. We also expressed our support for the European Commissions initiatives in the field of defense and competitiveness, Ilie Bolojan wrote on social media. The Romanian president also met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and the two officials discussed opportunities to strengthen the Eastern Flank. Ilie Bolojan is attending an extraordinary European Council, where heads of state and government from the European Union are discussing support for Ukraine and the situation of European defense. Ahead of the summit, the European Commission president said that Europe is at a crossroads and stressed the importance of Europe defending itself through a massive increase in defense spending but also by helping Ukraine achieve a lasting and fair peace. Ursula von der Leyen proposed a European armament plan, with defense investments of up to 800 billion. In turn, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, assured European leaders that the European Parliament can move quickly and effectively to respond to present-day unprecedented security challenges. Peace must guarantee freedom for Ukraine, security for Europe and deterrence for those who think they can take it by force, president Metsola added. Present in Brussels, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the EU for its strong support. APPEAL Magistrates on Thursday dismissed as unfounded the complaint filed by Calin Georgescu against the judicial control measure, in the investigation where he faces several charges. A former independent candidate in last years presidential elections, Calin Georgescu was last week placed under judicial control by the Prosecutor Generals Office for a period of 60 days. He is subject to a number of interdictions, including the right to leave the country without the approval of judicial authorities. At the same time, Georgescu cannot post content of a legionary, fascist, anti-Semitic, racist or xenophobic nature on social media. Georgescu is being prosecuted for committing six crimes, the most serious being that of inciting actions against the constitutional order. Investigators claim that he Georgescu had come up with a plan to destabilize the country after the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election in December. The first round was won by Calin Georgescu. Meanwhile, prosecutors have raided new locations linked to the financing of his election campaign. Also on Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights rejected Calin Georgescus appeal challenging the annulment of the presidential election in Romania in December 2024. The decision is unanimous and final. Calin Georgescu recently announced that he will submit his candidacy for the presidential election in May with the Central Electoral Bureau on Friday. GOVERNMENT The Romanian Government on Thursday passed several emergency orders, concerning, among other things, the healthcare reform and the spending of EU funds. In the field of healthcare, the government wants to improve regulations on public medical care for freelancers, on the taxation of medicines, on the organization and operation of medical offices and the granting of sick leaves. In a separate emergency order, the Romanian government earmarks the financing for certain local authorities to complete works to extend and upgrade natural gas infrastructure. Finally, the cabinet has also approved the amount of this years state aid for the livestock sector. (VP) March 6, 2025 UPDATE 2 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 06.03.2025, 18:57 PRESIDENCY On a visit to Brussels, Romanias interim president Ilie Bolojan on Thursday discussed with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen regarding Romanias priorities in implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and increasing the absorption of European funds. We also expressed our support for the European Commissions initiatives in the field of defense and competitiveness, Ilie Bolojan wrote on social media. The Romanian president also met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and the two officials discussed opportunities to strengthen the Eastern Flank. Ilie Bolojan is attending an extraordinary European Council, where heads of state and government from the European Union are discussing support for Ukraine and the situation of European defense. Ahead of the summit, the European Commission president said that Europe is at a crossroads and stressed the importance of Europe defending itself through a massive increase in defense spending but also by helping Ukraine achieve a lasting and fair peace. Ursula von der Leyen proposed a European armament plan, with defense investments of up to 800 billion. In turn, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, assured European leaders that the European Parliament can move quickly and effectively to respond to present-day unprecedented security challenges. Peace must guarantee freedom for Ukraine, security for Europe and deterrence for those who think they can take it by force, president Metsola added. Present in Brussels, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the EU for its strong support. APPEAL Magistrates on Thursday dismissed as unfounded the complaint filed by Calin Georgescu against the judicial control measure, in the investigation where he faces several charges. A former independent candidate in last years presidential elections, Calin Georgescu was last week placed under judicial control by the Prosecutor Generals Office for a period of 60 days. He is subject to a number of interdictions, including the right to leave the country without the approval of judicial authorities. At the same time, Georgescu cannot post content of a legionary, fascist, anti-Semitic, racist or xenophobic nature on social media. Georgescu is being prosecuted for committing six crimes, the most serious being that of inciting actions against the constitutional order. Investigators claim that he Georgescu had come up with a plan to destabilize the country after the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election in December. The first round was won by Calin Georgescu. Meanwhile, prosecutors have raided new locations linked to the financing of his election campaign. Also on Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights rejected Calin Georgescus appeal challenging the annulment of the presidential election in Romania in December 2024. The decision is unanimous and final. Calin Georgescu recently announced that he will submit his candidacy for the presidential election in May with the Central Electoral Bureau on Friday. GOVERNMENT The Romanian government on Thursday passed several emergency orders, concerning, among other things, the healthcare reform and the spending of EU funds. In the field of healthcare, the government wants to improve regulations on public medical care for freelancers, on the taxation of medicines, on the organization and operation of medical offices and the granting of sick leaves. In a separate emergency order, the Romanian government earmarks the financing for certain local authorities to complete works to extend and upgrade natural gas infrastructure. Finally, the cabinet has also approved the amount of this years state aid for the livestock sector. MOLDOVA The Republic of Moldova has been accepted into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the decision reflecting a confirmation of significant progress in the process of accession to the European Union, the National Bank of the Republic of Moldova has announced. According to the document, SEPA membership will facilitate faster, safer and more accessible international payments in Euro for Moldovan citizens and businesses. Todays decision consolidates our irreversible path towards European accession, said the Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Moldova, Anca Dragu. SEPA is a European system that facilitates cross-border payments in Euro, eliminating the differences between national and international payments. It includes all European Union countries, as well as other states. (VP) March 6, 2025 UPDATE 3 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 06.03.2025, 20:00 SUMMIT The interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, on Thursday called for an increase of Europes role in maintaining peace on the continent, support for Ukraine and the increase of defense spending. On the sidelines of the special EU summit hosted by Brussels, president Bolojan discussed with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Romanias priorities in implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the increase of the absorption of European funds. We also conveyed our support for the initiatives of the European Commission in the field of defense and competitiveness, Ilie Bolojan wrote on social media. Upon meeting with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, Ilie Bolojan said that Romania intends to continue the excellent collaboration with the community legislature. Ilie Bolojan attended an extraordinary European Council summit, where the heads of state and government of the European Union pledged to support Ukraine, in the context of US President Donald Trumps foreign policy, and to spend more on defense. The head of the European Commission said that Europe is at a crossroads and stressed the importance of Europe defending itself through a massive increase in defense spending but also by helping Ukraine achieve a lasting and fair peace. The European Commission president presented an 800 billion EUR package devoted to defense investments. In turn, the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, assured European leaders that Parliament can move quickly and efficiently to respond to the unprecedented security challenges we see today. Peace must guarantee freedom for Ukraine, security for Europe and deterrence for those who believe they can take it by force, the European Parliament president further noted. Attending the summit in Brussels, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, thanked the EU for its strong support. TREASON Prosecutors with the Directorate Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism Offences (DIICOT) have detained six individuals over charges of forming an organized crime group and treason. According to DIICOT, the defendants apparently set up a paramilitary organization and negotiated Romanias exit from NATO with Russian agents. Prosecutors say that the organized crime group was structured like a military-type organization, with management ranks and operative personnel. Radu Theodoru, a retired general and 101-year-old war veteran, was also among the organizations leaders. The group used online platforms to release video materials and recruit members. At the same time, it took steps to hold negotiations with foreign political and military actors regarding the replacing of the current constitutional order. In January, DIICOT also says, 2 of the defendants travelled to Moscow, where they came into contact with people willing to support the organizations efforts to take over power in Romania. APPEAL Magistrates on Thursday dismissed as unfounded the complaint filed by Calin Georgescu against the judicial control measure, in the investigation where he faces several charges. A former independent candidate in last years presidential election, Calin Georgescu was last week placed under judicial control by the Prosecutor Generals Office for a period of 60 days. He is subject to a number of interdictions, including the right to leave the country without the approval of judicial authorities. At the same time, Georgescu cannot post content of a legionary, fascist, anti-Semitic, racist or xenophobic nature on social media. Georgescu is being prosecuted for committing six crimes, the most serious being that of inciting actions against the constitutional order. Investigators claim that Georgescu had come up with a plan to destabilize the country after the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election in December. The first round was won by Calin Georgescu. Meanwhile, prosecutors have raided new locations linked to the financing of his election campaign. Also on Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights rejected Calin Georgescus appeal challenging the annulment of the presidential election in Romania in December 2024. The decision is unanimous and final. Calin Georgescu recently announced that he will submit his candidacy for the presidential election in May with the Central Electoral Bureau on Friday. GOVERNMENT The Romanian government on Thursday passed several emergency orders, concerning, among other things, the healthcare reform and the spending of EU funds. In the field of healthcare, the government wants to improve regulations on public medical care for freelancers, on the taxation of medicines, on the organization and operation of medical offices and the granting of sick leaves. In a separate emergency order, the Romanian government earmarks the financing for certain local authorities to complete works to extend and upgrade natural gas infrastructure. Finally, the cabinet has also approved the amount of this years state aid for the livestock sector. MOLDOVA The Republic of Moldova has been accepted into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the decision reflecting a confirmation of significant progress in the process of accession to the European Union, the National Bank of the Republic of Moldova has announced. According to the document, SEPA membership will facilitate faster, safer and more accessible international payments in Euro for Moldovan citizens and businesses. Todays decision consolidates our irreversible path towards European accession, said the Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Moldova, Anca Dragu. SEPA is a European system that facilitates cross-border payments in Euro, eliminating the differences between national and international payments. It includes all European Union countries, as well as other states. (VP) Details added: first version posted on 12:48 TARTAR, Azerbaijan, March 6. A total of 25 families of former internally displaced persons(IDPs) consisting of 75 people arrived in Hasanriz village of Azerbaijan's Aghdara district today, a source in the Restoration, Construction and Management Service in Khankendi city, Aghdara and Khojaly districts told Trend. The ceremony of handing over the keys to the apartments to the families was attended by personnel of the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khankendi City, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts, the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, media representatives, and other individuals. Speaking at the event, the Deputy Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city, Aghdara and Khojaly districts Sabuhi Gahramanov pointed out that restoration work began in Hasanriz village after its liberation from occupation. "Already, 50 families have been resettled in the village. Further resettlement will also take place in stages. Hasanriz village has been shortly provided with electricity, drinking water, and natural gas. All the necessary infrastructure has been built here," he said. The residents who returned to their homeland thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state care. The first resettlement in Hasanriz village took place on March 3 when 25 families returned to their homeland. 12:48 Following the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's instructions, the great return to the territories liberated from occupation in Azerbaijan continues, Trend reports. Families who had previously temporarily lived in various parts of the country, mainly in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings, are now resettling in Hasanriz village in Azerbaijan's Aghdara district. At this stage, 25 families, totaling 75 people, are relocating to the village. The returning residents expressed their gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state support. They also thanked the courageous Azerbaijani Army and the heroic soldiers and officers who liberated their homeland from occupation. In honoring the martyrs who sacrificed their lives, the returnees sent their deepest respects and wished strength and patience to their families. To date, around 40,000 people live in Karabakh and East Zangezur. Among them are former internally displaced persons who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, as well as specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions that have resumed their activities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The benefits of Romanias belonging in the EU By belonging in the European bloc, Romania has chosen progress, says the Minister of Investment and European Projects, Marcel Bolos Photo: pixabay.com Stefan Stoica, 06.03.2025, 14:00 In January Romania marked 17 years of EU membership. In the same month an INSCOP poll showed that 9 out of 10 Romanians are against the idea that their country should get out of the community bloc, as compared to 72% in January 2022. Entitled Romania between national and European in the misinformation era. Economic Patriotism, values and conspiracy, the survey, ordered by Funky Citizens organization, has revealed a 67% trust rate in the European Union as compared to 56% in January 2022. The aforementioned survey was the first conducted after the shock caused by the cancellation of the presidential election in December last year. As if to respond to those who denigrate community institutions, who arent few nowadays, the Romanian Minister of Investment and European Projects, Marcel Bolos, writes on Facebook: In a time when extremist voices are trying to downplay the benefits of Romanias belonging in the European Union, lets not forget that development is not an issue of naive pride, but of pragmatism. Romania didnt grow out of nothing; it didnt change overnight and certainly didnt develop by denying opportunities. Since its accession, Bolos says, Romania has got over 100 billion Euros in European funds, gross value. And this is the engine that has fundamentally changed the structure of our economy, the minister says. According to him, Romania no longer relies on a peripheral economy, being a country that is rapidly bridging gaps and which has overcome Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Greece in terms of the GDP per capita, which is an essential indicator for the standard of living. Figures are extremely relevant; the value of the investment made is nearly equal to the GDP at the time of accession. If we are unaware of this we tend to blame the European bloc, but the fact that we are presently at the highest level of our development, is something that we owe to our EU and NATO membership, Minister Bolos also says. According to him, the European funds Romania received are reflected in the countrys infrastructure, with nearly 900 kilometers of motorways and roads built in the past two decades. Over two million Romanians have been connected to the water & sewerage networks and according to Minister Bolos, over 100 thousand companies have benefitted from development grants, thousands of schools and hospitals have been refurbished, fitted with proper equipment and enlarged. Stable jobs have been created and fresh investment made. All these have given an impetus to the economy and the annual pace of the private investment in the economy tripled in 2024 as compared to the time of accession from 20 billion Euros to 70 billion, Bolos says. He believes that without European money, Romania would have remained stuck into an endless cycle of underdevelopment, being dependent on a national budget, which is insufficient for strategic development. There is one reality only: the EU has been our partner in development. And by belonging in the European bloc, Romania has opted for progress, Minister Bolos post says. (bill) The Justice Department has launched an investigation into weather the management of the University of California engaged in activities promoting anti-Semitism in the campus. Announcing the probe, the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said that under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the investigation will assess whether UC has engaged in discrimination based on race, religion and national origin against its professors, staff and other employees by allowing an anti-Semitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses. Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, there has been an outbreak of anti-Semitic incidents at leading institutions of higher education in the United States, including at the UCLA campus of the University of California. Its impact on the university's students has been the subject of considerable media attention and multiple federal investigations. "These campuses are also workplaces, and the Jewish faculty and staff employed there deserve a working environment free of anti-Semitic hostility and hate," said leading Task Force member and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell. "The President, the Attorney General and this Task Force are committed to combating antisemitism for all Jewish Americans." "This Department of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Antisemitism in our nation's universities," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "Our country has witnessed a disturbing rise of Antisemitism at educational institutions in California and nationwide," said Acting Associate Attorney General and Department of Justice Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle. "The Department of Justice is committed to upholding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and protecting Jewish Americans as we investigate this potential pattern of discrimination." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (BJ) Thursday announced plans to open 25-30 new locations over the next two fiscal years, including several clubs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area starting in early 2026. The membership-based retailer, known for offering fresh groceries, household essentials, and consumer goods, is expanding to meet growing consumer demand. The company will also open new clubs in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina throughout 2025. Each new location is expected to create 100-150 jobs. BJ's remains committed to community support through its charitable foundation and partnerships with local food banks. BJ is currently trading at $112.91, up 12.81 percent or $12.82 on the New York Stock Exchange. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Standing inside a Very Large Array dish in New Mexico, Dr Hugo looks up to the night sky with his 'lunar work' mentor, Dr Rick Perley of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory When South Africas MeerKAT radio telescope was switched on in 2018, it cemented itself as one of the worlds most powerful astronomical instruments, capable of uncovering deep cosmic mysteries. Behind its success is a network of engineers and astronomers who worked tirelessly to fine-tune its performance. Among them is Dr Benjamin Hugo, a key player in the commissioning and science verification of MeerKAT and one of the countrys leading experts on its use. Dr Hugo is a staff astronomer with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) in Cape Town. He completed his PhD at Rhodes University and it examined the commissioning, characterisation and science verification of the MeerKAT radio interferometer. He played an essential role in ensuring that the telescope met its ambitious design specifications and his research has been pivotal in improving calibration techniques and broadening understanding of the not-yet well-understood class of transitional pulsar systems. Radio telescopes like MeerKAT are intricate systems made up of large antenna dishes, powerful receivers and cutting-edge digital processors. But before they can reveal the secrets of the cosmos, they must be meticulously tested, calibrated and refined. This is where Dr Hugos work came in. Radio telescopes, like the MeerKAT telescope near Carnarvon in the Northern Cape, are complex instruments that involve many disciplines: from mechanical and structural engineering to ensure the antennas (dishes in the case of MeerKAT) accurately point where you tell them to, through a complex digitisation process which takes the analogue voltages from individual antennas to combine them with other antennas using specialised programmable hardware, he explains. Many things can go wrong in this complex chain, so before any science can be done, it is critical to ensure that the instrument meets its design specifications, trace down issues and understand any particular quirks of the instrumentation and the environment. This is what commissioning entails. As part of the commissioning team, Dr Hugo helped test MeerKATs antennas, refined how the telescope processes signals and developed strategies to correct for interference. His research revealed that MeerKAT was so sensitive that traditional calibration methods fell short. To solve this, he studied how background radio signals influenced the telescopes accuracy, ensuring that faint cosmic signals do not have a negative effect on calibration. Very early on during the commissioning process we found that MeerKAT was so sensitive that the calibration procedures typically followed were inadequate. I characterised the population of radio sources surrounding our main calibrator fields to reduce their influence on the frequency response of the instrument. A key breakthrough involved studying the Moons natural radio emissions. The receiver of a radio telescope acts similar to a pair of sunglasses. Each MeerKAT dish has multiple receivers sensitive to a small piece of bandwidth, each in-turn has a vertical and horizontal open wire (a 'dipole' antenna think of your grandmother's old rabbit ear antenna on top of her TV) that is sensitive to either the vertical or horizontal component of radio light. Each acts as a set of sunglasses with vertical or horizontal slits blocking out horizontal or vertical light. By analysing how the Moon, Venus and Mars interacted with MeerKATs receivers, Dr Hugo was able to refine the telescopes ability to measure the polarisation of cosmic radio waves an essential tool for understanding the structure and magnetic fields of distant galaxies. Unlocking the secrets of pulsars Beyond calibration, Dr Hugos research took him into the realm of pulsars; these are spinning neutron stars that act like cosmic lighthouses, flashing beams of radiation as they rotate. His work focused on a rare type of pulsar that shifts between two different states, alternately emitting radio and X-ray signals. Pulsars are neutron stars that have very fast and stable rotational periods most ranging from milliseconds to a few seconds. They very slowly lose their kinetic energy through the radiation emanating from their poles, which we see as pulses of radio light as the poles intersect our line of sight to these stars, Dr Hugo says. These neutron stars are often spun up (or were spun up in the past) by a companion star, which they slowly strip material and gasses from. When this accreted material falls onto the surface of the neutron stars, thermal reactions are seen in the X-ray spectrum, accompanied by the pulsed radio emission turning off and being replaced with continuously emitting radio emission. Using MeerKAT and the space-based XMM-Newton X-ray observatory, Dr Hugo identified a candidate system where a pulsar was actively pulling in matter from a companion star, offering a rare glimpse into a poorly understood astrophysical process. This transitional mechanism between a neutron star accreting material and starting to pulse is not well understood because the observational timespans needed to detect such traditional systems are measured in decades. I detected a potential such candidate in the radio for the first time as the system is actively accreting material from its companion (as seen in optical and X-ray observations). Making sense of Big Data MeerKAT doesnt just capture spectacular images, it generates vast amounts of data, with individual observations reaching hundreds of terabytes. Managing and storing this information is a major challenge. Dr Hugos research tested ways to compress these data sets by an order of magnitude while preserving their scientific integrity. MeerKAT data products are often hundreds to thousands of gigabytes (GBs) in size after calibration (and even larger before calibration). This poses a substantial and costly problem for keeping this data long-term for the sake of further analysis and scientific reproducibility. We show that we can compress calibrated MeerKAT products by at least an order of magnitude without compromising the integrity of these products. This breakthrough is particularly important as South Africa prepares for the next phase of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an international mega-project that will be the worlds largest radio telescope. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has held a phone talk with Foreign Minister of Georgia Maka Bochorishvili, a source in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. According to the information, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of friendly and strategic partnership relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, it was emphasized that the existing political dialogue between our countries at the top and high levels, intensive visits, and the mechanism of political consultations contribute to further strengthening of our relations. The importance of further expanding such political contacts in the current year was stressed. The ministers also exchanged views on regional issues. The transfer of West Zangezur to Armenia was a clear violation of the principles of historical justice. The decisions made by the Bolsheviks were driven not by the interests of the region's peoples but by Moscow's geopolitical calculations. This has become one of the key factors behind the ongoing instability in the South Caucasus, as the territorial decisions made during the Soviet era continue to influence Azerbaijani-Armenian relations. Historical documents, archival records, and demographic data confirm that West Zangezur has always been an integral part of Azerbaijan. The forced transfer of these lands to Armenia represents an instance of political violence, the consequences of which continue to resonate today. Currently, there are efforts to rewrite history, but the facts remain. Today, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are strategic partners who are reshaping the energy landscape of Eurasia through large-scale energy projects. Their joint oil and gas transportation initiatives not only enhance Europes energy security but also influence new economic realities. Among the key projects in this context are the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline, and the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP). The BTC pipeline, which began operation in 2006, spans 1,768 kilometers and transports Caspian oil to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The success of BTC has significantly diversified oil exports and reduced reliance on Russia, strengthening regional energy security and international trade connections. In 2023, approximately 230 million barrels of oil were transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline, which has been operational since 2007, is 980 kilometers long and is a crucial part of the Southern Gas Corridor, delivering Azerbaijani natural gas to Turkiye and Europe. The BTE pipeline has a throughput capacity of 20 billion cubic meters. The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which directly transports Azerbaijani gas to Europe, is another key infrastructure project. Commissioned in 2018, TANAP spans 1,850 kilometers, and in 2023, it facilitated the transport of 12 billion cubic meters of gas. These pipelines, along with others, not only boost the economic power of Azerbaijan and Turkiye but also play a vital role in securing Europes energy supply. TANAP and related projects are strategically important, enabling the European Union to diversify its energy sources. Azerbaijani gas has become a significant factor in Europes energy security. In 2023, Azerbaijan exported a total of 25 billion cubic meters of gas, with 12 billion cubic meters (about 50 percent) sent to Turkiye. This transaction has helped transform Turkiye into the largest gas hub in the region while reducing energy dependence on Russia. The remaining 13 billion cubic meters were exported to 11 countries, including 10 European nations. Italy was the largest importer of Azerbaijani gas in Europe, purchasing about 10 billion cubic meters in 2023. Greece and Bulgaria also received Azerbaijani gas through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which has an annual throughput capacity of 10 billion cubic meters. Recently, Romania, Hungary, and Serbia have emerged as new importers of Azerbaijani gas. By 2027, it is forecasted that Azerbaijans gas exports will reach 30 billion cubic meters, allowing for expanded supplies to Central European countries, including Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Turkiye is positioning itself as a key energy hub, facilitating the transit of not only Azerbaijani gas to Europe but also gas from other countries, such as Turkmenistan. To expand this role, Baku and Ankara are discussing a project to extend the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and transport Turkmen gas across the Caspian Sea to Turkiye and Europe via Azerbaijan. Turkiye is also in negotiations with Russia, Iran, and other countries to diversify its gas supplies, making it a central strategic player in Europes energy security. The cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the energy sector not only strengthens the energy stability of both countries but also enhances the regions overall energy security. Joint energy projects contribute to diversifying Europes gas supplies, reducing dependence on Russia, and increasing the sustainability of the energy sector. In the future, Azerbaijans role as a major gas exporter will continue to grow, while Turkiye will solidify its position as the energy center of Eurasia. Azerbaijan and Turkiye share a fraternal bond, grounded in a common ethnic, cultural, and historical heritage. Over recent decades, this relationship has deepened, evolving into a strategic alliance that stands as a unique model in the modern world. Today, the partnership between Baku and Ankara is entering a new phase, encompassing nearly all sectors, including politics, economics, defense, and energy. Azerbaijani-Turkish relations have always been marked by close coordination and mutual support. One of the earliest examples of this brotherhood occurred in 1918 when the Caucasian Islamic Army, led by Nuru Pasha, liberated Baku from the Armenian-Bolshevik forces. After the collapse of the USSR, Turkiye became the first country to officially recognize Azerbaijans independence on November 9, 1991. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has developed rapidly, even in the face of challenging geopolitical conditions. The political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Turkiye was particularly strengthened after National Leader Heydar Aliyev came to power, and under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani-Turkish relations reached new heights. The signing of the strategic partnership and mutual assistance agreement in 2010 laid the foundation for their bilateral alliance. Then, on June 15, 2021, the Shusha Declaration was signed, officially cementing the allied relations between the two countries. The main points of the Shusha Declaration are that both countries will help each other in case of threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity, that defense cooperation will grow, that economic and transportation integration will get better, and that both sides will work harder to keep the region stable. The military-technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye has significantly shifted the balance of power in the region, establishing a robust defense alliance between the two nations. For decades, Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories, and Turkiye has been Azerbaijans primary partner in the liberation of these lands. During the 44-day Patriotic War (September-November 2020), Turkiye provided Azerbaijan with unprecedented military support, playing a crucial role in the success of the operation. The supply of Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) played a decisive role in the destruction of Armenia's heavy equipment, significantly enhancing Azerbaijan's military advantage. Azerbaijani servicemen were trained according to Turkish standards, which boosted the combat effectiveness of the Azerbaijani army. Turkiye also strengthened Azerbaijan's position on the international stage, helping to prevent anti-Azerbaijani initiatives. Following the war, military cooperation between the two countries expanded. Since 2021, Azerbaijan has been purchasing modern weapons systems from Turkiye, including TRG-300 Kaplan multiple-launch rocket systems and Otokar armored vehicles. Joint military exercises have further confirmed the high level of military cooperation between the two countries. Azerbaijan-Turkiye economic relations are growing rapidly and have become a cornerstone of their strategic partnership. Trade turnover between the two countries exceeded $7.5 billion in 2023, and projections indicate it will reach $15 billion by 2025. The Azerbaijan-Turkiye Energy Alliance is a central aspect of this cooperation. Azerbaijan is Turkiye's primary gas supplier, exporting 12 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkiye in 2023. The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) has become a key route for transporting Azerbaijani gas to Europe, and after planned expansions, its capacity will increase to 31 billion cubic meters. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is Turkiye's largest foreign investor, having invested more than $19 billion in the Turkish economy. The two countries are also expanding their cooperation in transport and logistics. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, operational since 2017, has transported over one million tons of cargo. This railway line is a vital strategic corridor connecting Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Europe. The Zangezur Corridor, which will link Azerbaijan's mainland with Turkiye via Nakhchivan, is set to become a key part of the Middle Corridor, offering an alternative to Russia and Iran's transport routes. SOCAR has invested $6.3 billion in Turkiye's STAR refinery, while Azerbaijani banks and companies continue to invest heavily in logistics, tourism, and construction in Turkiye. The geopolitical significance of the Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance is immense, and this cooperation has fundamentally shifted the balance of power in the South Caucasus. The alliance between Baku and Ankara has altered the regional balance of power, isolating Armenia from its former ally, Russia. Having solidified its influence in the South Caucasus, Turkiye, alongside Azerbaijan, has emerged as one of the primary centers of power in the region. Together, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are key players in ensuring Europe's energy security. Following the imposition of sanctions on Russian gas, Azerbaijan has become the European Union's main alternative gas supplier. In 2023, Azerbaijan's gas exports to Europe amounted to 11 billion cubic meters, with plans to increase this figure to 20 billion cubic meters by 2027. Azerbaijan and Turkiye are also driving economic and military integration as leading members of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), playing a pivotal role in strengthening this organization. The growing Azerbaijan-Turkiye partnership in the 21st century has become a significant geopolitical reality, not only for both countries but also for the broader Eurasian region. This alliance holds significant strategic value for the security, stability, and advancement of the region, possessing the potential to impact global dynamics substantially. Azerbaijan and Turkiye have showcased a robust partnership that signifies a sustained strategic alignment, set to be instrumental in influencing the geopolitical landscape of the region moving forward. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The Permanent Committee on Science and Education of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS PA) has held a videoconference meeting, a source in the Azerbaijani parliament told Trend. "The event brought together members of the Azerbaijani delegation to the CIS PA Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Committee on Science and Education of the CIS PA Bakhtiyar Aliyev, and committee member Fariz Ismayilzade. During the meeting, discussions were held on the draft laws 'On Artificial Intelligence Technologies', 'Regulatory and Legal Framework for the Development and Support of Young Talents for CIS Member States', and others. At the end of the online meeting, the date and agenda for the next committee meeting were determined," the source added. The superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), a ground-dwelling species of moist eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia, engineers micro-habitats to host and fatten its prey worms, centipedes and spiders before returning later to feast, according to new research. The superb lyrebird is a large ground-dwelling passerine bird, widespread in wet forests of eastern Australia and renowned for its mimicry and remarkable courtship displays, said La Trobe University researcher Alex Maisey and colleagues. Lyrebird populations displace enormous volumes of litter and soil whilst foraging. Lyrebirds rake the leaf litter and dig into the soil, creating a fine-scale mosaic of exposed soil and foraging ejecta within a matrix of leaf litter. Over prolonged periods of lyrebird activity, reduced soil compaction and increased aeration and infiltration of the litter and soil could benefit macroinvertebrates. This presents a mechanism by which the engineering activities of lyrebirds may create a feedback loop, essentially enabling them to farm their prey. The study was conducted in three forest locations in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia: (i) Sherbrooke Forest, part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park; (ii) Yarra Ranges National Park; and (iii) Britannia Creek catchment within the Yarra State Forest. The researchers fenced lyrebirds out from small areas throughout the forest to create lyrebird-free environments. In some of these areas, the authors raked the leaf litter and soil to simulated lyrebird foraging. Where raking had been undertaken, there were more types and larger invertebrates than the areas without simulated lyrebird foraging. This type of animal farming was rarely seen in nature, Dr. Maisey said. Lyrebirds set up the perfect home for their prey, creating conditions with more food resources and effectively fattening them up before eating them. These birds, through foraging, heavily influenced the plants and animals that lived in Australias south-eastern forests. In this project, lyrebirds were measured moving an average of 155 tons of litter and soil per hectare per year while farming invertebrates. They also lower the intensity of bushfires by burying leaves and branches that fuel fires, thereby shaping whole ecosystems. Lyrebirds are widespread and active across millions of hectares of forest. Their farming actions play an important role in maintaining forest biodiversity. The study was published this week in the Journal of Animal Ecology. _____ Alex C. Maisey et al. Foraging activity by an ecosystem engineer, the superb lyrebird, farms its invertebrate prey. Journal of Animal Ecology, published online March 4, 2025; doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.70009 Combine a garden-variety green laser, microwaves with roughly the energy of your wi-fi, and some diamond dust in drops of water, and what do you get? A precise chemical detection tool. For the first time, researchers have combined nanodiamonds in microdroplets of liquid for quantum sensing. The new technique is precise, fast, sensitive, and requires only small amounts of the material to be studied -- helpful when studying trace chemicals or individual cells. The results were published in the journal Science Advances in December. "We weren't even sure whether our technique would work, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy and effective," said Ashok Ajoy, a faculty scientist in the Chemical Sciences Division at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and assistant professor at UC Berkeley who led the project. "There are broad applications where these sensors could be deployed into interesting environments and help you find something that would usually be hard to detect." Quantum sensing takes advantage of unique properties that emerge at the smallest scales. In their new method, researchers make a series of microdroplets that are millions of times smaller than a raindrop. These are filled with a special kind of diamond where some of the carbon atoms are removed and nitrogen atoms are added. These "nitrogen vacancies" act as quantum sensors and give the nanodiamonds a special property: as the droplets flow past a laser and are hit by microwaves, the nanodiamonds give off light. The amount of light in the presence of a microwave field is related to the materials around the nanodiamond, letting the researchers determine whether a chemical of interest is nearby. The combination of flowing droplets and carefully modulated microwaves lets researchers ignore unwanted background noise and adds to their precision. When it comes to detecting trace amounts of slightly magnetic (or "paramagnetic") chemicals in small sample volumes, the new flowing nanodiamond approach is already outperforming leading techniques. (If you're thinking that science has spared no expense, don't fear -- researchers can analyze hundreds of thousands of droplets for about 63 cents of diamond dust, making it both a relatively inexpensive and effective option.) Small sensors, big applications With further development, there are many potential ways to use the nanodiamonds in droplets. In the new study, a team of researchers headed by UC Berkeley and Berkeley Lab graduate student Adrisha Sarkar and Berkeley Lab postdoc Zack Jones successfully showed they could pick up trace amounts of two paramagnetic species: gadolinium ions and TEMPOL, a stable radical molecule that is sensitive to oxygen. Several other kinds of paramagnetic ions are of interest, but difficult to study using traditional techniques. Such is the case for reactive oxygen species (ROS), short-lived molecules of oxygen that have been linked to cell metabolism, aging, and stress. The new technique could prove a better way to detect reactive oxygen within single cells, giving experts a way to track cell health, with implications for studying diseases such as cancer. The team is already preparing for such a study. They're also looking at how to attach additional components that aid in identification (such as antibodies) to the nanodiamonds, expanding the tool for biological research. One can imagine using the technique to build better diagnostic tests to identify viruses when only trace amounts of the virus are present. Or, because the method is relatively low-tech, Ajoy foresees a portable system that could be used to monitor the air or water for harmful trace contaminants and chemicals, either in the field or in industrial settings. Because the nanodiamond microdroplets are cheap and plentiful, the technique could be scaled up to measure hundreds of different samples with great sensitivity and address complex, real-world problems. The new approach could also be useful for creating self-driving bioreactors of the future. Bioreactors create controlled environments for growing microorganisms that can make medicines, biofuels, or food ingredients. Because each droplet of nanodiamonds can act as a microscopic "beaker" and can hold a single cell, researchers could potentially use the technique to tune bioreactors. "You can envision setting up bioreactors in austere environments around the world or in space, to make things like food that you couldn't deliver on a daily basis," said Deepti Tanjore, director of the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit at Berkeley Lab. "Having precise quantum sensors that tell you how the microorganism culture is behaving is an important step toward that dream. To build a self-regulating bioreactor, we need that real-time intracellular data." Theoretical physicists reveal that room-temperature superconductivity is possible within the laws of our Universe, linked to fundamental constants like electron mass and Planck constant. Discovery could revolutionise energy, quantum computing, and medical tech by enabling superconductors to work at ambient conditions. Research explores how varying fundamental constants could alter superconductivity limits, offering a glimpse into the delicate balance of our Universe. In a new development that could help redefine the future of technology, a team of physicists has uncovered a fundamental insight into the upper limit of superconducting temperature. This discovery, accepted for publication in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, suggests that room-temperature superconductivity -- long considered the "holy grail" of condensed matter physics -- may indeed be possible within the laws of our Universe. Superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity without resistance, have the potential to revolutionise energy transmission, medical imaging, and quantum computing. However, until now, they have only functioned at extremely low temperatures, making them impractical for widespread use. The race to find a superconductor that works at ambient conditions has been one of the most intense and elusive pursuits in modern science. In their latest work, Queen Mary University of London Professor Kostya Trachenko and colleagues reveal that the upper limit of superconducting temperature TC is intrinsically linked to the fundamental constants of nature -- the electron mass, electron charge, and the Planck constant. Constants such as these govern everything from the stability of atoms to the formation of stars and synthesis of carbon and other elements essential to life. The team's finding shows that the upper limit ranges from hundreds to a thousand Kelvin -- a range that comfortably includes room temperature. "This discovery tells us that room-temperature superconductivity is not ruled out by fundamental constants," said Professor Pickard of University of Cambridge, co-author of this study. "It gives hope to scientists: the dream is still alive." The results have already been independently confirmed in a separate study, adding weight to the team's conclusions. But the implications go even further. By exploring how different values of these fundamental constants could alter the limits of superconductivity, the researchers have opened a fascinating window into the nature of our Universe. Imagine a world where the fundamental constants are different and set the upper limit for TC at a mere millionth of a Kelvin. In such a Universe, superconductivity would be undetectable, and we would never have discovered it. Conversely, in a Universe where the limit is a million Kelvin, superconductors would be common -- even in your electric kettle. "The wire would superconduct instead of heating up," Professor Trachenko explains. "Boiling water for tea would be a very different challenge." It therefore appears that the very reason the community is busy chasing up a room-temperature superconductor is that our fundamental constants set the upper limit of TC in the range 100-1000 K (the range of planetary conditions) where our "room" temperature is. This research not only advances our understanding of superconductivity but also highlights the delicate balance of the constants that make our Universe -- and life within it -- possible. For scientists and engineers, this work also provides a renewed sense of direction. "The fact that room-temperature superconductivity is theoretically possible, given our Universe's constants, is encouraging," Professors Trachenko and Pickard add. "It's a call to keep exploring, experimenting, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible." A newly developed pentanuclear iron complex (Fe5-PCz(ClO)) can offer an efficient, stable, and cost-effective solution for water oxidation. By electrochemically polymerizing the complex, researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo obtained a polymer-based catalyst, poly-Fe5-PCz, and achieved water oxidation with up to 99% Faradaic efficiency and exceptional stability, even under rigorous conditions. This breakthrough offers a scalable alternative to rare metal catalysts, advancing hydrogen production and energy storage for renewable energy. Water oxidation plays a vital role in renewable energy technologies, especially in hydrogen production and artificial photosynthesis. By splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen, it provides a clean, sustainable energy source. However, replicating the efficiency and stability of natural photosynthetic systems in artificial catalytic setups -- especially in aqueous environments -- remains a significant challenge. Catalysts based on rare and expensive metals like ruthenium have shown high activity for water oxidation but are not practical for large-scale use due to their cost and limited availability. To address this, a team of researchers led by Professor Mio Kondo from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan,developed a more sustainable and cost-effective catalytic system using abundant metals. Their findings were published in Nature Communications on [Date]. The study introduces a novel pentanuclear iron complex, Fe5-PCz(ClO), which possesses a multinuclear-complex-based catalytically active site and precursor moieties for charge transfer sites. Kondo explains, "By electrochemically polymerizing this multinuclear iron complex, we create a polymer-based material that enhances electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability. This approach combines the benefits of natural systems with the flexibility of artificial catalysts, paving the way for sustainable energy solutions." The researchers synthesized the Fe5-PCz(ClO) complex using organic reactions like bromination, nucleophilic substitution, Suzuki coupling reactions, and subsequent complexation reactions. The synthesized complex was characterized by mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. The researchers then modified glassy carbon and indium tin oxide electrodes by polymerizing Fe5-PCz using cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis to afford a polymer-based catalyst, poly-Fe5-PCz. The charge transfer ability and electrocatalytic performance of poly-Fe5-PCz were evaluated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) experiments with oxygen production quantified by gas chromatography, respectively. The results were highly promising. Kondo explains, "Poly-Fe5-PCz achieved up to 99% Faradaic efficiency in aqueous media, meaning nearly all the applied current contributed to the OER. The system also exhibited superior robustness and a reaction rate under rigorous testing conditions compared to relevant systems. Additionally, poly-Fe5-PCz demonstrated enhanced energy storage potential and improved electrode compatibility, making it suitable for a wide range of renewable energy applications." Its high stability was further confirmed by long-term controlled potential experiments, a key advantage for hydrogen production and energy storage technologies. The study's findings have significant implications for sustainable energy. The use of iron -- an abundant, non-toxic metal -- ensures the system is both eco-friendly and cost-effective, offering a viable alternative to precious metal-based catalysts. Its stability under operational conditions addresses a major challenge in artificial catalytic systems, where long-term catalyst degradation often limits performance. Moreover, the system's performance in aqueous environments makes it suitable for applications in water splitting. "Optimizing poly-Fe5-PCz synthesis and scalability could further enhance its performance, paving the way for industrial-scale hydrogen production and energy storage. Our study opens new possibilities for integrating the system into broader energy technologies, paving the way to a more sustainable future," concludes Kondo. Aluminum (Al) has been considered as a material susceptible to corrosion, but it will become key to core technology in producing clean hydrogen energy. Recently, a POSTECH research team succeeded in dramatically improving the performance of hydrogen production catalysts using this unstable metal. This research was conducted by the team of: Professor Yong-Tae Kim of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Graduate Institute of Ferrous & Eco Materials Technology at POSTECH; Dr. Sang-Moon Jung of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ph.D. candidate Byeong-Jo Lee, and professor Seoin Back's team of Sogang University. The research was recognized for its excellence and was published as the cover paper of "ACS Catalysis," an academic journal published by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Hydrogen is being spotlighted as a clean energy source replacing fossil fuels, and water electrolysis all of which is used to mass produce hydrogen using water. In particular, researches on alkaline water electrolysis using alkaline solution as an electrolyte are being actively conducted, as it is cost-effective and suitable for mass production. Water electrolysis requires a catalyst that accelerates 2 important reactions. One of them is "hydrogen evolution reaction" (HER), which produces hydrogen gas (H2) by combining hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons. Another one is "oxygen evolution reaction" (OER), which produces oxygen gas (O2) as hydroxyl ions (OH-) lose electrons. However, nickel-iron (Ni-Fe) is a based catalyst mainly used in oxygen production reaction; it has had difficulties in commercializing due to its lack of activity and durability. The research team solved the problem using aluminum. Aluminum is generally known to be easily corroded in alkaline environments, but the research team overcame the problem by designing it to form a stable structure on the surface of an electrode. As a result, aluminum efficiently controlled the existing catalytic electron structure without corrosion, accelerating oxygen production reaction. Experiments conducted in an alkaline water electrolysis cell showed the results that the nickel-iron-aluminum (Ni-Fe-Al) catalyst improved performance by approximately 50% compared to existing catalysts. The research team confirmed that the aluminum catalyst maintained high current density even at low voltage. Additionally it was proven to be applicable in a large-scale hydrogen production process, as it maintained excellent stability in a long-term operation. Professor Yong-Tae Kim, the leader of this research, said, "This research broke the stereotypes of existing catalyst designs. By using this innovative approach of utilizing aluminum, we were able to drastically improve the performance of catalysts used in a hydrogen production system. I expect this research would substantially advance the age of hydrogen economy and become a new milestone of eco-friendly energy technology." This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Science and ICT, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The staff of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia has been changed, Trend reports. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in this regard. According to the decree, the minister of finance became the co-chair of the Azerbaijan-Serbia Intergovernmental Commission. Previously, this position was held by the minister of labor and social protection of the population. Furthermore, the deputy minister of labor and social protection of the population was also included in the commission. Walking into your favorite restaurant and seeing a robot chef in the kitchen may seem far-fetched, but a University of Mississippi professor's research says bots could be a solution to persistent labor shortages in the industry. Jeffrey Pittman II, instructional assistant professor in nutrition and hospitality management, is researching the potential benefits -- and numerous doubts -- that surround robots invading the kitchen. "We have to look at this from the standpoint of, 'What benefits can these robots offer if they are implemented?'" he said. "What benefit can they have not just to the restaurant owner, but to the other employees and even to the customer?" Restaurants across the globe have embraced automated cooks, and multiple restaurants in Mississippi have integrated robotic servers. That's because the benefits are clear, Pittman said. Robotic chefs and servers are never late, adhere to food safety protocols and rarely require maintenance. For the hospitality industry -- which the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports has an annual turnover rate of more than 70% -- robot chefs could be an answer to the labor shortage problem, Pittman said. "The restaurant industry has had labor issues for about a decade," said James Taylor, associate professor of nutrition and hospitality management. "With COVID, things got worse, and since COVID, things have not recovered. "We're seeing automation in the industry already. You see kiosks at fast-food restaurants where you can order, drive-thru windows have systems that can take your order. To move it into the kitchen is the next logical step." Despite the potential benefits, however, many people do not trust a robot to do the work of a chef. "The current perception of robot chefs is that they're never going to provide the human touch, they're never going to be able to cook better than a human, and that they are nothing but a scheme by restaurant managers to get rid of jobs that good, hard-earned people need to save money," he said. "My research is really aimed at showing that robot chefs aren't necessarily designed to work by themselves in a kitchen environment. They're supposed to serve as a supportive mechanism." Robots such as Flippy, a robot that flips burgers or works on frying stations, leave other kitchen workers in charge of plating and assembling the meal. By moving chefs into a supervisory role, restaurants could also work to solve a deeper problem, the Ole Miss professor said. The restaurant industry's struggle with hiring and sustaining long-time employees is tied to the low-pay and labor-intensive nature of the work, he said. "There are a lot of restaurants that are understaffed, and the issue is not that managers don't want to hire people," Pittman said. "People aren't applying for these jobs because nobody wants to work in a high-volume restaurant environment where you hardly have any days off, make minimum wage and don't get to have a work-life balance, right? "So, I'm asking, 'How can a restaurant implement robot chefs to help provide that supportive labor while making sure that they remain profitable?'" With the increased push to move from minimum wage to a living wage, fewer people are drawn to the low wages of restaurant labor, Taylor said. "I don't think that anybody who wants a job is not going to be able to get one because of automation," he said. "They're not applying for them now -- that's why we have that shortage. The restaurant used to be entry-level point for workers, but we're really not seeing that anymore." If a robot reduces labor costs, however, restaurants could afford to pay their chefs more while increasing the quality of life for restaurant workers by removing some of the menial labor, Pittman said. With the rise of robot chefs, the industry would need also more robot technicians, opening the door for new jobs. A restaurant owner can spend approximately $50,000 on a robot chef or rent one for $3,000 a month, which seems like a large investment, Pittman said. But owners must also account for the potential cost of employee turnover. "On average, you're going to be spending $5,000 to hire someone," Pittman said. "That's filing paperwork, paying for background checks, health insurance, drug tests and training. In addition to that, you have a salary. "And if that person quits in four, five, even six months, that money is gone." Many kitchen robots don't need maintenance for at least four years, Pittman said. "That's $50,000 for four years of work, and even when they need maintenance, the cost to repair them is relatively low," he said. Details added: first version posted on 16:41 BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The staff of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia has been changed, Trend reports. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in this regard. According to the decree, the minister of finance became the co-chair of the Azerbaijan-Serbia Intergovernmental Commission. Previously, this position was held by the minister of labor and social protection of the population. Besides, the deputy minister of labor and social protection of population was also included in the commission. Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, along with her daughter Arzu Aliyeva, visited Ganja city secondary school No. 37 to review the ongoing reconstruction efforts carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Trend reports. Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov and Head of Ganja City Executive Authority Niyazi Bayramov provided updates on the latest developments. Originally commissioned in 1969, the school was designed to accommodate more than 700 students. However, due to its deteriorating condition, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation launched a comprehensive renovation project in September 2024. The reconstruction is expected to be completed by September this year, in time for the new academic year. As part of its ongoing commitment to education, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation plans to complete the construction and renovation of several schools in Baku and across the regions for the upcoming academic year. Since its establishment, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has prioritized the development of education, implementing programs such as New School for a Renewing Azerbaijan and Support for Education. These initiatives, alongside state-led efforts to enhance school infrastructure, aim to improve the quality of education across the country. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The upcoming installation of a monument to the National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev will be an important cultural and humanitarian event for both Azerbaijan and Russia, spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said during a weekly briefing today, Trend reports. "In our country, we cherish the memory and have great warmth and respect for this remarkable, extraordinary, talented man and statesman," she said. Zakharova noted that in 2023, commemoration events were held in Moscow and other Russian towns to celebrate the centenary of Heydar Aliyev. "The upcoming installation of the monument will be an important cultural and humanitarian event for our countries," she noted. To note, earlier, the solemn ceremony of laying a monument to the National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev was held in the square in Moscow, near the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia. A monument will be erected here to twice Hero of Socialist Labor, outstanding state and political figure, Chairman of the Commission of the Council of Ministers on construction and development of Baikal-Amur Mainline, reads the memorial slab. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Rahman Mustafayev, Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Vitaly Savelyev, veterans of Baikal-Amur Mainline construction, USSR Ministry of Transport, and others attended the event. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. During her visit to Ganja on March 6, First Vice-President and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, along with her daughters Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, visited the Perinatal Center of Ganja City United Hospital, Trend reports. Hospitals director Ilkin Ismayilov provided information about the center, which serves residents of Ganja and surrounding regions. He noted that the Perinatal Center offers high-quality diagnostic, consultation, and treatment services for expectant mothers and newborns. During the visit, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation donated incubators and an ultrasound machine to the center. Additionally, new mothers received gifts from the Foundation during visits to newborns. Healthcare remains one of the Foundations key priorities. Through projects such as Highest Care for Children with Diabetes, For a Life Without Thalassemia, and Reconstruction and Construction of Medical Establishments, as well as numerous charity initiatives, the Foundation continues to support the healthcare sector. Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, along with her daughters, Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, visited the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Ganja, Trend reports. Church's head priest, Varfolomey Denis Sotnikov, provided historical information about the site. Built in 1887 in Byzantine style with brick, the church was funded by both local Orthodox Christians and Muslims. After functioning as a place of worship for 44 years, the church was closed by Soviet authorities in 1931 and later used as a museum and warehouse. It was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1946 and has remained active since. The church has preserved various ancient icons, including those of Saint Alexander Nevsky and Saint Mary Magdalene. Its 110th anniversary was marked in 1997, and in 2017, restoration work was carried out for its 130th anniversary. Further repairs are now required to maintain this historic monument. Azerbaijan, a multinational and multi-confessional country, continues to prioritize the protection of its historical and cultural heritage, including religious sites. President Ilham Aliyev consistently supports religious communities and their leaders, showcasing Azerbaijans exemplary state-religion relations. Under the leadership of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation actively promotes interfaith dialogue and cooperation, restoring mosques, churches, and synagogues across the country, including in liberated territories. Other requirements include: Buyers must complete in-person homebuyer education with a HUD-certified counselor. Buyers must provide a minimum of 1% cash investment. Household income must fall within MSHDAs household income limits. The homes purchase price must not exceed $224,500. Buyers must combine the First-Generation DPA with a home loan (conventional, FHA, or USDA). The program cannot be combined with MSHDAs MI10K DPA loan. Satisfy all other MSHDA program requirements. Its no secret that affordable housing and low-interest mortgage loans are hard to find in todays market. As the housing crisis grows, Michigan communities are grappling with finding the resources needed to make homeownership attainable for all.In February, community foundations, local organizations, and civic leaders convened at an East Michigan Council of Governments (EMCOG) housing summit to tackle these challenges head-on in the Great Lakes Bay Region.During the summit, participants discussed a range of strategies to alleviate housing insecurity, including new state-level initiatives the Michigan First-Generation Down Payment Assistance program and a Statewide Housing Plan.The Michigan First-Generation Down Payment Assistance program is a limited-time pilot initiative aimed at helping first-generation homebuyers purchase their first home. Funded by an $8 million allocation from the State of Michigan, it provides up to $25,000 to cover down payments, closing costs, and prepaid escrow expenses.The program is available statewide and expected to help more than 320 families across Michigan. By lowering the upfront costs of buying a home, the program seeks to make homeownership more accessible and set families on the path toward long-term financial stability.Were very excited this program was able to be launched, says Veronica Depotty, a Housing Education Specialist with MSHDA.This is a program focused on first-generation homebuyers. Specifically, those who dont have homeownership in their immediate family, have aged out of foster care, or have been emancipated.Eligible buyers must purchase a home intended to be their primary residence and have not owned property in the last three years. Additionally, the borrowers parents or legal guardians must not currently own a home and should not have owned one in the past three years. Individuals who have aged out of foster care or have been legally emancipated may also be eligible.Interested applicants are urged to begin the process as soon as possible by contacting a participating lender or visiting MSHDAs website for more information.The First-Generation program also requires applicants to complete in-person home buyer education with a HUD-certified counselor . Depotty clarified that both virtual and in-person classes are available and highlighted the importance of education.Because applicants have never owned a home and do not have a biological or adoptive parent with homeownership experience, an in-depth and personalized session with a HUD-certified housing counselor will help explain the responsibilities of owning a home.Jonathan Jarret from The State Bank also spoke about educating homebuyers.Its one thing for us to close and get you the keys to the house, he says. I want to make sure you have the capacity and competency to understand what its going to take to keep that house.In June 2022, Michigan launched its first-ever Statewide Housing Plan . This initiative tackles the state's affordable housing crisis with eight key priorities and 37 objectives, calling on MSHDA and various stakeholders to take action.Fifteen Regional Housing Partnerships were also formed to aid in the execution of the plan and to create action plans tailored to each region. EMCOG acts as the principal agency for Region G which encompasses Bay, Midland, Isabella, Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, and Saginaw counties.To view a detailed plan of our area, visit the EMCOG website Courtesy of Kathy Rohlman Kathy Rohlman Each summer at Camp Sunshine, the adults who attend the camp, all of whom have intellectual or developmental disabilities, are paired one-on-one with counselors.Kathy Rohlman, executive director of West Michigan nonprofit Camp Sunshine, describes the experience as more than just summer fun. Its a powerful lesson in inclusion, advocacy, and seeing people for who they truly are.That echoes the heart of Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, an award-winning documentary that will be screened for free at Muskegons Frauenthal Center on April 15.When Crip Camp came out in 2020, many of us at Camp Sunshine watched it and saw so many parallels, Rohlman says. The way the campers connected, the relationships they built it reminded us of what happens at our own camp every summer. But more than that, it was a wake-up call about how society views people with disabilities.The documentary chronicles the story of a groundbreaking summer camp in the 1970s where teenagers with disabilities experienced a sense of freedom and belonging that was often denied to them in the outside world. Many of these campers went on to become leaders in the disability rights movement, fighting for legislation that led to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other critical protections.Now, a coalition of West Michigan organizations, including Disability Network West Michigan, Camp Sunshine, HGA Support Services, and Pioneer Resources, is bringing the film to Muskegon to inspire the next generation of advocates.The 5:30 p.m. event begins with a reception in the Frauenthal lobby, where attendees can connect with local organizations, enjoy complimentary hors doeuvres, and visit nonprofit exhibitors explaining resources available to the Muskegon community. The screening will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a discussion featuring members of the disability community.This event is more than just watching a film, Rohlman says. Its about fostering dialogue, raising awareness, and inspiring action.Brad Hastings, systems advocacy manager for Disability Network West Michigan , says the screening is a reminder that the struggle to achieve accessibility and inclusion is never complete."For decades, disability advocates have fought for basic rights rights that too often still require justification, he said. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is discussed in the film and laid the groundwork for accessibility and inclusion, yet its protections remain vulnerable to erosion.Events like the Crip Camp screening remind us that progress is not inevitable, it is the result of persistent advocacy. Disability Network West Michigan is committed to educating our community about disability rights issues, ensuring that accessibility and inclusion are not optional, but fundamental to a just society. By fostering awareness and action, we can create a future where people with disabilities are fully included in every aspect of community life."The idea for the event sprung from years of conversations among West Michigan disability advocates. Rohlman and Jill Bonthuis of Pioneer Resources had long discussed the need for a broader community conversation about disability rights, employment, and accessibility.There have been a few of us meeting over the years, talking about how to educate our community about the importance of including people with disabilities in conversations about employment, education, housing, and transportation, Rohlman says. People with disabilities are often left out of these discussions.When the group learned of the LEAD Giving Circle grant through the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, they applied with the goal of hosting a public screening of Crip Camp to spark that conversation. Though they were not awarded the full grant, they received $2,000 in funding, which allowed them to move forward.They secured the Frauenthal Center , which seats 1,700, as the venue. Organizers hope for a strong turnout, particularly from employers, educators, and policymakers, who play a critical role in shaping accessibility and inclusion in Muskegon.We would be thrilled to have a few hundred people there, Rohlman says. The more people who see this film and participate in the discussion afterward, the better.Rohlman sees Crip Camp as not just a documentary, but also a teaching tool. She has used the film in volunteer training at Camp Sunshine, encouraging counselors to watch and reflect on their assumptions about disability.I remember watching the film and seeing a woman with cerebral palsy talk about her experiences, Rohlman says. It made me think about how we, as a society, make assumptions about people with disabilities before ever asking them about their own experiences. That was a wake-up call for me.At Camp Sunshine, which has operated for 42 years, campers experience a sense of belonging. Unlike most summer camps, which are geared for children, Camp Sunshine is designed specifically for adults, with campers ranging from 18 to their 60s. Each camper is paired one-on-one with a counselor, not because of physical needs, but to create a deep, personal connection.We do this because we want people to build relationships with someone whos different from them and to get to know individuals for their gifts and talents, Rohlman says. And it changes them. Weve had volunteers completely shift their career paths because of their experiences at camp.Each summer, Camp Sunshine hosts more than 200 campers across multiple sessions, held at Camp Blodgett in West Olive and Camp Henry in Newaygo. The demand for spots is high, with only about 20 new campers admitted each year due to the high rate of returning participants.Organizers hope the screening of Crip Camp will lead to greater understanding and inclusion in West Michigan. After the film, the panel discussion will feature individuals with disabilities and their families, providing a platform for authentic, firsthand perspectives.These voices are critical, Rohlman says. We want people to see disability as an integral part of diversity, not something separate or other.Hastings agrees that the issue touches every persons life."People might ask why this is relevant to them, but disability is likely to impact all of us at some point in our lives, he says. We always tell people that there are three ways that you could become a person with a disability: You can be born with one, it could happen through an accident, injury, or illness, or, if you are lucky enough to live a long time, you will probably acquire a couple as you age."Funding from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and the Consumers Energy Foundation allows the event to be free to the public. Registration and accommodation requests can be made through the Disability Network West Michigan website.The screening is an opportunity to challenge long-held assumptions and open minds, Rohlman believes.We talk about diversity all the time, but we dont always include disability in that conversation, she says. This film shows us why we must.For more information or to RSVP, visit the Disability Network West Michigan website. The multi-regional Disability Inclusion series is made possible through a partnership with Centers for Independent Living organizations across West Michigan. Dr. David Karowe, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University KALAMAZOO, MI As climate change accelerates, humans are not the only ones forced to adapt. Plants and animals are subject to three choices: stay and evolve, migrate to a new habitat, or face extinction.On the afternoon of February 14, Dr. David Karowe , a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University, gave a talk titled Polar Bears, Maple Trees, and Salamanders: Non-human Migration Due to Climate Change, in which he discussed the influence of climate change on both plant and animal migration. Sponsored by the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition as a part of their ongoing Fridays for Future series, Karowe addressed the implications of climate change on non-human species.Karowe noted that some places that were suitable habitat for a species 50 years ago may not be anymore. Scientists are working to understand which species can successfully adapt, and how human intervention can help.In theory, some species might be able to adapt to changing conditions and not have to migrate; however, for most, this is unlikely because the pace of climate change is just way too fast for genetic adaptation for most species.Evolution is slow and mutation alone is not fast enough to keep pace with rapid environmental shifts. Additionally, species need to already have the genetic traits that would help them survive under new conditions but these traits would not have evolved in species that never experienced such extreme temperature changes.For example, snapping turtles are habitat generalists, meaning that they can survive in numerous environments. They have a better chance of having some of the genes necessary in at least some of the populations and [they] mature early so generation times [are] short, which means that evolutionary potential is probably greater. However, Karowe pointed out that research suggests that snapping turtles lack the genetic variation needed to adapt to notable temperature changes.Many species are already shifting their ranges in response to rising temperatures. The most common pattern sees species move towards higher elevations or latitudes, where habitats are cooler. For example, in Wisconsin, approximately 80% of forest understory plants have moved northward since 1950, but very few are tracking their climate movement well so very few are following their climate shifts accurately, meaning we've got migrants [that are] sort of confused.While some species are moving in the right direction, others are not. Karowe recalled that approximately 60% of tracked species are moving towards more suitable environments, but about 35% are shifting in ways that do not coincide with warming patterns. While scientists lack comprehensive data on migration trends, especially in marine environments, data has shown that marine species appear to be migrating faster as barriers are fewer in the ocean.Even species that can move quickly still face significant obstacles. The velocity of climate change the rate at which conditions shift is highly variable. Karowe noted that land-based species must migrate at an average rate of 14 km per decade to keep pace with climate change, while aquatic species have to move even faster, at an average of 27 km per decade. Some species have no viable migration options.Mountain-dwelling plants and animals have been described as being on an escalator to extinction, as they are forced upward until they run out of space. Similarly, river species that migrate upstream may be stranded at the headwaters.Given the challenges of natural migration, scientists are exploring assisted migration deliberately moving species to suitable habitats beyond their current range. Karowe used the example of oaks from Tennessee and Pennsylvania. They have successfully been planted in the northern reaches of their respective ranges. However, when moved outside of these existing ranges, they do not do as well. Questions remain about where to relocate species and how to integrate them into existing ecosystems without disrupting present biodiversity.The future of climate migration is dependent on several factors, including greenhouse gas emissions, habitat availability, and human intervention. Karowe hypothesized that while some commercially valuable species, such as trees used for timber, will likely get more assistance, others such as subsistence crops grown in the Global South may not have much support.Karowe added that ecosystems do not move as cohesive units, making it difficult to preserve integral relationships. Mutualistic fungi, soil composition, and food webs all contribute to a single organisms survival, making relocation all the more difficult.Karowe concluded that very few nonhuman climate migrants are moving fast enough [and] the rate of movement is going to increase [which] leads to the conclusion that to avoid extinction, many species are going to require us to intervene via assisted migration. We are by no means very good at it yetbut I think we're going to have to get in the migration business. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. During a court session held on March 6 at the Baku Military Court, Davit Manukyan, a former member of the Armenian Armed Forces who served as a major-general, spoke about the weapons found in his home, Trend reports. During his free testimony, the accused stated that he had two weapons in his apartment in Khankendi: "One is a pistol, and the other is a rifled hunting rifle. Both weapons are registered with the Armenian Police Department." It is important to note that the trial, concerning the crimes committed by Armenian citizens in connection with Armenias military aggression, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and conduct of aggressive warfare, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other numerous crimes, will continue on March 10. London stocks were set to gain at the open on Thursday following positive sessions in the US and Asia, as investors braced for another raft of corporate news. The FTSE 100 was called to open around 65 points higher. Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said: "US President Donald Trump said that the tariffs that concern the North American car industry will be delayed by a month... a day after he imposed 25% levies on all Mexican and Canadian imports. "Global markets welcomed Trumps move to turn a threat into reality and then roll it back - arguably a better outcome than imposing and sticking to 25% tariffs. However, the uncertainty and lack of seriousness in these decisions will undoubtedly have a sizeable impact on US growth. "In the markets, the car stocks rebounded yesterday on delayed tariffs. The Mexican and Canadian investors were relieved, mood in Europe was significantly better, as well. The Stoxx 600 recovered 0.91% while the DAX jumped 3.38%. Even though the tariffs havent reached the European coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the European investors are extremely sensitive to the trade news, and that leads to big sized moves - rising volatility. "The market conditions are getting appetising for traders that are looking for interesting short-term opportunities, but its important to have a clear playbook and determine what factors influence the market moves? Is it the data, is the central bank expectations, is it politics, geopolitics?" In corporate news, annual profits at recruiter PageGroup slumped in 2024 as economic uncertainty continued to hit client and candidate confidence. Pre-tax profit for the year to December fell 58% to 49.1m on revenue of 1.73bn, down 13.5%. Page said the conversion of interviews to accepted offers remains the most significant area of challenge, adding that the slow end to 2024 had continued into the first two months of the new year. Endeavour Mining reported a strong 2024, with record fourth-quarter free cash flow of $268m and full-year production of 1,103,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,218 per ounce. Adjusted EBITDA jumped to $1.325bn for the year, up from $1.047bn, while net debt was reduced to $732m, bringing the leverage ratio to 0.55x. Shareholder returns reached $277m, including a record $240m dividend, as the company expanded reserves by 32% to 18.4 million ounces and advanced its Assafou project. Results were also out from Melrose, ITV, Entain, Informa and Elementis, among others. Bookmaker Entain said on Thursday that FY profits had grown thanks to both its online expansion and better-than-expected performances in the UK and Ireland. Entain said underlying earnings were up 12% in FY24 at 1.08bn, partly due to a 6% increase in net gaming revenue, excluding the company's US operations, and an expansion of online EBITDA margins to 25.3%, ahead of expectations as the firm benefited from stronger than anticipated growth and operational efficiencies. UK and Ireland online net gaming revenues returned to growth sooner than expected in Q3, and in Q4, grew more than 21%, in line with market, while Brazil net gaming revenues grew 41% year-on-year. The FTSE 100-listed group also highlighted that in the US, its BetMGM joint venture's "accelerating momentum and strategic refinement" underpinned its confidence in delivering a positive EBITDA performance in FY25 and the pathway to $500.0m EBITDA "in the coming years". Interim chief executive Stella David said: "2024 has been a year of transformation for Entain. I am delighted to see that our strategic and operational improvements are translating into strong performance; clear evidence that our strategy is delivering. I want to thank all my colleagues for their tremendous hard work and resilience. "Entain has a high-quality portfolio of iconic brands with podium positions in attractive markets. Our return to organic growth is the beginning of our rebuild journey; our momentum continues, and we have started the year strongly. I am incredibly proud of our achievements so far and look forward to our opportunities ahead." As of 0900 GMT, Entain shares were up 2.61% at 761.60p. Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com Grafton Group reported an adjusted operating profit that slightly exceeded analysts' expectations on Thursday, despite a decline from the prior year.# The FTSE 250 building materials distributor and DIY retailer posted an adjusted operating profit of 177.5m, down from 205.5m in 2023. It credited its diversified business model and operational discipline for helping it navigate challenging market conditions. Free cash flow remained robust at 178.2m, representing a 100% conversion rate from adjusted operating profit. Grafton maintained a strong balance sheet with 272.1m in net cash before lease liabilities, positioning the company for future growth through both organic expansion and acquisitions. The group recently acquired Salvador Escoda, a Spanish HVAC and renewable energy distributor, for 128m, reinforcing its presence in Iberia. It said the integration of the acquisition was progressing well. Grafton's board increased the full-year dividend by 2.8% and approved a new 30m share buyback programme. The company returned 154.1m to shareholders in 2024 through dividends and share repurchases, down from 228.3m the previous year. Operationally, Ireland remained a strong performer, while the UK market continued to show signs of stabilisation. Like-for-like daily sales growth returned in the final quarter against softer prior-year comparatives. Overall gross margin remained steady, with tight control over overheads and a moderation in product price deflation during the second half of the year. In addition to the announced results, Grafton confirmed the start of a new share buyback programme, with a maximum expenditure of 30m. We are pleased to have successfully navigated challenging market conditions in 2024 to deliver adjusted operating profit slightly ahead of analysts expectations, said chief executive officer Eric Born. This resilient performance was supported by our exposure to different geographies, our diversified customer base and the active management of gross margin and costs. Highlights in the period included the strong performance of our Irish businesses and completion of the platform acquisition of Salvador Escoda, whilst also returning 154.1 million to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends. Born said the integration of Salvador Escoda was continuing to progress well, extending the firms geographic diversification and exposure to a new growth market, presenting an attractive opportunity to build further scale across the Iberian Peninsula in due course. Whilst the timing of recovery in certain geographies remains uncertain, the medium term outlook is positive. We will continue to strengthen our positions in existing markets and are excited by the development opportunities ahead. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Full-year group adjusted pre-tax profit fell 8.1% to 703m on revenue of 5.4bn, up 1.1% on the previous year. Adjusted operating profit fell 4.2% during the year to 860m, impacted by the companys performance in North America. Rentokil said that as stated in its trading update in September, in North America there was a drop-through impact on profit from weaker-than-expected organic revenue growth and from significant in-year cost investments to drive revenue. This resulted in a 130 basis points drop year-on-year in group adjusted operating margin to 15.4%. Chief executive Andy Ransom said: "2024 was a challenging year for the group, with lower profits and margins, delivered in line with our trading update in September. Good growth in the international business (organic revenue growth 4.7%) was held back by the performance in North America (organic revenue growth 1.5%). "Our sales and marketing initiatives to drive organic growth require further refinement to deliver the required improvements in overall lead generation and sales conversion, which will be a key focus in 2025. To address this, our revised branding strategy will see the national focus for the Rentokil and Terminix brands supplemented by additional prominence for our nine main regional brands. "Alongside this, we will use insights from our promising satellite branch pilot to optimise the branch network size. We now expect that the end state branch network (including satellites) is likely to exceed 500 locations. Post integration we expect to generate both market beating growth and considerable cost efficiencies, with North American margins exceeding 20%." Rentokil said it was still on track to achieve FY 2025 results in line with market expectations, despite first-quarter year-to-date growth in North America having been held back, mainly due to continued weak lead generation. TARTAR, Azerbaijan, March 6. A total of 25 families of former internally displaced persons(IDPs) consisting of 75 people arrived in Hasanriz village of Azerbaijan's Aghdara district today, a source in the Restoration, Construction and Management Service in Khankendi city, Aghdara and Khojaly districts told Trend. The ceremony of handing over the keys to the apartments to the families was attended by personnel of the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khankendi City, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts, the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, media representatives, and other individuals. Speaking at the event, the Deputy Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city, Aghdara and Khojaly districts Sabuhi Gahramanov pointed out that restoration work began in Hasanriz village after its liberation from occupation. "Already, 50 families have been resettled in the village. Further resettlement will also take place in stages. Hasanriz village has been shortly provided with electricity, drinking water, and natural gas. All the necessary infrastructure has been built here," he said. The residents who returned to their homeland thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state care. The first resettlement in Hasanriz village took place on March 3 when 25 families returned to their homeland. 12:48 TARTAR, Azerbaijan, March 6. Following the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's instructions, the great return to the territories liberated from occupation in Azerbaijan continues, Trend reports. Families who had previously temporarily lived in various parts of the country, mainly in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings, are now resettling in Hasanriz village in Azerbaijan's Aghdara district. At this stage, 25 families, totaling 75 people, are relocating to the village. The returning residents expressed their gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state support. They also thanked the courageous Azerbaijani Army and the heroic soldiers and officers who liberated their homeland from occupation. In honoring the martyrs who sacrificed their lives, the returnees sent their deepest respects and wished strength and patience to their families. To date, around 40,000 people live in Karabakh and East Zangezur. Among them are former internally displaced persons who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, as well as specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions that have resumed their activities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The US administration under President Donald Trump is moving towards multipolarity, a shift that aligns with Indias interests, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar stated during an event in London. Jaishankar also highlighted the progress towards a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations. Speaking at a session titled Indias Rise and Role in the World at Chatham House, Jaishankar addressed questions on the Trump administrations initial policies, including reciprocal tariffs. We see a president and an administration which, in our parlance, is moving towards multipolarity and that is something that suits India, said Jaishankar, who is on a six-day visit to the UK and Ireland. Jaishankar emphasized the significance of the Quad alliance, comprising the US, India, Australia, and Japan. From President Trump's perspective, the one big shared enterprise that we have is the Quad, which is an understanding where everybody pays their fair share There are no free riders involved. So that's a good model which works, he noted. On the subject of tariffs, Jaishankar revealed that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is in Washington to negotiate a bilateral trade deal, following recent discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump at the White House. We had a very open conversation about it (tariffs) and the result of that conversation was that we agreed on the need for a bilateral trade agreement, Jaishankar said. The minister also expressed cautious optimism about the ongoing India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. He cited productive discussions with British leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. Its a very complicated process. So, given the complexity, its natural that it would take time from my discussions with Prime Minister (Keir) Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and [Business] Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, I got a consistent message that the British side is also interested in moving forward. I had a few points to convey on behalf of my concerned colleagues as well. So, I'm cautiously optimistic and hope that it doesnt take that long, he said. Addressing Indias role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar reiterated Indias commitment to facilitating dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv. We have been one of the few countries who have been regularly talking to both Moscow and Kyiv at various levels Wherever theres been a sense that India can do something, we have always been open-minded about it. Our consistent position has been that they need to do direct negotiations, he stated. Regarding China, Jaishankar noted positive developments since October 2024, including the reopening of the Mount Kailash pilgrimage route in Tibet. We have a very, very unique relationship with China as the only two billion plus populated countries in the world we want a relationship where our interests are respected, sensitivities are recognised and works for both of us, he said. Jaishankar detailed Indias approach to resolving long-standing issues. Responding to an audience question on Kashmir,to resolving long-standing issues. Removing Article 370 was step number one, restoring growth and economic activity and social justice in Kashmir was step number two, and holding elections with a very high turnout was step number three. I think the part we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. When that is done, I assure you Kashmir will be solved, he asserted. Jaishankar is set to meet with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, for further discussions on Thursday. In a bold declaration at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards, JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal asserted that Indias homegrown auto industry holds the upper hand against global giants like Tesla. Im putting my heart and soul into the auto business, and Im 100% sure it will be super successful; theres nothing that can stop me, Jindal stated during a panel discussion. This country needs a huge amount of autos, huge amounts of good quality stuff. When asked about Teslas potential to disrupt the Indian market, Jindal remained resolute. Elon Musk is not here. He is in the US, he remarked. We Indians are here. He cannot produce what Mahindra can do, what Tata can do its not possible. He can do (it) under Trumps shadow, in the US. Hes super smart, no question about it. Hes a maverick, doing spacecraft and all that. Hes done amazing work, so I dont want to take anything from him. But to be successful in India is not an easy job. Jindals comments coincided with Teslas renewed push into India. According to Reuters, Tesla has secured a lease for its first showroom in Mumbai, located in the Maker Maxity building at Bandra Kurla Complex. The five-year lease, starting February 16, 2025, begins at $446,000 annually, increasing by 5% each year to reach $542,000 by the fifth year. The move follows Elon Musks meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which sparked speculation about Teslas India strategy. The company is also reportedly exploring potential locations in New Delhi, signaling its broader ambitions for the Indian market. Indian EV landscape is set for a fierce showdown. As local players like Tata and Mahindra continue to dominate the market, Tesla's arrival could mark the beginning of an electrifying competition in one of the worlds fastest-growing automotive sectors. With Jindal betting on the strength of Indias domestic automakers and Tesla gearing up for its entry, theis set for a fierce showdown. As local players like Tata and Mahindra continue to dominate the market, Tesla's arrival could mark the beginning of an electrifying competition in one of the worlds fastest-growing automotive sectors. The battle between Indias homegrown champions and the Silicon Valley disruptor promises to reshape the country's EV future, leaving consumers poised to benefit from the innovation and intensity driving the industry forward. India's exports of engineering goods to the U.S. rose 18% year-on-year to $1.62 billion in January, exceeding the sector's growth of 7.44%, the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) said. But exporters are growing more concerned about the effects of future U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium, which would slow down trade momentum. The 25% levy on steel and aluminum imports that will be implemented on March 12 is a big threat to Indian exporters. EEPC Chairman Pankaj Chadha pointed out that as much as $7.5 billion of India's $20 billion worth of engineering exports every year could be impacted. In a bid to ease risks, the EEPC and other trade organizations have asked the Indian government to reduce import tariffs on certain U.S. items with small inward shipments. They are hoping that this act could prompt the U.S. to provide more concessions in trade and push a suggested bilateral trade agreement. President Donald Trump has characterized India as a high-tariff nation and threatened 'reciprocal tariffs' from April. Trade Minister Piyush Goyal is on a visit to the U.S. for talks with an agenda of identifying possible tariff cuts and considering the effects of Trump's proposed policies. India can think of cutting its import duties on U.S. steel scrap from 7.5% to almost zero, in addition to cuts on goods such as nuts, castings, and forgings, while granting concessions on certain agriculture and manufacturing items, said Chadha. Exporters are also concerned about India's planned safeguard duty of a maximum 14% on imports of steel, which is meant to shield local producers from the cheaper Chinese alternatives. They worry that this step will drive local prices up further, tightening profit margins. Even with these difficulties, Indian engineering exports to the U.S. continued to be robust, rising 9% a year to $15.6 billion during the first 10 months of the financial year (April 2024 to January 2025). Growth was led by higher exports of aircraft components, electrical machinery, vehicles, industrial machinery, and medical instruments. exports from India, which represent 25% of the nation's total merchandise exports, increased to $9.42 billion in January from $8.77 billion in January last year, though marginally lower than December's $10.84 billion. April-January cumulative exports were up 9.82% year-on-year at $96.75 billion, EEPC data indicated. Total engineering, which represent 25% of the nation's total merchandise exports, increased to $9.42 billion in January from $8.77 billion in January last year, though marginally lower than December's $10.84 billion. April-January cumulative exports were up 9.82% year-on-year at $96.75 billion, EEPC data indicated. "The engineering sector is severely challenged, and the recent U.S. tariffs are putting further pressure. Sustained government support in export credit and technology is essential to ensure competitiveness", Chadha underscored, highlighting the necessity of consistent policy support to deal with the changing trade environment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post-Budget webinar on Investing in People, Economy, and Innovation on Wednesday, reaffirmed the governments commitment to education, healthcare, and skill development. As part of the Union Budget 2025-26 outreach, he highlighted initiatives to expand broadband connectivity in government secondary schools and primary health centers, aiming to bridge the urban-rural digital divide and drive inclusive growth. Broadband Expansion for Education and Healthcare The governments latest initiative aims to enhance e-learning, virtual labs, digital literacy, telemedicine, and electronic health records by expanding broadband connectivity. This digital push is set to empower rural communities through seamless access to education, healthcare, e-governance, and economic opportunities. Emphasizing the importance of human capital, PM Modi stated that investing in people is as vital as investing in infrastructure and industries, built on the three pillars of education, skills, and healthcare. He also highlighted the nationwide expansion of telemedicine services to all primary health centers, reinforcing the governments commitment to digital transformation in healthcare. Union Minister of Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, highlighted the significance of broadband connectivity, saying that it would redefine education, healthcare, and governance in rural India. He announced an investment of $16.1 billion in what will be the worlds largest rural broadband network, describing it as a digital highway that will connect citizens across the country and the world. Scindia stressed that this initiative would revolutionize education by introducing smart classrooms, AI-powered learning, and virtual teacher training programs. He also highlighted its impact on healthcare, stating, This BharatNet program will allow telemedicine, e-consultation, and digital health records to be accessible at the doorstep of every Indian. He emphasized that rural patients will no longer have to travel to district hospitals, as virtual networks will facilitate doctor consultations and referrals. The initiative is also expected to drive economic empowerment by creating new opportunities for rural entrepreneurship. Scindia described it as a social and development revolution that ensures universal digital access and equal opportunities for all citizens. BharatNet Program: Expanding Connectivity Nationwide The BharatNet project is being rolled out in phases to provide on-demand broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and villages, aiming to transform education, healthcare, and e-governance through digital infrastructure. Now operating under the Design, Build, Operate, and Maintain (DBOM) model, the upgraded BharatNet program includes an IP-MPLS network expansion, coverage in unserved areas, and a 10-year operation and maintenance plan. BSNL has been designated as the Project Management Agency for execution. Over the next five years, 1.5 crore rural households will receive fiber broadband connections, with a special focus on schools, primary health centers, Anganwadi centers, and Panchayat offices. Implementation will be driven by BharatNet Udyamis (BNUs)including village-level entrepreneurs, ISPs, and self-help groups, who will receive financial incentives for last-mile connectivity. To ensure seamless execution, the Education and Health Ministries will equip institutions with the required digital infrastructure, while BSNL will map them to the BharatNet network, ensuring 90%+ network uptime. A real-time monitoring dashboard will also be deployed for performance tracking and transparency. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The "112" hotline of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Emergency Situations has received information about the outbreak of a fire set by Armenia in an open area of Heydarabad settlement in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic's Sadarak district bordering with Armenia, Trend reports. According to the ministry, following the information, the district's fire protection unit forces were immediately deployed to the scene. "Thanks to the prompt actions of the firefighters, the fire was extinguished in the shortest possible time, preventing its extension. The fire burned about seven ha of dry grass and shrubs. The adjacent areas were successfully protected from the fire," the information notes. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A 55-year-old man armed with a gun had multiple chances to surrender before he was fatally shot by police at an outdoor shopping center in Charleston, according to the NYPD. Assistant Chief Melissa Eger detailed the tense confrontation that ended in a barrage of bullets shortly after 5 a.m. in the parking lot near Home Depot at 2750 Veterans Road West. Once again, our officers ran toward gunfire and bravely confronted danger, said Eger, the NYPD borough commander, at a news conference held steps away from where the man was mortally wounded. Eger was joined at the conference by Amir Yakatally, deputy chief and executive officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island, and Rohan Griffith, deputy chief and commanding officer of the Force Investigation Division. Police allege they recovered this gun that a 55-year-old man pointed at officers before they fatally shot him in the parking lot of an outdoor mall at 2750 Veterans Road West in Charleston on the morning of Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Courtesy of NYPD) Courtesy of NYPD Police displayed a photo of a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver recovered at the scene, along with what Eger described as numerous shell casings and live ammunition. A law-enforcement source identified the victim as a former Greenridge resident, but reports indicate he now lives in Brooklyn. Detectives are investigating whether the man, who is believed to have called 911, intended to die in the exchange with police, a law-enforcement source told the Advance/SILive.com. The 55-year-old man, who previously was known to law enforcement, allegedly did not comply with multiple requests to surrender and instead pointed the gun at officers. He was shot numerous times in various parts of his body after five officers fired their guns, Eger said. The shooting is being probed by the NYPD Force Investigation Division, Eger said. A large portion of the parking lot was roped off with caution tape. Two police vehicles, a marked patrol car and a black sedan that were among the first responders at the scene were situated at a distance from the suspects vehicle. Numerous orange fluorescent evidence cones were placed around the three cars and throughout the lot. Assistant Chief Melissa Eger updates the media on a police-involved shooting in Charleston. She was joined by Amir Yakatally, left, deputy chief and executive officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island, and Rohan Griffith, deputy chief and commanding officer of the Force Investigation Division. NYPD via Twitter NYPD response detailed Based on preliminary information, Eger said that police responded at about 5:20 a.m. on Thursday to a 911 call of a male with a firearm inside of a black Jeep Wrangler at that location. As officers in marked and unmarked police vehicles arrived on the scene, they heard multiple shots being fired, Eger said. The officers stepped out of their vehicles and encountered the man allegedly armed with a gun. The officers tactically positioned themselves around their police vehicles and immediately began talking with the man, she said. Multiple officers repeatedly instructed him to show his hands and drop his firearm, which is all confirmed on body-worn camera footage, Eger said. The male did not comply and pointed the firearm at the officers. Five uniformed officers discharged their firearms. The man was struck numerous time throughout his body, Eger said. Officers rendered first aid to the individual, who was taken by EMS to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where he died. At least two officers were removed to an area hospital for further evaluation. This incident is depicted on both body-worn camera footage as well as multiple security cameras from the location parking lot, Eger said. Once again, our officers confronted a dangerous and armed individual and attempted to de-escalate the situation multiple times. And thats exactly what they are trained to do. Eger said the man does have a documented arrest history with the police department here, but it is still early in the investigation. Its unfortunate and scary' While some visitors to the shopping center Thursday expressed shock and growing concerns about safety, others viewed the fatal encounter as an unfortunate but isolated situation. A woman who wished to be identified as Marrielle, a Tottenville resident who works near the scene, shared her unease with the Advance/SILive.com: Thoughts of is this safe never occurred to me until today. I am worried that Staten Island is overall becoming a more dangerous place to live. However, another Tottenville resident named Larry fully supported the polices actions, saying, The police did what they had to do, the man pointed the gun at them. Thankfully the cops are safe. They had no other choice. A worker from a nearby store described the shooting as shocking and unprecedented for the location. Im shocked that this happened here, we never have shootings happen in this parking lot, the worker said. Its unfortunate and scary. *** Editors note: The Advance/SILive.com typically limits reporting on suicides to those that occur in crowded public places, involve public figures or, in special circumstances, where there is a larger public impact. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. A new survey found that the majority of New York's first responders suffer from mental health issues as a result of their jobs. Getty Images Editors note: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced with the proper mental health support and treatment. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Many of the New Yorkers whove dedicated their careers to saving their neighbors' lives have at one point considered taking their own. For first responders, each day has the chance to bring tremendous stress, trauma and, in many cases, overwhelming grief. Police officers responding to a domestic dispute, but arriving too late to prevent an eventual murder-suicide. Firefighters valiantly battling blazes, but unable to save someone trapped inside. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) transporting a critically-injured patient to the hospital, but seeing them die in their arms before they arrive. Many people can go their whole lives without witnessing such tragedies, but for first responders, those traumatic experiences can occur again and again. These heartbreaking events, coupled with long hours, stressful workplace environments and limited time with friends and family, result in first responders suffering from elevated rates of mental health issues like stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and in the most severe cases, suicidal thoughts and efforts to take their own lives. Oren Barzilay, president of FDNY EMS Local 2507, the union representing New York Citys EMTs, told the Advance/SILive.com that he has witnessed the stresses of the job drive eight of his members to commit suicide since 2020. This is not your normal Monday through Friday type of job. Its extremely taxing and mentally draining the things that my men and women see on a daily basis, which are violence against [senior citizens], violence against kids, elder abuse, child abuse, rapes, gunshot wounds, stabbings, physical assaults and death, said Barzilay. They see death on a daily basis and it takes a toll on people, hence why we see our men and women showing signs of PTSD, but they dont have the support and help they need, he added. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that suicidal thoughts and attempts are more common among first responders than one might realize. First responders may be at elevated risk for suicide because of the environments in which they work, their culture, and stress, both occupational and personal, according to the CDC. Law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. Furthermore, EMS providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the public. Majority of first responders struggling A new report commissioned by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) found exceedingly high rates of mental health challenges among New Yorks first responders. Researchers surveyed more than 6,000 New Yorkers working in law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire services, emergency communications and emergency management to gain a clearer understanding of the mental health impacts associated with some of the states most challenging, and often traumatizing, jobs. The results were staggering, with the majority of respondents claiming to experience stress (68%), burnout (59%), symptoms associated with depression (53%) and anxiety (52%). Perhaps most concerningly, roughly 16% of all first responders reported thoughts of suicide, which is four times higher than the rate of the states general population. And the jobs are not only taking a toll on first responders' mental health, but also affecting their relationships with loved ones. Four in five first responders, 80%, said the stress of their jobs has negatively impacted their home lives, with 75% saying it has hurt their social lives; 72% saying its hurt their family relationships; and 67% saying its hurt their friendships. Retired NYPD Sgt. Mike Peruggia, who spent much of his career in the Employee Assistance Unit providing peer counseling and suicide prevention to his fellow officers, said the challenges cops face at work often lead to issues in their personal lives, which is the point at which many seek help. Its rare when they come in and say a particular call bothered me. Its usually something from a family perspective that sparks it, like a divorce, a separation or a kid rebelling against them. But then as you go deeper, a lot of police work stuff ends up coming out, which to me tells me that there is a definite correlation between the two, Peruggia said. He noted that its not just the traumatic events, like officer-involved shootings, that weigh heavily on the minds of New York Citys police officers, but also the frustration of not always being able to provide help to those who need it. You come into somebodys house and theyre crying because something happened and sometimes you cant fix it. Thats frustrating. They expect you to fix it and you expect yourself to fix it because you put on this uniform every day and you took this position in the police department to help people, he explained. Friends, family, elected officials, and fellow NYPD members gather at the 121st Precinct on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, in Graniteville for a ceremonial walkout honoring Sergeant Special Assignment Michael Peruggia upon his retirement after 42 years of active duty service. (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance) Owen Reiter Unions sound the alarm The unions that represent New York Citys first responders said more must be done at the city and state level to address the challenges facing their members. The Police Benevolent Association (PBA) cited the need for additional staffing and improved work schedules to allow police officers more time off to decompress and spend time with friends and family. Police officers arent just dealing with the dangerous or tragic situations they encounter out on the street. They are struggling with long hours and inconsistent schedules due to understaffing, said PBA President Patrick Hendry. The union also cited anti-police policies and rhetoric as driving forces in the constant anxiety experienced by many of its members. They are also under constant pressure and scrutiny, worrying whether theyll be punished just for trying to do their job. Police managers and our city and state leaders need to do more than provide resources to help members cope with a toxic work environment, Hendry said. An NYPD representative pointed to a plethora of mental health-related resources available to all officers, but did not comment on the unions calls for higher staffing levels, better work schedules and what union officials referred to as fairer disciplinary actions. They referenced Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance (POPPA), a non-department volunteer police peer support network committed to providing a confidential, safe and supportive environment for struggling officers. Every available service is critical to our members mental health and wellbeing, which is of paramount importance not only to the department, but also to the New Yorkers they serve, a police spokesperson said. Meanwhile, officials from FDNY EMS Local 2507 accused the city of completely neglecting the mental health needs of their members, claiming that the FDNYs Counseling Service Unit is only concerned with aiding firefighters while EMTs are left to struggle. Many of my members have been turned away when they were asking for help. Many of my members have not even gotten a return phone call from the FDNY Counseling Service Unit, Barzilay said. He also claimed that many of his members are forced to pay out-of-pocket to visit mental health professionals who specialize in PTSD. I dont want to make it about money, but we are the lowest-paid first responders in New York City and our health insurance doesnt cover the kind of therapy that my men and women need, he added. An FDNY representative disputed both these claims, stating that the FDNYs Counseling Service Unit does provide support to EMS members, and that the department covers co-pays for visits to mental health professionals. Stigma surrounding mental health remains an issue As has been the case for decades, the stigma surrounding mental health issues remains a barrier to seeking support for many first responders. The states First Responder Mental Health Needs Assessment found that 90% of respondents felt that services, like therapy and peer support groups, would help improve first responder mental health, but 80% said the stigma that enshrouds seeking help prevents them from doing so. There is a stigma, for sure. I think its more acceptable these days [to seek help], but there are still people who are afraid to come forward and we later on find out that they took the extreme measure to end their life, Barzilay said. The report found that many first responders also fear that seeking help could have major professional consequences, with 74% fearing it may negatively impact their careers and alter the way theyre treated by leadership. Additionally, 68% said that they feared losing their pistol license, which is a common concern among police officers struggling with mental health issues. Efforts to address the issues There are currently various efforts at the city, state and federal level to address the scourge of mental health issues plaguing first responders. The New York City Councils Progressive Caucus is working to secure $5.5 million to bolster mental health services for first responders throughout the five boroughs. The plan includes $4.5 million to add 60 peer specialists to staff the citys multi-agency mental health and crisis response teams, as well as $1 million for the creation of a pilot EMS Wellness & Peer Support Program. At the state level, Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed launching a First Responder Counseling Scholarship Program through the State University of New York (SUNY), which would provide financial assistance to first responders seeking counseling degrees to support their colleagues. The governor has also proposed the elimination of various outdated recruiting standards in an effort to address staffing issues. The proposed changes include raising the New York State Police retirement age to 63 and removing the 35-year-old maximum age restriction for law enforcement recruitment. At the federal level, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) have introduced the First Responders Wellness Act, a bipartisan bill to expand the mental health services available to our nations first responders. The bill, if passed, will establish a dedicated first responders mental health hotline to provide peer and emotional support, information, brief intervention, and mental or behavioral health and substance use resources. Editors note: The Advance/SILive.com typically limits reporting on suicides to those that occur in crowded public places, involve public figures or, in special circumstances, where there is a larger public impact. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. This file photo shows a Delta airplane docked at Newark Airport in New Jersey. (Staten Island Advance) Shira Stoll STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Travelers have been urged to exercise increased caution when visiting one of the more popular, tropical island getaways. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory for the Turks and Caicos Islands due to crime. The average tax refund issued by the Internal Revenue Service so far this year is roughly 7.5% higher than in 2024. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Americans are getting more money back on this years tax returns, according to the latest Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data. Through Feb. 21, the latest date currently available on the IRS website, the agency has issued 29,615,000 refunds, roughly 2.3% more than the 28,945,000 that had been issued by this time last year. The average refund amount through Feb. 21 was $3,453, roughly 7.5% higher than the average refund of $3,213 at that time last year. Through Feb. 14, the average had been just $2,169, but has increased dramatically now than the IRS has begun issuing refunds to taxpayers who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit. Due to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, which took effect during the 2017 filing season, the IRS legally cannot issue refunds or credits to anyone who claimed an Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit before Feb. 15. The policy was implemented to help prevent revenue loss due to identity theft and refund fraud related to fabricated wages and withholdings, according to the IRS. Tracking your refund If youre one of the millions of Americans who have already sent in their tax returns, there are online portals that will allow you to monitor the status of your refund. For federal taxes, residents can use the IRS Wheres My Refund tool or the IRS2Go mobile app to see when their refunds have been received, processed and sent. Refund status will appear roughly 24 hours after you e-file a current-year return, three or four days after you e-file a prior-year return or four weeks after you file a paper return. To access the information, which is updated overnight each day, residents must provide their Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN), filing status and exact refund amount on their return. Once refunds are sent, those using direct deposit should receive their refund within five days, while those expecting checks in the mail may have to wait several weeks. For state taxes, New Yorkers can visit the Department of Taxation and Finance website and click Check refund status. This allows residents to see if their return has been received; when its being processed; if the return requires additional review; if the state requires additional information; if a requested refund amount has been adjusted and when a refund has been issued. New income tax brackets While tax rates have remained the same, ranging from 10% to 37% depending on an individuals total taxable income, the IRS has announced new brackets with adjusted thresholds for tax year 2024. In addition to the new tax brackets, the standard deduction, the amount you can deduct to adjust the amount of income on which youre taxed, will also increase from $13,850 to $14,600 for single filers and from $27,700 to $29,200 for married couples filing jointly. Heres a look at the new tax brackets that will be used when filing in 2025. Tax brackets for single filers $11,600 or less in taxable income 10% of taxable income $11,600 to $47,150 in taxable income - $1,160 plus 12% of the excess over $11,600 $47,150 to $100,525 in taxable income - $5,426 plus 22% of the excess over $47,150 $100,525 to $191,950 in taxable income - $17,168.50 plus 24% of the excess over $100,525 $191,950 to $243,725 in taxable income - $39,110.50 plus 32% of the excess over $191,150 $243,725 to $609,350 in taxable income - $55,678.50 plus 35% of the excess over $243,725 $609,350 or more in taxable income - $183,647.25 plus 37% of the excess over $609,350 Tax brackets for married couples filing jointly FILE - Banners hang from a building at Barnard College, May 28, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) AP NEW YORK Barnard Colleges library was evacuated Wednesday as police responded to a bomb threat during a sit-in staged by pro-Palestinian protesters. The New York Police Department said on X, formerly Twitter, that a bomb threat was reported at the upper Manhattan colleges Milstein Center, which serves as the hub for academic life on campus. The department said anyone refusing to leave the building during the evacuation would be subject to arrest. Please stay away from the area, the police said in its post. The New York Police Department said on X, formerly Twitter, that a bomb threat was reported at the upper Manhattan college's Milstein Center, which serves as the hub for academic life on campus. Google Maps The department said later that officers were still on the scene and that arrests had been made. But it was still unclear how many were in custody and what charges they faced. Videos shared widely on social media showed protesters inside the building earlier Wednesday afternoon chanting, playing drums and hanging Palestinian flags on walls. Most wore kaffiyeh scarves and other coverings obscuring their faces. Videos from Wednesday evening showed police entering the building wearing helmets and carrying zip ties and then later clearing the protesters and others from the lawn outside the building. College spokespersons and a student group that had coordinated the protest didnt immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Barnard President Laura Rosenbury denounced the protest earlier Wednesday. Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated, she wrote in a message sent to the campus community. We must not allow the actions of a few interfere with our mission. Campus activities outside of Milstein and throughout the rest of the campus are proceeding as normal. The group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said on X that students launched their sit-in at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Milstein library lobby in response to the expulsions of student protesters and other recent actions taken by school officials. Despite Barnard militarizing campus and inviting NYPD to patrol our academic buildings, we have successfully relaunched our sit-in against the expulsions, the student group said on Instagram as they called for school officials to reinstate the expelled students. Last week, pro-Palestinian protesters wearing keffiyeh scarves and masks pushed their way into the colleges Milbank Hall, which houses the offices of the dean, and assaulted a school employee, according to school officials. Protest organizers said they dispersed after the administration agreed to meet with them over their demands, which included amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestinian action. Members of Community Board 1s Land Use Committee voted to deny a builders request for a zoning variance at 78 Fort Place in St. George. The plans call for building 99 apartment units for those 55 and over. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Members of Community Board 1s Land Use Committee voted to deny a builders request for a zoning variance on Tuesday, demonstrating strong opposition to plans that call for the conversion of a long-vacant St. George building into apartments for people aged 55 and over. There has been no market research, no demonstrated demand for micro units, and the target rents -- $2,100 for a studio, $2,600 for a one bedroom -- are completely out of touch with current market rates, noted Eileen Harrington, president of the St. George Civic Association. The owner claims hardship, stating he cannot get a fair return on the property [without building 99 units]. But his hardship is not the neighborhoods hardship to bear the numbers simply do not pan out, and this development is certain to fail. Harrington added: Its been said that St. George is where projects go to die, but this particular project is DOA. The comments were delivered at the beginning of a Public Land Use Hearing, which was called to consider a proposal for the conversion of 78 Fort Place -- located on the corner of Sherman Avenue with frontage along Daniel Low Terrace -- into 99 apartment units, ranging from studios to one-bedrooms, with room for community-style amenities for those 55 and over. Twenty accessory off-street parking spaces are also in the plans. The existing structure, which was built as a convent with sleeping accommodations for the Daughters of St. Paul Congregation in 1948, is located in an R3A District, as well as the Special Hillside Preservation District. With the current zoning, only a handful of one- and two-family homes are allowed to be constructed as of right. Various presentations Phil Rampulla, principal urban planner with Rampulla Associates Architects, presented plans for the structure at a Community Board 1 meeting in February. The board, however, voted to table the proposal, noting that many of the details still needed to be vetted before they could offer a yes or no vote on its land use application. Rampulla delivered another presentation to the St. George Civic Association on Feb. 19, a meeting Harrington said was attended by more than 60 people. After the presentation, an attorney and architect filled in the gaps, she said. We then voted overwhelmingly to deny the variance. Peter Rampulla, land-use specialist at Rampulla Associates Architects, represented owners George Christo and Sabrina Hamilton at this most recent Land Use hearing, explaining that this preliminary request for a zoning variance is simply the first step for the project, which is still subject to Department of Buildings scrutiny. We are requesting a variance with the Board of Standards and Appeals, a city agency whose main intent is acting as a relief to certain zoning discrepancies, Rampulla noted. Upon obtaining approval, this project will then go to the Department of Buildings and FDNY, in which instances of compliance of ingress and egress are all discussed. Thats where details get scrutinized and then fleshed out, before plans are ultimately filed. Many concerns But those in attendance still expressed their disapproval. Two stories added to 78 Fort Place would take eastern and morning light away from Fort Hill Park, noted Karen Perrine, who has worked to preserve a .845-acre public green space located directly across the street from the proposed project. Perrine and several others at the hearing expressed concern about the Fort Hill space, which was dedicated as NYC parkland in 2004. Plants would suffer, and the project would cram too many people in the neighborhood, Perrine said. Its a bad idea for all of us. One attendee noted that it is absurd that this developer thinks someone will pay $2,400 for 283 square feet, referring to the size of the proposed buildings studio apartments, which have been termed micro units, some measuring less than 300 square feet in size. This is going to be another failed project. Others who spoke at the meeting questioned the density of the project, asking the property owner if he would consider building less units. Christo responded by saying he has explored other options for the property, but still thinks this 55-and-over option makes the most sense for the neighborhood. We are about to invest $24 million to this project, he said. I think the community is concerned about us hurting the quality of life in St. George, but that is the last thing we want to do. Before taking a vote on the zoning variance, George Turner, chair of Land Use for Community Board 1, reminded attendees to take into account the owners desire to improve the neighborhood. If nothing happens, the property is going to stay like this, Turner said. And having the building remain empty is not a win for anyone. 9 votes against In total, there were nine votes to deny the application and two to approve. The project will be voted on at a full meeting of Community Board 1 later this month. But a Community Boards approval is not necessary for the project to proceed. Community Boards must be consulted on placement of most municipal facilities in the community and on other land use issues, noted a section of the NYC.gov website, which details the role of Community Boards. Applications for a change in or variance from the zoning resolution must come before the Board for review, and the Boards position is considered in the final determination of these applications. A Community Boards recommendation will be considered, the site noted, but the final decision to approve or deny a variance rests with the the Board of Standards and Appeals. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Well soon bid farewell to Standard Time, and well spring forward'' into Daylight Saving Time. Since each passing day gets a bit brighter, and the darkest day of the year is behind us, before you know it, well push our the clocks ahead for spring 2025. Of course, thanks to advances in technology, we dont have to change every clock. Most of them do it automatically. The devices many of us rely on daily, including smartphones, laptops and smartwatches connect with GPS satellites to keep time and reset themselves. They may also set themselves according to atomic clocks. Daylight Saving Time will start on Sunday, March 9, this year. Clocks will move ahead one hour at 2 a.m. And the amount of sunlight in our days will continue to increase until the summer solstice on Friday, June 20, at 1:41 p.m. Since Nov. 3, 2024, we have been in Standard Time, enduring a long and dark winter. Should we keep the practice? There are many who would prefer and end to the practice of changing the clocks back and forth. Theres have been reports that President Donald Trump is tired of the practice and thinks its time for a change. Two states still opt out of changing the clocks: Arizona and Hawaii. And lawmakers in other states including New York have been pondering whether or not to opt out of the practice in recent years. During the fall 2023 legislative session, lawmakers introduced a pair of bills in the New York State Assembly and Senate to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Since both bills remained trapped in committee, no vote took place. So, neither has become law. Those hoping to see an end to the practice in New York are state Sen. Joe Griffo, of Rome, and state Sen. Angelo L. Santabarbara, of Schenectady, both in upstate New York. Griffo told the Advance/SILive.com that people are overwhelmingly telling him: Lets stop springing forward and falling back.' Benjamin Franklin most often gets the credit for coming up with the idea of Daylight Saving Time. He did so in a satirical essay in 1784, titled An Economical Project, suggesting that starting the practice would allow people to make better use of daylight. Yet, the system of uniform Daylight Saving Time throughout the United States wasnt established until 1966 when the Uniform Time Act was signed by President Lyndon Johnson. And, beginning in 1967, the act mandated Standard Time within the established time zones and provided that clocks would be moved ahead one hour beginning at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in April and turned back one hour at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in October. For a while, states were allowed to exempt themselves from Daylight Saving Time, as long as the entire state did so. A recent report breaks down which airports are most likely to lose your luggage. (Patti Sapone/NJ Advance Media) Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Regular flyers knows theres no guarantee that your bag will arrive when you do, and missing luggage can sink any trip. A recent report from Upgraded Points, a travel website, looked at which airports are getting worse when it comes to mishandling luggage. The report used data collected by the federal Department of Transportation about bags that have been lost, delayed or damaged by airlines. One constant found by the research team is that airports likely to see a sudden surge of travelers say during spring break are more likely to lose luggage. For other airports, the sheer volume of daily travel made it more likely to misplace bags. Researchers found that Orlando International Airport in Florida was the worst offender. Over the last decade, the airport had 1.81 complaints of lost luggage for every 100,000 flyers. Not too far behind, New York Citys own John F. Kennedy International Airport ranked at No. 2, with 1.72 complaints per 100,000 travelers. Rounding out the top-five worst airports were Palm Beach International Airport in Florida (No. 3), Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska (No. 4) and Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport in Florida (No. 5). The report also looked at which airlines are more likely to lose a bag. American Airlines was the worst offender, losing almost 1 bag per every 100 entrusted to them. Other offending airlines were: United Airlines (No. 2), Alaska Airlines (No. 3), Delta Air Lines (No. 4), and Southwest Airlines No. (5). A Staten Island mom has filed a $2.1 million lawsuit against YMCA of Staten Island and YMCA of Greater New York claiming her daughter was injured at an after school program. Ellen M. Blalock/The Post Standard STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Attorneys for the YMCA are calling for the dismissal of a $2 million lawsuit claiming a girl was injured after being pushed during an after-school program on Staten Island. The lawsuit is seeking damages for medical and emotional injuries which, according to the girls mother, have altered their lives. Dont mess with the kid. Brain cancer survivor Devarjay DJ Daniel, who was honored by President Donald Trump during Trumps speech to Congress on Tuesday, is telling anti-Trump Dems to back off. Please stop being mean to President Trump because if I see you being mean to him, Im coming after you, DJ, 13, said on Steve Bannons War Room, in an interview with co-host Natalie Winters. The interview was shared to X on Wednesday night, the New York Post reported. As the interview was finishing, DJ said he had one more thing to add. If youre a Democrat and youre being mean to President Trump Im on your bumper, he said into the camera. Honored to have been your first female handshake, DJ pic.twitter.com/P8RSML2caw Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) March 5, 2025 Trump made DJ, a Houston resident, an honorary Secret Service agent during Trumps speech. [DJ] has always dreamed of becoming a police officer, the president said during his speech. But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer. The doctors gave him five months at most to live, Trump said. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true. DJs family later met with Trump in the Oval Office. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow caught flak when she called Trumps highlighting of Daniel during the speech disgusting. DJs father slammed Maddow to the Post. She needs to shut her mouth if she has nothing nice to say, Theodis Daniel said. This lady didnt even serve time in the military, he added. I was on the USS Kitty Hawk. She does not need to put her bad energy on us. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The stage is being set for the grand symphony of speed at the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025, as the paddock undergoes a metamorphosis, transforming into a vibrant canvas for the upcoming spectacle, the Baku City Circuit told Trend. As usual, the paddock is being set up on Neftchilar Avenue, in front of the Government House. "Baku City Circuit Operations Company asks pedestrians and drivers to be careful and thanks the city residents for their understanding. A reminder: The Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 will take place from September 19-21, bringing another exciting racing experience to Baku," the City Circuit's statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging New York state residents to prepare for potential ice jam flooding on Wednesday, ahead of Flood Safety Awareness Week. A widespread rain event bringing heavy downpours to New York on Wednesday could result in elevated river flows, localized flooding and the potential for ice jams, the governors announcement said. As described by the National Weather Service, an ice jam takes place when chunks of floating ice carried down a stream or river accumulate and obstruct the flow of water. The water held back from this makeshift dam could cause flooding upstream. Flooding can occur at all times of year across our region. In the late winter and early spring, the combination of heavy rainfall, snow melt, frozen ground & river ice can all contribute to river flooding. We are monitoring this potential through the day today! pic.twitter.com/lvnNV6y4TU NWS Albany (@NWSAlbany) March 5, 2025 Buffalo area creeks are at the greatest risk for ice jams, Hochuls announcement said. However, elevated temperatures, ice on rivers and rainfall could all contribute to minor flooding throughout the state. In addition to rainfall, gusty winds between 40 mph and 45 mph are forecast through Wednesday afternoon in western portions of the state. Hochuls office also noted that flood watches will continue into Thursday for Western New York, the northern Finger Lakes, northern Central New York and the North Countrys Tug Hill Plateau. Several of these areas could receive up to an inch of rain by Thursday morning, according to the governors office. This latest flooding threat comes ahead of the week of March 9, which Hochul has designated Flood Safety Awareness Week. In working with the National Weather Service, the governors announcement said she hopes that this annual campaign will educate New York residents about the dangers of floods and how to prepare for emergencies involving such conditions. New York is no stranger to extreme weather, and as we prepare for the potential for flood conditions starting today (Wednesday), it is important for New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast and take proper precaution to keep themselves and their families safe, Hochul said. New York state is home to numerous bodies of water, including coastal areas, rivers, lakes and streams and Flood Safety Awareness Week is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to understand the dangers of flooding and how to best prepare. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. Kazakhstan will continue to cooperate with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to fully complete the investigation into the AZAL plane crash in Aktau, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev said during a meeting with ICAO European and North Atlantic Bureau Director Nicolas Rallo, Trend reports. Bozymbayev expressed gratitude to ICAO for its support on issues of cooperation with Kazakhstan and thanked for the timely dispatch of the organization's independent expert Thormodur Thormodsson to the site of the AZAL plane crash. "In order to fully complete this investigation, we will continue to interact with ICAO," he said. On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 in the state registry and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), operating a regular flight J2-8243 from Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russian Federation, crashed near Aktau Airport in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result of the aviation accident, two crew members (the captain and the co-pilot), a senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers lost their lives. Despite the human casualties and injuries, during an emergency landing, it was possible to save the lives of 29 people thanks to the professionalism, courage, and bravery of the pilots and attendants. Following the receipt of information about the emergency landing in the Republic of Kazakhstan, necessary search and rescue operations were immediately carried out, and survivors were evacuated and provided medical assistance. The preliminary report confirmed the following facts: 1. On December 25, 2024, the Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Hava Yollari CJSC (Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)), was fully airworthy when it started its flight and while operating to Grozny. These airworthiness conditions, including the operation of the flight control systems, were confirmed by FDR data. 2. Both engines of the aircraft were operational up until the accident. This information is confirmed by the FDR records. 3. The aircraft lost GPS signals in the airspace of the Russian Federation, also experiencing the same failure above Grozny Airport. 4. Due to adverse weather conditions the aircraft unsuccessfully attempted to land in Grozny two times, and then the captain decided to return to Baku. Following this decision, the (CVR) recorded two external noises, occurring at 24-second intervals, over Grozny. 5. Analysis of the CVR and FDR data showed that, 4 seconds after the first external noise the 3rd hydraulic system failed, followed by the failure of the 1st hydraulic system 6 seconds later, and the 2nd hydraulic system 21 seconds later. 6. Numerous through and blind damages were found on the fuselage, and photos and video recordings were taken. The number of such damages was particularly high in the AFT part of the aircraft, including the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Moreover, some of them were found in the left wing and the left engine. 7. It was recorded that the damages in the fuselage were caused by foreign objects. No evidence of a bird strike was noted in the preliminary report. 8. Foreign objects that did not belong to the aircraft structure were discovered in the wreckage damages, and photos of these objects were made available to the public in the preliminary report. Additional expert examinations will be carried out to determine the exact origin of these objects. 9. At 05:13:32 the aircraft lost primary flight controls, at 05:21:42 the coordinating air traffic controller conveyed to Grozny ATC the information on the Carpet special operation. 10. No information relating to an explosion of the oxygen cylinders is included in the report. According to the ICAO requirements under the Chicago Convention, a final report on the causes of the accident shall be prepared within one year from the date of the accident. Relevant work on drafting the final report has already started involving Kazakhstan and other states participating in the investigation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel On the day they met in 2006, marketing and communications specialist Sarah Noye Davies, 38, and artist Paul Davies, 45, shared an instant attraction. Theyve been together ever since experiencing new life as well as loss. Sarah and Paul Davies at his studio in Paddington. Credit: Louie Douvis Sarah: I was 19 when I met Paul. Id just returned from living in London and a friend in Sydney said, Come and stay. Paul was his flatmate. I remember him coming down the stairs: tanned, good-looking and an artist. Weve been together since that day. I could see he was strong on routine: hed be in the studio at 7am and work through to 4pm every day. He likes order. On the second day of my stay, he took me to get coat-hangers! Pauls upbringing was less traditional than mine. He was a champion swimmer, spent a lot of time training and didnt have a TV until he was 15; his dad didnt believe they needed one. Pauls the same. We only got one recently. It was a running joke. What got it over the line is that you can buy TVs that are disguised as artworks, so now we have a Monet on the wall. EDWARD WILLIAM BRENTNALL August 5, 1929-October 1, 2024 On October 1, 2024, Dr Edward Brentnall MBE, OAM, KStJ, one of the architects of emergency medicine in Australasia, took advantage of the Victorian voluntary assisted dying legislation to peacefully and gratefully bring his long, active life of service and caring for others, to a close. Born in Lancashire, the second son of Charles and Janet Brentnall, Ed followed his father into medicine. After graduating and completing a years residency at University College Hospital, London, he was called up for national service and took a short service commission with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Singapore during the Malayan insurgency, marrying Hazel Otridge while there. Awarded the General Service Medal (Malaya) in 1954 and the MBE (Military Division) in 1956, he returned to the UK in 1957, and served out his commission as a medical officer at the Royal Artillery Depot at Woolwich. He then undertook a diploma of obstetrics and entered general practice in Kent before migrating to join his brother and parents in Australia. Arriving in Melbourne in 1965, Edward worked in general practice in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill. Two years later, he joined the Order of St John. In this capacity, he attended the Southern Aurora derailment at Violet Town in 1969 and the search for the kidnapped teacher and students of Faraday Primary School in 1972. A member of St John Council for 11 years, he was appointed deputy commissioner in 1980, Officer in 1981, and invested as a Knight of the Order of St John in 2009. The St John specialist volunteer group of healthcare professionals who contributed time to public events was formed as the Edward Brentnall Division. In a major career shift, Edward gave up general practice in 1975 to become the full-time salaried director of Box Hill Hospital casualty: a shift, he acknowledged, made possible through his experience of working with St John and the precedent of his friend, Dr Peter Bush, the first director of emergency services at Royal Melbourne Hospital. This part of the health system was considered the most difficult and least desirable at the time, but Ed was challenged to improve the quality of emergency care which became his primary goal for the rest of his career. There was a strange and unexpected feeling in the air across Brisbane this morning. From my bedroom window on the citys south side, the skies were clear and bright. There was only the faintest breeze. Any other March morning and the conditions would have been described as perfect. Downstairs, the dining room full of outdoor plants, gas cooker and water bottles lining the kitchen bench and bathtub full of water pointed to the less-than-ideal conditions south-east Queenslanders and Northern Rivers residents are gearing up for as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches. A picture sent to Brisbane Times from a reader in Mount Gravatt East on Thursday morning. Its already been an interesting week. Investigations continue into the death of a man at the Gold Coast, who was shot by police having allegedly taken off in a stolen vehicle. About 9.15am on Thursday, the 31-year-old believed to be wanted by police was spotted on Brown Street in Labrador when he allegedly presented a firearm at officers before fleeing on foot. The man then approached a woman on Calvary Court, where he allegedly pointed a firearm at her son before stealing her vehicle and striking her as he drove away. The 83-year-old victim suffered minor leg injuries and was transported to Gold Coast University Hospital for treatment. PHILIPSBURG:--- Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel has submitted proposed amendments to the national ordinance governing the Ombudsman institution to the Department of Legal Affairs and Legislation (JZ&W). This submission was made through the honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina for legal and legislative review. The proposed amendments aim to enhance the functioning of the Ombudsman institution, with a major highlight being the introduction of a Childrens Ombudsman. This initiative is in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, reinforcing Sint Maarten's commitment to protecting the rights and interests of children. It is important to note that Sint Maarten is currently the only country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands lacking legislative provisions for a Childrens Ombudsman. In addition to the introduction of the Childrens Ombudsman, the amendments seek to expand the Ombudsmans role to include investigations into complaints from government-owned entities such as GEBE, TELem, PJIAE (Princess Juliana International Airport), and SMPA (Sint Maarten Harbor Holding Company). This expansion is crucial to ensure accountability and address the concerns of citizens regarding these vital services. Furthermore, the proposed amendments include various procedural enhancements aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the investigations carried out by the Ombudsmans office. Ombudsman Mossel emphasizes the importance of these amendments in strengthening the institution and ensuring that it can effectively serve the public interest. Prime Minister Mercelina stated, This landmark proposal by the Ombudsman marks a significant step in strengthening governance and ensuring that the voices of our people- especially our children - are heard and protected. By advancing the establishment of a Childrens Ombudsman and expanding oversight to key government entities, we are reinforcing our commitment to transparency, accountability, and the well-being of every citizen. Our government welcomes this initiative, as it aligns with our broader vision for a more just and equitable Sint Maarten. PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion says that the government has finally come forth with a bit more information regarding the 2025 budget, though it is buried under excessive rhetoric. In reality, the truth is clear: the 2025 budget has not been published or ratified due to serious errors in the budget amendments, particularly Nota 3, which concerns the Justice Ministry. The key issue at hand is that the budget is not merely a collection of numbers, it is a law. The amendment from the Justice Ministry contains critical errors that must be rectified. Instead of being forthcoming about these issues, the current administration has taken the path of secrecy, even going so far as to attempt to publish the budget and the Eind Spreektekst (final speech text) with errors without bringing it back to Parliament for approval. MP Irion asserts that this blatant disregard for due process is an unacceptable breach of the country's governance framework. Under Article 100, the Constitution of Sint Maarten explicitly states that only Parliament has the authority to amend the budget. This means that any necessary corrections require the government to resubmit the budget to Parliament for approval. This process is not optional; it is mandated by our highest legislative authority, our Constitution. Yet, the government continues acting outside these constitutional constraints, ignoring the legislative checks designed to prevent executive overreach. However, rather than following the Constitution, the government is attempting to work outside of it by applying a legislative concept from the Netherlands known as Novelle Wetgeving (Novelle Law). This approach is entirely unconstitutional and will not work in Sint Maarten for several reasons: Sint Maartens Constitution Does Not Allow It Unlike the Netherlands, where novelle wetgeving is an accepted legislative tool, Sint Maartens Constitution outlines a strict budgetary process. The government cannot introduce legislative changes in a manner that bypasses Parliaments constitutional authority over the budget. Violation of Article 100 of the Constitution The power to amend the budget rests solely with Parliament. The government's attempt to make changes outside of this framework undermines democratic governance and the rule of law. Any effort to bypass Parliaments role fundamentally erodes the countrys democratic system. Conflict with Financial Supervision Laws Sint Maarten is subject to the Kingdom Law on Financial Supervision (RFT), which establishes strict oversight of financial matters. Applying novelle wetgeving to correct budgetary errors would violate existing financial regulations and potentially invite external intervention from the Kingdom Government. Lack of Legal Precedent in Sint Maarten Novelle wetgeving is not recognized under Sint Maarten's legal framework. The government cannot simply import Dutch legal mechanisms without first establishing their validity through formal legislative changes, yet it is attempting to do exactly that with no legal basis. Violation of Democratic Principles Parliament must debate and approve all changes to the budget. Using novelle wetgeving would allow the government to circumvent parliamentary scrutiny, setting a dangerous precedent where future budgetary errors could be corrected behind closed doors without proper oversight. This would severely diminish transparency and accountability in public financial management. Risk of Legal Challenges If the government proceeds with this unconstitutional maneuver, the Ombudsman could challenge the decision in the Constitutional Court, which has the authority to nullify laws that violate the Constitution. Additionally, any citizen or organization could initiate legal proceedings to block this unlawful move, reinforcing that government actions must remain within constitutional bounds. Adding to the growing concerns, many civil servants across various ministries are being blamed for the delays and errors in the budget process. Instead of holding the responsible ministers accountable, the government appears to be using civil servants as scapegoats while avoiding any real transparency or responsibility for the mishandling of the budget. MP Irion believes that this failure to take responsibility further erodes public trust in the administrations ability to govern effectively. Since the budget has not been published or ratified, the government can only operate in a limited fashion based on the 2024 budget as stipulated by law. This means that it cannot execute new initiatives, projects, or expenditures from the 2025 budget. However, this government has already proceeded with spending and actions tied to the 2025 budget, despite its lack of legal standing. This is a direct violation of the law and a breach of the Constitution, further demonstrating the administrations disregard for legal and procedural requirements. Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion says that among the illegal expenditures are major events such as Soul Beach and Carnival, as well as consultancy contracts that were awarded without proper national decrees or tendering processes. These payments were made in direct violation of the Constitution and will have serious repercussions going forward. Meanwhile, when it comes to critical matters such as payments for justice workers and other civil servants, the government conveniently claims that the lack of a ratified budget prevents them from fulfilling these obligations. This selective enforcement of budgetary rules exposes the administrations hypocrisy and further calls into question its commitment to lawful governance. PHILIPSBURG:--- On February 27th, the Dominican community in St. Maarten came together to celebrate the 181st Independence Day of the Dominican Republic in a grand and meaningful way. Organized by La Fundacion Semana Dominicana, the event honored various individuals who have made a significant impact on the Dominican community on the island. Among the esteemed honorees was Mr. Angel Morel Jr., a staff member of the ministry of VSA who was recognized for his outstanding community service in St. Maarten. His dedication and contributions have not gone unnoticed, and his recognition serves as a testament to the positive influence he has had on those around him. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), the Honorable Minister Richinel Brug, acknowledged the recognition of Mr. Morel Jr. and expressed his admiration for his commitment to community service. "After hearing about this well-deserved recognition, I understand fully why Mr. Morel Jr. was honored in such a fashion. This is a confirmation that everything his manager has spoken about him is true. He is an exemplary employee under my ministry," stated Minister Brug. Minister Brug further joined La Semana Dominicana in celebrating Mr. Morel Jr., commending him for his hard work and dedication. "I encourage him to continue striving for excellence, both in and out of working hours. His impact on the community is invaluable, and his efforts do not go unnoticed." The celebration of the Dominican Republics independence in St. Maarten highlighted the strong cultural ties and contributions of the Dominican community to the island. La Fundacion Semana Dominicana continues to play a pivotal role in recognizing and uplifting individuals who contribute positively to society, fostering unity and appreciation within the community. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. Kazakhstan aims to produce 96.2 million tons of oil and gas condensate in 2025, said Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev during a government meeting, Trend reports. The minister highlighted that the target for 2025 marks a 9.7% increase compared to the previous year. The primary growth is expected to come from the future expansion of the Tengiz field, with the project's launch slated for the second quarter of 2025. Investments in the expansion are expected to total around $533 million this year. "Work continues on the installation of the sixth compressor for the reverse gas injection system at the Karachaganak field, which will maintain production levels at 11-12 million tons per year. Investments in 2025 are expected to reach approximately $144 million," Satkaliyev added. In addition, work continues on the Kalamskas-Sea and Khazar projects. Bridgetown, Barbados:--- The Bonaire delegation engaged in bilateral meetings with CARICOM leaders on the margins of the 48th CARICOM Regular Meeting in Barbados to discuss the urgent and worsening case of Bonaire, where the native people are being marginalized on their own island. The delegation extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Honorable Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, on her Chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Bonaire recognizes her steadfast leadership in advancing regional integration and addressing critical challenges facing the Caribbean. The delegation has made a direct and urgent appeal to CARICOM leaders to stand in solidarity against the re-colonization of Bonairean alarming reality in the 21st-century Caribbean. Following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, Bonaire was illegally integrated into the Dutch constitution under unequal conditions, without the consent of its people. Since then, the native population has been dramatically reduced, from 80% before 2010 to less than 32% today. This decline has been driven mainly by Dutch government policies allowing unrestricted immigration of European Dutch citizens, who are granted voting rights in local elections and referendums just 90 days after arrival. Furthermore, Papiamentothe islands native languagehas been replaced by Dutch as the primary language of instruction in schools, threatening the survival of Bonaires culture, identity, and existence. In response to this crisis, Bonaire is calling on CARICOM to take collective action, similar to the resolution adopted in the XCVII Ordinary Session of the MERCOSUR Parliament in December 2024, to support Bonaires re-listing as a Non-Self-Governing Territory under the scrutiny of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization. MERCOSUR consists of the countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru, and Suriname. "As CARICOM continues to embrace regional solidarity, welcoming Curacao as an associate member in 2024 and considering Dutch St. Maarten for the same status this year, we urge CARICOM to take a stand for Bonaire and support its rightful place on the UNs list of Non-Self-Governing Territories," the Bonaire delegation emphasized. Bonaire looks forward to the honorable leadership of Prime Minister Mia Mottley and CARICOM in ensuring that the islands people receive the international protection they deserve. WILLEMSTAD:--- 15 candidates of the First Military Training (EMV) for Caribbean soldiers started on March 5, on their big last final exercise, the final step before they could officially receive their military beret. The final training ends on March 11 with a 25-kilometer march to Fort Amsterdam, where they exchange their training beret for the operational military beret. 9 Curacaoans and 6 Arubans are in the final stage of their training for Caribbean Soldiers. During the final exercise, which started on Wednesday, March 5, the candidates must apply and demonstrate everything they have learned in a scenario that is as realistic as possible. The training takes place in several locations in Curacao, including Wacao, Boka Santu Pretu, Ronde Klip, and Fuik. The final exercise ends with a march of 25 kilometers. During the last kilometers of the march, the candidates are musically accompanied by the drummers and pipers of the Marine Corps. They will walk together on Tuesday, March 11, in the morning, around 07:00 oclock, through Otrabanda, via the Pontoon Bridge, towards their final destination: Fort Amsterdam, reaching there around 07:30 hrs. There, they will receive their official beret. A special moment for the participants, where close family and friends will be to attend the ceremony with pride. More than 300 candidates reported last year for the training for Caribbean Soldiers. From this group, 39 candidates passed the strict selection procedure and started their training in August 2024. In seven months, the candidates learned basic military skills, combat techniques, and how to handle military weapons during the tough and intensive training. After completing their training, the Caribbean soldiers are placed in various (operational) positions in Curacao and Aruba. They can be given various tasks, from access control to maintaining public order and safety at the request of local authorities. They also participate in exercises outside Curacao and Aruba and train together with various security partners. The Caribbean soldiers are employed by the Ministry of Justice of Curacao and exercise their work at the Defence in the Dutch Caribbean. More than 220 Caribbean soldiers together form an important operational unit for the Ministry of Defence. PHILIPSBURG: --- Former Member of Parliament, leader, and founder of the United Saint Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson has to report to the Pointe Blanche Prison on Monday, March 10th, 2025. SMN News understands that Richardson was informed that he must report to prison to begin serving the 20-month prison sentence that was confirmed by the Supreme Court on June 6th, 2024. The Supreme Court in The Hague has confirmed the conviction of former parliamentarian Frans Richardson for accepting bribes and committing money laundering and tax fraud. The verdict issued by the Common Court of Justice on June 6, 2022, became irrevocable in June 2024 but only now has the Prison management made space for the politician and former Member of Parliament. Richardson has to spend 20 months in prison (with a deduction for time already served) and a 5-year ban on his right to be elected. Richardson filed for cassation at the Supreme Court against his 2022 conviction but to no avail. The highest court in the Kingdom dismissed all arguments of his attorney,y Sjamira Roseburg. The conviction is associated with Richardson accepting $370,000 in bribes in exchange for his support for a dredging project at the port of St. Maarten, money laundering, and tax fraud. The bribes were deposited in Richardson's bank accounts in Anguilla. During an interrogation, he confessed that he had withdrawn the money in cash and spent it. Because he did not report the bribes, the associated interest income, or the balance of his Anguilla-based bank accounts on his tax returns, the court also sentenced Richardson for tax fraud. Richardson was arrested on February 14, 2018, and (after four interrogations) released again on February 23. The Court, in the First Instance, heard statements from sixteen witnesses between June 11, 2018, and November 2019. The court sentenced the former parliamentarians on January 29, 2020. Richardson appealed the verdict the same day. The court of appeals sentenced him on June 21, 2022. Richardson was also convicted by the Court of Appeals in the Aquamarine case, he received a 19 month prison sentence and another 5 years election ban. The Aquamarine involves the Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) building and its maintenance contract. Richardson was also condemned to pay back Naf 193,000, which he had illegally obtained. The former Member of Parliament has since appealed that verdict and is awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court. SpaceX gearing up for Starship launch amid Musk controversy Boca Chica, United States, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 SpaceX is preparing for the next test flight of its massive Starship prototype rocket, as debate swirls over founder Elon Musk's influence on the US government's space program. The world's biggest and most powerful launch vehicle is set to blast off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, in a launch window that opens at 5:30 pm local time (2330 GMT). It will be Starship's eighth orbital mission -- all so far uncrewed -- and the first since its dramatic mid-air explosion over the Caribbean during its last trial. Earlier attempts to carry out the test were called off on Monday and Wednesday. Standing 403 feet (123 meters) tall -- about 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. Starship is designed to eventually be fully reusable and is key to Musk's vision of colonizing Mars. Meanwhile, NASA is awaiting a modified version of Starship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded Starship after its flight on January 16 ended with the upper stage disintegrating in a fiery cascade over the Turks and Caicos Islands, prompting cleanup efforts for fallen debris. Last Friday, the FAA announced that Starship could proceed with its next flight before the agency finalizes its review of SpaceX's "mishap investigation." During Joe Biden's presidency, Musk frequently accused the FAA of excessive scrutiny over SpaceX's safety and environmental concerns. Now, as President Donald Trump's cost-cutter-in-chief, the world's richest person faces allegations of wielding undue influence over regulatory agencies overseeing his companies. According to Bloomberg News, a SpaceX engineer went to the Federal Aviation Administration headquarters two weeks ago and told employees they risked losing their jobs if they did not start work on a program to deploy thousands of the company's Starlink satellite terminals in support of the national airspace system. Telecoms giant Verizon currently has a contract to upgrade the FAA's infrastructure but now risks losing it, Bloomberg added. SpaceX said in a post that "recent media reports about SpaceX and the FAA are false." For the upcoming flight, SpaceX says it has introduced numerous upgrades to the upper-stage spaceship that enhance its reliability and performance. The mission, expected to last just over an hour, includes another attempt to catch the booster stage using the launch tower's "chopstick" arms -- a feat SpaceX has successfully executed twice, including in the last flight. Additionally, Starship will deploy Starlink simulators designed to mimic Starlink satellites, which will burn up upon atmospheric re-entry. Eventually, SpaceX aims to recover the upper stage as well, but for now, it is targeting splashdown in the Indian Ocean off the western coast of Australia, as in previous flights. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 6. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov discussed the acceleration of the country's agricultural efforts with Deputy Prime Minister Tangriguli Atahallyyev and regional governors, Trend reports. In the course of the meeting, Atahalliyev presented a report on the current state of agriculture. He stressed that on the instructions of the President, fertilization and irrigation of winter wheat are being carried out in the fields of all regions in line with the established agro-technical norms to ensure a rich harvest. ''Preparation of land and the selection of high-quality seeds for the upcoming cotton sowing campaign is also ongoing. Measures are being taken to prepare fields for vegetable and melon cultivation, while potato and vegetable planting continues to meet domestic market demand,'' he added. The president stressed the importance of comprehensive measures to achieve agricultural sector goals in line with modern requirements. He instructed the officials to ensure strict control over soil preparation for cotton sowing and the provision of quality seeds. Furthermore, the president emphasized the need to accelerate potato and vegetable sowing and ensure timely settlements between farmers and service enterprises. He also gave instructions to monitor the construction of new social and industrial facilities planned for completion this year across the regions. Macron proposes French nuclear extension, Ukraine troop deployment Paris, March 5 (AFP) Mar 05, 2025 President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced he would discuss extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners and raised the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine to enforce a peace deal, as Europe scrambles to respond to Donald Trump's upending of the transatlantic alliance. In an address to the nation, Macron said that the French were "legitimately worried" about the start of a "new era" after Trump began his second stint in the White House by reversing US policy on Ukraine and risking a historic rupture with Europe. "I want to believe that the United States will stay by our side but we have to be prepared for that not to be the case," he said bluntly. "The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow," he added. Trump has made clear his desire to swiftly end the war caused by Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine through direct negotiations with Moscow. But Macron offered a stark picture of Russia's aggressive behaviour, which he said does "not seem to know borders" after its invasion of Ukraine. "Russia has become, at the moment I am speaking to you and for the years to come, a threat to France and Europe," he said. "It would be madness to remain a spectator in this world of danger." "Who can believe that this Russia of today will stop at Ukraine?" he asked. "Russia has become a threat for France and Europe." But he warned Trump that "peace cannot be agreed at any cost" and there cannot be a ceasefire that is "too fragile". - 'Won't fight today' - Ahead of an EU summit Thursday on rearming the continent, he stressed the need for "new budget choices and extra investments" to boost defence spending in France. Meanwhile, Macron said he would open a debate on extending France's nuclear deterrent to other European nations, following a "historic" call from likely next German chancellor Friedrich Merz on extending that umbrella of protection. "I have decided to open up the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our nuclear deterrent," he said, while adding that any decision on nuclear weapons use would remain with the French head of state. Merz, whose right-wing party won the Germany elections, said last month he wanted a discussion on "nuclear sharing" with France and Britain, Europe's only nuclear powers other than Russia. Warning that "Russia can no longer be trusted to keep its word", Macron also said once a deal is signed Ukraine's allies must make sure it is "not invaded again by Russia". He reaffirmed that European military forces could be sent to Ukraine if a peace accord was signed to guarantee "respect" of a peace deal. A peace agreement for Ukraine would be backed "perhaps, by the deployment of European forces," Macron said. "They won't go to fight today, they won't go to fight on the front line, but they would be there once a peace deal is signed, to guarantee it is fully respected," he said. He added European military chiefs of staff would meet in Paris next week to discuss how to support Ukraine after a peace deal. - Incomprehensible' - Both Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held separate talks with Trump in Washington last week, followed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who was subjected to an excruciating public dressing-down by Trump and his Vice President JD Vance. But Zelensky appears to be seeking to lower the temperature after Friday's White House bust-up with Trump where the US president accused the Ukrainian leader of not wanting peace and "gambling with World War III". Zelensky Tuesday called for a "truce" in the sea and sky as a first step to ending the three-year war with Russia, echoing an idea evoked by Macron at talks in London hosted by Starmer at the weekend. Meanwhile, Macron is mulling a joint visit to Washington alongside Zelensky and Starmer, the French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said Wednesday. The French presidency then sought to dampen expectations saying no new visit by Macron to Washington was being considered "at this stage". Coincidentally, Macron after his address met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Elysee. Orban is an admirer not just of Trump but also Putin, and has repeatedly broken a united EU front on Ukraine. In another indication of tension with Washington, Macron on Wednesday called planned US tariffs on European products "incomprehensible", adding that he hoped to "dissuade" Trump from imposing them. Russian missile strike kills 2 in Ukraine's Kryvyi Rig Kyiv, Ukraine, March 5 (AFP) Mar 05, 2025 A Russian missile strike on a hotel in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rig killed at least two people on Wednesday, local authorities said. Moscow has kept up its bombardment of Ukraine, even as rhetoric builds in Washington and Moscow on potential talks to halt the more than three-year war. "A Russian missile hit a five-story hotel, and a fire broke out," Ukraine's emergency services said on Telegram. It said a stairwell was destroyed, and that rescuers were looking for people under the rubble. "Two people were killed, seven injured, 14 were rescued," it said. Kryvyi Rig, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's home town, lies about 70 kilometres (43 miles) north west of the front line and was home to more than 600,000 people before the war. Sergiy Lysak, governor of the local Dnipropetrovsk region, shared an image of what appeared to be the facade of a residential building, surrounded by rubble. US Department of Veterans Affairs to cut more than 70,000 jobs Washington, March 5 (AFP) Mar 05, 2025 President Donald Trump's administration aims to cut more than 70,000 jobs from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which oversees veterans' health care and other benefits, Secretary Doug Collins said Wednesday. The move to downsize the VA brings Trump's unprecedented cost-cutting efforts, led by billionaire adviser Elon Musk, into another sensitive area, with Democrats quick to voice their displeasure with the plan. "For many years, veterans have been asking for a more efficient, accountable and transparent VA. This administration is finally going to give the veterans what they want," Collins said in a video posted on X. "Our goal is to reduce VA employment levels (to) 2019 end-strength numbers -- roughly 398,000 employees -- from our current level of approximately 470,000 employees," he said, giving a lower current number of staff than a department statement from last month, which put the total at more than 479,000. "We're going to accomplish this without making cuts to health care or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries," Collins added. AFP had earlier obtained a VA memo saying the department would work in concert with Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to "identify and eliminate waste, reduce management and bureaucracy, reduce footprint, and increase workforce efficiency," with an initial aim of returning to 2019 staffing levels. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees union, slammed the plan, saying: "These soon-to-be fired workers are patriotic Americans who chose to work at the VA because they genuinely care for the welfare of veterans and their families." - 'Create chaos' - "The VA has been severely understaffed for many years, resulting in longer wait times for veterans in need. The DOGE plunder of career VA employees, adding to the illegal mass firings of thousands of probationary employees, can only make matter worse," Kelley said. Some Democratic lawmakers also took aim at the planned cuts, including Representative Mark Takano of California, who said in a statement: "This deliberate dismantling of VA's workforce... isn't just dangerous -- it's an outright betrayal of veterans." "These cuts won't just impact those seeking health care. They will create chaos across every aspect of VA." Senator Patty Murray of Washington said it is "infuriating that two billionaires think they can fire tens of thousands of people responsible for administering the services and care that over nine million veterans across the country count on," referring to Trump and Musk. Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has launched a vast offensive aimed at slashing public spending and reducing the federal bureaucracy, one of the goals he promised on the campaign trail. To that end, he tapped Musk, a top campaign donor turned close adviser, to lead DOGE, which has cut thousands of government jobs and upended agencies -- prompting numerous lawsuits. Among his first targets were members of the federal bureaucracy overseeing policies that promote diversity. His administration has also sought to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), ending many humanitarian and other support projects around the globe. And a source with knowledge of the situation told AFP on Tuesday that the Internal Revenue Service -- responsible for collecting US federal taxes -- is considering letting go up to half of its approximately 90,000 employees. EU chief Costa hosts Germany's Merz ahead of key defence summit Brussels, Belgium, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 EU chief Antonio Costa on Thursday hosted Germany's likely next leader Friedrich Merz for talks ahead of a key summit on bolstering Ukraine and ramping up European defence -- for which Berlin's role will be pivotal. Germany will be represented at Thursday's talks by outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz, but all eyes are already on Merz after he said he was ready for radical reforms to help bolster Europe's security, with US guarantees looking increasingly fragile. After a handshake before photographers, Costa, who heads the European Council of member states, headed into private talks with Merz. The likely next chancellor said this week he planned to reform the country's strict constitutional "debt brake" to pump up defence spending and pursue massive infrastructure investments. Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats are in talks to forge a new governing alliance, but the two sides have agreed to try to push through the changes before a government is formed. On the summit's eve Merz met with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who has put forward a bloc-wide plan to bolster EU defences by hundreds of billions of euros -- largely by freeing member states to spend much more. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas held a separate meeting with Merz, posting afterwards that his announcements on German defence were "leading the way." And Merz also met Wednesday with NATO chief Mark Rutte, who wrote that his leadership will be "crucial" for the coming challenges. "Germany and Europe must now invest massively in their own defence capabilities. That is the best protection for Europe's security," Merz wrote afterwards. CORRECTED: Over 300 Nobel Peace nominees counted, possibly including Trump Oslo, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Over 300 people have been nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, organisers said on Wednesday, with politicians saying they had put US President Donald Trump forward for the award. In line with Nobel statutes, the identity of the candidates is kept confidential for 50 years. The 338 overall nominations comprise 244 individuals and 94 organisations, the Norwegian Nobel Institute said. That was a significant increase from the previous year's 286 nominations but shy of the record 376 nominations registered in 2016. Although the prize committee is always tight-lipped about the nominees, those eligible to nominate -- including former laureates, lawmakers and cabinet ministers from any country in the world, and some university professors -- are free to reveal the name of the person or organisation they have proposed. On Monday, US Congressman Darrell Issa declared in a post on X that he too would nominate Trump for the prestigious prize, adding: "No-one deserves it more." Issa's office was later cited by US media as saying that the nomination was motivated by Trump's approach to the Middle East. Issa's nomination would be submitted after the submission deadline but Ukrainian parliamentarian Oleksandr Merezhko also nominated Trump back in November in a move to grab the then president-elect's attention, according to Ukrainian media. Trump has been proposed as a candidate in previous years too but a nomination this year would be particularly eye-catching. He has sparked controversy by opening talks with Moscow about its war in Ukraine and rattled European allies with changes to US foreign policy. He has also proposed taking over the Gaza Strip and displacing its 2.4 million Palestinian inhabitants, an idea that has drawn widespread condemnation around the world. In January, thousands of people signed a UK petition calling for Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She won praise for her open, public stance during the trial of her ex-husband, who was convicted of letting strangers rape her while she was drugged. Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Japan's atomic bomb survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo for its efforts to ban nuclear weapons. jll/gil Turkey ready to send troops to Ukraine 'if needed': defence ministry source Istanbul, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Turkey would be ready to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a broader peacekeeping mission if needed, a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday. "The issue of contributing to a mission... will be evaluated with all relevant parties if deemed necessary for the establishment of regional stability and peace," the source said. His remarks came as European Union leaders were meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels to seek ways of bolstering the defences of both Ukraine and Europe after US President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Kyiv and intelligence sharing to help it fight off Russia's invasion. Paris and London have already expressed a willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine to ensure that a possible future ceasefire is preserved, without saying what role those troops would play. Bolstering European defences has taken on acute urgency after Trump made clear his desire to quickly end the three-year war in Ukraine through direct negotiations with Moscow. NATO member Turkey has sought to maintain good relations with both of its Black Sea neighbours since the Russian invasion three years ago and has twice hosted direct talks aimed at ending the war. Sweden to send Gripen jets to help patrol Polish airspace Stockholm, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Sweden said on Thursday it would be sending up to eight Gripen fighter jets to take part in a NATO mission to police the airspace of Poland, which borders Ukraine. Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the aircraft would be part of an operation responsible for protecting the logistics node which gathers support for Ukraine. "By participating in the operation, we are helping to get aid to Ukraine", Stenergard told a news conference, adding that Stockholm would send "up to eight Jas Gripen aircraft with associated personnel". This announcement comes just a few hours before the start of an extraordinary summit on strengthening European defence, in response to US President Donald Trump's freeze on US military aid to Ukraine. Last year, Sweden suspended plans to send its domestically developed Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, in response to a request from partner countries to give priority to American F-16s. "This is the first time that Swedish fighter jets will take part in air policing operations from an ally's territory," Defence Minister Pal Jonson said. "The Air Force participate with between six and eight Gripen aircraft and ground personnel -- an estimated 110 people. They will operate in NATO's northern air surveillance area," he added. Sweden ended two centuries of military non-alignment and became NATO's newest member in March 2024. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. The fleet of Air Astana Group of Companies has increased to 60 aircraft after the arrival of a new Airbus A320neo in Kazakhstans Almaty today, Trend reports via Air Astana. Now, the full-service airline Air Astana operates a fleet of 35 aircraft, while the low-cost carrier FlyArystan operates 25 aircraft. Both airlines of the Group are showing rapid growth, expanding their route network to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East by increasing their fleet of modern Airbus A321LR and Airbus A320neo aircraft. FlyArystan continues to actively develop budget travel within Kazakhstan and Central Asia, as well as increasing the number of long-haul flights to Georgia, China, and the Middle East. "The expansion of our fleet to 60 aircraft is a significant achievement for the Air Astana Group and an important step toward realizing our strategic plans. We will continue to invest in modern aircraft and expand our flight geography, offering passengers even more opportunities for convenient and comfortable travel both within the region and beyond," said Peter Foster, CEO of the Group. The fleet of Air Astana Group of Companies will continue to expand and is expected to reach 80 aircraft by 2028. Russia calls Macron nuclear comments a 'threat' Moscow, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Moscow views comments by President Emmanuel Macron about extending France's nuclear deterrent to European partners as a "threat", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. "Of course it is a threat against Russia. If he sees us as a threat... and says that it is necessary to use a nuclear weapon, is preparing to use a nuclear weapon against Russia, of course it is a threat," Lavrov said at a press conference. Macron in an address to the nation Wednesday called Russia a "threat to France and Europe" and said the French were "legitimately worried" about the United States shifting its position on the Ukraine conflict under US President Donald Trump. He said he would open a debate on extending France's nuclear deterrent to other European nations, following a phone conversation with Germany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz on extending that umbrella of protection. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier Thursday said Macron was "detached from reality" and making "contradictory statements". She mockingly compared him to a character in a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, Ole Lukoje, who holds umbrellas over sleeping children. The French president also reaffirmed that European military forces could be sent to Ukraine if a peace accord was signed to guarantee "respect" of a deal. Lavrov, though, said Russia was unwavering in its opposition to the deployment of European forces in Ukraine as peacekeepers, suggesting they would not be impartial. "We see no room for compromise. This discussion is being held with an overtly hostile aim," he added. Russia will consider such troops in the same way as it would view NATO presence in Ukraine, Lavrov said. He compared Macron to Hitler and Napoleon, saying that unlike those leaders, Macron did not openly say he wanted to conquer Russia, but he "evidently wants the same thing". Macron is making "stupid accusations against Russia" that President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly dismissed as "madness and nonsense", he added. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Macron's speech "extremely confrontational", saying Russia felt that "France wants the war to continue." Macron is saying that "Russia has become practically an enemy of France" but not that NATO's military presence is encroaching Russia's borders, he said. German MPs to debate defence spending boost next week Berlin, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 German MPs will meet next week to debate measures to ramp up defence spending, a parliamentary spokeswoman said Thursday, as President Donald Trump has sowed doubt over US security guarantees for Europe. Lawmakers from the outgoing Bundestag will meet to discuss the spending boost on March 13, the spokeswoman said. A second sitting was scheduled for March 18 for MPs to give their sign off to the proposed measures to ease spending restrictions. The likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday he planned to reform the country's strict constitutional "debt brake" to pump up defence spending and pursue massive infrastructure investments. The announcement came just over a week after national elections and with talks under way between Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats to forge a new governing alliance. Before coming to an agreement on a coalition, the two sides agreed to try to ram through the changes needed for the spending boost. Trump's direct overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin prompted concerns European interests would be ignored in a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine, which started with Moscow's full-scale invasion three years ago. The proposed reform would see Germany's constitutional limits on taking on new debt eased in the area of defence and establish a 500-billion-euro ($540-billion) fund to upgrade Germany's creaking infrastructure. This would also aim to help drag the country out of two straight years of recession. Although national legislative elections took place on February 23, the new parliament has yet to be called and the outgoing legislature is still capable of making decisions. Merz and the Social Democrats are keen to push the changes through the current parliament, where they feel confident they can reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass the constitutional change. The prospective coalition partners would have enough votes to reform the debt brake in the outgoing parliament with the help of the Greens, who have signalled support. The same is not true in the incoming legislature, where the far-right Alternative for Germany and the far-left Die Linke, who have reservations about increasing defence spending, can block any constitutional changes. Under Germany's constitution, the newly elected legislature must sit within 30 days of the election, leaving Merz until March 25 to pass the changes. Polish PM hails Macron's 'very promising' nuclear comments Brussels, Belgium, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday that France's offer to discuss extending its nuclear umbrella to other European nations was "very promising". Scandinavian leaders, traditionally reserved on nuclear matters, gave the proposal a cautious welcome but Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that in the current security circumstances, "everything must be on the table now". Leaders of the 27 European Union states are in Brusseles for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and aim to cement support for the war-torn country after US President Donald Trump's freeze on military aid to Kyiv. President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that he would discuss extending France's nuclear deterrent to other European nations. "This readiness of France, this is something very promising," Tusk told reporters in Brussels, adding: "We have to treat this proposal seriously." He also reiterated a call for Europe to strengthen its defences against Russia. "It must be one of our priorities to coordinate all our capacities in Europe and to build, in fact, one well-coordinated military power. This is what can give us a clear advantage towards Russia," Tusk said. "Europe must take up this challenge, this arms race, and it must win it," he added. Poland, a NATO member and a key ally of its neighbour Ukraine, also shares a border with Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, and Belarus, Moscow's ally. Macron said he would open a debate on extending France's nuclear deterrent, following a call from Germany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz, whose right-wing party won Germany's elections, said last month he wanted a discussion on "nuclear sharing" with France and Britain, Europe's only nuclear powers other than Russia. In April, Poland's President Andrzej Duda said his country was ready to host NATO's nuclear arms. Moscow in response warned it would take steps to "ensure its security". Denmark's Frederiksen said her country was open to discussions on Macron's proposal. "It's not something that we're working on but you won't hear me say no to other people's ideas." Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also welcomed the debate. "Like most people, the Swedes want to have as few nuclear weapons as possible but at the moment we should be happy and grateful that two of our neighbours (France and the UK) have nuclear weapons," he said. Sweden to send Gripen jets to help patrol Polish airspace Stockholm, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Sweden said on Thursday it would be sending up to eight Gripen fighter jets to take part in a NATO mission to police Poland's airspace, which borders Ukraine. Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the aircraft would be part of an operation responsible for protecting the logistics node which gathers support for Ukraine. "By participating in the operation, we are helping to get aid to Ukraine", Stenergard told a news conference, adding that Stockholm would send "up to eight Jas Gripen aircraft with associated personnel". This announcement comes just a few hours before the start of an extraordinary summit on strengthening European defence, in response to US President Donald Trump's freeze on US military aid to Ukraine. Poland's Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked Sweden on X for the decision "which demonstrates our solidarity and unity in the face of threats to our security." Last year, Sweden suspended plans to send its domestically developed Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, in response to a request from partner countries to give priority to American F-16s. "This is the first time that Swedish fighter jets will take part in air policing operations from an ally's territory," Defence Minister Pal Jonson said. He said the air force mission would involve six to eight Gripen aircraft and about 110 personnel. Sweden ended two centuries of military non-alignment and became NATO's newest member in March 2024. ef/jll/mmp/gv Benin receives military surveillance plane from EU Cotonou, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Benin on Thursday received a surveillance aircraft from the European Union to bolster its fight against jihadist groups in the north of the country. The Cessna Caravan C208B aircraft will serve as part of Operation Mirador, which the Benin military is conducting "to counter attacks by armed terrorist groups and in so doing respond to a security urgency", said EU ambassador to Benin Stephane Mund. Recent months have seen a spike in attacks on Benin forces in the north. "The aircraft, through the information collected, will support operational decisions," Mund said. Beninese Defence Minister Alain Nouatin said the plane would comprise "a strategic tool which has just reinforced our operational capacity in the context where security is a major issue for our nation and the whole sub-region". The delivery is part of the European Peace Facility encompassing military aid that Benin has been receiving for two years, worth more than 47 million euros ($51 million). At the start of the year, the Beninese army also firmed up a cooperation agreement with the United States for the coming five years. In January 2022, Benin deployed nearly 3,000 soldiers to secure its borders as part of Operation Mirador, before recruiting 5,000 additional soldiers to strengthen security in the north. Neighbouring countries Burkina Faso and Niger have both been plagued in recent years by regular attacks from jihadist groups. In early January, an attack in the border area between the trio killed 28 Beninese soldiers, since when Benin troops have stepped up an offensive. str/bam/pid/cw/kjm Italian, Turkish firms team up to make military drones Rome, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Italian defence firm Leonardo and Turkish drone producer Baykar have agreed to work together to develop unmanned aerial systems, they announced on Thursday. The new joint venture would be based in Italy and involve the design, development, production and maintenance of the drones, Leonardo said in a statement. "The European market for the next ten years, covering unmanned fighters, armed surveillance drones, and deep strike drones, is projected to reach 100 billion dollars," it added. Arms industry orders have been increasing due to rising defence budgets in Europe in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Leonardo and German arms maker Rheinmetall unveiled last October a joint venture to develop tanks for the Italian army and other military vehicles. Alongside BAE Systems and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co, Leonardo is also involved in a project between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a supersonic next-generation fighter jet. "With Baykar, we are creating a new reference player in unmanned technologies, which will play an increasingly central role in the future of defence," said Roberto Cingolani, chief executive of the Italian firm. He added: "The defence industry is facing unprecedented challenges, such as unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, sixth-generation fighters, cybersecurity, and space. "In this context, we are convinced that technological cooperation is both necessary and urgent to accelerate progress and ensure global security." Baykar -- which last December received the green light from Italy's government to buy Piaggio Aerospace -- highlighted its own "superior capabilities in UAV and artificial intelligence technology". The memorandum of understanding announced Thursday would see this combined "with Leonardo's mission systems, payloads and certification capabilities", it said. "The two companies will also carry their cooperation into the field of space studies," the Turkish company said. Iran Guard killed in fire at Tehran base: reports Tehran, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 A member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards was killed on Thursday when a fire triggered an explosion at a base in north Tehran, Iranian media reported. "One person was killed and 10 firefighters injured in a fire and explosion in a cabin at a military facility in the capital," Tehran Fire Department spokesman Jalal Maleki told the Mehr news agency. "Following the fire in the cabin, it exploded due to the accumulation of heat and vapours inside while the doors and windows were shut," he added. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the ideological arm of Iran's military, said it operated the base where the fire broke out. "Following a fire incident in the afternoon at one of the IRGC's Navy centres, one of the on-duty personnel of the force, Mostafa Abdollahi, was martyred," it said in a statement, adding that several firefighters were injured. Gisele Pelicot's daughter says has filed sex abuse case against father Paris, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 The daughter of convicted French rapist Dominique Pelicot said Thursday she had filed a complaint against her father accusing him of sexual abuse, after he was jailed for repeatedly sedating and raping her mother Gisele Pelicot along with dozens of strangers. Caroline Darian, whose parents are now divorced, filed the complaint on Wednesday, accusing Dominique Pelicot of drugging her and committing "sexual abuse" against her, she told AFP in an interview. She said she took legal action as a "message to all victims" of sexual abuse who were drugged not to give up. Darian has said she suspects Dominique Pelicot abused her too after pictures of her naked and unconscious body were found among the detailed records he kept of his crimes. Dominique Pelicot, 72, has always denied he abused his daughter. "Yes, he denied it, but he also lied several times and gave different versions of the story during the two and a half years of the investigation," Darian said. Gisele Pelicot, 72, last year became a feminist icon for her courage during trial of her former husband for mass rape while they were married. She had insisted that the trial be held in public and waived her right to anonymity. A court in southern France in December sentenced him to 20 years for drugging and raping her and inviting dozens of men to do the same for almost a decade. His 50 co-defendants were also found guilty and handed various sentences of between three and 15 years. "We clearly saw in court that at no time was Dominique capable of telling the whole truth about what happened," Darian added. Darian has campaigned for awareness about the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse, and in 2022 wrote a book about the family's ordeal, "Et j'ai cesse de t'appeler papa" ("And I stopped calling you dad"). Her new book about victims of sexual abuse, titled "For us to remember" ("Pour que l'on se souvienne"), hit bookstands on Wednesday. - 'Message to all victims' - In the latest book, she recalls her time in court at her father's trial, describing it as "the worst experience of my life" and her feeling of having been "the person who was most forgotten at the trial". She says that since the trial she has been plunged into "abyssal void" and a "feeling of injustice" which "crushes" her. She wants more than ever to be a voice for the victims who are sexually abused after being drugged, she writes. "Rebuilding requires recognition of my status as a victim," she told AFP, adding: "I know that the road is still long". Beyond "my personal case", the complaint filed this week represents "a message sent to all victims", she said. "It is important for me to convey this message so that other victims" of chemical sedation can "tell themselves that there are things to do, there are remedies, and we must never give up". She has stepped up her public activities since the trial, notably through an NGO she has set up called M'endors pas (Don't fall asleep). "It's a fight that requires a lot of time, brainpower and a certain form of mental load, but it's really worth it," she told AFP. "Things are moving and I want to believe that this will allow us to set up real initiatives and real avenues for improvement to support victims who really need it." Guinea opens appeal of former defence minister Diane Conakry, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Guinea's anti-graft court on Thursday began hearing the appeal of Mohamed Diane, a highly influential defence minister under former president Alpha Conde as he fights to overturn a five-year jail term for embezzlement. Diane, who was a key member of Conde's team from 2015 to 2021, has been detained since 2022 and a special court in December sentenced him to prison for embezzlement, illicit enrichment, money laundering and the corruption of public officials. He has pleaded innocent before the appeals chamber of the Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offences (CRIEF), an anti-corruption court which the military rulers set up after ending Conde's 11-year reign in 2021. "I reaffirm my innocence in the face of the charges I face which are not based on any tangible evidence and do not have a solid legal basis," said Diane, who slammed what he termed "flagrant irregularities" in the case. "It is evident that my conviction is based on vague, unsubstantiated allegations, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of criminal law," added Diane, who is being held at the central prison in Conakry and who has never agreed to submit to CRIEF questioning. He is the latest of many former leaders, opposition figures and civil society members to be detained or brought before the courts under the junta. Last saw former prime minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana sentenced to five years for embezzlement. He had faced charges similar to Diane. Fofana had headed the government under president Conde from May 2018 until the military seized power in a September 2021 coup. Fofana was notably accused of embezzling 15 billion Guinean francs ($1.7 million) earmarked for anti-Covid measures and economic and social programmes. Guinea's military leaders have promised to prioritise combatting endemic corruption in the impoverished west African state. In November 2022, the junta ordered prosecutors to take legal action against more than 180 officials and ex-ministers. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. Wallpapers bearing the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand are making their debut at an international exhibition, the Economic Zones Development Agency (EZDA) told Trend. A resident of the Aghdam Industrial Park, Mister Decor LLC, is representing Azerbaijan at the International Building Decorations and Materials Expo held in Beijing, China. "The company's booth, which has been warmly received by visitors, features samples of products manufactured by Mister Decor, all proudly displayed under the 'Made in Azerbaijan' brand. The exhibition will be held from March 6 to 9," the statement noted. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. Kazakhstan's Caspy Commodity Exchange (Caspy Commodity Exchange) and the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange signed a memorandum of mutual cooperation to implement an innovative solution, Trend reports. The signing ceremony of the memorandum took place on March 5, 2025, in Kazakhstans Astana, with representatives from both exchanges and government officials in attendance. The document envisions the implementation of joint projects, modernization of trading mechanisms, and the introduction of innovative solutions that will increase operational efficiency and strengthen the integration of participants in commodity markets. "The signed Memorandum opens up broad prospects for cooperation. This is not just a formal step -it is a real opportunity for our exchanges to exchange best practices, develop trade, and contribute to the growth of the economies of our countries. We are confident that our joint efforts will lead to the creation of a more transparent and dynamic trading environment," said Murat Kadisov, President of the Caspy Commodity Exchange. The parties also emphasized that the signed document would serve as a foundation for creating new effective trading mechanisms, which would have a positive impact on trade relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Caspy Commodity Exchange is the leading exchange in Kazakhstan, specializing in trading a wide range of goods, including petroleum products, coal, and cement. The Caspy Commodity Exchange is a member of the European Association of Energy Exchanges (EUROPEX) as an associate member and holds an ESG rating from the international rating agency S&P Global. It is the first exchange in the CIS region to become a full member of the United Nations Global Compact. The Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange is one of the largest commodity exchanges in Eastern Europe, created to ensure a transparent and competitive trading environment. The exchange actively develops export-import operations, simplifying access for international participants to the Belarusian market. It is the largest spot exchange in Eastern Europe, with over 500,000 transactions annually worth more than $4 billion, and a client base of over 35,500 clients. James Chiavarini knows all about fresh starts. He runs Il Portico, a Kensington Italian thats 58 this year and always busy: generations of monied neighbours treat it as their local, popping in for celebrations anniversaries, birthdays, divorces and in times of distress, like when Waitrose is shut or the kids are back from boarding school. In 2021, five doors down, Chiavarini opened a wine bar, Pino. Critics loved it; no one else went. It didnt make a year. It was reborn as a charity pizza project that couldnt last forever. In late 2023, it began again as La Palombe, a brasserie. Come in, he said, so I did. What did you think? he said. Ill ring you, I said, picking bits of game from my teeth and apologising to my mother for taking her out. And then I manfully avoided Chiavarinis calls for months. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England national medical director, said: Despite the sunnier weather this week showing some early signs of spring, these latest figures show winter is certainly not over for NHS staff who are continuing to work tirelessly to treat thousands of patients with norovirus and other nasty winter viruses each day. Where to live Golden Visas: the four European countries where you can still get citizenship by buying property Four European countries still offering golden visas to property buyers She said it was a watershed moment, adding: Europe faces a clear and present danger and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace. The French government said on Wednesday that Mr Macron, Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky could potentially meet the US president as leaders seek to bridge the transatlantic rift, but suggested that was a wish at the moment and there had not been an invitation from the White House. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. A discussion event titled "SOFAZ Media Dialogue: Investment Results of 2024 and Prospects for 2025" is being held today at the administrative building of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), Trend reports. The event features several key figures, including Ulviyya Mehraliyeva, Head of the Strategic Communication Department of the Executive Directors Office; Vadim Pshenichniy, Director of the Risk Management Department; Toghrul Rahimbeyli, Head of the Asset Allocation, Risk, and Return Department within the Risk Management Department; Farhad Zeynalov, Director of the Investment Department; and Bahruz Bahramov, Deputy Executive Director. Will be updated BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The Secretary-General of the D-8 (Developing Eight) Organization for Economic Cooperation, Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, has met with Elnur Aliyev, Azerbaijans First Deputy Minister of Economy, the publication of D-8 on X said, Trend reports. Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam congratulated Azerbaijan on joining the D-8 and emphasized the organizations key initiatives aimed at promoting trade and economic prosperity among member states. The Secretary-General proposed organizing a meeting in Baku with Investment Promotion Agencies from D-8 member countries to expand investment cooperation. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. Members of the Senate of Kazakhstan approved the draft law On ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the State of Qatar on mutual legal assistance in criminal cases," Trend reports. Kazakh Senators ratified two agreements between Kazakhstan and Qatar: one on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and the other on the extradition of offenders. The first agreement allows the countries to exchange legal information, assist in investigations, and search for and identify suspects. The second agreement concerns the extradition of criminals. It regulates the conditions and procedures for extradition, guarantees that Kazakh citizens cannot be handed over to another state, and outlines the procedures for detention. This Agreement on the Ratification was signed on February 14, 2024, during the visit of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Doha, Qatar. AGERPRES special correspondent Oana Ghita reports: Acting President Ilie Bolojan reported on Thursday that he had discussed with the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen about Romania's support for the EC's initiatives in the field of defense. ''I discussed today with President Ursula von der Leyen, on the margins of the EPP summit, Romania's priorities for implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and advancing the absorption of European funds. I also expressed our support for recent EU Commission's initiatives in the field of defense and competitiveness," the president wrote on the X platform. Romania's interim President Ilie Bolojan said on Thursday, at a meeting with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, that Romania intends to continue the "excellent collaboration" with the EU legislature. "Delighted to meet EP President Roberta Metsola ahead of the EU Council today. We are committed to continuing the excellent collaboration between Romania and the EP to respond directly and swiftly to our citizens' expectations," Bolojan wrote in a social media post. Bolojan attended a summit of the European People's Party on Thursday morning, after which he arrived at the Special European Council. On the sidelines of the EPP Summit, he also had bilateral meetings with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Bucharest District 1 Court on Thursday rejected as unfounded the complaint filed by Georgescu Calin against the measure of judicial control in the case in which he is being prosecuted on six counts, including attempted incitement against the constitutional order. "Pursuant to Article 213 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code, rejects as unfounded the complaint lodged by the defendant Georgescu Calin against ordinance no. 2226/221/P/2023/d1 dated 26.02.2025 of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice of taking the preventive measure of judicial control. Pursuant to Article 275 paragraph (2) of the Criminal Code, the defendant Georgescu Calin is ordered to pay to the State the amount of 100 RON as legal costs. Definitive," the court's decision reads. Calin Georgescu, a former presidential candidate, was placed last Wednesday under judicial control by prosecutors of the General Prosecutor's Office for a period of 60 days, putting him also under multiple bans, including leaving the country without the approval of the judicial authorities, and posting on social media content of a legionary, fascist, anti-Semitic, racist or xenophobic nature. CalinGeorgescu is accused of masterminding a plan to destabilize Romania with the help of mercenaries led by Horatiu Potra, after the Constitutional Court annulled the results of the first round of the presidential elections. The European Council must make a decisive effort for peace, argues MEP Diana Sosoaca, calling for the cancellation of sanctions against the Russian Federation that have led to the destruction of the EU economy. Even the United States is preparing to abandon these sanctions to encourage the peace effort, so the EUs stubbornness to continue with the harmful logic of conflict and confrontation will cause European states to find themselves isolated and marginalized on the international stage, warns Diana Sosoaca. To the European Council The European Council must performe a decisive effort for peace I urge you to make a decisive effort for peace, starting with the lifting of the sanctions against the Russian Federation that have led to the destruction of the EU economy. Even the United States is preparing to abandon these sanctions to encourage the peace effort, so that the EU's stubbornness to continue the harmful logic of conflict and confrontation will make European states find themselves isolated and marginalized on the international scene. Russian citizens are also inhabitants of Europe and it would not be good if, through the confrontational policies you promote, it is understood that the EU has expansionist behaviors because at this moment you leave the impression that the EU wants to expand its territory over the Russian Federation, which would contravene international provisions. As long as the EU wants to be the expression of democracy, we must show that we have diplomatic skills and stand out for our ability to propose and shape conclusive peace negotiations. First, we must ensure peace and find solutions, guilt can be established throughout history, because the EU is not a court, but an entity that must understand its role, otherwise it will disintegrate. There are already voices of European citizens demanding the renunciation of the status of EU member state. Given the creation of EU-type organizations, on an economic and military basis, such as the BRICS, the European states risk not facing the competition and remaining singular entities that, being isolated, will not be able to cope with the union of world giants such as the USA, China, Russia and India, which together cover 80 percent of the world's politics and economy. In addition, riots can start, the masses will not understand why people have to die. Bear in mind that the EU can no longer finance a war when this leads to the loss of life, and soon it will no longer be just about the lives of Ukrainians, whom you do not care about, but also about the lives of your own citizens. Moreover, the loans that the member states must make, some of them in economic collapse, such as the situation in Romania, will lead to serious social movements and political chaos. As a direct repercussion, to stem the people's revolt, you will arrive at dictatorial solutions that will annul the democracy so glorified by the EU, but which people have begun to have doubts that it would really exist at EU level. That is why we are calling for the sanctions against Russia to be lifted, gas is gas no matter where it comes from, and people need to keep warm. All forms of energy resources must be able to be used, and we must restart industry to revive the European economy. Involvement in such a war, especially after the US withdrawal, will lead to European bankruptcy and you should be alarmed by the situation in Germany where the car manufacturing industry is bankrupt and moving to another continent. We did not have children and we did not raise them for you to kill to quench your thirst for blood. As soon as you continue to support the war, I inform you that I personally, as a mother, MEP and president of the S.O.S. Romania party, will initiate a movement at European and global level of all mothers against all of you. And don't forget, you each have a mother too. Because it is Mother's Month, we ask you loudly: Stop the financing of the war completely. You have killed enough children, which makes you equal and as guilty as those you accuse of murder. Once in your career, be human and choose peace! All the people of Europe are asking you to do so. Do not throw the EU into an adventure from which it will never recover, because you will be responsible to the people and history for the destruction of Europe! My proposal on Romania's position at the European Council of 6 March 2025 The plan regarding Romania's position at the European Council of March 6, 2025, proposed by the delegation of the S.O.S. Romania Party led by me during the consultations with the interim President of Romania Ilie Bolojan on February 26, 2025: 1. Romania does not send any troops to Ukraine, no matter under what name they are camouflaged and is firmly against the continuation of the Russian-Ukrainian war, as well as Romania's participation in this conflict. 2. Romania proposes the immediate end of the Russian-Ukrainian war through peace negotiations and the start of a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of the area affected by the conflict, as pronounced by the United States of America after negotiations with the Russian Federation. 3. Romania has the right and requests to be involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine through Romanian companies and with Romanian employees, chosen through free and unvitiated tenders, in order to recover the losses incurred during the conflict and the value of the aid granted to Ukraine, but also to contribute in this way to the economic development of Romanian companies almost bankrupt by the Romanian leadership. 4. Romania is firmly opposed and will vote unreservedly against the European Union's plan to continue the conflict by unilaterally supporting Ukraine even after the United States announced that it no longer supports Kyiv financially and militarily. The EU's approach to further fuel the conflict is suicidal for European and world peace, for the Romanian and European economy in general, plus in this way there is a risk that the war will escalate and expand to an unprecedented world conflagration. 5. Romania requests and imposes itself to be invited to the peace negotiations table and to be a direct party in the negotiations, both from the point of view of geopolitical and economic decisions, given its strategic position, the involvement of our country by the EU and NATO in this conflict and Romania's proximity to the countries in conflict, as well as the fact that Romania has the longest border with Ukraine. 6. Romania calls for the immediate negotiation, with all the parties involved, as an integral part of the peace and reconstruction solution, of the achievement of the union with the Republic of Moldova and with the Romanian territories in Ukraine that belonged and rightfully belong to Romania, snatched away by the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact which at this moment is denounced and yet politically reimposed by Ukraine, which plays the role of the Soviet Union. The union of the Republic of Moldova and the Romanian territories in Ukraine with the mother country, Romania, is an act of historical reparation and a normal and legal consequence of the denunciation of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, which contributes to the stability of the area and offers a real chance for development and peace to the inhabitants of the mentioned regions, the vast majority of whom are ethnic Romanians. The union with Romania represents at this moment the only chance for evolution and stable development of the Republic of Moldova and of the part of Ukraine that belonged to Romania. Romania invokes in this regard Resolution no. 148 of June 28, 1991 of the U.S. Senate, by which it decides that the U.S. Government must support Moldova's efforts to negotiate the reunification of Romania with Moldavia and Northern Bukovina. For compliance, we attach in the Annex of this document the aforementioned Resolution. 7. Romania proposes through this union, in the conditions of the current American-Russian negotiation to which Romania must be a party, the development and stability of this area, which will be to the benefit of the whole of Europe and international peace. 8. Romania requests the resumption of EU talks with Bucharest, Romania's involvement in all European Union decisions being mandatory, otherwise Romania will cease any involvement in EU efforts and will block EU decisions. 9. The European Council must invite US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiations with the EU, to stop sanctions against Russia and to negotiate a peace plan beneficial to Europe. MEP Av. Diana Iovanovici-Sosoaca President of the S.O.S. Romania Party The Ministry of Finance (MF) on Thursday borrowed RON 1.919 lei from banks through two issues of government benchmark bonds, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR). It borrowed RON 600 million in an issue of government bonds of a residual maturity of 113 months, at an average yield of 7.63% per annum. The nominal value of the issue was RON 600 million, and banks offered RON 681.6 million. An additional auction is scheduled for Friday for another RON 90 million at the same yield as that set on Thursday for bonds. MF also borrowed RON 1.319 billion through an issue of government bonds of a residual maturity of 38 months, at an average yield of 7.27% per annum. The nominal value of the issue was RON 700 million, and the banks offered RON 1.731 billion. An additional auction is scheduled for Friday for another RON 105 million at the same yield as that set on Thursday for bonds. MF has planned for March 2025 to borrow RON 7.4 billion off commercial banks, to which RON 840 million can be added in additional sessions of non-competitive offers related to bond auctions. The total amount of RON 8.24 billion is RON 200 million higher than the one scheduled for February 2025 of RON 8.04 billion, and it is intended for public debt refunding and government deficit financing. Hidroelectrica, Romgaz and Nuclearelectrica are the first three state-owned companies to distribute dividends from profits to the national budget in 2023, Deputy Secretary General of the Government Adrian Tutuianu said on Thursday. He added that the report on the activity of public enterprises for 2023 was presented on Thursday at a government meeting. Before Law 187/2023, the report was prepared by the Ministry of Finance, but it is currently the responsibility of the Agency for Monitoring and Evaluation of Performance of Public Enterprises (AMEPIP). "This report will be posted after today's meeting on the AMEPIP website. It shows us the situation today in the field of public enterprises. The first 10 public enterprises that distributed dividends or payments from profits to the national budget in 2023 are in order: the electricity generation corporation Hidroelectrica SA; the national natural gas corporation Romgaz SA; the national nuclear power corporation Nuclearelectrica. Fourth place - Oltenia energy corporation; fifth place - Transelectrica, sixth place - Romsilva, seventh place - Electrocentrale Bucure?ti, eighth place - the CFR National Passenger Railway Transport Corporation, ninth place - National Gas Transmission Company Transgaz and 10th place - National Road Infrastructure Administration Company SA," he said at a news conference held at the Government House. Tutuianu also said that the scoreboard that includes the financial and non-financial indicators committed by the management of public enterprises has been made operational at AMEPIP. The scoreboard was designed in agreement with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission. At the same time, the order of the AMEPIP chairman on establishing the minimum level of performance indicators for public enterprises was approved. "There are financial and non-financial indicators that must be provided for in the mandate contracts of the administrators. Failure to meet these indicators will lead to the dismissal of those who do not meet their performance criteria. Otherwise, a dismissal from office becomes without just cause and is likely to generate compensation for the administrators who were eventually illegally dismissed from these positions," he said. Tutuianu added that Romania has the largest state sector among the member states of the European Union. "We have 145 public enterprises at the central level and 1,175 public enterprises at the local level. There are 885 local public administrations having established public enterprises in the form of companies. If we go to the form of organisation of public enterprises at the central level, we have 125 joint stock companies, 10 autonomous companies and five public enterprises organised as limited liability companies. The local public administrations have most of these public enterprises, especially at the level of cities and municipalities, running as limited liability companies. Those at the level of counties, large cities are joint stock companies," he said. The Romanian hotel market is undergoing a period of accelerated growth, reaching a record of more than 25 million overnight stays in 2024, the highest level in the last 30 years, driven by an increasing number of foreign tourists and a high demand for modern hotels, according to the annual report published by Colliers. According to the cited source, Romania's international visibility is on the rise, and its accession to the Schengen Area in 2025 could boost the flow of tourists even further, supporting the development of the industry. In parallel, the significant investments in new hotels and the growing interest of international brands strengthen Romania's position as a market with high potential, ready for long-term sustainable growth, the cited source said, Agerpres. "Romania is among the European countries with good results in the tourism sector in recent years, with the number of overnight stays by 4% above the pre-pandemic level, exceeding the EU average, which grew by less than 2% in the same period," the analysis shows. According to the study, this development is largely due to Romanian tourists and the leisure sector, whereas the number of foreign tourists, even if up strongly in 2024, remains below historical pre-pandemic peaks. "Romania is gradually catching up with more developed tourism markets, with a record number of more than 25 million overnight stays in hotels in 2024, up 6% compared to the previous year. The increase was strongest among foreign tourists (+13%), while domestic tourism grew by 5%. Although Romania is gaining more and more international visibility and its accession to Schengen could attract more visitors, business tourism has not yet fully recovered. The number of nights spent by foreigners traveling mainly for business purposes remains almost 3% below the peak levels reached in 2018-2019. Air traffic has increased by 5%, and outflows of foreign currency for travelers have reached a record high, a sign that more and more Romanians are spending their vacations abroad," said Raluca Buciuc, Director, Partner of Valuation360 and Advisory Services at Colliers, quoted in the press release. Over the last decade, Romania has seen a significant increase in tourism spending. According to Eurostat, in 2023, a business traveler in Romania spent on average 333 EUR per trip, one of the lowest levels in the European Union. This is considerably lower than in Hungary (562 EUR) and Poland (488 EUR). However, Romania stands out with the third fastest growth in the EU on this indicator. Between 2013 and 2023, spending per business trip increased by 134%, far exceeding the European average of 31%. According to the annual report published by Colliers, which analyzed 4 and 5-star hotels in Bucharest affiliated to renowned brands, the average daily rate (ADR) has surpassed 2019 levels, reaching more than 140 EUR per night, up 21% in foreign currency and 27% in RON. Compared to last year, the ADR increased by 8%, positioning Bucharest above capitals such as Warsaw, Budapest and Vienna in terms of dynamics, according to Smith Travel Research (STR) data. "The rapid expansion of tourism, supported mainly by leisure travel and a gradual recovery of business tourism, together with the limited number of hotels, makes Romania an increasingly attractive destination for investment. In 2024, more than 400 rooms in international hotels were added to the market, including the first 5-star Swissotel hotel in Poiana Brasov (64 rooms, with plans to expand). For 2025-2026, around 15 new hotels are announced, adding more than 2,000 rooms. Most of them will belong to established brands such as Marriott, Hilton and Accor, but new hotel chains such as Ascott Hotels (The Crest Collection) and Corinthia will enter the Bucharest market with new projects," Raluca Buciuc added. She emphasized that this development confirms the great growth potential of the Romanian hotel market, which continues to attract new investors and international operators. Although less developed than other markets in the region, Romania has all the chances to consolidate its position as an emerging destination in Central and Eastern Europe, with promising prospects for sustained growth, if the economy remains stable. At European level, leisure tourism has been the main driver of growth, with significant differences between North and South. According to data from Smith Travel Research (STR), Italy, Spain and Greece recorded the highest increases in average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy, while Germany and the Nordic countries experienced more moderate growth. Central and Eastern Europe lies between these two extremes, maintaining a moderate growth rate. By category, add the Colliers consultants, luxury and premium hotels continue to expand, while the mass market sector remains stable," the analysis further shows. On Thursday, in the city of Storojinet, Chernivtsi region, the Ukrainian security services conducted searches at the home of Protopope Vasile Covalciuc, a leader of the local Orthodox community. The incident occurred just a few hours before the official visit of the Romanian State Secretary for Religious Affairs, Ciprian Olinici, to Chernivtsi. Following the searches, the 62-year-old protopope of Storojinet was urgently transported to the hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Upon learning of the situation, Ciprian Olinici decided to personally visit the priest in the hospital and speak with him. The Romanian officials gesture underscores his concern for the protection of religious freedom and the rights of Romanian clergy in Ukraine amid the recent tensions in the region. Although his visit to Chernivtsi followed an official schedule, Olinici considered it essential to ensure that Father Covalciuc received the necessary medical care and moral support during this difficult time. According to sources from STIRIPESURSE.RO, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has been informed about the events in Chernivtsi. This visit reflects the involvement of Romanian authorities in supporting Romanian religious communities in Ukraine, especially in a sensitive context where religious freedom and minority rights remain highly relevant topics. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. North Macedonia and Serbia have secured a 2.8 million euro grant from the European Union (EU) to develop a joint border railway station in Tabanovce, North Macedonia, along Corridor X, part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) extension, Trend reports. The agreement was signed in Skopje by North Macedonias First Deputy President and Transport Minister Nikoloski, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Head in North Macedonia Turkmenoglu. The EU funds, provided through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), complement an existing 5 million euro loan from the EBRD. The project will upgrade existing infrastructure, construct energy-efficient buildings, and install photovoltaic panels. Once operational, the joint station will be staffed by officials from both countries, streamlining customs procedures and reducing wait times for passengers and cargo. The project aims to boost regional connectivity and economic integration, with officials expressing hope for the revival of a passenger railway link between Skopje and Belgrade. The 7.4 million euro project aligns with the European Commissions connectivity agenda for the Western Balkans, enhancing trade, mobility, and economic growth in the region. AGERPRES special correspondent Cristian Lupascu, reports: Three people of culture of Romanian origin from Ukraine's Chernivtsi region received on Thursday the Cultural Merit Order in the rank of Knight, Category F - "Promotion of Culture", granted by the President of Romania "in appreciation for the major contributions made to the promotion of the Romanian language and literature as the foundation of the culture and values of our country, for the preservation of Romanian traditions and civilization, and the promotion of Romania's image in Ukraine." Writer and journalist Maria Andries, teacher Aurica Bojescu, and journalist Nicolae Sapca were presented with the distinctions by Romanian ambassador to Ukraine Victor Micula during a ceremony held at the National Palace in Chernivtsi, in the presence of Secretary of State Cristian Olinici from the Secretariat of State for Religious Affairs, and Romania's consul general in Chernivtsi, Irina-Loredana Stanculescu. "I think this is an important moment. I would even say that it is the pinnacle of the activities the recipients have been carrying out over the years, for decades during which they sought to promote the Romanian language and literature, Romanian language education, to carry forward this cultural heritage of the Romanian community in the Chernivtsi region and not only, as well as to build bridges between Romania and Ukraine. The medals conferred are the expression of the gratitude to the Romanian state for what you do every day and we hope that you will continue to fight for the preservation of the cultural and linguistic identity of this community," said ambassador Victor Micula. Secretary of State Cristian Olinici, ambassador Victor Micula and consul general Irina Loredana Stanculescu had a meeting on Thursday with the Romanian community in the Chernivtsi region on the issues they face. In Veronica Ryans art, all is not always what it seems. A sculpture called Cluster, for instance, appears to be seed pods from a magnolia tree, all tied together. But a closer inspection reveals they are actually made of bronze. In other works, a mango and a pawpaw are also cast in bronze, with colorful patinas. These works run counter to viewers expectations and may motivate them to look more closely, Ryan says in an email interview from England, where she lives part of the time. She also lives and works in New York. The artists exhibition Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects, will be at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation March 7-July 27. She will attend an opening night reception from 7 to 9 p.m. March 7. She credits the Pulitzer staff for developing the exhibitions name, Unruly Objects. The word unruly appealed to the Pulitzer team because it suggested the idea of work that defies easy classification, whether in terms of medium or meaning, she says. Her works can sometimes take on a trompe loeil effect fool the eye where her creations are actually the tactile opposite of how they appear. One subject she occasionally returns to is pillows soft, fluffy-seeming pillows that are actually made out of plaster. Ive also cast flowers in bronze, preserving something fragile and transient in a solid form. Like much of my work, these objects consider processes of transformation and the passage of time, she says. Ryan was born in 1956 on the island of Montserrat, a British territory in the Caribbean Sea. Though she moved with her parents to London when she was a baby, reflections of Montserrat make appearances in some of her work. One piece in the Pulitzer exhibit is called Quoit Montserrat; another features colorful glazed ceramic stoneware cocoa beans which grow on the island placed on a traditional woven jute mat. In 2022, Ryan won the prestigious Turner Prize for her work, which the judges described as really poetic. The award is given to a British visual artist for work produced in the previous 12 months. Unruly Objects is the first exhibition to feature a survey of her four decades of work. It includes more than 100 objects, mostly sculptures but also works in textile and on paper. One of the early pieces, Territories, from 1986, is a painting in shades of blue. It shows a boat on a river, with a vessel for liquid or dry goods, or perhaps an urn, nestled securely in one section. It also, tellingly, resembles a seed pod. The generative concepts of seeds and natural structures are just some of the recurring elements in my practice over time, she says. As a postgraduate student I realized early on that by creating small votive elements placed within larger architectural structures I could continue working independently without technicians and workshops. These interior and exterior forms recall the relationship of a seed to its pod. Seeds have become one of the dominant themes in her work, she says, and so have plastic bottles, which she often uses along with other everyday, non-art-specific items such as bandages and padded envelopes. Plastic bottles are lovely shapes evoking ceramics, glass bottles and urns. Urns have been used traditionally as burial chambers and reliquary receptacles these all embody the vessel in a wider context, she says. The oceans are full of plastic. We now have nanoparticles in our bloodstream and in rain. I have been fascinated, too, by the different kinds of bottles found in different places, embodying different cultural manifestations. The broad scope of the Unruly Objects exhibition shows a multifaceted career with a wide variety of concepts and ideas. One experience that she returns to frequently in her art is a trip she took to Nigeria in 1980 on a scholarship after completing her postgraduate work at the Slade School of Fine Art. At the time, she was contemplating how museums store their art and artifacts. She had visited museum storage in London and then went to Nigeria to see how they did it there. Some of the pieces in Unruly Objects are displayed on orange metal shelves, which recall to her the shelves used by museums. I am interested in how objects on shelves can be organized and combined to allow multiple connections to emerge, she says. If you go What: Veronica Ryan: "Unruly Objects" When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays, March 7-July 27 Where: Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington Boulevard How much: Free More info: pulitzerarts.org/art/veronica-ryan-unruly-objects/ ST. ANN Supermarket chain Save A Lot is suing one of its licensees for over $4.6 million. The chain, based in St. Ann, signed two license and supply agreements with One Dollar + LLC for a total of 10 stores in 2023, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in St. Louis County. One Dollar agreed to merchandising requirements to ensure fresh and well-stocked stores under the Save A Lot banner, the suit states. One Dollar also agreed to purchase company branded inventory from Save A Lot. But Save A Lot alleges that, as of Feb. 28, One Dollar owes it $4,613,639 for refusing to pay for inventory and other expenses. Save A Lot also claims that One Dollar has not followed store operations as per Save A Lot program standards. Specifically, One Dollar has not stocked its stores with Save A Lot branded products, like outlined in the agreements. Instead, One Dollar is carrying 200 private-label items supplied by a third-party wholesaler, according to the suit. The stores are not full, fresh and well-stocked, but rather, many shelves are extremely low in stock and not consistent with the Save-A-Lot Standards, the suit reads. On Feb. 26, Save A Lot sent notice to One Dollar that their agreements have been terminated and One Dollar must turnover its store assets and operations. One Dollar has not complied, nor has the company given Save A Lot information it requested, the suit states. Save A Lot is asking the court for access to operate One Dollar + stores, declaratory judgment stating that the license and supply agreements are terminated and damages, including the unpaid amount owed. When reached for comment, Gunn said there is always two sides to every story, but did not wish to comment further on the suit. One Dollar + LLC is a limited liability company registered in Virginia and owned by Richard Allen Gunn, according to state records. Gunn owns Save A Lot stores in Nashville, Memphis and Oklahoma, news reports state. CLAYTON Authorities announced charges on Thursday against a teacher for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl at a Webster Groves preschool and asked parents to talk to their children, worried there may be more victims. Prosecutors filed charges on Wednesday against Christopher Titus, 46, for two counts of child molestation and two counts of attempted sodomy. He was booked into jail Wednesday morning and remained in custody Thursday on a $1 million bond. Im confident we will be able to secure a conviction and get this predator off the streets, John Schlesinger, an assistant prosecuting attorney, said at a Thursday press conference. The girl was a student at Here We Grow Early Care and Education on East Lockwood Avenue in Webster Groves, police said. She told investigators about several sexual assaults that happened at the preschool. Titus then admitted to St. Louis County police officers that he sexually assaulted the girl on several occasions, court documents say. The assaults took place between January 2023 and August 2024. Titus does not appear to have a criminal history in Missouri, according to online court records. Here We Grows website said its programs are designed for children ages 2 through 6. The preschools management released a statement that said police contacted them Wednesday about the case. After learning of the allegations the school said it immediately fired Titus and is cooperating with investigators. We remain fully committed to doing everything in our power to ensure a safe and supportive environment for every child in our care, the statement said. The center has locations in Webster Groves, Sunset Hills and Fairview Heights. Several photos of Titus are posted on the schools Facebook page. A July 2022 Teacher Spotlight post said Titus had worked at the school for more than four years then and said he loved childrens ability to learn. They catch on so fast and they love Independent play, he said in the post. I enjoy doing science projects with a small class. They really thrive one on one! Police said he had worked at the school for about seven years. On Thursday, authorities urged parents of students at the center to talk to their children. County police Sgt. Brett Belcher said they dont know if there are other victims, but worry there could be. It only takes a second, said Belcher. So whether there are people present or theyre alone just for a minute it doesnt take long at all. Authorities on Thursday outlined steps parents can take to talk to their kids: Have the good touch/bad touch talk. Give examples of both. Reassure them that they need to tell you about bad touches. Use anatomical names for body parts. Tell them that adults shouldnt ask them to keep secrets. Dont freak out if your child discloses an incident. It might stop them from sharing. Do not ask leading questions. Ask them to tell you more. ST. LOUIS A man who was 17 when police say he was firing a gun out of a speeding Jeep that crashed into a familys minivan, killing five almost three years ago, has now been charged as an adult. Jaylen Holland, 20, of University City, was ordered Wednesday to be held in the St. Louis city jail without bond. He is charged with 11 felonies in all: five counts of second-degree murder, five counts of stealing and unlawful use of a weapon. Authorities allege Holland, in the back seat of the Jeep fleeing police, fired shots at another vehicle before the collision. On May 6, 2022, the Jeep crashed into a minivan at Delmar Boulevard and Pendleton Avenue near the Central West End. The minivan was carrying seven members of a family. Four died that night. A fifth victim, an 11-year-old girl, died three days later. Two other children were hospitalized with serious injuries. The dead were Takera Thompson, 11; her grandmother, Anngelique Simmons, 56; Takeras aunt, Rhonda Simmons, 34; and two of Takeras great-uncles, Ephriam Wayne Simmons, 47; and Luther Simmons, 43. Luther Simmons lived in Florissant, and the rest of the family members lived in St. Louis. Authorities said Holland was a backseat passenger in the Jeep that slammed into the minivan that night. At 17, he was considered a juvenile under Missouri law. But on Tuesday, the St. Louis Juvenile Court transferred the case against Holland to St. Louis Circuit Court, where he is now charged as an adult. Hollands co-defendants previously charged are Walter Burton Jr. and Marshawn Stepney. Their cases are pending. Burton and Stepney were both indicted January 2024 in St. Louis Circuit Court. Holland lives in the 1200 block of Vaughan Drive in University City. He was held Wednesday in the St. Louis jail without bond. The second-degree murder charge alleges that the fatal crash happened when Holland was trying to elude police after firing a weapon. St. Louis police Detective Steven Strohmeyer said in court documents Wednesday that Holland is considered a flight risk because he had evaded police before the adult charges were filed. St. Louis police were following a Jeep Cherokee that had been stolen a month earlier from Herculaneum, Missouri. The Jeep, which had a stolen license plate, was connected to several car cloutings across the St. Louis area. Car clouting is when valuables are stolen from inside a car. As police followed the Jeep, it sped along Delmar Boulevard from Union Boulevard, weaving in and out of traffic, court documents allege. As the Jeep approached Kingshighway, it hit an Infiniti. The Infinitis driver tried to chase the Jeep, and a passenger in the Jeep fired a shot at the Infiniti, police said. Police threw down spike strips to try to stop the Jeep, but it sped east on Delmar. When it came near Pendleton Avenue, in the 4200 block of Delmar Boulevard, the Jeep hit the Simmons minivan. When police officers got to the Jeep, with its air bags deployed, the driver had already run off. Police said the driver was Stepney. The front-seat passenger was Burton, police said. He had a long-barreled gun between his legs and a handgun on his seat, police said. He also carried a satchel with meth tablets, officers said. Holland was in the rear seat of the Jeep, with a 9mm pistol near him, police said. Tests showed Hollands DNA on all three firearms, police said in court documents. Police said they believed Holland handled each firearm and was otherwise armed and at the ready during the shooting at the Infiniti and as the Jeep fled and hit the minivan. Inside the Jeep, police said they also found several items that were traced to the thefts from cars in the previous month, including a laptop and credit cards. ST. LOUIS Micah Lawery walked home from a beauty supply store Friday night and into a nightmare. She entered her familys home on Cates Avenue at about 8:15 p.m., to discover her infant daughter and the babys father bleeding on the couch. Ophelia Lawery-Daniels, just 9 months old, died at a hospital after being shot, police said. She is the youngest homicide victim this year in St. Louis. The babys 21-year-old father was shot, too, and pronounced dead at the house. St. Louis homicide detectives are tentatively handling the double shooting as a murder-suicide investigation. Police have not released the name of the man, but Lawery identified him as Zacchaeus Daniels, the father of baby Ophelia. Lawery, 23, and Daniels had been friends since high school. They attended Grand Center Arts Academy. I loved his charm and how gentle he was to love me, she recalled. He was the greatest friend a girl like me could ask for, honestly. In her first interview since the deaths, Lawery told the Post-Dispatch Wednesday that she had left her only child in the care of Daniels as she ran errands Friday night. She said there was no hint that he was violent or suicidal. He always smiled, she said. He was never sad or moody or anything like that. That is something he kept to himself. They were co-parenting Ophelia, with the baby living with Lawery and her extended family on Cates Avenue in the citys Academy neighborhood, and Daniels living with his sister in south St. Louis. No one other than Daniels and Ophelia were in the house that night, Lawery said. Lawery said Daniels struggled with his mental health, but she was not aware of a diagnosis. The only clue she can grasp is that Daniels resented they werent a couple. We were not together, Lawery said. Im pretty sure he wanted us to be together. And the shooting? I think it was a built-up resentment, she said, a form of punishment for me. On Friday night, Lawery and a younger sister were planning to go out. Lawery had errands to run. The last thing I told Ophelia was, I can take you, I can take you, but her dad just shook his head, Lawery said. I told her I loved her and mommy will be back. She walked to a nearby beauty store and the sister walked to a gas station to take their brother dinner. The sisters met up at the gas station, stopped at a Taco Bell and walked home. Daniels family could not be reached for comment. Ophelia was an active and energetic baby, and she had learned to pull herself up to a stand. She was also ready to walk, Lawery said. Ophelia was a jokester who would fake cough to grab her parents attention and then squeal with delight. She was very, very brave. Fearless, Lawery said. On a recent morning at daycare, Lawery saw Ophelia outside on a rocking horse. She was the only one not crying. She was ready to hit the ground running. Lawery is overwhelmed with grief at times but has family around for support. She lives with her mother, Rhonda Hunter, two sisters and an older brother. Its back and forth on emotions, she said. They are now busy planning a funeral for Ophelia. Caitlin Munguia, a teacher who has known the family for years, met Lawery when she was a sixth grader. All the siblings went to the Arts Academy. Munguia has set up a fund to help raise money for Ophelias funeral and other expenses. The family has been staying in a hotel since the shooting. Lawery said she hopes people struggling with mental illness are vigilant about seeking help. If you have mental things going on, and you feel like you cannot advocate for yourself, tell somebody you trust and get the help you need, she said. This is not your only option, she added. You can be saved. U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline If you or someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK, text 741741 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. A woman is facing felony charges after a child in her care wasn't fed for 43 hours last week, resulting in death. The woman blamed her actions on her migraine. Alyssa N. Wehmeyer, 21, of Cape Girardeau, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death. According to a probable cause statement, she fed the child on the evening of Feb. 26. Two days later, on the afternoon of Feb. 28, she found the child not breathing and with blue lips. She left the child unattended for a 19-hour stretch during that time, according to the probable cause statement. An autopsy suggested dehydration as a possible cause of death, and found "very little evidence of food in the stomach." Wehmeyer said she should've taken the child to a doctor but she had a migraine. Investigators asked about the severe blisters on the child's buttocks from diaper rash, and Wehmeyer said it had been nearly 19 hours since she changed the child's diaper. The child was 1 year old, according to Cape Girardeau television station KFVS. ST. LOUIS A professor who suffered broken bones during his arrest at a protest on Washington Universitys campus last spring is suing the university. Stephen Tamari, 65, alleges the schools police broke nine of his ribs after his hands were zip-tied at a pro-Palestine protest on Washington U.s campus on April 27. Hes suing the university for battery. The protest was one of many held on campuses throughout the U.S. as students protested the war in Gaza. Washington U. had one of the highest numbers of arrests after the April protest, which called on the university to cut ties with Boeing Co., a major supplier of military equipment to Israel and a leading employer in the region. Video of Tamaris arrest spread widely on social media and showed St. Louis County and university police officers wrestle Tamari to the ground, with a university officer driving his knee into the top of Tamaris back using the full force of his body weight, the suit states. Tamari was tackled after he took out his phone to record the arrests, fearing for the safety of the students, he said in the suit. Tamari is a professor emeritus of history at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Tamari spent two nights in the hospital and continues to suffer from his injuries, the suit states. In a statement Thursday responding to the lawsuit, Washington U. officials said the arrests occurred after protesters refused to leave and attempted to set up an encampment on campus, which is private property. A number of individuals physically resisted arrest and interfered with police officers as they were conducting arrests including Tamari, university officials said. Mr. Tamari, who has no affiliation with WashU, was moving in closely behind and reaching around officers outside of their line of sight as they were conducting arrests, creating a dangerous situation for all involved, including himself, the universitys statement reads. He aggressively resisted arrest, including by kicking an officer. His lawsuit does not accurately portray his role in instigating his unfortunate situation. Its unfortunate that he has decided to pursue legal action for a situation that was completely avoidable had he simply left after repeatedly being told to do so, university officials continued. We will vigorously defend the university in this matter. Tamari deferred comment to his attorneys when reached by phone Thursday. One of his attorneys, Javad Khazaeli, declined to comment Thursday morning. In a statement Thursday afternoon, Khazaeli said neither Tamari nor his attorneys planned to comment or publicize the suit, which was filed Wednesday. However, now that WashU released a statement, we would like to point out that WashU did not deny that its officer broke Professor Tamaris ribs, the statement reads. Rather, WashU attempts to justify the excessive force of its employee. It is unfortunate that WashU is adopting President Trumps vitriol against protestors who dare question its leadership. WashUs posturing may win its leadership points with the far right but does nothing for its students or faculty. In all, 100 people were arrested at the April protest, including 23 students, four faculty members and three staff. Accounts of the protest have differed widely. Protesters have described the event as a peaceful gathering until police moved in. But university officials at the time characterized the protest as a threatening one, in which some protestors behaved aggressively or yelled antisemitic chants. After a short march, according to Tamaris suit, protestors gathered in a green space near the front of Washington U.s entrance, which was not atypical as Washington U. has a long history of allowing peaceful protests on its campus. Tamari stayed on the edge of the crowd and planned to leave when police moved in for arrests, he said in the suit. Tamari alleged the universitys director of law enforcement operations pointed him out to police for arrest after he took out his phone. Professor Tamari was doing nothing wrong, the suit states. He was merely documenting the use of force against peaceful students by sworn law enforcement officers, most of whom are public employees. In an interview with the Post-Dispatch in May, Tamari said he didnt expect the protest would lead to such a police response. I dont think anybody anticipated, certainly I didnt, the swift and brutal and uncompromising nature of the reaction on college campuses, Tamari said. Tamari is seeking compensatory damages and court costs. Editors note: This story has been updated with comment from attorneys for Steve Tamari. JEFFERSON CITY Missouris Republican governor backs plans by the Trump administration to sell three St. Louis-area buildings, including the Robert A. Young Federal Building in downtown. Reacting to an announcement Tuesday by the U.S. General Services Administration, a spokeswoman for Gov. Mike Kehoe said efforts to streamline federal spending are in line with the governors priorities, even if it means further job losses in the St. Louis' battered center core. Gov. Kehoe agrees that taxpayers should not be footing the bill for empty and underutilized federal office space and supports the Trump Administrations efforts to cut federal spending and increase government productivity with the Department of Government Efficiency, spokeswoman Gabby Picard said. GSA identified 443 buildings across the country that it determined are not "core" to government operations. Disposing of those properties could save the government more than $430 million in annual savings, the agency said in a statement. The announcement came as Trump ally Elon Musk's DOGE is working to pare the federal payroll, including government workers across Missouri. The Robert A. Young Federal Building has just under 1 million square feet of office space at Spruce Street and Tucker Boulevard, making it among the largest office buildings in the state. Various federal agencies have offices there, including the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In 2019, the building underwent a $75 million renovation to better stabilize it in case of earthquakes. More than 2,000 people worked at the building before the pandemic, the GSA said. The possible sale or closure of the downtown federal building comes as state lawmakers are debating a $102 million plan to subsidize the conversion of empty downtown office buildings into residential dwellings. The plan, backed by Sen. Steve Roberts, D-St. Louis, would create a tax credit program that could help developers transform two empty downtown buildings, the massive AT&T Tower and the historic Railway Exchange building. The 44-story AT&T tower at 909 Chestnut has been empty since 2017, when the telecom giant relocated employees to nearby buildings. The Railway Exchange has been largely empty since the Macys store there closed in 2013. Supporters say bringing more residential offerings to the city core could reverse ongoing shrinkage in the downtown real estate market. The building tax credit plan is Senate Bill 35. JEFFERSON CITY A planned state takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has cleared a major hurdle, advancing in the Missouri Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate adopted an edited version of previously passed House legislation, following an hourslong Democratic filibuster late Wednesday. The revised legislation still needs a final vote in the Senate before moving to the House for further consideration. The previous plan included fraternal organizations such as the St. Louis Police Officers Association in the selection process for a majority of the police board. But the newest proposal doesnt include them in the process, following objections raised by state Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis. Thats a conflict, May said. This union is trying to control the police department without actually being the chief of police. The revised legislation also changes the makeup of the proposed board from a five-member body to a six-member body. The sixth member would be a nonvoting member and would either need to live in the city or live in St. Louis County and own land in the city and pay taxes on that property. The mayor would automatically hold one seat on the board while the governor would appoint the remaining five members. Those five would require Senate approval a layer of legislative oversight the last proposal didnt contain. The measure originally brought before the Senate on Wednesday would require the city to put 25% of general revenue toward the police department, excluding retirement and pension obligations from that calculation. Excluding pension obligations, the city is budgeted to spend 22.7%, or about $132 million, of general revenue on its police department in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. A change before midnight would gradually raise the requirement from 23% beginning next year to 25% beginning in 2028. The Senate action followed Mayor Tishaura O. Jones poor showing Tuesday in the first round of balloting in the citys mayoral primary, coming a distant second to Alderwoman Cara Spencer. The two will now compete in an April 8 runoff election. Jones has faced criticism from the St. Louis Police Officers Association, which supports the takeover bill. Jones has taken credit for a drop in violent crime during her term and announced a 7% pay raise for police officers in January, covering the cost by eliminating 124 vacant officer positions. While the current budget allows for about 1,220 commissioned officers, as of mid-January, there were roughly 860 commissioned officers. Spencer has said more needs to be done to improve public safety, arguing the city cant respond to violence without a fully staffed department. She has called for higher officer pay and benefits to recruit and retain more officers, an improved 911 system, and using security cameras to deter crime and increase clearance rates. In Jefferson City, the state takeover remains a priority for Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, who met with senators Wednesday. In an interview, Kehoe signaled he would continue pushing for a state takeover no matter who is mayor. He said his gauge for success was whether businesses were investing in the area. When will they (businesses) move into downtown instead of out of downtown? Kehoe asked. Thats the barometer Im paying attention to. And, you know, the mayors race was competitive ... with the multiple candidates in there. Now well have a new mayor maybe or an existing mayor in April. And so well see what that outcome is, he said. But, Im not sure that politics should play into whether a community is safe or not. Certainly elected officials should be involved in that, Kehoe said. But my barometer is are ... businesses moving in or moving out? And what does it take to make that happen? Gabby Picard, spokesperson for Kehoe, said Wednesday increased oversight and accountability of the department was an important tool to improve public safety in the city regardless of who wins the April 8 election for Mayor. On Thursday, Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, blasted Jones after the Republicans advanced the takeover bill. The mayor no longer enjoys the confidence of the people in this building, Roberts told reporters Thursday. She couldnt even be bothered to reach out to the senator who represents nearly the entire city of St. Louis nor engage with any of our Democratic allies. Responding to Roberts, Conner Kerrigan, the mayors spokesman, said Jones engaged extensively with May and other actual Democratic allies in Jefferson City on this issue, and credited May with the few positive modifications made to the bill. I obviously cant say the same for Roberts. Wide-ranging package The state takeover is part of a wide-ranging crime package. One Senate addition includes repeal of the Missouri Incarceration Reimbursement Act, which allows the attorney general to seize inmate assets and apply them to incarceration costs. Another addition legislation by Roberts would allow formerly convicted individuals exonerated by evidence other than DNA evidence to seek restitution from the state. Current law requires exoneration by DNA profiling analysis for restitution. Relief would be $179 per day of post-conviction incarceration, capped at $65,000 per fiscal year. The omnibus crime bill also includes proposed limits on what jails and prisons may charge inmates for phone calls. Prisons and jails could charge no more than 12 cents per minute under the plan. The package also would create the Missing/Murdered African American Women Task Force a priority for state Sen. Angela Mosley, D-Florissant. The package also boosts penalties for first-degree child sex trafficking, allowing for life sentences with the possibility of parole after 30 years instead of after 25 years in current law. In addition, first-degree child sex trafficking would apply when the victim is younger than 14. Currently in Missouri, someone commits first-degree sexual trafficking of a minor if they cause a child younger than 12 to engage in a commercial sex act. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to report to the state Department of Public Safety information pertaining to the citizen or immigration status of any person arrested for an offense that is reportable under a state law. The legislation is House Bill 495. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group reaffirmed its strong commitment to Portugal in 2024, with new financing totaling 2.1 billion euros, unlocking 4.9 billion euros in investments - equivalent to 1.7% of the countrys GDP, Trend reports. A significant portion of the funding went toward projects aimed at climate action, environmental protection, and sustainable infrastructure. EIB Group President Nadia Calvino highlighted the successful partnership with Portuguese authorities, noting key projects such as the Lisbon Oriental Hospital and the Lisbon-Porto high-speed rail. The financing supported approximately 10,000 Portuguese companies and helped sustain nearly 230,000 jobs. A notable achievement in 2024 was the 1.3 billion euros allocated to climate action, with 1.1 billion euros directed toward sustainable energy projects, including wind and solar energy. Key initiatives include loans to EDP for renewable energy expansion and Galp Energia for biofuels and renewable hydrogen production. The EIB also invested 1.5 billion euros in projects to enhance Portugals economic and social cohesion, including the 107 million euro loan for the Lisbon Oriental Hospital and a 90 million euro investment to support Portuguese start-ups in the deep-tech and cybersecurity sectors. Looking ahead, the EIB Group plans to continue supporting social infrastructure and finance the first phase of the high-speed railway line between Porto and Lisbon, further strengthening Portugals regional cohesion and sustainable transport. ST. LOUIS Four years ago, Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones beat Alderwoman Cara Spencer in the mayors race with a coalition built on overwhelming support from north St. Louis voters combined with comfortable spreads in progressive-leaning neighborhoods around Tower Grove Park. In a rematch Tuesday night, Spencer handily flipped the south side neighborhoods that backed Jones in 2021 and ate into the mayors margins in north St. Louis. The scale of Spencers support 68% to the mayors 33% surprised even longtime politicos. It was an absolute blowout on Caras part, said former Aldermanic President James Shrewsbury, a Spencer supporter. The city uses approval voting voters get to pick as many candidates in the primary as they like, with the top two advancing to the runoff which is why candidates percentages add up to more than 100%. The primary election Tuesday narrowed a field of four to Spencer and Jones, who will go head-to-head on April 8. And it provided a strong signal of the swing away from Jones in several critical south St. Louis wards and softening support among her base in north St. Louis. The dynamics of the race could change next month. Turnout was low about 10,000 fewer people voted in Tuesdays election than the 44,500 who did in March 2021. Turnout could be higher in April after another month of get-out-the-vote efforts combined with more aldermanic races and a contentious school board election on the ballot to draw voters. Turnout was especially low in north St. Louis, hovering just over 11% in most wards there. That was several percentage points below the turnout in those neighborhoods four years ago. A lot of (north St. Louisans) didnt like any of the candidates so they didnt go to the polls, said Spencer supporter David Jackson, who lives near Calvary Cemetery on the north side and is affiliated with the African American Business and Contractors Association. But the voters who did come out threw more support to Spencer than four years ago. She was able to boost her support significantly in the north side wards, growing it from a meager 10% to 15% in most neighborhoods four years ago to over 30% Tuesday. Cara has been campaigning tough and hard in north St. Louis, Jackson said. Jones support collapsed among voters in several south side neighborhoods, particularly high-turnout areas of Shaw and Tower Grove South, which formed a critical chunk of the mayors coalition in 2021. (The number of wards was reduced from 28 to 14 since the last election, making direct comparisons difficult.) In the 6th Ward that encompasses the two neighborhoods, Jones won just 37% support, while Spencer garnered almost 72%. Spencer, who originally built her political brand as a progressive, had some support in those areas already. In the 2021 March primary, Spencer won support from 60% of voters in the old 8th Ward covering Shaw, and 61% of voters in the old 15th Ward covering Tower Grove South. But Jones still won more support in March 2021, taking 68% in Shaw and 70% in Tower Grove South. And the next month, when voters were forced to choose between Spencer and Jones, the two neighborhoods north and south of Tower Grove Park fell in behind Jones. The old 8th Ward, Shaw, went for Jones over Spencer by 15 points. Tower Grove South backed the mayor by 17 points in April 2021. Debi Pratt, who is the past president of the Tower Grove Neighborhood Association and was involved with the old 15th Ward Democratic Party organization, said voters this year are focusing on trash and potholes things they can point to but that challenge every mayor. But Pratt said Jones, who she still supports, is a long-term mayor focused on transforming neglected areas of north St. Louis, which was a change in tone from the 20 years prior to Jones election. I think people really, really wanted change, Pratt said of the neighborhoods electorate four years ago. I think people didnt see change fast enough. That kind of change takes decades to make. Another Tower Grove South resident, Andrew Arkills, said there does seem to be disillusionment with basic city services like trash collection, potholes and traffic enforcement. Others are disappointed in the political class in general as they watch bickering over the use of federal pandemic aid, Rams settlement money and homeless outreach and shelter beds. Rightly or wrongly, as the most visible politician in the city, Mayor Jones is catching a lot of that flack, said Arkills, a former Tower Grove South neighborhood association president. The January snowstorm is also fresh on peoples minds, he added. The dysfunctional and grossly inadequate response to the early January snowstorm, and the fact that it took nearly two weeks for them to even salt some side streets, pissed a lot of people off, he said. Alderwoman Sharon Tyus of Kingsway East, who noted she endorsed Jones last election, said north St. Louisans are angry about the same things the rest of city residents are upset about: trash, potholes, vacant buildings. She said she expected the support Spencer received in the primary will hold in April. I think they are going to vote for a candidate that will address their needs, Tyus said. This is not about Black or white, this is about if you will address the issues in St. Louis. There has been a common theme, Tyus said, between the complaints from her north side constituents and progressives shes spoken to recently. They feel just like Black people do, she said. The mayor let them down. ST. LOUIS If the vote tally in Tuesdays primary election showed anything, it was that many St. Louisans are ready for change. In the mayors race, the challenger, Alderwoman Cara Spencer, won two-thirds of the votes; Mayor Tishaura O. Jones came in a distant second, with one-third. And in the comptrollers race, former alderwoman and state representative Donna Baringer won slightly more votes than 30-year incumbent Darlene Green. Jones now faces a steep climb if she hopes to hold onto power in City Hall. And results in the comptrollers race were another marker of incumbent weariness: Green hadnt faced a serious challenge since 1996. St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan Green, a Jones ally, said life is tough for incumbents all over right now. People want to see change quickly, or they want to change leaders, from the White House down to the local level, she said. Folks are just theyre not happy, she said. But operational problems in the city from administering grant programs, to snow removal to paying city bills on time have weighed on the incumbents, too. Drops in homicides and violent crime Jones has taken credit for during her term have not been enough to overcome residents anger over slow trash pickup and water breaks, and a major January snowstorm that left streets icy for weeks is fresh on many voters' minds. Jackson Hambrick, 32, of Tower Grove South, voted for Jones in 2021. He flipped to Spencer this time, and said the snowstorm debacle was emblematic of his concerns. The lack of urgency from the administration is the big one, he said. Several other voters in the progressive-leaning neighborhood, which backed Jones over Spencer by 17 points four years ago, said they had also switched their votes to Spencer. Im just not pleased with how things are going, said Bryndon Bay, 50, who voted for Jones in 2021. Rachel Ruskin, 40, said she voted for Jones in 2021, too, and had high hopes. I was looking forward to women, and especially women of color, being in leadership positions, she said. But the south St. Louis resident was frustrated by problems with snow removal and trash pickup. This time, she voted for Spencer and Butler. I think she just dropped the ball on so many occasions, Ruskin said. Lana Stein, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, said the vote totals Tuesday werent part of the international anti-incumbent wave but specific judgments on the two officials records. Its not anti-incumbent, Stein said. Its a question of what the incumbents have done or not done. Stein said Jones had run a brilliant campaign in 2021, but as mayor, she didnt follow through. The mayor maintained Tuesday that the election wasnt over. Its not over by a long shot, Jones said. Weve got another 35 days. Jones supporters contend she still has a path if she boosts turnout only 18% of registered voters in the city cast ballots Tuesday, about 10,000 fewer than in the primary four years ago. And, they say, the voters who backed Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler, who received 25% support in the primary, may coalesce around Jones in the second round. But even if Butlers 8,700 votes all went to Jones in the next round, it wouldnt be enough to close Jones 12,000 vote gap with Spencer. Butler declined to say whether he would endorse another candidate. Ken Warren, the longtime pollster and St. Louis University professor, said the writing was on the wall. Those are very, very poor numbers for Jones, he said. It doesnt look like were going to have anything other than a new mayor, Cara Spencer. Many of those voting for a new mayor are also voting for a new comptroller, which the city hasnt had since the mayors father, Virvus Jones, resigned from the position in 1995 after he was charged with federal tax evasion. While not as high profile as the mayor, the comptroller has one of three votes, along with the mayor and aldermanic president, on the powerful Board of Estimate and Apportionment, which sets city budgets and approves contracts. The comptroller also runs the citys finance department, signs off on all contracts and runs the internal audit division, among other functions. Mason Lampe, 29, of Tower Grove South, said he voted for Celeste Metcalf, who finished third in the comptrollers race and wont advance to the April general election. Lampe said news of absences and unpaid bills had shaken his confidence in the incumbent. Darlene Greens been in there for a really long time, he said, and she hasnt kept up. Which way Metcalfs 8,500 supporters break for Green and her long experience, or Baringer and a new face in one of the citys most important offices could decide the April contest. Baringer won approval from almost 48% of voters, about 500 votes more than Green, who received support from 46%. Metcalf, who ran on her experience as a certified public accountant and auditor in the public and private sectors, says she isnt sure which way her backers will go and declined to endorse either one. Frankly, she said, she thinks neither Green nor Baringer have the qualifications to be comptroller. She ran because she doesnt approve of Greens performance. But she thinks Baringer doesnt have the financial background for the job. Does the city need change? Yeah, Metcalf said. My concern is that it is going to take us further away from where we need to be. JEFFERSON CITY The Missouri Senate voted Thursday to end child marriage in the state. Currently, 16- and 17-year-olds can get married with parental approval. Minors cannot get married to someone over 21. Under the legislation, only those 18 and older can get married. Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette, the bills sponsor, said the policy was important to prevent parents from allowing their children to be married to noncitizens to create a pathway to citizenship. I dont want Missouri kids to be trafficked for their citizenship, McCreery said. Unchained At Last, a nonprofit dedicated to ending child marriage, ranked Missouri 16th out of all 50 states in the amount of child marriages per capita. Unchained At Last also found that nearly 9,000 marriages between a child and a noncitizen were approved in the U.S. from 2007 to 2017. In 95% of those cases, the minor was a girl. From 2011 to 2018, 78% of child marriages were between a minor girl and an adult man. McCreery called ending child marriage a moral imperative, citing the poor track record underage marriages have. The legislation passed the Senate 32-1, with only Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, dissenting. It now heads to the House for final approval. Efforts to end child marriage have failed in prior years amid conservative pushback. Last year, after the Senate passed a nearly identical bill to the one this year, it never got a House vote. One House member against the plan, Rep. Dean VanSchoiack, R-Savannah, told the Kansas City Star that he knows people who got married as minors, including a woman at roughly age 17. The couple, he said, is still madly in love with each other. Another opponent, Rep. Hardy Billington, R-Poplar Bluff, said the change could cause pregnant teenagers to have abortions when they cant get married. Some Republicans have been moved from opposition to support as legislation has been considered year after year. Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, has previously opposed the change because some members of his extended family had been married at early ages. I was on the other side years ago. But were not there today, Brattin said. This isnt yesteryear. The legislation is Senate Bill 66. WASHINGTON The U.S. has paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, cutting off the flow of vital information that has helped the war-torn nation target Russian invaders, but Trump administration officials said Wednesday that positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean it may only be a short suspension. Information about Russias intentions and military movements has been critical to Ukraines defense and a strong indication of support from the U.S. and other Western allies. The suspension comes after Trump paused military aid to Ukraine and is another sign of how he has transformed Americas relationship with close allies. We have taken a step back and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship, national security adviser Mike Waltz said Wednesday. Comments from top Trump administration officials suggest the decision is part of the broader negotiations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate a peace deal with Russia, and that intelligence could begin flowing to Ukraine again soon. CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the suspension a pause and said it came after the disastrous meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last week. Ratcliffe said Trump wanted to know that Zelenskyy was serious about peace. On the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen will go away, and I think well work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have, Ratcliffe said. U.S. intelligence assistance is vital for Ukraine to track Russian troop movements and select targets. Ukrainians use the information when operating U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS. Intelligence from the U.S. and other allies also helps Ukraine prepare for Russian attacks, and supplied critical information in the wars early days that allowed Ukraine to thwart Russian President Vladimir Putins hopes for a quick victory. The CIA declined to respond to questions about the change in intelligence sharing. Ukraine could soon be receiving intelligence from the U.S. once Zelenskyy shows to Trump he is serious about participating in talks on Trumps terms, Waltz said on Fox News Channels Fox & Friends. I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations and, in fact, put some confidence building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause," he said. We have to know that both sides are sincerely negotiating towards a partial, then permanent, peace. The moves by the new administration have dismayed leaders in Europe and Democrats in Washington, who say Trump is depriving a key American ally of assistance they need to fight Russia. The flow of information to Ukraine has saved lives, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday. The idea that we will now withhold life-saving intelligence from Ukrainians who are fighting and dying is unforgivable, Himes said. Officials in Ukraine declined to comment Wednesday on the countrys intelligence sharing relationship with Washington. CIA officials also declined to respond to questions. Its unclear whether the American suspension affects the intelligence sharing ties between Ukraine and other Western powers, including four of the Five Eyes, an intelligence sharing coalition of the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman, Dave Pares, would not confirm whether the U.K. is still supplying Ukraine with intelligence from the United States. He said Britain was will do everything to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position across all aspects of our support, particularly around defense and security, and our position hasnt changed. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal and Illia Novikov in Kyiv contributed to this report. A federal judge blocked the Trump administration Wednesday from drastically cutting medical research funding that many scientists say will endanger patients and cost jobs. The new National Institutes of Health policy would strip research groups of hundreds of millions of dollars to cover so-called indirect expenses of studying Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease and a host of other illnesses anything from clinical trials of new treatments to basic lab research that is the foundation for discoveries. Separate lawsuits filed by a group of 22 states plus organizations representing universities, hospitals and research institutions nationwide sued to stop the cuts, saying they would cause "irreparable harm." U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston temporarily blocked the cuts last month. She filed a preliminary injunction Wednesday to put the cuts on hold longer while the suits proceed. The NIH, the main funder of biomedical research, awarded about $35 billion in grants to research groups last year. The total is divided into "direct" costs covering researchers' salaries and laboratory supplies and "indirect" costs, the administrative and facility costs needed to support that work. The Trump administration dismissed those expenses as "overhead," but universities and hospitals argue they're far more critical. They can include such things as electricity to operate sophisticated machinery, hazardous waste disposal, staff who ensure researchers follow safety rules and janitorial workers. Under prior policy, the government negotiated those rates with institutions. As an example, an institution with a 50% indirect cost rate would get another $50,000 to cover indirect expenses for a $100,000 project. The NIH's new policy would cap indirect costs at a flat rate of 15% instead, calculated to cut about $4 billion a year. Nominee questioned on funding, vaccines Meanwhile, a health economist who once famously clashed with officials at the NIH and now is the nominee to lead the agency faced questions from senators from both parties Wednesday about drastic funding cuts and research priorities. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor, was an outspoken critic of the government's COVID-19 shutdowns and vaccine policies. Now he's poised to become director of the NIH, long called the government's crown jewel, as it faces mass firings and drastic funding cutbacks. "I love the NIH but post-pandemic, America's biomedical sciences are at a crossroads," Bhattacharya told senators. He laid out priorities including a bigger focus on chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. But he also said the agency needs to be more open to scientific dissent, saying influential NIH leaders early in the pandemic shut down his own criticisms about responses to COVID-19. While Republicans warmly welcomed Bhattacharya, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who chairs the Senate health committee, pressed him about vaccine skepticism that is fueling a large measles outbreak that already killed a child in Texas. Cassidy strenuously urged Bhattacharya not to waste NIH dollars reexamining whether there's a link between standard childhood vaccines and autism. There's no link something that's already been proven in studies involving thousands of children, the senator stressed. Bhattacharya called the measles death a tragedy and said he "fully supported" children being vaccinated but added that additional research might convince skeptical parents. "People still think Elvis is alive," a frustrated Cassidy responded. He told Bhattacharya any attempt to revisit the debunked issue would deprive funds to study autism's real cause. Some Senators, including Sen. Susan Collins, R.-Maine, and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., expressed deep frustration that turmoil at the nation's largest funder of medical research mass firings and funding cuts and freezes threatens the development of cures and new treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's disease and host of other disorders. They pushed Bhattacharya about how he'd reverse those losses, including one set of funding cuts paused Wednesday by Kelley that they said is forbidden by a congressional spending law. Bhattacharya said he had no part in those cuts and if confirmed as NIH's director, he'd look carefully at the concerns to make sure researchers "have the resources they need." He also said some of the Trump administration's cuts are a signal of distrust of science. Until recently, the $48 billion NIH had strong bipartisan support. NIH scientists conduct cutting-edge research at its 27 institutes specializing in diseases including cancer, chronic illnesses such as heart, lung and kidney disease, aging and Alzheimer's. Most of the agency's budget is dispersed to universities, hospitals and other research groups through highly competitive grants to conduct everything from basic research to clinical trials. NIH-funded research played a part in the development of most treatments approved in the U.S. in recent years. Across the St. Louis metropolitan community, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) rely on an array of support services to live, work, and thrive here. Nearly 512,000 disabled Americans are languishing on their states waiting lists. In Missouri alone, we currently have over 579 people with IDD waiting for in-home services and 106 individuals waiting for residential placement. This waitlist is growing daily. Now, another crisis looms: Community-based services are funded almost exclusively by Medicaid. The U.S. House recently approved a budget resolution to slash Medicaid spending by $880 billion. Such a drastic cut will leave hundreds of thousands more Americans without the services they need. For 75 years, the St. Louis Arc has fought and advocated for the inclusion of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their community. As the President and CEO of the St. Louis Arc, I see firsthand the St. Louis community is better when it includes everyone regardless of their disability. If Missouri's congressional delegation agrees that our community is stronger when it includes people with disabilities, then they must reject any proposals to cut funding for the federal Medicaid program. Mark A. Keeley St. Louis Regarding "Missouris US senators seek federal recognition for Winston Churchill museum in Fulton" (Feb. 26): As an alum of Westminster College, I find it interesting and somewhat offensive that Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, along with Rep. Bob Onder, are pursuing National Historic Landmark status for the Churchill Museum and Memorial at the college in Fulton. Winston Churchill stood as a beacon of strength and resistance in the face of Nazi Germanys aggression during World War II. When the war ended, Churchill accurately warned of Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe and the onset of the Cold War in his historic Iron Curtain speech at Westminster College. Today, as the sovereign nation of Ukraine has been invaded by Vladimir Putins Russia, our Missouri Republican members of Congress remain silent. Whether a result of undying fealty to President Donald Trump or a looming fear of being primaried, they appear content in supporting the administrations misguided and transactional foreign policy. Trumps appeasement and support for Putins attempts to reestablish the Soviet empire are exactly what Churchill warned of. If our Missouri congressmen truly wish to honor Winston Churchill, they would proclaim their commitment to the support and defense of Ukraine, NATO and our European allies and condemn the presidents disgraceful and dangerous policies. John Kotsis O'Fallon, Missouri A ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules from 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron taxis at Williams Field, a compacted snow ice runway at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, on Jan. 31, 2023. (RJ Stratchko/U.S. Navy) An LC-130 Hercules ski-bird recently flew a heart attack victim from Antarctica to New Zealand for medical treatment, Pacific Air Forces announced this week. A civilian logistics specialist suffered a myocardial infarction Feb. 13 while participating in Operation Deep Freeze, the command said Monday in a news release. PACAF did not identify the unit involved, but the New York Air National Guards 109th Air Wing flies LC-130s ski-equipped versions of Lockheed Martins long-serving cargo planes between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station and other locations in Antarctica for the mission. The heart-attack victim is an experienced logistics specialist and 20-mission veteran contractor of Operation Deep Freeze, the PACAF news release said. First responders arrived almost immediately after the victim collapsed in a galley, according to the release. After 40 minutes of intense efforts, the patient stabilized and was provided aero-medical evacuation via a LC-130 to Christchurch, New Zealand, for elevated cardiac care shortly thereafter, the news release states. The patient was discharged a week later and is now recovering at home. The partnership between the National Science Foundation and the military was key to ensuring rapid medical care and evacuation of the patient, Maj. Thomas Powell, McMurdo Station flight surgeon, said in the release. This was a win through teamwork and rapid emergency response with a very experienced team, both military and civilian, who worked to ensure the situation was handled well, he said. The foundation, PACAF and the 109th did not respond Wednesday and Thursday to emailed questions. Four hundred airmen were slated to join the Department of Defenses annual mission in support of the foundations Antarctic program from October through February, according to the airlift wing in October. PACAF commander Gen. Kevin Schneider and his senior enlisted adviser, Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, recently toured units with Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica on the frozen continent and in Christchurch, according to a PACAF news release Tuesday. It did not specify the date of Schneider and McCools visit. The task force coordinates strategic airlift, tactical deep field support, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, sealift, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling and transportation. Whether its on the ground in Antarctica or in a high stakes combat scenario, were building relationships that ensure were prepared for anything, Schneider said in the release. The partnership ensures that both the U.S. and New Zealand forces are prepared for a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian aid to responding to military threats, according to the release. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew responds to a simulated medical evacuation during an exercise with personnel from Joint Task Force-Bravo and a Security Forces Assistance Brigade at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, in 2021. (U.S. Army) Five soldiers are safe after an Army helicopter crashed in Honduras on Wednesday morning during a routine training mission, U.S. Southern Command confirmed. The crew of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment under Joint Task Force-Bravo, said Capt. Hillary Gibson, spokeswoman for the task force. The aviation battalion routinely performs training missions in support of humanitarian aid and disaster response throughout Central America, she said. It is part of rapid response operations within the region. The Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Novosel, Ala., said Thursday that it has sent a team to investigate the crash, which occurred at about 9:34 a.m. roughly 5 miles east of Soto Cano Air Base. This is the second Black Hawk crash for the Army this year. In January, an Army helicopter collided with a civilian commercial jet over the Potomac River in Washington, killing four soldiers and all 60 passengers on the commercial flight. The investigation into that crash is ongoing. Steven McLoud, a spokesman for SOUTHCOM, said the incident in Honduras was a precautionary emergency landing. A medical evaluation cleared all five crew members of any significant injuries, he said. An investigation will determine the cause of the incident, he said. The Joint Task Force-Bravo is the Defense Departments longest established task force that has been operating at Soto Cano Air Base near Comayagua since 1983, Gibson said. Aside from the Black Hawks, the battalion also conducts flight operations with CH-47F Chinooks and medical evacuation helicopters. Some of its additional capabilities include counter-narcotics, deck landing operations, search and rescue and air movements to secluded locations. A CH-47 Chinook hovers over as soldiers of the 50th Engineer Company attach a piece of the assault float bridge to take to the Han river. (Andy Dunaway/Stars and Stripes) This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, June 19, 2001. It is republished unedited in its original form. SEOUL Spc. Steve Sepulveda was maneuvering a small boat in the middle of the Han River Thursday [June 14, 2001] when his cell phone rang. It was his wife, Gracie, calling from New Mexico. As Sepulveda was answering the phone, chinooks were dropping 6-ton pontoon pieces in the river, and boats with growling engines were using them to build a floatable bridge. Sepulveda would have to call back. She understood, Sepulveda said. She knows how the military is. Sepulveda and others from the 50th Engineer Company at Camp LaGuardia, South Korea, were building a floatable bridge across the wide river with the help of a South Korean reserve battalion. Both the U.S. and South Korean units use the same type of equipment, and the exercise seamlessly meshed together, said Maj. Michael Chang, the training and operations officer for the 2nd Engineer Battalion. ROK soldier secures the assault float bridge. (Andy Dunaway/Stars and Stripes) A Korean farmer works his land as a CH-47 Chinok flyies over head to the Han River to drop off a piece of the assault float bridge. (Andy Dunaway) I think it forged a real strong bond, Chang said. Finding suitable space for training is difficult, Chang said, and it was good to practice on Seouls main river. The 50th Engineer Company is only one of five active Army units that specializes in building assault float bridges, he said. Sgt. Shawn Gibson was in charge of moving some of the pontoons from trucks to a slip in the water. It was a good experience to see how the (South Koreans) build compared to how we build, he said. After the bridge was completed, a few new officers got their initiation to the company when their soldiers tossed them in the river. Its supposed to only happen to soldiers who run boats, but others almost became victims. 2nd Lt. Rose Guerrero, 2nd Platoon Leader, 50th Engineer Company-Assault Float Bridge, smiles after emerging from the Han River after being in charge of her first bridge completion, in Seoul, South Korea, June 15, 2001. (Andy Dunaway/Stars and Stripes) 2nd Lt. Rose Guerrero, 2nd Platoon Leader, 50th Engineer Company-Assault Float Bridge, smiles after being pushed into the Han River after being in charge of her 1st bridge completion. (Andy Dunaway/Stars and Stripes) Sir, Im not a 12 Charlie (engineer combat bridge crewman)! pleaded 2nd Lt. Erica Iverson moments before she would have been dragged into the Hans murky brown waters. I made a mental note to keep my mouth shut, said Iverson, a maintenance support platoon leader, who went ahead and jumped in on her own. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. The Chairman of the Board of "Samruk-Kazyna," Nurlan Zhakupov, held a meeting with the CEO of ESTA Construction, Mustafa Toprak, Trend reports. In the course of the meeting, the parties discussed promising areas of cooperation, including the production of urea and ammonia in Kazakhstan. The Joint-Stock Company "National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna" is a Kazakhstani investment holding founded in 2008 with the aim of enhancing the national welfare of Kazakhstan and implementing projects for the modernization of its economy. Esta Group is a large construction holding company implementing projects in the construction of industrial and civil facilities in Turkiye, Russia, European countries, and other regions. Kadena Elementary on Okinawa opened its doors on Feb. 28, 2018. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes) A Defense Department school on Okinawa dismissed students early Thursday due to a water issue that prevented toilets from flushing, according to a message sent to parents that morning. Students were released at 10:15 a.m. after the problem was discovered in restrooms at Kadena Elementary School, Principal Amanda McDonald said in the message. For the health of our students and staff, we will be releasing students early today, McDonald wrote. Buses left the school at 11 a.m., with students arriving at their stops approximately 45 minutes to an hour later, according to the message. A copy was provided to Stars and Stripes by Department of Defense Education Activity-Pacific spokeswoman Miranda Ferguson. At 10:12 a.m. and 10:20 a.m., the same message was posted on the MCCS Okinawa School Liaison Officer and Kadena Elementary Schools official Facebook pages, respectively. All students and staff were affected, including pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students from Bechtel Elementary School on Camp McTureous. Those students have been attending Kadena Elementary while Bechtel undergoes renovations, Ferguson said in a separate email. School-age care programs at Kadena Air Base and Camp McTureous remained open for students, according to the message. Ferguson said she had no additional information on the cause of the issue, when it might be resolved, or whether the school would reopen Friday. We apologize for the sudden change in school operations and appreciate your understanding, McDonald wrote in her letter to parents. Water was restored to the school in the afternoon and classes will resume Friday, according to a second letter signed by McDonald and posted at 4:32 p.m. to the MCCS Okinawa School Liaison Officer Facebook page. A boil-water advisory will be in effect, and parents were asked to send their students to school with bottled water, the letter states. Please know the kitchen staff will be boiling any water used to prepare school meals tomorrow as precaution, the letter states. The issue follows a sewer line problem that closed Kadena Elementary and nearby Ryukyu Middle School on Jan. 27. Both reopened the next day, according to Facebook posts from the schools. That day, some residents of the Stillwell Park neighborhood near the schools were affected by a sewage outage, according to a post on the Okinawa Military Family Housing Facebook page. Representatives from the Thai government, Thai military, U.S. Army and Korean navy participate in a ceremony celebrating the opening of a new school building in Phu Luang, Thailand, as part of Cobra Gold on March 5, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) PHU LUANG, Thailand Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday at a remote school near here to mark the opening of a new addition built by Thai, South Korean and American troops as part of the Cobra Gold military exercise. The annual exercise regularly includes myriad live-fire drills, but it also features community outreach events. This year, troops from participating nations built six multi-purpose rooms for six schools in four Thai provinces over the past month. In Phu Luang, about 235 miles northeast of Bangkok, U.S. Army soldiers along with troops from Thailand and South Korea completed an approximately 2,000-square-foot building for the Nong Nok Khian Samakki School. The project will accommodate an influx of new students, according to Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean Ramones, a platoon sergeant with the 557th Engineer Construction Company from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. From what Im hearing, some local schools are shutting down, and thats why this is going to be expanded, Ramones, of Anchorage, Alaska, told Stars and Stripes ahead of the ceremony. So, its going to support more kids in the local area. Students at the Nong Nok Khian Samakki School in Phu Luang, Thailand, make use of a newly built addition to their school on March 5, 2025. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes) Students, teachers, local government workers and military leaders from all three countries took part in the opening ceremony, among them 7th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Michelle Schmidt. This school is more than just a building, its an investment in the future of this community, a place where students will learn, grow and build their own futures, she said in brief remarks to the crowd. The project involved nearly 10,000 hours of labor over 30 days to turn an empty plot of land into a fully functioning facility, she said. Similar projects were completed in Chanthaburi, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima and Kanchanaburi provinces. Work on the project in Phu Luang was extremely satisfying, and all three countries participating put in a lot of effort to work together, despite their differing styles and languages, Ramones said. Villagers in the province of Ra in Fiji pose with their first harvest of shrimp on Jan. 6, 2025, as part of a pilot aquaculture farm project assisted by the U.S. Agency for International Development. (USAID) The Trump administrations dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development is a boon to Beijings designs on Pacific island nations and weakens Americas national security, the former China policy lead for USAID told lawmakers Wednesday. Destroying a crucial national security tool, the trust of our allies basically overnight has not made the United States safer, stronger and more prosperous. Francisco Bencosme testified during a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. It does not put America first, he said. It puts the Peoples Republic of China first, and Pacific prosperity and security last. The hearing was intended to examine the Office of Insular Affairs role in fostering prosperity and addressing external threats to peace and security in the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. Insular Affairs coordinates federal policy for those three territories and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Democratic subcommittee members, however, continually brought the topic back to the extreme cuts to federal agencies by the Department of Government Efficiency. Thousands of USAID employees have been fired, with only a remnant staff of a few hundred remaining. Bencosme, whose appointment as China policy lead ended during the Biden administration, focused his comments entirely on the impact of the closure of USAID on Pacific islands security. The U.S. had intensified engagements in the Pacific island region over the past six years after feeling chastened by Chinas dramatic inroads into domestic affairs there, he said. USAID was central to that renewed outreach. In August 2023, the agency opened an office in Suva, Fiji, and established a country representative in Papua New Guinea, Bencosme said. We also upped our diplomatic [presence] by opening up new embassies in the region, he said. USAID was tasked with conducting Americas ground game for strategic competition against Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, he said. With that 2013 initiative, sometimes called One Belt One Road, China aims to extend its economic reach by integrating with regional economies around the world, often through huge infrastructure projects financed by loans from Beijing. While diplomats would focus on high-level diplomacy, USAID would reach out to local communities and demonstrate American support in a tangible way, he said. USAID programs were visible signs of U.S. leadership expanding in the Pacific islands, oftentimes working alongside our military and diplomats. Gutting foreign assistance limits our ability to influence and address the challenges in the Pacific, he said. China is also expanding its influence and power on Pacific islands in other ways. The [Chinese Communist Party] and its proxies use a range of methods, including public and private loans, bribery, blackmail, coercion, investment and influence, to advance their interests, Cleo Paskal, a nonresident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, testified Wednesday. China has the worlds largest naval fleet, and its presence is being felt throughout the Pacific, Dean Cheng, a senior fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies in Arlington, Va., testified Wednesday. It has 140 major surface combatants among its 370 ships, he said. It has an increasingly growing range. This past week, we have watched the PLA Navy conduct live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea, separating Australia from New Zealand, to such an extent that Australia had to issue a warning to airliners traversing the region. But in the realm of soft power, the U.S. has lost its most vital tool in the competition in a region vulnerable to natural disasters and most at risk for sea-level rise due to climate change, Bencosme said. The sudden U.S. withdrawal from programs in the Pacific, where we co-funded with our allies and withdrew without consulting or notifying them, leaves multiple partners and allies in the lurch, he said. It is the United States, not [China], that now runs the risk of being seen as unreliable and unpredictable. A South Korean KF-16 from Seosan Air Base, South Korea, takes off during Exercise Buddy Wing, Aug. 20, 2014. (Taylor Curry/U.S. Air Force) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea Several people were injured Thursday in Pocheon city after two South Korean fighter jets accidentally released eight live bombs outside a practice range, according to South Koreas air force. The MK-82 bombs were abnormally dropped at 10:04 a.m. Thursday beyond an unspecified live-fire range by a pair of KF-16 fighters, according to an air force statement to reporters that day. Each jet dropped four bombs, according to the air force. The bombs were not practice rounds, a Ministry of National Defense spokesman said by phone Thursday. The MK-82 is a 500-pound, 7-foot-long free-fall bomb also employed by the U.S. military. The KF-16 is the South Korean air forces variant of the U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon. At least 15 people, including area residents, were injured in the incident, Yonhap News reported Thursday. The fighters were taking part in activity linked to Freedom Shield, an upcoming, large-scale exercise by U.S. and South Korean forces, a National Defense Ministry spokesman said Thursday in a statement to reporters. South Korean officials customarily speak to the media on the condition of anonymity. Pocheon is roughly 20 miles from the border that divides North Korea and South Korea. The city is also the site of several U.S. and South Korean military firing ranges, such as the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex and the Seungjin Science and Technology Training Center. The air force said the incident is under investigation and the service was implementing all necessary measures, including compensation for damages. We wish the injured a speedy recovery, the service said. In October 2023, a stray 5.56 mm bullet from the Rodriguez complex struck the windshield of an SUV passing beyond the range. The driver was not injured, and the U.S. Eighth Army took responsibility for the incident. The 10-day Freedom Shield exercise begins March 10 and includes sites on land, air and sea throughout South Korea, according to a Thursday joint news release from South Koreas military. Roughly 19,000 South Korean troops will participate in Freedom Shield, Lee Sung-jun, a South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman, said during a news conference Thursday in Seoul. U.S. Forces Korea, the command responsible for 28,500 American troops in South Korea, does not release its troop figures for major military exercises as a matter of policy, citing operational security concerns. Freedom Shield will include 16 drills between the two countries, up from six exercises last year, Lee said. The exercise will help strengthen the alliances combined defense posture by applying lessons learned from recent armed conflicts, the Joint Chiefs said in its news release Thursday. Those lessons include North Korean military strategies and evolving challenges, such as the communist regimes growing partnership with Russia, the release said. Freedom Shield is the first of two major military exercises held annually. The second drill, Ulchi Freedom Shield, is typically conducted in August. Jaden Edwin Llanos, a sailor with the U.S. 7th Fleet, was charged Thursday by Japanese prosecutors with causing the death of a motorcyclist in a traffic collision in September near a gate at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. (Joshua Magbanua/U.S. Air Force) A U.S. Navy sailor was charged Thursday by Japanese prosecutors with causing the death of a motorcyclist in a traffic collision in September near a gate at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. The Yokohama District Public Prosecutors Office in Yokosuka city indicted Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaden Edwin Llanos, 22, on a charge of negligent driving causing death, a spokesman for the prosecutors office said Thursday. Llanos is assigned to the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge, base spokesman Justin Keller said by phone Thursday. Yokosuka city police allege Llanos made an illegal right turn at 6:42 p.m. Sept. 18 at a five-way intersection near the naval bases Womble Gate and collided head-on with a motorcyclist. The motorcyclist, a Japanese man, also 22, from Yokosuka, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital less than an hour after the collision, according to a police spokesman in February. A lawyer for the mans family identified him Thursday as Tsubasa Ito. Police on Feb. 12 recommended prosecutors charge Llanos in the fatal collision. In Japan, prosecutors make charging decisions following a police investigation. Police in February said Llanos had been in U.S. military custody since the accident. Some government officials in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. Kyoko Sugita, spokeswoman for the naval base, by phone Thursday declined comment on the case. We dont release information until the case is closed, she said. Ito, the motorcyclist, was on his way to work when he was hit, according to a statement Thursday from his familys lawyer, Masahiko Goto. Our precious son Tsubasa was a kind son, who followed proper driving etiquette and drove safely, according to a statement from Itos father that Goto provided. Goto did not identify the father by name. Just thinking about why his life was taken in such an unreasonable accident brings tears to my eyes. I hope that the suspect will be punished severely without a suspended sentence, so that he will pay for this serious crime, the father said, according to Goto. Itos mother echoed that sentiment, according to Goto, who did not identify the mother by name. Just thinking about why his life was taken in such an unreasonable accident brings tears to my eyes, she said, according to a statement the lawyer provided. A U.S. Navy sailor is under investigation in connection with a pedestrian injury in February in Yokosuka city, Japan. (Vecteezy) Japanese authorities are investigating a U.S. Navy sailor suspected of injuring an 87-year-old Japanese man crossing a Yokosuka city street last month, according to the city and the Navy. City authorities allege the sailor, identified only as a noncommissioned officer, was turning right in his vehicle at a T-intersection at 11:10 a.m. Feb. 11 in the Fukadadai district when he struck the pedestrian, according to a statement posted on the citys website Wednesday. The collision broke the mans left leg, according to the post. The sailor is affiliated with Yokosuka Naval Base, and the Navy is cooperating with local authorities, base spokesman Justin Keller wrote in an email Thursday to Stars and Stripes. He declined to identify the sailor, his rank or his unit. It would be inappropriate to comment any further as this incident is under investigation, he wrote. The South Kanto Defense Bureau, an arm of Japans Ministry of Defense, reported the incident to the city at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the citys website. Given the delay in providing information about this incident, the city asked the government to share information quickly in future cases, the post states. Also, the city requested the headquarters of Yokosuka Naval Base to ensure thorough traffic safety education and to provide sincere compensation to the victims. U.S. officials told the defense bureau the sailor was not under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred, a bureau spokeswoman said by phone Thursday. Some Japanese government officials speak to the press only on condition of anonymity. Kanagawa Prefectural Police acknowledged a phone call and emailed questions from Stars and Stripes on Thursday but did not immediately provide responses. Police are investigating the incident for possible charges on Japans law against inflicting death or injury with a motor vehicle, according to a report Wednesday from Tokyo Broadcasting System Television. The mans pelvis and a bone in his knee were broken; the sailor was not on duty at the time, according to the TV report. Belgium soldiers, assigned to 1st Carabiners, 1st Grenadiers conduct training at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, as part of the European Unions Battlegroup 2014-02, Feb. 21, 2014. (Gerhard Seuffert/Army) BRUSSELS The European Union, an entity that casts itself as a peace and trade project, is in crisis talks Thursday focused on defense. Along with the specter of a belligerent Moscow, President Donald Trumps sudden redrawing of alliances and withdrawal of aid for Ukraine are driving Europeans to fast-track plans to bolster their militaries, upgrade their arsenals and, ultimately, to curb their dependence on the United States. I want to believe the U.S. will stand by our side, but we have to be ready for that not to be the case, French President Emmanuel Macron told his country in a speech Wednesday night. The future of Europe must not be decided in Washington or Moscow. Among the E.U. leaders meeting in Brussels, theres a rallying cry that Europe needs to embark on a military buildup in a way it hasnt in decades. The E.U.s executive branch has unveiled a proposal to unlock up to 800 billion euros ($860 billion) of extra defense spending in the coming years, while Germany is starting a big shift away from controls limiting borrowing. Meanwhile, France is floating the possibility of expanding its nuclear deterrent to cover its European allies. A military revival in Europe wont be easy or cheap. The 27-nation bloc was not built for Trumps battering ram of decisions, and it is playing catch up with a more militarized, belligerent world. The E.U. was built for peacetime, said Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute of International Affairs and a former E.U. foreign policy adviser. There was no need for speed but rather this kind of slow, careful construction of shared interests and identities and all the rest of it. In such dramatic moments though, what you tend to think of as being technically impossible is often not, she said. An era of rearmament European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has outlined a sweeping, though still blurry, proposal to raise defense spending largely through loans and the loosening of balanced budget requirements. A new era is upon us. Some of our fundamental assumptions are being undermined to their very core, she wrote in a letter to the leaders of E.U. countries ahead of Thursdays summit. E.U. leaders, who are convening urgently on defense and Ukraine plans, will debate the details Thursday. Decisions about hiking defense spending will ultimately be up to E.U. states, and public finances are already strained in key economies. The proposal features a 150-billion-euro program for European states to pay for weapons by drawing on loans, with funding raised on the capital markets and backed by the E.U. budget. Its based on a provision that allows assistance to states during exceptional circumstances. The funds could go to investments such as air and missile defense, artillery and drones, and the plan would ultimately require approval from a special majority of E.U. member states an easier threshold than unanimity. The E.U. loves rules but is now also ready to relax some for defense spending. The commissions framework includes activating an escape clause giving countries flexibility to diverge from strict deficit rules to spend on defense. Such a move could help nations spend more without making painful cuts elsewhere, such as social benefits, although at the risk of increasing deficits. The plans also involve redirecting existing funds intended for the blocs poorer regions toward military spending, and giving the European Investment Bank more leeway to fund defense projects. European officials described it as a starting point. Is this the end of the story? No, one said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share internal deliberations. But this is indeed the turning of a page. At the core is the question of how much Europe can defend itself with less U.S. help. Its wise to assume and plan for the worst case scenario, Tocci said. The worst case is one in which the U.S. cannot be persuaded to be nice to us or even to ignore us. It is one in which the U.S. is out there to undermine us. The continents leaders expected pressure from the Trump administration to boost defense spending, and some may hope their moves to step up will play well in Washington. But its another thing to prepare for a U.S. realignment toward Russia. They often got fair criticism for not better preparing after years of signs of U.S. interest shifting from Europe, but theyre grappling with a radically different dynamic today, she added. Military aid for Ukraine This weeks U.S. pause of military aid for Kyiv only added to the urgency, said Bronwen Maddox, director of the London-based Chatham House. It is a huge turning point, she said. It tells Europe that you may as well be on your own. The E.U. defense plan remains vague about how far it could go to aiding Ukraine, and some of Kyivs strongest backers push for using part of the funds to bolster Ukrainian capabilities. Von der Leyen said the defense fund would help with both. The proposal, which will allow European states pool demand and buy together, would free up room to provide military equipment for Ukraine, she said. European officials said part of the new equipment purchased could be dispatched to Kyiv. The push for a separate, new E.U. military aid package for Ukraine has been thorny inside the blocs halls, where unanimity requirements can slow decisions. Kremlin-friendly Hungary, applauding Trumps moves on Ukraine, is again seeking to hold up pledges of military aid. Still, turning the range of proposals to rearm Europe into reality will also run up against diverging national interests and economic pressures. Leaders are trying to rally weary populations to redirect their funds to weapons, which will be trickier in countries farther from the conflict where military spending is relatively lower and deficits are high. Moves to both hike European defense spending and arm Ukraine could strain European efforts, especially if Washington further turns on Kyiv. Some diplomats also point to what they see as double-edged sword from a Trump administration that calls on Europeans to be more independent, but wants them to buy more U.S. weapons. Bending the rules Another idea on the table is the creation of a rearmament bank similar to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development created after the collapse of the Soviet Union. With this plan and others, theres growing momentum to work with countries outside the E.U. on defense, including Britain, Norway and Turkey, to circumvent features of the bloc that hobble decision-making and to pull in more capabilities. Also outside the E.U. format, countries are maneuvering to find money at home, and the Trump effect has pushed many to shift long-held positions. In Germany, the clash between Trump and Kyiv, followed by the U.S. suspension of Ukraine aid, fueled a swift rethink of the countrys tightly drawn purse strings just days after a national election. Presumptive chancellor Friedrich Merz and the parties most likely to form Germanys next government unveiled an agreement to reinforce defense by reforming Germanys constitutionally enshrined debt brake. The proposal a shift from the countrys conservative approach to borrowing would exempt defense spending above 1 percent of gross domestic product from the debt-brake restrictions. The political developments in Europe and the world are evolving faster than we anticipated just a week ago, Merz said in announcing the proposal. Whatever it takes must now also apply to our defense. In France, some officials have floated taxing the rich for a defense boost. Macron said tough choices will have to be made to mobilize private and public funds, though he promised no tax hikes. Whatever happens, Macron said on the eve of the summit, we need to better equip ourselves. Kate Brady in Berlin and Leo Sands in London contributed to this report. Students demonstrate over disbanded clubs, the removal or review of course materials and policies geared toward eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives during a walkout at Humphreys High School on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, March 6, 2025. (Fiona Yang) RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany Hundreds of Defense Department students in Europe and Asia staged a walkout Thursday to rally against the removal of diversity initiatives, symbols and ideas in their schools as part of the largest student-led demonstrations so far this year on U.S. military bases. The first demonstration was at Humphreys High School in South Korea, where about 175 students walked out of class starting at 8:30 a.m. for about 50 minutes. In Europe, about 225 students at Ramstein High School left classes and circled the high school track, carrying signs with slogans such as Solidarity in Diversity and Censorship is Un-American, according to images shared with Stars and Stripes. Across town, roughly 100 students at Kaiserslautern High School gathered in a courtyard for about 25 minutes, while about 150 participants joined the walkout at Wiesbaden High School, people who were there said. The Department of Defense Education Activity manages 161 schools with more than 66,000 students from families of U.S. military personnel and DOD civilians worldwide. Tristan, 18, a senior who helped plan the Ramstein demonstration, said students coordinated with some of the other schools to try and make it the biggest walkout in DODEA history. Students demonstrate against recent policy changes during a planned walkout at Humphreys High School on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, March 6, 2025. (Kaylee Harris) A Ramstein High School student holds up a sign during a walkout on March 6, 2025, outside the school. More than 200 students at Ramstein participated in the walkout. (Courtesy photo) More than 200 students at Ramstein High School in Germany walk around the track March 6, 2025, demonstrating against the removal of clubs, books and other materials deemed part of diversity efforts. (Courtesy photo) Students at Ramstein High School walk around the track March 6, 2025, to demonstrate against the removal of clubs, books and other materials deemed part of diversity efforts at schools. The walkout coincided with similar demonstrations at other Defense Department high schools in Germany and one in South Korea. (Courtesy photo) Students hold up a banner at Ramstein High School as they walk around the track March 6, 2025, to support school programs deemed to fall under diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The Pentagon has required Defense Department schools to review or remove material and programs that may be considered DEI-related. (Courtesy photo) Our message is to show that even though we may be kids we definitely still have a voice, he said by phone Wednesday night. As the next generation of voters, we can choose how were going to live the rest of our lives. We can speak out. Some students who spoke to Stars and Stripes asked to go by their first names to protect their parents from potential retribution. All students quoted are legally adults or said they spoke with their parents blessings. Stars and Stripes was not permitted to take photos or interview students during the walkouts and was barred from observing the demonstration at Ramstein. DODEA requires parental consent for media engagement with students who are minors, coordination that was not possible in advance without knowing which students would take part, DODEA said in a statement Thursday. We acknowledge students right to express themselves at school; however, it is important to clarify that we do not endorse walkouts, DODEA-Europe spokeswoman Jessica Tackaberry said in a statement Thursday. We have taken proactive steps to deescalate the situation, ensure student safety, and prevent disruption to the instructional day. The 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein said it recognizes the student concerns over recent school policy changes. Student-led walkouts remaining on school campus ensures students can exercise their right to free speech in a manner that is peaceful and appropriate, and we are thankful the events today were conducted safely, the wing said in a statement Thursday. The students on Thursday pushed back against Pentagon directives to eliminate books, clubs, programs, signs, curriculum and materials considered to be part of diversity, equity and inclusion. The changes stem from executive orders issued to end DEI programs in the military and in schools, including one titled Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also has criticized diversity efforts as divisive. Our diversity is not our strength, Hegseth said while speaking about the military in a Jan. 29 Fox News interview. Our unity and our shared purpose is our strength. About 50 students at Patch Middle School were the first in DODEA to stage a walkout that coincided with the Feb. 11 visit by Hegseth to Stuttgart for high-level meetings. Students at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany, hold up a banner and signs at a demonstration March 6, 2025. About 150 students left class to demonstrate against the removal or review of diversity-related material and organizations at their school. (Courtesy photo) Wiesbaden High school senior Molly Singleton, left, and junior Abryana Avila organize a student-led demonstration at their school on March 6, 2025. About 150 students left class to demonstrate against the removal or review of diversity-related material and organizations at their school. (Courtesy photo) Students hold up a banner at Wiesbaden High School in Germany, March 6, 2025, to demonstrate against the removal and review of materials and organizations that are considered to be part of diversity efforts. Some faces have been blurred because it wasnt immediately known whether those students had signed consent forms allowing their photos to be taken in school. (Courtesy photo) A Wiesbaden High School student holds up a sign March 6, 2025, to express opposition to the removal and review of materials and organizations aimed at promoting diversity. The face of the student in the background has been blurred because it wasn't immediately known whether the student had signed a consent form allowing photos to be taken in school. (Courtesy photo) Students at Ramstein High School in Germany demonstrated on March 6, 2025, in support of diversity programs, clubs and material that have recently been removed or are under review following Pentagon directives. (Courtesy photo) There also have been demonstrations in Japan at Nile C. Kinnick High School on Yokosuka Naval Base and at Kadena High School. At Ramstein, Tristan said the schools Pride Club exists under a new name but it cant engage in any activities. He said hes been subjected to more homophobic harassment at school and on base since the new policies have been enacted. Tristan also lamented that scores of books had been removed from library shelves. DODEA officials say that the books remain under review and have been set aside in the schools. At Humphreys, student-created news videos covering topics such as Black History Month are still allowed but will no longer be shared on the schools social media accounts, senior Ava Edington said Wednesday at the base library. Fellow senior James West, a four-year member of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, said he felt a sense of duty to participate in the walkout. Obviously, my opinions dont represent JROTC or the U.S. Army, but one of the first lessons that we learn is to stand up for ourselves, to stand up for what we believe is right and to be a voice for other people, he said. I think thats still one of the most important lessons that Ive learned. In Wiesbaden, senior Molly Singleton, 18, helped organize Thursdays demonstration at her school. Singleton said that prior to the Pentagon-directed changes, some teachers had hung signs on their doors indicating their classroom was a place where students feeling harassed or bullied could find support. Those signs have since been removed. The walkout is a demonstration of unity, she said. We stand together to reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity and to show that no policy can take away the culture of acceptance that we have built, Singleton said. Stars and Stripes reporter David Choi contributed to this report from Camp Humphreys, South Korea. The two nations are planning a new arrangements that would lay the groundwork for commercial developers to increase offshore energy by minimizing the burden of maritime and environmental consent processes. (Jason Alden/Bloomberg) The U.K. and Ireland plan to share more data and slash red tape in a bid to boost energy security as the two countries seek a tighter relationship after years of post-Brexit tension. The two nations are planning a new arrangements that would lay the groundwork for commercial developers to increase offshore energy by minimizing the burden of maritime and environmental consent processes. The move was announced Thursday at a meeting between Starmer and Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Liverpool as part of efforts to improve the relationship between the two countries, something the British premier has made one of his governments key objectives. The meeting came against a backdrop of European nations reckoning with how to secure their continent in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine potentially with weakened U.S. support. It is and should be seen as a new era, I think for the U.K. and Ireland to work even more closely than ever and to cooperate across a range of issues, said Starmer in opening remarks at the summit outside Liverpool. That means making the most of the opportunities to boost growth, jobs and trade, but also working together on climate change, the energy transition, security, justice, education and defense. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine three years ago, European countries have sought to increase domestic energy supplies after previously relying on imports of Russian gas. While neither had been particularly reliant on Russia gas, Ireland on Tuesday announced it would build an LNG facility to be used in energy emergencies. The leaders agreed to work together to mobilize on infrastructure plans in the Irish and Celtic Seas by providing a framework to remove barriers for private investors, according to a statement published after the summit. They committed to undertaking new joint initiatives on mapping the sea basin to boost resilience in U.K. and Irish waters, a move aimed at improving security there. Russian attack submarines have conducted missions around the Irish Sea twice since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg previously reported. The two nations have reset their relationship, Starmer added at the summit, saying they had turned the page on a turbulent few years. The meeting symbolizes how far relations between the U.K. and Ireland have come since the Brexit years, when close ties fractured over negotiating a solution to the Irish Sea border problem. Despite Brexit, trade between the two countries remains strong. The U.K .is Irelands second largest trading partner and Ireland is the U.K.s sixth largest. While there is uncertainty in relation to trade with the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland as an area is seen as a safe haven, and secure investment, said Martin after meeting with business leaders before the summit. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. In light of the Novruz holiday, the "From Village to City" Novruz fair is set to be rolled out by the "Agro Supply and Procurement" OJSC, under the Ministry of Agriculture, from March 8-19, the Ministry told Trend. The fair will run like clockwork for 12 days straight. The main aim of the event is to hit the nail on the head by catering to the increasing appetite for rural products during the holiday season with local, healthy offerings while also giving farmers a leg up with an alternative sales avenue. One of the primary benefits of the fair is that the commodities will be transacted directly by the producers themselves. More than 55 farmers from over 20 regions are set to throw their hats in the ring at the fair, showcasing a cornucopia of over 150 varieties of agricultural and food products. The products up for grabs will be showcased by farmers who have signed on the dotted line to take part, with no strings attached for the stands, scales, refrigerators, or any other gear. To ensure the quality of the products, the Mobile Food Laboratory of the Azerbaijani Food Safety Agency (AQTA) will operate at the fair every day. Citizens can use the laboratorys services to check the quality indicators of any product on sale. The fair will be held in the Narimanov district, at Fatali Khan Khoyski Street, 5 (near the "Ganjlik" metro station). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Israeli soldiers stand guar near their armored vehicles as they conduct a raid in the eastern neighborhood of Jenin amid a weeks-long offensive in the occupied West Bank on March 4, 2025. (Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty Images via TNS) From Syria and Lebanon to Gaza and the West Bank, Israeli troops are establishing positions they are unlikely to abandon anytime soon. Quietly, as a result of the Hamas attack in October 2023, Israel has changed its defense policy. At the time, the Gaza border was assumed secure thanks to a small group of soldiers standing guard and high-tech fencing. The intelligence assessment was that the Palestinian militant group didnt have the ability or intention to cross over. Under the new policy, military deterrence now outweighs assessments of enemy capability and intent. The Israel Defense Forces is stationing troops beyond national borders and preemptively bombing suspicious installations and movements to cripple adversaries away from home. Its a high-risk policy that could embolden militants in the wider region and spark further wars, especially if Iran enters the fray. It makes a Palestinian state far less likely, making it difficult for Israel to forge new alliances with regional states. But Israel says the 2023 failure forced this approach upon it. I asked our military commanders, whats the main lesson of Oct. 7? Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a speech last month. They said we cant allow radical organizations to exist close to Israels border, whether in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, near the settlements, in the West Bank. And that is now our policy, he said. Israels shift in strategy became more pronounced since December, shortly after Donald Trumps reelection as U.S. president. Hes freed up weapons and ammunition for Israel that had been held back by the previous administration, out of fear of a regional war. Israels former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a podcast last month that he was berated by his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, for Israels assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In comparison, Trumps administration gave Israel the green light for building fortifications in Lebanon where the IDF is planning to station forces indefinitely, according to the Israeli government. To some extent, this is a return to a previous policy. Israel occupied southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000, annexed the Syrian Golan Heights and it still occupies the West Bank where the Palestinians want to build a state. Diplomacy had begun to shape Israels regional ties, however. Now, military force has taken priority. All of the Israeli militarys new positions are in areas where theres no central authority or a very weak one, which was the case even before Oct. 7, when thousands of Hamas militants stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 others. But until then, Israel maintained what military experts usually called a mowing the grass approach. It meant Israel needed to closely observe and occasionally attack enemies like Hamas, while assuming that they didnt pose an existential danger. It was widely believed in Israel that its military was so superior to that of its opponents that they wouldnt attempt a war they knew theyd lose. Under that assumption, Israel overlooked the Iran-backed militia designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and others as it built an extensive tunnel network and missile production facilities. Hamas watched Israel carefully and misled it about its goals. At the same time, Israel believed the militant group was aware of its limitations and would never launch an attack that would lead to its own destruction. Israeli intelligence gathered during the Gaza war which has killed 48,000 people, according to Hamas health officials suggests Hamas believed it could conquer Israel with support from other Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah. The intelligence agencies assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas wasnt planning to attack. Theyre now facing intense criticism, and are rethinking their core assumptions. One of them is that Hamas lacks the support of the Palestinians of Gaza. Eyal Tsir-Cohen, who retired from Israels intelligence agencies last August after 35 years, said, We didnt understand how deeply Hamas is rooted in the social fabric of Gaza and how connected it is to the people. It was assumed that Palestinians would welcome being freed of Hamas, Tsir-Cohen said. That turned out to be incorrect. As a result, intelligence assessments now matter less. The new policy relies more on deterrence, with soldiers, tanks, drones and jets preventing any possible risk to Israelis living in border areas. Last month, Netanyahu vowed that Israel would demilitarize southern Syria and keep it that way with the IDF remaining there indefinitely. Meanwhile, its supporting the Druze community in Syria to create an area of influence against the provisional central government in Damascus following the fall of Bashar Assad. Since late January, Israeli forces in the northern West Bank refugee camps have been operating with tanks for the first time in two decades. Some 40,000 Palestinians have left their homes and likely wont be able to return. The troops now inside the camps? I told them they wont leave for at least a year, Katz said. In Gaza, war may break out again as Israel presses Hamas to release more hostages and give up its arms. Those policies run the risk of emboldening radical forces across the region and isolating Israel, making it less likely that it can forge close ties with countries like Saudi Arabia and create a much-anticipated security framework in the region. In Israel, the Oct. 7 trauma overrides those considerations. Tens of thousands of residents in border areas were evacuated to temporary housing at government expense, and getting them to return home has been a challenge. In truth, there is fear across Israel that an October 7-style attack will be repeated. Israel Gantz, who heads the Jewish settlement council in the West Bank, said a poll carried out by his group showed that 80% of Israelis fear a similar attack. This fear is shaping Israels new military doctrine. A close associate of Netanyahus speaking on condition of anonymity, said he recently went on a tour with foreign visitors. On the way, he pointed out the West Bank was virtually adjacent to major Israeli towns. Militants on motorcycles could make that trip in minutes, just as Hamas did on Oct. 7 and that, he said, mustnt ever be permitted to happen again. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Pentagon is seen in October 2021. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON The Defense Departments first phase of firing civilian workers began this week, Pentagon officials confirmed Thursday. The department announced Feb. 21 that it would soon lay off 5,400 probationary workers, with plans to eventually reduce its civilian workforce by up to 8%. Those layoffs began Monday, according to a memo released by the Pentagon that was dated the same day. The firings were planned to start last week. Multiple Pentagon officials were unable to provide a reason for the delay. Workers fired Monday were the first step in the Defense Departments effort to appropriately align its personnel resources with its critical war-fighting functions, read the March 3 memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Their employment, he said, was not in the public interest. The department will continue taking steps to implement [President Donald Trumps] direction to restore accountability to the American public, reduce the size of the federal governments workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition, and faithfully and responsibly manage taxpayer dollars, the memo reads. The firings will come in waves until officials dismiss the 5,400 workers required by Hegseth, a defense official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Thursday. The official was unable to say how many layoffs had already occurred or what departments were impacted. However, the Defense Logistics Agency confirmed Thursday that fewer than 100 civilian personnel of its workforce of 25,000 were dismissed Monday from their jobs. The DLA workers were probationary. The federal government considers workers to be probationary if they have been on the job for less than one to two years. Probationary workers lack the employment protections of more seasoned workers. DLA released probationary employees consistent with the Department of Defenses broader efforts to ensure resources are aligned with the departments strategic objectives, the agency said in a statement. The Defense Logistics Agency provides logistics support to the military and foreign nations. It is the Defense Departments largest combat support agency. The agency declined to identify the divisions where the dismissed employees worked or whether more terminations are expected. On the same day that the firings began, Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., a Navy veteran, sent a letter to Hegseth urging him to mitigate workforce reductions at the Defense Department. Kiggans expressed concern about how cutting civilian staff with prior military service could impact national security. At a time when we are seeing global instability and rising threats from adversaries like China and Russia, it is vital that we protect our skilled workforce and focus on maintaining a robust and capable Department of Defense, she wrote. Kiggans urged Hegseth to ensure veterans are not disproportionately affected by layoffs. Their unique skills and dedication are critical to maintaining the strength of our military, she wrote. Veterans make up about 30% of the federal workforce but comprise nearly half of the Defense Departments civilian workforce. There are more than 950,000 civilian employees across the Defense Department, according to its civilian careers website. Democratic lawmakers warned last week the Defense Department is preparing to fire more than 70,000 civilians across its workforce. That would be within the 5% to 8% proposed cut outlined two weeks ago by Hegseth. This will inevitably impact defense readiness, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. Theres a domino effect that will extend across the military. People get demoralized and disillusioned. Costs go well beyond dollars and cents. Other lawmakers are focused on minimizing impacts to areas of the Defense Department that they consider to be critical, including shipyards, logistics, equipment maintenance, aircraft repair and information security. In early February, more than a month before Hegseth announced sweeping layoffs, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, wrote a letter to the acting Navy secretary asking for exemptions to the services public shipyard workforce in the event of layoffs. Our shipyards cannot afford to reduce their workforces. In fact, [Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine] needs to hire 550 workers annually just to meet Navy demand for the foreseeable future, the senators wrote. The Navy has four public shipyards Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Washington, and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Hawaii that serve as maintenance depots for nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. The four shipyards have a combined civilian workforce of more than 30,000 people. But lawmakers have argued the backlog of ships in maintenance in the past decade is, in part, due to a need for more workers. The Navy wrote in a letter to the lawmakers last week that it was working with the Defense Department to identify critical functions and positions at naval shipyards for exemption. The letter was signed Feb. 28 and signed by acting Navy Secretary Terence Emmert. The [Navy] is committed to carry out workforce shaping in a manner that preserves lethality and readiness, while advancing the administrations imperatives of reduction and cost savings, according to the letter. Stars and Stripes reporter Linda Hersey contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture Anar Guliyev has met with the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus Dmitry Pinevich, a source in the committee told Trend. According to information, the committee chairman provided detailed information about the work carried out in the fields of urban planning and architecture in Azerbaijan in recent years and discussed the successful results of close cooperation with the relevant Belarusian institutions. The significance of the design of Gizil Kangarli village in the Aghdam district in an agrarian town format, based on the relevant agreement signed last year, was particularly emphasized in terms of expanding bilateral relations between the two countries. The ambassador welcomed the mutually beneficial cooperation in the design of residential settlements and construction facilities, adding that he won't spare any efforts in this direction. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Blighe (44) indicated his willingness to make this contribution via his barrister. Anti immigration activist Derek Blighe, who was convicted of a public order offence last year after he refused to make a donation to the Irish Refugee Council yesterday appealed that conviction with the court hearing that his issue with paying was religious in nature. Blighe of Croughevoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork was last year given the opportunity by Judge Colm Roberts at Fermoy District Court to avail of the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act by making the donation. He was convicted when he failed to make the contribution. At a sitting of Cork Circuit Appeals Court today barrister Alan ODwyer said that it was purely a religious matter. He said that his clients difficulty was with the position taken by the Irish Refugee Council on the repeal of the 8th amendment to the Irish constitution in relation to abortion. Judge Helen Boyle told Mr Blighe that she would vary the order of the district court. She said that instead of paying 400 to the Irish Refugee Council Blighe could pay 500 to Nasc. Nasc is an advocacy service which links migrants and refugees to their rights. Mr Blighe (44) indicated his willingness to make this contribution via his barrister. Judge Boyle then adjourned the appeal for eight weeks to allow for confirmation of payment of the monies to Nasc. State solicitor Jeremiah Healy said that the area where the public order offence occurred during a protest by Blighe and other individuals had quietened down. No further issues have occurred. Meanwhile, Mr Blighe via solicitor Matthew Bermingham had last year told Fermoy District Court that his client was willing to donate to another charity rather than the Irish Refugee Council. Mr Bermingham had said that Blighe had an issue with the genuineness of the applicants [seeking asylum and assisted by the council]. At the time Judge Roberts said that it was not up to Blighe to choose the charity to which he was willing to donagte. At a previous court sitting, Insp Jason Wallace said it was alleged that Blighe had engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour during an incident at Abbeyville House, Fermoy, on December 22nd, 2023. Witness Christopher Gomez said he was duty manager at Abbeyville when it was being prepared as accommodation for migrants and a protest by people opposing its use for this purpose had been taking place for several months outside. Mr Gomez said he had ordered an oil delivery from a local company. When the delivery truck arrived at about 11am, he said Blighe approached the driver and spoke to him. He said Blighe then told him the drivers not going to give you oil and the truck left. Derek Blighe Mr Gomez contacted the oil company and a second truck was dispatched. He opened the gates when it arrived and the driver began making the delivery. Blighe then began recording Mr Gomez with his phone and the court was shown footage he uploaded to Facebook in which he castigated Mr Gomez. In the video, Blighe can be heard telling Mr Gomez: You are a guest in this country. Shame on you. You should be ashamed. You will go down in the history books, you will go down in the sewers of Irish history. Go back to where you came from. Mr Gomez said Blighe live-streamed the incident which really traumatised me. He later downloaded the footage and provided it to gardai when making a complaint. He said he had been an Irish citizen for 20 years and had never experienced anything like this before. Garda Dane Murphy said he visited the protest at Abbeyville later that day and the atmosphere was borderline volatile. He said Blighe made a cautioned statement regarding the incident on January 9th last, but replied no comment to every question he was asked. The judge said he found the black and white attitude towards immigration hard to understand especially from an Irish perspective where generations of Irish people had emigrated and the vast majority of them illegally. He then gave Blighe, whom the court heard had eight previous convictions, including one for public order, the opportunity to avoid a criminal conviction by making the donation to the Irish Refugee Council. Det Sgt Casey said that a garda report into the investigation comes to 200 pages and also comprises 180 witness statements A senior garda has told a court that an estimated 1m in value in property has been allegedly stolen or damaged in a spate of burglaries across Limerick, Clare and Galway. At Ennis District Court today, Det Sgt John Casey said that the "significant Garda investigation" concerns the alleged burglary of 31 commercial premises, 24 residential properties and also concerns 37 unauthorised takings of vehicles. He said that there are 69 alleged injured parties. Det Sgt Casey said that a garda report into the investigation comes to 200 pages and also comprises 180 witness statements. Det Sgt Casey provided the investigation update to court where one accused man, Eddie Carey (31) concerning the overall garda investigation is charged with 24 burglaries at premises across Clare, Limerick and Galway. Det Sgt Casey said that one garda and a garda sergeant are working full time on a file to be sent to the DPP. Det Sgt Casey said that gardai hope to shortly lodge the file with the DPP and make a presentation to the DPP when the file is lodged. Eddie Carey has been on remand in custody since January 19th after he was refused bail. After hearing Det Sgt Caseys evidence, Judge Alec Gabbett said that it is apparent that remarkable progress has been made by the gardai in the case. Mr Carey is facing 46 charges overall and in one of the charges, Mr Carey is charged with burglary at Wolfe Tones GAA Club in Shannon - the club of Clare All-Ireland winning senior hurling manager and double All Ireland winner as a player, Brian Lohan. On one day alone on February 2, 2024, Mr Carey of De Vere Court, John Carew Park, Limerick is facing burglary charges concerning seven separate premises - Carry Out, Drumgeely, Shannon; Subway restaurant, Shannon; High Maintenance, Limerick Rd, Ennis; Remix, Limerick Rd, Ennis; Tech Station, Killaloe; Corbally Centre, Corbally Rd, Limerick and Inver, Ennis Rd, Limerick. Mr Carey is facing the burglary charge against Wolfe Tones where he is accused of trespassing at the Shannon GAA clubhouse on July 9th last and committing theft contrary to Section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. On the same date, Mr Carey is accused of committing burglaries at Hair Symphony, Clarinbridge, Galway, Day Break, Crusheen and Gala Chinese, Castle Street, Oranmore, Co Galway. On another date on July 5 last, Mr Carey is accused of carrying out burglaries at five premises - The Electronic Store, Market Square, Scarriff; Rogers Bar, Main Street, Scariff; Newcastle West Mobile Zone, Newcastle West; Gadget Fix, Main Street, Adare and Poinaire, Main Street, Adare. In total, Mr Carey is facing 46 separate charges that comprise of 24 burglary charges, 17 handling charges, four charges concerning the unauthorised taking of cars and one charge where he is accused of having in his possession two vehicle unlocking and starter devices. The charge states that the two unlocking devices were in Mr Careys possession at his address on September 17 last and the devices were made or adapted for the use in the authorised taking of vehicles. Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr Carey in custody to appear via video-link from Limerick prison at Ennis District Court to March 19 next. Alfonso Turano (40), a cash-and-carry owner, had travelled from Spain when he was arrested with 15kg of the drug, a court heard An Italian businessman was allegedly found with 300,000 of cannabis in a suitcase during a layover at Dublin Airport while he was flying to London. Alfonso Turano (40), a cash-and-carry owner, had travelled from Spain when he was arrested with 15kg of the drug, a court heard. Judge Treasa Kelly granted him bail, to include 20,000 cash lodgments, and adjourned the case for DPP directions. Mr Turano, of Via Lago Di Como, Corigliano Calabro, Italy, appeared in Dublin District Court charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply. Garda Peter Mullins, of Dublin Airport garda station, said he arrested the accused under the Misuse of Drugs Act at Terminal 2 on March 1. He said there were strong objections to bail due to the alleged amount of drugs found. He said the accuseds suitcase had been fast-tracked separately to Dublin and he had called to collect it from the airline. He knowingly collected the bag, the garda said. The garda said he expected the charge to go forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gda Mullins said he believed Mr Turano was a flight risk and would not answer bail and appear in court if released. The accused was from Italy with business ties to Valencia, Spain, and no ties to the Irish jurisdiction, he said. Spanish authorities had confirmed he was a resident there. Gda Mullins said Mr Turanos travel arrangements were to fly from Barcelona to London and there was a layover in Dublin. The accused was presumed innocent, his lawyer said, applying for bail. He had given his details to gardai and while he did not currently have an address in Ireland, he was a man of means and could get somewhere to stay here. Judge Kelly said it was a significant amount of alleged drugs and she would require a significant cash lodgment for bail. Mr Turano could come up with 2,000, his lawyer said. The judge set bail in the accuseds own bond of 10,000, with a 10,000 cash lodgment and a 10,000 independent surety. Under conditions, he is to surrender his passport and remain in this jurisdiction while the case is before the court. He must provide gardai with an address in Ireland and a phone number at which he is available at all times. Mr Turano did not speak during the bail hearing and has not yet entered a plea to the charge. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear in Cloverhill District Court. The shock evidence was presented before Judge Jennifer OBrien in the Circuit Civil Court today A male security guard at a Circle K filling station pulled up a 14-year-old girls T-shirt, and that of her 12-year-old sister, looking for stolen goods, a judge has heard. The shock evidence was presented before Judge Jennifer OBrien in the Circuit Civil Court today, Thursday, when barrister Rosalynn Mc Veigh disclosed that the two sisters had brought claims for defamation, assault and trespass on the person. Ms Mc Veigh, who appeared with Enda P. Moran Solicitors, for Margaret and Ellen Casey, of St Aidans Close, Tallaght, told Judge OBrien that Circle K and Bidvest Noonan Security had offered both girls damages of 10,000 each to settle their cases. Judge OBrien heard that in April 2023, the girls mother, Angela Casey, had stopped her car at the Circle K filling station in Citywest, Dublin, and had given her daughters money to go into the attached convenience shop to buy themselves Easter eggs. When they had been unable to find what they were looking for, they attempted to leave the shop when accosted by the security guard who asked if they had taken anything and had detained them in the shop for a few minutes. Margaret, who was then just under 15 years old, and Ellen, who was 12 at the time, sued both defendants through their mother. When they had returned to their mothers car they told her that the security man had lifted up their T-shirts looking for stolen products. Mrs Casey had then gone into the store and demanded to know why the man had lifted up her girls T-shirts and he had replied that he had thought he had seen them rob something. The girls had sued for defamation, false imprisonment, assault and trespass on the person and had claimed they had been greatly distressed and embarrassed and made look like thieves as a result of what had happened. There had been no apology from either of the defendants. Circle K has registered offices at Beech Hill, Clonskeagh in Dublin 4 and Bidvest Noonan (Roi) Limited, which claims to be an award-winning company, has offices at Hilton House, Swords Business Park, Swords, Co Dublin. Gardai had been called to the Citywest Filling Station and had taken statements from the parties concerned but it is not known if papers had been forwarded to or if any directions had been recommended by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ms Mc Veigh told Judge OBrien she was recommending the two settlement offers to the court and the judge said she would approve both settlement offers and made orders for legal costs against the defendants to be taxed in default of agreement. All five suspects are being questioned at different garda stations in Cork and Dublin under organised crime legislation after their arrests on Tuesday. Five people including a father and son from Dublins southside have been arrested in relation to an alleged massive drugs conspiracy off the coast of Co Cork. The international criminal conspiracy was rumbled in March of last year and 840 kilos of cocaine worth over 58 million that was found washed up on beaches in Denmark was the drug haul that was destined for Ireland. No drugs were landed in west Cork with gardai unclear if the mission was aborted due to gang fears over police surveillance or poor sea conditions in the area. Several of the men are believed to have panicked when they suspected they were being watched. Another man in custody, aged in his late 50s from the Tallaght area, was also arrested in the joint operation between gardai from west Cork and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB). All five suspects are being questioned at different garda stations in Cork and Dublin under organised crime legislation after their arrests on Tuesday. The Tallaght suspect has been on the radar of gardai for decades for his alleged role in international drugs trafficking into Ireland. Last March, properties in Dublin linked to the father and son were raided as part of the same investigation and devices and other evidence was seized. They were not arrested on that occasion. The older man is a convicted killer who has multiple previous convictions and has been on the garda radar for over four decades for involvement in violent and organised crime. Two very close associates of these men were arrested last October in a separate organised crime investigation into the gang after gardai seized 3m worth of drugs in Dublin and Wicklow as well over half a million euro in cash and several luxury vehicles. Detectives believe that the crime group is led by the father and son, aged in their 60s and 30s, who are based in south Dublin are run one of the country's largest drug networks. The five suspects who were arrested this week can be held for questioning for up to a week. Ten men are due to go on trial at the Special Criminal Court in relation to the massive alleged drugs conspiracy. What gardai have been investigating for the past year is who organised this shipment and the belief is that some of these arrested individuals got together and tries to bring in the shipment, a senior source said. The arrests are a follow-up to the searches that happened last year, there has been huge work carried out in this investigation, the source added. A previous court hearing heard that a powerful three-engine inflatable 40-foot boat was extensively modified with "stealth capabilities" to ferry a crew from west Cork to meet a "mothership" at sea and return laden with drugs. Gardai arrested 10 men on March 14 in Tragumna near Skibbereen and Leap village in west Cork and charged them with conspiring to import drugs into Ireland. The High Court heard evidence last April that gardai believed it was part of a "sophisticated" operation by an international criminal group. A garda inspector told the court that "a concerned citizen" had alerted gardai about vehicles at Tragumna Pier in the dark and early hours of March 12. There was a Land Rover, a camper van and an articulated truck with its trailer down and facing the pier, and several people were visible. Gardai conducted surveillance and were informed of the launch of a 40-foot rigid inflatable boat (RIB) equipped with three high-powered Yamaha engines. Almost 48 hours later, the three vehicles returned to the pier and the RIB returned without any drugs. The garda witness claimed the 10 defendants loaded the returned RIB using a winch to load it back onto a modified trailer and into the truck. The truck got stuck due to the slant on the pier and was towed by the Land Rover and the camper van. It was alleged that the camper van departed with six men but gardai intercepted it in Leap., Co Cork. The other four, including the driver of the truck, were arrested at the pier in Tragumna. Gardai recovered walkie-talkies, personal phones, and satellite "burner" phones and that 3,000 and 8,000 were spent on maritime clothing. The entire cost of materials, including the boat, travel, and accommodation, was estimated to be 700,000. It was alleged gardai recovered notes with timings and distance from accommodation to piers in west Cork. The inspector said people at a higher level in an international crime group organised what was termed in court as a "sophisticated operation". The 10 are accused that, on dates between February 27 and March 14, they conspired with each other to import controlled drugs in excess of 13,000, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act. Judge McHugh said he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the tablets were not for Thomas Andersons own use A man caught with a tub of more than 600 sleeping tablets had bought them online and said he needed them to deal with a rare form of epilepsy. Thomas Anderson (41) had already been prescribed the same medication but got an extra supply, saying he could not sleep without it. Anderson admitted unlawful possession of the tablets but denied that they were for sale or supply, saying they were all for his personal use. Judge David McHugh struck out the more serious charge and fined him 300 for simple possession of the drug. Blanchardstown District Court heard gardai searched Andersons home at Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot on April 25, 2020. They found 622 zopiclone tablets worth 1,244 and Anderson accepted responsibility for them. The gardai did not accept they were for his own personal use. Anderson told the court he needed the extra tablets to sleep, and that the less sleep he got, the more seizures he took. Defence barrister Mark McMahon said no drugs paraphernalia, cash or tick lists were found in the search of the accuseds home. He doesnt live the life of a high-end drug dealer, the barrister added. Judge McHugh said he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the tablets were not for Andersons own use. However, he said the accused was completely in error to have acquired them the way he did rather than following his doctors prescription, even if he had a rare form of epilepsy. The rules and regulations in relation to medicine are very clearly there, he said. The court heard Anderson was unable to work and was on social welfare. Christopher O'Grady (33) had denied the single count of raping the then 19-year-old woman on January 1, 2019 A man has been found guilty of raping a Spanish tourist in Dublin city centre during New Year's Eve celebrations six years ago. Christopher O'Grady (33), formerly of Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co Louth, had denied the single count of raping the then 19-year-old woman on January 1, 2019. He was homeless at the time and is in custody. It was the State's case that O'Grady raped the woman on a street in the Dublin Castle area and that the woman didn't consent and was unable to consent due to the effects of alcohol. The Central Criminal Court jury returned the verdict today after starting their deliberations Wednesday afternoon. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs thanked jurors for their service and the attention they gave to the case. She adjourned the case to June 19 for sentence hearing. In his closing speech to the jury this week, Tony McGillicuddy SC, prosecuting, said O'Grady led (the woman) in a menacing and predatory way into an area off the normal streets of Dublin City Centre on New Year's Eve to have sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old Spanish student with hardly any English, against her consent and when she was in a bad state as a result of alcohol. He said the complainant's account of what happened that night was honest, sincere and accounted for and he urged jurors to find the man guilty of the charge. The trial heard the woman had been in town to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks that night when she got separated from her friend and came into contact with O'Grady outside a shop. She told the court she was trying to find a bar to meet her friend and the man walked her through town to a car park area where the alleged rape occurred. The woman said she felt like a doll and didn't have any strength in her body during the alleged incident. Afterwards, the court has heard she walked with O'Grady back through the city centre for about 40 minutes, where she got talking to a couple a man and woman - outside a shop and parted ways with O'Grady. The woman ended up in a B&B with the second man after the woman went home, where they had anal sex before the woman went home to her accommodation. She told the court it was painful and she persuaded the man to stop. The trial was played CCTV footage of this encounter, which occurred in the hallway of the B&B. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs warned the jury that they may find this footage intrusive and distressing, but she said she had made the decision that it needed to be shown in court as O'Grady had a constitutional right to put the evidence before them. When the complainant woke up the next morning, she told the court she realised I had two rapes and there might be a medical issue with that. She went to hospital. The court heard no charge has been brought against the second man, who gave evidence in the trial. In his closing speech, Mr McGillicuddy said he had not dwelt on the woman's sexual encounter with the second man that night, because the charge before the court related to the O'Grady only. He said what the jury had to consider was whether the woman was capable of consenting to sexual intercourse between 1.40am and 2.17am on the morning in question. In his closing speech to the jury, Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, said there were bizarre elements to the case and huge similarities between the two sexual encounters the woman had that night, including that they both took place in a semi-private / semi-public place. He said that if it weren't for the fact that the jury had watched video evidence of the woman's sexual encounter with the second man, he would also have been on trial. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a 50 million euro loan to TEB Arval, a leading fleet leasing and mobility solution provider in Turkiye, Trend reports. This financing will support the acquisition of 1,200 electric vehicles (EVs), including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), to help the company reduce its carbon footprint and enhance sustainability. As Turkiye faces rapid urbanization, the demand for sustainable transportation has grown, with the country's transport sector historically contributing to significant environmental challenges. TEB Arval aims to lead the shift toward low-carbon mobility, planning to increase the share of electric vehicles in its fleet by 2027. Mehmet Erdem Yasar, Deputy Head of Turkiye at the EBRD, highlighted the bank's commitment to supporting greener mobility, stating, This investment not only reduces carbon emissions but sets a strong example for the industry, promoting environmental responsibility. Kagan Yasa, General Manager of TEB Arval, emphasized the companys commitment to offering sustainable mobility solutions, combining electric vehicle leasing with charging infrastructure, backup vehicles, and driver training. Since 2009, the EBRD has committed over 22 billion euros to 476 projects in Turkiye, with the majority focused on the private sector. The jury at the Central Criminal Court today heard that in garda interview, Daniel Blanaru said that Larisa Serban (26) had a knife in her body after they had an argument A 37-year-old man accused of murdering his partner told gardai that it was possible he had put a knife into her body while they were pushing and shoving, a jury has heard. The jury at the Central Criminal Court today heard that in garda interview, Daniel Blanaru said that Larisa Serban (26) had a knife in her body after they had an argument in their Co Meath home. Mr Blanaru, from Rathmore, Athboy, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Serban on or about August 12, 2022 . It is the State's case that Larisa was stabbed to death by Mr Blanaru, whom they argue was a jealous and "controlling" partner. The jury viewed video footage of Mr Blanarus interviews in Ashbourne Garda Station on August 12, 2022, with Detective Sergeant Robert Madden giving evidence to counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Antonia Boyle BL. The trial has heard that Mr Blanaru told gardai he pushed and hit Larisa during an argument after he claimed he found her having a party with her brother David Serban and another tall guy hours before she was found stabbed to death in her home. During his third interview at the garda station, the accused, speaking through a Romanian interpreter, said that Larisa told him to get out of the house, then she went and took a knife and came towards me. She came towards me with the knife. I took the knife from her, when I turned with her, when I was struggling, the knife was already in my hand," Mr Blanaru said. She came towards me. I put my hand on the knife, struggling, but the knife was already in her body, but I didnt know that. When he was asked if he had put the knife in Larisas body, the accused replied: When we had the pushing and the shoving, it was possible. When he was asked what part of her body he had put the knife into, the accused replied: Around here, indicating his left hand side near the heart. He was next asked how many times he struck her with the knife, to which the accused replied: I think it was once, when I tried to take the knife away from her hand. Daniel Blanaru (37), who denies murdering Larisa Serban. Photo: Paddy Cummins The jury also viewed video footage of Mr Blanarus second interview in Ashbourne Garda Station on August 12, 2022, with Detective Sergeant Mark Looby giving evidence to counsel for the Director of Public prosecutions, Eilis Brennan SC. In this interview, Mr Blanaru said that he felt there was something between Larisa and the tall guy he said was in the house on the night she was stabbed. He said that he last saw the knife in the hall at the entrance near the door, where we had the argument, adding that the knife was in Larisas hand. When I turned, I saw it in her hand, and then it wasnt there, Mr Blanaru told gardai. When asked where the knife was after that, the accused replied: In her body, because she was holding the hand. He went on to say that he did not see any blood. Gardai put it to him that he knew Larisa was stabbed in the chest, and yet he just walked out the door and left her bleeding on the floor. He was asked whether that was the right thing to do, to which the accused replied that it was not. He went on to agree with a garda assertion that what he did was take a bag of cocaine as your wife lay bleeding on the ground. You knew she was stabbed in the chest, and your reaction to that was to do a line of cocaine. There wasnt much care to just leave her there, bleeding on the floor, to die, said the interviewing detective. If you think that was the way, that was the way, replied the accused. After the memo of the interview was read back to the accused in the garda station and he was asked if he wished to change anything, Mr Blanaru replied: I didnt know that there was blood coming out of her. He also said that he wished to clarify that he took the cocaine when he first went into the house, not after the knife was in Larisas chest. The jury also heard evidence from Dr Shah Rukh Khan, who told Ms Brennan that he examined the accused at Ashbourne Garda Station and found no signs of intoxication. The witness said that Mr Blanaru was fully orientated and capable of understanding why the gardai might want to speak to him, which led Dr Khan to conclude that the accused was fit for interview. In response to cross-examination by defence counsel, Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, Dr Khan said that the gardai had not raised any concern that the accused had not slept the night before. Dr Khan said that it was possible that if someone goes through a process of no sleep, that can affect their understanding and their cognitive functions. He said that in Mr Blanarus case, there had been no concern of drowsiness or any evidence of his having a difficulty in parsing the questions put to him. The witness went on to say that it is possible that a person can go through 24 or 48 hours of no sleep without looking drowsy. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and an enlarged jury of eleven men and four women. Oisin Peavoy (39) of Granby Row, Dublin has no previous convictions A man who wielded a knife in front of a busload of young children has been sentenced to three years in prison. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Oisin Peavoy (39) of Granby Row, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to two counts of production of an article at locations in Parnell Square and Gardiner Street Upper on May 28, 2024. This charge carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison. Peavoy has no previous convictions. Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said this defendant had a knife, which he produced on one occasion and pointed to it on the other. He said people were very nervous. Judge Nolan said Peavoy has no record of conviction and has mental health difficulties. He also said Peavoy was meandering during the [garda] interview and making irrational statements. The judge said, this is a serious matter, and noted that Peavoy has some delusions and some delusions relating to children. Judge Nolan sentenced him to three years in prison and suspended the final two years for two years. He also placed him under the supervision of the Probation Services for 18 months post-release and directed Peavo carry out all directions they deem necessary, including his living arrangements. The judge backdated the sentence to May 28, 2024, when Peavoy went into custody. Detective Garda Paul Griffin told Oisin Clarke, BL, prosecuting, that on the morning in question, an employee in a creche was getting children on a bus to travel to school. When the last child had boarded the bus, the worker noticed a man walking towards her. She thought the man was intoxicated as he was mumbling. She asked him if he was okay. Oisin Peavoy The man, later identified as Peavoy, asked the woman if she was in charge of these children, to which she replied, Yes. He then said, You shouldnt be. The court heard that the woman then boarded the bus, and she then heard one of the children say, he has a knife. The bus driver saw Peavoy stick his fingers up to the woman and then walk backwards; he then pulled out a knife and held it by his side. The bus driver then began to drive off, and Peavoy gave him what was described as a military salute'. CCTV footage of this incident was played to the court. Det Gda Griffin said a short time later, at 9.10 am, Peavoy went to Gardiner Street Upper and approached a second busload of children on their way to the zoo. The bus driver saw Peavoy approaching the bus. Peavoy indicated that he had a knife, which he pointed to in a holder. The driver became concerned for the children and drove off. A short time later, the driver flagged down the gardai and made them aware of what happened. Peavoy was arrested at 10 am. The court heard that gardai were immediately aware that Peavoy had mental health issues. During his interview, he told gardai that he was Captain Peter Gramby from the arm of King Charles III and that Putin was listening. He then said that he was a soldier in the British Army and was reporting to King Charles and said he had been signalled. Peavoy was remanded into custody but later transferred to the Central Mental Hospital. A victim impact statement from the creche worker was handed in but not read out. Det Gda Griffin agreed with Michael Hourigan SC, defending, that Peavoy was in the throws of a significant mental health issue at the time and that he also has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The garda agreed with counsel that his client had been non-compliant with the taking of his medication at the time. Mr Hourigan said this case had first been before the District Court, but they refused jurisdiction, and his client was sent forward to the Circuit Court. Counsel said there was mental health staff present in court who believe that upon Peavoys release, he should be assessed and should live in a residential facility with trained staff who will be able to help him. Police fear further unidentified attacks by Zou, who studied in Belfast in 2017-2019 Bodycam footage shows Former Queen's University Belfast student Zhenhao Zou being arrested for drugging and raping 10 women A former Queens University Belfast student kept a grim collection of souvenirs from the women he is suspected of attacking including earrings, a lipstick and a fridge magnet from Seville. Serial rapist Zhenhao Zou was convicted today of drugging and raping 10 women in London and China, but is feared to have targeted more than 50 more. An international appeal has been launched to trace potential victims of the engineering student, which would make him one of the worst sex offenders the UK has seen. Currently there is no evidence that he offended while he lived in Belfast from 2017 to 2019. The 28-year-old was convicted of harrowing attacks involving two women who have been identified and another eight who have yet to be traced. He filmed nine of the attacks as souvenirs and kept a trophy box of womens belongings, jurors in his trial at Inner London Crown Court were told. Image of belongings shown in the court case of Zhenhao Zou The souvenirs also include a Tom and Jerry iPhone battery pack, a clip-on hair extension and a collection of different hair bobbles, a sock, a key on a fob, a ring, and the Seville magnet. Judge Rosina Cottage said Zou is a dangerous and predatory sexual offender and warned him he faces a very long jail term when he is sentenced on June 19. Officers found hundreds of hours of disturbing videos and photos that he kept, around half of which are thought to have been filmed in the UK and half in China. Zou moved to Belfast in 2017 to study mechanical engineering at QUB before heading to London in 2019 to do a masters degree and then a PhD at UCL. As the appeal was launched following Zous conviction yesterday, the Met Police said there is currently no evidence of offending in Belfast. But a spokesperson added that the force would be keeping an open mind as the search for other potential victims begins. A spokesperson for QUB said the university was aware of the trial and had been liaising with the Met Police. At this time, there is nothing to suggest that any offences relate to his time at Queens University Belfast, they added. We will continue to liaise with all appropriate authorities should that position change. After a month-long trial, Zou, who was most recently living in Elephant and Castle, south-east London, was found guilty of raping three women in London and another seven in China between September 2019 and May 2023. He was convicted of 11 counts of rape, with two of the offences relating to one victim. Zou was also convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and three of possession of a controlled drug (butanediol) with intent to commit a sexual offence. He was cleared of two further counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image, and five counts of possession of controlled drugs to commit a sexual offence (one count involving MDMA, three involving ketamine; one of alprazolam). Prosecutors said Zou appears to be a smart and charming young man but is in fact a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist. He comes from a wealthy family and had enough money to afford a Rolex, a wardrobe full of designer clothes, and cosmetic procedures including a hair transplant and facial surgery, while paying thousands a month in rent. Crown prosecutor Saira Pike said Zou is a danger to women, and praised the two victims who gave evidence for their courage in coming forward. Another potential victim has contacted police following the publicity around Zous criminal trial. Jurors had to watch footage of nine of the rapes during court proceedings, appearing visibly upset. Investigators first charged Zou in January 2024 but waited for more than a year until he had been convicted before making public appeals for further victims to come forward. Image of a Butanediol bottle shown in the court case of Zhenhao Zou The full raft of 35 charges was laid against him in August last year. His crimes began to be uncovered in November 2023, when a woman went to police to allege that she had been attacked by Zou. There was not enough evidence to bring a criminal charge over her claim, but when Zous phone was seized, officers found disturbing videos of him raping unconscious women, and pipettes and sedating drugs in his flat. One of the two victims who has been identified by police told the jury she was raped after Zou pushed her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and would not let her leave his flat in Elephant and Castle in May 2023. The second, who is now living in China, said she was also raped by Zou, in his student flat near Russell Square in October 2021, when she was unconscious. Jurors rejected Zous claims that the sexual interactions were consensual, that drugs and alcohol were consumed by the women voluntarily, and that some of the footage captured involved role play. He told jurors that he was in the habit of taking photos and videos of sexual activity, and that he liked pornography where it appears that a woman is asleep or unconscious. Among the disturbing videos shown in court was footage of an attack on a woman, identified only as Female A, that is also believed to have taken place at Zous student flat near Russell Square. In it the woman is heard telling Zou to stop, while struggling to stay awake. Zou was also convicted of rapes believed to have taken place in his native China, because foreign nationals who are living in the UK can be charged with offences committed abroad if the crime is also illegal in the country where it took place. The appeal poster put out by police to trace potential victims of Zhenhao Zou. (Metropolitan Police/PA) 'Charming and very self assured' - how student masked sinister side An international appeal is being launched to trace dozens more potential victims who may have fallen prey to rapist Zhenhao Zou (PA) Zhenhao Zou appeared to be charming and a model student, but the videos he made of his crimes revealed the sinister truth that he was a serial rapist. The Chinese national, who was studying for a PhD in engineering at UCL, enjoyed a busy social life while living in London and was described by police as seeming very self-assured. Born in Guangdong Province, his father works in what was described as a state-owned enterprise and his mother is a teacher, the jury was told. Zou (28), was wealthy enough to study in the UK for several years, and while in London had a wardrobe full of designer clothes and a Rolex watch. While in London, and during trips to his native China, he would contact women mainly on social media apps, before inviting them back to his flat for drinks or to study. But he would then spike their drink and rape them, often filming the attack on hidden or handheld cameras as a souvenir. Police studied the footage to work out whether the attacks had taken place in either of his flats in London, or used the dates when he would have travelled back to China. They found sedative drugs in his flat, as well as MDMA. Zou told investigators he brought some drugs back from China, while others he bought in nightclubs in London. Although he had studied in the UK for several years in English, he refused to speak English during his trial at Inner London Crown Court, and also used an interpreter during police interview. Detective Superintendent Vanessa Britton said that, on the surface, Zou was a model student with an active social life. He came across in interview as really self-assured, she said. I think the interviewers described him as charming. Clearly the evidence and the videos show him in a completely different light. Daryl McMahon (49) was charged following an alleged incident at Thornton Hall, a state-owned 160-acre farm in north county Dublin A grandfather accused of producing a wooden pole at a proposed asylum-seeker centre has had an allegation of trespass struck out. Daryl McMahon (49) was charged following an alleged incident at Thornton Hall, a state-owned 160-acre farm in north county Dublin. Last June, the Government revealed it intended to use a portion of the property to provide temporary accommodation for 1,000 international protection applicants. Mr McMahon, of Quilty House, Malahide Road, Dublin 17, appeared before Swords District Court charged with criminal trespass and possession of a wooden pole at Thornton Hall on August 6 last year. The case was before the court for DPPs directions, but Sergeant Terri Ferguson said directions were outstanding. Defence lawyer Deirdre Flannery said an application was previously made for the matters to be struck out, and DPPs directions should be available at this stage. Judge John OLeary said he would strike out the trespass charge, but refused to strike out the weapon charge, saying it was a serious allegation. Ms Flannery said her clients patience was tried to the limit at this stage. Judge OLeary adjourned the case to a date next month for DPPs directions, telling the State this was its very last chance for directions. In relation to the allegation, Garda Robert Lynch previously claimed the accused was proactively engaging in a protest at Thornton Hall. The accused has not yet indicated a plea to the charge. Mary Higgins was served with the book of evidence when she appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court A woman accused of stealing 500,000 from a Dublin fee-paying secondary school has been sent forward for trial. Mary Higgins (62) was served with the book of evidence when she appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court. The accused, with an address at Hawthorn Lawn in Castleknock, is charged with stealing 500,000 in cash from Mount Sackville Secondary School, Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, Chapelizod, Dublin 20. Mount Sackville is a private, fee-paying girls school, with over 600 students. The theft allegedly took place at the school on dates unknown between January 1, 2012 and March 23, 2017. A state solicitor said the book of evidence had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Fiona Brennan gave Ms Higgins the formal alibi caution. The judge assigned defence solicitor Donough Molloy and one junior counsel on free legal aid. The judge ordered that a video copy of an interview that gardai conducted with the accused be furnished to her legal team. Ms Higgins has not yet indicated a plea to the charge. Indian national Visak Leela told the court he had no sinister motives for his actions - describing it as 'drunken horseplay'. A student has pleaded guilty to walking out of a Dublin apartment with a 5-year-old child who he didnt know 'under his arm'. Indian national Visak Leela told the court he had no sinister motives for his actions - describing it as 'drunken horseplay'. Niall talks to Sunday World news editor Eimear Rabbitt about the case and the social media storm around it. MORE EPISODES The vehicle was eventually stopped by gardai and the man was arrested. He is currently being detained in a garda station in Carlow. A man is currently being detained at a Garda station in Co Carlow A man has been arrested following a garda chase through Carlow after a JCB digger was stolen and taken for a ride. The man allegedly took the digger and drove off as garda cars chased behind. The vehicle was eventually stopped by gardai and the man was arrested. He is currently being detained in a garda station in Carlow. A spokesperson from An Garda Siochana confirmed: Gardai responded to an incident of theft of a heavy plant machine in Co Carlow this morning, Wednesday March 5, 2025. A managed pursuit was put in place to manage the safety of all involved including the public and members of An Garda Siochana. The vehicle was subsequently stopped and a male has been arrested for alleged offences contrary to the Road Traffic Acts. The male is currently detained at a garda station in Co Carlow under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time. James Dinnigan (27) and Martin Maughan (31) along with other suspects are alleged to have targeted 24 victims A screenshot of the website used in the alleged scam TWO Irishmen are facing up to 20 years in prison in New York where they are charged with wire fraud connected to a $1 million home repair scam. One victim, a 68-year-old woman, was persuaded to hand over $335,000 while another in her 70s lost $400,000. James Dinnigan (27) and Martin Maughan (31) along with other suspects are alleged to have targeted 24 victims in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and other US states. It brings to three Irish nationals facing charges this week in which it is alleged a total of $1.95 million was scammed from mostly elderly and vulnerable home owners in separate cases. The FBI launched an operation into the alleged scam in January which they believe ran from October 2023 to February 2025. Maughan was arrested just moments before he boarded a flight from Boston to Dublin on 7 February last according to a deposition from Special Agent Jed Fisher. Records show that Maughan had previously been arrested in Texas by Border Patrol and deported to the UK in October 2023. Customs and Border Patrol agents picked up Dinnigan last week in Champlain, New York who found he had over-stayed a tourist visa. It alleged they used threats in some cases to get homeowners to pay up for extra work as they demanded more money to repair damage they had caused. Their company Local Masonry and Construction was incorporated merely to provide the appearance that the company was legitimate, according to the criminal complaint. They are also alleged to have used another company name Pine Vally Home Improvements through which victims made contact. The primary perpetrators of the scheme are foreign nationals from Ireland and the United Kingdom who are illegally in the United States and falsely pose as legitimate home repair contractors. Dinnigan used the alias Charlie Ward while Maughan was known as Lawrence Rogers as they dealt with homeowners. A screenshot of the website used in the alleged scam One alleged victim ended up paying $335,000 to have some bricks repaired at her home after her partner found the firm through an internet search. Their website contained the same content as found on similar roofing services in other states, according to Special Agent Fisher. As the works and destruction continued they told the woman she should not tell anyone from the city government about the condition of her basement because it could cause the city to deem her residence uninhabitable. Other victims reported similar experiences although one man who had engineering experience realised the companys workers didnt know what they doing. He had paid them $14,000 for repairs on his back patio but stopped the work and cancelled a future payment of $10,000. He later had to pay another contractor $10,000 to repair the damage. In a statement from the Southern District of New York Us Attorneys Office they said: As alleged, these defendants and their co-conspirators carried out a brazen scheme to defraud vulnerable members of our community by posing as legitimate home repair contractors and tricking homeowners into paying for thousands of dollars in unnecessary and unwanted home repairs. They added that the men are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. It was also stated: The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Elijah Gavin In a separate case in Rhode Island an Irish man on the run from prison in Northern Ireland is facing charges of a scam in which $950,000 was taken in a similar home repair scam. Elijah Gavin is due before a judge next week in Rhode Island after being indicted by a jury for his part in a multi-state construction and money laundering fraud scheme. Also known as Timothy OReilly, he is alleged to be part of a gang that defrauded home owners of over $1 million in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. Details of the organised crime gang and their alleged activities are described in an affidavit by a Homeland Security special agent filed with the court. Kyle Clifford denies the rape of his ex-girlfriend, Louise Hunt, 25, at her familys home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 last year CCTV screengrab of Kyle Clifford at a garden centre in Enfield on the morning of the day of the murders (Hertfordshire Police/PA) CCTV screengrab of Kyle Clifford parking his car in the streets near the family home of his ex-partner, Louise Hunt, before walking to the address in Bushey and knocking on the door (Hertfordshire Police/PA) Kyle Clifford at a gym on the morning of July 5 last year, four days before the day he fatally shot his former partner and her sister with a crossbow and stabbed their mother to death with a butchers knife (Hertfordshire Police/PA) Kyle Clifford has not attended Cambridge Crown Court for his trial (Hertfordshire Police/PA) A triple killer on trial accused of raping his former partner during an attack in which he murdered her and her sister with a crossbow, and their mother with a butchers knife, will not give evidence in his defence, jurors have been told. Kyle Clifford, 26, has not attended Cambridge Crown Court for his trial, and the secure dock remained empty as the prosecution case concluded on Thursday, the fourth day of proceedings. He denies the rape of his ex-girlfriend, Louise Hunt, 25, at her familys home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9 last year. The judge, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan, asked Cliffords defence barrister, Phil Bradley KC, if he had advised the defendant that if he chose not to give evidence the jury may draw such inferences as appear proper. Kyle Clifford at a gym on the morning of July 5 last year, four days before the day he fatally shot his former partner and her sister with a crossbow and stabbed their mother to death with a butchers knife (Hertfordshire Police/PA) Mr Bradley indicated that he had advised the defendant. The judge asked: Do you call Mr Clifford? Mr Bradley replied I dont, and when asked if he called any other evidence he said I dont. CCTV screengrab of Kyle Clifford parking his car in the streets near the family home of his ex-partner, Louise Hunt, before walking to the address in Bushey and knocking on the door (Hertfordshire Police/PA) The judge told jurors that Clifford not coming to court to give evidence meant he could not contradict or undermine the prosecutions case. Mr Justice Bennathan told the jury panel it was up to them to decide whether the decision would count against the defendant. The defendant, of Enfield, north London, admitted at an earlier hearing to the murders of Louise Hunt, Hannah Hunt, 28, and their mother Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of BBC racing commentator John Hunt. CCTV screengrab of Kyle Clifford at a garden centre in Enfield on the morning of the day of the murders (Hertfordshire Police/PA) Clifford has also pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Louise Hunt and two counts of possession of offensive weapons the crossbow and the knife. Mr Hunt listened to proceedings from the packed public gallery on Thursday, and a woman wept as details of the injuries to the women were set out in agreed facts read out by the prosecution. The trial continues. The social media giant is seeking to shed up to 10pc of its workforce in Dublin as it fights for survival in the US against a ban by Donald Trump TikTok is seeking to let hundreds of workers go from its base in Dublin, which employs 3,000 staff. The Irish government has been informed of the decision, which is expected to affect up to 300 workers, or 10pc of the tech giants workforce in Ireland. A spokesperson for TikTok said that the company could not currently comment during an ongoing process. Last month, the social media company informed staff that cuts were coming, with its trust and safety divisions set to be hit hardest. Dublin hosts TikToks largest European operation and is the location for its international transparency and accountability centre. "The Department received a collective redundancy notification in relation to potential redundancies at Tiktok Technology Limited, said a spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise. Social media giants are currently cutting their content moderation activities after the new US presidential administration threatened to punish firms that censor content. TikTok is fighting for its life in the US, after Congress and judicial courts moved to ban the app on national security grounds. Under the American legal and congressional initiative, TikTok must be divested from its Chinese owner, Bytedance, or face being banned. TikTok has always strongly denied accusations of any security risks and claims to be investing 12bn over a 10-period in Project Clover, a European data centre initiative which aims to ringfence user data away from any possible interference or oversight from China. The Irish Data Protection Commissioner is set to announce a draft decision on its investigation into whether TikTok inappropriately transferred data between its European and Chinese operations, contrary to EU law. TikTok is not the only tech giant to be letting people go. Earlier this year, Meta announced it was going ahead with plans to cut up to 100 people from its 2,000-strong base in Dublin. However, a spokesperson for Mark Zuckerbergs company said that the roles would be backfilled and that those being let go were low performers. Meta has cut almost a third of its workforce in Ireland over the last two years. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. A delegation led by Natia Turnava, the Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, has visited the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), the CBA told Trend. The CBA Governor Taleh Kazimov welcomed the delegation during their visit. Throughout the meeting, both parties expressed strong satisfaction with the progress made in their ongoing collaboration across multiple sectors. Key topics of discussion included the modernization of payment systems, the introduction of risk-based banking supervision, ongoing reforms in monetary policy, the adoption of advanced financial technologies, and initiatives to enhance financial literacy. The meeting also emphasized broadening cooperation in additional areas to further strengthen bilateral relations. At the end of the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the CBA and the National Bank of Georgia. The purpose of the MoU is to expand cooperation in areas such as monetary policy, financial stability policy, banking supervision, payment systems, and financial technologies. It also includes plans for exchanging expertise and information, conducting training and joint seminars, and organizing research and study visits for technical consultations. The signed memorandum is expected to strengthen the cooperation between the central banks of both countries and contribute to the development of both central banking and the overall financial sector of the two nations. Dancer reportedly secured 7m loan from Comer and developer Maurice Regan to help him retain Castlehyde Estate home Michael Flatley is putting up part of his whiskey business as collateral for a loan from billionaire Luke Comer. He put the assets up as security just days before a crucial High Court hearing last week where he has been trying to retain control of his home, Castlehyde Estate, in Co Cork. The move by Flatley Whiskey comes just weeks after reports that Mr Comer was preparing to help the Lord of the Dance star with his legal battle by providing a 7m loan to the dancer, alongside developer Maurice Regan. Mr Comer made his fortune after building up a multi-billion euro property empire across Europe, America and Africa over the last two decades with his brother Brian. Flatley Whiskey launched last year, with its first product called The Dreamer. Mr Flatley said at the time that the whiskey would be launched in the United States last summer, with a worldwide release this year. New company filings for Flatley Whiskey show that a Luxembourg company called Galveston Investments last month secured rights over some assets of the whiskey company. Galveston Investments is owned by Mr Comer and its latest set of publicly available accounts show that it had assets of just over 1bn at the end of 2023. Mr Flatley has been embroiled in a legal action related to a 5.6m loan that was made in 2023 to his Blackbird Film Productions company by a firm called Novellus Finance. That loan required monthly repayments of 67,000, the High Court has been told. Novellus Finance claimed that Blackbird Film Productions defaulted on the loan a claim Mr Flatley has denied. Property developer Luke Comer. Photo: Mark Condren Mr Flatley had used his Cork mansion as security for the loan. Due to the alleged default, Novellus Finance attempted to appoint a receiver over the property, but the dancer secured an injunction in December to prevent that. Lawyers for the dance star and the lender were before the High Court last week as Mr Flatley sought the continuance of that injunction. Lawyers for Mr Flatley and Blackbird also told the High Court that a deal has been done to buy the Castlehyde Estate, with a neighbour agreeing to buy it. However, that claim was disputed by lawyers for Novellus Finance. The two sides are due to make another appearance before the court this week. In January, the Business Post reported that Mr Comer and fellow developer, US-based Maurice Regan, had agreed to provide a 7m loan to Mr Flatley in a deal to help him retain his country house and repay the Blackbird loan. Before Christmas, Mr Regan also helped developer Gerry Gannon emerge from under the shadow of Nama by financing his debts. Mr Gannon is one of the famed Maple 10 group of investors who were given loans in 2008 by the doomed Anglo Irish Bank to buy shares in the institution. I was quite discouraged as a child with my singing. My friends and family would say Please shut up, you sound like a sheep! As a brand new tour of Kinky Boots struts its way to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre this July, Strictly Come Dancing pro Johannes Radebe will be making his acting debut as drag queen Lola. Its daunting and nerve-wracking, admits the star. But at the same time its really exciting. I think I have been an actor in some way or other across my career, because Im a storyteller. Now I get to say and sing how I feel as well as expressing myself through movement and dance. So what about the heels? Are they daunting? Id worn heels in my house without anybody witnessing it for many years until Strictly gave me the platform to be fabulous and kinky in front of the world, Johannes smirks. I was quite discouraged as a child with my singing. My friends and family would say Please shut up, you sound like a sheep! But when I heard that this show was a possibility I started taking lessons and its been a beautiful thing to do. Dan Partridge as Charlie Price (left), and Johannes Radebe as Lola in Kinky Boots With a score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 film of the same name (which was in turn inspired by a true story). The story revolves around Charlie Price, whose life is proving hard and whose relationship is on the rocks after he inherits his familys failing shoe factory in Northampton. Then he meets drag queen Lola, whose sparkle, sass and unsteady heels might just hold the answer to save Charlies struggling business. To paraphrase one of the shows songs, its a musical that raises people up and celebrates everyones individuality, with Radebe saying: Its so inspirational, with a universal message in a story and songs that leave people feeling happy and joyful. Maybe their minds will be changed by it too. I find that quite incredible. Asked to describe his alter ego, he beams: Lola is a matriarch; theres no better way to describe her. Shes a loving and nurturing character, which is really up my street because thats my language. Having spoken candidly in interviews about the bullying he suffered as a child for being gay in the South African township of Zamdela, Johannes adds: Lola is insecure and scarred, like many of us me included but shes also very bold, confident and powerful. The premise of the show is about the acceptance of oneself and of others and I can relate to that so, so much because its been my personal fight. I hope with what I do in my career that I influence the world in a positive way, just by saying Yes, we are all different but we can live as one. He didnt hesitate to say yes to Kinky Boots. Its been a long-held dream of mine. I came across the movie first and it spoke to my search for belonging as a young boy growing up in a township. Ive always looked for spaces that could accommodate me or stories that resonate with me. The stories also appealed to choreographer Leah Hill, who said: Its really clever in how it challenges audiences to talk more about certain things, whether its to do with sexuality, identity, gender, race, different communities and cultures. The beautiful thing about theatre is that its a platform to start conversations. The music, she adds, is priceless. Its gorgeous and its really exciting. It is such a feel-good show and what were doing within that is trying to get people to really listen to the lyrics. I feel like I can contribute to that with movement, by heightening certain things. The show is set in the mid-2000s, before RuPauls Drag Race came along and drag was less mainstream. And it wasnt as polished per se as it is now, Leah points out. So thats something which has been really interesting to dig into. The stakes for drag performers back then were higher, it was perhaps a bit more dangerous for those communities to perform, and I want to pay homage to that. Its beautiful where drag has landed, but its important to show where it started. Kinky Boots is at the BGE Theatre in Dublin from July 15-19. Legislation that will enable a four-year term of Parliament subject to a referendum has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said. As stipulated in the National-Act coalition agreement, the Bill is modelled on the Act Partys draft Constitution (Enabling a 4-Year Term) Amendment Bill, Goldsmith said. This means a standard term of Parliament will remain at three years, but with the ability to extend the maximum term of Parliament to four years. Goldsmith said the main condition is that membership of certain select committees is calculated in a way that is proportionate to the non-executive parliamentary party membership of the House. Given the constitutional significance of the term of Parliament, this change would be subject to the outcome of a binding referendum. Both the National-Act and National-New Zealand First coalition agreements include supporting to select committee a bill that would enact a binding referendum on a four-year term of Parliament. Goldsmith said at this stage, no decisions have been made on whether this bill will proceed beyond this. It is possible a referendum could be held alongside the next general election in 2026. However, any final decisions on timing for a referendum will depend on what comes out of the select committee process. To enable this, a Referendums Framework Bill will also have its first reading this week. This will provide for the conduct of a referendum alongside a general election and will be modelled on the temporary legislation put in place for the 2020 referendum on the End-of-Life-Choice legislation and on cannabis regulation. Future decisions will also need to be made by the Government as to whether the bill proceeds as introduced, or whether it should be amended. We want to hear what New Zealanders think during the select committee process. OceanaGold has submitted an application through the Fast-track approvals process for the Waihi North Project. "We welcome the new consenting process through Fast-track, which streamlines permitting, while ensuring the same high environmental and social standards are met, OceanaGolds Senior Vice President for New Zealand Legal and Public Affairs Alison Paul said. While we are in the early stages of the process, we believe in our project and OceanaGolds ability to continue to support economic growth, create high-paying jobs, generate royalties, support communities, and boost exports at the same time as making a positive contribution to the environment." The Fast-track application includes the proposed Wharekirauponga underground mine which the company expects to be fully permitted, subject to any appeals, under the Fast-track approvals process by the end of 2025. This timetable would allow the company to commence decline and underground development work for the proposed underground mine in 2026. About NZ$70 million of early works not requiring Fast-track approvals are planned for this year. "In the Waihi area alone, we are expecting to sustain more than 1100 jobs and spend an estimated NZ$3.4B over a 15- year mine life, of which about 80 per cent is expected to be spent in New Zealand and over 30 percent within the Hauraki District," Paul said. We acknowledge that we must maintain our current operating standards and continue to meet the expectations of our communities and of New Zealanders. We believe we have the expertise to do that, operating an underground mine that is not just productive not just a source of jobs and an export earner for New Zealand but is also environmentally and socially responsible. We recognise the ecological value of the Wharekirauponga area, which is a key driver for the mine being underground and accessed by a tunnel from outside the Forest Park area." A map showing Waihi North Project overview. Image/OceanaGold Waihi Project. Paul said this is also why they have committed to a biodiversity project which they said will result in a significant net gain for the environment at the same time as, underground, the mine provides jobs and contributes to the economy. Our 35-year track record shows our continued commitment to developing resources responsibly, ensuring that we balance economic benefits with environmental and community considerations," Paul said. The recent GNS Science report The Mineral Potential of New Zealand highlighted that gold exploration offers prospects for future high-value production from known resources. We believe we can contribute to that and the environment and the communities in which we operate. Additional information about the Waihi North Project may be found here: www.waihinorth.info This is an ongoing investigation, however, and further enforcement action is possible, Richards said. The notice required the mussel factory to cease exceeding the consented limits immediately. Bay of Plenty Regional Council regulatory compliance team leader Trudy Richards said an abatement notice had been issued to Whakatohea Mussels (Opotiki) Ltd for breaching its consent in relation to wastewater quality discharge limits. Although one source of odours plaguing Opotiki residents has been located and rectified, there are still complaints about a bad smell in the town. Since December 18, there had been 32 odour-related complaints concerning the Opotiki area, 25 of them during February. Almost half had been directed at the Whakatohea Mussels factory. Whakatohea Mussels factory in Opotiki. A trade wastewater treatment tank at the mussel factory had been identified by the regional council as one odour source. Richards said on February 24, a compliance officer visited the factory to assess the remedial works completed on the wastewater treatment tank. The system was functioning correctly and new deodorising equipment had been installed. However, the factory was still being included in investigations. The rules within the regional councils Regional Natural Resources Plan, which manages odour, state it should not be offensive or objectionable beyond the property boundary. During the assessment, odour levels directly over the treatment tanks were found to be minor, Richards said. However, foul odours were still being experienced in Opotiki. An open letter directed to the regional council was posted on Facebook community pages on Tuesday morning saying the odour problem persisted. To be frank, this is beyond a joke. The situation has gone on for far too long, and its unacceptable that our community continues to suffer due to the lack of effective action, community page administrator Maude Maxwell said. The Duke Street stormwater drain, which runs past the Opotiki Cemetery, has been mentioned by some residents as a possible source of odour, which could be caused by stagnation due to low rainfall. Photo / Diane McCarthy She demanded the regional council take the matter seriously. Immediate actions were needed to investigate the source of the odour, implement measures to mitigate the issue and provide a plan to prevent future occurrences. She also expressed fears that there could be pollution seeping into the towns rivers causing further environmental issues. She described the odour as a sickening smell like dead carcasses. The post received 62 comments from local people affirming the smell persisted before commenting was turned off. Richards said other complaints had been directed towards smokey fires, the wastewater treatment plant ponds, and the towns stormwater drainage network, which has experienced minor blockages and stagnant water due to prolonged dry weather. However, substantiating these odours has been challenging due to the intermittent nature of the notifications and odours and varying locations of the alleged sources. Proactive monitoring was also being carried out in the evenings this week. We acknowledge that Whakatohea Mussels is responsible for some of the odour complaints. However, due to the variability in the origin of complaints and wind conditions, we are aware that there are other sources contributing to the issue as well, she said. Opotiki District Council service and delivery group manager Nathan Hughes said staff were working with the regional council around the ongoing complaints. Council have been monitoring our wastewater system and no issues have been picked up. During extended periods of dry weather, stormwater drains can start to produce a smell and staff are also exploring that as a potential contributing factor. Although nothing definitive has been observed in councils stormwater network we do have a particular concern around the condition of Duke St drain and the smell coming from it. Whakatohea Mussels factory in Opotiki. District council staff were meeting with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the mussel factory this week to discuss the matter. Getting these odour issues resolved is important to our community and were doing all that we can to assist Bay of Plenty Regional Council in their investigations as well as seeking out any areas that we control which may be contributing, Hughes said. Richards encouraged anyone noticing an offensive odour to call the 24/7 Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883 at the time of the event. This allows us to respond promptly and investigate all complaints against the conditions at the time. We cant have staff everywhere, all of the time, so we count on the community to help resolve these issues. Whakatohea Mussels has been approached for a comment. Free bowel cancer screening has been expanded from ages 60- 74 to 58-74 The announcement repurposes funding set aside by the previous government to lower the eligibility age from 60 to 50 for Maori and Pacific Peoples Every year, more than 3300 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in New Zealand, and more than 1200 die from the disease. Australia's current age of eligibility for bowel cancer screening tests is 45. The government has announced plans to lower the age for free bowel cancer screening for all New Zealanders by "redirecting" money previously set aside to lower the age for Maori and Pacific people. In December the government announced the end of a pilot programme that allowed Maori and Pacific people to access bowel cancer screening starting at age 50. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the age of eligibility for free bowel screening would progressively drop from 60 to 58 from October, at a cost of $36m over four years. "Lowering the age of eligibility from 60 to 58 will see 122,000 Kiwis eligible for free tests in the first year and save hundreds of lives over the coming decades. "This is the first significant step we are taking to align our screening rate for bowel cancer with Australia as funding and access to additional colonoscopy resource becomes available." Australia's current age of eligibility for bowel cancer screening tests is 45 years old. Brown said the announcement "repurposed" funding set aside by the previous government to lower the eligibility age from 60 to 50-years-old for Maori and Pacific peoples. "The changes announced today are projected to prevent an additional 771 bowel cancers and an additional 566 bowel cancer deaths over the next 25 years. "Advice from the Ministry of Health clearly states that lowering the age to 58 for all New Zealanders will save even more lives than the previous government's approach to lower the age to 50 for Maori and Pacific Peoples only. "Under our approach, we will be able to prevent 218 additional cancers and 176 additional deaths over 25 years in comparison to the settings proposed by the previous government. "This also aligns with the government's policy of ensuring that healthcare is delivered on the basis of need." During the election campaign Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis made clear that the National Party was committed to lowering the eligible starting age for free bowel cancer screening - "as workforce and fiscal conditions allowed". Autumn is in full swing, and it is starting to feel like it. MetService is forecasting a chilly night for the North Island tonight, followed by a weekend that brings a mix of sunshine and cloudier periods, with a lingering crispness in the air. While showers are expected late Friday into Saturday across many parts of the country, there will still be plenty of opportunities to take advantage of clearer weather. Parts of the South Island woke up to their coldest temperatures of the year so far this morning, with inland Canterbury dipping below zero and the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch recording lows around 3C . The cooling trend continues overnight into Friday morning for the North Island, where single-digit temperatures are expected, and even frosts possible for parts of Waikato and the Central Plateau. The Friday morning temperature forecast from the MetService. Supplied image Friday morning is shaping up to be one of the chilliest starts the North Island has seen in a while, so an extra layer may come in handy, MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said. Despite the cool mornings, Friday and the weekend will feature periods of sunshine, with temperatures in Auckland rebounding to the mid-20s after a chilly spell. However, a southwesterly to southeasterly wind will keep a slight nip in the air for many across New Zealand. Showers are also in the mix for parts of the South Island on Friday and Saturday, with the North Island seeing some wet weather on Saturday, particularly in the lower and eastern regions. Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti/Gisborne could even see a few thunderstorms on Saturday. By Sunday and Monday, settled weather returns to most of the South Island under a ridge of high pressure, while the eastern and lower North Island continues to see a few showers. Elsewhere in the North Island, conditions are expected to remain dry. It will be a mixed bag at times, so its worth making the most of the clear spells when they come, Makgabutlane advised. Meanwhile, many of us will be thinking about our friends and whanau across the ditch as Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues its westward track, bringing severe weather to Brisbane and the Queensland coast. MetService is closely monitoring the system, but at this stage, it is not expected to have a direct impact on New Zealands weather. Updates on Alfreds progress can be found on the Australian Bureau of Meteorologys website. SIDNEY--The annual High Plains Chapter 278 Pheasants Forever Banquet was held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds, and a huge crowd turned out for the event that featured live auctions, a silent auction, and the chance to win all types of outdoors-related prizes with raffles. There were plenty of firearms available to win, as well as hunting accessories, paintings, and other unique prizes for the attendees. The yearly event is sponsored by many individuals, organizations, and companies throughout the area, and their generous donations keep the High Plains Chapter fun... Daniel Eugene Nelson passed away peacefully in his home on February 23, 2025, at the age of 91. Dan was born in Kimball, Nebraska, on May 21, 1933. Dan was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Lorraine (Schnell) Nelson, his sister Linda (Nelson) Thayer and his parents Allan and Trude Nelson. Dan is survived by his daughter, Tracey Nelson, son, Jim Nelson, and daughter Nancy Christensen. He is also survived by his brother Terry Nelson. Dan is also survived by four grandchildren, Josh Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Zach Christensen and Sarah Nelson and four great-grandchildren. Dan graduated from Potter High School in 1951 and served in the Air Force following graduation. When he returned home from the service, he married the love of his life in 1957. Together with their young daughter, they moved to Fremont where he graduated from Midland Lutheran College in 1963. Dan began working at the Nebraska Natural Gas company as a meter reader while attending college. As he continued to fill various positions in the company, he moved his family to several communities across the state and eventually back to Fremont where he served as the President of the company. Dan has led his life by demonstrating a true and genuine passion for serving. He served as the President of the Salvation Army, President of Rotary, President of the Cozad Board of Education, President of his church congregation, and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. His family and friends will especially miss hearing his deep, rich singing voice as he participated for years in church choirs and the Pathfinder Barbershop Chorus. Even in retirement he stayed very busy driving the Dillon courtesy van and delivering medications for a local pharmacy. He was an avid fisherman and cherished his many outings with his fishing buddies. Dan will be missed for his unwavering support and care that he provided to his children and neighbors and friends. His calm display of common-sense advice provided a foundation for so many loved ones. His deep laughter and joy in living brought rich friendships to his life. His example of respectful and sincere love for his wife and family impacted many lives. His faith in his Lord has sustained him throughout his life and now at the time of his death. Funeral services were held on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska. A burial service was held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in Potter, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the family or Peace Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left at http://www.mosermemorialchapels.com is with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Judy D. Pittam, age 84, of Sidney, NE. Judy passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the Pole Creek Estates in Sidney, NE. A graveside service will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery on Monday, March 10, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. with Jim Larson officiating. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Night of Hope (Walk for Cancer). You may view Judy's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Judy's care and funeral arrangements. Judy was born on September 3, 1940, in Laramie, WY, to loving parents Robert and Vena Van Cleave. She spent most of her early childhood years living with her family in oilfield camps in WY. She tells wonderful stories of growing up visiting her Grandpa Jon's ranch in WY during the summers. Those were truly special times for her. On October 4, 1959, Judy married her true love Derald Pittam, and together they built a life filled with love, family, friends, and cherished memories. Judy and Derald spent many happy years at Lake McConaughy enjoying the lake life! Judy had the biggest heart. She was known for her giving personality and unwavering devotion to caring for others. She spent her life putting others first, always ready to offer kindness, support, and love to others. She had a way of making everyone feel special through her kind words or the comfort of a home-cooked meal. She loved to bake, and her kitchen was always filled with the sweet smell of something delicious in the oven. Her cooking was an extension of her love that she shared with family, friends, and anyone lucky enough to sit at her table. Her generosity and warm spirit will never be forgotten. Judy's greatest joy was her family, especially her three granddaughters, who were the light of her life. She built unique and special bonds with each of them, filling their lives with love, laughter, and treasured traditions that they will hold close to their hearts. Those who knew her well also know how much she loved her Coca-Cola and Denver Nuggets! Judy is survived by sons, Scott (Shannon) Pittam and Shad (Dinneen) Pittam; three granddaughters, Krista Pittam, Jamie Perry and Kelsey (Mike) Wilson; and one very special great-grandson, Conan Wilson. She is also survived by her loving sisters, Roberta Larson and Linda (Wart) Epperson; special sister-in-law Gloria (Dick) Fiegenschuh and her lifelong best friend, Betty Stettner; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Judy's brother Jon Van Cleave also held a special place in her heart. Judy will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on in the hearts of all who loved her. The family offers a very sincere thank you to all the caregivers at Safe at Home, Sloan's Estates and Pole Creek Crossing Long Term Care. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. Railway workers from the Kostanay branch of Kazakhstan Railways' main network plan to build additional tracks in the even-numbered reception-departure yard of the Kazakhtsans Tobol station in 2025, Trend reports via Kazakh Railways. According to the information, additional reception-departure tracks will increase the capacity of the station. Currently, the even-numbered receiving-dispatching yard of the station has 13 tracks for passing passenger trains from Kartaly, Zhitikara, receiving freight trains from Kartaly, Zhitikara, Astana, Mailino, as well as dispatching trains to Astana, Mailino, Zhitikara. The branch plans to overhaul more than 67 kilometers of track on the Shokkaragai - Kunshash, Kunshash - Karagalinskaya, and Tobol - Pritobolskaya sections as part of the modernization of the region's railway infrastructure this year. In the course of the summer track works, heavy and medium tracks will be repaired, switches will be replaced, and rail joints will be lengthened. A total of 34 kilometers of fencing will be constructed on the Karagalinskaya - Basagash, Kushmurun - Amankaragai, and Tobol - Pereleski sections to prevent animal access to the railway tracks. Syracuse, N.Y. Flooding has closed some roads in Central New York Thursday. In Manlius, Manlius Center Road (Rt. 290) from Clemons Road to Minoa Road has closed due to flooding, Manlius police said on Facebook. The road has flooded frequently in past years. In DeWitt, Butternut Drive between the DeWitt Highway Department and the state Department of Transportation has closed due to flooding, said Lt. Jerry Pace, a spokesperson for the DeWitt Police. In Kirkland in Oneida County, Rt. 5 is shut down from Limberlost Road to Rt. 5 and Rt. 233 due to flooding, Kirkland police said on Facebook. A flood watch has been issued in Oneida County until 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Minor river flooding has been reported in Cortland County and in Cayuga County at the Owasco Inlet in Moravia. The weather service issued flood warnings for both areas. Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com - In the early 1970s, Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts student Mitchel Resnick painted freehand the "Alice in Wonderland" inspired murals at the campus nightclub Jabberwocky. This photo of Tweedledee and Tweedledum shows the scale of his work. Resnick stands next to his work. Courtesy of Mitchel Resnick Courtesy of Mitchel Resnick Schweinfurth Art Center Executive Director Donna Lamb speaks to volunteers who will be supervising visitors to an exhibition of work by renown quilt artist Nancy Crow in 2023. Lamb is retiring after 25 years at the helm of the art center. Schweinfurth Art Center Auburn, N.Y. Donna Lamb will step down from her position as executive director of the Schweinfurth Art Center (SAC), which she has held since Jan. 17, 2000. The Hamilton, N.Y. native led the Art Center to national prominence with its emphasis on fiber arts and leaves at the conclusion of a construction project that sets up its future. After 25 years at the Schweinfurth Art Center, over 250 exhibits, and well over 100 wheels of Brie wrapped in phyllo pastry, I plan to hang up my apron and retire this summer, said Lamb. I am ready to move on to new adventures, and to make room for a new leader to guide SAC to its exciting next chapter. Donna Lamb Schweinfurth Art Center Schweinfurth board of trustees president Ann Clarke lauded Lambs leadership. As a leader, Donna embodies the mission and vision of the institution: to provide creative opportunities and transformative experiences through the arts for all, and to build a better world through the arts, Clarke said. As a board, we will continue to be inspired and guided by Donnas clear vision for the Schweinfurth namely that whatever we do, we do it with excellence and that art can be experienced by as wide a range of people as is possible. she continued. Before coming to the Schweinfurth, Lamb spent many years working for the Gallery Association of New York State, a nonprofit that provided exhibit related services to museums and galleries. Her impact at the art center will be felt for years to come. Donna Lamb inspects installation of the Schweinfurth Art Centers new HVAC system in early 2020. The arrival of COVID-19 allowed the art center to add a filter to prevent spreading the virus. Schweinfurth Art Center She ticked off the major improvements to the facility that happened on her watch: replaced ceiling and floors on the main gallery level; installed a new roof and a new HVAC system; created the second floor Davis Family Gallery; added sewing, pottery, and wet studios; and built a long-awaited entrance from the back parking lot and site improvements to create the West End Arts Campus. One of the first things Lamb accomplished was the 2003 purchase of Quilting by the Lake (QBL), an independently-owned annual quilting conference featuring intensive workshops, lectures and a quilt show. I had been aware of QBL since it was located in Morrisville and I lived near there, she said. I learned from someone that the owner wanted to retire and sell (the business). I thought, Wouldnt it be cool for the Schweinfurth to take over QBL? After all, the Schweinfurth already had a long-running annual quilt show. And the workshops were educational and fit our existing programming, so it fulfilled the art centers mission. She pitched the idea of buying QBL to the board. It was an unusual thing for a nonprofit to do, buying a for-profit business, Lamb said. We folded it into our programs, and it helped to expand our educational offerings and raised our profile nationally. Nancy Crow, an internationally-regarded quilt artist, also cited Lambs leadership. She is and has been one of the most important supporters of textiles as both a craft form and as an art medium, Crow said. Her years of work and foresight have put the Schweinfurth Center on the map as a very important destination. Ever wonder how the Schweinfurth Art Center decides where to hang artwork in the Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibition? Here Executive Director Donna Lamb demonstrates how she places tiny images in a model of the gallery for the 2018 show. She says planning exhibits has been her favorite part of the job. After 25 years, Lamb is stepping down from her leadership role. Schweinfurth Art Center Lamb built up the Schweinfurths reputation by offering excellent exhibits in a high-quality venue for regional artists. I think of us as a museum-quality venue, she said. Providing opportunities for artists is part of our mission, and it was a wish Julius Schweinfurth expressed in his will. Her proudest accomplishment is the diversified programming she nurtured during her time as executive director. The Schweinfurths strength is in weaving together programs that serve local, regional, and national audiences and providing opportunities for artmaking and exhibiting for artists at every level. We exhibit work from first graders to seniors, emerging artists to nationally known artists. We have classes for youth and adults and workshops with nationally known quilters and fiber artists. The Schweinfurths board of trustees hired Gerri Spilka, a national arts nonprofit consultant, to conduct a search for a new executive director. Inquiries about the search should be directed to Spilka at gerrispilka@gmail.com. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the parties discussed the dynamic development of interstate relations, Trend reports. In the course of the talks, the Presidents of both countries emphasized the dynamic development of Kazakhstan-Russia relations in the spirit of friendship, good neighborliness, and partnership. The sides also discussed issues of trade and economic cooperation, highlighting the successful implementation of agreements previously reached at the highest level. The data of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan shows that trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Russia in 2024 amounted to $27.8 billion, which is 2.7 percent higher compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, exports from Russia to Kazakhstan increased by 8.3 percent, reaching $18.2 billion, while imports from Kazakhstan to Russia decreased by 6.5 percent, totaling $9.5 billion. Dancing queens, get ready. You dont have to be young and sweet, or 17 to enjoy the North America tour of Mamma Mia!, coming to the Landmark Theater March 11-16. Tickets start at $44 and are available here. The story follows bride-to-be Sophie, who wants her father to walk her down the aisle. The only problem? She doesnt know who her father is. After snooping in her mothers diary, Sophie narrows her potential father down to three men and invites them all to Kalokairi, a fictional Greek island, to find out which one is her father before her wedding day. The musical, studded with ABBA hits, vibrant jumpsuits and electrifying dance numbers, stays true to its cinematic roots while adding flair that brings new life to the storyline audiences originally fell in love with. Jalynn Steele (Tanya), Christine Sherrill (Donna Sheridan, Sophie's mother), and Carly Sakolove (Rosie) star in the North America tour of "Mamma Mia!" Provided Theres just something so different about a stage musical. You can be in the room with the story and see it all unfold right in front of your eyes, and with the live music and the live dance, its just a different experience, said Haley Wright, the Syracuse University alum who performs as Ali, one of Sophies best friends. Thats just the gift of live theater that you dont get from putting on a movie. The Mamma Mia! movie craze swept through Wrights friend group in high school, but oddly enough, Wright the designated musical theater friend never saw it. Fast forward a few years, and Mamma Mia! is an inextricable part of Wrights career. It wasnt until I was auditioning for this I was like, Okay, I really, I just gotta watch the movie. I dont think I had seen it before then, and just immediately I was like, How did I not get into this sooner? Wright said. Im more like a late-bloomer Mamma Mia! lover. But now that its just like a part of my everyday life, I am a ride-or-die for it, for sure. Wrights character makes up one-third of the musicals central friendship trio Ali (Wright), Lisa (Lena Owens) and Sophie (Amy Weaver). This bond is the vehicle, as Wright puts it, in which Sophie shares with the audience her big plan to invite her potential fathers. Moreover, the trinity offers the audience a glimpse into the sacred nature of girl talk. I just love being able to be one of the people to amplify the importance of female friendships in this show, and just how special that is, Wright said. Im doing it as Ali with Sophie and Lisa, but Im also doing it with my friends, Amy and Lena. Three friends are at the heart of "Mamma Mia!" with Amy Weaver, center, playing main character Sophie Sheridan, Lena Owens, left, as Lisa, and Haley Wright, right, as Ali. Provided photo With Weaver and Owens, along with the rest of the cast, Wright has found an offstage bond that mirrors what audiences see onstage, which makes doing the show so easy. Still, in a new city roughly every week, Wright quickly learned some things about herself to navigate the quick at times, tough turnarounds. Sometimes, she has energy for intercity fun. Other times, she just needs rest. After doing this for over a year, I feel like Ive kind of figured out when to take it easy, Wright said. The Long Island native traveled only sparingly before landing this role, so shes also discovered a newfound love for different cities (Chicago being a standout). Justin Sudderth (Pepper), Jalynn Steele (Tanya), and the Company of "Mamma Mia!" 25th Anniversary Tour. SU alum Haley Wright is second from left. Provided This will be Wrights first time back on a Syracuse stage since graduating in 2022. Shes already told her castmates about XO Taco and Pastabilities, but shes really looking forward to some food from Phoebes, across the street from where she performed as an undergraduate. Wright played Lavender in Syracuse Stages 2021 production of Matilda the Musical and Silly Girl/Napkin in their 2019 production of Disneys Beauty and the Beast. Though Syracuse is but a small dose of familiarity for Wright before another couple months of new cities, there is one ever-present constant that Wright can always rely upon throughout the Mamma Mia! tour: No matter where we are in the country, people just absolutely love it. National Grid plans to expand this substation off Caughdenoy Road in Clay to provide provide power to the Micron Technology chipmaking complex across the street. (Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com) Syracuse, N.Y. -- The public can offer comments this month on National Grids plan to run extra-high voltage lines underground to Micron Technologys proposed chipmaking complex in the town of Clay. Micron plans to build up to four fabrication plants, or fabs, at the northeast corner of Caughdenoy Road and Route 31. To serve the project, National Grid is asking for approval from the state Public Service Commission to run eight lines under Caughdenoy Road from the electric substation on the west side of the road to Micron on the east. The utility also plans to expand the substation. The commission is soliciting public input on the electrical service plan until March 31. Each line would be 345-kilovolt, the same voltage carried by long-distance transmission lines that run along the New York State Thruway. The proximity of the National Grid substation to the Micron site was an important factor in luring the chipmaker to Central New York. Semiconductor plants consume enormous amounts of electricity: At full build-out in 20 years, Micron could use as much electricity as New Hampshire and Vermont combined. National Grid has not made public the cost of the entire project, saying thats confidential because Micron is a private company. The utility said in its filings with the commission that Micron would pay the vast majority of the cost. One thing you wont be able to comment on is the agreement Micron made to to preserve threatened or endangered species that was filed as part of the application. The six-page agreement is completely blacked out, like this: National Grid's proposal to the Public Service Commission to run extra-high voltage lines underground to the Micron Technology campus in Clay contains a six-page agreement to protect endangered species that is completely blacked out. New York State Public Service Commission files To see the details of the entire electrical plan, go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on File Search (located under the heading Commission Files) and enter Case 24-T-0120 in the Search by Case Number field. To file a written comment online, follow those instructions and then click Post Comments. Comments can be sent by mail to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223-1350. A section of South Salina Street in Syracuse was blocked off on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Jon Moss | jmoss@syracuse.com Syracuse, N.Y. A 52-year-old woman was arrested after police spent hours negotiating with her and closed off a portion of South Salina Street. Sherry Phillips was arrested after holding up in the home at 2015 S. Salina St. for over five hours, police said. Police were called to the home for a domestic incident involving a weapon at about 12:46 p.m., said Kieran Coffey, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police. When they arrived, Phillips came towards them brandishing a knife, he said. Police retreated from the home, cut off the street and surrounded the home. Others inside the house were all able to get out while the woman remained inside, he said. Phillips was taken into custody after 8:20 p.m. and the street has reopened, Coffey said. Phillips was charged with menacing a police officer, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment. She is currently being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center. Syracuse, N.Y. The newest bar on Syracuses Tipperary Hill opened Thursday just ahead of the two big weekends leading up to St. Patricks Day. But this is not your typical Tipp Hill Irish pub: Its a taproom for a craft brewery based in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Aurora Brewing Co.s Syracuse taproom has taken over the space at 620 Ulster St. previously occupied by by Now & Later, a bar and bottle shop that relocated to downtown Syracuse in December. This Saturday (March 8), the annual Shamrock Run passes right by the new Aurora taproom at the corner of Ulster and Avery Avenue. Next Saturday, March 15, crowds will mob Tipp Hill during and after the downtown Syracuse St. Patricks Parade. This was the plan all along, said Mark Grimaldi, who owns Aurora Brewing with Joe Shelton. We wouldnt want to miss all the excitement in the neighborhood. Aurora Brewings new taproom offers a dozen of its own beers on tap, plus bottled beers. The beer list ranges from crispy lagers to hoppy pale ales, along with stouts, fruit beers, sours and more. One of the beers currently on tap is a nitro Irish stout called Ferfooksake, a perfect accompaniment to St. Patricks revelry. Aurora also has ciders, seltzers and ready-to-drink cocktails. It has a cooler stocked with packaged beer to go. And it expects to have a full liquor license to offer spirits and cocktails within the next few weeks. The food menu includes burgers, wings, sandwiches and Detroit-style pizzas. The kitchen may expand soon, along with a dining area in the rear space, where Now & Later once sold packaged beer to go. The first customers at Aurora Brewing Co. The bar/restaurant opened in the city's Tipperary Hill neighborhood on Thursday. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) Grimaldi and Shelton have long wanted to open a location in Syracuse. They seized the opportunity when Now & Later closed in December. Syracuse has always been one of our stronger markets, Grimaldi said, adding that the brewery distributes across New York and in five other states. And Now & Later was always one of our strongest locations in Syracuse. The first customer through the door Thursday was Kevin Sheehy, a craft beer enthusiast and collector of beer-related items (breweriana). Ive always liked Auroras beers so I definitely wanted to come check it out as soon as I could, Sheehy said. Im looking forward to coming here on a regular basis. Aurora Brewing opened its main location in 2016 on Route 90 in King Ferry, overlooking Cayuga Lake near the village of Aurora. It followed with a taproom opening at 604 Pittsford Victor Rd. in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford in September 2023. In its first year, Aurora brewed about 50 barrels of beer (a barrel is 31 gallons), Shelton said. This year it will produce more than 2,000 barrels. Its been a good run for us so far, Grimaldi said. Having this outlet in Syracuse is a great next step. Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. A burning clothing bin was spotted in the parking lot at 70 Hudson Avenue in Glens Falls, NY. After the fire was extinguished, a dead body was found inside. Screenshot from Google Maps Screenshot from Google Maps Police are investigating a dead body found early Thursday morning inside a burning clothing donation bin in Upstate New York. The Times Union reports that officers on patrol spotted a clothing bin on fire at 2:21 a.m. in the parking lot of 70 Hudson Ave. in Glens Falls. The Glens Falls Fire Department was called to extinguish the blaze. Upon opening the donation bin, police say the body was discovered inside with fire-related injuries. According to News 10, the identity of the person has not been confirmed, nor has the cause of death been determined. Police say a forensic autopsy will be conducted to see if other injuries are present and to determine the cause of death. Police said the incident is not connected to any of the businesses in the area. Officials disclosed that they received two 911 calls on March 5 around 9:30 p.m. in the area, but investigators do not know if they are related to the death investigation at this time. The scene was processed and cleared around 11 a.m. on Thursday. This photo provided by the Allentown Association shows a memorial for Mickey Harmon and Jordan Celotto, who were found dead Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at their home in Buffalo's Allentown neighborhood. Provided The LGBTQ+ community is mourning after the deaths of two men in Western New York. WIVB reports Michael Mickey Harmon, co-owner of The Good Stuff gallery in Buffalo, and his partner Jordan Celotto, were found dead Tuesday at their home in Allentown. Police said the victims were killed by blunt force trauma. The case is being investigated as a double homicide. WGRZ reports a person of interest was reported outside the residence with a knife; they cut themselves and are currently in custody at ECMC Hospital. Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon told WKBW that there are no indications this was a hate crime, but said police will follow all leads in their investigation. Harmon, 40, and Celotto, 37, were both prominent artists and community leaders. Harmon, a member of the Allentown Association, was known for drawings of historic Buffalo homes and landmarks, plus murals with LGBTQ+ themes. Mickey was an anchor of Buffalos LGBTQ+ community, a talented artist, and a dedicated leader in Allentown, New York State Senator Sean Ryan said in a statement. From Remedy House to the dance floor, Jordan will always be remembered for the welcoming presence and joy that he brought to countless friends and neighbors. Our hearts are heavy tonight as we begin to process the heartbreaking news of the loss of Mickey and Jordan, the Allentown Association added. You cant go anywhere in Allentown without seeing Mickeys footprint. His legacy will live on through his art, his events, and the hearts of every person he encountered as he walked our streets. Mickey served on our Board for 7 years and devoted his time and talent to making our neighborhood the special place it is. We will get through this difficult time together by following Mickey and Jordans example of living their lives full of love and community. Friends and family gathered for a vigil Wednesday night at Twenty Six Allen, a bar where Celotto would often DJ and Harmon would dance. I refuse to allow Mickey and Jordans memory to be attached to these heinous crimes, Fillmore District Common Council member Mitch Nowakowski said, according to WGRZ. I want everybody to know that these people were artists, were people of the Allentown community who made it better, who made things happen, who worked with me ever since I got into office. When you look and see Allentown, its vibrancy, its festivals, its artwork, think of them because that is who they are. They do not deserve to have their legacy attached with the heinous crime that happened. (l to r) SU's Smith Hall, Hall of Languages and Crouse College. Photo by Peter Chen / The Post-Standard. Syracuse University officials are determining if any of the colleges diversity, equity and inclusion programs violate new federal guidance targeting race-conscious activities. SU administrators dont believe any university programs are discriminatory, according to a campus-wide statement sent Thursday. Still, officials are reviewing the structure of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as well as language, services and other relevant considerations across campus, the statement says. Last month, the Education Departments Office of Civil Rights released a dear colleague letter targeting all race-conscious programming at schools and colleges. The letter argued that such services discriminated against white students and others who didnt benefit from them. The departments letter broadens the Supreme Courts 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which banned colleges from considering race in deciding whether to admit students. Last week, the department released a list of frequently asked questions clarifying the types of activities that may violate the guidance. Cultural programs, for instance, wouldnt be in violation as long as they are open to all students, the document says. Any colleges that dont comply with the letter could risk losing federal funding. SU received almost $250 million in federal funding in 2023, according to an independent auditors report obtained by ProPublica. The money included Covid relief funds, Pell Grants, work study programs, dozens of research grants and more. In the weeks after Trump took office, the university scrubbed references to the word diversity from much of his website. Mary Grace Almandrez, the universitys vice president for diversity and inclusion, will review the universitys programs with her team and offer her recommendations to the chancellor by the end of the semester, Thursdays announcement says. Already, the university has moved oversight of all scholarship programs to the Office of Academic Affairs to align with federal guidance, it adds. The university reaffirms our commitment to being welcoming to all and upholding the orange values that have guided our mission since our founding, the statement says. As we continue to build on this proud history in the current regulatory environment, we will examine carefully and thoughtfully how we articulate and live our ideals. Maggie Hicks covers education, including the Syracuse City School District and Syracuse University. She can be reached at mhicks@syracuse.com or follow her on X @maggie_hickss. Photo: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. Azerbaijans Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sarvan Jafarov has discussed agricultural digitalization issues during a meeting with a delegation headed by Secretary-General of the D-8 (Developing Eight) Organization for Economic Cooperation Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, a source in the Ministry of Agriculture told Trend. According to the source, Jafarov provided detailed information to the guests about the reforms in the agricultural sector in our country, the main directions of the agricultural development strategy, and the innovative projects being implemented. The meeting further delved into the prevailing dynamics of synergistic engagement within the agrarian domain among the member states of the consortium, as well as the forward-looking trajectories for prospective partnerships in a comprehensive manner. The parties exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in the agricultural sector and the legal contractual framework, increasing trade turnover of agricultural and food products, the application of innovative technologies and solutions, ensuring sustainable development of the agricultural sector, and the transfer of the most modern technologies in this field. Moreover, the meeting emphasized great potential for expanding mutual relations in the agricultural sector. The parties expressed their interest in expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan in agriculture and highlighted the importance of holding events and meetings in this format. At the end, a broad exchange of views took place on topics of mutual interest. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. Central Asian countries expect high-level visits from the European Union (EU), the EU spokesperson told Trend. "The planned visit of the EU High Representative / Vice-President Kaja Kallas to Central Asia, which was scheduled for earlier this week, has been postponed due to illness. The trip will be rescheduled at the earliest possible date, although no specific date has been confirmed yet. The information will be communicated through the usual channels," the spokesperson said. The representative of the EU emphasized that Eduards Stiprais, the new EU Special Representative for Central Asia, began his duties on March 1. His introductory visits to Central Asia are under planning. Eduards Stiprais has already been to Turkmenistan for talks earlier this week. Furthermore, the spokesperson noted that Europe remains the largest investor in Central Asia, with major projects such as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route delivering significant benefits to the region. Looking ahead, the EU aims to further strengthen its cooperation with Central Asia in 2025. Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 9,072 Thanked: 63,996 Times View My Garage Visit to the largest Sea Lock in the world In an ideal world large international harbours are open to the sea/ocean. But its not always possible so it will require some elaborate locks. I visited the new Zeesluis (Sea Lock) in IJmuiden, the Netherlands recently. It is the entrance to the Noordzeekanaal (North Sea Channel), connecting IJmuiden with the port of Amsterdam. I am pretty familiar with the locks in IJmuiden. I passed the locks on an LNG tanker whilst 12 years old. The owners were a client of my dad, who allowed me and a friend of mine to come along for a couple of days. Our parents delivered us aboard somewhere in the Amsterdam harbour. The ship called the Athina, cast off and made its way through what was then, till recently, the largest lock in IJmuiden. (And also the largest sea lock for decades). We sailed across to Immingham, UK, next to Esbjerg in Denmark. My dad drove over and picked us up again. Quite the adventure for two 12-year-old boys amidst a Scandinavian crew who did not speak Dutch and we hardly spoke English. This must have been early 1970s. About 6-7 years later I was at the Naval College of Marine Engineering. As a job during the holidays, I worked as a deckhand on this harbour tug. These tugs would pick up the vessel in the sea lock and escort it all the way to the Amsterdam harbour area or vice versa. Amazingly, this very tug is still in use. It looks a little different but not by much. My son Luc and I came across it working in the Rotterdam area last year when we were our on our yacht Sirion. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/comme...ml#post5807154 (Bought a Yacht | 2006 Drammer 935 Classic) My dad was a lawyer and he specialised in maritime and international transport law. So he was often called in to deal with accidents with vessels and or their cargo. One of these accidents was on the old sea lock. I was about 19-12 at the time, so late 70s. I heard of an accident in the seal lock. I happened to be near so I drove over. The KNSM vessel Breda had managed to ram itself and its bulbous bow into the outer lock door. Here you see the Breda still in the lock. Does that look like the finger print of a bulbous bow into a lock door or what? Recently on a Facebook group about "old merchant navy ship" I met somebody who was onboard and told me the story how it all happened. It doesn't bear revealing in public. It was also a different story from what the official report read like. I have visited the locks many times over the years. I was there when the famous Dutch towage and salvage company towed MS Herald of Free Enterprise into the locks. She capsized as she left the port of Zeebrugge because the crew had not closed the bow door properly. 193 people died that evening. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Her...ree_Enterprise In those days, the general public could just walk freely all over the lock. I stood there, captivated by this salvaged wreck. Anyway, so fair to say, I have somewhat of a history with the locks in IJmuiden. I knew a new lock had been built, I had even been to see it. But when I saw an invite on Facebook to participate in a proper tour of the locks, I jumped onto the opportunity. The tour was organised by the IJmuider Zee- en Havenmuseum. ( The museum has also given me some of the images from Hans his presentation. Many thanks! Just a little bit of history on Amsterdam and the North Sea Channel. (Mostly borrow from Wikipedia) Quote: The North Sea Canal (Dutch: Noordzeekanaal) is a Dutch ship canal from Amsterdam to the North Sea at IJmuiden, constructed between 1865 and 1876 to enable seafaring vessels to reach the port of Amsterdam. This man-made channel terminates at Amsterdam in the closed-off IJ Bay, which in turn connects to the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. The drainage of the canal to the North Sea is done through the IJmuiden sea lock, augmented by the largest pumping station in Europe. This system is vital to the groundwater management of the Western Netherlands. To improve the connection between the harbour of Amsterdam and the North Sea, the North Holland Canal was built in 1824. But this long and narrow canal was quickly inadequate to handle the growing boat traffic. A few decades later, it was decided to dig a new canal at the narrowest point in Holland, thereby providing the shortest route to the sea. Digging began on 8 March 1865, at the dunes of Breesaap and lasted until 1876. Since no Dutch company was willing to take on this task, the project was awarded to an English contractor.[citation needed] The North Sea Canal was built by digging a channel through the old IJ Bay and lining it with dikes, after which the remaining portions of the IJ Bay were reclaimed and turned into polders. From this bay to the sea, a new canal was dug through the dunes at Velsen. To accommodate drainage of and shipping on the tributaries of the IJ, such as the Spaarne, the Zaan, and the Nauerna Canal, nine auxiliary canals needed to be dug as well . A small set of locks (Zuidersluis) were built at the mouth in 1876 where the new town of IJmuiden (Dutch for "IJ Mouth") formed. In 1896 the Middle Locks (Middensluis) were built, followed by the North Locks (Noordersluis) in 1929, which were Europe's largest locks at that time. At the eastern end of the canal, east of Amsterdam, the IJ Bay was open to the Zuiderzee until 1872 when the Oranje Locks (Oranjesluizen) were built. With the completion of these locks, the North Sea Canal and IJ Bay were no longer open to the sea and a specific water level could be maintained. The canal was dug using manual labour. The workers lived in horrid conditions, being housed in huts built from twigs, driftwood, sod, and straw, where disease, fights, and alcohol abuse were rampant. On 1 November 1876, the North Sea Canal was officially opened by King William III of the Netherlands. Over the years the canal has been widened and deepened several times. Another fascinating fact Hans told me: Look at this map, why was the channel not built more or less straight in an East to West orientation? In those days IJmuiden did not really exist? Why does it have this peculiar Z shape? Look at the map, the area south of IJmuiden, e.g. Santpoort, Bloemendaal was full of homely estates from the rich traders of Amsterdam. They were the ones that pestered the King to build the North Sea Channel, but of course, the channel had to built around their fancy estates!! Ships have become bigger and wider in recent decades. Modern ships carry more goods and bulk. And there are also larger cruise ships. In order to continue to allow these ships safe and smooth access to the Port of Amsterdam at low tide, a larger sea lock had to be built at IJmuiden. In 2016, work therefore started on the lock complex. The new sea lock was scheduled to be taken into use in 2022. A little bit more about this date later. It was a very tricky project, because the nieuwe Zeesluis had to built right next to the old one. Here you have two images showing before and after the new Zeesluis was built. the red rectangle is where the new Zeesluis was going to be built. This is what it looks like today. You will have gathered by now that there are several locks in IJmuiden. This is a good overview. Sorry all in Dutch but the translation is pretty easy, from left to right: kleine- zuidersluis: Small and Southern locks. These were the original locks. Nowadays primarily used for recreational vessels, small barges, the odd tugboat and so on. Middensluis: Middle Lock. A sizeable lock in its own right. It could accommodate a vessel up to 200 meters in length. However, due to the new Zeesluis vessels leaving the middle lock, they need to make a turn and the maximum ship length that is allowed through the middle lock has somewhat been reduced. I have some images that hopefully illustrate the issue here. Noordersluit: Northern lock. Until recently, the largest lock Zeesluis: Sea lock. The new largest Sea lock in the world!! Spuisluis: Purge sluice (not quite sure on the translation). I will come back to this one, as it plays a hugely important role in how we keep the saltwater out of the North Sea channel. Hans spoke extensively about the design and building of the lock. I always find these huge infrastructure projects fascinating. Unfortunately, I do not have images about the building, nor have I been able to find any English Youtube videos. Plenty of Dutch Videos out there. These sort of projects are commissioned by what we call Rijkswaterstaat. Part of the ministry of infrastructure and water management. A Dutch national governmental body that looks after all Dutch rivers, canals, coastal defense, pumping stations and so on, including our highways and provincial roads. They contracted the design, building and the first 26 years of maintenance, including all financing, to a consortium called OpenIJ. So how big is this new Sea Lock? Pretty BIG! It is 500 meters long, 70 meters wide, and its depth is 18 meters. It has three lock doors as you will see in my images. One is a spare lock door, which could replace the outer or inner doors. These doors themselves are huge of course, as you will see and are a marvel of engineering themselves. After the presentation, Hans and I got in our cars and made our way to the lock complex. Before the start of the building of the new lock, you could drive your car across the lock complex. Although there is a road, vehicle traffic is blocked off. You can only pass by foot or by bicycle, or moped. Just for a small "Indian" connection. North West of the IJmuiden lock complex are the Dutch Hoogovens, the Dutch Steelworks. We still call them, but they are owned by Tata. The Dutch and in particular the people living nearby have a lover/hate relationship with the Steelworks. It has provided lots of jobs for many generations, but it is also a terrible polluter! This is the outer entrance to the Sea Lock. The door is closed. It is difficult to get a sense of scale here, but the width of the lock is 70 meters! This is that same door. You get a better sense of scale here. A complete wide road on top of it! I noticed these peculiar red lines. Hans explained: a while ago there was a demonstration by Extinction Rebellion on the sea lock to prevent a Disney Cruise ship from entering. ( They put these red lines on the door locks as part of tightening up the formal laws and regulations on where people can stand and so on afterward. Not sure if the good folks of Extinction Rebellion will be impressed though, let alone intimidated by some red stripes. And here you see the actual inside of the lock. Unfortunately no ships when we were present! Taken from the middle of the outer door: This lock is massive!! Although its 18 meters deep, the maximum draft of vessels going to Amsterdam harbour is less. About a kilometer east of the lock is the Velzer tunnel. It allows one of the main motorways towards the North to dip under the North Sea Channel. But that tunnel is at approximately 16 meters and the maximum permissible draft is even less! However, they decided on 18 meter depth in the lock to accommodate tidal and wind effect inside the lock with the doors open. A combination of specific wind direction/speed and low tide brings the water level in the lock down to the point where a certain vessel could not enter on low tide. So they decided for that reason alone, to lower the depth of the lock itself well beyond the maximum draft in the North Sea Channel. If you have followed my thread on our yacht Sirion, you will have come across me talking about a lot of the bridges and locks being remotely operated all over the rivers and canals in the Netherlands. Not so with these locks. This is the control tower for the lock operations. All fully automated, one person is all it takes to push some buttons. Notice the peculiar slant of the building and windows? Apparently, that is so there are no reflections from the window toward the vessel's bridge and crew out of the bridge/bridge wings On both ends of the lock there are these smaller cabins. The lock can be operated from either position. Look at these markings inside the lock. Number 50 is the 500 meter mark. The lock seen from the other side, so we are looking in a westerly direction towards the sea and the Dutch (Tata) Steelworks. Now, coming back to this so called "Spuisluis" (purge sluice). There is also a pumping station complex on the north side of the locks. Here, salt water will be returned to the sea by means of selective extraction. This is necessary because otherwise the water in the hinterland would become too salty. Every time a ship passes through the locks, salt water enters the canal. Too much salt water in the North Sea Canal has a negative impact on our drinking water, nature and agriculture. A kind of screen has been built at the beginning of the Binnenspuikanaal. Salt water is heavier than fresh water. By keeping an opening at the bottom of the screen, most of the salt water disappears, leaving fresh water behind. Sorry, all in Dutch, but I trust you get the gist. Here you see that pumping station in the far distance And here you see that screen on the other side of the canal. The middle section has been lifted out, so ships can enter the canal for maintenance and so on. Where would you find the largest Sea lock in the world I hear you ask? Why, in the Netherlands of course!In an ideal world large international harbours are open to the sea/ocean. But its not always possible so it will require some elaborate locks.I visited the new Zeesluis (Sea Lock) in IJmuiden, the Netherlands recently. It is the entrance to the Noordzeekanaal (North Sea Channel), connecting IJmuiden with the port of Amsterdam.I am pretty familiar with the locks in IJmuiden. I passed the locks on an LNG tanker whilst 12 years old. The owners were a client of my dad, who allowed me and a friend of mine to come along for a couple of days. Our parents delivered us aboard somewhere in the Amsterdam harbour. The ship called the Athina, cast off and made its way through what was then, till recently, the largest lock in IJmuiden. (And also the largest sea lock for decades). We sailed across to Immingham, UK, next to Esbjerg in Denmark. My dad drove over and picked us up again. Quite the adventure for two 12-year-old boys amidst a Scandinavian crew who did not speak Dutch and we hardly spoke English.This must have been early 1970s. About 6-7 years later I was at the Naval College of Marine Engineering. As a job during the holidays, I worked as a deckhand on this harbour tug.These tugs would pick up the vessel in the sea lock and escort it all the way to the Amsterdam harbour area or vice versa. Amazingly, this very tug is still in use. It looks a little different but not by much. My son Luc and I came across it working in the Rotterdam area last year when we were our on our yacht Sirion.My dad was a lawyer and he specialised in maritime and international transport law. So he was often called in to deal with accidents with vessels and or their cargo. One of these accidents was on the old sea lock. I was about 19-12 at the time, so late 70s. I heard of an accident in the seal lock. I happened to be near so I drove over. The KNSM vessel Breda had managed to ram itself and its bulbous bow into the outer lock door.Here you see the Breda still in the lock.Does that look like the finger print of a bulbous bow into a lock door or what?Recently on a Facebook group about "old merchant navy ship" I met somebody who was onboard and told me the story how it all happened. It doesn't bear revealing in public. It was also a different story from what the official report read like.I have visited the locks many times over the years. I was there when the famous Dutch towage and salvage company towed MS Herald of Free Enterprise into the locks. She capsized as she left the port of Zeebrugge because the crew had not closed the bow door properly. 193 people died that evening.In those days, the general public could just walk freely all over the lock. I stood there, captivated by this salvaged wreck.Anyway, so fair to say, I have somewhat of a history with the locks in IJmuiden.I knew a new lock had been built, I had even been to see it. But when I saw an invite on Facebook to participate in a proper tour of the locks, I jumped onto the opportunity. The tour was organised by the IJmuider Zee- en Havenmuseum. ( https://www.zeehavenmuseum.nl ) A very nice little museum, but crammed with interesting stuff. The tour would start here with a presentation, followed by a little tour over the lock. Our guide was Hans. When I say we, it was actually only me that showed up. All other participants cancelled, we have a bit of a flu epidemic going on, and some just did not show up. Hans told me, well, you showed up, on time and all, so let's get going.The museum has also given me some of the images from Hans his presentation. Many thanks!Just a little bit of history on Amsterdam and the North Sea Channel. (Mostly borrow from Wikipedia)Hans also told the story as I found it on Wikipedia. At the time, there was nobody in the Netherlands who dared to be responsible for breaching the dunes for a channel. Those dunes are very very precious to the Dutch. They prevent the Netherlands from flooding from the high seas. So they brought in an English Contractor.Another fascinating fact Hans told me: Look at this map, why was the channel not built more or less straight in an East to West orientation? In those days IJmuiden did not really exist? Why does it have this peculiar Z shape?Look at the map, the area south of IJmuiden, e.g. Santpoort, Bloemendaal was full of homely estates from the rich traders of Amsterdam. They were the ones that pestered the King to build the North Sea Channel, but of course, the channel had to built around their fancy estates!!Ships have become bigger and wider in recent decades. Modern ships carry more goods and bulk. And there are also larger cruise ships. In order to continue to allow these ships safe and smooth access to the Port of Amsterdam at low tide, a larger sea lock had to be built at IJmuiden. In 2016, work therefore started on the lock complex. The new sea lock was scheduled to be taken into use in 2022. A little bit more about this date later.It was a very tricky project, because the nieuwe Zeesluis had to built right next to the old one.Here you have two images showing before and after the new Zeesluis was built.the red rectangle is where the new Zeesluis was going to be built.This is what it looks like today.You will have gathered by now that there are several locks in IJmuiden. This is a good overview. Sorry all in Dutch but the translation is pretty easy, from left to right:kleine- zuidersluis: Small and Southern locks. These were the original locks. Nowadays primarily used for recreational vessels, small barges, the odd tugboat and so on.Middensluis: Middle Lock. A sizeable lock in its own right. It could accommodate a vessel up to 200 meters in length. However, due to the new Zeesluis vessels leaving the middle lock, they need to make a turn and the maximum ship length that is allowed through the middle lock has somewhat been reduced. I have some images that hopefully illustrate the issue here.Noordersluit: Northern lock. Until recently, the largest lockZeesluis: Sea lock. The new largest Sea lock in the world!!Spuisluis: Purge sluice (not quite sure on the translation). I will come back to this one, as it plays a hugely important role in how we keep the saltwater out of the North Sea channel.Hans spoke extensively about the design and building of the lock. I always find these huge infrastructure projects fascinating. Unfortunately, I do not have images about the building, nor have I been able to find any English Youtube videos. Plenty of Dutch Videos out there.These sort of projects are commissioned by what we call Rijkswaterstaat. Part of the ministry of infrastructure and water management. A Dutch national governmental body that looks after all Dutch rivers, canals, coastal defense, pumping stations and so on, including our highways and provincial roads.They contracted the design, building and the first 26 years of maintenance, including all financing, to a consortium called OpenIJ.So how big is this new Sea Lock? Pretty BIG!It is 500 meters long, 70 meters wide, and its depth is 18 meters. It has three lock doors as you will see in my images. One is a spare lock door, which could replace the outer or inner doors. These doors themselves are huge of course, as you will see and are a marvel of engineering themselves.After the presentation, Hans and I got in our cars and made our way to the lock complex. Before the start of the building of the new lock, you could drive your car across the lock complex. Although there is a road, vehicle traffic is blocked off. You can only pass by foot or by bicycle, or moped.Just for a small "Indian" connection. North West of the IJmuiden lock complex are the Dutch Hoogovens, the Dutch Steelworks. We still call them, but they are owned by Tata. The Dutch and in particular the people living nearby have a lover/hate relationship with the Steelworks. It has provided lots of jobs for many generations, but it is also a terrible polluter!This is the outer entrance to the Sea Lock. The door is closed. It is difficult to get a sense of scale here, but the width of the lock is 70 meters!This is that same door. You get a better sense of scale here. A complete wide road on top of it!I noticed these peculiar red lines. Hans explained: a while ago there was a demonstration by Extinction Rebellion on the sea lock to prevent a Disney Cruise ship from entering. ( https://nltimes.nl/2024/08/18/extinc...ships-ijmuiden They put these red lines on the door locks as part of tightening up the formal laws and regulations on where people can stand and so on afterward. Not sure if the good folks of Extinction Rebellion will be impressed though, let alone intimidated by some red stripes.And here you see the actual inside of the lock. Unfortunately no ships when we were present!Taken from the middle of the outer door: This lock is massive!!Although its 18 meters deep, the maximum draft of vessels going to Amsterdam harbour is less. About a kilometer east of the lock is the Velzer tunnel. It allows one of the main motorways towards the North to dip under the North Sea Channel. But that tunnel is at approximately 16 meters and the maximum permissible draft is even less!However, they decided on 18 meter depth in the lock to accommodate tidal and wind effect inside the lock with the doors open. A combination of specific wind direction/speed and low tide brings the water level in the lock down to the point where a certain vessel could not enter on low tide. So they decided for that reason alone, to lower the depth of the lock itself well beyond the maximum draft in the North Sea Channel.If you have followed my thread on our yacht Sirion, you will have come across me talking about a lot of the bridges and locks being remotely operated all over the rivers and canals in the Netherlands. Not so with these locks. This is the control tower for the lock operations. All fully automated, one person is all it takes to push some buttons. Notice the peculiar slant of the building and windows? Apparently, that is so there are no reflections from the window toward the vessel's bridge and crew out of the bridge/bridge wingsOn both ends of the lock there are these smaller cabins. The lock can be operated from either position.Look at these markings inside the lock. Number 50 is the 500 meter mark.The lock seen from the other side, so we are looking in a westerly direction towards the sea and the Dutch (Tata) Steelworks.Now, coming back to this so called "Spuisluis" (purge sluice).There is also a pumping station complex on the north side of the locks. Here, salt water will be returned to the sea by means of selective extraction. This is necessary because otherwise the water in the hinterland would become too salty. Every time a ship passes through the locks, salt water enters the canal. Too much salt water in the North Sea Canal has a negative impact on our drinking water, nature and agriculture. A kind of screen has been built at the beginning of the Binnenspuikanaal. Salt water is heavier than fresh water. By keeping an opening at the bottom of the screen, most of the salt water disappears, leaving fresh water behind.Sorry, all in Dutch, but I trust you get the gist.Here you see that pumping station in the far distanceAnd here you see that screen on the other side of the canal. The middle section has been lifted out, so ships can enter the canal for maintenance and so on. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. Kazakhstan will continue to cooperate with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to fully complete the investigation into the AZAL plane crash in Aktau, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Qanat Bozymbaev said during a meeting with ICAO European and North Atlantic Bureau Director Nicolas Rallo, Trend reports. Bozymbaev expressed gratitude to ICAO for its support on issues of cooperation with Kazakhstan and thanked for the timely dispatch of the organization's independent expert Thormodur Thormodsson to the site of the AZAL plane crash. "In order to fully complete this investigation, we will continue to interact with ICAO," he said. On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 in the state registry and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), operating a regular flight J2-8243 from Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russian Federation, crashed near Aktau Airport in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result of the aviation accident, two crew members (the captain and the co-pilot), a senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers lost their lives. Despite the human casualties and injuries, during an emergency landing, it was possible to save the lives of 29 people thanks to the professionalism, courage, and bravery of the pilots and attendants. Following the receipt of information about the emergency landing in the Republic of Kazakhstan, necessary search and rescue operations were immediately carried out, and survivors were evacuated and provided medical assistance. The preliminary report confirmed the following facts: 1. On December 25, 2024, the Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Hava Yollari CJSC (Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)), was fully airworthy when it started its flight and while operating to Grozny. These airworthiness conditions, including the operation of the flight control systems, were confirmed by FDR data. 2. Both engines of the aircraft were operational up until the accident. This information is confirmed by the FDR records. 3. The aircraft lost GPS signals in the airspace of the Russian Federation, also experiencing the same failure above Grozny Airport. 4. Due to adverse weather conditions, the aircraft unsuccessfully attempted to land in Grozny two times, and then the captain decided to return to Baku. Following this decision, the CVR recorded two external noises, occurring at 24-second intervals, over Grozny. 5. Analysis of the CVR and FDR data showed that, 4 seconds after the first external noise, the 3rd hydraulic system failed, followed by the failure of the 1st hydraulic system 6 seconds later, and the 2nd hydraulic system 21 seconds later. 6. Numerous through and blind damages were found on the fuselage, and photos and video recordings were taken. The number of such damages was particularly high in the AFT part of the aircraft, including the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Moreover, some of them were found in the left wing and the left engine. 7. It was recorded that the damages in the fuselage were caused by foreign objects. No evidence of a bird strike was noted in the preliminary report. 8. Foreign objects that did not belong to the aircraft structure were discovered in the wreckage damages, and photos of these objects were made available to the public in the preliminary report. Additional expert examinations will be carried out to determine the exact origin of these objects. 9. At 05:13:32 the aircraft lost primary flight controls; at 05:21:42 the coordinating air traffic controller conveyed to Grozny ATC the information on the Carpet special operation. 10. No information relating to an explosion of the oxygen cylinders is included in the report. According to the ICAO requirements under the Chicago Convention, a final report on the causes of the accident shall be prepared within one year from the date of the accident. Relevant work on drafting the final report has already started involving Kazakhstan and other states participating in the investigation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In brief: An unconventional form of artificial intelligence is taking shape in a nondescript laboratory in Melbourne, Australia. Cortical Labs has unveiled CL1 an AI computer that fuses real human brain cells with silicon hardware. Remarkably, it's been launched commercially as the "world's first commercialized biological computer." At first glance, the CL1 looks like a rather unconventional PC with a small, horizontal form factor. But that's where the similarity ends. Inside, the CL1 houses hundreds of thousands of lab-grown human neurons cultivated from stem cells derived from blood samples. These neurons form networks on a silicon "chip" and interface with a computer system, allowing them to receive data, process that information, and produce outputs through their neural firing patterns. The engineers describe these networks as an ever-evolving organic computer that learns quickly and flexibly. Brett Kagan, Cortical Labs' Chief Science Officer, explained to ABC News that the concept uses biological brain cells directly instead of trying to artificially recreate neural networks in code. This was crucial considering biological brains, unfortunately, remain the only systems with true generalized intelligence. While the CL1 isn't intended to replace cutting-edge AI for general tasks yet, its creators say the biological neurons could be useful for tasks such as medical research and ultra-low-power computing. The key advantage here is the rapid learning abilities of neurons, which are able to make intuitive inferences from limited data more quickly than current AI. The energy efficiency of biological neurons is another potential upside compared to the incredible power consumption of typical AI models. Kagan noted that CL1 operates on just a few watts. For now, it looks as if the computer is more of a platform that researchers and tech companies can rent to run their experiments before developing actually useful applications. You can rent these systems to run your own experiments. Cortical Labs is offering them as a "Wetware-as-a-Service" (WaaS), where customers can buy time on the chips and access them remotely like you'd with a cloud. They can also purchase units of the CL1 outright. Cortical Labs previously saw success in training neurons in a dish to play Pong back in 2022. Now, they're counting on innovators to leverage their creation in ways not yet imagined. However, not everyone is fully convinced by Cortical Labs' claims. Ernst Wolvetang of the University of Queensland, who spoke to ABC News, said that while he was impressed with the work, he cautioned that the company's 2D neuron layers are relatively simplistic compared to the intricate networks found in the human brain. Then there's the ethical can of worms surrounding the use of neurons, which are essentially part of the human brain. For example, what if these cells actually have some form of awareness? Cortical Labs isn't brushing those concerns aside. They're taking the risks of consciousness or sentience seriously by consulting bioethicist experts. As Kagan put it, they "don't want to create any suffering in a dish." Bottom line: OpenAI has faced repeated accusations of exploiting content creators, journalists, and researchers to fuel its for-profit empire built on AI models prone to hallucinations. Now, the San Francisco-based company is attempting to repair its tarnished reputation by committing millions to a new funding initiative aimed at putting its technology to more positive use. OpenAI recently announced NextGenAI, a new consortium aimed at advancing research and education through AI-driven innovation. The company is committing $50 million from its growing financial reserves to fund leading academic institutions and equip researchers with AI tools to accelerate their workloads. Notably, participants will be encouraged to utilize OpenAI's own products and API technologies. According to OpenAI, NextGenAI marks a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the company and 15 research institutions across the US and the UK. The funding will be allocated toward research grants, computing resources, and API access to OpenAI's AI models, supporting students, educators, and researchers. NextGenAI partners include Caltech, California State University, Duke University, the University of Georgia, Harvard University, Howard University, the University of Mississippi, Ohio State University, Texas A&M, and Boston Children's Hospital, among others. OpenAI partners are already leveraging AI in cutting-edge research initiatives that could revolutionize healthcare and reimagine education. The company highlighted several breakthrough examples, including Ohio State University, which is exploring AI models to advance healthcare, manufacturing, and energy. Meanwhile, Harvard University and Boston Children's Hospital are using OpenAI tools to reduce the time required for accurate patient diagnoses. Beyond healthcare, OpenAI envisions a future where libraries and universities are deeply integrated with AI. For instance, the University of Oxford and Boston Public Library are digitizing rare texts and public domain materials using OpenAI's APIs, enabling better transcriptions and expanded access to historical knowledge. Meanwhile, the University of Mississippi is still in the early stages of exploring how AI can enhance education, research, and service. However, OpenAI is also pushing for widespread AI adoption in academia, ensuring that future generations become deeply immersed in its technology. The company openly states its goal of making students and scholars "AI-fluent" a move that, unsurprisingly, would also boost its own business. The NextGenAI initiative builds upon ChatGPT Edu, a program OpenAI launched in May 2024 to provide expanded access to ChatGPT for educational institutions. While ChatGPT Edu focused primarily on AI-powered chat, NextGenAI takes a broader approach, offering financial support, computing resources, and research tools to scientists, scholars, and students. In brief: Meta says it is committed to servicing people everywhere, even those without affordable or reliable internet access. The company has invested in various partnerships to build new connectivity infrastructures, which helps communities while growing its business. Meta is working on different levels to enhance internet connectivity and networking reliability around the planet. The company has invested billions in new subsea infrastructures, laying the "mother of all submarine cables" across three different oceans. Meta is also partnering with the Internet Society to build a novel infrastructure to provide affordable internet to people without access. The Internet Society is a non-profit organization focused on a multi-year strategy to provide connectivity in underserved communities. In partnership with Meta, the organization plans to invest $30 million through 2030 to enhance efforts in developing sustainable internet access. Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is the first co-funding partner in this initiative, but the organization is actively seeking additional partners to support its global vision. Around 2.6 billion people still lack reliable access to the internet, which prevents them from benefiting from education, healthcare, and other digital platforms. The Internet Society is leveraging its expertise to address this issue, building on an existing partnership with Meta that began in 2018. The two organizations have developed 56 new Internet Exchange Points, creating connectivity hubs in 45 countries. The newly announced Co-Funding Initiative will focus on community-centered infrastructure to address market gaps and provide training to develop new technical personnel. The Internet believes these "sustained" networks should be locally owned, scalable, and designed to promote self-reliance within underserved communities. According to Internet Society President and CEO Sally Wentworth, the new partnership with Meta exemplifies how collective action can help build internet opportunities for more than 2 billion people worldwide. The organization hopes to leverage Big Tech's voracious appetite for new users and potential customers to raise money for its efforts. The need to bring more people online is a common goal among many technology corporations. Google recently began work on silicon photonic solutions designed to bring high-speed access to underdeveloped areas. In brief: Elon Musk's close relationship with Donald Trump and his outspoken views have led to a backlash against Tesla vehicles in many countries around the world. However, sales of the EVs in the UK rose by a fifth last month, with the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y the nation's second and third most-popular models, respectively. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) writes that almost 4,000 Teslas were sold in the UK in February, up 20.7% year on year and increasing Tesla's market share from 3.75% in February 2024 to 4.6% last month. Electric vehicle popularity continues to grow in the UK. Plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEVs) registrations were up 19.3% and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) increased 7.9%. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations were up by 41.7% to 21,244. That's despite the UK's overall car market declining by 1% to 84,054 new registrations. The figures are a contrast to Tesla's declining popularity in Europe. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association showed sales of new Tesla cars almost halved in Europe last month, which is being attributed to Musk's support of Trump, his role as head of DOGE, the dismantling of USAid, and association with Germany's far-right AfD party. It's not just in Europe where Tesla's business is suffering. Sales in Australia were down 72% last month compared to the same period a year earlier. Sales of Tesla's entry level Model 3, which had been the second-best selling EV in Australia in 2024, were down 81%. In Germany, demand for anti-Musk stickers for Tesla cars has exploded, and several corporations have said they will no longer be using Teslas in their fleet vehicles. In Poland, the country's tourism minister called on citizens to boycott Tesla vehicles. There was also a poll in the Netherlands suggesting 31% of respondents who owned Teslas were considering selling or had already sold them. Figures for the start of 2025 show Tesla registrations were down 63% YoY in France, 59% in Germany, 44% in Sweden, and 38% in Norway. It has been noted that factors beyond Musk may have played a part in these fallinf sales, including customers awaiting Tesla's release of the updated Y model, cheaper Chinese rivals, and people buying fewer cars in general. In addition to the UK, Tesla sales have also risen in the US. Preliminary data for February indicates that around 42,000 of its EVs were sold during the month in the United States, up 14% year-on-year. Masthead: Bruno Martins In brief: Don't look now, but your video recorder might be part of a massive botnet pulling off record-breaking sustained DDoS attacks. The network involves compromised Shenzhen webcams and DVRs. The attacks do not appear state-sponsored, but they are very disruptive, with some victims reporting denial of service attacks lasting for days. Nokia security researchers are tracking a botnet, dubbed Eleven11bot, that has been delivering what is likely the largest directed denial-of-service attack ever recorded. An estimated 30,000 webcams and video recorders make up the massive botnet. The network is international, but Nokia says the highest concentration of compromised devices (24.4%) is in the United States. While not the largest botnet ever recorded, it has pulled off the biggest observed attack ever seen, peaking at 6.5 terabits per second, surpassing the previous record of 5.6 Tbps set in January, according to Cloudflare. Nokia's Deepfield Emergency Response Team detected Eleven11bot after a surge of geographically dispersed IP addresses launched several "hyper-volumetric attacks" in late February. Unlike traditional exhaustive DDoS attacks that target server resources, volumetric attacks flood networks with massive amounts of data to overwhelm bandwidth capacity. Eleven11bot's hyper-volumetric attacks have targeted communication service providers, game hosting infrastructure, and other sectors, causing disruptions that have lasted up too a week in some cases. Nokia security researcher Jerome Meyer noted that most IP addresses involved in these attacks had not previously been associated with DDoS activity, making Eleven11bot's sudden emergence particularly concerning. He also pointed out that the last comparable botnet of this scale was observed in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with approximately 60,000 infected devices. "This botnet is much larger than what we're used to seeing in DDoS attacks," Meyer said. "Attack intensity has varied widely, ranging from a few hundred thousand to several hundred million packets per second (pps)." While Nokia initially estimated the botnet to consist of around 30,000 devices, the nonprofit Shadowserver Foundation revised this figure to more than 86,000. Conversely, security firm Greynoise countered with a much lower estimate of fewer than 5,000 devices, with the highest IP activity (61%) originating in Iran. Meyer said Shadowserver's figure was probably an overestimate due to how it identified infected devices, mistakenly assuming that unique device information meant a device was compromised. He remains confident in his team's estimate as repeated attacks originate from the same 20,000-30,000 observed IP addresses. Greynoise researchers believe Eleven11bot is a new variant of Mirai, the infamous malware that first surfaced in 2016. Mirai-based botnets typically infect Internet of Things (IoT) devices by exploiting default credentials or software vulnerabilities. Researchers believe the Eleven11bot variant uses a newly discovered exploit to compromise Shenzhen TVT-NVMS 9000 digital video recorders running on HiSilicon chips. To protect against Eleven11bot or any other botnet, experts recommend placing IoT devices behind firewalls, disabling remote administration when not needed, and ensuring devices have strong, unique passwords. Regular firmware updates are also critical in patching vulnerabilities that botnets like Eleven11bot could exploit. Recap: The launch of AMD's Radeon RX 9070 graphics card has dashed hopes that Team Red might escape the inflated prices and weak supply that have plagued Nvidia over the past few weeks. Although listings for the new GPUs at the company's MSRP still exist, retailers globally confirmed that they will evaporate soon. Retail sources have told multiple outlets that AMD's new Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT graphics cards will only be available at MSRP during early shipments. Afterward, premiums from board partners will dominate, potentially diminishing or eliminating the lineup's value advantage over Nvidia's midrange RTX 50 series products, which face similar availability problems. Overclock3D, Inet, and Overclockers all report that the cards currently available at MSRP only maintain those prices because AMD sold its launch stock to retailers at a discount. Once the promotion ends, sellers expect prices to spike worldwide. They also say costs won't revert when new stock arrives. Graphic cards going for MSRP have become increasingly rare in recent years, but the launch of Nvidia's RTX 50 series, which started in January, has been particularly disastrous. A Taiwan earthquake and the Chinese New Year holiday depressed the company's manufacturing capacity for the first quarter of 2025, causing supply to disappear instantly on launch day. Most of what's available is over $100 above MSRP, hundreds of dollars over in some cases. More positive news initially surrounded AMD, with reports saying the RX 9070 line's stocks are healthier. Additionally, reviews confirmed that they usually match or outperform Team Green's RTX 5070 duo at similar prices with more VRAM. The company has even closed the gap in ray tracing and image reconstruction after lagging behind its rival for several years. Ready for you pic.twitter.com/S66imJtiXN Frank Azor (@AzorFrank) March 6, 2025 Also Read: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Review Overpromised, Underdelivered Unfortunately, neither company can escape stocking and pricing struggles. The new mid-range GPUs from AMD and Nvidia are now sold out, with many partner variants listed at $150 or $200 above MSRP. Nvidia's supply will reportedly improve in late March when the RTX 5070 Founder's Edition arrives, but it's unclear how much improvement we'll see. Looming 20-percent tariffs against imported goods from China might worsen the situation for GPUs and other electronics that source components from the country. Corie Barry, the CEO of prominent PC retailer Best Buy, recently remarked that customers should expect price hikes soon. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 6. The Director of the European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Nicolas Rallo, has praised Kazakhstan's report on the investigation of the crash of an "Azerbaijan Airlines" (AZAL) aircraft, Trend reports. During a meeting with Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev, Rallo emphasized the efforts of Kazakhstan and the entire investigation commission, which enabled the completion of the preliminary report less than 1.5 months after the crash. "I urge you to continue ensuring full adherence to the Convention on International Civil Aviation throughout the investigation process," he added. On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 in the state registry and owned by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), operating a regular flight J2-8243 from Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russian Federation, crashed near Aktau Airport in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result of the aviation accident, two crew members (the captain and the co-pilot), a senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers lost their lives. Despite the human casualties and injuries, during an emergency landing, it was possible to save the lives of 29 people thanks to the professionalism, courage, and bravery of the pilots and attendants. Following the receipt of information about the emergency landing in the Republic of Kazakhstan, necessary search and rescue operations were immediately carried out, and survivors were evacuated and provided medical assistance. The preliminary report confirmed the following facts: 1. On December 25, 2024, the Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 and owned by Azerbaijan Hava Yollari CJSC (Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)), was fully airworthy when it started its flight and while operating to Grozny. These airworthiness conditions, including the operation of the flight control systems, were confirmed by FDR data. 2. Both engines of the aircraft were operational up until the accident. This information is confirmed by the FDR records. 3. The aircraft lost GPS signals in the airspace of the Russian Federation, also experiencing the same failure above Grozny Airport. 4. Due to adverse weather conditions, the aircraft unsuccessfully attempted to land in Grozny two times, and then the captain decided to return to Baku. Following this decision, the CVR recorded two external noises, occurring at 24-second intervals over Grozny. 5. Analysis of the CVR and FDR data showed that, 4 seconds after the first external noise, the 3rd hydraulic system failed, followed by the failure of the 1st hydraulic system 6 seconds later, and the 2nd hydraulic system 21 seconds later. 6. Numerous through and blind damages were found on the fuselage, and photos and video recordings were taken. The number of such damages was particularly high in the AFT part of the aircraft, including the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Moreover, some of them were found in the left wing and the left engine. 7. It was recorded that the damages in the fuselage were caused by foreign objects. No evidence of a bird strike was noted in the preliminary report. 8. Foreign objects that did not belong to the aircraft structure were discovered in the wreckage damages, and photos of these objects were made available to the public in the preliminary report. Additional expert examinations will be carried out to determine the exact origin of these objects. 9. At 05:13:32 the aircraft lost primary flight controls; at 05:21:42 the coordinating air traffic controller conveyed to Grozny ATC the information on the Carpet special operation. 10. No information relating to an explosion of the oxygen cylinders is included in the report. According to the ICAO requirements under the Chicago Convention, a final report on the causes of the accident shall be prepared within one year from the date of the accident. Relevant work on drafting the final report has already started involving Kazakhstan and other states participating in the investigation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Cooling La Nina expected to be 'short-lived': UN Geneva, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 The cooling weather phenomenon La Nina that emerged late last year is weak and likely to be brief, the UN said Thursday, dashing hopes it could help rein in soaring global temperatures. "The weak La Nina event that emerged in December 2024 is likely to be short-lived," the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization said in its latest update. There is currently a 60-percent probability that conditions will shift back to neutral between this month and May, it said, adding that chances increased to 70 percent between April and June. The WMO had last year voiced hope the return of La Nina would help lower temperatures slightly after months of global heat records fuelled in part by La Nina's opposite number, the warming El Nino weather pattern, which gripped the planet for a year from June 2023. But the phenomenon appeared unlikely to significantly impact temperatures after 2024 ticked in as the hottest year ever recorded. Despite the presence of weak La Nina conditions, WMO pointed out Thursday that "January 2025 was the warmest January on record". And it said its latest global seasonal climate update, which looks beyond just the impact of the El Nino and La Nina phenomena, noted that "above-normal sea surface temperatures (were) expected to persist across all major oceans -- except for the near-equatorial eastern Pacific". It also forecast "above-average temperatures over nearly all land areas worldwide". La Nina refers to a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that cools the ocean surface temperatures in large swathes of the tropical Pacific Ocean, coupled with winds, rains and changes in atmospheric pressure. In many locations, especially in the tropics, La Nina produces the opposite climate impacts to El Nino, which heats up the surface of the oceans, leading to drought in some parts of the world and triggering heavy downpours elsewhere. The agency said the probability El Nino developing again between now and June was "negligible". While both are natural climate events, WMO stressed they were "taking place in the broader context of human-induced climate change, which is increasing global temperatures, exacerbating extreme weather and climate, and impacting seasonal rainfall and temperature patterns". WMO chief Celeste Saulo stressed in the update that seasonal forecasts for El Nino and La Nina and the associated impacts on weather and climate patterns globally were "an important tool to inform early warnings and early action", and help support decision-making. "These forecasts translate into millions of dollars worth in economic savings for key sectors like agriculture, energy and transport, and saved thousands of lives over the years by enabling disaster risk preparedness," she said. Philippines' Palawan approves 50-year ban on new mining permits Manila, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 The local government in a resource-rich Philippine province has unanimously voted in favour of a 50-year ban on new mining permits, a decision its supporters said cannot be overridden by Manila. Palawan province, a UNESCO "biosphere reserve" known for its diverse flora and fauna, has become a hotbed for mining as the national government seeks to widen its market share for minerals like nickel, a key component of electric vehicle batteries. But locals have increasingly pushed back against new mine proposals, with environmental groups and activists pointing to effects ranging from deforestation and flooding to the displacement of Indigenous peoples. There are currently 11 mines operated in Palawan, but scores of applications are pending. Environmental lawyer Grizelda Anda, who worked in support of Wednesday's vote, said Manila would not be able to legally overrule the local government's decision, which now awaits the governor's signature. "The (Philippine Mining Act of 1995) provides that you have to get the endorsement of the LGU (local government unit)," she said. The new permit ban also imposes a 25-year pause on applications to renew or expand mining licenses. Existing mines can continue "as long as they do not increase their production" or move into new areas, Anda added. - 'A really big win' - "This is a really big win not just for the people but for the environment, especially Palawan, which is our last frontier here in the Philippines," said Jonila Castro, a spokesperson for the Manila-based Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment. "We hope that many other provinces will have the same moratorium." Palawan resident Jade Cabasag, 23, whose church advocated for the ban, told AFP she was one of about 100,000 people who had signed a petition in favour of it. "We are more than just a sector that values our faith, but we also value our environment," she said, adding she was proud she could help in her "own little way". But the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines criticised the vote, saying in a statement on Thursday that the environmental concerns were overblown given laws it said provided "stringent" safeguards. The decision would also limit "the country's ability to plan and strategise about its mineral wealth at a time when the global demand for critical minerals is rising", it said. "The Philippine government has a responsibility to the people to develop its mineral resources responsibly for the good of the many. Palawan cannot and should not limit the national government's ability to do so." But mid-term elections in May, when 10 of the Palawan board's 11 members are up for re-election, could see the new ban undone if there is a dramatic shift in the body's makeup. World's sea ice cover hits record low in February Paris, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 Global sea ice cover hit a historic low in February as the world endured exceptional heat, with temperatures near the North Pole soaring 11 degrees Celsius above average, Europe's climate monitor said Thursday. The Copernicus Climate Change Service said February 2025 was the third-hottest on record, continuing a warming trend since 2023 stoked by greenhouse gas emissions. Combined Antarctic and Arctic sea ice cover -- ocean water that freezes and floats on the surface -- dropped to a record minimum extent of 16.04 million square kilometres (6.19 million square miles) on February 7, Copernicus said. "February 2025 continues the streak of record or near-record temperatures observed throughout the last two years," said Samantha Burgess of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which runs Copernicus. "One of the consequences of a warmer world is melting sea ice, and the record or near-record low sea ice cover at both poles has pushed global sea ice cover to an all-time minimum." The poles are warming several times faster than the global average. Arctic ice cover, which typically peaks in March, was at an historic low for February, eight percent below average, marking the third consecutive monthly record. In the Antarctic, where it is now summer and the ice is melting, the frozen cover was 26 percent below average across February. The Antarctic region reached its annual minimum on March 1, tying with 2022 and 2024 for the second-lowest extent in the 47-year satellite record, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. Research scientist Ted Scambos explained that while sea ice loss was near average late last year, it accelerated sharply in January and February. "Antarctica seems to finally be feeling the heat," he said. - 'Serious concern' - Decreased ice cover does not affect sea levels because the ice is already floating in the water but its retreat has serious impacts on weather patterns, global climate, ocean currents, people and ecosystems. When reflective ice gives way to dark ocean, the sun's energy, instead of bouncing back into space, is absorbed by the water, warming it and fueling further ice melt and global warming. Arctic ice loss is opening new shipping routes and drawing geopolitical interest, including from US President Donald Trump, who expressed interest in controlling Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory. Polar ice is crucial for many animals, providing shelter, breeding, and hunting grounds for species like polar bears, seals, and, in Antarctica, penguins. "The current record low global sea ice extent revealed by the Copernicus analysis is of serious concern" said Simon Josey, Professor of Oceanography at the UK's National Oceanography Centre. He warned that warm ocean and atmospheric temperatures "may lead to an extensive failure of the ice to regrow" in Antarctica during the southern hemisphere winter. Oceans absorb 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, largely from human activities like burning fossil fuels. Sea surface temperatures have been exceptionally high in 2023 and 2024, with February recording the second-warmest sea surface temperatures for that month. Globally, February was 1.59C hotter than pre-industrial times, according to Copernicus. - Heat streak - While temperatures were below average last month in parts of North America, Eastern Europe, and eastern Asia, they were above average in northern Chile, Argentina, western Australia, the southwestern US, and Mexico. The Arctic saw particularly high temperatures in February, averaging 4C above the 1991-2020 reference period, with one area near the North Pole 11C hotter than average. Copernicus uses satellite observations of polar regions going back to the 1970s and shipping records before that. Climate scientists had expected the exceptional heat spell across the world to subside after a warming El Nino event peaked in January 2024 and conditions gradually shifted to a cooling La Nina phase. Last year was the hottest on record, and the UN's World Meteorological Organization warned that La Nina is "weak" and likely short-lived. Since mid-2023, only July 2024 fell below 1.5C of warming, raising concerns that the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting long-term warming to 1.5C may be out of reach. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 6. A series of bilateral documents were signed during the official visit of Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev to Vietnam, Trend reports. In particular, Adylbek Kasymaliev and Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh signed a Joint Statement on the results of the visit, held on March 6-7. The following documents were also signed: - Agreement on cooperation in education between the Cabinet of Ministers and the Government of Vietnam; - Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Justice of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam on legal cooperation; - Memorandum of Understanding between the State Civil Aviation Agency of Kyrgyzstan and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. In the meeting that followed the signing, Kasymaliev noted that Vietnam is one of the important and reliable partners for Kyrgyzstan in the Southeast Asian region. Our countries share common approaches to issues of global and regional security and stability. I am confident that the intensification of our interaction will bring Kyrgyz-Vietnamese relations to a new level and give them additional dynamics, he said. Kasymaliyev noted the positive dynamics in the development of trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, emphasizing that the volume of trade turnover has increased almost 13 times from 2019 through 2024. Peru farmer confident ahead of German court battle with energy giant Lima, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 A Peruvian farmer suing a German energy giant in a "David and Goliath" battle over climate change damage, says he has "full confidence" in the legal process in Germany. Saul Luciano Lliuya, 44, argues that electricity producer RWE, as one of the world's top emitters of climate-altering carbon dioxide, must share in the cost of protecting his hometown Huaraz from a swollen glacier lake at risk of overflowing from melting snow and ice. He will depart for Germany in the coming days for a hearing scheduled for March 17-19 in the northwestern city of Hamm. "I have full confidence in these processes," he told a press conference in Lima on Wednesday. The father of two wants RWE, headquartered in Essen, Germany, to pay about 17,000 euros ($18,400) towards flood defenses for his community in Peru's northern Ancash region. "What I am asking is for the company to take responsibility for part of the construction costs, such as a dike in this case," he said Wednesday. Lliuya based his claim on a 2013 climate study which found RWE was responsible for some 0.5 percent of global emissions "since the beginning of industrialization." He filed a suit against the company in 2015, but a court in Essen dismissed the case the following year. In 2017, however, a higher court in the city of Hamm admitted an appeal. After the COVID-19 pandemic, German experts and judges visited Lake Palcacocha and the surrounding glaciers in Huaraz in 2022 to assess the situation. This month's hearings must decide on the admissibility of the evidence collected. The lawsuit is supported by the environmental NGO Germanwatch, whose lawyer Andrea Tang told reporters in Lima that "never before has a case of climate justice reached an evidentiary stage." She added the case "would set a huge precedent for the future of climate justice... something that could be applied in other civil cases, in other countries as well." RWE, which has never operated in Peru, says it has always complied with government guidelines on greenhouse gas emissions and is pursuing the goal of being CO2-neutral by 2040. The company has said it does not understand why it is being singled out for legal action. Zimbabwe national parks slam mining project in rhino reserve Harare, March 6 (AFP) Mar 06, 2025 A proposed coal mining project in Zimbabwe's Hwange Park, renowned for its safaris, poses a threat to its endangered black rhino population, the southern African country's national parks management authority said Thursday. "The proposed mining project poses a significant threat" to the park's Sinamatella Black Rhino Intensive Protection Zone, ZimParks said in a statement. It said it "urges" the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to cancel the mining project "and never to entertain such applications in future." ZimParks, tasked with ensuring the restoration of at least 30 percent of degraded land, inland water and ecosystems by 2030, said the proposed development "will increase the risk of extinction of the species and the prospects for population recovery." This critical habitat for black rhinos, where populations have been growing, is listed in international conventions on endangered species. Chinese firm Sunny Yi Feng has applied to prospect for coal in an area comprising more than 16,000 hectares less than eight kilometres (five miles) from the rhinos' protected zone, the government's official gazette dated February 14 said. ZimParks said "the introduction of mining activities in this vital area would undermine ecological conditions essential for wildlife survival and reproduction." The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists black rhinos as "endangered" with just over 6,400 worldwide as of last September, down one percent on the previous year due to poaching. Hwange National Park is also home to 65,000 elephants, Africa's second-largest concentration, and ZimParks said mining could interfere with the flow of groundwater, threatening vital water sources for local wildlife. A previous case involving another Chinese company, Tongmao Coal Company, at the same park led the Zimbabwean government to say in 2020 it would ban mining in nature reserves. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Highland Park parade mass shooter Robert Crimo III has entered a guilty plea but signed his name "Donald Trump" on his trial waiver. Despite the stunt, legal analysts speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times said that Crimo will still be on the line for his guilty plea. He can sign Mickey Mouse or Donald Trump, Richard Kling, a law professor at Kent College of Law, told the paper, adding that the only thing that matters is that there is a transcript of Crimo orally pleading guilty entered into the court record. Crimo, 24, carried out a mass shooting on July 4, 2022, that targeted attendees of an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois. During the attack, the gunman shot and killed seven people and injured almost 50 others. Crimo reportedly fled the Highland Park area and drove to Madison, Wisconsin, where prosecutors say he contemplated attacking another parade, but decided against it. By that time, police had already recovered Crimo's rifle which he dropped shortly after the initial attack and were chasing him into Wisconsin. Highland Park parade mass shooting suspect Robert Crimo III entered a guilty plea but reportedly signed his name as Donald Trump Police eventually caught up with Crimo, and arrested him approximately eight hours after the attack. He was ultimately charged with a total of 69 counts, all of which are either murder or attempted murder charges. Presuming his guilty plea stands in court, Crimo will face a mandatory sentence of life in prison under Illinois law. The Chicago Sun-Times obtained a copy of the trial waiver and found that Crimo's name was in both the defendant identification field and the opening rights acknowledgement of the document. At the bottom of the page, where the document calls for a signature, is the name "Donald Trump." Crimo attended four pro-Trump demonstrations in Highland Park, Deerfield, and Northbrook in 2020. However, there has been no evidence to suggest that right-wing ideology played a role in his decision to attack the parade. The only hint of motive that police ever discovered was Crimo telling them he attacked the parade to "wake people up," according to an FBI affidavit. Regardless of his personal feelings about Trump or right-wing politics, Crimo invoking the president's name on his trial waiver isn't going to help him skirt prison. Adam Sheppard, a defense attorney in Illinois, said that criminal law governing the waivers does not require a defendant to sign their own name. What it does require is that a defendant show up in court and confirm they understand that they are waiving a trial, he told the paper. On Monday, Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti asked Crimo in court if he wanted to enter a guilty plea. Crimo answered "yes." BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 6. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov urged citizens to refrain from obstructing the construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs) across the country, Trend reports. In a public statement, Zhaparov emphasized that there are currently 40 small HPPs operating nationwide, generating 312.5 million kWh of electricity. In addition, another 37 small hydropower plants are under construction, and 18 of them are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2025, supplying 385.2 million kWh to the national grid. The president also highlighted the development of solar and wind power stations with a total capacity of 5,624 MW. Despite having the potential to produce 142 billion kWh of electricity, Kyrgyzstan currently generates only 14 billion kWh, utilizing just 10 percent of its capacity. He further pointed out that in regions where small HPPs are being built, local communities have created obstacles, including roadblocks and disruptions to construction efforts, under the guise of environmental concerns such as polluting the water. "Kyrgyzstan is a country rich in water resources, yet we import 3 billion kWh of electricity annually for 3.50 soms ($0.040) per kWh. Meanwhile, the population receives electricity at a subsidized rate of 1.11 soms ($0.013) per kWh, with the difference of 2.39 soms ($0.027) covered by the national budget, costing 8.5 billion soms ($97 million) each year," he said. These funds, Zhaparov noted, come from taxes paid by Kyrgyz citizens. To address the electricity crisis, the government has been investing heavily in the construction of small and medium-sized HPPs since 2021. In addition to these projects, work has begun on the Kambarata-1 HPP. The president underscored the importance of reducing imports, ensuring energy self-sufficiency, and ultimately exporting excess electricity. "It is a disgrace for a country at the source of water resources to be purchasing electricity from other nations," he added. Zhaparov called on local authorities to fully support the construction of both private and state-owned small HPPs and urged local residents not to hinder the process. "Construction work is taking place during the day. In the morning, before the water is contaminated, stock up on clean water. Endures temporary inconveniences for up to three months. The completed HPPs will serve our country, you, and future generations for a lifetime. Do not obstruct construction through self-imposed actions," Zhaparov concluded. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An Oregon man is behind bars after authorities say he tried to destroy a line of Tesla cars with Molotov cocktails in Salem, Oregon, just south of Portland. Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arrested Tuesday and appeared in federal court the following day to answer to a charge of illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device. Lanksys arrest comes at a time when Tesla vehicles and charging stations appear to be under attack across the country as the companys owner Elon Musk takes a more prominent role within President Donald Trumps administration. Musk, who posts on X daily, replied to a post from activist Andy Ngo, which identified Lanskys social media accounts. Despite any proof that it was the same Adam Lansky, Musk appeared to endorse the post responding to it with !! In the early hours of January 20, Salem police officers responded to reports of a man throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership along Mission Street in Salem, according to court documents. A witness saw the suspect walking towards the dealership with a collapsible wagon in tow, reports The Oregonian. But then, he watched as the man pulled an object out of a bag directly in front of the showroom, lit it on fire, and then launched it at a red Tesla SUV that was parked directly outside. open image in gallery The aftermath of the attack on a red Tesla outside of the dealership ( Salem Police Department ) He then proceeded to throw an object through the dealerships window, said the man. Authorities say that object was a Molotov cocktail also known as a petrol bomb a weapon that is typically a bottle filled with a flammable liquid with a wick that gets ignited before throwing. When officers arrived at the scene, two fires were discovered: one in front of the dealership and another at the back, beside a Tesla car, according to the affidavit, reports The Oregonian. The witness claimed that the assailant spotted him and aimed what looked like an AR-15 rifle in his direction before the witness managed to quickly flee. Almost a month later, officers were called to the same dealership after what appeared to be bullets were fired into a building and a vehicle. open image in gallery The assailant was pictured on CCTV surveillance launching the Molotovs ( USDOJ ) Lanksy is tied to both incidents, authorities said. Surveillance on a patrol car also captured him firing the round of bullets at the building and at least one vehicle. A security guard had reportedly been on site but heard no gunshots, which led investigators to believe the assailant was using a suppressor when he fired the rounds. A vehicle captured in the surveillance footage at the scene was also tied to Lanksys home in Salem, said the outlet. Tesla Inc. share prices have been steadily plummeting since Trumps inauguration, where he celebrated by performing a controversial salute at a celebratory rally. Lanksy was ordered to be detained Wednesday pending further court proceedings, confirmed the DOJ. The Independent contacted the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Salem Police Department for further details. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An Australian startup has unveiled the worlds first commercial biological computer that runs on living human brain cells. Melbourne-based Cortical Labs launched the CL1 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, describing it as a body in a box that holds the potential to revolutionise AI and robotics. The computer uses lab-grown neurons that grow across a silicon chip, which allows them to send and receive electrical impulses. This setup is then integrated into Cortical Labss Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS), through which users can deploy code through the neurons and perform computing tasks. An internal life support system of pumps, gas, and temperature controls keep the neurons alive for up to six months. A simple way to describe it would be like a body in a box, Brett Kagan, chief scientific officer of Cortical Labs, told New Atlas. The biological-based system is able to learn and adapt more efficiently than conventional silicon-based computers, while also using significantly less energy. An early version of the biological computer that featured 800,000 human and mouse neurons on a chip was able to teach itself how to play the video game Pong. A paper published in the journal Cell said the neurons learned and exhibited sentience when embodied in the simulated game world. The company claims to have put guardrails in place in order to address ethical concerns relating to consciousness and sentience, though few details were provided. The Independent has reached out to Cortical Labs for comment. The neuron is self programming, infinitely flexible, and the result of four billion years of evolution, Cortical Labs states on its website. Our technology merges biology with traditional computing to create the ultimate learning machine... Unlike traditional AI, our neural systems require minimal energy and training data to master complex tasks. Cortical Labs said the first CL1 computers will be ready to ship to customers in June, with each unit costing around $35,000 (27,000). Today is the culmination of a vision that has powered Cortical Labs for almost six years," said Cortical founder and chief executive Dr Hon Weng Chong. "Our long-term mission has been to democratize this technology, making it accessible to researchers without specialized hardware and software. The CL1 is the realization of that mission. While todays announcement is incredibly exciting, its the foundation for the next stage of innovation. The real impact and the real implications will come from every researcher, academic or innovator that builds on top of it. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Google has begun testing an AI-only search tool as part of its plan to accelerate the roll out of artificial intelligence features across its platforms. Powered by Googles latest Gemini 2.0 agent, the new AI Mode works by telling using what is on the internet, rather than showing them. Instead of serving up a list of links, the new feature uses Googles massive search index to generate answers to queries in a conversational way that is similar to chatbots like ChatGPT. You can ask anything on your mind and get a helpful AI-powered response with the ability to go further with follow-up questions and helpful web links, the search giant announced in a blog post on Wednesday. AI Mode is particularly helpful for questions that need further exploration, comparisons and reasoning. You can ask nuanced questions that might have previously taken multiple searches like exploring a new concept or comparing detailed options and get a helpful AI-powered response with links to learn more. open image in gallery AI Mode appears as a tab within Google's search tools ( Screenshot ) AI Mode is currently only available to users paying for Google One AI Premium, though it will likely follow a similar launch pattern to previous AI tools, which become available more widely if successful. Google also unveiled new updates to its AI Overviews, which appear at the top of the search results page during regular web searches. The overviews will begin appearing more frequently, covering areas like mathematics and coding. Users will no longer need to be signed in to see the AI Overviews, meaning the changes will impact the roughly 5 billion people globally who use Google with or without an account. Googles AI features have faced pushback from publishers and other websites, as they are designed to keep users on its own platform through so-called zero-click search. Online education firm Chegg recently filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming that its referral traffic was being ruined by AI Overviews. The AI tools have also been criticised for giving false information, such as telling users to eat rocks and stick cheese to pizza using glue. Google said that these examples, which were widely shared on social media last year, were not representative of most peoples experiences. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Computer scientist Dr Craig Wright has been ordered to pay 225,000 in legal costs by a judge after he was found to have improperly used AI in a failed bid to appeal against a High Court ruling that he is not the founder of Bitcoin. Dr Wright lost a legal battle against Crypto Open Patent Alliance (Copa), a non-profit group including cryptocurrency firms, last year over claims that he was Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym attributed to the person widely credited with establishing the cryptocurrency. In March last year, a judge found that Dr Wright had lied extensively to support the false claim, with the Australian losing a bid to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal in November. Copa and other groups of Bitcoin developers asked the Court of Appeal to rule that Dr Wright should pay their costs of opposing the appeal bids. On Thursday, Lord Justice Arnold ordered Dr Wright to pay 100,000 of Copas costs, and 125,000 of the other developers costs. In a court order, he said the sums were appropriate as Dr Wrights appeal bids were wholly without merit. He also said that Dr Wright had improperly used AI to prepare his submissions, which risked significantly misleading the court. The judge continued that the volume and complexity of Dr Wrights submissions were exceptional, wholly unnecessary, and wholly disproportionate. He added: There is reason to believe that Dr Wright pursued his applications in part for ulterior motives, and in particular in support of his publicity campaign. Copa previously sued Dr Wright over his claims that he was Satoshi, which a trial in London last year heard was a brazen lie supported by forgery on an industrial scale. The original Bitcoin founding document, a white paper named Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, was released in 2008 and was authored under Satoshis name. Lawyers for the computer scientist told the trial there was clear evidence demonstrating his creation of the digital currency but Mr Justice Mellor ruled last March that the evidence was overwhelming that his claim was false. He also barred Dr Wright from launching or threatening further legal action related to Bitcoin through a court order. In December, the same judge sentenced Dr Wright to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, for contempt of court, after finding that he had breached the order by issuing a new legal claim worth more than 900 billion. It is understood that Thursdays ruling may be one of the first in English civil courts where a party had been ordered to pay costs over their use of AI. Phil Sherrell, partner at Bird & Bird, said: Todays costs order made against Wright was based, in part, on his illegitimate use of generative AI tools to create his appeal documents, which led to him relying on non-existent case law and a number of entirely false statements about the proceedings at first instance. This is a stark warning to litigants, and in particular litigants in person, about the risks of using generative AI tools to create court documents. Photo: Cabinet of the Ministers of Kyrgyzstan BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 6. The Chairman of the Cabinet of the Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev proposed the establishment of a Kyrgyz-Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, Trend reports. He made the remark during a meeting with Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh as part of an official visit to Vietnam. Kasymaliev stated that the commission would facilitate regular dialogue on relevant issues and develop mutually beneficial initiatives. To give additional momentum to trade, economic, and investment relations, we believe it is important to agree upon and sign three fundamental agreements in the field of economicsagreements on the promotion and protection of investments, economic cooperation, and the avoidance of double taxation, he said. He noted the positive dynamics in the development of trade between Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries increased almost 13 times from 2019 through 2024. In turn, Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that Vietnam highly values its relations with Kyrgyzstan, dubbing the country a true friend. We are committed to comprehensive cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and are ready to work together on further developing bilateral cooperation in various areas, said Pham Minh Chinh. Following the meeting, Kasymaliev invited the Vietnamese Prime Minister to visit Kyrgyzstan. In the course of Kasymaliyev's official visit to Vietnam, several important bilateral agreements were signed. These included: - A Joint Statement outlining the outcomes of the visit. - An Agreement on cooperation in education between the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and the Government of Vietnam. - A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Justice of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam, focusing on legal cooperation. - A Memorandum of Understanding between the State Civil Aviation Agency of Kyrgyzstan and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to enhance collaboration in civil aviation. Caleb McCray is now alleged to have delivered the final blow before Wilson's eventual death, according to the affidavit detailing probable cause for his arrest. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The mixtape was always a gift. Hours of time and patience. Borrowing a friends Doors album and lending your Janis. The sound of your real (or maybe imagined) self, given as an act of love. We knew the musicians, we knew everything about them. And we loved them. We are no longer fans. Now weve outsourced our demos of devotion; outsourced them to music streaming steamroller Spotify, the subject of Liz Pellys virtuosic new book Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist. Pelly is a music journalist, a researcher, someone who spent a lot of time in the DIY music scene. Shes spoken to hundreds of sources, scanned hundreds of internal documents and hundreds of Slack messages to put together her portrait of the streamer. Music journalist and researcher Liz Pelly spoke to hundreds of sources for her deep dive into Spotify. Theres only one way to sum up what Pelly tells us about Spotify sinister. It promotes fake or ghost artists, music generated by machines, stock music. Why? Spotify doesnt have to pay royalties to artists who dont exist. Yes, the company pays Beyonce and Taylor Swift well because they have the market power to make a fuss and their music is indispensable to fans. Who hasnt listened to 16 Carriages on repeat, singing overworked and overwhelmed at the top of your voice? Nothing wrong with that, but so many other artists languish. Spotify forces vulnerable musicians into a pay-to-play arrangement. Want to be most streamed, noticed in Discovery Mode? Be prepared to take a 30 per cent royalty reduction in exchange for being listed there. Only streamed a few hundred times a year? You get zip. Pelly is reserved. But her unreservedly thoughtful book takes us through all the questions we have about the streaming giant, all the worries. Advertisement You know, theres going to be different things that trouble different people about this model depending on your values, your priorities or what your relationship with music looks like, she says. Yes, its a book about music, but its also a book about surveillance, politics and the relationship between creative labour and capitalism. Some of us (me! me!) immediately worry about the impact it has on our listening. Spotifys Perfect Fit Content encourages us to be less adventurous, passive, starving ourselves of authentic work. We accept artificial music devised by artificial intelligence, manufacturing and mirroring our own version of emotional intelligence, which limits our own. Those songs of love are born of algorithmic invention, not of desire. The result? The death of the mixtape. But thats far from the worst of it. Theres a backlash to generative AI image culture... But we dont have the same sense of media literacy around audio culture. Liz Pelly, author Pelly explains how our data is collected and used to strengthen a product that endeavours to diminish culture, then just straight-up sold in the mood data marketplace to data brokers who might be sharing it with other types of data brokers. I immediately panic and imagine the worst. Mood music at work, designed to keep us on track, undistracted. Pellys not at all sceptical about that possibility. But I hope most streaming users would care about the material impacts on musicians lives, or the way in which streaming has made it significantly more difficult for musicians to scrape together an ability to make a living from music. Spotify was meant to be the key to unlocking the worlds music, to unleashing creativity. It would be affordable for fans and would provide decent financial support for artists. Nirvana (or Pearl, if that was your Jam maybe). Its anything but. Advertisement And the woman whos unlocked the various chains? Pelly, 35, who grew up on the south shore of Long Island, is in the middle of a huge and frantic book tour, and her messages, emails and texts are out of control, but shes talking to me from Texas. An Australian tour is on the cards, say her local publishers. The demand to hear someone explain the ways in which Spotify is destroying music would be big here after all, the streamer has had an extraordinary impact on Australian music. Music piracy built the coffin but streaming nailed it in. Liz Pellys new book uncovers the sinister side of music streaming. Credit: Hachette Back in the day say, early 2000s Australians accounted for 30 per cent of the music that sold well enough to make the bestselling charts. Now its just 4 per cent. Those are the numbers of Tim Kelly, a former music executive and program director at the Australian Institute of Music who is midway through his PhD research. He says its not just Australian music that has suffered. Its anyone outside the US/UK axis. Dominant artists are getting more and more of the pie and no one is breaking new artists, he says. Loading But Kelly says its worse than that. Its the way Spotify doubles down on our taste, rather than trying to expand it. As he points out, thats not unique to Spotify all algorithmic design does this. It will suggest something very similar to what youve already heard, he says. But when we get suggestions from our friends, theres a different process. Friends try to expand your vision rather than double down on your vision. Advertisement He also says going to gigs is no longer a base on which to build our music tastes. Where once we took risks, now we tend to go to gigs of people we already know and love. Taylor Swift sells out multiple stadiums in multiple cities. But we might not take a chance on someone weve never heard of. The superstar economy undermined the base, Kelly says. Pelly has some answers. She thinks we should do what readers do in place of book clubs, listening parties. And theyve done that at independent music store Red Eye Records in Sydneys CBD. Co-owner Matt Huddy sees it as a commercial opportunity. Get access to the album early and get a heap of people to come listen and respond. It worked well for Lana Del Reys Did You Know That Theres a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. Huddy says that has been the most successful of all Red Eyes listening events. Beyond listening parties, Pelly says we also need to think about music in the same way we now think about images. Theres more of a public conversation unfolding about generative AI images, and publications using generative AI images, and illustrators being out of work. Theres a backlash to generative AI image culture. People are streaming playlists filled with songs by artists that dont exist, or hearing music made either by generative AI, partially by generative AI, stock music, fake music, ghost artist music. But we dont have the same sense of media literacy around audio culture. Loading Weve been persuaded to take a lean-back attitude to consuming music when what we used to do was stand up the front, clamouring for more. Huddy gives me a glimmer of hope. He says there has been a resurgence in the sale of blank cassette tapes. Now to buy the thing that plays them and send all my friends that one track by Thelma Plum. Because friends dont let friends play the same boring rubbish over and over again. Advertisement Advertisement Eating outHot & new Relive your magical trip to Japan at these nine Melbourne venues Pocket-sized sushi restaurants, old-school Tokyo-style cafes, and affordable delis with build-your-own bentos are just the tip of a rapidly growing and highly specialised Japanese scene. Emma Breheny March 6, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share As featured in the Melbourne new Japanese venue collection. See all stories . A mania for Japanese food is sweeping Melbourne, with onigiri stands, listening bars, specialist tofu shops and convenience stores rapidly sprouting all over the city. Unlike many other local Japanese restaurants, these new arrivals have a tight focus on particular dishes and styles of cooking, mirroring a vital aspect of Japanese culture: the commitment to mastering one thing. Caneles at Omo cafe come in flavours like matcha and Earl Grey. Chris Hopkins Visitors to Tokyo often marvel at the quality of everything from soba noodles to Neapolitan-style pizza to French food. Specialising in doing one thing extremely well is a driving force in the country and its an attitude thats finding favour in Melbourne, too. So many Australian people are going to Japan now, so theyre finding out what real Japanese food is, says Tomoya Kawasaki, who just opened Obanzai Mama in Fitzroy, a deli for Kyoto home-style dishes. [Now is the time] to show them proper traditional venues. Gaku Obanzai Deli offers an array of home-style dishes to mix and match. Advertisement More than 900,000 Australians visited Japan last year, taking advantage of a strong exchange rate and direct flights. After eating at specialist ramen shops, Tokyo coffee houses (known as kissaten) and the countrys ubiquitous konbini (convenience stores), many have returned with a taste for the countrys hospitality. At new CBD cafe Omo, co-owner Clara Son tried to recreate the warmth and vintage charm of the kissaten, which has been supplying Tokyo with coffee and comfort food well into the night for decades. Its been a hit here, too: she says some customers wait up to 50 minutes for onigiri (rice balls). Manato Hikawa runs another home-style venue, Gaku Obanzai Deli in Elwood, serving what he and Kawasaki refer to as grandma food. Both agree that the affordability of their dishes which start at $12.50 are a big part of their venues popularity at a time when many Australians are budget-conscious. Omo cafe is darker and moodier than many modern cafes, inspired by Tokyos kissaten. Chris Hopkins CAFE Advertisement Tokyos oldest cafes, kissaten, are cosy spaces where dark wood, porcelain and antiques sit in sharp contrast to contemporary cafe design. Omo, a newcomer in Melbourne, combines the best parts of both cities coffee cultures. Theres Eggs Benedict on shokupan toast, onigiri pan-fried in butter and soy sauce, caneles in flavours such as Earl Grey, and creative iced coffees made with Ona beans. The most popular is the birru latte featuring non-alcoholic beer, cream and espresso. Antique lamps and vases dot the wood-panelled space. An expanded menu (including dinner) will launch once gas is connected. 18 Merriman Lane, Melbourne, instagram.com/omojapcafe RAMEN For years, ramen in Melbourne usually meant bowls of collagen-rich tonkotsu (pork-bone-based) soup. More choice gradually arrived, but Shouyu-ya Ramen is geared around just one type: shoyu ramen, referring to the Japanese word for soy sauce. Savoury and clearer than tonkotsu, there are just three choices here: chicken, duck or vegetarian. Add on gyoza, or, for dessert, mochi skewers, and pick from many styles of sake and beer. 692 Sydney Road, Brunswick, ramen-shouyu-ya.square.site Advertisement Suupaa channels bright, industrial design in its take on the Japanese convenience store. Pier Carthew CONVENIENCE STORE Japans 7-Elevens and Lawsons are legendary for their high-quality snacks and cleanliness. Suupaa channels that spirit with polished stainless steel, grab-and-go items like onigiri and donburi (rice bowls), and coffee on tap. But you can also sit down (or even come for dinner on select nights) for udon noodles, hefty sandos and signature drinks, boozy or otherwise. Shop 1, 65 Dover Street, Cremorne, suupaa.au At venues like Gaku Obanzai Deli, customers can mix and match different textures, flavours and vegetables. Advertisement WHOLESOME Two new eateries on either side of the Yarra focus on build-your-own sets of nutritious, simple food, most of it vegetarian. Gaku Obanzai Deli in Elwood offers eight different obanzai (side dishes) each day, including kale and bean sprouts soaked in soy-dashi marinade, and potato salad with smoked radish. Add-ons include teriyaki barramundi or agedashi tofu. Collingwoods Obanzai Mama also has a cabinet packed with vegetable dishes (perhaps pumpkin simmered in soy, sake and mirin), many based on recipes from owner Tomoya Kawasakis mother and grandmother. Bento boxes, onigiri and egg sandwiches are also on offer. Both do takeaway. Gaku Obanzai Deli, 161 Ormond Road, Elwood, instagram.com/gaku_obanzai_deli/ Obanzai Mama, 83A Smith Street, Collingwood, obanzaimama.com.au Crumbed pork (tonkatsu) is the focus at Katsuhon, where it comes with many condiments. Advertisement TONKATSU Two venues with big queues dominate discussions of the best crumbed pork cutlet in town. Katsuretsu is hidden behind noren curtains in an arcade and serves panko-crumbed pork striploin with slaw and three choices of sauce, from Japanese curry to dark miso. Its by the Ton & Con crew in Windsor, who describe this as their express location. Katsuhon, a small timber structure beneath an imposing office building, looks air-lifted from a Tokyo street. 70 people at a time can sit down for teishoku (set meals of a main, soup, rice, pickles) served on wooden trays, with the hero dish being crunchy pork loin. Other crumbed and fried items abound, from meatballs to unagi eel. Katsuretsu, Mid City Arcade, 200 Bourke Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/katsuretsuco Katushon, 3/200 Queen Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/katsuhon_au SUSHI Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up On Friday night the Melbourne Fashion Festival will stage a show dedicated to older models and consumers called F--- the Invisible. The ticketed event is marketed as a gloved middle finger raised in the stretched face of a fashion industry overlooking older women. The problem, apart from the cringy name, is a concept thats as out of date as the peasant blouse at the back of your wardrobe. Many women suffer from feelings of invisibility socially and in the workplace as they age, but today you cant doomscroll fashion hashtags without seeing Demi Moore, 62, on the Oscars red carpet, Michelle Pfeiffer, 66, in the latest advertising campaign for Saint Laurent, or 60s supermodel Penelope Tree, 75, stealing the spotlight in the Fendi show at Milan Fashion Week. Supermodel Naomi Campbell, 54, on the DSquared2 runway at Milan Fashion Week. Credit: AP Older women are not just in fashion, they are interwoven into its dry-clean-only fabric as designers, models, editors and customers. Anthony Lewis, 33, of Winter Haven, Florida, wanted to surprise his ex-girlfriend, and maybe lure her back, with a unique Valentine's Day gift. So he picked up a couple of crane statues -- out of someone else's front yard. Fox13-TV reported that Lewis was on his motorcycle when he snatched the cranes, which were "very special" to the owner because her deceased husband had given them to her. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the girlfriend was "mortified" and cooperated with law enforcement. Lewis, who has 39 priors, was arrested. "If this guy's in the area, he'll steal it," Judd said. [Fox13, 2/14/2024] BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 6. Kyrgyzstan has introduced a temporary ban on the export of mineral fertilizers outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), for a period of six months, Trend reports. According to a government decree, the ban applies to all types of mineral fertilizers, with exceptions for international transit and humanitarian aid provided by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers. The decree specifies that if the quality of the mineral fertilizers does not meet established standards, the ban will not apply to their re-export. This move is seen as a strategic decision aimed at protecting national interests, supporting domestic agriculture, and ensuring the stable development of the agro-industrial sector. The Customs and Border Guard Service will take measures to prevent the illegal export of fertilizers to enforce the ban. In another take on the looming state election, a leading WA education researcher is concerned that the promises made so far will not fix the main issues facing schools. The state government has promised to build four new primary schools that will open by 2028 and a new high school to open in 2029 and committed to a further six schools, if they are re-elected. But Curtin University School of Education lecturer Saul Karnovsky says there have been no election commitments towards addressing student behaviour or teacher workload. Teacher workload and student behaviour have not been addressed. Amidst a chronic staffing shortage I am pessimistic that these new schools will be able to find enough teachers until we radically rethink teacher workload, he said. WA is experiencing a chronic teacher shortage because many who enter the profession leave, as they are not able to manage unreasonable workload demands, have poor mental health, wellbeing, and work-life balance. This is principally because teachers are bearing the brunt of a lack of services and overall funding in schools needed to account for the complex needs of our communities. Our teachers are toiling away as security guards, counsellors, data administrators, co-parents, citizen makers, and babysitters for the economy. Karnovsky said it was these issues that would motivate teachers and others in the education space to vote a certain way, and that the promise of new schools would not lure them to one side. The WA Liberals have promised $500,000 to build two new behaviour and engagement centres for students with complex and challenging anti-social behaviours. The Nationals and Greens have both promised to reduce classroom sizes, something Karnovsky and others in the sector have said is a hot topic given WA has some of the largest classrooms in the country. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the March 8 edition of Good Weekend. See all 13 stories . The best of travel might be the unexpected bits, but I wasnt expecting to spend three nights in a hospital in India being cared for by a maid named Jyoti who spoke no English and shaved my pubic hair with a safety razor. Before my partys three-week trip to northern India in January, Id casually requested from our guide, Amrit, to visit some non-touristy things, but I hadnt meant a hospital. I hadnt really meant real India. My daughter, Beth, and son-in-law, Dan, were with me, and a friend was soon to join us for the highlight, the Jaipur Literature Festival, self-dubbed the worlds grandest celebration of books and ideas. We were not roughing it. After a day spent in Udaipur, in the north-western state of Rajasthan, which included touring a palace that took 400 years to complete, a boat ride and an outdoor foot massage, my little group had dinner and drank chocolate martinis in a rooftop restaurant overlooking Lake Pichola as close to tourist heaven as we could imagine. The author with her daughter, Beth, son-in-law, Dan, and guide, Amrit. Credit: Courtesy of Gay Alcorn I returned to my hotel room, felt nauseous, vomited again and again, and experienced a searing pain in my lower back a pain as consuming as childbirth. Beth Googled appendicitis, but the pain was in the wrong place. Amrit pushed us into a tuk-tuk, and we sped over rough roads to a private hospital, me hunched over, rocking with pain and fear. I could barely focus, but it seemed like a small hospital, clean if a little tired. I dreaded waiting for hours in emergency, as I may have done in Australia, but there were few people around and I saw a doctor immediately. He suspected kidney stones, hard deposits of minerals and salts that form in the kidney and begin to move. Excuse me, I have to vomit, I said, running to the bathroom. I spent the night in the ICU, curtained off from other patients and pleading for more pain relief. Beth lay on the floor beside me until the nurse said she could take a bed unless it was needed for an urgent case an unusual accommodation, we thought. A hospital is a hospital all over the world, but each beats with its own culture. Blankets in India are colourful, with large orange flowers. A poster on the wall pictured a doctor with his hands folded into a heart shape: A miracle is a moment, it said, but healing is a process. A nurse in a pink uniform put his feet up on a chair and tried to sleep. Advertisement The hospital sign telling it like it is to patients. Credit: Courtesy of Gay Alcorn The next morning, tests were done and a urologist, warm and gently spoken, outlined my options: the stones might pass through urination, but that could take weeks, or I could have a procedure to remove them. The idea of living with this pain for the trips remaining 10 days was unbearable, so I chose the procedure. Until then, our holiday had been the usual experience of tasting and touching just the edge of a complicated country. It was my third trip to India, and Ill go again, seduced by its energy and admiring of its determination to forge its destiny after subjugation for so long. I know travel is a fantasy tinged with guilt. We visit famous places polished-up for tourists, applaud traditional dancing at heritage hotels, queue to see monuments and galleries and, in India, sit in a small bus while a woman holding a baby taps on the window, begging for money. Even in hospital, I was a tourist. It became clear that I was getting special treatment. I was moved to a private room with air-conditioning. The medical director, a gynaecologist whose family owned the 100-bed hospital, was taking personal care of me. I look after the VIPs, the foreigners, she told me. She wore a kurta and sandals and had an air of complete confidence. Mostly, she said, it was because she spoke English, while the nurses were trained in Hindi and could understand just a few words. The medical director suggested that it would help if I could review the hospital online, mentioning that I was Australian. I saw one other white patient: a young Australian man with terrible gastro who was being flown home. The staff were Indian and it was dahl and chai for breakfast. Jyoti, striking in her sari, arrived several times a day to smile and sweep the floor. Advertisement I was grateful for the attention, but conscious of the legacy of British colonialism, that whites go to the front of the queue. The medical director said that many Indian-trained doctors go overseas for the money, but she preferred being close to her family. Indian doctors care for patients all over the developed world, including in Australia, while tens of millions of Indians, especially in rural areas, struggle to receive basic care. With Jyoti, who spoke no English but who slept by the authors bed on her final night at the hospital. Credit: Courtesy of Gay Alcorn At the same time, medical tourism is booming in India because treatment by excellent doctors in good hospitals reportedly costs about 20 per cent of what it would in the West. Such is the reality of globalisation. Exporting doctors to rich countries; importing Western patients who cant afford care at home. I wasnt here by choice, but I was a foreign patient from an affluent country, and the medical director suggested that it would help if I could review the hospital online, mentioning that I was Australian. The procedure was scheduled for 9pm. We are a 24-hour hospital, the medical director said with a smile when I queried the time. She told my daughter that they didnt want me to spend another night in pain. As I was wheeled into the operating theatre, I had a moment of panic, a fear of being in a foreign country where I couldnt speak the language. Maybe there was some prejudice, too, about whether a poorer country could give a sole tourist the health care I assume as an entitlement. Recovering after the procedure to remove the kidney stones. Credit: Courtesy of Gay Alcorn Advertisement The hospital was clean but a little tatty, the lifts creaking, the mat on the operating table worn and patched with masking tape. As the anaesthetist explained that she would now deliver the injection to my spine, I wondered, What the f--- am I doing? The urologist held my head between my legs and told me to relax. Id never been in an operating theatre, never known what it was like to feel nothing below my waist. I tried to move my toes, to tense my buttocks. I looked up, and the doctor was holding my legs straight up in the air, toenails holiday red, and I couldnt feel a thing. Whats that whooshing sound? I asked. The laser breaking up the kidney stones, he said. His job was to insert a thin, flexible and lighted tube into the urethra to find the stones, and then blast them into pieces and remove them. I didnt know it at the time, but the medical director popped in and out of the operating theatre to update Beth about what was happening. It lasted about 30 minutes, a minimally invasive procedure, the urologist called it, routine for him. It went well and the pain was gone. The night before I was to leave hospital, I was told that I was the only white patient at the time. Beth returned to our hotel and the medical director worried that Id be alone; the maid Jyoti can stay with you, she said. Thats not necessary, I replied. In case you fall or need something, Jyoti can sleep on the floor, she said, pointing to the hard tiles. She can sleep on the spare bed, I insisted too quickly. Jyoti wore a maroon sari, a row of rings on her fingers and a red bindi between her eyes. She spoke no English, and my Hindi was limited to the numbers zero to five, What is your name? and How are you? It was Jyoti whod been instructed to shave my pubic hair before the kidney stone procedure, using a safety razor with very little water or soap. Nothing was said, but she and I laughed at the absurdity of it. A nurse showed me a picture of a patients stomach, her intestines spilling out. Confidentiality blown, I thought. That night, when I went to the toilet, she woke up and scurried to my side. I tried to wave her from the bathroom, but she would not leave until I was back in bed. I smiled at her, thinking privacy in India was a foreign concept. The next morning, having had no shower for three days, I asked for a towel. The bathroom was set up Indian-style, with a big plastic bucket to fill with water and a smaller bucket to throw water over yourself. But there was no towel. I mimed what I wanted and Jyoti left the room to fetch a nurse. They both looked perplexed, and handed me a face washer. I never quite understood it, but I did my best. Advertisement Wellington: New Zealands most senior envoy to the United Kingdom has lost his job over remarks he made about US President Donald Trump at an event in London this week, New Zealands foreign minister said. Phil Goff, who is high commissioner to the UK, made the comments at an event held by the international affairs think tank Chatham House in London on Tuesday. Phil Goff has lost his job as New Zealand high commissioner to the UK. Credit: Getty Images Goff, a former New Zealand opposition leader and Auckland mayor, asked a question from the audience of the guest speaker, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, in which he said he had been re-reading a famous speech by former British wartime leader Winston Churchill from 1938, when Churchill was an MP in the government of led by Neville Chamberlain. Churchills speech rebuked Britains signing of the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler, which allowed Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Goff quoted Churchill as saying to Chamberlain: You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 6. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov has invited President of Vietnam Luong Tam Quang to make an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports via the country's Cabinet of Ministers. The invitation was delivered by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev during his official visit to Vietnam in a meeting with Luong Tam Quang. "We highly value the historical ties between our peoples, based on mutual respect, support, and a shared commitment to justice, independence, and prosperity. The Kyrgyz Republic is ready to take bilateral relations with Vietnam to a new level. In order to further strengthen cooperation, it's necessary to intensify political contacts at a high level, regularly organize intergovernmental consultations, and promote the exchange of visits of official delegations," said Kasymaliev. Luong Tam Quang conveyed his greetings to Sadyr Zhaparov, and observed that the intergovernmental dynamics between the nations are fortifying and articulated a desire to enhance synergistic collaboration between the two entities to an advanced tier. "Your official visit to our country will open a new chapter in bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam," said Luong Tam Quang. During the negotiations, the sides engaged in a discourse regarding the potential for enhancing bilateral synergies across multiple domains. Focused efforts were directed towards enhancing trade and economic synergies, alongside fostering cultural, humanitarian, and investment collaborations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 6. The leadership of the Main Department of Geology under the Government of Tajikistan and a delegation from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in the Pamir mountains, within the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region of Tajikistan, Trend reports. Key discussions included joint geological exploration activities, the digitization of geological materials, and the provision of statistical reports in electronic and online formats. The Uzbek delegation's visit to Tajikistan, which will last until March 8, will include visits to geological exploration sites and the Geological Museum. The visit is also expected to result in the signing of a cooperation protocol between the two countries. The Geological Museum in Tajikistan was inaugurated in 1947, marking the commencement of the systematization of stone materials that have been housed there since 1939. The museum is situated in a purpose-built facility featuring a 320-square-meter showroom and four operational rooms: a shlifotek, a picture library, a room dedicated to monographic collections in paleontology, and a paleobotany room, as well as a history room focused on geological studies in Tajikistan. The museum exhibits 4,540 specimens. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel 3,000 MT loading target Railways rolls out pan-India upgradation of 2x25 KV traction distribution network By Sagar Mohod : Four high density corridors of CRs Nagpur Division to see switchover to high voltage displacement by year 2027 With an eye on Mission 3,000 Metric Tonne (MT) loading target, the Railway Board is rolling out a pan-India upgradation of Traction Distribution (TRD) network with focus on 2x25 KV power stations. A programme is being undertaken by the Railways to enhance its share in freight from current 27 per cent to 45 per cent by year 2030 and the same objective is outlined in National Rail Plan (NRP). For enhancement of the freight output, Railways is investing heavily to put in place required inputs, ranging from increasing the track capacity, replacing the signal aspects, and in that line now, its concentrating on improvement of electric supply. The 2x25 KV was first set up on Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) routes and now, Railways is replicating the same on its high density corridors. At Central Railways Nagpur Division, the upgradation in traction has been identified for Nagpur-Wardha-Badnera, Amla-Nagpur and Itarsi-Amla plus Sewagram-Ballarshah routes. Gati Shakti Unit (GSU) is overseeing the OHE modifications spanning 504 TKM, 438 TKM, 390 TKM, and 512 TKM of traction kilometres section respectively. While these routes have coal in common, on Ballarshah-Wardha route, the emergence of iron ore means there is a need for higher voltage to ensure that goods trains do not stall in mid-section when extra wagons are added. For the upgradation of traction, new Traction Substations (TSS), Switching Posts (SP) and Sub-Switching Posts (SSP) would need to be erected and process has started in the division. The 2x25 KV system has voltage feed of 50 KV from the substation that drops to 25 KV through automatic transformer (AT) installed with 10 to 15 km spacing along track keeping in mind requirement of OHE and also rolling stock. A pilot project for this system was done in Bina-Katni section of West Central Railway Zone with the help of a Japanese consultant. The advantage of 2x25 KV is that it provides better displacement of voltage regulation, that too, at higher load currents. These days, long haul has become quite a norm and Nagpur Division alone is eyeing to equal Central Railways total originating loading of 90 metric tonnes. This means number of long hauls would be run and with addition of weightage, a seamless power supply is core to the uninterrupted running of the goods trains. Right now, the Railways has in place 1x25 KV, means there is one sub-station which will now be doubled thus enhancing the power supply to Overhead Equipment (OHE) ensuring that there is no lag when heavy load is being hauled. The division said the 2x25 KV on all the four routes of division will be in place by year 2027 with installation of Scott-connected traction transformers (60 MVA). Once these transformers are affixed, the OHE will get a 90-degree phase displacement in 2x25 KV secondary windings, enabling balanced and efficient power supply, ensuring optimal power distribution across the network. Post stable power supply, Rlys to run semi high speed passenger trains Apart from meeting the needs of haulage of higher loads, another advantage of 2x25 KV will enable running of Mail/Express trains at semi high speed, like 160 km/hr. Within the next three years, as in track and terminal capacity, one is about addition of tracks and second one refers to station handling of trains, Railways will introduce semi high speed trains. The Vande Bharat sleeper rakes are enabled to run at higher speed and thus, 2x25 KV system will ensure that passenger trains do not lag when they run at great speed. Another angle while running at high speed is that of safety and for the same, Railways is rolling out Kavach system. Alongside, the enhanced displacement of power and lesser volatile disruption will ensure trains to accelerate and maintain the speed on continuous basis. Under 1x25, when it comes to enhancement of power supply, tripping occurs and hence 2x25 ensures stable power supply. Discussed ties, FTA,Ukraine conflict withUK PM: Jaishankar LONDON : EXTERNAL Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday evening to convey warm greetings from Prime Narendra Modi. Jaishankar said bilateral cooperation and the UKs perspective on the Russia-Ukraine conflict were among the topics covered during his meeting with the UK PM. Discussed taking forward our bilateral, economic cooperation and enhancing people to people exchanges. PM Starmer also shared the UKs perspective on the Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said in a social media post. Earlier on Tuesday, the External Affairs Minister (EAM) held a series of ministerial dialogues on the first day of his six-day visit covering the UK and Ireland. During a meeting with UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the ministers discussed the progress of the IndiaUK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. Discussed the progress on our FTA talks, Jaishankar said in a post on X after his meeting with Reynolds. India and the UK had officially relaunched the negotiations, aimed at boosting the GBP 41-billion annual bilateral trade partnership, during the UK ministers visit to Delhi last month. This was followed by a meeting with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, which touched upon people-to-people ties and joint India-UK efforts to tackle extremism. We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism, Jaishankar stated. In a pre-visit statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said theEAMs visitwill provide renewed impetus to Indias friendly ties with th e UK and Ireland. India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has strengthened across diverse areas including defence and security, trade and economy, health, education, people-topeople ties, the MEA said. Over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, the EAM will beholdinghigh-leveltalkswith hisBritishcounterpart,Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and severalotherdignitariesaswell asmembersoftheIndiancommunity based in Britain. Besides the FTA, the focus ofhisclosed-doordiscussion s will cover foreign policy and security issues amid the UK s attempt at taking a diplomatic lead on finding a lasting peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. On Wednesday evening, Jaishankaris scheduled for an in-conversationsessionatthe Chatham House think tank in Londononthe topicofIndias rise and role in the world. On Thursday, he is expectedinDublinforameetingwith his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, and members of the Indian community in Ireland. India and Ireland shar e friendly bilateral relations based on shared democratic values, culturalties and grow - ing economic engagements, the MEA stated. On Friday, the EAM returns to the UK to inaugurate a new Consulate General of India in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before making his way to Manchester to open another new Indian Consulate in the northern England city on Saturday. He is expected to be joined by UK Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West. A diaspora eventcoinciding with International Womens Day on March 8 is expected to take place at the Old Traffor d stadium in Manchester . DRDO conducts high-altitude trials Indigenous life support system for pilots on board Tejas jets NEW DELHI : Life support systems have been designed to generate and regulate breathable oxygen for pilots during flight, eliminating dependence on traditional cylinder-based oxygen. THE Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted high-altitude trials of an indigenous life support system for pilots onboard Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. The Defence Ministry said cutting-edge life support systems have been designed to generate and regulate breathable oxygen for pilots during flight, eliminating dependence on traditional cylinderbased oxygen. The trials were conducted on Tuesday. With appropriate modifications, the system can also be adapted for use in MiG29K and other aircraft, the Ministry said. The Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory, a Bengaluru-based lab under the DRDO successfully conducted high-altitude trials of the Indigenous OnBoard Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS)-based Integrated Life Support System (ILSS) for the LCA Tejas aircraft on March 4, the it said. The ILSS underwent rigorous testing on the LCA-prototype vehicle-3 aircraft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) meeting stringent aeromedical standards in varied flight conditions, including altitudes of up to 50,000 feet above mean sea level and high-G maneuvers, it added. Following flight clearance from Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC), the system successfully met all specified parameters, the Ministry said in a statement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, the Indian Air Force, Public Sector Undertakings, and industry partners on the remarkable achievement. Singh emphasised that this development reinforces Indias commitment to cutting-edge defence technologies and aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The system has been manufactured by L&T as a development cum production partner of the DRDO, reflecting a significant collaboration between the premier defence research institution and defence industries. The ILSS has 90 per cent indigenous content, furthering Indias self-reliance in aerospace technology, according to the Ministry. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, Samir V Kamat lauded the DRDO team, the IAF, and industry partners for their contributions towards the successful high-altitude trial of the Indigenous ILSS for LCA Tejas. From April 2: Trumpsreciprocal tariffsagainst India, China NEW YORK/WASHINGTON : US PRESIDENT Donald Trump criticised the high tariffs charged by India and other countries including China, calling it very unfair and announcing reciprocal tariffs will kick in from next month. In his address to a Joint Session of the US Congress, the President said that the reciprocal tariffs will commence from April 2. Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades and now its our turn to start using them against those other countries. On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, - Mexico and Canada - Have you heard of them -and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. Its very unfair, Trump said Tuesday night. Trumps address to the Joint Session of the Congress on Tuesday was the first of his second term in the White House. On January 20, Trump was sworn-in as the 47th President of the US. India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100%, hecontinued. In February, President Trump has said that his administration will soon impose reciprocal tariffs on countries such as India and China, reiterating what he had said during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US capital last month. Trump has made it clear to PrimeMinisterModithatIndia will not be spared from Washingtons reciprocal tariffs and emphasised that nobody can argue with me on tariff structure.Chinasaveragetariff on our products is twice... And South Koreas average tariff is four times higher. Think of that, four times higher. And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to SouthKorea.But thats what happens.This is happening by friend and foe. This system is not fair to the United States. I t never was, he said. TrumpaddedthatfromApri l 2,reciprocal tariffs will kick in, and whatever they tariff us , other countries, we will tariff them. Thats reciprocal back andforth.Whateverthey t axus, wewill t axthem.Iftheydononmonetary tariffs to keep us out oftheirmarket,thenwewilldo non-monetarybarrierstokeep them out of our market. They dont even allow us i n theirmarket.Wewilltakeintrillionsandtrillionsofdollarsthat create jobs like we have never seenbefore.I diditwithChina, andI diditwithothers, andthe Biden administration couldnt do anything about it because there was somuchmoneythey couldnt do anything aboutit. We have beenrippedofffor decades by nearly every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer, Trump said. INFRA BOOM at the cost of peoples comfort By Anshul Kadu : Across Nagpur, the weary dance of disruption and aspiration plays out on every street. Citizens navigate a labyrinth of unfinished projects and hastily patched potholes, their daily commutes a testament to the enduring hope for a better tomorrow. Yet, the misalignment of a patch of the newly inaugurated Somalwada Railway Underbridge, and recent incidents of the Pardi-Kalamna and Butibori flyovers, expose a citywide pattern. It's a pattern that erodes trust, where each infrastructural promise, meant to ease burdens, instead becomes a stark reminder of systemic lapses. Only about a month ago, thousands gathered to welcome Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for the inauguration of the Somalwada Railway Underbridge (RuB) on January 28, after a string of frustrating delays, hoping that the opening would finally ease the inconvenience. However, just weeks after its grand opening, a portion of the road, leading up to the underpass from the Manish Nagar side (which was properly aligned at the time of inauguration) began to sink, becoming visibly uneven. Adding insult to injury, the authorities concerned responded to the issue with what can only be described as a superficial repair. While they attempted to level the sunken section, the work itself was poorly executed, leaving the road still uneven and raising serious concerns about its long-term durability. This 'band-aid on a fracture' approach does little to reassure residents, particularly as the monsoon season approaches. The case of Somalwada RuB, unfortunately, is not an isolated one. Several incidents in the recent past have indicated infrastructural lapses, including the slump of a block of concrete off the Pardi-Kalamna Flyover and the partial collapse of the Butibori Flyover. A huge chunk of concrete dangled off the Pardi-Kalamna Flyover and plunged onto an occupied car, just a day after it was thrown open for vehicular traffic. As usual, statements poured in from different departments, each pointing fingers at anyone but them, and none was held accountable. No fatality was reported, fortunately. Otherwise, a minister or two would have approached the scene, mourned the death(s), granted ex-gratia, and the matter would have been forgotten. Rs 70 crore of taxpayers' money was poured into constructing the Butibori Flyover, a part of which collapsed last year in December. The flyover was thrown open to the public in June 2021; it could not stand even five monsoons, making citizens wonder what they are sacrificing their conveniences for. The problem extends far beyond just the few examples provided. The city hardly bears a stretch of road that can be said to be free of any problems, including the ones that were constructed not a long time ago. The road network is a patchwork of neglect and hasty repairs. Tarred roads, even those recently laid, are riddled with potholes, creating a jarring and often dangerous experience for drivers and pedestrians alike. Cement roads, touted as a more durable solution, fare just a little better. Many have prematurely worn away, while others are plagued by uneven 'I' blocks (paver blocks), making for a bumpy and uncomfortable ride. Furthermore, it's a common sight to see freshly completed cement roads and pavements torn up for underground utility work, only to be left unrepaired or poorly reconstructed, further compounding the city's infrastructure woes. "Poor quality of the materials used is to blame for the condition of the roads," opined Rajeev Jagtap, President, Janmanch, "The contractors usually cut corners to yield extra profits. The lack of vigilance from departmental engineers encourages these contractors to carry on." Vijay Nayudu, President, NMC Contractors' Welfare Association, echoed similar sentiments, "Post-COVID, many contractors started quoting lower prices for the tenders as their earning had halted for a long period of time due to lockdowns. This resulted in them compromising the quality of materials used." Sand, for example, is one of the ingredients that is being tampered with, alleged Nayudu. "Due to various reasons, some contractors use artificial sand made from crushed rocks in lieu of real sand. This does not cause any problem if used in proper ratio; however, if the ratio is tampered with, then the cement roads may wear off sooner," he said. In the grand scheme of things, the problems discussed are a microcosm of developmental challenges that grapple the entire nation. The lack of inter-departmental coordination, supervision, and accountability needs to be addressed. If not, the infrastructural boom that the government so proudly wears might wear off soon and become a subject of criticism. Invest In Innovations: PM NEW DELHI : THE future of the nation is determined by investments in innovation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, highlighting that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to not only contribute several lakh crore rupees to Indias economy but also generate millions of jobs. He mentioned the allocation of Rs 500 crore in the Union Budget for AI-driven education and research. Mentioning the plans to establish a National Large Language Model to develop AI capabilities in India, the Prime Minister urged the private sector to stay ahead of the global curve in this field. The world awaits a reliable, safe, and democratic nation that can provide economical AI solutions, he added during a postBudget webinar, emphasising that investments made in this sector today will yield significant advantages in the future. India has become the thirdlargest startup ecosystem in the world, said PM Modi, adding that several measures have been introduced in this Budget to promote startups. He mentioned the approval of a Rs 1 lakh crore corpus fund to boost research and innovation, which will increase investments in emerging sectors through the Deep Tech Fund of Funds. The PM noted the provision of 10,000 research fellowships at IITs and IISc, which will foster research and provide opportunities for talented youth. The role of the National Geospatial Mission and the National Research Foundation in accelerating innovation was also touched upon during PM Modis speech during the webinar. Underlining the significance of the Gyan Bharatam Mission in preserving Indias rich manuscript heritage, PM Modi announced that over one crore manuscripts will be digitised under this mission, leading to the creation of a National Digital Repository. This repository will enable scholars and researchers worldwide to access Indias historical, traditional knowledge and wisdom, PM Modi added. The Prime Minister also mentioned the establishment of a National Gene Bank to preserve Indias plant genetic resources, emphasising that this initiative aims to ensure genetic resources and food security for future generations. Citing the remarkable observations made by the IMF regarding Indias economy in February, PM Modi noted that between 2015 and 2025, Indias economy has recorded a 66 per cent growth, making it a $3.8 trillion economy. The Prime Minister emphasised that this growth surpasses that of several major economies, and that the day is not far when India will become a $5 trillion economy. Kannada actress found smuggling gold worth Rs 12.56 cr BENGALURU : THE Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Wednesday said the gold bars seized from Kannada actress Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport were valued at Rs 12.56 crore. Rao is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, a senior police official told PTI. The DGP-rank officer is currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, he added. The total seizure in the case stood at Rs 17.29 crore, including assets worth Rs4.73 crore,marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks. According to DRI officials, the 14.2 kg haul is one of the largest gold seizures at Bengaluru airport in recent times. In a statement, the Ministry of Finance said the DRI successfully intercepted a passenger carrying foreign-origingoldbarsworthRs12.56crore at Kempegowda I n ter nat i o nal Airport, Bengaluru. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted an Indian woman, agedaround33,who had arrived from Dubai to Bengaluru onanEmiratesflight on March 3. Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg were found ingeniously concealed on her person, the statement read. The DRI operates under the Ministry of Finance. According to the Ministry, thecontraband, valued at Rs 12.56crore, was seized under the provisions of the CustomsAct, 1962. Following the interception, DRI officers searched her residence on Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, where she lives withher husband. The search led tothe seizure of gold jewelleryworth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67crore, the statement added. The Ministry further stated that the woman had been arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, andremanded to judicial custody Rs 6,811 cr Union Cabinet clears Kedarnath,Hemkund Sahib ropeway projects Delhi Bureau & Agencies : The ropeway project will reduce travel time in one direction from about 8 to 9 hours to about 36 minutes THE Government on Wednesday approved two ropeway projects in Uttarakhand -- Sonprayag to Kedarnath (12.9 km) and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji (12.4 km) -- at a total cost of Rs 6,811 crore. The timeline for construction of these two ambitious projects is 4-6 years. The decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) were announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The construction of a 12.9-km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath will be done on the design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) mode at a total cost of Rs 4,081.28 crore. The ropeway project will be a boon to the pilgrims visiting Kedarnath as it would provide an environment-friendly, comfortable and fast connectivity and reduce travel time in one direction from about 8 to 9 hours to about 36 minutes. The ropeway is planned to be developed in public-private partnership and will be based on the most advanced Tri-cable DetachableGondola(3S)technology having the capacity to carry1,800passengersperhour per direction (PPHPD), which could ferry 18,000 passengers per day. Vaishnaw informed thatthe12.4-kmropewayproject from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji too will be developed on DBFOT mode at atotalcapitalcost of Rs2,730.13 crore. Currently, the journey to the Hemkund Sahib Ji is a chal - lenging 21-kmuphill trek from Govindghat and is covered o n footorbyponiesorpalanquins. The proposed ropeway is planned to provide convenience to pilgrims visiting the Hemkund Sahib Ji and the tourists visiting the Valley of Flowers, and will ensure allweather last-mile connectivity between Govindghat and Hemkund Sahib Ji . The journey to the Kedarnath temple is a challenging 16-km uphilltrekfromGaurikundand is currently covered on foot or byponies, palanquinsandhelicopter.Theproposedropeway is planned to provide convenience to pilgrims visiting the temple and ensure all-weather connectivity between Sonprayag and Kedarnath. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 6. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov offered assistance in opening a diplomatic mission of Iraq in Ashgabat during a telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, Trend reports. In the conversation, the Turkmen leader emphasized the need to enhance bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed his readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in creating favorable conditions for the opening and effective operation of the Iraqi diplomatic mission in Ashgabat. During the phone conversation, it was noted that Turkmen-Iraqi cooperation is growing in various areas, based on their shared historical and cultural ties. The two countries are working together in politics, trade, and culture. The President expressed gratitude to Iraq for supporting Turkmenistan's foreign policy of permanent neutrality and its initiatives in the UN and other international organizations. In conclusion in the telephone conversation, the President expressed confidence in the further development of mutually beneficial interstate dialog in the interests of friendship and well-being of the peoples of the two countries and conveyed his best wishes. In general, Turkmenistan and Iraq have been expanding their cooperation across various sectors, with a strong focus on the energy industry. Through a series of agreements, Turkmenistan has been supplying natural gas to Iraq, helping meet both countries' energy needs and boosting their bilateral trade relations. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 6. Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani discussed issues related to the supply of Turkmen gas via a SWAP agreement through Iran during a phone conversation, Trend reports. Moreover, it was noted that Turkmenistan remains committed to its policy of exporting energy resources to global markets through diversification. In this regard, it was highlighted that two years ago, Turkmenistan and Iraq began cooperation in the gas sector by reaching an agreement on the annual supply of 10 bcm of Turkmen natural gas to Iraq via a SWAP agreement through neighboring Iran. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani reaffirmed his countrys readiness to further strengthen cooperation in the energy sector and stated that the necessary work is already underway to facilitate this process. On November 8, 2023, a meeting was held in Ashgabat between representatives of "Turkmengaz" and an Iraqi. Following the meeting, a protocol was signed outlining the key commercial terms of an agreement under which Turkmenistan will supply Iraq with 10 bcm of gas annually for five years via a swap agreement through Iran. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 6. A delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by Managing Director of the Financial Institutions Department Francis Malige, arrived in Turkmenistan to assess the needs of the local banking sector and identify new areas for partnership, Trend reports, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. During a meeting with Turkmenistans Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Myakhri Byashimova, both sides highlighted their longstanding and productive cooperation, which has led to the successful implementation of over 80 projects. These initiatives have focused on supporting trade, manufacturing, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in the country. The participants also discussed the EBRD's priority areas of activity in Turkmenistan, particularly focusing on export orientation, cooperation with the banking sector, and the promotion of modern banking practices. As part of further cooperation, the parties reviewed the preparation of the EBRDs country strategy for the upcoming period. Turkmenistan and the EBRD have had a long-standing partnership since 1992, focusing on economic growth, banking reform, and private sector development. The cooperation has led to significant improvements in trade, infrastructure, and financial systems. Yes Significant efforts are being made No Much more needs to be done Some progress But there are still critical gaps Vote View Results TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. The bilateral trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Georgia will grow by 50 percent in 2024, Trend reports. The news follows a meeting between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev with a delegation from Georgia led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who is on an official visit to Uzbekistan. In the course of the meeting, the sides focused on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economy, investment, transport and logistics, tourism, and cultural exchanges. The parties emphasized the importance of coordinated measures to sustain trade dynamics, balance exports, and imports, advance industrial cooperation projects, optimize transport and transit potential, and actively involve regions in economic collaboration. Special attention was given to strengthening partnerships in digitalization and developing tourism infrastructure. Both sides agreed to continue close cooperation at the government level to ensure the practical implementation of the agreements reached. In 2024, the number of joint ventures and cargo transportation volumes between Uzbekistan and Georgia increased, and direct flights between the capitals were established. Additionally, a digital bank with the participation of Georgian investors is now operating in Uzbekistan. In the humanitarian sphere, the Days of Uzbek Culture and Cinema were successfully held in Tbilisi last year. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 5. Uzbekistan and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) discussed a trade facilitation pact, Trend reports. This issue was reviewed at a meeting between the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Nurlan Yermekbayev, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), who is visiting the country. The talks focused on the adoption of the trade facilitation agreement, as well as initiatives such as the e-commerce program, investment promotion measures, the logistics digitalization plan, the SCO Future Technologies program, the Food Security Atlas, and other key projects. The parties discussed pressing issues related to strengthening multilateral cooperation within the SCO. They stressed the importance of enhancing practical interaction to address common challenges and threats to stability and security, while also deepening collaboration based on principles of good neighborliness, trust, and partnership. Special attention was given to the ongoing modernization of the SCOs activities, a process initiated at the Samarkand Summit, including efforts to improve the efficiency of all organizational structures. Furthermore, the meeting addressed preparations for the upcoming SCO Summit in China. The itinerary for Yermekbayev encompasses a strategic engagement in Uzbekistan from March 4 through 7, followed by a diplomatic mission to Tajikistan on March 14 and 15, and culminating with a collaborative visit to Kyrgyzstan from March 17 through 19. Dr Bimol calls on Guv | IMPHAL, Mar 6 :Lok Sabha Member Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, accompanied by his wife, called on Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan this evening, said a press release issued by the Governors Secretariat. Representatives of the Bishnupur District Milk Co-operative Union Ltd. (BIMUL) also called on the Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, at Raj Bhavan, Imphal, today and briefed him on the various activities undertaken by BIMUL. According to a release issued by PRO Raj Bhavan, the representatives also apprised the Governor of the key challenges faced by milk producers in the State, including limited fodder supply and restricted market access. The Governor praised BIMUL for its dedicated efforts in supporting and strengthening dairy farmers and assured them that their concerns would be looked into. UCM condoles | IMPHAL, Mar 6 : United Committee Manipur (UCM) hosted a condolence meeting today to mourn the passing of Maibam Ibotombi Khumancha, advisor, UCM Yairipok Unit at UCM Head Office, Lamphel presided over by president Yk Dhiren. Maibam Ibotombi Khumancha, who hailed from Yairipok Bishnunaha Awang Leikai, breathed his last on March 3, said a statement issued by Soibam Anil, secretary, Information & Public Relation (IPR), UCM. Popularly known as "Kaka Ibotombi", he served in different capacities across various organisations, including as Block Development Officer (BDO) for Government of Manipur; president of Armature Institute of WUSHU, Thoubal District Manipur; president of the Young Dramatic Union Yairipok; former vice-president of All Yairipok United Clubs Organisation, Yairipok; former vice-president of All Yairipok United Clubs Organisation, Yairipok; former secretary of Bishnunaha Youth Federation Yairipok (BYFY Manipur); former secretary of Yairipok Government Aided High School; former president of Yairipok Thambalnu Sintha Cum Library; as director, assistant director, artist and lyricist in the Manipur film industry and as an All India Radio Approved lyricist. The gathering observed a two-minute silence to pay their respects to the departed soul. UCM has also extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, well-wishers, friends and relatives of Maibam Ibotombi Khumancha. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. Uzbekistan and Poland discussed expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors, Trend reports. The matter was reviewed at a meeting between the Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Munira Aminova, and the Charge d'Affaires of Poland in Uzbekistan Marcin Wakar. In the course of the meeting, the parties focused on tourism, agriculture, investment, and sustainable development. Special attention was paid to education, including the attraction of projects and technical assistance from Poland for the development of educational programs. The parties expressed great interest in expanding cooperation in this area and discussed promising projects to support academic exchanges and scientific initiatives. Earlier, Uzbekistan and Poland signed several agreements to enhance trade, economic, and investment cooperation. The documents were signed during a series of events in Tashkent, including a business forum and a meeting of the Uzbek-Polish Intergovernmental Commission. The Uzbek delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Akram Aliyev, while the Polish side was headed by State Secretary of the Ministry of Development and Technology Michal Jaros. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. Uzbekistan will gradually resume the operation of methane refueling stations starting from 09:00 (GMT+5) today, Trend reports. The Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan shared that in early March, Uzbekistan faced a sharp drop in temperatures, leading to increased natural gas consumption and a decrease in pressure within the gas pipelines. As a result, priority was given to supplying natural gas to the population and social sector facilities, temporarily halting the operations of methane refueling stations. Following prompt measures taken in the last few days, gas pressure in the pipelines was normalized, which allows to gradually restore the operation of methane filling stations. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Republican lawmakers repeatedly attacked four big-city US mayors during a contentious congressional hearing on immigration, claiming their sanctuary policies are interfering with President Donald Trump's plans for mass deportations. The four mayors testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday - Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver and Eric Adams of New York - are all Democrats. Republican committee Chairman James Comer said they were called to testify so they could be "held accountable for their failure to follow the law and protect the American people." The mayors faced harsh questioning from conservative Republican House members including Jim Jordan of Ohio and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who assailed them for what they said was a lack of cooperation with federal authorities on arresting migrant criminals. All four cities have long-established sanctuary ordinances, which generally limit local law enforcement from participating in federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement action, with some exceptions. Proponents say the policies are meant to foster trust between state and local law enforcement and immigrant communities, so undocumented migrants aren't afraid to call the police if they witness or are the victim of a crime. "I have seen firsthand the damage that can be done when someone is too afraid to seek out the police," Adams told lawmakers, a remark echoed a few minutes later by Chicago's Johnson. Wu of Boston went a step further. She said not only does fear of deportation prevent people from contacting law enforcement, but they're also not engaging in their communities. "I spoke with pastors whose pews are half empty on Sundays, doctors whose patients are missing appointments, teachers whose students aren't coming to class, neighbors afraid to report crimes in their communities, and victims of violence who won't call the police," said Wu, who arrived at the hearing with her newborn baby. 'Vital Role' Adams, a former police captain who in the past has criticized the city's sanctuary status, said New York could continue to fight crime even as it provides refuge for migrants. He touted the economic contribution of immigrants and the "vital role" they play in the functioning of the city. "A sanctuary city' classification does not mean our city will ever be a safe haven for violent criminals," Adams said. "It also does not give New York City the authority to violate federal immigration laws." Adams has said he wants New York's sanctuary laws amended, but he can't unilaterally do that without the approval of the City Council. Adams' relationship with Trump on immigration has come under attack in New York after the US Justice Department directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop a pending bribery case against the mayor, with the possibility of resurrecting the case sometime in the future. The directive prompted criticism that Adams would be more beholden to Trump's deportation agenda than the welfare of the city. He has met at least twice with Trump's border czar, Tom Homan. New York has cared for more than 232,000 migrants since 2022, according to City Hall, at a cost of more than $7 billion. The Trump administration calls sanctuary policies illegal, saying they obstruct ICE enforcement actions. On the campaign trail last year and since returning to office in January, the Republican president had pledged to strip those cities of federal funding. The Biden administration spent about $1 billion on grants and reimbursements to cities, states and non-governmental organizations responding to the migrant crisis over the past two years. Denver, Chicago and New York received a combined total of roughly $140 million in federal funds to cover expenses related to housing and feeding migrants, while Boston was awarded about $2 million during the 2023 budget year. Homan has repeatedly said he would focus ICE operations on sanctuary cities, specifically threatening to arrest Denver's Johnston if he tried to interfere with operations there. Homan has also made recent pledges to target Boston because of its sanctuary policies. Texas Origin Chicago, Denver and New York have been at the forefront of the crisis since Texas Governor Greg Abbott began busing migrants from the southern border into the cities in 2022. Since then, Chicago has received over 51,000 migrants, according to the city's resettlement project dashboard. More than 45,000 migrants were bussed to New York as of October, according to Abbott's office. And Denver reported processing more than 43,000 foreigners, most arriving by Texas-funded buses, since January 2023. Chicago's policy allows the city's police to detain undocumented individuals if they're "wanted on a criminal warrant by local or federal authorities, if they have been convicted of a serious crime and remain in the US illegally, or if they are otherwise a clear threat to public safety or national security," according to a release by the city. New York's sanctuary guidelines date to the 1980s but were expanded under former Mayor Bill De Blasio in 2014. That same year, Boston established its policy, which bars local police from keeping immigrants in custody for possible deportation by federal officials unless a criminal warrant has been issued for the person's arrest. Denver officially established its sanctuary policies in 2017. (COMMENT, BELOW) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. Uzatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discussed Uzbekistan's accession to international legal documents in the areas of nuclear safety and non-proliferation, Trend reports. The matter was reviewed at a meeting between the Director of the Uzatom Agency Azim Akhmedkhadjaev and the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi. Rafael Grossi highly praised the large-scale reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and emphasized achievements of bilateral cooperation following the official visit to Tashkent and Samarkand on December 4-5, 2024. In the course of the meeting, the parties discussed key aspects of bilateral cooperation, particularly current projects, future directions of interaction, and regulatory issues in the field of nuclear technology. In this regard, the IAEA expressed its readiness to send a team of international lawyers to assist in implementing international obligations and adapting legislation to meet modern requirements. Special attention was given to projects from the roadmap, such as Beams of Hope and ZODIAC, as well as initiatives in radiation and isotope technologies. The proposal to establish a School on Small Modular Reactors at the Tashkent branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, aimed at improving the qualifications of specialists, was also discussed. Moreover, the initiative to apply IAEA international standards in cotton farming, designed to improve crop yields and product quality through Uzbekistans participation in the Atoms4Food program, was also discussed. This program focuses on introducing advanced nuclear technologies to enhance food security. Following the meeting, the IAEA Director General positively assessed Uzbekistans strategic initiatives in nuclear energy and technology, noting their innovativeness and potential, as well as the country's commitment to international cooperation. He reaffirmed Uzbekistans status as a key IAEA partner in the region. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. Uzbekistan and Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Ltd. chewed the fat about potential partnerships in the realm of satellite technologies, Trend reports. The matter was reviewed between Uzbekistans Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov and the leadership of Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Ltd. in Barcelona. Both parties discussed the development of internet services and the expansion of network coverage in Uzbekistan. The discussions also focused on strengthening digital infrastructure, improving internet quality, and utilizing satellite communications to advance information technologies. Additionally, both sides exchanged views on enhancing international cooperation, attracting advanced technologies, and fostering the development of the digital economy. At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties decided to take a deep dive into the potential for collaboration and keep the ball rolling on the next steps. Earlier, Uzbekistan adopted a law on space activities, establishing the legal framework for regulating key aspects of space exploration and utilization. The law outlines objectives, principles, state policies, and the responsibilities of relevant governmental bodies in the field of space activities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs in a civilian area during a joint live-fire exercise with the US military Thursday. According to media reports, 15 people were injured in the incident that happened in Pocheon, a city close to the heavily armed border with North Korea. The MK-82 bombs released by the KF-16 fighter jets fell outside a firing range, causing civilian damage, South Korea's Air Force said in a statement. "Our KF-16 (jet fighter) abnormally dropped eight shells of MK-82 bombs. It landed outside of firing range," BBC quoted the Air Force statement as saying. In South Korea, KF-16 fighter jet mistakenly dropped 8 bombs on residential buildings and a church at least 7 injured, 4 seriously, Yonhap. pic.twitter.com/vMHfdpo6a1 MAKS 24 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) March 6, 2025 A committee will be set up to investigate why the accident happened and examine the scale of the civilian damage. ALSO READ: French MQ-9 Reaper drone faces 'aggressive' Russian Su-35 fighter jet manoeuvres in Mediterranean standoff An unidentified Air Force official told local reporters that a pilot of one of the KF-16s put in the wrong coordinate for a bombing site. An unidentified defence ministry official also told reporters that more investigation was needed to find why the second KF-16 also dropped bombs on a civilian area. The Air Force apologised and expressed hopes for a speedy recovery of the injured people and promised to offer compensation for the victims. According to BBC, people in the area have been evacuated while the bomb disposal team worked to dispose of any unexploded bombs. Pocheon Mayor Paek Young-hyun called the bombings awful and urged the military to halt drills in the city until it formulates reliable steps that can prevent a recurrence. He said that Pocheon, a city of 140,000 people, provides three major firing ranges for the South Korean and US militaries. The military later said it decided to suspend all live-fire drills across South Korea. Observers say the military will resume firing exercises after it learns the exact cause of Thursday's accident and maps out steps to prevent recurrences. Three houses, a Catholic church and a greenhouse were partially damaged but they did not appear to have been directly hit by the bombs, say media reports. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the credentials of newly appointed ambassadors to the country, Trend reports. The credentials were presented by the Ambassadors of Egypt, Tamer Fathi; Italy, Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini; Kyrgyzstan, Duishonkul Chotonov; Belarus, Alexander Ogorodnikov; Georgia, David Kotaria; and Turkiye, Ufuk Ulutas. President Mirziyoyev warmly congratulated the ambassadors on the beginning of their diplomatic missions in Uzbekistan and expressed confidence in further strengthening bilateral relations. During the meeting, the head of state emphasized the growing importance of international cooperation and reaffirmed Uzbekistans commitment to fostering mutual respect, friendship, and practical partnerships with countries worldwide. The president also highlighted Uzbekistans role in regional diplomacy, noting the countrys chairmanship of the Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Leaders this year and its preparations for a historic summit in Tashkent. At the conclusion of the ceremony, President Mirziyoyev wished the newly appointed ambassadors success in their honorable missions and encouraged active engagement with Uzbekistans regions and business community to enhance cooperation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The investigation into the gold smuggling incident which saw Kannada actor Ranya Rao being arrested in Bengaluru is likely to focus on her life after marriage, which reportedly happened four months ago. Ranya's step-father Karnataka DGP K. Ramachandra Rao had told reporters that she had distanced herself from them post her wedding. Ranya was arrested at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on Wednesday for allegedly smuggling 14.2-kilogram gold bars worth 12.56 crore. She is reportedly married to an architect from an influential political family in North Karnataka. Their wedding was a high-profile event held at Taj West End. Post-marriage, they moved out to an apartment at Lavelle Road in Bengaluru. The couple were reportedly paying a hefty amount for the flat every month. The DRI officials had conducted a raid at her residence on Wednesday and gold worth 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to 2.67 crore were seized. STORY | Gold worth Rs 14.62 cr seized from Kannada actress Ranya Rao: DRI READ: https://t.co/xN2f1s8ncn VIDEO: Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been arrested after being caught with Rs 12.56 crore worth gold at Bengaluru airport. Rao is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer pic.twitter.com/q3VQPniq1W Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 5, 2025 Modus Operandi Ranya had been using her stepfather's name to evade check on arrival at Kempegowda airport every time she was smuggling gold, according to local media Prajavani. ALSO READ | Who is actress Ranya Raos father, IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao? On arrival at the Dubai airport, the gold was handed over to Ranya in the toilet. She would then conceal the gold bars in the belt, the report added. In Bengaluru, she would use her stepfather's name to evade detail checks. She is also said to have worn the same dress with belt for the last four trips. Unconfirmed reports hint that she would also go home with a police escort. An initial probe revealed Ranya had visited Dubai over 10 times in the last year. According to DRI sources, she smuggled gold every time. She was reportedly paid 1 lakh per kg of gold she allegedly smuggled and has managed to earn 13 lakh per trip. Ranya Rao made her debut in the film industry with the film 'Manikya' starring Sudeep. She has since acted in over four movies. A day after Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested for gold smuggling, her husband Jatin Hukkeri is also under police radar in connection with the case. This comes amid revelations about Hukkeri's frequent trips to Dubai. Ranya herself was found to have travelled to Dubai four times in two weeks. Over the past year, she travelled to Dubai 30 times. STORY | Gold worth Rs 14.62 cr seized from Kannada actress Ranya Rao: DRI READ: https://t.co/xN2f1s8ncn VIDEO: Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been arrested after being caught with Rs 12.56 crore worth gold at Bengaluru airport. Rao is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer pic.twitter.com/q3VQPniq1W Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 5, 2025 She was arrested with gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore strapped to her body in a waist belt after she landed at the Bengaluru airport. The DRI has seized Rs 17.29 crore from Ranya's home. This included gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash. She was allegedly paid Rs 1 lakh per kg of smuggled gold, earning Rs 12 to 13 lakh per trip. Who is Jatin Hukkeri? Jatin Hukkeri completed B Arch in Architecture and Interior Design from RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru. He specialised in Disruptive Market Innovation from Royal College of Art - Executive Education in London. Bengaluru, Karnataka: Kannada actress Ranya Rao, daughter of a serving senior IPS officer, was arrested by for allegedly smuggling of gold from Dubai Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad says, "It is very shocking that an IPS officer's daughter, supposedly, I don't know whether it's true pic.twitter.com/cU09z1nsAb IANS (@ians_india) March 6, 2025 Hukkeri's top Bengluru projects bars, diners and restaurants like Hangover, Olive Beach, Brewmill and Bangalore XOOX. Gateway Taproom in Mumbai and Monkey Bar in Delhi are also part of his client portfolio. Hukkeri is the founder of Craft CoDe as well as founder and creative director of WDA & DECODE LLC. Ranya and Hukkeri tied the knot in a big ceremony at Taj West End. Interestingly, Ranya is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao. He is currently the chairman of Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation. He has distanced himself from the case, saying Ranya lives separately with her husband. It should be noted that the IPS officer was allegedly involved in the theft of Rs 2.07 crore from a Kerala-bound bus in Mysuru's Yelwal back in 2014. Rao was removed as IGP Southern Range following the incident and his gunman was arrested for the crime. In the latest instance of POTUS 47 cracking up the internet, Donald Trump on Tuesday evening declared to Congress that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, found out that the Biden administration was wasting "$8 million for making mice transgender." I cant believe this needs to be said. TransGENIC mice are not TransGENDER mice Andrea C. Love, PhD (@dr_andrealove) March 5, 2025 It is believed that the US President, in a slipup, went on to say "transgender mice" instead of "transgenic mice." While it remains unclear whether it was a genuine slip of the tongue or the Republican purposefully saying it so as a part of his "anti-woke crusade", the internet is doing its things already -- flooding social media websites with lab rat trolls and memes. ALSO READ | Who is Peter Marocco? Trump loyalist is sole employee at this US agency after Elon Musk's DOGE fires everyone else However, no matter what Donald Trump and JD Vance think, transgenic mice play a pivotal role in medical research and every bill spent on them is well spent. Here are five things you need to know about transgenic mice and their role in modern science. FOR EFF SAKETrump: $8 million to make mice transgenderno, it was for transgenic mice, a core method in biology & medicine to study human diseases via animals! Please, for the love of God, trust scientists! Lets also elect more scientists to office. pic.twitter.com/jPv33A50LK Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) March 6, 2025 1. What are transgenic mice? Transgenic mice are mouse models that have had their genomes altered for the purpose of studying gene functions. In other words, these mice have had DNA from another source put into their DNA. The foreign DNA is put into the nucleus of a fertilized mouse egg and the new DNA becomes part of every cell and tissue of the mouse. These mice are used in the laboratory to study diseases and have been found particularly handy in cancer research. 2. Not just cancer research: From cardiovascular studies to drug development, immunology research and neurodegenerative disease studies (Alzheimer's, Parkinsons disease ALS etc), these animals are used to understand and test medicines across branches of modern medicine. 3. How do transgenic mice help cancer research? According to frontiersin.org, the mouse as a model for human cancer research has proven to be a useful tool due to the relatively similar genomic and physiological characteristics of tumour biology between mice and humans. Mice have several characteristics similar to humans' anatomical, cellular, and molecular characteristics that are known to have critical properties and functions in cancer. 4. What else is there to know? Several hundred mouse stocks containing mutations have been used for a long time as models of human disease and for the study of metabolic processes. Traditionally, the mutations have been spontaneous or induced by chemicals or radiation. ALSO READ | Will Trump ban vaccines if he wins? 5. Did the Biden administration spend $8 million on lab rats? To study gene function or to generate models for human genetic disease and to provide models to develop and test new therapies are among the other uses of transgenic mice. According to CNN, the Biden government spent $8.3 million not to turn lab rats transgender but to fund studies meant to figure out how treatments might affect the health of humans who take them. Ahead of the International Womens Day on March 8, the Ministry of Women and Child Development posted that through the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), 17,362 crore was disbursed to 3.81 crore women as of January 2025. These included cash incentives for pregnant and lactating mothers. The 2025 International Womens Day also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Actionan international treaty aimed at bringing much-needed social equity, strengthening womens rights worldwide, and transforming the rights agenda to focus more on legal protection, access to services, youth engagement, and change in regressive social norms. Apart from the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, India is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979), and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2003), which focus on womens rights and development According to the union government, the latest government data points to more women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. In education, 42.57 per cent of total STEM enrolment have been womenaround 42 lakh students. More Indian women in business and trade The Ministry of Women and Child Development also said that women benefitted increasingly from entrepreneurship schemes. Under the Stand-Up India Scheme, 84 per cent of loans under 10 lakh to 1 crore were sanctioned to women entrepreneurs. Sixty-nine per cent of microloans under the MUDRA Scheme went to women-led enterprises. The recent amendments to armed forces intake led to women entering the National Defense Academy (NDA), certain combat roles, and Sainik Schoolsthese were historically non-inclusive. More than 15 per cent of civil aviation pilots are women. While this number looks small, it is much ahead of the international average of just 5 per cent. Common Service Centres (CSCs) that service PAN, Aadhaar, and other customer requests have over 67,000 women entrepreneurs running them, as per government data. India, and the world, have a long way to go to bridge the gap and bring equity to gender roles. However, as we approach International Womens Day, the Centre is confident about the future. Sustained efforts in policy-making, community engagement, and digital inclusion will ensure that women continue to drive Indias growth story in the years to come, said the ministry in a statement. The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to an accused in a rape case on the condition that he would marry the victim within three months of release. The direction comes reportedly considering there are no criminal cases registered against the accused in the past. As per the order passed by the Allahabad High Court, the bench has made the marriage one of the conditions for bail. Hearing the matter, Justice Krishan Pahal of the High Court noted the Uttar Pradesh government couldnt present any evidence that would warrant denial of bail to the accused, Bar and Bench reported. The accused, Naresh Meena alias Narsaram Meena, has allegedly lured the 26-year-old victim with a false promise of getting her job in the Uttar Pradesh police. Meena allegedly took Rs 9 lakh from the victim and raped her. He also allegedly circulated obscene videos of the victim on social media. A case was registered by Agra police and they arrested Meena in September last year under charges of section 376 (rape) and section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, and section 67 of the IT Act. However, the accused denied the charges and said there was a delay of four months in registering the FIR. Hearing the matter, the High Court granted bail considering there was no previous history of criminal cases against the accused. The accused informed the Court that he was ready to take care of the victim as wedded wife. Passing the order, the bench said, The applicant shall marry the victim within a period of three months of his release from jail. It is a settled principle of law that the object of bail is to secure the attendance of the accused at the trial. No material particulars or circumstances suggestive of the applicant fleeing from justice or thwarting the course of justice or creating other troubles in the shape of repeating offences or intimidating witnesses and the like have been shown by learned AGA, the Bar and Bench reported quoting the order. Chartered Accountant-turned-politician V. Vijayasai Reddy has been a key political player not just in Andhra Pradesh, but also in the Delhi circles. Known to be close to the family of AP CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for a long time, he first became a Rajya Sabha MP in 2016 from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and went on to serve as its parliamentary party leader. Over the years, he effectively performed two tasksto attack opponents Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its chief N. Chandrababu Naidu in the state, and maintain cordial relations with BJPs top guns like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah at the Centre. Between 2019 and 2024, when the YSRCP government was ruling in the state, Reddy was seen as a bridge between the YSRCP and the BJP YSRCPs MPs supported the NDA government on critical issues and helped pass bills in Parliament. Anant Ambanis vision for Vantara in Jamnagar is truly inspiring. Rescuing, treating, and rehabilitating animals on a massive 3,000-acre facility is a remarkable act of compassion and a model for meaningful charity. With Honble PM @narendramodi jis inaugration, I have no doubt pic.twitter.com/r1nA3S451O Vijayasai Reddy V (@VSReddy_MP) March 5, 2025 Reddy was also an asset to the YSRCP due to his expertise on economy and policies. However, he dropped a bombshell in January when he not only quit as the Rajya Sabha MP but also the party he was associated with since its inception. Reddy announced that he was retiring from politics and would pursue agriculture his passion. The decision came at a time when he was named as an accused in a case registered after the TDP coalition government came to power in the state in 2024. He is accused of coercing the Kakinada Seaports Limited promoters, operating the Kakinada Deep Water Port, to transfer shares to his son-in-laws company for an under-valued amount. He was grilled by the ED post AP CIDs lookout notice. He denied allegations of any wrongdoing in the case. After a brief hibernation, Reddy resurfaced at Hyderabad airport. Though an ex-MP, he was part of the delegation that received Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar. It led to speculations in political circles that he will soon be joining the BJP camp. Though there is no confirmation yet, sources close to him believe that he will be seen in public life, and the possibility of a nominated post cannot be ruled out. For now, his innings with YSRCP seems to have ended, but how he adapts in the opposite camp will be interesting to watch. Also, it remains to be seen whether the TDP and Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena will agree if the BJP decides to welcome him officially. BJP may get a visible face in AP, but for TDP and Jana Sena, it would be challenging to work alongside him. The Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist who was arrested on Thursday maintained active links with the Pakistan-based ISI operatives and BKI's Germany-based module. Police said Lajar Masih, a resident of Amritsar, was planning terror attacks in India. Masih was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh STF and Punjab Police on early hours of Thursday. The suspected terrorist had escaped from prison last September and had been at large since. Kaushambi, Additional Director General of Police (UP Special Task Force, Law and Order) Amitabh Yash told reporters that the operation was carried out in the Kokhraj police station area. "As per available information, the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the Germany-based module of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is in direct touch with Pakistan-based ISI operatives," Yash said. When detained, Masih was carrying explosives material and illegal arms, including three active hand grenades, two active detonators, one foreign-made pistol and 13 cartridges of foreign make. The officials also recovered a white-coloured explosive powder, an Aadhaar card with a Ghaziabad address and a mobile phone without a SIM card from him. Babbar Khalsa is a separatist organisation that calls for the establishment of a Khalistani state. The group which is active in North America and Europe was deemed a terrorist organisation by many countries, including India. The Haryana Congress remains divided over leadership appointments, with no clear consensus on the selection of the new Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader. According to sources, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has put forward two names for the opposition leader position while also lobbying for his sons appointment as Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president. Yet, there is no clear consensus within the party on selecting the new CLP leader, as a faction opposes former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hoodas claim to the post. Yet, a leader asserted that "the majority of MLAs support Hooda," who served as the Leader of the Opposition in the previous assembly. Charkhi Dadri, Haryana: Congress MP Kumari Selja says, "Parivarvaad (dynasty politics) thrives in the BJP as well. Many politicians' family members enter politics, hold positions, and get elected. We hope that in the coming time, they will bring some major projects from the pic.twitter.com/nnMdwUQzmK IANS (@ians_india) March 6, 2025 Moreover, the Haryana Congress, in a meeting on Wednesday, urged B.K. Hariprasad, the newly appointed state in-charge, to expedite the appointment of CLP leader ahead of the budget session beginning on March 7. The party emphasized that having a CLP leader in place is extremely important to ensure effective representation as the opposition leader in the assembly. However, leaders at the AICC think that the high command is somehow certain to sideline the leaders who have not been able to perform. The party had given Bhupendra Hooda a free hand during the recent assembly elections of Haryana. According to an AICC leader, "Rahul Gandhi wants to infuse energy in the cadres across the country and therefore he wants to bring in young blood. Moreover, he is also almost certain that the party will switch to second-line leadership and give opportunity to people who can work and perform." Yet there are leaders in the party who think the matter will continue to persist and the Congress central leadership will find it difficult to be clear and appoint a leader of its choice. Nearly five months have passed since Congress suffered its third consecutive defeat to the BJP in Haryana since 2014, yet the party has not named its legislature party leader. As a result, Congress MLAs have attended three assembly sittings without a designated LoP, raising concerns over the partys effectiveness in the house. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin termed the National Education Policy a poison and said they are only demanding a rightful place for Tamil in the state. Stalin dismissed criticisms like them being chauvinist for opposing Hindi imposition and said the Hindi zealots are true chauvinists. In a post on X, Stalin said, When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression. I am reminded of this famous quote when some entitled bigots brand us chauvinists and anti-nationals for the 'crime' of demanding Tamils rightful place in Tamil Nadu. "When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." I am reminded of this famous quote when some entitled bigots brand us chauvinists and anti-nationals for the 'crime' of demanding Tamils rightful place in Tamil Nadu. The very people who glorify pic.twitter.com/MOzmUSEyia M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 6, 2025 Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party, Stalin said people who glorify Nathuram Godse have the audacity to question DMKs patriotism. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader said the party and Tamil Nadu government contributed the highest amount of funds during the Chinese aggression, Bangladesh liberation war, and Kargil war. Stalin charged it was BJPs ideological forefather who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. Demanding #LinguisticEquality is not chauvinism. Do you want to know what Chauvinism looks like? Chauvinism is naming the three criminal laws that govern 140 crore citizens in a language that Tamils cannot even pronounce or comprehend by reading. Chauvinism is treating the state that contributes the most to the nation as second-class citizens and denying its fair share for refusing to swallow the poison called #NEP, Stalin charged. Saying imposition of anything breeds enmity, Stalin charged Hindi zealots who consider their resistance as treason were the true chauvinists. The Tamil Nadu chief minister also condemned the Centre for celebrating Hindi Divas and asked what stopped it from declaring languages mentioned in Indian currency notes as official languages. Stalin said they respect Hindi-speaking persons and they are their brethren. BJP Jharkhand president Babulal Marandi was picked up as the leader of the legislative party, enabling him to become the leader of the opposition in the state assembly. Marandi was elected as the leader in the presence of central party observers, OBC Morcha chief K. Laxman and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. While, Marandi was expected to be picked given he was the partys face during the Jharkhand elections, where the ruling Hemant Soren-led JMM was victorious, it took over 100 days since the results were declared. The delay in picking up the leader of the opposition in the tribal-dominated state had led to speculation in the state. As BJP has picked up Marandi, a tribal leader and also the states first chief minister, as the LoP, this means that a new state president will now have to be chosen. Ideally, now, a non-tribal would be picked up. Earlier when Marandi was the state president, Amar Kumar Bauri, a Dalit, was the LoP. The party adopts this balancing of castes to give representations to different castes in the state. This is the second time Marandi has become the leader of the opposition. He was earlier the LoP from 2020 to 2023 when Deepak Prakash was the state president. STORY | Babulal Marandi appointed leader of BJP legislative party in Jharkhand READ: https://t.co/VUqnYDLim2 VIDEO: (Full video available on PTI Videos- https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/x1DxrTP8Lp Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 6, 2025 The new state president is likely to be picked up soon. Whether he is picked before the new national party president is elected or later is yet to be seen. Currently, the BJP organisational elections are on. Thirteen state presidents have been picked out of 36. When the number crosses 18, the process of electing the new party president, replacing J.P. Nadda, will formally begin. In Marandi, the BJP has betted on the tribal vote base. Under Marandis leadership, the BJPs performance in the last assembly elections dipped as compared to 2019. In 2024, BJP got 21 seats, while it had won 25 in 2019. If the BJP goes on to change the state president, it will also be done with eyes on the neighbouring Bihar which goes to polls later this year. The RJD which is the main opposition party in Bihar had won four seats in Jharkhand, in alliance with the JMM, Congress and the Left parties. The BJP had contested the 2024 assembly polls in alliance with its Bihar partners, the JDU and the Lok Janshakti Party (RV). TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will visit Uzbekistan, marking a new era in bilateral relations, Trend reports. The news follows a meeting between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Egypts Ambassador Tamer Fathi, where he presented his credentials to the president. During the meeting, the president of Uzbekistan articulated that Egypt serves as a steadfast ally for Uzbekistan within the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. The potential for synergistic initiatives and collaborative ventures across sectors including energy, chemistry, agriculture, geology, tourism, textiles, and additional industries featuring Egypts premier entities and corporations was underscored. Concurrently, systematic diplomatic dialogues are conducted between the two nations. In the previous fiscal cycle, the Intergovernmental Commission convened, alongside the execution of three pivotal business forums, all of which were executed with notable efficacy. Synergistic collaboration among preeminent enterprises from both nations is experiencing significant growth. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel CPI(M) leader and Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami made a strong pitch for restoring job and land rights for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking in the assembly during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks for the Lieutenant Governors address, he said these rights had been safeguarded under Maharaja Hari Singh. He called for the reinstatement of the regions original constitutional status to protect the rights and identity of the people. VIDEO | Heres what CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's remark on PoK. Our historic state Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh worked as a unit always that has been downgraded and divided in two. If they want to add that part, then as pic.twitter.com/HZWnwJRUfQ Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 6, 2025 Slamming the BJP, he accused the party of erasing the contributions of Dogra rulers and historical figures like Zorawar Singh. He also questioned the decision to separate Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir, challenging the BJPs claim that the split was due to dissatisfaction with Kashmirs administration.When Jammu was content with Kashmir, why is there now an attempt to divide, he asked. Responding to remarks made by BJPs leader of opposition Sunil Sharma regarding the July 13, 1931 martyrs, the CPI(M) leader said it was disappointing that senior leaders were making such statements. Tracing the formation of the Dogra state to the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846, he said despite Kashmirs 5,000-year-old history, the region was sold by the British, the same colonial power that Indian revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh fought against. Tarigami also criticised the BJP for downgrading Jammu and Kashmir to a Union territory. Can you cite a single instance where a state was downgraded to a Union territory? How can a Governor, who is not elected by the people, represent their will, he asked. He said when the country was engulfed in communal violence during Partition, Kashmir stood as an example of harmony. Praising Sheikh Abdullah and the Constituent Assembly of J&K for implementing land reforms, he highlighted how these reforms benefited farmers across Jammu and Kashmir. He condemned attempts to erase Sheikh Abdullahs legacy, including his birthday. It was Sheikh Abdullah who ensured dignity and economic upliftment for even the poorest people, regardless of region, he said, adding, Let us stand united and demand what was rightfully oursthe same state established by the Dogra rulers and the reinstatement of our job and land rights. From The Week Correspondent After the resignation of food and civil supplies minister Dhananjay Munde, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is now under pressure to sack agricultural minister Manik Kokate. Amid growing demand that Dhananjay Munde should be made a co-accused in the murder case of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, the state government has gone on a back foot, thanks to Munde and Kokate, both ministers from Ajit Pawar-led NCP. After the pictures of Santosh Deshmukh went viral, a shockwave spread across the state as one of the images contained a picture of one of the accused urinating on Santosh Deshmukhs body. This and other accusations that the meeting regarding the monies to be paid to Walmik Karad took place at Satpuda, the government residence of Dhananjay Munde, the agricultural minister in the previous government. Hence there is pressure on Fadnavis to make Munde co-accused in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case. On the other hand, opposition benches are also targeting Fadnavis government to sack agricultural minister Manikrao Kokate. They have taken a firm stand that how can a person who has cheated the government continue to be a minister. Meanwhile, a Nashik district court on Wednesday stayed the sentence given by a lower court in the case against Kokate. Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut questioned whether the Fadnavis government was being ethical by not taking action against Kokate when it has been proved that he had cheated the government by taking a flat under the chief minister's 10 per cent discretionary quota. In a bid to douse the political fire over his comments on Marathi language in Mumbai, former RSS Sarkaryavah (chief general secretary) Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that his remark was misunderstood. "Mumbai doesn't have a single language. It has many languages, Joshi had said at an event in Ghatkopar on Wednesday. Each part of Mumbai has a different language. Ghatkopar area's language is Gujarati. So, if you are residing in Mumbai, it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi." #WATCH | Mumbai: On row over his statement, RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi says, "Due to one of my statements, a misunderstanding has occurred. There is no question that the language of Mumbai is not Marathi. The language of Maharashtra is Marathi. Mumbai is in Maharashtra and pic.twitter.com/1dS7kj90sa ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025 His remarks came under heavy fire from all sections of the Marathi community, and the opposition led by Shiv Sena (UBT). Party chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded that Joshi be booked for treason. He also alleged that the RSS leaders remarks reflect the hidden agenda of the RSS and the BJP to divide Mumbai. Though Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tried to dismiss the matter in the state assembly by saying that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it, and that his government respects all languages, the opposition did not relent. Joshi, while speaking to ANI, too tried to downplay the issue, saying that there is no question that the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra is Marathi, and that people living in Mumbai are expected to learn the language. The matter has put the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra in an awkward situation. Joshi, a Marathi manoos who spent most his life as RSS pracharak in Maharashtra, had stayed away from politics till he reached second most powerful position in the organisation. Continuing his attack on Joshi, Uddhav Thackeray dared him to make such comments in Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Just because the "Marathi manoos" is welcoming, does not mean anyone can hit him, he said. Joshi should either apologise or the state government should take strong action against him, Thackeray added. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief along with the leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi staged a protest against Joshi's remarks, at Hutatma Chowk in south Mumbai and paid homage to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement in 1950s. Thackeray also said that RSS is now speaking in favour of the Gujarati community because it wants BJP to win municipal elections in Mumbai. "Nobody has stopped you from winning elections, but win them on the basis of good work and not by creating a language-based division." He also dared Fadnavis to call Joshi a 'chillar' (insignificant) person. (With inputs from Dnyanesh Jathar) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered prayers at Mukhwa templethe winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi districtamid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests. The locals, dressed in traditional attire, accorded a warm welcome to the prime minister through a dance performance circling him as Modi stood in the middle with folded hands. He also enjoyed the morning view of the distant snowclad peaks surrounding the area. Prime Minister @narendramodi flags off a trek and bike rally in #Harsil, Uttarakhand Watch: pic.twitter.com/xnI7Dr1eFq PIB India (@PIB_India) March 6, 2025 Mukhwa is a village located on the way to the Gangotri temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Her idol is moved to Mukhwa temple from Gangotri Dham every year after the closure of its gates for winter. The prime minister flagged off a trek and bike rally in Harshil. Modi's visit to the temple, his first as prime minister, is expected to boost winter pilgrimage and tourism in Uttarakhand. Prime Minister @narendramodi takes in the breathtaking view of the snow-capped mountains from Maa Ganga's winter seat in #Mukhwa, and warmly greets the devotees at the temple Watch: pic.twitter.com/vkT1VwKzHy PIB India (@PIB_India) March 6, 2025 It comes a day after the cabinet committee on economic affairs headed by him approved two major ropeway projects to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib worth over 6,000 crore. The Uttarakhand government has initiated a winter tourism programme this year to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, homestays and businesses, among others. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended a warm welcome to the prime minister in a post on X. "A hearty welcome and greetings to the prime minister on his visit to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the sacred land of religion, spiritualism and sacrifice. Residents of the state are excited to receive the prime minister in Mukhwa-Harsil, a land full of spiritual and natural beauty," he said. "Certainly, this winter trip of yours will give new dimensions to the cultural, spiritual and tourism development of our state," Dhami said and hoped that Modi's visit would put Mukhwa on the global tourism map. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visited the Dharavi leather hub in Mumbai and met leather industry workers and entrepreneurs. Dharavi has nearly 20,000 leather manufacturing units which employ close to one lakh people. He is on a one-day visit to Mumbai and will leave for Ahmedabad in the morning. Rahul Gandhis visit to Mumbai is said to be a private one, and no meeting of state Congress leaders has been scheduled. However, an informal interaction with the Congress leaders is likely. Congress leader Charan Singh Sapra, while talking to ANI, said, "Rahul Gandhi ji has come to meet leather workers in Dharavi today to understand how the small-scale leather industry works and the issues they face." Dharavi is part of the Mumbai South - Central Lok Sabha constituency represented by Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad. Her younger sister Jyoti Gaikwad is the Congress legislator from Dharavi. One of the leather industry units that Rahul Gandhi visited is Chamar Studio set up by Sudheer Rajbhar. Sudheer Rajbhar of Chamar Studio encapsulates the life and journey of lakhs of Dalit youth in India. Extremely talented, brimming with ideas and hungry to succeed but lacking the access and opportunity to connect with the elite in his field, Rahul Gandhi said in a statement released by the Congress later. However, unlike many others from his community, he got the opportunity to build his own network. He understood the latent skill of the artisans of Dharavi and he created a brand that is recognised in the most esteemed corridors of fashion globally. Chamar Studios success highlights how traditional artisanship and modern entrepreneurship can work together so that skilled artisans get a piece of the success they build with their own hands. While working with Sudheer and his team in Dharavi today, I underscored the importance of inclusive production networks that uplift skilled workers across various sectors. I felt it was equally important for Sudheer to share his knowledge and experience with others, so we brought our friend Ramchet mochi from Sultanpur to meet him and understand how design and innovation can transform his business. I spoke in the Lok Sabha about how a prosperous India can only be built through production and participation. Chamar Studios success shows this model works and I hope we can replicate such a model all over India. Former Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale, however, termed Rahul Gandhis visit to Dharavi slum tourism. Two Indian nationals, both natives of Kerala, who were on death row have been executed in UAE. The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday informed that the individuals were identified as Muhammed Rinash A. and Muraleedharan P.V. The two individuals were convicted in separate murder cases and were sentenced to death by UAE's Court of Cassation. Also read | Indian woman on death row in UAE executed; family alleges 'injustice' Rinash, belonging to Kannur, was convicted of murder involving a UAE national. Reportedly, he had been working in a travel agency in Al Ain prior to his arrest. Meanwhile, Muraleedharan, who has been in jail since 2009, has been convicted of murdering a fellow Indian immigrant. The UAE informed the Indian Embassy about the executions on February 28. According to MEA, all possible consular and legal assistance were provided to both. Mercy petitions and pardon requests were sent to the UAE government as well. "The families of the concerned have been informed. The Embassy is in touch with them and facilitating their participation in the last right," said MEA. STORY | Indian woman, Shahzadi Khan, on death row in Abu Dhabi executed, Delhi HC told READ: https://t.co/RqDzAKeHqV VIDEO | Here's what Shahzadi Khan's father Shabbir Khan said: "She was not given justice. I tried my best. I have been trying since last year. I don't have pic.twitter.com/jFwBIbYgrF Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 3, 2025 Recently a 33-year-old Shahzadi Khan from Uttar Pradesh was executed in UAE for allegedly killing a four-month-old while she was under her care in December 2022. Khan was executed on February 15. The family of the child said that Khan had admitted to a lapse on her part causing the death of the child. However, her family alleged that her admission was forcefully recorded by the victim's family. The child died after receiving routine vaccinations. Shahzadi's father alleged that his daughter was denied justice. "We approached the Indian government and submitted applications at multiple places but we had no money, no means to go there and hire a lawyer. The government did not stand with us," Shahzadi's father Shabbir Khan told PTI. Though a strong Russian ally, Iran has an important piece of advice for Ukraine as it called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to gamble with his country's resources. Iran government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani advised Zelenskyy that security was an indigenous issue, and something that cannot be purchased. Tehran's words of wisdom come as Zelenskyy sent US President Donald Trump an important letter which said "his team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts". In the letter, Ukraine also offered to sign a rare mineral deal with the US to ensure security in return. Addressing a press conference, Mohajerani said that security cannot be purchased. "Security should be created in the heart of the people, she noted. Do not gamble a country's assets with a president and be careful not to lose your country's assets in this gambling," she advised the Ukrainian president. Though a staunch ally of Russia and even supplying weapons for the Kremlin to attack Ukraine, Iran had lavished unusual praise on Zelenskyy "for standing up to Trump". In an editorial published in the state media, Iran said "Zelenskyy's victorious confrontation with Trump showed that one can negotiate with the devil and prevail." "Some believe negotiation with America is futile. But Zelenskyy demonstrated that with courage and clarity, one can not only resist pressure but emerge triumphant," it added. Iran also praised Zelenskyy for removing the mask from Trump's face adding that the arrogance Trump displayed was shattered by Zelensky's frank and courageous behavior." On negotiations Mohajerani said that Iran will not negotiate under maximum pressure and negotiations should be made to reach a common goal, she stressed. On Trump's plan to dislocate Gaza residents, she said Gaza is part of Palestine and the cradle of divine religions, and its belonging to Palestine is undeniable. "Trump's policy is to continue genocide in Gaza," she said adding that history will not forget crimes against the Palestinians. An Iranian court has fined the United States government $12,615 billion as compensation for the Iranians suffering from thalassemia. The verdict is regarding the complaint filed by 438 Iranians against 17 Americans for their unilateral coercive measures against Iran that affected the treatment of thalassemia patients. The verdict was passed by the 55th branch of the Justice Administration of Tehran for International Affairs ruled on Wednesday, according to Tasnim News Agency. It ordered that the defendants, including the US government and officials, must pay the amount for the physical and mental damages to the Iranian patients for imposing sanctions. The order held that the sanctions imposed by the US against Iran affected the delivery of thalassemia medications to Iranian patients. This forced them to take low-quality medicine which not only worsened their symptoms but also incurred exorbitant treatment costs on them. The sanctions caused these patients trauma and their social relations were limited due to emotional and mental harm. They were also denied equal opportunities. Earlier, the UN Human Rights Council stated that the US sanctions against Iran and their enforcement in third countries were a violation of international law. The council concluded this after analysing the findings of two special rapporteurs on Iranians suffering from thalassemia. The rapporteurs had said in a statement that the legality of the US unilateral sanctions against Iran is doubtful under international law. Despite this, the companies outside the US feel obliged to comply to avoid facing legal or business repercussions. The experts said Iran has a "particularly high number" of patients with thalassemia who require specialised medication, which were manufactured by the Swiss company Novartis. The firm source the components from the French company Roquette Freres. But, these medicines were "denied to Iran" due to "fear in medical, delivery and insurance business sectors" the experts said. Thalassemia is a chronic blood disorder that prevents the body from producing enough haemoglobin and patients require lifelong treatment with blood transfusions and medicine. An Iranian Health Ministry official announced in May 2024 that around 18,800 patients are diagnosed with thalassemia in the country, 15,500 of whom have thalassemia major, an autosomal recessive disorder. US President Donald Trump gave tariff exemption for a month to three automaker giants who comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), according to The White House. Ford, General Motors and Stellantis were given the exemptions after they pleaded with Trump. All three auto companies have supply networks all across North America. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing Wednesday afternoon that the move comes after they asked for help. She added that Trump gave them an exemption for a month to ensure they were not at an economic disadvantage. Leavitt said the purpose of the reprieve is to give automakers time to "shift production here to the United States of America where they will pay no tariff. Thats the ultimate goal." The USMCA was signed during Trump's first term to support mutually beneficial trade leading to freer markets, fairer trade, and robust economic growth in North America. She later added that Trump is open to other carve-outs. The White House Press Secretary confirms that a one month exemption to the 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico has been put in place for autos, at the request of the big three automakers who talked with Trump last night #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/ghLXhAj9Sl Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) March 5, 2025 Trump's decision to give exemptions could be a silver lining for pickup-truck makers and for their leading customers, from rural US who mainly favour Trump, Reuters quoted Global Data. Pickup trucks are the backbone of the American auto industry, with the three auto giants mentioned above making the most profit from the sale of Jeep and Ram truck brands. As per estimate, over 3 million U.S. pickups were sold last year, about 20% of overall national sales. This includes both US and foreign makers. Despite the exemption, the tariff is likely to affect GM's Chevrolet and GMC pickups, along with Stellantis's Ram as they have both built a large number of pickups in Mexico. Ford, on the other hand, builds its F-series pickups in the United States though it also makes some truck engines in Canada. Almost no American vehicle is made from solely American parts, industry research shows. Ohio dealer Rhett Ricart, who sells GM and Ford vehicles, hoped this would avert a crisis. "I think it won't take a month for them to figure out how to handle this thing," he said. "I'll be more concerned ... 30 days from now." Flavio Volpe, the head of Canadas Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, told the Financial Times that the exemption would not resolve the matter for businesses and workers fearful of job losses and plant closures. "No one can operate under 30-day threat cycles, including especially American businesses. Evidence of this is the fact that it was American businesses who requested this reprieve, not Canada or Mexico," Volpe added. After External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's convoy came under attack during his visit to London, United Kingdom on Thursday condemned the breach of security. A pro-Khalistani protester broke past the barricade and approached EAM's convoy shouting slogans. Jaishankar was leaving the Chatham House in London when the incident took place. Also read | VIDEO | Jaishankar heckled by Khalistani extremist who ran towards his car, tore Indian flag as London police watch : Khalistani goons attempt to heckle Indias External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar in London while he was leaving in a car. A man can be seen trying to run towards him, tearing the Indian national flag in front of cops. Police seem helpless, as if ordered to not act. pic.twitter.com/zSYrqDgBRx THE SQUADRON (@THE_SQUADR0N) March 5, 2025 A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said that such attempts to "intimidate, threaten, or disrupt" public events are "completely unacceptable". "We strongly condemn the incident," the spokesperson added. He also said that the Metropolitan Police swiftly acted to address the situation. The spokesperson further added that the UK remains fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors. Videos of the security breach had gone viral on social media. UK police's initial reluctance to restrain the attacker sparked a controversy. MEA had condemned the incident. "We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations," it said. The attack came after Jaishankar talked about the issues related to Khalistan extremism during a meeting with the UK's Secretary of State for Home Yvette Cooper. Held wide-ranging and productive talks with Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy over past two days at the Chevening House. We discussed the entire gamut of bilateral ties, especially our focus on strategic coordination, political cooperation, trade deal negotiation, education, pic.twitter.com/gQeuTRPeVi Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 5, 2025 This is not the first time a breach of security by Khalistani elements took place in the UK. In March last year, pro-Khalistani protesters pulled down the national flag at the Indian High Commission in London. During his UK tour, Jaishankar met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy where they discussed bilateral ties. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. Uzbekistan and Italy have discussed the upcoming visit of the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Tashkent, Trend reports. The news followed a meeting between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Italian Ambassador Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini, at which he presented his credentials to the president. The president of Uzbekistan emphasized that Italy is an important strategic partner with significant political and economic potential. Currently, large-scale projects with Italian companies are being successfully implemented in areas such as green energy, chemistry, engineering, light industry, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, and tourism. In the near future, a meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group and a business forum are scheduled, along with a visit by the Governor of Lombardy to Uzbekistan, during which the Regional Council will be held. Additionally, the creation of a joint investment fund has been noted as a key priority. The main task now is to organize a reciprocal visit of the Italian Prime Minister to Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, the dialogue between the foreign ministers continues in the format of Italy-Central Asia. Branches of the Polytechnic University of Turin and the University of Pisa are operating effectively in Tashkent. Last year, the first Forum of Leading Universities was held. Recently, the Days of Uzbekistan's Culture took place in the cities of Rome and Viareggio. As Kyiv attempts to mend its relations with the United States after President Zelenskyys blowout in Washington, former military chief and Ukraines ambassador to the UK Valerii Zaluzhnyi attacked the Trump administration for destroying the established world order. Zaluzhnyi slammed the US President Donald Trump's way of handling the foreign policy and said the White House had "questioned the unity of the whole Western world". Also read | Oval Office showdown: Did Trump set a bait for Zelenskyy? NATO chief asks Ukrainian leader to befriend US prez again His remarks came amid efforts to cool things between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump after the Oval Office showdown last week. Even France and the United Kingdom stepped in to help both nations improve their relations. Valerii Zaluzhnyi provides an in-depth analysis of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Russian army, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and tactical differences. He explains how Ukraine is adapting to modern warfare and what sets its military apart from the enemy. Watch pic.twitter.com/FuWAmHNSeT The New Voice of Ukraine (@NewVoiceUkraine) March 5, 2025 Also read | Donald Trump pauses all military aid to Ukraine after Oval Office showdown with Zelenskyy At the crucial London summit, UK PM Keir Starmer along with France President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work with Zelenskyy to find a peace deal to end the war. Starmer said that the deal would be presented to the US. Zaluzhnyi made his remarks at a conference at Chatham House in London on Thursday. Also read | Damage control? UK, France step in to restore peace after Zelenskyys showdown with Donald Trump "We see that it is not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the US is finally destroying this order," he said. White House's 'inclination' towards the Kremlin was also criticised by the former military chief. He also said that NATO could cease to exist as a result of Washington's change in position, and warned that Moscow's next target "could be Europe". Zaluzhnyi took over as Kyiv's ambassador to London in 2024 following three years as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces. Amid tensions and war, of late speculations have been rife over who would be Zelenskyy's possible successor in Ukraine. Even Trump had questioned Zelenskyys role as president as the war is raging on amid the absence of elections. Opinion polls give an edge to Zalunzhnyi. Independent opinion polls in Ukraine suggest that Zalunzhnyi has the most public support with at least 70 per cent. There are a couple of differences between the Mahakumbh Mela at Prayagraj and the Maha Trumbh Mela at the White House. You go to Triveni Sangam to wash away your sins. You go to Washington DC to wash away other peoples sins or more specifically, the sins of your enemies. In fact, thats what poor Zelenskyy was trying to do all along. As the President of the USA told us, all that Zelenskyy could say was Putin this, Putin that. In the course of cleaning up the misdeeds of your foes, there is obviously going to be a pile of dirty linen to be washed because while the House may be white, the linen isnt. The proper way of doing it is behind closed doors. But POTUS believe thats a missed opportunity. If dirty linen is to be washed, its best done in public, on a podium in a stadium. A battery of media reporters will be at hand to cover every stain, every smear. Such extreme transparency can make your opponents wince. ALSO READ: 10 ways to cook up a controversy After you have made waves doing your dubki at the sacred confluence, you learn to be more forgiving of people. Trump on the other hand, believes forgiving people is a waste of time. In fact, its the opportune moment to repeat the wrongs that have been going on. He said that Joe Biden is not so smart. He reminded Zelenskyy that Obama gave you sheets (medical-related equipment and services), I gave you javelins (missile-launchers). He also repeated that Ukraine held no winning cards. Clearly, theres no such thing as a free lunch. If you have extended help in the past, now is the time to take full advantage. ALSO READ: Retired, hurt Most people who returned from the Sangam came back wearing suitably beatific expressions. They have seen the light and discovered their inner Swami Parmananda. Thats what happens when your burden of sins has been lifted. (Look how relieved Mr Adani appeared.) But there was no such luck in Washington. As the loyal, eagle-eyed, JD Vance pointed out, Zelenskyy did not look sufficiently grateful and $350 million needs a lot of gratitude. So he was duly pummelled and came out looking like what he really was - a beaten man. And finally, at Prayagraj, the catering is much more reliable. After all, it was sponsored by Adani and ISKCON. There was the kind of mouthwatering stuff you got at the old Purohit of Mumbai: dal, chole, rajma and vegetables. The meal was topped off with boondi ladu or halwa. At the White House, they had Zelensky keema for lunch! Put it all together and Maha Kumbh tops Maha Trumbh. At least your lunch wont be whisked away before your eyes and fed to the press. US President Donald Trump thrust himself once again into the centre of the Gaza crisis with a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, issuing an ultimatum to Hamas and Palestinians in the war-torn enclave. Writing on Truth Social on March 5, Trump declared, Shalom Hamas means Hello and GoodbyeYou can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. The threat came just hours after the White House confirmed a major shift in US policy: direct negotiations with Hamas, which Washington has long branded a terrorist organisation. The sudden change in policy seems to be driven by the urgency to ensure the release of Edan Alexanderthe only Israeli-American hostage believed to be alive in Hamass captivity. It is a departure from decades of American reliance on mediators like Qatar and Egypt to deal with Hamas. Trumps threat, however, has cast a long shadow over the peace talks, raising fears that the already faltering peace process could collapse and push Gaza into more chaos. The timing of Trumps intervention is important. A six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by the outgoing Biden administration in January, effectively collapsed on March 1, with no extension in sight at the moment. That deal had promised a multiphase path to peace: an initial pause in Israels military operations, the release of hostages by Hamas and a swap of Palestinian prisoners, followed by a permanent ceasefire and Israels full withdrawal from Gaza. Yet, mutual distrust has derailed progress. Hamas accuses Israel of reneging on commitments, while Israel insists it has acted in good faith. Against this backdrop, Trumps threat to end Hamas has injected fresh volatility. Meeting with eight freed hostages on March 5, he underscored his personal stake in the crisis, but his rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism from Hamas. The groups spokesperson Hazem Qassem warned that such language could complicate matters and embolden Israel to abandon the ceasefire entirely. He urged Trump to pressure Israel into honouring phase two of the deal, claiming Hamas fulfilled its first-phase obligations. Trumps ultimatum reflects a duality in his administrations approach. The decision to engage Hamas directly, led by special envoy Adam Boehler in Doha, signals a willingness to prioritise American livesparticularly Alexandersand the return of four Israeli-American bodies from the October 7 attacks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the twin track as a good-faith effort to do whats right for the American people, pointing out that the US was working in consultation with Israel. Yet, Trumps simultaneous threat evokes a return to the uncompromising posturing that defined his first term. Critics argue this risks derailing diplomacy at a moment when roughly 24 living captives and 35 bodies remain in Hamass hands, according to Israeli estimates. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has amplified the tension, warning the Hamas during a Knesset speech on March 3 that failure to release more hostages would trigger consequences beyond your imagination. Israels subsequent blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza underscores its hardening stance, a move Hamas decries as a starvation policy. The US finds itself caught in a diplomatic quagmire. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes blamed Hamas for the ceasefires collapse, asserting Israels sincerity. A proposal from Trumps envoy Steve Witkoffto extend the truce through Ramadan and Passover with half the hostages freed upfrontfell apart when Hamas rejected it as a betrayal of the original deal. Leavitt, meanwhile, dodged questions about whether Trump envisions a US takeover of Gaza, directing reporters to the state department. Hamas, meanwhile, accuses Washington of emboldening Israels Zionist right, pointing to punitive measures like border closures. Trumps gambit appears partly motivated by domestic optics, projecting strength ahead of political battles at home. But with negotiations stalled and Gaza on the brink, his approach could ignite a powder keg, leaving hostages, their families and Gazas beleaguered population in limbo as the human cost mounts. Trumps rhetoric has also sparked debate about his broader intentions. His use of OVER for you could mean a permission to Israel to escalate, potentially drawing the US and the Trump administration into a more active role. But the White House has been vague, with Leavitts evasiveness fuelling speculation. Trumps earlier suggestion of transforming Gaza into a resort hints at a radical vision that clashes with Palestinian aspirations and Arab proposals. For Gazans, already reeling from years of conflict, the prospect of intensified US or Israeli pressure adds another layer of dread to an already dire situation. Amid this escalating crisis, an emergency summit in Cairo on March 4 saw Arab leaders rally behind an Egyptian-led peace plan to reshape Gazas future, clearly rejecting Trumps plan to turn Gaza into a beachfront resort. Spearheaded by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the $53 billion blueprint envisions a Palestinian-led administration free of Hamas, which has governed the territory since 2007. A committee of independent Palestinian technocrats would temporarily oversee relief and governance, sidelining Hamas and paving the way for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to resume control. Sisi described this body as a team of professionals and technocrats, with a UN peacekeeping force securing Gaza and the West Bank. Reconstruction is central: a six-month, $3 billion phase would clear rubble and house 1.2 million in temporary units, followed by a $20 billion rebuild of utilities and homes by 2027, and a $30 billion final push for ports and an airport by 2030, funded largely by Gulf states and possibly Europe. Hamas has signalled openness to ceding civilian control to such a committee, provided Gazas postwar fate reflects Palestinian consensus, but it rejects demilitarisation, a non-starter for Israel and the Trump administration. Arab leaders framed the plan as a bulwark against displacement, countering Trumps February idea of pushing Palestinians into Egypt and Jordan, widely condemned as ethnic cleansing. Israels foreign ministry dismissed it as outdated, arguing it ignores Hamass threat, while Hamas welcomed the focus on reconstruction and keeping Palestinians in Gaza. Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit credited Trumps earlier mediation but urged sustained US support. The US, however, rebuffed the plan, with Hughes arguing Gazas uninhabitabilitydue to debris and unexploded ordnancerenders it unviable. President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas, he said, hinting at further talks. Yet, challenges loomIsrael opposes Palestinian statehood, and PA President Mahmoud Abbass reluctance to share power could fracture unity. Egypts plan offers hope, but its success hinges on navigating these deep divisions. As the deadlock persists, the human cost mounts. Trumps gambit of combining diplomacy with dire warnings may be a tried and tested strategy. But with negotiations stalled and Gaza teetering on the brink, his approach could ignite yet another powder keg. For the hostages and their families, and the Palestinian population in Gaza, time is running out. Who am I to challenge the gedolim of our generation? I say this with complete sincerityI have the deepest respect for our rabbanim and roshei yeshiva, whose wisdom and guidance shape our communities. The ongoing initiative to address the shidduch crisis is undoubtedly well-intentioned, driven by a genuine concern for Klal Yisroel. And yet, I cannot stay silent. Because while I respect our leadership, I also respect the thousands of bnos Yisroel who are waiting in pain, their lives effectively put on hold as the crisis worsens. And instead of fixing the root of the problem, we are now telling these girls to wait even longer. The proposed solution to the shidduch crisis is to delay girls from entering shidduchim for an extra year. Lets be clear about what this means. We are preserving the status quo for boys while telling young women to hold their lives in limbo for the system to balance itself. But balance at whose expense? The emotional toll of this waiting period is devastatinghelplessness, uncertainty, and frustration. Why is the onus always on the girls? Why should they be the ones making sacrifices? Let me ask a simpler question: Why does a 24- or 25-year-old bochur need to marry an 18-year-old girl? Would it not make more sense to align the ages of boys and girls entering shidduchim, rather than pushing girls back another year? This isnt just about numbersits about fairness. We have built a rigid, artificial system where boys always have younger options, while girls are forced into an impossible situation. And that leads us to the real issue, one that nobody seems willing to confront. Why do so many boys refuse to date girls their own age? Why has it become the norm for a 24-year-old bochur to only consider an 18-year-old girl? Why is a 21- or 22-year-old girl considered too old, while an 18-year-old is seen as ideal? Lets stop pretending this is just a numbers problem. This is a cultural problema mindset that has been ingrained into the system for so long that we dont even stop to question it. We have created an environment where bochurim feel entitled to the youngest match possible, as if anything beyond that is a downgrade. And heres the most baffling part of it all: These are boys who have spent years immersed in limud torah and developing their middosyet when it comes to shidduchim, their primary concern is that a girl shouldnt be too old? Where is this coming from? How does a system that claims to produce Bnei Torah also produce a generation of young men who will outright refuse to go out with a girl just a few years closer to their own age? What does it say about our values when the same boys who spend hours learning about chessed, anivus, and yiras shamayim refuse to even consider a 22-year-old girlbut will happily meet an 18-year-old? This mindset is deeply problematic, and it is fueling the very crisis we claim to be solving. By encouraging boys to constantly choose younger, we have manufactured a system where women in their early twentiesperfectly wonderful, smart, kind, and growth-oriented womenare overlooked simply because of a number. And our solution is to push girls to wait even longer? This is not a solution. This is an avoidance of the real conversation that needs to happen. If we are serious about fixing the shidduch crisis, then the first step is changing the mindset of our young men. Rather than telling girls to wait, we should be telling boys to grow up. Rather than normalizing the expectation that a boy should only date significantly younger girls, we should be teaching them that a true ben Torah values middos, compatibility, and shared life goals over superficial criteria. And rather than reinforcing an unfair system that benefits one side while crushing the other, we should be working to create a reality where both boys and girls have a fair chance at building a bayis neeman bYisroel. Because the real solution isnt in making girls wait. Its in teaching boys to stop looking for the youngest possible match and start looking for a true partner in life. Sincerely, A Hopeful Jew The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. In a fiery press briefing Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt launched a blistering attack on Democrats and the media, accusing them of orchestrating the most shameful moment in the history of presidential addresses. Her remarks came in response to the uproar that unfolded during President Donald Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday nighta moment meant to unify the nation but instead marred by outbursts and protests from Democratic lawmakers. Leavitts condemnation was unsparing. Among the most stunning incidents of the night, she noted, was the removal of Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who was ejected from the chamber after loudly interrupting the president, shouting grievances over issues such as Medicaid. The incident, she declared, was a glaring example of a party that had lost touch with the American people. Standing at the White House podium, Leavitt delivered a scathing rebuke, painting the Democratic response as an affront to both the presidency and the American public. The behavior of Democrats last night was completely disgraceful, she stated. It was the most shameful moment in the history of presidential addresses in that beautiful chamber. In what was supposed to be a unifying moment for our country, Democrat members of Congress instead screamed at the president of the United States, who was just overwhelmingly reelected by their constituents, walked out of the chamber, and worst of all, they disrespected the American people. Leavitt accused Democrats of failing to support core American values, claiming their refusal to stand or applaud for key moments exposed their political priorities. Democrats didnt stand to keep men out of womens sports. They couldnt even clap for a girl who got her head smashed in by a man on a volleyball court. They didnt stand for an innocent and beautiful child who is surviving brain cancer. They opposed eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security. They didnt stand in favor of cutting taxes for hardworking Americans. They couldnt even clap for two mothers whose daughters were killed by illegal aliens. One of the only things that could get Democrats off their feet last night was cheering for Ukraine. Not for America. Leavitt declared the night a clarifying moment for the nation, branding Democrats as the party of insanity and hate and accusing them of putting America last. Theyve allowed their Trump Derangement Syndrome to stop them from celebrating America and our people, and we will not allow them to forget that, she vowed. But Leavitts rebuke extended beyond Democratic lawmakers. She turned her sights on the mainstream media, singling out MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace for what she described as a disgusting attack on a young cancer patient whom Trump had honored during his speech. Wallace had sparked outrage when, in reaction to Trump making 13-year-old DJ Daniels an honorary agent to fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, she quipped: I hope he never has to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trumps supporters, and if he does, I hope he isnt one of the six who loses his life to suicide. Leavitt condemned the remark as proof of the medias ongoing bias. And its not just the Democrat Party, she said. The mainstream media still doesnt get it. Last night, MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace disgustingly looped in a 13-year-old boy with brain cancer into an attack on the president over January 6th. And CNNs first chyron out of the speech called it divisive. President Trump wasnt divisive. The Democrats were. Leavitt concluded her remarks by asserting that the medias narrative was failingpointing to a post-speech poll showing that 69% of CNN viewers had a positive reaction to Trumps address. Its sad, and frankly pathetic, that Democrats and liberals in the legacy media continue to allow their hatred for the president to override their love for our country, she said. But nevertheless, the president will continue to unify this nation through policies that are grounded in common sense and that uplift all Americans. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The U.S. government will stop sharing air quality data gathered from its embassies and consulates, worrying local scientists and experts who say the effort was vital to monitor global air quality and improve public health. In response to an inquiry from The Associated Press, the State Department said Wednesday that its air quality monitoring program would no longer transmit air pollution data from embassies and consulates to the Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow app and other platforms, which allowed locals in various countries, along with scientists around the world, to see and analyze air quality in cities around the world. The stop in sharing data was due to funding constraints that have caused the Department to turn off the underlying network read the statement, which added that embassies and consulates were directed to keep their monitors running and the sharing of data could resume in the future if funded was restored. The fiscal cut, first reported by the New York Times, is one of many under President Donald Trump, whose administration has been deprioritizing environmental and climate initiatives. The U.S. air quality monitors measured dangerous fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and lead to respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and premature death. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year. News of the data sharing being cut prompted immediate reaction from scientists who said the data were reliable, allowed for air quality monitoring around the world and helped prompt governments to clean up the air. A big blow to global air quality research Bhargav Krishna, an air pollution expert at New Delhi-based Sustainable Futures Collaborative, called the loss of data a big blow to air quality research. They were part of a handful of sensors in many developing countries and served as a reference for understanding what air quality was like, Krishna said. They were also seen to be a well-calibrated and unbiased source of data to cross-check local data if there were concerns about quality. Its a real shame, said Alejandro Piracoca Mayorga, a Bogota-based freelance air quality consultant. U.S. embassies and consulates in Lima, Sao Paulo and Bogota have had the public air monitoring. It was a source of access to air quality information independent of local monitoring networks. They provided another source of information for comparison. Khalid Khan, an environmental expert and advocate based in Pakistan, agreed, saying the shutdown of air quality monitoring will have significant consequences. Khan noted that the monitors in the city of Peshawar in Pakistan, one of the most polluted cities in the world, provided crucial real-time data which helped policy makers, researchers and the public to take decisions on their health. Their removal means a critical gap in environmental monitoring, leaving residents without accurate information on hazardous air conditions, Khan said. He said vulnerable people in Pakistan and around the world are particularly at risk as they are the least likely to have access to other reliable data. In Africa, the program provided air quality data for over a dozen countries including Senegal, Nigeria, Chad and Madagascar. Some of those countries depend almost entirely on the U.S. monitoring systems for their air quality data. The WHOs air quality database will also be affected by the closing of U.S. program. Many poor countries dont track air quality because stations are too expensive and complex to maintain, meaning they are entirely reliant on U.S. embassy monitoring data. Monitors strengthened local efforts In some places, the U.S. air quality monitors propelled nations to start their own air quality research and raised awareness, Krishna said. In China, for example, data from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing famously contradicted official government reports, showing worse pollution levels than authorities acknowledged. It led to China improving air quality. Officials in Pakistans eastern Punjab province, which struggles with smog, said they were unfazed by the removal of the U.S. monitors. Environment Secretary Raja Jahangir said Punjab authorities have their own and plan to purchase 30 more. Shweta Narayan, a campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said the shutdown of monitors in India is a huge setback but also a critical opportunity for the Indian government to step up and fill the gaps. By strengthening its own air quality monitoring infrastructure, ensuring data transparency, and building public trust in air quality reporting, India can set a benchmark for accountability and environmental governance, Narayan said. (AP) The chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing into a police vehicle following President Donald Trumps address to Congress. Hayden Haynes was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence and later released. In a statement, U.S. Capitol Police said Haynes had backed into a parked vehicle shortly before midnight. Officers responded to the scene and the driver was arrested, the statement said. The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police, Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee said. The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress. Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office. Haynes is a longtime, trusted aide to Johnson a Louisiana Republican and has served as the speakers chief of staff since Johnson took on the role in 2023. Haynes didnt immediately respond to a message seeking comment and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. (AP) As New Yorks Department of Education tightens the screws on yeshivas, relentlessly scrutinizing their curricula, an alarming reality is being ignored: more than one-third of New York City public school studentsover 300,000 childrenare chronically absent. A new bombshell study reported by the NY Post has laid bare the crisis, revealing that chronic absenteeismstudents missing at least 10% of the school yearhas surged to nearly 35% in 2023-24. In upstate cities like Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, the numbers are even more catastrophic, with absenteeism reaching as high as 62%. Yet, while New Yorks public schools hemorrhage students and produce mediocre test scores despite record-breaking funding, the states education watchdogs seem singularly obsessed with micromanaging yeshivas, institutions that boast high attendance and produce disciplined, engaged learners. New York spends more on education than any other state$89 billion annually, or $36,293 per studentyet public school students are falling further behind. Test scores in reading and math remain below pre-pandemic levels, and graduation rates are slipping. The Department of Education, however, appears uninterested in why students are not even showing up to class. Instead, the state has made an astonishing move: it has eliminated chronic absenteeism as a measure of school quality. In other words, whether or not students attend school no longer factors into how districts are evaluated. One of the most shocking findings of the study is that absenteeism is not just a logistical issueit is now culturally accepted. Post-pandemic, many parents have stopped seeing attendance as necessary. Teachers report that remote work has made it easier for families to keep kids at home on weekdays, and parents now believe missing non-testing grades is not a big deal. This shift in mentality has resulted in an educational catastrophe. Experts note that missing one or two days equates to 57 fewer days of learning, and missing 18 or more days equates to years of lost schooling Yet, rather than confronting this crisis, the state has opted for rewarding failure and punishing success. While New Yorks public schools spiral into dysfunction, the state remains laser-focused on aggressively regulating yeshivas. These schools, which maintain excellent attendance rates, instill discipline, and produce literate, capable students, are being treated as the greatest threat to education in New York. Why does the state devote resources to harassing yeshivas while public school students vanish from their classrooms? (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A 17-year-old girl, critically injured in a horrific car-ramming and stabbing attack near Pardes Chana-Karkur last week, tragically passed away today. The teenager, identified as Yahli Gur hyd from Kibbutz Maagan Michael, died early Wednesday morning at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Chadera, where she had been fighting for her life since last Thursdays assault at Karkur Junction. The attack, confirmed by Israeli authorities as an act of terrorism, unfolded on a busy Thursday afternoon when a 53-year-old Palestinian man, Jamil Ziyud Abu Jaab, deliberately drove his vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians at a bus stop on Highway 65. Abu Jaab, a resident of a village near Jenin who had been living illegally in Israel with his Arab-Israeli wife, struck multiple victims before exiting his car and stabbing others with a screwdriver. The rampage left 14 people injured, including Yahli, who suffered severe head and limb injuries. She was sedated and placed on a ventilator upon arrival at the hospital, where medical staff battled to stabilize her condition over the past six days. The assailants spree ended when police intercepted his vehicle near Gan Shmuel, near the initial attack site. After ramming a police car and charging at officers with the screwdriver, Abu Jaab was shot and killed by responding forces. Among the other victims were a 60-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, both seriously injured, and a police officer wounded during the attack. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 6. Uzbekistan and Turkiye will hold next session of the high-level strategic cooperation council this year, Trend reports. The news follows a meeting between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev with Ambassador of Turkiye Ufuk Ulutas at which he presented his credentials to the president. In the course of the meeting, the president of Uzbekistan highlighted the strong political dialogue that has elevated bilateral relations to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership. Meanwhile, last year, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkiye reached $3 billion, with investments amounting to $2 billion and approximately 2,000 joint companies. Major Turkish companies are engaged in large-scale cooperative projects across key sectors of the economy. In addition, the International University of Turkic States is being established in Tashkent. The IDF was shocked by part of the Shin Bet report published on Tuesday that revealed an exceptional operational incident that according to them, was completely unknown to them, Army Radio reported. The Shin Bets internal report on its failure to predict or prevent the October 7 massacre stated that in the days following the massacre, The Shin Bet sent a dedicated force to the north in preparation for a possible Radwan Force infiltration. This force encountered terrorists and Shin Bet personnel were also injured there. Senior officials in the IDF and the Northern Command responded to the report by saying: We are not familiar with this event. The IDF is not aware of any encounter between Hezbollah terrorists and Shin Bet personnel in the first days of the war. It should be noted that after the publication of the investigation, the IDF contacted the Shin Bet requesting clarification. Many media outlets and politicians excoriated the Shin Bet investigation which pointed fingers at other entities and tried to place the blame for the colossal failure on others. Army Radio military correspondent Doron Kadosh wrote that the Shin Bet made good use of being a secret organization to publish a document of main points of investigation, most of which blames other factors. It is noticeable that an effort was made to extract one bottom line: We failed, but We failed but the political echelon is more to blame because it led a policy of containment towards the Gaza Strip. We failed but the political echelon did not listen to us all these years when we pushed to carry out targeted killings in the Strip. Kadosh noted that important details are missing in the report regarding the organizations conduct on the fateful night of the attack. If the Shin Bet believed that this was such important information that required a change in preparation why did its two representatives in the commands situational assessment not add a single word to the statements of the intelligence officers from the Southern Command and Gaza Division and challenge them even slightly? And why did the Shin Bet refrain from mentioning this? In addition, he noted the contradiction between what the Shin Bet claimed were its positions over the years and its actual actions: How can the unbelievable gap between so many correct and sober perceptions presented by the Shin Bet and the fact that the organization supported the moves of the political echelon in the Gaza Strip in recent years be explained? [The Shin Bet chief supported civilian measures for the Gaza Strip, supported the understandings that were reached shortly before 7/10, and also supported the entry of Gazan workers]. Kadosh also criticized the fact that the investigation ignores the central issue of the Gazan workers who entered Israel in the years before the massacre: Did the workers who entered Israel help Hamas and collect intelligence? Did these workers, under the nose, and with the approval of the Shin Bet, become Hamas agents in Israeli territory? After 16 long months of waiting, the Shin Bet, which failed, could have provided the Israeli public with a more incisive, fairer investigation, which takes full accountability, and without but. Unfortunately, this was not done, Kadosh emphasized. The Shin Bets report on the October 7 massacre revealed that if the organization had acted differently in the years leading up to the attack and on the night of the attack, both professionally and managerially, the massacre could have been prevented. This is not the standard we expected of ourselves and the public expected of us, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar stated. However, as noted above, he spent much of the report blaming other factors, especially the political echelon. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Varda Ben-Baruch, the grandmother of abducted IDF soldier Edan Alexander, made an emotional appeal to the public on Wednesday to join in tefillos for her grandson and for all the hostages who have not yet returned home. Edan was born in Tel Aviv but grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. After graduating from high school in 2022, he joined Golani as a lone soldier. On October 7, he was abducted from his base near the Gaza Strip. A Ynet report on Wednesday quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that the current US negotiations with Hamas are being carried out to ensure the release of Edan, the only US-Israeli hostage still alive, along with the bodies of four US-Israeli citizens. In an interview with Kan Moreshet, Varda expressed her pain and great frustration with the ongoing situation: We are in a state of anticipation and uncertainty for a year and a half nothing is happening. We would expect the releases to continue, that they would be discussed all the time, but its simply stuck. Varda described the difficulty of not knowing the fate of her grandson: What you know, I know. We have nothing to hold onto, no target date just tefillah. She emphasizes that emunah is what sustains her and the rest of the family during this difficult time: Emunah strengthens us, but its a daily test. I keep only good things in mind. I dont want to fall into the abyss of hopelessness. She added that reciting Perek 22 of Tehillim: has become a source of strength for her and many others: I call on all of Am Yisrael to read this perek with us, to strengthen Edani from afar and give him the strength to survive. Varda described how the families of the hostages are working tirelessly to bring their loved ones back. We run between meetings and interviews, the Knesset and public events all for them. Its not normal that they are still there, every day that passes is hell. She notes that many families are also engaged in participating in the levayos of hostages who returned in coffins and paying shiva visits. Its a terrible time. I want to return to my anonymity, to my home, to my family to a whole family. Varda added: Edan came from the United States specifically to serve in the army and defend Israel. He enlisted at the age of 19 and has already celebrated two birthdays in captivity. Its incomprehensible. When asked how it is possible to function in daily life during such a time, she replied that the families are immersed in the endless struggle: Everything we do is for them. We are constantly in action there is no break. However, she notes that the upcoming Chagim fill her with hope: Halavei that Edan and all the hostages would already return for dinner tonight but if not, then for the Purim seudah. This is a month of nissim and I believe that in the zechus of our tefillos and efforts, this neis will still happen. The hostages are not posters, they are not numbers they are people with souls, dreams and desires. And their dream right now is very simple to return home. Varda concluded with a final appeal: Daven with us. Dont stop fighting for them. The public is asked to daven for a yeshua for Eden ben Yael and all the remaining hostages. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In a powerful moment inside the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon, President Donald Trump met with eight freed hostages, embracing them with firm handshakes and unwavering resolve. Standing before the Resolute Desk, these survivors of Hamas brutality shared that Trump them hope when all seemed lost. Youve been sent by G-d to release them. You can really help. You have the power to do it, Omer Shem Tov told Trump, his voice filled with emotion. You were our hope when we were there, and now youre their hope, echoed Naama Levy, reflecting on the strength that Trumps leadership had given those still suffering under Hamas captivity. Trump, never one to back down from a fight, looked them straight in the eye. So you didnt think until I came alongyou didnt think you were going to get out? No, was the reply. Once you were elected, we heard that you want to do everything to make a deal as soon as possible You gave us hope, Levy continued. Trump leaned forward, his voice firm. Well, we said, You better let us have those people back, you better let them out. We did say that and something happened, right? Now weve got to get the rest out. Please do it again, begged Eli Sharabi, speaking for the families who still wait in agony. Trump nodded, shaking each survivors hand with conviction. Were working on it very hard Well do the best we can Horrible stories. Not even believable Well get them out. Watch. Well get them out. As the last freed hostage stepped away, Trump turned to Shem Tov, his voice unwavering: Youve got a good future. Im telling you. Shem Tov left grinning from ear to ear. Your browser does not support the video tag. Just minutes after the emotional meeting, Trump took to Truth Social, issuing a thunderous ultimatum to Hamas. Shalom Hamas means Hello and Goodbye You can choose, Trump declared. Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! Trump wrote. I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say, he warned. Trump made it clear that Hamas days were numbered. I have just met with your former hostages whose lives you have destroyed, he said, with the weight of the Oval Office behind him. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. And in a direct message to the people of Gaza, Trump offered a vision of the futurebut only if they choose the right side. A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER. I have just met with your former hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance, Trump says. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who appointed Gali Baharav-Miara as Attorney General during his term as Justice Minister in the previous government, explained on Wednesday evening why he supports her ouster. Removing the Attorney General from her position is an exceptional step, Saar began. A step that hasnt been taken since the 1980s. But the Attorney Generals performance is also highly exceptional. She has become a full-fledged political player, systematically working against the government with a transparent goal of overthrowing it. Anyone who wants to overthrow the government supports her, and vice versa. This is a place that is untenable for an Attorney General. For some time, she has not maintained proper working relations with the government and the ministers. Everything is a legal impediment.' I started working in the Attorney Generals office over 30 years ago. The institution of the Attorney General is dear to my heart. This institution is being destroyed these days and is becoming an institution that receives trust from only half the nation according to political affiliation. Saar continued by saying that Baharav-Miara acted appropriately during her first year of office, fulfilling her promise to provide unbiased legal advice. Today, she is in the furthest place from there, he continued, citing two examples of her decision that were so obviously biased that they were overturned by the Supreme Court. Any honest person can separate their opinion of the government (negative or positive) and understanding what exactly is happening here, Saar asserted. The one who changed her approach by 180 degrees is the Attorney General. There is no country in the world where an Attorney-General acts consistently, systematically, and unrestrainedly against the government she is supposed to advise. All this while stretching the boundaries of the role itself to impossible places. Continuing to impose her on the government is a serious governance failure that severely impairs the functioning of the executive branch. I have seen this time and time again and up close in the last six months. She undoubtedly must end her position. If all the facts that I know today were known to me then I would not have suggested her candidacy. This is, of course, a case of hindsight is 20/20. It is better to learn from mistakes than to dig ones heels in them. Baharav-Miara left the Justice Minister no choice but to take the step he announced tonight, and it was she, through her behavior, that convinced the Minister that this step was necessary. Saar also stressed the need for reforming the position of Attorney-General by splitting it into two positions. Israel is the only country in the world in which the same person serves as a legal advisor to the government and heads the State Prosecutors Office, maintaining power to initiate criminal proceedings against government members and the Knesset. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Ten people from India were rescued from an Arab village near Jerusalem by the IDF in a complex overnight operation, the Population and Immigration Authority announced on Thursday. The foreign workers had originally traveled to Israel to work and were exploited by Palestinians from the village of Az-Zaayyem, who promised them work and then stole their passports to allow them to easily pass through checkpoints to enter Israel. Meanwhile, the foreign workers were stuck in the village for a month with no work and no way to enter Israel without their passports. The IDF discovered the ruse and a rescue operation was planned in coordination with the Justice Ministry and the Population Authority. The workers were transferred to a safe location, their passports were returned, and Population authorities are working to regulate their workers status. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Micha Koby, a former senior official in the Shin Bet, was a guest on Wednesday evening on the popular The Patriots show hosted by Yinon Magal on Channel 14 and spoke about the Shin Bets internal report about the organizations failure to predict and thwart the October 7 massacre that was published earlier in the day. Koby said that Shin Bet head Ronen Bar failed in an extraordinary way and should have resigned on the night of October 7 or on October 8. Koby added: I divide the Shin Bet into two. There is the Shin Bet as a very important body in the State of Israel that thwarts terror, thwarts hostile terrorist activity, thwarts espionage and political subversion wonderful people, excellent people and there is the Shin Bet leadership, the head of the Shin Bet and the heads of the divisions. Koby noted that hes familiar with the inner workings of the Shin Bet: I dealt with many fields, participated in discussions, I know the arrogance, the hubris, the contempt for the enemy. There is danger from the Shin Bet, he noted. Im not going to talk about everything I know. There are dangerous gatherings of people who surround the Shin Bet chief. Some of them, in my opinion, I dont know for sure, participated in writing this corrupt report. According to him, the report cannot be trusted and was written by senior officials whom the Prime Minister called a junta. Koby noted Bars circles of friends: It is no secret that the head of the Shin Bet was very close to the issue of the Kaplan protesters. It is no secret that the head of the Shin Bet is a friend of Shikma Bressler [a radical leftist who was one of the leaders of the protests against Netanyahu before October 7 and encouraged IDF refusal and insurrection.] It is no secret that there are many so-called guardians of the gate who gather and talk about the day after.' Koby added that some in Bars circle are advising him not to resign even if Netanyahu fires him. There was very good information that arrived during the night of October 6, that there was indeed going to be an attack. Clear information, plain and simple. And there was someone who said that it was a drill and the assessment he submitted was definitely wrong, Kobi concluded. However, he added that he doesnt believe it was treason but rather a failure in analyzing the information. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida has issued a warning that any Israeli military escalation against the terror group in Gaza could lead to the killing of hostages still held by Hamas. In his statement, Obeida asserted that Israeli threats of war and blockade would not lead to the release of hostages, dismissing military pressure as ineffective. At the same time, he claimed that Hamas remains committed to the ongoing truce deal with Israel, despite the first phase of the ceasefire having already concluded. Following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, 59 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza. However, at least 35 of them have been confirmed dead by the IDF. Obeidas remarks come as negotiations for a second phase of hostage releases remain uncertain, with Hamas continuing to hold Israeli civilians and soldiers captured during the October 7 terror attack. Israel has vowed to continue its military campaign to dismantle Hamas terror infrastructure, while international mediators push for a new ceasefire agreement that could secure the release of the remaining hostages. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Tesco shoppers can bag 10,000 bonus Clubcard points when booking a holiday with Easyjet. Tesco has partnered with Easyjet to offer members who book a package holiday a points boost, with the offer running until 13 April. Clubcard members receive a point for every 1 spent at Tesco, and 100 Clubcard points are worth 1. So if you have 1,000 Clubcard points then that's worth 10, while 5,000 points are equal to 50, and so on. Now members will receive an additional 10,000 points, worth 100, if they book an Easyjet holiday and part pay with at least 5 of Clubcard vouchers. The points, which will be allocated by the end of June, can also be exchanged for vouchers with one of Tesco's reward partners for up to double the value. Points boost: Tesco's Clubcard has partnered with Easyjet for a holiday points boost Tesco has more than 100 partners, including Disney+, Hotels.com, Legoland and P&O Ferries. For example, you can swap 12 worth of points for a three-month standard Disney+ subscription or 7.50 worth for a subscription with ads. Both new and existing customers are eligible. There are also plenty of options for days out, cinema and theatre tickets, and travel. Any Clubcard vouchers exchanged into Easyjet credit are already worth double their value, meaning members can potentially get up to 600 off their next holiday. Becky Brock, Tesco group customer director, said: 'Clubcard has always been about giving our customers more, and giving Clubcard members even more is how we are celebrating 30 years of Tesco Clubcard. 'We have teamed up with our newest reward partner easyJet holidays for this amazing deal. If you are thinking of jetting off to the sun this summer, then this is the perfect chance to reward yourself with Tesco Clubcard.' To take advantage of the points boost, Clubcard members will need to exchange a minimum of 5 worth of vouchers for Easyjet holiday credit and make a booking before 13 April. Customers who exchanged Clubcard vouchers or booked a holiday with Easyjet holidays before 17 February are excluded. The boss of blue-blooded investment firm Schroders launched an attack on cash Isas used by millions of ordinary savers as the City pushes to grab a bigger slice of the funds. Richard Oldfield said the 20,000 upper limit for investing in a tax-free cash individual savings account (ISA) should be reduced amid pressure by fund managers to divert more of the money into shares. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is being lobbied by the City to change the rules ahead of her mini-Budget this month in a bid to boost growth. It is thought the limit could be cut from 20,000 a year to 4,000. But the Mails Hands off our cash Isas campaign is standing up for savers who have nearly 300billion invested in the accounts. Building societies are opposed to the changes. They receive much of their funding via cash Isas and say reducing them will mean pricier mortgages for home buyers. Yesterday, the boss of Nottingham Building Society became the latest to speak out against changing the cash Isa limits. Investment drive: Schroders boss Richard Oldfield (pictured) said the 20,000 upper limit for investing in a tax-free cash individual savings account should be reduced But Oldfield argued that it was an anomaly that the current limit for saving in cash Isas should be the same as that for stocks and share Isas. He said: I know having cash Isas is really important for certain segments of the country and weve got to continue to support that. But I would advocate for having a reduced Isa limit. The debate is by how much. Currently, savers can put as much as 20,000 a year into tax-free Isa accounts. The sum may be all in cash or all in shares or a combination of both. Advocates of reform say that encouraging more of the money to go into share accounts could help boost the stock market and encourage growth. And they say that it would be a better for savers, generating higher returns. Some, including the Chancellor, think the UK should aspire to an investing culture similar to that in the US where ordinary households invest much more of their money in the markets. Oldfield said: We all accept that we need to grow the UK economy. And to grow the UK economy we probably need more risk-taking than we have today. No one is going to argue with that. If we take the amount of money that goes into Isas, that is a huge tax credit that were all paying for and at the moment a large portion of that is going into cash Isas. Over any time period that creates a worse investment outcome for our clients than actually having it in an investment Isa. So I think it is a really important debate to have. Having the levels equal is a bit of an anomaly. But opponents say many savers do not want to gamble on what they see as risky market bets. Sue Hayes, chief executive of Nottingham Building Society, said yesterday: We believe it is important to enable a market where saving is encouraged and incentivised and alongside other societies, we advocate for the current cash Isa regulations to be maintained. Last week, Leeds Building Societys chief executive Richard Fearon added his voice to the opposition, saying that hundreds of customers had raised concerns, with many believing it would be unfair to change the rules. They like that their money goes towards helping others buy a home, Fearon said. They dont want to invest in stocks and shares and they feel they will be penalised for saving. Skipton Building Society and Nationwide have also urged Reeves to protect cash Isas. Schroders will axe jobs as it seeks to cut costs by 150m a year and increases its reliance on artificial intelligence. Finance chief Meagan Burnett said it would definitely have fewer employees later this year but gave no figure. It employs 6,300 people worldwide and 3,600 in the UK. Clients pulled 4.7billion from funds in 2024 compared to inflows of 1billion the year before, underlining the pressure on the business. The bosses of two of Britains biggest companies saw their pay slashed last year but could scoop millions more in 2025. Rolls-Royce chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic took a near-10million pay cut despite leading the engine-maker through a dramatic turnaround that has meant its share price has almost doubled. And BPs chief executive Murray Auchincloss received a 2.3million reduction though this coincided with a slump in its shares and profits as the troubled oil giant continued to struggle. Both were still paid handsomely, however, with Erginbilgic earning 4.1million and Auchincloss getting 5.4million. And this year the Rolls-Royce boss is in line for a maximum of 12million while his BP counterparts deal is worth up to 12.7million. Most of Erginbilgics cut reflected his inflated pay in 2023 when he was handed a 7.5million share package to compensate for leaving his previous job. Pay cuts: Rolls-Royce chief exec Tufan Erginbligic (right) took a near-10m pay cut last year while BPs chief exec Murray Auchincloss (left) received a 2.3m reduction He has led a remarkable recovery at Rolls-Royce since taking the reins at the start of 2023 the share price was 93.2p and the company was worth 7.9billion. The stock hit a record high above 800p this week and is now worth 68.11billion, making it the sixth biggest company on the London stock market. Rolls-Royce last week upgraded its profits forecasts and pledged to hand 1.5billion to shareholders through a 504million dividend and 1billion stock buyback. It was the first dividend for five years and first buyback for a decade and came as the company cashed in on a rebound in air travel following the Covid pandemic and increased defence spending. Rolls-Royce said that it was on course to hit its 2027 profit targets, which were set in 2023, this year. BP has not fared so well and Auchincloss is under pressure from shareholders, including activist Elliott, to turn the company around. It made 7.2billion of profit last year, down about one-third compared to 2023, after oil and gas prices fell from the highs seen in the wake of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Outlining a fundamental reset last week, Auchincloss admitted that the firm went too far too fast on a misplaced rush to net zero. He announced plans to slash spending on renewable energy and instead invest more in oil and gas, which was a reversal of the strategy of his predecessor Bernard Looney. But it is understood that Elliott believes he did not go far enough, with the future of Auchincloss and his chairman Helge Lund very much in doubt. Auchincloss was appointed to the top job in January last year, having been acting chief executive since September 2023 after Looney was ousted. BP is the eighth biggest company in the FTSE 100, worth 66.02billion. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 6. Should Russia and the US engage in discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program, Russia will prioritize Iran's interests, Abbas Moqtadaei, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told media, Trend reports. Moqtadaei underscored that Iran has a long-standing strategic agreement with Russia, and nations with such partnerships keep their allies' interests close to their chest when dealing with other countries. He further explained that while current discussions between the US and Russia are centered around the Ukraine issue, it is incorrect to compare Ukraine with Iran, as there are distinct differences between the two. The Iranian MP also noted that no country can make decisions about Irans interests without considering Irans opinion. On January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018. By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement. Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent. Iran has officially affirmed that its strategy is not to pursue the development of an atomic bomb and that it does not support the production of weapons of mass destruction. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel One day in September 1992, two Mexican brothers entered the Imperial bar in San Francisco, California, to sell five ounces of heroin (about 140 grams.) Since 1986, the youngest of the two, Nemesio, had been crossing the Rio Grande with marijuana and other illegal substances on a regular basis. That year, he was arrested in possession of stolen goods and a gun. In the jails of the Californian city, the police took a mugshot in which he looks more like a teenager arrested for smoking pot than the man who will become the DEAs most-wanted cartel boss. Before that day in the fall of 1992, he had been deported a couple of times, but he always managed to find a way to return. The one who negotiated the deal on that occasion was the elder brother, Abraham, who already had a hefty record. The buyers paid $9,500 for the drugs, but they were police officers and the bills were marked. Three weeks later, the Oseguera Cervantes brothers were arrested on federal charges. Nemesio, known as El Mencho, maintained his innocence. Prosecutors warned him: if he doesnt take responsibility, Abraham will bear the brunt and could be sentenced to life. El Mencho ended up pleading guilty to protect his brother. He would spend a few years behind bars. In the cells, he met guys like him whom, years later, he would recruit for his nascent cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Over 30 years later, the DEA is offering a $15 million reward for the head of El Mencho, who after the delivery to the United States of Rafael Caro Quintero, the historic boss of the Guadalajara Cartel, is the most coveted cartel boss by the U.S. authorities. His brother Abraham, alias Don Rodo, is once again the loose end through which the authorities are trying to reach the leader of the CJNG. Abraham Oseguera Cervantes is, once again, in the hands of the Mexican police. He was arrested on February 28, the day after an unprecedented mass transfer of 29 Mexican drug traffickers to the United States, including Caro Quintero himself, the leaders of Los Zetas, the last great heir to the Juarez Cartel and another of the Oseguera Cervantes brothers, Antonio, nicknamed Tony Montana after the character in Scarface, in one of those common cases in the world of the cartels in which reality imitates cinema. Abraham Oseguera, 'Don Rodo,' an alleged leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, after his arrest. SEDENA The situation is unique: never before has Mexico handed the United States so many drug lords at once. Claudia Sheinbaums government tried to use them as a bargaining chip against Donald Trump, who threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican products if Sheinbaum did not intensify the crusade against the cartels, paralyze fentanyl trafficking, and stem the flow of migrants crossing the border. Not even the 29 capos presented on a silver platter appeased the Republican magnate, who on Tuesday blew up the North American Free Trade Agreement by approving the tariffs. And in the middle was Don Rodo, castaway of the bilateral relationship and, possibly, one of the future aces up Sheinbaums sleeve, who still hopes to bring her American counterpart to the negotiating table. Abraham Oseguera Cervantes, however, is an expert at toying with Mexican justice. For the moment, Mexico City district judge Juan Mateo Brieba de Castro has blocked any move by the federal government that could lead to Don Rodo ending up like his 29 colleagues north of the border. The next hearing in the case will be on March 10, where it will be decided whether the decision is upheld. Meanwhile, El Menchos brother is awaiting preventive detention, with several charges against him from the Mexican Attorney Generals Office (FGR). This is the second time in less than a year that Don Rodo has ended up in jail. In April 2024, the Mexican National Guard captured him in Autlan de Navarro, a municipality of 65,000 inhabitants in rural Jalisco. In an unexpected twist, federal judge Rogelio Leon Diaz Villarreal released him after nine days, considering that there were contradictions in the police account of the operation that led to his arrest. In the early hours of April 30, Abraham Oseguera left a prison in the State of Mexico in a plaid shirt and guarded by three soldiers, was picked up by a vehicle, and then disappeared again into the Mexican criminal underworld. It was a scandal, one more in terms of the relationship between the judicial authorities and the cartels. A matter of state For then-president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the release was a matter of state, proof of the corruption of the judicial system, and Rogelio Leon, a judge who favors alleged criminals. The Autlan police officers even participated in the trial as defense witnesses, in favor of Don Rodo. The FGR announced that it would appeal the decision and denounce the agents for collaborating with the CJNG, but nothing more was ever heard. For the army, Don Rodo was, without a doubt, one of the main coordinators of logistical and financial operations, dedicated to money laundering and in charge of drug trafficking and sales in the cartel, and one of the main generators of violence. Despite this, Don Rodo was at large, until this February, when his capture became useful to the authorities again. He was located not far from where they arrested him initially: in the town of Atajeas de Covarrubias, also in Jalisco, just over an hour from Autlan. Three other members of the CJNG, weapons, cash, and a stash of drugs were seized with him. Abraham Oseguera Cervantes played a key role in his brothers criminal empire: laundering his fortune through the purchase of ranches, land and properties, and also relying on public notaries from Ciudad Guzman and Autlan to manage the name changes of the owners, according to security sources. His wife, Virginia Leon Osornio, also participated in the scheme and invested on behalf of the cartel in gold mines in Michoacan and Nayarit, with the aim of increasing the financial assets of her brother-in-law Ruben Oseguera. It is not difficult to trace the path that Don Rodo will follow, if the judge permits it: the strategy of the U.S. justice system is to harass El Mencho through his family. His brother, Antonio, Tony Montana, was arrested in 2022 and transferred to the United States last week. His son Ruben, El Menchito, was found guilty of drug trafficking last September in a Washington court (he too, like Don Rodo, spent time in a Mexican prison and was released before his definitive capture). His son-in-law, Cristian Fernando Gutierrez, El Guacho, part of the CJNG leadership, was arrested last November in California after having faked his own death to circumvent the law. The United States is tightening the noose around its prey, who, according to experts, remains hidden somewhere in the mountains of his native Michoacan. Even so, his influence does not seem to be diminished. On the same day that the 29 drug traffickers were transferred to the U.S., while the focus of the press was on Caro Quintero and company, El Menchos wife, Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, accused of being a financial operator for the CJNG, quietly left a prison in Morelos after three years, despite the challenges of the Prosecutors Office. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The European Union does not want to be sidelined in the debate on the future protection of Ukraine. The bloc is even considering becoming involved militarily and with civil missions to deter a future attack from Russia, after a potential peace agreement is reached. The EU, according to the draft conclusions of the Special European Council convened Thursday and to which EL PAIS has had access, is exploring resorting to the instruments of the common security and defense policy, which includes patrol operations, missions to strengthen national security, and the deployment of military forces under a European flag, such as those already involved in the Atalanta anti-piracy mission in the Red Sea or supporting the Mozambican army. The European Union and the Member States are ready to continue to contribute to security guarantees on the basis of their respective competences and capabilities, says the document of conclusions that the leaders of the 27 member states will discuss Thursday at an emergency meeting in Brussels, in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will participate. It will not be an easy discussion. The Hungarian prime minister, the nationalist-populist Viktor Orban, who has close ties to the Kremlin, has threatened to veto any conclusion on Ukraine. The debate on these security guarantees is still to mature, says a senior EU source. In fact, the member states have not specified which instruments of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) they are analyzing. However, by putting the option on the table, for the first time, they have set out the path for the day after the war launched by Russia ends. And, above all, they have made clear the intention of the majority of the EU nations to get involved in some way in maintaining peace in Ukraine against the threat of future Russian aggression. Currently, the EU has 21 ongoing missions and operations within the framework of the CSDP, including 12 civilian, eight military and one mixed civilian-military initiative. The EUs stance with a change of tone on defense and announcements of rearmament comes at the height of a rift with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is increasingly showing indications of rapprochement with Russia while pressuring Europe to manage its own security alone, including that of Ukraine. In this turbulent context, the European Union is losing ground in the face of the leadership of France and the United Kingdom, which have had direct dialogue with Washington. London and Paris are promoting the formation of a coalition of the willing that would bring together several countries to help protect Ukraine with troops on the ground, intelligence, and logistical contributions. Despite everything, Europe does not want to completely cut the umbilical cord to its American ally. The future security architecture of Ukraine still depends on the United States. Most European countries do not want to join the future coalition if Washington does not get involved in some way if not with a presence on the ground, with air support and intelligence because they consider it essential for the model to be robust and to truly act as a deterrent to Vladimir Putin. Security guarantees must be adopted in consultation with Ukraine, as well as with like-minded NATO partners, stresses the draft conclusions of the extraordinary summit Thursday in Brussels, pending discussion and still subject to change. The message from most member states is that we must continue to support Ukraine militarily, said a senior Brussels official. The next step is security guarantees and seeing what the EU can do. The first step is to strengthen [Ukraines] army in the face of any possible aggression, the source continued. The so-called porcupine strategy arming Kyiv in such a way that it would be indigestible in the event of any aggression would be the first security guarantee, and the most desirable and feasible for most EU partners and European allies. Another dimension is to analyze whether the Union is willing to contribute in other ways, such as putting troops on the ground. This is still a premature debate, because there is still no ceasefire. But we cannot ignore that there are member states that have already said they would be willing, insisted the senior official. In this discussion on security guarantees and how such a shield would be built, the EU seeks to join with other like-minded allies. European Council President Antonio Costa, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Kaja Kallas will hold a meeting by videoconference on Friday with countries that are not members of the EU such as the United Kingdom, Norway or Turkey, but who have participated in the debates on shielding Ukraine, for example last week in London to update them on the debate at the summit. Threat of veto from Hungary However, the threat of a veto by Hungary which has gone so far as to demand that the EU enter into direct negotiations with Russia on any conclusion supporting Ukraine could thwart all efforts by the majority to show a common position. Hence, some voices believe that the other member states should move forward. They even advocate speaking, in terms of this security architecture, of the Europeans instead of the European Union. U.S. negotiations with Russia for peace in Ukraine and to restore bilateral relations between the two powers are moving quickly, spurred on by Trump. And the Republican, who has suspended military aid to Ukraine and the provision of intelligence information, continues to pressure Zelenskiy to accept some of his conditions. The EU has not managed to get a seat at the negotiating table and it has few levers of pressure to achieve this with a U.S. administration that is also threatening the bloc and its 450 million citizens with a trade war. One of these levers is precisely the contribution to shielding Ukraine with a deployment of troops. A few weeks ago, Washington asked NATOs European allies what military equipment they have and what they would do in the event of a Russian attack. The leaders of the 27 insist: There can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine. There can be no negotiations affecting European security without Europe being involved, they say in the document, which is still pending debate and may still be subject to change. They add: The security of Ukraine, of Europe, and of the world are intertwined. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaking during the opening session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. In traditionally opaque Chinese politics, once a year an eclipse occurs and the international press is allowed to ask questions of the delegates of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) directly, without intermediaries or filters. The event takes place just before the opening of the annual session of the legislative body and again just moments after it concludes. The nearly 3,000 deputies fill the lobby of the Great Hall of the People, in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. They come and go, chat in groups and amid the confusion and their haste to try and avoid the press it is time for reporters try their luck, tape recorder in hand, in search of a statement. Wednesday was such a day. Less than 24 hours had passed since U.S. tariffs of an additional 10% on the import of Chinese products came into effect, and Beijing immediately responded on various fronts. A good time to take the pulse of the Asian giants vision of the new trade war being unleashed: Why do you think Trump continues to impose tariffs on China? I dont know how his brain works; maybe nobody knows. Huang Li, one of the developers of infrared thermal imaging camera technology, dodges the question. He prefers to talk, like many of the delegates, about the new productive forces, a concept often mentioned by the countrys president, Xi Jinping, when talking about Chinas capabilities in high-tech fields; and about DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence model that shook the foundations of the Silicon Valley giants at the end of January. DeepSeek is very good, it makes us proud and encourages us. Of course I use it too, he tells the swarm of reporters that has formed around him. The NPC is the highest organ of state power, with the authority to amend the Constitution, approve senior political appointments (including those of the president and prime minister) and budgets, and enact laws. But it has no real oversight power: its role is to give the green light to decisions already made by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which it usually does with overwhelming majorities. The plenum meets only once a year, during the period known as the Two Sessions, during which the Consultative Conference (an advisory body) also meets. The political event taking place this week in the Chinese capital is capturing all the attention at home, although it usually goes virtually unnoticed overseas. The NPCs members are elected every five years at provincial level and come from various sectors (industry, agriculture, culture, etc.) and from all regions of the country, as well as from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. There are also members of the Peoples Liberation Army and the Peoples Armed Police. In reality, it is a body controlled by the CCP. Going off-script is therefore highly unlikely. When asked questions, most delegates disappear. They prefer not to speak. They seem aware of the risks of a slip-up. Ah, the U.S. tariffs, says Xiao Fuquan, one of the deputies, when asked. Oh, Chinas economic development is stable, he adds. But there are those who do go a little further. I wish I knew what Trump was thinking, but only he knows that, Chen Xiaofeng, a Hong Kong lawyer specializing in science, says in response to the same question. He is one of the few who does not shy away from the microphone. We welcome collaboration, but we are not naive; we know that there must also be competition, he adds. Fearless His fellow countryman Lin Shunchao, an ophthalmologist and member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, is of the same opinion. Our goal is to achieve solutions that benefit both parties, he says. Negotiation always involves give and take. We will try to reach a reasonable agreement, but it must be fair. In Lins opinion, China is not afraid and is prepared for Trumps second term because it now understands his style and strategy better. Although he admits that it takes time to find common ground, he believes that the general atmosphere is improving. Lin speaks in perfect English. And he even answers the question of whether China will join Trumps proposed peace plan for the war in Ukraine: I think it depends, he says to a dozen or so foreign correspondents and local journalists. If there is a role for China and if China is invited, then I think it would be a good move. Yes, because we are, in a way, an impartial party. And, of course, China is one of the world powers. In recent days, some Chinese analysts have even floated the idea that the Peoples Republic might get involved by deploying peacekeepers on the ground. Retired Colonel Zhou Bo, who has participated in Chinese UN peacekeeping operations, raised this possibility in a recent interview with the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post: he suggested that China could deploy peacekeeping troops, with the consent of both Ukraine and Russia, to help maintain any negotiated ceasefire. Last week, in response to Trumps proposal an earthquake that has shaken European capitals Xi spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, who brought him up to date on the latest developments: China welcomes the active efforts of Russia and other parties involved to resolve the crisis, Xi confided, according to the official statement. The clocks of Washington, Moscow, and Beijing are ticking on the Ukraine issue. Personally, I am very much in favor of a peaceful world, says delegate Lin, just before the security officials eject the press from the Great Hall of the People. I think that in the next few months it is very likely that the Ukraine issue will be resolved and China will be there. Time is up. End of the eclipse. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Taoiseach has said, while Ireland is willing to be part of a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, it will not participate in any troop deployment designed as a military deterrent. Micheal Martin, who is in Liverpool for a UK-Ireland political summit, also insisted he wanted to have a respectful meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House next week, when issues around Ukraine and wider European security may feature in discussions. Mr Martin hailed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers effective and impactful role in the unfolding geopolitical events related to the conflict in Ukraine. Indicating that Irelands long-standing position of neutrality would preclude its involvement in a deterrence force, Mr Martin reiterated that the Irish Defence Forces could play a role in a peacekeeping mission. He comments come as the Irish government is moving to make a law change that would give it more latitude to deploy troops overseas. Under current Irish rules, Ireland can only participate in peacekeeping missions that are formally sanctioned by the UN. That places a significant limitation on Irelands latitude to deploy troops, as members of the UN security council, such as Russia, are able to veto any missions they do not support. The Government is seeking to remove this element of its so-called triple lock rules for deploying troops. We all want peace, Mr Martin told reporters in Liverpool. There are too many wars in the world, too many young people are losing their lives on the battle fronts. It impacts on livelihoods all over the world, particularly Ukrainians, particularly people in the Middle East, particularly in Sudan and other areas. And I think Keir Starmer is really looking at the realities of the world today. I think he is leading well in terms of working with the European Union and other leading European states to try and deal with this situation. Weve made it clear that if a ceasefire develops or if theres a cessation of hostilities, Ireland has always been open to peacekeeping, but we wouldnt be part of a deterrent force. Theres just two separate areas there, in other words they are two different and distinct issues. But we are open, and always have been, depending on the context to any invitation to participate in genuine peacekeeping and to ensure that any cessation of hostilities can lead to a durable and sustainable peace, because any peace in Ukraine has to be durable and it has to be sustainable. Mr Martin said he hoped the UK and Ireland could enhance security co-operation at the summit meeting in Liverpool. He highlighted areas of cyber security and protecting undersea cables as areas where the two nations could work together more. We will be discussing how we can enhance that type of security cooperation and engagement, he said. The Irish premier declined to be drawn on whether he would push back on any claims the US president might make in the Oval Office St Patricks encounter next Wednesday. Im honoured to be going to the White House as well as looking forward to, again, celebrating what is a major historic tradition and relationship between Ireland and United States, particularly for Irish Americans and our diaspora there too, Mr Martin told reporters. Patricks week is always a very significant week and we will be discussing a range of issues, and particularly, again, the importance of the Irish/US relationship, but today its about the UK/Irish relationship. He added: People come to the table with different perspectives. I respect people. I respect the offices that people hold. And Im honoured to be invited to the White House as an Irish Taoiseach, given the relationship between our two countries, very strong economic relationship, but also the ties that bind Ireland and America together for a long, long time. And, you know, we will engage in a respectful manner. We will put our perspectives. No doubt, President Trump has his views and perspectives as well. But the important thing is to engage, and the important thing is to reflect on that relationship today and to make sure we can protect Irish economic interests, protect the livelihoods of people in Ireland many, many workers depending on that and also pointing out then how significant Irish investment is in the United States. Companies like Ryanair, Glanbia, Kerry Group, Icon, many, many more who create many, many thousands of jobs in America. And so its a very, very robust economic relationship that brings benefits to both sides. And we will have a good discussion, Im sure. The Taoiseach has made clear he disagrees with the Northern Ireland First Ministers apparent criticism of a large order for a Belfast factory to supply missiles for Ukraine. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill told the Stormont Assembly this week that she was incredulous at the deal for the Thales plant in east Belfast. It was announced at the weekend that Thales is to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth up to 1.6 billion. The contract will be funded by a loan underwritten by United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF). Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Sunday that the order for the lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM) would create 200 jobs. However, Ms ONeill told the Assembly on Monday that said she found the deal incredulous at a time of public service cuts, winter fuel payment cuts, national insurance hikes and inheritance tax changes for farmers. Her comments prompted criticism from the DUP, her partners in the coalition government at Stormont, who accused Sinn Fein of hypocrisy for supporting Ukraines right to defend itself at the same time as apparently criticising an order to supply it with weapons to do so. Mr Martin was asked about the First Ministers remarks as he arrived for an engagement to mark the UK Ireland political summit in Liverpool. He said he had always been an advocate of peace but he understood the reason for the order as he made clear Ukraine needed the capacity to defend itself. I wouldnt agree with the First Minister on that, he said. Nobody likes the utilisation of weapons. I certainly dont. All my life Ive been on the peace side of the equation. I still am, and I do want durable peace within Ukraine. I also want peace in the Middle East. I want peace in Sudan, which very few people are talking about. But its Russia that illegally invaded Ukraine three years ago. Thats the reality. Ten per cent of Russian national income has been spent on militarisation. People are afraid of that. People are worried about that. He added: Collectively, people are coming to the conclusion that Europe needs to improve and enhance its capability in order to have a deterrence there to avoid any attempted encroachment on any member state of the European Union. There are more than a few online denizens who often, cruelly and always anonymously, argue in favor the atrocities suffered by the Native Americans at the hands of settlers and with cooperation by many governments and territories. Meanwhile . . . Understanding the history of American settlement requires a more nuanced and thoughtful perspective about the nature of U.S. expansion and the course of Western civilization overall. And better than reactionary rhetoric . . . Understanding any course of human events brings us to the question of faith in politics and policy and its impact at the personal level and beyond. And all of that bring us to this passage and recommended reading from KC's top faith blogger. Check-it . . . "There are many connections between religion and the story of how white European invaders committed physical and cultural genocide against Indigenous people living on the land that became North America. In countless ways, those connections are disheartening, appalling and even horrifying." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Faith Matters Blog: A compelling, personal U.S. history of injustice against Indigenous people Like it or not . . . It's just a fact that trade wars negatively impact BOTH sides of almost every equation and hurt the global economy overall. Here's the word from people who are not "woke" and skew overwhelmingly conservative . . . The Wall Street Journals editorial board slammed President Trump on Monday, calling his plan to place tariffs on other countries the dumbest tariff plunge. Closer to home . . . Local biz people seem to be mostly supportive of "America First" trade policy but, understandably, have a lot of apprehension about the power moves will play out. Here's a passage we thought was insightful . . . Its been really busy, said Ralph Oropeza, the business manager at the Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council. We have a record number of projects, and we have a record number of people coming from all over the country to the Kansas City metro area to do these projects. We are extremely excited about the amount of projects we have going on. With President Donald Trumps 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday, there are concerns that could put a pause on the progress. Oropeza says the tariffs could bring uncertainty, and may slow down or halt projects in the area. While larger scale firms that are creating these huge data centers may be able to absorb some of that loss, our smaller scale projects will be directly impacted because there not as affluent with money that is readily available for them to recoup any costs, said Oropeza. The smaller projects, which make up way more projects: housing, small commercial, small industrial, if those slow down, where are those people going to work? It directly impacts the economy, everyone around. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Concerns tariffs could impact construction in Kansas City Oropeza says the tariffs could impact their workforce and apprenticeships while also having a ripple effect on the local economy. Kansas Citians react to new tariffs likely to increase prices for auto industry Tariffs announced by President Donald Trump could increase the average price of a new car by at least $3,000. The average price of a new car is now $50,000, according to an Associated Press report. Developing . . . Tonight we're inspired by diva, fashionista and hottie Sabrina who has inspired international controversy and this latest peek into pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Local Arts Inspiration Parade of Hearts scores new sculpture design as campaign looks down the pitch to World Cup potential A newly revealed sculpture design for the 2026 Parade of Hearts campaign is more than just the fiberglass from which it takes shape, Carmen Zuniga told a crowd gathered for a sneak peek at the prototype for the popular culture-defining, city-spanning art installation. Cowtown Connections Neighbor2Neighbor remains open for unhoused during rain, snow or shine Unlike Kansas City's weather, there's one thing that never changes - Neighbor2Neighbor. The organization provides food, clothing and resources to those experiencing homelessness. Doggie Distress Explained Again On verge of losing contract after fatal dog attack, KC Pet Project faults flawed city law "Looking briefly at the Kansas City ordinance, it's clear that the intent was good back in the day, but it does not empower their animal service officers to really protect the community," a lawyer said. Local Foodie Scene Still Suffers Cowtown Middle-Class Endures American Bistro Cru updates a classic Brookside dining destination "We believe that great food and wine is for everyone." Dancing Diva Sparks Ruckus Sabrina Carpenter's racy dance at Brits sparks hundreds of Ofcom complaints The 2025 Brits sparked more than 800 Ofcom complaints after controversy over Sabrina Carpenter's raunchy opening dance routine and Charli XCX's sheer outfit. Trust The MAGA Science?!? Trump said childhood cancer rates have increased 40% since 1975. Here's what the data shows During an address to Congress on Tuesday night, Trump said childhood cancer rates have increase by 40%. Data shows there may be some context missing. White House Plays Offense Karoline Leavitt Unleashes On 'Disgraceful' Dems, Corporate Media Over Their Antics Responding To Trump's Address White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the Democrats and corporate media's antics during President Donald Trump's address to Congress. Progressive Protest Backfires?!? Pollster warns Democrats' 'amateurish' anti-Trump antics are 'tanking' with Americans Former Clinton advisor Mark Penn warns Democrats have turned Americans off with their behavior, including their refusal to applaud during President Donald Trump's address to Congress. War In Europe Waiting Game Macron to meet with army chiefs as US pauses intelligence sharing with Ukraine Military aid and intelligence sharing are both on hold following a dramatic breakdown in relations. American Conversation Cont'd US holds secret talks with Hamas on Gaza hostages, Axios reports The Trump administration has been conducting secret talks with Hamas on the possibility of releasing U.S. hostages being held in Gaza, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two unnamed sources with direct knowledge of the talks. Hip-Hop Musical Protests 'Hamilton' Cancels Kennedy Center Run Amid Trump Takeover: 'Some Institutions Should Be Protected From Politics' 'Hamilton' producer Jeffrey Seller has canceled the musical's return to the Kennedy Center amid President Trump's takeover of the historic venue. Newsflash: You're Old. It's Because You're Old!!! If you've been feeling extra joint or sinus pain in Kansas City, this might be why A few residents in the Kansas City area are dealing with a bit more pain around their joints and sinuses recently. Can they blame the weather? Wind Dies Down Midweek Wednesday evening forecast A smaller and weaker snow system will affect us on Thursday evening with some areas of light snow but it should stick right away for many areas and while not a big storm, may still impact the roads for the Friday commute. Tate McRae - Revolving door is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. No, he's not a RINO and hardcore supporters of Prez Trump aren't going to primary him. Instead . . . For every conservative it's important to understand GOP support for Ukraine that was MAINSTREAM Republican policy in 2024. Here's the report from KC's top progresive news outlet . . . Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran broke from many of his Republican colleagues during a trip to Wichita this week by reiterating his support for Ukraine and condemning Russias actions in the country. In my view, the world is a safer place and, most particularly, the United States is safer whenever we are aligned with our allies, and we're in a continued effort to push the Russians and Putin out of Ukraine, Moran said. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . The president sketched rivals as "left-wing," "weaponizing," "lunatics," "ideologues," and, in a dig at Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), "Pocahontas." In talking about transgender transition care, which he called "the sexual mutilation of our youth," Trump used for the first time "pronoun" and a few words about sports: "volleyball," "weightlifting" and "varsity." Trump mentioned "deepfake" and "OpenAI" when talking about the growth of artificial intelligence. Describing his work with billionaire Elon Musk, Trump brought up "databases," "scams" and "DOGE" and unusual adjectives linked to spending that had been targeted: "sedentary," "circumcision," "vegan" and "Sesame," in reference to a version of the children's show "Sesame Street" intended for an audience in the Middle East. Talking about crime and immigrants, Trump introduced the terms "gunmen" and "bats," as in weapons, not flying mammals. The president was the first to mention "autism" in describing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s assignment to investigate the condition. His speech was the first to bring up Greenland in that kind of address to Congress. In talking about foreign aid spending, he also cited for the first time Uganda, Moldova and Lesotho. During Trump's first term, his annual addresses added many notable phrases such as imploding, ISIS, Obamacare, vile, bleed, dethrones (2017); booby-trapped, amputations, woke, revving and crutches (2018); bloodthirsty, womb, SWAT, sadistic, meth, fentanyl, heartache (2019); and blindsided, neonatal, pilgrims, skyscrapers, warfighters and gruesome (2020). In 2020, coronavirus was also added to the list. Trump did not mention covid or vaccines on Tuesday. Trump's longest address to Congress expanded at greater length on most subjects - particularly the economy, immigration and crime. Foreign affairs was dominated by the invasion of Ukraine. The president talked more about diplomacy than usual, even with barely any mention of Israel or Gaza, and none of Hamas or NATO. This analysis of words relies on the American Presidency Project at the University of California at Santa Barbara for transcripts of the State of the Union, which was delivered as a written report in early years before it became a speech and then a televised national address. In some years, particularly the first year of a presidents term, the address is technically a budget address, but we included both forms of address here to be comprehensive. Each gender inequality that women face slowly chips away at their wellbeing, gradually undermining various aspects of their lives. They earn less, are more likely to experience unemployment, spend more time on housework and caregiving, are underrepresented in politics and leadership roles, and are at a greater risk of sexual harassment. The list of structural disadvantages is long, and its repercussions are far-reaching. These inequalities also impact womens health and well-being, which are key indicators of quality of life. According to scientific literature, there is another gender gap that is marked by curious paradoxes that have left experts puzzled. A scientific review published on Wednesday in Science Advances has precisely analyzed gender gaps in well-being whether they exist and persist despite social progress and has explored a couple of contradictions within this field. The authors investigated, for instance, how it is possible for women to report higher levels of happiness while experiencing worse mental health outcomes, or why, despite social and economic advancements for women in recent decades, their well-being levels, compared to those of men, have decreased. The researchers acknowledge significant variability between countries, noting that these apparent contradictions dont hold true everywhere. However, they confirm the existence of a gender gap in well-being, attributing it to a combination of biological factors, cultural influences, and differences in how well-being scales are applied. The bottom line: global evidence points to a decline in womens well-being, particularly in terms of emotional distress. The research focused on subjective well-being, which refers to how a person perceives and describes their quality of life. Our study analyzes and explores gender disparities in well-being. There are two disconcerting contradictions that we aimed to investigate: why they exist, whether they persist in different countries, and what really drives them, says Caspar Kaiser, a researcher at the University of Oxford and the studys author, in an email response. Regarding the first paradox the gap between womens reported happiness and their health outcomes and emotional distress the authors examined evidence on mental health and pain. They found that women systematically report worse mental health, including higher levels of depression, irritability, and anxiety. These disparities are observed globally: Across most world regions, women feel much less safe at night and are more worried, sad, and depressed. These gaps are particularly consistent in Latin America and Western Europe, the authors note in the article. They further connect this gap in mental health to physical health outcomes, particularly in terms of increased susceptibility to pain. Women are at greater risk of suffering from various chronic pain conditions compared to men, and they are also more sensitive to pain, according to the study. Scientists attribute this gender gap in mental health to social norms and traditional gender roles: Women often face societal expectations that emphasize caregiving, emotional expressiveness, and compliance, leading to increased psychological distress, the study notes. They also experience more stress from trying to balance domestic and work responsibilities. Another explanation is that cultural norms encourage boys to be competitive and emotionally restrained, while girls are taught to be empathetic and nurturing. Moreover, girls are more likely to internalize stressors, leading to higher instances of rumination, a known predictor of depression. These social norms could contribute to higher rates of depression and related negative emotional states in women, the study adds. The authors also acknowledge the possibility that biological factors may contribute to this gender gap in mental health. For example, they suggest that women may experience higher rates of negative affect emotional distress and aversive moods such as guilt, nervousness, fear, and disgust due to greater fluctuations in reproductive hormones across their life span. Hormones and expectations However, this gap in mental and physical health between men and women contrasts with reports of life satisfaction. The authors state that, according to scientific literature, women consistently report higher levels of life satisfaction and happiness than men. This pattern is common across many regions of the world, although they acknowledge it is not always consistent across studies. In fact, a recent study suggests that in Europe and the U.S., women are no longer more satisfied or happy, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic. The researchers attribute this first paradox to a mix of biological, cultural, and methodological factors. They note that hormonal fluctuations can influence the perception of well-being, but also that differing expectations for men and women shaped by social norms, cultural values, and personal experiences can affect how individuals report their well-being. For example, they point out that some studies show that, despite having lower salaries and fewer promotions, women often report greater job satisfaction, likely because they have lower initial expectations. Another explanation they propose is that differences between men and women in interpreting and responding to surveys on well-being could lead to gender variation in answers. In their review, the scientists examined whether the evidence supports this paradox and found a diverse pattern across countries. This apparent contradiction is not always true. Their research concludes that, while a negative gap in emotional distress (disadvantaging women) is observed in all regions of the world, the positive gap in life evaluation (favoring women) has only been identified in the Middle East and North Africa, the Americas, and Asia. High life satisfaction is not seen in Europe, the former Soviet Union, or sub-Saharan Africa. The gender well-being paradox is real but not universal. In the raw data, it is observed in 36% of countries, covering 32% of the population, the article concludes. According to Kaiser, this diversity suggests, that gender differences in well-being cannot be explained by a single universal theory: well-being is determined by culture, (informal) social norms, and (formal) policies. Decline in womens well-being Regarding the other contradiction revealed by scientific literature the decline in womens well-being despite improvements in equality over recent decades the authors again observe varying patterns between countries but ultimately conclude that womens well-being has indeed declined, particularly in terms of pain and emotional distress. This means that even in countries where women have made significant economic progress, they still report feeling more overwhelmed and emotionally tense, says Kaiser. To explain this phenomenon, the scientists hypothesize that women are likely not benefiting equally from economic and social progress. In fact, they suggest that improvements in areas like health or education tend to benefit mens well-being more than womens. In European countries, greater gender equality in economic and political, education, and health dimensions does not necessarily lead to higher well-being for women compared to men, they point out. Another possible explanation is what they refer to as the double burden the fact that changes in womens social roles have increased their workload, as they are now expected to balance domestic responsibilities with their participation in the labor market. In Europe, for instance, data indicate that, in countries with greater gender equality and progressive norms, women report more frequent work-family conflicts, leading to reduced overall positive affect, the authors explain. Another explanation scientists are considering is a shift in womens expectations. As opportunities increase, women set higher goals, and when reality fails to satisfy them, they experience more stress and frustration, explains Kaiser. The Oxford scientist argues that the main conclusion of his research is that economic gender equality (for example, in education and work) alone does not guarantee greater well-being for women. Policymakers need to go beyond economic measures and focus on mental health and emotional well-being. At the same time, they should recognize that disparities in well-being vary across cultures, meaning that one-size-fits-all solutions are unlikely to be effective, he reflects. Kaiser also admits that many questions remain about the gender gap in well-being: Further research is needed to explore how men and women interpret well-being differently, whether self-reporting biases influence results, how informal gender norms shape well-being gaps across cultures, and whether women assess their well-being using different benchmarks than men in different countries. Judit Vall, a professor of Economics at the University of Barcelona, says she is not surprised by the results showing a decline in some dimensions of female well-being despite advances in equality. There are many factors that explain this evolution, but one key factor is that weve identified gender biases in the labor market when women have children. Women are penalized more because they experience a loss in salary, and additionally, the risk of taking antidepressants increases after the first child. This does not happen with men, explains Vall, who was not involved in this study. We enter the labor market with aspirations, but we are still in charge of the children, and that generates more pressure. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Our progressive newsies are playing advocate once again . . . Something that most newsies always miss in this conversation, in 2025 MOST Latinos aren't "newcomers" at all. Meanwhile . . . Check this local outlet attempting to play "Moses of the barrio" . . In Missouri, Hispanic workers make up 5.3% of the labor force, according to 2021 data from the Census Bureau. When the workforce does not feel safe or integrated, economies suffer, Corinne Valdivia said. Valdivia is a University of Missouri researcher who studied Latino immigrants in the rural Midwest in 2015. Part of the study focused on the sustainable livelihoods framework, a concept that relates a communitys well-being to its work productivity. The study showed how Latinos, as newcomers to rural communities, faced the challenge of being accepted, especially as they encountered microaggressions and discrimination. This did not stop them from holding jobs, but it did exclude them from comfortably adapting to the larger economic system. Basically, the community climate that is negative towards newcomers or immigrants has a negative effect on their participation in the economy, Valdivia said in an email. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Missouri's local economies are paying the price of immigration enforcement fears Immigration enforcement rumors circulating on social media are terrifying people - and that's hurting businesses. In Missouri, Hispanic workers make up 5.3% of the labor force. Related coverage from Kansas . . . Despite profiling concerns, more law agencies are joining street-level immigration enforcement Mar. 5-As the Trump administration seeks more partners to help round up immigrants living in the United States illegally, some states and cities are eager to step up, despite risks of racial profiling. Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and even Arizona's Democratic governor are pursuing statewide plans to help find immigrants for possible deportation. Developing . . . The official line from 12th & Oak is that Kansas City is NOT a sanctuary city and Missouri law forbids as much. Lately, after the embarrassing defeat of the former Veep . . . Mayor Q has taken on a far less adversarial tone toward his Republican colleagues and even stresses his compliance with law on the topic of immigration. HOWEVER . . . For anybody who is watching closely . . . Policies like the KCMO "Fountain Card" and/or Mayor Q emphasizing this town's "welcoming" attitude might raise legit questions about where KCMO REALLY stands on enforcing immigration laws. Let's not forget that last year the Mayor was forced to walk back his "open invite" to migrants that sparked outrage across Missouri and the nation. To date there really haven't been any major local crackdowns other than a few rumors about suburban roundups and KCPD policy since the 90s has discouraged crackdowns and often sought cooperation with immigrant communities. To be fair, despite some legit GOP complaints . . . In KC, the numbers show us that there's not a lot of violent crime coming from migrant communities and locals often credit that with an open policy of communication with law enforcement. NEVERTHELESS . . . Now, under the new administration, there's a renewed effort to hold Mayors accountable for lax immigration policy . . . And given recent GOP hearings in D.C., it's fair to ask if Mayor Q might soon confront this same kind of tough questioning. Check-it . . . Republican members of Congress hammered four Democratic mayors Wednesday about their so-called sanctuary city policies, accusing them of endangering Americans and threatening to prosecute local officials. The mayors pushed back, defending their communities as welcoming places not lawless danger zones and called on Congress to pass immigration reforms. Republicans repeatedly highlighted a handful of brutal crimes committed by immigrants who crossed illegally into the U.S., with Rep. James Comer opening the hearings by saying the policies only create sanctuary for criminals. But the Democratic mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver and Eric Adams of New York defended their policies as legal, even as they seemed to carefully avoid using the term sanctuary. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York will testify before Congress on 'sanctuary cities' Mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York are set to testify in Congress as Republicans take aim at "sanctuary cities" policies. Mayors from 'sanctuary cities' testify before Congress The Mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City are testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee during a blockbuster hearing on sanctuary cities US mayors defend 'sanctuary city' laws protecting migrants in congressional hearing Mayors of four of the largest cities in the U.S. appeared before lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday to defend their so-called "sanctuary city" laws, which restrict local officials in helping enforce federal immigration regulations. Takeaways from the congressional hearing grilling 'sanctuary city' mayors on immigration | CNN Politics The mayors of four so-called "sanctuary cities" faced tough questions from lawmakers about their policies toward immigrants and how they work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday. Developing . . . Lungchu is known for its beautiful landscape and rich cultural heritage. It offers a peaceful retreat and unforgettable journey to the hidden-gem of West Bengal. (TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - March 6th, 2025 - KALIMPONG, WEST BENGAL - Jovial Journeys through its official website welcomes travelers to Lungchu. Lungchu is a village in the Eastern Himalayas, with authentic retreat at affordable rates. Lungchu Skyline Retreat, one of the best homestays in the area, is surrounded by lush pine forests and a variety of interesting wildlife, and has become one the premier destinations for travellers. In addition, its traditional Rai village provides a restful escape and a chance to connect with nature and local culture. In Lungchu, various homestays are available for tourists. One of them is Lungchu Skyline Retreat, which is designed for tourists looking for simplicity and a budget-friendly stay. With rates starting at just @ 1400 per person per night for groups of four, the package includes comfortable, no-frills accommodation, three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and snacks. The homestay in Lungchu offers a wide-range of activities for an enriching stay with professional hospitality. Guests can explore the traditions of Rai villages through guided walks, embark on scenic hiking trails, or unwind by the bonfire under starry Himalayan skies. Nearby attractions include Changey Falls, Lava Monastery, Rishop village, Delo Park, and the magnificent Aritar/Mulkharka Lake in neighboring Sikkim. According to Jovial Journeys spokesperson, autumn to summer is the best time to visit Lungchu. It is the best time to get clear skies and a fascinating panorama of Kanchenjunga. Travelers can take trains or airplanes from NJP Railway Station and Bagdogra Airport. In addition, on the way to the Lungchu Skyline Retreat, travelers can enjoy a scenic drive along Gajol Dobar Road NH717. They will also cross the iconic Coronation Bridge, spanning across the Teesta River, connecting the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Lungchu Skyline Retreat is more than a homestayits an invitation to experience the peace and beauty of the Himalayas, said a spokesperson for Jovial Journeys. We aim to provide inexpensive accommodations that offer meaningful cultural immersion, creating lasting memories for all who visit. Lungchu Skyline Retreat is ideal for solo travelers, families, and groups seeking an offbeat and Cheap Homestay in Lungchu, alternative to mainstream destinations. Lungchu Skyline Retreat combines affordability with authenticity. They are committed to provide a budget-friendly staycation for anyone and making it a gateway to the natural beauty and rich traditions of Lungchu. About Jovial Journeys Jovial Journeys specializes in creating offbeat and affordable travel experiences across India. Its tour packages are dedicated to connecting travelers with lesser-explored destinations, promoting sustainable tourism, and offering opportunities for cultural immersion in unique locales. For more information about booking details for travel packages in Lungchu, please visit the Jovial Journeys website at https://jovialjourneys.co.in/homestay-in-lungchu/. Contact Information Jovial Journeys Lungchu Skyline Retreat Phone: +91 8100 483 840 https://jovialjourneys.co.in/ ### The Texas border is militarized, not by Donald Trump, but by Governor Greg Abbott. Since 2021, the state has spent more than $11 billion in public funds to finance Operation Lone Star, its hardline immigration program that serves in some ways as a model for Donald Trumps immigration agenda. Over the past four years, Abbott has moved some 10,000 state military police from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the National Guard to the border, in addition to the federal forces that have been stationed there; forcibly sent more than 100,000 migrants to sanctuary cities governed by Democrats; installed 70,000 rolls of razor wire and saw-blade buoys in the Rio Grande; erected some 100 miles of border wall; and begun construction of a military base in Eagle Pass for nearly 2,000 National Guard troops. For the programs opponents, activists, and migrant advocates, Lone Star has been a waste of time and money that has diverted needed funds from other areas and benefited certain related contractors, according to an independent analysis. It also offers a glimpse of what could happen on an even larger scale if Trumps deportation plans are implemented. Priscila Olivarez, a senior policy strategist and attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), the organization behind the recently released report, believes the program has been a failure by several different metrics. I think if you talk to community members in Texas, it is another example of the waste that has been created by our officials. Its been a failure to meet our real needs. When we talk about immigration and migration, we can have a humane response to people who are coming to our border. Operation Lone Star has failed to do that. Its failed to meet the needs of our community members. And so if you look at the cost, if you look at the human toll, if you look at how its increased harmful anti-immigrant rhetoric in the state, its a failure at every analysis, she says by phone from San Antonio, although she admits that it depends on how you define success and failure. If the goal, as some other critics say, was to create a sense of crisis because even though migration flows were high when Lone Star began, Texas in particular was not affected much because migrants do not tend to remain in the state and to make migration the main concern of voters, both inside and outside Texas, Lone Star has been a resounding success. But beyond the debate over whether it has fulfilled its duties, the bill has been exorbitant, straining budgets and services in other areas of state government. ILRCs estimate for Lone Stars cost is based on several reports citing a weekly outlay of $2.5 million per week in operating expenses alone and an overall budget of $4.8 billion for two years beginning in January 2023. Add in a proposed $6.5 billion for Lone Star through 2027, and the total price tag for the operation would reach nearly $18 billion. For reference, this is roughly what the United States spent on military support for Israel in the first year of the Gaza war. As spending spirals out of control, community leaders in Texas, especially in the militarized border region, are speaking out to say that these funds could and should be used to benefit and strengthen public services and infrastructure. I think it is very concerning because if you travel to Eagle Pass [where Lone Stars base of operations is located], you see how militarized it is. And when you speak with community members, this isnt something that they asked for. They didnt ask for this militarization. They didnt ask for this military base, Olivarez said. With an average of 14% of the population below the poverty line and many counties, especially on the border, experiencing poverty levels above 20%, Texas social programs have been directly impacted by Lone Star. For example, Abbott has diverted $975 million in federal coronavirus aid and $426.9 million from the states prison system, while choosing not to invest in the states electrical system which has led to numerous massive blackouts that are expected to be worsened by more extreme weather as well as cutting spending at the department dedicated to protecting children and families, which has led to a federal investigation accusing the state of abuse and neglect at shelters for children with disabilities. Prioritizing Operation Lone Star at the expense of virtually all other state functions is having detrimental effects across the state, including local law enforcement agencies, the ILRC report says. One resident of Kinney County, an area at the heart of the operations, notes that his local police are focused on immigration enforcement rather than issues like domestic abuse that affect his community. At the federal level, the impact of cuts to fund the immigration agenda can be devastating. Militarization has also been questioned at the military level. Daniel Hokanson, the former head of the U.S. National Guard Bureau, testified before the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee that there is no military training value for what we do [on the border]. Members of the National Guard also report late payments, unsanitary conditions in camps, lack of adequate equipment, and the deaths of at least 10 soldiers deployed under Lone Star, at least four of whom are suspected of having taken their own lives. The conclusion critics are drawing is that the real motivation is not to effectively address the problem of absorbing millions of migrants, but to create and maintain the illusion of a crisis for political gain. I think there is a lot of inconsistency when you look at the messages from the federal and state governments, said Olivarez. Greg Abbott has asked for federal reimbursement, but not for the program to be stopped. Previously, the narrative was that the Biden administration was not doing its job, but now the Trump administration has said it is implementing all these immigration executive orders and policies. If that is the case, why has Operation Lone Star not disappeared? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Welcome Guest! You are here: Home BSEB Bihar 10th 2025 Answer Key Released, Result Soon The Bihar Board of Secondary Education (BSEB) has released the Answer Key (Answer Sheet) of 10th Board Exam 2025 and is likely to declare the result of Class 10 Board Exam 2025 soon Thursday March 6, 2025 2:29 PM , Hena Farhat Bihar Board 2025 Class 10 Result: The Bihar Board of Secondary Education (BSEB) has released the Answer Key (Answer Sheet) of 10th Board Exam 2025 and is likely to declare the result of Class 10th Board 2025 exam soon. 10th Answer Key Challenge Last Date Candidates who had appeared for the BSEB Class Xth 2025 Exams should note that they can check the Answer Key uploaded on the BSEB official website biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in in PDF. If they find any discrepancy or error or want to raise objection they can do so till March 10, 2025. The students can use the link objection.biharboardonline.com and marked as Register objection regarding Answer Key Class 10 Exam 2025 to challenge the Class 10th Answer Key released by the board. The Bihar Board is the only state board which officially releases the answer key of the board exam papers. The board publishes the Answer Key of the objective questions of the 10th Exams of various subjects, including Science. The Bihar board is also the only state board in India which conducts Class 10th and 12th board exams ahead of other states boards. BSEB 10th Exam 2025 Result Date The Bihar board has a history of declaring Classes 10 and 12 results in record time. Last year (2024), BSEB 10th Matric exam was held from Feb 15 to 23, 2024 and the result was announced on March 31, 2024 . The Matric or Class 10 Secondary Exam 2025 was conducted by the Bihar board from February 17 to 25, 2025. And, since the last date of raising objection is March 10, 2025, the board can declare the 10th Inter 2025 result any time after March 10. Multiple media reports citing unnamed board sources are claiming that the BSEB 10th Result 2025 can be declared any time from March 31, 2025 as the last year. The Class 10 students from the state should note that the Bihar board in itself has not officially confirmed any exact date and time to release the Bihar board 2025 exam result. The students who had appeared for the BSEB Class 12 Exam 2025 should note that there result will be declared a week or so before Class 10 results are announced. Class 12 students in Bihar should also note that, the board has already released the Answer Key of Inter exam 2025, and the last date to challenge and raise objection was March 05, 2025 . Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Madras HC orders lifting of ban on Vikatan over Modi cartoon In a major setback to the BJP, the Madras High Court Thursday March 06, 2025 asked the Union Government in New Delhi to lift the ban on Tamil Magazine Vikatan imposed following the publication of a cartoon featuring PM Modi Thursday March 6, 2025 6:00 PM , Hena Farhat Chennai: In a major setback to the BJP, the Madras High Court Thursday March 06, 2025 asked the Union Government in New Delhi to lift the ban on Tamil Magazine Vikatan imposed following the publication of a cartoon featuring PM Modi. The cartoon was envisaged to showcase Prime Minister Modi sitting in a chained position as representative of India's silence to the inhumane treatment meted out to illegal Indian migrants deported from the United States. On February 15, Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai filed a complaint with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) and the Press Council of India saying that the cartoon was objectionable. The central government immediately swung into action and blocked the Vikatans website. The next day, February 16, some men from the Press Bureau of India visited Vikatans office to verify whether the cartoon was also available in the print format. They were informed that it was only for the digital publication. The PIB men did not explain why Vikatans website was blocked. Vikatan asked to remove cartoon The Madras High Court however asked the centre to lift the ban. Ordering lifting of the ban, Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy, who presided over the bench, observed that nothing in the cartoon impinged on the sovereignty of the country. To this, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan on behalf of the Centre argued that such cartoons could invariably affect Indias relations with the United States. He further said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcast would unblock Vikatan website if the cartoon was removed. The Madras High Court in turn directed the Tamil news website to withdraw the page containing the cartoon temporarily. Following the Madras High Courts order, Vikatan released a statement saying that the cartoon had been removed. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Now, AMU dragged into controversy over Holi The premium Indian university, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has again been dragged into a controversy this time in the name of Hindu Festival of Colors, Holi Thursday March 6, 2025 11:43 PM , ummid.com News Network Aligarh Muslim University: The premium Indian university, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has again been dragged into a controversy this time in the name of Hindu Festival of Colors, Holi. Hindus will celebrate Holika Dahan on March 13 whereas Holi the playful events with colors, will be celebrated on March 14, 2025. "Holi Milan Samaroh" To celebrate the festival, some Hindu students wrote a letter to AMU VC Professor Naima Khatoon seeking her consent to organise a Holi Milan Samarohat the NRSC Club of the university on March 9. The VC has not yet responded to the letter. However, the Proctor of the university, Wasim Ali, while talking to media confirmed receiving the letter but said the administration is not in favour of organizing any such event. He said Holi has been celebrated every year on AMU Campus but never has been any special event organized on the occasion. Students have been celebrating Holi on the campus and in their hostels and they can do so this year too. But, there is no precedent of organizing any special event in AMU to celebrate Holi, he said. "Discrimination" Following the AMU administrations refusal to give its nod, the Hindu students who sought the permission from the VC, are accusing the administration of discrimination. Events of other religions have regularly been organized on campus. Hindu students have no objection to them. Then why are Hindu students being stopped from organising Holi Milan Samaroh? the students said. The students also said they will take the matter with Prime Minister Modi if the AMU administration does not reverse its stand. Meanwhile, some right wing extremist organizations took out a march to protest against the AMU administration. They also threatened to storm the university campus on March 10, 2025 if the university does not allow the Holi Milan Samaroh as demanded by the students. AMU has been a target of right wing organizations since 2014. Back in 2018, some Hindu organised had created a ruckus demanding the removal of Mohammad Ali Jinnahs portrait . Controversies have also been created over the minority status of the university . Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and his friends as the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO) in 1875 which was later converted into a university in 1920. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Why Taif Gates are tourist attractions during Ramadan Taif today is one of the key tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia for the visitors to the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah Thursday March 6, 2025 8:20 PM , Aniqua Sabahat Faizee Taif (Saudi Arabia): As millions from around the world travel to Makkah to perform Umrah during the Holy Month of Ramadan most of them also make it part of their itinerary to visit Taif. Taif, the City where the Prophet (peace be upon him) was almost lynched to death in 619D is today producing roses extracts of which are now used to wash Holy Kaaba. The same Taif is also one of the key tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia for the visitors to the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. Besides its huge rose production, Taif one of the Miqat entries to the Holy City of Makkah, is also known for its heritage buildings, culture and literature. Historic Gates of Taif The historic district of Taif and its buildings have flourished over the years through its ancient gates, such as Bab Ibn Abbas, Bab Al-Hazm, and Bab Al-Rai, which have served as sources of cultural, literary, Quranic, Islamic, and Arabic language knowledge. The gates of the historic district have stood out in the past and present, showcasing vibrant social and cultural life and a continuous cultural, literary, and commercial legacy. These gates are part of the old wall that once surrounded Taif from all directions, overlooking the city's old neighborhoods, including Al-Aqiq and Al-Sulaimaniyah. Journey of Culture, Literature The gates bear several names known among locals. Bab Al-Hazm, in the old Taif dialect, refers to a small or ancient mountain. Bab Al-Rai, located on the western side, serves as an entrance to elevated areas, offering views of key historical landmarks. Bab Ibn Abbas, one of the most famous and significant gates on the southern side, is named after the prominent companion Abdullah bin Abbas. Taif's gates are linked to culture and several Arab poets, including Jarir, Al-Ahwas, and Urwah bin Udhaynah, whose poems mention the city and its gates, celebrating its beauty, unique geographic location, and symbolism in protection and belonging, historian Issa bin Alawi told Saudi Press Agency (SPA). This connection has made the gates part of the cultural heritage of Hijaz, he added. He noted that the gates are adjacent to historic palaces, serving as passages that transport individuals and families into the realm of poetry, culture, and literature in the region's historical heritage. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. The chaos surrounding Donald Trumps tariff policy continues. Two days after announcing a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, the U.S. president posted on Truth Social that: After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, he has agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that that falls under the USMCA Agreement, and that the new extension would last until April 2. The USMCA is the sweeping free trade agreement between Mexico, the United States, and Canada, signed by Trump in 2020. At first, it was unclear whether the announcement included Canada, which is also a signatory to the pact. The mystery was resolved a few hours later, in the afternoon. During a meeting with the press in the Oval Office, as Trump went through his daily ritual of signing executive orders, he confirmed that Canada would also benefit, on the same terms as Mexico, from this one-month respite. This latest delay, which effectively impacts nearly all trade between Mexico and the United States, was decided, Trump wrote, as an accommodation and out of respect for President Sheinbaum. He added: Our relationship has been very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the border, both in terms of stopping illegal aliens from entering the United States and likewise stopping fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum, for your hard work and cooperation! Sheinbaum celebrated the news on the social media platform X. We had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignties, she posted. The Mexican president thanked Trump and highlighted the progress achieved during the last tariff extension in the face of the migration crisis and fentanyl trafficking. Sheinbaum explained that the pause was agreed until the first week of April because the United States plans to impose reciprocal tariffs for all countries after that date, and expressed her hope that the joint work in the bilateral relationship will continue. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during a press conference after holding a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico March 6, 2025. Henry Romero (REUTERS) Practically all the trade we have with the United States is within the treaty, confirmed Sheinbaum in a press conference following the conversation. Clearly relieved, the president proudly mentioned a 41.5% reduction in fentanyl trafficking from January to February. We may not agree on some issues, but we have always treated President Trump with respect, and he has always treated us with respect, she said. The Mexican president acknowledged that initially, the Republicans intention was to persist with his tariffs, but they were able to reach an agreement after their conversation, with the promise of maintaining cooperation between the two countries. This was their third call since Trump took office on January 20. It wont be the last, there are many issues we will have to continue discussing, especially regarding the treatment of Mexicans on the other side of the border, she added. Sheinbaum upheld the call for a massive event in the Zocalo, the countrys main square, next Sunday. What was originally intended to announce retaliation against the United States has now been transformed into a celebration of the agreement reached. A confusing announcement In the morning, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a television interview that the levies on all goods covered by the USMCA would likely be postponed for a month. This latest about-face marks a significant shift in the new U.S. administrations aggressive trade strategy. However, Trumps message did not mention if Canada would also be affected by this new tariff exemption. The shift in policy came as Sheinbaum awaited a call with Trump, aiming for a potential truce in the trade war ignited by Washington earlier this week in the North American region. Mexico and Canada, two long-standing allies and major trading partners of the United States, were disrupted by Trumps tariff announcement on Tuesday a decision that was poorly received by the markets. On Wednesday, Trump once again reversed course, granting a one-month moratorium on automotive tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico. This move came after companies raised concerns about the damage the administrations erratic decisions could inflict on the automotive sector and the broader North American industry. Its likely that it [Trumps new announcement] will cover all USMCA compliant goods and services, so that which is part of President Trumps deal with Canada and Mexico are likely to get an exemption from these tariffs, Lutnick told CNBC. The reprieve is for one month. According to Lutnick, U.S. trade in goods and services under the USMCA totaled about $1.8 trillion in 2022. Both Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had secured a one-month moratorium on the tariffs with promises to control irregular immigration and fentanyl trafficking. In the end, these efforts were not enough. In response to Tuesdays announcement, and the inability to appease Trumps tariff fury, the Mexican president threatened tariff and non-tariff measures against the United States. Nobody wins with this decision, Sheinbaum said at her press conference. There is no reason to justify these actions, she added. To emphasize her resolve, Sheinbaum called for a mobilization in Mexico Citys Zocalo square on Sunday, a venue historically used for important national events, to show she had the support of the people. This call was implicitly contingent on the possible outcomes of the Thursday call with Trump. Trumps announcement marked the end of four weeks of intense diplomatic efforts by Mexican officials in Washington, aiming to extend the one-month delay the U.S. president had granted Sheinbaum on February 3. On that day, Sheinbaum had held a tense 45-minute conversation with Trump, mediated through an interpreter, where she relied on her English skills honed during her time at the University of California, Berkeley. According to diplomatic sources, Sheinbaum considered the conversation a success in her strategy to appease Trump. Trump, for his part, called Sheinbaum a woman I like very much. Mexico had committed to reinforcing the border with an additional 10,000 soldiers, and during these weeks, Mexican authorities had arrested hundreds of individuals linked to drug trafficking, confiscating significant quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl. However, no gesture was as significant as the handover of 29 prisoners to the United States, all involved in drug-related crimes. Among them was Rafael Caro Quintero, the founder of the Guadalajara Cartel, wanted in the U.S. for the 1985 kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena. The tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China are just the beginning of a broader trade war that the United States hopes will reduce its trade deficit (the difference between what it imports and exports). In 2024, the U.S. imported $3.29 trillion worth of goods and exported $2.08 trillion, resulting in a record trade deficit of $1.212 trillion. Of the total merchandise imports, 41% about $1.35 trillion came from Mexico, Canada, and China, and these three countries represented nearly half of the trade imbalance for the worlds largest economy. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a new Gold Card visa program, which will allow wealthy foreigners to obtain U.S. residency and a path to citizenship for a $5 million fee. The plan is expected to replace the current EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, which has been in place since 1990. Although details on its implementation remain limited, the proposal has drawn comparisons to similar gold visa programs in Europe and other parts of the world. What is the Trump Gold Card? The Gold Card, as Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have described it, will grant residency and possible citizenship rights to people who pay $5 million. The program is being marketed as a way to attract wealthy, world-class citizens who will contribute to the U.S. economy through investment, job creation and tax payments. Although the full eligibility criteria and application process have not yet been disclosed, Trump has stated that the program will be available to both individuals and businesses looking to invest in the U.S. economy. The administration plans to launch the program within two weeks, and Trump has stated that millions of cards could be sold. How is it different from the EB-5 visa? The U.S. EB-5 visa program was designed to encourage foreign investment in economically distressed areas. As part of EB-5, applicants must invest at least $1.05 million (or $800,000 in targeted employment areas) and create at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. In return, successful applicants and their families receive the Green Card, which allows them to live and work in the United States. The Gold Card, in contrast, would eliminate the job creation requirement and allow wealthy individuals to directly acquire residency and, ultimately, citizenship. While supporters argue that this could bring significant economic benefits to the United States, critics warn that it could open the door to security and corruption risks, similar to the problems that have plagued golden visa programs in Europe. Other golden visas The United States is not the first country to introduce an investment-based visa initiative. Several European countries have launched similar programs over the past decade, with varying degrees of success and controversy. Gold visa programs, commonly associated with residency by investment, grant residency rights in exchange for a certain economic contribution to the host country. It is distinct from citizenship by investment, which offers full citizenship rights under similar principles. These programs offer high net worth individuals the option to physically relocate to a favorable jurisdiction, offering them full legal rights, including the ability to live, work, study and receive healthcare in that country. Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta and Ireland have offered golden visas in exchange for financial investments, usually in real estate or companies. These programs attracted billions of euros in foreign capital, but also led to unintended consequences, such as rising house prices and concerns about money laundering. Because of these problems, some European countries have begun to backtrack on their programs. Spain will end its Golden Visa initiative in April 2025, arguing that affordability problems were created for local residents. Ireland and the U.K. have already shut down their versions due to security risks and accusations of financial mismanagement. According to Trumps vision, the Gold Card, could generate revenue for the U.S. government and attract investors, however, it is unclear how the funds will be allocated. Unlike EB-5, it has fewer restrictions on the origin and use of the money, raising concerns about potential abuses, such as money laundering. Trump maintains that he will not need congressional approval, but immigration policies often face legal and political scrutiny. In addition, the transition from EB-5 to the Gold Card could cause uncertainty for current applicants. The Trump administration has stated that the program will launch in a matter of weeks, but many details are still unknown. While the proposal has attracted interest from high net worth individuals around the world, its long-term viability remains to be seen. The balance between economic benefits and national security concerns will play a crucial role in shaping the future of U.S. investor immigration policies. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition March 6 2025 Glasgow-based real estate firm the Malyon Group has opened a boutique aparthotel at the George IV bridge in the heart of Edinburgh. Operating under its Moment brand the development has seen a B-listed former language school converted to seven short-stay apartments, several with views of the castle. The conversion by Taylor Architecture Practice has seen 1970s partitions removed, a period when many original features were damaged or lost, to revert the upper floors to their original configuration utilising existing stairs and corridors. In a statement, Laurence Malyon wrote: Our goal isnt just to provide a place to stayits to create an experience that feels deeply personal and unexpectedly exceptional. Contemporary furniture and fittings have been specified to differentiate from the original fabric. Transcript: The Inside Story Episode 186 March 6, 2025 Show Open: Unidentified Narrator: This week on The Inside Story U.S. President Donald Trump addresses Congress and the nation and lays out his ambitious plans for a second term... Well lay out the main points, get reaction to his speech, and learn what it could mean at home and abroad All that... now.... on The Inside Story. The Inside Story: CARLA BABB, VOA Correspondent: Hello and welcome to The Inside Story, Im Carla Babb. We begin tonight with President Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress. It was a chance for Donald Trump to clearly spell out his administrations priorities in a second term. The event itself was pure Washington, full of circumstance, pomp... And politics. Patsy Widakuswara has more on this annual piece of American history. Unidentified on camera announcer: The president of the United States. PATSY WIDAKUSWARA, VOA White House Bureau Chief: President Donald Trumps Tuesday evening speech marks his first address to a joint session of Congress since he began his second term on January 20. President Donald Trump: Americas momentum is back. Our spirit is back. Our pride is back. Our confidence is back. And the American Dream is surgingbigger and better than ever before. PATSY WIDAKUSWARA: But barely five minutes in, Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas begin shouting that Trump had quote, no mandate to cut Medicaid, the government aid program for medical coverage for low-income people. Unidentified: Mr. Green, take your seat! PATSY WIDAKUSWARA: Green was escorted out. Trump highlighted the steep tariffs he enacted Tuesday on China, and U.S. neighbors Mexico and Canada. These top three U.S. trading partners have threatened retaliation, sending financial markets tumbling amid fears of a new trade war. President Donald Trump: There'll be a little disturbance, but we're OK with that. It won't be much. PATSY WIDAKUSWARA: Earlier this week, Trump paused military aid to Ukraine, following last week's combative Oval Office meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over a deal that would give the U.S. rights to Ukrainian rare earth minerals. Its part of his efforts to press Kyiv to take a deal to end the fight against Russia's invasion of the country. President Donald Trump: Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace. PATSY WIDAKUSWARA: In delivering the Democrats response, Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan highlighted Trumps fiery exchange with Zelenskyy. Elissa Slotkin, Democratic Senator: That scene in the Oval Office wasn't just a bad episode of reality TV. It summed up Trump's whole approach to the world. He believes in cozying up to dictators like Vladimir Putin and kicking our friends like the Canadians in the teeth. He sees American leadership as merely a series of real estate transactions. PATSY WIDAKUSWARA: Other Democrats signaled their protest while Trump spoke, wearing pink to call attention to Trumps policies they say negatively impact women and families and holding signs including Musk steals, referring to efforts by tech billionaire Elon Musk to slash the federal bureaucracy by canceling government contracts and firing tens of thousands of federal employees. President Donald Trump: Any federal bureaucrat who resists this change will be removed from office immediately, because we are draining the swamp. PATSY WIDAKUSWARA: Again, the Democrats response from Slotkin. Elissa Slotkin, Democratic Senator: You want to cut waste, I'll help you do it. But change doesn't need to be chaotic or make us less safe. The mindless firing of people who work to protect our nuclear weapons, keep our planes from crashing and conduct the research that finds the cure for cancer, only to rehire them two days later, no CEO in America could do that without being summarily fired. PATSY WIDAKUSWARA: Trump credited himself for the drop in the number of migrants illegally crossing the U.S. southern border. President Donald Trump: The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation to secure the borderbut it turned out that all we really needed was a new president. PATSY WIDAKUSWARA: Sitting with first lady Melania Trump were guests whose life experiences amplify her husbands agenda, including an activist against transgender athletes in womens sports, and the family of a woman killed by an undocumented immigrant. Trump repeated his calls to take back the Panama Canal and take over Greenland but not his demands to expel Palestinians from Gaza. He spoke for an hour and forty minutes, the longest presidential speech to Congress. Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News. CARLA BABB: For reaction on the presidents speech, we go back to Capitol Hill to hear from lawmakers... Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana: I think the biggest takeaway from the night was peace in Ukraine, peace in Russia, peace in the region, is now seemingly achievable, because both sides seem to move towards negotiation. So, you know, the rest of the speech he, you know, obviously covered a lot of ground, a lot to digest, but I think that the key point about it is peace with Ukraine and Russia, which the whole world wants its a little closer. Rep. Monica de la Cruz, R- Texas: It was an exciting moment, not only for us here in the house, but for all of America. President Trump laid out his plan for the next four years. He's going to keep securing the border. He's going to make America prosperous again, secure again, and give us back the American Dream. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, Senate Minority Leader: The one thing Donald Trump did not mention last night was a real, serious plan to bring down costs, the number one thing Americans wanted to hear most. Instead, Donald Trump doubled down on his plans to send costs skyrocketing by starting a trade war with Canada and Mexico. Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader: Republicans aren't trying to bring the country together. They are tearing us apart. Republicans aren't trying to move America forward. They want to turn back the clock. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R CA: Man, the gloves are off, but it really is all about being the gloves off for America, because the optimism he brings and the policy lays out, they just make sense. Rep. Adam Gray, D CA: I think we need to support Ukraine; they are a critical ally. We made commitments to Ukraine that we need to keep, and I believe in honoring America's word." Rep. Mike Collins, R GA: He gave a great speech in there tonight. It was a man that showed confidence he knew exactly what his mission was going to be, and he knows how to communicate with the American people. CARLA BABB: For analysis of the presidents speech, we're now joined by Bradley Bowman, the Senior Director of the Center of military and political power at the foundation for defense of democracies. Bradley, thank you so much for joining us. Let's dive right into the surprise of the night. We found out that there was a top terrorist, the one, the ISIS terrorist, who was responsible for the atrocity in 2021 during America's withdrawal from Afghanistan, that massive bombing at the Kabul airport, at the excuse me at the Kabul airport that killed 13 American service members, countless other Afghans. President Trump announced that he has been apprehended. Can you tell us more about how this happened? Bradley Bowman, Foundation For Defense Of Democracies: Yeah, absolutely. The individual in question is Mohammed Sharafulla, known as Jafar, and he was evidently in Afghan government custody until, according to the FBI affidavit, until about a few weeks before the horrible attack at A gate was released, and as many of these in these terrorists do, once released, they go back. Big surprise to terrorism and was asked, was approached by ISIS K ISIS Corazon, the Afghanistan affiliate of ISIS, to go ahead and basically serve as a scout for ISIS and conduct surveillance or reconnaissance of the route by which the suicide bomber would later traverse and see if, if they thought that the bomber could get to the gate and then, and then, and then murder the people there. He relayed that information, and then the attack occurred. And then, as you said, we had 13 US service members murdered. And approximately 160 civilians killed, and so he was in Pakistani detention, evidently, and US government reached out to them, and he is now in the United States and is facing charges. And I think for me, the main takeaway here is a positive one. I think it sends the message that if you harm us, service members the US government, regardless of administration, will do what's necessary to find you and bring you to justice. And I think that's a positive message. CARLA BABB: Yeah, even several years later, amazing news, President Trump also announced a new office of ship building in the White House, which he said would help build national security this is a problem that VOA is exploring in some reports that are coming out in recent days and soon to come. You and I have discussed this a lot vis a vis China. China has a big advantage on the US right now. Talk a little bit about this change and why you think it's going up to the White House. Bradley Bowman, Foundation for Defense of Democracies: You know, it's, I think this is a welcome announcement by the Trump administration. You know, an office and some tax incentives, while laudable, won't solve the problem, but they do suggest this administration understands the problem and wants to focus on it, and this is a problem. In fact, problems probably not strong enough wording. I'd say we have a crisis. We have a ship building crisis in this country. We have insufficient ship building capacity, and the ships, and by ships, I mean ships and submarines that we're producing are often late and over budget. We got a real problem. And the People's Liberation Army Navy a weird name, but the name for their navy is is larger than ours. They have three, depending how you do the accounting, they have 370 battle force ships. That's going to grow to 395, this year, and as many as 435 by 2030, 2030, so, you know, the obvious question was, how does that compare the US has 296, 296, versus 370, and what's going to happen in our future numbers, unless we have a dramatic intervention, the size is going to actually shrink. It's projected to shrink to 294, so And by the way, our Navy is trying to cover and protect our interests around the world, while the Chinese navy, while increasingly venturing farther afield, is focusing a lot of their naval power on East Asia. And so that creates a real mismatch. And yes, many of our ships are higher quality. I get it, but as some people say, quantity has a quality of its own, and ships and submarines can only be in one place at a time. CARLA BABB: Bradley, what about the border? The President mentioned the US southern border several times. Officials went to the border this week for another look on what the US military is doing to try to help law enforcement efforts there, to do what Secretary of Defense Hegseth said would be gaining 100% operational control, tell us a little bit about the additions and how they are affecting interventions. Bradley Bowman, Foundation for Defense of Democracies: You know President when he was president Trump was a candidate, he really emphasized the border, and President Trump believes he has a mandate to secure the border. And in his first term, you know, in his National Security Strategy, he emphasized the importance of protecting our homeland. And so now that he's elected, I'd say President Trump has put his money where his mouth is in terms of focusing on the border, and the US military is involved. Roughly, we're talking about 9000 US service members on the border fulfilling a variety of different functions. It's administrative support, aviation support, transportation support, warehousing, logistics, vehicle maintenance, engineering, these sorts of things to help support the civilian agencies that are in the lead there on the border. And as a result, there has been a significant decline in illegal entries into the United States. CARLA BABB: Bradley Bowman with FDD thank you so much for speaking with us. In his address, the President said he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. President Donald Trump: The letter reads, Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians, he said. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security. Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you. I appreciate that he sent this letter. CARLA BABB: Joining us now is Ostap, Yarysh from the US Ukrainian service. Ostp, we know this mineral deal would bring the United States $500 billion in potential revenue from minerals, oil and gas. What would Ukraine get from this deal? Ostap Yarysh, VOA Ukrainian Service Reporter: Carla, thank you for having me. Well, we don't know for sure if the US would get 500 billion from this deal. We also don't know how long it would take to get any development of minerals and get them from Ukraine to the United States. It may probably take longer than one could expect, when asked last week about how much the US is expecting to get from the deal. President Trump replied that it was difficult to say because that would require some detailed on site research and more work on the ground there in Ukraine. But of course, according to President Trump, it will definitely bring some revenue back to the United States. The draft of the agreement that we've seen says that the deal will create, or would create, some sort of an investment fund to which Ukraine will direct 50% of all the revenue from oil and gas and other developments in Ukraine, and that fund would also create the future investment or monetization for Ukrainian development projects or reconstruction projects, reconstruction projects that would be made on the territory of Ukraine. This deal, however, does not include, or doesn't specify any security guarantees from the United States to Ukraine. The US says that that would be Europe's part, that Europe should invest more in its own defense and should take more responsibility when it comes to security guarantees for Ukraine. Of course, Ukraine says that they need strong reassurances from the US, from the partners, and they hope that they can work those out future down the road, and that this deal will be the first step, and would create some sort of framework for the future cooperation. CARLA BABB: So potentially, there is a lot of money on the line here for both sides. Ostap Yarysh, VOA Ukrainian Service Reporter: That's true, yeah. But you know, coming back to the security guarantees, from the White House standpoint, it's also important they say that they think this deal itself would be the best security guarantee for Ukraine. They say that economic presence of America in Ukraine, co investment with the United States would prevent anyone from attacking Ukraine in the future, and that would be the best guarantee Ukraine can hope for. That was national security advisers Mike Walz words CARLA BABB: Going back to that Oval Office meeting last week, tensions grew when President Zelensky raised concerns about diplomacy with Russia, because Moscow did sign a cease fire agreement with Kyiv in 2019 only for Moscow to invade Ukraine again in 2022 so if President Trump can get these two, Zelensky and Putin, if he can actually get them to the negotiating table. What are you hearing that Ukrainians want done? Ostap Yarysh, VOA Ukrainian Service Reporter: Carla, We speak to Ukrainians a lot, and what we are hearing from them that they want peace more than anyone. And of course, that's true, because they have suffered enough for 11 years of this war, it began back in 2014 when Russia, Russia attacked for the first time, of course, then it launches full scale invasion 2022 but since 2014 lots of Ukrainians have died. They have lost their homes. And of course, they want to have peace as soon as possible. But at the same time Carla, they want to have a lasting peace that they want to have, not a temporary agreement that Russia would potentially break in a couple of months, or in two years, or after President Trump leaves the office. Of course, also Ukrainians what they want and what we hear from them. They want this peace to be a just peace. We know that there are a lot of prisoners of war that Russia still keeps in their prisons. Ukrainians want them back. Many of those prisoners of war, by the way, they're not only military, they're civilians. Some of them are journalists. We know that my former colleague back in cave when I used to work there, Victoria Russian last year, we learned that she was killed in the captivity. So there are lots of stories like that. On top of that, Russia still keeps more than 19,000 of Ukrainian children that they kidnapped from Ukraine. Ukraine's, of course, want them back to their families. Lots of they those children still have families or relatives back in Ukraine. So that's what we hear from, from people on the ground in Ukraine. And of course, those people that we speak to, they want to see that after peace, there is some accountability for the war crimes that Russia committed in Ukraine. So They want to see that Russia doesn't get away with what they committed back in Ukraine and it's not rewarded by getting back to business as usual. CARLA BABB: A just and lasting peace. Ostap. Thank you so much for your insight, Ostap Yarysh from VOAs Ukrainian service. Ostap Yarysh, VOA Ukrainian Service Reporter: Thank you very much. CARLA BABB: On Monday, President Donald Trump ordered a "pause to military aid shipments to Ukraine with immediate effect, which his administration said was aimed at forcing all sides to peace talks. As Henry Ridgwell reports from London, European leaders have said it is vital to continue weapons shipments to Kyiv but there are doubts over how long Ukraine can keep on fighting. HENRY RIDGWELL, VOA Correspondent: As news broke overnight Monday of the U.S. decision to halt military aid to Kyiv, Russian drones continued to rain down on Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian lawmakers say the consequences of Washingtons decision will be stark. Oleksiy Goncharenko, Ukrainian Member of Parliament: This means that thousands of people will die. HENRY RIDGWELL: West of Donetsk, Ukraine, near the town of Pokrovsk, the war grinds on. Call Sign: 'Berf', Ukrainian 14th Brigade Unit Commander: We fire an Italian howitzer. But we get a lot of ammunition, including 105-millimeter caliber, from the U.S. It is NATO standard, which is used in both Europe and the U.S. But whether Europe will be able to supply us? I hope it will. HENRY RIDGWELL: Can Europe make up for the shortfall of military aid from the U.S.? Mark Galeotti, Mayak Intelligence: There are certain systems, ranging from Patriot missiles all the way through to spare parts for the Abrams tanks and Bradley personnel carriers, that the Ukrainians are using, that the only way the Europeans can get is by buying them on the open market. And that is going to take time. HENRY RIDGWELL: But Ukraine is increasingly producing its own weapons. Malcolm Chalmers, Royal United Services Institute: Probably about half the weapons which Ukraine is now using are provided by its own defense industry. And of the remainder, it's about half and half between the United States and the others, including the Europeans. HENRY RIDGWELL: The U.S. provides other crucial assistance including shipping Western weapons into Ukraine. Malcolm Chalmers, Royal United Services Institute: And finally, the U.S. plays a very important role in providing information, intelligence to the Ukrainian forces. HENRY RIDGWELL: The Trump administration says the halt in military aid is, quote, to ensure that it is contributing to a solution. JD Vance, US Vice President: Neither Europe nor the United States nor the Ukrainians can continue this war indefinitely. So it's important that everybody come to the table. HENRY RIDGWELL: Britains Prime Minister said Sunday that a coalition of the willing would continue to support Ukraine. Mark Galeotti, Mayak Intelligence: Vice President Vance's claim that a lot of the European leaders, who on social media and in public are four-square behind Kyiv but in private they're actually much more skeptical is not entirely incorrect. Do you essentially continue to hollow out your own armed forces and also alienate your most powerful security ally and guarantor in the name of defending Ukraine? HENRY RIDGWELL: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the Trump administration Tuesday, writing on X that Ukraine was committed to peace. For Ukrainians suffering under Russian bombardment, the cut in U.S. aid is a bitter outcome. Viktoria, Kyiv Resident: I hope that he [Trump] will change his mind. The victim of aggression cannot be guilty of everything and be punished in addition to that. Illia, Kyiv Resident: Maybe Europe can help somehow. The hope is only on Europe now, no one else. HENRY RIDGWELL Russia, meanwhile, welcomed Washingtons decision to halt military aid to Ukraine, saying it may help, quote, to settle the situation by peaceful means. Henry Ridgwell, VOA News. CARLA BABB: Tariffs are a cornerstone of President Trumps foreign, domestic, and economic policies. To better understand how tariffs impact some small, American businesses, VOAs Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti visited a family whiskey business in the hills of Virginia. CAROLYN PRESUTTI, VOA Senior Washington Correspondent: Its mashing day at Catoctin Creek Distilling Company. The bubbling rye lends an aroma of baked bread. Becky Harris, Catoctin Creek President/Master Distiller: Rye was the original. It was really where it started. CAROLYN PRESUTTI: Becky and Scott Harris distill rye whiskey. Rye spirits were aged in Virginia more than a hundred years before the countrys first tariffs foreign tariffs sealed into law by the nations first president, George Washington. Now, tariffs under the countrys current president President Donald Trump: 25% on Canada and 25% on Mexico. CAROLYN PRESUTTI: are upsetting this companys attempts to sell its rye whiskey abroad. Becky Harris, Catoctin Creek President/Master Distiller: This makes exports a much harder lift, right? Because anybody buying my products then has to pay that tariff, and thats something they wont do. CAROLYN PRESUTTI: Not only is distribution in Mexico and Canada impacted, but also raw materials like these glass bottles even though they are made in America. Scott Harris, Catoctin Creek Master Distillery Founder: We found the one American maker of glass CAROLYN PRESUTTI: Big producers typically buy Mexican and Chinese glass, but after the U.S. presidential election, they switched to the American company. Becky Harris, Catoctin Creek President/Master Distiller: We may actually run out of American glass in the next two months and have to order some imported glass at a higher price in order to keep product flowing. CAROLYN PRESUTTI: The Harris planned expansion to Mexico and Canada is crushed, with Canadian shop owners now removing their rye whiskey and other American-made liquor from store shelves. Scott Harris, Catoctin Creek Distillery Founder: We were in the process of getting an order from France, and the French distributor told us that, No, its just not a good time now for American products to go over there. CAROLYN PRESUTTI: President Donald Trump says imposing tariffs will motivate world leaders to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. President Donald Trump: But we need Mexico and Canada to do much more than theyve done, and they have to stop the fentanyl and drugs pouring into the U.S.A. Theyre going to stop it. CAROLYN PRESUTTI: The presidents supporters understand tariffs. Michael Bernacki, Trump Voter: The tariffs, I think, are necessary for leverage, OK? And to make things fair when it comes to us purchasing things from other countries, other countries purchasing things from us. CAROLYN PRESUTTI: The stock market disagreed ... tumbling two straight days on Wall Street. Desmond Lachman, American Enterprise Institute: The hope has to be the stock market's decline will cause the administration to dive back on this trade policy because a trade war is really a lose-lose proposition. CAROLYN PRESUTTI: But until then, Lachman says the cycle of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs will continue over and over again. Carolyn Presutti, VOA News, Purcellville, Virginia. CARLA BABB: Presidents traditionally invite guests of honor to witness their historic words from the House Chamber. One incredibly touching moment was when President Trump introduced DJ Daniel, There he is. Who he said had always wanted to be a police officer. The 13-year-old cancer survivor received a standing ovation as he was officially sworn into the secret service during the speech. Thats all for this edition of The Inside Story. Thanks for watching Im Carla Babb. And stay tuned to voanews.com for all the latest news affecting the world, and your world. See you next week for another version of... The Inside Story. ### Many professional women work in different fields when they move to the United States. An Uzbek psychologist who has a green card now enjoys American life. "No matter what, females have to find a job and should have their destiny," she said while working at a local restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee. Click here for the full story in Uzbek. WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to grant automakers a one-month reprieve from his hefty new tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, the White House said Wednesday. The move, announced by spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, came after the Trump administration's 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico took effect Tuesday. Leavitt told a press briefing that Trump had spoken to Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV earlier in the day and any car brands entering under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement free trade deal will be eligible for the exemption. To qualify, automobiles will need to meet the content rules of the trade accord that include requiring 75 percent of components to be manufactured in Canada, Mexico or the United States. "The president is giving them an exemption for one month so they are not at an economic disadvantage," Leavitt said. U.S. and foreign automakers alike procure parts and materials from complex supply chains. They have complained that they cannot easily move the production of cars to new lines in the United States, as desired by Trump, and higher tariffs would all but certainly result in increased costs for both manufacturers and consumers. Mexico, with its cheaper labor, was the largest exporter of passenger cars to the United States in 2024, followed by Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Like their rivals, major Japanese automakers export finished vehicles to the U.S. market from plants in Canada and Mexico, also because of the three-way trade accord, which entered into force in 2020 during Trump's first presidency. The new tariffs were introduced based on Trump's claim that the two North American neighbors, as well as China, are not doing enough to crack down on the smuggling of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. On Wednesday, Trump held a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and repeated similar criticism in a social media post afterward. Trump said he told Trudeau that Canada's border policies are allowing "tremendous amounts of Fentanyl, and Illegal Aliens, to pour into the United States." But Canada has retorted that the Trump administration is using fentanyl as a pretext for rolling out his new tariffs. Earlier this week, Trudeau pointed out in a statement that "less than 1 percent of the fentanyl intercepted at the U.S. border comes from Canada." Asked about how the administration plans to deal with rising prices for various products in the United States, the White House spokeswoman said Trump is "open to hearing about additional exemptions" from other industries. Related coverage: Trump says Ukraine returning to talks to end war with Russia Trump says TSMC to invest $100 billion in U.S. G20 finance chiefs at odds addressing concerns over protectionism U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia, especially Myanmar, can advance America's national security, economic interests and broader strategic goals in countering Chinas expanding influence, foreign policy analysts say. When U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January, he pledged that under President Donald Trump, the State Departments top priority would be the United States. In a subsequent policy statement, Rubio argued for a pragmatic foreign policy that makes America more secure, stronger and more prosperous. Some analysts say this approach should address the Asia-Pacific, particularly Myanmar, where Chinese influence has grown since the 2021 military coup. Under isolation and conflict, the ruling junta relies on Beijing for economic and military support. Southeast Asia focus With Rubio overseeing foreign policy, some experts see an opening for Washington to revamp its approach in Myanmar as part of a broader Indo-Pacific strategy. Hunter Marston, a researcher at the Australian National University, said Rubio recognizes Myanmars strategic importance in the U.S.-China rivalry. I do think theres the possibility that the State Department will have some high-level interest in Myanmar, Marston said. This could be an opportunity, as Ive argued in my commentaries for the Stimson Center, to review existing policy, assess its failures and explore adjustments that could make U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia more effective. Zachary Abuza, a Southeast Asia security expert at the National War College, said Myanmar is central to the U.S.-China competition. Southeast Asia is where the United States and China compete most directly, and this is, in particular, true in Myanmar, he said. Abuza noted Myanmars location at the South and Southeast Asia crossroads, which is critical for regional security and economic stability. He warned that Chinas expanding presence in Rakhine State, including deep-sea ports, raises security concerns. If theres ever a military conflict with China over Taiwan, for example, the oil and gas pipelines that supply Kunming will be very important, he said. He added that China and Russia leverage Myanmar to project power in the Indian Ocean. We do not want the Chinese to build up or have access to ports in Rakhine, Abuza said. We would like the Russians not to be able to pull into Yangon port. Rare earth elements Abuza highlighted Myanmars rare earth elements, which are crucial for high-tech industries. China has a near monopoly, maybe not in mining anymore, but in reprocessing, he said. This is an absolute national security threat to the United States. He cited data indicating China obtains about 40% of its rare earths from Kachin State. The International Energy Agency reports that Myanmars share of global rare earth production rose from 0.2% to 14% from 2015 to 2023. Global Witness, an organization that investigates human rights and environmental abuses, says Chinas imports from Myanmar hit $1.4 billion in 2023, and China controls 90% of global rare earth processing in the world. Chinas growing foothold Since the 2021 coup, the juntas reliance on China has grown as international sanctions isolate Myanmar. China has expanded its foothold in influence in the country, Marston said, noting that ethnic armed groups also recognize Beijings interests. A Pacific Forum paper found that China prioritized the Rakhine State for its Belt and Road Initiative, tapping natural resources and access to the Bay of Bengal. Nyunt Than, president of the Burmese American Democratic Alliance, said Myanmars strategic role extends beyond infrastructure and shapes Chinas broader regional ambitions. "Another key issue is Chinas internal economic disparity, he said. While coastal regions are highly developed, the inland areas lag significantly behind. Nyunt Than explained that Beijing aims to turn Yunnan province into a major transportation and trade hub for Southeast Asia, including plans for a high-speed railway connecting Kunming to the region. US regional focus Marston argued that the U.S. reluctance to back Myanmars resistance fearful of provoking China has enabled Beijings advancement there. China has incrementally expanded its influence and presence in the country, regardless of U.S. policy, he said. At his January confirmation hearing, Rubio underscored ASEANs strategic role. On his first day as secretary of state, he met with Quad partners India, Japan and Australia to counter Chinas influence. Activists like Nyunt Than see this as proof that Washington values the regions strategic importance. From Rubios remarks and how he views ASEAN, it is evident that U.S. policymakers understand Myanmars significance, he said. Experts, including Abuza, are optimistic that Rubios regional knowledge could lead to a more robust U.S. policy. I think Secretary of State Rubio has a very good understanding of Southeast Asia, Abuza said. He is well aware of what communist governments are capable of and willing to do to advance their interests, Abuza said, citing Rubios Cuban American background. Marston concurred that Washington should engage more stakeholders, including ethnic armed groups seeking a federal democracy, because Chinas involvement will persist regardless of U.S. policy. China is going to be involved whether or not the U.S. is active in Myanmar, he said. An appeals court in Washington on Wednesday removed the head of a federal watchdog agency in the latest twist in a legal fight over President Donald Trump's authority to fire the special counsel. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with the Trump administration in allowing the immediate removal of Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel while the court considers legal arguments in the case. Dellinger is likely to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dellinger sued Trump last month after he was fired even though the law says special counsels can be removed by the president "only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office." U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson on Saturday ruled that Dellinger's firing was unlawful and quickly reinstated him in the job while he pursued his case. It was that order that the appeals court lifted Wednesday. Dellinger's lawyers say allowing the president to fire the special counsel without cause would have a chilling effect on the important duties of the office to protect whistleblowers. The Trump administration has argued that the law protecting the special counsel from removal is unconstitutional and unfairly prevents the president from rightfully installing his preferred agency head. The Office of Special Counsel is responsible for guarding the federal workforce from illegal personnel actions, such as retaliation for whistleblowing. It investigates whistleblower claims of reprisal, can pursue disciplinary action against employees who punish whistleblowers and provides a channel for employees to disclose government wrongdoing. Wednesday's appellate ruling came as Dellinger is also challenging the removal of probationary workers who were fired as part of the Trump administration's shake-up of the federal government. After a request from Dellinger's office, a government panel that enforces workers' rights ruled Wednesday that more than 5,000 employees fired by the Trump administration should be put back on the job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While the order applies only to the USDA workers, Dellinger released a statement "calling on all federal agencies to voluntarily and immediately rescind any unlawful terminations of probationary employees." Canada is seeing a noticeable increase in measles cases this year, with more reported in the first two months of 2025 than all of last year, the country's health agency said on Thursday and urged citizens to get vaccinated. The Public Health Agency of Canada said it has recorded 227 measles cases as of March 6, with many patients requiring hospitalization. "I strongly urge all Canadians to ensure they are vaccinated against measles," said Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer. The agency said most of the patients are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children exposed in community settings such as social events, day cares, schools and health care facilities. Cases can also arise when unvaccinated individuals travel to or from regions where measles is prevalent. "As we move through spring break travel season, I am concerned that the global rise in measles cases, combined with declining vaccination rates among school-aged children in Canada, could lead to more illness and more community transmission," Tam said. Canada reported a total of 146 measles cases last year, according to government data. In the week ending Feb. 15, there were 96 confirmed cases of measles, a serious airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to severe complications and even death. The surge is linked to outbreaks of the disease in New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba, the agency said. The agency noted that recent cases in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia occurred after travelers were exposed to measles in other countries, and urged individuals to get vaccinated before traveling. If needed, the vaccine should be administered at least two weeks before departure, but even last-minute vaccinations offer protection, the agency said. Last week, an unvaccinated child died of measles in Texas, the center of one of the largest outbreaks of the disease that the United States has seen in the past decade. The U.S. Justice Department announced indictments Wednesday against 12 Chinese nationals accused in a global hacking campaign targeting U.S.-based dissidents, news organizations, government agencies and a large religious organization. According to court documents, China's Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of State Security used a network of private companies and hackers-for-hire to steal information and help locate dissidents and critics throughout the world. "Today's announcements reveal that the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has been paying hackers-for-hire to inflict digital harm on Americans who criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI's Cyber Division in a statement. The suspects include two officers in China's Ministry of Public Security, eight employees of a company known as i-Soon, and two members of a group known as Advanced Persistent Threat 27 (APT27). A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, told The Associated Press Wednesday that the allegations were a "smear" and said, "We hope that relevant parties will adopt a professional and responsible attitude and base their characterization of cyber incidents on sufficient evidence rather than groundless speculation and accusations." All of those indicted are at large, and the Justice Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information about the MPS officers and i-Soon, the Chinese company that employed most of the hackers. The company is accused of selling stolen information "to China's intelligence and security services to suppress free speech and democratic processes worldwide, and target groups deemed a threat to the Chinese government," according to a news release from the FBI. i-Soon also conducted computer intrusions on its own initiative, charging "the MSS and MPS equivalent to between approximately $10,000 and $75,000 for each email inbox it successfully hacked," the indictment said. The company also provided training in hacking skills to the government agencies. Among the group's targets were a large religious organization critical of the Chinese government that previously sent missionaries to China, and a group that promoted human rights and religious freedom in China. The New York Assembly and multiple news organizations in the United States were targeted, including those that have opposed the Communist Party of China or delivered uncensored news to China. Foreign targets included a religious leader, a Hong Kong newspaper and the foreign ministries of Taiwan, India, South Korea, and Indonesia, according to the Justice Department release. Separate indictments were issued against the two men connected to APT27, Zhou Shuai and Yin Kecheng, "for their involvement in the multi-year, for-profit computer intrusion campaigns dating back, in the case of Yin, to 2013," the Justice Department release stated. The State Department announced a reward of up to $2 million for information leading to the arrest of Zhou and Yin. They are accused of hacking numerous "U.S.-based technology companies, think tanks, law firms, defense contractors, local governments, health care systems, and universities, leaving behind them a wake of millions of dollars in damages," the release stated. Yin is accused in a U.S. Treasury Department hack between September and December 2024. The two face several charges that include computer network conspiracy, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. "As evidenced by today's and previous announcements, China offers safe harbor for private sector companies that conduct malicious cyber activity against the United States and its partners," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement. The indictments were the result of a joint investigation by the Justice Department, FBI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Departments of State and the Treasury. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Cyclone Alfred stalled off Australia's east coast on Thursday as officials shut airports, schools and public transport while residents stockpiled supplies and sandbagged homes against flooding expected when the Category 2 storm hits. The storm is now likely to make landfall by Saturday morning near Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update, compared with a prior projection of landfall by early Friday. The storm's destructive reach will stretch across the border regions of the states of Queensland and New South Wales, the bureau said, bringing heavy rain, flooding and damaging wind. "Alfred is behaving at the moment like a completely unwanted houseguest. It's told us it's going to be late but linger even longer," New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told reporters. "Unfortunately, that means the window for destruction in our community - heavy rains, winds, powerful surf -- is longer than we would have otherwise liked." Storm warnings on Thursday stretched for more than 500 kilometers across the northeast coast, as huge waves whipped up by the cyclone eroded beaches, and officials urged residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate soon. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the defense force would be ready to support emergency services. Heavy rain from the weather system has already drenched some regions, said Dean Narramore, forecaster at Australia's weather bureau. Narramore said the cyclone's stalling could result in "a longer and prolonged period of heavy rainfall, particularly in northern New South Wales" leading to life-threatening flash flooding. New South Wales resident Sara Robertson and her family moved their valuables from their home in the rural town of Murwillumbah to a motel ahead of the storm. "I'm glad we've got a little bit more of a breather, feeling very tired today and we still have a lot to do," Robertson told ABC News after moving computers and electronics into the motel. More than 5,000 properties in southeast Queensland and thousands in northern New South Wales are without power as officials warned there would be more outages when the wind speed increases. Brisbane airport said it will suspend operations around 4 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Thursday but keep its terminals open for defense operations. Qantas Airways said its international operations from Brisbane would remain suspended until Saturday noon and domestic flights until Sunday morning. More than 1,000 schools in southeast Queensland and 250 in northern New South Wales were closed on Thursday, while public transport in Brisbane has been suspended. Alfred has been called by officials a "very rare event" for Brisbane, Queensland's state capital, with the city last hit by a cyclone more than half a century ago in 1974. The city of around 2.7 million had near misses from cyclones in 1990 in 2019. European Union leaders vowed to ramp up funding for Ukraine and their own defense at a summit in Brussels on Thursday as they take steps to rearm in ways they havent since the end of the Cold War. The summit, also attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was the first for all 27 EU members since last weeks confrontational White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy and after Washingtons decision to suspend aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. Europe faces a clear and present danger to protect itself and defend itself, as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said about her $865 billion rearm Europe plan. The plan aims to drastically boost Europes defense arsenal against what many here see as a growing Russian threat and possibly the U.S.s disengagement from the region. Von der Leyen spoke alongside Zelenskyy, who was invited for part of the summit. "We are very thankful that we are not alone, and these are not just words," Zelenskyy said. "We feel it." Beyond boosting Europe's conventional arsenal, French President Emmanuel Macron has floated extending his country's nuclear arsenal to other European allies, which he also explained to French voters back home. In a televised address to the nation Wednesday, he called Russia a threat to Europe for years to come, remarks denounced by Moscow. In Brussels, many EU leaders echoed the urgency of rearming, like Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, whose own country borders Russia and has already sharply boosted its defense spending. We see good proposals [from] von der Leyen, but we see its just one step, Silina said. We need more proposals going forward. And we see its really a good opportunity for Ukraine to get peace but through strength. The EU sees a strong peace deal for Kyiv as serving its own interests as well to ensure Russia doesnt go beyond Ukraine to attack its own member states. But some European leaders have misgivings, including Hungarys Viktor Orban, who has friendly relations with Moscow. Just as important as pouring more money into defense, analysts say, is investing strategically and pooling resources. Ian Lesser, Brussels bureau office head for the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said cooperation was necessary. The resources that would be needed to rebuild Europes industrial capacity, to build what is, in essence, a European army, even within NATO, is going to require some kind of collective action, he said. A key question moving forward, analysts say, is to what extent Europe will procure equipment from the United States as it has in the past one key way to potentially keep close ties or invest in its own industrial capacity. The fired head of a federal watchdog agency said on Thursday he was ending his legal battle over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to remove him from office after a federal appeals court allowed the White House action. Hampton Dellinger, who headed the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, said in a statement he was ending his lawsuit in light of Wednesday's court ruling, saying the odds of him ultimately prevailing before the U.S. Supreme Court were long. Dellinger, an appointee of Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, said he believed the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit had wrongly erased the independence Congress provided for his post. But he said he would abide by it, even if it means his agency, which protects federal employees from being punished for whistleblowing and other practices, will be run by "someone totally beholden to the president." "I strongly disagree with the circuit court's decision, but I accept and will abide by it," Dellinger said. "That's what Americans do." The case marked an early test of the Republican president's ability to rein in independent agencies and replace their leaders as part of his efforts to reshape the federal government. Dellinger's case previously reached the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the first legal battle involving Trump's actions to come before the top U.S. judicial body since Trump's return to the presidency in January. At that time, the Supreme Court declined to allow Trump to immediately fire Dellinger while a judge who last month had temporarily blocked his removal weighed whether to issue an injunction. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson did so on March 1, saying allowing Trump the ability to fire Dellinger before his term was over would give the president "a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will." But the D.C. Circuit on Wednesday put that decision on hold, resulting in Dellinger's swift removal. The court ruling came hours after Dellinger helped secure an order from the Merit System Protection Board directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to temporarily reinstate thousands of workers who lost their jobs as part of Trump's mass layoffs of the federal workforce. That board hears appeals by federal government employees when they are fired or disciplined and has proved to be a potential roadblock in the Trump administration's efforts to purge the federal workforce. Trump also fired the board's Democratic chair, Cathy Harris. A judge ordered her reinstated, but the administration has appealed that decision as well. Facing the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift under President Donald Trump, European Union leaders launched a day of emergency talks Thursday in a bid to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be properly protected. The 27-nation bloc woke up to news that French President Emmanuel Macron would confer with EU leaders about the possibility of using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats. We talk with Nicolas Tenzer is a Non-resident Senior Fellow with the Democratic Resilience program at the Center for European Policy Analysis. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Thursday that France is sharing intelligence with Ukraine, a move that followed the United States saying it was cutting off intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. The move comes as European Union leaders gathered Thursday in Brussels, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for a summit to discuss boosting defense spending and bolstering pledges of support for Ukraine in its battle against Russias invasion. French President Emmanuel Macron said ahead of the talks that EU members would "take decisive steps forward," while he expressed concerns about shifts in U.S. support for Ukraine under new President Donald Trump. "The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow," Macron said. Trump earlier in the week ordered the U.S. to suspend military aid to Kyivs fighters after his contentious meeting last week with Zelenskyy at the White House. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Wednesday that the United States had also, for the moment, ended sharing its intelligence with Kyiv, although it could be short-lived after Zelenskyy said the exchanges with Trump in the Oval Office had been "regrettable" and that Ukraine was ready for peace talks with Russia. "I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause [that prompted Ukraine's president to respond], I think will go away," Ratcliffe told the Fox Business Network. "I think we'll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have to push back on the aggression that's there, but to put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward," he said. Since the start of the war in 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with significant intelligence, including critical information its military needs for targeting Russian forces. Mike Waltz, Trumps national security adviser, told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. "had taken a step back" and that the administration was "reviewing all aspects" of its intelligence relationship with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Waltz told CBS News that the U.S. is moving quickly to start peace negotiations to end the war and sign a mineral rights deal with Kyiv. "I think we're going to see movement in very short order," Waltz said. He said Trump officials will meet with Ukrainian officials as they conduct shuttle diplomacy with Russia. "I have literally just been on the phone with my counterpart, the Ukrainian national security adviser, talking about times, locations, delegations," Waltz said. Reaching a peace deal could prove difficult. Ukraine has long demanded a restoration of its internationally recognized 2014 borders before Moscow unilaterally seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Overall, Russia now holds about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including much of eastern Ukraine, and has vowed to not return any of it to the Kyiv government. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror organization, said Thursday that threats from U.S. President Donald Trump are encouraging Israel to walk away from a Gaza ceasefire deal. The comments came a day after Trump said "there will be hell to pay" if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages being held in Gaza. "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say," Trump added. The first phase of the ceasefire ended Saturday. It included Hamas freeing 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais, and Israel freeing about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The White House confirmed on Wednesday it had engaged in direct talks with Hamas. Sources familiar with the matter said the talks focused on the release of American hostages still being held in Gaza. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the talks as "a good-faith effort to do whats right for the American people." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said in a statement that Israel "has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas." The war in Gaza began with the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 250 people being taken hostage. Israels counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 48,400 Palestinians according to the health ministry in Gaza. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. TOKYO - Seven & i Holdings Co. said Thursday it has appointed outside director Stephen Dacus as CEO, as it seeks to maximize its corporate value through a massive share buyback and restructuring under the new leadership, to fend off a takeover bid by a Canadian rival. Dacus, a former CEO of the operator of rival retailer Seiyu Co. which was part of U.S. retail giant Walmart Inc., will replace Ryuichi Isaka to become the first non-Japanese CEO of Seven & i, subject to approval at its general shareholders' meeting on May 27. Isaka will become a senior advisor at Seven & i, which runs the 7-Eleven convenience business in Japan, North America and other countries. The leadership change comes a week after Seven & i said its founding family had withdrawn a proposed management buyout of the retailer, which was intended to fend off a $47 billion takeover from Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. The family gave up on the plan due to a lack of interested investors. Seven & i said the same day that it will buy back its own shares worth 2 trillion yen ($13 billion), equivalent to over a third of its market capitalization, a move which is expected to boost its share price and market value. The retailer also agreed to sell its subsidiary operating Ito-Yokado supermarket chain to U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital for 814.7 billion yen, while planning to list its U.S. 7-Eleven convenience store business unit on a U.S. market in 2026. The sale of the non-core supermarket business and the proceeds from the listing will help fund its planned share buyback, as Seven & i is pressing ahead with restructuring to focus on its core convenience business and to enhance its corporate value. Among other reform efforts, the company said it will sell part of its shareholdings in Seven Bank Ltd. to deconsolidate the banking subsidiary. "We must move forward to the future. We must build on the successful foundation that we have," Dacus said at a press conference. The new CEO said his company will "continue to engage" with its Canadian rival but added that the takeover plan would face high regulatory hurdles in the United States. Isaka said at the press conference that Dacus has ample experience in the retail industry and hopes he will push ahead to raise the company's share price, which could make Couche-Tard's takeover more difficult. The outgoing top executive took the helm at Seven & i in 2016, replacing the company's charismatic leader Toshifumi Suzuki, who is credited with bringing the 7-Eleven brand to Japan and growing it into one of the most successful convenience store chains in the world. Under Isaka, who led the company's 7-Eleven business before assuming the role of president, Seven & i has propelled restructuring efforts, selling its department store unit and preparing to spin off its supermarket operations. Dacus became a Seven & i outside director in 2022 after working as an executive at various Japanese companies, including Fast Retailing Co., the owner of the Uniqlo clothing chain, as well as the operator of the Sushiro conveyor belt sushi restaurant chain. Seven & i said in August last year that it had received a takeover proposal from Couche-Tard, the operator of Circle K convenience stores, with the offer exceeding 7 trillion yen. In an effort to block the takeover, Seven & i Vice President Junro Ito, a son of the company founder, and Ito-Kogyo Co., which manages the family's assets, had sought to take the retail conglomerate private but gave up on the plan after struggling to raise funds. The planned deal, estimated to cost around 9 trillion yen, would have been the biggest management buyout in Japan. Japanese trading house Itochu Corp. and Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group were among the companies approached for financial assistance by the founding family. Related coverage: Seven & i arranging for president to step down after failed buyout Nigeria and China said this week they will cooperate in efforts to crack down on the increasing number of Chinese nationals taking part in financial crimes in the African country. The joint effort comes after Chinese Ambassador Yu Dunhai visited Nigerias anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, in Abuja. In a statement posted to the EFCC website Tuesday, Dunhai expressed regret over the rising trend of Chinese nationals engaged in financial crimes in Nigeria. He assured Nigerian authorities that the Chinese government is ready to send delegates to work with local law enforcement agencies to address the issue. At the same time, Dunhai urged authorities to protect the rights of Chinese citizens while investigations are conducted. Since November, Nigerian authorities have arrested at least 400 Chinese nationals suspected of cybercrime, telecom fraud and illegal mining. Many of them are facing trial. But Nigerian political analyst Chukwudi Odoeme warned that Chinas influence over the process could undermine the rule of law. The collaboration looks good, but then the relationship between Nigeria and China is something that is suspicious in this particular arrangement, Odoeme said. The collaboration may be defeated in the sense that China will have undue influence, and it may even lead to political release of those persons instead of subjecting them through the criminal trial system in Nigeria. China is Nigerias largest trading partner by value, with trade totaling $5 billion in 2023. In the first quarter of last year, Chinese companies provided 23% of Nigerias total imports. Critics argue that Chinese nationals are exploiting trade routes and immigration loopholes to enter Nigeria illegally and engage in criminal activities. Authorities say many of the arrested Chinese nationals were found to be living in Nigeria without proper documentation. Public affairs analyst Jaye Gaskia raised concerns about the transparency of the collaboration. On what basis are you going into this collaboration? For what purpose? he asked. The conversations around trying to develop such collaborative strategies also need to be transparent, so that citizens will be able to interrogate the process to see whether national interest is going to be somehow undermined. We have to be careful, and we have to ensure who does the prosecution, Gaskia said. The best-case scenario is for the country not to cede its own sovereignty in terms of how this is going to happen. Nigerias debt to China exceeds $5 billion more than the bilateral loans owed to all other countries combined. Meanwhile, Nigeria is seeking Chinas backing to join the grouping of the worlds 20 largest economies, the G20, and secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. But political analyst Rotimi Olawale believes the debt should not influence how Nigeria handles criminal cases. I dont think that the debt we owe China, $5 billion, will affect anything, Olawale said. Thats government-to-government relations. The most important thing is that the case should not be politicized. We must clearly define our rules and uphold our laws. Previously, Nigerias parliament called for the mass deportation of illegal Chinese migrants. There are conflicting signals Thursday on the future of the ceasefire between Israel and the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas. A Hamas spokesperson in Gaza said U.S. President Donald Trumps repeated threats are endangering the ceasefire. At the same time, Egyptian sources said direct talks between the U.S. and Hamas in Qatar have ended positively. The talks in Qatar mark the first time the United States is known to negotiate directly with U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas. Participants in the talks included Trumps Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, Hamas leaders, and mediators from Egypt and Qatar. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the talks had been held. Israel was consulted on this matter," said Leavitt. "And look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what's in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven is what he believes is good faith effort to do what's right for the American people." Egyptian sources said the discussions ended positively and there was hope for an agreement on the second phase of the ceasefire. The first six-week phase of the ceasefire ended last Sunday, but it could be extended as long as negotiations continue on the second phase. A Hamas spokesperson said his group is committed to the ceasefire and that meditators are trying to pressure Israel to move forward. The statement came after a Hamas spokesperson in Gaza reacted angrily to Trump's threats against the group after meeting a delegation of freed hostages. Hazem Qassem said Israeli hostages will be released only through negotiations. He said that if Trump wants to release the hostages, the U.S. leader must pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin negotiations on the second stage of a ceasefire deal which calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer welcomed Trumps threats against Hamas which Israel hopes could help free the remaining 59 hostages, 25 of whom are believed to be alive. They are running out of road," said Mencer. "Indeed, they have run out of road. The [U.S.] president has made clear that they need to release the hostages right now. Israel this week cut off all international aid entering Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas to extend the current stage of the ceasefire. The United Nations World Food program says only a two-week supply of food remains in Gaza and the cutoff of fuel is already affecting people there. Nizar Ayyash, the mayor of Deir al Balah in central Gaza, said they are already finding it hard to treat sewage and pump water from wells. He said his city is in a very difficult situation. Ayyash said he and other officials are sounding the alarm as they fear cutting off the fuel that municipalities need to treat sewage, pump water from wells, and lift and remove waste. Israel threatens to resume its attacks on Gaza if the hostages are not released soon. Haiti is facing a "humanitarian catastrophe" as it reels from a surge in violence that is forcing people from their homes and pushing overstretched health facilities to the brink, Doctors Without Borders said Thursday. The crisis-torn Caribbean nation has seen new unrest in recent weeks as gangs battle police for territory, leading United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups to warn last month of a "wave of extreme brutality" sweeping the country. The fighting has left civilians trapped in the crossfire, overwhelmed hospitals and raised fears of a new cholera epidemic in a nation devastated by the disease in the 2010s, said Doctors Without Borders, which is also known by its French initialism, RSF. Last week, the medical aid group's teams treated 90 victims of violence double the usual number at its emergency center in the Turgeau neighborhood of the capital, Port-au-Prince, it said. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, was plunged into fresh unrest last year when gangs launched coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince to force then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. The interim government and a Kenya-led U.N. force have struggled to restore order. Armed groups control 85% of the capital, according to UNICEF. With an estimated 1 million people forced from their homes by violence, there are fears of disease outbreaks in makeshift camps for the displaced. "The scale of this crisis far exceeds what MSF can respond to alone," the group's mission chief in Haiti, Christophe Garnier, said in a statement. With the rainy season approaching, sanitation conditions are worsening, MSF said. "Without urgent action, the situation will turn into a humanitarian catastrophe," said Garnier. At least 15 people were injured when two South Korean fighter jets accidentally bombed a populated village during training exercises Thursday, according to South Korean officials and media reports. Two KF-16 fighter jets each "abnormally dropped" four 227-kilogram MK-82 bombs outside a designated fire range in Pocheon during a live-fire exercise at about 10 a.m. local time, Ministry of National Defense officials said. The fighter jets were participating in U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises near the inter-Korean border, the officials added. At least two people were injured severely, according to South Koreas Yonhap news agency. It said more casualties were expected as villagers continue to request medical treatment. The report said a church and seven other buildings were damaged. Pictures in local media showed houses with crumbling roofs, shattered windows, and debris scattered nearby. The accident was caused by mistaken coordinates, South Korean defense officials said, adding that the live-fire drills have been paused pending further investigation. The drills took place early Thursday at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, 25 kilometers south of the North Korean border. Yonhap reported that the exercise involved more than 160 pieces of military hardware and was set to be attended by Gen. Xavier Bronson, the top U.S. commander in South Korea, and South the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Admiral Kim Myung-soon. The drill marked the allies first exercise of its kind this year and was held in connection with the planned annual Freedom Shield exercise. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is hailing a planned $100 billion investment in the U.S. by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation as a historic moment for U.S-Taiwan relations, adding that the move is not the result of pressure imposed by the U.S. government. The president and TSMC chairman C.C. Wei spoke to reporters at Taiwans presidential office in Taipei Thursday afternoon. Wei said the chipmaker's latest U.S. expansion was driven by large customer demand, adding that its production lines there are already fully booked for the next three years. Whenever TSMC builds a production line in any location outside Taiwan, it is always driven by customer demand, he said. The $100 billion investment which is separate from an investment of up to $65 billion in the U.S. that TSMC agreed to last April calls for the construction of three new chip plants, two chip-packaging facilities and a research and development center in the western U.S. state of Arizona. The presidents remarks come two days after Wei and U.S. President Donald Trump stood in the White House and announced the chip giants expansion. "We must be able to build the chips and semiconductors that we need right here," Trump said during the press conference, adding that the move is a matter of national security for the U.S. Wei said Thursday that TSMC also plans to build 11 new production lines in Taiwan this year, and the expansion in the U.S. wont affect that timeline. We will continue to build production lines in Taiwan, and I have asked President Lai to help TSMC find new lands to build facilities, he said. TSMC has also built new facilities in Japan and Germany in recent years, a move that Lai said helps other Taiwanese businesses engage in international cooperation and increases Taiwans strength. TSMCs global expansion shows that Taiwans industries have been moving westward, southward, and northward, and the strength that the industries have accumulated over the last few decades has helped Taiwan to confidently cross the Pacific Ocean and expand eastward to the American continent, President Lai said during Thursdays press conference. Opposition not pleased Despite the reassurances from Wei and Lai, TSMCs expansion in the U.S. has prompted widespread concerns in Taiwan, with some opposition lawmakers saying TSMCs expansion in the U.S. could hurt the islands semiconductor industry and national security. Fu Kun-chi, the legislative caucus whip from Taiwans main opposition party Kuomintang, or KMT, told journalists on Tuesday that TSMCs additional investment in the U.S. could leave the island with nothing to safeguard if China militarily attacks Taiwan since Washington would possess the most advanced chip manufacturing processes. Additionally, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, who is also with the KMT, has accused Lai of selling TSMC to the United States. Taiwanese people worry the protector of the nation is going to move away and this is a major national security crisis that will have a major negative impact on Taiwanese peoples confidence, cross-strait relations and Taiwans geopolitical position in the future, Ma wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. Analysts say the opposition partys rhetoric is part of its strategy to raise questions about U.S.-Taiwan relations. TSMC has been expanding their operations for quite some time, including in Japan and China, but the discourse of TSMC abandoning Taiwan only surfaces when the focus is on TSMCs expansion in the U.S., said Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Taiwan University. This is a sign that the discourse is more about trying to spread American skepticism than it is a genuine critique about TSMC and its intentions, he told VOA by phone. Other experts say that while the Taiwanese government is trying to counter the opposition partys criticism by hosting a press conference on Thursday, the KMTs arguments are raising doubts for some. Their efforts have achieved the intended goal because there is too much information for people unfamiliar with TSMCs operations outside of Taiwan to comprehend, said Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan. Even when TSMC completes all its overseas facilities by 2030, more than 80% of its productions will still remain in Taiwan, meaning that its overseas expansion wont really affect Taiwan that much, he told VOA by phone. Defense spending still in question Trump has repeatedly claimed that Taiwan has stolen semiconductor technologies from the U.S., Nachman said TSMCs expansion in Arizona can help reduce potential friction between Taipei and Washington. The additional investment helps to assure the Trump administration that Taiwan is serious about doing what it takes to be friends with America, he told VOA. Despite this positive effect, Chen and Nachman both say Taiwan still faces pressure from the Trump administration to significantly increase its defense budget. Taiwan shouldnt be celebrating because we saw Elbridge Colby echoing Trumps sentiment during his Senate confirmation hearing that Taiwan needs to spend 10% of its GDP on defense, said Nachman, adding that the Taiwanese government will feel a lot of pressure from Washington once Taiwans national defense comes back onto Trumps radar. To address the looming challenges, Chen said the Taiwanese government should demonstrate its willingness to purchase more weapons from the U.S. or lay out plans to deepen defense-related cooperation with Washington. Taiwan needs to show its determination to enhance its defense capabilities, and it needs to put forward some concrete numbers, he told VOA. actingAfghanistans Taliban Thursday called on neighbors Pakistan and Iran to be patient with Afghan refugees and follow an organized process for their return, considering Afghanistans economic challenges. Pakistan and Iran have sent back more than 2.7 million Afghans to their home country since the 20-year U.S.-led war in Afghanistan ended in August 2021. Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban acting minister of refugees and repatriation affairs, separately met with Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, Pakistans charge d'affaires in Afghanistan, and Iran's acting ambassador to Afghanistan, Alireza Bekdali, in Kabul. In a post on social media platform X, the Afghan ministry said Kabir expressed hope that the host countries will exercise patience and forbearance toward refugees. Islamic Emirate encourages Afghan refugees to return to the country, said the statement. But due to lack of conditions at home, host countries should consider organized return process instead of forced deportation, and act according to a gradual mechanism. Afghan expulsion Since Pakistan launched a drive in late 2023 to remove foreign nationals residing illegally in the country, citing security concerns, more than 825,000 Afghans have left, according to data compiled by the U.N. High Commission for Refugees. However, only a small fraction roughly 40,000 have been deported. Pakistan approved a multistage plan in late January targeting nearly 3 million Afghan citizens. It includes legally declared refugees, documented as well as undocumented migrants, and those awaiting relocation to the United States and other Western countries. That plan calls for repatriating documented Afghan migrants and undocumented Afghan citizens in Phase 1. It also calls for the removal of Afghans awaiting third-country relocation from Islamabad by March 31. Last July, Pakistan extended the validity of Proof of Registration, or POR, cards for Afghan refugees until June 30, 2025. The governments January plan to expel Afghans says POR card holders will be dealt with later. Driven largely by economic concerns, Iran deported more than 1.8 million Afghans between 2022 and 2024, according to aid website Relief Web that takes data from UNHCR. Last September, Tehran announced it plans to deport up to 2 million by March 2025. Time needed Kabir called on Iran and Pakistan to slow the pace of returns until bilateral mechanisms are put in place. Time should be given to hold bilateral and trilateral meetings in this regard, the statement said. Nizamani, Pakistans top diplomat in Afghanistan, said refugees are not a political tool, according to the Afghan ministrys post. He said that Pakistans future is linked to Afghanistan, therefore, it does not use Afghan refugees as political tools, but wants the problems to be resolved through understanding, the refugee ministry said on X. A request to Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, seeking confirmation of Nizamanis remarks, was not returned. Iranian acting ambassador Bekdali called for a permanent solution to the issue, the Taliban ministry said. We want to see the illegal migrants living in Iran, refugees, provided with the necessary legal documents, the statement quoted Bekadli as saying. There was no immediate confirmation from Bekdalis office regarding his remarks. Refugee rights groups and human rights watchdogs have repeatedly called on Iran and Pakistan to ensure that the rights of Afghan refugees and undocumented migrants are protected, and they are not forced to return to Afghanistan, where the economy is in shambles, the majority relies on aid, and women face severe curbs on basic rights and liberties. A recent crackdown on online scam operations, launched earlier this year, has left more than 7,000 people from various countries stranded in a Myanmar border town awaiting repatriation. The operation, coordinated by Thailand, Myanmar and China, began after Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatras visit to Beijing in February, where she assured Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Thailand would take action against scam syndicates. While Chinas pressure has accelerated the repatriation of Chinese nationals, critics argue that its primary focus is protecting its own citizens rather than dismantling the entire criminal network. In an exclusive interview with VOA, lawmaker Rangsiman Rome, who chairs the Thai House Committee on National Security and is deputy leader of the opposition Peoples Party, casts doubt on the effectiveness of the crackdown, calling it more symbolic than structural. Rome said that without deeper reforms, intelligence-sharing, and global cooperation, these syndicates will continue adapting and operating in different locations, making the current efforts a short-term fix rather than a lasting solution. While thousands have been rescued during the ongoing crackdown, the United Nations has previously estimated that more than 200,000 have been forced to work in scam centers. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. VOA: In your opinion, what should Thailand do differently to make the crackdown more effective and ensure these operations are truly dismantled? Rangsiman Rome: I think this crackdown is just for show. Its not really solving the problem. We have found evidence that construction is still ongoing in some areas, particularly in Shwe Kokko, where scam compounds continue to expand. It seems like the authorities are only making small, visible efforts to create the impression that they are addressing the issue. In reality, the scale of these crackdowns is very limited, and no significant progress has been made in truly dismantling these networks Once public attention fades, I believe these scam operations will resume as before, because the root causes have not been addressed. Without continued pressure, the same criminal networks will simply rebuild and operate as they did before. VOA: How much pressure is China putting on Thailand, and is that pressure actually leading to real changes in the crackdown on scam networks? Rangsiman Rome: I believe China plays a crucial role in this situation. With the Chinese government's initiative, Thailand has aligned with China on the shared goal of stopping border crimes. While I understand that China is acting to protect its own interests, Thailand must also prioritize its own national security and stability. The cooperation between Thailand and China has led to progress, particularly in repatriating Chinese nationals from Myawaddy back to China. However, this is not enough. China has largely achieved its goal by bringing its citizens home, but Thailands objective goes beyond that we need to ensure that these scam operations do not return. To truly dismantle these networks, we must identify and target the key figures behind them. These may include Chinese nationals, Thai mafia, corrupt officials or other powerful individuals involved in sustaining these operations. Thailand must continue its crackdown and expand its focus beyond Myawaddy. We should also pay attention to Cambodia, where large-scale scam operations continue to thrive. Stopping these networks requires ongoing efforts and regional cooperation to prevent them from simply relocating and rebuilding elsewhere. VOA: How can Thailand and the international community work together to prevent these networks from simply shifting locations and continuing their operations elsewhere? Rangsiman Rome: The scam crisis is not just Thailands problem it is an international issue that affects people worldwide. Many victims not only lose large sums of money, but also face severe human rights abuses, including forced labor and even organ trafficking. This is a serious criminal enterprise that requires global action. I see Thailand as a key partner in a global initiative to dismantle scam networks. Thailand has the potential to take the lead in the region to combat these crimes, but we cannot do this alone. We need support from multiple countries, not just China. We must work closely with Japan, the U.K., the EU and others to share intelligence and track the financial assets of these organized crime syndicates. Many victims are waiting to recover their lost money, and we must locate the hidden assets of Chinese mafia groups and other criminals. It is essential to ensure that no country provides a safe haven for these syndicates they must be held accountable for their human rights violations. There is still much work to be done, and Thailand cannot fight this alone. If we work together with international partners, Thailand can take the lead in the region, but we need global cooperation to bring real change. VOA: Right now, many people are facing difficulties with the repatriation process which involves multiple countries. As a result, some are stuck in Myawaddy or experiencing delays in immigration procedures. How do you think this problem can be resolved to ensure a smoother and faster repatriation process for those affected? Rangsiman Rome: First and foremost, many countries need to work together to rescue more victims. Based on what Ive heard, over 7,000 people are currently trapped in Myawaddy, and they need urgent assistance. They should not be left there any longer. In Thailand, we have a system called NIM, which helps us separate victims from those actively involved in scam operations. It is important to conduct thorough interviews and gather detailed information to identify key figures the individuals running and operating these scam compounds. By doing this, we can target the leaders behind these crimes and, hopefully, bring them to justice in the future. Our goal is to ensure that these criminal operations do not return. However, Thailand cannot handle this problem alone. It is extremely difficult for us to combat these syndicates without international support. We need cooperation from many countries, including nations in Africa where some victims originate. By working together, we can respond more quickly, gather information more effectively, and provide translators who can communicate with victims in their native languages. This level of coordination is essential to fully dismantle these networks and ensure that they do not return in the future. The world reacts to President Donald Trumps address to Congress. A look at the impact of halting military aid to Ukraine and what it means to Kyiv. Russia is watching closely as the American relationship with Europe changes. Tariffs on imports into the United States are now in place, and the Supreme Court deals a defeat to Trump in his bid to cut foreign aid spending. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday delayed for four weeks his new 25% tariffs on most Mexican and Canadian exports to the United States, his latest maneuver in a North American trade war that has plunged stock indexes for days and roiled U.S. relations with its longtime allies and two biggest trading partners. Trump first delayed the tariffs on Mexican imports to the U.S. until April 2 after hearing directly from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on how her government had helped curb the flow of migrants and the deadly opioid fentanyl into the United States two demands made by Trump on the countrys southern neighbor. Hours later, he also paused the new duties on Canada, although what happens to the tariffs in a month on either country is unknown. Trumps latest actions came a day after he paused the tariffs on vehicle imports from the two countries after the three biggest U.S. automakers said the tariffs would have a severe financial impact on them. But investors cast an early verdict on Trumps days of whipsawing action, engaging in a broad sell-off because of the financial uncertainty. The three major U.S. stock markets dropped again on Thursday, with the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average down by more than a percentage point, the broader S&P 500 off nearly 2%, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ plunging by almost 3%. Trump said, in executive orders, that the tariffs will not be imposed on Mexican or Canadian goods imported by U.S. companies that fall under a trade agreement he reached with the two countries in 2018 during his first term in the White House. In a post on his Truth Social social media platform, Trump said he eased the tariffs on Mexican goods "as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl." Trump ended the post by saying "Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!" In a statement on Thursday, Sheinbaum said "We agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignties." Later, at a news conference, she said that during a Thursday phone call, Trump at first wanted his tariffs to stay in place. But Sheinbaum said she gave him examples of the results she had achieved in the past month, including how Mexico limited the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and how Mexican authorities had sent 29 top cartel operatives wanted by American officials to the United States. She also dispatched 10,000 troops to Mexico's northern border to try to halt the flow of migrants and drugs into the United States. "Mexico was treated with a lot of respect, and we reached this deal that benefits both nations," she said, although it remained unclear what might happen next month when the tariff pause ends. Sheinbaum had threatened retaliatory tariffs against U.S. exports to Mexico, but unlike Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had held off on announcing them as she pressed for a diplomatic solution. Trump contended that Trudeau had political motivations for attacking his imposition of the new levy on Canada. Believe it or not, despite the terrible job hes done for Canada, I think that Justin Trudeau is using the Tariff problem, which he has largely caused, in order to run again for Prime Minister.," Trump said on Truth Social. "So much fun to watch! 'We will not be backing down' Before Trump announced the pause in his tariffs on Canadian exports, Trudeau said he welcomed it, but nonetheless would keep his retaliatory tariffs in place for now. The Canadian leader said he expects Canada and the U.S. to be in a trade war for the foreseeable future after having what he called a colorful but constructive call with Trump this week. Trudeau said the two sides are "actively engaged in ongoing conversations in trying to make sure these tariffs don't overly harm" certain business sectors and workers. He also reiterated that "we will not be backing down from our response tariffs until such a time as the unjustified American tariffs on Canadian goods are lifted." 'There will be a little disturbance' Trump touched off the trade war Tuesday by imposing tariffs against Washington's three biggest trading partners, the 25% levy on Mexican and Canadian exports, while doubling an earlier 10% tax on Chinese products, to 20%. Typically, tariffs are paid to the U.S. government by importers, who then often pass on the cost of the duties to individual consumers or businesses buying their products or raw materials they need for their own operations. After Trump imposed the tariffs, all three countries swiftly announced they would retaliate with their own extra duties on U.S. goods. Canada's initial $21 billion worth of retaliatory tariffs have been applied on items such as American orange juice, peanut butter, coffee, appliances, footwear, cosmetics, motorcycles and certain pulp and paper products. Ottawa plans a further $87 billion in tariffs in three weeks on American products such as electric vehicles, fruits and vegetables, dairy, beef, pork, electronics, steel and trucks. In a speech Tuesday night to the U.S. Congress, Trump acknowledged the tariff turmoil, saying, "Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. There will be a little disturbance, but we're OK with that. It won't be much." He has said his tariff stance is aimed at pushing manufacturers operating in other countries to move their plants to the U.S., where Trump said they would no longer face tariffs. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The U.S. State Department held a flag-raising ceremony on Thursday for hostages and wrongful detainees, reaffirming the U.S. government's commitment to securing the return of American citizens and lawful permanent residents detained abroad. Our policies are 100% focused on returning people home, said Adam Boehler, President Donald Trumps special envoy for hostages. He added, You'll see some announcements in the coming days, without providing further details. President Trump is committed to bringing home all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas. This includes the Americans and all other hostages that Hamas is still holding hostage in Gaza, a State Department spokesperson told VOA. Efforts to bring them home are ongoing and sensitive we do not have any meetings to announce or readout at this time, the spokesperson said. March 9 marks 18 years since former FBI agent Robert Levinson was abducted in Iran. In recognition of this, Congress, with bipartisan support, designated the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. On Thursday, FBI Director Kash Patel said Washington is determined to "zero out" hostage cases and wrongful detentions, as well as repatriating the remains of those who could not be brought home, through diplomatic and intelligence efforts. The ceremony came a day after Trump welcomed eight former hostages who had been held by U.S.-designated terror group Hamas to the White House. On Wednesday, the White House also confirmed that U.S. officials have engaged in ongoing discussions with Hamas. The talks, held in Doha, Qatar, mark the first known direct engagement between the United States and Hamas since the State Department designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Boehler led the direct talks with Hamas, which were reportedly focused on securing the release of U.S. hostages and exploring a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza. Among the hostages still held by Hamas, five are U.S. citizens, including 21-year-old Edan Alexander, who is believed to be the last American-Israeli hostage still alive in Gaza. His mother, Yael Alexander, recently spoke at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. This is the simple truth: The situation with the hostages becomes more urgent every day, she said. They are working on Phase 2 now. We dont see it as a phase we see it as the way to bring our son home. It doesnt matter what you call it; what matters is that there is an agreement to bring the remaining hostages home as soon as possible, she said. This week, Israeli officials said that Israel is ready to move forward with the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal, provided Hamas agrees to release more of the 59 hostages it is still holding. Some information was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters. TOKYO - The daughter of Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti, who was given a life sentence on separatism-related charges in China in 2014, said recently her ongoing goal is to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the oppression her people have suffered. Jewher Ilham, 30, who was separated from her now 55-year-old father in February 2013 at a Beijing airport by Chinese authorities and currently resides in the United States, told Kyodo News she has not returned to China since that day and that her father's current location is unknown. Ilham Tohti, a former professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, was barred from leaving the country to take up a position as a visiting scholar at a U.S. college. He was then detained in January 2014 and convicted in September that year following a closed-door trial. He was accused of advocating for the independence of the far-western Xinjiang region, the ancestral home of the Uyghurs, and preaching violent resistance against the Chinese government. His sentence, finalized in November 2014, drew outrage from human rights organizations and Western governments. Ilham Tohti, who was awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament in 2019 for his fight for the rights of the Uyghur minority, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Jewher Ilham, who accepted the Sakharov Prize at a ceremony in France on behalf of her father, has called for his release and advocated for the rights of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur people. As the detention of many Uyghur people at Chinese facilities for "re-education" has come to light since 2018, Jewher Ilham said she believes conditions for the ethnic group have been "deteriorating year by year." She led the production of a 2023 documentary film collecting the stories of people from the Uyghur, Kazakh and Uzbek ethnic minorities who fled China to escape oppression. For the movie "All Static & Noise," many people "had the courage to testify about their daily lives where freedom was deprived," Jewher Ilham said. She hopes the film reaches a worldwide audience. In January this year, Jewher Ilham visited Japan for the first time and called for a legislative amendment to bring the country in line with international efforts to bar the use of products made with Uyghur forced labor and to stop rights violations. She insisted China's ruling Communist Party continues the practice of forced labor because it bolsters the world's second-largest economy. Jewher Ilham urged companies worldwide to end interactions with Chinese supply chains suspected of using slave labor. Major economies including the United States and the European Union have adopted legislation to ban imports of goods made with forced Uyghur labor. In 2022, a U.N. report said "serious human rights violations" have been committed in Xinjiang in the context of Beijing's application of strategies against terrorism and extremism, with those placed in "vocational educational and training centers" subject to torture, abuse and inhuman treatment between 2017 and 2019. However, the Chinese government rejected the report, claiming the assessment was "based on the disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces" and "completely illegal and void." In the interview, Jewher Ilham recalled how she was separated from her father, who was engaged to be a visiting scholar at the Bloomington-based Indiana University in the United States. She was meant to accompany him there. While Jewher Ilham was allowed to board a plane, her father, who was looking forward to traveling to a "land of freedom," was prevented by Chinese authorities from going through immigration. Ilham Tohti told his daughter at the time not to cry so the authorities would not think Uyghur girls are "weak." He also said she should leave China, saying, "Look at how this country treats you. Do you still want to stay in this country?" About a year later, Ilham Tohti was detained in front of his two young sons, with Chinese police storming his residence in Beijing, Jewher Ilham said. With backing from her father's friends in the United States, Jewher Ilham called for his release in media interviews and testified before Congress in April 2014, although she did not then have a good command of English. Friends of Ilham Tohti have said Jewher Ilham has taken up her father's fight for Uyghur human rights, but she said she will "never be able to reach his level" as he spoke up in a "very difficult environment," a society with "no human rights and no freedom of speech" and under "extreme oppression." Related coverage: China harassing its citizens in Japan it considers subversive: report Top diplomats from the United States and Canada held talks Wednesday that included discussion of trade, while U.S. President Donald Trump delayed a new 25% tariff on vehicle imports from Canada and Mexico for a month. The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly collaborated on shared global challenges, secure borders, reciprocal trade, and economic prosperity. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump spoke with top officials at automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis before announcing the tariff delays. She said Trump urged the automakers to move their Mexican and Canadian production to the United States to avoid the tariffs altogether. Trumps new levies on the two biggest U.S. trading partners remain in place for other products, although Leavitt said the president is open to hearing the case for other possible exemptions. Trump announced the vehicle tariff delay in a statement after speaking earlier in the day with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who, according to The Associated Press, is not willing to lift Canada's retaliatory tariffs if Trump leaves any tariffs on Canada. Doug Ford, the Ontario provincial premier, said that if the U.S. tariff on Canadian vehicle exports to the U.S. remained in place, production at Canadian auto plants would start to shut down in about 10 days. "People are going to lose their jobs," he said. The heads of Canadas provinces said they were taking action to bolster trade within Canada and with countries abroad, in order to reduce their dependence on a single market, in reference to the United States. Trump imposed the duties on Mexico and Canada on Tuesday, along with doubling tariffs on Chinese imported goods, to 20%. His action caused stock markets to plunge and threatened to boost the price of U.S. consumer goods and products that businesses need to operate. Mexico, Canada and China all said Tuesday they would retaliate against Trumps tariffs by increasing their own against U.S. products sent to their countries. Trump said on his Truth Social media platform that Trudeau called him Wednesday morning to ask what could be done about the new U.S. tax. I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped, the president wrote. He said that its gotten better, but I said, Thats not good enough. The call ended in a somewhat friendly manner! Earlier in the week, Trudeau said Canada has surged personnel and equipment to the border to stop the flow of fentanyl to the United States, as Trump had demanded as a possible path to averting the new tariff on Canadian imports. Because of this work in partnership with the United States fentanyl seizures from Canada have dropped 97% between December 2024 and January 2025 to a near-zero low of 0.03 pounds seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Trudeau said. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Bloomberg Television that Trumps new tariffs will not be fully eliminated. There are going to be tariffs, let's be clear," Lutnick said. "But what [Trump is] thinking about is which sections of the market that can maybe maybe he'll consider giving them relief until we get to, of course, April 2, when Trump has said he will impose reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world that tax imports from the U.S. The Canadian government said that nothing less than abandoning the new U.S. tariffs was acceptable. "We're not interested in meeting in the middle and having some reduced tariff. Canada wants the tariffs removed," Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In a speech Tuesday night to the U.S. Congress, Trump acknowledged the tariff turmoil, saying, Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. There will be a little disturbance, but were OK with that. It wont be much. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would announce her countrys counter-tariff increase against U.S. goods on Sunday. China placed tariffs of up to 15% on a wide array of U.S. farm exports. It also expanded the number of U.S. companies subject to export controls and other restrictions by about two dozen. Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. President Donald Trump continued to press Kyiv to sign a minerals deal Thursday and expressed confidence that Moscow was also ready to close on a deal to end the war that started when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Trump sent a message to NATO members: "If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them." He laid out his vision for how he would broker peace between the neighboring countries. "I think what's going to happen is Ukraine wants to make a deal, because I don't think they have a choice, he said. I also think that Russia wants to make a deal, because in a certain, different way, a different way that only I know, only I know, they have no choice either." And he said he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia "probably over the next month and a half." Envoy will coordinate talks Earlier in the day, Trumps special Middle East envoy said he would travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with Ukrainian representatives for talks about a ceasefire to pause Russias invasion. "We're now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh, or even potentially Jeddah," said Steve Witkoff. "The idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well." Witkoff said Trump felt Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made amends after the confrontation between the two leaders in the White House last Friday. "He felt that Zelenskyy's letter [calling the blowout regrettable] was a very positive first step. There was an apology. There was an acknowledgement that the United States has done so much for the country of Ukraine and a sense of gratitude," Witkoff said. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, was in Brussels with European leaders for emergency talks. "We will arm ourselves faster, smarter, and more efficiently than Russia," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who holds the EU's rotating presidency. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advanced a plan to loosen budget rules so that willing countries can spend much more on defense, alongside commitments to encourage the 27 member countries to invest about $863 billion in defense over the next four years. "We are very thankful that we are not alone, and these are not just words," Zelenskyy said. "We feel it. It's very important." Macron predicts 'decisive steps' French President Emmanuel Macron said ahead of the talks that EU members would "take decisive steps forward," while expressing concerns about shifts in U.S. support for Ukraine under the new Trump administration. "The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow," Macron said. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Thursday that France is sharing intelligence with Ukraine, a move that followed the United States saying it was cutting off intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Wednesday the United States had, for the moment, ended sharing its intelligence with Kyiv, although that could be short-lived after Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for peace talks with Russia. Trump earlier in the week ordered the U.S. to suspend military aid to Kyivs fighters after his meeting last week with Zelenskyy. Since the start of the war in 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with significant intelligence, including critical information its military needs for targeting Russian forces. Reaching a peace deal could prove difficult. Ukraine has long demanded a restoration of its internationally recognized 2014 borders before Moscow unilaterally seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Overall, Russia now holds about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including much of eastern Ukraine, and has vowed to not return any of it to the Kyiv government. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to censure an unrepentant Rep. Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, for disrupting President Donald Trump's address to Congress. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had Green removed from the chamber during the early moments of Trump's speech Tuesday night. Green stood and shouted at Trump after the Republican president said the Nov. 5 election had delivered a governing mandate not seen for many decades. "You have no mandate," the Houston lawmaker said, shaking a cane and refusing an order from Johnson to "take your seat, sir!" Republicans acted quickly to rebuke Green with a censure resolution that officially registers the House's deep disapproval of a member's conduct. Once such a resolution is approved by majority vote, the member is asked to stand in the well of the House while the speaker or presiding officer reads the resolution. The resolution against Green was approved in a mostly party-line vote of 224-198. Rep. Dan Newhouse, the resolution's sponsor, said it was a "necessary, but difficult step." "This resolution is offered in all seriousness, something that I believe we must do in order to get us to the next level of conduct in this hallowed chamber," said Newhouse, a Republican. It's the latest fallout of the boisterous behavior that has occurred during more recent presidential addresses to Congress. Outbursts from lawmakers have happened on both sides of the political aisle. Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat, noted that Republicans were silent when members of their conference interrupted Democratic President Joe Biden's speech last year. Some yelled "say her name" in reference to nursing student Laken Riley, as Biden spoke about immigration legislation that some lawmakers were working on. Riley was killed while running on the University of Georgia campus by a Venezuelan citizen who illegally entered the United States in 2022 and had been allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case. "Nobody apologized for interrupting Joe Biden time and again," McGovern said. "You talk about lack of decorum. Go back and look at the tapes, and there was silence from the other side." The censure resolution says Green's actions were a "breach of proper conduct" during a joint address and that his removal "after numerous disruptions." Democrats tried to table it Wednesday, but that effort failed on a party-line vote. Johnson tweeted before Thursday's vote that Green "disgraced the institution of Congress and the constituents he serves." "He deliberately violated House rules, and an expeditious vote of censure is an appropriate remedy," Johnson said. "Any Democrat who is concerned about regaining the trust and respect of the American people should join House Republicans in this effort." Green, now serving his 11th term, offered no regrets Wednesday when he explained his actions. Before speaking in his own defense from the House floor, he walked up to the Republican side of the chamber and shook Newhouse's hand. Green said he did not blame Johnson or those who had escorted him out after his outburst. "Friends, I would do it again," Green said. He explained his actions by saying Trump had indicated he had won a mandate from voters. But Green said Trump does not have a mandate to cut Medicaid, a program that many of his constituents rely on. "This is a matter of principle. This is a matter of conscience," Green said. "There are people suffering in this country because they don't have health care." He concluded his remarks by saying, "on some issues that are matters of conscience, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all." Trump said last week about the state-federal health care program: "We're not going to touch it." Some Democratic lawmakers skipped Trump's address. Others walked out during it. With tensions clearly on the rise, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York had told colleagues beforehand that "it is important to have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber." "I think Al Green was telling the truth," said Rep. Mark Takano, also a Democrat. He was among the dozens of Democrats who held up signs that said "False" and displayed other protest slogans throughout Trump's speech. Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who was speaker during Trump's first term, recalled her own memorable moment during a Trump address when she ripped his speech up after he handed it to her following his address. "Everybody has to make their expression of how they see things. I think we should keep our focus on the president's speech," Pelosi said. The U.S. government will stop sharing air quality data gathered from its embassies and consulates, worrying local scientists and experts who say the effort was vital to monitor global air quality and improve public health. In response to an inquiry from The Associated Press, the State Department said Wednesday that its air quality monitoring program would no longer transmit air pollution data from embassies and consulates to the Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow app and other platforms, which allowed locals in various countries, along with scientists around the world, to see and analyze air quality. The change was "due to funding constraints that have caused the Department to turn off the underlying network" the department said in a statement. However, it added, embassies and consulates were directed to keep their monitors running and the sharing of data could resume if funded is restored. The funding cut, first reported by The New York Times, is one of many under President Donald Trump. The U.S. air quality monitors measured dangerous fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and lead to respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and premature death. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year. Reaction was immediate from scientists who said the data were reliable, allowed for air quality monitoring around the world and helped prompt governments to clean up the air. Bhargav Krishna, an air pollution expert at New Delhi-based Sustainable Futures Collaborative, called the loss of data "a big blow" to air quality research. "They were part of a handful of sensors in many developing countries and served as a reference for understanding what air quality was like," Krishna said. "They were also seen to be a well-calibrated and unbiased source of data to cross-check local data if there were concerns about quality," he added. "It's a real shame," said Alejandro Piracoca Mayorga, a Bogota-based freelance air quality consultant. U.S. embassies and consulates in Lima, Sao Paulo and Bogota had the air monitoring. "It was a source of access to air quality information independent of local monitoring networks. They provided another source of information for comparison." Khalid Khan, an environmental expert and advocate based in Pakistan, agreed, saying the shutdown of air quality monitoring will "have significant consequences." Khan noted that the monitors in the city of Peshawar in Pakistan, one of the most polluted cities in the world, "provided crucial real-time data" which helped policymakers, researchers and the public to make decisions on their health. "Their removal means a critical gap in environmental monitoring, leaving residents without accurate information on hazardous air conditions," Khan said. He said vulnerable people in Pakistan and around the world are particularly at risk because they are the least likely to have access to other reliable data. In Africa, the program provided air quality data for over a dozen countries including Senegal, Nigeria, Chad and Madagascar. Some of those countries depend almost entirely on the U.S. monitoring systems for their air quality data. The WHO's air quality database will also be affected by the closing of U.S. program. Many poor countries don't track air quality because stations are too expensive and complex to maintain, meaning they are entirely reliant on U.S. embassy monitoring data. In some places, however, the U.S. air quality monitors propelled nations to start their own air quality research and raised awareness, Krishna said. In China, for example, data from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing famously contradicted official government reports, showing worse pollution levels than authorities acknowledged. It led to China improving air quality. The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) announced a new roadmap to peace following the call of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan for his group to disarm. The plan by DEM will include meetings in 101 cities in Turkey and Kurdish regions to discuss Ocalan's call. DEM Party Deputy Co-Chair Ozturk Turkdogan said, "In order for Ocalan to fulfill his call, his conditions must be corrected." Click here for the full story in Kurdish. The third session of the 14th National People's Congress of China opened on March 5, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the government work report, setting the 2025 economic growth target at about 5%, mirroring last year's goal. However, analysts express skepticism over the country ability to reach the goal because of domestic economic challenges and external pressures from ongoing U.S.-China tariff disputes. Click here for the full story in Mandarin. Next Close Previous Next Human rights sources reported on March 6 that five prisoners were executed in Tabriz and Ardabil. Additionally, the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic carried out the executions of three more people in the prisons of Hamedan, Qom and Qazvin. Click here for full story in Persian. Azad Peikarifar, a political inmate in Evin prison, was transferred to Taleghani hospital in Tehran after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Arsham Rezaei is still in a solitary confinement, an informed source told VOA Persian. Click here for the full story in Persian. A group of senior U.S. officials, led by Vice President JD Vance, arrived at the country's southern border on Wednesday to observe surveillance operations. Meanwhile, in Washington, Democratic mayors answered questions from legislators related to immigration. Click here for the full story in Spanish. KANAZAWA, Japan - A man who served a seven-year sentence for the 1986 murder of a 15-year-old girl in central Japan is almost certain to be acquitted in a retrial held at a high court branch, with the hearing on Thursday concluding the same day. During the first retrial hearing at the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court, Shoshi Maekawa, 59, once again pleaded not guilty, saying, "I am not the culprit by any means." The ruling will be handed down on July 18. Prosecutors insisted that Maekawa is guilty, but did not present new evidence, which means that the Kanazawa branch will come up with a conclusion based on evidence that was shown during court deliberations that resulted in the start of the retrial. Maekawa was accused of murdering the junior high school student at her home in Fukui Prefecture in March 1986 after a quarrel. The Fukui District Court acquitted him in 1990, but the Kanazawa branch convicted him in 1995, a ruling that was later finalized. There was no direct evidence linking Maekawa to the murder. He has maintained his innocence and filed two requests for retrial since 2004, after serving his term. The start of the retrial was decided in October last year, after the credibility of the testimonies from Maekawa's acquaintances, including a statement claiming to have seen him with blood on his person, was called into question. During Thursday's hearing, prosecutors argued that the testimonies were "generally" reliable, while Maekawa's defense team contended they were "far from" reliable. Related coverage: Retrial for man in 1986 murder case likely to result in acquittal 1986 Japan murder case to reopen as prosecutors give up appeal Japan court orders retrial of man over 1986 schoolgirl murder The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. In a wide-ranging speech, U.S. President Donald Trump laid out his vision for the key issues facing the country. VOAs congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson spoke to lawmakers about Trumps plans for the economy, immigration and U.S. foreign policy. The last two weeks, we have experienced a turning point in History comparable to that of the Battle of Berlin, in April-May 1945, when the Red Army took Berlin and overthrew the Third Reich: this time, it was the Trump administration which definitively put the European Union back on the ropes. For the moment, the EU, the G7 and the G20 have not yet been dissolved, but these three structures are already dead. The World Bank and the United Nations could follow. Lets look back at these events, which happened so quickly that almost none of us followed them and understood their consequences. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 The major European powers (i.e. Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and the European Union), who feared what the Trump administration might decide, met in Paris on February 12 to develop a common position on the Ukrainian conflict. In this case, they agreed to continue what they have been doing for three years: deny having violated the commitments made during German reunification not to extend NATO to the East, - deny that Ukraine is in the hands of integral nationalists (i.e. the party of Nazi collaborators) -and continue the Second World War, no longer against the Nazis, but against the Russians. Meanwhile, in Kiev, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented the US aid bill: $500 billion and proposed paying it by exploiting the rare earths of which the country is proud. I have already explained that this proposal was only a response from the shepherd to the shepherdess: Ukraine having falsely claimed to ultimately offer Westerners the opportunity to exploit these riches which do not exist. However, from a European point of view, what was going on was frightening: if the United States seized these so-called riches, they excluded the Europeans from benefiting from the sharing they had agreed upon. Without informing their fellow citizens, they shared Ukraine between them during its reconstruction: to the British, the ports, to the Germans, the mines, etc. They had already done this during the invasions of Iraq and Libya and during the war against Syria. Above all, while Washington and Moscow were exchanging prisoners, the American presidents, Donald Trump, and Russian presidents, Vladimir Putin, spoke by telephone for an hour and a half. This summit was preceded by a conversation, in the Kremlin, between President Putin and Steve Wilkoff, President Trumps special envoy who came to organize the prisoner exchange. Wilkoff had given his president a report on his mission that shattered everything NATO claimed to know about Ukraine. Both bosses now had the same information. The direct line between the White House and the Kremlin had just been reestablished. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 On February 14, the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, addressed the diplomatic and military elite of the EU at the Security Conference in Munich. He drew up an indictment against the autism of European leaders: They refuse to respond to the concerns of their fellow citizens in terms of freedom of expression and immigration. However, if they are afraid of their people, the United States will be able to do nothing for them, he asserted, making the president of the conference, the German ambassador Christoph Heusgen, cry. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 A second meeting was held on February 17, still in Paris, with the same participants, plus Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO. They agreed to stand together against Donald Trump and not to accept any questioning of Western policy towards Russia. Olaf Scholz, outgoing German chancellor, declared after the summit: There must be no division of security and responsibility between Europe and the United States. NATO is built on the fact that we always act together and share risks []. This should not be questioned. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, said: No matter what everyone may say to each other, sometimes in harsh words [], there is no reason why the Allies cannot find a common language among themselves on the most important issues. [It is] in the interest of Europe and the United States to cooperate as closely as possible. Also on February 17, the Ukrainian army attacked US, Israeli and Italian interests in Russia. It bombed facilities partially owned by Chevron (15%), ExxonMobil (7.5%) and ENI (2%). Around twenty drones caused serious damage to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which supplies Israel with Russian oil. The Europeans reacted no more to this operation than when the CIA sabotaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline (September 26, 2022), although it is owned not only by the Russian Gazprom (50%), but also by the Germans BASF/Wintershall and Uniper, the French Engie, the Austrian OMV and the British Royal Dutch Shell. This sabotage has thrown Germany into an economic recession, which continues to spread to the rest of the EU, not to mention increasing energy prices for all EU households. In both cases (the Nord Stream sabotage and the CPC attack), the Europeans were unable to defend their interests. They successively let their main ally hurt them, then their allies fight each other. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 The European powers learned with astonishment that, at their first meeting in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), on February 18, the US and Russian delegations agreed: to denazify and neutralize Ukraine, to respect the commitments made during German reunification and to withdraw NATO troops from all countries that joined the Atlantic Alliance after 1990. President Trump had suddenly abandoned the plan of General Keith Kellogg, his special envoy for Ukraine, as it had been published in April 2024 by the America First Foundation. On the contrary, he had used the plan of his friend Steve Witkoff, special envoy for the Middle East, who had met Vladimir Putin in Moscow through the Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman (known as MBS), hence the choice of Riyadh for these negotiations. Kellogg reasoned with NATOs ideas, while Witkoff listened, heard and verified the validity of the Russian position. The European powers were quickly able to verify that the order to withdraw had been transmitted to certain US troops, in the Baltic countries and in Poland. The security architecture in Europe, that is to say the system ensuring peace, was destroyed. Of course, there is no immediate threat of invasion, Russian or Chinese, but in the long term and given the time required for rearmament, everyone must immediately prepare for the best or the worst. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 On February 19, EU ambassadors approved the 16th package of unilateral coercive measures (misleadingly called sanctions by Atlantic propaganda) against Russia. It was to be officially approved on February 24 by the Foreign Affairs Council on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. In addition, the EU decided to disconnect 13 banks from the Swift system and to ban three financial institutions from trading. In addition, 73 ships of the Russian ghost fleet were sanctioned, and 11 Russian ports and airports that circumvent the oil price cap were banned from trading. Finally, 8 Russian media outlets also had their broadcasting licenses in the EU suspended. Meanwhile, on the same day, February 19, President Donald Trump vented his anger at his unelected Ukrainian counterpart, calling him a modestly successful comedian and an unelected dictator, and then accusing him of provoking the war. Meanwhile, General Kellogg, the White Houses special envoy to Kiev, canceled his press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky. The Trump administration had broken with the Kiev government that the Biden administration had praised to the skies. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Libertarian Senator Mike Lee (Utah) introduced a bill in the Senate on February 20 to completely withdraw the United States from the United Nations. Representative Chip Roy (Texas) introduced the same bill in the House of Representatives the following day. While President Donald Trump is a Jacksonian (i.e., a disciple of Andrew Jackson, who wanted to replace war with business), Washington has now embraced American exceptionalism. This is a political theology according to which the United States is a chosen people who must bring the light they have received to the rest of the world. As such, they do not have to negotiate anything with others and especially not be accountable to them. American exceptionalism should not be confused with the isolationism that led the Senate to refuse to join the League of Nations in 1920. This organization, unlike the UN that succeeded it, had provided for military solidarity between states that recognized international law. Consequently, the United States would have had to maintain troops to maintain peace in Europe and the Europeans could have intervened in Latin America (Washingtons backyard according to the Monroe Doctrine) to maintain peace there. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Without waiting, Polish President Andrzej Duda went to Washington uninvited on February 22. He managed to meet President Donald Trump for ten minutes, not at the White House, but on the sidelines of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). He asked him not to withdraw US troops from his country, giving Poland time to complete its military restructuring. Since Warsaw has already initiated a profound internal revolution by reestablishing universal military service and building a very large army, he managed to get him to postpone, not cancel, his order. Andrzej Duda is Polish President, at least until the May elections. Constitutionally, he does not exercise executive power, but he is nonetheless the head of the armed forces. His Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, had promised in Paris not to negotiate separately with the United States. So, whatever one might say, the united front of the Europeans was broken. It had only lasted ten days. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24 On the third anniversary of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, on February 24, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, issued a completely out-of-place joint statement. In it, they called for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the Ukrainian peace formula, meaning they stuck to the old narrative: there are no Nazis in Ukraine and Russia is the aggressor. In doing so, they contradicted not only the facts, but also the recent statements of their economic and military overlord, the United States. On the same day, French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Washington, on behalf of all Atlanticist Europeans. Before receiving him, President Donald Trump had his chief of staff take him to a wing of the White House to participate in a G7 video conference that he was chairing from another room. For two hours, the heads of state and government of the G7, plus the Spanish Prime Minister and the unelected Ukrainian president, tried in vain to make their overlord relent. He would not budge: the Ukrainian conflict was not started by Russia, but by the Ukrainian fundamentalist nationalists hiding behind Zelensky alone. In any case, as a matter of principle, it is not possible to defend people who have just attacked US interests, even if they are located in Russia. To make himself clearly understood, Donald Trump refused to sign the final communique prepared by the Europeans and announced to them that, if this text were published (it had already been distributed under embargo to journalists), he would deny it and his country would leave the G7. Only after this scandal did he receive President Emmanuel Macron. The latter chose not to confront him, but to celebrate transatlantic friendship. At the joint press conference, he interrupted his host when the latter repeated that Ukraine, not Russia, had provoked the war, but ultimately did not dare contradict him. Meanwhile, in New York, the UN General Assembly was debating a resolution proposed by Ukraine. It denounced the total invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and demanded that it withdraw immediately, completely and unconditionally all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within the internationally recognized borders of the country and that the hostilities conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in particular all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, cease immediately. For the first time in history since World War II, the US delegation voted against a text, along with that of Russia, against those of Canada, the Europeans and Japan who approved it. Then, the United States presented a second resolution itself so that the conflict be ended as soon as possible. This text aimed to align the General Assembly with the position of the US negotiators in Riyadh. But Russia voted against it because the text advocates for a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation and not for a lasting peace within Ukraine. As a result, the United States, considering that it had poorly drafted its proposal, abstained on its own text, while Canada, the Europeans and Japan condemned it. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, travelled to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting, which had been announced for a long time, was cancelled at the last minute by Mr Rubios secretariat, officially due to his overbooked schedule. Ms Kallas said that instead, she would meet with senators and () members of Congress to discuss Russias war against Ukraine and transatlantic relations. After EU members voted against the US at the UN, the Secretary of State refused to meet his European counterpart. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 At a press conference in Kiev, Volodymyr Zelensky assured on February 26 that without security guarantees from the United States and NATO, any peace agreement would be unfair and there would be no real ceasefire. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27 Before leaving Washington, Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, gave a lecture at the Hudson Institute on February 27. She said: We need to put pressure on Russia to also want peace. It is in a position where it does not want peace. Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister, went to the White House, carrying an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit to the United Kingdom. Her Majestys diplomats believe that President Trump greatly enjoyed the first and that, given his pride, he would be sensitive to the pomp of the Crown. During the two leaders press conference, President Trump claimed not to remember calling Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator (Did I say that? I cant believe I said it!). In addition, he expressed openness to the idea of the 25% tariff hike not affecting the United Kingdom and to London returning the Chagos Islands (including the Diego Garcia base) to Mauritius. On the substance, Keir Starmer managed to renew his countrys "special relationship" with the United States. This includes the "Five Eyes" global interception and espionage system and the delegation of the strike force (remember that the British atomic bomb could not work without the support of US military scientists). Meanwhile, US and Russian negotiators met for six and a half hours at the US Consulate General in Istanbul for a second round of negotiations, at a "technical level". It was not a question of progress on the substance, but of resolving problems that had been addressed by the ministers in Riyadh. Namely, the operating conditions of the respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, which President Joe Biden had considerably supervised and to which Moscow had responded identically. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 The unelected Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, visited the White House on February 28. President Trump and Vice President Vance received him, not to listen to his version of events, but to sign an agreement on rare earths that Ukraine claims to possess. Of course, he could not have done so, since they do not exist, but it was a way for the Trump administration to show the man who is no longer known whether it considers him a democrat or a dictator that he no longer had any cards in his hand. The welcome press briefing will be remembered. The Western press was shocked by the altercation between President Trump and his guest. We must be wary of images here: they do not say the same thing at all if we stick to a selected excerpt or if we listen to the entire exchange. In an excerpt, we remember the arguments that are stated, while overall, we understand why they are stated. During the fifty minutes of this press briefing, President Donald Trump constantly recalled that he was not aligned with either party, Russian or Ukrainian, but that he was negotiating with Russia to defend the interests of his country and, ultimately, for all of Humanity. As President of the United States, he speaks with everyone, is careful not to insult anyone and recognizes the positive points of each. On the contrary, Volodymyr Zelensky has constantly accused Russia of aggression since 2014, of murders, kidnappings and torture. He even claimed that President Vladimir Putin had violated his own signature 15 times. Contrary to what the Western press saw, this press briefing did not focus on military aid, rare earths and even less on a division of territories. It escalated when Vice President Vance noted that his hosts narrative was propaganda, then returned to the charge, declaring of both versions of the facts: We know youre wrong! Ultimately, President Trump noted that Ukraine was in bad shape and that his guest not only was not grateful for U.S. support, but did not want a ceasefire. Exasperated, he observed that Vladimir Putin had never violated his signature, neither with Barack Obama nor with him, but only with Joe Biden because of what the latter did to him. He then recalled the repeated false accusations made against Russia by President Biden. SUNDAY, MARCH 2 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Europe is at a crossroads of history as he welcomed to Downing Street the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Romania, as well as the Turkish foreign minister, the NATO secretary general and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council. The UK and France are competing to replace the US and guarantee peace on the European continent. Both countries are said to be prepared to guarantee the security of others with their nuclear weapons. However, no one seriously considers that these would be sufficient to ensure peace in the absence of serious conventional forces, which neither London nor Paris has. At most, Warsaw began reorganising its armies and generalising conscription for its young people more than two years ago, but it still does not have enough weapons. After the meeting, which aimed to create a coalition of the willing, Keir Starmer said on behalf of all participants: Today I welcomed to London counterparts from across Europe, including from Turkiye, as well as the Secretary General of NATO and the Presidents of the European Commission, the Council of the EU and Canada, to discuss our support for Ukraine. Together, we reaffirmed our determination to work towards a permanent peace in Ukraine, in partnership with the United States. Europes security is our primary responsibility. We will tackle this historic task and increase our investment in our own defence. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past when weak agreements allowed President Putin to invade again. We will work with President Trump to secure a strong, just, and lasting peace that ensures Ukraines future sovereignty and security. Ukraine must be able to defend itself against future Russian attacks. There must be no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine. We agreed that the United Kingdom, France, and others will work with Ukraine on a plan to end the fighting that we will discuss further with the United States and move forward together () In addition, many of us have expressed our readiness to contribute to Ukraines security, including through a force of European and other partners, and will intensify our planning. We will continue to work closely together to advance next steps and make decisions in the weeks ahead. The participants in this summit have not changed their analysis of the Ukrainian conflict at all. They remain deaf to the United States and, as a result, no longer understand it. They managed to unite not to deploy a peace stabilisation force in Ukraine, but to protect critical infrastructure in western Ukraine or in similar strategic areas. They agreed not to make fragmented national efforts, but to take advantage of the economic power of the European Union (EU) by redirecting its recovery funds. They therefore convened a special European Council on March 6. However, to transform the EU from a common market to a military alliance, they will need not a majority, but the unanimity of the 27 Member States, including Hungary and Slovakia. And yet, already, Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, has responded to the draft final declaration of the European Council by stressing that there are strategic differences between the EU states. He therefore advocates that there should be no written conclusions, because "any attempt to do so would project the image of a divided European Union." If you ask me, one of the biggest flexes for a writer is to wind up on a banned-booked list that means you must really be cooking. Not that its that hard to end up on one of those lists these days. Last year, banning attempts were up by a record-breaking 65 percent. But whats interesting from a cultural perspective versus a historical one is that the average person doesnt tend to care so deeply about which titles are available in the library to go as far as advocating censorship (in a country famous for its First Amendment, this always feels like a dirty word). Sure, we all remember the kids in school who werent allowed to read Harry Potter or parroted their parents belief that one cartoon or another was devil-worshipping propaganda, but at least from my personal experience, these were fringe opinions. Conversely, one study showed that most parents think book bans actually interfere with their right to make decisions for their kids. Although censorship dominates headlines year after year, research by the Washington Post showed that between 2021 and 2022, a mere 11 people were responsible for a whopping 60 percent of banning attempts. A few years ago in Wisconsin, one parents determination led to a school district temporarily removing more than 400 titles from their libraries. Parents often cite obscenity laws and the intention of protecting their children from certain ideas as justification for banning books, coinciding with a surge in discourse surrounding parental rights. And if we know anything about Americans, sometimes all it takes is one person to galvanize a movement of people who havent done their research. Tonights episode of Abbott tackles this hot topic with a disgruntled parent of its own who opens the floodgates when she demands the library remove a book called The Sassy Wizard Kid from its shelves. True to form, the show handles censorship in a light-hearted fashion with its usual silly humor that presents serious discourse in the least divisive way possible. In reality, the majority of targeted books are authored by individuals from marginalized communities or include storylines about race, sexuality, gender, and violence. While The Sassy Wizard Kid doesnt involve such politicized subjects its a hilariously satirized Black version of Harry Potter about a kid named Jamiroquai Gemstone who grew up in a magical barbershop in Atlanta the plot gets to the meat of the issue by exploring how trying to ban one book creates a snowball effect detrimental to student development. The parent in question is Crystal, the brains behind Forever Bitch Apparel, who protests the book, saying that as a Christian (who has the word bitch tattooed on her chest), shes against the depiction of magic and the way the wizard talks to his parents not that she read the book; these are all opinions she has absorbed from a subreddit called Black Mamas on the Watch. Ava, Barbara, and our favorite librarian Rosalyn Inez disagree with Crystals stance on the book. Still, Crystal is determined to keep it away from the students, threatening to take the matter to the district. As VP of the PTA, Crystal has some clout in the districts eyes, and after the fumble during the budget meeting, Ava doesnt want to ruffle feathers and concedes. Upon hearing about the ban, Tariq storms into Abbott, confronting the teachers about removing the book his son was going to read him that night. Tariq then makes a demand of his own, requesting The 48 Laws of Power the one book that should make you run the other way if you see it on the shelf of someone youre dating as a new addition to the library. Barbara remarks that this is what happens when we let parents dictate our literary offerings, but Ava promises to find a compromise to bring The Sassy Wizard Kid back to the shelves. For a moment, Tariq finds a way to cut corners and keep the title in circulation by creating a book speak-easy diversion shelf, complete with a curtain containing a screen-printed image of non-banned books to hide The Sassy Wizard Kid. But the jig is up when a student loudly tries to return his copy of the illicit material while Crystal is volunteering in the library. Things escalate between Crystal and Tariq who then put pressure on the staff at Abbott to come to a solution. Fed up, Rosalyn closes the library, declaring that the door will remain locked until the school figures something out. With no other choices, Ava calls a PTA meeting to find a resolution democratically. Once the issue is put to a vote that results in a tie, parents who never uttered a word about The Sassy Wizard Kid start campaigning to have it removed, eliciting all kinds of opinions about what options should be available to the students. As Barbara, Ava, and Rosalyn try to appease the parents, Melissa deals with the consequences of being noncommittal. She runs into her ex-flame Gary, whom she ended things with after his proposal attempt last season. During their catchup, Gary invites her to his upcoming wedding, prompting Melissa to ask her current casual fling Captain Robinson to be her plus-one. Melissas perplexed when Robinson says hes busy that day, as hes going on a date with someone else, and he reminds her that shes the one who suggested keeping things casual. This sends Melissa into a spiral involving calling Robinsons new girl a slut, so Barbara and Jacob force her to realize her very real feelings for the fireman. In her version of a grand romantic gesture, Melissa pays Mr. Johnson to pull the fire alarm to bring the captain to the school. She allows herself to be vulnerable, a change in pace from her usual nonchalant energy. Captain Robinson agrees to exclusivity, though he says he now has to arrest Mr. Johnson for falsely triggering the alarm. Back in the PTA meeting, things spiral out of control after one father says if the book stays, he sees no reason why we cant introduce the children to Steve Harveys entire oeuvre (which Tariq says would pair exquisitely with The 48 Laws of Power) and that what they should truly ban is Clifford the Big Red Dog. Another parent suggests banning The Little Prince due to its promotion of French values, and soon 34 other books are up on the chopping block. Finally, Barbara takes the bull by the horns and employs her usual sage wisdom, telling the parents that while its possible to find a problem with any title, there are so many ideas in these books that your children will never experience or learn from if you dont let them read. Then Ava connects Barbaras sentiment with a passage from The Sassy Wizard, which teaches children to have a growth mind-set, finally opening Crystals mind to why they love the book so much. Crystal admits she opposed The Sassy Wizard Kid because she doesnt want her child reading something that teaches her to be disrespectful to adults. Here, Barbara and Ava truly break it down, telling Crystal that its her responsibility to talk to her child about such things, not the schools. As a former chair of the American Library Associations Intellectual Freedom Committee once wrote, Censorship is about control. Intellectual freedom is about respect. The best way we can protect our children is by giving them the tools and the respect to explore new ideas at their own pace, trusting them to make the right decisions for themselves based on our guidance as adults. By the conclusion of the meeting, the parents have come to a unanimous decision to reopen the library without outside interference. Its not the only thing they all agree on: Once Barbara starts testifying about a book that all of yall can read next, referring to the Bible, everyone scatters as quickly as they came. Teachers Notes The Gregory subplot about finding a new gig was a bit boring and slightly depressing considering how bad the job market is, but its been great seeing Janine and Gregory grow as a couple and support each others journey. Plus, Janines angry texts littered with multiple LOLs were so on brand for her character. Gregorys cold open, on the other hand, was impeccable! Finally, my favorite lines from tonight: Barbara: This is going to end worse than the end of the New Testament. Ava: Do I look like Ms. Inez to you? Do you see an Arbys logo on my dome? Jacob after interrupting a reading of The Sassy Wizard: Allies should be seen, not heard. Clockwise from top left: Sinners, Parthenope, F1 the Movie, The Life of Chuck, and Thunderbolts. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Everett Collection (Dan Anderson/Neon, Scott Garfield/Warner Bros., Marvel/Walt Disney Studios), Warner Bros., Gianni Fiorito/A24 When assessing the year in movies, people will often point to lists of whats topped the box office. Its all spinoffs and sequels and soulless Disney live-action adaptations, theyll say. Its a bad year for movies, theyll insist. Your duty will be to remind them of the difference between a box-office top-ten list and a best-movies-of-the-year list. (Feel free to send them this one as an example.) Many of the strongest, most generous, and most daring films dont rake in hundreds of millions. Some films do both the R-rated miracle Sinners proved just a few months ago that audiences are still hungry for original stories, for instance. But many other must-sees make a quieter entrance. Vultures film critics have kept abreast of it all. Here, theyll guide you through the must-sees of the last few months. All movies are listed by U.S. release date with the most recent movies up top. F1 The Movie Photo: Warner Bros./Everett Collection Director Joseph Kosinski has always been captivated by the relationship between humans and technology, which makes an ideal starting point for a movie about the world of Formula One racing, where a thousand people come together to assemble and service insanely high-tech, high-performance vehicles and then put them in the hands of one driver to push, improvise, and maybe even cheat a little to try and win. That probably explains the actual production of this movie as well: With the sheer number of angles and positions Kosinski captures in and around the cars, he achieves a sense of total immersion for the viewer. The story itself focuses on the conflict and cooperation between teammates/rivals Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) and Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) one a rookie upstart fully integrated into the Formula One machine, the other a broken man with a past who bypasses the tech and tries to gain a human, unpredictable edge over the competition. Thats a tried-and-true summer-movie formula, but Kosinski, who trained as an architect before becoming a filmmaker, has an eye for how space defines character and emotion. That makes him uniquely able to convey the emotional textures of living in our tech-drenched world; all his films are steeped in the melancholy romance of the post-human. He captures both the terror and the fearsome beauty of a world that doesnt need us anymore. Bilge Ebiri Read Alison Wilmores review of F1 and Bilge Ebiris talk with filmmaker Joseph Kosinski on the movies backstory. Familiar Touch Photo: Music Box Films/Everett Collection Theres something so generous of spirit about Sarah Friedlands feature debut, which takes place in the retirement home that Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant) moves into after her dementia makes it impossible for her to continue living alone, and includes the participation of some of the real facilitys residents. Ruth a ferociously independent former chef is initially resistant to the place, turning the industrial kitchen into a workplace and her physician (Andy McQueen) into a suitor. But Familiar Touch treats her journey of acceptance not as a loss, but as another stage of life, one in which the past is closer than ever. Alison Willmore Read Alison Willmores full review of Familiar Touch. How to Train Your Dragon Photo: DreamWorks/Universal Pictures/Everett Collection If one thing has defined most of the live-action remakes of animated classics weve gotten over the past decade, its been a general sense of pointlessness. They might be lucrative, but all too often they feel artistically bankrupt, technological boondoggles that cant hold a whisper to their originals. Now comes the rare live-action remake that makes sense with human actors and actual locations. Directed by Dean DeBlois (who co-directed the original), the film scrupulously sticks to the animated versions narrative formula about a kindly young Viking (Mason Thames) who isnt quite the dragon slayer that his chieftain father (Gerard Butler) wants him to be. Then our hero traps and wounds a Night Fury, a uniquely evasive and dangerous breed of dragon, and winds up secretly befriending it. The film feels at times like a shot-for-shot remake and wisely so. With the added weight of actual locations and actual actors, the movie gains resonance and grandeur. Swooping over the inlets and forests and thundering cliffs of Northern Ireland (standing in for the films fictional island of Berk and other Scandinavian environs), were reminded that theres value in the real, even in the context of a VFX-filled childrens fantasy about magic dragons. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of How to Train Your Dragon. The Life of Chuck Photo: Dan Anderson/Neon/Everett Collection Based on a short story by Stephen King, Mike Flanagans film begins as a disaster movie with news about earthquakes splintering off California, species extinctions, famines, and other worldwide calamities before it becomes something totally different, an intricately structured story about the life of one seemingly unremarkable man. The Life of Chuck, it turns out, isnt one of Kings works of suspense. Rather, it swims in that same get busy living or get busy dying carpe diem current as another classic King adaptation, Frank Darabonts The Shawshank Redemption. We eventually understand that the apocalypse were watching is really just the dimming inner life of the dying 39-year-old Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) in a hospital. But who exactly is he? As the film, moving backward in time, delves further into Chucks childhood, this story about learning to appreciate life manages to present us with a compellingly slippery idea of what life actually is. Get on its wavelength, and it might break you. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of The Life of Chuck Meeting With Pol Pot Photo: Strand Releasing/Everett Collection The Cambodian director Rithy Panh, who as a boy lost his whole family to the Khmer Rouge genocide of the 1970s, has understandably made the countrys grim history one of the central subjects of his filmmaking career. In Meeting With Pol Pot, he presents a fictionalized version of a 1978 visit by three foreign journalists to Cambodia, which was closed off to the world after the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975 and relocated the population to brutal agrarian work camps. Rithys aim goes beyond a history lesson, however. This film is about something more alive, more present tense. Among the three visitors is a socialist academic who knew Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot when they were student activists in Paris, and hes excited to learn more about the utopia of the newly christened Democratic Kampuchea, and to push back against what he sees as biased, anti-communist propaganda in the western press. We can sense this mans touching desire to see his ideals succeed in a real-world setting, as well as the nostalgia that underpins this longing, a solidarity born from the vibrant, idealistic protests of the 1950s and 60s. Rithy has made several films about the Cambodian victims of the Khmer Rouge era, but here the focus seems to be on the crucible of disillusionment through which everyone must pass when the world ceases to cohere with our vision of it. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Meeting With Pol Pot. Ballerina Photo: Murray Close/Lionsgate/Everett Collection Look, the first half of this Ana de Armasled John Wick spinoff? Rote action sequences and an uninspired set-up drain the life out of a gleefully brutal franchise with some backstory no one asked for. But the second half oh, that second half, starting from the grenade fight onward, is pure bliss. I dont know how much truth there is to the rumors about Chad Stahelski effectively taking over for credited director Len Wiseman during reshoots, but its undeniable that the latter parts of the movie arent just dramatically better, but contain sequences that rank up there with the highlights from the original series, especially the flamethrower fight, which is absurdly over-the-top and unexpectedly beautiful. A.W. Read Alison Willmores full review of Ballerina. The Ballad of Suzanne Cesaire Photo: Cinema Guild/Everett Collection Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlichs film isnt a biopic about anti-colonialist writer Suzanne Cesaire wife of the better-known politician and poet Aime Cesaire so much as it is a deft, fascinating work of reclamation. Zita Hanrot plays Cesaire, who was born in Martinique and studied in France, but she also appears as herself, a new mother taking care of her baby between takes, and addressing the camera to point out that they are making a film about an artist who didnt want to be remembered. Aside from the seven articles Cesaire wrote for Tropiques, the literary journal she helped found, the only writing of hers that has survived are her letters, because she destroyed everything else an enigmatic act of self-erasure that The Ballad of Suzanne Cesaire grapples with beautifully, marrying readings from Cesaires work with lush imagery of her Caribbean home. A.W. Pavements Photo: Utopia/Everett Collection Alex Ross Perrys ingenious documentary is about the idea of Pavement as much as it is about the band itself. In fact, the parts tracking the rise, demise, and reformation of the influential alternate-rock band are the least interesting aspect of Pavements, because Perry (per the demands of the films structure) plays them straight. Its the stuff braided into the expected material thats most alive a fake biopic starring Stranger Thingss Joe Keery as front man Stephen Malkmus, the production of a Pavement jukebox musical called Slanted! Enchanted!, and the construction of a Pavement museum. That none of these things would be true to the band as it was in its 90s heyday is the point, when theres no controlling what people continue to make of your music and memory out of its original context. In the best (staged) scene, a laconic Malkmus grumbles in a post-screening Q&A about how the movie version of his life boils him down to fears about selling out, swearing those werent major concerns at the time. Alison Willmore Read Nate Joness answers to all your Pavements questions. Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Photo: Sony Pictures Classics Despite its title, Laura Pianis endearing romantic comedy is as much about nature as it is about literature. Amid its charming ruminations on books and writing and ambition and love, what comes through most vividly is a distinct sense of place. It begins amid the dense, cloistered shelves of Pariss storied Shakespeare & Co. bookstore but finds romantic entanglement against the damp foliage and dim light of southern England (though it was apparently shot entirely in France). Its a movie about finding your place, and quite appropriately, its steeped in atmosphere. Its protagonist, Agathe (Camille Rutherford), is an introverted bookstore employee and aspiring author who dreams of romance but refuses to engage with life. When she heads to the Jane Austen Writing Residency, hosted in England by the descendants of the legendary author, we get the sweet, romantic complications we used to get in movies all the time. Agathe says shes living in the wrong century. Shes thinking, of course, about the 19th century, but the film itself feels out of place and out of time in the best possible way. Bilge Ebiri Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning Photo: Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection For years, the Mission: Impossible movies stood as a welcome bulwark against the world-building extravagance of Hollywoods franchise craze, but the dam breaks astonishingly with the latest installment, which opens with an hour of so much garbled portent and series callbacks that you might wonder if an AI trained on recent movie cliches might have written it. Luckily, Final Reckoning does eventually recover from the calamity of its first hour to give us an entertaining Mission: Impossible movie. It achieves this by tuning out the broody chatter of its first act and giving us a lengthy, ingenious (and refreshingly silent) sequence inside a sunken submarine, a wreck whose unstable spot on the seafloor ensures that our hero will wind up bouncing and rolling around a room inconveniently filled with floating torpedoes. These movies are driven by Cruise doing his Buster Keaton best to look simultaneously graceful and ridiculous in extreme physical circumstances; this whole sequence, with its endless series of stately underwater mishaps, ranks among the seriess greatest. The obligatory, advance-marketed stunt, which has Cruise hanging off the wings of a prop plane, is also sensational. In the end, the most suspenseful conflict in The Final Reckoning might be the one that appears to have happened behind the scenes, between the clear human dedication to art and craft that shines through its most suspenseful moments and the sloppy opportunism of trying to retrofit a mythology onto these. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning, James Grebeys explanation of the ending, and Keith Phippss ranking of every Mission: Impossible. Sister Midnight Photo: Magnolia Pictures/Everett Collection Karan Kandharis colorful, odd, genre-inflected comedy-drama Sister Midnight, about the frustrations of a young woman, comes by its tonal shifts and narrative changes honestly. Its twists are organic and rooted in character. A newlywed couple, Uma (Radhika Apte) and Gopal (Ashok Pathak), have just settled into a shack in a crowded, working-class corner of Mumbai and are clearly unsuited for married life. Uma is bewildered at this new world, while Gopal cant so much as look at her. Her efforts to try to forge a relationship with her husband are frustrated at every turn, and the human furnace of the city outside her door gets to her. The director fills the frame with people and shadows and color as he tracks his protagonist at night down city streets. We catch glimpses of these other little worlds throbbing behind those doors and windows, all forbiddingly aglow with life. She eventually takes a job as a night janitor at a shipping agency, which forces her into more nocturnal wanderings. Thats when the film goes truly nuts (no spoilers), but thankfully, it remains in the realm of emotion and character, which comes as a huge relief. With relatively little dialogue, Apte gives Uma compelling interiority: We can read multiple emotions into her facial expressions, and we do get the sense that shes feeling every single one. When she looks at her husband with a combination of contempt and pity as well as love, its a truer approximation of how real people regard those around them than we tend to find in most movies. Such depth makes Sister Midnight that much more fascinating and, ultimately, that much more heartbreaking. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Sister Midnight. Final Destination: Bloodlines Photo: Warner Bros. Its been 14 years since the last Final Destination movie, but Final Destination: Bloodlines fits right in with this seriess slick early-aughts aesthetic and gloriously ludicrous sensibility. The premise, as always, is that Death will find you in the most spectacular, elaborate fashion even if you thwart its plans. This latest entry ably expands the palette without messing with the formula. It opens with the queasy destruction of a tony restaurant high atop a Space Needlestyle observation tower in the late 1960s, and then follows the modern-day consequences of what happened or, more specifically, didnt happen that night. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein come up with intriguing new settings, devices, and premises for the films Rube Goldbergian slaughter: a tattoo-and-piercing parlor, an MRI machine, a peanut allergy, and (that old Final Destination standby) the family cookout gone horribly wrong. Most horror flicks entrap their characters in one location or put them in some sort of unique, tense situation (think Satanic possession, or pissing off the wrong truck driver, attracting the wrong person, etc.), but in Final Destination, Death works with the great mundane canvas of ordinary life. In these movies, if you just go about your day driving on the highway, using a vending machine, fixing a drink, doing gymnastics then, congratulations, youre the ideal victim. Bloodlines is a welcome revival of a great movie series that was often smarter, funnier, and more existentially resonant than other scare-fests. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Final Destination: Bloodlines. Caught by the Tides Photo: Janus Films/Everett Collection Jia Zhangke has been capturing and archiving acres of footage since 2001 everything from random fragments to documentary images to loosely scripted fictional scenarios featuring his actors and for much of that time, he wasnt sure what hed do with it. But now, hes made Caught by the Tides, a masterpiece that remains impossible to classify. Its a patchwork narrative-documentary-collage that follows a troubled romance, even as the loose, decadeslong plot free-associates in various directions. At its center are a dancer and model named Qiaoqiao (Zhao Tao) and a small-time hoodlum named Brother Bin (Li Zhubin) from the industrial coal-mining city of Datong, in Chinas Northern Shanxi Province. Their tempestuous relationship is interrupted when he abruptly leaves town to make his fortune elsewhere. A few years later, a quietly determined Qiao goes looking for the elusive Bin. As we see the characters age in real life, we witness China change dramatically, as the excitement of the new millennium gives way to a period of rapid development and, eventually, an era of tech-fueled isolation. But we also see an art form change. Handheld digital images give way to more solemn documentary reveries, which give way to surveillance footage and TikTok-style social-media interludes. The result is a fragmented familiarity, a sense that were watching a seemingly endless tapestry of life, with these characters emerging organically from the bustle and then disappearing back into it. B.E. Read Madeline Leung Colemans review of Caught by the Tides and Bilge Ebiris interview with director Jia Zhangke. Friendship Photo: A24/Everett Collection Sure, Andrew DeYoungs directorial debut feels like an extended I Think You Should Leave sketch. Whats so bad about that? In his first lead movie role, Tim Robinson plays Craig Waterman, a man whose life of suburban adequacy is disrupted when local weatherman Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd) moves in down the street and platonically sweeps Craig off his feet. Friendship is about male friendship gone wrong, but its also rife with digressions that become highlights of this comedic horror story like the cameo from Conner OMalley, or the running joke about that new Marvel that Craig doesnt want spoiled but never gets around to seeing, or the hilarious sequence in which Craig has an incredibly mundane drug experience. A.W. Read Alison Willmores full review of Friendship. Thunderbolts Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel/Walt Disney Studios/Everett Collection How disorienting is it to watch a Marvel movie in 2025 that recaptures some of the spark that made the MCU so dominant for a decade? The joke of Thunderbolts is that its characters are all C-listers, a bunch of foils, counterparts, and discarded replacements for the real heroes. Rather than bog them all down with backstory, its a premise that frees the movie up to just take pleasure in its cast, which is exceptional a depressive Florence Pugh, a lost Sebastian Stan, an arrogant Wyatt Russell, and a gloriously enthusiastic David Harbour, plus Lewis Pullman playing his second incongruously named Bob in so many years. The comparisons to A24 may have been tongue in cheek, but the movie does borrow from Everything Everywhere All at Once in having its main villain be a manifestation of despair, an idea that allows for more character solidity than one of these movies have managed in a hot minute. A.W. Read Alison Willmores full review of Thunderbolts, Siddhant Adlakhas explanation of the ending, and Chris Lees interview with director Jake Schreier. April Photo: Metrograph Pictures Dea Kulumbegashvilis stunner of a second film takes place in the stretch of Eastern Georgia where she grew up a conservative region of closed-off communities and stunning beauty where her protagonist, an obstetrician named Nina (Ia Sukhitashvili), quietly provides abortions and birth control to women in the villages. April is about what happens when an investigation into a stillborn infant threatens to call attention to Ninas illicit activities, but its also about the impossibly complex relationship between womanhood and motherhood, the indifference of nature, and the ways in which people talk around the difficult truths they feel they have no choice but to live with. As Nina, Sukhitashvili plays one of the years great characters, a woman whose spartan life revolves around the essential services she provides, and who has become a kind of sin eater absorbing the darkness the sexual abuse, reluctant teenage marriages, and violence of her community. Alison Willmore Sinners Photo: Warner Bros. With a curiosity that is capacious, Sinners the 1932-set, southern-bound horror epic from writer-director Ryan Coogler demonstrates something powerful: a deep reverence for the Black South. Its most beautiful and bracing imagery is that of cotton fields plumbed by sharecroppers, endless skies and dusty roads, the verdant expanse of a land that has witnessed so much sorrow. Its the waning days of Prohibition when the infamous twin brothers Smoke and Stack (played with gusto by Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown after cutting it up with Al Capone up north, packing illegal liquor and a firmly held dream to open a juke joint by us, for us. The film takes place primarily over the course of a single day and night, barely touching an encroaching dawn. Coogler luxuriates in the lives of the twins and their extended community, and the ecstatic performances they provoke, for about an hour before Jack OConnells vicious Irish vampire, Remmick, cuts a bloodied path through their stories. As much as Sinners succeeds as a celebration of the Black South, it ultimately fails as visceral horror. Yet while Coogler fails to make his genre terror visually or narratively gut-wrenching, he avoids blunt messaging about racism and history and sidesteps the most laborious, rote choices of the modern Black horror boom. Cooglers script is trying to shake the table. He brings up questions about Black peoples misguided adherence to Christianity, who counts as Black and a part of the community, the ancestral reverberations of Black music, finding love against the odds, and the beauty that is born when two distinct bodies become one. These themes make the vampire saga feel rapturous, bold, ambitious, and brimming with curiosity and care. Angelica Jade Bastien Read Angelica Jade Bastiens full review of Sinners, Craig Jenkinss close read of the films music, Chris Lees reporting on Ryan Cooglers unusual rights deal, Fran Hoepfners explanation of the ending, and Hoepfner on the women of the movie. Invention Photo: MUBI Actor Callie Hernandez lost her father, a New Age healer, to COVID. She was left with a trove of video tapes of his public appearances, as well as some of his devices elements she and director Courtney Stephens wove into a slender but beguiling hybrid work about the mysterious nature of grief. Hernandez stars as Carrie, a fictional version of herself whos also mourning her father, played by Hernandezs actual dad in clips from those recordings. As Carrie tries to entangle the mess of his estate, she becomes increasingly convinced that the patent he left her, for an experimental medical device caught up in legal limbo, is worth fighting for a journey that has less to do with the inventions legitimacy than a complicated posthumous desire to get close to a difficult parent. A.W. The Ugly Stepsister Photo: tiff What makes Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldts The Ugly Stepsister so powerful isnt that it turns the tables on Cinderella, but rather the way it does so, by placing us in a world of bleak, magically inflected terror that underlines the base grotesquerie of the original. It reveals a dark truth weve probably secretly known all along: Cinderella was always a body-horror story. Its hero is wide-eyed Elvira (Lea Myren), one of the supposedly pushy stepsisters who made the angelic (and, of course, gorgeous) Cinderellas life such hell. With her mouth full of braces, her narrow eyebrows, her zits, her full figure, and her fondness for hidden Danishes, Elvira doesnt have a chance of attracting Prince Julian (Isac Calmroth) so she undergoes a brutal series of procedures to make herself more desirable. Blichfeldt gives us every gnarly, disgusting consequence in agonizing detail, be it vomit, blood, severed body parts, or some combination thereof. But we feel the sadness, too. Maybe once upon a time we were supposed to identify with Cinderella, but the truth is that were all ugly stepsisters at heart. Bilge Ebiri Read Bilge Ebiris full review of The Ugly Stepsister. One to One: John & Yoko Photo: Magnolia Pictures One to One, the collective name given to the two Madison Square Garden shows performed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono over the course of one day in August 1972, constituted the only full concert Lennon gave in his post-Beatles career as a solo artist. Footage from these shows forms the spine of Kevin MacDonalds new documentary, which might look at first like a standard-issue concert movie but turns out to be something quite different. Intercutting swift glimpses of news reports, commercials, television shows, contemporaneous interviews, and recently unearthed telephone conversations, MacDonald, along with co-director and editor Sam Rice-Edwards, gives us a whirlwind journey through what these two artists might have seen and experienced as they attempted to navigate the cultural and political upheaval of their times. There has been a bevy of Beatles-related films over the years, but One to One cuts through the Beatles-industrial complex to land us in the middle of Lennons rage, confusion, passion, and fear. By taking the focus partly away from him, it finds him all over again. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of One to One: John & Yoko. Warfare Photo: A24 Alex Garland and Ray Mendozas Warfare is an admirable attempt to counter the truism that theres no such thing as an anti-war movie that all war movies, however gruesome or wrenching, effectively (and often unwittingly) wind up glamorizing combat to some degree. It presents a 95-minute journey through the hell of one bloody engagement during the Iraq War, when a group of Navy SEALs found themselves pinned down in a two-story house in Ramadi. Despite the presence of several well-known actors including Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Charles Melton, and Kit Connor character development and identification are minimal. The dialogue mostly consists of jargon-y instructions and requests desperately relayed over radios, or the blood-curdling screams of mortally wounded soldiers. Their injuries are stomach-turning, their cries agonizing. There are severed limbs strewn everywhere. The filmmakers do achieve what feels like genuine authenticity in their depictions of combat, both when it comes to direct engagements and the long, uncertain periods of standing around and waiting between such engagements. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Warfare and Matthew Jacobss chat with star Will Poulter. Gazer Photo: Metrograph Pictures Ryan J. Sloan and Ariella Mastroianni set out to make the kind of feature theyd want to buy a ticket for themselves when they co-wrote, directed (Sloan), and starred in (Mastroianni) Gazer, and the result is an invitingly angular thriller that recalls a livelier era of indie film. Mastroianni plays Frankie, a single mother with a daughter she no longer has custody of and a degenerative brain disorder that makes it difficult for her to keep track of time. Desperate for money, she agrees to perform a sketchy errand for a woman she meets in her grief counseling group, only to become entangled in a conspiracy that requires her to battle her own unreliable perceptions of whats going on around her. Mastroiannis very good, but Gazers real star is the stretch of North Jersey it takes place in, which has never looked so bleak or atmospheric. A.W. Read Alison Willmores full review of Gazer. Grand Tour Photo: Courtesy of Vivo Film/Shellac Sud/Cinema Defacto Like an epic poem told through a multitude of voices, Miguel Gomess Grand Tour is a movie of unorthodox sweep and diffuse grace. In following the fanciful story of two lovers journeying separately through East and Southeast Asia in the early 20th century, Gomes mixes staged scenes with documentary footage some of it distinctly modern, some of it seemingly more timeless. The film is narrated in the languages of the cultures the characters move through, as Burmese gives way to Thai, to Vietnamese, and beyond a wandering, collective dream. The Portuguese filmmaker, an art-house darling whose work tends to be both playful and uncompromising, has described the imagery of Grand Tour as evoking for him the spectacle of the world, which makes the picture a lovely paradox: Through the occasionally absurd and self-consciously artificial tale of two souls hopping across a continent, he has fashioned a work that inspires us to look closer at our real world and how we live in it. Bilge Ebiri Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Grand Tour. The Friend Photo: CAA Dog movies are a regular fixture of the cinematic firmament, but Scott McGehee and David Siegels drama, based on Sigrid Nunezs National Book Awardwinning 2018 novel, distinguishes itself by not trying to anthropomorphize its central animal, to enter its mind and give it a voice. The dog in question is a noble, aging Great Dane named Apollo (played by a dog named Bing, who may be the best dog actor Ive ever come across), who winds up temporarily in the care of Iris (Naomi Watts), an author and a creative-writing instructor, after the sudden death of his owner and her mentor, Walter (Bill Murray). She lives in a rent-controlled apartment in a Manhattan building that doesnt allow dogs, but she takes Apollo with the intention of finding him a permanent home. Somewhat predictably, Iris slowly starts to connect with the animal. But the film truly comes alive in its ability to go deep on what it really means to care for something. By the end, we understand that this is not a movie about people and animals but about the unknowability of all souls. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of The Friend. A Working Man Photo: Amazon MGM Studios/Everett Collection Not unlike last years The Beekeeper, A Working Man features Jason Statham as an initially reluctant lone angel of the apocalypse reactivating his special set of skills and making his way up the chain of an alternate, hermetically sealed world of smug villainy. In The Beekeeper, it was reptilian tech bros preying on ordinary citizens; here, its human traffickers who kidnap girls at random from bars and are plugged into a network of gangsters living in their own echo chamber of arcane rules and garish fashions. Although director David Ayer initially made his name with gritty urban dramas like Harsh Times and End of Watch, hes not going for anything remotely resembling realism this time. Instead, he uses the iconography of fairy tales to give our heros actions a mythical kick. The whole film feels like it takes place in an alternate universe, and Stathams stoic, no-nonsense bruiser cuts through it not just narratively but graphically. But at heart, this is a movie about the exaltation of ass-kicking, and it makes sure that we feel the visceral thrill of every arm snap, every neck stab, every head shot. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of A Working Man. Secret Mall Apartment Photo: Wheelhouse Creative/Everett Collection In 2003, a group of young, displaced artists in Providence, Rhode Island, decided as a lark to spend a whole week at the giant new mall that had taken over their neighborhood and wound up staying for years. They chanced upon a forgotten, 750-square-foot nowhere space hidden behind dark, narrow, dusty passageways in a forgotten corner of the mammoth Providence Place shopping center. They set up camp and ever so slowly turned it into an ersatz condo, with a couch, a TV, lights, tables, cabinets, and more. Jeremy Workmans deliriously entertaining and moving documentary lets the artists themselves tell us the story. Many of them were refugees from a nearby artists colony known as Fort Thunder, which had been seized by the city in a burst of development and gentrification of which the mall was the great symbol. Thus, the notion of carving out a domestic abode inside one of Providence Places own underutilized spaces was a sly way of getting back at the forces that had displaced them. Workman has expertly put this film together using low-res video footage the artists shot themselves at the time, as well as contemporary interviews with the figures involved, many of whom are identifying themselves for the first time. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Secret Mall Apartment. Black Bag Photo: Claudette Barius/Focus Features/Everett Collection Steven Soderberghs latest pairs Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender as married spies fully committed to each other as they deal with threats to their union from the vipers they call colleagues. Slick, but never sterile, the film demonstrates Soderbergh in God mode. Focusing on capable, intelligent, and ruthless people in the British intelligence agency, David Koepps script is sharp and enrapturing. The performances by Tom Burke, Rege-Jean Page, Naomie Harris, and, especially, Marisa Abela are distinctive, lived-in, and like the film itself, utterly delicious. From the sartorial grace of Blanchett to the assured camerawork, this is a feast for those who want films to have visual sensuality and an emotional bite. I wrote in my review, What ultimately cinches the dynamics of Black Bag is the chemistry between Fassbender and Blanchett. Individually, they are refined, glamorous. Together, theyre intimidatingly, pornographically so. Its more than compounded beauty and charisma, though. This is a matter of complementary craft; of two great listeners and communicators bringing rapture to every gesture. As one character says to Fassbenders lead, My God, thats hot. Angelica Jade Bastien Read Angelica Jade Bastiens full review of Black Bag and Matt Zoller Seitzs interview with filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. Who by Fire Photo: Kimstim Films/Everett Collection Philippe Lesages film starts off with a sequence that recalls Stanley Kubricks The Shining, and while he hasnt made a horror film, the Quebecois director understands tension and anticipation. Who by Fire follows a few people gathering at a cabin in the woods, along with the emotional wreckage that ensues. It doesnt have a typical story, nor does it have the kind of clearly outlined themes and structure that would usually tell us what to look for and what to think, whom to hate and whom to admire. What it does have are characters that the writer-director loves to bounce off each other in sequences that feel like concentrated stretches of real life. Dinner conversations ramble on and become contentious confrontations, often captured in single shots. Some dialogue exchanges even edge into the realm of cringe comedy, without ever going full-bore Apatow. And despite its ambling, almost shapeless nature, Who by Fire is never boring, because Lesage and his actors fill every scene with surprise and suspense. We keep waiting for something awful to happen. That something turns out to be life. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Who by Fire. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie Photo: Ketchup Entertainment/Everett Collection Theres a reason why the Looney Tunes franchise was built around shorts for most of its existence. Its goofy, devil-may-care logic and rapid-fire comedy rarely translated to feature-length run times. Comically massive in scale yet modest in ambition, The Day the Earth Blew Up is ostensibly a spoof of 50s sci-fi and horror, but its also a refreshingly daffy twist on modern-day Hollywood stakes-raising. Its all done with verve and velocity, ably capturing the Looney Tunes spirit. The plot is gloriously stupid: An alien spaceship has spiked an immensely popular bubble gum with an interdimensional ectoplasm that turns everyone who chews it into zombies, and the only ones who can save humanity are bickering foster brothers Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Eric Bauza). Their hand-drawn antics play out against a backdrop of familiar (and welcome) Looney Tunes imagery: beautiful blue skies, verdant green lawns, mid-century architecture with those sudden, jagged changes in shape and color and texture that this style of animation does so well. When Daffys face first blows up, its like weve been reunited with an old friend. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. Eephus Photo: Music Box Films/Everett Collection Carson Lunds new film follows the course of a local baseball game one late-autumn afternoon, and it initially makes for a classic baseball-as-life story. But as the film proceeds, its symbolic qualities recede and it becomes about something more basic the simple fact of time spent in the presence of others. Slowly but surely, we settle into the films (and the games) gentle rhythms, and before we know it, it feels like an entire lifetime has drifted by. The eephus of the title refers to a high-arcing, low-velocity pitch thats thrown as if its going to be fast, but moves so slow that it takes the batter by surprise. He tries to swing at it like its normal, but its already past him, were told. The eephus makes him lose track of time. Lund doesnt play coy with this obvious metaphor. Its very funny in its signposted obviousness and yet somehow still moving which is a good way to describe the charm of the film itself. We keep looking for meaning while the world passes us by. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Eephus. Mickey 17 Photo: Warner Bros./Everett Collection Bong Joon Hos first entirely English-language film is an overstuffed marvel a dystopian story about the dark side of technical advancement, a rollicking space adventure about attempting to colonize a new planet (only to find it inconveniently occupied), and a bitterly funny hypercapitalist black comedy. But at its heart, its the tale of how Mickey Barnes, a sweet and not especially bright sad sack played wonderfully in multiple incarnations by Robert Pattinson, learns to love himself instead of internalizing that all the mistreatment he endures is somehow deserved. It may not be S-tier Bong, an honor that goes to Parasite, Memories of Murder, and Mother, but its still pretty terrific. Alison Willmore Read Alison Willmores full review of Mickey 17 and Willmores conversation with filmmaker Bong Joon Ho on the films ending. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Photo: Chibesa Mulumba/A24/Everett Collection Rungano Nyonis lovely film won a Best Director prize in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes last year. It follows a young woman, Shula (Susan Chardy), who comes upon the lifeless body of her uncle Fred one night on an empty road in Zambia and then has to help her family organize the funeral. Over the course of the next few days, she and her cousins find themselves in the midst of a traditional grieving ritual, hierarchical and surreal in its own way. The cousins stand by while accusations are leveled at Freds widow for not grieving properly. The world appears to have become topsy-turvy. Characters appear mysteriously from one scene to the other. People judge others for the precise pitch of their wails. Every emotion feels like the opposite of what might ordinarily be expected. As the whole mad ritual continues, we learn more about Shulas family and why everyone is acting the way theyre acting. The comedy transforms into something altogether more horrific, and we realize were watching each of these women process unspoken trauma in her own way. The off-kilter, absurdist vibe of the picture is enchanting, but its rooted in deep horror: The whole movie is about the ways that cruelty and injustice become codified. Sometimes, the only way to preserve your sanity is to go a little insane yourself. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. In the Lost Lands Photo: Vertical Entertainment/Everett Collection Paul W.S. Andersons film has some familiar features of the postapocalyptic ruined, smoking landscapes; busted industrial cityscapes; giant mines filled with faceless, chanting hordes a la Mad Max: Fury Road crossed with elements of medieval fantasy. But there are also cowboys and witches and werewolves and giant skeleton monsters. Each shot looks like a page out of a cursed tome of twisted, postmodern fairy tales, the images forbidding and slightly abstract. Anderson loves visceral, gut-punch action, and in the past hes brought to fairly generic stories an invigorating sense of menace and savagery. In the Lost Lands has plenty of fighting, but its picture-book precision, its almost hand-drawn quality, tempers the cruelty, at least a little bit. And while its a somewhat uncharacteristic film for this director, its still a world thats easy to lose oneself in. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of In the Lost Lands. Last Breath Photo: Mark Cassar/Focus Features/Everett Collection As soon as director Alex Parkinson starts walking us through the inner workings of the ship and the pressurization tools used by the deep-sea saturation divers in his new underwater-survival drama, we know were in sure hands. We are immediately placed in a tangible, tactile world, which is key to building any kind of suspense. Last Breath recreates a terrifying 2012 incident, in which a deep-sea diver was stranded on the sea floor without oxygen during an attempt to fix a North Sea gas pipeline. And thanks to Parkinsons showing us all these systems beforehand, once things start to break down (and they break down quite quickly), we immediately grasp the gravity of the situation. After that, its heart-attack city as we watch the men underwater (and those on the surface) do all they can to save their downed comrade. Theres an artful elegance to this films suspense as well. It feels like a great throwback thriller, one of those movies viewers will still be discovering years from now. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Last Breath. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Photo: Alex Bailey/Universal Pictures/Everett Collection The fourth Bridget Jones movie, which was sent directly to Peacock, in no way needed to be as good as it is. Renee Zellweger comes back for a meditation on grief, middle age, and searching for meaning in life after finding and losing someone you love (sorry to Mark Darcy, though Colin Firth does show up as a wistful memory). But what really makes this rom-com work isnt Bridgets fling with a younger man, played by Leo Woodall, as fun as it is. Rather, its her relationship with hopeless cad Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), whos aged into a slightly tragic but still irrepressible roue who, against all odds, has become one of Bridgets closest friends in a reminder that having history together has its own value. A.W. Read Alison Willmores full review of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Parthenope Photo: Gianni Fiorito/A24 Paolo Sorrentino has seen all your takes about the male gaze and has decided to counter them with a movie about the life of a transcendently gorgeous woman. But in truth, Parthenope is less about one beautiful person than about our idea of beauty itself as its reflected and projected, embodied and perceived. Parthenope (played for most of the film by Celeste Dalla Porta, a newcomer), whose life we follow from her teen years into her 70s (when she is played, briefly, by the legendary Italian actress Stefania Sandrelli), is named for a mythical siren who once lent her name to the city of Naples, Sorrentinos hometown. Over the course of this episodic film, she comes in contact with any number of figures: young lovers, a playboy who hovers above her in his helicopter, an aging actress, a gangster, a sleazy priest, and (in one odd and charming interlude) a very drunk John Cheever played by Gary Oldman. A few will covet her, a couple wont dare to, but all will adore her on some level. As the film goes on, our protagonist comes to feel like an avatar of the very ideas of youth and possibility, which also makes her an avatar of the opposite of those things the idea that life eventually passes us all by. In creating a film about one beautiful person, Sorrentino reminds us that, in our memories, we were all beautiful once. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Parthenope. Companion Photo: Warner Bros./Everett Collection Drew Hancocks horror comedy opens by leading up to what is not a first-act twist so much as its an unveiling of the unexpected premise that Iris (Sophie Thatcher) may believe shes the devoted girlfriend to Josh (Jack Quaid), with whom shes headed to a weekend getaway in a lakeside cabin, but that shes actually a robot he rents for company and sex. The pleasure of Companion comes not just in how this first reveal is handled, but from the way that all the twists that follow are. As the film goes in increasingly, hilariously brutal directions, its construction becomes its own reward. A.W. Read Alison Willmores full review of Companion. Presence Photo: Neon/Everett Collection A haunted-house movie from the point of view of the ghost, Steven Soderberghs Presence combines the directors ongoing formalist ambitions with stripped-down, boilerplate genre theatrics. A well-to-do family buys a new house, and soon, the daughter is sensing strange occurrences while the others remain oblivious. The story may be familiar, but theres nothing familiar about the way Soderbergh has shot it. The camera drifts through spaces, hovers around actors, races up and down stairs, and looks out windows usually in single takes that constitute the entirety of a scene. As usual, Peter Andrews, the credited cinematographer, is a pseudonym for Soderbergh himself, who operates his own camera, which makes the presence more than a presence; its the director as well. So the unseen figure of the ghost becomes an expression of the filmmakers power over the frame, evoking the sadistic-voyeuristic nature of cinema in general and genre cinema in particular. The director is a presence, but not a participant: He compels characters to do things and makes it look like they did it of their own free will. That may sound like a lot of film-theory hooey, but this idea of manipulation, of exerting unseen power over others who think they themselves have control, actually becomes a key plot point in the picture. Its an art film that also works as a spellbinding horror film, and it might be the best thing Soderbergh has done in ages. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Presence. Grand Theft Hamlet Photo: MUBI This genial doc-by-way-of-a-video-game may have been born out of the pandemic, which is what prompted out-of-work actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen to attempt a production of Hamlet staged entirely within Grand Theft Auto Online. But at its core, its a film about the internet, and about how genuine connection and human ingenuity can yield wonderful things even within the corporate confines of an online world intended only as a playground for wreaking mayhem. Crane, who co-directed the film with his wife Pinny Grylls, and Oosterveen become surprisingly poignant figures even as digital avatars, as they, like the Danish prince, contemplate the nature of existence while hoping not to get mowed down in an in-game hail of gunfire. A.W. Read Alison Willmores full review of Grand Theft Hamlet. One of Them Days Photo: Anne Marie Fox/TriStar Pictures/Everett Collection A sort of stoner flick in which no one actually gets around to getting stoned, this rollicking buddy movie (written by Rap Sh!t showrunner Syreeta Singleton) is a throwback to an era where studios actually made comedies and trusted the talents of their stars to carry them. It definitely helps that, in this case, one of those stars is Keke Palmer, whos effervescent as Dreux, a server whose attempts to get ahead are imperiled when bestie/roomie Alyssa (SZA, in her acting debut) loses their rent money to her scrub of a boyfriend. But underscoring the very funny adventures that follow is an acknowledgment of how exhausting living in economic precarity can be. A.W. Read Alison Willmores full review of One of Them Days. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Photo: Lionsgate/Everett Collection If 2018s Den of Thieves played like a meathead remake of Michael Manns Heat (1995), then the new Den of Thieves 2: Pantera plays like a meathead remake of Michael Manns Miami Vice (2006). Neither of these are bad things. Gone is the attention to process and scuzzy detail that made the first heist film notable, replaced here by a wild, drunken emotional energy that dispenses with story logic and clarity. That also makes it a fine showcase for star Gerard Butler, who has been for some years our most begrimed star a man whose persona is manliness and brokenness in equal measure, a man who makes you wonder if manliness and brokenness might not in fact be the same thing. He is, in other words, a perfect figure to plunge into a chaotic and picturesque European robbery that is destined to go wrong. Pantera belongs in that long line of sequels that seem to lose patience with simply replicating an earlier films dynamics and opt instead to just let us bask in freewheeling character interactions. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Every Little Thing Photo: Kino Lorber/Everett Collection They say the measure of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. We could reverse-engineer the idea and arrive at another perhaps obvious, though rarely stated (and even more rarely practiced) truth: that healing a society, maybe even a civilization, begins with healing its most vulnerable members. That thought runs through ones mind while watching Sally Aitkens delicately beautiful documentary about the hummingbirds of Los Angeles and the woman who has made it her lifes mission to care for them. Terry Masear runs a rescue operation dedicated to rehabbing injured and orphaned hummingbirds from all over the greater Los Angeles area. The process requires a lot of patience and precision some have to be taught or retaught to fly, and they can be quite hesitant and scared to do so. The birds are already minuscule and delicate, and many of the ones Masear works with are babies whose mothers have disappeared or died, which puts them in even greater peril. When you see how vulnerable and helpless they are, you wonder how any of them make it, were told. One could ask that of more than just hummingbirds. Before our eyes, Every Little Thing comes to embody the fragile yet uncontainable mystery of all life. B.E. Read Bilge Ebiris full review of Every Little Thing. TOKYO - A bullet train made an emergency stop near a station in Tokyo on Thursday after two cars decoupled, leading to a 3-hour suspension of bullet train services in eastern Japan and raising safety concerns as the incident was the second of its kind for the Tohoku Shinkansen Line in less than six months. The disconnection involved the Hayabusa and Komachi high-speed trains on the shinkansen line that links Tokyo to northeastern Japan, similar to the previous decoupling in September. No one was injured in the incident. JR East, which is the only operator that couples trains with different compositions for a shinkansen service, said Thursday it will suspend all coupled shinkansen operations until the cause is determined and countermeasures are in place. "We take it very seriously that such an incident has occurred again," Hirohiko Ikeda, a senior JR East official in charge of shinkansen operations, said as he apologized for the inconvenience. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism determined the case as a "serious incident" and the country's accident investigation board appointed three investigators. The Hayabusa-Komachi train service, which consists of two linked trains, decoupled in motion between Ueno and Omiya stations around 11:30 a.m., triggering its automatic braking system. It was traveling around 60 kilometers per hour at the time and stopped near Nishinippori Station in Tokyo with its two cars around 8 meters apart. The train was later moved to Omiya Station for inspection. Bullet train services on other lines resumed around 2:35 p.m. A total of 111 trains were canceled and 166 trains were delayed by up to around five hours, affecting some 152,800 commuters of the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen lines, according to JR East. The bullet train in question was carrying around 640 passengers at the time of the incident, according to the operator. Air conditioning functioned properly and no one reported illness. "Through the transport ministry, we have ordered the train operators to determine the cause and implement preventive measures," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said, referring to JR East and JR Hokkaido, which is the owner of the Hayabusa train cars. As for the September decoupling, JR East has said the incident was caused likely due to a malfunction in a coupling switch, with metal fragments found behind it possibly playing a role. It was the first time for shinkansen trains to uncouple while moving. Related coverage: Disney-themed shinkansen bullet train shown ahead of launch One of Japan's "Doctor Yellow" track-testing shinkansen retires In all possible universes, DJ Crazy Times and Ms. Biljana Electronica will find each other. Two years ago, comedian Kyle Gordon blew up on TikTok for his song Planet of the Bass, featuring Audrey Trullinger lip-syncing to a hook by Chrissi Poland. The caption on the video read, Every European Dance Song in the 1990s, and it racked up millions of views, many presumably by TikTokers born well after Y2K. Today, Gordon is back with a new throwback genre parody song called Selekta, an amalgam of different British rap subgenres in that 90s-to-early-2000s zone. This time, he is going by Albie Wobble, and his sidekick is Trixie B (a DJ named Sidequest also appears on the track as himself). Like Planet of the Bass before it, Selekta has caused much debate among Vulture-ites. So Anne Victoria Clark, whos something of an Anglophile, and Rebecca Alter, whos something of a silly-song-phile, decided to hash it out (bangers and mash it out?) about TikToks new favorite parody track. Rebecca Alter: Since Kyle Gordon dropped this on TikTok, his rhymes have not left my head. I stim to them. I walk around my house going, Couldnt nick a hot pot pie off me nan. Its a fabulously sticky lyric. I am someone historically allergic to white comedy guys doing funny raps, but Kyle cracked the code by making it British. Its so dumb its fun. Its like something Mrs. Lovett would sing before baking you into a dang pie! Anne Victoria Clark: I would welcome my crusty death in that scenario. Honestly, I am not able to get past the aforementioned cringe of hearing a white guy say gwan though I realize the Britishness adds another cultural layer here. R.A.: I grew up in Toronto, so white guys saying gwan was my entire teen years. A.V.C.: I just have this intense physical reaction to most musical comedy, or comedy that seeks to parody music itself. Immediately, Im just annoyed. I dont mind songs that feature jokes, but this sort of general genre parody feels more reactionary. In this instance, hes parodying music I actually like! But in a way that makes me feel like hes never listened to it. R.A.: Thats interesting, because this is a genre I know nothing about. Which is why I think I can enjoy it without noticing the way that small details of it are off or whatever. There was a similar discourse around Planet of the Bass, where real Eurodance heads got nitpicky about the ways that small details were wrong about the genre and the time period. But I love a funny voice and a funny rhyme. And these two songs have them in spades. A.V.C.: Yes, this feels more like a version of Planet of the Bass, but with different clothes and with a video shot in what I assume is Forest Hills, a very underrated area of New York. R.A.: The really exciting part for me is that Biljana Electronica is back and, once again, her hook is phenomenal: Oglin me baps all through my Burberry / I know you heard of me. A.V.C.: I like when she says all through me Burberry. But then, that part is also weird to me, because thats not a thing I associate with this sort of music. R.A.: But thats what makes it fun and silly its an American intentionally just cramming random British shit together, like rhyming the British way of saying Z with Greggs. And it has made British people on Twitter so angry, which makes it EXTRA funny. (Meanwhile, the Brits in the YouTube comments love it.) A.V.C.: I feel like if I saw Kyle live, I would be watching one continuous track of him changing accents. What he does is so repetitive. This song makes me feel like my dad, in a way thats like, All this music sounds the same!! R.A.: So youre telling me you think Stab em in the biscuit / blood on me trainers? Nah, cant risk it is NOT a good line to you? Youre telling me I never knew your crew be doo-doo is NOT awesome? A.V.C.: If someone stabbed my biscuit, I would go feral. This song is awesome for babies like, I know several babies that would smile at the doo-doo part. And thats not a bad thing! But you know what is? This guy parodying a genre of music having apparently only ever watched Ali G. Its just boring and it hurts me, Rebecca. I just started a new antidepressant, and this is maxing out all of it. R.A.: I think theres a microgenerational schism happening between those who find it annoying and those who are tickled by it. A.V.C.: I think the problem with a lot of parody is it very often ends up being lazy, something people do because they want their work to resonate widely without having to craft something original that speaks to the human experience. I am not saying it speaks to no ones experience, but yeah, I just think this is an attempt to appeal to people who hate something they dont understand for likes and views. R.A.: I dont think his parodies come from a place of hate. Take the annoying stomp-clap millennial song. You need to have listened to a LOT of fun. to get that accurate. He can make it that ridiculous because theres care there. DJ Crazy Time is all love, no hate, baby. A.V.C.: Its good that hes able to do that with other things, but with this, it feels disdainful and clumsy. Maybe its because I think some of the humor relies on everyone agreeing that these people talk funny. R.A.: But, Anne, even they think they talk funny. A.V.C.: Look, as a Matt Berry FREAK, I am not above being amused at how British people speak, which is at times ridiculous. R.A.: Ohhh, right, okay. I see what this is now! You think a lot of British comedy is good, so of course you hate this. Im less cultured in this way. A.V.C.: Yes! I dont think theres anything wrong with liking this song, but it makes me upset personally because it is roasting something I enjoy in a way that feels like generalizing. I am someone who watches a lot of British comedy (and listens to a lot of British music), so when people make fun of it, my eyes narrow. Look, last night I was watching a sitcom where David Mitchell plays William Shakespeare trying to convince his family to help him with his plays. We all like weird things. R.A.: Selekta is the William Shakespeare of the modern age. Shakespeare couldnt have written I never knew your crew be doo-doo. A.V.C.: I have now listened to this song six times. I hope I never hear it again unless someone is about to bake me into a meat pie. R.A.: Theres only one way to settle this fight, obviously (rap battle). A.V.C.: Blood on my trainers? Nah, I cant risk it. I used to describe the sublime FX series Justified as Walker, Texas Ranger for Smart People. At its worst, Reacher can feel like Walker, Texas Ranger for People Who Think or at Least Hope Theyre Getting Justified. This wheels-spinning episode is the latter. After a warehouse shootout that further depletes Beck and Quinns stock of unmemorable henchmen Reacher deliberately spares the last of them, a bearded-and-ponytailed troll named Harley (Brendan Fletcher), because, he tells Duffy, itll look suspicious if Reacher is the sole survivor of another gunfight this chapter tries to raise the stakes by killing off two characters weve had little chance to get to know or care about: rookie DEA Agent Eliot, Misreader of Maps and Denier of Cigarettes, and mildly flirtatious French maid Annette, Baker of Pies and Changer of Sheets. Eliots gruesome boot-stomp killing has been foreshadowed so heavily that its more like five-shadowing. The poor kid was just too dumb for this cruel world, but Duffy still bears full responsibility for his death. She even lies to Eliots father about how he died! The episode also plants a red herring for a handful of scenes by having Reacher hold on to Duffys DEA badge after she loses it ducking for cover during that warehouse battle. Upon returning to Manse Beck, Reacher hides the badge in his pillowcase, which seems infinitely riskier than just concealing it on his Land Cruiser-sized person. (We havent seen Paulie pat him down in a few episodes maybe thats a perk of Reachers promotion to Head of Security.) Did Reacher plant the badge there with the expectation Annette would find it since he had already caught her searching his room once before? Certainly the revelation Annette was an ATF spy seems to come out of nowhere. In fact, its straight outta Persuader, the Lee Child Reacher novel from which this season has been adapted. Whats not in the book is the scene wherein Agnes, Zachary Becks household cook, tells Reacher the coffee shes just served him Hot as hell, black as pitch! is some posh brand thats been processed through a cats digestive tract. It tastes like coffee, is Reachers initial assessment. But a moment later, after hes swatted down one of the two new toadies at Becks kitchen table for making a lewd remark about Annette, his senses seem newly awakened. A cats asshole, Reacher muses. This is the episodes highlight. The biggest problem with Reachers now more-than-half-over third season is that it hasnt figured out how to make its Big Bad, Xavier Quinn, scary. When he coerces lesser crooks into working for him, he gets easily duped clowns like Zachary Beck. When he hires directly, he gets self-sabotaging goofballs like Angel Doll and meatheads like Paulie. Harley is the most frightening and loathsome foe weve met, boasting as he and Reacher dispose of one of the victims of the warehouse shootout that he once let a crippled man drown while the guy begged Harley to shoot him. The Neptune Society is Harleys euphemism for waterborne body disposal. It seems too clever for him. The two new legbreakers introduced in the cat-butt coffee scene are emblematic of Reachers villain problem. Theyre supposed to be the reinforcements, the heavies, personally recruited by Quinn a fugitive Army Intelligence Colonel! and installed at Becks place, just like Paulie. But when we meet them theyre sitting around making cracks about the help like a pair of jabronis. Reacher knocks one of them out and suffers no consequences for it. (Annette even thanks him for defending her honor by delivering a slice of pie to his bedroom.) The guy Reacher confronted appears unscathed, too. In the fight scene, it sure looks like Reacher destroys the dudes knee, but the next time we see this bald baddie, hes up and walking with no visible difficulty. The long-tail effect of all this is to make Quinn and all his many lackeys seem as toothless a threat as Zachary Beck is. Richard Beck, Zacharys impressionable college-age son, has already revealed to Reacher that Cooper the bodyguard the DEA fake-killed and has been holding captive illegally was, in fact, less a bodyguard than a minder, charged with keeping tabs on Richard at all times lest Zachary dare disobey Quinn. So why Coopers first instinct after stomping poor Elioits skull in and escaping is to report to Beck instead of Quinn is a mystery. Also, Reacher assures Duffy in another one of these tension-deflating, full-volume phone conversations happening while Reacher is meant to be undercover and constantly under threat Cooper will have to come to the house in person since he doesnt have his phone and theres no reasonable possibility, says Reacher, that this guy could remember Becks unlisted number if he got his hands on another one. This is, in fact, the most plausible plot point in this shaggy-ass episode. In Persuader, Duffy manages to pull some strings to have phone service to the Beck compound interrupted long enough for Reacher to prepare an ambush for the returning bodyguards, plural. Here, Duffy triggers a blackout at the Beck residence and the surrounding community by firing a few rounds from her service weapon into an electrical transformer, like a bored seventh-grader shooting out street lights with a BB gun. Beck doesnt have motion detectors or cameras on his seaside property, so why would he invest in a generator to keep the lights on in the event of a storm or an unsanctioned DEA undercover operation? It really seems like Beck might find a backup system that prevents his front gate from swinging open when the power is cut to be more useful than the belt-fed machine gun mounted in his guard house, but weve established that this man loves firearms and isnt all that sharp, knifewise. (Anyway, the machine gun is Paulies.) Reacher takes advantage of the blackout to set up an ambush to stop Cooper from reaching the Beck house. He gets away by telling Beck hes going to check the road for threats. Its the only way in or out of here, the houseguest who got here a few days ago tells the homeowner whos lived here for years. Always with the Reachersplaining, this guy! Intercepting Villanueva, Reacher tells the DEA man theyre going to turn his car over to create a roadblock. He assures Villanueva that Cooper will almost certainly have enough distance to stop his own car after rounding the corner before it collides with Villanuevas. Math is never wrong, Reacher declares. Why does Villanueva have to remain inside the overturned vehicle for this diversion to work? Shut up, thats why. Returning to the blacked-out Beck house after killing Cooper, Reacher is told that a search has uncovered a traitor in their midst. He thinks someone found Duffys badge, but no Annette turns out to have been in possession of a secure government texting device. (This is what Reacher was equipped with in Persuader, instead of a regular-ass, talking-out-loud phone.) Reacher manages to cover his revulsion at Annettes death, claiming hes just mad because Paulie killed her before he could interrogate the spy. Paulie is blase about the murder, claiming it was an accident the 400-lb. ogre just slapped this petite young woman a little too hard. Oops, he says. This, again, seems like something Paulie would have to answer to Quinn for. The fact that hes not the least bit worried about it makes Quinn less scary! It also amounts to a double-fridging: Reacher isnt just avenging U.S. Army SFC Dominique Kohl now. Hes avenging ATF informer Annette, too. How many beautiful and dead young women does one plus-sized vigilante hobo need to activate his campaign of righteous retribution? More than one, evidently. Giving in to his frustration, Reacher hits Paulie with an uppercut to the body, which Paulie answers with a slap that puts Reacher on all fours, his face contorted like hes suffering an aneurysm. In the closeup that follows the blow, Ritchson does an admirable job of making it look like Reacher is experiencing a degree of shock, pain, and fear to which he is wholly unaccustomed. For a few seconds, it actually feels like somethings at stake. Once he can stand again, hes given the grim chore of carrying Annettes body out and throwing it into the water. Harley accompanies him, complaining all the while about how hell have to figure out how to post an online ad for a new maid Im not Steve Jobs! Were still thinking about how little sense it makes that Beck would delegate this task to him, or indeed that Quinn would permit Beck to hire another housekeeper, when Reacher shuts him up with the same punch he gave Paulie. It has more effect on the guy half his size than it did on the guy twice his size. Richard comes to Reachers room to tell him he knows that Reacher disposed of Annettes corpse. So much for his replacement father figure! He also tells Reacher its okay that hes afraid of Paulie, which Reacher denies. I just havent solved him yet, he says. Reacher is becoming more Dexter-like as this bloody season wears on. The fact that Reacher and Duffy learn exactly what illicit business Beck is in from the fact Annette was ATF is another dumb plot point that comes straight from the book. Theyre running guns, not drugs! is not exactly a Keyser Sozegrade reveal, given that Zacharys office is essentially a firearms museum and that the guy has evinced an unusual degree of interest in exactly what make and model of heat his rivals are packing. Im certain there are orthodontists and accountants in this country by which I mean the one in which Reacher is set, not the one where its principally shot who also decorate their homes with guns. But it still seems like the sort of clue The Worlds Smartest Ex-Military Cop mightve intuited before now. In that same loud speakerphone (!) conference with Duffy, Reacher now concludes based on how quickly Paulie murdered Annette that Duffys missing informant, Teresa Daniels, must already be dead. In any case, now that Quinn has summoned Beck and Reacher to face a reprimand and possibly a firing squad, Reacher has resolved to kill Quinn for good this time. Beck asks Reacher if hes ready to meet the boss. Ive been waiting for this moment for some time now, Reacher replies, in a line reading that sounds like hes been drugged. Why is his speech so stilted and formal? Is he a Terminator? A Skrull? A Scientologist? Tune in next week to find out! In an Investigation, Details Matter In one of her calls with Reacher, Duffy is wearing a pair of PJ shorts that match the striped pattern of the sofa shes sitting on. Interior-decoration-as-camouflage? Are the production-design and costume departments determined to let nothing, not even a scrap of fabric, go to waste? Villanueva suffers every kind of discriminatory insult imaginable in this episode. Id raahthah nawt be cawstantly held up by your mango-size prostate, Duffy gripes while waiting for him to finish up another trip to the can. Later, Reacher fat-shames him with a crack about doughnuts. In a scene where Villanueva is driving alone, hes singing along to La Bamba, which feels like the show itself reducing him to an ethnic stereotype. Microaggressions these are not. Milla Jovovich in In the Lost Lands. Photo: Vertical Entertainment/Everett Collection Paul W.S. Andersons In the Lost Lands looks like nothing Ive ever seen before. It has some familiar features of the postapocalyptic ruined, smoking landscapes; busted industrial cityscapes; giant mines filled with faceless, chanting hordes a la Mad Max: Fury Road crossed with elements of medieval fantasy. But there are also cowboys and witches and werewolves and giant skeleton monsters. And while that combination is intriguing, whats truly striking about the film is the storybook quality that Anderson has given every single scene. Theres a bit of video-game fantasy to all this as well, but whats onscreen here is a lot more transporting and feels older, more elemental. Each shot looks like a page out of a cursed tome of twisted, postmodern fairy tales, the images forbidding and slightly abstract. This odd, distanced atmosphere is intentional. Anderson regularly cuts to a map showing us where the characters are on their journey a device he also used in the Resident Evil movies and he keeps time via an onscreen steampunk watch face that tells us how long it will be until the next full moon. The whole thing is marvelously unreal. You might find yourself wanting to lose yourself in it. Its also somewhat uncharacteristic for this filmmaker. Anderson loves visceral, gut-punch action, and in the past hes brought to fairly generic stories an invigorating sense of menace and savagery. The Resident Evil films arent just filled with screeching zombies, theyre also filled with lasers that turn characters into piles of stew meat; the sci-fi thriller Event Horizon (1997) offers gory glimpses into a hellish dimension that I still havent been able to shake 28 years later; his 2014 disaster film Pompeii might look like a prestige period piece from the outside, but its also distinguished by the sadistic glee with which the director obliterates all his characters and locations. To some critics, these are knocks against Andersons work his Tomatometer scores are famously in the toilet but I find his movies a lot more cathartic and effective than the tasteful violence of so many antiseptic modern blockbusters. Some will consider this blasphemy, but he reminds me of Samuel Fuller in his directness and his no-nonsense willingness to just show us stuff. In the Lost Lands has plenty of fighting, but its picture-book precision, its almost hand-drawn quality, tempers the cruelty, at least a little bit. Its a classic quest story, following a lonely and powerful witch, Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich, the directors wife and muse), known for her ability to grant any wish. I refuse no one, she mutters with melancholy eyes and gritted teeth, suggesting that once granted, the wishes will lead to more sadness and catastrophe. In the City Under the Mountain, evidently the lone enclave on Earth where humans still live, the Queen (Amara Okereke) comes to Gray Alys and asks to be given the power of a werewolf. Then the Queens loyal guard and lover Jerais (Simon Loof) secretly comes and asks that the Queen fail in her request. Gray Alys accepts both wishes and sets off to find a man to guide her through the Lost Lands, a blasted netherworld where she hopes to locate the werewolf. She enlists the aid of a quiet, cowboy-like mercenary named Boyce (Dave Bautista), who has a Sergio Leone sneer and a gun that shoots out snakes. (Cinema!) Theyre pursued by a group of modern-day Crusader knights led by the Enforcer (Arly Jover), who is in service to the Patriarch (Fraser James), a backstabbing church leader who seeks to unseat the Queen. Why? Im not entirely sure. The vaguely byzantine court intrigue is secondary to Gray Alys and Boyces relationship, which the film builds patiently and methodically even at the expense sometimes of the action scenes, some of which probably go by too quickly. (One particularly climactic set piece looks fantastic but also feels like its over before it even starts.) Partly its because Anderson is more interested in the growing bond between Gray Alys and Boyce. Partly I suspect its because he doesnt have James Cameron or Tom Cruise money to spend on intricate and expansive action scenes. Somehow, though, it all makes sense within the composed, fairy-tale simplicity of this world. The mood conjured by Gray Alys and Boyces journey is a queasy one, in keeping with the hybrid nature of the setting. Quest narratives tend to be powered by a sense of hope, of anticipation the characters are usually looking for an object they care deeply about, or that will save them or their friends. But here are two sad, lonely, distrustful souls, searching for something neither of them really wants, through the destroyed remains of our planet, all while being chased by a weird army of modern-day knights controlled by a kingdom mired in betrayal. Everything in this movie is so hilariously bleak but that somehow makes us more receptive to the derelict beauty of its universe, where its always night or dusk, and where everything is ruined but nothing seems impossible. We lose ourselves amid the haunted railways and moonlight monsters, the busted reactors and flaming hills and rivers overflowing with skulls. Its all so metal it hurts. Loyal readers know that my series-long obsession is the cardboard boxes that are always piled next to the door. (What are those boxes that have been sitting there for days? Guys, its Saturday. Take in the mail!) That said, I have a new obsession with whatever is happening in West and Jesse Solomons Always Both Names Bathroom. Last episode, we had West peering at Jesse while he was pooping. This time, after the explosive dinner in the backyard, we see West hopping in the shower and Jesse going in there to talk about it. Okay, I get it; some guys are used to being in locker rooms, used to seeing each other naked. Fine. Sure. But theres something else about your friend coming into the bathroom while youre mid-shower to have a conversation. Its insane. These two might as well be a go-kart track that is about to get shut down because they have no boundaries whatsoever. I shouldnt say that, though, because West displayed some great boundaries in this episode. On Friday night, only a few people in the house were going out, but West snuck out to hang out with a friend before they could leave the house. (You couldnt text Danielle from the car to tell her you bailed? Come on!) He says hes going to hang with a dude, and when he arrives back home at 7 a.m. in an Uber that surely smells of ball sweat and Kiss FM, he says that he slept on a couch at a friends house alone. These are all little white lies so that Ciara feels a bit more comfortable in the house. West can still have a good time and go out, but he doesnt need to share stories and make life uncomfortable. Good for West. Smart move. Im not sure how that goes for Imrul, though. On his first night in the house, he goes out with Carl and Danielle, wearing two of the worst outfits that have ever happened on Long Island. That is saying a lot because I remember Princesses: Long Island. He brings home a girl from the club to shag her in the house with a cowboy hat he got at Burning Man over the camera in his room. What is her name? Its Janet, Ms. I Didnt Sign a Release So You Cant Show My Face if youre nasty. Dont get me wrong, if I were a politician, I would run on a Sluts Rights platform. I believe in ho-ing it up one side of the street and down the other. I also love that Imrul says hes not good at relationships and instead has entanglements with different women who all know about each other. Ethical non-monogamy and its far chattier sister polyamory are great, but theres something about his urge to prove that he is a certified stud that seems a bit performative. He already missed the first weekend to go to a sex party, now he has to bring a girl home the first night? This is a house that is full of strangers, and it seems like the only thing Imrul wants them, and by extension, the public, to know about him is that he has more pussy than the Tiger King documentary. Who else is boning in the house that I can talk about? Oh, Jesse Solomon! He is quite funny when staying home with Lexi, and he marvels at how last summer, the only time he stayed home was when he thought he had cancer. But this summer is different, he tells us. Theres a pregnant lady here. He tells the girls that hes worried about Lexi being jealous and that he doesnt want to get too entangled in a relationship and have it blow up the house like he saw happen to his shit, shower, and shave buddy, West. It seems destined to head that way. You could see Lexi bristle when the other ladies brought up Jesses ex-hook-ups. I am really getting red flags from Lexi, though. Why? She and Jesse went out to the club until 2 a.m. with her parents. That is just bonkers. I dont trust anyone who describes either or both of their parents as their best friends. Your parents should not be your friends; they should be your parents even when youre well into adulthood. Then she says that her mom and her sister work with her and that they always come to New York and stay with her. This is way too close for comfort. And just what kind of work do they do with her? I have so many questions, and it all seems a little too much like an 80s sitcom with a killer theme song. But what do I know? Theyre Canadian. They do things differently up there in the 51st state. Haha. Just kidding. I dont think Canada should be the 51st state. Obviously, thats such a dumb plan. Clearly, we should give Quebec back to the French, make eastern Canada the 51st state, then everything west of Montreal is now Alaska. Thats just as plain as the lip liner on Lexis face. Okay, so we did all the relationships; we got to Lexis parents. What else? What else? Oh! Lindsay had a gender-reveal scavenger hunt, and it was really dumb because everyone just ended up at the big box out back at the same time, so why did we even need the scavenger part of it? Lindsays having a girl. We knew that because she is currently a human that exists on the planet and her name is Gemma Brit Kuffe. Sadly, it is not Dale. I want a whole generation of Dales. Every baby girl for the next year should be a Dale. That is the tribute Tinsley Mortimers mother deserves. During the hunt, everyone is concerned about Carl and his well-being, but he and Lindsay are doing shockingly well so far. She even got him non-alc (ugh!) Champagne. What happened after the gender reveal? Do I need to talk about it now? Can I no long procrastinate talking about how my imaginary husband, Kyle McGille Cooke, was wrong this episode? Well, it turned out not as wrong as I imagined, but it still wasnt great. The fight between him and Paige is a pretty good reality-TV fight because theyre both right and wrong, though Kyle is more wrong than Paige. The issue is that Kyle ragedly texted Paige about her boyfriend, Craig, and her best friend, Hannah, but the fight quickly got deeper and more complicated than that. It starts when Paige expresses her dissatisfaction with Kyle at Lindsays all-pink gender-is-a-construct reveal party. Kyle says, I see youre upset. About? Um, Kyle. You know! You already talked to Carl about it. You know what you did, that Paige will be pissed, and, given your history with your wifes friends, that you shouldnt have done it at all. As the fight gets heated, we learn some more details that seem to exonerate Kyle. Hannah said on a podcast that Kyle is the reason she got fired from this show, but we see in just the one teeny-tiny little clip of her that she was so bippity-boppity-boo the last season that she got canned on her own merits. While Paige is correct that Hannah and Kyle will always have their own version of events, it seems like Kyle is mostly right, which Amanda wants Paige to admit. Amanda also says people were mad at Loverboy because of what happened with Hannah, but I have a feeling this didnt really hurt the business. This was probably a bunch of people talking shit on social media, and if you look at the sales of Loverboy, they probably werent affected at all. The details about why hes mad at Craig for investing in another hard seltzer company (which has so offended Kyle that he wants its name blurred like its Imruls dates face) had been fuzzy until now, but I see why Kyle is mad. Paige says Craig told Kyle he was going to invest, then he did it. Kyle has a different story. He thought Craig had told him about an offer he was considering, and Kyle had asked for some time to put together a proposal to invest in Loverboy, something he says anyone in the house can do if they have $25,000. Thats a lot of money. Thats like five sponsored posts! Kyle alleges that when Craig told him it was a done deal, he wished Craig had been more honest. Kyle then calls Craig a liar, which is harsh, but we have all watched Southern Charm. It is demonstrably true that Craig has a loose relationship with the truth and isnt always good at expressing his intentions. I have to say I take Kyles side on this one, too. Still, Kyle should not be rage-texting Paige about any of it. First of all, none of us should be rage texting. Secondly, Kyle specifically should not be rage-texting Paige because he knows that he has already fucked up his wifes relationships with her friends by flying off the handle, so maybe he should knock it off entirely. Kyle says he wants to know where Paige stands on these issues, but it doesnt matter. She is not at all a part of this, and if Kyle wanted to preserve his relationship with his wife and his peace in the house, he would let Paige stay the fuck out of it where she belongs. To Paiges credit, she keeps most of her criticism of Kyle to how hes treating her and doesnt aggressively advocate for either her boyfriend or her bestie. (Maybe Paige knows theyre wrong too?) She does call Kyle two-faced after he lodges the same complaint against her, but she is totally right that Kyle was rage-texting her and then being like, Why are you mad? at the same time. Paige tells us what shes really upset about. She says, Kyle is going to blow up his relationship with Craig, then Amanda and I will have to pick up the pieces. Shes correct because that is what happened with Hannah and Amanda, and it will happen again because Kyle cant get his emotions under control. Paige isnt mad about the texts; shes mad that he put her relationship with Amanda in jeopardy. I felt bad for Paige when she said she couldnt even have a bachelorette party because she couldnt invite Hannah and Amanda. Paiges other concern, which she expresses to the girls in her room, is that if Kyle and Craig never talk again, then she cant be in the house. This is not only affecting all of their relationships, its now affecting Paiges job, and you know that she is a boss bitch who likes to make her own money. Kyle, of all people, should know better than to fuck with someone elses hustle. The one I feel horribly for in all this is Amanda, who continues to be the emotional center of the show. She goes to Paige, and they have a crying hug. They say they dont want to fight with each other, and its a very sweet moment. Amanda can see her friendship slipping away, just as she knows there is nothing she can do about Kyle when hes in a rage. She just lets him spin out with Carl skulking nearby on cleanup duty. In the morning, she tries to explain her position to Kyle, but he keeps interrupting her. Finally, she says, You dont need to have everyone know where youre coming from all the time. Exactly! I love Kyle like Imrul loves vibrating cock rings, but this is exactly the problem. Instead of explaining himself all the time, why not ask about other people? Why tell Amanda how he feels when he can ask how she feels? Why come after Paige when you can ask her how she feels about all of this (and then apologize for raging at her)? Its always about Kyle and his feelings, and if he spent just a fraction of the energy managing everyone elses emotions that he is using on his own, he might be better off with the whole house. We leave the episode at the beach, where he pulls Paige for a chat, but I have a feeling that Kyle is going to keep talking; one more sound on the beach with the seagulls cawing, the Frisbee throwers screaming, the lifeguards whistling, and the surf, the never-ending surf, pleading with him, relentlessly, to shhhh shhhh shhhh shhhh. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Managment A pair of alleged 1331 HAX0RS have been arrested in New York City and charged with stealing 900+ tickets, scalping them, and making more than $600,000 in profit. Many of these tickets were for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour. According to prosecutors from the Queens County District Attorneys Office, the pair were arrested last Thursday (what, no Getaway Car?) and have been charged with grand larceny, computer tampering, conspiracy, and tampering. One of the two indicted conspirators worked for Sunderland, a third-party contractor for StubHub in Kingston, Jamaica, per Variety. They would take URLs for already-purchased tickets, give them to an accomplice that has since died, and resell them on StubHub. The gang was reportedly at it from June 2022 to July 2023. In a statement, the chief legal office of StubHub said that ensuring a safe and secure platform for our fans is our highest priority. Upon discovering this criminal scheme, we immediately reported it to the third-party customer-service vendor, Sutherland Global Services, as well as to the Queens District Attorneys Office and Jamaican law enforcement. StubHub says it has replaced or refunded all identified orders impacted. Other pop stars whose tickets were yoinked by the crew include Ed Sheeran and Adele. MWC organizer hails China's leadership in mobile industry innovation Xinhua) 08:23, March 06, 2025 People walk past the booth of China Mobile at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, March 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) Chinese companies are leading the way by rapidly applying cutting-edge technologies, GSMA's Director General Mats Granryd said. BARCELONA, Spain, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A combination of scale and innovation has positioned China's mobile industry at the forefront globally, a senior GSMA executive said at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona. Chinese companies are leading the way by rapidly applying cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, among others, Mats Granryd, director general of GSMA, the organizer of the event, told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday. He noted that China has successfully integrated all key components of the mobile ecosystem to create a robust and advanced industry. "The scale of the mobile market in China has greatly facilitated the adoption of new technologies," Granryd said. "It will be really interesting to see how this unfolds in the long term." People visit the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) Lara Dewar, GSMA's chief marketing officer, highlighted China's relentless drive for innovation. A frequent visitor to the country, Dewar said she is consistently inspired by the advancements she witnesses, citing China's commitment to expanding 5G networks, which now serve over a billion users. "China's influence on this industry is undeniable." The two executives underscored the value of collaboration. Granryd described international cooperation as "vital" to unlocking the mobile industry's economic potential. Looking ahead to this year's MWC Shanghai, Dewar expressed excitement about seeing China's technological advancements firsthand. "It will be incredible to visit and see technology come to life," she said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Five years ago, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), then the speaker of the House, created one of the most appalling moments in our recent politics. It was Feb. 4, 2020, the night of what would turn out to be the final State of the Union address of President Donald Trump's first term. The appalling moment was when Pelosi theatrically ripped up her copy of Trump's speech in front of lawmakers, the nation, and the world. Going into the speech, Democrats were beside themselves with frustration. For years, they had sought to tie Trump to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does that sound familiar? and hoped to impeach and remove the president on charges of colluding with Russia. But then, Trump-Russia special counsel Robert Mueller, after years of investigating, admitted he was not able to establish that collusion ever occurred. Democrats turned on a dime and impeached Trump anyway, not over Russia, but Ukraine. (If you don't remember the "perfect phone call," you can look it up.) That is where the State of the Union came in. Closing arguments in Trump's Senate impeachment trial were on Monday, Feb. 3. The State of the Union was on Tuesday, Feb. 4. And the Senate vote to acquit Trump was on Wednesday, Feb. 5. At the State of the Union, Pelosi, the driving force behind impeachment, awaited the final results of her effort in the coming Senate vote. On Tuesday night, when Trump gave the speech, Pelosi, as speaker, was sitting behind him on the dais, visible at all times. In a long speech, Trump never mentioned impeachment. Not once. Instead, he celebrated his administration's accomplishments, which he called the "great American comeback." "Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and our country is thriving and highly respected again," Trump said. But Pelosi, who had shown signs of obsession with Trump throughout the previous year, was certainly thinking about impeachment. She, of course, knew the Senate would never convict Trump. But the Democratic impeachment drive, with the trial coming at the beginning of the election year of 2020, was never realistically intended to remove Trump. Instead, impeachment was intended to damage Trump politically so that he would not be reelected. (By the way, Monday, Feb. 3, the night before the State of the Union, was also the night of the Iowa caucuses for Democrats.) For some Democrats, and that number probably included Pelosi, the struggle against Trump had become an emotional thing as well. She had pursued and pursued Trump, and yet there he was, still in office. The next day, after he was acquitted, she would have an outburst, wagging her finger at the president and saying that despite the acquittal, "You're impeached forever. You're never getting rid of that scar." Fast forward five years. Pelosi is now 84 years old and walking with a cane after a recent hip injury. Her party is in the minority, and incredibly, Trump is president again. After all her work, after everything Trump is president again. Tonight, he will give an address to a joint session of Congress. What to do? First, a number of Democrats have threatened to boycott the speech. That's probably not a big scare for the White House it will just mean proportionately more wildly cheering Republicans. Democrats realize that, and most will likely show up. So, what should the Democrats in the audience do? A new Axios report says some are planning to disrupt the speech, walking out at strategic moments: "Criticism of transgender kids was brought up as a line in the sand that could trigger members to storm out," Axios noted. Others have talked about bringing noisemakers or props, such as empty egg cartons. It's hard to believe Democrats will actually do that. Are they really that dumb? Who knows? As for Pelosi, the former speaker is urging fellow Democrats not to follow her example. She wants them to behave during the speech so that they can't be criticized for disrupting the president. "Any demonstration of disagreement, whether it's visual or whatever just let him stew in his own juice," Pelosi told the Washington Post. "Don't be any grist for the mill to say this was inappropriate." It's hard not to laugh at the woman who, while sitting in the most visible spot in the House chamber before millions of viewers, tore up the president's speech and waved the torn paper in the air, now advising her fellow Democrats to show restraint. The bottom line is we don't know what Democrats will do. They might not know themselves. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The following are the schedules for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Friday. In the morning, NPC deputies will examine reports and drafts on budgets and economic and social development plans. In the afternoon, they will deliberate a draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels. In the morning, the NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee will review reports and drafts on budgets and economic and social development plans. In the afternoon, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee will review the draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels. In the morning, the CPPCC National Committee members will hold their second plenary meeting. In the afternoon, some sectors of the CPPCC National Committee will conduct consultations, while other sectors will hold group meetings. At 10 a.m., Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will meet the press. This content is expired! Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again. Italy celebrates 550 years of Renaissance master Michelangelo who was born on 6 March 1475. Florence has paid tribute to Michelangelo on the 550th anniversary of his birth by restoring the Buonarroti family tombstone under which the Renaissance genius rests. The project, overseen by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure and Opera di Santa Croce, has fully restored the marble inlay which was damaged by time and the devastating flood in 1966. An official ceremony to mark the occasion will be held on Wednesday at 10.00 in the Basilica of Santa Croce in collaboration with the Accademia delle Arti e del Disegno and Florence city council, where a laurel wreath will be laid on the newly restored tomb. Numerous Tuscan marbles were used in the creation of the tombstone: white Carrara, grey Bardiglio, yellow Siena, red Maremma, green Prato and Medici breccia, along with Alberese limestone. The Buonarroti family established an altar at Santa Croce in 1570, six years after the death of Michelangelo, whose funeral monument in the church was designed by Giorgio Vasari. The restoration of Michelangelo's tomb is part of a wider programme of initiatives in Italy to mark the anniversary of the Renaissance master whose influence on the development of Western art was unparalleled. Photo Finestre sull'Arte SUVA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has announced a 100-day plan to address a range of critical issues, including political stability, economic recovery, and infrastructure rebuilding. Napat said the plan is a response to both ongoing challenges and lessons learned from the country's recent crises, including political instability and the impact of natural disasters like the recent earthquake, reported Vanuatu Dailypost on Wednesday. The Prime Minister outlined several key pillars of the 100-day plan, starting with governance and reform. One of the primary goals is to review and improve the government machinery to ensure that resources are used efficiently and that efforts are not duplicated. Another key focus is political reform, particularly the strengthening of the country's governance structure. In the economic sector, the government aims to address the impacts of natural disasters on the national economy, with a particular focus on revenue collection and growth. Infrastructure recovery, particularly in areas affected by the earthquake, is also a critical part of the plan. The government has prioritized rebuilding efforts in the capital's central business district. Education reform as well as foreign relations and policy reforms are also included in the 100-day plan. Napat said the government is focused on aligning its development goals with international security cooperation to ensure that the country's economic and aid development priorities are well-coordinated with security considerations. Ann O'Loughlin The Court of Appeal has been urged to overturn a decision that the States failure to provide for the basic needs of homeless asylum seekers is a breach of their fundamental rights. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Attorney General have brought an appeal against a High Court decision of last August which found the State response to the needs of mainly single male international protection applicants was inadequate. The court held there was a failure to provide for the basic needs of some 2,800 newly arrived applicants between December 4th, 2023, and May 10th, 2024. As a result the High Court granted a declaration that this was in breach of that class of persons' rights under Article 1 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. On Thursday, a three judge Court of Appeal ( CoA,) comprising Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington, Ms Justice Niamh Hyland and Mr Justice Anthony Michael Collins, was urged to reverse that decision. The High Court case had been brought by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) in December 2023 after the Government announced for the second time that it could not accommodate all single adult male arrivals amid unprecedented pressure on services. IHREC opposes the appeal. In arguments on behalf of the State on Thursday, Catherine Donnelly SC and David Conlan Smyth SC, said the High Court had failed to apply relevant principles in its decision. Ms Donnelly said the High Court's finding amounted to a radical departure from a number of fundamental principles of our system which the Oireachtas did not intend or could not have intended without clearer language. It gave rise to certain practical findings "which could be described as somewhat alarming" and should give cause for pause on whether its interpretation of the statute was correct, she said. Mr Conlan Smyth said while the total number of people who were the subject of the High Court declaration was 2,800, only 12 or 13 affidavits were provided from international protection applicants to say how they were affected. This represented just 0.4 per cent of the 2,800 applicants, he said. IHREC also claimed that the State had failed to vindicate the constitutional rights of the applicants but it had failed in relation to that claim, he said. There was no constitutional right to housing in Ireland and any right to housing assistance under the law is "sub constitutional," he said. IHREC had failed to provide satisfactory evidence that all 2,800 international protection applicants were without accommodation, he said. Unlike other jurisdictions in Europe, Ireland has no requirement that new arrivals must register in the locality they are in, he said. The 13 or so people who swore affidavits that they were rough sleeping from time to time was not sufficient evidence to say that there was a level of degradation for an entire group of people which amounted to a very serious interference with human dignity, he said. "The State says that is simply not the case across the board here," he said. There had also been significant protests, some violent, some peaceful, against the provision of asylum accommodation which was not something the State could be responsible for, he said. Yet the High Court did not take this into account in consideration of whether there was a breach of rights, he said. Eoin McCullough SC, for IHREC, said the High Court was correct and it had before it evidence which supported its determination. He said EU Court of Justice case law requires that dignity rights must be protected which ensure asylum seekers have certain minimum standards. The State did not really deny there was a breach of its obligations, he said. The State can provide accommodation or financial assistance to allow a person to obtain accommodation and clothing. In doing so, the State had increased a weekly 33 allowance by 75 but there was ample evidence from IHREC in the High Court that it was simply not possible to obtain accommodation with this amount of money, he said. Counsel said this was not an issue about the resources available because the State had not relied on this issue in arguing against the IHREC case, he said. Mr McCullough also disputed the State's claim that IHREC needed to produce evidence to say all 2,800 were victims of a human rights violation when the names of those people were available at the touch of a button for the State. The appeal continues. A major report published on International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres showed that over a third of centres were not Garda vetted. The report published by Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was an overview of 51 centres across the country. In Waterford, there are four IPAS centres: Viking House in the city, Birchwood House on the outskirts, Atlantic House and Ocean View House, both based in Tramore. The report stated that between January 2024 to January 2025, HIQA carried out 60 inspections across 51 centres. Inspectors met with 867 adults and 353 children. A total of 855 questionnaires were completed by residents. Of the service providers inspected, 35% were non-compliant with the national standard relating to safe staff recruitment practices. The report stated: "The main trend in reasons for non-compliance was the lack of Garda checks, international police checks and references for staff members and in some cases, all three were absent. Regarding the statutory notifications throughout this period, there were 60 allegations of abuse of a recipient; 22 notifications of serious injury to a recipient; two notifications of the death of a recipient; two notification of the unexpected absence of a minor. Of the children and young people questioned, 79% said that their centre was a safe place. 15% of school-age children were not currently attending school. Food was a recurring issue for the children; "While it is not possible to meet all childrens preferences regarding food in catered services, many children and young people who met with inspectors expressed dissatisfaction with the food choices that were provided." Overcrowding was another recurrent issue for residents, with many not having sufficient space for their belongings or sense of privacy. HIQAs Head of Programme for Monitoring International Protection Accommodation Service Centres, Bronagh Gibson, said: "Our inspections throughout 2024 showed that the current system of international protection accommodation is not adequately resourced to meet demand. She continued: "This has had a notable impact on the quality of accommodation and services that are being provided to some people seeking protection in Ireland. For example, during our inspections we found that not all staff were appropriately vetted, and a significant number had not been vetted by An Garda Siochana. HIQA required urgent action on this issue and is currently assured that relevant staff members have now been appropriately vetted." To read the reporttarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> in full, go to hiqa.ie. There is further uncertainty for Waterfords coast guard unit, Rescue 117 as the Department of Transport states their transfer date to the new provider is yet to be finalised as the contractual deadline quickly approaches. There is significant concern that Irelands Coast Guard bases, including Waterfords Rescue 117, could be limited in operation to just 8am to 8pm for a number of months following the transfer of the service to a new private provider. Coast Guard units in Shannon and Sligo have raised concerns over delays and uncertainty as the countrys maritime rescue service is transferred to Bristow Helicopters. The handover of Sligos Rescue 118 service has been postponed by nearly two months. Originally planned to transition on Valentines Day, February 14, the crew will now take the timeframe planned for Waterfords crew, the end of April, leaving the helicopter rescue crew out of Waterford Airport uncertain as to their fate. Sources at Waterford Airport said to Waterford News & Star that they have been left in the dark regarding the transfer and even as to by whom they will be employed in the coming weeks, noting concern around their company health insurance and other employment factors. The Department of Transport were approached for comment by this publication, querying whether Waterford's Rescue 117 crew will be limited in operating times when it transfers to the new provider, and if they can confirm a revised date for the handover to give the crew the much-needed clarity over their future. The Department stated: The date for the transfer of the Waterford base has yet to be finalised between the two contractors. Following the transition process, the Waterford SAR base, as with the other three bases, will provide services on a 24/7 basis as prescribed in the contract. The Department stated the transition from the existing provider CHC Ireland to Bristow Helicopters is a complex process that requires close co-operation by both commercial operators, while the government body is maintaining the overarching priority of a safe and effective transition without interruption to services. As part of this process, and with the safety of crew, citizens and mariners as the overarching priority, the Department may recognise the need to revise transition dates. Where this happens, the Department will do so without hesitation and with the expected full cooperation of both contractors. Why is there a new provider? The State made the decision in 2023 to change the provider of the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter service following nearly 20 years with CHC Ireland. A 10-year, 670 million contract was awarded to Bristow Helicopters, and the Irish Coast Guard is currently transitioning the service to new AgustaWestland AW189 helicopters but has encountered delays in the handover of the Shannon Airport crew to Bristow Helicopters. It has since been revealed that the Shannon Airport-based Rescue 115 Coast Guard unit is now only providing an 8am to 8pm daytime service while the crew complete their full training on the new aircraft type, during which time they are not permitted to carry out nighttime emergency responses. The crew of Rescue 118 at Sligo Airport raised their concerns that they are the only Coast Guard service on the west coast providing 24-hour service and are facing the same fate of delays and uncertainty as the Shannon Airport crew. The Department of Transport has said that the Shannon Airport service will resume 24/7 operations by the end of February, but the Sligo crew are concerned that their service will see the same time limitations. The same uncertainty is present in Waterfords Rescue 117 crew, with limitations to service feared upon the transfer to the new provider. Waterford News & Star broke the full story of Rescue 117 being 'left in the dark", you can read the story online here. Students in two Waterford secondary schools gained insight into the potential careers within the engineering sector recently when they were visited by an EirGrid engineer. Waterford native and Senior Project Engineer with EirGrid, Brian Davy spoke to over 150 students in Ard Scoil Na Mara, in Tramore, and De La Salle College in Waterford, about their ideas of renewable energy, the work of engineers and how everyone can work together to tackle societal challenges like climate change. Mr Davy also gave the students an insight into engineering career opportunities and the future of renewable energy on the south coast during a workshop initiative in the school. The initiative took place to mark STEPS Engineers Week and it saw Mr Davy meet with students from the schools to highlight the variety of careers available in engineering and the importance of the profession. STEPS Engineers Week, managed by Engineers Ireland, is aimed at promoting engineering education, celebrating innovation and encouraging the future engineering workforce. Young people must see themselves as innovators, equipped to tackle pressing global challenges, such as climate change," said Mr Davy. School visits like these offer a valuable opportunity to inspire students, providing them with insights to potential future careers and showcasing how they can contribute to Irelands ambitious goal of sourcing eighty percent of our electricity from renewable sources," he added. During the session students learned about EirGrids role in managing the electricity grid, the future of offshore wind in Ireland and the role of engineers in creating a more sustainable transmission system. The 'Powering Up Offshore - South Coast' project, led by EirGrid, will see the delivery of grid transmission infrastructure including offshore substations and underwater cables, to connect offshore renewable energy resources to points on the onshore grid along the south coast, including county Waterford. When delivered, this key infrastructure will have the capacity to bring 900 megawatts of clean, renewable electricity onto the national grid, enough to power nearly a million homes, said Mr Davy. EirGrid currently employs engineers from a diverse range of engineering backgrounds, including new graduates as part of the EirGrid graduate programme. Civil, electrical, structural, sustainability and IT engineers work alongside a host of other professions to ensure the constant development and efficiency of the national electricity grid. Long-serving, incompetent and conflicted company directors are in the sights of the financial regulator, which has embarked upon a major shake-up of standards at the boards of banks, insurers and superannuation funds following a string of governance scandals in the past few years. The Australian Prudential and Regulation Authority (APRA) is proposing term limits of 10 years for non-executive directors. It also called for an independent triennial review of the performance of boards, and wants to raise minimum standards around the fit and proper test for board members and require institutions to engage with it at the outset of their succession plans. APRA chairman John Lonsdale has put the boards of banks, insurers and superannuation funds on notice. Credit: Louise Kennerley Well-governed institutions are likely to be more resilient in times of stress, while poor governance can create weakness that leads to misconduct, losses and failures, APRA chair John Lonsdale said on Thursday. And when you look at the 1500 entities that APRA regulates, if you look at the ones under intensified supervision, the ones under enforcement action, and you ask yourself, Well, how many of those entities actually have governance issues at the core? and the answer is around 80 per cent - thats far too many. The vendors, Malaysian capital-backed Goodyear Properties, thought they had sold the 1530-square-metre site in late 2021 for a bumper $40 million-plus. But in a sign of its impending doom, the buyer, Chinese capital-backed property group APH Holdings, which collapsed just before Christmas, never settled on the purchase. The former Royal Saxon Hotel (and latterly Toad Hall backpackers) at No. 441-447, its neighbour at No. 449-451 and a 19th-century office-warehouse at the rear at 139 Franklin Street, cover an L-shaped parcel of land. 441-445 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Built in 1858, the hotel and its neighbours represent one of the last intact strips of Gold Rush-era Melbourne. Goodyear Properties paid a combined $8 million for the properties between 2006 and 2012. Its back on the market at about the price it fetched in 2021 - around $30,000 a square metre - and comes with a permit for 202 apartments and ground-floor shops. The permit was obtained amid some controversy in 2015, as the then planning minister Richard Wynne continued Matthew Guys practice of rubber-stamping projects on the Elizabeth Street strip, forever changing the north-western entrance to the city and the Queen Victoria Market. Since then, even more apartment projects have been approved in the precinct, with the market the next to be surrounded by high-rise buildings. Stonebridge agents Julian White and Chao Zhang have the listing. James Zhangs APH Holdings started unravelling last year, with a dozen properties and development sites worth more than $300 million flooding the market. Zhangs Ausea Star bought 420 Elizabeth Street, across the road, for $75.6 million in 2016. The sales board says its under offer but the due diligence is taking a long time. Sky One Developer Golden Age is having another crack at selling its trophy Box Hill retail precinct at the foot of the Sky One residential tower. The 3396-square-metre Sky One Plaza takes up the first three floors of the 36-level apartment tower and is anchored by the Bank of China and Hai Di Lao Hotpot. The mini shopping centre pulls in $4.1 million in rent and has an average lease term of 7.4 years. Sky One Plaza in Box Hill. CBRE agents Sam Guest, Jamie Hess, Trent Hobart, James Douglas and Jing Jun Heng are handling the off-market listing and expect around $60 million. The building was completed at the start of 2020 and was last pitched as a test of the market in 2022, but sentiment was softening fast and it did not sell. Sky One is the tallest residential building outside the city and dominates the suburban skyline. It is just one of a forest of towers in Box Hill, which has been dubbed Melbournes second CBD. Meanwhile, Golden Age has started construction on SKY SQR, the 425-unit 18-level twin tower project next door, which it sold in 2023 to build-to-rent operator Local for $360 million. Super tight Loading Wonthaggis busy new Bunnings store has sold for a bumper price believed to be around $20 million on a super-tight 5 per cent yield. Its the first Victorian store to be sold by the retail hardware giant since 2019, when Bunnings sold a new 16,000-square-metre store in Clyde North to Charter Hall for $42.3 million. Wonthaggis new 9000-square-metre store at 140 McKenzie Street opened in mid-2023. Bunnings has a 10-year lease on the building, which is on a 2.1-hectare site. Records show a private local family with other interests in the south-east bought the property. The 5 per cent deal is significantly competitive for a regional retail investment. The Clyde North store sold on a 4.5 per cent yield. The off-market deal was negotiated by Savills Rick Silberman and Steve Bolton, who declined to comment on the buyer or the price. Bunnings old building in Wonthaggi, which is owned by MPG Funds, has been demolished to make way for a new large-format shopping complex leased to Super Cheap Auto, BCF, Forty Winks and Choice Discount Variety. JB Hi-Fi Chapel Streets vacancy rate is set for another fall with a string of shops leased over the summer, most notably a new location for JB Hi-Fi. JB has moved into the 986-square-metre ground floor of 321 Chapel Street, on the corner of Chatham Street, between Coles and Pran Central. Loading Teska Carson agents Rory Teska Szer and Reece Israel negotiated the lease and a further six, including 150 Greville Street, which was leased in just three weeks. The electrical goods retailer has moved across the street from 282 Chapel, where Dan Murphys has expanded into more space at the location of its first shop. Dan Murphy - the person - set up shop in the basement of the grand Prahran Arcade in 1952. Fitzroys Walk the Strip vacancy rate tracker found Chapel Streets vacancy rate fell to 7.1 per cent last year after hitting a high of 20.4 per cent during the pandemic. Rents are well down from their peak and have stabilised in the $550-$650 a metre range. More recently, we have been doing deals for the prime shops in the $800-plus range, Rory Teska Szer said. While the strip had been struggling for years, the impending redevelopment of the Jam Factory is prompting renewed optimism among tenants. Eaton Mall The former State Savings Bank on Oakleighs popular Eaton Mall is going to auction on April 10. The Victorian-era stalwart at 30-36 Eaton Mall houses recent Stock Exchange debutante Chemist Warehouse and three other tenants. The auction will be one to watch as various directors and shareholders of Chemist Warehouse have been keen buyers of their outlets freeholds. 30-36 Eaton Mall, Oakleigh. The tenants pay around $420,000 a year in rent. The building is on 867 square metres of land in the mall, which is dominated by busy Greek restaurants and cafes. Cushman & Wakefield agents Raphael Favas, George Davies, Daniel Wolman and Leon Ma are handling the auction. Just three properties on Eaton Mall have gone to market in the past 15 years, selling with an average yield of 2.93 per cent, Davies said. It took Josh Rowe and his wife five years to fully electrify their home. They switched off the gas, added solar panels and batteries, and bought two Teslas. But one moment, when two salutes from an emboldened billionaire on Donald Trumps inauguration day ricocheted around the globe, has left Tesla owners like Rowe reeling. Tesla owner Josh Rowe said he wouldnt choose the brand if he were looking to buy an electric vehicle today. Credit: Chris Hopkins After Tesla chief executive Elon Musk on January 20 twice performed the gestures which he denied were Nazi salutes, but certainly looked a lot like them new Tesla sales fell by 45 per cent in Europe and the United Kingdom. Forbes reported this week that Musk has become $US111 billion ($175 billion) poorer than at his peak, losing $US1.5 billion on Tuesday alone, as Tesla stocks slumped. Personal records of hundreds of thousands of Australians are being copied and sent to a secretive mountain vault in Utah owned by the Mormon Church following an agreement with the National Archives of Australia (NAA). Government records with details including birth dates, school yearbooks, marriages and migration are being digitised by FamilySearch International, a not-for-profit owned and run by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Granite Mountain Records Vault in Utah is owned by the Mormon Church. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In return, the NAA is allowing the LDS enterprise to copy the records as part of the in-kind agreement. Theyll be added to the LDSs already vast collection of 16.5 billion worldwide records stored in the Granite Mountain Records Vault, 180 metres deep inside a mountain on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, Utah. The vault was custom-built to withstand earthquakes and nuclear attacks, to preserve records in a natural, temperature-controlled environment. Thousands of northern NSW residents have heeded the warning to evacuate as Tropical Cyclone Alfred bears down on towns that have barely recovered from the catastrophic floods of three years ago, with the premier pleading with those that remain to make the last-minute dash to safety. The storm is forecast to cross the coast north of Brisbane as a category 1 cyclone about 9am (AEDT) on Saturday, bringing winds of 120km/h and hundreds of millimetres of rain to the states north coast. NSW Premier Chris Minns, speaking from Lismore, said the public had largely been following safety advice. Credit: Nick Moir Nearly 30,000 homes are subject to the evacuation orders that extend from Tweed on the far north coast, inland at Lismore, and as far south as Port Macquarie, with widespread flooding forecast. Speaking in Lismore on Friday afternoon, NSW Premier Chris Minns said thousands of people had already left following advice from the State Emergency Service. MANILA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed in two separate residential fires that broke out Thursday morning in the Philippine capital, the Bureau of Fire Protection said. The bureau said the victims, a 55-year-old male, a 23-year-old female, and an 18-year-old female, sustained burns in the fire that broke out past 8 a.m. local time in a crowded village in Marikina City. Firefighters extinguished the blaze before 10 a.m. local time. The fire also injured three residents and affected 60 villagers, added the bureau. In Manila City, the bureau said an 83-year-old female was killed in a fire that gutted a two-story house around 9:15 a.m. local time Thursday. The bureau said the Manila City fire affected 21 residents. A common infection that can cause miscarriage, premature birth and newborn deaths, and was previously considered a female bacterial problem, has been found to be a sexually transmitted infection (STI) also carried by men. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is experienced by one-third of women, is not caused by an imbalance in natural bacteria in women, but is transferred between sexual partners, breakthrough Australian research has shown. Once Jessie and her partner were both treated for the bacteria that causes BV, the infection stopped returning. Credit: Penny Stephens Men are the missing link in the riddle of why many women are often reinfected by BV, which can cause pain and discomfort, the study by Monash University, Alfred Health and researchers at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre found. The paper, published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), is likely to change how BV is understood and treated globally. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pulled out of two Liberal Party events in Melbourne, a day after it was reported he left Queensland for a lavish fundraiser in Sydney as Cyclone Alfred approached his hometown of Brisbane. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged $1 million in recovery grants to every local council affected by Cyclone Alfred on Thursday, but stayed above the fray as his ministers lashed Duttons decision. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is under fire from Labor ministers for attending a party fundraiser in Sydney. Credit: Rhett Wyman The Australian Financial Review revealed on Wednesday that Dutton had attended a party fundraiser hosted by billionaire pub-and-club boss Justin Hemmes on Tuesday, triggering criticism from senior Labor ministers who questioned Duttons judgment. As the category 2 storm, which is due to make landfall either late Friday or early Saturday morning, approaches the coast, the chances of an election being called this weekend to be held on April 12 are receding, according to Labor strategists. Anthony Albanese would not talk about sending troops to Ukraine in any normal week in Australian politics. But this was no ordinary week. In the days after Donald Trump bawled out Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House, Australia had to make a choice about where to stand on a distant conflict. The sight of the United States president berating the Ukrainian leader while parading his sympathy for Russian president Vladimir Putin was a signpost to American decline. The Western alliance built over the past 75 years cannot survive presidents who betray friends and help enemies. The response from allies, especially those in Europe, has been to do whatever they can to limit the damage. Peace in our time? From left: French President Emmanuel Macron, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Credit: This is the essential context for what has become a partisan divide in Australia over whether to consider peacekeepers for Ukraine a sudden question that sets up another dispute over defence between Labor and the Liberals. It is little more than a week since Opposition Leader Peter Dutton went after the prime minister over the provocative visit from three Chinese ships, now off the coast of Western Australia. Trump, meanwhile, is almost certain to put tariffs on Australian iron and steel. Security concerns now cloud the election campaign. Whether the threat comes from Tropical Cyclone Alfred or the Trump administration, the government has to adjust at high speed. It has to watch for the natural disaster in Queensland and northern NSW as well as the unnatural one in the White House. Why this one? Was it the language? Does reading that someone told a western Sydney mosque he wanted to christ church 2.0 this joint [sic] focus the mind in some unique way? Is it the fact, referenced by NSW Premier Chris Minns, that the threat was made in Ramadan, when mosques are full, that captured the imagination? Whatever it was, here we are: a 16-year-old West Australian kid arrested, government and police declaring they are taking this very seriously, the prime minister issuing a statement, Peter Dutton posting on X, and Strike Force Pearl which hitherto seemed only to focus on antisemitic hate crimes ramped up patrols in response. Illustration by Matt Davidson Welcome, sure. But Ill admit to being caught by surprise because amid the torrent of attacks on Muslims in the past 18 months, this didnt even strike me as especially stark. Online threats happen all the time. Id guess every day. Even as I write this, a new story is developing about an online bomb threat against a school in a Muslim area of Sydney. They arent nice to receive I know because Ive received some quite graphic ones that have occasioned 24-hour security but they are so often the empty bravado of someone very young, very lonely, very disturbed, or all three. None of that is to say this stuff shouldnt be taken seriously. Its more to wonder why so little has been done before. There have been plenty of opportunities. Arson? Theres the person who yelled f--- Muslims and torch them all before proceeding to torch a Palestinian mans truck, which bore a Palestinian flag. Graffiti? Take the toilet stall at a childrens playground on which was scrawled HANG ALL MUSLIM SCUM! and KILL A MUSLIM followed by a checklist: PEDOS UGLY STUPID LAZY FILTH. Assault? Two hijab-wearing women were hospitalised after allegedly being variously punched and choked while minding their own business about three weeks ago. Assault with cars? A man yelled f--- off you terrorist dogs to a group of Muslim men praying outdoors, then drove his car back at speed and tried to run them over. A woman allegedly tried to run over an imam. Eighteen days before the state election in March 2019, Liberal hopeful Scott Yung hosted a fundraiser at the high-class Blue Angel seafood restaurant to help support his run at Chris Minns seat of Kogarah. The list for the dinner was tight, with only about two dozen Chinese Australians and party figures attending to rub shoulders with former prime minister John Howard. The evening was a roaring success, according to the candidate nomination form Yung submitted to the Liberal Party in 2023 ahead of being nominated as the candidate for Bennelong. Scott Yung, then the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Kogarah, sitting next to John Howard during a fundraiser at the Blue Angel restaurant. We raised the maximum expenditure of $60,000 within one week. This was thanks to the assistance of Mr John Howard hosting a dinner, Yung stated. The problem? None of these donations appear to have been disclosed with the NSW Electoral Commission. The Liberal Partys disclosures for the state campaign period do not include a single person identified by the Herald as having attended the fundraiser. Popular neighbourhoods Tourists photograph a geiko walking through Gion in Kyoto. Credit: Bloomberg Everyone visiting Barcelona wants to stay in the Gothic Quarter; everyone visiting Kyoto wants to be in Gion. These areas are rapidly becoming tourist ghettos, when there are so many more interesting places to stay. Staying in local neighbourhoods Theres a flipside to that coin, and that is tourists who want to stay in apartment or house rentals in neighbourhoods that have no hotels, and are otherwise populated only by locals. Its a complete cultural immersion for the visitor however, have you considered why those locals live in an area with no hotels or tourist infrastructure? Break the chain Theres a time and a place for a Hilton or a Hyatt. But its also frustrating for local business owners when tourists insist on only staying with familiar international brands, rather than opting for a locally run hotel. Housekeeper harmony In the United States, hotel guests are expected to leave a tip for the person who cleans their room somewhere between $1 and $5 a day. It feels unnecessary for many of us who arent from the US, but if you dont do it, you will be upsetting people. EATING + DRINKING Show up We get it: youve made a reservation at a restaurant a few days ago, maybe even a few weeks ago, but your plans have changed. Youre on holiday, you dont know anyone here, and you just dont get around to cancelling. Or, you do it at the last minute. This might be understandable, but its also incredibly frustrating for restaurant owners, not to mention disrespectful. Leave no leftovers Dining in Japan dont order more than youll eat. And take a seat. Credit: iStock This is a particular issue in Japan, where its considered bad form to order or take more food than youre able to eat. Wastage is disrespectful to everyone involved in the food chain, from the farmers to the chefs. and take a seat Again, this is specific to Japan, and something every visitor should be aware of. In Japan, you dont eat on public transport, or while walking around, or even while sitting in a crowded area. Find a quiet spot to perch and consume. Dont always book for 7pm Ask an Australian what time they want to book dinner and theres a good chance theyll say 7pm. That leads to crowded restaurants for an hour or so, and empty seats the rest of the night. Public drunkenness In most countries, locals dont get publicly, tragically wasted. They dont get rowdy. They dont get obnoxious. So when they see visitors indulging in behaviour they might not even do back at home its an issue. Educate yourself Why has your restaurant stopped serving lunch at 2pm? Why does it cost more to sit down instead of standing at the bar? Why cant I order that meal for breakfast? Why dont you serve alcohol? Tourists with no idea about local customs are a nightmare. It wont be like home Theres also a brand of tourist who will constantly point out the flaws in a destinations dining scene as opposed to their own. To which most locals must want to say, Why didnt you just stay home? Crunch the numbers You may not like the culture of tipping, particularly in the US where its getting out of hand. But tipping is a reality in some countries, and visitors who refuse to take part are denying servers a large chunk of their income. Reservation saturation This is an issue with sheer numbers. Restaurants in the likes of Kyoto in Japan and San Sebastian in Spain only have so many reservations they can accept. And when those cities are filled with tourists, those reservations disappear quickly, meaning many locals can no longer access their favourite restaurants. Stingy snappers Many food-obsessed travellers will indulge in a market tour, a stroll around a local area to soak up the colour and the bustle and take a few photos. Only they dont buy anything. They take up all that space, they shove cameras in peoples faces, and they dont spend a cent. SIGHTSEEING Instagram hot-spots If you spot a huge crowd of people, sometimes even formed into an orderly queue, in an otherwise nondescript spot, you can bet theres a viral Instagram photo that has been taken there. And everyone else wants it. Really? Acoma Sky City, New Mexico, US. Credit: Alamy Influencer infiltration Speaking of social media, this can go further than just queueing for a photo. Tourists dance for TikTok views; they set up tripods and video themselves on public transport; they film themselves eating in restaurants while talking to their cameras. Theyre travelling for content and its infuriating. Damage to historic sites Theres been plenty of coverage recently of tourists behaving badly, carving graffiti into Colosseum walls, breaking into Machu Picchu after hours, stripping naked on sacred mountains. These places are the cultural heritage of a people and a nation they deserve far more respect. Death of manners Theres a tendency among some travellers to not even see locals as people like them. Theyre there to serve. Or theyre not there at all. And so they treat them rudely, abrasively. That wouldnt take long to become exasperating. No local lingo It doesnt take much effort to learn to say hello, and thank you, and even do you speak English, in the local tongue. Its also a mark of respect. And its something plenty of people dont bother to do. Bin it The solution to so much of this list comes down to a simple directive: when youre travelling, behave with at least as much respect for people and places as you would at home. Would you drop that paper on the ground at home? Would you leave that bottle? Would you not bother to recycle that plastic? Then why do it here? Risky business Its safe to say that if you need rescuing at some point in your travels if someone has to put themselves in danger to get you out of danger you have probably taken a risk you shouldnt have. Dont put locals in a situation where they have to save you. Local gems Maybe you dont need a tour guide in your destination of choice. Thats fine. But if you do, its frustrating for locals when you choose someone from out of town, with only sparing knowledge of the place youre visiting. Support locals, and learn from locals. and local spends Its not just local guides who need your money. Its independently owned shops, boutique bars and restaurants, artists and creators who make the very things theyre selling. These people deserve more patronage than the multinational corporation next door. Show some respect. Credit: Alamy Swimwear in the city Just because youre on holiday and the regular rules feel relaxed, doesnt mean everyone else is. So dont walk around bare-chested or in a bikini in a place where no-one else is dressed like that. Dont ignore local customs just so you can have a good time. Keep left (or right) Think of that classic New York refrain: Hey, Im walkin here! Its said when some bumbling pedestrian usually a tourist has blocked the footpath or wandered into their path while, say, reading the maps app on their phone. Haggling too hard Theres no glory in haggling someone down by a few dollars, just so you feel like you got the local price. If youre in a country where haggling is the norm, theres a good chance you hold the upper hand, financially, by a huge margin. Dont get your kicks by withholding as much cash as possible. No photo! Everyone has a camera now, and everyone fancies themselves as the next Nat Geo star, which is why you see so many tourists photographing and videoing locals without bothering to ask permission. In some countries, this is deeply offensive or annoying. Selfie sticks I mean, obviously, right? TRAVELLING Number crunch The most annoying thing about tourists? When theres a lot of them. Thousands. Millions. In your home. Aggravation is guaranteed. Tourist discounts Japan fans might have noted recently that the price for the countrys famously attractive JR Pass was raised dramatically. This was done in part to appease residents, who thought it unfair that tourists were given such large discounts. The Trevi Fountain might be time to avoid the popular neighbourhoods. Credit: Alamy Destination obsession A huge number of the worlds issues with mass tourism and over-tourism would be solved if everyone would just go to more places. But no, we need to get to Dubrovnik, to Kyoto, to Amsterdam, to Bali, to Venice, to Santorini. Loading at peak season Whats worse is that not only does everyone want to go to the same places, they want to go at the same time. Peak seasons are becoming notorious, so much so that locals are looking for ways to escape their home cities when the hordes arrive. Cruise crowds You always know, in some cities, when the cruise ships are in town. Dubrovnik is a prime example: the city of only 40,000 people was so popular that local authorities had to limit it to 8000 cruise passengers a day. These passengers move in large groups, and they dont spend money on accommodation sometimes not even meals. Price hiking Theres an increasingly common complaint from residents of popular tourist destinations that theyre being priced out of their own homes. Its not just real estate becoming more expensive: everything from restaurant bills to transportation can increase in price when cashed-up tourists inflate the market. Choke hold This comes in many forms: air pollution from planes and cars; noise pollution; water pollution; soil contamination; even light pollution. Tourists presence, their movements, cause inevitable damage. All you can do is try to reduce it as much as possible. Local wheels A common bugbear for residents and business owners in popular destinations is that tourists arrive on package- tours that dont use local transportation. This takes money out of local economies, where it could be far better spent (and should be, since youre using up resources and taking up space). Tour with locals whenever possible. Credit: Alamy Customary respect What could be more annoying than hordes of visitors who come to your home to enjoy themselves, and yet show absolutely no interest in your culture, your history, your society? This happens all the time, and it would drive you wild. Fridge magnet, keychain pain This is another classic complaint from residents in the likes of Amsterdam and inner-city Barcelona: the stores that cater to locals are being replaced with tacky souvenir shops and international chain outlets. The butchers, the cheesemongers, the hardware stores, the homewares shops just dont exist anymore. Riding public transport This is a particular issue in Kyoto, though it does apply in varying degrees around the world: tourists ride public transport, and local authorities havent designed those systems to handle the extra numbers. Its not really tourists fault, but it is frustrating. Loading ignoring public transport etiquette You dont eat on public transport in some places; you dont talk loudly on the phone or to friends; you shuffle up to make space for more people as soon as theres room. Those who dont understand this etiquette can get under others skin. FLYING Security queue faff Its not really locals youre going to be annoying here its fellow travellers. Still, these are legitimately frustrating behaviours. And the first: not being ready when you get to the security scanners. Oh, my belt? My wallet? Oh, I need to put my bag on the tray instead of trying to carry it through? My bad. Tiny taxi rides Cab drivers hate a short fare, particularly after theyve been queueing for hours to pick someone up from the airport. Theres not a lot that travellers can do about this you have to go where you have to go but be prepared for a lot of complaining. Leaning back It really bugs some people when you recline your seat on a plane, particularly if its a short-haul flight in the middle of the day. Though Making space, or not. Credit: iStock and leaning in It annoys other people when some complain about their reclining. The seats recline. Youre allowed to recline them. Stop whinging. Carry-on down the aisle Everyone understands that that person crashing down the aisle hitting everyone with their multiple carry-on items is bringing far too much on board and will take up way more overhead space that theyre entitled to. So why does it still happen? Crowding the carousel Baggage carousels would be much more pleasant if everyone would just take a few steps back and refrain from ramming their trolley right up against it the second it starts moving. Too long at the airport bar Dont get too boozy before your flight. That should go without saying. Five things locals love about tourists Money Lets be honest, the ultimate benefit of tourism to locals is financial. Tourism brings in money, in some cases money that is desperately needed. People get jobs through tourism, they keep small businesses afloat through tourism, they get improved local infrastructure through tourism. As a visitor, you can be highly beneficial. Driving the local economy San Sebastian, Spain. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo We have two to three weeks in June or July 2025 to travel in Asia. One of us is the energiser bunny and needs a week of fun, food and action and one of us needs some downtime with a swim, lovely food and cocktails. What do you recommend in Asia to keep us happily married? R. and T. Cayres, Coogee, NSW North of Hanoi, the rippling hills are the home of Vietnams minority hill tribes. Credit: iStock For an Asian holiday with charm, serenity, scenery, shopping, great food, cultural splendours and astonishing value, Vietnam is a star performer. Mid-year, focus on central and northern Vietnam, as the south will be sticky. Start with Hanoi to take in the colonial architecture of the French quarter, the pagodas, the tree-lined lakes, the museums and dont miss the citys unique take on coffee and croissants. Shop for silks, porcelain and lacquerware at unbelievable prices, and take an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay. North of Hanoi, the rippling hills are the home of Vietnams minority hill tribes. The former French hill station of Sapa, accessible from Hanoi via an overnight train ride and short but steep bus ride, is the main base for accommodation and tours. Market day brings to Sapa a colourful brigade of Red Zhao women and Black Hmong in indigo dresses with matching turbans. The scenery rice paddies that step down the hillsides from mist-covered mountains throws down a challenge to the legs. Almost anything is possible, from a two-hour stroll to a three-day expedition, overnighting in hill-tribe longhouses. JERUSALEM, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police plan to deploy approximately 3,000 officers across Jerusalem as the city prepares for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City, Israeli media reported on Thursday. The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has been a sensitive site holy to both Muslims and Jews and a long-time focal point of tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, particularly during Ramadan. Last month, Israeli media reported that security agencies plan to restrict access to the site, allowing only 10,000 Palestinians from the West Bank to enter for Friday prayers, contingent upon prior approval. Palestinian prisoners released under the Gaza ceasefire deal will not be granted entry. A police spokesperson stated that additional reinforcements would be stationed at checkpoints around the city's perimeter, in East Jerusalem, and within the Old City this upcoming Friday. Security forces aim to prevent "hostile elements from exploiting Ramadan for incitement, disturbances, terrorism, or any form of violence." Police have advised drivers to use alternative routes because some key roads near the Old City will be closed to traffic from 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. local time (0400-1330 GMT) on Friday. According to the status quo that governs the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to the Jews as the Temple Mount, non-Muslims can visit the site only during limited periods of time and are not officially allowed to pray there. Industry insiders have applauded China's visa-free policy at Berlin Int'l Tourism Fair. Now, the policy allows ordinary passport holders from 38 countries to visit China visa-free for up to 30 days. #GLOBALink SYDNEY, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Australian scientists have identified the oldest known meteorite impact crater on Earth, a discovery that could greatly reshape the understanding of the planet's formation and the origins of life. The discovery significantly challenged previous assumptions about Earth's ancient history, the study's co-lead author Tim Johnson from Curtin University said on Thursday. Curtin University researchers investigated rock layers in the North Pole Dome, an area of the Pilbara region of Western Australia (WA), and found evidence of a major meteorite impact 3.5 billion years ago. "Before our discovery, the oldest impact crater was 2.2 billion years old, so this is by far the oldest known crater ever found on Earth," Johnson said. Researchers identified the crater through the presence of shatter cones, unique rock formations created under the extreme pressure of a meteorite impact. These formations, found about 40 km west of Marble Bar in WA's Pilbara region, were formed when a meteorite struck the area at over 36,000 km per hour. This would have been a major planetary event, resulting in a crater more than 100 km wide that would have sent debris flying across the globe, according to the study published in Nature Communications, conducted by a team from Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Geological Survey of Western Australia. Johnson explained that observations of the Moon indicate large impacts were common in the early solar system. However, he noted that the lack of any truly ancient craters on Earth has led geologists to largely overlook their significance. "This study provides a crucial piece of the puzzle of Earth's impact history and suggests there may be many other ancient craters that could be discovered over time," he said. Co-lead author Chris Kirkland from Curtin University said the discovery provides new insights into the role of meteorite impacts in shaping Earth's early environment, adding uncovering this impact, along with others from the same era, could help explain how life began, as impact craters created conditions favorable for microbial life, such as hot water pools. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China's development agenda for 2025 unveiled Wednesday at the annual national legislature session fans optimism for all -- it's expected to not only consolidate the recovery of the world's second-largest economy, but also provide a much-needed boost to a global economy grappling with persistent challenges. STABILIZER FOR GLOBAL GROWTH China plans to expand its economy by around 5 percent in 2025, unchanged from the target set for 2024, according to a government work report submitted Wednesday to the national legislature for deliberation. A 5-percent growth in China equates to about one third of the global growth, Danilo Turk, former president of Slovenia, as well as president of Club de Madrid, told Chinese media. "If we think about this, we can see the stabilizing effect of Chinese growth, and its stable growth benefits the whole world." Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) predicted a global economy under considerable strain, with 56 percent of the surveyed chief economists expecting the global economy to weaken in the year ahead. In response to the shifting economic landscape complicated by weak demand and rising trade tensions, China has intensified its pro-growth policies since last September, yielding positive results. This year, China will apply a moderately loose monetary policy and a more proactive fiscal policy, raising the deficit-to-GDP ratio to around 4 percent. Concerted efforts will be made to facilitate policy implementation and guide expectations. CATALYST FOR CHANGE Amid sluggish global growth, international organizations have called for structural reforms to unlock economic potential and ensure sustainable development. In January, the International Monetary Fund emphasized the need for decisive policy actions to enhance economic dynamism, boost the supply side, and address medium-term growth risks. China has long pursued structural reforms to push for a greener, smarter, and more inclusive economy. John Quelch, executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, observed that the most notable feature of China's economic development policy is its long-term focus, which ensures positive outcomes. In 2025, China plans to implement guidelines on developing a unified national market and release a revised negative list for market access to stimulate market innovation and development. The government work report also emphasized fostering new quality productive forces, vowing support for funding for industries of the future, and the extensive application of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models. Such efforts are cultivating new growth drivers for the world economy. For instance, the rise of China's electric and smart vehicles has accelerated the global automotive industry's green and intelligent transformation. Meanwhile, promoting AI technologies, such as DeepSeek, has allowed industries worldwide to harness the benefits of the digital economy. Borge Brende, president and CEO of the WEF, is upbeat about China's medium and long-term economic prospects, highlighting AI as a strong force reshaping global economic growth. "If you apply AI in a good way, it can increase productivity by 10 percent in the coming decade. That means a lot of prosperity for those that are able to implement it in a strategic way." PILLAR FOR COOPERATION Despite rising trade protectionism and decoupling attempts overseas, China has reiterated its commitment to high-standard opening up, sharing the benefits of cooperative development through expanding trade and two-way investment. The government work report said the country will further develop green and digital trade and support localities where conditions permit in developing new types of offshore trade. Trials to open sectors such as telecommunications, medical services and education will be expanded, while foreign investors will receive support in collaborating with upstream and downstream enterprises in industrial chains. With a population of over 1.4 billion, including more than 400 million middle-income consumers, China represents a massive and rapidly growing market. A survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China revealed that nearly 70 percent of consumer industry respondents plan to increase investments in China in 2025. Lin Yong, a national political advisor from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said the global investors' move to expand presence in China "makes business sense" as the Chinese market can yield returns for them. "It's important that China shows to the world that it will open more its economy," said Carlos Aquino, director of the Center for Asian Studies at Peru's National University of San Marcos, citing the hosting of the China International Import Expo as an example, which benefits both Chinese consumers and the rest of the world by promoting imports. In The Meantime, Its Time To Spring Ahead And Turn Clocks Ahead 2 a.m. Sunday Spring Ahead! Summer Time. Daylight Saving Time. Will the Nebraska Legislature bring the switching to an end? Not for a while. The Nebraska Legislature is debating again whether the state should choose year-round daylight saving time or remain year-round on standard time. The choices are LB 34, which would make Daylight Savings Time permanent, or LB 302, making Standard Time year-round. Or there could be no change, and everyone would have to live with the time change. Both bills advanced past general file, but many senators appear undecided. Senator Brian Hardin was present-not voting on bot... Notice is given to all interested person that Clean Harbors Environmental Service, Inc. (CHESI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Clean Harbors, Inc. and a permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility located 5 miles south of Kimball on Highway 71, Kimball, NE, has filed a Class 1 Permit Modification Request with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE). The purpose for the permit modification is to revise several Part B Permit Application sections. Section B Facility Description, C-2 Waste Analysis Plan, D-3 Miscellaneous Treatment Units, and D-4 P&ID Drawin... SUVA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has survived a second vote of no-confidence in two weeks. Fiame defeated the no-confidence vote by 32 members of parliament against the motion and 19 in favor on Thursday, according to local media Samoa Observer. The motion was moved by La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, the chair and leader of the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party. In a role-reversal of last week's motion, the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) voted alongside Fiame. In January, La'auli, alongside several FAST ministers, was removed by Fiame from her cabinet, creating a major split within the ruling party. R. Venette Cornils, 93, of Bushnell, died at Kimball Health Services on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Memorial services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025 at the Crossroads Community Church in Pine Bluffs, with Pastor Joshua Tangeman officiating. Private family burial was held prior to the service. Friends may visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view her Tribute Wall and share condolences and stories with the family. Contributions may be given in her memory to Home Instead, at 1821 1st. Avenue, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 69361, [email protected] . The services for Venette have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home. R. Vennette Cornils was born in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming on October 13, 1931, the daughter of Franc and Edith (Bergren) Karlstrum. She was raised and attended school in Pine Bluffs. Venette was married to Roy Cornils in Harrisburg on March 17, 1948. The family lived on the Cornils farm south of Bushnell, a home she lived in until the time of her death. Venette was a wonderful homemaker; she loved taking care of her family and the many friends that would stop by. When friends would stop, she always had a meal prepared and ready to feed anyone who stopped. Food was her language of love. She was the last surviving member of the Tidy 10 Extension Club. This was a group of ladies that would share different stories of raising a family. Venette enjoyed participating and leading bible study and bringing people to know Jesus, and being active with the Pine Bluffs Baptist Church, now the Crossroads Community Church. She was also the pianist at the church for several years. Survivors include her children Cortney (Dianne) Cornils of Arlington, TX., Connie Duerwald of Ft. Myers, FL., daughter-in-law Jerri (Curt) Cornils of Chandler, AZ., and Clint (Kitty) Cornils of Bushnell, NE brother Darrel (Carolyn) Karlstrum of Cedar City, UT; sisters Linor Butler of Colorado Springs, CO and Eileen Tanner of Laramie, WY; 12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren. Venette was preceded in death by her parents Franc and Edith Karlstrum, husband Roy, sons Collin Cornils and Curt Cornils, 3 infant siblings, daughter-in-law Shelley Cornils and son-in-law Andrew (Drew) Duerwald. By Cillian Sherlock, PA An Independent TD who became a junior minister has highlighted a gap in speaking time for members of Government and those in Opposition. Marian Harkin was among five Independents who were given junior minister roles after agreeing to support a Programme for Government led by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. However, other Independent TDs who negotiated as bloc with Ms Harkin were not given ministerial positions despite agreeing to support the Government. A bitter row was then ignited when it emerged that the Government was in support of allowing those remaining Government-aligned independents to join a technical group for the allocation of Dail speaking time. Opposition parties said the independents could not be allocated their time and must be recognised by the Dail as members of Government. Coalition figures say that those independents be recognised as non-aligned to either the Government or Opposition and have instead proposed new rules on speaking rights for a new grouping of other members. The measure, which is to be voted on after St Patricks Day, would also allocate more time to backbenchers of the Government parties. Ms Harkin, who sat as an independent in the previous Dail, said she received more speaking time when she was in opposition. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, she added: I was a member of the opposition and there wasnt a week that went by that I spoke once, twice, three times and sometimes twice a day. Since Ive been re-elected, I actually have not had any opportunity to speak in the Dail. I know Im a junior minister so I know it is quite not the same thing, but that does just give you another perspective on it. Minister for Higher Education James Lawless (Niall Carson/PA) Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister James Lawless said the reaction to the speaking rights row has been unhelpful, obstructive, and disproportionate. Mr Lawless said: Were not just talking about a small number of the independent group, were talking about 60 Fianna Fail and Fine Gael backbenchers who dont have the right to speak. As an example, the minister turned to his colleague in the previous government Green party leader Roderic OGorman and 100% Redress TD Charles Ward. He said: He was a valued colleague in government and is a very strong TD, but hes a party of one. He spoke twice last week, once on Leaders Questions and 20 minutes later on a question on promised legislation. Charles Ward, the Donegal representative independent, a party of one spoke today in the Dail, spoke yesterday on his Leaders Questions. In the course of his comments, he mentioned that he spoke in Leaders Questions the week before. Thats three times in a week, three times more than any my colleagues in Fianna Fail or Fine Gael got to speak at all, in terms of our backbenchers. Speaking time is agreed within opposition technical groups and TDs can go several weeks without speaking. Mr Lawless said the Government should get at least the same opportunities as the opposition for speaking time, adding: You could argue it should have more because its got more seats and more support from the mandate of the ballot box. He said an inequality has arisen from Dail reforms of 2016 which sees the opposition with more speaking time than the Government. I think it was perhaps a little over generous when we look back on it, he added. By Rebecca Black, PA Hundreds of jobs at TikTok in Ireland are reportedly under threat. Around 300 roles are in danger amid a global redundancy programme at the video-sharing platform. There are almost 3,000 staff employed by TikTok in Ireland, and The Irish Times reported that the Irish Government has been told around 300 jobs are at risk. The Department of Enterprise said it has received a redundancy notification from TikTok. The department received a collective redundancy notification in relation to potential redundancies at TikTok Technology Limited on 4 March 2025, a spokesperson for the department said. Any further queries should be directed to the company, they added. TikToks Dublin offices were moved to The Sorting Office at the Docklands in December 2023. TikTok has been contacted for a response. By David Young, PA The Taoiseach has said, while Ireland is willing to be part of a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, it will not participate in any troop deployment designed as a military deterrent. Micheal Martin, who is in Liverpool for a UK-Ireland political summit, also insisted he wanted to have a respectful meeting with US president Donald Trump at the White House next week, when issues around Ukraine and wider European security may feature in discussions. Mr Martin hailed UK prime minister Keir Starmers effective and impactful role in the unfolding geopolitical events related to the conflict in Ukraine. Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaks to the media in Liverpool, ahead of the first in a new series of annual UK-Ireland summits (PA). Indicating that Irelands long-standing position of neutrality would preclude its involvement in a deterrence force, Mr Martin reiterated that the Irish Defence Forces could play a role in a peacekeeping mission. He comments come as the Irish Government is moving to make a law change that would give it more latitude to deploy troops overseas. Under current rules, Ireland can only participate in peacekeeping missions that are formally sanctioned by the UN. That places a significant limitation on Irelands latitude to deploy troops, as members of the UN security council, such as Russia, are able to veto any missions they do not support. The Government is seeking to remove this element of its so-called triple lock rules for deploying troops. We all want peace, Mr Martin told reporters in Liverpool. There are too many wars in the world, too many young people are losing their lives on the battle fronts. It impacts on livelihoods all over the world, particularly Ukrainians, particularly people in the Middle East, particularly in Sudan and other areas. And I think Keir Starmer is really looking at the realities of the world today. I think he is leading well in terms of working with the European Union and other leading European states to try and deal with this situation. Weve made it clear that if a ceasefire develops or if theres a cessation of hostilities, Ireland has always been open to peacekeeping, but we wouldnt be part of a deterrent force. Theres just two separate areas there, in other words they are two different and distinct issues. But we are open, and always have been, depending on the context to any invitation to participate in genuine peacekeeping and to ensure that any cessation of hostilities can lead to a durable and sustainable peace, because any peace in Ukraine has to be durable and it has to be sustainable. Mr Martin said he hoped the UK and Ireland could enhance security co-operation at the summit meeting in Liverpool. He highlighted areas of cyber security and protecting undersea cables as areas where the two nations could work together more. We will be discussing how we can enhance that type of security cooperation and engagement, he said. The Taoiseach declined to be drawn on whether he would push back on any claims the US president might make in the Oval Office St Patricks encounter next Wednesday. Im honoured to be going to the White House as well as looking forward to, again, celebrating what is a major historic tradition and relationship between Ireland and United States, particularly for Irish Americans and our diaspora there too, Mr Martin told reporters. Patricks week is always a very significant week and we will be discussing a range of issues, and particularly, again, the importance of the Irish/US relationship, but today its about the UK/Irish relationship. He added: People come to the table with different perspectives. I respect people. I respect the offices that people hold. And Im honoured to be invited to the White House as an Irish Taoiseach, given the relationship between our two countries, very strong economic relationship, but also the ties that bind Ireland and America together for a long, long time. And, you know, we will engage in a respectful manner. We will put our perspectives. No doubt, President Trump has his views and perspectives as well. But the important thing is to engage, and the important thing is to reflect on that relationship today and to make sure we can protect Irish economic interests, protect the livelihoods of people in Ireland many, many workers depending on that and also pointing out then how significant Irish investment is in the United States. Companies like Ryanair, Glanbia, Kerry Group, Icon, many, many more who create many, many thousands of jobs in America. And so its a very, very robust economic relationship that brings benefits to both sides. And we will have a good discussion, Im sure. High Court reporters Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley is travelling to Dublin on Friday to sign documents in a move to pay off the multi-million loan at the centre of a dispute over his Cork Castlehyde mansion, the High Court has heard. The entertainers counsel, Ronnie Hudson BL, told the court on Thursday that the new redemption figure on the disputed loan, which had been taken out by Mr Flatleys film production company with the former Riverdance star as guarantor, now stands at 6.9 million. The loan, Mr Hudson said, was on the cusp of redemption. However, counsel for the company Novellus Finance, which had a receiver appointed over Castlehyde over alleged loan default, submitted to the court that there have been empty promises and its refrain now was show me the money. At issue in the case is the original 5.6 million loan made to Mr Flatley's Blackbird Film Productions Ltd by Novellus Finance Ltd, with registered offices at St Stephens Green, Dublin in 2023 with repayments of 67.000 per month over two years. Novellus claimed there has been default on repayment, which Mr Flatley denies. Mr Flatley provided a guarantee for the loan on the strength of the value of his Castlehyde mansion. As a result of the alleged default, Novellus appointed a receiver over the property. Mr Hudson, instructed by solicitor Maxwell Mooney, asked for Mr Justice Mark Sanfey to hold off on giving his judgement on whether an interlocutory injunction should be granted to prevent the receiver over Castlehyde taking any further steps in relation to the mansion outside Fermoy. The judge had heard the matter last week and was due to give judgment this Friday. Mr Hudson said he accepted that it was not really satisfactory and the matter had dragged on so long. It is at a critical point where the money is going to be paid. Mr Flatley is travelling to Dublin on Friday to sign the documentation, Mr Hudson added. He said what was disputed was 1.49 million in fees and costs which includes, he said, legal fees of 793,000, with the receivers legal fees coming in at 186,000, along with the receivers other costs of just over 86,000. He said it was the intention of the Flatley side to pay the disputed bill into court. Counsel for Novellus Kelley Smith SC, instructed by Arthur Cox solicitors, said the latest pledge to pay off the loan was another ham fisted attempt to put off the finding of the court. She said there had been "empty promises from the Flatley side, and her clients refrain was now "show me the money. She said the patience of her client was now well worn. Ms Smith said their side would prefer if the redemption money in full and the disputed costs bill were paid, and their solicitors would lodge the disputed 1.49 million in court. She said that every promise made by Michael Flatley had to be responded to, and all this drives the costs. Mr Justice Sanfey, who remarked that it was a very unusual case, said the parties can update the court next Monday on whether the loan redemption has been advanced. A man headbutted a former school friend and threatened to kill him with a hammer. Alex Masuku, aged 34, of Whitehorse Railway Tavern, Saleen, Castlebar, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and production of an article. The court was told that Gardai responded to a report of an incident at an address at The Fairways in Castlebar at 1pm on November 21, 2023. Masuka had arrived at the home of Tosin Awodibu armed with a hammer. He forced his way inside the property and headbutted the injured party. He threatened Mr Awodibu with the hammer as the victim held his two-year-old daughter in his arms. Masuku was later arrested and the hammer recovered from his car. State prosecutor Pat Reynolds said the defendant believed his now ex-girlfriend had been having an affair with the injured party. This was denied by his ex-girlfriend and the court heard Masuku may have had certain delusions. Masuku has no previous convictions. In a victim impact statement, Mr Awodibu said he felt his freedom had been taken away from him and he grew paranoid after the incident. He was punched, elbowed, and headbutted and his child witnessed the entire ordeal. His daughter cried in her sleep for a week and the incident made him question if he could protect her. The one question I have is why did he do what he did? said Mr Awodibu. The court heard the defendant has lived in Ireland for 22 years having moved from South Africa as a boy. He and the victim went to secondary school and worked together for a period. Judge Eoin Garavan said there an appalling level of violence involved. He expressed concern that Masuku may have been going through a "mini breakdown" at the time and noted the defendants sleep issues around the time of the offence. The judge said he believed clinical intervention is required. Masuku was ordered to undertake the Men Overcoming Violence (MOVE) programme and counselling with a clinical psychologist. The case was adjourned until October 14 for sentencing. COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (MARCH 4 EDITION) The Minister for Higher Education James Lawless has told Mayo TD Rose Conway Walsh that there are no plans to develop a further education and training centre in Ballyhaunis. In a written reply to the Mayo TD, Minister Lawless said: SOLAS and Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB (MSLETB) have both confirmed that no application in respect of a proposed development of this nature was submitted for consideration to my Department in 2021 or thereafter. Deputy Conway Walsh has been seeking the establishment of such a centre since 2021, putting numerous questions to various ministers in which she cited the needs of Ballyhaunis diverse and young population for a skills training centre. Ballyhaunis is likewise not identified by Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education Training Board (MSLETB) in its recently submitted FET (Further Education Training) Estates Strategy, either in respect of current provision or medium to long-term planning, noted the Minister. ETBs were requested in the development of their estates strategies to include any intention for new or changed location of provision. Ballyhaunis is not a location that the ETB has notified to SOLAS as being under consideration for a further education and training centre. My department works collaboratively with all higher education institutions and education and training boards on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. In 2022, my department launched the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund. This programme will support major investment in the Mayo region, with a FET College of the Future planned for Castlebar. By David Young, PA The Taoiseach has made clear he disagrees with the Northern Ireland First Ministers apparent criticism of a large order for a Belfast factory to supply missiles for Ukraine. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill told the Stormont Assembly this week that she was incredulous at the deal for the Thales plant in east Belfast. It was announced at the weekend that Thales is to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth up to 1.6 billion (2 billion). The contract will be funded by a loan underwritten by United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF). Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he disagreed with Michelle ONeill (PA) UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Sunday that the order for the lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM) would create 200 jobs. However, Ms ONeill told the Assembly on Monday that said she found the deal incredulous at a time of public service cuts, winter fuel payment cuts, national insurance hikes and inheritance tax changes for farmers. Her comments prompted criticism from the DUP, her partners in the coalition government at Stormont, who accused Sinn Fein of hypocrisy for supporting Ukraines right to defend itself at the same time as apparently criticising an order to supply it with weapons to do so. Mr Martin was asked about the First Ministers remarks as he arrived for an engagement to mark the UK Ireland political summit in Liverpool. He said he had always been an advocate of peace but he understood the reason for the order as he made clear Ukraine needed the capacity to defend itself. I wouldnt agree with the First Minister on that, he said. Nobody likes the utilisation of weapons. I certainly dont. All my life Ive been on the peace side of the equation. I still am, and I do want durable peace within Ukraine. I also want peace in the Middle East. I want peace in Sudan, which very few people are talking about. But its Russia that illegally invaded Ukraine three years ago. Thats the reality. Ten per cent of Russian national income has been spent on militarisation. People are afraid of that. People are worried about that. He added: Collectively, people are coming to the conclusion that Europe needs to improve and enhance its capability in order to have a deterrence there to avoid any attempted encroachment on any member state of the European Union. PANAMA CITY, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Wednesday denied his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump's saying about retaking control of the Panama Canal, assuring the public that the waterway continues to be Panamanian. Mulino made the remarks after Trump told the U.S. Congress Tuesday that his administration "will be reclaiming the Panama Canal" and has already started doing it. Mulino rejected "on behalf of Panama and all Panamanians this new affront to the truth" and to their dignity as a nation. The canal "is not in the process of recovery," nor "has it been discussed in our conversations with Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio or anyone else," the president said on social platform X. Cooperation between the two governments requires a clear understanding of issues of mutual interest, which has nothing to do with the recovery of the canal or tarnishing national sovereignty, said Mulino. "The Canal is Panamanian and will continue to be Panamanian!" he noted. In response to remarks made earlier by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that the Panama Canal had waived fees for U.S. Navy vessels, the Panama Canal Authority said Wednesday that no changes have been made to toll rates for transiting the interoceanic waterway. Trump has been talking about taking over the vital international waterway for months, and several U.S. officials have lately said that Panama agreed to waive fees for U.S. government vessels. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Altogether 59 hostages are still in Hamas captivity, Axios reported, citing the Israel Defense Forces, which confirmed 35 of them are dead. WASHINGTON, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The White House confirmed Wednesday that the Trump administration is having direct talks with Hamas aimed at releasing hostages. The talks, first reported by Axios, were held in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks and were led on the U.S. side by presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler. Asked about the talks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during Wednesday's daily press briefing that "the special envoy who's engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone," adding that "Israel was consulted on this matter." Leavitt refused to disclose any details on what she said are "ongoing talks and discussions" when asked if the discussions also involved President Donald Trump's plan to take over the Gaza Strip, which is now still governed by Hamas. "I'm not going to detail them here. There are American lives at stake," the press secretary said. According to a U.S. official cited in the Axios report, the discussions also included a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and reach a long-term truce. Members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and an Israeli hostage are seen during the handover of three Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross, in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Altogether 59 hostages are still in Hamas captivity, Axios reported, citing the Israel Defense Forces, which confirmed 35 of them are dead. Among those hostages, five are Americans, including just one who is believed to be alive. The News in Brief Thursday, March 6, 2025 Tbilisi City Court Judge Irakli Shvangiradze has remanded 11 individuals arrested in connection with organizing and participating in group violence during recent protests. The defendants include Andro Chichinadze, Onise Tskhadadze, Guram Mirtskhulava, Jano Archaia, Luka Jabua, Ruslan Sivakov, Revaz Kiknadze, Giorgi Terashvili, Valeri Tetrashvili, Sergey Kukharchuk, and Irakli Kerashvili.The prosecutor's office sought their remand, citing concerns about potential flight risks, the possibility of further criminal activity, and the destruction of evidence.The defense team for the accused contested the remand, arguing that the prosecution's claims were unfounded and lacked substantial evidence. They characterized the prosecution's arguments as generic and unsupported by the facts of the case.The Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed that Giorgi Bachiashvili, the former head of co-Investment Fund, illegally crossed the border into Armenia on March 2. According to the Ministry, Bachiashvili bypassed the border checkpoint, using a concealed hiding place in a car to evade detection.The Ministry stated that the investigation is ongoing under Part 1 of Article 344 of the Criminal Code, which deals with the illegal crossing of Georgia's state border.Upon reaching Armenia, Bachiashvili reportedly presented a Russian Federation passport at the Armenian border checkpoint, confirming his Russian citizenship. This document allowed him to successfully cross the border into Armenia.Bachiashvili has now been charged with a third offense, related to the illegal border crossing. The prosecutor's office has requested that Bachiashvili be sentenced to imprisonment as a preventive measure. China's national legislature opened its annual session on Wednesday. What key priorities were highlighted in 2025 government work report? What updates were shared during this year's first "ministers' passage"? Follow Xinhua reporters for the latest insights. Dont wait for us, take the lead Leading climate scientist, Professor Sir David King, urges South Africa to take the lead into combating climate change. Leading climate scientist Professor Sir David King has called on South Africa to take a leadership role in tackling the climate crisis, describing it as "the greatest challenge humanity has ever had to face" during a public lecture at the University of the Witwatersrand. The former UK Chief Scientific Adviser urged SA to join a "progressive" group of nations where it comes to fighting combating climate change including Brazil, China, and Kenya in driving climate action, especially as the United States withdraws from international climate agreements. "Please South Africa, lead Africa and the Global South in this journey. Don't wait for the United States. Don't wait for the North. Work with the North, by all means, but dont wait for us," King said. This, he said, was also the message he was going to deliver to the Presidential Climate Commission, which he was also scheduled to meet during his visit to South Africa. King presented alarming new data showing global temperatures have reached 1.7 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in early 2025, with record ocean temperature rises and rapid Arctic ice melt that he called "very, very worrying and very strange". "What we're seeing is that damage we were thinking we would avoid in 2005," King said, pointing to extreme weather events worldwide, including floods, heat stress, and forest fires that have caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. He criticised the fossil fuel lobby's influence on climate policy, particularly in the United States, saying: "They're paying them to vote the way they want them to vote. You can't get progress if you're handing over to the fossil fuel system the decision-making of that country". King outlined a global four-point strategy developed by the Climate Crisis Advisory Group that he said should be taken to fight climate change: rapidly reducing fossil fuel use, removing excess greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, repairing damaged ecosystems, and building resilience in vulnerable regions. For South Africa specifically, King recommended an integrated plan to transition away from coal by rapidly expanding renewable energy while maintaining existing power supply. He noted methane emissions from SA's coal mines were particularly concerning. A rapid switch to renewable energy in South Africa, he said will be so good for your economy, and so good for the world. "What if you left Eskom to deliver [current energy needs] and put an additional 20-30 gigawatts from renewables onto the grid and then slowly shut down coal power stations? Why not start that process right away?" King suggested. [That would lead to the] End of blackouts [loadshedding] the beginning of economic recovery in this country. He dismissed concerns about the costs of transitioning to renewable energy, citing offshore wind as the UK's cheapest electricity source. "This rapid switch to using renewable energy would be so good for your economy and so good for the world," he said. King also detailed innovative climate solutions including ocean fertilisation to remove billions of tons of greenhouse gases annually and marine cloud brightening technology to protect polar ice. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes the groundless accusations made by the United States, and urges the U.S. to immediately stop its wrongdoing of abusing sanctions, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday. Lin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on the fact that the United States has indicted 12 Chinese nationals, accusing them for a series of hacking attacks. Lin noted that last December, Chinese cybersecurity agency exposed two latest cases of cyberattacks against Chinese high-tech companies from the U.S. intelligence community. "The U.S. is the No.1 'hacking empire' in the world," Lin said, adding that its practice reflects hypocritical double standards and is a typical move of "thief-crying-stop-thief." BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes international investors to invest in the country's technology enterprises, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, said on Thursday. Meanwhile, China opposes the instrumentalization and politicization of market-based investment activities, as well as the establishment of unfair investment barriers, Pan told a press conference on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress. Noting that China's technological innovation is vibrant, Pan said the central bank, in collaboration with relevant departments, has in recent years increased financial support for technological innovation by comprehensively utilizing tools such as equity, debt and insurance. PHNOM PENH, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has consolidated ASEAN's regional integration and fostered mutually beneficial economic relations, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday. Fueled by robust intra- and inter-ASEAN trade and a pro-investment environment, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been positioned as a strategic hub for global capital flows, Hun Manet told about 600 participants at the opening ceremony of the Cambodia-ASEAN Business Summit 2025 in Phnom Penh. The ASEAN region presented a compelling investment landscape marked by robust economic dynamism and a steadfast commitment to economic partnership and regional integration, he noted. "ASEAN's successful navigation of the economic partnership landscape is evident in its comprehensive network of free trade agreements with key leading economies," he said. Entering into force in 2022, RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. "The ratification of RCEP further solidifies ASEAN's unwavering commitment to deepening the regional integrations and fostering mutually beneficial economic ties," Hun Manet said. "Our value and success rest upon multilateralism and consensus with the model of one vision, one identity, and one community," he said. Meanwhile, the Cambodian leader said that as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Cambodia demonstrated a strong commitment to the transparent and fair trade. "We focus on realizing a dynamic and integrated economic community through robust trade liberalization and facilitation," he said. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed strengthening the role of education in supporting scientific and technological advancement as well as talent development. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for a deep understanding of the needs of Chinese modernization for education, science and technology, and talent. The goal is to cultivate a steady stream of talent, unlock their full potential, and ensure their abilities are fully utilized, Xi said while attending a joint group meeting during the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body. The meeting was attended by national political advisors from the China Democratic League, the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and the education sector. SEOUL, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A fighter jet dropped bombs on South Korea's civilian area by accident during live-fire drills, multiple media outlets said Thursday, citing the South Korean air force. Tariffs on cars from Mexico and Canada delayed by one month Striking Jeep workers with Will Lehman (third from right) on the picket line in Toledo, Ohio in 2023. In a statement posted Tuesday afternoon, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain gave his full support to Trumps tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China, which will rapidly lead to mass layoffs throughout North America, including thousands of UAW members in the auto and auto parts industry. Fain falsely claimed that Trump, who has been waging a war against immigrants, federal workers and social programs that tens of millions rely on, was acting on behalf of workers. We look forward to working with the White House to shape the auto tariffs in April to benefit the working class, the UAW president declared. Fain lied when he and the UAW apparatus backed Harris and the Democrats, claiming that they were allies of workers. Now he is lying when he claims that Trumps tariffs will benefit the working class. Workers in the North American and global auto industry are tied together in a single process of world production. Top selling vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, for example, have an estimated 30,000 individual parts, most of which crisscross the borders of the US, Canada and Mexico at least eight times. Workers all over the world felt the effect of the breakdown of the global supply chain due to the global COVID-19 pandemic: parts shortages, production disruptions, shift cancellations and layoffs. With Trumps tariffs, much of the auto production in the US and Canada will go to 2020 pandemic-level idling & temporary layoff within the week, according to Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association. This is not a temporary disruption but the deliberate destruction of the globally integrated auto industry, which will lead to permanent job cuts for workers in all three countries. But Fain dismisses the talk about these tariffs disrupting the economy, and says if the corporations cut jobs, then corporate America bears the blame for that decision. That will be cold comfort for workers losing their livelihoods. As for Fain, his nearly $300,000 salary will not be affected. America-First nationalism is based on the reactionary fantasy that the global economy, with its highly complex division of labor, supply chains and production facilities developed over decades, can be stuffed back within the confines of the national economy. But history, from the Nazis program of national autarchy to the passage of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act by the US Congress in 1930, has proven that trade war is the first step towards a world depression and world war. This is why Trumps trade war measures go hand-in-hand with his pledges to seize the Panama Canal and annex Greenland, Gaza and even Canada. Most significantly, the trade war measures backed by the UAW bureaucracy are aimed at dividing American workers from our brothers and sisters in Mexico, Canada and China, strengthening the position of American corporate giants and preparing WWIII. Fain and the rest of the sellouts in the UAW bureaucracy hope they will be able to milk low-paid workers for dues money at factories reshored to the US. They are also vying for positions in the war cabinet of Trumps government of oligarchs, which plans to convert sections of the auto industry for military production. There have been repeated efforts by Mexican workers to unite with US and Canadian workers, from the march of striking Matamoros auto parts workers to the Texas border to the solidarity action taken by GM workers at the Silao plant, who refused to produce more Silverado pickups during the 2019 GM strike in the USan action that cost them their jobs. How can American workers win the support of Mexican and Canadian workers for a fight against the transnational corporations if they support trade tariffs that would toss thousands of these workers onto the unemployment lines? The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees rejects the attempts by the UAW bureaucracy to line workers up behind our capitalist exploiters. Instead, the IWA-RFC fights for the unity of workers throughout North America and the world in a common fight to defend the jobs and living standards of all workers. This means expanding the network of autoworker rank-and-file committees with the aim of abolishing the UAW bureaucracy and transferring power from the union apparatus to shop floor workers. It is time for autoworkers to join the growing movement against Trump, from the mass demonstrations by immigrant workers, the protests by federal workers, and young people demonstrating against war and fascist dictatorship. Mass protests and strike action to defend the democratic and social rights of all workers must be launched and connected to the political struggle to expropriate the ill-gotten fortunes of Musk and the rest of the billionaires, put an end to capitalist exploitation and the outmoded nation-state system, and reorganize the global economy along socialist lines to meet the needs of the worlds producers, the international working class. A notice board for the BVG staff council elections at the Mullerstr. depot Brothers and sisters, Verdis stalling tacticsa mixture of warning strikes and negotiationsare aimed at preparing a sellout at BVG. Even the latest strike threat by the bargaining committee, which was labelled an ultimatum, served only to secure a further negotiating date. Management agreed immediately, and Verdi agreed to refrain from further warning strikes until 12 March. After the last negotiations Verdi already signaled its willingness to accept a contract term of 30 months instead of 12. It described the offer of a monthly pay rise of 225 instead of the 750 demanded as a step in the right direction. Verdis leadership is closely linked to the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the governing party in the Senate (Berlin state legislature) and the federal government. The same applies to its negotiating committee, headed by Jeremy Arndt, deputy chairman of the BVG supervisory board. These forces want at all costs to defeat our demand for a general pay rise of 750 per month over a 12-month period. Above all, Verdi wants to prevent us from organising an indefinite strike to win this demand. It fears that such principled industrial action would be the prelude to a broad mobilisation of public sector workers and the entire working class against falling real wages and the governments pro-war policy. There is a direct link between our current industrial dispute and the rapid changes in world politics. At the same time the negotiations began in January, Donald Trump moved back into the White House. Since then, the global situation has changed dramatically. Trump is making good on his threats, imposing protective tariffs, laying off hundreds of thousands of public sector employees, intensifying the trade war, holding talks with Putin and threatening to end NATO. European governments are responding in sheer horror. For decades, they have pursued their imperialist interests side by side with the US, but now Washington is treating them as rivals and opponents. In Germany, in particular, calls for military rearmament and European leadership are taking on hysterical dimensions. The Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), who emerged as the strongest party in Februarys federal election, and the SPD are planning to pass a new special fund for the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) totaling 300 billion or even 400 billion in the outgoing Bundestag (parliament). They lack the necessary two-thirds majority to do this in the new Bundestag. The huge rearmament programme is to be financed by massive cuts in all social areas. Leading politicians are calling for the courage to take unpopular measures. In foreign policy, the ruling class is focusing on rearmament and building up the military force, declaring de facto war on nuclear powered Russia and supporting the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza. In domestic policy, it favours social cuts and class confrontation. The two are inextricably linked. Verdi explicitly supports this pro-war policy. At its last federal congress in September 2023, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) delivered the opening speech and justified the arms deliveries to Ukraine and the initial 100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr. But Verdi leader Frank Werneke (SPD) did not think that was sufficient, doubting whether the money was enough. He made it clear that he was in favour of even higher military spending. At the beginning of the First World War in 1914, the trade unions supported the Kaisers war loans and recruited workers for the war. After Hitler came to power in 1933, the trade unions called on workers to march under the swastika flag on 1 May 1933 and offered Hitler their cooperation, which did not stop him from smashing the unions. Again today, the trade unions are unreservedly on the side of the government and its pro-war policy. At the same time, they fulfill a very specific task with their bloated apparatus. They strive to suppress any serious industrial action and allow resistance to fizzle out in isolated, temporary and therefore ineffective warning strikes and protests. Anyone who resists is denounced, bullied, threatened and, if necessary, dismissed. This is not only the case with Verdi. The IG Metall union has agreed to 35,000 job losses and drastic wage cuts at VW. Anyone who rebels against this is subjected to intimidation and silenced. Here, at the BVG, the mafia-like structures of the Verdi apparatus are clearly evident. Any opposition is mercilessly fought and suppressed. The Transport Workers Action Committee has fundamental differences with the staff council group Kraft durch Basis (KdBPower through the Base). But the way in which Verdi, in close cooperation with management, is acting against this group contradicts elementary democratic principles and is completely unacceptable. When a KdB spokesperson criticised Verdis agreement on the contract a year ago and organised an online vote against it, which quickly gained several thousand supporters, the opposition was fiercely attacked. A short time later, when KdB published a graphic showing an athlete waiting for the starting gun with the caption, Verdi didnt hear the shot, several Verdi officials pressed charges. They claimed to feel personally threatened and management instantly issued a dismissal notice. When staff council elections were held shortly afterwards, Verdi lost its majority to KdB in one of BVGs two bus divisions, BO-Nord. But Verdi did not accept the employees vote. Its PR members boycotted every attempt by KdB to improve shift schedules and other working conditions in the interests of the bus drivers, refused to cooperate with KdB, and finally resigned, along with all substitute members. This forced new elections to be slated for the coming weeks. In the staff council elections in autumn, Verdi had hoped to use the collective bargaining campaign as an election manoeuvre. For the first time, it brought forward the announcement of its demands by several weeks and, based on an employee survey, set them relatively high. At the same time, it spread the word that these demands could be realised only through strike action and that only Verdi members would be entitled to financial support during the strike. A short time later, Verdi announced that it had won over a thousand new members with this manoeuvre. Now it is trying to win a re-run of the PR ballot with the help of the new and re-joined members. But all these manoeuvres are doomed to failure. Verdis real role as an agent of management and the government is becoming more and more obvious every day. At the same time, the past few months have shown that the Kraft durch Basis group is no alternative. Its disdain for political questions and its call for everyone to be welcome on its election slate means that it tolerates far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) members and right-wing views in its ranks. This disarms workers and renders them unable to counter Verdis attacks. In order to break through Verdis control, it is necessary to systematically build up the Transport Workers Action Committee, which is now becoming ever more important. In the staff council election campaign in November we wrote: We are running in these elections to build new fighting structures that will enable us, rank-and-file transport workers, to intervene directly in workplace disputes. Our goal is to develop the great strength and power that we have as workers. We want to strengthen the self-confidence of those who keep the city and the country moving. We are not supplicants or beggars. We have rights! And we know that a joint struggle of all transport workers would paralyze the capital in no time and receive great support from the population. The organisation of the Transport Workers Action Committee is the first important step towards wresting control from Verdi and taking into our own hands the preparation of an indefinite strike to win our demands. Verdis blackmail that only those who are members of Verdi will receive strike pay will collapse the moment we take the initiative ourselves and elect our own strike leadership made up of those who are willing to fight and who are trustworthy. This is because such a step is the beginning of a rebellion against the Verdi apparatus. Many ordinary Verdi members will take part in this in order to snatch the strike coffers away from the corrupt union functionaries, who are lining their pockets with paid time off and by sitting on company supervisory boards. A lot has changed since the start of our contract bargaining campaign in January. The government, which determines the behavior of the BVG board, is openly at war both internally and externally. This turning point also applies to us. We are no longer prepared to put up with Verdis stalling tactic of a few isolated warning strikes while the union colludes with management in the negotiations. We oppose the policies of military rearmament and the enrichment of the wealthy with the longstanding socialist principle of the labour movement: Our needs as workers and the needs of the entire population stand higher than the profit interests of investors, speculators and warmongers. Stop the planned Verdi sellout! Come to the next online meeting of the Transport Workers Action Committee! Prepare an indefinite strike! Come to our online meetings, where we will discuss further concrete steps! Send a Whatsapp message to +4917641685811 to get in touch, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont) with President Joe Biden in Concord, New Hampshire, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. [AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta] The fascistic rant delivered by Donald Trump before Congress on Tuesday night, six weeks into his second administration, has provoked disgust and anger among broad sections of workers and youth. But revulsion alone is not enough. It is necessary to make a clear analysis of what and who is responsible for the rise of Trump and the role of different political tendencies. As the World Socialist Web Site noted on the eve of Trumps speech, There exist two fundamentally different forms of opposition to the Trump administrationthe opposition of the working class and young people, and the opposition of significant sections of the ruling class. The latter agree with the basic elements of Trumps policy, particularly his domestic agenda, but have significant conflicts with aspects of his foreign policy, centered on the war against Russia. In this division, Bernie Sanders, along with the various organizations in and around the Democratic Party that have promoted him, are firmly on the side of the ruling class opposition and stand opposed to that of the working class. On Tuesday, Sanders delivered his own rebuttal to Trumps remarks. His aim was to cover up the essential agreement of the Democratic Party with Trumps social austerity policies and attacks on democratic rights and to divert social opposition back into the two-party system. Sanders began his remarks by referencing the extreme levels of social inequality in the United States, which he sought to portray as caused solely by Trump and the Republican Party. The three richest people in America, Sanders said, the folks Trump invited to stand behind him at his inauguration, now own more wealth than the bottom half of our society. He added, We are no longer moving toward oligarchy. We are living in an oligarchy. This statement is true enough, but it raises a crucial question: Where did this oligarchy come from? For four years, Democrat Joe Bidenwhom Sanders endorsed and defendedpresided over a massive transfer of wealth to the financial oligarchy, with the billionaires combined fortunes surging from $7 trillion to $10 trillion. Bidens administration bailed out Wall Street, suppressed wages and forced workers back into unsafe workplaces during the pandemic, leading to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths. Sanders spoke after the official response to Trumps speech of the Democratic Party, delivered by Senator Elissa Slotkin, who vowed to help Trump attack bedrock social programs. You wanna cut waste? Ill help you do it, declared the former CIA agent. In his remarks responding to Trump, Sanders said, No, were not going to cut Social Security, as if the official representative of the Democratic Party had not just pledged to help Trump slash social spending. Bernie Sanders has run the same political con game for decades: working to portray the Democratic Partys right-wing policies as the total opposite of what they are and hoping no one notices. In addition to whitewashing the Democrats right-wing policies, Sanders also covered up the real character of the Trump administration. He never once used the words fascist or dictator to describe Trump. Less than a day after Trump called for the mass arrest of students and workers protesting the genocide in Gaza, Sanders did not even acknowledge Trumps attacks on the First Amendment. He did not mention, let alone oppose, what Trump himself identified as the central pillars of his administration: the mass deportation of immigrants and his protectionist trade policies. This was no accident. Sanders has himself sided with far-right figures like Steve Bannon in calling for an end to H-1B visas for immigrant workers. He has also long supported tariffs and protectionism, falsely claiming they would protect American jobs, and has repeatedly pledged to work with Trump in implementing such policies. Sanders also promoted in his remarks the same trade union apparatus that has openly embraced Trumps protectionist policies. This was the same day that Shawn Fain, the head of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, declared of Trumps trade war measures, We are glad to see an American president take aggressive action on ending the free trade disaster. But the most insidious aspect of Sanders speech was his attempt to tie opposition to Trump to support for imperialist warspecifically, the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. For the first time in our 250-year history, we have a president who is turning his back on democracy and allying us with authoritarianism, Sanders declared. No. We must not abandon the people of Ukraine who were invaded by the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin. We must always stand for democracy, not dictatorship. What is Sanders talking about? The past century-plus of American history has been one of relentless imperialist violence, from the Spanish-American War and the brutal subjugation of the Philippines, to the nuclear bombing of Japan at the end of World War II, to the wars in Korea and Vietnam. The very war that brought Sanders into politics, the Vietnam War, killed over 3 million people in Southeast Asia in a bloody attempt to preserve US hegemony in Asia. As he climbed the political ladder, Sanders lent his support to multiple wars and military interventions, either outright or through votes for funding. He backed the 1999 NATO war in Yugoslavia, the US invasion of Libya and the ongoing war in Ukraine, which is a calculated effort by Washington to draw Russia into a conflict that will bleed it white. Under Biden, the US has funneled hundreds of billions into a proxy war that has sacrificed hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian livesall to cement American control over the Eurasian landmass. As for Ukraine itself, far from being a democracy, the Zelensky government operates under martial law and has integrated fascist forces into the highest levels of the state. With the support of the US, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has outlawed left-wing opposition parties, canceled elections, and imprisoned socialist opponents of the war and his regime, most notably the Trotskyist Bogdan Syrotiuk. On the issues of foreign policythat is, those that are the real concern of the Democratic PartySanders remarks were entirely in line with those of Slotkin, criticizing Trump for being insufficiently aggressive against Russia and China. Over the past decade, workers and young people have had a significant political experience with Sanders. In 2016, he ran for president under the banner of political revolution, only to throw his support behind Hillary Clinton, whose right-wing, militarist and pro-corporate policies helped create the conditions for Trumps first election. In 2020, he repeated the same routine, shutting down his campaign early to endorse Biden. In 2024, Sanders did not run himself, instead devoting himself to promoting Biden, whom he absurdly called the most progressive president since Franklin Roosevelteven as Biden oversaw massive social austerity, escalated US wars abroad, and openly called for a strong Republican Party, paving the way for Trumps return. After Bidens withdrawal, Sanders backed Kamala Harris. The Sanders experience is not just instructive about him as an individual but about an entire political tendency. From the beginning, Sanders was promoted by a network of pseudo-left organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which helped foster illusions that the Democrats could be pushed to the left. This is part of a global phenomenon: the pseudo-left blocking a genuine socialist movement while bolstering the ruling classs war policies and strengthening the right. Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party in the UK, Syriza in Greece, and the Left Party in Germany were all hailed as left alternatives, only to betray mass discontent and keep opposition trapped within the capitalist system. Rooted in privileged sections of the upper-middle class, these forces do not oppose capitalism or imperialism but work to suppress working class struggles. In every case, they have served to strengthen the far right. In his defense of the political establishment, Sanders seeks to present Trump as some sort of aberration from the normal course of capitalism, which he asserts is one of peace, equality and democracy. In fact, Trump is the highest expression of the very capitalist social order that Sanders has spent his life defending and apologizing for. As Vladimir Lenin explained in his landmark book Imperialism, capitalism strives for domination, not freedom, and oligarchy, monopoly and the domination of colonies by the imperialist powers are the most essential characteristics of the capitalist system. The fight against Trump is not a struggle to return to some mythical better version of American imperialism, but a fight against the capitalist system itself and the oligarchy that upholds it. Zoonosis team doing fieldwork to combat dengue outbreaks in neighborhoods of Osasco, in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo, on 15/03/2024. [Photo: Paulo Pinto/Agencia Brasil] As part of a broad attack on public health in Brazil, all the criminal negligence the country has seen in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has served as a model for confronting a series of endemic tropical diseases that pose a devastating impact, especially on the countrys poorest population. This is certainly the case with dengue, a neglected disease that was once popularly known in Brazil as bone-breaking fever, due to its severe symptoms that can last for weeks and which causes thousands of deaths every year. It can also leave the infected person with numerous sequelae. In 2024, Brazil had the worst year for dengue in history, with more than 6.6 million cases, 6,216 confirmed deaths and another 489 deaths still under investigation. By the end of February, Brazil had 440,000 cases of dengue fever on record, with 177 confirmed deaths and another 413 under investigation. Just like last year, the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers Party - PT) is doing everything it can to minimize the situation of dengue in Brazil. On February 27, the Ministry of Healths website celebrated a more than 60 percent decrease in probable cases of dengue compared to the same period in 2024. However, numerous health organizations and experts have insisted that the epidemiological situation of dengue in 2025 could be worse than last year. On February 7, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiological alert after 23 countries and territories in the region of the Americas registered 238,659 suspected cases in the first four epidemiological weeks of 2025, with Brazil accounting for 87 percent of these cases. These figures are 249 percent higher than in the same period last year. PAHO also warned of the greater risk of dengue outbreaks in the Americas due to the increased circulation of serotype 3, or DENV-3, one of the four serotypes of the virus. It has already been identified in several countries in the region, including Peru, Colombia, and Mexico. In Brazil, DENV-3 was detected for the first time in over 15 years last year. In an interview with Estado de S. Paulo at the beginning of February, infectious diseases doctor Alexandre Naime Barbosa, professor of Medicine at Sao Paulo State University (Unesp) and scientific coordinator of the Brazilian Society of Infectology (SBI), warned that this fact means that we have a large number of people susceptible to dengue. He mentioned a survey from the end of last year which showed that less than 30 percent of blood donors in Sao Paulo had had contact with the virus, and a smaller number among children. According to Barbosa, Im talking about having contact, but if you have dengue fever once, you can have it again with the other three serotypes. Most people have never had type 3 dengue, and everyone is susceptible. As a result, a person can be infected at least four times with the dengue virus, and the four serotypes, according to the alert issued by PAHO, are circulating simultaneously in Brazil. As with COVID-19, subsequent infections with other serotypes can increase the risk of severe forms of the disease. DENV-3 has been specifically associated with more disease severity, even in people who have had their first infection with the virus. Given this situation, Barbosa warned: Theres no doubt that 2025 will leave a mark and Im not being alarmist or pessimistic. It will be the worst year for a dengue epidemic throughout the entire historical record, not only in the state of Sao Paulo, but also in Brazil. In fact, Sao Paulo, Brazils richest and most populous state, has already registered 50 percent more suspected cases this year than at the same time last year. It has the leading figures for dengue in Brazil, with 247,000 cases more than half of the total and 136 confirmed deaths, representing more than 75 percent of the countrys total deaths. This situation forced the government of Sao Paulo to declare a state of emergency for the disease throughout the state on February 19. In 2024, this occurred at the beginning of March. Contrary to what the Lula government authorities claim, there has been no effective fight against infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and dengue fever in Brazil. After the Lula government and the entire Brazilian political establishment adopted the forever COVID policy, the same can be said for dengue. According to Barbosa in the interview with Estado, dengue has become normalized as a disease we can live with, and thats not true. Today we have various ways of mitigating and reducing the impact of dengue. In contrast to what is happening today, the scientific knowledge accumulated long ago in relation to dengue has already made Brazil itself an international example. It has been established for over a century that dengue is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito is also the vector for numerous epidemic viruses in Brazil and the Americas that cause Zika fever (which causes microcephaly), chikungunya, and yellow fever. In 1969, Dr. Odair Franco wrote in his book Historia da febre amarela (History of Yellow Fever): When we joined the Yellow Fever Service in 1935, we didnt find any plan underway to eradicate Stegomyia fasciata [now Aedes aegypti] from Brazil. On the contrary, they believed it was impossible, due to the countrys territorial extension and the spread of the mosquito throughout the states and territories. Between 1947 and 1955, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and PAHO, Brazil took part in a hemispheric program to eliminate Aedes aegypti. Actions such as port inspections, basic sanitation, and spraying of insecticides resulted in the eradication of the mosquito in 1958. The mosquito returned to Brazil in 1967, due to failures in post-eradication surveillance, accelerated urbanization, and a population influx from countries where the vector persisted. More significantly, this happened three years after the US-backed military coup of 1964, which led to a brutal attack on public health in Brazil. The control of Aedes aegypti to combat yellow fever indirectly prevented outbreaks of dengue fever. The reintroduction of the mosquito in the following decades, however, allowed dengue to emerge as an endemic problem from the 1980s onwards. The temporary success of the 20th century highlights the importance of international cooperation; the integration of actions such as sanitation, education, and surveillance; and the continued maintenance of preventive measures, even after the vector has been eliminated. Today, in 2025, with more knowledge and more technologies such as the Wolbachia method, rapid tests, and the vaccine to combat dengue, there is no reason to believe that eradication is impossible. However, all this has been ignored by the Lula government. Last year, the Lula government announced with fanfare that it would start immunizing the Brazilian population against dengue. The Ministry of Health has been acquiring batches of the Qdenga vaccine since last year, but the low production capacity of the Takeda laboratory in Japan has meant that immunization is restricted to the population between the ages of 10 and 14 and to 1,900 municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants where dengue has emerged more frequently in recent years. Without information campaigns to alert the population to the dangers of dengue, the vaccination campaign has been a failure. In Sao Paulo, only 11 percent of the target population received the second dosethe Ministry of Healths goal is to immunize 90 percent of the target population. A public notice from the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm) indicated that only 53 percent of the doses distributed by the Ministry of Health had been applied, and 59 percent of the people who received the first dose did not return for the second. Today, the public health crisis intersects with the climate crisis, which has increased the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events and favored the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and dengue fever. According to Dr. Barbosa, in Brazil, There are two things happening: its raining and its hot...perfect factors for the proliferation of Aedes aegypti. He continued, Five years ago, we didnt talk about dengue in Rio Grande do Sul, much less in Santa Catarina, the southernmost states in Brazil. The dengue fever crisis in Brazil last year and the prospect of an unprecedented outbreak this year were the reasons for Lulas dismissal of Health Minister Nisia Trindade. Her two years in office were marked by criminal negligence in relation to COVID-19 and harsh attacks on federal public hospital workers who have been on strike since last May against what in practice means privatization. Additionally, the Lula government has subjected the budget for health and other social rights to repeated freezes and cuts in order to maintain the zero deficit and new fiscal framework goals. On February 20, Globo reported that he will need to block BRL 18.6 billion [USD 3.16 billion] in spending in the 2025 budget to ensure compliance with fiscal rules this year. At the start of the third year of Lulas government, its class priorities are clear; the protection of human life has been consciously and criminally subordinated to corporate profit. The only way to guarantee universal, quality public health care is through the development of a struggle against capitalist governments like Lulas as part of an independent struggle for international socialism. DAMASCUS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani on Thursday wrapped up a 24-hour diplomatic visit to the Netherlands, including a historic stop at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. "For the first time in history, Syria addressed the Executive Council of the OPCW through its foreign minister," al-Shibani wrote on social media platform X on Thursday. Al-Shibani said that in his address to the global chemical weapons watchdog, he reaffirmed Syria's commitment to resolving its crisis concerning the remaining chemical weapons in the country. "This participation reaffirms Syria's commitment to international security," read the post. The minister added that during the diplomatic visit, he also held talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp "to open a new page in Syrian-Dutch relations" and attended two separate meetings -- one with OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias in the presence of several foreign ambassadors, and the other with Arab ambassadors -- during which they "discussed (Syria's) transitional justice, means of supporting Syria's path in this field, and strengthening bilateral relations." Arias visited Damascus in February for talks with the leadership of Syria's interim government. The assault of a journalist protesting Israels genocide against the Palestinians during the February 27 election night rally of the Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP) has exposed, once again, the class character and political bankruptcy of Canadas social democrats. As party leader Marit Stiles began her speech at downtown Torontos Great Hall on Queen St. West, Zachary Ruiter, an independent journalist and longtime NDP supporter, held up a sign on which was written, Marits Legacy is Genocide. Ruiter shouted this slogan several timesreferencing the partys complicity in the Gaza genocide and the repression of the Palestinian peoplebefore being tackled by no less than six Ontario Provincial Police officers, who sat on him and caused multiple bruises. The crowd, composed of about 100 party functionaries and trade union bureaucrats, responded to the protest with shouts of No! and a chorus of boos, before trying to drown out Ruiter with tub-thumping chants of NDP! NDP! The WSWS spoke to Ruiter, who described the brutal nature of his arrest. Initially, they were still being rough on me. Even when they took me into another room, they were still being rough. They still held me down, and I said, Im not resisting. Im peacefully protesting. My body is limp. Dont touch me. The violent arrest left Ruiter shaken. He said police gave the excuse that they were doing their job to protect Marit Stiles. The fact that the Ontario NDP requires police thugs to silence peaceful protesters at its events exposes its fundamental hostility to the working class it claims to represent. Police take-downs of political dissidents are associated with repressive, antidemocratic regimes, but they are increasingly a feature of Canadian bourgeois politics as the ruling class abandons democratic forms of rule. In one of the latest examples, left-wing radical journalist and political activist Yves Engler was arrested by police last month in Montreal at the instigation of fascistic, Zionist elements. Held in jail for several days, Engler faces trumped up charges of harassment and obstruction of justice, for denouncing a Zionist activist on her X feed and subsequently publishing details of the criminal case against him. In Ruiters case, he was originally charged with mischief, resisting arrest and trespass, but the charges have been reduced to trespass only after the intervention of Ruiters lawyer, who pointed out to police that the reporter was exercising his constitutional right to free speech, as supposedly guaranteed under Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Zachary Ruiter being attacked by OPP officers at ONDP election evening event [Photo: X/Nur Dogan] Explaining his action, Ruiter declared, Im actually more concerned with the children of Palestine and their families and how callous we are to accept any political calculus in which we dont speak out against genocide... Ruiter, who is Jewish, emphasized that his action drew on his principled convictions as a grandson of Holocaust survivors. My ancestors were murdered in the concentration camps. Thats who Im speaking for. We are taught Never Again, but for some reason theres an exception for Zionists? Its making Jews unsafe everywhere. Zachary Ruiter's bruised elbow after being assaulted by police while protesting at the Ontario NDP election night rally [Photo: Nur Dogan] Ruiter bitterly noted the adaptation of the NDP to the witch hunt against former Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama, who was expelled from the NDP caucus before being censured in the Ontario legislature in November 2023, after making perfunctory remarks in solidarity with the Palestinians. Jama, who was barred from standing as an NDP candidate in the February 27 provincial election in Ontario, won almost 15 percent of the vote standing as an independent. Ive had conversations with my neighbors around the political calculus of why we should not hold Marit Stiles accountable for firing Sarah Jama for being outspoken on Palestine or for calling for a ceasefire, he said. The argument is that it would be a losing electoral strategy to keep Sarah Jama and support her right to freedom of expression. She (Stiles) lost badly. The argument that firing Sarah Jama was some sort of strategic choice because Stiles needed to defeat Doug Ford is completely, completely false. Ruiter had attempted to launch his own candidacy in Stiles riding of Davenport, but faced a campaign of threats and intimidation from Zionist thugs. I was told that because the nomination papers are publicly accessible that they were going to dox everyone who signed my papers, he explained. And at that point I felt that because I had not warned the people who signed my papers that this was a possibility, that it would have been irresponsible of me to submitted the papers without fully informed consent. Thats why I didnt submit them. Ruiter remarked that he wanted to advance a political alternative that finds no political expression in the NDP. I want to show my neighbors that if you want to defeat Doug Ford, you have to first defeat Marit Stiles. You cant bring a wet noodle to a sword fight and think youre going to win, he commented. The NDPs program in last months election took the form of a series of pathetic, populist gestures cribbed from the political right and which would do nothing to ameliorate the exploitation faced by working people. Stiles wanted to give a family of four up to $122 per month to put food on the table and money in their pocket. So, if you do the math on that, $122 per month divided by four for a family of four is $30.50 per family member divided by 31 days in a month is less than a dollar a day. You cant even buy a small bag of chips for that, Ruiter explained. The reaction of the working class to these appeals was a collapse in support for the NDP, which garnered 1.9 million votes in 2018, but only 931,000 votes in 2025. The collapse of the NDPs political base was reflected at Stiles election night rally. A staffer had asked everyone to sort of push in to create the illusion that there were more people there than there were actually, Ruiter noted. There were people on the stage and then the people in the audience. Id say there was under a hundred people. The bitter experience of Ruiter and many others like him who have had their heads cracked while trying to push the NDP to the left by means of moral appeals to the party leadership must be assimilated by the working class. The problem is not merely, or even primarily, Stiles or her subjective qualities. The problem with the NDP has an objective, class character. Workers must understand that the NDP does not represent the working class, but rather the trade union bureaucracy, and a small layer of the upper middle class who trade in identity politics to advance their own social position under capitalism. The political role of the NDP is to manage and contain workers struggles on behalf of Canadian capitalism. The political collapse of the NDP and its capitulation to the political right is not a phenomenon particular to Ontario or even Canada, but arises out of the crisis of world capitalism and imperialism. Its political trajectory follows closely that of all of the other bankrupt social democratic parties in the imperialist countries, which have all lined up behind their capitalist ruling elites as they prepare for a global war to redivide the world. The political bankruptcy of the NDP was exposed long before the expulsion of Sarah Jama from the ONDP caucus. It finds clear expression in the March 2022 confidence and supply agreement between the federal NDP and Justin Trudeaus Liberals, under which the NDP pledged to keep the government in power, and the NDPs full-throated support for the Canadian ruling class in its reactionary trade war with the Trump administration. The NDPs propping up a Liberal government which is waging an imperialist war against Russia via its Ukrainian proxies and backing Israels genocide in Gaza reflects not some imagined estrangement of the NDP from its supposed principles, but rather its real principles and the real interests of the social forces it representsthe union bureaucracy and the upper middle class. The confidence-and-supply agreement was only ripped up in September by NDP leader Jagmeet Singh out of crude political calculations, as it became clear that continued close association with Trudeau was dragging down the partys electoral prospects in the next federal election. The interests of the union apparatus and upper middle class purveyors of identity politics who make up the base of the NDP revolve around securing a place for themselves in the capitalist system. For the bureaucracy, this requires the suppression of workers struggles, not their advancement. For the upper middle class, this requires social reforms which insulate their marginal economic position from global capital, against whom they cannot compete. The greatest fear of these layers is not Doug Ford. It is the class struggle. As the working class has come into struggle for improved wages and working conditions, the bureaucracy has sold out every single strike, imposing ruthless concessions and real-wage pay cuts. With the active support of the Canadian Labour Congress, the National Executive of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers unilaterally ordered Canada Post workers to end their four-week strike and submit to the Trudeau governments patently illegal back-to-work order in the face of mass rank-and-file sentiment for defiance. Now the CUPW bureaucrats are conniving with management and the federal government in their plans to Amazonify the post office. When 55,000 Ontario education workers struck in 2022 in defiance of a vicious provincial Tory anti-strike law, provoking a movement for a general strike, the unions rushed to shut it down, throwing Ford a desperately needed lifeline. For her services to the union bureaucracy and the ruling class, Laura Waltonthe head of the CUPE affiliated Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCUwas rewarded with the presidency of the Ontario Federation of Labour. Likewise, when students and youth launched a militant mass movement of opposition to Israels genocide, the response of the NDP was to denounce principled opponents of Zionism and imperialism as antisemites. The response of the trade unions was to cover up active hostility to the movement with phony, left sounding rhetoric. The real, objective interests of workers in Ontario and across the country find no expression in official political life. As Canadian imperialism embarks on a trade war with its closest economic partner, the United States, the ruling classwith the help of the unions and the NDPis whipping up a nationalist fervour to divide Canadian workers from their Mexican and American class brothers and sisters. Workers must not fall for these nationalist appeals. No moral appeal or political protest can push the NDP and the trade union bureaucracy to the left, because their commitment to the capitalist system and their fealty to the Canadian bourgeoisie is driving them to the right. Workers, students and youth must make an irrevocable political and organizational break with the NDP. The Socialist Equality Party, the Canadian section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, is the political home of all workers who want to oppose genocide and imperialist war and struggle for a socialist society. Speaking in March 2023 just prior to that years local elections, Sir Keir Starmer said of a future Labour government: Not a penny more on your council tax, not a penny more than the bill you paid last year. He declared it would represent a tax cut for the 99 percent of working people. This was a lie. UK workers face crippling council tax rises in April even as local services are slashed, along with thousands of council workers jobs. Fully 85 percent of councils (139) are raising council tax by the maximum amount allowed without holding a referendum of 4.99 percent. View of city of Bradford, England, showing Bradford City Hall [Photo by Linda Spashett, Storye book / CC BY 3.0 Others have been given permission by central government to impose even higher rises, taking the proportion of local authorities implementing rises of 4.99 percent or more to 90 percent. Bradford is increasing council tax by 9.9 percent. According to the i newspaper, the council had already issued nearly 30,200 liability orders for missing council tax payments. The article noted, The number of summonses sent by the council has steadily increased over the past few tax years, with 12,198 being sent in 2020/21, 33,094 in 2021/22, 34,796 in 2022/23, and 37,727 sent in 2023/24, the last full tax year. Windsor and Maidenhead and Newham in London are raising council tax by 9 percent; and Trafford in Greater Manchester, Birmingham and Somerset by 7.5 percent. Workers budgets are already being squeezed by bills. Analysts are predicting a rise in the energy price cap (for electricity and gas) of between five and seven percent in April, with a further rise expected in July. The same month, water companies will increase their charges by an average 26 percent, around an extra 10 a month. Research by the Resolution Foundation shows that the poorest fifth of households spend 4.8 percent of their income on council tax. This is three times the amount, 1.5 percent spent by the richest fifth. Economist Lalitha Try noted that these families are spending almost as much on these bills as they pay in income tax. This terribly designed tax increasingly resembles the very thing it was meant to replacethe dreaded poll tax. The ultra-regressive poll tax was introduced by the Thatcher Conservative government between 1989-90, first in Scotland, then England and Waleswith each taxpayer taxed the same fixed sum. It was abolished and withdrawn over 1991-3 in the face of mass opposition and unrest. Fully 15 year after the beginning of the Labour-Tory age of austerity, many councils have lost so much central government funding that they are, nonetheless either bankrupt or on the verge of it. Workers are paying to barely keep the lights on. Unison, the main public sector union, issued a report last September titled, Councils on the Brink: The Local Government Funding Gap 2025/26. Based on freedom of information requests and searches of local authority financial strategy papers, it showed councils across England, Scotland and Wales would have a 4.3 billion collective shortfall for 2025/26. The report estimated this would rise to 6.9 billion in 2025/26. It noted: Between 2010 and 2023, at least 1,243 council-run youth centres were closed and 1,168 council-run childrens centres were shut. There has also been a significant decline in the number of council-run libraries (1,376 fewer) and public toilets (a drop of 1,629) over the same period. Another report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies issued just before the 2024 general election found that between 2010/11 and 2024/25 core funding for councils fell by nine percent, while demand for services has risen. A Local Government Association (LGA) survey released last October showed one in four local authorities in England would likely apply for emergency government bailouts in the financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27 to avoid having to declare bankruptcy. Last week, the National Audit projected that the situation was so dire that without intervention by next March an accumulated deficit for councils in Englandexpected to have reached 4.6 billioncould leave 43 percent of local authorities at risk of declaring effective bankruptcy. Introduced in 2021, the use of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) measures allowing a local authority to borrow capital or sell assets to raise revenue has grown, with a record 30 granted by the government this year, including seven councils in London. Collectively, these councils alone will borrow around 1.5 billion to plug budget gaps, only pushing the crisis a year or two down the line. Labour-run Birmingham council, which oversees Britains second largest city, is one of the councils given permission to raise its council tax by more than 4.99 percent. In September 2023 it issued a section 114 notice effectively declaring itself bankrupt. Central government sent in a record number of six commissioners for a potential five-year placement taking control over the councils budget. Among the councils liabilities is an outstanding equal pay claim bill for female staff costing around 760 million. In February last year the council was given Exceptional Financial Support of 1.25 billion by the outgoing Sunak Tory government. After losing around 1 billion in central government support since 2010, and imposing hundreds of millions of pounds in austerity cuts, the response of the Labour council was to escalate cuts. For the second year in a row Birmingham will impose cuts of around 148 million. This includes a 43 million cut in adult services, 39 million in childrens services, and 28 million for city operations including refuse collection. Having already axed 11,000 of its workforce since 2011, a further 300 jobs are to go this year. Other job losses announced by Labour councils are in North Tyneside (200), Derby City Council (more than 100) and Wakefield City Council (200). Liberal Democrat-run Somerset Council is to shed 555 jobs. Under Labour, the central government support grant for local government for 2025/26 will rise by 6.8 percent, not touching the sides. Responding to the figure the LGA noted, Extra money for councils next year still falls short of what is desperately needed to cover them all. This financial year therefore remains extremely challenging for councils of all types who now face having to increase council tax bills to bring in desperately needed funding next year yet could still be forced to make further cuts to services. The Scottish National Party (SNP) government in Edinburgh is to carry out a similar council tax rise offensive, having ditched its previous anti-austerity posture. Over the last 20 yearswith the SNP in power in Scotland for most of that timecouncil tax rates in Scotland have either been frozen or capped. The freeze ends in April with five local authorities, responsible for around two million people (approximately 40 percent of Scotlands population) to hike rates. The Starmer government came to office stating that it would impose iron fiscal discipline, while claiming it would end austerity. Its immediate withdrawal of winter fuel allowances from almost 2 million of the poorest pensioners and refusal to remove the two-child limit on child benefits exposed this lie. But these attacks and the bill rises from April are just a small downpayment. Starmer is committed to large increases in military spending, meaning the savaging of what remains of the post-war welfare state and an offensive against the working class on a scale not seen since the 1930s. Young person at Detroit student walkout holds sign calling for decent wages for all [Photo: Welcome to Mexicantown Facebook ] Hundreds of students walked out of Western International High School on Detroits southwestside Tuesday afternoon to protest raids by Trumps Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and the deportation of thousands of immigrant workers and family members. Young people poured out of the school in the early afternoon with some carrying signs declaring, No human is illegal. Abolish ICE and America was built by immigrants. Many joined a protest organized by pro-immigrant groups, which held a march down Vernor Highway in the heart of the working class and largely Latino immigrant neighborhood. The action by Detroit students is part of a continuing wave of student walkouts and anti-ICE protests across the country. These protests which are involving large numbers of young people are also being fueled by the worsening social crisis and bipartisan school cuts, which will be deepened by Trumps drive to destroy public education. On Wednesday, students in Monroe, North Carolina, just east of Raleigh, walked out of their high school to defend immigrants and demand that Union County officials not collaborate with ICE agents. The protesters, who rallied in front of the Union County Public Schools office, said their schools were underfunded and that North Carolina had some of the largest number of for-profit charter schools in the country. The Detroit protest took place hours before Trumps fascist address at the joint session of Congress, where he repeated his rants about an invasion and occupation by immigrant gang members, murderers and rapists. He boasted that ICE and border patrol agents were getting them out and getting them out fast. Earlier in the day, Trump also posted a message on social media threatening foreign-born students with arrest and deportation if they engaged in what he called illegal protests on campuses like those against the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza. Making clear his anti-immigrant witch hunt is aimed at native-born workers and young people too, Trump added, American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. One high school student said Trumps threats had intimidated some of her classmates but only strengthened the resolve of others. Referring to these threats, another student said, Its disgusting and [theyre] a way to control people, so they wont revolt against you. Honestly, he needs to be impeached immediately. Another student said, We decided to walk out because we dont agree with everything that is going on. My mom is an immigrant, and she suffered a lot to come here. Its not right what Trumps doing. Its like theyre trying to bring slavery back in a way. But its affecting everyone, not just certain people. People [who voted for Trump] just dont realize it. He says he wants to make America better by taking Mexicans out. But Mexicans are helping, and there wouldnt be buildings constructed and food provided if they werent here. I feel Trump is blaming the immigrants to take the spotlight off him. Everyone should have equal amounts of everythingrights, money. Not everything should be distributed to just one class of people. Another student said, My family are immigrants, and they have been here a long time. Immigrants have built this country, and Trump is trying to take that away. They have jobs, they have families, and its just not fair for the community and everybody here. Some have papers; some dont. One of my friends grandparents got deported. Elon Musk is already rich. Theyre doing everything because they can get away with it. Us poor people, what do we have? Another youth said, Im out here supporting my friends who are going through these things like deportations. Immigrants have built our communities. They are breaking up families, and thats messed up. Blaming the immigrants for bad conditions in the schools and other problems is ridiculous. The politicians dont know whats happening inside our schools. They dont come here and monitor whats going on. One student said, Immigrants arent hurting anybody. We should all get together and fight. Half of the schools are broken down. Air conditioning doesnt work. In the summertime, it is so hot and in the winter the heaters dont work. The money should go into supplies and things that really matter. Many of the young people who spoke to WSWS reporters said they worked at restaurants and stores after school to help their families. One young person held up a sign saying, Salarios Dignos Para Todas or Decent wages for all. Democrats back assault on immigrants The attack on immigrants and the worsening social crisis in the Detroit area is provoking widespread opposition by workers against the Democratic administration of Mayor Mike Duggan, which has overseen an explosion of social inequality in the city since its bankruptcy restructuring 11 years ago. Last month, a neglected century-old water main burst, flooding a southwest neighborhood with water and ice and forcing scores of residents to evacuate. Just a week before, two children froze to death in a van where their homeless family was sheltering in a casino parking garage. In January, Duggan, who is running as an independent candidate for Michigan governor next year, pledged to collaborate with the Trump administration in the round-up and deportation of immigrants. If you are in this country illegally, we should not be shielding you from ICE and federal enforcement, and the city of Detroit does not. On February 26, plainclothes ICE agents arrested a 37-year-old father in Chicago as he was dropping off his two children at an elementary school on the citys west side. The children were left inside the car as the ICE agents took their father away. School officials brought the children inside. Our people are being targeted, Lucy Salgado, a parent at the Acero charter school, told ABC7 News. It is not fair what they are doing to our community. Later that evening parents and young people held a vigil against the closure of at least two of the seven Acero charter schools due to the budget cutting by Democratic Party school officials and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Johnson and the Democratic mayors of Boston, New York and Denver were berated for hours Wednesday morning by Republicans during a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Several Republicans said they would urge the Justice Department to open investigations into the mayors, claiming their impotent sanctuary city policies were a federal offense. Groveling before the fascistic Republicans, the Democratic mayors said arresting undocumented immigrants was the responsibility of federal law enforcement, not local police. Johnson said having local police involved in such arrests would make Chicago more dangerous because crime witnesses and victims would avoid cooperation with police. The war against immigrants is an attack on the whole working class. It goes together with destruction of Constitutional rights, the mass firing of federal workers, and the gutting of public education, Social Security, Medicaid and other essential programs to fund more tax cuts for the rich and imperialist wars. The Democrats are opposed to any serious opposition to Trump because they defend the interests of the same capitalist oligarchy as the Republicans. The only way the attack on immigrants can be halted is by building a powerful movement of the working class, uniting workers and young people of all races and ethnic backgrounds, in a common fight to defend democratic and social rights. This means building rank-and-file workplace and neighborhood committees, independent of the trade union bureaucracies and the Democratic Party, to organize mass protests and strikes to protect the rights of all workers. This must be combined with a political counteroffensive against both corporate-controlled parties and the capitalist system they defend. The funding of high quality public education, affordable housing, free health care and other social rights for everyone is only possible through the expropriation of the oligarchs and for socialism. This is the third of a three-part series. Parts One and Two are available here. CPM-Ks National Democratic Revolution and the orientation to the Kenyan bourgeoisie There is a clear continuity between the Communist Party Marxist-Kenyas history and its appeals to Ruto and the Kenyan capitalist state during the Gen Z protests and its defence of the National Democratic Revolutiona long-standing Maoist perspective that has historically been used to subordinate workers and youth to various factions of the ruling class. CPM-K traces its origins to the clandestine Mwakenya (Muungano wa Wazalendo wa Kenya) Maoist group of the 1980s, which was the leading underground movement against Daniel arap Mois one-party dictatorship. Amid IMF-imposed austerity measures, which fueled mass working-class protests and strikes, Mwakenya sought alliances with sections of the bourgeoisie (See: Kenyas Gen Z insurgency, the strike wave and the struggle for Permanent RevolutionPart 3). Daniel arap Moi [Photo by Croes, Rob C. for Anefo / Wikimeida / CC BY-SA 3.0 In May 1990, the movement called for unity among sections of the ruling class to pressure Moi to resign. It issued a statement calling for unity among all progressive democratic and patriotic political organisations, workers trade unions, peasant cooperatives, professional bodies, religious organizations, student societies, the business community, welfare and other nongovernmental interest groups to unite in a single force of action to pressure Moi to resign. Under this strategy, Mwakenya sought to channel the rising social opposition to austerity and Mois police-state repression into the broader bourgeois opposition led by Raila Odinga, who had emerged as the most prominent challenger to Mois dictatorship. This marked the beginning of Odingas central role as a focal point for mass opposition to the ruling elite. Many activists from Mwakenya, including future Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, openly joined the Odinga camp. Other former Mwakenya membersstill working in the underground movementjoined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which the CPM-K today regards as its predecessor. It was founded in 1992 by Johnstone Mwendo Makau, then serving as Information Minister under Mois dictatorship. Makau was infamous for enforcing state censorship and intimidating journalists. At the time, the creation of the SDP was widely perceived as a regime-backed strategy to fracture the bourgeois opposition to Mois rule. The founding came in the wake of two years of mass protests. Alarmed by the growing unrest, Washington, which had long backed Mois regime, pressured him to repeal the constitutional provision banning multiparty politics, paving the way for Kenyas first multiparty elections in 1992. The SDP did not field a presidential candidate in that election and managed to secure only 177 votes in the National Assembly elections. Makau then defected back to KANU. The move of the Maoists to join the SPD was part of an international trend following the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union. As the professors, union bureaucrats and middle-class professionals among Stalinist and Maoist groups lost the income that had come to them earlier from the Soviet bureaucracy and Beijing, their sympathies swung ever more directly towards their own capitalist state and imperialism. The Kenyan Stalinists gave a clear expression of this process. After Makaus departure, the SDP gained prominence amid growing opposition to Mois austerity measures. It ran Charity Ngilu for the 1997 presidential elections, advocating for greater state intervention in the economy and job creation, and campaigning against IMF-imposed Structural Adjustment Programs that had led to massive job losses, wage suppression, and cuts in public services. She won fifth place with 7.9 percent of the vote and the SDP secured 15 seats in the National Assembly. Soon after, like its first leader, Ngilu defected, forming the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) with main bourgeois opposition figures, Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki. Exploiting the SDPs left credentials to enhance NARCs appeal, she helped propel the coalition to victory in the 2002 elections, bringing an end to Mois 24-year rule. Charity Ngilu in 2010. [Photo by World Water Week / Wikimedia / CC BY 2.0 James Orengo, Odingas ally, later led the SDP, backing Odinga in the disputed 2007 election, which triggered Kenyas deadliest post-election violence. Although Kibakis security forces gunned down Odingas supporters, killing hundreds, Odinga entered a power-sharing agreement and was installed as prime minister. Orengo was given the post of Minister for Lands. William Ruto, then Odingas ally, played a key role in whipping up tribal violence, leading to his indictment by the International Criminal Court. The post-election violence exposed the role of political forces like the SDP that paved the way for the different capitalist parties of the Kenyan establishment to whip up communal violence. By 2007, the SDP had faded, with its leaders absorbed into Odingas ODM, Kibakis government, or other tribalist formations. General Secretary Omole has developed a falsified historical account, describing this period as one of a factional dispute within the SDP between social democrats and revolutionaries aiming to drive the party to the left. Omole ignores the active collaboration between the Maoists in the SDP and the ruling class. The SDP was deeply involved in crafting Kenyas 2010 capitalist constitution. CPM-K proudly acknowledges its role, stating on its website that its predecessor, the CPK, participated actively in the struggle for the progressive reforms that are summarised in the national Constitution of Kenya 2010. We were involved in the debates of the Constitution-making conference at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi between 2003 to 2005 and fought for the inclusion of the progressive articles in the Constitution that included Article 10 on national values and principles of governance that also form the summary of the minimum program of the CPK. In 2017, historic Stalinist figures within the SDP, such as Onyango Oloo, supported Odingas latest bid for the presidency, while another faction threw its support behind the rival bourgeois faction of President Uhuru Kenyatta. In 2019, the SDP rebranded itself as the CPK to capitalise on growing youth radicalisation amid soaring unemployment and inequality. This occurred against a backdrop of global mass struggles. The CPKs then leader Mwandawiro Mghanga claimed this shift distinguished the party from mainstream bourgeois coalitions which the Stalinists had backed for years. Shortly after, the CPKs Youth League split with one wing leaving to found the Morenoite Revolutionary Socialist League (RSL). It became the Kenyan affiliate of the International Socialist League, now notorious for whitewashing Ukrainian fascism and backing NATOs proxy war on Russia. The split was primarily driven by differences over foreign policy, particularly the CPKs increasing alignment with Beijing. The RSL, which openly supports the US-NATO imperialist bloc, portrayed Russia and China as emerging imperialist powers to justify the US-led military build-up against them. As the RSL itself framed the dispute, the CPK held the position that China is not an imperial power because it has a Communist Party [sic], demonstrating not only a flawed understanding of the global situation but also a fundamental misunderstanding of dialectics. This did not stop these unprincipled anti-Marxist parties from working together. Today the National Provisional Coordination Committee of Peoples Assemblies (NCCPA) is fronted by Stalinists in alliance with the Morenoites. The CPKs founding in 2019, however, was rapidly exposed as a deceptive maneuver in 2022 when CPKs top leadershipincluding Mghanga himself alongside General Secretary Benedict Wachirajoined the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, led by then-Deputy President William Ruto. The CPK leadership openly backed Rutos presidential bid in the August 2022 elections. A majority faction opposed this move, opting to remain nominally outside the political establishment, though their orientation to the ruling elite and Ruto remainedas shown by its intervention in the Gen-Z struggle (see Part Two). The CPM-Ks alignment with the bourgeoisie has long been masked under the National Democratic Revolution perspective. Although this concept remains vaguely defined, an analysis of speeches and the newly unveiled manifesto reveals its core principles. Firstly, the democratic revolution in Kenyaencompassing full independence and sovereignty along with bourgeois democracyis deemed unfinished, making it the first stage, while socialism is indefinitely postponed. Second, the 2010 Constitution, which the Kenyan Maoists helped draft, is seen as a vehicle for completing this revolution if fully implemented. Third, workers are urged to confine their struggle within the national framework, exerting pressure on supposedly progressive and non-comprador factions of the Kenyan bourgeoisie, who are presented as the natural allies in achieving the National Democratic Revolution. The manifesto upholds the Stalinist two-stage theory that holds that the struggle for socialism and capitalist bourgeois democracy are two different stages. CPM-K is the comprehensive leader and centre of the revolution in both the national democratic and socialist stages, it states. It further declares that the 2010 Constitution is a site of class struggle because the bourgeoisie has been incapable of implementing the constitution for the benefit of the exploited and oppressed majority. Its own role is to help enforce the constitution. According to the CPM-K, the struggle to enact the progressive reforms embodied by the constitution is, therefore, an ongoing class struggle that will, inevitably, lead to socialism. The CPM-Ks leader, Omole, declared at the opening of the Congress, we will reaffirm our analysis that Kenya remains a capitalist and semi-feudal society, where the comprador ruling class serves imperialist interests. This congress is a declaration of our intent to complete the countrys independence by dismantling the existing order and laying the foundations for socialism. Omoles conjuring of a comprador bourgeoisie at the service of imperialist interests versus a non-comprador national, patriotic bourgeoisie, is to create the fiction that there exists a section of the ruling class that workers need to subordinate themselves to so as to fulfil the National Democratic Revolution. The CPM-Ks manifesto explicitly puts forward an alliance with the bourgeoisie, stating: together the basic toiling masses and the urban petty bourgeoisie as the basic forces of the revolution, wins over the middle bourgeoisie to the national democratic revolution and takes advantage of the factional strife among the exploiting classes to isolate and destroy the enemy that at the given time is the worst reactionary faction or an invading foreign aggressor. The twentieth century is littered with examples of the tragic results of this political orientation to the bourgeoisie. Leon Trotsky, the co-leader with Lenin of the October Revolution in Russia in 1917 and founder of the Red Army, subjected Stalins class-collaborationist bloc of four classes in China to a withering critique when the revolutionary situation erupted across the country. Communists rounded up in Shanghai in 1927 Stalins proposed bloc of four classesconsisting of the working class, the peasantry, the petty bourgeoisie and the national bourgeoisiecalled on the young Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to subordinate itself to the bourgeois nationalist Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-Shek in the name of carrying out the national bourgeois revolution and ensuring liberation form imperialist domination. Trotsky and the Left Opposition warned of the devastating consequences for the socialist revolution in China. The fact that China was oppressed by imperialism did not lessen the conflict between the Chinese bourgeoisie and the working class. Indeed, the opposite was the case. As Trotsky wrote: It would further be profound naivete to believe that an abyss lies between the so-called comprador bourgeoisie, that is, the economic and political agency of foreign capital in China, and the so-called national bourgeoisie. No, these two sections stand incomparably closer to each other than the bourgeoisie and the masses of workers and peasants... It is a gross mistake to think that imperialism mechanically welds together all the classes of China from without... The revolutionary struggle against imperialism does not weaken, but rather strengthens the political differentiation of the classes. Trotskys warnings were confirmed. In April 1927 the military forces of the Kuomintang, under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, carried out a massacre of the Shanghai working class. A large section of the CCP leadership was murdered. After April 1927, the Chinese Communist Party was ordered to enter the left Kuomintang. The left KMT then crushed the workers and peasants movement no less brutally than Chiang Kai-shek. The two-stage theory of revolution and alliances with the bourgeoisie under the banner of a National Democratic Revolution have long served to disarm the working class in the face of its class enemy. The anti-Marxist doctrines of Stalinism and its Maoist variant play a dual role: providing the CPM-K with leftist rhetoric to maintain control over workers while legitimising its long history of class collaboration and betrayal. CPM-Ks virulent hatred of Trotsky and Trotskyism The CPM-K reserves its deepest hostility for Trotskyism, a reaction that reveals its fundamental allegiance to the nationalist betrayals of Stalinism and its twin, Maoism. More than a century after Trotskys critique of Stalinist class collaboration and defence of world socialist revolution, the CPM-K still parrots the distortions that justified the Soviet bureaucracys purges, framing Trotsky as an enemy of socialism while glorifying Stalins disastrous policies. Leon Trotsky A document posted in 2022 described Trotsky as the chap who held an important post in the Bolshevik Party and became an enemy of the Soviet state. It continued, After the removal of Trotsky, how remarkably socialist construction was promoted in the Soviet Union! Trotsky thought that without him, everything Stalin did would fail, and the Soviet state would go to ruin. But the Soviet people built their country up to be the leading socialist power in the world, as well as a global power. In another document, the CPK states, It was Stalin and his leadership that mobilised communists, the working class, and the anti-fascist forces of Russia, Soviet Union, Europe, and the World that after one of the greatest sacrifices ever made by human beings, managed to defeat Hitler and liberate the World from fascism. Stalin led Russia towards becoming a great scientific, technological, industrial, and military superpower in the World. Stalin is remembered as a communist revolutionary leader and legend. As for Mao, he perfected theory of peoples war and created a large communist army, movement, and defeated feudalism, capitalism, Japanese and US imperialism, and established the socialist state in China in 1949. Under his leadership China was transformed from a peasant and feudal economy into a great scientific, technological, industrial, military and economic superpower it is today. The dissolution of the Soviet Union by the Stalinists in 1991 and the reintroduction of capitalism in China are a vindication of Trotsky and the Trotskyist movement. It was the final stage in a counter-revolution that had begun in the 1920s with the usurpation of political power from the working class by a privileged bureaucracy, based in the state and party apparatus and led by Joseph Stalin, that had arisen because of the isolation and backwardness of the first workers state. The bureaucracy repudiated the internationalist perspective of Lenin and Trotsky, who conceived the Russian Revolutions fate as inseparably bound up with the world socialist revolution. Under the banner of Socialism in One Country, Stalin sought to arrive at peaceful coexistence with the imperialist powers, transforming the various the Communist parties into instruments of the Moscows counter-revolutionary foreign policy. During the 1930s, the Kremlin bureaucracy, acting to preserve its privileges as a nationalist caste, orchestrated a series of devastating betrayals that crushed revolutionary movements and paved the way for World War II. Today the CPM-Ks hatred of Trotsky, like the Stalinist regimes relentless campaign of lies and mass murder in the 1930s, is because Trotskyisms socialist-internationalist opposition to Stalins bureaucratic-nationalist rule, and the defence of the perspective of world socialist revolution, continue to be the main political threat to the capitalist order and its political defenders. The Kenyan working class cannot rely on Stalinist, Maoist, or petty-bourgeois nationalist formations to lead the struggle for socialism. These forces exist to misdirect revolutionary energy into dead-end appeals to the bourgeois state, preventing workers from developing their own independent political movement. What is needed is the building of a revolutionary party, armed with the lessons of the past century of struggle. Such a party must reject the illusions of reforming the capitalist system, the myth of a progressive faction of the bourgeoisie, and the dead-end of national democratic stages that indefinitely postpone the fight for socialism. It must base itself on Trotskys theory of Permanent Revolution, recognising that the democratic and socialist tasks in Kenya and across Africa can only be realised through the independent mobilisation of the working class against capitalism and imperialism, as a by-product of the working-class seizing power through socialist revolution. Above all it means adopting an internationalist perspective that connects the struggles of Kenyan workers with their class brothers and sisters worldwide, particularly in the imperialist centres. The lessons of the past year are clear: No faction of the ruling classwhether aligned with Western imperialism or capitalist Chinacan solve the deep-seated crises facing workers and youth. The only path forward is the building of a Kenyan section of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Concluded BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have constructed a comprehensive integrated transcriptomic atlas for soybeans, the first spatio-temporal map of the whole-life organ development of the domestic soybean, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Thursday. Molecular design breeding can effectively accelerate the soybean breeding process. However, the complex mechanisms of organ development in soybeans have long proved difficult challenges for scientists to effectively shed light on. Regarding each organ of the soybean as a precisely operating "factory," genes run like "workers" on assembly lines, while the transcriptomic atlas acts as the factory's monitoring system. In previous research, scientists could usually only observe the overall output of this "factory." However, new technology can now help them track the condition of each "worker." Based on the bulk RNA-seq data from 314 whole-organ samples, the researchers from the CAS and the Chinese Society for Plant Biology precisely identified the developmental stages of organs and the characteristic genes of key organs. Subsequently, they utilized single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to capture the cellular expression maps of five major functional organs namely roots, root nodules, the shoot apical, leaves and stems. Through the integration of multidimensional technologies, they achieved 3D visualization of gene expression in soybean organs -- with researchers calling this a "map" for the soybean. Elucidating the genetic regulatory networks underlying soybean organ development is critical for breeding elite and resilient varieties to ensure an increase in soybean production in the event of changing climates, according to the research article published in the journal Molecular Plant. An integrated transcriptomic atlas that leverages multiple types of transcriptomic data can facilitate the characterization of temporal-spatial expression patterns of most organ development-related genes and thereby help researchers understand organ developmental processes, the article noted. ADDIS ABABA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Workneh Gebeyehu has called for restraint and dialogue to ease rising tensions in South Sudan. The East African bloc's executive secretary, in a statement issued late Wednesday, expressed "deep concern" over the escalating tensions and armed clashes in South Sudan's Nasir County. The latest developments "pose a risk to the hard-won gains made in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and threaten peace in the country," Gebeyehu said. He called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, reaffirm their commitment to the R-ARCSS, and prioritize dialogue and reconciliation as the only sustainable path to peace, ensuring the protection of civilians and stability of the region. The eight-member East African bloc has decided to dispatch a high-level delegation to assess the situation on the ground and engage with the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity on measures to restore calm and advance the peace process, Gebeyehu said. IGAD, as the guarantor of the revitalized peace accord, reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting the agreement's full implementation, he said. Clashes erupted in mid-February between the South Sudan People's Defense Forces and armed civilian groups in the country's Nasir County. Tensions escalated after the government announced plans to deploy new forces to Nasir County to rotate troops stationed in the area for several years. More than 20 people have been reported killed and several others injured on the outskirts of the now-deserted town of Nasir, located near the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia. TOKYO, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Two linked Shinkansen bullet trains decoupled and made an emergency stop near a station in Tokyo on Thursday, briefly disrupting bullet train services in eastern Japan, according to the railway operator. A Hayabusa train and a Komachi train on the Tohoku Shinkansen line were found decoupled at around 11:30 a.m. local time between Ueno and Omiya stations, and halted near Nishinippori Station on a local commuter line for examination, East Japan Railway (JR East) said. The railway operator said no injuries have been reported, adding that around 650 passengers were onboard at the time of the incident. The linked 10-car Hayabusa and seven-car Komachi departed Tokyo Station at 11:20 a.m. local time and were supposed to separate later, with the Hayabusa to travel to Shinaomori Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line and the Komachi to Akita on the Akita Shinkansen Line. Following the incident, bullet train services on the Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Hokuriku, and Joetsu Shinkansen lines had been suspended on certain sections, but the five disrupted lines resumed operation around 2:30 p.m. local time, JR East said. JR East is investigating the cause of the incident. ANKARA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Defense Ministry said Thursday its forces have killed 26 Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria in the past week, despite the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)'s declaration of a ceasefire with Turkiye over the weekend. A total of 478 "terrorists" have been "neutralized" in counterterrorism operations since January, Defense Ministry Spokesperson Zeki Akturk said at a weekly press briefing, adding that "the Turkish Armed Forces will continue its operations in the region with determination and perseverance until not a single terrorist remains." Also on Thursday, Turkish semi-official Anadolu Agency, citing anonymous sources, said the Defense Ministry urged all PKK-affiliated groups to lay down arms immediately. The sources added the PKK's ceasefire declaration is intended to create confusion. Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the "terrorists" in question have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured. The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged a rebellion against the Turkish government for more than three decades. Turkiye has been conducting cross-border operations in Iraq and Syria to target the hideouts of the PKK and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkiye sees as the PKK's Syrian branch. Last week, the PKK declared a ceasefire with Turkiye after its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan called on all PKK-affiliated groups to lay down their arms and the PKK to dissolve itself. The local NTV broadcaster reported Saturday that the PKK Executive Committee issued a statement announcing that none of its forces would carry out armed actions unless attacked. Later that day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to resume military operations against the PKK if it fails to fulfill its promises. Meanwhile, the YPG has stated that Ocalan's call does not pertain to its members. Queen Mary of Denmark and her husband, King Frederik X, were welcomed by president of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, at a gala dinner held at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on Tuesday. The solemn occasion saw the notable guests dressed accordingly, with Queen Mary wearing a special jewelry set. Queen Mary of Denmark smiles during a gala dinner at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on March 4. Dressed in a Jesper Hvring leaf-patterned lace gown, Queen Mary accessorized her outfit with Queen Caroline Amalies gold tiara and Princess Vilhelmine Maries bracelet. According to the Danish Royal Family, both pieces of jewelry have not been worn for more than 140 years. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tiara was created around 1820 for Queen Caroline Amalie, the second wife of King Christian VIII, who reigned over Denmark from 1839 to 1848. The gold piece features 11 gems that were collected during the couples trip to Italy from 1819 to 1821. Queen Mary of Denmark at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on March 4 during their two-day state visit to Finland. The bracelet has a similar story. It was created for Princess Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark in the 1820s with semiprecious stones collected around Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano located on the Gulf of Naples in Italy. The piece was gifted to the daughter of King Frederick VI in a box with a French inscription that translates to it is from the top of the fiery Vesuvius that my heart flies to you. President of Finland Alexander Stubb and his spouse, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, host a gala dinner for King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on March 4. The tiara and the bracelet are typically on display with many other pieces from the Danish Royal Collection at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen. Queen Mary also wore a pair of yellow gold and citrine drop earrings that were created by Danish jeweller J. Diderichsen in the 1860s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state visit highlighted the close partnership between Denmark and Finland and it was the first hosted by President Stubb and his spouse. View Gallery Launch Gallery: Queen Mary of Denmark's Style Through the Years: Formal Gowns, Monochrome Looks & More [PHOTOS] Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Roatan is one of the most popular destinations for cruisers on several major cruise lines. Royal Caribbean ships, for example, often dock at Roatans main cruise port, while Carnival Cruise Line utilizes its private Mahogany Bay port a few miles away. In all, Roatan, which is part of Honduras and is located about 45 miles away from the mainland, has become the most-visited cruise port in all of Central America. Related: Carnival, Royal Caribbean cancel voyages, ships stuck at sea To be sure, there is a lot to do in Roatan. There are excellent beaches, many places to shop, and much more. But Roatan is perhaps best known for its animal encounters particularly when it comes to sloths and monkeys. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. I cruised on Royal Caribbeans Wonder of the Seas in December with my family, and we booked a sloth and monkey interaction tour. And the biggest reason we wanted to do it was because we could hold the animals (well, we didnt exactly hold the monkeys we were locked in a cage with them, and they climbed all over us). The author and his wife on a shore excursion in Roatan, Honduras. Image source: Matt Frankel/ComeCruiseWith.com Roatans animal attractions could change Recently, Honduras attitude towards Roatans animal-based attractions has changed. In late January, the nation sent a document to animal owners that aimed to crack down on the over manipulation of wildlife on Roatan Island. This specifically includes carrying and holding animals for exhibition and taking photographs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guidelines apply to endangered or rare species, including sloths, monkeys, and parrots, all of which are frequently used in Roatans animal-centered shore excursions. In fact, the tour I took in December prominently featured all three, with opportunities to physically hold or interact with each one. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Several cruise lines offer excursions that are not likely to be impacted specifically, those that are simply meant to visit the animals. For example, some tours visit animal sanctuaries but dont advertise the ability to hold any animals. On the other hand, several popular locations on the island, which are generally booked without the involvement of the cruise lines, offer highly interactive experiences including the one I visited as part of a tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tour company I booked through, Discover Roatan, posted on their website on March 1: Recent developments in wildlife protection efforts in Honduras that may affect your experience at Roatans animal parks and sanctuaries. Recently, the government of Honduras, through the Wildlife Department of the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF), has conducted several raids and confiscated various endangered and protected animal species at the mainlands port city of La Ceiba. More cruise news: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company issued an update on March 5, clarifying that the government or its agencies have not made any final determinations. So, to be perfectly clear, visitors can still interact with wildlife, including sloths and monkeys, for the time being. However, this is a very fluid situation, so if an animal excursion is on your to-do list for your Roatan stop, be sure to keep up with recent developments. You can still visit your favorite animals in Roatan Even if the determination is made to shut down physical interactions with animals, Roatans sloth and monkey tours arent necessarily going away, they are just becoming more restrictive. For example, instead of actually holding a sloth, you might be able to take a selfie with one that is perched on a nearby branch. And instead of actually being inside a monkey cage where they can climb all over you, cruisers might be restricted to observing them from outside the cage. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. It's not completely clear how the rules will be implemented. For example, does a monkey choosing to climb on your arm count as you handling or holding wildlife? But its likely that significant changes are coming to some of Roatans most popular tours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Mar. 5The nonprofit Community Plate is holding its first annual Pi(e) Day Celebration and Fundraiser at the Smith Center at Wolfe's Neck Center in Freeport on March 14 the date corresponding to the first three digits of the mathematical constant. The potluck fundraiser will, like Community Plate's usual statewide events, feature stories about food told by any eventgoers who'd like to tell them. For this evening, they will be centered on pie. There will also be a potluck dinner and a sale of pies, at silent and live auctions, baked by some celebrated Maine cooks and bakers (among them, Ilma Lopez of Chaval and Ugly Duckling, Kate Shaffer of Ragged Coast Chocolates and Sam Hayward, chef emeritus at Fore Street restaurant). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Whether you're an enthusiastic mathematician, a precise baker, or just someone who loves a good pie, come celebrate the mathematical magic of 3.14159, and support the work of Community Plate," the nonprofit said in a press release. For more information and tickets, visit communityplate.me. If you can't make the fundraiser but still want to properly celebrate Pi Day, stop by either Portland location of Two Fat Cats Bakery on March 14 for some blueberry pie with the pi symbol baked right into the crust. Pi pies we like the way that sounds are available as whole pies and hand pies (or enjoy a slice of several kinds of pie with no pi symbol). The bakeries are at 195 Lancaster St. and 175 Spring St. Copy the Story Link MILAN German supermodel Claudia Schiffer has found her groove beyond the catwalk and into the home sphere. Schiffer told WWD her aim is to design more interiors, an endeavor that has been bolstered by the success of her third collaboration with historic Portuguese ceramics-maker Bordallo Pinheiro. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, she unveiled Gudrun a ceramics and porcelain collection adorned with characters and fall flora and fauna. Im exploring an expansion into linens such as tablecloths, napkins and runners as well as glassware. Im also looking to introduce a range of candles in partnership with a fragrance house, she said. Gudrun was the fruit of a partnership between Bordallo Pinheiro and fellow Portuguese porcelain and crystal maker Vista Alegre, which celebrated their 200-year anniversary in 2024. With it, Schiffer introduced an elegant new seven-piece dinnerware range, which referenced heritage porcelain craftsmanship. The supermodel designed dinner plates, soup bowls and bread plates, as well as a teapot, teacups and saucers with a fall-inspired motif of oak leaves, acorns and squirrels reflecting her daily life in the countryside. Schiffer currently lives in an Elizabethan Tudor manor house in Suffolk, England, with her husband, English filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, and their youngest daughter Cosima, who is 14. A design for Bordallo Pinheiro and Vista Alegre by Claudia Schiffer. When she isnt working on her home collection, shes been working behind the scenes on fashion and beauty partnerships for Vaughns films. I love being involved in the numerous partnerships created for each film, many of which have had long-running success such as Kingsman clothing for men with Mr Porter, which is now in its highly successful 21st collection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaughn co-wrote, directed and produced the blockbuster Kingsman franchise films: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and The Kings Man, the latter released in 2021. With Cosima still at home, Schiffers focus is very much on her own home, despite having entered a new phase of her modeling career after being signed on to IMG models in September and being featured on the cover of Vogue Arabia and Pop Magazine in the same month. While Cosima is at school, I work on my ceramic and porcelain collections. I also continue to represent fashion companies and take on campaigns when the timings align with my family schedule, she added. Schiffer continues to work with Bordallo Pinheiro, whose designs she began collecting years ago after Portuguese friends gave her a cheese plate adorned with little ceramic mice. She took it upon herself to approach the company, which is based in Caldas da Rainha on Portugals west coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2020, she unveiled her first collaboration with Bordallo Pinheiro called Cloudy Butterflies, a detailed decorative collection adorned with butterflies in several colors. This was followed in 2023 by an informal dinnerware collection that extended the ceramics range and further developed the butterfly designs. It was inspired by the rolling hills, fields and farmland that surround her English home and by the countryside where she grew up near the River Rhine in Germany. Bordallo Pinheiro was founded in Portugal in 1884, and specializes in earthenware ceramics. The company said it uses centuries-old techniques to reproduce models and create contemporary products. Claudia Schiffer poses with the Gudrun collection. The latest collection was named Gudrun, after her late mother. This collection is dedicated to all my childhood memories connected to the countryside watching the squirrels from my bedroom window, collecting acorns while my mother gathered the fall leaves, which I used as tiny canvases for my drawings. When I started brainstorming, acorns were one of my first design references. Listening to the woodpeckers and falling asleep to the bird song these memories inspired me to create these new collections and Im so proud of the outcome, she said. Looking ahead, Schiffer said shes focused on creating a cohesive homeware line in complementary tones and textures, envisaged for anything from dining at home with family or hosting a party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My aesthetic is organic and rustic with a midcentury feel, and over my career, Ive learned to work only with brands that I admire. Synergy is crucial and Im very hands-on from ideation and my initial designs and drawings, right through to the final product. Like some of her fellow supermodels, Schiffer has been building a portfolio career since she stepped off the catwalk. Shes put a strong focus on collaborations, following her passions and interests and serving as creative director of fashion and design brands. In past years she has published an eponymous coffee table book with Rizzoli and curated a 90s fashion photography exhibition at the Museum Kunstpalast with an accompanying art book published by Prestel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has also been working in film she is an executive producer and cofounder of film studio MARV, with her husband, Vaughn. In 2020, Schiffer partnered with numerous brands including Frame, Bamford and Lucie Kaas, which released special limited edition and one-off pieces in celebration of her 50th birthday. She also curated a capsule collection for Versace, while the @BarbieStyle channel unveiled a one-of-a-kind Claudia Schiffer doll with two recreated designer looks inspired by runway styles that she modeled years ago. In 2024 Mattel released a third Claudia Schiffer Barbie. Fellow supermodel Helena Christensen has also focused on the interiors arena. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, Christensen debuted her first project as global artistic director for Denmark-based furniture maker BoConcept. This was in collaboration with fellow Dane Charlotte Hncke, an industrial designer-turned-furniture and lighting expert, who designed a capsule called Sweet Art. Christensen also is part of the lifestyle brand Staerkandchristensen alongside another fellow Dane, Camilla Staerk, who is known for her designs of womens and mens ready-to-wear and accessories. Together, the duo produce sculptural home objects and modern artisanal designs and have worked on collaborations with New York-based studio Bower and Danish designer Kasper Salto. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Thursday visited national political advisors attending a joint group meeting at the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined the discussion of political advisors from the China Democratic League, the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and the sector of education. Xi heard their comments and suggestions. Joann where many crafters found fabric for their projects is closing all its stores, including its lone Rhode Island location in Warwick. So where does that leave you if you need a smooth challis, breathable rayon or snuggly fleece? While there are still chain stores selling fabric Walmart, Hobby Lobby and Michaels have sections the region also has a number of smaller, independently owned shops brimming with bolts destined to become your new sundress, cafe curtains or throw pillows. Inventory varies, but the possibilities still await. Apple Annie Designer Fabrics (appleanniefabrics.com), 566 Wilbur Ave., Swansea, Massachusetts, 508-678-5187. If your wardrobe calls for a designer look, this is the place to start. They have gorgeous fabrics from Italian and California designers, an array of batiks and other choices that will make your piece unique. Classes and camps are also available. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Tuesday and Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Bedford Fabrics (bedfordfabrics.com), 870 Bedford St., Fall River, Massachusetts, 508-673-3990. In the market for upscale fabrics think chiffons, satin and taffeta or the perfect lace, sequin and fringe to finish a project? This shop promises designer choices at outlet prices. Also on hand are notions such as thread, beads, buttons and other trims. Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to until 4 p.m.; closed Sunday through Tuesday. Divines Fabric and Sewing Nook (divinesfabric.com), 689 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston. The shop offers a large selection of designer fabrics and laces, custom embroidery work and classes. Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon; closed Sunday. Fabric Gallery (fabricgalleryri.com), 606 Ten Rod Road, North Kingstown, 401-295-2760. Geared toward home projects, including outdoor cushions and pillows with fade-resistant Sunbrella fabric, the shop has many options in stock, and staff can help order direct from their suppliers. Think drapes, curtains, slipcovers and other upgrades for the home. Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can spend hours browsing at Lorraine Fabrics in Pawtucket, which has everything from bolts of calicos and muslin to upholstery material, leather, notions and trims. Just Fabrics (facebook.com/justfabricsri), 310 Atwood Ave., Cranston, 401-383-6286. Row upon row of cottons and other samples in solids and prints are sure to trigger your imagination. The selection and classes beckon quilters, but there is something for everyone. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Lorraine Fabrics, 593 Mineral Spring Ave., Pawtucket, 401-722-9500. This shop sprawls across two floors of an old mill building, with everything from bolts of calicos and muslin to long rolls of upholstery material and leather. The bargain loft offers various fabrics marked way down, and there are notions and trims to investigate. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4:45 p.m. The-Sew-Op (the-sew-op.com), 31 West Main St., North Kingstown, 401-447-5500. The shop has a good supply of fabric available for online or in-person shopping, plus classes and summer camps for those who want to learn to sew. Hours: Weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday. Stitch Source (stitchsourceri.com), 10 Anoka Ave., Barrington, 401-337-5578. This creative source offers curated fabric from creators such as Tula Pink. You can also expand your skills with classes. Hours: Tuesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.; closed Sunday. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: With Joann stores closing, where to buy fabric in RI and nearby Mass. PARIS Delphine Arnault likes to say that the LVMH Prize for Young Designers is a good barometer for the industry at large. Its really like taking a photograph of fashion at a given moment in time, said the executive, who is the force behind the prize and a key talent scout at LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Each year there is a slightly different message. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After mirroring the rise of genderless fashion and a growing focus on sustainability, the showroom for this years edition heralded the arrival of menswear from new cultural horizons, with the 20 shortlisted brands including for the first time candidates hailing from Egypt, Ghana and Saudi Arabia. It also reflected the emergence of the Middle East as a pool of design talent, with the presence of Egyptian-born, Qatar-based Yasmin Mansour, Saudi Arabias KML and Lebanese brand Renaissance Renaissance. The 20 labels are competing for a grand prize of 400,000 euros and mentorship by LVMH teams in such areas as sustainable development, communication, copyright and corporate legal aspects, marketing, manufacturing and the financial management of a brand. Ahmed Hassan Ahmed Hassan, who founded KML in 2022 with his sister Razan, showed in Paris last June as part of the Saudi Fashion Commissions Saudi 100 Brands initiative. The label aims to redefine menswear for a new generation of luxury clients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We live in a very interesting time in Saudi where in the past 30 years weve been buying a lot, and I think now its the time where we do fashion that is more culturally relevant to us, Hassan said. Were trying to bring some of the fading traditions, such as men wearing skirts, for example. His elegant monochrome pieces are often transformable. The top of a black coat can be detached to make a cropped jacket, while a white shirt features a button-off back. His skirts come in narrow or fuller styles, but not all customers are ready to adopt them. The conversation is very interesting, because when we see the older generation and the younger generation, they love our work, he said. The older generation, they relate to it, theyve seen it before, and the younger generation think its cool and sexy and they want to experiment with it. Our generation is the generation that forgot its tradition, in a way. The brand, sold exclusively at its studio in Riyadh, wants to expand into accessories. For Hassan, the LVMH Prize is an important step in that direction. Recognition is one thing, and it is the most important thing for us at this stage, and then also connecting with the right people to execute, to manufacture, to develop, he said. Afroluxurious elegance David Boye-Doe, the founder of Ghanaian brand Boyedoe, said funding was crucial to scale up his genderless label, but he also saw the advice he could glean as crucial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to produce in a more ethical way, so mentoring is one of the key areas, he said. Without the correct mentorship and collaboration, you abuse the money. David Boye-Doe Some of his pieces, including a burgundy-colored coat with fringed trim, are made from fugu, a handwoven fabric originating from the northern parts of Ghana. It usually comes in vivid colors, but the label makes darker versions that it thinks are better suited for an international market. We blend Afroluxurious heritage with ethical elegance, said Boye-Doe. Its African luxury: our way of interpreting luxury. Also among his designs were pants assembled from the waistbands of reclaimed jeans, and a coat pieced together from the leftover inseams. The designer usually sources items from Accras sprawling Kantamanto market, Africas largest secondhand clothing market, which burned down on New Years Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No matter the challenges, even losing our source of getting those things, we focus more on how we thrive, he said. Even to be here, to be selected as one of the first Ghanaian brands, is a testament of how we have thrived over the years. The label, which has shown at Lagos Fashion Week and Portugal Fashion, is also present at the Tranoi trade show in Paris this season. Boye-Doe sees his role as clearing the way for other emerging African luxury brands. We call ourselves the underdog, where people are not expecting that this thing is coming, he said. Because of us, other Africans, other Ghanaians can see that it can be done. Redefining American fashion Even in markets like the United States, designers are challenging established ways of making and selling mens clothes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My business model is all bespoke custom orders, said Josh Tafoya. The Parsons graduate moved from New York to his native New Mexico during the pandemic and has since been exploring his family tradition of weaving. Its a lot of Spanish influence, Mexicano influence and Genizaro, he explained, referring to the name given to detribalized Native Americans in the Southwest starting from the 17th century. My family comes from a lineage of weavers, both sides, and Im trying to bring that culture back. Its slowly dying in New Mexico, added Tafoya, who had brought with him a nearly century-old piece woven by his grandmother. Josh Tafoya His genderless pieces incorporate traditional elements like Mexican serape stripes, or Chimayo-inspired chevron motifs, but he imbues the designs with his own theatrical flair in a bid to challenge perceptions of Southwestern identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill play into campy little motifs, like gunmetal for the Bandito bullet suits. And Ill play a lot with Western denims, but also with metallic fringes, because cowboy is a little flamboyant, its funny, said Tafoya. When I went to Parsons, we were taught American fashion, and it was sportswear and the traditional brands, he continued. Thats not my vision of American fashion. This is my vision. This is the oldest part of the Americas. At a cocktail party on Wednesday, Maria Grazia Chiuri, creative director of womenswear at Dior, was among those who stopped at Tafoyas stand. Also making the rounds was Sarah Burton, who was preparing to show her debut collection for Givenchy on Friday and will be joining the LVMH Prize jury as a result. The chic crowd also included Sidney Toledano, senior adviser to LVMH chairman and chief executive officer Bernard Arnault; Tods Groups chairman Diego Della Valle, who lingered at the Torisheju booth; designer Gabriela Hearst; image architect Law Roach; milliner Stephen Jones, and models including Natalia Vodianova, Elle Macpherson, Toni Garrn and Paloma Elsesser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LVMH Prize ambassador Jaden Smith said he was blown away by the selection. Everybody here right now is at the forefront of fashion, innovation and design, he said. Jaden Smith The rapper and actor, who is known for his bold choices on the red carpet and has his own clothing line, Msftsrep, demurred when asked if he had any tips for the young talents. If anything, Im here to learn things from everybody whos here, said Smith. I would love to study with them and learn things from them. Fellow ambassador Lily James described the excitement of discovering the new voices shaping fashion. Hearing about their stories, their identities, theyre sharing their heritage, their cultures through their fashion and its subverting something traditional and turning everything on its head honestly I feel overwhelmed by the talent in this room, incredibly inspired, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James advised the finalists to keep honoring what makes them unique, individual and authentic, because theres only one of you and thats your superpower. Overcoming Adversity Meanwhile, Delphine Arnault praised the resilience of the designers who have struck out on their own despite the challenging market conditions for independent brands. It takes a lot of courage, a lot of passion, and they put themselves on the line, she said. All the designers who are here could very well be working in the studios of large brands, so you have to have a very strong entrepreneurial side. Most of them have to do the work of 10 people on their own or with just one other person. Danial Aitouganov, for example, left his job as menswear designer at Louis Vuitton under Pharrell Williams last summer to focus on Zomer, the label he cofounded with stylist Imruh Asha. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dutch designer has eight years of experience working for brands including Vuitton, Chloe and Burberry, but admitted it was a challenge juggling design duties with everything else. We are small, so Im learning as we go, and learning production and finances was really not on my resume, he said. I would love to have guidance in that. Cynthia Merhej Cynthia Merhej, the designer behind the Renaissance Renaissance label, has faced more challenges than most, steering her brand through the coronavirus pandemic, a huge explosion that destroyed swathes of Beirut, economic crisis and most recently, the conflict between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israel. Im very happy to say that now the company is finally back in Beirut. Weve been producing everything there for the last two years, said Merhej, who had briefly moved some operations overseas. A lot has now changed in terms of the landscape politically. We dont know for the worse or for the better, but what we know is now at least its a bit more stable, she reported. Its really hard to run a business when every day you dont know if there will be a currency. Having made the semifinals in 2021, when the event was held online due to the lingering effects of COVID-19, she was happy to attend the showroom in person. It was obviously incredible to be nominated the first time, but to come back and actually have face-to-face contact, and for people to be able to physically touch the garments and to see them, it makes a huge difference, Merhej said. During COVID, it felt a bit isolated because we didnt actually get to meet each other. It didnt feel real because I didnt see the other peoples collections. Its really nice to be back. Launch Gallery: Inside the LVMH Prize Cocktail Party at Paris Fashion Week Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Mar. 5ROLLA, N.D. It's the heart of many a fairy tale a young woman rising from humble beginnings to a life of luxury in a grand palace. But Marie Downing was Cinderella in reverse leaving the opulence of Queen Victoria's court in 1887 to become a modest farmer's wife in rural America. It was a colossal culture shock from the Victorian finery of London to the blustery acres of Rolla, Dakota Territory. Yet, in her old age, Marie said she did it for love and would do it again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 78, she granted an interview to writer Margaret Babcock McCahren, in which she reflected on her unusual journey from royalty to Rolla. The story that inspired this one was published in The Forum on Aug. 10, 1930. Marie first encountered Queen Victoria while working as an apprentice at a sewing shop, where she made clothing for the royal children. Her duties required her to travel to Windsor Castle, and one day, the queen took notice. "When the royal request, literally a summons, came for me to serve Her Majesty, I was delighted and immediately went into her service," Marie recalled. As a maid-in-waiting, she always stood by the queen's chair, anticipating every need. She witnessed discussions over state affairs with world leaders and intimate family moments with Prince Consort Albert and their nine children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marie received no salary but was provided clothing, food and numerous gifts, including diamonds that later helped purchase her North Dakota farm. One particularly cherished gift a mantel clock was originally a playful reprimand from the queen. "It was my duty to choose suitable gifts for the queen to present to her callers," Marie said. One such item, a timepiece, was to be given away, but after Marie arrived late for an appointment, the queen changed her mind. "The queen took this and presented it to me, saying that perhaps this would help me be more punctual in the future," she recounted. Later, the queen had the watch placed in a beautiful mantel clock case that eventually sat in her tiny log home in North Dakota. Despite the controversy over her tardiness (Marie said the Prince of Wales made her late for her meeting with the queen), Marie became a favorite of the queen and was even loaned to her friend, Empress Eugenie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While traveling with the empress in South Africa, Marie is credited with saving her life. So how did a favored royal servant end up in Rolla, North Dakota? It all started with a boy. In 1879, Marie fell in love with a butler named Harry Williams, but he had dreams beyond serving the aristocracy. He wanted to be a landowner. In 1882, he set sail for Canada to buy a farm and begged Marie to follow him. "It took me two years to persuade her majesty to let me leave her service to come here to marry Harry," Marie said. "She was vexed because she could not understand my wishing to leave her to come to 'savage America' to marry a poor farmer and live beyond the outposts of civilization." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The queen only consented on one condition: Marie had to return a marriage certificate proving she had married Harry Williams. (Because of her position with the queen, she was not allowed to marry him earlier.) By 1887, Harry had abandoned his farming efforts in Manitoba and secured a claim west of Rolla. Marie finally set sail to join him. She was met with a massive mix-up upon arrival in New York. Customs officials insisted she had more trunks than she claimed. "Upon investigation, I discovered the trunks were all labeled with my name and that Victoria had sent them," she said. Inside, exquisite clothing and jewelry lay tucked away items befitting a palace rather than a North Dakota homestead. Nonetheless, Marie and the trunks were on their way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I shall never forget that long trip alone on the train from New York halfway across the continent in the dead of winter," she said. "The bleak, snow-covered plains were so new to me." Once she arrived at the train station in Minnewauken, Dakota Territory, she was reunited with Harry, whom she hadn't seen in five years. They immediately married in nearby Devils Lake and sent the marriage certificate to the queen. Then they boarded a horse-drawn sleigh for the 75-mile journey to their home in 40-below-zero temperatures. The delicate parasol she had brought from England offered little protection from the prairie winds. Marie was dismayed that their home wasn't a pretty English cottage but a rustic log cabin with no doors or windows and a half-finished roof. Neighbors let them stay until the cabin was livable. As Mr. and Mrs. Williams settled into their new life, Marie became a local celebrity. Townsfolk eagerly visited to see and even touch the royal artifacts she had kept. She often lent gowns and jewelry to local brides, bringing some aristocratic splendor to the prairie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over time, the couple sold many of these treasures to finance their farm, buy supplies and purchase more land. Marie claimed the queen even sent letters and Christmas gifts including a gold horse saddle that was later stolen from the barn. The Williamses lived quietly on their farm for decades, returning to England only once in 1909. But Marie had no regrets. "From the first, I liked the immensity of sky and prairie," she said. "Even though I was sometimes lonesome in the early days when we had so few neighbors, I never wished to return to England or to the luxuries of the life I had formerly lived." Marie died on Dec. 5, 1933. Harry followed on March 23, 1940. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Marie's story seems tailor-made for Hollywood, historian Helen Rappaport's research casts doubt on some details . Rappaport suggests Marie may have been eight years older than she claimed and that she and Harry were already married before leaving England a direct contradiction to Queen Victoria's policy forbidding marriage among the maids in her service. Further skepticism surrounds the exquisite gifts the monarch gave to her one-time maid. While Queen Victoria was known for her generosity, Rappaport wonders whether she would have sent such valuable items halfway around the world to a former servant who had worked for her for only four or five years. Why would she send items that would not be practical on the farm? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What use would Marie Downing have for a 'court train six yards in length' that Queen Victoria had worn at state functions, or an inlaid Egyptian marble paperweight, or a black parasol lined with purple satin?" Rappaport writes. "Like it or not, one has to ask the question: Did Marie slowly and systematically purloin some of those 'gifts' from Victoria?" Despite these inconsistencies, Marie's royal belongings were undeniably authentic relics of a royal household that somehow made their way to a remote North Dakota homestead. Whether Marie Downing Williams embellished parts of her story or not, she undeniably brought a touch of royalty to Rolla. Some of her cherished belongings remain preserved at the Prairie Village Museum in Rugby, offering visitors a glimpse into the fascinating life of a woman who traded the grandeur of the palace for the quiet strength of the prairie. While the exact terminology differs from country to country, most nations have a four-tier system that they use to rank countries based on how safe they are for citizens to visit. In the U.S., the State Department assigns level one's "exercise normal precautions" to countries that are just as or in some cases even safer to be in than at home Australia, Japan and Canada are some countries with this rating while level four is usually given to countries actively at war or with authoritarian governments. As of March 2025, some countries with the "do not travel" ranking include North Korea, Russia, Haiti, and Afghanistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE daily newsletter Here is what you need to know about the latest travel warning for Somalia Another country under the level four ranking, the East African nation of Somalia has been seeing new spikes of instability even after years of war. This week, the U.S. Embassy in the country sent out an advisory reiterating the rating that "remains in effect due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, and piracy." The country has been at civil war since the 1990s after several rebel militant groups tried seize power; fighting accelerated after Trump ordered military airstrikes against suspected terrorist hotbeds in the northeastern part of the country during his first weeks in office. Related: This country just warned its citizens about travel to the US While Trump has framed it as "getting the job done" and taking care of radicals in a way that predecessor Biden did not, the U.S. embassy in Somalia warned that it has led to heightened risk of terror attacks against Americans in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The embassy said that it received "credible information related to potential imminent attacks against multiple locations in Somalia including Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport"; diplomats and other embassy personnel in the country have been ordered to stay in place and not move around. The Somalian capital of Mogadishu is home to over two million people.MDOGAN / Shutterstock 'They may conduct attacks with little or no warning' "The U.S. Embassy in Somalia reminds U.S. citizens that terrorists continue to plot kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks in Somalia, the March 4 statement reads. "They may conduct attacks with little or no warning, targeting airports and seaports, checkpoints, government buildings, hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, and other areas where large crowds gather and Westerners frequent, as well as government, military, and Western convoys." More on travel: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to decades-long fighting, very few Westerners ever make their way to Somalia for anything other than diplomatic or humanitarian missions. Other countries on the African continent to have the same rating include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan and Central African Republic. The most popular African countries for international tourists are, meanwhile, North African nations such as Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia a combined 40 million tourists visited those three nations last year as well as "safari destinations" such as Tanzania, Botswana and Kenya. At the end of 2023, the latter country completely scrapped the visa requirement for foreign arrivals regardless of their nationality. The electronic travel authorization put in its place is significantly easier to obtain as it does not require an embassy visit and is meant to help drive tourism to the country. Related: Veteran fund manager issues dire S&P 500 warning for 2025 SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) One person died in a crash early Thursday morning in Spartanburg County. The SC Highway Patrol said the crash occurred after midnight on SC 101 near Apple Valley Road. Troopers said a Honda Odyssey van was turning right onto SC 101 when it was hit in the back by a Kia traveling north. The driver of the Honda was reported injured according to troopers. The driver of the Kia died at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Spartanburg County Coroners Office has identified the victim as 42-year-old Bobby Wayne Freeman Jr., of Spartanburg. The crash remains under investigation by the SCHP. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A juvenile was injured after shots were fired near an Antioch fire station Wednesday night. The Metro Nashville Police Department was on site at a shooting along Forest View Drive. A spokesperson for the MNPD said a juvenile was struck by a bullet and transported to Century Farms. Additionally, police said another uninvolved vehicle was struck at a nearby intersection. (Source: WKRN) (Source: WKRN) (Source: WKRN) Read todays top stories on wkrn.com A spokesperson for the Nashville Fire Department confirmed crews were at Fire Station 33 when MNPD personnel who were at the station activated a Code 5000, or Personnel in Danger, alert. Though fire suppression crews were responding to calls at the time of the shots, a medic crew was present. No fire personnel were injured, but at least one bullet struck a medic unit present at the station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 2 has sent a crew to the scene to learn more. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Ten House Democrats joined Republicans in voting to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) on Thursday, rebuking the 11-term congressman for his disruptive protest during President Trumps speech to Congress. The chamber adopted the censure resolution in a 224-198-2 vote, less than 48 hours after Green stood up, waved his cane in the air and yelled at Trump during his speech, prompting his eventual removal from the chamber. The vote made him the 28th member of the House to be censured. House Democratic leadership did not whip on the Green censure resolution, allowing lawmakers to decide on their own whether to support it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, 10 Democrats backed the measure: Reps. Ami Bera (Calif.), Ed Case (Hawaii), Jim Costa (Calif.), Laura Gillen (N.Y.), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.), Jim Himes (Conn.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), Jared Moskowitz (Fla.) and Tom Suozzi (N.Y.). The group is composed of centrists, members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and front-liners. Green and Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.) voted present. Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he backed the censure resolution because he supported a similar, but diluted, effort in 2009 to disapprove of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) when he yelled out you lie! during then-President Obamas address to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I voted to disapprove of Joe Wilsons actions when he shouted at a different president, and I revere this institution, which I understand is a very unpopular position today, Himes told The Hill. But Im sure I could construct a fairly elaborate argument that Trump is different than Barack Obama, but at the end of the day I think we need to stand up for the things that we believe regardless of which party benefits or loses. Suozzi a centrist Democrat who flipped a red seat during a special election last year lamented that instead of concentrating on the details in Trumps speech, Americans are talking about Greens protest. Instead of focusing on protecting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, and instead of addressing rising costs, fixing immigration, and Ukraine, too many Americans are talking about a member of Congress being removed from the chamber, Suozzi wrote on social platform X. This is not helpful. Im serious about building bipartisan coalitions to tackle these pressing concerns. Its the only way. Both parties must hold themselves to the same standards we expect from the other side, he added. I am angry about plenty that the President is doing and what he said the other night, but the punch, counterpunch is not working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday night, Suozzi told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on The Source that Greens display was wrong and boneheaded. Green has remained defiant in the wake of his rebuke. On Thursday, after the censure vote, he pointed to peaceful protests that had been conducted by former Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). With peaceful protest, you have to be prepared to suffer the consequences because you have to, as John Lewis said it, get in the way. Youve got to be disruptive. So you get in the way, he said. So I indicated that I was prepared to suffer the consequences for my actions, he later added. Today we were here for me to suffer the consequences. Im not angry with the Speaker, Im not angry with the officers, I hold no ill feelings. But I never said I agreed with what was happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green began his protest minutes into Trumps speech Tuesday night, when the president claimed he had a mandate from the American people. At that point, Green stood up and argued that Trump did not have a mandate, specifically saying he did not have authority to cut Medicaid. His comments come as some Republicans are eyeing slashes to the social safety net program as part of their sprawling border, energy and tax package. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) urged Green to stop his display, telling him to sit down. Green, however, continued his protest, prompting Johnson to order the sergeant-at-arms to escort him out of the chamber. Emily Brooks contributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A 14-year-old Atlanta boy who went missing when he was 7 has been found safe in the Denver area and his non-custodial mother and an accomplice are now behind bars on multiple charges. Abdul Aziz Khan, who was profiled in a 2022 episode of "Unsolved Mysteries," was found by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies on Feb. 23 after they responded to a trespass call at a property in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, according to a press release from the office. The home, which was vacant and listed for sale, was being monitored by security cameras. The homeowner alerted authorities after noticing two people allegedly entering the home illegally, the release said. Douglas County Sheriffs Deputies on Trespass Call Uncover High-Profile Kidnapping Case, Rescue Boy Missing for Seven... Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 After arriving to the scene, deputies spotted two children in a parked vehicle in the home's driveway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a woman and man exited the home, they identified themselves as associates of a realtor. But their story fell apart after deputies worked for hours to learn who they really were. The woman was eventually identified as Rabia Khalid, 40, Aziz's non-custodial mother, who had an active warrant for his kidnapping. Abdul Aziz Khan went missing in November 2017 after his non-custodial mother, Rabia Khalid, allegedly kidnapped him. The man, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, is Khalid's husband, according to Aziz's profile on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website. Khalid and Bourgeois were arrested on multiple felony charges, including second degree kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities and trespassing. Their bond was set at $1 million each. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aziz has been taken into protective custody along with the other child found at the scene, who is younger. The younger child's identity is not being released. Authorities are continuing to gather information and an investigation in this case is ongoing, the sheriffs office said. Were overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found. We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. We specifically want to recognize the Douglas County Sheriffs Office for their exceptional work in solving this case. Now, as we navigate the next steps, we ask for privacy so that we can move forward as a family and heal together," Aziz's family members said in a statement. Sheriff Darren Weekly said in a statement that Aziz was found and safely recovered because of the "sharp attention to detail and tenacity" that Douglas County Sheriffs Office deputies exhibited during a routine trespass call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Their ability to recognize the discrepancies in the suspects story and to follow the leads, even when the situation seemed unclear, ultimately led to the safe recovery of a child who had been missing for seven long years," said Weekly. This article was originally published on TODAY.com SUVA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Fijian government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its civil service with the official opening of the Fiji Learning Institute for Public Service (FLIPS) on Thursday. The new institute will serve as an important training facility for Fiji's civil servants, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to enhance public service delivery to improve the standard of living for their people, the government said. While addressing the event on Thursday, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka stressed that civil servants are the "backbone of government." "I am rest assured that the national and international learning opportunities that will be coordinated under FLIPS will strengthen the capacity of civil servants, ensuring continuous skills development," Rabuka said. The institute will also be a Center of Excellence for sharing best practices and building up the body of knowledge in modern diplomacy through the provision of high-quality specialized courses for Fiji's Foreign Service officers, Rabuka said. 1.Representative Al Green of Texas was removed from the Chamber by the Sergeant at Arms for repeatedly interrupting President Donald Trump... A person with a patterned tie passionately raises a cane during an event, surrounded by seated individuals in a formal setting ...despite Marjorie Taylor Greene and many other Republicans doing the same to President Biden during his State of the Union addresses with no consequences. Side-by-side images of a woman in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, she wears a formal outfit and gestures thumbs down. In 2024, she's in a cap and graphic tee After he was ejected, Green said, "I was making it clear to the president that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid." He pointed to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security as the programs that people in his district "depend on, and this president seems to care less about them and more about the number of people that he can remove from the various programs that have been so helpful to so many." Advertisement Advertisement 2.Instead of filing out one-by-one or showing any sort of strong protest really, the remaining Democrats sat quietly most of the time. They held up a variety of signs to signal their displeasure. Two people holding signs in protest; one says "MUSK STEALS," and the other reads "What about the immigrants that worked for you?" Obviously, many folks at home criticized these signs as the biggest form of resistance most Democrats offered throughout the night, though a few did walk out. Audience holding signs that read "Save Medicaid," "False," and "That's a lie!" during a political event 3.Trump said last month saw the lowest border crossings ever recorded. Republicans stood up and clapped, but Melania remained seated, LOL. Six women stand and applaud in a formal setting; one woman in white sits clapping, possibly at a public event or ceremony 4.According to Trump, the first month of his presidency was the most successful in American history. He gave second place to GEORGE WASHINGTON. You can't make this stuff up. Three people sit, smiling, behind a podium. Text reads: "And what makes it even more impressive is that, you know who number two is? George Washington. How 'bout that?" Advertisement Advertisement 5.He recapped how he's already withdrawn the US from the Paris Climate Accord, the World Health Organization, the UN Human Rights Council y'know, all stuff that we should have remained in and Republicans gave him a standing ovation. Like??? A political figure delivers a speech while audience members, in formal attire, stand and applaud. Speech includes a reference to the Human Rights Council 6.He also received a standing ovation for asserting that there are only two genders, which is objectively false and incredibly harmful to trans, nonbinary, and other queer people. A person at a podium speaks with text on screen: The official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female. 7.Trump blamed Biden for the price of eggs, but according to the Guardian and many other outlets, the avian flu and record corporate profits are responsible, soooo. A man speaking at a podium with two men seated behind him. Text reads: "Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control." 8.When Elon Musk and DOGE got a big shoutout, the camera panned to Elizabeth Warren, who didn't bother to look at the Tesla CEO and remained on her phone. Two side-by-side images: the left shows a man in a suit waving; the right shows a woman in a blue blazer looking at her phone Advertisement Advertisement 9.Speaking of Warren, Trump called her Pocahontas AGAIN while he was discussing the Ukraine-Russia war. She took the high road and just continued smiling and clapping through the nonsense. Split image: Left shows a person speaking at a podium. Right shows a woman applauding. Text: "Do you wanna keep it going for another five years? Yeah, you would say Pocahontas says yes." 10.Trump talked about "draining the swamp" and announced that "the days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over." THE IRONY, considering Musk was literally right there. But this expression was all of us at that moment. NBC / Via youtube.com 11.Border Patrol agent Roberto Ortiz, who was honored during the speech, blew a kiss to Trump. A person in a military uniform blows a kiss from a stadium box, making a gesture of affection or appreciation 12.When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was noted as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services, he did a weird, little bow to King Trump. Man in suit waving while surrounded by people, followed by a second frame of him leaning forward, as if in motion or speaking enthusiastically Advertisement Advertisement 13.In a nothing-burger of a statement, Trump said, "Wokeness is bad. It's gone. It's gone." A person stands at a podium between two seated individuals. Text reads: "Wokeness is bad. It's gone. It's gone. And we feel so much better for it, don't we?" 14.He spoke about the history of the Panama Canal and the workers who died in its construction. "We gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back," he asserted before announcing that Marco Rubio would be in charge of this. "Now we know who to blame if anything goes wrong." A man in a suit delivers a speech at a podium, with audience members smiling in the background 15.And finally, Trump shared a message directly with the people of Greenland: "If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America." This wasn't the first time he'd spoken about this baffling desire. He insisted it was not only a matter of national security but of "international world security," and despite earlier words about Greenland's sovereignty, he said, "One way or the other, we're gonna get it." A person speaking at a podium with officials seated behind. Large text reads: "I think we're gonna get it. One way or the other, we're gonna get it." Any other awkward or outrageous moments that made you say, "WTF?" Share your thoughts in the comments below. SEOUL, South Korea At least 15 people were injured in South Korea on Thursday after fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area during a live-fire joint exercise with U.S. forces, the South Korean air force and fire officials said. The South Korean military said the training in Pocheon, a northeastern city of about 140,000 people near the heavily fortified border with North Korea, was in preparation for Freedom Shield, an annual U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise that is set to kick off Monday. Just after 10 a.m. local time (8 p.m. Wednesday ET), eight 500-pound MK-82 bombs were abnormally released by two air force KF-16s and landed outside the designated firing range, the South Korean air force said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said that four of the bombs misfired because one of the fighter jet pilots entered incorrect coordinates during the flight preparation process and that further investigation was needed to determine why the second jet incorrectly dropped the four other bombs. There are procedures to verify coordinates both on the ground and in the air. However, it appears that a mistake was made in this process, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The Joint Chiefs said that live-fire drills were being suspended but that the Freedom Shield exercise would go ahead as planned. Two of the 15 people were civilians with serious but not life-threatening injuries, fire authorities told reporters. Those with minor injuries included two soldiers who were at a military chapel and two foreign nationals who were in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight buildings were also damaged, officials said the chapel, five houses, a warehouse and a greenhouse. A South Korean soldier gestures near the bomb accident site outside a military live-fire training range in Pocheon on Thursday. Photographs showed debris at the church and residences with shattered windows. Residents were being evacuated as authorities searched for any unexploded bombs. The fighter jet was participating in a combined live-fire exercise involving both the South Korean air force and army, the air force said. We sincerely regret the civilian damage caused by this accidental release and wish for the swift recovery of the injured, it said. The Air Force will actively implement all necessary measures, including compensation for damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korean officials said earlier Thursday that U.S. and South Korean forces were holding combined live-fire drills in Pocheon in their first such exercise this year. U.S. Forces Korea confirmed that U.S. service members were participating in the drills but said no U.S. Air Force aircraft was involved. The safety of the local community, U.S. and ROK personnel is our top priority. We take this incident very seriously, Col. Ryan Donald, spokesperson for U.S. Forces Korea, said in a statement, using the initials for South Koreas formal name, the Republic of Korea. We are coordinating closely with the ROK Ministry of Defense and are committed to a thorough and transparent investigation, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korea, a U.S. treaty ally, hosts about 28,000 American service members. The Freedom Shield exercise, which runs from March 10 to 20, is designed to strengthen the alliances combined defense posture in the face of growing threats from nuclear-armed North Korea. Since last years exercise, North Korea has deepened its partnership with Russia, including by sending weapons and troops to support its war in Ukraine. After the accidental bombing Thursday, the governing People Power Party urged a swift and transparent investigation, immediate support and compensation plans for affected residents and enhanced safety measures for training grounds near civilian areas. Given that military training takes place near civilian areas, ensuring the highest level of safety management must be a priority, chief spokesperson Kim Dae-sik said in a statement, adding that the accident raises serious concerns about basic safety checks and management protocols. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, also wished those who were injured swift recoveries and called for a thorough investigation. Stella Kim reported from Seoul and Peter Guo from Hong Kong. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Tacoma PD has arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection to a February homicide. On Wednesday, Tacoma police and detectives brought the 15-year-old boy into custody at the same spot where 18-year-old Messiah Washington was shot and killed. Washington was shot inside an apartment building elevator on the night of February 22. He lived at the apartment on South L Street with his father, Jacque Washington, to help take care of him. I feel like they took my best friend. He was my buddy, Jacque said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he found his sons body inside the apartments elevator that night. I was crying for help. My throat was so sore from crying for help I could barely talk, but nobody would come. Everyone was scared, he shared. A GoFundMe was created to help the family. This is a developing story. Check back to KIRO7.com for updates. An arrest has been made in Tacoma for the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Messiah Washington. Detectives and officers arrested a 15-year-old boy on Wednesday after they developed probable cause from their investigation. The teen was booked into the Remann Hall juvenile detention center on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to the Tacoma Police Department in a news release. The teen will appear for a hearing Friday morning at Remann Hall, according to a spokesperson for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers were dispatched just after 9 p.m. to an apartment building near the 1100 block of South L Street on Feb. 22. Washington suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene after life-saving measures were initiated. Messiah Washington, 18, was fatally shot inside an apartment building on Feb. 22, 2025 in Tacoma. Washington died inside the apartments elevator, just a few steps away from the unit that he shared with his father, his sister, Kiara Deas told The News Tribune. Deas said their father watched Washington take his last breath. My dad raised my brother. Him and my dad were together every day, she said. He was very respectful, like you never would hear him being disrespectful to any adult. He had a lot of family around him, and we have a lot of people who loved him, she said. Deas believes nothing is worth a life and that the gun violence has to end. A GoFundMe has been set up to raise funds to support Washingtons family as they take the time to grieve. UNION COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A 15-year-old girl is facing felony charges after allegedly creating and distributing multiple threatening texts and social media messages against several Union County schools. Detectives with the sheriffs office say they charged the Cuthbertson High School student early Wednesday afternoon after the office received numerous reports overnight from parents and students regarding the threats. As a result of the threats, extra deputies were sent to the schools mentioned in the messages, while detectives and crime lab personnel worked to track down the source of the messages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the interview with detectives, the suspect admitted that she sent the messages to avoid attending school today. Officials say that despite the seriousness of the threats, there is no evidence of any claims of violence on school campuses. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here She has been charged with multiple felony counts of communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property. A secured custody order was issued by the Department of Juvenile Justice. She is in custody at a nearby juvenile detention center. Sheriff Eddie Cathey with the UCSO comments, Time and time again, we have stressed to our community that we will utilize a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to threats against our local school campuses. This teenager didnt want to go to school and selfishly caused widespread panic throughout our community. She will now face the consequences of her poor choices. I encourage all local parents to sit down with their children and share the outcome of this incident with them, stressing the importance of making good choices surrounding school safety. The investigation remains ongoing as UCSO continues to investigate the person/persons responsible for other copycat messages sent within the last 8-12 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: Michelle A. Reeder. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember Michelle A. Reeder, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A teenager was arrested after police said fireworks hurt officers at a Glendale protest where three others, including two other teens, have also been charged with felonies. A 17-year-old boy is charged on suspicion of 28 counts of aggravated assault and one count of rioting. As a minor, the suspect was not identified, according to Glendale police. The charges are related to an hours-long Feb. 2 protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement near 67th Avenue and Camelback Road, police said. Police released a video on social media that showed footage from the protest that featured fireworks seen igniting on a street with officers in tactical gear and protesters nearby. In body-worn camera footage shared by police from the protest, someone is heard saying "hurt so bad" in reference to fireworks. Also released by police in the video is footage taken inside what appears to be a Wingstop restaurant. Police said the footage showed the 17-year-old discussing throwing fireworks at officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also featured in the video is an edited photo of the 17-year-old suspect with his face superimposed by that of actor Channing Tatum doing an exaggerated Latino accent in a scene from the 2014 comedy film "22 Jump Street." A pair of 16-year-old boys were previously charged on suspicion of stealing a vehicle, burglary and rioting, and a 20-year-old man was charged with misdemeanors and a felony charge of endangerment, police previously said. Those arrests were made following a review of social media tying the suspects to surveillance videos that captured criminal activity at the protest, according to police. A portion of the video previously released by police in relation to the first three arrests showed a person jump into a marked police SUV, driving a short distance before stopping and fleeing on foot into the crowd of demonstrators. The 67th Avenue and Camelback intersection had been taken over by demonstrators who lit fireworks and were being "unruly and defiant towards officers," police said the morning after the protest. Police added the protest had drawn more than 1,000 people and that by 7:45 p.m., the intersection was closed in all directions due to vehicular and pedestrian congestion. Glendale police said that around 10:15 p.m., they and Phoenix police dispersed multiple chemical agents on "the unlawful assembly" and the intersection was cleared 20 minutes later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were five marked patrol vehicles damaged, including broken windows, shattered windshields, slashed tires and damaged hoods and body panels, according to police. People in the area not involved in the demonstration had to shelter in place, and many of their vehicles and some businesses suffered "extensive damage," police said at the time. A large storage container near a business was set on fire, police added. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Aggravated assault charges face teen in Glendale anti-ICE protest The Colonel Alexander Erwin Sons of the American Revolution Chapter, CAESAR, supporting Burke, Caldwell and McDowell counties will host an 18th Century Historical Speaker event on March 20. The event includes an optional dinner and will begin at 6 p.m. at the Morganton Community House in downtown Morganton. Dr. John M. Lafferty will be the guest speaker. Lafferty is a recently retired physician with a lifelong love of the country, its history and government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laffertys presentation will be How (and why) the Scots Irish helped secure American Independence. Lafferty has deep roots in the Piedmont of North Carolina and hopes to convey the importance of this unique group of Scots Irish people on the nations founding and guiding principles that led America to be an independent free nation from the British crown. Lafferty attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill both for undergraduate and medical school and completed his residency at Michigan State University. He retired from medicine in 2022 after practicing obstetrics and gynecology in Burke County for 40 years. He also precepted residents and students from the Via College of Medicine in Virginia, retiring as associate professor. He was chair of both surgery and OB during his practice years. Despite the time demands of a medical career, his love of history never diminished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He serves on the board of Historic Burke Foundation, as docent for the Exploring Joara Foundation, and is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He has been married to his wife, Laura, for almost 50 years and has two adult children. He is a long-time member of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church and currently serves as elder and clerk of session. Monthly historical presentations are held at the Morganton Community House, at 120 N. King St., in Morganton. Events are open to the public at no cost. There is an optional dinner, which costs $20 cash per person, which can be presented at the door. Anyone interested in attending will need to notify CAESAR President Kevin Hancock by email at Kevin.hancock91@outlook.com or text at 262-581-6223, no later than the Friday prior to the event. The Sons of the American Revolution, www.SAR.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan congressionally chartered organization founded in 1889 that honors the members Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, preserving history, serving communities and educating and inspiring future generations about the founding principles of the United States. A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a man found unresponsive in his vehicle last week, Anaheim police said. On Feb. 27, around 6 p.m., officers responded to Ball Road west of Sunkist Avenue after reports of a driver passed out behind the wheel. According to the Anaheim Police Department, when officers arrived, they discovered the man had been shot. Paramedics provided first aid before transporting him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was identified as 32-year-old Anthony Aceves Espino, a resident of Anaheim. Homicide detectives, along with the departments Gang Unit and Crime Task Force, launched an investigation and arrested 19-year-old Lawrence Romero of Orange on Tuesday. He was taken into custody without incident and booked for murder. The case will be presented to the Orange County District Attorneys Office, officials said. The investigation is ongoing and authorities have not released additional details about the case. Anyone with information is urged to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China is stepping up efforts to expand employment while addressing structural employment problems, as part of a broader push to boost employment, an official said. China has set targets of keeping the surveyed urban unemployment rate at around 5.5 percent in 2025, and creating over 12 million new urban jobs, according to a government work report unveiled Wednesday. Despite steady economic recovery, China's job market remains under pressure, particularly with 12 million college graduates this year, Huang Lianghao, an official with the Research Office of the State Council, said on the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency. To expand employment opportunities, Huang highlighted key measures outlined in the government work report, including fully leveraging employment-related policies, supporting labor-intensive industries in creating jobs and stabilizing employment, and striking a balance between the application of new technologies and job relocation for employees. Beyond job availability, more should be done to address structural employment mismatches, he said. "Many individuals struggle to find suitable positions, while businesses grapple with hiring the right talent," Huang noted, emphasizing the need to solve the problem. He highlighted large-scale vocational skills training, saying that this will not only enhance the job-seekers' competence but also generate new jobs, boost labor productivity, and drive industrial upgrading. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A man suspected in the 1992 killing of Amy Hooper has been brought back to Ohio to face rape and murder charges. According to court records, 58-year-old Bruce Daniels was extradited to Columbus on Wednesday, nearly three months after being apprehended in the state of Washington. In 2024, Daniels was named a person of interest in the murder of Hooper, 20, who was found dead on March 9, 1992, in Lincoln Village of Prairie Township, west of Interstate 270. DNA evidence leads to arrest in 1992 murder of 19-year-old woman Hooper was found face up and naked on the floor in her Galloway Village apartment on Medfield Way. Police said she was bludgeoned in the head with an object and stabbed multiple times. The killer reportedly used a heart-shaped medallion with the Pan-African flag pained on it to bind her hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said there were no signs of forced entry or a struggle in the apartment, leading to the belief that Hooper knew her attacker, though it remains unknown how Hooper and Daniels may have been acquainted. Amy Hooper (Photo courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office) Daniels, who was living in Tumwater, Washington, was indicted in December on charges of murder and rape and a warrant was issued for his arrest on Dec. 4. After being named a person of interest, investigators in Washington obtained an item discarded by Daniels related to a separate charge, and matched DNA on the object with evidence collected from Hoopers body. DNA is the key piece of this (investigation). Quite frankly it was the missing link all of these years, Chief Deputy Rick Minerd said during a Thursday press conference. We had a profile in 1992, but that profile was unidentified. The DNA profile of Bruce Daniels was not in that database, so a match could not be made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minerd said it can take years for DNA links to identify family lineage and that the investigation led authorities to at least three different locations on the west coast. Daniels was also known to live in Columbus, Cincinnati, and in Georgia. Motive for Hoopers murder remains unknown and Minerd, nor lead detective Chuck Clark, who was assigned this case 20 years ago, revealed details on the relationship between Daniels and Hooper, or what led to her murder. Clark, who appeared emotional, expressed his relief that he could finally deliver positive news to Sandy Green, Amys sister. I had to tell (Sandy) no so many times, it was disheartening, Clark said. I finally got to make that call, and it was something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green said she never gave up hope and always believed the case could be solved. I just kept telling him, I want you to get the right person, Green said. I want it to be the one and done, so I never gave up hope that he could solve it, and he made me believe that this could be solved. On Thursday, Daniels, who was 25 years old at the time of Hoopers murder, faced a Franklin County Municipal Court judge for an arraignment hearing. He was issued a $500,00 bond and ordered to next appear in court for a preliminary court date March 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Florida reported its first case of measles so far this year in a high schooler at Palmetto Senior High School. The state's surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, sent a letter to parents at the school on Tuesday, notifying them of the case -- but the Florida Department of Health official stopping short of advocating typical guidelines for school exposures. PHOTO: Measles virus particle, illustration. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images) After a measles case is detected at a school, common public health recommendations are that unvaccinated children stay at home for up to 21 days, the period of time someone could get infected and spread the virus further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ladapo's letter to parents noted the recommendations, but referred the decision of whether unvaccinated kids should stay at home to parents, saying, "Due to the high immunity rate in the school, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school, DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance." He also noted that the recommendation may change. MORE: Over a dozen new measles cases in Texas outbreak in less than a week: Officials The Miami-Dade School District is prepared to provide remote learning to kids whose parents choose to keep them home, the letter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serving as Florida's top health official, Ladapo has previously espoused views that contradict standard public health guidance. He has previously come out against the use of mRNA vaccines, as well as fluorinated drinking water -- although both practices have been backed by scientific studies. Ladapo's letter also said parents should contact their doctor if they notice any measles symptoms, warning them not to visit a doctor's office without speaking with them ahead of time to reduce the risk of spread. How contagious is measles? (Adobe) Measles is a very contagious virus. Up to 90% of unvaccinated people will contract measles if exposed. The virus can remain in the air for two hours after an infected person has left. Someone can spread measles four days before, through four days after, a symptomatic rash develops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Measles cases are rising in US as Texas outbreak grows. Should we be concerned? The new case comes as an outbreak in Texas grew this week to 159 cases, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Children and teenagers made up a majority of those cases, totaling 127, the DSHS said Tuesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention separately confirmed 164 measles cases in nine other states this year -- Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island. The total, however, is an undercount due to delays in reporting from states to the federal government. PHOTO: A person's body is covered in a rash, measles in this undated stock photo. (Natalya Maisheva/Getty Images) Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. referred to the outbreak in Texas as "a call to action for all of us" in an op-ed published by Fox News on Sunday. But he stopped short of recommending the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, he said that the government should "make vaccines readily accessible for all those who want them" and advised parents to talk to their health care providers about pursuing them. He went on to explain a few days later that he had attended "measles parties" as a child, though he warned people against deliberately sickening themselves. "You know, I went to measles parties when I was a kid and I went to chickenpox parties, and I had natural immunity," Kennedy told Fox News' Marc Siegel in an interview that aired Tuesday night. "I don't advise that people go make themselves sick, by the way," Kennedy cautioned. ABC News' Will McDuffie contributed to this report. 1st case of measles detected in Florida originally appeared on abcnews.go.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Two people were arrested in connection to a robbery on Jan. 16. Alisha Redwine, 27 , of Birmingham, and Charles Graham, 32, of Birmingham, were both charged with first-degree robbery. They both have a $60,000 bond. Both suspects are in custody of the Jefferson County Jail. Attalla man charged after largest Fentanyl seizure in county history Redwine voluntarily turned herself into police custody on Feb. 20. Graham was taken into custody without incident on Feb. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Birmingham police say around 3 a.m. on Jan. 16, a man was robbed at gunpoint in the 2100 block of Jefferson Avenue Southwest, while attempting to fix his vehicle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Two hikers who were stranded for three days after falling down a snowy cliff were rescued on Monday near Idyllwild, California, the Riverside Sheriff Aviation Unit said in a statement Tuesday. The climbers -- one man and one woman -- were traveling along the Tahquitz Mountain trail on March 1 when they suddenly plummeted approximately 800 feet down a snowy cliff, located about 8,900 feet above Idyllwild, California, according to officials. The hikers called 911, stating they were "injured badly and needed help," officials said. A helicopter was sent to rescue the two individuals, but due to 45 mph winds, rescuers failed in their attempt. PHOTO: River County Sheriff's Aviation Unit rescues two hikers that fell approximately 800 feet down a snowy cliff near Idyllwild, California. (River County Sheriff's Aviation Unit) Helicopters from Cal Fire and the Orange County Fire Authority also attempted to hoist the victims out, but "all were unsuccessful due to low clouds and high winds." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said volunteers from Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit were able to locate the male and female hikers on the ground that first night. Then, on the second day, "several attempts" were again made, but helicopters were "unsuccessful due to mountain obscuration and high turbulence surface winds." The hikers had to endure temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit that night, accompanied by persistent snow, officials said. MORE: Human remains 'in various states of decomposition' found on public hiking trail Finally, on the third day, the "weather and wind calmed just enough" and the hikers were successfully hoisted out via helicopter, officials said. The man, "who was the most severely injured," was rescued first and flown to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment, followed by the woman, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Body camera video capturing the rescue shows the snowy conditions officials had to deal with while saving the two stranded individuals. PHOTO: River County Sheriff's Aviation Unit rescues two hikers that fell approximately 800 feet down a snowy cliff near Idyllwild, California. (River County Sheriff's Aviation Unit) "Many thanks to all those ground crews that were involved as well as all the helicopter crews who were involved in the rescue," the aviation unit said in a statement. Along with the helicopters, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said on social media that over 20 mountain team rescuers hiked to save these injured victims, who "most definitely would have died from exposure to the elements." "This was a very long and coordinated effort with amazing partners and volunteers. Outstanding job by all," Bianco said on social media. 2 California hikers rescued after being stranded on snowy mountain for 3 days originally appeared on abcnews.go.com DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A Thursday morning search warrant at a home in Daytons Shroyer Park neighborhood ended with two people in custody. According to a Kettering Police Department spokesperson, law enforcement officials conducted a search warrant in the 600 block of Krebs Avenue. The warrant was for an investigation into alleged aggravated trafficking of drugs. The spokesperson said a SWAT team entered the residence because of a reported weapon history with the suspects. One of the suspects was allegedly found by SWAT hiding in a chest in the basement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities claim a nearby school was contacted to alert them of the reported situation. Due to the very close proximity of the home to a school, officers also made contact at the school to let them know what was going on, said the spokesperson. All vehicle traffic around the school was stopped during the standoff until SWAT was able to make entry and clear the home. All roads in the area have since reopened. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Two inmates have been charged after a contraband search at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center in Darlington County found several things including a quantity of meth inside a chess piece, the sheriffs office said Wednesday. Jack Book was charged with possession of contraband and possession of methamphetamine. Ezekiel Stevenson was charged with two counts of possession of contraband and one count of malicious injury. The search, which was conducted Monday in the Alpha Pod of the jail, found the two in possession of a quantity of meth inside a chess piece, homemade rope, a chessboard, a cellphone, cellphone charger, 18 brown pills, 8 1/2 white oval pills, four white circular pills, and five pink and purple pills, according to the sheriffs office. Investigators found Stevenson damaged the light fixture in his cell to gain access to raw copper wire to charge a cellphone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Darlington County Sheriffs Office, along with Major Mitch Stanley, are working diligently to determine how contraband is being brought into the detention center. We have not ruled out any possibilities, authorities said in a news release. As the investigation continues, we expect more arrests to be carried out. We will bring to justice anyone responsibile for bringing in contraband and ensure justice is served, even if its one of our own. The release further said the sheriffs office and the jail will be fully transparent with any actions they take. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. President Donald Trump is rolling back some of his tariffs on Mexico and Canada. After initial uncertainty, Trump extended a one-month pause to some Canadian goods as well. The pause comes after stocks tanked on Tuesday when the original tariffs took effect. President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he's granting a one-month tariffs pause to a range of Mexican and Canadian goods, just days after imposing 25% tariffs on imports from the two neighboring nations. Trump announced a one-month pause for some Mexican goods on Truth Social. After some uncertainty, he later granted Canada a reprieve as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a modification for our tariff regime to protect car manufacturers and American farmers," Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary, told Trump before he signed the executive orders. As part of the Canadian-related executive order, Trump also reduced the tariff on potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer that the US overwhelmingly imports from Canada. Potash will now be tariffed at 10% as opposed to the initial overall 25% for all goods. The White House's Thursday reprieves come just a day after Trump handed automakers their own pause. "After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "This Agreement is until April 2nd. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USMCA, a trade deal negotiated between the US, Mexico, and Canada during Trump's first term as a replacement for the NAFTA trade pact, exempts most goods that are produced in the three signatory countries from most tariffs. Trump's newest pause dovetails with the White House's efforts to calm markets. Shares on Wall Street tanked after Trump decided to forge ahead on Tuesday with his latest round of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Markets rebounded on Wednesday as traders anticipated a reduction in the tariffs would be forthcoming. Stocks slid on Thursday, with weakness in tech and tariff concerns bringing the S&P 500 down as much as 2% in afternoon trading. It remains to be seen how Wall Street will respond to the latest pause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has said the first round of tariffs is based on Trump's frustration with the nations failing to do more to stop the spread of fentanyl. Leaders of all three countries have disputed that claim. The White House said the Big 3 US automakers General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis requested the earlier exemption for cars. That exemption applies to Canadian auto imports as well. At the time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was open to cutting further deals. Another round of tariffs targeting foreign agricultural goods and other products is set to go into effect on April 2. During his joint address to Congress, Trump mentioned South Korea, India, and the European Union as potential targets to even out what he views as unfair trade relations. China and Canada immediately responded to Tuesday's announcement with retaliatory tariffs. Mexico was originally set to implement its measures on Sunday. Beijing has taken particular exception to Trump's actions. China's US embassy wrote on X that it was ready for a "war" of any kind. Read the original article on Business Insider BERLIN, Conn. (WTNH) A 13-year-old boy and 15-year-old boy were arrested on Wednesday in the parking lot of an elementary school in Berlin for attempting to steal a car, according to police. Officers say that the incident happened at around 9 a.m. in the parking lot of Hubbard Elementary School on Grove Street in East Berlin. The suspects were located walking along nearby Savage Hill Road and were taken into custody. Hamden woman found asleep at the wheel of stolen vehicle, charged with DUI, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both suspects were not residents of Berlin. The 15-year-old was charged with attempted larceny of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief in the third degree, possession of burglar tools and criminal trover in the first degree. The 13-year-old was charged with attempted larceny of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief in the third degree and possession of marijuana under 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Honolulu lifeguards this morning responded to two kitesurfers with medical emergencies in separate incidents at Kailua Beach Park. The first 911 call came in just after 10 a.m. for an unresponsive male in his 60s who beachgoers found along the shoreline. Good Samaritans saw that he was not breathing, and began CPR until Ocean Safety arrived and took over, and was also able to use an automated external defibrillator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bystanders said the man was wearing a life vest when he went into cardiac arrest, and is a known kitesurfer in the area. Honolulu Emergency Medical Services and Honolulu Fire Department also responded, and were able to regain a pulse from the man before the ambulance departed for the hospital. The man was rushed to a nearby emergency room in critical condition. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honolulu Ocean Safety received a second 911 call at about 11 :30 a.m. for another unresponsive kitesurfer at Kailua Beach. Lifeguards arrived and began CPR and used an AED on the 63-year-old man visiting from California. Honolulu EMS and HFD also arrived on scene to provide advanced life support. Paramedics rushed the man to an emergency room in critical condition. Ocean Safety said both incidents occurred between the Kalapawai Market and Flagpoles beach break at Kailua Beach. 2 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . MIDFIELD, Ala. (WIAT) The identities of two people killed in a Midfield house fire last month were released Thursday morning. The Jefferson County Coroners Office confirmed 71-year-old Vanessa Avery Ward and 72-year-old Odis Edward Ward were both killed in the house fire on the 1200 block of Woodfall Drive on February 22. Former Ala. Governor Don Siegelman on efforts to free 84-year-old inmate Midfield Fire Chief Ken Davis said it took around 45 minutes to get the fire under control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alabama State Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. People try to receive food relief during Ramadan in Gaza City, on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) "The fragile ceasefire provided a desperately needed respite for women and girls in Gaza, and allowed UN agencies, including UNFPA, to finally scale up the delivery of life-saving assistance to affected Palestinians across the Gaza Strip," the UN Population Fund said in a statement. UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The closure of all Gaza cargo crossing points is undoing critical progress in delivering vital, life-saving assistance since the ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19, UN agencies said on Wednesday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said food security is at risk of worsening, and its partners warned that if the disruption to aid entry continues, at least 80 community kitchens may soon run out of stock. "The United Nations and its partners are still distributing food parcels and flour to households," the office said. "These distributions may be reduced or suspended so that bakeries continue to receive the supplies required to keep operating." OCHA said food security partners are distributing vegetable seeds and animal feed to support the restoration of local food production. However, the program depends on a steady flow of supplies. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said the cutoff of aid will have far-reaching consequences for women and girls in Gaza. "The fragile ceasefire provided a desperately needed respite for women and girls in Gaza, and allowed UN agencies, including UNFPA, to finally scale up the delivery of life-saving assistance to affected Palestinians across the Gaza Strip," the agency said in a statement. "The reinstatement of the blockade threatens to reverse progress at a critical time when people are struggling to survive." Palestinian people have their iftar meal among destroyed houses on the first day of Ramadan in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalia, March 1, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) UNFPA said over the past 10 weeks, working with partners, it had provided 170,000 women and girls reproductive health and protection services, set up 16 temporary health facilities, supported thousands of pregnant women, ensured the availability of medicines, distributed shelter kits and provided vital supplies to nearly 4,500 new mothers. The agency underscored the urgency of humanitarian access, stressing that Israel must facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid regardless of whether the ceasefire holds. Education is another field feeling a squeeze. OCHA said that access restrictions are making it harder for schools to resume learning, given shortages of educational supplies in the markets. Some students have been able to return to school after displaced families vacated school buildings that had been used as shelters. However, the office said the schools lack proper furniture, clean water, functioning toilets, and basic materials such as notebooks and pens. OCHA said funding for the humanitarian response remains a major challenge. "More than two months into the year, we have secured less than 4 percent of the 4 billion U.S. dollars required to meet the most basic humanitarian needs across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in Gaza," OCHA said. "The scale of needs is staggering, and so is the shortfall." ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Homicide detectives in Anne Arundel County are working to learn what led up to a shooting in Severn that left two men dead and two others injured on Tuesday night. The Anne Arundel County Police Department said around 7 p.m. on March 4, officers responded to the 8100 block of Meade Village Road for reports of a shooting with multiple victims. There, officers found two men who had been shot. Anne Arundel police officers and medics began assisting the men; however, one victim, 23-year-old Derrick Purcell Ahmad McDonald of Severn, died at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second man, 28-year-old Mack Samuel Galloway III of Glen Burnie, was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. First responders also found a third victim a 26-year-old man- who was injured by possible metal fragments during the shooting. He was also taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Speaker Mike Johnsons chief of staff arrested for DUI following Trump address to Congress, police confirm While canvassing the area, officers located a vehicle near Pioneer Drive and Jacobs Road with two men inside who were believed to be involved in the shooting. Police discovered the passenger in the vehicle had been shot and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, the driver was not injured. Detectives interviewed several witnesses and investigators collected evidence from the scene and the vehicle. While detectives are still working to establish a motive for the shooting, the preliminary investigation indicates this was a targeted incident and not a random act of violence, said Anne Arundel County police in a release. Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call 410-222-4731. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Two people are seriously injured following a shooting in northeast Charlotte Thursday afternoon, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. CMPD reports the shooting happened around 3 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the 500 block of Bilmark Avenue at Springfield Road. This is near Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. Medic reports both victims have life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CMPD said area schools are on lockdown as a precautionary measure and said the shooting did not happen on school property. The identity of the victims or any suspects is unknown at this point. This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Crime & Public Safety Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Two people were seriously injured after a two-vehicle crash on Thursday morning. According to the Dayton Police Department, the crash occurred minutes before 8 a.m. in the area of North Broadway Street and Edgewood Avenue. The two vehicles were located by officers upon their arrival. An initial investigation indicated that the crash happened after a Ford Escape went left-of-center while traveling south on North Broadway Street. As the driver of the vehicle neared Edgewood Avenue, they proceeded to crash into a Hyundai Sedan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both drivers were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries. A passenger in the Hyundai Sedan was transported for minor injuries. The driver of the Ford Escape does not have a drivers license. Detectives from the Traffic Services Unit are investigating the crash as a possible OVI. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. The City of Dayton Miami Water Treatment Plant will soon be partially solar powered, according to a release from the citys Office of Sustainability. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A 25-acre solar installation will power more than one-third of the water treatment plant, the city says. Construction of the solar array is expected to begin in early 2026 and should be done within the year, according to the city. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The solar facility will be built on the site of a former Sherwin-Williams warehouse that burned down in 1987. The project aligns with Daytons climate emergency commitment to reduce carbon emissions at City facilities through renewable energy generation and will be Daytons first utility-scale solar array, the city said in their release. The City of Dayton has been planning for this solar installation for four years. After review, the city has landed on IGS Energy for power production and Kokosing for construction, according to the city. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Brooklyn federal prosecutors announced 25 arrests in a series of crimes behind bars at the troubled MDC Brooklyn federal jail including a half-dozen men charged in the bloody brawl that left Jam Master Jays killer, Karl Jordan, repeatedly stabbed. Photos released by federal prosecutors show the chaotic Feb. 22 fight in MDC Brooklyn, which the Daily News previously reported ended with Jordans nonfatal stabbing. Jordan, who goes by Little D, was convicted last year of fatally shooting the Run-DMC legend in his Hollis, Queens, music studio in 2002. The feds have also charged Devone Thomas who is accused of murdering fellow MDC inmate Uriel Whyte last year of trying to sneak a blade into the Sunset Park jail by hiding it in his groin after he returned from a court appearance last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrests, announced Thursday by acting U.S. Attorney John Durham, cover a dozen incidents at the notorious lockup, which has long been plagued by violence, grim living conditions and medical mistreatment woes. The jail currently houses disgraced rap mogul Sean Diddy Combs and accused health care CEO killer Luigi Mangione. Those arrested include 15 inmates charged with violent assaults and contraband smuggling, including former Correction Officer Najee Jackson, who was charged in January with trying to sneak in vacuum-sealed bags of cigarettes and pot. The inmates arrested in the Feb. 22 brawl Brian Castro, Franklin Gillespie, Juan Lopez, Jowenky Nunez Jr., Hugo Rodriguez and Elvis Trejo are all charged with assault in a federal detention facility. They chased down a fellow inmate, stabbing him 18 times, sparking a brawl that resulted in at least 10 inmates stabbed or slashed, the feds allege. Five, including their target, were hospitalized, prosecutors said. Jordan is not named in the court documents, and its not clear if he was the targeted inmate or merely one of the others wounded. He recovered enough to return to MDC, sources familiar with his case said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His lawyer declined comment, and a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office wouldnt comment on Jordan. Several of the half-dozen alleged attackers have been involved in high-profile cases. Castro was found guilty in January of murdering Brooklyn bouncer Rodney Maxwell during a botched robbery at an illegal gambling den in Brownsville. Gillespie was convicted last June of murder conspiracy and racketeering charges for his role in Brooklyns murderous Bully Gang, while three suspects, Nunez, Rodriguez and Trejo, are accused of being a part of the Trinitarios gangs Own Every Dollar subset. According to sources, the Feb. 22 brawl was the bloody result of a gang feud between members of the Trinitarios and the Bloods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A criminal complaint filed by prosecutors offered up the minute-by-minute details of the brawl. Starting at about 12:58 p.m. a correction officer began opening cell doors on the upper tier in Unit I-62 to let inmates out into the common area. When Castros and Nunezs doors opened, they joined Rodriguez and headed toward their intended target. Other inmates joined them, and within seconds their group started slashing at the victim and chasing him down the stairs to the lower tier. Trejo, Lopez and Gillespie joined the group soon after. Surveillance photos show a scene of chaos, with inmates swarming the units floor brandishing shivs, one of which measured 13 inches. It took about five minutes for correction officers to bring the floor under control, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nunez kept trying to fight after correction officers stopped the battle, trying to stab an inmate who threw an object at him before officers pepper-sprayed Nunez into submission, the complaint alleges. As alleged, in several separate charging instruments, inmates viciously attacked fellow detainees, a correctional officer betrayed his duty by attempting to smuggle drugs into the facility, several inmates orchestrated elaborate contraband smuggling operations and yet another inmate continued to engage in fraud schemes while detained, Durham said in a statement Thursday. A former Boston nursing home boss and two of his employees have been accused of embezzling $3 million dollars, according to a newly filed lawsuit in Suffolk County Superior Court. The allegations center around Tony Francis, the former administrator of the Edgar P. Benjamin Healthcare Center in Mission Hill, who was dismissed last year when a court ordered receiver was installed. I cannot bring my wife home: 25 Investigates delves into fight to keep Boston nursing home open 25 Investigates was the first to report on Franciss departure and the nursing homes financial troubles. The new lawsuit alleges that Francis misappropriated funds for personal expenses, including first-class, non-business travel to Europe, designer suits, spa services, cryptocurrency, and even lingerie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2024, 25 Investigates reported the historic nursing homes previous administration left $772,000.00 in unpaid bills. Francis allegedly used COVID-19 relief funds from the Paycheck Protection program to give himself a $700,000 bonus. Joseph Feaster, the court-appointed temporary receiver now overseeing the facility, played a key role in uncovering the alleged fraud. Were talking about the misappropriation of federal and state dollars, Feaster stated. He confirmed that the findings were provided to authorities in September of 2024. He describes several of the allegations in the complaint as salacious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, if one flies abroad and flies first class and buys two seats because they dont want someone sitting next to them. When you have a person who is getting vacation pay for hours more than what the contract had, Feaster stated in an interview with investigative reporter Ted Daniel. The lawsuit further alleges that the former director of payroll and a former bookkeeper colluded with Francis to receive unearned wages. Feaster has been working to stabilize the Benjamin Healthcare Center and address its substantial debt. Attempts to reach Tony Francis for comment via email were unsuccessful. The allegations raise the possibility of criminal charges, though Feaster declined to comment specifically on that aspect, stating, Potentially. That would be something I cant speak to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feaster said he is scheduled to update the court on the financial status of the Benjamin in April. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW STOW, Mass. (WWLP) Twenty-seven firefighters from across Massachusetts, including Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier, have graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academys Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program. The graduates of Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #116 were honored during a ceremony at the Academys main campus in Stow. The class represents fire departments from 15 communities, including Carlisle, Dover, Grafton, Harvard, Holliston, Hopedale, Lancaster, Mendon, Millis, Millville, Norfolk, Northbridge, Pepperell, Sherborn, and Sterling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three without a home after apartment fire on Suffolk Street in Springfield Courtesy of Department of Fire Services Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and todays graduates are needed now more than ever, said Davine. The hundreds of hours of training theyve completed on nights and weekends have prepared them with the physical, mental, and technical skills they need to perform their jobs safely. This is a tremendous accomplishment, and Im especially proud of Deputy State Fire Marshal Fournier, who completed this program while continuing her leadership responsibilities with our agency. Fournier, representing the Sterling Fire Department, has served as Deputy State Fire Marshal since 2017 and previously led the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy as acting director. In her time with the Department of Fire Services (DFS), she has overseen major projects, including facility expansions in Stow and Springfield and the development of DFSs newest campus in Bridgewater. Fournier also played a critical role in expanding remote learning options during the COVID-19 pandemic. The instructors at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy bring decades of experience to new recruits, said Dennis A. Ball, Deputy Director of Training for the Academy. Through a mix of classroom lessons and hands-on training, these graduates have built the essential skills they will need to keep their communities safe. Courtesy of Department of Fire Services During the ceremony, Firefighter Christopher Watson of the Norfolk Fire Department was recognized with the Martin H. McNamara Outstanding Student Award. Named in honor of Martin Marty McNamara V, a Lancaster call firefighter who died in the line of duty in 2003, the award honors recruits who excel in academics, practical skills, and overall performance during training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recording of the graduation ceremony will be available on the Department of Fire Services YouTube channel. The Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program is specifically designed for those serving in call and volunteer departments, offering the same rigorous curriculum as full-time firefighter training while accommodating participants work and school schedules. Since its launch in 2003, more than 3,000 firefighters have graduated from the program, which helps prepare first responders in smaller communities to protect lives and property. The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy operates under the Department of Fire Services and provides training programs to support fire departments statewide. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Mar. 5SANTA FE A $2 million effort to draw health care workers back to New Mexico is heading to the Senate. The House floor on Wednesday passed House Bill 15 on a 39-21 vote. The legislation would create a "health care strategic recruitment program" within the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, sending $2 million for the state to use for recruitment efforts. The bill specifically targets health care professionals who have graduated within the last 10 years from a New Mexico institution or program but aren't practicing in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I do believe that our health care workers across the state maybe need a little bit of a battle cry to come back home: We miss you, and we're ready for you," said Rep. Marianna Anaya, D-Albuquerque, a sponsor of the bill. She added that the $2 million appropriation is already included in the proposed budget sitting in the Senate Finance Committee. The bill is part of a larger package Democrats have dubbed "patient safety over profits." Another effort part of the package, to institute stricter nurse-to-patient ratios, is waiting to be heard on the House floor. Anaya had to steer the debate back to her bill a few times in the hourlong discussion. Health care worker recruitment and retention has become somewhat of a contentious issue in the Roundhouse, mainly in terms of how to address the workforce shortage plaguing New Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Cathrynn Brown, R-Carlsbad, brought medical malpractice into the conversation. Republicans have been supportive of efforts to rein in medical malpractice lawsuit damages. Brown said "basic reform" to the state's medical malpractice laws would be a better measure to implement to recruit workers, as opposed to spending $2 million on these recruitment efforts. Rep. Art De La Cruz, D-Albuquerque, also had questions on medical malpractice, saying that many doctors are leaving New Mexico because of its laws. A bill to curb medical malpractice liability while not reducing caps on damages, Senate Bill 176, still hasn't had its first committee hearing. Set to go before Senate Health and Public Affairs first, committee chair Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, declined to comment on the bill or when it would be scheduled. Anaya, in response to De La Cruz, said hospitals pay for medical malpractice insurance. In turn, De La Cruz pointed out that "not every medical operation is a hospital." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Not everybody's Presbyterian or UNMH. In my district ... I have Casa de Salud, and they struggle mightily," said De La Cruz, who represents Albuquerque's South Valley. He continued to ask how medical malpractice affects community health care workers. Anaya clarified that HB15 is not about medical malpractice but said caseworkers, as part of the bill, could help interested transplants get set up in local practices. Following this year's House practice of a standing ovation after a new legislator's first bill passage and having the newbie sing a song, Anaya belted out a few lines of "Proud Mary" after HB15 passed the floor. Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Lan Fo'an, minister of finance, Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, and Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attend a press conference on economy for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China is fully confident in achieving the economic growth target of around 5 percent this year as there is solid foundation, support and guarantee, Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference on Thursday. Describing last year's economic performance as satisfactory, Zheng said that the Chinese economy has shown strong resilience and vitality, laying a solid foundation for this year's development. In 2025, China will step up efforts to boost consumer spending, Zheng said. The country will allocate 300 billion yuan (about 41.8 billion U.S. dollars) to support the consumer goods trade-in program this year, up from 150 billion yuan in 2024, with the scope of the program to be expanded. According to Zheng, a special action plan aimed at boosting consumption has recently been formulated by multiple departments and will be made public soon. Effective investment will also be expanded this year, he said, noting that the country will support investment by private enterprises in emerging industries and industries of the future. China last year recommended over 8,000 projects to private investors to encourage their investment, he said, noting that the country will introduce a number of major projects that will be attractive to private capital in sectors including railways, nuclear power, water conservancy, major scientific and technological infrastructure this year. Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Lan Fo'an, minister of finance, Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, and Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attend a press conference on economy for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Lan Fo'an, minister of finance, Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, and Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attend a press conference on economy for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Lan Fo'an, minister of finance, Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, and Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attend a press conference on economy for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Lan Fo'an, minister of finance, Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, and Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attend a press conference on economy for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Lan Fo'an, minister of finance, Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, and Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attend a press conference on economy for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Lan Fo'an, minister of finance, Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, and Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, attend a press conference on economy for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) A heart transplant has given three-year-old Levi Williams from Hartsville, South Carolina, a new lease on life after receiving a heart from Parker Vasquez, another three-year-old whose family donated his organs following a tragic car accident. Guardian angel: Family of 3-year-old crash victim hopes his organs save lives Levi, born with his heart turned backward, had been in the hospital for seven months relying on machines to keep him alive. His condition was critical, and doctors informed his family that a heart transplant was his only chance for survival. They said he unfortunately wouldnt be able to leave without a heart transplant, said Chelsea Williams, Levis mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parker Vasquezs family, who are from Crouse, made the difficult decision to donate his organs after a car accident left him unable to survive despite his strong heart. His mother, Angie Vasquez, expressed her wish to hear her sons heartbeat again in whoever received his heart. The transplant surgery was a success, and Levis family was connected with Parkers family through Life Share of the Carolinas. The two families recently met, sharing emotional moments and gifts, including a book of photos of Parker. Chelsea Williams described the moment doctors informed them of the available donor heart, saying, The transplant team came in and told us we had a donor available. We had to move quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The families met at Levine Childrens Hospital, where Levis surgery took place. Hospital staff honored Parker by wearing red hair covers and a Spider-Man mask, as Parker had wished to be a superhero. Doctors had to put Parkers heart into Levis chest backward because Levi was born with his heart facing backward. Levis family said doctors told them that was a first for them, but it seems to be a perfect fit, and Parkers heart, now Levis heart, is working just fine. Parkers mom held a stethoscope to Levis chest. It sounded like Parker, you know, because he was like, Im here, said Parkers mom when listening to the heartbeat. It sounded so good like he was here again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wouldve swore it was Parker, his dad said. Levis recovery has been remarkable, with his family noting that he is now almost unassisted and enjoys activities like climbing off the couch. Parkers family finds solace in knowing his heart continues to beat with purpose in Levis chest. In the video at the top of this webpage, learn more about the special bond between the two families. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. A Lincoln County family is facing an unimaginable loss when a 3-year-old boy died days after a crash. The little boys mother now holds a special device that has a recording of her sons heartbeat. Shes hoping his heart will save another childs life. VIDEO: Only on 9: Artificial heart keeps baby girl alive while waiting for transplant Mar. 5BEMIDJI Three men involved in the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old Bemidji man recently pleaded guilty to their roles in the June 2023 incident. According to a release from Beltrami County Attorney David Hanson, 21-year-old Daniel Keezer, of Mahnomen, pleaded guilty Tuesday, March 4, to a charge of second-degree murder for the death of 18-year-old Andrew Fisher. Keezer's brother, Robert Keezer, and their associate James Burnette also pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and abetting an aggravated robbery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early morning hours of June 24, 2023, the Bemidji Police Department responded to reports of a physical altercation between several people along Minnesota Court near J.W. Smith Elementary. Upon arrival, officers observed a man lying on the ground, according to the initial release. The victim, later identified as Fisher, was bleeding profusely from multiple puncture wounds throughout his torso and was not breathing. First responders arrived at the scene, and Fisher was pronounced dead. After a thorough investigation, the Bemidji Police Department, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, learned that Daniel Keezer, Robert Keezer and Burnette had lured Fisher via text messages to a house on Minnesota Court with the intent to rob him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Keezer and Burnette admitted in open court that they both aided in robbing Fisher, the release said. Daniel Keezer admitted that he had a knife on him during the robbery and that he stabbed Fisher multiple times, causing his death. In the release, Hanson said his office intends to seek a sentence of 35 years for Daniel Keezer, along with 15-year sentences for both Robert Keezer and James Burnette. Robert Keezer and Burnette will be sentenced March 25, and Daniel Keezer's sentencing is set for April 25. "(I send my) condolences to the family of (the victim)," Hanson said in the release. "(I) would like to thank all of the hard-working members of the Bemidji Police Department and the Minnesota BCA for their excellent investigation in this matter that led to the capture and convictions of the Keezer brothers and James Burnette." Three members of what law enforcement officers called an international theft ring entered guilty pleas to a string of commercial burglaries and will each spend more than a decade in prison. According to the Cherokee County District Attorneys Office, Maykel Olides Hernandez, Javier Guerra-Morales and Giorge Navea each pled guilty to their roles in a series of crimes across several metro Atlanta counties, including Cherokee, Cobb, Forsyth and Fulton counties, and Knox County, Tenn. The three were accused of committing five burglaries from December 2022 to March 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 2 Action News covered when Hernandez, Guerra-Morales and Navea were arrested in August 2023 by Forsyth County deputies. According to officers at the time, detectives determined that the three men were part of an active South American theft group and similar groups and had targeted several homes and businesses for smash and grabs. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway says all three pled guilty to violating Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as multiple smash and grab burglary, theft and property damage charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These defendants worked together in a coordinated effort, with a clear plan to target specific jewelry stores and steal valuable merchandise. Although four of the stores they burglarized were outside of Cherokee County, we were able to charge the defendants under Georgias RICO Act, Treadaway said in a statement. Law enforcement partners from multiple agencies played a crucial role in this case, enabling Cherokee County to combat organized retail crime within our jurisdiction and beyond. TRENDING STORIES: The DAs office said that the investigation determined that the defendants had taken their stolen merchandise, burgled from several jewelry stores, and sold them in Florida to be melted down and resold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collectively, officials said thefts from a store in Canton and another in Alpharetta yielded about $1.7 million in stolen goods. The three were ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution, based on damage to the stores, the stolen merchandise and insurance deductibles, and were banned from Cherokee County and from contacting each other. Hernandez, Guerra-Morales and Navea were sentenced to: Maykel Olides Hernandez , 40, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea on Feb. 27 and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Tony Baker to 30 years, with the first 13 years in confinement. As a recidivist offender pursuant to O.C.G.A. 17-10-7 (a) and (c), Hernandez will be required to serve the entire prison portion of his sentence without parole eligibility. Javier Guerra-Morales , 33, entered a negotiated guilty plea on Feb. 27 and was sentenced to 20 years, with the first 9 years in confinement. Giorge Navea, 35, entered a negotiated guilty plea on March 5 and was sentenced to 25 years, with the first 10 years in confinement. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) The Chesapeake Police Department is searching for suspects who stole around $30,000 worth of hair care and beauty products. Thats a whole lot of product. On Feb. 9, the pictured suspects broke into a beauty supply store located in the 3900 block of Poplar Hill Road. They stole around $30,000 worth of hair care and beauty products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Google has been pushing back on its ruling as a search monopoly, making its case directly to the Trump administration, arguing that a forced sale of Chrome-one of the Justice Department's most disruptive proposed remedies-poses national security risks, Bloomberg first reported. A Google spokesperson told ADWEKK, We routinely meet with regulators, including with the DOJ, to discuss this case. As we've publicly said, we're concerned the current proposals would harm the American economy and national security. Google's argument on the search antitrust case, although not new, raises key questions about the tech giants strategy, the White House's role in antitrust enforcement, and what this case signals for big tech under the new administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are four key questions at the heart of this development. How common is Google's approach of engaging with the administration? While direct engagement with policymakers on antitrust matters is not unusual, the level of scrutiny surrounding Google's approach raises questions about the White House's influence, said one antitrust lawyer, who wasn't authorized to speak to media. They noted that while such outreach is expected, the crucial issue is how much subtle pressure the administration is exerting on enforcement agencies. "It's unorthodox to be publicly calling for this if youre a defendant, but Google is using every avenue available to them. The White House is going to keep a close eye on antitrust and won't hesitate to pick up the phone and call enforcers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, Trump announced in a post on Truth Social his nomination of advisor Gail Slater as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the DOJ, but a vote has not yet been scheduled on her confirmation. What does this say about the DOJ's independence? The shift from the Biden administration's tough stance on Google-requiring the sale of Chrome-to one under Trump's DOJ raises questions about the agency's independence. "The whole notion referring to Trumps DOJ' seems to raise the question of how independent the DOJ is in this current administration," said Gartner's vice president distinguished analyst, Andrew Frank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been reports of Trumps intervention in previous cases. In 2019, Trump reportedly tried to block the Time Warner-AT&T merger, the lawyer noted, (AT&T and Time Warner merged in 2018, but AT&T later spun off the WarnerMedia business unit), Is Google's engagement with the White House different? Google is entering the second stage of the remedy phase-where the court could impose landmark changes on Google's business. Beyond legal maneuvering, this case underscores the delicate balancing act Google faces. "Its a balancing act between doing whats right for Googles stakeholders-handling the situation in a way thats as beneficial to the company-versus protecting its reputation as a neutral party in any partisan conflicts," Frank said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google's recent backpedaling on its DEI initiatives is an example of how the company is adapting to these changing political dynamics, although Google is far from alone in this example. How likely is this to tilt in Google's favor? While initial remedies called for the company's breakup, the final resolution tends to be much weaker-as seen in Microsoft's early 2000s antitrust case. Google may be positioning itself for a similar outcome, negotiating a more favorable settlement. The lawyer suggested that the DOJ's final proposal, expected on Friday, could be a scaled-back version of its initial demands. While a full Chrome divestiture remains a possibility, the key question is how much the DOJ will soften its remedy. "Historically, antitrust settlements tend to weaken over time, and Google's direct engagement with the administration signals an effort to soften the outcome," the lawyer said. BOONE, Iowa Four people are facing charges for allegedly kidnapping and robbing a man at gunpoint. According to court documents, on January 20 at around 1:51 a.m. the Boone Police Department and Boone County Sheriffs Office responded to a call from an employee at Bayer reporting that a man had entered the building and appeared to have been assaulted. Officers located the 19-year-old male victim at Bayer and took him to the police station. Several departments battle Indianola structure fire during blizzard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an interview with the victim, officers learned that the victim had been lured to a residence by a woman, identified as 19-year-old Lille Victoria Barnett, where he was later assaulted. Court documents state that when the victim entered the residence Barnett showed the victim where her bedroom was, and when he walked in he found three males inside. The victim told officers that the three males punched, kicked, and pistol whipped him before tying his hands behind his back and putting a pillow cover over his head, court documents state. He also claimed that a gun was pointed at him during the assault. The victim told police that after the assault the males forced him into the back of his own car and was left in the Farm Progress area, near the intersection of 217th Road and S Avenue in Boone, according to court documents. The victim was able to get into Bayer through a window and get help. It was discovered that multiple items of the victims had been stolen by the three males who assaulted and kidnapped him, the Boone Police Department said. On Tuesday the police department announced the arrest of the four individuals allegedly involved. Each are facing charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree kidnapping in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lille Victoria Barnett, 19, of Cedar Rapids Juan Anthony Davila Moore, 22, of Ames Kyler Lee Bingham, 18, of Altoona 17-year-old male of Boone Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. When planning a move to a new state, its important to consider everything from the local tax rates to the states laws. But the upcoming presidential election has the potential to significantly impact life in certain states. Check Out: Mark Cuban and Many Other Venture Capitalists Are Supporting Harris for President Heres Why Read Next: 4 Easiest Frugal Living Tips Perfect for Beginners in 2025 If Kamala Harris wins the presidency, you might want to change your moving plans. Based on the political policies that Harris is campaigning on, these states might see significant changes and could encounter difficult transitions if Harris takes office. Shutterstock.com Delaware Delaware is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. According to Commodity, as of 2022, Denver derived 96.4% of its energy from fossil fuels, and just 3.6% of its energy from renewable energy sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris has stated that she will lower energy costs and create clean energy jobs. This shift away from fossil fuels and the increased focus on clean energy could spell economic trouble for states like Delaware, where energy-related revenues help fund schools, roads, and more. In fact, a study by Resources for the Future found that wind and solar energy make up just 2% of energy-related revenues in states like Delaware. A drop in fossil fuel prices could leave people without jobs and states with less funding. Learn More: Im an Economist Heres My Prediction for Social Security If Kamala Harris Wins the Election For You: Trump Wants To Eliminate Income Taxes Heres What That Would Mean for the Economy and Your Wallet Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Florida Florida has not adopted the Medicaid expansion, per KFF. Additionally, the state has implemented a six-week abortion ban, as CBS News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris stated that she will not allow a national abortion ban to become law, and that she will sign a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide. Additionally, she stated that she will protect Social Security and Medicare by taxing billionaires. Shes also been outspoken about affordable health insurance and healthcare access, including highlighting that the Affordable Care Act helped people secure coverage during the Sept. 10 debate. Trending Now: Trump-Era Tax Cuts Are Expiring How Changes Will Impact Retirees Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Texas Like Florida, Texas has not adopted the Medicaid expansion. Abortion is also completely banned in Texas, according to Planned Parenthood. If Harris becomes president, Texas will see many of the healthcare shifts and potential abortion law shifts that Florida would experience. Additionally, Texas is highly dependent on fossil fuels. According to Commodity, 89.9% of Texas energy is derived from fossil fuels, while 7.1% of energy comes from renewable energy sources. If Harris fulfills her promises to lower energy costs and reduce the countrys dependence on fossil fuels, Texas could see a significant impact to its economy and there might be a major shift in energy industry job availability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas is also a low-tax, low-regulation state. Harris has stated that she will cut taxes for middle class families and that no one earning less than $400,000 per year will pay more in taxes. She also proposed rolling back Trumps tax cuts and implementing a billionaire minimum tax, which could impact wealthy Texas residents. Shutterstock.com Alabama Alabama is a low-regulation state, particularly when it comes to labor law. Per the New Jersey Monitor, Alabama has implemented weaker child labor protections that make it easier for children ages 14 to 17 to work longer and later hours. Additionally, Oxfams 2024 Best and Worst States to Work in the US report ranked Alabama as the overall 49th worst state to work. While the state is friendly to businesses, worker protections fall short. Harris stated that she will work to support workers and small businesses. She has pledged to strengthen unions to protect workers, according to The Guardian, and give them the ability to collectively bargain. Such actions could bring about significant changes to Alabamas businesses. Harris has also stated that she will follow through on the promise she and President Joe Biden made to sign the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act into law, as Forbes detailed. If the PRO Act becomes law, it would implement a nationwide ABC test to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The ABC test makes it much more difficult for workers to qualify as independent contractors, even if they chose self-employment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the ABC test was implemented in California on July 1, 2020, numerous groups of workers filed lawsuits against the state. Instead of hiring former freelancers as independent contractors, businesses ceased working with these individuals and jobs dried up. If Harris signs the PRO Act into law, it could have a significant impact on states like Alabama, but it could also affect independent contractors living in any state. Editors note on election coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on GOBankingRates.com. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 States You Should Think Twice About Relocating to If Kamala Harris Wins A 40-day Target boycott kicked off on Wednesday in protest of the company rolling back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives just days after a nationwide 24-hour economic blackout of major corporations. Several companies, including Walmart, Lowe's and Meta, have reversed DEI initiatives in recent months. Some companies rolled back efforts even prior to President Donald Trump taking action to eliminate federal DEI programs upon his return to office. More: DEI explained: What is DEI and why is it so divisive? What you need to know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boycott, organized by Atlanta Pastor Jamal Bryant and other faith leaders, encourages consumers to refrain from buying anything from Target for 40 days, which is also the duration of Lent. According to the initiative's website, it also asks investors to sell any Target stock they may own. Target is not the only retailer being targeted in current and upcoming boycotts. Beginning on Friday, March 7, a week-long boycott of Amazon will begin organized by the group behind the 24-hour economic blackout as well as a Nestle boycott beginning on Friday, March 21, among others. Here's what Wisconsin shoppers should know: What is the "Target Fast" boycott? The faith community's 40-day boycott is in protest of the retailer's decision to reverse DEI initiatives. It began on Wednesday, March 5, and will continue for 40 days to align with Lent, which ends on Thursday, April 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers created targetfast.org to offer information on the boycott. "This is a fast for accountability," the boycott's website said. "A fast for justice. A fast for a future where corporations do not bow to pressure at the expense of marginalized communities." The NAACP has urged customers to instead support Black businesses as well as businesses that have maintained DEI programs. How many Target stores are in Wisconsin? There are 38 Target locations across Wisconsin, according to its store directory. What boycotts are coming up? In addition to boycotts in recent weeks, several more actions are planned throughout the coming months. The People's Union has since expanded its boycott to include other actions at different points throughout the spring, USA TODAY reported. These include boycotts of Amazon (March 7-14), Nestle (March 21-28), Walmart (April 7-14). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second, broader one-day economic blackout is also slated for April 18. Social media posts using #LatinoFreezeMovement and #LatinoFreeze have also encouraged consumers to "hold your money'' amid freezes on DEI initiatives, National Institutes of Health funding and immigration actions. The National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, also said in a Feb. 25 news release that it will announce an authorized boycott at the NAN Convention in early April. USA TODAY reporter Betty Lin-Fisher contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Target boycott: What to know about 40-day spending freeze in Wisconsin NEW YORK (AP) A 40-day boycott of Target that calls for supporters to give up shopping at the company's stores during the Lenten period kicked off this week, to protest the discount retailer's decision to end some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The Rev. Jamal Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church near Atlanta, organized the Target Fast that began Wednesday the first day of Lent along with other faith and civil rights leaders. A website for participants points to the spending power of Black Americans and described the boycott as a spiritual act of resistance." This is a fast for accountability. A fast for justice. A fast for a future where corporations do not bow to pressure at the expense of marginalized communities," reads a message on targetfast.org. Turn your dollars into data, power, and change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Target declined to comment directly on the boycott, which runs through April 17. Here's what to know. What happened with Target's DEI initiatives? Target announced in January that it would phase out a handful of DEI initiatives, including a program designed to help Black employees build meaningful careers and promote Black-owned businesses. The Minneapolis-based company, which operates nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and employs more than 400,000 people, said it long had intended to end the program this year, but its announcement came after other prominent American corporations scaled back their diversity activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Target also said it would stop setting hiring and promotion goals for women, members of racial minority groups and other underrepresented communities. Conservative activists, and more recently, President Donald Trumps White House, have sought to rid the federal government, schools and private workplaces of DEI policies that were adopted to counter discrimination. Critics maintain the range of goals and programs arising from such policies are themselves discriminatory and counterproductive. While Target rival Walmart also rolled back its DEI initiatives in November, Target's actions seemed to cause more customer outrage. Numerous calls for boycotts emerged across the country, including from Minneapolis civil rights activists who gathered outside Target's headquarters. The daughters of one of Target's co-founders also expressed shock and alarm. The surprise element is what attracted customer ire said Akshay Rao, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesotas Carlson School of Management. He and others point to Target's previous messaging around DEI and reputation as a strong advocate for the rights of racial minorities and LGBTQ+ people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Target also faced boycott calls almost 15 years ago after it was revealed that the company donated to an organization that supported Republican Tom Emmer, then a vocal opponent of gay marriage, in his campaign to become Minnesota's governor. Then, as now, Target received more blowback than other companies that made similar donations because its actions ran counter to expectations, Rao said. What does giving up Target for 40 days involve? Organizers of the "Target Fast urged people who take part to stop shopping at Target and instead redirect their dollars to Black-owned businesses. Targetfast.org lists the demands of boycotters, which include Target completely restoring its commitments to DEI and honoring a previous pledge to spend over $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bryant, the pastor spearheading the protest, told The Washington Post on Wednesday that about 110,000 people signed up to participate. Bryant was not immediately available for further comment when The Associated Press contacted his staff on Thursday. The Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, announced in late January that the civil rights organization would identify two companies in the next 90 days that will be subjected to consumer boycotts for abandoning their DEI pledges. What impact will the Target Fast have? Time will tell. But experts say boycott appeals reflect the risk companies face when making moves that could potentially alienate their customer base particularly when the moves go against past corporate messaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the ways that you can really upset (consumers) is to claim to be something and then violate that standard that you claim to be, Americus Reed II, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business, said. It lands really poisonous on people, especially in vulnerable communities where people have put their trust in you. ... And now, you're reversing." A sense of betrayal can be a significant motivator for customers to take their money elsewhere, Reed said. And successful boycotts, he adds, need to generate enough energy to make this not just a moment, but a movement. Targeting single companies for a more prolonged period of time may prove effective, but organizers need to provide multiple ways for people to participate, Reed said. Pledging to avoid large chains like Target or Walmart, for example, may be difficult for those who have fewer alternatives either geographically or because of what they can afford. Reed says targeted buycotts, such as trying to only purchase products from the Black-owned brands that large chains stock, could help bridge that gap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Larger market pressures, such as the tariffs on goods from Canada, China and Mexico that Trump imposed this week are likely to have bigger implications for Targets bottom line in the months ahead, Rao said. Getting consumers to change their buying habits, even for a cause they support, can be very difficult, Reed said. Boycotts that gain traction online also sometimes come across like virtue signaling as opposed to real change," but making them part of the national conversation nonetheless is a huge step, he said. A lot of times, youre in sort of inertia in your life as a consumer. And youre just rolling along, youre clicking a button on Amazon and getting your stuff," Reed said. "Then something like this (boycott) comes up, and youre forced to confront the reality of, OK, what am I going to do? A multi-week boycott of Target kicked off Wednesday as a collective response, led by Black faith leaders, to protest the retail giant's retreat from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In late January, Minnesota-based Target joined a growing group of major companies in announcing an end to efforts focused on DEI. The shift attracted particularly harsh criticism from some who noted the company's reputation for inclusiveness has helped it attract a younger, more diverse consumer base. The boycott action comes as other groups of consumers and activists have been engaging in broader one-day boycotts against a wider array of companies, as well as Target and a separate boycott by Minnesota activists against Target, which began Feb. 1 to coincide with Black History month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know about the Target boycott. What is an 'economic blackout'? Why people in Texas are boycotting businesses for 24 hours What is the 40-day Target Fast? What to know about the national boycott The national Target boycott is led by Black faith leaders like Jamal-Harrison Bryant, who are urging members of their congregation to protest the rollback on DEI initiatives. Bryant is a senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia as well as an activist and author. He has called on the Black faith community to start a "40-day fast" from shopping at Target. The period coincides with Lent, which began on March 6 and continues through April 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More information about the boycott can be found at the website targetfast.org. "In recent days, we have witnessed a disturbing retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives by major corporations companies that once pledged to stand for justice but have since chosen the path of compromise," Targetfast.org states. "As people of faith, we cannot be silent. We are called to resist systems that perpetuate exclusion and inequity." The site continued, saying Black America are "strong consumers with astounding brand loyalty. To see companies we've supported heavily like McDonald's Ford Motors, Amazon, Meta, and Walmart betray our long-standing relationship is beyond disheartening." In an interview with USA TODAY, Bryant said "we called on a fast from Target because we believe that the company's change in position is a slap in the face." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Black people, on average, spend $12 million a day at Target," Bryant said. "The fact of the matter is that Target made a pledge to our community after the killing of George Floyd of $2 billion into Black business and when the administration changed, they disavowed as if it never happened. The pledge was never made under DEI or affirmative action. It was out of decency and to humanity. To walk away from it is insult to injury." Bryant's group is calling on 100,000 Black Americans to take the pledge not to shop at Target for 40 days.So far, Bryant said 110,000 people had signed the pledge and "legions more" have also shared about the boycott on social media. Consumers who have signed a pledge on the website will receive a digital business directory from the Black Chamber of Commerce with 300,000 Black-owned businesses along with a 40-day prayer journal. Participants are also encouraged to sell any Target stock they may own. The action is making four demands of Target: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honor the $2 billion dollar pledge to the Black Business community by purchasing products, services, and making Black media buys. Deposit $250 million among 23 Black banks. Completely restore the retailer's commitment to DEI. Create community centers at 10 HBCU (Historically Black colleges and universities) to teach retail business at every level. The 40 days of the fast is a benchmark and could be extended, Bryant said. "Because Target is publicly traded, we'll be able to gauge what the economic impact of 110,000 people not going and diverting their funds in a different way," Bryant said. "If the board and the CEO of Target remains steadfast, then we're committed to sojourn until there is an adjustment." Target reports drop of sales in February after change in DEI policy The 40-day fast of Target comes at a tough time for the retailer. On Tuesday during an earnings call, Target reported that its sales had dropped slightly in February. A nationwide boycott of Target by Minnesota activists protesting Target's rollback of DEI initiatives began Feb. 1, and another consumer group had a broader one-day economic blackout on Feb. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In light of ongoing consumer uncertainty and a small decline in February net sales, combined with tariff uncertainty and the expected timing of certain costs within the fiscal year, the company expects to see meaningful year-over-year profit pressure in its first quarter relative to the remainder of the year," Target said in a press release. Company CEO Brian Cornell also warned that prices could increase within days, due to new tariffs imposed on goods from Mexico and Canada. Target has not responded to multiple messages seeking comment about boycotts against the retailer. Feb. 28 economic blackout: What are the results from the Feb. 28 economic blackout? See what data shows. Could the boycott against Target work? It makes sense that Target is being targeted because "in 2020, Target specifically ramped up their DEI efforts in the wake of the George Floyd murder because it was in Minneapolis and their base is there,'' said Diane Merians Penaloza, doctoral lecturer in the Online Business Programs at City University of New York School of Professional Studies. " They took it very personally and there was a reaction, which was they saw a huge increase in revenue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Target's market share for Black consumers is around 18% and its core audience is millennials at around 38%, Merians Penaloza told USA TODAY. Those two groups tend to shop companies that align with their beliefs, she said, so Target eliminating their DEI efforts takes them out of alignment with their core audience. This is something that can do some serious damage to the revenue in the long run. Because Target took such a significant stance on DEI efforts, the retreat from them almost feels like its a personal afront in many ways, Merians Penaloza said. Target is also under additional pressure from tariffs and shrinking consumer demand, she said. How many Targets does Texas have? Texas has the second-highest number of Target stores among states, according to ScrapeHero. With 157 locations, Texas is home to 8% of all U.S. stores. California claims 318, or 16% of stores. What other boycotts are planned? See list The 40-day fast is one of several planned by different groups. A national boycott of Target started Feb. 1 to coincide with Black History Month. It was launched by civil rights activists in Minneapolis who were upset that Target has rolled back its DEI programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another boycott that lasts through the end of the year was outlined on Instagram by comedian and actress Leslie Jones. It encourages consumers to buy directly from Black-owned businesses and outlines planned protests in certain months against Amazon, Target and Walmart. The Latino community has also been active on social media using the hashtag #LatinoFreeze, encouraging supporters to "hold your money'' amid freezes on DEI initiatives, reduced funding for the National Institutes of Health and actions on immigration. The movement encourages Latino Americans to shop only for essentials and to be thoughtful about where to buy with a focus on supporting "Latino American, Black American and Allied American Businesses that are supportive to this movement." More on DEI bans: Here's what UT, Texas A&M said about funding, DEI-ban in first House education hearing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network also have held a few "buy-cotts" to bring supporters to Costco to spend money in support of the company's board of directors, which voted down an effort to drop DEI initiatives. The National Action Network also said in a news release that it would lead "a strategic boycott in the next 90 days of two companies that have dropped their DEI commitments amid public pressure." No details have been released. The People's Union USA, an organization started by John Swartz, who organized the Feb. 28 one-day blackout, has since expanded its boycotting efforts. It includes boycotts of various companies and retailers over different weeks: Amazon: March 7 - 14 Nestle: March 21-28 Walmart: April 7 - 14 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another broad one-day economic blackout, like the one on Feb. 28, is planned for April 18 which may be extended through the weekend, Swartz said. More information on the group's efforts can be found at the website thepeoplesunionusa.com. How effective are boycotts? Boycotts can have mixed results. Conservative activists have successfully rallied in recent years to force retailers and companies to rein in their DEI efforts by staging boycotts to hurt sales. Professors have previously told USA TODAY that boycotts can be successful in shaming a company into reversing decisions or taking action, but they don't always work. There needs to be clear demands outlined, they say. But consumers do like being able to take action against something they feel strongly about. The Feb. 28 one-day economic blackout was interesting because it was coming from so many different audiences simultaneously, but Merians Penaloza said she is unsure if it had any real impact, other than a symbolic one. I think that an entire community of people getting together and saying Were not going to shop for 40 days this brand is impactful, she said. It will expand outside of just that audience and everybody who is sympathetic to that audience is also going to participate, so it has the ability to make a bigger impact. The outcome will also depend, however, on the action getting lots of public and media attention, Merians Penaloza said. USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Target Fast: Black faith leaders encourage 40-day boycott TEHRAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Wednesday rejected "baseless" claims by British officials that Tehran seeks to threaten Britain's national security. He made the refutation in a statement released by the ministry in response to anti-Iran statements by British Security Minister Dan Jarvis in an address on Tuesday to Britain's parliament. Jarvis said he "will place the whole of the Iranian state, including its intelligence services, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and Ministry of Intelligence," into the enhanced tier of the upcoming Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which is designed for protection against covert foreign influence. Baghaei called on Britain to stop its "unconstructive" approaches towards Iran and the West Asia region, reaffirming Iran's commitment to the United Nations Charter and international law, especially the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and respect for international law and regulations. Baghaei urged British officials to abandon their "incorrect policies against Iranian people and stop promoting and encouraging terrorism," "instead of insisting upon their confrontational policies and leveling baseless accusations against Iran." EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 47-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, March 5, and is facing theft and criminal trespass charges for stealing an ATV, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPCSO) said in a news release. EPCSO said Raul Hermelindo Ayala, 47, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with theft with a $15,000 bond and criminal trespass with a $300 bond. On Saturday, March 1, deputies responded to a call regarding the theft of a Can-Am ATV from a residence in the 12800 block of Sparks, EPCSO said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EPCSO said that upon arrival, deputies found multiple shoe impressions, and when they reviewed surveillance footage, it showed a suspect involved in the theft. The preliminary investigation led deputies to a home in the 13100 block of Mark Twain, where the stolen ATV was recovered, EPCSO said. EPCSO said the Montana Patrol Station Criminal Investigation Unit was notified and took over the case, which later identified Ayala as the suspect, and two criminal warrants were issued for his arrest. With the assistance of deputies from the Montana Patrol Station, Peter John Herrera Station, and the Fugitive and Apprehension Unit, Ayala was located and arrested on the outstanding warrants. He was then booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility, EPCSO said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) 4 Warn Storm team chief meteorologist Mike Morgan takes Science Museum Oklahoma by storm. Hundreds of students, including teachers and parents watched and listened intently to Mike as he discussed severe weather in Oklahoma. Mike talked about the importance of being prepared and not scared of our wild weather. He shared his lifelong excitement of studying our weather as part of the 4 Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma, a monthly severe weather educational presentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spring is about to begin and its time to be thinking about your own severe weather plan. KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) KFOR Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan leading 4Warn Storm School at Science Museum Oklahoma. (KFOR) The 4 Warn Storm Team is pleased to partner with Science Museum Oklahoma for this fantastic program. You can learn more by going to Sciencemuseumok.org Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Gran Canaria might not be the first place you think of when it comes to wine, but vines have been growing here since the Spanish colonised the island in the 15th century. Due to the island's distinctive microclimate and volcanic soils, grapes grow incredibly well, and the Canarian archipelago lays claim to 18 unique grape varieties, including the famous Malvasia Aromatica featured in some of Shakespeares famous works. Though red varieties make up about 70% of Gran Canaria's wine production, connoisseurs should keep an eye out for local white, rose, sparkling and sweet wines, too. The best way to sample them? By taking to the trail on the Gran Canaria Wine Route the only official wine route in the Canary Islands which includes vineyards, bodegas, bars and restaurants that produce or serve local wines. Here are five of the best stops. 1. Bodegas Bentayga Gran Canarias vineyards can typically be found either in the low-lying north of the island or its mountainous centre. It doesnt get more cloud-reaching than Bodegas Bentayga, which, at 4,232ft above sea level, is the islands highest winery. Its well worth traversing the twisting mountain roads for both the views and the vines. The winery here produces the renowned Agala red and white wines, the names of which correspond to the altitude at which the grapes were grown. Among these grape varieties are the interesting Vijariego Negro, used for their Tinto Barrica 1175 (featuring notes of cherry, cranberry and cassis), and Vijariego Blanco Diego, which goes into the fresh and fruity Blanco Altitud 1318 (with notes of green apple, lime and fennel). Dont miss: Less than a 30-minute drive away is Roque Bentayga. This soaring monolith was the final stronghold for the islands Indigenous people until the arrival of Castilian troops at the end of the 15th century. You can walk close to the summit, where youll spot mysterious engravings on the rock that still baffle experts today. At Finca Escudero, visitors can explore the estate's vineyard, garden, olive grove and house, which features elements of Canarian architecture. Photograph by Gran Canaria Tourism Pinos de Galdar is one of the most scenic spots in Gran Canaria, offering stellar views of the north and west of the island. Photograph by Gran Canaria Tourism 2. Finca Escudero In the islands north east, youll find the handsome village of Santa Brigida and Finca Escudero. This idyllic estate doesnt only grow grapes, but also has an extensive olive grove with Arbequina and Picual varieties, which are used to make the estate's signature peppery olive oil. Interestingly, Finca Escudero is one of the only vineyards on the island where the main grape variety isnt native to the Canaries. The vineyard primarily grows the classic Spanish Tempranillo grape, which is used to produce rioja. The vineyard has recently planted some Canarian Marmajuelo grapes, so white wines using this variety should be ready to try soon. These wines are typically fresh, with flavours of melon and grapefruit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont miss: Every weekend, Santa Brigida a spot popular with tourists back in Victorian times hosts an agricultural market where youll find wine and homebrewed beers, as well as a variety of cheeses and preserves. Nearby is the Casa del Vino, a small museum and restaurant that serves local wines and typical Canarian plates, such as gofio escaldado a mix of toasted corn flour, fish stock and fresh mint often served with large slices of red onion that can be used in place of spoons to scoop up the dish. 3. Bodega San Juan Founded in 1912, Bodega San Juan has been in the same family for five generations and is one of the oldest wineries on the island. Its located near Bandama, formally known as Monte Lentiscal, the oldest wine region of Gran Canaria. The volcanic topsoil in this area, a mixture of tiny stone and ash granules known as picon, allows for excellent vine drainage and imparts mineral properties to the wines. San Juans Mocanal red wine is a blend of the classic Canarian grape varieties Listan Negro (which brings out notes of sour cherry, raspberries and black pepper) and Negramoll (providing red berry flavours). Dont miss: On a guided tour of the vineyard, youll not only get to taste the wines, but also look around the impressive estate. This includes an intriguing wine museum where you can learn about processes of wine-making that date back more than a century. Located in the island's mountainous centre, Artenara is Gran Canaria's highest village, sitting 4,167ft above sea level. Photograph by Gran Canaria Tourism Wander historic streets lined with colourful homes in the town of Teror, located a short drive from Bodega La Montana. Photograph by Gran Canaria Tourism 4. Bodega La Montana This 40-year-old family-run winery is all about the gastronomic experience. Not only does Bodega La Montana produce a range of environmentally responsible wines, including an excellent sweet white wine, but they also run a bochinche a pop-up vineyard restaurant that typically opens around the end of the grape harvest. Along with wine tastings, you can enjoy classic Canarian cuisine, such as garbanzada (chickpea stew) and papas arrugadas (salted, wrinkly potatoes) along with their homemade wines. Its about as authentic as you can get in these parts and incredibly good value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont miss: Each weekend, the nearby town of San Mateo comes alive with two markets one agricultural (selling fruit, vegetables, pastries, flowers and more) and one craft (selling aloe vera products, traditional handicrafts etc). The latter is the ideal place for picking up a souvenir. 5. Bodega Las Tirajanas The largest winery on the island, Las Tirajanas is run like a cooperative, with 17 family-operated vineyards located around the island contributing grapes. These vineyards experience different microclimates and are located across varied landscapes in the south, vineyards are surrounded by palm groves and olive trees, while vineyards in the island's midlands are located at high-altitude on volcanic slopes. There are 11 different wines to choose from here, including a crisp, fruity rose made with Listan Negro grapes, packed full of bright raspberry flavours. Like many Canarian wines, youll find this variety is best drunk young to make the most of the ripe fruit notes. Guided tours and tastings are available from Tuesday to Saturday. The midlands and highlands of the San Bartolome de Tirajana municipality are home to rugged mountains and steep ravines. Photograph by Gran Canaria Tourism Roque Nublo, one of Gran Canaria's most striking natural wonders, stands 262ft tall and is located 5,948ft above sea level. Photograph by Nacho Gonzalez Oramas Dont miss: Gran Canaria has been designated as a Starlight Tourist Destination due to its clear, dark skies. On the main road from Bodega Las Tirajanas to Maspalomas, youll come across the Mirador Astronomico de la Degollada de las Yeguas, a perfect spot for stargazing when the sun goes down. This paid content article was created for Gran Canaria Tourism. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller (UK) or their editorial staffs. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). President Trumps pick to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) faced questions from senators Wednesday on his plans for vaccine research, ideas for pushing down drug prices, and response to recent firings and funding cuts at the agency. Jay Bhattacharya appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for his confirmation hearing, with Trumps pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration, Marty Makary, set to be grilled on Thursday. Bhattacharya is a Stanford University health researcher and economist who made headlines as a leading critic of U.S. health agencies early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, criticizing lockdown orders and other measures meant to mitigate the spread of the virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also spoke out in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after his nomination to be President Trumps health secretary in November. Kennedy is not a scientist, but his good faith calls for better research and more debate are echoed by many Americans, Bhattacharya wrote. If confirmed, Bhattacharya will be in charge of the countrys top health research agency, which is also the biggest funder of biomedical research on the planet. The agency funds almost $48 billion in scientific research through roughly 50,000 grants to more than 300,000 researchers across 2,500 universities, hospitals and other institutions. However, among the first moves in Trumps cost-cutting efforts was to slash the funding to help research centers cover overhead costs, a move that spurred bipartisan pushback. Here are five big takeaways from the hearing: Backs research into debunked links between vaccines, autism Bhattacharya said that he fully supports children being vaccinated against diseases like measles and is convinced that the NIH has good data supporting that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he still backed research into debunked theories that vaccines contribute to autism among children, drawing concern from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician himself. Both Kennedy and Trump have said more research is needed into the cause of childhood autism. Cassidy asked Bhattacharya to comment on rumors he had heard that the NIH plans to invest resources to investigate a possible link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism spectrum disorder. Bhattacharya said he supports financing further studies investigating a possible link, to address concerns among vaccine skeptics. Cassidy questioned if that was a good use of federal funds, suggesting money was better spent researching chronic diseases. The more that we pretend this is an issue the more children we will have dying from vaccine-preventable diseases, Cassidy said. Wants to create a culture of scientific dissent at NIH In his opening remarks, Bhattacharya expressed his disproval of what he said was an unwillingness by previous NIH leaders to listen to competing ideas. He pledged, if confirmed, to establish a culture of respect for free speech in science and scientific dissent at the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last few years, top NIH officials oversaw a culture of cover-up, obfuscation and a lack of tolerance for ideas that differ from theirs, he told senators. Dissent is the very essence of science. Bhattacharya claimed he was censored for his opinions by the Biden administration during the COVID-19 pandemic after he challenged the efficacy of shelter-in-place orders. I will foster a culture where NIH leadership will actively encourage different perspectives and create an environment where scientists, including early career scientists and scientists that disagree with me can express disagreement respectfully, he said. Shied away from speaking on NIH firings and funding cuts Senators across the aisle pressed Bhattacharya on the Trump administrations recent mass firing of NIH staff and grant freezes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was not involved in those decisions and if I get confirmed as NIH director I fully commit to making sure that all the scientists at the NIH and the scientists the NIH supports have all the resources they need to meet the mission of the NIH, he said. Senators also asked if he supported recent efforts to scale back overhead funding associated with NIH grants, which he also did not directly answer. Last month, the Trump administration said it would reduce NIH funding to universities, hospitals, and other research institutions to help cover facility and administrative costs. That indirect cost rate now applies to all new and current NIH grants and is capped at 15 percent of the total cost of the grant, down from a previous average of nearly 30 percent, and as high as 60 percent at some universities. Senators stressed that the cap would have a devastating impact on life-saving research on cancer and Alzheimers disease and was in direct violation of congressional appropriations. Suggested lower drug prices by researching off-label uses Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pressed Bhattacharya on what he would do to lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. if confirmed as head of NIH. Sanders cited data showing that one in four U.S. adults struggle to pay for their prescriptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bhattacharya suggested NIH fund research on the off-label use of off-patent drugs to knock down prescription prices. Sanders pressed Bhattacharya again by asking if he believed that drug manufacturers that benefit from taxpayer-funded research through the NIH should be able to charge any price they want for a drug, and whether he supported attaching a clause to contracts that would force NIH-funded drugmakers to charge reasonable prices for resulting drugs. Bhattacharya did not say either way if he would support such a clause. Supports reinstating ban on aborted fetal tissue use in NIH research Sen. Josh Hawley (R- Mo) asked Bhattacharya if he would support the reinstatement of a policy enacted during Trumps first term, then reversed under Biden, that barred NIH funds from being used to purchase abortive fetal tissue for research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bhattacharya said he would support the return of the Trump-era policy and follow the president and HHS secretarys lead on when and how to reinstate it. We have alternatives, he said. I would often be on a Catholic radio and people would ask me whether the mRNA vaccines were made or developed with aborted fetal stem cells. I had to say yes. We need to make sure that products of science are ethically acceptable to everybody and so having alternatives is not just an ethical issue, its a public health issue. Many in the scientific community consider research using fetal tissue or cells derived from fetal tissue critical for biomedical research, including on vaccines. In the 1950s, Swedish researchers developed a polio vaccine with the help of fetal cells. Pfizer and Moderna both used fetal cell lines in the early process of developing their COVID-19 vaccines to test their efficacy, like other vaccine developers have in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fetal tissue used in the process came from abortions performed decades ago and had replicated so many times that none of the original tissue was used. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Relief for Hurricane Helene victims is one step closer after the North Carolina Senate passed a bill to send more than $500 million dollars to relief efforts. State senators expedited the bill through committees to vote as soon as possible because they said people need the help now. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: NC Senators propose more than the $500M from House for Hurricane Helene relief Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed in the state Senate is different from the original version passed in the state House. It is about $33 million more than the $500 million the House allocated. The money is heading to certain areas, including home repair and recovery, small business help, and education opportunities for students who missed school after the hurricane. Lawmakers all agree theres more work to be done. Democratic state Sen. Julie Mayfield wants to shift the focus to funding rental assistance. RELATED: Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdle Rental assistance goes to landlords, Mayfield said. It doesnt go to peoples pockets. It helps people keep their homes, landlords keep their business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Senate Leader Phil Berger said anything could happen. I dont know if well have one [or] two more bills, a budget bill, but whatever is needed to the extent were aware of it, Berger said. We have the capacity to do it. I think the members have shown a willingness to do what needs to be done. The relief bill goes back to the North Carolina House for state representatives to concur with the changes made. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. Mar. 5A 52-year-old man is accused of drawing swastikas on bathrooms at a Spokane Valley park and signs in the area. Douglas R. Frome was booked Tuesday into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of felony second-degree malicious mischief, according to a Spokane Valley Police Department news release. A city employee reported Friday that someone vandalized the bathrooms at the newly renovated Balfour Park as well as some signs in the area with symbols that included swastikas and what appeared to be the Star of David, police said. The employee estimated the repair and repainting of the damage to cost $800. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A detective reviewed the park's security footage that captured the suspect, identified as Frome, the release said. The security cameras were installed in the last year as part of the city's park expansion. Detectives located Frome Tuesday near Sprague Avenue and Skipworth Road and contacted him a short distance away, according to police. Frome allegedly admitted to drawing the swastikas and stars around the Spokane Valley Public Library and Balfour Park using a dry-erase marker. Part of Frome's interview with police included an expletive-filled rant, claiming the graffiti was his "freedom of speech," the release said. Frome remained in jail Wednesday afternoon and is scheduled for an arraignment March 19. Mar. 5The Colfax Police Department and Washington Attorney General's Office are asking for the public's help in locating a 56-year-old man who disappeared under suspicious circumstances in 2016, according to a police news release Wednesday. A missing person flyer provided by police indicated Michael Shawn Garcia was last seen July 5, 2016, at Rosauers in Colfax and was last heard from the next day. Police Chief Michael Melcher said his department is working with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force, a division of the Washington Attorney General's Office. Melcher said the task force, which started investigating the case in recent months, believes Garcia's disappearance is suspicious, prompting Wednesday's news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melcher said the agencies also wanted to draw people's attention back to the missing person's case to see if they remember any pertinent details. Garcia is listed at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair, according to the flyer. Anyone with information about Garcia, his whereabouts or movements prior to or after July 6, 2016, is encouraged to contact Investigator Carlos Trevino with the Washington Attorney General's Office at (509) 724-9387 or Colfax Police Officer Perry Tate at (509) 397-4616. TEXAS (KTAB/KRBC) A $6,000 reward is now being offered for information that helps solve a 1990 cold case connected to both Abilene and Cisco Texas. Jackie Foster, 29, of Abilene, was last seen alive at a truck stop in Cisco September 6, 1990. Two days later, her body was found wrapped in heavy canvas near a drainage canal in Port Arthur, Texas and her death has remained unsolved for the past 35 years. Texas Crime Stoppers, which is funded by the Governors Public Safety Office, is now offering a $6,000 cash reward for information leaded to the arrest of anyone responsible for Fosters death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Department of Public Safety states that to be eligible for cash rewards for this case, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of the following two methods: Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477). Submit a tip online through this link only and select Cold Cases Featured and Cold Case in the type of crime and offense type sections. Visit the Texas Rangers cold case site to learn more about Jackie Foster. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) Protests have been a time-honored tradition in the United States from the moment the colonists decided to through all of King Georges tea into the waters of Boston Harbor. According to The Hill, the President of the United States (POTUS) has launched a threat to cancel funding to universities that allow their students to protest. The Hill reported that POTUS posted the following on social media: All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came, wrote POTUS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He further wrote: American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter. Heres what we know: 1. Trumps threat to block federal funding POTUS announced that he is seeking to block federal funding for colleges and universities that allow illegal protests on their campuses. We were not given a definition of what an illegal protest is. 2. Potential consequences for protests POTUS claimed that agitators who are involved in illegal protests would be imprisoned or deported to their country of origin. He also indicated that students who are U.S. citizens who are involved in protests may potentially be expelled or arrested, but that depends on the crime. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You 3. Prohibition of masks In his post, POTUS also emphasized that NO MASKS are allowed during protests on campuses. This was not qualified regarding local mask mandates that may appear due to local health threats. 4. Review of Columbia Universitys funding The post followed an announcement from multiple federal agencies that said they may possibly review contracts and grants with Columbia University due to allegations of antisemitism on the universitys campus. 5. Previous statements on deporting foreign students POTUS had previously made similar statements about deporting foreign students who participate in protests. He has mentioned in prior statements that students would have more incentive to behave if they feared being thrown out of the U.S. as a consequence for their actions. 6. Incident at Barnard College The post came several days after a reported incident at Barnard College. In the scenario, there were pro-Palestinian protesters who allegedly injured an employee. That employee later required hospitalization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can click here to read more about it. Hawaiis universities arent typically hosts to lots of protests. However, if POTUS deems actions by any of Hawaiis universities that receive federal funding to be against his wishes, then there is a very likely chance that our universities can also have funding pulled. Well have more updates as this unfolds. It comes in the wake of POTUS making a move to curtail gun rights in Washington D.C. This is what the U.S. Constitution says about protests: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 You can click here to read more about the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution does not identify or define Illegal protests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) The state of Massachusetts is awarding more than $5.5 million in grants to 60 school districts in an effort to improve students access to behavioral and mental health support. Governor Maura Healeys office said in a press release that the funding will help schools build relationships with community-based mental health providers. We have a mental health crisis that was only made worse by the pandemic, particularly for students. Thats why improving students access to behavioral and mental health care is a priority for our administration, Healey said. These grants will help districts connect students with the services they need to be safe, healthy and successful today and into the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: Will Pell Grants survive the Trump Administrations funding cuts? The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will also be providing school district staff with mental health-related professional development. Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School in Taunton was awarded $43,800. The school says it plans to use the funding to do things like expand access to virtual mental health support and bring in a mental health speaker to talk to students. Other schools in Fall River, Taunton and Foxboro will also be getting funding. Heres the full list of grant recipients: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ACCEPT Education Collaborative (Natick): $100,000 Assabet Valley Collaborative (Marlborough): $100,000 Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical (Marlborough): $100,000 Ayer-Shirley School District: $100,000 Bedford Public Schools: $148,575 Belchertown Public Schools: $25,080 Bellingham Public Schools: $100,000 Berkley Public Schools: $26,500 Boston Public Schools: $100,000 Bridge Boston Charter School: $59,999 Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical (Taunton): $43,800 Brockton Public Schools: $100,000 Burlington Public Schools: $59,200 Chelsea Public Schools: $100,000 Chicopee Public Schools: $100,000 Danvers Public Schools: $100,000 Dedham Public Schools: $85,200 Dennis-Yarmouth Public Schools: $146,880 Everett Public Schools: $99,660 Excel Academy Charter (East Boston): $99,936 Fall River Public Schools: $148,545 Foxborough Regional Charter: $100,000 Gardner Public Schools: $100,000 Gateway (Huntington): $100,000 Gloucester Public Schools: $100,000 Hadley Public Schools: $84,000 Hampden-Wilbraham Public Schools: $100,000 Haverhill Public Schools: $100,000 Holliston Public Schools: $100,000 King Philip (Norfolk, Plainville, Wrentham): $100,000 Lowell Public Schools: $100,000 Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter: $70,000 Map Academy Charter School (Plymouth): $100,000 Medway Public Schools: $70,000 Methuen Public Schools: $100,000 Monson Public Schools: $143,420 Narragansett Regional School District (Baldwinville): $34,150 Natick Public Schools: $95,000 North Adams Public Schools: $100,000 Norwood Public Schools: $148,575 Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical (Palmer): $37,150 Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School (Lawrence): $100,000 Quincy Public Schools: $100,000 READS Collaborative (Middleboro): $94,140 Rockland Public Schools: $100,000 Salem Public Schools: $100,000 Salem Academy Charter: $99,260 SEEM Collaborative (Stoneham): $53,100 South Hadley Public Schools: $99,734 Southbridge Public Schools: $63,125 Springfield International Charter: $108,575 Springfield Public Schools: $148,575 Taunton Public Schools: $100,000 Uxbridge Public Schools: $50,864 Warwick Public Schools: $100,000 Watertown Public Schools: $100,000 West Springfield Public Schools: $99,127 Wilmington Public Schools: $75,000 Winthrop Public Schools: $50,000 Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. LA PAZ, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Severe flooding caused by heavy rains in Bolivia since November has left at least 39 people dead, seven others missing, and more than 161,000 families impacted, authorities said Wednesday. Deputy Minister of Civil Defense Juan Carlos Calvimontes warned that the death toll could rise due to continued heavy rains, despite ongoing rescue operations by air, land and river. Currently, 34 municipalities, mostly in the La Paz Department, have declared a state of disaster. Bolivia's weather service issued an orange-level flood alert through March 14, warning of potential flooding as rains continue. FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) A 66-year-old Freeport woman has been indicted for driving under the influence of drugs in a fatal crash that killed a motorcyclist in 2024. According to the Freeport Police Department, Sheila Anderson faces one count of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Resulting in the Death of Another as the outcome of a traffic incident that occurred on August 23rd, 2024. Police said around 1:58 p.m., Anderson was driving a 2007 Dodge Nitro while under the influence of cocaine, resulting in a crash at Adams Avenue and Spring Street that killed a motorcyclist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was arrested and served a copy of the Grand Jury indictment at the Freeport Police Department and then released according to provisions in the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act, awaiting trial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Sam Nordquist, the 24-year-old transgender man whose body was found wrapped in plastic in a field in upstate New York last month, was treated like a dog by the seven individuals accused of killing him, prosecutors said Wednesday. Nordquist, a Black man from Minnesota, was physically and sexually assaulted by the group from Jan. 1 until his death on Feb. 2, Ontario County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford said at a press conference when announcing the indictments in his death. All seven defendants, who had previously been arrested for second-degree murder, were indicted on first-degree murder charges, which carry the possibility of a life sentence without parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a rare circumstance where we stand before you and charge this subdivision of murder in the first degree, where it alleges that somebody was tortured to death, Wolford said. It specifically requires that we prove that all seven defendants tortured Sam Norquist and that they did so because they enjoyed it. According to investigators, the defendants denied Nordquist proper hydration and nutrition, force-fed him feces and made him drink urine during his month-long torture. They physically restrained him, used duct tape on him and even poured bleach on his body, Wolford said. In a felony complaint filed last month, investigators also said the group subjected Nordquist to repeated acts of violence, including sexual assault with a table leg and broomsticks, and prolonged beatings with sticks, dog toys, ropes, canes and belts until he died. Nordquist, of Oakdale, Minn., had traveled to upstate New York in late September and was expected to return home about two weeks later. However, he never boarded his return flight and lost contact with loved ones, prompting his family to request a welfare check from the New York State Police in Canandaigua. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the nonprofit Missing People in America, Nordquist met a woman named Precious online, who convinced him to visit her in New York. His family said he bought a roundtrip plane ticket believing he was going to see his online girlfriend, reported Minneapolis station KARE. On Feb. 9, NYSP investigators determined Nordquist had been staying at a motel in Hopewell, along with Precious Arzuaga and several others. A subsequent search of the motel room revealed a deeply disturbing pattern of abuse that ultimately resulted in Sams tragic death, according to NYSP Captain Kelly Swift. His body was then transported in an attempt to conceal the crime and was discovered on Feb. 13 in a field off Payne Road in the Town of Benton, Swift said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arzuaga, 38, and six other people were arrested late last month for second-degree murder. According to the 11-count indictment, the group is now accused of kidnapping and child endangerment. Arzuaga was charged with coercing two children, ages 7 and 12, to participate in the torture. The six others charged with murder include Thomas Eaves, Patrick Goodwin, Emily Motyka, Jennifer Quijano, Kyle Sage and Kimberly Sochia. Theyre all from upstate New York and range in age from 19 to 33. Officials said there was no evidence to suggest the murder had been a hate crime, saying Nordquist and his assailants were known to each other [and] identified as LGBTQ+ an announcement that angered many in the community. With News Wire Services Fifteen people were injured in an accident in which bombs were "abnormally" dropped by a South Korean fighter jet during an exercise on Thursday, the country's military officials said. South Korea's Defense Ministry confirmed that eight MK-82 bombs were dropped from an aircraft during a live-fire exercise that took place in the Nogok-ri area of Pocheon, a city that sits between Seoul and the Demilitarized Zone, the fortified border with North Korea. PHOTO: South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jets deploy flares during a joint live-fire drill in South Korea near the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon on March 6, 2025. (YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images) A Defense Ministry official told reporters in a closed-door briefing that the accident was due to a pilot entering incorrect coordinates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry confirmed that the training is associated with the annual U.S.-South Korea joint exercises, which are known as "Freedom Shield" and are scheduled to begin March 10. The fire department said fifteen people were injured, including two who had serious injuries. They are now being treated at a hospital, officials said. PHOTO: A forensic officer walks near damaged buildings after South Korea's Air Force said that MK-82 bombs fell from a KF-16 jet outside the shooting range during joint live-fire exercises in Pocheon, South Korea, March 6, 2025. (Kim Hong-ji/Reuters) Two residential buildings, a religious service building and a cargo truck were reportedly damage due to the accident as well. The Korean Air Force said it is investigating the details of the accident and will do its best to compensate for the damage. All live-fire exercises in the current drill were halted until the investigation to determine the exact reason for the accident was finished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Freedom Shield joint drills between the U.S. and South Korea will continue as planned from March 10 to 20. The annual drill aims to maintain readiness for regional threats, such as North Korea. "U.S. service members were participating in a combined, joint live-fire exercise with Republic of Korea Air Force and Army forces when a release of live munitions resulted in off-range damage today," U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Col. Ryan Donald told ABC News. "We can confirm that no U.S. Air Force aircraft were involved in the exercise. The U.S. and ROK militaries have agreed to pause all live-fire training until further notice. Despite this pause, the planned command post exercise, Freedom Shield 25, will proceed as scheduledThe U.S.-ROK Alliance remains fully committed to ensuring the safety, security, and stability of the ROK, as well as maintaining our readiness to defend both of our homelands," Donald continued. 15 injured by 'abnormally' dropped bombs during South Korean military drill originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Seven New York City residents have been charged in a wide-ranging, $20 million gift card scam that targeted elderly people nationwide, authorities said Thursday. The charges were filed in Nassau County on Long Island, where several of the victims lived, according to investigators. Though Nassau County authorities led the investigation, the scam targeted 1,800 victims in 45 different states, even including Alaska, Newsday reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the scammers used spam pop-up messages on computers and text messages on cellphones, according to WABC. The messages made a variety of false claims but always encouraged victims to buy gift cards to home improvement stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. Scammers then used the gift cards to buy $20 million worth of home improvement products, including copper pipping, insulated wiring and hot water heaters, authorities said. They then resold the merchandise to plumbing and construction businesses. Six Queens men Sky Lin, 36; Lifa Wang, 49; Yu Lin, 35; Jie Lin, 32; Lixi Wang, 40, and Jia Bin Chen, 39 were charged with money laundering and conspiracy, Patch reported. One Staten Island man, 38-year-old Hai Tao Liu, was hit with the same charges. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said her office is still looking to charge five more people in the case, according to Newsday. A 74-year-old Scottish woman was arrested for standing near a hospital that performs abortions with a sign that read: "Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want." The woman's protest was in violation of an "exclusion zone" law, which bans anti-abortion protests or prayer vigils within a 200-meter radius of a facility that provides abortions. "I was approaching no one on that day. I wasn't calling out. I was standing quietly by the roadside," Rose Docherty, told The Free Press reporter Madeline Kearns. "I am worried about a society that's willing to lock up a 74-year-old grandmother for offering consensual conversation." Docherty says she held the sign for about 90 minutes before two police officers approached, handcuffed her, and took her to the police station where she was fingerprinted, swabbed for DNA, and had a mugshot taken. "It was a surreal experience," Docherty told Kearns. "I just thought, I'm a 74-year-old elderly womanwhat are you afraid of that you feel that you want to handcuff me?" If Docherty is convicted, she could face a fine of up to 10,000 (about $12,889). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Vice President J.D. Vance singled out Scotland's anti-abortion protest law in a speech highlighting threats to free speech in Europe. "Just a few months ago the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called 'safe access zones,' warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law," Vance said at the Munich Security Conference. However, Vance's comments appear to have exaggerated the government's actual directive. While not explicitly going after silent prayer in a private home, a Scottish government letter obtained by The Times still leaves plenty of room for concern. The letter states that "activities within a private place (such as a house) within the area between the protected premises and the boundary or zone could be an offence if they can be seen or heard within the zone and are done intentionally or recklessly." This isn't the first time individuals have been punished in Great Britain for expressing their pro-life views. Across Britain, people violating similar laws designed to create free-speech carveouts around abortion clinics have been arrested not just for protestingbut for simply praying in their own heads. Last year, Adam Smith-Conor was convicted on criminal charges for praying silently near a Bournemouth abortion clinic. In 2022, police arrested Isabel Vaughan-Spruce for praying silently near an abortion clinic in Birmingham. The same year, a local priest was arrested for holding a sign near an abortion clinic reading "Praying for Freedom of Speech." He faced a second charge for parking his carwhich had a bumper sticker reading "Unborn Lives Matter" on itinside the censorship zone. The post 74-Year-Old Scottish Woman Arrested for Protesting Near Abortion Provider appeared first on Reason.com. FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) Thirty people in Marion County, and 87 people total, were arrested Wednesday in a large-scale drug bust conducted by several state and federal law enforcement agencies. In a press release from the City of Fairmont sent out Wednesday night, officials detailed how Operation Spring Cleaning resulted in the felony drug arrests of 87 people, 30 of whom are from Fairmont and the surrounding Marion County area. The release said the people arrested were under investigation for distributing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in the Fairmont community. Of the 87 arrests, 81 were related to fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This should send a loud and clear message: Fairmont is not the place for these substances. We will leave no stone unturned when rooting these substances and their propagators out of our city. City Manager Travis Blosser said. This is the first of many such operations and residents can expect their police department and our partners take this lawbreaking seriously. Update: Officials release name of man arrested in Monongalia County shooting Fairmont Police Chief Steve Shine said despite the large number, more arrests are pending. He added that some of the people arrested are out of state, and we recommend they stay there. Our city is no place for this kind of activity. The operation was led primarily by the Fairmont Police Department and its Three Rivers Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Marion County Sheriffs Department; the White Hall Police Department; Mannington Police Department; West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release said the names of those arrested will not be released at this time due to this remaining an ongoing investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. An alleged key figure in the deadly August 2021 suicide bombing targeting U.S. soldiers at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan appeared in federal court in Virginia following his extradition to the U.S. Mohammad Sharifullah, described by the Department of Justice as an ISIS-K operative, made a brief first appearance hearing Wednesday afternoon in Alexandria federal court on a charge for allegedly orchestrating the attack that killed 13 U.S. military servicemembers and approximately 160 civilians. MORE: Abbey Gate terror suspect charged and extradited to the US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharifullah spoke softly as he answered a magistrate judges questions about whether he understood his constitutional rights. Through an interpreter, he acknowledged the federal charge he is facing -- conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist group, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. He was flanked by three U.S. Marshals during the hearing. The magistrate judge ordered a detention and preliminary hearing for Monday. The government will be seeking his continued detention pending trial. PHOTO: Mohammad Sharifullah seen being extradited to the United States, March 4, 2025. (FBI Director Kash Patel/X) Pakistani special forces recently captured Sharifullah along the Pakistani/Afghan border, according to a Pakistani intelligence official familiar with the operation. He was extradited to the U.S. on Tuesday night, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an interview with FBI agents on Sunday at an undisclosed location, Sharifullah allegedly admitted to his involvement in three major terror attacks, including the one at Abbey Gate, according to a criminal complaint. Sharifullah allegedly assisted in planning the Abbey Gate operation, including conducting surveillance on a route for the attacker near the Hamid Karzai International Airport, according to the complaint. Sharifullah also allegedly revealed he played a role in the suicide bombing targeting the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, in June 2016 that killed 10 embassy guards and wounded other soldiers guarding the Canadian embassy, according to the complaint. As part of his service to ISIS-K, Sharifullah allegedly conducted surveillance "so that he could prepare the suicide bomber and transport him to the target area" in Kabul, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bomber later used a "body worn improvised explosive device to conduct the attack," the complaint stated. Sharifullah also allegedly admitted to playing a role in an ISIS-K attack on a concert venue near Moscow in March 2024 that killed more than 130 people, according to the complaint. MORE: Moscow terror attack: 4 gunmen arrested, death toll rises to 137 The suspect was allegedly involved in more than 30 terror attacks, according to the Pakistani intelligence official. He was in jail in Afghanistan from 2016 to 2021, according to the official. It is believed that he was released by the Taliban in the waning days as the Afghan republic crumbled. Abbey Gate terror suspect makes 1st court appearance following extradition to US originally appeared on abcnews.go.com (NewsNation) AbbVie, an Illinois-based pharmaceutical company, entered into a contract to develop an obesity medication with Gubra, a Danish drugmaker. Under the agreement, which was detailed in a Monday news release, AbbVie will give Gubra up to $1.875 billion in development, commercial and sales milestone payments, including tiered royalties based on global net sales. The deals closure is still subject to regulatory approvals. STAT News wrote the agreement happened less than a year after Robert Michael became AbbVies CEO. It also comes after the patent for AbbVies autoimmune medicine, Humira, expires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How to check your state tax refund status Obesity represents a significant global health concern with nearly 900 million adults with obesity, many of whom struggle to stay on current treatment options, Dr. Roopal Thakkar, executive vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer at AbbVie, said in a statement. Building on Gubras experience in the discovery of novel peptide-based therapeutics, we look forward to advancing the development of the GUB014295 program. The drug, currently called GUB014295, mimics amylin, a hormone that has been identified as a way to treat obesity because it activates signals to the brain that result in appetite suppression and reduced food intake. It is in the first phase of a clinical trial. This collaboration between Gubra and AbbVie will accelerate the development of GUB014295 and build on the promising data shown in its Phase 1 single ascending dose (SAD) trial, Henrik Blou, chief executive officer of Gubra, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other obesity treatments, such as Wegovy by Novo Nordisk, use a hormone called GLP-1 to control appetite, while Eli Lillys Zepound targets GLP-1 and another hormone called GIP, CNBC reports. Mayors defend sanctuary cities during combative hearing In a research note, BMO analyst Evan Seigerman said that were positive on the deal for AbbVie, according to CNBC. Abbvies entrance into the obesity market, Seigerman wrote, could come with synergies to additional areas of its business. These include inflammation and aesthetics since the company offers services such as Botox, skin care and body contouring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see an opportunity for AbbVie to leverage their expertise in this space to better understand these potential benefits, Seigerman said, per the news outlet. Bloomberg noted that the obesity drug market is expected to reach as much as $130 billion in annual sales by 2030. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Abortion clinics have resumed service in Missouri after voters opted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution and a federal judge temporarily blocked restrictions that had lingered after the election. Abortion providers in the state worry the restoration of access could soon be undone, however, given the breadth of anti-abortion bills being considered by the state legislature. Im happy and optimistic but in the back of my mind I do worry, said Margaret Baum, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, one of two abortion providers in the state outside of hospitals. Are we going to go backwards again? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican lawmakers in Missouri introduced a slew of bills aimed at weakening or getting rid of the states newabortion protections at the beginning of the state legislative session in January. Those bills include two proposed constitutional amendments, the first of whichwould outlaw the procedure except in medical emergencies and in cases with fetal anomalies,as well as in some cases involving rape or incest if patients presented required documentation. Lawmakers held a public hearing on the measure last month, a few weeks before abortion services resumed in the state. If the amendmentpasses the states General Assembly, Missourians could vote on whether to adopt itas early as this year. The second proposed amendment would make abortion illegal after the point of fetal viability, around 24 weeks into pregnancy. Other abortion-related bills state lawmakers have introduced also seek to change at what point an abortion can be performed. House Bill 194,for instance, seeks to prohibit the procedure in Missouri after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. Lawmakers have targeted medication abortion as well, including in a bill proposing the abortion drug mifepristone be reclassified as a Class IV controlled substance just as it was under a law passed by Republicans in Louisiana last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislature has shown its cards, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, the second abortion provider in the state. They dont want people to get reproductive care. They dont trust people to make their own medical decisions. Missouri became the first state to overturn a near-total ban on abortion last year whenvoters approved a constitutional amendment to include a fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Abortions had previouslybeen outlawed in Missouri since 2022, when the state became the first in the country to enact a trigger law banning the procedure after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. After Roe was overturned, the states Planned Parenthood branches were still connecting people to abortions, but Missourians had to travel to clinics in neighboring states Kansas and Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after the constitutional amendment was approved in November, Planned Parenthood sued the state for its abortion ban and a number of other restrictions on the procedure. A Jackson County Circuit Court judge ruled in Decemberthat the ban was unenforceable, but did not issue any judgments regarding the states other abortion laws, like one requiring abortion facilities to be licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The same Jackson County judge issued a temporary injunction on the clinical requirements in February after Planned Parenthood argued they made it impossible for it to provide abortions in the state, allowing the organization to perform the procedure again. The case is slated to go to trial again in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if none of the proposed legislation passes this year, the future of abortion access in the state will remain precarious until a final decision on the case is made next January, according to Baum. For now, however, abortion providers at both Planned Parenthood affiliates arereturning to more normal abortion services,though theycan only provide surgical abortions for the time being. The clinics will not be able to give patients abortion pills until the state approves a required plan for reporting complications from taking the drugs. A Planned Parenthood in Columbia, Mo., started to schedule and see patients for surgical abortions this week. As a physician, and just as a human in general, [I think] it is always better for people to get the care they need in the community they live in, said Iman Alsaden, a board-certified OB-GYN and chief medical director of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. Or at least as close to the community they live in as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated at 11:23 a.m. EST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WELLINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's beef and lamb farmers are set to earn an additional 1.2 billion NZ dollars this year, contributing to the growth of the primary sector and the broader economy, driven by strong demand, favorable export prices, and emerging opportunities in Europe and the Middle East. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay made the remarks during a farm visit in Canterbury on Thursday, saying this is highly encouraging for sheep and beef farmers, who have faced challenging conditions over the past six years. "Red meat exports are forecast to grow by 13 percent this year, which will have a positive economic impact on many of our provincial towns," McClay said. New Zealand's trade is highly diversified, with its extensive network of free trade agreements providing exporters with various market options, he said. He added the recently implemented trade deal with the European Union has led to a more than 24 percent rise in goods exports to Europe over the past year, with sheep meat being a key contributor to this growth. Lamb prices have increased by 20 percent and mutton prices up by 70 percent over the last year. Red meat exports are projected to total 10.2 billion NZ dollars this year, statistics show. The government will continue to back sheep and beef farmers by reducing red tape and compliance costs and ensuring they can farm on a level playing field, McClay said. (1 NZ dollar equals 0.57 U.S. dollars) The ACLU and four non-profit theater companies filed a lawsuit Thursday, challenging President Donald Trumps executive order that requires National Endowment for the Arts grant applicants to comply with his gender ideology. To be eligible for federal grant funding now, applicants must state that they will not promote gender ideology, per Trumps Jan. 20 executive order. The presidents decree made it so America only technically observes two genders: male and female, thus putting non-binary and transgender people at risk. Rhode Island Latino Arts, National Queer Theater, The Theater Offensive and the Theatre Communications Group are the lead plaintiffs in the suit, filed by the ACLU. These theaters have all received funding from the NEA for various projects regarding gender expression in the past, but because of the new regulations are now being excluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This gag on artists speech has had a ripple effect across the entire art world, from Broadway to community arts centers, Vera Eidelman, senior staff attorney at the ACLU, said. Grants from the NEA are supposed to be about one thing: artistic excellence. Blocking eligibility for artists because they express a message the government doesnt like runs directly counter to the NEAs purpose, the First Amendments prohibition on viewpoint-based regulation and the role of art in our society. The organizations argue that the new regulations contradict the NEAs previous criteria of artistic excellence and artistic merit. Because [these organizations] seek to affirm transgender and nonbinary identities and experiences in the projects for which they seek funding, Plaintiffs are effectively barred by the gender ideology certification and prohibition (together, gender ideology prohibition) from receiving NEA grants on artistic merit and excellence grounds, the suit reads. Some of their proposed work appears to be ineligible for NEA funding under the new gender ideology prohibition, even though similar work has been funded in the past. The suit goes on to say that the NEA administers tens of millions of dollars from Congress each year in arts funding, but now those grants will exclude several diverse stories from being told. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York-based National Queer Theater celebrates LGBTQ theater artists. The non-profit intends to apply for funding for the Criminal Queerness Festival, which will feature new works from playwrights from countries where queerness is illegal or dangerous, a festival they have hosted since 2019. We created Criminal Queerness to give a home to writers who face criminalization or censorship in their own country, said Adam Odsess-Rubin, founding artistic director of the NQT. It is a cruel irony that we may now be ineligible for funding because our so-called gender ideology is being targeted by the U.S. government. These new requirements threaten the expression of not just our organization, but artists around the world whose identities have been criminalized. Theatre Communications Group is the national organization for theatre that serves over 600 member theaters and affiliate organizations nationwide. TCG reaches over 1 million theatre professionals, students and audience members each year through its programs and services. But now, many of TCGs theaters across the country are at risk of having their federal funding stripped away. TCG stands in full support of the NEAs mission to create art that sustains, strengthens and nurtures the diverse fabric of our country, Emilya Cachapero, co-executive director of National and Global Programming at TCG, said. However, efforts to block theatres from receiving NEA funding are a direct attempt to stifle artistic expression and undermine the essential role theatre plays in American society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU wants either a preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order ahead of the March 24 grant application deadline. This is not Trumps first attack on the arts. The president has also assumed the role as chairman of the Kennedy Center, the national performing arts center in D.C. He fired sitting president Deborah Rutter and replaced billionaire donor David Rubenstein as chairman. Since the president has assumed leadership, several artists have publicly stated they will not perform at the respected institution, including Issa Rae, Whoopi Goldberg and, most recently, a touring production of Hamilton. This latest action by Trump means its not the Kennedy Center as we knew it, said the shows creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and were not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center. Were just not going to be part of it. The post ACLU, 4 Non-Profit Theaters Sue National Endowment for the Arts Over Trumps Gender Ideology Order appeared first on TheWrap. SOMERSET, Pa. Monday marked the first time Somerset County gathered residents for jury selection since they revamped the process in December. It ended up being a trial run, with two cases resolved without trials. And that may have been a bit of good fortune, Somerset County Court Administrator Tammy Escalera said. Of the 150 Somerset County residents summoned, just 66 showed up, she said. It wasnt a case of widespread no-shows, Escalera added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many were pre-excused due to the fact they are 75 years old or older, citing health concerns and Escalera said its likely because the resources now being used to assemble a pool is capturing a larger percentage of older residents. Somerset County is an older county, she said. Before, when we were using (a licensed motorist list), I think that omitted more people over the age of 70. Now, the pool of Somerset County residents picked for jury selection are also pulled from voter registration, welfare recipient lists and property tax rolls offering a more accurate representation of Somerset Countys aging population, Escalera added. By law, if someone is 75 years or older and asks to be excused, they will be excused, she said. Although, its also worth noting that weve had people that age who were willing and able to serve, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Escalera said her office has already noticed a significant numbers of age-related excusals for two more March trials where summons were already mailed. She said the county will adapt by summoning additional potential jurors for future jury selections perhaps 175 to adapt to the trend. We used to summon 225 people ... at one point, because we were getting a lot of undeliverable (letters)s, Escalera said. This newer process helps reduce that, but were seeing more older resident. Its a matter of trial and error, and thats fine. Modified process Somerset County modified its jury selection late last year after defense attorneys in prison inmate Paul Kendricks upcoming homicide trial raised concerns that the county wasnt using a method that accurately captured a cross-section of the countys residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It prompted Senior Judge Patrick Kiniry to send prospective jurors home and reschedule the trial for March. Somerset County officials, through a commissioners board vote, hired a Texas company to help revamp their selection process. Escalera and President Judge Scott Bittner said Tuesday the modernized process is showing benefits. It streamlined the check-in process for potential jurors arriving to the courthouse, Bittner said. Barcodes on their summons match the countys master list and enable staff to quickly log arrivals, he said. Jury pools can also be notified instantly by text and email about important updates. That includes reminders about arriving on time for jury duty, notifications about formal excusals or a sudden cancellation of jury selection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That saves us time and money, Escalera said, citing postage as an example. There were cases prospective jurors had to be notified by mail for certain changes. If selection was cancelled at the last minute, county staff had to make hundreds of phone calls, Escalera said. So far, these changes have been very positive, she said. Cracking down For years, Somerset County used an honor system-style method that enabled jurors to be excused regardless of age if health issues or certain job concerns were raised. Not anymore, Escalera said. Now, if health is an issue preventing someone from serving, a written excuse from a doctor must be provided, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a prospective juror has a vacation scheduled the week of a trial, they must provide valid documentation to prove it, Escalera said. People are going to need to validate why they cannot serve, she said. The ability for a defendant to be tried before a jury of their peers in this case, Somerset County residents is a constitutional right. And the need for the county to assemble jurors for a case expediently and efficiently can mean the difference between holding a trial and an unplanned continuation, she said. That can create legal system issues given that defendants also have a right to a speedy trial and unapproved delays can lead to charges being dropped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bittner credited all 66 Somerset County residents Monday for arriving promptly for jury duty, even though the trial ended up being settled prior to selection. Serving on a jury ... is an important responsibility and privilege, he told the room. If we dont have enough jurors, we cant have jury trials. Adnan Syed in 2022. - Credit: Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service/Getty Images Adnan Syed, whose murder conviction was the subject of the hit podcast Serial, was officially freed from prison after a judge agreed to reduce his sentence to time served. A judge approved Syeds sentence reduction bid in a decision handed down March 6, just over a week after an emotional hearing on the matter in Baltimore on Feb. 26. Syed had filed an application last year under Marylands Juvenile Restoration Act, which offers people serving heavy sentences for crimes they committed as minors new opportunities to secure early release. Syed was 17 when he allegedly killed his high school ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her ruling, Judge Jennifer Schiffer said Syed was not a danger to the public, adding, the interests of justice will be better served by a reduced sentence. Syed, now 43, spent over 20 years in prison after being found guilty of killing Lee. He has always maintained his innocence, and his case garnered national attention after Serial raised questions about the investigation into Syed. Today, we are focused on the joy and relief of this decision, Syeds lawyer, Erica J. Suter, said in a statement. Adnan is grateful that the Judge agreed with his motion to reduce his sentence under the Juvenile Restoration Act. Given his accomplishments in prison and his work in the community since release, he was a model candidate for a sentence reduction. Adnan is committed to continuing to be a productive member of his community and living a life centered around his family. David Sanford, a lawyer for Lees family, decried todays ruling, especially in light of a decision prosecutors made last week to drop a motion to vacate Syeds conviction. (Despite that move, prosecutors continued to back Syeds sentence reduction bid.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State of Maryland just last week acknowledged that it had presented false and misleading information to the court in support of Mr. Syeds release more than two years ago, Sanford said. We now know there was never any new information that called into question Adnan Syeds guilty verdict. Absolutely nothing changes the fact that Mr. Syed remains convicted of first-degree premeditated murder due to overwhelming direct and circumstantial evidence. We hope that one day Mr. Syed can summon the courage to take responsibility for his crime and express sincere remorse. In 2022, Syed was released from prison when Bates predecessor, Marilyn Mosby, filed a motion to withdraw judgment. It was granted, but an ensuing legal battle led to his conviction being reinstated: Lees family challenged the motion on procedural grounds, saying they werent given enough advance notice to attend a hearing on the decision to drop charges. Last August, the Maryland Supreme Court upheld that ruling and ordered a redo on the hearing to vacate Syeds conviction. (Despite this turn, Syed was allowed to remain out of prison.) Bates, however, ultimately chose a different path. Though he backed Syeds sentence reduction bid, on Feb. 25 the day before the hearing he announced that he would withdraw the motion to vacate Syeds murder conviction. With todays ruling, Syed is officially free, but his conviction remains in place. Of his decision to drop the motion to vacate, Bates said his office had determined that the original contained false and misleading statements that undermine the integrity of the judicial process. He continued: As prosecutors, our duty is to seek justice and ensure that all legal proceedings are conducted transparently, accurately, and fairly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The false and misleading statements regard claims that the State withheld evidence from Syeds defense team, in this case, two notes written by original prosecutor Kevin Urick suggesting two alternative suspects. But Bates, in a filing, said the notes do not point to alternative suspects, the alleged alternative suspects were known to the defense counsel before the trial, and the notes likely were turned over to Syeds defense at the time. Syeds lawyer, Erica Suter, criticized the decision at the time, saying, Tonight, the states attorney got it wrong. His decision to withdraw his offices motion to vacate Adnans conviction ignores the injustices on which this conviction was founded. We will continue to fight to clear his name through all legal avenues available to him. Bates, in his filing, acknowledged this, saying the decision to withdraw the motion to vacate did not preclude Mr. Syed from raising any new issues that he believes will support his innocence in the proper post-trial pleadings. Since his release from prison in 2022, Syed has been working at Georgetown Universitys Prisons and Justice Initiative while also caring for aging relatives. (His father died last October after a long illness.) In backing Syeds sentence reduction, Bates said the case was precisely what legislators envisioned when they crafted the law. He continued: We have an individual who has served over 20 years in prison from the time he was a teenager and who has displayed tremendous personal growth and reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the sentence reduction hearing on Feb. 26, Syeds attorneys called several character witnesses, including his younger brother, two fellow former inmates and friends, and a forensic social worker. Syeds boss at the Prisons and Justice Initiative, which helps former inmates readjust to life outside prison, Mark Howard, called Syed kind, thoughtful, compassionate, and said he was a cultural bridge for many of his coworkers in helping them understand the challenges someone in prison face. Meanwhile, several members of Lees family spoke against reducing Syeds statement, including her brother and mother. While on the stand, the latter said, This is really America? Is this not supposed to be where justice is alive, and criminals are punished for their sins? Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Advance Auto Parts is moving forward with plans to close about 700 stores and four distribution centers this year, USA TODAY reported. The company announced its plans in November, citing sluggish demand for vehicle parts, and reiterated its "restructuring plan" in a recent earnings call. "During 2024, we initiated transformative actions to reposition Advance for long-term success and value creation," said Shane O'Kelly, president and chief executive officer, in a news release Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company said it hopes to improve business performance by focusing on "core retail improvements" with hopes of achieving "consistent profitable growth," USA TODAY reported. How many stores are in Ohio? Here's what to know. How many Advance Auto Parts stores are in Ohio? Which ones have closed? According to its website, Advance Auto operates 232 stores in Ohio. Per that website, the following 17 stores have already closed: Akron: 1281 S. Arlington St. Akron: 1308 Vernon Odom Blvd. Chillicothe: 15 N. Bridge St. Cincinnati: 10921 Hamilton Ave. Columbus: 3201 S. High St. Fostoria: 534 N. Countyline St. Garfield Heights: 5016 Turney Road Johnstown: 733 W. Coshocton St. Macedonia: 959 E. Aurora Road Mentor: 7474 Mentor Ave. Ontario: 976 W. 4th St. South Point: 104 Private Drive Steubenville: 201 N. 7th St. Tiffin: 264 S. Sandusky St. Toledo: 3139 King Road Warren: 2727 Parkman Road NW Warren: 3454 Youngstown Road SE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's unclear whether Advance Auto will close more locations in the Buckeye State. Customers can check the company's store finder for information on their local store. Advance Auto has 109 Kentucky stores listed on its website, but four stores in Carrollton, Lexington, Louisville and Paducah are listed as closed. Is Advance Auto Parts going out of business? How many stores are there? The Raleigh, North Carolina-based Advance Auto Parts operates more than 4,700 stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, USA TODAY reported. According to its website, the company also serves 1,125 independently owned Carquest-branded stores across these locations, in addition to Mexico and some Caribbean islands. In an SEC regulatory filing, the company reported it plans to close 523 corporate stores, leave 204 independent locations, and shut down four distribution centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan includes the consolidation of distribution centers to operate 12 large facilities by the end of 2026, the opening of 60 market hub locations by mid-2027, and speeding up the pace of new store openings, according to a news release. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Where are Advance Auto stores closing in Ohio? See the full list Advocates are suing a Bay Area city over a camping ban in public spaces that until Tuesday would have made "aiding" or "abetting" homeless encampments a crime. The California Homeless Union is taking legal action against the city of Fremont on behalf of faith communities and homeless residents after city leaders last month approved new rules that tightened a local camping ban. The complaint says the city's "unconscionable" policy means homeless people living in encampments "face immediate criminal persecution under the ordinance because they are involuntarily homeless." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The groups are seeking an injunction halting its implementation, as well as a judgment finding it unconstitutional. The policy approved in February said anyone "permitting, aiding, abetting or concealing the ban could face a misdemeanor, though The Mercury News on Wednesday reported city leaders struck the "aiding and abetting" portion of the policy after it drew significant backlash. A spokesperson for Fremont, Geneva Bosques, said the city doesnt comment on pending or active litigation. Fremont is one of many California cities that has implemented or strengthened camping restrictions after a Supreme Court ruling last year gave cities broader powers to enforce such rules. State leaders including Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom have faced political backlash over a growing number of tent encampments since the pandemic. CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misstated which day of the week the Fremont City Council voted to remove a contentious provision of its camping ban. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) Appalachia Power crews are preparing for potential power outages on Thursday as winds of 40-40 mph are expected to hit areas including Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. We are always monitoring the weather for events that could damage our electrical facilities and cause power outages, said Jason Baker, Appalachian Powers vice president of distribution. With forecasts of damaging winds today, our employees and contractors are equipped to respond to emergency storm restoration work. Workers in the affected areas will respond as quickly as possible along with workers in unaffected areas to assist customers as needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, you can sign up for text messages or emails for power outage alerts here. You can also view current outages by visiting www.appalachianpower.com/outages Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. I am incredibly proud of our efforts to protect lifesaving research happening right here in Michigan. Our colleges and universities are at the forefront of groundbreaking advancements, driving progress in new prostate cancer treatments, studying the effects of epilepsy medication on children, and improving PTSD outcomes for our veterans. This preliminary injunction ensures that their essential work can continue without disruption. Had these cuts gone through, the consequences would have been devastating, leading to layoffs, suspension of critical research programs, and the loss of medical breakthroughs that could save countless lives. With tens of thousands of NIH-supported trials currently underway in Michigan, we could not and will not allow Donald Trump to unilaterally derail this vital work. This injunction is a critical step in our ongoing fight to protect federal funding, uphold the rule of law, and ensure Michigan remains a leader in life-changing medical discoveries. This lawsuit is being co-led by the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan. Joining this coalition are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The March 1 Mid-State Correctional Facility death of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi has sparked an investigation by state officials. Nantwis death was just 81 days after another inmate, Robert Brooks, died across the street at Marcy Correctional Facility involving its prison staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of Nantwis death is still under investigation, but reports from inmates to the New York Times suggested that he was also a victim of being beaten by prison employees. The state has confirmed 15 of Mid-States staff have been placed on leave pending the outcome of the current investigation. Jennifer Scaife, the executive director of the independent prison monitoring agency, The Correctional Association of New York (CANY) told NewsChannel 9 that the recent death of the 22-year-old inmate at the Mid-State Facility echoes previous concerns the agency has been aware of since January 2025 when they last visited. It was struggling with understaffing, short staffing, the executive director said, also sharing that, Staffing it was not seeming to meet the complex needs of the large and invulnerable population that are held at Mid-State, where more than half of people have mental health diagnosis. When visited back in January, the numerous concerns brought to the agencys attention included a lack of professionalism and staff harassing others while on the job. This brought deep concern to CANY, sharing that the murder of Robert Brooks was not an isolated incident, stating, This does speak to broader culture within DOCCS of violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the start of 2025, CANY issued 24 institutional cultural improvement suggestion letters to the department, covering both inmates and employees within the 42 correctional facilities across the state. This was only weeks following Robert Brooks death at Marcy. Therapeutic programs for incarcerated people, increased wellness support for staff, programs that bring incarcerated people and staff together to build safe environments and programs jointly and expediting the installation of cameras, said Scaife. In response to Messiah Nantwis death, New Yorks Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement expressing her commitment to accountability and praising the quick action taken by DOCCS leadership. She also touched on the need for systematic reform within the states prisons. Statement from Gov. Hochul: At my direction, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has placed 15 individuals on leave in connection with the death of Messiah Nantwi, a 22-year-old individual incarcerated at Mid-State Correctional Facility. While the investigation into this incident is ongoing, early reports point to extremely disturbing conduct leading to Mr. Nantwis death and I am committed to accountability for all involved. The people of New York extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Nantwis family and loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am grateful to Commissioner Martuscello and DOCCS leadership for taking swift action to respond to this incident. However, this tragedy is a reminder of the need for real systemic change within our correctional system beginning with the policies I implemented following the murder of Robert Brooks, such as mandating the use of body-worn cameras, expanding whistleblower hotlines and bringing in outside experts for a systemwide culture review. As Ive said for weeks, my top priority is the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers involved in the correctional system, from civilian employees to National Guard to Correction Officers to incarcerated individuals. The ongoing illegal work stoppage is a significant safety risk, and I once again reiterate the need for Correction Officers to return to work. My Administration remains committed to working in good faith with Correction Officers to improve safety and working conditions within the correctional system, but we will not compromise on the need for responsible, law-abiding behavior by every single person who walks into a DOCCS facility Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. (NewsNation) Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled a nearly $1 billion plan to address soaring egg prices caused by an ongoing bird flu outbreak while defending the Trump administrations tariff policies. We had a pretty massive five-point plan, Rollins said Wednesday on NewsNations CUOMO, explaining the administrations strategy after just one week in office. PETA asks Trump to use potatoes for Easter Egg Roll as egg prices rise Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan includes $500 million for biosecurity measures to lock the barns down and initiatives to repopulate flocks after what she described as the depopulation of nearly 160 million birds under the Biden administration. Egg prices rising Egg prices have nearly doubled in the last six weeks, with the average cost of a dozen cracking $8 last week, according to data from the United States Department of Agriculture. The average egg price is now at $8.03 per dozen, up from a previous price of $7.74 per dozen reported in the USDAs Egg Markets Overview on Feb. 14. Can you freeze eggs? Rollins outlined additional measures, including regulatory relief for chicken farmers, an agreement to import approximately 70 million eggs from Turkey and funding for vaccine and therapeutic research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said vaccines were not being rushed into use without proper research. Is bird flu to blame for higher egg prices? The agriculture secretary pushed back against criticism that the current egg price spike was solely the result of avian flu, presenting a chart showing price fluctuations over 40 years. She attributed the current situation to the high cost of inputs, the unbelievable amount of regulation, the shutting down of our export markets. The president is with our ag community, Rollins said. While the next short term may be slightly unpredictable for the long term, what the president has said is that our ag community will be more prosperous than perhaps its been in our entire lifetime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The industry, and most experts, squarely blame bird flu for the soaring egg prices. More than 166 million birds have been slaughtered to contain the virus. Some 30 million egg layers have been wiped out just since January, significantly disrupting egg supplies. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. MOSCOW, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Russia would view the potential deployment of European troops to Ukraine as direct NATO involvement in the conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. Lavrov called the move a "direct, official and undisguised involvement of NATO countries in a war against the Russian Federation" and warned that the presence of such forces in Ukraine would be unacceptable to Moscow. The remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday that he would consider sending European troops to Ukraine to enforce a peace deal, although he said the troops would not engage in frontline combat. "This is a threat to Russia," said Lavrov, adding that Moscow sees "no room for compromise" on the issue of deploying European forces to Ukraine. "This discussion is being conducted with an openly hostile objective," he said. The foreign minister added that suspending U.S. military aid to Ukraine could help end the conflict quickly. People gather while exiting the area as an 8 p.m. curfew goes into effect on March 21, 2021, in Miami Beach. Police reported hundreds of arrests and stepped up deployment to control the growing spring break crowds. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) A hundred troopers have been deployed to help cities around Florida deal with the wave of spring breakers in the coming weeks, Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a Thursday press conference in Miami Beach. Drones and K-9s will be available to help keep the peace until April, DeSantis said, highlighting that the citys campaign last year to break up with spring break had been successful. The governor said Miami Beach saw 16 felony and 17 misdemeanor arrests in 2024. In previous years, the city has declared states of emergency and 2023 saw 488 arrests and two fatal shootings, according to ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, they really had a great plan for this, DeSantis said. They welcomed people. Its a very welcoming city. But at the same time, we cant have things just descend into madness, and mayhem, and chaos. This year, Miami Beach is putting spring breakers on notice to expect to pay $100 for parking, sobriety checkpoints, curfews, and heavy police presence. We kept people safe, and our businesses boomed, flourished, said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. We had calm instead of chaos as we saw in years past, but I always say its not just the month of March; law and order is 365 days of the year. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Russians launched attack drones towards Ukraine on the night of 5-6 March. Air defence was responding in Kyiv Oblast. Source: Ukraines Air Force; Kyiv Oblast Military Administration Quote: "Movement of enemy UAVs detected! Air defence is responding in the oblast." Updated: The all-clear was given in Kyiv Oblast at 04:41. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! AURORA, Colo. Barely more than six in 10 aircraft in the Air Forces fleet were able to carry out their missions on an average day in fiscal 2024, according to a Defense News analysis. The fleet-wide mission capable rate of 62% is the lowest in recent memory. It comes as the Air Forces arsenal of more than 5,000 planes is aging and the service finds it increasingly difficult to keep some in the air. The Air Force provided statistics on how many of each kind of aircraft it had in 2024, as well as the percentage of time each aircraft was ready to carry out its mission. Those stats were first reported by Air and Space Forces Magazine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To come up with a fleet-wide mission-capable rate, Defense News calculated a weighted average of all airframes. Using a weighted average places more emphasis on airframes that the service has more of such as the C-17 Globemaster, F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and less emphasis on rarer airframes. With the Air Forces fleet at 5,025 the smallest in the services 78-year history a 62% mission-capable rate equates to roughly 1,900 planes being out of commission at any given time. Heather Penney, a former F-16 pilot and senior resident fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, said the figures are concerning, and suggest the situation is likely getting even worse this year. Readiness is often a lagging indicator, Penney said. And those arent even todays MC rates, which she predicted will be even worse when 2025 is done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Air Force, along with other services, has for years struggled to pull up its mission-capable rates. President Donald Trumps first defense secretary, Jim Mattis, in 2018 set an ambitious goal of 80% readiness for F-16s, F-22s and F-35s which went unmet. And judging by a similar metric aircraft availability the true state of the fleet may even be worse. According to a 2019 paper by analysts at the Air Force Institute of Technology and Air Force Materiel Command, mission-capable rates do not consider aircraft that are awaiting depot maintenance or are otherwise not possessed at the unit level. Those analysts said aircraft availability rates are a truer measure of how the Air Forces planes are doing. In his Monday keynote address to the Air and Space Force Associations AFA Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin used that aircraft availability statistic to sound perhaps the strongest alarm yet about the state of the services fleet. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin sounded an alarm about declining readiness in the service's aging fleet at the Air and Space Forces Association's AFA Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, on Monday. (Staff Sgt. Adam Shanks/Air Force) Allvin displayed a chart showing the increasing trouble facing the Air Forces planes. The chart tracked a steady growth of the average aircraft age in the fleet from about 17 in 1994 to nearly 32 in 2024 while aircraft availability plummeted from 73% to 54%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allvin praised the services maintainers, who work long hours in tough conditions to keep their planes flying. You wouldnt know this on the front lines, Allvin said of the growing availability problems, because of the miracles that are going on from our maintainers and those who are sustaining [airplanes]. Were eating into whatever margin we had. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have proclaimed a focus on improving the militarys lethality, firing top brass they perceive to be standing in the way. Fresh budget cuts to the Defense Department have had the services clamoring to be spared from measures that would bring down readiness rates further. In this environment, Penney said, poor aircraft readiness rates make top Air Force leaders vulnerable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even more worrying to Penney is that theres no simple way to turn the situation around. Its complex, because its spares, maintenance manpower, maintenance experience levels [and] depots, which are so behind right now, Penney said. Tired iron, even more exhausted The Air Forces current predicament, as Penney sees it, is largely due to the lack of enough major aircraft modernizations. Much of the Air Forces fleet was around during the Cold War, and there are several air frames such as the B-52 Stratofortress, C-5 Galaxy and KC-135 Stratotanker that were around during the Vietnam War. Air Force officials commonly refer to such planes as tired iron, and quip that they find new and interesting ways to break. Without enough modernizations to replace those planes with new airframes, the service is forced to sustain them longer and longer, trying to scrounge up spare parts to fix them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case of the Air Forces 76 B-52Hs, which have been flying since the early 1960s, some companies that originally made spare parts are no longer in business. This often forces the service to find new sources for those parts, custom make the parts itself, or cannibalize parts from other Stratofortresses that are even more broken. The situation results in a slow and steady decline in the B-52s availability. In 2021, the bomber had a 59% mission-capable rate, but that has now slid to 54%. The overall numbers show a swift decline in aircraft readiness over the last few years, driven by some of the services most crucial airframes, such as the F-35A. The Air Forces overall mission-capable rate was nearly 78% in 2012, but steadily slid as the decade progressed to a then-low of slightly below 70% in 2018. Two years later, that fleet-wide figure had risen to 72.7%, and then dropped to 71.5% in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lockheed Martin-made F-35A the cornerstone of the services fighter fleet and one of the most expensive military programs in history has been plagued with reliability and availability issues. In 2021, the fighter was available nearly 69% of the time, according to the Air Force. But the F-35As mission capable rates have since plunged, and the jet was ready 51.5% of the time in 2024. The Joint Strike Fighters lagging availability has become such a problem that its program executive officer, Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, in 2023 announced a war on readiness that seeks to improve how often the F-35 can fly. The Government Accountability Office in 2023 released a report on the entire F-35 fleets maintenance challenges, which said services lacked spare parts and technical data needed to repair the fighters. Maintainers were also not properly trained, GAO said, and an effort to expand repair depots was falling behind. To replenish spare parts stocks, sometimes airmen like aircraft metals technician Senior Airman Sean Consolazio, of the 60th Maintenance Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., make replacement parts from scratch. (Kenneth Abbate/Air Force) Chauncey McIntosh, a Lockheed vice president and general manager of the companys F-35 program, said in an interview at AFA that he is focused on improving the jets mission readiness, and is working with the F-35 Joint Program Office to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most parts in the F-35 are lasting longer than expected, McIntosh said, and the company is focused on improving those parts that are less reliable, which the program refers to as degraders. Weve been able to drive down those top degraders, and theres only really a few left that were focused on now, McIntosh said. The next major issue to tackle, he said, will be to ensure that repair depots have all the spare parts they need to fix F-35s. As we get the right parts, and get the right [funding from Congress for them], then well be able to go procure those parts, put those parts on the shelf, McIntosh said. This is a growing fleet, so we need to make sure that the [spare parts inventory] keeps up with the fleet size for not only the U.S., but all of our international partners. Readiness drops across the fleet Other key airframes that dropped precipitously in recent years include the A-10 Warthog, the CV-22 Osprey, the F-16 fighter, the KC-46 Pegasus tanker and the T-38C Talon jet trainer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mission-capable rates for the Air Forces Ospreys were at about 51% in 2021, but by 2023 plunged to 46% and then to 30% in 2024. The Osprey, which is also flown by the Navy and Marine Corps, has been plagued in recent years by faulty components, clutch problems and fatal crashes that led to multiple groundings. The A-10 Warthogs readiness rate slid from 72% in 2021 to 67% in 2023 and 2024. The F-16C fell from almost 72% in 2021 down to 64% in 2024; while the two-seater variant, the F-16D, dropped even more precipitously during that time, from 69% to 59%. The KC-46s mission capable rates dropped from 71% in 2021 to 61% in 2024. The T-38Cs availability also declined from 63% in 2021 to 55% in 2024. The Air Force is buying new T-7A Red Hawk trainers from Boeing to replace the nearly 60-year-old T-38. But the T-7 has repeatedly fallen behind schedule, which will require the Air Force to keep flying and maintaining T-38s years longer than originally expected. The lack of enough mission-capable aircraft has forced the Air Force to make tough choices on how to use its working planes. The service has for years prioritized its ability to carry out operational missions over other missions like training. This means it front-loads its working aircraft to units overseas or that otherwise carry out operations, but stateside units are more likely to have shortages of working aircraft. U.S. Air Forces Central Command, which for decades has flown aircraft such as the A-10, F-15, F-16 and F-35 in the Middle East to project American airpower, is one example of a command that is prioritized in such a way. But even getting to the head of the line for things like spare parts doesnt automatically solve all of AFCENTs problems, commander Lt. Gen. Derek France told reporters at AFA. Sometimes logistical hurdles mean spare parts still take a while to get to the deployed jets that need them, he said. And environmental factors such as heat and sand particularly in summertime can wear on the aircraft, France said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And most of all, he said, AFCENTs planes are growing old, just like the rest of the services aircraft. The fact of the matter is, weve got an aging fleet, France said. Our AFCENT airmen do heroic work in keeping them in the air. The things that I have seen, with our airmen, to be able to put together the parts, and get after the things they need to, has been impressive in our [area of responsibility], for sure. France could not quantify readiness rates for AFCENT planes, but said our airmen meet mission when they need to. A critical part of being AFCENT commander, he said, is forecasting when his units will need to surge aircraft and put large numbers of jets in the air, and when they can pull back. Those pull back phases give maintainers time and space to work more intensely on AFCENTs planes and get our jets healthy again, France said. In his speech at AFA, Allvin stressed how important it is for the Air Force to fix this problem once and for all. Our Air Force continues to be the most dominant on the planet, Allvin said. I dont want to be here next year, or have the next chief, say were no longer [dominant]. So weve got to work on this. AURORA, Colo. The Air Force is seeing a historic surge in recruits in its delayed entry program, as the service works to further boost recruitment of new airmen and guardians, officials said this week. More potential recruits are making appointments with recruiters to discuss the possibility of joining the Air Force or Space Force, Air Force Recruiting Service commander Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein told reporters at the AFA Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, on Tuesday. Whats more, the Air Force is shipping more new recruits off to basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas on a weekly basis than it did even two years ago, Amrhein said. And the service is more than filling its delayed entry program essentially a waiting list of recruits who have signed up and been approved to join the military, but who have to wait for room at basic training to ship out which typically doesnt happen in winter, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had 3,000 appointments last week alone, Amrhein said. We normally have 1,600. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin announced Sunday on social media platform X that the Air Force had accumulated 13,000 recruits in the delayed entry program, the most in nearly 10 years. With more recruits joining, the Air Force was sending 750 to 800 airmen to basic military training each week, according to the Amrhein. When he first took over Air Force recruiting in 2023, that number was around 500 to 600 a week. Amrhein said that the rise in airmen did not appear to be an anomaly either and that he would not be surprised if the trend continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since my time in the recruiting business ... I havent seen numbers that high, at least consistently that high, Amrhein said. Entire Air Force to miss recruiting goal, the first failure since 1999 Typically, Amrhein said, the Air Force expects the flow of recruits joining the ranks of the delayed entry program to dip in the winter months of December, January and February, but that hasnt been the trend these past few months. Amrhein credited outreach as an instrumental factor in bringing in a surge of airmen enrolled in the program, the most hed seen in 15 years. The week before Amrhein spoke, he said the Air Force brought in 921 airmen to the delayed entry program and shipped 709 airmen to basic military training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rise in delayed entry numbers comes as the Air Force has seen an increase in recruitment. In September 2024, Amrhein announced the Air Force would meet its fiscal 2024 goal of 27,100 non-prior service enlisted recruits, a rebound after falling short the previous year for the first time in decades. The service aims to bring in 32,500 new airmen for 2025, marking a 20% increase. Military recruitment overall is trending upward, according to an October 2024 release from the Defense Department. The armed services saw a 12.5% increase in fiscal 2024, including a 35% rise in written contracts and a 10% increase in the each services delayed entry program to start fiscal 2025. Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville (right, at lectern) raises his hand during a debate in the Alabama House of Representatives on March 6, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Jackson criticized House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville (seated, top left) for not recognizing him to speak on a House agenda that included legislation extending police immunity. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill expanding immunity for law enforcement officers 75-26 after three hours of debate on Thursday in which many Black members of the House shared stories of their encounters with police. HB 202, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, has changed significantly from its original version. The legislation raises the bar for prosecuting law enforcement. The current standard allows prosecution where law enforcement acts willfully, maliciously, fraudulently, in bad faith, beyond his or her authority, or under a mistaken interpretation of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current bill limits misconduct to violations of rights in the Constitution of Alabama or the U.S. Constitution. The bill also protects law enforcement from civil litigation unless they acted recklessly without justification or if they violated peoples constitutional rights. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In addition, the bill establishes a series of hearings to determine whether a law enforcement officer qualifies for immunity before a criminal prosecution or civil prosecution over alleged misconduct can take place. An officer can appeal rulings to the Alabama Supreme Court. An officer who is denied immunity may continue to pursue it as a defense at a trial. Reynolds described the legislation as a way to improve recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers and to feel confident in the decisions they make. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think everything we talked about in this bill for our law enforcement officers to feel that authority, that when it comes down to discretionary authority, and theyve got a split second decision to make a call, that we just focus on that, he said. Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups objected to the measure, saying it would allow law enforcement officers to act with impunity. Its never been a good idea in American history to lower standards, but decrease accountability, said Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, during debate over the bill. And thats one of the things that this bill attempts to do. I think we can establish that we all support police officers, but our job here is to also support the common citizen as well. Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, stands at a lectern during a debate over his bill expanding judicial hearings on police immunity on March 6, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Reynolds bill passed the chamber 75-26 on mostly party lines. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Reynolds bill was significantly amended from a version that appeared in committee last month, the result of negotiations between the sponsor and Democratic lawmakers. The chamber passed a substitute 75-28 that included multiple amendments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One amendment requires the court to issue a decision on a law enforcement officers immunity within 45 days of a pretrial hearing. Another added there is no justification for suppression of evidence obtained through an alleged unlawful search. Many Black Democrats in the House shared the conversations they have had with their children to prevent violence in traffic stops. Rep. Tashina Morris, D-Montgomery, said that when her son turned 14, she had a conversation with him on how to act if he was pulled over by law enforcement. If youre in a car with someone and the police stop, you always keep your hands on the back of the seat or on the dashboard, she said. When you turn 16 and you start driving, if you get pulled over, you keep your hands on the steering wheel. Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, said the bill would protect bad apples in law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that when we start talking about back the blue, lets do it responsibly, that everybody is held accountable to whatever their actions are, Drummond said. If we continue to give immunity, total immunity, thats going to hurt the profession even more. Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, said he was pulled over, but was not given a ticket after he told the officer that he is a state representative. He never told me I violated any law. I was profiled, and when he found out I was a legislator, he gave me my credentials back. Now, that is wrong, he said. If Im breaking the law, stop me and give me a ticket. But he never told me what I was doing wrong. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, asked how much immunity a police officer needs and that the legislation damages the judicial system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I stand firmly by my belief, Givan said. I started this conversation that I support law enforcement, but what you all are eventually doing, is slowly killing the judicial system. The bill passed along party lines, with the exception of three abstentions from Democratic Reps. Travis Hendrix of Birmingham; Pebblin Warren of Tuskegee and Barbara Boyd of Anniston. The bill now goes to the Senate. Jacksons protest Prior to the start of debate, Jackson criticized House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, for not recognizing him to speak prior to the Houses adoption of a special order calendar, its agenda for Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is nothing but mind over matter. I dont mind, and you dont matter. And thats what youre telling me this morning, Jackson said. We dont matter because you dont recognize our lights when they were on we dont matter. Other Democrats later used a portion of their debate time to protest the speakers actions saying it was disrespectful. A number of them had their lights on to debate the calendar, and they were not recognized, Drummond said. Thats disrespectful. Ledbetter told Jackson that recognizing members was at his discretion and urged Jackson to speak on the bill. We will stay on the bill, Ledbetter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson pushed back saying Ledbetter abused his authority. You have the authority, but youre abusing it right now, Jackson said. Why cant we be treated fairly in this place? Theres only 28 or 29 of us, a super minority. We have a right to be heard. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A family is back together again after Commander Tyler Herring returned home from a deployment in Africa. Herring got to surprise his children at Harmony Elementary School on the morning of March 5. Muscle Shoals welcomes new fire chief Students filled their gym for what they thought was going to be an assembly celebrating patriotic day. Carter and Emmie Herring, a first grader and kindergartner, were among those students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While theyve been back home in Cullman, their dad, Commander Tyler Herring, has been in Africa on his second deployment with the Alabama National Guard. Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox. Carter and Emmie joined their mom Laura on stage to lead the national anthem, but what they didnt know was that they were about to receive a hug theyd waited months for. Herring then walked out on stage and surprised his children. It was a phenomenal, bittersweet moment of coming in to see your kids. To see the changes. Its just, its been a long time, he said. Ten months is a long time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His wife, Laura, found out he was coming home this week and knew she wanted to do something special for her children. We are so excited, Laura said. Ready to get back to normal everyday routine, and the kids have their dad back. Tyler shared what that first hug felt like. Oh, like ten months of relief thats what it felt like, so it was, it was fantastic, he said. I couldnt stop crying there for a little while. It wasnt only students there to witness the moment. Cullman County officials and community members came to thank Herring for his service. I never expected it, to be honest with you, Tyler said. I knew we had a good support system. Laura was always telling me, but getting back and seeing this many people come in, I think it shows the importance of the military and of a strong community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although, he said the support that means the most to him comes from his wife. Having to walk away from a family is very hard, and without her strong support, we wouldnt be able to do what we do, he said. Herring said he is in a dwell period and will get to be home for the next couple of years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, greets people in the Senate gallery in the Alabama Statehouse on March 5, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate on Wednesday passed a bill establishing parental leave for state and public education employees. Currently, state employees must use a combination of sick leave and unpaid time off if they wish to stay home after a childs birth or adoption. SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile would provide up to eight weeks of maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave to state employees in most cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a woman has a child, her body goes through a lot, Figures said after the bill passed. She has to heal. And its not just the physical part of it, but its also the mental part of it as well Its very important that that woman has that support. Its also a time that she gets to spend with the father, and they can bond. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX For adoption, either the mother or father would be eligible for eight weeks and the other for two. The bill passed 28-3. It moves to the House. In her State of the State speech last month, Gov. Kay Ivey endorsed legislation to provide parental leave to state and education employees. Shortly after the speech, the Alabama Education Association (AEA) also came out in support of the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also provides eight weeks of leave for stillbirths after 20 weeks or miscarriages after 12 weeks. Abortions would not qualify for parental leave unless they were done to save the life of the mother. Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, spoke in support of the bill, saying that he appreciated the opportunity to co-sponsor the bill. Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, listens to Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman speak in the chamber on Feb. 4, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The Alabama Legislature began its 2025 session on Tuesday. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) I have had a number of emails from my constituents, and they were actually my constituents, not spammed from all over the state, and my simple response was, Im a co-sponsor, and I wasnt trying to be short, I just let them know I was for the bill, Givhan said. Figures introduced a bill last year that would have provided parental leave to education employees while Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, introduced a bill providing parental leave for state employees. Budget chairs indicated they wanted to combine the two bills, but it was too late in the session to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We put the two bills together, which was suggested by Sen. Arthur Orr, (R-Decatur) whos chair of the Education Trust fund committee, and now we have this bill, Figures said, adding that she also worked with Iveys office. According to the bills fiscal note, the state would see an average increase of $8,600 per employee for eight weeks of leave or $2,100 for two weeks. Local boards of education would also see increases, with potential costs of $4,800 for eight weeks and $1,200 for two weeks of paid leave. Employees would not be required to use existing sick leave or vacation time before using paid parental leave. Leave will also not impact retirement calculations. If employees dont fulfill their agreed-upon return-to-work period, they would have to repay the wages received for the missed time. The State Personnel Department and the State Board of Education would be responsible for creating and enforcing the new rules and procedures associated with this paid parental leave policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Figures said after the bills passage that, based on her nearly 30 years of experience in the Senate, women usually get the short end of the stick and that its the right thing to do. So many women go through this, and they need that time to heal. They need that time to get themselves together, and they need that support from their partners, Figures said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Rabbi Steve Silverman speaks to members of the Senate Education Policy Committee in opposition of a bill mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools at the Alabama State House on March 5, 2025. Silverman said he opposed the legislation because it does not accurately represent the Hebrew-derived text. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) A bill that would require Alabamas public schools including colleges and universities to display the Ten Commandments drew supporters and opponents to the Senate Education Policy Committee on Wednesday. SB 166, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, would require a text of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in a common area of the school. The legislation does not list any sanctions for schools that do not comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The senator said the bill was not promoting any religion. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX I understand those that are opposed are trying to make it a religious issue, Kelley said in an interview. Its not. Its a historical issue. Its affected our civilization. Critics said the version of the Ten Commandments in the bill combines multiple versions of the text and is not historical. Rev. Julie Conrady, a minister with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham, said there are three distinct versions of the Ten Commandments and combining them degrades the value and misrepresents the history of the Hebrew words. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill is a violation of the First Amendment and imposes a certain religious understanding of a certain text that has been hodged-podged together and linguistically abused and has no place in our public schools, Conrady said. Kelley also said he did not know who would not want their children to learn thou shall not murder. Its just some of the comments that were made were basically saying these principles are not really applicable in the school, Kelley said. But especially in the day and time we have school shootings and everything that we have, its applicable. Becky Gerritson, executive director of the Eagle Forum, speaks to members of the Senate Education Policy committee at the Alabama State House on March 5, 2025. She supported SB 166, which would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) Supporters of Kelleys bill said the text is the foundation of Western civilization and the framework of the United States laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commandments are the cornerstone of Western civilization and American law, said Becky Gerritson, executive director of Eagle Forum, a conservative organization. These fundamental principles benefit society by reminding us of basic moral values such as respecting life property and truthfulness, which are essential for a well functioning community and regardless of your religious affiliation. Jim Lowe, a Baptist minister from Birmingham, said the Ten Commandments would serve as a timeless moral compass in classrooms. Lets be clear, display and Ten Commandments in public schools is not about promoting a specific religion, but about reinforcing the fundamental universal values that were a part of our nations greatness, Lowe said. Steve Silverman, a rabbi from Mobile, said teachers are not equipped to answer questions students may have about the Hebrew-derived text. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Displaying the 10 Jewish words unfairly sidelines Alabamians who may have diverse views of religious traditions, he said. Members of county boards of education, local principals and teachers across our state are not necessarily well trained to explain this program. Louisiana passed similar legislation in 2024, but a Louisiana federal district court ruled it unconstitutional in November, citing the separation of church and state. Louisianas law, unlike Kelleys proposal, required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom. The committee did not vote on the legislation on Wednesday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, speaks with Senate Education Policy Chair Donnie Chesteen, R-Ozark, at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 5, 2025. The pair debated a bill from Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur (right) that would allow religious exemption for vaccines without reason. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) An Alabama Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that allows parents to claim a religious exemption from vaccination without providing an explanation or allowing a public body to evaluate the claim. SB 85, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, also explicitly allows students at colleges and universities to declare themselves religiously exempt from vaccinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The experience has been many times in these offices, the mom or dad or whoever has taken the child, gets asked about their religious beliefs, Orr said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation also removes language that suspended religious exemptions in the presence of an epidemic or immediate threat thereof. Apriell Hartsfield, a policy analyst with Voices for Alabama Children, the lone speaker at the public hearing, opposed the legislation. We fear that this bill will needlessly impact many vulnerable children whose health is already at risk and they are not able to get vaccinations, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Texas, one child died from measles on Feb. 25, a previously dormant disease, due to an outbreak that infected mostly unvaccinated children. According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, there have been 159 measles cases so far with five of the infected being vaccinated with at least one dose. Alabama public health officials have voiced fears about dropping vaccination rates in the state. The states measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate fell below 94% in 2022-23. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 95% of the population needs to be immunized to achieve herd immunity. Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, said unvaccinated children should be kept at home. If you dont want your child to get the vaccine, then they need to be at home with Zoom, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orr said unvaccinated children should not be a threat to public schools and vaccinated children. Thats the point of vaccines. If youre vaccinated, whats your worry? Orr said. Orr said Alabama should respect a parents decision to not vaccinate their child. Fundamentally, if you do have a religious objection, I think that this state and our constitution wants to respect that and not subject parents to being subjected to an inquisition, Orr said. The bill received a favorable report, with Smitherman and Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, abstaining. It now goes to the full Senate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham (left) speaks with Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, on the floor of the Alabama Senate on March 4, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Senate Thursday passed legislation aimed at removing barriers to employment for some people with felony convictions. SB 138, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, would prohibit certain occupational licensing boards from automatically denying licenses based solely on a criminal conviction, unless the crime is directly related to the duties of the profession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A certificate of employability would be issued to certain parolees who meet eligibility requirements, such as job skills training while incarcerated and serve as evidence of rehabilitation. The bill was amended during the debate to exempt some health care professionals, such as doctors, dentists and pharmacists, as well as professionals in the banking and insurance industries. The bill passed 29-0 and heads to the House for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TASS: Its reported that U.S. Secretary of Defense said in a media interview that the U.S. doesnt seek a war with China, but will rebuild the military and prepare for war. Whats the Foreign Ministrys comment? Lin Jian: The rhetoric of the U.S. official is aimed at fueling ideological confrontation and spreading so-called China threat that doesnt exist. The U.S. needs to realize that China is NOT a mirror image of the hegemonic U.S. The U.S. should stop viewing China-U.S. relations with an outdated Cold War mentality. The U.S. must no longer seek to contain or go after China in the name of strategic competition. Weve always held the clear-cut view that whatever kind of war it is, a tariff war or a trade war, a cold war or a hot war, they should not be fought and cannot be won. AFP: The United States has indicted 12 Chinese nationals, including two officials, for a series of hacking attacks, including a breach of the U.S. Treasury last year. Whats Chinas comment on this? Lin Jian: We reject the groundless U.S. accusations and urge the U.S. to immediately stop its wrongdoing of abusing sanctions. Last December, a Chinese cybersecurity agency disclosed two recent cyberattacks against Chinese high-tech companies launched by the U.S. intelligence community. The U.S. is the No.1 hacking empire in the world. We call on the U.S. to ditch its double standards and stop framing China. ********************************************* The third session of the 14th National Peoples Congress (NPC) will invite Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to hold a press conference on Chinas foreign policy and foreign relations at Press Conference Hall, Media Center at 10:00 am on Friday, March 7. There will be no regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that day. VIENNA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy voiced support on nuclear cooperation in benefiting the Global South, and on jointly dealing with major nuclear issues during the ongoing meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors. Li Song, China's permanent representative to the IAEA, said the country will further leverage its strengths in nuclear energy and technology, strengthening cooperation with IAEA to jointly promote atoms for the benefit of the Global South. Li said that China regards nuclear energy as a pillar for ensuring energy security, addressing climate change, and achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. The country also places significant emphasis on the development of the nuclear technology application industry, and aims to achieve an annual economic output of 400 billion yuan (55.79 billion U.S. dollars) from the industry by 2026. On jointly taking on major nuclear issues, Li emphasized China's support for strengthening international monitoring of Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, adding that China will continue to carry out independent sampling and testing activities. Li said China urges Japan to fulfill its commitments, ensuring that China and other countries at stake continue to carry out independent sampling and monitoring while the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water remains under strict international supervision. Commenting on the Iran nuclear issue, Li said the issue is at a crucial crossroads, and it is imperative to increase diplomatic efforts, promote dialogue and negotiations among all parties. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The deal and its negotiation process showed that the only way to properly address the Iran nuclear issue is through political and diplomatic measures, and to promote dialogue and cooperation, Li said. Iran has repeatedly emphasized the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, stating that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has expressed its willingness to actively engage in negotiations and cooperate with the IAEA. Li said China attaches great importance to this and encourages and supports Iran in its efforts to work with the IAEA to further enhance safeguards cooperation, aiming to resolve outstanding issues. China urges the United States, the primary disruptor of the JCPOA, to take substantive steps to re-engage in international diplomatic efforts and to initiate dialogue with Iran, Li said. China also calls on the E3 group of France, United Kingdom and Germany and the European Union to maintain dialogue with Iran, focusing on promoting peace and negotiations while avoiding provocations that could escalate tensions. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) 2026 will be a big year for Alabama politics. One of the notable elections will be for the states next governor. The end of Governor Kay Iveys current term as governor will mark her term limit for the position, meaning she cannot run for reelection. Without Ivey in the mix, this leaves the 2026 governors race wide open. The one thing predictable about Alabama politics is that its unpredictable, former state representative Paul DeMarco said. If you look at some of the folks who have become governor, folks you wouldnt expect. Didnt have the name ID, kind of came out of nowhere. So, its going to be a wild ride between now and the Republican party primary, the party primary races in June of 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeMarco says historically in wide open races for governor, there can be 7 to 8 candidates running. While no candidates have made concrete announcements about entering the race, some people have begun to hint at it. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth posted a 10K race picture on social media Wednesday, captioning it with a reference to the 2026 governors race and the hashtag ready to run. Ainsworth said he wasnt available for an interview Wednesday, but he spoke with CBS 42 Morning News Anchor Andrea Lindenberg in February about the possibility of running for governor. Im right now focused on session, got to get through that. I think most people that are running for governor are probably announcements that will be coming in May, the end of May is when you can start raising money, but right now were focused on session and doing the job we were elected to do, he said in the interview on February 3. Ainsworth doubled down on this when asked about running for governor after his post on social media. He said in a statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am certainly interested in continuing to serve the citizens of Alabama, but my focus is on the current legislative session and our efforts to cut taxes, fight illegal immigration, and address violent crime. I should have an announcement about my future plans once the session ends in May. Another possible contender for the 2026 race for governor is Senator Tommy Tuberville. He addressed the speculation in a press call Wednesday. I am up for reelection in two years, and Ive heard a lot about Alabamians who want me to run for governor. Ive talked to my family, Im praying about it, to do whats best for me, my family and for the people in the state of Alabama, Tuberville said. I dont just do this to be doing it, Im not up here for any kind of ego, I wouldnt run for governor for any kind of ego. I want to help the people of Alabama. Alabama voters starting to think about what they want to see in the next governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything with the economy is so hard right now, theres a lot of improvements I think that could be made, Birmingham resident Kelly Bowman said. I lived in Nashville for 17 years and I can tell you having no state income tax was actually really nice. I just hope whoever comes next has integrity, Hueytown resident Logan Middlebrooks said. I think as long as we can continue to build unity and even across political lines, thats important to me. We have a really big refugee population in Alabama and I feel like theres so many people coming in and stuff and not enough tolerance. People arent willing to help and stuff, Tuscaloosa resident Karter Wilbert said. Everything is getting cut, social security, SNAP, all this other stuff. So, somebody thats running on those platforms to help those less fortunate, disadvantaged or whatever. DeMarco says this May will be interesting, as he expects many announcements to be made during that month. He says an announcement from Tuberville could be very influential on other potential candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Mar. 5An Albert Lea woman was one of three people injured Tuesday night on Minnesota Highway 22 in Mankato. The Minnesota State patrol report states Laurie Lee Bush, 56, of Albert Lea; Leonard John Bush, 58, of Mankato; and Tammy Lynn Johnson, 59, of Mankato, were taken to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea for injuries deemed not-life threatening. The report stated Laurie Bush was driving a 2012 Ford Fusion southbound on Highway 22 near North Victory Drive and Johnson was driving a 2017 Kia Sorento southbound on Highway 22 when the two vehicles collided at about 10:13 p.m. Leonard Bush was a passenger in the Ford Fusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report states roads were snowy and icy at the time of the crash. All three occupants were wearing their seat belts, according to the report. The Mankato police and fire departments assisted at the scene, along with the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office and Mayo Ambulance. Alcohol was not a factor. ALCOA, Tenn. (WATE) The owner of an Alcoa soda shop has been fined $2,000 by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration after several violations were found during an inspection, a Department of Labor and Workforce Development document said. The citation states that HH Swig Springbrook Farms LLC, which does business as Swig Drinks at 1110 Franck Street in Alcoa, was inspected on December 6, 2024. The shop is known for offering uniquely concocted soft drinks and vegetarian drinks. According to the document, there is only one citation comprised of four alleged serious violations. Kingston Police arrest two who reportedly charged victim to live in shed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting off, the first alleged violation was that the employer either did not develop, implement or maintain written hazard communication that detailed how criteria for labels on shipped containers, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met. Although the terminology of that violation may be confusing, the other three violations fell under those criteria. The first of the subsequent violations was that a CO2 compressed gas cylinder had its warning label facing the wall, the citation said. Because of this, the label could not be seen by those in the workplace and the information was not otherwise available in the workplace. Then, the citation states that there were not copies of required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, including carbon dioxide, maintained and readily accessible to employees. Finally, the employees at the shop were not given effective information and training on the chemical hazards in their work area, the citation states. Knoxville Police say fatal shooting inside car on I-640 believed to be accidental Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The citation was filed on January 22, with payment of the fines required by February 21. The citation also notes that the violation must be posted near the location of each alleged violation, and a form must be submitted noting how the violations, aside from employee training, were corrected. Because the violations in the citation are allegations, the business also had the right to formally contest any or all parts of the citation, although notification for that measure would have needed to be received by the TOSHA office within 20 days of when the business received the citation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. ALEXANDRIA, La. (KLFY) An Alexandria man was arrested after police allegedly found him in possession of illegal firearms as well as over two pounds of drugs and narcotics. Officials arrested Courtney Holt Dixon, 44, after he admitted to having marijuana, mushrooms and several firearms in his house. Officials said they responded to a disturbance call on Feb. 26 on the 3000 block of Dawkins Street. While conducting their investigation inside Dixons residence, officials observed multiple clear glass jars containing what they suspected to be marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms. They then contacted agents with the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Unit to conduct the investigation into the suspected illegal narcotics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RADE officials located approximately 2.5 pounds of marijuana, a jar of psychedelic mushrooms, eight firearms and 28 bags of THC edibles. Officials said one of the firearms was found to have had an illegal length barrel. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest RADE drug bust Dixon was sent to a Rapides Parish jail for possession of CDS I (Marijuana and THC edibles) with intent to distribute, possession of hallucinogenic plants (Psychedelic Mushrooms) with intent to distribute, illegal carrying of firearms with drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dixon was later released on a $13,000.00 bond. Courtney Holt Dixon Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Some US allies are considering reducing the amount of intelligence they share with Washington in response to the Donald Trump administration's conciliatory approach to Russia. Source: NBC News, citing four sources with direct knowledge of the discussions, as reported by European Pravda Details: According to these sources, who include foreign officials, allies are considering the move because of concerns about protecting foreign assets that could be accidentally disclosed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sources said that US allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia and members of the Five Eyes alliance (which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom in addition to the United States), are exploring the possibility of revising current intelligence-sharing protocols to reflect the Trump administration's warming relationship with Russia. "Those discussions are already happening," one of the TV channel's sources said. However, it was said that no decisions or actions have been taken. The sources say the review is part of a broader examination of the spectrum of relations with Washington among many US allies, including diplomacy, trade and military cooperation, as well as intelligence issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the extent of the shift in US policy toward Russia remains unclear, allies are weighing the possible implications of what could be a historic shift, the Western official said. At the same time, some officials from allied countries, speaking on condition of anonymity, downplayed the possibility that Trump's policy on Russia would disrupt decades of information sharing. They noted that intelligence sharing can be done in a way that protects sources and methods. Meanwhile, several former US intelligence officials said they and their colleagues still working in the government are deeply concerned about the possible consequences of the administration's changing attitude toward Russia, which could see Moscow no longer viewed as an adversary. Background: The media reported that Trump's return to the White House has jeopardised intelligence sharing between NATO countries, as Alliance members are becoming increasingly wary of each other. It also became known that the United States has now completely stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, including information on Russian missile launches and data needed for HIMARS guidance. Against this background, France affirmed that it is continuing to share intelligence with Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Amanda Nguyen, who transformed personal trauma into landmark legislation for sexual assault survivors, now has her sights set on making history among the stars as the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman in space. "I want other women, other survivors, or anyone who has ever had a dream deferred to know that your dreams matter. You can heal. You can make it through. And even if your dreams are wild, they can still come through. Because, mine is going to space and if I can do it, you can do it, too," Nguyen told "CBS Mornings." Nguyen said she is not afraid about her upcoming Blue Origin flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I really think back to my family and how they were refugees in Vietnam. If they could go through that journey, I can go through this, too," Nguyen said. Nguyen is joining a historic all-female crew that includes "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, philanthropist Lauren Sanchez, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe and producer Kerrianne Flynn. During the mission, Nguyen plans to conduct two science experiments one in partnership with the Vietnamese National Space Center and another focused on women's health. "Women were barred from becoming astronauts at NASA early on because of menstruation. They didn't have the data to back that up," Nguyen explained. She is also celebrating the launch of her newly released memoir "Saving Five," which is written from the perspective of different ages of herself, addressing her 5-year-old, 22-year-old, 30-year-old selves and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I picked 5-year-old and 80-year-old because really I think the purpose in our lives is to live out our full potential and to make ourselves proud," Nguyen said. "Truly what I want people to know is that their dreams matter and can still come true." Nguyen discussed how she put her dreams on hold after experiencing sexual assault, choosing to pursue justice rather than her career. She subsequently drafted the Sexual Assault Survivor Bill of Rights, which was passed unanimously by chambers of Congress. The legislation she championed extended the preservation period for rape kits, which were previously destroyed after just six months in Massachusetts and 30 days in New York. "After ten years of fighting for my rights, I finally get to honor the person that I was before I was hurt," Nguyen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nguyen's memoir, "Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope," is available now wherever books are sold. Savannah Bananas pack stadiums with their zany twist on baseball | 60 Minutes American retirees expand their world overseas Trump's chaotic tariffs week The News Fewer Americans are sympathetic toward Israelis the lowest level in at least a quarter-century, according to new Gallup data. Polling conducted in February found that 46% of US adults say their sympathies lie more with Israelis than Palestinians a plurality, but a low point since Gallup started polling the question annually 25 years ago. A chart with a survey asking Americans whether they sympathize more with Israelis or Palestinians. One-third of US adults say they sympathize with Palestinians, the highest reading to date. The change is largely driven by declining support for Israel among independents and Democrats. Meanwhile, a majority supports a two-state solution that would involve the creation of a Palestinian state, including 41% of Republicans a 15-point increase after a sharp drop in 2024. Mar. 5SANTA FE With New Mexico staring at the possibility of a dip in federal funds, state lawmakers are advancing a bill creating a new trust fund to help pay for Medicaid programs in future years. The Senate voted 37-0 on Wednesday to approve the bill, Senate Bill 88, which now advances to the House of Representatives with just over two weeks left in the 60-day legislative session. In all, slightly more than 840,000 New Mexico residents were enrolled in Medicaid as of December about 40% of the state's population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given those figures, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, described Medicaid as a "game-changer" for New Mexico. "I think this is a very smart, proactive move to prepare" for possible federal funding reductions, Wirth said during Wednesday's debate. He also credited former Gov. Susana Martinez for opting in to Medicaid expansion in 2013, a decision that paved the way for more New Mexicans to receive coverage under the joint federal-state health care program. A new state Medicaid trust fund would be the latest in a string of similar funds created by New Mexico lawmakers over the last several years amid an oil-fueled state revenue windfall. Other funds are focused on early childhood and conservation programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Money for the new fund would come from investment earnings from the State Treasurer's Office which are estimated to total about $280 million in the coming budget year. Eventually, the fund would be expected to grow to about $2 billion, allowing annual 5% distributions of about $100 million to help pay for Medicaid programs, said Senate GOP floor leader William Sharer of Farmington. "I think this is a very prudent use of our resources," Sharer said. But he disagreed with Democrats' warnings about Republican-led budget cuts in Washington, D.C., saying, "I think they're looking for fraud, waste and abuse, not to harm us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A concurrent budget resolution recently approved by the U.S. House calls for $880 billion in savings from federal health programs. While it's not clear if those savings might mean a reduction in Medicaid spending levels or the elimination of certain waiver programs, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham warned last week that federal budget cuts could prompt her to call legislators back to Santa Fe later this year for a special session. New Mexico currently receives the highest federal matching rate in the nation for Medicaid spending. Federal cuts of 12%-13% would require New Mexico lawmakers to come up with more than $1.1 billion in state dollars to avoid a disruption in health care coverage, according to legislative data presented to lawmakers this week. The bill approved Wednesday includes contingency language that would allow money in the trust fund to be used to maintain Medicaid services in the case of federal funding cuts. That authority would be in place for a three-year period, starting in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If there are cuts to Medicaid, we need to have the resources to take care of that," said Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, during Wednesday's debate. New Mexico's Medicaid spending has surged in recent years, jumping from about $3.7 billion in the 2011 budget year to roughly $10.4 billion this year, according to legislative data. Most of that money is federal dollars, though state Medicaid spending currently represents the second-largest portion of the state budget behind only public schools. Meanwhile, the idea of a new Medicaid trust fund was pushed by advocates even before the specter of federal funding cuts emerged. Think New Mexico, a Santa Fe-based think tank, has urged lawmakers since last fall to enact such a fund, saying it could help the state increase reimbursement rates for health care providers who treat patients insured under Medicaid. Snell Family Farm's stand at the Portland Farmer's Market. (AnnMarie Hilton/ Maine Morning Star) From her time volunteering at a food pantry, Rep. Anne Graham (D-North Yarmouth) said she will always remember a mother who showed up with tears in her eyes because she was ashamed she couldnt afford to put food on her familys table. To support that mother and others who are food insecure, as well as Maine farmers, Graham introduced LD 415, which would provide an additional $1 million per year to the statewide hunger relief program administered by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing an increase in need, as well as the uncertainty facing federal assistance programs that support low-income communities, Graham argued that the investment could have multiple benefits at this critical juncture. Currently, the program provides $1 million to the Mainers Feeding Mainers program run by the Good Shepherd Food Bank, which sources produce from local farms for food pantries across the state. Grahams bill would double the current investment, she told the Legislatures Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee during a public hearing Thursday. One in eight people in Maine face hunger, including one in five children, said Good Shepherd President Heather Paquette in her testimony in support of the bill. This has increased since last year, she said, leaving the food bank with the challenge of providing more food for more people with fewer resources. Mainers Feeding Mainers works with more than 90 farms throughout the state and has invested more than $2.7 million into the local agriculture economy, according to the Good Shepherd website. Paquette said money from the program is used to buy produce, while outside donations pay for seafood, meat, grain, dairy products and eggs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only could this money further promote local agriculture, Graham argued it could also make the state more resilient to unpredictable shifts in weather and international trade that disrupt food supply chains. Our state is facing an extremely unpredictable future, Graham said. Additionally, it could prepare the state for any cuts or changes the federal government could implement to benefits and assistance programs. As the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress look to slash federal spending, some are concerned there could be cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Though Republicans have said they dont intend to reduce food stamp benefits, the House budget resolution requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, to reduce its budget by $230 billion from the various programs in its jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 183,000 Mainers received SNAP benefits in December, according to the most recent data from the state Department of Health and Human Services. The agriculture committee also held a hearing for a similar bill, LD 468, which would provide an additional $1.2 million per year to the Fund to Address Food Insecurity and Provide Nutritional Incentives, which supports programs that allow low-income Mainers to use their benefits to buy produce from farmers. Multiple agricultural organizations and farmers testified in support of the bills, noting that the additional funding could help bolster Maine farms while aiding in the states goal to end hunger by 2030. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BISHKEK, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Kyrgyz-Tajik border issue has been fully resolved, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said Thursday in an interview with the country's Kabar News Agency, commenting on the agreement on the delimitation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. "The border has been settled permanently. The issue is closed, and the interests of both sides have been taken into account," Japarov stated. A final protocol on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border was signed in Bishkek on February 21, following a joint meeting of government delegations from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on border delimitation and demarcation. The two sides then initialed agreements on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border, the construction and use of highways, the establishment and use of a highway intersection, and access to water management and energy facilities. Americans want civics even the role of politically charged topics like immigration and gun control taught in school. Since 2021, theres been increasing bipartisan support for students to learn about how the government works, a new survey finds. The increases, while modest, are being driven by Republicans. Greater percentages of GOP voters say they want students to study social safety net programs like welfare and Medicaid. While theres still a partisan divide on such topics, 51% of Republicans support students learning about income inequality, compared to 46% in 2021. Support among Democrats held steady at 87%. People are supportive of schools teaching about controversial topics from multiple perspectives, said Morgan Polikoff, a University of Southern California education professor and co-author of the study, drawn from a sample of 4,200 adults, including almost half with school-age children. They dont want teachers to be putting their thumb on the scale in terms of one perspective being better than the other. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The shift comes even as Americans of all political stripes give schools low marks on preparing students to be good citizens, with just 29% offering them an A or B grade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the increasing support among Republicans for teaching issues frequently labelled divisive surprised researchers, suggesting that many conservatives dont necessarily want to limit what children learn in school a frequent criticism lodged by critics on the left. Most red states have either banned or considered legislation outlawing the teaching of what Republicans consider divisive concepts. Critics say the mandates have silenced teachers interested in presenting a full account of American history, including its darker chapters. Related As Inclusive as Weve Always Been: Districts Resist Ed Depts Warning on Race The survey also shows Republicans want more attention paid to current events, such as the benefits and challenges of Medicare and Social Security (69%, up from 62% in 2021). The share of Republicans who believe schools should teach about racism also increased, from 54% to 58%. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, there are still plenty of educational issues that garner bipartisan support in this polarized era, said David Houston, an assistant education professor at George Mason University. Finding these points of convergence is an important and necessary step toward building broad and durable support for public education in both red and blue communities and from one presidential administration to the next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Butcher, a senior research fellow at the right-wing Heritage Foundation, said he prefers a more conservative approach to civics that would focus on the Constitution and structures like the electoral college. But he said its also certainly justifiable for schools to teach students how to interpret the news of the day like why Democrats held up signs reading Save Medicaid during President Donald Trumps speech to Congress Tuesday night. As we teach students about civics, they should understand how Medicaid came to be, what the relationship is between taxpayers and Medicaid, he said. Students should have enough background knowledge and an understanding of how policies have been formed that they can understand what was happening. Related Trump Orders Expanded Private School Choice, an End to Radical Indoctrination Teaching with nuance Florida is among the red states that prohibit teachers from discussing topics like institutional prejudice or gender equity. The states law bans educators from teaching that someone might be inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law is commonly known for restricting instruction, said Stephen Masyada, director of the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship at the University of Central Florida. But he thinks that characterization ignores that the legislation also requires students to learn about the ramifications of prejudice, racism and stereotyping on individual freedoms. The state mandates lessons, for example, on the Ocoee Election Day Massacre in 1920, when a white mob killed dozens of Black citizens and ran hundreds more out of town in a violent attempt to keep them from voting. Many conservatives want schools to address those topics with nuance, Masyada said, and to connect the promises of the founding era to overcoming oppression and bias. Very nationalistic Some current examples of civics education remain too liberal for many Republicans. We the People: Civics that Empower All Students, a training program for teachers in grades four through eight, was among the programs eliminated in the U.S. Department of Educations sweeping cancellations of teacher preparation grants last month. The program equips teachers to focus on topics like the Bill of Rights, but also encourages civic engagement. Some conservatives argue that such projects emphasize liberal causes like abortion rights or climate activism. The department said grantees were using taxpayer funds to train teachers and education agencies on divisive ideologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related The Conservative Scholar Who Convinced GOP Lawmakers Civics Conceals CRT The USC survey shows that the percentages of Republicans saying schools should teach the contributions of women and minorities throughout history topics that could be construed as promoting diversity, equity and inclusion were relatively flat or saw a small decline. Among Democrats, however, there were increases. Everybody likes civic education, but they like it for different reasons, said Marcie Taylor-Thoma, director of the Maryland Council for Civic and History and a former social studies coordinator for the state. Democrats, she said, think students should learn about their civil rights and critically analyze whats going on in our country. But Republicans view of civics is very nationalistic she said. Marcie Taylor-Thoma, director of the Maryland Council for Civic and History, said Republicans and Democrats like civics education for different reasons. (Courtesy of Marcie Taylor-Thoma) Theres little disagreement, however, over teaching students about the U.S. Constitution. Ninety-three percent of Democrats and 95% of Republicans said its important for any civics curriculum to cover the rights and principles outlined in the founding document. Its a cause that many chapters of Moms for Liberty, a conservative advocacy group, have taken up in recent years, and a Trump executive order calls for schools to recognize Constitution Day annually on Sept. 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was scant support in the survey for students participating in protests during school hours only 24% liked the idea but the largest partisan split was over reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Forty-four percent of Democrats support that tradition, compared with 84% of Republicans. Debates over requiring students to recite the pledge have erupted in recent years in Maryland and Vermont. Given the negative attitudes of many respondents toward the role schools play in preparing students for civic life, researchers thought support would be higher for a common political proving ground: student government. But less than three-fourths of respondents favor student participation in school elections, like voting for student council leaders. That finding was unexpected, said Anna Saavedra, lead author and a research scientist at USCs Center for Applied Research in Education. Having a class president is a pretty standard part of most schools, she said. Seeing such low support was a little surprising. Its a way for kids to practice voting, running a platform and participating in a democratic process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polikoff said its not surprising that there are differences of opinion over activities like requiring community service as part of classwork (73% of Republicans compared with 80% of Democrats) or honoring veterans and military service (92% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats). Local context, he said, will continue to influence how deep teachers can take classroom discussions on potentially controversial topics. I dont think that we would expect that the civics curriculum is going to look exactly the same in rural Republican Wisconsin as its going to look in Oakland Unified [in California], he said. In both places, there is room for diverse perspectives. The reality is, every classroom is purple to at least some extent. A challenge to teach Some educators, however, still tiptoe around topics in the news. Its been a challenge to teach lately, said Jenny Morgan, a veteran eighth grade U.S. History teacher in the West Salem, Wisconsin, district, which she described as very, very Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes tried to avoid discussing President Donald Trumps and Elon Musks makeover of the executive branch, but she did recently teach a lesson on tariffs, which Trump is charging Canada, China and Mexico. Jenny Morgan, an eighth grade history teacher in Wisconsin taught a lesson on tariffs lately that sparked a debate between two students. (Courtesy of Jenny Morgan) The discussion prompted a recent debate between two students on opposite sides of the political spectrum. The Democratic student was trying to explain why tariffs arent good and talked about how prices are going to go up. The other kid was saying Oh no, they wont go up, Morgan said. It was just an interesting conversation between the two eighth grade boys. You could tell they were getting current events at home. By Ross Kerber and Bo Erickson BOSTON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Often a political punching bag for MAGA Republicans, asset manager BlackRock may have bought some conservative credibility along with its purchase of two critical ports on both sides of the Panama Canal. The $22.8 billion deal with Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison for those and other ports was hailed by U.S. President Donald Trump in his address to Congress Tuesday night, giving BlackRock and its CEO Larry Fink political capital to get back in Republicans' good graces. BlackRock has been restricted, or outright banned, by a number of Republican-led states from managing retirement or treasury funds over the company's policies on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investing. Now some red state officials are taking another look. "BlackRock working with the Trump administration is going to be positive for everybody, I can see that opening up some doors for them," said Indiana Treasurer Daniel Elliott. A Republican, Elliott last year helped push BlackRock out of a contract to manage a nearly $1 billion global bond portfolio over concerns about its ESG efforts. Elliott said he would now be willing to consider BlackRock's eligibility for future contracts if they were presented to him. Republican treasurers in other states have told him they are also encouraged by BlackRock's role in the deal, as well as other recent moves by Fink to diminish ESG efforts. "They're listening to our issues," Elliott said of BlackRock. In an e-mailed statement, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar called BlackRock's port investment "a positive development for Texas given our status as the nations top state for international trade." Although BlackRock has rejected calls for it to divest from fossil-fuel companies, Hegar had listed BlackRock as "boycotting" the state's energy industry in 2022 because of factors like its participation in industry net-zero groups. He said the canal deal is "not related" to the process of reviewing which firms will stay on the list, which is ongoing. GIVE A LITTLE, GET A LITTLE With $11.6 trillion in assets, BlackRock plays an outsized role among shareholders of its portfolio companies. For a brief period starting around 2021, the company cast more proxy votes supporting proposals on topics like requiring companies to disclose their emissions, but then pulled back. Since Trump won last November's presidential election, BlackRock also has left an industry net-zero group and eliminated a boardroom diversity target. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) The 13th annual Niswonger Childrens Hospital Radiothon starts Thursday morning. Phone lines will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. News Channel 11 will provide live coverage throughout the event to support the hospitals largest fundraiser of the year. The hospitals 2025 goal is to raise funds for a new neonatal transport unit for the region. To donate by phone, call 855-611-KIDS or text KITE to 51555. Donations can also be made online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Childrens Advocacy Week is dedicated to shining a light on Kentucky kids and looking ahead to how the leaders of today can make a way for the leaders of tomorrow. The Capitol rotunda was filled with state leaders, kids, and advocates on Wednesday for the 2025 Rally for Kentucky Kids. The rally started and ended with a lot of energy, and Kentucky Youth Advocates executive director Dr. Terry Brooks said thats the momentum he wants state leaders to have when it comes to Kentucky kids. ONE Lexington engages with heartbroken neighborhood after shooting kills teen: It will take a village Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its such an important moment because theres so many important bills on the table. These are issues that would affect kids around abuse and neglect, around homelessness, around health and economic well-being, Brooks said. That well-being is the theme of Childrens Advocacy Week, which has a mix of both in-person and virtual events. The rally featured speakers, two of which were Caden Dunn and Aleah Stigall, who are both members of the Health Youth Ambassadors program at Kentucky Youth Advocates. Both are also high school students from Warren County and Boyle County, respectively. It makes me happy to know my voice is being heard, and the voices of my peers are being heard. A lot of time, children are overlooked, and theyre seen as immature or not educated enough to make sound decisions. Id like the media to know that we are educated enough, were smart enough, and we deserve to have a voice on the national stage, Dunn said. Finding a passion, learning how to advocate, and join different groups like KYA to teach advocacy skills and invite you to opportunities such as this one is a great start, and a great pathway to really get your voice heard, Stigall added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tyler Hunter is a child welfare consultant, and his passion for child welfare brings him to events like this each time. Its just heartwarming. This is personal for me growing up in foster care and being a national child welfare leader myself. To see so many people come together and want to know about the issues in child welfare and want to identify ways to mitigate challenges for at-risk youth and their families, Hunter said. Brooks said this comes at a time where decisions are being made that will impact all Kentucky kids, and thats why the goal is to be as loud as possible for the kids. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We pull together voices from 120 counties in Frankfort to say to lawmakers, we know you have a lot of priorities, but none can be more important than Kentuckys kids, Brooks said. More information on Kentucky Youth Advocates can be found at the Kentucky Youth Advocates website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. ANSON, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Constructed in 1909 alongside the famous Anson Opera House, the building most residents know as Moss Hardware and, before that, Edwards Hardware came crashing down on Tuesday, March 4. Anson City manager Sonny Campbell said the strong winds were the last straw in a series of unfortunate events for the storied structure. About six months ago, we had a little earth rumble, and some bricks fellInside the store, there used to be a second-floor balcony. Somebody went in there and pulled the braces out from under it. When that happened, the whole roof caved in After the little earthquake we had last week and then heavy winds yesterday, it blew out all the front part where the old windows used to be, Said Campbell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner of that building and the one adjoining, between the opera house, is now in contact with the city for assistance in cleaning up and preserving what is left. Campbell said city crews will work over the next couple of weeks to clear away rubble and install support beams to maintain stability. Shes an out-of-state owner, but shes actually from AnsonShe bought it with plans for them to move back to Anson and start a business there, Campbell said. According to Campbell, a business that could have contributed to the local economy is one major factor in addressing the crumbling of city squares across small-town Texas. The sad thing is, theres nothing I can do about it The reason businesses leave and the reason buildings fall down is people dont live here. They dont have the business hereWe do have businesses here in Anson. Are they making an extremely well living? Probably not, but theyre still here, and thats supporting the city, Said Campbell. ABOVE IMAGES: Building in 1979 via Portal to Texas History / Bolts displayed on the wall amid rubble (2025). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city has to get creative when it comes to keeping downtown as a place people want to be. Campbell says a lack of dollars being spent locally, in addition to a recent lack of federal funding, has made it even more difficult for city governments to invest in the preservation and success of their historic downtown areas. One nearby park, however, stands as an example of what can be done when the city and community invest in themselves. The Sylvia Moreland and Pat Seballos Memorial Park was once a pit of rubble in a similar situation to the old hardware store. As a city-owned property, it was decided that the old crumbling building would become a public space. With donations, volunteers, murals painted by the high school art class, and city funds, it was transformed for the better. Im extremely proud of what the city has done hereWhen we started, this was like a 4-foot deep hole, Campbell said. Though this case may be an outlier in local civic engagement, Campbell encourages everyone to support their hometown with their dollar, emphasizing the importance of buying local when possible to stimulate the local economy and getting involved in local government as a citizen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would ask that everybody keep in mind, if its something you can buy here, buy it here. If its something that you have to go to Walmart for and you want your money back, then okay, we understandWe have what we need right here in Anson. It just needs more support, Said Campbell. Campbell was asked what the best way for people to support Anson. Come to City Hall and give us some ideas. The only bad idea is no idea, if they have an idea, come run it by us, and lets see if we can do it, Campbell said. Campbell says that city crews will be working to remove rubble in the coming weeks in response to the building collapse. He expects to see that work begin sometime this week if not next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. The News Claude creator Anthropic is calling on the White House to tighten chip export controls and oversee national security-related model testing as the AI race between the US and China heats up. The AI startup is among the first tech companies to publish its proposal in response to the administrations request for input on creating an action plan garnering the US as the undisputed authority in artificial intelligence. The company offered six recommendations to the US Office of Science and Technology Policy that it released today. Anthropics top suggestions boil down to: increasing security on domestic and foreign AI models; keeping chips out of adversaries hands by restricting semiconductor exports; and on energy infrastructure, as the Trump saying goes, build, baby, build. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei expects powerful AI systems will reach consumers as early as next year the kind of systems that can autonomously control physical equipment, reason over extended periods of time, and match the intelligence of the foremost experts in math and science fields. But Chinas recent breakthrough with DeepSeek indicates theres still room for the country to replace the US as the worlds AI leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe the United States must take decisive action to maintain technological leadership, Anthropic said. Know More In a stance that runs askew from that of Microsoft and Nvidia, Anthropic supports stronger chip export controls. It didnt cite the so-called AI Diffusion Rule passed by the Biden Administration that caps semiconductor exports in roughly 150 countries, but Anthropic did suggest similar actions, such as intergovernmental agreements for the biggest buyers. Just last week, Microsoft published a blog post advocating against the AI Diffusion Rule, saying national security provisions are important but the action goes beyond whats needed. In an interview last month, Amodei said the rule is of less immediate concern to me because its farther up in the supply chain. Anthropic also wants the government to cut the red tape for tech and energy companies looking to build an enormous amount of power infrastructure an ambitious additional 50 gigawatts of power by 2027, enough to run a large city. That infrastructure, as well as AI labs, needs next-generation security, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy demands of the data centers powering AI have brought the nations aging power grid into focus. The Trump administration has stated it will look to increase energy production and reduce costs. The president issued an executive order in February establishing the National Energy Dominance Council, which will provide guidance on improving infrastructure and removing regulatory barriers. Since Trump took office for the second time, he has also announced AI-specific infrastructure projects including a $500 billion partnership in Stargate and $100 billion that Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC will spend on US chip manufacturing facilities. In line with Elon Musks efforts to modernize government processes through DOGE, Anthropic also suggested federal agencies should integrate AI into their workflows to increase productivity. Similarly, it should update how it collects financial data in preparation for big economic changes. Government agencies should also test models for national security risks, Anthropic said. That includes building specific testing locations and employing experts to find weaknesses in both foreign and domestic systems. Such a rule wouldnt change much for Anthropic. Last year, the company voluntarily subjected Claude 3.5 Sonnet to government testing by the US and UK something OpenAI has also agreed to do for its models. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Ohio lawmakers are deciding whether they want to tax cigarettes in the state operating budget, at the request of Gov. Mike DeWine. While lawmakers weigh their options, advocates like Vince Marchetta are trying to show them that it is a no-brainer. Ohio bill would ban DEI in public K-12 schools has first hearing If we can prevent one person from having cancer, then were making a positive step forward, Marchetta said. A higher tax may prevent somebody from buying the product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marchetta is a state lead ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN). He started the work with the network after losing his wife to cervical cancer in 2019. I watched my wife fight like crazy throughout her cancer battle, and I dont want to see other people do that, he said. According to ACSCAN, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ohio and accounts for 35.5% of cancer deaths. Ive watched the devastation that cancer has on a person physically, emotionally, mentally, Marchetta said. If we can prevent people from using tobacco, then we can prevent people from having to witness this with their loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio leaders turn to Intel promises after President Donald Trumps call to repeal CHIPS Act DeWine proposed that the tax for a pack of cigarettes goes from $1.60 to $3.10 per pack, a $1.50 increase, but the current tax rate has not changed since 2015. The tax money would be used to fund the states child tax credit. But how likely is that to pass the Ohio Statehouse? Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said he is generally opposed to such ideas. Primarily because theres a little bit of a trap that we might fall into if were trying to base the pay for future expenses off of cigarette taxes, he said. Cigarette taxes historically have been a declining source of revenue for some time. I would expect that if the tax rate goes up even higher, theyll be even more rapidly declining source of revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said she suspects that there is support within her caucus but is worried about the route the majority might take. It will be interesting to see if the support maintains in terms of, for lack of a better word, a sin tax, Russo said. I think that my caucus is not opposed to it necessarily. Jim Tressel on his interest in running for Ohio governor in 2026 Marchetta is also advocating for $20 million, over two years, for tobacco prevention and cessation programs. He said he wants to see even more. I dont think it goes far enough, Marchetta said. Im glad that the governor proposed an increase from what we previously had, but I really believe that we need more funding. We need to get back into the schools, really educating high school and middle school students as to the dangers of tobacco and the risks of addiction. We also need to fund the cessation process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very supportive of the efforts to reduce tobacco and smokeless tobacco products, especially among children, Russo said. Marchetta said he is staying positive that lawmakers heed these requests as they work on the state budget and said he hopes they understand what it means to him and other anti-cancer advocates. I only have my voice, so Im going to use it loud, he said. The budget will be amended with House changes within the next two weeks or so. After that, it will head to the Senate for its consideration, before heading back to DeWine for the final stamp of approval. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The Ohio House is mulling a major higher education bill that would ban DEI, but Ohio is not the first state to implement such legislation. Senate Bill 1 had its first House committee hearing Tuesday after the Ohio Senate fast-tracked the legislation despite overwhelming opponent testimony. The sweeping bill is similar to legislation enacting various bans on DEI on the books in 10 other states. See previous coverage on S.B. 1 in the video player above. Although it would be revolutionary in Ohio, S.B. 1 mirrors DEI bans on the books in Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. Bills in Florida, Iowa and Tennessee appear to most closely mimic what is outlined in Senate Bill 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing DEI concerns, Ohio University places Black Alumni Reunion on hold Bans-DEI-offices-and-positionsDownload Pranav Jani, English and ethnic studies professor and president of a faculty advocacy chapter at Ohio State University, said S.B. 1 would decrease professors ability to accurately teach subjects. A 2024 faculty survey conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) found one in five faculty in the U.S. are already censoring themselves in academic settings, and one in three have toned down their writing to avoid controversy. The FIRE survey isolated results from individual schools, and between 42%-53% of staff at universities affected by anti-DEI legislation reported feeling academic freedom was insecure on campus. At Ohio State, 38% of faculty said academic freedom was not secure. The survey was administered before S.B. 1 was introduced, so the bill did not impact results. Jani said he and other OSU professors felt S.B. 1 is an attack on academic freedom and students learning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No matter what they say about this is not against free speech, it actually is going to be against not just free speech, but academic freedom, which are two different things, Jani said. The Pullias Center for Higher Education found anti-DEI legislation in Texas led to students of color reporting declines in academic performance, emotional well-being and a sense of campus belonging. They found 44.5% of Texas students reported not learning about race from anyone on campus. One in three respondents said they felt angry or frustrated because of the racial climate on campus after the legislation passed. Ohio bill to ban DEI in public schools has first hearing Jill Galvan, a professor of English at OSU, said legislation like S.B. 1 may drive students and faculty out of the state. She said faculty are already reporting concerns among potential hires who ask nervous questions about what is going on in Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UCLA School of Law surveyed LGBTQ+ faculty on the impact of anti-DEI legislation in higher education. Almost half of those surveyed said anti-DEI legislation led them to explore moving to another state, and 36% said they are considering leaving academia entirely. Galvan said the bill may also deter students, which could be an even bigger problem for attracting competitive scholars and future workers. She said the bill mentions workers but may lose the benefit of attracting future workers who want to stay in the state after attending college here. In a competitive market like higher education, Galvan said S.B. 1 may put Ohio behind. Nationally, public universities are being defunded by the state, like the investment by the state has gone down significantly in the past two decades, Galvan said. It means they have to really develop a traditional business competitive model and in order to get funding, so what theyre doing is theyre competing with one another across states. Whether anti-DEI legislation has been a deterrent for students is inconsistent across states with active bans. NBC4 combined fall enrollment totals from three of the most highly attended universities across five states that have enacted anti-DEI legislation to compare with combined totals from three major Ohio universities: Ohio State, the University of Cincinnati and Ohio University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio bill would require political party labels for school board races The COVID-19 pandemic adjusted enrollment numbers, so 2019 enrollment totals are available for pre-pandemic comparison. Legislation was enacted in 2022 and 2023 in Tennessee, in 2023 in Florida and Texas, and in 2024 in Alabama and Tennessee. The comparison found enrollment in Alabama and Iowa declined after anti-DEI legislation was implemented but rose in Texas, Florida and Tennessee. Ohios numbers have not been affected by active legislation, as S.B. 1 is not currently law and was not introduced in fall 2021, although similar legislation has been proposed in the state before. S.B. 1 had its first hearing March 4, and has not yet been scheduled for additional House hearings, although they are expected in the coming weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. By Helen Coster NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chanting Elon Musk has got to go into a pink bullhorn, Carolanne Fry led about 350 demonstrators in a noisy march outside a Tesla electric vehicle dealership in Portland, Oregon, this week. Fry, 38, a public employee and registered Democrat, is among hundreds of organizers in an emerging grassroots movement to protest Musks role in sweeping cuts to the federal workforce at the behest of President Donald Trump. The target of their so-called "Tesla Takedown" protests is the brand at the heart of the business empire controlled by Musk, Tesla's chief executive. Take action at Tesla showrooms everywhere. Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines, its website urges. We need to make Tesla a toxic brand, said Fry, who has called on her states retirement system to divest its Tesla stock. Every economic angle that we can attack Elon is for the best. The protests are still relatively small-scale but also significant as one of the first signs of activism in early weeks of the second Trump administration. Some Democratic voters have complained about an ineffectual response from party leaders to dramatic cutbacks Musk and Trump have made at federal agencies. In addition to overseeing the firing of thousands of federal workers, Musk has orchestrated the cancellation of contracts at the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds humanitarian programs around the world. The share of Americans who give Trump positive marks overall remained steady at 44%, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey. Through his leadership of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, Musk and his team have gained access to some agency systems. Critics decry this as overreach by an unelected individual, and worry about possible conflicts of interest if Musk uses his post to try steering lucrative contracts to his own companies. Musk's supporters say he needs to be aggressive to overhaul a bloated federal government. As of December, Musk owned a 12.8% share of Tesla's outstanding stock, worth about $114.7 billion at Wednesday's closing stock price. The world's richest man also owns the X social media platform, the space exploration company SpaceX and brain implant company Neuralink, among others. Tesla's sleek, innovative electric vehicles have long been beloved by liberal-minded Americans as an environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline-powered cars. But for some, the brand has morphed into a symbol of Trump's aggressive remaking of U.S. domestic and foreign policy, making Tesla a natural target of the incipient protest movement. DAMASCUS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 security personnel were killed in coordinated attacks by armed groups in Syria's coastal Latakia governorate Thursday, marking the deadliest assault on the new government's forces since the fall of the previous government, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. According to the Britain-based observatory, the casualties, mostly from the northwestern Idlib province, included members of the General Security Directorate and the Ministry of Defense, who were ambushed in the cities of Jableh and Latakia by militants allegedly backed by a regional power and remnants of the former government. The Latakia region is home to the Alawite minority to whom the Assad family belongs. Additional security personnel were missing or presumed dead, as heavy clashes continued in the area, the Observatory said, noting at least three militants have been killed so far. Mustafa Kinivati, head of the General Security Directorate in Latakia, described the assault as a "well-planned and premeditated attack" by armed groups formerly loyal to the ousted administration. "They launched simultaneous attacks on our checkpoints and patrols in Jableh and its outskirts, leading to multiple casualties among our forces," Kinivati said. The militants also vandalized public buildings, government offices, and private properties, spreading destruction across the city and its surrounding areas, he added. Security forces have been placed on high alert across Latakia, and authorities said they have "absorbed" the initial wave of attacks in rural Jableh, though fighting continues in the city itself. In a sign of rising tensions, crowds of young men, some armed, gathered in Idlib's public squares in a show of support for the military's campaign against what state media describes as "foreign-backed militants." Twenty-five years after it was declared eliminated from the US thanks to a nationwide and highly effective vaccination program, a measles outbreak in Texas has health experts raising the alarm bells. As of Monday, there have been 146 confirmed cases in the state, including one death of a school-aged child, in the "first measles-related fatality in the United States in over a decade," according to a statement by Robert Kennedy Jr., the Trump adminsitration's secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It's a particularly bizarre situation, given Kennedy's staunch anti-vaccine track record. He's spent many years engaging in fearmongering campaigns surrounding vaccines, including ones targeting immunizations against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) specifically, as Mother Jones reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After visiting Samoa in 2019, where he discussed the topic of vaccines and met with anti-vaccine activists, a massive measles outbreak ensued and 83 people died. At the time, he was chairman of an anti-vaxx nonprofit called Children's Health Defense, which called for a "natural experiment." He's even written op-eds accusing MMR vaccine maker Merck of "chicanery." But in the face of a domestic catastrophe, Kennedy has seemingly done a 180. In an op-ed for Fox News which appears to be a carbon copy of the HHS statement linked above Kennedy said that he was "deeply concerned" about the developing situation and that "vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons." It's a massive flip-flop that has reportedly turned the anti-vaxx community, which Kennedy once rallied behind, on its head. Many of his supporters have been noticeably quiet following his outing as being pro-vaccine, and others have turned on him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Im waiting to hear the backstory," Silicon Valley entrepreneur and anti-vaccine activist Steve Kirsch, who started an entire Super PAC to support Kennedy's presidential run last year, tweeted when asked about his opinion on Kennedy's Fox News op-ed. Others were far more outspoken about their dismay. "RFK, Jr. is going to bring in the next death shot, healthy people will be dropping dead, Trump will ignore the mass die-off, tout the bioweapon as a 'great accomplishment,' and MAGA will praise him," anti-vaccine activist and far-right influencer Stew Peters tweeted. Other anti-vaxxers latched onto Kennedy recommending "good nutrition" to fight "most chronic and infectious illnesses," as Mother Jones reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Studies have found to an external website that vitamin A can dramatically reduce measles mortality," Kennedy's statement reads, while also failing to mention that the evidence is inconclusive at best. While Kennedy's embracing of vaccines has alienated his fellow anti-vaccine activists, many health experts were alarmed by his suggestion that vitamin A could somehow fend off measles. "In fact, relying on vitamin A instead of the vaccine is not only dangerous and ineffective, but it puts children at serious risk," American Academy of Pediatrics president Sue Kressly told the Washington Post. "Taking too much vitamin A can cause serious health problems, including liver damage." "It could lead to the impression of a false equivalency," Baylor College of Medicine dean Peter Hotez added. "To make the best decision for your children, you can either vaccinate or give vitamin A... That would be highly misleading." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts were also alarmed by Kennedy suggesting that the "decision to vaccinate is a personal one," despite decades of scientific evidence that they work and save lives. It's a sad state of affairs, with Kennedy even failing to relay basic health information to the public. During the recent Cabinet meeting, the HHS secretary claimed that two individuals had died as a result of the outbreak. So far, only a single death has been confirmed by his own agency. More on vaccines: As Measles Outbreak Spreads, RFK Jr. Reverses Message and Urges Vaccination WASHINGTON (AP) An appeals court in Washington removed the head of a federal watchdog agency on Wednesday in the latest twist in a legal fight over Republican President Donald Trump's authority to fire the special counsel. A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sided with the Trump administration in allowing the immediate removal of Hampton Dellinger from the Office of Special Counsel while arguments continue over the legality of Dellinger's firing. The case has become a flashpoint in the debate over how much power the president should have to replace the leaders of independent agencies as he moves to radically reshape and shrink the federal government. The Trump administration has argued that the law protecting the special counsel from removal is unconstitutional and unfairly prevents the president from rightfully installing his preferred agency head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dellingers lawyers say allowing the president to fire the special counsel without cause would have a chilling effect on the important duties of the office to protect whistleblowers from retaliation. Dellinger has also been working in recent days to challenge Trumps firing of thousands of probationary workers, but his sudden removal throws those efforts into doubt. Dellinger didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening. He's likely to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dellinger sued Trump last month, saying he was illegally fired because special counsels can be fired by the president only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, quickly reinstated Dellinger in the job while he pursued his case. Jackson on Saturday ruled that Dellinger's firing was unlawful and ordered that he remain in his post. But the appeals court lifted Jackson's order blocking his removal, allowing the Trump administration to replace him while the judges weigh the legal arguments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of Special Counsel is responsible for guarding the federal workforce from illegal personnel actions, such as retaliation for whistleblowing. It investigates whistleblower claims of reprisal, can pursue disciplinary action against employees who punish whistleblowers and provides a channel for employees to disclose government wrongdoing. Dellinger was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate to a five-year term in 2024. The independent agency is separate from Justice Department special counsels like Jack Smith, who are appointed by the attorney general for specific investigations. After a request from Dellinger's office, a government panel that enforces workers rights ruled Wednesday that more than 5,000 employees fired by the Trump administration should be put back on the job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While the order applies only to the USDA workers, Dellinger released a statement calling on all federal agencies to voluntarily and immediately rescind any unlawful terminations of probationary employees. ____ Associated Press reporter Chris Megerian in Washington contributed. A federal appeals court Wednesday agreed to the Trump administrations request to greenlight the presidents firing of U.S. special counsel Hampton Dellinger until the court resolves a legal challenge. The order from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily lifts a judges ruling that found Dellingers termination unlawful and returned him to his post as the head of an office in charge of protecting government whistleblowers. Wednesdays order also expedites the Trump administrations full appeal. The written briefing is set to conclude on April 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Clerk is directed to calendar this case for oral argument this term on the first appropriate date following the completion of briefing, the order states. The three-judge panel comprised Judge Karen Henderson, appointed to the D.C. Circuit by former President George H. W. Bush; Judge Patricia Millett, appointed by former President Obama; and Judge Justin Walker, appointed by Trump. Their order was fairly brief but indicated the administration had met the traditional criteria for a stay, which includes showing that they are likely to succeed on the merits. Dellinger could now file an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court in hopes of returning to his job once again. The Hill has reached out to Dellingers attorney for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The battle began last month when Trump purported to fire Dellinger via a one-sentence email. Dellinger sued, and U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee, quickly reinstated him. He has remained on the job for weeks, including after Jackson issued her final ruling Saturday evening. Dellingers lawsuit is one of several challenges to Trumps firings of independent agency leaders, for whom Congress has provided for-cause removal protections. The Trump administration does not purport to have cause to fire Dellinger and the other leaders who include the chairs of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board and instead argues the removal protections encroach on the presidents constitutional authority. Legal observers believe that an expanded view of executive power could ultimately set the stage for the Supreme Court to overturn a 90-year-old precedent that has allowed Congress to restrict the presidents removal authority over such agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dellingers case had already reached the high court on its emergency docket when the Trump administration appealed Jacksons first order temporarily reinstating Dellinger. The Supreme Court punted on the administrations request to greenlight the firing but had not resolved the motion. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. While Steve Wozniak has long criticized the personality flaws of his late friend and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, he has far more damning things to say about fellow tech mogul Elon Musk. The 74-year-old entrepreneur shared his thoughts with CNBC on Tuesday at a tech conference in Spain. I dont know what got into his head, said Wozniak, referring to the Tesla CEO. Sometimes you get so rich at these big companies, and youre on top. It goes to your head, and youre the most incredible person in the world and the brightest, and youre gonna dictate what others will do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a special government employee heading Donald Trumps so-called Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has been dismantling federal agencies with the purported aim of slashing wasteful public spending. This has led to thousands of federal workers being fired and legal pushback in the courts. Bullying is the best way to think of it, Wozniak told CNBC. If youre in school, the bullys gonna force their way on the little guy. I dont know, Ive always favored the little guy over the big guy and Ive always favored the consumer of a good over the producer. Wozniak had even harsher words for Trump, however. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are types of people that you associate with in your life that are good, pleasant, friendly and care about others, care about animals, even, he told the outlet. And Trump is not one of them. Hes a disgusting person and has always been and always will be. Steve Wozniak called Elon Musk a bully and Donald Trump "disgusting" in an interview with CNBC. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images After the Supreme Court thwarted Trump and Musks efforts to freeze some $2 billion in foreign aid, Musk urged Republican senators on Capitol Hill to help him find another way to rescind that funding. Democratic lawmakers resoundingly booed Musk Tuesday evening when Trump thanked him during his address to Congress. Meanwhile, Wozniak also accused Musk of ruining his electric Tesla vehicles with steadily worsening designs. Wozniak, who invented the Apple I and Apple II computers, owns several Teslas himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every step up where they changed things in the car, it got worse and worse and worse, and now it is just miserable for user interface, Wozniak told CNBC. Coming from Apple, user interface, the way you deal with technology, is the most important thing in the world. He concluded, And Tesla is the worst in the world at that. Related... Last month, Reason reported on the United Kingdom's demand for access to any Apple user's digital information stored in its cloud storage service, iCloud. Since those data are end-to-end encrypted by default, this would require the tech giant to create an intentional vulnerability in its security protocolsthe likes of which could be exploited by sophisticated criminals or hostile governments. "If the U.K.'s order stands, Apple will either have to weaken every user's security worldwide or cease operating in Europe altogether," I wrote at the time. "Either move would be disastrous, either to the company's bottom line or to its users' data privacy." As it turns out, Apple tried to split the difference, but the company is also reportedly taking the U.K. to court over the order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection in the United Kingdom to new users," the company announced last week. "We are deeply disappointed that our customers in the UK will no longer have the option to enable Advanced Data Protection (ADP), especially given the continuing rise of data breaches and other threats to customer privacy." As The Washington Post first reported, the U.K.'s Home Office issued an order that Apple must "create a back door allowing them to retrieve all the content any Apple user worldwide has uploaded to the cloud." "As we have said many times before," Apple pledged, "we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will." By default, Apple provides end-to-end encryption on 14 of its products, like saved passwords; first introduced in December 2022, ADP adds encryption protection to nine more, including Photos, Voice Memos, and iCloud data and backups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its announcement, Apple advised that the original 14 products would remain end-to-end encrypted, but users in the U.K. could no longer enable ADP if they had not done so already. It also advised that while "Apple cannot disable ADP automatically," these users "will be given a period of time to disable the feature themselves to keep using their iCloud account." This week, Apple is apparently fighting back: The BBC reports that Apple "has appealed to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal." Under U.K. law, the tribunal is "an independent public body exercising judicial functions" regarding "complaints about the use of intrusive powers such as phone-tapping by intelligence services, law enforcement agencies and public authorities." Indeed, Apple is right to resist: As I noted last month, it would be impossible to design a vulnerability to encryption that can only be exploited by police, or with a court order, or any other exception you can imagine. By definition, any encryption "back door" open to law enforcement could also be exploited by hackers. European authorities have long pushed for an exception to end-to-end encryption, and tech firms have resisted. A provision in the U.K.'s Online Safety Act 2023 could require tech companies to scan all users' messages for forbidden content before they were encrypted; Meredith Whittaker, president of the secure messaging app Signal, told the BBC in 2023 her company "would absolutely, 100% walk" if forced to comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.K. government later said it would not enforce this provision of the law, admitting the technology to securely do what it was asking did not exist. When news first broke of the U.K.'s order to Apple, many free speech advocates spoke out in opposition. "The United Kingdom government's order to Apple to allow security authorities access to encrypted cloud data severely harms the privacy rights of users in the UK and worldwide," Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a joint statement. Academics, scientists, and civil society organizations including TechFreedom, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and the R Street Institute jointly signed letters asking U.K. officials to "withdraw" the order and U.S. officials to "act swiftly to protect Americans, and Internet users everywhere, from having their stored communications exposed to access by malicious governments and non-state actors." In a letter of their own, Sen. Ron Wyden (DOre.) and Rep. Andy Biggs (RAriz.) asked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to "giv[e] the U.K. an ultimatum: back down from this dangerous attack on U.S. cybersecurity, or face serious consequences." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I share your grave concern about the serious implications of the United Kingdom, or any foreign country, requiring Apple or any company to create a 'backdoor' that would allow access to Americans personal encrypted data," Gabbard wrote in reply. "Any information sharing between a governmentany governmentand private companies must be done in a manner that respects and protects the U.S. law and the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens." President Donald Trump told The Spectator that during a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, "We told them you can't do this.That's something, you know, that you hear about with China." The post Apple Takes U.K. to Court Over Demand To Weaken Encryption appeared first on Reason.com. APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) Appleton International Airports Director Abe Weber was honored in Phoenix on February 27 as the best airport partner by The Cranky Flier. The Cranky Flier is an online outlet which covers news throughout the airline industry along with other content regarding the industry. Son of Packers Hall of Famer and former Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman scores first MLS goal Weber was one of many nominated by North and South American airline representatives as the industrys top air service and development leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple airlines that selected Weber credited his marketing ability, especially as Weber and his staff make sure to hold an event celebrating each time an airline expands existing or announces new routes. NFL reps in town for final site visit before Draft, share details at Green Bay common council meeting When we announced Americans daily nonstop route to Dallas, we went all out, Weber said in the release. We produced a video with horses trotting down College Avenue, hosted the horses in the terminal, broke out the cowboy hats, and celebrated with our team and travelers. For more details on The Cranky Flier, visit their official website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent for the Catholic Church, Archbishop Richard Henning spoke to Boston 25 about Pope Francis declining health over the last month. Outside St. Tarcisius Church in Framingham, a predominantly Brazilian parish, Archbishop Henning began on the topic of the Lenten season. It reminds us to go deeper into our faith, said Henning. Its a particularly good time to be praying for Pope Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pope has been hospitalized with double pneumonia since mid-February. Vatican officials most recently said the Holy Father is stable, alert, and aware. Archbishop Henning added, He likes to use the expression, closeness. I think theres a particular closeness we have with him right now to see him suffering. The archbishop oversaw the Ash Wednesday night mass at the Portuguese service in Framingham. Members of the Brazilian parish also spoke on the Holy Fathers condition. Tamara Silva of Southborough told Boston 25, Being in this community and praying for him, we only hope he gets better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another parishioner from Brazil, Fernando Soares, explained, Because he was Argentinian, I said, Oh, I dont think Im going to like him. But, hes almost a saint. The packed mass Wednesday night comes in the midst of both religious and political divide across the country heading into the Lenten season. Archbishop Henning spoke on the local immigrant community, explaining, Theres a lot of fear and uncertainty. So, I would love to see them be reassured and our communities be at peace. Vatican officials say Pope Francis is stable and alert. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW washington Area lawmakers were largely supportive Wednesday of President Donald Trumps address to Congress with the exception of one Virginia Democrat. U.S. Senator Jim Justice, R-W.Va., said Trump is helping to usher in a new golden age for both West Virginia and America. President Trump brought a message of hope for the American people, and with it comes the restoration of the American Dream, Justice said. President Trump outlined his vision for an America that is once again the envy of the world, and that vision runs right through West Virginia. West Virginia is poised to be the state that powers our country forward, and I couldnt be prouder to stand with President Trump as we usher America into a New Golden Age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Senator Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., also was pleased with Trumps speech. President Trumps address was a refreshing change from the previous four years, Capito said. As expected, he delivered a strong and optimistic vision for our country one that prioritizes securing our border, unleashing American energy, strengthening our military, and providing much needed tax relief for hardworking families. These are issues that matter to West Virginians, and it is exactly why the majority of voters across our country and in West Virginia overwhelmingly supported the president. I was encouraged by President Trumps focus on unleashing domestic energy production particularly in states like West Virginia, where coal, natural gas, and manufacturing play a critical role in powering America. We are off to a strong start already, but I know our brightest days are ahead. I look forward to continuing our work together in Congress and with the Trump administration to ensure the presidents bold agenda becomes a reality. Doing so will allow us to deliver real results and solve real problems for so many in West Virginia and across our great nation. U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., said Americas future looks brighter under Trump. Its clear that the commonsense revolution has already begun, and its producing major wins for the American people, Moore said. Under President Trumps leadership, Americas interests reign supreme. Weve secured the border and are unleashing American energy like never before. Weve slashed regulations and are rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. Were eliminating DEI, protecting womens sports, and ensuring radical transgender ideology is rooted out of our education system. Were making America healthy again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., also applauded Trump Wednesday. As the representative for Virginias Ninth District, I will continue to support policies that complement President Trumps vision to grow our economy, secure our borders, and make America an energy-dominant power, Griffith said. But U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., offered a more critical assessment of Trumps speech. The president bragged about his reckless plan to isolate America from its allies, turn our back on long-kept partnerships, raise taxes on hardworking families, and reverse historic advancements in U.S. innovation and competition, Warner said. Our country can and should do better. Two other area lawmakers U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., and U.S. Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va. didnt offer any immediate reactions to Trumps speech. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com JOPLIN, Mo. Many storm sirens across Missouri sounded today for the statewide tornado drill. At Kelsey Norman Elementary School in Joplin, kindergarten through 5th grade students joined the rest of the district in practicing what to do when that happens. Severe Weather Preparedness Week: Have a plan Its a chance for staff to evaluate whats working and whats not when it comes to keeping students safe during severe weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plus, it helps students understand the process and feel more comfortable about what to do should the real thing ever happen. The districts director of safety and security notes the better facilities many of the schools have now, since the May 2011 tornado like FEMA storm shelters or modern basements. You know, over time you become kind of lax in preparing if youve never really actually experienced the situation that youre preparing for. But, weve had that experience and weve learned from it. I dont think just as a district, but as a community, said Jim Hounschell, Joplin Schools director of safety & security. The goal is to make it to safety in less than five minutes, although students and staff usually make it happen in much less time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joplin schools are required to practice tornado drills four times a year or two times a semester. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. PARIS (AP) An Ariane 6 rocket roared skyward with a French military reconnaissance satellite aboard Thursday in the first commercial flight for the European heavy-lift launcher. The rocket took off smoothly from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, quickly disappearing into thick clouds. Video images beamed back from the rocket showed the Earth's beautiful colors and curvature. The rocket's mission was to deliver the CSO-3 military observation satellite into orbit at an altitude of around 800 kilometers (500 miles). It was the first commercial mission for Ariane 6 after its maiden flight in July 2024. AMMAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Jordan will host a meeting of Syria's neighboring countries on Sunday to discuss cooperation on combating terrorism, drug and arms smuggling, and other shared challenges. In a statement released on Thursday, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said the meeting would explore ways to support the Syrian people in rebuilding their country to ensure its unity, sovereignty, security, and stability, while addressing terrorism. Discussions will also cover the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, according to the statement. The meeting will be attended by foreign ministers, defense ministers, chiefs of staff, and intelligence directors from Jordan, Turkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, it added. An Arizona member of the House of Representatives announced an attempt to censure a vocal critic of President Donald Trump's address to Congress. Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., said he and other conservative House Freedom Caucus members were drafting a censure resolution of Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, after Green interrupted Trump's address, calling on the president to protect Medicaid from Republican tax reform. The effort led to Green's removal from the joint-session of Congress. "Rep. Al Green should be censured for his childish behavior on the House floor last night. Democrats are clearly still coping with the fact that their policies dont work and the American people dont trust them anymore," Crane said on social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "HFC members are drafting a censure resolution," added the post. The X account of HFC reposted Crane's announcement of the censure resolution. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., also shared one a Freedom Caucus post on the censure attempt. On Wednesday afternoon, a separate Republican-led effort was initiated by Rep. Troy Nehls. R-Texas, who introduced a resolution to censure for Green for "violating decorum and order expected of Members of Congress." His resolution drew more than 30 cosponsors, including Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz. Nehls is a former Freedom Caucus member. Green responds to threats of punishment A Green spokesperson did not immediately respond to request for comment on the possible censure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his ejection from the House on Tuesday night, Green addressed the possibility he might be punished for confronting Trump. "I'm willing to suffer whatever punishment is available to me. I didn't say to anyone, 'don't punish me.' I've said I'll accept the punishment. But it's worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this president's desire to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security," Green told the media outside the House chambers. It was the threat of cuts to those programs that Green said motivated him to confront the president. "These are the safety-net programs that people in my congressional district depend on, and this president seems to care less about them and more about the number of people that he can remove from various programs that have been so helpful for so many," Green said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added he was drafting articles of impeachment for Trump. "This president is unfit, he should not hold office. Thirty-four felony convictions. Two time impeached," Green said. How does the censure of a member of the House work? The House of Representatives' website says a "censure registers the Houses deep disapproval of Member misconduct that, nevertheless, does not meet the threshold for expulsion." A censure must receive a majority vote from the House, and generally requires the member be present in the House while the censure is read aloud, per the website. The House's website listed 27 of its members who had been censured since 1832. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A censure was one of the ways the House of Representatives can vote to discipline a member for disorderly or criminal behavior, according to EveryCRSReport. Other ways include a reprimand, and a much more serious expulsion. Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@gannett.com. Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona GOP congressmen want Rep. Al Green censured FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) An east Arkansas man already serving life in prison was sentenced to an additional 90 years on Wednesday. Carlos Sigears, 44 (Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center) Carlos Sigears, 44, of Marianna, was convicted of failure to register as a sex offender and two counts of failure to appear by a Washington County jury. A news release from the 4th Judicial District of Arkansas said testimony in the trial revealed that Sigears lived in Fayetteville with a woman and her children for eight years without telling her or the Fayetteville Police Department that he was a convicted sex offender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sigears was arrested in 2020, and after posting bond, he failed to appear in court twice, in 2021 and 2023. The U.S. Marshals later arrested him in central Arkansas. Arkansas man sentenced in Fayetteville to 38 years for child sex crimes The jury learned during the sentencing that Sigears was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 in Dallas in 2004 and failure to register as a sex offender in 2009. In December 2024, Sigears was convicted by a different Washington County jury of rape and four counts of second-degree sexual assault. He was sentenced to life in prison for the rape charge and 40 years for each sexual assault charge, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Denis Dean gave the following statement in the release: This sentence once again shows that the citizens of Washington County will vehemently protect the children in our community from child predators. Carlos Sigears is why we need the Arkansas Sex Offender Registration law and why offenders should be held fully accountable for not complying with the law. May Washington County citizens rest easier, knowing that one repeat sex offender will not ever be able to sexually abuse children again. I wish to thank the Fayetteville Police Department for their investigation and the Washington County Sheriffs Office and US Marshall Service for their capture of this offender. Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Denis Dean Details on the case are limited, and the probable cause affidavit is completely redacted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, presents Senate Bill 307 to the Arkansas Senate on March 5, 2025. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) A bill that would alter the process for creating new electricity-generating plants to meet the states anticipated energy needs stalled in the Arkansas Senate Wednesday. As a result of at least two of the states coal-fired plants going offline by the end of 2030, Sen. Jonathan Dismang, Searcy Republican and lead sponsor of Senate Bill 307, said energy rates are expected to increase because Arkansas will have to buy energy from an out-of-state utility or build new sources of energy. The goal of the 62-page bill, also known as the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025, is to mitigate those increases, Dismang said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a new path forward for us to create the energy that we have to create that will ultimately, because of that new generation that is required, be at a lesser cost of generation than it would be under the old model the old model that does not have the roadblocks and the reviews and the approvals that this does at multiple steps in the process, he said. Under the current model, Dismang said, interest is accrued during construction and then capitalized, creating a significant jump in rates once the power plant is operational. SB 307 recommends another option that would allow utilities to begin recovering costs incrementally during construction by enabling a strategic investment that he said would result in a lower, long-term recovery rate for consumers. SB 307 proposes that the Arkansas Public Service Commission must approve a strategic investment within six months of application, ensuring that it is in the public interest, Dismang said. The PSC then has 60 days to approve the rider rates, but can request another 30 days if additional time is needed. When construction begins and the new rate is being collected, the PSC will review that project every 12 months, Dismang said. Once completed, the PSC has a one-year audit period to make sure everything was done prudently so that our ratepayers are protected, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to saving ratepayers money, Dismang said his proposal provides more protection and oversight by the PSC because theyre able to monitor whats happening through the entire process. Supporters of the bill have also said it will make Arkansas more competitive in attracting to the state new employers, such as data centers that may require a lot of energy to operate, which would create more jobs. Sen. Dave Wallace, a Leachville Republican who voted for SB 307, said he chopped cotton growing up because there were no other jobs in Arkansas, a factor that led many in his generation to leave the state. You grow or you die, Wallace said. We have opportunity to be in the lead and to have energy and to bring companies to our stateif we have power, were going to bring those businesses and Arkansas is going to grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Reginald Murdock, D-Marianna, said the entire Senate believes in the concept of the bill, but he had concerns about the process and making sure to protect our ratepayers, specifically the most vulnerable people in the state. I think this process has taken away the ability to provide some alternatives, some Plan Bs, some Plan Cs, that could do a better job of protecting ratepayers if given the time to sit down and deal with this in a different way, from a time standpoint, Murdock said. So I do think there are some alternatives that can be brought forward that may help us. Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, said it was important to watch out for ratepayers from a cost and risk standpoint. While he thanked Dismang for his hard work on a complicated bill and agreed action is needed, Hickey said SB 307 is not ready as is. Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, speaks against the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025 in the Arkansas Senate on March 5, 2025. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) Hickey called for more discussion about the bills proposal to keep Arkansas rates at 10% below the national average, noting that by some estimates, Arkansas current rate is 25% below that threshold. He also noted that a better definition for strategic investments is needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a whole lot easier to come down here and start throwing rocks at it than to sit and devise this type of policy, but again, I just dont think that were ready to go forward, Hickey said. Hickey was among 11 senators who voted against SB 307. The legislation received 17 affirmative votes, one shy of the 18 needed for a bill to pass out of the Senate. Murdock was one of four senators who did not cast a vote. Democratic Sens. Greg Leding of Fayetteville and Fredrick Love of Mabelvale, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, voted present. The Senate voted in favor of Dismangs motion to expunge the vote, which will allow him to bring SB 307 back to his colleagues at a later date. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Arkansas State Police investigators have identified a homicide victim in a 40-year-old cold case as a Missouri man. The ASP Cold Case Unit identified the victim as 53-year-old Earl James McDaniel, who they say was originally from Kansas City, Missouri. Image of Earl James McDaniel provided by Arkansas State Police ASP officials said McDaniels body was found on Oct. 30, 1984, by Arkansas Department of Transportation workers mowing grass along Interstate 40 in Lonoke County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities solve Little Rock womans 1985 killing in Texas Special agents said the cause of death was strangulation, but the investigation remained unsolved because officials were not able to identify him. ASP officials said the Cold Case Unit began reviewing the case in March 2024 and submitted remains to Othram Labs in September 2024. Texas-based company discovers DNA link between Morgan Nick and a potential suspect In January 2025, DNA testing led to possible identification as McDaniel and a potential relative in Washington state, special agents said. Special agents said ASP investigators worked with the Washington State Attorney Generals Office Cold Case Unit to locate McDaniels daughter, leading to a positive identification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cold Case Unit established at Arkansas Attorney Generals office ASP officials said the investigation revealed that McDaniel had a criminal history and his last contact with authorities was in September 1984. Investigators said details regarding the homicide remain under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Arkansas Supreme Court issues initial decision in Chief Justice Baker case Video: Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker addresses House committee LITTLE ROCK, Ark. An order by the Arkansas Supreme Court shows the case between its chief justice and administrative office director is not over. The Thursday order stated the court could not make a final decision to dismiss the case. Chief Justice Karen Baker requested the dismissal of a human resources report filed by the Administrative Office of the Courts director, Marty Sullivan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker addresses House committee Baker asked the court to dismiss it because it lacked jurisdiction to invalidate the administrative offices harassment policy and lacked evidence of harassment. In its order, the courts justices said they could not review the report Baker was challenging because she did not file it with her dismissal request. Justices asked Baker to submit the reports and related documents by March 11. Sullivan may supplement what Baker submits if he chooses to do so by March 14, they wrote. Baker and Associate Justice Courtney Hudson did not participate in the opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Supreme Court stops action after new chief justice attempts to fire staff Shortly after assuming her position on Jan. 1, Baker controversially terminated the employment of Sullivan and nine other court employees. The decision has led to an ongoing debate about the chief justices power. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man has been taken into custody after being suspected of murder in connection to a woman who was found dead in a hotel room in eastern Oregon late last month, authorities said. Gary Cavan was apprehended by law enforcement east of Prairie City, Grant County Emergency Management said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. The Grants County District Attorneys Office confirmed Cavan was in custody to KOIN 6 News. Pilot found dead at crash near Whiskey Dick Mountain Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cavan, 42, had been considered armed and dangerous, according to the Grant County District Attorneys Office. On Feb. 28, the body of 41-year-old Janelle Klaar was found inside a room at the John Day Motel in John Day, Oregon, following a welfare check conducted by the Grant County Sheriffs Office. The DAs Office signed a warrant for his arrest that same day. No other details were immediately available. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) Armed security guards could be coming to a school near local Hawaii residents sooner than they think. Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan said work is underway with the Hawaii Department of Education to get school resource officers in high priority areas. Do Oahus public schools need School Resource Officers? What were looking to do is starting the next school year and then in two schools, one on the west side, either Nanakuli, Waianae High or Kapolei High School, Logan said. Another one would be one on Central Oahu, So McKinley, Kaimuki, that kind of area, and those schools generally have more underrepresented community members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10 things to know about the God Squad: How it impacts Hawaii West side lawmakers said their communities are in dire need of authoritative figures to make an impression on keiki. Sen. Samantha DeCorte said fights are constant on campuses. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The schools just dont have enough security to break those fights up. So what happens most of the time is the school has to shut down, which means everybody goes into their classrooms, Sen. DeCorte said. We come from a community that lacks law enforcement presence. So to be honest, I havent heard any pushback from the community. I think we welcome it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logan said the armed security will be recently-retired HPD officers who have experience in school settings or community policing teams. Its overdue, West Oahu town hall meeting addresses crime, safety We have a list of eight to 10 officers on the field that meet those requirements. And so based off of that, we have the send them to the training on the mainland under the National Resource Officer Association, Logan said. 7 things to know about U.S.s stalled economy: Hawaii money matters There is still time until the 2025-2026 school year and Sen. DeCorte said she is working with State sheriffs to get Waianae or Nanakuli high schools staffed with at least armed guard in the near future. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You And we should be able to get these positions in place by next month, Sen. DeCorte said. So our goal as far as the State is concerned is to get relief in there now and then hopefully when the SROs come in, then we can switch out or we can even add to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) A Woonsocket man is in custody after police say he caused a lockdown Thursday afternoon at CCRIs Flanagan campus in Lincoln. Junior Sage, 48, was arrested without incident a short time after he got onto campus, according to police. Junior Sage Lincoln Police Chief Dennis Fleming said it started with a 911 call around 12:30 p.m. that a man had threatened someone else with a knife on board a RIPTA bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect got off at CCRI, and responding officers were told he was armed with a knife and a gun. Witnesses helped the officers locate the suspect, who was found to have an airsoft-style pistol and two small pocket knives on him, according to police. He was apprehended at the bus stop, so if he was in the building, hed made his way back outside, Lincoln Town Administrator Philip Gould said during a news conference Thursday afternoon. Sage is being held at the ACI pending his arraignment Friday. Hes been charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, carrying a pistol without a license or permit, three counts of felony assault, disorderly conduct and obstruction. Police confirmed he was on probation at the time of his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH: Armed suspect arrested at CCRI Lincoln campus (Story continues below.) Students and staff at CCRI were ordered to shelter in place around 12:45 p.m. The lockdown was lifted about 45 minutes later after police conducted a sweep of the campus and determined it was safe. The lockdown sent the campus into a state of disarray and panic. One student said she never really thought this type of stuff would happen in Rhode Island. I dont really know how to feel, she continued. Im glad I and the other students and professors are safe, but its scary. Its a really bad epidemic going on in America. I wish it would stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nearby Davies Career and Technical Center was also locked down as a precaution. (Story continues below video.) No other CCRI campuses were involved, but the initial alert sent out by the school indicated that something was happening in Warwick. It told recipients to run, hide or fight, depending on their location. So obviously, people start getting nervous, people start leaving, the student continued. Then it turns out we were on lockdown, so we were just sitting around in the parking lot wondering, What do we do now?' CCRIs interim president, Rosemary Costigan, said theyre looking into why there was mixed messaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our campuses are safe and this was a very scary incident, so Im not taking any of that away. But the important thing is that our processes worked and that no one was hurt, Costigan said. A CCRI spokesperson said the school will offer counseling services in the coming days. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. BEIRUT, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese government approved on Thursday the state budget 2025 prepared by the previous cabinet to avoid disruptions or delays in public needs and citizen services, a statement by Lebanon's presidency said. "We do not have the luxury of time to withdraw it or subject it to prolonged parliamentary debates," said Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam following a cabinet meeting. The government also assigned the minister of finance to prepare a draft law within a week to review the fees included in the budget to mitigate potential social and economic impacts on citizens, Salam said. "Most importantly, we will now focus on preparing the 2026 budget." According to the statement, the government also approved a draft law granting tax and fee exemptions, as well as suspending tax deadlines, for those affected by the Israeli war on Lebanon. In addition, the statement noted that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun briefed the council on his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and held extensive discussions. He emphasized the importance of the visit, stating, "There is a Saudi willingness to assist Lebanon as soon as the necessary reforms are implemented." The president also announced plans for a second visit to Saudi Arabia, expected to take place after Eid al-Fitr. During the visit, he will be accompanied by several ministers to finalize a series of agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. "This will provide Lebanon with an additional boost," he added. An arrest was made in the September 2024 illegal petroleum dumping case that impacted the Smiths Canal Waterway in Stockton. Investigation underway after dog dies from possible gunshot in Northern California The California Department of Fish and Wildlifes Law Enforcement Division and the Stockton Police Department said David Sump was arrested and arraigned on charges for his role in dumping around 280 gallons of waste oil into the waterway and surrounding environment on September 28, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office filed felony charges, including destruction of public property and disposal of hazardous waste. They said the suspect is also facing two misdemeanor charges. Agency officials spoke to multiple witnesses and received a multitude of tips, helping them find the suspect. Invaluable information was gained from these tips, ultimately providing our investigating officers with enough information to request an arrest warrant, said CDFW Chief of Law Enforcement Nathaniel Arnold. The CalTip Program has again proven to be a crucial tool in protecting public safety and our natural resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) An arrest warrant has been issued for a suspect in connection with a shooting on Southern Universitys campus. According to an affidavit, 23-year-old Semaj Joiner is wanted on multiple charges, including carrying a firearm on school property, attempted second-degree murder, and illegal use of weapons and dangerous instrumentalities. The shooting occurred Sunday evening at U.S. Jones Hall, a student dormitory. Authorities say Joiner and the victim had been communicating through the social media app Sidechat and arranged to meet in a dorm room for a haircut. After Joiner entered, the victim followed and confronted him about an outstanding debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A physical struggle ensued when Joiner reportedly grabbed a weapon, leading to a single gunshot that struck the victim in the stomach. Joiner fled before law enforcement arrived, according to the affidavit. Surveillance footage captured him in the hallway with a firearm in hand. The victim later identified Joiner in a police lineup. Authorities are actively searching for Joiner. Southern University campus police investigating after student hurt in shooting Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Ukraine's Defense Ministry officially appointed Arsen Zhumadilov as the new head of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) on March 6, said the agency responsible for weapons purchases for the military. At the same time, Zhumadilov resigned as chief of the State Rear Operator (DOT), a sister agency overseeing the procurement of non-lethal supplies for the Armed Forces. Andrii Sozanskyi, DOT's executive director, replaced him as acting director. The defense procurement sector was reshaped in December 2023, aiming to meet NATO standards. The DPA, first established in August 2022, was to focus solely on lethal aid. Meanwhile, the DOT was formed to purchase non-lethal aid such as food and clothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Defense Ministry should work more efficiently. There are very high expectations from everyone involved in the defense sector. Changes are objectively overdue and perhaps overripe. We all have no time to delay any longer," Zhumadilov said. The official appointment came more than a month after the scandal in procurement agencies. In late January, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov refused to extend the contract with the former DPA director Maryna Bezrukova for another year over supposedly poor performance, defying the DPA Supervisory Board's decision. According to Bezrukova, Umerov's move caused a "legal conflict" inside the organization, reportedly blocking its procurement functions. At the same time, the minister appointed Zhumadilov, who also runs the DOT, as interim director-general of the DPA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of NATO and European partners' requirements for Ukraine was the establishment of two agencies that would be directly responsible for procurement for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, not through the Defense Ministry or contractors. According to Ukrainian law, supervisory boards can hire and fire the heads of state enterprises unilaterally. This means that legally, after the board's vote, Bezrukova should have taken over the DPA for another year. However, the Defense Ministry, which oversees the DPA, amended the agency's charter so the ministry can reverse the supervisory board's decisions. Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is investigating possible abuses of power by Umerov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Not only is it a rough time to be a Tesla owner as CEO Elon Musks political shenanigans sink the brands reputation its becoming a bad time to be near a Tesla, period. Earlier this week, arsonists in Southwest France took to the streets with gasoline in hand to torch Teslas parked at a store in Plaisance-du-Touche. The group destroyed at least a dozen Tesla sedans estimated to be worth around 700,000, or about $745,000 USD, calling the brand a "symbol of capitalism." The inferno comes weeks after a French-Swiss manifesto surfaced online, calling for "anti-capitalist coordination to target Tesla." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To all those whose health permits," pines the anonymous call to action, "to collectives, organizations, affinity groups, to all those who call themselves anti-capitalists, to all those who demonstrate against imperialism, to deterritorialized people, let us warm ourselves by the fire. This is a call to set fire to Tesla dealerships." While its unknown if the French arsonists were inspired by the manifesto, the blaze comes at a time when protestors around the world are targeting Teslas as a proxy for Musk, who represents a noxious blend of government austerity, oligarchy, and right wing politics of all stripes, not to mention capitalism more broadly. The manifesto takes aim at a variety of issues embodied by Tesla under the blanket of anti-capitalism, including resource extraction, car-centric urban planning, the patriarchy, environmental waste, right-wing extremism, and undemocratic corporate rule. "This company fuels the fortune of the richest man in the world, openly fascist and neo-Nazi, and therefore empowers [far right extremists]," reads the screed. "We know that the fight is unfair, but we are fierce and will not give up! Each brick in their windows is a stone in the pond." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That doesn't mean it's open season; the manifesto also entreats protestors to avoid Tesla locations in residential areas, as well as physical violence and privately-owned vehicles. Though the people of France are well-known for their rowdy and effective demonstrations, Americans have also joined the fray. Yesterday, a handful of Tesla chargers in Massachusetts were hit by what cops are calling "intentionally set" fires. In Denver, Colorado, a woman is facing federal charges for allegedly causing $5,000 worth of damage at a Tesla dealership with molotov cocktails. And even earlier in California, a group of anti-fascist students warned Tesla owners with notes wrapped around bricks to sell off their EVs, or face vandalism. Time will tell how far anti-Musk protestors take their rage, as the man himself shows no signs of slowing down his antics anytime soon. If there's one thing that'll catch his attention, though, it's any real hit to his bottom line. More on Tesla protests: Tesla Drivers Overcome With Shame by Protesters SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a time of preparation for Easter for many people of faith. For practicing Catholics, its a time to reflect and focus on renewal, but this year, theres more on their minds. Church-goers and church leaders 28/22 News spoke with said this Lent, they are also focusing on the health of Pope Francis, who remains in very serious condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those of Catholic faith, Lent is a time to give up or add things to their lives. Its a difficult time right now, so I think that we just have to look deeper into ourselves and maybe just try to give up the anger, shared Deneal Scrivani, parishioner. Im going to increase my prayer life, in absence of giving something up, adding something to my Catholicism, explained Michael Colaneri, parishioner. This Lent, Pope Francis fragile health remains at the top of the minds of parishioners and church leaders. Municipal building closed in Monroe County after threats to public, employee safety We pray that, as he faces some real challenges in his life at this time, that Gods healing presence would sustain him and carry him through, however the lord chooses to work, and act in his life, said Bishop Joseph Bambera, Bishop of Scranton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pope has been hospitalized for nearly three weeks while experiencing severe respiratory problems. Hes been the head of the Catholic church since 2013. I just hope he gets better and maybe step down, find some peace for himself. You know, after taking on everyones problems and trying to guide us, I think he just needs a little bit of a rest, said Scrivani. This year also marks the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope for the Catholic church. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Mar. 5ASHTON A structure fire along Route 38 near Ashton resulted in a total loss as crews battled against strong winds Wednesday afternoon, Ashton Fire Chief Bernard Richter said. The Ashton Fire Protection District received a call at 1:55 p.m. for a fire at 8423 state Route 38 in Ogle County, with multiple departments called in to assist. The fire was under control late Wednesday afternoon, but a section of Route 38 from South Chana Road to South Brooklyn Road was still blocked off, Richter said. House damaged by fire in rural Ashton A home was damaged by fire in rural Ashton on Wednesday, March 5 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's pretty much a total loss," Richter said of the home. "The wind is so strong out there that it was a tough battle with the wind." Richter did not assist on scene at the fire and was unable to confirm if it resulted in any injuries. ExpandAutoplay Image 1 of 11 Firefighters spray water on flames at a house fire at 8423 East Illinois route 38 on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Earleen Hinton) A partial list of responding departments included Dixon Rural, Amboy, Sublette, Rochelle, Ogle/Lee, Mt. Morris, Stillman Valley, Sterling and Franklin Grove. As of 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, the cause of the fire was not known. Richter said it will most likely be under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Gunmen ambushed a Syrian police patrol in a coastal town Thursday, leaving at least 13 security members dead and many others wounded, a monitoring group and a local official said. The attack came as tensions in Syria s coastal region between former President Bashar Assads minority Alawite sect and members of Islamic groups escalate. Assad was overthrown in early December in an offensive of insurgent groups led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the ambush in the town of Jableh, near the city of Latakia, killed at least 16. It added that security forces killed 28 Assad loyalists as well as three civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rami Abdurrahman, head of the monitoring group, said the gunmen who ambushed the police force are Alawites. He added that on Thursday night, pro-Assad gunmen were in full control of the former president's hometown of Qardaha. These are the worst clashes since the fall of the regime, Abdurrahman said. A local official in Damascus told The Associated Press that 13 members of the General Security directorate were killed in the ambush. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release security information to the media. Conflicting casualties figures are not uncommon in the immediate aftermath of attacks in Syrias 13-year conflict that has killed half a million people. The Observatory gave the death toll on both sides, while the official only gave the numbers of policement killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pan Arab Al-Jazeera TV broadcaster said its cameraman Riad al-Hussein was wounded while covering the clashes. State media reported that authorities imposed a 12-hour curfew in the nearby city of Tartus where people were urged to stay at home and avoid any gatherings in public places. The SANA state-news agency reported that large reinforcements were being sent to the coastal region to get the situation under control. The Syrian Observatory said helicopter gunships took part in attacking Alawite gunmen and Jableh and nearby areas. It added that fighters loyal to former Syrian army Gen. Suheil al-Hassan, also known as Tiger, took part in the attacks against security forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tensions have been on the rise in Syria with reports of attacks by Sunni militants against Alawites who had led the rule in Syria for more than five decades under the Assad family. These incidents have occurred despite the fact that officially the new authorities have said they are against collective punishment or sectarian vengeance. Sajed al-Deek, a security official, was quoted by local media as saying the situation is under control, adding that Alawites have nothing to do with the gunmen who attacked security forces earlier Thursday. We call for abstaining from raising sectarian sentiments, al-Deek said. On Thursday, the state-owned news agency reported that security forces arrested former senior intelligence official Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Hweiji, who was blamed for supervising the 1977 assassination of Lebanese Druze leader Kamal Joumblatt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joumblatt's son and successor, Walid, posted on X when the news broke out: God is great. ____ Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Gaith Alsayed in Damascus, contributed to this report. An assistant principal at a charter school in Round Rock has been charged with indecency with a child/sexual contact, according to an arrest affidavit. Aaron Freeman, 49, of Pflugerville, touched a female teenage student inappropriately in a book room at the IDEA Round Rock Tech school at 3301 Greenlawn Blvd., the document said. The charge is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Former Round Rock teacher charged with intentionally tripping autistic 4-year-old The student was working alone in the room on Feb. 21 when Freeman entered the room to check her progress, according to the document. It said Freeman approached the student and stood 1 to 2 inches away from her face while he nudged her shoulder. He then walked away but approached her again from behind as she was reaching for something on a top shelf, the affidavit said. It said he wrapped one of his arms around her, pressed his body against her and touched one of her breasts. He then began tickling her with his other arm and she fell to the ground. The student told a teacher what happened in the book room, the affidavit said. More: Austin LBJ Early College High School teacher arrested, charged with indecency with child Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police interviewed Freeman, he said he had worked at the school for six years and was the assistant principal of operations, according to the affidavit. It said he couldn't remember what happened. Freeman told police he was in the book room with the student for a few minutes but then Freeman refused to answer any other questions and asked for a lawyer, the affidavit said. When police interviewed the student, they discovered she had bruising on her arms and hands from hitting bookshelves when she fell down during the incident, according to the affidavit. Freeman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. He no longer works at the school, according to a statement from IDEA public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This appears to be an isolated incident, and the investigation is ongoing," the statement said. "We do not have any ongoing concerns for student safety at this time. IDEA takes these allegations seriously and is committed to prioritizing the safety and well-being of staff and students." Freeman was booked into the Williamson County Jail on Monday and released on Tuesday after posting bail of $40,000. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Round Rock assistant principal charged with indecency with a child Astronomers believe that 14,000 undiscovered near-Earth objects like asteroids, large enough to cause damage, could be in space. Recently, NASA was tracking a large asteroid flying past Earth known as the so-called "city killer." "This one got a lot of attention because it rose to a threat level that we just have not seen very often. We knew we had to monitor it and try to understand everything we could about it, not just where it is, but what is it made of? What size is it?" astronomer Nick Moskovitz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moskovitz says he's become an "asteroid detective," working to protect Earth from a possible disaster. "Find them before they find you. The sooner you find them, the more options you have for deflecting potentially hazardous asteroids," Moskovitz said. Astronomer Nick Moskovitz discusses preventing potential asteroid impacts on Earth. / Credit: CBS News In 2022, NASA performed a first-of-its-kind test. The agency intentionally crashed a spacecraft into a small asteroid, nudging it just enough to change its trajectory. The mission gave the space agency a tool that could potentially be used to counter an asteroid heading for our planet. "It's the only natural disaster that we could potentially prevent," said NASA's acting planetary defense officer Kelly Fast. "And if you were to find an impact threat to Earth well enough in advance, then you wouldn't have to deflect it much for it to be able to miss the Earth in the future." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lowell Discovery Telescope in northern Arizona is one of a handful around the world searching the night sky for asteroids that could potentially threaten Earth. "We can see orders of magnitude fainter than you would be able to with your naked eye," Moskovitz explained. The Lowell Discovery Telescope in Arizona is one of a handful around the world searching the night sky for asteroids that could threaten Earth. / Credit: Stephen Tegler 2024 YR4, "city killer" asteroid Since December, Moskovitz had the Lowell Discovery Telescope trained on the 2024 YR4 asteroid. Scientists at one point projected it had about a 3% chance of hitting Earth in 2032. 2024 YR4 is now expected to miss Earth and "no longer poses a significant threat," according to a recent analysis from NASA. It has approximately a 0.004% chance of hitting the planet in eight years, new calculations show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The latest observations have further reduced the uncertainty of its future trajectory, and the range of possible locations the asteroid could be on Dec. 22, 2032, has moved farther away from the Earth," NASA said. However, there is a 1.7% chance that it could impact the moon. Previous impacts of asteroids In 2013, a small asteroid, just 60 feet wide, exploded over Russia, injuring more than 1,600 people. An asteroid big enough to wipe out an entire city crashed to Earth 50,000 years ago in what is now northern Arizona. It left a crater that was three quarters of a mile wide and 600 feet deep. Eye Opener: Russia rejects ceasefire deal U.S. Army soldiers accused of selling classified materials to China Canadians show their displeasure with President Trump WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media Thursday that tariffs on Mexico will be paused until April 2, applying to anything covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). "After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement. This Agreement is until April 2nd," Trump said in a post on "Truth Social." "I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum," Trump said, noting that "our relationship has been a very good one." Earlier that day, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC that more one-month tariff exemptions under USMCA are "likely." "It's likely that it will cover all USMCA compliant goods and services, so that which is part of President Trump's deal with Canada and Mexico are likely to get an exemption from these tariffs," Lutnick said. Trump's latest announcement on Mexico tariffs came one day after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the president is granting a one-month exemption to three major automakers from the newly imposed 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a trade agreement negotiated, signed, and ultimately enacted during Trump's first term, aimed at replacing the former North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). On Feb. 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on products imported from Mexico and Canada, with a 10 percent tariff increase on Canadian energy products. On Feb. 3, Trump announced a 30-day delay in implementing the tariffs on both countries and continued negotiations. According to this decision, the relevant tariff measures took effect on March 4. Canada has announced retaliatory measures, while Mexico has signaled its intent to implement tariffs and other economic countermeasures. Businesses are increasingly concerned about the rising costs due to these tariffs, which could drive up consumer prices and contribute to an economic slowdown. The stock market has shown significant volatility in response to the new tariffs, with investor uncertainty mounting as fears of potential economic repercussions grow. The escalating tensions and economic uncertainties might have prompted Trump to reassess his trade policies. Trump has yet to make announcement on an overall pause on Canada tariffs. In a post on Truth Social Thursday, he accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of using the tariff problem to further his reelection bid. Trudeau, meanwhile, said on Thursday that Canada will continue to be in a trade war with the United States for the foreseeable future. MADISON - Attorney General Josh Kaul and the Department of Justice are asking Republican lawmakers to add analysts in state crime labs to keep up with the growing amount of evidence needed for investigations and prosecutions. During a tour at the State Crime Lab in Madison on Wednesday, Kaul asked for 19 new positions to be created during the budget process, including analysts for DNA, controlled substances, and firearms. The Legislature is just beginning its process of setting the biennial budget, which will run from 2025 through 2027, and though agencies typically make requests for new positions or funding through Gov. Tony Evers' budget, which was released last month, the governor doesn't always include all the positions agency heads hope for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaul is hoping to add positions to the labs across the state located in Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau in order to process evidence faster and have more analysts available to testify during trials and help district attorneys understand how evidence can be used during a trial. Here's what we know about the request. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, left, and Rock County District Attorney Jason Sanders hold press conference at the state Crime Lab in Milwaukee on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Kaul wants 19 new lab techs to help with crime evidence Kaul said there haven't been new analyst positions added in years, and with advances in technology happening more quickly, the labs need more experts. In past budgets, more prosecutors were added in counties across the state. That's generating more cases that need the work of lab analysts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we have resources at the prosecution or defense level, but we don't have the resources that we need at the crime labs, cases are going to be delayed while we wait for testing to happen," he said. An analyst at the State Crime Lab in Madison uses UV light to analyze stains on fabric that aren't visible to the naked eye. This type of evidence is something that can later be used in court. Evers only included 6 new techs in his budget proposal last month In his budget released last month, Evers requested a total of six new state crime positions, at a cost of more than $800,000 over the two years of the budget. Kaul's request will come in at just under $2.8 million over the same period. Kaul said that only adding six positions won't be enough. "We know that that's a meaningful investment for the legislature to make, but these are not requests that are made without a lot of thought about what the needs of the labs are," he said. "So we are hoping to see the kind of investment that can help ensure that the labs are adequately resourced to do their work in the future." What would these techs work on? Ten of the analysts would be hired to work on DNA processing. Three would work in analyzing controlled substances, two would be firearms examiners. Another two would work as forensic science supervisors, while one person would do crime scene response and the final person would handle business automation. Backlogs would have less of an impact with more lab staff Kaul said evidence backlogs crop up in the state labs at times when analysis need to prioritize evidence in homicides or sexual assaults to ensure law enforcement can apprehend the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Crime Lab is the only laboratory that works on felony level criminal cases, and their expertise is indispensable," Outagamie County District Attorney Mindy Tempelis said. "The labs, analysts and examiners provide vital testing and analysis that help direct investigations, corroborate evidence and ultimately ensure that justice is served." The analysts not only break down DNA but they also analyze guns, test drugs, and are called in as expert witnesses during trials. They help the jury understand the science behind the evidence and how they reach the conclusions they do. Testifying can require analysts to travel across the state, taking time away from analyzing evidence waiting in other cases. "These types of delays impact the case and justice for victims and families as well as defendants," Tempelis said. "This is not just a problem for prosecutors and law enforcement, it's also a problem for victims and for our communities. Timely testing of evidence is a cornerstone of effective law enforcement, and the backlog has real world implications." The state Crime Lab at 1578 S. 11th Street in Milwaukee on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. DOJ could help with more cold cases with more analysts Tempelis said advances in technology in recent years have helped to reopen cold cases in Wisconsin. Last year, she was able to prosecute a cold case from 1988 in Outagamie County, thanks to the expertise of the state labs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The analyst helped identify a key piece of evidence that hadn't yet been tested that was instrumental in securing the conviction," she said. "She spent countless hours working with me preparing her testimony, and ultimately testified for four hours at the trial." Kaul said that for the most part, these new analysts would be working on current cases. But more hands on deck could allow the DOJ to help out on more cold cases. What happens next? In the coming months, state agencies will have the opportunity to make their case to legislators on funding and positions they need. Legislators will take those requests into consideration. Republicans, who make up the majority of the Legislature, will then create their own budget proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evers will have the opportunity to veto parts of the budget he doesn't agree with, and the final budget will be signed into law this summer. Republican leaders did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday about whether or not they would approve the request from Kaul for more analysts. Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Josh Kaul asks for nearly $3.2 million for Crime Lab analysts Attorney General Pam Bondi has been at the center of a MAGA meltdown this week, after a much-hyped release of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein amounted to an embarrassing dud last Thursday. Bondis recent and highly anticipated release of documents related to deceased child molester (and former associate of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and others) Jeffrey Epstein was widely panned after the release was found to include a slew of redacted documents that contained information that had already been made public. According to multiple sources that spoke to ABC News, Bondi reportedly surprised White House officials during an influencer event at the White House by passing out white binders with Epstein documents that included no new information. The backlash from right-wingers included Trump ally Laura Loomer calling on Bondi to resign. Other conservatives, like bigoted conspiratorial podcast host Joe Rogan, pro-Trump influencer Steve Bannon and Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina-Luna, have publicly raged at Bondi, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi appears to be serving two masters when it comes to her handling of Epstein-related material. Many of the MAGA faithful have demanded the release of as many unredacted Epstein documents as possible. But Trump, meanwhile, hedged last year when asked whether the Epstein documents should be released, initially answering yes before telling Fox News, I think that less so because, you dont know, you dont want to affect peoples lives if its phony stuff in there, because its a lot of phony stuff with that whole world. After the MAGA meltdown over last weeks disappointing stunt, Bondi seemed to be prepping to release more documents. She told Fox News Sean Hannity earlier this week that she had received a truckload of additional documents from the Southern District of New York on Friday after a source tipped her off. The AG claimed shed been misled ahead of the initial release and that the FBI would release the additional tranche of documents after applying the necessary redactions. Given the way the first document dump played out and the wave of disappointment that met the attorney general for failing to satisfy Trump supporters, one might think Bondi would want to temper expectations a little bit. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Attorneys in the case of two Warren men accused of the shooting death of a letter carrier last March will be submitting paperwork to the Department of Justice as they await word if the government will seek the death penalty. Read next: OSHP supervisors punished after abuse reported by subordinates Prosecutors and attorneys for Thomas Sledge, 44, and his son Kaprise Sledge, 24, met Wednesday with U.S. Judge Donald C. Nugent in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas and Kaprise Sledge are accused in the March 2, 2024, shooting death of Jonte Davis, 33. A federal grand jury indicted the pair Oct. 2. They have both been held without bond since they were arrested. Both men face charges of murder of an officer and employee of the United States and one count of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence In December, Judge Nugent ordered the government to decide if they wish to seek the death penalty against both men. In February, Judge Nugent told defense counsel for both men they could have extra time to prepare a mitigation defense for their clients. According to records of their meeting Wednesday, Judge Nugent ordered both sides to present their findings to the main Department of Justice before proceeding further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although a decision has yet to be publicly announced on whether the death penalty will be sought, current President Donald Trump said it would be his policy that the Department of Justice seek the death penalty in all cases they are allowed to do so when he took office in January. Davis was a letter carrier for the Warren branch of the U.S. Post Office when he was shot and killed while delivering mail at Olive and Washington Streets NE. Davis was shot while inside his U.S. Postal van. Officers and EMTs performed life-saving measures on scene and he was transported to Trumbull Regional Medical Center, where he later died as a result of his wounds. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have not revealed a motive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors have said in previous court filings there is evidence from Thomas Sledges phone that he was at or near the location where the SUV used in the shooting was abandoned and that he was in that area at the same time Karprise Sledge was there. They add there is video evidence and eyewitness testimony showing that Thomas Sledge was inside the SUV used in the shooting. Also in previous filings, Thomas Sledges attorneys have said the government said Thomas Sledge was not the shooter in the case but that he drove a vehicle that was used in the shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. For the first time since being admitted to hospital three weeks ago, Pope Francis has addressed the faithful in an audio message. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health in [St Peter's] Square. I am accompanying you from here," the 88-year-old said. The message was played in the evening in St Peter's Square in the Vatican before a large crowd. "May God bless you and may the Virgin [Mary] protect you. Thank you," Francis said in Spanish, his voice significantly weakened. The gathered crowd in the square in front of St Peter's Basilica then applauded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For almost two weeks, cardinals, priests and lay people have gathered in the square every evening to recite the rosary - a set of prayers dedicated to the Virgin Mary usually followed on a set of beads - for the seriously ill pontiff. Each evening, a different senior Church figure leads the prayers. The level of interest from the faithful in participating in the regular act of devotion continues to be significant. Francis is suffering from a complicated case of double pneumonia. The leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics has already communicated several times with written texts since his admission to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14, thanking people for their concern. However, Thursday evening was the first time his voice was heard. The short audio message was recorded in the hospital. This story has been updated to include comment from the Austin Transit Partnership and the city of Austin. Austin-area Republican state Rep. Ellen Troxclair has again filed legislation that would derail the citys multibillion-dollar light-rail plan, known as Project Connect. House Bill 3879, filed Wednesday, is similar to legislation Troxclair filed in 2023 that came close to passing but was successfully targeted by Democrats on a technicality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her latest bill would prevent local governments and local government corporations from using money raised through tax rate elections to repay future bond debt and would let taxpayers sue to stop future tax collection if the scope of a project changes significantly after initial voter approval. This legislation aims to close two perceived loopholes in the law that municipalities can use tax-rate elections to fund multibillion-dollar capital projects and that there are no limits on how much a project can change once voters have spoken, Troxclair said in a news release Thursday announcing the legislation. State Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, is offering a bill that targets the financing of Austin's Project Connect transit plan. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, is expected to file the same version of the bill in the Texas Senate, according to the news release. While the legislation would apply to all local governments and affiliated entities statewide, it would have particularly significant ramifications for Project Connect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats because a local government corporation, the Austin Transit Partnership, is supposed to fund the project by issuing bonds that would have to be repaid through a tax transfer approved by the City Council. The ATP has not yet issued debt as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and a group of local taxpayers are challenging the legality of the financing model in court. City spokesperson Erik Johnson said in a statement that city staffers are reviewing the bill, and he defended the project as a "catalyst project for our community" that is "expected to grow investment along the corridor while reducing travel times for commuters moving through the city." In a prepared statement that did not explicitly address Troxclair's bill, ATP Executive Director Greg Canally emphasized that Austin voters overwhelmingly approved Project Connect and said it would create jobs and benefit the economy statewide. ATP "is steadily advancing the final design and construction of Austin Light Rail," Canally said in the statement. Local voters in 2020 approved an ongoing increase of more than 20% in the citys maintenance and operations property tax rate to fund the project. At the time, the project was to consist of 28 miles of light rail and cost $7.1 billion, a total that included other, smaller transit projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the plan has been cut down to 9.8 miles but still has the same price tag, according to the ATP. If the mayor and city council want to put a bond in front of voters, they are more than welcome to, Troxclair, a former Austin City Council member, said in the Thursday news release. I just doubt that voters would approve that, even in Austin. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin Rep. Ellen Troxclair files another bill to kill Project Connect WAUKESHA, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities have identified the two individuals found dead in a Waukesha home following a welfare check last Friday. According to the Waukesha County Sheriffs Office, the deceased have been identified as 51-year-old Donald Mayer and 35-year-old Tatiana Casap. Officials said the identification process took additional time to ensure accuracy and to notify Casaps family, who reside outside the United States. Found in deplorable conditions: Police in Wisconsin respond to check on seven children reportedly left alone for a week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We extend our deepest condolences to the families of Donald and Tatiana during this challenging time, the sheriffs office stated. One person remains in custody as a person of interest. No further details have been released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Authorities responded Thursday to a potential active shooter situation at a military base in Pensacola, Florida, but found no signs of a shooter. No injuries were reported. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office and other agencies responded to reports of shots being fired at a building at Naval Air Station Pensacola's Corry Station, the sheriff's office said in a statement to CBS affiliate WKRG-TV. The sheriff's office, Pensacola Police Department and Navy police responded to the location and found no signs of an active shooter after sweeping the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities were conducting another check of the building out of caution, Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons told reporters. "We want to make sure that we've cleared the entire building, closets, hallways, everything," Simmons said. Officials later said on social media a sweep was conducted throughout the base. "They have reported that there are no signs of an active shooter, and the area is determined ALL CLEAR," officials said. Base gates were closed during the law enforcement response, but officials said on social media that some gates were being reopened to people with Defense Department identification cards. Watch: Trump's full address to Congress Ex-Army recruiter flees state with 17-year-old girlfriend after estranged wife's murder Takeaways from Trump's joint address to Congress CROWN POINT, Ind. Lake County (Ind.) authorities said Thursday morning the family of the man found dead along I-65 last week has been located. Troopers had previously been asking for help tracking down the mans next of kin. According to Indiana State Police, just before 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, a crew that was working along I-65 in Crown Point discovered a mans body lying in the west ditch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Troopers said they quickly suspected foul play and began a homicide investigation. Authorities confirmed the case to be a homicide after a forensic autopsy was conducted later that morning. Photo provided by the Lake County Coroners Office shows, 23-year-old Nelson Daniel Ramos-Rivas, a Venezuelan national who was found dead along I-65 in Crown Point, Indiana, on Feb. 28, 2025. Through fingerprints, the Lake County Coroners Office was able to identify the victim as 23-year-old Nelson Daniel Ramos-Rivas, a Venezuelan national. Authorities said Ramos-Rivas last known residence was in Tillamook County, Ore. As a result of the investigation into Ramos-Rivas death, troopers said two people who had recently been taken into custody by the FBI and the King County Sheriffs Office in Seattle, Wash., were identified as suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The identity of the two individuals has not been released, and charges against them are currently pending in Indiana. Troopers said they believe there was no ongoing threat to the public, and additional information on the case will be released when it is appropriate. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Though authorities were able to identify the victim, the coroners office initially said authorities were not able to locate next of kin and asked for the publics help in the search for family members of the victim. On Thursday morning, the coroners office reported that Ramos-Rivas family has been located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) Two people from Los Angeles are facing charges, and about 40 pounds of suspected meth are off the streets. According to the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office, detectives with the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force were notified on Wednesday of two suspicious packages at a local parcel delivery facility believed to contain narcotics. Evansville sex offender sentenced to probation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials state a detective responded and seized the suspected meth inside the packages. The parcels were addressed to a location in the 1800 block of Ridgeway Avenue. Officials say detectives conducted surveillance and saw a white van arrive at the residence where two individuals retrieved the packages and returned to the vehicle. The two people were later identified as Natasha Renee Garner, 46, and Goldie Rodney Junior Flenor, 36. Detectives from the sheriffs office and EPD reportedly tried to stop the suspects, but they attempted to flee before hitting a marked VCSO SUV. Both suspects were taken to the Henderson County Detention Center and charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine Federal Complaint. Courtesy: Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). CLEVELAND (WJW) The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers Association reacted to President Donald Trumps one-month exemption for U.S. automakers in the midst of his new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada. Dealerships cant do much at this point because the cars on the ground are already built, but the future is a concern because of the cost of the vehicle, said Lou Vitantonio, president of the association. City of Euclid condemns 26 buildings in apartment complex Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GCADA represents 285 dealerships in 23 counties in northern Ohio Any way you cut this up, there will be increased costs of the vehicle or the manufacturers will have to try and find a way to not pass that cost on, said Vitantonio. The lifeline comes after Trump spoke with leaders of the Big Three automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis on Wednesday. So, how much could prices go up? Video: Owners surrender hundreds of roosters, chickens allegedly used for cockfighting Vitantonio said it would vary by automaker, depending on their exposure to Canada and Mexico manufacturing. We have 30 days. Its for manufacturers to comply with that Mexico-Canadian agreement Trump put in place a number of years ago. This pause means an opportunity for talks, said Vitantonio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the association, over 100,000 people in northern Ohio are employed by the auto industry and would be directly affected by the change. In the meantime, Vitantonio said now is the time to buy to avoid a potential massive tax on vehicles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. BUCHAREST, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has offered to resign if the opposition Save Romania Union (USR) backs the ruling coalition's candidate, Crin Antonescu, in the upcoming presidential election. Ciolacu, who leads the Social Democratic Party (PSD), revealed on social media Thursday that he had had an "extremely honest discussion" with USR leader Elena Lasconi, and explained why her proposal to back National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Ilie Bolojan for president was not feasible. The prime minister said Bolojan cannot run as he is currently the interim president of Romania. Ciolacu underlined that if USR supports Antonescu, the party would be allowed to rejoin the government, paving the way for a unified pro-European presidential candidacy. Antonescu, 65, has been designated as the official candidate of Romania's ruling coalition following endorsements from the PNL and the Hungarian minority party, UDMR. He is set to formally announce his candidacy on Sunday. Romania's political landscape has been reshaped recently since the country's Constitutional Court annulled last year's presidential election. In that race, Lasconi finished second and, along with Calin Georgescu, advanced to the runoff. The ruling coalition has scheduled the first round of the presidential elections for May 4, 2025, with a potential runoff set for May 18, 2025. LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) Avelo Airlines is starting to take off to a new destination on Thursday. The airline began nonstop service between Central Floridas Lakeland International Airport and Nashville International Airport. The new route will operate twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays. To celebrate the new flight, the airline is discounting one-way fares. Tickets start at $45 for a limited time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airline currently offers seven nonstop flights from Lakeland. Travelers can book flights to the following destinations: Charlotte/Concord, N.C. (USA), Boston/Manchester, N.H. (MHT), New Haven, Conn. (HVN), Philadelphia/Delaware Valley (ILG), Rochester, N.Y. (ROC), San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) and Wilmington, N.C. (ILM). Our Lakeland base offers Central Floridians easy access to air travel, especially for customers who value the convenience of a small hometown airport. Between the start of our new route to Nashville today and our six other nonstop destinations, customers flying in and out of Lakeland can expect more time and freedom to explore Florida in any direction they choose, Avelo Airlines founder and CEO Andrew Levy said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Tickets to the San Angelo Rodeo are in high-demand as rodeo season nears, leaving those without their seats secured to navigate a digital sea of potential scammers. The San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Associations ticketing coordinator shared advice on how to not fall victim to online ticket scams. Melissa Clements, the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Associations ticketing and vendor coordinator, stated that thousands of tickets to the 2025 San Angelos 14 performances approximately 800 to 1,000 tickets per show were made available for purchase on March 3. The majority of these tickets were purchased within 45 minutes of sales going live. To prevent bots from purchasing large amounts of tickets at once, several security measures put in place ahead of time sprung into action. IP addresses, WiFi connections, the number of tickets requested for purchase and more were checked to verify whether a buyer was human. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scammers still persist on the internet despite these countermeasures, though, often attempting to siphon money and sensitive information from targets in exchange for fraudulent tickets. Clements said one of the most common types of scams found online are social media bots designed to comment on posts, claiming to be selling tickets that they no longer need. On some things, you cant even post without at least 10 of those popping up on your comments sections, Clements said. She shared that those wishing to buy tickets from a seller through social media can look at details found on the sellers profile to determine whether they are human or a bot. Most of the time, they {bots} have only been a Facebook user for a couple of months or they only have a handful of friends or they have no posts to show, Clements said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 San Angelo Rodeo performance schedule announced Clements also suggested buyers prioritize acquiring the tickets before providing money to a seller and to schedule in-person meetings with sellers at safe locations. Please, meet them in person at the police station where they have the safe drop-off, the safe transfer, Clements said. If they dont want to meet you in person before you pay, then more than likely, its not even real. She said that ticket scalping a practice in which an individual purchases tickets and sells them at a higher price has happened in the past and is not permitted under San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association policy. Ticket resellers are only allowed to sell tickets at the price of the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did have an instance, one or two last year, where people sold it higher than the face value, and their tickets we took them back, we canceled their order, Clements said. We have too many people that want to go for these people to be out here trying to sell it for higher than face value. Clements also advised buyer beware should those wishing to purchase tickets attempt to do so through third-party websites. She recounted instances where websites allowed buyers to pay for tickets despite them not being on sale yet and where tickets for nonexistent seating rows could be purchased online. Clement stated that, if nothing else, buyers may call the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association to check whether their tickets are valid. This method isnt always sure-fire, however, as digital tickets cannot always be readily viewed by the association. They can call for us to try and verify a ticket, but even then we still cant guarantee the legitimacy of it just because we dont see the ticket, Clements said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States Federal Trade Commission has resources online regarding how to avoid scams and what to do if you are scammed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) Tax season can bring a mix of anticipation and dread, which could make you vulnerable to scams. Tax season scams victimize people every year. The best way to protect yourself is to file your taxes earlier than later, according to officials. BBB details riskiest scams to help keep you protected Filing taxes early allows you to claim or to get your tax refund before some cyber criminal can swoop in and claim it before you can, stated Gary Suganuma, Director of Taxation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cybersecurity experts said identity theft happens more often than you think. They can ruin the credit. They can take over all their bank accounts, said retired Cyber Security Investigator, Chris Duque. If they get access to medical records, they can use it for extortionary means. CEO of Ignite Solutions Group, Derek Gabriel, said all scammers need is a social security number to process hundreds of fake transactions. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Gabriel added scammers will pretend to be Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents through fake texts and phone calls asking for money. Some will even put up fake IRS webpages to fool the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre getting a phone call that says its an IRS, its 100% a scam, said Gabriel. The States Department of Taxation said it will never call, text or email individuals for money. To stay secure, officials recommend filing electronically, but warn to make sure its the correct website. Group of jewelry scammers being kicked out of the country Electronic filing is also more accurate, and your tax return will be processed quicker. Another way to avoid fraud is to enroll in the departments ID protection program. That way youll be notified whenever someone files an income tax using your name and social security number, stated Suganuma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal tax return deadline is Tuesday, April 15. The state deadlines is Monday, April 21. Check out more news from around Hawaii The Department of Taxation suggests requesting direct deposit refunds for a quicker return. Paper checks will take several weeks or more, according to Suganuma. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Utah has often set the national standard in using legislative power to protect children online, and has done so again, becoming the first state in the nation to require app stores to verify the ages of their users. The bill, SB142, would also require parental consent when minors want to download an app. The idea behind the bill is that children should not be entering legal contracts. It may seem silly; you wouldnt have an 8-year-old sign a binding legal agreement, yet children enter into contracts and share their information online daily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every time a child downloads an app on their smartphone, the app developers ask them to accept the terms and conditions, the bills sponsor, Senate Parliamentarian Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, said two weeks ago in the House Economic Development and Workforce Services committee meeting. They are the terms and conditions of a legally binding contract. Sometimes, they ask for permission to access your microphone. They may ask for permission to access your camera. They may ask for permission to collect your data. They may ask for permission to sell your data, he added. How many of you think its a good idea for an 11-year-old child to be clicking yes, agreeing that their microphone and maybe their camera can be accessed and their data can be harvested and used against them. On Wednesday, the Senate agreed with the changes made to the bill by the House voting 25-1 after passing it in early February. Nearly a unanimous vote every time it has been voted in both committee meetings and on the floor, SB142 will now be signed by both the House speaker and Senate president, then to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the Senate passing SB142, social media platforms Meta, X and Snap, Inc. shared the following joint statement via email: Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their childs age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit. Utah parents fight for online child protection Melissa McKay said in the House Economic Development and Workforce Services committee meeting that if the bill were signed into law, it would address the exploitative parts of the mobile device app stores, Google and Apple. McKay has advocated for years to hold Big Tech accountable for its effects on minors. According to McKay, app stores currently treat children older than 12 as consenting legal adults. This bill would restore parental oversight by linking children to a parent account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its so important that parents understand which apps their kids are downloading and (that) they have full disclosures about what those apps do and what they are rated, she said. Trillion-dollar companies should not be able to broker underage children to other billion-dollar companies without parental oversight. During the public discussion regarding SB142, Melanie Mortensen, a representative of Utah Parents United, shared that a survey of Utah parents was highly in favor of the bill. Seventy-eight percent of Utah parents support requiring app stores to obtain parental approval before children can download apps, she said. And even better, another poll showed that 80% of Utah mothers support it. From safeguarding children against predators in virtual reality to shielding them from the dangers of social media and pushing back against platforms that apparently profit from exploiting minors to now protecting them from signing legal contracts, Utah politicians are making it clear: the children of Utah will be protected. When it formally kicked off its hunt for the next New Orleans superintendent in late January, the Orleans Parish School Board outlined a three-month search process intended to culminate in early April with public interviews of the top candidates and, in quick succession, a vote to extend a contract to one of them. From community listening sessions to a plan for advertising the post, each step was standard operating procedure except one: An asterisk at the bottom of the PowerPoint laying out a timeline stated that the board reserves the right to stop the process at any time and simply appoint someone. That note did little to quell concerns among leaders of the citys schools all but one of them independent public charter schools who are still reeling from the fractious events that led up to the abrupt November departure of Avis Williams. The former superintendent resigned after a series of missteps that included an accounting error that obscured a deficit of at least $36 million. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Separately, district leaders have asked a court to enforce the terms of a $90 million settlement in a 2019 lawsuit filed against the city of New Orleans. The suit argues that the city illegally skimmed up to $150 million in taxes owed to schools. Among other things, at stake is an initial payment of $20 million, which district and board leaders planned to use to offset some of the $36 million budget shortfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams became superintendent in the sixth year of New Orleanss experiment as the nations only all-charter district. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city had rebuilt its entire school system at the time, one of the nations worst into a totally new kind of system in which every school lived or died according to its performance contract. This autonomy-for-accountability bargain has led to better outcomes for students, even as it remains controversial. A year ago, Williams who had no prior experience with charter schools mishandled a school closure, reversing her own decisions several times and leaving families scrambling to find alternatives. Critics argued the chaos was the result of her lack of understanding, two years into the job, of how NOLA Public Schools unique system worked. In the end, she solved the problems created by the botched process of revoking the charter of a failing school by replacing it with a traditional, district-run school a move some board members had been pushing for. Related With the Opening of a New School, New Orleans Is an All-Charter District No More The challenges left unresolved including the budget crisis, an overdue downsizing and longstanding problems with the districts centralized enrollment system will make the next superintendents job even more daunting, some members of the charter community say. They believe this makes it imperative that the next district leader is very familiar with the issues and the systems capacity to address them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically, the initial vetting of superintendent candidates is not done publicly. But two names circulating widely in New Orleanss tight-knit education community potentially present a stark choice between a native of the city who helped to create the current system and a veteran administrator who was hired two years ago by Williams. The first, Sharon Clark, is a charter school network leader who played a prominent role in developing the citys charter system and an elected member of the states Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. She is the principal of Sophie B. Wright High School, which had just become one of the citys first charter schools when Hurricane Katrina hit. Clark was able to reopen the school within months, to serve the children of first responders. Last year, the high school earned a B overall on state report cards but an F for student performance on state exams. Related On Hurricane Katrinas 15th Anniversary, 5 New Orleans Educators Tap Lessons From the Storm to Confront COVID-19 The second, NOLA Public Schools Interim Superintendent Fateama Fulmore, is a seasoned administrator who had little charter experience before being brought on by Williams two years ago. She has held top jobs in Omaha, Philadelphia and North Carolina, and last fall was a finalist for two other superintendencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The members of the board that might or might not let the search play out have conflicting visions for the future of the school system. Some want the district to return to operating schools traditionally. Others are more concerned about downsizing and the financial crisis uncovered last fall by charter finance officers that threatens the schools ability to provide quality services. Board member Olin Parker has said Fulmore would be a very strong candidate to lead the district on a permanent basis. But Caroline Roemer, executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, says Clark is a better pick, particularly given the urgent issues before the district. We need someone with zero learning curve when it comes to relationships community relationships, school relationships, she says. What is important now is to have someone from New Orleans. According to a report in The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, most community members who attended a January public meeting told the board they wanted a native of the city who grasps the complexities of the districts decentralized structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of people who have worked in the schools, precious few truly understand the unique nature of New Orleanss system. The NOLA Public Schools leaders powers are limited by state law, so the superintendency is not a job for a conventional leader looking to make a mark. There are also complicated racial legacies. All this makes filling the districts top job a tall order. When Williams was appointed in 2022, she was given contradictory mandates by board members and failed, despite repeated entreaties, to forge relationships with the charter network leaders who have long worked with the district to troubleshoot common issues. By law, the district is constrained from dictating how individual schools educate students. So NOLA Public Schools leaders have fewer, but more distinct, responsibilities than administrators in typical districts. They distribute local, state and federal funds, which schools may spend as they see fit, and they monitor whether individual schools are performing well enough to merit renewal of their charter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Williams was hired, she was asked to tackle an ambitious list of novel problems that included figuring out how to downsize the district in the face of declining enrollment a process that necessarily would require the cooperation of charter operators. She also was charged with fixing a centralized system for matching students with schools and confronting rising absenteeism and mental health issues. From the start, the New Orleans education community questioned whether Williams could make progress without collaborating with people whom traditional superintendents view as subordinates. Most of her daunting to-do list remains unfinished. Related October Surprise: NOLA Schools Learn Theyll Lose at Least $20M in Funding A year ago, after a series of missteps involving the expected revocation of the Lafayette Academy Charter Schools permission to operate, Williams ceded to pressure from then-board vice president Leila Jacobs Eames to open a traditionally operated school in its place something the superintendent had previously said the district was ill-equipped to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an October meeting with district administrators, a number of charter school finance leaders realized NOLA Public Schools had miscalculated the amount of tax revenue it was set to receive from the city by what would later turn out to be at least $36 million. Williams resigned in November. A month later, the broadcast outlet Fox8 discovered, via a public records request, that the board had approved a $335,000 settlement with Williams, which both parties had agreed not to disclose to the public. The CEO of Crescent City Schools, Kate Mehok helps coordinate the School Leadership Forum, a network of charter operators who have long met regularly to hammer out solutions to common problems. Many of New Orleanss most effective innovations were hatched by the network. Mehok says school leaders have told board members that they would like to meet with the candidates. Were hoping they choose to do this so that its clear to whoever becomes the superintendent that were an important constituent group, she says. Our thoughts about it matter, so we have asked to be formally included in giving feedback to the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dana Peterson, CEO of the school improvement and policy group New Schools for New Orleans, says he has told board members that they should spend time now clarifying what they want the next superintendents priorities to be. Maybe [Williams] didnt have the right set of experiences, maybe she didnt have the right disposition towards our system, he says. But it was also true she was unclear on what direction the board wanted her to go on certain things. Applications for the position are open until March 16. Four days later, the board is scheduled to decide whether to interview any of the candidates. If finalists are selected and the process continues as planned, public interviews could take place at board meetings over the following three weeks. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Bakersfield Police Department is asking the community to keep a lookout for teenager last seen the night of March 4 in southwest Bakersfield. Ziklady Rincon, 16, was last seen in the 6300 block of Tobago Court, at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday. She is considered at-risk due to no prior history of being missing. Police describe Rincon to be 5 foot, 1 inch tall and 150 pounds. Rincon has black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a white sweatshirt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bakersfield police search for 15-year-old last seen on Efada Drive She also had on black and grey camouflage pants and was carrying a black backpack at the time of her disappearance. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. Mar. 5Baltimore-area residents should be prepared for severe weather and even a possible tornado, according to the National Weather Service. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are predicted before 3 p.m. Wednesday. Some of the storms could be severe with a high near 66. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Harford County Public Schools will dismiss three hours early Wednesday because of those wind gusts. All field trips and afterschool/evening activities are canceled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Get the latest weathercast from FOX45 News] The weather service also is alerting residents to be on the watch for a potential tornado. "Isolated severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail are possible this afternoon. A tornado or two cannot be ruled out as well," the NWS said in a statement. Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. said it's preparing for the storm with increased staffing, including 350 "mutual assistance personnel." A statement from the utility reads, "This storm is expected to be as strong, or possibly stronger, than the windstorm that impacted our region on Feb. 16." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Bay Bridge, there is the potential for eastbound delays during the afternoon and evening rush hour period. Precipitation, wind warnings or restrictions will prevent officials from implementing two-way operations, during which one lane of eastbound traffic is directed to the westbound span. Wednesday evening will likely bring more showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. with a low around 45. The rain is expected to move from the area Thursday, which will turn partly sunny with a high near 57 with a west wind of 13 to 23 mph and gusting up to 45 mph. Temperatures are projected to drop to around 35 at night. Friday is predicted to be calmer mostly sunny with a high near 59. In the evening, conditions should shift to mostly cloudy with a low around 40. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sun will likely continue to shine Saturday with highs reaching 52 again with a low around 34. The end of the weekend is forecast to bring more sunny conditions and a high near 53 on Sunday and low near 36. The sunny conditions are expected to continue next week with warmer conditions a high near 58 on Monday and 66 on Tuesday. Baltimore Sun reporters Dan Belson and Matt Hubbard contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. Originally Published:March 5, 2025 at 7:40 AM EST The Environmental Protection Agency has put on hold a ban on a toxic chemical once found in huge volumes at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune military base. The ban was scheduled to take effect Jan. 16 and would have regulated trichloroethylene, or TCE, a colorless, volatile chemical compound that has been used to make refrigerants and as a degreasing formula for metal equipment. The EPA said it delayed the ban until March 21 in association with the "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review" memorandum from President Donald Trump on Jan. 20. TCE which can also be found in everyday household products like cleaning wipes, paint removers, carpet cleaners, and spot removers is a known carcinogen that was most famously found in the highly contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. Military communities working and living there during the contamination have been diagnosed with serious conditions at significantly higher rates than normal, as CNN reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Half a million compensation claims have been filed by affected individuals. As a result, the EPA took action and made the groundbreaking decision to ban TCE manufacturing, processing, and distribution. The ban was delayed along with three other planned orders that pertained to air quality, the EPA said. When and if it takes effect, the far-reaching TCE ban will phase out all such products from circulation over the next year, with the goal of protecting millions of Americans from being exposed to the cancer-causing chemical on a daily basis. It is also a massive victory for the military community members affected by the contamination crisis at Camp Lejeune, who were also able to file for disability-related restitution after 2022 legislation promoting action to help those affected. Roughly 2-8% of all cancers around the globe are directly caused by carcinogen exposure at the workplace, so this EPA ban is an incredible step forward for public health in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, several fast fashion brands were exposed for their use of carcinogens. Meanwhile, a Food and Drug Administration-proposed ban to prevent formaldehyde from being used in hair products was put in jeopardy. There is still a long way to go toward eliminating harmful toxins from American homes. Dr. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, a professor at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, suggested to The Carolina Journal that we can protect ourselves through "personal protective equipment, administrative controls in the workplace, and legislative action to help decrease the proportion of disease burden that chemicals contribute." Obeng-Gyasi confirmed the positive progress for which the EPA is setting the stage: "This ban was kind of a major milestone in my opinion." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. GREENVILLE, Pa. (WKBN) A branch of Greenville Savings Bank is moving. The Neshannock Township branch located at 3302 Wilmington Road is moving to 108 South Market Street in New Wilmington. The New Wilmington location will open on March 20 with a grand opening celebration set for March 27. The Neshannock Township branch will close on March 14. The move provides more access to customers in New Wilmington, Volant, Neshannock and surrounding communities, according to information from the bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new location not only brings easier access to our banking services for our customers but also supports our local economy, said Jeffrey Blair, president/CEO of Greenville Savings Bank. We are excited to join the New Wilmington and surrounding communities, and we look forward to building strong, lasting relationships with our new neighbors. The grand opening will include light refreshments, giveaways and special banking offers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. LONDON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening UK-Ireland relations in the post-Brexit era, following a UK-Ireland Summit in Liverpool on Thursday, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting. The statement highlighted a renewed cooperation program pursued in a spirit of "respect and affinity" while emphasizing both nations' commitment to the global multilateral system and international law, which they described as the foundation of their international partnerships. The summit, the first of its kind, comes as Britain and the European Union (EU) face heightened security concerns after years of strained relations during Brexit negotiations. As part of the strengthened partnership, Ireland announced a 185.5-million-pound (239.29 million U.S. dollars) investment in Britain, expected to create 2,540 jobs across the country. The two nations also reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Celtic and Irish Seas, pledging deeper cooperation on offshore energy and interconnection to enhance collective energy security as part of their green transition toward net-zero emissions. Ireland remains Britain's sixth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling nearly 80 billion pounds last year across key sectors, including renewable energy, life sciences, creative industries, and technology. (1 pound = 1.29 U.S. dollar) BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) As the Capital Area Transit System bus drivers moved into the third day of the strike, East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards hopes a resolution is made swiftly. Bus drivers started the strike around 3 a.m. Monday. The local union president said the strike was forced after CATS imposed a final contract offer and refused to address serious safety concerns. CATS has left us with no other choice but to walk off the job. We want the citizens of Baton Rouge to know we did not want to strike. We hope they stand with us. Our frontline bus operators who keep our city moving have been ignored for far too long by CATS management, said local union president George DeCuir. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bus services continue despite the strike, according to CATS Monday statement. People who use the bus for transportation can check CATS website frequently for the most current bus schedule information. Riders can also call 225-389-8282 for additional information. Read the full comment from the office of the mayor-president below. The Office of Mayor-President Sid Edwards is aware of the ongoing CATS bus driver strike, now in its third day. We recognize the critical role that public transportation plays in the daily lives of our citizens, connecting them to jobs, education, healthcare, and essential services. We remain hopeful that all parties involved can reach a fair and constructive resolution as soon as possible. CATS is a vital entity for our community, and we support efforts to ensure its continued success in serving the people of Baton Rouge. Our priority is the well-being of our residents, and we encourage open dialogue and collaboration to achieve the best possible outcome for everyone impacted. CATS workers strike through Mardi Gras as ATU International President visits to show solidarity Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WKRG) A Bay Minette man was sentenced Wednesday for attempting to sex traffic a child, according to the United States Department of Justice. Strong winds cause trashnado at Mobile Mardi Gras parade According to a news release from the USDOJ, U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced William Guy Long to 276 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. William Guy Long. (Photo courtesy of the Shelby County Sheriffs Office) Long will also have to pay $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pled guilty to the charge in October. The plea agreement shows Long scheduled to meet with an escort and offered the escort $500 to bring an underage girl to have sex with him. He said he wanted someone 10 years old or younger, and the escort told Long she had a 9-year-old daughter. Long said he preferred someone younger, like age 4 or 5, but would pay $800 to have the escort check her daughter out of school for the day and bring her to him. The meeting was set, but the escort called law enforcement instead of getting her daughter. Law enforcement used text messages to confirm that Long had made this request, News 5 has learned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE agents, along with Hoover and Pelham police officers, conducted surveillance at the hotel where the arrangement was set to take place. Long opened the door to find law enforcement instead of the child. According to the USDOJ, Long then admitted to communicating with the escort to solicit a child for an unlawful sex act. Law enforcement seized and searched Longs phone with his consent. VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering moving Mobile operations to Pensacola Other text messages Long had sent to other people said get me a young one and the younger you find the more money Ill pay FYI, according to the USDOJ release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. If you wanted to inflame popular fears that the police and the courts are dolling out different levels of punishment to citizens according to their ethnicity or political views you could do no better than what the Sentencing Council has just done. The shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick revealed yesterday that courts have been told that they should normally consider ordering a pre-sentence report on an offender if they came from an ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community or are transgender. This constitutes such a clear conflict with the principle of equality before the law that the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has pledged to have the guidance rewritten rather than waste her time digging a hole for herself and the Government by defending it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a similar capture by extreme elements has succeeded in another of our vital institutions.The BBC may just have come up with the perfect master plan to convince people to stop paying the licence fee. Look at their decision to broadcast and then remove from iPlayer the documentary about the Israel-Gaza conflict: Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone. It has emerged that about 400,000 of licence payers money may have been paid to the independent production company, Hoyo Films, for the making of the documentary. The production company paid 790 to the mother of the young boy who fronted the programme, Abdullah Ayman Eliyazouri, who featured in a Channel 4 news report last year in which his uncle was mistakenly described as his father. Abdullahs real father, however, is Ayman al-Yazouri. He is the deputy agriculture minister in Gazas Hamas-run government. Four months before the October 7 pogrom, al-Yazouri appeared to praise in an online post Hamas terrorists who had murdered four Israelis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdullahs sister, meanwhile, appeared to welcome the October 7 atrocities in southern Israel in a Facebook post. One of the cameramen hired to film the documentary, Amjad Al Fayoumi, similarly used a Facebook post to seemingly welcome the massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7 as the flood. The investigative journalist David Collier was instrumental in persuading the BBC to remove the content from its online streaming services. The corporation has come under pressure from supporters of both sides in the conflict. One for commissioning and broadcasting the documentary, the other side for removing it. This fact reassures some observers that it must be doing something right to earn the opprobrium of both Israel and Hamas supporters. But that is hardly the point. Hamas is a legally-recognised terrorist organisation. It is no different in ideological outlook from the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. Its members have orchestrated the murder, kidnapping, torture and rape of thousands of Israelis for the crime of being Jewish. No direct payments to Hamas from either the BBC or from Hoyo Films have been uncovered. But to use a young presenter with such close familial links to Hamas is a dereliction of duty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where was the oversight? Where was the editorial principle that ensures balanced coverage? Did producers in London seriously believe that such a film, given the personnel involved in producing it, could possibly aspire to a neutral and objective representation of the conflict? Radical change needs to sweep through the corporation. The campus Trots and Marxists who gravitated towards the corridors of power in Broadcasting House after graduation must be removed or have their wings clipped by the adults in the room. If there are any still left. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. CHICAGO Family is remembering a mother who sustained fatal injuries after being struck by a Cook County Sheriffs deputy Tuesday in Glenview. Mercedes Smith, 28, of Chicago, was walking in the 9800 block of Milwaukee Avenue in Glenview just after 5 a.m. Circumstances are unclear, but she was struck that morning by a Cook County Sheriffs deputy. Smith was transported to Lutheran General in critical condition where she was placed in a medical-induced coma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family learned the gutting news that she was declared brain dead and transported her to RUSH Medical Center where they will take her off life support on Friday. She was beautiful to know and be around, her sister Markquita told WGN News. A real, deep person. She was really dependable and her daughter loved her so much. Mercedes Smith and her daughter Monashay Coming from a big family of six, Smith gave birth to the light of her life, Monashay, ten years ago. Family has not told her yet and did not want to traumatize her by seeing her mother in the hospital. Shes been doing so good in school. We are going to tell her after, Smith said. Mercedes Smith and her daughter Monashay Family signed approval for organ donation and know that she will save lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monashay was the apple of her eye, Smith said. She loved her daughter. Glenview police issued a press release Wednesday night saying she died. However, police explained to WGN News Thursday that they received a time of death from the hospital and were not aware she was only brain dead. According to the Cook County Sheriffs Office, the deputy involved in the incident was not placed on administrative leave, but voluntarily took time off as the investigation continues. The North Regional Major Crimes Task Force is handling the investigation and said the Cook County Sheriffs Office is cooperating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. The disappearance of 30-year-old Tara Grinstead mystified the small community of Ocilla Georgia, known for its friendly small-town America values and vast pecan orchards. And for more than a decade, pecan orchards held the secret of what happened to the one-time beauty pageant contestant, who was enjoying a successful career as a teacher. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant investigates the young woman's disappearance and the quest for answers in the case he's covered since 2008 in "The Tara Grinstead Mystery," reairing Saturday, August 20 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the afternoon of Saturday, October 22, 2005, Tara had helped younger contestants prepare for a local beauty pageant. Afterwards she went to a barbecue. Sometime around 11 p.m. she returned to the small house where she lived alone. When she failed to show up to teach her history class on Monday morning at Irwin County High School, her friends knew something was wrong. "She would never do that, she would never leave her kids," said her best friend Maria Woods Harber. Maria went to Tara's home and noticed her car in the driveway. She followed police inside. Tara's purse and keys were missing, her alarm clock was under the bed and a bedside lamp was broken but there was no other overt sign of a struggle. Investigators received hundreds of tips, but nothing panned out. But in 2017, a woman named Brooke Sheridan came forward with a remarkable story. She said her boyfriend, Bo Dukes, appeared to have been keeping a secret from her. She said she had prodded him to confess what had been eating away at him. Finally, she says, he told her his secret: that years earlier his roommate Ryan Duke [similar name, no relation], woke him up one morning and told him he had "accidentally" killed Tara after trying to rob her in her home. The two men had attended Irwin County High School. In fact, Bo had been a student in one of Tara's classes. Bo Dukes, left, and Ryan Duke. / Credit: AP/Georgia Bureau of Information Bo said that Ryan told him he had used Bo's truck to transport her body to a pecan orchard owned by Bo's family. Later, Bo said that Ryan showed Bo him the exact location where he had dumped Tara's body. Bo told Brooke he helped Ryan burn Tara's body in a fire pit, which took two days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Bo told his story to authorities, Ryan Duke was arrested and charged with murder. In a voluntary interview with the GBI just before his arrest, Ryan Duke said he had been stealing from Tara's purse, high on drugs, when Grinstead came up behind him and he hit her. Bo Dukes was also arrested and charged not with murder but on charges related to helping to cover up a crime. He was convicted and sentenced to 25 years. In May 2022, Ryan Duke went on trial for Tara's murder. Ryan testified that he gave investigators a false confession back in 2017 claiming he had taken painkillers before that interview with the GBI, and that he had been afraid of his former friend, Bo Dukes. On the stand, Ryan said that it was really Bo Dukes who killed Grinstead, and Ryan admitted that he had helped Bo move Tara's body, before Bo lit the fire. After more than seven days of testimony, Ryan Duke was acquitted of all charges relating to Tara Grinstead's murder, and was convicted only of concealing her death. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on that charge. "What happened in this orchard was senseless" says Woods Harber. And as for what really happened to Tara on the night that she disappeared? "I've had to come to a conclusion that I'm just gonna have to live the rest of my life not knowing." Watch: Trump's full address to Congress Ex-Army recruiter flees state with 17-year-old girlfriend after estranged wife's murder Takeaways from Trump's joint address to Congress A New Bedford man has been arrested and is accused of shooting his neighbor to death, the Bristol County District Attorneys office said Thursday. Officers responding to a Bolton Street residence around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night found Karina Martinez-Ortiz, 32, suffering from gunshot wounds inside. She was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased. Investigators received an arrest warrant for 49-year-old Wilo Morales-Colon on charges of murder and unlawful carrying of a firearm. He was taken into custody in Springfield early Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morales-Colon is expected to be arraigned in New Bedford District Court Thursday afternoon. I am pleased with the efforts of all investigating agencies to quickly locate the defendant and bring him into custody. Thank you to the Massachusetts State Police and Homicide Prosecutors from my office, members of the New Bedford Police Department and the Diplomatic Security Service, District Attorney Tom Quinn said. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) A New Bedford police officer is on leave after he pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor domestic assault and battery charges. Nivaldo Mendes, 30, was charged with two counts of strangulation or suffocation and three counts of assault and battery on a family or household member back in December, according to court documents. The charges stem from several incidents that happened in Taunton throughout 2024 that culminated in Mendes arrest late last year. The victim obtained an abuse prevention order against him shortly after his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendes pleaded guilty to the assault and battery charges last month and was given 18 months probation. Court documents showed that Mendes tried to indirectly reach out by posting private Snapchat stories with captions directed toward the victim, including I miss your voice and I miss you a lot every second of the day. Mendes was later charged with violating an abuse prevention order as a result. 12 News reached out to the New Bedford Police Department regarding Mendes employment, to which a spokesperson confirmed hes been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a personnel investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission has since suspended Mendes law enforcement certification as a result of the case. If Mendes stays out of trouble during his probation period, the two strangulation or suffocation charges and his violation of the abuse prevention order will be removed from his record. 12 News reached out to Mendes and his attorney regarding the charges, but both declined to comment. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. China's special envoy for European affairs, Lu Shaye, has said he is "appalled" by US President Donald Trump's treatment of America's European allies. He added that a peace deal for Ukraine should not be decided solely by the US and Russia. Source: South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper Quote: "When you look at how the Trump administration has implemented a brazen and domineering policy towards Europe, treating its allies in this way, honestly, from a European perspective, its quite appalling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe European friends should reflect on this and compare the Trump administrations policies with those of the Chinese government. In doing so, they will see that Chinas diplomatic approach emphasises peace, friendship, goodwill and win-win cooperation." Details: Shaye voiced his remarks during a panel discussion with senior diplomats, held alongside the annual session of Chinas top advisory body, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, in Beijing. He acknowledged that although discussions between the US and Russia aim to address what he referred to as a "crisis" in reality, a war any peace process must involve all relevant stakeholders, including European nations: "Various proposed solutions should be subject to equal discussion, rather than being dictated by a select few." Background: On 28 February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance had a row over the war in Ukraine at the White House in raised voices in front of the TV cameras. On 4 March, US media outlets reported that Trump had ordered a halt to all military aid to Ukraine until he sees that the Ukrainian leadership "demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace". Trump's decision also applied to weapons that had already left US territory and were en route to the Ukrainian border. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has announced that the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine has been postponed until 2026. Source: Wever in a statement before a meeting with other European Union leaders in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda Details: The delay is due to the fact that Belgium is waiting to receive new F-35 fighter jets to replace the current fleet of F-16s. De Wever provided no further details on the expected arrival of the F-35s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The F-16s are intended for combat use in Ukraine, though the revised delivery schedule means they will not enter service until 2026. President Zelenskyy met with de Wever before today's EU summit. "I thanked the government and all Belgians for their assistance, particularly for the decision to transfer F-16 fighter jets. We greatly appreciate these strong steps to protect Ukrainian lives," the Ukrainian leader wrote on X (Twitter) after the meeting. "During our talks, we focused particularly on defence needs, primarily the supply of artillery systems and ammunition, as well as investment in Ukraines domestic production of long-range drones and missiles. These systems have already proven their effectiveness on the front lines, and we must work together to strengthen this advantage," Zelenskyy tweeted. Background: A coalition of countries led by the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands, which formed in 2023, began delivering F-16s to Ukraine last year. Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov met with his Belgian counterpart Theo Francken in mid-February to discuss the further implementation of the F-16 programme. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BELLE MEADE, Tenn. (WKRN) Two wanted men were taken into custody last week thanks to alert Belle Meade officers and a crime-fighting network that surrounds that city. According to the Belle Meade Police Department, the city has 21 license plate recognition (LPR) locations. In fact, theres no way in or out of Belle Meade without being detected by an LPR camera. That network of crime-fighting cameras paid dividends on Wednesday, Feb. 26 when a Jeep driving down Belle Meade Boulevard was flagged for having a stolen plate on it. Officers pulled that vehicle over and began an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Body camera footage captured the moments after the stop. Police find truck involved in fatal hit-and-run in South Nashville Your plate came back stolen, okay? an officer said. The driver, who ultimately was not arrested, replied, Its not my car. Police soon discovered two men in the vehicle had outstanding warrants. One of those men was James Walls, who discarded a syringe on the floorboards of the car, according to authorities. Walls told officers he did not toss the syringe and he maintained he was diabetic. Youre gonna be charged with that syringe, the officer said. For real? Walls asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes sir, the officer responded. Nashvilles Most Wanted fugitives: Man sought for sexual battery by an authority figure Police said Walls was wanted out of Kentucky on charges related to drugs. So what is your name and your date of birth? Because this aint coming up, the officer said. The date of birth is correct, Walls stated. According to officials, the 21-year-old initially lied about who he was. If you dont tell me the truth, Im going to be charging you with false information to a police officer, the cop said. Thats when Walls revealed who he was. A search of Walls revealed $900 and a small amount of drugs in his pocket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other man taken into custody was identified as Teddy Potter. Police said the 27-year-old had active warrants out of Fairview. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com According to an affidavit obtained by News 2, Potter was in possession of a womans car. After the Fairview Police Department instructed Potter to return the womans car, the vehicle was reportedly found abandoned on the side of the interstate in Wilson County. Potter was charged with theft of property, but per the arrest document, he did not show up for court and was charged with failure to appear. They did a great job locating the vehicle. They did a great job working together to get the information as far as about the stolen vehicle, the stolen tag, the warrants, the drugs, the paraphernalia. They did great work, Lt. Mack Mangrum with the Belle Meade Police Department told News 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walls was reportedly booked into the Davidson County Male Correctional Development Center for felony fugitive from justice (no warrant) and misdemeanor possession or casual exchange of a controlled substance. He is being held on a $102,000 bond, but he has already been sentenced to 30 days for the drug charge, with the sentence starting Wednesday, March 5, according to the Davidson County Sheriffs Office. Meanwhile, Potter was taken to Williamson County, where hes still being held on a $5,000 bond, jail officials said. He is due in court on April 10. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. OSLO, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian parliament on Thursday agreed to increase the country's support for Ukraine in 2025, with an additional allocation of 50 billion Norwegian kroner (4.59 billion U.S. dollars). The extra funding brings Norway's total contribution to Ukraine for this year to 85 billion Norwegian kroner, and to 205 billion Norwegian kroner for the period up to 2030. "A broad political agreement has been reached in the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) to substantially increase Norway's support for Ukraine," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement. (1 Norwegian kroner = 0.092 U.S. dollar) HONOLULU (KHON2) A Koi Fish in Aiea has been kidnapped and police are asking for the publics help in helping solve this case. Two men found unresponsive on Kailua Beach According to Honolulu police, sometime between February 7 and 9, a Koi Fish was stolen from a backyard pond on Palula Way in Aiea. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The Koi was given to the owner as a gift 20 years ago by her late husband. She said its a comfort fish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10 things to know about the God Squad: How it impacts Hawaii The Koi is described as being black and white and weighs between 20 to 30 pounds. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Anyone with information is asked to call the Honolulu Police Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Bentonville middle school teacher got a $25,000 national award surprise at a school assembly. Bonnie Pollock, a sixth-grade literacy teacher at Old High Middle School in Bentonville, received the 2024-25 Milken Educator Award from the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching CEO Dr. Josh Barnett. Missing Benton County woman last seen in Oct. 2024 Bonnie Pollocks innovation and leadership demonstrate the high-quality teaching our nation needs and our students deserve, Barnett said. I am pleased to welcome Bonnie into the Milken Educator Network, where she will have a powerful platform to broaden her impact, both in Arkansas and across the country. (Courtesy: Milken Educator Awards) (Courtesy: Milken Educator Awards) (Courtesy: Milken Educator Awards) (Courtesy: Milken Educator Awards) (Courtesy: Milken Educator Awards) Students and staff gathered in the auditorium this morning for the celebration, but none of them knew what the assembly was about until Dr. Barnett told them about the Milken award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva was also in attendance. I dont think theres ever a time I dont get just as teared up as the teacherand the students too, Oliva said. When the students are probably more excited than the adults, that means were doing the right thing. Pollock said she credited her students efforts and collaboration in community engagement for her selection, but that she also feels humbled and honored to be recognized for her work. I think that they deserve my best every day, Pollock said. As a human, sometimes its hard to give your best. But when I walk through those doors, I think that they know and I know that Im doing absolutely all I can to help them grow, learn and be better students and people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Milken Educator Awards are considered the Oscars of Teaching. Pollock was one of 75 to receive the honor this school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Berks County detectives are warning residents to be on the lookout for two telephone scams involving a caller who purports to be a law enforcement official. Detectives with the district attorneys office said they have seen a recent increase in these scams: Amazon fraudulent purchase scam Detectives say this scam primarily has targeted elderly residents who receive a random telephone call from someone purporting to be a law enforcement officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The caller asks the potential victim if they recently purchased a laptop computer or a similar type of device through Amazon. When the potential victim denies making such a purchase, the caller says the fraudulent purchase is already being investigated and that he only needed to confirm that the purchase was not authorized. The caller then asks the person for the name of their banking institution, offering to transfer the potential victim to the bank so the alleged fraudulent activity can be reported and their accounts safeguarded. The potential victim then believes they are speaking with a representative from their financial institution, but they actually were transferred to another scammer who begins to obtain personal and banking information. In some cases, a third person, claiming to be from a federal law enforcement agency, will also speak with the victim to ease their concerns about releasing their sensitive information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives said this scam preys upon the potential victims fear of becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft. The scammer will often provide a police case number, a badge number and a contact phone number to further legitimize the call. The scammer may indicate he is working with the Berks sheriffs department in the investigation. Berks County electronic-monitor scam A second scam involves a random call from someone purporting to be from the Berks sheriffs department. These calls target family members of current Berks County Prison inmates. The caller indicates the inmate is eligible for release via an electronic ankle monitor. The caller says he oversees the monitoring program and that certain fees are required as part of the setup process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The potential victims are asked to pay various fees that could total thousands of dollars. Potential victims are told these fees can be paid via popular payment platforms such as Cash App, Venmo, Zelle and Apple Pay. Detectives said this scam preys upon the family members of inmates and their desire to have their loved ones released from prison. As this scam continues, more and more of these made-up fees will be requested until the victim eventually becomes suspicious or realizes they are being scammed. Officials noted that electronic monitoring devices are authorized by the court, and any costs associated with them are not collected over the telephone by any government entity, including the sheriffs department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives said these scams can be extremely unnerving and very believable to potential victims because the perpetrators often make the call appear to be coming from the sheriffs department. Tips Detectives offered the following suggestions to avoid being scammed: Never give out sensitive information over the phone. This would include Social Security numbers, dates of birth, account numbers, names of financial institutions or account balances. Do not feel pressured to provide a payment to anyone asking over the telephone. Do research into what is being asked of you. Run the situation by a friend or family member before sending or withdrawing any money. Talk with someone you trust before you act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slow down. Scammers will try to rush you and pressure you into sending or withdrawing money immediately. Legitimate law enforcement agencies and banking personnel would never rush you regarding any financial decision. Never withdraw cash in response to an unexpected call or message. Only scammers will demand that you urgently withdraw large amounts of money. Government agencies and business entities will never demand payment over the telephone using bitcoin, gift cards or peer-to-peer payment platforms. Anyone who asks for funds to be paid in this manner is likely a scammer. Remember, just because someone calls you and claims to be from a financial institution or a government agency doesnt mean that they are. Ask questions and do research, especially when the nature of their inquiry is unexpected, suspicious or involves high-pressure tactics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do not deposit money into a bitcoin ATM, or BTMs, at the request of an unsolicited caller. Anyone who asks for funds in this way is most likely a scammer. If you receive a random call and before sending payment to any law enforcement entity via any means, detectives advise that you contact your local police, the sheriffs department and/or the district attorneys office. Be wary of any callback telephone numbers provided to you by scammers. In addition to notifying your local police, a complaint can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission via reportfraud.ftc.gov or call them at 1-877-382-4357. CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) On Tuesday, a New Bern man was sentenced to over five years in prison for his part in a drug trafficking organization. On November 21, 2024, 26-year-old Robert Niquan Bryant pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, as well as distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. Two controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from Bryant in March and April of 2024. Both instances contained more than 100 grams of methamphetamine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bryant is a validated member of the United Blood Nation street gang. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. Mar. 6Bernalillo County deputies shot and killed a man Thursday morning in an upscale Foothills neighborhood. In a briefing, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office detective Kevin Carhartt said no deputies were injured. Carhartt said the man killed by deputies was armed, but he would not say what the weapon was or what led deputies to open fire on him. The man was not identified. Around 4 a.m. deputies responded to reports of a man causing a disturbance at a home in the 500 block of Live Oak, in a neighborhood northeast of Tramway and Paseo del Norte. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carhartt said the 911 caller stayed on the phone "giving live updates" to dispatch and, as deputies were en route, reported the man "was becoming violent and was arming himself." Deputies arrived and approached the man and "almost immediately a confrontation occurred," he said. "At least one shot was fired by at least one deputy," Carhartt said. The man was taken to a hospital where he died. The Multi-Agency Task Force is investigating the shooting. Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during his weekly press conference, March 6, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) FRANKFORT Democratic Gov. Andy Besehar warned Thursday that Kentuckys economy would suffer in a trade war and said the states Republican U.S. senators also disagree with President Donald Trumps threatened tariffs. When you have the two Republican senators and the Democratic governor all saying somethings a bad idea, its because its a bad idea, Beshear said during his weekly news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours later Trump announced that he was suspending new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada until April 2. The tariffs had taken effect Tuesday, and on Wednesday Trump exempted automakers from having to pay them for a month. Beshear said hes been having conversations with Canadian officials, urging them to spare Kentucky and focus any retaliatory measures on places and areas where people arent speaking up. Canadian provinces already have responded to Trumps actions by pulling U.S.-made liquor off store shelves a move that Kentucky-based Brown-Forman called worse than tariffs. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said in a recent CBS interview that tariffs drive the cost of everything up and would be paid for by American consumers. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said on X last month that Republicans won the last election by complaining about Democrats policies, which gave us high prices. Tariff lovers will be forced to explain the persistence of high prices Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump campaigned on a promise to enact tariffs as leverage to stop the flow of immigrants and fentanyl across the U.S. border. Beshear expressed less concern about Republican state lawmakers efforts to replicate the efforts of billionaire and special government employee Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency in Kentucky. The Senate passed a bill on Wednesday to launch KOGE, or the Kentucky Office of Government Efficiency, in the auditor of public accounts office. Beshear called KOGE a Kentucky version of DOGE, except it cant do any of the things that the federal version does. DOGE has been firing federal employees and freezing government payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beshear was concerned about the bills addition of subpoena powers to the auditors office. Ive heard some comments coming out of that office that have seemed pretty political, and so my hope is that any changes that we make, especially that confers more power to any constitutional office, that were being careful in how were doing it and that its going to end up being used for the betterment of the people of Kentucky and not as a political tool. Beshear pointed to a conflict between his administration and Republican Auditor Allison Balls office that resulted in a court order over the ombudsmans office. Last year, the legislature moved the ombudsman to Balls office from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Around the same time as Beshears press conference, the House Committee on State Government passed a resolution from Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, to establish the Kentucky Discipline of Government Efficiency, or KY DOGE. Editors note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. American volunteer soldiers fighting in Ukraine say that they feel betrayed by their own country after the U.S. halted military aid and stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv in early March. (U.S. President Donald Trump) betrayed every one of us, a U.S. Army veteran, who goes by the callsign Goldfish, told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few days after the heated Oval Office clash during President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to Washington on Feb. 28, Trump froze the delivery of all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, worth billions, in a move to push Kyiv into peace talks with Russia. CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed on March 5 that the U.S. has also halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which could affect Ukraines ability to identify Russian targets, as well as to defend itself from missile strikes. The American soldiers who spoke to the Kyiv Independent said they were horrified by their countrys recent decisions and the ensuing consequences on the ground in Ukraine. With many of them fighting in Ukraine since 2022, they say watching their country take a major U-turn in Ukraine policy and soften toward Russia has been hurtful and deeply offensive, especially after losing comrades one after another to the war, including many Americans. Never have I ever thought that I would be listening to any U.S. public figure let alone the president openly declare support for an aggressor, Goldfish, a 33-year-old Alaskan currently serving with the 25th Airborne Brigade, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we stand here now on the side of the oppressor, literally telling Ukraine, either submit or cease to exist, that's not peace thats subjugation. U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Feb. 10, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) While the exact number of U.S. volunteer soldiers fighting in various units in Ukraine is unknown to the public, at least 50, including about 40 U.S. military veterans, were killed in action as of February 2024, according to the American defense online publication Task & Purpose. A 2025 CNN investigation revealed that more than 20 are missing in action on the front line. Understanding the significance of U.S. military aid and the immense sacrifice that Ukraine has already made to defend its country, some American fighters hoped that Trump wouldnt abandon Ukraine like that, soldier Levi Perez, 36, said. Deep down in our very souls, we knew it was coming, Perez, an Alaskan who goes by his callsign Joker, told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our reputation for the foreseeable future is pretty much gone, he said, noting that other Western countries are losing trust in the U.S. and may turn away from further political and economic ties. Perez and a few other American soldiers in Ukraine are convinced that Trump and his teams hasty moves are making the possibility of World War III inevitable, especially with China likely eyeing the moment to invade another sovereign nation. We are beyond the point of control (where we can avoid World War III) because Russia is not going to retreat completely, they won't give back the stolen territory, and Ukraine won't let them keep the territory, Perez said, referring to the roughly 20% of the Ukrainian land that Russia occupies. Read also: Regardless of Trumps Ukraine peace deal, war with West is foundational to Putins rule, experts say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A surge in the Ukrainian troop losses is expected with the U.S. military aid freeze and the intelligence sharing halt, the American soldiers say. A former police officer from a southern city in the U.S. currently serving in the Ukrainian military says that hes most worried about the bans potential cost especially on the civilian lives. The civilians are going to suffer exponentially, almost more, because now with the lack of intelligence, we don't have as much information about rocket and drone strikes coming from Russian territory, the police officer-turned-soldier, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to his units protocols, told the Kyiv Independent. I accepted the fact that I just may not have a country to go back to because Im not going to go back and live under a fascist regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most terrifying part is seeing how the U.S. next steps will impact Ukraine and its people, because Ukrainian people are incredible, according to a fellow American soldier, who goes by the callsign Gimli. The nightmare that keeps me up the most is whether my country will ever recover, Gimli, a 33-year-old former U.S. army serviceman from Washington, told the Kyiv Independent. Or if Trump and the Kremlin have completely crippled the future of my country. Gimli and other American soldiers said they had a completely different vision of their country a democratic nation they believed had always tried to do the right thing despite setbacks and to help the world as defenders of freedom. Now, they say they feel humiliated. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support us Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I accepted the fact that I just may not have a country to go back to because Im not going to go back and live under a fascist regime, he said, adding that he hopes that the Ukrainians can forgive my people someday. The American soldiers interviewed said their hopes were now hanging on Europe to step up its support for Ukraine in what could be its darkest months to come. Goldfish, who received a near fatal injury in embattled Donetsk Oblast in the summer of 2023, said that Europe is the sleeping tiger in this war. I always thought it would be Russia that would just poke too far towards Europe or make too many threats. But it wasn't, Goldfish said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was America that poked the tiger and woke it up. Note from the author: Thanks for reading the story. The turbulent days aren't over, but there is at least some positivity to appreciate such as the bravery of the American and international soldiers who dropped everything to come help defend Ukraine. Please consider becoming a part of the Kyiv Independent community. Thank you. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. had his first report date in federal court Thursday morning after being arrested nearly a week ago. Ford Jr. is facing bribery and six attempted tax evasion charges. Commissioner Ford Jr. charged with bribery, tax evasion In a 17-page indictment, Ford Jr. allegedly used his public office to secure grant funds for several non-profits and then received payments from those organizations in exchange for laptops from his business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in court, prosecutors said they had 80,000 pages of evidence against Ford Jr. along with 512 GB of digital files. That is when Ford Jr.s attorney, Michael Scholl, asked for the next report date to be 60 days out so that he could access the files. Court documents say the discovery includes investigative reports, video evidence, phone records, witness statements, and financial records. The Judge suggested a possible trial date in August; however, Scholl says he cant pinpoint a trial date until after hes assessed the discovery. This comes after Ford Jr. turned himself into federal custody last Friday. He entered a not-guilty plea and was placed on a $25,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shelby County Mayors Office requested to pause Ford Jr.s grant-making during the federal prosecution. He was then placed on administrative leave from his job with the library services. Commissioner Ford Jr. placed on leave without pay from city job In a statement, Mayor Lee Harris said, his [Ford Jr.] continued grant-making as a commissioner unnecessarily taints the process and undermines the credibility of this Commission program and the non-profits who participate. After court, Edmund Ford Sr. sent a warning to Harris saying, Mayor better be careful. Hes the one, in regards to the statements the mayor had made about Ford Jr.s involvement in the grant-making process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford Sr. didnt elaborate on what he meant when he said, Hes the one. On Wednesday, Ford Jr. attended his first commissioners meeting since the federal indictment. He spoke on several issues during the meeting but stepped out when commissioners spoke on advocating for reform. Audit the funds that are provided by the county, such as if they match the descriptions of the project that were approved. It can be that simple, which really shouldnt overburden the entity itself. It will be more of an issue for the independent auditors that they will contract with as a 501c3, Commissioner Michael Whaley said. If we have an issue, state the issue dont try to save face about something that doesnt need to be saved, Commissioner Henri Brooks said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford Jr. attends first commissioners meeting after arrest Scholl says these decisions are a rush to judgment. He hasnt been found guilty of anything, and thats part of the process is that that persons innocent unless theyre proven guilty, and were going to defend Mr. Fords innocence as strongly as we possibly can, Scholl said. Scholl says despite any scrutiny, the Shelby County Commissioner is in good spirits and plans to continue doing the job he was voted in to do. I think hell proceed forward like he always has in an honorable and a just way and an honest way, Scholl said. The court granted the defense 60 days to review the evidence. Edmund Ford Jr.s next court date is scheduled for May 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Cliff House Beach in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. (AnnMarie Hilton/Maine Morning Star) Previous attempts to extend Maines jurisdiction over coastal waters faced legal hurdles, but one lawmaker is trying again. Two bills from Sen. Joseph Martin (R-Oxford) that seek to assert state sovereignty and ownership up to 12 and 24 nautical miles off the states coast are scheduled to have a public hearing Thursday before the Legislatures Marine Resources Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just two years ago, similar legislation was brought forward and failed. At the time, both the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Maine Lobstermens Association raised concern that such a change is legally fraught and wouldnt result in the desired outcome of protecting lobster fisheries, leading both entities to oppose the bill. The new proposal to extend state sovereignty to 12 nautical miles off the coast, LD 553, includes an emergency preamble that would allow the legislation to take effect immediately upon passage, rather than waiting the typical 90 days after adjournment. The emergency language in the bill cites recent decisions from the National Marine Fisheries Service and New England Fishery Management Council to restrict herring fishing in the Gulf of Maine. Herring are commonly used as bait for commercial lobster fishing, so those decisions could have devastating consequences for Maines lobster industry, the bill states. The 2025 herring fishing quota for the region is a fraction of what it was expected to be in an effort to reduce the risk of overfishing and help rebuild the population, explained Jamie Cournane, a senior fishery analyst with the New England Fishery Management Council. The decision to lower the limit was motivated by a stock assessment conducted last year that showed the herring population was not doing as well as a 2022 assessment predicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Cournane said the council is continuing to assess new information about the herring population and could update its recommendations to the federal government. Prior legislation made similar arguments that state authority should be extended to protect Maines lobster industry. The proposal to go as far as 24 miles, LD 687, was submitted as a concept draft and the complete language was not available as of Wednesday afternoon. Legal challenges As with the 2023 legislation, neither proposal seems to have legs because federal laws and previous court decisions dont permit state authority that far off the coast, said Charles Norchi, director of the Center for Oceans and Coastal Law at the University of Maine School of Law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 1975 U.S. Supreme Court case found that states on the Atlantic Coast only have jurisdiction up to three nautical miles from the low-water mark. Therefore, it would be unconstitutional for a state to assert jurisdiction beyond that, Norchi said. That decision was based on two 1953 federal laws, namely the Submerged Lands Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Land Act, that establish the three-mile boundary. In his testimony against the 2023 bill, Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher said a 1997 analysis from the Marine Law Institute of the University of Maine found that the state could not assert its sovereignty beyond the three-mile boundary because of the Submerged Lands Act. Nothing in the current proposals makes Norchi believe this attempt would garner different results than the previous attempt. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The man who pleaded no contest to setting fire to the Bidwell Mansion in Chico back on December 11, 2024, was sentenced to 11 years in state prison, according to the Butte County District Attorneys Office. Along with the 11-year sentence, Butte County Superior Court Judge Corie Caraway ordered the suspect, 30-year-old Kevin Carlson, to pay $37,414,083 in restitution to California State Parks, with 10% interest to run from the date of the arson. Homeowner displaced, dog missing after house fire in La Riviera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge said she received over 100 victim impact statements from community members who were affected by the calculated and premeditated arson, the District Attorneys Office said. The judge also said she found aggravating factors sufficient to impose the maximum term despite the Probation Department recommending a term of eight years in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. ALMATY, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, according to the Kazakh presidential press service on Thursday. "The heads of state noted the dynamic development of relations between Kazakhstan and Russia in the spirit of friendship, neighborliness, and alliance," the press service said. The presidents discussed trade and economic cooperation and highlighted the successful implementation of agreements reached earlier at the highest level, it added. Hard-charging Hawaiian big-wave surfer Kealii Mamala has been arrested and charged with 25 felonies in Hilo District and Circuit Courts. Currently being held without bail until a hearing on Friday, the 46-year-old is facing a litany of serious charges ranging from felony assault, abuse and unlawful imprisonment. The charges include "restraining a household member since November last year and allegedly strangled them, physically assaulted them with a dangerous instrument, ruptured their ear drum, and broke their nose," reports Hawaii News Now. Mamala has been charged with 14 offenses that took place from the end of February through early March. He was also charged with 11 more offenses that happened at the end of 2024 through January 2025. Related: Gallery: A Pumping Day at the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Facing extended jail time, his charges of unlawful imprisonment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, and felony abuse are among the most serious. All carry a maximum of five year prison terms or probation with jail time. A longtime fixture in big-wave lineups around the world, Mamala was an invitee at the 2025 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. He also competed in the Eddie in 2023. Nominated for numerous XXL Awards over the years, Mamala was a contender for Ride of the Year at Teahupo'o in 2013, as well as Ride of the Year at Nazare in 2015. In 2010 he finished fourth at the Nelscott Reef Classic. Respected amongst the big-wave community, undoubtedly this development comes as a shock to those that know and surf with him. A grand jury indictment has been unsealed by New York prosecutors charging seven suspects with first-degree murder in the "torture" killing of transgender man Sam Nordquist, including one defendant who is accused of coercing two children, ages 7 and 12, into participating in the horrific beating. While LGBTQ+ groups had called on prosecutors in upstate New York to pursue hate crimes against the suspects, Ontario County First Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford said, "This case is bigger than a hate crime." "It's a rare circumstance where we stand before you and charge this subdivision of murder in the first degree, where it alleges that somebody was tortured to death," Wolford said at a news conference on Wednesday. "It specifically requires that we prove that all seven defendants tortured Sam Nordquist, and that they did so because they enjoyed it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects, who were arrested last month, have been identified as Precious Arzuaga, 38; Kyle Sage, 33; Patrick Goodwin, 30; Emily Motyka, 19; Jennifer Quijano, 30; Kimberly Sochia, 29; and Thomas Eaves, 21. All seven suspects were indicted on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy in the second degree. PHOTO: This undated photo provided by the New York State Police shows Sam Nordquist. (New York State Police via AP) "This is New York's most significant and serious charge, and it carries with it the possibility of a sentence of life without parole," Wolford said of the first-degree murder count. Wolford addressed the calls from LGBTQ+ groups, including GLAAD, for prosecutors to file hate crimes against the suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm here to tell you today that we charge the highest count that is available under New York state law, and this case is bigger than a hate crime," Wolford said. "A hate crime would make this charge about Sam's gender or about Sam's race, and it's so much bigger. To limit us to a hate crime would be an injustice to Sam. Sam deserves to have this story told in its entirety." Wolford added that if New York still had the death penalty, "This would have been a death penalty eligible charge." Arzuaga faces two additional counts of first-degree coercion. Prosecutors alleged in the indictment that she "compelled or induced" two children -- ages 7 and 12 -- to "cause or attempt to cause physical injury" to the 24-year-old Nordquist. "To have two children have to participate in the beating of another human being, and it's deeply disturbing, and it has -- I can speak for myself and everyone involved in this investigation -- been one of the most troubling parts of this. It's heartbreaking," Wolford said. "We have a 7-year-old and a 12-year-old who are also victims. They may have been forced to participate, but their lives are forever changed by what they saw and endured. We're here, not just for Sam, but we're here to seek justice for those two children, also." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: National LGBTQ group urges New York prosecutor to pursue hate crime charges in killing of transgender man Wolford said the suspects are expected to be arraigned next week. It is unclear if they have hired attorneys or will be appointed public defenders. A joint statement issued last month by the New York State Police and Ontario County District Attorney James Riffs said, "To help alleviate the understandable concern his murder could be a hate crime, we are disclosing that Sam and his assailants were known to each other, identified as LGBTQ+, and at least one of the defendants lived with Sam in the time period leading up to the instant offense." Nordquist's family filed a missing person report with the New York State Police on Feb. 9, after last hearing from Nordquist on Jan. 1, according to a missing-person flyer issued by the Missing People in America organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the flyer, Nordquist's family said he left Minnesota on Sept. 28, 2024, with a round-trip plane ticket to New York. The family, according to the flyer, alleged that he met a woman online who convinced him to visit her. The family, according to the flyer, claimed Nordquist was planning to fly back to Minnesota within two weeks, but never boarded his return flight. His remains were discovered on Feb. 12 in a field in Benton, New York, in Yates County, according to New York State Police investigators. Investigators believe Nordquist died at a motel in Hopewell, New York, in Ontario County, after being beaten and tortured for days. "He was forced to kneel and stand against a wall. He was physically assaulted. He was sexually assaulted. He was prevented from using his phone," Wolford said, reading from the indictment. "He was denied proper nutrition and hydration. He was fed feces. He was forced to drink urine and chew spit. They physically restrained him. They forced him to obey their commands, treating him like a dog. They covered his face with towels and shirts and fabric. They used duct tape, and they poured bleach on him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wolford added, "We as a community are here to seek justice for Sam to help Sam's family heal and to help our community heal from what is truly a horrendous act." 'Bigger than a hate crime': Prosecutor alleges children forced to participate in transgender man's torture death originally appeared on abcnews.go.com People are scrambling to figure out if Elon Musks programmers have accessed their private information, explained a federal intelligence employee to HuffPost. About a week earlier, a Forbes headline read Elon Musk And DOGEs Access To Student Loan Data Raises Concern. That same day a CNN headline read Homeland Security Secretary Noem says DOGE team has access to agency data. A week later an NBC headline read Top Social Security official steps down after disagreement with DOGE over sensitive data. These news reports referenced a few of the federal government computer systems that billionaire Elon Musk and his team accessed, at the behest of President Donald Trump, under the auspices of making the government more efficient. In defending the project, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said of Musk on NBCs Meet the Press, What hes finding with his algorithms, crawling through the data of the Social Security system, is enormous amounts of fraud, waste, and abuse. While much of the media attention focused on lauding Musk from the right and chiding him from the left, there was a dearth of discourse about how ubiquitous data collection, not Musk or his team, is the biggest threat to peoples privacy. The modern digital economy thrives on the destruction of privacy. Many of the technologies we rely on today from GPS to the internet to touchscreens were originally funded by the U.S. government for wartime surveillance and communication. In the post-Cold War era, these innovations were commercialized, leading to the rise of Silicon Valley. However, it was the aftermath of September 11, 2001 (9/11) that solidified the partnership between Big Tech and the government. Under the guise of national security, the federal government responded to the attacks of 9/11 with new laws that enabled mass data collection. As a result, Big Tech companies gained enormous power by supplying data to intelligence agencies. The result was a surveillance capitalist economy, where user data became the most valuable commodity. As data collection expanded, private industries recognized its immense value. Insurers, landlords, advertisers, police departments, social safety net providers, and even educational institutions sought access to user information to refine their models and maximize profits. The internets so-called free services were merely a front for mass surveillance. Everything from driving in a car to checking into a hotel to making reservations at a restaurant to vacuums and televisions with so-called smart technology collect behavioral data, often without clear user consent. This obsession with data fueled predictive analytics allows tech companies to anticipate and manipulate consumer behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, the line between corporate and governmental surveillance is often blurred, as many of the corporations whose profits derive from data collection have contracts with the federal government to collect citizens data. Indeed, in 2013, a government contractor turned whistleblower named Edward Snowden exposed the extent of mass surveillance, revealing how intelligence agencies, colluding with Big Tech, exploited legal loopholes to spy on citizens. Such practices skirt constitutional protections of privacy from government by allowing surveillance by proxy from corporations who are financially dependent on government contracts and favorable regulatory and tax policies. In the process, privacy became nearly obsolete. Despite congressional hearings and public outcry, lawmakers often demonstrated a lack of understandingor worse, complicity in the rapid erosion of privacy. Indeed, instead of addressing the core issues Snowden raised, the media and political establishment focused on Snowden himself, painting him as a traitor while ignoring the broader implications of his disclosures. More recently, lawmakers indifference to domestic spying was evident in the hypocritical scrutiny of the non-U.S. owned social media platform TikTok. While concerns about foreign surveillance at the hands of TikTok are valid, the same criticisms regarding data collection, addictive algorithms, and manipulation can and should be applied equally to US-based tech giants like Amazon, Facebook and Google. Yet, these companies face far less scrutiny from Congress. The companies also work with the federal government on surveillance, data collection and content moderation. Some dismiss the dangers of mass surveillance with the shallow argument: Im not doing anything wrong, so why should I care? Thinkers like George Orwell and Hannah Arendt addressed this question decades ago, noting that the erosion of privacy is a hallmark of exploitative systems such as plantation slavery, totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany and patriarchy. Surveillance also poses a unique danger because what is legal today may become illegal tomorrow. For instance, people in states with trigger laws suddenly found that seeking or even discussing abortion became a crime overnight following the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade. A crime that was difficult to avoid for people who had given their health information to big-tech through supposed health apps that monitor menstrual cycles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Importantly, the harms of surveillance are not limited to those accused of wrongdoing. Victims of stalking and those living with undocumented individuals depend on privacy for their safety and stability. Successful social movements such as the labor, womens rights, and civil rights movements relied on privacy to strategically organize, communicate, and mobilize without interference or suppression from those in power. Additionally, corporations exploit data collection to justify inflating costs such as rent and insurance while limiting access to essential services for low-income communities. Similarly, LGBTQ+ youth and young people questioning or exploring their sexuality, who may not yet be out, run the risk of being even more subjugated. Worse, data analytics tools are far from neutral; they reflect the biases of their creators. Studies show these tools disproportionately misclassify people of color as criminals, creating additional barriers for already marginalized groups. Big Tech has masterfully convinced users that they are more powerful than they truly are, selling the illusion of connection, activism, and democracy even as its products fuel division and democratic decline. Worse, these companies have shown a willingness to bend to power, embracing anti-disinformation and DEI policies under Democratic leadership, only to abandon it all with a Republican administration. The panic over Elon Musks control of vast user data proved that no single entity should wield that much power. But users do have real power, and they must wield it to pressure both government and tech giants to protect privacy and end exploitative data collection. If the U.S. is to remain a democracy where laws are enforced and truly reflect the will of the people a Privacy Bill of Rights is a crucial first step. This framework should include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data Dividend: A federal law requiring companies to compensate citizens for their harvested data. Surveillance capitalism, companies may find, is too expensive to sustain at market rate. Right to Be Erased: Citizens must have the right to demand the deletion of their personal data. This includes strict penalties for unauthorized data collection and bans on coercive data-for-access policies. Decentralization of Data: Strict laws must prevent data from being collected, shared, or stored without a citizens explicit consent. Surveillance-Free Zones: Cars, hotels, schools, homes, and other personal spaces must be declared surveillance-free zones, making digital surveillance in these areas illegal. Some argue that surveillance enhances safety, but true security comes from better policingnot from surrendering fundamental privacy rights. After all, what are the police protecting if your rights are already gone? Opt-Out Protections: Privacy should never be the price of admission for using essential services. It must be illegal for companies to mandate data collection as a condition of access, with severe penalties for violations. A Privacy Bill of Rights isnt just an abstract ideal its a necessary safeguard against corporate overreach and government intrusion. Today, politicians and media figures decry Big Techs overreach, yet they spent years enabling it. Real accountability, therefore, will not come from the institutions upholding the status quo. It must be demanded by the independent journalists, activists and ordinary citizens who have long sounded the alarm. First marijuana, now magic mushrooms. A state known for ending up at the bottom of a long list of rankings could be among the first in the nation to roll out a program for medical use of psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms. The Senate Judiciary Committee late Wednesday endorsed Senate Bill 219 on an 8-1 vote. The lone holdout, Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, praised psilocybin's efficacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am very torn on this because I know that psilocybin has amazing potential for substance use disorder, intractable depression," she said. "I think it's a really important medicine to have available." But Duhigg said one of her brothers, an addiction psychiatrist who has been involved in multiple studies and pilot programs using psilocybin, told her researchers have yet to develop a model for safe medical use. "He worries that if we do this as a state, and it does not have kind of the level of oversight that these projects have now with the federal government, that there's going to be some negative results ... that will set this whole movement back significantly," she said. Despite her words of caution, SB 219 cleared its second committee hearing with a number of amendments and is headed to the Senate floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its trip through the Roundhouse doesn't end there, though. If the bill makes it out of the Senate, it still has to go through the House and its committees. Advocates told lawmakers during Wednesday's hearing psilocybin mushrooms are not only life-changing but lifesaving. Crystal C. Romero, a retired master sergeant who served in the New Mexico Army National Guard, said she served with honor, knowing the risks and sacrifices she'd have to make. "But nothing prepared me for the battle within my head," she said, adding she was medically discharged from the military for post-traumatic stress disorder and then attempted suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Had I succeeded, my three daughters would have been handed more than just a folded flag," she said. "They would have inherited my pain." Romero said she "tried everything the VA has had to offer" but still battled relentless suicidal ideation. "It wasn't until I worked with psilocybin under guided care that I found healing," she said. David Glass, an emergency room doctor and active-duty veteran who served multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, said he's witnessed "the devastating impact of mental health crisis" both in the ER room and among his fellow veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I can count on two hands the number of service members I know personally that died in combat. I can count on two hands the number of veterans I know that have committed suicide since taking off the uniform and leaving service," he said. "But now, I can tell you honestly and truthfully that I can now count on more than two hands the number of special operators whose lives have been saved by taking psilocybin through guided therapy in Mexico." Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, who is among the sponsors of the bill, said the measure starts with four qualifying conditions: major depressive disorder, substance use disorder, PTSD and end-of-life anxiety. Under the bill, the program would not start until Dec. 31, 2027. "The Department of Health would establish and make rules for everything, from who the qualifying license providers to producers to dosage to medical setting," he said. "Unlike cannabis, this would only be administered in a medical setting. This would not be like cannabis. There is no car. There is no taking this at home. Very different in that respect." The bill also creates an advisory board and would allow the state's health secretary to add additional qualifying medical conditions "as there's data to support that," Steinborn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another sponsor, Sen. Martin Hickey, D-Albuquerque, a retired physician, said the benefits of psilocybin mushrooms would be far-reaching. "This is as important to society as the other fungus that blew in off of a windowsill onto a petri dish with pneumococcal bacteria and we got penicillin," he said. "This is a fungus that in mental health is going to have as dramatic an impact." State Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, attends special session on Oct. 3, 2023, at the Oklahoma Capitol. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY A bill moving through the Legislature would allow Uber, DoorDash and other third parties to deliver alcohol to their customers for the first time. It is among a number of bills filed in recent years to modernize the states liquor laws. Current law allows liquor store employees to deliver alcohol, but that can be cost prohibitive, said Sen. Bill Coleman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The margins are very, very small, but if a DoorDash or Uber were to get involved, it would certainly make it more profitable, he said. Coleman is the author of Senate Bill 1046 that would allow third parties to offer alcohol delivery for a fee. The delivery radius and fees are the two issues being discussed, Coleman said. Oklahoma has hundreds of liquor stores, he said. Each has its own service area, he said. Whole Foods is a driver behind this bill, and of course, they would want more than a 25-mile radius, he said. Their point in running this bill is they want to be able to deliver wine with groceries. Youve got big versus little, basically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some third party delivery services have programs which lower the delivery fees, while liquor stores do not, Coleman said. Nobody is going to drive drunk to the liquor store if they can get it delivered right to them, he said. While the measure increases access to alcohol, it has safeguards, such as requiring the drivers license of the purchaser to be scanned, he said. Robert Jernigan is president of the Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma and owns Bacchus Wine and Spirits in Edmond. He said after passage of State Question 792 in 2016, a significant number of liquor stores went out of business. The measure allowed grocery stores to sell wine and strong beer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the current language in the measure is acceptable to the association. It has previously opposed similar third-party delivery bills because the liability stayed with the liquor stores once the product was delivered, but the current bill changes that, Jernigan said. DoorDash, a service which delivers food from restaurants and fast food establishments, supports the measure. In more than 30 states across the country, we have seen that safe and responsible alcohol delivery is a key driver of economic growth for small businesses and higher earnings for Dashers, all while providing new levels of safety and convenience for customers, said Parker Dorrough, a DoorDash spokesman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed Thursday out of the Senate Business and Insurance Committee on a 10-0 vote. Coleman, R-Ponca City, is chairman. It is eligible to be heard on the Senate floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE RALEIGH The state Senate passed bipartisan legislation Tuesday directing schools to ban the use of cellphones, laptops and other wireless devices during classes, with a series of exceptions including educational use. Senators voted 41-1 to approve Senate Bill 55 and send it to the House, where lawmakers have advanced a bill of their own. The Houses bill is less restrictive and only covers cellphones, unlike the Senates bill, which covers tablet and laptop computers as well. One of the primary sponsors of the House bill is Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph. Biggs filed House Bill 87 last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senates bill would require school boards and charter schools to create their own policies on wireless devices that, at a minimum, prohibit students from using, displaying, or having any wireless communication device turned on during classes. School boards would be responsible for establishing consequences for violating the policy, which could include confiscation and disciplinary measures as prescribed by each schools code of student conduct. The policies adopted by school boards would be required to allow cellphone use either by permission of a teacher for educational purposes; in case of an emergency; if required for a students individualized education program or section 504 plan; or to manage a students health care. Two lawmakers who joined forces on this bill, GOP Sen. Jim Burgin, one of the bills three primary sponsors, and Democratic Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, the Senate Democratic whip, previously filed legislation last year to study the impact of phones in schools. Chaudhuri said after Senate Bill 55 was filed last month that in todays society, the ubiquity of smartphones and other electronic devices has led to a collective action problem where weve created a phone-based childhood as opposed to a phone-free childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 19 states have already passed laws banning phones in schools or recommending local school districts enact their own restrictions, according to an analysis by Education Week. Distributed at Tribune Content Agency. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) After a heated debate in the Senate, the Utah Legislature passed a bill Thursday that would ban pride flags in public schools and government buildings just one day shy of the end of the 2025 Legislative Session. H.B. 77 Flag Display Amendments passed in the Senate Thursday morning, March 6, and was approved by the House in the afternoon. The bill will now head to Gov. Spencer Coxs desk to be vetoed or signed into law. This is a bill that was hotly debated last session and continues to be an issue this year. This is an effort to try and neutralize our government buildings and our classrooms from political speech, Sen. Daniel McCay (R Riverton) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was introduced at the very beginning of the 45-day session and has been successfully amended eight times since. A ninth amendment was proposed by Sen. Stephanie Pitcher (D -Millcreek), seeking to remove government buildings from the bill. Pitcher argued that it violated the Constitution and could get the state sued, but ultimately the amendment failed to pass. The bill lists what flags would be allowed in schools, specifically allowing for flags of countries, universities, military branches, or even the Olympic Games. Notably, it does not make room for flags representing the LGBTQ+ community, something the bills sponsor has spoken to. Rep. Trevor Lee (R West Jordan) previously posted on social media saying the bill would ban Pride flags and allow parents to sue the school district if the law is violated. The bill has since been changed to set up a process for investigating violations, removing the section on potential lawsuits. The bill as it currently stands would assign the state auditor to receive and investigate alleged violations of the bill. If the violation is deemed credible, the government entity or school will be fined $500 per violation per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if this bill could affect the annual Pride Festival at Library Square in Salt Lake City, Senate leaders said it would not bar anyone from parading with flags on the property. However, it would ban pride flags from being posted or put on display in or on the library building. The Utah Pride Center, the organization that hosts the annual festival, released a statement calling this a deliberate attempt to erase LGBTQIA+ visibility from the public square. Pride celebrations across Utah rely on public parks and city spaces to bring people together in joy and solidarity. These spaces belong to all of us. Our right to gather, to celebrate, and to be seen is not up for debate, the centers statement reads. The Utah Pride Festival and Parade will continue as planned. We will march. We will celebrate. We will take up a tremendous amount of space, as we always have. Now is the time to come together. Lindsay Aerts contributed to this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George's), left, talks Wednesday about emergency legislation he's sponsoring on behalf of recently laid-off federal workers in Maryland. House Minority Jason Buckel (R-Allegany), right, challenged one part of the measure. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) House debate over a bill that would provide care for laid-off federal workers devolved Wednesday into a partisan squabble over who cares more. The spat came during a debate on House Bill 1424, which would expand the use of two current employee-assistance funds so they could be used for federal workers laid off as the Trump administration rushes to slash the size of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans in the House were questioning one part of the bill, that would let the attorney general file suit on behalf of laid-off federal workers. The debate was tame to begin, but tensions began to bubble up when Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince Georges) expressed skepticism of the Republican Partys interest in supporting laid-off workers. This bill, ultimately, is about us protecting Marylanders. And to be clear, I hear a lot of concern from the floor leaders I dont know if this actually reflects the entire position of the minority party but everything Im standing up to say our leadership is standing on, is about protecting our workers, our citizens all across the state, Lewis said. I have not heard you all stand up once to talk about youre going to stand up for the workers in your districts particularly the federal ones, said Lewis, the House Majority Whip and lead sponsor of the bill.. His remarks elicited groans from the chamber, and a sharp response from Del. Matthew Morgan (R-St. Marys). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were more than willing to stand up for our citizens here, Morgan said. If the majority whip would like us to talk lets go. Speaker Pro Tem Dana Stein (D-Baltimore County) reminded Morgan that he had not been recognized to speak, as required, before allowing Morgan to continue. Those were disparaging remarks for the minority party in this chamber. Weve been talking ad nauseam for five years on the business environment that the majority party has created in this state, Morgan said. Weve been lied to consistently we were told that crime reform, police reform, no cash bail bonds At that point, Appropriations Committee Chair Ben Barnes (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel) interrupted to note that Morgans comments were definitely not on the bill this point. Morgan tried to argue that he was addressing Lewis remarks, before Stein stepped back in and gave the floor to Minority Leader Jason Buckel (R-Allegany), who tried to calm things down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not here to impugn someones motive, said Buckel, before steering the debate back to the bill and his amendment that was on the floor at the time. It was an odd argument over a bill that appears to have general support in the House. HB1424 would expand the states Catastrophic Event Account that is designed to let state agencies respond quickly to a natural disaster, a catastrophe, or a full or partial shutdown of the federal government. It would also effect the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund, a state fund that makes no-interest loans to federal workers in the state who are not being paid because of a federal shutdown. The bill would strike shutdown from the second funds name and allow state officials to tap those funds to help former federal workers who are in a financial bind because of closure, relocation or mass layoff of the government unit they worked at. It budgets $10 million for the new fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis bill is largely in response to recent layoffs in the Trump administration as to works to slash the size of the government. But the bill was amended in committee to expand the authority of the Maryland Attorney Generals Office so that it would sue on behalf of federal workers affected by a temporary shutdown or, in the current environment, a mass firing or agency closure. It adds $1.5 million to let the attorney generals office pursue such cases. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX We are fighting to protect your constituents and everyones constituents in the state, regardless of whether theyre Eastern Shore, in Southern Maryland, in the far reaches of Western Maryland, Lewis said on the floor. Were fighting with our front foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Buckel challenged the attorney general language on the floor Wednesday. Were giving the attorney general the ability to sue on behalf of those people, not on behalf of the state, Buckel argued. The state doesnt have a right to enforce the employment and labor laws of the federal government on behalf of private individuals. Im going to bet money, he said, that if we do this and the attorney general brings a suit, then some court somewhere is going to say, No, you cant do that. Buckel said the state would be wasting $1.5 million to file lawsuits that probably wont go anywhere, if it retained the attorney general language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis insisted the bill gives the attorney general the ability to fight on behalf of our workers. Once things calmed down after the partisan hubbub, Buckels amendment failed 97-39. HB 1424 is not currently scheduled for a final floor vote until next week. Prior to Wednesdays floor debate, Lewis said the bill is a step to ease the burden of Marylands federal workers in the face of mass layoffs being executed by the Trump administration. I just dont understand the cruelty in the mindset of these people, Lewis said of the administration. But we have brought forward legislation to try to stand up for federal workers and show them that we appreciate their service, that we want them to stay in Maryland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we cant respond to everything that the federal government does, were going to do what we can to try to help these folks, Lewis said. Maryland Matters reporter Jack Bowman contributed to this report. Kentucky kids need the legislature to reinvest in public education, writes Jason Bailey, while Senate Bill 6 is an accounting change that does not help deliver that. (Getty Images) Senate Bill 6 in the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly makes the most significant change in the history of the core school funding formula created by the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA), known as Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK). But the change does not increase spending or inject any more money into classrooms. Instead, it simply changes how some existing expenditures are categorized, clouding the picture of how much the state is putting into public education. Under SB 6, all state payments already being made outside of SEEK for fringe benefits like health insurance and retirement benefits will be counted as part of SEEK. Of particular concern, SB 6 inappropriately adds to SEEK all the enormous catch-up pension payments for old debts incurred due to past failures of the General Assembly to fully fund teacher pensions. These catch-up payments are not a contribution to the current operation of schools, as is the purpose of SEEK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 6 will artificially and dramatically inflate SEEK spending if it had been in effect in the current budget, SEEK funding wouldve been 59% higher without any additional dollars going to schools. Some may use this change to continue claiming record funding for education without providing more resources to the kids attending public schools, which have received eroding state investment since 2008. SEEK is designed to support current operations of schools in an equitable manner The SEEK formula was one of the major outcomes of the 1989 state Supreme Court ruling, known as Rose v. Council for Better Education, Inc., that declared the states school system unconstitutional. SEEK plays a primary role in meeting the states constitutional obligation for an adequately and equitably funded school system. SEEK guarantees a minimum amount of funding per student and establishes a formula that divides responsibility between school districts and the state, with the state providing more funds to districts with lower property wealth and thus less capacity to generate local tax revenue. The SEEK formula includes additional amounts based on the number of students in each district that cost more to educate, such as at-risk pupils, special education students and English language learners. SEEK also includes funding for student transportation. Schools receive other funding from the state outside of SEEK, including for purposes ranging from preschool to career and technical education, and from the federal government, including Title 1 funds for low-income schools and grants for school meals. But SEEK represents the single largest source of funds to help Kentucky schools carry out their basic missions in an equitable manner. SB 6 requires including all fringe benefit-related state payments in SEEK SB 6 requires that the SEEK budget unit include the full state contribution for fringe benefits like medical, vision and dental insurance for current employees as well as retiree pension and health benefits. These contributions are sometimes called on behalf payments. SB 6 also requires that any reports produced by the Kentucky Department of Education on SEEK payments by school district include these fringe benefit payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A significant portion of retiree pension, medical and life insurance benefits are already included in SEEK and are based on contribution formulas prescribed in law. Those retirement contributions now in SEEK amount to $458 million this year and $468 million in 2026. The remainder of Teachers Retirement System (TRS) contributions are included in the budget category General Government in the TRS budget unit, an appropriation totaling $847 million in 2025 and $1.037 billion in 2026. Additionally, health and life insurance for current employees is currently funded by the state through the Department of Education, but not as part of SEEK. That makes it like funding for preschool, career and technical education, technology, extended school services and other non-SEEK education expenditures. The state contribution for health and life insurance totals $944 million in 2025 and $1.078 billion in 2026. If the state had counted all these state fringe benefit payments in SEEK in the current biennium, it wouldve increased SEEK spending by 59%, or $1.8 billion more in 2025 and $2.1 billion more in 2026. But including them in SEEK will not increase the amount of state funding overall, just shift the category in which they are represented. Teachers who are already retired are owed a huge share of added SEEK dollars The problem with including all current pension contributions as part of education funding, much less as part of SEEK, is that a huge portion of those contributions now go to catch-up payments for past underfunding of pension benefits. During the years 2009 to 2016, the General Assembly did not make the full actuarially determined contributions to pension benefits (and those contributions were not made for retiree medical benefits until a shared responsibility plan passed in 2010 that increased teacher, school district and state contributions to that fund). The compounding effect of not putting in those funds for pensions caused the debt to balloon. Whereas the state TRS pension plan previously had been nearly fully funded, it fell to a low of 55% funded by 2016, and unfunded liabilities grew to $14 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017 the legislature resumed paying the full actuarially determined pension costs. The plan has slowly improved its health since then but will not be fully funded until 2047. Unfunded liability contributions, or catch-up payments, make up approximately 82% of what the state is now contributing to the Teachers Retirement System pension plan, as shown in the graph below. Normal costs or the contributions needed annually to pay for each current teachers future pension benefits are barely more than what nearly every other employer contributes for Social Security, which Kentucky teachers do not receive and the state therefore does not have to pay. Source: Kentucky Center for Economic Policy Resuming the payment of full costs in 2017 met a legal obligation of the state and was the right and responsible thing to do. But those extra dollars in catch-up payments should not be counted as education spending because they do not go to current school districts, teachers, classrooms and kids. According to the actuarys estimates, TRS has $25.7 million in assets and will receive $5.6 billion in contributions that active teachers and their employers will contribute for their service in the future. That exceeds the $21.8 billion the state will owe for active teachers pension benefits. But the state also owes another $26.8 billion to retired and disabled members and beneficiaries of deceased members. In other words, TRS has the resources to fund the pension benefits of active teachers but additional contributions are being made as catch-up payments for a large portion of the benefits for teachers who are no longer in the classroom. The purpose of the SEEK formula, when adequately funded, is to help ensure that the efficient system of common schools promised in the constitution is possible. It is not to pay back contractual obligations that the General Assembly did not meet at the time they were incurred. Fulfilling constitutional obligation requires reinvestment in schools Meanwhile, actual state funding for schools has been eroding since the Great Recession hit in 2008: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky students need the General Assembly to meaningfully reinvest in the states public schools while also meeting its other important obligations, including paying past debts for teacher pensions not funded in the first place. SB 6 is an accounting change that does not help deliver what kids need today. Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, the lone sponsor of Senate Bill 109, speaks on the Senate floor on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Charleston, W.Va. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography) The Senate Committee on Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health advanced a bill Wednesday that, if adopted, will incentivize residents to report drug activity to law enforcement with monetary rewards funded by a new excise tax on harm reduction tools. The excise tax would add one cent to all purchases of naloxone and drug testing strips two life saving interventions that help prevent fatal overdoses in people who use drugs in West Virginia. Under a committee substitute adopted by the substance use disorder committee, nonprofits would be exempt from paying the excise tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, is the lone sponsor of Senate Bill 109, which he named the Neighborhood Assistance and Rejuvenation Compact Act. He said that while he would like to see a permanent, state-backed funding source for the new fund, a tax on naloxone and other overdose mitigation tools was appropriate for the time being. It remained unclear how much money, however, could actually be raised by such a tax since nonprofits largely distribute naloxone free of charge and receive it often through federal and state grant dollars. Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, said he worried that placing the tax on proven intervention strategies could send the wrong message as the state attempts to target higher level dealers and traffickers instead of low level offenders. Tarr, however, alleged that drug traffickers have incentive to use and purchase naloxone and testing strips to prove the potency of the drugs they sell. The reason that we went after Narcan and test strips was because the people both traffickers and [drug] users are the reason we have to do this in the first place, Tarr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people who use or overdose on fentanyl are unaware that the drug is present in what theyre using and fentanyl test strips, according to experts, allow them to use more safely. Naloxone is an effective opioid overdose reversal drug proven to dramatically lower the risk of fatal overdose, according to countless peer-reviewed studies. The money raised by the excise tax would be put in a special revenue account overseen by the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Ten percent of anything raised would go to administering the new program while the rest of the money could be used for marketing and payments to people whose tips to police successfully help with getting someone convicted for a drug crime. The bill tasked the Homeland Security and the police with creating an anonymous tip line that could be used to submit tips. Payments to individuals would only be levied if a tip proves useful in securing a drug conviction against someone. Confidential informants and those who work for law enforcement would not be eligible for the reward. Marketing for the program, Tarr said, could include buying and posting billboards in areas known to have high drug activity. Those billboards would show mugshots of people convicted of drug crimes and the sentence they received for such crimes in an attempt to deter others from violating the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tarr said his inspiration for the billboards came after watching the news one night and seeing bodies hanging off of bridges in a report on cartels in Mexico. The actions, he said, were meant to show what would happen if someone crossed the cartel. Thats pretty difficult to fight, Tarr said. Its that kind of intimidation how do you go and have that kind of intimidation and fight back? After speaking to people in law enforcement, he said he learned that it would be helpful if they could find a way to put a price on [drug dealers] heads. Tarr clarified that he did not mean to kill them, but to show what the price i.e. prison sentence would be for dealing and trafficking drugs in the state of West Virginia. SB 109 passed the Senate Committee on Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health via voice vote. It will now advance to the Senate Finance Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers on the committee were also considering a bill Wednesday to prohibit opioid treatment programs in the state of West Virginia. Action, however, was not taken on that bill by publication time. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Nazrin Abdul D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization Secretary General Isiaka Abdulgadir Imam has proposed holding a meeting in Baku between the investment agencies of member countries to enhance investment cooperation. Azernews reports that the D-8 Secretary-General shared the proposal on the social media platform "X" after meeting with Azerbaijan's First Deputy Minister of Economy, Elnur Aliyev. The Deputy Minister supported the idea and expressed readiness to foster cooperation in key areas, including transport, small and medium-sized enterprises, human resources development, ICT, trade, and investments. The discussions highlighted the significance of partnerships in e-commerce and investment, with both sides agreeing to continue consultations on the proposed initiatives. DAR ES SALAAM, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of tourism stakeholders attending the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) Berlin in Germany on Thursday witnessed the unveiling of the "Visit East Africa: Feel the Vibe" brand by the East African Community (EAC). "This groundbreaking initiative aims to collectively promote the EAC as a single tourist destination," the EAC said in a statement issued from its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The statement noted that various tourism stakeholders welcomed the move, recognizing it as a significant step toward enhancing regional tourism while ensuring sustainable tourism practices. Under the "Visit East Africa: Feel the Vibe" banner, the region is not only showcasing its beauty and cultural richness but also reinforcing East Africa's appeal as a seamless, multi-destination experience, the statement added. The EAC recorded about 8.5 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, compared to 7.7 million in 2019, the statement said, noting that it aims to surpass 11 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2027. The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising eight member states (Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda), working to promote economic, political, and social integration in East Africa. The Ohio Statehouse. (Photo by Jake Zuckerman, Ohio Capital Journal.) An Ohio Senate Republican has reintroduced a bill to expand criminal charges of ethnic intimidation and define antisemitism in state law, aligning the definition with a previous executive order by Gov. Mike DeWine. State Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, brought Ohio Senate Bill 87 to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. He said one of the drivers for the bill was the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, after which, he said, a concerning wave of extremist demonstrations on Ohio college campuses included disturbing displays of aggression and intolerance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With antisemitism seemingly on the rise particularly at pro-Gaza protests on college campuses, Johnson said he wants Ohio law to include an expansion of the charge of ethnic intimidation, when combined with other charges. Ethnic intimidation is already against the law here in Ohio and can be added as an additional charge for violations such as aggravated menacing, menacing, criminal damaging, or endangering and criminal mischief, Johnson told the committee. This legislation would expand that charge to also include aggravated rioting and rioting committed by reason of race, color, religion, or national origin of another person or group. A charge of riot can be leveled when five or more people participate in a course of disorderly conduct for the purpose of committing a misdemeanor offense. It can also be charged to a group of five or more people accused of intimidating a public official or employee into taking or refraining from official action, or with the purpose to hinder, impede or obstruct a function of government, according to the bill. Rioting can also be charged when a group is accused of trying to hinder, impede or obstruct the orderly process of administration or instruction at an educational institution. Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDowell. (Photo from the Ohio Legislature website) If someone is charged with a riot offense, the charge of ethnic intimidation would be a fifth-degree felony. A charge of aggravated riot would bring an ethnic intimidation charge considered second, third, or fourth-degree felony depending on the circumstances of the offense, according to an analysis by the Legislative Service Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill on which S.B. 87 is based was brought by Johnson in the last General Assembly, and it received both praise and criticism in committee hearings. Those who stood against the bill called it un-American and said it conflated legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies with hatred. Critics like the Council on American-Islamic Relations Ohio chapter Executive Director Faten Odeh said the previous bill would dampen dissent and could have placed the government in the role of silencing political opposition. Opponents also questioned how words used at protests will be interpreted, and who will decide what is considered illegal. Who will interpret my words, asked Patricia Marida in testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in December. How far can I go in criticizing the state of Israel? How might I be pointed out, sanctioned, or even targeted by those who disagree with me? Along with expanding the criminal offense of ethnic intimidation, the bill codifies a definition of antisemitism for the purpose of investigations and proceedings by state agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The definition is taken from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance the same definition used in a 2022 executive order by DeWine. It encourages state agencies to use it for agency investigations, including those at higher education institutions. An executive order is a handy thing, executive orders are easier to change than things that are actually placed in law, Johnson said when asked on Wednesday why the bill is needed if DeWines executive order already exists. I think this is a weighty enough situation that it needs to be in law. Under the definition, antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish Community institutions and religious facilities. Supporters of the bill in its previous form included Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the group Ohio Jewish Communities, whose president and CEO, Howie Beigelman, said the alliances definition would help authorities determine whether incidents rise to the level of actual antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beigelman said he was confident the bill would still allow First Amendment rights to continue, only jumping in when that hatred morphs into a crime or other action covered by a school or work policy. Groups such as the Jewish Voice for Peace are opposed to the Holocaust remembrance alliance definition of antisemitism, saying it conflates criticism of the state of Israel with anti-semitism and warning about the legislation possibly tying it to enforcement mechanisms like firing critics of Israel for organizations, and schools getting government funding. In introducing the new bill, Johnson said it is explicitly stated that this legislation shall not be construed to diminish or infringe on any right protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or Ohio Constitution. The freedom of speech and public demonstrations are ingrained in our American way of life, Johnson told the committee. It is crucial for such protests to adhere to the principles of respect, empathy and constructive dialogue between all perspectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the previous bill passed the Ohio Senate, it didnt make the cut as the General Assembly term drew to a close at the end of 2024. Johnson also said the bill hit some unexpected roadblocks from House leadership that kept it from moving forward, though he didnt specify what those roadblocks were. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service Processing Center. (Stock photo by Matt Gush/Getty Images) Iowa law enforcement officials could be subject to a Class D felony charge if they defy state law on immigration enforcement under a bill approved by a House subcommittee Wednesday. House Study Bill 285 states that law enforcement officers, including elected sheriffs, who knowingly and intentionally fail to comply with the states laws regarding federal immigration law enforcement, would face a Class D felony charge. The charge is punishable by up to five years in jail and fines of between $1,025 and $10,245. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discussion on comes in the wake of comments made on social media by Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx in February. Marx wrote that he would not comply with immigration detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or some other federal agencies outside of valid judicial warrants and court orders. Gov. Kim Reynolds filed a complaint against Winneshiek County with the Iowa Attorney Generals office in early February following the post, and sent a letter to the county board of supervisors and Marx stating that the sheriffs policy was at odds with Iowa Code on enforcement of immigration laws. Understand that a sheriff and county can become ineligible to receive any state funds if the local entity is found to have intentionally violated the provisions of chapter 27A, Reynolds wrote in the letter. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, told reporters the legislation was introduced as a way to ensure immigration law enforcement is followed in Iowa Code by creating penalties for individual actors without jeopardizing funding for an entire local jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know if youve ever been in a school class and everybody gets chewed out for something one kid did well, thats kind of the penalty in the (law) right now, Holt said. It kind of punishes everybody in a county or a city for something one official might have done. So this is more targeted to the person thats actually responsible for it. However, Tony Phillips with the Iowa State Sheriffs & Deputies Association said the bill would impose significant consequences for law enforcement officers who fail to comply with this section of Iowa Code, which encompasses more than just ICE detainer requests. Phillips said under the proposal, law enforcement officers could be subject to a Class D felony for failing to provide reasonable or necessary enforcement assistance to federal immigration officers, which he said could be the source of disagreements or litigation. I understand the law puts knowingly and intentionally into this for the penalties, but there are situations that reasonable minds to disagree about what was needed to follow this, Phillips said. If theres simply a misunderstanding or maybe a lack of resources to provide enforcement assistance, I now have a member of law enforcement that risks a Class D felony. Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, said we all can agree that we need meaningful immigration reform, but did not support the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id like to see what happens on a federal level, before wading into the complexities around this particular issue, James said. Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, supported the measure moving forward, saying he wished the bill did not have to come up but that it came forward because one individual wanted of his five minutes of fame. Holt said he plans to discuss with his caucus if the penalty in the bill would be adjusted to a serious misdemeanor charge instead of a Class D felony, but said he supports the bill as a way to ensure that Iowa law enforcement complies with state law on immigration enforcement. He invoked the deaths of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray, two U.S. citizens who were murdered by undocumented immigrants, as reason for the need to support immigration law enforcement. I think anyone not supporting doing all we can to ensure we do not have a Laken- or Jocelyn-style tragedy in Iowa that just doesnt have any credibility with me, Holt said. And any officers sworn to uphold the law who would dare suggest that concerns about imaginary lawsuits or details in language trumps the safety of the Lakens and Jocelyns out there, I have to call BS. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A bill that would help goat owners with predator losses moved forward in the House on Thursday. (USDA photo, Lance Cheung) Goats could get some protection from predators, especially from coyotes, under a new bill that unanimously passed a second reading in the House on Thursday morning. House Bill 767 would allow counties, with the support of local goat producers, to establish a program that would allow local producers to contribute to a county predator control program paid for by self-assessments on the animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Predator control programs already exist for cattle and sheep producers. At the request of livestock producers, we are seeking additional sources for predator control funding, and this is adding goats into the current statute, bill sponsor Rep. Julie Darling, R-Helena, said during a hearing on March 4. Currently we have it in place for various breeds of livestock, including sheep, and so we just want goats added to that. There were more than 16,000 goats in Montana in 2022, a rise from more than 14,000 in 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Coyotes are the main culprits for the deaths of many young farm animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly Michaels, a representative of the Montana Wool Growers Association, said about 50% of all lamb deaths in the state can be attributed to coyotes. Many sheep producers also have goats, Michaels added. The losses are heavy, with about 10,000 sheep and lambs killed each year in the state by predators. Theres also another issue, Michaels told the House Agriculture Committee during a hearing. In Montana, we primarily hear about livestock killed by wolves and grizzly bears, for which producers can receive compensation through the Livestock Loss Board, Michaels said. (But) producers do not receive compensation for the vast majority of livestock killed by predators in Montana. Thats because federally managed predatory species, like wolves and bears, are part of work being done by USDA Wildlife Services. Some counties have contracts with the USDA for predator control, but those dont extend to coyotes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Department of Livestock does collect fees on all livestock in Montana, which totaled about $4.7 million in 2024. Only about 12% of that money comes back to predator control, and thats not the funding source for this predator control program. Were talking about the county petition money that is self-assessed at the county level by sheep producers and cattle producers in counties in eastern Montana where producers do not contract with Wildlife Services, Michaels said. 100% of their predator control funding comes from within their own county, and all that background, and its to say two things, predators are a big problem in Montana, with coyotes being the most destructive, and predator control is expensive and producer funded. In order for a county to approve a predator control program for goats, it needs petitioned support of resident owners who own at least 51% of the goats in the county. Producers need tools to raise money for predator control, Michaels said. And this bill is intended to help with that problem. If the bill passes a final procedural vote on Friday, it will move over the Senate. (Photo by William B. Plowman/Getty Images) A bill that would require public secondary schools and post-secondary educational institutions to provide free condoms for students passed its first committee Wednesday. House Bill 517, sponsored by Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Albuquerque) and Sen. Martin Hickey (D-Albuquerque), would require school administrators in consultation with school nurses or school health centers to determine the best manner through which to distribute the condoms. Per the bill, the condoms would have to be placed in safe and accessible locations, including restrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed the House Health & Human Services Committee on a party-line 5-3 vote. Three seniors from Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, who said they proposed the bill to Hickey in September 2024 as part of a class project, spoke as expert witnesses at the hearing. Senior Emma Travis said that the students have seen firsthand the impact of unsafe sex on their peers education, safety and overall well-being. Being high school students, we are in a high school setting, so we know that people are having sex, but it remains taboo, senior Adeline Arenas said. About 14% of sexually active New Mexico high school students in 2021 did not use contraception the previous time they had sexual intercourse, according to the most recent data from the Youth Risk Resiliency Survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several students from both Santa Fe High School and the University of New Mexico, spoke in favor of the bill during public comment, as did Alexandria Taylor, the executive director of the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. Elaine Sena Cortez (R-Hobbs) questioned whether students were already able to access condoms at nurses stations or student health centers. As we are aware, students are not able to access condoms at these places within schools, and if they are, if that is occurring, they have to go through asking these officials, and we believe that that creates a barrier to access, Travis responded. Sena Cortez questioned how the bill, which does not have an appropriation, would be funded. Minority Whip Alan Martinez (R-Rio Rancho) and Nicole Chavez (R-Albuquerque) also raised concerns about funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herndon said schools, within their safety plans or cash reserves, had enough money for the program. The bills Fiscal Impact Report notes that public high schools that participate in Medicaid School-Based Programs could use funding from those programs to purchase condoms. Martinez cited funding concerns as the reason he voted against the bill, saying he worried public schools would be unable to afford the costs. As young women living in a post-Dobbs world, we want our peers to have tools to protect their bodily autonomy, Travis said at the hearing. The bill now heads to the House Education Committee. A bill that advanced Wednesday in the Iowa House would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to waive legal immunity for vaccines distributed in Iowa. (Photo via Getty Images) An Iowa House subcommittee advanced a bill Wednesday that would prohibit vaccines from being distributed and administered in Iowa unless the vaccine manufacturer waives legal immunities. Medical students, practitioners and advocates said the measure could prevent some vaccines from being available in Iowa, and could contribute to a rise in the spread of diseases like measles that can be prevented through vaccinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House File 712 would require vaccine manufacturers to affirmatively waive any immunity from suits over injuries arising from a design defect of the vaccine, including immunity granted by the federal National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. The 1986 law established the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) as a way to provide no-fault compensation to individuals and families who were injured by childhood vaccines. Supporters of the bill said the federal vaccine injury compensation program did not grant compensation to victims often and took years to make decisions. Sonya Swan, who supported the legislation, read a letter she said was from another Iowa family with a child who suffered a vaccine injury. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Vaccine adverse events are not rare and far too common, and no other industry enjoys the complete liability protection awarded to vaccine manufacturers, Swan said. When an injury occurs, families like mine my friends are left holding the bag financially to support and help their injured child with very little help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CDC reported that from 2006 to 2022, there were 12,593 petitions adjudicated in court regarding the VICP for over 5 billion doses of covered vaccines distributed in the U.S., and that of those, 9,124 petitions received compensation. This means for every 1 million doses of vaccination distributed, approximately one individual received compensation through the program, according to the February VICP monthly statistics report. Jack Ohringer, a medical student at the University of Iowa, said the legislation would open the floodgates for unfounded vaccination injury claims, leading vaccine manufacturers to either raise the cost of vaccines or stop distributing vaccines in Iowa. He said this issue is why the national vaccine injury compensation program was created in the 1980s, as a way to ensure that victims in these cases would be compensated without significantly hindering the access to vaccines by the larger public. That can be, you know, adjusted and improved, but theyve given out billions of dollars in vaccine settlements, Ohringer said. They are doing something. They are making a significant impact. That is the route that this should be done under. Pharmaceutical companies need those protections in order to continue to keep vaccines accessible to everyone. Tom Cope with the Iowa Society of Anesthesiologists also expressed concerns that the bill would restrict access to vaccines in the state and limit Iowans ability to choose the best health care options for themselves. He also said problems with VICP should be addressed federally, not through state legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like the issue thats been identified as a problem on the federal level, Cope said. Theres a concern that the current system on the federal level doesnt work. The solution (to) that should be made at the federal level, not here in Iowa. Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, said vaccines were the greatest medical advancement in history and echoed the sentiment by some advocates that issues with the national vaccine injury compensation program should be addressed on the federal level. She pointed to the February death of a child in Texas from measles the first measles death in a decade as a reason why the state needs to ensure that vaccines are readily accessible.or There was a child this year who died from measles, unnecessarily, Wessel-Kroeschell said. And I just cannot believe that we would pass a bill that would lead to more children dying of measles. Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City, said things are generally not all good or all bad, and supported the legislation moving forward to continue the conversation on whether state action could help solve problems with the federal compensation system for vaccine injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While vaccines are a tremendous medical advance, there has to be some control for toxic products that get into the stream of commerce, Thomson said. The federal system, pretty clearly, is not working right now. If theres a state solution to a broken system on the federal level, lets see if we can find it. But lets not make the problem worse in the meantime. More bills advance with vaccine restrictions The House legislation is one of multiple vaccine-related bills to be discussed this week. A Senate subcommittee approved a bill Monday that would prohibit gene-based vaccines from being administered in Iowa, with health care providers being subject to a misdemeanor charge and fine of $500 for each violation of the measure. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved several bills Wednesday addressing concerns about vaccines, including: Senate File 6 would require K-12 and post-secondary schools private and public and child care facilities to include information about exemptions to vaccine requirements in all communications about immunizations to a parent or guardian, as well as publishing the information on school websites and in registration information. Democrats on the committee said schools already do this and the legislation was unnecessary. But the bill manager, Sen. Dennis Guth, R-Klemme, said some Iowans had told him parents were being misinformed about vaccine exemptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate File 128 would require vaccine information on medical examiners reports on the deaths of all children age 3 or younger. The date of the last immunization or immunizations received by the child would have to be included on the report, under the bill. Democrats said the bill was redundant, as child deaths are already investigated, and that such legislation contributes to vaccine hesitancy. Guth said the bill would provide more transparency in an area where so many are so quick to deny correlation or causation. Kathie Obradovich contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Hundreds of students protested against Senate Bill 1 on Ohio States campus on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal). Ohio Democrats peppered Republican state Sen. Jerry Cirino with questions over his higher education overhaul bill this week. The bill would ban faculty strikes and diversity efforts on campus, as well as set rules around classroom discussion. One Democratic lawmaker called the bill racist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cirino gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 1 Tuesday afternoon during the Ohio House Higher Education and Workforce Committee meeting. State Sen. Jerry C. Cirino, R-Lake County. (Photo from Ohio Senate website.) S.B. 1 is about more speech, not less, he said. It is about creating an environment of continuous improvement. It is about the core value that students come first; they are the customers of these institutions. Senate Bill 1 would ban diversity and inclusion efforts, block faculty from striking, set rules around classroom discussion, put diversity scholarships at risk, shorten university board of trustees terms from nine years to six, and require students take an American history course, among other things. Regarding classroom discussion, it would set rules around topics involving controversial beliefs such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement S.B. 1, which only applies to public colleges, stipulates classroom discussion allows students to reach their own conclusions about all controversial beliefs or policies and shall not seek to indoctrinate any social, political, or religious point of view. State Rep. Desiree Tims, D-Dayton. (Photo from Ballotpedia.) I think the bill is very racist, state Rep. Desiree Tims, D-Dayton, said during Tuesdays committee meeting. The Ohio Senate passed S.B. 1 last month and hundreds of students, faculty and staff protested S.B.1 at Ohio State University as Cirino gave his sponsor testimony Tuesday afternoon. Tims asked Cirino why he was interested in getting rid of diversity scholarships and Cirino responded by saying Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost addressed race-based scholarships last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have guidance from the attorney general that we cannot do those, Cirino said. Our institutions may not do those things based on race. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Harvard and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment by using race as a factor in applications. The days after the ruling, Yost sent a letter to Ohio colleges and universities saying his office wont legally protect someone at a college or university who uses race as a factor. How is it that you want diversity of thought, but not diversity of people at these public institutions that would bring that diversity? state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, asked. Cirino responded by saying diversity of thought and programs that promote diversity and inclusion are not comparable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cannot discriminate against one group to make up for discrimination of another group, Cirino said. Miller also asked about whether limiting speech through legislation, such as this bill, is a slippery slope. Theres absolutely not one limitation of what can be talked about in the classroom, Cirino said in his response. What we say very specifically and explicitly in the bill is that there has to be an openness to looking at other opinions and welcoming diverse opinions as well. State Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, D-Gahanna, asked about the retrenchment and collective bargaining parts of the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX We need to treat our institutions of higher learning a little bit more like a business, Cirino said. If we dont help (university presidents and boards of trustees) with these management tools, were going to find a real disadvantage for the state of Ohio. Piccolantonio questioned if this bill is giving lawmakers more control over public universities. It is clearly not the legislature trying to step in and operate the college or university, Cirino said. Its about empowering the boards of trustees, the governing board and the presidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Piccolantonio also asked if Cirino would be open to making any changes to the bill and he said no, reminding committee members that this bill went through 11 revisions in the last General Assembly. This bill is matured and its ready to go, Cirino said. In the version of the bill passed last month by the Ohio Senate, most of the changes made in the last General Assembly were rolled back. More than 800 people submitted opponent testimony against the bill significantly outweighing the amount of supporter testimony the bill has received. Several students have said they would leave Ohio if this bill passed. When state Rep. Munira Abdullahi, D-Columbus, asked about so many students opposing the bill, Cirino said legislation is not developed based on how many people come to testify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we started doing that, it would be a popularity contest, and we should all take a huge pay cut because were getting paid, in my view, to make policies sometimes, whether its popular or not, if we think it is the right thing to do and good for the state of Ohio, Cirino said. Abdullahi also asked why the bill would ban higher education faculty from striking. Simply because higher education, all postsecondary education, is absolutely critical to us in Ohio if were going to maintain a strong economy in the future and meet the workforce requirements that we need to meet in order to employ people and to provide the workers that our companies are looking for, Cirino said. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) With a tough early season schedule for the Binghamton softball team, they are 10-5. Most recently, they went a perfect 5-0 at the Make It Happen Games in Florida, and now are heading to Virginia this weekend for the James Madison Invitational, but will have more eyes on them than before. It is the first time in program history that the Binghamton softball program has been ranked in the top 25 of the D1Softball.coms Mid-Major Poll. Every team outside of a power 4 conference is eligible to be voted into the rankings. The poll is in its second year. The team is also ranked 68th in the country by the Rating Percentage Index. The Bearcats are the first team from the America East ever to appear in the poll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. SACRAMENTO, California The bird flu outbreak that has been ripping through California farms since August is starting to abate, state health and agriculture officials said Wednesday, heralding good news in a health crisis that has sent egg prices soaring nationwide. Thankfully, we do see here in California the flu outbreak is slowing down, said Dr. Erica Pan, the director of the California Department of Public Health, during a committee hearing at the state Senate. There have been no new cases in humans since January, Pan said. And State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones said the states almost 1,000 dairy herds of cows are getting sick at a slower pace. The virus has started to decline in poultry as well, with dozens of flocks coming off quarantine and being approved to restock their birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The good news is we are lifting quarantines now faster than we're placing them, Jones said. There were times in December where I wanted to break down in tears, because every night we got 30 new cases. The positive reports come after months of escalating case numbers and knock-on effects across the country from the agricultural heartland of the state, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom declaring a statewide emergency over bird flu in December. The resulting skyrocketing egg prices exacerbated by farmers culling entire flocks has also become a national political issue, noted even during President Donald Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday. Some 753 herds have been infected statewide while 38 human cases have been reported. On Wednesday, state officials reported that in poultry, there have been three distinct waves of the virus since 2022 when flocks caught the virus from wild birds. The state experienced the worst outbreak ever in December, when poultry farmers successfully kept wild bird infections at bay, but started seeing spread from dairy herds to their birds. Still, state officials indicated it will likely be a while before the price of eggs goes down, as California still contends with the worst outbreak in the states history. Birmingham Zoo welcomes orphaned cougar cub BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Birmingham Zoo plans to open its new Cougar Crossing habitat later in March. The habitats first resident, an orphaned cougar cub from Montana, arrived at the zoo on Tuesday, Feb. 11. In December, a landowner near Billings, Montana, found cougar kittens on his property. The next day, he discovered a single female cub stuck in his fence, with no signs of the other kittens or any adults. He removed the cub from the fence, and he contacted Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. In February, the Birmingham Zoo worked with FedEx to safely transport the cub to Memphis, Tennessee, where she was picked up by Birmingham Zoo staff and taken to her new home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Em McNeilly, a Montana veterinarian, accompanied the cub on her FedEx flight from Montana to Tennessee. She is very feisty and very smart, McNeilly said in a statement. I think she is going to be very trainable in the right environment. I hope she is comfortable in her new home and can live out a happy life. The Birmingham Zoo said the cub is around four to five months old, and she weighs between 30 and 40 pounds. The zoos staff is working with the cub to help her acclimate to her new home. Alabama Forestry Commission fights record number of wildfires Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing has been in the planning stages for several years and the arrival of this first cub is a major step towards us opening in mid-March, said Chris Pfefferkorn, president and CEO of the Birmingham Zoo, in a statement. As the Birmingham Zoo celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025, the new Cougar Crossing is a significant milestone in the Zoos overall history. We would like to thank Larry and Phyllis Wojciechowski for their generosity to help make this exhibit a reality. This has truly become a community initiative with hundreds of people, companies, and other organizations joining together to help us be successful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FedEx donated the cost for the cubs transportation. According to Heather Harshbarger, communications advisor for FedEx Cares, FedEx has a long history of partnering with zoos and aquariums to help ensure safe travel for animals in their care. Our skilled team of logistics experts, pilots, and drivers, as well as a fleet of trucks and airplanes, enable FedEx to deliver precious cargo like this orphaned mountain lion, Harshbarger said in a statement. FedEx is committed to connecting the world in responsible and resourceful ways through in-kind shipping donations, charitable contributions and through volunteering with local organizations and we are proud to donate the cost of this mountain lion cub delivery. The Birmingham Zoo said the public will be involved in helping determine a name for the cougar cub in the near future. The zoo is also working to locate another orphaned cub around her age to join her in the Cougar Crossing habitat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. DAMASCUS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Syria's coastal Latakia province witnessed armed clashes Thursday as at least 16 security personnel were killed in coordinated attacks by armed groups, while pro-government protests erupted in major cities to show support for the security forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported that most of the casualties were from northwestern Idlib province and included members of the General Security Directorate and the Ministry of Defense. The security forces were ambushed in Jableh and Latakia, two cities in Latakia province, by militants allegedly backed by regional powers and remnants of the former government. The attack marked the deadliest assault on the new administration's forces since the fall of the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December last year, according to the observatory. Additional personnel remain missing or presumed dead, while at least three militants have been killed in the ongoing clashes, the observatory added. Mustafa Kinivati, head of Latakia's General Security Directorate, said the attacks were "well-planned and premeditated" by groups formerly loyal to the ousted regime. "They launched simultaneous attacks on our checkpoints and patrols in Jableh and its outskirts, leading to multiple casualties among our forces," Kinivati said. He added that militants also vandalized public buildings and private properties, causing destruction in the city. Security forces have been on high alert across Latakia, and additional military reinforcements have been deployed. "We have absorbed the initial wave of attacks, and our forces will ensure these militants are eliminated," Kinivati vowed. Despite the violence, the Syrian Ministry of Information announced that government forces had "regained control" of areas as intense fighting continues in the coastal region. Security operations led to the arrest of Ibrahim Hawija, the former chief of Syria's Air Force Intelligence, who was accused of orchestrating numerous assassinations, according to state news agency SANA. To prevent a sectarian flare-up, authorities imposed curfews in Homs and Tartus provinces as a precautionary measure. The General Security Directorate ordered a 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. lockdown in Homs and a 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. restriction in Tartus to prevent further unrest. As clashes unfolded in Latakia and Jableh, large demonstrations were reported in the cities of Damascus, Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Homs. Crowds took to the streets to show support for the interim government and security forces. In Idlib, young men, some of them armed, gathered in public squares to show solidarity with the military's efforts to "eliminate foreign-backed militants," according to state media. Rhayi'a Smith has been praying for a minivan ever since she had her first set of twins in 2023. Less than two years later, her prayer was granted. This month, Smith's family received two vans, each one surprise gifted to her by someone she barely knew, at her home in Westwood where she lives with her partner and their two sets of twins. "I completely lost it. I was in tears," Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith received the vans about a week after appearing in an Enquirer story about the use of doulas to provide physical and emotional support to pregnant women and their families. 'Something out of fiction' The first minivan came from Unique Blackman, the owner of 5-Star Early Childhood Education Academy in Cheviot, Smith's babies' daycare. Up until last month, Blackman said she'd send a car to bring Smith's four babies, all under the age of two, to daycare before Smith left for her job in the mornings. Daycare pickup made things easier for Smith's family at the time, but Blackman said that it was clear that she needed a car that could fit her whole family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was at no point of ever being able to transport all four kids," said Smith, who previously shared one sedan with her partner. "We could never go anywhere together." Blackman, who runs seven day care centers in Cincinnati, said she has a fund set aside for parents who run into a tough time financially with rent, utilities and groceries and it was through the fund and her own savings that she was able to deliver Smith the minivan in late February. Now, "she picks up and drops her kids off, and they're on time," said Blackman, who described Smith as "always smiling." Little did Smith know that a second van would arrive at her doorstep five days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kimberly McGinnis, Smith's doula, was relaxing in a hot tub on a cruise with her husband when she began chatting with Thad Paris, an analyst for the VA, and his wife. McGinnis mentioned that she knew a mom of two sets of twins who needed a van, and Paris and his wife, who were getting ready to swap out their 2011 Honda Odyssey, knew they could help. A couple weeks later, Paris drove twelve hours from Danielson, Connecticut, to Cincinnati to deliver Smith the van. Both Smith and McGinnis were astounded. "Who does this? Who makes this decision to go to another city, to gift your van to some people?" said McGinnis. "It's something out of fiction." Rhayi'a Smith, pictured here with her doula Kimberly McGinnis, has two sets of twins under the age of two with her partner. Having the vans makes a world of a difference for Smith and her babies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Smith was able to take her first set of twins to their doctor's appointment in one van, while her partner was able to take the other set of twins to daycare with the other. Last Sunday was the first time Smith was able to bring all her kids to church at the same time. "It was definitely a blessing," said Smith. "These people literally didn't know my family from Adam and Eve." "It makes you feel good," said Paris, in response. "If it helps somebody else in the process, that's a win-win in my book." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Family with two sets of twins gifted two surprise minivans The Maldives, an island chain in the Indian Ocean, and an idyllic escape for travelers fond of postcard-perfect, white sand beaches and surfers searching for warm water, electric blue tubes, is a bucket list destination for many vacationers. It takes an arm and a leg to get to the archipelagic nation, which sits off the southern tip of India, but when you get there, boy is it worth the effort. But recently, a ferry boat (and its passengers) got into trouble in the Maldives. A boat carrying 48 people sank, the other day, when it encountered stormy seas. As the vessel took on more and more water, the passengers were forced to walk the plank, inflating life vests, bobbing in the open ocean, as they awaited rescue. Luckily everyone got out of their okay. See the video below: A ferry speedboat carrying 48 people sank off the coast of the Maldives on March 2 after rough waves flooded the engine, the caption reports. Video footage shows water rushing in as passengers struggled to inflate faulty life jackets before jumping into the sea, where they remained stranded until rescue boats arrived. The incident occurred amid a yellow weather alert for storms and strong winds. A day earlier, record-breaking rainfall had caused widespread flooding, prompting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to declare March 3 a public holiday. Related: The Biggest Day Ever Surfed in the MaldivesMaybe (Watch) Local police also reported the incident. Posting on X, they said: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 07:57 this morning, we received reports of the launch *Huvan* sinking en route from Dhigurah to Male'. The vessel was carrying 45 passengers and 3 crew members. Our emergency response teams were immediately dispatched, ensuring the safe rescue of all individuals onboard, including 4 children. All passengers and crew have been transported to Dhigurah and are in good health. However, despite the fortunate outcome from the sinking, with everyone onboard being successfully rescued, the police are investigating what went wrong in the first place. They continued: A thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. We commend the swift response of our rescue teams and all those who assisted in this operation. Related: Watch All-Star Surfer Lineup Shred Thrusters in Exclusive Maldives Contest Bob Bolus asked a judge to reverse his ruling in a lawsuit involving a land dispute between Bolus and his neighbors in Scrantons East Mountain section. Lackawanna County Court Judge Terrence Nealon issued an order on Feb. 18 in favor of the plaintiffs, Michael Oakes and his wife, Carole Slotterback, of 1527 Birch St. They sued Bolus in a quiet-title action in Lackawanna County Court to establish clear ownership title to 2,312 square feet of a vacant lot they own next door at 1625 Birch St., but to which Bolus had long claimed access. Bolus contended he had driveway and utility easement access through the 1625 Birch St. property for decades. The driveway is to Bolus property in the rear, at 1531 Birch St. He claimed he owned the disputed property via adverse possession, and he also had filed a quitclaim deed to try to establish ownership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob Bolus (TIMES-TRIBUNE / FILE PHOTO) In the Feb. 18 summary-judgment decision, Nealon ruled that Oakes established title to the property via deed of a 2008 purchase, and Bolus claim of adverse possession of the property before Oakes bought it failed. The decision declares Oakes and Slotterback as owners of the parcel, and declares Bolus quitclaim deed as invalid and canceled. On Feb. 27, Bolus filed a petition asking Nealon to reconsider and strike his Feb. 18 ruling, based on the following: A phone hearing in the suit held Dec. 24, 2024, hampered Bolus from making his case. The hearing on the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment was held via phone, but Bolus expected an in-person hearing. He had two expert witnesses, both surveyors, who would have testified in support of Bolus claim of ownership of the disputed property. With the hearing done via telephone, (his) expert witnesses were unable to testify, Bolus petition says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A summary judgment was an inappropriate outcome. Oakes and Slotterback filed a motion for a summary judgment in the lawsuit based on Bolus own filings, testimony and admissions in the case; and summary judgment may be granted only when the right to such a judgment is clear and free from doubt, according to the ruling. But Bolus contends summary judgment for the plaintiffs was inappropriate, in light of his surveys, maps, expert witnesses, claim of adverse possession, quitclaim deed and decades of property maintenance and acting as the owner. Unanswered questions. Bolus believes the plaintiffs had a survey done but did not submit it in the case and he wasnt given the opportunity to question them about that; or to question them on whether they ever maintained the property, or tried to stop him from maintaining it or holding himself out as the true owner. Nealon has not ruled on Bolus petition for reconsideration, which Bolus filed pro-se, meaning without an attorney, and representing himself. The dispute also was the subject of protracted litigation going back to 2009, the ruling said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, in another aspect of the long-running property dispute, Scranton police charged Bolus in August 2022 with trespass, criminal mischief, harassment and other violations regarding knocking down no-trespassing signs put up by the neighbors and other actions. Bolus pleaded guilty on Aug. 15, 2024, in that case to two counts of criminal mischief and was sentenced by Lackawanna County Court Judge Frank Ruggiero to a suspended sentence of 90 days incarceration, the payment of costs of prosecution and the payment of $175 to Slotterback as restitution. Bolus said in a phone interview Saturday that he is trying to withdraw that guilty plea in county court, because it prevents him from getting an expungement of a conviction from 2012, when a county jury convicted him of insurance fraud and attempted theft by deception, both third-degree felonies. And that conviction precludes Bolus from holding public office. Bolus also said he intends to run in the May 20 primary election for the Republican nomination for mayor of Scranton. He hopes to withdraw the guilty plea in the East Mountain matter, and then secure the expungement of the 2012 conviction before the swearing-in of the next mayor. I could run (for mayor) but I cant take the seat until I get the expungement, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday is the deadline for candidates to submit nominating petitions to run in the May 20 primary election. Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, a Democrat, is seeking re-election to another four-year term. Former Scranton Sewer Authority Executive Director Gene Barrett and former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan each have announced they are running in the May 20 Democratic primary for the partys nomination for Scranton mayor. On the Republican side, resident and business owner Lynn Labrosky also has announced her intention to run for the GOP nomination for Scranton mayor. Winners of primaries will advance to the Nov. 4 general election. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. A lawsuit will move forward in a Johnstown-based U.S. District Court over a Portage adult business owners case against Hollidaysburg Borough. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines will preside over the case, following a hearing late last month where both sides expressed no objections, online court records show. While previously working for the U.S. Attorneys Office, Haines prosecuted Bodies in Motion owner Gary Vaughn Jr. in 2017 in a case that saw the Portage man receive 15 months in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was appointed to serve as a Western District of Pennsylvania judge in 2019 by President Donald Trump. Neither Vaughns attorneys nor the defendant, Hollidaysburg Borough, objected to Haines role on the prior 2017 case as a reason to recuse herself from the ongoing civil matter, records show. Vaughn is suing Hollidaysburg and its borough officials, saying the towns laws violate the First and 14th Amendments by imposing guidelines preventing him from conducting business more specifically, traveling adult dance shows in pre- existing local businesses. The suit was filed after Vaughn said he was blocked for zoning reasons from holding a show at a borough restaurant. No new hearings are currently set for the case, online documents show. HOLLAND, Mass. (WWLP) Authorities have identified the body recovered last week in Holland as 29-year-old Austin Schepper of Sturbridge. Body found in Holland connected to missing persons case According to the Hampden District Attorneys Office, Scheppers body was discovered on the afternoon of February 26 in the area of Union Road, where a large police presence was seen as part of an ongoing missing persons investigation led by local and state police. Courtesy of Sturbridge Police Department. District Attorney Anthony Gulluni offered his condolences to Scheppers family as the investigation continues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case remains under active investigation by Massachusetts State Police. Officials are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the Hampden District Attorneys State Police Detective Unit at (413) 505-5993. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. DENVER (KDVR) Denver Mayor Mike Johnston was one of four city leaders from what Congressional Republicans called sanctuary cities grilled in front of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday. Johnston was questioned alongside the mayors of Boston, Chicago and New York City, all of which have been dubbed sanctuary cities. Denver mayor questioned on release protocols with ICE after alleged assault Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that have announced limits on how much they will cooperate with federal agencies efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. Some cities take it one step further and solidify the designation through an ordinance, but Denver has not. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a member of the oversight committee, spoke with Nexstar on Wednesday after Johnston took the stand. Well, I think Mayor Mike Johnston really proved that Denver is a sanctuary city. My main goal and objective was proving that we have sanctuary policies both at a state level, and then even Denver, city ordinances, that do make it impossible for ICE agents to coordinate with local law enforcement agents, Boebert said. Nayda Benitez, of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, told FOX31s Kasia Kerridge they are frustrated by the need for the four mayors to testify at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To us, this is, you know, just the latest attack against places, communities, cities across the U.S. that have been champions for immigrant rights. It seems to us that it was really just political theater, Benitez said. Boebert seemed skeptical that Johnston supports coordination and communication between city employees and federal agents when an immigration detainer or warrant has been issued. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston takes the stand in DC on sanctuary policies We have seen case after case in Colorado where a migrant was detained and then released because there was not a federal warrant and even knowing that these individuals were in the country illegally, they were unable to coordinate with ICE to actually get their removal from our country and unfortunately they went on to commit even worse crimes in our state, Boebert said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Undocumented or improper entry into the U.S. is a civil infraction and does not carry a criminal penalty. Benitez mostly applauded Johnston for his testimony, but worried about some of the nuance in his statements. We do appreciate the mayor trying to hold the line and stand in support of immigrant communities, Benitez said. We do wonder and question what he meant by implying that he would support federal agents when it came to immigrants that are criminals. What does that mean exactly? Boebert also noted that Johnston isnt exactly wrong in saying that crime is down in Denver. She said he didnt provide enough context for the situation, saying the 42,000 immigrants who came or were bused to Denver were then instructed on how to get out and even give them the same day shipping and move them to places like Utah or Aurora or even New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that Mayor Eric Adams, of NYC, confirmed there was coordination between Colorado and New York to move immigrants eastward. And then we have the governor of Utah who is on the record saying that Mayor Mike Johnston was busing illegals in to Utah and of course, we have seen them being shipped into cities like Aurora as well and you even have the mayor of Aurora on record and councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky saying that this is absolutely happening, Boebert said. In October, the Aurora City Council voted to investigate whether Denver, the state of Colorado and nonprofits had moved immigrants into Aurora. She said that lower crime in Denver comes at the cost of increasing crime in other places, and said hes moving immigrations from his city at the taxpayers expense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denver marks 2 years since migrant crisis began as activists see work left to be done Im sure anyone who is here in the country illegally is afraid to coordinating, cooperate with law enforcement because they are already breaking the law, the representative asserted. They are here illegally and that does not prevent, however, law enforcement from coordinating with federal ICE agents, Denvers ordinance does. Colorado state law absolutely prevents that coordination from taking place. Benitez said fear is prevalent among Colorados immigrant population. There is a lot of fear, a lot of terror, that uncertainty is palpable among the immigrant community right now, Benitez said. Yesterday, our coalition and some of our members, we hand-delivered a community petition to the Denver Mayors office yesterday afternoon ahead of the hearing today calling essentially on him to stand by Denvers welcoming city policies and to enforce them, or help those policies remain in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boebert said that Johnston could have joined her Wednesday in demanding that Colorados state laws that he blames for having illegal aliens in such mass numbers in Denver, and using so many tax dollars He could have joined me in saying, get rid of this, and he refused to. Hes had 600 days to repeal or have the city council vote to repeal the ordinance that says city employees of Denver will be fired if they communicate with federal law enforcement officers, Boebert asserted. Hes done neither. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. GILMER, Texas (KETK) Some customers of the Pritchett Water Supply Corporation in Gilmer are now under a boil water notice. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the Pritchett Water Supply Corporation to notify all customers of a boil water notice due to a line break. Boil water notice dos and donts Customers are asked to boil their water before consumption, which includes washing hands and face, brushing teeth and drinking water. Children, seniors and anyone with a weakened immune system are vulnerable to harmful bacteria that could be found in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes, the Pritchett Water Supply Corporation said. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. The company said that once the notice is no longer in effect the public water system will issue a notice to all of their customers revoking the notice. Those affected by the boil include: Plant 1B at 7602 Locust Rd. Locust Road to Highway 80 White Pine Road Green Road White Oak Road West including Hickory, Cherry and White Cedar roads White Oak East to FM 2685 including Pear Road Highway 80 between Cherry Road and FM 2685 including Mesquite, Juniper, Faggett Commerce, Sweet Gum and Thomas road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who has any questions regarding the boil notice should contact Pritchett Water at 903-734-5438. Notices may also be viewed on the website www.pritchettwater.com in English or Spanish. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) The NYPD responded to a reported bomb threat at the Milstein Center at Barnard College, police said Wednesday. The NYPD evacuated the building. More Local News The bomb threat was reported as a protest took place at the Manhattan building. The college is located in Morningside Heights, near West 120th Street. We are aware of a disruption of Milstein Library at Barnard College a separate institution from Columbia University, although it is affiliated. We are in touch with Barnards leadership and security team as they address the situation and will continue to monitor it closely, read a statement from Columbia about the protest. The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct. We are committed to supporting our Columbia student body and our campus community during this challenging time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A PIX11 News crew was on the scene as the NYPD escorted what seemed to be dozens of students out of the building. Nine arrests were made, according to authorities. It remains unclear what charges they will face. The bomb threat at Barnard College was investigated and cleared. There was no threat to the public, police said. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) Bosnian officials on Thursday challenged a set of laws barring the state judiciary and police from operating in the Serb-controlled part of the country. The contentious legislation has fueled tensions in the ethnically-divided Balkan country. The complaint filed at the countrys Constitutional Court jointly by Bosnian presidency member Denis Becirovic and two other officials argues that the laws passed a week ago by Bosnian Serb lawmakers violate Bosnia's constitution and a peace agreement that ended Bosnia's 1992-95 war. The European Union said the laws undermine the constitutional and legal order of Bosnia, the functionality of its institutions and threaten fundamental freedoms of its citizens. Republika Srpska, the Serb-run part of Bosnia, must comply with Bosnia's laws and its constitution, the EU added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EU urges the political leadership of the Republika Srpska entity to refrain from and to renounce provocative, divisive rhetoric and actions, including questioning the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said the statement. The U.S. Embassy in Bosnia issued a statement saying it is deep concerned about the Bosnian Serb decree. "The United States is resolute in advancing our interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina," the statement said. For 30 years, our commitment to the Dayton Peace Agreement and a stable and secure Bosnia and Herzegovina has been unwavering. Laws represent a coup, officials say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bosnian Serbs passed the legislation after a Bosnian court convicted Milorad Dodik, the pro-Russia president of the Serb-run entity in Bosnia called Republika Srpska. Dodik was sentenced last month in absentia to a year in prison and a six-year ban from public office for his separatist moves. Dodik, who is not in imminent danger of arrest, said he plans to ignore the verdict, which becomes official after an appeals process. Bosnia's officials say that the set of laws represent a coup and a major step in the disintegration of the country advocated by the Bosnian Serb separatist leader. Bosnia consists of two entities, one dominated by Bosnia's Serbs and the other run by the Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslim, and Croats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dayton peace accords that ended Bosnia's war, which killed more than 100,000 people, also envisaged that the entities are bound by joint state institutions, including the army, top judiciary and tax administration. Bosnia's rotating three-member presidency is made up of Bosniak, Serb and Croat members while an international envoy overseeing peace has the authority to change laws and impose decisions in Bosnia. Russian backing for Dodik Dodik was convicted for disobeying the decisions of High Representative Christian Schmidt that sought to curb Bosnian Serb pro-independence drive. He has repeatedly called for the separation of the Serb-run half of Bosnia to join with neighboring Serbia, which prompted the former U.S. administration to impose sanctions against him and his close allies. Dodik, a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has had Russias backing for his policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a meeting with Serbias President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Dodik on Thursday accused Bosniak officials in Sarajevo of seeking a conflict and wanting to abolish the Serb entity. We are not the ones who want war and conflict, insisted Dodik. Passing of the new laws has spurred fears of incidents between rival Serb and central Bosnian police forces. The war in Bosnia erupted when the countrys Serbs rebelled against independence from the former Yugoslavia and moved to form a mini-state of their own with the aim of uniting it with Serbia. BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese medical assistance team left Beijing on Wednesday evening heading for the Republic of Guinea, where they will introduce advanced technologies and assist local healthcare professionals over the next 18 months. It is the 31st such team to be sent to this African country, and it consists of 24 members. Of these team members, 22 are from the renowned Beijing Friendship Hospital, with their expertise covering the likes of thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, vascular surgery, neurology, cardiology and more. The other two members are experts in public health and health policy, and are from the Beijing Municipal Health Commission and the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control. The team was selected in September last year. Team members then learned French and received systematic training on the treatment of diseases common in this tropical country. According to Wang Bin, head of the team, they will quickly adapt to their new environment after arrival, continue to promote the establishment of a joint medical center, collaborate with both local institutions and professionals to conduct field visits and prepare samples, and promote the culture of traditional Chinese medicine, while striving to improve local medical and health conditions and standards. China has been sending medical teams overseas for more than six decades. The first team sent overseas went to Algeria in 1963. As of the end of 2023, China had dispatched over 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across the world -- providing medical services to nearly 300 million patients. SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia's prosecutors said on Thursday that Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik was being investigated for attacking the country's constitutional order, the day after he signed laws banning the state judiciary and police from its autonomous Serb region. A state court last week sentenced Dodik, the Serb Republic's president, to a year in prison and banned him from politics for six years for suspending rulings by the constitutional court and international envoy Christian Schmidt, who oversees implementation of the 1995 Dayton peace treaty. Dodik rejected the verdict and next day the Serb regional parliament passed legislation barring the national police and judiciary from its territory. Dodik, a pro-Russian nationalist, signed the separatist laws on Wednesday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutors' office said in a statement it has been conducting investigations into what it described as the criminal act of an attack on Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitutional order since December. Dodik's moves are triggering a crisis in the Balkan country, which after a 1992-95 war was divided into two autonomous regions, the Serb-dominated Serb Republic and a federation shared by Croats and Bosnian Muslims, or Bosniaks. They are linked by a weak federal government. Dodik, who is supported by Russia, Hungary and Serbia, confirmed on his X profile that he had received an invitation to give a statement at the prosecutors' office on Friday. He said he would not go to the "political court". He maintains that the state judiciary, prosecutors and police are not constitutional because they were not envisaged in the Dayton peace accords that ended the war in which 100,000 were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Denis Becirovic, the Bosniak member of the country's tripartite presidency, and two other officials filed an appeal to the constitutional court against the Serb parliament legislation they say violates the peace accords and the constitution. (Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Alex Richardson) Boston Mayor Michelle Wu racked up a six-figure bill with a high-powered law firm in preparation for Wednesdays intense congressional hearing on sanctuary cities in Washington, D.C. Wu hired the services of Cahill Gordon & Reindel, retaining the New York City-based firm at a rate of $950 an hour, Boston 25 News has learned. The firm also has offices in D.C. and London. The prep sessions included staff from the Mayors Office, Law Department, Boston Police and other senior advisors and leaders from the Cabinet, as well as an external law firm, Cahill Gordon & Reindel, an official said in a statement shared with Boston 25 News. The City retained Cahill for a rate of $950/hour and expects to pay the firm up to $650,000 for legal work related to the March 5 hearing, committee investigation, and production of related documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While testifying in front of lawmakers on the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Capitol Hill, Wu defended the citys approach to immigration enforcement and called the Bay States capital the safest major city in the country. MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale blasted Wu for diverting money away from vital services from lifelong Bostonians and for being unable to provide basic data on how many illegal immigrants have entered Boston over the past four years or how much taxpayer money is being spent on individuals who are in the country unlawfully. Mayor Wus refusal to disclose the financial burden her policies place on Boston residents is unacceptable, Carnevale said Wednesday in a statement. Taxpayers deserve to know how much of their money is being diverted away from vital services from lifelong Bostonians to fund sanctuary city policies that encourage illegal immigration. Instead, Wu admitted that the city doesnt even track how much is being spent on illegal immigrants. Wu was joined by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Republicans hammered the mayors about their so-called sanctuary city policies, accusing them of endangering Americans and threatening to prosecute local officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic mayors took rapid-fire questions and defended their policies as legal, repeatedly arguing that they do not violate federal law by limiting local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration authorities. At one point during the hearing, Congressman Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, asked Wu how much the city spends on services for illegal immigrants. We dont ask about immigration status, Wu replied. You dont ask about how much money the City of Boston has spent on illegal immigration? Are you out of your mind? Do you manage your budget or not, Mayor Wu? Donalds asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I manage my budget. I have a AAA bond rating, Wu said. Wu then said, The City of Boston is sick of having people outside of Boston telling us what to do. The hearing went on for some six hours before U.S. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the panels Republican chair, called it to an end. For a full recap of Wus testimony, click here. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The Boston Police Department is seeking help from the public in the search for a missing 17-year-old autistic boy. Edward Neddy Kelly, originally from Falmouth, resides in a group home in Framingham and attends the Albert Holland School at 60 Washington Street in Dorchester. Kelly was last seen around 12:45 PM on Wednesday after fleeing from the school. Kelly was wearing gray jeans, an Ed Hardy sweatshirt, a white tie-dye jacket, and a black backpack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boston police is asking anyone with information to contact one of the following: B-2 Detectives: 617-343-6683 DCF Social Worker, Matt Hilton: 508-760-0294 DCF Supervisor: 857-292-3271 After-Hours DCF Hotline: 1-800-792-5200 Community members who wish to assist anonymously may do so through the CrimeStoppers Tip Line: Online: https://police.boston.gov/crimestoppers Phone: 1-800-494-TIPS Text: Send TIP to CRIME (27463) This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW As Wisconsin's April 1 state Supreme Court election draws nearer, you've probably started seeing ads or receiving mailers about the two candidates competing for an open seat that will again determine the court's ideological majority. While the race is officially nonpartisan, justices on the state Supreme Court typically lean liberal or conservative, and partisan groups often heap donations and support into their campaigns. Brad Schimel, a circuit court judge in Waukesha County and a former Republican state attorney general, is the conservative candidate in the race. The liberal candidate is Susan Crawford, a circuit court judge in Dane County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the court flipped to a liberal majority for the first time in over a decade with the election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz. The 2025 race will determine if the court remains under liberal control or switches back to a conservative majority. The court is often the final voice on contentious issues in Wisconsin, from abortion to election laws to redistricting. A case that will decide the fate of Act 10, the 2011 state law that stripped bargaining rights from most state employees, is likely to land before the Supreme Court. Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel (left) makes remarks at a roundtable discussion at the Wisconsin GOP Hispanic Community Center on Feb. 27 in Milwaukee. In a Marquette poll conducted in late February, most Wisconsin voters said they did not know enough about either Supreme Court candidate to have an opinion about them. About two out of five said they had no opinion of Schimel. Here's what to know about Schimel, including his experience in the legal system, positions on key issues, education and more. This guide may be updated as campaigns continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Who is Susan Crawford? Where Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate stands on voter ID, abortion, redistricting and more What is Brad Schimel's job? Schimel has been a circuit court judge in Waukesha County since 2019. Schimel ran as a Republican for state attorney general, a position he held from 2015 to 2019 before narrowly losing reelection. Liberals have criticized Schimel over a backlog in sexual assault kits during his first two years leading the Department of Justice, but Schimel has argued he addressed a decades-old problem in the final half of his four-year term. Before becoming attorney general, Schimel served as the Waukesha County district attorney for about nine years. According to his campaign website, he prosecuted cases of elder abuse, human trafficking, homicide and sexual assault, among other crimes. He had worked as an assistant district attorney in the office before that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: What to know about the domestic abuse cases Susan Crawford is criticizing Brad Schimel over Who has endorsed Brad Schimel? Schimel has been endorsed by Wisconsin's Republican members of Congress, the Waukesha County Police Chiefs Association, the Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association, the Milwaukee Police Association and the Wisconsin State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police. He has touted endorsements from several dozen current and retired county sheriffs. Schimel has said he'd welcome an endorsement from President Donald Trump because he "is enjoying high popularity right now." Trump has not yet backed Schimel, but he has endorsed in Wisconsin's Supreme Court races before. Schimel has received the backing of Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump. What groups have donated to Brad Schimel? Schimel has raised about $5.1 million since entering the race, including about $2.7 million in the first month of 2025. The Republican Party of Wisconsin has funneled about $1.7 million into his campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group funded by Musk has spent more than $2 million on TV ads attacking Crawford. Musk's super PAC, America PAC, has paid out more than $3.2 million on voter turnout, texting and digital ads. More: Bice: Elon Musk group posts photo of wrong Susan Crawford in digital ad More: Liberal watchdog group accuses Brad Schimel of improper fundraising in Supreme Court race National, big-money donors have gotten involved in both campaigns. While individuals can only donate $20,000 to a candidate, they can send unlimited donations to the state parties, which then transfer money to the campaign. ABC Supply owner Diane Hendricks, Uline president Liz Uihlein and Chicago Cubs owner Joe Ricketts have recently donated large sums to the state Republican Party, which then forwarded money to Schimel's campaign. What is Brad Schimel's stance on abortion? Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, Schimel supported keeping Wisconsin's 1849 law that bans abortion without exceptions for rape and incest. At an event last summer, Schimel said there is no "constitutional right to abortion" in Wisconsin's constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schimel has recently changed his tone, saying he would respect the "will of the voters" on the issue. But Wisconsin doesnt have a process that allows its voters to change state law through referendums. Marquette University Law School polling has showed a majority of Wisconsin voters support legal abortion in all or most cases. Schimel has said he does not agree with abortion, citing his experience with the adoption of his two children, who are featured in an ad about his stance on the issue. More: Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel bring opposing views on abortion to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race More: Stringent anti-abortion group hasn't endorsed Brad Schimel. But its staffers are all in What is Brad Schimel's stance on voter ID? In 2018, while Schimel was serving as attorney general, he suggested to a conservative radio host that Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 because the state's voter ID law kept the elections "clean" and "honest." He also fought in court to keep the law in place as attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A press release from Schimel's campaign criticized Crawford's involvement in challenging the voter ID law while she was in private practice and called Schimel the "only candidate in this race who understands the importance of secure, democratic elections." What is Brad Schimel's stance on redistricting? As attorney general, Schimel defended the state's previous legislative maps that heavily favored Republicans in court. Schimel has not made notable recent comments on redistricting, though Republicans have criticized Crawford for attending a donor advisory meeting that was billed as a "chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026" in an email invite. Her campaign said she was only on the call briefly to share her background and why she's running. How old is Brad Schimel? Schimel is 60. Where is Brad Schimel from? Schimel and his wife, Sandi, live in Waukesha County. They have two adoptive daughters. Schimel was born in West Allis, and his family later moved to the Town of Vernon. What is Brad Schimel's band? Schimel plays bass guitar for 4 on the Floor, a local classic rock band. Where did Brad Schimel go to college, law school? Schimel attended the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha for two years before finishing his bachelor's degree at UW-Milwaukee. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1990. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alison Dirr and Daniel Bice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Supreme Court voter guide: What to know about Brad Schimel Governor Mike Braun wont sign a property tax bill after the Senate passed an amended bill, his director of legislative affairs Jason Johnson told the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday. We must keep the impact to taxpayers front of mind, Johnson said. While doing that, Johnson said the state has to ensure police, fire and schools which are funded through property taxes are adequately funded, though he didnt offer a proposal for that. After a five-hour hearing on Senate Bill 1, House Ways and Means Committee chairman Rep. Jeffrey Thompson, R-Lizton, said next Wednesday he will offer a new version of Senate Bill 1, which will strip its content and include language from House Bill 1402, which Thompson authored and didnt advance in the first half of session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 1 changes the percentage cap used to determine the maximum levy growth quotient to 0% in 2026, 1% in 2027 and 2% in 2028; and allows a county fiscal body to establish a property tax payment deferral program, where up to $10,000 can be deferred and the deferment becomes a lien on the property. Senate Bill 1 also offers relief to those 65 years old and older and those who are disabled. It also establishes a first-time home buyer tax credit. It allows for local governments to utilize a levy referendum during even-year general elections. The Senate amended the bill to remove Brauns property tax relief plan he campaigned on. The bill initially stated a homestead standard deduction amount of 60% of the homesteads assessed value if the value is more than $125,000 or $48,000 plus 60% of the remaining assessed value if the homestead has an assessed value of $125,000 or less. The fiscal impact of the amended bill would cut $1.4 billion across the state between 2026 and 2025, including $370.9 million from schools, $67 million from libraries, $304.3 million from cities and towns, and $346.6 million from counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The previous fiscal note said the plan would cut $4.1 billion across the state between 2026 and 2028, including $1.9 billion from schools, $254 million from libraries, $890 million from cities and towns, and $765 million from counties. Bill author Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, presented the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee and shared a concern that as of Jan. 1 local governments have a collective debt of $54 billion. State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, asked Holdman if he had any concerns that reducing property tax bills would reduce funding for local police and fire departments. Holdman said he was concerned, but that the loss in revenue could be backfilled through local income taxes. With the announcement about local governments being in debt, Andrade said it was interesting state officials would support shifting the burden to local governments to supplement the loss in revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not telling you this is a perfect bill, Holdman said. Hopefully we get to a place we can land thats agreeable for everyone. State Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, said the bill has evolved since it was first proposed, but he was glad Braun has focused on property tax reform. We have some work to do before we hit a landing place. I think we can all agree on that, Prescott said. Jamie Bolser, the deputy commissioner and chief of staff for the Department of Local Government Finance, presented a property tax overview, which showed that assessed values for homesteads have increased by 55.35% from 2019 to 2024 while assessed values for businesses have increased by 21.77% in the same time period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data proves that businesses and homes are assessed differently, said DLGF general counsel Emily Crisler. Johnson said that homeowners have taken on the brunt of the property tax increase costs and should receive relief. State government will work with local governments to address budget shortfalls, he said, but didnt offer specifics. As the legislature works on the biennial budget this session, the state government has been tightening its belt, Johnson said, so local governments could do the same. Were inviting them to take this journey with us, Johnson said. After the discussion, 42 people signed up to testify on the bill, the majority of whom were local government officials opposing the bill. The various mayors, commissioners and trustees who testified shared that they are good stewards of tax payer dollars and are already running lean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julie Wendorf, the director of the Crown Point Community Library and president of the Indiana Library Federation, testified that she opposed Senate Bill 1 because decreasing funding for public libraries threatens their ability to continue the extraordinary work they do in placemaking, economic development, and offering Indiana citizens the services that help them thrive. Libraries have long become experts on doing more with less, Wendorf said. Libraries face increased costs needed to operate including larger utility bills, higher cost of maintaining current level of staffing, and purchasing the goods and services needed to maintain public facilities and services for all ages and stages of our community members. In 2023, over 21 million people visited Indiana public libraries and checked out over 54 million items, Wendorf said. Libraries also provide barrier-free access to early literacy programming, lifelong learning opportunities, and combat the epidemic of senior loneliness through free senior-friendly programming, she said. Public libraries are major contributors in building community placemaking by creating public spaces that are engaging, welcoming, and improve the quality of life for their communities. The collective return on investment that this provides to taxpayers is astounding, Wendorf said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Senate Bill 1, Indiana libraries will lose out on $32.4 million by 2028, Wendorf said. Historically, libraries have the second lowest tax rate of government entities, but the primary source of funding is property tax distribution, she said. This loss in revenue for many libraries would result in cutting library hours, staffing, and services that our patrons rely on. For small rural libraries, who operate as a beacon of hope as the sole provider for many public services, it may cause them to close their doors in part or entirely. Wendorf said. Lake County Finance Director Scott Schmal testified about his analysis that the root cause of increased property taxes for homeowners has been the discrepancy in assessed value calculation of homes versus businesses. His analysis found that the process for the three classes of property residential homestead, agricultural/other residential property and businesses has been improperly calculated. The practice has resulted in a significant increase to property taxes on homesteads and minimal to no shift for businesses between 2019 and 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Lake County, the assessed value for residential homesteads has increased from approximately $21.7 billion in 2019 to approximately $32.5 billion in 2024, which represents a 49.9% increase. For agricultural/other residential property the assessed value increased from approximately $4.4 billion in 2019 to approximately $6.2 billion in 2024, which represents a 42.5% increase. Meanwhile, the assessed value for Lake County businesses increased from approximately $13.6 billion in 2019 to approximately $15.2 billion in 2024, which represents an 11.5% increase, according to the analysis. U.S. Steel in Gary has a land value of $5.3 million in 2024, which had remained the same since 2008, Schmal said. Im an advocate for efficiency, but if you dont change the allocation process youre not going to get the desired result that youre looking for, Schmal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jim Meece, a Parke County Commissioner, said county officials have always tried to take care of ourselves. Parke County has its own ambulance service, uses innkeepers tax to cover infrastructure and public safety, and the county has a 2.65% income tax rate, Meece said. The county has maxed out its wheel tax, excise tax and local income tax, he said. We have used all of those tools, Meece said. We dont ask for much, we just ask for the tools. If property taxes were to decrease in Parke County, Meece said that would result in a decrease in personnel which would impact county services. It would also impact the countys ability to apply for state grants, because many grants require the county to match funds, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We really are maxed out, Meece said. Whatever you choose to do, were going to need some ideas as to how we can generate that income from some place else if we lose that property tax money coming in. Indiana School Boards Association Executive Director Terry Spradlin said the organization opposed the bill because when considered with Senate Bill 518, which would require public schools to share referendum funds with local charter schools, it will negatively impact public schools. Indiana has one of the lowest property tax rates in the country, Spradlin said, so the state legislature doesnt have to rush property tax reform. Since 2009, through tax caps and circuit breaker losses, public schools have lost $3.5 billion, he said. We are living within our means. For 15 years weve been tightening our belt, Spradlin said. This is only going to compound the challenges that we have. Maggie McShane, senior vice president of government affairs for the Indiana Association of Realtors, said the organization supports Senate Bill 1 because, similar to local government officials who expressed concern about being able to afford operations, homeowners are also concerned about paying their bills and property taxes. McShane said the organization supports reviewing the assessed value process, which would further support homeowners. Thompson said the committee will hear Senate Bill 1 next Wednesday, but it will be stripped of its content and include language from House Bill 1402. House Bill 1402, which Thompson authored, is a 228-page bill addressing property tax relief. The bill wasnt heard by committee in the first half of the session, which means it cant move forward on its own. The bill will be up for discussion only, Thompson said. akukulka@post-trib.com Ukraine and U.S. delegations have resumed work and are scheduled to meet next week, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the Special European Council on March 6. "Ukraine is not only ready to take the necessary steps for peace, but we are also proposing what those steps are," Zelensky said, expressing hope for a "meaningful" dialogue with U.S. officials. Senior White House Fox News Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich wrote on X that the talks are set for March 11 and will involve Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. delegation will reportedly include U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. According to Axios, the meeting will take place on March 12. The announcement follows rising tensions between Kyiv and Washington after a heated Oval Office exchange between Zelensky, Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Feb. 28. The dispute derailed a planned bilateral deal on Ukraine's natural resources and led to Trump freezing all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. An agreement on Ukraine's mineral resources remains stalled as Trump seeks a "bigger, better deal," CBS News reported on March 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House officials publicly indicated that Zelensky must issue an apology and demonstrate a commitment to peace talks for discussions to resume. On March 4, Zelensky called the White House clash "regrettable" and reaffirmed his willingness to work toward peace under Trump's "strong leadership." Waltz suggested on March 5 that Trump may lift the pause on military aid once peace negotiations are arranged and confidence-building measures are taken, Reuters reported. Read also: Chinas envoy calls Trumps treatment of Europe appalling Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Breast cancer deaths rates for older women have been declining for years. Not anymore After years of declines, breast cancer death rates have stopped going down in women older than 74, researchers said Thursday. The disease resulted in the deaths of more than 42,000 women last year. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the U.S. The fact that breast cancer mortality rates have stopped declining for women over age 74 is an alarming new trend, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center's Debra Monticciolo said in a statement. This is in addition to women under age 40 no longer seeing mortality rates decline from breast cancer. These groups are exactly those discouraged from breast cancer screening by some U.S. guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monticciolo was an author of the research shared Thursday in the Journal of Breast Imaging. The reason death rates - which have been dropping since 1990 - are no longer declining is tied to an increase in advanced-stage breast cancer when women are diagnosed with the disease. Screening for breast cancer, which can help find tumors when it is easier to treat, is only recommended for women under the age of 40 who are at higher-than-average risk, and some guidelines discourage women over 74 from screening. Breast cancer death rates have stopped going down in women older than the age of 74. Researchers say thats due to an increase of advanced stage breast cancer when women are diagnosed with the disease (Getty Images) The paper also confirmed previous research which indicated that breast cancer death rates have stopped falling in women younger than 40 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers here found that in both younger and older groups, the end of mortality rate decline was primarily due to mortality rates no longer declining for white women under 40 and over 74, as well as unfavorable trends for Hispanic women ages 20 to 39 years and for Asian, Hispanic, and Native American women 75 and older. Breast cancer mortality rates in Black women continued to decline in all age groups, Oxford University Press, which published the paper, said in a release. To reach these conclusions, they assessed death rates that have been collected by the National Center for Health Statistics since 1990. For U.S. women overall, breast cancer death rates have fallen markedly from 1990 to 2022, plummeting by 43.5 percent over that period. The years between 2010 and 2022 saw the lowest rate of decrease recorded since 1990. From 1993 to 2013, the death rate decreased by 1.26 percent each year for women who were 75 years old and older. Death rates have fallen for Asian, Hispanic, and Native American women. Rates in Black women continued to decline in all age groups. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. women. It accounts for about 30 percent of all new female cancers each year (Getty Images) However, the authors noted that Black women are especially in need of alternatives to current breast cancer risk assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black women in the U.S. have around a 40 percent higher death rate from breast cancer than white women, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Those under 50 are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as white women, the researchers said. "Anyone can get cancer, right? But the people who are dying are specifically those that happen to be Black individuals," Dr. Paris Thomas, executive director of Chicago-based breast cancer education organization Equal Hope, told FOX 32 on Thursday. "So it does discriminate." BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) A Bridgeport woman was sentenced to federal prison for her role in a multistate identity and vehicle theft scheme on Wednesday, according to the Department of Justice. 40-year-old Stephanie Perez was found to be involved in a theft scheme led by her husband, Tyshon Walker, according to court documents. Perez was arrested on April 10, 2024 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud on Dec. 6, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5 charged in 2023 Bridgeport absentee ballot fraud investigation She was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Court documents and statements made in court said that Perez and Walker obtained personal information from residents in Connecticut and other states and used it to apply for loans at dealerships for luxury vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and a boat. Once the loan was approved, runners were sent to retrieve the vehicle to be resold on Facebook Marketplace using fake drivers licenses with the victims stolen personal information and the runners photo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between March and May of 2023, one of these runners, Ryan Testa, used stolen identities to acquire at least nine vehicles with an estimated total value of over $500,000. Walker and Testa pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. BRISTOL, Conn. (WTNH) A Bristol man was sentenced Wednesday for committing a string of violent robberies across Connecticut in 2022, according to the Department of Justice. Lonny Cross, 46, committed or attempted 37 robberies and stole over $58,000 in cash between Sept. 5 2022 and Oct. 13, 2022, according to court documents. Cross was arrested on Oct. 14, 2022 while he was on state parole for state charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man arrested in connection to Willimantic armed gas station robbery Cross was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Police conducted at search of his residence and vehicle which yielded quantities of heroin, crack cocaine and narcotics paraphernalia on Oct. 14. On May 21, 2024 Cross pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, and one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. Cross engaged in two other groups of robberies and received a 10-year and 15-year sentence respectively. He also has 18 previous convictions for robbery and other offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. JOHANNESBURG, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A total of 420 rhinos were killed for their horns in South Africa in 2024, down from 499 in 2023, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Dion George said Thursday. Announcing the annual poaching statistics, George noted that 320 rhinos were poached on state properties, while 100 were killed on privately owned parks, reserves, or farms. The minister attributed the decline to strengthened anti-poaching measures. "Polygraph testing of staff is continuing at Kruger National Park in line with its integrity management plan. To date, investigations that have flowed from these polygraph results and subsequent investigations into the individuals have resulted in disciplinary action against two employees in Ranger Services," George said. Cooperation with various stakeholders has also helped alert customs and law enforcement officials in transit and destination countries to the illegal trade in rhino horns, George said. South Africa is implementing the National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, working closely with authorities in transit and destination countries to curb rhino poaching. "We remain committed to the fight against rhino poaching and I believe that a renewed strengthening of our agreements and operational protocols with key countries should be our focus for 2025," George added. When I first sat down in February 2020 in a London restaurant with Donald Trumps top trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, to start negotiations for a UK-US trade deal, he started with what to me was a surprising statement for someone proposing a free trade agreement: I am not a free trader. This didnt seem an auspicious start, but Lighthizer turned out to be a reliable and dependable negotiator. We did six rounds of talks all together, and the process was only brought to an end by Trumps defeat by Joe Biden in November of that year. Best of all, Lighthizer respected the UKs red lines in any trade deal that the NHS wouldnt be on the table and we wouldnt be taking chlorinated chicken or hormone beef. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he was motivated to get a deal done. And this is the same approach that the UK needs to take now when dealing with the Trump White House. Trump has said he wants a deal quickly and this is also in the UKs interest. Robert Lighthizer was the US trade envoy during Donald Trumps first term as president - Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images A quick deal is preferable not only to avoid any new US tariffs but also to secure longer lasting access to the US market, for example in business visas, in mutual recognition of professional qualifications and in removing other regulatory barriers to UK services industries in particular, notably financial services. Speed is of the essence. Most US presidents lose control of the House in their first midterm elections, which for Trump would be November next year. Meanwhile, Trump is unlikely to be a popular partner on the Labour backbenches here in the UK his position on Israel and the Middle East will be unpalatable to many Labour MPs in their constituencies. So we need to move quickly. We can maintain the red lines I had in 2020, while still being ready to take more US agricultural produce, reducing car tariffs and more. Last week, I was a guest speaker at BritishAmerican Business, a trade association, and the feeling among those at the heart of the transatlantic commercial relationship is that there is definitely a deal to be done. We need to act quickly and act boldly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of this should prevent us from staying as free traders ourselves. The UKs diverse economy, with its complex international supply chains, depends on it. We need to keep our own commitment to the rules-based international trading order. We, with the US, are its co-founders. Just because the other founder has gone Awol shouldnt mean we should do the same. And here I should make the point that it isnt a choice between the US and the EU. We need good relations with both, but actually Britains best friends in the world of trade are neither in Washington nor in Brussels. They are the free trading nations of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the likes of Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and even Vietnam, Mexico and Malaysia. The CPTPP already represents 16pc of global GDP and this is where the free trade world is now. I made it my number one project as trade minister from 2016 to 2024 to join the CPTPP and was delighted to hand over our articles of accession just before the general election last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CPTPP needs to keep growing. It should seek to accommodate other fast-growing economies in Asia such as South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. If it rose to being a quarter or more of global GDP, it would cement itself as a global free trade alliance that could hold its own when faced with China, the US or the EU. The world is not likely to completely break down into these trading blocks, but the UK is not alone in wishing to promote global free trade and we have allies. We should also be pursuing this agenda at the World Trade Organisation. The UK has excellent diplomats at the headquarters in Geneva and we should be engaging. Trump is limited to four years and the future of Trumpism as a movement is uncertain. Simply concluding that the world trading system is dead could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. One thing for sure is that history teaches us that tariffs dont drive prosperity, they curtail it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1930, when the US last embarked on a programme of comprehensive tariffs thanks to the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs Act, it definitely had an effect both US exports and imports fell by an astonishing two thirds within a few years. The US went back to producing almost everything itself. The consequences were severe, however, in the Great Depression and, indeed, for Senator Smoot himself, who lost his Senate seat in 1932 in what was then the biggest swing in US Senate history. In politics, people never vote for people who make them poorer. The Republicans were finished for a generation. They didnt return to the White House until 1952, and only then because their candidate was the recent Supreme Allied Commander of one of the greatest moral crusades in history, the US contribution to Second World War namely president Dwight D Eisenhower. So we shouldnt assume free trade is dead. What we should do is engage with the Trump White House, but also uphold our longstanding British belief in global free trade. That is the right trade strategy for Britain going forward. Greg Hands is a former UK trade minister Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Military drones offer the quickest route for Europe to rebuild its arms industry and reduce reliance on US weaponry, according to the boss of a key UK defence supplier. Peter Dilnot, the chief executive of GKN Aerospace parent Melrose Industries, said governments should prioritise investment in unmanned aircraft, because they take much less time to develop compared with traditional military equipment such as fighter planes. Mr Dilnot said European authorities were already stepping up drone programmes, which have played a central role in the Ukraine conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: Quite a lot of the development is uncrewed aircraft and cycles for those are a bit faster. If you dont strap someone to something you can speed up the development cycle. Because of whats happened, quite a lot of that is going on underneath the hood. Mr Dilnot said Donald Trumps recent stance on Ukraine had given the European defence sector a new impetus, as he said that companies such as GKN will step up production. GKN is a supplier for military programmes such as the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper hunter-killer drone, for which it produces composite tail sections and lightweight landing gear. GKN is a supplier of MQ-9 Reaper drone parts - Shah Marai/AFP Mr Dilnot said: I wouldnt describe it as a war footing, but there is an urgency around this. It will take time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time will also be needed for Europe to reduce its reliance on American hardware, he added, particularly given that the vast majority of the Wests defence spending is on US equipment. He said: Much of European defence spending on procurement is actually on US platforms. You cant change that overnight. US programmes are the cornerstone of Melroses defence business, led by the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter, whose European customers include the UK, Germany and Italy. It also works on the Boeing Apache attack helicopter used by the British Army. Meanwhile, despite increased tensions between Europe and Mr Trump, Mr Dilnot said he saw little danger of the US pulling the plug on defence exports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: Unless theres a major breakdown between Europe and the US that goes beyond the tariff element, then it would be an act of self-harm for them. Its the inverse of everything that Mr Trump is driving towards. What they want is for other countries to be spending more on their kit. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Originally appeared on E! Online New findings in the Idaho college murder case have emerged. Attorneys for Bryan Kohbergerwho has been accused of fatally stabbing University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at a rental home in 2022said an investigator discovered DNA evidence from three individuals under Mogen's fingernail. "The data consisted of three person mixture," the defense wrote in a motion unsealed on March 4 and obtained by E! News, noting that comparison to Kohberger's DNA was found "inconclusive," meaning he could neither be confirmed or eliminated as one of the contributors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said at least four other unnamed individuals were also tested during the investigation, with their results coming back as "inconclusive" as well. Kohberger's lawyers alleged the investigator used "misleading language" when they focusing on Kohberger's "inconclusive" results during a grand jury testimony, potentially setting up the 29-year-old for an unfair trial. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All of these individuals sit in the same shoes as Mr. Kohberger," the defense wrote in their filing, which had the investigator's testimony redacted from its pages. "Thus, Mr. Kohberger's inconclusive LR is similar to almost every other person for whom an LR was generated and focusing on his 'inconclusive' LR would mislead the jury." Kohberger's legal team is looking to have parts of the investigator's testimony excluded before his case heads trial in August. Kohbergerwho had a judge enter a not guilty plea to his murder charges when he remained silent during his 2023 arraignmentcould face the death penalty if found guilty. Photo by Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images In February, a judge denied the Washington State University alum's motion to suppress DNA evidence concerning a knife sheath that police say was found at the scene of the murders and trash taken from outside the home of Kohberger's parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the defense argued law enforcement violated Kohberger's constitutional rights by not obtaining a warrant before conducting the trash pull, the judge disagreed and said the criminology graduate "exposed his DNA to the public by leaving it on the sheath" and that "by throwing away item of trash containing his DNA, defendant cannot object to testing of that DNA," per NBC News. The judge also ruled that Kohberger's cell phone and email records, as well as surveillance footage and his Amazon purchase history, can be used in his upcoming trial. (E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.) For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The $3 million for Bibles in Oklahoma classrooms was not recommended on Wednesday at the State Capitol. A list of recommendations was heard in Senate Appropriations, and the budget request for Bibles in the classrooms was not included. The ask came from State School Superintendent Ryan Walters. His original request was for $3 million for physical Bibles next year, and another $5 million was added for possible lawsuits that could follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New legal challenges filed against latest OSDE proposal for Bible-based lessons Fortunately, in this bipartisan effort, we also see a pragmatic understanding of, hey, lets not just waste a lot of money on a lawsuit right now when we have kids that we want to teach math and teach reading, said Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman), who sits on the Senate Education Subcommittee that made the recommendations. This follows Oklahomans seeing low test scores in math and reading in education. This is one mans request. Oklahomans do not want to spend $3 million on Bibles. Most Oklahomans have a church and a pastor and a youth group and Bible classes and Vacation Bible School and all of these avenues that are free that you dont have to use taxpayer dollars, said Senator Boren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Appropriations were presented the recommendations from the subcommittee, which did have $4 million for maternity leave, High Dosage Tutoring, and others. The votes were said to come later; that Wednesday was just about being transparent and hearing the recommendations. They explained their budget request. We were able to ask questions, and then in the interim, we talked individually with our group and then we talked with the agencies again, and we tried to find more backup information, said Sen. Boren. Recently, we pulled together what we wanted. Our recommendation came today and opened it up for the public to come in here. Appropriations will eventually vote, and it would have to pass both the House and the Senate before going to the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 reached out to OSDE and Supt. Walters on Wednesday morning after hearing they arent recommending his Bible request. Grace Kim a spokesperson for OSDE responded, Supt. Walters remains committed to strengthening Oklahoma schools. While the subcommittee chose not to fund key initiatives like Bibles in classrooms, firearms safety training for teachers, and recruiting veterans and law enforcement as educators, we wont let this decision stand in the way of doing whats best for students. We will explore every option to make these priorities a reality. Governor Stitt was asked Wednesday about the recommendation not being included and if he supports using public funds to put a Bible in the classroom. We believe in the religious freedoms in America, I think thats just common sense. So, the spending extra money on things like that, thats where Ive heard them say that everybodys got the Bible out. We know Bobby Greenwald (YouVersion, The Bible App). There have been a billion downloads, and it all started right here in Oklahoma on the Bible app. So Im sure most kids have the Bible app up on their phones, said Gov. Stitt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Buds Rockin Country Bar & Grill has been named in a lawsuit filed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). ASCAP alleges venues nationwide are refusing to pay songwriters while they use their music in their businesses. Fifteen venues are named in the lawsuit, including the Evansville bar. Below are all the venues listed in the lawsuit: Buds Rockin Country Bar & Grill (Evansville, IN) Chopd (Plainfield, IL) Congress Hall (Cape May, NJ) Florida Bridal & Wedding Expo (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) HAVA (Boston, MA) Loris Roadhouse (West Chester, OH) Martinis On Water Street (Peoria, IL) Midnight Rodeo (Springfield, MO) MO Country (Grain Valley, MO) Nash Bar & Stage (Boston, MA) The Rocky Tonk Saloon (Medford, OR) Rum Runners (Cleveland, OH) Sarajevo Nightclub (Seattle, WA) Sicily Coal Fired Pizza (Middletown, CT) Vinyl Music Hall (Pensacola, FL) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want every business that uses music to prosper, including bars and restaurants, said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President, songwriter Paul Williams. As songwriters and composers, we must earn our livelihoods through our creative work, and music is how we put food on the table and send our kids to school. Most businesses know that an ASCAP license allows them to offer music legally, efficiently and at a reasonable price while compensating music creators fairly. ASCAP says the average cost for bars and restaurants is less than $2 per day for the right to play an unlimited amount of music. Eyewitness News has reached out to Buds Rockin Country Bar & Grill and are waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). A man and two minors were arrested Wednesday afternoon after they tried to flee a home they had burglarized, only to crash their car with police in pursuit, authorities said. The man, whose identity has not been released, and the minors were observed by neighbors wearing all black while they jumped a fence to get into a residence in the 500 block of Via Providencia just before 1 p.m., according to the Burbank Police Department. When officers arrived, the culprits black BMW was still nearby, and when police tried to pull it over, the driver took off before crashing at Kenneth Road and Via Providencia, police said. A BMW crashed into a tree during an alleged getaway attempt after a Burbank burglary on March 5, 2025. (KTLA) A BMW crashed into a tree during an alleged getaway attempt after a Burbank burglary on March 5, 2025. (KTLA) The three alleged burglars then ran into nearby alleyways and an apartment, though all three were taken into custody within 20 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police recovered all that was taken, including a handgun and a suitcase containing miscellaneous items and jewelry. The home was empty at the time of the break-in, and no one was hurt. Nancy Fontan contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Tax breaks come in all shapes and sizes when governments try to attract businesses to their area. Now, the state of Texas could give one to the millions of small businesses that drive our economy. House Bill nine is pending in the Houses Ways and Means Committee. The group held a hearing for the bill on Monday. We as a state are saying, Hey, small business owners, you guys contribute so much to the community, so much to our state. Were going to pay this tax for you. That is what this bill does, Ways and Means Chair Representative Morgan Meyer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its still a process, but small businesses are optimistic that this tax break will pass. Theyre recognizing that this has been a burden, Luxury Bath of Texoma owner Chad Witherspoon said. Relief could be in sight for more than three million small businesses in Texas. Businesses must provide all personal property used to produce income, known as Business Personal Property Tax. HB 9 would raise the BBP tax exemption from $2,500 to $250,000 a nearly 10,000 percent increase. That is potential savings for Witherspoon, which could be reinvested in his business or community. If its a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars, were able to pass that on to customers. Our personnel would like to have raises every once in a while, Witherspoon said. That can benefit the company, which is not necessarily going to go back into my pocket, but is going to better advance the company and the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take, for example, the models you see at Luxury Bath of Texoma. They are taxed because they make the company money. But its not just the models that get taxed. It is everything else in between, from the computer to the desk, the telephone, and even the chair. Were so busy trying to attract and appease people coming from somewhere else and not taking care of our neighbors. That is my frustration, Ways and Means Committee member Representative Diego Bernal said. Bernal said local governments are quick to give tax breaks to attract big companies to their area. But when mom-and-pop shops struggle, they are not usually met with the same approach. Whats going to happen is another big business is going to come. Were going to fall over ourselves. They help them out. Theyre not the enemy, by the way, Bernal said. If theres a way to figure it out, figure it out. But this is not the time for us to say, oh well, now we stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not expecting the millions of dollars, but when youre giving me my portion back, Im ecstatic about that. And I think its a great idea, Witherspoon said. As lawmakers continue to debate a potential tax break for small businesses in Texas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) The South Carolina Forestry Commission has lifted the statewide burning ban for all but two counties in South Carolina. Georgetown County and Horry County will remain under the burning ban until further notice. The statewide ban was issued on Saturday due to an intense outbreak of wildfires across the state. This prompted Governor Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the SC Forestry Commission, the dangerous combination of dry fuels and gusty winds that led to the elevated wildfire risk has eased temporarily, and the rain across the state also improved the conditions. Georgetown and Horry County are still at elevated wildfire risk and are the scenes of large response efforts. Officials say the 2,000+ acre Covington Drive Fire outside Myrtle Beach in Horry County remains the largest active incident in the state. Hundreds of personnel and resources are being deployed to combat the fire. Firefighters continue to monitor separate hotspots near the area that were previously contained. Georgetown County faces an ongoing risk to residential areas due to a wildfire that is contained but still uncontrolled. This situation requires the full support of local firefighters and other county organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say underlying conditions still warrant the need for caution in all counties. Those who choose to conduct outdoor burning should act with caution as drought and elevated fire risk are expected for the rest of March and through April. Citizens who plan to conduct outdoor burning of residential yard debris or prescribed burns must still notify the Forestry Commission before doing so. A map of active wildfires in South Carolina can be found on the forestry commissions website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. SEOUL, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and two others injured after a taxi crashed into a wall in South Korea's southeastern city of Ulsan, multiple media outlets said Thursday. The taxi driving on an alley hit the wall of an accommodation in Ulsan, about 310 km southeast of the capital Seoul, at around 1:01 p.m. local time. The taxi driver and two passengers in their 70s were killed, while two other passengers were seriously injured. An investigation was underway for the exact cause of the accident. MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Manolo Betancur says he needed to let Mecklenburg County Commissioners know how fearful the local Latino community has been since the new administration took over. He says his bakery and other businesses are losing money daily, and his people fear being ripped out of their neighborhoods. Superman is the most loved superhero in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Im wondering if youve told them that our most powerful hero is an immigrant, Bentancur said, looking at a Superman action figure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats how he began his plea to Mecklenburg County commissioners Wednesday night. Accused thieves targeting Hispanic stores in Charlotte, Triangle area Also, the symbol on his chest means hope. Hope is what made us immigrate to America, he told commissioners. Betancur told commissioners the local Latino community is worried about their future. He says since President Trump took office, Hispanics have faced a difficult time, including his fellow small business owners. Since January 21, many small businesses have lost money, including my bakery. Restaurants, barbers, flea markets, food distributors, and supermarkets For example, one local food distributor went from 1 million a month to $550,000, Bentancur said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bentancur owns Manolos Bakery on Central Avenue. The immigration crackdown isnt his only concern. He uses baking equipment from Canada, so tariffs affect him. FBI investigates offensive messages targeting Hispanic, LGBTQ people He also buys 10,000 eggs a week for his cakes and bird flus cutting into egg supplies. But Betancur also says his family and friends dont feel safe anymore. Im not asking anyone to create a revolution or go against the federal government. You know, elections are over and the country chose their leaders but at least you have a sense of humanity, he said. Let us know that we are not alone and we are welcome here. You are also our superman, our superwoman, especially for my kids. Thank you so much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bentancur says he knows the county commissioners dont have a say in federal policy but hes hoping they advocate for Latinos in this community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A Statehouse legislator has again proposed a bill that would establish civil penalties for protestors, allowing Ohio businesses to collect damages if their building is vandalized during a protest. Senate Bill 53, introduced in February by Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), would allow any person who suffered injury or loss due to protest vandalism, like a business owner, to pursue a civil court action against a protestor and recover compensatory damages. The person or business owner would be required to prove that the accused protestor is the one who caused the damage to their property. Jim Tressel on his interest in running for Ohio governor in 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation, which is similar to past bills Schaffer has introduced, would also create civil liability for those who give out destructive materials, like frozen water bottles or a pallet of bricks, to other protestors to damage a building. Compensatory damages for such actions could include damages for emotional distress, court costs and other fees related to the civil court action. Schaffer argues the bill would demonstrate that this sort of behavior should not be tolerated and should be prosecuted, which he said is needed given the 2020 protests in Ohio cities after George Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The lawmaker cited a Columbus Dispatch report that found at least 115 businesses, nonprofits and government offices were affected by the protests in Columbus. Watch a 2020 NBC4 report on the George Floyd protests in the video player above. Over the past several years, we have seen how violence has taken a toll on communities and the damage riots have caused, said Schaffer during the bills first hearing on Feb. 19. We need to hold accountable those who act to harm or damage property and ensure that they are the ones paying for these actions, not the local taxpayers and businesses. The proposal would also prohibit government officials from limiting or restricting the authority of police officers to take action to quell, arrest, or detain individuals involved in a riot. However, Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (R-Toledo) expressed concern during the hearing for this provision and asked if its the bills intent to possibly curb a mayor from directing their police chief to take certain action during a protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio leaders turn to Intel promises after President Donald Trumps call to repeal CHIPS Act Schaffer said that type of scenario was the prime example, and argued that police at the scene of a protest should make those decisions, not an official like a mayor. The lawmaker said, officers on the ground, officers at the events, trying to restore peace have the best judgement of anybody as to what actions they should take. In his testimony, Schaffer argued that S.B. 53 wouldnt discourage or violate Ohioans First Amendment right to peacefully protest. Rather, the bill is designed to hold those who turn violent and destructive accountable for their actions. S.B. 53 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it could receive additional hearings open for public testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. A busy road has reopened after a semi hit a tree early Thursday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Sheriffs deputies responded at around 1:40 a.m. to reports of a semi crash on U.S. 33 near State Route 347, according to Logan County Dispatchers. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Westbound U.S. 33 was closed near State Route 347 as wreckers removed the semi. The sheriffs office announced on social media around 6:30 a.m. that U.S 33 had reopened at State Route 347. State troopers from the Springfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) were also at the scene. Medics transported the driver to an area hospital after a semi hit a tree. Two wreckers are working to clear the semi, dispatchers told News Center 7. The crash remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] If the joy of seeing butterflies seems increasingly rare these days, it isnt your imagination. From 2000 to 2020, the number of butterflies fell by 22% across the continental United States. Thats 1 in 5 butterflies lost. The findings are from an analysis just published in the journal Science by the U.S. Geological Surveys Powell Center Status of Butterflies of the United States Working Group, which I am involved in. We found declines in just about every region of the continental U.S. and across almost all butterfly species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, nearly one-third of the 342 butterfly species we were able to study declined by more than half. Twenty-two species fell by more than 90%. Only nine actually increased in numbers. CC BY West Coast lady butterflies range across the western U.S., but their numbers have dropped by 80% in two decades. Renee Las Vegas/Wikimedia Commons Some species numbers are dropping faster than others. The West Coast lady, a fairly widespread species across the western U.S., dropped by 80% in 20 years. Given everything we know about its biology, it should be doing fine it has a wide range and feeds on a variety of plants. Yet, its numbers are absolutely tanking across its range. Why care about butterflies? Butterflies are beautiful. They inspire people, from art to literature and poetry. They deserve to exist simply for the sake of existing. They are also important for ecosystem function. Butterflies are pollinators, picking up pollen on their legs and bodies as they feed on nectar from one flower and carrying it to the next. In their caterpillar stage, they also play an important role as herbivores, keeping plant growth in check. CC BY A pipevine swallowtail caterpillar munches on leaves at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Md. Herbivores help keep plant growth in check. Judy Gallagher/Wikimedia Commons Butterflies can also serve as an indicator species that can warn of threats and trends in other insects. Because humans are fond of butterflies, its easy to get volunteers to participate in surveys to count them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The annual North American Butterfly Association Fourth of July Count is an example and one we used in the analysis. The same kind of nationwide monitoring by amateur naturalists doesnt exist for less charismatic insects such as walking sticks. Whats causing butterflies to decline? Butterfly populations can decline for a number of reasons. Habitat loss, insecticides, rising temperatures and drying landscapes can all harm these fragile insects. A study published in 2024 found that a change in insecticide use was a major factor in driving butterfly declines in the Midwest over 17 years. The authors, many of whom were also part of the current study, noted that the drop coincided with a shift to using seeds with prophylactic insecticides, rather than only spraying crops after an infestation. The Southwest saw the greatest drops in butterfly abundance of any region. As that region heats up and dries out, the changing climate may be driving some of the butterfly decline there. Butterflies have a high surface-to-volume ratio they dont hold much moisture so they can easily become desiccated in dry conditions. Drought can also harm the plants that butterflies rely on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only the Pacific Northwest didnt lose butterfly population on average. This trend was largely driven by an irruptive species, meaning one with extremely high abundance in some years the California tortoiseshell. When this species was excluded from the analyses, trends in the Pacific Northwest were similar to other regions. CC BY-SA The California tortoiseshell butterfly can look like wood when its wings are closed, but theyre a soft orange on the other side. Walter Siegmund/Wikimedia Commons When we looked at each species by its historical range, we found something else interesting. Many species suffered their highest losses at the southern ends of their ranges, while the northern losses generally werent as severe. While we could not link drivers to trends directly, the reason for this pattern might involve climate change, or greater exposure to agriculture with insecticides in southern areas, or it may be a combination of many stressors. There is hope for populations to recover Some butterfly species can have multiple generations per year, and depending on the environmental conditions, the number of generations can vary between years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This gives me a bit of hope when it comes to butterfly conservation. Because they have such short generation times, even small conservation steps can make a big difference and we can see populations bounce back. The Karner blue is an example. Its a small, endangered butterfly that depends on oak savannas and pine barren ecosystems. These habitats are uncommon and require management, especially prescribed burning, to maintain. With restoration efforts, one Karner blue population in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve in New York rebounded from a few hundred individuals in the early 1990s to thousands of butterflies. Similar management and restoration efforts could help other rare and declining butterflies to recover. What you can do to help butterflies recover The magnitude and rate of biodiversity loss in the world right now can make one feel helpless. But while national and international efforts are needed to address the crisis, you can also take small actions that can have quick benefits, starting in your own backyard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butterflies love wildflowers, and planting native wildflowers can benefit many butterfly species. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation has guides recommending which native species are best to plant in which parts of the country. Letting grass grow can help, even if its just a strip of grass and wildflowers a couple of feet wide at the back of the yard. CC BY-SA A patch of wildflowers and grasses can become a butterfly garden, like this one in Townsend, Tenn. Chris Light Supporting policies that benefit conservation can also help. In some states, insects arent considered wildlife, so state wildlife agencies have their hands tied when it comes to working on butterfly conservation. But those laws could be changed. The federal Endangered Species Act can also help. The law mandates that the government maintain habitat for listed species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in December 2024 recommended listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species. With the new study, we now have population trends for more than half of all U.S. butterfly species, including many that likely should be considered for listing. With so many species needing help, it can be difficult to know where to start. But the new data can help concentrate conservation efforts on those species at the highest risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe this study should be a wake-up call about the need to better protect butterflies and other insects the little things that run the world. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Eliza Grames, Binghamton University, State University of New York Read more: Eliza Grames receives funding from the National Science Foundation (DEB 2225092). By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The population of butterflies - the beautiful insects that play a vital role in pollination and the health of ecosystems - has fallen in the United States by more than a fifth this century, according to research spanning hundreds of species from the red admiral butterfly to the American lady to the cabbage white. Data from about 76,000 butterfly surveys conducted by various groups documenting millions of the insects representing 554 species showed that their numbers dropped by 22% from 2000 to 2020 in the contiguous United States, researchers said. The scientists attributed the decrease to factors including habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Population declines were largest in the southwestern region spanning Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Among the 342 butterfly species documented in the study that had sufficient data to analyze their numerical trends, 114 of them - about a third of the total - sustained losses, including 107 down by more than 50% and 22 off by more than 90%. The numbers for four butterflies - the Florida white, Hermes copper, tailed orange and Mitchell's satyr - plummeted by more than 99%. Nine species - about 3% of the total - showed gains. Among some common species, the red admiral declined by 58%, the cabbage white slipped by 50% and the American lady dropped by 44%. "The results of this study are pretty depressing. But butterflies have the capacity to recover if we can improve things for them," said ecologist Collin Edwards, formerly of Washington State University and now with the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife, lead author of the study published on Thursday in the journal Science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Butterflies have fast life cycles - at least one generation per year, often two or three. And each of those generations lays a ton of eggs. This means that if we make the world a more hospitable place for butterflies, butterfly species have the capacity to respond very quickly and take advantage of all our efforts," Edwards added. The study included monarch butterflies. But because the clearest evidence on their numerical declines comes from their overwintering grounds in Mexico and the researchers used only U.S. monitoring data, the study did not identify a clear trend for these butterflies. "We've lost one out of every five butterflies in just 20 years. That means if you went out to watch butterflies in 2000 and you saw 100 butterflies, in 2020 you would only see 80. That's an astounding loss over such a short time span," said conservation biologist and study co-author Eliza Grames of Binghamton University in New York. "There are a lot of different stressors affecting butterfly populations, and it is hard to pinpoint just one. In the Southeast, for example, drought is likely a big threat. In the Midwest, insecticides are the number one driver of butterfly biodiversity loss. In other regions, the story is not so clear, and it is likely a combination of anthropogenic stressors that is leading to the drastic declines we're seeing," Grames said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While reliable information on global butterfly population trends is lacking, studies in some other countries have documented declines at roughly the same rate as in the U.S. data. Butterflies are the most systematically monitored insects in the United States. The researchers calculated that there are 650 butterfly species whose range intersects with the contiguous United States, with at least some monitoring data on 554 of them. The drop in butterflies, which have inhabited Earth for more than 100 million years, is one piece of the ongoing global biodiversity decline, with losses among insects particularly worrisome given their crucial roles in many ecological processes. "Ecologists use butterflies like a canary in a coal mine. The results of this study suggest that there may be declines in the many insect species for which we don't have good data," Edwards said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For me, butterflies are important because they are beautiful and inspire us. They deserve to exist simply for the sake of existing," Grames said. "In terms of ecosystem function, butterflies are really important pollinators, herbivores and also serve as prey for insectivores," especially birds. (Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Tuesday he has worries about the Supreme Court overturning its previous decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the country. Buttigieg expressed the concerns during an appearance on CBSs The Late Show on Tuesday night. Do you have any sense do you have any fear that this Supreme Court would overturn Obergefell host Stephen Colbert, referencing a 2015 ruling that held that under the 14th Amendment, states have to recognize a marriage between two same-sex people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sure, Buttigieg cut in, adding later that the court does not seem terribly concerned about allowing precedents to stand, even recent precedents, so how can we not be worried about that? The comments from Buttigieg, who is openly gay and married to another man, come as the LGBTQ community, especially transgender people, face increased attacks from the right. Multiple states have gone forward with gender-affirming care bans in recent years and President Trump recently signed an executive order recognizing only the male and female sexes. In late January, the Idaho House passed a resolution pushing for the Supreme Court to reappraise same-sex marriages legality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christians across the nation are being targeted, Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott (R), who sponsored the measure, said previously. In his The Late Show appearance, Buttigieg said that the U.S. has always been at its best when it widens the circle of belonging and equality to take care of more people and not less. The Hill has reached out to the Supreme Court for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said Andrew and Tristan Tate, two social media influencer brothers accused of operating a human trafficking ring in Romania, are not welcome in the state of Florida. When CBS News Washington Correspondent Major Garrett asked if the two were welcome, Donalds said, No, quite frankly not. Because if you listen to some of the dialogue, I find it to be demeaning and disgusting, its not about being an alpha male, its not about being a strong man, what they stand for in my view is something totally different, the Florida representative said during a Tuesday appearance on the network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the segment, Donalds said he supported the state attorney generals decision to launch an investigation into the brothers who abruptly arrived in the state last week. I think those allegations have to be fully investigated, and then we go from we go from there. The key thing is, we dont tolerate the trafficking of women, or frankly, the abuse of women. We do not tolerate that, Donalds told Garrett. So, if the attorney general finds cause under Florida law to investigate that, then I wish him the best, and I support whatever hes going to do on that matter. The brothers have denied all claims of wrongdoing. Andrew Tate said the investigation spurred by the states attorney general was absolute communism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Absolute communism. Ive been in America for 5 days. I sat on my laptop and did a podcast. Insanity, the older Tate brother wrote Tuesday in a post on the social platform X. I am super disappointed in the United States. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Caddo Parish Sheriffs office will host a camp for children during spring break. CPSO offers womens firearms and personal safety course The K.I.D ( Know, Initiate, Demonstrate) Safety camp is a special program designed to provide children with an engaging, hands-on learning experience. Participants will engage in a variety of safety activities including lessons on seatbelt safety, weather preparedness, and other essential safety practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The camp is for children aged five and six, but spots are limited, and registration is required. The camp will be held during spring break from March 10-14 , from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information or to register, contact Billie Nickleberry at (318)-698-7233 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. JAMM AQUINO / 2023 Passengers rode a westbound Skyline train in Waipahu when Skyline first opened. 1 /3 JAMM AQUINO / 2023 Passengers rode a westbound Skyline train in Waipahu when Skyline first opened. JAMM AQUINO / 2023 An eastbound Skyline train approaches the Waipahu station. 2 /3 JAMM AQUINO / 2023 An eastbound Skyline train approaches the Waipahu station. STAR-ADVERTISER Comparing ridership during the four fare-free days in July 2023 with ridership in December 2023 is an apples to oranges metric. Roger Morton Department of Transportation Services director-designate Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 /3 STAR-ADVERTISER Comparing ridership during the four fare-free days in July 2023 with ridership in December 2023 is an apples to oranges metric. Roger Morton Department of Transportation Services director-designate JAMM AQUINO / 2023 Passengers rode a westbound Skyline train in Waipahu when Skyline first opened. JAMM AQUINO / 2023 An eastbound Skyline train approaches the Waipahu station. STAR-ADVERTISER Comparing ridership during the four fare-free days in July 2023 with ridership in December 2023 is an apples to oranges metric. Roger Morton Department of Transportation Services director-designate Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of the City Auditor admitted Wednesday to a significant calculation error found within a recent audit in which it was determined Honolulus rail operations continue to suffer poor ridership numbers. In a report issued Feb. 27 involving the audit of the city Department of Transportation Services Skyline operations, the city auditor found the audit mistakenly cited a 77 % decrease in rail ridership from July 2023 to December 2023. The correct percentage decrease in ridership on the citys rail line was later determined to be almost 44 %, according to Acting City Auditor Troy Shimasaki. An incorrect formula was used to calculate the ridership data from July 2023 to December 2023. And, unfortunately, our internal quality control review did not pick up the error, he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Wednesday via email. This is not the standard we hold ourselves to and we already made changes to our internal quality control process to ensure this doesnt happen in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We recognize that accuracy and trust are foundational to our audit reports and we fell short in this instance. We will do better, Shimasaki said. I would emphasize that although we corrected the calculation error, it did not affect our audit findings. In a news release issued the same day, the Office of the City Auditor also apologized for any confusion or inconvenience this error may have caused, particularly for the Department of Transportation Services. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. The auditconducted from January through December 2024stated DTS goal in operating Skyline was to accommodate 8, 000 riders per day after a full year of service. According to ridership statistics, the highest number of daily riders in December 2023 was 3, 637, less than half of that goal, the uncorrected audit states. Since its opening in July 2023, ridership has decreased 77 percent from 151, 633 monthly rides to 85, 460 rides in December 2023. Previously, DTS Director-designate Roger Morton disagreed with many of the Skyline audits negative findingsparticularly over ridership numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mortons disagreement centered on using data from when the system first opened for public ridership on June 30, 2023in which there were four fare-free days during that Fourth of July holiday weekend. Comparing ridership during the four fare-free days in July 2023 with ridership in December 2023 is an apples to oranges metric, meaning a comparison between two things that are fundamentally different and cannot be meaningfully compared directly, Morton wrote in response to the audit. And on Wednesday, Morton told the Star-Advertiser by phone that regardless of any calculation error Skylines ridership numbers continue to be misstated. We think there is no basis for including the free days, he said. And what we do normally in transit is number one, when we compare ridership, we normally look at weekday riderships separately. We also look at Saturday and Sunday, but dont look at them all together so the industry standard is to look at weekday ridership ; thats when the ridership is the greatest, thats when people go to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the city audit noted ridership decline was attributed to several factors, including limited serv ice area coverage, inadequate operating hours, and insufficient integration with other transportation modes. In a written message to the city administration, Shimasaki said the audit determined that public transportation commuters face disproportionately longer travel times compared to solo drivers, diminishing Skylines appeal as a commuting option. Shimasaki added these challenges highlight the need for strategic changes to improve ridership and enhance the systems overall performance. In the end, Morton told the city auditor, DTS will review all recommendations provided in this report from the Office of the City Auditor and strive towards implementation and improvement of our Skyline operations. By the numbers 3, 637 Highest number of daily riders in December 2023 151, 633 Monthly ridership from July to December 2023 85, 460 Monthly ridership in December 2023 CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Caldwell County says its experiencing an uptick in pertussis cases, commonly known as whooping cough. Health officials at the Caldwell County Health Department said theyre closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that all reported cases are being investigated and managed. What is whooping cough? Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes severe coughing fits, sometimes lasting up to 10 weeks, health officials explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although its often associated with children, adults can also catch the illness, though they might not be diagnosed until later stages. What are the symptoms? Symptoms include rapid, violent coughing followed by a high-pitched whoop, coughing fits that can lead to vomiting, exhaustion, and in some cases, apnea (temporary cessation of breathing), especially in infants, Caldwell County health officials said. What can you do? In response to this increase in cases, CCHD is educating the community about the importance of vaccination. Pertussis is preventable through vaccines, and health officials urge everyone to make sure theyre up-to-date on their shots. The DTaP vaccine is recommended for young children, while older children and adults should receive the Tdap vaccine, officials said. Vaccination is especially important for certain groups, including pregnant women, those who have close contact with infants, and individuals with chronic respiratory conditions. Both the DTaP and Tdap vaccines are available through various healthcare providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information or to schedule a vaccination, contact CCHD at 828-426-8400. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. JAKARTA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry inspected upstream areas of rivers in West Java province on Thursday and uncovered alleged violations of environmental laws, which are believed to have contributed to recent flooding in Jakarta and surrounding areas over the past two days. The ministry installed four environmental monitoring boards on lands where functions had been altered, rendering them unable to retain water. The landowners had been using these areas without obtaining the necessary environmental permits. Indonesian Environmental Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said that 33 other locations in the upstream areas, located in Puncak Cisarua of Bogor regency, also showed signs of environmental law violations. "We will soon escalate the status of this case to an investigation, as the natural conditions strongly indicate that changes in spatial planning have caused the flooding," Hanif said during the inspection. He noted that any changes in land function must be supported by in-depth scientific analysis, particularly in upstream zones that serve as groundwater catchments. According to data from the ministry, 15,000 hectares of the upstream areas of the Ciliwung River should be allocated for protected areas, national parks, production forests, water sources, and limited settlements. However, since 2022, approximately 8,000 hectares have been converted for plant cultivation and residential purposes. Additionally, 3,203.24 hectares of land in the upstream areas have become critically degraded, posing risks of landslides and erosion of up to 180 tons per hectare annually. The recent flooding, triggered by the overflowing of the Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers originating from Puncak Cisarua in Bogor regency, affected Jakarta and its satellite cities from Tuesday to Wednesday. The disaster claimed three lives, forced large-scale evacuations, and disrupted business activities, particularly in goods transportation. Southern California authorities were searching Thursday for an arsonist who set himself on fire while trying to blow up a car. The man was caught on doorbell camera footage torching a black sedan, which burst into flames. After the initial burst of light subsided, the alleged arsonist could be seen also ablaze. Clearly feeling a sense of urgency, he leaped over a fence and ran out of frame, dousing as he went. The car, which was parked in a driveway in Corona, about 45 miles east of Los Angeles, continued to burn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday, the Corona Fire Department and Corona Police Department said in a joint statement. Units arrived on scene to find a vehicle on fire in the front yard of the residence, the departments said. The fire destroyed the vehicle and caused moderate damage [to] the residence. Video from the residents Ring camera captured a Caucasian or Hispanic male suspect, intentionally set the vehicle and subsequently himself on fire. Investigators believe the suspect is in his 30s of medium build, 59 to 61 tall, with shoulder-length, light-colored hair. He fled the scene in a white Chevrolet or GMC pickup truck with tinted windows and light-colored rims, authorities said. As of Thursday, the suspect was still at large and unidentified, with police asking the public for help. Arson investigators were at a loss regarding a motive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, we think this is a random act of violence, Corona Fire Capt. Daniel Yonan told the Los Angeles Times. Hes still on the loose. Doorbell cameras have captured more than one arsonist setting himself on fire. In December, in Levittown on Long Island, a man ignited a porta potty outside a house under construction, then ran off down the street, blazing away. The fire heavily damaged the front yard and part of the home. A Southern California company is celebrating the successful launch and return of a space capsule designed to change how pharmaceuticals are processed in Earths low orbit. Varda Space Industries, based in El Segundo, launched its W-2 capsule aboard a Space X rocket in mid-January. It carried an array of research equipment and was protected by a heat shield developed in conjunction with NASA, the company said in a news release. After six weeks in orbit, the turtle-shaped capsule descended back to Earth last Friday at speeds exceeding Mach 25, or 19,100 miles per hour. It touched down via parachute at a test range in southern Australia. The W-2 capsule landed safely at the Koonibba Test Range, operated by Southern Launch. Photo by William Godwin, Courtesy Varda Space Industries. Feb. 28, 2025. Varda Space Industries engineers recover the W-2 capsule after it landed in Australia after six weeks in orbit. Photo by William Godwin, Courtesy Varda Space Industries. Feb. 28, 2025. The W-2 spacecraft is seen reentering the Earths atmosphere from the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. Photo by William Godwin, Courtesy Varda Space Industries. Footage of the entire mission, from launch to landing, was shared on Vardas X account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second time Varda has successfully landed a W-Series capsule and the first time a commercial space capsule has landed on Australian soil, the company said. We are ecstatic to have W-2 back on our home planet safely and are proud to support significant reentry research for our government partners as we continue building a thriving foundation for economic expansion to low Earth orbit, Varda CEO Will Bruey said in a statement. Whats next? Experts say the lack of gravity in space provides a unique laboratory for medical research, including the development of new drugs and therapies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Starting next month, renters will no longer be required to pay certain fees under a new California law signed last fall by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Under Senate Bill 611, landlords or leasing agents are not allowed to charge tenants a fee for serving, posting or otherwise delivering any notice regarding termination of their lease starting April 1. Connect with us: Sign up for newsletters | Get our app | Read the latest San Diego stories Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also prohibits landlords or agents from charging a tenant any fee for paying rent or security deposits by check. In addition, the new bill prohibits landlords from receiving security payments that exceed one months rent except in certain circumstances, and they are required to provide written explanations for requesting larger security deposits from military service members. These new California laws are making changes for renters in 2025 For example, if a service member is charged a higher security payment than advertised due to their poor credit score or housing history, they must explain why the amount is being charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landlords will also have to refund this additional amount within six months if the service member has made all of their rental payments. SB 611 is just one of several new laws aimed at boosting tenants rights and ensuring transparency in the renting process. San Diego is getting its own Monopoly game. How to suggest landmarks Under Assembly Bill 2801, landlords will be required to take photos of a unit before a tenant leases and after they vacate to give proof of any damage claims deducted from their security deposit. However, landlords are allowed to charge for instances that require extensive repair such as broken doors or structural damage caused by water leaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under California Civil Code Section 1950.5(b)(2), landlords are prohibited from charging tenants for the repair of damages caused to their units from ordinary wear and tear. Examples of ordinary wear and tear as described by California tenant lawyers Tobener Ravenscroft LLP include small nail holes or chips, faded paint, scuffs on the floor, scratched enamel on bathtubs or sinks, loose cabinet pulls and leaky faucets. However, AB 2801 amends state law to narrow what landlords can keep from the deposit to an amount necessary in order to make repairs to a unit. Another law taking effect April 1 gives tenants the option to have their positive rental payment information reported to a consumer credit reporting agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. NHS staff should treat trans colleagues with beards as women if they self-identify as female, official guidance has said. Training materials for NHS Scotland workers asked them to consider the fictional case of Lucy, a 29-year-old trans nurse who had yet to formally change their name from Lee. The cultural humility training module stated that Lucy is still producing facial hair which is exposed and that some other staff are unhappy correcting patients when they use male terms to describe the nurse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The module stated that discrimination against Lucy will not be tolerated and the staff have a duty (under equality law) to use the correct name and pronouns for Lucy. In addition, the training endorses the rollout of gender-neutral lavatories, claiming they promote equality by eliminating the need for people to conform to traditional gender norms. The training scenarios, prepared by the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) agency, also said that people could decide for themselves whether they identify as disabled. The content of the materials was disclosed by The Times as John Swinney was forced to deny that Scotlands gender self-ID policies are state-sponsored abuse of human rights. John Swinney was accused of an attack on womens rights - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Ash Regan, a former SNP minister who quit Nicola Sturgeons government in protest at self-ID legislation, told the First Minister to apologise to women for the attack on womens rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Swinney told First Ministers Questions at Holyrood that he had shown leadership on the protection of women and girls. However, he recently backed the right of trans Scottish government staff who self-identify as women to use female lavatories and changing rooms. The exchanges came in the wake of an employment tribunal in Scotland about the right of trans people to access female-only areas. NHS Fife accused Sandie Peggie, a nurse, of misconduct after she challenged the presence of Dr Beth Upton, who was born male but identifies as a woman, in female facilities at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. Sandie Peggie, a nurse, complained about a trans doctor using female facilities - Andrew Milligan/PA At the time, it was not possible for Dr Upton to hold a gender recognition certificate, meaning the medic was legally male. However, NHS chiefs allowed the doctor to use female changing rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has since written to the health board warning it about its duty to protect single-sex spaces. The watchdog also demanded a meeting with Neil Gray, the SNP Health Secretary, over forthcoming NHS Scotland guidance on trans issues. Stephen Kerr, a Scottish Tory MSP, said the ludicrous training module disclosed how NHS staff were being taught that feelings are to be given precedence over truth and reality. Thought control He said: It is absolutely nonsensical to demand that staff and patients ignore biological reality and participate in an enforced illusion. This kind of thought control has no place in a rational, professional healthcare setting, where clear communication, trust and biological facts are critical to patient care and workplace cohesion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Michael Foran, from the University of Glasgow, said that failing to respect a colleagues name change at work could breach the law. However, he said there was no specific legal duty to use someones preferred gender pronouns, in line with the trainings recommendation, and that pronoun swerving would be perfectly acceptable. The training materials were produced in December 2023. However, after being approached for comment, NES deleted the scenario on gender neutral bathrooms. It also removed the reference to Lucy being a nurse and the claim that staff had a legal obligation to use the correct name and pronouns for Lucy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for NES said: The Times article is incorrect. We are not telling staff what to do or say. This is simply a document to help staff think about and discuss a range of equality topics in the workplace. In an earlier statement to The Times, the agency said: We routinely review and update our educational resources in light of guidance and policy changes. In the light of a recent statement by the EHRC, we have reviewed some of these resources including the cultural humility resource. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The US defence secretary has insisted it is garbage to say Donald Trump is pro-Russia. Pete Hegseth said the US president remained laser-focused on securing peace in Ukraine, despite criticism over his relationship with Vladimir Putin. The comments came as part of Mr Hegseths meeting with John Healey, his British counterpart, at the Pentagon on Thursday. Mr Healey was visiting Washington just a week after Sir Keir Starmers trip as Britain seeks to act as a diplomatic bridge between the US and Europe over Ukraine peace plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Hegseth became animated during the meeting as he insisted Mr Trump was not siding with Putin. He said: Our president is interested in peace. So we will get characterised one way or another. Oh, your stance is pro-Russia or pro its all garbage. The president got elected to bring peace in this conflict, and he is working with both sides in a way that only President Trump can. Lets be clear, only President Trump can bring them to the table to end the killing, and I can tell you from being behind the scenes he is laser-focused on making that happen and were closer today than weve ever been because of his leadership. Asked about the prospect of the Ukrainian front line collapsing in the wake of Mr Trumps decision to cut off military aid, Mr Hegseth said that his department was monitoring troops very closely and was ultimately interested in creating the conditions for peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Healey, who was flanked by Lord Mandelson, the British ambassador to the US, and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff, also said the UK was focused on securing a peace deal. He said: Nobody who has been to Ukraine, who has talked with Ukraine, who has worked with the Ukrainian leaders, or met the Ukrainian servicemen and women, or the civilians, believes that they will not fight, nor do I or the Prime Minister doubt that, as President Zelensky has said, they are ready to sign the important economic deal with the US. They are ready for a ceasefire. John Healey, pictured far left, told the meeting Ukraine was ready for a ceasefire - Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Mr Healeys visit came as part of efforts by Britain to steer the relationship between Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr Trump back on track following their disastrous meeting in the Oval Office last week. On Thursday, the Ukrainian president backed Emmanuel Macrons idea for a partial truce and he used a meeting in Brussels to urge leaders in the European Union to support his plan for an air and sea ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner swap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Ukrainian and US officials agreed to open talks over the ceasefire proposal in Saudi Arabia next week. Mr Zelensky posted on X that he would meet with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince on Monday, before continuing work with the US. He said: Ukraine is working and will continue to work constructively for a swift and reliable peace. He also stressed his appreciation for European support in recent days, saying it made clear that Ukraine did not feel alone. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. As calls for a pardon for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin are growing in right-wing circles, the real question is it even possible? The short answer: not quite. Earlier this week, right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro urged President Donald Trump to extend clemency for Chauvins convictions related to the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Less than two months into Trumps second term, he has granted clemency through executive orders more frequently than any other president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if a pardon for his federal conviction was issued, it would not affect Chauvins murder case because the president has no jurisdiction over state criminal convictions. Trump does have the authority to pardon one of Chauvins convictions for violating the federal civil rights of Floyd. Decarceration and legal advocates have expressed concerns to Capital B in previous reporting that Trumps selection process for pardon and commutation recipients from his first term, which includes celebrities and loyalists, could continue it already has. Floyds murder by police sparked a global racial and social justice movement, with weekslong protests erupting in multiple cities. In response, the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, then under former President Joe Bidens administration, reopened investigations into the Minneapolis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies accused of misconduct. These investigations, which had been paused during Trumps first term, focused on allegations of systemic civil rights violations. Shapiro, Musk, and other MAGA conservatives have downplayed the role of race in Floyds death since, dismissing the video evidence and condemning the jurys verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Trump said he wasnt considering pardoning Chauvin, multiple news outlets reported. A reporter asked him whether he was considering it, noting, your allies are calling on your to pardon Derek Chauvin. No, I havent even heard about it, Trump said. No. I havent heard that. Keith Ellison, Minnesotas attorney general, pushed back on the calls for a pardon and called it blatant disrespect for Floyds family, The Hill reported Thursday. I hope that Donald Trump has enough humanity to recognize that releasing Derek Chauvin would cause untold injury to George Floyds family and the many, many people that feel vulnerable because they share experiences like the one George Floyd experienced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floyds family hasnt released a statement yet. Capital B reached out to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, but has not heard back. Why cant Trump pardon Chauvin for murder? Demonstrators in Atlanta gather at a rally following the guilty verdict in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin in April 2021. (Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images) Anyone with a federal or state criminal conviction can file a petition for clemency, but only after exhausting all available appeal options. This process can take several years before the appellate process raises to where a states Supreme Court decides whether to review the case. For state convictions, clemency petitions are typically submitted to the governor or, in some states, the parole board. The president, however, has no jurisdiction over state convictions presidential clemency, including pardons and commutations, applies only to federal convictions and sentences. Chauvin was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder and other charges and sentenced to 22.5 years in state prison. The former police officer placed his knee on Floyds neck for over nine minutes, causing his death. Three other officers who were present were also convicted and sentenced in federal and state courts. In a separate federal case, Chauvin pleaded guilty to violating Floyds civil rights, as well as the civil rights of a 14-year-old boy in an unrelated 2017 case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chauvins federal plea deal resulted in a 21-year sentence, which he is serving concurrently with his state sentence. In Chauvins state case, he would need to appeal to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for a commutation of his sentence for the murder of Floyd. Walz, who has served as Minnesotas governor since 2019, was the running mate of former Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. A gubernatorial commutation would not erase Chauvins conviction but could reduce his sentence, potentially to time served. Since his sentencing in June 2021, Chauvin has been incarcerated in state prison, and any commutation would require approval from the states Board of Pardons, which includes the governor, the attorney general, and the chief justice of the states Supreme Court. Minneapolis became the epicenter of global protests after footage of Floyds murder went viral. In the aftermath, Walz faced criticism for his handling of police reform efforts in the state. Crump, who represented the families of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, described Walz as a concerned and compassionate leader for a grieving community, the Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Chauvins federal plea agreement and sentence covers both Floyds case and the 2017 case, making it unclear how much of the 21-year sentence applies to each. If Trump were to pardon the Floyd-related conviction, its uncertain how much time, if any, would be reduced from Chauvins overall sentence. A pardon for federal charges in connection with Floyds death would only be symbolic Chauvin would still have the federal conviction of depriving the teen of his rights on his record, and he would still have the state murder charges. Why is Trump pardoning Chauvin trending now? On March 4, Elon Musk reshared a post by Shapiro on his social media platform, X. In a video in the post, Shapiro explains why he thinks Chauvin should be pardoned for convictions related to the murder of Floyd. Shapiros post reached over 7 million followers and included a link to an online petition calling for Trump to immediately issue a pardon. Shapiro describes the conviction as the defining achievement of the Woke movement in American politics. The petitions campaign description ends by thanking Trump for his commitment to ending the weaponization of the American justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Trump were to pardon Chauvin, his federal conviction would be removed from his criminal record. A presidential pardon would also bypass the standard legal process for seeking clemency, which typically requires incarcerated people like Chauvin to follow the appellate process if new evidence arises that could challenge the fairness of their conviction and then seek clemency. A long-standing concern in holding police officers accountable is the potential hesitation to bring charges by prosecutors, who may fear a lack of conviction or backlash from the public and law enforcement. This concern could be heightened if a high-profile pardon, such as Chauvins, were to happen. Moreover, pardoning Chauvin for any of his convictions could create a chilling effect on prosecutors, making them hesitant to pursue charges against law enforcement officers accused of misconduct or violence. The post Calls to Free George Floyds Murderer Grow Heres Why Its Unlikely to Happen appeared first on Capital B News. CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. Former Camden County Attorney Jeffrey Green is suing the Camden County Commission over claims that the commission breached his contract and wrongfully fired him. According to the lawsuit, Green alleges the Camden County Commission breached his contract by not giving him sufficient notice or reason for his termination and refusing to pay him the money owed for his services under the contract. Ozarks First Investigates obtained a copy of the employment contract stated that Green must receive termination notice at least 365 days in advance unless he is terminated due to engaging in conduct which would justify forfeiture or removal from office or if both parties agreed on a shorter notice. Camden County Sheriff releases name of child found dead in Lake of the Ozarks Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a closed-session meeting on Jan. 21, 2025, the commissioners motioned to fire Green from his position as county attorney, which succeeded in a 2-1 vote, according to the signed meeting minutes. The next day, Green received a written termination notice effective immediately. On both Jan. 27 and Feb. 16, Greens attorney demanded the commission pay money they say was owed to Green after his firing, but the commission did not respond. Green is seeking at least $194,000 in damages which includes his salary, benefits, and estimated Missouri Bar expenses. If you have a story youd like Ozarks First Investigates to look into, send an email to Investigates@OzarksFirst.com or call our tip line at 417-295-TIPS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. (Reuters) - Canada will delay a planned second wave of retaliatory tariffs on C$125 billion of U.S. products until April 2, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in a post on X on Thursday. President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier in the day exempting goods from both Canada and Mexico under a North American trade pact for a month from the 25% tariffs that he had imposed earlier this week. (Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones, editing by David Ljunggren) (Bloomberg) -- Canada is expanding its military presence in the Arctic region as it tries to appease the Trump administrations calls for higher defense spending and deter Chinese and Russian influence in the remote region. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government will invest C$2.67 billion ($1.86 billion) to bolster its Arctic support hubs, starting with bases in Inuvik and Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories and in Iqaluit, Nunavut, where Defense Minister Bill Blair made the announcement on Thursday. The outlay is set to happen over 20 years, making the annual additional spending quite meager. Still, the plan underscores the pressure that Canadian leaders are feeling to shore up military expenditures, which have long remained below the North Atlantic Treaty Organization benchmark set at 2% of gross domestic product. The support hubs consist of airstrips, logistics facilities and equipment and are used in military aircraft operations. The leader of the opposition proposed a similar plan in February. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promised to build a permanent military base in Iqaluit, funding the project by making cuts to the foreign-aid budget, if his party forms government after a general election expected in the coming months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau will step down soon after his Liberal Party elects a new leader on Sunday. The two leading candidates former central banker Mark Carney and former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland have both pledged to reach the 2% defense spending target earlier than Trudeaus goal of 2032. Establishing a greater year-round military presence in the region positions the military to better assert Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic, the defense department said in a statement Thursday. The plan will help keep Canadians safe and secure in the face of dramatic changes in our physical and security environment. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Canada is ready to partake in a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, provided the United States offers security guarantees, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said on March 5. European countries, led mainly by the U.K. and France, are developing a coalition of the willing to monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Various countries including Ireland have voiced their willingness to partake in such a mission. "Canada is ready and able to make a contribution to that force," Blair said on March 5 during a defense conference in Ottawa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But we also believe that there's important discussions that need to take place with respect to security guarantees for Ukraine and for the forces that would serve in Ukraine." Blair also said that for a coalition of peacekeepers to be effective, the U.S. must support the initiative with security assurances. "We've strongly indicated we're willing to be a part of that, but I still believe it is going to require security guarantees from the United States," Blair said. Blair's comments echo those of other Western leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has urged Washington to provide a "backstop" for a European-led peacekeeping force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has thus far welcomed the idea of European peacekeeping troops monitoring a potential ceasefire in Ukraine but has fallen short of offering concrete security guarantees. Along with Canada, other non-European countries, including Turkey, have signaled willingness to join a future peacekeeping coalition in Ukraine. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on March 3 that Australia is open to contributing to a joint force. "There is a discussion at the moment about potential peacekeeping, and from my government perspective, we are open to consideration of any proposals going forward ... We want to see peace in Ukraine, but we want to make sure that the illegal, immoral actions of Russia are not rewarded," Albanese said. The Kremlin has consistently maintained that it will not accept Western troops on the ground in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. SYDNEY, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Major Australian airlines have announced they will suspend operation in Brisbane on Thursday as severe tropical cyclone Alfred approaches Australia's state of Queensland. A new update by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said that Alfred's approach to southeast Queensland has slowed, pushing back landfall until early Saturday. An earlier prediction said the landfall was likely on Thursday night or Friday morning. Virgin Australia said it would suspend flights departing from Brisbane at 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, operating a reduced schedule until then. Qantas and Jetstar announced they were also set to cease their services by mid-afternoon. Passengers were advised to check their updated flight details. Brisbane Airport will stay open as long as it remains safe, assisting the Australian Defense Force and health authorities in emergencies, according to the airport. Meanwhile, Gold Coast Airport in the southernmost Queensland has shut down since Wednesday afternoon until further notice, while Sunshine Coast Airport continues to function as usual. Residents in the southeast of Queensland and in the northeast of New South Wales (NSW) are bracing for the cyclone with the severity having not been seen in the region since 1974. Major supermarkets in these regions have shortened their business hours, with stores in some cyclone affected areas closing early on Thursday afternoon. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday quoted Queensland Premier David Crisafulli as saying that roads and bridges will be kept open "for as long as we can" for key workers. Public transport remains suspended Thursday and Friday, with further updates to come, said Crisafulli. Weather forecasts predicted daily rainfall amounts between 200 mm and 400 mm, potentially exceeding 800 mm in total over the course of the storm. We share a nation and a common future, so I am not willing to simply ignore or write off the (roughly) 50% of individuals who voted differently than I did. I get it that about 50% of the population is ecstatic that President Donald Trump is tearing down systems and bureaucracies they felt were bloated, out of control, and detrimental to our country. They are concerned that the number of encounters with individuals crossing the United States border skyrocketed under the previous administration. They question the laws and initiatives that challenged traditional ideas of gender held as fundamental by many people. While many support a diverse workforce, they believe far too many organizations and institutions implemented Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in a way that made identity more important than the mission of the organization. I get it that roughly 50% of the population is disgusted with the way Trump is enacting his policies. They see programs and agencies that provide essential services for many people in the process of being dismantled, even though those same programs and agencies have been supported by both parties. They watch the current administration taking actions that seem to be strictly the purview of Congress and using unelected individuals to enact draconian changes. They watch as the president vilifies his opponents, makes outlandish statements with no apparent factual basis, and describes fellow citizens with derogatory and demeaning language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides can claim the moral high ground for doing what is right for the good of the country, at least from their perspective and from the narrative they are immersed in. In those rare occasions when we engage in conversations on these difficult topics, we do so to convince the other side that our position is the right one. We do not come away with a complete understanding because we are simply attacking one another. Our political leaders have failed us as they only point to the failures of the other side and neglect to consider the complexity of many of the issues we face. My liberal friends think half the country has been duped by a con man. My conservative friends think half the country has lost their minds. Increasingly, we are resigned to a situation wherein we seem to live in two different countries. I have learned that to have a better understanding of a complex issue, I need to have a good-faith discussion with someone who sees things differently than I do. Every time I have such conversations, it is clear that both perspectives have something to offer, and both sides learn from the other. So, I am not willing to dismiss the "political other." Putting aside for a minute our political leaders whom I do not influence, I offer this for the ordinary citizens with whom I share a community and a future: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be willing to engage. If we are not willing to have a discussion about the important topics facing our country, we will not find a pathway the majority can support. It takes a bit of bravery to have these discussions, but there are forums designed to help engage in constructive ways. Develop listening skills. Social media and our political parties encourage us to only listen to respond and belittle the other. We have to learn to listen to understand and see the humanity of each individual. Develop a curiosity mindset. We can practice listening to understand if we approach conversations with curiosity rather than animosity. I wonder why my neighbor supports that policy? What experiences does my neighbor have that lead them to support that issue? Expand your information sources. When we hear a consistent narrative from our preferred news source and social media feed, we get a very limited viewpoint, oftentimes one that is demeaning. So we see the other as the enemy, not a neighbor. We have to develop more discerning information literacy skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do you gain these skills? There are multiple organizations that are working to build a more civil society. Here in Cincinnati, we have the Braver Angels Cincinnati Alliance that offers opportunities for engagement and skill building. You can find out more by visiting https://cincinnati.braverangels.org. For the sake of our country and our democracy, build skills, have a conversation, find ways to engage constructively. We cannot afford to dismiss half the population "a house divided cannot stand." Eugene Rutz Eugene Rutz lives in Evendale. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Political fights won't fix America. Listening might | Opinion A car crashed into an automotive shop in Pittsburghs Beechview neighborhood Thursday morning. The crash happened around 3:42 a.m. at the intersection of West Liberty and Brookside avenues. Our crews saw damage to the bricks and window on the front of the building. There were no reports of any injuries. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW (KRON) A Sonoma County judge sentenced a killer to serve 50 years to life in state prison for committing a 2024 murder in Petaluma. Paul Coilton, 59, pleaded no contest last month to murdering 49-year-old Steven Edward Lopez, prosecutors said. Coilton was sentenced by Judge Laura Passaglia on Wednesday. District Attorney Rodriguez said, It is incredibly sad to hear the impact that this offense has had on the family members of the victim in this case. This was a senseless tragedy, and hopefully this sentence brings some small measure of closure to the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coilton shot Lopez five times and left him dying on the side of Highway 116 near Ernies Tin Bar in Petaluma on November 10, 2024, prosecutors said. The victim died in an ambulance on his way to a hospital. Sheriffs deputies found the murder weapon, a .380 Ruger Security handgun, at the scene. Investigators found surveillance video showing the two men loading marijuana into the back of Lopezs truck just before the homicide. Twelve hours after Lopez died, deputies spotted Coilton driving the victims truck in San Jose and arrested him. Man arrested in connection with Oakland I-880 shooting Coilton entered a no contest plea on February 6 to first-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sonoma County District Attorneys Office described Coilton as a career criminal. He cycled in and out of prisons for decades, completed five different sentences, and his record dates back to 1983, according to the DAs office. Despite his new lengthy sentence, the 59-year-old inmate will have a chance for parole in 20 years because of his age. The district attorneys office explained, Although Coilton was sentenced to a term of 50 years to life in prison, under Californias elder parole statute which was enacted by the California legislature in 2018, Coilton will be eligible for possible release after serving only 20 years of his sentence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A truck carries waste to WIPP. A Carlsbad field office for WIPP appeared on a list for lease termination, but feds said it no longer was on March 6, 2025 (Photo courtesy DOE) The federal government issued a decision Thursday to keep the lease in place for a Carlsbad office overseeing operations for the nations only nuclear waste disposal site. Earlier this week, members of the New Mexico federal delegation censured Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency decision to revoke the lease for a Department of Energy Carlsbad Field Office at the Skeen-Whitlock building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building was included on a list Tuesday on a spreadsheet that listed more than 7,000 revoked leases, but included no additional information. The more than 90,000- square foot facility houses approximately 200 workers who manage the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant nicknamed WIPP. The underground waste depository located 26 miles east of Carlsbad deep underground in a saltbed is the only site approved to receive items soiled with nuclear waste, including with materials such as plutonium. U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) applauded the General Services Administration decision to leave the lease in place, calling the attempted closure reckless and shortsighted. I stood up for Carlsbad workers and our national security interests as soon as I heard of this potential closure. Ill continue holding the administration accountable when uninformed decisions threaten the livelihoods of New Mexicans, Vasquez said in a written statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquezs office received a formal letter from the GSA, which manages the governments office space among other duties, that the lease will remain in place, reversing the decision to revoke the lease. However, the lease remains on the spreadsheet on DOGEs list Thursday. The list also included fire dispatch centers in the state, prompting rebuke from U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in a statement provided to Source. The Albuquerque and Silver City Interagency Dispatch Centers are critical for our wildland fire response, Heinrich said. It would be a giant misstep if Trump and Musk close these offices. Every federal and state wildland firefighter is better equipped to do their job because of the centers resources, which include the airtankers deployed from Kirtland Air Force Base. As wildfire season continues to lengthen and threaten our communities, New Mexico needs these dispatch centers to support our firefighters as they help keep New Mexicans safe, In the case of the Carlsbad office, Vasquez said the situation has caused confusion for the local community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Carlsbad community deserves stability and a commitment from the federal government, not last-minute decisions that disrupt peoples lives and threaten our nations national security, Vasquez said. The U.S. Department of Energy confirmed Thursday in a written statement that the lease will remain in place. Carlsbad Mayor Richard Lopez told Source NM in an email he was pleased the lease was no longer at risk. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant plays a vital role in our national safety and security, and the Department of Energy is integral to our communitys operations, Lopez said in a written statement. We are pleased this issue has been resolved in a way that benefits Carlsbad and those who rely on these facilities. Democratic strategist James Carville ripped into President Trumps recent moves on Ukraine and tariffs, accusing the president of deliberately hurting the country. Hes actually trying to harm the United States, Carville charged in a video released Tuesday, pointing to the presidents 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico as well as his explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. Carville, a longtime vocal critic of Trumps, compared the presidents actions to that of other past Republican leaders he has strongly criticized, such as George W. Bush during the Iraq War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, I never would for one minute thought George W. Bush wanted to harm the United States, Carville said. I dont think Trump likes the United States. I honestly believe that the most compelling answer to all of this is he doesnt like this country. The Democratic strategist ticked through his various criticisms of Trump, asserting the GOP president doesnt like the Constitution, international alliances that have existed for decades or the separation of powers within the U.S. federal government. We know he believes that were a terrible country, were terrible people we know that. We know, like many people, he didnt want to serve in armed forces, but we know that. We know that he is trying to destroy the military by getting rid of every competent person he could find, we know that. We know today that he doesnt care about high prices, Carville asserted. What could explain all that? he continued. I think the simplest and most direct explanation is the president of the United States hates the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has dismissed Carvilles criticisms before, knocking him last month as weak and a broken down loser who is going crazy after the Democratic strategist went on Fox News. Carville, speaking before Trumps address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night in which he vowed a new golden age of America, said he hopes Democrats handle Trumps second term with the utmost gravity of utmost peril while operating within the limitations of the minority in the House and Senate. If the country is going to be saved, theyre going to have to play a key role in it, he said of congressional Democrats. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. POLK COUNTY, Iowa The case against the former Ankeny Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer is headed to trial. Melisa Cox Court records show 47-year-old Melisa Cox entered a not guilty plea on Feb. 27. Cox has been charged with nearly a dozen felonies for allegedly stealing more than $250,000 from the organization during her time as CEO. Police told WHO 13 that a criminal investigation was launched after an internal audit at the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce found financial irregularities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Name of driver killed after semi veered off Marshall County highway released A pre-trial conference is set for April 3. A jury trial is scheduled to begin on May 5 at the Polk County Courthouse. Cox, who stated in a document that she made $100,000 in the 12 months before her arrest, was previously granted a public defender, but court filings showed she has since retained a private attorney. She is free on a $75,000 surety bond. WHO 13 reached out to Coxs attorney for comment. Metro News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. UPDATE, 3/6/25, 7 p.m.: Cassandra Broussard was found safe. ORIGINAL STORY: DUSON, La. (KLFY) Cassandra Broussard, 46, was reported missing after not returning from a trip from the grocery store, Duson Police said. Police said Broussard was last seen Tuesday, March 4., leaving her home in Duson in a silver 2013 Infiniti M 37 S with a temporary Louisiana license plate that read 1971605 and left food on the stove after reporting she was making a short trip to the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, Broussard has not been heard from or seen again. Anyone with information about Broussards whereabouts is asked to contact Duson Police at 337-236-5895. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Latest news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. A Washington state-based company has announced it has issued a voluntary recall for a brand of cat food due to potential bird flu contamination. The Food and Drug Administration said that Wild Coast of Olympia, Washington, announced the recall on March 1. It includes its frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula raw pet food for cats because it has the potential to be contaminated with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 also known as bird flu. H5N1 can be transmitted to animals eating contaminated product. The recalled item comes in 16 and 24-ounce packaging that was distributed in Washington state and Oregon. The lots in question feature the numbers #22660, #22653, #22641, #22639, #22672 and #22664 with a best buy date of December 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This recall is a precautionary measure, Wild Coast founder Tyler Duncan said in a Facebook post the company shared March 3. Wild Coast founder Tyler Duncan noted in a letter posted on the company's website that the recall is "out of an abundance of caution" and that one pet has died. 'The safety of our products and that of our customers beloved pets is always our top priority. We were devastated to learn of the passing of a beloved pet, and our hearts go out to the owner," he wrote. The recall comes after the Washington State Department of Agriculture announced in February that two cats had tested positive for bird flu. That came after the WSDA issued a warning about the virus following tests performed on unopened containers of pet food manufactured by Wild Coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDA recall states that anyone who may have given the products to their pets are advised to look out for any bird flu symptoms, including fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing and neurological signs like tremors, stiff body movements, seizure, lack of coordination or blindness. Anyone with pets who have these symptoms should reach out to their veterinarian. Consumers with the affected products should throw them out and not sell or donate them. No human has gotten bird flu from coming in contact with raw pet food, per the recall notice. The first person to die from bird flu in the United States was confirmed in January. People can become infected if the virus gets into their eyes, nose or mouth, according to the FDA recall. Anyone who handles raw food are advised to wash their hands and clean countertops, refrigerators, bowls or utensils. This article was originally published on TODAY.com SUVA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A 107 million U.S. dollars' grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) will support 14 Pacific Island countries in safeguarding their tuna industries against climate change impacts. According to Tonga's news website Matangi Tonga on Thursday, this historic GCF grant is one of the largest ever awarded to the Pacific region and has attracted an additional 49.3 million dollars in co-financing. The funding will support adaptation measures to protect tuna stocks, which is vital to Pacific economies and food security, against the impacts of ocean warming. Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu manage one-third of the global tuna catch, the report said. Tuna is critical for both food and economic security in these Small Island Developing States, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and providing a significant portion of government revenue for many. The GCF-funded program will equip Pacific Island nations with the tools to adapt and maintain the economic benefits of tuna, drawing on over 50 years of science, research, and evidence-based decision-making led by these countries and territories, Matangi Tonga said. OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) Thousands of Northeast Wisconsinites headed to church for Ash Wednesday. St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church in Oshkosh held four masses on Wednesday. Deacon John Ingala said they had about 1500 people come to church across the four masses and said that Ash Wednesday is usually one of their most well-attended days of the year. Its just that time of quiet preparation, contemplation, prayer, fasting, Deacon Ingala told Local 5 News. Were all in Christ, we are one community in Christ, we are one family in Christ. We hope people remember that after they walk out after Ash Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season which culminates with Jesus Christs resurrection on Easter. Parishioners get ashes put on their foreheads in the shape of a cross as a symbol of their faith. Thank God you are here: Manitowoc woman says thank you to first responders following an apartment fire We are marked as Christians, said Ingala. Its just a great reminder of who we are. For many parishioners at St. Raphaels in Oshkosh on Wednesday, coming out to mass on Ash Wednesday is a family tradition that goes back decades. I just had to come and start Lent the right way, the way that my husband and I have always done it, said town of Oshkosh resident Ellie Reichenberger. (The ashes symbolize that) Im a sinner and I know that God is with me and I can get through this with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That we come into this world as nothing, and then we go back into the caskets we go right back to nothing, said Tom Salzer about what the ashes mean to him. This year on Ash Wednesday, many Catholics said theyre saying an extra prayer for Pope Francis as he continues to battle double pneumonia. According to the Associated Press, the pope was in stable condition on Wednesday but remains in the hospital. Appleton International Airport Director named Best Airport Partner by online airline news outlet The 88-year-old pope had two respiratory crises on Monday and has been hospitalized since Feb. 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We pray for him as the leader of the church and we hope that he will eventually be healed, whatever way that will be, said Deacon Ingala. I think its hard for all Catholics to see that because hes a symbol of our rock (Jesus), said Reichenberger. Spend quite a bit of time during today thinking about Pope Francis and our current state of affairs, Salzer added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Students wait on the Knight campus of the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Police said the Lincoln campus was on lockdown. (Photo by Amie Wambach for Rhode Island Current) A man carrying a knife who got off at a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus at the entrance of the Lincoln campus of the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) early Thursday afternoon prompted an approximately 45-minute campus lockdown, according to a message from the schools president. Lincoln police received a 911 call from a RIPTA bus traveling Route 54 to CCRIs Flanagan Campus around 12:30 p.m., with the caller reporting that a passenger had been threatened with a knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding officers learned that the suspect, later identified as Junior Sage, 48, of Woonsocket, had reportedly entered the campus and appeared to be armed with both a knife and firearm. A mugshot of Junior Sage, 48, of Woonsocket, released by Lincoln police Thursday, March 6, 2025. Sage was ordered held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston after an arraignment for violating the terms of his probation on a previous arrest. (Courtesy of Lincoln Police) The coordination was fantastic, Lincoln Police Chief Dennis Fleming said at a press conference Thursday on the Flanagan Campus, describing how the municipal police had worked with the Rhode Island State Police and CCRI police. Officers found an airsoft-style pistol and two small knives in Sages bag, according to Lincoln police. Text alerts first went out to the Lincoln campus community at 12:48 p.m., two minutes after a lockdown alert was sent to students, staff and faculty at CCRIs Warwick campus. The text was unfinished: Based on location, decide to run, hide or fight. Seek shelter, turn off lights and silence your cell phone. Wait fo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 1:16 p.m. CCRI sent an alert saying that a suspect was in custody. Lincoln police said in a news release posted on Facebook early Thursday evening that Sage was arrested without incident. He is charged with possessing a firearm when prohibited; carrying a pistol or revolver without a license or permit; three counts of felony assault; disorderly conduct; and obstructing police. Sage was placed on probation for one year and received a one-year suspended sentence last July after pleading no contest to charges of possessing a weapon other than firearm as prohibited because of a prior violent offense and reckless driving. He appeared at an emergency arraignment later Thursday. He was ordered held overnight at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston with an appearance scheduled in Third District Court Friday, according to Lincoln police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The schools Facebook page posted an all clear announcement at 1:32 p.m. The post also ended with an unfinished sentence, leaving faculty, students and staff waiting for the news about when classes will resume. Law enforcement has determined that the campus is safe, it read. Campus is now open for faculty and staff. Classes will resume at CCRI Interim President Rosemary Costigan sent an email at 2:47 p.m. recapping for students, faculty and staff what had happened. Based on information provided by law enforcement agencies, the suspect is not a CCRI student, Costigan wrote. An alert sent at 12:48 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025, informs Community College of Rhode Island students, faculty and staff that the Lincoln campus is on lockdown. (Screenshot) Thanks to the swift and coordinated response of law enforcement, the suspect was apprehended, and the situation was resolved without harm to our community, Costigan said. The Lincoln Police Department is leading the investigation, which remains ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costigan acknowledged there was confusion regarding the schools Warwick campus, which also went into lockdown as initial reports mistakenly identified it as the location of the incident. We understand the concern and anxiety this caused for those who teach, learn, and work in Warwick. The college will conduct a full review of the process in order to avoid future confusion. I also want to thank the Warwick and State Police for their swift response to the Warwick Campus, Costigan wrote. At the press conference, Costigan acknowledged the situation was a very scary incident, she told reporters. Our message is that we are safe. We have procedures, and we have trained officers, as well as our partnerships, and most if not the majority of our campus police officers are former municipal or state police, so our campuses are safe. This was a very scary incident, so I am not taking any of that away. But the important thing is that our processes worked and that no one was hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joining Costigan and Fleming at the press conference were Gov. Dan McKee, Rhode Island State Police Col. Darnell Weaver, and Lincoln Town Administrator Philip Gould. Shannon Gilkey, the states commissioner of postsecondary education, was aware of the events at the Lincoln campus today, Jackie Xiong, an assistant to the commissioner for the Council on Postsecondary Education, said in an email. The Commissioners office and the Council on Postsecondary Education are Commissioner Gilkey has been in contact with President Costigan throughout the afternoon and is working to support their efforts on campus, Xiong wrote. RIPTA CEO Christopher Durand praised the driver working Route 54 at the time of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to commend our RIPTA bus driver, Jerediah Gonzalez for his exceptional alertness and professionalism in responding to this situation, Durand said in a statement. This incident underscores the dedication and professionalism of our drivers in maintaining the highest standards of safety and care for our community. Were grateful that no one was harmed and extend our thanks to the Rhode Island State Police, CCRI Campus Police and the Lincoln Police Department for their support. Updated after the 2:45 p.m. press conference at CCRI and Tuesday evening with information from the Lincoln Police Department. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX March 5 (UPI) -- Federal health officials are monitoring the outbreak of a deadly and mysterious disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed to UPI. In an email statement, a CDC spokesperson told UPI that they are speaking with local health officials about the outbreak. "CDC is monitoring the situation closely and engaging with DRC officials on what support the agency can offer," the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unknown disease has killed at least 53 people in the DRC's northwestern Equateur province, with the last death reported on Feb. 22, according to a Monday update from the World Health Organization. The first cluster of 24 deaths was reported on Feb. 9. Fifty of the deaths occurred in the same village. Young men appear to be disproportionately affected by the unknown disease, which the WHO said had a median time from onset of symptoms to death of one day. Possible chemical poisoning or a rapid onset bacterial meningitis are working hypotheses that WHO officials have developed "given the rapid decline in the incidence of reported deaths, their geographic clustering, the age profile of deaths and the rapid disease progression in the initial cluster," it said in the update. However, "the definitive cause of illness remains undetermined," it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samples have tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses, but additional field investigations and laboratory testing is ongoing, it said, adding that toxicological analysis of environmental samples, including water, was ongoing. There have been more than 1,300 patients with symptoms matching the working suspected case definition as of Feb. 25, it said, with about half of them testing positive for malaria. Symptoms reported include fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweating dizziness, shortness of breath and others. "With the available information, WHO assesses the local public health risk as moderate, and the national and global health risk as low," it said. A provincial rapid response team arrived on the scene Feb. 16, with a WHO team joining them Feb. 23. WHO is supporting investigations and increasing surveillance, it said. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) became the latest member to be censured by the House on Thursday, adding him to a list of members disciplined by their peers. The vote made Green the 28th member of the House to be censured. The censure process shows the Houses deep disapproval of another members conduct. Once censured, the member must stand in the well area of the House floor and essentially be publicly humiliated as the Speaker reads the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its one of the more severe punishments in the House, worse than a reprimand but not as severe as an expulsion. The censure resolution was first used in 1832. Its use has picked up in recent years amid partisan fights between Democrats and Republicans. Green was censured after he shouted at President Trump during his joint address to Congress on Tuesday evening. Green stood and shouted, pushing back on Trumps idea that the election gave him a mandate. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) ordered audience members to maintain decorum. When Green continued to speak, Johnson asked the sergeant-at-arms to restore order by kicking the Texas Democrat out of the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers raced on Wednesday to issue a censure against Green and members of the House held a vote on Thursday, officially censuring him. Ten Democrats voted with Republicans in favor of the censure resolution, which said his action was a breach of proper conduct. Here are the other lawmakers who have been disciplined: Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) Brown was censured in Dec. 2023 after he pulled the fire alarm in one of the Capitol office buildings under non-emergency circumstances. The Cannon House Office Building was forced to evacuate which delayed the vote on the government funding bill. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) Tlaib was censured for criticizing Israel for its counteroffensive against Hamass Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was part of a weeks-long effort to punish Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress. She was critical of Israels destruction in Gaza and killing of the Palestinian people. Former Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) Schiff, who is now a senator, was censured for his efforts and outspoken criticism of President Trump. Schiff emerged as an unrelenting critic of Trump and later led the presidents first impeachment inquiry. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) Gosar was censured for posting a manipulated video online that showed him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and attacking former President Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also removed from the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the House Natural Resource Committee. Former Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) Rangel, a 40 year veteran of the House and beloved member, was censured in 2010 for the misuse of financial funds and violating ethics rules. He was the first member to censured since 1983. Before Rangels censure vote, the House hadnt had such a vote in nearly three decades. Former Rep. Dan Crane (R-Ill.): 1983 Former Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.): 1983 Former Rep. Charles Wilson (D-Calif.): 1980 Former Rep. Charles Diggs (D-Mich.): 1979 Former Rep. Thomas Blanton (D-Texas): 1921 Former Rep. William Bynum (D-Ind.): 1890 Former Rep. John Brown (D-Kent.): 1875 Former Rep. James Brooks (D-N.Y.): 1873 Former Rep. Oakes Ames (R-Mass.): 1873 Former Rep Roderick Butler (R-Tenn.): 1870 Former Rep. John DeWeese (D-N.C.): 1870 Former Rep. Benjamin Whittemore (D-Idaho): 1870 Former Rep. Edward Holbrook (D-N.Y.): 1869 Former Rep. John Hunter (D-N.Y.): 1867 Former Rep. Lovell Rousseau (Kent.) 1866 Former Rep. John Chanler (D-N.Y.): 1866 Former Rep. Alexander Long (D-Ohio): 1864 Former Rep. Benjamin Harris (D-Md.): 1864 Former Rep. Laurence Keitt (D-S.C.): 1856 Former Rep. Joshua Giddings (R-Ohio): 1842 Former Rep. William Stanbery (Ohio): 1832 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ben Vizzachero gritted his teeth on the floor of Congress on Tuesday night as he listened to President Donald Trump praise the budget cuts that cost the biologist his job at the Los Padres National Forest. But he didnt make the trip to Washington, D.C., without getting to speak his mind seizing an opportunity to confront Elon Musk and calling out the man he felt was most responsible for his firing. Vizzachero, 30, was one of thousands of U.S. Forest Service employees fired over Presidents Day weekend at the direction of Trump and Musks Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a time for big dreams and bold action, Trump said during his joint Presidential Address to Congress on Tuesday, according to a transcript posted by the New York Times. Upon taking office, I imposed an immediate freeze on all federal hiring, a freeze on all new federal regulations and a freeze on all foreign aid. We are draining the swamp. Its very simple, and the days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over, Trump said, met by a cacophony of cheers. Vizzachero attended the joint session of Congress as a guest of Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-19, weeks after he lost his job as a federal wildlife biologist on the Central Coast. He moved to the Solvang area about a year ago when he was hired at the Los Padres National Forest. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, right, invited former U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist Ben Vizzachero to President Donald Trumps address to Congress on March 4, 2025. The biologist described the experience sitting among the minority Democrats as very uncomfortable, watching as the Republican majority cheered and offered numerous standing ovations while the rest of the room remained seated, shaking their heads, quiet and dejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Vizzachero, the worst moment was when Trump touted firing federal employees. That was the most painful part of it all, he said, ... to hear a crowd full of people applauding and giving a standing ovation to this man as he bragged about destroying the jobs of me and thousands of other hard-working civil servants that love this country. Vizzachero used the opportunity to advocate for federal workers from meeting with lawmakers to calling out Musk after the speech. His goal was to put a face to the name of federal employees fired without cause, and to urge lawmakers to support public land and those who work there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope that when they cast those votes, they think of me and my friends who have been wronged by this administration in spite of our great love and respect and appreciation for this countrys most cherished landmarks, he said. We have a long way to go. This is a slaughter: How Los Padres forest biologist lost his job amid Trump purge Fired Central Coast federal employee confronts Elon Musk Vizzachero sat in the gallery about three rows in front of Musk whom Trump praised for leading the budget cuts even though the billionaire is not an official employee of the government. Thank you, Elon, Trump said during the speech. Thank you very much, we appreciate it. Everybody here even this side appreciates it, I believe, gesturing to the Democratic cohort. They just dont want to admit that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the speech, the biologist marched up to the tech tycoon and asked, Mr. Musk, am I waste? Who are you? Musk asked. Vizzachero answered that he was a wildlife biologist fired from the Los Padres National Forest. Elon Musk attends President Donald Trumps address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The Trump administration said on Wednesday that it would overhaul a $42 billion federal grant program aimed at expanding high-speed internet to the nation, including easing some rules that could benefit Elon Musks satellite internet service, Starlink. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times) He had this smug grin on his face, and the red crowd sort of cheered him on, Vizzachero said. He said, What exactly do you do here? I told him that I work to protect communities like the city of Monterey and the Big Sur coast from wildfire, and I work to keep America beautiful, Vizzachero said. I told him, I love this country and I dont understand why youre destroying it. Ive committed my life to saving and protecting these international landmarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The red crowd jeered at the biologist. And Musk replied, I dont think we need you here. Then Vizzachero left, every bit as committed to protecting federal lands and their workers as he was when he arrived. He said the experience was like fighting a dragon. My heart was pounding. My blood pressure was through the roof, he said. I just knew that if I did not say something, I would regret it for the rest of my life. When asked about Vizzacheros exchange with Musk, Panetta said he was proud of him. Panetta said Musks work was wreaking havoc on important government agencies that provide critical government services to the people of the 19th congressional district. President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025. Vizzachero said he understands the frustration with the government and found bureaucratic processes as a federal employee slow and inefficient, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are ways that it could be made efficient, and thats a message that Ive sent to the Republican staffers, Vizzachero said, while adding that Donald Trump is using an ax where we need to use a scalpel. We need to be very careful how we re-evaluate the management of our lands, he added. We should not be ignoring the experts and rapidly expelling generations of talented professionals from our federal ranks. According to the biologist, Musk doesnt understand the intrinsic value of nature. Places like Big Sur, the San Rafael Wilderness and Cuesta Ridge are special wild places, and they have a value that cannot be quantified economically to billionaires, Vizzachero said. But all he cares about is the money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was rude and arrogant and every bit as awful as he looks on TV, but he will never understand what hes destroying (in) this country, because he doesnt love it the way I do, the wildlife biologist said. Wildlife biologist Ben Vizzachero conducts a waterbird count at Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. He lost his job at the Los Padres National Forest as part of a wave of firings ordered by the Trump administration. Fired federal employees may be allowed to return to work With a Democratic minority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, legislation is not currently the most effective way to make change, Panetta said. Were relying on the courts, and unfortunately, Congress and the courts just dont move as fast as the executive branch, who filed 72 executive orders within the first month, Panetta said. That being said, youre starting to see the courts act. On Wednesday, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board ordered a 45-day stay on the terminations of U.S. Department of Agriculture employees fired during their probationary periods since Feb. 13, National Federation of Federal Employees representative Matt Brossard told The Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Probationary employees can be fired immediately for poor job performance, while other employees must be placed on a developmental opportunity plan with time to improve before losing their job, he said. The issue is, most of the probationary employees were dismissed without a record of performance deficiencies, he said. The U.S. Forest Service uses a so-called pass or fail system when evaluating employee performance, as employees can either receive an unsuccessful or fully successful rating on their review, Brossard said. So far, all of the terminated employees hes spoken to earned fully successful scores on their evaluations including Vizzachero. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of this ruling, terminated probationary employees should receive back pay and be able to return to work for the next 45 days, Brossard said. I think its a step in the right direction to right a wrong by this administration, he said. Hes not sure what will come next but he noted that a lot can happen during 45 days, as numerous lawsuits are pending in the courts. The stakes are too high for us to get distracted, Panetta said in a statement after the speech. We will hold this administration accountable by ensuring that our nations checks and balances are strong through legislation, litigation, investigation, communication and mobilization, Panetta told The Tribune. We will be fighting back, and fighting hard, he said. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is allowing some offices to resume their functions, as the Trump administration faces a legal challenge over its stop work order and other efforts to overhaul the consumer watchdog. Mark Paoletta, the CFPBs chief legal officer, emailed employees Sunday clarifying they still should be performing statutorily required work. Several offices at the agency since have received authorization to resume their work, according to a trove of emails filed in court Tuesday. These measures were intended to ensure that new leadership could establish operational control over the agency while ensuring that it would continue to fulfill its statutory duties, Paoletta wrote. Many of you understood this and continued to perform functions required by law and sought approval from me to perform work, which I have promptly granted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has come to my attention, however, that some employees have not been performing statutorily required work, he continued. Let me be clear: Employees should be performing work that is required by law and do not need to seek prior approval to do so. After acting CFPB Director Russell Vought was appointed in early February, he initially directed employees to cease all supervision and examination activity and shareholder engagement. However, he quickly expanded his order days later, telling agency staff to stand down from performing any work task unless they received approval from Paoletta. Employees were also told not to come into CFPB headquarters, and the buildings lease was later cancelled. As CFPB staff attempted to comply with the work stoppage, confusion emerged over whether they could send emails, attend meetings with other agencies or, for the legal division, review certain documents, the emails show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employees also appeared unclear whether they could perform statutorily required activities. In an email last week, the associate director of the Office of Fair Lending asked if they were permitted to perform statutory functions, such as supporting fair lending examinations and enforcement activity and completing a report for Congress. The team responding to records requests under the Freedom of Information Act at the CFPB similarly asked for permission to continue its work, noting it was required by law and halting the work posed a risk of litigation. Both requests were approved. Adam Martinez, the CFPBs chief operating officer, also emailed staff in the Division of Research, Markets and Regulations last week, saying it wanted to ensure that you are aware that statutorily required work and/or work required by law are authorized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He sent a similar missive to the team handling supervision at CFPB. However, he also confirmed that Voughts order to cease all supervision and examination activity was still in force. Following Paolettas Sunday email, the supervision team sought clarification from Martinez, who responded that the newest directive does not change the specific work stoppage laid out in Voughts initial email. As a result, Cassandra Huggins, the principal deputy assistant director of Supervision Policy and Operations, sent out an email to supervision staff Monday. She noted that Paolettas message was not intended to authorize the reinstatement of supervision/examination activity, even though the Bureau is required by law to carry out these activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a lengthy response to Huggins and supervision staff, Paoletta slammed the email, emphasizing that all CFPB staff are authorized to perform statutorily required work. I am concerned that you sent out an internal agency communication on such an unfounded basis that is false and directly contradicts my March 2nd message without first getting confirmation directly from me, he wrote. Your actions severely undermine the Agency leaderships ability to supervise the agency staff and to ensure that statutorily required duties are being performed, Paoletta added. Huggins responded, noting that she did not intend to undermine the new administrations ability to supervise agency staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [M]y only intention was to ensure that our staff did not act against the direction in the February 8 email from Acting Director Vought to cease all supervisory and examination activity, she said. Other actions taken by the new CFPB leadership have also sowed confusion. After the agencys social media accounts were deleted in early February, staff warned that they might be in violation of records retention requirements, the emails show. The issue was compounded by a push to terminate more than 100 contracts, one of which held backup records of the CFPBs social media. The emails were submitted as part of a lawsuit brought by the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents CFPB staff, and several outside groups. They have accused the Trump administration of attempting to dismantle the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administration lawyers have denied the allegations that they plan to eliminate the CFPB, emphasizing President Trumps nomination of Jonathan McKernan for CFPB director. The Senate Banking Committee voted to advance McKernans nomination Thursday. However, CFPB employees have pushed back on the administrations claims. In a series of court declarations last week, staff said they were told by officials that they plan to wind down the agency, eliminating all but five employees and transferring its statutorily required functions to other agencies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Disclaimer: The following content contains extremely graphic images of the wounds suffered by the victim. Viewer discretion is advised HUGULEY, Ala. (WRBL) A Chambers County woman is facing felony charges after her dogs allegedly attacked a woman, leaving her severely injured and hospitalized for several days. According to court records, Elizabeth Lorine Jackson,45, was arrested Monday in connection with prior incidents involving her dogs attacking animals in the neighborhood. Investigators say she is now facing additional charges after her three dogs allegedly attacked a woman was attacked on February 28 outside a residence in Huguley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say the victim encountered the dogs while trying to return a stray she found in the area. As she approached a home in the 5100 block of 16th Street SW, three dogs charged at her, knocking her down and inflicting multiple deep lacerations on her arms and legs. A neighbor intervened, helping to fend off the animals, and emergency responders transported her to East Alabama Medical Center, where she underwent treatment, including dozens stitches and rabies vaccinations. She was hospitalized for four days and continues to recover. According to investigators, Jackson had prior knowledge of her dogs aggressive behavior, making the case a Class C felony under Alabamas dangerous dog laws. Court records indicate in January, Jackson was cited for allowing her dogs to run loose after they allegedly killed a neighbors ducks and chickens. Additionally, a delivery driver was reportedly bitten at Jacksons home in November, but no charges were filed at the time. Chambers County officials confirmed all three dogs involved in the attack were euthanized. Jackson has been charged with Dangerous Dog Class C Felony and Permitting Dogs to Run at Large. More charges could follow as the investigation continues. Disclaimer: The following content contains extremely graphic images of the wounds suffered by the victim. Viewer discretion is advised Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt the first time these dogs have shown aggression, said Meagan Blanks, a friend of the victim. Theyve attacked before, and now a person has been seriously hurt. This was preventable. Residents in Huguley have raised concerns about ongoing issues with loose and aggressive dogs in the area. Some have called for stricter enforcement of animal control laws to hold negligent owners accountable. The county commissioner has said this issue will be addressed at the next meeting, Blanks added. We need more people to report these cases so that action is taken before something worse happens. Authorities urge residents to report dangerous animals to law enforcement or local animal control and to press county officials for stronger animal ordinances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. AUSTIN (Nexstar) On Wednesday, the Texas House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency (Texas DOGE) met for the first time. In a meeting lasting more than 12 hours, the group of 13 lawmakers consisting of eight Republicans and five Democrats discussed how they plan to eliminate waste, fraud and corruption within the Texas government. At times we will use a scalpel, carefully dissecting inefficiencies to make government work smarter. At other times we will wield a sledgehammer, going after fraud and corruption that may have gone unchallenged, Committee Chair Giovanni Capriglione, R Southlake, said to kick off the hearing. Make no mistake, change is coming and it will be quick and decisive. Its something we need to keep our eye on the ball about Some state employees have expressed concerns after the U.S. governments Department of Governmental Efficiency (federal DOGE), has led to a large number of layoffs and resignations for federal employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Texas State University employees have] a lot of concern, a lot of fear, Rolf Straubhaar, an instructor at Texas State University, said. People who have the mobility to do soI have a lot of colleagues that are moving out of state. Straubhaar, a member of the Texas State Employees Union, said a lot of the hesitation about Texas DOGE comes from the reputation quickly earned by the federal DOGE. Texas State Instructor Rolf Straubhaar expresses concerns about Texas DOGE in San Marcos on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Nexstar Photo/Adam Schwager) Its been a historical trend that words like efficiency are often used to try and push a particular political agenda. Particularly to try to downsize things or to outsource things to the private sector that are typically done by the public sector, Straubhaar said. Its something we need to keep our eye on the ball about to make sure that this doesnt become the committee where we send things that want to get fast-tracked, that we want to keep hush-hush until they actually happen. Not your Elons DOGE The federal DOGE is an agency working in the executive branch of the U.S. government, often accused of subverting the legislative branch altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres all the checks and balances process to make sure that thing that should stay, that are supported by the majority of the people, stay and things that might need to change can change, Straubhaar said. The whole idea of DOGE is to get around that. Elon Musk carries his son X A-Xii, after a meeting about President-elect Donald Trumps planned Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Unlike federal DOGE, the Texas DOGE is a legislative committee, solely consisting of elected House of Representatives members. Additionally, any legislation they deal with eventually has to go before the full House and Senate. [In federal DOGE] it does look like some layoffs and cuts, DOGE Committee member Rhetta Bowers, D Garland, said. I am hoping it doesnt go to that level. Capriglione was more reserved about the potential for mass layoffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody thats listening to this broadcast right now has to justify what theyre doing every single day, he said, alluding to Federal DOGEs request for every federal employee to send them an email detailing what they did that week. The goal of this is to make sure the government is working for the taxpayers and not the other way aroundin whatever form that is. Maybe theres software tools that we can use to help those workers, maybe its they need to be doing something else.' What will Texas DOGE do? On Wednesday, Texas DOGE just conducted interviews with agency leaders, not taking up legislation. But the Texas House has already referred 18 bills their way, many dealing with state employee regulations and state government operations. Some of the bills are as simple as giving working mothers time off to pump breast milk, some as complicated as making every state agency regulation gets approved by an elected official. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Changes are coming to the school day for public schools in Rowan County to maximize instruction time with students. According to an announcement on Facebook, all Rowan County schools will release at 3:30 p.m. for the remainder of the school year. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This announcement comes on the heels of the Senate Education Committee approving House Bill 241, which would allow schools to add extra time to the school day rather than extending the school year into June. Extreme weather patterns in Kentucky have forced school districts to use all of their 10 allotted NTI days. The school year is currently scheduled to end May 29, and spring break is still scheduled to happen March 31 through April 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Nearly all drugs developed in the U.S. are derived in part from NIH-funded research. Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images. Despite multiple federal courts ordering the Trump administration to end their freeze of federal agencies disbursement of grants and contracts, the National Institutes of Healths funding of research continues to be deliberately gummed up. This has already wasted resources and delayed science. And if it continues much longer, this blockage stands to unravel the primary engine that for generations has produced life enhancing biomedical and public health discovery in the U.S. Why is NIH-funded science critically important? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, NIH research drives the development of treatments and cures, contributing to over 99% of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019. This is not just good for peoples health but also our economic well-being in Minnesota and nationwide NIH research delivers an estimated $2.50 of economic activity for every $1 spent. Further, NIH has been committed to training future generations of scientists, ensuring that in every decade the U.S. has led the world in innovation in health research. Regrettably, NIH has not been able to fund new research or even continue prior funding for studies underway in some cases due various new administrative curbs put in place by the Trump administration. For instance, NIH convenes panels of roughly a couple dozen experts from around the U.S. to review research proposals scientific rigor and potential impact to advise NIH on funding decisions. I serve on one of these panels, which was scheduled to meet for two days last week to discuss the merits of a set of submitted proposals. The day before the meeting, however, we received notice that the meeting could not take place. This was due to the Trump administration scrambling this process by barring the NIH from publishing notices of meetings in the Federal Register, which is like the newspaper of the federal government. Announcing these meetings, via publication of a prior notice in the Federal Register, is a legal requirement. Forcing our panel and many others to halt their review process has effectively frozen the pipeline for the start-up of new research in recent weeks. If no proposals are moved through the review process, none will be funded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One estimate stated that by Feb. 22, 2025, the missed meetings had caused the review of 16,000 research proposals to be delayed. Reports have indicated that this week NIH will be once again allowed to publish some notices of meetings in the Federal Register. But celebration of this development is premature, and unfortunately we remain in a stubborn logjam. This is due to NIHs continuing prohibition on publishing notices of the meetings that make final funding decisions on research proposals. Without these meetings, most new research will remain stalled. The ingredients for conducting innovative research go beyond equipment or funding of other expenses. NIH has historically held a commitment to investing in all aspects of the scientific enterprise, from building infrastructure to cultivating the highly trained human capital that is necessary for producing science, i.e., the scientists. NIH has acknowledged that, In spite of tremendous advancements in scientific research, information, educational and research opportunities are not equally available to all. To address this, for decades NIH has supported a suite of programs intended to increase the number of scientists from backgrounds and circumstances that have been underrepresented among the population of health researcher. These programs were open not just to certain racial and ethnic minorities, but also people who were the first in their family to graduate from college; grew up in low-income households; previously experienced homelessness; or hailed from rural regions. It was an acknowledgement of the reality that potential exists everywhere and ignoring this hampers progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, using their grossly distorted caricature of what DEI is and its purpose, abruptly discontinued many of these NIH initiatives to diversify the science workforce in the name of stifling activities that run counter to their ideology. In some cases, individuals from underrepresented groups had submitted research applications to these programs months ago. They learned abruptly in recent weeks that their proposals would not be reviewed or considered for funding. This meant that people who have faced some of the steepest barriers to entering and sustaining a research career had put their best energies into proposals that would be thrown in the trash, sight unseen. Given how challenging problems in the realm of health are, curtailing the pool of talent that could contribute to finding future solutions is foolishly shortsighted. Why the Trump administration would seek to stymie our system of biomedical research, which has made the U.S. a leader in innovation in these fields and has undoubtedly benefited every American family, is baffling. What we have has taken decades to build, and if it is broken, will not bounce back. SEOUL, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen people were injured Thursday after fighter jets mistakenly dropped bombs on South Korea's civilian area during live-fire drills. Two KF-16 fighter jets dropped four respective air-to-surface bombs by mistake outside a live-fire range in Pocheon, some 40 km north of Seoul, at about 10:04 a.m. local time (0104 GMT), according to the defense ministry. The misguided bombing came from pilot errors as the pilot of one fighter jet entered target coordinates wrong. Investigation was underway for the mistaken bombing by the pilot of the other fighter jet. The accident destroyed a church, houses and vehicles, leaving 15 people, including two soldiers and two foreigners, wounded, according to Yonhap news agency. Two male civilians suffered serious injuries to face and shoulder that are not life-threatening. The number of casualties could rise as more people reportedly requested treatment. Earlier in the day, South Korea and the United States held a combined live-fire exercise in Pocheon, mobilizing more than 160 pieces of military hardware such as tanks, self-propelled howitzers, helicopters and fighter jets. The South Korean military decided to suspend all live-fire drills until the exact cause of the accident is identified. Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun told reporters at the scene that all military exercises should be stopped, urging the government and the military to take follow-up measures that can relieve anxiety among people. The accident came ahead of the scheduled joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States later this month. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement that the combined forces of South Korea and the United States will conduct an annual springtime war game, called Freedom Shield (FS), from March 10 to March 20. Seoul and Washington have insisted that the joint drill is defensive in nature, but the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has denounced it as a dress rehearsal for a northward invasion. People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), a South Korean civic group, said in a statement that it would be dangerous and careless to stage large-scale war exercises in inter-Korean border areas. The PSPD urged South Korea and the United States to immediately call off the scheduled military exercise or reduce the scale of dangerous maneuvering and live-fire drills drastically. HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM) Charges were filed Wednesday from a December shooting in apartments above a York County restaurant where one person was shot. Hanover Borough police filed charges against Jacob Klunk, 34, and Pablo Lopez, 39, from the Dec. 14 shooting in the 100 block of Broadway, court documents show. Police were called to the apartments after getting a report of an argument coming from the tenants, followed by the sound of a gunshot. According to police, they found blood on the stairwell that led to Klunk, who reported he got into an argument and fight with Lopez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klunk was then taken to the hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound, which was not life-threatening, police said. Thinking that Lopez was in his apartment, the York County Quick Response Team was then requested to the scene, however Lopez left before police arrived. Lopez was then interviewed the following day. Police said they were told the duo got into an argument on a fire escape, and Klunk threatened to kill Lopez, later allegedly pointing a brown rifle at him. The rifle was determined to be a BB gun, but at the time, Lopez could not tell if it was a real gun or not. Lopez then went back into his apartment, where Klunk was then banging on the door, so Lopez went and got a black handgun he had in a jacket beside the door, according to police. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter Court docs show Klunk pushed the door open, began swinging at Lopez, and when he saw that Lopez had a gun, he reached for it, causing the two to struggle for the gun. According to the charging documents, Klunk was shot in the upper chest during a struggle for Lopezs gun. They continued fighting and fell down the stairs with each other. Following this, Lopez left and began driving around in Maryland, where he allegedly threw the gun out the vehicle window. According to police, Lopez said he bought the gun from a guy, and confirmed that he was not licensed to have a gun. He also had a prior drug conviction from 2005. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klunk faces a felony charge of burglary and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. Lopez faces a felony charge of illegal possession of firearm and a misdemeanor charge of tampering with evidence. Both of them are awaiting preliminary hearings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man accused in the shooting death of his cousin now faces an upgraded charge of murder. The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested Hasan Sabree, 46, after his cousin and roommate Danyelle Dillard, 41, was found shot to death on Catalpa Street on Feb. 26. According to arrest documents, Sabree told detectives that an argument over car keys had happened over 30 minutes before the shooting. He said he grabbed a gun from Dillard after she removed live rounds and pulled the trigger, believing there werent any live rounds still in it. Sabree claimed it was an accidental shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sabrees negligent homicide charge was upgraded to second-degree murder. He was also charged with illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities and domestic abuse aggravated assault child endangerment. Police noted that three children under the age of 13 were in the home at the time of the shooting. Arrest warrant issued for Southern University campus shooting suspect Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. TULKAREM, West Bank (AP) At a makeshift kitchen inside a city office building, volunteers rub paprika, oil and salt on slabs of chicken before arraying them on trays and slipping them into an oven. Once the meat is done, it is divided into portions and tucked into plastic foam containers along with piles of yellow rice scooped from large steel pots. The unpaid chefs at the Yasser Arafat Charity Kitchen in the city of Tulkarem are hoping their labors will provide a modicum of joy to displaced Palestinians trying to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. An Israeli military raid launched in the West Bank weeks ago has uprooted more than 40,000 people. Israel says it was meant to stamp out militancy in the occupied region, which has experienced a surge of violence since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The raid has been deadly and destructive, emptying out several urban refugee camps that house descendants of Palestinians who fled wars with Israel decades ago. The refugees have been told they will not be allowed to return for a year. In the meantime, many of them have no access to kitchens, are separated from their communities, and are struggling to mark the end of the daily Ramadan fast with what are typically lavish meals. The situation is difficult, said Abdullah Kamil, governor of the Tulkarem area. He said some are drawing hope from the charity kitchen, which has expanded its usual operations to provide daily meals for up to 700 refugees, an effort to meet the needs of the people, especially during the month of Ramadan." For Mansour Awfa, 60, the meals are a bright spot in a dark time. He fled from the Tulkarem refugee camp in early February and does not know when he can return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the house where I was raised, where I lived, and where I spent my life, he said of the camp. Im not allowed to go there. Awfa, his wife and four children have been living in a relatives city apartment, where they sleep on thin mattresses on the floor. Where do we go? Where is there to go? he asked. But thanks to God, we are waiting to receive meals and aid from some warmhearted people. Douglas Ray Lollis, Jr., 31, of Checotah, was found guilty by a federal jury on one count of felon in possession of firearm. The jury trial concluded Tuesday with the guilty verdict. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on Dec. 22, 2022, Lollis pawned a SAR 9mm pistol, which he possessed illegally. At the time of that interaction, Lollis was prohibited from owning firearms after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guilty verdict was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Lollis will remain out on bond pending completion of a presentence report and sentencing. CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office conducted two search warrants and a traffic stop on Tuesday leading to the arrest of five people and recovered meth, cocaine, marijuana and firearms. Courtesy of Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Traffic stop Jose Castillo, courtesy of Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first arrest occurred during a traffic stop on Loop 343 in Rusk. During the stop, officials discovered 56 grams of methamphetamine inside the vehicle, officials said. The owner of the vehicle was identified as Joe Castillo, 56 of Rusk. SHERIFF: Tree falls on RV, killing woman in Van Zandt County Castillo was arrested and taken to the Cherokee County Jail and was charged with manufacture and delivery of a substance. His bail has been set at $50,000. First search warrant Following the traffic stop, deputies conducted a search warrant on a home on County Road 1817 in Maydelle. During the search of the property, officials said they recovered 198 grams of methamphetamine along with 12 firearms. The residents of the property were identified as Ronnie Goff, 56, and Lee Deshawn Cockrell, 47. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former accountant admits to stealing nearly $100,000 from Tyler nonprofit, affidavit says Ronnie Goff, courtesy of Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Lee Deshawn Cockrel, courtesy of Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Harley Montgomery, courtesy of Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Goff and Cockrell were charged with manufacture and delivery of a substance and taken to the Cherokee County Jail. Additionally, Harley Montgomery, 27, was found on the property and arrested for an outstanding felony warrant. Second search warrant Cody Lawson, courtesy of Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After searching Goff and Cockrells home, officials conducted another search warrant at a home on County Road 1801, also in the Maydelle Community. The sheriffs office said during the search, they located 2,150 grams of methamphetamine, 112 grams of cocaine, 3.8 pounds of marijuana and one firearm. Following the investigation, Cody Jace Lawson, 34, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, two accounts of manufacture and delivery of a substance and an outstanding felony warrant. Lawson was then taken to the Cherokee County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. DENVER (KDVR) Greenwood Village police responded to a crash involving a school bus and three other vehicles near the Cherry Creek School District Office and Stutler Bowl Stadium. On Thursday, the city of Greenwood Village told FOX31 that the bus driver was not cited in the incident, but another driver involved who was 62 was cited. They did not provide details of the citation. See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the northbound lanes of South Yosemite Street between Chenango Avenue and Union Avenue were closed on Wednesday afternoon. One of the light poles near the crash appeared to have been hit and knocked over. South Metro Fire Rescue reported that a total of four vehicles were involved in the crash, including a school bus. The fire rescue agency said that crews were treating one patient on the scene and others were being evaluated. SMFR said firefighters had to perform extrication to gain access. The Cherry Creek School District told FOX31 there were no students on the bus at the time of the crash, and no one on the bus was injured. The district also said it didnt believe the flipped vehicle was connected to the school. Additionally, a hazmat team was on the scene to mitigate a fuel leak from one of the vehicles. SkyFOX flew over the intersection of South Yosemite Street and Campus Drive at the Cherry Creek South District campus on Wednesday. (KDVR) SkyFOX flew over the intersection of South Yosemite Street and Campus Drive at the Cherry Creek South District campus on Wednesday. (KDVR) SkyFOX flew over the scene at about 4:40 p.m., where a number of first responders could be seen at the crash scene and at least one vehicle had rolled onto its roof. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- More subsidized national housing projects are being built for Bruneians, a government minister said on Thursday at the legislative council. Haji Muhammad Juanda, minister of development, said 1,500 houses were constructed in Brunei Muara district by May 2024, and another 1,208 houses will be built in the same district with various facilities and a comfortable environment for residents. The minister said Brunei is aiming to increase the rate of homeownership among its people through such housing schemes to up to 85 percent by 2035, in line with the Brunei Vision 2035 goal of achieving a high quality of life. The local daily Borneo Bulletin reported that since its inception in the 1950s, the national housing scheme has made remarkable progress, with the Housing Development Department at the Ministry of Development successfully completing 31,145 houses and land lots by July 2024, equipped with modern infrastructure. This effort aims to address the vital need for secure and stable living conditions and to enhance the overall well-being of the nation's people. CHICAGO -- The launch of the Black Student Success Plan by Chicago Public Schools in February marked another step that the district says shows its commitment to eliminating opportunity gaps and ensuring Black students have the support needed to succeed. Developed with input from stakeholders such as local school council members, students, parents and teachers in the district at community roundtables, the Black Student Success Plan is a collection of recommendations to help dismantle achievement barriers for Black students and help them be successful in and out of the classroom. Despite ongoing opportunity gaps in education quality, policies and support at the individual schools and the district level, recent progress in Chicago Public Schools shows significant growth for Black students, data suggests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2023-24 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) results highlight a 10.5% increase in proficiency since 2021-22, with Black students growth in English Language Arts surpassing overall district gains. Black male students in third through eighth grades saw a 10.7% increase in reading proficiency. Our students are enriched by learning about the history of Black people in America and around the world, a vital demographic within our school communities, CEO Pedro Martinez said in a news release. More Black students in CPS graduated and earned early college credits and credentials in 2023 and 2024 than in previous years, according to the district. Ensuring our students can connect with their past and learn from it has a real-world impact. The Class of 2024 Black high school graduates have achieved significant academic success, but there is still work to be done to address opportunity gaps, Martinez said in the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CPS said in the news release that it remains dedicated to undoing all obstacles to Black student success. Aaron Jitu Brown, the District 5A member of the Chicago Board of Education and a longtime activist on the citys West Side, pointed to factors outside of schools such as limited access to grocery stores and an overabundance of liquor stores as community harms to students. If were going to truly be serious about equity, we also have to. be forward-thinking, Brown said. We have to look at the fact that in the same neighborhood where we need a revitalization of our schools, we also need a revitalization of housing. We also need food production and delivery systems, and thats the burden of leadership that we have to be able to look forward to. Sharing anecdotes of his experience growing up in the city, Brown said the Black Student Success program has to be a priority for the district to operate properly. Excited about the possibilities of the plan, he said those involved have to see beyond the obvious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to work with you all on it, but were not going to be shortsighted, Brown said. We have a moment to really be leaders. Part of that is you dont run from the truth; you dont run from the smoke. You run to it. Starting this spring, the plan will bring together goals that aim to create a more equitable and inclusive educational environment for all students, ensuring that resources are distributed fairly and increasing the recruitment and retention of Black educators and leaders. The strategic plan, which the board adopted in September, outlines the districts priorities and investments through 2029. It emphasizes creating a more equitable school system and aiming to close achievement and opportunity gaps for Black and Latino students, students with disabilities, students in temporary living situations and English-language learners. The district is committed to removing obstacles in students paths, CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova said in the news release. Together, we can create an inclusive educational environment where all students have the opportunity to thrive, Chkoumbova said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rolled out at a time when the second Trump administration is aiming to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and initiatives, the Black Student Success Plan has its opponents. Also last month, a conservative education advocacy group filed a civil rights complaint against Chicago Public Schools, claiming the plan is discriminatory. Arlington, Virginia-based Parents Defending Education filed the federal complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Education Office for Civil Rights, claiming the Black Student Success Plan is racially exclusive while the district is failing students of all races and ethnicities, according to data presented in a slide deck Dec. 2023. The complaint said the slide deck shows that the reading proficiency of Hispanic boys in kindergarten through 2nd grade trails that of non-Hispanic Black boys at the same grade level, yet the new program excludes Hispanics, which makes this racially segregated program even more egregious. Parents Defending Education could not immediately be reached for comment. The complaint mirrors the sentiment of the second Trump administrations promises to stamp out federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and efforts. It also references new federal guidelines issued by the Education Department advising U.S. educational institutions to eliminate DEI programs or risk losing federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since launching the Black Student Success Working Group last year, the district has worked with stakeholders to analyze data and develop recommendations for the Black Student Success Plan. CPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the civil rights complaint. In March, the district will host community roundtables following the plans launch. Weve been intentional about sharing the Working Groups recommendations and incorporating feedback from students, staff, and community members into the development of the plan, CPS Black Student Success Director Eugene Robinson Jr said in the press release. This engagement will continue throughout the plans rollout and early implementation. ___ The closures of charter schools have been a pressure point for the newly seated Chicago Board of Education. Some board members are concerned that last weeks vote to keep open five of seven schools in the Acero Charter Schools network could signal a troubling trend between the district and charter schools. In an email obtained by the Tribune, District 1 board member Jennifer Custer, who voted against last weeks resolution, said the boards decision will set a new precedent for the district moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charter schools will now see this as an option for them for potential future closings or school failings, Custer said in her email about the boards vote last Thursday. While we want to keep school communities whole, the unintended consequence is a thinning of budgets for others around the city to do so. The board plans to vote later this month on the renewal terms of 15 charter school networks that operate 43 campuses in Chicago. The charter networks that are up for renewal are not affiliated with Acero. School boards have not historically stepped in to help charters financially, and doing so, according to board members, could muddy the waters for the relationship between the district and charter networks. Last weeks vote followed an emotional board meeting, during which distraught parents pleaded for the board to keep open five of seven schools in the Acero network. The meeting was the culmination of a monthslong battle over the fate of the charter schools, which were originally slated for closure last October. The board amended a resolution to meet the parents demands despite financial warnings that doing so would be unwise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Custer said keeping five of Aceros schools open next school year may put CPS in danger of breaching the 103% funding ceiling for charter schools placed on the district under state law, a cap the board was warned about by Alfonso Carmona, CPS chief portfolio officer, last week. This could potentially put the district in serious liability, which seems to me our most important job to protect, Custer said in the email. Any lawsuit takes money away from children. Board member Angel Gutierrez, representing District 8, voted in favor of the resolution to save the Acero schools. In another email obtained by the Tribune, Gutierrez told board members last weekend that the last-minute change to amend Thursdays resolution and keep the schools open created unnecessary disruption and confusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He urged board members to recommit themselves to the principles of good governance, respect and professionalism. Paz and Cruz However, the boards vote to retain some of the Acero schools slated for closure wasnt enough for Acero parents and teachers. At a preliminary monthly board meeting Wednesday, Acero parents and teachers expressed mixed emotions about the prospect of closing the two campuses Paz and Cruz that werent laid out to be saved in last weeks resolution. Wednesdays meeting, known as the agenda review meeting, invited the public to share their opinions with the school board about issues that will be voted on at their monthly meeting scheduled for March 20. School supporters told the board at Wednesdays meeting the decision to not save Aceros Octavio Paz School in Little Village and Cruz K-12 in West Ridge was made by charter leadership that isnt held accountable by the district, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Micha Thurston, a teacher at Paz, said the schools community was given false hope. News of the potential closure of seven of 15 schools in the Acero network emerged in early October. Students, parents and staff believed their school would remain open following a board resolution passed in December, and Thurston said they are now left scrambling to figure out plans for next year. We are a small school, we are in a high crime, low income, Latino neighborhood. Were struggling to explain to our kids why our school doesnt deserve to stay open, Thurston said. The resolution states the district will support our transition. What will that look like? When will we know? Charter schools are authorized and overseen by the district. They receive funding from CPS but are responsible for managing their day-to-day operations with those funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When charter schools close, CPS said they typically work with the charter to confirm closure rationale, collect student information and provide personalized family support. The school board has not offered financial support to charter operators closing schools for financial reasons in the past, according to CPS officials. Charter renewals Amid the Acero fallout, the board will vote on renewal terms for 15 other charter networks at its monthly meeting in two weeks. CPS may recommend non-renewal for a charter school if it doesnt meet academic performance standards, exhibits financial mismanagement or has other issues that impact student learning. According to state law, charter schools can be renewed for up to 10 years. But recently, charter schools have received shorter renewal terms because of increased scrutiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with the Tribune, Andrew Broy, president of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, called shorter renewal terms which can be two or three years instead of 10 an administrative treadmill where schools are so focused on meeting standards that they cant focus on the details of improving. The biggest misperception some people have (with 10-year renewal terms) is that the board cant hold charters accountable, Broy said. In between the charter terms, there are many mechanisms in state law and board rule that allow charter schools to be reviewed on an annual basis. Charters operate independently from the district, so they make their own financial decisions. Because of that disconnect, there is debate about whether they should be the main lever for giving students access to quality schools in underserved neighborhoods. CPS new roadmap for success, a 47-page, five-year strategic plan called Together We Rise, doubled down on its commitment to strengthen neighborhood school options. But it also backed off from creating policies that would affect the admissions criteria or funding for charter schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gordon Hannon, CEO of the Catalyst Schools charter network, said Wednesday that short renewal terms run counter to the mission laid out in that strategic plan to create anti-racist solutions that address systemic disinvestment. Given the performance and the impact of our Catalyst schools, anything less than a five- to seven-year renewal would be perceived as an actual disinvestment in these neighborhoods, Hannon said. He said the networks two schools, located in the Austin and Chicago Lawn neighborhoods, whose enrollment is 71% Black, have earned longer renewals. During public comment Wednesday, several speakers testified about the importance of charter schools in offering diverse CPS learners a sense of safety, inclusion and belonging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of our students in our charter schools have experienced severe trauma and carry the heavy burden of violence, loss and displacement, said Kikanza Harris, director of community impact at the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Our charter school leader staff are unwavering in their commitment to meet (student) needs. Editors Note: Tickets for this event sold out during presale, but interested attendees can sign up to be notified if more become available. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Famed chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall is set to make an appearance in Oregon next month. She will speak at Salems Elsinore Theatre on Thursday, Apr. 10 at 7 p.m. The event is one installment of a visiting lecture series organized by the Senior Advocates for Generational Equity, which strives to improve the environment, equality, education and overall quality of life for future generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Significant tip in 1958 Martin Family disappearance prompts underwater search According to the Jane Goodall Institute, the 90-year-old primatologist rose to fame while studying in Gombe, Tanzania at 26 when she learned that chimpanzees make and use her own tools. Goodall launched her namesake conservation organization later in 1977. It now has more than 20 chapters worldwide, including some in Australia, Argentina and her home country of the United Kingdom. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Positively Portland JGIs work includes sustaining the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in Gombe, providing expert care for nearly 200 rescued chimpanzees and other wildlife in two sanctuaries, championing community-led conservation through its signature Tacare program, and engaging the next generation of changemakers through Jane Goodalls Roots & Shoots, the institute said in a release. Jane Goodall, shown with Washo Shadowhawk, 16, of Beaverton Oregon, leads the parade of the gian peace doves during the 2006 Roots & Shoots 4th annual Day of Peace at Griffith Park Saturday, September 30, 2006. (Photo by Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) The organization started Roots & Shoots, its youth program, in 1991. The program now has several basecamps across the U.S., with its Portland basecamp established just last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodall has other connections to the local community as well. According to JGI, she frequently visited the Oregon Zoo throughout the 1970s to visit its chimpanzee residents like Chloe and Delilah who are now in their 50s. That decades-long connection inspired designs for the zoos new Primate Forest habitat, which opened in 2020 and is home to eight chimpanzees, JGI said. Pacific Northwest Regional Yo-Yo Championship moves from Seattle to Portland Goodalls work additionally includes several books like In the Shadow of Man and My Life with the Chimpanzees. Her accolades range from the Gandhi-King Award for Nonviolence to the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which she earned this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Salem event, she will discuss her extensive career as an environmental advocate. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. Prices will range from $30 to $70 for most attendees, and cost $10 for students. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Its the weekend of the mid-autumn festival in Xian, and all roads seem to lead to the south gate of the city's wall. In Chinas central province of Shaanxi, Xian is primarily known for the museum that houses the army of terra-cotta warriors commissioned by Chinas first ruler to protect him in his afterlife. But the wall, on this Saturday evening, is where all the action is. Families are taking an evening stroll, complete with laughing, screaming children. There are vendors and buskers, tourists on bicycles, food stalls, and souvenir shops. Couples wearing regal red robes are wilting under the strobe lights for bridal photoshoots. Meanwhile, other photographers are capturing dozens of young women dressed up in flowy hanfu traditional costumes from the Tang era that are suddenly in vogue among Chinas youth. Dozens of ornate watchtowers, turrets, parapets, and pavilions are scattered along the length of the wall. As dusk falls and the red lanterns and lights come on, the whole scene assumes a fairytale vibe. Chinas city walls When people mention 'wall' in the context of China, it is generally assumed to refer to the mammoth structure known as the Great Wall of China. But there are dozens, if not hundreds, of city walls throughout the country, in Beijing, Nanjing, Fenghuang, Pingyao, and Xian, among others. The word for city in China, cheng / means walled city, says Kenneth Swope, professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi and expert on imperial Chinese military history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yinong Cheng, professor at the School of History and Archival Studies at Yunnan University, adds that city walls tended to perform three main functions: defense, flood protection, and show of imperial might. Several of these city walls, dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, are now on UNESCOs tentative list of heritage sites. The Xian walloriginally built during the Tang era (618 907 C.E.) and later expanded by the Ming dynasty from 1370 onwardsis considered the most complete and well-preserved. The wall runs for 8.5 miles (13.7 km) and measures 40 feet (12 meters) in height and 49 feet (15 meters) in width. Four main gates face each cardinal direction, and there are 14 minor gates in between, and a moat surrounds it. Swope also says that the more powerful the rulers, the higher and more impressive the walls. This certainly makes sense for Xian (formerly Changan), an important city through early imperial times, serving as capital for the Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties. Xian is also the starting point of the network of trading routes known as the Silk Road. It was a planned city, built as a perfect grid with the wall enclosing it in a complete, rectangular loop. Even today, for some, it is possible to walk the entire length of the wall without a break. History of the Xian wall It was always a significant post not only for commercial transactions but also diplomatic transactions. There is no doubt that Chang'an was already walled in early imperial times, say, by the third-second century B.C.E., says Hilde De Weerdt, a professor of Chinese and Modern Global History at KU Leuven in Belgium. So, when we say this is a 14th century wall, it is the earliest moment that we know of any (significant) renovation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason for the walls grandeur stems from Changans strategic importance combined with the Ming dynastys need to project their stately authority through such structures. I can't actually think of a foreign invasion that would have warranted this (wall), because it's not even near any major border, says Dr Lars Laamann, Assistant Professor of History at SOAS University of London. According to Swope, the Ming era was the pinnacle of imperial architecture, which gave us landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Coming right after the nomadic Mongols, the Ming rulers saw these walls as a way to rebuild Chinese pride. The wall at present The original purpose of these walls may have been to contain the cities or the populace within the perimeter. But over time, the towns grew beyond these boundaries, turning these walls into midtown anachronisms. From the top of the Xian wall, the sights and sounds of modern life are inescapableskyscrapers and neon lights, honking cars and scurrying pedestrians. After the terra-cotta army, the wall is now one of Xians most popular tourist attractions. It has welcomed hundreds of famous visitors, including Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Mark Zuckerberg, who went for a rain-soaked run on the wall's walkway. The Xian wall faced the threat of demolition during the 1950s as part of the countrys Great Leap Forward narrative. Cheng says that even though widespread demolition started even earlier, towards the end of the Qing era (circa 1912), the wall stayed mostly intact, thanks to Xians status as an ancient historic capital. The real challenge came later. The story of conservation takes us from the Ming era to Mao Zedong, says Dr Laamann, referring to the renowned architectural historian couple Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng. It was a power struggle within the Communist Party, when one faction wanted to get rid of old medieval structures in the country, because they thought in the modern world, there was no place for such remnants of the past. Lin and Liang fought to preserve the city walls everywherethey lost in Beijing but won in Xian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement De Weerdt points out that the struggle between conservation and modernization is universal, citing the example of medieval walls in France and Italy torn down in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A lot of what we see in the Xian wall today is rebuilt with modern materials and modern ways of thinking, she explains. However, this version of the wall integrates the cultural angle with the social: locals and tourists alike get to appreciate the citys heritage while also using it as an urban public space. Getting around Xian is connected to all major cities in China, so travelers can get there by plane and high-speed train. You can also fly directly into Xians Xianyang International Airport from a few cities in Asia, such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Beijing. When you arrive in Xian, you can navigate the city easily on foot or by metro. Charukesi Ramadurai writes on travel, culture, environment, and sustainability for various publications around the world. Follow her travels on Instagram. China will not yield to bullying and its economy can weather higher tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and other challenges, the Chinese commerce minister said Thursday, though he added that there are no winners in a trade war." Speaking on the sidelines of the annual session of China's national congress, Wang Wentao reiterated Beijing's calls for talks. Coercion and threats are bound to fail, he said, noting that Chinas role as a main trading partner of 140 nations means it has plenty of options. Wang and other officials outlined Beijing's strategies for building its economy and financial markets, but did not announce any major new initiatives. Here are some highlights: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China is open to talks, but will fight US tariffs The Trump administration has raised tariffs on imports from China twice since taking office in January. China has hit back with duties and other restrictions on American goods and companies. Wang said China expects mutual respect in its dealings with other countries. Coercion and threats will not work on China, nor will they scare China. Chinas determination to defend its own interests is unswerving," Wang said, adding that there are no winners in a trade war. If the American side goes further down this wrong path, we will fight to the end, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, he stressed that China is open to resolving differences over trade. Our two sides can meet at an appropriate time and our teams can also have communication as early as possible, he said. Blaming China for the U.S. fentanyl problem Trumps stated reason for imposing 20% tariffs on all imports from China wont solve the problem, he said. China has other options for global trade China is the main trading partner of 140 countries and regions and has free trade agreements with more than 30 countries, Wang said. We are ready to sign more FTA, he added. Wang acknowledged that Chinese exporters face serious challenges but said Beijing is encouraging companies to participate in trade shows and to expand globally. The Chinese government is also expanding its financial support for export credit and hopes to increase trade in services and e-commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not put all our eggs in one basket, he said. Supporting more consumer demand and business investment A slump in China's housing market and lackluster share prices, scant social welfare and job losses since the COVID-19 pandemic have weighed on China's economy, dragging on growth. Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Chinas main national planning agency, acknowledged that forecasts for economic growth for 2025 tend to be around 4.6% to 4.8%, below the government's target of around 5%. Zheng said the government is drafting a specialized plan of action to encourage more consumer spending and investment. He did not provide specific details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China will spend more on livelihood and consumption, Finance Minister Lan Fo'an said, promising more help for deeply indebted local governments and bigger investments in education, social security and public health. We will make sure that every coin is well spent, Lan said, adding that the central government has left ample room for policy to be implemented. China is prepared for an escalating trade war with the United States, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Thursday. "Coercion and blackmail will not work on China, nor will intimidation," he said, vowing that Beijing would defend its interests. "If the American side goes further down this wrong path, we will fight to the end," he said on the sidelines of the National People's Congress in Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week saw another escalation in tensions between the world's two largest economies. US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%. In response, Beijing retaliated with tariffs on US agricultural products and announced further measures against certain US companies. Premier Li Qiang presented a report on Wednesday that warned of an increasingly challenging global trade environment. "Rising tariff restrictions threaten trade, science, and technology, destabilizing supply and industrial chains," the report noted. For China's export-driven economy, tightening trade barriers could weaken exports contribution to growth. Other major partners, including the European Union, have also imposed tariffs to protect domestic industries from an influx of cheap Chinese goods, most notably in the electric vehicle sector. "The list of tariffs keeps getting longer," Wang said, arguing that Washington's measures were harming others without benefiting the US. Beijing is warning the U.S. it is ready to fight a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war after President Donald Trump doubled the tariffs already in place for Chinese imports this week. Trump has accused China of fueling a drug crisis in the U.S., suggesting that the tariffs hes levied on all Chinese imports should encourage Beijing to do more to address the issue. The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. blasted the White House action as counterproductive late Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, were ready to fight till the end, it wrote on X, formerly Twitter. If the U.S. truly wants to solve the #fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China by treating each other as equals. If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, were ready to fight till the end. https://t.co/crPhO02fFE Chinese Embassy in US (@ChineseEmbinUS) March 5, 2025 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the statement during an appearance on Fox and Friends Wednesday morning. Well, were prepared, Hegseth said. Those who long for peace must prepare for war. We live in a dangerous world with powerful ascending countries with very different ideologies, he added. If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong. The embassys comments echoed the words of Lin Jian, the spokesperson for the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who accused the Trump administration of using a flimsy excuse to punish Beijing with tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Trump levied 10% tariffs on all goods coming from China, citing the countrys production of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl. The president doubled the universal tariff on Chinese imports on Tuesday. In response, China said it will levy additional tariffs of up to 15% on U.S. farm products starting next week, and also blacklisted more American companies. Trump also imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada this week, but issued a one-month exception for U.S. automakers, amid concerns about the impact of his trade war. Related... By Nazrin Abdul Gender inequality remains the worlds most significant human rights issue, according to Sevil Gasimova, Project Manager for Azerbaijan at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She made the statement during the "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" event in Baku, held in honor of International Women's Day on March 8. "Achieving gender equality is impossible without boosting womens economic empowerment, which requires special measures, such as equal pay for equal work and non-discrimination," Gasimova emphasized. "This is crucial. The national socio-economic development priorities through 2030, approved by the President, include enhancing womens access to economic opportunities. The private sector must play a vital role in this process. In 2010, the UN introduced the Principles for the Empowerment of Women, a framework for promoting gender equality. Currently, 38 local companies have adopted these principles, and we aim to attract 20 more," she added. SEOUL, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were injured after shells landed on a civilian area of South Korea Thursday, according to Yonhap news agency and broadcaster YTN. Several shells fell on seven civilian houses in the inter-Korean border town of Pocheon, some 40 km north of the capital Seoul, at about 10:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT). Four people were seriously wounded and three others suffered minor injuries. An investigation was underway into where the shells came from. Earlier in the day, South Korea and the United States held a combined live-fire exercise in Pocheon, mobilizing more than 160 pieces of military hardware, such as tanks, self-propelled howitzers, helicopters and stealth jets. Chinese warships have been circumnavigating Australias coastline for more than three weeks, passing within 200 miles of Sydney, and staging unprecedented live-fire drills on its doorstep with New Zealand. The exercises, which came without formal notice, have caused deep consternation in both nations. Suddenly, the specter of Chinas military power was no longer confined to the distant waters of the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait where Chinas territorial aggression has escalated under leader Xi Jinping but a stark reality unfolding much closer to home. At the same time, Chinese warships have been sighted near Vietnam and Taiwan, part of a show of Chinese naval strength in the Pacific region that regularly rattles US allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China was unapologetic and insisted it complied with international law, with state media suggesting Western countries should get used to Chinese warships in nearby waters. In the past, Washingtons partners have found comfort in their firm ties with the US, but that was before Donald Trumps explosive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the US leaders subsequent order to halt aid to Ukraine as it battles Russias invasion. The bust-up in the Oval Office served to sharpen anxieties in capitals across the Pacific: If the US is willing to turn its back on Ukraine effectively rewarding Russian President Vladimir Putins aggression in Europe would it do the same in Asia when faced with a belligerent Beijing? Trumps embrace of Russia and his cold shoulder to Europe driven by a transactional approach that Singapores defense minister likened to a landlord seeking rent has heightened trepidation in the Indo-Pacific region, where many nations look to the US to keep Chinese aggression in check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It does raise issues as to whether the US will be committed to regional security. And even if the US remains committed, what will the Trump administration ask in return? said Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore. Experts say its a fair question from allies whove long relied on the US to provide security assurances, enabling them to limit their own defense spending. Now might be the time, they add, for American partners, like Australia and New Zealand, to reexamine budgets and tighten regional alliances with other countries that could find themselves exposed as Trump pursues his America first mantra. HMAS Stuart monitors Peoples Liberation Army-Navy Fuchi-class (right) and Renhai-class cruiser Zunyi as they conduct replenishment at sea off the coast of Western Australia. MARCH 3 - LSIS Ernesto Sanchez/Royal Australian Navy Test of resolve Australia has made sure the world is aware of Chinas movements in international waters in the South Pacific, issuing daily location updates from trailing Australian Navy ships and spy planes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Minister Richard Marles said the data would be analyzed to determine exactly what China was doing and what message it was intending to send. Chinas ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, maintained that China posed no threat to Australia while signaling that more warship visits should be expected. As a major power in this regionit is normal for China to send their vessels to different parts of the region to conduct various kinds of activities, Xiao told Australias public broadcaster the ABC. Across the Pacific in Washington, Trump was sending his own message to US partners in Europe that they needed to step up military spending in defense of Ukraine. Before his fractious meeting with Zelensky, Trump had intended to sign a mineral resources deal with the Ukrainian leader so that the US could recoup some of the cost of its aid to Ukraine since Russias invasion. But the signing ceremony was abandoned, with Trump telling Zelensky on his social platform Truth Social to come back when he is ready for Peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By subsequently cutting off military aid to Ukraine, Trump was seeking to force rich European nations to shoulder more of the load, say experts. He believes they have all been free riding off the United States for half a century, said Peter Dean, the director of foreign policy and defense at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. The move seemed to reap rewards when on Tuesday the European Union unveiled a plan to allow member states to borrow 150 billion ($158 billion) to boost their defense spending and massively step up their military support for Kyiv. Dean says Trump wants a deal for peace in Ukraine; however, hes ignoring Zelenskys concerns about the longevity of that peace without measures to keep Putin in check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems to be that (Trump) almost wants peace at any price, rather than a peace that is fair and equitable, or a peace that you keep, he said. The question is, what does the deal look like? And thats what everyones worried about. How much is he willing to trade away? As Trump upends the transatlantic alliance a pillar of Western security for decades his administration has signaled that the US should wrap up conflicts elsewhere to focus on deterring China in the Pacific. The urgency of that aim was highlighted by Chinas latest flexing of its military muscle. Its a test of resolve, for sure, said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at RSIS in Singapore, of Chinas military drills. China (is) carving out a sphere of influence in the Pacific to test to see if countries in the region are going to resist it. The Oval Office meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky devolves into a shouting match on February 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images AUKUS: Whats that? Even before Trumps clash with Zelensky, the presence of Chinese warships on its southern coast had turned Australias attention to AUKUS, its multibillion-dollar security deal with the US and the United Kingdom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concerns had flared about whether the deal could withstand the whims of Trumps White House when a British reporter asked the US president if he and his UK counterpart had spoken about AUKUS. What does that mean? Trump replied. The incident was later brushed off by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as an issue of accents. I think were going to have to limit the questions to Americans he can understand, he said. Dean, from the University of Sydney, said its no bad thing that Trump wasnt across the acronym because the deal already has the fulsome support of his closest advisers. That support was cemented by Australias first down payment of $500 million to bolster Americas submarine production, with the agreement that some nuclear-powered subs will be sold to Australia to boost its military capability in the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the kind of deal Trump will want to focus on in the future, Dean said. Hes looking to make money for the United States, and hes looking to do better deals. And AUKUS is a bit of an exemplar deal for them, Dean said. For the Europeans, I wouldnt underestimate Donald Trump looking at this and going, if the Australians can do this, why cant you? Chinese leader Xi Jinping attends the opening session of China's annual political gathering on March 4, 2025 in Beijing, China. - Kevin Frayer/Getty Images No tolerance for free riders Elsewhere across the Pacific, US allies appeared unsettled by the extraordinary scenes in the Oval Office. Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba struck a cautious tone on Monday, insisting he had no intention of taking sides when asked about the Trump-Zelensky clash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, he vowed to do his utmost to maintain US involvement and promote unity among the Group of Seven nations hinting at growing disquiet over the fracturing of the Western alliance. Todays Ukraine could be tomorrows East Asia, he added. We must also consider steadily increasing our deterrent power to prevent war. Japan, which has territorial disputes with China in the East China Sea, has raised concern about increasing Chinese military maneuvers in its nearby waters. Last year, a Chinese aircraft carrier entered Japans contiguous waters for the first time. South Korea, another US ally in East Asia, declined to comment on the meeting between Trump and Zelensky but said it was closely monitoring US suspension of military aid to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has repeatedly called on allies like South Korea to pay more for US troops stationed on their territory. In a speech to Congress on Wednesday, he once again made a veiled threat while referencing what he called unfair tariffs South Korea places on US goods something Seoul denies. We give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea. But thats what happened, this is happening by friend and foe, Trump said. In Taiwan, the self-governing democracy China has vowed to one day absorb, Defense Minister Wellington Koo tried to reassure confidence despite what he described as rapid and bizarre changes in the international landscape. I think the United States wont retreat from the Indo-Pacific region, because this is its core interests, he told reporters in a briefing Tuesday, citing shared interests with Washington in economic development, geopolitics and US military security. But Koo also nodded to Trumps America first stance. In international politics, we also deeply realize that we cant just talk about values and not talk about interests. Of course, the United States must value its own national interests, he added. Experts say the US has become frustrated at having to shoulder the weight of other countries who fail to contribute to their own defense. The Trump administration has made clear its lack of tolerance. Its had no tolerance for free riders, said Thompson, from RSIS in Singapore. I think the countries that get that message clearest and fastest are the ones that are going to be the good partners of the United States, because its not like the US is abandoning allies. What the US is doing is prioritizing its most capable ones, Thompson said. CNNs Wayne Chang, Yoonjung Seo and Yumi Asada contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com China's special envoy for European affairs, Lu Shaye, criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's treatment of European allies, calling it "appalling," the South China Morning Post reported on March 6. "When you look at how the Trump administration has implemented a brazen and domineering policy toward Europe, treating its allies in this way, honestly, from a European perspective, it's quite appalling," Shaye said. The Chinese diplomat also stressed that the Ukraine peace deal should not be dictated solely by the U.S. and Russia, adding that "various proposed solutions should be subject to equal discussion, rather than being dictated by a select few." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shaye's comments follow U.S.-Russia talks held in Istanbul on Feb. 27 and an earlier round in Riyadh on Feb. 18, as Washington seeks a swift settlement to the war. The negotiations, which excluded Kyiv and Europe, have raised concerns that the U.S. is sidelining key allies. Trump's shift in U.S. foreign policy has drawn scrutiny, as he has echoed Kremlin narratives and accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of prolonging the war. Trump has aligned his policy with the Kremlin's agenda and has so far refused to offer any security guarantees to Ukraine. Washington has also frozen all military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv in an effort to pressure Zelensky into negotiations with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has remained a key ally of Moscow throughout the invasion, deepening economic ties and becoming Russia's leading source of dual-use goods equipment the military uses in its war against Ukraine. Read also: Poland, Lithuania signal openness to French nuclear deterrence for Europe Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. China's special envoy for European affairs Lu Shaye said he was "appalled" by the way President Donald Trump has treated American allies in Europe, adding that a peace deal for Ukraine should not be determined only by the US and Russia. "When you look at how the Trump administration has implemented a brazen and domineering policy towards Europe, treating its allies in this way, honestly, from a European perspective, it's quite appalling," he said on Wednesday. "I believe European friends should reflect on this and compare the Trump administration's policies with those of the Chinese government. In doing so, they will see that China's diplomatic approach emphasises peace, friendship, goodwill and win-win cooperation". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Lu made the remarks on the sidelines of a panel discussion with other senior diplomats during the annual session of top advisory body the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). He acknowledged the discussions between the US and Russia aimed at resolving the crisis, but stressed that any peace process must involve recognition and participation from all relevant parties, including European nations. "Various proposed solutions should be subject to equal discussion, rather than being dictated by a select few," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It shouldn't just be decided by the US and Russia alone, especially since Europe has expressed significant concerns, feeling that such diplomatic manoeuvres sideline their position." Relations between Beijing and Brussels have deteriorated in the three years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, largely because of European concerns about China's manufacturing overcapacity and its closeness to Moscow. However, the disruptions in the transatlantic relationship since Trump's return to the White House have sparked some hope for a potential detente between Europe and China. Lu's comments came at a delicate time, with European countries still reeling from Trump's open clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, on top of his threats to annex Greenland and impose tariffs on EU products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He dismissed the notion that the current transatlantic relationship provides China with an opportunity to enhance its ties with Europe. "That is not the case. We do not seek to take advantage or sow discord between other countries." Lu said that China's foreign relations did not rely on pulling Washington's allies away from the US but rather on cultivating genuine partnerships that were grounded in shared interests. "Regardless of US policies towards Europe, China will continue to pursue a stance of peace, friendship and win-win cooperation with European nations, remaining steadfast in its approach." However, the current tactics employed by the Trump administration should spark some introspection among Washington's European allies about their own policies towards China, he suggested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I hope our European friends will take the opportunity to reflect on some of their past policies towards China and at least adopt a more positive stance in their approach to China," Lu said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has moderated her previously firm stance on China since Trump's re-election in January. Last month she floated the potential for strengthened trade ties in "an era of hyper-competitive and hyper-transactional geopolitics". While the continuing conflict in Ukraine remains a significant strain on Beijing-Brussels relations, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has supported the inclusion of Ukraine and Europe in peace talks - in contrast to Trump's sidelining of the EU. Critics have argued that Beijing's supportive statements lack substantive action, but with hopes fading for a solid security commitment for Ukraine from the US, some scholars are suggesting that China could play a constructive post-war role. A war veteran visits a makeshift memorial in Kyiv for Ukrainian soldiers killed in the conflict with Russia. Photo: Reuters alt=A war veteran visits a makeshift memorial in Kyiv for Ukrainian soldiers killed in the conflict with Russia. Photo: Reuters> Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The notion of a Chinese military presence in Europe previously may have seemed far-fetched, but discussions are under way about a potential plan for Beijing to deploy peacekeeping forces to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire agreement. Proponents argue that peacekeeping troops from China and other non-Nato countries could alleviate Russian concerns about a sole European military presence in the region, adding that any deployment would need to align with United Nations protocols. In his comments on Wednesday, Lu reiterated China's "long-standing" call for a negotiated resolution to the war in Ukraine, but said that it was too early to talk about "so-called peacekeeping operations". Such actions, if any, should be determined not by any individual country but by the United Nations, Lu added. "We must respect the role of the UN. China advocates for the steadfast maintenance of an international system centred around the UN, and we cannot afford to sideline it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. The U.S. is offering a reward of up to $10 million to help apprehend several accused hackers working for the Chinese government, federal officials said Wednesday as the FBI issued a dire warning of global cybersecurity threats linked to China. The Chinese government, including its domestic police force, is using freelance hackers and information security companies to compromise computer networks worldwide, FBI officials said in a public warning. The warning comes as indictments were unsealed in New York and Washington on Wednesday against a dozen Chinese nationals accused of hacking into American computer networks and selling stolen data to the Chinese government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our cybersecurity by stealing from our government and our people, Sue Bai, head of the Justice Departments National Security Division, said in a statement Wednesday. We are exposing the Chinese government agents directing and fostering indiscriminate and reckless attacks against computers and networks worldwide, as well as the enabling companies and individual hackers that they have unleashed, Bai said. We will continue to fight to dismantle this ecosystem of cyber mercenaries and protect our national security. The government agencies in China involved in the alleged cybersecurity threats include Chinas primary intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security, and Chinas domestic police agency, the Ministry of Public Security, according to the FBI. The Southern District of New York on Wednesday unsealed an indictment against eight employees of Anxun Information Technology Co., Ltd., aka i-Soon, an information security company based in China, and two of Chinas domestic police officers who allegedly directed i-Soon activities in service of the Chinese government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The accused hackers remain at large and are wanted by the FBI. The reward of up to $10 million is offered for the following people who allegedly have worked in various capacities to direct Chinas malicious cyber activity: Wu Haibo (), Chief Executive Officer Chen Cheng (), Chief Operating Officer Wang Zhe (), Sales Director Liang Guodong (), Technical Staff Ma Li (), Technical Staff Wang Yan (), Technical Staff Xu Liang (), Technical Staff Zhou Weiwei (), Technical Staff Wang Liyu (), MPS Officer Sheng Jing (), MPS Officer Chinas information security companies ecosystem flourishes because Chinas government agencies weaponize information security companies by tasking companies that advertise legitimate cybersecurity services to also use their expertise to gain unauthorized access to victim networks to collect for Chinas intelligence services, FBI officials said in a statement. i-Soon has been a key player in Chinas information security company ecosystem over the last decade, the FBI said. The company has been working with at least 43 separate Ministry of State Security or Ministry of Public Security bureaus in 31 provinces and municipalities across China. The indicted i-Soon hackers allegedly sold stolen data to the Chinese government agencies from a myriad of victims, to include US-based critics of the Chinese government and Chinese dissidents, a US news organization, a large US-based religious organization, multiple governments in Asia, and US federal and state government agencies, FBI officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement i-Soon sold information to Chinas intelligence and security services to suppress free speech and democratic processes worldwide, and target groups deemed a threat to the Chinese government, officials said. i-Soon also sold platforms to Chinas primary intelligence service and domestic police agency customers for their own hacking efforts, officials said. i-Soons activities are publicly tracked as Aquatic Panda, Red Alpha, Red Hotel, Charcoal Typhoon, Red Scylla, Hassium, Chromium, and TAG-22, according to the FBI. This ecosystem of InfoSec companies and freelance hackers enables and encourages indiscriminate global cyber activity, while providing the Chinese government with a layer of plausible deniability, FBI officials said in their statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also Wednesday, the federal court in Washington, D.C. unsealed two indictments of freelance Chinese hackers Yin KeCheng and Zhou Shuai, who are accused of maintaining ties to i-Soon and the Chinese government. Since 2011, Yin and Zhou have worked in Chinas information security company ecosystem and enriched themselves by selling stolen US information to the Chinese government, prosecutors allege. Zhou served for a period of time in i-Soons Strategic Consulting Division. Yin, known in Chinese hacking circles for his prolific targeting of US entities, explained to an associate in 2013 that he wanted to mess with the American military and break into a big target, hoping the proceeds from selling the stolen US data would be enough to purchase a car, prosecutors allege. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least one time, Yin compromised sensitive data which he turned over to Zhou, who partnered with an i-Soon employee to sell the stolen data, prosecutors said. Yin and Zhous activities are publicly tracked as APT27, Threat Group 3390, Bronze Union, Emissary Panda, Lucky Mouse, Iron Tiger, UTA0178, UNC 5221, and Silk Typhoon, officials said. Anyone who suspects to be a victim of malicious cyber activity by groups associated with the government of China is urged to report the suspicious activity to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov as quickly as possible. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The chief of the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians is preparing to speak at a university in Natchitoches for an event celebrating Womens History Month. Chief Elizabeth Rogers will speak to the public about native womens leadership at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Source: Northwestern State University The event will take place in the Lucile Hendrick Room in NSUs Student Union on Wed., Mar. 19 at 5:00 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native American women have served as clan mothers, chiefs, and have taken on other leadership roles within tribes since long before the movement for womens suffrage began in the United States. The matrilineal power of Native American Women still remains strong today. The NSU event is sponsored by the American Indian and Indigenous Studies minor, the Native American Student Association, and the Gail Metoyer Jones Center for Inclusion and Diversity. For more information, call (318) 357-6963. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. This is an adapted excerpt from the March 5 episode of All In with Chris Hayes. Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump told a lot of lies during his joint address to Congress on Tuesday. There were small lies, there were big lies and then there was the big lie. Trump used perhaps the largest stage in the country to carry out a coordinated campaign of blatant falsehoods to systematically burn down and destroy an American institution. Trump has used this playbook before. In 2020, he undermined the legitimacy of Americas free and fair elections. On Tuesday, he used it to undermine the legitimacy of Americas most important safety net for its citizens: Social Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a pattern to what Trump is doing and what he has goaded other Republicans into saying. Its a deliberate attempt to alter reality, and its a pattern he established throughout the 2020 campaign and its aftermath, all the way up to Jan. 6 and beyond. Despite the fact his legal team was laughed out of court dozens of times, Trump was obsessed with convincing his fan base that the voting system in the U.S, which is the gold standard for free elections around the world, was shot through with fraud. This wasnt a new obsession. In 2016, even before votes were counted, Trump alleged that the election was rigged against him. He ultimately won the election and, of course, didnt challenge that outcome. But once he lost in 2020, Trump went back to his old playbook, particularly the myth of dead people voting for Democrats. It had been a fringe right-wing talking point for years, but Trump elevated the lie to new prominence. He used it in his perfect phone call with Georgias then-secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, to seemingly pressure the fellow Republican into rigging the states vote totals in his favor. Trump alleged that close to 5,000 dead people voted in the state. Raffensperger later debunked that lie in his testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee, telling lawmakers his office found only four instances where ballots of dead residents were counted. But Trumps lies had a purpose. He wanted to destroy faith in the electoral system and Americas institutions. He executed the same playbook Tuesday, as he blasted out his new favorite big lie about a beloved government program that Republicans have long hated but that 71 million Americans currently rely on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were also identifying shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud in the Social Security program, Trump alleged Tuesday, adding: Believe it or not, government databases list 4.7 million Social Security members from people aged 100 to 109 years old. It lists 3.6 million people from ages 110 to 119. But were going to find out where that money is going, and its not going to be pretty, Trump said. While a government investigation released last year did find that the agency made improper payments from fiscal years 2015 through 2022, those payments accounted for less than 1% of the benefits paid out, and according to that report, most of the erroneous payments were overpayments to living people. If you have ever had a loved one die while they were on Social Security, you know the checks dont typically just keep coming. And Social Security automatically stops payments to people who are 115 years old which Im sure is a bureaucratic headache for the handful of Americans who have lived that long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The version of the lie Trump and his un-elected co-president, Elon Musk, are telling appears to be based on their inability to read the data they collected. As The Associated Press reports, with Social Securitys software system, some entries with missing or incomplete birthdates will default to a reference point of more than 150 years ago. On top of these lies, the Social Security Administration is already making drastic budget cuts to comply with Musk and DOGEs mission. The agency has announced enormous layoffs and recommended closing offices across the country. Last month, a former Social Security commissioner, Martin OMalley, warned that Trump and DOGE could put monthly benefit checks at risk: Ultimately, youre going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits. I believe you will see that within the next 30 to 90 days, OMalley told CNBC, adding that people should start saving now before payments stop. Thats an incredible statement, given that Social Security has never missed a monthly payment in its 90-year history. It is a program, like our voting system, that is incredibly free of widespread fraud. It is also insanely popular with the American populace, just like free and fair elections. In fact, about two-thirds of Americans think the government spends too little on Social Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump knows that. Thats why he is telling a big lie about Social Security, just like he told the big election lie back in 2020. The objective now is the same as it was then: fabricate an elaborate, grotesque lie about a cherished institution of American government, and sow enough fear, doubt and uncertainty among enough people that they will let Trump destroy it. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) The pews of St. Patricks Pro-Cathedral in Newark were packed Wednesday for Ash Wednesday Mass. Ash Wednesday is just a very important day where you recognize youre human and that you sin, said Caroline Caputo, an NJIT student who attended the noon Mass. More Local News Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, led Wednesdays Mass. I think what God wants us to do is heal what needs to be healed, said Cardinal Tobin. And bring us to a closer relationship with God. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not even from around here, but I came because I knew the cardinal was going to be here, said Elizabeth Ruane, who traveled from North Arlington to attend Mass. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Its a beautiful cathedral, said Josephine Nagel, who works nearby at Rutgers-Newark. Its a beautiful parish. The addition of the St. Benedicts Prep choir today was amazing. Really nice touch. The day is meant to symbolize mortality and repentance. Its such a wonderful way to start the Lenten season, said Nancy Masterson-Newkirk, who attended the Mass. This church does it very well, said NJIT student Dani Vito. I have come here two times. This is my second time in a row. And they do it amazingly. I brought up the gifts today, so that was really exciting for me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mass also featured a special prayer for Pope Francis, who remains hospitalized with double pneumonia. If you know Francis at all, he has a wonderful sense of humor and Im sure thats part of whats getting him through these terrible moments, said Cardinal Tobin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A confirmed Chuco Tango gang member was recently arrested after he was pulled over during a traffic stop in Horizon City, according to the Horizon City Police Department. Horizon police say Saul Gabriel Duarte, 39, was pulled over just before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, at the 14500 block of Horizon Boulevard due to an expired vehicle registration. Saul Gabriel Duarte, 39. Photo: Horizon City PD. Police discovered that Duarte was a confirmed member of the Chuco Tango gang and was known for his violent tendencies, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police also discovered that Duarte had five active criminal warrants which are the following: Assault family/household member (previous conviction) Assault intent/recklessly affecting breath/circulation of a family member Assault family/household member impeding breath/circulation Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with a protective order Unlawful restraint Duarte was taken into custody and was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a total bond of $173,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Some recent new hires at the CIA have been fired, days after a federal judge permitted the Trump administration to terminate intelligence officers working in roles related to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to a report. Some probationary employees have been called to meet at a location away from the agencys Langley, Virginia, headquarters and to surrender their security credentials, sources told the New York Times. The layoffs are part of a wider Department of Government Efficiency-led effort to shrink the federal workforce. A CIA spokesperson confirmed to The Independent that some officers hired in the last two years have been laid off. Its not immediately clear how many spies have been terminated, but the spokesperson said not all probationary employees would be fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At CIA, we are reviewing personnel within their first two years of service at the Agency. For some personnel, that process will result in termination. Our officers face unique pressures from working in situations that are fast-paced and high-stakes--it's not for everyone, the spokesperson told The Independent in a statement. Some employees have been reluctant to pick up their phones, expecting the call to meet away from Langley, the outlet reported. CIA director John Ratcliffe is allowed to fire agency employees at will, a judge ruled last week. Now, some recently hired spies are already being let go, according to a report (AFP via Getty Images) Few appeared to be fired in crucial components, such as collecting intel on China and Mexican drug cartels, sources told the outlet. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump implemented tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China in order to hold these nations accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country, his executive order states. The firings come days after a district judge in Virginia denied the request of 11 fired intelligence officers assigned to DEI programs for a temporary restraining order to CIA director John Ratcliffe and the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to halt terminations as the court proceedings continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard last week fired more than 100 spies across 15 different spy agencies after she said sexually explicit chats were unearthed on an official government instant messaging forum. The judge determined on February 27 that Ratcliffe has "sweeping statutory authority" to fire CIA employees at will. The judge urged Ratcliffe to permit the fired employees to appeal their terminations, the outlet reported. The intelligence officers argue in the lawsuit that Trumps January 20 executive order ending DEI programs, which he described as illegal and immoral, dont extend to the firings of employees temporarily assigned to work on these efforts. Some probationary employees have been called to meet at a location away from the agencys Langley, Virginia, headquarters and to surrender their security credentials (AFP via Getty Images) The executive order did not call for the termination of officers temporarily assigned to DEIA programs, and cautioned that the order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law, the complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The terminations also come days after reports surfaced that the intelligence services of Russia, China, and other foreign adversaries are hoping to exploit the DOGE purges by trying to recruit terminated U.S. federal workers. There have been discussions at the CIA about the security risks of terminating employees who may possess classified information or knowledge of the agencys operations and inner workings, CNN reported last week. When it comes to intelligence agencies, you take whatever number of employees who are gonna get cut loose and they have knowledge of sensitive programs that by definition is an insider risk, a U.S. official told the outlet. Youre just rolling the dice that these folks are gonna honor their secrecy agreement and not volunteer to a hostile intelligence service. Bahara Salimi, a clothing store saleswoman, showcases a costume at her workplace in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 16, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Defying common perceptions that Afghan women are confined to their homes, countless women across the country are carving out space for independence, creativity, and economic empowerment. With determination and resilience, they are building their career, transforming their lives, and shaping the future of their communities. One such trailblazer is Rukhsar Salimi, an entrepreneur who has not only established her own business but has also created an entire ecosystem of opportunities for others. Her workshop, run primarily by women, provides livelihoods for nearly 70 people. "Financial stability, employment, and personal independence depend entirely on individual effort and initiative. Unless someone actively seeks to change their circumstances, external aids alone will not bring about that transformation," Salimi told Xinhua. A computer science graduate, Salimi launched her business with a small investment a few years ago and now earns a steady income. She believes that ambition overcomes obstacles: "Those who truly want to achieve their goals are not held back by external factors like space, circumstances, or family. Motivation is enough to pursue what one desires." Like Salimi, Zainab's business serves as a beacon of transformation in an industry where women have long played a role. What started as a modest enterprise producing handwoven scarves and hats has since grown into a thriving design business for traditional Afghan clothing and hijabs. What makes her business extraordinary is its holistic impact. Each sale is not merely a financial transaction; it sustains entire families -- many women in her workshop come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and through their earnings, they secure monthly provisions and build new lives with dignity. The workshop has fundamentally altered the work environment for women, offering them financial independence and self-respect. Zainab's advice is simple yet profound: "Earning a living does not require leaving the country or having a complete education. What truly matters is a strong will and commitment. No matter the skills one possesses, they must be utilized persistently until a specific goal is achieved." According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, more than 30,000 Afghan women were granted business licenses last year, marking the growing role of women entrepreneurs in the country's economy. Bahara Salimi, a saleswoman in a clothing store, echoes this sentiment. "We are building this space -- our design studio and business site -- to create an environment where women feel happy and empowered, where they can choose clothing that reflects their personal taste," she said. For her, quality and working conditions matter deeply. She believes that handmade clothing carries more value than machine-made garments and supports a sustainable livelihood for women who wish to work from home under fair conditions. A recent report estimates that around 85,000 women are currently employed within Afghanistan's interim government, working in sectors such as healthcare, aviation, statistics, and education. Maryam Asafi, a skin care specialist, is another Afghan woman making a difference. She describes her clinic as a sanctuary of healing -- both physical and emotional. Beyond offering beauty treatments, her work helps women regain confidence and self-worth. "From a beauty perspective, if our skin is unhealthy, covered in spots or scars, our self-confidence suffers. Looking in the mirror every morning and seeing dull, tired skin can be discouraging. But when our skin is clear and vibrant, our confidence soars," Asafi observed. Her treatments are not just about aesthetics, they have a bigger meaning -- represent a woman's right to feel good about herself and reclaim agency over her image. Education is another critical pathway to empowerment. Orzala Wardak, a 19-year-old English teacher, embodies the transformative power of learning. But for her, teaching goes beyond language instruction. "My greatest satisfaction comes from seeing my students regain confidence and achieve their dreams," she said. Wardak's dedication extends beyond the classroom. She actively helps her students navigate international educational opportunities, guiding them from application processes to skill development. She is teaching 80 female and 30 male students who are eager to expand their horizons. "In today's world, nothing is impossible. If you don't see a path, create one." More stories and facts show that Afghan women showcase resilience, creativity, and the power of mutual support. Women across the country are proving that with determination, they can turn challenges into opportunities. By Erin Banco and Jonathan Landay NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Central Intelligence Agency fired a slew of recent hires this week, three people familiar with the matter said, cuts that current and former U.S. intelligence officers warned would risk damaging U.S. national security. The firings under U.S. President Donald Trump's new CIA director, John Ratcliffe, come as Trump presides over massive federal workforce reductions overseen by billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent CIA hires, known as probationary employees, worked across a number of different portfolios and were fired because of performance issues, a person familiar with the matter said. The person declined to say how many were dismissed, but said it was more than a few. "At CIA, we are reviewing personnel within their first two years of service at the Agency," a CIA spokesperson said in a statement. "For some personnel, that process will result in termination. Our officers face unique pressures from working in situations that are fast-paced and high-stakes. It's not for everyone." In some other agencies, however, federal workers who were fired for alleged poor performance as part of Trump's remaking of the federal government received excellent performance reviews before they were terminated, according to interviews and documents seen by Reuters. The probationary employees who were terminated had only been working for the agency for two years or less, the sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firings were first reported by the New York Times. A person familiar with the matter said members of the House and Senate intelligence committees were not informed - as is customary - that the dismissals had begun. Members would be seeking more information from the agency in the coming days, the person said on condition of anonymity. The firings of CIA probationary employees started earlier this week after a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia ruled on a lawsuit involving officers who had been temporarily assigned to diversity initiatives in the Biden administration. The ruling allowed the CIA to fire employees at will. CONCERN ABOUT IMPACT ON INTELLIGENCE WORK Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any large-scale firing of CIA officers, even probationary, could impact the agency's intelligence collection and analysis efforts. A U.S. intelligence official, who requested anonymity to discuss the issue, said the firings, if continued, would take years to recover from because of the time and effort needed to vet, recruit and train new CIA officers. "We need a constant flow of officers in the training pipeline to fulfill our mission," the official said. "A gap like this would cause irreparable damage to our ability to conduct our essential national security missions for years to come." Daniel Hoffman, a former senior CIA clandestine services officer, said he was aware of the firings but did not know the details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He expressed deep concern at the impact of the dismissals, saying they could damage U.S. national security by eliminating a generation of intelligence officers that has taken years to recruit and train. Staff cuts under the former Clinton administration decimated the intelligence community and then we had the 9/11 attacks, and we were caught flat-footed, he said. "So, what are the savings here and what are the risks we are running by lopping off the next generation of hires? Last month the CIA, at the direction of the White House, reviewed its ranks and sent an email back to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) with a list of probationary employees. The list included first initials and last names. That unclassified email alarmed lawmakers on Capitol Hill and others inside the agency who worried that the identities of those employees would be leaked or obtained by foreign adversaries, risking their safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OPM was breached in 2015 by a Chinese hacking group that stole sensitive information on millions of current and former U.S. government employees, according to people familiar with the matter. China denied any suggestion it was involved. The U.S. intelligence official said that the list was "certain" to lead to the compromising of CIA staffers' classified identities "even though they sent it with first name, last initial only." "The Chinese will figure out how to fill in the names. Then use the info to compromise our operations and probably share it with their allies," the official warned. (Reporting by Erin Banco and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Don Durfee, Chizu Nomiyama and Marguerita Choy) DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A solar installation will soon power one-third of the electricity needed to run a local water treatment plant. The City of Dayton approved a project to construct a 25-acre, five megawatt solar array on an existing brownfield that will provide energy for the nearby City of Dayton Miami Water Treatment Plant in northeast Dayton. Solar project withdraws from Logan County after backlash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dayton City Commission approved a solar power purchase agreement with IGS energy at their meeting on March 5. The solar facility will repurpose a brownfield site, formerly home to a Sherwin-Williams warehouse that burned down in 1987. Dayton leaders say this initiative shows how solar energy can generate financial savings as well as revitalize underutilized land. Construction is set to begin in early 2026, with an expected completion date by the end of the year. Dayton went through a four-year process of planning, studying and evaluating to determine the best course of action with solar energy. The city issued a bid request for solar contractors in September 2023, eventually settling on IGS Energy for power production and Kokosing for construction of the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The solar facility is expected to provide 38 percent of the Miami Water Treatment Plants electrical power needs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Mar. 5The Albuquerque City Council narrowly approved a marijuana equity tax aimed at funding a guaranteed income program and treating addiction. The program is funded with $4 million in tax revenue generated from recreational cannabis sales. Some $2 million will go to the Tim Keller administration's guaranteed income program and will help send $750 a month to 100 low-income families over three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other $2 million goes toward substance use prevention, treatment and recovery programs run by the administration's Health, Housing and Homelessness Department. While the council is technically nonpartisan, the five councilors who lean Democratic and make up its slim majority voted in favor of the measure. The four votes against came from councilors with conservative voting records. "For me, this is extremely exciting to have worked on it before, and to be here to vote on it today," City Councilor Nichole Rogers said at Monday's meeting. Those eligible for the guaranteed income program must live in the International District or West Side, and have a child enrolled in third grade at Whittier or Carlos Rey elementary schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to fighting addiction, the Health, Housing and Homelessness Department is hoping to use the funding to partner with six programs from five organizations. The policy was crafted by the Keller administration and sponsored by City Councilor Klarissa Pena. In October 2023, Pena herself sponsored an ordinance that passed to utilize the findings of the city's Cannabis Equity Working Group formed in 2021 to determine how to use the tax revenue. "This is an opportunity to create some movement, especially for communities that have been historically marginalized by the prohibition of cannabis and the war on drugs, specifically Black and brown folks," Ben Lewinger, executive director of the New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, told the Journal in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the suggestions for where the money should be allocated came from a "forward-thinking" working group over the course of a couple of years. "Municipalities and counties have virtually complete control over, and hopefully the state follows suit and starts spending some of their cut of the money soon," Lewinger said. New Mexico passed legislation to legalize recreational cannabis use in 2021 and consumption of it became legal in April 2022. Recreational cannabis sales to date have surpassed $1 billion statewide. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A second person has died following the Sun Metro explosion and fire that happened on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at its Operations Center, the City of El Paso said. The City said that German Garcia was a fleet maintenance technician who joined Sun Metro in December last year. He was one of the two people who were flown to Phoenix for treatment of critical injuries. 8 people hurt, 2 transported to Phoenix after Sun Metro fire; City responds with resources Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are heartbroken to lose another dedicated member of our Sun Metro team, said City Manager Dionne Mack. German Garcia was an essential part of the hardworking group that keeps our community moving forward. His loss is immense, and we send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this painful time. The City is steadfast in its commitment to support those affected, ensuring our employees have access to the resources they need in these trying moments. As we have previously reported, Ruben Ibarra, the other person who was flown to Phoenix, died on Thursday, Feb. 13, Ibarras family confirmed with KTSM. Man in critical condition dies after Sun Metro explosion It is truly heartbreaking to lose not one, but two valued members of our City team in such a short span, said Mayor Renard U. Johnson. We grieve alongside their families and our Sun Metro employees. We encourage the community to remember them in their thoughts and prayers as we all process this sorrow together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our team is still coming to terms with these tragic losses, said Sun Metro Director Anthony DeKeyzer. Although German and Ruben were with us for a brief time, their impact on our lives is undeniable. We stand united with their families and will continue to extend our support to our employees as we navigate through this devastating period. A GoFundMe has been created to help Garcias family. You can donate here. Employees are reminded that the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to provide support and counseling, the City said. AllOne Health Toll-Free: 888-993-7650 Website: https://allonehealthdo.mylifeexpert.com/ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) Midland residents have been asked to conserve water over the past week amid a broken valve issue. During a ribbon cutting at Dennis the Menace Park, Mayor Lori Blong once again addressed the water issue to the media and said things are moving in the right direction. Mayor Blong said that they have two problems, one being the treatment facility in town is down because of zebra mussels. They hope to have the treatment facility cleaned and operational by Thursday. The second problem is the valve failure on the 48-inch line from T-Bar Wellfield. With those two problems, it is hard for them to bring the volumes in that they have been using. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Blong also explained that the zebra mussels problem is coming from their water source, CRMWD. Midland is paying the group for its water and cannot control any issues that may arise on CRMWDs end. The City said it is struggling to keep up with demand and is asking everyone to be a good neighbor. The City has water coming in, but we cant catch up with our water supply and storage until unnecessary watering comes to a halt across Midland and a fix is in place. We are referring to businesses and people who choose outdoor watering, which can account for 55% of city water use. We are struggling to keep up with the demand that goes beyond the essential use of water. Even if you havent been impacted during this period, there are others who are struggling with water pressure and delivery issues. Be a good neighbor. Stop outdoor watering grass, landscaping, and pool refilling, a spokesperson said in a news release. The City has received the parts needed to fix the valve and tonight, during low usage hours, will begin to install the newly restored valve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents will continue to experience low pressure again on Thursday morning, dependent on the installation timeline overnight, especially during peak morning use hours (5:30-9 AM). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Portland City Council voted Wednesday morning to settle a lawsuit from journalists covering protests in 2020. The lawsuit was filed by the ACLU on behalf of journalists and legal observers in 2020. Armed and dangerous murder suspect in custody The journalists claimed they were shot with rubber bullets, hit with batons and sprayed with pepper spray and gas by Portland police while covering protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the settlement, the city will pay nearly $1 million. The city must also maintain its current policy protections for journalists through 2028 as part of the agreement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Unzipping his bag, Dennis White showed the over a hundred photos of unregistered cars on his street and after five years worth of complaints, Las Vegas police are taking action. On Monday, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, code enforcement, and Las Vegas Metropolitan police officers toured the east Las Vegas valley neighborhood street with White. Now that were seeing whats going on, were going to try to get the cops involved, get [the Nevada Transportation Authority] involved, get code enforcement, Segerblom said. Hopefully get the constables and start to home in on this particular property, because this is pretty egregious. On Monday, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, code enforcement, and Las Vegas Metropolitan police officers toured the East Las Vegas Valley neighborhood street with White. (KLAS) White showed Segerblom an email from the Nevada Transportation Authority which indicated one of the vehicles on his street was the target of multiple sting operationsto no avail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im sick and tired of seeing that tow truck without a license, operating without a license, and if hes doing that, does he have insurance on it, White said. So Im still frustrated, but I have some guarded optimism. After providing the NTA email to authorities, police towed the unlicensed tow truck from the street. The apparent owner interacted with authorities and shouted down the street at White. Unzipping his bag, Dennis White showed the over a hundred photos of unregistered cars on his street and after five years worth of complaints Las Vegas police are taking action. (KLAS) Segerblom noted most of the unregistered vehicles on the street, which sat unmoved after being tagged, were breaking county code but not state law. Were trying to change the legislation. So not just the 72 hours, but once we tag a vehicle, then if we find them again anywhere, we can start to bill it, he said. This is just a great loophole where they understand the law and theyll do what they want to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, Manhattan (PIX11) Classes will resume Thursday at Barnard College after the campus was cleared of a bomb threat during a pro-Palestinian protest. At least nine protesters were arrested during a sit-in demonstration inside the Milstein Library on Wednesday, according to the NYPD. The protests came after three students were expelled after they handed out pro-Palestinian flyers in a class about Israeli history. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protesters had called for school administrators to reinstate the students. Last week, demonstrators occupied Milbank Hall for hours. Barnard College President Laura Ann Rosenbury denounced the protests in a statement, saying, Today has been unsettling and disturbing, and these continued disruptions take a toll on our community. The desire of a few to disrupt and threaten cannot outweigh the needs of the students, faculty, and staff who call our campus home. The school has promised to meet with the three expelled students at a later date. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. ANKARA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye may consider contributing troops to a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if necessary, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported Thursday. "We are following the multidimensional diplomatic initiatives to end the war in close coordination with the relevant institutions of our state," Anadolu quoted anonymous Defense Ministry sources as saying. "The issue of contributing to a mission, which has not yet been conceptualized, will be evaluated with all relevant parties if deemed necessary for regional stability and peace," the sources said. Ankara will continue to support constructive initiatives for peace and Ukraine's reconstruction, according to the sources. In February, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and subsequently with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Ankara as Turkiye intensified its efforts to mediate a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A bill that will require school districts to adopt policies that ban the use of cellphones during class has now passed the Tennessee Senate and will head to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature. HB 932, by Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough), requires all public school districts in Tennessee to adopt policies that outline prohibitions of student use of wireless communication devices during instructional time, with certain exceptions. The bill defines wireless communication devices as including but not limited to cellphones, tablets, and laptop computers, and allows for exemptions to be crafted into the policies, including for emergency purposes or in line with students with disabilities who require devices for their education. PREVIOUS: Classroom cellphone ban bill passes TN House Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill aims to minimize classroom distractions and internet bullying on our school campuses, Sen. Ferrell Haile said of the bill on the Senate floor Thursday. According to Haile, who is the Senate sponsor of the bill, the idea is to require the policy in all school districts, though he acknowledged a lot of the school districts already do this, during floor debate. Additionally, Haile said a lot of the bullying takes place during the lunch hour, so school districts could also elect to prohibit the use of cellphones during that time period as well. The measure saw bipartisan support, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreeing cellphones should be used less during school hours. Sen. Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City), speaking in support of the measure, said while he understood some parent concern about not being able to contact their child in the event of an emergency, evidence suggested having multiple people trying to make calls or send texts largely messes up the entire safety plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When everybodys calling everybody else, it really ruins the plans to save these kids, he said. So, its a great bill, and its time that we do this. Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom The bill passed the Senate 30-0, with Nashville Sen. Heidi Campbell abstaining from the vote. During the floor debate, she applauded the sponsor for the intent of the bill but felt this issue should be of local concern rather than a state policy. She noted Metro Nashville Public Schools already had such a policy in place. Since the measure passed in the Tennessee House of Representatives earlier this week, the bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lees desk for his signature. The law will take effect as of July 1 in order to be in place for the 2025-2026 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A Normandy woman has been issued a criminal summons to appear in court next month after allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars in gold and currency from a local jewelry buyer. According to the St. Louis County Police Departments probable cause statement, the thefts occurred over a period between May 14 and June 18, 2024, at National Rarities. Store management told police that a member of the cleaning crew, identified as Debra A. Correll (age not provided), had stolen gold and money worth more than $25,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Third person arrested in connection to death of Colin Brown Police said they reviewed store security footage and saw Correll hiding various items and later leaving the store with them. Corrells son was able to recover some of the stolen property and returned it to National Rarities, police said. Detectives discovered that Correll had sold the remaining items to Scotsman Gold and Jewelry between May and June 2024. Its unclear if that property was ever located and returned. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Correll with stealing $25,000 or more. Correll has been ordered to appear in court on Thursday, April 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. An LA County firefighter hoses down a burning tree from the Hughes Fire in California, on Jan. 22. The new wildfire called 'Hughes Fire' tore through northern Los Angeles County, burning over 9,000 acres just hours after it was first reported. Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images AsCaliforniastruggles to recover from the deadly fires that consumed our City of Angels, its becoming increasingly clear that the most vulnerable citizens are at the most risk of dying during a climate disaster. The stories that have emerged during this crisis are hard to bear witness to one mother was reportedly forced to leave her disabled son to die because she wasnt able to evacuate him. And our current political climate is fraught; conservatives dont appear to think that disabled people need to have access to necessary survival strategies. These horrors underscore the inextricable link between climate catastrophe and disability justice. Many assume the correlation here is accidental even if unfortunate, but in truth, its a result of policy failures, inaccessible infrastructure and systemic ableism. Disabled people were also disproportionately affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and disabled people in Asheville, North Carolina, were unable to get necessary goods after Hurricane Helene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If disability is not considered in climate action, the consequence is simple: People die. And they die not because of their impairments, but because society fails to accommodate them in disaster planning, response and recovery, says Sebastien Jodoin, a law professor at McGill University, and director and co-founder of DICARP, Disability-Inclusive Climate Action Research Programme. In the cases of both Katrina and the recent fires in California for example, lack of accessible evacuation plans, shelters and emergency services harmed disabled communities inordinately. The reason that people with disabilities die in disproportionate ways in something like a hurricane is because of the barriers they face in society more generally, but also because governments havent done what they should do to ensure that those citizens are protected in that kind of event, Jodoin explains. These kinds of failures are baked into the system, Jodoin explains. According to the CDC, over 70 million Americans reported having a disability in 2022, but policymakers continue to create disaster plans that leave out this giant segment of the population. Disabled being left behind is not an accident its a policy choice, he adds. The way emergency response is structured assumes that people are mobile, have access to reliable information, and can act independently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, whats the problem? Are policymakers genuinely callous? Why isnt the government protecting the lives of all its citizens? Its not that simple, Jodoin says. Laws and regulations that would protect disabled people do exist, but they just arent prioritized. Laws such as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities require governments to prioritize disabled people in climate policies. The ADA specifies that the government has a strict legal obligation to consider how climate change affects people with disabilities, says Jodoin. But, These very clear legal obligations are being systematically violated all over the world, he says. Research backs this up. A report from the DICARPshows that weve put in place a lot of important policies that would protect disabled people, but without concrete measures to do so. Weve found over and over again that almost invariably, systematically, governments are not living up to those obligations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats missing is enforcement and political will. Governments are actively ignoring their responsibilities, and disabled people are paying the price with their lives, he says. In other words, disabled people are dying because the government refuses to be held to its own dictates. Thats not exactly a shocker given the current regime, but this problem is not new. And its a problem that will only get worse if we dont start prioritizing accessibility, says Jodoin. Some of us have never even considered disability when thinking about climate change, and thats understandable. Jodoin tells me he had been working on climate and human rights issues for a decade, but didnt make the connection until it became personal. About 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, he explains. People with MS are very sensitive to heat, and it was his own increasing vulnerability to climate change that provoked his a-ha moment. That realization has fueled his mission to make sure that other people start making these connections and act accordingly. And, Jodoin believes, making life better for disabled people will ultimately benefit all of us. One solution is taking a more sensible approach to design. When cities invest in universal design, everyone benefits, says Jodoin. In case you dont know, universal design is the idea that environments, infrastructure and technology should be accessible to all people. Sounds like common sense, right? It is. It could also solve a lot of problems for disabled people. Instead of treating accessibility as an afterthought, universal design integrates accessibility from the start. That doesnt just serve disabled people, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Universal design systems naturally work for a wider range of people. Think about the elevators in the NYC subway system. Those elevators are legally required to account for the needs of wheelchair users, but they benefit everyone from moms juggling multiple strollers to people too drunk to walk down the stairs. ResilienCity Park in Hoboken, New Jersey, a dual-purpose space that serves as both a recreational area and a stormwater capture system, is another example of universal design. In the context of climate justice, universal design could make entire communities more resilient during disasters. When you start thinking about universal design, you realize these changes wouldnt just benefit disabled people. They help seniors, low-income individuals, and even non-disabled people in crisis situations, says Jodoin. They can also help in non-crisis situations as we all work to increase our climate resilience. Because the truth is that we are all going to have to become more adaptable and less vulnerable to climate change if this little species is going to survive. If youre ensuring that people with disabilities can go to school, find employment, access food, and access housing, then youre reducing their vulnerability to climate change, says Jodoin. You can likely surmise that increasing the climate resilience of roughly a quarter of Americans would better all our odds as we face the climate crisis. Or, as Jodoin says, A more disability-inclusive society is a more climate-resilient society. CLINTON, Okla. (KFOR) An officer-involved shooting led to a homicide investigation on Tuesday in Clinton, after two people died, including the suspect. According to a press release, just before 12:30 a.m., Clinton police officers responded to an apartment complex near South 28th Street and West Hayes Avenue. When officers arrived, they were told that the victim, 32-year-old Jessa Mendoza, was transported to a local hospital after suffering a gunshot wound. He later died from his injuries. The Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) was requested to assist with the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to OSBI, during the investigation, special agents with OSBI identified 28-year-old Joseph Tyler Layton as the suspect. The Custer County District Court issued an arrest warrant for him. OSBI: Two arrested in 1997 cold case investigation On Tuesday, at 6 p.m., Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers located Layton and initiated a traffic stop, which led to an officer-involved shooting, according to the press release. Upon further investigating, it was learned that Layton was in possession of a handgun. Troopers and medical personnel gave Layton life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other injuries were reported during the incident. OSBI says they are now investigating the death of Mendoza and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is investigating the officer-involved shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is empowering women to join its workforce with the promise of giving them a fulfilling career in law enforcement. The department said it joined a national push called 30 by 30 to make the industry 30% female by 2030. Currently, the national average for women in law enforcement is 13%, and at CMPD it is 15%. ALSO READ: State of Black homeownership: Women, millennials driving the charge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 9 spoke with Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Hulsey Wednesday morning during an event to celebrate its staff ahead of International Womens Day. She said there is a place for women in law enforcement. I remember looking back when I was a young woman in the late 80s and early 90s; no one told me I could do this job or encouraged me to do this job, and now I look and see how much we do to promote that conversation and tell women that theres a place for you in law enforcement and that you can have a very rewarding career, said Hulsey. VIDEO: State of Black homeownership: Women, millennials driving the charge Hundreds of teachers gather at the Utah State Capitol to protest a bill that strips public unions of their ability to collectively bargain on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) A coalition of teachers, police officers, nurses and other public employees will attempt to overturn a controversial bill signed by the governor last month that will ban Utahs public labor unions from collective bargaining. On Wednesday, the coalition called Protect Utah Workers announced its intent to file an application for a referendum that seeks to overturn HB267, which Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed on Feb. 14. The bill takes effect July 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, and Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, HB267 bans public unions which represent teachers, police officers, firefighters, municipal workers and other public employees from collective bargaining, the process where unions meet with employers to negotiate terms of employment. The sponsors say the bill was meant to protect taxpayer dollars while giving all public employees a voice, not just union members. Labor advocates were staunchly opposed, worried it takes away public employees ability to negotiate and could lead to unsafe working conditions and stagnant wages. Thousands of people signed petitions, joined protests and spoke during committee meetings against the bill. But on Feb. 6, the Senate narrowly gave it final passage after a 16-13 vote. The Legislature did not listen to their constituents when it came to HB267. There was overwhelming opposition to this bill and they went ahead and it was passed anyway, said Brad Asay, president of AFT Utah, which represents faculty and staff in public and higher education. Our next choice is to do a referendum so we can give the people of Utah a choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per Utah code, a citizen-led ballot referendum can overturn a bill as long as the bill received less than two-thirds support in both the House and Senate. HB267, which received bipartisan opposition, did not pass with a two-thirds majority. A referendums sponsors need to collect signatures from 8% of the states total active voters, and in 15 of Utahs 29 Senate districts. The signature packets need to be submitted to the Utah Lt. Governors Office at least 30 days after the first signature is collected, or 40 days after the legislative session ends. Renee Pinkney, president of the Utah Education Association, talks to reporters about plans to launch a referendum to overturn HB267 at the Utah Capitol Building on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) The Utah Education Association, a union that represents 18,000 educators in the state, is shooting to gather 141,000 signatures. The lieutenant governors office will then verify the signatures assuming the coalition follows state code, ballot language will be crafted for the next general election, where voters will decide whether or not to overturn HB267. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a difficult process that requires immense organizing. Referendums often fail, including a 2023 attempt where voters tried to repeal the law that created Utahs new state flag but didnt collect enough signatures. But the coalition is confident it has the support. The Utah Education Association has done this before, overturning an education voucher program in 2007 through a referendum that received 60% support. We have volunteers and people are just chomping at the bit. I cant tell you how many people have reached out to me, said Renee Pinkney, president of the association. We had a lot of people who opposed HB267, we had a lot of our members who were calling for a referendum and this is the next step in the process. Polling from RABA Research a bipartisan polling firm founded in 2016 whose name stands for red America, blue America found that about 80% of respondents opposed HB267, while 78% were hoping Cox would veto it. The coalition plans to officially apply for a referendum on Monday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) According to the School Meals for All NC Coalition, one in five students in North Carolina schools goes hungry every day. The same statistic goes up to one in three for some rural areas in the state. The School Meals for All NC Coalitions goal is for all public schools in North Carolina to offer free meals. Theyre currently encouraging districts to use federal funding to start programs, as well as, advocating in the state legislature, but recent cuts to federal programs and spending are raising concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it is raising quite a bit of concern regarding will school nutrition programs be on the cutting block of the federal government? We just know that that is the backbone of our food, nutrition and the schools, Executive Director of North Carolina Alliance for Health Abby Carter Emanuelson said. We need to ensure that those cuts dont happen, but also make an investment here locally for those schools that are not eligible for community eligibility provisions. You can learn more about their work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. WAGNER, S.D. (KELO) In bigger cities like Sioux Falls, theres a coffee shop on almost every street. But in smaller communities, a specialty shop for your morning brew is harder to come by. Thats part of the reason a couple in Wagner, South Dakota, opened their own coffee shop. Coffee is universal, coffee speaks to everybody, everybody loves coffee, Amelia Spotted Eagle, co-owner of Grind House 46, said. A March shopping event to support 14 local businesses Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Grind House 46 there is a whole story behind the coffee. Theres a whole background of what we are and we sell coffee, Amelia Spotted Eagle said. We sell it to everybody and its not just something that is to one group, its for everybody, but it just so happens that a Ponca woman and Ihanktonwan man are selling coffee but were doing it for everybody. Amelia and Kip Spotted Eagle opened the, as their kids call it, little coffee shop that could four years ago. It came about kind of on a whim, Amelia Spotted Eagle said. He texted me and said, lets open a coffee shop, and I said, youre crazy. And four years later, here we are and everything just kind of happened so quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So quickly that they are already expanding. After getting, you know, four years of business kind of under our belts, so to say, we are looking in to coffee roasting, Amelia Spotted Eagle said. So well be roasting our own coffee beans as well as providing beans for other shops. The decision to start roasting is grounded in both economic and personal reasons. Its real helpful because, you know, with the economy right now, a lot of people dont know that, but beans are going through the roof because of drought, weather conditions and, you know, other things as far as tariffs if they happen, Kip Spotted Eagle said. So, its kind of volatile right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being a Native-owned business, we wanted to prove that we can expand, we can be successful and we can be able to provide another resource to the community and to also maybe nationwide, Amelia Spotted Eagle said. Their community is the driving force behind everything the Spotted Eagles do at Grind House 46. We would not be here if it werent for the community that shows up every single day, Amelia Spotted Eagle said. The community of Wagner, as a whole, has been amazing but we also have Marty and Lake Andes, Armour, Platte, we have people in Avon, you know, everybody from these little surrounding towns come through. Its not just Wagner that supports, its the whole rural community as a whole and to me thats really special. Not only do they want to serve that community, they want to inspire it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inspire people that really want to do their own business and work for themselves and be their own boss and show them that you can do it, Amelia Spotted Eagle said. Theyve already seen that light of inspiration too. I never thought it would be like this but the impact that its had on my children my kids go from, I want to work for something to I want to own something,' Kip Spotted Eagle said. And that was immediate, like when we started this business my kids were like, theres our shop, theres our business. So that was pretty amazing to see that shift in consciousness. Jackley shares $7,242 worth of travel vouchers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, to some, this is just a latte. But to the Spotted Eagles, there is something extra swirled in with the espresso and milk. To be a Native-owned business owner in a community where we have such a high Native population, but when you look in the town of Wagner you dont see very many Native-ran businesses, Amelia Spotted Eagle said. So to be a Native-owned business in the middle of this community means pride because its not about us, its about our community. Its about the community that we serve. It means pride, it means inclusion, it means representation. It means that Im representing not only myself, Im representing my staff. Im representing my children. Im representing the people that came way before me. An extra layer to Kip and Amelias coffee story recently they visited Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas, their alma mater, and helped a group of students start their own coffee shop there. As for the expansion of their business, they are currently in the process of renovating a second location in Wagner where their roaster will go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Mar. 5GRAND FORKS The 319th Reconnaissance Wing will begin flying missions directly from Grand Forks Air Force Base next week, according to the wing's top military official. Base commander Col. Tim Monroe also shared the name of his successor, who will take over command of the air base in the summer. Monroe delivered extended and wide-ranging remarks in his second and final State of the Base address Wednesday before a packed ballroom at the Alerus Center, touching on a host of flight operations, construction on the base and the future of the GrandSky aviation park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 319th is expected to begin flying operational sorties from Grand Forks beginning next week, Monroe said, the first time in three years that the wing had done so. Right now, the base conducts training and certification exercises at the base, and ferries the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft to bases in places like Guam and Italy for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. "Our wing will soon execute Secretary of Defense-directed missions supporting combatant commands, and we will do that from Grand Forks Air Force Base," Monroe said. The wing flew over 4,000 hours of ISR missions last year, tracking military targets like ships and ground vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement B-1B Lancer bombers assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing and temporarily stationed in Grand Forks may also be dispatched for operational missions during their stay, Monroe shared. Nine B-1Bs and 520 airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota are currently sharing the base with the 319th, with another 3 bombers and 100 airmen expected by April. "As a side note, I sat in a traffic jam on my very own air base for the very first time last month," Monroe noted, to audience laughter. He also shared plans to conduct two military exercises in 2025, the first of which, "Enduring Hawk," is set for April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The base conducted its last major military exercise this fall, where airmen simulated combat operations in the Indo-Pacific theater. That exercise is one part of an Air Force-wide pivot to prepare for a standoff with China. The Space Development Agency's Grand Forks facility will also take command of a new tranche of satellites set to launch in the coming months as part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a satellite network used for communications and weapons targeting. The satellite launches had been originally set to begin in late 2024. Monroe relayed the name of his successor, Col. Alfred Rosales. Rosales, a deputy commander of the 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, will take over command of Grand Forks Air Force Base on July 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will be joined by a new command chief, Chief Master Sgt. William Gruenes, who replaces Chief Master Sgt. Carl Vogel. Monroe thanked his audience, which included local officials, defense contractors and university administrators, for their support during his two years commanding the 319th. "Your warmth and kindness has left us with an indelible mark, and we are profoundly grateful," he said. "Yet, in the military, and after 24 years of doing this, I'm fairly confident in saying change is the only constant." Monroe is leaving Grand Forks for a post at the Pentagon. A multi-million dollar renovation of the base's early childhood center is set to wrap up in the coming months, while a demolition is planned at the site of Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement the base's new K-8 school this spring. The Child Development Center is set to reopen in June following a $8.4 million rebuild of the facility to meet state and federal regulations. The base is also anticipating the demolition of the unoccupied Ben Eielson Elementary in the next few months, to make way for a new Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School. "A truly formidable fighting force is built on the strength of families," Monroe said. Monroe also highlighted the launch of the base's Peer Support Program, a program where airmen support fellow service members who may be struggling with their mental health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nineteen airmen have "graduated" from the program since it launched in December. While congratulating it for 10 years of operations, Monroe said the base planned to expand a lease governing the site of the GrandSky aviation park "in the near future." The aviation park sits on federal land leased to Grand Forks County by the Air Force; the county, in turn, contracts a private developer for construction and day-to-day operations of the park. Monroe told the Herald an engineering assessment will be conducted this summer ahead of negotiations with Air Force brass to expand the lease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also alluded to demonstration flights by the GrandSky-based Project ULTRA planned for this summer. The project, a partnership between the Defense Department and the aviation park, is meant to explore the various applications of drones for and against the U.S. military. Monroe and his subordinate's remarks briefly touched on a pair of hot-button national issues. Vogel, in brief remarks before Monroe took the stage, ran through a bevy of national security threats facing the United States. That list notably included Russia's election interference efforts and its war against Ukraine. President Donald Trump has frozen military aid to Ukraine after a public falling out with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leading to pro-Ukraine protests across the U.S., Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement including in Grand Forks. A special counsel investigation and Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee report separately found Russia sought to interfere in the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor. Democrats and European leaders have criticized Trump for his perceived closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin, considered a dictator by many. Asked later about Vogel's remarks, Monroe said Russia's actions in cyberspace continued to pose a threat to the U.S. and its national interests. Russia has conducted multiple cyber attacks on the U.S. and European allies as part of its war against Ukraine. Russian agents also hacked the Democratic National Committee as well as a staffer on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign as part of the country's election interference campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monroe also alluded to efforts by the Trump administration to cut civilian positions in the Defense Department, including a voluntary resignation program established by the Office of Personnel Management. Among those who have accepted the retirement offer is longtime base spokesperson Lea Greene. Monroe closed his remarks by thanking Greene for her years of service. "It's a privilege as I depart to say thank you to her, in a very public venue, for her service to our nation and what she has done for many years of commanders like myself to make sure we stay on point," he said. "At times of crisis, we had the advice and counsel we needed to get through difficult times." Greene received a standing ovation, as did Monroe, seconds later. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) More people face eviction in Columbus than any other major city in Ohio and support for those struggling to stay in their homes is running out. NBC4 Investigates found the issue could get even worse. Many of the people getting help are everyday families with jobs; as rents rise more and more, people cannot afford to live where they work. Franklin County Eviction Court hears an average of 150 cases per day; one day, NBC4 was there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How Trumps speech could affect Intels New Albany plant An hour before the courtroom doors opened, dozens of people packed the waiting room. My lifes turned upside down, Tracie Lee Basham, a Columbus resident facing eviction, said. I mean, its crazy. Everyone in the room is waiting to hear if they will walk out the same doors, with or without a home to go back to. I had a bad panic attack, I had anxiety, Lee Basham said. I didnt know what to expect. I mean, its just crazy. Lee Basham lost her husband to cancer eight months ago. He was the breadwinner, she said. Jim Tressel on his interest in running for Ohio governor in 2026 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funeral expenses and a broken-down car led this lifelong Columbus resident to eviction court, but with the help of the non-profit IMPACT Community Action and her landlord, she was able to stay in her home. My landlord came to me a while ago before I even talked to any of these people, and he said, Do not worry about it, they will help you, Lee Basham said. IMPACT provides rental assistance right at eviction court. Were talking about an everyday household and were talking about families who go to work every day, IMPACT Community Action Vice President of Housing Programs Shameikia Smith said. Were talking about seniors whove worked so hard, who live off of a fixed income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People fill out a form and if theyre eligible, get help right in that moment. Citing DEI concerns, Ohio University places Black Alumni Reunion on hold Every day we get a call. Every day we get an email. Every day we get an inquiry about someone whos saying, like, I need help, Smith said. In 2024, IMPACT helped 3,729 renters, paying more than $11 million. Now, the organization has $5 million in federal COVID money left. In January, IMPACT paid $792,130.22 in support. Data from the Eviction Lab shows that in the last month, the city had 2,355 eviction filings, Cincinnati had 1,158 and Cleveland had 543. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With that money running low, those resources are not going to be available for the community in the same way so I unfortunately expect that were going to see a lot more challenges in this area without that assistance available, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) Senior Managing Attorney Melissa Benson said. Legal Aid is also at eviction court, connecting people in need with lawyers. Every single day, we have more people asking for our assistance than we have attorneys, people that were able to provide for people, Benson said. There is also assistance through the court itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant give legal advice, but we can help people and all of the different options in the case, help them figure out all the information they need so that they can go into court confidently and provide the best representation results that they can, Franklin County Municipal Court Self Help Center Director Robert Southers said. Columbus Zoos North America Trek to showcase immersive habitats and landscapes The center tries to help people before the hearing by providing resources and guidance. Last year it helped 34,000 people, with 70% of those being housing cases. The help is here for now, but when the COVID funding runs out, there wont be the money for this support and happy endings like Lee Bashams may become less common. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have seen families who have lived in their homes for 20 years and almost lost their home because they werent able to pay their property taxes, Smith said. Weve seen bus drivers, people that work in schools, people that work in hospitals, people that even work in social service agencies. Financial experts said people should spend no more than about one-third of their income on housing. A state assessment found more than 1 million Ohioans, almost one in ten, spend at least half of their income on housing, putting them at high risk of foreclosure or eviction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. MOSCOW, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially appointed Alexander Darchiev as the new ambassador to the United States, read a decree posted on the country's official portal on Thursday. Darchiev previously served as the director of the North Atlantic Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry. On Feb. 18, delegations from Russia and the United States met in Riyadh to discuss bilateral ties and the Ukraine crisis. Following the talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that both countries agreed to appoint their ambassadors as soon as possible and resolve longstanding diplomatic issues. On Feb. 27, Russian and U.S. diplomats met in Istanbul to discuss issues affecting the functioning of their diplomatic missions in both capitals. The Supreme Court of Georgia has suspended a Columbus lawyer. Chris Breault, a Columbus lawyer who specializes in personal injury lawsuits, received a six-month suspension of his law license for what the court said are violations of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The violations involve events that happened in 2017, when he was brought on a case to act as lead counsel for a husband and wife, according to court documents. Details about the Chris Breault case The husband suffered two breaks in his back and a skull fracture after a tractor trailer struck his truck, which caused it to go over the side of a bridge and into the Savannah River, court documents say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say Breault came to believe the clients needed to pursue a claim based on traumatic brain injury and learned the husband had been treated by a neurologist. Breault and a Georgia lawyer, identified as C.M., met with the physician, according to court documents. Court documents say C.M. made an audio recording of the meeting unbeknownst to Breault or the physician. During this meeting, the physician described the Husbands purported brain injury as all kind of speculative and made remarks casting doubt on the possible brain injury claim, the court documents say. Breault called the office manager on June 14, 2017, and canceled the deposition following this meeting, according to the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breault called and talk talked to the office manager June 20, 2017, regarding whether the physician would be able to testify at trial. The office manager told Breault the physician wouldnt be able to due to their workload, according to court documents. Court documents say Breault responded in a threatening manner, stating the physician would have to do a deposition or he (Breault) would subpoena him for trial. Motion to revoke pro hac vice admission Court documents say the defendants in the lawsuit filed a motion the following day to revoke Breaults pro hac vice admission to the case because his actions violated the courts guidelines for courtroom conduct. Breault was previously given a pro hac vice admission, which allows for the addition of an attorney to a case where they are not licensed to practice, according to the Cornell Law School website. The defendants motion included an affidavit from the office manager detailing the conversation, court documents say. Breault responded to the motion without discussing it with the clients, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say Breault included a transcript of the audio recording taken by C.M. during the June 7, 2017, meeting with the physician. Obtained an audio recording Breault also obtained an audio recording of the meeting and sent it to all lawyers in the case and to the court, according to the documents. In his response to the defendants motion to revoke, Breault admitted that the recording was attorney work product and includes many insights into how the Plaintiff[s] view every part of this case, and that his actions tipp[ed] the playing field in favor of the Defendants by disclosing this work product, but that he fe[lt] the esteem and confidence of this Honorable Court are more important, the documents say. Court documents say Breault admitted at a disciplinary hearing that he made the disclosures public to make the defense counsel look like a disingenuous a**hole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district court denied the defendants motion but found the disclosure of the conversation was unnecessary and damaging to the clients case, court documents say. Breault was allowed to add a neuropsychologist to the clients witness list and was ordered to depose the neuropsychologist by the middle of August 2017, according to court documents. Court documents say Breault told defense counsel that 10 a.m. on Aug. 14, 2017, would work for the neuropsychologists deposition without having confirmed the date with the neuropsychologist. The neuropsychologist informed the parties that he wouldnt be available that day, court documents say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breault told defense counsel that he would ask the court for more time to schedule the deposition, but he never filed the request, court documents say. Breault was discharged by the clients Aug. 16, 2017, through a hand-delivered letter, according to court documents. Unannounced visit to clients home Court documents say the following day Breault went unannounced to the clients home in South Carolina, called into question the competency of the clients remaining counsel and told them they would lose out on funding for medical treatment if he were removed from the case. The wife texted Breault after hisvisit, telling him she didnt want him to represent them, and Breault acknowledged the message and said he would file withdrawal paperwork the following day, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say Breault failed to file the withdrawal paperwork and instead advised the husband to seek legal advice from a litigation funding company and reached out to the wife, requesting she attend a focus group about the case. The clients filed a motion to revoke Breaults pro hac vice admission, according to court documents. Court documents say Breault filed a response 54 days after being discharged as counsel and again disclosed confidential information he gained while representing the clients. Breault filed withdrawal paperwork following an Oct. 30, 2017, disciplinary hearing, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district court entered a Disciplinary Order, in which it found that Breault had violated several provisions of the GRPC (Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct) and that his disclosures of the Clients protected information had been damaging to the Clients, and revoked Breaults pro hac vice admission, the documents say. Breaults suspension began Tuesday and will end after six months with no conditions on Breaults reinstatement other than the passage of time, according to court documents. Chris Beaults reaction to his suspension The Ledger-Enquirer asked Breault for comment and received the following statement in an email: I have never once in my entire career been in trouble with the State Bar of Georgia. If you look at my record since I finished law school at the University of Georgia in 2012, twelve (12) years ago, I have zero Bar complaints or Bar discipline. It is odd that it is 2025, weeks after I get a $42 million jury verdict the largest jury verdict in Georgia history in a motorcycle wreck and Im being said to have violated Bar rules from a case in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did excellent work for the client in that case they are talking about from 2017. Because of my work, the client became a millionaire. This all took place back in June of 2017, one month before trial. I was hired by the clients original lawyer to come and try the case in court as lead trial counsel. The client in the case was rear-ended by a tractor trailer and sent off a large bridge, falling nearly 200 feet. I came onto the case, proved he had a brain injury, and then the case settled for seven-figures and the client was happy. Because of my work, the client took home more than double what he was going to get before I was hired. I stand by my work in that case. Im the first lawyer in Georgia history that theyve ever accused of breaking these rules like this. I was part of a team of four (4) lawyers and Im the only one they say violated a Bar rule. For years, they wanted me to take some slap-on-the-wrist penalty as long as I admitted I did something wrong. I refused, because I did nothing wrong. Im sorry that in order to get outstanding results, you have to do things differently than your average Joe Schmoe lawyer out there. It means that you are creative and think outside the box. It doesnt mean you broke the rules. After reading the Supreme Courts order on this matter, its clear that whoever wrote it sometimes its a clerk or an assistant does not have or understand all the facts. I plan to submit a motion for reconsideration to the court in ten (10) days to have them review it. As stated by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., the arc of the moral universe is long, and it bends towards Justice. If you are willing to work and seize the opportunities that God provides, then God will take care of you. That has been my experience and I expect that to continue in the future. A staple of Donald Trumps rally repertoire for years has been his claim that, under him, the United States is respected again in the world. Like so much that he says, the presidents boast has been demonstrably wrong since his first term, according to repeated global surveys. But give Trump some benefit of the doubt: He must have meant respected in the anti-democratic world, the one led by the actual dictators he so admires, not least Russias Vladimir Putin. Even within that sorry circle, including the tyrants of China and North Korea, its unclear that Trump is respected so much as hes appreciated as a useful idiot , giving new meaning to that Cold War term for easily manipulated fools. That Trump would so publicly embrace their world and forfeit his nations 80-year leadership of the free world is what made his shameful showdown in the Oval Office on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Putins nemesis, so historic in all the wrong ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Calmes: It's a 'break-glass' moment in Washington, but then what? If only the nearby bust of Winston Churchill could have talked. Hed no doubt have demanded that Trump remove him from the room rather than witness a U.S. president giving the back of his hand to an ally resisting an invader, with Vice President JD Vance piling on. Franklin D. Roosevelt didnt try to extract from Churchill half of Britains coal wealth in return for American assistance in World War II, much as Trump is seeking Ukraines mineral treasure. Nor did FDR mock Churchills wartime siren suit onesie that the prime minister wore on U.S. visits, as Trumps crowd did the dressed-down Zelensky. The fallout from the Friday debacle could be calamitous. In his first term, Trump shook U.S. allies with his disdain for international alliances and his flirtation with fascists. But after his 2020 defeat and President Biden's repair of Americas global ties, especially in support of Ukraine, allies could and did hope that Trump had been an aberration. But that hope is all but gone with Trump restored to power, the despair exacerbated by the performance of the young vice president who represents the Trumpian future of the Republican Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps Trump wasnt all that proud of the clash with Zelensky, despite the over-the-top praise from sycophantic Cabinet members, near verbatim, that hed stood up for America. He didnt mention the spat in his 99-minute address Tuesday to a joint session of Congress. He did note that hed gotten a letter that day from Zelensky expressing Ukraines willingness to negotiate peace and to sign a minerals deal. Read more: Calmes: Is this the way to win a Nobel Peace Prize? Trump hit on a lot of other notes from the "America first" playlist that vex democratic allies. Although French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer each corrected Trump last week during their separate visits to the White House, the truth-immune Trump still told Congress and a national TV audience that the United States has spent about $350 billion to aid Ukraine like taking candy from a baby while Europe has provided only $100 billion. In fact, the United States has spent about one-third of the amount that Trump claims, and Europe more. He said of the Panama Canal, Were taking it back. As for Greenland, a self-governing territory of North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally Denmark, Trump proclaimed, One way or the other, were going to get it. Republicans erupted in laughter, because, you know, hearing a supposed leader of the free world threatening a sovereign nations land is so funny. Trump bragged about withdrawing the United States (again) from the 196-nation Paris climate pact he falsely claimed it was costing trillions of dollars that other countries dont pay as well as from the corrupt [not] World Health Organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For U.S. allies, none of that talk was as shocking as the convulsion that Trump and his lackeys delivered throughout February a new world order that included restoring U.S. relations with Putin, even siding with Russia against a pro-Ukraine vote at the United Nations; scolding Europe and all but endorsing Germanys neo-Nazi party, and then humiliating Zelensky in the Oval Office. Read more: Calmes: Make America safe again? Promise broken The European Unions top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, immediately wrote on social media words that I, as an American, never expected to read: Today it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. Just as unbelievable: The pinch-me glee of Igor Korotchenko, a well-known Russian military analyst, who exulted on X that he never thought hed applaud a U.S. president, until Trump tossed out Zelensky like a garbage alley cat. Russian analysts predicted Putin would take Trumps favor as a license to grab more land in advance of any peace deal. Over the weekend, to offset Trumps affront, 18 European allies embraced Zelensky, literally , at an emergency meeting in London of a new coalition of the willing to secure a peace agreement less advantageous to Russia than what Trump has in mind. Starmer said the United Kingdom would back Ukraine for as long as it takes echoing then-President Bidens now-dead words about the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps tariffs against neighbors Canada and Mexico this week are icing on a rancid cake. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the action Tuesday with rare venom: The United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend. At the same time, theyre talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense. You cant. Respected in the world again? Another Trump lie. @jackiekcalmes Get the latest from Jackie Calmes Commentary on politics and more from award-winning opinion columnist. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. For the record: 4:25 p.m. March 13, 2025: An earlier version of this article stated that Katharine Graham died in 1991. She died in 2001. George and Teddy Kunhardt made the documentary Becoming Katharine Graham for the same reason most people make documentaries: to tell a story they thought people should know. As publisher of the Washington Post and CEO of the Washington Post Co. Katharine Graham became the first woman to run a major media organization and a key player in the papers rise to prominence in the 1970s, first with its role in the publication of the Pentagon Papers and then with its famous investigation of the Watergate break-in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, as the Kunhardts wrote in their directors statement, her role in these and other cultural milestones has been too often overlooked. Reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward and executive editor Ben Bradlee became, and remain, household names. But in the revered 1976 film All the Presidents Men, Graham never appears and is only mentioned via the infamous threat "Katie Graham's gonna get her tit caught in a big fat wringer if that's published" delivered by then-attorney general John Mitchell. With this film, they hoped to set the record straight. It does that, and quite a bit more. At a time when journalism is in crisis, both financially and existentially, Becoming Katherine Graham, which debuted on Prime Video last week, serves as a reminder of how important good management, and ownership, can be for any outlet. Yes, the film harks back to the predigital age of family-owned newspapers, which were often self-supporting and even profitable (though when Graham assumed her position, the Post was in large part supported by the companys TV stations). But her story makes it abundantly clear that the risks journalists must take in demanding truth of power are only possible when owners have their backs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year's presidential election exposed tensions between owners and newsrooms at several outlets (including this one), but most especially the venerable Post, where changes to the opinion section have led many to question the motivations of current owner Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon. In a recent dressing-down of Bezos in the Atlantic, former Post executive editor Martin Baron, once a fan, wrote: Now we know Bezos is no Katharine Graham. Indeed, when Becoming Katharine Graham premiered at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, Bezos, chief executive Will Lewis and executive editor Matt Murray were notably absent. (Bezos was at the Oscars.) Read more: Commentary: Donald Trump and Elon Musk are coming for your summer vacation During her tenure, Graham, who died in 2001, faced plenty of criticism, and more than a few direct threats, from both outside and inside her organization. Members of her board most certainly did not support publishing portions of the Pentagon Papers. In retribution for the papers Watergate coverage, then-President Nixon tried to destroy the Post by withholding the licenses of the companys profitable TV stations. And during a violent 1975 pressmans strike, seen in the opening of the film, workers burned Graham in effigy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having come of age during a time when it was common for publishers and editors to socialize with presidents and first ladies, Graham had personal relationships with many Washington power brokers, not to mention financial interests that could be affected by government approval. But, as she says in the film: You can be friends with people in the government, but you remember, and they remember, that the paper comes first. A cri de coeur then, from beyond the grave. More than most biodocs, Becoming Katharine Graham is guided by Grahams voice from the many interviews and speeches she gave before her death in 2001 and from her memoir, Personal History. Though built out with the customary combination of contemporary interviews from those who knew her and archival footage including chilling portions of the Nixon White House tapes Graham essentially tells her own story, from her privileged youth her father, financier Eugene Meyer, became chairman of the Federal Reserve to her retirement and decision to write the memoir that informs much of the film. She emerges as an accidental hero, a self-described door-mat wife who worked briefly at the Post after her father bought it in 1933 (at a bankruptcy auction) until assuming the duties of wife, mother and gracious society hostess. She was happy to see her husband, Phil Graham, named publisher in 1946. Two years later, Meyer transferred control over the companys then privately owned stock to the couple, with Phil receiving 70% to Grahams 30%. After Phils death by suicide in 1963, Graham inherited both the company, which owned three television stations, two radio stations and Newsweek magazine, and the position of Washington Post publisher. Many thought she would sell the company, or relinquish the publisher position, but instead she dug in. Painfully shy and inevitably the only woman in any meeting, she learned by listening it took her a year before she summoned the courage to ask a question in an editorial board meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But summon it she did, despite being made very aware that, as she says, A lot of men dont like working for a woman. Bradlee, whom Graham hired from Newsweek to run the Posts newsroom, was, mercifully, not one of them. She was very quick to figure out who he was, says Don Graham, who succeeded his mother as publisher and CEO (and later sold the Post to Bezos), and he was very quick to figure out who she was. Together Bradlee and Graham turned a small, local newsroom into a larger, hugely influential powerhouse. An early portion of the documentary is framed around the inevitable gender stereotypes she faced, including those she had internalized. Graham had never dreamed of running a company she deeply associated with her father and her husband, nor had anyone expected her to. As the 20th century womens movement began, she was already the head of a media company, and though she never identified as a feminist, she supported equal rights for women, which often put her at odds not only with the men around her but with her own position. When women at Newsweek, who were not allowed to advance beyond researcher, filed a discrimination suit in 1970, they gave Graham a heads up. Her response: Which side am I supposed to be on? (The women won their suit and the right to become writers, a significant victory for female journalists everywhere.) Read more: In 1999, the end was coming for newspapers. But few were looking for the signs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an anecdote that feels especially meaningful given the current tensions over editorials, Gloria Steinem remembers being asked to address an editorial board meeting because Graham wanted them to support the Equal Rights Amendment editorially and they were not doing so. She felt she couldnt order them to, so she asked me to come A large chunk of the film deals with Grahams courage during the Nixon administration. By agreeing to publish portions of the Pentagon Papers after a federal court had ordered the New York Times to stop, she risked criminal prosecution, the loss of the companys television stations and potentially the whole enterprise, which had just gone public in an attempt to shore up financing. (After being ignored in All the Presidents Men, her bravery is central to Steven Spielbergs 2017 film The Post." ) The following year, she consistently supported her papers investigation into the Watergate break-in even when no other outlet followed the story; for months, that reporting caused many to question the Post's intentions and Graham's judgment. Famously vindictive, Nixon won reelection and his personal hatred of Graham, whom he called at one point a miserable bitch, drove his efforts to put the Post out of business. When he threatened to withhold the TV licenses of its stations, the company's stock plummeted. Enter journalisms first billionaire savior, Warren Buffett, who bought a significant amount of low-priced nonvoting shares. As she says in the film, Graham had never met him, knew nothing about him and worried that he wasnt benevolent. Many around her advised keeping him at a distance. Instead, Graham traveled to California to meet with Buffett (who, according to his daughter, ran out and bought swim trunks in order to burnish his Golden State mystique). The two hit it off (the trunks were not involved) and Buffett became her key financial advisor, as the papers finances teetered, and for long after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Bernstein and Woodward continued their investigation, threats and pressure from the Nixon White House increased. Graham began taking the reporters notes and research to her own home at night to keep them safe. In a contemporary interview, Bernstein remembers getting a call from the guard at the papers front desk alerting him to a subpoena that demanded his notes. He told Bradlee, who called Graham, returning to tell Bernstein, Theyre not your notes. Katharine says theyre her notes and if anyone is going to go to jail for withholding their notes its going to be her. You need nerve, you need to be able to withstand stuff, says Courtland Milloy, former columnist and reporter for the Post. Kay Graham set the standard, a high bar, for having nerve. That nerve paid off; a year of reporting finally cracked open Nixons involvement in the Watergate break-in, which was just one part of his reelection campaigns use of political spying, sabotage and illegal funding. During the Watergate hearings, the existence of the White House tapes was revealed. When portions of the tapes made it clear that, among other things, he had been involved in covering up the break-in, he was threatened with impeachment. With virtually no public or political support, he became the first U.S. president ever to resign. Graham found herself suddenly being touted as the most powerful woman in the country. But, she said, I didnt take any personal pleasure in this. We were pleased to have our reporting vindicated, but I dont think that anybody thought that the president of the United States having to resign because he would be impeached was a great event for the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A year later, Graham faced another test. The Posts pressmen went on strike, destroying the papers printing presses and staging a massive picket line in which one sign taunted her with her husbands suicide: Phil shot the wrong Graham. Grahams first concern was getting the paper out. Plates were taken to the printing presses of nearby papers by helicopter. When the union refused to accept managements final offer, she began to hire outside workers, in part, says her son, because she couldnt imagine rehiring the people who destroyed the presses and set fire to the building. She empathized enormously with the families of the strikers, says Buffett, but with Kay, the newspaper totally came first, it was a sacred trust. Picketing continued, and extended to the world premiere of All the Presidents Men, which was characterized as the most eagerly awaited picture since Jaws. Graham calls the strike, in which management eventually emerged victorious, the hardest thing she faced during her working life. In many ways, she said, the strike broke my heart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Covered in the film almost entirely from managements point of view, the strike was also the last big conflict Graham faced as a publisher. In 1979, Don took over, though Graham continued as CEO of the Washington Post Co. until 1991. She began working on her memoir, which came out in 1997 and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1998. There are many reasons to watch Becoming Katharine Graham. As a woman, she was a trailblazer, a unique combination of privilege and humility, grace and grit, who overcame great personal trauma and natural reticence to help guide the country through political and cultural turmoil. But at this moment, theres an even more important message. The press in this country under a constitutional democracy is set up to be a critic of the government, she says in the wake of Nixons resignation, and its important that they do that, with a lot of responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many journalists, and the people who pay and manage them, will say the same. Becoming Katharine Graham provides the rare chance to see what it looks like when someone like Kay Graham repeatedly risks everything to do it. Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyones talking about from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The tyrannical doctrine of Christian nationalism, which falsely claims that the United States is a country founded by and for Christians, comes and goes a recessive trait in the body politic that has reared its ugly head throughout American history. Today, however, the scourge is on the dangerous brink of being fully institutionalized in Washington, D.C., courtesy of the Trump administration. Weve been there, done that once before and it was a flop. For details, check out this extraordinary sculpture, which looks back to a fiasco from 375 years ago. The great American Beaux-Arts sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens was commissioned in the 1880s to create a memorial statue to Deacon Samuel Chapin, a pious mover and shaker (not that kind of Shaker) in the original Massachusetts Bay Colony. An ordained Puritan minister, Chapin was my ninth great-grandfather a colonial transplant, born in England in 1598, who arrived in Boston as a 20-something, then headed west. Since no pictures of him exist, the artist hired a professional model to pose for the commemorative statue. Saint-Gaudens square-jawed fellow is dressed as the sartorial epitome of colonial sobriety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wears a fashionable doublet, breeches, stockings, chunky strapped shoes and a tall felt hat with a buckle in the hatband. Striding forward, his sturdy right hand clutches a knobby wooden walking stick, cut from a tree branch and stripped. The stick, a likely nod to a biblical shepherds staff, yields an image of stern authority. Anchoring the figure to the base, it also has a practical function: The cane helps support and stabilize one side of the weighty bronze. Most dramatically, Chapin is enveloped by the voluminous folds of a massive cloak. He looks like some intrepid 17th century Batman. This caped crusader effortlessly cradles a colossal Bible in the crook of his left arm. Hefty latches lock shut the big books pages, the final word on matters spiritual having been recorded for eternity. A powerful, idealized man of God casts his eyes down toward the ground beneath his feet, rather than heavenward. Its as if hes claiming natures untrampled territory with his reverential gaze a distinctly political act for a colonizer. Saint-Gaudens imposing, full-length bronze figure, soon nicknamed The Puritan, was an immediate sensation. Today it ranks with his Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Boston Common, an elaborate bronze relief that commemorates African American soldiers serving in the Civil War, including two of Frederick Douglass sons. His other premier work is a classic man-on-a-horse the gilded equestrian statue of William Tecumseh Sherman, victorious Union Army general, standing in front of the Plaza Hotel at an entrance to New Yorks Central Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it was The Puritan that caught the popular imagination like no other, embedding the icon in the national consciousness. At his Paris studio, Saint-Gaudens began pumping out scaled-down versions, each about 2 feet tall and in a choice of different bronze patinas black, green, golden brown to meet customer demand. Today, among the more than three dozen that he and his widow, Augusta, sold, examples are in the collections of major museums across America. They include Bostons Museum of Fine Arts, New Yorks Metropolitan, Pittsburghs Carnegie Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Puritans were religious fanatics the Christian nationalists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Most know they came by the boatload from England in the early 1600s, searching for their religious freedom. Few know why they disappeared less than a century later. The answer: political failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Puritans said religion and government dont mix, based on the repression their combative sect experienced in Europe. But they couldnt help themselves. In New England, they meddled, manipulated and even murdered. (Fanaticism is like that. Its hard to back off when youve decided youre speaking for God.) Not until the whole thing collapsed a hundred years on did space open for a fledgling radical experiment in democratic government, which became the United States. Religious freedom got protected by law, but the Puritans missed out. Chapin with lawyer and future colonial governor John Winthrop, savvy business entrepreneur William Pynchon and other British-born Puritans left England in the 1620s as part of the Great Migration. In 1636, a small band traveled deep into the Connecticut River Valley, north of Hartford, and established rural towns through a covenant with the Pocumtuck Indians. Pynchon named one town Springfield, after his Essex birthplace, east of London. Further up the river, Chapin named Chicopee, a Nipmuc word for evergreen red cedar. Trouble followed. Religious trouble. Religious protesters gathered during the 2021 inauguration of President Biden. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) On Oct. 16, 1650, a 158-page volume written by Pynchon, The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption, had the dubious distinction of being the first book in American history ordered to be burned by a local government. Pynchon was a devout Puritan, but his sober dismantling of a foundational element of the faith, with which he disagreed, caused an uproar. The arcane theological dispute concerned the precise meaning of Jesus' suffering during crucifixion, which Pynchon wrote was not the true source of sinners' redemption the larger example of the prophet's life was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The book was banned in Boston a phrase for suppressive moral outrage that survives to this day. The citys General Court went further. Noting condemnation by the colonys leading government officials, the judges ruled that all the books should be torched on Boston Common for everyone to see. Just four copies of the reviled heresy survived the flames. Weaponizing religion, the Puritan government unleashed social chaos. The book-burning spectacle caused a split between Pynchon, who fled back to England, fearing for his safety, and Deacon Chapin, who stayed. For the 250th anniversary of Springfields founding, Saint-Gaudens was commissioned to create a monument not to Pynchon, but to Chapin. Out with the bad Christian, in with the good one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I saw The Puritan many times as a kid, growing up a couple towns away from Springfield. It has stood since 1899 in a pocket park between the citys Central Library and Christ Church Cathedral. I never gave it much notice I didn't know then that he was my ancestor but now the impressive statue seems like evidence that Pynchon, Springfields actual founder, was quietly being canceled. (Historian Daniel Crown has called him "the forgotten founding father of colonial New England.") Not until 1927 was a memorial building to Pynchon constructed as a local history museum. Canceling is today an official government practice. Trump has issued fervent anti-free-expression diktats forbidding anything but neoclassical style for new federal buildings, and disqualifying art institutions with antidiscrimination programs (DEI) from receiving National Endowment for the Arts grants. He blasted the "terrible" programs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, while telling a reporter hed never been there, and installed himself as its chairman. He appointed Ric Grenell, a far-right political operative with zero arts experience but a degree from Evangel University, a fundamentalist college, to run the place. Members of the Proud Boys raised a cross on Jan. 6, 2021 at the Michigan State Capitol as Washington, D.C., fell into chaos with Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capitol Building. (Adam J. Dewey / Associated Press) Advocates of Christian nationalism now permeate Trumps government. Pete Hegseth, the Cabinet secretary with control of the U.S. military, has a big tattoo across his right bicep in a Gothic font spelling Deus Vult the Latin term for God wills it a holy-war motto of Europes 11th century Christian Crusades. On his chest he tattooed the Crusaders cross, born as a heraldic symbol of the recaptured Kingdom of Jerusalem. Trumps rambling, often incoherent remarks at the recent National Prayer Breakfast, a supposedly interfaith annual event in Washington, boasted his administrations Christian nationalist commitments. Followers of that corrosive doctrine had been instrumental in organizing the violent 2021 attack on the United States Capitol to keep him in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Announcing a presidential commission on religious liberty, he cited anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society in ordering newly appointed Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi to eradicate anti-Christian bias from inside the federal government. No extensive examples of said violence and vandalism were forthcoming, but Bondi has ties to the America First Policy Institute, a bizarre political think tank espousing a Christian dominion philosophy called 10 Pillars for Restoring a Nation Under God. She co-authored a so-called religious liberty editorial with the daft head of a new White House Faith Office far-right megachurch televangelist Paula White, who often speaks in tongues. Both are supporters of Russell Vought, an avowed Christian nationalist and principal architect of wildly unpopular Project 2025, now given the reins of the powerful Office of Management and Budget. Read more: At the Getty Villa, the marvelous exhibition rescued from the Palisades fire In a recently released hidden-camera video, Vought is seen asking, Can we, if were going to have legal immigration, can we get people that actually believe in Christianity? In an emailed response to a reporters subsequent request for clarification, an OMB spokesperson simply replied, There they going [sic] again, attacking Christians in politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christians, of course, really were persecuted by the Roman Empire beginning in the 1st century. Two millenniums later, when nearly 2 out of 3 U.S. adults and 87% of Congress identify as Christian, the absurd persecution claim is just culture war shtick. The America First Policy Institute has partnered with Lance Wallnau, a venomous Christian nationalist evangelical leader who publicly accused Vice President Kamala Harris of using witchcraft to win the 2024 presidential debates. Forty years after William Pynchons books were burned in Boston, the nearby Salem witch trials exploded, with the state murdering 14 women and five men and tormenting nearly 200 others for demonic sorcery. By then, Deacon Chapin was dead, although Puritanism wasnt yet. But it was on its way out. The death knell was the wretched failure of Christian nationalism as a governing style. Government submitting to the coercion of weaponized religion in the colony was as disastrous as faith submitting to government coercion in England. Puritanism shattered into multiple feuding sects and collapsed, and 18th century Enlightenment values of cosmopolitan secular government were ushered in. Secularism permeates the nations liberal founding documents the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights even as the history of Saint-Gaudens statue of my pious ancestor demonstrates the idealistic tenacity of religious faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike the Christian faithful, Christian fanatics have been a recurrent danger throughout American history. They have driven the modern culture wars that have roiled the nation at least since 1979, when televangelist Jerry Falwell organized fundamentalists into a political movement, the preposterous Moral Majority, to protect Jim Crow segregation in schools. While I doubt that any Trump appointees identify as neo-Puritans, twice as many Republicans (67%) as Democrats (32%) think U.S. laws should be influenced by the giant locked book Saint-Gaudens tucked under his statues arm, according to a March 2024 Pew Research Center study. As religious affiliation in America continues its steady 21st century decline, the politics behind those White House appointments get reactionary: To retain power, the small Christian nationalist MAGA sect must be served. Still, Pew also found that a slim majority of U.S. adults say they have heard or read nothing at all about fanatical Christian nationalism. As the Trump administration gets into high gear, expect that to change pretty fast. When it does, banned in Mar-a-Lago may well become the new standard for authoritarian moral outrage. Holy caped crusader! What would Deacon Chapin think? Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Mar. 5Ector County Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday for a regular meeting, which was scheduled this Thursday rather than Tuesday due to Spring Break. Several items on the agenda deal with the Ector County Coliseum's Barns B and C. The barns, Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett said, will be combined and will offer air conditioned space by March or April of 2026. Fawcett said funding for the project will come from the Hotel Occupancy Fund. "It will open for more events with more air conditioned space." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fawcett said stakeholders including representatives from the SandHills Rodeo, Permian Basin Fair and the Chuck Wagon Gang offered input on what they felt for needs for the Coliseum. Fawcett said square footage will increase and construction will pause during this year's Permian Basin Fair. Commissioners will also consider: Accepting a donation from Barnhart Bolt to the Sheriff's Office for $39,000. Approving the Early Voting Schedule and the Election Day Vote Centers for the May 3 Joint General Election. Approving Mike Gardner as the airport board appointee for the Odessa Schlemeyer Field Airport Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approving Judge Dustin Fawcett as the MPO Board appointee. Consider approving the Care Coordination Agreement between the Ector County Health Department and PermiaCare. Consider a correction on a warranty deed between Ector County, Texas, and Odessa Junior College District. Consider approving a TxDOT Consultant Selection form for the TxDOT 2406ODESA Project. Consider approving a Designation of Sponsors Authorized Representative form for the TxDOT 2406ODESA Project located at Odessa-Ector County Schlemeyer Field. Consider approving an Amendment by and between Ector County and Tyler Technologies, Inc., to grant Tyler Technologies permission to access and review data stored in the EJM Database. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider approving a Variance Application for a Replat of Lot 25, Block 10, 385 Ranch Estates West, Precinct #4. Consider the annexation of a 3.94-acre tract, situated in Section 40, Abstract 593, Block 42, Township 2 South, Texas and Pacific Railway Company Survey, Ector County. Consider approving a Subdivision Plat Application for J & P Subdivision, 2nd Filing, being a 1.16-acre tract of land within a 22.00-acre tract, located in Section 5, Block 41, Precinct #2. Consider a budget amendment request for the Coliseum project. CHEYENNE With a high volume of individually sponsored bills filed for the Wyoming legislative session this year several of which were filed by first-time lawmakers veteran legislators said there was a noticeable shift from state problems to hot-button national issues. Committee bills are discussed during the Legislatures off-season, formally known as the interim. This is a time when lawmakers meet, conduct research and hear hours of public testimony as they draft bills for the upcoming session. These bills are a result of Wyoming stakeholders coming together to find a solution to Wyoming problems. Typically, around 20% of committee bills filed each session fail to become law, said Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, who has served in the Legislature since 2013. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle calculated about 40% of committee bills in this legislative session failed to make it to the finish line this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would not disagree that weve, over the last two sessions, seen more committee bills not be considered in committee, or die in committee, Larsen said. A majority of individual-sponsored bills filed this legislative session focused on election security, restricting abortion access, protecting gun rights, targeting the transgender community, and ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the state. Wyoming recently made national headlines as the first state to have a legislative chamber controlled by the Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline Republicans. Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, said politics were at play as members of the Freedom Caucus in the House seemed more concerned about passing their Five and Dime plan than any legislation that would actually help Wyoming constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We chose to take individual bills from the Freedom Caucus, (people) wrote them, and no one had ever seen them, Driskill said. We brought them in on the first day of the session, their Five and Dime plan, and they left committee bills that were vetted by both the House and Senate, had all kinds of public comment, (on the table). That, he said, has been his real heartburn this session. Weve dealt with national social issues that came out of D.C., from the Freedom Caucus handlers, rather than looking at ourselves and saying, How can we keep our economy going, build highways, have good jobs? Driskill said. Instead, we are worried about regulating peoples lives. This session is probably going to go down as the Freedom Caucus session. You know, what did we accomplish? Abortion. Guns. Election bills. What do any of those have to do with the long-term future of my kids? Driskill said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Committee bills In December, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus released its Five and Dime plan, saying the goal was to push five bills through within the first 10 days of the session. These bills included: requiring proof of Wyoming residency and U.S. citizenship in voter registration; invalidating drivers licenses issued by other states to those who came into the country illegally; banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education; ending investment of state money in environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds, and reintroducing a vetoed property tax bill from last years budget session. Wyoming Freedom Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, told members of the media during a pre-session news conference at the Capitol the plan came about from a poll that was taken statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody (2025) Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody The ideas are based on priorities that came from the people throughout the state of Wyoming, in which the Freedom Caucus is prepared to carry out in the House, Rodriguez-Williams said at the time. None of these bills were committee-sponsored, and all passed easily through the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, several committee bills, including ones that addressed affordable housing and regulated Wyomings billion-dollar gaming industry, failed to push through the finish line. In 2024, legislative leadership budgeted between $50,000 to $65,000 for each interim committee, according to a Legislative Service Office annual report. If a committee met six times on a $60,000 budget, each meeting cost around $10,000, according to LSO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historically speaking, committee bills are first on the list to be heard in committee of the whole (the first floor reading) in each chamber. We didnt see that this year, Larsen said. There were a lot of other bills, personal bills, that were brought up and debated. On the House side, we struggled, for a variety of reasons, getting through bills. Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander (2025) Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander Larsen said hed never seen so many personal bills filed in a session that failed to help move the state forward, and he attributed this to the majority of lawmakers in the House of Representatives who were only in their first or second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Affordable housing Many bills related to the issue of affordable housing some that had been vetted through both the Regulatory Reduction Task Force, which cannot sponsor legislation, and a committee that did sponsor the work did not make it to the finish line this session. A measure to expand affordable housing development qualifications for tax increment financing (TIF), a change supported by Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins, did not make it past a House committee. Two other measures that were vetted in both the Regulatory Reduction Task Force and sponsored by committees, one to limit property development exaction and mitigation fees and another to allow for multi-family dwellings to have single stairwells, were barely debated this session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaming bills Gambling has exploded into a billion-dollar industry in Wyoming after the state legalized new forms of gaming in the last several years. Lawmakers decided last year it was time for legislators to step in and review existing regulations. The Legislature has been responding to the growth of gaming in the state now for about six years, Larsen said. Weve never been out in front of it. After roughly 18 hours of committee meetings, working group sessions and a statewide comprehensive study of the gambling industry, the Joint Appropriations Committee sponsored five bills for the general session that aimed to improve the states gaming laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among these were clean-up legislation to make current gaming laws more uniform and a bill that allowed national betting on Wyoming horse races. Former Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper, who chaired the working group, told the WTE this bill would have generated revenue for the state. Former Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper Former Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper Horse racing tracks around the country are closing on a regular basis, Walters said. But Wyomings opening tracks, and our market is growing. It makes a lot more money for the state of Wyoming, because now you have a larger wagering pool. However, four of these bills never made it out of the House speakers drawer. The bill that made the best progress was House Bill 85, Local approval for simulcasting, which gave city and town governments the ability to approve or deny simulcasting permits for historic horse racing machines a power currently reserved at the county level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters said his constituents always brought up the issue of pop-up gaming machines in their favorite bars at the end of every legislative session. Collins, who supported HB 85, previously told the WTE hes been frustrated with the approval process. Mayor Patrick Collins Mayor Patrick Collins speaks during an investment announcement event in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Event Center on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. We have 10 approved casinos inside the city limits, and our governing body had no input on their approval, Collins said. Were the governing body closest to the people living in Cheyenne, and I think we should have had the responsibility for making that decision. This bill made it all the way through the House of Representatives before dying in the Senate presidents drawer. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Mayor-President Sid Edwards announced a new committee formed consisting of experts, advocates and local leaders to address homelessness in Baton Rouge. The mission of the Community Outreach Partners Committee is to develop solutions to give support and resources to those in need. The committee will meet every two weeks. At the core of this initiative is a shared belief that every person deserves the opportunity to rebuild their life with dignity, Edwards said. The issue of homelessness requires a collaborative and compassionate approach. By uniting key stakeholders with expertise and a shared commitment to the cause, we can make a real difference in the lives of those affected and create a stronger, more inclusive community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members, all of whom are volunteers for the committee, include: Addie Duval START Corporation Carrie Patterson Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care Ben Kennedy First United Methodist Church Dakasha Leonard St. Vincent de Paul Debra Blacher St. Vincent de Paul Pam Wall One Stop T.C. Lam Baton Rouge Police Department Melvilyn Hamilton Someone Always Cares Foundation Kerri Tobin Louisiana State University Amite River Basin Commission to unveil flood mitigation master plan Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Jacksonvilles Eastside - one of the citys most historic areas - is now looking to stay in step with the future vision of a new and improved downtown Jacksonville. City officials and community members gathered Thursday to unveil the new and improved Union Terminal Warehouse. First built in 1913, the building served as the largest industrial building in Jacksonville for decades. Now, its a 330,000 square foot mixed use development, with apartments, office and restaurant space, and a grand rooftop view of downtown and the stadium district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres not been substantial investment in the Eastside for almost six decades, Suzanne Pickett, President and CEO of the Historic East Side CDC, said. So this is a substantial investment, and just a catalyst for continuing investment and our work in revitalization in the Eastside. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Supporters see the $72 million revitalization as a solid investment in an area many considered to be left behind, but its an area rich with Jacksonville history. Thats where somebody made a mark on the wall to store warehouse carts, project developer Ryan Akin said during a tour of the building Thursday. It just tells part of the story and the next tenants or business that occupies this space, theyll add to the story. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Now the hope is the project can serve to not just preserve those rich pieces of history in Jacksonvilles Eastside, but usher in the new and exciting era of development with Jacksonvilles new Stadium of the Future set to arrive in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We actually sit in the middle where the heart of all of this development thats around us, Pickett said. So our goal is for the work in the Eastside and the revitalization to be a compliment to all of the work in the neighborhoods around us. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Providence Mayor Brett Smiley joined 12 News at 4 on Wednesday as the Democratic mayors of four major cities appeared before Congress to talk about their so-called sanctuary policies. Weve got a really rich, vibrant, diverse community, Smiley told 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian. We feel really good about our welcoming city policies. We dont violate any federal law, but the culture of fear and the intentional hyping up of this issue thats terrifying residents is a tragedy. Smiley said the city is not planning to change any of its policies, which have been in place for a long time and help keep the entire Providence community safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Boston, Chicago, New York mayors appear before Congress on sanctuary city policies Hasbro headquarters decision Smiley told 12 News hes anxiously awaiting Hasbros final decision on the location of its headquarters. The city of Providence has submitted a proposal asking the company to consider building its new headquarters on a vacant plot of land in the I-195 redevelopment district, and Smiley said he has been actively involved in talks with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks. Were confident that we made a competitive and compelling proposal, the mayor said. Until I hear it from the CEO himself, Im not giving up. LATEST UPDATES: Hasbro may have voted on new HQ location, Pawtucket mayor says ECHO Village pallet shelters According to Smiley, things are going great at House of Hopes emergency pallet shelters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He shared that there have been no calls for service, reports of neighborhood disruptions, or complaints from adjacent businesses and that new residents are moving in in phases to minimize risks. BACKGROUND: Providence pallet shelters officially open Providence Public Schools Despite Gov. Dan McKee and Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green all but promising that the Providence Public School District will not be returned to city control in 2025, Smiley said hes still prepared to make his case to the Rhode Island General Assembly. We have a report coming out in April next month thats going to outline what we have done, what we are doing and what we plan to do to demonstrate that we are ready to run these schools, Smiley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEXT: RIDE, McKee open to returning Providence schools to city in 2026 Business satisfaction survey The mayor encouraged Providence business owners to participate in his annual business satisfaction survey, explaining that the responses directly influence where the city spends its money. In years past, things like infrastructure, quality of streets and sidewalks, public safety have been top issues, and theyve been part of the reason Ive advocated for hiring more police officers and spending more money on streets and sidewalks, he told 12 News. The survey is available in multiple languages on the citys website. View the full interview in the player above. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A drone is displayed at the Deutsche Telekom stand during the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 5, 2025. The 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) opened here on Monday, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore advancements in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced connectivity. The four-day event, hosted by the GSMA at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center, is themed "Converge, Connect, Create," emphasizing the fusion of mobile and AI-driven technologies. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) People talk at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 3, 2025. The 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) opened here on Monday, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore advancements in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced connectivity. The four-day event, hosted by the GSMA at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center, is themed "Converge, Connect, Create," emphasizing the fusion of mobile and AI-driven technologies. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) This photo taken on March 4, 2025 shows a demonstration of a humanoid robot at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) opened here on Monday, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore advancements in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced connectivity. The four-day event, hosted by the GSMA at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center, is themed "Converge, Connect, Create," emphasizing the fusion of mobile and AI-driven technologies. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) People view smartphones at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 5, 2025. The 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) opened here on Monday, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore advancements in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced connectivity. The four-day event, hosted by the GSMA at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center, is themed "Converge, Connect, Create," emphasizing the fusion of mobile and AI-driven technologies. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) People visit the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 3, 2025. The 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) opened here on Monday, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore advancements in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced connectivity. The four-day event, hosted by the GSMA at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center, is themed "Converge, Connect, Create," emphasizing the fusion of mobile and AI-driven technologies. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) People visit the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on March 5, 2025. The 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) opened here on Monday, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore advancements in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced connectivity. The four-day event, hosted by the GSMA at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center, is themed "Converge, Connect, Create," emphasizing the fusion of mobile and AI-driven technologies. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22 FOX 44) When disasters strike, funds need to move quickly and reliably according to the Vermont Community Foundation. Members of the VCF say, with increasingly unpredictable weather, they hope their newly established David R. Coates Fund for Vermont Disaster Relief could help communities to get ahead of future floods. It allows these dollars to be put to use in the ways that Vermont families, individuals, businesses, businesses and farms need it at that moment in time, said Vice President for Community Impact, Holly Morehouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says the fund can help offer both immediate assistance- providing food, clothing, shelter and long-term financial support to different organizations and nonprofits. Supported by donors, the fund has already amassed about $3 million, although Morehouse says they hope to reach about $5 million to keep bolstering preventive efforts. This fund ensures that Vermonters will not only look out for each other today, but always, said Stacie Fagan, the Vice President of Philanthropy. At the end of the day, foundation leaders say, the fund is about community resilience. That spirit, they say, is inspired by David Coates, the founding chair of Vermont Disaster Recovery Fund, an organization which VCF merged with this year that has been fighting floods since 2011. Morehouse says the foundation is still involved with efforts to help Vermonters in the wake of the 2023 and 2024 flooding. With the new fund however, she hopes to provide more Vermonters with peace of mind that funding will be there when its needed most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) What started as a desperate situation for a Muskegon animal shelter has turned into a show of community support. Big Lake Humane Society found itself without any water this weekend after discovering major problems with its aging well system. The trouble started in early February, when staff noticed a leak from one of the shelters well pumps. That leak uncovered much bigger problems. It turns out our entire well system needed to be replaced, said Velvet Lyght, the Big Lake Humane Society shelter manager. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said with help from Chad Brewer, the co-owner of Central Wells & Pumps, the shelter was able to find a temporary solution and water which can be used for cleaning purposes only. He was also an adopter of two pets from the shelter. With no government funding or national affiliations, the privately-funded shelter was looking at a $12,000 repair bill an expense Lyght said could have forced the shelter to shut its doors. In a desperate plea for help, the shelter posted on social media Sunday, asking for donations of water, paper towels and money to help cover the repair. We were hoping for a few people to stop by, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the community went above and beyond. Overnight, the shelter raised half of the $12,000 needed and in less than 60 hours, donors covered the full cost of the repair. It was truly so amazing, so surprising and overwhelming to see the online presence that happened, said Lyght. The donations didnt stop there. The shelter said hundreds of gallons of water have been dropped off and the outpour of community support has led to more adoption and foster inquiries as well. Water dropped off at the Big Lake Humane Society. (March 5, 2025) This support was a lifeline and it truly gave us a second wind, she said. One of the donors, Janet Pringle, has fostered around a dozen pets from Big Lake Humane Society and felt compelled to step up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a wonderful organization run by wonderful people, Pringle said. It makes my heart so happy. While repairs are expected to begin March 18, the timeline for completion is still unclear. Until then, the shelter will rely on donated water to keep its animals hydrated and safe. Its also requesting paper towel and cleaning supplies. What could have been a disaster has just become one of the most positive things that happened in 2025, said Lyght. Shelter organizers they are always in need of adopters, donations and foster families to help care for their animals. To learn more or to donate, visit Big Lake Humane Societys website or Facebook page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The community shared an outpouring of condolences on Wednesday after prominent Allentown artists Michael Mickey Harmon, 40, and Jordan Celotto, 37, were found dead in their residence Tuesday afternoon. Those that knew the couple best said nothing can compare to their commitment to making Allentown and Buffalo a brighter place where all are welcome. I refuse to allow Mickey and Jordans memory to be attached to these heinous crimes, said Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. I want everybody to know that these people were artists, people of the Allentown community, who made it better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tangible evidence of how Harmon and Celotto impacted the Allentown community is everywhere. When taking a walk through the town, residents can see Harmons Stonewall Nation Mural and Charity, a piece made for Friends of the Night People, among others. However, speaking to those who knew the pair best, its what they provided away from the canvas theyll remember the most. Within the LGBTQ community locally, I dont think theres a single organization that I know of that hasnt personally benefited from the blood, sweat and mentorship of Mickey Harmon over the past few years, said Jack Kavanaugh, the executive director of Growing LGBTQ+ Youth Support (GLYS) Western New York. Mickey had boundless energy. I dont think he ever sat down, ever, said Jonathan White, the Allentown Associations communications director. Jordan was quiet. He was more thoughtful, he was more balanced, and together, they made things happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres nothing in Allentown and theres nothing in downtown Buffalo that you can go to that one of them hasnt touched, said Michael Moch, co-owner of the 26 bar in Allentown. Since 2017, Harmon has been a member of the Allentown Association. White said the couple had a hand in everything. Everyone says a fierce champion and I think that is a good description of it, as was Jordan of the LGBTQ community, White said. He brought the Intersect event into Allentown every year. He worked with the Pride Center on doing a pride event that was sponsored by the association, but Mickey did all the work. Kavanaugh said the duo would also be around the community helping with various fundraising events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a really small community, so all of us have multiple relationships with everyone and I think sometimes that can be hard to navigate, Kavanaugh said. He was always just just willing to show up and provide that level of support and mentorship that sometimes can be hard to find for younger members of the community. Besides art, Celotto also worked as a bartender at Remedy House. The cafe said in a post that they were better for knowing Jordan and thanked him for everything. Harmon and Celotto also helped host events and DJ at the bar, 26, in Allentown. Moch said the bar wouldnt be there without them. When we first opened this place, Mickey was one of the first people that came to us, Moch said. Kind of helped us find our place and what our role is in the LGBTQ community in Buffalo. It went beyond just this community. They were for a better Buffalo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harmon was scheduled to appear on News 4s Daytime Buffalo Wednesday to promote Queertopia, an event at Nietzsches this weekend. Organizers said the show will go on as planned, using it as a platform to bring together neighbors to remember and celebrate the pair. Latest Local News Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Context: video aired on Jan. 23. MANHATTAN (KSNT) An organization for young conservatives has filed a civil rights complaint against Kansas State University for allegedly violating Title VI, Title IX and some recent executive orders from the Trump Administration. According to the Young Americas Foundation (YAF) complaint filed on March 3, K-State renamed its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging office to the Office of Access and Opportunity but kept similar policies. The YAF alleges multiple programs at K-State promote DEI initiatives and violate federal directives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement YAF claims K-State had reworked some titles for faculty. An example YAF provided was for a staff member with the title Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging that was changed to Vice President for Access and Opportunity. KBOE to vote to remove controversial Kansas high school graduation requirement Kansas State cannot distance itself from wrongheaded policies and practices through mere wordplay. YAF press release excerpt YAF also alleges the Student Governing Association is not properly monitored for civil rights compliance and that K-State has failed to oversee the SGAs adherence to civil rights laws. YAF said the SGA has been permitted to use a .edu address, has a physical office in the Student Union Building and has given the SGA authority to control some student benefits. Additionally, YAF claimed its K-State chapters civil rights were violated after its members chalk messages were vandalized by people pouring water on them. YAF claims that Vice President and Dean of Students Thomas Lane didnt take action to protect YAFs free speech rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The YAF claims the K-State Strategic Plan 2030 violates Title VI, Title IX, Executive Order No. 14151, Executive Order No. 14173, Executive Order No. 14168 and the Department of Education Feb. 14, 2025 Dear Colleague Letter. The alleged violations listed by YAF include part of the Civil Rights Act, Education Amendments of 1972 and executive orders on DEI, biological sex and gender ideology. The YAF is calling for the Office for Civil Rights to investigate K-State and apply remedial actions. The Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) chapter at K-State said the YAF investigation attempts to extend political authority to a public space. YDSA said the complaint used misleading rhetoric about discrimination to silence students, faculty and staff that speak out about DEI issues. What to do if you see a mountain lion in Kansas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint by YAF misrepresents the work Kansas State students and faculty have done to protect our rights and communities, a YDSA spokesperson at K-State told 27 News. The YDSA believes this will threaten our K-State community with federal involvement and create a space where students are no longer willing to engage in civic life. We stand in solidarity with students who were wrongfully named and cited in the report without due regard. According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Communications and Outreach, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) does not confirm to the public or press when complaints are submitted. The OCR handles complaints by first determining if its in its jurisdiction and then investigating the complaint to determine if there is a violation. If a violation is found, the OCR will first try to work on a voluntary agreement to address the violation. If the OCR determines that civil rights laws are violated, it can refuse to grant federal financial assistance to the recipient and refer the case to the Department of Justice, according to its website. Kansas State University has not received a notice of complaint from the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights on this, a K-State spokesperson told 27 News. If we do, the university will respond appropriately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 27 News contacted Kansas universities on Jan. 24 after President Donald Trump ordered all federal DEI staff be put on leave and again on Feb. 18 after the Trump Administration gave schools two weeks to end diversity initiatives or risk losing federal money. Evergy requests $192m rate hike Emporia State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, and Wichita State University did not respond to our inquiries. The only school to give a formal response was Fort Hays State University. Over the last month, 27 News has looked at major businesses in Topeka that have rolled back their DEI initiatives and federal agencies that are evaluating the executive order to end DEI programs in the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. If you are like many US voters, regardless of party, many are increasingly concerned about the impact of climate change and the intensifying nature of natural disasters, from floods in climate havens like Asheville to the fury of fires drying up Southern California. To make matters worse, we are now enduring a complete control of our government by climate change naysayers who are undoing any progress, from removing the US from the Paris Climate Agreements to reversing any bans on plastics, starting with straws and likely spreading to bags and bottles. Small efforts such as this were welcomed by manydespite the daily shared sacrificesat least as an indication that collective action is needed to reverse climate change. However, the self-evident truth of destruction for many and rising insurance prices for most continues worldwide, with many of us feeling helpless to stop the reversals. There is a solution to the assault on our planet and lives. It's you. Even before chief climate denier Trump was installed in office again, most climate scientists were already stating that the earth's growing temperatures were not going to be cooled by government interventions or technological advancements. This is evidenced by the fact that despite the best efforts of cooperating countries and communitiessuch as investing in renewable energy and banning consumer plastic straws, bags, and bottlesour temperatures in 2024 still climbed to their highest levels ever recorded at 1.5 degrees Celsius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a troublesome milestone we were trying to avoid when scientists generally believed we needed to counteract such now catastrophic temperature rises with reductions in global human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the experts, CO2 needs to fall by 45% before 2030 and reach 'net zero' by 2050. So, what can we do in the face of such insurmountable actions? Here are several fundamental ways humanity can take charge and reverse climate change, starting with you and those you encourage: Replace Meat One Day a Week: If more of us simply replaced meat one day a week by incorporating more plant-based products, we can reverse climate change. The best news is that the amount of "cleaner" or more plant-based products on the shelves of our groceries and stores like Trader Joe's is increasing daily to almost the taste, consistency, and affordability of meat products. In fact, forecasters believe demand for these products will nearly double from about $29 billion in 2020 to $57 billion in 2025. By picking just one day and consciously replacing meat and dairy products, we can reduce our dependence and lower greenhouse gases and sea temperature drops that climate scientists believe we need to achieve to lessen or stop the dramatic impacts of climate changes we see in natural disasters. And what is a more satisfying way to show our protests for governments and profit-driven businesses, which seem hellbent on destroying our earth, than the meal right in front of you and your encouragement of others to join in? Ideas for meat replacements in recipes exist everywhere, from Google and ChaptGPT searches on your grocery shelves. Begin today, and you will channel your anxiety over news reports about the government's abandonment of climate change actions into a meaningful way that can bring change deliciously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Replace Driving One Day a Week: While this one is not nearly as impactful as collective action in replacing meat, replacing or not driving at all one day a week can also help reduce our individual carbon footprint and collectively help lower the greenhouse gas emissions from our vehicles. Walking, biking, public transportation, and sharing rides are great ways to consider replacing driving. While this may not be possible in rural areas or for those with disabilities and daily obligations, planning to combine trips and errands on the other six days of the week will help curtail and ultimately eliminate or reduce the need to drive on the seventh day. The other benefits of replacing driving one day a week will be lower fuel costs and lowering our dependence on foreign oil, which seems to have plagued every generation since the 1970s. Your Choice of Day: The best news about replacing meat and driving one day a week is that you can do it on your chosen day! In fact, one way to replace meat is to do so over just three meals (or a day's worth) during the week. So, if you tend to have meat products (including dairy milk and cheese) nearly every meal, you could replace it on a Tuesday for breakfast, Thursday for lunch, and Sunday for dinner, or whatever combination works best for you to achieve the same goal. The same holds true for driving. If you drive an average of 100 miles a week. Think about how you can lower that by about 15 miles on average to achieve the equivalent of replacing driving one day a week. So, this may mean walking to your post office, biking to your house of worship, or combining trips to cut down on the miles. Every mile saved driving could contribute to making our planet and bodies healthier. Best of all, it's your choice of the day of the week and how to achieve it. For those of us feeling helpless in these times, climate change impacts remain on our minds. These impacts are seen every day in the loss of lives, destruction of property, and rising costs of food, fuel, and insurance. Collective action and shared sacrifice can work to immediately heal our planets, soothe our minds, and channel our anxieties over governments and businesses currently reversing important actions. All it takes is one day a week. You are the solution. Michael Dru Kelley is a writer, media entrepreneur and a cofounder and a principal LGBTQ + shareholder of equalpride, publisher of The Advocate. In addition, Michael has been an experienced volunteer following disasters and terrorist events including running the food tent feeding recovery workers in the weeks after 9/11, working at food banks after Sandy and helping Asheville community members recover from Helene. For the current LA fire victims, he consulted with FEMA and collaborated with the Ad Council to create the www.ladisasterrecoveryhandbook.org His opinion pieces represent his own viewpoints and not necessarily those of equalpride, or its affiliates, partners, or management. (WIVT/WBGH) New York State is facing an April 1 deadline not just for the government to pass a new budget, but also for hundreds of thousands of at-home care consumers and their care givers to make an important transition. Last year, Governor Hochul and the legislature made a major change to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, or CDPAP, by switching from over 600 financial intermediaries to just one. That has some disability rights and elder care advocates arguing that the transition is happening too fast or shouldnt be happening at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Southern Tier Independence Center, or STIC, is one of the fiscal intermediaries that is being replaced. Since it first joined the program in 1999, it has helped those with disabilities and the elderly get registered for the program, hire their personal assistants, process payroll, administer benefits and handle other traditional HR functions. Last year, it served 300 consumers in Broome, Tioga and Chenango Counties. It is grateful to have been chosen as one of 33 facilitators that will continue working in the program with the new single FI which is PPL. However, STIC Executive Director Jennifer Watson says because PPL was not selected until last Fall, the timeline is way too short. Its simply, you could have the best transition plan in the world, youre not going to transition that number of people safely in 6 months, its just not feasible. When you look at transitions like this that happened in other states, like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts with much smaller populations, they took a much longer transition timeline and people still fell through the cracks, said Watson. Watson says there are currently 250,000 consumers in the state program and 400,000 personal assistants. The state Department of Health and PPL insist that they are on track to meet the deadline. As of March 5, more than 100,000 consumers and 100,000 care givers have successfully signed up. PPL President Maria Perrin says theyre using multiple strategies to get the word out. We do fliers to community and senior centers, with meal services. We meet with community groups and go to community events to inform people of the transition. We have radio, streaming, television and social media outreach going on just to give people more education, said Perrin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state launched the change primarily as a cost-savings move, accusing some of the former fiscal intermediaries of defrauding the system. The cost of CDPAP in New York has grown from $1.5 billion dollars in 2017 to over $9 billion in 2023. Health Commissioner Doctor Jim McDonald says that rate of increase is unsustainable. Why we went to a single fiscal intermediary, really one company to manage this, was really just to have a company that could run the program efficiently and effectively because we really want to protect the program. Its a vital program for so many people who live in New York State. We really need to protect the program, it needs to be sustainable, said McDonald. McDonald says PPL, which is the countrys oldest and largest financial intermediary for self-directed care programs, utilizes electronic visit verification to ensure that care is being delivered. But former Congressman Marc Molinaro, a longtime disability rights advocate, says the change marks a fundamental shift from FIs who advocated on behalf of consumers to a single FI focused on the states cost-cutting mandate. He says the state would have been better off tracking down the fraudsters through proper oversight and accountability. None of this is acceptable, none of it makes any sense. Its bad policy and ultimately will result in less care and put at risk the lives of individuals who really demand and need this kind of care in order to age in place and to receive services at home, said Molinaro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watson says allowing consumers to select their own caregivers is fundamental to their independence. She says the growth of the program indicates its value and the increasing need. Consumers and personal assistants can register for PPL by calling 833-247-5346. Or they can log onto PPLfirst.com/CDPAP. Below are three options to facilitate the process: Call PPLs support center at 1-833-247-5346 or TTY: 1-833-204-9042 and a PPL team member will help you complete the process. Access PPL@Home by going to PPLs website at pplfirst.com/cdpap. Work with PPL or another approved CDPAP facilitator, including Independent Living Centers (ILCs), who can guide you through the process. A list of approved CDPAP facilitators can be found here: CDPAP Facilitators | PPL First. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Legislation moving in the State Capitol has parent and teachers groups concerned about the potential for charter schools to gain new advantages over traditional public schools. The bill deals with school districts ability to purchase and sell property and who gets to decide when a traditional public school is converted into a charter school. Under current law, parents along with school principals, teachers and the district school board all have the ability to weigh in on whether to convert a traditional public school into a charter school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But State Representative Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola) believes parents should be the sole deciders. All this bill says is parents should matter more than anyone else in directing the education of their children, said Andrade during the bills first committee stop Tuesday. His bill would allow a majority of parents at a school to call a vote for charter conversion. At least 50 percent of parents with children in school would have to participate in the vote and a majority of those who participate would have to vote in favor of the conversion to make it happen. But Andrew Spar with the Florida Education Association argued the legislation disenfranchises key stakeholders, especially teachers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its really important that all stakeholders are involved. At the end of the day we know that the education of children works best when its the teachers, staff and administrators working with parents for the best interest of students, said Spar. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The bill creates an additional option as well, allowing for municipalities to petition for charter conversion when a school fails to attain an A grade for five straight years. Overstepping the role of the school board doesnt make sense to me, said Duval Parent Katie Hathaway. Hathaway fears by putting the decision in the hands of people who dont generally deal with education issues, traditional public schools could begin to evaporate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see lots of political games with city council and so this an easy way for them to line the pockets of their corporate donors, said Hathaway. Related: Duval charter schools fall behind traditional public schools in new graduation rate report The second portion of the bill dealing with district properties has elicited similar concerns surrounding the potential for charter school expansion. At a time when school districts like Duval are seeing enrollment drop, Andrade argued districts are hoarding properties they may never need or use. School districts where school districts with a declining population, who have no need for surplus property, are holding onto property because theyre afraid of more competition, said Andrade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His bill does two things to districts that experience a decline in enrollment over a five-year period. One, the districts would be forced to sell off lands designated by the Florida Department of Education as surplus, and two, those districts would be put on a purchasing freeze, preventing them from acquiring any new properties. We saw the community here rally to save our neighborhood public schools last year and we need that same energy right now, said Hathaway. Related: Duval County School Board votes to consolidate elementary schools, delays consolidation of others Hathaway argued the purchasing restrictions and sale requirements would give charter schools a leg up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its tying the hands of local school districts from building new public schools, especially in areas that need them and its ripe for charter schools to come in and build, said Hathaway. Spar added while a districts enrollment may be declining overall, a particular part of a district may be experiencing rapid growth at the same time that warrants purchasing lands for a new school. If you start saying, well you cant do that and you grow in that area, what are you going to do for those students? Put them on buses for 30 or 40 minutes to school? said Spar. Related: DCPS meets to discuss overcrowding at local middle schools Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an argument Andrade seemed receptive to when similar concerns were raised in the bills first committee stop. You squeeze a balloon and it grows in one area even if the air is leaving the balloon entirely, maybe theres an opportunity. Im happy to work with you on it, said Andrade. The bill passed its first committee stop in the House on Tuesday. It has two more stops in that chamber before reaching the floor. In the Senate, a similar bill has not yet received its first hearing. Read: Its heartbreaking: Oceanway parents given unexpectedly long timeline for new school [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. By Sonia Rolley and Ange Kasongo (Reuters) - Congo's former President Joseph Kabila has initiated talks with opposition politicians about the country's political future as Rwanda-backed rebels seize territory in the east, five sources familiar with the outreach told Reuters. The discussions, which have also involved civil society members, represent a potential additional threat to current President Felix Tshisekedi who has faced criticism over his response to the unprecedented advance by M23 rebels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tshisekedi and Kabila once formed an awkward power-sharing deal following Congo's disputed 2018 election, but Tshisekedi eventually began chipping away at his predecessor's influence while accusing him of blocking reforms. The two men's relationship soured to the point that, as M23 marched on east Congo's second-largest city of Bukavu last month, Tshisekedi told the Munich Security Conference that Kabila had sponsored the insurgency. Kabila did not make any public statements on the crisis or respond to the accusation until he published an op-ed in a South African newspaper on February 23 that accused Tshisekedi of violating the constitution, committing human rights abuses and bringing Congo to the brink of civil war. The ex-president has been equally withering in private, according to sources that either spoke to Kabila directly or had knowledge of his recent exchanges with opposition politicians and civil society members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One source who spoke to Kabila said the message was that "the Tshisekedi regime is soon over". "We will see what they do," said the source, who did not wish to be named due to the sensitivity of the discussions. TRANSITION BROACHED All the sources said that, while Kabila and his lieutenants had spoken about some kind of political transition, there was no clear plan or details about how this might potentially unfold. The talks have been private, though Kabila met openly in December in Addis Ababa with opposition leaders Moise Katumbi and Claudel Lubaya. Asked for comment on Thursday on Kabila's reported outreach to the opposition, a spokesperson for Katumbi, former governor of Congo's copper-rich Katanga province, referred Reuters to past statements criticising Tshisekedi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lubaya, for his part, told Reuters on Thursday: "The sky is grey and the outcome uncertain for the country since Tshisekedi seems more concerned with retaining his power than with finding a solution." In a rare interview this week with the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, Kabila called for an inclusive peace process but was vague about his own goals. "Only God knows. Our intentions are to be very much available to serve our country, serve our people," Kabila said after attending the funeral of Namibia's former President Sam Nujoma and meeting several African leaders. Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, one of Kabila's political party leaders, told Reuters that while it would be "good" to exclude Tshisekedi from talks about Congo's political future, it was important to respect the constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tshisekedi announced on February 22 that he would launch a unity government, though that plan has not yet been implemented. Tshisekedi's government is wary of Kabila. A Congolese security source and a senior government official told Reuters this week that authorities had blocked a Kabila-owned boat on Lake Tanganyika on suspicion it would be used to transport weapons to groups that would side with M23. Nehemie Mwilanya Wilondja, a former chief of staff for Kabila, said officials had failed to show any evidence for those allegations. Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing M23. Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mwilanya said the current crisis was reminiscent of 2001 when Kabila took office after the assassination of his father. Then, as now, forces from Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi were active on Congo's soil, threatening the government in Kinshasa. Mwilanya said Kabila, aged 29 when he was sworn in as president, had managed to navigate the crisis far better than Tshisekedi has. "Given the state the country is in, who should be blamed?" Mwilanya said. "Or better, who should be saved? Congo or its rulers?" (Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Sofia Christensen and Gareth Jones) The House of Representatives voted Thursday to censure Texas Rep. Al Green after he disrupted President Trumps address to Congress and things got messy fast. The resolution passed, 224 to 198, with 10 Democrats siding with Republicans to formally reprimand Green. (For the record, both Green and Alabama Rep. Shomari Figures voted present.) But the 11-term congressman didnt back down. Instead, Green stood his ground on the House floor, leading a group of mostly progressives and members of the Black Caucus in singing the gospel anthem We Shall Overcome as Speaker Mike Johnson read out the censure. The chamber quickly erupted into chaos, with Republicans and Democrats shouting over each other until Johnson was forced to call a recess. Watch how it unfolded right here: It was a classic Green moment dramatic, defiant, and highlighting a growing divide among Democrats over how to handle Trump. While high-ranking officials like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have pushed for a measured response, Green and others argue its time to fight fire with fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There comes a time when you cannot allow the presidents incivility to take advantage of our civility, Green declared in a fiery speech. It is time for us to take that stand. So what exactly did Green say during Trumps address? What does this censure mean? And which Democrats joined Republicans in admonishing Green? Lets break it down. What did Rep. Al Green do while Trump was speaking? Just minutes into his speech on Tuesday night, Trump brought up the 2024 election, calling his electoral victory a mandate. Thats when Green shot up, shaking his cane at the president and shouting, You have no mandate to cut Medicaid! Trump didnt engage. Instead, he stuck to his script, touting his popular-vote triumph and citing a poll that shows Americans think the country is on the right track. But the 77-year-old congressman kept interrupting, drawing boos and soon, loud chants of USA! USA! from Republicans. Thats when Speaker Johnson slammed his gavel. Members must uphold decorum and stop any further disruptions. Thats your warning, he declared. But Green kept going, prompting Johnson to call in the sergeant at arms to escort him out of the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afterward, Green told ABC he saw this consequence coming, but the punishment felt worthwhile. There are times when its better to stand alone than not stand at all, he said. But others viewed it as an inappropriate breach of protocol. Right after Trumps address, Johnson called for Green to be censured. If they want to make a 77-year-old congressman the face of their resistance, so be it. But we will not tolerate it on the House floor, he said. What is a censure, anyway? A censure is essentially Congresss way of publicly slapping someone on the wrist. Its a formal reprimand for breaking the rules, but theres no real punishment this wont remove anyone from Congress, for example. These censures have become a go-to move for settling political scores, and Republicans have been on the receiving end, too. In 2021, GOP Rep. Paul Gosar was censured for sharing an animated video that depicted him killing Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But for Green, the fallout might not end there. GOP Rep. Andy Ogles announced Thursday that hes drafting a privileged resolution which any member can force to a vote, with leadership support or not to strip Green and dozens of other Democrats of their committee assignments. Their offense? Standing behind Green and singing as he was censured. Today, a group of House Democrats broke decorum during the censure of Rep. Al Green and, after multiple warnings, refused to heed @SpeakerJohnson's order. I am drafting privileged resolutions to remove each of them from their committees. If you want to act like a child in the Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) March 6, 2025 Even if the resolution doesnt pass, history shows that censured lawmakers often face challenges in securing leadership roles and committee positions. For example, Gosar lost his committee assignments after posting that violent video targeting AOC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The debate over decorum in Congress is also likely to persist, with Green arguing theres a double standard. The decorum you expect from me, you should expect from the president as well, Green said during his speech on the House floor after the censure. Which Democrats supported the censure of Rep. Green? Though Congress is often sharply partisan these days, not all Democrats supported Greens approach to making a statement. Some voiced frustration, arguing that these dramatic moves only gave Republicans more ammunition for political attacks. Unsurprisingly, as the hard-right House Freedom Caucus swiftly introduced the resolution to censure Green, Trump sent out a fundraising appeal, calling Green out and accusing Democrats of hating to put America first. As the political fallout grew, it wasnt just Republicans who backed the censure. Ten Democrats many from moderate swing districts that went for Trump in 2024 also supported Greens reprimand. They include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaii Rep. Ed Case New York Rep. Tom Suozzi California Rep. Jim Costa Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz California Rep. Ami Bera Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur New York Rep. Laura Gillen Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes Ultimately, the support for Greens censure underscores the widening divide within the Democratic Party, with some prioritizing political pragmatism over solidarity. The post Congress Censures Rep. Al Green For Disturbing Trumps Speech appeared first on Katie Couric Media. It's not every day a humble Wi-Fi router makes an appearance in the halls of Congress. But that's exactly what happened on March 5 when Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, held up a TP-Link router and said, Dont use this. Krishnamoorthi has been urging a ban of the routers for months in response to several China-backed cyberattacks last year. Investigators at the Commerce, Defense and Justice departments all opened probes into TP-Link routers in 2024 due to ties to Chinese cyberattacks. These departments are weighing a potential ban on the sale of TP-Link routers, The Wall Street Journal reported in December. Along with Rep. John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan, Krishnamoorthi spurred the investigation over the summer with a letter to the Department of Commerce calling for an immediate ban. Advertisement Advertisement A potential ban is more about the companys links to China than specific security issues that have been publicly identified, according to cybersecurity researchers I spoke with. TP-Link was founded in 1996 by brothers Zhao Jianjun and Zhao Jiaxing in Shenzhen, China. In October last year, it moved its headquarters to Irvine, California, two months after the House announced an investigation into the company. The company told CNET it had previously operated dual headquarters, in Singapore and Irvine. In the House's Select Committee on China hearing, Rob Joyce, former director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, also told the committee that TP-Link routers are a threat to US cybersecurity. "We need to all take action and replace those devices so they don't become the tools that are used in the attacks on the US," Joyce said. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to CNET, TP-Link President Jeff Barney said, "Witnesses at the hearing didnt present a shred of evidence that TP-Link is linked to the Chinese government and we are not." TP-Link has become increasingly dominant in the US router market since the pandemic. According to the Journal report, it grew from 20% of total router sales in 2019 to around 65% this year. TP-Link disputed these numbers to CNET, and a separate analysis from the IT platform Lansweeper found that 12% of home routers currently used in the US are made by TP-Link. "People expect there to be some smoking gun or something in these devices from Chinese manufacturers, and what you end up finding is the exact same problems in every device. It's not like the Chinese devices are glaringly insecure," Thomas Pace, CEO of cybersecurity firm NetRise and a former security contractor for the Department of Energy, told CNET. "That's not the risk. The risk is in the corporate structure of every Chinese company." In my conversations with TP-Link representatives, theyve repeatedly distanced themselves from ties to China. Advertisement Advertisement TP-Link has a secure, vertically integrated and US-owned international supply chain, a TP-Link representative told CNET. Nearly all products sold in the United States are manufactured in Vietnam. Even so, the US government appears to see TP-Link as a Chinese entity. In August, the House Select Committee urged an investigation into the company. TP-Links unusual degree of vulnerabilities and required compliance with [Chinese] law are in and of themselves disconcerting, the lawmakers wrote. When combined with the [Chinese] governments common use of [home office] routers like TP-Link to perpetrate extensive cyberattacks in the United States, it becomes significantly alarming. Asked for comment, a TP-Link representative told CNET, Like many consumer electronics brands, TP-Link Systems' routers have been identified as potential targets for hackers. However, there is no evidence to suggest our products are more vulnerable than those of other brands. Advertisement Advertisement CNET has several TP-Link models on our lists of the best Wi-Fi routers and will monitor this story closely to see if we need to reevaluate those choices. Though our evaluation of the hardware hasn't changed, we're pausing TP-Link routers as our top recommendation until we learn more. Chris Monroe/CNET A ban is more about TP-Link's ties to China than a known technical issue The cybersecurity experts I spoke with all agreed that TP-Link had security flaws, but so do all router companies. Its unclear whether the government has found a new issue that would lead to a potential ban on TP-Link sales. The Wall Street Journal article cited federal contracting documents that show TP-Link routers purchased by agencies from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to the Defense Department and Drug Enforcement Administration. The potential ban comes at a time in Washington when there is growing bipartisan support for extracting Chinese products from US telecommunications. In an attack revealed in October dubbed Salt Typhoon, Chinese hackers reportedly broke into the networks of US internet providers like AT&T, Verizon and Lumen, which owns CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber. Advertisement Advertisement "Vulnerabilities in embedded devices are not unique to any one manufacturer or country of origin," said Sonu Shankar, chief product officer at Phosphorus Cybersecurity. "Nation-state actors frequently exploit weaknesses in devices from vendors worldwide, including those sold by American manufacturers." Brendan Carr, Trumps pick for Federal Communications Commission chairman, said in an interview with CNBC that a recent intelligence briefing on the Salt Typhoon attack made me want to basically smash my phone at the end of it. In many ways, the horse is out of the barn at this point, Carr said. And we need all hands on deck to try to address this and rein this in. TP-Link hasnt been linked to the Salt Typhoon attacks, but it does show the current temperature for perceived threats from China. Chris Monroe/CNET The government may have identified a TP-Link vulnerability, but we dont know for sure Several of the cybersecurity experts I spoke with believe its likely that intelligence agencies have found something with TP-Link that warrants a ban. Advertisement Advertisement I think this comes from a deeper intelligence within the US government. Usually this happens before the information becomes public, Guido Patanella, senior vice president of engineering at Lansweeper, told CNET. "I think it's beyond political," Patanella added. "It could be either an intentionally set hardware flaw or it could be from a firmware point of view. This is usually a black box analysis and it usually doesn't get shared, as happened with Huawei." In 2019, Trump issued an executive order that effectively banned US companies from using network equipment from Huawei, another Chinese company that came under fire over national security concerns. Pace, the NetRise CEO, told me he thinks its likely that theres a zero-day vulnerability in TP-Link devices -- a term that refers to a hidden flaw in which there have been zero days to fix it -- but he was quick to point out that theres no evidence to back that up. Advertisement Advertisement But at least that claim is based in some sort of reality that we are aware of that exists, which is that the PRC (People's Republic of China) is involved in every Chinese corporation. And that's undeniable, Pace said. TP-Link TP-Link has known security flaws, but so do all router companies A TP-Link representative pointed us to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agencys list of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities. TP-Link has two of these events catalogued, compared to eight for Netgear and 20 for D-Link; other popular router brands like Asus, Linksys and Eero have none. By this measure, TP-Link isnt exceptional in either direction, but that might not be all that useful of a measure. "We've analyzed an astonishing amount of TP-Link firmware. We find stuff, but we find stuff in everything," said Thomas Pace, CEO of cybersecurity firm NetRise and former security contractor for the Department of Energy. Advertisement Advertisement The problem with the CISA KEV [list] is, if everything's on the list, how good is that list? Pace added. Basically, every telecommunications device on the planet has at least one vulnerability on the CISA KEV. It's a big problem that there are not great answers to. There have also been several cybersecurity reports that have singled out TP-Link specifically. The most high-profile one came in October when Microsoft released details on a password spraying attack it had been tracking for over a year. In this type of attack, hackers use a single common password to access multiple accounts. Microsoft referred to the attack as nation-state threat actor activity and said TP-Link made up most of the routers used. In May 2023, Check Point Research also identified a firmware implant in TP-Link routers linked to a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group. In this case, the campaign targeted European foreign affairs entities. Still, the researchers emphasized that the attack was written in a firmware-agnostic manner and wasnt designed to exploit TP-Link specifically. Advertisement Advertisement While our analysis focused on its presence in modified TP-Link firmware, previous incidents show that similar implants and backdoors have been used on devices from diverse manufacturers, including US based, Itay Cohen, one of the authors of the Check Point Research report, told CNET. The broader implication is that this implant isnt about targeting a specific brand -- its part of a larger strategy to exploit systemic vulnerabilities in internet infrastructure. Cohen said he doesnt believe a TP-Link ban would improve security much. As I heard from other researchers, the security issues that have been identified are not unique to one company. The vulnerabilities and risks associated with routers are largely systemic and apply to a wide range of brands, including those manufactured in the US, Cohen said. We dont believe that the implant we found was known to TP-Link or was knowingly inserted as a backdoor to their products. Chris Monroe/CNET Is it safe to use a TP-Link router? There are real risks associated with using a TP-Link router, but some level of risk is present no matter what brand of router you use. In general, cyberattacks tied to Chinese actors have targeted think tanks, government organizations, nongovernment organizations and Defense Department suppliers, according to the Journals reporting. I don't think that the average person is going to have this massive target on their back, Pace told CNET. They tend to go after the things they want to go after. That said, these kinds of attacks are often indiscriminate, with the goal of creating a chain of nodes between infected routers and hackers. This means regular users are at risk of being targeted as part of a broader attack campaign, even if they are not individually targeted, said Cohen, the Check Point Security researcher. How to protect yourself if you have a TP-Link router To keep your network safe and secure, you should follow the same steps whether you have a TP-Link router or any other brand. Heres what experts recommend: RIGA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian parliament on Thursday approved the appointment of three new cabinet ministers in a government reshuffle described by Prime Minister Evika Silina as a "restart" amid criticism over her administration's recent performance. Atis Svinka of the Progressives party was confirmed as transport minister, Dace Melbarde of the New Unity party as education and science minister, and Reinis Uzulnieks of the Union of Greens and Farmers as welfare minister. All three newly appointed ministers previously served as parliamentary secretaries before being nominated for ministerial roles. Svinka was parliamentary secretary at the Defense Ministry, Melbarde at the Foreign Ministry, and Uzulnieks at the Welfare Ministry. The reshuffle follows Silina's decision in February to dismiss one minister from each of the three coalition parties. Explaining the changes, Silina said after discussions with all ministers, she decided that new leadership was needed in these sectors. She emphasized that the incoming ministers would bring a "fresh perspective" to tackle the numerous challenges facing their respective ministries. WASHINGTON In the closing weeks of last years presidential campaign, House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly walked back remarks he made while standing alongside a vulnerable Republican member in New York. Johnson had pledged to repeal the CHIPS and Science Act if Donald Trump became president a position he quickly realized was not popular in battleground districts and could hurt his members re-election bids. The CHIPS Act is not on the agenda for repeal, Johnson, R-La., said in a statement that soon followed his October comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow live politics coverage here Fast-forward to Tuesday, and Trump, now president, made a request of Johnson on camera during a nationally televised speech before a joint session of Congress: Repeal the CHIPS Act. Your CHIPS Act is a horrible, horrible thing, Trump said, weaving at Democrats after noting a Taiwanese semiconductor companys recently announced an investment in the U.S. We give hundreds of billions of dollars, and it doesnt mean a thing. All that was important to them was they didnt want to pay the tariffs, Trump continued, before addressing Johnson directly. You should get rid of the CHIPS Act. And whatever is left over, Mr. Speaker, you should use it to reduce debt. Or any other reason you want to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Johnson proceeded to stand and clap following Trumps suggestion, the reception on Wednesday from other Republicans was far icier. Though Republicans were aware of Trumps opposition to the legislation, senior lawmakers werent given a heads up that Trump would make those demands during his joint address, and they have no plans to take up a repeal of the law anytime soon. We have too many other items to deal with that are higher on the list, one top Republican leadership aide said. I highly doubt this will be addressed in any upcoming package. I dont see a huge appetite for that, echoed a senior Senate Republican aide. The legislation passed Congress with bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. It allocated $280 billion in new funding to boost the domestic production of semiconductors and chips, and to bolster research and development. Funding has been awarded to projects in roughly two dozen states, according to the Commerce Departments National Institute of Standards and Technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not sure exactly what he was getting at there, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said. There are some questions around what that statement meant, but there certainly are ways we ought to be able to take all these restrictions off how the money is being spent. Hes right about that, theres no question about that. Trump, as well as some conservatives, have criticized the legislation as offering subsidies for wealthy companies, with the president suggesting that tariffs would be far more effective in getting semiconductor companies to open up shop in the U.S. Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Johnson said there is work we need to do to address the CHIPS Act, voicing concerns with the Biden administrations implementation of the law. He added that Republicans will wait on Trumps upcoming budget proposal to see how he handles the CHIPS Act before making any decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of talk and discussion about it, Johnson said. Yet Republican senators who supported the legislation were caught by surprise by Trumps remarks during his Tuesday address. Sen Todd Young, R-Ind., said Wednesday that they conflicted with assurances he was given by Trumps Cabinet nominees in an effort to secure his vote for their confirmation. I have to admit, I was surprised, Young, the lead Republican on the legislation, told reporters. His comments seemed in tension with the reassurances I had received privately and publicly from his now-Cabinet [members], reassurances which I sought in order to be supportive of certain nominees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young said hes reached out to the White House after the address. Were working with them, seeking clarity, he added. I remain hopeful and frankly my expectation remains that we will be actively working on them to improve the program, and thats how Im looking to the future. Seventeen Senate Republicans voted to support the legislation in 2022, though some of those members are no longer senators. In the House, 24 Republicans voted for final passage of the bill. The legislation has been largely considered a successful effort to jump-start chip manufacturing in the country. I dont think thats likely to happen, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Wednesday when asked if he would support a repeal of the legislation, which he backed in 2022. The origins of that program started back in his administration, and I think what they produced is huge investments made in the United States at TSMC, Samsung, and Micron and other companies, and its made it possible now for the president to announce this additional huge investment by TSMC for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a fellow supporter of the legislation, said he would be curious to see what Trump has in mind. Id like to see what hes going to replace it with, he said. Generally speaking, I want to bring chip manufacturing here, but if hes got a different way to do it, Im open-minded. A second senior GOP Senate aide said Republicans were unlikely to even be able to repeal the CHIPS Act in the coming weeks, given pressing needs around spending and reconciliation bills. I just dont think theres going to be time with what we need to do on the floor, this person said. CHIPS will be complicated to actually unpack too because it has financial hooks already in the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a lead author of the legislation, said in a statement Wednesday that the legislation was supported by members of both parties because we need it to strengthen our national security, stay ahead of China, bolster our supply chains, and bring manufacturing back home from overseas. People are already feeling the positive impacts and new economic energy in their towns in every corner of America, from Ohio to Arizona, Schumer said. I do not think the president will find much support in Congress for undermining these CHIPS investments and the massive amount of jobs they are creating. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said the CHIPS Act was predicated on lessons learned during the first Trump administration that when we didnt have our supply chains here, there were enormous disruptions in things for which there was a global demand and that we didnt make here, and it jeopardized our national security as well as our health. This is something that was sound policy, that helped us economically, and we should stand behind it, Baldwin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law was passed under the 60-vote threshold, meaning itll require 60 Senate votes to repeal. Republicans hold 53 seats. We are seeing this administration with great regularity flout the Congress. We could see some of that in this dimension, too, Baldwin said. Im not suggesting we will. Im just saying, weve already seen that in other arenas. Johnsons backtracking last fall came as he was in the district of a member who was seeing benefits from the legislation, then-Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., highlighting the potential political backlash for seeking to undo the legislation. After Johnson said Republicans were likely to repeal the CHIPS Act, Williams stood next to him and vowed to remind Johnson night and day about the importance of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If thats an important thing for your district, you need this guy there to make that case, Johnson replied. Soon after their public comments wrapped, Johnson released a statement saying the legislation may not be on the chopping block but that there could be legislation to further streamline and improve the primary purpose of the bill to eliminate its costly regulations and Green New Deal requirements. Williams said in a statement that he spoke privately with Johnson after the event and that the speaker apologized profusely, saying he misheard the question. Williams ultimately lost his House race. In January, Trump nominated him to be the Energy Departments undersecretary for nuclear security. CORRECTION (March 6, 2025, 11:52 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the number of House Republicans who voted for final passage of the CHIPS Act. It was 24, not one. Allan Smith reported from New York; Frank Thorp V, Sahil Kapur and Julie Tsirkin reported from Washington, D.C. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com In his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would bar some children born in the United States from claiming citizenship here. Referred to as birthright citizenship, Trumps order was immediately challenged in court. A federal judge put a temporary stay on the order, but the final decision on how to interpret the 14th Amendment, which most legal scholars say grants birthright citizenship, will likely be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Thoughts on the issue show stark divisions along partisan lines, with a new Deseret News national poll conducted by HarrisX showing a majority of Republicans support Trumps move, while a strong majority of Democrats are strongly opposed. On this issue, independents are more likely to side with Democrats than Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue is affecting state politics too, with several state attorneys general, including Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, supporting Trump in his defense of the executive order. Trumps executive order on birthright citizenship signed on day 1 Trump signed the order, Protecting the Meaning and Value of America, on Jan. 20, the same day he was sworn in for his second term. At the time, someone in the room commented that his attempt to redefine the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment would likely be challenged. It could be, Trump responded, calling Americas long-standing approach to birthright citizenship absolutely ridiculous. But you know, well see. We think that we have very good grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A legal response to the order is precisely what occurred next. After Trump signed the executive order, which would deny citizenship to children born to migrants temporarily or illegally in the United States, 18 Democratic attorneys general, and AGs from Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts opposing it. The federal judge agreed with them, and temporarily blocked Trumps order. Three other similar lawsuits were filed that also challenged the order. How did their Republican counterparts respond to Trumps order? Eighteen GOP attorneys general, including Brown, signed a friend of the court brief in response to a separate New Jersey lawsuit filed in opposition to the executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their briefing, the Republican AGs argued the plaintiffs had an incorrect interpretation of the Citizenship Clause of the United States that creates a strong incentive for illegal immigration and birth tourism in the hope of providing children with citizenship. That increased illegal immigration has serious costs on the States. Why did Brown support it? In his initial statement about his decision, Brown said he supported Trumps order because birthright citizenship enables people to exploit American tax dollars and is inconsistent with sensible immigration policy, the views of almost half of all Americans, and the text of the Constitution. Since then, Brown has declined interview requests on the issue. He did respond to a question from the Deseret News on the judges restraining order. I think the job of the attorney general is to ask some of the difficult questions and to really highlight some of the legal issues that people may not be thinking about, he said. Im always going to be willing to do that, even if it makes the people uncomfortable, because I think thats what I was elected to do. Is Trumps order constitutional? Many legal experts argue that the executive order will never become law, citing the 14th Amendment as evidence. The Amendment says, All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those in favor of Trumps order argue interpretation of the amendment is up for debate. Rob Axson, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, said in an interview with the Deseret News that he believes migrants in the country illegally are not under the jurisdiction of U.S. law the language used in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution so why should it apply to their child? This is an issue that predated Trump, Axson said. This is an issue that has been in question and certainly created disconnect and animosity in this country for a long time, and so I think its appropriate for it to be addressed. And I think its appropriate, from a legal perspective, that it should go through the courts and go to the Supreme Court. In their lawsuit, the Democratic attorneys general defended their interpretation of the citizenship clause based on a Supreme Court decision from 127 years ago, United States v. Wong Kim Ark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wong Kim Ark was born in San Francisco in 1873 to Chinese parents who were not eligible to become U.S. citizens because of immigration law. After a trip to China, Wong was denied reentry to the U.S. because, as a child of noncitizen parents, he was not a U.S. citizen. The Supreme Court decided in a 6-2 decision that birth on U.S. soil automatically conferred citizenship, regardless of the parents citizenship status. To many legal experts, the wording of the 14th Amendment is clear, but the Trump administration says the phrase subject to the jurisdiction thereof is up for interpretation. That language is the focal point of the presidents executive order. During a CBS News Face the Nation interview, Vice President JD Vance said that if a person is in the U.S. illegally, then they are not subject to the laws and rights held by legal citizens, and if youre not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and dont plan to be, why would we make those peoples children American citizens. Democrats: Birthright citizenship is a settled matter New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin told The Wall Street Journal that if Trumps executive order eventually passes, it means that the Constitution doesnt matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah House Minority Leader Rep. Angela Romero agrees, arguing that Trumps order is fundamentally unconstitutional and would undermine the protections ensured by the 14th Amendment. Its important to remember that immigrants are the backbone of our nation and play an essential role in enriching our culture and strengthening our economy. If this executive order was implemented, families and communities across the country could be severely disrupted, with children facing uncertain futures regarding their citizenship status, access to education, health care and employment opportunities, Romero told the Deseret News in an emailed statement. In a recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX, 805 Utahns were asked whether they agree with Trumps birthright citizenship executive order. A majority of the Utah respondents agreed more with Romero than Axson or Brown. When asked whether they support the Trump executive order on birthright citizenship, 42% said they strongly or somewhat supported the order, compared to 49% who said they didnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A majority of Utah Republicans (57%) did support the order, but only 14% of Democrats and 31% of independents said the same. The poll was conducted from Feb. 18-25, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points. DN-birthrightutah Every child born in the U.S. has equal rights and opportunities, regardless of family background, Romero said. The presidents executive order weakens constitutional protections for everyone and threatens the checks and balances that sustain our government system. Since the executive order was signed, four federal judges have blocked it, saying it violates the citizenship clause in the 14th Amendment. Will the Supreme Court weigh in? Last week, Trumps Justice Department suffered a loss when an appeals court denied its request for an emergency lift on the block, preventing Trumps executive order from taking effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just because a district court grants preliminary relief halting a policy advanced by one of the political branches does not in and of itself an emergency make, Judge Danielle Forrest, a Trump appointee, wrote in the filing. A controversy, yes. Even an important controversy, yes. An emergency, not necessarily. The order was set to take effect on Feb. 19, but that didnt happen. With arguments now scheduled for June, the case is on track to likely reach the Supreme Court, where Axson says interpretation is needed. Is there an appetite in this country to adjust the United States Constitution through our appropriate process to address this? Either way, Axson said, a Supreme Court decision should they weigh in is a fail-safe and a backstop outcome that is absolutely appropriate. DN-Birthrightnat Birthright citizenship is probably the single greatest encouragement and motivator of folks coming across the border, he said, arguing that it is likely the most enticing encouragement to illegal immigration than any type of welfare benefit or economic opportunity or anything else, because of the privileges and opportunities that come with living in this country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we have a mechanism where, Hey, come to this country, and you get all of these benefits, and its easier to do it illegally than to do it legally, and theres the porous border security, of course were going to continue to have people coming here the wrong way, Axson said. If we want to end human suffering that is as egregious as what we see on the border, we have to start behaving and acting differently. Is the order causing fear? Gina Crezee, executive director of Immigrant Legal Services, a Utah-based nonprofit that helps 300 to 500 people through the immigration process every year, said that the fear immigrants had when Donald Trump won the White House last November was enhanced when he signed the executive order on birthright citizenship on his first day as president. So, she said, she tells her clients to have a plan, and to go about their business and stay prepared. You can talk to any family who has undocumented members, and they will tell you, We have a plan, she said. Everybodys just really scared and really nervous. So what Im telling people is to take a deep breath and be calm. Yes, things are vastly changing, more than normal, but I think Trump is talking a really big game. RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) The ceremonial shovels got a workout Wednesday morning with a ground breaking ceremony for a local veterans mortgage-free new home. Sgt. David Halona is an Iraq War veteran and comes from a military family. City of Albuquerque reminding people to keep their pets vaccinations up to date Construction is kicking off soon on a new home for him and his family. The Mayor of Rio Rancho made an appearance for his future constituent. Weve got a really big veteran community here in Rio Rancho. They play a huge role in our community. Theyre involved in just about every aspect you can think of. Volunteering, working for non-profits, doing different things throughout the community, said Mayor Greg Hull, City of Rio Rancho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This event was made possible with the Building Homes for Heroes group and Pulte Homes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) A new business is opening its doors in Hartford. Construx Co. held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new headquarters location in downtown Hartford on Wednesday. Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam joined in on the festivities, welcoming the company, whose headquarters was previously in Farmington. Duracell leaving Connecticut, moving headquarters to Atlanta Just last year, we did $440 million of construction here in our capital city, and were continuing to grow, hoping to do even more in 2025, Arulampalam said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor says that Construx Co. has doubled in size over the last year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Vice President J.D. Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, applaud behind. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Even before President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on nearly all goods from Mexico and Canada, a majority of Americans said prices would go up for U.S. consumers as a result, according to an Elon University Poll. In a national poll of 1,101 people conducted from Feb. 6-11, 81% of respondents said tariffs would lead to increased prices, with 45% expecting significant increases. Half the respondents said tariffs would hurt small businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About two-thirds of respondents said U.S. producers will suffer because of higher costs to import parts and materials. In addition to the tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Trump added a 10% tariff on imports from China on Tuesday, on top of the 10% tariffs announced in February. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $100 billion in tariffs on American goods, the Associated Press reported. China said it would add tariffs of up to 15% on US agricultural products, NBC News reported. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum left open the possibility of retaliatory tariffs. On Wednesday, Trump would put a one-month pause tariffs on cars from Canada and Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon University Poll results showed distinct partisan differences among respondents. While 66% of Democrats said tariffs would significantly increase prices, only 19% of Republicans said the same. Fifty-four percent of independents said prices would go up significantly. While 76% of Republicans said tariffs would lead to more jobs in the United States, only 22% of Democrats said that was likely or very likely to happen. The poll had a margin of error of 3.51 percentage points. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee narrowly approved House Bill 243 Wednesday. Among other cuts in state regulations, the bill would allow child care centers to set their own staff-to-child ratios the most divisive of the legislations proposed changes. (Getty Images) This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 5, 2025, and was updated on March 6, 2025, to clarify that Kestrel Wests lobbying agreement with Wonderschool was terminated. A controversial child care deregulation bill is heading to the Idaho Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate Health and Welfare Committee narrowly approved House Bill 243 Wednesday. Among other cuts in state regulations, the bill would allow child care centers to set their own staff-to-child ratios the most divisive of the legislations proposed changes. Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby, debates on the Idaho House of Representatives floor on Feb. 9, 2024. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun) Currently, the state requires one staff member for a certain number of children, determined by a formula based on the age of children under a providers care. House Bill 243 would eliminate the current statute and allow providers to set their own ratios, which must be appropriate to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all children in attendance. Bill sponsor Rep. Rod Furniss said the proposal is aimed at easing Idahos child care shortage by eliminating onerous regulations. Were not leaving the day cares out there to run themselves, said Furniss, R-Rigby. Opponents of deregulation bill say it could lead to more neglect, abuse During an emotional public comment period Wednesday, opponents said flexible ratios could lead to increased rates of neglect and abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stripping these key safety standards from law opens the door to operators and bad actors who cut corners to save costs, said Christine Tiddens, executive director of Idaho Voices for Children. In a child care setting, cutting corners results in babies being put into harms way. Sen. Camille Blaylock made an unsuccessful motion to send the bill to the Senates amending order, to reinsert the ratio standard. Blaylock, R-Caldwell, said the state sets minimum safety requirements for private businesses in other contexts, like foster care. Idaho state Sen. Camille Blaylock, R-Caldwell, takes her seat on the Senate floor before legislative action begins on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Were just setting the standard, which is a good thing, she said. I think theres a precedent for it. After rejecting Blaylocks motion by one vote, the committee approved Sen. Brian Lenneys bid to advance the bill. Lenney, R-Nampa, said fears about the regulatory changes were based on false dichotomies the bill wouldnt eliminate child-to-staff ratios, he said and he chided city bureaucrats for their opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive heard cities and bureaucrats saying that they know how to run a day care better than a day care owner, Lenney said. Itd be like a bureaucrat telling a farmer the best way to milk a cow. Kathy Griesmyer, director of government and policy affairs for the city of Boise, touted the citys efforts to incentivize child care providers by offering a property tax rebate to in-home providers, among other strategies. There are a number of creative and innovative ways that government can help incentivize business creation without restricting or removing safety, Griesmyer said. Most who testified were opposed to House Bill 243 A police chief and chamber of commerce president also opposed the bill, along with a handful of current and retired child care providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, nearly 40 people signed up to testify, according to Senate Health and Welfare Committee chairwoman Sen. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree. All but two people representatives from the Idaho Freedom Foundation and Mountain States Policy Center opposed the legislation. Kate Haas, a lobbyist for Kestrel West, presented the bill alongside Furniss. Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, who opposed the bill, asked Haas who she was representing, but Haas declined to answer. I am here on behalf of myself, and we helped Rep. Furniss and Rep. Ehardt with the bill, Haas responded. According to lobbyist disclosures filed with the secretary of state, Haas has lobbied on House Bill 243 for Wonderschool, an online platform that connects parents to child care providers and offers startup resources for providers. But the lobbying agreement was terminated Tuesday, according to the secretary of state disclosures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an online post Tuesday, Wonderschool CEO Chris Bennett wrote that hes a proponent of policies that detail age-specific ratios for different types of programs. Although we never have and never will recommend or advocate for the elimination of child-to-staff ratios, we know that regardless of our view states will pursue different approaches grounded in both their unique geographic, demographic and political realities, and the broader set of policies and tools at their disposal. The House previously approved House Bill 243 by a 54-15 vote. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A four-time convicted felon accused of walking up to a man lying on the ground, shooting and then killing him in Las Vegas fled the state on a Greyhound Bus to Colorado, an arrest report said. Steven Neal, 41, faces charges of homicide with the use of a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, police said. On Feb. 24, around 3:30 p.m., Metro police responded to a report of a man not breathing behind a leasing office near the 2500 block of Tulip Lane near Eastern Avenue and Bonanza Road. When officers arrived they found a body with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The property manager of the complex told police that around 11:30 that morning she saw a man who she believed was sleeping behind the leasing office in an alcove. Around 3:30 p.m. children in the neighborhood told her that they believed the man was dead, the report said. Denver police arrest suspect after man found dead near Las Vegas apartment The Clark County Coroners office identified the victim as Jesus Villa. His cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest and his death was ruled a homicide. A resident in the complex told police that on Feb. 22 around 10 p.m., from his bedroom window, he saw a man shoot Villa while he was lying down behind the leasing office. The man then walked through a dirt lot and jumped over a concrete wall. The resident said he did not report the shooting because he was not sure if what he saw was real, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video footage from a doorbell camera in the complex showed a man wearing a black hoodie with an image of Bob Marley on it, black pants with white stripes on the legs, orange and grey gloves, a face covering and black shoes walking toward the alcove where Villa was, pull out a handgun, point it directly at him and walk into the alcove. Around 5:02 a.m. a gunshot was heard, police said. Video footage from a doorbell camera in the complex showed a man wearing a black hoodie with an image of Bob Marley on it, black pants with white stripes on the legs, orange and grey gloves, a face covering and black shoes walking toward the alcove where Villa was, pull out a handgun, point it directly at him and walk into the alcove. Around 5:02 a.m. a gunshot was heard, police said. (LVMPD/KLAS) Video footage from a doorbell camera in the complex showed a man wearing a black hoodie with an image of Bob Marley on it, black pants with white stripes on the legs, orange and grey gloves, a face covering and black shoes walking toward the alcove where Villa was, pull out a handgun, point it directly at him and walk into the alcove. Around 5:02 a.m. a gunshot was heard, police said. (LVMPD/KLAS) Surveillance footage from a nearby convenience store showed a man matching the suspects description entering the store around 2:12 a.m. on Feb. 22. LVMPD detectives used facial recognition to identify the suspect as Neal. Surveillance footage from a nearby convenience store showed a man matching the suspects description entering the store around 2:12 a.m. on Feb. 22. LVMPD detectives used facial recognition to identify the suspect as Neal. (LVMPD/KLAS) Surveillance footage from a nearby convenience store showed a man matching the suspects description entering the store around 2:12 a.m. on Feb. 22. LVMPD detectives used facial recognition to identify the suspect as Neal. (LVMPD/KLAS) Police identified his phone number and began tracking the location of the phone, which showed it traveling out of Las Vegas, through Utah and into Colorado. Police said on Feb. 27, Neal got onto a Greyhound Bus and fled to Colorado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neal is a four-time convicted felon with charges dating back to 1997. He was previously convicted of battery with a deadly weapon in 1997, discharging a firearm at a vehicle in 1997, robbery with a deadly weapon in 2003, and accessory to an assault with a deadly weapon in 2022, police said. As of Wednesday, Neal was still at the Denver Downtown Detention Center awaiting extradition to Las Vegas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A man who was accused of multiple sex crimes including groping an EMT and masturbating on a GET bus was sentenced Wednesday to time served and must register as a sex offender for life. Prosecutors say Myron Washington Jr., 32, was also sentenced to three years of probation during which he must get psychiatric treatment and complete a sex offender management program. He cant associate with minors or go places where they gather. Washington pleaded no contest last month to charges of assault with the intent to commit a sex crime, failure to register as a sex offender and indecent exposure. He was initially found incompetent and spent months in a state hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Washington, already a convicted sex offender, racked up multiple cases. Suspect in abuse investigation shot, killed by deputies at Virginia Ave Park: Kern County Sheriffs Office The EMT encountered him after being dispatched to a call of a suicidal person. Washington got in the ambulance, lay back on a gurney then grabbed her, according to court documents. She knocked his hand away. Washington then exposed himself and began masturbating, and told her to perform a sex act, documents said. She left through a side door, afraid hed grab her again if she tried to walk past him. In another incident, a woman reported Washington exposed himself and masturbated while seated next to her on a GET bus parked at Cal State Bakersfield. Surveillance video captured the act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in December 2023 the manager of a 99 Cents Only store said Washington refused to leave, and spent an hour singing and dancing. Washington began masturbating before authorities arrived, the manager said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. Police rushed to a Naval air station in Florida following reports of an active shooter, only to be called off a short time later. Corry Station, in Pensacola, was locked down amid reports of an armed disturbance just after 10 a.m. Thursday, with a massive law enforcement presence flooding the scene, according to the U.S. Navy. In a post on X, Naval Air Station Pensacola said that its security forces and local authorities were responding to an active shooter situation onboard the base. Officials said the call came in after three shots were fired. Corry Station, in Pensacola, Florida, was locked down amid reports of an armed disturbance just after 10 a.m. Thursday (Google Street View) However, shortly after the initial reports, the Escambia County Sheriffs Office said there were no signs of an active shooter and the claim had been unfounded. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said officers had swept the building and did not find anyone injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a midday press conference, Simmons told reporters that he expected sheriffs office officials to remain on the base for about another hour. Emergency vehicles began leaving the scene shortly after, according to The Pensacola News Journal. In a previous statement, Captain Chandra Newman said: "Our Security team is responding swiftly and expertly with our local law enforcement partners. Our concern is always the safety and welfare of our service members and their families." NAS Pensacola Navy Security Forces and local law enforcement entities are responding to an active shooter situation March 6 onboard Corry Station. (1/3) NAS Pensacola (@NASPCOLA) March 6, 2025 The gates to Corry Station areas of operations remained closed. NAS Pensacola said that more information would be posted online as it became available. Prior to the Sheriffs announcement, two life flight helicopters had arrived at Corry Station and bystanders told the News Journal that at least 200 vehicles from various law enforcement, emergency response and military response teams were on the scene. CORONADO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) The Coronado Unified School District is making a move and filing a lawsuit against Veolia Water, the company tasked with maintaining the treatment plant at the U.S.-Mexico border. The lawsuit claims students are impacted by the smell and chemicals being released on a regular basis. Local attorney James Frantz says Veolia is failing to clean up its act. All because Veolia does not do their job, they were tasked to do the job since 2011, they receive tens of millions of dollars from the federal government and it doesnt seem to work, Frantz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frantz says the school district is one of more than 500 plaintiffs in a mass action lawsuit which includes many homeowners impacted by the crisis. Billions of gallons of raw sewage and waste have plagued San Diego communities. The controversy behind Californias swastika-shaped building complex The school district is reporting students are falling sick more often, especially on days when odors are strong. The chemicals in this sewage that are being released every day and not controlled by Veolia are cancer causing and cause leukemia, Frantz said. In a statement, Veolia Water says these allegations are pointed in the wrong place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The untreated sewage plaguing San Diego comes directly from Mexico through the Pacific Ocean and the Tijuana River, not the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. The claims in this lawsuit are misplaced, and Veolias hardworking local employees do not deserve to be blamed for the Mexican governments failures. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. LONDON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom (UK) has finalized a 30 million pounds (38.70 million U.S. dollars) deal with defense tech company Anduril to supply Ukraine with advanced attack drones, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Thursday. The agreement was secured during UK Defense Secretary John Healey's visit to Anduril's Washington D.C. facility ahead of talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. Under the deal, Ukraine will receive Altius 600m and Altius 700m drones, classified as "loitering munitions" capable of surveilling designated areas and striking targets. Deliveries of drones, launchers, and spare parts will commence in the coming months, the statement said. The deal is funded through the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which is supported by pledges from 10 nations, now totals 1.3 billion pounds, with the UK contributing 500 million pounds. The agreement comes amid concerns over the U.S. decision to halt intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, potentially hampering Kyiv's access to critical data. The UK has emphasized its continued military support for Ukraine. Since July 2024, the UK has provided over 5.26 billion pounds in military and financial aid to Ukraine, including 10,000 drones already deployed. (1 pound = 1.29 U.S. dollar) (NewsNation) Egg shortages and high prices have largely been blamed on an outbreak of bird flu, but a new watchdog report says companies are creating the crisis by price gouging their customers. According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, the price of eggs has nearly doubled in the last six weeks, with the average cost of a dozen at around $8. White House reverses course on Education Department executive order Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bird flu has slightly reduced egg production, but corporate greed has also played a major role, a report from Food and Water Watch published Wednesday said. What does this report claim about egg prices? According to the report, about 10 companies control the vast majority of the eggs produced in America, and they dictate egg prices whether theres a bird flu outbreak or not. One of these companies, the Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods, increased their profits by 7 1/2 times over the first year of the bird flu outbreak despite not having outbreaks in their own flocks that fiscal year, Food and Water Watch found. During that fiscal year, from June 2022 through May 2023, Cal-Maine sold 7% more eggs than FY2021. House votes to censure Al Green for disrupting Trump speech Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report says Cal-Maine Foods commanded prices from its buyers that were much higher than needed to cover rising costs, at a time when national egg prices were skyrocketing. Basically, they just raised their prices and locked up with national prices. They had no reason to, Amanda Starbuck, research director for Food and Water Watch, said. In FY2021, Cal-Maine took in $0.15 per dozen eggs produced and sold, according to the report. It then made $1.14 per dozen eggs in FY2023 and sold over 1 billion eggs. The penny costs nearly 4 cents to make. But for souvenir sellers, its a living Thats $1 billion dollars in windfall profits that they made from the consumers having to pay more for eggs, Starbuck said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cal-Maine did not respond to The Associated Press request for comment. Our farmers are in the fight of their lives: American Egg Board president American Egg Board President Emily Metz said prices have nothing to do with anything other than bird flu. I think to suggest anything else is a misreading of the facts and the reality, American Egg Board President Emily Metz said. Our farmers are in the fight of their lives, period, full stop. And theyre doing everything they can to keep these birds safe. This is a supply challenge due to bird flu. Nothing else. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins pushed back against criticism that the higher cost of eggs was solely the result of avian flu when she unveiled a nearly $1 billion plan to fight the current price spike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, she attributed the current situation to the high cost of inputs, the unbelievable amount of regulation, the shutting down of our export markets. Rollins plan includes $500 million for biosecurity measures to lock the barns down and initiatives to repopulate flocks after what she described as the depopulation of nearly 160 million birds under the Biden administration. NewsNation digital producer Damita Menezes and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. (NewsNation) Egg shortages and high prices have largely been blamed on an outbreak of bird flu, but a new watchdog report says companies are creating the crisis by price gouging their customers. According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture, the price of eggs has nearly doubled in the last six weeks, with the average cost of a dozen at around $8. Bird flu, which has spread poultry and also affected dairy herds, has slightly reduced egg production, but corporate greed has also played a major role, a report from Food and Water Watch published Wednesday said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House reverses course on Education Department executive order According to the report, about 10 companies control the vast majority of the eggs produced in America, and they dictate egg prices whether theres a bird flu outbreak or not. One of these companies, the Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods, increased their profits by 7.5 times over the first year of the bird flu outbreak despite not having outbreaks in their own flocks that fiscal year, Food and Water Watch found. During that fiscal year, from June 2022 through May 2023, Cal-Maine actually sold 7 percent more eggs compared to FY2021. The report says Cal-Maine Foods commanded prices from its buyers that were much higher than needed to cover rising costs, at a time when national egg prices were skyrocketing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Basically, they just raised their prices and locked up with national prices. They had no reason to, Amanda Starbuck, research director for Food and Water Watch, said. In FY2021, Cal-Maine took in $0.15 per dozen eggs produced and sold, according to the report. It then made $1.14 per dozen eggs in FY2023, and sold over 1 billion eggs. Thats $1 billion dollars in windfall profits that they made from the consumers having to pay more for eggs, Starbuck said. Cal-Maine did not respond to the Associated Presss request for comment. House votes to censure Al Green for disrupting Trump speech American Egg Board President Emily Metz said prices have nothing to do with anything other than bird flu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think to suggest anything else is a misreading of the facts and the reality, American Egg Board President Emily Metz said. Our farmers are in the fight of their lives, period, full stop. And theyre doing everything they can to keep these birds safe.. .This is a supply challenge due to bird flu. Nothing else. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins pushed back against criticism that the higher cost of eggs was solely the result of avian flu when she unveiled a nearly $1 billion plan to fight the current price spike. Instead, she attributed the current situation to the high cost of inputs, the unbelievable amount of regulation, the shutting down of our export markets. Rollinss plan includes $500 million for biosecurity measures to lock the barns down and initiatives to repopulate flocks after what she described as the depopulation of nearly 160 million birds under the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsNation digital producer Damita Menezes and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Child care worker Marci Then helps her daughter, Mila, 4, put away toys to get ready for circle time at the Little Learners Academy in Smithfield, R.I. A new study highlights the high cost of child care. Elaine S. Povich/Stateline The cost of child care now exceeds the price of college tuition in 38 states and the District of Columbia, according to a new analysis conducted by the Economic Policy Institute. The left-leaning think tank, based in Washington, D.C., used 2023 federal and nonprofit data to compare the monthly cost of infant child care to that of tuition at public colleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tally increased five states since the pandemic began. EPIs last analysis relied on 2020 data, which showed child care costs outstripped college costs in 33 states and Washington, D.C., said EPI spokesperson Nick Kauzlarich. The organization released a state-by-state guide on Wednesday showing the escalating cost of child care. Average costs range from $521 per month in Mississippi to as much as $1,893 per month in Washington, D.C., for households with one 4-year-old child, EPI found. The analysis also found child care costs have exceeded rent prices in 17 states and the District of Columbia. EPI leaders said child care is unaffordable for working families across the country, but especially for low-wage workers, including those who provide child care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt inevitable it is a policy choice, Katherine deCourcy, EPI research assistant, said in a news release. Federal and state policymakers can and should act to make child care more affordable, and ensure that child care workers can afford the same quality of care for their own children. The organization highlighted New Mexico as a case study on the growing challenge facing families. There, the average annual cost of infant care exceeds $14,000 or nearly $1,200 a month, the group said. Care for a four-year-old costs nearly $10,000 per year or over $800 a month. While experts often consider housing as a familys single largest expense, EPI found New Mexicos annual infant care costs outpace rent by over 10%. Child care is out of reach for about 90% of New Mexico residents, according to the federal governments definition of affordability, which is no more than 7% of a familys income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates often call for universal preschool programs as a way to provide quality, free child care. EPI noted a 2022 constitutional amendment approved by New Mexico voters guaranteeing a right to early childhood education. That created an annual fund of about $150 million to help subsidize early childhood programs. New Mexicos investments mark an important step toward affordable child care, but investments like this are needed across the country, EPI argued in a Wednesday blog post. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE New York City could well become the first major city in the country to enact a universal child care program, as candidates in the mayoral race line up to support it and advocates roll out a concrete plan to achieve it. Four candidates attended an event last November where the nonprofit New Yorkers United for Child Care launched a five-year plan for expanding care: City Comptroller Brad Lander, State Sen. Jessica Ramos, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie and State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. Ramos has put the issue at the center of her mayoral run. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Two other candidates have also embraced the issue. Former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer has rolled out a plan to cap the cost of child care for the citys families, and in a previous run for mayor he called for universal child care. Michael Blake, a former aide to President Barack Obama, has also said he supports it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who recently entered the race, is promising to make the citys 3-K program fully universal; as governor, he secured state funding for New York Citys groundbreaking universal pre-K program and convened a task force on child care affordability before he resigned in the wake of multiple sexual harassment allegations. Theres a strong argument that New Yorkers United for Child Care has already won the New York City mayors race, Lander said. New Yorkers United for Child Care got its start about a year ago. Rebecca Bailin, its executive director, realized there was no group dedicated to the single issue of child care. It felt really insane that we didnt have a constituent base ready to build power around this very critical issue, she said. The group had its work cut out for it. Instead of working toward creating new early education programs, it found itself immediately leading the opposition to Mayor Eric Adamss funding cuts to what was supposed to be a universal 3-K program. While the program is still not universal despite Adamss promise that every family would get a seat who wanted one this year, plenty reported being waitlisted the mayor last year restored some of the funding he threatened to cut. A Plan for Universal Child Care Now New Yorkers United for Child Care is going on the offense with its five-year plan to achieve free care for all children at a cost of $12.7 billion a year, or 6 percent of the states current budget, once the plan is fully implemented. The plan would launch in the city and spread across the state, using state funding, perhaps through taxes on capital gains, corporations or high-income earners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea is to create an early childhood education system for children from infancy through age 4 that mirrors the K-12 system. The plan calls for a free, full-day program, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., to accommodate parents work schedules. Spaces would be within 15 minutes of families homes because you cannot bus a toddler or a baby, Bailin said. The first year of the plan would be spent ensuring that 3-K and pre-K programs in the city are truly universal and expanding them to other areas of the state. Year two would guarantee universal access statewide while growing access for 2-year-olds, and then later years would be spent on younger ages. Bailin isnt waiting for lawmakers to come around. In January, her organization brought advocates, parents and elected officials to New York Citys city hall to launch a campaign for free care for New York City 2-year-olds, which its calling 2-Care. They ultimately want to serve 60,000 toddlers at a cost of about $1.3 billion annually. Ramos and Lander both support that campaign, too. Support from City and State Leaders Indeed, the push for universal child care has found fertile ground in the current mayoral race. Both Ramos and Lander have children and dealt with the problem firsthand. When Ramos had her first child 13 years ago, she had to put together a hodgepodge of child care coverage and it was just really, stressful to do, she said. But then when her child was 4 years old she worked in the administration of then-Mayor Bill de Blasio setting up universal pre-K, and both of her sons got to attend. That was really eye opening, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So when she was elected to the state Senate, one of the first bills she introduced was universal child care legislation that would create a funding stream to cap families child care costs at 7% of their income and pay providers at least $45,000 a year. That legislation has not yet passed. Shes also worked on expanding eligibility for child care subsidies so they are now available to families earning 400% of the federal poverty line, or $128,600 for a family of four. The state has nearly quadrupled spending on child care over the past four years, although it still only devotes less than half a percent of its budget to it. My campaign proposal is really building off of, or taking from, my state plan to implement a city system, she said. If elected mayor, shes promised she would streamline the bureaucracy of the existing system, open more facilities, invest in providers, and, ultimately, achieve universal child care. As with Bailins plan, she would start by really mak[ing] 3-K work, and then move down to create a program for 2-year-olds and get as close to newborns as possible. She would start on day one. Lander said enacting universal child care would be one of his top three priorities if elected. His other priorities are tackling homelessness and building affordable housing, but he said those initiatives would take a long time to come to fruition. Universal child care, on the other hand, is the single biggest thing we could do to have a near-term impact on the affordability crisis that is facing New York Citys families. Landers first step would be to ensure the existing 3-K program is universal, something he says can be done in his first year with existing city funding. Then he would work with New Yorkers United for Child Care to expand universal, free care to age 2 and, eventually, all the way to 6 weeks old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you want to have a functioning democracy, if you believe in any meaningful way that every kid ought to have as close to equal opportunity to thrive as you can provide, and if you want a city where you can have a thriving economy with families working, publicly provided early childhood education is a linchpin, Lander said in an interview. New York City cant create universal child care on its own; both Ramos and Lander acknowledged funding will have to come from the state government. Bailin agrees, though believes it will eventually pay for itself as universal child care has been shown to do in Quebec, Canada. There are signs of interest in Albany. State Senate Majority Leader Andrew Stewart-Cousins called for universal, affordable child care in 2022. In December, Sen. Samra Brouk and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages published an op-ed also calling for free, full-day universal child care, and Sen. Andrew Gounardes included it in his priorities for 2025. In her state of the state address this year, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for putting the state on a pathway toward universal child care. So far, nothing concrete has passed, but before they werent saying anything, Bailin noted. If a candidate who supports universal child care wins, Bailin said parents like those in her group will have to make it clear this is a priority. This is what their constituents are clamoring for and demanding, she said. Its our job to make sure that our elected officials are hearing from them. A couple from Belize are accused of trying to force their way onto an American Airlines flight over the weekend, pushing two people in the process. Authorities were called Sunday to a gate at Miami International Airport regarding two passengers who were being disruptive while a flight to Cancun, Mexico, was boarding, American Airlines said. "Acts of violence are not tolerated by American Airlines and we are committed to working closely with law enforcement in their investigation," it said in a statement Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rafael Seirafe-Novaes, 40, and Beatriz Rapoport De Campos Maia, 29, became angry over missing a flight and being denied entry after the plane boarded, according to arrest reports from the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office. Maia's arrest report said she pushed two people and then threw coffee on them. "The jetbridge door has posted signs 'no trespassing authorize personnel only,'" it said. "The defendant ignored the signs and verbal commands from the ticket agent as she pushed pass entering onto the jetbridge." An arrest report for Seirafe-Novaes said he "resisted officers without violence" and pulled his arms away from the arresting officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show Seirafe-Novaes was charged with resisting officers, trespassing and two counts of battery. Records were not immediately available for Maia; the arrest report said she was charged with battery and trespassing. The court docket for Seirafe-Novaes did not list an attorney. In an interview with CBS News, Maia denied the allegation, accused the person who said she threw the coffee of lying and insisted that it accidentally fell to the floor. Seirafe-Novaes denied the allegation that he resisted law enforcement, telling CBS News he had scrapes on his knees from the arrest. Maia told CBS News: "We did two connections. This was our second connection. We lost our trip to Cancun. We just got engaged, and what happened is a bad thing." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com New Zealand officials are investigating the appearance of Japanese mantis shrimp in the country's northern coastal waters, reported Phys.org. What's happening? Researchers trapping invasive Asian paddle crabs in Tauranga Harbor got more than they bargained for when they caught a Japanese mantis shrimp, according to a December Facebook post from the Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council. "It's the first time one has been found in the Bay of Plenty region, but it's not something to celebrate," officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While researchers have formally identified just one specimen, the public has reported several additional sightings. Officials are using these reports to assess how widespread the species might be in the harbor. The creature received its "thumb splitter" nickname because it's aggressive and "can punch [its] way through aquarium glass," officials explained. These unusual shrimp also make a distinctive "rumbling growl sound." Why is this invasive shrimp concerning? When non-native species appear in new environments, they often disrupt the natural balance that keeps ecosystems healthy. The Japanese mantis shrimp was first spotted in New Zealand in 2010 in Kaipara Harbor, but its spread to a new area signals growing problems for native wildlife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These aggressive shrimp "can alter native habitats by digging burrows to live in and may compete with native species for food and space," experts said. This competition threatens local marine life that hasn't evolved to deal with these newcomers. The situation adds to existing problems with other invasive species like the Asian paddle crabs that researchers originally targeted. When native species decline, it affects the entire food web and can reduce the health of coastal waters that people rely on for fishing, recreation, and natural protection. What's being done about these invasive shrimp? New Zealand's environmental authorities are taking swift action to address the problem before it grows. Experts are currently developing a response plan to monitor and potentially control the spread of these invasive shrimp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials have also begun educating the public about identifying the species, noting that "Japanese mantis shrimp can easily be confused with a native species that is of similar size and color." The key differences include "thinner maroon lines running down their bodies and a blue and yellow tail fan," according to officials. By reporting unusual marine life sightings to local environmental agencies, you can help scientists track invasive species. Early detection gives authorities the best chance to protect native ecosystems before permanent damage occurs. Some restaurateurs have successfully caught and served invasive species on their menus to combat overpopulation. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. A brazen crew of teen robbers has been targeting Manhattan drivers in a string of thefts, with at least one victim sprayed with an unknown substance as thieves make off with wallets, debit cards and other valuables, police said Wednesday. The robbers first struck on Jan. 21, when two of them approached a 30-year-old man sitting in his car in East Harlem around 10:30 p.m., cops said. Without warning, they sprayed an unknown substance in his face and then stole $1,500 in cash and his debit card. The robbers took off. Medics treated the man on scene for minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks later, on Feb, 9, another pair of robbers struck in the same neighborhood. This time, a 64-year-old man was targeted around 12:45 a.m. as he sat in his car. The thieves snatched his wallet containing a credit card before fleeing the scene. The crime spree continued with more robberies in the following weeks. On Feb.13, cops said, a 31-year-old man was targeted on the Upper East Side around 3:15 p.m. when one of the suspects attempted to grab his wallet from the center console of his car, but the man fought back and the thief fled without making off with the billfold. Then, on Feb. 17, two suspects targeted a 36-year-old man parked near the corner of E. 118th St. and Fifth Ave. in East Harlem around 4 a.m. They reached into the center console of his car and stole his wallet containing a debit card and credit card before taking off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crew laid low until Feb. 21, police said, when they attacked a man on Sixth Ave. in Midtown Manhattan, pushing the 48-year-old victim before forcibly removing his wallet, containing a credit card, from the middle console of his car. The suspects fled and used the stolen card to take themselves shopping at a Forever 21 on Seventh Ave. near W. 46th St., cops said. On Feb. 28, near the corner of W. 45th St. and Ninth Ave., three men in the crew snatched a 67-year-old mans cell phone out of his hand. A little more than an hour later, four suspects struck again, stealing a 23-year-old mans wallet and $100 from his car in the same neighborhood, before swiping one of his cards at a Target on Tenth Ave. near W. 44th St., according to police. No one was seriously injured in any of the robberies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are searching for four teens three female and one male who they believe are responsible for the string of robberies. Cops on Wednesday released photos of the robbers in the hopes someone may be able to recognize them. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. ST. LOUIS A major shift is taking place in public safetythe St. Louis Citys police chief said that the city is seeing a historic drop in crime. Homicides, burglaries and shootings are down significantly, according to Chief Robert Tracy. City leaders see this dramatic drop in crime, and they are crediting community policing as well as officers pay raises. Historically, St. Louis has faced significant challenges with violent crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News In 2021, the city reported 264 homicides; however, recent data indicates a positive shift in the two months of 2025. St. Louis citys police chief says there is a substantial decrease in violent crime, including a notable reduction in homicides If you look at all the cities around this region and other states, we are all pretty high and we are all working to reduce them, Tracy said. If our crime is going in the right direction, then the per capita is going to come down. We have made progress but have a lot of work to do. The city recorded 15 homicides through March 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police department reported this is fewer than the same period last year when St. Louis had its fewest homicides in 11 years. We were in the top 10; we are falling out of the top 10 and I think with these numbers, if they continue the way they are going, we will stay out of the top 10, Tracy said. We are going in the right direction. Guests scramble after St. Louis hotel abruptly closes The chief said they will continue efforts in community engagement. He says social intervention efforts are crucial to sustaining this positive trend. Officials say, despite the progress, state lawmakers are again pushing to take local control away from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, which city leaders oppose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there is going to be a change, thats always my biggest worry, because even if its well-meaning, in this process, if it is changed, Tracy said. There are disruptions that happened. I hope it does not disrupt as much because we are looking at very good progress. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. By Helen Reid and Linda Pasquini HERZOGENAURACH, Germany (Reuters) -Adidas sold its last pair of Yeezy sneakers at the end of 2024, the sportswear brand said on Wednesday, ending the process of liquidating stock of the lucrative shoe partnership with rapper Ye after splitting from him in October 2022. Adidas has been trying to put the Yeezy affair behind it since antisemitic rants by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, forced it to end the highly profitable partnership, denting revenues and driving the company to an annual loss in 2023. "There is not one Yeezy shoe left, it has all been sold and that episode is behind us," Chief Financial Officer Harm Ohlmeyer told a press conference on Wednesday after Adidas reported results. The company has felt the loss of Yeezy particularly in the United States, where the shoes were popular. In its results on Wednesday Adidas said North America sales fell 2% in 2024, "solely due to significantly lower Yeezy sales". The company started selling off its remaining stock of Yeezy shoes in May 2023, pledging to donate part of the proceeds to organisations combating antisemitism, including the Anti-Defamation League. Adidas reported it sold 650 million euros ($696 million) worth of Yeezy sneakers last year, making a profit of around 200 million euros. The year before, Adidas made 750 million euros in revenue from Yeezy inventory, generating 300 million euros in operating profit. The company has set aside 260 million euros for charitable donations from the proceeds of Yeezy sales, CEO Bjorn Gulden told a press conference. That amounts to about half of the operating profit Adidas made on selling off its stock of the sneakers in 2023 and 2024. Of that, 200 million euros is held in a foundation set up by Adidas, while 60 million has already been paid out to charity organisations, Gulden said. ($1 = 0.9410 euros) (Reporting by Helen ReidEditing by Mrigank Dhaniwala, Louise Heavens, Tomasz Janowski and Frances Kerry) (Bloomberg) -- As about two dozen crypto-industry executives head to the White House for a summit on Friday, President Donald Trump has a gift ready for them: An executive order calling for the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a separate stockpile of other digital assets. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump signed the order Thursday night, according to posts on X by his artificial-intelligence and crypto czar David Sacks and aide Margo Martin. Both the reserve and the stockpile will contain crypto forfeited as part of legal proceedings, according to Sacks. The order authorizes the Treasury and Commerce departments to develop budget-neutral strategies for buying more Bitcoin for the reserve with no incremental costs to taxpayers, Sacks wrote. The government will not acquire additional crypto for the stockpile of other assets beyond those obtained through forfeiture proceedings, Sacks added. The executive order comes on the eve of a Friday White House gathering to celebrate Trump and to plot a course forward under the president who is friendly to the industry following a crackdown by President Joe Bidens administration in the wake of the collapse of the FTX exchange. Coinbase Global Inc. CEO Brian Armstrong, Bitcoin evangelist Michael Saylor of the company known until recently as MicroStrategy Inc., and Vlad Tenev of Robinhood Markets Inc. will be among those scheduled to assemble at 1:30 p.m. eastern time for the White House Digital Assets Summit. Trump issued the offer to join him at the White House, according to an invitation seen by Bloomberg News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To industry advocates, the event represents a dramatic change in the political climate surrounding the asset class after the crackdown that followed the collapse of Sam Bankman-Frieds FTX. It represents a turning point for the industry, said JP Richardson, CEO of Omaha, Nebraska-based digital-wallet provider Exodus Movement Inc., who is attending the summit. If you go back to 2022, you had the Biden administration being actively hostile to our industry. Now being at the White House, talking with the president about crypto policy, that means this administration is taking crypto seriously. The gathering comes just days after Trumps announcement on his Truth Social platform that the US would include three lesser-known digital tokens in his proposed crypto reserve. The post sparked an intense but short-lived crypto rally. Critics of the Sunday post on Trumps Truth Social platform questioned the projects merits and the tokens he highlighted: SOL, XRP and ADA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The summit will feature Sacks, a venture capitalist and now White House adviser on crypto and AI, alongside Bo Hines, director of the Presidents Council of Advisers on Digital Assets. Read: Tether CEO Ardoino Hints at Attending White House Crypto Summit Trump, a crypto skeptic during his first administration, warmed up to the industry while on the campaign trail. He was initially persuaded to go along with a pitch to offer NFTs and then met with exchanges and the Bitcoin mining companies that handle the blockchain transactions. Those conversations opened up a spigot of donations from the industry. Coinbase, the largest US exchange, and digital-asset firm Ripple made significant contributions in the last congressional election cycle, and also donated to Trumps inauguration celebrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump pitched the idea of a national strategic Bitcoin stockpile at an industry conference in Nashville last July. At that same event in Nashville, Trump pledged to fire former US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler on his first day in office, a statement widely cheered by industry insiders. Gensler resigned in January. Read: Trump Bitcoin Reserve Plan Seen as Just Symbolic Little Stash (July 2024) In January, shortly after being sworn in for his second term as president, Trump signed an executive order on cryptocurrencies. That order called for studying the feasibility of creating a digital asset stockpile but fell short of declaring that Bitcoin would be the focal point of a national reserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think this crypto summit demonstrates President Trump making good on the promises he made in Nashville, said Christopher Giancarlo, who served as chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during the first Trump administration. He now serves on the board of the crypto company Paxos Trust Co. Since Trump took office, the SEC has dismissed or paused lawsuits and investigations involving at least 10 crypto companies, including Coinbase, Robinhood, Uniswap Labs and OpenSea. Read: SECs Uyeda Expects Rule Slowdown After Ambitious Biden Era --With assistance from Katanga Johnson and Teresa Xie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with executive order signed in first three paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. 27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? The people of Illinois have spoken, and they overwhelmingly favor retaining the current state flag. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has announced the results of the state flag redesign contest following a five-week voting period. Voters had the option to choose their favorite from one of the Illinois Flag Commissions Top 10 new designs, or to choose one of three former flag designs including the current one, which has not had a major redesign in the past century. Thats the one they favored, by a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WGN Morning News to Host LIVE St. Patricks Day Celebration on Friday, March 14! Of the nearly 385,000 votes that were received, over 165,000 or 43 percent were cast for the current Illinois state flag. In fact, it received more votes than the next five top designs combined. Some may call it an SOB a seal on a bedsheet and the vexillological (study of flags) community may hate it, but people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag, Giannoulias said in a news release. Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the future of this important symbol of state pride. The Illinois Flag Commission will prepare a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the states General Assembly by April 1. Lawmakers will then vote on whether to adopt a new state flag, return to a previous iteration, or keep the current one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Senate Bill 1818, sponsored by State Sen. Doris Turner (48th District, Springfield) and State Rep. Kam Buckner (26th District, Chicago), was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2023, creating the commission to gauge public desire for a new state flag. The commission selected its top 10 finalists in December from the 4,844 entries it received during the six-week submission period that closed in October. Heres a breakdown of the results from the public voting period: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. The Pierce College District will pay $1.2 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that arose from a cyberattack two years ago, compromising the personal data of more than 150,000 current or former students, staff and college applicants. In a lawsuit filed in Pierce County Superior Court after the data breach was discovered in summer 2023, 17 current or former students and employees alleged that the college failed to maintain adequate security protocols. The college, they said, enabled their personal information to be stolen by cybercriminals and leaked onto the dark web, violating their privacy, causing anxiety and forcing them to spend hours reviewing financial accounts for signs of identity theft or fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sally McAuley, a plaintiff who attended the college around 2022 and 2023, alleged that she experienced a substantial uptick in spam calls and emails from bad actors and that an unauthorized person tried to use her and her husbands credit and debit cards to submit an online payment request in their name, leading to the cards being canceled. Following the data breach, the Pierce College District, which denied wrongdoing, offered a free one-year membership to Experian to assist with detecting fraud and protecting identity. In a settlement approved Feb. 28, the district agreed to pay $1.2 million and improve its data security, which the college said it had already been working on. The resolution impacts the lawsuits named plaintiffs as well as settlement class members who filed nearly 3,000 claims before an advertised deadline expired, according to attorney Tim Emery, who represented the plaintiffs in the case. In an interview Wednesday, Emery celebrated the settlement as a big win for those affected by the cyberattack and alleged that Pierce College had played ostrich instead of resolving the breach upon learning of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlement showed the colleges willingness to make amends, he added. In my view, Pierce College did the right thing by their former students and teachers, and this puts this issue to rest but also ensures that future students, teachers and enrollees wont be at risk for a breach of their personal information, Emery said. Pierce College, the largest college district in Pierce County, serves more than 13,500 students per year and maintains campuses in Lakewood and Puyallup. The districts legal counsel, Benjamin Wanger, said that the college took immediate steps to secure its network and commenced an investigation, according to a letter he wrote in September 2023 to the state Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im really happy that we have kind of the whole situation behind us, Pierce College Chancellor and CEO Julie White said in an interview Wednesday. While the settlement payout was covered by insurance, the district has paid additional costs to beef up security, according to White, noting that she didnt want to offer specifics due to security concerns. The college has worked alongside industry-leading security groups and implemented proactive monitoring and threat mitigation, among other typical security enhancements such as multi-factor authentication, she said. Some security upgrades were in the process of being implemented, White added, when the college identified suspicious activity within its network on July 24, 2023. A subsequent investigation found evidence that unauthorized actors had acquired certain files on the network between July 23, 2023 and July 24, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sept. 8, 2023, the district notified anyone whose information may have been jeopardized. That group consisted of 155,811 Washington residents described by White as current or former students and staff and people who may not have attended the college but started the enrollment process. The data breach compromised individuals names, Social Security and drivers license numbers, financial and banking information and full date of birth, according to the state Attorney Generals offices website that tracks data breaches reported to it by entities such as public agencies. More than a week after the incident, the colleges electronic systems were down amid the districts investigation into what it then described as a service disruption. All in all, its hard to find positives in this of course...but I would say it certainly helped all of us understand the importance of staying on top of this, White said. I do think that we are in a much better place. The $1.2 million settlement will pay out claims for lost money or time, fund claims for three years of identity theft protection and credit monitoring services, award $61,000 in total to the named plaintiffs and cover $400,000 in legal fees, according to Emery and court records. By Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) -Cyclone Alfred stalled off Australia's east coast on Thursday as officials shut airports, schools and public transport while residents stockpiled supplies and sandbagged homes against flooding expected when the category-two storm hits. The storm is now likely to make landfall by Saturday morning near Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update, compared with a prior projection of landfall by early Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storm's destructive reach will stretch across the border regions of the states of Queensland and New South Wales, the bureau said, bringing heavy rain, flooding and damaging wind. "Alfred is behaving at the moment like a completely unwanted houseguest. It's told us it's going to be late but linger even longer," New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told reporters. "Unfortunately that means the window for destruction in our community - heavy rains, winds, powerful surf - is longer than we would have otherwise liked." Storm warnings on Thursday stretched for more than 500 kms (311 miles) across the northeast coast, as huge waves whipped up by the cyclone eroded beaches, and officials urged residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the defence force would be ready to support emergency services. Heavy rain from the weather system has already drenched some regions, said Dean Narramore, forecaster at Australia's weather bureau. Narramore said the cyclone's stalling could result in "a longer and prolonged period of heavy rainfall, particularly in northern New South Wales" leading to life-threatening flash flooding. New South Wales resident Sara Robertson and her family has moved all their valuables from their home in the rural town of Murwillumbah to a motel ahead of the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm glad we've got a little bit more of a breather, feeling very tired today and we still have a lot to do," Robertson told ABC News after moving computers and electronics into the motel. More than 5,000 properties in southeast Queensland and thousands in northern New South Wales are without power as officials warned there would be more outages when the wind speed increases. Brisbane airport said it will suspend operations around 4 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Thursday but keep its terminals open for defence operations. Qantas Airways said its international operations from Brisbane would remain suspended until Saturday noon and domestic flights until Sunday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 1,000 schools in southeast Queensland and 250 in northern New South Wales were closed on Thursday, while public transport in Brisbane has been suspended. Alfred has been called by officials a "very rare event" for Brisbane, Queensland's state capital, with the city last hit by a cyclone more than half a century ago in 1974. The city of around 2.7 million had near misses from cyclones in 1990 in 2019. (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry and Christopher Cushing) The Russian-made Kalashnikov still prevails as the main small arm in Ukraines military. A Czech weapons giant is setting up shop in Ukraines factories to change that. The Prague-domiciled conglomerate, Colt CZ, has set up assembly of its Bren 2 assault rifles inside Ukraine under the name Sich the center of life for Zaporizhzhian Cossacks, a historical group of Ukrainian semi-nomadic warriors. The goal, as Colt CZs head of public sector, Ondrej Bohac, put it, is to get rid of Ukrainian dependence on Soviet weapons, like the AK-47, and not only on the weapons themselves but also on the ammunition, which is still produced mainly in Russia and Belarus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine does not seem close to running through its old stockpiles of ammunition, but as with the conversion from Soviet 122 and 152 mm artillery to NATO-standard 120 and 155 mm, the transition is a long-term Western turn. The Sich offers swappable components for alternating between Soviet and NATO calibers. Tens of thousands of the assault rifles are already in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers, mostly from Czechia, but they have begun assembly inside of Ukraine. Many international arms giants have announced plans to build their wares inside of Ukraine, ranging from Rheinmetall to Northrop Grumman to Baykar. Colt CZ is one of the first to set up production, putting the firm in a relative frontier position. Its experience will be a bellwether for NATO-based weapons manufacturers expanding to Ukraine. Czech arsenal Colt CZ began its life as Jihoceska Zbrojovka, or the South Czech Armory, shortly after the First World War and the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Renamed to Ceska Zbrojovka, or Czech Armory, it would go on to survive Nazi occupation and Soviet domination and ultimately an invasion by Warsaw Pact soldiers in 1968. In large part thanks to Ceska Zbrojovka, Czechoslovakia would retain an unusually independent military until the fall of the USSR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent years have seen the company expand internationally, most conspicuously in buying the Connecticut-originated Colt brand, the unofficial armory of the American Wild West whose name now sits alongside CZ in the companys title. Today, Colt CZ can assemble 400 of their Bren 2 Siches per day in Ukrainian factories, according to Bohac. Ukraines state-owned defense conglomerate, UkrOboronProm, announced the start of production in December. The assembly lines are owned and staffed by UkrOboronProm, which, for the time being, is getting components shipped from Colt CZs original factories. Colt CZ is, in turn, training the Ukrainian staff and leasing out their assembly method. Its an arrangement that is becoming standard for international arms makers looking to set up inside of Ukraine. Many have made announcements of doing so over the past three years, but projects by firms like Rheinmetall or Northrop Grumman, primarily to produce 155 mm artillery ammunition, have stalled out. Colt CZ is among the biggest to have started production, at least partially because the guns are themselves small arms rather than, say, ballistic missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The speed of set-up is also thanks to the geographical and political proximity of Ukraine and Czechias own experience under the Soviet heel. It shows our commitment to support the industry and actually do things and not only talk about them, said Bohac. Gunpowder diplomacy It has been a complicated road to the integration of our defense-industrial complex with the industrial chain of NATO nations, UkrOboronProms general director, Oleh Hulyak, said in December. Ukrainians fear giving over their home turf to foreign business. Foreign companies are wary of Ukrainian law, particularly historically lax local intellectual property, or IP, protections. In their absence, foreign brands are loath to leave their inventions in Ukraine, where they risk being stolen and counterfeited, in some cases by UkrOboronProm itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian courts are famously unreliable, and their sentences for IP violations often stop at trivial fines. When asked whether Colt CZ would ever end up fighting for its IP rights in a Ukrainian courtroom, Bohac responded, Hopefully not like any other global company, we always prefer that it's resolved in a third-country courtroom. The Ukrainian production is starting with just assembly of components manufactured in Colt CZs factories in Czechia, protecting the process while the assembly line for Bren 2 Sich rifles expands. UkrOboronProm gets a stake in the sale, and the Ukrainian government gets to buy from the home team. It has opened the door to the Ukrainian market because every country prefers to procure from domestic producers, said Bohac. Colt CZ product manufacturing. (Colt CZ) It has been a process of diplomacy for Bohac, himself a former Czech diplomat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Colt CZ deal is not the first time the Ukrainian military has tried to move its main rifles on to NATO calibers. In 2017, a much-touted rollout of a copy of the American M4 called the WAC-47, which UkrOboronProm announced would have replaceable parts to take both NATO and Kalashnikov-standard ammunition, came to nothing. Bohac declined to identify exactly how many Siches had been produced locally, citing UkrOboronProms rules, but said that something in the upper tens of thousands are already in Ukrainian hands and tens of thousands should be assembled (in Ukraine) this year. Colt CZ also envisions more component manufacturing in Ukraine and expansion into other weapons, including their P10 pistols and CZ Scorpion Evo 3. Among Colt CZs latest acquisitions is Sellier & Bellot, another Czech company thats made ammunition for almost 200 years. Sellier & Bellot makes its own machining tools, which are essential to more localized component manufacturing within Ukraine. The plan, said Bohac, is to expand from assembly to component production using those machines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will provide the IP, the machinery, training, and they will take care of all those components and materials, including the powder, he said. The company also has its eyes on greater global output. Post-war, Colt CZ is envisioning selling from Ukraine to other former Soviet states looking to replace their old rifles. But with the war still raging and export controls still fully up, the immediate market will be strictly Ukrainian. I mean, it's a beautiful story that we are making here. It's historical. We hope it will be remembered after decades that Czechia, with international donors through our company, was one of the key forces behind the rearmament of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said Bohac. Note from the author: Thanks for reading. Despite Russias invasion and a new tide of hostility from Washington, D.C. Ukraine remains an incredibly dynamic country. If you like reading about what is happening on the ground, consider becoming a member of the Kyiv Independent.. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Despite hype around Ukrainian weapons tech, foreign investors remain gun-shy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The father of a young cancer survivor honored by President Donald Trump in his speech lashed out at MSNBCs Rachel Maddow for her negative observation. She needs to shut her mouth if she has nothing nice to say, Theodis Daniel told the New York Post on Wednesday. After announcing his intent to institute a mandatory death penalty for anyone who murders a police officer during his address to Congress, the president called out 13-year-old DJ Daniel in the audience. He spoke of the lads love of law enforcement and his diagnosis of brain cancer at age 6, then had him made an honorary Secret Service agent to the cheers of many in the chamber. Maddow delivered a slew of fact-checks after Trumps 1-hour, 40-minute ramble, then veered into no-win territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the record, and this is disgusting, the president made a spectacle out of praising a young man who has thus far survived pediatric cancer, she said. As if the president had something to do with that, which was in the midst of him praising DOGE. DOGE cuts, among some other things, have cut off funding for ongoing research into pediatric cancer. (Advance to the 2:18 mark below for the comment.) If you didnt watch the State of the Union last night, just watch this. GuaranteedTrumps followers ate it up, so be ready with the facts when it spreads. Rachel Maddow ran a clinic on Trumps lies last night. pic.twitter.com/Uaujd8sOWd Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) March 5, 2025 Maddow was right about federal funding for kids cancer research being in jeopardy, but DJs dad was taken aback that she criticized his sons big moment. She does not need to put her bad energy on us, the father added. Maddow wasnt the only host to catch flak for her analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MSNBC colleague Nicolle Wallace also tried to make political points and the result was cringey. I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer, she said. But I hope he never has to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trumps supporters, and if he does, I hope he isnt one of the six who loses his life to suicide, and I hope he isnt one who has to testify against the people who carried out acts of seditious conspiracy and then lived to see Donald Trump pardon those people. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed Wallace at a press briefing. Last night, MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace disgustingly looped in a 13-year-old boy with brain cancer into an attack on the president over January 6, she said. Related... TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Dade City man was accused of operating a boat while drunk and running over a woman who fell off the vessel, killing her. Tydell Smith, 31, was arrested in Hillsborough County last week in connection to a deadly boating accident on the Ocklawaha River in Marion County on July 21, 2024. Florida man calls 911 threatening to kill Trump with nuclear missiles: deputies An incident report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) stated that a 50-year-old Wesley Chapel woman fell off the front of the pontoon boat, into the water, and was struck by the propeller. She died from her injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith admitted to operating the boat at the time of the incident and consuming alcohol that day after getting very little sleep, according to FWC. The womans husband provided police with a recording of a video posted to Snapchat where Smith talked about drinking on the boat. Tydell Smith (Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office) FWC reported that Smiths blood alcohol level measured at 0.149 and 0.148 approximately three and a half hours after the incident. Smith was charged with felony BUI manslaughter and misdemeanor violating navigation rules resulting in serious injury or death. FWC said that Smith should have known to slow down when people were riding in the front of the boat. Smith entered a plea of not guilty in Marion County court on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. (Reuters) - Ally Financial said on Tuesday it had sold $2.8 billion of low-yielding investment securities as part of a repositioning the consumer lender expects will help it modestly increase its interest income going forward. U.S. banks have increasingly rejigged their bond portfolios in recent months, aiming to improve their profitability by reinvesting the proceeds in higher-yielding paper. Ally said the balance sheet restructuring will result in a pre-tax loss of about $250 million in the first quarter of 2025. Proceeds of about $2.5 billion from the repositioning were reinvested into shorter-duration securities at current market rates. The Detroit, Michigan-based bank expects the repositioning to reduce its CET1 ratio a metric that gauges high-quality capital by about 12 basis points. U.S. regional lender KeyCorp last year sold $10 billion of low-rate securities to invest in higher-yielding paper. (Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona) While the United States is often celebrated for its opportunities and freedoms, every state has its share of challenges and darker aspects. From systemic racism to political corruption, these states have skeletons in their closets that defy their postcard-perfect reputations. Lets do a deep dive and pull back that curtain: California Image Credit: Ethan Oringel/Flickr Californias reputation as the Golden State is overshadowed by a severe and escalating homelessness crisis. Over 187,084 people currently live on its streets, with the unhoused population growing by 5,600 in just the past year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the state achieved reductions in veteran and chronic homelessness in 2024, the overall 3% year-over-year increase highlights persistent systemic challenges. Skyrocketing rents in prior years forced many residents into vehicles or RVs, and 66% of Californias homeless population remains unshelteredthe highest unsheltered rate nationwide. Even with recent rent declines in cities like San Diego County (-7%) and Oakland (-9.1%), financial precarity persists. Many Californians are one missed paycheck away from losing housing, reflecting the acute pressure of the states affordability crisis. Florida Image Credit: Joe deSousa/Wikimedia Commons The Sunshine State has a dark secretafter homicides rose 14.7% in 2020, Florida saw law enforcement agencies largely stop reporting crime statistics to the FBI during the 2021 transition to a new system. Only 0.3% of agencies submitted data that year. By 2022, just 8% of police agencies provided statistics, rendering recent crime claims unverifiable. Floridas data issues persisted into 2023, with major agencies like Miami PD still failing to report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why this is happening: Florida lacks a state law mandating crime data reporting to the FDLE or FBI. Participation is voluntary, leading to widespread non-compliancea problem compounded by underfunded police IT systems. Illinois Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Gil Lebois The Land of Lincoln is experiencing a mass exodus. High taxes, political corruption, and rising crime rates are driving residents away in droves. Cities like Chicago, with its notorious violent crime problem, contribute to the states declining appeal for both families and businesses. This Midwestern state has seen more corrupt governors than most people have had hot meals. Since 1960, a whopping four Illinois governors have been sent to prison on corruption charges. Rod Blagojevich (impeached for soliciting bribes for Obamas Senate seat) is the most infamous. Pennsylvania Image Credit : Adam Jones/Wikimedia Commons The Keystone State is home to some of Americas most notoriously haunted locations. Places like Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and Pennhurst Asylum are renowned for their dark histories and reported paranormal activity. These sites serve as eerie reminders of past institutional abuses and societal neglect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the states political foundations arent spared this spectral presence. While Philadelphias Independence Hall birthed American democracy, modern efforts to ban dark money from politics have sparked debates about whether transparency laws protect voters or haunt free speech. A far cry from Franklins Enlightenment ideals, these clashes add a quieter, more insidious layer to Pennsylvanias shadows. Ohio Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Mike Sharp Ohios reputation as a quintessential Midwestern is challenged by the legend of Helltown, an abandoned area within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The areas mythology blends Cold War-era suspicions about government actions originally stemming from documented 1970s property seizures for park development with supernatural folklore. While the locations physical decay (abandoned structures, vegetation-choked roads, and boarded homes from mass evacuations) creates visceral eeriness, most tales unravel when examined. The church allegedly displaying Satanic symbols actually featured conventional Gothic Revival architecture, its inverted crosses being standard medieval-inspired motifs rather than occult signs. Similarly, a frequently cited haunted school bus was merely derelict municipal property left behind. Claims of clandestine government activities directly contradict archival records showing the parks establishment through standard eminent domain procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These narratives gained momentum through late 20th-century teen folklore and internet-era amplification, transforming prosaic urban abandonment into a modern mythos. The sites atmospheric decay continues to invite speculative interpretations, fueling our collective fascination with the unexplained. New York Image Credit: Unsplash / Nicholas Ceglia The NYPD might be New Yorks Finest, but theyve got a long history of being anything but. From the Buddy Boys corruption case in 1986 (where Brooklyn cops stole drugs, resold them, and extorted dealers) to the Central Park jogger case (coerced false confessions from Black/Latino teens in a 1989 rape case), the department has faced numerous instances of misconduct and corruption. There was also the 30th Precinct Corruption case of 1994, where 33 officers in Harlem stole drugs and cash from dealers, selling them from the precinct itself. Beyond the Central Park Five, cases like the 1985 torture of Mark Davidson with a stun gun and the 1984 fatal shooting of Eleanor Bumpurs (a mentally ill Black woman) highlight systemic brutality and procedural failures. Its enough to make you wonder if Law & Order is more fiction than we thought. Texas Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Larry D. Moore Everythings bigger in Texas, including its history of racial violence. The Texas Rangers, long celebrated as heroes, have a disturbing past of brutality against people of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rangers systematically displaced Comanche and Cherokee tribes in the 19th century, seizing acres of ancestral land. In 1918, they were involved in the Porvenir massacre, where 15 unarmed Tejano men and boys were executed. Scholars estimate that the Rangers killed 3005,000 Mexican Americans between 1910 and 1920. In 2020, Austins police union headquarters removed its Ranger Hall plaque after protests exposed its genocidal origins. Michigan Credit: Flickr / sk During the 1940s, Michigan was plagued by systemic corruption, bribery, and even assassination. A grand corruption investigation implicated members of both major political parties, spanning at least three cities: Lansing, Jackson, and Albion. The most shocking incident was the mysterious 1945 assassination of State Senator Warren G. Hooper, which was linked to the infamous Purple Gang a purportedly organized crime syndicate that allegedly orchestrated the hit from prison through collusion with corrupt officials. Talk about a political thriller come to life! Read the original article on GEEKSPIN. Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission. A north Georgia man is in custody after leading deputies on a high-speed chase hours after being accused of shooting someone in a nearby county. The Lumpkin County Sheriffs Office says they were called to a home where a man had been shot. He was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released. The suspect was identified as 44-year-old William Randall Crawford. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A short time later, Georgia State Patrol and deputies with the Pickens County Sheriffs Office spotted Crawford and his truck Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dash camera video shared with Channel 2 Action News shows Crawford speeding down Hwy. 136 toward Dawson County. In the video, deputies can be seen performing a PIT maneuver on Crawfords truck. Before its even come to a full stop, Crawford puts his hands out of the rolled-down window in surrender. TRENDING STORIES: He was arrested and taken to the Lumpkin County Jail. Pickens County deputies charged him with fleeing and attempting to elude, drug possession and traffic offenses. Its unclear what other charges he will face in Lumpkin County. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A Davenport man who was arrested last week in a brawl at BowlMor Lanes has been arrested again after police say he shot a person in the citys downtown. According to the criminal complaint, Davenport Police responded to the 800 block of W. Third Street on Tuesday, March 4 at about 1:45 a.m. for a call of shots fired. The defendant, identified as George James, 28, unlawfully and intentionally attempted to cause the death of the victim and not under circumstances which would justify the persons actions. James allegedly fired multiple shots at the victim, who was struck multiple times. James shot the victim with a pistol as the victim was across the parking lot and walking away from him. There was a verbal argument among several people in the parking lot before the shooting who were still present when it occurred. George James (Scott County Jail) The complaint says video surveillance shows James presenting a pistol and pointing it at the victim, then re-presenting it moments later, this time firing multiple rounds. He was convicted of felony burglary in Rock Island County in 2009, which means he is ineligible to carry weapons. The document says James is seen on video surveillance committing the shooting, then getting into a white sedan and fleeing the scene. The victim underwent lifesaving, emergency surgery at an area hospital but there is no word on the persons current condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A warrant was issued for James arrest on March 4 and he was arrested on charges of attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury, according to jail records. He is being held in the Scott County Jail on a cash-only bond of $250,000 and has a preliminary hearing on March 14. He has a preliminary hearing in the BowlMor case on March 7. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. David Hasselhoff's ex-wife, Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, has died by suicide at the age of 62. Pamela was found dead in her home in Hollywood Hills after her family members had become worried after not hearing from her. David and Pamela married in 1989, but she filed for divorce in January 2006, citing irreconcilable differences. The former couple shared two daughters, Hayley, 34, and Taylor, 32. Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff Found Dead After Suicide Instagram | Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff News of Pamela's death broke on Thursday after she was found dead at her $2 million home in Hollywood Hills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to TMZ, Pamela's family members grew concerned after getting no word from her and tried to get in touch with her. Paramedics arrived at Pamela's residence shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, responding to a call about an unconscious woman. However, they pronounced Pamela dead at the scene with a self-inflicted wound to the head. No note was found at the scene. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) arrived shortly after. David Hasselhoff Reacts To Ex-Wife's Death Lumeimages / MEGA David made a statement about Pamela's demise soon after it was confirmed. The "Baywatch" actor told TMZ, "Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time but we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time." Meanwhile, David and Pamela's oldest daughter, Hayley Hasselhoff, reposted a picture of her parents on her Instagram Stories. She captioned the post with a white heart emoji. Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff's Last Activities On Social Media Pamela remained active on social media until her last days. The actress had 11.3k followers on Instagram, where she usually shared pictures and videos of some of her most precious moments. Hours before paramedics found her dead, Pamela commented on her daughter Hayley's Instagram post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayley had shared a picture and a video of her flaunting her figure and blonde hair in a black gown while applying lipstick. Pamela commented on the post with an emoji. Her last post was on January 1, when she shared a montage showing as she posed in front of a Christmas tree. Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff's New Year Wish In the post's caption, Pamela gushed over her granddaughter and looked forward to a beautiful 2025. She wrote, "Happy New Year, everyone! As we step into 2025, my heart is full of gratitude, especially for my precious grandbaby, London." She continued, "Watching her grow and seeing her smile light up my world is truly the greatest blessing. My wish for all of you this year is health, happiness, and an abundance of love." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pamela concluded, "May 2025 be filled with beautiful moments, laughter, and all the blessings your hearts can hold. Here's to a year of making cherished memories, spreading joy, and embracing every precious moment." Pamela had a very close bond with her granddaughter. On October 28, 2024, she shared a photo of them alongside the caption, "I Never Knew a LOVE like THIS. It's Powerful, Pure, Unconditional LOVE I Have Deep in my Soul and Being as I do for my Precious and Perfect GrandDaughter "London Hasselhoff Fiore"." She concluded, "It's incredible how a tiny human can open our tiny hearts in such profound ways. I'm so blessed and Grateful for My lil, BEAUTIFUL Angel. I LOVE YOU Lovely London With All of Me." Pamela And David Hasselhoff's Divorce Lumeimages / MEGA After getting married in 1989, Pamela and David remained a couple until she filed for divorce in January 2006. Their divorce was finalized in August 2006. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the divorce, Pamela and David were given custody of each of their daughters. In a statement to AP after their divorce finalization, Pamela said, "I've always loved him and always will, and have love and compassion for him. It's a very, very sad day, but a day to move on." Pamela never remarried after splitting from David. However, the actor, who was previously married to Catherine Hickland before marrying Pamela, tied the knot with Hayley Roberts in 2018. After divorcing David, Pamela gradually stepped away from acting to focus more on her personal life and family. She made her acting debut in 1983 in the movie, "Rumble Fish," but is most famous for portraying Kaye Morgan on "Baywatch" from 1989 to 1999. DAVIDSON COUNTY A Davidson County Sheriffs Office deputy shot a man during an arrest Tuesday at a house in the Pilot community outside of Thomasville. Their names were not released. The deputy had gone to the house about 11:15 a.m. to serve an arrest warrant. An altercation took place between the deputy and the man, and the deputy shot him, according to the sheriffs office. The man and the deputy were taken to area hospitals for medical treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Richie Simmons said that the deputy was injured when he was struck by the man during the altercation, and he was released after treatment. No information about the severity of the mans gunshot wound was released. Simmons said the man was still in the hospital Wednesday morning, but no information about his medical condition was available. The address of the house where this took place was not released. The case was turned over to the State Bureau of Investigation, which is standard procedure in a shooting involving a law enforcement officer in North Carolina. Mar. 5MITCHELL The election date for the proposed ambulance district to serve Davison and Hanson counties has been moved to Tuesday, April 22. The change makes the election three weeks later than the initially planned April 1 date, with voters considering forming an ambulance district and approving a surcharge to provide additional funding for the Mitchell EMS to continue serving rural Davison and Hanson counties. Without an increase in funding, the Mitchell EMS has said it won't be able to answer calls outside Mitchell city limits starting in January 2026. Davison County Auditor Kathy Wingert said the change in the election date is to allow for adequate time for absentee voting ahead of the new April 22 date. The change was made in conjunction with Jim Davies, who is the attorney representing the ambulance district proponents, and Hanson County Auditor Lesa Trabing. Advocates are trying to get the district fully formed by June 30, so a budget can be submitted in each county and the district can be operational by Jan. 1, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early voting in the election will begin on Monday, March 10 in person at each county's respective courthouse. Voters in Davison County will vote in their traditional locations at the Ethan City Offices, the Mount Vernon Community Center and at the Davison County Fairgrounds outside of Mitchell. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 22, and is open to all residents in the two counties except those within Mitchell city limits. If the ballot question passes, a second election would be needed to vote on the board of directors for the ambulance district, which is set to include seven members and have a minimum of three members from each county. Wingert said the tentative date for that special election is June 17. Supporters of the plan will have additional town hall information meetings about the proposed district on Sundays this month. On March 9, a 3 p.m. meeting will be held at the Emery Auditorium, followed by a 6 p.m. meeting at the Hanson County Courthouse in Alexandria. On March 23, a 3 p.m. meeting will be held at Mount Vernon City Hall and a 6 p.m. meeting is planned for the Ethan Community Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As is a rite of spring, weight limits are going on Davison County highways and roads starting March 10, after approval from the Davison County Commission on Tuesday. But the commissioners are hoping it's not a long window for the weight limits to be on, given it's been an exceptionally dry winter. The commission voted unanimously to approve the limits, which are generally put on to avoid unnecessary road breakups on county roads during the spring thaw. The county generally places a 6-ton-per-axle weight limit on all Davison County asphalt roads and roads that are posted for an 80,000-pound gross total will also have the 6-ton-per-axle limit during the weight limit period. Some exceptions are in place for Old Highway 16 (254th Street), 397th Street and 403rd Avenue (Betts Road) as well. "I'd like to put them on for March 10. Sanborn County already has limits on and Aurora County wants to do March 10 as well," Davison County Highway Superintendent Rusty Weinberg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weinberg said he's been watching the South Dakota State University Mesonet weather station at Mount Vernon for its latest data. On Tuesday, March 4, the frost depth was at 12 inches, a steep drop from seven days earlier on Feb. 26 when there was still 30 inches of frost depth in the ground. From Sept. 1, 2024 to Feb. 28, 2025, the Mount Vernon location received 24 total days of precipitation and a total of 2.94 inches of recorded precipitation. "I would like to revisit this in two weeks," said Commissioner Chris Nebelsick, who is a farmer and represents much of rural Davison County in his commissioner district. "This cold snap is going to be very short-lived. The long-range forecast is very promising." The Davison County Commission voted Tuesday to approve a new food service provider at the Davison County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission approved signing a five-year contract with Summit Correctional Services, which is based in Sioux Falls. It will replace Trinity Services Group, which has held the county's food service contract for the last two years and it replaced Summit at that time. The changeover is expected to take place in April. In short, the new contract with Summit will be a cost savings and provide inmates with more food, which was a priority for Sheriff Steve Harr. Based on the average inmate population daily being in the 50 to 54 range, the Summit contract will cost $5.53 per meal, while the cost with Trinity was $5.71. Commissioners heard an in-person presentation on Feb. 25 from Summit business development director Jeff Green and Harr then received an updated proposal from Trinity that would lower their proposed cost by a few cents per meal. Summit's proposal also included the county receiving a new dishwasher machine on lease, which Harr said would cost the county nearly $22,000 if it had to purchase it on its own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Summit comes in cheaper, ... Summit is willing to provide more food to the inmates," Harr said. "I'm having a hard time finding a reason to stay with Trinity." Harr told the Mitchell Republic after the meeting Tuesday that the cost difference over a full year probably would be a savings of $5,000 to $10,000 a year, with the savings flexing depending on how many inmates were housed. He said having well-fed and content inmates only makes everything at the jail smoother, which helps with safety of corrections officers and morale. Some complaints from inmates come with the territory of being incarcerated but if there's a legitimate issue, Harr said jail staff and the food service providers past and present want to get it corrected. "There's a fine line but it's worth getting it right," Harr said. March 6 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1836, Mexican forces captured the Alamo in San Antonio, killing the last of 187 defenders who had held out in the fortified Texas mission for 13 days. Frontiersman Davy Crockett was among those killed on the final day. In 1853, "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi premiered in Venice, Italy. In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its landmark ruling that slave Dred Scott couldn't sue for his freedom in a federal court, even though his white owner had died in a "free" state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt declared a national banking holiday in an effort to shore up the banking system. Performers sing and dance in the final dress rehearsal of "La Traviata" at the base of Masada, near the Dead Sea, on June 11, 2014. On March 6, 1853, the opera by Giuseppe Verdi premiered in Venice, Italy. File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI In 1944, during World War II, U.S. bombers flying from Britain began the first daytime attacks on Berlin. In 1953, Georgi Malenkov was named premier of the Soviet Union one day after the death of Joseph Stalin. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and U.S. President Jimmy Carter confer in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington prior to the peace treaty signing on March 26, 1979. On March 6, 1982, an Egyptian court sentenced five Muslim fundamentalists to death for the assassination of Sadat. UPI File Photo In 1957, Ghana became an independent country after declaring independence from Britain. The country was led by Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah. In 1965, Alabama Gov. George Wallace declared "There will be no march between Selma and Montgomery," and that he had ordered the highway patrol to "use whatever measures are necessary to prevent a march." On March 6, 1957, Ghana became an independent country after declaring independence from Britain. The country was led by Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah. File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI File Photo by Bill Hormell/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1966, U.S. forces undertook the biggest air raid campaign on North Vietnam since bombing of the north resumed in 1965. On March 6, 1991, U.S. President George H.W. Bush, addressing a joint session of Congress, declared the Persian Gulf War over. File Photo by Mark Grosser/UPI In 1967, Svetlana Alliluyeva, Joseph Stalin's daughter, defected to the United States. She would return to the Soviet Union 17 years later stating, "In America, I ended up living the life of a suburban housewife, which is not at all what I wanted." File Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress The MS Herald of Free Enterprise, pictured in 1984, was a ferry that sank March 6, 1987, after hitting a sea wall as it left the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. File Photo courtesy of Wikimedia In 1982, an Egyptian court sentenced five Muslim fundamentalists to death for the assassination of President Anwar Sadat. Seventeen others drew prison terms. In 1987, a British ferry leaving Zeebrugge, Belgium, struck a sea wall and capsized, killing 188 people in the North Sea. Visitors stop for a tour of the Alamo on February 9, 2015. On March 6, 1836, Mexican forces captured the Alamo in San Antonio, killing the last of 187 defenders who had held out in the fortified Texas mission for 13 days. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1991, U.S. President George H.W. Bush, addressing a joint session of Congress, declared the Persian Gulf War over. In 2015, Islamic State militants devastated the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, using bulldozers to raze the site. In 2024, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign, conceding to former President Donald Trump, who would go on to win the 2024 election. Its almost time to advance your clocks by an hour. Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 9. Will this be the last time we change our clocks? Maybe in some states. State lawmakers across the country have introduced legislation to eliminate yearly time changes, but the proposals have been met with mixed reaction, per News Center Maine. The Utah Senate blocked a time change bill just this week, despite the fact that Utahns support doing away with biannual clock adjustments, as the Deseret News previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As it stands, states looking to make changes have to navigate federal rules related to time. States can only request to observe standard time year-round (only two states have done this)," the article said. In most cases, (proposed) bills would put the state on daylight saving time permanently only if Congress would allow it. Here is a look at the history of daylight saving time, and how it could change in the future. When is daylight saving time 2025? Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2 a.m. Your smartphone and computer should automatically adjust to the time change, but you will need to manually advance other clocks by an hour. Why do we have daylight saving time? Benjamin Franklin is credited with proposing daylight saving time during the 18th century, per The New York Times. Franklin felt he was wasting early hours of daylight in bed and figured getting an earlier start would economize candle consumption at night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States first adopted the concept during World War I to preserve fuel. But it was swiftly abandoned because farmers, who work in the morning light, were unhappy with the change. During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt brought daylight saving time back, but several states and cities chose not to observe it. Confusion followed. There were cities observing Daylight Saving Time surrounded by rural areas that are not, and no one can tell what time it is anywhere, said Michael Downing, author of Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time, per Time. In light of the confusion, President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted The Uniform Time Act in 1966, establishing standard time across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1986, the U.S. returned to daylight saving time for seven months every year, per Time. Then in 2005, daylight saving time was extended to eight months a year. Is daylight saving time ending in Utah? Utahns will still lose an hour of sleep to daylight saving time in 2025. A Utah bill pushing for year-round standard time was shut down on Tuesday by the Senate, as the Deseret News previously reported. The bill, HB120, sponsored by Joseph Elison, R-Toquerville, previously passed the Utah House in February. Will the U.S. get rid of daylight saving time in 2025? President Donald Trump has expressed interest in eliminating biannual time changes. The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldnt! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation, the president wrote on his social media site, Truth Social, in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just over 40 days into his second term in office, Trump has yet to move to eliminate daylight saving time. Several states, including Arkansas, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, have introduced bills to opt out of daylight saving time, per The Hill. Hawaii and Arizona are currently the only two states that do not observe daylight saving time, per Forbes. When do we switch back to standard time? In states that observe daylight saving time, clocks will turn back to standard time on Sunday, Nov. 2. By Joanna Plucinska and Andres Gonzalez LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's major airlines are targeting smaller deals and tie-ups after facing regulatory push-back against full mergers, focusing on minority stakes to strengthen their position against rivals. Reuters spoke with two airline executives and others with knowledge of ongoing deals, who said they were pivoting towards smaller stakes to cut expenses and time spent on additional regulatory scrutiny. The trend towards more bite size deals and tie-ups marks a shift for the region's carriers, which are trying to unify a fragmented market to compete with rivals in a more consolidated U.S. market and state-funded behemoths in the Middle East. There has been a flurry of smaller deals. Last month Lufthansa took a 10% stake in Latvian carrier airBaltic for 14 million euros ($14.72 million) to improve its wet lease partnership, an arrangement allowing it to more easily share aircraft, pilots and crew. Air France-KLM and Lufthansa have expressed interest in taking around a 20% stake in Spain's Air Europa, sources told Reuters, after British Airways-owner IAG dropped a full takeover plan in 2024 after years of talks. Air France-KLM and Lufthansa either declined or did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. The stake is valued at 200-240 million euros, according to one source. Portuguese carrier TAP - still a potential target for a full takeover and valued at about $1 billion - is now in talks to finalise the sale of a less than 50% stake. It has attracted interest from various European airlines, including Air France-KLM, whose CEO said last week that it was ready to present its pitch for the airline's partial privatisation. "There does seem to be somewhat of a shift towards taking smaller stakes in target airlines in Europe at present," said Dudley Shanley, Dublin-based analyst at Goodbody, adding though he still expects consolidation of the market to happen. "The smaller stakes reduce the regulatory burden and scrutiny in the near term, though they also reduce the ability to extract both revenue and cost synergies." European regulators are worried major takeovers will lead to higher air fares and hit consumers, a concern which stymied the IAG-Air Europa deal. Germany's Lufthansa did finally seal a 325 million euro deal to take a 41% stake in Italian carrier ITA Airways in January, but talks with Brussels over remedies took over a year. Aviation analyst James Halstead said that smaller stakes allowed airlines to spend less money to "test out the waters", adding getting past regulators like the European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition had become "complex and expensive". SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Its time to spring forward this weekend because of daylight savings. While youre setting your clocks an hour ahead, you should also check the batteries in your smoke alarm. The Sioux City Fire Department is asking residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarm every six months. Local program helping high school students buy caps and gowns for graduation Its just an easy way to remember it, fire captain Aaron Lisle said. Do it twice a year when you set your clocks ahead or behind. Just one of those things people overlook. In the smoke alarms, the batteries do go bad. They say replace them, or check them, once a month. If you replace them twice a year, it just helps make sure your home is safe for your family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you live within the city limits of Sioux City and dont have a smoke alarm, contact the Sioux City Fire Department and they will come to your home, inspect it, and put up smoke alarms free of charge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Police in the District are working to locate the driver of an SUV who hit and killed a dog last week in Southeast. The hit-and-run happened in an alley on the afternoon of Feb. 25 in the 3600 block of Alabama Avenue. According to a police report obtained by DC News Now, a man was walking with his dog, a yorkie, to take out the trash. Thats when an SUV sped through the alley and ran into him, killing his dog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SUV then fled the scene. Traffic Alert: 54-inch stormwater line failure causes sinkhole in DC D.C. police officers are searching for the dark-colored vehicle, shown in the picture below. D.C. police encourage the community to call 202-727-9099 or text MPDs Tip Line at 504411 with any information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) after it received reports of possible discrimination against students with disabilities and their families. OCR began its investigation following a report from the District of Columbia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights which said that the school district had more complaints in special education than any other similar-sized division in the nation. In a letter addressed to DCPSs Chancellor on March 5, 2025, the DOE wrote that the 2024 report found that D.C.s dispute resolution system places the burden of accessing special education services on students and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House reverses course on Education Department executive order The letter stated that the committee also found that the school districts current transportation system for special education students had long delays, unreliable schedules and lacked oversight. The Department of Education has a solemn responsibility to protect all students from discrimination, especially our most vulnerable, said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. We will ensure schools are fulfilling their commitment to provide all students with equal access to educational opportunities and not placing unnecessary burdens on families to fight for special education services for their children to which they are entitled under law. OCR Metro regional office is leading the investigation. The office will evaluate if DCPS is failing to meet the needs of students with disabilities or special needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DCPS sent a statement to DC News Now saying it is committed to providing high-quality education and support to all students. DC Public Schools (DCPS) is committed to providing high-quality education and support to all students, including those receiving special education services. We have made significant investments to strengthen our special education programs, expand inclusive learning opportunities, and engage families as partners in their childrens success. The district will fully cooperate with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) review and remains dedicated to continuously improving our special education programs and reducing barriers for families. We stand by our ongoing efforts to ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to thrive. For students eligible to receive transportation services from the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), DCPS will continue to partner with OSSE as their Department of Transportation works to meet the related services requirements in accordance with the law. District of Columbia Public Schools Trump pushes for DC to clear more homeless encampments through social media post DC News Now has reached out to the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education for statements. As of early Thursday afternoon, we had not heard back from either. dcps-investigation-letter-ocr-march-2025-109535Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Shortly after White House officials confirmed that the United States is in direct talks with Hamas, President Donald Trump threatened the Gaza Strip authority in a post to Truth Social. Trump said that he would help Israel "finish the job" in Gaza if Hamas did not turn over all remaining hostages held in the Israeli-occupied territory. "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!" he wrote. "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The threat came after Trump met with freed hostages in the White House on Wednesday. The president warned residents of Gaza to leave and said there would be "hell to pay" if all hostages weren't released. "This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance," he wrote. "Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!" Trump has frequently suggested that Gaza should be cleared out, the Palestinians who live there relocated to Egypt and Jordan. He recently shared an AI-generated video that showed a Trump resort in Gaza, where the president lounged poolside with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Protesters rally outside the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on Feb. 5 to protest actions by the Department of Government Efficiency after it got access to federal employee data and locked out career civil servants from OPM computer systems. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Democratic leaders, fearing the federal government may try to withhold payments to the state, have introduced bills that would let Maryland treat the White House like any other deadbeat debtor stop payments and call in a collection agency. We are in the era of a constitutional crisis, where the federal government is plainly acting illegally and defying court orders, Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery) said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moon introduced two emergency bills last week that he said will prepare the state to respond in the event that the Trump administration withholds funds from the state. He said that both give the Board of Public Works authority to determine whether the federal government is delinquent in its payments owed to Maryland and to take action if necessary. The measures come as President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, the head of Trumps U.S. DOGE Service, run roughshod over federal norms as they rush to downsize the federal government. Many of those efforts have been challenged in court. Among the actions taken in the six weeks since Trump took office are mass layoffs of federal workers, gutting the U.S. Agency for International Development and issuing a sweeping federal funding freeze. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused for now to block a lower court ruling that ordered the White House to continue making foreign aid payments while a case was pending from aid groups trying to overturn a Trump administration freeze on those payments. And a judge in Massachusetts ordered the administration to fully fund National Institutes of Health grants that the White House tried to cut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Essentially, were preparing for the possibility of the federal government acting as a deadbeat debtor and needing to find ways to collect congressionally approved funding, Moon said Wednesday. Moon said that the first of his two bills, HB1545, would authorize Comptroller Brooke Lierman, in consultation with the BPW, to withhold funds owed to the federal government in an amount equivalent to funds being withheld from Maryland. The bill defines the federal government as being delinquent in the case of noncompliance with court decisions related to federal spending. A spokesperson for the comptroller said the office was still reviewing the bills and was not able to immediately comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second bill, HB1546, would direct Attorney General Anthony Brown to work with the Central Collections Unit to put liens on federal property in Maryland until the state is able to resolve the payment obligations from the federal government. The bill states that Maryland would reserve jurisdiction with respect to any land that the federal government leases or holds in the state if they are found delinquent in their payments. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Moon said that both measures are standard fare for debt collectors and familiar to Trump and Musk, both of whom he said have been subject to liens on their own companys properties as a result of business disputes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last March, New York Attorney General Letitia James placed liens on Trump properties during his civil fraud case in the state. Musks SpaceX and associated contractors were hit with scores of liens last year, as well, by multiple construction companies in Texas. Moon is unconcerned at the prospect that the legislation may make Maryland a target of Trump and his administration because he says that the state already is. Maryland is already in the crosshairs, Moon said. The federal government is asking us as a state to pay disproportionately for perceived national deficits, and theyre also putting multiple federal properties up for sale. If they are attempting to profit off of illegal measures that cant be easily undone we have to defend ourselves, Moon said. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticuts Democrat-led state legislature passed two funding bills totalling $43 million for special education and nonprofit groups capping two weeks of drama that saw the Democratic governor veto spending bills pushed by leaders of his own party only to strike a deal to secure that same funding by other means. For anyone unfamiliar with the intricate details of the state budget, the dealmaking that took place Tuesday evening in the lead-up to Wednesdays legislative session can seem trivial and confusing. Its complicated, State Rep. Matt Ritter, the Democratic House Speaker said. I dont know how to really describe it succinctly for the 6 oclock viewers, but talks occurred and we got there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The talks that Ritter was referring to took place between the Democratic leaders of both chambers of the legislature and the governor. Prior to striking the deal that came to fruition on Wednesday, Gov. Lamont had long maintained that there was no room in the state budget for $43 million dollars in new spending. Lamont and his top budget officials reasoned that the proposed funding would violate the existing legal cap on state spending. Legislators disagreed with the governor on a bipartisan basis, with leaders of both parties arguing there is, in fact, room to spare without violating the states spending cap. Last week, legislators voted on the $43 million spending package in two parts. First, they approved $40 million in spending for special education a measure that answered the calls from local school districts burdened by rising costs. At the time, lawmakers stressed the exigency of the funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We felt this was the right time to do it because towns are now developing their budget, Ritter said when he announced the original spending plan. Boards of ed are now developing their budget. If you do it in April or May, I think its too late at that point in time. Republicans have long called for well more than $40 million in special education funding but perhaps recognizing the reality of their super minority status ultimately joined Democrats in voting for the bill last week on a nearly unanimous basis. The GOP largely broke with Democrats on the second of the two bills the one that provided for about $3 million dollars intended for Planned Parenthood and an assortment of nonprofits focused on LGBTQ and immigrant rights. The governor vetoed all $43 million in spending on Monday, sticking to his assessment that the spending would put the state over its legal spending limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in the 36 hours between the governors announcement that he would veto the bill and the convening of the whole legislature for what was supposed to be a series of routine votes, a deal was struck. That deal essentially saw the $43 million in spending shifted from the states general pool of cash to a new, separate account. That shift had the effect of placing the funds outside the normal budgeting process, and therefore outside the legal caps on state spending. Democrats and the governor were satisfied by the deal. Im glad that we could reach an agreement between my office and legislative leaders on increasing funding for special education and nonprofits during this current fiscal year, Lamont wrote in a Tuesday evening statement confirming the existence of a deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Republicans, who had previously supported the original $40 million special education funding bill, raised objections to the new scheme devised to provide the funds without technically violating the the spending cap. What it does it creates a fund outside of the budget, State Rep. Vincent Candelora, the Republican state House minority leader, said. Its sending the signal from the governors office that he is willing to violate fiscal guardrails in order to cut deals in this building. But some Democrats shrugged at the notion that the deal represented a substantial departure from the original bill. I would just say that most people dont care, State Sen. Bob Duff, the Democratic majority leader in the State Senate, said. They just know that we need to send forty million dollars for special education funding to school districts. Because its the right thing to to. How it gets there? Im sure theyre not interested in the details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a separate measure to provide the $3 million in funds through the same mechanism as the special education funds, Republicans objected to both the procedure and the principle. Theyre offering millions of dollars to organizations like Planned Parenthood and a lot of smaller organizations that deal with immigration and gender affirming care, State Sen. Rob Sampson, one of the most outspoken Republicans in the State Senate, said. And I think theyre just trying to show off their opposition to President Trump. Sampson and his fellow Republicans made a futile effort to amend the $3 million spending bill to redirect the funds to energy bill assistance programs and the nonprofit Meals on Wheels. State Sen. Steve Harding, the Republican minority leader in the State Senate, and Candelora were visibly frustrated as they delivered closing arguments urging their colleagues to reject the funding measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the type of fiscal gimmick that leads to future tax hikes, Harding wrote, Gov. Lamont: VETO this gimmick bill. In a statement shortly after the final vote on the funding bills was complete, Gov. Lamont issued a statement saying he looks forward to signing the bills. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Dearborn leaders have issued a warning to area driving schools amid concerns some may be sending unfit drivers onto the roads. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and Police Chief Issa Shahin issued a joint letter to area driving schools Wednesday, noting possible consequences for both the school and the driver if they are certified without meeting state standards. Specifically, the officials noted there may be criminal and civil repercussions. Shahin, in a news release that included the letter, said the move came following reports and concerns that some schools have attempted to circumvent (state) regulations and may be certifying students who have not adequately completed the required coursework or demonstrated sufficient driving proficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Compromising safety for any reason is unacceptable, he said. Exact details on reports that came to light were not included in the news release. The Free Press has reached out to officials for further information. More: Driver in fatal Dearborn crash sped through traffic light at more than 100 mph, police say More: 2 killed in high-speed Dearborn crash IDd; 2 of 4 passengers still hospitalized The state has specific requirements for driver education courses including classroom hours, training behind the wheel and testing, the letter states. Fraudulent certifications are a risk to public safety, it also states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It calls for driving schools to review their training and certification procedures to make sure state regulations are being followed. It also lists multiple regulations and reminders, including: Taking no shortcuts when it comes to following state curriculum and training hours. Verifying and keeping records of attendance and participation in all required in-car and in-class sessions Conducting thorough and objective assessments of knowledge Refusing to certify students who havent completed all their requirements The city leaders offered additional conversations and support to driving schools going forward. Community safety "depends on properly trained, knowledgeable drivers, said the mayor in the news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to ensure that we are engaging all parties, including driving schools, in trying to tackle speeding and reckless driving in our city, he said. By working together, we can ensure the safety and well-being of our community. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn police issue warning to driving schools on unfit graduate U.S. President Donald Trump, in a March 4, 2025, address to Congress, claimed millions of people purportedly over 100 years old were collecting Social Security checks, accusing the federal monthly income program for retirees and other eligible participants of "shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud." His information appeared to come from his adviser, tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has made several claims about improbably old people collecting Social Security payments. While an audit published in 2023 found that the central Social Security database, known as the Numident, does include 18.9 million people born before 1920 who do not have death information on record making them more than 100 years old if alive only 44,000 of them were receiving Social Security Administration (SSA) payments. The auditors wrote that the Numident has spotty death records because these individuals died before the use of electronic death reporting. While the agency's missing death records may make it more vulnerable to fraud, the small number of people aged 100 or older actually collecting payments suggests it is not a widespread issue. An earlier audit, published in 2015, determined that while 6.5 million people in the Numident database were found to be above the age of 112, payments were only sent to 266 beneficiaries, most of whom records showed were likely actually under the age of 112. However, that audit also found thousands of potentially fraudulent uses of Social Security numbers connected to improbably old people. The SSA has undergone some efforts to update its records. However, officials decided not to implement recommendations from the auditors because so few people above the age of 112 receive payments and the cost of fixing the Numident's records was not worth the benefits. In a March 4, 2025, speech to Congress, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Social Security government databases list millions of people over 100 years old, many of whom are collecting payments from the monthly federal income program for retirees, people with disabilities and those with a deceased spouse or parent. "We're also identifying shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud in the Social Security program for our seniors," Trump said, adding: "Believe it or not, government databases list 4.7 million Social Security members from people aged 100 to 109." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then continued to list improbably old-age ranges and figures, in the millions, that purportedly represent the number of people in the system labeled as that age, and then ended with a claim that "one person is listed at 360 years of age." A video of his full comments on Social Security during this speech is available on PBS' YouTube page. The numbers Trump cited appeared to match a screenshot Elon Musk, tech billionaire and public face of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), posted on X (archived), the social media platform he owns, allegedly showing people marked as alive in the Social Security database at impossibly high ages. According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security pic.twitter.com/ltb06VX98Z Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025 Musk has made claims like these before: In February, he said during a news conference at the White House that a "cursory examination of Social Security" showed "people in there that are about 150 years old." Other X users spread Musk's claims, including one of the president's sons, Donald Trump Jr., while a related rumor also circulated online suggesting Musk discovered millions of improbably old people collecting Social Security benefits. The oldest living person in recorded history was reportedly a French woman named Jeanne Calment, who is believed to have lived to 122 (archived). Therefore, if these claims were true, they would likely point to some kind of fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, these claims need context. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does more than just send out payments it is also in charge of registering unique Social Security numbers and their related information for nearly every legal resident in the U.S. The government and businesses then use these numbers to identify individuals and to track their financial records. A government audit published in July 2023 showed that as of 2020, there were 18.9 million registrants in the central SSA database born in or before 1920 whose death record information was not properly recorded, suggesting they would be more than 100 years old if still alive. However, just because some people were improperly recorded as "alive" did not mean they were receiving payments from the SSA. While the missing death records could make the agency vulnerable to fraud, the same audit found that "almost none" of the registrants born in or before 1920 were receiving benefits at the time of the report. These records were likely spotty because the individuals died before the use of electronic death reporting, the auditors wrote. DOGE and the SSA did not return answers to our inquiries as of this writing. However, we will update this article if they reply. SSA's database The SSA's central database is called the Numident, or "Numerical Identification System." The Numident is the "numerically-ordered master file" of all assigned Social Security numbers. It is also used to create the SSA's "full file of death information," referred to as the Death Master File (DMF). The DMF is then shared with federal agencies that pay people's benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2023 audit by the SSA's Office of the Inspector General investigated Social Security number holders older than 100 who did not have death information recorded but were in the Numident. This audit, which used data updated as of December 2020, determined that 18.9 million number holders were born in or before 1920 and did not have death information in the Numident, meaning they were technically recorded as alive in the administration's system. But the same audit found that approximately 98% of these number holders were not receiving SSA payments and had not reported earnings to the SSA in the past 50 years. In other words, only 44,000 were receiving payments. In 2020, at the time of this audit's research, about 80,000 Americans were centenarians, according to the Pew Research Center, a self-described nonpartisan fact tank "that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world." The center said it reached the estimate by analyzing Census Bureau data; however, it was not immediately clear which Census Bureau data the center was referring to. Musk's X post (and Trump's speech) suggest that roughly 20.8 million people aged 100 or older were registered in the SSA database. Given that he posted this several years after auditors collected data for the 2023 report, it is possible that his post correctly shows how many people aged 100 or older do not have death information recorded in the Numident, rather than the number of improbably old people collecting Social Security benefits. However, it was not possible to confirm this without comment from the SSA. Missing death records explained It is possible that some of the 44,000 number holders who were born in or before 1920 at the time of the audit and were receiving SSA benefits are cases of fraud and listed as "about 150 years old" or even above 200, as Musk claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The auditors wrote that the SSA's failure to keep updated death records leaves the agency and other federal agencies that use the Numident open to fraud. However, there were no specific examples presented in the audit of "150-year-old" fraudsters, nor was there any mention of systematic fraudulent activity uncovered by the auditors. SSA also acknowledged on its website that its death records were not comprehensive (emphasis theirs): We collect death information to administer our programs. We receive death reports from many sources, including family members, funeral homes, financial institutions, postal authorities, States and other Federal agencies. It is important to note our records are not a comprehensive record of all deaths in the country. Most of the number holders about 10.9 million older than 100 were born in 1899 or earlier and the auditors wrote that it is "likely SSA did not receive or record most of the 18.9 million individuals' death information primarily because the individuals died decades agobefore the use of electronic death reporting." Furthermore, the audit noted that the Numident is not the only way the SSA keeps death records used to terminate payments to deceased Social Security recipients. Per the audit: SSA terminated payments to approximately 623,000 beneficiaries and input death information in its payment records but did not input the death information on the Numident. For example, a retirement beneficiary born in 1917 died in April 2005. SSA terminated her payments and input her date of death in her payment record; however, SSA did not input the death information on the Numident. A related 2015 audit An earlier Office of the Inspector General audit by the SSA, published in March 2015, looked into individuals above the age of 112 with no death information recorded in the Numident and found 6.5 million people matching this description. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is likely that the claim that Musk discovered 6.5 million people above the age of 112 collecting Social Security payments misrepresents the findings of this audit. While the report did find 6.5 million people with no death information above the age of 112 in the Numident, payments were only sent to 266 beneficiaries recorded as 112 or older. In 253 of these cases, "discrepancies in SSA records indicated the beneficiary receiving payments was not actually born before June 16, 1901," thus making them younger than 112 as of June 15, 2013 (while published in 2015, the audit was conducted between November 2013 and September 2014). Only 13 people who "were likely" above the age of 112 were still collecting payments, according to the audit, which also noted that as of 2015, only 35 known living individuals worldwide were aged 112 or older. The audit did, however, find some potential fraud: We identified thousands of instances of potential identity theft or other fraud involving these SSNs. Specifically, we identified approximately $3.1 billion in earnings reported by employers and self-employed individuals using 66,920 SSNs although they were not the actual numberholder. Why SSA didn't fix the issue After the 2015 audit revealed the scope of the SSA's missing death records, SSA officials improved its systems and used historical death information already in its records to "post dates of death to over 10.7 million Numident records, including over 6 million records for individuals over age 112." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the auditors wrote that SSA officials "disagreed" with the auditors' recommendations to fix the Numident death information records, which included updating its records using death data already held by federal and state governments and developing a way to add death information to the millions of number holders not receiving payments and identified by the audit. They added that "correcting records for non-beneficiaries would divert resources from work necessary to administer and manage its programs." The officials said that the 18.9 million number holders above the age of 100 without recorded death information represent a small fraction of the 531 million unique Social Security numbers issued by the administration and that "almost none" of the 18.9 million currently receive SSA payments. SSA also determined that the "options would be costly to implement, would be of little benefit for the agency, would largely duplicate information already available to data exchange consumers and would create cost for the states and other data exchange partners." However, the auditors said that SSA's decision not to establish "controls to annotate death information" for the records of Social Security number holders who "exceeded maximum reasonable life expectancies" means identity thieves could use these SSNs to create fake identities, open bank accounts or obtain employment, credit, government benefits or private insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We acknowledge that almost none of the number holders discussed in the report currently receive SSA payments," the auditors wrote. "However, SSA issued each of these individuals a valid SSN and these SSNs could allow for a wide range of potential abuse." Improving the records system, the auditors said, could help alert federal agencies to the "suspect nature of activities occurring under these SSNs." Sources: Collins, Lauren. "Was Jeanne Calment the Oldest Person Who Ever Livedor a Fraud?" The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2020, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/02/17/was-jeanne-calment-the-oldest-person-who-ever-lived-or-a-fraud. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. "Data Exchange Requesting SSA's Death Information." Www.ssa.gov, www.ssa.gov/dataexchange/request_dmf.html. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ennis, Gail. "Numberholders Age 100 or Older Who Did Not Have Death Information on the Numident." Office of the Inspector General | Social Security Administration, July 2023, oig.ssa.gov/assets/uploads/a-06-21-51022.pdf. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. O'Carroll Jr., Patrick. "Numberholders Age 112 or Older Who Did Not Have a Death Entry on the Numident." Office of the Inspector General | Social Security Administration, 4 Mar. 2015, oig-files.ssa.gov/audits/full/A-06-14-34030_0.pdf. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. Puckett, Carolyn. "The Story of the Social Security Number." Social Security | Office of Retirement and Disability Policy , July 2009, www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v69n2/v69n2p55.html. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025. Revell, Eric. "Musk Claims There Are 150-Year-Olds Receiving Social Security Benefits." Fox Business, 12 Feb. 2025, www.foxbusiness.com/politics/musk-claims-150-year-olds-receiving-social-security-benefits. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. Schaeffer, Katherine. "U.S. Centenarian Population Is Projected to Quadruple over the next 30 Years." Pew Research Center, 9 Jan. 2024, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/09/us-centenarian-population-is-projected-to-quadruple-over-the-next-30-years/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025. PROVIDENCE For the last decade, Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Providence, has seen the same pattern time and again. She will introduce a bill to legalize physician-assisted death in Rhode Island. Witnesses will step forward and share heartbreaking stories of themselves or family members battling terminal illnesses, only to see the legislation held by the committee for further study and never make it to the floor for a vote. Its a difficult, emotionally draining process for everyone involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I kind of feel a little bit guilty bringing the bill again, knowing that the committee is going to sit there listening to very sad stories, Ajello said. One story that stuck with Ajello from the bills hearing was Kira Philips account of her mothers battle with multiple myeloma. Philips recounted how after treatment failed and her mother's health declined, her mother shot and killed herself in the shed in their homes backyard, where she was found by her husband of more than 40 years. Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Providence, sponsor of a bill to make physician-assisted death legal in Rhode Island. I get tears in my eyes when I hear stories like that, Ajello said. We are not humane when we are forcing people to make choices that way. What will the bill do? Ajello has introduced some version of the bill (H5219) every year for a decade. Titled the Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act, it would allow physicians to prescribe medications to terminally ill patients so that they may end their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation puts some restrictions on the process. The patient must have a terminal condition that is incurable and irreversible, with a prognosis of six months or less left to live. The patient, too, must make at least three requests two of them oral at least 15 days apart and one written in the presence of witnesses to be prescribed medication to hasten his or her death. And the physician prescribing the life-ending medication must ensure that the patient is of capable mind; refer him or her to another physician to confirm the diagnosis and the patients mental capacity to make end-of-life decisions; and offer palliative and hospice care as options, among other requirements. The bill carves out an exception for doctors who do not wish to prescribe life-ending medications to their patients. It is modeled after similar laws in states such as Oregon, where physician-assisted death has been legal since the 1990s. Death with dignity laws, as they are known, exist in 11 states and Washington, D.C. Opposition remains staunch Just as witnesses have stepped forward every year to recount their experiences living through or caring for someone with terminal illnesses, so have opponents spoken against the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arguments against it include concerns over the mental acuity of terminally ill patients whether it is their depression speaking, in a sense; caretakers of disabled people being forced to administer life-ending medications; and religious objections over the morality of facilitating a persons death. In past years, the Rhode Island Catholic Conference, the public-policy arm of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, has strongly opposed legislation that seeks to legalize physician-assisted death. Ajello recognizes the role that religious objections have played in preventing the bill from passing. Rhode Island is, after all, the most Catholic state in the country, according to Pew Research. Nationally, Catholic views on physician-assisted death, however, are split, according to a Gallup poll from 2024, with 44% saying it is morally acceptable and 49% saying it is morally wrong (7% were not sure). Church attendance may have a role in it the less someone attends religious services, the more likely they are to support physician-assisted death. In Rhode Island, only about one in five people attend church services at least once a week, according to Pew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Ajello, though, this is a matter of separation of church and state. Priests and any faith people are certainly free to advocate for or against on their pulpits or out in the community, but that's not supposed to be what decides the case. It is the will of the people, Ajello said. The bill has already been held for further study, but Ajello is hopeful this may be the year it finally passes. Every year, more people sign up to cosponsor the legislation, she said. Eventually, support for it may reach critical mass. Ultimately, it will pass, Ajello said. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. This story has been updated to reflect new information. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Physician-assisted death under consideration in RI General Assembly Mar. 5A Decatur man was charged with unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle Sunday after officers found him at the scene while speaking with the vehicle's owner, according to the Decatur Police Department. Decatur police responded to Riverwalk Marina at 3755 U.S. 31 N. and made contact with the victim who said they caught Olen Wade Murphy, 65, inside of their vehicle, according to police. Police said Murphy was detained by officers and they contacted a property crimes detective to continue investigating. After obtaining a witness statement and reviewing evidence, police said Murphy was arrested and transported to the Limestone County Jail and held in lieu of $2,500 bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records state that Murphy was indicted for second-degree sexual assault on Dec. 4 and arrested on Feb. 25. According to the bill of indictment, Murphy, using the alias Tom Olen Murphy, "being at least 19 years or older, did subject (the victim), who was less than 16 years old but more than 12 years old, to sexual contact, in violation of Section 13A-6-67 of the Code of Alabama." Murphy was released on $5,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment in Morgan County District Judge Charles Elliott's courtroom on April 21. wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442. On the night of Wednesday, March 5, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil refinery in the village of Novominskaya in the Krasnodar Territory, flying 230 kilometers, and started a fire. On March 3, Ukraine hit a Ufa refinery with drones. The UAVs caused great damage and caused a fire. They flew more than 2,300 kilometers to their destination. And on February 17, Ukrainian UAVs disabled the largest oil pumping station of the Caspian pipeline Consortium Kropotkinskaya in the Krasnodar Territory. This news is very inspiring for our neighbors and their advisers. The day before, the French edition of Intelligence Online published an article "Armenia is innovating in all directions to anticipate the next drone war." The author of the article points out that electronic warfare, drones, and data processing software: overcoming Yerevan's weaknesses in previous conflicts in Karabakh is a priority of Defense Minister Suren Papikyan. Although Armenia launched its own drone program back in 2006, it was not possible to make progress in it. The indispensability of unmanned aerial vehicles became clear during the April 2016 battles. At that time, Azerbaijan used kamikaze drones against the occupation units of the Armenian Armed Forces for the first time in the history of conflicts and wars. There was a stir in Yerevan, but not very actively, because they did not expect a full-scale war and, moreover, they were sure that the "April war" was simply an oversight of the powers and would not happen again. In 2019, Yerevan boastfully reported on the creation of its own competitive UAV market. When the Second Karabakh War broke out in response to another Armenian provocation, Armenia was not technologically ready for it. We can say that the 44-day war was the first war with the use of high-tech products of the military-industrial complex. Baku has reliable partners in the military-technical field with the most advanced weapons production technologies. Armenia doesn't have any even today. Only a few years after the catastrophic defeat, starting in December 2024, Yerevan, having recovered from the shock, began to actively invest in drones. According to Intelligence Online, he draws inspiration from the experience of the Ukrainian conflict. Technologies from Inogate, Boo Vision, and ADX Systems startups are on trial. Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan announced the beginning of the modernization of the army. According to sources, in one of the closed reports, he indicated that his department was striving to achieve continuous control of airspace and develop a system for automatic detection and destruction of UAVs. However, the country does not yet have the technical or financial capabilities for this. By the way, during the trial of Ruben Vardanyan, it became known that earlier this figure had negotiated the acquisition of helicopter-type unmanned aerial vehicles intended for use by illegal Armenian armed groups in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. In addition, the Russian entrepreneur intended to build a drone manufacturing plant, as well as purchase and deliver electronic warfare systems to the occupying forces. Armenia currently has its own drones in service: the X-55 reconnaissance drone and the Krunk tactical drone, which did not bring it success in the war. Given that Armenia considers itself the "silicon valley" of the Caucasus, they pretend to rely on their own technologies. However, the UAV fleet, apparently, will be formed through foreign purchases. Since last summer, three French defense industry companies have begun cooperation in the production of components for unmanned aerial vehicles and spare parts for various military equipment, including armored vehicles. The project is being implemented under the direct supervision of the French Ministry of Defense, and the stated goal is to support Ukraine. Later it became known that the products will be supplied to Armenia. It is reported that a third of the equipment for drones and vehicles produced by French companies in Ukraine is also allocated to Armenia. In 2023, Armenia signed contracts with India for the purchase of Archer attack drones and with France for Aliaca tactical reconnaissance drones. According to Armenian media, the Armenian Defense Ministry planned to purchase up to 150 Indian drones by the beginning of this year. It is not reported whether the deal has been implemented. However, in early February, it became known that contracts for the supply of 400 UAVs were frozen in India due to the "discovery" of Chinese-made components in them. There was also information about the conclusion by Iran of a secret deal with Armenia for the supply of weapons worth 500 million dollars, including drones "Shahed-136", "Shahed-129", "Shahed-197" and "Mohajer-6". It was claimed that "hundreds of Iranian drones in Armenia will bankrupt the enemy's air defense." It was even calculated how long it would take such a drone to reach Baku. The Armenian and Iranian sides immediately denied this information. However, it is well known that there is no smoke without fire. Perhaps the deal was discussed, but did not take place. If the latter, then it was most likely Tehran, not Yerevan, that abandoned it. Meanwhile, the Israeli news channel i24news wrote in July last year that during several recent clashes on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, the Armenian side used "Shaheds" against Azerbaijani positions. "It would not be ridiculous to assume that Israel, which is at the forefront of the production of anti-missile and anti-unmanned technologies, has something up its sleeve to help its main strategic partner," the newspaper wrote, hinting that, no matter what combat performance the Iranian UAVs sold to Armenia possess, Israel will find something to help Azerbaijan in countering them. As we have already noted, Azerbaijan has reliable partners and friends. The technologies of the Israeli military-industrial complex have been and remain one of the most advanced, if not the most advanced. The Turkish experience in the production of UAVs is also indispensable for us. Thanks to the successful use of the famous Bayraktar tanks during the 44-day war, the fraternal country has become a major exporter of this military equipment. Demand for Turkish drones is still booming. As of December 2024, Bayraktar-TV2 drones had been purchased by thirty countries around the world, including members of the European Union, and four more were in the process of preparing a deal. Nigeria has purchased the most drones, 43. What Azerbaijan buys and from whom is not information for public discussion or for other people's ears. There is no doubt about one thing - the Azerbaijani army has something to respond to the "drone war" if Armenia decides to declare it. AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -ASML, the computer chip equipment maker that has been hit by successive waves of U.S.-led restrictions on exports to China, said in its annual report on Wednesday that uncertainty over export controls had weakened customer demand in 2024. "Macroeconomic uncertainty - including [over] technological sovereignty and export controls - led certain customers to remain cautious and control capital expenditure." it said. ASML's customers include TSMC of Taiwan, South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix, SMIC of China and Intel of the U.S. among others. ASML said that a growing number of entities in China, which accounted for 36% of its sales in 2024, are now subject to restrictions and the company faces ongoing risk from increasingly complex restrictions and possible countermeasures. The company has said it expects China sales to fall towards 20% in 2025. The company repeated its 2025 sales forecasts of 30-35 billion euros, up from 28.3 billion euros ($30.24 billion) in 2024, with the AI boom boosting demand for its EUV lithography systems, which are needed to create the circuitry of computer chips. It also said it will appoint former Dutch Social Affairs minister Karien van Gennip to the company's supervisory board. It has recently taken other politicians onboard, including hiring former French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire as special advisor to the executive board and former deputy Economy Minister Frank Heemskerk as Global Affairs Chief. ($1 = 0.9360 euros) (Reporting by Toby Sterling and Nathan Vifflin; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Elaine Hardcastle) In 2023, Retired Army Maj. Willie Merkerson Jr. earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor in Vietnam. His children have been among those who have campaigned for the distinction to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Merkerson, who lives in Fayetteville, says he only did his mission and was not seeking medals. But he believes in justice. He has thrown his support behind another Fayetteville man, Lamont McKoy, convicted of a murder 35 years ago that evidence strongly suggests he did not commit. Retired Army Major Willie Merkerson Jr. and Lamont Saxon, who retired from the 82nd Airborne, support Fayetteville, NC, man Lamont McKoy's attempt to clear his name in a 35-year-old murder. Merkerson is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for valor in the Vietnam War. Saxon, who is McKoy's cousin, has fought for years to help him prove his innocence. Merkerson says McKoy, who was paroled in 2017 but is still seeking to clear his name, deserves the benefit of another look at the case to ensure justice is done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats to be lost? he asks. The least they can do is give it another look to see if theres something that needs to be reinvestigated. McKoys cousin hopes veteran support can make a difference Veterans involvement in the case of McKoy has been sought and facilitated by McKoys cousin, Lamont Saxon, a veteran of the 82nd Airborne who lives in the Washington, D.C. area. Saxon has been back and forth for decades between Maryland and Fayetteville to help clear the name of McKoy, with whom he grew up and considers to be like a brother. McKoys late father was a veteran of the Vietnam War who the family believes may have died from complications related to Agent Orange. Saxon is frank in saying he hopes that this connection helps humanize McKoy for the judge who is handling the most current phase of McKoys case. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons' father served as a Marine, Saxon says. McKoy and his legal team with Duke Laws Wrongful Convictions Clinic are scheduled to appear before Ammons in Courtroom 4A Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKoy is seeking a motion for appropriate relief, often shortened to MAR, to show he is innocent in the murder, an assertion that is supported by evidence presented at a federal trial. His lawyers want Ammons to remove himself because the judge ruled against McKoy in a previous MAR. Cumberland senior resident judge: Multiple MAR requests are common Ammons is the one to determine if his own recusal is warranted. At a hearing in January, McKoy and Saxon felt the judge was dismissive of McKoy in how he talked to him. Opinion Pitts: A raw deal: Decades later, a Fayetteville man still fights to clear his name Saxon says: My purpose for highlighting that Lamonts father was a Vietnam veteran is because Ammons acted as if he was a thug with no family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ammons said on Wednesday he could not comment on McKoy and Saxon's impression of his court demeanor. Nor did he think it was appropriate to hear additional biographical details about McKoy and his family before hearing the case. While he did not think it appropriate either to discuss McKoy's specific MAR request, he said that senior resident judges receive many such requests. For years and years, I'm aware of senior residents who have handled multiple MARs, which there's no problem with that, in general, he said. Some defendants file a half-dozen or more. Cumberland Superior Court judge has recused himself in the past Ammons is not above recusing himself in cases when he believes the situation demands it. He is also not above taking umbrage when lawyers formally ask him to remove himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2016, the judge removed himself from a case of four defendants who had been convicted of murder and were seeking to have their death penalty convictions commuted to life in prison under the Racial Justice Act. Under the act, which has since been overturned by the state legislature, defendants could get their sentences commuted if they could show evidence of racial bias in their trials. Ammons denied the defendants' lawyers recusal request, his voice rising at times in apparent anger, according to a Fayetteville Observer account at the time. I have sworn to administer judgment without favoritism to anyone or to the state, he said. I will not violate those oaths for anyone or anything. Moments later, he made the decision to step aside but not without a lecture to the defense lawyers who he said spent enormous time, effort and expense to the sole issue of replacing me with another judge. McKoy: Role of a Fayetteville cop with dubious record not introduced in court McKoy was 17 when he was questioned by Fayetteville police officers in the death of Myron Hailey, whose body was found in his car not far from where the N.C. State Veterans Park is located downtown today. McKoy had sold drugs and was familiar to police; he has said his smart-aleck responses to questions is what led police to claim he confessed but no such confession was introduced at trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the years, he turned down plea agreements that would have gotten him out of prison earlier. Meanwhile, federal authorities identified another man as Hailey's shooter in an unrelated federal trial over a drug conspiracy. Lamont McKoy, right, has been trying to clear his name of a murder committed 35 years ago. Lamont Saxon, his cousin, has worked tirelessly on his behalf. They are standing outside the Cumberland County Courthouse, where they attended a hearing on the matter Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. McKoy has said the role played in his case by now-deceased police officer Robert Parker has never been explored in court. In 1995, Parker was sentenced to six months in jail for telling drug dealers hed get them out of trouble if they paid him. McKoy believes that kind of record should have further raised questions in his own case. McKoy says Parker was the investigator who found a witness that gave questionable testimony against McKoy. He went rogue, McKoy said of Parker. Its kind of funny that when I went to the trial he never was present during the court proceedings. Distinguished Fayetteville veteran: Humans make mistakes McKoy said he is grateful for the support of veterans like Merkerson and for the continued support of his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Merkerson, the situation is cut and dried. Were human and oftentimes, humans make mistakes, he said of the original investigation. And a man who served that much time honestly and faithfully deserves another chance. Opinion Editor Myron B. Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com. Opinion editor Myron B. Pitts. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville man trying to clear name gets major veteran backer | Opinion State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, right, talks with Speaker John Arch of La Vista. July 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN The federal government is again planning to decrease the percentage of state Medicaid costs it will cover for Nebraska, leaving state lawmakers on the hook for an additional $90.3 million this budgeting cycle. State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, announced the revision Thursday, one day after legislative staff found the overlooked Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) revisions from January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That oversight will eat into the progress of a recently amended two-year economic forecast, which decreased an initial $432 million shortfall at the start of the session to $267 million. State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, left, and Keisha Patent, director of the Legislative Fiscal Office, address lawmakers at a pre-session legislative retreat in Kearney on Dec. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Thats because of an additional $65 million in projected tax revenue over the next two fiscal years. Lawmakers also have the option of accessing an additional $100 million in revenue from this fiscal year that went automatically to the cash reserve. The change Clements discussed this week determines federal matching funds to offset state Medicaid costs, meaning the recent decrease in federal funds leaves the state needing to pay for more. The initial decrease in the federal share of state Medicaid costs from October passed $235 million in Medicaid costs back on to Nebraska. That was before the January adjustment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That decrease and the latest are on regular Medicaid costs and not hoped-for matching federal funds for provider assessments as approved in 2024 and pending in 2025 under legislation led by State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte. Clements committee issued a preliminary budget Feb. 18 that identified $171 million toward closing the shortfall. However, some of those items, including a $14 million cut to the University of Nebraska, will be fought in committee and, if advanced, during floor debate. With the Medicaid changes but without the committees recommended cuts, the state budget shortfall for the 2025-27 fiscal years is $457 million. Including the committees changes, the shortfall would be about $289 million, according to the legislative fiscal office. Clements said it will be a tougher year than we thought to balance the budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all need to work together to balance the budget, he said. Its not just the Appropriations Committees budget. Its the Legislatures budget, and were required to balance it. Editors note: This story has been revised to clarify that the Legislature would have to take an affirmative step to use the $100 million in additional revenues from this fiscal year to close the budget shortfall. Timeline of 2025-27 shortfall projections Nov. 20 $432 million shortfall, identified by Tax Rate Review Committee, nearly $490 million below recent expectations. Feb. 18 $261 million shortfall, if all cuts in preliminary Appropriations Committee budget are adopted by the full Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feb. 28 $99 million shortfall, identified by February Nebraska Economic Forecast Advisory Board revisions wiping about $65 million from the shortfall over the next two fiscal years, plus a boon of about $100 million more in tax revenue than initially anticipated this fiscal year that the Legislature could apply to the shortfall, along with all preliminary budget cuts, which senators would need to still adopt. March 6 $189 million shortfall, including a $90.3 million increase in state share of Medicaid costs after federal funding decrease, economic forecast revisions and preliminary budget cuts. This number includes the $100 million in additional revenue for this fiscal year that the Legislature would have to choose to use to close the gap. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LITTLE ROCK, Ark. While deer are often a beautiful sight, for some, they have become a massive problem. Arkansas Game and Fish program coordinator Ralph Meeker said they receive about a dozen complaints yearly, but recently, several have come in. A lot of the complaints follow flooding or, you know, when the (Arkansas) river comes up or backs up, a lot of deer kind of are pushed toward Little Rock, Meeker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deer crashes through Pine Bluff business window Meeker said an overpopulation of deer in urban areas is concerning for the deers health and the public. You will see an increase in deer-vehicle collisions, crop deprivation, landscape deprivation, we have increased incidences of tick-borne diseases in urban areas, Meeker said. One of the areas being most affected is Randy Machens Two Rivers Park neighborhood. He said he knows a thing or two about deer tearing up his yard and cars. My stepdaughter got a deer the other day that jumped over the car, on top of the car, then Ive got another daughter that got hit in her car, Machen said. Its really dangerous; two bikers have gotten hit before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 1,000 deer harvested during the first Arkansas early buck hunt Meeker said he has also seen a few reports of deer attacks, typically its momma deer defending their fawns. Those living in the area are asking the city to do more; one suggestion has been urban deer hunts. Machen says he supports the hunts, suggesting a 30% reduction. However, he also shares he would support deer being darted and relocated. According to Meeker, the AGFC can only conduct an urban deer hunt when contacted by the city, and if the city of Little Rock contacted them, they would be more than happy to implement it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri deer painted with pet sign causes concern The city of Little Rock shared Wednesday that they are aware of the issue but do not plan on a hunt as of this time. Meeker says to make a report on the overpopulation of deer, you can contact your local city council member and make a report. They will then send it to the Arkansas Game and Fish. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. The prosecution rested its case Wednesday as the defense began trying to fend off murder charges against the former commodore of the Swan Boat Club, who crashed her SUV into the club, killing two young siblings and hurting others. The trial of Marshella Chidester, 67, in Monroe County Circuit Court will continue Thursday, with jurors told to expect a few more witnesses, closing arguments and jury instructions. Chidester is charged in the deaths of Zayn Phillips, 4, and his sister, Alanah Phillips, 8, as well as injuring numerous others at a 3-year-old's birthday party, some severely, April 20 at the boat club in Newport, about 30 miles south of Detroit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chidester's attorney, Bill Colovos, called Monroe County Sheriff's Lt. Brian Quinn to the stand. Quinn testified for the prosecution Tuesday, telling jurors that information from an event data recorder from Chidester's SUV indicated a speed of 44.3 mph at the time of impact at the boat club. Quinn also told jurors Tuesday that five seconds before the crash, the speed was 29.5 mph. He said when the building was hit, Chidester was using 96.6% of the accelerator and the braking system was not engaged, saying in real-life terms: "The pedal's to the floor." Quinn testified Wednesday there was an indication on an image that showed part braking and part 100% throttle. Colovos asked whether the two occurring simultaneously could be indicative of someone having an attack. The prosecution objected, saying the question called for speculation. During his testimony, Quinn said some people drive with both feet and that can cause that type of indication. When Colovos asked whether Quinn had investigated a situation before where someone had a medical issue, such as a seizure, and both feet went to the pedal area, Quinn testified that he has investigated crashes with medical issues, but he was not qualified to say what happened or the person's actions at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colovos also called Kelly Thornton, who waited on Chidester at Verna's, a local eating and drinking establishment, several hours before the crash. She testified that Chidester arrived about 11 a.m. with two friends and stayed about an hour, cashing out at 12:15 p.m. Thornton told jurors Chidester had a glass of wine, a water and a cup of white chicken chili. She said Chidester did not appear intoxicated when she served her, and she did not see Chidester leave. When asked whether Chidester finished the wine, Thornton, who works part-time at Verna's, answered: "I don't recall." Thornton testified that law enforcement came to the establishment that night, and they gave them a receipt with what Chidester had to eat and drink. Chidester is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death and five counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury. Her defense is expected to argue that a medical condition contributed to the crash, saying she has seizures and neuropathy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colovos made a motion for a directed verdict of not guilty after prosecutors rested their case. He cited several factors, including Chidester's toxicology results showing low levels of acetone, believing the test produced inaccurate results, and that the evidence didn't show there was any type of specific intent or any intent, which is required for second-degree murder. Assistant Prosecutor Kenneth Laurain argued Chidester's blood alcohol level was 0.18; there was Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant and nerve pain medication, in her system; that the Phillips siblings died of multiple blunt force injuries and that others injured suffered serious injuries. "Without the vehicle, none of those things would have happened," Laurain added. Circuit Judge Daniel White denied Colovos' motion, saying he found the testimony supported all of the elements for the second-degree murder charges. Many of the victims were among the 27 prosecution witnesses who testified since Monday, when the trial began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors wrapped up their case after calling six witnesses Wednesday, including 14-year-old Edward Smothers, who suffered a broken leg and needed surgery and crutches. He testified that he attended the party with his aunt, Mariah Dodds, who gave emotional testimony in court Tuesday. Roe Mundy, the phlebotomist at the hospital who drew Chidester's blood for testing just over three hours after the crash, also testified. Jurors saw video Tuesday from a Monroe County deputy's body-worn camera showing the test kit and blood draw at the hospital. Under cross-examination, Colovos questioned why there was no doctor's name on a specific piece of paperwork. On redirect, Laurain asked Mundy whether she ever worked in a hospital not under the authority of a physician, to which she answered "no." She testified that she was not sure who the physician was in the emergency room that day because she was called down to the department to draw the blood. The other remaining witnesses focused on Chidester's blood samples handled by the Michigan State Police lab in Lansing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tabitha Faust, a forensic scientist at the lab, testified the case "had a rush" and the samples were hand-delivered to prepare for alcohol testing right away. During her testimony, it was stated that Chidester's blood alcohol level was 0.18. Law enforcement officials previously said Chidester had a blood alcohol level of 0.18, more than twice the limit to be considered legally drunk in Michigan, at the time of the crash. The charges read in court Monday accused her of being impaired by a combination of alcohol and Gabapentin. Colovos asked Faust: "Your testing is only as good as the subject matter delivered to you, correct?" To which, she answered "correct." Samantha Beauchamp, a supervisor in the toxicology unit at the lab, testified that Chidester's blood sample contained the presence of Gabapentin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Defense calls 2 witnesses in trial of woman charged in Swan Boat Club crash Federal Government Under Siege is a multipart series that explores the impact of the Trump administrations overhaul of the federal government on Black communities. President Donald Trump and his allies have turned diversity, equity, and inclusion into a catchall slur. The administration claims to be eliminating DEI, but what its doing is conflating issues, attacking long-established civil rights protections that its calling DEI, sociologists and historians told Capital B. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a kind of misinformation. Its a kind of racist, sexist, anti-LGBTQ, ableist misinformation that allows [conservative actors] to target folks who have historically been marginalized in the U.S., said Victor Ray, a sociology professor at the University of Iowa. The administrations war on DEI is especially acute among Black Americans, who fought for civil rights protections in the 1960s. DEI sprang from presidential actions taken in response to this activism, though DEI and Civil Rights Era demands for equality arent the same thing. Even so, Trump and his camp have transformed DEI into a boogeyman, and Ray and others said that exploiting the term is an attempt to chip away at basic freedoms and whitewash history. Trump used his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday to further swipe at DEI. Weve ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government, Trump taunted, only minutes after Rep. Al Green of Texas was ejected for protesting during the address. And our country will be woke no longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A wide range of vulnerable communities have been swept up in the administrations anti-DEI purge, which is part of an old playbook by opponents of equal rights. Observers have likened the assault on DEI to some lawmakers attacks on critical race theory a few years ago. The primary threats to the countrys social order, per Christopher Rufo and other conservative activists, were CRT and woke. Their campaign led to dozens of states passing or introducing legislation to ban CRT in classrooms. But since the U.S. Supreme Court gutted affirmative action in higher education in 2023, theyve found a new menace in DEI, Kimberle Crenshaw, a pioneering critical race theory scholar and the co-founder and executive director of the African American Policy Forum, previously told Capital B. Ray, the author of the 2022 book On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care, explained further: Basically anything that the administration doesnt like, its saying that its because of Black folks and Latino folks and disabled folks and LGBTQ folks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the backlash against DEI continues, its important to understand how we got here. What is the origin of DEI? DEI is an array of organizational measures from anti-bias training to diverse recruitment outreach designed to inject fairness into the federal government, corporate America, and other environments where its long been missing. You can detect the bones of DEI in some of the advancements made during the Civil Rights Movement. On March 6, 1961, recognizing the deep inequality facing Black workers, President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10925. This established the Presidents Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity and mandated federal contractors to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. To give the committee some teeth, the order allowed the body, which Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson initially chaired, to impose sanctions for failure to comply. Kennedy commented that this power of enforcement illustrated the federal governments determination to end job discrimination once and for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson assumed the presidency following Kennedys assassination in 1963, and bolstered federal workforce protections for Black Americans and other marginalized groups. By the time he delivered the commencement address at Howard University on June 4, 1965, he had signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Still, he wanted to do more. Negro poverty is not white poverty. Many of its causes and many of its cures are the same. But there are differences deep, corrosive, obstinate differences, Johnson told the crowd. These differences are not racial differences. They are solely and simply the consequence of ancient brutality, past injustice, and present prejudice. They are anguishing to observe. He added that if we are ever to reach the time when the only difference between Negroes and whites is the color of their skin, then these wrongs must be faced, and they must be dealt with, and they must be overcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few months later, on Sept. 24, he signed Executive Order 11246, outlawing employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin for organizations receiving federal contracting and requiring federal contractors to work affirmatively toward creating equal opportunity for marginalized groups. These orders were a godsend for so many people who live in this country and love this country and want their fair shot at making a living and having a good life, Marcus Board, an associate professor of political science at Howard University, previously told Capital B. Its unclear who coined the term DEI, but the concept likely grew from this drive for equality in the 1980s. Companies forged equal employment opportunity programs and diversity programs, offering a variety of initiatives to improve office environments. At times, there was opposition to this movement, including from President Ronald Reagan. The actor turned politician sought to scale back diversity efforts when he entered the White House in 1981, pushing to deregulate workplace antidiscrimination policies. Reagans plans faced widespread backlash, and he eventually abandoned them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies continued to embrace diversity initiatives. But it wasnt until the murder of George Floyd in 2020 that DEI gained fresh momentum, as companies responded to demands that the country make amends for the injustices Black Americans have suffered: A LinkedIn analysis found that, from 2019 through the end of 2022, hires for chief diversity and inclusion officer roles ballooned by 168.9%. What is Trump targeting and why are the tactics familiar? Protesters gather at a rally last month in Washington organized by the American Federation of Government Employees against the recent cuts made by the Trump administration. (Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images) Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency is working to realize Trumps dream of ridding federal agencies of DEI initiatives, destabilizing the lives of thousands of Americans in the process (and ignoring the fact that diverse workplaces tend to perform better). Federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor, are dismantling their offices that uphold civil rights protections, maintaining that theyre linked to DEI. The U.S. Department of Education, meanwhile, has launched an End DEI portal urging people to report public school educators who dont adhere to its anti-DEI stance. This overhaul aligns with the goals of Project 2025, the conservative manifesto that referred to DEI as a managerialist left-wing race and gender ideology that political leaders must eliminate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administrations crusade against DEI imperils access to federal jobs that for decades have been cherished for opening up a pathway to the Black middle class. When I went into the government world, I was searching for stability, a Black former federal employee who was laid off in February told Capital B, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the matters sensitivity. Im a mom. Im a wife. We have expenses. Last year, we were hit with a tragedy. Her husband was in a severe car accident, and suffered a brain injury. He was in the intensive care unit from the end of October until around the middle of December. It felt like my job was the one thing I was really holding on to, because everything else in my life seemed unstable. I had no control, she said. I have to start searching for a job again, but I also want to allow myself to feel whatever Im going to feel so that I have fresh eyes when I do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, the demolition of the federal workforce isnt new. LGBTQ federal workers, for instance, have compared some of the administrations actions banning transgender troops from the military, axing employee resource groups that once permitted those with shared identities to build community to the Lavender Scare. This mid-century moral panic painted gay Americans as a national security threat, and historians estimate that it resulted in the removal of up to 10,000 workers from the federal service. The ripple effects of this purge were considerable: persistent unemployment, community estrangement, financial ruin. A number of those affected took their own lives. Many observers, including Ray and the legal expert Katie S. Phang, have underscored that DOGEs machinations echo actions that President Woodrow Wilson took after he entered office in 1913. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson required the federal workforce to be racially segregated, limiting the access of Black civil servants to white-collar positions via both demotions and the failure to hire qualified Black candidates, according to a 2020 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper that found that Wilsons order erased the economic progress Black Americans had made during Reconstruction. Why is conflating DEI and civil rights insidious? Members of the National Action Network protest outside the New York office of hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman in January 2024. The Rev. Sharpton held the protest after the resignation of Claudine Gay as president of Harvard University. Sharpton states that Ackman, a Harvard alumnus, led the campaign against Gay not because of her leadership or credentials but because he felt she was a DEI hire. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Almost immediately after returning to the White House and paying lip service to Martin Luther King Jr.s legacy, Trump rescinded Executive Order 11246. He characterized attempts to quash workplace discrimination as pernicious, and referred to them as prejudice against white Americans. Many companies, presumably hoping to avoid Trumps fury, have responded by withdrawing their support for DEI. This reversal has led some observers, including Crenshaw, to argue that our current political moment resembles the end of Reconstruction, a period that also was rife with acquiescence from avowed allies of racial equality. Ray, the University of Iowa professor, said that hes surprised not by the administrations assault on DEI Trump promised on the campaign trail that this would be a political priority but by the speed with which the presidents team of players is laying siege to civil rights protections. Theyre saying that its DEI, but I argue that theyre conflating a whole bunch of different things to attack the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, he explained, highlighting that this messaging allows the administration to target policies that enjoy broad support. Lots of people get irritated when they have to watch an HR training video on antidiscrimination. But conflating that with civil rights protections so that you can get rid of them is really insidious, he added. A federal judge in February issued a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from terminating or altering federal contracts it deems DEI-related, ruling that such orders are likely unconstitutional and chill speech as to anyone the government might conceivably choose to accuse of engaging in speech about equity or diversity. For some Black federal workers, the administrations anti-DEI purge has scrambled their plans for the future, leaving them professionally adrift. I thought that I wanted to work in the federal government until retirement. I was totally content to work at the same agency for like 40 years. That was no problem, a Black federal employee told Capital B, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Now, I dont know. Im keeping my options open. The post DEI Didnt Start With Wokeness Heres What Trump Gets Wrong appeared first on Capital B News. Eight Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Department of Education over cuts to teacher training grants made under the Trump administration. The states argue the $600 million in cuts come from policies mandated by law, and they affected programs that were meant to help with the teaching shortage. These are programs that families and kids rely upon, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, told The Associated Press in an interview, and if the president wants to get rid of them, the appropriate way to do it is through Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit was also joined by California, Massachusetts, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Wisconsin. The Education Department previously said it got rid of the contracts because the programs were promoting divisive ideologies in schools. The Hill has reached out to the department for further comment. The lawsuit came days after the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), the National Center for Teacher Residencies, and the Maryland Association of Colleges for Teacher Education filed a similar suit against the federal agency for terminations of contracts regarding teacher programs. The termination of these grants has caused immediate harm to our teacher preparation programs, as well as to the schools, teachers, and students who benefited from them. These funds help reduce teacher shortages and enhance the development and effectiveness of educators in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the country, said Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, president and CEO of AACTE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since President Trump returned to office, hundreds of millions of dollars in Education Department contracts have been terminated, from teaching programs to research grants, causing panic among those communities. More cuts are on the horizon after Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent out a memo regarding staffers final mission as she and Trump work toward shutting down the department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has sued the Trump administration for cutting off funds for its democracy building overseas the latest suit from a target of Elon Musk. The lawsuit states the Treasury Department has locked out the endowment from $167 million in congressionally appropriated funds for more than a month, claiming it unconstitutionally usurps Congresss power of the purse. For the last month, the Executive Branch has denied the Endowment access to its congressionally appropriated funds something that has never occurred before in the Endowments forty-two-year existence, the lawsuit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the Executives unlawful impoundment of the funds that Congress appropriated for the Endowment, the Endowment is experiencing a devastating cash flow crisis that jeopardizes its ability to fulfill its mission and its very existence, as well as that of its core institutes and grantees, the complaint reads. The suit, filed in federal court in Washington, is the latest pushback to the Trump administrations targeting of various departments and programs focused on overseas work. The NED funds both the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute organizations affiliated with each political party but whose primary mission is to promote democracy and political freedom abroad. Neither institute works in the U.S., and they provide grant funding for projects in more than 100 countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has repeatedly signaled out the group, claiming in social media posts that it is RIFE with CORRUPTION NED is a SCAM, Musk wrote in another post last month. Musk has made similar claims about the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Trump administration subsequently blocked funding for numerous programs, ranging from those working on public health issues abroad to battling famine to economic and educational development designed to stem migratory flows. The new lawsuit alleges NED has been unable to access funds since two days after Trumps inauguration. The group says it has attempted for weeks to request a drawdown of roughly $97 million from its account, and the administration has failed to obligate another $72 million Congress appropriated in its latest funding bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to the Treasury Department for comment. NED has already had to furlough 62 percent of its staff and plans to furlough 13 percent more. Theyve also had to suspend 1,300 grant programs worldwide. The Endowment is also losing skills in critical areas, including language, regional expertise, and technical fields, the suit states, noting NED has assembled a team that collectively speaks more than 45 languages. Losing this expertise means losing access, understanding, and key relationships that have been developed over decades, the suit continues. The endowment is represented by lawyer Donald Verrilli, who served as solicitor general during the Obama administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the lawsuit does not name Musk or DOGE, the case comes amid the backdrop of a flurry of litigation challenging the groups efforts to rapidly slash aspects of federal spending. Some of those challenges have found success in court, including on Wednesday, when the Supreme Court in a 5-4 emergency decision declined the Trump administrations request to lift a judges order requiring officials to release nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gov. Joe Lombardo delivering the Nevada State of the State address on Jan. 15, 2025. (Photo: Richard Bednarski for Nevada Current) Democratic lawmakers in Nevada are urging state action to help keep former federal workers employed in the state amid mass firings. Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, lagging behind the rest of the country in job growth. Those statistics may only worsen as thousands of federal workers in the state face termination following the Trump administrations push to slash the federal workforce, said state lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, lawmakers requested a detailed plan of action by March 18 that ensures federal workers are given the opportunity to fill critical workforce shortages in state and local government. By taking swift action to integrate these fired federal workers into vacant state and government roles, we can reduce our unemployment rate, ensure that essential public services remain strong, and most importantly, ensure that Nevadans can provide for their families, reads the letter. The letter was sent by Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui, and Speaker Pro Tem Daniele Monroe-Moreno. Nevadans in several federal agencies have been terminated with little notice or explanation as a result of the federal workforce purge, including water quality specialists at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, search and rescue rangers at the Great Basin National Park, and disabled veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal workers with less than a year or two in their roles were the most at risk of termination due to their probationary status. Federal workers on a probationary status dont have the same job protections as those who have been in their roles for longer. All federal workers start new roles on a probationary status. There is no official estimate of the number of federal workers fired in Nevada, but the number of federal employees categorized as recent hires in Nevada could be in the thousands, according to the latest federal workforce data maintained by the agency. As of September 2024, there were 1, 281 federal employees with less than one year on the job working in Nevada. Federal employees hired in the state over the past one to two years totaled 2,512. Nevadans could greatly benefit from the experience and expertise of these fired federal employees. We can strengthen Nevaas public sector while demonstrating our states commitment to its workforce. This is not a partisan issue it is a matter of economic stability and responsible governance for those who elected us, the letter reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lombardos office issued a statement Thursday characterizing the Democrats letter as grandstanding, and saying federal employees in transition are encouraged to apply for state employment, where they can continue their service to our state and country. For Governor Lombardo, state employment isnt a political talking point: its been his focus since day one. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk the de facto director of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency have touted mass terminations at federal agencies as a cost-saving measure to root out waste, fraud and inefficiency in the federal government. A U.S. District Judge ruled last week that the Trump administration broke the law when it directed the Office of Personnel Management the central human resources office for the federal government to order the termination of thousands of probationary employees. Governors in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico have launched initiatives to assist federal workers in obtaining employment in their states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We encourage you to join other Governors who have stepped up to support these fired workers, their families, and ultimately, the well-being of all Nevadans, said lawmakers in the letter. This story was updated to include a statement sent by the governors office. BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) Five Democratic operatives in Connecticut's largest city made their first court appearances Thursday since being charged with tampering with absentee ballots in 2023, allegations that led to a court-ordered rerun of a mayoral primary and general election and fueled skepticism about U.S. election security. Three Bridgeport City Council members and the second in command of the city's Democratic Party organization were among the defendants who briefly appeared before a Bridgeport Superior Court judge, who set their next court dates for March 21. No one entered any pleas. In the runup to the 2023 primary, surveillance videos showed people on several occasions stuffing what appeared to be multiple absentee ballots into city collection boxes, police said. The defendants have also been accused of illegally helping voters fill out ballots and telling them who to vote for, according to arrest warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News of the surveillance videos helped fuel skepticism about the security of U.S. elections and was used to bolster false narratives about the 2020 presidential election being stolen, Among those arrested on Feb. 21 by state police were Wanda Geter-Pataky, vice chairperson of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee; City Council members Alfredo Castillo, Maria Pereira and Jazmarie Melendez; and Stratford resident Margaret Joyce, who told authorities she worked on Mayor Joe Ganim's campaign, according to arrest warrants. Castillo, Pereira and Melendez deny the allegations. Geter-Pataky and her lawyer declined to comment on the charges. Joyce declined to comment Thursday. Ganim has denied any knowledge of ballot tampering. Geter-Pataky and Castillo were supporters of Ganim, while Pereira and Melendez were for John Gomes, who challenged Ganim in the 2023 Democratic primary. Geter-Pataky and Castillo were previously charged with similar absentee ballot crimes connected to the 2019 election won by Ganim. State police allege Geter-Pataky is seen on the surveillance videos stuffing ballots into collection boxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ganim narrowly won the 2023 primary over Gomes and went on to win the general election. But both results were thrown out by a state judge because of evidence of alleged ballot tampering. Ganim won both do-over elections. Ganim was first elected mayor in 1991 and served 12 years before quitting when he was caught accepting bribes and kickbacks. Convicted of racketeering, extortion and other crimes, he spent seven years in prison but then won his old job back in 2015. A Canada-based crypto mining company is acquiring two Pennsylvania coal-fired power plants as part of its purchase of a digital mining group. Bitfarms Ltd. is set to buy Stronghold Digital Mining in a deal expected to close this month. Stronghold's shareholders approved the sale earlier this year. Stronghold owns the 85-MW Scrubgrass waste coal power plant in Venango County, and the 80-MW Panther Creek waste coal facility in Carbon County. Bitfarms is expected to use electricity from the coal-fired stations to power its energy-intensive bitcoin mining operations. Bitfarms already has a presence in Pennsylvania, having purchased a data center in Mercer County last year. The deal also could hold value for Bitfarms since it would enable the company to sell power to wholesale markets in the PJM territory. Officials with PJM, the regional grid operator, have expressed concerns about having enough power to meet increased demand in their 13-state territory from data centers, new manufacturing plants, and electrification initiatives. PJM and Pennsylvania Gob. Josh Shapiro recently settled a lawsuit over PJMs capacity market pricing. PJM has acknowledged a capacity shortage could affect its system as early as the 2026/2027 delivery year. PJMs Need for Power More than 54 GW of power generation capacity was retired in PJM from 2011 to 2023, according to a report from Monitoring Analytics, the grid operators market monitor. PJM officials also have asked power plant operators to delay the retirement of some facilities providing baseload power. PJM in a recent presentation said several power projects have interconnection agreements with the grid operator, but many of the facilities are not being built due to local opposition, problems securing equipment or financing, or permitting issues. Toronto, Ontario-based Bitfarms as part of the deal said the Scrubgrass and Panther Creek bitcoin mining sites could be expanded to supply up to 955 MW of electricity by adding additional transmission capacity. Public documents related to the Bitfarms-Stronghold deal show that Stronghold was considering a sale of the company at least since 2021. The documents said more than a dozen groups looked into buying Stronghold, but did not want to purchase the two power plants. Strategic Locations The documents showed that Bitfarms initially was only interested in Strongholds mining assets, offering $120 million for the bitcoin miners. It eventually increased its offer to buy the whole of Stronghold in an all-stock deal with an enterprise value of $175 million. An investor presentation from Bitfarms noted, Pennsylvania is a conservative business friendly jurisdiction with a notably pro-Bitcoin & pro-energy Democratic Governor [Shapiro]. The company also noted that the Scrubgrass and Panther Creek power plants are near major metropolitan areas and important fiber infrastructure to facilitate data transmission. Bitfarms has said it expects to build data centers alongside the existing power plants, with electricity from the plants serving the data center sites. The company also said that existing grid connections at each site have the potential to double megawatts available for mining operations." Bitfarms also wrote that it plans to make its mining assets available as a demand response resource for the power grid. Participation in these programs is the first step in a broader energy arbitrage strategy that we will be developing in the coming months across our PJM portfolio, Alex Brammer, Bitfarms senior vice president of global mining operations, said in a statement. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER. Democrats so-called resistance to Donald Trump is getting bad reviews among voters. A new survey from Blueprint, a liberal research firm, found that registered voters have lost the plot on whatif anythingDemocratic lawmakers are doing to oppose Trumps sweeping agenda to shrink the federal workforce, slash essential government programs, and roll back regulations and rights. A whopping 40 percent of respondents said that the Democratic Party doesnt have any strategy at all for responding to Trump. Meanwhile, 24 percent of respondents said that the party did have a strategy but that it wasnt working, and only 10 percent of respondents said that it had a good strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll of 1,383 registered voters was conducted between February 16 and 17. Since then, the Democrats means of resistance have only gotten more confused. Ahead of Trumps address to Congress Tuesday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged his party to take a measured approach and have a strong and dignified presence at the presidents Capitol appearance. Still, Democratic lawmakers protested in several increasingly small ways. Some lawmakers, such as Florida Representative Maxwell Frost and Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett, walked out of Trumps address. Others held up small signs with slogans such as, Musk Steals, False, and Save Medicaid. A small contingent wore pink, a failed signal of unity and a devastating blow to absolutely no one. Only Texas Representative Al Green managed to do any actual protesting, waving his cane and crying out that Trump had no mandate to cut Medicaid. Green was escorted out of the chamber, and on Thursday, he was formally censured by his colleaguesincluding 10 Democrats. Evan Roth Smith, Blueprints top pollster, told Politico that voters had correctly identified that the Democratic Party has lost its way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic response [Tuesday] night was more or less a continuation of what weve seen from Democrats so far, Smith explained. Which is, there was nothing overtly wrong about it, but it didnt actually do anything to ameliorate this core issue Democrats face, which is voters arent quite sure what we stand for and would like us to get back to the basic principles of the party. Sixty-five percent of respondents agreed with the statement that the Democratic Party needs to get back to basics of protecting Social Security and Medicare, reproductive freedom, and workers rights. Sixty-five percent of respondents also agreed with the statement that no one has any idea what the Democratic Party stands for anymore, other than opposing Donald Trump. Democrats have no message, no plan of their own, and no one knows what they would do if they got back into power. The Scoop Democrats are trying to rein in the Federal Communications Commission following a spate of regulatory actions against broadcasters that President Donald Trump doesnt like. On Tuesday, Democratic Sens. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Ed Markey of Massachusetts announced they are introducing the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, a bill that proposes curtailing the FCCs ability to strip broadcast licenses from stations that express oppositional political viewpoints to the president. According to the bills text, which was first shared with Semafor, it would also prohibit the FCC from using the threat of investigation to force stations or media companies to comply with the whims of the president, and would prevent the president from firing FCC commissioners at will. The bills text also explicitly said the FCC could not consider political viewpoints as part of its approval over mergers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democrats, led by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), plan to introduce a similar bill. The move comes as newly appointed FCC chairman Brendan Carr has moved aggressively to investigate a number of legacy and public broadcasters who fall under the FCCs regulatory purview. In just a few months, the commission reopened probes into alleged bias at CBS and ABC, began looking into NBC over its diversity, equity, and inclusion workplace initiatives, and is investigating NPR and PBS over whether their sponsorships violate federal rules around advertising. The FCC is currently considering complaints against CBS News as part of its approval of a merger between CBS parent company, Paramount, and Skydance. In a statement to Semafor, Lujan, the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committees telecoms panel, said the FCCs recent actions amounted to intimidation of broadcast stations for political purposes and was a serious threat to the First Amendment. The FCC and the President should not hold the power to revoke broadcasting licenses and censor free speech simply because they disagree with the viewpoints that are broadcasted, Lujan said. Maxs view The legislation has little chance of passing while Republicans control both houses and the White House. Carr has delighted Republican lawmakers, the White House, and conservative pundits with his willingness to aggressively investigate broadcast news organizations that they believe are anti-Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the bill is a signal to other Democrats who have been frustrated by the lack of pushback by Congress against the Trump administration. Carrs regulatory moves have raised concerns among some news consumers and Democrats that the White House is hoping to intimidate outlets who might otherwise cover negative stories. Should they win back control of either the House or Senate in two years, Democrats could more meaningfully pursue changes to the FCC. And not all of Carrs moves have been popular with ideologically-aligned conservative media, either. In an interview earlier this year, Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade asked Carr whether his CBS probe would set a negative precedent for broadcasters who have to edit down interviews with high-profile figures, a sentiment that the Wall Street Journal editorial board echoed. Room for Disagreement Carr has argued that the news media has taken an unfair view of the FCC under his leadership. Asked by Semafor Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith last week about his recent regulatory actions, the new chairman criticized media organizations for failing to cover the complaint against Fox stations that was filed under previous FCC chair following the Dominion Legal Systems lawsuit against Fox News (in one of her final acts in office, the outgoing chair dismissed the complaint). Carr also said his strategy was simply enforcing existing laws. The FCC is a place that operates by case law and by precedent. And these cases and precedent that were developed over the last four years were apparently not controversial when the Democrats were in charge, Carr said. Im surprised that applying the same precedents is now considered controversial. THE CHAOS, INCOMPETENCE, AND CORRUPTION of the Trump administration threaten the American economy, rule of law, and way of life. The only way this ends is through elections. Yet we face a hard fact: The Democratic party is failing as a national party. The brand is toxic in too many places. The chance that Democrats could win back a Senate majority within the next decade is vanishingly small. Simply counting on Republicans to mess up wont save it. Just because the Democratic label is radioactive in some parts of the country doesnt mean that majorities in those places are necessarily locked into voting for Republicans. Thats why its time for Democrats to step aside in out-of-reach states and districts and let a new party compete instead. Doing so would not only increase the odds of denying Republicans control of the Senate in 2026, it would also put pressure now on Republicans in Congress, whose only current challenge is a MAGA-dominant primary electorate. And it would bring many more states and districts into genuine competitive territory, empowering tens of millions of citizens to cast a consequential vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get the best coverage of Trump 2.0 available anywhere, plus unbeatable reporting and analysis on American politics and culture, become a Bulwark + member. Why could this work? Lets do a little math. Consider the 2024 Senate races in Nebraska and Missouri. Trump won both states handily (he won Nebraska by 19.7 points and Missouri by 18.4 points in 2024, and by comparable margins in 2020 and 2016). In Missouri, Democrats chose Lucas Kunce, a thirteen-year Marine veteran who portrayed himself as a Fetterman-style populist.1 Kunce outperformed Kamala Harris by only about 2 points, and the race was never in doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Nebraska, Democrats stood aside and an independent candidate, Dan Osborn, made a race out of it, outperforming Harris by almost 8 points with a platform similar to Kunces. Approximately 12 percent of the Nebraskans who voted for Trump crossed over to vote for Osborn. (Nebraska also had a special election for the Senate seat vacated by Ben Sasse; the Democratic candidate in that race ran behind Harris.) Osborns experience echoes Evan McMullins in Utah in 2022. McMullin, running as an independent, lost to Mike Lee but ran almost 9 points ahead of Utah House Democrats. Roughly 17 percent of Utahans who voted for Republican House candidates in 2022 chose McMullin over Lee. The Osborn approach of running as an independent is promising. But banding together in a new party will be more effective. The independent label is fuzzy and unclear. A new party with a new identity makes it clear that voters are supporting something distinct. Well use the Patriot party as a placeholder name. A winning platform might look something like this: tough on the border, moderate-to-conservative on cultural issues, but populist on economics, and most importantly, unafraid to combat the crony capitalism of the Trump-Musk axis of greed and in favor of Congress fighting back for the rule of law and accountability. This platform could appeal to disaffected voters who are, at best, weakly attached to Republicans but see Democrats as elitist, out-of-touch, feckless scolds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new party can succeed by tapping into anger at both parties and committing to only voting for Patriot party members for Senate or House leadership. When reporters ask, as they inevitably will, But really, who will you caucus with?, candidates can push back on the question: Why do there only have to be two answers? Share Midterm Math Lets do some back-of-the-envelope math. Republicans currently hold a 5347 majority in the Senate. In 2026, Democrats have two realistic pickups: Maine and North Carolina. If Democratic candidates could run even 6 points ahead of Harriss 2024 state performance, they could put Maine and North Carolina in play, but only those two states. (In 2018, Democrats increased their vote share in Senate races by 5.6 percent over the previous election. Thats on the high end of recent midterm bounces.) But Democrats also have to defend Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada. What if Democrats were to step aside and let a Patriot party candidate run instead? That candidate would receive a few extra points, which would open more seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To illustrate the possibilities, we offer a table of potential scenarios. Heres how to read that table. For each Senate race, we start with the percentage that Harris received in 2024 in the state. Each row adds a potential bump for a Patriot party candidate: no bump, a 2-point bump, a 4-point bump, or a 6-point bump. Note that each of these bumps is less than what Osborn received. Each column assumes a different potential midterm swing for Democrats: no swing, a 2-point swing, a 4-point swing, or a 6-point swing. If there is a midterm swing against Republicans of 4 points and a Patriot party bump of 4 points, states like Florida, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas are potentially winnable. With a 6-point Patriot party bumpagain, less than Osborn gotAlaska, Kansas, and South Carolina are competitive. The prospects for stopping MAGA in the House are better. Using the vote share for Democrats in 2024 for each House race, we calculated how many Republicans would lose if we added various midterm swings (in the columns) and Patriot party bumps (in the rows). Even with no Patriot party bump, Democrats can pick up ten seats and win back the House outright with even a 2-point midterm swing. A 6-point Patriot party bump puts forty Republican House seats into play. What It Would Take The numbers above are analytical estimates, not predictions. The reality of what would unfold if this plan were attempted would bring all sorts of complications and surprises. Recruitment could be an issue. Some candidates might fizzle. But even the threat of competition is a game-changer. Right now, many Republican elected officials believe correctly that they are immune from a Democratic challenger because whatever qualms many voters may have about Republicans, the Democrats would be worse. A new Patriot party would force Trump-addled Republicans to rethink how they get re-elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We anticipate some obvious objections. First, Democrats would effectively be giving up on a Democratic-only majority in the Senate for the foreseeable future. This may be true, but lets be realistic. Democrats need a virtually unprecedented midterm swing of 8 percent to topple enough Republicans in 2026 to control the Senate. The 2028 map is not great for Democrats, either. Some may believe Democrats can defeat Republicans by running candidates who distinguish themselves from their national party by cultivating an independent, locally rooted personal brand. However, 2024 showed that even talented candidates like John Tester and Sherrod Brown could not outrun the D label. Hoping that will change in todays hyperpartisan reality seems naive. In addition, the internal politics for moderate and populist Democrats are rough, as many online partisans quickly lose patience with candidates who part ways with liberal orthodoxy. Second, a new party would have to start from scratch, which is not easy. Democrats have an existing infrastructure and the legal advantages of an established party. Its possible to overstate the organizational burden herewith enthusiasm, leadership, money, and good lawyers, anything is possible. Still, it does take work, and work takes timethats why people need to get moving now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Third, Republicans will campaign against Patriot party candidates as Democratic stalking horses. We saw this in Nebraska and Utah. But even a modest 4-point boost transforms unwinnable states into competitive battlegrounds. To counter this, Patriot party candidates must make clear their intention to hold the balance of power and force Democrats and Republicans to compete to be the governing partner of the Patriot party. Fourth, some might worry that dispirited Democratic base voters would stay home rather than vote for a Patriot party candidate. This did not happen in Nebraska in 2024 and Utah in 2022, where liberals joined moderates in supporting independent candidates. The bottom line: Democrats and anti-Trump independents dont have a lot of options. Trumps presidency is a break-the-glass emergency for those who believe liberal democracy is under attack. In red state Senate races, their options are to support Democrats and lose almost certainly or do something different. Time is short. The American political system is breaking before our eyes. Some fixes will require years and difficult changes. Aimlessly doing the same old thing does not rise to the moment. Adding a new voice to the party system offers a realistic and bold path for America to back away from the brink of chaos and corruption. Share 1 Correction (March 8, 2025, 11:30 p.m. EST): As originally published, this sentence gave Kunces first name as Lance; it has been corrected to Lucas. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Democrats are scaling up resistance to President Donald Trumps policies. Their heckling and signs during last nights joint address showcased the sharp partisan divide and demonstrated the renewed effort to stand up to the Trump administration. Tension was on display from the very start of Tuesday nights address, with Democratic Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury holding a sign saying This is not normal as the president walked in. Then Republican Congressman Lance Gooden ripped the sign out of her hands and tossed it in the air. During President Trumps speech, Democrats responded with signs saying false, thats a lie, and save Medicaid. There was also plenty of heckling. Congressman Al Green yelled Theres no mandate and became so disruptive that he was kicked out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against This presidents desire to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, Green said. Other Democrats, including Congressman Mark Takano walked out during the speech. Were indicating that this is not normal, Takano said. The White House went after Democrats for their shows of protest. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt argues the American people agree with the Trump agenda. The behavior of Democrats last night was completely disgraceful and demonstrated how severely out of touch they are with the American public, Leavitt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic leaders disagree. Congressman Pete Aguilar says President Trump made false promises to voters. We were told that this version of the president would bring down prices on day, one. Instead, prices are going up. The economy is in a free-fall, Aguilar said. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries is promising his caucus will fight as the Trump administration slashes federal government programs and dismisses thousands of employees. Were going to push back aggressively, Jeffries said. Senator Mark Warner says President Trump is also going after typically bipartisan areas, like with cuts to Veterans Affairs or by withholding aid from Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to ask our Republican friends How much is loyalty to Musk and Trump more important than loyalty to your community, state, and your country?' Warner said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Democrats on Thursday rallied behind U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat after a Republican group branded the trailblazing New York lawmaker as an illegal immigrant. House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries led a chorus of Democratic outrage over the jab aimed at Espaillat, a naturalized U.S. citizen who is the first member of Congress born in the Dominican Republic and the only one ever to be an undocumented immigrant. These people are disgusting, Jeffries tweeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., added: The intern @NRCC that tweeted this racist s--t needs to be fired in his own tweet. The National Republican Congressional Campaign lobbed the illegal insult at Espaillat after he was chosen to give the Spanish-language response to President Donald Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress. Democrats literally chose an illegal immigrant to give their response to President Trumps address, the NRCC wrote on its official Twitter feed. Democrats couldnt be more disconnected from the American people. Espaillat, 70, was a child when he and his family overstayed a tourist visa decades ago. But they received permanent residency within a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Espaillat, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, is a five-term lawmaker who won his deep-blue central Harlem seat after longtime Rep. Charles Rangel retired in 2016. He proudly labels himself a former undocumented immigrant turned progressive congressman. A spokesperson for the NRCC defended its statement about Espaillat as facts and said Democrats should focus their outrage on crime and border security. _____ WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) With the next election fast approaching, lawmakers and activists from both sides of the aisle are renewing calls for changes to the voting system. Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of Michigan was among a group of people who traveled to Washington, D.C., advocating for stricter voting laws. Fair elections equal civil rights, Sewell said, calling for a voting system that includes one-day paper ballot IDs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concerns over election security were also shared by Ramone Jackson, who said he was a victim of voter fraud when someone allegedly requested a ballot in his name. Without fair elections, we have nothing. Everything that we have ever fought for is futile, Jackson said. Republicans have been vocal in their push for tighter voting laws, with Indiana Rep. Marlin Stutzman emphasizing the importance of election security. We want to make sure that our elections are secure and that every vote counts, that its supposed to be counted, Stutzman said. Meanwhile, House Democrats have reintroduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which aims to expand access to the ballot box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell is leading the charge, pushing back against Republican efforts to tighten voting requirements. We have to be consistent and persistent in our efforts to fight for the right to vote, Sewell said. She likened modern voting restrictions to past discriminatory practices, many people in the South faced saying, While these new laws may not make us count how many marbles are in a jar, I have to say that modern-day efforts and modern-day barriers to voting are no less pernicious. The renewed debate comes as the country prepares to mark the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, a pivotal moment in the fight for voting rights. The historic 1965 march in Selma, Alabama, led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed racial discrimination in voting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the debate over election integrity and voting rights continues, lawmakers on both sides remain deeply divided on how to ensure fair and secure elections ahead of the next national vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. House Republicans campaign arm directly attacked Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillats immigration status, drawing condemnation from Democrats. Democrats literally chose an illegal immigrant to give their response to President Trump's address, the National Republican Congressional Committee wrote on X on Wednesday, adding that Democrats couldn't be more disconnected from the American people. The direct attack of Espaillat, the first Dominican American member of Congress and a former undocumented immigrant, was met with a swift response from top Democrats who called the post racist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These people are disgusting, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on X. Newly elected Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said the GOP isnt even trying to hide its racism anymore. With Speaker @MikeJohnson leading the charge, they wear their bigotry like a badge of honor absolutely despicable! @RepEspaillat is a sitting member of Congress, an American citizen, and a dedicated public servant, Martin said on X. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said Whoever is the intern @NRCC that tweeted this racist shit needs to be fired in his own post to X. Espaillat delivered Democrats Spanish-language response to President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress earlier this week. He and his family overstayed a tourist visa when he was a child but received green cards within a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Espaillat, who has now been a U.S. citizen for decades and chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has proudly labeled himself a former undocumented immigrant turned progressive Congressman. The New York Democrat has also battled with Trump on immigration policies dating back to his first term. The NRCC doubled down on its language, responding to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul calling the post Vile, ignorant, and racist. Democrats caring more about policing words and fighting facts instead of policing our border and fighting crime shows just how out of touch they are, said NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella, echoing the NRCCs response to Hochul online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Espaillats office did not respond to a request for comment. Some Democrats, too, have used their political opponents citizenship status in recent attacks. On Monday, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) told Elon Musk, who has led Trumps efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, to go back to South Africa. Musk was born in South Africa but has been a U.S. citizen for decades. "It was interesting yesterday I was watching a video of an interview of Elon Musk where he said the Italians should stay in Italy and the Chinese should stay in China. My question to Elon Musk is what the hell are you doing here in America?" Velazquez said at a rally outside HUD, misrepresenting an interview Musk gave where he was encouraging people to have children and reverse declining birth rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has railed against illegal immigration in the United States. He has said he supports a highly selective immigration policy in the U.S. and has implied immigration could lead to a loss of distinct cultures globally. Velazquezs comments led to a slew of condemnation from Republicans, including from the White Houses rapid response team, which called the comments completely unhinged. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, second from left, testifies before the House Oversight Committee on March 5, 2025. (Screenshot from House Oversight Committee YouTube) Colorados Republican members of Congress repeatedly spread false information about crime rates in Denver and Aurora as they lined up to question Denver Mayor Mike Johnston during a lengthy hearing Wednesday on so-called sanctuary city policies on Capitol Hill. Johnston was one of four big-city mayors called to testify by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation of what U.S. Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican and the committees chair, called misguided and obstructionist policies that hinder enforcement of federal immigration laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a prepared statement, Johnston recounted the actions Denver took in response to the arrival of large numbers of migrants, many of them Venezuelans lawfully seeking asylum, in the city beginning in early 2023. More than 42,000 people arrived in the city over the next 18 months, in what is believed to be the largest per-capita influx of migrants of any city in the country. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX We are each entitled to our own opinion about what should happen at the border, but that was not the question facing Denver, Johnston told lawmakers. The question Denver faced was: What will you do with a mom and two kids dropped on the streets of our city with no warm clothes, no food and no place to stay? The city opened a number of emergency shelters that were gradually closed over the following two years as new arrivals applied for work authorizations and were connected to jobs and housing. The city spent a total of $79 million on these support services, but expenditures on such programs have since dropped by nearly 90%, Johnston said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denver made a choice as a city not to hate each other, but to help each other, he said. It wasnt perfect, and it required sacrifice from all of us, but in the end, Denver came out stronger and closer than we were before. All four of Colorados Republican members of Congress U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert of Windsor, Gabe Evans of Fort Lupton, Jeff Crank of Colorado Springs and Jeff Hurd of Grand Junction took turns questioning Johnston Wednesday. Only Boebert is a permanent member of the Oversight Committee; Evans, Crank and Hurd were waived on to the panel temporarily. Evans, a former police officer elected last year to represent Colorados battleground 8th District, has embraced President Donald Trumps plans to carry out the mass deportation of more than 12 million people in the country unlawfully. Evans told Johnston that Denvers immigration policies are why the city is cratering in their public safety statistics. In a social media post, Evans called the mayors assertion that crime rates in Denver are down categorically false. In fact, Johnstons claims were accurate. Data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, based on Denver Police Department statistics, show that the citys rates of violent and property crimes peaked in 2022, before large numbers of migrants began arriving in the area, and have declined since then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boebert, meanwhile, acknowledged that crime rates were down in Denver but claimed they were up in the City of Aurora, because Denver was shipping new arrivals to its neighbor. Aurora has been singled out by Trump and other far-right opponents of immigration, who have made a series of false and exaggerated claims that the city has been invaded and conquered by a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. But Boeberts claim was also false. Consistent with trends in Denver, the state of Colorado and the U.S. as a whole, crime rates in Aurora have dropped since 2022 and continued their decline last year, according to Aurora Police Department statistics. Johnston testified alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, was the lone witness invited to Thursdays panel by the Oversight Committees Democratic minority. Bier pointed to a mountain of empirical research showing that immigrants, including immigrants in the country without authorization, commit crimes at a much lower rate than the native-born population. If Congress wants more cooperation, it should address the concerns of these cities, Bier said. What Congress should do is re-establish trust. (An) indiscriminate mass deportation agenda is a far greater threat to public safety than any city policy. Denvers policies There is no legal definition of what constitutes a sanctuary jurisdiction. But many state and local governments across the country have adopted a variety of policies that limit coordination with federal immigration enforcement, citing the need to reduce strain on local law enforcement resources, and arguing that the trust established in immigrant communities by such policies better serves public safety goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado law prohibits local law enforcement from assisting federal agents in detaining people for civil immigration offenses in other words, merely being in the country unlawfully and from entering certain agreements to detain immigrants on behalf of the federal government. In 2017, Denver City Council members unanimously adopted a wide-ranging immigration ordinance that placed additional restrictions on cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, including barring them from secure areas in the city jail without a warrant. Johnston made headlines in November when he predicted that Trumps plans for mass deportations would lead to a Tiananmen Square moment in Denver with police and citizens engaging in mass civil disobedience to halt federal operations. Though he soon walked those comments back, Johnston also said that he was not afraid to go to jail for defying mass deportation efforts that were illegal or immoral. Several Republican members of Congress during Wednesdays hearing raised the possibility of criminal charges against Johnston and other sanctuary city mayors. One of you said you were willing to go to jail, said Republican U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana. We might give you that opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the course of more than six hours of questioning, Johnston insisted that Denvers policies complied with all applicable state and federal laws. The city cooperates with ICE in certain circumstances, he noted, including by complying with detainer requests for individuals subject to a federal criminal warrant. Johnston faced questions about the recent release of a suspected Tren de Aragua member, Abraham Gonzalez, from a Denver jail. The Denver Sheriff Department notified ICE agents of Gonzalezs impending release, and six ICE agents were present to take him into custody in the jails parking lot. Gonzalez assaulted the officers while being taken into custody, ICEs Denver field office said in a social media post earlier this week. Now youre putting police officers who youre sworn to help protect as their mayor at risk to score political points, and I think its outrageous, Crank said. Will you change that, for the safety of your officers and those ICE agents? Johnston said it was the first such incident he was aware of out of more than 1,200 similar instances in which the city notified ICE of a suspects release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I reached out to the ICE officers yesterday, he told Crank. And Ive asked to sit down with them to talk about this procedure and how we can align systems to make sure no other officers get injured. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Naveen Thukral and Mei Mei Chu SINGAPORE/BEIJING (Reuters) - China's new tariffs on U.S. farm goods are poised to reshape global trade flows, prompting the world's top agricultural importer to source more meat, dairy and grains from countries in South America, Europe and the Pacific. Shipments to China from key soybean supplier Brazil, top wheat exporter Australia and major pork supplier Europe, could surge as a trade war hots up between the world's largest economies, industry officials and analysts said. China retaliated swiftly on Tuesday against fresh U.S. duties, announcing hikes of 10% and 15% to import levies covering $21 billion worth of American agricultural goods. "There will be rerouting of trade after China's import tariffs on U.S. goods," said Pan Chenjun, a senior analyst for animal protein at Rabobank in Hong Kong. "The main products that will be impacted are pork offal and chicken feet. For pork, both muscle and offal, China will get more supplies from Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and other EU countries." China is the largest market for U.S. farm exports, taking $29.25 billion worth of products in 2024, and any shift in trade flows could create opportunities for rival exporters. That would continue a trend in which China has curbed dependence on U.S. agriculture since the trade war during President Donald Trump's first term. On Tuesday, Trump also imposed duties on goods from Canada and Mexico, which could hurt the $191-billion U.S. agricultural export industry. NOT ENOUGH CHICKEN FEET China imported $16.26 billion worth of U.S. beef, pork and chicken, including offal in 2024, but in its counteroffensive, it has unveiled tariffs of 15% on U.S. chicken products and 10% on pork and beef. European and South American meat shipments to China are expected to rise as a result, analysts said. While China initiated anti-dumping investigations into imports of European Union pork and dairy last year, sales have not been affected. However, China's reliance on the United States for chicken feet is likely to continue, as alternatives would be difficult to source fully and quickly, said Pan. "Importers of chicken feet will just pay the duty and import from the United States in the meantime," Pan said. China is a key importer of U.S. chicken feet, pork ears and offal - items valued in its cuisine, but in little demand in the United States. MORE BRAZILIAN, AUSTRALIAN GRAINS About half of U.S. soybean exports go to China, even though the world's No. 1 buyer has reduced its dependence on American oilseeds since Trump's first term. DENVER (KDVR) New video released from the city of Denver shows the moments that fueled a tense back and forth between Mayor Mike Johnston and a lawmaker during the oversight committee hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The footage is from Denvers jail last Friday, where the Department of Homeland Securitys Immigration and Customs Enforcement said a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member was released. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston takes the stand in DC on sanctuary policies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abraham Gonzalez, 23, a suspected TdA gang member, was released from Denver Co. Jail due to COs sanctuary policies, ICE posted on X. ICE was forced to arrest him in public, where he assaulted officers. Sanctuary policies endanger communities and law enforcement. ICE will prosecute all assaults. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan questioned Denvers mayor about the release of Abraham Gonzales. Mr. Abraham Gonzalez, whos a gang member from Venezuela, stole a car, assaulted someone, Jordan said. You had him in your custody for how long? As Johnston started to respond, Jordan answered the question he asked the mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Released 345 days you had him in custody, Jordan said. And I said, Hey, can you give us 48 hours heads up? You gave one hour notice. Colorado DA says ICE raids could impact success of some criminal court cases Jordan questioned the release protocols to ICE, including the notice time and release location. In this case, the location was the jail parking lot where a chase ensued, and ICE said an officer was assaulted. An order from the jail releasing Gonzales to the streets was displayed on screen during the back and forth between Jordan and Johnston. The ICE officer got assaulted because of your policy, which says were going to release him to, in your words, not mine, to the streets, Jordan said. They have to arrest him in the parking lot. They bring six officers when they could have had one or two just come in your facility in the jail and take the guy there. But you wont do it that way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive seen the video, Ive reached out to ICE, I have offered ordinate on strategies if we need to make adjustments to what we do on releases, well do that, Johnston said. This is the first time in the 1,226 releases Ive heard of an incident, well take action. Johnston repeated the willingness to work with ICE twice over the discussion with Jordan. I reached out to ICE after I saw the video, Johnston said. Ive coordinated with their team and offered to sit down and see if there are procedures we can change. FOX31 reached out to ICE to confirm the recent discussions between the organization and the mayor and received the following response from a spokesperson: We will let the mayors testimony stand on its own and when we have further information to share, we will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Minnesotas attorney general is pushing back on calls for President Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin, the white police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020. Speaking Thursday on CNN, Keith Ellison said such calls show a blatant disrespect for the law and for Floyds family. I hope that Donald Trump has enough humanity to recognize that releasing Derek Chauvin would cause untold injury to George Floyds family and the many many people that feel vulnerable because they share experiences like the one George Floyd experienced, said Ellison, a Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2021, Chauvin was convicted on state charges of third-degree murder, second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22 1/2 years behind bars, to be served concurrently with his federal sentence of 252 months. On Tuesday, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro called for Trump to pardon Chauvin of his federal charges. It would be incredibly controversial, but I think incredibly necessary, Shapiro said on his podcast. He added that Chauvins pardon would reverse the evils of the last years in American life. There is a man was rotting in prison because the media decided in the middle of 2020 that they were going to turn a tragic law enforcement stop that ended with the death of a man with a significant problem with drugs and preexisting health problems into the raison detre of the entire 2020 election, and it led to vast chaos, it led to, again, the destruction of racial comity in the United States, $2 billion in property damage and a guy rotting in prison who the evidence demonstrates certainly was not guilty beyond reasonable doubt in that case, Shapiro said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chauvins violent arrest of Floyd was caught on camera and circulated widely on social media. The video showed the former officer kneeling on Floyds neck for nearly 10 minutes and refusing to get up even as Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. Floyds killing sparked global protests, many highlighting the disproportionate impact police brutality has on Black Americans as they demanded police reform. Shortly after Shapiro posted his clip with a link to a petition calling for the pardon, tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk reposted the video with the caption, Something to think about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellison vehemently pushed back on the calls for Chauvins pardon. It would set us back as a society. We took great steps forward, Ellison said, adding that many of the 18,000 police departments around the nation have worked to improve police community relationships. Police departments depend on trust, and Derek Chauvin destroyed that trust, Ellison said. Theyve been trying to rebuild it, so it is actually really hurting law enforcement, because what youre saying is good conduct, bad conduct, it doesnt matter. You get to murder people if you want to. And so for every chief and every police officer out there striving to make a better department with a better relationship with their community, it is a spit in the face of them, too. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) Minnesotas attorney general is pushing back on calls for President Donald Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin, the white police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020. Speaking on CNN on Thursday, Keith Ellison said such calls show a blatant disrespect for the law and for Floyds family. I hope that Donald Trump has enough humanity to recognize that releasing Derek Chauvin would cause untold injury to George Floyds family and the many many people that feel vulnerable because they share experiences like the one George Floyd experienced, said Ellison, a Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2021, Chauvin was convicted on state charges of third-degree murder, second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22 and a half years behind bars, to be served concurrently with his federal sentence of 252 months. Ben Shapiro launches effort asking Trump to pardon former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin On Tuesday, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro called for Trump to pardon Chauvin of his federal charges. It would be incredibly controversial but I think incredibly necessary, Shapiro said on his podcast. He added that Chauvins pardon would reverse the evils of the last years in American life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a man was rotting in prison because the media decided in the middle of 2020 that they were going to turn a tragic law enforcement stop that ended with the death of a man with a significant problem with drugs and pre-existing health problems into the raison detre of the entire 2020 election, and it led to vast chaos, it led to, again, the destruction of racial comity in the United States, $2 billion in property damage and a guy rotting in prison who the evidence demonstrates certainly was not guilty beyond reasonable doubt in that case, Shapiro said. Chauvins violent arrest of Floyd was caught on camera and circulated widely on social media. The video showed the former officer kneeling on Floyds neck for nine and a half minutes and refusing to get up even as Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe. Floyds killing sparked global protests, many highlighting the disproportionate impact police brutality has on Black Americans as they demanded police reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after Shapiro posted his clip with a link to a petition calling for the pardon, tech billionaire and Trump advisor Elon Musk retweeted the video with the caption, Something to think about. Ellison vehemently pushed back on the calls for Chauvins pardon. It would set us back as a society. We took great steps forward, Ellison said, adding that many of the 18,000 police departments around the nation have worked to improve police community relationships. Police departments depend on trust and Derek Chauvin destroyed that trust, Ellison said. Theyve been trying to rebuild it, so it is actually really hurting law enforcement because what youre saying is good conduct, bad conduct, it doesnt matter. You get to murder people if you want to. And so for every chief and every police officer out there striving to make a better department with a better relationship with their community, it is a spit in the face of them, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. DES MOINES, Iowa When Whitney Selix and her husband, Scott, opened Lua Brewing Company just over five years ago, they had no idea just how wild their initial ride would be. We opened in November, and the pandemic shut us down in March, she said. Fortunately, wed built a good base of customers in that short time and they helped us get through. Five years later, Lua loyalists have stepped up again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sherman Hill brewpub won USA Todays Readers Choice Award for the best brewpub in the country. I was kinda shocked, said general manager, Pete Holmgren. The other employees and I were voting every day but I wasnt sure we really had a chance. Readers Choice nominees are submitted by a group of travel writers and food critics associated with USA Today. Readers can then vote once per category per day to support their favorite nominees. Iowa bill would prohibit vaccines unless manufacturer waives liability protections Iowans are known to rush to online polls to support their favorites, but other Best Brewpub finalists came from much larger cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Sacramento. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By definition, a brewpub serves beer it makes on the premises alongside a full menu. Lua is neither Des Moines oldest brewpub (Court Avenue Brewing Company), nor even its largest in Sherman Hill (Big Grove). Still, it seems to have made a unique space for itself in a highly-competitive market. Weve always just kind of marched to the beat of our own drum, Selix said, and kind of done what we thought was cool and fun. It seems to be working. Holmgren says Lua has cycled through more than 400 beers in the last five years and has tripled the size of its initial food menu. The secret, he says, is to keep rolling with changes. No day is the same, you know? Two days ago it was 60 degrees and we were packed for a Hoyt Sherman show. And today we won best brewpub and we just had a blizzard and theres not a single person in here, he laughed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can find Lua Brewing Company at 1525 High Street in Des Moines. Youll find the USA Today article, here. Metro News: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. DES MOINES, Iowa Officers responding to a hit-and-run crash Wednesday afternoon switched gears quickly after hearing gunfire nearby and were able to make an arrest. Two officers were investigating the crash at E. 26th Street and E. Grand Avenue around 2:52 p.m. when they heard the gunfire. It came in two separate bursts and shortly after a vehicle sped past the officers, said Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesperson for the Des Moines Police Department. 4 charged for allegedly kidnapping, robbing Iowa man Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A criminal complaint filed in the case said the vehicle, a red Dodge Dakota truck, sped southbound on E. 26th Street. Officers followed and made a high-risk traffic stop. Three occupants were detained and officers located a 9 mm Glock 19 pistol, THC vapes, and an open container of Captain Morgan liquor in the truck. A 9 mm bullet was also found in the vehicle. Police process evidence from a vehicle involved in a shots fired case on March 5th, 2025. (Courtesy: Des Moines Police Department) Spent shell casings were discovered in the alley to the northwest of E. 26th Street and E. Grand Avenue. Corbin Jones The criminal complaint said one of the occupants of the vehicle, in a post-Miranda interview, told police 21-year-old Corbin Jones, of Des Moines, fired the gun out of the driver window. Jones is now charged with discharging firearms, persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held in the Polk County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sgt. Parizek said no property damage was discovered and police havent identified any possible targeted victims. Iowa news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke in Tampa this week about vaccine mandates, warning that key protections for Floridians could soon expire. He said rules blocking mandates for mRNA vaccines, like the COVID-19 shot, were passed in 2021 but will end in June unless state lawmakers renew them. Desantis urged the legislature to act, saying the state should continue protecting personal choice. This will also, if this sunset happens it will also allow schools and higher ed to be able to institute some of these mRNA mandates, DeSantis said. The state legislature started its session on Tuesday. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) criticized the newest Supreme Court ruling blocking President Trumps freeze on foreign aid, calling it a missed opportunity. The (liberal) district judge has no authority to order @POTUS Trump to send billion of dollars oversees. The Supreme Court missed a huge opportunity to put a stop to rogue district courts interfering with executive branch operations, DeSantis wrote Wednesday on the social platform X. He argued the Supreme Courts 5-4 decision gives a green light to every judge resisting Trumps actions and allows them to throw sand in the gears of his executive authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis said Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the dissent in the case, is right. Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the three liberal justices and sided against the Trump administration in the emergency ruling Wednesday, upholding the district judges order that the administration release $2 billion in foreign aid already under contract. Alito questioned if the district court judge has the jurisdiction and unchecked power to compel the federal government to pay out the contracts. The answer to that question should be an emphatic No, but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise, Alito wrote. I am stunned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The emergency ruling came as the Trump administration worked to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Thousands of employees have been fired and payments for 90 percent of international aid contacts have been halted, resulting in several lawsuits and uncertainty around the administrations ability to change federal spending. Advocates for the agency say the spending interference will cause preventable death, destabilization, and threats to national security on a national scale. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Traffic on I-95 via Florida DOT. Gov. Ron DeSantis seems determined to put the brakes on efforts in the Florida Legislature to scrap the states no-fault automobile insurance laws, including a requirement for drivers to buy personal injury protection. The governor already vetoed one bill to repeal the states no-fault system and replace it with a fault-based one instead. Following his State of the State speech Tuesday, DeSantis indicated he has not changed his mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they have a reform where we can show that its going to lower rates, its fine. But lets just be clear. I mean, you know, we know thats something that people from the legal and the trial bar have wanted to do. And so why would they want to do that? Obviously, they see that theres opportunities for them to make money off of it, DeSantis told reporters. I think that goes without saying. So, I dont want to do anything thats going to raise the rates. Republican Sen. Erin Grall of Vero Beach and Rep. Danny Alvarez of Hillsborough County have both filed bills to eliminate the requirement that drivers carry personal injury protection. Instead, the bills require drivers to carry $25,000 in bodily injury coverage for one person and $50,000 for two or more people per incident plus $10,000 in property liability coverage. Alvarezs bill, (HB 1181) has been referred to three House committees: the Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee; Insurance & Banking Subcommittee; and the Judiciary Committee. Gralls bill (SB 1256) faces hearings before the Banking and Insurance; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; and Rules committees. Define PIP Personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of car insurance that pays medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs of drivers and passengers injured in automobile accidents, regardless of who caused the accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida drivers are required to carry $10,000 in PIP coverage on their insurance policies under Floridas no-fault automobile insurance system, plus $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. Those are minimum requirements and drivers can, and do, purchase additional coverage. According to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, just under 6% of the drivers on Florida roads were uninsured as of February. The states no-fault automobile insurance laws ban injured parties from bringing lawsuits against at-fault parties to recover noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering and loss of consortium, although there are some exceptions (if a person suffers a permanent loss of an important bodily function; a permanent injury; a permanent scar or disfigurement; or death). The Florida Justice Association, representing the trial bar, supports PIP repeal and notes that a Forbes analysis of automobile insurance rates pegs Florida as the most expensive state for car insurance in the nation. To meet the requirements of the law costs an average $1,529 annually. Lobbying surge A cadre of insurance lobbyists oppose the repeal, as does Florida Justice Reform Institute President William Large. They argue lawmakers should allow the states no-fault laws and PIP to remain in place for at least another three years to ascertain the effect the elimination of one-way attorney fees will have on rates going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 1893, state law allowed policyholders to force carriers to pay any attorney fees they rack up if forced to sue to enforce claims hence one-way fees. The idea was to counterbalance insurers financial and legal clout. In 2023, the Legislature required both parties to pay for their own attorneys fees. The Legislature agreed in 2021 to repeal the no-fault system and the minimum mandated coverages and return to a fault-based system, but DeSantis vetoed the bill (SB 54). In his veto letter, DeSantis stated at the time that although the PIP system has flaws, repeal could bring unintended consequences for the market and the consumer. Perez, who was vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee at the time, voted for the repeal. Note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the House bill sponsor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On March 6, 1981, Walter Cronkite signed off for the last time after nearly two decades as the anchor of the CBS Evening News. With his signature phrase: And thats the way it is. The front page story on the Deseret News said it all: After tonight, Walter, thats the way it was. The man once called the most trusted man in America later did a celebrity conductor gig with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cronkite, the premier TV anchorman of the networks golden age who reported a tumultuous time with reassuring authority and came to be called the most trusted man in America, died Friday. He was 92, read his Associated Press obituary in 2009. Cronkite was the face of the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981, when stories ranged from the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to racial and anti-war riots, Watergate and the Iranian hostage crisis. It was Cronkite who read the bulletins coming from Dallas when Kennedy was shot Nov. 22, 1963, interrupting a live CBS-TV broadcast of the soap opera As the World Turns. CBS newscaster Walter Cronkite reports from Vietnam in 1968. | Deseret Morning News Archives Cronkites time in Utah In 2002, Cronkite came to Salt Lake City to serve as narrator for the annual Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. Like other guest performers, he visited with the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust. In that room, there was the collected wisdom of the ages 335 years in all that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about Cronkite, his journalism style, his visits to Utah and the state of news reporting today: Legendary CBS anchor Walter Cronkite dies at 92 Cronkites eloquent style a thing of the past Walter Cronkites time in Utah remarkable Scott D. Pierce: Cronkite was a legend Cronkite still regrets giving up career in 81 Cronkite criticizes media for emphasis on profit It was a day like all days Cronkites passing: A death in everyones family Cronkite remembers days when he was a Pup Journalism a far cry from what it used to be By Clare Jim and Scott Murdoch (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump has hailed a deal led by U.S. firm BlackRock to buy most of the $22.8 billion ports business of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, including assets it holds along the Panama Canal. The deal will give the U.S. consortium control of key Panama Canal ports amid White House calls to remove them from what it says is Chinese ownership. But it also risks heightening tensions between the U.S. and Panama, which have tussled over Trump's claims about the Canal. "My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it," Trump told the U.S. Congress on Tuesday night. "Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals." Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said Trump was "once again lying" in a post on X on Wednesday morning. "The Panama Canal is not in the process of being reclaimed ... the Canal is Panamanian and will continue to be Panamanian!" The deal with the BlackRock-led consortium includes 90% of Panama Ports Company, which has operated the Balboa and Cristobal ports at each end of the canal for over two decades, said CK Hutchison. "We are glad to see U.S. investors acquire a controlling stake in Panama Ports Company, which owns and operates the ports of Balboa and Cristobal at either end of the Panama Canal," a U.S. State Department official said in a statement to Reuters. CK Hutchison is a publicly listed Hong Kong company not financially tied to the Chinese government and other ports in Panama are operated by companies from the U.S., Taiwan and Singapore. Trump has previously complained about the presence of Chinese and Hong Kong-based companies in Panama, and American officials and politicians have said CK Hutchison's control of the ports represents a security risk for the operation. In total, the consortium, which includes Terminal Investment and Global Infrastructure Partners, will control 43 ports comprising 199 berths in 23 countries, the conglomerate said. The high purchase price sent CK Hutchison's stock up more than 20% on Wednesday, outpacing a 2.8% rise in Hong Kong's broader Hang Seng Index. Its price is now the highest since August 1, 2023. The sale involves CK Hutchison's 80% stake in Hutchison Ports with an equity value of $14.21 billion. However, the conglomerate will receive more than $19 billion following repayment of some shareholder loans. A Maricopa County, Ariz., sheriffs deputy escorts a worker during an immigration raid in 2009 on a county landscaping contractor in Phoenix. President Donald Trump has revived the local task force agreements that were used by Maricopa County and others until they ended during the Obama administration amid concerns about racial profiling and other abuses. (Joshua Lott/Getty Images) As the Trump administration seeks more partners to help round up immigrants living in the United States illegally, some states and cities are eager to step up despite risks of racial profiling. Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and even Arizonas Democratic governor are pursuing statewide plans to help find immigrants for possible deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the number of state and local agencies planning task force agreements with the feds to do street-level immigration enforcement has reached 121 departments in 12 states: Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. The sudden ramping up of the local task force agreements which led to racial profiling lawsuits 20 years ago when they were common in Republican and Democratic states is a sign that the Trump administration wants more deportations, said Tom Wong, an associate professor and director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California, San Diego. These agreements are intended to be the force multiplier they need in order to enact mass deportations. The Trump administration is using all the tools at its disposal to try to ramp up the identification and detention of undocumented immigrants, Wong said. President Donald Trump wants to move quickly: He recently reassigned Caleb Vitello, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to a different post because immigration arrests and deportations werent as robust as Trump wanted. The United States would need to deport more than 2,700 people a day to meet his goal of 1 million a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doris Meissner, who held top positions in the former Immigration and Naturalization Service in the Reagan and Clinton administrations, said the task force agreements had basically disappeared in recent years because of their reputation for leading to racial profiling and over-policing in immigrant communities. The agreements were discontinued in 2012 during the Obama administration. That has changed dramatically and quickly with the new Trump administration, Meissner said in an interview. [The agreements] are now on a list of ramping-up actions were seeing in pursuit of mass deportations. The administration is increasingly pressuring state and local authorities to help with immigration arrests traditionally reserved for federal agents, according to a February report by the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank where Meissner is now director of the U.S. immigration policy program. Focus on crime Along with state and local law enforcement agencies, the Trump administration has enlisted federal agencies that have never before played a role in immigration enforcement: the Internal Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Migration Policy Institute report found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One result of local involvement, according to a report Wong authored in 2019, is that once residents know that local police could question and arrest them on immigration charges, they are less likely to report crimes when they are victims or witnesses. The new task force agreements allow local law enforcement, after training, to investigate immigration violations during day-to-day patrol duties. Sheriff Larry Kendrick in Owyhee County, Idaho, said he opted for it because voters in the county want it. My constituents support President Trump, Kendrick said. And of course me. I support the presidents mission 100%. I will do anything in my power to assist him. Kendrick said he doesnt expect non-criminal immigrants, such as those staffing local dairy farms, to get any trouble from his deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We havent had any crime, really, out of that, Kendrick said. The main thing that bothers me is fentanyl. Wong said its typical for counties such as Owyhee County, which voted almost 83% for Trump last year, to be eager to join forces on immigration. But non-criminal immigrants are still likely to pay a price, he said. It is naive for local officials to think they will only focus on things like fentanyl, when most of the immigration enforcement functions are going to identify undocumented immigrants, likely with no criminal history, Wong said. Most officials do stress the importance of removing criminals when calling for more task force agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In announcing the revived task force program, border czar Tom Homan said he planned to prioritize criminals but also expected to deport people living here illegally even if they had no criminal record. We promised a mass deportation and thats exactly what were going to do, Homan told sheriffs at a February conference. New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, said in a statement she supports state and local law enforcement agencies applying for the new task force cooperation agreements. Criminals who are in our country illegally and pose a danger should be apprehended and removed, she wrote. No renewed interest Some areas that made use of the agreements decades ago are not interested in trying it again. In 2010 there were 40 such agreements in 19 states, including nine in Virginia and seven in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date there are no agreements in Virginia or Arizona, though Arizonas Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs, signed an executive order Feb. 25 calling for an unspecified partnership with federal authorities in the states four border counties. The goal is stopping more fentanyl and human trafficking and not to indiscriminately round people up, according to Hobbs statement. Arizona sheriffs have not heard anything specific about the governors plan, said David Rhodes, the Republican sheriff of Yavapai County and president of the Arizona Sheriffs Association. Yavapai County voted heavily for Trump. And much of the nations fentanyl supply is smuggled over Arizonas highways, Rhodes said, so hes happy to cooperate with federal authorities on immigration. But hes not sure he wants the task force model if it means he and his deputies will have to single people out based on appearance to ask about immigration status. I dont know how you could even tell from looking at somebody that theyre here illegally or not. So we dont do that. Thats very risky, very close to racial profiling there, Rhodes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE guidelines issued in February say racial profiling is simply not something that will be tolerated under the new task force agreements. In Virginia, which had the most task force agreements of any state in 2010, no sheriff has yet shown interest, said John Jones, executive director of the Virginia Sheriffs Association. However Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order Feb. 27 requiring state police to sign a task force agreement and local jails to cooperate with the state task force. In North Carolina, a bill progressing in the state Senate would mandate state agencies cooperate with federal immigration authorities, but does not include specifics. In Hudson County, New Jersey, one of the few urban, immigrant-friendly Democratic areas that had a task force agreement in 2010, leaders have no interest in trying it again, said county spokesperson Mark Cygan. Since 2018, the state has had an immigrant trust directive directing local authorities not to cooperate with federal immigration authorities or ask about immigration status during routine police work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the sort of abuses there have been, and listening to our constituents and advocates that work on immigrant right here in Hudson County, we realized this policy just wasnt going to work out for our county anymore. So we dropped out of the agreement, Cygan said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A Maricopa County, Ariz., sheriffs deputy escorts a worker during an immigration raid in 2009 on a county landscaping contractor in Phoenix. President Donald Trump has revived the local task force agreements that were used by Maricopa County and others until they ended during the Obama administration amid concerns about racial profiling and other abuses. (Joshua Lott/Getty Images) As the Trump administration seeks more partners to help round up immigrants living in the United States illegally, some states and cities are eager to step up, despite risks of racial profiling. Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and even Arizonas Democratic governor are pursuing statewide plans to help find immigrants for possible deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the number of state and local agencies planning task force agreements with the feds to do street-level immigration enforcement has reached 121 departments in 12 states: Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. The sudden ramping up of the local task force agreements which led to racial profiling lawsuits 20 years ago when they were common in Republican and Democratic states is a sign that the Trump administration wants more deportations, said Tom Wong, an associate professor and director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California, San Diego. These agreements are intended to be the force multiplier they need in order to enact mass deportations. The Trump administration is using all the tools at its disposal to try to ramp up the identification and detention of undocumented immigrants, Wong said. President Donald Trump wants to move quickly: He recently reassigned Caleb Vitello, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to a different post because immigration arrests and deportations werent as robust as Trump wanted. The United States would need to deport more than 2,700 people a day to meet his goal of 1 million a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doris Meissner, who held top positions in the former Immigration and Naturalization Service in the Reagan and Clinton administrations, said the task force agreements had basically disappeared in recent years because of their reputation for leading to racial profiling and over-policing in immigrant communities. The agreements were discontinued in 2012 during the Obama administration. That has changed dramatically and quickly with the new Trump administration, Meissner said in an interview. [The agreements] are now on a list of ramping-up actions were seeing in pursuit of mass deportations. The administration is increasingly pressuring state and local authorities to help with immigration arrests traditionally reserved for federal agents, according to a February report by the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank where Meissner is now director of the U.S. immigration policy program. Focus on crime Along with state and local law enforcement agencies, the Trump administration has enlisted federal agencies that have never before played a role in immigration enforcement: the Internal Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Migration Policy Institute report found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One result of local involvement, according to a report Wong authored in 2019, is that once residents know that local police could question and arrest them on immigration charges, they are less likely to report crimes when they are victims or witnesses. The new task force agreements allow local law enforcement, after training, to investigate immigration violations during day-to-day patrol duties. Sheriff Larry Kendrick in Owyhee County, Idaho, said he opted for it because voters in the county want it. My constituents support President Trump, Kendrick said. And of course me. I support the presidents mission 100%. I will do anything in my power to assist him. Kendrick said he doesnt expect non-criminal immigrants, such as those staffing local dairy farms, to get any trouble from his deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We havent had any crime, really, out of that, Kendrick said. The main thing that bothers me is fentanyl. Wong said its typical for counties such as Owyhee County, which voted almost 83% for Trump last year, to be eager to join forces on immigration. But non-criminal immigrants are still likely to pay a price, he said. It is naive for local officials to think they will only focus on things like fentanyl, when most of the immigration enforcement functions are going to identify undocumented immigrants, likely with no criminal history, Wong said. Most officials do stress the importance of removing criminals when calling for more task force agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I support the presidents mission 100%. I will do anything in my power to assist him. Sheriff Larry Kendrick, Owyhee County, Idaho In announcing the revived task force program, border czar Tom Homan said he planned to prioritize criminals but also expected to deport people living here illegally even if they had no criminal record. We promised a mass deportation and thats exactly what were going to do, Homan told sheriffs at a February conference. New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, said in a statement she supports state and local law enforcement agencies applying for the new task force cooperation agreements. Criminals who are in our country illegally and pose a danger should be apprehended and removed, she wrote. No renewed interest Some areas that made use of the agreements decades ago are not interested in trying it again. In 2010 there were 40 such agreements in 19 states, including nine in Virginia and seven in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date there are no agreements in Virginia or Arizona, though Arizonas Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs, signed an executive order Feb. 25 calling for an unspecified partnership with federal authorities in the states four border counties. The goal is stopping more fentanyl and human trafficking and not to indiscriminately round people up, according to Hobbs statement. Arizona sheriffs have not heard anything specific about the governors plan, said David Rhodes, the Republican sheriff of Yavapai County and president of the Arizona Sheriffs Association. Yavapai County voted heavily for Trump. And much of the nations fentanyl supply is smuggled over Arizonas highways, Rhodes said, so hes happy to cooperate with federal authorities on immigration. But hes not sure he wants the task force model if it means he and his deputies will have to single people out based on appearance to ask about immigration status. I dont know how you could even tell from looking at somebody that theyre here illegally or not. So we dont do that. Thats very risky, very close to racial profiling there, Rhodes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE guidelines issued in February say racial profiling is simply not something that will be tolerated under the new task force agreements. In Virginia, which had the most task force agreements of any state in 2010, no sheriff has yet shown interest, said John Jones, executive director of the Virginia Sheriffs Association. However Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order Feb. 27 requiring state police to sign a task force agreement and local jails to cooperate with the state task force. In North Carolina, a bill progressing in the state Senate would mandate state agencies cooperate with federal immigration authorities, but does not include specifics. In Hudson County, New Jersey, one of the few urban, immigrant-friendly Democratic areas that had a task force agreement in 2010, leaders have no interest in trying it again, said county spokesperson Mark Cygan. Since 2018, the state has had an immigrant trust directive directing local authorities not to cooperate with federal immigration authorities or ask about immigration status during routine police work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the sort of abuses there have been, and listening to our constituents and advocates that work on immigrant right here in Hudson County, we realized this policy just wasnt going to work out for our county anymore. So we dropped out of the agreement, Cygan said. Editors note: This story has been updated with new agreements announced as of March 5. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A recently filed affidavit sheds new light on the January raids of multiple Northwest Arkansas massage parlors as part of Operation Obscured Vision, led by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. The operation, aimed at combating human trafficking in Arkansas, resulted in the arrests of three individuals in Rogers. Arrests and charges The following people were arrested in connection with the raids: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chunli Wang , 51 Second-degree sexual assault Yuhe Yang , 70 Trafficking of persons, engaging in a continuing criminal gang, organization, or enterprise David Whited, 63 Trafficking of persons, engaging in a continuing criminal gang, organization, or enterprise Cave Springs doctor pleads guilty to amended charges in Washington County, gets probation Investigation timeline and initial report The investigation began on June 19, 2023, when an anonymous caller reported to Rogers police that while receiving a massage at Tulip Spa, a woman took extra money from his wallet and exposed her breasts, according to a probable cause affidavit. When officers attempted to make contact at the business, employees fled out the back door. Two workers, who had traveled from California, stated they found the job listing on a Chinese website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities also said in the affidavit that two other employees appeared to be living inside the business, sleeping on beds in the back. Spa network and management roles According to the affidavit, Tulip Spa, Stream Massage, and Ping Massage were linked as part of a network where the suspects held management roles: Tulip Spa David Whited (owner), Chunli Wang (manager) Stream Massage Chunli Wang (owner) Ping Massage David Whited (owner) Yuhe Yang was identified as the runner, coordinating business operations. Investigators found multiple anonymous online reviews describing sexual services at the three spas, and ads for Tulip Spa were found on an escort website as early as December 2021 and as recently as September 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar ads for Ping Massage appeared in January 2025, mentioning happy endings. Bentonville middle school teacher surprised with $25,000 award Undercover operations and confirmed encounters In August 2023, during a traffic stop, a man allegedly admitted to police that he had engaged in multiple sex acts at Tulip Spa. Undercover operations confirmed these claims. In 2025, an undercover Rogers Police Department (RPD) detective visited Tulip Spa while wearing a wire. A worker offered sexual services in exchange for money, which the detective declined. The next day, a Stream Massage worker told the detective he could touch her sexually, with or without clothing, though penetration was not allowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Benton County Sheriffs Office detective had a similar encounter at Ping Massage on Jan. 22, 2025. Allegations of Poor Working Conditions The affidavit alleges poor working conditions for employees at the spas. Workers were reportedly living inside the businesses without personal transportation and employees allegedly worked seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Yang is accused of monitoring employees via security cameras. Employees were allegedly only paid if they had customers: $20 for a one-hour massage $40 for a 90-minute massage No pay for 30-minute massages Workers were allegedly forced to pay $25 per day to live at the business. Yang and Wang are accused of pressuring workers to perform sexual acts to earn more money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One worker told investigators she was warned by Yang that talking to law enforcement would affect her immigration record. After police reassured her, she broke down in tears and provided more details, according to court documents. Employees also said they were not allowed to leave until other women arrived to replace them. Arkansas man serving life in prison gets additional 90-year sentence Raids and search warrants On Jan. 23, 2025, search warrants were executed at: Tulip Spa and Stream Massage (Rogers Police Department & Arkansas State Police) Ping Massage (Benton County Sheriffs Office) At least four women were found inside and transported for interviews. One woman told police that Whited was the boss, and that Yang allegedly handled hiring and transportation. However, she denied that sexual services occurred. Suspect statements Yuhe Yang admitted he was the runner but claimed he did not know about sexual services, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whited allegedly stated he agreed to lease buildings for Yang as a favor but told him no illegal activity should occur. He also claimed he forgot his name was on utility and bank accounts due to a stroke 13 years ago. Court dates The suspects are scheduled to appear in court on the following dates: Yang March 17 Wang March 10 Whited March 24 This is a developing story. KNWA/FOX24 will provide updates as they come. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. (CNN) A recently unsealed defense motion in the capital murder case against Bryan Kohberger offers the most detailed picture of the suspects personality to emerge since his arrest in the brutal killings of four University of Idaho students. Attorneys for Kohberger claim in the motion the 30-year-old has autism spectrum disorder or ASD and executing him would violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Kohberger displays extremely rigid thinking, perseverates on specific topics, processes information on a piece-meal basis, struggles to plan ahead and demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions, the filing notes, citing a medical evaluation commissioned by his attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to his ASD, Mr. Kohberger simply cannot comport himself in a manner that aligns with societal expectations of normalcy. This creates an unconscionable risk that he will be executed because of his disability rather than his culpability, his attorneys said. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty at his trial scheduled for August. Kohberger is accused of killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at an off-campus home in November 2022. Not guilty pleas have been entered on his behalf. The newly unsealed filing is the latest in a flurry of defense motions aimed at taking the death penalty off the table for the only suspect in the fatal stabbings that horrified the small college community of Moscow. The investigation culminated with the arrest in Pennsylvania of Kohberger, a criminology graduate student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US Supreme Court has declined to hear previous arguments by capital defendants seeking to use some developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, to argue against the death penalty, a legal expert told CNN. What the new filing says about Kohberger Its unclear if or when Kohberger was previously diagnosed with ASD, but the new filing cites an evaluation by a neuropsychologist, who found Kohberger continues to exhibit all the core diagnostic features of ASD currently, with significant impact on his daily life. The neuropsychologist, hired by his defense, wrote in her evaluation of Kohberger that he displayed deficits in social-emotional reciprocity and impulsive tendencies, including compulsions around hand-washing and other cleaning behaviors, the filing says. In the filing, attorneys for Kohberger describe him as a highly distractable man with an intense gaze who demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions, citing the medical evaluation performed by Dr. Rachel Orr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous Supreme Court rulings have determined youth and intellectual disability create an unacceptable risk of wrongful execution because they hamper the defendants ability to present mitigation evidence, Kohbergers attorneys said. Likening ASD to an intellectual disability, they argue such defendants are unable to make a persuasive showing of mitigation in the face of prosecutorial evidence. While the evaluation found that Kohberger possessed strong verbal abilities, his language was often overinclusive, disorganized, highly repetitive, and overly formal, and he was highly distractable, the filing said. Kohberger was a graduate student at Washington State Universitys Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and had finished his first semester as a Ph.D. student in the schools criminal justice program in December 2023, CNN previously reported. Police tape surrounds the residence where four University of Idaho students were killed as Moscow Police monitor the scene on November 30, 2022. - (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters/File) Kohberger subtly rocks his upper torso, especially while engaged in a cognitive task or listening to someone else, and exhibits atypical eye contact, including an intense gaze, the neuropsychologist observed, according to the filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His facial expressions including a concentrated gaze are already being assigned sinister meaning by observers, Kohbergers attorneys claim, citing media coverage ahead of the trial. An Idaho judge already agreed to move the trial venue, citing media coverage of the case and concerns that the local community is prejudiced against the suspect. A jury in this case will be emotionally overwhelmed by the factual allegations, and simultaneously looking at a defendant who appears to be emotionally uninvested and unmoved and who cannot persuasively testify in his own defense amounting to an unconstitutional risk that Mr. Kohberger on account of his disability will be unreliably convicted and sentenced to death, the motion states. Legal duel over death penalty Kohbergers lawyers filed a myriad of motions last year listing reasons they believe the states intent to seek the death penalty is unconstitutional. Anne Taylor, the attorney for Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, appears at a hearing in Latah County District Court in January 2023. - Ted S. Warren/Pool/Reuters One focused on what Kohbergers defense team calls an ideological shift and evolving standards in the way Americans view the death penalty. Other motions argued Idahos death penalty statute constitutes a violation of international law and the fundamental precepts of international human rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motion unsealed this week also follows his defense teams failed attempt to convince a judge to suppress evidence related to investigative genetic genealogy, a relatively new technique authorities use to upload an unknown suspects DNA profile to a database in a bid to identify potential relatives. In a motion filed last Monday, the defense again asked that DNA evidence in the case be kept from the jury in the trial because jurors could believe the DNA gathered by prosecutors is Kohbergers, and according to the defense it is not. Kohbergers attorneys, led by Anne Taylor, also point in the new filing to the Supreme Courts prohibition on the death penalty in cases where a defendant has any characteristic that renders him less culpable, negates the retributive and deterrent aims of capital punishment, or creates a risk of an erroneous death sentence. They argue this applies to defendants with autism spectrum disorder. ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that can affect how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People with ASD, including Mr. Kohberger, exhibit deficits in nearly all the same areas cited by the Court in concluding that it is unconstitutional for people with intellectual disabilities to be sentenced to death because such sentences are not proportional and cannot be reliably imposed, the new motion states. A diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder is as relevant to police and legal proceedings as a diagnosis of mental retardation or mental illness would be, no matter how bright, high functioning, and/or verbal the person may be, nonprofit advocacy group Autism Speaks said in a resource page on the judicial system. Likening ASD to an intellectual disability, Kohbergers attorneys also argue that such defendants are unable to make a persuasive showing of mitigation in the face of prosecutorial evidence. Supreme Court declined to hear previous claims based on autism defense in capital cases Kohbergers defense team cites Atkins v. Virginia in the new filing a case in which the Supreme Court prohibited executions of people with intellectual disabilities, identifying several characteristics making those defendants categorically less culpable than the average criminal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prohibition includes those having diminished capacities to understand and process information, to communicate, to abstract from mistakes and learn from experience, to engage in logical reasoning, to control impulses, and to understand the reactions of others. But the Supreme Court has declined to review every attempt by capital defendants to extend the reach of Atkins to other developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Robert Dunham, director of the Death Penalty Policy Project told CNN. Even if the motion doesnt succeed in barring the death penalty, Dunham sees good strategic reasons why the defense might raise the issue. Its not just because people with severe autism have the same type of adaptive deficits, have the same type of problems functioning in society, that individuals with intellectual disability have. Here, theres also a reason to raise the issue because Kohbergers autism is going to affect virtually every aspect of the case, Dunham said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They want the judge to know that his autism impairs their ability to confer with him about strategy. They want the judge to know that jurors will be looking at him and his behavior and making judgments about his likely guilt or innocence, when his demeanor has nothing to do with that it has everything, instead, to do with some of the off-putting behaviors that go along with autism, Dunham said. They want to educate the judge that, things that should be considered reasons for life, in this case, may be misinterpreted as reasons for death. If the court in Idaho accepts Kohbergers motion as a valid legal argument, prosecutors will have to figure out whether or not he qualifies as having ASD, Austin Sarat, a law professor at Amherst College said. In an earlier filing, prosecutors cited a state law that stipulates mental condition shall not be a defense to any charge of criminal conduct, except when expert evidence on the issues of any state of mind which is an element of the offense is introduced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the problem in death cases, especially with their allegations about an intellectual disability, is to distinguish a claim that the defendant is not responsible, from a claim that while the defendant is responsible, the conditions under which they acted should mitigate the punishment and thats what I think theyre doing in this, Sarat told CNN. CNNs Jean Casarez, Hanna Park, Holly Yan, and Jamie Gumbrecht contributed to this reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Two bills passed the House this week and moved to the Senate, where it is considering its own legislation. The interesting thing about these two House bills that passed Tuesday one would abolish the camera speeding tickets in school zones all together, and the other would refine the 2018 legislation and establish clear rules for their usage. School zone cameras are in use in Columbus. Two different private companies are working with local law enforcement to issue the tickets. The Muscogee County Sheriffs Office is the lead agency on cameras operating in private school speed zones, such as the one on River Road near Brookstone. The Columbus Police Department is overseeing speed cameras operating in public school speed zones. Lack of regulation on these tickets, which are considered civil litigation and not criminal concerns one local attorney. Whats unusual is to see kind of a bipartisan effort to fix this, which is a beautiful thing, you know, but it tells you theres a real problem, said Columbus Attorney Gary Bruce. And so I think you follow that trail. Theres people on both sides who see that this really isnt in the best interest of Georgia citizens. It seems to be in the best interests of these out-of-state corporations. Bruce says if it was about safety in our community, we would see the cameras in places where law enforcement had failed. where we saw school zone crossing, guards were ineffective or frankly, where there were actually children. And were not seeing that this is a solution looking for a problem to make money. And 30 to 40% of the money is going to the for profit companies, said Bruce. Heres the final thought on this. These companies have sales forces. The police dont need a sales force. Were here to do a public duty, you know, And if it and if it was important, they would put somebody there, not mail me a ticket three weeks later. We spoke to State Senator Randy Robertson of Cataula, who is a former sheriffs deputy. He held a lengthy hearing on this topic last month. He favors the state not taking action and leaving it up to the city and county governments to set the rules. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pledged Thursday to help Puerto Rico in her first visit to the U.S. territory as it struggles to rebuild from catastrophic hurricanes amid chronic power outages. Noem spoke briefly with reporters during her one-day trip to the island, saying she would look into how the federal government can cut some of the permitting and requirements of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency to make sure that people are going to get the help that they need and that they were promised. FEMA has been funding much of the reconstruction after Hurricane Maria slammed into the island as a Category 4 storm in September 2017, but Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez recently criticized the agency, saying it has not yet released $18 billion slated for the power grid that was razed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem said that she and Gonzalez talked extensively about energy and how the federal government could help streamline efforts to update energy sources on the island. She did not provide further details and did not take questions from the press. Under the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Energy invested millions of dollars in solar projects across Puerto Rico, generating more than 1,200 megawatts of new renewable capacity. Some $6 billion in federal funds have been obligated to help rebuild the power grid, with FEMA approving 200 of more than 440 projects submitted to the agency to repair and strengthen the grid. Of those approved, at least 125 are under construction. Gonzalez, who is a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, said she and Noem also talked about ways to strengthen Puerto Ricos border security, and how the island can beef up relations with federal security agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to dismantle all those criminal organizations hitting our shores, Gonzalez said, adding that Noems visit demonstrates how important Puerto Rico is in this fight. Noem traveled to Puerto Rico for a ceremony honoring Michel O. Maceda, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent who was killed in November 2022 during a shootout at sea with suspected drug traffickers. Three other agents were wounded. Her visit comes weeks after federal agents in Puerto Rico began arresting people believed to be undocumented immigrants, a move that has been widely criticized on the island. Noem said Gonzalez is willing to build partnerships with the federal government not only for the betterment of her people, but also for the United States of America. The mission of the Department of Homeland Security is to protect the American homeland, but to do it with integrity and honor as well." Gonzalez met with Noem days after traveling to Washington D.C. to push for U.S. statehood, a central goal of her New Progressive Party. An 18-year-old South Korean visitor finds himself at the center of growing controversy as parents across two metro Atlanta counties raise alarms about his interactions with local students. Speaking with Channel 2 Action News, the young man, who requested anonymity due to death threats, offered his side of a story that has sparked widespread concern among school officials and parents. He has not been arrested, and no police department has announced any criminal charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I arrived in here, like five days ago, and I didnt do anything illegal, he insisted, defending himself against allegations that have led to bans at all school campuses in both Gwinnett and Hall counties. The controversy erupted Monday when Seckinger High School officials sent parents an urgent letter warning about an individual contacting students through social media and inviting them to meet in person. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] By Tuesday, both Gwinnett County School Police and Hall County Sheriffs deputies had issued criminal trespass warnings against him after he attempted to enroll at West Hall High School. Hall County School officials say he didnt have the proper paperwork and he was not the appropriate age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man claims his presence at Seckinger High School last week was legitimate, stating unidentified parents let him in and staff provided him with a visitors badge. As for why he came to Georgia, he says it was to reconnect with people he had met previously. He denied he ever introducing himself as a student at the school. I met some friends who go to Seckinger High School, he explained, adding that his social media connections were not initiated by him. They found my Instagram account from another, like mutual friendsThey sent me a message first. While admitting to purchasing gifts for teens he met, he downplayed their significance and said he did it to make friends. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I bought gifts, but it was like 43 U.S. dollars included tax. Also, it is not luxury gift, he said. Im using my parents money. When directly confronted whether he is a danger to others, he stated firmly: No Im not a pedophilia so Im not. Homeland Security investigated and confirmed Tuesday that the man possesses a valid 90-day tourist visa, and no police department has announced criminal charges against him to date. As the controversy continues, the visitor says may cut his Georgia stay short I will not stay in here anymore. When I finish everything in here, then I will go to New York City or like Vancouver, he said. School officials continue urging parents to discuss online safety with their children as the investigation continues. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) In this News 8 digital extra, News 8 investigative reporter Jeff Derderian sits down with Ryan McGuigan, a former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, to discuss the Bridgeport cannibal case. Tyree Smith, a Connecticut man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of killing a victim with a hatchet and eating body parts, was granted conditional release from the states only maximum-security psychiatric hospital, despite concerns expressed by the victims family and state lawmakers. Board approves conditional release of Bridgeport cannibal killer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith was ordered to be confined to Whiting Forensic Hospital for 60 years in 2013 in connection with the killing of Angel Gonzalez, whose mutilated body was found in a vacant apartment in Bridgeport in January 2012, a month after he was hacked to death. Smiths cousin had testified that Smith told her he ate part of Gonzalezs brain and an eyeball while drinking sake. Watch the interview with McGuigan in the video above. On News 8 at 6 p.m. Thursday, Derderian talks with Gonzalezs family and an author from Milwaukee connected to the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. ATHENS, Ohio (WJW) It is been dubbed the Dear Colleague letter. The U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights sent this out to every educational institution cautioning them that if they kept diversity, equity and inclusion programs, they could lose federal funding. That now means a more than 40-year-old tradition at Ohio University, the Black Alumni Reunion (BAR), has been put on pause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Full disclosure, FOX 8 reporter Roosevelt Leftwich is also an alum of Ohio University. It happens every three years and it was supposed to happen again this year in 2025, but the university has had to unfortunately put a hold on the event, said Damon Scott, the national president of the Ebony Bobcat Network of Ohio University. Remains of Cleveland WWII airman brought home after 80 years He says the tri-annual reunion was a way for current students, no matter what race, to connect with Black alumni. Scott says they met with university officials this week, who told them the reunion which was set to start April 10 was put on hold because they have to come up with an plan that would align this type of event with federal and proposed state guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the university said, in part: However, based on OCRs (Office of Civil Rights) recent guidance related to Title VI compliance, some of the programming historically included in the event may need to be reimagined. The University is obligated to follow OCRs guidance in order to protect our access to critical federal funding, including students continued access to federal financial aid. For the federal government and the state of Ohio to force the universitys hand and the hand of other universities, its really unfair. Its disheartening, its frustrating and its making a lot of people upset, Scott said. The reunion brought in thousands of people into Athens, filling up hotel rooms, restaurants and bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump administration plans to cut 80K employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo OU alum and Athens Chamber of Commerce member Aaron Thomas says it will also hurt the local economy. Theres always the unofficial after-parties. Its huge, its huge for the bars and the hotels the restaurants everyone benefits and a lot of folks are going to miss out. Thomas said. But despite the pausing of the event, Scott says the greater mission of the Ebony Bobcat Network to continue to promote academic excellence and provide scholarships to students will not change. He said that mission is the most important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our ancestors dealt with so much more adversity and more roadblocks than the cancellation of a four-day event. They had more to deal with and they figured it out and we are their descendants, so well also figure it out, Scott said. Over the years, the Ebony Bobcat Network nationwide has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support scholarships at Ohio University. Scott says theyll be meeting in coming days to figure out the next move. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission aims to propose draft legislation this year that would allow insurers, leasing companies and repair shops fair access to valuable vehicle data, according to its auto industry action plan to be published on Wednesday. Provided it gets the backing of member states, the law could end a tussle between car services groups, Big Tech and automakers that are all seeking to monetise in-vehicle data as they seek to develop new products and services. The data covers anything from driving habits to fuel consumption and tyre wear, and analysts have said it means the connected car market could be worth hundreds of billions of euros by the end of the decade. Ownership of the data is not clearly defined in EU law, which has resulted in the current dispute over access. "Due to many specificities of connected motor vehicles and its potential to open new business opportunities, including on bi-directional and smart charging, complementary measures are needed," said the draft auto industry action plan seen by Reuters. "The Commission will therefore take adequate measures, including a legislative proposal on access to vehicle data, to allow the full automotive ecosystem to reap the benefits of data from connected vehicles," it said, with the proposal planned for this year. Carmakers have cautioned against legislation that could impose blanket obligations on them and also warned of the risks to trade secrets as well as data misuse. The auto industry has in addition voiced concern that Big Tech could soon dominate the infotainment systems on cars' dashboards. Alphabet's Google and Apple have already got a foothold in the market. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Barbara Lewis) Mar. 5Nearly a year has passed since the Portland City Council decided to clear the way for the demolition of a 19th-century building on Free Street. A judge will decide soon whether that vote or the building will stand. The Portland Museum of Art wants to build a sweeping glass-and-timber expansion at 142 Free St. as part of a $100 million capital campaign. The existing building dates to 1830 and most recently housed the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine. In June, Greater Portland Landmarks sued the city in an effort to save the building and named the Portland Museum of Art as a party-in-interest in the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the parties argued their positions in a Zoom hearing in Cumberland County Superior Court. Attorney Beth Boepple, who represents Greater Portland Landmarks, said the Portland City Council misinterpreted the land use code when it decided to remove a historic classification that protected the building from demolition. "The council does not have complete discretion to disregard those standards," Boepple said. "They must also understand what the standards are, and in this instance, they failed to do that." Attorney Mary Costigan, who represents the museum, said the City Council was allowed to break with Portland's planning and historic preservation boards, which both recommended that the building retain that historic classification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a decision of the council," she said. "They are not bound by recommendations. They are not bound by prior councils. They can analyze this on their own as a council." Greater Portland Landmarks has also said that the vote could jeopardize historic tax credits needed by other property owners in the city. Chris Rhoades, an owner of the Time & Temperature Building, said last year that he is worried that the demolition would sink a plan to build 250 affordable apartments in the downtown high-rise. Rhoades said in an email Wednesday that he is working with a potential buyer for that building but did not have additional information to share. "There is some speculative concern about tax benefits and other conjectures about the potential for property values to be harmed," Amy McNally, associate corporation counsel for Portland, said at the hearing. "Again, pure conjecture here, not certain or cognizable." Superior Court Justice Deborah Cashman also asked about changes to the building in recent years and whether Greater Portland Landmarks has standing to bring the lawsuit at all. She did not say when she would issue a decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kate Lemos McHale, executive director of Greater Portland Landmarks, said in a written statement that the nonprofit filed the lawsuit to uphold the city's historic preservation ordinance and avoid a precedent that could hurt other historic buildings. "In ignoring the recommendations of both the historic preservation board and the planning board to retain the classification of 142 Free Street as a contributing building within the Congress Street Historic District, we believe the City Council's vote was an abuse of discretion and misinterpretation of clear preservation standards in the law," she said. Lemos McHale also said that Greater Portland Landmarks has had "constructive conversations" with the Portland Museum of Art about their expansion. Erik Hayward, president of the museum's board of trustees, said in a written statement that he is confident that the public process leading up to the Portland City Council vote was done correctly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are hoping for a quick resolution of this case so that we can move forward with our goals of fostering greater access to art, culture and education for our community," Hayward said. "The expansion of the Portland Museum of Art creates an incredible opportunity for our community. It will not only provide the room we need for a rapidly growing collection, it will also help to anchor and revitalize a thriving arts district." The building at 142 Free St. was considered a "contributing" structure to the surrounding Congress Street Historic District, which means it could not be razed. Built in 1830 and later renovated by architect John Calvin Stevens, it has been home to a theater, a church, the Chamber of Commerce and the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine. The Portland Museum of Art bought the neighboring property in 2019 with an eye toward growth, and the children's museum vacated in 2021 for a new home on Thompson's Point. The museum applied to change the classification to "non-contributing," which would allow for the building's demolition. The Portland City Council ultimately voted 6-3 to reclassify the building on the basis of "significant alterations since it was originally constructed." It found that the building lacks integrity of design, materials and workmanship. Marcie P. Griswold, a spokesperson for the Portland Museum of Art, said the building at 142 Free St. has not been used since last year. The expansion plans are "unchanged," she said, and the museum has raised $48.5 million out of its $100 million goal in its capital campaign. Copy the Story Link Mar. 5Haywood County has a new judge taking the bench. William "Bill" Jones has received an appointment to a vacant district court seat in District 43 from N.C. Gov. Josh Stein. District 43 serves Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties. "Bill brings decades of experience as a solo practitioner and assistant district attorney, giving him the record to succeed in this role," Stein said in a press release. "As a longtime resident of Judicial District 43, he's the right person for the job, and I look forward to his service on the District Court." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones takes over the seat left vacant when Judge Roy Wijewickrama was appointed to a judge's seat in Superior Court. "I'm just a local kid," Jones said. "I'm very proud of my appointment, but I've worked damn hard to get it, as well." The new judge grew up one county over in Sylva, but had ties to Haywood County, as his dad worked at Dayco. After graduating from Western Carolina University with a business degree, Jones went to work for the Social Security Administration. The career wasn't his calling, however, so he went back to law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before graduating from law school, Jones found himself interning in the district attorney's office in Haywood County, with a district spanning the seven western counties. "I fell in love with it immediately," Jones said. After graduation, Jones became an assistant district attorney in the same office, working alongside several of the judges he's now joining on the bench. "I got to work with some truly great people," Jones said. "We had a great group of people. We were a big family." Jones said he learned a lot during those first five years of his career, especially working with the likes of District Attorney Charles Hipps and assistant D.A. (and former District Attorney for the 29th district) Alan Leonard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Charlie taught me how to run an office and treat people. Alan Leonard took me to court, took care of me, trained me up," Jones said. "Alan Leonard was one of the finest prosecuting trial attorneys that have ever walked this planet." After Hipps' death in 2003, Jones decided to go into private practice. In the more than 20 years since then, Jones has handled numerous criminal and domestic cases. "I felt like I had something to offer to the legal community," Jones said. "I've done as many domestic cases as anyone and half as many criminal as anyone." After Wijewickrama moved up to superior court to fill retiring Judge Bradley Letts's seat, a meeting was held of the local bar association. Members voted on nominees for the open seat to be sent to Gov. Stein, who then chose from the candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This district is historically known for great judges," Jones said. Jones moved to Waynesville after getting married and quickly built connections in his new home. "I've always been incredibly tied to our community and wanted to be here," he said. The legal community has its own sense of family. Jones said he has had judges take the time after cases were over to give him advice on things he has done right and wrong. The same goes for this fellow attorneys. "You call an attorney for advice in this county, and they'll talk to you," Jones said. While he's excited to take this step forward, there are things he is going to miss. For one, he said he'll miss the "fight" and back-and-forth between lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he'll also miss Crystal Morris, his long-time assistant of 18 years. "She's been a part of my family. I'm going to miss working with her every day," Jones said. The new judge is also going to miss the clients he worked with. "I've had some truly wonderful clients who have said, whether it worked out in their favor, thank you for fighting for me," Jones said. Jones brings a wealth of legal knowledge to the bench, as well as the perspective of having handled cases on both sides of the aisle. "Honestly, I feel like I can be an asset and try to move cases through fairly and equitably like the people who came before me in this court system," Jones said. "I've seen all sides of it. Seeing it from all sides will be a big benefit." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He will be the seventh district judge for the seven western counties. "That is seven judges to cover every child support, domestic, criminal, juvenile, district court session for seven counties," Jones said. "I don't think people realize the size of this district." Jones was sworn in March 3. A divided US Supreme Court handed a legal defeat to Donald Trump on Wednesday, rejecting his bid to freeze some $2 billion in foreign aid payments. The USs highest court, in its first significant ruling on a legal challenge to the Trump administration, voted 5-4 to uphold a lower court order requiring that payments be made on aid contracts that have already been completed. The justices said the federal judge who ordered the resumption of payments for contracts with the US Agency for International Development (USAid) and the State Department should clarify what obligations the government must fulfil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not clear how quickly money would start flowing. Conservatives John Roberts, the chief justice, and Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, voted with the three liberals on the nine-member Supreme Court. Justice Samuel Alito wrote a dissent that was joined by the three other conservatives. Unchecked power He said: Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) two billion taxpayer dollars? The answer to that question should be an emphatic No, but a majority of this Court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has backed several legal challenges to moves by the Trump administration, welcomed the Supreme Court decision. Anthony Romero, the ACLU executive director, said in a statement. President Trumps attempt to halt foreign aid funding was a reckless, cruel, and unprecedented abuse of executive power. The lower court rightly held that President Trump exceeded his authority when he unilaterally declared he was freezing funding for programs Congress had already authorised, stiffing federal contractors who had already done work. Demonstrators participate in a die in at the US Capitol to protest USAid cuts - WILL OLIVER/Shutterstock District Judge Amir Ali, an appointee of Joe Biden, issued a temporary restraining order last month prohibiting the administration from suspending, pausing, or otherwise preventing foreign assistance funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump has launched a campaign led by his top donor Elon Musk, the worlds richest person, to downsize or dismantle swaths of the US government. The most concentrated fire has been on USAid, the primary organisation for distributing US humanitarian aid around the world with health and emergency programs in some 120 countries. Run by radical lunatics Mr Trump has said that USAid was run by radical lunatics and Mr Musk has described it as a criminal organisation needing to be put through the wood chipper. Hundreds of diplomats at the State Department and USAid formally wrote on Wednesday to Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, protesting the dismantling of the agency, saying the move undermines US leadership and security and leaves power vacuums for China and Russia to fill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a cable filed with the departments internal dissent channel, which allows diplomats to raise concerns about policy anonymously, the diplomats said the Trump administrations Jan 20 freeze on almost all foreign aid also endangers American diplomats and forces overseas while putting at risk the lives of millions abroad that depend on US assistance. More than 700 people have signed onto the letter, a US official speaking on the condition of anonymity told Reuters news agency. The cable said: The decision to freeze and terminate foreign aid contracts and assistance awards without any meaningful review jeopardises our partnerships with key allies, erodes trust, and creates openings for adversaries to expand their influence. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. DES MOINES, Iowa Des Moines Public Schools leaders are planning to implement a district-wide cell phone policy next school year. At the Des Moines School Boards Tuesday meeting, Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts said that after researching the effects of cellphones in the classroom and evaluating Hoover High Schools cell phone free policy, the district plans to implement that policy across the district. Dr. Roberts says that students should remember this is not punitive, but instead it is about building a healthy balance of how students are engaging and utilizing screen time. Expanded childcare bill causing childcare providers concern Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The policy will address students need for use of cellphones to minimize distractions, support mental health, and enhance education outcomes. Part of the proposal includes differing levels of access for students based on their grade. The rules will be set to address three tiers: high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. More details will be presented for the boards approval at their next meeting in April. Theres also an effort at the Statehouse to limit cell phone usage in schools, spearheaded by Gov. Kim Reynolds. A subcommittee approved the bill earlier in the session, and on Wednesday it was approved to be on the calendar as HF 782. Iowa news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Newly-obtained court documents detail the moments three children under the age of 17 had to flee their father, who allegedly violated a no-contact order and stabbed his estranged wife to death inside their Kingston home. On Feb. 27, police responded to a call from a 17-year-old, who said his father tied him up at a property under construction before killing his mother. When police arrived at the home on Virginia Ave., they found what looked like a kicked-in bedroom door and a woman inside, who had been stabbed to death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was identified as 48-year-old Celestia Marie Ketenci. The 17-year-old son gave officers a description of his father and his fathers car, and they were quickly able to track down 47-year-old Fatih Ketenci. Ketenci had only made it about half a mile from his wifes home before he crashed his SUV. He was taken into custody without incident. Moments before the stabbing According to court documents, Celestia had an order of protection against her husband that was issued in October 2024. Paperwork initiating a divorce had been filed in Kitsap County just two days before Celestia was killed. On Feb. 26, several hours before the deadly stabbing, police responded to the home. A neighbor, who knew about the protection order, hadnt been able to contact Celestia and saw a strange car in her driveway. Police were able to make contact with Celestia and they left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that night, the 17-year-old picked up Ketenci at SeaTac Airport after his father spent a month in Mexico. The pair then drove separately to a home on Paul Drive that was under construction and served as Ketencis home while the protection order was in place. When the pair got there, Ketenci allegedly pointed a nail gun at his son and threatened his life while demanding the keys to his estranged wifes home, according to court documents. Ketenci forced his son to tie himself up with extension cords, court documents detail. Then, Ketenci drove off, leaving his 17-year-old son tied up. What detectives say happened to Celestia According to court documents, Ketenci entered the Virginia Avenue home around 1 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He allegedly kicked down the door to the master bedroom, where Celestia and her 10-year-old and 3-year-old daughters were. The 10-year-old girl later told police that her father had kicked the door in, yelling something along the lines of Surprise! while holding up a large knife. Ketenci allegedly forced his two daughters into the bathroom and threatened to kill them if they left or called for help, according to court documents. The 10-year-old said she heard arguing and screaming for about half an hour before things went silent. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old was able to get free from his extension cord restraints, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He used the built-in flashlight of the very nail gun he was threatened with to light his way home. The teen found his fathers car in the driveway, and grabbed his cell phone which he had left inside from their earlier drive. He then hid in the car, keeping an eye on the home. When he saw his father leave the home, he made his way inside, according to court documents. It was then that the teen discovered his mother bloodied and stabbed to death in her room. His two young sisters, 10 and 3, escaped out a bathroom window and hid in a chicken coop in the backyard waiting for first responders. Ketencis arrest Ketenci was arrested after deputies found his crashed car half a mile away from the murder scene. According to court documents, he had blood on him and was missing a shoe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While being questioned by detectives, he notably kept bringing up money, according to court documents. Ketenci said money was a problem in their marriage and insinuated thats what made him mad on the night of his estranged wifes death, documents detailed. Investigators noted that he kept bringing most conversations back to money, and how his wife wanted his. He began to speak to the camera as if speaking to the courts himself. He started listing off how the courts have ruined his life. He said they took his home, his money, his kids, a detective speaking with Ketenci recalled in court documents. Ketenci also claimed he was very smart and was recently unable to recall things in the short term due to his kids being taken away from him, according to court documents. According to the documents, he kept calling his children [his] oxytocin. Oxytocin is a natural hormone in the brain that plays a crucial role in human behavior and social interactions. Detectives said there was a long history of documented domestic violence between Celestia and Ketenci. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told law enforcement that he was in Mexico for a month to repent for slapping her. Ketenci has been charged with: First-degree felony murder (committing murder in furtherance of another crime) First-degree premeditated murder/domestic violence of an intimate partner First-degree kidnapping First-degree burglary/assault with a deadly weapon Second-degree assault with a deadly weapon Two counts of a violation of a court order felony assault Violation of a court order (first or second violation) Harassment threat to kill Unlawful imprisonment When asked about the events of the night, Ketenci allegedly told detectives: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, I regret what I did. I still dont believe shes dead. I dont believe it. It was so quick. I dont remember I didnt look at it, how I did it. Ketenci is being held with no bail at the Kitsap County Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 11. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the surviving children. One of the Trump administrations deputy press secretaries at the Defense Department has an extensive record of racist, isolationist and ultra-nationalist posts on social media, including pushing discredited conspiracy theories about a Jewish victim of lynching and about Haitian migrants, as well as rejecting U.S. support for Israel and Ukraine. Kingsley Wilsons social media attracted attention earlier this week when people started resurfacing posts she shared on X in 2023 and 2024, in which she used a talking point widely repeated by antisemitic advocates: that Leo Frank, a Jewish man convicted of raping and murdering a teenage girl and then lynched by a Georgia mob in 1915, but posthumously pardoned decades later, was in fact guilty. Frank is widely believed to have been falsely accused and unjustly convicted. His case led to the formation of the Anti-Defamation League. Leo Frank raped & murdered a 13-year-old girl. He also tried to frame a black man for his crime. The ADL is despicable. https://t.co/BGfjjxxAUh Kingsley Wilson (@KingsleyCortes) March 11, 2023 White supremacists and other antisemites have long used conspiracy theories about the Leo Frank case to cast doubt on the circumstances of the antisemitic lynching of Leo Frank, the ADL wrote in a statement Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were deeply disturbed that any public official would parrot these hateful and false conspiracy theories, and we hope Kingsley Wilson will immediately retract her remarks. Wilson also has expressed opposition to U.S. military intervention abroad, posting days after the war in Gaza started, My future children will not die in foreign ethnic conflicts a world away. In July, she called NATO nothing more than an international HR department. She specifically opposed American military support for Israel. At the end of 2024, Wilson wrote, "Why is the U.S. military defending Israel & Ukraines border but not our own?", and in 2023, replied to an X post by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: Fight your own wars. America First. Wilson and the Defense Department did not immediately reply to NBC News requests for comment on Wilsons past posts, or whether they represent the views of the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson has also railed against U.S. funding for Ukraine, describing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as an entitled midget, and asking, Why should American taxpayers help defend Ukraine? She has also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling his encyclopedic knowledge of his peoples history beyond impressive. On her X account, Wilson has shown support for Germanys far-right Alternative for Germany party, mentioning it multiple times along with a German phrase that translates to foreigners out. She has previously declared Make Kosovo Serbia again, despite Kosovo being officially recognized as an independent state by the U.S. in the years after the two Balkan countries fought a war in the 1990s. Russia does not recognize Kosovos independence. Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres from New York responded to Wilsons post last week, writing on X that shes shamefully attempting to delegitimize Kosovo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A significant number of Wilsons past posts on X peddle discredited conspiracy theories, including that Haitians living in the U.S. are eating cats and dirt, as well as the "great replacement theory," the racist belief that ethnic white groups and their culture are being replaced by nonwhite immigrant groups in Western countries. On Thanksgiving in 2022, she wrote, REMINDER: the Native Americans were anything but peaceful before the arrival of white Europeans. Wilson has also repeatedly tweeted variations of the sentiment that White, Christian males are the most demonized group in modern America, and argued that women should not be allowed to work as police officers or Secret Service agents. She has also called transgender people corrupted souls, and responded not all heroes wear capes to a man being arrested for vandalizing a LGBTQ pride mural. The 26-year-old Wilson is the daughter of right-wing commentator and former Trump adviser Steve Cortes. Since graduating high school, she has mixed with conservative politicians and media personalities, snapping photos with Sen. Ted Cruz and appearing on episodes of right-wing commentator Tim Pools podcast. She worked for the conservative think tank Center for Renewing America and Gettr, the social media platform founded by former Trump aide Jason Miller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson backed former Rep. Matt Gaetzs nomination for attorney general and traveled with him and his wife Ginger to El Salvador in November. Ginger Gaetz called her one of the most articulate voices in politics. Some of her past posts have slammed Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. In February of last year, Wilson posted on X: Republicans are a joke. Only the Executive can save us. Trump 2024. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com In 2018, Dan Bongino, then a right-wing podcaster who had dedicated his professional life to owning the libs, shared with his audience his latest triumph. Bongino had recently participated in a panel discussion about the deep state, one of his areas of expertise. The panel, Bongino explained, had turned out to be a setup. The moderator, the military historian Vince Houghton, was a closet lib, some complete zero, who, unable to keep up with Bonginos formidable intellect, resorted to sputtering profanity. But Bongino flipped the script. I get up; I rip the microphone off; I storm off the stage; Im like, Screw this guy, he explained. But heres the funny thing, folks. The whole crowd at the panelthere had to be 200-plus peoplestorms out of the room with me! Bonginos inspiring tale of persecution turned triumph, like other narratives he has repeated, bears some surface relation to the facts. But Bongino omitted certain key events. One was the moderators response to Bonginos put-down, which a reporter recorded at the time: Youre an idiot, youre a moron, and youre deranged! Another is that, contrary to Bonginos claim that the entire crowd stormed out with him, only half did so. The other half stayed and cheered his departure. The third is what Bongino did right before storming off, according to two people present: He chucked a bottle of water at the moderators head. Not exactly the picture of a man who has just overawed his opponents with the force of sheer reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: A new kind of state media] Like many confident but unreliable narrators of the MAGA movement, Bongino has since moved on to bigger and better things. Last month, Donald Trump appointed him to serve as deputy director of the FBI. (A spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment about the panel episode.) Even to those benumbed by the second Trump administration, this came as something of a shock. The bureaus new director, Kash Patelwhose primary job qualification, like Bonginos, is fanatical loyalty to Trumpinitially placated concerned staff by promising to elevate career FBI officials as his deputies. But after the rank and file resisted demands by the Justice Department to turn over names of agents who had investigated the January 6 insurrection, the president decided that the FBI needed more political discipline, according to CNN, and compounded the effect of Patels appointment with the addition of Bongino. In an email to FBI staff, Patel wrote that he felt confident Dan will bring his vigor and enthusiasm to the Deputy Director role, driving the operations of this organization in the right direction. This is, strictly speaking, correct, depending on how one defines right. Bongino rose to fame as a former Secret Service agent who quit in disgust in 2011. (Given the agencys shaky performance during the most recent presidential campaign, he may have been onto something.) He ran for Senate in Maryland the next year, lost massively, then ran for a House seat in Maryland two years later, lost narrowly, and then moved to Florida to run for the House yet again, finishing a distant third in the Republican primary. At that point, perhaps wisely, he transitioned from electoral politics to a successful career as a right-wing media personality and podcaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bongino has written or co-written eight books, which is less impressive than it sounds, because he tends to regurgitate the same ideas over and over. Three of Bonginos books cover the Secret Service, and another three cover the Trump-Russia scandal. To get a sense of how his mind works, I decided to read several of them, but after a few pages, taking mercy upon myself, I lowered the target to one. Spygate: The Attempted Sabotage of Donald J. Trump is the first volume in Bonginos trilogy about the Trump-Russia scandal. Or, as Bongino would put it, the Clinton-Russia scandal. Bonginos argument, familiar to anybody who follows right-wing media, is that the mistaken belief that Russia cooperated with the Trump campaign is the product of a vast conspiracy involving the Obama administration, the Clinton campaign, and the FBI. Like a defense lawyer, he walks through the evidence selectively, presenting parts of it in the most sympathetic possible light (for example, when Russians proposed to help the campaign in 2016, Donald Trump Jr. had no choice but to listen) while ignoring facts he cant spin. Bongino disputes not only that the Russians carried out the hack of Democratic emails in 2016, despite U.S. intelligence determining that they did, but also that Russia favored Trump at alla preference that Russian propaganda was broadcasting openly. [From the October 2024 issue: The man who will do anything for Trump] Bongino argues that Vladimir Putin would never support Trump, a successful capitalist committed to spreading economic freedom throughout the world. Instead, he argues, Russia likely preferred Clinton because her leftist ideology mirrors her mentors, Saul Alinsky, the radical Marxist organizer who believed, just as Putin does, that conflict is the route to power. The entire explanation hinges on a tenuous three-way ideological link, which in turn rests on a failure to absorb the demise of the U.S.S.R. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like other Trump defenders, Bongino fails to explain the central flaw in the theory that the Trump-Russia scandal was manufactured to tip the 2016 election: If the FBIs probe was intended to hurt the Trump campaign, why did it publicly deny his links to Russia until after the election? In Spygate, Bongino wrote that the FBI was guilty of false accusations, illegal spying, and entrapment; taken together, this was the greatest scandal in American political history. Or, at least, it used to be. In January, Bongino suggested that the FBI was covering up the identity of whoever planted pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican National Committees on the eve of January 6, 2021. Folks, this guy was an insider, he said on his podcast. This was an inside job. And it is the biggest scandal in FBI history. Presumably, this would demote the previous greatest scandal in American political history, which also heavily involved the FBI, to the second spot. With Bongino now poised to operationalize his theories from a position of power, one suspects that more scandals are due to follow. Article originally published at The Atlantic On the campaign trail and in the early days of President Donald Trump's second term, The Department of Education has been in the spotlight. A key issue for the Trump campaign was to dismantle the Department of Education to give more authority to states and local communities. The once far-off vow may be coming to fruition, as the President looks to sign an executive order to end the department. Newly installed Education Secretary Linda McMahon has been charged with overseeing the department as it's taken apart, according to USA TODAY reports. When McMahon rose to her security position, Trump told reporters that she should "put herself out of a job." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what does the Department of Education actually do? How much federal support do Tennessee schools get from the Department of Education? Here's what to know. What does the Department of Education do? Trump says he wants to roll back the Department of Education to make way for more state and local control. However, education is already largely in the hands of those state and local governments. The Department of Education is an umbrella Cabinet-level agency in the federal government. The small department wears many hats, but, ultimately works as a steward of taxpayer money for schools and their students. The DOE also oversees public universities and student aid. In the U.S., More than 17 million students applied for FASFA for the 2022-23 academic year, according to the Education Data Initiative. Federal student loans and grants make college possible for Americans; a 2023 study from the National Center for Education Statistics found that up to 72% of students reviewed FASFA funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department is responsible for ensuring that schools comply with all federal laws passed by Congress. It governs the laws with federal funding. If a school does not follow the law, it will lose federal funding. Also, the DOE creates and funds programs to oversee "every area of education and ranges from preschool education through postdoctoral research." Who created the Department of Education? The late President Jimmy Carter is responsible for establishing the Department of Education as a Cabinet-level agency. Former President Carter signed the Department of Education Organization Act in October 1979, a cornerstone accomplishment in his presidency. However, the Department of Education has been around for much, much longer. The origins of the department date back to 1867 with President Andrew Johnson, according to the Department of Education's history. Its goal was to collect information on schools and teaching that would help the states establish effective school systems. How much money does the Department of Education allocate? Nationally, the Department of Education has an arsenal of more than 102 billion dollars that will be used to support schools, programs, and grants in 2025, according to USASpending.gov. How much money does Tennessee get from the Department of Education? Not including student loans, the Department of Education will give the Volunteer State an estimated $1,727,706,182 in federal funds in 2025, according to a DOE budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This money funds everything from Pell Grants to the Small, Rural School Achievement Program to the Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants. For younger students, the DOE supports special education and homeless children. Plus, the DOE gives nearly 2 billion dollars to post-secondary Tennessee students via federal student loans, according to the 2025 budget estimation. What state gets the most money from the Department of Education? It would be unfair to look at just the total amount of money each state is set to receive from the Department of Education, as the number of students varies greatly across the nation. A more realistic way to dissect the DOE funding is to see how much money the state gets per student. Newsweek studied how much Federal Public Education money each state allocates per K-12 Student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Newsweek findings, Alaska gets the most federal money per student at $4,370. This is compared to Tennessee, which gets $2,540. The state with the least amount of federal money per student is Utah, which gets just over $1,300 per student, according to Newsweek. USA Today reporter Zachary Schermele contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What does the Department of Education do? How much money does TN get? By Maha El Dahan, Olesya Astakhova and Alex Lawler DUBAI/MOSCOW/LONDON (Reuters) - As OPEC+ debated whether to keep oil output steady due to weak global demand or pump more in response to internal pressure and a call from U.S. President Donald Trump, it was record output from Kazakhstan that helped sway the decision, sources told Reuters. OPEC and its allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, decided on Monday to increase output for the first time since 2022. It said its decision took into account healthy market fundamentals and a positive market outlook, without mentioning Kazakhstan. The group will make a small increase of 138,000 barrels per day from April, the first step in planned monthly increases to unwind its nearly 6 million bpd of cuts, equal to nearly 6% of global demand. OPEC+ member Kazakhstan is producing at a record high and well above its target, as agreed with the producer group after U.S. oil major Chevron finished a major expansion at the country's Tengiz oilfield. Several other members of the group including top producer Saudi Arabia were angered by the rising output from Kazakhstan, three OPEC+ sources told Reuters. The sources declined to be identified by name due to the sensitivity of the matter. OPEC's headquarters, the Saudi government communications office and the office of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The three sources said the argument inside OPEC+ was that it makes little sense to continue capping production if some of OPEC+'s own members are overproducing. "It's very bad for discipline inside OPEC+ and they (OPEC+) will be pushing Kazakhstan hard to compensate," one of the sources said. Compliance from OPEC+ members with their individual output targets under the collective output agreement has worsened over the past year. Oversupply from Kazakhstan, Iraq, Russia and the UAE has irked OPEC's de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, which has kept strictly to its output target and is making the deepest cuts. Until recently, OPEC+ had been reasonably successful in keeping to the targets agreed since 2022. The group has asked members that have overproduced to compensate with deeper cuts in coming months. On Monday, OPEC+ said members pledged to comply better and compensate for overproduction. Kazakhstan raised crude and condensate output in February to a record high of 2.12 million bpd. Its OPEC+ quota doesnt regulate condensate production and the quota for crude output is set at 1.468 million bpd. BOSTON (WWLP) Mayors from across the country testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, defending sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities, like Boston, Denver, Chicago, and several smaller cities in western Massachusetts, such as Amherst and Northampton, limit or completely deny cooperation with federal immigration authorities to create a sense of safety and belonging for immigrant communities. Western Mass. residents reflect on Pope Francis condition on Ash Wednesday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration and some Republican representatives argued that mayors of sanctuary cities are breaking federal law by refusing to allow local law enforcement to collaborate with federal agencies like ICE to detain and deport illegal immigrants. Bostons Mayor Wu testified on Wednesday, arguing that immigration is solely the responsibility of federal agencies. Our police department resources and taxpayer dollars go towards preventing and solving crimes, but Massachusetts state law and the Boston Trust Act make clear that immigration is federal law enforcements responsibility, Wu said. Mayor Wu testified to the impact of keeping the trust of Bostons residents. She said that fear has no place in Bostons schools, hospitals, and workplaces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A city thats scared is not a city thats safe, Wu said. Mayor Wu, and other mayors who testified today, said one of their biggest concerns is that immigrants will stop reporting crimes out of fear, which will lead to high crime rates and deaths throughout the country. The Northampton Police Department states that it does not ask about immigration status for crime victims, witnesses, or others who request assistance. If cities like Boston and Amherst continue to refuse to comply with federal immigration authorities, its likely the Bay State will be looking at losing federal funding, which would be catastrophic for the states economic health. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. After President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on both Canada and Mexico Tuesday, a Canadian official threatened a surcharge on electricity exported to three U.S. states, including New York. Here's what to know. What did Canada threaten about New York electricity? In a post to X on Tuesday, Premier of Ontario Doug Ford said he had informed leaders in New York, Michigan and Minnesota that Ontario would impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to their states if Trumps tariffs continue or if additional tariffs are introduced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also threatened to increase that surcharge amount or shut the electricity off, noting his province powers 1.5 million homes and businesses every year. New York, Michigan and Minnesota are reportedly Ontario's top customers for such power. Today, I wrote to the governors, senators and congressmen and women from New York, Michigan and Minnesota putting them on notice that Ontario is prepared to add a 25 per cent surcharge to the electricity we export to their states if President Trumps tariffs remain in place. If pic.twitter.com/pQwCelzHNp Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 4, 2025 It comes after Trump imposed a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Ford said the surcharge would be on top of retaliatory action already underway by the neighbors to the north. Among these actions, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau already announced a 25% tariff on $20.7 billion worth of U.S. imports, USA TODAY reported. And if the duties remain in 21 days, Canada will add tariffs on the remaining $86.2 billion worth of U.S. imports. Does New York get its electricity from Canada? Yes, New York receives some of its electricity from Canada, according to the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), as its interties with Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) allow for up to 2500 megawatts of imports from Ontario to the Empire State as well as an additional 2100 megawatts through its interties with Hydro-Quebec. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, net imports from HQ and IESO totaled 6,628 gigawatt hours. See which ones: Trump administration cancels leases for 18 federal offices in NY What have New York officials said about the tariffs? Flags for Quebec, the United States and Canada fly at Stanstead College in Stanstead, Quebec, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. New tariffs on Canadian imports imposed by President Trump could have big economic consequences for New Hampshire the rest of New England. In a statement released on Feb. 28, the NYISO said "The United States and Canada share one of the most integrated international electric grids in the world, allowing system operators in both countries to pool resources for reliable and economic electric supply." And NYISO's Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Communications Kevin Lanahan says the not-for-profit is "in close and regular contact" with Hydro-Quebec and IESO. The NYISO also said "The reliable, uninterrupted flow of economic power across the Canadian interties is critical to protect the health, safety and welfare of New York citizens, residents across the Northeast U.S., and the citizens of Canada - especially during stressed system conditions. The NYISO and neighboring system operators have serious concerns that applying export tariffs to electricity may have serious adverse effects on reliability and wholesale electric markets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the Canadian tariff order going into effect on Tuesday, the NYISO said in its statement that it was unclear whether imports of electrical energy from Canada would be impacted. When contacted by USA TODAY on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the corporation said it had "no further comment at this time," but would provide more updates as the process continues. What it could mean for you: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered to stop work How might New Yorkers be affected by a possible surcharge? It's unclear, but Lanahan says the NYISO "anticipates having adequate supplies to meet expected demand on the system." Contributing: USA TODAY Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Networks New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Does NY get electricity from Canada? What to know about shutoff threat Days after a fiery crash on Interstate 10 left four dead and eight injured, the victims are starting to be named and memorialized. Dustin Cluff, a father of three from Prescott Valley, was killed in the crash alongside his girlfriend, Melinda Kobold, a resident of Peoria. They were returning from an off-roading trip to the California dunes. Niki Cluff, Dustin's ex-wife and the mother of his three children, recalled him as an "adrenaline junkie" who was also a rock in his children's lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The girls were supposed to have dinner with him when he came back," she said of her two daughters who were supposed to meet up with their dad the day of the crash. "He definitely worked hard and played harder," Niki recalled of Dustin, who was a huge fan of rock climbing, mountain biking and heavy metal music, she said. "Out of all the dangerous things he's done, it was a mundane drive home that took him." Joey Kobold, the younger brother of Melinda, 38, who also lost her life in the multi-vehicle accident, remembered his sister as "adventurous," "outgoing" and a devoted mom of two boys. "She was a phenomenal mother who loved her kids dearly and would do everything for them," he said. State troopers responded to calls of a collision on eastbound I-10 about 14 miles west of Tonopah, a community on the outskirts of the Phoenix area, shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday, according to an Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson. The crash involved multiple vehicles and tractor-trailers, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple vehicles caught fire after the crash. Photos supplied by DPS showed several vehicles scorched by fire and intact tractor-trailers positioned along the shoulder of the interstate. While what caused the crash was not immediately known, authorities have since said the unusually windy conditions likely affected visibility and contributed to the crash. "I've seen people trying to place blame on the carelessness of drivers, and not understanding that the families affected by this are grieving," said Kobold. "People want to say it was preventable, but every witness from the scene confirmed that visibility was near zero. This was just a freak occurrence." Kobold said he found out about the tragic news when two state troopers showed up on his doorstep. He has since created a GoFundMe page to help raise money for his nephews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The outpouring of support and condolences from friends and family has been tremendous," said Kobold. "We are beyond thankful." Niki said she and Dustin were in their early 20s when they first became parents. "He was such an important part of the kid's lives," she said. She also started a GoFundMe page to help "move the kids through tragedy." "The girls are struggling to believe it's real," said Niki. "It doesn't feel real." She thinks her oldest may be hit the hardest. "He looked up to his father so much and spent probably the most time with his dad," Niki said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collisions involving multiple vehicles and multiple fatalities on Arizona's roads have been relatively rare recently. In January 2023, five people died in a six-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 near Chandler Boulevard. A semitruck driver who was distracted by social media did not stop for slowing traffic, crashing into vehicles in front of him. He pled guilty to negligent homicide in the deaths and was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ couple killed in I-10 crash were heading back to be with their kids MEMPHIS, Tenn. Disturbing surveillance videos show a person beating and dragging a dog before throwing it off a pedestrian bridge, not once but twice, killing the dog. The incident happened Friday off Crump Boulevard in South Memphis. As of Wednesday, the dogs body had not been picked up. A nearby business owner, who did not want to be identified or shown on camera, said he watched the security video after he saw the dead dog in the parking lot on Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the videos, a man was shown dragging and punching a dog. A few minutes later, the suspect dragged the animal up the stairs of a pedestrian bridge, before the unthinkable happened. At that point, he took the dog and threw it over the side of the bridge, into our parking lot, and it was obvious the dog was hurt badly, but was not killed, the business owner said. And then he grabbed the dog again, drug it up the pedestrian bridge staircase, threw it off a second time, killing the dog. Memphis murder suspect captured by U.S. Marshals Surveillance video showed this man dragging a dog and throwing it off a bridge in South Memphis, killing the dog. The bridge off Crump Boulevard where a dog was abused and killed. Another view of the man The man says he reached out to the Memphis Police Department, and 311, which handles these situations, but he says the city told him they would not be able to pick up the animal for four or five days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memphis Police filed a report, but they told the man they were unable to assist with the removal. He also inquired about a private animal removal service, but the company told him domesticated animals must be removed by the city. In the meantime, the man is hoping the person whos responsible for this crime comes forward. This young man needs to, he needs to turn himself in and you know, answer for what he did to this poor animal. The dog didnt have a say in this. The dog clearly didnt want this, he said. Family releases more details about mom found dead in sunken car WREG reached out to Memphis Police for updates about this case, but we have not received a response yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A city of Memphis spokesperson said after we called them Wednesday that they planned on getting a crew out to remove the dog. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Crucial services for veterans are on the chopping block. Authorities release disturbing details in the killing of trans Black man in New York. And Lester Holts Nightly News successor is named. Heres what to know today. DOGE reverses plans to slash some VA contracts, but worries among employees persist Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency abandoned some of its plans to slash contract spending for veterans' health care services this week after a revolt by front-line employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs. What had been a list of 875 contracts scheduled for termination is now down to 585, the VA said this week. It's a rare public retreat for DOGE, which has come under fire for axing critical government services and overstating its savings to taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The list of contracts still on the chopping block has not been made public, but VA employees have identified 200 of the remaining scheduled cancellations to NBC News. Some of them appear to be central to patient safety, those employees said. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Senior financial reporter Gretchen Morgenson and senior investigative producer Laura Strickler report that among the contracts still set to be canceled are those covering: Sterility certification for VA hospital pharmacy operations Facility air quality and safety testing to prevent transmission of infections Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sterile processing services to decontaminate equipment and instruments Support for the National Center for PTSD, which is the worlds leading research and educational center on post-traumatic stress disorder One VA official said that when he saw the initial list of contracts set to be terminated, he concluded: Theyre trying to push veterans into community care. And to do that, theyre doing everything they can to make the VA mission fail. Meanwhile, the VA announced yesterday it will lay off 80,000 workers in an agency reorganization scheduled for August. An additional 2,400 probationary employees were dismissed in February. Also, several VA employees were suspended indefinitely in recent days after they were accused of sharing nonpublic information about DOGE contract terminations, sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read the full story here. More politics news: Trumps blunt ultimatum over release of hostages As his administration engages in direct talks with Hamas over the release of U.S. hostages still held in the Gaza Strip, President Donald Trump released a stark warning on his Truth Social account, calling for the immediate release of hostages. Shalom Hamas means Hello and Goodbye You can choose, he wrote. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Trump also met yesterday with eight hostages released from Gaza, the White House said. Trumps warning and the U.S. involvement in direct talks with Hamas comes after a six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended last weekend with no extension of peace negotiations in sight. With no talks continuing, Israel reinstated a halt in the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Read the full story here. More foreign policy coverage: Some U.S. allies are considering scaling back the intelligence they share as the Trump administration takes a more conciliatory approach to Russia, sources with direct knowledge of the discussions said. French President Emmanuel Macron said in a prime-time address that Europe must be prepared to go it alone in defending Ukraine. Ukraines war effort will be hampered but not crippled by Trumps decision to pause intelligence assistance, former intelligence officials said. Heres why. Grim details in killing of a transgender man in New York Sam Nordquist. New York authorities released an indictment accusing seven people in the killing of Sam Nordquist, a Black transgender man from Minnesota who was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and sexually assaulted before his death. Nordquist was held from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2 at Patty's Lodge in the town of Hopewell and was hit, kicked, punched, starved and had bleach poured on him, among other actions, according to the indictment which also alleges the forced participation of young children, ages 7 and 12, in the assault and torture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nordquist, who was 24 years old, first went to Ontario County, New York, in September to connect with a woman he met online. That woman, Precious Arzuaga, is one of the seven people charged with first-degree murder and several other charges. While LGBTQ advocates have urged authorities to look into hate crime charges, Ontario County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford said the seven people were charged with first-degree murder and not hate crimes because that is the heaviest penalty available to them under New York law. Nordquists death has drawn national attention and sparked local demonstrations. Nordquists family have previously suggested Nordquists death was preventable if local authorities had done their jobs. Read the full story here. Tom Llamas to succeed Lester Holt as NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas. Tom Llamas will take over as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News this summer after Lester Holt steps down from the role, the network announced. Hell become the first Latino journalist to host the weeknight edition of Nightly News. Llamas launched his career at NBC and later served as ABCs chief national affairs correspondent and anchored weekend editions of World News Tonight. He rejoined NBC News in 2021 as a senior national correspondent, soon became the anchor of Top Story with Tom Llamas, an evening newscast that streams on NBC News NOW and is a regular fill-in anchor on Nightly News. Read the full story here. Read All About It Six people have been killed in two states this week amid a powerful storm across the Great Plains and South. A suspect in the deadly Abbey Gate bombing at the Kabul airport during the U.S.s withdrawal from Afghanistan arrived in the U.S. to face criminal charges in connection with the attack. Executive orders targeting DEI programs and recognizing only two sexes has exposed a divide among groups that work to address sexual violence and rely on government funding to operate. Canadian stores have pulled American liquor products from shelves after new U.S. tariffs took effect. A private U.S. spacecraft will attempt to land on the moon today the second such landing in less than a week. Staff Pick: Do socially distanced hens lay more affordable eggs? A pasture-raised hen from Pete & Gerry's. Thats the question business intern Alexandra Byrne set out to answer when she began noticing pasture-raised eggs selling for about the same price as conventionally produced ones or sometimes even a bit less. Hens that can run around outside are no more immune to bird flu than those crammed into cages, but prices for their eggs have proved remarkably stable. Experts say pasture-raised chickens could be more vulnerable to bird flu from outside wildlife, but infections may not spread as rapidly through these flocks. At any rate, farmers, who say more sustainable and humane practices yield tastier eggs, are seeing demand rise. As one put it, It becomes more appealing to people if theyre going to pay a pretty high price for eggs anyway. Rich Bellis, senior business editor NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Skin tags are a bane for up to 60% of adults, experts said. So the NBC Select team spoke to multiple dermatologists about the best skin tag prevention products. Plus, heres everything to know about the new Apple iPad Air M3, which is now available for pre-order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading todays Morning Rundown. Todays newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If youre a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Mar. 6LAS CRUCES Alarm this week over reports that the Department of Energy's field office in Carlsbad was being closed at the behest of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency appeared to be settled Thursday, when plans to terminate the office's lease were withdrawn. The Carlsbad DOE office oversees the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, an underground nuclear waste repository 26 miles southeast of the city. Earlier in the week, the DOGE website listed the office's lease among those that would be cancelled as part of the billionaire tech executive's project to enact drastic cuts to spending and personnel across the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither the Department of Energy nor the General Services Administration, which manages federal properties, answered questions about what the closure would mean for the management and safety teams responsible for WIPP, which houses defense-related nuclear waste in a repository situated in an ancient salt bed half a mile underground. Instead, a notice from the GSA dated Wednesday and obtained by the Journal informs the property owner that the termination, which had been set for Aug. 31, had been revoked and the lease remained "in full force and effect." The notice of termination followed a 30% reduction in staff at the Carlsbad office over the past month, per U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., who voiced concern about the lease termination in public statements as he sought a meeting with GSA officials. WIPP is projected to consume its available storage space during 2025, Vasquez noted in a news release, and plans to expand capacity at the site depend on system upgrades that have already run into delays attributed, in part, to staffing shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The attempted closure of the WIPP office was reckless and short-sighted," Vasquez said in a written statement. "I stood up for Carlsbad workers and our national security interests as soon as I heard of this potential closure. I'll continue holding the administration accountable when uninformed decisions threaten the livelihoods of New Mexicans." The closure remained on the DOGE website's list of "savings" as of Thursday morning. But a spokesperson for the Department of Energy confirmed the GSA "has revoked its prior notice to exercise termination rights for multiple DOE facility leases, ensuring that these mission-critical operations continue without disruption." TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Theres been lots of talk of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) being implemented in Tampa Bay. An internal memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs detailed plans to fire thousands of employees and optimize the workforce. The move is being implemented under the premise of DOGE. Gov. DeSantis endorses permanent protections from vaccines in Florida A VA employee working remotely in Tampa spoke to 8 On Your Side anonymously. He said he fears for his job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honestly, every day is terrifying because you dont know if youre next, the employee said. DOGE did not need to be created, we already have those capabilities built in, and weve had them built in for years. He described DOGE as inefficient, chaotic, and disorganized. DOGE conversations are happening locally as well. A Hillsborough County Commissioner made a motion to voluntarily submit audits to the state detailing county spendings. The motion failed. While I deeply respect and constantly praise our leaders of our own budget office, the fact is, is that weve had multiple decades of never having one true forensic audit throughout our processes of budgetary solutions. That has resulted in many transitions to different technology platforms that have resulted in us quite literally finding bank accounts that we lost and or forgot about just in the past two years, said Commissioner Joshua Wostal. If we truly are acting so effectively then we should have nothing to hide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two Tampa office buildings made a non-core property list of federal buildings designated for disposal. The U.S. General Service Administration said its working to eliminate costly maintenance and reinvest in high quality work environments. The list came down, but its coming soon, according to their website. Federal workers said they are nervously waiting to see what DOGE does next. It feels like a betrayal because were being accused of being lazy parasites, unworthy of our paychecks, he said. Its going to create a lot more problems than it helps to improve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency has announced plans to terminate federal building leases across the country, including two in Charlotte. The leases in question involve buildings housing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Charlotte. DOGE has been seeking to reduce costs, and cutting the two leases is expected to save $170,000 annually. The U.S. Geological Survey collaborates with Mecklenburg County on stream monitoring and flood prevention programs. Although the county states that the data is not stored in the USGS buildings, there is concern that potential staffing cuts following the lease terminations could impact data quality. The EPA works with Mecklenburg County on air quality monitoring. However, the county does not currently expect the lease terminations to affect this service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USGS has an office location off Tyvola Road in south Charlotte. The EPA doesnt have a main regional office in Charlotte, but its Criminal Investigation Division has a suite on Fairview Road. Mecklenburg County will continue to assess the situation as developments unfold. (VIDEO: Supreme Court limits EPA power) The newly installed caretaker at the Social Security Administration acknowledged this week that Elon Musks U.S. DOGE Service is calling the shots as the agency races to slash thousands of jobs and shrink its budget, telling a group of advocates, Things are currently operating in a way I have never seen in government before. In a meeting Tuesday with his senior staff and about 50 legal-aid attorneys and other advocates for the disabled and elderly, acting SSA commissioner Leland Dudek referred to the tech billionaires cost-cutting team as outsiders who are unfamiliar with nuances of SSA programs, according to a meeting participants detailed notes that were obtained by The Washington Post. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGE people are learning and they will make mistakes, but we have to let them see what is going on at SSA, Dudek told the group, according to the notes. I am relying on longtime career people to inform my work, but I am receiving decisions that are made without my input. I have to effectuate those decisions. His remarks to skeptical advocates came on Dudeks 12th day in a role that the White House rewarded him with after he secretly shared information with DOGE, which stands for the Department of Government Efficiency. His short tenure - while President Donald Trumps nominee to permanently run the agency waits in the wings - has been consumed by a whirlwind downsizing of the staff in charge of the safety-net program used by 73 million retired and disabled Americans. Dudek has announced plans to slash 7,000 jobs, a cut of more than 12 percent. He has moved to close regional hubs and field offices that serve the public, eliminated entire programs and consolidated departments. An exodus of senior executives on his watch - some voluntary, others forced - is fast depleting decades of expertise. And this week, the long-struggling disability benefits system came under threat as backlogged state offices that review claims were told there would be no more overtime or hiring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet its still not clear what Trump and Musk have in mind as an endgame for Social Security, which has long been a political third rail in Washington. The president has made promises that were not touching Social Security, even as DOGE races to shrink the government. About a dozen Musk-aligned tech engineers have gained access to databases containing reams of taxpayer information, and the cost-cutting goal appears to overlap with an urgency to find fraud. After Musks claim that vast numbers of centenarians were fraudulently receiving retirement benefits was debunked, Trump doubled down Tuesday night in his address to a joint session of Congress. Were also identifying shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud in the Social Security program for our seniors, Trump falsely stated. Musks attacks last week on Social Security - he described it as the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time - have further heightened alarm and uncertainty for lawmakers, policymakers and the public about whether Americans earned benefits will end up as collateral damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre alleging that theyre uncovering massive fraud in the system, said Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. But where are they going with this? Theres very little fraud in the retirement system. Since theyre mispresenting the data in such extreme ways, its hard to know. On Thursday morning - three hours after the publication of this story - an all-staff email went out to SSA employees informing them that they would be prevented effective today from accessing certain websites on their government devices, including online shopping, general news and sports. These additional restrictions will help reduce risk and better protect the sensitive information entrusted to us in our many systems, the email stated, according to a copy obtained by The Post. The new guidance will further limit the beleaguered staffs ability to do their jobs, one SSA employee warned, because news sites - especially obituaries - are key sources staff rely on to prevent fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social Security is not a Ponzi scheme, a fraudulent investment scam that pays early investors with money from later investors in an attempt to appear profitable. It is an earned benefit program for seniors and disabled Americans funded through payroll taxes that has never missed a payment - though uncertainty about the programs solvency because of falling birth rates and growing lifespans has made it a political minefield. Democrats have pounced on what they say is reckless rhetoric and thoughtless cuts unfolding at the agency of 57,000 employees. Social Security is the governments central hub for some of Americans most sensitive personal and financial information, and it is the countrys largest payer of benefits, issuing more than $126 billion a month in mostly earned benefits - a massive sum that courses through the economy. One of the top motivations for constituents to contact their members of Congress is when they cant get help processing a retirement or disability claim. Now we know that something we Senate Democrats have feared for a long time is coming true, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) said at a news conference on Capitol Hill this week. Social Security is under attack and at risk. Other lawmakers said they fear the benefit is on the path to being privatized. In recent days, Martin OMalley, who served a year as SSA commissioner under President Joe Biden, sounded the alarm in a rare public swipe at a successor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, youre going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits, OMalley said. I believe you will see that within the next 30 to 90 days. Even some Republicans privately acknowledge discomfort with Dudek, who was appointed as acting commissioner when the career senior executive in the role abruptly retired after refusing his push to give DOGE employees unauthorized access to private data. Dudek - a mid-level data analyst with no management experience until his sudden promotion - has been open about his rapid moves to cut costs. For too long, the Social Security Administration has operated on autopilot, creating inefficiencies that burden our employees and all Americans, he wrote in a message to the staff on Saturday. We have spent billions annually doing the same things the same way leading to bureaucratic stagnation, inefficiency, and a lack of meaningful service improvements. It is time to change that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meeting with advocates on Tuesday, Dudek sought to cast himself as someone on their side. He described his parents as blue-collar workers with little formal education who divorced when he was young, according to the notes obtained by The Post. His mother was injured and went on disability benefits, he explained. In high school, he would eat leftovers from the school cafeteria trash, he said. Dudek said the old ways of setting goals, doing studies, discussion, getting information and data before making decisions are gone. Those in charge now will make mistakes, but I need to move them in a direction that is best for SSA, he said, and asked the advocates for their support. Following Trumps claims Tuesday night, Dudek issued a news release on Wednesday that referred to significant progress in identifying and correcting records of people 100 years or older whose date of death was not listed in agency databases, leading to the perception that they were receiving retirement benefits. Dudek thanked Trump for highlighting these inconsistencies. The Social Security Administration did not respond to a request for comment. A White House spokeswoman referred a reporter to the presidents comments to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Feb. 18. Look, Social Security wont be touched - other than if theres fraud or something - were going to find it. Its going to be strengthened but wont be touched. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokeswoman said in an email: President Trump has nominated a highly qualified individual, Frank Bisignano, to lead the Social Security Administration. As President of Fiserv, he has experience delivering the right checks to the right people at the right time - which is the top priority! The Senate Finance Committee has yet to schedule a confirmation hearing for Bisignano. Andrew Biggs, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank, said shrinking Social Securitys roughly $15 billion operating budget would represent just a small fraction of the programs $1.5 trillion in annual costs. If youre talking about Social Security solvency, this stuff is a drop in the bucket, Biggs said. It doesnt make any sense at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The uncertainty about Musks intentions has been fueled by statements from senior Trump administration officials that appear difficult to reconcile with the realities of the federal budget. On the one hand, Trump and many of his senior advisers have repeatedly promised that Social Securitys beneficiaries will not be harmed by the massive cost-cutting underway at federal agencies and that any reductions will only affect fraudulent payments. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reiterated that pledge in an interview on Tuesday, telling Fox Business that were going to pay every single person who deserves Social Security. During his first term as president, Trump largely stuck by his 2016 campaign pledge not to pursue spending reductions to the program. At the same time, Musk and Trump have fueled speculation, particularly among Democrats, that they have designs to cut far more than fraudulent or mistaken payments, estimated at less than 1 percent of the retirement program. Democrats and advocates also warn that the massive cuts to staffing already underway at Social Security are certain to worsen service for customers. Dudek has only raised more alarms by issuing news releases touting cuts. In his missive to staff over the weekend, he said the agency would outsource nonessential functions to industry experts, the first step toward privatizing what could be crucial customer service functions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fears have been heightened in particular by false claims of far more waste in the program than has been documented by watchdog reports and audits over the years. Appearing to misread a chart, for example, Musk said on social media in February that DOGE had identified payments to tens of millions of deceased Americans - an incorrect assertion repeated by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. In Tuesdays address to Congress, Trump also said that Musk was finding hundreds of billions of dollars in wasteful spending - a number that appears possible only if entitlement programs such as Social Security are included - and he ticked through examples of those older than 100 who had allegedly received payments. Substantial budget cuts to Social Security, the single most expensive federal program, cannot mathematically be achieved solely by targeting these kinds of payments. June data suggests that the agency paid less than $150 million to those over 99 years old, which amounts to less than one-fifth of 1 percent of retiree benefits. Democrats have raised the prospect that the Trump administration intends to declare large amounts of legitimate Social Security spending as fraud as the basis to cut benefits. Andrew Saul, who served as SSA commissioner in Trumps first term, said he welcomed the cuts - but he was adamant that without corresponding modernization of the agencys many aging technology systems, service will suffer. You cant replace all of these people without the proper systems, Saul said. And it takes time to develop them. Other budget experts say its possible Musk and Trump are just misinformed and not covertly planning a major cut to retiree benefits. Musk may be aiming to make technical changes to improve the Social Security system, which could save a few or maybe tens of billions of dollars. That outcome would protect retirees but also come far short of meaningfully reducing spending on the program. Meanwhile, employees say the staff is under siege as firings, early-retirement and buyout offers, resignations and layoffs hover overhead - along with anxiety that customers will suffer. In interviews, eight employees described chaos and the dissolution of a system they have been proud to serve, fueled by DOGE-led cuts to staff, spending and operating systems. Wait times for basic phone service have grown, in some cases to hours, according to some employees, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to share internal details. Delays in reviews of disability claims and hearings before administrative law judges are already starting. Employees at a field office in Indiana have been forced to pick up calls for other offices, one employee said, and are fielding phone inquiries for an area covering two-thirds of the state. The phone never stops ringing now, the employee said. Phone backups have prevented the staff from processing retirement claims. Meanwhile, supervisors have little time to give guidance or advice, the employee said, because they are constantly pulled into lengthy meetings to dissect the latest guidance from the Trump administration on return-to-office orders, firing of probationary employees and a Musk-led campaign requiring federal workers to send weekly bullet points laying out their accomplishments. Morale is in the toilet, the employee said. We all know what DOGE wants to do, which is just break us, so they can privatize us. Because of a DOGE-driven spending freeze on federal credit cards, some offices cant pay phone bills, the employee said, while one office was forced last week to cancel three disability hearings because the staff could not use charge cards to pay for interpreters who speak foreign languages or American Sign Language. One claimant has a terminal illness, and another is in danger of losing their house, the employee said. No new hearings have been scheduled. Meanwhile, a DOGE-led campaign to cancel contracts deemed wasteful across the government is also hurting Social Security. The agency lost a contract that paid for medical experts to testify at disability hearings, the employee said, along with another contract for mold removal from offices. The elimination of the entire civil rights office is causing further chaos and uncertainty; the staff there was responsible not just for processing discrimination cases but also for obtaining office equipment for blind employees - accommodations that are required under federal disability law. No one has explained who will be taking over this type of work, employees said. As the agency prepares for a mandated return to in-office work, space constraints in some offices have left supervisors to consider assigning employees to work at desks in supply closets, the worker said. Its just chaos, people are terrified, and no one knows anything, including our supervisors, the employee said. Another employee said they were briefed on a call last week in which managers received instructions to come up with cuts of half the agencys staff and the same number of contractors by the end of March. Word of reductions on that scale spread throughout the agency, the employee said. In an internal announcement, Dudek said staff cuts of 50 percent were inaccurate, causing still more confusion. For his entire nearly 30-year career at SSA, one employee said, changes came slowly and were accompanied by a barrage of information explaining to staff exactly what was being altered and why. However, since DOGE took hold, changes have come so fast that they are impossible to follow, the employee said. No one really knows what theyre doing, no one has answers, and at some point, something is going to break. Related Content DOGE wants them gone but makes it hard for federal workers to move on NIH reels with fear, uncertainty about future of scientific research After Trump threats, Hong Kong firm to sell stake in Panama Canal ports Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency abandoned some of its plans to slash contract spending for veterans health care services this week after a revolt by front-line Veterans Health Administration employees who contended many of the cuts would imperil safety at the agencys almost 1,400 hospitals and clinics. What had been a list of 875 VA contracts scheduled for termination a little over a week ago has now become 585 canceled contracts, the VA said Monday. The about-face is a rare public retreat by the so-called efficiency operation known as DOGE, which has come under fire for moving to ax crucial government services and overstating the value of some of its savings to taxpayers. In its announcement reducing the number of contracts to be canceled, the VA said that the terminations will not negatively affect Veteran care, benefits or services and that they were identified through a deliberative, multi-level review. The agency acknowledged that some of the canceled contracts had already been fully paid for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The list of contracts still on the chopping block has not been made public, and the VA declined to provide it. But VA employees have identified 200 of the remaining scheduled cancellations to NBC News, and some of them appear to be central to patient safety, those employees say. For example, the revised list of killed contracts includes those covering sterility certification for VA hospital pharmacy operations, facility air quality and safety testing to prevent transmission of infections, and sterile processing services to decontaminate equipment and medical instruments. Also on the list: contracts providing required certification and accreditation for stroke centers and follow-up care for cancer patients. Another contract that remains scheduled for cancellation supports the National Center for PTSD, a VA entity that is the worlds leading research and educational center on post-traumatic stress disorder. Also terminated is a contract that would continue a long-established technology upgrade of the Veterans Health Administrations electronic health records system. The spokesman for DOGE did not respond to an email seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA said it could not comment on the contracts unless NBC News identified them by contract name and contract number. NBC News declined to do so out of concern that it could reveal the identity of its sources. After this article was published on Thursday, the VA said some of the contracts sterility certification for pharmacy operations, sterile processing services to decontaminate equipment, technology upgrade of electronic health records and safety monitoring of hospital radiation equipment have never been slated for cancellation. Also on Thursday, the VA issued a new directive to its network contracting offices, known as NCOs. There will not be any more opportunities to stop termination of contracts that are on the termination lists, these are the rules of the road today," it read. NCOs should continue moving forward with all terminations as directed. We understand the potential ramifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA did not respond to questions about the directive. On Wednesday, the VA announced that it was laying off 80,000 workers in an agencywide reorganization scheduled for August. The aim is to reduce its workforce to its 2019 level of 400,000, the memo to employees said. The agency dismissed 2,400 probationary employees in February. Doug Collins testifies Jan. 21at his confirmation hearing to become veterans affairs secretary. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, said he learned about the new contract cancellations from NBC News. He characterized them as a reckless move by Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins. Make no mistake, cancelling these contracts will cause harm to veterans and VA care and benefits, Blumenthal said in a statement. And it is completely unacceptable there has been no transparency, accountability, or consultation surrounding these contracts. By intentionally concealing from Congress the full list of contracts cancelled, Collins makes clear his intentions to use these terminated services as numbers for his press release, with zero regard for veterans. 'Most stringent standards' It has been a harrowing few weeks for VA employees charged with operating the nations largest health care system, according to five agency officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are afraid of retaliation. In recent days, several VA employees have been suspended indefinitely after they were accused of sharing nonpublic information about the DOGE contract terminations, according to a VA official and a congressional staffer in touch with the employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA spokesman declined to comment on whether employees have been suspended. The recent tumult inside the VA began roughly 10 days ago when employees received a list of 875 contracts DOGE apparently determined were wasteful. To the astonishment of some Veterans Health Administration employees, many of the contracts were crucial to the safe operation of VA facilities. Including them on the list suggested that DOGE had done little analysis of the contracts functions, four current employees told NBC News. Demonstrators outside the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington on Feb. 13. For example, one type of canceled contract on the initial list paid for the safety monitoring of hospital radiation equipment used for X-rays and MRIs and to treat and screen veterans for cancer. The monitoring, required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is conducted at least annually by experts known as medical physicists to ensure that the equipment is safe for patients and that it delivers the appropriate amounts of radiation. The machinery must also be checked to ensure employees using it are not exposed to dangerous radiation levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hospitals are subject to regular audits and inspections and, if radiation equipment is found to be in violation, it must be rectified within a certain period. Without contractors available to resolve the problem quickly, the hospital departments using the equipment would have to shut down, the VA officials said. The hospitals would most likely have to close, as well, a VA official said, because you cannot have a hospital that does not have a radiology department. Last week, after they received the list of 875 terminated contracts, employees in the nationwide Veterans Health Administration regional care systems, many of them veterans themselves, objected and argued for reinstatement of many of the contracts, the VA officials told NBC News. The Veterans Health Administration serves roughly 9 million enrolled veterans in its medical centers and outpatient clinics every year. A VA official said that when he saw the initial list, he concluded: Theyre trying to push veterans into community care, referring to services provided outside VA hospitals and clinics. And to do that, theyre doing everything they can to make the VA mission fail. Amid the backlash last week, the VA paused its planned cuts. Then, on Monday, it announced the contract termination list had fallen by one-third, to 585 contracts. Medical physicists charged with monitoring facility radiation equipment were no longer on the canceled list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the contracts still scheduled to be terminated at the VA is one covering the certification of areas and equipment in VA pharmacies used to combine multiple drugs, known as compounded medicines. Such certifications are at the heart of patient safety, because compounded medicines, which patients with cancer and other maladies use, must be made in special settings. According to the website of The Joint Commission, the countrys oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, certifying compounding areas ensures that pharmacies meet the most stringent standards in safety and reliability. The terminated list also includes contracts for a practice crucial to preventing infection in hospitals: the sterilization of medical devices and instruments needed during surgery. Other contracts set for termination handle air quality testing, the documents show. Certain states, such as California and Massachusetts, have standards for air quality that must be met in health care facilities to reduce the transmission of hospital infections. The Joint Commission has its own airflow standards, and to meet them, facility equipment must be tested to ensure high ventilation rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the revised list of contracts reinstated medical physicists, who are the radiology experts who monitor equipment for excessive or inappropriate levels of radiation, the documents reviewed by NBC News show the termination of multiple contracts for radiation safety officers, a similar role. Those contractors ensure that a facilitys radiation safety program complies with regulations. As for the health records upgrade and the contracts for the National Center for PTSD, which provides information about the disorder for veterans and their families, as well as helps find providers, both appear to be viewed as "non-mission critical." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Anna Peverieri and Tim Hepher (Reuters) -French planemaker Dassault Aviation reported a rise in its full-year sales on Wednesday as tensions between major nations fuel defence spending. The company is riding an industry-wide boom in demand stemming particularly from Russia's conflict in Ukraine and the U.S. suspension of military aid to Kyiv, which is accelerating rearmament efforts in Europe. Its shares were up 4.2% by 1020 GMT, with JPMorgan analysts saying in a note that the group posted a "results beat at every level". Dassault Aviation, the biggest industrial shareholder in defence and technology firm Thales, said its adjusted net sales rose to 6.23 billion euros ($6.62 billion) in 2024, above its annual guidance and up from 4.80 billion euros in 2023. The group reported an operating income of 519 million euros for the year, compared with 349 million in 2023. The aircraft manufacturer expects to deliver 25 Rafale and 40 Falcon jets in 2025, resulting in annual revenue of around 6.5 billion euros. Echoing other leading European aerospace companies, Dassault Aviation said that its 2025 guidance did not include any impact from possible U.S. tariffs and potential European countermeasures. Dassault Aviation said it is intensifying Rafale production amid ongoing supply chain issues, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic and have weighed on the group's deliveries. It is looking for new suppliers to make up for those who are experiencing difficulties, and expects the supply chain bottlenecks to loosen in 2026, CEO Eric Trappier told a press conference. The aircraft manufacturer reported order intake of 10.87 billion euros last year, including previously reported orders for 30 Rafale warplanes designated to export markets and 26 Falcon business jets. The share of defence exports in the yearly order intake was 90%, Dassault Aviation said. Trappier confirmed exploratory talks to sell the Rafale to Saudi Arabia but said this would depend on political decisions and the country's evaluation of the aircraft. Dassault Aviation's order backlog stood at 43.22 billion euros at end 2024 and included 220 Rafale warplanes and 79 Falcon business jets, it said. ($1 = 0.9404 euros) (Reporting by Anna Peverieri and Tim Hepher; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Louise Heavens and Jan Harvey) A rarely tested 50-year-old law meant to protect sensitive information on millions of Americans is becoming a last-ditch tool to slow Elon Musk's push to disrupt the federal government. At least a dozen lawsuits trying to stop the billionaires Department of Government Efficiency from tapping into tax records, student loan accounts and other troves of personal data have invoked the Privacy Act of 1974 since January. The Watergate-inspired law ostensibly prevents agencies from sharing sensitive information with unauthorized parties, even within the federal government exactly what many of Musks critics allege DOGE is forcing them to do. Now it has surfaced as one of the few legal avenues state attorneys general, unions and associations believe can curb DOGEs agency incursions so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But because previous Republican and Democratic administrations have largely attempted to abide by the law which was meant to be a constraint on federal power its limits and authority are now facing their first real test in court. There appears to be no precedent with similar facts, Judge Deborah Boardman for the U.S. District Court of Maryland, a Biden appointee, wrote in her opinion granting a temporary block on DOGEs access to education and government personnel records. This case involves the alleged unauthorized disclosure of millions of records. Even under existing precedent, this appears to be unlawful. As the cases move forward, its unclear if the Privacy Act can hold up when the government itself seems indifferent to violating it. Boardman is one of two judges who have issued temporary blocks on DOGEs data access. Four other judges have ruled that the plaintiffs havent been able to show that theyre being harmed a common hurdle for lawsuits that may prove difficult for the Privacy Act to overcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of the judges has issued a final ruling on whether DOGE is breaking the law. But even their temporary ones highlight the sense of dread many government watchdogs are feeling as Musks operation prods the generations-old standard. In normal times, agencies are the primary enforcement mechanism for federal laws that address how agencies are structured and should behave, John Davisson, the director of litigation at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which is suing the Trump administration for Privacy Act violations. These obligations are taken seriously, and when that drops away, when you suddenly have a top-down policy of non-enforcement or disregard for these statutes, you have to fall back on the alternative methods of enforcement, and that is the courts. The Privacy Act was originally passed out of concern that centralized access to everyones information could lead to an abuse of power both in the wake of Watergate and in the emerging computer age. And since then the government has collected ever-large heaps of data on people, everything from income to citizenship status to addresses. They worried about overweening government power that needed to be constrained, Danielle Citron, a University of Virginia law professor whose paper A More Perfect Privacy was cited in Boardmans order, said of the laws authors. This is the scenario that would get them out of bed and say, This is what we worried about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal agencies have also dedicated people and money toward compliance with the law, including clear direction about which entities theyre allowed to share the data with. To stay within Privacy Act boundaries, the General Services Administration awarded a $34 million contract to outside vendors for identity verification in 2021 for data such as Social Security numbers rather than tapping the Social Security Administration directly. Opponents of DOGEs data requests say the Trump administration is in direct violation of the law because DOGE is essentially an outside group accessing sensitive data. The governments position, which the court did not agree with, was that a political appointee should in effect be able to access the information just as other authorized employees can, said Kristin Woelfel, a policy counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology, a progressive tech nonprofit group in D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration argues that providing DOGE employees access to government databases doesnt violate the Privacy Act because those staffers are authorized to access information under the presidents executive order to reduce the federal bureaucracy. It appears to be using tactics to give itself Privacy Act authority, such as appointing DOGE workers within agencies themselves, which has raised questions for judges considering the legality of the data mining. A senior White House official said the handful of judges decisions support the Trump administration's defense that it did not violate the Privacy Act. "The legal experts can say what they want, but the courts are the ultimate deciders," the official said in an emailed statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even in the four cases where judges have declined to issue restraining orders, having decided that access to data alone didnt necessarily amount to someone being harmed, the issue isnt settled. Temporary restraining orders have a much higher bar to pass because plaintiffs need to show there will be an irreparable harm unless an immediate pause is put in place something thats harder to demonstrate when there arent physical injuries at stake. But what remains in all 12 cases is perhaps the most important part: the fundamental question of whether the law has been broken. Critics of DOGE claim the lack of transparency to the point where even the government attorneys defending its access to data cannot explain in court how staffers are using and securing the information has been an advantage for the government so far. The lack of clarity has helped the Trump administration lawyers argue that fears of data leaks, heightened risks of identity theft and other potential violations stem from guesswork or misleading media reports about DOGEs activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An anonymous University of California student filed a declaration in support of blocking DOGEs access to student data, citing fear that information about her family could be used for immigration enforcement purposes. D.C. District Court Judge Randolph Moss, a Barack Obama appointee, denied the request on the grounds that the students provided no evidence beyond sheer speculation that DOGE staffers would use the data for an unsanctioned purpose a move that echoed with other judges. But lawyers trying to find leverage against DOGE through the Privacy Act are confident the discovery process will uncover evidence of the government mishandling of sensitive data. That step, when the federal government would have to open its books, may reveal new information about Musks operation and how DOGE employees are handling millions of Americans data. Its almost a certainty that we will identify in different quarters of the government specific harmful ways that the personal information involved here was misused, EPICs Davisson said. Tech-billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has reportedly terminated hundreds of federal real estate contract's across the country, including 16 in Wisconsin. The canceled leases are scattered across the state and serve agencies including the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and the Food and Drug Administration. The leases were "terminated via mass mod," which means the contracts for the leases were simultaneously ended through a government-issued modification. As of March 5, the DOGE website claims to have cut $105 billion in federal spending, but these numbers are unverified. Numerous reporting errors have been founded in DOGE's itemized list of savings, including an $8 million U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract that DOGE falsely reported as $8 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it was first introduced, DOGE said it was aiming to cut as much as $2 trillion a year in federal spending. But even Musk said in January that goal was a "best-case outcome." The Trump administration removed an inventory of 443 federal properties Wednesday that had been listed for potential sale the previous day. The GSA's "non-core property list" is blank, with a new headline that reads, "coming soon." The Journal Sentinel compared the Wisconsin federal leases listed on the DOGE website against office spaces in the U.S. General Service Administration's lease inventory. Though it's not confirmed that the DOGE leases are the same ones listed by the GSA, the square footage and lease amount reported by DOGE and the GSA matched exactly for almost all 16 office spaces. A representative from the GSA, which manages government properties, was not immediately available for comment Wednesday. Here's what we know about each of the reportedly canceled federal leases in Wisconsin: Defense Contract Management Agency (Milwaukee) A Defense Contract Management Agency office in Milwaukee is being moved into a federal office space, according to DOGE. GSA records show the office at 111 W. Pleasant St. Current annual rent at that space is $186,700. National Labor Relations Board (Milwaukee) A National Labor Relations Board office in Milwaukee is being "terminated via mass mod, according to DOGE. Mass mod refers to when multiple government contracts are changed at once, according to GSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 10,226-square foot office is leased at $258,805 annually, per GSA. Its at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave., which GSA records show is also home to six other federal office spaces. The Milwaukee outpost is the only sub-regional NLRB office within a five-state radius, according to the NLRB website. It works with the regional Minneapolis office to protect the labor rights of private-sector employees in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and parts of Iowa. Workers from the Wisconsin DNR, Minnesota DNR, US Fish ands Wildlife Service and the US Geological Survey take part in an intensive invasive carp removal effort Thursday, April 8, 2021 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. Fish and Wildlife Service (Madison) The Fish and Wildlife Service office in Madison is being terminated and closed, according to DOGE. GSA records show the office is at 4511 Helgesen Drive. Current annual rent at that space is $58,142. According to its website, the agency created programming to work with private landowners to improve fish and wildlife habitats on their lands. The Journal Sentinel called the number listed on the website and it had been disconnected. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (Madison) The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration office in Madison is being "terminated via mass mod," according to DOGE. GSA records show the office at 1 Point Place. Current rent for that space is $50,150 annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to its website, the agency operated a field office at that location which provided guidance concerning its regulations. Departmental Management (Madison) A Departmental Management office in Madison is being terminated via mass mod, according to DOGE. Located at 740 Regent St., it is 1,486 square feet and leased at $37,494 annually. Information about the Departmental Management office did not appear to be available online, but it is located at the same address as three other federal offices. Federal Highway Administration (Madison) A Federal Highway Administration office in Madison is being terminated via mass mod, according to DOGE. Located at 525 Junction Road, the 6,254-square foot office is leased at $204,103 annually, according to GSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to its website, the FHWA Wisconsin works to preserve and modernize the U.S. Highway system, as well as making sure roads, bridges and tunnels statewide are safe. The Madison office appears to be the only FHWA office in Wisconsin. As of March 5, its website listed 23 staff members. Traffic is shown on I-94 in Waukesha County on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 12, 2025. DOGE says it has shut down the Federal Highway Safety Administration office in Wisconsin. Food and Drug Administration (Madison, Wauwatosa) Offices of the Food and Drug Administration in Madison and Wauwatosa are being terminated via mass mod, according to DOGE. The 6,757-square foot Wauwatosa office is located at 2675 N. Mayfair Road and leased at $187,375 annually, per GSA. The Madison office, located at 700 Regent St., is 2,975 square feet. GSA reports its annual lease at $120,772, while DOGE lists $121,221. The Wauwatosa office is an FDA import office, responsible for making sure products imported into the U.S. and produced domestically are safe and compliant with FDA standards, according to its website. The office oversees nine ports in Wisconsin, including in Milwaukee. Social Security Administration (Green Bay, Wausau) Social Security Administration office in Green Bay is being terminated and consolidated, according to DOGE. GSA records show the office is located at 125 S. Jefferson St. Current annual rent at that space is $26,229. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Green Bay Press Gazette reported that the SSA hearing office is on the third floor of the Jefferson Court building across from the Brown County Courthouse. The property is owned by Urban Investment Research Corporation, who declined to comment on the possible termination last month. Additionally, the Social Security Administration office in Wausau is being terminated and closed, according to DOGE. GSA records show the office is located at 500 N. 1st St. Current annual rent at that space is $34,211. Defense Contract Management Agency (Merrill) The Defense Contract Management Agency office in Merrill is being terminated and closed, according to DOGE. GSA records show the office at 1004 E. 1st St. Current rent for that space is $6,067 annually. The Wausau Daily Herald reported that a spokesperson for the Defense Contract Management Agency said the decision to close the office was made prior to the creation of DOGE, and that no jobs would be lost as a result of the closure. IRS National Office (La Crosse) The IRS National Office in La Crosse is being terminated via mass mod, according to DOGE. GSA records show the office at 425 State St. Current rent for that space is $36,199 annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to its website, the location was listed as a Taxpayer Assistance Center that provided local services such as basic individual tax law and other forms. Bureau of Indian Affairs (Ashland, Shawano) Oneida Nation Chairman Tehassi Hill Bureau of Indian Affairs offices in Ashland and Shawano are being terminated via mass mod, according to DOGE. The BIA helps the federal government maintain a relationship with tribal governments and promotes tribal self-determination. The BIA office in Ashland is 34,970 square feet and employs 40 people. DOGE claims the annual lease for the building is $649,408 and terminating the lease will save the government about $1.5 million. A smaller BIA office in Shawano is 1,990 square feet, which the government leases for $36,395, according to DOGE, and terminating the lease will purportedly save the government $6,066. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oneida Nation Chairman Tehassi Hill said his tribe mostly does business with the Ashland office, which is responsible for processing fees to trust land applications. When the Oneida Nation purchases land on its reservation its intent is to transfer the property into a federal land trust, making it sovereign from local jurisdiction and taxes. Office of U.S. Attorneys (Green Bay) A Green Bay U.S. Attorneys office is being terminated via mass mod, according to DOGE. THe 5,364 square-foot space is located at 205 Doty St. and leased at $70,369 annually, per GSA. The DOGE website lists the lease at $71,009. The building's owner told the Green Bay Press Gazette it has gotten conflicting emails saying the lease will be terminated, then that it won't be. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Wisconsin also told the Journal Sentinel they didnt know why the address had been listed on the DOGE website. They suggested the Journal Sentinel recheck the DOGE website on March 5 to see if the lease was still listed, which it was. When asked if this suggestion was because the lease termination had been rescinded, the spokesperson said yes. Rural Housing Service (Stevens Point) A Rural Housing Service office in Stevens Point is being terminated via mass mod, according to DOGE. Located at 5417 Clems Way, the 15,843-square foot office is leased at $448,204 annually, per GSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office is responsible for administering the U.S. Department of Agricultures rural development programs to six area offices across Wisconsin, according to its website. The program aims to bolster rural American economies by increasing housing access, providing business loans and building local water and electric infrastructure, among other efforts. "Secretary Rollins fully supports President Trumps directive to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively," a USDA spokesperson told the Journal Sentinel. RELATED: Milwaukee VA employees grapple with confusion over Elon Musk directive RELATED: Wisconsin Democrats condemn Elon Musk-driven initiative to fire VA employees This story was updated to add a photo gallery. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: DOGE cancels 16 federal contracts in Wisconsin. Here's the list Despite Oklahoma's solid red recent voting history and the fact each member of the state's congressional delegation has a well-worn Republican Party membership card, the Sooner State has been hit hard by the Trump administration's efforts to close federal agencies and lay off federal employees. Those efforts continue. The latest push by the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by Elon Musk is the canceling of hundreds of federal leases totaling $468 million in projected savings. That announcement came shortly before the General Services Administration announced the intended sales of additional federal properties, including the downtown Oklahoma City Federal Building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 15 federal offices in Oklahoma, from Broken Bow to Tulsa and from Pawnee to Shawnee are set to be closed by DOGE. The facilities include the Social Security Administration Office in Lawton and five Bureau of Indian Affairs offices, in Pawhuska, Watonga, Seminole, Pawnee and Carnegie. Those facilities are being shuttered, the DOGE committee said, because of real estate costs. The National Weather Center is among many Oklahoma offices that have been included on a Department of Government Efficiency list of federal buildings to be closed. Social Security Administration offices, NOAA facility at OU on list of sites DOGE wants to shutter Located in southwestern Oklahoma, the Lawton Social Security Administration office serves a population of roughly 90,245. The next closest Social Security Administration office is in Chickasha, about 45 miles to the northeast. Chickasha has a population of about 17,000. Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, in a message posted on X, called the closings an attack on Social Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Trump's Social Security Administration commissioner has called for a 50% staff reduction. This would gut SSA field offices and potentially jeopardize benefits for the program's 72.5 million beneficiaries," Reich wrote. "Make no mistake: this is an attack on Social Security itself." In addition to closing the Lawton office, DOGE announced it wanted to shutter the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration facility, located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. More: Meteorologists, OU students lose jobs in NWS layoffs as tornado season looms The facility is a major player in weather prediction and the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory, a federal research laboratory under NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Severe Storms Laboratory's research spans weather radar, tornadoes, flash floods, lightning, damaging winds, hail and winter weather. The estimated cost savings from closing the facility is a little more than $484,000. Tuesday afternoon, Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole, R-Moore, released a statement to The Oklahoman in support of the center. Cole's statement came just a day after a tornado hit the Ada area. Cole is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, considered one of the most powerful committees in Congress. As a resident of Moore, I know firsthand how important the National Weather Center in Norman is. The center saves lives by alerting the American people when a tornado, hurricane, or any other severe storm is coming their way," Cole said. "Therefore, my staff and I are in contact with the administration to ensure that they understand how valuable and vital the National Weather Center is especially with storm season right around the corner. I am confident once all the facts are known, the National Weather Center will remain operational and in Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cost savings from closing the Lawton office are estimated at $223,200. All total, the 15 closures have a cost savings estimate of about $2.9 million per year. Oklahoma tribal leaders push back on closure of Bureau of Indian Affairs offices The closure of five Bureau of Indian Affairs offices has also generated pushback from tribal leaders and some members of the Congress. Seminole Nation Chief Lewis Johnson called the closure of the Seminole facility a personal issue. In a message posted on the tribe's Facebook page, Johnson said the Wewoka Agency (the name of the BIA Office in Seminole) supports the local service area of the tribe. "As these actions from Washington D.C. continue to unfold throughout Indian Country, we urge the president and his advisors to take care and to protect the unique federal trust relationship between our sovereign tribal nations and the federal government, which is based on the political status of tribal nations," Johnson wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osage Nation's Principal Chief, Geoffrey Standing Bear, said his tribe in anticipation of further confusion from the federal government "has already been working on alternative plan for office space for the Osage Agency because we knew the Osage Nation property, which we lease to the BIA through the Government Services Administration, is set to expire in November 2025." The tribe, Standing Bear said, "will continue working daily to mitigate damage and alleviate the anxiety federal cuts are causing the Osage Nation, our people and our communities." In a letter to President Donald Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, more than 100 members of Congress wrote that by closing the BIA offices, the Trump administration was undermining "legally-required commitments to sovereign Tribal Nations, existing federal law and the federal-Tribal government-to-government relationship." "Tribal Nations are sovereign governments with a unique legal and political relationship to the United States," the letter states. "The inherent sovereignty of tribes is recognized in the U.S. Constitution, in treaties, and across many federal laws and policies, and it has been consistently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. These trust and treaty obligations in some cases predate both the establishment of all of the agencies in question as well as the United States itself. Pursuant to those legal obligations, the U.S. must adequately fund and staff agencies that provide these essential services including the BIA, BIE and IHS." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No member of Oklahoma's congressional delegation, which includes three Native Americans, signed the letter. See DOGE's list of office closures in Oklahoma The full list of office closures from DOGE and the expected amount of savings for each includes: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Broken Bow, $30,612. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Carnegie, $2,798. Social Security Administration in Lawton, $223,220. Office of Surface Mining and Regulation Enforcement in Tulsa, $745,987. Bureau of Indian Affairs in Pawnee, $156,171. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Seminole, $184,770. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Oklahoma City, $133,605. Indian Health Service, Oklahoma City, $119,951. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Watonga, $38,573. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Oklahoma City. $20,113. U.S. Attorney's Office, Muskogee, $1,272,005. International Trade Administration, Oklahoma City, $22,990 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Norman, $484,325 Bureau of Indian Affairs Office, Pawhuska, $166,134 Department of Housing and Urban Development, Tulsa, $109,426 This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: DOGE wants to close 15 federal offices in Oklahoma, including NOAA, SSA Staffers for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were shut out of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) headquarters in D.C. on Wednesday, amid an escalating fight over leadership of the agency. Five DOGE workers and Peter Marocco, the deputy acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID) who has overseen Trumps attempts to gut the agency, tried to enter the USADFs office in Washington on Wednesday but were unable to access it, the agency confirmed to The Hill. They were there for less than an hour, getting to the headquarters around noon local time and left before 1 p.m, USADF said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill reached out to DOGE for comment. The agencys chair, Ward Brehm, wrote in a letter to a DOGE staffer, obtained by The Hill, that he specifically instructed the staff of USADF to adhere to our rules and procedure of not allowing any meetings of this type without my presence. President Trump is reportedly attempting to install Marocco to lead the USADF. Brehm in his letter suggested that Trump needed to officially appoint Marocco to the independent agencys board before he has power over its operations. I will look forward to working with Mr. Marocco after such time that he is nominated for a seat on the Board and his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Brehm said in the letter. Until these legal requirements are met, Mr. Marocco does not hold any position or office with USADF, and he may not speak or act on the Foundations behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump issued an executive order on Feb. 19 calling for the elimination of the non-statutory components and functions of the USADF, along with Presidio Trust, the Inter-American Foundation and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Trump said in the directive that leaders of the mentioned agencies would be required to submit reports within two weeks to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) confirming compliance with this order and stating whether the governmental entity, or any components or functions thereof, are statutorily required and to what extent. The USADF is an independent agency, created in 1980, to support small enterprises and grassroots groups that serve marginalized populations and communities across Africa. The agency says that between 2019 and 2023, it awarded more than $141 million in grants to more than 1,050 community enterprises in Africa, directly impacting 6.2 million people on the continent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brehm said in the letter that we have fully cooperated to date with the Presidents request that we temporarily cease disbursing any funds, and as requested, we have submitted to OMB our report describing USADFs statutory mission and the resources required for the Foundation to fulfill that mission. Democrats issued a letter on Feb. 24 arguing Trump does not have the authority to effectively shut down the congressionally authorized agency. Any attempt to unilaterally dismantle the USADF through executive action violates the law and exceeds the constitutional limits of executive authority, they wrote. Trumps mid-February executive order is part of the administrations broader push to drastically scale back foreign aid and effectively shut down USAID, folding some programs into the State Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marocco has made little effort to alleviate bipartisan concern, particularly around lifesaving work overseen by U.S. entities around the world. Marocco said in a private meeting with House Foreign Affairs Committee lawmakers on Wednesday that the administration may bring criminal referrals against USAID workers or recipients of the agencys grants over allegations of misuse of foreign aid, The Hill reported. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement on Saturday criticizing Trumps apparent attempts to dismantle USAFD along with the Inter-American Foundation. Presidents Trump attempt to bypass the law and install his unconfirmed loyalist as an Acting Chair of the Boards of both the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) and the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) as a means to terminate their programs and their staff is unlawful and unacceptable, Shaheen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By statute, the Boards of Directors are to be appointed by the President and subject to Senate confirmation, the senator added. If President Trump wishes to nominate new Board members, he can submit nominations to the Senate as the law requires. Updated at 2:25 p.m. EST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A Sumner County high school student helped save a mans life. In February, 18-year-old Katelyn Williams was finishing her lifeguard shift at the YMCA. It was a slow evening at a job she had considered quitting when suddenly, there was a life-defining moment: a man had collapsed inside the mens locker room. Williams, a senior at Liberty Creek High School, sprung into action without hesitation and began administering CPR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sumner County could increase funding for all volunteer fire stations My adrenaline was so high and so many things were going on, but I felt so calm and I just knew that I was doing what I needed to do, Williams told News 2. I knew he didnt have a pulse. I wasnt going to hesitate. The longer you wait, the [more] their lifes in danger, so I immediately got down and started doing compressions. Williams was first taught CPR at school as part of her schools health program. Relying on her training, Katelyn didnt flinch in a situation where many others would have. We really teach to be the calm in the chaos, said Dr. Megan Morley, Williams health teacher. In a moment that she was in to just take a deep breath and do what you know how to do[Im] very proud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams called the whole scene surreal. Adding to the moments surrealism, two YMCA members who happened to be nurses showed up to help as Williams began her heroics. She handled it just as professionally as we would have ourselves, and not even having her medical degree yet. She was very amazing, detailed Paula Carney, a nurse at TriStar Hendersonville. Carney and her co-worker showed up to help Williams perform CPR until an ambulance arrived, but Williams did not immediately tap out. I trusted myself. [I said] Ill let you know when Im fatigued,' Williams said. So I just kept going. I was doing compressions for about 10 minutes. My adrenaline was so high that I didnt realize what was actually going on. In the moment, all I could think about was This is somebodys person.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As it turns out, the man Williams helped save Billy Austin had pneumonia and needed surgery. He had been in the hospital until two days ago. Williams made sure to visit him before he was released. I walked in and I immediately started crying, Williams said. I hugged him and I was just bawling on him, and he was just telling me how proud he was and that I saved his life. And it was just, a weight lifted off my shoulder because now Im seeing him, and hes actually okay. Williams lost her father when she was 10 years old. She said that in spite of the unusual circumstances that brought them together, she views her newfound bond as a chance to have a father-figure in her life once again. There are countless coincidences and weird twists of fate involved in this story. That includes the fact Williams had taken a few weeks off from lifeguarding. The night she saved Billy was her first shift back at work. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Williams will graduate high school this spring and Austin will attend. She said she plans to pursue a nursing career. Austin said he would cover the cost of her tuition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people have that ability to take charge in a moment when it matters most, and shes got it, Austin said. Obviously, thats an attribute in terms of her skill and what shell do in her career. I think her greatest attribute is her love. Shes just full of love. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The backlash over a top Pentagon aide who has touted antisemitic views, white supremacist conspiracy theories and Kremlin-like statements on social media grew wider on Wednesday in a sign of increasing frustration among Republicans about the Trump administrations seemingly unvetted appointees. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilsons posts which include comparing the murders of Israeli babies during the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks to abortion and spreading the far-right great replacement theory have angered lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Its horrible, its just not appropriate, said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), when told of Wilsons remarks. Sometimes people think they're anonymous when they're on social media, that they can comment or post on whatever may be their attitude at the time, and then they later regret it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) first called out Wilsons controversial comments in February after she posted on X to Make Kosovo Serbia Again. The phrase echoed Russias desires for the tiny American ally in the Western Balkans, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after years of brutal crackdowns. But the discovery of Wilsons past posts touting antisemitic and seemingly white supremacist views are sparking more widespread rebukes. Anyone who posts antisemitic conspiracy theories lifted right out of the neo-Nazi playbook should not be in public office, the American Jewish Committee, a pro-Israel and Jewish civil rights group, posted Wednesday on X. Kingsley Wilson, newly appointed @DepPressSecDOD, is clearly unfit for her role. Mother Jones and Jewish Insider first reported on the fuller history of her controversial comments. Neither Wilson nor the Defense Department responded to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I'm not gonna tell them who to hire, but I do know that [President Donald] Trump doesn't believe any of the things she's talking about, and I'll leave it up to them to determine if they think she's the right spokesperson, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). If what you say about these posts are true, then she's completely off-script with President Trump. The controversy over Wilsons social media posts underscore GOP concerns about the Trump administrations seeming lack of vetting of senior Pentagon staff for views outside the Republican mainstream. Weve got enough real, serious challenges from outside without having to worry about Pentagon staff who like to spread antisemitism or Russian propaganda, said a senior Republican congressional aide, granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics. Im amazed at who this administration has been willing to trust with national security responsibilities. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) declined to comment on the allegations because he hadnt seen them. But he acknowledged the need for a careful review of top-level Pentagon spokespeople. Doing appropriate vetting for all those jobs is very important, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Defense Appropriations Chair Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he finds it alarming that high-ranking Pentagon hires who oppose engagement with the Middle East cleared the administrations vetting process. The conservative Washington Times spotlighted a Pentagon official linked to billionaire Charles Koch despite Trump declaring that no one connected to Kochs Americans for Prosperity group could join the administration. The fact she didnt even try to delete the last tweets tells you all you need to know, said a person close to the Trump administration granted anonymity to talk about personnel matters. I dont know whos doing vetting but its bad vetting and shows that Hegseth is not making personnel decisions nor spending time on them. The Pentagon has differed from previous administrations in its use of social media to promote a pro-Trump agenda, eschewing press briefings and traditional media outlets to speak directly to the public on social media. This is atypical of the Defense Department, which usually tries to stay out of partisan politics. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is the first Pentagon chief to maintain his own X account, in which he has criticized journalists by name, attacked the Biden IRS for launching an audit of his finances, mocked former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and slammed Democrats for spreading fake news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His spokesperson, Sean Parnell, has on his own personal account celebrated the release of Jan. 6 defendants, and oversees a new DoD rapid response account that regularly goes after Democratic lawmakers. The administration has hired other officials with controversial views for communications roles. Darren Beattie, known for questioning U.S. foreign policy on Taiwan and making inflammatory remarks including that "competent white men must be in charge" was appointed the State Department's acting undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs last month. But Wilsons comments even though she made them from personal social media accounts over a number of years were a significant step further. Antisemites have no place in the American government, and we shouldnt make an exception for Republicans, said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who is Jewish. This is simple vetting. This isn't deep research. This is Google. And it shows how casual they are about that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports about her extreme social media comments shocked veterans of Republican foreign policy circles. If true, unacceptable, said Mick Mulroy, who served as the Defense Departments top Middle East official during Trumps first administration. If she stays, then in many ways, it says those comments are acceptable. Paul McLeary contributed to this report. The Justice Department (DOJ) announced Wednesday is launching a civil rights investigation into allegations of antisemitism at the University of California. According to a press release, the department, on the basis of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, will probe whether the university engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, religion and national origin against worker by letting an Antisemitic hostile work environment to exist at the systems schools. Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, there has been an outbreak of antisemitic incidents at leading institutions of higher education in America, including at my own alma mater at the UCLA campus of UC, Leo Terrell, a top member of the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism and senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact upon UCs students has been the subject of considerable media attention and multiple federal investigations, Tarrell continued. Attorney General Pam Bondi added that her department will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Antisemitism in our nations universities. In a statement emailed to The Hill on Wednesday, the University of California said they were recently notified of the Department of Justices decision to initiate a civil rights investigation in the University of California system. We want to be clear: the University of California is unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting everyones civil rights. We continue to take specific steps to foster an environment free of harassment and discrimination for everyone in the university community, the statement continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced that it was reviewing contracts and grants related to Columbia University due to antisemitism allegations against the school. The Department of Health and Human Services, General Services Administration and the Department of Education all said in a statement the review was occurring because of Columbias continuing inaction in the face of relentless harassment of Jewish students. The president also threatened to end funding for any universities allowing illegal protests in response to the war in Gaza. In the last year, a swath of pro-Palestinian protests have broken out on college campuses across the country amid Israeli-Palestinian tensions, with both the University of California, Los Angeles and Columbia University having protests that captured the nations attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Three fishermen in New Zealand were enjoying a peaceful outing when a 900-pound dolphin suddenly dropped in on themliterally. The juvenile male dolphin leaped out of the water and into their 16-foot boat, creating a chaotic scene Friday in the Bay of Islands near the Hole in the Rock. This one decided to jump on board and say hello, boat owner Dean Harrison told Associated Press. One minute everything was fine and then, just like lightning striking, theres a big dolphin in our boat thrashing around and breaking everything[including] every single fishing rod we had in the boat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bow of the boat was severely damaged, and one man had minor injuries to his arm where the dolphin grazed his back and shoulder, the AP reported. We looked at the dolphin still alive and breathing and we thought, weve got to start looking after him and figure out what to do, Harrison told AP. Because hes stuck in the boat for now, so hes coming along for the ride. The fishermen first contacted a maritime radio service, Russell Radio, whose operator put them in contact with a ranger for the New Zealand Department of Conservation, according to The New Zealand Herald. They were told to keep the dolphin cool and shaded, so they hosed it down and covered it with towels. They were directed to a dock at Waitangi jetty an hour away. There, DoC officials were waiting to give the dolphin a health check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getting cleared to be returned to the water, the dolphin was winched onto a pontoon and taken back out to sea by DoC. Members of a local Maori tribe prayed for the dolphin and gave it the name of Tohu, meaning sign in the Maori language. Officials check on the health of a dolphin that jumped into a boat. Harrison then named his boat Tohu. The dolphin got to swim away and we got to walk away, and weve all got a story to tell, Harrison told AP. Its a good ending in a situation that could have been very different. Feature photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Dolphin jumps into fishermen's boat Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley (D) defended his citys sanctuary status, saying the national government cannot federalize local police while clarifying his administration will not obstruct immigration enforcement operations. His comments come after four Democratic mayors from sanctuary cities across the U.S. testified on Capitol Hill and defended their cities status in a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing Wednesday. We believe theres a distinction between the federal government and local government with regard to policing, Keeley said Wednesday on The Hill on NewsNation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bostons Michelle Wu, Chicagos Brandon Johnson, Denvers Mike Johnston and New York Citys Eric Adams faced questions from Republicans, including committee chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who has vowed to hold the mayors accountable for their policies. We are a sanctuary city. We dont apologize for that, Keeley said. The Democratic mayor explained that Santa Cruz, which has maintained sanctuary city status since the mid-1980s and unanimously reaffirmed that designation last month, follows its own law enforcement priorities that may differ from federal immigration goals. They establish their priorities in law enforcement. We establish our priorities, he told host Blake Burman. Where those align, thats just fine. Where they dont align, we are going to pursue our high priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keeley said that his stance isnt about obstructing federal authorities but about focusing local resources on community priorities like home invasions, petty crime, criminal activity involving fentanyl. When pressed about potential contradictions in accepting federal help for certain investigations while limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Keeley pointed to a previous MS-13 gang operation where local authorities worked with federal agents because of shared values. We had an MS-13 situation a few years ago. There was a joint federal, state, local task force for getting MS-13 out of here. No problem whatsoever, the mayor said. The mayor also claimed that in the seven years his police chief has served, not one time has ICE called him and said, Were coming to your city. We need your help.' What is a sanctuary city? While theres no set definition of a sanctuary city, the term generally refers to cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom Homan, President Trumps border czar, says a rise in modern transnational criminal gangs has created an unprecedented risk, one hes vowed to eradicate. This is the biggest national security issue this country has seen, and were going to address it, Homan said in reference to Tren de Aragua and MS-13. Supporters of sanctuary cities say they want to be welcoming landing spots for immigrants. Thats just who we are. Were a city, again, that was established by a black Haitian immigrant. That is the punch, the Chicago mayor said. Were responding to individuals who dont share our values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also warn that victims and witnesses of crimes who are in the country illegally may be less likely to come forward if local law enforcement is cooperating with ICE. NewsNations Tom Dempsey, Anna Kutz, Steph Whiteside contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PARIS (Reuters) - French battery maker Automotive Cells Company said on Thursday it welcomed support from the European Union for the auto sector, but also feared that it would come too late. The European Commission unveiled an action plan for the auto industry on Wednesday to help it meet a target for zero carbon emissions from any cars and vans sold in the region by 2035. It included making available 1.8 billion euros ($1.94 billion) to help secure supply chains for battery raw materials. ACC, which is jointly owned by Stellantis, Mercedes and TotalEnergies, said in a post on LinkedIn that it welcomed the support from a "medium-term action plan" to help Europe's industry close the gap with Asian producers. "Nevertheless, we fear that the urgency of the situation we are currently going through is not being considered. To benefit from it, we will have to have managed to survive until then," it added. ACC has sharply slowed its battery production plans due to uncertainty over electric vehicle demand in Europe and the emergence of more affordable battery chemistries. When it launched its first gigafactory in northern France in May 2023 the group was planning nine production blocks by 2030, spread across France, Germany and Italy, backed by 7.3 billion euros in investment. But the German and Italian projects have since been put on hold, and only one block in France producing batteries for Stellantis is operational, with a second to start at the end of the year. ($1 = 0.9255 euros) (Reporting by Gilles Guillaume; Writing by Makini Brice and Dominique Patton, Editing by Dominique Vidalon, Kirsten Donovan) President Donald Trump went on a tear on his Truth Social platform late Wednesday against what he called the Fake Play the Ref News over its coverage of him thanking Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts following his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Trump claimed the media was trying to create a divide between me and our great U.S. Supreme Court with its interpretation that Trump who shook Roberts hand, told him, Thank you again, I wont forget it, and then slapped his back was expressing his gratitude for the courts July 2024 decision, authored by Roberts, that essentially gave presidents immunity from prosecution for official acts. Truth Social The decision caused delays to the criminal cases against Trump over his alleged illegal attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to now-former President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It ultimately allowed Trump to continue running for and win the 2024 election against Democratic rival Kamala Harris and, once safely back in the White House, to avoid a potential prosecution. Donald Trump greets Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts after the president's address to a joint session of Congress. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images Like most people, I dont watch Fake News CNN or MSDNC, but I understand they are going crazy asking what is it that I was thanking Justice Roberts for? Trump wrote. They never called my office to ask, of course, but if they had I would have told these sleazebag journalists that I thanked him for SWEARING ME IN ON INAUGURATION DAY, AND DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB IN SO DOING! The Fake News never quits! he added. Related... President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress was seen by 36.6 million people, according to final figures from Nielsen Media Research. The address aired on Tuesday night from approximately 9:15 to 11:00 p.m. and was seen across 15 networks. Peak viewership occurred between 9:45 to 10:00 p.m. when an average of 37.9 million viewers tuned in. (All times Eastern) Trump's address to Congress performed better than President Joe Biden's final State of the Union address in 2024. That speech drew 32.2 million total viewers, which translates to a +14% bump for Trumps speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Trump drew a bigger audience during the final address of his first administration in 2020. 37.2 million total viewers watched that speech versus the 36.6 million who tuned in on Tuesday, a dip of -1% relative to five years ago. Fox News was the most watched network during Trump's address, with 10.703 million total viewers and 1.933 million viewers in the Adults 25-54 demo. It was the highest-rated joint address to Congress in cable news history, and the network drew Tuesday nights largest television audience. ABC News was the most-watched broadcast network and the second most-watched network in total viewers and the demo, with 6.332 million total viewers and 1.708 A25-54 viewers. This was the network's second consecutive broadcast win for a presidential address to Congress. Over on the cable news side, CNN placed second over MSNBC in both measured categories with 1.929 million total viewers and 585,000 demo viewers versus 1.924 million and 237,000. The margin of victory among total viewers was slim as only 5,000 viewers separated the two networks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News was also the most-watched cable network between 11 and 11:30 p.m. when Sen. Elissa Slotkin from Michigan gave the Democratic response. FNC saw 6.374 million total viewers and 1.070 million demo viewers during that half-hour, while MSNBC finished second in total viewers with 2.208 million total viewers, and CNN was No. 2 in the demo with 362,000 demo viewers. The final viewership data from Nielsen Media Research is below. 9:15 - 11:00 p.m. FNC - 10,703,000 total viewers; 1,933,000 A25-54 ABC - 6,332,000 total viewers, 1,708,000 A25-54 CBS - 4,009,000 total viewers; 1,065,000 A25-54 NBC - 3,909,000 total viewers; 1,085,000 A25-54 FOX - 2,652,000 total viewers; 892,000 A25-54 CNN - 1,929,000 total viewers; 585,000 A25-54 MSNBC - 1,924,000 total viewers; 237,000 A25-54 FBN - 245,000 total viewers; 47,000 A25-54 11 - 11:30 p.m. FNC - 6,374,000 total viewers; 1,070,000 A25-54 MSNBC - 2,208,000 total viewers; 233,000 A25-54 CNN - 1,430,000 total viewers; 362,000 A25-54 (This story was updated to add new information.) GREENACRES Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw met Wednesday night with local Hispanic leaders, trying to reassure them the Sheriff's Office will not participate in mass immigration raids in workplaces, neighborhoods or county schools. Bradshaw said his office, the county's largest law-enforcement agency, was only going after bad guys and that under the new state-mandated 287(g) program his deputies would only assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement in operations to detain people with existing warrants and criminal records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration advocates who attended the meeting said Bradshaw's assurances do little to address the concerns of immigrants across the county who are afraid an interaction, a traffic stop or the reporting of a crime to local law enforcement will end up having them turned over to ICE. "I am not doing immigration sweeps. Havent, wont, Bradshaw said to around 30 residents and business owners who gathered at Sabor Latino on Jog Road. "Send your kids to school, go to the hospitals when you need to go there, go to the grocery store, go wherever you want, Bradshaw added. I want people to be safe. Don't be afraid of us. Immigration crackdown: Many new arrivals fear raids are coming. Here's what they can do Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Sheriff Ric Bradshaw talks with Hispanic community leaders at Sabor Latino Restaurant in Greenacres, Fla., on March 5, 2025. The sheriff's office will not be conducting immigration sweeps, Bradshaw said at the event. He explained that deputies will only be involved in assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers when requested by that federal agency. Immigration crackdown fears disrupt lives of those without permanent status Bradshaw's visit to Greenacres, a city whose population is nearly 50% Hispanic, comes at a time of heightened fears among immigrants in the county and across South Florida amid President Donald Trump's threatened crackdown on those who are undocumented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In interviews The Palm Beach Post did since Trump's return to office, residents, government officials and nonprofit leaders said that fear has frightened many families with members lacking permanent status in the United States out of the daily routines that defined their lives. Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Sheriff Ric Bradshaw talks with Hispanic community leaders at Sabor Latino Restaurant in Greenacres, Fla., on March 5, 2025. The sheriff's office will not be conducting immigration sweeps, Bradshaw said at the event. He explained that deputies will only be involved in assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers when requested by that federal agency. They said they knew of families that have stopped sending their children to school. Others avoid medical appointments. Those who leave their homes to work, shop or visit a loved one do so knowing they might not return. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested more than 20 undocumented immigrants into custody in late January. An update on the number of ICE arrests this year was not immediately available. In addition, the Trump administration has already indicated it will allow temporary protected status to expire this year for Venezuelans and Haitians who were granted momentary safe harbor in America because of political and upheaval and natural disasters in their countries. Those people, including tens of thousands in Florida, will be subject deportation, beginning next month for many, striking added fear across Latino communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'We all are scared': Immigrants avoid school, church, routines amid Trump threat of arrests Despite Bradshaw's promises, some question PBSO's independence from ICE Many of those in attendance Wednesday thanked Bradshaw for his history of involvement with the countys Hispanic community, but his comments did little to ease the concerns of immigration advocates, several of whom attended the meeting. They warn that programs like 287(g) deputize local officers as federal agents and give them power to act as immigration officers. They say this situation can lead to racial profiling and civil rights abuses and erodes trust in local law-enforcement agencies. Renata Bozzetto, deputy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, told Bradshaw that videos posted to social media last week showing ICE agents and PBSO deputies detaining people in Lake Worth Beach had shocked immigrants across the country who are already afraid of going to work or church or taking their children to school. Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Sheriff Ric Bradshaw talks with Hispanic community leaders at Sabor Latino Restaurant in Greenacres, Fla., on March 5, 2025. The sheriff's office will not be conducting immigration sweeps, Bradshaw said at the event. He explained that deputies will only be involved in assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers when requested by that federal agency. There is no way that I can go to my community and say, We are in partnership to build trust. Sheriff Bradshaw is saying that they are not coming after you,' " Bozzetto said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And they should be afraid, not because they are committing crime. They should be afraid because there is an entire apparatus allowing for racial profiling in their everyday life, she added. Bradshaw said ICE contacted his office looking for a person with an existing warrant and his deputies assisted in taking them to jail. Christopher McVoy, a Lake Worth Beach city commissioner, also asked what PBSO was doing to do to maintain the trust of the immigrant communities in Palm Beach County. "When the community doesn't trust PBSO, it's much more difficult for PBSO to do their job," McVoy said. "It's awfully easy to lose trust. It's much harder to gain it back." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bradshaw has said since Trump first called for the crackdown that his department would follow a strategy of "targeted deportation," focusing on undocumented people who have committed felonies, and not "mass deportation." He said during Wednesday's meeting he had made a promise a long time ago to the Hispanic and Caribbean leaders of Palm Beach County that his office would not participate in "immigration sweeps," and that he intends to keep his word. "I could go to Belle Glade tomorrow and take two Greyhound buses out there and fill 'em up with illegals," Bradshaw said. "Why? Who's going to pick the vegetables? Who's going to work in the fields? Those people go to work every day. They get paid, they go home, they don't cause a problem. They go back to work. I'm not interested in that at all." Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sheriff rejects mass immigration raids in talk with Hispanic leaders A Drax employee was sacked after raising concerns about the greenwashing of the wood-burning firms environmental credentials, a tribunal has heard. The renewable energy company has received billions in taxpayer subsidies to support the burning of wood pellets at the UKs biggest power plant, in North Yorkshire. Rowaa Ahmar was employed by the company in 2022, when BBC Panorama released a documentary which alleged the company used wood from healthy forests in Canada instead of waste wood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Ahmar claims she was dismissed after raising concerns with senior figures that Drax covered up its use of unsustainable wood. An employment tribunal in London was told that Drax commissioned a fact-finding investigation, carried out by consultants KPMG, into the sustainability of its wood following the Panorama programme. The tribunal heard that Ms Ahmar was told not to pass on to senior managers the interim findings of a report which her lawyers claim found the company did use unsustainable wood and had misreported data to the regulator Ofgem. However, she later raised concerns with Brett Gladden, the Drax company secretary. She also raised concerns with senior managers on several occasions, the tribunal was told, including claims of an internal cover-up of the use of unsustainable wood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also accused Drax of inaccuracies in its communications with the Government, Ofgem and the public. Ms Ahmar was eventually dismissed on Jan 17 2024 after she was placed on a prolonged special leave on full pay. Total breakdown in working relationships Lawyers for Drax claim that during Ms Ahmars time at the company, there was a total, fundamental and intractable breakdown in working relationships with numerous colleagues. The tribunal was told this pre-dated, and was entirely unrelated to any of the disclosures Ms Ahmar later made. The case is expected to continue for a further 20 days. Last month, Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, signed off hundreds of millions of pounds in further subsidies to Drax, despite controversy over the environmental impact of burning wood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biomass is classed as renewable energy, despite concerns over the short-term emissions from burning wood, and questions over the sourcing of wood pellets. The Government halved the subsidies paid to the company under the new deal announced last month, but it said continued backing for Drax was necessary for energy security. Drax has maintained that it uses wood from sustainable sources, but last year agreed to pay 25 million after Ofgem found it had submitted inaccurate data on the sources of biomass from Canada. The regulator said the breach was technical in nature and there was no evidence it had been deliberate. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. DENVER (KDVR) The growing trend of people offering to wash windshields while drivers are stopped at traffic lights is also a growing safety concern. In some cases, the window washers become so persistent they refuse to take no for an answer. For example, while coming up on the intersection of Colorado and Alameda, one second youre stopping at the red light and the next youre greeted by suds hitting your windshield. I-70 stop uncovers human trafficking case; man convicted, 2 teens rescued Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its something drivers like Vanessa have noticed all too often. Drawing hearts on windows, being aggressive and not taking no for an answer. Its kind of annoying, she said. A viewer sent in a video to FOX31 of him refusing the service, but it didnt stop the window washer from spraying fluids on his windshield. I feel like theres a line crossed, said Vanessa. Denver police say they are aware of a few calls for aggressive window washers in the area. They say they are working to continue to address the issues by contacting the people involved. They also mention that while they do not have an exact number off hand, they have issued a few citations for aggressive panhandling in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denver mayor questioned on release protocols with ICE after alleged assault A spokesperson told FOX31 sometimes the incidents are reported but do not lead to citations for a number of factors. For example, witnesses not staying on scene or filing a complaint, officers not witnessing the aggressive behavior, etc. The departments goal is voluntary compliance in these situations. DPD does frequently patrol the areas and advises against illegal activity in the intersections Its very dangerous for these people to be out in the middle of the street offering services that have not be asked for, said Criminal Defense Attorney Chris Decker. Decker says the best practice is to decline visually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By saying no or wagging your finger or putting your windshield wiper on, said Decker. If they persist on doing that and youre not interested in giving money then be on your way. He says there is no practical resolution for a driver in the situation. In theory the driver could bring some sort of action against the individual but the reality of that and the logistics of that are just not something that would happen, said Decker. Drivers worry if the aggression persists, it could lead to an altercation. I think the risk of violence can increase due to them disrupting the traffic, said Vanessa. Like we have road rage in Denver, its a very concerning problem were facing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driver arrested for allegedly threatening motorist with gun on I-70 Other than the safety aspect, a nearby gas station employee told FOX31 they have to order five new squeegees a week because they are often taken by the window washers. Denver police say if community members are experiencing this, they should report the illegal behavior by calling 911 if it is an emergency, or the non-emergency line at 720-913-2000. It is important to note that complainants may be required to sign a complaint. Its important to note it is not illegal to wash windows. However, people can be cited for aggressive panhandling or impeding traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. princeton Morning commuters and other travelers were rerouted Wednesday morning through a grocery stores parking lot after a dump trucks raised bed became entangled in power lines along Athens Road in Princeton. The accident happened before 8 a.m. near the intersection of Athens Road, Rogers Street and Oakvale Road known locally as the Athens Crossroads. A dump truck which was unloading gravel at a worksite near the intersections Athens Road part was leaving the parking lot when its bed, which was still raised, got caught in overhead power lines, according to Deputy Chief B.R. Woodard with the Princeton Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not sure if he forgot to put his dump down or what it was that got caught in the wire, Woodard said at the scene. Units of the Princeton Police Department and the Princeton Fire Department blocked off Athens Road until the dump trucks bed could be separated from the power lines. Hydraulic fluid spilled onto the road when the trucks bed was lowered, Woodard said. A state hazmat team was contacted. While this work was underway, Athens Road traffic coming from the town of Athens to Princeton and traffic going from Oakvale Road to Athens Road was rerouted through the Grants Supermarket parking lot. Lines of waiting motorists soon formed on Athens Road and in the parking lot as drivers waited to get on or leave Oakvale Road. The entrance to Route 20 was opened shortly around 11:15 a.m. The entrance to Route 20 from Oakvale Road was reopened a few minutes later. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com STORRS Project Oceanology and the University of Connecticut hosted a competition challenging the next generation of marine scientists, and E.O. Smith High School came out on top. Students from E.O. Smith won the Quahog Bowl, a regional ocean science academic competition that is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB). The Quahog Bowl is part of a nationwide competition. The competition tests students knowledge of ocean science disciplines through buzzer-style, multiple-choice and open-ended team challenge questions. It was a respectable tenure, but the worlds oldest known meteorite site is no longer western Australias 2.2 billion-year-old, 43-mile-wide Yarrabubba crater. Researchers at Curtin University and the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) say the new recordholder is located about 660 miles north in the countrys Pilbara region. And based on unequivocal evidence presented in their March 6 study published in Nature Communications, the 3.5 billion-year-old crater may help revise our understanding of some of the planets earliest eras, as well as the history of life on Earth. The Archean Eon (42.5 million years ago) is the second of Earths four major geologic eons, a time when the planet was mostly covered by oceans extending far deeper than those found today. Even so, its geology records can be accessed at excavation sites on modern continents like Australia. But researchers have long remained perplexed by what they foundor, rather, what they havent found. We know large impacts were common in the early solar system from looking at the moon, Tim Johnson, study co-lead and a professor at Curtin Universitys School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said in a statement on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It stands to reason, then, that a lack of truly ancient craters documented on Earth isnt the result of sheer luck, but rather the nature of time. Early impact records are scarce thanks to billions of years of erosion, as well as the subduction of surface crust into the planets convecting mantle. However, Archean Eon geology isnt completely erased, as evidenced by sites like the East Pilbara Terrane in northwest Australia. In 2021, Johnson and colleagues traveled to EPT to see what they could find. What they discovered appears to be the first known Archean Eon crater, and is evidenced by formations known as shatter cones. These telltale geologic areas are only generated from the intense pressure following a meteorite striking Earthand in this case, the shatter cones suggest a massive impact event. Researchers believe the space rock struck the planet around 3.5 billion years ago while travelling over 22,000 mph. The force subsequently generated a 62-mile-wide crater that ejected debris into the atmosphere and around the world. Its not just the impact details that matter. According to study co-lead author Chris Kirkland, analyzing the nature of the first known Archean meteorite event can help researchers gain better insight into both continental evolution and the history of lifes development on Earth. It radically refines our understanding of crust formation, he argued. The tremendous amount of energy from this impact could have played a role in shaping early Earths crust by pushing one part of the Earths crust under another, or by forcing magma to rise from deep within the Earths mantle toward the surface. Theres even a chance the impact event eventually contributed to forming the giant precursors to continents known as cratons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The studys authors believe this meteorite alone may have played an important role in Earths geologic history, but its almost certainly not the only one. Uncovering this impact and finding more from the same time period could explain a lot about how life may have got started, as impact craters created environments friendly to microbial life such as hot water pools, said Kirkland. (Reuters) -Arthur J. Gallagher said on Tuesday it would acquire rival Woodruff Sawyer in a $1.2 billion deal, marking the insurance broker's latest move to expand its business. The deal will bolster Gallagher's management liability, construction, real estate and cyber offerings and also expand its presence in the West Coast region. Dealmaking activity within the insurance broker industry has ramped up in recent years, as companies look to beef up their presence in the middle-market segment. Gallagher had also struck a $13.5 billion deal in December to buy insurance broker AssuredPartners. The Insurer, a Reuters publication, exclusively reported last month Gallagher was close to a deal for Woodruff Sawyer. Woodruff Sawyer had also held talks with insurance brokers WTW and Brown & Brown, the Insurer had reported. San Francisco, California-based Woodruff Sawyer provides property and casualty insurance products, employee benefits offerings and risk management services with a focus on middle and large-market clients. Founded by E.L. Woodruff in 1918, Woodruff Sawyer has grown into one of the largest insurance brokerages in the U.S. and is largely known as a Directors and Officers (D&O) specialist. D&O insurance covers the company and its management, shielding them from claims arising from their decisions and actions. Woodruff Sawyer's more than 600 employees will work under Peter Doyle, head of Gallagher's U.S. retail property and casualty brokerage operations. Woodruff Sawyer's pro forma revenue was about $268 million for the trailing 12 months ended December 31. The company operates 14 offices in the U.S. and one in the UK. The deal is expected to close during the second quarter of 2025. (Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) In Daviess County, Federal Officials are now looking into why some people in the east end of the county are not receiving their water bills. The East Daviess County Water Association says they received over 4 dozen calls from customers having issues. After the East Daviess County Water Association sought out answers, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnells team responded via USPS letterhead. In the letter, the Senator acknowledges a delay that started in November of last year. UE students to grow produce with vertical garden Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says the delay should be remedied soon as they allow people to work overtime if theyve expressed interest, supply additional mail trailers and speed up processing equipment. Officials say the Louisville Processing and Distribution Center has been experiencing understaffing, trying to catch up after snow and flooding across the state and while tackling the influx of mail during the holiday season. He says those issues were also being experienced at the local level. Since the issue was brought to their attention, the United States Postal Service has been dispatching people from all over the region to help with the issue. The East Daviess County Water Association says if you rely on mail for your water bill. They recommend you making payments online or in-person to avoid disruptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pat Osborne, owns a mailing service in Owensboro, and says he noticed delays as early as late summer. Osbourne helps people who call in, track their packages as best he can. He says where delays usually allow people to be refunded for their trouble, the backlog is also affecting the way online sellers operate. After a time frame, whatever that time frame may bethat entity will give that money back to the buyer. Theyve had to kind of change their timeframes simply because of this situation. You know, it used to be if it was missing for 15 days, it was considered lost, says Osborne. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). TRINITY COUNTY, Texas (KETK) Authorities linked an East Texas man to a case of animal abandonment after discovering a box, with his address, containing six abandoned puppies. Courtesy of the Trinity County Sheriffs Office Mugshot of Michael Dare, courtesy of the Trinity County Sheriffs Office Skeletal dog remains found in Houston County, person arrested for animal cruelty The Trinity County Sheriffs Office said the box was located down a long county road where they found the six puppies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials were able to trace back to Michael Dare, as the box still had his address on it. Dare was then arrested on six counts of animal cruelty. Dare decided Trinity County was a good place to drive to and dump his 6 unwanted puppies, not realizing that TCSO does not tolerate this kind of behavior and will thoroughly investigate each case., the sheriffs office said. Authorities said puppies are all safe at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. An economic blackout on Feb. 28 called on consumers not to spend money in stores or online for 24 hours. Mitch Roschelle, chief strategy officer at Madison Ventures+, says the boycott did not impact companies as much as intended. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Stock photo from Getty Images. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is proposing to create a child tax credit and to pay for it with increased sin taxes on tobacco. According to one analysis, the tax credit is expected to produce big gains for the state. Economists overwhelmingly agree on a second benefit that taxes themselves on things like tobacco, gambling, and marijuana can reduce harmful behaviors, according to a survey of economists that was released on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, they said, those taxes would fall most heavily on the group that DeWines tax credit is meant to help the poor. Under DeWines proposal, families with children six and younger would be eligible for the $1,000 per-child tax credit. For couples filing jointly, benefits would begin to phase out at $75,000 a year in household earnings and stop altogether at $94,000. Those amounts would be lower for other filers. DeWine proposes to cover the $450 million annual cost of the tax credit by increasing taxes on tobacco. The cost of the proposal would be swamped by the $740 million in benefits it would produce for the Ohio economy by increasing future earnings, decreasing crime, and other beneficial outcomes, according to a paper by Scioto Analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This week, the firm asked a panel of 17 Ohio economists whether increasing taxes on cannabis, gambling, and tobacco will reduce negative externalities stemming from their respective markets. In economics, a negative externality is a cost from a transaction that is inflicted on parties not involved in it. Think toxins released from a fracking pad into groundwater used by farms and people in the surrounding area. In the case of pot, cigarettes, and gambling, externalities might include things like earlier death, increased health costs, bankruptcies, and lost productivity. In the survey published Tuesday, 15 economists said such problems would be reduced by increased sin taxes, one disagreed, and one was uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the comment section of the survey, most of the economists agreements came with caveats. Increasing the tax will reduce the behavior (and thereby reduce the negative externalities), wrote Kathryn Wilson of Kent State University. How much of an effect the tax has depends on how price sensitive consumers are when it comes to cannabis, gambling, and tobacco. It is important to keep in mind, though, that economic theory also says that a tax can be too high (if it is higher than the marginal negative externality) and result in less well-being in society. Jonathan Andreas of Bluffton University cited a negative outcome too-high taxes could produce. My only caveat is that excessively high taxes can shift the industry towards illegal organized crime who are able to escape the tax and that can cause worse externalities than a legal, regulated industry, but many states already have effective cigarette tax rates exceeding 100%, so 40% should be doable unless our criminal justice system is much less effective than in other states, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Charles Kroncke of Mount St. Joseph University disagreed that increasing sin taxes would reduce negative consequences for everybody else. Working at an institution located just north of the Ohio River, he might have been aware that Cincinnatians have for generations been crossing the bridge into Kentucky for cheaper booze and smokes. Negative externality will not be reduced if neighboring states have significantly lower excise taxes, Kroncke wrote. Ohio consumers will buy from out of state. The panel was more split when asked whether it agreed that increasing taxes on cannabis, gambling, and tobacco will disproportionately harm low-income households. Nine agreed, four disagreed and two were uncertain. While their answers were divided, in their written comments the economists expressed more nuance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If by harm we mean put stress on household budgets, then yes, as we know smoking is more common in lower-income households, wrote Christian Imboden of Bowling Green State University, who agreed that increasing sin taxes would harm poor families. But in response to higher taxes, users may reduce uptake of these products or not become addicted in the first place, so the dynamics are complicated. Michael Jones of the University of Cincinnati disagreed that sin taxes would disproportionately harm the poor. But his written comment was similar to that of Imboden. Increasing taxes on cannabis and tobacco will reduce the overall usage of these products among low-income households, Jones wrote. Individuals who eliminate tobacco use see significantly better health outcomes and quality of life. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX There may be a storm brewing in Tallahassee and for once, Floridians could emerge the better and stronger for it, if they win a round of political gamesmanship over property insurance. It all depends on the sincerity of House Speaker Daniel Perez, who dropped a terse bombshell into his brief speech during Tuesdays opening-day ceremonies for the 2025 legislative session. Property insurance matters to the people of the state of Florida, the Miami Republican said. A couple of years ago the insurance industry came to the Legislature and said without sweeping reforms, companies could not compete in Florida. We have since learned of reports in existence at that time but not disclosed to the Legislature that may suggest some insurance companies were using accounting tricks to hide substantial profits while telling us they were in a crisis. I have asked the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee to conduct hearings, and they will have access to the full range of tools including issuing subpoenas, putting witnesses under oath, and hiring outside experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sense of reined-in outrage was palpable. And the nearly unprecedented call for a formal House investigation which Senate President Ben Albritton tacitly endorsed is utterly justified. If anything, Perez could have been even more dramatic as he described the duplicity and misdirection that had Florida handing off massive taxpayer-funded concessions to insurance carriers while making it easier for them to wriggle out of paying valid claims. Meanwhile, the state was allowing rate hikes that doubled or tripled insurance bills for families and businesses. Rebuking secrecy The reports Perez referred to? That may be the greatest betrayal of all. The data was compiled at public expense by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation which stalled and denied the Miami Herald and the Tampa Bay Times for two years rather than divulge information that clearly fell under state public-records laws. And these investigations seem to have been substantially complete while state lawmakers were dumping taxpayer money by the billion-gallon bucketload into funds meant to stabilize companies that were screaming poverty in the wake of the 2018 and 2019 storm seasons. That cry of poverty, as it turned out, was a lie. Companies pretended to be underfunded, but were actually shoving money into dividends and out-of-state affiliates. Were outraged too. Everyone should be. Perezs speech Tuesday, coming minutes after a gentler address by Senate President Ben Albritton, gave Floridians hope that after more than a decade of prioritizing politicized gimmicks, targeting marginalized groups and bowing to the whims of Gov. Ron DeSantis, lawmakers are tired of paying lip service to the states biggest problems. While Albritton wasnt as passionate, he also seemed more resistant to DeSantis priorities. DeSantis limp second act The forthrightness of both men spotlighted the governors hypocrisy when he took over the podium for his own annual state-of-the-state address. DeSantis spent more time (and got bigger applause) for a story about a dog who nearly drowned in storm-prompted flooding than he did for his brief comments about insurance, most of which constituted back-patting about the inadequate measures the Legislature had already passed at his behest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were other signs the governor needed to worry about his agenda. Perez, in particular, seemed cool to the notion of more one-time sales tax breaks on things like firearms, pollutant-loaded boat fuel and expensive concert tickets. And few of the priorities mentioned by Albritton aligned with the governors wish list. Most tellingly, Perez hinted during a late-afternoon press conference that he might be of a different mind on DeSantis push to roll back gun-safety laws enacted in the aftermath of the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Its worth noting, however, that good-government Floridians cheered similarly independent language from the House and Senate after DeSantis demanded the passage of hateful anti-immigrant legislation in a special session last month. That optimism deflated after the House and Senate passed their own version of the bill that was nearly as bad, then struck a deal a week later that pushed a very similar bill into law and onto DeSantis desk. In that case, legislative leaders werent fighting over draconian legislation that hit hardest at students who were brought to this country as children. They were fighting over who got to take credit for that cruel attack. And we might be reaching a bit too far if we read Perezs exhortation to shake the tree of government and pull out the weeds of government waste and abuse as a rebuke. Theres no reason to believe the speaker was referring to the insane (and probably illicit) stunts the governor has pulled, like using public money to hire election police to harass Florida voters, or paying to fly legal asylum-seekers from Texas to the swanky Massachusetts resort town of Marthas Vineyard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But maybe he was. And maybe he and Albritton were serious when they promised a legislative process that will give all lawmakers a voice. If nothing else, Perez and Albritton have given us this: We can dream of Florida who, for once, put Floridians first. Even if we still wonder how long into the nine-week session those dreams survive. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Executive Editor Roger Simmons and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com Chicago does not have a city charter, mores the pity. If it did, wed favor some aspirational freedoms for its citizens. Freedom from being the victim of violent crime would be one. For another, how about the freedom to walk your dog on the streets of Chicago without worrying that your beloved pooch might get electrocuted? We jest not. In mid-February, two dogs were shocked while walking over an electrified manhole cover in the 600 block of North Dearborn Street in the citys River North neighborhood. One dog died. There was a similar February incident on the citys West Side, near the Claremont dog park in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood, after a dog came in contact with a city light pole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case of the Dearborn Street incidents, which first were met with much waffling and buck-passing and owner blame, the cause was eventually revealed to be a pinched electrical wire, per Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd. A city crew was dispatched to fix the problem. But too late for at least one dog. It got worse. Block Club reported earlier this week that multiple dogs belonging to residents of the downtown apartment building Wolf Point East were being shocked by a metallic strip in front of the building and still were not satisfied that corrective steps had been taken. Residents were saying more than a dozen dogs had been shocked. Its true that weather conditions can contribute to these issues and that cautious owners always are best advised to keep dogs away from any and all potential contact with live electrical current in the great outdoors. But lets be clear. A dog should be free to walk over a Chicago manhole cover or out its own front door without current shooting through its pores, traumatizing the dogs owner, let alone the dog itself. And, in a city filled with dog lovers, this whole troubling business is worthy of some serious citywide examination and mitigation by Commonwealth Edison, the city of Chicago and private building owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Owners deserve to have confidence in their pets safety. The city was right to encourage residents to report any locations with stray voltage through its 311 hotline, but then the city also has a responsibility to prevent stray voltage (an Orwellian bit of language, implying that voltage just likes to take a walk) from occurring in the first place. Dogs are Chicagoans too. Imagine if they had lobbyists. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Shoppers hoping to grab a six-pack or a bottle of wine in the local grocery may have to wait another year, after a bill to expand sales to those stores was withdrawn in the Senate. A House bill remains but faces tough sledding with time running out. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) An effort to allow beer and wine sales in grocery stores suffered a setback in the Senate this week that may spell an end to efforts to pass the measure for the 2025 session. The Senate Finance Committee was poised Tuesday to kill Senate Bill 824 when its sponsor, Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City), asked at the last minute that the bill be withdrawn, said Senate Finance Chair Pamela Beidle (D-Anne Arundel). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no support in my committee for it, Beidle said of the bill, one of two proposed this session that would open beer and wine sales to retailers other than traditional liquor stores. The decision to pull the bill means Maryland will likely remain one of four states where grocers are prohibited from selling beer and wine. McCrays bill a scant two pages is a pared-down version of a House proposal. McCrays bill would simply have removed the prohibition on issuing a Class A beer, wine and liquor license to a grocery store, chain store or warehouse retailer. McCray said that while his withdrawal of his bill may seem like a setback, the conversation is far from over. Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City) said he expects efforts to allow beer and wine sales in grocery stores will be a focal point in upcoming sessions. (File photo by Danielle E. Gaines/Maryland Matters.) Notably, the Harris Teeter at McHenry Row in South Baltimore operates an attached beer and wine store, reflecting consumer demand for such conveniences, he said Wednesday. Before more grocers pursue individual solutions, its imperative for the legislature to proactively establish a clear, equitable framework that balances consumer convenience with the interests of small businesses and local communities. This issue is pressing, and I anticipate it will be a focal point in upcoming legislative sessions. Jack Milani, owner of Monaghans Pub in western Baltimore County and legislative co-chair of the Maryland Licensed Beverage Association, said he was pleased to see McCrays bill pulled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We appreciate the members of the General Assembly for hearing the concerns of small businesses from across the state of Maryland about this legislation, Milani said. Gov. Wes Moore (D) in December backed the change and said he expected the legislature to put a bill on my desk at the end of the session, citing what he described as the overwhelming popularity of allowing beer and wine primarily in grocery stores. A Moore spokesperson was not immediately available for comment on the Senate bills withdrawal. The rare backing by a governor gave hope to supporters, including the Maryland Retailers Association. The trade group has long sought to wedge itself into a three-tiered system of alcohol wholesalers, distributors and retailers that dates back to the end of Prohibition in Maryland. Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Association. (File photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.) Were confident that its only a matter of time before this commonsense policy becomes law like it has in 46 other states, said Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Association. Were continuing to have conversations with lawmakers about how to move it forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents express concerns about wider access to alcohol and the social ills they said would follow if the bill passed. Others, including the powerful licensed beverage industry, said the effort would drive mom-and-pop stores out of business. A more complicated House bill remains alive if only technically in the House Economic Matters Committee. Efforts to move the House bill are running out of time. A key date to move bills to the opposite chamber is less than two weeks away. Failing a committee vote to move it to full House or dispatch it for the session, the bill edges closer to ending the session free falling into the abyss of a committee drawer. House Bill 1379 faces an uphill battle to make it out of committee. Even if it could, passage in the Senate is seen as unlikely given the fate of the McCray bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, sponsored by Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Baltimore City) also would expand beer and wine sales to grocers and other retailers. The five-page bill included restrictions on where new retailers could be located and set other restrictions. Amprey also proposed an additional tax on sales at those new retailers that would fund incentives to coax grocers into underserved communities. In many cases, those communities already have wider availability of alcohol. Amprey did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. House Economic Matters Chair C.T. Wilson, who opposes the bill, said his committee has not scheduled a vote on the bill. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) One person was seriously injured following an officer-involved shooting on Wednesday, March 5, in El Pasos Lower Valley, the U.S. Marshals said U.S. Marshals said a fugitive exchanged gunfire with Lone Star Fugitive Task Force members and was injured before being arrested. The call came in at 2:13 p.m. at 9541 Alameda Ave., El Paso Fire said. El Paso Fire confirmed a person was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries (Code 3). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, no law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident, and there is no threat to the public, U.S. Marshals said. This is a developing story and we will update once we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Police Department (EPPD) is asking for the publics help in locating a 67-year-old missing man. Kenneth Eugene Grimes, 67, was last seen at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, when he left on foot from his group home residence located at 2725 Fillmore Ave., EPPD said. EPPD said Grimes was last seen wearing a green/yellow/brown plaid shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes. He is described as a White man, 5-foot-11 tall, with a thin build, and has grey hair, EPPD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, EPPD said Grimes has a speech disorder, making him difficult to understand. He is also reported to be diagnosed with dementia and schizophrenia. Anyone who has seen Grimes is asked to call EPPDs non-emergency number at (915) 832-4400. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. By Ashley Tang and Rajendra Jadhav KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Global natural rubber production is expected to fall short of consumption for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, as higher prices fail to encourage tapping in major producing countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam, a senior industry official said. "Demand has been consistently growing in countries such as China, India and Thailand, but production is lagging because of lower prices, which rose only last year," Lekshmi Nair, senior economist of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) told Reuters on Wednesday. This production shortfall is likely to sustain firm global prices, which reached a 13-year high in late 2024, and consequently increase production costs for tyre companies. According to ANRPC, global production is expected to rise by 0.3% to 14.9 million metric tons in 2025, while demand is projected to grow at a much faster rate by 1.8% to 15.6 million tons. After lagging behind other plantation crops like oil palm, coffee, and cocoa for more than a decade, rubber prices surged in the last quarter of 2024 due to erratic weather that curtailed production in Asian countries. The current rubber shortage is due to tepid prices over the last seven to eight years, which resulted in lower replanting, significant slowdown in new planting, and incentivised rubber farmers to switch to more profitable crops, Nair said. Indonesia, the world's leading palm oil producer and second-largest rubber producer, is experiencing a decline in rubber production, largely as a result of farmers converting to the more profitable oil palm cultivation, she said. Indonesia's production in 2025 is expected to decrease by 9.8% from the previous year, totalling 2.04 million tons, while Vietnam, the third-largest producer, may see a 1.3% decline to 1.28 million tons, according to ANRPC estimates. In contrast, Thailand, the world's largest producer, is forecast to experience a 1.2% increase in production in 2025, following a 0.4% decline in 2024. Rubber production has recently been rising only in West African countries such as Ivory Coast, but that growth is insufficient to fulfil rising global demand and offset output losses in Southeast Asia, she said. Demand from China and India, the world's largest consumers of natural rubber, is expected this year to rise 2.5% and 3.4%, respectively, according to ANRPC estimates. (Reporting by Ashley Tang and Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) Right around the time that Donald Trump was arriving at the U.S. Capitol to address a joint session of Congressthe longest such speech, it would turn out, in the history of the presidencyElissa Slotkin, the newly elected Michigan senator tasked with delivering the Democratic Partys rebuttal, was telling me all the things she wouldnt be talking about. Youve gotta say this! Youve gotta say that! Slotkin said, mimicking the outside voices that began bombarding her office moments after her selection was announced last week. Im not gonna make my speech a Christmas tree of every single issue of the Democratic Party, the senator added, shaking her head, because thats what helped get us in this position in the first place. I have known Slotkin since 2018, when she first ran for Congress as an ex-CIA officer attempting to flip a safe Republican seat in southeast Michigan. Having covered her rise in the years sinceincluding embedding with her operation during the 2020 campaignI knew that she possessed fundamental, long-festering concerns about the Democratic Partys brand. Slotkin feared that, to the extent that Democrats stood for anything in the eyes of the electorate, it was a blur of abstract, ideologically charged activism that was hopelessly detached from kitchen-table concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last November, even as she won her own race for Michigans open Senate seat, Slotkins worst-case scenario came to pass. Trump reclaimed the White Housethis time with wholly subservient Republican majorities in Congressand Democrats were heading deep into a cold, dark political wilderness. A fight over the future of the party was imminent; when Slotkin, barely six weeks on the job, was chosen to deliver the Democratic response to Trumps prime-time address, it seemed likely that the first shots would soon be fired. This is how I came to be chatting with Slotkin yesterday, in the hours before the biggest moment of her political career. A week earlier, when she was summoned to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumers office, Slotkin wondered whether she was in trouble. She is one of several freshmen in the Democratic caucus who came over from the House, where intra-party politics are a comparative blood sport, and she thought maybe shed already ruffled some feathers. If she had, Schumer approved: He wanted Slotkin to speak for the party in prime time. She recalls feeling stunned, then honored, and finally somewhat mortified. Its typically thought of, she told me, as a cursed speech. Slotkin asked for the day to think it over before ultimately accepting Schumers offer. Escaping quickly thereafter to her familys farm in Holly, Michigan, the senator holed up with a few trusted staffers to begin preparations. Two decisions needed to be made: substance and setting. Slotkin had no shortage of metaphor-rich locations from which she could stage the event: her farm, representing everyman roots; nearby Detroit, with its diversity and manufacturing iconography; the Canadian border, to underscore the chaos being unleashed by Trumps new tariffs. But the senator never truly entertained any of those possibilities. To her, the questions of substance and setting were one and the same. Slotkin wanted to showcase a message that was built to do one thingwin tough electionsand that meant going to a place where shed done just that. Driving the main drag of Wyandotte, Michigan (population: 24,057), yesterday afternoon, I couldnt help but notice the bait shops and dive bars and white dudes with tattoos on their neck. This place would appear, to the typical Democratic consultant parachuting into its downtown, like a lost cause. One of several manufacturing villages clustered along the Detroit River just south of the city, Wyandotte is the kind of placeworking class, culturally conservative, racially homogenousthat has turned new shades of red in the Trump era. And yet, this past November, both Trump and Slotkin won here: Each of the candidates carried seven of the citys 10 precincts, a rare example of ticket splitting in one of the nations premier battleground states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slotkins formula has never been a secret. Her campaign for Senate last yearessentially a scaled-up version of her three heavily contested and tactically celebrated campaigns for the Housewas built around one organizing theme: the middle class. Everything she talks about, be it health-care costs or the January 6 insurrection, comes back to the economic security of everyday Americans. Slotkin argues that the surest way to heal the countryto defuse identitarian struggles, pacify the culture wars, uncoil our hypertense politicsis by restoring the confidence of working families. When people feel assured of their financial welfare and of their childrens future, she insists, they become far less receptive to the type of strongman demagoguery that thrives on scapegoats and feasts on anxiety. [Anne Applebaum: The Democrats patriotic vanguard] This approach sets Slotkin apart from many of her fellow Democrats, though the difference is better measured by degree than kind. She is quite familiaras a woman, as a Jew, as the daughter of a woman who came out late in life as a lesbianwith the plight of certain constituencies within her partys coalition. Its simply a matter of emphasis: Slotkin sees electoral success as the path to addressing Americas injustices, not the other way around. This is what brought her to a sleepy event space in Wyandotte (the owners, fearing political retaliation, requested that I not reveal the name of the business). Its also what brought Slotkin to reject all of the suggestions she received about her speech: that she should use it to take up the cause of USAID workers, of undocumented immigrants, of the transgender community, of the environment, of the Education Department, and so on. The problem isnt with any of these particular causes, she said; the problem is that everyone seemed focused more on the people she might name in her remarks and less on the people who would be at home listening to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a lot of people, including in this town, who will never scream on the internet, who will never go to a rally, who will never get involved in partisan politics, but just want their government to run, Slotkin said. Im speaking to themnot to just the hardcore base of the party. And if they wanted someone to speak to the hardcore base of the party, they picked the wrong gal. There would be no performative shout-outs, no box-checking patronage. As the envoy for a party that has long operated as a syndicate of identity-based advocacy groups, Slotkin wanted to try something different. Charged with countering 100 minutes of Trumps trademark fanfaronade, the senator aimed to use the fewest words possible to speak to the largest number of Americans she could. Slotkin would talk, for just 10 minutes, about bringing prices down, holding American values up, and remaining civically engaged. [David A. Graham: The Democrats disjointed rebellion] None of this would seem a revolutionary approach to rhetoric. Still, it was fraught with risk all the same: Democrats have been on their heels since the election, Slotkin told me, and the party faithful have been agitating since January 20 for someone, anyone, to stand up to Trump. The announcement of Slotkin had already been met with grumbling from progressives online; anything short of oratorical firebolts would confirm the complacent, feckless approach of the D.C. governing class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slotkin viewed the stakes somewhat differently: This speech could, at least symbolically, commence a new chapter of Democratic Party opposition to a president whose success is inextricable from the tone-deaf ineptitude of Democratic Party opposition. If her teams resistance to Trumps first term was marked by hysteria and hashtagsall the land acknowledgments and pronoun policing and intersectionality initiativesSlotkin saw last night the opportunity to set a different tone. Naturally, not everyone was thrilled with what they heard. Slotkins address suffered from the same half-heartedness that has seized the Democrats since last November, my colleague Tom Nichols wrote in The Atlantic, capturing some of the criticism online. Her response, and the behavior of the Democrats in general, showed that they still fear being a full-throated opposition party, because they believe that they will alienate voters who will somehow be offended at them for taking a stand against Trumps schemes. [Tom Nichols: Democrats are acting too normal] I suspect that Slotkin might cringe at being lumped in with Democrats in general. In truth, Ive noticed a certain unease she feels with her partisan identity. She struggles to mask her contempt for far-left organizations; she has little patience for colleagues who, she once told me, run Very Online campaigns in safely blue districts that blind them to the reality of what it takes to earn a ticket split from Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watching yesterday evening as she rehearsed in front of staffers, I noticed that only once did she identify herself as a Democratin the final line of the speech. As we spoke a few minutes later, in a cramped corridor just beyond the set, I asked whether that was intentional. I think, at least in this part of the world, theres real skepticism about Democrats. That theyre weak she paused, perhaps noticing her usage of the third-person plural. Slotkin continued: That were too careful That were She trailed off. Weird? I asked. Weird, Slotkin confirmed. She rolled her eyes. Whatever. Im just trying to be the opposite of that. You know, my campaign motto was Team Normal. And I think thats still what Im trying to do. And I think that that represents a bigger part of the country than people actually know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents speech would not begin for nearly an hour, but already I could detect a certain angst in Slotkins voice. It had nothing to do with her own speech; she had run through it half a dozen times that day, pausing and tinkering and restarting until she knew that it was fully cooked. Instead, like a family member preemptively contrite for what their relatives might say or do at the Thanksgiving table, Slotkin betrayed an apprehension about how her fellow Democrats might respond to Trump. As it turned out, she was right to worry. Between all the awkward and impotent demonstrationsRepresentative Al Green of Texas angrily waving his cane at the president; some pink-clad lawmakers protesting silently with popsicle-stick signs, others staging a disordered walkout during the speechverdicts were rendered about the partys pitiable state before its messenger could even say her piece. Not that Slotkin paid that verdict much mind. After her speech, the senator and her team were headed down the street to a Teamster bar, and Slotkin told me the highest praise they hoped to hear from the owner and his patrons was: That sounded pretty normal. Perceptions of her party were never going to shift in one night. Slotkin came into yesterday accepting, if not explicitly addressing, the realities of the brutal two-front war in which she is now a high-profile combatant: opposing Trumps executive and legislative blitzkrieg while simultaneously battling with other Democrats who have their own visions for returning the party to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slotkin insists that she isnt one of the 100 people preparing to seek the Democratic Partys nomination for president in 2028. She was chosen to speak last night for a more compelling reason: She wins, time after time, in places where other members of her party simply cannot. If they want to model her success at the ballot box, Slotkin told me, they should stop ignoring half the country. It doesnt win elections to just speak to the base of the party, Slotkin said. If it did, Kamala Harris would be president. Article originally published at The Atlantic (NewsNation) Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped at the age of 14 and held for nine months in 2002, calls the discovery of reported kidnap victim Abdul Aziz Khan a miracle and says it serves as a powerful reminder that we cannot give up on any missing person. Khan was reportedly kidnapped from Atlanta in 2017 by his noncustodial mother. We dont know what he went through, and as a survivor myself, Im grateful that I was kidnapped by a stranger, Smart said during an exclusive appearance on Banfield. Im grateful I was raped and abused by a stranger because I cant imagine how deep that betrayal would feel if it was by a family member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smart also stressed that We cant judge what hes been through or brush it off as not being that bad just because it was his (alleged) mother who kidnapped him Bryan Kohbergers lawyers could cite autism to strike death penalty Khan was safely located last month along with another younger child, and two people have been arrested on kidnapping charges. In late February, deputies with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office were called to a home in Highlands Ranch, about 20 miles south of Denver, to investigate a reported burglary in progress. When deputies arrived at the home, they found two children in a vehicle parked in the driveway. The two suspects, a man and woman, exited the house and told deputies they were associated with the Realtor. However, the sheriffs office said their story began to unravel as they worked for four hours to identify the couple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was identified as 40-year-old Rabia Khalid, who had an active warrant for kidnapping. The man was identified as 42-year-old Elliot Blake Bourgeois. Child went missing out of Georgia in 2017 Khalid had previously been accused of abducting Khan from Atlanta in November 2017. Khans family is from Louisiana, authorities said, but had moved from New Orleans to Atlanta when Khalid got a new job. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, over time, Khalid reportedly made it difficult for Khans father to see the boy, and the parents entered a bitter custody battle. Ahead of a custody hearing in November 2017, NCMEC said it was clear Khalid was about to lose custody of Khan. Thats when she allegedly kidnapped the boy. In 2020, a warrant was issued for Khalids arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsNation Denver affiliate KDVR contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. GOP senators got a hold of Elon Musk's cell phone number this week. They don't want to talk about it. Having a direct line to Musk is a hot commodity in the age of DOGE. Republican senators just got their hands on Elon Musk's cell phone number, giving them a direct line to the man who's been reshaping the federal bureaucracy at President Donald Trump's behest. Many of them don't want to talk about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm not gonna answer that question, okay? What's your next one?" Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said. "I don't think it's anyone's business." Business Insider approached half a dozen Republican senators at the Capitol on Thursday to ask them if they've had any text conversations with Musk, or whether they anticipate doing so in the future. Only one Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina confirmed CNN's reporting that Musk gave out his number during a lunch with most Senate Republicans on Wednesday. "I haven't texted with him. I don't have a need to do that," Tillis told BI, adding that if DOGE is "going into any areas where we're looking at potential job impacts or other impacts, I know I can give him a call." Having the power to call up Musk is a precious commodity in the age of DOGE, with the promise of influencing the man who's been working with a team of lieutenants to shutter whole agencies, access sensitive systems, and choke off streams of federal funding all without the formal input of Congress. At times, his power has seemed to exceed that of Cabinet secretaries and rival that of Trump himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps that's why some GOP senators don't want to even acknowledge whether they were offered his number. "I'm not getting into all that. If you have a policy question, I'm happy to answer that," Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky told BI. "That's all I got for you. Sorry." "I'm not gonna confirm or deny that," Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri told BI. "I've met with him twice in the last two weeks. He's been very accessible." There's also an awareness of the power that Musk not just the de facto head of DOGE, but the owner of what may be the world's most important communication platform, X holds relative to them. And some of them don't hide their own sense of awe at the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ted Cruz did not confirm or deny that Musk gave out his number on Wednesday. But the Texas Republican said he's had Musk's number for years and that he's a "good friend." When asked what the billionaire businessman is like over text, Cruz launched into a two-and-a-half minute-long disquisition about Musk's brilliance and business acumen. "If you assume that intelligence is distributed on a bell curve there are roughly 8 billion people on Planet Earth, somebody has to be at the bleeding edge of the bell curve, and his name is Elon," Cruz said. "I have been blessed to know many really smart people. I've never met anyone remotely like Elon Musk." Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin who said his own hypothetical text communication with Musk would "remain private" said that he and his colleagues were being coy about having Musk's number because they're "sensitive about people having access" and the potential for "abuse." Then he also offered some unsolicited praise for Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think he's a remarkable individual. He's probably one of the more brilliant, accomplished, effective human beings ever to walk the face of the Earth," Johnson said, adding that he's "very appreciative of the fact that he's willing to devote his very expensive time" to DOGE. Wednesday's lunch with GOP senators was just one of several meetings that Musk has had with congressional Republicans in the last two weeks. Later that day, he met with a larger group of House Republicans, plus a smaller meeting with the Republicans on the DOGE subcommittee. That's on top of a meeting last Thursday with the Senate DOGE Caucus and a meeting on Tuesday night with House Speaker Mike Johnson. It comes as some Republicans grow anxious about the lack of congressional input over DOGE's spending decisions, with some urging the White House to send federal spending cuts to Congress in the form of a "recission" bill, as required under the Impoundment Control Act. Sen. Johnson told BI he wanted to see votes on recissions "every few weeks." For now, it appears that Musk is only giving out his cellphone number to senators. Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, the chairman of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, told BI that Musk didn't read out his number during his meeting with House Republicans on Wednesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I probably would have been writing it down if he did," Harris said, even as he insisted that he didn't feel slighted. "He's readily available, he's a day-to-day person who's dedicated to bringing the Trump agenda to fruition. So I'm perfectly happy with that. I don't need a phone number." Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, a Republican DOGE subcommittee member, told BI that he's "not going to comment" on whether he had Musk's number. But he also said he wouldn't be texting him. "I'm not going to be one of those that bothers him," Burchett said. Read the original article on Business Insider (NewsNation) During Donald Trumps joint address to Congress on Tuesday evening, the president again contradicted his administrations claims of who is running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In his speech, Trump again said the department is headed by billionaire Elon Musk. Does Elon Musk run DOGE? The White House has offered contradictory statements on who is running the agency tasked with eliminating so-called wasteful spending in the U.S. federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The acting administrator of DOGE is a low-profile executive who has expertise in health care technology and worked in the first Trump administration. The White House in late February identified Amy Gleason as the acting leader of DOGE, which has been pushing agencies to fire employees, cancel contracts and make other budget cuts. Gas prices expected to rise as tariffs take effect Potential conflicts of interest? Although DOGEs cuts have been championed by Musk and his associates, the White House has insisted Musk is overseeing the effort as a senior adviser to the president, not a DOGE employee. Musk, the worlds richest person, does not draw a government salary and operates as a special government employee, the White House has said. It has been vague on Musks exact role in DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are introducing a pair of resolutions demanding the Trump administration turn over documents and information about Musks potential conflicts of interest and the firings of federal workers, according to The Associated Press. Tariff trade war could raise medical costs but not quite yet The resolution from Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia would launch an investigation into Musk himself over potential conflicts of interest. Musks companies receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year in contracts. SpaceX has secured nearly $20 billion in federal funds since 2008 to ferry astronauts and satellites into space. Tesla had already received $41.9 million from the U.S. government, including payment for vehicles provided to some U.S. embassies. Salaries at DOGE While Musk works to gut federal agencies, DOGE staffers are reportedly making six-figure salaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Business and technology magazine Wired reported that Jeremy Lewin, who was instrumental in dismantling USAID, makes over $167,000 per year. Kyle Schutt, a software engineer working within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, takes home $195,200, according to Wired, which did not disclose its source for these figures. Wired reported that several other DOGE staffers also receive six-figure government-funded salaries, while others appeared to be unpaid volunteers. A recruitment page for potential DOGE employees also indicates that workers are compensated, despite Musks earlier claim that the pay for DOGE staffers is zero. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. (NewsNation) During President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress, the president again contradicted his administrations claims of who is running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In his speech, Trump again said the department is headed by billionaire Elon Musk. Does Elon Musk run DOGE? The White House has offered contradictory statements on who is running the agency tasked with eliminating so-called wasteful spending in the U.S. federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump changes course, delays tariffs on most imports from Mexico until April The acting administrator of DOGE is a low-profile executive who has expertise in health care technology and worked in the first Trump administration. The White House in late February identified Amy Gleason as the acting leader of DOGE, which has been pushing agencies to fire employees, cancel contracts and make other budget cuts. Elon Musks potential conflicts of interest Although DOGEs cuts have been championed by Musk and his associates, the White House has insisted Musk is overseeing the effort as a senior adviser to the president, not a DOGE employee. Musk, the worlds richest person, does not draw a government salary and operates as a special government employee, the White House has said. It has been vague on Musks exact role in DOGE. OXON HILL, MARYLAND FEBRUARY 20: CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk leaves the stage holding a chainsaw after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on February 20, 2025 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The annual four-day gathering brings together conservative U.S. lawmakers, international leaders, media personalities and businessmen to discuss and champion conservative ideas. Argentinian President Javier Milei gifted Musk a chainsaw that he used as a prop while campaigning. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are introducing a pair of resolutions demanding the Trump administration turn over documents and information about Musks potential conflicts of interest and the firings of federal workers, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution from Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia would launch an investigation into Musk himself over potential conflicts of interest. Tariff trade war could raise medical costs but not quite yet Musks companies receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year in contracts. SpaceX has secured nearly $20 billion in federal funds since 2008 to ferry astronauts and satellites into space. Tesla had already received $41.9 million from the U.S. government, including payment for vehicles provided to some U.S. embassies. DOGE salaries While Musk works to gut federal agencies, DOGE staffers are reportedly making six-figure salaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Business and technology magazine Wired reports that Jeremy Lewin, who was instrumental in dismantling USAID, makes over $167,000 per year. Kyle Schutt, a software engineer working within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, takes home $195,200, according to the report. White House reverses course on Education Department executive order Wired reported several other DOGE staffers also receive six-figure government-funded salaries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. SpaceX will bring two NASA astronauts back from the International Space Station this month after a damaged spacecraft extended their eight-day journey into a nine-month commision. SpaceXs CEO Elon Musk said he believes the two astronauts were stuck in space for political reasons and he could have rescued them sooner. The astronauts say they believe Musk and have been left in the dark about what really happened. Worlds richest man Elon Musk will help bring two NASA astronauts back to Earth after a Boeing spacecraft suffered technical issues leaving the two aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months; He claims it could have been done sooner. On June 5, 2024, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams embarked for the ISS on the Boeing Starliner. The long-time NASA astronauts were set to stay for eight days, but the spacecraft suffered multiple technical issues en route to space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASA deemed the Starliner too risky to carry astronauts back to Earth and sent the spacecraft home without its crew in September, leaving the two without a ride home. Now, the NASA astronauts are set to return on March 19 or 20, but they will make their return to Earth with SpaceX, aboard its Crew-9 return flight. Last year, Musk offered to help bring the two astronauts home sooner than planned, but he claims he was rejected by the Biden administration. They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good, Musk said in an interview alongside President Donald Trump with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate interview last week with Joe Rogan, Musk said the Biden administration intentionally pushed the return date past the inauguration date in an effort to downplay Trump and his allies successes. Theres no way that theyre going to make anyone whos supporting Trump look good, Musk told Rogan. In a Tuesday press conference, Williams and Wilmore were asked to confirm the credibility of Musks statements about the Biden administration. Wilmore said it is absolutely factual, while still choosing his words carefully so as not to pick sides. Obviously, we've heard some of these different things that have been said," Wilmore said. "I can tell you at the outset, all of us have the utmost respect for Mr. Musk and obviously, respect and admiration for our president of the United States, Donald Trump. The words they've said, politics, I mean, that's part of life. We understand that. And there's an important reason why we have a political system and the political system that we do have, and we're behind it 100%." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilmore added he and Williams were left in the dark with no information whatsoever on what actually went down behind closed doors. Thats information that we simply dont have, so I believe him, Wilmore said. Although its unclear whether NASA controlled the information that Wilmore and Williams received during their extended stay in space, the ISS does have internet access on board, according to NASAs website, which means theres a possibility they could have heard about Musks intentions to help bring the two astronauts home. While NASA did not initially respond to Fortunes request for comment, the federal space agency has previously denied any claims of political involvement impacting the timeline of the astronauts return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you unequivocally, from a personal standpoint, that politics has not played any part in this decision, then-NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on Aug. 24. It absolutely has nothing to do with it. As the astronauts await their trip back to earth, morale is strong aboard the ISS. Were doing pretty darn good, actually. You know, weve got food, weve got clothes, We have great crew members up here, Williams told CNN in February. We dont feel abandoned. We dont feel stuck. We dont feel stranded.SpaceX did not return Fortunes request for comment. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com WASHINGTON (AP) Its not his fault. Billionaire Elon Musk is telling Republican lawmakers that he is not to blame for the firings of thousands of federal workers, including veterans, as pushes to downsize the government. Instead, he said in private talks this week that those decisions are left to the various federal agencies. The message from one of President Donald Trump's most influential advisers came as Republicans publicly support Musk's work at the Department of Government Efficiency which claims to be digging up waste, fraud and abuse but are privately raising questions as personnel cuts ripple through communities across the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon doesnt fire people, said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., after a dinner-time pizza meeting with Musk in the basement of the Capitol. He doesnt have hiring and firing authority, added Hudson, who leads the House Republicans' campaign arm. The president's empowered him to go uncover this information, thats it. It's a remarkable shift of emphasis away from the chainsaw-wielding tech entrepreneur whose vast power has made him an admired, revered and deeply feared figure in the second Trump administration. The Republican president weighed in Thursday after a Cabinet meeting, saying he has instructed department secretaries to work with DOGE but to be very precise" about which workers will stay or go using a 'scalpel'" he said in a social media post "rather than the 'hatchet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to see a big cut where a lot of good people are cut, Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office. Trump suggested that Cabinet and agency leaders would take the lead, but Musk could push harder down the line. If they can cut, its better. And if they dont cut, then Elon will do the cutting. He had said in the earlier post that Musk and Cabinet officials will meet every two weeks to advance their cost-cutting goals The comments come amid mounting legal disputes over Musk's attempts to centralize management of the government workforce and bypass the traditional role of Congress to appropriate federal dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, the White House's Office of Personnel Management directed federal agencies to fire probationary workers, who lack full civil service protection. The scorched-earth approach led to deep cuts that have occasionally been reversed, such as when workers on nuclear weapons programs were brought back on the job. A federal judge in San Francisco expressed concerns that layoffs violated the law, leading administration officials to insist that it was individual agencies not Musk or the Office of Personnel Management calling the shots. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said Musk told lawmakers that some of the folks that were the probationary people, he didnt fire them, they were actually supposedly fired by the agencies and they messed up. Did Musk actually say they messed up? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, if they were in fact, you know, critical people, and the agency did the firing, then yeah, they messed up, Gimenez said. But not him. Musk and his team have burrowed into agencies, accessing sensitive data and rattling career officials with their demands. Top officials, including at the Social Security Administration, abruptly stepped down after refusing to comply with Musk's team. Tens of thousands of workers accepted an offer to resign early and more are facing potential layoffs. We're making good progress, Musk said late Wednesday as he dashed through the halls of the Capitol. The richest person in the world, Musk is known as a driven, demanding executive who is willing to take bold risks, often with great rewards. His enterprises include the rocket company SpaceX, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and social media platform X, known the world over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But his perch at DOGE is Musk's first public foray into the grit of governing. The speed and scale of the cuts, which are being challenged in dozens of court cases, are introducing the businessman to the concept of political blowback. When the topic of the fired federal workers came up during a Senate lunch, Musk deflected blame. I would say that there was an argument that thats not coming from DOGE, its actually coming from individual agencies, said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. Another Republican, Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky, said that Musk went so far as to emphasize that not only had DOGE not recommended mass termination of probationary employees, but that he thought some federal agencies were either incompetent or sabotaging the effort. Musk told them he wanted more precise terminations of those not performing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The point that he was making is that DOGE had not made recommendations for across-the-board cuts of all probationary employees at every agency," Barr said. "But the agencies had implemented it improperly through either incompetence or in a handful of cases actual malicious efforts to sabotage and create a public relations problem for DOGE. In fact, scores of fired workers are being recalled back to work across the federal agencies. This week, about 180 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were being told they could come back, in an email that said: Read this email immediately. Musk was invited to Capitol Hill this week by Trumps allies and party leaders to provide more information to lawmakers facing questions about the DOGE cuts. Many Republicans are being hammered at town halls back home, so much so that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has encouraged them to meet with constituents in other venues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk gave his cellphone number to the senators - though not the members of the House - and his team is setting up a dedicated phone line the lawmakers can call if they have further questions, complaints or suggestions about his work, and about jobs and agencies that should be spared. Democrats, and their allies in outside advocacy groups, have been highlighting the way the cutbacks will hurt Americans. On Thursday, 141 House Democrats led by Virginia Rep. Gerald Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, urged the OPM to reinstate all the probationary employees who have been unlawfully terminated. We write in strong opposition to the expansion of the Trump Administrations efforts to purge nonpartisan civil servants from the federal workforce, specifically recent unlawful mass terminations of employees in probationary status, wrote the lawmakers in a letter to the office's acting director, Charles Ezell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiscriminately firing thousands of these employees threatens the future of the nonpartisan federal workforce and our governments ability to deliver life-saving services to the American people." House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said that if the White House wants to abolish an entire agency such as the Department of Education, Bring the bill to Congress. We welcome that fight. Jeffries added: "Well stand on the side of the American people, and (Republicans will) continue to stand on the side of Elon Musk. ___ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Leah Askarinam contributed to this report. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Tesla nearly $50,000 following a workers death at its Gigafactory in Texas, underscoring owner Elon Musks ethical entanglements as he and the Trump administration hack at federal agencies. The workplace safety agency opened an investigation last year after Victor Joe Gomez Sr. died on Aug. 1, 2024. Gomez was an electrician working for a subcontractor at the automakers Austin facility when he was electrocuted, according to a wrongful death lawsuit his family filed against Tesla. OSHA ended up hitting Tesla with three serious violations, each coming with a $16,550 penalty. The agency issued the citations on Jan. 31 but did not release the details until Wednesday, according to Jordan Barab, a former OSHA official who writes the newsletter Confined Space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those violations was for exposing workers to electrical hazards while they were testing and inspecting newly installed electrical equipment. Tesla, the citation states, had neglected to perform a hazard analysis, put up warning signs or communicate safe work procedures. The other violations were for failing to protect workers against electric shock by de-energizing circuits, and failure to provide protective equipment. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. The Austin-based electric vehicle producer has the option to appeal the citations for review, and financial penalties are often negotiated downward during that process. OSHA previously issued around $7,000 in fines against Tesla for chemical safety violations that turned up in a separate investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OSHAs findings are a reminder of just how many conflicts of interest Musk faces as the White House guts federal agencies and fires federal employees by the thousands. According to President Donald Trump, Musk is the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency thats tasked with shrinking the regulatory state and helping the administration close agencies it wants gone. (Trumps Department of Justice has tried to assert for legal reasons that Musk does not run DOGE, but Trump himself has said publicly including during his speech to Congress Tuesday that Musk is in charge of the effort.) People protest against Elon Musk outside the Treasury Department in Washington on Feb. 4, 2025. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File Musk has tangled with a host of regulatory bodies due to his various business interests, which include Tesla, his rocket company SpaceX and his social media site X, formerly Twitter. Now hes in a position to cut or undermine agencies like OSHA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CFPB, which would regulate a payment system Musk hopes to implement on X, has been effectively closed by the Trump administration, with hundreds of staffers facing layoffs. Musk had previously said he wanted to delete the agency that helps guard consumers from predatory financial practices. Musk has also taken aim at the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that enforces collective bargaining rights for workers. After the NLRB brought a complaint against SpaceX alleging the company illegally fired employees whod openly criticized Musk in 2022, SpaceX filed a lawsuit arguing the boards structure is unconstitutional. That lawsuit is now making its way through federal court, but in the meantime, the Trump administration has already disabled the NLRB by firing one of its members and eliminating its quorum so it cant issue decisions. A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. Americans are still in the dark about the scope and scale of what Elon Musk is doing with DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, which is working to drastically shrink the size of government by aiming to cut $1 trillion or more in government spending. But theres some insight into whats driving Musk namely, an effort to combat what he referred to as civilizational suicidal empathy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a three-hour interview with the podcaster Joe Rogan released February 28, Musk talked about his deeply held belief in the conspiracy theory that Democrats are working to import as many undocumented immigrants as possible so that they can take over the US government forever. If they had another four years, they would legalize enough illegals in the swing states to make the swing states not swing states, Musk told Rogan. They would just, they would be blue states. Then they would win the presidential; theyd win the House, the Senate and the presidency. Its a wild idea along the same lines as the debunked replacement theory. And there are many factual holes in the theory, starting with the fact that its illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections and theres no direct pathway to citizenship for people who enter the country illegally. But what came next in the conversation may shine more of a light on what motivates Musk to cut down the size of government, and it melds with his takeover, purchase and founding of companies in the private sector. Its the belief that empathy for individuals is costly to the collective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk pointed to Californias move to provide medical insurance even to undocumented people who qualify for its low-income Medi-Cal program. Weve got civilizational suicidal empathy going on, Musk said, borrowing the term from Gad Saad, a Canadian scholar who is also a frequent Rogan host. While Musk said he believes in empathy and that you should care about other people, he also thinks its destroying society. The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy, the empathy exploit, Musk said. There its theyre exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Empathy, he said, has been weaponized. Its an important thing to remember as Musk turns his crusade toward the US government. While President Donald Trump has said cuts will not touch safety net programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, except to root out fraud, Musk made clear during the interview that he believes that the concept of Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Musks lack of empathy is a theme in the recent biography for which the writer Walter Isaacson was given access to the billionaire throughout his takeover of Twitter. And Musks disregard for individuals employed at his companies is also a throughline in the book, including on production lines at Tesla and at SpaceX, where he is described as quick to fire people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At each of those companies, Musk expressed a desire to save humanity: with electric cars in the case of Tesla; by making humanity interplanetary in the case of SpaceX; and by sticking up for the First Amendment in the case of Twitter. He likes this notion of helping humanity, Isaacson told CNNs Christiane Amanpour in 2023. In fact, he has more empathy for humanity in general than he often has for the 20 people around him. Musk still has that view of himself as a superhero taking risks; he repeatedly told Rogan about his fear of being killed. Now, instead of saving humanity, he believes he is saving the US government by cutting billions of dollars in spending, even if it impacts many Americans daily lives by costing them their jobs or by curtailing government services in the process. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The political action committee that Elon Musk funded to the tune of more than $200 million on behalf of President Donald Trump launched a television advertisement this week lauding the first weeks of the administration in which the Tesla CEO is serving. America PAC began airing an ad nationally and in Washington, D.C., declaring that with former President Joe Biden's departure, our long national nightmare is finally over, and with Trump, America is back. The 60-second spot hails Trump's moves on immigration, energy and slashing billions in waste at home, a nod to the purge of the federal workforce Musk has led as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. The ad is heavy on patriotic imagery, with a soundtrack of swelling brass and images of Trump saluting military and greeting supporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rarely if ever has a White House adviser funded an outside organization promoting his accomplishments. It's the latest example of Musk's singular role in American politics, leading an effort to shutter agencies and fire thousands of workers inside the Trump administration while promoting the president's politics outside. Another Musk-funded group, Building America's Future, is underwriting ads in the race to fill a potentially decisive seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The April 1 election for that judgeship is likely to be the first major test of both Republican and Democratic influence since Trump's victory in November. The same group ran ads last year, including one aimed at Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, urging confirmation of Trump's secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth. Musk has endorsed the idea of supporting primary challenges for Republicans who waver in their support for Trump's Cabinet and agenda. Though America PAC's ad focuses squarely on Trump, Musk figures prominently, seen holding his young son X and looking on as Trump speaks during an Oval Office briefing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spot also features a clip taken last week of Trump sitting alongside Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a testy meeting between the two over U.S. support for the country's fight against Russia's 2022 invasion. During the clip, the narrator states Trump is returning power to our military as he seeks to stop the endless wars across the globe. America PAC is out with its first ever TV ad, airing across the country this week following @realDonaldTrumps joint address to Congress, America PAC spokesman Andrew Romeo said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter before Musk purchased it. America PAC last year spent aggressively on digital and in-person efforts in several states to reach and urge less-frequent voters to vote. The group hired canvassing firms to knock on doors and engage voters in key precincts in battleground states to motivate Trump-friendly voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether or not the effort made the difference against Democrat Kamala Harris, Trump did carry all seven battleground states, where contractors for Musk's group were active in canvassing voters. Trump has given Musk wide-ranging access to the administration's inner workings, beyond the effort to shrink the federal workforce and agency spending with which he has been specifically tasked. Musk has also been privy to talks with administration nominees and, last week, joined Trump at his first Cabinet meeting. Kazakhstan will continue its cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to fully complete the investigation into the AZAL plane crash in Aktau, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev stated, Azernews reports. At a meeting with Nicolas Rallo, Director of the ICAO Bureau for Europe and the North Atlantic, Bozumbayev expressed gratitude for ICAOs support and thanked the organization for promptly dispatching independent expert Tormodur Tormodson to the crash site. "We will continue cooperation with ICAO to fully complete this investigation," Bozumbayev emphasized, as reported by Trend. The crash occurred on December 25, 2024, when an Embraer 190-100 IGW passenger aircraft, registered as 4K-AZ65 and operated by Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC (AZAL), was en route from Baku to Grozny. The aircraft crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan, resulting in the tragic loss of 39 lives, including the captain, co-pilot, senior flight attendant, and 35 passengers. Despite the devastating accident, the professionalism and bravery of the pilots and flight attendants enabled the survival of 29 passengers. Emergency response teams in Kazakhstan swiftly mobilized upon receiving information about the aircrafts emergency landing, ensuring the evacuation and medical treatment of survivors. Preliminary findings of the investigation The initial report on the crash has confirmed several key findings: The aircraft was fully airworthy at the time of takeoff and throughout its flight to Grozny, with its control systems confirmed to be functional by flight data recorder (FDR) analysis. Both engines operated without technical issues until the moment of the accident, as verified by the FDR. The aircraft encountered a loss of GPS signals while operating in Russian airspace, including over Grozny airport. After failing to land in Grozny due to poor weather conditions, the captain decided to return to Baku. During this time, cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data recorded two unexplained sounds over Grozny, 24 seconds apart. Four seconds after the first sound, the third hydraulic system failed, followed by failures of the first and second hydraulic systems within 21 seconds. The aircrafts fuselage exhibited numerous penetrating and blind damages, particularly in the rear fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, left wing, and left engine. Investigators identified foreign object damage on the fuselage but found no evidence suggesting a bird strike. Foreign objects unrelated to the aircraft were found embedded in the wreckage, and their photographs were included in the report. Further examinations are planned to determine their exact origin. At 05:13:32, the aircraft lost its main control systems. By 05:21:42, air traffic control in Grozny was informed of operation "Kover"an emergency procedure. No evidence was found of an oxygen cylinder explosion. According to ICAOs Chicago Convention, a final report on the crash must be completed within one year of the incident. The Republic of Kazakhstan, along with other investigating states, has already begun working on this comprehensive report. Federal regulators fined Elon Musk's Tesla $49,650 for three serious safety violations related to the electrocution of a worker last summer at the Tesla Gigafactory just outside Austin. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA, released details for the investigation into the Aug. 1 death of Victor Gomez Sr. Gomez, 46, a resident of Pleasanton at the time, died while inspecting electrical panels, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his family. The lawsuit alleges negligence, claiming the panel should have been shut off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Federal regulators cite Tesla after electrician's August death at Gigafactory near Austin Immediately after his death, OSHA launched an investigation into the automaker's Austin factory. Federal regulators fined Elon Musk's Tesla $49,650 for three serious safety violations related to the death of Victor Gomez Sr. at the Tesla Gigafactory. The three separate citations each have a fine of $16,550 for "serious" safety violations. These violations, OSHA said, occurred at the South Expansion building at Tesla Gigafactory on and before the date of Gomez's death. The first violation, OSHA said, is for failing to provide adequate protective equipment. "An employee was working in close proximity to energized parts without wearing appropriate personal protective equipment," the citation said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second violation stated that Tesla allowed employees to work near electric power circuits without proper safeguards. The citation noted that employees were permitted to work close to circuits that were not protected against electric shock by de-energizing, grounding or insulating the circuits. Additionally, the citation mentioned that an employee inspected an uninterrupted power supply (a backup power device) cabinet without "de-energizing it." The third violation said Tesla did not check whether the place of work was energized and did not post warning signs or notify employees of energized lines. The citation also said "quality control employees were exposed to electrical hazards" while testing and inspecting newly installed equipment. OSHA has previously cited and fined Tesla about $7,000 related to two other workplace safety violations at the Tesla Gigafactory in 2024. Both were related to chemical hazard protections. Tesla also received a pair of complaints in 2022 saying the company failed to address workplace safety concerns and wage-law violations. OSHA initially cited Tesla for Gomez's death earlier this month but did not provide additional information into the citations or the investigation at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, demanded the agency to release its investigation into Gomez's death on Feb. 19. He said in a letter to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Scott Ketchum, "The American people have a right to know whether or not the federal government will turn a blind eye to problems at Tesla given Elon Musk's unprecedented seizure of power at the White House." Musk heads the new Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump's administration. Musk, who invested over $250 million in Trump's election campaign, has focused on cutting federal spending and staff. Many have criticized his role in the termination of national park rangers earlier this week and the closure of the federal government's international humanitarian aid office. Many of Musk's companies, including Tesla and rocket-developer SpaceX, rely on government contracts and subsidies, leading some to question Musk's potential conflict of interest with his role overseeing DOGE. This story has been updated to add video. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Elon Musk's Tesla fined for death of worker at Gigafactory in Austin WAURIKA, Okla. (KFOR) A Waurika native raised concerns on Wednesday about where an explicit survey, assigned to high school psychology students there, came from after being told it came from state-approved curriculum. The viral assignment caught the attention of many people online this week, with a mix of reactions from some outraged about it and others questioning its authenticity. It features sexually suggestive language, asking students to answer yes or no if the activities or demonstrations are considered normal. Lawmakers push for change in power at OSBE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first reaction is like, what the heck are they putting in the classroom? Waurika native Eric Faucett told News 4 Wednesday. Like who would do this? Waurika Public Schools Superintendent Cody Simmons shared in a statement to parents and district stakeholders Wednesday that the district was made aware of a form that was sent out to the high school Psychology class on Monday. Simmons called the content of the form inappropriate and said it never should have been given to the students. Simmons said the curriculum was removed from class and all parents were notified Monday as well. Waurika Public Schools will continue to hold our students and our staff members to the highest of expectations, said Simmons. Faucett said he learned, after speaking with friends and family, which teacher was accused of distributing the assignment. He said, after he found that out, his entire perspective changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faucett also said when he attended the district, the teacher was respected, and that anyone would be pressed to find any former or current student that didnt have nice things to say about them. He said that he believes the entire situation was an honest mistake. Hes not a weirdo, said Faucett. He is an absolute perfect example of how a man should conduct himself. This isnt the way for him to go out. Simmons shared on Wednesday that the assignment was taken from a state-approved psychology curriculum. News 4 followed up with Simmons, seeking clarification on what records or documents the district had to help clarify where the lesson came from, and that the state had given it the go-ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simmons responded in an email that he had spoken with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) on Monday and gave them the curriculum information. Simmons said he was told the curriculum was approved. News 4 followed up again seeking clarification again on what approved curriculum the lesson came from, but did not hear back from Simmons. News 4 took further follow-up questions to OSDE for comment after State Superintendent Ryan Walters shared his thoughts in multiple posts on X Wednesday. This is not acceptable in any classroom, this is the first time weve seen this questionnaire, and were comprehensively investigating the matter, wrote Walters. The teacher and district will be held accountable. News 4 learned, in addition to the active investigation underway, that the questionnaire did come from a state-approved textbook. The textbook and curriculum were approved by OSDE in 2019-2020 under the previous administration. We also asked OSDE for clarification on which textbook the questionnaire came from, but did not receive an answer as of Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think itd be really easy to figure out what book it was, said Faucett. I think itd be great to have a complete, I mean, if it lets one page in like that, what else is in that book? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) An alert system in Hays County meant to warn people about emergencies left people asking questions about what was happening. It happened on Tuesday when much of Central Texas was under an extreme fire risk warning. Benjamin Winslow was working near one of the fires in Hays County when he received an alert. At 4:22 we got emergency alerts on our phones, and when we looked at the emergency alert it was very confusing, said Winslow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alert said, HCSO Alert due to an ongoing incident in the area of 800 blk Engelke RD Kyle, but there was no information about what the incident was. To receive an emergency alert with no actionable information is concerning, and I would like to think that there would be something in there like a link that would take us to a website or explain what the alert was for, said Winslow. Central Texas crews respond to multiple fires, increased staffing due to high winds Later that night, after he got off work, he realized the alert was for an evacuation notice because of a fire. KXAN reached out to Hays County to see why there was no information in the text. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county is aware of the premature wireless emergency activation message that was sent yesterday. This was an unintended error linked to the introduction of IPAWS within our emergency communication services. We recognize the concern this may have caused the public. Once the error was identified, a corrective follow-up message was sent within six minutes to ensure clarity, a Hays County spokesperson said. KXAN asked Winslow if he received a follow-up text. I dont believe I got a second alert, said Winslow. KXAN followed up with the county asking if it was aware of any issues with the follow-up messages, but we have not heard back at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Citing the many directives, policy changes and legislative proposals from the federal government in recent weeks, Emory University announced a hiring freeze and limits to faculty hiring, as well as a freeze on changes to compensation. Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves sent a letter to the Emory community Wednesday morning detailing the situation. According to Fenves letter, the current policy directives and legislative proposals in Washington have serious implications for Emory, and that while there is still tremendous uncertainty, the institution will be taking measures to prepare for what it says could be big disruptions to their finances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fenves said there will be significant reductions in operating expenditures, saying a possible increase in the federal tax on university endowments could present an impact on budgeting. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Research conducted by the university is also expected to face ongoing impacts due to proposed regulations and bills in Congress that could affect other sources of funding and revenue, according to Fenves letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The education, research, and patient care undertaken at Emory are as essential as they have ever been, and our commitment to academic freedom - the bedrock of teaching and discovery - is unwavering. Equally steadfast is our dedication to fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus environment that provides opportunities to talented individuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. This commitment is integral to our mission, and it is core to who we are as a university community. We will continue to make the case for inclusivity and the many ways it supports excellence at Emory, Fenves wrote. Fenves also said that he had received many personal comments from the community expressing their concerns for the future and what they could do to help in these uncertain times, and encouraged everyone to please continue to take care of yourselves and each other. Show compassion. He reminded the community that their work is vitally important and all in service to humanity. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] End will justify the means: Contentious 46th Street construction moving forward TOPEKA (KSNT) Shawnee County Commissioners approved the next steps for a road project being funded with a county half-cent sales tax. On Thursday morning, commissioners approved the next steps for road work along NW 46th Street between Fielding and Rochester Roads. The first phase will bring a road closure between Northwest Green Hills Road and Northwest Button Road. Bettis Asphalt and SBB Engineering are the contractors for the project, which is set to begin next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project will bring multiple safety improvements to the area, including a roundabout and center turn lane, in addition to a 5 sidewalk and 10 multi-use path. Complaint alleges K-State violated executive orders People living in the area voiced their concern with the timing of the project, and the increase in traffic along detour routes, Public Works Director Curt Niehaus said. The Public Works Director believes now is the time for this project, and says there will be options along the signed detour routes. Be patient, Public Works Director Curt Niehaus said, the end will justify the means. Also, I encourage people, people may not like it, but I encourage people if theyre using a route that theyre not familiar with slow down, be safe, Niehaus added. Its better to take your time and get there safely than the alternative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KBOE to vote to remove controversial Kansas high school graduation requirement The road project is part of the 2017 half-cent sales tax program, which was approved by voters in Shawnee County nearly a decade ago. Construction is set to take place across 4 phases until October of 2026. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. An elusive creature with a saw-like snout and teeth where they seemingly shouldnt be, thrashed in the shallows of the Intracoastal Waterway last month, its vulnerable white underside belly up, its slash of a mouth opening and closing as if gulping for air. The federally endangered smalltooth sawfish, which was approximately 14-feet long, had the tip of its long flat snout tangled in a fishing net next to a dock in Lantana. Its unusual teeth, which line the outside edge of its rostrum like a hedge trimmer, only deepened the trap as they tangled in the net. When Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers arrived on Feb. 27, they were able to free the tropical fish that looks like a shark but is really a ray, within minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it was a critical rescue as sawfish populations struggle with habitat loss and, more recently, a mysterious spinning disorder that has resulted in more than 200 reports to FWC since December 2023. Every specimen of this endangered species is vital to its genetic diversity, said FWC Major Mike Davis, in a statement. I am grateful our officers were able to return this one to its habitat safely. More: Fisherman hooks 11-foot sawfish off Juno Beach Pier The freed sawfish, which is believed to have been rescued from a residential dock in Lantanas Hypoluxo Island west of Manalapan, did not exhibit spinning behavior, according to FWC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But FWC fish biologist Gregg Poulakis said it's unusual for smalltooth sawfish to be found in Palm Beach County waters. Most reports of sawfish come from areas around Charlotte Harbor on the west coast of the state through the Keys. "Historically they were found along the east coast of Florida, the Indian River Lagoon used to have a healthy population maybe 100 years ago, but they were unintentionally overfished," Poulakis said. "The last thing a gill net fisherman wanted back in the day was a sawtooth in the net, and they get tangled really easily." An update on the sawfish spinning behavior was issued Wednesday, March 5 by the FWC. After a lull in reports, 22 have been made since December as researchers struggle to discover the cause. FWC has recorded 62 sawfish deaths since December 2023. In the March 5 update, FWC said water tests havent identified a cause of the spinning with no harmful levels of chemicals or heavy metals in sediment. There have also been no signs of parasites, bacteria, or viruses that could explain the behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Algal toxins are a possibility, but more testing must be done, FWC said in the update. Poulakis said the uptick in reports coincided with colder temperatures, which was similar to what happened last year. He said the algae that may be causing the behavior does better in cooler water. "Last year as the weather warmed and the water warmed, the reports dwindled and then we didn't get any until late December," Poulakis said. Florida lawmakers budgeted $2 million to support the investigation, with $1.75 million earmarked for research by the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust for work in Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and the Keys. FWC wants to know about every sawfish sighting, regardless of whether they are exhibiting strange behaviors. People who see a sawfish should call the sawfish hotline at 1-844-472-9347, or 1-844-4SAWFISH. You can also email reports to Sawfish@myfwc.com. Sawfish facts Their "teeth" line the outside edge of their snout and they swing it from side to side to impale and stun its prey. But they aren't actually teeth, they are denticles, which are very specialized scales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They may look like sharks, but they are rays. They live in coastal tropical and subtropical waters, including estuaries and river systems. There are five species of sawfish worldwide. They once lived from the Carolinas to Texas, but the smalltooth sawfish is now largely limited to the waters off the Florida coasts. They are protected by the Endangered Species Act in the U.S.. It is illegal to catch, harass, collect, buy or sell any part of any species of sawfish. SOURCE: Florida Museum of Natural History Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Endangered smalltooth sawfish rescued from fishing net in Lantana NEW YORK (PIX11) President Donald Trump was expected to sign an executive order on Thursday that would have called for the end of the federal Department of Education but later reversed course. The draft of the order, as published by the Wall Street Journal, shows that the president planned to ask the Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, what exactly does the Department of Education do and what would this order have meant for local educational facilities? More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Education funding and student aid The federal department distributes financial aid to education programs across the country including early childhood, elementary, secondary and postsecondary. Additionally, the department provides financial support to students with disabilities, those who live in poverty, Native Americans, immigrants and those with limited English proficiency. Some of those programs include the Pell Grant and Title 1 for schools. Research for best practices and identification of issues The federal Department of Education also works to identify the best education practices and teaching techniques using research and data collected by department employees, contractors and grant recipients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, the department identifies major issues in education and focuses national attention on them to make recommendations for reform. Federal workers collaborate with advisory groups and organizations to get ideas for policies and programs. Enforcement of civil rights statutes Officials at the Department of Education also work to prevent discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funding. Enforcement of civil rights not only applies to schools but also to rehabilitation agencies, libraries and museums that get funding. Should the department be dissolved some of its programs such as student loans could likely be transferred to other federal departments. However, the president does not have the power to eliminate the department, and doing so would require an act of Congress. During that process, a bill would have to be introduced on the congressional floor and would have to pass both the House and the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsNation contributed to this reporting. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Frank Knapp with the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce argues a House bill puts utility profits over consumers. (File photo by Anton Petrus/Getty Images) An energy-related manufacturer plans to invest $134 million and employ more than 460 people in Jasper County, marking the largest economic development project in county history. TS Conductor, which makes high-capacity conductors that allow utilities to move two or three times more electricity along power lines, announced plans to open a facility near the city of Hardeeville, a growing retirement destination near South Carolinas southern border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This patented technology is critical for expanding and modernizing the power grid to meet growing demand from data centers and domestic manufacturing, according to a statement by the state Commerce Department. In exchange, Jasper County has offered special credits allowing the company to buy down its property tax bill by 60% over the next 30 years. The state also approved the company for income tax credits worth $20,250 for each new job and awarded a $5 million grant to pay for grading and other work to get the site ready for construction. The California-headquartered company said it will move into an existing 300,000-square-foot building in the Clarius Park industrial park, about 10 miles away from Georgias Port of Savannah. TS Conductor also plans to construct additional buildings on the site, adding 1 million more square feet of space, at a later date. Operations are expected to begin by the end of the year. The facility would mark the companys second site in the United States. This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on Tuesday threw his support behind a vast expansion in geothermal energy. Emerging forms of geothermal use technology from the fossil fuel industry to generate power on demand without air pollution something Wrights company, Liberty Energy, invested millions in. While geothermal hasnt achieved liftoff yet, it should and it can, Wright told attendees at MAGMA, a Republican-facing pro-geothermal event in D.C on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A mature geothermal industry, he said, could better energize our country, improve the quality of life for everyone. It could help enable AI, manufacturing, reshoring and stop the rise of our electricity prices. I look across this room and I see people that are going to make geothermal happen, he added. Wright name-checked geothermal as one of his departments primary areas of focus, and it was one of the zero-carbon forms of energy along with nuclear and hydropower specifically cited by President Trump in his National Energy Emergency executive order. But Wrights comments on Tuesday were by far his most fulsome on the subject of geothermal as secretary. They came as a significant coup for an industry that has feared wholesale cuts to the support it has received through Biden-era tax credits and programs at the Department of Energy where it sits exposed as part of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wrights remarks allayed some of those fears. I want to be a service provider and help the government get out of the way. Make it easier to get regulatory approvals, easier to do innovations, easier to take that next step. Lets bring abundance, he added. MAGMA (which stands for Making America Geothermal: Modern Advances) was the latest in a series of moves by renewable energy notably the solar industry to cast itself in terms palatable to an administration skeptical of climate action and focused on fossil fuels. In February, for example, solar industry leaders traveled to Texas to pitch local lawmakers on the their sectors potential role in a broader Republican campaign for energy dominance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geothermals advocates say that it is particularly well-placed to make that pitch, because it can generate pollution-free power round-the-clock, on-site and on-demand something in high demand from both military bases and data centers. Years of lobbying by the industry around the national security case for geothermal have borne fruit even among the sort of Republican lawmakers prone to throwing shade on solar and wind. My friends across the aisle, theyre touting all wind and all solar, Im saying, I dont know if yall know this, but the sun goes down at night, said Houston-area Rep. Randy Weber (R) at MAGMA. But unlike wind and solar, Weber said, geothermal is 24/7, so its something we can count on year in, year out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many wind and solar advocates argue this is based on an obsolete idea of their industry. They say utility scale batteries including some based on similar technology to geothermal mean that renewables can now provide something close to around the clock power themselves. But Webers remarks pointed to a new Republican cultural embrace of geothermal, which was based in part on its overlap with an energy source far more in favor with the party in power: Fossil fuels. Geothermal isnt the red headed stepchild of renewables its the smokin hot trophy wife of the oil and gas industry, Matt Welch of the Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance told The Hill. In their pitch to the right, geothermal leaders have emphasized the extensive overlap between oil and gas technology and geothermal, as well as work it offers for fossil fuels drilling crews idled in an increasingly efficient oil sector, where fewer than ever rigs pour out record amounts of oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his keynote, Wright himself hit that point. The technology that squeezed oil and gas from shale, opening an era of record American oil and gas production, was tailor made for geothermal. Fracking and horizontal drilling had opened up key technologies which made it possible to transfer heat from rock which is reluctant to give it up and into water, which is slow to take it, Wright said. Those technologies meant a large contact area and cheap-water based plumbing [that let operators] mine massive heat from underground, he said. He added that geothermal resources could generate electricity, district heating for neighborhoods, process heat for industry. They can even produce cooling. Its an awesome resource under our feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is strong cultural overlap and technical overlap between the fossil fuel and geothermal worlds, exemplified by Wright himself. He is the former chief executive of Liberty Energy, which under his leadership invested $10 million in Houston-based geothermal startup Fervo energy. Most of the startups featured at MAGMA were similarly led by oil and gas veterans, and oil companies like Devon or their service companies Baker Hughes now boast in-house geothermal divisions. Asked what oil and gas skills transferred to geothermal, you almost have to ask whats not transferrable, Alex Biholar of Devon Energys low-carbon unit said during one panel. These professional connections, added to the role fossil fuel burning and methane venting plays in the rapidly heating planet, have led some geothermal leaders to suggest that their industry represents a natural off-ramp for the oil and gas industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When faced with staunch fossil fuel opponents, I say, Well, if you really dont like oil and gas that much, you should really love geothermal. Because if it takes off, [oil and gas companies] are going to take all their capital and pivot to geothermal, said Rob Klenner, president of geothermal company Greenfire. In a sense, Klenner was describing his own trajectory: He spent most of his career at oilfield services company Baker Hughes. For senior executives at oil companies, geothermal offers an exciting chance to be part of the new energy, said fellow Baker Hughes veteran Ghazal Izadi herself now chief operating officer at Palo Alto-based geothermal firm XGS. By way of describing the outer limit of the possible, a 2021 University of Texas study found that if the worlds oil and gas drilling fleet was used to tap heat, geothermal could generate 80 percent of global energy by mid century. Those numbers, Klenner said, were almost certainly overheated barring a revolution in materials science, chemicals manufacture will require oil and gas drilling well into the century. But even if geothermal represented 15 percent of power demand, he said, that would be a thirty-fold growth over its current level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its actually more than that, he said, because total electric generation is growing that whole time. A December report by the International Energy Agency suggests that the limit is the willingness to drill, rather than the available resource. The authors, which included MAGMA co-host Project Innerspace, found that there was enough accessible geothermal to meet 140 times the current global electric demand. Geothermal companies say they urgently need permitting reform to drill at the scale that will let them cross-pollinate and drive costs down. The 2005 energy omnibus bill that laid the foundation for the renewables boom largely deregulated fracking and left geothermal out. One result: It currently takes twice as long to permit a geothermal well on federal land as it does an oil and gas well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other obstacle is finance. The current round of geothermal startups is now caught in the valley of death between their early stage when venture capital funds risky new ideas in exchange for a chance at high profits and their mature form, when cheap project finance helps companies with healthy cashflow expand. That, not technology, is now the bottleneck, said Cindy Taff, chief executive of Houston-based geothermal company Sage Geosystems. She recalled being asked by data center developers at Meta about whether geothermal could provide 5 gigawatts of power by the end of the decade. We said, Yes, we can: its 500 wells per year to be drilled over five years. Thats leveraging less than 5 percent of the oil and gas industry, which is ready to go, ready to be pivoted. What they lacked, she said, was money. We need to get in the field, drill wells and actually demonstrate the technology. Wright offered help on both fronts. The idea of natural resources was flawed, he argued: There was nothing natural about them. Its very hot underground, he said. It was very hot underground a long time ago, too, and that wasnt of value to anyone. Thats just a condition of the material, he said, It only becomes a resource when technology and people and action turn it into a resource. The industry, he said, had to put money to work. Weve got to put capital to work. But that condition is underground, he said. Lets make it a resource. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Marcelo Teixeira NEW YORK (Reuters) -Chocolate maker Hershey Co said the ICE New York cocoa futures market is currently disconnected from the reality of the global physical market due to exchange actions that have reduced liquidity and increased volatility. Tricia Brannigan, Hershey's vice president for procurement, told Reuters on Tuesday that high margin calls on ICE's cocoa futures market drove commercial players away, reducing open interest and causing sharp price swings. ICE declined to comment. ICE cocoa futures prices in New York and London have fluctuated wildly in recent months after hitting record highs in both markets late last year due to production problems in Africa. Prices in New York, for example, fell 10% on Monday, before rising 5% on Tuesday. "ICE is not providing an orderly market for buyers and sellers," said Brannigan, noting that the cocoa futures market is no longer providing price transparency or helping companies to hedge risks. "The (futures) market is not functioning properly. Commercial players are leaving the market," Brannigan said, referring to chocolate companies and commodities traders who normally use futures to reduce risks from price swings. ICE has increased margin calls, or the deposits market players have to make as a guarantee for their positions, as prices went up last year. This is a major reason why commercial players have reduced their participation in the futures market, Brannigan said. The situation adds to the lag between futures and physical markets. "We believe physical market prices are significantly lower right now," Brannigan said, adding that considering stocks-to-grind ratios, a measure of demand, prices should be in the range between $3,000 to $5,000 per ton in New York. They closed at $8,212 on Tuesday. Brannigan suggested the exchange could take some measures to deal with the problems such as setting price oscillation limits or cut margin calls for commercials. Brannigan also suggested that ICE could investigate speculators' activities to check if there are any disruptive behavior. (Reporting by Marcelo Teixeira; Editing by Richard Chang and Will Dunham) A rendering of the "REACH" building is shown. It would get a $30 million boost from the Pillen administration's biennial budget. (Courtesy of HDR) LINCOLN Nebraska entrepreneurs, interns and affordable housing advocates were among those who converged at the Capitol Wednesday to oppose several of Gov. Jim Pillens recommended budget cuts. Fifteen Nebraskans, in all, objected to various reductions proposed in the Nebraska Department of Economic Development agency budget over the next two years. K.C. Belitz, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) Garnering the most protest during the hearing before the Legislatures Appropriations Committee was a $5 million annual slash from the Business Innovation Act program and a shift of any remaining balance from the internNE fund. Currently about $11 million is in the intern fund, which started at $20 million two years ago and still has some obligations outstanding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defending program trims was DED Director K.C. Belitz, who said the agency worked with Pillens office to find savings that would help balance the states biennial budget and provide support for other priorities, including property tax relief. In some cases, Belitz said, the agency would return to pre-COVID spending levels and in a few instances, programs with less than desired payoff were discontinued. DED also is adjusting focus. For example, Belitz said, the administration sees more efficiency in administering any future student internship program through the Department of Labor rather than working with an outside group or nonprofit, as it had with the Aksarben Foundation. Military spotlight He said DED is turning up its attention on strategic talent recruitment, including targeting out-of-state professionals and retired military personnel and veterans. He cites recent visits to military-related job fairs in Colorado Springs, Chicago and Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nebraska has really built a reputation as a great place for military members to put down roots when they return to civilian life, Belitz said. We really feel like thats a great target. On a related note, he said, the state budget over the next two years carves out $30 million for a Nuclear Command, Control and Communications center in Bellevue. Also known as the REACH facility (Research, Engineering, Architecture Collaboration Hub), the project is an effort to augment the states defense-related industries, he said. Belitz sees the center as a magnet. REACH could break ground within the year, and is proposed as an anchor for a mixed-use residential and commercial campus aimed at luring high-tech professionals and their families. The overall venture is headed by a team including the City of Bellevue and developer Burlington Capital, and is to be located a quick drive from the U.S. Strategic Command and Offutt Air Force Base. With our states strategic location in the center of the country and steadfast support for the military, Nebraska is an ideal place for NC3 operations to find a home, said Belitz. There is just vast potential to facilitate future growth by establishing an ecosystem of academics, cybersecurity specialists, defense contractors, private industry and innovators to commercialize new technologies. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. Dec. 10, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Pillens recommended DED budget includes a general fund reduction of about $9 million over the next two years and a cash fund reduction of about $170 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rob Owen, executive director of Bio Nebraska nonprofit trade association, told the committee that he would like to see a full $14.7 million annual reinstatement to the Business Innovation Act, which provides entrepreneurial assistance. Since 2011, Owen said, the state has invested nearly $57 million in budding businesses through the BIA. Matching funds are required, and he said that today BIA-supported companies are generating $1.17 billion in annual economic output. Among those boosted by the initiatives are new companies that drive Nebraskas growing bioscience industry. Echoing another testifier, Owen said: Theres a time to cut and theres a time to invest. With the BIA, its time to invest. Job shadows, interns Similar remarks about internships came from Jeanne McClure, executive director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Nebraska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said internships, job shadowing and mentors are crucial to filling engineering positions across the state. Her membership has developed a program that pairs students with a professional to mentor and keep in touch with aspiring engineers, a system she said helps keep young talent in the state. The private sector is doing a lot of work in helping build our workforce, and we are hoping the state will do its part as well and keep this going, she said of internNE. In response to a question about job openings, McClure said a glimpse at her membership would show widespread demand for engineers. She compared the industry to the nursing shortage, where young engineers are able to hop around as they are lured by better bonuses. Its crazy the workforce we need, said McClure, adding that college students are likely to stay in the state where they receive an internship. Carol Bodeen, director of policy and outreach for the Nebraska Housing Developers Association, speaks at the annual Housing Affordability & Justice Lobby Day. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) Carol Bodeen, director of policy and outreach for the Nebraska Housing Developers Association, said her members object to the proposed transfer of $8 million out of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $2 million from the Rural Workforce Housing Investment Fund to the general fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We definitely feel we can not fall further behind in our work to address our states housing shortages, she said. Workforce, technology Bryan Slone, president and CEO of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, made a pitch to keep afloat the internNE program and to maintain the Business Innovation Act fund at full throttle. Appropriations Committee Chairman Rob Clements asked Slone if the programs were more important than income tax rate cuts and property tax relief. Slone said he sees a more pressing need to beef up the states workforce and technology industry. I think this comes before any further property tax reductions, any new property tax reductions, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also opposing reductions in the agencys programming was Richard Baier of the Nebraska Bankers Association, who spoke on behalf of Invest Nebraska and who also served as DED director under two previous governors. In particular, Baier talked about what he believes are sound public investments entrepreneurship and in-the-field work opportunities for students. They are investments in the future of our state, Baier said. Theyre bringing people here. Theyre bringing new dollars to the state. Clements said one person wrote in support of the proposed DED budget and 28 others submitted written objections. The Appropriations Committee will consider the feedback as its process to build a balanced budget continues. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Justice must be done and also seen to be done the old maxim is not a mere rhetorical flourish. It is the bedrock of public confidence in the law. If people lose faith in the impartiality of the system, they cease to respect it. And without that respect, the social contract begins to fray. To maintain order, we must all believe in a simple creed: that justice is blind, that the law is applied without fear or favour, and that everyone is equal before it. That is why the statue of Lady Justice, blindfolded and holding the scales, stands atop the Old Bailey in London. But that belief has been eroding for years. Too many people no longer trust the police to turn up to the scene of a crime, let alone solve one. Too many see the judiciary as an extension of the liberal establishment, prioritising fashionable causes over the rule of law. When a judge is exposed for having liked pro-Palestinian extremist material online before ruling on a case involving defendants accused of glorifying terrorism and then allows them to walk free it corrodes confidence. When hundreds of the summer rioters are jailed within days but a Labour MP, convicted of common assault, gets a suspended sentence, ordinary people rightly feel that the scales are tipped. When prisons are so full that convicted rapists and domestic abusers are being released early, yet citizens can be locked up for offensive social media posts, it is obvious that something has gone terribly wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until now, these concerns were dismissed as paranoia, the fevered imaginings of conspiracy theorists. But two recent events have confirmed, beyond doubt, that political correctness is interfering with justice. First, in the aftermath of the Southport murders, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy admitted that the Crown Prosecution Service advised police not to disclose the perpetrators background or religion. Jonathan Hall KC, the Governments counter-terrorism advisor, was scathing: The failure by the authorities to spell out the basic and sober facts about the attacker led to contagious disinformation about a murderous Muslim asylum-seeker that stoked the ensuing riots. In other words, the authorities created the conditions for misinformation by suppressing facts. Would they have hesitated if the attacker had been a white man? It is hard to believe they would. And then, there are the Sentencing Councils new guidelines. These state that a Pre-Sentence Report (PSR) will be required only if the defendant is from an ethnic minority, a cultural or faith minority, transgender or pregnant. The logic is chilling: certain groups deserve more leniency in sentencing because of their identity. As Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick put it, this is blatant discrimination against straight white men. A PSR can make the difference between a custodial and non-custodial sentence. So, if you are a white working-class man who has faced hardship, tough luck you will not get the same consideration as someone from a different background. The Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is now scrambling to distance herself from this debacle. But as Robert has pointed out, her department was represented at the meeting where these guidelines were approved. She oversees the Sentencing Council and appoints its members. To pretend she had nothing to do with this is an insult to the intelligence of the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justification given by the Sentencing Council is as revealing as it is alarming. They claim that these measures are needed to address disparities in sentencing outcomes. This is social engineering disguised as justice. It means that if you are white, you are more likely to receive a harsher punishment than an ethnic minority offender not because of the nature of your crime, but because of your skin colour. This is what the ideology of equity looks like in practice: unequal treatment before the law in the name of progressive politics. Why is this so wrong? First and foremost, it shatters the foundational principle of equality before the law. If justice is not blind, if identity dictates sentencing, then the very concept of fairness collapses. The justice system is not supposed to rectify historical grievances; it exists to dispense justice in the present, based on individual actions, not collective identity. When identity-based sentencing is introduced, it invites resentment and division and absolves wrong-doers of personal responsibility. This selective victimhood tells one part of the population that they are inherently less deserving of leniency, regardless of their personal circumstances. This is a recipe for deepening social fracture and eroding trust in the rule of law. Second, this approach incentivises perverse outcomes. If leniency is granted based on race, culture, or gender identity, what stops defendants from gaming the system? We have already seen the absurd spectacle of male criminals self-identifying as women to be placed in female prisons. Now, the logic of differential sentencing suggests that identity will play an even greater role in judicial outcomes. This encourages dishonesty and undermines the credibility of the courts. What can be done? The Sentencing Council is a relic of the Blair years, part of the sprawling web of unelected, unaccountable bodies that dilute ministerial power. A serious reform agenda should consider abolishing it altogether and returning control over sentencing policy to elected ministers, who can be held to account. The council was created to ensure consistency in sentencing, but that function can and should be carried out by the Ministry of Justice. The truth is that progressive dogma has infected the system and, without radical reform, it wont change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public has tolerated this drift for too long. The government cannot afford to ignore the growing crisis of confidence in our criminal justice system. If justice is not blind, if the law is applied selectively, if people feel that their background determines their treatment in court, then respect for the system will collapse. And when that happens, what follows is not fairness or harmony, but disorder. Weve been talking about two-tier justice for years. Now we see it in black and white. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) faced a barrage of criticism at a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing with so-called sanctuary city mayors on Wednesday with much of the backlash coming from his fellow Democrats. Adams, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) were the subject of the hearing, during which the panel sought to highlight what Republicans see as one of their top issues. The six-hour-long hearing saw plenty of fireworks as Republicans sought to attack the high-profile Democratic mayors on immigration. But Adams was hit with the most criticism from members of his own party following a recent move from the Justice Department to drop federal corruption charges against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are you selling out New Yorkers to save yourself from prosecution? Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) asked Adams, referring to allegations that Adams worked to appease the Trump administration on immigration in exchange for getting the charges against him dropped. Theres no deal. Theres no quid pro quo. I did nothing wrong. And anything dealing with this case out of deference to Judge Ho, whos now addressing it, Im going to refer to his actions, Adams responded. I personally agree with a majority of New Yorkers and believe that you should resign. You should do the right thing, you should step down and resign today, Garcia said. Adams also faced a grilling from New York lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), whose district is located in New York City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The progressive congresswoman asked Adams whether he was aware of a Jan. 31 meeting between his attorneys and federal prosecutors regarding the charges against him. Adams again referred to the judge in the case. Ocasio-Cortez responded, saying deference to the judge was not a permissible excuse for not answering questions during a congressional hearing. I am answering your question directly, Adams said. You are not Mayor Adams, Ocasio-Cortez responded. Adams gave a different response when Rep. Laura Gillen (D), whose district is located on neighboring Long Island, N.Y., called on him to resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank God you dont live in New York City, Adams responded. Adams was originally set to stand trial in April on charges of bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal campaign contributions, but a federal judge overseeing the criminal case indefinitely delayed the trial as he considers the effort by the Justice Department to drop the charges. Former U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, who resigned after being ordered to drop the charges, said it amounted to a quid pro quo in which the case would be ended in exchange for the mayor helping the Trump administration with its immigration priorities. Adams appeared to put on a friendly front with President Trumps team following his election win last year. The Democratic mayor notably appeared with Trumps boarder czar Tom Homan on Fox and Friends last month after Adams agreed to allow federal immigration officials to operate at Rikers Island. The moved marked a major change in New York Citys policies. The two also agreed to work together to solve the citys migrant problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Adams was not the only mayor to face criticism from lawmakers on the panel during the fiery hearing. Republicans repeatedly hammered the four mayors over immigration. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) told the four mayors she will criminally refer them to the Justice Department over Title 8, U.S.C. 1324, a federal law that prohibits bringing in and harboring those who migrated to the U.S. without authorization. I do not think you guys are bad people, but I think you are ideologically misled, which is why unfortunately based on your responses, Im going to be criminally referring you to the Department of Justice for investigation, and as soon as I leave here, these will be going over to [Attorney General] Pam Bondi, Luna said. Lawmakers on the panel also locked horns with each other, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), who got into a shouting match after Pressley attempted to enter articles into the record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This trend of you all trying to get thrown out of committee so you can get on MSNBC is going to end. Were not going to put up with it, Comer said, raising his voice. You dont get to dictate how I recite the articles for the record, Pressley responded. I take particular umbrage as a survivor of sexual violence. This is my right. Thank you, she said. Republicans view the issue of immigration, particularly sanctuary cities, as a winning one following President Trumps election victory last November. Sanctuary cities generally refer to municipalities that dont cooperate with federal detention requests for migrants without legal status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has taken a particularly aggressive approach to dealing with the so-called sanctuary cities. Bondi has already sued Chicago, alleging the city has obstructed the federal government from enforcing immigration laws. Additionally, Bondi issued a memo last month saying sanctuary cities will not have access to federal funding from the Justice Department. Homan made headlines last month when he said he was bringing hell to Boston for not cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Wu called on the committee to bring Homan in to testify on the matter. Lets talk about Tom Homan. Shame on him for lying about my city. For having the nerve to insult our police commissioner who has overseen the safest Bostons been in anyones lifetime, Wu said. Bring him here under oath and lets ask him some questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am here to make sure that the city of Boston is safe. Others may want to bring hell. We are here to bring peace to cities everywhere, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The first case of measles has been reported in Pennsylvania. A local medical director is recommending people get vaccinated, especially children. According to Dr. Graham Snyder at UPMC Hamot, there is no specific treatment for measles, but the MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing illness and interrupting transmission. He said that measles is caused by a highly contagious virus spread through the air that can result in fever, rash, cough, runny nose or conjunctivitis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Snyder released a statement to us that said in part: In some cases, severe and life-threatening pneumonia or brain infection occur. Without vaccination, up to 3 in 1,000 people die of the infection Young children are most vulnerable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. (Bloomberg) -- The European Union agreed to begin discussions on a long-term reform of its fiscal rules to allow member states to spend more on defense, following a push from Germany. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU leaders meeting in Brussels Thursday called on the European Commission, the blocs executive arm, to explore further measures with regard to the so-called stability and growth pact, according to a text of the summit conclusions seen by Bloomberg. The leaders also backed a commission proposal to suspend temporarily the restrictions on defense spending. For decades, EU policy has been shaped and constrained by Germanys insistence on controlling public borrowing, both at home and in other member states. But Trumps return to the White House, and his insistence that the US should no longer be the main guarantor of security in Europe, has prompted a dramatic shift in Berlin, with chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz this week unveiling a massive spending plan that aims to transform Germanys military. Against this backdrop, the EU is working to mobilize potentially trillions of euros in additional defense funds to counter the threat of Russian aggression. While the commission has proposed adding a short-term escape clause to the stability and growth pact to boost defense spending, a broader discussion was triggered at a meeting on Wednesday when Germany told member states that the commissions plan doesnt go far enough, Bloomberg reported previously. On Thursday, EU envoys had already signaled broad support to Germanys request to review the fiscal rules. Berlins radical change came only one year after the country opposed a similar move requested by some member states when the fiscal rules were reformed in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must ensure in the long term that states can spend as much on defense as they want, the current chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said as he arrived at the summit, insisting the EU needs a long-term change of the rules to make sure member states can make their own decisions on defense spending. The conclusions add that the new measures to loosen the fiscal rules should not endanger debt sustainability, an important factor for some countries. EU finance ministers are expected to discuss options to ease the rules when they meet on Monday and Tuesday. One of the issues theyll aim to clarify is the length of such flexibility to boost defense spending. A German official said that it should be at least for 10 years. The EUs budget rules limit member states debt to 60% of GDP and the deficit to 3%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the package to accelerate military spending, EU leaders also welcomed on Thursday the commissions proposal to set up a new 150 billion fund to provide cheap loans to member states to build its defense production. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. By Lili Bayer, Andrew Gray and Michel Rose BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European leaders on Thursday backed plans to spend more on defence and continue to stand by Ukraine in a world upended by Donald Trump's reversal of U.S. policies. The European Union's defence summit in Brussels took place amid fears that Russia, emboldened by its war in Ukraine, may attack an EU country next and that Europe can no longer rely on the U.S. to come to its aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today we have shown that the European Union is rising to the challenge, building the Europe of defence and standing with Ukraine shoulder to shoulder," the chairman of the meeting Antonio Costa told reporters. EU leaders hailed the European Commission's proposals this week to give them fiscal flexibility on defence spending, and to jointly borrow up to 150 billion euros ($160 billion) to lend to EU governments to spend on their militaries. In a joint statement agreed by all 27 member states, the leaders called on their ministers to examine these proposals in detail urgently. "Europe must take up this challenge, this arms race. And it must win it," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a special defence summit in Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia - we are simply stronger," Tusk said. French President Emmanuel Macron, who on Wednesday had told French voters that Russia was a threat to France and Europe, said all this was just a first step. "Whatever happens in Ukraine, we need to build autonomous defence capacities in Europe," he said after the EU summit. SUPPORTING UKRAINE The EU leaders also voiced support for Ukraine, but that statement was agreed without Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, who is also cultivating ties with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their statement, the 26 other EU leaders stressed that there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, and vowed to continue to give it aid, according to a recent draft. "We are here to defend Ukraine," Costa said as he and European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen, both smiling broadly, warmly welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the summit, in sharp contrast with the clash between Trump and Zelenskiy in the Oval Office last week. But decades of reliance on U.S. protection, divergences on funding and on how France's nuclear deterrence could be used for Europe showed how difficult it would be for the EU to fill the void left by Washington after it froze military aid to Ukraine. Washington provided more than 40% of military aid to Ukraine last year, according to NATO, some of which Europe could not easily replace. Some leaders still held out hope, in public at least, that Washington could be coaxed back into the fold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We must ensure, with cool and wise heads, that U.S. support is also guaranteed in the coming months and years, because Ukraine is also dependent on their support for its defence," Germany's outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. Macron said that leaders backed Zelenskiy's call for them to support the idea of a truce between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the air and at sea. Zelenskiy told EU leaders such a truce would be a chance to test Moscow's will to end its three-year invasion. NUCLEAR DETERRENCE? In a sign of the gravity of the moment, Macron has said that France was open to discussing extending the protection offered by its nuclear arsenal to its European partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was met with cautiously positive reactions. Some, like Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, said such a "nuclear umbrella would serve as really very serious deterrence toward Russia." Poland said the idea was worth discussing while some, like the Czechs, stressed the need to keep the U.S. involved. Trump has said Europe must take more responsibility for its security. On Thursday he cast doubt on his willingness to defend Washington's NATO allies, saying that he would not do so if they are not paying enough for their own defense. His decision to shift from staunch U.S. support for Ukraine to a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow has deeply alarmed Europeans who see Russia as the biggest threat. Underlining the level of concern, the parties aiming to form Germany's next government on Tuesday agreed to lift constitutional limits on borrowing to fund defence spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in Europe, Norway will more than double its financial pledge to Ukraine this year while also hiking its own defence spending, the prime minister said. ($1 = 0.9271 euros) (Reporting by Andrew Gray, Lili Bayer, Michel Rose, Andreas Rinke, Jan Strupczewski; Additional reporting by Tiffany Vermeylen, Jason Hovet, Alan Charlish, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Makini Brice, Dominique Vidalon; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Peter Graff, Jan Strupczewski and Andrea Ricci) By Anna Ringstrom, Benoit Van Overstraeten and Makini Brice BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European leaders showed a cautiously receptive ear to President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to debate extending the French nuclear umbrella to Europe on Thursday, though some were reluctant to draw a line under years of U.S. protection. In an address to the nation on Wednesday, Macron said he would launch a strategic dialogue over extending the protection offered by France's nuclear arsenal to its European partners, seizing on comments from future German leader Friedrich Merz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although both France and Britain are nuclear powers, most European countries' primary nuclear deterrence comes from the United States, a decades-old symbol of trans-Atlantic solidarity. But the radical shift engineered by U.S. President Donald Trump's new administration, which has made overtures to Russia, pressured Ukraine to make peace with Moscow, and adopted a more aggressive stance towards traditional allies, has focused minds. "We Swedes, like most people, want to have as few nuclear weapons as possible, but right now we should be happy and grateful that there are two neighbouring countries that have nuclear weapons," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said. "So I think it is good that France is showing openness," he told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, though he said the issue was not on the meeting's agenda on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denmark, once a staunch U.S. ally now shocked by Trump's thinly-veiled threats of taking over Greenland, a Danish territory, also appeared receptive. "I think we have to discuss everything now, so all good ideas around the table have to be a part of our discussion," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Some Baltic countries, which have expressed fears they could be next if Russia was allowed to prevail in Ukraine, showed openness too. "I think it's a very interesting idea," Lithuanian Prime Minister Gitanas Nauseda said. "A nuclear umbrella would serve as really very serious deterrence toward Russia," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EUROPEAN CAUTION, RUSSIAN FURY After Macron first aired the idea of involving Europe in French strategic thinking around its nuclear deterrence in 2020, the response from his EU partners was muted. But the clearest sign the mood had shifted after five weeks of Trump presidency came from Germany, with Merz saying Berlin might need to become less reliant on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. He called for talks with France and Britain about an expansion of their nuclear protection, something Macron referred to in his speech on Wednesday as a "historical" turning point. Inevitably for an issue where strategic ambiguity is essential, Macron's proposal remains very vague, however, and some EU leaders expressed caution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts say France could not hope to replicate the same level of strategic nuclear infrastructure the U.S. has in Europe. France has only a fraction of the number of airborne nuclear weapons the U.S. can provide, and any upgrade of its systems would be costly and complicated. Asked whether Latvia would accept French nuclear weapons on Latvian territory, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said it was "too soon" to answer that. Others also expressed caution. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the debate "premature". "It is possible to consider it, but for now our security is guaranteed by close cooperation with the United States," Fiala told a news conference in Prague before the EU summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has displayed stark strategic differences with Macron over the course of his mandate, said it was important not to give up on U.S. military protection. Macron's comments caused furious reactions in Russia, with the foreign ministry saying Paris' "ambitions to become the nuclear 'patron' of all of Europe" would not lead to more security for France or its allies. (Writing by Michel Rose in Brussels; additional reporting by Ingrid Melander in Paris and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Aidan Lewis) European Union leaders, stunned by the United States' drastic turn on support for Ukraine, are meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to significantly improve Europe's defence capacity, including nuclear deterrence, and further support for Kiev. "This is a watershed moment for Europe," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as she arrived at the meeting. "Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace," she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU countries and Ukraine are alarmed by the prospect of the US and Russia seeking a peace settlement bilaterally which could grant Moscow territorial concessions, exclude Ukraine from NATO and close the door on US participation in future peacekeeping operations. EU countries worry that a peace deal favouring Russia could allow Moscow to attack Ukraine again and possibly other European countries. All Europeans understand what it means if Russia could rearm and in a few years strike against other countries, warned Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, whose country is a former Soviet republic and shares a land border with Russia. Ahead of the EU summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he is considering placing allied European countries under the protection of French nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron was following up on a suggestion by likely new German chancellor Friedrich Merz to hold talks with western European nuclear powers over an umbrella approach. Germany's complicated post-war history means that it did not develop its own nuclear weapons. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday expressed caution regarding Macron's proposal, as he arrived at an EU summit. When asked by a journalist, Scholz referred to NATO's system of nuclear deterrence, which is based on stationing US nuclear weapons in some European countries including in Germany. According to expert estimates, the US still has around 100 nuclear bombs stationed in Europe, some of which are said to be stored at the Buchel airbase in Germany's Eifel region. In an emergency, they are to be deployed by Bundeswehr fighter jets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other EU leaders, including Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden, welcomed the idea. Other proposals on the table include a plan pitched by the European Commission to mobilize close to 800 billion ($865 billion) for defence investments and Ukraine aid, after the US announced to halt weapons deliveries for Kiev. The commission proposed to provide 150 billion in loans which it hopes will be matched with private capital and additional funding from the European Investment Bank. The money is to be spent on missile defence, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, and to address other needs from cyber to military mobility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The most important thing now is, to be very frank, to rearm Europe and I don't think we have a lot of time," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. "Rearming Europe, spend, spend, spend on defence and deterrence, that's the most important message," Frederiksen added. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, "There is no doubt that the war in Ukraine, the new approach of the American administration toward Europe, and, above all, the arms race initiated by Russia ... pose entirely new challenges for us." "And Europe must take up this challenge, this arms race. And it must win it," Tusk added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU leaders are also mulling easing the bloc's usually strict debt and deficit rules to allow for more military spending. The EU's show of unity and solidarity with Ukraine risks to be once again thwarted by Kremlin-friendly Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban who announced last weekend his intention to block new military support efforts for Ukraine. "We are still striving for having the unity of 27 members. If that's not possible, then Hungary that can speak for themselves," said EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas arriving at the meeting. EU countries are considering a new military aid package for Ukraine based on voluntary contributions from capitals should Orban insist on blocking joint announcements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the opening of the EU summit, thanked European allies for their support. "During all this period and last week, you stayed with us," said Zelensky, arriving at the meeting. "We are very thankful that we are not alone. These are not just words. We feel it," he added. BRUSSELS (AP) European Union leaders on Thursday committed to working together to bolster the continent's defenses and to free up hundreds of billions of euros for security after U.S. President Donald Trumps repeated warnings that he would cut them adrift to face the threat of Russia alone. With the growing conviction that they will now have to fend for themselves, countries that have faltered on defense spending for decades held emergency talks in Brussels to explore new ways to beef up their security and ensure future protection for Ukraine. Today history is being written, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters after the summit ended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the 27 EU leaders are determined to ensure Europes security and to act with the scale, the speed and the resolve that this situation demands. We are determined to invest more, to invest better and to invest faster together. The pledge underscored a sea change in geopolitics spurred on by Trump, who has undermined 80 years of cooperation based on the understanding that the U.S. would help protect European nations following World War II. The leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending. They also urged the European Commission to seek new ways to facilitate significant defense spending" in all member states, a statement said. The EUs executive branch estimates that around 650 billion euros ($702 billion) could be freed up that way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leaders also took note of a commission offer of loans worth 150 billion euros ($162 billion) to buy new military equipment and invited EU headquarters staff to examine this proposal as a matter of urgency. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch supporter of Trump and considered to be Russian President Vladimir Putins closest ally in Europe, refused to endorse part of the summit statement in favor of Ukraine. But the 26 other EU leaders approved the blocs stance that there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine and that the Europeans must be involved in any talks involving their security. The Europeans have so far been sidelined in the U.S.-led negotiations with Russia. In other developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said talks between Ukraine and the U.S. on ending the war will take place in Saudi Arabia next week. In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet the country's crown prince, and his team would stay on to hold talks with U.S. officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Trump has overturned old certainties about the reliability of the U.S. as a security partner as he embraces Russia, withdraws American support for Ukraine and upends the tradition of cooperation with Europe that has been the bedrock of Western security for generations. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, said that three years of war in Ukraine and a shift in attitudes in Washington pose entirely new challenges for us, and Europe must take up this challenge ... and it must win. We will arm ourselves faster, smarter and more efficiently than Russia, Tusk said. Spending plans win early support Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy welcomed the plan to loosen budget rules and expressed hopes that some of the new spending could be used to strengthen Ukraine's own defense industry, which can produce weapons more cheaply than elsewhere in Europe and closer to the battlefields where they are needed. "We are very thankful that we are not alone, and these are not just words. We feel it. Its very important, Zelenskyy said, looking far more relaxed among Europe's leaders in Brussels than almost a week ago when he received a verbal lashing from Trump in Washington. Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, and summit chairman Antonio Costa discussed ways to fortify Europe's defenses on a short deadline. Merz pushed plans this week to loosen his nations rules on running up debt to allow for higher defense spending. Others too appeared ready to do more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spend, spend, spend on defense and deterrence. Thats the most important message, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters. The call is a sharp departure from decades of decline in military spending in Europe, where defense often ranked low in many budgetary considerations after the Cold War. In an address to his country Wednesday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron said the bloc would take decisive steps." Member states will be able to increase their military spending, he said, noting that massive joint funding will be provided to buy and produce some of the most innovative munitions, tanks, weapons and equipment in Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron conferred with his EU counterparts about the possibility of using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats. Helping EU countries find more money The short-term benefits of the budget plan offered by von der Leyen were not obvious. Most of the increased defense spending would have to come from national budgets at a time when many countries are already overburdened with debt. Part of the proposal includes measures to ensure struggling member states will not be punished for going too deep into the red if additional spending is earmarked for defense. Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France is struggling to reduce an excessive annual budget deficit of 5% of GDP, after running up its total debt burden to 112% of GDP with spending on relief for businesses and consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed Russias invasion of Ukraine. Five other countries using the euro currency have debt levels over 100% of GDP: Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal. Europes largest economy, Germany, has more room to borrow, with a debt level of 62% of GDP. Pressing security needs in Ukraine Part of any security plan would be to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian attacks such as the one that hit Zelenskyy's hometown overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Russian missile killed four people staying at a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, shortly after volunteers from a humanitarian organization moved in. The volunteers included Ukrainian, American and British nationals, but it wasn't clear whether those people were among the 31 who were wounded. Early this week, Trump ordered a pause in U.S. military supplies being sent to Ukraine as he sought to press Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. The move brought fresh urgency to Thursday's summit. But the meeting in Brussels did not address Ukraines most pressing needs. It was not aimed at drumming up more arms and ammunition to fill any supply vacuum created by the U.S. freeze. Nor will all nations agree to unblock the estimated 183 billion euros ($196 billion) in frozen Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house, a pot of ready cash that could be seized. ___ Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Brussels; David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany; Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal; and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. European Union leaders plan to significantly increase investments in defence aiming to rearm the bloc, following the United States' drastic turn on support for Ukraine. The EU "will reinforce its overall defence readiness, reduce its strategic dependencies, address its critical capability gaps and strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base," a joint declaration adopted by leaders read. "Europe must become more sovereign, more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal autonomously with immediate and future challenges and threats," it read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU leaders discussed a 150 billion ($162.4 billion) fund pitched by the European Commission with hopes to mobilize some 800 billion in total thanks to additional funding from the European Investment Bank and private capital. Leaders backed the easing of the EU's usually strict debt and deficit rules to allow countries to sharply increase military spending. (Bloomberg) -- Twenty-six European Union leaders ignored Hungary to back a declaration of support for Ukraine at an emergency meeting, underscoring the difficult road ahead as the bloc tries to mobilize new support for Kyiv. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the EUs most Russia-friendly leader and long a thorn in the blocs side, refused on Thursday to sign on to the summits conclusions, which pledged unwavering support for Kyiv and set out conditions for achieving a peace settlement. Twenty-six countries believe that the path to peace is reinforcing Ukraines capacities Hungary is alone, Antonio Costa, president of the EU leaders council, said at a press conference when the summit talks concluded. The 27-member bloc is rushing to mobilize hundreds of billions of euros in defense funds and create a new security architecture to protect against Russia as the US pares back its protective role on the continent. Orban, however, has the power to veto many of the more ambitious measures the EU is trying to push through at a break-neck pace as well as various efforts aimed at helping Ukraine or punishing Russia. It is no different from what we have experienced before, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. I have attended many meetings over quite a long time where Viktor Orban and Hungary have taken a different stance in this conflict. Nothing has changed in that regard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet President Donald Trumps increasingly antagonistic rhetoric aimed at Ukraine and the EU, and threats to water down Americas security commitment to Europe, have focused minds on the continent, which has woken up to the dire nature of the challenge it faces as well as the need to move quickly something the bloc isnt well equipped to do. After Orban refused to approve the Ukraine conclusions, the bloc moved ahead with a separate statement supported by the 26 other countries, pledging continued aid to Ukraine and offering to help provide security guarantees as part of peace negotiations. The European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to providing enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people, and to stepping up pressure on Russia, the statement said. The outcome presages bigger decisions that the bloc may have to make if the Trump administration continues to withhold support from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys government. It may need to devise ad hoc arrangements to provide significant new amounts of military and financial aid to avoid a potential veto from Budapest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the bloc will also need to tread carefully, since leaders need Orban to agree to renew sanctions against Russia, which require votes every six months. The EU had been hoping to move forward on an extra 20 billion ($22 billion) of military support for Ukraine at Thursdays summit, but references to the package were dropped from the final text. Earlier this week, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed mobilizing as much as 800 billion in additional national spending, including 150 billion of EU loans to member states for defense investment. This is a watershed moment for Europe, von der Leyen said Thursday. Europe faces a clear and present danger and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself and defend itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Bloomberg Economics Says... The package is far less revolutionary than it may seem. While it works for Germany, which has already launched its own massive defense plan, it will do little to help countries with limited fiscal space. For those governments, the bond market remains the main obstacle to rearmament. -Ana Andrade, Jamie Rush, Jean Dalbard and Antonio Barroso. Click here for full report. The bloc did unanimously agree to back efforts to boost defense spending more generally, including debating whether to pursue a long-term reform of the blocs fiscal rules. The leaders called on the European Commission, the blocs executive arm, to explore further measures with regard to the so-called stability and growth pact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most significant announcement this week came from German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz, who said hes secured agreement for a constitutional reform that will unlock hundreds of billions of euros for defense and infrastructure investments. Germany, which has long preached fiscal conservatism, shocked EU member states on Wednesday by calling for changes that would go well beyond the short-term measures proposed by the commission. Still, the outgoing chancellor, Olaf Scholz, insisted that there is no need for the EU to consider more joint debt issuance in order to finance the ramp up on defenses. Thats a proposal endorsed by a raft of other leaders, including Emmanuel Macron of France, who repeated his calls for more common borrowing on Thursday. All EU member states need to do more for defense, said Scholz, who is set to step down shortly following his defeat in last months election. We need to get rid of the shackles we put on ourselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Alberto Nardelli, Andra Timu, Donato Paolo Mancini, Jan Bratanic and Sanne Wass. (Updates with comments from leaders in third, fifth paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. EU leaders are discussing how to handle a potential renewed wave of refugees from Ukraine in the face of uncertainty in U.S. policy and Russia's ongoing offensives, Politico reported on March 5. Following a heated argument between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Feb. 28 the White House suspended U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly failed to condemn Russia, stirring panic in Europe. Czechia, Germany, and Poland host the most Ukrainian refugees. EU officials are now debating if there should be a more equal distribution among EU member states in the event of a new wave of refugees, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on March 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin escalates this war even further and the American support should disappear, and if this should lead to a larger refugee movement ... we need a binding distribution of the Ukraine refugees throughout the EU, according to a fair mechanism," Faeser said. European officials do not necessarily expect another large influx of refugees from Ukraine. Regardless, geopolitical uncertainty has prompted dialogue among European authorities on how to respond to a potential influx, Faeser told reporters. Germany will stand with Kyiv "(a)s long as Putin's terrible attack against Ukraine continues," she said. Around 5.2 million Ukrainian refugees remain abroad and about 4.2 million reside in the EU. The share of Ukrainian refugees who want to return home dropped from 74% in December 2022 to 43% by the end of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraine war latest: US halts intelligence sharing with Ukraine, CIA director confirms Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The European Union plans to propose that Ukraine cover its military needs for weapons and ammunition using part of the credit provided to Kyiv under the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative, which is financed by revenue from frozen Russian assets. Source: member of the delegation of a key EU country, speaking to European Pravda on the sidelines of the extraordinary European Council meeting in Brussels on 6 March Details: Due to the suspension of US military support and possible delays in the EU's creation of additional funding mechanisms, Ukraine may allocate part of the ERA credit line which provides Kyiv with 18.1 billion in 2025 from revenues generated by frozen Russian central bank assets for military procurement, the source told European Pravda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "We already have 18 billion on the table for this year, which Ukraine could use to receive military support immediately." Details: The source linked this initiative to the fact that the proposal by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas to create a substantial military support fund for Ukraine which could accumulate resources and weapons worth up to 20bn has yet to gain widespread support among EU member states and remains under discussion. The official recalled that in 2025, the EU plans to provide Ukraine with over 30bn in macro-financial assistance, of which 12.5bn will come from the Ukraine Facility programme, while 18.1bn will come from the European portion of the G7 ERA credit, which is funded by revenue from frozen Russian assets. It was emphasised that the ERA credit could be used for military procurement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The essence of this initiative is that we need to accelerate military support for Ukraine, depending on its needs, in the near future so that it can be in the best possible negotiating position. From the 18bn of this loan from the European share of the G7 loan we would like to be able to allocate a significant portion to military support." More details: The source did not specify how much of the 18.1bn could be directed towards defence procurement, as no final decision has been made at the EU level, but suggested that it could be "at least half". The European official also pointed out that the UK has already decided to allocate a portion of the revenue from frozen Russian assets on its territory to bolster Ukraine's air defence. Background: The EU is set to provide Ukraine with approximately 35 billion in financial assistance in 2025 under the G7 ERA credit initiative and the Ukraine Facility. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The European Council, which is currently meeting in Brussels, plans to approve the need for constructing the East Shield project along the borders with Russia and Belarus, strengthening the European Unions defence infrastructure. However, Ukraine will not be covered by this protection. Source: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaking to journalists, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Polish prime minister emphasised that the East Shield, initially a Polish initiative now joined by an increasing number of EU states, should be included in the European Council conclusions as one of the priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "What I wanted to achieve at this stage has already been secured. The conclusions (of the European Council) already include the East Shield and a broader initiative. This is not just about the East Shield as a Polish project. Finland, the Baltic states and, as I discussed today with the Romanian president, many other countries want to be part of this large-scale project protecting Europes eastern border." Details: Tusk stressed that he is "almost certain" the East Shield and the protection of the EU's eastern border have become priorities that no one questions anymore. "This also means financial and infrastructural support (from the EU)," he added. The Polish prime minister also called for increasing the presence of European and NATO forces along the border with Russia and Belarus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tusk stated that in order to genuinely offer security guarantees to others, Europe must first secure itself. In his words, that is why the first thing Europe should do is to fully secure its own borders especially with Russia and Belarus. Notably, the East Shield project does not currently extend to Ukraine. A diplomat from one of the EU's key countries told a European Pravda correspondent that "as of now, the project only includes EU member states" and Ukraines potential inclusion is not currently on the agenda. Background: In January 2024, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania approved the creation of a joint Baltic defence zone along their eastern border. In November 2024, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the start of construction for the East Shield fortification system along the borders with Russia and Belarus. Poland intends to complete the construction and reinforcement of its border wall with Belarus by mid-2025. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (Bloomberg) -- European Union leaders arriving in Brussels Thursday urged a revolutionary change to rebuild military infrastructure after decades of neglect and create a brand new security architecture in order to counter Russia. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leaders at the emergency meeting will discuss a security proposal from the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, that could mobilize as much as 800 billion ($863 billion) in additional national spending, including 150 billion of EU loans to member states for defense investment. Western allies are rushing to boost defense spending in preparation for President Donald Trumps decision to water down Americas security commitment to Europe, which will upend a central pillar of the EUs defense policy. Germany announced this week that it will unleash hundreds of billions of euros to step up its own defense investments. Europe must take up this challenge of the arms race and it has to win it, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said ahead of the meeting. We will need to restart everything, but I am convinced that this is a turning point when the EU understood the challenges ahead. The EU, typically slow on contentious topics, is intent on showing it can move fast when needed. Trump shocked the bloc into swift action by blindsiding both Ukraine and European allies with his direct outreach to Vladimir Putin and aligning with Russian demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a watershed moment for Europe, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday. Europe faces a clear and present danger and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself and defend itself. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Brussels Thursday to rally support from EU leaders said Russia should pledge to halt airstrikes and naval military operations as the first step toward showing that its serious about ending the three-year war. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who was only sworn in last month, described Trump as a real bully as he arrived at the summit. You find yourself blinking your eyes as the US president cuts back support for Ukraine and European security, he added. One roadblock to the EU moving swiftly is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the most Russia-friendly EU leader, who has threatened to block the summits conclusions over its support for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orban has a history of obstructing crucial EU matters, taking things down to the wire only to compromise at the 11th hour. And complicating the matter, the EU needs him to renew sanctions against Russia in the coming weeks. The EU was initially hoping to move forward on an extra 20 billion of military support for Ukraine, but a mention of this package disappeared from the latest draft seen by Bloomberg. Germany has called for the EU to consider a long-term reform of its fiscal rules to allow countries to make bigger defense expenditures, Bloomberg reported this week. The proposal appeared to be gaining traction among the leaders. We need a long-term change of the rules to make sure member states can make their own decisions on defense spending, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said ahead of the summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is about damn time, said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, speaking of the EU push. This is about something weve been asking for for a long time. --With assistance from Natalia Ojewska, Donato Paolo Mancini, Andra Timu, Milda Seputyte, Sanne Wass, Katharina Rosskopf, Michal Kubala, Kevin Whitelaw, Arne Delfs, Jorge Valero, Samy Adghirni and Jan Bratanic. (Updates with comments from Zelenskiy in 7th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. European leaders agreed to significantly boost defense spending to ensure Europes security and voiced near-unanimous support for Ukraine at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, after the United States dramatically pulled back its assistance to the continent in a historic upending of transatlantic relations. At the summit in Brussels, 26 European leaders signed a text calling for a peace deal that respects Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while including Ukraine in the negotiations. Hungary abstained. In a separate text, all 27 leaders of Europe greenlit proposals that could free up billions of euros to boost defense spending, calling on the European Commission to find new ways to facilitate significant defense spending at national level in all Member States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders noted a proposal from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that would provide countries with loans totaling up to 150 billion euros ($162 billion) and said the plan would be studied ahead of another meeting at the end of the month. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky attended Thursdays special session, and thanked the leaders of the European Union (EU) for supporting him as his relationship with US President Donald Trump disintegrated over recent days. During all (of) this period, and last week, you stayed with us, Zelensky said at the meeting. From all the Ukrainians, from all our nation: big appreciation. We are very thankful that we are not alone. Following the Special European Council summit in Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters on Thursday that the EU will give Ukraine over $33 billion in assistance, taken from Russians sanctioned by the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The priority is to support Ukraine and its army in the very short term, Macron said. In 2025, the EU will provide Ukraine with 30.6 billion euros, financed by Russian assets. In Washington meanwhile, Trump reiterated his criticism of unequal defense spending among NATO countries. I think its common sense. If they dont pay, Im not going to defend them, Trump said. Heads of the 27 EU nations had traveled to Brussels to find a path forward in the conflict; the latest in a string of sessions aimed at finding a ceasefire deal with Ukraines support before the US and Russia force one on Kyiv. But some fear that the involvement of ambivalent countries could derail efforts to put together a peace plan which might satisfy both Kyiv and Washington. And there is uncertainty across Europe that Trump would even be interested in any plan the continent presents him with. Asked about how Europe can convince the US to include them in negotiations over the war in Ukraine, von der Leyen said that all parties want peace from a position of strength. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is also in the interest of President Trump, to have a peaceful strength, and if he wants to achieve this, it is only possible with the support of the European Union and its member states, because pre-conditions have to be met, she said. A new era Europe is entering a new era, Macron admitted in a televised address on Wednesday night, describing an increased weariness over the shift in Trumps tone toward Moscow. The United States, our ally, has changed its position on this war, is less supportive of Ukraine and is casting doubt on what will happen next, Macron warned. And Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was dismissed as Ukraines military chief last year in a major shakeup before becoming Kyivs ambassador to the United Kingdom, said in unusually blunt and potentially incendiary remarks that the US is destroying the current world order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see now the White House takes steps towards the Kremlin, trying to meet them half way, so the next target of Russia could be Europe, he said at London think tank Chatham House on Thursday. Its not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the US is finally destroying this order. Hungary was the only country whose leader refused to sign Thursdays Ukraine text at the summit, though Prime Minister Viktor Orban did agree to the statement on defense. By doing so, Hungary isolated itself from the consensus of Europe, European Council President Antonio Costa said in a statement to press after the meeting. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joined Zelensky to speak with the media on Thursday. - Omar Havana/AP A meeting with a key difference Thursday was the third hastily organized European meeting over the future of the war since the Trump administration dramatically pulled back its support for the continent. A Sunday summit in London saw some progress: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said a small group of European nations would work with Zelensky on a ceasefire proposal, then present it to the US a workaround that might avert another meltdown in relations between Trump and Zelensky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this meeting had a key difference: It involves every nation in the bloc, not just the countries who opted to attend Starmers summit. And some countries are neither willing nor interested in supporting Ukraines fight for survival. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly resisted calls to support Kyiv militarily. Unlike most of his European counterparts, he supported Trump following the presidents argument with Zelensky, writing on X: Strong men make peace, weak men make war. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, right, is substantially less supportive of Ukraine's fight than his EU counterparts. - Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP The Ukrainian leader said on Telegram Wednesday that Kyiv and Europe are preparing a plan for the first steps to bring about a just and sustainable peace. We are working on it quickly. It will be ready soon. As talks gather to talk peace, Russia continues assaulting Ukraine on daily basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky arrived to Brussels just hours after the latest wave of Russian drone and missile attacks targeted his home town of Kryvyi Rih. A strike against a hotel in the southeastern city killed four people and injured many more, the president said early Thursday, adding that foreign citizens including Americans and Britons were among those staying at the hotel. Sharing the burden A senior EU diplomat told CNN that discussions around burden sharing are likely to feature heavily in Thursdays summit, stressing that the burden for Ukraines aid needs to be shared more evenly between member states. Reaching an agreement on that will prove difficult. Without singling any countries out, the diplomat highlighted how the countries that arent paying their fair share when it comes to Ukraine are also usually failing to spend over 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. Some serious progress is nonetheless expected. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a plan to rearm Europe in the build-up to the summit, and said the bloc could mobilize funds up to 800 billion euros ($862 billion) to achieve it. We are in an era of rearmament, she said in a statement Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question is no longer whether Europes security is threatened in a very real way, she added. Or whether Europe should shoulder more of the responsibility for its own security. In truth, we have long known the answers to those questions. A senior EU official told CNN that they expect EU leaders to give a green light allowing von der Leyens defense plan to be moved forward very swiftly. Firefighters evacuate a woman from a destroyed multi-story building after a missile attack in central Kyiv. - Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images There are immediate discussions taking place too: including on what the peacekeeping force deployed to Ukraine to uphold a potential ceasefire might look like. First proposed just two weeks ago, the force has quickly morphed from an idea to an apparent condition of any deal. The UK, France and Turkey would likely contribute the bulk of any such force, a European official familiar with the negotiations told CNN in the build-up to the summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the official said Eastern European states that neighbor Russia were concerned that contributing to the force might leave their own borders vulnerable a fear that Poland has been particularly open about since it was first raised. European NATO has about 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) of eastern border, so you dont want to empty the eastern border, the official said. Most likely the boots on the ground, if there is to be such a component, will not come from countries like Finland or Poland who are frontline countries already and need to keep the boots on their own ground. The official said it was a reasonable assumption that most of the troops would come from Britain, France and Turkey. The official said a timeline for confidence-building measures was under discussion, but said it might prove challenging for a limited ceasefire in Ukraine and prisoner swaps to begin by Easter. Agreeing and implementing a full-blown ceasefire across the whole front line in that timeframe would be completely unrealistic, they added. CNNs Nick Paton Walsh and Svitlana Vlasova contributed reporting For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stated that Europe is determined and prepared to take responsibility for its own security. He expressed confidence that the European Union is capable of winning the arms race unleashed by Russia. Source: European Pravda, citing Tusk in a statement upon arrival at the EU summit in Brussels Quote: "Today, everything has changed. I mean both the proposals of the European Commission and the determination of all my counterparts in Paris and London yesterday. Everyone is determined to take on this challenge [to strengthen defences ed.]." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Tusk noted that today could mark a turning point for Europe in strengthening its defence, developing the arms industry and responding to the challenge posed by Russia. He pointed out that discussions on strengthening European defence have been ongoing for some time. Tusk believes that the war in Ukraine, the shift in the US administration's stance towards Europe and, above all, the arms race unleashed by Russia, present new challenges for Europe. "Europe must meet this challenge and must win. I'm convinced that Russia is going to lose the arms race. Just as the Soviet Union lost a similar race thirty years ago," the Polish prime minister stressed. He added that this will help avoid a broader conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today, Europe is ready to take action on security. It is prepared to arm itself more swiftly, intelligently and effectively than Russia," Tusk said. "There is no reason to be overly optimistic today, but I am convinced that this is a turning point, as Europe has recognised the responsibility it bears," he added. Background: On 4 March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the ReArm Europe programme, which could mobilise up to 800 billion for defence. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Military experts proposed to deploy European air forces to protect Kyiv and other non-front-line Ukrainian cities from Russian aerial attacks, the Guardian reported on March 6, citing the so-called Sky Shield plan. The plan could potentially work as part of the "truce in the sky" proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week, preventing missiles, long-range drones, and bombs from targeting civilian infrastructure. The project's supporters said it could be a European-led air defense zone involving 120 fighter jets that will operate separately from NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the plan, developed by former British Air Force planners in cooperation with Ukraine's Armed Forces, the protection zone would cover Ukraine's three operational nuclear power plants, as well as the cities of Odesa and Lviv in Ukraine's south and west. The country's east, where the fierce battles are ongoing in Donetsk Oblast, were not included in the zone. According to the authors, this step can be more tangible than the deployment of ground troops as peacekeepers. In February, the Washington Post reported that up to 30,000 European troops could be deployed in the country after a potential ceasefire. Among those who supported the Sky Shield plan are Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme commander in Europe, Polish ex-President Aleksander Kwasniewski, and Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's former foreign minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European defense ministries have considered the plan, but their leaders have been reluctant to authorize patrolling Ukrainian skies while Russia's full-scale war is ongoing, the Guardian wrote. In light of the U.S. policy shift and suspension of military aid to Ukraine, the initiative can be revisited, the news outlet noted. Yet, Western partners still fear an escalation if an aircraft from either side is attacked or shot down. Russian forces regularly launch drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, inflicting heavy civilian casualties. A Russian missile strike against a hotel in Kryvyi Rih late on March 5, carried out shortly after the U.S. paused vital intelligence sharing, killed four people and injured over 30. According to figures released by Kyiv, U.N. statistics, and open-source data published by BBC Russia, the total death toll of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers, as well as Ukrainian civilians, stood at over 148,000 as of mid-February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Bloomberg) -- Klarna is seeking to raise at least $1 billion in a US initial public offering and is set to file publicly as soon as next week, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg The payments business aims to price the IPO in early April, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isnt public. Klarna is targeting a valuation of more than $15 billion in the New York Stock Exchange listing, the people said. Deliberations are ongoing and details of the listing plan including timing could still change, the people said. A representative for the company declined to comment. Klarna is best known for its offering of buy-now, pay-later loans, which typically allow users to make a purchase and split their payments into equal, interest-free installments. The company has amassed 85 million customers around the world and 600,000 retail partners. Klarna has confidentially filed for an IPO with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a statement in November. The company is working on the listing with around 15 banks, led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg News has reported. Sequoia Capital-backed Klarnas listing is set to give a boost to technology IPOs, which have been in a relative slump after setting records for volume in 2021. Other fintech companies including Chime Financial Inc. and Zilch Technology Ltd. are considering potential first-time share sales this year. Klarna has seen estimates of its valuation fluctuate wildly in recent years. The figure reached a high of $45.6 billion in a funding round in 2021, only to plunge to $6.7 billion in a round the following year. Analysts last year gave it an implied valuation of around $14.6 billion based on shareholder Chrysalis Investments Ltd.s estimate of the worth of its stake. Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Siemiatkowski said last month that the firm, known for its buy now, pay later offerings, is exploring an expansion into the cryptocurrency market. He posted I give up on social-media platform X on Feb. 8, saying Klarna will embrace crypto. Klarna was founded 20 years ago in Stockholm, Sweden but in 2023 it began setting up a new UK holding company as part of its preparatory work for an eventual public offering. The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed a guarantee agreement under the Ukraine Facility programme to support Ukraine's recovery and resilience, allowing the EIB to invest 2 billion in urgent recovery and rebuilding efforts in Ukraine. Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Economy Details: The ministry stated that the funds would support public sector initiatives in key areas. Investments will focus on strengthening Ukraine's energy networks, including power grids, expanding hydropower and renewable energy production and improving energy efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funds will also be used to modernise railways, enhance urban public transport and improve transport links, including the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes and border crossings along key export routes. In addition, the funding will support the repair of municipal infrastructure, such as water and heating systems and public lighting, as well as schools, hospitals and higher education institutions, the ministry noted. This initiative is being implemented by the EIB Advisory Service through the 20 million JASPERS advisory package for Ukraine, co-funded by the European Commission and the EIB's EU for Ukraine advisory programme from 2024. Background: This funding is part of the European Union's 50 billion Ukraine Facility programme for Ukraine for the period 2024-2027. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The News European Union leaders agreed to boost defense spending with an 800 billion ($841.2 billion) plan at an emergency summit Thursday, described as a watershed moment for the continent by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Leaders from the European Unions 27 member states and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gathered in Brussels Thursday for an emergency defense summit meant to shore up support for Ukraine after US President Donald Trump halted military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv this week. The agreed-on defense plan marks the biggest defense package in EU history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, despite the accord, the summit also exposed sharp divisions in the bloc: Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to back a statement promising enduring support for Kyiv. The ideological splits are asking existential questions of the blocs unity in the face of US President Donald Trumps effort to sideline and fracture the continent, Politico wrote. SIGNALS Europe mulls its own nuclear deterrent as US retreats Sources: BBC, The Conversation, Center for Strategic and International Studies Ahead of the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday floated the possibility of extending Frances nuclear deterrent to European allies, a suggestion that underscored the depth of concern, the BBC wrote. Russias foreign minister said the comments were a threat: A French-led nuclear umbrella, a nuclear defense expert wrote, would be a sign of European political solidarity that would make Moscows calculations difficult. Still, Frances arsenal and the UKs are too small to entirely replace Americas extended nuclear deterrence, and neither France nor the UK has a nuclear doctrine compatible with stationing the weapons in other countries, a Europe expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies argued. To boost defense, Europe must make tough choices Sources: International Institute for Strategic Studies, Financial Times, Prospect, The Guardian Europe has the economic and technological base to better meet the challenge of Russian aggression, but the blocs leaders will also need the political will to divert resources to beef up defense, two International Institute for Strategic Studies experts argued. The continent has to face the fact that social security needs to be trimmed to make way for more military spending, a Financial Times columnist argued. In the UK, the Labour government could avoid some welfare cuts by reviving a wealth tax plan instead, a Prospect Magazine columnist argued. Other belt-tightening moves, like the British prime ministers decision to cut foreign aid, could backfire: Aid and defense are two sides of the same coin, a former British Army officer argued in The Guardian. Several European MPs have sent an open letter to King Philippe of Belgium calling on him to support the seizure of 250 billion in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. Source: European Pravda with reference to an open letter posted on X (Twitter) by Latvian MEP Rihards Kols Details: The letter to King Philippe of Belgium regarding frozen Russian assets was signed by about 30 members of the national parliaments of various EU countries and the European Parliament. They include representatives of the Baltic states, Poland, Czechia, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Croatia, as well as several Hungarian MPs, a Slovak MP, and several signatories from Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letters authors call on the King of Belgium to publicly support the confiscation of frozen Russian assets held in Belgium and the prompt transfer of these funds to Ukraine at this "pivotal moment for Europes security". The letter emphasises the special role of Belgium, given that it holds the largest share of the frozen assets of a state that has unleashed a war of aggression in Europe and is systematically violating international law and committing war crimes. Quote from the letter: "There is both a legal basis and a moral imperative to act. International law recognises the right of states to seize the assets of an aggressor to compensate victims and finance reconstruction. Precedent exists." Details: The letter emphasises that the decision is also a test of Europes resolve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Belgium can and must lead by example, showing that European values are not hollow words but principles with consequences," the signatories say. Another argument is that further sanctions are in doubt due to the position of some EU countries, and a decision on the next extension of sanctions will have to be made in June. Quote from the letter: "Europe stands at a dangerous crossroads... Both our partners and our adversaries are closely watching the fractures in Europe's resolve, and the consequences will be felt far beyond Ukraine. We therefore call upon Your Majesty to publicly support the immediate legal seizure and transfer of these assets to Ukraine and to encourage the Belgian government to champion this policy at both national and EU levels. Belgium can be the front-runner Europe needs in this moment of uncertainty turning frozen assets into a tangible lifeline for Ukraine's defence and reconstruction." Background: The FT has reported that the European peace plan foresees the use of frozen Russian assets as a security guarantee for Ukraine. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to have an audience with the King of Belgium on 6 March as part of his trip to attend the extraordinary summit of European leaders in Brussels. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The European Union failed on Thursday to agree on a joint position on support for Ukraine after Hungary did not back a statement pledging further support for Kiev. A draft of the declaration, backed by the remaining 26 EU countries, reaffirmed the EU's existing position on the war in Ukraine, stressed the need for a just and lasting peace and the bloc's commitment to continued aid for Kiev including military support. Following the suspension of US military aid, EU support for Ukraine was to be reaffirmed in a joint statement at a special leaders' summit in Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kremlin-friendly Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban already announced his veto last Saturday in a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, mentioning "strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine." In his letter, Orban called instead for last week's United Nations resolution to be endorsed that called for a rapid end to the war but did not name Russia as the aggressor in the war in Ukraine. The resolution, which was adopted by the UN Security Council on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, was brought forward by the US government. Arriving at the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed her support for Ukraine and the country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the opening of the summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a watershed moment for Europe," said von der Leyen. "Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace," she added. EU leaders backed plans to significantly increase investments in defence aiming to rearm the bloc. The EU "will reinforce its overall defence readiness, reduce its strategic dependencies, address its critical capability gaps and strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base," a joint declaration on defence read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Europe must become more sovereign, more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal autonomously with immediate and future challenges and threats," it read. EU leaders discussed a 150 billion ($162.4 billion) fund pitched by the European Commission with hopes to mobilize some 800 billion in total thanks to additional funding from the European Investment Bank and private capital. Leaders backed the easing of the EU's usually strict debt and deficit rules to allow countries to sharply increase military spending. "There is no doubt that the war in Ukraine, the new approach of the American administration toward Europe, and, above all, the arms race initiated by Russia ... pose entirely new challenges for us," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arriving at the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And Europe must take up this challenge, this arms race. And it must win it," Tusk added. EU countries and Ukraine are alarmed by the prospect of the US and Russia seeking a peace settlement bilaterally which could grant Moscow territorial concessions, exclude Ukraine from NATO and close the door on US participation in future peacekeeping operations. EU countries worry that a peace deal favouring Russia could allow Moscow to attack Ukraine again and possibly other European countries. The thread posed by Russia and the US' U-turn triggered a new debate about nuclear deterrence among EU leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the EU summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he is considering placing allied European countries under the protection of French nuclear weapons. Macron was following up on a suggestion by likely new German chancellor Friedrich Merz to hold talks with western European nuclear powers over an umbrella approach. Germany's complicated post-war history means that it did not develop its own nuclear weapons. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday expressed caution regarding Macron's proposal, as he arrived at the EU summit. When asked by a journalist, Scholz referred to NATO's system of nuclear deterrence, which is based on stationing US nuclear weapons in some European countries including in Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to expert estimates, the US still has around 100 nuclear bombs stationed in Europe, some of which are said to be stored at the Buchel airbase in Germany's Eifel region. In an emergency, they are to be deployed by Bundeswehr fighter jets. Other EU leaders, including Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden, welcomed the idea. French satellite operator Eutelsat Communications is in advanced talks with the European Union to possibly replace tech billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on March 6. "Everyone is asking us today, 'Can you replace the large number of terminals of Starlink in Ukraine,' and we are looking at that," Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke told Bloomberg. Eutelsat, which already operates in Ukraine, has thousands of terminals deployed, although not all are connected to the network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starlink has played a vital role in Ukraine's battlefield communications, with around 42,000 terminals providing service to the military, medical facilities, businesses, and aid organizations. Berneke said the company is in discussions with suppliers to provide both military-grade and standard terminals and would need "a couple of months" to supply 40,000 units. Concerns over Starlink's availability escalated after the U.S. paused military aid to Ukraine on March 3. Reuters reported that U.S. officials have raised the possibility of restricting Ukraine's access to Starlink. Musk, who owns Starlink and has close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump, denied the intention to turn off the terminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eutelsat's proposal combines OneWeb's low Earth orbit satellites, positioned around 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) above the surface, with its geostationary satellites at 35,000 kilometers (21,748 miles). The dual-constellation approach could provide essential connectivity for Ukraine's military, including for drone operations that have inflicted significant losses on Russian forces. OneWeb already provides services to Ukraine through a German distributor, but scaling up would require European governments to approve procurement and integration plans. The European Commission is assessing ways to help Ukraine secure satellite communications in case Starlink access is restricted, Politico reported on March 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Peace with Russia already means a steady stream of hybrid attacks on US, Europe Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Sen. Eva Burch, D-Mesa, speaks on the floor of the Arizona Senate on March 18, 2024, about her decision to get an abortion because she is carrying an unviable fetus. Burch spoke about how Arizona's "cruel" laws required her to have an invasive medical procedure and make multiple trips to the abortion clinic, even though the procedure is medically necessary and she has consulted with her personal doctor throughout her pregnancy. Burch was flanked by her fellow Democratic senators. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror Mesa Democratic Sen. Eva Burch announced late Wednesday afternoon that she would be resigning next week, citing partisan gridlock and the low pay state lawmakers receive. Burch, who was first elected in 2022, made national headlines last year after she told her colleagues on the Senate floor about how the states anti-abortion laws were impacting her ability to end an unviable pregnancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, she said that unwillingness from Republicans to even consider Democratic ideas leaves her unable to accomplish her goals for improving Arizona. I know that with the current structure in place, the best way for me to get bills to the floor is certainly not to sponsor them myself. I can and must do more than what I can do here and now, and the time for me to start seeking those opportunities has come, Burch said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX She also said the low pay for state legislators, who are paid $24,000 a year and havent seen a pay raise since 1998, was a major factor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also must be said that I have been struggling to make ends meet and to find balance with my legislative work and my job as a healthcare provider, she said. I know that I am not the first, nor will I be the last, good person to find themself a casualty of legislative pay. The low pay has been a driving factor in a string of legislative resignations over the past two years most from Democrats, and all from lawmakers who live in Maricopa County who havent benefited from a windfall in extra per diem pay the way lawmakers who live outside the county do. I hope that the future will see Arizona lawmakers earning a living wage so that our constituents can be represented by working class citizens who understand the pressures of raising a family and struggling to make ends meet here in Arizona, she added. It is a loss for us all when thoughtful, level-headed leaders cannot offer the best of themselves to the job. I find myself unable to give either of my jobs the attention that they both duly deserve. State law requires that voters approve pay increases for elected officials, but they have rejected six pay raises for legislators since 1998, most recently in 2014. Since then, lawmakers have turned their efforts to increasing subsistence payments as a way to pay themselves more without having to win voter approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One veteran lobbyist who has long advocated for higher pay for lawmakers said it was sad to see that poor compensation drove Burch away from the Capitol. Another experienced Arizona legislator leaving state service in order to earn a living, Kevin DeMenna, a lobbyist and former chief of staff for the Arizona Senate, said on X. Why not put a salary increase on the ballot and establish a wage that will attract and retain the best and brightest policymakers? Burchs resignation will be effective on March 14, 2025, after which the Democratic precinct committeemen of Legislative District 9 will choose nominees to fill the vacant seat until the next election. Her replacement will ultimately be chosen by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. I look forward to offering my help and support to whoever is appointed to take my place, Burch said. I know that there is a future for me in Arizona politics, and I am determined to find it. This is a community and a state that I love with all my heart, and you can expect to see more of me, very soon. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Mara Gay, New York Times Editorial Board Member and Tim Miller, Host of The Bulwark Podcast join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with reaction to the backlash to many of the tariffs set to go into place by Donald Trump with some of our closest trading partners, with members of his administration floating the idea of rolling back the tariffs after some of the most conservative media outlets voiced concern about the policies hurting the American economy. For more than two decades, Debbie and Jacquelyn Espinoza have gone to bed each night wondering what became of their little brother, Ricky Espinoza, after he disappeared in June 2001. DNA evidence that was stored for years without review could hold the key to understanding Rickys fate, but an unexpected hangup at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation could leave Rickys case and thousands of others in bureaucratic limbo for years to come. Originally the Espinoza family was told there was no evidence collected from Rickys body, as it was too decomposed. But several specimens were taken and will be retested by the CBI in an attempt to answer a 23-year-old question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whoever this monster was that killed my brother, then threw him in the trash bin, they need to be really punished for taking a life and abusing a corpse, and for doing that to my sister and I for 23 years, putting us through hell, Debbie Espinoza said. What happened to Ricky? Ricky Arthur Espinoza s case is an unfortunate morass of brutality and intrigue. He was last seen alive by his family on June 23, 2001, five days before his killing. He was born on Oct. 19, 1963 and was a 37-year-old Colorado Springs resident, having moved back home after living in Denver for several years. Ricky had recently graduated from cosmetology school. My brother was blessed with his good looks and was a sharp dresser and fashionable with his hair, a great cosmetologist, his sister Jacquelyn Espinoza told The Advocate. Ricky briefly lived in California, residing in North Hollywood and working as a courier for a law office as he was considering a career change, his sisters said. He would have been a good attorney, because he wouldn't back down, Rickys sister Debbie added. Ricky was at a pivotal point in his life, and he wanted to further his education. He had been talking about going back to college [and] he was contemplating what he wanted to do. Then they ended his life, Debbie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Saturday Ricky was last seen, he went to a wedding reception with his family. Around midnight, he told his mother (with whom he was very close, his sisters say) that he was going to Eros Arcade, an adult bookstore known to be frequented by the areas gay men. He set off on foot, which was unusual as he was known to bike around the area. The bicycle Ricky would have taken remained chained outside his mothers home for years after his disappearance. Rickys last contact with his family was around 4:30 on the morning of June 24, when he phoned home to tell his mother he was staying overnight at Js Motor Hotel , which was located at 820 N. Nevada Ave. in Colorado Springs. The motel no longer stands, and it appears based on online reviews that its last booking was sometime in 2008 and the lot it once occupied is now part of the Colorado College campus . It was about a seven-minute drive from the former home of Rickys mother, who lived in southwest Colorado Springs on East Las Vegas Street. For five days after Rickys last phone call, his family stewed in dread, desperately trying to figure out his fate. Rickys nude body was ultimately found June 28 by a worker at the Fountain Landfill at 10000 Squirrel Creek Rd., about a 25-minute drive southeast of Js Motor Hotel. An undetermined cause of death The body found at the landfill had been mangled by a bulldozer and was so decomposed that Ricky was identified by fingerprints and dental records. Rickys perfect teeth were an identifying factor, Debbie Espinoza told The Advocate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because Rickys body was severely traumatized postmortem, it became difficult to conclusively determine the cause of death or even which injuries were sustained before or after his killing. An autopsy report provided by the El Paso County Coroners Office and reviewed by former medical examiner Dr. Deborah Johnson ruled his death a homicide with undetermined cause. At the time, officers and investigators told the Espinoza family that they were unable to take DNA samples. That was a lie, Jacquelyn said. They took DNA, they took a rape kit. After pressure from activist Rob Wells and the family to retest the DNA from the scene, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office agreed to a peer review by the CBI to retest items from the investigation, a letter sent to the family and viewed by The Advocate read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rickys blood alcohol limit was .296, over double the states legal limit for driving, but that could have been caused by fermentation during decomposition, said Johnson, who examined Rickys body and is currently a forensic pathologist at Pikes Peak Forensics, having left the El Paso County office in 2002. There were no signs he was killed by toxicity. Under the methods we have today, they can probably still get good DNA on a severely decomposed body, Johnson noted. But, she added, Those methods were not available then. Usually its your best bet to save a piece of bone because that seems to be less affected. But back 20 years ago our thought was, well save [specimens] if we can, because there may be new techniques. It is unlikely that Rickys body was found at the scene of the actual crime, meaning he could have been killed anywhere, said forensic analyst T.J. Payne. Right now, we only have a dump site and no actual crime scene which just adds another level of complexity to this case, Payne told The Advocate. But Payne theorized that this was done by someone who ran on impulsive behavior and managed the crime scene after the incident took place. There were inconsistencies in the way Rickys death was reported in the Colorado Springs newspaper The Gazette versus the autopsy report, Payne noted. Postmortem injuries immediately made me think this was a disorganized sensational murder, when in fact most injuries to Rickys corpse likely were sustained because of how his body was disposed of, Payne said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Original reporting on Rickys death by the local papers reflected the mindset of police at the time when it came to LGBTQ+ victims of murder. El Paso County Sheriff's Detective Gabe Firpo told the Colorado Springs Independent in July 2001 that Eros Arcade, which still stands at 227 Bonfoy Ave. in Colorado Springs, now as the Ambassador Adult Theater & Arcade, was a well-known pick-up place for gay men. The theater is about a five-minute drive or 50-minute walk from Js Motor Hotel, where we know for certain Ricky was last heard from. But its unclear if Ricky was last seen at Eros Arcade. El Paso County Sheriffs officers told the Independent in July 2001 that they were trying to ascertain if Ricky checked into Js Motor Hotel with someone he met at Eros Arcade, but its unclear what they determined Rickys family was never informed of any leads. Requests by The Advocate to view the 23-year old police reports were denied. The El Paso County Sheriffs Office said via email it does not disclose records for open, active investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family claims that Rickys case was taken less seriously because of his sexuality, and press articles from the time were less than sympathetic. During the time when Ricky was killed, the narrative in the press that they wrote about Ricky in the newspapers was, to me, falsely and recklessly written to demoralize him, Jacquelyn said. It really tore me apart. They completely obliterated his character, and they associated it with people that were doing illegal activity. I believe Ricky was marginalized to the public, and they wanted to set up his life as insignificant. A crisis in Colorado Unfortunately for the Espinoza family, the system that should provide answers about Rickys death is functioning less than optimally. Colorado has a backlog of 1,750 unsolved murder cases dating as far back as 1970, said Rob Wells , a former U.S. Coast Guard special agent and criminal justice professor turned victim advocate who founded the advocacy group Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons to draw attention to unsolved crimes in Colorado and hopefully solve a few. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which handles the forensic analysis for police departments across the state, recently found that former forensic scientist Yvonne Missy Woods had either manipulated or omitted data in supposedly hundreds of cases dating back to the beginning of her career with the agency in 1994. This marked bad news for Rickys case and thousands of others. In Colorado, a case is considered cold if it has remained unsolved for three years or more. This discovery puts all of her work in question, the agency said in a statement to CNN last March , adding that it would review all of Woodss cases for data manipulation. The mishandling of DNA by Woods impacts the Espinoza case because it forces his family farther down the queue. Cases Woods analyzed now take priority as the CBI is forced to reexamine them and reckon with any possible malfeasance. Woods not only presided over hundreds of cases during her career but also trained generations of scientists, her attorney told CNN. Anomalies in her work were first reported in September 2023, and she was placed on administrative leave the following month before retiring in November before the investigation concluded, the CBIs internal audit published June 5 found. What this has done is delay the processing of DNA that they have, Wells said of the CBI. So were going to have to be patient Kirby assures me it is going to get taken care of as soon as humanly possible, it is on their radar, Wells said, referring to CBI Assistant Director Kirby Lewis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Rickys surviving family, the issue with the CBI compounds an already existing dread. Im anxious, his elder sister Debbie Espinoza said. Im praying. Theres no such thing as a secret. This isnt going away. Were not going to let it go, and it will not be forgotten, I assure you that, Wells added. A convicted felon has pleaded guilty to sex crimes involving minors. The same defendant has served a prison sentence in a separate child sex-crime case when working as a Lebanon school bus driver. Stephen Massey, 56, pleaded guilty in January to rape of a child, sexual battery by an authority figure and sexual battery. Massey was sentenced to 25 years in prison, according to the 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Each crime involved different victims who were children at the time of the offense, according to the district attorney's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest convictions did not involve Massey's former employment as a school bus driver, prosecutors have said. Massey's booking at the Wilson County Jail listed Carthage as his home address. Massey has been transferred to prison, according to the Wilson County Sheriff's Office. Massey served a separate five-year prison sentence that expired in July 2021 after he pleaded guilty in October 2017 to two counts of attempted solicitation of a minor. The 2017 conviction related to charges that prosecutors said occurred late in 2015 to early in 2016 when Massey was employed as a bus driver for the Lebanon Special School District. Prosecutors said that Massey manipulated two students, ages 7 and 9 at the time, to expose body parts. The latest conviction comes from a plea agreement on charges filed in 2021 for crimes that occurred in 2007-2008 and 2013-2014, and charges filed in 2023 for crimes that occurred in 2012, according to the district attorney's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massey's sentence is 25 years on the rape of a child conviction, six years for sexual battery by an authority figure and two years for sexual battery. The sentences run concurrently for an effective sentence of 25 years, according to the district attorney's office. Massey will be classified as a violent offender on the sex offender registry and be subject to community supervision for life. There were other charges dismissed as part of the plea agreement, prosecutors said. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Stephen Massey, ex-Lebanon bus driver pleads guilty to sex crimes By Charlotte Greenfield, Federico Maccioni, Joanna Plucinska and Lisa Barrington DUBAI/KABUL/LONDON (Reuters) - Airlines are turning to a network of third parties to pay fees to Afghan authorities as more planes use the country's airspace, increasing the risk of legal disputes and money laundering, according to pilots, aviation executives and lawyers. In the last year more airlines have started flying over Afghanistan as conflict in the Middle East widened and as aviation regulators softened their stance on using Afghan airspace. The Taliban says publicly that this has led to a surge in overflight payments - fees that countries typically charge airlines for navigation services in their airspace. However, the process of making these payments to the Taliban-run aviation authorities is complicated by the freezing of Afghanistan's government bank accounts overseas and Western sanctions on Taliban leaders. The challenges airlines face making overflight payments to Afghanistan, including a reliance on intermediaries and a lack of invoices, are detailed here for the first time. Before the Taliban came to power in 2021, the International Air Transport Association industry group collected overflight charges on behalf of Afghanistan's aviation authority. IATA told Reuters that it ceased this service in September 2021, leaving millions of dollars in charges collected for the previous Afghan government frozen in its accounts. Airlines and private jet operators have instead turned to third-party intermediaries, known as trip support firms, to process payments to the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority, according to six people familiar with the process, including pilots, airline officials, and third-party payment firms. Some third-party permit specialists use additional intermediaries - primarily based in the United Arab Emirates - to facilitate payments to the ACAA. This has added to the complexity of making payments to Afghanistan, and, according to lawyers and sanctions experts, could pose legal and financial risks for the industry. For instance, several Western trip support firms have never received an invoice for overflight fees from Afghan authorities, making it near-impossible to make payments, said Jon Braid, who owns Jet Team, a British-based trip support company. "The biggest difficulty is basically finding a way to pay the bills ... no one sent us a bill yet," Braid said. The Taliban did not respond to a request for comment. According to flight tracking data, major airlines which have started using Afghan airspace over the last year include Lufthansa, Air Baltic, TUI, KLM, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, EVA Air, Air India and Vietnam Airlines. MOSCOW/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Russia shipped a diesel cargo to Syria onboard a tanker under U.S. sanctions, the first known such direct supply to the Middle Eastern country in more than a decade, LSEG data showed. The final destination of the cargo is unclear. Russia has two main military installations in Syria: an air base in Hmeimim and a naval base in Tartous, integral to Russia's military reach in the Middle East and Africa. Russia's control over the bases is under threat following the sudden fall of Bashar al-Assad last year. Moscow has said it wanted to keep its hold over them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to LSEG data, the Barbados-flagged vessel Prosperity (previously known as Gabon-flagged NS Pride) was loaded with about 37,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulphur diesel at the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk on February 8. The tanker, managed by the Dubai-based Fornax Ship Management, is anchored near the Syrian port of Banias, LSEG shipping data shows. Fornax itself is also under the U.S. sanctions. The company was not immediately available for comment. U.S. sanctions on Russia since the start of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine have included measures aimed at limiting revenues from the country's huge oil and gas industry and weakening its ability to fund the military efforts. The United States on January 10 added the Prosperity to the list of sanctioned vessels, which includes some 180 tankers, involved in the export of Russian oil products following its war in Ukraine. The EU and the UK followed suit on February 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violations of the U.S. sanctions programs may result in civil and, in some cases, criminal penalties. In one such case, U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced last year a settlement of $7.45 million with the State Street Bank for "apparent violations" of the Russia and Ukraine-related sanctions. At the same time, the U.S. issued a six-month waiver to its Syria sanctions, focused on the energy sector and financial transfers to Syrian governing authorities. Syrian oil ministry officials did not immediately respond to text messages seeking comment. Russia's energy ministry declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first direct diesel shipment from Russia to Syria since at least 2013, according to LSEG data. Syria also issued an import tender for 20,000 tons of LPG and was seeking to import oil as no crude shipments have arrived from Iran, its key supplier, since November, according to data from shipping analytics firm Kpler. Syria has two oil refineries, located in Homs and Banias, which ceased operating after Assad's fall. (Reporting by Reuters in Moscow; additional reporting Timour Azhari in Beirut. Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Louise Heavens) By Ted Hesson and Kristina Cooke WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would soon decide whether to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, following a Reuters report that his administration planned to take that step. Such a move would be a stunning reversal of the welcome Ukrainians received under President Joe Biden's administration and potentially put them on a fast-track to deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're not looking to hurt anybody, we're certainly not looking to hurt them, and I'm looking at that," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about revoking the Ukrainians' status and deporting them. "There were some people that think that's appropriate, and some people don't, and I'll be making the decision pretty soon." The planned rollback of protections for Ukrainians would be part of a broader Trump administration effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants allowed to enter the U.S. under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched under the Biden administration, a senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. A move to revoke the Ukrainians' status could come as soon as April, all four said. They said the plans to revoke their status got underway before Trump publicly feuded with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on the Reuters report in a post on X, saying "no decision has been made at this time." U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said on Wednesday that the department had no new announcements. Ukrainian government agencies did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Trump executive order issued on January 20 called for DHS to "terminate all categorical parole programs." The administration plans to revoke parole for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as soon as this month, the Trump official and one of the sources familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The plan to revoke parole for those nationalities was first reported by CBS News. Migrants stripped of their parole status could face fast-track deportation proceedings, according to an internal ICE email seen by Reuters. Immigrants who cross the border illegally can be put into the fast-track deportation process known as expedited removal, for two years after they enter. But for those who entered through legal ports of entry without being officially "admitted" to the U.S. - as with those on parole - there is no time limit on their rapid removal, the email said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden programs were part of a broader effort to create temporary legal pathways to deter illegal immigration and provide humanitarian relief. In addition to the 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, and the 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, these programs covered more than 70,000 Afghans escaping the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. An additional 1 million migrants scheduled a time to cross at a legal border crossing via an app known as CBP One. Thousands more had access to smaller programs, including family reunification parole for certain people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump as a candidate pledged to end the Biden programs, saying they went beyond the bounds of U.S. law. The Trump administration last month paused processing immigration-related applications for people who entered the U.S. under certain Biden parole programs - placing Ukrainian Liana Avetisian, her husband and her 14-year-old daughter, in limbo. Avetisian, who worked in real estate in Ukraine, now assembles windows while her husband works construction. The family fled Kyiv in May 2023, eventually buying a house in the small city of DeWitt, Iowa. Their parole and work permits expire in May. They say they spent about $4,000 in filing fees to renew their parole and to try to apply for another program known as Temporary Protected Status. Avetisian has started getting headaches as she worries about their situation, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont know what to do, she said. Ukrainian community leaders are informing people of their rights, in case they are approached by immigration officers, and what their options are for staying in the country long-term, said Andrij Dobriansky, the director of communications for the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Many of these people do not have homes to return to, he said. We're talking about people whose entire towns have been leveled altogether. Where would we be sending them back to? Nothing." WANING WELCOME U.S. allies from Afghanistan who entered under Biden have also been swept up in Trump's crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rafi, a former Afghan intelligence officer who asked to be identified only by his first name to protect family members still in Afghanistan, entered the U.S. legally in January 2024 using the CBP One mobile app at the U.S.-Mexico border. He was given a temporary humanitarian parole status that allowed him to live and work in the United States for two years. On February 13, just over a year into that status, he was detained at a check-in appointment at an ICE office in Chantilly, Virginia. His status was revoked. In Afghanistan, Rafi was trained by American officers and provided intelligence on High Value Targets, according to an October 2022 recommendation letter. As a result of his active efforts against the enemy, he is currently in extreme danger, and in need of assistance in departing the country, the former CIA officer who trained him wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer described Rafi as truly one of the most dedicated and hardworking individuals I had the honor to serve with in Afghanistan. Reuters reviewed the letter but was not able to reach the officer. In the United States, Rafi applied for asylum and was scheduled for a hearing before an immigration judge in April. At his February ICE check in - one of the conditions for his temporary status - he was asked to remove his belt and shoelaces, he said. He knew immediately what was happening, he said, and still, he asked: Are you arresting me? I have broken no law. Rafi said he felt betrayed. When someone stands shoulder to shoulder with American troops and puts his life in danger he said in a phone call from detention, his voice shaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wasn't expecting this behavior from them. I wasn't expecting it. On February 24, his lawyer wrote to ICE asking them to release her client, noting his lack of a criminal record, that he was not a flight risk and had an active asylum case related to his work supporting the U.S. military in Afghanistan. James Mullan, the assistant field office director at ICEs Washington field office responded that ICE was declining to release him. The priorities that you mentioned in your email ended on January 20, 2025, Mullan wrote, referring to the date of Trumps inauguration. (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editing by Mary Milliken and Suzanne Goldenberg) (Corrects first bullet point to make clear IOM has not halted all support) By Stanley Widianto JAKARTA (Reuters) -The United Nations' migration agency has slashed aid to hundreds of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia, according to a letter seen by Reuters and two people briefed on the matter, because of massive funding cuts by their biggest donor, the United States. In the letter, dated February 28, the International Organization for Migration said it would be unable to provide healthcare and cash assistance to 925 Rohingya refugees sheltering in the western city of Pekanbaru from March 5, "due to resource constraints". Some help would continue for the most vulnerable people, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many ethnic Rohingya - who are mostly Muslim, originally from Myanmar and constitute the world's largest stateless population - escape squalid camps and persecution in Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh each year, sailing aboard rickety boats to Thailand or Muslim-majority Indonesia and Malaysia. IOM's move was due to the decision by the Trump administration to cut most foreign assistance, said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a group that monitors the Rohingya crisis, and another person briefed on the matter. In a statement to Reuters, IOM said it was "complying with all legal orders" as a result of the U.S. government's decision, which was "impacting our staff, operations, and the people we serve". The organization remained committed to delivering vital humanitarian assistance and continued to engage donors and partners including the U.S. to sustain critical services, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The move since President Donald Trump took office in January to halt most U.S. foreign aid and dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has thrown the humanitarian sector into turmoil globally. Reuters reported on Wednesday that the World Food Programme would halve rations to more than a million Rohingya living in Bangladesh, which hosts the world's largest refugee settlement, to $6 per month. The U.N. says about 2,800 Rohingya refugees live in Indonesia. The 925 in Pekanbaru on Sumatra island, close to Malaysia, had arrived by boat and were entirely dependent on cash assistance, said Abdu Rahman, a Rohingya refugee in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People don't have support for their daily survival and can't eat since the refugees are not allowed to work," he said. Hadi Sanjoyo, a senior official with the Pekanbaru government's task force overseeing refugee issues, said officials planned to talk to local non-profits about how to handle the situation, adding that he was concerned about the potential for unrest amid increased tension between the refugees and locals. "They're our brothers and sisters, too," he said. "Humanity is beyond borders." (Reporting by Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Writing and additional reporting by Poppy McPherson; Editing by Alex Richardson) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A Rhode Island federal judge agreed Thursday to continue blocking President Donald Trumps administration from freezing federal aid to states, dealing the latest blow to the presidents attempt to have greater control over Congress-approved funds. Rhode Island U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell issued a preliminary injunction requested earlier this year by nearly two dozen state attorneys general. The order comes in the wake of a similar decision handed down by a Washington D.C. federal judge last week. Here, the executive put itself above Congress, wrote McConnell in his decision. It imposed a categorical mandate on the spending of congressional appropriated and obligated funds without regard to Congresss authority to control spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ: Judge McConnells 45-page decision Nearly two dozen state attorneys general including R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha and Mass. Attorney General Andrea Campbell sued the Trump administration in January after federal officials announced a sweeping pause of federal aid potentially totaling trillions of dollars. The funding freeze has caused widespread confusion and disruption to programs across the country. In Rhode Island, it cast doubt over several programs and projects, including federal aid for health care, clean-energy projects and the effort to rebuild the Washington Bridge. The funding freeze also impacts law enforcement and public safety agencies who also rely on federal funding, McConnell, an Obama appointee, wrote. Federal grant programs support state and local law enforcement agencies, community violence, and crisis interruption programs, and programs addressing sexual violence, among many other crucial services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell in his order suggested the Trump administrations effort to freeze already-approved funds was a separation of powers issue, highlighting that federal agencies and departments can spend, award or suspend money based only on the power Congress has given them. They have no other spending power, he wrote. The executive has not appointed to any constitutional or statutory authority that would allow them to impose this type of categorical freeze. McConnell has consistently ruled in favor of the state attorneys general ever since he granted a temporary restraining order shortly after Trump took office and called for a pause on all federal funds that dont align with his priorities. RELATED: RI Bar Association decries unwarranted criticism of Judge McConnell by Musk, others Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 10, McConnell determined the Trump administration violated his order, and a day later, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston upheld McConnells decision after Trump attorneys appealed. The White House has defending the freeze saying a review of federal funding is warranted to ensure the spending of taxpayer dollars aligns with the presidents policies and priorities. Trump attorneys have argued the legal issue is moot because federal officials quickly rescinded a memo that initially ordered the sweeping pause of federal aid to states. At a hearing last month at U.S. District Court in Providence, Trump administration attorney Daniel Schwei also criticized the states for making arguments he said were too broad and vague. Any order in favor of the states, he warned, could also have too broad an effect on executive decision-making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell dismissed the argument in his order, saying his decision does not prevent the Trump administration from making funding decisions that are lawful. An agency is not harmed by an order prohibiting it from violating the law, he wrote. He determined that the plaintiff states had a substantial likelihood of success in the overall case, and would suffer irreparable harm if the freeze was allowed to continue. As part of his decision, McConnell also ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to file a status report about its compliance with thee order by March 14. In a statement, Neronha said McConnells decision reinforces the funding freeze flies in the face of everything we know to be true about our government, namely our separation of powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays decision reminds us that the President cannot amend the Constitution with the stroke of a pen, Neronha said. In fact, our founders designed it to protect against those who may try. We must come together and assert that in America, the power of the people will always trump the power of one man. MORE: RI federal judge says Trump administration violated funding freeze order; Trump appeals McConnells order granting the preliminary injunction extends his temporary restraining order until the full case is ultimately decided by the court. Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. With a nod to basic civics education, a district court judge issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday blocking the Trump administration from continuing to freeze the disbursement of funds for contracts, grants and financial assistance to states under an Office of Management and Budget memo first issued on Jan. 27 and since allegedly rescinded. President Donald Trump improperly seized the power to direct government spending from Congress, District Court Judge John McConnell wrote in his opinion. He declared the president in violation of the Impoundment Control Act, which requires the president to actually disperse money allocated by Congress, and numerous other laws. Here, the Executive put itself above Congress, McConnell wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision comes in a case brought by a number of Democratic-controlled states against the Trump administration for blocking their access to funds appropriated by Congress through the OMB memo and a series of executive orders that the memo referenced. McConnells opinion applies to the funding withheld from these states. This is separate from the case involving funds frozen by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The president imposed a categorical mandate on the spending of congressionally appropriated and obligated funds without regard to Congresss authority to control spending, McConnell wrote, noting that the administration has not pointed to any constitutional or statutory authority that would allow them to impose this type of categorical freeze. The Executives categorical freeze of appropriated and obligated funds fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government, McConnell wrote. The interaction of the three co-equal branches of government is an intricate, delicate, and sophisticated balance but it is crucial to our form of constitutional governance. The government-wide funding freeze began when OMB issued a memo on Jan. 27 ordering the disbursement for all contracts, grants and financial assistance to halt in order to review all of it for compliance with Trumps executive orders purporting to prohibit funding for certain clean energy programs, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the recognition of transgender people, aiding undocumented immigrants and all foreign aid. A district court judge extended an injunction on President Donald Trump's funding freeze on March 6 that affected huge swathes of spending across the country. Annabelle Gordon/The Washington Post via Getty Images This memo initiated a period of total chaos where funding from the government stopped on a dime nationwide. Nonprofits providing essential services to the poor, disabled, children, homeless and more suddenly could notdraw down funds from government payment portals, which were no longer working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the face of this chaos, another district court issued a temporary restraining order blocking the OMB memo from taking effect. McConnell would later issue a second temporary restraining order. The administration then purported to rescind the OMB memo, but claimed it did so only to evade the courts decision. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted online on Jan. 29 that the administration was only rescinding the memo to end any confusion created by the courts injunction. [T]he Defendants voluntary rescission of the OMB Directive was a clear effort to moot legal challenges to the federal funding freeze announced in the OMB Directive, McConnell wrote in his opinion on Thursday. The Trump administration tried to argue that the funding freeze was not a result of the OMB memo or the presidents executive orders but rather the independent decision-making of agency heads. McConnell rejected this. [T]he OMB Directive amounted to a command, not a suggestion, that Agency Defendants shall execute a categorical, indefinite funding freeze to align funding decisions with the Presidents priorities, McConnell wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell also rejected the idea put forward by the administration that the inclusion of the phrase consistent with the law meant that the order must be seen as lawful. [T]he undisputed evidence before the Court is that adding the consistent with the law caveat was nothing more than window dressing on an unconstitutional directive by the Executive, McConnell wrote. The decision prevents the Trump administration from reissuing or directing in any form the OMB memo or executive orders; pausing, freezing or otherwise withholding funds as ordered by the OMB memo or executives; and orders the administration to release all congressionally appropriated funds previously withheld from the states that filed suit. This is the second preliminary injunction placed on Trumps funding freeze. On Feb. 25, District Court Judge Lori AliKhan issued an injunction on behalf of a group of nonprofits whose funds were withheld under the OMB memos directive. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A Rhode Island federal judge agreed Thursday to continue blocking President Donald Trumps administration from freezing federal aid to states, dealing the latest blow to the presidents attempt to have greater control over Congress-approved funds. Rhode Island U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell issued a preliminary injunction requested earlier this year by nearly two dozen state attorneys general. The order comes in the wake of a similar decision handed down by a Washington D.C. federal judge last week. Here, the executive put itself above Congress, wrote McConnell in his decision. It imposed a categorical mandate on the spending of congressional appropriated and obligated funds without regard to Congresss authority to control spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ: Judge McConnells 45-page decision Nearly two dozen state attorneys general sued the Trump administration in January after federal officials announced a sweeping pause of federal aid potentially totaling trillions of dollars. The funding freeze has caused widespread confusion and disruption to programs across the country. The funding freeze also impacts law enforcement and public safety agencies who also rely on federal funding, McConnell, an Obama appointee, wrote. Federal grant programs support state and local law enforcement agencies, community violence, and crisis interruption programs, and programs addressing sexual violence, among many other crucial services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell in his order suggested the Trump administrations effort to freeze already-approved funds was a separation of powers issue, highlighting that federal agencies and departments can spend, award or suspend money based only on the power Congress has given them. They have no other spending power, he wrote. The executive has not appointed to any constitutional or statutory authority that would allow them to impose this type of categorical freeze. McConnell has consistently ruled in favor of the state attorneys general ever since he granted a temporary restraining order shortly after Trump took office and called for a pause on all federal funds that dont align with his priorities. Democrats seek to probe Musk conflicts and DOGE firings Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 10, McConnell determined the Trump administration violated his order, and a day later, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston upheld McConnells decision after Trump attorneys appealed. The White House has defending the freeze saying a review of federal funding is warranted to ensure the spending of taxpayer dollars aligns with the presidents policies and priorities. Trump attorneys have argued the legal issue is moot because federal officials quickly rescinded a memo that initially ordered the sweeping pause of federal aid to states. At a hearing last month at U.S. District Court in Providence, Trump administration attorney Daniel Schwei also criticized the states for making arguments he said were too broad and vague. Any order in favor of the states, he warned, could also have too broad an effect on executive decision-making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell dismissed the argument in his order, saying his decision does not prevent the Trump administration from making funding decisions that are lawful. An agency is not harmed by an order prohibiting it from violating the law, he wrote. He determined that the plaintiff states had a substantial likelihood of success in the overall case, and would suffer irreparable harm if the freeze was allowed to continue. Why automakers short reprieve from tariffs isnt enough to weather Trumps trade war In a statement, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said McConnells decision reinforces that the funding freeze flies in the face of everything we know to be true about our government, namely our separation of powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays decision reminds us that the President cannot amend the Constitution with the stroke of a pen, Neronha said. In fact, our founders designed it to protect against those who may try. We must come together and assert that in America, the power of the people will always trump the power of one man. McConnells order granting the preliminary injunction extends his temporary restraining order until the full case is ultimately decided by the court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. DES MOINES, Iowa The Iowa Senate Education Committee introduced a bill aimed at extending childcare programs at schools. Senator Lynn Evans (R) District 3, of the Senate Education Committee, said that the bill will allow half day preschool programs to offer access to daycare for their students. The bill is getting at a specific problem, which is we offer a statewide voluntary preschool program. But oftentimes those are part day programs but not full day programs. Senator Evans said. The exciting part of it is grants for a pilot program that where a community provider or a school district could offer a preschool program thats under the statewide voluntary preschool requirements and offer wraparound childcare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wrap around care grants would be funded through braided funding which means funding from other programs would be used. Iowa blizzard leads to crashes, delays for travelers Suzanne Zutter, the Executive Director of Families Forward, a non profit child care provider in Des Moines, said if the bill passes she will lose grant money required to hire staff. Weve been funded $35,000 a year and its strictly for wages to help supplement so that we can pay our childcare providers a decent living wage. If this bill goes through, we were told that that 35,000 will be cut, Zutter said. Senator Evans said the governor, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Education have assured him that funding for existing grants will stay the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive had extensive conversations with the Department of Health and Human Services, the governors office, and the Department of Education, and Ive been assured that those that there will be grant funding available for those existing programs, Senator Evans said. The Iowa House of Representatives have also introduced a similar bill. Iowa News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The trade war between the U.S. and its three largest trade partners continues as consumers and businesses fear for rising costs in Colorado Springs. If you dont make your product in America under the Trump administration, you will pay a tariff and in some cases a rather large one, said President Donald Trump. The Presidents tariffs on imported goods from Canada and Mexico went into effect on Tuesday, March 5, and they are expected to impact businesses across the country and here Colorado Springs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its no secret that Colorado Springs is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., which means our region relies heavily on building materials. An area where Im particularly concerned for the Pikes Peak region is building materials, said Dr. Bill Craighead, the Head Director of the Economics Department at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Canada is a big source of lumber, so this will affect the market price of lumber, regardless of whether youre sourcing it from Canada or from the United States. Craighead said the average consumer will pay $1,500 to $2,000 more each year. It will definitely affect local auto dealers, that will affect prices at the lot, if youre looking to buy a car it will affect the availability of cars and affect the auto parts, too, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, President Trump gave a 30-day break for U.S. automakers from his new tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, despite previously saying the move would force companies like Ford and General Motors to bring production back to the states. Numerous car companies have announced that they will be building massive automobile plants in America with Honda just announcing a new plant in Indiana, one of the largest anywhere, said President Trump. Governor Jared Polis also joined the conversation on Tuesday. Tariffs are a weak threat because youre basically threatening to stab yourself and say, look unless you do something, Im going to stab myself, and, you know, often the countries are going to say, go ahead and stab yourself, and its not a great game of chicken that the Presidents playing here, said Governor Polis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Governors Office also released data from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, which revealed that Canada and Mexico account for 38% of Colorados imports and 34% of Colorados exports. Tourism alone200,000 people a year aboutfrom each of those countries, come to Colorado, said Governor Polis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Insurance companies are providing inadequate coverage for those affected by climate-related natural disasters while also raising rates. The Washington Post reported that insurance companies are increasing their premiums "in response to multiple climate disasters," preventing people from rebuilding their homes after wildfires. While many policy claims following the Los Angeles wildfires are yet to be ruled on, the actions of insurance companies don't bode well for homeowners. What's happening? The Washington Post used the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires and the 2021 Colorado Marshall Fire as examples of insurance companies failing to help most people rebuild. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the former instance, less than a third of the homes lost in the fires were rebuilt. The Marshall Fire had a similarly devastating result. Around 80% of homeowners had insurance policies that wouldn't cover the cost of rebuilding. There's a reason for such low coverage. Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway told the Post, "When you see insurance premiums increase to deal with climate change you're going to see people react by decreasing their coverage." Since insurance is already so expensive, many people won't be able to shell out additional money. This news is heartbreaking for homeowners. Nicole Anderson, a California resident interviewed by the Post, said she and her husband were "devastated." Even people in Iowa are affected by the fallout from the L.A. fires as insurance companies across the country adjust their policies and reduce coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warming of our planet is a proven contributor to frequent, intense wildfires. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "climate change threatens to increase the frequency, extent, and severity of fires through increased temperatures and drought." Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Why is reduced insurance coverage concerning? When home insurance covers less, it makes it harder for people to recover after disasters. While the exact costs depend on a house's size and location, underinsured or uninsured people have to pay for construction costs out of pocket. This can amount to over $500,000 or even millions. And with the planet overheating, extreme natural disasters will only increase in severity and frequency. It's about more than just wildfires. Floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes are also becoming more intense, per the World Wildlife Fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If people can't afford to insure their houses and lose them in disasters that are entirely outside of their control, what can they do? Where can they go? What's being done about this? Despite everything, people are determined to stay and make it work. William Chandler, a California resident whose late grandfather's house burned down in the January wildfires, told the Post, "We're definitely going to stay. I know it's going to be a long road, but that would be my grandfather's wishes." If you want to do your part in slowing the Earth's warming, try to curb your use of dirty fuels that pollute the atmosphere. For example, if you're running errands nearby, walk or bike instead of driving a gas-guzzling car. Embracing renewable energy to power your home is another excellent way to lower your pollution, and it can slash your utility bills in the process. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. (Reuters) - Nvidia-backed CoreWeave said on Tuesday that it is acquiring AI developer platform Weights & Biases as the company seeks to extend its cloud platform ahead of its IPO. The deal will combine CoreWeave's infrastructure and managed cloud services with Weights & Biases' platform, which is used for AI model training, evaluation, and monitoring, the company said. Weights & Biases's product is used by technology companies including OpenAI and Meta to build and train AI models and develop and deploy AI applications. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal. Technology news website The Information reported the deal could be valued at around $1.7 billion, citing unnamed sources. CoreWeave and Weights & Biases did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the Information report. Roseland, New Jersey-based CoreWeave earlier this week moved ahead with its listing plans this year and reported a more than eight-fold surge in 2024 revenue. CoreWeave, whose customers include hedge fund Jane Street, as well as tech giants Meta, IBM and Microsoft, is expected to aim for a valuation greater than $35 billion in its New York flotation, Reuters previously reported. (Reporting by Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala) By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron has said he will launch a strategic dialogue on extending the protection offered by France's nuclear arsenal to its European partners. Europe's primary nuclear deterrence comes from the United States and is a decades-old symbol of trans-Atlantic solidarity. France has a much smaller nuclear arsenal than its NATO ally but Moscow has responded to Macron's remarks by saying his nuclear rhetoric poses a threat to Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHY IS FRENCH NUCLEAR DETERRENCE BEING DISCUSSED NOW? U.S. President Donald Trump's questioning of burden-sharing in NATO and his overtures to Russia as he tries to end the war in Ukraine have led to existential questions in Europe about the trans-Atlantic relationship and about Washington's commitment to helping defend its European allies. Friedrich Merz, who is likely to become Germany's chancellor, has said he fears NATO may not remain in its "current form" by June and advocated a closer look at French and British nuclear deterrence. The U.S. has nuclear arms in Europe and tens of thousands of troops deployed in bases across the continent. It provides some military capabilities that Europe cannot match, from mid-air refuelling to its nuclear umbrella. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nuclear deterrence is enshrined in NATOs Article V collective defence pledge, and has for decades been backed by U.S. politicians. But the assurances that nuclear weapons are a core part of the alliance's deterrence strategy are not legally binding. HOW BIG IS FRANCE'S NUCLEAR ARSENAL? France is the European Union's only nuclear power following Britain's departure from the bloc and Paris takes pride in its independent nuclear deterrent. France spends about 5.6 billion euros ($6.04 billion) annually on maintaining its stockpile of 290 submarine- and air-launched nuclear weapons, the world's fourth largest. It spends about 15% of its annual defence budget on modernising its nuclear capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. and Russia both have more than 5,000 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists. The U.S. has 1,700 warheads deployed globally. Britain describes its nuclear programme as "operationally independent", but sources missile technology from the U.S. and depends on the U.S. for acquisition and maintenance support. WHAT DOES FRANCE'S NUCLEAR DOCTRINE SAY? The doctrine is defensive, designed to deter potential aggressors by maintaining a credible nuclear threat and to protect France's vital interests. Macron has said those interests have a "European dimension" without giving details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A policy of "strict sufficiency" means the French nuclear arsenal is kept at the lowest level possible and is to be used only in extreme circumstances of self-defence. Macron, like earlier French presidents, has refused to place the French nuclear deterrent under EU or NATO command. He maintained that position in Wednesday's address. HOW DO THE FRENCH AND U.S. NUCLEAR UMBRELLAS COMPARE? Unlike the U.S., France does not offer an extended commitment to deter or respond to nuclear or non-nuclear threats on allies to defend them. France has only a fraction of the number of airborne nuclear weapons the U.S. can provide. Any upgrade of its systems would be costly and require significant logistical and operational changes at a time when governments are already stretched financially. It could take France up to a decade to increase its arsenal by only 100 warheads, experts say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. deploys its nuclear arsenal across Europe. France's nuclear doctrine has prohibited the stationing of atomic weapons outside France. "In the current situation, the French and British nuclear forces are a complement to U.S. extended deterrence, but they would not constitute a viable solution in the event of an abrupt withdrawal of U.S. nuclear forces," the Washington-based Centre for Strategic & International Studies said. "France and the United Kingdom do not provide an extended deterrence guarantee the way the United States does in NATO." WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT? There is no suggestion of replacing the U.S. nuclear infrastructure like-for-like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allies could be integrated into French nuclear exercises and training through the provision of air escorts and by the development of supply and logistical support, aiming to create a degree of interoperability, analysts say. France possesses Rafale warplanes capable of carrying nuclear missiles. These planes could be deployed across Europe with the aim of creating "strategic ambiguity" for Russia. The issue of whether EU partners could contribute to the cost of maintaining or upgrading the French deterrence could be one option to be discussed, experts said. ($1 = 0.9265 euros) (Reporting by John Irish, Editing by Richard Lough and Timothy Heritage) By Andrei Khalip and Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal is likely to face its third early parliamentary election in just over three years after the centre-right minority government lost a parliamentary confidence vote. The government stays on in a caretaker capacity following Tuesday's vote, pending a decision by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on whether to dissolve parliament and call a snap election amid concerns that a national ballot would only perpetuate political instability and mud-slinging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHY DID THE PRIME MINISTER CALL A CONFIDENCE VOTE? Prime Minister Luis Montenegro presented the confidence motion last week after the opposition threatened to establish a parliamentary inquiry into Spinumviva, his family's data protection consultancy. Opposition parties representing the majority of parliamentary seats had warned Montenegro they would reject the motion if it were presented. Some analysts interpreted his move as a bluff, others saw intent to trigger an election while his ratings were still high and the economy on a strong footing. The opposition says Spinumviva's contracts with private companies, including a casino and hotel business, have benefited Montenegro as premier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montenegro has denied any conflict of interest or ethical shortfalls, but the main opposition parties found his explanations unconvincing. There is no active investigation underway into Spinumviva. He founded the company in 2021 but handed ownership to his wife and sons in 2022. Assets acquired after marriage belong to the couple under Portuguese law, leaving the transfer of ownership in a grey area between civil and commercial law. Just before Tuesday's vote, Montenegro proposed that he face a parliamentary committee inquiry that would last up to two months, but he said the main opposition Socialists refused to negotiate on setting a time limit, making the vote unavoidable. Any lengthier investigation would have only served to wear out the government, Montenegro argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHO WOULD WIN AN EARLY ELECTION? Rebelo de Sousa has pointed to May 11 or 18 as possible election dates and is expected to decide on Thursday after meeting his advisory council. Latest opinion polls show the main opposition Socialists taking a slight lead over the alliance led by Montenegro in the past week, but they are largely neck-and-neck at around 30% each, showing little change from last year's election, in which Montenegro won a four-year term by a slim margin. The far-right Chega is steadily polling third, but somewhat below last year's result of 18%, which analysts attribute to scandals involving several senior party members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IS THERE ANY WAY OF AVOIDING AN EARLY ELECTION? The president could ask the ruling coalition to come up with a replacement for Montenegro. But Montenegro's party has said he would lead it in any new election, so that option is all but ruled out, unless there is a last-minute reevaluation of the prime minister's chances of winning. Political commentators put most of the blame for the crisis on Montenegro, and some polls indicate he may have lost the trust of most voters. HOW ABOUT THE ECONOMY? Despite the political upheaval of the past four years, Western Europe's poorest country - a member of the European Union and NATO - has shown stronger economic growth than most EU states, posting budget surpluses and reducing its debt under the centre-left and then centre-right governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although it is struggling to contain a housing crisis, in part provoked by a tourism boom, strife has been rare. A government change could stall big investment projects, including lithium mining in north Portugal, and the long-delayed privatisation of TAP airline, in which several key industry players have shown interest. S&P Ratings, which upgraded Portugal to "A" from "A-" with a positive outlook just two weeks ago, said it did not expect a likely election to interfere with plans to further reduce government debt or to have a material effect on Portugals positive medium-term growth prospects. (Reporting by Andrei KhalipEditing by Gareth Jones) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) An explosion in a container at a military site east of Tehran killed one military personnel and injured 10 firefighters, Iranian media reported Thursday. Irans semi-official Mehr news agency said fire initially broke out within the container, followed by an explosion as firefighters attempted to extinguish the flames. Four firefighters were taken to the hospital and six others received treatment at the site due to slight injuries, according to other news outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report did not elaborate on the cause of the fire and explosion. Jalal Maleki, a spokesperson for the Tehran Fire Department, told the news agency that the fire occurred at about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday and involved a 50-square-meter (538-square-feet) container. The area east of Tehran is home to the headquarters of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and other military sites, situated near densely populated residential areas. Reports of explosions in Iran's military sites are rare. However, in October Irans state-media acknowledged blasts that could be heard in Tehran and said some of the sounds came from air defense systems around the city. This followed a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites, reportedly in retaliation for Iranian missile attacks against Israel. In 2010, Irans official IRNA news agency said 18 members of the Revolutionary Guard force were killed in an explosion at a military base in the western city of Khorramabad. Mar. 5Supporters urged lawmakers to allow bars, restaurants, grocery and convenience stores to stay open later to sell alcohol along with two other changes that would further relax liquor laws. But the state's restaurant lobby along with state liquor enforcers opposed the legislation, maintaining that business owners aren't clamoring for these changes. Two-term state Rep. Jessica Grill, D-Manchester, said New Hampshire's last call hours of 1 a.m., for bars and 11:45 p.m. for retail stores are among the earliest in the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her legislation would raise those last call hours to 2 a.m. for bars and 1 a.m. for retail outlets, seven days a week. The bill would permit a bar owner to ask the host city or town for permission to stay open until 3 a.m. The other reforms in Grill's bill (HB 529) would allow bars and restaurants to sell liquor for home delivery and permit bars to sell refillable beer containers. She said 27 states already allow "cocktails to go" including Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Former Gov. Chris Sununu temporarily allowed bars to sell alcohol for home delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic when few patrons were visiting them in person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grill said the later hours might make New Hampshire a more attractive destination for weddings and/or receptions. Corinne Benfield with Stay Work Play New Hampshire said her group's survey found that the lack of nightlife was the second reason behind cost of living why young people said they left New Hampshire. This becomes an obstacle for a state that's already the second oldest in the nation, she testified. "We are not just competing on jobs and housing with our neighboring states. It is a matter of quality of life as well," Benfield said. Michael Somers, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, said his group opposes the extension of closing hours, supports the cocktails to go provision and has no position on refillable beer containers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under current state law, bar owners have been able to petition the local town to stay open until 2 a.m. and that's occurred only in Nashua, Laconia and Berlin, Somers said. "There is no one in the industry actually asking for this. I don't see a crowd behind me," Somers said. Mark Armaganian, director of liquor enforcement and licensing with the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, said the change would require spending nearly $230,000 a year more in payroll for investigators. Currently, restaurants are allowed to send beer and wine home to patrons. Among the state's 2,100 licensees, only 37 of them offer that option, Armaganian said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's next: The House committee must make a recommendation on the bill by March 27. Prospects: Not great. The House approved a bill letting bars stay open later in 2024, but the Senate killed it. klandrigan@unionleader.com LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) Over 200 citizens who participated in last months Eyes of Hope Free Vision Care Event will have the opportunity to receive their much-needed prescription eyeglasses. Senator Gerald Boudreaux announced that glasses will be available for pickup tomorrow, March 6, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Downtown Convention Center located at 124 South Buchanan St. This initiative, which has provided essential vision care services to underserved community members, was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Optometry Association of Louisiana, VSP Eyes of Hope, Sun Wellness Resource Center and leadership of Senator Gerald Boudreaux. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eyes of Hope event aimed to bridge the gap in access to eye care by offering free eye exams and prescription eyeglasses to individuals who may not have had the resources to obtain them otherwise. The success of this event underscores the power of community partnerships in making a meaningful impact on public health. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Recipients are encouraged to visit the Downtown Convention Center during the designated pickup hours to collect their glasses or call 337-849-8987 for more information. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. NEW YORK (AP) Columbia University senior Maryam Alwan was visiting family in Jordan over winter break when she received an email from the school accusing her of discriminatory harassment. Her supposed top offense: writing an op-ed in the student newspaper calling for divestment from Israel. The probe is part of a flurry of recent cases brought by a new university disciplinary committee the Office of Institutional Equity against Columbia students who have expressed criticism of Israel, according to records shared with The Associated Press. In recent weeks, it has sent notices to dozens of students for activities ranging from sharing social media posts in support of Palestinian people to joining unauthorized protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One student activist is under investigation for putting up stickers off campus that mimicked Wanted posters, bearing the likenesses of university trustees. Another, the president of a campus literary club, faces sanction for co-hosting an art exhibition in a private building that focused on last springs occupation of a campus building. In Alwans case, investigators said the unsigned op-ed in the Columbia Spectator, which also urged the school to curtail academic ties to Israel, may have subjected other students to unwelcome conduct based on their religion, national origin or military service. They promised a thorough investigation, with sanctions ranging from a simple warning to expulsion. It just felt so dystopian to have something go through rigorous edits, only to be labeled discriminatory because its about Palestine, said Alwan, a Palestinian-American comparative studies major. It made me not want to write or say anything on the subject anymore. The new disciplinary office is raising alarm among students, faculty and free speech advocates, who accuse the school of bowing to President Donald Trump's threats to slash funding to universities and deport campus agitators." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on how these cases have proceeded, the university now appears to be responding to governmental pressure to suppress and chill protected speech, said Amy Greer, an attorney who is advising students accused of discrimination. Its operating as a business by protecting its assets ahead of its students, faculty and staff. Columbia is under financial pressure On Monday, federal agencies announced they would consider cutting $51 million in contracts to the school along with billions more in additional grants due to its "ongoing inaction in the face of relentless harassment of Jewish students. We are resolute that calling for, promoting, or glorifying violence or terror has no place at our university, Columbia said in a statement following the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republicans have also launched their own review of Columbias disciplinary process. Their most recent letter gave administrators until Feb. 27 to turn over student disciplinary records for nearly a dozen campus incidents, including protests it claimed promoted terrorism and vilified the U.S. military," as well as the off-campus art exhibition. A spokesperson for Columbia declined to specify what, if any, records were turned over to Congress and whether they included the names of students. The spokesperson also declined to comment any on pending investigation of students. The new disciplinary committee was created last summer to fairly and expeditiously address cases of discrimination, with the first notices going out in late November. Under its policy, speech against another country may be considered harassment if directed at or infused with discriminatory comments about persons from, or associated with, that country. Jewish students at Columbia are among those who have received the notices for taking part in pro-Palestinian protests. Other Jewish students have said that rhetoric at protests has crossed into antisemitism and that the administration has been too tolerant of demonstrators who created a hostile environment for people who support Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, Columbias task force on antisemitism issued a report that said Jews and Israelis at the school were ostracized from student groups, humiliated in classrooms and subjected to verbal abuse as pro-Palestinian demonstrations shook the campus. In one instance, pro-Palestine protesters forced their way into a campus building, prompting university to call in the police and shut down campus. The task force has also offered its own definition of antisemitism, which includes discrimination or exclusion based on real or perceived ties to Israel, as well as certain double standards applied to Israel, such as calls for divestment solely from the country. That definition was intended to apply to education and training, rather than discipline, according to the task force. Disciplinary committee works in secret Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the offices policies, students are required to sign a nondisclosure agreement before accessing case materials or speaking with investigators, ensuring the process has remained shrouded in secrecy since it began late last year. Aspect of the committees work were first reported this week by the online publication Drop Site News. Those who have met with investigators say they were asked to name other people involved in pro-Palestinian groups and protests on campus. They said the investigators did not provide clear guidance on whether certain terms such as Zionist or genocide would be considered harassment. Several students and faculty who spoke with the AP said the committee accused them of participating in demonstrations they did not attend or helping to circulate social media messages they did not post. Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student who served as a negotiator for pro-Palestinian protesters during the previous springs encampment, said he was accused by the office of misconduct just weeks before his graduation this December. I have around 13 allegations against me, most of them are social media posts that I had nothing to do with, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After refusing to sign the nondisclosure agreement, Khalil said the university put a hold on his transcript and threatened to block him from graduating. But when he appealed the decision through a lawyer, they eventually backed down, Khalil said. They just want to show Congress and right-wing politicians that theyre doing something, regardless of the stakes for students, Khalil said. Its mainly an office to chill pro-Palestine speech. According to some students, the disciplinary push may be reigniting the pro-Palestinian protest movement that roiled campuses last year. In recent days, students have occupied multiple buildings at Barnard College, an affiliate of Columbia University, to protest the expulsion of two students accused of disrupting an Israeli history class. Several students were arrested following an hourslong takeover of a building Wednesday night. Claim: DOGE canceled a nearly $1 million grant for alpaca farming in Peru. Rating: Rating: Mixture What's True: In 2016, the Inter-American Foundation issued a $903,811 grant to COOPECAN, an organization training alpaca farmers in Peru, according to its website. DOGE said it canceled a grant of that amount in March 2025. An IAF spokesperson said the grant canceled by DOGE was the COOPECAN grant. What's Undetermined: An IAF spokesperson said in March that the organization had paid out $825,670 of the COOPECAN grant almost all of the pledged $903,811. USAspending.gov only accounted for $572,900 of the $903,811. It remains unclear how much money COOPECAN ultimately received and what will happen to the remaining funds after DOGEs intervention, or whether DOGE would attempt to recall already-paid funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editor's note: On May 13, 2025, this report was corrected to reflect that the grant DOGE canceled was for an organization called COOPECAN, not AASUPASI as we previously reported. Both organizations work with alpaca farmers in Peru. On March 4, 2025, the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, said (archived) on X that it had reduced the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), a U.S. government agency that funded community-led development in Latin America and the Caribbean, to one employee and canceled several of its grants in the process. The reduction of the agency followed a Feb. 19, 2025, executive order by President Donald Trump that called for the elimination "to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law" of the IAF and other agencies in the name of reducing bureaucracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the canceled grants consisted of "$903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru," according to DOGE. News of this allegedly canceled grant was shared by users on Facebook (archived) and X (archived). Snopes readers also asked us about the grant. The Inter-American Foundation, an agency whose primary action was to issue foreign grants ($60M budget), has been reduced to its statutory minimum (1 active employee). Examples of grants that were cancelled in the process: - $903,811 for alpaca farming in Peru - $364,500 to Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) March 4, 2025 According to the restored IAF website in May 2025, the organization did disburse a grant worth $903,811 to Cooperativa de Produccion y Servicios Especiales de los Productores de Camelidos Andinos (COOPECAN), starting in 2016. The organization supports alpaca farmers in Peru with care and training to maximize the value of their wool. An IAF spokesperson told Snopes in March 2025 that DOGE canceled the COOPECAN grant but that the IAF had already paid out $825,670 at the time of DOGE's actions meaning DOGE potentially only canceled the remaining $78,141, rather than the full $903,811 it claimed. However, it was not possible to independently verify the amount the IAF said it had paid out nor did DOGE respond to our questions about the potentially much smaller amount of money saved by cutting COOPECAN's grant. Therefore, we rate this claim a mixture of true and undetermined elements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reached out to COOPECAN to confirm the size of the grant it received from the IAF and how much it had received, and await a reply. According to usaspending.gov, a database of spending by the U.S. government, COOPECAN received one grant from the IAF worth $572,900, starting in 2016. According to the database, the IAF had paid out $548,666 of this grant at the time of this writing. An IAF spokesperson said that usaspending.gov data was "behind" the IAF because "we provide additional funding over the course of grants that have demonstrated early success in their key indicators." As a result, we were unable to independently verify the IAF's claims about how much of the $903,811 grant COOPECAN had received by March 2025 and thus how much money DOGE had actually saved the U.S. government by ending the grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to its website, COOPECAN runs various programs for its partners, who are alpaca farmers from the Andean regions of Peru. The programs include working with the farmers to ensure sustainable production of alpaca wool and ensuring the survival of businesses through assisting the younger generations. The IAF was created by Congress in 1969 under Title 22 of the U.S. Code. The agency had a budget of about $60 million in fiscal year 2024, according to usaspending.gov. According to the agency's latest annual report, it supported a total of 426 projects in 2023. Sources: 2016-COOPECAN - Inter-American Foundation. 2 Aug. 2016, https://www.iaf.gov/grants/peru/2016-coopecan/, https://www.iaf.gov/grants/peru/2016-coopecan/. "Agencies - Inter-American Foundation." Federal Register, https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/inter-american-foundation. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy." The White House, 20 Feb. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/commencing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/. Department of Government Efficiency. "Savings." Department of Government Efficiency, https://www.doge.gov/savings. @DOGE. "The Inter-American Foundation, an Agency Whose Primary Action Was to Issue Foreign Grants ($60M Budget), Has Been Reduced to Its Statutory Minimum (1 Active Employee). ." X, 4 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/DOGE/status/1897023739960680843. Inter-American Foundation. "Data Reports." Inter-American Foundation, https://web.archive.org/web/20240508232051/https://www.iaf.gov/content/content-category/data-report/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ---. "Peru." Inter-American Foundation, https://web.archive.org/web/20240927011940/https://www.iaf.gov/country/peru/. Inter-American Foundation . "AASUPASI - Peru." Inter-American Foundation , https://web.archive.org/web/20240509110924/https://www.iaf.gov/grants/peru/2023-aasupasi/. Programs | COOPECAN. https://www.coopecan.pe/programas-en. Accessed 13 May 2025. @RagingKuJo1222. "This Isn't a Joke!" X, 5 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/RagingKuJo1222/status/1897097252503785626. Rolon, Beth. "DOGE Just Axed $4.5M in Grants, Including:" Facebook, 5 Mar. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/beth.rolon.56/posts/pfbid02ATRrBu1AeE1hxCssxKYxiRkPm9nBF6hZYZSbZxWDaHKtFczNTbWv97G6ASuPF9hrl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USAspending.Gov. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_PU613_1143. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025. USAspending.Gov. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_PU588_1143. Accessed 13 May 2025. ---. https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/inter-american-foundation?fy=2025. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025. Updates: May 13, 2025: This report was corrected to reflect that the grant DOGE canceled was for an organization called COOPECAN, not AASUPASI as we previously reported. Both organizations work with alpaca farmers in Peru. Claim: A video authentically showed a journalist saying, I saw a meme say this is the second time ever that a U.S. president f***ed someone in the Oval Office into a hot microphone during a live BBC News broadcast. Rating: Rating: Fake In early March 2025, social media users shared a video that allegedly showed a BBC reporter accidentally making a crude comment into a hot microphone during a live BBC News broadcast. The comment concerned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's tense Feb. 28 White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video began with the final few seconds of a report about the meeting from BBC Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse. After Waterhouse's segment ended and the broadcast cut back to BBC News presenter Lucy Grey, a voice that resembled Waterhouse's said, "Are you done? Okay. I saw a meme say this is the second time ever that a U.S. president f***ed someone in the Oval Office." The clip appeared in posts on social media platforms including X (archived) and Facebook (archived). In short, Waterhouse did not make the off-the-cuff remark in the original footage of the broadcast, which BBC News posted to its official YouTube channel on March 1, the day it originally aired. In other words, versions of the video that included Waterhouse allegedly saying "this is the second time ever that a U.S. president f***ed someone in the Oval Office" were doctored to misrepresent reality. As a result, we've rated the claim fake. On March 5, Waterhouse addressed the video in an X post (archived), saying that someone had added the purported "hot microphone" remark to the original footage of the broadcast using artificial intelligence (AI) software. He wrote, "There's AI-generated clip of me doing the rounds - for those who believed it - you can watch the original feed from 7:20." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waterhouse's post included a link to the official BBC News YouTube video of the broadcast, which is embedded below. In that original clip, Waterhouse did not say anything after the broadcast returned to Grey. We've reached out to Waterhouse for further comment, and will update this story if and when we hear back. It was not immediately clear where or when the edited clip first appeared. In a March 6 newsletter, Eurovision News part of the European Broadcasting Union identified two different versions of the doctored video, one with English subtitles and one with Russian subtitles. Neither version appeared to have circulated before March 4, three days after BBC News uploaded the clip of the original broadcast to YouTube. We have also not been able to confirm Waterhouse's claim that whoever edited the footage used AI software to do so. While it's possible that the edited version's creator used AI voice-cloning software, it's also possible that the voice audible in the edited clip belonged to a real human skilled at imitating other people's voices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of this writing, the doctored video continued to circulate on Russian-language social media platforms. For example, the official account of the Russian news organization Izvestia shared (archived) the version of the edited video featuring Russian subtitles on the Russian content aggregator Zen. We previously looked into whether a hot microphone authentically caught former U.S. President Joe Biden saying "No one f***s with a Biden." Sources: Hauser, Jenny. BBC Broadcast about Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Doctored with Crude Hot Mic Audio. https://spotlight.ebu.ch/p/bbc-broadcast-about-trump-zelenskyy. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025. Holland, Steve, et al. "Trump and Zelenskiy Clash, Leaving Ukraine Exposed in War with Russia." Reuters, 1 Mar. 2025. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-zelenskiy-sign-minerals-deal-white-house-meeting-2025-02-28/. Liles, Jordan. "Yes, Biden Said 'No One F***s with a Biden' on 'Hot Mic.'" Snopes, 6 Oct. 2022, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/biden-desantis-hot-mic/. Claim: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy owns 15 homes including a $35 million home in Florida, has $1.2 billion in an overseas bank account, owns 15 homes, three private planes and has a monthly income of $11 million. Rating: Rating: False In March 2025, following a contentious meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump and the resulting pause in U.S. military aid to Ukraine, a years-old claim (archived) about Zelenskyy's alleged wealth began to recirculate. LET'S THAT SINK IN !! pic.twitter.com/F8xCVKUca3 TRUMP ARMY (@TRUMP_ARMY_) February 28, 2025 The claim, shared across Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived) and X (archived) in the form of an image, read: The President of Ukraine owns a 35 million dollar home in Florida and has $1.2 billion in a overseas bank account. Zelensky owns 15 homes, 3 private planes, and has a monthly income of 11 million dollars. Why is no one questioning where our AID is going? However, there was no proof of any of the claims shared within the image. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian president submitted a 2024 asset declaration to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention covering 2023 that detailed his owned properties, income, bank accounts and vehicles. The NACP is a Ukrainian government unit that takes asset declarations from all politicians who receive a salary from the state. According to the declaration, Zelenskyy owned fewer than 15 properties, none of them in the U.S., owned no planes and had an annual income of around $300,000, equivalent to about $25,000 per month. Records searches in Florida's 67 counties revealed no properties in Zelenskyy's name. The declaration listed just one overseas bank account holding 350,272 euros (around $377,000). Given the above, we rate this claim false. The Florida mansion part of the claim dated to at least February 2022. A media report, republished in English from Russian tabloid newspaper kp.ru, reported the mansion claim the day before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, the claim was credited to a Ukrainian politician who was stripped of his lawmaking status for parroting Russian propaganda talking points, according to Snopes reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politifact reported on a version of the image claim from April 2022, indicating it started circulating shortly after the reports mentioned above. Zelensky's anti-corruption declaration showed no mansion or planes Upon closer inspection, the claims from the image shared in March 2025 were largely unsubstantiated. To start, there was no trace of a $35 million Florida mansion in Zelenskyy's name. Searches of public records from Florida's 67 counties found no deeds or mortgages in his name. Previous fact checks of this claim by AFP and PolitiFact also found no properties in Florida belonging to Zelenskyy. In his 2024 asset declaration, Zelenskyy declared whole or part ownership of 14 properties, a number that included several parking spaces. The declaration included one property in the United Kingdom but none in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the number of properties declared, it followed that Zelenskyy did not own 15 homes. The declaration categorized seven of the registered real estate assets as apartments. In terms of other assets, Zelenskyy declared two cars with a combined value of about $158,000. No planes were listed in the declaration. As for the claimed $11 million monthly income, in 2023, Zelenskyy received two sources of income classed as "Salary received at main place of work": $8,136.07 (336,000 Ukrainian hryvni) for "state affairs management" and $5,593.55 (231,000 Ukrainian hryvni) from Kvartal 95, a TV-production company founded by Zelenskyy and other business partners. Zelenskyy's total reported income for 2023 was 12,423,008 Ukrainian hryvni or $300,816.93 $25,068 per month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In terms of offshore accounts, Zelenskyy declared that he had access to one account at Union Bancaire Privee, a Swiss bank and wealth management firm, as well as accounts at several Ukrainian banks. The Union Bancaire Privee account held 350,272 euros (around $377,000). Pandora Papers reporting In 2021, following the release of the Pandora Papers, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, a global network of investigative journalists, reported that Zelenskyy and several business partners had owned a "network of offshore companies." Zelenskyy largely removed himself from the network in connection with becoming president in 2019, according to the report, gifting shares in offshore companies to his wife or business partners. It was unclear from the report how much money was held in the offshore companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless, according to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaire list, there were seven billionaires in Ukraine on March 5, 2025. None of these were Zelenskyy, indicating that he did not hold $1.2 billion offshore accounts. Sources: Brown. "Zelensky Found a Billion Dollars and a Villa in Miami." E Prime Feed, 23 Feb. 2022, https://archive.ph/SuDIJ. colinnew. "Zelensky Found a Billion Dollars and a Villa in Miami." SHTF, Mar. 2022, https://archive.ph/MDY1n#selection-1057.0-1064.0. @cwarren2000. "Please. Shut up! You're Just Lying as Always. ." X, 28 Feb. 2025, https://x.com/cwarren2000/status/1895575870049595738. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funke, Daniel. "Unproven Claims about Volodymyr Zelensky's Wealth Resurface Online." AFP, 9 Mar. 2023, https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33A99GQ. Healey, Thomas. "Everything Is Being Exposed. Everything." Facebook, 1 Mar. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10228237250301267&id=1377943296&rdid=xwWxjLQ47o367GtD#. LICON, ADRIANA GOMEZ. "What They Said: Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance's Heated Argument in the Oval Office." AP News, 28 Feb. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-vance-transcript-oval-office-80685f5727628c64065da81525f8f0cf. Loginova, Elena. "Pandora Papers Reveal Offshore Holdings of Ukrainian President and His Inner Circle." OCCRP, https://www.occrp.org/en/project/the-pandora-papers/pandora-papers-reveal-offshore-holdings-of-ukrainian-president-and-his-inner-circle. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement @meraki.ckcs. "And Now They're Making up Information about Zelenskyy, Probably to Help Diffuse the Whole Abusive Bullying Fiasco That Took Place." Instagram, 3 Mar. 2025, https://www.instagram.com/meraki.ckcs/p/DGruPfVM2Um/?locale=zh_CN&hl=ar. Nguyen, Andy. "No Proof That Zelenskyy Owns a $35 Million Home in Florida." @politifact, https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/may/02/facebook-posts/no-proof-ukraine-president-zelenskyy-owns-35-milli/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Offshore Havens and Hidden Riches of World Leaders and Billionaires Exposed in Unprecedented Leak - ICIJ. 3 Oct. 2021, https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/global-investigation-tax-havens-offshore/. "Trump Orders a 'Pause' of US Military Aid for Ukraine." AP News, https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-3-3-2025. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement @TRUMP_ARMY_. "LET'S THAT SINK IN !!" X, 28 Feb. 2025, https://x.com/TRUMP_ARMY_/status/1895544675811148075. "Verkhona Rada Strips Kiva from Lawmaker Mandate." The Kyiv Independent, 15 Mar. 2022, https://kyivindependent.com/verkhona-rada-strips-kiva-from-lawmaker-mandate/. . https://nazk.gov.ua/uk/deklaruvannya/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. #d8f5e4ed-0d3f-4781-8988-158d6aa0ae83 | . https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/d8f5e4ed-0d3f-4781-8988-158d6aa0ae83#heading-0. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. By Georgina McCartney HOUSTON (Reuters) -Oil prices settled down for the fourth consecutive session on Wednesday after U.S. crude oil stockpiles posted a larger-than-expected build, adding a further headwind as investors worried about OPEC+ plans to increase output in April and U.S. tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico. Brent futures settled down $1.74, or 2.45% to $69.30 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled down $1.95, or 2.86%, to $66.31 a barrel. Prices pared some losses after hitting multi-year lows earlier in the session - Brent sank to $68.33, its lowest since December 2021, and U.S. crude futures touched $65.22, its lowest since May 2023. They recovered slightly after the U.S. Commerce Department chief, Howard Lutnick, said Trump would make the final decision on whether to grant any relief on tariffs to certain industries, on Bloomberg TV. While Lutnick said the 25% tariff levied on Canada and Mexico would remain, the relief under consideration would eliminate the 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports, such as crude oil and gasoline, which comply with the rules of origin under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a source familiar with the discussions said. Pulling prices down, U.S. crude stockpiles rose more than expected last week amid seasonal refinery maintenance, while gasoline and distillate inventories fell due to a hike in exports, the Energy Information Administration said. Crude inventories rose by 3.6 million barrels to 433.8 million barrels in the week, the EIA said, far exceeding analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 341,000-barrel rise. Brent fell more than $2 after the data was released. "The imposition of tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico by the U.S. sparked swift reprisals from each nation that increased concerns over a slowdown in economic growth and the consequent impact on energy demand," Ashley Kelty, an analyst at Panmure Liberum, said. Canada and China retaliated immediately against Trump's tariffs on Tuesday, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the country would respond, without giving details. JP Morgan analysts said a 100-basis-point slowdown in the U.S. GDP growth rate could potentially reduce global oil demand growth by 180,000 bpd, analysts said in a note. OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, decided on Monday to increase output for the first time since 2022, pressuring crude prices. The group will make a small increase of 138,000 barrels per day from April, the first step in planned monthly increases to unwind its nearly 6 million bpd of cuts, equal to almost 6% of global demand. Claim: U.S. President Donald Trump said the federal government will stop funding post-secondary institutions that allow "illegal protests." Rating: Rating: Correct Attribution Context: Trump made the statement in a Truth Social post. It was unclear what he meant by "illegal protests." As of early March 2025, there was no official policy measure, whether in the form of a presidential action or congressional proposal, to change how post-secondary institutions receive federal funding based on their policies around demonstrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early March 2025, a claim spread online that U.S. President Donald Trump said the federal government will stop funding post-secondary institutions that allow "illegal protests." Social media users shared an image that supposedly showed a post by Trump on Truth Social with the threat. The image circulated on X, Reddit, Bluesky, Threads and Instagram (archived, archived, archived, archived, archived). No more funding for illegal protests at Colleges and Universities! FYI: I voted for this! pic.twitter.com/T248KePkrU Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) March 4, 2025 In short, the alleged Truth Social (archived) post was real. On March 4, 2025, Trump indeed posted "all federal funding will stop for any college, school, or university that allows illegal protests," without providing specifics. Therefore, we have labeled this claim correctly attributed. The post read in full: All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on [sic] the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter." (Truth Social @realDonaldTrump) It was unclear exactly what he meant by "illegal protests." The U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protects the "right of the people peaceably to assemble" but does not cover unlawful conduct. We reached out to the White House for more information about the president's declaration, and we are waiting on a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of early March 2025, there was no official policy measure, whether in the form of a presidential action or congressional proposal, to change how post-secondary institutions receive federal funding based on their policies around demonstrations. While the First Amendment guarantees people's right to protest in public areas, it does not traditionally cover civil disobedience based on previous court rulings, according to a Cornell Law Review article. The American Civil Liberties Union advises the following in terms of the constitutional protection: If you take part in a protest You may: Distribute leaflets, flyers or other literature on your own property or on public sidewalks, parks and plazas Picket or protest on public sidewalks, parks and plazas so long as sidewalks and building entrances are no blocked Chant or sing protest songs on public sidewalks, parks and plazas You may not: Block access to sidewalks or buildings Disrupt counter-protests Engage in speech that is obscene, makes knowingly false statements of fact, or that is likely to incite an immediate disruptive or dangerous disturbance Additionally, you may not be able to march in the streets without a permit in some jurisdictions, and you may be required to follow local traffic rules. Sources: "Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism." Federal Register, 3 Feb. 2025, www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/03/2025-02230/additional-measures-to-combat-anti-semitism. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. "Overview of the Religion Clauses | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress." Constitution.congress.gov, constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt1-2-1/ALDE_00013267/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinson, Nick, and Elly Page. "Protecting Dissent: The Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, Civil Disobedience, and Partial First Amendment Protection Cornell Law Review." Www.cornelllawreview.org, Cornell Law Review, 16 Apr. 2022, www.cornelllawreview.org/2022/04/16/protecting-dissent-the-freedom-of-peaceful-assembly-civil-disobedience-and-partial-first-amendment-protection/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. The White House. "Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism the White House." The White House, 29 Jan. 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/additional-measures-to-combat-anti-semitism/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Trump, Donald. "All Federal Funding Will STOP for Any College, School, or University That Allows Illegal Protests." Truth Social, 4 Mar. 2025, truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114104167452161158. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. U.S. Department of Justice. "Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism Announces Visits to 10 College Campuses That Experienced Incidents of Antisemitism." Justice.gov, 28 Feb. 2025, www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-task-force-combat-antisemitism-announces-visits-10-college-campuses-experienced. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. President Donald Trump has for years wildly exaggerated the size of US trade deficits with various other countries. Now, as Trump cites those trade deficits as a key justification for his tariff policies, newly released federal statistics show just how wrong Trumps numbers are. Previously released federal figures for 2023 and part of 2024 had already shown that Trumps claims about the US deficits with Canada, Mexico, China, and the European Union were way off. Now, the Department of Commerce has published full-year 2024 figures that allow us to say precisely how far off. The figures were released Thursday, hours before Trump announced a pause, until April 2, on his tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products covered by the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement he signed in his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before we get into the data, a quick reminder: Having a trade deficit with another country means the US imports more goods and services from the country than the US exports. Though Trump often describes trade deficits as subsidies or losses, having a deficit does not mean the US is giving away money for nothing. For example, the US trade deficit with Canada exists largely because the US imports a large quantity of cheap Canadian heavy crude oil that helps keep gas prices down for American drivers. Canada Trump, who on Tuesday imposed 25% tariffs on almost all imports from Canada (10% on energy), has repeatedly said this year that the US has a $200 billion trade deficit with Canada sometimes making the claim explicitly and sometimes using vaguer language about a supposed $200 billion subsidy or loss to Canada. Trumps number is not even close to correct. The new federal statistics show the 2024 deficit with Canada in goods and services trade was $35.7 billion, down from $40.6 billion in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if you only count trade in goods and ignore the services trade at which the US excels, the 2024 deficit with Canada was $70.6 billion. It was $72.3 billion in 2023. Mexico Trump also imposed 25% tariffs on products imported from Mexico. He said in a Fox News interview in February, We have a deficit with Mexico of $350 billion. Again, thats distant from reality. The new federal figures show the 2024 deficit with Mexico in goods and services trade was $179 billion, up from $162.1 billion in 2023. The 2024 deficit with Mexico in goods trade alone was $181.5 billion, up from $161.4 billion in 2023. China Trump, who has imposed a series of tariffs in his first and second presidential terms on products imported from China, said in a Fox News Radio interview in February that we have a deficit with China of over $1 trillion. He repeated the $1 trillion number in a February speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That, too, is a massive exaggeration. The new federal figures show that the 2024 deficit with China in goods and services trade was $263.3 billion. Thats up from $252.1 billion in 2023 but lower than in every year of Trumps first presidency. Trade deficits rise and fall for numerous reasons other than presidential policy. We mention the fact that Biden-era deficits were lower than Trump-era deficits, though, because Trump has claimed that Biden let the deficit with China get out of hand. The 2024 deficit with China in goods trade alone was $295.2 billion, up from $278.7 billion in 2023. European Union Trump has regularly, and incorrectly, castigated the European Union over its trade practices. He told reporters in February that with the European Union, its, you know, $350 billion deficit. He said at a subsequent February event that its about a $300 billion deficit with the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wrong once more. The new federal figures show that the 2024 deficit with the European Union in goods and services trade was $161.1 billion, up from $125.1 billion in 2023. The 2024 deficit with the European Union in goods trade alone was $236.7 billion, up from $201.6 billion in 2023. So, counting only goods trade, Trumps claims about the deficit with the European Union are a bit closer to the truth than his claims about the deficits with Canada, Mexico, and China but theyre still not actually close to the truth. This article has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Claim: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance during their contentious February 2025 Oval Office meeting, You're raising the volume of your voice, but not the logic of your argument." Rating: Rating: False Context: Zelenskyy said, "You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war [between Ukraine and Russia], you can ..." before Trump cut him off. We do not know what Zelenskyy was planning to say in the rest of his sentence before he was interrupted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was publicly berated by U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in a February 2025 Oval Office meeting, snippets of their interaction were shared widely on social media. A number of social media posts claimed witnesses overheard Zelenskyy say to the U.S. leaders: "You're raising the volume of your voice, but not the logic of your argument." "You're raising the volume of your voice but not the logic in your argument" -Zelensky (In his third language) Trump couldn't come up with a -line for all time- like that, in English. pic.twitter.com/2khG3M9tkC John O'Connell (@jdpoc) March 4, 2025 We looked closely at the footage as well as transcripts of their meeting, which was televised. At no point did Zelenskyy make the above statement. He did, however, begin saying, "You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war [between Ukraine and Russia], you can..." before Trump interrupted him. We do not know what Zelenskyy was planning to say before the interruption. As such, we rate this claim about the purported quote as false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We compared transcripts from PBS, The Associated Press, and The New York Times and found no examples of Zelenskyy saying the above phrase in any recording online. However, Zelenskyy did make an incomplete remark that sounded like the above phrase. A video of the complete meeting can be seen here. At the 44:32 mark, Vance began to sternly criticize Zelenskyy by asking him to offer "words of appreciation" to the U.S., to which Zelenskyy said, "You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war, you can [...]." Trump then interrupted him. We have reproduced a transcript of the moment below: VANCE: Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country. ZELENSKYY: Please. You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war, you can TRUMP: He's not speaking loudly. He's not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble. ZELENSKYY: Can I answer TRUMP: No, no. You've done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble. ZELENSKYY: I know. I know. While Zelenskyy did note the volume with which Vance talked to him, he did not complete the thought. Thus, the claim that he made an argument about logic is not true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after the meeting, Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine even as Zelenskyy said he would come to the negotiating table in his country's war with Russia. During his address to Congress on March 4, 2025, Trump said, "Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians." Sources: "Excerpts From the Fiery Exchange Between Trump and Zelensky at the White House." The New York Times, 28 Feb. 2025. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/us/politics/trump-zelensky-transcript.html." target="blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/us/politics/trump-zelensky-transcript.html.">https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/us/politics/trump-zelensky-transcript.html. Accessed 5 March 2025. Ibrahim, Nur. "Zelenskyy Saying US Will Have to Send 'sons and Daughters to War' in Ukraine Is from Old Video." Snopes, 5 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/zelenskyy-us-ukraine-war-quote/." target="blank">https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/zelenskyy-us-ukraine-war-quote/.">https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/zelenskyy-us-ukraine-war-quote/. Accessed 5 March 2025. "Trump May Restore Ukraine Aid Pending Confidence-Building Measures, White House Says." Reuters, 5 Mar. 2025. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-may-lift-hold-ukraine-aid-pending-confidence-building-measures-white-house-2025-03-05/." target="blank">https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-may-lift-hold-ukraine-aid-pending-confidence-building-measures-white-house-2025-03-05/.">https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-may-lift-hold-ukraine-aid-pending-confidence-building-measures-white-house-2025-03-05/. Accessed 5 March 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Gets Heated: FULL VIDEO." Fox 5 New York, Feb. 28, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhquAWlke2o." target="blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhquAWlke2o.">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhquAWlke2o. Accessed 5 March 2025. "What They Said: Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance's Heated Argument in the Oval Office." AP News, 28 Feb. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-vance-transcript-oval-office-80685f5727628c64065da81525f8f0cf." target="blank">https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-vance-transcript-oval-office-80685f5727628c64065da81525f8f0cf.">https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-vance-transcript-oval-office-80685f5727628c64065da81525f8f0cf. Accessed 5 March 2025. "What Trump and Zelenskyy Said during Their Heated Argument in the Oval Office." PBS News, 28 Feb. 2025, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-trump-and-zelenskyy-said-during-their-heated-argument-in-the-oval-office." target="blank">https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-trump-and-zelenskyy-said-during-their-heated-argument-in-the-oval-office.">https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-trump-and-zelenskyy-said-during-their-heated-argument-in-the-oval-office. Accessed 5 March 2025. Mar. 6A traffic stop for a busted headlight ended with a Hamilton police officer being choked by a defendant before the officer could hold him at Taser-point, police said. A Butler County grand jury indicted Anthony Folkes, 32, of Fairfield on Wednesday on charges of assault and strangulation (fourth- and fifth-degree felonies, respectively), resisting arrest, and operating a vehicle while impaired (both first-degree misdemeanors). The interaction between Hamilton police officer James Carpenter and Folkes started just after 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 17 on Ohio 4 near the Butler County Fairgrounds. Folkes' vehicle had an inoperable passenger headlight and license plate light, according to a police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the officer approached the vehicle, he noticed Folkes, who was behind the wheel, smelled like burning marijuana. After running his driver's license, which was valid, he advised Folkes it was illegal to smoke marijuana while driving. "The defendant stated he was stationary when he smoked it," according to the report. Carpenter asked the man to step out of the vehicle for a field sobriety test. After failing multiple tasks, the officer attempted to place Folkes under arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while impaired. According to the police report, the defendant resisted and questioned the action. "The defendant tensed up and began pulling away from Carpenter," according to the report. "The defendant continued resisting arrest and physically struggled with Carpenter." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an attempted to improve control over Folkes, Carpenter took him to the ground and then called for assistance. But when the officer tried to radio for backup, Folkes allegedly knocked the radio out of Carpenter's hand. During the continued struggle, Carpenter pepper sprayed the defendant's face but that did not deter the suspect. During the continued struggle, Folkes was able to get behind the officer and wrap an arm around Carpenter's neck in a chokehold, according to the police report. The pressure was tight, and the officer said he saw "stars." "(Carpenter) realized he was in great danger of losing blood flow to his brain," according to the report, which also indicated he "feared for his life and reached for his firearm." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carpenter yelled warnings he would shoot. It took repeating the threat multiple times before Folkes released his grasp from around the officer's throat. After separating from Folkes, Carpenter removed his Taser and ordered the defendant on the ground. He refused, and the officer deployed his Taser, but it was ineffective as it lodged in his clothing. But Carpenter persisted, continued to point the Taser at Folkes, trying to get him to comply. He was able to hold Folkes at Taser-point until officers arrived. Folkes is set to appear at 1 p.m. on March 18 before Butler County Common Pleas Judge Dan Haughey. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Interfaith protestors are calling for accountability for the Memphis Police Department after the death of Tyre Nichols on Wednesday. Organizers say with it being Ash Wednesday that it was the perfect time to jump start the Faiths Community protests as they join other calling for accountability from MPD. Protestors, many are members of MICAH, Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope carried signs highlighting pages and quotes from the Department of Justices investigative report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former MPD officer convicted in Tyre Nichols death released from house arrest You can look this up on the Department of Justices website. MPD uses excessive force, said one protestor. That report came after five former Memphis police officers were arrested, charged, and convicted in connection to the death of Tyre Nichols. Protestors were not happy with Mayor Paul Youngs response to the report. His response to demands to sign the consent decree is that it would be too costly to the city. What MICAHs position is and the position of our partner organizations is that its too costly not to implement these needed reforms, said Vice-President of MICAH Tyler Foster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bond revoked for Emmitt Martin after alleged threats; Tyre Nichols defendant back in custody MICAH said that theyre still drafting a list of demands, but organizers say what they want is simple transparency and city intervention. Just start collecting the data, start telling what you are doing out there on our streets because we know, and we need them to focus on that and fix this so next time its cold, we can be home and warm, said Josh Spickler of Just City. Well, we are opening for Ash Wednesday, so this is a great time of repentance,e which is a turning away from how we have behaved and no longer be seduced by spirits that will tell us that this is just the way it is, said Reverend Keith Caldwell, President of MICAH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have faith because thats what keeps us going; without faith, without hope, there really is no reason to continue, said Foster. Ashes were spread over city hall as the inter-faith community prayed over the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and missing persons held a peaceful rally outside of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on March 6, urging Washington to help secure the release of all Ukrainian soldiers and civilians held in Russian captivity. The protest comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a swift peace deal with Russia that foresees concessions from Kyiv, but not the aggressor state that invaded Ukraine in 2014 and escalated the war in 2022, killing tens of thousands of civilians. Protesters demanded an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange before any peace deal with Russia is signed, Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and Ukraine have conducted multiple swaps throughout the full-scale war, most recently on Feb. 5, when Ukraine secured the return of 150 POWs. Kyiv has pushed for an all-for-all prisoner exchange since 2024, but Moscow has refused the proposal. Ukraine does not disclose the exact number of its soldiers held in Russian captivity. According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, Moscow holds over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians. Additionally, Russia has forcibly deported more than 19,500 Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus, or occupied territories. Earlier on March 5, the day of Trump's address to Congress, a pro-Ukrainian rally was held in Washington near the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Euronews, the demostrators in Washington protested against Trump's recent statements on Ukraine and his decision to suspend military aid to Kyiv. The protests come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Kyiv following the contentious Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky. The talks, originally intended to finalize a U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal, ended in a public dispute, leading to the cancellation of the agreement. Since then, Trump has cut U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, while some U.S. officials and Republican lawmakers have intensified criticism of Zelensky, with some suggesting he should resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trump admin plans to revoke legal status of 240,000 Ukrainian refugees, Reuters reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Puyallup family is remembering 27-year-old Edward Eki Poloka, a United States Postal Service worker murdered inside a Tukwila distribution center on Tuesday. KIRO 7 spoke with Polokas family about the tragedy. They have started a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. In my mind, I was trying to process it like, the kind of person my brother is that shouldnt happen, said Kilbella Poloka. Kilbella is the eldest of six sisters. Edward is third in line, but the only brother and son in their big family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes the only one and thats why its so hard for me. I have only one son and its so hard for me, said Peti Poloka, Edwards other. The family shared memories of him with KIRO 7. They described him as goofy, lighthearted and caring. My brother was a very loving person. Whoever I bring to the house or whoever comes into our life, he loves them like his own, Kilbella added. Someone you can cry to and give you a big hug, said Blessing Uipo, his younger sister. He was loved and known for his funny jokes, said Amata Poloka, his older sister. Amata says she and Edward worked at the USPS facility in Tukwila. She cant believe she wont see her brother there ever again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id go to work and Ill be able to walk the floor and go check up on him. See if he had food, Amata said. Edwards younger sister, Alice, also worked with him. Sadly, driving there together is now a piece of the past. He was my ride to work and ride home. We would always go eat after work, Alice said. His future is also cut short with his girlfriend and soon-to-be fiance. He was very patient was kind. He was a protector and a provider. You will never never find that kind of person this time of day. Hes very he was one of a kind, said Veronica Faamatuainu, Edwards girlfriend. The family seeks closure in his murder, but they feel that it was taken from them too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to ask the other guy who shot him why why did you shoot my teddy bear. Like why, said Kilbella. Tukwila police say the suspect took his own life Tuesday night, as officers moved in to arrest him. When I found out this morning that he died, it was another heartbreak because now theres no justice for my brother, Kilbella said. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. A Kansas City metro family is grateful for smoke alarms and good neighbors. Fire crews were called to a home in the area of W. 89th Street and Craig Drive Tuesday around midnight for the report of a home smothered in smoke. The Overland Park Fire Department says it ran about 40 calls between midnight and 8 a.m. Wednesday. Over a dozen related to power lines. Four were fire calls; one was a significant structure fire with heavy smoke coming from an Overland Park residents garage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes 95 years old, tough as nails, getting out in 28-degree weather with no shoes, just in her pajamas, the homeowners son Chris Roth said. It was 12:30 and my wife and I were asleep. We got a call from the neighbor here that said my mom was luckily safe inside his house, but the house was on fire. We got in the car and hauled here through the blizzard and checked on her and took her to Shawnee Mission Hospital to make sure all of her breathing was good from the smoke inhalation. Two men charged in connection to deaths of 3 Chiefs fans in Northland backyard Although the resident of the home, suffered from minor smoke inhalation, Chris and John Roth are thankful their mom made it out alive. Smoke did a number. Water did a number on everything. Really looking for pictures, paperwork, anything personal, John Roth shared with FOX4 Wednesday, as family went back to the home. The brothers credit smoke alarms for their mom still being here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The house is an old house, never had smoke alarms. She never had them. Didnt want them. Our sister, luckily, talked her into those because they went off and saved her, John Roth said. She would have slept through the whole thing. She would not be here today, had it not been for the smoke alarms. Fire crews responded just after midnight during the storm. Investigators believe a tree limb knocked a service line down in the back yard of the home. Which is the power line that comes from the pole to the house, hit that, pulled the meter away from the house, started a fire in the back of the house, the backside of the garage, Media Manager for the Overland Park Fire Department, Jason Rhodes, shared with FOX4. It was pretty significant in the garage. OPFD said fires burn hotter and faster now, than ever before, so early notification, like from a smoke alarm, is vital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winds last night were really, really, high and lot of tree limbs down, lot of power lines down, very unfortunate that that happened, but very fortunate that she had those working smoke alarms and was able to get out safely, Rhodes shared. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, those things are really going to give you your best chance of survival. You need that early notification, so that you can get out before its too late. Fire can double in moments. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Firefighters from both Overland Park and Lenexa fire departments assisted in extinguishing this fire. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack, knocking down fire in the garage, while additional crews searched the house to be sure everyone was out. It took crews about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control, a release from OPFD said. Fire significantly damaged the garage, but the entire home suffered moderate smoke damage. While it appears the fire may have started from a downed powerline in the rear of the home, the exact cause is under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. An Oregon family vanished during a Christmas outing 67 years ago, authorities and news outlets reported. A new break in the case may solve the decades-long disappearance. A vehicle believed to belong to the missing Martin family was discovered in the Columbia River near Cascade Locks, the Hood River County Sheriffs Office said in a March 6 Facebook post. Authorities said they are working to recover it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ken Martin, his wife, Barbara, and their three children went missing in December 1958, after going to find Christmas greenery in the Columbia River Gorge, an overview for author J.B. Fishers book on the familys disappearance states. At the time, authorities discovered tire tracks and believed the family may have backed into the river on accident, KOIN reported. The bodies of two of the daughters, Sue and Virginia, were discovered in May 1959 in the Columbia River, the news outlet reported. The third daughter, Barbara, wasnt found. The Martins disappearance spurred the largest missing persons search in Oregon history and the mystery has remained perplexingly unsolved to this day, the overview for the book Echo of Distant Water: The 1958 Disappearance of Portlands Martin Family states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diver who found the vehicle, Archer Mayo, has been trying to solve the familys case for seven years, he wrote in a Facebook post earlier this year. Mayo said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted him a nationwide permit to dredge the Columbia River. His spokesperson, Ian Costello, told The Oregonian he found a vehicle last fall buried in the riverbed, about 60 feet from the shoreline. He told the news outlet the station wagon is about 90% buried. Deputies said the investigation is ongoing and more details will be released at a later time. Cascade Locks is about a 45-mile drive northeast from Portland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunters 1974 disappearance was decades-long mystery, KY cops say. Now, suspect IDd 7 people identified murder suspect, but another man went to prison, Illinois suit says 17-year-old shot, killed leaving girlfriends party, MI cops say. 16-year-old sentenced Fintech company Orange Money has upgraded its mobile money platform to Comvivas mobiquity Pay to improve service delivery for Orange Money users in Burkina Faso. This platform will enable Orange to expand its payment services through its open architecture and API-first design for improving flexibility and integration. The platform security system comprises features such as authentication, authorisation, and session management, which said to ensure a secure ecosystem. The new platform is a cloud-based solution designed for digital money, wallets, and payments. Its architecture is built to scale securely, with a modular design that accelerates the introduction of new services. The fixed-cost model is claimed to provide predictable business operations without hidden costs, backed by a bilingual team. Orange Money Burkina Faso CEO Christophe Baziemo said: Orange Money is one of our key growth drivers, contributing significantly to economic and social development in Burkina Faso. "We are particularly impressed by mobiquity Pays microservices architecture, open design, and API-first philosophy, which will enable us to significantly expand the Orange Money ecosystem in the region and provide disruptive services to our customers. Comviva CEO Rajesh Chandiramani said: For over a decade, Comviva has been a trusted partner to Orange, managing the design and technical operations of their platform. Recognising the evolving landscape of mobile money, Oranges decision to upgrade to mobiquity Pay reflects its commitment to staying ahead. This upgrade, the first of its kind at this scale in the region, paves the way for transformative advancements in digital payments. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Orange on their digitisation journey. The extensibility, configurability, and low-code features of mobiquity Pay will enable them to launch new services at an accelerated pace. This week, Comviva also introduced MobiLytix Rewards 5.0, an AI-powered SaaS platform designed to enhance loyalty programmes through gamification and personalisation across digital channels. "Orange teams up with Comviva for Mobiquity Pay " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The mayor of Springfield, Ohio, has responded after his city was mentioned during President Trumps address to Congress Tuesday night. Entire towns like Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, buckled under the weight of the migrant occupation and corruption like nobodys ever seen before, said Trump. Beautiful towns destroyed. In a statement released Wednesday, Mayor Rob Rue disagreed with the latter part of what the president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Springfield has not been destroyed, said Rue. On the contrary, we are seeing economic growth and new housing developments. Community leaders are actively collaborating and making decisions to move the city forward. Rue said that the mention of Springfield didnt come as a surprise as the city had been highlighted in Trumps Executive Order on immigration. Ohio city files federal lawsuit against alleged neo-Nazi group He said that while the citys resources had been strained by the influx of new residents, a majority of the migrants had been living peacefully. The greatest hardship we have faced in the past six months is the mischaracterization of our city. We need to be recognized as a community that, despite its challenges, is continuing to move forward and is far from being destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rue concluded by expressing a desire for the Trump administration to implement an immigration policy that will enrich the country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A far-Right extremist gang has been convicted in Germany over a plot to overthrow the government and kidnap the health minister. The five defendants were jailed on Thursday after being found guilty of high treason and belonging to a terrorist organisation. All five were found to be members of the United Patriots, part of the so-called Reichsburger movement in Germany, which rejects the modern post-war state and wants to restore imperial rule under a kaiser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A court in Koblenz handed down prison sentences to the defendants, four men and one woman, ranging from two to eight years. The woman, 77, was a former teacher whom prosecutors regarded as the political mastermind of the group. Prosecutors said the group wanted to create civil war-like conditions by blowing up power grids and causing blackouts. They then intended to kidnap Karl Lauterbach, the health minister, during a television chat show after eliminating his bodyguards. Mr Lauterbach is a figure of scorn for some in Germany because of his support for strict anti-Covid restrictions during the pandemic. Karl Lauterbach, the German health minister, had been targeted for a kidnapping attempt by the far-Right extremist gang - Tobias Schwarz/AFP While the plot did not appear to have been close to fruition, prosecutors said the gang had obtained weapons and money and were dangerous criminals who wanted to implement their plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was one of two high-profile Reichsburger trials underway in Germany. The other involves Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, an eccentric German aristocrat who is charged with being the figurehead of another plot to overthrow the government. Prince Reuss and his alleged co-conspirators are accused of planning to march into the German parliament with an armed group to arrest MPs on what they dubbed Day X. Conspiracy theories Their apparent goal was to restore the German empire of 1871 to 1918, the creation of which was overseen by Otto von Bismarck, but later abolished in the aftermath of the First World War. German officials estimate there are about 21,000 followers of the Reichsburger movement, though it is unclear how many of them are hardened coup-plotters, as opposed to harmless eccentrics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince Reuss is a former wine producer and property developer who enjoys reading about conspiracy theories. His lawyers have maintained that he is not violent and did not fully understand the implications of the plot. His trial continues. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, speaks on the Senate floor during the organizational session on Dec. 4, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) A Fargo state lawmaker is calling on North Dakota legislators to hold a special hearing focused on state impacts from federal funding cuts. We are hearing from our citizens. We are hearing from our nursing homes. We are hearing from people on Medicaid. We are hearing from our farmers, said Sen. Tim Mathern, a Democrat. And they want to know what I know. And I dont know what all is happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mathern, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he asked his committee leadership to hold a hearing about state impacts of potential cuts to Medicaid, firing of federal workers and other federal budget cuts. He said he believes state agencies have the closest connection to their corresponding agencies in the federal government and would be able to relay what they are hearing about workforce issues and funding. Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said legislative leaders will meet Thursday with Legislative Council senior fiscal staff to discuss a possible joint hearing with House Appropriations. It would be a little difficult to bring in every agency, and have every agency give us their views when most of us dont know whats going on in Washington, D.C., right now, said Bekkedahl, R-Williston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As state agencies discuss their budget proposals with appropriations committees, theyll be able to bring up federal impacts theyre seeing, Bekkedahl said. Its so early to tell with the new administration just getting started, whether or not its going to trickle down to the state level and affect us in any significant way, said Rep. Don Vigesaa, R-Cooperstown, chair of House Appropriations. He added the appropriations committees discuss funding sources with state agencies, but he expects more focused questions concerning federal funding going forward. One thing were always concerned about is when federal funding goes away, its expected that the state funding picks up the difference, or replaces the federal funding, Vigesaa said. And thats something we never want to see happen because that could really get us down a path that would be unsustainable for us as a state to fund the federal programs. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TRYON, N.C. (WGHP) For a taste of something different, coffee lovers will want to take a road trip to Tryon in Polk County. Brad Jones discovered a coffee company there creating a brew thats truly different because its Made in North Carolina. The folks at Big Guns Coffee feature 38 blends, but one that they create on their own really stands out. They are the first and only company to grow coffee hydroponically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of having to find the right climate and location, they just create those conditions indoors. Each of the coffee trees sits in a 3-gallon bucket with water and special nutrients. The lighting is controlled too, so theyre able to grow year round. Ninety-nice percent of the coffee consumed in the US is imported; the only state where it can be grown is Hawaii. Now, growing hydroponically means this type of operation can be done anywhere. Something else that makes this company different is the lady at the top 10-year-old Charli Johnson. She told us, My favorite part is hanging out with my Dad, because its so much fun, learning and doing this stuff. I just enjoy it so much!. Her father T. Shane Johnson says Charli runs the day-to-day operations, adding that she literally talks to the retail buyers, the WalMarts or Sprouts or the companies that were launching in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She works on supply chain, interpersonal skills, public speaking so she gets this full life cycle of experience. While they have plenty of business in their cafe in Tryon, theyre hoping to set up other farmers to grow coffee hydroponically in communities nationwide. That shortens the supply chain and means a much fresher product too. Both Charli and T. Shane feel doing this differently is more than just a sustainable idea, it also makes a difference for everyone along the way. Find out more by going to www.biggunscoffee.com Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. The FBI announced Thursday that Canadian former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been added to the agencys Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list. Wedding faces several U.S. charges, including conspiracy to export cocaine, running a criminal enterprise and murder. The U.S. State Departments Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced it is offering a $10 million reward for information that could lead to the 43-year-olds arrest, alongside the FBIs current offering of $50,000 for more information on Wedding. Weddings drug trafficking network allegedly regularly shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and locations in the United States. Wedding is also accused of orchestrating multiple murders as part of these drug crimes. He is reportedly known by several aliases, including El Jefe, Public Enemy and Giant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Thursdays press conference in Los Angeles, officials said Wedding is believed to live somewhere in Mexico, possibly under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel. Cart Weiland, a senior State Department official, told reporters that after his successful snowboarding career, Wedding went downhill in a different kind of way, the Toronto Star reported. He traded snow for another kind of powder, Weiland said. FBI Prosecutors in Toronto court said in a recent letter they believe Wedding has been on the run since October when authorities first identified him as the leader of a major criminal enterprise that works with Mexican cartels and ordered multiple murders in Ontario. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His alleged second-in-command, fellow Canadian Andrew Clark, was arrested by Mexicos Naval forces in October. Clark, 34, was among the 29 alleged Mexican drug cartel members who were sent to the United States earlier this year in a mass handover, overseen by Attorney General Pam Bondi. In addition to the drug trafficking accusations, Wedding and Clark are accused of orchestrating the murder of four people in Ontario in November 2023 over a stolen drug shipment. Two of the deaths have been described as the result of a mistaken identity shooting. March 6 (UPI) -- The FBI late Wednesday said it investigated a security concern that prompted a Sun Country Airlines flight to divert to El Paso and found "no threat to the safety of the passengers, flight crew or airplane." "FBI El Paso wants to thank the 156 passengers for your patience as our team conducted interviews to determine the circumstances behind the reported security concern," FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales said in a late Wednesday statement. Sun Country Airlines had said earlier Wednesday night that Flight 593 from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Mazatlan, Mexico, was diverted to El Paso "out of an abundance of caution in response to a security concern." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The aircraft landed without incident, passengers have been deplaned safely and will be provided overnight accommodations," Sun Country Airlines said in a statement. "We are working with law enforcement to fully investigate the situation and assess the validity of the concern." The nature of the security concern has not been made public. Morales earlier confirmed their was a law enforcement operation involved. He said in a statement that his office was notified at about 4:15 p.m. MST of a diverted airplane heading to El Paso by the local airport and the FBI's national Threat operations Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "FBI El Paso personnel have responded to the scene to assist our partners and ensure the safety of the passengers and the flight crew aboard the plane," he said. "As this is an ongoing situation, no further information can be given at this time." Sun Country Airlines said Flight 593 had departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul for Mazatlan, Mexico. "We apologize to our passengers and all those affected by this situation, but safety and security are our highest priorities," the airline said. A Sun Country Airlines plane flying between Minnesota and Mexico had to make an unscheduled stop in El Paso to address a security concern in early March 2025 (Flickr/Tomas Del Coro) A flight from Minneapolis to Mexico on Wednesday had to be diverted to El Paso due to a security concern, drawing a response from the FBI. Sun Country Airlines Flight 593 was forced to make an unscheduled stop in El Paso, near the US-Mexico border. The plane reportedly landed without incident, according to NBC News. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, was diverted to El Paso out of an abundance of caution in response to a security concern, according to a statement released by Sun County Airlines. All of the passengers exited the plane safely and were provided with overnight accommodations, the airline said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to CBS News, which cited an unnamed source familiar with the situation, a passenger on the plane reportedly found a note threatening everyone on the flight. It was reportedly the note that forced the plan to land prematurely. "We are working with law enforcement to fully investigate the situation and assess the validity of the concern," Sun Country Airlines wrote. The FBI wrote in a statement on X that it was responding to a situation at the El Paso International Airport on Wednesday. At approximately 4:15pm MST, FBI El Paso was notified by our partners at El Paso International Airport and the FBIs National Threat Operation Center of a diverted airplane heading to El Paso, Texas, from Minneapolis, FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law enforcement office did say that its purpose at the site was to "assist our partners and ensure the safety of the passengers and the flight crew aboard the plane." "FBI El Paso wants to thank the 156 passengers for your patience as our team conducted interviews to determine the circumstances behind the reported security concern," Morales said. Later on Wednesday, the FBI released another statement, saying it had "determined there was no threat to the safety of the passengers, flight crew, or the airplane." The flight's final destination was Mazatlan, a coastal town in Mexico's Sinaloa state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear if the passengers who were deplaned returned to Minneapolis or were provided new transportation to Mazatlan. "We apologize to our passengers and all those affected by this situation, but safety and security are out highest priorities," Sun Country Airlines wrote in its statement. "We will do everything to minimize the disruption and get travelers to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible." RAY BROOK The federal prison in Ray Brook is on lockdown following a fight between inmates in a housing unit on Monday. INMATE CONFRONTATION ERUPTS BOP spokesperson Emery Nelson said the fight involving three inmates happened around 11:50 a.m. Jennifer Rockhill, president of AFGE Local 3882, the union representing FCI Ray Brooks corrections officers, said this was an inter-gang fight and that chairs and broomsticks were used as weapons, but there were no serious injuries. Nelson said the inmates were treated for minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rockhill said the fight was difficult to break up. They were not complying with officers orders, she said. Usually, theres common knowledge that as soon as the officer gets in there to stop. But they didnt. That puts our officers more at risk. LOCKDOWN PROTOCOLS ACTIVATED Rockhill said the lockdown is expected to last through the end of the week and she appreciated the administration honoring COs concerns by implementing a lockdown. Nelson explained that during a lockdown, inmates have continuing access to at least three meals per day, potable water, unit team employees, medical services, and psychological services. They are allowed to shower on a rotating basis and can send or receive mail through the U.S. Postal Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FCI Ray Brook is across the street from the state Adirondack Correctional prison, where currently around half of the corrections officers are on an unsanctioned strike. We battle with the same issues, so we fully support them, Rockhill said. Rockhill mentioned that there have been a slew of minor fights in recent weeks that did not result in lockdowns as the prison is transitioning with new inmates coming in from other institutions. As new inmates mingle with existing ones, tensions are rising. The federal Bureau of Prisons is shuffling inmates to make room for thousands of immigrants detained by ICE as part of President Donald Trumps mass deportation push. Currently, FCI Ray Brook has 796 inmates, but Rockhill anticipates a significant increase in the coming days. The prison has around 70 corrections officers. UNION DEMANDS SAFETY Last month, a mail room staff member was hospitalized after feeling sicksuspected exposure to an unknown substance in a magazine. However, a hazmat crew found no illegal or harmful substance, and the employee is now back at work. Union leaders at FCI Ray Brook are pushing for increased protections and investments in safety. They also noted a rise in contraband deliveries by drones, with a recent arrest of a Vermont man for knowingly introducing dangerous contraband into prison. Rockhill said this arrest took place right behind the federal prison. The prison has been on lockdown, on and off, over the past year due to several issues, including inmate fights and drone deliveries. FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) More than 400 government properties might be vacated as part of a federal effort toward efficiency, and two are located in southeastern Massachusetts. Fall River and New Bedford house the two properties on a since-deleted list published by the federal government on Tuesday. Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan told 12 News he was not alerted about the Social Security Administration building in his city being listed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a very, very busy office in the city of Fall River, Coogan said. He explained that the building does a lot of good things to help people that need those kind of supports. Coogans main concern is what will happen to services offered in the building moving forward if its sold. RELATED: FBI headquarters among more than 440 federal buildings listed for potential sale I know theyre talking about phones and computers, he explained. But a lot of these people are elderly and theyre not really comfortable maneuvering through that, so Im very very concerned about the services that are gonna be going to Fall River residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Custom House in New Bedford was also mentioned on this list. The Custom House has been there since the [Andrew] Jackson administration in 1834, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said. It first served the whaling industry, now it serves the fishing industry. Mitchell stressed that there should be a federal presence in New Bedford. New Bedfords the largest commercial fishing port in the United States, he explained. Its the federal government, not the state government or the local government, that regulates commercial fishing in America. Mitchell said he also wasnt informed about the property being on the list before its release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear at this time if and when either property will be sold. NEXT: Trump plans to cut 80K employees from Veterans Affairs, according to memo Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. P44 General Counsel Jennifer Coyne said the judges view of MyCarriers actions would be beneficial in arbitration. The ruling affirmed that MyCarriers conduct was in breach of the agreement, setting a strong foundation for arbitration, she said. Its really just going to be, OK, you guys need to split up, Mitchell said. But its not expected to be anything other than resolution from a monetary perspective. Mitchell said whatever the outcome of arbitration, MyCarrier sees a strong likelihood it will be able to continue not only its relationship with SMC3 but its own development efforts. Its ultimately the arbitrators who will resolve it with finality, Taylor Mitchell, MyCarriers CFO, said in an interview with FreightWaves. Representatives from both companies told FreightWaves MyCarrier and p44 are engaged in arbitration in Delaware that began months ago. The two sides appeared before Judge McCormick in late January. The full decision can be accessed here. And while the judges review of the back-and-forth between p44 and MyCarrier seems to come down solidly on the argument that MyCarrier breached its contract with p44, that was not enough to show irreparable harm or injury. It means MyCarrier, for now at least, can keep doing what it has been doing for several months. But observers who spoke to FreightWaves noted that even a victory for p44 in that litigation, in order to be a total triumph, would likely need to somehow bar MyCarrier from doing what it wants to do going forward: build its own LTL software functionality, including an electronic bill of lading (eBOL) capability, and continue working with SMC3, which MyCarrier is now using in place of p44 to push its LTL solutions out to customers. A preliminary injunction would have stopped MyCarrier from working on its own or in conjunction with SMC3 to achieve those capabilities. McCormick also found that while p44 faced no irreparable injury by MyCarriers efforts to develop its own LTL software solutions the test for granting a preliminary injunction its actions in the conflict with p44 mean the latter will likely prevail when the lawsuit goes to arbitration. A Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick did not impose a preliminary injunction against MyCarrier in its effort to create its own software that mimics the functionality p44 data services, which it provides to its less-than-truckload customers. A judges decision Tuesday in the legal battle between FreightTech providers project44 (p44) and MyCarrier could be viewed as a win-win or loss-loss for both companies. (Editors note: the story has been edited to reflect the fact that arbitration and not a trial is expected to settle the dispute). Story Continues The decision spelled out the basis of the relationship between the two companies. MyCarrier uses P44s Freight API platform to connect carriers and shippers in the supply chain by providing data and information regarding shipments, McCormick wrote. P44 essentially serves as the pipe through which MyCarrier accesses the systems of the carriers that it then connects to the shippers. Judges rejects p44 arguments on injunction The judge ticked off four p44 arguments regarding irreparable harm and dismissed them all. The first is that by pushing out p44 in favor of a new alliance with SMC3, MyCarriers actions would distintermediate p44 and cause it to lose business. But with total revenue of about $125 million, p44 can now show that a loss of about 8% of that if MyCarrier stays away does not amount to irreparable harm. An argument by p44 that the severing of relationships with MyCarrier has damaged its reputation fails, the judge wrote, because it is backed up only by a statement from p44 management. This sole statement is too little to go on, McCormick wrote. A third argument by p44 is that the data provided by MyCarrier was being used to strengthen the overall data offerings of p44, and now it is gone. But McCormick noted that the data is only kept for three to six months, and the MyCarrier data was too small a percentage of total data ingested by p44 to make a huge difference. McCormick also found that the contractual relationship between the two companies did not give p44 an independent right to the data. That ties into p44s fourth argument about the use of data, and with the third argument having been rejected, the fourth was as well. The half-empty, half-full nature of the decision was reflected in the two companies formal statements about McCormicks ruling. We are very pleased with the Delaware Court of Chancerys March 3rd opinion, holding that p44 is likely to prevail on the merits of its claims for breach of contract based on MyCarriers development of eBOL and transition to SMC3 during the term of the parties 5-year agreement, Coyne said in a statement emailed to FreightWaves. Although we are disappointed that the Court did not grant the motion for preliminary injunction, we recognize this extraordinary form of equitable relief is a very difficult bar to meet, Coyne added, quoting the courts words. But she declared a larger victory: We just essentially defeated all of MyCarriers twisted language arguments that they werent violating the contract. The contract itself held up entirely. And from MyCarrier CEO Michael Bookout: We are gratified that the Delaware Court of Chancery denied project44s motion to enjoin MyCarrier. This ruling allows MyCarrier to continue to drive innovation for our customers. Reviewing the history McCormicks review of the events that led to the fissure between the two companies came down mostly on the side of p44s arguments that MyCarrier had broken the terms of the two companies agreements. She went over the several key developments between the two: an original deal signed in 2017 at a highly favorable price for MyCarrier, with p44 hoping to benefit from the data the deal would provide it into its larger offerings; a 2023 renewal that came despite MyCarriers misgivings about the p44 eBOL offering, particularly in regard to how it interacted with new standards from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, an LTL trade group; and efforts by MyCarrier to begin constructing its own eBOL solution, which p44 says were a violation of the terms of the two companies agreement. (Coyne said in her statement to FreightWaves that p44 has doubled down on its commitment and launched an eBOL product in July that is compliant with NMFTA standards.) McCormick said Bookout had told Jett McCandless, his counterpart at p44, that he 100 percent wanted to stay with p44. But she added that what Bookout said was an overstatement. In fact, at the time he made that statement, MyCarrier was actively looking for ways to replace p44, including by building their own proxy Software, McCormick wrote. She recapped the back-and-forth between the two companies over whether MyCarrier was trying to build an alternative the evidence leaves little doubt that was going on, but MyCarrier was arguing an interpretation of the contract that would have provided a carve-out for its activities and whether that violated the agreement between the two companies. The dispute began coming to a head in June 2024 when p44 sent MyCarrier a cease-and-desist letter, saying MyCarriers efforts to develop eBOL technology was in violation of the agreement. That set off a series of legal claims and counterclaims. In September, MyCarrier announced its deal with SMC3 that effectively put p44 on the shelf and substituted SMC3. P44s services are no longer available through MyCarrier. In October, according to McCormicks ruling, MyCarrier gave p44 five days notice that it would resume eBOL work, but only such work as is not stand-alone and is not sold in competition with p44s products or services. But she saw that as a violation of the contract. MyCarrier cited an exclusion in the contract as its defense of the work it was doing with SMC3. But, McCormick wrote, this exclusion does not permit MyCarrier to transition to an alternative provider such as SMC3 for the same services P44 used to provide and cease using P44 altogether. More articles by John Kingston Penske Truck Leasing hangs on to investment-grade debt rating from Moodys XPO lawsuit against 2 ex-employees gives look into noncompete agreements What did these men do? judge asks in throwing out indictment of NFIs Brown The post Project44 and MyCarrier can both claim partial win in Delaware court decision appeared first on FreightWaves. A correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Thomson, Ill., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rockford for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with two inmates, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office, Northern District of Illinois. Danny L. Spyker, 40 , of Lanark, Ill., knowingly engaged in sexual acts with the inmates in December 2023 and March 2024, according to an indictment returned in the Northern District of Illinois on Feb. 25, 2025, and unsealed on Wednesday. Spyker has been on administrative leave from his position as a correctional officer since June 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and William J. Hannah, acting special agent-in-charge of the Midwest Regional Office of the Department of Justices Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt, the release says. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum sentence for each count in the indictment is 15 years in federal prison. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from drastically cutting medical research funding that many scientists say will endanger patients and cost jobs. The new National Institutes of Health policy would strip research groups of hundreds of millions of dollars to cover so-called indirect expenses of studying Alzheimers, cancer, heart disease and a host of other illnesses anything from clinical trials of new treatments to basic lab research that is the foundation for discoveries. Separate lawsuits filed by a group of 22 states plus organizations representing universities, hospitals and research institutions nationwide sued to stop the cuts, saying they would cause irreparable harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Brown University warns federal funding cuts could be a disaster R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha described the preliminary injunction as being a critical win for the health of Americans everywhere. People lead healthier lives because of the extraordinary, groundbreaking medical research conducted at institutions like [the University of Rhode Island], Brown [University], and countless others; research that yields public health advancements upon which many of us rely, whether we realize it or not, he said As long as this administration continues its illegal acts, in this case and others, we will continue fighting for justice on behalf of the American people. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston had temporarily blocked the cuts last month. Wednesday, she filed a preliminary injunction that puts the cuts on hold for longer, while the suits proceed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NIH, the main funder of biomedical research, awarded about $35 billion in grants to research groups last year. The total is divided into direct costs covering researchers salaries and laboratory supplies and indirect costs, the administrative and facility costs needed to support that work. The Trump administration had dismissed those expenses as overhead, but universities and hospitals argue theyre far more critical. They can include such things as electricity to operate sophisticated machinery, hazardous waste disposal, staff who ensure researchers follow safety rules and janitorial workers. MORE: Scientists warn Trumps medical research cuts endanger patients Under prior policy, the government negotiated those rates with institutions. As an example, an institution with a 50% indirect cost rate would get another $50,000 to cover indirect expenses for a $100,000 project. The NIHs new policy would cap indirect costs at a flat rate of 15% instead, calculated to save the agency $4 billion a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. David J. Skorton of the Association of American Medical Colleges, one of the plaintiffs, applauded the ruling. These unlawful cuts would slow medical progress and cost lives, he wrote in a statement, saying the NIH-funded research benefits every person and community in America. The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees NIH, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A federal judge on Wednesday issued an order temporarily blocking the Trump administration from imposing a 15 percent cap on research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), finding that plaintiffs had a high likelihood of succeeding on the merits of their argument. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley granted a nationwide preliminary injunction on the Trump White Houses plans to set a 15 percent cap on payments for indirect costs for NIH grant recipients. These funds go towards administrative costs, facility fees and paying support staff. Last month, Kelley granted a request for a restraining order on the funding rate change, barring NIH from enforcing its plans. The plaintiffs include 22 attorneys generals representing their respective states, who argue that slashing funding for indirect costs would be devastating to grant recipients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NIH-funded researchers who spoke with The Hill said that if the 15 percent cap on indirect funds were allowed to stand, it would make crucial research nonviable. In his ruling on Wednesday, Kelley found that the crux of the plaintiffs argument hinges on federal statute and regulations put in place by Congress and NIH. Plaintiffs argue that the Rate Change Notice failed to follow administrative procedure, as required by the Administrative Procedure Act, including that the action was arbitrary and capricious, that it failed to abide by notice-and-comment requirements, and that it is impermissibly retroactive, wrote Kelley. The judge determined that the Trump administration had failed to follow proper administrative procedures, such as submitting the rate change to notice-and-comment rulemaking. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently released a policy stating his department would no longer allow public comments in its rulemaking process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Kelley cited previous cases that found federal agencies cannot simply disregard rules that are still on the books and ruled that the Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in claiming the Rate Change Notice conflicts with existing regulation. Considering the irreparable harm likely to befall similarly situated nonparties, the chaos that would result both for institutions and NIH from a patchwork of injunctions, the diffuse nature of the Plaintiffs, and the nature of the suit, a nationwide preliminary injunction is the appropriate and reasonable remedy, wrote Kelley. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. At least nine U.S. Forest Service employees in the Daniel Boone National Forest have been terminated in recent weeks, according to union representatives, and more layoffs could be coming as the Trump administration carries out sweeping cuts across federal government. The cuts leave fewer staff to tend to 700,000 acres of rolling Eastern Kentucky forest where partner organizations say the agency was already shorthanded and underfunded ahead of peak tourism season. Trail maintenance, visitor services, facilities upkeep, volunteer coordination and other services could take a hit from the cuts. The count of nine terminations does not include at least two foresters who were laid off, only to be reinstated when the agency determined their roles were essential, a union representative with the National Federation of Federal Employees said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the February wave of terminations, the forest service said it employed 126 non-firefighting staff in the Daniel Boone. The union estimated dozens of employees in the forest were in probationary periods, indicating risk of termination, The Courier Journal previously reported. What we know: DOGE identifies more federal offices in Kentucky to close More cuts may be on the horizon. An executive order in February commanded federal agencies to "promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force," and a federal memo outlined next phases for agencies' "reorganization" going into March. Adding to the confusion, the federal Merit Systems Protection Board issued a stay Wednesday, ordering the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the forest service, to temporarily reinstate thousands of terminated employees while the firings are under investigation. It's unclear how many terminated employees in the Daniel Boone will be asked to return to work as a result of the order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Forest Service has not confirmed the exact number of layoffs or impacted roles in the Daniel Boone National Forest to The Courier Journal, and a Freedom of Information Act request filed in mid February has not been fulfilled. The union has been working to keep track of impacted staff on a person-by-person basis, leaving some uncertainty in the full extent of the cuts. Staff in the Cumberland, London and Stearns districts of the Daniel Boone have been affected by layoffs so far, in addition to some supervisory positions, according to the union. "The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest," termination notices to employees said. At least some workers in the Daniel Boone National Forest and across the country received notices with this language despite successful performance reviews. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it had made "the difficult decision" to terminate 2,000 non-firefighting forest service staff nationally, in an effort "to ensure that every dollar spent goes to serve the people, not the bureaucracy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Secretary (Brooke) Rollins is committed to preserving essential safety positions and will ensure that critical services remain uninterrupted," the department said in a statement. The layoffs in Daniel Boone National Forest are part of the Trump administration's wide-reaching purge of federal payrolls. These efforts have faced legal challenges, and a memo from the Office of Personnel Management was revised Tuesday, apparently easing the administration's pressure on agencies to conduct mass firings, following a federal judge's order. But thousands of employees at the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and other agencies have already been terminated, stirring fears about the long-term stewardship of prized public lands. Pete Fingerson, executive director of Powell County Tourism, expressed concern about how the layoffs could affect the Red River Gorge area and other parts of the Daniel Boone National Forest a point of pride for the region and a major tourism driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The forest service has already been "historically underfunded and understaffed," Fingerson said, even as visitation to the forest has spiked since the COVID-19 pandemic. "Now what?" A beloved forest loses stewards Overlooks of the Red River Gorge Geological Area on the Chimney Top Trail. Sept. 19, 2020 As layoffs continue to surface in public lands across the country, the full effects are not yet known. But opponents have criticized the cuts as rushed and opaque and fear forests and recreation could be neglected as a result. Steve Gutierrez, land management business representative for the National Federation of Federal Employees, said the administration's cuts to land management agencies are coming down hardest on rural communities, and will hamper forests that have long upheld vital tourism economies. "They're making people do more with less," Gutierrez said, "and that's just not sustainable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before pandemic-era gains, Daniel Boone National Forest drew more than 1 million visitors annually, who in turn spent millions of dollars in the region each year. "If the forest is closed, or trails are closed or not maintained, toilets overrunning, trash everywhere ... Who wants to go vacation in a trashed forest?" Gutierrez asked. A forest service worker responsible for coordinating volunteer cleanups in the Cumberland District, which includes the Red River Gorge area, was among recent layoffs, according to the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, which partners with the forest service to protect and maintain rivers and streams in the Daniel Boone. Laura Gregory is the watershed program director for KWA, and works frequently in the Red River watershed. A project she was working on in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service aiming to reduce septic overflows into the Red River has stalled, she said, amid uncertainty about funding and support for the work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The forest was already understaffed for an area the Red River Gorge that is just loved to death," Gregory said. "Losing staff means losing a lot of what we love about the Red River Gorge that we take for granted ... Its very concerning." Kentucky Heartwood, an advocacy organization that has clashed with the U.S. Forest Service in the past on forest management practices and logging projects, condemned the recent layoffs, adding, "Past efforts to downsize the Forest Service and limit resources illustrate how illogical it is to argue that cuts will increase efficiency." "Kentucky Heartwood and the Forest Service may disagree on land management and project implementation, but at the end of the day, cuts to Forest Service staff will negatively impact the Daniel Boone National Forest," the group said in a statement. "Whether that means there is less manpower for recreation management or less manpower to adequately review the ecological impacts of a proposed project, its bad for the forest either way." The U.S. Forest Service's new chief, Tom Schultz, is a former lumber industry executive, charged by the new administration "to make America's forests healthy and productive again." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schultz's appointment was criticized by advocates as a threat to the nation's forests and a boon for corporate interests seeking accelerated logging on public lands. President Donald Trump's tariffs are expected to impede lumber imports from Canada and other trade partners, and in a March 1 executive order, Trump mandated an "immediate expansion of American timber production," including expanded logging of national forests and other federally managed lands. In a letter in late February, the agency's departing chief Randy Moore announced his retirement, encouraged sustained focus on the forest service's mission and assured remaining staff: "If you are feeling uncertainty, frustration, or loss, you are not alone." "I have been silent these last few weeks because these decisions are being made at a level above our organization, and I was and am learning about the changes the same time as many of you," Moore wrote. "Our focus now is on how we respond and adapt to new priorities and continue delivering on our mission with the workforce we have." Are layoffs happening at Mammoth Cave National Park? A firefighter with the US Forest Service stands with a drip torch as a crew performs a test burn on a unit at Daniel Boone National Forest on Monday, March 22, 2021, as they continue with a prescribed burn in the forest. Federal cuts are expected to affect other beloved public lands in Kentucky, including Mammoth Cave National Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nonprofit Association of National Park Rangers has been compiling an unofficial, crowdsourced tally of layoffs across national parks. The association has heard of "between seven and 15" layoffs at Mammoth Cave National Park so far, executive director Bill Wade told The Courier Journal. The park is also offering fewer daily cave tours in late March compared to the same time period last year, according to its website. The National Park Service has not confirmed layoff counts to The Courier Journal, and did not answer questions about whether staffing cuts are affecting the park's tour offerings or other services. In response to a FOIA request for a list of terminated and probationary employees at Mammoth Cave, the agency estimated it would need about 18 months to respond. "The National Park Service is hiring seasonal workers to continue enhancing the visitor experience as we embrace new opportunities for optimization and innovation in workforce management," the agency said in a statement. "We are focused on ensuring that every visitor has the chance to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 1, demonstrations organized by Resistance Rangers brought thousands of people to public lands across the country to protest federal cuts, including in Kentucky. Advocates rallied in Mammoth Cave National Park, Daniel Boone National Forest and Camp Nelson National Monument. In the Daniel Boone National Forest, protesters held signs saying "Keep DOGE hands off our public lands" and "This land is our land." Gerry Seavo James, deputy campaign director for the Sierra Clubs Outdoors for All initiative and an advocate for recreational access across Kentucky, attended the Daniel Boone rally. Land management agencies like the forest service need more people on the ground, not less, he said, and he expressed concerns about the rapid pace of the cuts. "We do need more government efficiency," James said. "But this is not a government efficiency operation. This is a bull in a china shop." DOGE cuts: Kentucky has nearly 23,500 federal workers. Here's what reductions could mean for them Reporter Marina Johnson contributed to this report. Connor Giffin is an environmental reporter for The Courier Journal. Reach him directly at cgiffin@gannett.com or on X @byconnorgiffin. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Daniel Boone National Forest hit by Trump administration layoff orders A federal corrections officer has been charged with having sexual contact with four detainees at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, court records show. Brittany Hall, a Federal Bureau of Prisons guard, was assigned to the female unit on the 12th floor of the detention facility in the South Loop. Hall was named in an indictment Tuesday as having contact with the victims between Dec. 4 and Dec. 29, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two detainees were being held pending unspecified charges, while the other two were serving federal prison sentences. Under federal law, it is a crime for a corrections officer to have sexual contact with prisoners, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. No future court date has been set. GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) Homes throughout Central Texas many of which are newer builds sustained roof damage after Tuesdays high winds. Neighbors want to know why their homes arent able to withstand more. KXAN received reports from Georgetown, Bertram, Hutto, Uhland and other areas. Neighbors asked us to look into homes built by the same developer that are dealing with repeated roof damage issues. On Wednesday, KXAN connected with a group of neighbors in the Fairhaven neighborhood in Georgetown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement D.R. Horton is the developer of this neighborhood. In a statement, Scott Wilburn, division president for D.R. Hortons Austin Division, told us: D.R. Horton is aware of the concerns raised by some homeowners regarding the performance of roof shingles during the recent high winds experienced in Austin and surrounding areas. We are currently investigating the matter and involving the two shingle manufacturers represented in the community. D.R. Horton takes home quality seriously and is committed to meeting the highest standards of craftsmanship and durability from our homes. The statement went on to say any concerned homeowners should contact them at (512) 345-4663 or visit their website to submit an online warranty request. It did add, however, damages caused by extreme weather are not typically covered by their builder warranty. Wind roof damage in Fairhaven neighborhood, Georgetown. (Drone photo provided by: Ripple Roofing & Construction). Roof damage in Fairhaven neighborhood, Georgetown. (Photo provided by: Neel Parikh) Roof damage in Fairhaven neighborhood, Georgetown. (Photo provided by: Neel Parikh) Roof damage in Fairhaven neighborhood, Georgetown. (Photo provided by: Neel Parikh) Roof damage in Fairhaven neighborhood, Georgetown. (Photo provided by: Neel Parikh) Roof damage in Fairhaven neighborhood, Georgetown. (Photo provided by: Neel Parikh) Roof damage in Fairhaven neighborhood, Georgetown. (Photo provided by: Neel Parikh) Neighbors reported more than half of the homes now have torn up shingles that were ripped off by wind on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most homeowners in Fairhaven who KXAN spoke with said they have lived in their new builds less than five years. This poor quality is unacceptable, neighbor Amanda Brown said. As neighbors listened to each others roof damage experiences in their short period of time living in the neighborhood, frustrations grew. I bought this house brand new, thinking Im getting into a new home, theres not going to be an issue, neighbor Bhavin Mistry said. Forty to 60 mph hour winds on Tuesday left some neighbors feeling unsafe. Shingles were flying all over the backyard, the front yard, neighbor Ken Liu said. My kids couldnt go outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbor Devanshi Sukhadi said she questioned if she could sleep upstairs in her room, due to how bad things got with the wind ripping shingles off her familys roof. All the banging we were hearing, Sukhadi said. Neighbors want answers about the quality of the materials used. We have some neighboring communities, their house is way older than what we have, neighbor Neel Parikh said. Its a different builder they have not faced [roof damage issues], Parikh said. Neighbor Cherly Bouillon said shes had to call out three roofing companies in five years. Ive been told by several roofers that the shingles are subpar, Bouillon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ripple Roofing & Construction surveyed some damage Wednesday. The company didnt install the roofs in Fairhaven. However, the companys co-owner, Tyler Griffiths, said he isnt surprised most of these homes were impacted. These three tabs are all single laminated, so theyre not as heavy, Griffiths said. Theyre not going to hold up to wind, or hail As far as trying to blame workmanship or trying to figure out exactly whats going on, its kind of tough to say. Neighbors just want someone to be held accountable. All these roofs need to just be redone, Brown said. At no expense to the homeowners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IKO is the company that made the shingles used for the roofs in the Fairhaven neighborhood. A spokesperson for the company said concerned neighbors should file a claim with IKO. IKO said, per an industry standard, homeowners would be required to send ripped off shingles to its company to determine if theres a product issue. IKO add that customers would be responsible for paying for shipping. D&H Roofing said it installed the roofs in the Fairhaven neighborhood. It told KXAN other homes its works on using different materials than IKO havent had damage issues. This is an ongoing investigation. Reach out to Reporter Jala Washington with any concerns. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) FEMA representatives, congressional representatives, and Panama City officials finally made some progress toward funding some road improvement projects. Last week, we had a great and very productive phone call with representatives from FEMA, both here in Florida, as well as up in D.C., along with a representative from Congressman Dunns office and Senator Scotts office. So were very grateful to our congressional representatives for fighting hard for Panama City and working to hold the federal agencies accountable, City Manager Johnathan Hayes said. FEMA is giving the city an estimated $10 million to repair 26 miles of road, consisting of 351 road segments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis says goodbye at Cabinet meeting The funding will be a reimbursement. Five or six of those segments are going to be completely rebuilt like completely down to the new base and new sub-base. Were working kind of through that, some of those details as well. But if it comes in maybe a little bit over that or a little bit under that, thats fine. FEMA will pay exactly what it costs. And so were really excited about this, Hayes said. Hayes hopes the projects will begin by summer. Cove Boulevard, Florida Avenue, Grace Avenue, Rowe Avenue, and Drake Avenue are just a handful of heavily traveled roads getting a makeover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayes says there were some disagreements between the city and FEMA that delayed the process, but ultimately, the goal was quality. New deputy chief joins Panama City Beach Police Department Thats why we really pushed hard to really make sure the method of repair was one that would stick, and not just be kind of a temporary or a Band-Aid fix. So that was kind of some of the disagreement. And we worked through that, Hayes added. Hayes says the work on all 351 segments will involve milling and resurfacing with almost three inches of new asphalt, at minimum. Hayes says they are preparing bid documents and hope to start the competitive bid process in the next 60 to 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Sen. John Fetterman didnt shy away from criticizing his own partys attempt at a protest during President Donald Trumps congressional address Tuesday night, describing the whole shtick as a sad cavalcade of self owns. Throughout Trumps speech, several Dem lawmakers held up small, paddle signs with slogans like Musk Steals or Save Medicaid. Texas Rep. Al Green was also swiftly escorted out of the House chamber after refusing to take a seat at the start of Trumps address and yelling that he had no mandate to cut Medicaid. Meanwhile, other members of the party, all women, also wore pink to spotlight how the Trump administration was negatively impacting women and families according to New Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez. US Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) holds up a white board reading The partys silent protest largely fell flat, with a handful of users online comparing it to a game of bingo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance, Fetterman wrote on X Wednesday. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained. Were becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention toand it may not be the winning message. A sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained. Were becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention toand it may not be the winning message. pic.twitter.com/hNgX7ouLjX U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) March 5, 2025 A handful of Dems also walked out during Trumps speech, including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Chris Van Hollen, and Reps. Jared Huffman, Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal, Jamie Raskin, and Zoe Lofgren, among others. This is my fifth such speech to Congress, and once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud, Trump said during his address. These people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They wont do it no matter what and it just shouldnt be this way, he continued. From left to right: Cody Carnley of Crenshaw County, Alabama; Carrie McNair of Mobile; Veronica Wehby-Upchurch of Birmingham and Lindsey Shaw of Birmingham hold signs at a rally in support of legislation to protect in vitro fertilization on Feb. 28, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) When I drove to Montgomery a year ago to join other fertility patients, doctors, and advocates at the Alabama Statehouse fighting to protect in vitro fertilization, I first stopped at my fertility clinic to track the progress of my miscarriage. As I sat in cramped offices listening to my state lawmakers, who ranged from kind to clueless to condescending, my thoughts drifted to the fading embryo inside me. The Alabama Supreme Court had just ruled that frozen embryos are children in the eyes of the law, shutting down nearly all IVF services in the state. I wondered if the last treatment remaining to give me a child in my arms would ever again be available in Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our legislators came through for us that day and passed Band-Aid legislation that allowed IVF to resume. However, they did not change the legal status of frozen embryos as children, and so withheld full and permanent protection for IVF, leaving families like mine in uncertainty for over a year. There has since been discussion of regulating IVF. Proposals include limiting the number of eggs retrieved or embryos created. Regulations like these would have tragic consequences for IVF patients in Alabama, forcing their doctors to deviate from the standard of care and increasing the number of IVF cycles required to take home a baby, at great physical, emotional, and financial cost to women and their families. Currently, even one IVF cycle costs $15,000 to $30,000; is not typically covered by Alabama employers health insurance policies; may require multiple days off from work, and carries a heavy emotional burden. Increasing the number of IVF cycles a family has to go through will make this miraculous treatment practically less accessible in our state, even if it remains nominally available. Suggested regulations like these rely on a happy fantasy: every egg will be fertilized successfully, every embryo will grow into a successfully implanted blastocyst, and every pregnancy will come to a joyful end with a cuddly, chubby-cheeked baby in the arms of its proud parents. The reality, however, is that human reproduction is a tragically imperfect process. Even in the general population, 1 in 5 known pregnancies, and up to 30% of all pregnancies, ends in miscarriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For IVF patients, the rate of a live birth from a single embryo transfer can range from under 10% to 50%, depending on factors including the patients age and whether they used genetic testing to identify the embryos most likely to succeed. In my own case, my first egg retrieval resulted in 18 eggs but only one embryo. Receiving that call from my doctor was one of the most devastating moments of my life. I have been pregnant three times, and two of those pregnancies ended in miscarriage. My journey has been relatively short and easy compared with others Ive met along the way. No one wishes frozen embryos were children more than fertility patients. But we know from bitter experience that they are not. This week, I am returning to the Alabama Statehouse, seven months pregnant thanks to IVF. Along with other advocates, I will be thanking my legislators for the start they made to protecting IVF families last year, and asking them to extend full and permanent protection for IVF in our state by leaving treatment decisions to the doctors and patients who understand the incredibly high and heartbreaking stakes of this process. It is time to follow up on the promises of the last legislative session and ensure that IVF remains available and accessible to the Alabama families who need it. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In the desolate ruins of the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, Umm Muhammads daughter Hala assembles scraps of wood and chunks of foam to build a fire. Proper housing and basic infrastructure are nowhere to be found. Their family of 11 is living in a tent alongside heaps of concrete and mangled steel that now lie where their home once stood. What they do have: flour, water and oil, which means Umm Muhammad can bake bread for her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for how long? The food aid is whats keeping us alive, Umm Muhammad said. We eat and drink for the whole month from aid. Without that, it will be very difficult aid makes us live. That lifeline for Umm Muhammad and hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians is now under existential threat as Israel lays siege to Gaza once again. Umm Muhammad tells CNN how she and her family depend on aid. When the crossings were last closed she couldnt buy flour or sugar. - Tareq Al-Hilou/CNN The Israeli government announced Sunday that it was shutting down the supply of food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza in a bid to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages and impose new conditions on the extension of the ceasefire, a day after the conclusion of the first phase of the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of this morning, the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza will be prevented, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday, accusing Hamas of controlling all of the supplies of goods that are being sent to the Gaza Strip and turning the humanitarian aid into a budget for terrorism directed against us. Hamas rejected those claims as baseless lies. Multiple humanitarian aid groups operating inside Gaza have said they distribute the aid they receive directly to those in need. The United Nations and other aid groups accuse Israel of violating international law by blocking the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and say Israel is once again using starvation as a weapon of war, a charge Israel has denied. These same organizations have accused Israel of restricting or creating hurdles to the entry of aid throughout the war. Twenty-five thousand trucks carrying food, hygiene supplies, tents and other necessities entered Gaza during the first six weeks of the ceasefire, stemming massive food insecurity and somewhat alleviating dire humanitarian conditions that had gripped Gaza. People gather for the Iftar, or fast-breaking meal, on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip on March 1, 2025, by the rubble of collapsed buildings. - Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images Amid the rubble, families celebrating Ramadan have been able to put food on the table for the break-fast meal of Iftar. Markets had recently begun to come back to life. And regular aid distribution provided a thin safety net. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels decision to block aid into Gaza is already reverberating throughout the strip. Food prices are already sharply rising in Gazas markets. And aid organizations are scrambling to ration minimal stockpiles of aid. The World Food Programme said that bakeries and soup kitchens in Gaza could be forced to shut down in less than two weeks if more aid does not reach the strip. Israel has threatened to take additional steps if Hamas does not agree to its demands, including cutting off electricity and water supplies to Gaza. US-based group Human Rights Watch warned Thursday that Israels blockade would shut down most of the Palestinian territorys water infrastructure within a week by starving it of fuel. Abu Muhammad says the Israeli government is using aid as a weapon of war, and asks whether the international community will help. - Tareq Al-Hilou/CNN The specter of a return to war also now looms large, especially after US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to give Israel the weapons it needs to finish the job in Gaza unless Hamas immediately releases all of the remaining hostages held there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for some in Gaza, Israels decision to block food aid into Gaza already amounts to a return to war. They are fighting us through our food, Abu Muhammad said, standing atop a pile of rubble in Jabalya. Netanyahu is now publicly saying I will close the crossings and starve you. No one is standing against him. Who is standing with us? he asks. We only have God God is with us. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com DENVER (KDVR) Lakewood police on Wednesday announced that the final suspect in a 2023 deadly shooting of a pregnant woman has been arrested, just over two years after the womans death. Isaac Amir Pierrie, 24, was arrested in Aurora Tuesday evening on suspicion of committing first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the Feb. 28, 2023, death of Melanie Massay, who was pregnant at the time. Police said multiple people ambush attacked Massay; Pierrie was the seventh person arrested in connection to the shooting. Previous: They were plotting to ambush my pregnant daughter: Lakewood murder suspects wanted Melanie Massay Massays mother, Chataca Brown, told FOX31s Alliyah Sims last year that Massay thought the people involved were friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I fed these children, Brown said then. My daughter housed one that was homeless. All the while, they were plotting to ambush my pregnant daughter. Shortly after Massay was dropped off at her home, there was gunfire. Her mother said bullets hit the young woman in the back of the head and leg. She tried defending herself. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Melanie shot that one bullet, Brown said. One of the guys actually had two guns and ambushed my daughter. Just shot my daughter to death. Monte Hayes, ReaAsia Hollins, Trinity Walker, DaJanah Abrams, Jrayla Taylor, and Jaliyah Burks had all been previously arrested in this case, Lakewood police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lakewood police said the Aurora Police Department, U.S. Marshals, the Department of Corrections, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted in arresting Pierrie. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Felicia Reillys final wish was for a full police funeral with the honor of loyalty of her family in blue, her family wrote to St. Pauls police chief shortly before she died. Reilly had to retire as a St. Paul police officer after she was brutally assaulted in 2010 when she responded to a 911 call. Reilly sustained a brain injury and suffered debilitating headaches and pain, and ultimately lost the ability to walk. She died at home on Saturday at age 67 with her husband, Matt Reilly, by her side. Felicia has spent the last 15 years in terrible pain, Matt Reilly said. She told me with tears in her eyes this pain never stops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of officers are expected to attend Reillys funeral in St. Paul on Monday. A line-of-duty death funeral is appropriate given how she was assaulted and what led to her tragic death, St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry wrote in an email to department employees Tuesday. The family says the public is also invited to Reillys funeral. Mom was all about the people, said one of her daughters, Theresa Paulson. Mayor Melvin Carter said Reillys service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. After suffering life-changing injuries in the line of duty 15 years ago, her resilience and dedication continue to inspire us all, he said in a statement. Shed been in peak physical condition Reilly entered the St. Paul Police Department academy in 1996 as a 39-year-old married mother of five. She had wanted to be an officer, but went to school for nursing before later pursuing a degree in law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shed been in peak physical condition, said Matthew Reilly II, Felicias oldest son. Standing 54 and at one point described as a muscular cherub by the Pioneer Press, Mom took her physical fitness seriously. While she preferred to de-escalate and talk through issues, for a police officer this is not always an option, and because some of the suspects she encountered would underestimate her, she knew she had to be prepared to hold her own. She was a hard-working officer who never believed in being bored, said Paulson, who was previously a 911 dispatcher and used to dispatch for her mother and other officers. During middle-of-the-night shifts, when Reilly wasnt responding to calls, Paulson would ask, What are you up to, Mom? She said, Im baby-sitting a stop sign to make sure it doesnt move,' joked Paulson, referring to Reilly enforcing traffic rules. During Reillys dinner breaks, shed eat leftovers from home in her squad car, calling it her mobile office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were putting four young adult children through college and still had a teenager at home, so they needed to be frugal, Paulson said. She was protecting elderly couple In March 2010, Reilly responded to a 911 hang-up call at Thomas Jerard Swensons parents home. His parents told Reilly he was trying to hurt them and they were afraid, Paulson wrote in the letter to Henry requesting a police funeral on behalf of her mother and her family. Swenson came out of the home and she went to detain him, but he swung at her with such force to knock her to the ground and then kicked her in the back of the head several times, wrote Paulson, who is now an attorney. Reilly went through her entire tool belt, Paulson said, describing how her mother used her expandable baton to strike Swenson, Tased him to no effect and pulled her handgun. He ran and she made the split-second decision not to shoot him in the back because my mom is honest and has integrity, and thats what she wanted to be known for always making the right choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She fought harder and longer than most would, son Matthew Reilly said. Related Articles If Reilly had waited for backup to arrive, she would not have been protecting the elderly couple and would have been accused of cowardice a label that would never be used to describe my mother, Paulson wrote. A jury found Swenson guilty of first-degree assault and he was sentenced to 8 years in prison. While the prosecution was making the point in court about how severely injured the assault left Reilly, the city was questioning whether she qualified for workers compensation, said Matt Reilly in 2016. He retired from his job as a St. Louis Park police investigator to take care of his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She settled her workers comp claim with the city when they were on the brink of bankruptcy over her medical bills, Matt Reilly said previously. She worried shed been forgotten Reillys brain injury caused a progressive degradation of her health and motor function, son Matthew Reilly said. Her daily headaches averaged a level seven on a pain scale of 10. None of the treatments she received fully made her headaches go away. She was a clarinet player, but could no longer play because the sound hurt her head and her brain injury caused double vision in both eyes. She mostly stayed home, other than going to church and the grocery store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On her worst days, she used to say she wished she hadnt survived the assault because if you die on duty, you are treated like a hero, but if you are simply hurt too bad to continue working, you are treated like an embarrassment, best left forgotten or used as a cautionary tale, said son Matthew Reilly. Reilly was worried shed been forgotten, but the outpouring of support from the city and the community since her death has made it clear that wasnt the case, her son said. They planned to have her funeral at a smaller venue and have since moved it to a larger space. No new charges Chief Henry wrote in the department email this week: Unfortunately, we cant go back and prevent this tragedy. We have also learned that there is no way for us to amend and upgrade the charges the person responsible for the attack on Felicia was already convicted of. What we can do is honor her and the sacrifice she made, in the line of duty, for our city and all of us, he continued. Many of you didnt even work here in 2010 when this vicious assault took place, but we are all here now which gives us the opportunity to show our respect and appreciation for her and her familys struggle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because Swenson was convicted of first-degree assault and the double jeopardy clause in the U.S. Constitution says no person can be tried twice for the same crime, the Ramsey County Attorneys Office said it cannot pursue additional charges against him. Reillys family can apply to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to request that her death is formally recognized as occurring in the line of duty, which DPS then reviews to determine if it meets guidelines the Legislature has defined in state law, according to a DPS spokesman. Fought to live Before Reilly was assaulted, she loved sewing and making clothes for her kids and grandkids. She used to go camping and fishing. Felicia and Matt Reilly were married for 47 years. There was never a better mom, friend or wife in the world, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she could still communicate, she told her husband that one of her saddest facts was that only one grandchild knew her before she got hurt, Matt Reilly said. Her traumatic brain injury progressed and took a terrible turn for the worst in September 2023, which led to numerous hospitalizations, according to her husband. Related Articles She fought to live because she wanted to live, Paulson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with the tremendous unrelenting pain she was experiencing, they knew it was time and she started home hospice care, Matt Reilly said. Most of all she loved and loves Jesus, Matt Reilly wrote shortly before she died. When hed see her wincing or in distress, hed put on worship music and shed lay still with a peaceful look on her face. Funeral for Felicia Reilly Visitation will begin 9 a.m. Monday at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1669 Arcade St. in St. Paul, with the funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Roselawn Cemetery in Roseville. (Caspar Benson/Getty Images). Missouri is failing its citizens. In most states, if someone is convicted of a crime they did not commit, they have a legal path to prove their innocence. Missouri, however, is one of the few states where that path does not exist unless the person is on death row. That means if someone has rock-solid proof they were wrongfully convicted, the courts are powerless to act. Legislation sponsored by State Reps. Terri Violet and Kimberly-Ann Collins would finally fix this glaring injustice by allowing people beyond death row to raise claims of actual innocence. This would give the wrongly convicted a way to prove they never should have been imprisoned in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should not take bipartisan legislation to convince people that innocent Missourians should not spend decades behind bars, but here we are. Our state is dangerously behind the rest of the country. Texas, often held up as a tough-on-crime state, has laws allowing innocent people to petition the courts for relief. Illinois, Arkansas and Oklahoma all have mechanisms to correct wrongful convictions because they recognize that justice must take precedence over procedural finality. Missouri, however, has taken the opposite approach, prioritizing finality over innocence at the expense of those wrongfully convicted. While other states have acknowledged that the integrity of the justice system depends on correcting mistakes, Missouri has slammed the door shut on the innocent unless they happen to be on death row. And the consequences have been devastating. Kevin Strickland spent 42 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. He was convicted based on a single eyewitness who later admitted she was pressured by police. The system did nothing to correct it for four decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamar Johnson lost 28 years of his life to a wrongful conviction. His trial was riddled with prosecutorial misconduct, and the real perpetrator was known. Missouris attorney general fought his release for years, despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence. Christopher Dunn was convicted at 18 years old and spent 34 years in prison before being exonerated. Even after a judge ruled he was innocent, Missouri law kept him behind bars because there was no legal process to free him. Sandra Hemme spent 43 years imprisoned for a crime she did not commit, based on a confession coerced while she was heavily sedated. Missouris current system does not just ruin lives. It erodes trust in the entire justice system. These cases prove that wrongful convictions happen, and when they do, the courts should have the power to fix them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No conviction should be final when an innocent person is still in prison. HB 1075 does not threaten law and order. They do not open the floodgates to frivolous appeals. They simply give innocent people a chance to prove their innocence, something nearly every other state allows. For too long, Missouri has allowed finality to keep the innocent in prison. If Missouri claims to value justice, can it continue to ignore innocence? BARBERTON, Ohio (WJW) Investigators with the State Fire Marshals office as well as Enbridge Gas Ohio were on the scene of an explosion that leveled a home on Tuesday evening. The explosion was felt for blocks, damaging a home next door, blowing out a second-story window on a house across the street on Belleview Avenue and raining debris down on homes in the immediate neighborhood. Travel advisory issued by US government for Turks and Caicos Islands Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Barberton Fire Chief Stephen Ionno said videos taken from at least one doorbell camera in the neighborhood had been turned over to the state inspectors to determine if there was any suspicious activity in the area before the explosion. As of Wednesday, a suspected cause was not publicly identified but Ionno said nothing has been ruled out. Late Wednesday, the gas company issued a statement saying: The evening of Tuesday, March 4, Enbridge Gas Ohio crews responded to a reported explosion at a home in Barberton. We were onsite last night and today working closely with the State Fire Marshal and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Fire Marshals office is leading the investigation. We inspected and tested our facilities, and our equipment is operating safely. We will continue to assist in any way we can. Our thoughts are with those who are impacted by this event. The home that exploded was not occupied. Ionno said it was in the process of being sold. One moment, calm waters. The next, a 900-pound dolphin landed on their boat Eldonna Koval of Barberton was at the scene on Wednesday, heartbroken by the site of a house she once lived in one her father built. I know every inch of that house, yeah, said Koval, telling FOX 8 News she cannot imagine why it would have blown up like it did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That house was built really well. I know how my dad built and it was really well done, she added. Although neighbors were in their homes at the time of the explosion, incredibly, no one was hurt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. TAIPEI (Reuters) - A fire that broke out at a nuclear power plant in southern Taiwan was put out and posed no safety concern, the Taiwan Power Company said on Thursday. The company said in a statement that the fire at the Maanshan nuclear power plant in southern Pingtung county was some 50 metres away from nuclear power equipment and did not affect electricity generation. (Reporting By Yimou Lee; Editing by Kim Coghill) The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a fire weather watch for most of South Florida including Palm Beach County beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 6. Dry air behind a cold front coupled with blustery northwest winds and moderate to severe drought is increasing the chances that a spark could quickly become a dangerous fire, said George Rizzuto, a meteorologist in the Miami office of the NWs. "In general, a fire watch is meant to communicate that it's not a good day to be burning things," Rizzuto said. "You want to be a little more careful where you dispose of your cigarette." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The watch is in effect through Thursday evening, but could escalate to a red flag warning, meaning hazardous fire weather conditions are imminent or already occurring. For South Florida, a fire weather watch is generally issued when relative humidity is forecast to be lower than 30% and sustained winds at 20 feet are forecast to be 15 mph or higher. This is the first fire weather watch this year for South Florida, but comes after the devastating January wildfires in the Los Angeles area and as thousands of acres currently burn in North and South Carolina. FEMA offers multiple tips to protect your home from wildfires, including reducing or removing vegetation from around your house and having a reliable source of water available. More: Massive warehouse fire leaves future of Jack The Bike Mans charity in doubt Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of Florida's Peninsula has suffered lower rainfall amounts this year, leaving the northern part of Palm Beach County in severe drought, while the southern half suffers from a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Southeast Regional Climate Center shows West Palm Beach down 3.82 inches of rain since Jan. 1. "We aren't expecting a fire to start, we're just saying if it does it could spread farther and faster than it normally would," Rizzuto said. What is a fire weather watch? A fire weather watch means that dry conditions, low relative humidity and gusty winds could combine to create an extreme fire danger and allow wildfires to spread more quickly in an area. Fire weather watches are typically issued with 72 hours notice when possible. It is a precursor to a red flag warning. What is a red flag warning? A red flag warning means conditions likely to lead to an extreme fire threat and hazardous wildfire event are imminent in the next 24 hours or are already occurring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Fire weather watch for South Florida as dry air follows cold front By News Center The "Agriculture in the Century of Turkiye" Summit, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and led by Albayrak Media, took place at the Istanbul Finance Center (IFM). The summit, attended by experts in the field, focused on the future of Turkiyes agriculture for the next 100 years. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakl? made a speech at the Summit. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakl? stated that Turkiyes agricultural output is approximately 74 billion dollars. "Export figures were about 31 billion dollars in 2023, and we have reached 32.6 billion dollars in 2024. All of these are the figures of agriculture that were said to be finished, he said. The Minister noted that Turkiyes economy grew by 3.2% last year, while the agricultural sector grew by 3.9%, surpassing the countrys overall economic growth. We are first in agricultural output in Europe, and we are in the top 10 countries in the world, he added. Minister Yumakl? stated that no country in the world can be 100% self-sufficient. "But what is important is whether you have the capability and capacity to meet your citizens basic needs for the future of your country, and this is what matters, yes, Turkiye is like that. As of today, if we closed our borders, Turkiye would have no problem with food security, he underscored. Yumakl? reminded that by the end of 2024, Turkiye will have achieved a plant production of 137 million tons and emphasized that Turkiye is one of the leading countries in all categories of agriculture. Yumakl? also made comparisons with the Netherlands, saying, "They are mentioned, but it is not about production, it is about sales." He reminded that Turkiyes agricultural sector serves a population of 86 million and also caters to 60 million tourists, and that Turkiye has exported agricultural products worth 32.6 billion dollars. "Turkiye exports agricultural products to approximately 186 countries. Therefore, saying agriculture is finished in our country means either ignorance or has a different purpose," he noted. Yumakli added that Turkiye started planned production last year, a dream that had been in place for 40 years. "We have determined which crops to produce, in which environments, how, and in what quantities, together with all sector stakeholders, through an extensive working period, and we have implemented it," he said. Emphasizing the effects of climate change on all countries, Minister Yumakl? said, "Considering that resources are becoming limited, we have to make this planning." As for the progress in agricultural production since 2002, he said, the land is the same, but the production has increased significantly. What is the reason for this? First, mechanization, agricultural technologies, efforts to consolidate lands, especially investments in water and irrigation, and the awareness of our farmers; all of these and many more have been the most important factors in the development of agricultural production in Turkiye," he said. Yumakl? also assessed the interest of young farmers in agricultural production, stating that the Abundance in Rural Areas, Support for Livestock Project received nearly ten times more applications than expected. Minister Yumakl? pointed out that Turkiye is an authority in the world in combating forest fires. Having the necessary tools and equipment, being able to intervene within 11 minutes, and being one of the two countries in the world using unmanned aerial vehicles for forest fires or forest activities is, although prideful, always the same; yes, we are successful in fighting forest fires, but the real success is preventing them, he noted. Yumakl? stated that citizens showed great interest in the publication of counterfeit and adulterated products, adding, In 2024, inspections reached approximately 1.3 million, and nearly 1.5 billion lira in administrative fines were imposed. We filed criminal complaints against 610 businesses for punishment. We started inspections on the most consumed products during Ramadan with 8,000 personnel. Minister Yumakl? shared information on pesticide consumption, saying, "In the last three years, the residue rate on products has decreased by 35%. The return rate of exported products has also decreased by 60%. In our country, the amount of pesticide used per hectare is 2.3 kilograms. In the European Union, it is 3.2 kilograms. Some countries use more than 10 kilograms. The global average is almost the same as Turkiyes." Regarding water efficiency, Yumakl? mentioned that 11,000 facilities were established since 2002, with an investment of 3.3 trillion lira. By 2025, we will add another 381 facilities. We are trying to complete irrigation investments. We have a budget of 106 billion lira, he stated. Nurettin Canikli, Vice Chairman of Albayrak Group, also had a speech and he pointed out that wheat was used as a sanction tool in the Russia-Ukraine War. He stressed that Turkiye needs to become self-sufficient in basic food products. "As Albayrak Group, we use all the elements of modern agriculture, and we support farmers in every way. We have carried this experience to the African countries where we operate port management, he said. Canikli added that they increased productivity in Guinea by using agricultural tools equivalent to 150 tractors, boosting yield per decare from 2,000 kilograms to 6,000 kilograms. Kemalettin Bayat, Agricultural Group Chairman of Ziraat Bank, said that Ziraat Bank will continue to support producers. "In the last 5 years, we increased our share in the agricultural sector from 64% to 72%. By the end of 2024, we provided 72% of the total agricultural banking loans amounting to 889 billion TL, meaning we provided more than 645 billion TL for the agricultural sector," he said. During the summit session titled 'Strategic Importance of Food Supply Security,' Osman Y?ld?z, General Director of Agricultural Reform at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized that agricultural production should be done in a planned manner. "We will first produce to meet our own needs. We are a country with limited water resources, and we are working on efficient water use, he said. Erkan Tek, Head of Strategy Development at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, also shared information about food supply security. He noted, "The pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have made this issue more urgent. According to a study by OECD a few years ago, in the last 50 years, the world population has doubled, food production has tripled, but total agricultural land has decreased by 15%. In such conditions, ensuring supply security both in the world and in Turkiye is only possible through increased efficiency." Ulku Karaku?, President of the Turkiye Agriculture Council at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkiye (TOBB), stated, "As agricultural areas shrink every day, we are countering this. In the 21st century, it is not 100% possible for countries to be self-sufficient, but during the pandemic, we saw that Turkiye was able to meet all its needs with its resources. Turkiye has no dependency on seeds from abroad. Eyup Demir, General Manager of Mezra Ziraat, shared that they had implemented a 'New Farmer Program' for young people, and nearly 300 young people had started farming. "We continued these trainings in Mezra and SUKKAR. We achieved an increase in productivity," he said. Abdullah Eri?, Board Member of MUS?AD, stated, "Farmers and we have things to do. We can succeed in this together. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has agreed to drop its enforcement case against Cumberland DRW, the crypto trading arm of Chicago-based trading firm DRW, according to a Tuesday announcement from the company. The SEC sued Cumberland DRW last October, accusing the firm of acting as an unregistered securities dealer and alleging it sold more than $2 billion in unregistered securities, naming tokens like Polygon (POL), Solana (SOL), Cosmos (ATOM), Algorand (ALGO) and Filecoin (FIL) as a non-exhaustive list of tokens the agency considered to be securities. At the time the suit was filed, Cumberland DRW and its CEO Don Wilson pledged to fight the charges. In an interview with CoinDesk last October, Wilson said that his firm had tried and failed to register as a securities dealer with the SEC, and suggested that the lack of clarity for crypto companies under then-Chair Gary Gensler was a feature, not a bug of the agencys regulatory approach. Read more: Whos Afraid of Gary Gensler? Not Don Wilson, the Trader Who Beat the Regulator Once Before This dynamic put the SEC in a position where they could say everyone is breaking the rule, and were just going to go after whoever we want to, Wilson told CoinDesk. [It] reminds me of Atlas Shrugged. If everybody is breaking the law, they get to selectively harass whoever they want to. Just five months later, under the new leadership of Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, the SEC has completely reversed course. The agencys decision to drop its suit against Cumberland DRW is the latest in a series of abandoned lawsuits: the SEC has also dropped its case against Coinbase, and agreed to drop its cases against ConsenSys and Kraken. It has also closed a multitude of probes into crypto companies, including Gemini, OpenSea, Robinhood Crypto and Yuga Labs. As with its ConsenSys and Kraken agreements, the SEC's agreement with Cumberland is pending approval from a majority of the three commissioners currently on the panel. The Commission voted to drop its Coinbase case last week. As a firm deeply committed to the principles of integrity and transparency, we look forward to continuing our dialogue with the SEC to help shape a future where technological advancements and regulatory clarity go hand in hand, ensuring tha the U.S. remains at the forefront of global financial innovation, Cumberland said in its announcement. A representative for Cumberland DRW declined to comment beyond the firms X post. The SEC did not respond to CoinDesks request for comment. A longtime Starbucks manager is suing the coffeehouse chain for discrimination, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, accusing his bosses of ignoring the extreme and outrageous harassment he claims he suffered on the job because he is straight. Christopher Thevanesan, a heterosexual, gender typical man in Rochester, New York, claims supervisors at his location treated him in a materially different manner than employees who were not heterosexual and/or gender typical men, according to a lawsuit filed under New York States Human Rights Law and obtained by The Independent. The suit, which was served on Starbucks in late February, describes the 47-year-old Thevanesan as a model employee who performed the essential functions of his employment in an exemplary fashion. However, it contends, his LGBTQ+ coworkers created a hostile work environment for Thevanesan due to his gender typicality and sexual orientation, and higher-ups allegedly fired him when he complained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reached by phone on Thursday, Thevanesan a person of color who now works at a bank said he was reluctant to comment before consulting with Neil Flynn, the attorney who filed the lawsuit on his behalf. In a subsequent call, Flynn told The Independent that he believes Thevansans heterosexuality had been weaponized against him. Management was indifferent to his complaints, Flynn said, claiming Starbucks workers in the store and surrounding area were attempting to drive out their straight colleagues. The suit describes the 47-year-old Thevanesan as a model employee who performed the essential functions of his employment in an exemplary fashion. (Getty Images) Thevanesan has now moved on, according to Flynn, asserting that the experience took a toll on his client personally and professionally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Messages seeking comment sent to a Starbucks spokesperson and the legal team defending the company against Thevanesans suit went unanswered. Thevanesans grievance in many ways mirrors a high-profile case brought by Marlean Ames, an Ohio woman who sued her employer, the state Department of Youth Services, arguing she was denied a promotion because she is heterosexual, after which she was demoted and replaced by a gay man. Following a decision in favor of the state agency by Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Ames took her case to the U.S. Supreme Court . If the high court now rules with Ames, it could open the door for those from so-called majority backgrounds, such as straight, white individuals, to sue on the basis of reverse discrimination. Ames has received support from America First Legal , the right-wing public interest group headed by Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff to President Donald Trump. On January 21, Trumps second day in office, he signed an executive order seeking to dismantle the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives meant to level the playing field for minority groups, calling such well-meaning equal rights practices illegal and pernicious. Last month, the State of Missouri sued Starbucks, claiming its DEI hiring practices were actually slowing down orders, an assertion the company called inaccurate. Thevanesan began managing Starbucks store #47825 in 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. The employees who worked at the store he oversaw were members of the LGBQT+ community, says his complaint. The Starbucks in Rochester, New York where Christopher Thevanesan worked, and from which he was fired (Google Maps) Starbucks management, along with store staff, were aware of [Thevanesans] gender typicality and sexual orientation from the start, the complaint goes on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At all relevant times, [Thevanesan] was harassed by the staff due to his sex, sexual orientation and/or gender in the course of [his] employment. the complaint states, but does not provide specific examples or details of what the harassment entailed. Management had a duty to provide Thevanesan with a safe environment in which to do his job free of harassment, according to the complaint. However, it claims, they breached that duty. The complaint contends Thevanesan reported the alleged harassment to his superiors, but that they aided, abetted, tolerated, condoned and facilitated the harassment. The harassment about Thevanesans sexual preference was so frequent, pervasive, and severe that it altered [Thevanesans] employment conditions and created a hostile work environment, the complaint states. Thevanesans complaint accuses upper management of negligently failing to properly supervise the workers, thus exposing him to harassment so extreme and outrageous, as to be unacceptable in contemporary society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2022, Thevanesan was terminated for ginned-up, unspecified violations, according to the complaint, which calls them pretextual and intended to hide the real reason for doing so. He was given several different conflicting reasons for why he was discharged, Flynn told The Independent. Were in the course of discovery, so were still trying to verify what their claims are. In fact, the complaint argues, Thevanesan was let go because he is a heterosexual, gender typical man. All told, Thevanesan says he sustained emotional, psychological, and economic damages, along with serious, permanent physical harm and emotional distress. Thevanesan is now demanding compensatory, liquidated, punitive, and statutory damages, in an amount to be determined in court, plus attorneys fees, from Starbucks and five of his former coworkers. In the first case to reach the Supreme Court from Donald Trumps second term, a federal appeals court panel on Wednesday said the president could fire Office of Special Counsel head Hampton Dellinger for now, while litigation continued. But that temporary action will apparently turn into a more permanent one, because Dellinger said Thursday that hes ending his legal fight, in a statement that seemingly alluded to questions surrounding the administrations compliance with court orders. I strongly disagree with the circuit courts decision, but I accept and will abide by it. Thats what Americans do, Dellinger said. His case could have returned to the justices eventually, but that possibility was not enough for the now-former head of the agency that protects whistleblowers. This new ruling means that OSC will be run by someone totally beholden to the President for the months that would pass before I could get a final decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, Dellinger said. He said his legal fight had been one for the ideal that OSC should be as Congress intended: an independent watchdog and a safe, trustworthy place for whistleblowers to report wrongdoing and be protected from retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His statement follows Wednesdays action from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which is a step below the Supreme Court in the appeals process. A three-judge panel of the appellate court paused a trial judges ruling that kept Trump from immediately firing Dellinger from the independent agency. The panel of judges appointed by Trump and Presidents Barack Obama and George H.W. Bush noted that its order gives effect to the removal of appellee [Dellinger] from his position as Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. The panel had ordered expedited briefing over the coming weeks, with the final brief due April 11, followed by oral argument on the first appropriate date following the completion of briefing. When the case was at the high court last month, it presented the justices first chance to act in a Trump case in his second term. But the court essentially chose to put off deciding the matter while the trial judge, Amy Berman Jackson, considered issuing a fuller ruling on Dellingers removal which the Obama appointee subsequently did in Dellingers favor, leading the Trump administration to successfully seek a pause of her ruling from the D.C. Circuit while it appealed. Dellingers lawyers opposed the emergency stay pending appeal that the panel granted on Wednesday, arguing that the public has a substantial and nonpartisan interest in protecting federal whistleblowers from discrimination and retaliation and that independence has never been more important given the historic, rapid upheaval currently occurring within federal employment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And although it didnt really issue a ruling in Dellingers case last month, the Supreme Court was still divided then, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson noting they were prepared to rule against Trump, while Justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito said otherwise. That early division was magnified in Wednesdays high court action, when the justices split 5-4 against Trump on his administrations foreign aid funds freeze, with those two Democratic appointees in the majority and those two Republican appointees in dissent. Now that Dellinger has ended his legal fight, his case will have served as a preview for the Supreme Court fights to come in the second Trump era. He apparently saw the writing on the wall even though the D.C. Circuit action was styled as a temporary one, stating that, given the circuit courts adverse ruling, I think my odds of ultimately prevailing before the Supreme Court are long. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Firefighters extinguished a fire at a vacant house in Dayton Wednesday night, according to Dayton Fire Department District Chief Bob Barnes. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] >>PHOTOS: Firefighters extinguish vacant house fire in Dayton The fire occurred in the area of E. Third Street and Linden Avenue and was reported after 10:30 p.m. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, firefighters found fire coming out of the front of the building. Crews were able to extinguish the fire and get the incident under control in about 20 minutes, according to Barnes. The house was empty at the time of this fire and no firefighters were injured during the response. Barnes said the front half of the building sustained heavy damage. The cause of this fire remains under investigation. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) An emerging story from this weeks massive Carolina Forest wildfire has been the quick, multi-state response from agencies that helped get more than 500 personnel into the field to contain the blaze. Some of those firefighters told News13 they learned a lot from one another on the front lines of the 2,059-acre scene including what it means to protect people and property. We thought it might have been just an easy little grass fire, like some of us are used to, Tripp Kennedy with Clarendon County Fire Rescue, said. But I think it got out of hand, a little too far. And now, were here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy said firefighters at his department located about 88 miles from Carolina Forest have been rotating every 24 hours since Monday morning. FIRE IN THE FOREST: Covington Drive Fire remains at 2,059 acres, up to 44% containment Two men from the Belmont Fire Department left Greenville around 9 p.m. Tuesday night, arriving on scene nearly five hours later. But no matter how long the drive, Jarell Binns said when one fire department calls for help, the answer is always the same. The brotherhood and sisterhood of this fire service and all first responders coming together, putting our differences asides, just to get the job done and keep everybody safe, Binns said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews said the prolonged efforts as of Wednesday night the fire was 44% contained along with gusty winds and rain that rolled in made things difficult. Breathing has also been hard at times. Binns colleague Gordon Smith said the outpouring of support has helped them persevere. The public outpouring down here is phenomenal. I dont think it could be any better, Smith said. Since 9/11, things have kind of evened out, and you think people forget you. But in times like this, they dont. * * * Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A bill to provide cancer screenings for firefighters in Utah passed through the Legislature on Wednesday. Shortly thereafter, legislators were joined by firefighters and Gov. Spencer Cox for a press conference about the bill. Research has shown that the leading cause of death for firefighters is cancer. HB65 was written with two main features to help firefighters fight cancer. First, the bill expands the list of presumptive occupational cancers for firefighters. Secondly, it sets up a program for regular cancers screenings for firefighters across the state. HB65 passed in both the House and the Senate unanimously. It will now go to the governors desk for his signature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, the bills sponsor, who used to be a firefighter himself said that the bill is backed by strong data and research. Behind every number is a husband, wife, a friend, a brother, a sister in this profession, Snider said. I look around this room and I know that there isnt a man or woman in uniform that has not lost somebody to this terrible disease in this career. We do this bill because of them, but we passed this bill to honor them, Snider said. The press conference took place in the Capitols Gold Room where dozens of firefighters gathered with lawmakers to recognize the work that has been done. Two firefighters, Jack Tidrow and Jeremy Craft, were among the speakers. What an epic day for the firefighters in Utah, said Craft, chief of Lehis fire department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Craft shared that he was a part of a group of firefighters who went to Arizona for a cancer screening as a part of research for this bill. During that screening he was diagnosed with prostate and renal cancer, which has spread to his lymph system. He shared that he is currently battling these cancers. Because of early testing, Im going to get through this. Im going to have a good quality of life, and quite honestly, I want that for my colleagues, for my brothers and sisters in the fire service, Craft said. Well answer any call without thinking about the danger. Its afterwards that we have to sit around and wonder, did we get cancer? But this bill can give us peace of mind that we can continue to do what we love to do. Tidrow, the president of the Firefighters of Utah, has spent 21 years collaborating with the Legislature working towards this bill. According to McKell, the legislation will now fund creation of the the most comprehensive firefighter cancer screening program in the country. Salt Lake City firefighters' turnout equipment hangs in a locker room at Salt Lake City Fire Station 3 in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. Turnout gear, which is what firefighters wear while fighting a fire, is a dangerous vector where firefighters are routinely exposed to the carcinogens built into the flame retardant in the gear, but also in the smoke and soot that contaminates gear after use at a fire. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News Our true hope is that other states will copy us, so not only are we trying to save Utah firefighters, but this effort, we hope, will get some national legs and and we want to make sure that thats the case, Cox said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor said he will be sharing the bill with other governors across the country. Its really kind of exciting as I look around this room and I see intermixed with each other legislators, senators, House members and firefighters. Is a beautiful sight for me, and Speaker Schultz said it right: Were standing among heroes, said Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton. The list of presumptive cancers In 2015, a bill passed to set four presumptive cancers for firefighters. HB65 will expand the list to 15. Presumptive cancers are conditions that are presumed to have been caused by ones occupation. The cancers on the expanded list are: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bladder Brain Colorectal Esophageal Kidney Leukemias Lung Lymphomas Melanomas Mesotheliomas Oropharynx ovarian Prostate Testicular Thyroid The cancers that are added to this list, are added because there is scientific proof and consensus that these particular cancers come as a result of fighting fire, as a result of protecting our communities, Snider said. Screening cancer in firefighters The second part of the bill creates a plan to establish a protocol for screening and ultimately treating cancer in firefighters. Under HB65, the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health would perform regular cancer screenings for firefighters in Utah. Early detection means early treatment, which should be a better outcome, Tidrow said. For the first three years, the cancer screenings would be paid for by the state. After the first three years of the program, the fire departments themselves will cover the cost of the screenings for their employees. BRATENAHL, Ohio (WJW) Cleveland firefighters responded to a fire alarm at an industrial building on Thursday morning. The fire broke out at a building on Coit Road, south of I-90 around 8:30 a.m., according to the Cleveland Fire Department. Travel advisory issued by US government for Turks and Caicos Islands Cleveland Fire shared pictures from the scene, that showed firefighters battling extremely smoky conditions. Courtesy: Cleveland Fire Department Courtesy: Cleveland Fire Department Courtesy: Cleveland Fire Department According to Cleveland Fire, several magnesium barrels were inside the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police chase into small, local village ends in deadly crash Fire crews brought the barrels outside and sprayed them down as the barrels were bubbling and smoking. Cleveland Fire reported the situation was under control after about 40 minutes on the scene. There is no word on what caused the fire or any injuries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. (NewsNation) For the first time in 15 years, the United States will put someone to death using a firing squad when South Carolina executes death row inmate Brad Sigmon on Friday. Sigmon chose a firing squad over lethal injection and electrocution, which are also authorized by the state, citing concerns that little is known about the drugs or process used in injections. While the method may seem barbarous, it felt the most humane to the inmate, his lawyer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SC inmate calls for end of death penalty before firing-squad execution The fact that he chose this, that tells you how fearful he is about this lethal injection process thats so shrouded in secrecy, his lawyer, Gerald Bo King, told The Washington Post. Sigmon feared that the electric chair would be being cooked to death and that lethal injection could cause pulmonary edema, a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs and can feel like suffocation or drowning, King told The Washington Post. The Supreme Court denied Sigmons request to delay his execution less than two hours before he is set to be put to death. FILE This undated image provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows Brad Sigmon. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP, File) What is Brad Sigmon sentenced to die for? Sigmon, 67, is being executed for the 2001 killings of his ex-girlfriends parents at their home in Greenville County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I miss my momma and daddy, Sigmons ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Armstrong, said of her slain parents to USA Today. I didnt get to see them grow old. The South Carolina Supreme Court rejected an 11th hour and likely last appeal to halt the execution Thursday. Condemned South Carolina killer chooses to be executed by firing squad Why did Brad Sigmon not choose lethal injection? His main appeal to halt the execution was to gain more information about the drug South Carolina uses in lethal injections so he could have a better understanding of what to expect, King said. South Carolina has a shield law that keeps the suppliers of its lethal injection drugs, the members of the execution team and the procedure used to kill an inmate secret. FILE This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the states death chamber in Columbia, S.C., including the electric chair, right, and a firing squad chair, left. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP, File) Autopsies from two inmates executed by lethal injection in South Carolina showed massive amounts of the drug pentobarbital and a considerable amount of fluid in their lungs. A defense expert testified the inmates might have struggled to breathe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lethal injection, electrocution and now firing squads. A look at US execution methods Lawyers for the state have said fluid is often found in the lungs of prisoners killed by lethal injections, and other courts have not ruled it was cruel and unusual punishment. Other than South Carolina, five states authorize the use of firing squads, including Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah. Only Utah has utilized death by firing squad on three inmates in 1977, 1996 and 2010 since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. How the firing squad execution will happen Fridays execution will be carried out by three volunteer firing squad members using live ammunition from behind a wall about 15 feet from the inmate, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bullet-resistant glass has been installed between the witness room and death chamber. The inmate will be strapped into the chair, and a hood will be placed over his head. A small aim point will be placed over his heart by a member of the execution team, officials said. Not much is known about the people who will fire the rifles. Prison officials said they have completed all required training. The information released by the state to the public gives no indication what might happen if an inmate survives the initial shots. At the 2022 trial, witnesses indicated the squad could fire again. Is the firing squad a humane or heinous method of execution? Some say the firing squad is more humane than lethal injections, which have been botched in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a 2017 dissent that in addition to being near instant, death by shooting may also be comparatively painless. Her comments came in the case of an Alabama inmate who asked to be executed by firing squad. A Supreme Court majority refused to hear his appeal. In her dissent, Sotomayor said lethal drugs can mask intense pain by paralyzing inmates while they are still sentient. What cruel irony that the method that appears most humane may turn out to be our most cruel experiment yet, she wrote. Bryan Kohberger faces firing squad execution, Idaho victims dad supports Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. James Williams, an emergency room physician, has testified on the effectiveness of the firing squad. There is a lot of evidence that the near-instant loss of blood pressure means no blood gets to the brainstem, and there is a rapid loss of consciousness, he told The Marshall Project. However, Williams stresses that, just as with any other execution method, protocols must be precise to avoid mistakes. Talking about the Utah firing squad deaths, Williams said that when the written protocol was fully followed, none were botched, which speaks strongly to the reliability of this method. He added that Utah had four loaded rifles and South Carolina will use just three, along with a blank, which should be adequate. But theres the possibility a shooter is not adequately trained, or faulty ammunition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. HONOLULU (KHON2) Ono grinds and good times are expected at the first ever Taste of Aloha Night Market at the Waterfront Plaza. Kilauea back on pause after 12th episode ends Spokesperson, Aubri Kelley, and Owner of one of the businesses, Richard Aguelles of Nona, joined Brittni Friedlander on Wake Up 2Day. Taste of Aloha is more than an event; its a celebration of community, culture, and cuisine. Our goal is to create a memorable experience for attendees while showcasing the diversity and richness of local businesses. Through this event, we aim to foster a sense of togetherness and support for our vibrant community. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Over fifty vendors will be showcased, from food, crafts, bags, and more made by local businesses in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Viewers can attend the first ever night market on March 8 at the Waterfront Plaza in Honolulu from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news To submit a vendor inquiry and to find more information, visit their website at Home | Taste Of Aloha or their Instagram (@tasteofalohahi). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Arrest warrants have been issued as a search is underway in Fitchburg for a missing mother and her five children, authorities announced Thursday afternoon. Officers are trying to track down Ruth Encarnacion and her kids, 10-year-old Alexandra Rivera, 9-year-old Alejandro Rivera, 5-year-old Alonzo Rivera, 4-year-old Abigail Rivera, and 9-month-old Adonis Rivera, according to the Fitchburg Police Department. Police have obtained warrants for five counts of custodial kidnapping of a minor by a relative for both Ruth Encarnacion and Isael Rivera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police believe the family is traveling in a 2018 Infinity QX60 with Massachusetts registration 5GCX18. Police also noted that Isael Rivera could be accompanying them. Fitchburg police have explored the possibility of an Amber Alert but dont believe that the children are in imminent danger. However, Ruths family tells Boston 25 News theyre worried she could be in danger and they havent heard from her in at least a week. Her family says Rivera is the father of some of her children. Now, the community is starting to get concerned for this missing family. Aint nobody want the kids missing, especially kids man, especially kids I dont know whats going on all I know is that we just got to get them back, said Luis Melendez, who lives in Fitchburg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on their whereabouts is urged to contact Fitchburg police at 978-345-4355. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) An operation carried out by authorities led to five people being arrested on prostitution charges in Huntsville. Huntsville Police said that the North Alabama Drug Task Force conducted an operation targeting the solicitation of prostitution at an undisclosed location in West Huntsville on Wednesday. As a result of the operation, 40-year-old Ana Milagros Suede, 32-year-old Shadaree Oshae Paxton, 27-year-old Alexis Ariyan Boyles, 22-year-old Breeasha Tyliyah Eddings, and 26-year-old Dequarrius Malik Bennet were all arrested and charged with prostitution-solicitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have all been released from the Madison County Jail at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. (Reuters) -Canada's TD Bank set CEO Raymond Chun's 2024 salary at C$11.4 million ($7.88 million) and cut U.S. retail banking head Leo Salom's pay amid the lender's anti-money laundering (AML) issues, regulatory filings on Tuesday showed. The bank, earlier this year, expedited Chun's appointment as CEO by more than two months, while also reducing outgoing CEO Bharat Masrani's annual salary by 89% to C$1.5 million. Salom's compensation for 2024 has been reduced by 23% to $3.51 million, but he would receive a $2 million bonus in 2025 on meeting AML remediation conditions and milestones, the bank said. TD is currently undergoing a remediation program, after the lender pleaded guilty over anti-money laundering lapses in its U.S. retail business that enabled drug traffickers to launder millions of dollars from the sale of fentanyl. The lender was ordered to pay a fine of $3 billion and has implemented several changes, including conducting a strategic review. TD added it appointed more than 40 new executives and 700 AML professionals to strengthen its risk and compliance capabilities. "There is no doubt that 2024 was a challenging year for TD," board chairman Alan MacGibbon said. "The gravity of TD's U.S. anti-money laundering failures, the associated costs, and the limitations imposed on the U.S. retail business had and will continue to have a significant impact on the bank." Masrani, who will be with TD as an advisor until the end of July, will receive C$500,000 per month and benefits, the bank said. The bank has nominated Ana Arsov, the former global co-head of financial institutions at Moody's Ratings, to its board. It had previously announced four other nominations, each with the expertise in risk and compliance, as five board members are expected to step down. Chun's compensation target for 2025 was raised to C$12 million as he assumed the CEO role. His compensation was set at C$9.5 million while he served as the chief operating officer from November to February. ($1 = 1.4474 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru and Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi) MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) It was March 5, 2020, when the Maryland Department of Health told Montgomery County that it had the first three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. Its a day County Executive Marc Elrich says hell never forget. People were trying to figure out how does this thing spread itself? Elrich said. What are the vectors of spreading? It did not take long to realize the only vector was people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After learning of the three confirmed cases, Elrich pulled together his public health team and the tough decisions began. High winds cause Maryland Bay Bridge to shut down To minimize public gatherings and crowds of people because we knew to the extent that we could minimize public contact, we could minimize the spread of COVID, he recalled. Many other people remember the early days of the virus as well. It shut everything down, Tony Leahy of Silver Spring said. It put businesses out of work, people out of work, basically, shut the economy off. Reginald Cyntje, who also lives in Silver Spring, said, The fact that people got sick was one problem, but the other pandemic how folks were affected mentally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cyntje says he had COVID-19 three times. I never lost my smell or taste, he said. Sometimes it was like a really bad fever, sometimes it was aches, sometimes it was just being exhausted. While the majority of people pulled through, thousands in Montgomery County did not. Elrich says there have been more than 2,500 COVID-related deaths in the county. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. The former American Airlines flight attendant from Charlotte who was caught hiding a camera in the lavatory pleaded guilty to federal charges Thursday morning. Channel 9 first reported when Estes Carter Thompson III was arrested in 2023. It happened on a flight from Charlotte to Boston. Police said an underage girl went to the bathroom on the flight and was stopped by Thompson before going in. Thompson said he had to collect trash, and the girl went inside the lavatory when he was done. Thats when she found a phone that was taped to the toilet and recording video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The girls parents confronted Thompson on the flight, and he was arrested in Massachusetts on arrival. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: After Thompsons arrest, the FBI searched his iCloud account and found four more instances between January and August 2023 when Thompson recorded a minor in an aircraft lavatory. The victims were reported to be aged 7, 9, 11, and 14. American Airlines told Channel 9 that Thompsons employment was terminated following his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Channel 9 reported when the victims family agreed to a settlement after a civil lawsuit was filed. The details of the settlement are confidential, but the familys attorney says it is reasonable and proper ... [and] in the best interests of the minor-plaintiff and adequately protects the minor-plaintiffs interest. Thursday morning, Thompson pleaded guilty to felony sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor. Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, according to an attorney for the victims. (VIDEO: Man agrees to plea for sexually assaulting flight attendant on plane to Charlotte) FLORIDA (WMBB) Floridas Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, bid farewell to colleagues during his final cabinet meeting. The Panama City native and District 1 Republican nominee is set to resign at the end of the month. During the meeting, Patronis reflected on his time working for the state and with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whom he thanked for all hes done for Florida as well as the Panhandle in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. New deputy chief joins Panama City Beach Police Department Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it was an emotional day for Patronis, he is now looking forward to his possible future on Capitol Hill. Its an honor to call you colleagues, and I look forward to giving you a tour of the White House or the Capitol whenever I figure out how to get around that process. If CD1 decides to elect me, Patronis said. Patronis faces Democrat Gay Valimont for the congressional seat. Election day is April 1st. You can watch Patronis full farewell address below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) Democrats at the Florida State House are calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis and the House Speaker to further investigate Floridas insurance companies. That call follows a report that revealed the companies were claiming insolvency, while paying bonuses to executives. No kings live here: Florida congressman walks out of Trump joint address Just last week, on behalf of the caucus, I issued a letter to the Speaker encouraging him, well asking him frankly, to allow the House to use subpoena power to get to the bottom of whats happening with these property insurance companies, said House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many found this report shocking. It claims insurance providers misled lawmakers into believing they were in financial distress. However, the investigation found, at the same time, those companies were shelling out profits to affiliates. Now, more Florida voices are chiming in on this so-called secret study. First, House Democrats called on Governor Ron DeSantis and the House Speaker. Now a week later, House Speaker Danny Perez, R-Miami, is calling out insurance companies for using accounting tricks to hide profits. I have asked the insurance & banking subcommittee to conduct hearings, and they will have access to the full range of tools including issuing subpoenas, putting witnesses under oath, and hiring outside experts, Perez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez was advising the insurance and banking subcommittee to take a deeper dive. Theyre going to have the ability to look into that study and further look at any questions that they think could better the insurance market, Perez said. That study was recently discovered by the Tampa Bay Times and points to insurers claiming to be broke while shifting money around. Perez responded to Minority Leader Fentrice Driskells letter, calling for action. However, DeSantis hasnt directly responded to the call but instead responded to reporters questions at a press conference on the first day of session. If theres things that need to be done to be able to make sure that we have transparency and appropriate oversite, I am all for, what I am not going to support, is opening up the litigation flood gates, DeSantis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor may be careful to act on this one, but House Speaker Perez is fully on board. It seems like weve got bipartisan support on this, lets investigate these companies to find out what happened, Driskell said. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis suggests there may be some policy changes that come out of this. I appreciate the concern that the leader of the Florida house of representatives wants to take in this issue and transparency the best disinfectant, that theres nothing to hide, that we should have nothing to worry about, said Patronis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida man was accused of threatening to kill President Donald Trump and launch nuclear missiles at New York City. Justin Blaxton, 34, made nine concerning calls to 911, where he detailed alleged threats against the president. Not OK: police say child mimicked mother when told to get on ground, mother speaks out I want a ride to the airport to go to the White House to assassinate the president, Blaxton told 911 operators, according to an arrest report from the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blaxton was also accused of making the following statements: Im a mass murderer, come get me Im burning some houses down I want Donald Trump at my house, tomorrow is his last day on Earth Im a hacker and I hacked into the missile silos, Im about to launch f missiles to destroy New York, Im a Confederate soldier and Im getting revenge, my missiles are attracted to Donald Trumps towers Justin Blaxton declined meeting with deputies in person, however, he informed D/S Mobley to send Donald Trump to his house or he was going to kill his sons, the arrest report stated. The sheriffs office said Blaxton has an extensive history of mental health concerns. He was charged with making threats to throw, place, project, or discharge a destructive device, making a false report of a bomb/explosion, and making false 911 calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. SUNRISE, Fla. (WFLA) A Sunrise man was arrested on a murder charge last weekend after police said he shot his mother while hallucinating on psychedelic mushrooms. Sunrise police began receiving 911 calls regarding shots fired and strange activity at the Waterside Village Condos on Friday evening, according to an arrest report obtained by NBC 6 South Florida. VIDEO: Winter Haven police say child mimicked mother when told to get on ground Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One caller reported that a naked man was running in and out of the rear door of an apartment. Officers arrived and saw what they said appeared to be blood coming from underneath the front door of the unit. Upon opening the front door, officers found the victims body on the other side, the report said. A handgun was also found lying on the ground in the apartments backyard. Officers found the suspect, Jorge Omar Torres, 29, naked in a neighbors backyard minutes later. According to officials, Torres lived at the apartment with his parents. When questioned, Torres said hed arrived home that day after ingesting 2 grams of mushrooms hed bought from a friend and smoking a marijuana cigarette. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he began to hallucinate, Torres said he told his brother he needed to kill the cockroaches that were outside and that his brother looked like a lizard and cockroach, the report said. He then went to his room, grabbed his 9mm firearm, and pointed it at his brother, according to the report. Investigators said Torres told them that he thought about killing his brother because he felt he was a bad guy but eventually changed his mind and put the weapon away. Torres mother arrived home soon after and they got into an argument about his well-being. His mother told him to go to his room and lay down, but instead, police said Torres ended up climbing out his bedroom window while naked. He told detectives that, at the time, he felt he needed to get his dog to safety and put the pet in his brothers car. After convincing him to come back inside, Torres mother locked the front door, prompting him to believe that she was now the bad guy, officials reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went back to his room to retrieve his firearm and fired three to six rounds at his mother, who was standing by the front door, according to the arrest report. His brother reported finding him hiding behind a vehicle, at which point Torres called him a cockroach, took off running again and jumped a fence, the report said. Torres was booked into jail, and a judge ordered him to be held without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A Florida man was sentenced to prison for smuggling illegal migrants in New Mexico. According to court documents, Omar Ozuna-Berneda, 49, was spotted by Border Patrol driving a white tractor-trailer that had been previously seen traveling in tandem with other tractor-trailers caught in failed smuggling attempts. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Border Patrol agents attempted to pull over the truck on New Mexico State Road 26 near Deming, he led agents on a high-speed pursuit. After 22 miles, Ozuna-Berneda ditched the truck on New Mexico State Road 26 near the city limits of Hatch and fled on foot. Border Patrol agents found 31 illegal migrants locked inside the trailer, including an unaccompanied 8-year-old child. Ozuna-Berneda was later taken into custody by Border Patrol agents hiding in brush several miles from the abandoned tractor-trailer. During questioning, Ozuna-Berneda admitted to knowingly transporting illegal migrants from Las Cruces to Albuquerque in exchange for payment, according to the Department of Justice, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozuna-Berneda was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. Once released he will be subject to three years of supervised release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. When Donald Trump launched his 2024 presidential campaign, he promised to bring jobs back to America and facilitate unprecedented investment in the countrys future. Many in the tech industry who had been skeptical of Trump during his first term initially scoffed at these ambitious pledges. But little more than a month into Trumps second term, its clear that Silicon Valley has not only warmed to the presidents vision but is now leading the charge in what could be a new era of American innovation and economic growth. This is JP Hampstead, co-host of the Bring It Home podcast with Craig Fuller. Welcome to the 16th edition of our newsletter, which marvels at the tsunami of recently announced multibillion-dollar technology investments. The past few months have seen a flurry of ambitious investment announcements from some of the biggest names in tech. These commitments, totaling well over $1 trillion, are poised to reshape the American technological landscape and potentially cement U.S. dominance in critical fields like AI and semiconductor manufacturing for decades to come. On Monday, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the worlds largest contract chipmaker, pledged to invest $100 billion in U.S.-based chip manufacturing over the next four years. This comes on top of $65 billion in investments the company had already committed to facilities in Arizona. TSMCs expanded presence promises to create up to 25,000 high-tech jobs and significantly bolster Americas domestic chip production capabilities. (Photo: C-SPAN) Just a few weeks prior, Apple announced plans to spend a staggering $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. This unprecedented commitment includes the construction of an advanced manufacturing facility in Houston to produce servers supporting Apples AI initiatives. The tech giant also plans to double its U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion and establish a manufacturing academy in Michigan to train the next generation of American workers. Meta made public its plans to invest up to $65 billion in AI-related projects in 2025 alone. The social media giant projects that it will bring a gigawatt of computing power online this year, including a truly massive new facility in Louisiana, positioning itself at the forefront of the AI revolution. Perhaps the most intriguing development and the one with the biggest question mark regarding its plausibility and feasibility comes from the newly formed Stargate Project, a joint venture among OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle. This ambitious initiative aims to invest up to $500 billion over the next four years to develop AI infrastructure across the United States. With an initial focus on a $100 billion deployment, Stargate estimates the creation of hundreds of thousands of American jobs and positions itself as a key player in the reindustrialization of the United States. The big story: The trend of restricting student cellphone use in school has gained momentum across the nation since Florida lawmakers adopted limitations in 2023. In the past month alone, officials in New York, Missouri, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas have taken steps to ban cellphones in classrooms. Meanwhile, Florida lawmakers are considering additional constraints. State Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, has proposed creating a pilot program (SB 1296) to explore the viability of prohibiting cellphone use whenever students are on campus or participating in school-sponsored activities off campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal caught the eye of Hillsborough County school board member Lynn Gray. She asked her colleagues this week if theyd like to stop students from using their phones at lunchtime, which district policy currently allows in high schools, without waiting for lawmakers. Gray said students have used phones to cheat on coursework, coordinate fights, bully one another, and more. I can guarantee you, our teenagers are in bad shape from cellphone use, Gray said during a workshop. The idea didnt get far. Other board members raised objections, saying some students use their phones to decompress during down time. Some have other legitimate reasons to have their phones out, they added, such as communicating with their parents or jobs. Plus, enforcement could be problematic. What are we going to do? Expel a kid or change placement for a kid or suspend a kid for cellphones? We decided not to do that, said board member Henry Shake Washington, a veteran former principal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board decided to wait and see what, if anything, the Florida Legislature does. In the meantime, chairperson Jessica Vaughn suggested the district work on maintaining its current rules. While I appreciate Hillsborough County wanting to be on the forefront of everything, I also think that sometimes we can sit back and let some other counties test things out so we can see what is best practice for our students and for our teachers, Vaughn said. Hot topics Bus cameras: Miami-Dade County superintendent Jose Dotres instructed the districts police chief to work with the county Sheriffs Office to fix the process for issuing citations to drivers accused of illegally passing stopped school buses, the Miami Herald reports. Drivers have said they received tickets despite having done nothing wrong. Diversity, equity and inclusion: Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice is celebrating the creation of an End DEI portal as the culmination of her groups efforts, Florida Today reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early education: Hillsborough County elementary schools have launched an incentive program to encourage kindergarten attendance, WFTS reports. Ending the USDOE: Central Florida education advocates are calling on the federal government to protect public schools amid the anticipated gutting of the U.S. Department of Education, Central Florida Public Media reports. President Trump has issued a draft action to eliminate the department and could make an announcement as early as today, NPR reports. Gender issues: President Trump spoke of a Leon County familys battle with their school district over the treatment of their non-binary child during his State of the Union. The facts are more complicated than his comments, PolitiFact reports. Leon County superintendent Rocky Hanna called Trumps presentation reprehensible, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Immigration enforcement: Dozens of advocacy groups are asking the Florida Department of Education to issue clear guidance on how schools should deal with federal immigration enforcement, Central Florida Public Media reports. The Pinellas County school districts police department has applied to participate in immigration enforcement, Florida Phoenix reports. Alachua County principals will serve as the primary contact for immigration agents that seek access to schools and students, MainStreet Daily News reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislation: State Sen. Tom Leek wants to end state contracts and grants to colleges and universities that discriminate against Israel, Florida Politics reports. The president of Lee Countys teacher union worries that legislation to add new membership requirements for teacher unions would hurt the districts effort to fill its nearly 200 teaching vacancies, WINK reports. University spending: Floridas university faculty have questions about Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposal to audit and cut programs and funding at their schools, the USF Oracle reports. A state House committee has begun reviewing schools already under scrutiny by state auditors, Politico Florida reports. From the court docket ... The Broward County school district reached a settlement with a transportation worker who sued the district alleging it did not accommodate his faith, Bloomberg Law reports. Today in Tallahassee ... The House Student Academic Success subcommittee will discuss supports for students when it meets at 9 a.m. The House Industries and Professional Activities subcommittee will consider HB 195 on education in correctional facilities for licensed professions when it meets at 1 p.m. Dont miss a story. Heres a link to yesterdays roundup. Before you go ... Any Fifth Element fans out there? LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) A former Eaton County corrections officer will serve more than 17 years in prison for distributing child pornography. Ethan Lee Eversman of Ionia was initially arrested by Michigan State Police last June after they received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During their investigation, police recovered digital evidence from Eversman during an interview and a later search of his home. Booking photograph of Ethan Eversman. (Photo: Ionia Co. Office of the Sheriff) The Eaton County Sheriffs Office fired Eversman after his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Eversman, between 2021 and June 2024, coerced a minor in New York into creating explicit pictures and videos of herself and sending them to him online. Eversman also kept child pornography on his phone and distributed it to others. Eversman pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography. Other charges, including sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child pornography, and an additional charge of distributing child pornography, were dismissed. Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced Eversman to 210 months (17 and a half years) in prison and 5 years supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $17,500 in restitution, a $5,000 fine under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and an additional $100 fine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Hunter Biden may have his freedom, but the son of former President Joe Biden now finds himself mired in debt, without a permanent home, and the target of ongoing attacks from the current president, Donald Trump, and his allies on Capitol Hill, according to a court filing. In court papers filed Wednesday, Hunter Biden asked a federal judge to dismiss his lawsuit against online provocateur Garrett Ziegler because he "does not have the financial resources to continue litigating this case." Amid lagging sales of his art and his memoir, the younger Biden remains "several million dollars" in debt after fighting multiple federal criminal cases, claiming in an affidavit that he only sold one painting for $36,000 since late 2023, after selling 27 paintings in the previous couple of years at an average price of nearly $55,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: How President Biden came to the decision to pardon his son Hunter "Given the positive feedback and reviews of my artwork and memoir, I was expecting to obtain paid speaking engagements and paid appearances, but that has not happened," Hunter Biden wrote Wednesday. He said that his "lack of financial resources has been exacerbated by the fires in the Pacific Palisades in early January, which has rendered my rental house unlivable for an extended period of time and, like many others in that situation, I am having difficulty in finding a new permanent place to live." A person close to Hunter Biden told ABC News that his rental did not burn down, but that immense damage to the surrounding properties had limited his access to his residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The affidavit chronicles a series of hardships since his father's departure from office. Weeks before Trump's inauguration, then-President Biden pardoned his son shortly before two federal judges were scheduled to sentence him for a pair of criminal convictions in Delaware and California, for which he faced the possibility of substantial prison time. PHOTO: In this Sept. 30, 2024, file photo, Hunter Biden, the son President Joe Biden, is seen during an event to celebrate the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, D.C. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, FILE) Hunter Biden has acknowledged taking out millions of dollars in loans from Kevin Morris, a Hollywood attorney who largely bankrolled Hunter Biden's legal defense over the past five years. In congressional testimony last year, Morris said he expected Hunter Biden to repay those loans beginning in 2025, though it was not clear from the affidavit whether those loan repayments have begun. Hunter Biden and his legal team are evaluating whether to continue litigating a handful of other lawsuits he filed in recent years against purveyors of his infamous laptop on a "case by case basis," Hunter Biden wrote in Wednesday's filing. Ziegler did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News. One of those suits targets Patrick Byrne, the founder of Overstock.com and an avid supporter of President Trump. Hunter Biden sued Byrne in late 2023 for defamation for falsely accused Hunter Biden of trying to bribe Iran while his father was president -- a claim that Hunter Biden said has subjected him to "harassment, intimidation, and harm." Byrne has fought the defamation claim in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trail in the case has been repeatedly delayed amid a protracted dispute over depositions from Byrne and an FBI agent that has thrown a wrench into the proceedings. Byrne's attorneys claim in court papers that Byrne fled to Dubai after he was told by U.S. officials "that the Venezuelan government has a $25,000,000 bounty on his head," and said he preferred a deposition over Zoom "out of concern for his personal safety." The parties ultimately agreed to a remote deposition in December that was expected to span seven hours over the course of three days, though it was unclear from the court docket when exactly the deposition occurred. In court filings as part of that case, Hunter Biden has echoed his claims of financial hardship. He claimed that because of Byrne's defamatory statements, he has suffered "lost economic opportunities" to the tune of nearly half a million dollars, citing lost memoir sales, lost art sales, and lost speaking opportunities. MORE: Timeline: Hunter Biden granted pardon after legal, political scrutiny Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunter Biden's legal team has also subpoenaed the FBI, demanding testimony and documents from an agent whom Byrne claimed on social media could corroborate Byrne's allegations against the younger Biden. But the FBI has so far rebuffed those efforts, and on Monday the Justice Department filed a motion in federal court in Washington, D.C., urging a federal judge there to quash the subpoena. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden remains squarely on the minds of Trump and his loyalists in Congress. As one of his first acts in office, Trump signed an executive order revoking security clearances for 51 former intelligence officials who signed a letter asserting that the emergence of data from Hunter Biden's laptop in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election bore similarities to prior Russian misinformation operations. During a heated Oval Office confrontation between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week, Trump repeatedly invoked Hunter Biden's name as part of a lengthy diatribe about the Russia investigation led by Robert Mueller: And on Tuesday, two top Republican lawmakers invited IRS whistleblowers who revealed details of Hunter Biden's tax filings as guests at Trump's Joint Address to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The person close to Hunter Biden told ABC News that the former president's son will continue pursuing his art career and plans to devote himself to initiatives meant to help people struggling with addiction. And despite the sentiments in his affidavit, Hunter Biden remains in "a good place to rebuild his life," the person said. Following pardon, Hunter Biden is mired in debt and without a permanent home, court filing says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Rep. Lee Deming, R-Laurel defense HB 404, regarding National Guard deployment, during floor debate on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. A bill that would have required a Congressional act for the Montana National Guard to be released from the state into federal duty did not pass a second reading on Wednesday afternoon, but only after a spirited and lengthy debate on the floor. House Bill 404, brought by Rep. Lee Deming, R-Laurel, sought to avoid sending Montanans to active combat duty in countries where the United States Congress hadnt approved soldiers to be sent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill created controversy over possible loss of funding, allegations by bill proponents that opponents of the bill were giving out free helicopter rides, and assumptions that soldiers didnt know what they signed up for when they joined the guard. In 2024, a drone attack against a U.S. military outpost in Jordan, called Tower 22, killed three U.S. soldiers and injured many National Guardsman. Roughly 3,000 U.S. troops were stationed in Jordan at the time, despite the Biden administration repeatedly saying the United States was not actively at war a position they maintained following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Currently, National Guardsman from any state can be deployed to active duty, even though the U.S. is not in a declared war. The US has seen abuse of all of our military forces for decades, Deming told the Daily Montanan. The Tower 22 attack is just a symptom of a larger problem that legislation of this kind has tried to address for two decades. There are quite a few examples. The men whose organization first began to sponsor legislation of this type are combat veterans who try to limit the damage done to our service men and women by these undeclared wars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deming argued his bill would prevent needless harms, but legislators also debated over the cost. Deming called a $132 million fiscal note attached to the bill bogus and said it was based on completely fabricated assumptions. The note assumes the state would lose federal funding over the bill, $132 million annually over the next four years. It also valued the gear and buildings the Montana National Guard has and said the state could lose federal dollars, equipment, cooperative agreements, and funding for state personnel. Deming said that even if it was true, the result of the bill could be worth it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets say the fiscal note is correct, Deming said. How much does the mental and physical health problems suffered by our veterans cost the state? The devastation created by deploying our forces into foreign conflicts with no goal and no end brings immense costs. Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Great Falls, who was active duty in the Air Force before a seven-year stint in the Montana Air National Guard, spoke against the bill. He derided the assumption that National Guard soldiers didnt have agency and were victims. We have this idea that somehow were sending our boys and girls overseas to die, and they didnt want to go, Nikolakakos said. Its just false. Its a false notion. A blast motion to get the bill out of committee failed on March 3. However, on Tuesday, the committee voted to push it out on its own and it reached the House floor Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Wednesdays floor session, House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, made a motion to send the bill to the House Appropriations Committee. Rep. Caleb Hinkle, R-Belgrade, objected to this motion, and Deming said it was an obvious attempt to kill the bill. I find this motion to be highly irregular, and frankly, insulting to the National Guard people that we are supposed to protect, Deming said on the floor. Sending this down to Appropriations is killing this bill. His argument got him time on the floor. That was very passionate, so Im going to put that up on second (reading), Fitzpatrick said. Lets put this up on second, right now. Following almost an hour of debate, and two separate votes to end debate on the bill, HB 404 failed 58-41. Food City donates $50k to Second Harvest Food Bank KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) Food City donated $50,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee on Thursday. The donation funded the purchase of a cargo van to expand meal services to at-risk afterschool programs and summer meal programs, Second Harvest stated in a news release. We are deeply grateful for the donation of this cargo van from our generous food partner, Food City, Rhonda Chafin, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, said in the release. This van ensures that we can deliver healthy, nutritious food to at-risk children in our region safely and more efficiently. When children have access to food, their futures are nourished and they have the chance to reach their full potential. This van will greatly impact our ability to serve food insecure children when schools are not in session and the need for food is critical for continued healthy growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill restricting phones in schools passes TN Senate The food bank serves 150 meals daily to children in at-risk afterschool programs. The new cargo van will allow Second Harvest to expand the meal service, as well as provide more than 30,000 meals during summer. Children will now receive a hot meal each day, compared to one hot meal and one refrigerated meal for two days, according to the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Severe weather is an unfortunate part of life that we must occasionally deal with. However, as a result of a shifting climate, severe and volatile weather events are becoming more frequent. According to supply chain analysts, this increase in devastating weather events will likely lead to even higher prices at the grocery store in 2025. What's happening? Peter Falloon, a food security expert at the Met Office and University of Bristol, issued a stark warning regarding the dangers of climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Extreme weather events around the globe will continue to increase in severity and frequency in line with the ongoing rise in global temperature," Falloon said, per The Guardian. Volatile weather has already reared its ugly head in the United States in 2025. In February, a devastating winter storm brought torrential downpours and severe flooding in parts of Kentucky that left over 20 people dead and thousands of residents without power. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reflected on the powerful storm at a recent press conference. "This is one of the most serious weather events we've dealt with in at least a decade," Beshear told NBC News. Why is an increase in volatile weather events concerning? The climate crisis has caused everyday grocery items to soar in price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As one of the most in-demand items on the planet, the cost of coffee has dramatically climbed over the past calendar year due in part to a devastating drought in Brazil and further price increases are expected. In 2020, the average price of coffee beans was a little over $1 per pound, Macrotrends revealed. In 2025, that price has rocketed to nearly $4 per pound. While speaking to The Guardian, Katharina Erfort, a principal at Inverto, offered up some advice regarding the current market forecast. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Food manufacturers and retailers should diversify their supply chains and sourcing strategies to reduce over-reliance on any one region affected by crop failures," Erfort said. Throughout the planet, various regions have felt the impact of climate change. In 2024, Japan was subjected to a rice shortage after an unusually hot summer led to a decline in rice production. What's being done about the increase in volatile weather events? Although it is still difficult to predict exactly when and where volatile weather events will hit too far in advance, many countries are hard at work to lessen the blow of climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, lawmakers in the U.S. approved a $179 million bill to fund water reuse projects on the West Coast. In South America, a coalition of several developed countries committed $180 million to help protect the Amazon rainforest. The project is aimed to fight deforestation and safeguard one of the most biodiverse regions of the planet. On a smaller scale, HBCUs are working hard to help educate local communities on the issues surrounding the climate crisis. By working together, we can all do our part to enjoy a cleaner and brighter future. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Customers looking for snacks in a Norfolk County CVS will have to look elsewhere. Food sales at the CVS on Linden Street in Wellesley due to a pest control issue with mice, the towns health department told Boston 25 News. The store has remained open for customers to pick up other goods. The Wellesley Health Department says they are working closely with CVS and have thoroughly cleaned the building and increased pest control services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inspectors also checked the Roche Bros. supermarket next door but no rodents or pests were found inside. Were working closely with pest control and the Wellesley Board of Health to resolve this matter, a CVS spokesperson told Boston 25 News. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW jetcityimage / Getty Images Key Takeaways Tesla shares fell Tuesday, with the stock losing about a third of its value since the start of 2025. Bank of America lowered its price target for the stock, pointing to concerns about tariffs, falling sales, and souring brand sentiment. The drop comes just a day after Morgan Stanley named Tesla its "Top Pick" in the U.S. automobile sector. Tesla (TSLA) shares fell Tuesday, extending recent losses amid worries about tariffs, weak Chinese sales, and souring brand sentiment, with analysts at Bank of America lowering their price target for the stock. The electric vehicle maker's stock dropped over 4% to close at $272.04, and has lost about a third of its value since the start of the year. The Trump administration's tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which went into effect Tuesday, "pose significant risk" to North American automakers including Tesla, Bank of America analysts said. Declining European sales have also put pressure on the stock, they said, along with "sentiment on the brand potentially souring" as CEO Elon Musk has made headlines for his role in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency. Sales of Tesla's China-made vehicles have slipped as well, falling 49.2% year-over-year in February, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing data from the China Passenger Car Association. BofA reiterated a "neutral" rating for the stock, but lowered its price target to $380 from $490, just slightly above the average of analysts polled by Visible Alpha at $368. The drop comes just a day after Morgan Stanley named the company its "Top Pick" in the U.S. automobile sector, saying Tesla's lower-than-expected deliveries were "not particularly narrative changing." UPDATEMarch 4, 2025: This article has been updated since it was first published to reflect more recent share price values. Read the original article on Investopedia BOSTON (WWLP) A Massachusetts man agreed to plead guilty to allegedly embezzling bank funds while he was working as a Boston bank teller. Springfield Police reminding residents to lock their cars The Department of Justice states 28-year-old Derek Aut of Saugus, formerly of Revere, was working as a teller at a bank branch in Boston, where he would steal from the accounts of two customers by forging their names on withdrawal slips. When one victim noticed that there was money missing from her account, Aut allegedly tried to cover this up by taking money from the other victims account and putting it into the first victims account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By doing this, Aut allegedly stole over $180,000 from the victims accounts. Aut was charged by Information with embezzlement by a bank employee and aggravated identity theft. He was charged previously by criminal complaint on December 18, 2024. The charge of embezzlement by a bank employee is a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. The charge of aggravated identity theft is a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Former Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence Thomas Tobin was back in Rhode Island to lead a Mass for Ash Wednesday, and also shared his thoughts on Pope Francis current condition. During the packed Mass at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, there were prayers for the Holy Father, who is battling double pneumonia. Were certainly praying very fervently every day for Holy Father, and as we prayed for him today here at Mass on Ash Wednesday, were praying that the Lord will be close to him during these difficult days and the Lord will grant him much health and peace and comfort, Tobin told 12 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: East Providence church offering ashes to go this Ash Wednesday The Vatican said on Wednesday that Francis remains in stable condition. Hes also receiving oxygen through nasal tubes, according to the Associated Press. Tobin added that what Francis is going through must be very, very painful and difficult for him. Its time for us then to have that special faith, and we know the Holy Father has that faith he depends on God, Tobin said. So were praying to the Lord thatll be close to him and give him that comfort and peace and health that he needs during this time of challenge. Tobin served as the bishop in Providence for nearly 20 years. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II in 2005 and retired in 2023 after turning 75. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time to pass the torch: Bishop Tobin reflects on 18-year tenure Currently, there is no bishop for the Providence Diocese after Tobins successor, Bishop Richard Henning, was installed as the Archdiocese of Bostons seventh archbishop in October 2024. A new bishop would need to be selected by Francis. Tobin said a new bishop will be selected in due time by the Lord and the pope. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., a longtime ally to Mayor Adams who has donated to his reelection bid and worked closely with his administration, is endorsing ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor in this years election. The Cuomo endorsement from Diaz first reported by the Daily News before being announced Thursday is a blow to the embattled mayor, who had the ex-BPs backing for his successful 2021 run. In 2021, Adams relied heavily on Diaz to drive turnout for him among Latino voters, especially in the Bronx, a constituency that was seen as key in carrying him to a narrow victory in that years contest. Speaking at a Thursday afternoon press conference with Cuomo, Diaz, who remains influential with Latino voters, said hes endorsing Cuomo due to a variety of issues, including the need for a steady hand and strong leadership at a time President Trump is threatening to cut federal funding for New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our city is in crisis, and Im here to say that when youre in crisis you need a crisis manager, Diaz said at the Manhattan headquarters of Teamsters Local 237, a municipal union thats also endorsing Cuomo. Diaz, who has longstanding ties to Cuomo as well, didnt in his remarks directly address his past support for Adams. He did say this shouldnt be about finger-pointing but about coalescing behind a politician he argued has shown can lead through difficult times, listing off Cuomo accomplishments including securing state funding for some community projects in the Bronx. Cuomo, continuing a pattern he set in announcing his mayoral run last weekend, vowed hes battle-tested and ready to turn the tide on a city that he described as being in trouble without taking any direct shots at Adams. You can feel the city is out of control It is at a tipping point, he said at the union hall before slamming a lack of intelligent action by government in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vito Pitta, Adams campaign attorney, didnt return a request for comment. Diaz and Adams have known each other since the late 1990s, when the mayor was still in the NYPD. After becoming term-limited from running for BP again in 2021, Diaz started working as a lobbyist representing clients with city business. Records show he has over the past few years directly lobbied top members of Adams administration, including ex-chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who resigned last year shortly before being indicted on bribery charges. Diaz also gave $400 the max a lobbyist can give to a mayoral candidate to Adams reelection campaign in July 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last May, Adams appointed Diaz as one of 13 members to serve on his first Charter Revision Commission, which got referendum questions onto Novembers election ballot. Diaz is among a growing group of Adams supporters who are embracing Cuomos campaign as the mayor continues to face intense political headwinds amid the controversy surrounding his ongoing federal corruption indictment and record low approval ratings. Last week, Harlem Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs, a key Adams ally in Albany, endorsed Cuomo for mayor. Earlier this week, Brooklyn Councilwoman Farah Louis who endorsed Adams in 2021 announced shes also backing Cuomo in the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary. Adams has yet to rack up any significant official endorsements for his reelection bid, though the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, a powerful union that backed him in 2021, has privately informed him it plans to back him as long as hes in the race. Polling has consistently shown Cuomo drubbing Adams and the more than half dozen other candidates running in the primary. However, Cuomo who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual misconduct accusations he denies has also recorded high disapproval ratings in many polls, especially among left-wing Democrats. ST. LOUIS A district judge sentenced a former small business office manager to 51 months in federal prison for embezzlement and identity theft. Angela Cooper, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and three counts of tax fraud. She was previously employed by AMK Heating and Cooling in Edwardsville. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News According to court documents, while she was working as the manager for AMK, she was able to have access to the companys checkbook and accounting software. The documents claim that Cooper used the tools to write up to 100 checks to herself and forged the signatures over a two-year period. She apparently embezzled $158,658.41 from AMK, according to court documents. The court documents further stated that while at AMK, Cooper was able to access employee information, as well as personal information, including social security numbers. She reportedly used a coworkers information to apply for and obtain a Discover credit card, maxing the credit card to $9,877.71 in a matter of weeks, the court documents added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guests scramble after St. Louis hotel abruptly closes The documents also state that Cooper did not report additional income in her 2019, 2020 and 2021 tax returns to the IRS. By nature, greed continues to grow if left unchecked. For two years, Angela Cooper found multiple ways to steal from her employer. Coopers greed even extended to a coworker, said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. The FBI is proud to work alongside our IRS law enforcement partners to thwart corporate fraud and ensure justice for victims. In addition to her sentencing, the judge ordered Cooper to pay $168,536.12 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. CHICAGO (WGN) A former female corrections officer at Chicagos Metropolitan Correctional Center pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that she sexually abused four women who were inmates. An indictment charges Brittany Hall, 31, with five counts of sexual abuse and three counts of abusive sexual contact. Collectively, the charges carry a possible sentence of more than 80 years. Hall, shackled at the ankles, appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain wearing a T-shirt, jeans and black, tactical-style boots. She remained with a neutral expression as she responded to McShain in brief statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was released on pretrial conditions approved by both the government and defense counsel. Among the conditions is the requirement to disclose the charges against her to any future employer. During her time with the US Bureau of Prisons, which operates the MCC, Hall was responsible for supervising inmates in Unit 12. She resigned from the agency last year. We have a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse of any kind and every person has the right to be safe from sexual abuse, a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson told WGN in an emailed statement. We believe that holding employees accountable, to the fullest extent of the law, will serve as a deterrent against future misconduct. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih. Hall is represented by attorney Thomas More Leinenweber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. CHICAGO A former executive of a Chicagoland non-profit has pleaded guilty to her role in an alleged fraud scheme that resulted in $1.8 million in losses for the Illinois Department of Education. On Thursday last week, 55-year-old Barbara Harris, a Matteson resident, pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge in connection with the alleged scheme, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced Wednesday. According to prosecutors, in a plea agreement, Harris stated that while serving as the Executive Director of the Center for Community Academic Success Partnerships (CCASP) between 2012 and 2017, she allegedly misappropriated nearly $2 million that was intended to support the charitys work with underprivileged youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines At the time of the scheme, the CCASP was receiving government grants and other funds to provide after-school programs to schools in the Chicago area. In her plea agreement, Harris admitted that she had allegedly schemed with another CCASP executive, 64-year-old Tony Bell, to submit grant applications that inflated the organizations projected annual expenses and falsely claimed that five subcontractors would provide services to the CCASP when in reality she knew the subcontractors provided no actual services to the organization. Prosecutors said the scheme resulted in approximately $1.8 million in actual loss to the Illinois Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bell, the second CCASP executive accused in the scheme pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, money laundering and wire fraud and is currently awaiting trial. In addition to the subcontractor scheme, in her pea agreement, Harris also admitted that she participated in a separate fraud scheme that bilked the federally funded AmeriCorps VISTA program, which awarded grants to non-profit organizations working to bring communities out of poverty, between 2021 and 2023. Prosecutors said during that scheme, Harris who was serving as Co-Executive Director of the non-profit South Suburban Community Services, allegedly submitted grant applications that falsely represented that VISTA members would work for SSCS developing programs that aimed to bring economic opportunities to the citys south suburbs. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In reality, prosecutors said Harris knew that the VISTA members would actually be used at SSCS to support already-funded job training and after-school violence prevention programs and fraudulently obtained approval for eleven members to work at SSCS. None of the members performed services in accordance with their VISTA assignment descriptions, which caused a $98,699 loss to the VISTA program. Harris is set to appear in court for sentencing on July 11, 2025, and could face up to 20 years in federal prison. Prosecutors did not provide booking photos for Harris or Bell. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraines ambassador to the UK and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, believes that not only Russia and the axis of evil are trying to destroy the world order, but also the United States. Source: Zaluzhnyi during his speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), cited by The Times; Zaluzhnyis column on Ukrainska Pravda Quote cited by The Times: "It is not just the axis of evil trying to revise the world order The US is destroying the world order. It is obvious the White House has questioned the unity of the whole western world. And now Washington is trying to delegate the security issues to Europe without the participation of the US." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The Times notes that Zaluzhnyi also warned that NATO could cease to exist and Russia would come for Europe next. Updated: Zaluzhnyi contacted Ukrainska Pravda after the publication of the news and provided the exact quote from his speech. Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "It is obvious that Washington's failure to recognise Russias aggression is a new challenge not only for Ukraine but for Europe as well. Therefore, this is enough to understand that it is no longer just Russia and the axis of evil trying to destroy the world order, but the United States are effectively finalising its destruction." Background: On 28 February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance had a row over the war in Ukraine at the White House in raised voices in front of the TV cameras. Prior to this, Trump had said at the meeting with Zelenskyy that he was "for both Ukraine and Russia". Trump later said that Zelenskyy had been disrespectful to the US and was not ready for peace. On 4 March, it was reported that US President Donald Trump had ordered the suspension of all military aid to Ukraine, intensifying pressure on Zelenskyy following the spat at the White House. In addition, the United States has halted all intelligence sharing with Ukraine, particularly data on military targets and warnings about Russian missile and drone launches on Ukrainian territory. Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, later said preparations were underway for a new round of talks between the US and Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WHNT) A Toney man, who worked for Fayetteville City Schools, was charged with rape on Wednesday. According to District Attorney Robert J. Carter, 55-year-old Chris Edward Cagle, of Toney, was booked into the Lincoln County Jail on March 5 on four counts of statutory rape by an authority figure. This comes after an investigation by the Fayetteville Police Department when authorities received a report about a Fayetteville High School employee engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the sensitive nature of the case and for the protection and privacy of the victim, the district attorney said specific details of the investigation would not be released. Statutory rape by an authority figure is a Class B felony in the state of Tennessee and carries a sentencing ranging from eight to 12 years and a mandatory placement on the sex offender registry. The district attorney said Cagle has been released from custody after posting a $40,000 bond. Cagle is scheduled to appear in the General Sessions Court of Lincoln County for arraignment on May 12. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Eric Schmidt, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, and Center for AI Safety Director Dan Hendrycks are warning that treating the global AI arms race like the Manhattan Project could backfire. Instead of reckless acceleration, they propose a strategy of deterrence, transparency, and international cooperationbefore superhuman AI spirals out of control. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, and Center for AI Safety Director Dan Hendrycks are sounding the alarm about the global race to build superintelligent AI. In a new paper titled Superintelligence Strategy, Schmidt and his co-authors argue that the U.S. should not pursue the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) through a government-backed, Manhattan Project-style push. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fear is that a high-stakes race to build superintelligent AI could lead to dangerous global conflicts between the superpowers, much like the nuclear arms race. "The Manhattan Project assumes that rivals will acquiesce to an enduring imbalance or omnicide rather than move to prevent it," the co-authors wrote. "What begins as a push for a superweapon and global control risks prompting hostile countermeasures and escalating tensions, thereby undermining the very stability the strategy purports to secure." Trump's AI ambitions The paper comes as U.S. policymakers consider a large-scale, state-funded AI project to compete with China's AI efforts. Last year, a U.S. congressional commission proposed a Manhattan Project-style effort to fund the development of AI systems with superhuman intelligence, modeled after Americas atomic bomb program in the 1940s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the Trump administration has announced a $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure, called the "Stargate Project," and rolled back AI regulations brought in by the previous administration. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright also appeared to promote the idea by saying the country was "at the start of a new Manhattan Project" and that, with President Trumps leadership, "the United States will win the global AI race." High-stakes global AI race The authors argue that AI development should be handled with extreme caution, not in a race to out-compete global rivals. The paper lays out the risks of approaching AI development as an all-or-nothing battle for dominance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmidt and his co-authors argue that instead of a high-stakes race, AI should be developed through broadly distributed research with collaboration across governments, private companies, and academia. They emphasize that transparency and international cooperation are critical to ensuring that AI benefits humanity rather than becoming an uncontrollable force. Schmidt has addressed the threats posed by a global AI race before. In a January Washington Post op-ed, Schmidt called for the US to invest in open source AI efforts to combat China's DeepSeek. The concept of Mutual Assured AI Malfunction The authors suggest a new conceptMutual Assured AI Malfunction (MAIM)modeled on the nuclear arms race's Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). "Just as nations once developed nuclear strategies to secure their survival, we now need a coherent superintelligence strategy to navigate a new period of transformative change," the authors wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We introduce the concept of Mutual Assured AI Malfunction (MAIM): a deterrence regime resembling nuclear mutual assured destruction (MAD) where any states aggressive bid for unilateral AI dominance is met with preventive sabotage by rivals," they said. The paper also suggests countries engage in nonproliferation and deterrence, much like they do with nuclear weapons. "Taken together, the three-part framework of deterrence, nonproliferation, and competitiveness outlines a robust strategy to superintelligence in the years ahead," they said. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor is increasingly focusing on return on equity as a performance measure, talking internally about raising ROE to 20% as one guideline, a senior finance executive at the Japanese automaker said during an interview on Monday. While cautioning that ROE is not a perfect measure, the executive emphasised consistency over time-bound targets, adding that Toyota was not looking to formally commit to achieving a specific level by a certain date. "What's important isn't just reaching a certain percentage by a specific time, but maintaining it consistently," said Masahiro Yamamoto, chief officer of Toyota's Accounting Group. ROE is a ratio that measures a company's profitability relative to its shareholders' equity. Toyota's ROE reached 15.6% for April-December 2024, in line with the 15.8% for the 2023 fiscal year. The metric has increased from 9.0% in fiscal 2022 and 11.5% in the financial year before that. Toyota has long been working to improve its profit margin by reducing the cost it takes to produce its vehicles, thereby lowering the break-even point for its consolidated sales volume. The next time the automaker is likely to publish an ROE figure is in the second week of May when it usually reports full-year financial results. Speaking before the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada on Tuesday, Yamamoto said Toyota - which has assembly plants in both targeted countries - would provide information about the impact of tariffs once it was able to. Last month, Toyota said a nearly $14 billion factory in North Carolina - its 11th U.S. manufacturing plant - was ready to begin production, with battery shipments for electrified vehicles including hybrids starting in April. (Reporting by Daniel Leussink and Maki Shiraki; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Sylvester Turner, former Houston mayor and newly elected U.S. representative, passed away at 70 after a medical emergency following President Donald Trumps address to Congress. Turner built a long career in Texas politics and took office in January. Officials have not yet determined a cause of death, but Sylvester Turner previously battled bone cancer. Heres what we know about Sylvester Turners death and his legacy in public service. Sylvester Turner cause of death explained Sylvester Turner, a former mayor of Houston and newly elected U.S. representative, died on Wednesday, March 5, in Washington at the age of 70. Turner attended President Donald Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday night and later suffered a medical emergency. His press secretary, Gregory Carter, said doctors took Turner to a hospital after the speech, but he returned home and later died. Officials have not determined a cause of death, but Turner previously battled bone cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turner had a long career in Texas politics, serving in the state legislature from 1989 to 2016 before becoming Houstons mayor, a position he held until January 2024. He won a special election in November to succeed Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away in July 2024. Turner was sworn into Congress on January 3, 2025. He was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and had been a vocal advocate for Medicaid, posting a video on social media shortly before Trumps speech in which he urged, Dont mess with Medicaid. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., described Turner as an iconic leader and fighter until the end. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Turner served his community faithfully. President Joe Biden called Turner a remarkable Congressman, Mayor, father, and grandfather and expressed condolences to his family and constituents. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, also acknowledged his contributions. Under Texas law, Governor Greg Abbott must call a special election to fill Turners congressional seat, a process that may take months. Turners death shifts the House balance to a 218-214 Republican majority, allowing Republicans to afford only one GOP defection on key votes if all lawmakers are present. Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.net. The post Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Passes Away at 70 appeared first on Mandatory. Mar. 5Ron Inge, the former chief investigator with the Ector County Medical Examiner's Office, was arrested last week on suspicion of child grooming, a third-degree felony. According to City of Odessa news release, Inge, 72, went to the Odessa Police Department to report he was being "extorted" by Heather Russell, 34. An investigation revealed that Inge and Russell agreed that Inge would pay to engage in sexual conduct with Russell's underage daughter for money, the release stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the agreement was made, Russell began to "hold the agreement over Inge's head for money," the release stated. Russell and Inge were arrested Feb. 28, Russell on a second-degree felony charge of attempted promotion of prostitution. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be sought. Inge, who retired from the county in January 2023, was released from the Ector County jail Sunday after posting a $10,000 surety bond. Russell, who was released from the jail Feb. 1 on a drug charge, posted a $25,000 surety bond and was released the day of her arrest in the prostitution case. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A former captain of the Irondequoit Police Department has died after a crash in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Dept. of Public Safety, Captain Mark Bonsignore was riding his motorcycle in Orange County, NC on Saturday, March 1. It was alleged that 69-year-old Bobbie Lee Edwards was heading north when he crossed the centerline and struck Bonsignore, along with two other vehicles. Investigators said Bonsignore died at the scene. He was 71 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edwards was arrested and charged with DWI, driving left of center, and felony death by motor vehicle. He was taken to the Orange County Jail. Bonsignore retired from the Irondequoit Police Department approximately 15 years ago, according to Irondequoit PD. The Irondequoit Police Department released this statement on social media: The Irondequoit Police Department appreciates everyone who has reached out. In respect to the family, we are giving them time to process everything. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Beth and the rest of the family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Dozens of local students and literary activists including author Ann Patchett and actor David Arquette gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday for the inaugural Literary Day on the Hill, an event aimed at combating the rise in book bans across Tennessee. The event, organized by Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, comes as the lawmaker introduced his "Freedom to Read" bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Sarah Kyle, D-Memphis. Jones announced the proposal standing before a crowd of students from schools such as Hume Fogg and Martin Luther King. Jr. Magnet high schools in Nashville and Fisk University. Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, speaks with Ann Patchett, the author and owner of Parnassus Books, at the 2025 inaugural Literary Day on the Hill, on March 4, 2025. The bill seeks to prohibit libraries including public and public school libraries from banning, removing, or otherwise restricting access to a book or other material based solely on its viewpoint or the messages ideas, or opinions it conveys, except as otherwise authorized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a response to the books bans, Jones said. The freedom to read is an American value it is something we should defend with everything we have. Jones called the rising number of book bans an absurdity. Tennessee is leading the way in all the wrong ways, especially when it comes to books being removed from our shelves, he said. This bill gives us something to fight for, something proactive." A stack of books that are commonly removed from school libraries sits on a vendor table at the 2025 inaugural Literary Day on the Hill, on March 4, 2025. The event also featured Patchett, owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville and Arquette, the actor and community advocate. Patchett spoke in Oak Ridge in 2017 as the featured literacy luncheon speaker, an annual event sponsored by Altrusa International of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club. This year's Lunch for Literacy event is March 18 at Oak Ridge High School. The speaker is Silas House, a bestselling author and Kentucky poet laureate. Proceeds provide grants for literacy projects for schools and organizations in Anderson and Roane counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caroline Randall Williams, writer-in-residence at Vanderbilt University, was also a scheduled speaker on Tuesday. If you read, you can go anywhere in the world, Patchett said. Reading is primarily a compassionate act. If you are cut off from literature, you are just cut off from a huge part of what is available to you in the world. Later, Patchett said of all the things that there are to protect children from, books were not one of them. Nearly 1,400 books, consisting of 1,155 unique titles, were either fully removed from school libraries or heavily age-restricted between December 2023 and January 2025, according to a Tennessean analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between 2021 and July 2023, only about 300 books faced similar challenges across the state. Now, in less than half that time, at least 1,389 books were removed or heavily age-restricted statewide over the past year. More: 'Not enough kids in these meetings': Students weigh in as 1,100 books banned in Tennessee Sandy Lewis, left, watches the 2025 inaugural Literary Day on the Hill event alongside dozens of students on March 4, 2025. Sitting among the throngs of kids and dressed in her I support public schools shirt was Sandy Lewis, a retired teacher who is working locally to stop book removals. I am concerned with what is happening with books in this state, she said. It seems like theyre being chipped away at. Lewis, who formerly taught in Memphis public schools for 34 years, noted particular concern with the many books up for potential removal in Rutherford County Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Rutherford schools book banning upsets free speech advocates: 'We are banished' Rutherford County has been under fire for recent book removals, after pulling 160 books from school shelves in the county in November. So far, 51 of those books have been permanently banned. The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham. The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee books: Ann Patchett, others push against bans MEMPHIS, Tenn. More alleged victims of an East Memphis doctor are coming forward a week after he was indicted on federal charges. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar was released on a $100,000 bond this week, but hes expected in court next Wednesday. Accused Memphis doctor to be released on $100K bond; patients left questioning their care A former patient of Kumar says she had only been his patient for a few weeks, but now shes left with permanent reminders of what she went through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, says she became a patient of Kumar on November 1, 2024. She says she only saw him until November 19, which is when she says she had an unscheduled procedure. I had a hysteroscopy done in the office, but not by my consent, she said. I had no knowledge of the procedure beforehand and from what my lawyers are saying, it was not medically necessary because my pap smear had been normal two weeks prior. The woman says she initially spoke with Kumar about a tubal ligation reversal surgery, not a hysteroscopy. She says she experienced excruciating pain and heavy bleeding for days and when she asked the doctors office about it, they told her it was normal. Shortly after, the woman says she went on to experience three miscarriages. She was then informed by a different gynecologist that the pregnancy losses appeared to be caused by an underlying infection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After conducting several tests, it was determined that the woman is carrying several incurable diseases. Finding out that I put all my trust in this person to take care of me and that he is potentially the reason why, not only me, but my family are suffering these losses and I have health conditions that I am gonna have to disclose to everyone basically for the rest of my life, she said. Kumar has been federally indicted for allegedly reusing single-use devices, committing health care fraud and coercing people into sex acts. East Memphis doctor indicted, accused of fraud, sexual coercion At this time, the doctor cannot practice medicine and his East Memphis clinic cannot perform any services. As the federal investigation continues, the woman WREG spoke with hopes her story encourages other victims to come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel terrible for myself, but I also know that Im one of probably many women who are, have been affected by this, she said. So I just, my prayer is that my story will give another woman courage and not be ashamed to talk about what has happened to them. The FBI wants any additional victims of Kumar to come forward as well. Former patients are asked to complete a questionnaire form. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. DENVER (KDVR) Police in Fort Collins have arrested a suspect after a weapons complaint at an apartment complex near the Poudre High School. Fort Collins police just before 11:30 a.m. asked people living in the area of the 2500 block of Laporte Avenue to lock their doors and windows and remain inside. Police at 1:36 p.m. said on X the suspect was in custody without injury and that residents could resume normal activities. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The address police provided is on the same block as a variety of Poudre School District buildings. According to the district, Poudre High School, Poudre Community Academy, and the PSD administration building were all on secure status at the time, but police said in the update the schools are no longer on secure status. A Fort Collins police spokesperson did not say what kind of weapons complaint prompted the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) Seven children in Wisconsin were placed in the care of a family friend after officials were dispatched to an apartment for a welfare check. According to the Madison Police Department, officers were asked to check on several young children who were left alone for a week. Officers reported to an East Mifflin Street apartment around noon on Friday, February 28. Wisconsin woman arrested for battery week after attacking bus driver, causing crash into restaurant Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived, they found seven children living in deplorable conditions. Police reportedly made contact with the mother of the children, who was determined to be somewhere in Illinois. Officials contacted Child Protective Services, and the children were reportedly placed in a family friends care. No additional details are available on possible arrests. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. PARIS (Reuters) -France's defence minister said intelligence it provided to Ukraine was unaffected by the U.S. suspension of intelligence sharing with Kyiv, but warned that Washington's halt in military aid would harm Ukraine's operations against Russia's invasion. The United States made the decision as part of efforts to crank up pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to cooperate with President Donald Trump's bid to convene peace talks with Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Speaking on France Inter radio, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the U.S. halt to military aid and intelligence sharing would have a "significant operational impact" on Ukraine. But Lecornu said France's own intelligence provided to Kyiv was not reliant on Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think for our British friends who are in an intelligence community with the United States, it is more complicated," he said, alluding to the "Five Eyes" group of English-speaking countries that also includes Canada, Australia and New Zealand, when asked whether Europe could replace U.S. intelligence. "We have sovereign intelligence and we have our own capacities and have resources that we use to help the Ukrainians," he said. French military spokesman Colonel Guillaume Vernet declined to say exactly what intelligence Paris was providing to Kyiv, given the sensitivity of the information. "From the start France's operational objective has been to strengthen Ukraine in its critical capacities and ensure it can be a deterrent force against Russia," he told reporters at a weekly news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We do that in all the critical areas and are in various coalitions from deep strikes, aviation capacity to intelligence." (Reporting by John Irish; writing by Makini Brice; editing by Alison Williams, Clarence Fernandez and Mark Heinrich) (Reuters) -The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau told a federal court on Tuesday it was dropping a lawsuit filed in December against three of the nation's largest banks over their handling of the payment service Zelle, court papers show. The agency, which was virtually shuttered by President Donald Trump last month, had accused JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo of failing to protect consumers from fraud costing hundreds of millions of dollars. Representatives for the CFPB, Wells Fargo, and Early Warning Services, the joint venture of seven different banks which operates the Zelle system, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the agency's action in an Arizona federal court. In a statement, JPMorgan said tackling fraud required a joint effort by the public and private sector and that the bank looked forward to cooperating with others "to effectively address these crimes at their source." Bank of America declined to comment. In an unprecedented move, the CFPB has now dropped seven of the enforcement cases brought under former President Joe Biden, including one against Capital One. Many of the other pending cases have been paused in court. In the final days of the Biden administration, the CFPB accused EWS and the three banks of rushing the Zelle service to market to compete with apps like PayPal's Venmo and Block's Cash App without implementing proper user safeguards. Hundreds of thousands of consumers subsequently lodged complaints about fraud but were by and large denied assistance, sometimes being told to ask the alleged fraudsters to return their funds, according to the CFPB. Though Trump has said the CFPB should be eliminated, agency officials and government lawyers have maintained in court that the administration intends to operate a "streamlined" CFPB in keeping with its legal obligations. An employee union and consumer advocates are suing, however, to stop what they say are administration plans that would effectively gut the agency and leave it unable to fulfill its obligations under federal law. (Reporting by Douglas Gillison in Washington and Nupur Anand in New York; Editing by Richard Chang and Nick Zieminski) French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in an interview with the France Inter radio station on Thursday, 6 March that France is offering intelligence to Ukraine after Washington said it was suspending intelligence sharing with Kyiv in an attempt to increase pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Source: European Pravda with reference to Reuters Quote: "We have intelligence resources that we use to help the Ukrainians." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Commenting on the US intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Lecornu said that "it has been suspended since yesterday afternoon". "I think for our British friends who are in an intelligence community with the United States, it is more complicated," Lecornu said. Lecornu also said that France's nuclear weapons stockpile, developed at the beginning of the Cold War and designed to be independent of the then-dominant powers of Washington and Moscow, was sufficient. Background: President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that France is open to discussing an expansion of the protection its nuclear arsenal provides to European partners in the face of a Russian threat. Macron was speaking ahead of a summit of European leaders which is expected to focus on Ukraine and defence. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! France intends to further increase defence spending, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu told the broadcaster France Inter on Thursday. The defence budget needs to be increased from the current annual 50.5 billion ($54.6 billion) to 90 billion, Lecornu said. The evening before, French President Emmanuel Macron had announced a further increase in French defence spending, although he did not give any figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a televised address, Macron said the threat posed to Europe by Russia required additional investment and new budgetary decisions. "I have asked the government to work on this as quickly as possible," Macron said, adding that this would involve new investments requiring the mobilization of both private and public financial resources, without raising taxes. According to the defence minister, France needs to speed up its efforts "not by going in all directions," but by taking steps truly effective in the military field. "Our navy is lacking at least three frigates, our air force is missing about 20 Rafale fighter jets" and the army needs to have enough artillery to conduct strikes deep into enemy territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investments in electronic warfare and the militarization of space are also necessary, he added. Around two years ago, Macron initiated a significant increase in France's military spending to 400 billion for the period 2024 to 2030. Including the increases since 2019, this would mean a doubling of France's military budget within a decade. France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said after the U.S. halted intelligence sharing with Kyiv, the BFM TV channel reported on March 6. "We have intelligence resources that we are providing to the Ukrainians," Lecornu said on air on France Inter. The U.S. stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine on March 5, shortly after it froze all military assistance as part of an effort to pressure Kyiv into quick negotiations with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision potentially threatens Ukraine's ability to strike Russian forces but also detect Russia's aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Some media suggested that Washington also banned its partners, like the U.K., from sharing U.S.-obtained intelligence with Ukraine. U.S. officials signaled that the pause may be temporary and will depend on progress toward peace talks. Speaking on France Inter, Lecornu also said that French President Emmanuel Macron instructed him to "accelerate the delivery of French aid packages (for Ukraine) to compensate for U.S. aid that no longer arrives." European countries are expected to step up support amid uncertainties about the Trump administration's commitment to Ukraine's and Europe's security. European assistance for Kyiv and the need for greater defense spending will be discussed during an EU summit in Brussels later on March 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conflict between Kyiv and Washington has been simmering for weeks as U.S. President Donald Trump adopted increasingly hostile rhetoric toward President Volodymyr Zelensky while intensifying diplomatic outreach to Moscow. The most explosive episode came on Feb. 28, when Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance publicly berated Zelensky in the Oval Office, derailing plans for the signing of a minerals agreement. Read also: Ukraine war latest: US halts intelligence sharing with Ukraine, CIA director confirms Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. March 6 (UPI) -- French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Thursday France is sharing intelligence with Ukraine following the Trump administration cut-off of U.S. intelligence sharing with Kyiv. When asked about France's intelligence sharing with Ukraine following the U.S. decision, Lecornu told France Inter that Paris has "intelligence resources that we are providing to Ukrainians." He said France's intelligence is sovereign and the U.S. has no power to control who France shares it with, while condemning the U.S. decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If it's a tool for negotiating and putting pressure on the Ukrainians, it's very hard for them and morally detestable," Lecornu said. Lecornu said French President Emmanuel Macron has asked him to accelerate aid to Ukraine. Britain is participating in the Five Eyes group with the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. So Lecornu said sharing British intelligence with Ukraine is "more complicated." The Trump administration has indicated the intelligence cut-off to Ukraine may be temporary. European nations are stepping up aid to Ukraine as it resists Russia's invasion and occupation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An EU summit in Brussels on Thursday was set to address European security, Ukraine assistance and the need for more defense spending. Most U.S. military channel intelligence sharing with Ukraine was stopped by the Trump administration Wednesday as he pressured Zelensky while being more friendly to Russia. The Trump announcement on intelligence sharing came on top of a weapons freeze and as the U.S. sided with Russia in a United Nations Ukraine vote. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also ended U.S. offensive cyber operations against Russia while withholding aid to Kyiv. PARIS (AP) France will keep providing military intelligence to Ukraine after Washington announced it was freezing the sharing of information with Kyiv, French defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Thursday. The U.S. said Wednesday it had paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, cutting off the flow of vital information that has helped the war-torn nation target Russian invaders, but Trump administration officials have said that positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean it may only be a short suspension. American intelligence is vital for Ukraine to track Russian troop movements and select targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to France Inter radio on Thursday, Lecornu said France is continuing its intelligence sharing. Our intelligence is sovereign, Lecornu said. We have intelligence that we allow Ukraine to benefit from. Lecornu's office later said the sharing of intelligence with Ukraine is not a novelty but a continuity of service. Lecornu added that following the US decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron asked him to accelerate the various French aid packages to make up for the lack of American assistance. Lecornu said that in the wake of the U.S. decision, shipments of Ukraine-bound aid departing from Poland had been suspended, adding however that Ukrainians, unfortunately, have learned to fight this war for three years now and know how to stockpile. EXCLUSIVE: Free-market economics big wigs, acting on a request from President Trump, have assembled a coalition that aims to be the premier voice in the push to make Trumps 2017 tax cuts permanent and to do it as quickly as possible. Economists Stephen Moore and Arthur Laffer key figures in crafting the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act along with publisher Steve Forbes are spearheading the Tax Cut Victory Alliance, a coalition of taxpayer groups, business groups, state organizations and activists that is urging Congress to permanently extend the cuts in Trumps first 100 days. Public announcement of the group comes as financial markets took a tumble over the past few days in reaction to Trumps promises to implement tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the coalition is an example of how free-marketers, even if they cringe at the tariffs, are largely putting those concerns aside as they boost Trump in hopes of quickly securing other tax and economic wins. We keep stressing that, because of the recent weakness in the economy and the jitteriness of the stock market, that the sooner that this can get done, the better, Moore told me in an interview. TO BE SURE, there are other organizations on the political right pushing for the tax cuts. I wrote last week about Americans for Prosperitys Capitol Hill push, for instance. But the major names and groups in the Tax Cut Victory Alliance, already integrated with the White House and congressional leaders, could have the firepower to help keep momentum and get the cuts done sooner rather than later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laffer and Forbes are the two co-chairmen of this effort, and they are probably the two most influential voices on tax policy on the Republican side in the country. So what they say matters, Moore said. Thats why well be the premier voice and activist group in getting this bill through. Thats why Trump asked us to do it. The coalition was put together a few weeks ago, Moore said, after he was at the White House with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trump asked for help in pushing the tax cuts through. Moore, Laffer and Forbes along with commentator and Trumps former National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow previously co-founded the advocacy group Unleash Prosperity. Other organizations in the new coalition include the American Legislative Exchange Council, the National Association of Manufacturers, Job Creators Network, and Tea Party Patriots. The partners are meeting weekly either in person or via phone with Republican leaders in the House and Senate, as well as allies in the Treasury Department, to go week by week and align top priorities and strategies, Moore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will also mount a seven-figure advocacy campaign, including video ads in target markets; hold grassroots advocacy events; develop economic studies and analysis leveraging dynamic scoring; spread their message on social media; and seek earned media. Here are the coalitions stated goals: Make the 2017 tax cuts permanent within 100 days of the new Administration Protect all of the 2017 reductions in tax rates on individuals, families, small businesses, and employers Ensure business tax rates remain low and potentially lowering them further to 15 percent Secure capital expensing provisions to encourage greater business investment growth Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Promote the true economic impact of the tax cuts rather than using failed Congressional Budget Office scoring projections Their biggest fear is that Congress waits until close to the tax cut expiration date at the end of the calendar year to pass an extension, with Moore recalling that the original bill was passed in late December 2017. People dont realize how close we came to not getting it done. If we hadnt got it done before Christmas, it wouldnt have happened. So, that was perilous, Moore said. Memorial Day is our real target date for getting this done, Moore added. We really believe that if they can do that, then we can see in the second half of the year a big economic boom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is in line with House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who have long pushed the Trump-endorsed reconciliation strategy packaging together tax cuts, border funding, energy policy changes, and other priorities in one big, beautiful bill. The razor-thin House GOP majority advanced a framework for that ambitious legislative agenda last week in a major victory. But now the tough part is working out the details with the Senate GOP leaders, who have expressed a preference for a two-bill strategy that would leave tax cuts for later in the year. Time for the coalition to get to work. Were just starting to kind of count heads there and see where were at, where the senators are, what their concerns are, Moore said. RELATED: Senate GOP chairs urge leader to battle House on budget, spending strategy Im Emily Brooks, House reporter at The Hill, here with a weekly look at the wider right-wing ecosystem, influences and debates in Washington, D.C. Let me know whats going on: ebrooks@thehill.com CENSURE SCRAMBLE: House Republicans are unified in wanting to formally reprimand Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) for his extended heckling of Trump during Tuesdays address to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there was a behind-the-scenes scramble over who gets to put their name on the ultimate resolution to reprimand him and get the political boost that comes with it. Before Trumps speech even started, the House Freedom Caucus board released a statement forecasting its intention to censure any Democrat who disrupted the address. The morning after that happened, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) who left the Freedom Caucus last year after the group booted Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) started circulating at 9 a.m. a resolution to censure Greeen, getting support from nearly 30 co-sponsors, including a number of fellow Texans. Twenty-five minutes later, before Nehlss effort was public, the House Freedom Caucus posted on the social platform X that it would introduce a censure against Green, an effort that would be led by Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it was Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) who got the first, winning censure resolution backed by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who told a NOTUS reporter that Newhouses resolution is the first one outta the gate. Some saw the move as being aimed at improving his relationship with Trump and his allies, given he is one of two House Republicans remaining in Congress who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Newhouse defeated a Trump-endorsed challenger last year, and one senior GOP aide said it was an obvious attempt to shield him from a primary. Newhouse dismissed that notion. I dont see how that would work at all, he said. This is about the House of Representatives, Congress and respecting the rules of decorum that we have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nehls and Crane are going ahead with introducing their resolutions anyway. Im not super worried about it, Crane said. I mean, the only thing thats really important is order kind of gets restored to the House. The House will vote on the censure resolution Thursday, after defeating a Democratic motion to table the matter the prior night. MORE HERE: House tees up final vote to censure Al Green for protest at Trump speech THREE MORE THINGS HARD-LINE CONSERVATIVE SHIFT ON STOPGAPS: My colleague Mychael Schnell and I reported that hard-line House conservatives are signaling an openness to supporting a continuing resolution to keep the government open later this month a notable shift from their usual stance against stopgaps that is changing the playing field for GOP leaders as they look to keep the lights on in Washington. Read here EPSTEIN DEBACLE: My colleague Brett Samuels unpacks the MAGA World uproar over the Epstein files. Read here TIDES TURN AGAINST TATES: Are any major figures on the right publicly defending Andrew and Tristan Tate anymore? The Florida attorney general is investigating them, and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is in support of that: If the attorney general finds cause under Florida law to investigate that, then I wish him the best, and I support whatever hes going to do on that matter, he told CBS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (KRON) A coalition of homeless people, advocates, the California Homeless Union, and religious organizations filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Fremont. The lawsuit challenges a new city ordinance that criminalizes homelessness, according to the coalition. Fremonts ordinance bans camping on public property, outlaws possessing camping gear, and allows the city to fine people who help establish encampments. Public property includes city streets, sidewalks and parks. The City Council approved the ordinance in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this anti-camping law, Fremont has made it illegal for its unhoused residents to exist within city limits, said Jason Serris, president of Marin Housing for All Foundation. Even possessing something as essential as a sleeping bag is now a crime. More than 800 homeless people live in Fremont, according to the citys latest count in 2024. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The suit claims that the anti-camping rules mark an ugly chapter in the citys history. Several plaintiffs named in the lawsuit are homeless. Kent Eaton has been homeless for 22 years and lives off $670 in monthly welfare checks, the suit states. Eaton lives inside a tent thats wrapped by a tarp, and both items were given to him by a local church. He relies on local churches for essentials like blankets, water, and food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coalition leaders said Fremont plans to now punish churches and nonprofits that help people like Eaton. The ordinance targets anyone who is causing, permitting, aiding, abetting or concealing an encampment. Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan said the city will not punish people who are trying to support the homeless by giving them resources like water, but it will punish those who try to help set up encampments and makeshift wooden structures. Andrea Henson, co-counsel for the California Homeless Union, said, The City is not only criminalizing poverty but also attacking those who live out their faith through service. This ordinance is an assault on compassion, community, and justice. Another plaintiff, Corrine Griffith, is a homeless woman who suffers from multiple personality disorder and epilepsy. She has been a victim of violent crime and terrorized by an East Bay street gang that killed her husband, the suit claims. Griffith recently suffered a life-threatening seizure and she was rescued by friends who live in her encampment. She claims that she became homeless after a landlord embezzled rent payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit states that Griffith and Eaton are involuntarily homeless. Fremont-Homeless-LawsuitDownload Without resources from churches, charities, and nonprofits, the citys homeless population will suffer from being exposed to the elements, illness, and premature death, the coalition claims. City councilmembers declined to comment about the lawsuit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The French satellite communications operator Eutelsat is negotiating with the EU to replace the Starlink satellite system in Ukraine as the US scales back its assistance. Source: Bloomberg Details: Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke has confirmed that the company is considering deploying 40,000 terminals, equivalent to the number currently used by Ukraine. Eutelsat's OneWeb network consists of 600 satellites at an altitude of 1,200 kilometres, while Starlink has 7,000 satellites at an altitude of 550 kilometres. Although Starlink's lower orbit provides better connection speed, OneWeb can offer stable communication, especially in the context of military operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rift between the US and Europe over Ukraine support has intensified after a spat between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Following this, the US halted military aid and restricted intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. The EU is intensifying efforts to fund defence initiatives against the backdrop of these developments. Starlink is losing contracts due to the ties its owner, Elon Musk, has with Trump. The Canadian government has cancelled a contract with Starlink for its services, and Italy is hesitant to sign a 1.5 billion agreement. Eutelsat is already in talks with Italy about secure satellite communications. Amid promises from the EU to increase defence spending, Eutelsats shares soared, although they later dropped by 11%. The company states that it needs additional financial and logistical support to quickly deploy its terminals in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! On Thursday, two huge rockets one European, one American blasted off from North and South America. Given current geopolitical tensions, the symbolism of the impending space ballet could hardly be more potent. After many months of delays and in a moment that will have Europes leaders and space officials breathing a collective sigh of relief, the Continents new heavy-lift vehicle, Ariane 6, successfully carried out its first commercial mission on Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 11.30pm UK time, Elon Musks SpaceX launched the latest iteration of Starship, the worlds biggest and most powerful rocket, from its facility in Boca Chica, Texas, for what was meant to be a one-hour test flight its eighth to date. While the Super Heavy rocket booster separated and descended to be caught by the tower successfully, eight minutes into its flight Starships engines cut out and the craft lost attitude control. A video posted on X from a witness in Titusville, Florida, saw the craft rolling and apparently exploding. Ariane 6 blasted off from Kourou in French Guiana, Frances overseas territory and Europes rocket launch outpost in Latin America, at 4.24pm UK time (1.24pm local time). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately one hour into the flight, the CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite was deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of around 800km, reported the European Spaceflight website. This is an absolute pleasure for me today to announce that Ariane 6 has successfully placed into orbit the CSO-3 satellite, said David Cavailloles, who took over in January as chief executive of Arianespace, the Ariane 6s commercial operator. Today, here in Kourou, we can say that thanks to Ariane 6, Europe and France have their own autonomous access to space back, and this is great news. Europe has pinned its hopes of space sovereignty on Ariane 6, and the launch comes bang in the middle of a rapprochement between Moscow and Washington and a day after Donald Trump paused intelligence support, notably via satellite, to Ukraine after blocking military aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That makes Europes ability to offer intelligence from the heavens even more pressing and the need for a successful launch even greater. In a stark assessment hours before the launch, Sebastien Lecornu, Frances defence minister, warned: If there is one domain where Europeans must urgently shake themselves and wake up, it is space. All the great nations of the world are in the process of militarising space while Europe is running late, he told France Inter. Arianes payload is a military satellite capable of providing France and its allies with greater spying capabilities via 3D imagery, meaning they can be less reliant on US intel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CSO-3 (for optical space component) completes a network of three French military imaging satellites, with the first two launched in 2018 and 2020 on Soyuz rockets. These have orbiting cameras that take images in both visible and infrared light all over the globe, which is very important for military operations, said Michel Sayegh, head of the French governments armament agency DGA. In the EU, only France and Italy have military satellites (respectively five optical satellites with the one due to be launched and two radar satellites). Britain launched a satellite to support military operations in August last year. Both the US and China have hundreds of military or civilian satellites, Philippe Steininger, author of the book Revolutions Spatiales and a consultant to Cnes, told AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a sign of the strategic significance of the launch, French fighter jets were deployed to patrol the skies and Foreign Legion troops sent to comb the jungle surrounding Kourou spaceport as access was severely restricted. As for SpaceX, it is hoping to further assert the dominance of Mr Musks fleet of reusable rockets in a burgeoning global market. The worlds richest man now has a domestic rival in the shape of fellow US billionaire Jeff Bezos, whose Blue Origin company reached orbital space for the first time with his New Glenn rocket in January. Meanwhile, China is launching a plethora of rockets and Europe a relative minnow is now back in the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starship is key to Mr Musks dream of sending humans and cargo to the Moon and Mars. But its previous test flight last month ended in an explosion and an eerily beautiful firework display of raining debris that sparked a federal probe. European space officials say no one should underestimate the importance of the need for space autonomy given the current political climate. Europe must ensure its own security, said Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA space transportation director, minutes before the delayed launch. We must be united, said Ariane chief David Cavailloles, stressing the importance of not depending on anyone else to launch satellites in todays world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past year, Europe has been mired in a space crisis, unable to use Russias Soyuz rockets since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022, while the workhorse Ariane 5 was retired in 2023. Europes smaller Vega-C launcher was earlier grounded for two years due to an accident that resulted in the loss of two satellites, only resuming flights in December 2024. That left Europe unable to launch satellites into orbit for a year, following delays to Ariane 6 and the end of cooperation with Russia. For several years, we have been confronted with SpaceX, Elon Musk and his sometimes very aggressive positions, made possible by massive financial support from the US, Philippe Baptiste, Frances research minister, told the newspaper La Tribune. The Ariane 5 rocket was retired in 2023 - Jody Amiet/AFP Last year, Europe staged three launches compared with 132 for Space X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Musks new dual role as a close adviser to Mr Trump could have major repercussions throughout the space industry, said Mr Baptiste. The concept of strategic autonomy, once mocked as a French whim, is at the heart of the Europe of tomorrow, he added. This has become all the more important as the race to control the heavens gains speed. We are witnessing a race to colonise space via low Earth orbits, noted Admiral Pierre Vandier, Natos Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, last month in an exchange with French senators. We must position ourselves, he told the senators. Thomas Gassilloud, a French MP on Frances parliamentary defence and armed forces committee, pointed out that the previous two CSO satellites were carried to their low Earth orbit (LEO) positions by Russian launchers and the only alternative has been Space X with its Falcon rockets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Ariane 6 will be a game changer, providing Europe with sovereign heavy launch capabilities, he said looming US disengagement in Ukraine had shone a spotlight on three major issues regarding Europes defence capabilities from space: imagery, satellite positioning and communications. Jeff Bezos launched his Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket from Cape Canaveral in January - Miguel J Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Regarding imagery, he said CSO would go some way to replacing dozens of US spy satellites but while it could roughly match these in terms of resolution, it would not necessarily do so in terms of ubiquity. To put it in a nutshell, if you want a quick image of a building or a battle zone, if you ask the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency you may obtain it within several hours. With CSO, it may take more time, he told The Telegraph. Experts said the US-Europe gap could be as wide as three to 24 hours. On positioning, Europe already has its own Galileo constellation of 27 satellites that offers an autonomous and sovereign alternative to the American GPS constellation historically used by all defence systems. Beyond its military use, he said under EU law, all private smartphones have been obliged to be Galileo-compatible since 2022. The biggest black hole for Ukraine should the US pull the satellite plug, he said, was communication. While France has its own military communications satellite constellations, Syracuse, this could not fill the gap left by Mr Musk switching off Starlink, his web of over 7,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. Ukraine has relied heavily on Starlink for its military campaigns as it has played a critical role in improving its communications on the battlefield, but there are fears this could be under threat after the US suspended military aid to Kyiv on Monday. US officials have raised the possibility of cutting Ukraines access to Starlink, Reuters reported last week. Mr Musk responded that the report was false but given Mr Trumps unpredictability, few are taking this as a given. Elon Musk leaves a meeting with Republicans from the Senate in the US Capitol on March 5 - Chip Somodevilla Europe is building its own Starlink alternative, IRIS (short for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite), but it wont be up and running before 2030. Last weekend, the European Commission said Kyiv had already expressed interest in how it could use IRIS and Govsatcom a pooled network of the EUs existing national government satellite capacity. There is one other European alternative, OneWeb, whose Franco-British owner Eutelsat controls the only operational global-coverage constellation, besides Starlink, of LEO satellites. On Tuesday, Eutelsat, which merged in 2023 with Britains OneWeb, said it was in talks with European governments about providing additional satellite connectivity in Ukraine. It said it is actively collaborating with European institutions and business partners, adding it had equipment that could be deployed swiftly in Ukraine to connect the most critical missions and infrastructures. Eutelsat said its talks with European governments were focused on using a combination of its satellite constellations OneWeb at about 1,200km above the Earth and the Geo satellites at 35,000km to bolster satellite connectivity in Ukraine and the Black Sea region. Both can connect to Ukrainian drones, which have wreaked severe damage on Russian forces and are vital to its defence capabilities. The timing [of deploying additional user terminals for critical missions and infrastructure] depends on procurement decisions by European member states and the necessary infrastructure co-ordination, it added. Satellite intelligence aids Ukraine OneWeb already provides services to Ukraine through a German distributor, but its technology is older than Starlinks and it has 10 times fewer satellites. Mr Gassilloud said OneWeb offered better throughput and better performance guarantees but at a higher cost. OneWeb terminals cost as much as $10,000, plus a monthly subscription price. Starlink charges Ukrainian users a one-time payment of $589 in addition to a monthly subscription of $95-$440, depending on the usage. The EU on Tuesday proposed a package of 150 billion (125 billion) in loans to capitals for defence procurement. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the move could facilitate immediate military equipment for Ukraine. While the situation was tough, Mr Gassilloud said Frances philosophy over the past decades of retaining sample capacity, namely keeping know-how in cutting-edge fields even if in fairly small quantities was finally being vindicated. By maintaining the idea of strategic autonomy, which has been the guiding principle of French policy since the 1960s, today, collectively at European level, we are capable of rapidly building up our strength from a technological and industrial point of view. We now require to back these capabilities by two crucial factors: support and resilience of Europes public opinions and adequate financial tools. Europes Ariane 6 rocket takes off in Kourou, French Guiana, last July - Corvaja/Reuters Given all this, the pressure on Ariane 6 to succeed in its next mission is huge, said Benjamin Peter, head of space news at the Cite de LEspace in Toulouse. A private company can afford to launch, smash things up and then start again, presenting it as an incredible American-style show. For a company financed with public money, that wouldnt fly, he said. The political importance of the successful Ariane launch was huge, said Xavier Pasco, director of the Foundation for Strategic Research and author of The Space Rush, New Geopolitical Challenges. Sky wars have been declared. He said public opinion would have been seriously affected by an explosion and said Europes not up to the task and it would also have been an operational setback. There is always a symbolic side to space, its a showcase for industrial and research capabilities. While Ariane 6s successful launch is a major win, Europe stands to remain on the margins of the great confrontation between the US and China in the skies, he said. The political importance of the successful Ariane launch was huge, said Xavier Pasco, director of the Foundation for Strategic Research - Julien de Rosa/AFP via Getty The US conducts around 150 launches per year, China 60-70 and Europe only a handful. China wants to send up three constellations of 12,000 satellites each into low Earth orbit, as well as setting up its own Moon base and lots of military satellites. They are in the process of building a huge number of launchers, including reusable ones. The US is on a similar path. There is also a trend towards developing manoeuvrable satellites to protect sensitive ones. All the same, Europe can offer an alternative to SpaceX because some customers will want to spread their satellites among different launchers and others may simply want to avoid Mr Musk, just as consumers are turning away from Tesla. We Europeans will never launch tens of thousands of satellites. Our approach today is rather to regain our sovereignty by having space resources available when and where we want them. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (Reuters) -Carrier Virgin Australia said on Wednesday it had picked Dave Emerson, its chief commercial officer, for its top seat, succeeding Jayne Hrdlicka, while the airline works to relist itself on the local stock exchange. Hrdlicka, who announced her intention to step down in February 2024, led the airline through a critical four-year period, including its acquisition by U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital in 2020 amid the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment for Virgin, with Bain Capital reviving its long-anticipated plans for a public listing. Initial efforts to return to the ASX, with an estimated A$1 billion ($625.5 million) offering, were previously delayed. The appointment follows scrutiny from Australia's Employment Minister, Murray Watt, who urged the airline to carefully assess its next leader's industrial relations history. At one point, Virgin's chief customer officer, Paul Jones, was reportedly considered a front-runner for the role. Jones played a key role in the wrongful termination of over 1,700 ground workers at the start of the pandemic a move later deemed illegal while serving as a Qantas executive overseeing airports. The powerful Transport Workers Union had said they would withdraw their support for Virgin Australia's plan to use planes and crew from Qatar Airways if Jones was appointed CEO. "Virgin workers were instrumental to getting the airline back on its feet. They've always had the airline's best interests at heart and now Emerson must make it clear that workers are a priority going forward," said Michael Kaine, the union's national secretary. "An architect of Qantas' illegal outsourcing, Paul Jones as Virgin CEO would have entrenched low morale and poor decision-making at Virgin." Australia, last month, approved the Middle Eastern nation's acquisition of a 25% stake in Virgin Australia from Bain. Dave Emerson joined the airline in 2021 and had previously led Bain & Company's global airline practice, based in Dallas. ($1 = 1.5987 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A friend of Sam Nordquist said theyre relieved after prosecutors announced Wednesday that the seven people originally facing second degree murder charges are now charged with the murder in the first degree, as well as kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child. All charges are in connection to the death of Nordquist, a Black transgender man from Minnesota who came to Ontario County late last year. Jax Seeger said they met Sam online and they became friends. Although they never met, the two were close throughout their journeys of coming out as transgender. Jax said the news of Sams death was numbing and they have been fighting for these upgraded charges since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It didnt make sense to me as to what he went through, how that would only add up to second degree murder, Seeger said. When Jax heard that, they started a petition on Change.org, which gained nearly 18,000 signatures. With the details of him being kidnapped and held captive for over a month, like thats, they had time to stop what they were doing, Seeger said. DA: Sam Nordquist suspects face first-degree murder, children forced to take part in torture One suspect, Precious Arzuaga, is reportedly the woman Sam came to the Finger Lakes to meet. She is also facing a first-degree coercion charge. Investigators say she forced two children, 7 and 12 years old, to engage in the torture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford said, if convicted of first-degree murder, the defendants face life in prison without parole. She also addressed questions about why this is not considered a hate crime. Wolford said the acts were bigger than Sams race or gender. Some in the community were calling for this to be prosecuted as a hate crime. At first, Ill admit I struggled with that as well, just considering the gravity and severity of the abuse, Seeger said. Today, I decided to change the petition to a victory which I think is acceptable, its more than acceptable, and I would be concerned if, you know, that wasnt the case. Jax said while the upgraded charges wont bring Sam back, the message from prosecutors Wednesday sends a message that his life mattered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sam put so much love and positivity out into this world. And in the end, he wasnt given that same love and positivity back. I still struggle with the way it was handled, the way he was failed, the way he was treated. Wednesdays update came after Sams mom and siblings laid him to rest this week. Assistant DA Wolford said his family is at peace knowing the next step in justice for Sam is coming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. The World Health Organization warned this week that massive cuts in funding, especially from the United States, could harm the fight against tuberculosis around the world. The U.S. has annually provided between $200 million to $250 million in funding for global TB programs, making it the "largest bilateral donor," according to the WHO. In January, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid delivered through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Trump administration last week canceled contracts worth about $60 billion in humanitarian work abroad that were funded by USAID and the State Department, including for global health programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Kansas faces one of the largest tuberculosis outbreaks in US history According to the WHO, these cuts could affect TB response efforts in at least 18 countries, and where it says 89% of "expected" U.S. funding was being used for patient care. Africa, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific are the regions hardest hit by TB that rely on funding, the WHO said in a statement Wednesday. Cuts will impact Africa particularly due to staff layoffs and disruptions in treatment, which could cause TB rates to rise, the organization said. "Any disruption to TB services -- whether financial, political or operational -- can have devastating and often fatal consequences for millions worldwide," Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, director of the WHO Global Program on TB and Lung Health, said in a statement. PHOTO: The headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) stands on January 23, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Robert Hradil/Getty Images) TB is a disease caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's one of the world's leading infectious disease killers, the federal health agency says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TB is a preventable and treatable disease, but more than 3,500 people lose their lives to TB every day, according to the CDC. The United Nations says funding cuts are already causing the dismantling of health services, including layoffs, drug shortages and disruptions to research. "Without immediate action, hard-won progress in the fight against TB is at risk. Our collective response must be swift, strategic and fully resourced to protect the most vulnerable and maintain momentum toward ending TB," Kasaeva said. This week, the Stop TB Partnership -- which is hosted and administered by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) -- updated a report on the TB response efforts impacted as a result of halted USAID funding, which include screenings, rapid testing, providing treatment, community monitoring and operational research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While some mitigation measures are being explored, the long-term impact on TB care efforts could be severe if funding is not restored promptly," the report stated. MORE: What to know about TB after outbreak in Long Beach sickens 14 The WHO's warning comes after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last week that the U.S. funding cuts would have a devastating impact on humanitarian efforts. "These cuts impact a wide range of critical programs," he told reporters on Friday. "Going through with these cuts will make the world less healthy, less safe and less prosperous." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court said the Trump administration must comply with a lower court's order and pay out nearly $2 billion in foreign assistance funds to nonprofit aid groups for work already completed on the government's behalf. The ruling did not specify a deadline by which the funds have to be paid out, and it's unclear if any of the funds were allocated for TB programs. Funding cuts could harm global efforts to fight tuberculosis, WHO warns originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The future of a popular outdoor dining program in the District is in limbo, awaiting the green light from the citys top office to move forward. The launch of a permanent streatery program has been postponed to an undetermined date, according to the Districts Department of Transportations (DDOT) website. We have bigger fish to fry: Bowser reacts to Congressional push to remove Black Lives Matter Plaza mural Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heading into the citys busier spring tourism season and warmer weather, business owners and advocates say a lack of guidance on the program going forward is frustrating and potentially harmful to business. Temporary streateries, or patio dining spaces that occupy part of the roadway in front of businesses, came about during the pandemic. The pilot program along 18th St. in Northwest saw success and demand for a permanent program. Over the last several years, guidelines and regulations for a more permanent streatery program District-wide had been developed and recently adopted. The Adams Morgan Partnership BID said these regulations and guidelines were supposed to take effect on Jan. 1, but Mayor Muriel Bowser halted the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DC Public Schools investigated by US Department of Education after disability discrimination reported The BID said that without the go-ahead, theres not a clear path forward for how businesses can finish the permanent structures and come into compliance with the new regulations. What that means is that the businesses cant get new permits. They cant get electrical permits to put lights and heaters out on the street, and they cant make other modifications, said Kristen Barden with the BID. Its unknown as to why the program was halted and what could be holding up the green light from city officials. The programs future isnt certain, and its causing stress for business owners who rely on the customers those streateries bring in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thewodros Yirdaw is the owner of Tsehay Ethiopian on 18th St. where the streatery represents a big chunk of his business. Its about 10 more tables, about 10, four, tops. Thats 40 people. Turn that over twice or three times in a night; thats substantial. Getting this resolved as soon as possible would really help us, Yirdaw said. The whole industry is struggling right now. He said winter and early spring are tough on the restaurant business in this area, but the spring tourism boom and Cherry Blossom season are fast approaching, hopefully bringing more foot traffic into Adams Morgan. We were hoping to use the outdoor space to rebound, like the patio and the streateries. Theres not guidance on if we should apply for permits or not, he said, also adding that some of those permits are set to expire soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Answer the question: Mother demands answers after Trump-pardoned DC police officers convicted in her sons death are reinstated DC News Now reached out to the Mayors office for comment and was referred to the D.C. Department of Transportation, which oversees the program. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is committed to supporting vibrant outdoor dining through the Streatery Program. We are working diligently to release new regulations and begin issuing permits in accordance with them. Our goal is to support all stakeholders as they provide safe, accessible, equitable outdoor dining options. We appreciate the continued engagement of our business community, DDOT said in a statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. NEW YORK (PIX11) If you grew up on a farm, theres likely nothing unusual about seeing chickens and other animals ending up in the kitchen and then, on the dinner table. But in the New York City area, in the place of farms, more than 80 markets sell a variety of live animals to a loyal customer base. A third of those markets are just in Brooklyn. More Local News My family is from the West Indies, Trinidad. So, this is what I know. To me, its fresher, said customer Brian Cumberbatch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdul Museds family runs Saba live markets in Canarsie. Thats in addition to eight other live markets across New York City, as well as market operations in 11 states across the U.S. Its estimated there are millions of New Yorkers who rely on live poultry markets. Mused said he sells about 200 lambs and goats, along with 21,000 chickens, per week in Brooklyn alone. In early February, it was discovered that seven birds in four New York City live poultry markets in had bird flu. Its a looming contagion crisis which, over the last month, compelled New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to order a mandatory shutdown of all live animal markets across New York City, in addition to Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties. That was followed, just weeks later, by the announcement of additional testing requirements out of an abundance of caution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramadan is the busiest month for us, Mused said. He said the crisis could not have come at a worse time for the 1 million Muslims across the New York City area who, just days ago, began celebrating their holy month of Ramadan. This is how we grew up. Back home, we had fresh meat, we never ate frozen. So having the availability in America is very important, said customer Maryam Hussain. A lot of financial loss for everybody. We still have to pay the rent and we still have to pay the mortgage. We still have to pay the employees. Its very hard, Mused said. But critics of the live markets say the shutdown could not have come at a better time. Allie Molinaro, the public policy manager for the nonprofit advocacy group Compassion in World Farming, is part of an animal rights coalition pushing for an extension of the live market shutdown in the spirit of safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each transmission of this virus is like a pull of the level, Molinaro said. What were trying to say here is that we just need common sense safety measures in place. We just want to make sure that everyone is safe. The coalition, citing unsanitary conditions, took issue with the live animal markets long before the most recent batch of bird flu cases. I think that is really going to be up to science, Molinaro said when asked about live poultry markets continuing in the future. I think we really need to learn more about what the inherit risks are of live markets and understand if its possible to have these markets operate in a way that isnt going to endanger public safety. We are monitored from USDA, agriculture and health department. We get inspected every month here. I respect them. But they cannot force people to believe what they believe in. They should let everybody conduct their business. As long as we are compliance with the rules and regulations, were good to go Mused said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Ball, the commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, said surveillance as in keeping an eye out for visibly ailing or dead wild birds will be key. Well, we certainly try to be sensitive to all potential holiday and potentially busy times for live bird markets. But frankly, doing the right thing is something were trying to do here, Ball said. Were just going to pay very close attention to that possibility. We track down every little thing that we hear about, he said when asked if he anticipates another live market shutdown this month. What that means for New Yorks live animal markets remains to be seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers said the survival of live animal markets and their preservation, for the sake of the regions various cultural and religious traditions, are like birds of the same feather that belong together. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. MENOMONIE Author Neil Gaiman is asking a federal court to dismiss a suit against him and his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer, saying the case should be filed in New Zealand. The suit by Scarlett Pavlovich, who was a caretaker for Gaiman and Palmers son, alleges they hired her knowing that she would be forced to engage in sexual acts as a condition of receiving the pay and housing they promised her. The suit alleges Gaiman aggressively pursued her for sexual purposes despite being warned against doing so, and that he was coercive and abusive during sexual encounters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaiman has denied the allegations. The motion says any case should be brought in New Zealand, since thats where the acts Pavlovich is suing for took place. It also contends the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act cannot be applied extraterritorially. The suit was filed in Wisconsin based on Gaimans property in Menomonie. An extensive brief in support of the motion maintains Gaimans innocence of any criminal acts. Gaiman did not engage in the outrageous and tortious conduct Pavlovich alleges in her Complaint or in her myriad media interviews. In no uncertain terms, Pavlovichs accusations are false, it says. The brief further asserts that New Zealand authorities investigated and decided against filing any charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The filing includes what Gaimans attorneys say are texts from Pavlovich, including one sent after the two took a bath together that says she was consumed by thoughts of you, the things you will do to me. Im so hungry. What a terrible creature youve turned me into. I hope tomorrow, or some other time soon, and ends with a heart emoji. Another text seems to contradict Pavlovichs claims in the suit, saying It was consensual how many times do I have to ... tell everyone. But most of the brief is aimed at outright dismissal of the suit. Multiple pages are dedicated to establishing an argument that a New Zealand citizen who is bringing a case against a permanent resident of New Zealand for conduct alleged to have happened in New Zealand should be tried there. Because New Zealand law differs from American requirements for discovery, the process would be significantly complicated, potentially requiring litigation in that country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Zealand is an adequate and available forum for the remedies sought, the brief says. Gaiman filed a declaration in support of the motion, directly speaking to the allegations by Pavlovich. He points to the WhatsApp messages between the two as evidence in his favor. The messages demonstrate, in Pavlovichs own words, that our relationship was consensual, and that Pavlovich was an enthusiastic participant who initiated many of our sexual encounters, he said. Palmer, who is also named in the suit, has not yet filed a response. March 5 (UPI) -- A new Gallup survey has suggested that 12% of American adults, or about 31 million people, were forced to borrow tens of billions of dollars in the past year to pay for personal medical bills. The findings released Wednesday was a joint partnership with West Health, a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations centered on aging and healthcare. The survey conducted Nov. 11-18 comprised of 3,583 U.S. adults via web utilizing the Gallup Panel with respondents from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It found that women, Black, Hispanic and young adults were more likely to borrow for health expenses, the survey says. It added that some 58% of the American public share concern over medical debt if faced with a medical emergency. Congressional Democrats, meanwhile, have warned of possible cuts to safety net programs such as Medicaid and Social Security as the GOP takes an axe to the federal bureaucracy. It arrived as House Republicans propose about $880 billion in cuts or other savings from a congressional committee overseeing Medicaid. And amid concern over the future of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has returned billions back to the public, that was tasked with protecting consumers with medical debt which effectively was shut down by the Trump administration. Medical debt "is the end product of an expensive healthcare system," Patricia Kelmar, senior director of health care campaigns at U.S. PIRG Education Fund, told USA Today. "People are paying a lot out of pocket," she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly six in 10 Americans have concern over the idea of looming medical debt, the survey by Gallup and West Health found. According to the survey, nearly one in five young adults aged 18 to 29 -- or about 18% of the respondents -- reported how they needed to borrow money elsewhere to pay for healthcare, with similar rates by adults aged 30-49. "This stands in stark contrast to the 9% of Americans who are 50 to 64 and only 2% of those 65 and older who say they needed to do so," it indicated. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's pick to be be NIH director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, on Wednesday was on Capitol Hill to answer questions by lawmakers on goals to improve public health as he sidestepped question on drug pricing and attracted praise by conservatives. A professor at Gannon University called President Trumps speech among the best in recent history. Jeff Bloodworth says the lengthy speech was politically the most effective state of the union address since President Bill Clinton addressed Congress in the 1990s. Political analyst discusses Trumps 2025 speech to Congress The professor said President Trump commanded the room and spoke to issues that matter to the American people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pointed to Trumps laundry list of government funded foreign aid as especially resonating with average citizens. Several local Republicans kick off campaigns Tuesday night On the other hand, he said the Democrats in attendance did themselves no favors with their lack of decorum. I think the Democrats looking at their phones, standing up and waving canes, if you think they didnt get it in 2024, man, they doubled down on 2025 and looked like petulant children, said Bloodworth. Bloodworth said as well as President Trump performed last night, the American public will ultimately judge him on whether he can improve the economy as promised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Local authorities on Tuesday said there were no significant findings of gas leaks or carbon monoxide in a gas companys inspection of the residence of late Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office said New Mexico Gas Company confirmed it conducted an extensive investigation for gas leaks and carbon monoxide of the home on the early evening of Feb. 26 the day the bodies of the couple and one of their dogs were discovered inside the property. There were no significant findings, the office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gas company, though, apparently noted there was a minuscule leak of 0.33% gas in air which the office described as a nonlethal amount at one of the stove burners. The company also identified some code enforcement violations not involving gas leaks or carbon monoxide in a water heater and gas log lighters installed in three fireplaces. Those results are not believed to be a factor in the deaths of Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa or their dog, though the information was relayed to the Office of the Medical Investigator for consideration, the sheriffs office added. The sheriffs office has said it will provide any further update on its investigation of the case in a press conference Friday. Police said Hackman, Arakawa and their pet were found dead by investigators last week after a maintenance worker became concerned, calling neighborhood security, which then alerted 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the outset, authorities said foul play was not believed to have been a factor in the deaths, but a detective in the sheriffs office noted the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation in a search warrant affidavit filed last week. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza on Friday said both Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide. Mendoza previously said early indications were that Hackman and his wife had been deceased for a while when investigators found their bodies. Authorities have yet to name their exact cause of death; official autopsy and toxicology reports are pending. Related... With spring on the horizon, gas prices across Wisconsin are ticking back up to $3 and President Donald Trump's newly implemented tariffs may make prices at the pump even steeper in the coming weeks. As of March 6, the average price for a regular gallon of gas in Wisconsin was $2.95, which is 10 cents more expensive than a week ago, according to AAA. Nationally, the average was $3.11, with all of Wisconsin's neighboring states already seeing prices above $3 per gallon. Gas prices generally rise between 20 and 50 cents between Valentine's Day and Memorial Day, as refineries make their annual switch from a cheaper winter blend gasoline to a more expensive summer one, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. But the Trump administration's 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports could tack on additional price hikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to expect with Wisconsin gas prices in the next few weeks. A customer fuels a car Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at Kwik Trip, 2900 Holy Hill Rd. in Richfield, Wis. As the weather warms and President Donald Trump's tariffs kick in, the average statewide gas price in Wisconsin is nearing $3. How will Trump tariffs affect Wisconsin gas prices? The refineries that serve Wisconsin rely primarily on Canadian crude oil, so 10% tariffs on Canada could eventually translate to a price hike between 5 and 15 cents a gallon for Wisconsin consumers, De Haan said. Most people will probably see an average increase of 7 or 8 cents, he added. However, with the tariffs being just a few days old, De Haan said seasonal changes are more to blame for the current increase in gas prices. Along with the switch to summer-blend gasoline, spring break travel is ramping up gas demand, and some refineries are low on supply as they slow down production to make the summer switch. In Milwaukee, that transition started about two weeks ago in late February. When it comes to the tariffs effects, it takes a few weeks for Canadian crude oil to travel from Alberta to the Midwest refineries that serve Wisconsin, and then an additional week for refineries to process the crude oil, De Haan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The tariffs probably won't make much meaningful impact for two to three weeks," he said. "Mid to late March is when the tariffs are going to start impacting the price of oil that refineries are paying, and then the trickle down will start impacting regional prices. Why is gas more expensive in northern Wisconsin? Average gas prices in Wisconsin as of March 5, according to AAA. As of March 5, most counties in northern Wisconsin were seeing average prices above $3, while much of southeastern Wisconsin remained at least several cents below that benchmark. In Milwaukee county, the average was $2.83. De Haan attributed to this to a few reasons: first, a key pipeline serving Green Bay shut down in 2016, so northern Wisconsin prices have generally been higher since then. Without the pipeline, trucks have to drive farther to deliver gas to this part of the state, incurring higher costs. Second, the higher concentration of pumps in southeastern Wisconsin and the Milwaukee area allows for more competitive pricing. The Milwaukee-Waukesha area is currently seeing the lowest average gas prices of any Wisconsin metro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In a big city like Milwaukee, especially the outskirts, there's a lot of gas in the area, and that can lead to lower prices," De Haan said. Average gas prices in Wisconsin cities Here are average prices for a regular tank of unleaded gas in Wisconsin cities as of Jan. 31, from cheapest to most expensive, according to AAA: Milwaukee-Waukesha: $2.86 Racine: $2.91 Kenosha County: $2.92 Fond Du Lac: $2.92 Madison: $2.94 Appleton: $2.95 Oshkosh: $2.96 Eau Claire: $2.97 Sheboygan: $3.00 Green Bay: $3.01 Wausau: $3.03 More: Trump's tariffs expected to hit Wisconsin businesses and consumers. Gas and grocery prices could rise More: Tony Evers slams congressional Republicans for not pushing back on Trump tariffs This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin gas prices near $3 amid warm weather, Trump tariffs By Arathy Somasekhar HOUSTON (Reuters) - The price spread between WTI Midland crude in West Texas and Houston has narrowed this year as cold weather hurt Permian production, driving up prices, but weaker refinery and export demand on the U.S. Gulf Coast pressured that market lower. The spread between the two pricing points narrowed to 23 cents in March, the lowest since November 2023. That compared to an average of 50 cents a barrel a year ago, when record crude production at the top U.S. Permian oilfield and strong export demand for WTI Midland crude widened price differentials. WTI Midland crude traded at a $1.08 premium to U.S. crude futures in March, easing from a 11-month high of $1.22 in the previous month, data from pricing agency Argus showed. The jump in prices in February came as 1.8 million barrels in the Permian were cut by the recent cold weather that hit operations, according to estimates from analysts at consultancy Energy Aspects. Meanwhile, Permian-quality crude at the Magellan East Houston (MEH) terminal, the main price assessment point along the Gulf Coast, traded at a $1.31 premium to U.S. crude futures. That compared to a $1.47 premium last year. A 10% tariff by the U.S. government on Canadian crude also pressured the spread as Midwest refiners were seeking WTI-Midland crude to Cushing to replace Canadian light sweet oil, said Energy Aspects analyst Jeremy Irwin. Permian to Cushing pipeline flows are tracking 100,000 barrels per day higher year-over-year for the first quarter, Irwin said. Cushing inventories have been near operational lows in recent months, but climbed to about 25.7 million barrels last week, its highest level in four months. Energy Aspects said it has increased its expectations for flows on the BP 1 pipeline, which runs from Cushing to BP Plc's Whiting refinery in Illinois and the Ozark pipeline, which connects Cushing to refineries in Wood River, Illinois, as inland refiners to pull more WTI Midland barrels given tariffs. WEAK DEMAND ALONG THE COAST Four-week average U.S. refinery utilization stood at 85.6% in the week to February 26, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed, as fuel producers undergo maintenance ahead of summer driving season. Net input of crude oil to refiners on average over 4 weeks to the last week was 15.5 million, 4.2% lower than average 2024 levels. Also capping demand was the final shutdown of LyondellBasell Industries' 263,776 barrel-per-day (bpd) Houston refinery this month. U.S. crude export volumes also eased 9,000 bpd to 3.88 million bpd in February, as spring refinery maintenance in Europe cut flows, and as China implemented a 10% retaliatory tariff on U.S. oil. China accounted for about 5% of U.S. crude exports in 2024. Editors Note: This story has been corrected to show the review is by Georgetown city council. We regret the error. GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCBD) The Georgetown City Council will meet to discuss recommendations for electric rate structures. Raftelis Consulting will present their recommendations to the council based on the results of the cost-of-service study they conducted, according to officials. This comes after Santee Cooper, one of the leading energy providers in the area, just approved rate increases for the first time in seven years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those changes are expected to go into effect in April, and will raise rates by an additional $11 per month. Georgetown City Council will meet Thursday, March 13 at 5 p.m. at the Georgetown City Municipal Courtroom and the meeting will be livestreamed on the citys Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Rep. Soo Hong, a Lawrenceville Republican who serves as the governor's floor leader in the House, makes the case for accelerating planned cuts to the state's income tax rate on Crossover Day. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder The Georgia House signed off on the governors proposal to speed up a planned income tax rate cut Thursday but not before several Democrats blasted the plan as a risky gamble with a key source of state revenue. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Soo Hong, a Lawrenceville Republican who is the governors floor leader, would hurry along a rate reduction plan originally passed three years ago that was accelerated just last year with unanimous support in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the revised plan, the income tax rate would drop to 5.19% for this year, down from 5.39%. The cut will save taxpayers and cost the states coffers about $870 million overall. While other states are raising taxes on their citizens, and while were facing sky-high prices and can least afford it, we are doing the opposite here in Georgia, Hong said Thursday. The bill passed with a 110-to-60 vote in the House, with about a dozen Democrats supporting it. A proposal to send back part of the states surplus to taxpayers through a one-time refund found far more support, with the House unanimously backing the $1 billion proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using a portion of the states reserves, the state would send $250 to individual taxpayers, $375 to single adults with dependents and $500 to married couples filing jointly. Both bills passed on Crossover Day, which is the last day for a bill to pass out of one chamber to have a smooth path to the governors desk something Gov. Brian Kemp noted when he signed this years amended budget Thursday during a ceremony at the Capitol. Gov. Brian Kemp speaks Thursday at a ceremony to sign this years revised budget plan. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder I just want to remind the Legislature, yall do need to pass that today to get it to cross over, Kemp said. I feel certain youll be able to help us with that. As soon as we pass the second tax cut acceleration measure, well be able to keep even more of Georgians money in their pockets, because they know how to spend it better than the government does. State leaders have been reducing the income tax rate since 2018, when the states top rate sat at 6%. Georgia has since moved to a flat tax rate. Under the previously approved plans, the rate would eventually drop to 4.99%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Democrats pushed back on the rush to cut the rate beyond what was already planned and set aside the cautious approach outlined in previous bills. Rep. Saira Draper, an Atlanta Democrat, said one of the requirements was that the governors revenue estimate increase by 3% something that didnt happen for next years budget. I rise today not out of opposition to tax relief but out of a deep concern for fiscal responsibility and to hold this chamber accountable to the standards that we set for ourselves, Draper said. Call me old fashioned, but I like to do what I say and say what I mean. Draper questioned whether political aspirations for higher office might be driving Kemps more aggressive plan. The term-limited governors plans for 2026 are being closely watched. I say, no, carry your own water. If you want to give tax breaks, meet the standards that we have set in this chamber, Draper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Democrats questioned the wisdom of foregoing more of a critical revenue source at a time of uncertainty under the new Trump administration. In the past few weeks, weve seen uncertainty in federal funding and tariffs from the new administration, weve seen talks of cuts to K-12 school funding, cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, said Rep. Karla Drenner, an Avondale Estates Democrat. And is this really the best time to accelerate an income tax cut that primarily benefits wealthy people in Georgia? While all taxpayers would see some savings, the size of the relief varies based on the persons income with higher earners seeing a greater tax break, according to analysis from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Lower income households would see smaller savings. Rep. Sam Park, a Lawrenceville Democrat who serves as the minority whip, said for about half of Georgians living in lower-income or middle-class households, the rate cut would mean a savings of about $6 per month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yall, you cant even afford a dozen eggs with $6 a month, Park said. (This) is not a responsible approach to tax reform, he also said. It is a risky, top heavy tax giveaway that benefits a few at the expense of the many. It is bad economics, bad policy, and bad for Georgias long term financial health. Rep. James Burchett, a Waycross Republican who is the House majority whip, argued that $6 a month or $70 a year could mean a couple meals out for a single mother of two. This ideal that we do a better job of spending Georgians money than they do is preposterous. It is crazy. It is nuts, Burchett said. I cant understand for the life of me how the party of the people can come in here and say that we dont want to give you your money back. We want your money because we know better than you. Both bills now move to the Senate. April 4 is the last day of the session. Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Some Americans have promised to boycott companies that dropped their DEI policies. A pastor in the Atlanta area is encouraging his congregation to "fast" from Target for 40 days. The timing of the boycott aligns with Lent, which started on Wednesday. Thousands of people have committed to boycotting corporations in the name of now-defunct diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that companies have dismissed since President Donald Trump's rise. Now, some are boycotting in the name of the Lord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jamal Bryant, the pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church outside Atlanta, is calling on his congregation to "fast" from Target this Lenten season, which began Wednesday. Christians who observe Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, typically do so by fasting or giving something up. "Lent is a holy season of prayer and is about sacrifice," Bryant told Business Insider. "So not only are we picketing with our pocketbooks, but partitioning with our prayers." Bryant said Target has "put consumerism over decency." Target did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. Target announced in January that it would be rolling back several DEI initiatives. Some Target shoppers were outraged that the company followed the lead of several others that have dismantled their DEI policies, many of which were bolstered in 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his first week back in office, President Donald Trump promised the end of DEI programs in the federal government and reversed a 1965 order that barred government contractors from engaging in employment discrimination. Many major companies were quick to pull back on their diversity programs to remain in the good graces at the White House. About 1 in 8 Target shoppers is Black, according to a data analysis from Numerator, which assesses retail consumers. "The way that the Black community has had brand loyalty to Target, but them to not express that same loyalty to our community," Bryant said, "we felt was a slap in the face." Bryant started a pledge to encourage people to fast from Target, and he said 110,000 people have signed on thus far. Those who commited to the fast received a digital directory of Black businesses they can support instead, Bryant said. "People are still spending," he said. "They're just being more mindful about where they spend and how they do it." Read the original article on Business Insider Athens GOP. Sen. Bill Cowsert urged colleagues to support his bill intended to restrict higher-dose THC beverages a loaded gun and arguing that one 10 mg serving of THC was equivalent to four glasses of wine. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group) Three bills changing the way Georgia regulates hemp and medical cannabis have cleared the Senate ahead of Thursdays Crossover Day deadline. The votes on the bills are some of the only ones this session that didnt fall cleanly along party lines, with Senate Republicans divided over expanding medical access to cannabis and members of both parties split over new regulations on recreational hemp products. Medical Cannabis Senate Bill 220, also known as the Putting Georgias Patients First Act, passed in a contentious 39-17 vote after more than an hour of debate in the Senate. Like its counterpart in the other chamber, House Bill 227, the bill replaces the term low-THC oil with medical cannabis, in Georgia code, removes requirements that certain medical diagnoses like cancer or Parkinsons disease be severe or end stage, and adds Lupus to the list of qualifying health conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike the House version, SB 220 removes an existing prohibition against vaping cannabis oil and raises the percentage of THC that medical cannabis products may contain from 5% to 50%. The bill was amended on the floor to include a provision allowing caregivers to pick up medical cannabis from pharmacies. Three other amendments aimed at reducing the amount of THC allowed in medical cannabis, removing the provision that allows for vaping, and removing PTSD and intractable pain from the list of approved diagnoses failed during a series of floor votes. Hemp bills Two bills aimed at strengthening hemp regulations in Georgia passed the Senate in decisive votes on Crossover Day, seeking to limit recreational use of marijuana as the chamber simultaneously eased restrictions for medical use. Marietta Republican Sen. Kay Kirkpatricks SB 33 subjects chemical compounds like delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and other cannabinoids to testing and labeling regulations that were added last year under Senate Bill 494. It passed in a 50-6 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her speech from the well, Kirkpatrick said her bill is aimed at cutting down on unregulated hemp products from China and other countries. This bill is not a ban, Kirkpatrick said. Its a consumer protection bill that is not intended to impact processors that are already testing and labeling their products appropriately. Its intended to make sure that consumers buying these products are clear on what theyre buying. Senate Bill 254, sponsored by Athens Republican Bill Cowsert, seeks to impose new limits on THC-infused products after the Georgia Department of Agriculture raised the maximum amount of THC that can be included in a single beverage from 5 mg to 10 mg. Cowsert urged lawmakers to codify the original 5 mg serving size restrictions on THC-infused beverages, calling the higher-dose beverages a loaded gun and arguing that one 10 mg serving of THC was equivalent to four glasses of wine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most states are limiting greatly the amount of THC that can be included in a beverage, or in a tincture, or any kind of lotions, or in gummies, he said. And the reason is to protect consumers protect the public from the psychoactive components of THC. Like SB 33, the bill includes new restrictions on cannabinoid variants like delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC. It was ultimately amended on the floor by a narrow 29-27 vote to ban all THC-infused beverages, and passed the Senate in a 42-14 vote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Georgia's Stone Mountain Park once home to the Ku Klux Klan and the site of the largest Confederate carving in the country has been a point of contention for years. The 3,200-acre park sees more than 4 million visitors each year, but it's best known for the large carving of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson on the mountainside. Marcus Patton, who serves on the Stone Mountain Action Coalition, says he's facing an uphill battle as his group fights for what it calls a "more inclusive park." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The thing that troubles me, because I love this place so much, is that many people refer to Stone Mountain. And what they're talking about is the Confederate aspects of it," Patton told CBS News. SMAC is part of the latest push to tweak Georgia law by swapping out language requiring "an appropriate and suitable Confederate memorial at Stone Mountain" for a new ordinance that would educate the public about the natural history of the mountain and its environment. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association, which is the state authorities that manages the Georgia park, has made steps to address the park's past. An $11 million "Truth Telling" center is slated to open this fall, with exhibits designed to confront what the association calls "warts" of Georgia and southern history. Georgia native Parker Short posted a viral video calling for the full story to be told throughout the park, saying "Stone Mountain would be best served as a Georgia Civil War, Civil Rights Georgia History museum." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not a humble monument to the Georgians who, you know, fought in the Civil War," Parker told CBS News. "This is three generals who commanded an insurrection against the United States carved upon a mountain." Patton said that, regardless of politics or southern pride, he'd prefer to lean into the park's natural beauty, instead of what he calls manmade blemishes. "It's a mountain not a message board," Patton said. "I wish that carving had not been put there." Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, died at age 82. Here's a look back at their love story Watch: Trump's full address to Congress Vatican says Pope Francis is no longer on mechanical ventilation By Holger Hansen BERLIN (Reuters) - German lawmakers will debate a 500-billion-euro infrastructure fund and sweeping changes to state borrowing rules to fund defence from March 13 in a race to get both steps passed by the outgoing parliament, a senior Greens lawmaker said on Thursday. The Bundestag lower house will vote on the measures on March 18 before the formation of a new parliament on March 25, where both moves could get blocked by an enlarged contingent of far-right and radical left lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conservatives, led by Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the Social Democrats (SPD), in talks to form a coalition, agreed this week to hike borrowing to spur growth in Europe's largest but ailing economy and boost the military. The moves, which have jolted markets, represent a tectonic spending shift in a country better known for its frugality and mark a rollback of rules imposed after the 2008 global financial crisis that many see as an outdated fiscal straitjacket. The new fund could raise Germany's debt-to-GDP ratio, now at around 64% - well below that of most other major industrialised nations - by some 12 percentage points, according to a draft proposal made by the civil service for the conservative and Social Democrat parliamentary groups and seen by Reuters. But an existing 100-billion-euro special defence fund approved in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine is no longer enough to modernize Germany's army, the document said, arguing that Europe's security situation had "changed dramatically". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany's about-turn is a result of the turmoil caused by the return of Donald Trump as U.S. president, bringing with it a realisation that Europe can no longer rely on the United States to guarantee its security in the face of a hostile Russia. "There will still be talks before (a parliamentary vote), but the path has been chosen and set, and it is historic," said Germany's outgoing Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, a Social Democrat, at a news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart. The issue of supplying Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles also played a part in the exploratory talks on forming a new governing coalition, Pistorius added. Senior Greens lawmaker Irene Mihalic said special sessions of the Bundestag had been scheduled for March 13 and March 18, confirming what two sources had told Reuters earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION Merz and the SPD need the backing of the smaller Greens party, which has yet to offer its support. "Important questions remain unclear," said Mihalic, adding her party wanted more information, including on why the plans envisaged more funds for certain areas of security. "The complete lack of funding for climate protection measures is also incomprehensible," she said. Germany's pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), which has lawmakers in the outgoing parliament but not in the new one, has said it will support a boost to defence spending but not the 500-billion-euro ($539 billion) infrastructure fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has joined the radical Left party in threatening legal action. Together, the two parties would have enough votes to block the reforms once the new legislators are seated after performing strongly in last month's election. Investors and some economists have long urged Germany to reform the "debt brake" to free up investment and support an economy that has contracted for the past two years. Merz and the SPD want to amend the constitution so defence expenditure above 1% of economic output is exempted from debt brake rules. A commission of experts will separately develop a proposal for modernizing the debt brake to boost investments on a permanent basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many businesses have welcomed the plans, but on Thursday, German banks joined those voices saying the reforms needed to be accompanied by overhauls to cut red tape. ($1 = 0.9270 euros) (Additional reporting by Madeline Chambers; Reporting by Holger Hansen and Alexander Ratz; Writing by Ludwig Burger, Friederike Heine, Matthias Williams; Editing by Miranda Murray, Bernadette Baum and Gareth Jones) German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Thursday assured his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov that Berlin would work towards replacing frozen US aid for Kiev together with international partners. It comes as EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss ways to increase support for Ukraine after the administration of US President Donald Trump announced it was suspending critical military and intelligence support as relations remain strained following a blow-up between the countries' two leaders at the White House. Pistorius, who met Umerov in the German capital, also said his Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the conservatives are discussing a 3 billion ($3.25 billion) aid package for Ukraine as part of exploratory talks to form a government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should they be able to agree on funding, the package, which was proposed a while ago, should enable the delivery of further air-defence systems using guided missiles, Pistorius said. Germany would also be able to provide additional artillery systems, namely the Panzerhaubitze 2000 armoured howitzer and the new wheeled, self-propelled howitzer RCH 155, said the minister, who continues to serve in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed. Pistorius said Germany and Britain were planning to take a leading role when it comes to supporting Ukraine. He said he and his British counterpart John Healey had decided to "continue the Ukraine Contact Group together as co-leaders," adding that the situation was "serious and requires decisive and level-headed action." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukraine Contact Group is an international forum aimed at coordinating military aid to Ukraine. It was founded following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 upon the initiative of then US defence secretary Lloyd Austin. Umerov thanked Germany for its support. It could be a dry summer for the bottom line of beer giant Constellation Brands (STZ) thanks to President Donald Trump. Trump went through with his long-threatened tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Tuesday. Starting just after midnight, imports from Canada and Mexico will now be taxed at 25%. This is bad news for the beer industry, as more than 80% of US beer imports are estimated to come from Mexico. Companies in the sector are now faced with a one-two punch of raising prices, which could stunt demand, and increasing production costs. Listen: Trump tariffs may trigger stagflationary shock No beer player arguably has more at stake in Trump's trade war than Corona and Modelo maker Constellation Brands. For starters, Modelo beers are exclusively brewed in Mexico. The company also imports Corona beer from Mexico. Each brand has seen strong sales in the past two years, helping to offset persistently weak sales in the company's wine business. Constellation Brands operates two breweries in Mexico, located in Nava, Coahuila, and Ciudad Obregon, Sonora. It's building a third in Veracruz. Evercore analyst Robert Ottenstein estimates that about 99% of the company's beer is imported from Mexico. "While we cant speculate on the duration of the currently imposed tariffs, we continue to assess opportunities to help manage impacts to our business in the near and longer term to the extent we are able," Constellation said in a statement to Yahoo Finance. "Additionally, we continue to work with all levels of government in both the U.S. and Mexico to ensure the perspective of our business and key stakeholders are represented and considered in policy decisions, with the hope that this situation can be resolved quickly." Recent research from Ottenstein projects a $3.50 per-share hit to Constellation's earnings in a 25% Mexico tariff situation, without any offsets such as price increases, cost cuts, and stock buybacks. If Constellation is able to execute on some of these tariff offsets, the earnings hit could still be a lofty $2.40 a share. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Ottenstein is hopeful Constellation Brands won't see the worst-case profit scenario happen. "We also note that we believe [Constellation Brands] would have the ability to have distributors help absorb some of the incremental costs, which is not contemplated in the below, nor are additional productivity programs," Ottenstein said. Meanwhile, Constellation risks generating a lower-than-expected return on its latest capital investments should Trump's trade war go on. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Thursday assured his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov that Berlin would work towards replacing frozen US aid for Kiev together with international partners. It comes as EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss ways to increase support for Ukraine after the administration of US President Donald Trump announced it was suspending critical military and intelligence support as relations remain strained following a blow-up between the countries' two leaders at the White House. Pistorius, who met Umerov in the German capital, also said his Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the conservatives are discussing a 3 billion ($3.25 billion) aid package for Ukraine as part of exploratory talks to form a government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should they be able to agree on funding, the package, which was proposed a while ago, should enable the delivery of further air-defence systems using guided missiles, Pistorius said. "And I am, of course, pushing hard to reach a swift solution," said Pistorius. Germany would also be able to provide additional artillery systems, namely the Panzerhaubitze 2000 armoured howitzer and the new wheeled, self-propelled howitzer RCH 155, said the minister, who continues to serve in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed. Pistorius said Germany and Britain were planning to take a leading role when it comes to supporting Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he and his British counterpart John Healey had decided to "continue the Ukraine Contact Group together as co-leaders," adding that the situation was "serious and requires decisive and level-headed action." The Ukraine Contact Group is an international forum aimed at coordinating military aid to Ukraine. It was founded following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 upon the initiative of then US defence secretary Lloyd Austin. Umerov, in turn, thanked Germany for its assistance. Germany has so far provided or committed military aid worth a total of approximately 28 billion for the next few years. "That is 37% of the total European aid and 16% of the total aid in the security sector," the Ukrainian minister emphasized. He said that Germany plays a "decisive role" particularly in air defence. Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for just over three years with Western support. The German government will retain control over the local units of the Russian state-owned company Rosneft, including a major oil refinery in the north-eastern German town of Schwedt. The government is extending the trusteeship over the PCK Schwedt refinery that began in 2022 by a further six months to September 10, the Economy Ministry said on Thursday. The refinery supplies large parts of north-eastern Germany with petrol, heating oil, kerosene and chemical products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ensuring security of supply remains central to the federal government," explained the ministry's Parliamentary State Secretary Michael Kellner. He said the extension will make it possible to continue production at the affected sites and to secure jobs. The German government's trusteeship over the refinery - which is 54% owned by Rosneft - is only intended to be temporary with a clear prospect of termination. Rosneft is pursuing a sale of its German assets. Keller appealed to Rosneft: "We expect the Russian side to conclude the sales negotiations quickly; Clarity regarding ownership is important for the further development of the refineries." The German Rosneft units also have minority stakes in the MiRo refinery in Karlsruhe and Bayernoil in Vohburg. In total, Rosneft accounts for around 12% of the capacity for processing crude oil in Germany. Health care workers across Germany went on strike on Thursday amid ongoing collective bargaining negotiations for public sector employees. Workers in several clinics in the western German city of Cologne as well as in the northern city of Hamburg and the central state of Hesse joined the industrial action, trade union verdi told dpa, with employees from more than 200 health facilities expected to strike. Rallies were planned in the cities of Hamburg, Bochum, Cologne, Solingen, Mannheim and Berlin, according to the union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patients should expect restrictions, while verdi noted that emergency care was available for those in need. A representative for the VKA municipal employers' associations, Niklas Benrath criticized the industrial action, saying strikes in the health care sector "primarily harm citizens." The strike comes as the union is trying to increase pressure on the federal government and municipalities ahead of a third round of talks on a collective wage agreement covering some 2.5 million public sector workers, including health care employees, educators, bus drivers and firefighters. Both sides are set to meet near Berlin from March 14 to 16, with the employer side hoping for a "sustainable solution." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Verdi is demanding an 8% pay rise - worth a minimum of 350 ($365) - as well as higher bonuses and three additional days off. Employers have rejected the demands as unaffordable, with Benrath saying the core demands would mean additional costs of around 11% for municipalities, or a loss of 15 billion annually. Another strike is planned for Friday, including in kindergartens. Tens of thousands of health-care workers across Germany went on strike on Thursday amid ongoing collective bargaining negotiations for public sector employees. Some 20,000 from more than 200 health facilities including hospitals and nursing homes joined the industrial action, a spokesman for trade union verdi told dpa, with rallies held in several cities. In the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, some 4,000 workers joined in, while 18 hospitals were affected by the action in the central state of Hesse, according to the union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Verdi also noted a strong turnout at rallies outside the capital's Charite and Vivantes hospitals. The union had previously warned of restrictions for patients but noted that emergency care was available for those in need. A representative for the VKA municipal employers' associations, Niklas Benrath, criticized the industrial action, saying strikes in the health-care sector "primarily harm citizens." The strike comes as the union is trying to increase pressure on the federal government and municipalities ahead of a third round of talks on a collective wage agreement covering some 2.5 million public sector workers, including health-care employees, educators, bus drivers and firefighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides are set to meet near Berlin from March 14 to 16, with the employer side hoping for a "sustainable solution." Verdi is demanding an 8% pay rise - worth a minimum of 350 ($365) - as well as higher bonuses and three additional days off. Employers have rejected the demands as unaffordable, with Benrath saying the core demands would mean additional costs of around 11% for municipalities, or a loss of 15 billion annually. Another strike is planned for Friday, including in kindergartens. The new German parliament will convene for the first time on March 25, some four weeks after national elections last month, dpa learnt on Thursday. A transitional committee comprised of the incumbent president of the lower house of parliament and representatives of the newly formed parliamentary groups - known as the Voraltestenrat - apparently reached agreement on the date for the inaugural session. The committee is responsible for setting the date of the first session as well as seating and the agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany's constitution stipulates that the new parliament has to convene within 30 days of elections. March 25 was thus the latest option possible following the parliamentary elections on February 23. It comes after parliamentary leaders agreed to convene the outgoing parliament for two special sessions on March 13 and March 18, to discuss a massive spending plan aimed at enabling investments in infrastructure and defence. The new lower house, known as the Bundestag, will have 630 members, a reduction of 103 seats compared to the previous parliament. Fewer parties will be represented after the liberal Free Democrats and the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance failed to pass the 5% threshold generally needed to take seats. Germany's outgoing parliament is set to convene on March 13 and March 18 for two special sessions to discuss a massive spending deal aimed at enabling investments in infrastructure and defence, dpa learnt on Thursday. Germany's conservatives and Social Democratic Party (SPD), who are in exploratory talks about forming a coalition, agreed on the deal on Tuesday. They are searching for ways to unlock billions of loans and debt to boost the country's ailing economy and ramp up defence in light of the US turn in foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a video conference of the Council of Elders, which includes the president and vice presidents of the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, dpa learnt from parliamentary sources that lawmakers from the conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD had called for the special sessions to discuss the plans. According to the German constitution, special sessions may be convened upon request by one third of lawmakers. The conservatives and the SPD are planning to create a special fund of 500 billion ($528 billion) to fix Germany's crumbling infrastructure, while looking to ease strict constitutional rules on taking on new government debt, the so-called debt brake, for specific defence investments. But following elections on February 23, there is unlikely to be enough support in the new Bundestag for the deal, which requires a two-thirds majority to alter Germany's constitution. Instead, the CDU/CSU and SPD hope to push through the plan in the outgoing parliament, following electoral gains last month by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and far-left The Left which would make it far more difficult to achieve backing once newly elected lawmakers are seated. Germany's outgoing parliament is set to convene on March 13 and March 18 for two special sessions to discuss a massive spending plan aimed at enabling investments in infrastructure and defence, dpa learnt on Thursday. Germany's conservatives and Social Democratic Party (SPD), who are in exploratory talks about forming a coalition, agreed on the deal on Tuesday. They are searching for ways to unlock billions of loans and debt to boost the country's ailing economy and ramp up defence spending in light of the US turn in foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers from the conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD had called for the special sessions to discuss the plans, dpa learnt from parliamentary sources following a video conference of the Council of Elders, which includes the president and vice presidents of the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. According to the German constitution, special sessions may be convened upon request by one third of lawmakers. The conservatives and the SPD are planning to create a special fund of 500 billion ($528 billion) to fix Germany's crumbling infrastructure, while looking to ease strict constitutional rules on taking on new government debt, the so-called debt brake, for specific defence investments. The plans require a two-thirds majority to alter Germany's constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But electoral gains last month by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and far-left The Left mean it could be far more difficult to achieve backing once newly elected lawmakers are seated. Instead, the CDU/CSU led by Friedrich Merz and the SPD hope to push through the plan in the outgoing parliament with the help of the Greens, who are still part of the current caretaker government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The new parliament has to convene for its inaugural session within 30 days following the election on February 23. Until then, the old parliament continues to carry out the work. The plans by the conservative bloc, which came out on top in last month's elections, and the SPD to push through the deal before the new parliament convenes have drawn sharp criticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AfD is considering filing a complaint with the constitutional court to question whether the outgoing parliament has the legitimacy to decide on a matter of such scope, the party's first parliamentary secretary Bernd Baumann told dpa. Germany's would-be coalition's best shot at passing the plans is garnering support from the Greens, after the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) said they remain opposed to taking on massive debt to enable infrastructure investments. The Greens, who were not included in the negotiations over the deal, have signalled they would not simply go along with the deal without having a say. Green parliamentary group co-chairwoman Katharina Droge said on Wednesday that her party was baffled that efforts to address climate change play no role in the proposal from the CDU/CSU and SPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green parliamentary faction co-chairwoman Britta Hasselmann also bristled on Wednesday over anti-Green attacks from Bavarian state Premier Markus Soder, a Merz ally and the head of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). "The tone we are currently hearing from the CSU, especially from Markus Soder, is disgusting," she said. The CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD are set to continue preliminary talks on forming a coalition on Thursday, with migration, domestic security and economic and social policy top of the agenda. Migration in particular could prove to be a stumbling block, after Merz vowed to issue instructions to reject all migrants at Germany's borders on his first day in office. Speaking on a programme of public broadcaster ARD, SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil reiterated that his party would "not go along with de facto border closures." Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) has proposed talks with French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on European defence policy, following her criticism of the suspension of US military aid to Ukraine. We are happy to discuss this issue with Ms Le Pen and develop common security policy ideas for Europe, said Daniel Tapp, spokesman for AfD leader Alice Weidel. Le Pen condemned the US move as "very cruel for Ukrainian soldiers" and called its abruptness "reprehensible," telling French newspaper Le Figaro that while the US cannot be forced to continue its support, Ukraine should have been given more time to adjust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AfD and Le Pen's National Rally are both on the far right, but they are far from aligned on issues. When it comes to Ukraine, the AfD opposes Western military aid to Ukraine. While Weidel has sought warmer ties, Le Pen has distanced herself from the AfD to maintain a moderate image. The German party is seen as too extreme for Le Pen. The AfD was excluded from her right-wing bloc in the European Parliament. Tapp emphasized the need for peace in Ukraine and praised the Trump administrations stance, noting that Kiev itself had shown openness to Trumps approach. (Bloomberg) -- The European Union is moving toward easing its fiscal rules to allow for more defense spending after a U-turn from Germany won support from some traditional opponents of increasing borrowing. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With EU leaders gathering in Brussels Thursday to discuss their response to Donald Trumps push for a settlement on Ukraine, theres a growing consensus among member states that they should explore changes to the so-called Stability and Growth Pact, people familiar with the matter said. On the morning of the talks, EU ambassadors discussed including a commitment to explore further adaptation of the Pact in the summit conclusions in response to a request from Germany, the people said. Most delegations were in favor of that wording, though some were suggesting vaguer language. The issue will be discussed by leaders later in the day. For decades, European policy has been shaped and constrained by Germanys insistence on controlling public borrowing, both at home and in other member states. But Trumps return to the White House, and his insistence that the US should no longer be the main guarantor of security in Europe, has prompted a dramatic shift in Berlin, with chancellor-in-Waiting Friedrich Merz this week unveiling a massive spending plan that aims to transform Germanys military. We must ensure in the long term that states can spend as much on defense as they want, the current chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said as he arrived at the summit, insisting the EU needs a long-term change of the rules to make sure member states can make their own decisions on defense spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Trump pulling back US support, the EU and its member states need to mobilize potentially trillions of euros in additional defense funds to counter the threat of Russian aggression. While the European Commission has proposed adding a short-term escape clause to the budget rules to boost defense spending, a broader discussion was triggered at a meeting of EU ambassadors Wednesday, when Germany told member states that the commissions plan doesnt go far enough, Bloomberg reported previously. Beyond the negotiations over the exact wording for Thursdays summit text, theres a general understanding that the EU needs to make adjustments to the fiscal rules to boost defense expenditure, said the people familiar with the summit preparations. We approach this like everything else right now with a very, very open mind, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on her way into the summit. The most important thing for all countries is to rearm now, and then there will be all sorts of discussions about how we view this in a longer perspective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While being supportive of further changes to the fiscal rules, some delegations including Slovenia recalled that debt sustainability needs to be observed. Others including Romania pointed out that the additional defense expenditure should go to the European industry. A debate on how deep and how quickly changes to the fiscal rules should be made is expected to come up again early next week when EU finance ministers meet in Brussels. The EUs budget rules limit member states debt to 60% of GDP and the deficit to 3%. As recently as a year ago, Germany opposed calls to add more flexibility in EU rules for priorities including defense when a review of the pact was adopted. In recent years, Germany has clashed with southern member states over budgetary oversight, teaming up with fiscally conservative countries like the the Netherlands. The Dutch were one of the few delegations unhappy with Berlins U-turn this week, the people said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Jan Bratanic, Andra Timu, Donato Paolo Mancini, Natalia Ojewska, Jasmina Kuzmanovic and Arne Delfs. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Germany has received around 43% fewer first-time asylum applications in January and February 2025 than it did during the same period last year, government sources told dpa on Thursday. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees registered 26,674 first-time applications and 3,273 follow-up applications in the first two months of the year. As in previous years, the figures showed that most of the applications were submitted by Syrian nationals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sees the decline in asylum figures as confirmation that the government's measures on migration are working. "We have greatly reduced irregular migration," she told dpa, adding that Germany is also deporting more people who do not have the right to remain in the country. According to the information provided, 1,733 people obliged to leave the country were deported from Germany in January, around 30.9% more than in January last year. In October 2023, Faeser expanded border checks to all of Germany's land borders, even though all of the country's neighbours are members of the visa-free Schengen Area. Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next chancellor, has promised even tougher measures on migration, saying he will order the Interior Ministry to "reject all attempts at illegal entry without exception" on his first day of office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Merz's most likely coalition partners, the Social Democrats, have warned that such a course could violate EU law. The number of asylum applications fell in 2024 across the European Union, Norway and Switzerland, with the EU asylum agency registering 1,008 million first-time applications across the 29 countries in 2024, a decrease of around 12% compared to the previous year. At first blush, XPOs February update showed volumes fell at the same pace as they did in January. However, the carrier was facing a more formidable comp in the recent month, suggesting the falloff was less severe. The Greenwich, Connecticut-based LTL carrier announced Tuesday after the market closed that tonnage was down 8.1% year over year in February following an 8.5% decline in January. The February result was the combination of a 6.2% decline in shipments and a 2% decline in weight per shipment. However, January was comping to a 1.1% decline from a year ago whereas February was up against a positive-3.5% comp. Theres little doubt that demand across the less-than-truckload space remains tepid but XPOs two-year-stacked comps are improving. Tonnage was down 4.6% in February after a cycle-low 9.6% decline in January. The current guide implies further improvement to the two-year-stacked result in March. Source: Company reports XPOs (NYSE: XPO) tonnage for the first two months of the year was in line with managements guidance for a mid-single-digit-plus y/y decline in the first quarter (roughly flat sequentially). The company is actively changing a portion of its freight mix to include more volume from local accounts, which have better margins, and more shipments that incur accessorial charges. The increased selectivity presents a headwind to volumes but should continue to deliver improved margins. The start of 2025 hasnt been easy as severe winter storms across the southern and eastern U.S. resulted in increased service interruptions across carrier networks. XPO previously said abnormally harsh weather was a 3-point drag on its January tonnage result. Also, the manufacturing complex, which can account for two-thirds of total freight for some carriers, remains tepid but improving. The Institute for Supply Managements Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) remained in expansion territory for a second consecutive month in February following 26 months of contraction. A 50.3 reading (50 is neutral) was 60 basis points worse than in January, but the new orders index, which is predictive of future manufacturing demand, dropped 6.5 percentage points to 48.6. LTL volumes normally lag the PMI data by three to four months. Our February volume outperformed seasonal trends relative to January, aligning with our expectations for the quarter-to-date, said XPO CEO Mario Harik in a news release. The industry pricing environment is favorable, and were executing on our initiatives to drive sequential pricing growth throughout 2025, supporting our margin outlook. German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, the country's presumptive next chancellor, on Wednesday discussed Europe's defence capability with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "Germany and Europe must now invest heavily in their own defence capability. This is the best protection for Europe's security," Merz wrote on social media platform X following the meeting. Rutte, also writing on X, emphasized the importance of Merz's leadership, calling it "crucial." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's vital that we invest more in defence, increase defence production & continue to support Ukraine," Rutte added. Merz is trying to agree a big increase in German defence spending as one of the first acts of a future coalition government he hopes to lead between his conservative bloc and the Social Democrats. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday expressed caution regarding the idea of using French nuclear weapons to protect other European countries, as he arrived at an EU summit in Brussels. When asked by a journalist, Scholz referred to NATO's system of nuclear deterrence, which is based on stationing US nuclear weapons in some European countries including in Germany. "We are allied with each other through NATO. There are very specific rules on this," Scholz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that what matters most is the agreed nuclear cooperation established in Germany: "What is particularly important is what we have in terms of nuclear cooperation organized in Germany. And I believe that this should not be abandoned. That is the common view of all core parties in Germany," he added. According to expert estimates, the United States still has around 100 nuclear bombs stationed in Europe, some of which are said to be stored at the Buchel airbase in Germany's Eifel region. In an emergency, they are to be deployed by Bundeswehr fighter jets. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he is considering placing allied European countries under the protection of French nuclear weapons. The UK also has nuclear weapons but Germany's complicated post-war history means that it did not develop its own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France's nuclear deterrent has played an explicit role in maintaining peace and security in Europe since 1964, Macron said in a televised speech. During the recent election campaign, likely new German chancellor Friedrich Merz had suggested talks with the western European nuclear powers over an umbrella approach. Four months after winning the battleground state of Wisconsin, President Donald Trump has a slightly negative job rating here and is polarizing the public to a degree unseen in years of polling by the Marquette Law School. In a Marquette survey released Wednesday, 48% of Wisconsin voters approve of the job Trump is doing and 51% disapprove. Viewed one way, that is par for the course for Trump. During his first term, his approval rating never got as high as 50% in 24 polls conducted by Marquette in Wisconsin. In fact, his current approval rating of 48% equals his first-term peak. . But viewed another way, his numbers are historically striking in several ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One is the absence of a political honeymoon at the outset of an incoming presidents term. In the case of both his terms, Trump is the only modern president who didnt enter office and start out with a highly positive approval rating. Since presidents often decline in popularity after their first few months, this is a potential political danger for Trump. Also striking is the intensity of public opinion about Trump, pro and con. The Marquette poll includes a four-way approval question, a way of gauging how strongly voters feel about the performance of a sitting president or governor. Voters are asked if they strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove. In this case, 38% of voters said they strongly approve of the job Trump is doing, while 45% said they strongly disapprove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, 83% expressed a strong view of Trumps performance. That is the highest level of intensity ever recorded in the nearly eight years Marquette has been asking the four-way approval question about presidents and governors. That includes Democrat Joe Bidens presidency, the last two and half years of Trumps first term, Democrat Tony Evers more than six years as governor, and the final year of Republican Scott Walkers tenure as governor. And there is one other way in which Trump is historically polarizing. The gap between how Republicans and Democrats in Wisconsin view his performance is remarkably large. It is bigger than in Trumps first term and bigger than it was for both Biden and Obama, and bigger than for governors Walker and Evers (this data goes back to 2012). In this new poll of 864 registered voters taken Feb. 19-26, Trump has 92% approval from Republican voters and 2% approval from Democratic voters a 90-point gap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his first four years, Trump averaged 86% approval from Republican voters and 6% approval from Democrats an 80-point gap. Biden averaged a 78-point partisan approval gap. Obama in his second term averaged a 75-point gap.Trump, of course, came into office as a polarizing figure with a history of negative popularity ratings. But his actions and rhetoric since taking office have been unlike anything the country has seen in the modern era, as the president has turned the countrys foreign policy on its head, hit allies with trade tariffs, taken aim at the independence of federal prosecutors and federal agencies, slashed the federal work force, and pardoned the people who violently assaulted the U.S. Capitol on 2021. So much has happened so quickly that it is a challenge for pollsters to keep up with the political fallout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This poll, for example, was conducted before the meeting in the Oval Office last Friday when Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It was also conducted before the latest news about U.S. tariffs against China, Mexico and Canada, and before the recent tumble in the stock market. While Trumps effort to deport immigrants who are in the U.S. here illegally received positive ratings in the survey, opinion is divided 50/50 over deporting those who have been here for years, have jobs and no criminal record. Billionaire and presidential adviser Elon Musk drew negative ratings in the poll, as did the work of his Department of Government Efficiency, as did Trumps orders to freeze or shut down government agencies: 59% said agencies and spending authorized by Congress are beyond the presidents authority to close or freeze, while just 40% said the president has the authority to take such actions without congressional approval. The poll also found general skepticism about the use of tariffs: 32% said tariffs on imports from other countries help the U.S. economy, while 51% said they hurt. Trump maintains a strong base in Wisconsin What are some of the political takeaways from all these numbers? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One is that Trump has a very firm political base of between 35% and 40% of the electorate, which is a far bigger group of strong approvers than his predecessor, Biden, enjoyed. In the last year of Bidens term, under 20% of voters strongly approved of his performance. This is an obvious source of political strength for the president. His depth of support within his party (92% of Republicans approve and 75% strongly approve of his performance) helps explain the lack of push back on his actions from congressional Republicans, even when those actions deviate from longtime party traditions, such as confronting Russia, or when they challenge congressional authority, including the power of the purse. Whats more, the opposition party is dogged by a very negative image. In the Wisconsin poll, 34% of voters view the Democratic Party favorably compared to 62% who view it unfavorably. The Republican Party has a higher positive rating of 47%. One big difference is that only 2% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents rate their own party negatively, while 19% of Democrats and Democratic leanersrate their party negatively. But the poll also contains signs of political vulnerability for Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among independent voters in the poll, only 39% approve and 60% disapprove of his performance in office. By contrast, Trump had a positive job rating from independents in Wisconsin in Marquettes first poll of his first term, conducted in March of 2017. And while Trump has inspired a large bloc of very firm support (the 38% who are strong approvers), he has inspired an even larger bloc of firm opposition (the 45% who are strong disapprovers). Taken together, this huge pool of strong approvers and strong disapprovers, representing more than 80% of the electorate, means there is a limit on how much the presidents job ratings are likely to fluctuate in the near term. If you assume that strong approvers and strong disapprovers are locked into their views of the president, that means Trumps approval rating in Wisconsin has a floor of 38% and a ceiling of 55%. (By contrast, when you do the same math for Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, you get a floor of 27% and a ceiling of 72%.) The extreme partisan polarization over Trump has similar implications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this poll, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents make up 46% of the sample, and 92% approve of Trumps performance. Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents make up 42% of the sample (party identification now tilts a few points in a GOP direction in Wisconsin) and 97% of these voters disapprove of Trump. If these more partisan voters remain entrenched, that will leave pure independents as the swing bloc when it comes to Trumps political standing. They make up about 12% or 13% of the electorate in Wisconsin. In the survey released Wednesday, they are quite negative toward Trump (60% disapproval). But because that number is based on a relatively small sample (110 voters) and because independents are the most volatile part of the electorate, this number could easily fluctuate over the coming months and years. Craig Gilbert provides Wisconsin political analysis as a fellow with Marquette University Law School's Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education. Prior to the fellowship, Gilbert reported on politics for 35 years at the Journal Sentinel, the last 25 in its Washington Bureau. His column continues that independent reporting tradition and goes through the established Journal Sentinel editing process. Follow him on Twitter: @Wisvoter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Donald Trump registers record pro-con intensity in Wisconsin poll Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II has formed a candidate committee to run for governor, signaling he may join the race to replace Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Michigan Department of State Press Secretary Sam May said in an email Thursday that Gilchrist filed paperwork Tuesday to form a committee to run for governor. May cited a problem with the department's website in explaining why the information about Gilchrist's committee is not yet available online. A source close to Gilchrist granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal deliberations said to expect news on a possible run soon. Gilchrist "has been considering the best way he can continue to solve problems and deliver for Michigan families. He plans to make a final decision and announcement next week," the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other Democrats have already launched gubernatorial campaigns for the 2026 election: Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. On the Republican side, Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township and Republican Anthony Hudson have also kicked off their bids. Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox expressed interest in running late last year. Longtime Democrat Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan decided to run as an independent candidate, bypassing a party primary altogether and posing a test to red-blue politics in battleground Michigan. Whitmer cannot run for another term under the limits set by the Michigan Constitution. The next governor will be sworn into office on Jan. 1, 2027. Whitmer chose Gilchrist as her running mate when she first ran for governor in 2018 after he narrowly lost his race to serve as Detroit's City Clerk. As Lieutenant Governor, Gilchrist has led task forces on a range of issues from juvenile justice to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. Before his career in public service, Gilchrist worked as a software engineer. In his current role, he often talks about boosting entrepreneurship and innovation in Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan Politics: Michigan Democrats pounce on tariffs, say Trump move could hurt state badly Gilchrist recently hinted he might run for office in 2026. Addressing the Michigan Democratic Party convention Feb. 22, he said some wanted him to wait to run for office in the past and want him to wait again. He didn't specify whether he was facing pressure not to run for governor in the next election. To qualify for the ballot, gubernatorial candidates must collect and file a certain number of voter signatures that varies depending on whether they are running with a partisan affiliation or as an independent candidate. Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist takes step to run for Michigan governor ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Rochester city leaders and educators gathered Wednesday night to watch as Mayor Malik Evans honored a young student, who was recognized internationally for her artwork! Her name is Zahra Farady, and shes only ten years old. She attends Abelard Reynolds School No. 42 on Lake Avenue in Rochester. Mayor Malik Evans stands next to the Farady Family and young Zahra as she accepts her award March 5, 2025. (WROC/Melanie Sosa) Her artwork was recognized in the special prize category of the International Mayors for Peace Childrens Art Competition. The certificate was sent by the Mayors for Peace President, Kazumi Matsui, the Mayor of Hiroshima, Japan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guardians Cup charitable hockey tournament returns to Rochester We discussed what peace means to us, and how we can convey that in a drawing, said Zahras art teacher, Amy Graham. Many students used peace doves and the peace symbol in their drawings, but Zahra chose to draw a picture that conveys the feeling of peace in a moment in time. This is a picture of her swinging on a swing. Its a fall day, the leaves are fluttering to the ground, and it conveys the carefree, safe childhood that everyone deserves. Zahra Faradys artwork depicts herself swinging on a set during the fall in a piece submitted for the Mayors for Peace Art Competition in which children are asked to show what peace means to them. The City of Rochester is one of more than 8,000 cities and 166 countries around the world that is a member of the Mayors for Peace, a group dedicated to achieving lasting world peace. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. A nursing home worker was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a patient in Glendale. Larry Stanfill, 20, from Tujunga, has worked at the Glendale Post Acute Center facility since November 2024, according to Glendale police. Employed as a certified nursing assistant, he is accused of sexually assaulting a patient on at least two occasions. He is believed to have previously worked at other convalescent facilities including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chandler Convalescent Hospital in Glendale from August 2021 to May 2023 Pasadena Park Healthcare and Wellness Center in Pasadena from May 2023 to August 2024 An unidentified El Monte facility from August 2024 to October 2024 Larry Stanfill, 20, from Tujunga was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a patient while he was working at a Glendale nursing home. (Glendale Police Department) On Feb. 21, Stanfill was arrested in connection with the alleged crimes. The L.A. County District Attorneys Elder Abuse Division filed multiple charges against Stanfill for sexually abusing a person who is seriously disabled or medically incapacitated and institutionalized for medical treatment. He was later released from custody on bond. Police believe there may be more victims who have not come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on Stanfill or who may be a victim is urged to call the Glendale Police Departments Assaults Unit at 818-548-3106. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. By Kalea Hall The United Auto Workers said on Wednesday that workers at a battery manufacturing joint venture between General Motors and South Korea's LG Energy Solution have overwhelmingly approved a first contract with the company. The agreement, approved by nearly 1,000 UAW members working for the Ultium Cells joint venture, improves upon gains achieved in the union's national contract with GM for those workers, the union said. Specifically, the agreement ensures fair work practices and workplace safety at the plant and secures "fair pay and benefits," according to the union's negotiating committee. Ultium workers at the Tennessee plant make battery cells for electric vehicles produced at the neighboring assembly plant including the Cadillac Lyriq. The deal's highlights include a one-time $3,000 lump sum payment and wages that align with what Ultium workers make at a plant in northeast Ohio, which was the first to unionize. The wages currently start at $26.91 and include increases every year to reach $35 per hour by September 2027. Ultium Cells did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the deal. With Detroit Three automakers pivoting to producing electric vehicles, the company's battery plants, often built in partnership with other companies, have become a battleground for the union. UAW officials have voiced concerns about members' job security with more EVs coming. UAW President Shawn Fain has made organizing these plants a priority and a sticking point during the UAW and Detroit Three talks in 2023 that led to a six-week strike. In September 2024, Ultium Cells agreed to recognize the union at the Tennessee plant. That move came after workers at the Ultium Cells plant in northeast Ohio overwhelmingly voted to join the union in 2022 and signed off on a new contract in 2024 that came with significant wage increases. The union is still negotiating a first contract for workers at the Volkswagen Tennessee plant where workers voted to join the union in April 2024. (Reporting by Kalea Hall in Detroit; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Community leaders from Northeast OKC said they feel like the possible expansion of a scrapyard poses a huge risk they cant and will not ignore. Were going to fight, said Rev. Derrick Scobey, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. For years people living in the JFK neighborhood in Northeast Oklahoma City have complained about explosions from nearby scrapyards. The community is waking up all types of nights and days and they hear loud booms. Some of the foundations have been troubled because of the loud booms, said John Pettis Jr, a community activist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Planned scrapyard expansion causing concern for neighbors in NE OKC Community leaders said it amounts to environmental injustice in their neighborhood. Had the Planning Commission had a recap of environmental justice. They would have never approved of this application, said Pettis. It states that existing structure will be utilized, but it doesnt prohibit, and thats the key word, it does not prohibit new structures, and that is a major issue. The scrapyards said the work they do in this area wont change and is in an area of town that already permits industrial work like this. What affects my people, affects me. What is a concern of my people, is a concern of mine, said Scobey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 tried to speak with the owners of the scrapyard, but were told they would not comment. The neighborhood is now hoping city council will hear their plea for quiet. Were fighting tooth and nail, said Scobey. The city council will take a look at the application at a meeting on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. North Carolina lawmakers are considering legislation to permit the investment of state funds in cryptocurrencies. (Photo illustration by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Successful management of the massive investment funds that the state of North Carolina maintains is no small or easy job. But its also not rocket science. Many states have done quite well for decades with a standard mix of moderate-to-conservative public and private investments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weirdly, however, this simple, commonsense approach regularly runs afoul of right-wing paranoia and sends many conservative politicians turning to gut hunches and fringe theories. Former state treasurer Dale Folwell lost millions during his tenure by keeping disproportionate sums in cash. In the last General Assembly, a group of GOP lawmakers proposed establishing a state gold bullion depository. And now new state treasurer Brad Briner wants to invest big sums in cryptocurrency. Whats next? Investing the state retirement fund in a multi-level marketing scheme? The bottom line: Notwithstanding the crazy claims of late night TV and radio ads, the American economy has proven fundamentally strong over several decades. And our state investments should be premised on this simple reality. For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield. By Akbar Novruz bp has presented five new books by contemporary Azerbaijani poets and writers as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting the country's rich literary and cultural heritage. These books, featuring the works of four poets and one writer, highlight the nation's emerging literary talents. This initiative follows bps previous project, which introduced four young Azerbaijani authors as promising figures in modern literature. In total, nine poets and writers were selected for publication through nominations by the Azerbaijan Writers Union. At the presentation event, Anar, chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers Union, praised bps support, stating: "Our magnificent literature continues to flourish with each emerging literary generation. The publication of modern books enhances our confidence in the future of Azerbaijans literary art. bp's support for young writers is commendable, and we hope these books will inspire further creativity." Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, bps vice president for the Caspian region, emphasized the companys commitment: "By showcasing the works of nine talented poets and writers, we hope to inspire future generations and highlight the immense potential within Azerbaijan's contemporary literature." The five newly published books are: In One of the Familiar Streets a poetry collection by Qismet March 3 a poetry collection by Ruslan Dost Ali Twilight in Bayil a poetry collection by Ulujay Akif Lookers for the Night a short story collection and novel by Revan Javid The White Quadra a poetry collection by El Roman The event gathered prominent literary figures, scholars, and literature enthusiasts. Implemented by the Azerbaijan Writers Union, the project includes 570 pages across the five books, with a total cost of 64,850 AZN ($38,147). President Donald Trumps order for the military to build an advanced homeland missile shield will require a level of government cooperation akin to World War IIs Manhattan Project, a top Space Force official said this week. Its going to take concerted effort from the very top of our government, Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein said Wednesday. Its going to take national will to bring all this together. Its going to be a heavy lift across all the organizations that are going to be participating. In an executive order signed just one week into his second term, Trump directed the Pentagon to start making plans for a Golden Dome missile defense capability made up of advanced sensors and interceptors designed to track and neutralize both traditional and high-end missile threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, the Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, National Reconnaissance Office and other Defense Department agencies have been crafting options for achieving that vision. They plan to provide a response to the White House by the end of March. Experts and officials have pointed out the technical challenges the Golden Dome presents particularly when it comes to space-based interceptors. But speaking this week at the National Security Innovation Base conference in Washington, D.C., Guetlein said he thinks the biggest hurdles will be collaboration among the various organizations tasked with contributing to the project. Without a doubt, the biggest challenge is going to be organizational behavior and culture, he said. We are not accustomed to having to integrate at the level thats going to be required. The Pentagon hasnt yet delegated responsibilities for the Golden Dome. And while Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman has said the Space Force will likely play a central role, Guetlein noted that the effort must be collaborative because of the different expertise each organization offers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Space Force will play central role in Iron Dome, service chief says The Missile Defense Agency, for example, specializes in defending against ballistic missile threats and integrating complicated systems. MDA also has a robust testing enterprise, Guetlein said, with advanced modeling and simulation capabilities that will be crucial for the project. The Space Force, on the other hand, has a fleet of missile-warning satellites in orbit now, and the service is launching a proliferated low Earth orbit constellation developed by the Space Development Agency. Those spacecraft will provide key communications capabilities to link the space sensors that detect a target to the shooters, or weapon systems, designed to attack it. All of that kit has got to come together and be integrated in a system-of-systems type fashion, Guetlein said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps executive order also directed DOD to consider whether it would need additional authorities to deliver these capabilities quickly. One of the biggest needs from the Space Force perspective is the approval to conduct on-orbit testing and training, Guetlein said. Its a very constrained set of authorities that we have to do on-orbit test and on-orbit training, and we would ask that that open up so that we can increase our readiness of our forces on the front line to be able to do that protect and defend mission, he said. LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKBN) A Liberty police officer is crediting two people who he said were good Samaritans when they assisted him in getting an arrestee under control before other officers could arrive. Read next: OSHP supervisors punished after abuse reported by subordinates According to a police report, an officer started following a car on Belmont Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday after a registration check revealed that the driver, Stephen Jablonski, 63, had an active warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the officer got directly behind Jablonskis car, Jablonski stopped in the middle of the road blocking traffic, the report stated. The report stated that Jablonski resisted attempts from the officer to get his drivers license, remove him from the car or place handcuffs on him. The officer and Jablonski tussled and went to the ground, and thats when a good Samaritan stepped in to help the officer restrain Jablonski as the officer deployed his stun gun, and another Samaritan helped the officer handcuff Jablonski. At that point, other units had arrived on the scene and Jablonski was taken to the Trumbull County Jail where he was booked on charges of obstructing official business and resisting arrest, both second-degree misdemeanors. Jablonski pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday. Bond was set at $5,000. He will be in court again on March 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. AUSTIN (KXAN) The famed Goodyear Blimp is turning 100 this year, and to celebrate, its taking to the skies above the city of Austin for South by Southwest (SXSW). The flight on March 14 will mark the first time the blimp has visited the capitol city in more than a decade, according to a news release. The Goodyear Blimp is prepared for takeoff, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Long) A Century of Flight The Goodyear Blimps planned Austin flight is the latest in a century-old history that has taken it across the world, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The blimps journey began in 1925, when engineers designed the airship to fly using helium. That original blimp was called Pilgrim, and it was the first airship Goodyear used for public relations. Historical photo of Pilgrim blimp taken in 1925 (Courtesy Goodyear) Historical photo of Pilgrim blimp taken in 1925 (Courtesy Goodyear) Historical photo of Pilgrim blimp taken in 1925 (Courtesy Goodyear) After Pilgrim took off, the company got to work on building its second airship Puritan. The Puritan blimp became the United States first permanently licensed airship, according to Goodyear. Goodyears blimps later played a vital role in the war effort during World War II by safely escorting 89,000 Navy ships without a single one of them lost to submarine attacks. Goodyear Blimp escorting a U.S. Navy ship in 1945 (Courtesy Goodyear) After the war, Goodyear bought seven of its blimps back from the U.S. Navy and returned five of those ships to the air, including Ranger, Volunteer, Enterprise, Mayflower and Puritan, the company said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the following decades, Goodyears fleet of airships toured the globe stopping for maintenance and upgrades at bases in California, Florida and Texas. The Spring, Texas base closed in 1992, the release said. 2020 marked a new era for the Goodyear Blimp, when it returned to the skies above Europe for the first time in nearly 10 years. That flight was meant to introduce the new Goodyear-branded Zeppelin NT. In 2025, all four remaining Goodyear Blimps are embarking on a year-long journey with stops planned not just here in Austin, but in several cities across the world, according to the company. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. An expectant mom waits at a health clinic with her 1-year-old daughter. Republicans in multiple states are introducing bills to grant embryos and fetuses the same rights as children. (Angel Valentin/Getty Images) As state legislative sessions grind on, conservative lawmakers have filed a new batch of bills that would grant legal rights to fetuses and fertilized embryos. Lawmakers in at least eight states Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas have considered bills to go even further, to punish women who seek abortions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of these states have already banned abortion. But new criminalization bills would allow women to face homicide charges for obtaining abortions. The bills would classify an embryo or fetus as an unborn or preborn child who can be a victim of homicide. Many of the bills would repeal parts of state laws that explicitly exempt women from being punished for seeking abortions. If we truly believe in the equal humanity of the preborn, then our laws must uphold that truth in practice, Idaho state Sen. Brandon Shippy, a Republican, told fellow lawmakers while introducing his bill in February. The bill would allow women who seek abortions to be prosecuted under the states homicide laws. Justice requires accountability for intentional actions, Shippy said. To exempt any group from accountability actually undermines the laws integrity and diminishes the value of the life being protected. Shippy did not answer requests for comment. Most lawmakers, including Shippy, admit this type of legislation is a long shot. His bill is sitting in an Idaho Senate committee, although the chambers Republican leaders have indicated they wouldnt move it forward. But similar bills are still pending in five other states Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina and Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers in several states are introducing less punitive bills that are structured around the same legal concept: fetal personhood. A longtime cornerstone of the anti-abortion movement, fetal personhood is the idea that a fetus, embryo or fertilized egg has the same legal rights as a newborn. If the law considers fetuses to be people, then abortion should legally be considered murder. But experts and reproductive rights advocates have long warned of the legal chaos that could result from fetal personhood laws, with potential implications extending far beyond abortion. In some ways its a hornets nest, said Rebecca Kluchin, a history professor at California State University, Sacramento, whose research has focused on fetal personhood efforts. If you establish fetal personhood, it raises all of these questions. Do you recognize a fetus on your taxes? How do you calculate the census? What do you do about miscarriages? What about alimony? It is really messy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And this year, less than two months after voters approved a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to abortion, a Republican legislator introduced a fetal personhood bill that would put the question on the ballot again in 2026. If the bill is approved by two-thirds of the state legislature, the question would ask Montanans whether they support amending the state constitution to grant full rights to all people at any stage of development, beginning at the state of fertilization or conception. The measure passed out of committee last month along party lines. At a legislative hearing, Montana residents expressed concern that a personhood ballot measure would not only outlaw abortion but also eliminate access to in vitro fertilization and expose women who miscarry to possible criminal prosecution. An estimated 10% to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, though the percentage is likely higher for all pregnancies, since many losses happen before a woman knows shes pregnant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you recognize a fetus on your taxes? How do you calculate the census? What do you do about miscarriages? What about alimony? It is really messy. Rebecca Kluchin, researcher and professor at California State University, Sacramento Defenders of such legislation have downplayed its impact on IVF and insist that states have a duty to protect all life. For those of you who believe that a human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection, because the right to life is the foremost of unalienable rights, I dont see how any of us could be satisfied with having a law on the books that does not actually protect human life beginning with the biological beginnings of human life, which is fertilization, South Carolina Republican state Sen. Richard Cash told fellow legislators in February while introducing his bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics also worry criminalization bills could drive medical providers out of state and cause women to delay seeking medical care over fear of being punished for pregnancy complications. They say personhood language could even threaten individuals end-of-life decisions, such as do not resuscitate directives, which are often used by people with terminal illnesses. Child support and tax credits Many personhood bills are not, at face value, about banning abortion. Yet they ultimately could have the same effect. Some experts say that any attempt to weave fetal personhood language into state law could set the stage for stricter abortion laws. A new Ohio bill would let taxpayers claim conceived children as dependents on their taxes. And Republican lawmakers in Kansas introduced a bill to guarantee child support payments to mothers from the moment of conception. These bills often look, on their face, like theyre trying to be helpful to pregnant people, said Carmel Shachar, faculty director of the Health Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law Schools Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation. But oftentimes the way theyre drafted, theyre almost impossible to take advantage of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, Georgias Department of Revenue has interpreted the states anti-abortion law as allowing residents to claim a fetus with a detectable heartbeat as a state tax deduction. But the maximum tax savings is only about $150, according to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. And because its a deduction, rather than a refundable tax credit, its not available to many families with low incomes. At least 19 states either through state law, criminal statutes or case law have declared fetuses at some state of pregnancy to be people, according to a 2023 report from Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that conducts research and advocates for the rights of pregnant people, including the right to abortion. Fetal personhood language in state law has allowed prosecutors to press murder charges for the killing of a fetus after the killing of a pregnant woman in multiple states, including New Hampshire and Oklahoma. Laws also have allowed women in several states to be prosecuted for child endangerment for substance use while pregnant. Anti-abortion discord Historically, anti-abortion laws that carry criminal and civil penalties have targeted abortion care providers, such as physicians. Yet bills that would allow broader criminal prosecution of abortion are not unheard of; theyve popped up over the years in conservative-led states, such as North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But they arent widely popular, even within the anti-abortion movement. In February, a representative from the North Dakota Catholic Conference spoke against a Republican-sponsored fetal personhood bill that would add unborn child to state laws relating to murder, assault and wrongful death lawsuits. The conferences co-director told lawmakers that while his group opposes abortion, it doesnt support punishing women who seek one. The bill made it to the House floor, where it eventually failed. Theres a real division in the pro-life movement, said Kluchin, the history professor. To some folks, abortion is murder, so anyone who commits abortion, whether a provider or pregnant person, should be accused. But most of the pro-life movement doesnt go that way. Their thought is, how can you be compassionate if you accuse a woman of murder? Thats not going to get the general public on your side. Many lawmakers proposing the homicide bills acknowledge theyre unlikely to garner widespread support, even among their fellow conservatives. But its a way to say, Here are my pro-life bona fides, Kluchin said. Im not sure it matters that it isnt going to get out of committee. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE At least one Republican lawmaker on Wednesday publicly called for Elon Musk to be more careful in his slapdash efforts to gut the federal governmentjust days after facing dozens of furious constituents who berated him at a town hall over the recent chaos Musk has created. Ahead of a meeting between the billionaire and House Republicans Wednesday night, Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick pleaded with Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to take a half-step back. McCormick told CNNs Manu Raju at the Capitol that if he just takes a half-step back, well do something that I think can be compassionate and at the same time something thats impactful when it comes to saving Americas money thats hard earned and hard spent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do you mean half-step back? Raju followed up. Hes admitted to things. Hes said, Look, weve done some things wrong, but were learning, McCormick said. The plea came just days after the congressman faced a sea of angry constituents at a town hall event in Georgia, where the line of attendees reportedly stretched around the block. The town hall crowd peppers Rep. Rich McCormick with boos and catcalls as he struggles to answer a pointed question from a resident who says shes a descendant of Patrick Henry who pressed him on whether Trump was moving toward tyranny. #gapol https://t.co/gicXVC7AFJ pic.twitter.com/BkSIaxtgQb Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) February 21, 2025 McCormicks staff seemed caught off guard by the sheer force of the pushback, according to reports. Crowd members shouted Were pissed and Dont bend over, among other jeers. The Georgia representative tried in vain to defuse tensions, saying: If you all are just going to yell at me, thats not going to be an effective comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you stop yelling, I will answer, McCormick said at another point. McCormick facing pushback as he talks about bipartisan ways to cut the federal deficit #gapol pic.twitter.com/J3sRkBjbv4 Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) February 20, 2025 For his part, Musk did not seem concerned by the large number of mistakes DOGE has made so far. In his meeting with House Republicans Wednesday, the billionaire repeated his mantra that DOGE cant bat a thousand all the time, Politico reported. Among the panels mistakes were accidentally cutting Ebola prevention while gutting the U.S. Agency for International Development, accidentally publishing classified information on its website, firing then rehiring bird flu experts amid a devastating worldwide outbreak of the disease, and making a stunning number of errors on the website created to track its cuts. DOGE also fired, then rehired a 25-year-old engineer who made racist remarks online. WASHINGTON, DC- MARCH 5: Elon Musk and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) arrive at a Senate Republican luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images Despite this, few congressional Republicans have come forward to criticize Musk and DOGE, at least publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On CNN, Raju noted that members of the House and Senate both expressed to Musk on Wednesday that they should have more of a say in how the cuts are carried out. During a meeting with senators earlier in the day, Musk tried to curry favor by giving out his personal cellphone numberan apparent sign of his willingness to hear from them, Raju added. They wanted to increase communication, but theres also a push among the Republican senators to actually have votes on those cuts that are coming by DOGE, he explained. And were told that Elon Musk was open to that idea of actually having a vote in the Senate. Students and activists from multiple faiths are sounding the alarm over the Trump administration and lawmakers efforts to silence dissent on college campuses over issues like Palestinian rights accusing officials of using allegations of antisemitism as a pretext to crush free speech and exert control over the countrys higher education system. At a hearing Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee listened to testimony related to the rise in antisemitism in the U.S., particularly after the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. With the exception of temporary, fragile ceasefires, Israeli forces have been fighting in Gaza and destroying infrastructure and killing civilians ever since. The U.S. also has seen a rise in Islamophobia since the attack, though Wednesdays Senate hearing did not include concerns over that issue. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Republican-controlled committees ranking member, stressed that the panel under his leadershiphad held multiple hearings on hate against all faiths. He added that the mother of Wadee Alfayoumi, the 6-year-old Palestinian American boy murdered by his landlord in Illinois, attended a previous hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was clearly a hate crime, and it was based on their religion, Durbin said. And the fact that that was part of the hearing did not diminish in any way my strong feelings about antisemitism. It is the same hatred that were trying to stamp out today. Community members attend a vigil at the Prairie Activity and Rec Center for 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume, on Oct.17, 2023 in Plainfield, Illinois. Scott Olson via Getty Images In the spring of 2024, protests erupted on college campuses across the country, with students and faculty of all faiths peacefully demanding that the U.S. government the Biden administration at the time stop supporting Israel in its destruction of Gaza and the Palestinian people. Similar to the students who protested the Vietnam War, participantsfaced police brutality, far-right agitators, retaliation by their schools and mostly unfounded accusations of being antisemitic. Just Wednesday, Columbia Universitys Barnard College expelled a third student for participating in pro-Palestinian activism. It is essential we continue working to dismantle real antisemitism while also defending our friends and community members who are falsely accused of antisemitism, Ellie Baron, a Bryn Mawr College student who is part of this years graduating class, said in a statement. The only [way]forward is through forging greater solidarity with all people who are targeted by fascism and supremacist ideologies, including antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has threatened to essentially sanction universities that allow peaceful protests for Palestinian human rights, and he has even called for revoking the visas of foreign students who participate in those protests. At Wednesdays hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) repeatedly questioned why the government should not enact Trumps pledge todeport foreign students who commit an act of violence against a Jewish student. Well, thats already the law, civil liberties attorney Jenin Younes posted on X. So everyone with a brain knows these antisemitism related [executive orders] arent about prosecuting violent crime or other illegal conduct like harassment and vandalizing property. Theyre about suppressing disfavored speech and youre smart enough to know that this is a grave violation of 1A. Pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside Columbia University's campus in New York City, on March 4, 2025. Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images Despite Trump and his allies statements thatthey care about Jewish safety, the presidents actions have donethe opposite. Trump and his billionaire friend Elon Musk are behind the layoffs of at least a dozen government officials from the Education Departments office of civil rights, which looked into students complaints of discrimination including antisemitism. The presidenthas a history ofobjectively antisemitic statements, like saying that any Jewish person who votes for Democrats hates their religion, and implying that Jewish Americans have dual loyalty with Israel. On his first day in office this term, Trump issued full pardons to rioters who carried out the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, including white nationalists and others who brought antisemitic symbols to the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has also come under fire for giving a Nazi-like salute during an event, openly supporting far-right German politics and saying that society should stop paying so much attention to the Holocaust. It is reprehensible that MAGA senators who have aligned themselves with white nationalists and antisemites like Elon Musk are putting on this hearing to crack down on the movement for Palestinian rights and for our civil liberties writ large under the guise of fighting antisemitism, Jewish progressive group IfNotNow said Wednesday. We refuse to let our Jewish community be the face of the Trump-Musk administrations attacks on our rights. New York police clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators from Barnard College after a group of student protesters occupied Milstein Library on March 5, 2025. Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images Protecting education and open dialogue is vital to the ability of Jewish students to succeed and thrive, Tufts University student Meirav Solomon testified at the Senate hearing on Wednesday. Some lawmakers support adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which labels most criticism of the State of Israel as antisemitic. Civil andhuman rights groups as well as the definitions original co-author have strongly opposed it as overbroad and unconstitutional, particularly in education spaces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, a federal judge ruled that a state-level executive order threatening funding to Texas colleges and universities who dont update campus free speech policies to include the IHRA definition of antisemitism likely violates the First Amendment. Distorting the meaning of antisemitism and making Jews the face of a campaign to crush free speech is deeply dangerous to Jewish Americans, Barry Trachtenberg, presidential chair of Jewish history at Wake Forest University, said in a statement, and all of us who work for collective liberation. Republican senators told tech billionaire Elon Musk at a closed-door meeting Wednesday that his aggressive moves to shrink the federal government will need a vote on Capitol Hill, sending a clear message that he needs to respect Congresss power of the purse. Musk met with Republican senators at a luncheon to give them an overview of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) teams work to root out waste, fraud and abuse across an array of federal programs. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who largely supports Musks mission, told him DOGEs efforts to cut spending and reduce the federal workforce reductions wont pass muster with the courts unless Congress codifies them by passing a spending rescission package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make it real, to make it go beyond the moment of the day, it needs to come back in the form of a rescission package, Paul said after the meeting, pointing to 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning rejecting the Trump administrations argument that billions of dollars in foreign aid should remain frozen. I love all the stuff theyre doing, but we got to vote on it. My message to Elon was: Lets get over the impoundment idea and lets send it back as a rescission package, he said. Then, what we have to do is get to 51 senators or 50 senators to vote to cut the spending, he added. We talked a lot about, how do we make these things permanent? Rescission was a big part of the discussion. Paul and other Republican senators said Musk appeared open to the idea but didnt seem to expect DOGEs cuts and workforce reductions would need to come back to Congress for ultimate approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said theres broad desire within the Senate GOP conference for a vote on DOGEs recommended cuts. Yes, yes, 100 percent, and we should be doing it, like, yesterday, Graham said. You could do regulatory reform without us, but anything that doesnt fit within [budget] reconciliation has to be done through rescissions, he explained. Graham and other Republican lawmakers said Musks proposed cuts cannot be codified through the special budget reconciliation package they plan to move to address border security, energy reform and tax reform. My understanding is, since the budget reconciliation deals with mandatory spending [and] that the DOGE cuts would be primarily from discretionary, the way wed do that procedurally is for the White House to request us to take up a rescissions package, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. We could pass it with 51 votes here and a majority in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP lawmakers say Musks failure to brief them in advance about impending cuts and funding freezes or to respond to their questions and concerns about actions taken by DOGE reflected his belief that he thought the administration could largely bypass them by simply impounding funds lawfully appropriated by Congress. Musk, for example, revealed Wednesday he wasnt aware that Congress could pass a rescissions package through the Senate with a simple majority vote, rather than the 60-vote threshold usually needed to pass controversial bills through the upper chamber. At least one Republican senator at Wednesdays meeting said there needed to be better communication with Musk and his team and wanted to know what else DOGE is planning. Many Republican senators have complained publicly and privately about being blindsided by Musks proposed funding freezes and reductions in workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every days another surprise, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said last week of the frequent news bombshells from DOGE. Collins said a methodical approach to reforming government would be better than what she called Musks sledgehammer approach. Senate Steering Committee Chair Rick Scott (R-Fla.) invited Musk to the lunch meeting to speak to GOP senators directly after several of them voiced their complaints about what they thought was a lack of transparency and accountability at DOGE. Several GOP senators vented their frustrations over Musks operating style especially his teams failure to respond promptly to their concerns at a meeting last week with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wiles told frustrated senators they should contact her directly with their concerns over funding freezes and reductions in force pushed by Musk and his team of young engineers. Sources familiar with Wednesdays meeting said the GOP senators who complained about Musk and his methods last week were much more cordial when they met with him face-to-face in the wood-empaneled Mansfield Room just off the Senate floor. Senators were much nicer to him in person than they have been. A week ago, people were pretty cranky: Theyre shutting down stuff, were not being told. They were much more polite to him in person, a person familiar with Wednesdays lunch said. With Musk in the room, GOP senators phrased their concerns about DOGEs spending cuts and freezes much more diplomatically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way people phrased it was, When DOGE is being blamed for something, how can we verify whether its true or not? Its a nice way of saying, If I want to complain, how can I do it? the source said. GOP lawmakers were vexed last week by a surprise announcement that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had decided to dismiss 1,400 probationary employees. That came on the heels of the dismissal of 1,000 VA employees on Feb. 13. Faced with pushback from Congress, the department later announced it had mistakenly rescinded job offers to staff the Veterans Crisis Line, explaining that was due to an administrative error. Musk told the senators he would set up a process to respond quickly to their concerns and questions, something that appeared to please the Republicans sitting around the room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While a number of GOP senators have complaints about Musks aggressive tactics and lack of collaboration with Congress, they are leery of confronting him directly, fearful he could pour tens of millions of dollars into backing Republican primary challengers next year. Musk spent at least $288 million to help elect President Trump and other Republican candidates in 2024, and he warned House Republicans during a visit to Capitol Hill in December that he was keeping track of a naughty list of members who buck Trumps agenda. Musk vowed after Election Day that his PAC would play a significant role in primaries next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. AUSTIN (KXAN) Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the states request for fire management assistance grants for the Welder Fire in San Patricio County and the Duke Fire in Bexar County, according to a press release. The State of Texas and emergency responders continue to work around the clock to fight the wildfires in Texas and keep our communities safe, Abbott said. FEMAs approval of Texas grant assistance request for San Patricio and Bexar counties will provide crucial financial assistance to help ease the cost of fighting the Welder and Duke fires. The approval of the grants allows the state to become eligible for 75% reimbursement from the federal government for costs related to the two wildfires, according to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TDEM said on Tuesday, that state emergency responders supported 41 new wildfires that started and burned more than 4,400 acres. In Central Texas, a total of 10 fires burned 486.5 acres in the KXAN viewing area. The Onion Creek Fire and the Klett Fire were still active fires as of Wednesday evening, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced on Thursday that since 2019, Kentucky State Police have arrested 309 online child predators. Our message is clear there is no place for child predators or any crime against children in Kentucky, Gov. Beshear said. As a dad, I want every child to be safe from harm, and as Governor, I will continue working to make sure this is the reality, and we are making this happen thanks to the vigilant efforts of the Kentucky State Police and our local law enforcement agencies. KSP is strongly encouraging Kentuckians to learn more about financial sextortion, a scheme where the alleged perpetrator uses threats and intimidation to extort money from potential victims, many of whom are children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say this kind of crime is becoming more prevalent nationwide. Our team is committed to tracking down the people who hide behind the keyboard to target our young people, said Lt. Mike Bowling, Electronic Crime Branch commander. We are working diligently to create a safer online environment for children by equipping parents with the knowledge and tools to monitor their childrens activity online. Officials state to further assist in locating hidden electronic storage devices such as hard drives, USB drives and cell phones that may contain criminal activity, KSP has introduced the first-ever electronic storage device detection in Kentucky, one of 51 of its kind nationwide. In addition, the Electronic Crime Branch partnered with Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky to provide education to help parents protect their kids online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the heart of the work of Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky is to prevent our children from falling prey to this horrific crime in the first place. These online resources and trainings have reached all 120 counties, and received national attention, said Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky Executive Director Jill Seyfred. If just one family is equipped to be alert to the dangers of online predators, and if just one child is tucked into bed tonight having avoided these horrifying consequences, then we know we are moving in the right direction with our education and awareness activities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein visited Yancey County on Thursday to meet with Helene survivors. The state Senate voted Wednesday on a fourth round of disaster relief for Western North Carolina to recover from the damage. Stretch of I-40 damaged during Helene getting ready to reopen Stein went to the area last month to announce the opening of Interstate 40, reconnecting North Carolina and Tennessee. Those lanes reopened last weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yancey County Sheriff Shane Hilliard said his mom lost her home during the storm. Four of her neighbors died from flash flooding. Sheriff Hilliard showed Stein where the bridge near his moms home used to be. His mother, Susie Hilliard, is rebuilding and got to speak to the governor. It means a lot that he cares enough to come out and see the devastation, Susie Hilliard said. Just try to help us to get our life back. Stein went to Micaville Elementary School in Burnsville. A school that has not reopened because it was damaged. The 200 children who go there must go to different schools. A lot of my families are making mortgage payments on homes that are not standing, said former principal Melanie Bennett. So theyre having to work and work extra hours just to provide for their families to make this mortgage payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor said he is thankful for what state lawmakers had done this week to pass $530 million of new funding for western North Carolina. However, he said more money will be needed from the federal government to help with the billions of dollars of damage across our western counties. The needs are immense, $60 billion in damages in all of western North Carolina, Stein said. We just toured one county, Yancey County, and everywhere you look, you see destruction. The governor also spoke about the importance of summer-school programs for the children who missed seven weeks of school after Helene hit. VIDEO: Popular Morganton attraction washed out by Helene partially reopens The brother of Gov. Kevin Stitt has lost his appeal of a $250 speeding ticket in the latest decision on the hotly contested issue of who can prosecute Native Americans in Oklahoma. Keith Stitt, an attorney, complained he never should have been charged in Tulsa Municipal Court because he is an "American Indian" who was stopped in "Indian Country." Keith Stitt is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and was pulled over in 2021 within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled against him 4-1 Thursday. Judges pointed to their decision in December in a Tulsa drunk driving case. In that opinion, the Court of Criminal Appeals ruled the city of Tulsa could prosecute Nicholas Ryan O'Brien, an Osage Nation citizen who was pulled over in the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. "This Court found that Oklahoma has concurrent criminal jurisdiction in Indian country over non-member Indian defendants accused of committing non-major crimes," the majority wrote Thursday. "Pursuant to this Court's reasoning in O'Brien, Tulsa's exercise of jurisdiction in this case does not unlawfully infringe upon tribal self-government." Disagreeing was Judge David B. Lewis. "Congress has never conferred criminal jurisdiction on the State or its municipal subdivisions to prosecute Indians for crimes committed in Indian Country," he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith Stitt based his appeal on the landmark 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma that led to widespread changes and ongoing disputes over the prosecution of Native Americans. More: Legal fighting continues over who prosecutes Native Americans in Oklahoma The appeal put Keith Stitt at odds with his brother, who has long complained about the confusion that has resulted from the McGirt decision. "Public safety is at stake here. The Tulsa police need to be able to enforce the laws and keep their communities safe," the governor said in a statement to the media last year. "The City of Tulsa is right. Their opposition is not. And maybe Keith shouldnt speed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith Stitt was fined $250 after being found guilty of aggravated speeding for driving 78 mph on a highway in Tulsa on Feb. 3, 2021. The speed limit was 50 mph. During the stop, according to legal filings, Keith Stitt showed the Tulsa police officer his tribal card and said, "Isn't this my get out of jail free card?" Keith Stitt will ask the Court of Criminal Appeals for a rehearing and may go to the U.S. Supreme Court, his attorney said. "This decision is the crowning achievement of a recent spate of anti-Indigenous rulings handed down by these judges," the attorney, Brett Chapman, said. "Their decision is not only legally flawed but also a dangerous step toward erasing the recognition of tribal authority that has been settled law for well over a century." Tulsa has new mayor, new approach Despite the victory in the drunk driving case in December, Tulsa's new mayor is now sending accusations involving tribal citizens to tribal courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A municipal judge in February dismissed the case against O'Brien at the request of the city. In his dismissal order, the judge wrote prosecutors said they were acting pursuant to the "Policy of the City's Administration." O'Brien still faces prosecution in Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribal court. Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols took office Dec. 2 after campaigning on a platform of "co-governing with our tribal partners." The city also now is working to settle a 2023 federal lawsuit over its traffic cases against Native Americans, legal filings show. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation asked a federal judge to permanently ban Tulsa "from exercising criminal jurisdiction over Indians for conduct occurring within the Creek Reservation absent express authorization from Congress." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Stitt's brother loses traffic fine appeal in McGirt-related case Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has offered to step in and host town halls in Republican districts after the National Republican Congressional Committee told legislators to avoid in-person events due to ongoing backlash over the Trump administration's policies. Politico reports that House Republicans were advised by NRCC chairperson Rep. Richard Hudson (R-North Carolina) to avoid any in-person town hall meetings with community members in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. It follows a series of high-profile confrontations at Republican town halls held across the U.S., which saw representatives confronted by local residents angry by the scale and severity of the cuts and layoffs being imposed by the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walz reacted to the NRCC's order on Twitter, suggesting that he would host an event in a district a Republican currently holds to gain more support for Democrats. "Thats a shame. If your Republican representative wont meet with you because their agenda is so unpopular, maybe a Democrat will," Walz said. "Hell, maybe I will. If your congressman refuses to meet, Ill come host an event in their district to help local Democrats beat em." Thats a shame. If your Republican representative wont meet with you because their agenda is so unpopular, maybe a Democrat will. Hell, maybe I will. If your congressman refuses to meet, Ill come host an event in their district to help local Democrats beat em. https://t.co/EtysJK75gK Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) March 4, 2025 Minnesota currently has four congressional districts controlled by Republicans: Rep. Brad Finstad in the state's 1st Congressional District; Rep. Tom Emmer in the 6th Congressional District; Rep. Michelle Fischbach in the 7th Congressional District; and Rep. Pete Stauber in the 8th Congressional District. Bring Me The News has reached out to each representative for comment regarding the NRCC's order, but has not received any responses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even without holding town halls, Minnesota's Republicans in Congress have been on the receiving end of pushback over the past six weeks. Local media reports say protesters have gathered at the office of Rep. Stauber for consecutive weekends. Since Trump's return to the White House, Rep. Stauber has proposed a bill to erase mining protections for a large area of Super National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which has received some backlash from Democrats and conservationists. Protesters also have been reported to gather outside of Rep. Finstad's office in Rochester last weekend, according to KAAL-TV, which reported that those in attendance claimed Finstad has "been absent from the city, having held no town hall meetings or provided any other ways to reach him." Finstad's voting record is also in question among those in opposition, noting that he voted alongside Republicans to pass a House budget bill that could see major cuts to Medicaid. Finstad told ABC 6 in response that there has been "concerning misinformation" over the framework that experts believe could eventually lead to cuts in Medicaid budgets. Gov. Tim WalzOffice of Governor Tim Walz Protesters also gathered in Willmar this past week at Rep. Fischbach's office, expressing their frustration with the congresswoman and the current administration, according to the West Central Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a radio interview on AM 1100/FM 92.3 WZFG The Flag, Fischbach called the protests "garbage." Echoing Finstad's remarks about the GOP budget, Fischbach claimed that Medicaid isn't being discussed in the budget resolution and claims President Donald Trump says "it won't be touched." Emmer, who is the House Majority Whip, told NBC News' Tom Llamas when it comes to the town hall discussion, "you do what you believe is right." "Our members know how to relate to their constituents. They didn't get here without doing the customer service that's necessary," Emmer said. "And they'll continue to do that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A weekly protest has been planned each Saturday afternoon at Emmer's office in Chaska, according to Rep. Lucy Rehm (DFL-Chanhassen). A packed town hall meeting was held on Feb. 26 in Monticello, though it was organized by two groups opposed to President Donald Trump who were hoping Emmer would make a virtual appearance. His office told the Monticello Times it never received the invitation. A federal appeals court Wednesday said President Donald Trump can fire a top government watchdog in the latest round of a legal fight over the authority to dismiss federal officials. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C., put on hold on a lower courts ruling that found Hampton Dellingers termination at the Office of Special Counsel was unlawful. The court said it would expedite its review of the ruling, but in the meantime Dellinger can be removed from his post. The White House and Dellinger did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling is a temporary win for Trump as his administration seeks to carry out mass firings of federal workers, including nearly two dozen government watchdog officials. Follow live politics coverage here Dellinger, who was special counsel of the Office of Special Counsel, filed a lawsuit against several Trump administration officials last month challenging his dismissal. He argued it violated a federal law that says the president can remove special counsels only for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The email outlining his termination did not cite any of the those as the reason for his firing, Dellinger said in his lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That email made no attempt to comply with the Special Counsels for-cause removal protection, the lawsuit says. It stated simply: On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Special Counsel of the US Office of Special Counsel is terminated, effective immediately. Dellinger began his post in March 2024 after he was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate to a five-year term. Hampton Dellinger, special counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. As head of the Office of Special Counsel, Dellinger was tasked with shielding federal employees from prohibited personnel practices, including retaliation for whistleblowing. His offices work was unrelated to the investigations into Trump led by Jack Smith, whom then-Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed as a special counsel in 2022. Last week, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson halted Trump's effort to remove Dellinger and ordered that he be allowed to serve until the end of his term barring inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. She had allowed Dellinger to remain in his post while the case moved through the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson appeared to agree with Dellinger's argument that allowing his termination without cause would have a chilling effect among federal workers seeking to lodge complaints through the Office of Special Counsel. The Special Counsels job is to look into and expose unethical or unlawful practices directed at federal civil servants, and to help ensure that whistleblowers who disclose fraud, waste, and abuse on the part of government agencies can do so without suffering reprisals, Jackson wrote in her ruling Saturday. It would be ironic, to say the least, and inimical to the ends furthered by the statute if the Special Counsel himself could be chilled in his work by fear of arbitrary or partisan removal. The Justice Department had petitioned the Supreme Court to affirm what it called Trump's right to fire Dellinger, arguing that anything less would infringe on the president's power to manage the executive branch "in the earliest days of his Administration. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks to reporters at a news conference Jan. 29, 2025, in the state Capitol Blue Room in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday called for an audit of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services after the agencys head aired concerns about financial mismanagement. Meanwhile, legislative leaders asked their own fiscal oversight body, Legislative Office of Financial Transparency, to review the agencys finances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2024, Stitt tapped Allie Friesen to run the agency as commissioner, replacing Carrie Slatton-Hodges, who was also appointed by the governor, left to take another job. As Ive spent the last year pulling back the layers, its clear that there are systemic issues at this agency that need to be addressed, Friesen said in a press release. Friesen said she will work with State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd to ensure Byrd gets the information needed in a timely manner. Stitt said Friesen earlier this week raised concerns about patterns of financial mismanagement spanning years. Stitt said Friesen has terminated some people in the finance department, and was still trying to get all the numbers. He said the agencys chief financial officer had been replaced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It appears we may have to do a supplemental (appropriation), Stitt said when asked about it at his weekly press conference. He said that could be $60 million or whatever theyre telling me. The Governors Office did not provide a more specific figure by deadline. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, released a joint statement saying LOFT will determine why the unacceptable shortfall exists, its breadth, and how to prevent it from ever occurring again. They urged Byrd to conduct a forensic audit to ensure there is no waste fraud or abuse associated with the shortfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelsey Davis, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, referred additional questions about the supplemental dollar amount and how much was misspent to Stitts office. In his press conference, Stitt said the agency over the last few years received a 14% increase. Davis confirmed that the agencys chief financial officer resigned in December. Stitt said the audit is a separate issue from a recently approved consent decree to resolve a lawsuit over competency restoration services. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE On Thursday, Gov. Bob Ferguson will hold a press conference where he will announce significant updates on the future of the ferry services in the state. The announcement is expected to happen at 10 a.m. at the Seattle Ferry Terminal at 801 Alaskan Way. The governor will be joined by Transportation Secretary Julie Meredith, head of Washington State Ferries Steve Nevey and Greg Wheeler, Bremerton Mayor. KIRO 7 will be in attendance and bring you a full recap at 12 p.m. on air and online. South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden speaks during a press conference Feb. 6, 2025, at the Capitol in Pierre with Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhodens preferred version of a bill to punish supervisors who hide misbehavior by state employees is headed to his desk. Senate Bill 62 is part of a legislative package from Attorney General Marty Jackley as a response to a host of state employee malfeasance cases since last summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday at the state Capitol, the Senate voted 20-14 to agree with Rhoden-supported changes applied to the bill earlier by the state House of Representatives. Jackley wanted supervisors who fail to report employee misdeeds to face felony charges even if the misdeeds in question amounted to misdemeanor crimes. The bills basic outlines were broadly popular in both chambers, but the clause on felonies for supervisors proved divisive. Rhodens lobbyists unsuccessfully pushed to reduce the penalty for supervisors to a misdemeanor in both the House and Senate judiciary committees. Senators narrowly rejected an effort to do the same during SB 62s first appearance on the floor in that chamber. Earlier this week, the House voted 38-31 to go Rhodens way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate was asked Wednesday to concur. Senators couldve appointed a conference committee in hopes of hammering out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. A handful of senators, including Pierre Republican Jim Mehlhaff, wanted to restore Jackleys preferences and hoped a conference committee could pull that off. This was an unfriendly amendment, Mehlhaff said of the Houses actions. The majority of his colleagues, however, decided against another volley. Im not sure a conference committee will resolve this, and Id like to be done with this today, said Sen. Amber Hulse, R-Hot Springs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackley filed at least five criminal cases against former state employees last year, for allegations ranging from faked food-service health inspections to $1.8 million of embezzlement from a state department. His package of anti-corruption legislation includes other bills that would expand the investigatory authority of the state auditor, strengthen the Board of Internal Controls, and establish protections for whistleblowers. Each bill has passed both chambers, with some pending amendments made by one chamber or the other. Jackley issued a statement Wednesday praising the Legislature for approving the package. I remain convinced that there must be significant consequences when a government supervisor does not report a crime or government misbehavior, Jackley said. The number of cases in the last year demonstrates that such crimes should be charged as a felony, not a misdemeanor. The Legislature thought differently, and I respect its decision. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Arizona State graduate student Jill Stein is aiming to upend how we think about sustainable apparel something a growing number of consumers crave as they reconsider investing their hard-earned dollars in a fast-fashion sector with a worrying track record. As The State Press detailed, Stein launched The Box Project as part of her research with the College of Global Futures. The initiative calls out the fashion industry for overusing and diluting the term "sustainable," a practice that can amount to greenwashing. To combat this, Stein challenged students at ASU's Fashion Institute of Design and Manufacturing to work with dead stock materials. Supima Cotton and Arizona's Sustainable Fashion Week donated the leftover textiles. According to The Box Project's official website, submitted garments had to consist of at least 75% of the donated materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students, who participated in the project as part of professor Jessica Kosak's class, also assisted with creating The Box Project's website and a public display entitled "Fusion on First" the recipient of a grant from the Humanities Lab. The showcase warns against the dangers of fashion overconsumption and encourages consumers to examine their purchasing habits and make adjustments if needed. In addition to being a drain on the wallet, overconsuming in order to keep up with ever-changing fast-fashion trends is a significant public health concern, contributing to water and soil contamination through toxic dye runoff and cancer-linked microplastics. The sector has also come under repeated scrutiny for unethical and exploitative labor practices. "The whole idea was to educate not only ASU FIDM students, but also anyone that would be visiting Fusion on First would get an exposure to what sustainable fashion is and what the problems are driving it," Stein told The State Press, also highlighting how "nine times out of 10" boxes in parcel-pending waste rooms contain unwanted clothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Earth.org, approximately 101.4 million tons of textiles end up in dumps every year, producing heat-trapping gases like methane which is responsible for a warming effect on the planet that is as much as 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide. Atticus Doan, a senior minoring in fashion and majoring in business sustainability, told The State Press that The Box Project helped him dig deep, inspiring a new wave of creativity. "I felt a sense of achievement in it, because when I initially got the box, I wasn't necessarily happy with the fabric that I had gotten and how little of it there was. And so it was really rewarding to try to design something that's outside of my comfort zone," he said. After a successful launch, Stein hopes to bring The Box Project and her reimagined future of fashion to more schools and companies. Interested parties can reach out through the information provided on the initiative's official website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Just being in the fashion industry, when you get exposed to how the sausage is made, you really start to see the underbelly and how disturbing it is," Stein told The State Press. "I'm the kind of person where I have to do something about it." "It's been a great journey," she added. "The collaboration with all the different disciplines and the different universities has been amazing ... seeing everyone come together under a unified vision is really fun." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. GRADY, Co., Okla. (KFOR) Authorities in Grady County on Wednesday seized 2,000 plants and 30 pounds of finished product regarding a illegal grow operation. Grady County Sheriffs Office and OBN seize marijuana plants in illegal grow operation, Image Grady County Sheriffs Office Facebook page Grady County Sheriffs Office and OBN seize marijuana plants in illegal grow operation, Image Grady County Sheriffs Office Facebook page Grady County Sheriffs Office and OBN seize marijuana plants in illegal grow operation, Image Grady County Sheriffs Office Facebook page Grady County Sheriffs Office and OBN seize marijuana plants in illegal grow operation, Image Grady County Sheriffs Office Facebook page Grady County Sheriffs Office and OBN seize marijuana plants in illegal grow operation, Image Grady County Sheriffs Office Facebook page The Grady County Sheriffs Office and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics say, a search warrant was executed at a residence/business on State Highway 277. OBN seizes more than 600 marijuana plants in Johnston County bust According to authorities, the search warrant was for an illegal marijuana grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) signaled Wednesday evening that he supports President Trumps decision to open direct communication with Hamas on the release of hostages amid the militant groups fragile ceasefire with Israel. It looks like the administrations directly negotiating with Hamas. Do you like that, or you dont like that? How do you feel? Fox Newss Jesse Watters asked Graham. The Republican senator responded that he doesnt mind what the president does, because I trust Trump. He pointed to Trumps recent post on Truth Social that called for the remaining hostages in Gaza to be released immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump sent out a tweet today, Release the hostages or you will be destroyed, and thats the kind of leadership we need, Graham told the host, according to a clip highlighted by Mediaite. I trust Trump, as long as hes in the room, Im OK, Graham added. The White House on Wednesday confirmed Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is holding direct negotiations with Hamas which is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization on the release of hostages. Israel was consulted on this matter, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday during a press briefing. Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people, is something that the president has proven, what he believes is good-faith effort to do whats right for the American people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump issued a stark warning Wednesday to the Palestinian group. Shalom Hamas means Hello and Goodbye You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, he wrote on Truth Social. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! The president also met with eight of the released hostages to listen to their heartbreaking stories, per the White House. Hamas has seemingly brushed off the threat, doubling down on its request for a full truce. During his appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime, Graham also commented on the three-year war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is now time to find a way to end this war. The minerals deal is a good deal, Graham said, referencing a potential deal between the two countries. A half a trillion dollars to us, money for the Ukraine, American expertise. The comments come as tensions remain between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following an Oval Office spat earlier this month around ending the war. The future of the minerals deal is still in limbo though both sides have appeared optimistic it will come to fruition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Domestic violence survivors and advocates protested in Sanford on Jan. 9, 2025, one day after the Maine House of Representatives approved an ethics probe into the domestic violence allegations against Rep. Lucas Lanigan. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/Maine Morning Star) Sanford Republican Rep. Lucas Lanigan was indicted on Wednesday after a grand jury found probable cause to charge the sitting legislator on two counts for domestic violence offenses. Lanigan, who was arraigned in York County Superior Court, pleaded not guilty to both charges, which include a Class B felony for aggravated domestic violence and a Class D misdemeanor for domestic violence charges. An indictment is not a guilty verdict or sentencing, rather it means the grand jury found probable cause to convict Lanigan on the charges the police recommended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lanigan was arrested one week before the November election for domestic violence aggravated assault. According to a police report, a Sanford police officer alleged that Lanigan strangled his wife after she confronted him and another woman his wife believed he was having an affair with. Lanigan then won reelection by one vote after a recount. During Lanigans first court appearance in October, his wife called the incident a misunderstanding and said the case should be dropped. However, Assistant District Attorney Linda Holdsworth-Donovan said victims regularly recant or downplay their stories after the fact and that the state would still pursue charges. Lanigan, who represents the towns of Newfield, Shapleigh, and parts of Sanford and Springvale, did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication. He told the Portland Press Herald that he promised his caucus he would immediately resign and step down if he is convicted, because someone thats convicted of that should not be serving in the House of Representatives. The Maine Democratic Party called for Lanigans resignation following the indictment, reiterating earlier calls from the party and Democratic legislators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no place for domestic violence in our society, Maine Democratic Party Vice Chair Imke Schessler-Jandreau said in a statement, and I call on Republican leaders to join the widespread calls for Mr. Lanigans immediate resignation. In response to a request for comment, the office of Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford) pointed to the statement Fecteau made on Oct. 29, 2024 regarding Lanigans arrest, in which he also called for Lanigan to resign. We expect better of our public officials, Fecteau said. Mr. Lanigan should resign from the office he holds and drop out of his bid for re-election. He should be held accountable by the law and should seek the help he needs. Fecteau stripped Lanigan of his assignment to the Labor Committee in December. The office of Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) directed Maine Morning Star to Fecteau for comment, stating the issue is under the Speakers jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, Maine House members voted 74-69 to direct the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against Lanigan to determine if he had violated the code of ethics. A report is due a month after the committee convenes. One day after that vote, Finding Our Voices, a domestic violence survivor network, held a protest against Lanigans reelection. Thank you to the York County DA for continuing to pursue criminal charges against Lucas Lanigan, Patrisha McLean, CEO and founder of Finding Our Voices, wrote in a statement to Maine Morning Star following the indictment. And thank you to every individual working to end Lanigans law making abilities: Maine needs stronger laws against domestic violence stranglers and not lawmakers who stand indicted for domestic violence strangling. Editors Note: This story was updated with responses from the Legislatures presiding officers. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) Nonprofit leaders from across northeast Wisconsin gathered at Lambeau Field on Tuesday for the third annual UW-Green Bay Nonprofit Conference, an event focused on collaboration, networking and tackling challenges facing the sector. While the conference covered a wide range of topics, concerns over federal funding uncertainties were a key point of discussion. Son of Packers Hall of Famer and former Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman scores first MLS goal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Hohner, director of the Volunteer Center of Brown County, emphasized the importance of the conference as a space for nonprofit leaders to connect and share resources. This conference has been great. This is the third year theyre doing this conference, and its a great way for local nonprofit leaders to get together, collaborate, network with each other and learn a lot, Hohner said. For some organizations, federal funding plays a critical role in their operations. Hohner pointed to his groups RSVP program, which relies on an $84,000 federal grant. One of our programs receives federal funding, our RSVP program, which is a retired senior volunteer program. We receive federal funding for that, about $84,000 from them. Its threatened to be taken away, Hohner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With some nonprofits relying almost entirely on government grants, losing that support could have serious consequences. It could affect a lot within the community, and thats just us. Its about 45% of our budget annually with that grant, and there are organizations here in Brown County that rely 100% on government funding, he added. Eliz Greene, a stress researcher and speaker at the event, addressed the toll that financial uncertainty takes on nonprofit professionals. Some of my favorite people to work with are people who work in a job where stress is kinda baked in, and nonprofit is definitely part of that. If youre not getting your funding, you dont have donors or mentors, you cant do the important work your mission is to do, Greene said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted that unpredictability is a common challenge for nonprofits, making it harder for leaders to plan long-term. It is an unprecedented time across the whole world of uncertainty, which hits nonprofits harder than other people because, by definition of nonprofit, it is an uncertain business. Youre relying on people giving you money in order for it to work, she said. For now, some organizations have assurances that funding will continue, at least in the short term. Appleton International Airport Director named Best Airport Partner by online airline news outlet As of right now, our portfolio manager, our grant portfolio manager with the federal government, has told us that we are on schedule to keep receiving those funds. For the foreseeable future, at least until April of 26, we should still be receiving those funds, Hohner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the uncertainty, nonprofit leaders remain focused on their work and are looking to local funding sources and community support to continue their missions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. March 5 (UPI) -- Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said the people of Greenland will determine their future and don't want to be part of the United States or Denmark. "We do not want to be Americans nor Danes. We are Kalaallit," Egede said Wednesday in a Facebook post that is written in Greenland's native language. Egede made his comment after President Donald Trump said Greenland is important for national and global security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're working with everybody involved to try and get it," Trump said during his speech televised nationally on Tuesday night. "We need it really for international world security," Trump said. "I think we're going to get it, one way or the other." President Donald Trump affirmed his interest in annexing Greenland during Tuesday night's address to a joint session of Congress, which drew sharp rebukes from leaders in Greenland and Denmark. Pool Photo by Win McNamee/UPI Trump said Greenland becoming a U.S. territory would make Greenland's population safe and rich. "Together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before," Trump said. Egede in his Facebook response said it's important for "Americans and their leader" to understand the people of Greenland want to be independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken," Egede said. "Our future will be decided by us in Greenland." Polling in Greenland suggests its people don't want to become a U.S. territory and prefer to become an independent state free from Denmark's influence, the Economic Times reported. Greenland is the world's largest island and home to about 60,000 people. It also is a self-governing territory of Denmark that is located northeast of Canada and west of the United Kingdom and Iceland. Denmark Defense Minister Trouls Lund Poulsen on Wednesday told that nation's public broadcasting company the United States won't buy or annex Greenland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That won't happen," Poulsen said. "The direction that Greenland wants to take will be decided by Greenlanders." He suggested Denmark would support an expanded U.S. military presence in Greenland, though. Greenland mostly is covered by glacial ice and positioned where new sea routes are being opened as Arctic ice masses recede amid a changing global climate. A Russian vessel several years ago crossed the new Northwest Passage between Greenland and the Arctic land mass at the North Pole during the winter months, which has elevated global interest in Greenland and its ports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Northwest Passage also is called the Transpolar Sea route and shortens the route between East Asian ports and Europe and the Atlantic Ocean. Potential use by Russia and China has raised concerns regarding security in the North Atlantic among Western nations. Greenland also contains oil, natural gas and mineral resources and hosts the United States' northernmost military base. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) A City of Greenville Public Works employee is being hailed as a hero for saving a contractor pinned by a tree limb. According to the City of Greenville, the rescue occurred around 6 p.m. Tuesday on Brookforest Drive. Officials said that a private tree contractor was trapped by the tree limb while working 35 feet up in the air. Fire crews with the Greenville City Fire Department and the Gantt Fire Department arrived with ladder trucks, but needed a saw technician to help with the rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luckily, Sam Cajina with the public works department was able to communicate in Spanish and precisely cut the limb so the contractor was freed. The contractor was taken to the hospital for his injuries. Meet the tree team hero, Sam Cajina. (Photo/City of Greenville, South Carolina Government) Cajina made precise cuts to help free a private tree contractor who had become pinned under a tree limb with 35 feet in the air. (Photo/City of Greenville, South Carolina Government) Cajina, city officials said, helped in the high-stress situation and demonstrated technical expertise. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Griffith Observatory will host a live online broadcast of the total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, allowing viewers to watch the celestial event remotely. The broadcast will begin at 8:50 p.m. on the Observatorys YouTube channel and run through 3:05 a.m. The observatory and Griffith Park will be closed to the public during the eclipse, and no onsite viewing will be offered. Southern California residents should be able to see the eclipse with the naked eye, weather permitting, officials said. Skygazers should look to the southeast at 11:26 p.m. for the start of totality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appearance of the Moon changes dramatically during the course of an eclipse, and it is worth viewing on multiple occasions during the evening, officials said. The total eclipse will last from 11:26 p.m. to 12:31 a.m., with the best viewing occurring at 11:59 p.m. The umbral eclipse, when a visible bite appears on the Moons surface, begins at 10:09 p.m. and ends at 1:48 a.m., officials said. A timelapse version of the eclipse will be available on the observatorys YouTube channel the following morning. A total lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes completely into Earths dark inner shadow, or umbra. The Moon takes on a reddish hue due to sunlight filtering through Earths atmosphere, similar to a sunset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next total lunar eclipse visible from Los Angeles will occur on March 3-4, 2026. For more information about this lunar eclipse, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. GROTON, Conn. (WTNH) Groton police are actively investigating a bank robbery that took place on Wednesday. A robbery was reported at approximately 3:12 p.m., at M&T Bank at 654 Long Hill Road. The suspect displayed a handgun and fled the scene in an unknown vehicle with an unknown amount of cash, according to police. Groton man charged with possession of child pornography Anyone with information is asked to contact Groton police at 860-441-6712. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown vehicle with an unknown amount of cash, according to police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. WEST PALM BEACH A man who was shot and wounded during a confrontation with a Riviera Beach police officer last year at Suncoast High School has received a five-year prison sentence. Delroy Thomas pleaded guilty to one count each of battery on a law-enforcement officer, resisting an officer without violence and trespassing on school grounds. Circuit Judge Cymonie Rowe imposed concurrent prison sentences of five years each for the battery and resisting charges and 60 days for the trespassing charge at the Feb. 19 hearing. Rowe sentenced Thomas as a prison releasee reoffender. That status means the person committed certain crimes within three years of being released from a state or federal prison facility and served time for an offense that was punishable by more than one year in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disappearance of Laura Lee Willsey: West Palm woman was informant in case linked to suspected killer Police investigate the scene in the parking lot of Suncoast Community High School on April 22, 2024 in Riviera Beach, Florida. Reoffender status brings with it a mandatory sentence of five years in prison for a third-degree felony, 15 for a second-degree felony and 30 years for a first-degree felony. Florida Department of Corrections records show that Thomas was released from prison in November 2023 after serving nearly five years on burglary, robbery and grand theft charges. Thomas, then 29 and now 30, was shot and wounded by Riviera Beach Police Officer Nodane Cherisma on April 22, 2024, on the grounds of Suncoast. Police investigators said Thomas trespassed on school grounds and fought with Cherisma as she tried to stop him from entering the campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health care fraud: Boca Raton brothers who stole millions from Medicare ask judge to spare them from prison According to an arrest report, Cherisma was working an overtime detail during student drop-off that morning and was standing near a staff entrance gate at 17th Street and Avenue U when she observed Thomas enter through it and walk past her. A school police officer reported seeing Cherisma follow Thomas as he walked toward the school and heard her give him verbal commands. A woman who had just dropped off her child said she was exiting the campus when she saw Cherisma and Thomas "tussling," describing Thomas as the aggressor. A relative told The Palm Beach Post that Thomas had been admitted to HCA Florida JFK Medical Center in West Palm Beach under the Baker Act two days before the confrontation and had been released without the family's knowledge. The Baker Act allows the state to keep a person in a hospital for up to 72 hours for a psychological examination if they pose a risk to others or themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Man shot by police officer at Suncoast High sentenced to state prison Weather conditions in Central Florida have contributed to a high fire danger. The region has a combination of west-northwest gusty winds and relatively low humidity, according to NWS Melbourne. Temperatures are also noticeably cooler, in the upper 60s to low 70s for most of the area. A Gale Warning across Atlantic waters is expected to expire later in the morning, however, a small craft advisory has been issued due to poor weather conditions. There is a moderate risk of rip currents at all area beaches. According to public reports, at least 2,400 employees in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs have been fired by the Department of Government Efficiency. (Getty Images) This article was originally published by the Ohio Capital Journals neighboring sister publication, West Virginia Watch. Two hundred workers were laid off from the Bureau of Fiscal Service in Parkersburg. Thousands from the Department of Veterans Affairs (including at least 10 in West Virginia). And hundreds each from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Caring for our veterans, responding to natural disasters, and keeping our skies safe these are all among the roles of government that most folks across the political spectrum agree upon, and even so, they have all been impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And these layoffs arent coming after professional and thorough reviews of departments identifying redundancies or unnecessary functions. The Department of Government Efficient (DOGE) is using a hatchet rather than a scalpel, largely firing probationary employees not because they were found to be unnecessary but because they are easy to fire with few civil service protections. And promoted employees are also subject to probationary periods, meaning many workers who are moving up the ladder due to their professional success are also being fired. This is in line with DOGEs broader lack of thorough analysis, cutting off critical grant programs without a full understanding of what they do and dramatically overstating the supposed savings, often later having to unfreeze important dollars and walk back those savings claims. But where is this all coming from? It cannot be about saving money. Laying off a quarter of the entire federal workforce would only reduce spending by 1%. Perhaps Russ Vought, the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and a lead author of Project 2025 summed up the real reason: When [federal employees] wake up, we want them not to want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains We want to put them in trauma. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So who exactly is the federal workforce he is referring to? There are just over 2 million federal employees, 637,000 (30%) of which are veterans; notably, the federal government is the nations leader for veteran employment. These are many of the workers being intentionally traumatized by attacks on the federal workforce. Earlier this week, the chief information officer of a Department of Justice Office, a 100% disabled veteran, resigned citing the relentless stream of unwarranted criticism and negative remarks we all have been enduring for the last several weeks. Twenty percent of the 2 million-person federal workforce is employed by Veterans Affairs (VA), an agency whose mission is to care for those who have borne the battle. Combined with the Navy, Army, Air Force, Defense, and Homeland Security, two-thirds of federal employees are in defense and security agencies. According to public reports, at least 2,400 VA employees have been fired already. My brother is a psychologist for the VA, working with veterans daily to provide the mental health support they need to successfully transition from military to civilian life and, sometimes, just to stay alive. In 2020, 5.2 million veterans experienced a behavioral health condition, so the need for highly qualified, compassionate VA staff is significant. While he and many of his co-workers have not yet been impacted by layoffs, many are now looking for the door after relentless attacks, which could dramatically undermine the workforce needed to serve our veterans. In West Virginia specifically, the impacts of federal worker layoffs could be significant. While West Virginia has just about 20,000 federal workers living in the state, the federal government constitutes more than 2% of the states total workforce, a higher share than 45 other states. As a result, cuts to the federal workforce could have an outsized impact on the economy in West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal workers have become an easy target for the folks who think the government should run like a business. But a quick look at the federal workforce shows that the roles federal officials fulfill are ones free market business cant or wont, but that are morally or societally vital: educating our children; providing health care for the young and old, veterans, and the disabled; ensuring food and product safety. These services by nature wont be efficient in the business sense. Government workers provide vital services to society and our population, largely in the background and without acknowledgement. Often when they are successful, nothing happens at least nothing that the majority of us can see. To borrow from a recent article from West Virginian Michael Tomasky: No one takes a drink of water and thinks, Hey, I didnt get sick or die from that water, thank you, Environmental Protection Agency. No one gets on a flight that lands safely and thanks the Federal Aviation Administration. No one buys a toy for their infant or toddler that does not contain any parts the child could accidentally choke on and thanks the Consumer Product Safety Commission. But make no mistake, as we see federal workers laid off arbitrarily and others leave due to relentless criticism, we will witness the significant impacts across our daily lives and in our economy. And those we all agree are deserving of care veterans, the elderly, victims of natural disasters, and children will likely be among the most impacted. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Kemol King GEORGETOWN (Reuters) - Guyana on Thursday asked the International Court of Justice to order Venezuela not to proceed with plans to hold elections in the disputed region of Esequibo, saying a vote would violate a prior court ruling, the Guyanese foreign ministry said. Venezuela will hold provincial elections on May 25, including for state governors. The government of President Nicolas Maduro last year passed a law creating a new state in the disputed territory, despite the ongoing case at the ICJ over which country Esequibo belongs to and a 2023 court order that Venezuela avoid any action that would change the status quo in the territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guyana said in a statement that the United Nations' top court should prohibit Venezuela from conducting elections in the 160,000-square-km (62,000-square-mile) area, which it said "flagrantly violates" the 2023 order. Guyana said it also requested expedited hearings to prevent what could be "serious and irremediable prejudice" to its rights. The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tensions rose last weekend in the dispute over Esequibo, which comprises more than two-thirds of Guyana, when Guyana said a Venezuela coast guard patrol entered its waters and approached an output vessel in an offshore oil block managed by ExxonMobil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Venezuelan government said the waters they entered are a maritime zone pending delimitation in accordance with international law. A final ICJ decision on the dispute could take years. (Reporting by Kemol King; Editing by Julia Symmes Cobb and Bill Berkrot) HONOLULU (KHON2) As Hokulea prepares to celebrate her 50th anniversary, KHON2 looks back at her triumphs and her tragedies. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You In the special Hokulea: Decades of Discovery, we hear from some of the men and women who accomplished what many thought to be impossible and we retrace the journeys that have reconnected people and cultures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hokulea turns 50! Hokulea is symbolic. So when you think about it, maybe those same stars that guided our ancestors could still somehow guide all the peoples of Hawaii today to reach the landfills still untouched, said Ben Young. I really felt a lot of ways, like a child and blind in a good way. Because all you needed to do is just open up. To open up and be free to take in these learning opportunities, explained Nainoa Thompson. Check out more news from around Hawaii We also ask the question: What is the future of Hokulea and what might the next generation of navigators bring us? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Two individuals have been arrested and arraigned in New York City for stealing more than 900 concert tickets, many of which were for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour, and making more than $600,000 in the process. Prosecutors from the District Attorneys Office in Queens County said that two individuals, Tyrone Rose and Shamara P. Simmons, were arrested last Thursday and charged with grand larceny, computer tampering, conspiracy and tampering. They allegedly made off with approximately 993 tickets to the Eras Tour and Ed Sheeran and Adele concerts in a scheme that gave them access to already purchased tickets. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Office, Rose and another accomplice worked for Sunderland, a third-party contractor for StubHub in Kingston, Jamaica, using their access to StubHubs system to intercept tickets. The Office claims that they stole URLs for already sold tickets and redirected the URLs to Simmons and a now-deceased accomplice. They then posted the tickets on StubHub and resold them for profit from June 2022 to July 2023. In a statement, District Attorney Melinda Katz said, According to the charges, these defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swifts concert tour and other high-profile events to profit at the expense of others. They allegedly exploited a loophole through an offshore ticket vendor to steal tickets to the biggest concert tour of the last decade and then resold those seats for an extraordinary profit of more than $600,000. Representatives for StubHub did not immediately respond to Varietys request for comment. The Eras Tour, of course, was the biggest pop tour in history, wrapping its worldwide run in Dec. 2024 with over $2 billion earned in sales. The average initial-point-of-sale price for a ticket to the tour was $204, while the average price on the secondary market was $1,652 per ticket. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Bloomberg) -- The Trump administrations rapid efforts to dramatically shrink the size of federal government have economists rethinking forecasts for another solid year of labor market expansion in 2025. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already, Bloomberg Economics estimates tens of thousands of federal jobs have been cut in the six weeks since President Donald Trump took office. Comerica Bank, Evercore ISI and Barclays are among firms who say total job losses could top half a million by the end of the year. That number, which includes knock-on effects in the private sector, would effectively reverse a quarter of all job growth in 2024. The governments monthly report on US employment for February due Friday may show limited signs of the damage, though the impact is set to become more apparent in March and April. If these numbers on federal workers turn out to be accurate, and if you include the grantees and the contracts, these numbers are going to be significant, said Harry Holzer, a Georgetown University professor and former Labor Department chief economist. A report published Thursday by the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed job cuts announced by employers rose last month to the highest level since 2020, and weekly data on filings for unemployment insurance showed a surge in claims from laid-off federal workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private-sector firms who do business with the government are also beginning to slash payrolls as the Department of Government Efficiency spearheaded by Elon Musk pushes agencies to cancel contracts. Just northwest of Washington in Bethesda, Maryland, a contractor for the US Agency for International Development called DAI Global LLC said it laid off more than 500 employees after the federal government failed to pay for work that had already been completed. EnCompass LLC, a consulting firm nearby in Silver Spring, also said it dismissed nearly 200 people as a result of the USAID funding freeze. Meanwhile moves to halt federal contributions to scientific innovation and international development are changing hiring plans at universities and nonprofits, while service providers like restaurants and hotels in areas with a big federal worker presence including the nations capital will probably take a hit. President Trump returned to Washington with a mandate from the American people to bring about unprecedented change in our federal government to uproot waste, fraud and abuse. This isnt easy to do in a broken system entrenched in bureaucracy and bloat, but its a task long overdue, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all, Samuel Tombs and Oliver Allen at Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a Feb. 25 report that they expect a net drag on private-sector employment of 100,000 jobs by October as lost income due to direct federal job cuts and the general uncertainty prompted by DOGEs erratic approach likely will prompt a pullback in spending and hiring more generally. Youre Hired State and local governments, a major driver of overall US job growth over the past two years, are hoping to recruit some of the newly unemployed. At Union Station in Washington, DC the main land gateway to the nations capital an ad featuring the Statue of Liberty tells workers, DOGE said youre fired? We say: Youre hired. Its part of the New York Wants You campaign the state launched to lure applications for some of its 7,000 open government jobs. Wed love to have them come to New York state. Theyre dedicated, and we need good workers, New York Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu says her state is seeing a surge in interest in programs it set up to help laid-off workers find new positions. But the ability of state and local governments to cushion the blow is limited. As the Maryland governors office points out, there are not enough state jobs for every federal worker. And states themselves may also ultimately have to deal with reductions in federal funding. While Fridays jobs report will probably contain early evidence of the unfolding fallout in the labor market, the DOGE impact on the numbers will be muted because the Bureau of Labor Statistics performed its data collection in the second week of February, and cuts didnt pick up steam until mid-month. Reports over the next few months will provide a better illustration of whats already been set in motion. The White House ordered federal agencies to submit plans for large-scale reductions in force by March 13, and thousands of federal employees are said to have taken the governments offer to resign and still get paid through September. For Wall Street, it all amounts to higher unemployment and lower consumer spending, presenting additional downside risks for the US economy. A deepening trade war following Trumps move to impose new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China and the looming threat of mass deportations arent helping support sentiment in financial markets either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We doubt that the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency so far are aggressive enough to tip the economy into recession, but a meaningful hit to the labor market is likely to show up in the numbers very soon, the Pantheon economists said. (Updates with Challenger and jobless claims data in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. CAIRO (AP) Hamas on Thursday brushed off President Donald Trump's latest threat and reiterated that it will only free the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The militant group accused Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to back out of the ceasefire agreement they reached in January. The agreement calls for negotiations over a second phase in which the hostages would be released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said the best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages is through negotiations on that phase, which were supposed to begin in early February. Only limited preparatory talks have been held so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Trump issued what he said was a last warning to Hamas after meeting with eight former hostages. The White House meanwhile confirmed it had held unprecedented direct talks with the militant group, which Israel and Western countries view as a terrorist organization. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! Both Israel and Hamas have a longstanding practice of holding onto the remains of their adversaries in order to trade them in hostage-prisoner deals. U.S. plan for the second phase Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas is believed to still have 24 living hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war, including Israeli-American Edan Alexander. It is also holding the bodies of 34 others who were either killed in the initial attack or in captivity, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in the 2014 war. Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire, which ended on Saturday. Israel supports what it says is a new U.S. plan for the second phase in which Hamas would release half the remaining hostages immediately and the rest when a permanent ceasefire is negotiated. Hamas has rejected the proposal and says it is sticking with the agreement signed in January. Israel has cut off the delivery of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians in an attempt to pressure Hamas into accepting the new arrangement. It has threatened additional consequences if Hamas does not resume the release of hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear if the U.S.-Hamas talks made any progress. The Trump administration has pledged full support for Israel's main war goals of returning all the hostages and eradicating Hamas, which may be incompatible. Direct talks between the U.S. and Hamas could make it difficult for Israel to resume the war, according to Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Gazas Al-Azhar University who is currently in Egypt. The current U.S. administration is trying to avoid a return to war in Gaza in all possible ways," he said. Gaza reconstruction plan Egypt said Thursday it will host an international conference to raise money for a Gaza reconstruction plan proposed this week at the Arab Summit in Cairo. A date was not announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conference, in cooperation with the United Nations, would secure financial pledges for the $53 billion five-year plan, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf said. Egyptian and Arab officials also will tour key capitals, including Washington, to promote further details, Khallaf said, adding that Egypt believes its a workable and realistic plan in the interest of all partners. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and took a total of 251 people hostage. Most have been released in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered the bodies of dozens more. Israel's military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were militants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offensive destroyed vast areas in Gaza and displaced most of its population. Hundreds of thousands of people are living in tents, schools-turned-shelters or war-damaged buildings, and the population relies on international aid. UN chief says aid cuts are a perfect storm The United Nations humanitarian chief issued a dire warning Thursday about how U.S. funding cuts to foreign aid have issued a body blow to our work to save lives. Tom Fletcher briefed the U.N. Security Council on the various challenges humanitarian workers face on the ground in Yemen and other areas around the world. It is of course for individual countries to decide how to spend their money. But it is the pace at which so much vital work has been shut down that adds to the perfect storm that we face, Fletcher said, adding that he has asked partners to provide lists of areas where they have to cut back. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Hamas on Thursday criticized threats made by US President Donald Trump, the day after he said he was giving the Palestinian Islamist group a "last warning" to hand over any remaining hostages. "These threats complicate things with regard to the ceasefire agreement and encourage the occupying power [Israel] to shirk its obligations," Hamas wrote on its Telegram channel. On his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump wrote: "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you." He urged Hamas leaders to leave Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump appealed to Gaza's population to make a "smart decision" and release the hostages, warning that there would be "hell to pay" if they did not. At the same time, the US government confirmed that it had held direct talks with Hamas about the hostages - yet another change to long-standing US policy on talking to groups classified as terrorist organizations. There is increasing pressure on negotiators to find a way to extend the ceasefire in Gaza, or risk a return too all-out hostilities. Hamas said that it had fulfilled its obligations in the first phase of the deal, and called on Washington to pressure Israel to agree to a second phase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second phase envisages the release of the hostages and a permanent end to the Gaza war. Hamas has denied Israel's request for an extension of the first phase with the release of more hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. Israel says that without the release of more hostages, the war in the Gaza Strip will begin again. Hamilton will no longer play the Kennedy Center next season in light of President Trumps takeover of the institution. The hit musical was set to perform at the Kennedy Center in March 2026, at what would have been the shows third engagement at the theater. However, lead producer Jeffrey Seller cited the firings of the Kennedy Center president and the chairman of the board, as well as the cancellation of programming at the center, as reasons not to move forward. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the recent actions, our show simply cannot, in good conscience, participate and be a part of this new culture that is being imposed on the Kennedy Center, Seller said in a statement. In February, Trump became chairman of the institution and ousted Democratic members of the Kennedy Center Board. The contract of Kennedy Center president Deborah F. Rutter was terminated, as was that of chairman David M. Rubenstein, after Trump had previously said he would fire the latter and install himself as chair. Ric Grenell, who worked in the previous Trump administration, has been named interim executive director and said he plans to make art great again, with near-term plans to do a huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas. Several notable names affiliated with the Kennedy Center resigned following the news, including Ben Folds, Renee Fleming and Shonda Rhimes. Issa Rae also canceled her show at the Kennedy Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seller noted that the Kennedy Center had previously had bipartisan support and politics had not impacted the institution in the past. To that point, Hamilton had previously played the Kennedy Center in 2018, during the first Trump administration. We are not acting against his administration, but against the partisan policies of the Kennedy Center as a result of his recent takeover, the statement reads. However, the previous Trump administration did have a run-in with Hamilton. When Vice President Mike Pence attended the Broadway production, he was booed by audience members and was addressed during the curtain call by castmembers, who remarked on the diversity in the cast and called on the administration to protect all Americans. Seller added that he was unsure whether the production of Hamilton at the Kennedy Center could have been abruptly canceled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our cancellation is also a business decision. Hamilton is a large and global production, and it would simply be financially and personally devastating to the hundreds of employees of Hamilton if the new leadership of the Kennedy Center suddenly canceled or renegotiated our engagement. The actions of the new Chairman of the Board in recent weeks demonstrate that contracts and previous agreements simply cannot be trusted, he said. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The hit Broadway musical Hamilton has canceled its eight-week run in 2026 at the Kennedy Center amid President Donald Trumps takeover of the national performing arts center. Jeffrey Seller, the producer of Hamilton, wrote on the plays official Instagram that political debate and disagreement are vital expressions of democracy, but that the Kennedy Center should be protected from politics. However, in recent weeks we have sadly seen decades of Kennedy Center neutrality be destroyed, Seller wrote. The recent purge by the Trump Administration of both professional staff and performing arts events at or originally produced by the Kennedy Center flies in the face of everything this national cultural center represents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tony Award-winning play about Alexander Hamilton was scheduled to return to the D.C. venue from March 3 through April 26, 2026. When asked for comment, the Kennedy Center directed HuffPost to a post from Richard Grenell, the Trump-appointed president of the Kennedy Center. Grenell wrote on X that Seller and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, cant be in the same room with Republicans. He also called the move a publicity stunt that will backfire. Mirandas representatives declined to comment on Grenells accusation, but in a separate comment, Miranda said the Kennedy Center has long been an artistic center historically devoid of a political point of view. At its heart, Hamilton celebrates American diversity, Miranda said. The recent shift in the Kennedy Centers ideology and board leadership has made it untenable for a production like Hamilton to celebrate and be celebrated there today. People exit after watching the musical Hamilton at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on August 06, 2022. Photo by Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images In February, Trump made himself chairman of the Kennedy Center and immediately began his overhaul. He fired the centers long-term president Deborah Rutter, replacing her with Grenell, a Trump loyalist. In total, Trump fired 18 board members that were appointed by former President Joe Biden. Trumps actions spurred others to resign from the board, including writer-producer Shonda Rimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Sellers statement, he wrote that the show cannot, in good conscience, participate and be a part of this new culture that is being imposed on the Kennedy Center. Hamilton was proudly performed at the Kennedy Center in 2018 during the first Trump administration, Seller wrote. We are not acting against his administration, but against the partisan policies of the Kennedy Center as a result of his recent takeover. He continued, saying the cancellation is also a business decision because the Kennedy Center cant be trusted to uphold contracts and previous agreements. Seller is seemingly referring to the Kennedy Centers recent decision to cancel a planned tour of Finn, a childrens musical that can be interpreted as a LGBTQ+ metaphor. I have personally loved the Kennedy Center since touring it as a seventh grader in 1977 along with the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial, Seller wrote. I watched the first Kennedy Center Honors in 1978. Regardless of the political climate, I have always felt at home at The Kennedy Center, and I am grateful for every person who has spent the last 50 years making it a beacon of nonpartisanship and celebration. But we cannot presently support an institution that has been forced by external forces to betray its mission as a national cultural center that fosters the free expression of art in The United States of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Trumps takeover, several artists have canceled their shows at the Kennedy Center, including Issa Rae, Rhiannon Giddensand the band Low Cut Connie. Trump has long been critical of the performing arts center, specifically its drag shows. Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth THIS WILL STOP, Trump said on Truth Social in February. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME! Related... BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WETM) The announcement of the potential closure of a Social Security office in Big Flats after it was listed in the receipts on the Department of Government Efficiencys website has sparked a reaction from New York State Senator, Chuck Schumer, on Thursday. Schumer is demanding answers on the potential closure of the office after a news release said the removal of the only in-person Social Security office in Chemung County would hurt seniors and others who need in-person services, thus making it harder for New Yorkers to access their benefits. The Big Flats office is just one of many Social Security offices across the country being put on DOGE lists as the Trump Administration proposed cuts to more than 7,000 people in the Social Security Administration, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social Security office in Big Flats listed on DOGE website; lease to not be renewed The Big Flats Social Security office is the only location in Chemung County, and with no clarity about the future of the offices over a dozen employees or assurances about continuity of operations for the Southern Tier, local residents deserve answers, Schumer said, and above all, they deserve an open office that continues to provide vital in-person services, he said. Chemung County officials are saying the closing of the office could have a significant impact on older and vulnerable individuals who rely on in-person visits. This decision would create unnecessary barriers, said Beth Stranges, Chemung County department of aging and long term care director, increasing the already lengthy wait times and reducing access to the vital resources that our most vulnerable residents, which include our friends, neighbors, parents, grandparents, and many children, depend on, Stranges said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stranges said its important to advocate to keep offices like the one in Big Flats open as they ensure older adults receive the access to the support they need without added difficulties. Social Security offices are not just responsible for checks, but include a wide range of services like applying for new or replacement Social Security cards, applying for Social Security itself and Supplemental Security Income benefits, making changes to benefits information and more, the release said. Twin Tiers nursing homes ratings: half rated below average, one cited for abuse In a letter written to the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Schumer asks for answers on the future of the SSA office in Big Flats and the sudden closure of offices in Poughkeepsie and White Plains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter to acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek can be found below. Dear Acting Commissioner Leland, I write with deep concerns about the potential closure of the Social Security Administration office in Big Flats, NY. Social Security offices in New York and across the country are essential to ensuring that Americans can access their hard-earned benefits. The Big Flats office is the only office in Chemung County and serves New Yorkers across New Yorks Southern Tier, and its closure will make it more difficult for New Yorkers to access the benefits they have earned and depend on. People in New York and across the country depend on local Social Security offices. Social Security field offices offer a full range of Social Security services, including applying for new or replacement Social Security cards, applying for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits, making changes to benefits information and more. Reliable locally accessibly in-person services are especially important for our rural communities, like those in the Southern Tier. Your plans for the future of the Big Flats Social Security office remain unclear, jeopardizing the payments for New Yorkers across the Southern Tier. The office was placed on a list of leased offices that will no longer have leases renewed. There has been no communication from DOGE about how New Yorkers can receive help with their Social Secuirty benefits if this office closes. I am also concerned about the offices over a dozen staff members. They deserve clarity about the future of their work and where they should go if this building is sold. In an effort to cut through this chaos and get answers for New Yorkers, I seek answers on the following: 1. What factors led to the Big Flats Social Security offices placement on this list of properties not to have leases reviewed? 2. Who is making the decisions on this lease, and what involvement does DOGE have in that process? 3. Do you plan to reduce or lay off any Social Security staff in the Southern Tier? Where should this offices employees report to work if this building is sold? 4. Is there an alternative plan for this offices operations to ensure New Yorkers across the Southern Tier can access Social Security services? Tens of millions of seniors, families, and children depend on hard-earned Social Security benefits. Closing the Big Flats office will make it more difficult for New Yorkers across the Southern Tier to access their hard-earned Social Security benefits, and that is unacceptable. Senator Chuck Schumer Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Sylvester Turner, former Houston mayor and newly elected U.S. representative, passed away at 70 after a medical emergency following President Donald Trumps address to Congress. Turner built a long career in Texas politics and took office in January. Officials have not yet determined a cause of death, but Sylvester Turner previously battled bone cancer. Heres what we know about Sylvester Turners death and his legacy in public service. Sylvester Turner passes away at 70, claims report Sylvester Turner, a former mayor of Houston and newly elected U.S. representative, died on Wednesday, March 5, in Washington at the age of 70. Turner attended President Donald Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday night and later suffered a medical emergency. His press secretary, Gregory Carter, said doctors took Turner to a hospital after the speech, but he returned home and later died. Officials have not determined a cause of death, but Turner previously battled bone cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turner had a long career in Texas politics, serving in the state legislature from 1989 to 2016 before becoming Houstons mayor, a position he held until January 2024. He won a special election in November to succeed Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away in July 2024. Turner was sworn into Congress on January 3, 2025. He was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and had been a vocal advocate for Medicaid, posting a video on social media shortly before Trumps speech in which he urged, Dont mess with Medicaid. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., described Turner as an iconic leader and fighter until the end. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Turner served his community faithfully. President Joe Biden called Turner a remarkable Congressman, Mayor, father, and grandfather and expressed condolences to his family and constituents. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, also acknowledged his contributions. Under Texas law, Governor Greg Abbott must call a special election to fill Turners congressional seat, a process that may take months. Turners death shifts the House balance to a 218-214 Republican majority, allowing Republicans to afford only one GOP defection on key votes if all lawmakers are present. The post What Happened to Sylvester Turner? Former Houston Mayor Passes Away appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. The Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting weekly Lenten fish fry meals every Friday from March 7 through April 18. The meal will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and people can eat-in or get take-out. Meals cost $13 with senior meals cost $12. Dinners for children cost $8 and it is $8 for fish only. Weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7 will have fish along with macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, Italian bread and dessert. Weeks 2, 4 and 6 will have mashed potatoes, sweet corn, Italian bread and dessert. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Police say they are launching an investigation into Holy Trinity Church in Hartford. News 8 Exclusive: Hartford priest accused of stealing money denies allegations The Hartford Police Department said that a larceny allegation was made, and that they have begun an investigation. Additional information was not immediately available. Check back to News 8 for more details. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) A New Haven man pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon on Wednesday, according to the Department of Justice. Elbert Llorens, 32, was sentenced in 2017 in Hartford federal court for committing multiple carjackings and armed robberies. Waterbury man pleads guilty for 2023 carjacking offenses Llorens was on federal supervised release when he possessed the firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is illegal for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WWLP) -In Connecticut, a 27-year-old woman living in Mexico has been identified as the same person who was abducted from her fathers care in New Haven back in 1999. In October of that year, nearly 2 years old Andrea Michelle Reyes, was abducted by Rosa Tenorio, a non-custodial parent. According to officials, the toddler was taken to Mexico, where the pair have lived for the past 25 years. In 2023, New Haven Police began to re-investigate the open case which resulted in Andrea making contact with her father. Reyes currently resides in Mexico. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. REUTERS The patients entrance at the National Institutes of Health is shown in Bethesda, Md., in October 2014. REUTERS The patients entrance at the National Institutes of Health is shown in Bethesda, Md., in October 2014. BOSTONA federal judge today has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from implementing sweeping cuts to National Institutes of Health research funding, a decision Hawaii officials say will help protect critical medical and public health research in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston issued a nationwide injunction at the request of 22 Democratic state attorneys general, medical associations and universities that argue the National Institutes of Healths planned funding cuts were unlawful. Kelley, an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden, noted that the policy affects thousands of existing grants, totaling billions of dollars across all 50 states, calling it a unilateral change over a weekend, without regard for on-going research and clinical trials. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, who joined the lawsuit, praised the ruling. As the court confirmed, the Trump administrations attempt to cut lifesaving, essential scientific and medical research funding for public health institutions was as illegal as it was arbitrary, Lopez said in a statement. Once again, the courts are sending a clear message that President Trumps efforts to paralyze the government through arbitrary funding cuts are illegal. The people of Hawaii rightfully expect that the federal administration will act lawfully, and my department will work to protect the interests of this state. The proposed NIH cuts were part of President Donald Trumps broader efforts to reduce federal spending and restructure government agencies. The administration planned to lower the reimbursement rate for research institutions indirect costsexpenses such as lab space, faculty salaries, and equipmentfrom an average of about 27 % to a 15 % cap, a move officials said would save the government $4 billion annually. However, Judge Kelley ruled that the change violated language in congressional funding legislation that was specifically designed to prevent sweeping reductions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University of Hawaii Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis Syrmos warned that the cuts would have had devastating effects on research programs and graduate students in the state. NIHs proposed drastic reduction of our facilities and administrative rate would result in the elimination of approximately $16.5 million in funding that the University of Hawaii uses to support its research programs and graduate students, including debt service payments for facilities that support translational research and clinical trials, Syrmos said. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As our states only medical school, JABSOM is required to do research that benefits our population, Syrmos said. The level and quality of research cannot be sustained with the proposed cuts. The negative impact on communities in Hawaii and elsewhere that already experience the highest rates of chronic disease, more severe health conditions, and shortened life expectancies, will be severe. Hawaiis legal team, including Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day and Solicitor General Kaliko on alani Fernandes, emphasized the importance of defending the states interests against unlawful federal actions. We are very pleased with this decision, Fernandes said. The relief obtained in this case for the University of Hawai i underscores the importance of standing up for the rule of law and the interests of Hawai i. The injunction prevents the Trump administration and the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing the funding reductions while litigation continues. The administration is expected to appeal the ruling. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees NIH, declined to comment. 5 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. COURTESY PHOTO Isaiah Kaleo Jiaan Fourshey COURTESY PHOTO Isaiah Kaleo Jiaan Fourshey Hawaii island police said officers killed a 28-year-old murder suspect in a Tuesday evening shootout in Volcano, ending a day-long manhunt after the early-morning shooting death of a 25-year-old woman in Puna. The manhunt for suspect Isaiah Kaleo Jiaan Fourshey came to an end around 6 p.m. when officers shot him near the Namakanipaio Campground off Highway 11, Hawaii Police Department officials said today. Fourshey was taken to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 8 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one else was injured. A portion of Highway 11 was temporarily closed for several hours but has since reopened, and the campground has been re-opened to the public. Shortly after midnight Tuesday, officers responded to a Hibiscus Street home in Mountain View. A woman called police to report that her daughters ex-boyfriend, identified as Fourshey, had arrived at the home looking for her daughter. After being told that the daughter was not present, Fourshey allegedly drew a handgun and fired at the womans husband multiple times. The man was not injured, and Fourshey fled before police arrived. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. While officers investigated the first shooting, a second call came in from Foursheys ex-girlfriend, who reported that Fourshey had arrived at her sisters home on Plumeria Street in Mountain View. According to the police, Fourshey forcibly entered the residence and shot at the two women, striking a 28-year-old victim later identified as Latisha Soares. Responding officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel treated Soares and she was taken to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center where she pronounced dead at 2 :03 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An autopsy for Soares was scheduled this week to determine the exact cause of death. The police department classified the case as second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Detectives learned that Fourshey resided on Hibiscus Street, where they found his vehicle, but he was not there. However, evidence at the scene indicated he had been there after the shootings, police said. Police alerted the public to an islandwide manhunt for the armed and dangerous Fourshey. The manhunt ended hours later in Volcano with the officer-involved shooting in Volcano. Department officials said its Office of Professional Standards initiated a critical incident review, which is standard procedure. The two officers involved in the shootingone with 15 years of service and another with seven yearshave been placed on administrative leave while the review is conducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation because the shoot-out occurred within the Hawai i Volcanoes National Park. 20 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A preliminary hearing was postponed Wednesday in the case of a couple charged with murder in the death of a 2-year-old girl. The hearing for Gregory MacDonald and Chandy McCarthy was moved to March 27 after an attorney representing one of the defendants said hes currently in trial. McCarthy, the childs mother, and MacDonald, her boyfriend, are each charged with second-degree murder, among other crimes. Chandy McCarthy, file image Police say MacDonald who was previously arrested in Nevada on suspicion of harming the girl abused her for months. McCarthy knew about it, police say, didnt get help and likely contributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 10, police were called to a home in the 300 block of Vernal Place in central Bakersfield to a report of a child in medical distress. The girl was taken to Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Bruising was visible over much of her body, court documents say. McCarthy denied knowing about the abuse, saying she noticed the bruises about a week ago but MacDonald explained them as accidents, like the child falling off the bed, according to the reports. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Over 700 miles thats how far Joe Beaman of Indiana was willing to travel to visit the SS United States in the Port City. Mobile, Alabama, you are fortunate to have this ship here at this time, Beaman said. Youre fortunate to have something like this that you can temporarily watch for historical reasons. Mobile County Sheriff: Person who put now-euthanized dog in bag is a piece of trash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SS United States, the fastest and one of the most iconic ocean liners ever built, is a childhood memory he will never forget. We ran around; wed stand on the stern and watch the wake behind us, he added. Up on the deck, there was a shuffleboard. Ill never forget theres a pool on board; it was salt water. In 1958, Beaman and his family were passengers aboard the now-retired ocean liner. For more than 60 years, he has held onto souvenirs and memorabilia such as passenger lists, passports and even menus from the trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My heart and soul is on that ship even to this day. It was the fastest ocean liner ever, Beaman said. It was such a wonderful experience in life. Even at only 8 years old, the SS United States was more than just a ship to him. It was an adventure. That is one reason that I held on to all of this is that because of that experience, he reminisced. Theres a lot of people that got to experience that. Im just one of the fortunate ones that did. (Photo courtesy of Joe Beaman) Mobile police sergeant expresses concern over suggestive Mardi Gras dances When he found out the ship would be in Mobile, he booked a trip immediately. He said the sight of the ship took him right back to his childhood many years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its wonderful to me, even though its in the shape that its in. When you look at that ship, its beautiful, Beaman said. Once youve been on the SS United States, your heart and soul remains with that ship. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday dismissed as "garbage" accusations that Washington had taken a pro-Russia stance, saying President Donald Trump was pursuing a peaceful end to Russia's three-year-old invasion of Ukraine. Trump has piled pressure on Ukraine, pausing all U.S. military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv, as his administration pushes for a negotiated solution to the biggest conflict in Europe since World War Two. Trump and his advisors, including Hegseth, have also declined to brand Russia as the aggressor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The press is interested in narratives. Our president is interested in peace. So we will get characterized one way or another: 'Oh, your stance is pro-Russia or pro-' ... it's all garbage," Hegseth told reporters. "The President got elected to bring peace in this conflict, and he is working with both sides in a way that only President Trump can ... to bring them to the table to end the killing." Hegseth spoke alongside British Defence Secretary John Healey, who aimed to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine during a meeting at the Pentagon on Thursday. "It's the detail of those discussions which are rightly behind the scenes that the defense secretary and I will now pursue this afternoon," Healey said. Over the weekend, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump's "common sense" aim to end the war, while accusing European powers which have rallied around Kyiv of seeking to prolong the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had acrimonious talks at the White House on February 28 but since then the two sides have resumed work on a revenue-sharing minerals deal. At his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Trump said he had received a letter from Zelenskiy in which the Ukrainian leader said he was "ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible." Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Thursday he is in discussions with Ukraine for a peace agreement framework to end hostilities with Russia and that a meeting is planned next week with the Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia. "We're now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians," Witkoff told reporters at the White House. He said it would likely be in Riyadh or Jeddah. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; additional reporting by Sachin Ravikumar in London; editing by Diane Craft) President Donald Trump said in his speech to a joint session of Congress that he'll work to protect and support police. But his words set off a backlash that included a Democratic lawmaker accusing him of the "height of hypocrisy" and a former Capitol Police officer noting that Trump pardoned 1,500 people who attacked him and his colleagues during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police Officer who risked his life to defend the Capitol Building as Trump's supporters rioted in 2021, slammed Trump in a series of posts on the social media site Bluesky as the president was addressing Congress Tuesday night. "Trump threatens public safety," Dunn said in one post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an expletive-laced post, the 41-year-old Dunn, wrote in all capital letters, "YOU PARDONED OUR ATTACKERS." PHOTO: President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in front of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance at the U.S. Capitol, Mar. 4, 2025 in Washington. (Win McNamee/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) During his speech Tuesday night, Trump did not mention the insurrection, of which, according to the House Jan. 6 committee's final report, he allegedly engaged in a criminally "multi-part conspiracy" to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol. In his address, the president spoke about getting police officers nationwide "the support, protection and respect they so dearly deserve." "They have to get it. They have such a hard, dangerous job," Trump said. "But we're going to make it less dangerous. The problem is the bad guys don't respect the law, but they're starting to respect it, and they soon will respect it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first two months of 2025, at least 58 police officers have been shot in the line of duty, including eight who were killed, according to a report released on March 3 by the National Fraternal Order of Police. The report showed that the number of police shootings is down 11% from this time in 2024. Among the officers killed this year are Virginia Beach Police Officers Cameron Girvin, 25, and Christopher Reese, 30, who authorities said were shot at point-blank range on Feb. 25 as they were already lying on the ground wounded and defenseless following a traffic stop. The suspected killer, who police said died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was identified as 42-year-old John McCoy III, a convicted felon. PHOTO: The Virginia Beach Police Department released photos of slain officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese, Feb. 25, 2025. (Virginia Beach Police Department/Facebook) MORE: Trump 2nd term live updates: Appeals court allows Trump to remove head of federal watchdog agency Trump said that one of the first steps he has taken since returning to the White House is signing an executive order requiring a mandatory death penalty for anyone convicted of murdering a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And tonight, I'm asking Congress to pass that policy into permanent law," Trump said. Trump cited the March 25, 2024, fatal shooting of New York Police Officer Jonathan Diller, who was gunned down while conducting a traffic stop in Queens -- becoming the first NYPD officer killed in the line of duty in two years. The suspect, who was shot and wounded by Diller's partner, was identified as 34-year-old Guy Rivera. PHOTO: Police officers attend the funeral of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller. (WABC) Rivera, who has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge, was previously arrested 21 times, according to police records. Also arrested in the fatal shooting, was 41-year-old Lindy Jones, who was in the car with Rivera at the time of the shooting. Jones pleaded not guilty to a charge of being a criminal possession of a weapon and possession of a defaced firearm. Jones had 14 prior arrests including attempted murder and robbery, and was out on bail in connection to a separate crime at the time of the shooting, police records indicate. MORE: Fact-checking Trump's speech to Congress Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Were going to get these cold-blooded killers and repeat offenders off our streets. And were going to do it fast. Gotta stop it," said Trump, who attended Diller's wake. Trump called on Congress to pass a new crime bill aimed at "getting tougher on repeat offenders while enhancing protections for Americas police officers so they can do their jobs without fear of their lives being totally destroyed." Following Trump's speech, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, posted a statement on social media accusing Trump of "the height of hypocrisy." "Trump talks a big game about standing with ... the blue, yet on the first day of his administration he pardoned hundreds of cop-beaters who tried to steal an election on January 6, 2021," Garcia wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Judy Chu, D-California, who walked out of Trump's speech with other Democrats, also took to social media, posting, "Trump insults the American people by saying, 'let's bring back law and order.' Among his first acts as president? Pardoning 1500 violent felons involved in the January 6 attacks on our U.S. Capitol and democracy." MORE: Screaming match breaks out in House after vote to censure Democrat Al Green Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., cited the hundreds of FBI agents and Department of Justice employees who have lost their jobs in the Trump administration's sweeping reduction in the federal workforce being overseen by billionaire Elon Musk and the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). "Purging hundreds of FBI and DOJ agents who investigated the Jan 6 insurrection -- career law enforcement officers, not political appointees -- does not make us safer, more secure, or prosperous," Frankel wrote on social media. 'Height of hypocrisy': Backlash erupts over Trump's vow to protect police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Watching President Donald Trump berate the leader of Ukraine in the Oval Office last Friday, many Western officials were appalled. But they werent surprised. They have long understood what is now obvious to anyone who watched the ostensible photo op that careened into a diplomatic fiasco: Trumps visceral disdain for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is inversely proportional to his abiding admiration for Russias dictator, Vladimir Putin. Most U.S. allies I spoke with after the White House confrontation thought that Trump and Vice President J. D. Vance had planned to attack Zelensky, like bullies cornering the new kid on the school playground. One former U.S. official called it a setup (the White House denies this), intended to give Trump a pretext to withdraw American military support from an ungrateful ally, which, three days later, he did. The United States also curtailed the intelligence it provides Ukraine, including technical assistance essential for firing long-range weapons at military positions miles inside Russia. Those strikes have allowed Ukraine to slow Russias advance, so cutting off the intelligence is in effect an act of assistance to Moscow. A Ukrainian official I was in touch with yesterday morning was despondent and confused. He wasnt sure when the vital flow of intelligence would be turned back on. CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox Business that it depends on Zelenskys willingness to work with the Trump administration on a peace plan. But U.S. and Western intelligence officials have said for months now that Putin is unwilling to negotiate, because he believes he is winning the war he started against Ukraine and is not prepared to make concessions. Trump has placed no new pressure on Russia even as he ties Ukraines hands. Its hard to see how the United States could still be called Ukraines ally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watching Trump browbeat a country the United States had steadfastly backed until just six weeks ago, one bewildered Western diplomat who served in Russia asked me, What the hell is happening to your country? Now some of Ukraines staunchest supporters in the West wonder where their countries stand with the new leadership in Washington. The question has been on their mind for months. [Read: Incompetence leavened with malignity] Back in the summer of 2024, before Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, I started talking with senior allied officials about how they were preparing for Trumps possible return to power. Could they depend on him to support Ukraine in a war that poses a significant, even existential threat to Europe? Would Trump preserve decades-old alliances or attempt to extract concessions in exchange for security support, as he did to Zelensky in 2019 during their infamous perfect phone call, and as he is doing now with a claim on Ukraines natural resources? On a tactical level, could longtime U.S. allies trust the president not to leak or mishandle the intelligence secrets they routinely share? My conversations with more than a dozen career diplomats and intelligence officers throughout the Western alliance, several of whom have served long tours in Washington, continued through the 2024 campaign, after the election, and into this week. Eventually the discussion came around to one basic question: Is Trump a reliable ally? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answer, unsurprisingly, was no. But it came with an essential caveat. The president was not someone they could easily trust. But the career officials who work for the U.S. government have long been reliable partners. These are the senior-level employees who actually run the FBI, the intelligence agencies, and the Pentagon day-to-day, regardless of who sits in the Oval Office or in the executive suites of headquarters buildings. When foreign leaders extol the mutual benefit of military partnerships and intelligence sharing, theyre talking about this layer of permanent government and the people who work in it. These are the unknown officials who jointly collect and analyze electronic communications with the British; make strategic naval plans with the Australians to counter a rising China; collaborate on North American security and air defense with the Canadians; partner with the Germans to break up terrorist cells; collaborate with the Dutch on cyberoperations directed at Russia; and work hand in glove against Russia with the Ukrainians, whose contemporary intelligence service was practically built by the CIA. [Read: The real reason Trump berated Zelensky] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These relationships are the soft tissue of global security. They are based on mutual trust that is earned, not assumed. And the officials who make up this part of the U.S. government are the ones Trump has relentlessly attacked since he took office, because they dont swear allegiance to him. These working-level relationships took shape in the aftermath of World War II, and for eight decades they have withstood political stress and the whims of elected leaders. Now they are being tested in ways that only Trump has dared. Trump casually abused U.S. allies trust practically from the moment he first took office. In May 2017, he revealed a sensitive source of Israeli intelligence to two senior Russian officials during a meeting in the Oval Officewhile the FBI was investigating Russias interference in the election and potential connections to Trumps campaign. That same month, a furious British Prime Minister Theresa May complained to the American president that his officials had disclosed the name of a suicide bomber who attacked a concert arena in Manchester, preempting local law enforcement. Police were also outraged that U.S. officials had leaked crime-scene photos to American reporters that the British had shared in confidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not one to spill only other governments secrets, by then Trump had already revealed the presence of two U.S. nuclear submarines off the coast of North Korea, during a phone call with the president of the Philippines. In 2019, Trump tweeted a potentially revealing U.S.-spy-satellite photo of a missile launch site in Iran. In 2022, after the FBI found that Trump had stored boxes of classified documents at his Florida mansionan action for which he was criminally chargedformer White House aides said they werent shocked, because the president had routinely mishandled classified information while in office, taking transcripts of calls with foreign leaders, as well as intelligence-briefing materials, up to his residence for no clear reason and without an explanation. Trumps loose lips and sticky fingers arguably made U.S. allies less safe. In light of that history, allied officials told me recently that they were taking steps to limit the classified information they shared with the U.S. They would not stop sharing entirely; foreign countries depend too much on information that the United States provides them to blow up the entire arrangement. But the officials laid out a number of ways they could protect what they send over the transom. All the possibilities rely on those trusted relationships with career officials in U.S. national-security agencies. In rare cases, allies might hold back a very sensitive piece of intelligence altogether. But more often, they would ask their counterparts to keep some information to themselves and not share it higher up in their organizations, where it might find its way to the presidents political appointees and potentially to him. The allies would not be hiding things from Trump, exactlyjust avoiding the risk of bringing him in on things he doesnt need to know. Another official told me their service might ask the Americans to read intelligence only in person, perhaps at the countrys embassy or a headquarters building. The Americans would still know the information, but they would take no hard copies with them that might find their way into the hands of Trumps political advisers. [Read: The end of the postwar world] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some allied officials suggested that they would not start any new joint operations with the Americans unless necessary. Even before the election, one official in an allied intelligence service told me they were waiting to see the outcome before doing any new business with the Americans. They feared starting work under a president they could trust, only to regret the arrangement when Trump took over. The allies arent worried only about how the Americans handle their secrets. Trumps purge of senior FBI officials has eliminated many of the very interlocutors foreign law-enforcement and security officials deal with on any given day. Several officials told me they were anxiously waiting to see whom they are to call now, and whether their trusted contacts will be replaced by political loyalists. Whats more, one official worried, if American intelligence agencies are distracted by internal battles, what vital information might their agents miss? Would the quality of information about terrorist plots or Russian espionage degrade? How helpful a partner can the United States be when it is consumed by feuds? Allied officials can protect some information by limiting what they tell their counterparts. But to restrict the flow of technical information, particularly signals intelligence, the fruits of electronic eavesdropping or cyberespionage, is difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. and British signals-intelligence systems are so intertwined as to be practically one and the same; their technical equipment, or kit, as the Brits like to say, is sometimes physically co-located. The systems are so compatible that in 2003, when the National Security Agency was tracking a plot by al-Qaeda to detonate a nuclear weapon inside the United States, officials made a contingency plan to transfer the control of U.S. signals intelligence to the British, in the event that NSA headquarters was taken out by terrorists, Michael Hayden, the agencys director at the time, once told me. That kind of nightmare-scenario planning speaks to the bedrock level of trust between the U.S. and Great Britain, its closest ally. The two countries are members of the so-called Five Eyes, an Anglophone security pact that includes Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The member states share an enormous amount of classified information. And although the United States is by far the biggest contributor to that bounty, it materially benefits from the other countries ability to fill in the gaps with their own unique sources and capabilities. The American intelligence system, massive as it is, cannot cover everything. [Read: The death of government expertise] Yet now, even the Five Eyes is not sacrosanct. Late last month, the Financial Times reported that Trump-administration officials were discussing kicking Canada out of the pact, as a way of extracting more favorable security and trade arrangements. Two allied officials bluntly described the proposal to me as crazy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House official reportedly pushing the expulsion, Peter Navarro, later claimed he hadnt done so. But other officials told me that Trump indeed has toyed with the idea, which would have been unthinkable under previous Democratic and Republican presidents. How one member jettisons another is not clear, because the other countries can work with whomever they choose. A Four Eyes alliance theoretically could exclude the United States, but it would be a severely diminished partnership. Nothing Trump has said or done since taking office this year has lessened allies concern about his reliability. Recently, the newly elected chancellor of Germany has suggested that the time has come for the transatlantic powers to break up. My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step-by-step, we can really achieve independence from the U.S.A., Friedrich Merz said last month. Merz may have taken to heart a truculent speech Vance had given days earlier at the Munich Security Conference. The address, in which vice presidents customarily acknowledge the alliances shared democratic values and mutual security interests, was read as a giant middle finger. He told us off, one Western official in the audience put it to me more diplomatically. Vances speech was the dominant subject for the remainder of the conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance further infuriated European officials in an interview with Fox News this week, when he dismissed their potential contribution to a future peacekeeping force in Ukraine as 20,000 troops from some random country that hasnt fought a war in 30 or 40 years. His comments were widely seen as directed at Great Britain and France, which have pledged to commit forces to such an effort. But troops from more than two dozen additional countries have died fighting with U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, foreign officials were quick to note. [Listen: The Five Eyes have noticed] Hanging over the rapid dissolution of these old relationships is the question of who would lead in the United States absence. Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, held an emergency meeting with Zelensky and other European leaders in London on Sunday, trying to assemble what he called a coalition of the willing against Russia. Starmer insisted that the United States remained a reliable partner, while exhorting his colleagues to seize a once-in-a-generation moment to protect Europe from Putins expansionist appetites. The Americans would clearly not lead that effort. But the British have been working to secure an American backstop to a peace deal in Ukraine, keeping long-range weapons and other heavy equipment on standby in a nearby country in case Russia attacked Ukraine again. Vance isnt alone in undermining allied confidence. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, took to X on Friday, praising Trump for his unwavering leadership in standing up for the interests of the American people, and peace. What you said is absolutely true: Zelensky has been trying to drag the United States into a nuclear war with Russia/WW3 for years now, and no one has called him on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putting aside that Trump actually told Zelensky he risks a third world war if he doesnt strike a peace deal, not that he was trying to drag the United States into one, Gabbards statement is completely at odds with years of intelligence reporting that the office she now leads has provided to American policy makers and allies. U.S. intelligence has long assessed that Russia invaded Ukraine in the hopes of decapitating its leadership and installing a Kremlin-friendly government. When Gabbard portrays Zelensky as the aggressor, and rhetorically backs up Trumps pressure campaign on Ukraine, she politicizes the intelligence community at the very highest level, something every allied official I talked with has long feared. Gabbards office didnt respond to my request that she elaborate on her comments. Seemingly the only country praising Trumps strong-arming of Ukraine is Russia. After Zelensky left the White House, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a Russian-state-television reporter, The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign-policy configurations. This largely coincides with our vision. This, too, is an outcome the allies have dreaded. The officials I talked with debate why exactly Trump is so solicitous of Putin; they have for years. But there was little arguing this week that the United States seems to be switching sides. Article originally published at The Atlantic While Connecticut Republicans are calling for a repeal of portions of the law that limits law enforcement cooperation in helping federal agents arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, Democrats are seeking changes as well. Immigration advocates are calling for stronger protections under the Trust Act in response to President Donald Trumps plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and the creation of a registry requiring those immigrants to self-register or could face prosecution. Our community is under attack, said Juan Fonseca-Tapia, campaign manager for the Trust Act NOW! Campaign. People are being kidnapped from their families. Families are getting destroyed and are scared. This is a crisis that can really affect the state and people in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trust Act NOW! Campaign joined other groups in the state including the ACLU of Connecticut and the Connecticut Hispanic Federation in advocating for amendments to the Trust Act, which limits law enforcements cooperation with federal immigration agents, prohibiting them from arresting or detaining an individual in accordance with an immigration detainer unless that individual has been convicted of a Class A or B felony or identified as a possible match in the federal Terrorist Screening Database, according to the law. Most Democratic lawmakers have expressed support for strengthening the Trust Act, while Republicans continued to oppose the law, saying it protects undocumented immigrants who commit crimes and calling for reforms to align it with Trumps policies. Under immigration advocates proposal, new protections to shield undocumented immigrants drivers licenses and Husky health care information from ICE officers would be added, Fonseca-Tapia said. Further, advocates said that they also want to codify the law to ensure the Trust Act is enforced; and lastly they seek to create an oversight board allowing for more transparency and a uniform process across the state for police departments to report requests that they receive from immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Judiciary, who wrote the Trust Act law in 2013, said it is important to ensure the Trust Act is as strong as possible. He said the committee was working on two proposed laws, one that would incorporate some of the provisions immigration advocates are calling for and another that would encompass the Republican proposals, allowing the public in the coming weeks to view opinions on both sides of the issue. Attorney General William Tong said in an email that violent criminals who are here illegally should be arrested, prosecuted, convicted and deported. I dont think theres any real debate about that, he said. The Connecticut Trust Act reflects the unremarkable proposition that immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, not state and local police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have filed proposed laws making changes to the states immigration law, including HB 6510, which would enable law enforcement agencies to hold an undocumented immigrant in accordance with an ICE detainer request up to 48 hours when such individual has been charged with a class A, B or C felony or Class A misdemeanors, according to the bill. The Trust Act should not be used as a shield to protect people who are not law abiding, said House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford. Our proposal is very calculated and careful. We are not calling for mass arrests or mass deportations. We do believe when anybody is involved in a crime that police should have the ability to communicate with federal officers when deemed appropriate. Candelora said that it makes no sense that we are going to not allow that communication when immigrants are involved and we allow it when U.S. citizens are involved. The distinction does not make any sense other than a reckless political statement. Winfield expressed concerns about the Republican-proposed bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do not favor that because an arrest and a conviction are two different things, he said. You could be wholly innocent and be arrested. We know that. We have seen people who are convicted who turn out to be innocent. But Republican Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding said the legislation made sense. Harding said at the very least the law needs to be revised so it does not protect what he referred to as violent criminals. The fact that we have Democrats looking to double down on that policy and even expand that policy is scary, he said. I find it puzzling that they want to expand it beyond what already exists. If you commit a violent crime in this country and you are undocumented, you should be deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Antonio Felipe, D-Bridgeport, said the Trust Act ensures that immigrants are given the proper respect as human beings. Most of us have always been in favor of ensuring that people who commit serious crimes or are a danger to society are dealt with and sent back home upon release from our prison, he said Our immigrant population contributes a lot in taxes. They contribute a lot to quality of life in their neighborhoods despite some of the numbers that come out on the other side. He said he is in favor of keeping the Trust Act in the least as it is but also supports strengthening it in protecting human dignity and decency. The Trust Act goes toward ensuring that folks have some rights in the state of Connecticut as immigrant communities, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Sen. Rob Sampson, a Wolcott Republican, introduced a proposed law, SB 1135, to repeal the Trust Act, adding that he is pleased that Trump is addressing illegal immigration. Many Connecticut residents are struggling to survive based on the lack of affordability, he said, and all of the money we spent on illegal immigration is creating an impact on our economic viability as a state. It is hard to quantify how much the state spends on illegal immigration, the Courant found in November of last year, but a number from the anti-immigration nonprofit the Federation for American Immigration Reform has been repeated by Republicans in the past month. The group projected that illegal immigration cost the state taxpayers $1.28 billion in 2023. But that information was based on a population of undocumented immigrants of 167,000 when the population is somewhere between 113,000 and 150,000, the Courant article further states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And apart from the HUSKY expansion for undocumented children, undocumented immigrants cant receive other types of public benefits though their taxes contribute to the programs. In 2022, Connecticuts undocumented population paid an estimated $406,400,000 in state and local taxes, according to a 2022 report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. The majority party has continued to fight me over this policy year after year even though it is good policy to prosecute and to help federal immigration authorities when it comes to criminals, Sampson said. Some Democrats have signaled support for a proposed law by Rep. Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport, which would change the Trust Act to include certain Class C and D felonies, specifically those that pose significant risks to public safety. This expansion would allow us to maintain both compassion and justice in our approach, Rosario said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said while the Trust Act is helping to build trust between law enforcement and the immigration community, public safety remains a top priority and he wants to make sure that those that commit serious C and D felonies face the consequences of their actions. Rep. Geraldo Reyes, D-Waterbury, supports Rosarios bill. If you are here committing hideous crimes and you have been sentenced and you are going to be released, you are going to be deported, he said. We want those criminals out of there. Reyes said that while there have been rampant rumors of ICE detaining people who do not have criminal backgrounds, credible reports have not been substantiated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winfield said now is a good time to look at the Trust Act and make sure it is responsive to the day and the time that we are in. I dont want to expand the number of exemptions to the Trust Act, he said, adding that he also did not support Rosarios proposed bill. Only few decades ago, K-12 schools were generally left unlocked. But today, schools are increasingly investing in secure entrances, security cameras, shatter-resistant glass and other safety measures. It's clear the national trend is the result of a new era in school security standards, driven by fears about mass shootings. Schools often can't afford secure entrance upgrades with their regular budgets, despite millions of dollars in state and federal grants focused on improving school safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, local property taxes are shouldering the cost of fears about shootings through the use of referendums, data shows. Here's what to know: Fear over mass shootings has driven a new era in school safety standards Video cameras around Mount Horeb Middle School are monitored in the office. The Columbine High School shooting in 1999 ushered in a new era of tightened school security, said Mike Barry, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials. Between 2003 and 2019, the number of schools nationwide with written plans for active shooter situations increased by 79%, the Pew Research Center found. The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools, which publishes best practices on school safety, credits highly publicized shootings at Columbine, Sandy Hook and Parkland as leading to "reassessments of how we manage risk in the K-12 environment in the 21st century." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The average school in the U.S. is 49 years old meaning it was constructed in the mid-1970s, when secured entryway designs and related physical security measures were essentially unheard of. Many schools today have 'secure entrances' and other upgrades Visitors to Mount Horeb Middle School must use a video/call box at a secure entrance. In general, secured entrances are intended to funnel school visitors into a cordoned-off vestibule for check-in. It's one layer of security schools can invest in, along with things like automatic door-locking systems, shatter-resistant glass and more. Schools today face an ecosystem of constantly evolving best safety practices, as well as a growing market focused on finding ways to save critical minutes, or seconds, in an emergency. Secured entrances, other upgrades can cost millions Mecia gather outside Abundant Life Christian School in Madison in December after a student fatally shot a teacher and a classmate before turning the gun on herself. Six others were injured. It's difficult to pinpoint the cost of secured entrances, as those renovations are often wrapped in with other projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's clear is they are expensive. For the single school in the 500-student Fall River School District west of Beaver Dam, front entrance security upgrades are budgeted to cost $100,000 through a fall 2024 referendum. For the School District of Janesville, secure entrance upgrades for 20 buildings cost $15.1 million in 2020 referendum dollars. A fall 2024 referendum will fund $11.1 million in added layers of security, according to the district, like remote door locking systems and more security cameras. Local property tax referenda are being used to fund secure entrance upgrades, other safety measures in Wisconsin K-12 schools Law enforcement officers are shown at the scene of a shooting Monday, December 16, 2024 at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. At least six injured in addition to the 3 dead. In fall 2024 alone, at least 28 K-12 public school districts planned to use tax referendums to tighten the security of their school entryways, according to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction data analyzed by the Journal Sentinel. That's over half of the 54 districts with capital referendums that election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More districts will do the same in April. An inside monitor shows a visitor using a video/call box at a secured entrance at Mount Horeb Middle School. Wisconsins Office of School Safety was established in 2018 by then-Gov. Scott Walker after the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. As part of that package, the legislature allocated $100 million in one-time funds for safety grants to private, public, charter and tribal K-12 schools. Those grants were used to train school staff in adolescent mental health, create lessons on digital threats, market a tip line for anonymous threat reporting and upgrade building security, among other things. But grants don't always cover the costs of security renovations, or they might be too time-consuming to apply for, several superintendents and security experts told the Journal Sentinel. Wisconsin schools targeted by students last year had invested into safety upgrades Parents hug on May 1, 2024, near Mount Horeb Middle School. where police shot and killed a student who they said had brought a gun to the school. The shooting sent the middle school and four other area schools into lockdown. Wisconsin saw a string of targeted school violence in 2024 that called attention to the debate over school security: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, a 14-year-old student attempted to bring a pellet rifle into Mount Horeb Middle School by breaking the cafeteria window. He was fatally shot by police before making it inside. Superintendent Steve Salerno credited 2017 and 2022 security referendums which funded secured entrances, cameras and other upgrades as having potentially saved lives. In November, a police arrested a 13-year-old in Kenosha after he attempted to enter Roosevelt Elementary School with a rifle. Staff stopped him in the school's secure entrance before he could enter. In December, a 15-year-old student at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison shot eight people in a study hall, killing two, before taking her own life. Kenosha police arrested a 13-year-old after he attempted to enter Roosevelt Elementary School with suspicious bags and then flee into the neighborhood on Nov. 7, 2024. Abundant Life had no metal detectors or school police, but it had security cameras and locked doors, according to statements made at the time. The school had received over $28,600 in grants from the Wisconsin Office of School Safety to fund physical security measures and entrance security, shatter resistant film, lockdown shades, security video monitoring, grid mapping, two-way radios, mental health training and more. What about preventing attacks before they begin? In 2019, the U.S. Secret Service reviewed 41 instances of targeted school violence by students. The review found students who intended to attack their schools often showed concerning behaviors, communicated their plans of attack, and had a history of school discipline and involvement with law enforcement, among other things. "Many of the schools that experienced these tragedies had implemented physical security measures (e.g., cameras, school resource officers, lockdown procedures)," the report found. "Prevention is key." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Burd-Sharps, senior director of research at the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, said she's concerned about the effectiveness of all physical security measures and the influence of profit motives for companies that sell the latest security upgrades. "They're almost always a current or former student. So they know the school; they know (the) doors," Burd-Sharps said. "They can get a kindergartner to open (a door) for them in the back, even though the front has a very expensive vestibule in it. Regardless of outcomes, schools are feeling pressure It's impossible to entirely prevent any threat, said Ben Crum, an architect who wrote a paper on secured entrances for schools. And it's a slippery slope to begin calculating what types of investments are worth the money when peoples' lives are involved. Principal Paul Christiansen is shown behind the secure entrance to Mount Horeb Middle School Wednesday, February 26, 2025 in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. Last May, a 14-year-old student attempted to bring a rifle into the school, but he was unsuccessful. The district superintendent has said lives were likely saved that day because the school district had used referendums to upgrade the building to have a "secure entrance" and other safety features. "The issue with school security is, how do you put a dollar value on a kid (on) somebodys life?" he asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's clear is that the pressures on school administrators are pressing. "Professionally, the incident that took place in Mount Horeb a little more than an hour south of our district really resonated with me and caused heightened urgency to ensure (the district) has a secured entrance," said School District of Wisconsin Dells Administrator Terry Slack. Cleo Krejci covers K-12 education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit jsonline.com/rfa. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Amid shooting fears, WI schools rely on referenda for security updates Screenshot: X/Twitter Last year, The Root reported on the University of Kentucky student who was jailed for a year for assault and calling a Black classmate the N-word more than 200 times. Now, just four months into her sentence, Sophia Rosing has asked a judge to allow her to walk free on probation. According to documents obtained by LEX 18, Rosing, 24, claims that since her arrest she has dedicated herself to personal growth and accountability and that she intends to seek professional counseling, complete alcohol treatment programs, and enroll in racial sensitivity training. Rosing was a 22-year-old student at the University of Kentucky in 2022 when she harassed 19-year-old student worker Kyla Spring. The incident was caught on video, and it revealed Rosing repeating the N-word and other offensive language while punching and biting Spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After pleading guilty to assault, she was sentenced to 12 months in jail in October. The documents also state that Rosing suffered significant public scrutiny and reputational harm after the 10-minute video displaying the altercation went viral. In that clip, Rosing repeatedly says to Spring Youre a n****r and youre a b***h as well as Its not my fault that youre Black. I do not get paid enough for this, Spring responded as she fended off Rosing in the footage. When the cops were called, Rosing continued her behavior and tried to bite, punch and slap them too. Following her arrest, she was immediately banned from campus. Rosing pleaded guilty to four counts of fourth-degree assault, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After her sentencing, she was placed in protective custody at the Fayette County Detention Center which has kept her separate from the general prison population. The document says that that Rosing also wants the chance to continue her growth outside of jail. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Highway 127 North is shut down in downtown Hickory because of another issue with the pedestrian bridge above it. It comes three years after the arches on that bridge collapsed. They were never replaced. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City of Hickory sues 3 contractors, designer over collapsed arches The city said the highway and the bridge could be closed for two weeks. The concern is that the concrete beneath the walkway could fall onto the four-lane highway below. MORE PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Jolly and his wife exercise on the Hickory City Walk about every day. They had no idea a crack had begun to appear in the concrete underneath the pedestrian bridge that crosses Highway 127. Thats a problem, Jolly said. Thats a real problem for us. Thats a problem everyone in the county that has to travel down 127. The mayor said the director of Public Works spotted the problem Wednesday morning, and before lunch time, the city announced Highway 127 would close in both directions. Mayor Hank Guess said the steel beams holding up the walkway are in good shape. He believes the falling concrete may be a cosmetic problem, but the city isnt taking any chances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is concrete that is put on top of the steel beams, and weve noticed some of it has peeled off, Guess said. And that has fallen, and thats what our concern is. The pedestrian bridge got nationwide attention in 2022 when the centerpiece of the walkway on the Hickory Arches crashed onto the bridge and Main Avenue Northeast. A family from New York that is visiting their daughter at Lenoir-Rhyne University hopes Hickory gets the bridge fixed and Highway 127 is reopened. Well, we wanted to walk it because it looks quite beautiful, but I guess were not going to be able to do that today, said Dianna Evans, a visitor. The mayor said an engineering firm would be out as early as Thursday. The entire city walk cost $14.7 million. There is no word yet on what the repairs will cost the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Hickory sued after the arches collapsed and received a $1.3 million settlement. It came from the company that repaired and inspected the arches along with its chief engineer. VIDEO: City of Hickory to get $1.3M settlement over collapsed arches A man who authorities say is a high-ranking member of a criminal street gang has been charged with sexually abusing a minor. Juan Nieto-Sanchez, 21, of Riverside was charged with felony counts of sex abuse against a minor, the Riverside Police Department announced. He was already in custody for an unrelated parole violation, police said. Hes said to be a high-ranking member of a criminal street gang that operates in the southern part of Riverside, a police spokesman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During their investigation into the parole violation, detectives uncovered evidence that Nieto-Sanchez was involved in a sexual relationship with a juvenile and had been contacting minors through social media, including while serving time in prison. 21-year-old Juan Nieto-Sanchez of Riverside is shown in this undated mugshot provided by the Riverside Police Department on March 5, 2025. He was released from state prison in October 2024 and investigators believe there may be additional victims that have yet to be contacted. Nieto-Sanchez was formally charged with felony sex crimes and is being held in jail on $2 million bail. The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact either the RPD Gang Intelligence Unit at 951-203-2274, or the Child Abuse Unit at 951-353-7945. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Riverside Police Departments Atlas 1 mobile app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) A high-ranking MS-13 gang member was arrested in Winston-Salem on Wednesday, according to a U.S. Marshals Service news release. Around 11:45 a.m., Josue Zepeda-Padilla was arrested in the 3000 block of Gilmer Avenue by officials with the USMS, Winston-Salem Police Department and U.S. Immigration Enforcement and Removal Operations. Zepeda-Padilla is an illegal immigrant who the USMS says has eluded law enforcement officials for over a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is one of seven alleged members of the MS-13 street gang indicted for a violent gang assault and kidnapping of a 15-year-old in New York. The defendants allegedly robbed, kidnapped, assaulted and left the victim unconscious in an abandoned building. On Jan. 24, 2024, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office in New York charged Zepeda-Padilla with assault, kidnapping and gang assault. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Two weeks after the Trump administration announced a compliance review of Californias high-speed rail project, the head of the rail authority stressed the need for new sources of funding to guarantee the train's completion. During a board meeting Thursday, High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri said that the authority will continue to ask for federal dollars while cautioning that the timeline and price could grow if a significant funding gap is not closed. Choudri said Thursday that he has "come to a conclusion, if we do not stabilize a funding approach on this, the inefficiencies" will continue to pose a risk to schedule and cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that industry experts have come together to establish a plan and that he will continue to communicate with the governor's office, the state Department of Finance and the Legislature. Choudris comments come as the project faces new scrutiny that could jeopardize federal funding commitments at a time planners are already trying to find tens of billions of dollars to finish the rail system. The review will focus on a $4-billion promise made under the Biden administration for construction in the Central Valley. Challenges over the projects timeline and budget have been acknowledged in previous board meetings by members, transit experts and project leadership. The first portion of the line is expected to open 13 years after the entire project was originally supposed to be done in 2020 and the budget is about $100 billion more than the $30 billion initially proposed. Lawmakers and a state-appointed advisory group say private investment will be necessary to finish the project. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), a dogged critic of the rail line, sent a letter Tuesday to FBI Director Kash Patel asking for the agency to investigate the authority. This comes after Kiley previously introduced a bill to defund the project, and asked the Department of Transportation to initiate a probe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How is it possible to have spent over $13 billion without a single station opening? Where have these funds gone? Who benefited from that, he wrote. The authority said it welcomed the investigation and posted on X that the project has been audited more than 100 times. "Every dollar is accounted for and progress is real 50 structures built, 14,600 jobs created and 171 miles under construction." More than 80% of the spending has been funded through the state, California High-Speed Rail Authority Board Chair Tom Richards said Tuesday. Construction on the project has been limited to a stretch in the Central Valley, with a segment from Bakersfield to Merced expected to be completed by 2033. Although the entire route from San Francisco to Los Angeles was environmentally cleared last year for construction, there is no clear timeline for when construction would begin elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richards stressed that the project will affect states beyond California with a goal to establish a southwest corridor that would include Arizona and New Mexico, and reiterated plans to connect to the privately owned Brightline West project, that would connect Southern California to Las Vegas. Its not just simply a California project, Richards said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. El Paso County officials and consultants presented options this week to the public to solve worsening traffic issues along Woodmoor Drive, a m A strong storm will move into New Mexico Thursday. High winds will cause blowing dust and a high fire danger Thursday with rain and snow moving through the state Friday and Saturday. It is the calm before the storm Wednesday across New Mexico. Temperatures are warmer today with light winds for most. That will change on Thursday as high winds will return. Southwest winds will pick up through the afternoon with wind gusts anywhere from 30 to 65 mph. This could be a repeat of what we saw on Monday with areas of blowing dust and a very high fire danger. Isolated rain and mountain snow showers will move into western and northern New Mexico though, along with southern Colorado. Winds will die down Thursday night as the rain and snow ends. The second wave of the storm system moves into the state Friday morning. Winds will be breezy to windy in southern New Mexico as rain and snow moves into the western half of the state. Rain and snow will continue to move east across New Mexico through Friday afternoon and evening, bringing rain chances to the Albuquerque Metro. Snow will fall as low as 7,000 Friday evening in western and northern New Mexico. Much colder air will move in with this storm Friday night, dropping snow levels down to the lower elevations. This will bring a chance for light snow to the Albuquerque Metro by Saturday morning. Heavier snow will fall in the northern mountains and in east-central and northeast New Mexico. Spotty rain showers and likely in southern New Mexico by Saturday afternoon as the storm clears out of the state by Saturday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drier, calmer, and warmer weather will return Sunday. Breezy to windy weather will return yet again by next Tuesday as another storm will bring isolated rain and snow chances to parts of New Mexico Tuesday into Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A collection of 2,400-year-old ceramic puppets found atop a Salvadorian pyramid are forcing archaeologists to rethink the countrys historical connection with its Central American neighbors. Three of the figures were made of fine clay and had adjustable heads with holes in them that may have been controlled using a string, much like a marionette puppet. They also had uniquely carved faces with expressions that seem to change depending on the angle they are viewed from. These remarkably well-preserved Bolinas figures are similar to others found at the Mayan burial site Takalik Abaj in Guatemala. The researchers argue these connections suggest the culture behind the puppets in El Salvador may have communicated and interacted with others in the region. The findings were published this week in the journal Antiquity. This discovery contradicts some prevailing notion about El Salvadors cultural backwardness or isolation in ancient times, University of Warsaw archaeologist and paper author Jan Szymanski said in a statement. It reveals the existence of vibrant and far-reaching communities capable of exchanging ideas with remarkably distant places. Figures resembles others found across pre-Columbian Central America Bolinas figurines refer to various human-modeled statues created throughout the Middle and Late Preclassic (1000350 BCE and 350 BCE250 CE) along the coast of Guatemala and western El Salvador. These figures come in various sizes and are normally made of light cream or reddish-brown paste. The vast majority of previously discovered Bolinas figures depict females wearing clothes. That wasnt the case for these findings. All three of the larger figures recently found in El Salvador were nude, and researchers suspect one of them is malea rarity for the medium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The figurines were uncovered on the top of the San Isidro pyramid structure in El Salvadors western Department of Sonsonate. The area had not previously been excavated. Researchers say they made their way to a part of the ancient pyramid that resembled a funeral depot but with no human remains inside. Instead, they stumbled upon five figurines which they carbon-dated to around 400 BCE. That date roughly corresponds to the Middle Preclassic era when nearby cultures, like the Maya, were on the brink of creating large hierarchical societies. Puppets with movable heads and creepy faces Three of the largest figurines were roughly a foot tall, while the other two were around 18 centimeters tall. The taller figurinesone depicting a male and two depicting femaleshad adjustable heads with matching sockets that connected them to their bodies. At first glance, the objects resemble dolls or even more advanced action figures with movable parts. And yet, researchers say their clay bodies were likely too delicate to function as toys. Each of them also had small holes drilled into them, large enough for a string to pass through. Researchers believe the figurines creators used a string to control them, allowing them to move and rotate their heads. Rather than toys, researchers believe the figurines were more likely an early type of puppet used in ritualistic funerary performances. Credit: J. Przedwojewska-Szymanska/PASI The puppets faces were intricately carved and feature visible tongues and ornate tattoos. Researchers say their facial expressions also look noticeably different depending on the angle. From above, the figurines almost appear to be grinning, but the face looks disdainful when viewed head-on. The expressions appear fearful when viewed from below. Szymanski believes these variations were intentional. This is a conscious design, perhaps meant to enhance the gamut of ritual performances the puppets could have been used in, Szymanski said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while the pressured puppets lacked any carved jewelry or hair, Szymanski told Science he believes its possible these large figurines were also once adorned in wigs and clothes made of cloth or straw. The figurines creators, Szymanski argues, may have dressed them up in costumes intended to represent different characters, either real or mythic. They are clay actors, Szymanski told Science. When you hold them in your hand, sometimes they even look creepy because of their vivid expressions, You shift your gaze just a little bit and it seems like, oof, this thing almost moved, he added. Credit: J. Przedwojewska-Szymanska/PASI Shared artifacts connect Isthmo-Colombian peoples The puppet discovery sheds new light on an area of Central America that has historically been difficult for archaeologists to research. The countrys densely populated areas make it more difficult to conduct excavations than in some of its more sparsely inhabited neighbors. Various large-scale volcanic eruptions over the past two thousand years have also damaged or destroyed many Pre-Columbian artifacts and ruins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very little is known about the identities and ethnolinguistic affiliations of the creators of ancient settlements that predate the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century, Szymanski said This gets worse the further back in time we look. But the figurines close resemblance to those found in Guatemala suggests that a shared culture and civilization may have existed in both areas. Other artifacts found in the San Isidro pyramid structure, such as jade pendants, have also been discovered at excavation sites in modern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) A Pittsburgh woman is facing charges after Pennsylvania State Police said she was highly intoxicated during a traffic stop and kicked a trooper in the chest. Katherine Haldeman, 39, is facing assault and DUI charges after troopers in Somerset County conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that allegedly swerved over double yellow lines, according to a criminal complaint. On March 4, officers spotted a black sedan on Lincoln Highway that was stopped in the middle of the intersection with Penn Avenue. Troopers said they turned on their emergency lights and noted the driver had a slow reaction before they swerved over the double yellow lines and into a parking lot. Haldeman was in the drivers seat, and a trooper said they could smell alcohol coming from the vehicle, according to an affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missing Bedford County teen found in Kentucky, woman charged with kidnapping Haldeman then allegedly told officers, Just arrest me. I know you are going to arrest me, and gave consent for officers to search her vehicle. Troopers said there were several empty white claw cans, two empty bottles of wine and two Xanax pills. Once Haldeman was arrested and put in the patrol vehicle, she allegedly began kicking the window of the car. Troopers gave several warnings before she was then placed in a hobble. While officers were placing her in the restraint, she then kicked an officer in the chest, according to the complaint. Haldeman was taken to UPMC Somerset, where she continued to act belligerent and aggressive, according to troopers. She also allegedly tried to bite an officer at the hospital and spit at a staff member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haldeman is in the Somerset County Prison with bail set at $50,000. She is facing charges of assault of law enforcement officers, aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting law enforcement, DUI and other summary driving charges. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. She has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A 61-year-old man died last weekend after being strangled and assaulted outside a gas station in Hillcrest, authorities said. On Tuesday, police released his identity. In a press release, the police department confirmed that Jerry Puerile was found unconscious in front of the business, located at 330 Washington St., around 5 p.m. He was transported to a local hospital but did not survive his injuries. More Americans tapping 401(k)s to pay for financial emergencies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation into the deadly assault remains ongoing. Witnesses provided police with a suspect description and officers located a man matching that description near the intersection of West Washington Street and Albatross Street. The man, identified as 55-year-old Solomon Guerrero, was arrested and booked in San Diego County jail on suspicion of murder, police said. Detectives are asking any additional witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531- 2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The newly formed Florida State Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force is set to use technology and AI to help look for government waste. It will audit colleges and universities, state agencies, along with local governments. VIDEO: Winter Haven police say child mimicked mother when told to get on ground On Wednesday, Hillsborough Commissioner Joshua Wostal tried to get the county to ask the Florida DOGE to audit the county sooner than later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every organization has waste to identify, Wostal said. The Republican commissioner called for the county administrator, along with the countys internal auditor, to work with the task force to find waste. We had multiple decades of never truly having one forensic audit throughout our processes of budgetary solutions, Wostal said. That has resulted in many transitions to technology platforms that has resulted in us quite literally finding bank accounts that we lost of forgot about just in the past two years. Wostal has also proposed that he be the point-of-contact, out of all commissioners, for the audit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they have specific issues or concerns that might not need a board vote or more of a directional issue, they can utilize my office as the sole point of contact, Wostal said. Republican commission board Chairman Ken Hagan does not agree. Personally, I think any contact with officials should be by staff. They are the experts, Hagan said. Theres one point about directing the county administrator. I dont think we need to direct her to do anything. The two Democratic commissioners, Gwen Myers and Harry Cohen, were joined by two Republicans opposing Wostels item. That means the motion failed in a 4 to 3 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a stop in Tampa hours after the commission meeting, Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to that vote and said local government audits will start soon, and he also wants more authority from lawmakers. Were asking the legislature to provide us the ability to send DOGE teams down to county and city governments, DeSantis said. The governor didnt give a specific date regarding when audits will start. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. A Hispanic Democrat from New York slammed the main Republican congressional campaign arm for calling him an illegal immigrant. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who is the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, slammed a tweet from the Republican National Congressional Committee. The Republican Party has been invaded by xenophobic feelings and xenophobes, he told The Independent. I think that it furthers explain that any that anybody that doesn't look like them, they consider to be an illegal. So that is tragic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Espaillat delivered the Spanish response to President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress. Espailliat at one point called Trumps immigration policy a reign of terror. A tweet from the National Republican Campaign Committee called Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) an illegal immigrant. (Getty Images) In response, the National Republican Congressional Committee posted a tweet that many considered racist. Democrats literally chose an illegal immigrant to give their response to President Trump's address, a tweet said. Predictably, this radical called Trump's presidency a reign of terror. Democrats couldn't be more disconnected from the American people. Democrats literally chose an illegal immigrant to give their response to President Trump's address. Predictably, this radical called Trump's presidency a "reign of terror." Democrats couldn't be more disconnected from the American people. pic.twitter.com/HzAGS9Ymm1 NRCC (@NRCC) March 5, 2025 Espaillat was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States of America as a child, but his family overstayed a tourist visa, a far more common form of illegal immigration than crossing the US-Mexico border without proper documentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My family abided by what the law provided us, which was a pathway to become a legal resident and subsequent, obviously, a US citizen, now a member of Congress, he said. What a great American story. But for them, that's not enough, because they're xenophobes. The NRCC said in a comment that the committee is just pointing out Espaillats immigration history. Democrats caring more about policing words and fighting facts instead of policing our border and fighting crime shows just how out of touch they are, a spokesman told The Independent in an email. The tweet earned bipartisan criticism, with Espaillats fellow New Yorker, Republican Mike Lawler, criticizing the tweet. .@RepEspaillat and I disagree on many issues, and agree on many others. Hes been a good friend and a colleague and more importantly a strong voice for his community and the Latino community, especially his beloved Dominican-American community. This tweet is inappropriate. https://t.co/4pEJA416Mi Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) March 6, 2025 @RepEspaillat and I disagree on many issues, and agree on many others, Lawler, who is considering a run for governor of New York, tweeted. Hes been a good friend and a colleague and more importantly a strong voice for his community and the Latino community, especially his beloved Dominican-American community. This tweet is inappropriate. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul put it more simply. Vile, ignorant, and racist, she tweeted. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) The West Virginia Commission on Holocaust Education has spoken out against House Joint Resolution 31 (HJR 31), which would amend the West Virginia Constitution to recognize the Bible as the divinely inspired inerrant foundational document for our society and government. In a statement on its website, the Commission said that HJR 31 would only marginalize and segregate a segment of the population, and violate freedom of religion. The statement added that history is resplendent with examples of abuses and horrors that result when such theocratic measures are imposed. If passed, HJR 31 would also recognize the Bible as an accurate historical record of human and natural history, and the utmost authority for human moral behavior, and would require that the Bible be placed in areas of prominence and reverence in public buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen Justices first Congressional bill to honor Medal of Honor recipients However, enacting this resolution is not as simple as the House, the Senate and the Governor signing off on it. If the resolution were passed by two thirds of each of the House and the Senate, it would then be submitted to voters in the next general election in 2026. 12 News spoke to members of the Commission, including Laurent Levy, who spoke about what the Commission sees as the marginalizing nature of the resolution and what it could lead to. It sets up litmus tests. Do you believe A or do you believe B? If you dont believe B, maybe you cant serve on juries, maybe you cant get a loan, Levy said. Its not such a far, far leap to actually see this happen. It did happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read the full resolution by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Here in Colorado Springs, we have many non-profits dedicated to helping the military community. One of those non-profits, Home Front Military Network (HFMN), has been seeing a huge increase in calls for support. We dont want to pay somebodys rent one month, [just] to have them get evicted the next month, said Kate Hatten, HFMNs Executive Director. Our goal is to keep them whole, financially stable making sure that theyre happy, healthy, productive members of our community. With a network of 52 partner agencies, they help people navigate available support and connect them to services. Most of their staff is military/veteran connected, and theyd love to use their experience and knowledge to help you get help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So that people dont have to struggle. [To] make it easier for people to access services, to understand what theyre eligible for, and how to connect, said Hatten. HFMN was created five years ago when two organizations merged into one. Since then, they say their call volume has increased 400% and theyve served more than 300,000 people. In the past two years, theyve averaged more than 17,000 calls per year. Active duty service member, guard members, reservists. So our full military and veteran community including family members, widows, said Hatten. HFMN is a free resource thats available to the full military community. That includes active duty members, guard members, reservists, veterans, their family members, and widows. They encourage everyone to reach out, as some of the people theyve helped dont know what services they need, or that theyre even available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders with the organization say they wish there wasnt a need for this sort of thing, but their data seems to show its valuable to many. Serving those who served, with just about anything they might need ranging from employment to mental health. We work with a lot of people who are below 80% area median income, so theyre on fixed incomes. However, expenses for basic necessities are going up. So thats a challenge that were seeing kind of across the board, said Hatten. People have a lot of needs. We unpack it, and figure out whats going on, and work with them step by step as long as they need us to get those problems resolved. She attributes the increase in calls for assistance to multiple things like COVID-19 and public awareness of their successes. Even though their impact has grown a lot over recent years, theyd love to reach even more military community members who need help. Theyre expanding to serve the entire state of Colorado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Los Angeles County health officials reported a second consecutive year of moderate increases in homeless deaths, adding evidence that a surge that raised the mortality rate 56% over the previous two years has leveled off. But homeless mortality remained persistently high with an average of 6.9 deaths daily in 2023, the year covered in the most recent report. Overall, homeless people died at 4 times the rate of the whole population. During the year, 2,508 people died on the streets and in shelters, up 5.6% over the prior year. Because that period's homeless count increased, the mortality rate calculated as 3,326 deaths per 100,000 people increased less, at 1.3%. That was an improvement over the 2.1% increase in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rate of drug and alcohol overdose deaths fell slightly but remained the leading cause, accounting for 45% of all deaths. Of those, 70% involved the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Coronary disease was the second leading cause, accounting for 14% of deaths, a figure that was up by 22%. Transportation accidents remained steady in third place overall, but the second leading cause for women. On average, one homeless person was killed in a vehicle accident every other day. Homicides, in fourth place, fell 25%. Men were more likely than women to die from all causes, making up 68% of the population but 82% of deaths. Sixty-two percent of deaths were among those younger than 55, a phenomenon attributed to the younger group's higher overdose rate. Mortality was highest for whites who were 19% of the population but accounted for 32% of all deaths. Black people and Latinos each had fewer deaths than their proportion of the population. At a news briefing Thursday, Dr. Gary Tsai, county director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, said additional contributing factors for the leveling off could be growing awareness within the homeless population of the risks of fentanyl and even the diminished number of fentanyl users due to deaths. But he noted that there have been no sharp changes that might indicate those would be significant factors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that people who are newly homeless can be at increased risk for overdose, Tsai said. The sixth report on homeless mortality by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health described the current trend as a plateau. It attributed the improvement partly to a threefold increase in the distribution of naxalone, an overdose reversal medication, from 2021 through 2023 and other mental health and substance-use treatment services. Nearly 479,000 doses of naxalone were distributed in 2024, it said. The report listed 17 recommendations falling under four categories: rapid access to housing and shelter; expanded overdose prevention; physical, mental health and substance use treatment; and collaboration with municipalities and unincorporated communities to reduce traffic deaths. The calculation of homeless mortality rates is inherently unstable. It relies on fluctuating annual counts of the homeless population that have built-in error and on imperfect means of identifying deaths of homeless people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deaths are drawn primarily from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's records of accidental and violent cases. Other deaths are obtained from a search of the state database of death certificates. The year-over-year increase in 2023 may have been inflated by an improvement in the state data with the addition of a homeless checkbox. State data contributed 12% of the identified deaths, more than in any previous year. This year's report also included a footnote indicating that the initial 2022 finding of a leveling off of the overdose rate had to be revised upward due to a backlog of toxicology tests at the time of publication that the medical examiner later determined to be drug-related. A smaller backlog also could change the 2023 result, but to a lesser extent, it said. The homeless counts are averaged over two years to estimate a mid-year number. This year's report used a three-year average due to the cancellation of the 2021 count during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) On Wednesday, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kellers Administration praised its achievements on homelessness at the Southwest Community Policing Council but residents say the city is failing. In a public meeting about the mayors Metro Homeless Initiative, Albuquerque residents complained that crime is out of control and the city is not doing enough about it. State plans to add lighting on deadly stretch of road near Metropolitan Detention Center Woman: Example, I used to go to the cemetery on Edith Strett, that was a regular route because I have a grandson there. Coming back down to get on the freeway, we would get under that one commercial.. That street. Have you been under there? Yvette Tovar, City of Albuquerque: Yes, I have. Woman: Has our mayor been there? Tovar: Im sure he has. Woman: I doubt it. Its dangerous. My daughter went through there just a couple weeks ago People were fighting thats a public street! Tovar: Did you call 911 or 311? Woman: Did she call!? She got the hell out of there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayors office said the initiative aims to end homelessness by creating more housing, mental health, and substance abuse services. but residents say those efforts are falling short. Tovar: The cleanup is constant When I say were removing 800 encampments a month thats a part of that Yeah? Man: The city knows. This has been reported. Once that park was closed, they moved under the bridge. Everybody knows that. The mayors office knows that. It goes back to my concern of if youre moving them to here, then theyre just going down to here. And then theyre going down to here. Theres gotta be a point where it stops. Wednesdays public meeting was held at the Central and Unser Public Library. The next meeting is April 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced a bill that would require all school districts in the state to adopt a policy on cell phone use in classrooms. By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai finished testifying in court on Thursday in a landmark national security trial where he stands accused of colluding with foreign forces and sedition. Thursday marked day 144 of the trial against Lai and his 52nd day in the witness box, after which he thanked the judges and waved to his supporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lai, 77, founder of the Apple Daily newspaper that was forced to close after a police raid and asset freeze in June 2021, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material. Lai, whose health is fragile according to his family, faces a possible life sentence under a China-imposed national security law. Some countries, including the U.S. and Britain, have called for his immediate release alleging the trial is political. Lai's plight has become a friction point between the U.S. and China, with Donald Trump saying he would "one hundred percent" get Lai out of the country. Over weeks of testimony, Lai spoke candidly on topics including his defence of free speech and the media, while rejecting allegations by the prosecution that he had lobbied the U.S. to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also remained defiant in the face of intense cross-examination. In one exchange he called himself a "political prisoner" only for one judge, Esther Toh, to reject that and say Lai was in court to face a criminal charge. Lai said he had the right to disagree. Before concluding his cross-examination, prosecutor Anthony Chau read out the three charges, alleged conspiracies and co-conspirators, and asked Lai if he agreed with them. "Of course I disagree. Totally rubbish," Lai said. Lai added that he did not even know one of the alleged co-conspirators, Andy Li. Lai has been held in solitary confinement for more than 1,500 days since December 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, speaking in Hong Kong in January, called on Beijing to end Lai's ordeal. "There's probably no more compelling gesture in the short term, to send a message of goodwill to the people of the United States or the free world, than if China were to take steps to free Jimmy Lai," Pence said at a closed door investor conference, a recording of which was reviewed by Reuters. Hong Kong authorities say Lai's trial is fair and the national security law has brought stability after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. No firm date has been set for a verdict, but a judge recently indicated it could come in October. (Editing by Alex Richardson) By Jessie Pang and Anson Law HONG KONG (Reuters) -Hong Kong's top court unanimously overturned on Thursday the convictions of three former members of a pro-democracy group that organised an annual candlelight vigil to mark China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, citing a miscarriage of justice. The ruling is a rare victory for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement in which scores of activists have been jailed or forced into exile, with many liberal and popular civil society groups shuttered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their judgment, the five judges of the Court of Final Appeal, led by Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, said government prosecutors had redacted key facts. That had "deprived the appellants of a fair trial, so that their convictions involved a miscarriage of justice," they added. The now disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China used to organise the annual candlelight vigil to commemorate those who died in the bloody crackdown in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. Former vice-chairperson Chow Hang Tung, 40, and two other former executive committee members Tang Ngok-kwan and Tsui Hon-kwong were sentenced to 4-1/2 months in March 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had been found guilty of not complying with a national security police request for information on the Alliance's members, donors and finances. Chow's mother expressed gratitude for Thursday's ruling. "I hope the world will become better," Medina Chow Lau added. "Everyone should be kind and uphold justice persistently." Tang welcomed the ruling, saying, "Today we can prove that the Alliance is not a foreign agent ... justice is in the hearts of the people," in remarks to reporters outside the court. The group was designated a "foreign agent" for an unidentified organisation after being accused of receiving HK$20,000 from it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some key details of the case, such as the identity of overseas organisations and individuals alleged to have ties to the group, were redacted, drawing criticism from the judges. "By redacting the only potential evidential basis for establishing such facts, the prosecution disabled itself from proving its case," the judges wrote. The national security law imposed by Beijing allows the police chief to seek information believed to be necessary for the prevention and investigation of offences. During the appeal hearing, however, Chow, who represented herself, said the claim that the Alliance was a foreign agent had been difficult to prove because it was untrue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A deer cannot become a horse just because someone believes it to be," she added. Chow urged the courts to end complicity in police abuse. "A police state is created by the complicity of the court in endorsing such abuses," she said. "This kind of complicity must stop now." Detained since September 2021, Chow has also been charged with incitement to subversion, along with two former Alliance leaders, Albert Ho and Lee Cheuk-yan, in a case expected to begin in November. (Reporting by Jessie Pang and Anson Law; Editing by James Pomfret and Clarence Fernandez) CHEYENNE Tuesday evening, the Wyoming Senate voted to kill House Bill 121, which would have required Wyoming hospitals to post prices for items and services in dollars and cents on their websites. Some opponents of the bill expressed concern that it would harm Wyoming hospitals financially, particularly smaller, rural ones. Others said they opposed the bill in response to the Trump administrations executive order last week, which called for stricter rules and enforcement for hospitals to make prices more publicly accessible, with concerns the bill would make enforcement more confusing. The concern for smaller hospitals stems from what some senators described as additional paperwork and red tape they would be required to handle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a House committee meeting in February, Wyoming Hospital Association President Eric Boley, who opposed the bill, estimated that implementing this transparency software could cost a facility between $10,000 and $15,000 each year. Why do we do these things? When weve got good, successful health care programs, some of them struggling, why do we add this additional obligations when its something we can do without, Sen. Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, said. Supporters of the bill, however, said this legislation would have helped the state comply with the federal regulations and given the state more control. Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, said that hospitals, no matter the size, will now be required to comply with the transparency rules, regardless of HB 121, due to the executive order. He urged his colleagues to continue to support the legislation, advocating for the advantages of enforcing a federal act on the state level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PatientRightsAdvocate.org (PRA) is a health care price transparency advocacy group that has been vocal in its support for bills like HB 121 across the nation. PRA founder and chairwoman Cynthia Fisher issued a statement following the Senate vote Tuesday evening. Each of the 16 senators who voted against HB 121 willingly turned their backs on thousands of Wyoming patients and families, Fisher wrote. They had a chance to follow President Trumps lead and take bold action to give every health care consumer in Wyoming access to upfront prices, protection from overcharges, and a more transparent system. Instead, they shamefully betrayed their constituents to placate special interests. These senators put profits over patients. Despite this disappointing setback, the fight for real hospital prices will go on in Wyoming and across our entire country. Senators narrowly voted to kill the bill, with 16 opposed, 14 in favor and one excused. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne (2025) Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne Despite previously voting on this legislation, Sen. Gary Crum, R-Laramie, excused himself Tuesday due to a potential conflict of interest with his role as chairman of the board of directors of Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie. A controversial amendment On Monday, Crum voted in favor of an amendment to the bill to exclude public hospitals from the transparency requirements, which includes Ivinson. The amendment was put forward by Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, and also reduced the daily fine for facilities not in compliance from $1,000 to $500. That amendment passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate President Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, said he believed this amendment defeated the purpose of the bill. Were not going to be bankrupting these hospitals. They would be bankrupting themselves by not being in compliance, he said Monday. So its their choice to follow this act or not. Sen. Gary Crum addresses Senate Sen. Gary Crum, R-Laramie, addresses the Senate during the first day of the 68th Wyoming Legislatures general session on Jan. 14 at the state Capitol in Cheyenne. Crum spoke in favor of the amendment on Monday, criticizing HB 121 as a feel-good bill as originally written. This isnt controlling cost. Its going to add to the confusion, because weve got the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and now youve got a new presidential order coming in, which we dont know exactly whats in that and how thats going to be interpreted, he said. And now were going to put this (bill) into the mix, and so were going to make all these rules and put everybody against each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive order gives health care facilities 90 days to disclose actual prices of items and services, not estimates. It will be enforced by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the federal level. Current transparency Some lawmakers who voted against the bill, including Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, and Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, said prices are already readily available at their local facilities when they need it. PRA publishes a semi-annual hospital pricing transparency report, which analyzes whether hospitals are in compliance with existing federal price transparency regulations. The report reviewed around 2,000 hospital websites. Published in November 2024, before Trumps executive order, PRA found that only 21.1% (421 hospitals) were compliant, none of which were in Wyoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center has become the only hospital in Wyoming to meet those transparency requirements. Fisher spoke with the WTE on Tuesday before the Senate killed HB 121. She said that greater transparency would lower the overall cost for consumers by allowing them to shop around at different health care facilities to compare the cost of services, ultimately driving costs down across the board. It behooves the smaller and rural hospitals to attract patients by having far more competitive prices, she said. And the reality is these hospitals already have to have this data in electronic form in order to bill every single day. So, theres no burden. They already have these prices. All they need to do is pull back the curtain and show them. Despite the federal executive order, she advocated for the original language of HB 121 to enforce transparency regulations sooner in Wyoming and prevent state law from being in conflict with the executive order by exempting certain institutions from the transparency requirements. Project Summary: This story is part of KXANs Preventing Disaster investigation, which initially published on May 15, 2024. The project follows a fatal car crash into an Austin hospitals emergency room earlier that year. Our team took a broader look at safety concerns with that crash and hundreds of others across the nation including whether medical sites had security barriers known as bollards at their entrances. Experts say those could stop crashes from happening. AUSTIN (KXAN) More than a year after a drunk driver slammed into St. Davids North Austin Medical Center, killing herself and seriously injuring five others, theres now growing, bipartisan support for a bill sparked by a series of KXAN investigations aimed at preventing other disasters across the state. Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, spoke with KXAN about his bollard bill at the Capitol. (KXAN Photo/Chris Nelson) Its a common sense bill, said State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, after a recent committee hearing at the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His bill, SB 660, seeks to expand what the Austin City Council unanimously approved in December also in response to KXANs investigation. If passed, it would require the installation of crash-tested security barriers, called bollards, at most hospital entrances statewide. A KXAN investigation found, in the past decade, more than 400 incidents of vehicles crashing into, or at, medical centers nationwide. How much of an influence did our reporting, and the Bernard familys story, influence your decision to file that bill? asked KXAN investigative reporter Matt Grant. Very much. It really did, West said. You end up being, I guess you could say, vessels of information for us to look at legislation. West told KXAN his bill will save lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would be very surprised if it didnt pass, he said. St. Davids is currently facing a $1 million lawsuit from the Bernard family, who were badly hurt in last years crash. The hospital system hasnt commented on its bollards and said it doesnt comment on litigation or pending legislation. St. Davids, however, previously told KXAN it would comply with any new legal or regulatory requirements that are passed. St. Davids HealthCare previous statement to KXAN. (KXAN Graphic/Wendy Gonzalez) Common sense approach Sen. Lois Kolkhorst said SB 660 will definitely get a hearing at the Capitol. (KXAN Photo/Chris Nelson) Wests bill has already been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, chairs that committee and confirmed to KXAN that it will definitely get a hearing. Theres another common sense approach, she said of the bollard measure. You would think that many of our hospitals are doing this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kolkhorst said she wants to work with West and hospital groups to make sure we have these common sense safety standards out there. KXAN investigative reporter Matt Grant, left, recently spoke with Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, right, at his Capitol office. (KXAN Photo/Chris Nelson) We talk a lot about patient safety, you certainly dont want to have to think about walking out of an ER, or being close to an ER, and having someone crash through it, she said. So, Im very optimistic that working with our hospitals we can come up with a very good bill. KXAN also took our findings to State Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood. Hall sits on the committee and has worked on patient safety legislation in the past that was also sparked by a KXAN investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be different if there was just an isolated incident someplace that this happened, Hall said. EXPLORE: KXANs Preventing Disaster investigation that led to bill, new Austin law But, as you pointed out, he added, there are enough of them now to say this is a major problem. Literally in shock Dr. Ray Callas is president of the Texas Medical Association, which advocates for 60,000 Texas physicians and medical students. He didnt know the problem was so broad until KXAN told him. Texas Medical Association President Dr. Ray Callas spoke with KXAN about the hospital bollard bill. (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant) I am literally in shock, Callas said from the hospital where he works, when told about the frequency of incidents across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we can even save one life, and we can make sure its safer for not only the people that are going to the hospitals, like our patients, but also all employees, he said, I think its a good thing to be doing. A composite image of bollards installed at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center, the Capitol and Senate Bill 660. (KXAN Graphic/Josh Hinkle) (Bollard image courtesy Howry, Breen & Herman) While TMA doesnt have a bollard policy, or an official position on this legislation, Callas said West is onto something and his proposal is hitting the nail on the head. As a board certified anesthesiologist in Beaumont for more than 20 years, hes seen a safety approach at hospitals that isnt standardized. We dont have any bollards at our hospitals, he said. But, whenever I travel over the state, I see some with bollards, some without. Citing safety concerns, and the recent terror attack in New Orleans, Callas said lawmakers need to look into this safety fix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would definitely be in support of anything that will improve patient safety, Callas said. And physician safety and hospital safety for all Texans. WATCH: Texas-tested security barriers could prevent ER crash disaster Similarly, the Texas Nurses Association told KXAN elected officials should consider all options to create a safe environment patients and staff. A previous statement from the Texas Nurses Association. (KXAN Graphic/Wendy Gonzalez) The safety of nurses and hospital staff should be the highest priority of any healthcare organization, the TNA said in a statement Wednesday. Any and all protections should be considered to ensure our healthcare providers can come to work with confidence that they are protected and working in a safe environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As our state legislators explore every possible safety measure, the organization added, TNA will continue to follow this issue. A barrier to care Not everyone is on board with the proposal. In a blog post at the start of the legislative session, the head of the Texas Hospital Association which advocates for more than 85% of the states acute care hospitals called the bollard bill a one-size-fits-all mandate and a misguided idea. [A] mandate for bollards is an unreasonable administrative cost burden that could impact access to care and the cost of care for many Texans, THA CEO John Hawkins wrote in a blog post on the organizations website titled, Bollard Mandates for Hospitals Would Be a Barrier to Care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its crucial that hospitals be allowed to independently assess safety measures based on the needs of their communities, Hawkins added. In January, an agency spokesperson echoed those sentiments in a statement to KXAN, pushing back on the proposal by arguing hospitals are one of the most regulated industries in the country already following hundreds of state and federal safety standards. Texas Hospital Association statement. (KXAN Graphic/Wendy Gonzalez) We have not seen any national studies or science indicating bollards are one of the most pressing, critical components to hospital safety, said THA spokesperson Carrie Williams. In a state as large and diverse as Texas, its its family of hospital is equally varied, Williams added. The bollard decision is best left to individual hospitals to evaluate, as opposed to a blanket statewide regulation that doesnt account for the individuality of hospitals and their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safety is of paramount importance to Texas hospitals, Williams said. But, absent any local, state, or federal requirements, our investigation found a patchwork system where some hospitals dont have bollards or, like St. Davids North Austin Medical Center, only installed them after a tragedy. And, if they arent going to do it, Hall warned from his Capitol office, then we in the legislature have a responsibility to protect the people of Texas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. WASHINGTON Lawmakers on Thursday formally reprimanded Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) for making a scene during President Donald Trumps speech at the Capitol this week. The House of Representatives adopted a censure resolution by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) chiding Green for his breach of proper conduct at Tuesdays presidential address. Ten Democrats joined all Republicans in supporting the resolution, with two Democrats voting present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Green, performed one of the most shameful acts that Ive seen on this floor, Newhouse said on the House floor Wednesday. Regardless of who is at the lectern giving a speech, this has to and must continue to be reprimanded. We cannot afford to let it go. Newhouse is one of only two remaining Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in his first term for sending a violent mob to ransack the Capitol the worst breach of decorum of all time, but one members of the Republican Party like to pretend didnt happen the way it did. Newhouse denied he was using the resolution to improve his standing in Trump world. Green interrupted Trumps speech on Tuesday night by standing, pointing his cane at the president, and declaring he had no mandate to cut Medicaid, as Republicans have proposed to do in a budget previously adopted by the House. He continued to stand while House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) threatened to have him hauled out by the House sergeant-at-arms. Green told HuffPost Wednesday he would accept his punishment and that he had no regrets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Democrats mocked the resolution and noted Republicans such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) repeatedly heckled former President Joe Biden during his speeches in the House. Lets stop clutching our pearls, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said. Theres been lots of heckling over on that side of the aisle. I saw the gentlelady from Georgia heckle the last president and have a whole heckling section there. We didnt try to censure them or kick them out of Congress or anything. While there have been plenty of presidential hecklers in recent years, Green is the only member who actually had to be escorted out of the House chamber during a presidential address. Censure doesnt have a practical impact beyond adding Green to a list of rebuked lawmakers that in recent years has expanded to include Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and former Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) was one of the 10 Democrats who voted for the Green censure resolution. It is my belief that the caucus cannot be a distraction, Bera told HuffPost. The focus has to be on what Trumps doing, how hes dismantling government, what hes doing weakening us around the world, what hes doing sounds like hes going to try to shut down the Department of Education, so we cannot be a distraction. Weve got to keep the focus on him. Del. Christopher Adams (R-Middle Shore), left, talks about an amendment he proposed for the Blueprint for Maryland's Future education bill. The amendment failed 98-37. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) House Democrats beat back a series of Republican attempts to restrict parts of the states comprehensive education reform plan Wednesday and are on the verge of passing a bill that exceeds the governors request. Two House committees Appropriations and Ways and Means had voted to reject cuts to the Blueprint for Marylands Future that had been proposed by Gov. Wes Moore (D) in the face of the states projected $3 billion budget shortfall next year. That put House Republicans in the unusual position Wednesday of trying to amend the bill to agree with the Democratic governors version. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider this as a friendly, Eastern Shore Republican amendment whos aligned with your states majority partys governor, said Del. Christopher Adams (D-Middle Shore), as he offered an amendment to eliminate the Appropriations Committees amendments in their entirety. Adams proposed amendment to House Bill 504 the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act would have reverted the bill to the version submitted by the governor. That included a four-year pause the expansion of teachers out-of-classroom time known as collaborative time, a freeze in funding for community schools located in low-income communities, and a reduction in the growth of per-pupil funding from the Blueprints 5% in fiscal 2026 to a 3% increase instead. You are a friendly, Eastern Shore Republican, but Im not sure your amendment is friendly, said Del. Ben Barnes (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel), to a few chuckles from the House floor. Barnes, the chair of the Appropriations Committee, said Adams amendment would strike the original bill, too. After nearly five minutes of debate, the amendment failed 98-37. Del. LaToya Nkongolo (R-Anne Arundel) defends her amendment to a Blueprint for Marylands Future education bill during a House debate Wednesday. Her amendment failed, 95-40. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) Del. LaToya Nkongolo (R-Anne Arundel) next offered an amendment that would have let school systems seek a waiver, and be allowed to use compensatory education funds to try lower class sizes when they exceed more than 30 students per class. It would comply with the Blueprint mandate and help all students, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnes said those funds are specifically used for lower-income students. In addition, he said Nkongolos amendment would allow school officials to use that money at their discretion. That flies in the face of everything that this education reform stands for, he said. After about seven minutes of debate on this amendment, it was rejected 95-40. Finally, Del. Mark Fisher (R-Calvert) offered an amendment to let students enrolled in a one-star school the lowest rating on the state Department of Educations five-star rating system in the annual report card for schools have money from the failing school follow them to a new school of their parents choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students identified as violent or disruptive could also use the funds to attend a facility such as a military boarding school, under Fishers amendment. If school choice were available to just those children in the failed schools, they would probably be pushing 100% [achievement], Fisher said. Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard), chair of the Ways and Means Committee, called Fishers proposal the equivalent of his bill, HB 1180, that her committee heard Monday. To be clear, what this bill does is it diverts further money from our public schools, creating further inequities in our school system, further dividing the children across the state and denying them an equitable opportunity to education, Atterbeary said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After about 20 minutes of debate, Fishers amendment failed 97-39. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The House could take up the bill as early as Thursday for final approval before forwarding it to the Senate for consideration. But senators, with an eye toward the states budget problems, which could get worse in coming weeks with funding cuts from the Trump White House, have said so far this session that they are likely more in line with the Moore administration version of the plan than the more-liberal House version. Two Senate committees Budget and Taxation and the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee were part of last months joint public hearing on the bill with the two House committees. Sen. Guy Guzzone (D-Howard), chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee, said this week his committee could vote on the Senate version next week. House Democrats are making it official: Latino voters have shifted their battleground map. Their campaign arm is unveiling its list of top battleground incumbents to defend in 2026, giving the first insight into how the party views the midterm elections with notable new additions to reflect a shift toward President Donald Trump in some majority-Latino congressional districts The 26-member frontline list provided first to POLITICO otherwise largely matches the list of districts where Democrats played defense last cycle. As Democrats continue their post-election autopsy, the list reveals where the party thinks it is most vulnerable and will have to dedicate resources to protect incumbents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez werent initially on the list last cycle but saw their South Texas districts, some of the most heavily Latino in the country, shift dramatically toward Trump. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) is also on the list (though she was added later last cycle), meaning all three Democratic House members from Nevada will be considered frontliners. Another once-safe district, the North Jersey seat held by Rep. Nellie Pou, was deep-blue territory for years before Trump won it this past cycle. Although there are warning signs that could signal a broader shift among Latino voters away from Democrats, the party still seemed confident about its potential to capture the majority next year. With the cost of living still top of mind for voters, and House Republicans actively pushing disastrous policies that further increase costs, its clear that House Democrats are poised to retake the majority in 2026, said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) in a statement. The DCCC list is a perennial source of heartburn and sometimes conflict among lawmakers who jockey to get onto the list because it helps allocate party resources and leads to a boost in fundraising and attention. With a shrinking number of competitive congressional seats, much of the list remains the same between elections, with changes based on factors such as how specific candidates performed and how presidential results emerged on a district-by-district basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps dominance last fall has changed the overall landscape. Thirteen Democrats now represent seats won by Trump in 2024, while only three Republicans represent seats won by former Vice President Kamala Harris. So even as the narrow House margin means Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats to win back the majority, they have to simultaneously defend many seats. Recently flipped seats in California and New York like those held by Reps. George Whitesides, Derek Tran, Laura Gillen and Josh Riley, were also added to the list. There were also some subtractions from last cycles list. Several midwestern Democrats Reps. Angie Craig of Minnesota, Eric Sorensen and Nikki Budzinski of Illinois, and Hillary Scholten of Michigan were removed after handily dispatching their opponents. The full list of lawmakers: Several House Democrats disapproved of their colleague Rep. Al Greens (D-Texas) disruption during President Trumps joint address to Congress on Tuesday. Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.), speaking to Axios, said he felt the disruptions from Green and other Democrats were inappropriate. When a president my president, your president is speaking, we dont interrupt, we dont pull those stunts, he told the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) said he didnt take that approach himself and doesnt condone the protest behavior. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) also told Axios he thought the outburst from his colleague was a big mistake. Im an old-school traditional type guy, I think we should be treating the president with deference, he said. So I think it was inappropriate. The responses come after Green lashed out at Trump during the Tuesday address, after the president suggested the results of the 2024 election were a mandate from the American people. The Texas Democrat pushed back on the notion, leading Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to direct the sergeant-at-arms to restore order by removing Green from the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later told reporters he was protesting because Trump has no mandate to cut Medicaid. The lawmaker added that his constituents are worried about the administrations sweeping cuts to the health care system. Green wasnt the only member protesting during the address. Some wore color-coordinated clothing, some held signs, and a few walked out of the chamber during the address. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said he thought the Democratic protest was sad. A sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained, Fetterman wrote on social platform X. Were becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention toand it may not be the winning message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Democrats werent thrilled by Greens protest, others went a step further, suggesting they were unhappy with the partys overall messaging. Golden told Axios that if anyone is thinking that it was an effective strategy, theyre probably in an echo chamber. My take is that the average American thought the optics were pretty bad, he said. Another House Democrat told the outlet it would be a compliment to call it a strategy and pointed to photoshopped images of the signs Democrats held up. Leaders had sought to keep disruptions to a minimum. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned her colleagues to not protest in ways that would draw attention to themselves and instead keep the attention focused on Trumps rhetoric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) commended the majority of Democrats on Wednesday for their decorum during the address but stopped short of mentioning the protests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SIDELL, Ill. (WCIA) 13 fire departments and 25 firefighters spent nearly five hours battling a house fire in Sidell Tuesday morning. Fire crews responded to an empty two-story house on the corner of Chicago and Southwick Streets around 10 a.m. When they arrived, they found both the house and the garage fully engulfed by flames. Danville State Rep. files bill to expand protections for volunteer first responders Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sidell Fire Department told WCIA that the wind made it harder to extinguish the fire. And, as the crews were working to put the flames out, the roof collapsed, making it unsafe to get inside and fight the fire. Both the house and the garage were a total loss. Fire crews are still investigating what might have caused the fire, but they said it likely started in the garage. Firefighters were able to leave the scene around 2:30 p.m. and no one was hurt. Taylorville business destroyed by overnight fire Some of the responding fire departments include Oakwood, Homer, Sidney and Allerton. The Sidell Fire and Rescue thanked all of the responding fire departments as well as the surrounding communities that helped put out Tuesdays fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. House Republicans are taking steps to punish Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green for disrupting President Donald Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. Washington state Republican Rep. Daniel Newhouse introduced a censure resolution against Green on Wednesday. Green was removed from the House after standing up and shouting at Trump repeatedly during Tuesday nights address. Newhouse said on the floor of the House that he was seeking the rare punishment against Green for his numerous interruptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was beyond the pale. It went on and on, disrupting the entire evening so I felt it had to be responded to, said Newhouse, according to CNN. We have to uphold the expectations of decorum here, or else, what are we? We have nothing other than just a club that everybody comes and yells at each other, he added. Newhouse is viewed as a centrist in the Republican Party who was criticized for voting to impeach Trump in 2021 and who won a tight election against a fellow member of the GOP in the last election. Rep. Al Green was escorted out of the House Chamber for interrupting Trumps speech on Tuesday night (via REUTERS) While Newhouses measure appears to have the support of GOP leadership, it also angered some conservatives in the lower chamber who had been speaking to legislative counsel about a resolution of their own, according to CNN. In private, they said Newhouse was attempting to avoid a challenger from his right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newhouse rejected the notion that he was trying to improve his support with Trump supporters when speaking to reporters. This is about the House of Representatives, Congress and respecting the rules of decorum that we have. You know, it could be any president, any member. This is bigger than any particular relationship, said Newhouse. On Wednesday, Green acknowledged that he will suffer the consequences. What I did was from my heart. People are suffering. And I was talking about Medicaid. I didnt just say you dont have a mandate. I said you dont have a mandate to cut Medicaid, he added. Newhouse noted that there were many Republicans wanting to put their name on the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was the first to approach the speaker about this issue. So, here I am, he said, according to CNN. Earlier on Wednesday, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN that the overwhelming majority of Democrats took on the address seriously. Jeffries was asked about the GOP looking to censure Green and whether thats appropriate, he said, I havent had that conversation with anyone. Some centrist Democrats are now in the uneasy position of possibly having to defend a member of their own party yelling at the president during his speech. However, other Democrats shouted at Trump from their seats, while some walked out of the chamber, or held up signs. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Thursday subpoenaed Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, demanding the tech giant turn over its communications with the executive branch. The panel also requested that Alphabet hand over internal communications about its interactions with the previous administration and third parties working with the executive branch. The Committees oversight has revealed that YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet, was a direct participant in the federal governments censorship regime, Jordan wrote in a letter to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan cited a committee report featuring a series of emails between Google and the White House under former President Biden about content moderation in 2021, largely related to COVID-19 misinformation. To develop effective legislation, such as the possible enactment of new statutory limits on the executive branchs ability to work with Big Tech to restrict the circulation of content and deplatform users, the Committee must first understand how and to what extent the executive branch coerced and colluded with companies and other intermediaries to censor speech, Jordan added. He also noted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs recent criticism of the Biden administrations approach. Zuckerberg said in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee last August that he regretted not being more outspoken about pressure his company faced to take down COVID-related content in 2021. Alphabet, to our knowledge, has not similarly disavowed the Biden-Harris Administrations attempts to censor speech, Jordan said Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement that the tech firm will continue to show the committee how we enforce our policies independently, rooted in our commitment to free expression. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the Biden administrations communications with tech companies last year. However, the justices did not get to the First Amendment question at the heart of the case whether the governments communications crossed the line into coercion instead finding the parties lacked standing to bring the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Dover Democratic Rep. Seth Miller, right, consults with a colleague during a voting day for the New Hampshire House of Representatives on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Earlier in the day, the House voted to eliminate the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin) A Republican-backed proposal to eliminate New Hampshires mechanism for purchasing vaccines was approved by the state House of Representatives Thursday. The House voted, 189-181, in favor of House Bill 524, which seeks to terminate the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Hampshire Vaccine Association is a nonprofit established by the Legislature in 2002 that serves as a universal purchasing program with the goal of providing universal access to vaccines for children. It does not set or recommend policies, but rather it buys vaccines in bulk and distributes them to doctors and providers, combining money from all insurers in the state to get a 30% discount on vaccines. The Republicans backing this bill argued the private sector could better fill this function. Rep. Michael Granger, a Milton Republican and the bills sponsor, said while introducing the bill that its goal is to save a large amount of money. He argued the association wasnt actually saving anyone any money, but still costing the state money to operate. Granger brought Laura Condon, a volunteer with the controversial nonprofit National Vaccine Information Center and a vocal vaccine conspiracy theorist, to make the case for the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is best to remove government from involvement in the purchase of medical products when private business does quite well and cost-effectively for vaccines for adults, said Condon, who recently publicly questioned whether vaccines might cause cancer and falsely asserted online that vaccines cause autism. She described the assertion that the government is able to do these duties cheaper than private industry as a false premise. Opponents say the bill wouldnt save any money, as the funds that pass through it come from insurers, not the state itself. Without the New Hampshire Vaccine Association, medical offices would have to purchase vaccines themselves, would incur the administrative costs to do so, wouldnt get the discount, and would bill insurers at full price. This, opponents said, would threaten vaccine access and make it more difficult for parents to find vaccination clinics for their children. The bill would actually increase costs for the state, they argued, as it would have to assume the costs of managing a vaccine inventory to be prepared for disease outbreaks, a role the association currently fills in New Hampshire. For 20 years this is an arrangement that has worked beautifully for everybody, Rep. Lucy Weber, a Walpole Democrat who serves on the Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee, said. Its a win-win-win-win. Its good for kids. Its good for parents. Its good for the practices. And its good for costs. Weber said the bill would result in fewer vaccinations. Still, she argued the New Hampshire Vaccine Association is not pro-vaccine or pushing vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is making them available to parents who want their children to be vaccinated, she continued. And in that respect, it is a parental rights, parental decision organization. And parents can do what parents want to do. There is nothing in the vaccine organization as it stands thats requiring parents to get vaccines. Deputy House Democratic Leader Laura Telerski, who represents Nashua, added that this will disproportionately impact rural communities where there are fewer providers and parents have to travel farther for pediatrician visits. Opponents of this bill believe that government has a role in public health and providing that access, Telerski said. And the people who are supporting the bill believe that small government is taking precedence over public health. The bill has been widely panned by doctors, nurses, and medical organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We already have a very, very good system in place, said Dr. Patrick Ho, president of the New Hampshire Medical Association and a psychiatrist in Lebanon. Ho disagrees with proponents of the bill who say the private sector would be able to complete this function at the same cost. I think what that argument really disregards is the power of the program overall to leverage essentially the lower costs of purchasing the vaccines and negotiating for significantly lower priced vaccines for everybody across the state, insured or not, he said. It also disregards the very significant administrative resources that would need to be deployed for each practice, each health system to procure these vaccines themselves. Ho pointed out the bill is opposed by providers and insurers alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone involved in obtaining vaccines for our state and for the children of our state is aligned in thinking this is a really good program, he said. Theres no reason to do away with it. Ho said the New Hampshire Vaccine Association is really just a big win for the children of the state and that it reduces burdens to vaccines. When the state is able to purchase vaccines at the lowest possible price, this ensures that the children of the state can get free vaccines, he said. Because the health care provider offices, the clinics, and the insurance carriers dont have as much administrative burden. The opposition to the bill, while ultimately unsuccessful, was bipartisan. In addition to Democrats, some Republicans voted against it Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. David Nagel, a Gilmanton Republican, called it a horrible bill. I gotta live with myself, he said, explaining why he voted against it. Outside of his work in the State House, Nagel is a doctor, known nationally for his work on pain management. He served on the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee until he was removed last month ahead of the committee vote on whether to recommend this bill for approval, as reported by WMUR. The bill will now be considered by the Ways and Means Committee. Legislation moving through the Oklahoma House would create residential setbacks for wind turbines. A wind farm is pictured in Ohio. (Photo by Robert Zullo/States Newsroom) OKLAHOMA CITY Lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill that would create the first residential setbacks for wind turbines amid growing calls for additional regulation on Oklahomas renewable energy industry. Critics warned that House Bill 2751 could limit investment opportunities and impede on Oklahomans private property rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, wind energy facilities must be 1.5 nautical miles from any public-use or municipality owned airport, public schools and hospitals. The bill would expand the setbacks to require industrial wind turbines be 0.25 miles or 2.5 times the turbines height, whichever is greater, from residential dwellings or functional buildings. One nautical mile is equivalent to about 1.15 miles. There are people in Oklahoma, people in this building, that think that this goes too far, and there are people that think this goes not far enough. And so this is trying to be a middle road, said Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, the bills author. Were trying to find a common sense solution to a very complicated problem that essentially at its root cause is the rub, or the conflict, between competing property rights. Property rights of the property owner, but also the property rights of the abutting landowner. The measure comes as a growing number of Oklahomans have rallied at the Capitol and elsewhere calling for more regulations and protesting against expanding solar, wind and other renewable energies in the state even as the demand for electricity and energy continues to grow. In 2023, Oklahoma was the third-largest wind electricity producer in the U.S., behind only Texas and Iowa, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caldwells bill does not create blanket coverage for the whole state but instead affects counties with a population density greater than 8.5 people per square mile or with average wind speeds under 9.5 mph. Caldwell said this happens to break down between eastern and western Oklahoma. You see much more population dense areas in eastern Oklahoma, he said. But at the same point in time, you also see the net wind speed of what is considered good wind much higher, much more consistent in western Oklahoma than you do in eastern Oklahoma. So there are key regional differences, and were trying to walk that balancing act. Caldwell said as wind energy facilities look to expand to eastern Oklahoma where the wind is not as strong, they will look to build taller windmills. As of 2023, the average height of a wind turbine was 339 feet, which is taller than the Statue of Liberty. Rising heights of wind turbines would cause the setbacks to grow under this legislation. Enel Energy operates over a dozen wind energy facilities in Oklahoma, including the proposed 5,000-acre Cedar Run Wind Project in Lincoln County, which is one of the wind farms facing local pushback. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heath Herje, head of southern development at Enel North America, said wind farms create jobs and tremendous economic growth for rural Oklahoma. Wind leases help farmers and ranchers preserve their land for future generations of agriculturists through steady income, Herje said in a statement. Private property rights are important to Oklahomans, and rural families should be able to use their private property as they see fit. Wind farms help all Oklahomans by keeping electricity costs low and providing millions in taxes for rural schools, rural county infrastructure, and public services. We need more investment opportunities for rural Oklahoma, not more regulations. Caldwell said counties already have the ability to put in place everything in this legislation. Property owners can choose to waive the setback requirements of Caldwells bill. The setbacks would be in effect unless a local county commissioner refers the issue to voters and puts the choice of opting out on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a county were to opt-in to this legislation while an adjoining county opts out, a company seeking to establish a wind energy facility between the counties would have to abide by the setbacks and regulations for each county. Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, questioned if this bill was targeting a single industry in parts of Oklahoma. Caldwell said it was because of the differences between regions of the state in relation to the wind energy industry. We have a very diverse state, he said. That diversity in our state of Oklahoma is something we should be proud of, but we also have to understand that one size fits all, blanket policies normally dont work great for Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caldwell said this bill originally was voted down in a committee last month, but was reworked and passed through the House Utilities Committee. He said the bill as it currently reads is the result of hours of his caucus discussion on utilities but hes open to further caucus changes before it hits the House floor. He said it is not intended to be retroactive. The bill would also charge the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, a three person board that regulates utilities in the state, with maintaining a publicly accessible and searchable database with county information on if setbacks are in effect. If signed into law, Caldwell said this database from the Corporation Commission would work in tandem with another of his bills, House Bill 2756 which he said would notify neighbors when a wind farm is coming to their area as well as county commissioners, EMS, the fire department, and other relevant parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure is eligible to be heard by the full House after the chambers Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee passed it 10-6 Wednesday with bipartisan support. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE About 60 percent of the nations 73 million children in 2022 received their health insurance through Medicaid or CHIP, which extends Medicaid benefits to children of low-income families who make too much money to qualify for the traditional Medicaid program, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. (Photo by Ariel Skelley/Getty Photos) Jennifer Partykas son was severely anemic and underweight as a result of Crohns disease before he began receiving treatments that dramatically changed his life. As the operations manager for a small nonprofit without employer-provided health insurance, Partykas son depends on Medicaid to pay for the costly treatments. He requires them every two months, Partyka said Wednesday during a press call organized by an advocacy group on the impact of proposed cuts to the federal safety-net insurance program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My son, like so many people on Medicaid, works over 40 hours a week, said Partyka, a Lackawanna County nurse who did not identify her son to protect his privacy. People on Medicaid are not the parasite class. What a cruel way to speak about your friends and your neighbors. House Republicans last week passed a federal budget blueprint that calls for $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) calling the program hugely problematic because of fraud, waste and abuse. Despite what the media and the left allege, no Medicaid or Medicare benefits will be reducedthese are entirely false claims, Rep. Dan Meuser (R-9th District) said in a statement last week. The only reductions will be to waste, abuse, fraud, and ineligibility if foundwhich I believe 98% of Americans support. Pennsylvania advocates with Protect Our Care, a national nonprofit that advocates for the right to affordable and equitable health care for all Americans, said Wednesday that a web of safeguards ensures there is little fraud in the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association estimated in 2018 that about 3% or more than $100 billion of all health care expenditures are fraudulent. The federal Department of Health and Human Services estimated that there were more than $100 billion in payment errors in the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the 2023 fiscal year. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd District), the ranking Democratic member of the House Budget Committee, said Wednesday that an analysis he requested from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office shows the budget plan would require deep, damaging cuts to Medicaid. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, is instructed under the House Republicans budget memo to reduce spending for programs under its jurisdiction by $880 billion. When Medicare and the Childrens Health Insurance Program are excluded, the committees oversight includes only $385 billion in mandatory spending, of which $135 billion is available for cuts. Thats less than one-sixth of the cuts required under the budget memo, a statement from the Budget Committee said. This analysis from the nonpartisan CBO confirms what weve been saying all along: Republicans are lying about their budget, Boyle said in a statement. Their plan would force the largest Medicaid cuts in American history all to pay for more tax giveaways to billionaires. This is a complete betrayal of the middle class, and Democrats will keep fighting to stop them. The American people deserve to know just how much pain Republicans are willing to inflict on their own constituents to reward their billionaire donors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid provides a lifeline and specialized service to a broad range of Pennsylvania residents including children, seniors and adults who have complex and debilitating conditions that prevent them from earning enough to afford private insurance. Reducing funding by the level necessitated by the House budget resolution would cost Pennsylvanians their health, dignity and lives, advocates said. State Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny), who is an emergency room physician, recalled a patient who came to his ER with back pain he initially suspected to be a pulled muscle. I was wrong. She had widely metastatic breast cancer, Venkat said. What she told me was that she did not have insurance coverage and as a result, she only saw care in the emergency department when it was, frankly, too late. That is the future that were looking at if these types of cuts go through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Josh Shapiros 2025-2026 budget proposal includes $63.7 billion for the Department of Human Services, an 8% increase over the current budget. The department administers Medicaid programs in Pennsylvania and receives nearly 60% of its funding from the federal government. In a House Appropriations Committee budget hearing Tuesday, Human Services Secretary Valerie Arkoosh testified that Medicaid covers more than 3 million Pennsylvanians, more than a third of whom are children and 312,000 of whom are senior citizens. Its an absolutely essential program for so many people, Arkoosh said. It allows people to live in their homes instead of having to go into a nursing facility. It allows people to be healthy and be productive members in the workplace. It gets our kids off to a great start. The increase in the budget request reflects more acute illness among Medicaid recipients along with rising hospital and drug costs. Its a result of many people who fell back on Medicaid during the pandemic returning to the workforce, leaving those with greater medical needs on the programs rolls, Arkoosh said. She added that many of those people avoided seeking care during the pandemic, resulting in an increased demand for services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theresa Miller, who served as human services secretary for four years under former Gov. Tom Wolf, said during the discussion Wednesday that Medicaid also plays a key role in fighting the opioid and suicide epidemics, which claim nearly 20 lives a day in Pennsylvania. She noted Medicaid is the single-largest funder of mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in the country. Medicaid expansion in Pennsylvania literally saved lives, Miller said. I have heard countless stories of people who do not believe that they would be alive today if it werent for the mental health or SUD treatment or other critical health care services that they were able to access because of Medicaid. Miller said claims of widespread fraud and abuse are misinformation. and that there is no way that cutting nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid would eliminate only wasteful and fraudulent spending. To suggest that Congress can cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid by simply ferreting out fraud, waste and abuse, and that people wont feel the impact of these cuts is simply disingenuous, Miller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State officials are reviewing the use of Medicaid funding for programs in Pennsylvania. In the budget hearing Tuesday, Rep. Jeff Olsommer (R-Pike) said Shapiros budget notes that GLP-1 treatments such as Ozempic, used to control blood sugar and promote weight loss, account for nearly $1 billion in medical assistance program spending, which falls under Medicaid. He asked whether the treatment is supported by an associated reduction in costs. Arkoosh said that while treating diabetes with GLP-1 drugs has shown savings in treatment for associated conditions, their use to treat obesity alone is more recent and less data is available. The department is proposing new guidelines that would allow the drugs to be used for only more severe conditions. Michael Berman of Protect Our Care Pennsylvania said Wednesday that the organizations polling shows that Americans overwhelmingly agree that health care is important in deciding who they vote for in Congress and a vast majority, including more than two-thirds of Trump voters disapprove of the proposed Medicaid cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is numbers like that that get a little lost, and its important to bring it back to the stories of the individuals here who were seeing patients every day who are going to get hurt by these cuts, Berman said. This article was updated at 3 p.m., Thursday, March 5, 2025, to include information from a Congressional Budget Office analysis and from Rep. Brendan Boyle, the House Budget Committees ranking Democrat. WASHINGTON Legislation that would give truck drivers the right to overtime pay was reintroduced in both the House and Senate on Thursday. The Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act would eliminate an exemption in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 that gives employers the right to exempt their drivers from overtime compensation meaning theyre excluded from guaranteed time-and-a-half pay if they work more than 40 hours a week due to traffic congestion, weather or delays at loading docks. A bipartisan House version of legislation was reintroduced by U.S. Reps. Mark Takano, D-Calif., and Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J. A Senate companion bill was reintroduced by Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Ed Markey, D-Mass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar bills introduced in 2022 and 2023 in the House and Senate did not advance out of committee. Americas truck drivers are on the frontlines of our economy, enduring long hours away from home, and all too often, unpaid wait times at congested ports and warehouses, said Padilla in a statement. Unfortunately, truck drivers have been excluded from overtime pay protections for decades. If truckers are forced to wait while on the job, they should be paid. This is not just a matter of fairness; its a matter of public safety. Experienced truckers are safer truckers, and better compensation and overtime pay will help more of them stay in the profession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overtime pay has been a top issue for owner-operators and independent drivers for years, along with increasing truck parking spaces and more transparency in freight billing with truck brokers. Its long past time the hard work of the men and women behind the wheel are fairly compensated, said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer in a statement. By discounting a truckers time, big trucking has driven wages downward, treating truckers as disposable rather than the skilled professionals they are. OOIDA pointed out that while President Donald Trump in his address to Congress on Tuesday proposed eliminating income tax on overtime pay, this would not benefit most truck drivers. Incredibly, truck drivers are one of the only blue-collar occupations exempt from overtime requirements, the group stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Teamsters union also supports the bill, which will right the decades-long wrong that serves only to harm drivers to the benefit of their employers, Teamsters General President Sean OBrien commented on Thursday. The American Trucking Associations, which represents large carriers with employee drivers, has opposed removing the FLSA exemption for overtime pay, arguing it would decimate trucking jobs by upending pay models that have provided family-sustainable wages, ATA President Chris Spear commented after the bill was introduced in 2023. Related articles: Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post House, Senate reintroduce trucker overtime pay bill appeared first on FreightWaves. WASHINGTON (AP) The chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after crashing into a police vehicle following President Donald Trumps address to Congress. Hayden Haynes was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence and later released. In a statement, U.S. Capitol Police said Haynes had backed into a parked vehicle shortly before midnight. Officers responded to the scene and the driver was arrested, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to reporters, Johnson said he's known Haynes for more than a decade and said he's trusted and respected, and he has my full faith and confidence to lead. In a statement, Johnson's spokesperson said the speaker was aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police and that Haynes has an esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike. Haynes is a longtime, trusted aide to Johnson a Louisiana Republican and has served as the speakers chief of staff since Johnson took on the role in 2023. Haynes didnt immediately respond to a message seeking comment and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. NBC News first reported details of the arrest. House Speaker Mike Johnsons chief of staff was arrested for drunk driving Tuesday night after crashing into a police vehicle following President Donald Trumps address to Congress. NBC News reports that Hayden Hayes was arrested for driving under the influence and later released with a citation to appear in court. A statement from the U.S. Capitol Police says Haynes backed into a parked vehicle around 11:40 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to NBC News, Johnsons spokesperson said hes standing by Haynes, who hes known for more than a decade. The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress. Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office, the statement said in part. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW (The Hill) Capitol Police arrested House Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) chief of staff on DUI charges Tuesday after President Trumps first address to Congress concluded. Authorities say Hayden Haynes backed into a parked vehicle around 11:40 p.m. This is not normal: Who held up the protest sign before Trumps speech? Johnsons office said they are aware of the incident and still confident in Haynes ability to lead the office team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress, Taylor Haulsee, a spokesperson for Johnsons office, said in a statement. Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) arrives to President Trumps joint address to Congress on March 04, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images) The charges were first reported by NBC News. Is Social Security money going to millions of people listed as old as 149? D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb will handle Haydens prosecution, which differs from most cases in the District of Columbia. (Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., would oversee most cases except in the instance of a DUI.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwalb has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and his efforts to eradicate the Districts autonomous government. The Hill has reached out to Schwalb for comment on the matter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The federal appeals court based in Denver reinstated a father's lawsuit on Thursday against two Douglas County child welfare workers, who allegedly violated his constitutional rights in their investigation of suspected child abuse. The House on Wednesday teed up a final vote on a resolution to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) for disrupting President Trumps address to a joint session of Congress. The chamber voted 209-211-1 on a Democratic-led motion to table the censure resolution, falling short of the majority vote needed to block the measure from advancing. The resolution is now headed for a final vote, which is expected to take place Thursday morning. Green voted present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) introduced the censure resolution on Wednesday, one day after Green stood up and yelled during Trumps speech, prompting his removal from the chamber. The measure labels Greens display at the address a breach of proper conduct. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) backed the censure effort shortly after Trumps speech. Based on Wednesdays vote, and barring any absences or last-minute flips, the resolution is expected to clear the chamber Thursday. It would make Green the 28th member of the House to have been censured. A House censure does not carry any serious repercussions, but is viewed as a permanent stain on the lawmakers record. The punishment has become more common in recent years. Green began his protest minutes into Trumps speech on Tuesday, as the president was discussing the mandate he was given by voters during the November elections. Green stood up, raised his cane in the air and argued that Trump did not have a mandate at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point, he said the president did not have a mandate to cut Medicaid, which has emerged as a hot-button issue on Capitol Hill as some Republicans eye slashes to the social safety net program as part of their border, energy and tax cuts bill. Republicans responded to Greens protest with chants of USA. Johnson, who was seated next to Vice President Vance on the dais, gave Green a warning, urging him to take your seat. But Green continued shouting, leading Johnson to order the sergeant-at-arms to remove him from the chamber. Republicans broke out singing hey, hey, hey, goodbye, as Green was escorted off the House floor. Greens display prompted widespread criticism, mainly among Republicans but from some Democrats as well. Johnson called his behavior absolutely shameful, and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said his protest was counterproductive and went beyond decorum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democratic leaders, however, have stopped short of condemning Greens behavior. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) defended the conduct of the majority of his caucus, declining to comment on the lawmakers who engaged in protests. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), meanwhile, told reporters I really dont want to hear about decorum, deflecting to parts of Trumps speech. Green, for his part, has defended his conduct. The Texas Democrat told reporters his display was worth it. This is about the people who are being punished by virtue of losing their health care, Green said. This is the richest country in the world, and we have people who dont have good health care. Republicans raced to spearhead the effort to censure Green on Wednesday. After vowing on Tuesday night to censure any Democrat who disrupted the presidents speech, the conservative House Freedom Caucus said it would introduce a censure resolution led by Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) also introduced a censure resolution on Wednesday that said Green willfully disrupted the joint session, remained defiant, and was subsequently removed from the chamber. It also said he violated decorum. The resolution has more than 20 co-sponsors. In the end, however, Johnson decided to go with Newhouses censure resolution. Newhouse, a more moderate lawmaker, is one of the two remaining House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Johnson told a NOTUS reporter he would move forward with Newhouses resolution because I believe this is the first one out of the gate. Newhouse, for his part, swatted down the idea that he introduced the censure resolution to improve his relationship with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont see how that would work at all, Newhouse said. This is about the House of Representatives, Congress and respecting the rules of decorum that we have. Mike Lillis and Emily Brooks contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Just minutes into President Donald Trumps speech on Tuesday, March 4, Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green stood up and raised his cane in his direction and shouted out. He was given a warning by House Speaker Mike Johnson a Louisiana Republican who told Green to sit down and maintain decorum. Green did not heed Johnsons warning. Johnson then told the sergeant at arms to restore order and remove this gentleman from the chamber. After he was escorted out, Green explained why he heckled Trump. The president indicated that he had a mandate. I said to the president, You do not have a mandate to cut Medicaid. I have constituents who need Medicaid. They will suffer and some will die if they dont get Medicaid, Green stated, per CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said that he would do it all again. I think that on some questions, questions of conscience, you have to be willing to suffer the consequences, he added. And I have said I will. Greens punishment isnt enough for the conservative House Freedom Caucus, though they want him to be removed from his committee assignment. According to a post on X, the group said it will introduce a resolution to strip him of his seat on the House Financial Services Committee. If that wasnt enough, on Thursday, March 6, the House voted to censure Green for disrupting Trump during his first address to Congress since returning to power. In a shocking turn of events, the Democrats helped Republicans in approving a censureresolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final vote was 224 to 198, with 10 Democrats joining Republicans in favor of the resolution. They included:Ami Bera of California, Ed Case of Hawaii, Jim Costa of California, Laura Gillen of New York, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Tom Suozzi of New York, per CNN. Two members, included Green, voted present. According to government records, Green has now become the 28th lawmaker in this nations history to be censured by the House. After the vote was completed, Green was ordered to stand in the well of the chamber while the resolution was read aloud. He was soon joined by other Democrats who began singing we shall overcome. Despite being a censored member, Green does not lose any rights or privileges. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was censured by the House of Representatives for disrupting President Donald Trumps address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. In one of the highlights of a raucous House chamber during Trumps speech, Green was removed when he refused to stop interrupting Trump. Green shouted that the president did not have a mandate to cut Medicaid. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vote today was 224-198 to censure Green, with 10 Democrats joining Republicans on the resolution. After the vote, Democrats surrounded Green and sang, We Shall Overcome. Some members continued to argue with Republicans. Green voted present. On Wednesday, Green told reporters, The president said that he had a mandate, and I was making it clear to the president that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid. Green said that his tactics is the best way to get across to a person who uses incivility against our civility. He said that he was not fighting the censure. Ill accept the punishment, but its worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this presidents desire to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A censure does not include any other punishment than a public reprimand. The House has increasingly turned to censure votes as a way of trying to punish members. Adam Schiff was censured in 2023 over the Trump-Russia investigations, but he used the publicity surrounding the move to fundraise as he waged a successful campaign for the U.S. Senate. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) interrupted Joe Bidens speeches to Congress, but Democratic efforts to censure her were sidelined in the GOP controlled House. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. House Republicans have voted to censure Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who was removed from the chamber after he disrupted President Donald Trumps address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. The House voted 224-198 Thursday morning, with 10 Democrats siding with the Republicans to censure Green: Reps. Ami Bera of California, Ed Case of Hawaii, Jim Costa of California, Laura Gillen of New York, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington and Tom Suozzi of New York. Two Democrats, including Green himself, voted present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the vote, a group of Democrats, alongside Green, sang We Shall Overcome on the House floor as Speaker Mike Johnson banged his gavel and told members to come to order. A motion to table the censure resolution, introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., had failed along party lines Wednesday. Johnson later chastised Green in a statement, calling the protest shameful and egregious. Green made waves early in Trumps speech when the president crowed about his 2024 election win. Green stood up and shouted that Trump had no mandate, waving his cane at him. After the Texas congressman ignored Johnsons initial warning, the speaker called for Greens removal from the chamber. If you get in the way, if youre arrested, then youve got to be willing to suffer the consequences, Green told reporters the next day. I did it from my heart, and I will suffer whatever the consequences are. But truthfully, I would do it again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greens protest stood in stark contrast to the response of most of his fellow Democrats, who instead silently protested Trump during his speech to little effect. Censure is a serious rebuke of a congressional lawmaker, but it does not affect their privileges or rights as a House member. Other representatives who have been censured in the past decade are Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., who posted an anime-style video online that depicted him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y.; Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., for comments about the investigations into Trumps ties to Russia; Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., for criticism of Israel; and then-Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., for pulling a fire alarm in a congressional building while the House was in session. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The House voted on Thursday morning to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) following his outburst during President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress earlier this week. Rep. Green was removed from the chamber on Tuesday night after being asked to stop disrupting the presidents speech. The censure resolution passed in a 224-198 vote with two members voting present, including Green. Ten Democrats joined Republicans in favor of the resolution. Green was surrounded by fellow Democrats in the well of the House floor as the censure resolution was read out loud. Several Democratic House members began singing We Shall Overcome before House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called for order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the vote, Green told Nexstar he was participating in peaceful protest to protect Medicaid on Tuesday night. If the circumstances presented themselves again, I would do it again because this is a righteous cause. Its about health care for people in the richest country in the world who wont have it if we dont have Medicaid for them, he said. Green said he was prepared to accept the consequences for his actions and that he wanted to send a message to President Trump. Today when we sang We Shall Overcome that was our incivility, saying to the president we are not going to continue to allow you to use incivility against our civility, he said. What does it mean if a member is censured? A censure is a formal statement of disapproval in the form of a resolution that is adopted by majority vote. It is used to punish a member for disorderly behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A censure vote in the House does not expel a member from Congress or cause them to lose any rights or privileges. Lawmakers who are censured are usually asked to stand in the well of the House as the censure resolution against them is read aloud. It has long been viewed as a punishment of last resort. However, censure resolutions have become more common in recent years. What other members of the House have been censured in recent years? In November 2023, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) was censured for her rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war. In June 2023, Republicans voted to censure then-Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for comments he made about investigations into then-President Trumps ties to Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) was censured by the House when it was under Democratic control in 2021. The vote came after Rep. Gosar tweeted an animated video that depicted him striking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) with a sword. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. WASHINGTON The Republican-controlled House voted Thursday to censure Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, for disrupting President Donald Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday. The vote was 224-198, with 10 Democrats joining all Republicans in approving the censure resolution. Green and freshman Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., voted present. As the vote proceeded, Green sat by himself along the center aisle. After the vote, as the resolution required of him, Green stood in the well of the House chamber while Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., read the censure resolution to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of Democrats, including many fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus, surrounded Green in the well and sang "We Shall Overcome" in a show of solidarity as Johnson repeatedly told them to stop and to clear the well. Republicans in the chamber yelled, "Order! Order!" And two Black Caucus members, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, shot back: Shame on you!" Democrats ignored Johnson's request, and he then recessed the House. All 10 Democrats who voted to censure Green are moderates: Ami Bera and Jim Costa, both of California; Ed Case of Hawaii; Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi, both of New York; Jim Himes of Connecticut; Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania; Marcy Kaptur of Ohio; Jared Moskowitz of Florida; and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green, 77, an outspoken progressive who is a former local president of the NAACP, is a fixture in the House, where he has served for 20 years. Starting in Trump's first term, he has repeatedly introduced resolutions to impeach Trump, and he has threatened to do so again this year. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., introduced the censure resolution. A Democratic effort to table the resolution was rejected Wednesday in a 209-211 vote. A censure is a formal way for the House to express disapproval of a members conduct. A censured member does not lose any rights or privileges as a House member. The matter, however, might not be closed. The far-right House Freedom Caucus, which had been racing to introduce its own resolution to censure Green, said after the vote that its members plan to roll out another resolution seeking to remove Green from the Financial Services Committee. The group said on X it expects Johnson to bring the resolution to the floor next week. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was removed from the House chamber after he disrupted President Donald Trump's speech to Congress. While Democrats engaged in both silent and sometimes vocal protests of Trump during his long address to a joint session of Congress this week, Green took things a step further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He rose from his seat toward the front of the chamber Tuesday night, shook his cane toward Trump and repeatedly shouted that the president had "no mandate to cut Medicaid ... no mandate" after Trump had said in his speech that voters in the 2024 election had handed him a mandate to slash the federal government. Republicans across the aisle, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Nancy Mace of South Carolina, jeered and booed. The usually even-tempered Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., screamed at Green: "Sit down!" Johnson banged the gavel and gave several warnings to Green, but he refused to sit down or be quiet. Johnson then instructed the sergeant at arms to remove him from the chamber. He did not resist, and he walked out of the room as Republicans chanted in unison, "Na-nah, na-na-nah-na ... goodbye!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green said Wednesday that he had the "privilege of going to jail" with the late Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, the civil rights icon who Green said taught him the importance of peaceful protest. "So Im not angry with the speaker. Im not angry with the officers. Im not upset with the members who are going to bring the motions or resolution to sanction. I will suffer the consequences," Green said. "But I must add this: What I did was from my heart. People are suffering, and I was talking about Medicaid. I didnt just say you dont have a mandate. I said you dont have a mandate to cut Medicaid. "I did it from my heart, and I will suffer whatever the consequences are," he added. "But truthfully, I would do it again." Article I of the Constitution gives the House and the Senate alike the authority to determine how to punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour. The House first censured a representative in 1832 for insulting the House speaker. Since the, members have been censured for offenses such as using unparliamentary language in floor debate, corruption and even committing assault on the House floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green is the 28th member of the House to be censured. The last House member to be censured was another progressive Black Caucus member, then-Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., on Dec. 7, 2023. He was censured for pulling a fire alarm in a Capitol office building when there was no fire or other emergency; Bowman was ousted last year in the Democratic primary and has insisted pulling the alarm was an accident. A month earlier, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the first Palestinian American woman elected to Congress, was censured for comments she made about the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023. The last Republican censured was Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona in 2021, after he posted an animated video that depicted him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and attacking President Joe Biden. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The House on Thursday voted to censure Democratic Rep. Al Green after he was removed for disrupting President Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday night. It was a 224 to 198 vote, with 10 Democrats voting with Republicans in favor of the censure, making Green the 28th member of the House to ever receive one. To "censure" a lawmaker is a formal punishment members of Congress can give to their colleagues for disorderly behavior. While it does not typically carry consequences beyond the member having to hear a description of their disorderly behavior being read aloud in the House, it is considered a mark on Green's record as a lawmaker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse from Washington introduced a resolution to censure Green on Wednesday morning over the outburst during Trump's speech, reportedly beating out three alternative censure measures being composed by Arizona Rep. Eli Crane, Texas Rep. Troy Nehls and the House Freedom Caucus. On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson instructed the House sergeant at arms to eject Green after he stood up and interjected as Trump spoke to lawmakers. Green stood and shouted, You have no mandate! Republicans, sitting on the other side of the room, drowned Greens protests out, chanting USA! USA! Johnson asked the room to sit down and stay quiet, but Green refused. Johnson then instructed the sergeant at arms to remove Green from the room for interrupting the speech and, as Green exited, Republicans stood up again and cheered, shouting, Get out! Rep. Al Green makes his protest (Win McNamee/Pool via Reuters) You have no mandate to cut Medicaid! Green shouted at Trump before he was escorted out of the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson later told reporters that Green "should be censured" for interrupting Trump's address to Congress. Some House Democrats also disapproved of Green's disruption. New York Rep. George Latimer told Axios he thought it was "inappropriate." When a president my president, your president is speaking, we dont interrupt, we dont pull those stunts, he said. Rep. Tom Suozzi also told Axios that he thought Green's behavior was a "big mistake." Im an old school traditional type guy, I think we should be treating the president with deference, Suozzi said. So I think it was inappropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green, 77, is a representative from Texass Ninth Congressional District and has served in Congress since 2005. He has helped lead impeachment efforts against Trump since 2017 and was one of the first members of Congress to propose articles of impeachment against Trump during his first administration, specifically in connection to Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey. In late January, Green announced to the House his plans to introduce new articles of impeachment against Trump over the war in Gaza. "The movement to impeach the president has begun. I rise to announce that I will bring Articles of Impeachment against the president for dastardly deeds proposed and dastardly deeds done," Green said. "Ethnic cleansing in Gaza is not a joke, especially when it emanates from the president of the United States, the most powerful person in the world. Before Congress, Green was a civil rights attorney and the president of the Houston NAACP for nearly a decade. Rep. Al Green is removed from the chamber. (Win McNamee/Pool via Reuters) Green wasnt the only Democratic lawmaker who shouted out during Trumps speech. Many others interjected Not true! or Those are lies! at the president. California Rep. Gil Cisneros reportedly shouted, Talk about the $400 million to Tesla! as multiple representatives held up protest signs that said Musk steals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Democrats exited the chamber throughout Trumps speech, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Reps. Veronica Escobar, Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal and Jamie Raskin. Some of the Democrats leaving were protesting Trumps commentary, reportedly wearing shirts with resist printed on the back. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman posted on X Wednesday that he disagreed with Green's behavior and the Democrats walking out of Trump's speech. "A sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained," Fetterman wrote. "We're becoming the metamorphical car alarms that nobody pays attention toand it may not be the winning message." There was one moment during Trumps speech that drew more applause from Democrats than Republicans: Trumps acknowledgment of the United States' financial aid for Ukraine. Mar. 5---- No one was injured in a house fire was reported Tuesday evening in the city of Watkins. According to a news release from the deputies observed the house to be fully engulfed in flames upon arrival Tuesday evening. The house and its contents were later deemed a total loss The cause of the fire still remains under investigation, according to the Sheriff's Office. The property is owned by Peter Lansing and Blanca Lansing, both from Watkins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire was reported around 7:07 p.m. in the 400 block of Luella Street. The Watkins, and Fire Departments along with Watkins and Mayo Ambulance Service and the Minnesota Fire Marshal's Office assisted the Meeker County Sheriff's Office at the scene. NACOGDCOHES COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A Houston man was arrested on Tuesday morning after more than 17 pounds of ecstasy was found in the back of his car, the Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office said. Cherokee County Sheriffs Office seizes more than 2,000 grams of meth Donte Demond Brown, 44, was confronted by deputies at a gas station in the 3500 block of South Street after he was seen speeding through a construction zone on U.S. 59 South. Officials said they could smell marijuana as they were approaching Browns vehicle, although Brown claimed he did not use drugs. Courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office. Once deputies searched the vehicle, they reportedly discovered drug paraphernalia and a bag containing pills that were later identified as ecstasy. In the trunk, officials said they found an additional 17.36 pounds of ecstasy, 11.2 ounces of meth and 1.11 pounds of cocaine. Mugshot of Donte Demond Brown, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office. Although deputies said they were unable to confirm whether Brown had recently used drugs, he was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each charge carries a possible punishment of five to 99 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000. His bonds were set at $80,000 on each charge for a total of $240,000, the Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office said Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. The U.S. remains puzzled about how many weapons the Houthis have or where they get them all, a senior U.S. defense official told The War Zone, adding that the militants are highly innovative when it comes to developing their arsenal. Meanwhile, numerous airstrikes by the U.S. and its allies on Houthi targets in Yemen have not halted the rebel groups ability to produce the weapons and use them at will, the official said. Theres some debate as to whats in their magazine, the official told The War Zone during a media engagement at the Air and Space Forces Association Air Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado. Theres a good bit right now we dont know about the Houthis. The official spoke a day before the U.S. officially designated Ansar Allah the official name of the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The United States formally designates Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization pic.twitter.com/jsmNw6k1ew U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 4, 2025 The Houthi shipping attacks began in November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians over the latest war between Israel and Gaza. They have forced ships to avoid the Suez Canal for a far longer route around Africa, boosting cargo costs by nearly $200 billion. The Houthis attacks sank two vessels, damaged many others, caused the death of four mariners, and led to many being held hostage after a ship was seized. There were also a lot of Houthi weapons that missed their targets entirely. The CHIOS Lion was attacked by the Houthis last July. (Houthi screencap) In response to these attacks, the U.S. and its allies have engaged numerous Houthi missiles and air and sea drones to protect commercial vessels as well as themselves. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Carney fires a surface-to-air missile at Houthi threats on Oct. 19, 2023. U.S. Navy You can read more about the Houthi anti-ship missile arsenal in our in-depth story here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this ongoing fight, the depth and scope of the Houthi arsenal is largely a mystery, stated the official, who offered begrudging respect for the terror groups weapons development capabilities. What I can tell about the Houthis is they iterate, and theyre pretty innovative, the official explained. So we see them putting together weapon systems and put them together in ways, give them a try, and a lot of times they fail. But the military talks about failing forward and being innovative, and with a begrudging tip of the hat to the Houthis, theyre actually doing that. Weve been surprised at times with some of the things that we see them do, and it makes us scratch our head a little bit, the official noted, adding that the Houthis are not super technologically advanced, but we do think theyre pretty innovative. 2023, The International Institute for Strategic Studies, originally published on IISS (reproduced with permission) (International Institute of Strategic Studies) While the extent of the Houthi weapons stocks is unknown, we do think that they do a lot of production in-house, the official told us. Our assessment right now is that theres likely some key components and other things that come from Iran or other places, but a lot of the actual production is in Yemen. The official declined to say what components the Houthis have procured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthi Red Sea campaign led to nearly constant military engagements with the U.S. and its allies, including air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The most recent U.S. attack took place on Jan. 8, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Thats when CENTCOMs forces conducted multiple precision strikes against two Iranian-backed Houthi underground Advanced Conventional Weapon (ACW) storage facilities within Houthi-controlled territories of Yemen. The Houthis used these facilities to conduct attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. CENTCOM Forces Strike Houthi Advanced Conventional Weapon Storage Facilities in Yemen U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted multiple precision strikes against two Iranian-backed Houthi underground Advanced Conventional Weapon (ACW) storage facilities within pic.twitter.com/mDr9ceHjBs U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 8, 2025 However, the official told us the effect of those attacks is unclear. I wouldnt say weve changed their weapons production capabilities, because again, Ill go back to theres still a lot of unknowns right now, the official mused. We knew some of the threats, we know some of the effects that they try and do. And there are some things were still working on. The official declined to elaborate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was announced, the Houthis pledged to halt shipping attacks. There have been none since. According to another U.S. defense official, the last such Houthi attack took place on Dec. 9-10, when U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale and USS OKane successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Gulf of Aden, according to CENTCOM. CENTCOM Forces Defeat Houthi Attacks on U.S. Navy and U.S.-Flagged Ships in the Gulf of Aden. U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS OKane (DDG 77) successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Gulf of Aden, Dec. 9 10. The pic.twitter.com/Jz4AtqBuEL U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 10, 2024 Despite the pause in operations, the Houthis remain an outlier among Iranian proxies, the U.S. defense official suggested. Lebanese Hezbollah clearly has been hurt a great deal by Israel, the official explained. We see militia groups in Iraq right now being less active. And so the one outlier to all of that is the Houthis. You see them very active. There are differing opinions on how much direct control Iran has over the Houthis, but we think that they continue to support them through a lot of different avenues. On Monday, the Houthis vowed to resume military operations against Israel if the ceasefire breaks down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Yemeni armed forces are ready to resume operations in response to Zionist violations, Nasr al-Din Amer, deputy head of the Houthis Media Authority, said, according to Shafaq News. Its too early to specify the scale of escalation, but at a minimum, Jaffa will be under fire. Its unclear if the Houthis will also resume attacking shipping. If they resume standoff attacks on Israel and shipping, its unknown how long the Yemen-based militant group can maintain such an operation as their seemingly resilient ability to construct the weapons used in those attacks remains something of a mystery. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Trump grants one-month exemption to big three automakers from Mexico, Canada tariffs: White House Xinhua) 08:28, March 06, 2025 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Bloomberg News reported earlier Wednesday that Trump is exempting automakers from newly imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month, "as a temporary reprieve following pleas from industry leaders." WASHINGTON, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption to three major automakers from the newly imposed 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada. "We spoke with the big three auto dealers (makers), we are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA. Reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April 2," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing. Levitt said Trump has spoken with three companies -- Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis -- and they made this request. The president agreed to grant them a one-month tariff exemption. Bloomberg News reported earlier Wednesday that Trump is exempting automakers from newly imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month, "as a temporary reprieve following pleas from industry leaders." The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a trade agreement negotiated, signed, and ultimately enacted during Trump's first term, aimed at replacing the former North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Under the USMCA, auto parts procurement must meet specific rules to qualify for duty-free treatment. These rules are designed to encourage regional production and sourcing within North America. For passenger vehicles and light trucks, at least 75 percent of the vehicle's value must originate in North America, while the minimum requirement for heavy trucks is 70 percent. On Feb. 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25-percent tariff on products imported from Mexico and Canada, with a 10 percent tariff increase on Canadian energy products. On Feb. 3, Trump announced a 30-day delay in implementing the tariffs on both countries and continued negotiations. According to this decision, the relevant tariff measures took effect on March 4. U.S. President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Trump on Tuesday night defended his tariff strategy when delivering an address to a joint session of Congress, but acknowledged that such policies will cause "a little disturbance." Nevertheless, economists and observers have expressed deep concerns about the potential impact of tariffs on the U.S. economy. The Tax Foundation estimated that, without considering retaliatory measures, Trump's 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which went into effect Tuesday, will reduce long-term GDP by 0.2 percent, reduce hours worked by 223,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and reduce after-tax incomes by an average of 0.6 percent. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A badly decomposed body was found south fo Hill City near the Pennington County and Custer County line. On Tuesday, March 4 at approximately 1:00 p.m., Pennington County Sheriffs Deputies were dispatched to a location south of Hill City where a hiker had found a badly decomposed body and reported it to the Sheriffs Office. New dirt track racing game features Husets Speedway Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The body did not have any identifying information available. Further analysis is being scheduled to determine the cause of death and identity. No other information on the case is currently available but the Pennington County Sheriffs Office says it will make updates known when possible. Any individual with pertinent information in regards to this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Jorge Salas at (605) 394-6115. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Hunter Biden has revealed his dire financial situation following a slump in book and art sales. The former presidents son said his dwindling financial resources have led him to instruct attorneys to request a judge dismiss a lawsuit around the publication of contents of his laptop that he was pursuing against a former Donald Trump aide. Hunter added that he can no longer afford to proceed with litigation. Biden said that his debt was in the millions of dollars range and his income has decreased significantly since late 2023, according to documents filed in federal court in California urging district judge Hernan D. Vera to dismiss the suit against Garrett Ziegler, who published the contents of his laptop in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His income before December 2023, according to the documents, came from sales of his artwork and his memoir Beautiful Things. In the 2 to 3 years prior to December 2023, I sold 27 pieces for art at an average price of $54,481.48, Biden said in the filing. But since then I have only sold 1 piece of art for $36,000. Biden added that his book sales plummeted from 3,161 copies in mid-2023 to 1,100 later that year. Attorneys for Hunter Biden have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against a former aide to Donald Trump. In the filing, the reveal Hunters current financial position (Getty Images) Given the positive feedback and reviews of my artwork and memoir, I was expecting to obtain paid speaking engagements and paid appearances, but that has not happened, he added. Critics previously branded Bidens artwork as a lot of bluff and bluster. At a New York gallery exhibit in 2021, the price tag on some of his work was $75,000 to $500,000, Politico reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Art critic Ben Davis told the outlet that Bidens paintings were not worth of the cost. There's no science to such things. But it is absolutely, 100 percent certain that what is being sold is the Biden name and story, the critic said. These are prices for an already successful artist. Bidens art dealings were also probed by House Republicans in 2023 after concerns that he was trading on his fathers name. Republicans wanted to know who was purchasing the paintings. Despite being a novice artist, Hunter Biden received exorbitant amounts of money selling his artwork, the buyers identities remain unknown, and you appear to be the sole record keeper of these lucrative transactions, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, said in a letter to an art dealer who had done business with Biden at the time. Bidens financial difficulties didnt stop with his paintings. He also revealed that the home he rented in the Pacific Palisades was also damaged by the fires in January and he has had difficulty in finding somewhere to live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden said that he will assess the other civil actions he has pending on a case-by-case basis because of his limited resources. Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter before he left office, in a controversial move (AFP via Getty Images) Ziegler worked in the White House under Trump adviser Peter Navarro as a staffer, and gained notoriety for his outspoken criticism of Biden. Since leaving Trumps first administration, Ziegler devoted most of his waking time and energy to accessing, tampering with, manipulating, altering, copying and otherwise using allegedly compromised computer and iPhone data, emails and photos, according to the original lawsuit filed in September 2023. Ziegler published allegedly incriminating or embarrassing details about Biden via his nonprofit website Marco Polo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden filed a lawsuit against Ziegler and 10 others, accusing them of illegally obtaining emails, photos, videos and recordings from his laptop and publishing them. In addition to that lawsuit, Bidens friend who loaned him millions of dollars, Kevin Morris, also sued Ziegler for harassment and doxing. During Bidens federal gun charges trial in June 2024, his wife Melissa Cohen Biden, got into a heated confrontation with Ziegler outside the courtroom. Former President Joe Biden pardoned his son in December in a controversial move. The former president said that his son had been selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted by the Justice Department, and said he hoped the American people would understand his decision as a father. The pardon came less than two weeks before Hunter was due to be sentenced for his conviction on federal gun charges. Citing financial problems, Hunter Biden this week asked a federal judge to drop the laptop hacking lawsuit he filed against a former Trump administration aide in 2023. The lawsuit accused Garrett Ziegler, a former aide to White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, of improperly "accessing, tampering with, manipulating, altering, copying and damaging computer data that they do not own in violation of the states computer fraud laws. "While I believe in the merits of this case, and indeed, note that Defendant Garrett Ziegler admitted to hacking my iCloud in multiple public statements, I am requesting to dismiss this action because I do not have the financial resources to continue litigating this case," Biden wrote in a declaration filed in federal court in California on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: President Biden pardons his son, claiming Hunter Biden was unfairly prosecuted His income has declined significantly since the lawsuit was filed, he wrote. His rental home was also damaged in the Palisades fire in January, which further exacerbated his money challenges, he wrote. An attorney representing Ziegler did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment on Thursday. Biden's attorney also did not immediately return a phone call from The Times. Biden's income had primarily come from sales of his artwork and his memoir "Beautiful Things," according to his declaration. In the few years before December 2023, Biden said he sold 27 pieces of art "at an average price of $54,481.48," but since then he's sold only one piece for $36,000. His book sales have also declined, the document states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Given the positive feedback and reviews of my artwork and memoir, I was expecting to obtain paid speaking engagements and paid appearances, but that has not happened," Biden wrote. He added that he's grappling with "significant debt, which has been reported in the press as being several million dollars." The legal saga had centered on Biden's infamous laptop, which the former president's son had allegedly left at a repair shop in Delaware. The laptop was discovered by Republican operatives weeks before the 2020 election and prompted a litany of allegations against the Biden family. Read more: Trump says he's ending Biden's classified intelligence briefings in payback move The nonprofit Ziegler founded, Marco Polo, published thousands of Biden's emails, intimate photos, text messages and other documents purportedly from Biden's iPhone backup and cloud storage, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the western world I'm confident that nobody has dug into the American first family more than us," Ziegler said in a interview on YouTube in 2023. Biden has also faced personal legal problems in the past year. He was convicted in June of three federal crimes related to the purchase of a firearm and, in September, pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges. However, he was pardoned by his father shortly before the former president left office. Former President Joe Biden at the time claimed Hunter was the victim of unfair political attacks. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) PrairieLand Partners and AgriVision Equipment Group are partnering with Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) to offer an Agriculture Service Technician program starting in the fall of 2025. Through the program, students can become certified John Deere technicians. Courses include Electronic Diagnostics, Hydraulic Diagnostics, and Engine Systems Diagnostics, among others. We are very excited for an opportunity to expand our agriculture technology program, Tricia Paramore, president of the college, said in a statement. We have students that want to go into agriculture technology and have expressed an interest in a program like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas farmers warn of economic impact as tariffs increase Students will also take core curriculum courses from HutchCC at the Colleges south campus location near Yoder. We as an organization continue to face challenges in higher learning with capacity issues and options for students that want to pursue careers in diesel technology. We felt that partnering with an institution with such a strong reputation like Hutchinson Community College was an obvious choice, Reed Allen, director of aftermarket for PrairieLand Partners and AgriVision Equipment, said in a news release. PrairieLand Partners and AgriVision Equipment aim to increase their technician capacity by 25% in the next few years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graduates will have job opportunities at various locations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. We look forward to working together on this exciting initiative and know that it will have a lasting impact on our industry for years to come, Allen said in the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Ice Cube has found himself caught in the chaos of Cyclone Alfred, with the rap icon stranded at his Gold Coast hotel as the storm barrels toward Australias southeastern coast. Appearing on The Project on Wednesday night, Ice Cube, real name OShea Jackson Sr, gave his take on the situation, joking, Im staying clear of it. You know, Im right here on the beach. The beach looks like it is going to be in the lobby in a minute. More from Billboard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Its My Ego rapper in Australia for a string of shows in Sydney and Melbourne also admitted this was a first for him, saying, It is pretty cool, I havent been through a cyclone before. I can check this off my bucket list for sure. Cube, with B Wise, will perform at Sydneys ICC Theatre on Friday, March 7, then head to Melbournes Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Sunday. While Ice remains in Gold Coast as the severe weather system approaches, authorities are urging residents to act immediately. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warned, There is a chance this cyclone will cross in the middle of the night with a high tide. That is not the time to be making your evacuation plan, now is the time. Cyclone Alfred, currently classified as a Category 2 system, is bringing dangerous conditions along the Queensland and New South Wales coastlines, prompting widespread disruptions. Public transport across Brisbane, Gold Coast, and other affected areas is being suspended from Wednesday, and several concerts and sporting events have been canceled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the high-profile cancellations is Green Days final Australian concert, which was scheduled for March 6 at Gold Coasts Robina Stadium as part of their Saviors tour. Promoters confirmed the show could not proceed due to the extreme weather forecast, with ticket holders urged to seek refunds. Other shows being called off due to the impending weather event include Brad Cox, Courteneers, Alexisonfire and Underoath. Meanwhile, Cyclone Alfred has already caused flooding, power outages, and high winds in several coastal areas, with emergency services on high alert as the storm nears landfall. Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Health officials in Los Angeles County are asking the public for help Thursday in identifying a woman found near Echo Park Lake nearly a week ago. The unidentified woman was brought to Los Angeles General Medical Center on Saturday after being found at the intersection of Logan Street and Park Avenue, the L.A. County Department of Health Services stated. Officials believe the woman is about 40 years old but have been unable to locate any friends or family members to help identify her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was described as 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 139 pounds. The patient has a medium build, gray hair and light blue eyes, Health Services stated. Health officials are asking for help identifying a patient at Los Angeles General Medical Center. (L.A. Health Services) No further details about her condition were released but officials asked that anyone who knows her to call Senior Clinical Social Worker Brian Dillon at 323-409-3134 (Wed-Sat) or Senior Clinical Social Worker Cristol Perez at 323-409-4317 (Sun-Wed). The Los Angeles General Medical Center Department of Social Work can also be reached at 323-409-5253. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Lawyers for the man accused of killing four Idaho college students are asking the judge in his capital murder case to ban a key witness from using the phrase "bushy eyebrows" to describe the assailant she saw the night of the bloody attack. That request was included in roughly 100 pages of court filings unsealed Tuesday as preparations continue in advance of the August trial of Bryan Kohberger, who's charged in the November 2022 killings of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. A roommate of the victims, who lived at the off-campus Moscow, Idaho, home where the killings occurred originally told detectives that the masked male intruder she saw on the night of the killings had a singular physical attribute: "bushy eyebrows." That phrase has rocketed around the world as the headline-grabbing case has moved slowly toward a trial in Boise, Idaho. PHOTO: In this June 27, 2023, file photo, Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for a hearing at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. (August Frank/Pool via Getty Images, FILE) MORE: Judge tells attorneys to stop being so secretive in quadruple murder case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kohberger's defense attorneys argued the superficial description will unfairly point the finger at him and potentially bias the jury. "The description provided by [the roommate] is unreliable and should be excluded," defense lawyer Elisa Massoth wrote. "Although she has never identified Mr. Kohberger, testimony by [the roommate] from the witness stand, describing bushy eyebrows while Mr. Kohberger sits as the accused at trial, will be as damning as her pointing to him and saying, 'he is the man that did this.'" The roommate's varying accounts and self-confessed sleepy intoxication that night make her memory fickle, Kohberger's lawyers have argued. And, they argued, she seemed preoccupied with bushy eyebrows even before her friends were killed. When police photographed the crime scene right after the killings, her room was found to have "many pictures of eyes with prominent eyebrows" on the walls in her room, Kohberger's lawyers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Many of which she had drawn. Some of the eyebrows are heavy, voluminous, puffy, or perhaps subjectively bushy," and there was "artwork of human figures with an emphasis upon the eyes and eyebrows were pinned to corkboards," they said. Kohberger's defense attorneys have also asked the judge to bar words like "murder," "psychopath" and "sociopath" during the trial. "To label Mr. Kohberger as a 'murderer,' the alleged weapon consistent with an empty sheath as a 'murder weapon' or to assert that any of the four decedents was 'murdered' by Mr. Kohberger denies his right to a fair trial and the right to be presumed innocent," the defense said. PHOTO: In this Nov. 16, 2022, file photo, flowers were left at the house where four University of Idaho students were found dead, in Moscow, Idaho. (Idaho Statesman/TNS via Getty Images, FILE) MORE: Idaho college killings: Judge denies Bryan Kohberger request to exclude DNA evidence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege that in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, Kohberger broke into an off-campus home and stabbed the four students to death. He was arrested in late December, after a six-week manhunt, at his parents' Pennsylvania home and indicted in May 2023. He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. At his arraignment, he declined to offer a plea, so the judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty. But not if his lawyers get their way. Defense attorneys cite autism in bid to strike death penalty Among the flurry of new filings, the defense also argued his life should not be on the line because he has been diagnosed with autism, and so his impairments in communication, problems with social skills and impulse control mean he is "insufficiently culpable to be executed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His diagnosis however should not be wielded against him, the defense said arguing prosecutors should not be allowed to use it "by criminalizing his status as a disabled person." Even if this does not work to strike the death penalty, his diagnosis could resurface in the sentencing phase if Kohberger is convicted, where his lawyers will likely raise it again as a mitigating factor. This is not the first time his lawyers have attempted to get the death penalty taken off the table. MORE: Idaho college killings: Prosecutors push back against Kohberger requests to exclude key evidence In their argument about his condition now, Kohberger's lawyers shed new light on what has been a heretofore little-known person to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mr. Kohberger displays extremely rigid thinking, perseverates on specific topics, processes information on a piece-meal basis, struggles to plan ahead, and demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions" and "his tone and cadence are abnormal, his interactions lack fluidity, and his language is often overinclusive, disorganized, highly repetitive, and oddly formal," they argued. He "frequently shifts the topic back to himself even when it is inappropriate. He uses abrupt, matter-of-fact phrases that would be considered rude. He carries on about topics in a circular manner and perseverates about specific, non-essential details," they said, adding his autism is "also accompanied by obsessive-compulsiveness, and an eating disorder. Since childhood, Mr. Kohberger has exhibited compulsions around getting things in his eyes, hand-washing and other germ avoidant behaviors." Idaho college killings: Kohberger lawyers seek to block talk of 'bushy eyebrows' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, on the House floor at the Statehouse in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Unless Gov. Brad Little vetoes a bill that passed the Idaho Legislature, Idaho could become the only state to fatally shoot death row inmates as its main execution method. If passed into law, House Bill 37 would make the firing squad the primary death penalty method in Idaho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only five states allow firing squads for executions. But the firing squad isnt the primary death penalty method in any of those states, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Both chambers of the Idaho Legislature widely approved the bill. The Senate passed the bill on a 28-7 vote Wednesday, a month after the House passed it on a 58-11 vote. Doug Ricks, R-Rexburg, and over a dozen other House Republican lawmakers. Nine people are on death row in Idaho, according to the Idaho Department of Correction. Supporters of the bill say the firing squad is a humane execution method. Using firing squads as the main execution method, supporters say, would avoid Idahos issues obtaining lethal injection chemicals and dealing with decades of legal appeals that have delayed executions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the bill is transmitted to the governor, he has five days to decide on it. He can sign it into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it. If passed into law, the bill would take effect July 1, 2026. The bill directs the Idaho Department of Correction director to develop procedures for the firing squad procedures. Skaug has told lawmakers Idahos firing squad execution method would be mechanized. Idaho Department of Correction spokesperson Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic told the Sun in February the agency is considering using a remote-operated weapons system alongside traditional firing squad methods. But the agency had not finalized its policies and procedures, she said. If youve ever seen that, I think you would change your mind, Sen. Foreman says All six Democrats in the Idaho Senate voted against the bill joined by one Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ricks, who cosponsored the bill, echoed many of Skaugs arguments in favor of the bill. I view the firing squad as a more humane way to carry out executions for those on death row, because it is quick and certain, Ricks said. It brings justice for the victims and their families in a more expeditious manner. Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, a veteran and retired police officer, disagreed. Projecting a piece of metal at 3,200 feet-per-second, give or take, through the human body is anything but humane, he told Idaho senators. I can say that because Ive seen it. I wished I hadnt seen it. The claims that its instantaneous. Well, yes sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. And if youve ever seen that, I think you would change your mind on how youre about to vote, Foreman continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, called death by firing squad instantaneous and said he thinks its an act of mercy. Senate Pro Tem Kelly Anthon, R-Burley, recited a quote in a 2017 dissent by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor, widely regarded as a liberal justice, who cast executions by firing squads as more humane. In addition to being near instant, death by shooting may also be comparatively painless, Sotomayor wrote, according to the Associated Press. Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, called the bill a move backward. Its barbaric, and it unfortunately puts the optics of Idaho in a place that I dont think we care to be, she said. Firing squad was already allowed in Idaho. Bill would make lethal injection the back-up execution method In 2023, Idaho passed a law to allow firing squads for executions. But that law only allowed firing squads as a back-up execution method when lethal injection the primary execution method in Idaho law is unavailable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the bill, lethal injection would become the alternative execution method in Idaho. Only five states Idaho, Utah, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Mississippi allow firing squads for execution, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. In the United States, 144 inmate executions have been carried out by firing squads, according to a 2016 law review article. Since the death penalty became reinstated in the 1970s, Utah is the only state to have executed people by firing squad, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. In South Carolina, death row inmate Brad Sigmon is set to die by firing squad on Friday, the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported. Sigmon requested he be killed by firing squad over concerns about whether lethal injection is truly a painless death, his attorney say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renovating Idahos execution chamber to allow for firing squads will likely cost more than the $750,000 lawmakers previously appropriated, lawmakers say. But Skaug has said any extra funds would come from money already in the Department of Correction budget. This article was first published by the Idaho Capital Sun, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. State Sen. Janet Buckner, an Aurora Democrat who stepped into the state House when her husband, John Buckner, died in 2015, told Colorado Politics she is submitting an official letter of resignation on Thursday with her resignation effective Jan. 9. Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives a press conference after delivering his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, in the Lincoln Auditorium in the Idaho Capitol. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed into law a bill that bans government and school mask mandates to combat infectious diseases. Little signed House Bill 32 into law Tuesday, according to his offices legislation tracker, after the Idaho Legislature passed the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill takes effect immediately through an emergency clause. The law prevents the state, cities, counties, school districts, public health districts and government officials in Idaho from mandating that an individual wear a mask or face covering to prevent or slow the spread of an infectious or contagious disease. The government mask mandate ban law has a few exceptions, allowing face mask requirements in certain job settings where masks are required and are needed to perform required job duties, such as in health care, work with hazardous materials, or industrial settings where respiratory protection is vocationally required. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Idaho never had a statewide mask mandate. But public health districts and other local governments issued health restrictions, such as mask requirements and limits on public gatherings. Little refused repeated calls for a statewide mask mandate, and instead left much pandemic control to local governments. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mar. 5Members of the community were invited into Ironton High School on Wednesday to donate toward a good cause. The school's Key Club hosted a blood drive, which took place over five hours in the Conley Center. Christie Smith, a teacher and the school and the club's advisor, said there was a continuous flow of people throughout the event. She said the club hosts the drive every spring and fall and the next one will take place in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted that the Red Cross is giving $250 scholarships to students if they reach a certain threshold in the drive. Those who would like to donate blood in the meantime can find more information at www.americanredcrossblood.org. President Donald Trump has vowed to cut off federal funding for universities that allow "illegal protests." In a recent post on Truth Social, the President threatened to punish educational institutions that allow these "illegal protests," as well as imprison, deport and expel the "agitators" that partake. However, Trump failed to define what an illegal protest is. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested," Trump posted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the First Amendment, protestors are guaranteed the right to freedom of speech and protest. This is a civil right that Trump does not have the power to forbid. Multiple organizations have spoken out against the President's post. The American Civil Liberties Union wrote an open letter to colleges and universities advocating for free speech on campuses across the country. "It is disturbing to see the White House threatening freedom of speech and academic freedom on U.S. college campuses so blatantly. We stand in solidarity with university leaders in their commitment to free speech, open debate, and peaceful dissent on campus, said Cecillia Wang, legal director of the ACLU. University of Tennessee's response to Trump post The University of Tennessee is not looking into amending its protest and free speech guidelines, according to university spokesperson Kerry Gardner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The legal implications of the social media post about protests are unclear," Gardner said in an email statement. "Until there is clarity on the legal implications, the campuss approach to expressive activity remains the same." Students at the University of Tennessee have organized many on-campus protests. Notably, students matched in a pro-Palestine protest in May 2024. The protests started in May and continued through the month on and off campus. Demonstrators marched through the streets of Knoxville, rallied at Market Square and showed up outside of graduation. UT already has strict guidelines surrounding protests and listing student's rights. The guidelines state that students have the right to express their beliefs and viewpoints, but the university "may impose reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions regarding any free expression activity." Students have the right to peacefully protest on UT and city-owned streets. Meetings in university buildings and stadiums require approval, according to the UT free speech guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protests are further supported by the 2017 Tennessee Campus Free Speech Protection Act and UT's Board of Trustees policy, according to the University of Tennessee. Is protesting legal in the U.S.? Yes, protests are legal in the United States and are a guaranteed right protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution. Protests are protected under the freedom of speech and the right of the people peaceably to assemble. Can protests be illegal? Yes. Protesting can be illegal when it becomes violent, or if a protestor engages in unlawful activity. In 2020, in the midst of national George Floyd protests, the Tennessee legislature created stricter laws over protesting. The 2020 law creates a misdemeanor offense of assault against a first responder for spitting or throwing bodily fluids. It also makes it a felony to trespass on the property of an elected official, law enforcement officer or judge with the intent to harass and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plus, the law imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days for a conviction of rioting and 45 days for aggravated rioting. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What's an illegal protest? What to know about Trump's warning in TN SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) The state of Illinois is seeking to dismiss a federal lawsuit over its sanctuary policies for migrants. Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit alleging that the state and the city of Chicago interfere with federal immigration enforcement, claiming state laws are designed to and in fact interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Governments enforcement of federal immigration law in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. The suit named Gov. JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and other Chicago and Cook County officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, a motion filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul argues that the DOJs case is misguided, arguing that federal law does not preempt state laws that prohibit law enforcement from cooperating with immigration authorities. Consistent with the Tenth Amendment, federal law preserves Illinoiss sovereign right to opt out of assisting federal immigration agents with their civil immigration enforcement responsibilities, the filing said. That is what Illinois has done through its statutes, the TRUST Act and the Way Forward Act. State Rep. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) responded, saying Eighty-one percent of the American public wants these illegals out of the country and yet here comes [Illinois Attorney General] Kwame Raoul and [Gov.] J.B. Pritzker, who do the exact opposite of what the American people are demanding. Illinois prevents local authorities from cooperating with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) by way of the TRUST Act, the Way Foreward Act, the Welcoming City Act, and a Cook County ordinance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TRUST Act, signed in 2017, prohibits law enforcement agencies from detaining an individual based on their immigration status and prevents officers from questioning someones immigration status. It also forbids law enforcement from transferring a detainee into federal custody unless by a court order. Chicagos Welcoming City Ordinance also forbids police from responding to ICE requests for a persons custody status or contact information and prohibits authorities from arresting an individual based on their immigration status. It also blocks police from assisting with immigration enforcement efforts. The lawsuit claims those laws violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The suit also claims that Illinois immigration policies make it harder for federal authorities to arrest and detain dangerous criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) A pair of Illinois landlords have been ordered to pay $80,000 to former tenants after threatening to report them to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Marco Antonio Contreras and Denise Contreras were ordered by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Catherine Schneider to pay former tenants Maria Maltos Escutia and Gabriel Valdez Garcia, who filed a 2022 lawsuit under the Illinois Immigrant Tenant Protection Act. The act prohibits landlords from evicting or retaliating against tenants based on their immigration status and was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents showed Marco Contreras threatened to call ICE agents in June 2020 after a dispute with Escutia and Garcia, USA Today reported. Escutia and Garcia moved into a basement apartment in 2017, and said the Contreras told them they would have to vacate the apartment because it was being sold, but asked for a full months rent. When the tenants asked to pay a prorated amount, Marco Contreras threatened to call ICE. After they had moved out, the lawsuit said Denise Contreras wouldnt let them come back to collect some possessions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois residents voted to keep the existing state flag design in a contest aimed at updating and replacing the flag. The Illinois Flag Commission solicited new designs last year, receiving nearly 5,000 entries. The commission narrowed the field to 10 designs, including the current state flag, which became eligible for a public vote in January. The results are, lets just say, overwhelming, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulious said. The current state flag received more than 165,000 votes, or about 43% of the total vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 385,000 votes received, the current flag received more votes than the top 5 designs combined. Some may call it an SOB a seal on a bedsheet, Giannoulias said. The vexillogical community may hate it, but people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag. Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the future of this important symbol of state pride. On April 1st, the Illinois General Assembly will vote on whether to adopt a new flag, return to a prior version of the flag, or retain the current flag. The current state flag was adopted in 1915 after the state held a contest to create a flag, nearly 100 years after Illinois was admitted into the Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lucy Derwent, of the Rockford chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, placed the Illinois state seal on a white background, and it was chosen to represent the state. She won $25 (the equivalent of $600 today) for her winning design. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. The Trump administrations policy allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make arrests in schools is bringing down attendance and driving up fear and anxiety among students and teachers, a group representing 78 large school districts across the country is arguing in court. The group, the Council of Great City Schools, filed an amicus brief late last month supporting a lawsuit that the Denver public school system has filed against the Trump administration asking for relief from the policy. In a press release about the amicus brief, the council said it had conducted a survey about the policy among its 78 member school districts and found that they have already seen increased absenteeism, higher anxiety among students, increased bullying, less parental involvement, and heightened fear as a result of the change in guidance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, the Trump administration rescinded a policy that had been in place since the Obama era, including during the first Trump administration, that largely prohibited ICE from conducting operations in schools, houses of worship and hospitals. There is no evidence that ICE has arrested students in schools so far. Spanish-speaking students at a school in Denver learn how to pronounce phrases in English. In response to the lawsuit, the Trump administration has said the schools have not been harmed, in part, because no students have been arrested in schools. But Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero argues that, regardless of whether ICE has actually gone into one of his schools, the news of the change in policy alone has caused injury to the plaintiffs. Speaking to NBC News in the library of a Denver school, he said the attendance rate there has dropped from 95% to 85% since a Feb. 5 immigration raid at two nearby apartment buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont have to wait for them to walk through those doors, the impact has been real," Marrero said. "And in this very library, the day of the raid, which it didnt happen in our schools, but it happened nearby, the emotion, the fear and the terror in the eyes of our educators was significant. So no one can tell me that we werent harmed. Its clear as day to me." That same day, Nadia Madan-Morrow, the principal of the school, said buses that were supposed to be taking children to her school were diverted because of the commotion at the apartment buildings. And she held children at school that day rather than dismissing them early, as had been planned, because parents asked her to wait until they knew it was safe. ICE agents have now gone to their apartment buildings, and theyre calling us and telling us, Dont put our students on the bus. We dont want them coming here, Madan-Morrow said, recalling the calls she received from parents that day. Four students from her school were arrested in the ICE raids and have not returned, she said. NBC News has not confirmed the identities of those students or whether they had criminal or immigration violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another person arrested that day was Maria Gonzalez, an immigrant from El Salvador. Gonzalez said ICE broke down her door without knocking, leaving a gaping hole. She was taken into the hallway and placed in plastic handcuffs, she said. She was then taken into ICE custody, leaving behind her daughters, Nicolle, 9, a student in Denver Public Schools, and Jade, 11 months old. My biggest fear was that they would send me to some place and deport me and they would leave my babies, she said. She was released six hours later and reunited with her children. Her lawyer, Matthew Barringer, said Gonzalez had crossed the border illegally twice from El Salvador but has not committed any violent crimes. Gonzalezs daughter Nicolle has been given a notice to appear before an immigration judge this month, at which point, Barringer said, he will be notifying the immigration court that she is in the process of applying for special immigrant juvenile status to eventually make her a permanent resident. Maria Gonzalez and her two daughters, Nicolle and Jade, embrace outside their immigration lawyers office in Denver. For now, Gonzalez said, Nicolle cries at night and is scared to go to school because she is worried ICE will come there, especially after she heard a rumor one day that its agents were standing nearby, though they did not come inside her school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked what she thinks about in school, Nicolle said, That they can come again to school and this time they will be able to enter and they will take us. Lizyuri Gallardo, a counselor at the school in Denver where Madan-Morrow is the principal, said 300 of the 900 students at her school have sought counseling this year, mostly to discuss their fear of deportations. While the school system does not track students immigration status, Madan-Morrow said that more than 80% of the students come from families where a language other than English is spoken in the home. Gallardo says she tries to make students feel emotionally prepared for anything they might encounter and to try to ease their anxiety at school I think that something we do here that is so beautiful at our school is telling them that we love them and that we care about them, and that we are a family and that were here to support them, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the anxiety is something Gallardo continues to see, even without ICE coming into the building. Kids feel it. Kids are the first to feel it. Theyre like little sponges, she said. On Friday, Denver Public Schools and lawyers for the Trump administration will present oral arguments in federal court over whether ICE should reinstate the policy that largely prohibited its agents from going into schools and other so-called sensitive locations without supervisor approval. [ICE] supervisory law enforcement personnel exercise judgment in making case-by-case determinations regarding whether, where, and when to conduct an immigration enforcement action at or near a school, an ICE spokesperson told NBC News. ICE does not typically conduct immigration enforcement activities at schools or school buses. Such law enforcement actions are conducted only when warranted by exigent circumstances and approved by a supervisory law enforcement official. As a law enforcement agency, ICE expects all employees to adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct and to demonstrate integrity and professionalism in all aspects of their work. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com MCCUNE, Kan. Folks with Special Olympics Kansas are teaching the next generation of students about the importance of leadership. More than 65 students from seven schools attended the Inclusive Youth Leadership Summit at Lodge 400 in McCune. Southeast Kansas unites for Special Olympics basketball and cheer event Middle and high school students with and without disabilities were paired up with peers to discuss various leadership and inclusion experiences they could bring to their own school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some ideas include student-run businesses on campuses, like coffee shops or slushy stations. What makes this event so unique, is that its only done at one other location in the entire state of Kansas. Volunteers take the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Kansas To me really, its good to be a leader, said Myah Norton, Girard High School student. Always include others because you dont know, what theyre going through. You dont know whats going on in their life. But even just saying hello can make someones day, said Stephanie Fees, Iola High School student. Its just a good environment to be in. Youre surrounded by people who have the same goals excuse me, have the same goals as you, said Augi Mooneyham, Girard High School student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love being able to teach them things about what they have and just having fun with it, said Bailey Glaser, Girard High School student. Students also got a chance to hear from different speakers with disabilities, and how theyre making a difference in their communities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Mar. 5AUSTIN The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking information on the 1990 murder of Jackie Foster. The reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for her death is now increased to $6,000 if the tip is received before the next featured Texas Rangers cold case is announced. Anyone with information in this case is asked to please come forward. On Sept. 6, 1990, Foster, 29, was reported missing from the Abilene, Texas area. She was last seen at a truck stop in Cisco, Texas, attempting to get a ride to a family member's residence in Los Angeles, Calif. Two days later, on Sept. 8, Foster's body was found by fishermen near a drainage canal on FM 365 near Port Arthur, Texas, in rural Jefferson Co. Her body was wrapped in heavy canvas tarpaulin, clothed in a shirt, pink sweatpants and no shoes. Funded by the Governor's Public Safety Office, Texas Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for any Texas Rangers cold case listed on the DPS website which provides information on more than 140 cases in an effort to garner public interest in unsolved or cold cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be eligible for cash rewards for this case, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of the following three methods: Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477). Submit a tip online through this link only and select "Cold Cases Featured" and "Cold Case" in the type of crime and offense type sections. As part of a DPS public awareness program, one case from the Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation (Cold Case) Program will be featured bi-monthly in an effort to generate new investigative leads and bring attention to these cold cases. Texas Crime Stoppers rewards are increased up to $6,000 for featured cases in hopes of generating additional tips. The higher reward amount will only be paid if the tip is submitted before the next cold case is featured. The Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program was created to assist Texas law enforcement agencies investigating unsolved homicides or violent serial crimes. Since there is no statute of limitations for the offense of murder, investigators pursue these cases to a successful resolution or until no viable leads remain. With questions ranging from utility rates to budget priorities to ballot initiatives to addressing homeless populations, candidates generally agreed that investing in public safety, responsible city growth and the voting publics role in decision-making were the biggest priorities for their district. Mar. 5A Maine legislative committee has removed proposed cuts to three child care-related programs from the state's next two-year budget, including a stipend for early childhood workers, amid widespread protest from industry employees. The stipend program provides an extra $240 to $540 a month to child care workers in Maine, depending on experience and education. The stipends began in 2021 at $200 and were initially funded by federal COVID-19 money. In 2022, Gov. Janet Mills integrated the stipend into the state budget. And last year, the Legislature doubled the stipend amounts, which Mills criticized as unsustainable. In her proposed biennial budget, she returned the supplement program to its 2022 funding level of $15 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But child care workers have been widely opposed to the cuts, and hundreds went on strike Tuesday to gather in the State House rotunda in protest. Day care workers and operators say the stipend has allowed the industry to stabilize after several years of understaffing and retention issues. The same workers opposed other cuts to Head Start and to a new program that covered child care tuition for workers in the industry. The Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday voted 10-3 to recommend removing the stipend cut from the budget. "The additions were put on last year, and it's been a really successful workforce retention initiative from the numbers that I've seen. Our child care professionals, essentially what they are is the workforce behind the workforce," said Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-York, the committee's chair. "They're essential to our economy if it's going to thrive, we've seen that. Yet they remain even with this program, as it was this year, as it currently is some of the lowest-paid workers in our state." Committee members characterized the line item as one of the most difficult proposed cuts they had to tackle. Rep. Lucien Daigle, R-Fort Kent, said the level of public engagement on the issue was enormous, from both child care industry employees and working people across Maine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee vote was a key step in the process, but not the final one. Its recommendations will be sent to the Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, which is using Mills' proposal and input from committees to build a comprehensive budget proposal for the two years beginning July 1. OTHER CUTS REMOVED The committee also rejected cuts to two other child care industry programs. The first was to Head Start, the federal program that provides services for low-income children from birth to age 5. The cut would have reduced program funding by $3.6 million an investment the Legislature made last year on top of the $1.4 million in annual state funding. "Head Start is primarily a federally funded program and Maine is one of a minority of states that provides a state appropriation to supplement federal funding," according to an administrative document explaining the proposed cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second cut was to the $2.5 million Child Care Employment Award Program, established last year to help child care workers pay for day care tuition for their own children, which the Mills administration described as redundant. "The program has proven to be mostly duplicative, as many workers enrolled in the program already qualify for assistance paying for child care through Maine's Child Care Affordability Program," the document reads. Committee members recommended to remove both of those cuts from the budget by a vote of 10-3. The House and Senate can still make changes on the floor when the budget comes up for final votes in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'OUR VOICES HEARD' Heather Marden, co-executive director of the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children, was in the room when the committee voted and said the decision was a testament to the power of turning out and taking bold moves, referring to the more than 300 child care workers who protested Tuesday at the State House. "What happened yesterday was just beautiful and just a strong show of what it means to come together collectively and prove that value and remind folks of the work that's being done every day," she said Wednesday. Saving the stipend is a great first step, Marden said, but the industry is still barely stabilized. Looking forward, she said the state will need to recognize the return on investment that funding child care provides and look to private industry partnerships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is never a field that's going to be dominated by technology. We will always need humans to do this caring work, and we need good, stable humans to do this caring work," she said. "So investing in their wages, their benefits, being able to invest in quality programing for children, it's just going to benefit us all in the end." Sara Perrigo, a program director at Heidi's House Child Care in Scarborough, said the center closed Tuesday for the strike so 21 staff members could travel to Augusta to protest. "We were really happy to be a part of that and make our voices heard," Perrigo said Wednesday. After the vote, she said it felt like their turnout made a difference. Heidi's House, like so many day care facilities in Maine, struggled with severe understaffing during the pandemic that it still hasn't fully made up. Perrigo said the center still has one classroom closed, shortened hours and about 10 fewer staff members than it did before the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perrigo said the stipend went along way in helping retain existing staff but hasn't necessarily brought new people in to the industry. She said there's still work to be done. "It has been wonderful for retention, but not quite enough still," she said. Perrigo is worried that many people still don't understand the business model of day cares. She said if centers want to pay staff more, they have to raise tuition for families, which is why state support like the stipend is so critical. Copy the Story Link President Donald Trumps pause on new tariffs for U.S. automakers drew ire and mockery on social media. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday announced a one-month exemption for the industry on imports from Mexico and Canada. It came amid fears the 25% tax hike could totally sink U.S. vehicle manufacturers who for years have relied on cross-border cooperation. A car dealer suggested as much this week on Fox Business, explaining how a truck was now on his lot indefinitely after soaring in price from $80,000 to $100,000. Conservative attorney George Conway, a longtime critic of Trump, responded to his temporary tariff backtrack, saying: What an incredibly incompetent clown. Maybe he should have thought about the (patently obvious) effect of tariffs on the auto industry *before* imposing them? Hes like a monkey on a keyboard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington Post opinion columnist Catherine Rampell talked about the possible long-term implications of Trumps moves, writing, Im sure the auto industry welcomes this temporary reprieve but again, how can businesses possibly make investment/hiring decisions in this environment? Others agreed: So, mad President @realDonaldTrump is giving a 30 day pause on tariffs on cars from Canada. Canada should not pause and maintain its 25% counter tariff on cars coming from US. Technically in trade negotiations this is called Fuck you. Stephen Best (@BestStephenD) March 5, 2025 lol - Trump pauses some auto Tariffs. What a way to incite fear in our markets Peter Mullin | Mullin Wealth Management (@MullinWealth) March 5, 2025 -Trump puts in Tariffs. -Market tanks. -Trudeau calls Trump dumb in speech. -Trudeau and Trump have call. -Trump announces pause on auto tariffs. The art of the deal is a myth. pic.twitter.com/mJCELczU4D MaineWonk (@TheMaineWonk) March 5, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump's 'people', dealing with the tariffs they put in place, then pause, then reactivate, then suspend.#tariffspic.twitter.com/xA4sc3FYd2 Mike Ross (@RossyOnTheMic) March 6, 2025 Related... (Bloomberg) -- Supply Lines is a daily newsletter that tracks global trade. Sign up here. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indias top diplomat said relations with the US are on firm footing in comments that come as New Delhi looks to lower tariffs on imports to fend off President Donald Trumps threatened reciprocal levies that could upend bilateral and global trade. Our relations with the US are probably the best they have been, Indias External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Wednesday at Chatham House a London-based independent policy institute. Indias trade minister is holding conversations with his US counterparts, the minister said. Trump told a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday that many nations, including India, set tariff rates too high and reiterated they will be hit by reciprocal levies that take effect from April 2. Jaishankar said Trumps priorities such as keeping global energy prices stable worked in favor of India. I think that offers a lot of possibilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first world leaders to meet Trump after he returned to the White House. During Modis visit in February, the two sides agreed to negotiate the first tranche of a multi-sector trade deal by the fall of this year. Read: Modi Leaves Trump Summit With a To-Do List Despite Concessions Modis trip followed years of deepening ties between the US and India, which Washington has been cultivating as a regional counterweight against a more assertive China. To lessen a possible blow from Trumps reciprocal levies, officials in New Delhi have also been discussing reducing duties for automobiles, some agricultural products, chemicals, critical pharmaceuticals, as well as certain medical devices and electronics, Bloomberg reported last week citing people familiar with the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: India Weighs Tariff Cuts on Cars, Chemicals as Trump Duties Loom Jaishankar highlighted the South Asian nations role in mediating between Russia and Ukraine behind closed doors. As the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine was under attack, India passed along messages between the two capitals, the minister said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, center, meets with Scott County leaders in February 2025. (Photo from Morales' official X account) Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales has joined 20 others in asking new Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for changes to a federal citizenship verification service including that it be free to use. I am joining my colleagues in requesting that the Department of Homeland Security take swift action to make the program more efficient and accessible to states, Morales said in a Thursday news release. He is Indianas top elections official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoosiers deserve to trust in the election process, and that starts with ensuring that non-citizens are not allowed to vote. Only U.S. Citizens can vote in Indiana. Period, Morales continued. The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) initiative lets registered government agencies verify immigration and citizenship status for people seeking public benefits or licenses, according to administrator U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Its a component of Noems agency. Morales and other elections officials indicated they use SAVE to detect when noncitizens try to register to vote or cast a ballot. As President (Donald) Trump has explicitly conveyed, ensuring noncitizens do not vote in our elections is crucial to protecting the integrity of elections in our respective states, their Feb. 27 letter reads. However, to vigorously and successfully assume this charge, improvements addressing current limitations within the program are vital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent voter roll audits show attempts by noncitizens to vote are rare, ABC News reported. Morales and his Republican counterparts asked Noel for five changes, including that SAVE allow them to look up multiple people at once instead of the current, time-consuming one-at-a-time approach. They also requested that the system work with identifiers common in election work, like dates of birth, Social Security Numbers and drivers license numbers. SAVE uses Alien Registration Numbers and other identifiers prominent in immigration enforcement. And they said SAVE should be free. The program currently has a user fee and per-search charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Considering election officials are utilizing this system to ensure noncitizens are not actively voting in state and federal elections, there should be no cost to election officials using federal resources to protect the integrity of said elections, the secretaries of state wrote. They also asked for guidance on how and when to use SAVE amid conflicting court orders and for the names of naturalization applicants who say theyve registered to vote or cast a ballot. Morales previously joined Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita to request federal citizenship verification of nearly 600,000 Indiana voters, but faced pushback. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The FBI is warning consumers about a gold bar scam that fleeced unsuspecting victims out of more than $126 million in 2024 and the one red flag many miss. One victim, an Indiana widower, spoke to ABC News about how he was scammed out of his life savings. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Two years ago, my wife passed away. And so, it was a pretty fragile time for me," Kris Owen told the I-Team and ABC News. That was when the scammers reached out to him. "It was believable enough for me to have done this," he said. Its more embarrassing than anything else. Owen, who lives in Westfield, near Indianapolis, says he lost more than $80,000 of his life savings in the scam that started with a pop-up message on his computer. How did the gold bar scam unfold? Owen says the scam started with a message on his computer and quickly escalated to real-life meetings and clandestine drop-offs. "I got the message [on the computer] that I needed to call this number because my computer had been hacked," Owen explained. When he called, he was told he was speaking with an FBI agent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And then, I got a letter that was emailed to me and from a cybersecurity task force that indicated that my name had been implicated and that I needed to secure my personal funds through an FBI program that would take the monetary funds, put them in a secure deposit," Owen said. Scammers told him he was being framed for a drug crime in Texas but assured him they could protect his funds from being seized. After months of calls and texts, the scammers posing as FBI agents convinced him to withdraw $80,000 in cash and buy gold bars. Then, they directed Owen to a parking lot where a courier picked up the bars. "I put the package in the back window as required. I asked if he was my agent. He nodded. He never said anything to me. He nodded and drove off," Owen said. "It was gone, absolutely gone." They even sent him an official-looking letter saying his gold was safe. But when the fraudsters kept asking for money, Owen got suspicious and called the FBI the real one, this time. FBI officials explained that Owen was being scammed and, with the help of the Carmel, Indiana police, set up a sting to catch the fraudsters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time, when Owen made the drop, officials followed the fraudster and arrested 31-year-old Abdul Afan Mohammed, a Chicago-area resident. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Indiana charged Mohammed with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Mohammed pleaded not guilty. Authorities say he later fled the country and remains a fugitive. Read more: Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market says prices are 'kind of inflated.' Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies The 1 red flag to watch out for Gold bar scams prey on fear and urgency, often successfully victimizing people in vulnerable situations like Owen, who was still grieving his wifes passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers posing as law enforcement, banks and government agencies. Once the money is converted into gold bars or other hard-to-trace assets, it becomes difficult to recover. One red flag to watch out for is pop-ups you don't recognize asking you to call a number you don't know. These pop-ups often claim your device has been hacked and provide a phone number to call for help where a scammer is waiting. Never call a number from an unsolicited pop-up or email and dont click links you don't recognize. Instead, contact your bank or a trusted IT professional to check if your device is compromised. The FBI shared this warning: "Never click on sites that you're not familiar with," Chris Delzotto, section chief of the Financial Crimes unit for the FBI told ABC News. "We use the phrase 'take a beat' here. Step back. Consult with a trusted family member or friend. See if it makes sense before you engage." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, know that law enforcement will never ask you to move or offer to help protect your money. Scammers posing as FBI agents, police officers or government officials may claim your money is at risk of being seized or that you are under investigation. No legitimate law enforcement agency will ever ask you to withdraw money, buy gold or send cash to protect your assets. If someone makes this request, its a scam. If you think youve been scammed, report it to local authorities and the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center. Acting quickly can prevent further losses and stop fraudsters from taking advantage of even more people. Gold bar scams and scams like them are designed to exploit fear and confusion. By avoiding unsolicited pop-ups and reporting suspected fraud immediately, you can protect yourself and your finances. What to read next Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market says prices are 'kind of inflated.' Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies I like this stuff: Self-made $500M mogul and YouTuber reveals his essential US portfolio that he says Amazon cant hurt heres his secret formula and how you can copy it in 2025 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. The Indiana National Guard has deleted past social media posts celebrating Black History Month, Juneteenth, Women's History Month and other cultural celebrations, as part of a new Department of Defense directive to remove such "identity-based" celebrations. Deleted posts on the Indiana National Guard's X account, formerly known as Twitter, included a commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. known as Juneteenth and a "thank you to all women who paved the way" posted last March in honor of International Women's Day. A public affairs officer for the Indiana National Guard confirmed to IndyStar that the posts are being deleted "in alignment" with a new policy from President Donald Trump's new DOD director Pete Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our organization is complying accordingly," said Maj. V. Gino Georgetti, director of strategic communications and public affairs for the Indiana National Guard. A Pentagon news release from Feb. 27 states that all agencies "must remove and archive DoD news articles, photos, and videos promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), including content related to critical race theory, gender ideology, and identity-based programs" by March 5. The Indiana National Guard on Wednesday additionally posted and then deleted on X an explanation for deleting such posts. East Chicago Democratic Rep. Earl Harris Jr., the chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, said the post deletions were "disheartening, to say the least." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Over 50,000 Hoosier veterans belong to a minority group, and their contributions and the obstacles they overcame ought to be recognized and honored," Harris told IndyStar. "There is an overwhelming number of forces working to divide us based on race, gender and nationality. We can't fall for it." It's unclear how many posts will be deleted due to the policy. By midday Wednesday, at least six X posts had been deleted, but some identical Instagram and LinkedIn posts were still live. For example, eight months ago, the Indiana National Guard account posted that it "proudly commemorates Juneteenth, a historic day that marks the end of slavery in the United States." A 2024 social media post honoring Juneteenth was deleted by the Indiana National Guard Now, the link to the post says "this page doesn't exist" on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other deleted X posts highlighted videos and pictures of Hoosier Indiana National Guard members who wanted to share their stories for Black History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Women's History Month. A deleted social media post commemorating Black History Month. Indiana National Guard deleted several social media posts highlighting cultural diversity. A Women's History Month post was among deleted posts by the Indiana National Guard. IndyStar asked for a full list of posts that had been impacted but the Indiana National Guard did not immediately provide that information. Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana National Guard deletes posts celebrating Juneteenth, women A new indictment has revealed more details about the brutal torture endured by a Minnesota transgender man who authorities allege was held captive in New York for more than a month. On Wednesday, New York authorities announced indictments against seven people in connection with the death of Sam Nordquist. The indictment alleges that the seven defendants tortured Nordquist to death in an upstate New York motel. All seven face 1st-degree murder charges, which Ontario County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford noted carries the heaviest penalty of any crime in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "[The charges] require that we prove that all seven defendants tortured Sam Nordquist, and that they did so because they enjoyed it, Wolford said at a press conference. New York State Police The seven defendants are 38-year-old Precious Arzuaga, 21-year-old Thomas Eaves, 30-year-old Jennifer Quijano, 33-year-old Kyle Sage, 30-year-old Patrick Goodwin, 19-year-old Emily Motyka and 29-year-old Kimberly Sochia. Nordquist had initially traveled to New York in September to visit Arzuaga, his former partner. His family first contacted authorities when he booked a flight back to Minnesota in early October but failed to return home. According to the indictment, Nordquist was tortured from around Jan. 1 to Feb. 2 at Pattys Lodge in Hopewell, New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment alleges that Nordquist was physically and sexually assaulted, including by having objects inserted into his body. Nordquist was also force fed urine and feces and treated "like a dog," according to Wolford. Arzuaga is also charged with forcing a 7- and a 12-year-old child to take part in the torture. Wolford said more details about the torture endured by Nordquist are likely to come out as the investigation into the incident continues. All seven defendants are charged with concealment of a corpse. Nordquists body was found in a field in Yates County, New York. Originally appeared on E! Online An adventurous expedition in the U.K. has led to a terrible tragedy. Travel influencer Maria Eftimova died Feb. 22 after falling roughly 65 feet while climbing the north ridge of the Tryfan mountain in Snowdonia, Wales, according to the BBC. She was 28. Nearby climbers rappelled down to Eftimova while a member of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation performed CPR, the rescue team told the outlet. Sadly, the efforts proved unsuccessful, and she subsequently died from her injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following her passing, the late content creator was remembered lovingly by those closest to her. Maria was a one of a kind person who lived life to the fullest, Eftimovas best friend Megan Griffiths told the BBC, not only adventurous and free-spirited but also incredibly kind, intelligent, and selfless. Griffiths continued, Her tragic loss will be felt by so many, and we are absolutely devastated to lose such a precious friend. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another friend, Victoria Critchley, described Eftimovas insatiable thirst for life and particular passion for snowboarding, adding that she had plans to hit the slopes in Austria before her untimely death. "Tragically, Critchley told the outlet, she was taken from her family far far far too soon. Instagram/Maria Eftimova Critchley also pointed out that Eftimovas grief-stricken familywho live in Bulgarianow faced the challenge of paying to bring her body back to her home country in order to give her the dignified farewell with her loved ones that she deserves. Eftimova was the second person to perish in Eryri National Park in less than 10 days, per the BBC. On Feb. 16, a woman descending the Glyder Fach mountain slipped on a patch of grass and fell, while her partner also suffered a fall trying to reach her. Though the partner suffered escaped with head and wrist injuries, the woman did not survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thoughts of all involved are with the casualties families and friends, the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said in a statement to the BBC. Thank you to all the members of the public who tried to help. For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App NEW JERSEY (PIX11) An injured dolphin was rescued from Monmouth Beach in New Jersey and then euthanized Tuesday, officials said. The Monmouth Beach Police Department received a call at 8 a.m. about a dolphin stuck in a creek. Responding officers located the animal. The dolphin appeared to have an injury to its tail and was beached in the mud, police said on social media. More Local News Additional officers and residents joined in to help rescue the dolphin. Officers entered the creek and used a pump to keep the dolphin wet while they waited for further assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) responded to the scene and extracted the dolphin from the mud with the help of a crew and forklift. Officials said the injured dolphin was taken to the MMSC facility for further treatment and care. However, the MMSC said the dolphin was badly injured. Upon examination, the underweight dolphin was found to be weak and lethargic, with lesions on multiple parts of his body. Abrasions were present on the flukes and pectoral fins. The dolphins weakened body condition, coupled with being stuck in the mud without water to support his body weight for an unknown period, made the dolphins prognosis for survival very poor. After veterinary assessment, the decision was made to humanely euthanize the animal to prevent further suffering. Marine Mammal Stranding Center After the dolphin was euthanized, it was transported to the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, where a necropsy will take place. The dolphin was a male, according to officials. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) says it plans to conduct a routine inspection of the KY 56 bridge over the Green River next week. The KYTC says starting March 13 at 9 a.m. the bridge, located at the McLean-Webster County line outside of Sebree, will be reduced to one lane to allow inspectors space to work. Crews will use catwalks, drones and a specialized under bridge inspection vehicle to conduct a thorough examination of the bridge and its substructure. GRADD hosts training to make senior centers veteran friendly Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say traffic will be controlled by flaggers at each end of the bridge. Work is expected to be concluded by 2 p.m. (Courtesy: KYTC) Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). CLEMSON, S.C. (WSPA) No ones insurance rates are safe this year, and economic experts say natural disasters across the county are to blame. Reed Watson, the Director of the Hayek Center at Clemson University, said that within the next year homeowners, whether or not they were affected by a natural disaster, should expect to see an increase in their insurance premium. Generally speaking, those resources have to flow from somewhere else, so even if an area is not affected by natural disaster, premiums could still rise because those insurance companies have to gain their revenue from somewhere else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watson explained that insurance companies must be covered by someone, and that someone is everyone who buys insurance. We can probably anticipate that theyre going to raise premiums in the near future to cover the payouts from both these current wildfires that are burning, but also Hurricane Helene that was not so long ago. While rising premiums may put the squeeze on some homeowners, Watson said, thats the market saying that its risky to build here, to live here. We need to get those signals out, and people can respond accordingly. However, the increase doesnt necessarily come from South Carolina disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youd be surprised. Natural disasters, even if theyre outside of South Carolina, can affect South Carolina homeowners because insurance companies need to cover those losses, Watson said. Theyve got to raise premiums and, in many cases, they have requested a premium increase from the South Carolina regulatory committee. If approved, those disasters that are a long way from here can have impacts in South Carolina. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. About a month after the surprising resignation of Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum, an internal audit released by OSU after an open-records request found significant issues in the allocation and management of legislatively appropriated funds at the university. Among the findings of the audit released Wednesday, two days before the next meeting of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents were that the university did not properly account for $41 million in legislatively appropriated funds between July 1, 2022, through Jan. 15, 2025, a time during which Shrum was serving as president. The scope of the audit was limited to an amount of about $55.5 million for fiscal years 2023 to 2025, and sought to try and understand the specific restrictions and intended uses of the appropriated funds. It did not include all legislative appropriations during that time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the audits executive summary, the $41 million in funds were not properly restricted and in some instances were co-mingled with other funds, leading to expenditures that were not aligned with the restricted purposes. The improper handling of funds, the audit said, included unauthorized transfers to the OSU Innovation Foundation, one of Shrums favored projects, which was rebranded in 2023 from its former name, the Oklahoma State University Research Foundation. Such actions in some cases violated state laws and policies, thereby posing financial and reputational risks to the institution, the audit said. Shrum has not returned messages seeking comment since her resignation became public and OSU officials have remained mum as to the why of her decision. OSU officials kept the situation so secret that the OSU/A&M Board of Regents didnt officially announce Shrums resignation until two days after it took effect, neglecting to give a heads-up to key state higher education officials, including Chancellor Sean Burrage and Dennis Casey, the chair of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than a week after Shrum resigned, regents named Jim Hess as OSUs interim president. An internal Oklahoma State University audit released about a month after Kayse Shrum (left) resigned as OSU's president was overseen by OSU/A&M Regent Jennifer Callahan (right). OSU remains focused on its land-grant mission to provide accessible education, conduct groundbreaking research, grow the state's workforce, and deliver high-quality health care for Oklahomans, OSU spokesman Lance Latham said in a statement Wednesday. Newly appointed Interim President Dr. Jim Hess is taking swift action, along with the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, to address these matters. Dr. Hess has underscored that while the financial decisions and transactions which occurred are concerning, they were isolated and do not impact OSUs overall financial foundation, which remains the strongest among Oklahomas institutions of higher education. According to its website, the Innovation Foundation's mission is to maximize the impact of OSUs excellence in aerospace and advanced mobility, energy, agriculture, and One Health by translating innovative applied research into products and services, facilitating strong partnerships with aligned industry and regional partners, and investing in the development of emerging companies all for the benefit of society. Audit: OSU's Innovation Foundation lacked 'independent funding' Another finding in the audit was that the Innovation Foundation lacked independent funding and is not operating with financial independence and has inappropriately utilized legislative appropriations intended for OSU. The audit found the Foundation relied on inappropriately transferred legislatively appropriated funds intended for OSU special projects to support 96% of (its) operating costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Innovation Foundations executive director, Elizabeth Pollard, resigned soon after Shrum. Pollard told the Tulsa World, The Innovation Foundation followed University policy and procedures, including financial reporting into University systems. The audit also found that between 2023 and 2025, $55.5 million in legislatively appropriated funds from the OSU Medical Authority was not fully presented to the OSU/A&M regents board for budgetary approval, something required by both the board and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The audit said $41 million of that amount had been transferred from the Medical Authority to OSU. It also said OSU transferred $11.5 million in legislatively appropriated funds to the Innovation Foundation money provided through OSUMA and intended for the University. Failure to obtain Board budgeting approval for the legislatively appropriated funds undermines the Boards governance of the institution and its ability to conduct fiscal oversight and ensure accountability, the audit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the problem, the audit said, is that seven OSU executive leaders, including Shrum, served simultaneously with OSU, the OSU Medical Authority and the Innovation Foundation related to the transfer of legislatively appropriated funds from OSUMA to OSU and then to the Innovation Foundation, Inc. That, the audit said, created a conflict of interest and a lack of segregation of duties. Further, the multiple roles blurred the lines of governance. Late Wednesday afternoon, the university issued another statement, from OSU/A&M Regent Jennifer Callahan, the chair of the boards Governance Review Task Force. The OSU/A&M Board of Regents has a responsibility to ensure the financial integrity and oversight of its member institutions and has procedures in place to fulfill that responsibility, Callahan said. The board and OSU administration are committed to transparency and to taking swift action that protects the universitys commitment to students. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Internal OSU audit finds significant issues with how funds were spent Mar. 5Update (3:15): All state highways have reopened to traffic, including Interstate 90, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Travel is still not advised on Interstate 90 west of Alden and between Alden and Minnesota Lake on Minnesota Highway 109. Highways passing through Albert Lea remain partially covered or completely covered in snow. Update (11 a.m.): Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office in emergency response during the ongoing blizzard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walz declared a peacetime emergency and said the National Guard will assist in providing the personnel, equipment, facilities and resources necessary to respond to the severe weather and rescue stranded motorists. "Minnesota is no stranger to winter weather, but conditions can quickly become unpredictable and dangerous," Walz said in the news release. "As we work to alleviate the dangerous road conditions, the National Guard is stepping up to provide life-saving support." Albert Lea and the surrounding area remain in a blizzard warning through 3 p.m. with an additional 2 inches of snow possible. The National Weather Service stated as of Wednesday morning, Albert Lea had received 8 inches of snow. Snowfall totals of 10.2 inches were reported in Ellendale and 7 inches in Clarks Grove Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snow is expected to taper off this morning. The Weather Service stated winds are gusting as high as 50 mph, and whiteout conditions will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Travel should be restricted to emergencies only, and if people must travel, they should take a winter survival kit with them. Visit 511mn.org for the latest road conditions. Original story The Minnesota Department of Transportation has closed Interstate 90 west of Albert Lea at Interstate 35 as blowing snow is creating whiteout conditions. The area remains under a blizzard warning with significant travel impacts underway through Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Freeborn County Sheriff's Office posted on its Facebook page the Freeborn County Highway Department will be running plows on county roads generally only from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the county is advising no travel during the storm especially during the evening, night or early morning hours when plows will not be on the county roads. Roads can be expected to be snow-covered, drifted over and likely impassible especially during those hours. County roads that run parallel to Interstate 90 westbound will also not likely be passible, the Sheriff's Office stated. Freeborn County advises motorists to seek shelter at area hotels or storm shelters as there will be no plows on county routes until 5 a.m. Shelter is available at The National Guard Armory, 410 Prospect Ave. in Albert lea for those needing a place to stay. For road conditions on state highways, go to 511mn.org. DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) A Sioux City man who was sentenced to 50 years in prison on a murder charge last year has had his appeal denied. On March 5, 2025, an Iowa Court of Appeals panel upheld the second-degree murder conviction of Joseph Cruz, 21. Cruzs defense had unsuccessfully argued that the evidence in the case was insufficient to support the conviction and that a search warrant had not justified the search of his car to find what was later established as the murder weapon. In Dec. 2023, a jury found Cruz guilty of the second-degree murder of Carlos Ray Aguirre, 21. Cruz had also been charged with the second-degree murder of Anthony Williams, 19, but was found not guilty on that count. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case originated from a shooting that was reported in the early morning hours of Oct 29, 2022. Officers with the Sioux City Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1400 block of West 5th Street. At the time, authorities said one person was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was pronounced dead in the hospital. Joseph Cruz in Oct. 2022 (Courtesy: Sioux City Police Department) Cherokee man accused of infant murder will have his trial moved Court documents stated that Cruz got into an argument with Aguirre over a firearm Cruz wanted. The two fought, with Cruz gaining control of the gun and allegedly shooting Aguirre and Williams. Criminal complaints at the time of the arrest stated that Cruz admitted to shooting Aguirre out of anger, but not Williams, who was his cousin. Cruz had originally been charged with two additional counts, that of intimidation with a dangerous weapon causing serious injury, and willful injury. However, the court dismissed the charges on Nov. 8, 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He eventually received his sentence in Jan. 2024. Cruz will have to serve at least 35 years in prison before he is eligible for parole or work release. Wesley Thoene contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Iowa landowners at a rally in opposition to carbon sequestration pipelines outside of the Iowa Capital on Oct. 8. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa House Judiciary Committee advanced bills Thursday to block hazardous liquid pipelines carrying carbon dioxide from the use of eminent domain. Two bills also advanced granting rights to intervene in Iowa Utilities Commission proceedings, which GOP lawmakers have done against the case of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Study Bill 287 specifies that the construction of hazardous liquid pipelines for the transportation or transmission of liquefied carbon dioxide does not constitute a public use for the purpose of condemning agricultural land. The bill would apply to any condemnation proceedings made on or after its enactment. Committee members voted to advance HSB 287. A companion bill in the Senate, Senate File 92, has not had any scheduled hearings and will likely be dead at the end of the funnel week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a similar bill into law Thursday morning, that effectively bans the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines. South Dakota is also on the proposed route for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project, which would transport sequestered carbon dioxide from biofuel refineries to underground storage in North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhoden said the new law is not meant to kill the project in South Dakota, but should be taken as an opportunity for a needed reset. Summit Carbon Solutions said in a statement the news is very unfortunate but the project moves forward in states that support investment and innovation. House File 491 would also restrict hazardous liquid pipelines from the right of eminent domain, by adjusting the definition of a common carrier. Under the bill, a hazardous liquid pipeline would have to establish clear and convincing evidence that it transports a commodity used by an individual consumer, or a commodity for one or more shippers not affiliated with the carrier who will also not sell the hazardous liquid to the carrier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Charley Thomson, said the bill corrects a problem that emerged because of the Summit pipeline docket hearings in front of the Iowa Utilities Commission. Common carrier status of project was challenged in a South Dakota lawsuit about land surveys, with the states supreme court deciding that the Iowa-based company had not proven its status as a common carrier. The Iowa Utilities Commission decided Summit was a common carrier in Iowa when it granted the permit for the project, which is conditional upon permit approval in other states. The bill advanced 20-1, and Thomson said there will be an amendment on the floor to clarify that the bill does not apply to railroads. Intervenor bills Thomson and House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Steven Holt are part of a large group of GOP lawmakers who have intervened against the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. Holt and Thompson also pushed forward legislation last year to restrict eminent domain, but the bills did not gain necessary momentum in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House File 610 would allow members of the General Assembly, county and city elected officials and Iowans with minimally plausible interest to intervene in an Iowa Utilities Commission proceeding. House File 237 would prohibit the IUC from threatening or imposing sanctions on an intervenor unless they were intentionally dishonest or violated a criminal statute that caused injury to the commission in excess of $500. Both bills advanced from committee with votes of 20-1. This article has been updated to clarify the common carrier status of the pipeline project in Iowa. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) The Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) location in New Haven will be closing by April 30, according to a press release. IRIS Run for Refugees 5K returns to New Haven The organization said that they are closing the office as a means to reduce operational expenses and maximize every dollar [they] receive. The office is located at 235 Nicoll Street in New Haven. Their team will continue to operate from the location through the end of March, and the building will officially close by April 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization said that they have a plan to ensure they can still meet with clients and that more details will be coming soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Federal workers are pushing back on President Donald Trumps claims about the state of the country and the mass firing spree under his watch, warning it will undermine communities and leave people across the country with diminished access to the services that they rely on. At the news conference Wednesday, Paul Osadebe, a union steward with the American Federation of Government Employees Local 476, said that Trumps lengthy State of the Union speech this week was but his latest attempt to distract and to pit Americans against each other. In his own remarks, he highlighted how Trump scapegoated transgender Americans and immigrants while neglecting to discuss topics like affordable housing. He said that Americans will have a harder time interacting with the federal governments programs because of Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing I want to focus on is that the federal government has offices all across the country. These are offices that are created so that people in local areas can get help directly from someone from their community. In their community. They don't have to talk to someone from DC, Osadebe said. They can talk to someone in rural Idaho who's there to help them, and those are the exact people [whose] offices are being closed. You will not be able to get local help. Chris Wicker, former deputy director of Minnesotas small business administration office, who attended Tuesday nights address as a guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., noted that Trump didnt do anything to comfort veterans across the country, who are watching the administration make drastic cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. I didn't hear anything about how I, as a veteran, I'm going to expect continuation of benefits at my local VA, Wickler said. "I didn't hear anything about how this business plan of gutting the Federal workforce is still going to be able to sustain important services in my community of Minneapolis, Minnesota. And so I had the unique opportunity to sit in front of what was basically a campaign rally and hear the same policy repetitions that we've been listening to this entire time. Wickler later added that some 30% of federal workers are veterans and that most of the federal employees working in rural areas work for either the VA or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means these job cuts will hit rural Americans the hardest people who already have limited access to resources. It also means veterans who depend on federal services will be some of the most severely affected. If you want to know who will bear the long-term effects of these layoffs, look at the most vulnerable people in your community the ones who need the most support from a government thats supposed to safeguard the well-being of its people, Wickler said. Tiffany Montes, a recently fired National Parks Service worker, noted how Trump made no acknowledgement that his mass firing spree has thrown droves of former federal workers' lives into uncertainty. I just wanted to hear him say, "Hey, we'll do something for you guys," or just anything. But the whole time, all I did all I saw was him speaking to one side of the room, barely acknowledging the other side, Montes said. Montes went on to say that other Americans would feel Trumps cuts when they go to visit national parks this summer and services are cut, or when they are unable to because of staffing shortfalls. She said many of her former coworkers are now looking at opportunities outside the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, people are terrified. Talking to my old coworkers, theyre just waitingwaiting for the next mass layoff to hit. They have no idea if theyre next because theres no real logic behind who is being fired. A lot of them are already looking for other jobs, but there aren't always many options, Montes said. Allusion Lacko, a former child nutrition researcher at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, said in response to Trumps speech that "he perpetuated the myth that we are some kind of unaccountable bureaucracy. But I worked with some of the most talented and dedicated professionals, people who showed up to work every day because ... this isnt just a job to us. Were dedicated to this work. Lacko went on to say that Trumps mass firings at the USDA go against his stated goal of keeping our children healthy and strong. She described how the severe cuts happening under the Trump administration would ripple through the American economy. The mass layoffs of federal workers arent happening in isolation. The federal government provides a huge number of contracts and grants to other organizations, which also support jobs, Lacko said. "For example, USAID wasnt just shuttered every organization that received grants from USAID lost funding, too. I know people who worked at NGOs that had to lay off 80% of their employees overnight because their federal contracts were cut." Israel is stepping up security measures ahead of the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem due to concerns over violence, the police said on Thursday. Around 3,000 security forces' personnel are to be deployed to ensure that the traditional prayer on the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, in Jerusalem's Old City proceeds in an orderly manner, they said. According to media reports, the number of Muslim worshippers is to be limited to 10,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Temple Mount, with the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, is regarded as Islam's third holiest site. The remnants of the Temple on the site, known as the Western Wall, are considered the holiest site in Judaism. The site is under Muslim administration, while Israel is responsible for its security. In the past, there has been increased tension and violence in Jerusalem during Ramadan. The situation is particularly tense this year due to the Gaza war and Israeli military operations, as well as settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas has called for confrontations in the city during Ramadan. The Israeli Air Force has conducted a joint training exercise with the US Air Force, the Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday. During the exercise, Israeli F-35i and F-15i aircraft flew alongside a US B-52 strategic bomber, the Israeli military said, adding that the aircraft had practised "operational coordination between the two militaries to enhance their ability to address various regional threats." Further details about the exercise were not provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, there has been speculation about a possible joint attack by Israel and the United States on Iran's nuclear facilities. The Iranian military tested its air defences at the important nuclear site in Natanz in January. The Istanbul talks can't serve as the basis for a Ukraine-Russia peace deal, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said on March 6. "The Istanbul accords happened 30 days after the invasion, and the demands in Istanbul were fairly significant on a very weakened Ukraine," Kellogg said at the Council on Foreign Relations discussion. He described the agreements as a starting point for future negotiations but doubted they represented a fair framework for all parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Istanbul agreements refer to negotiations between Ukraine and Russia held in Turkey in late March 2022, which outlined potential terms for a peace deal. They included Ukraine adopting a neutral status, abandoning NATO aspirations, imposing military restrictions, and delaying negotiations over Russian-occupied Crimea's status for 10-15 years. Trump's envoy emphasized that conditions today differ significantly from those in 2022. He also noted that the Trump administration aims to reset U.S.-Russia relations, criticizing previous U.S. leadership for avoiding direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kellogg's remarks follow U.S.-Russian talks in Istanbul on Feb. 27 and an earlier round in Riyadh on Feb. 18, which are part of Washington's push for a swift peace settlement. Trump expressed interest in meeting Putin, marking a stark departure from his predecessor, U.S. President Joe Biden, who had refused to engage with the Russian leader since the full-scale invasion began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff suggested that the 2022 Istanbul agreements could serve as a foundation for a future Ukraine-Russia peace treaty. Despite his role as Trump's special envoy, Kellogg has been sidelined in recent peace efforts and excluded from both the Saudi and Turkish negotiations. Analysts suggest this may be due to his perceived pro-Ukraine stance and alleged Russian objections to his involvement. Read also: Chinas envoy calls Trumps treatment of Europe appalling Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Italy's Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti has expressed reservations about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's plans to massively increase defence spending in the European Union. Giorgetti warned against rushing into decisions that could lead to the kind of mistakes made in the past, referring to decisions taken during the coronavirus pandemic, when "mountains of vaccines" were purchased at inflated prices and subsequently discarded. The League politician stressed the need for a "well thought-out programme of investment in military infrastructure that makes sense, and not done in a rush without logic," adding that "you don't go to the supermarket to buy a drone or a supersonic missile, you need multi-year investments." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani of Forza Italia - another party in the coalition government - described the European Commission's plans for a huge rearmament programme as "good" within the framework, stating that practical implementation must now follow. The two smaller ruling parties in Rome often disagree on foreign policy matters. Italy has been governed by a coalition of far right and conservative parties for two and a half years: Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party, Lega and Forza Italia, founded by the late former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to attend the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. The EU states largely agree on the need to significantly increase defence spending. However, many governments are concerned about the source of the funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission suggests that member states be given more leeway for defence spending under the EU's usually strict debt and deficit rules. Leaders are to discuss a plan pitched by the commission to mobilize close to 800 billion ($856 billion) for Ukraine aid and defence investments. The commission proposed to provide 150 billion in loans which it hopes will be matched with private capital and additional funding from the European Investment Bank. Italian defence company Leonardo and Turkey's drone specialist Baykar have agreed to cooperate on the development of combat drones in Italy, the companies announced on Thursday. After several months of negotiations, the two companies signed an agreement to establish a joint venture for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to supply the market in Europe. Leonardo's chief executive Roberto Cingolani estimated the European market for unmanned fighters, armed surveillance drones and deep strike drones to reach $100 billion over the next decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leonardo is also involved in the development of the European drone Eurodrone alongside Airbus and Dassault. The Turkish Baykar group is already one of the largest drone manufacturers worldwide. The group's chief executive Selcuk Bayraktar is a son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Baykar aims to benefit from Leonardo's expertise in mission systems, payloads and certification, the company said, while expanding their worldwide presence. Last year, Baykar started building a factory near Kiev to produce either its TB2 or TB3 drone models. Ukrainian forces actively used the TB2s against the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, Leonardo has already established a joint venture with Germany's largest arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall, to produce tanks specialist bridge-laying vehicles. Jacksonville substitute teacher at Tiger Academy YMCA arrested, charged with child abuse Action News Jax has learned the name of the school where a local substitute teacher was working in when she allegedly hurt a student and encouraged other students to beat him up. Geanene white, was subbing at Tiger Academy YMCA on the northside. Shes been arrested and charged with child abuse. According to the arrest report, Geanene White was subbing on Feb. 12th and asked a student to get into a small group. Allegedly, that student refused and her frustration grew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report said she then asked the class Who in here can beat him up? and four kids raised their hands. White allegedly called them out one by one to fight the victim as she watched. In the report, it said the kids hit the victim multiple times on his head and throughout his body, and she then pushed him, causing him to hit a desk. According to the report, when the fights were done, White grabbed the student by the collar of his shirt and dragged him. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] White allegedly denied her involvement in the incident and advised that she only tried to pick the victim up from the ground following 2 separate fights that occurred in the class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also said that she did not ask anyone if they could beat up nor did she encourage them to fight; that is according to the report. The First Coast YMCA told Action News Jax parents were notified of the incident and sent us a statement: The First Coast YMCA was made aware of an incident at Tiger Academy involving a student and a substitute teacher who had been properly vetted by both the First Coast YMCA and Duval County Public Schools. The safety and well-being of our students and staff have and will always be our top priority, and as such, we investigated the matter immediately according to protocol. Upon completion of the internal investigation, we terminated the substitute teachers employment. We immediately reported the incident to the Department of Children and Families, who are conducting an ongoing investigation in collaboration with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. All further inquiries about the incident should be directed to them. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Four ringleaders of a planned coup and a plot to kidnap a minister have been sentenced to several years in prison in Germany, in one of several high-profile treason trials which shocked the nation. A fifth defendant was sentenced to two years and 10 months by the court in the western city of Koblenz, after the trial which began on May 17, 2023. The group was accused of founding or being members of a terrorist organization called "United Patriots" and preparing to carry out treasonous acts against the government, including kidnapping Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the arrests in spring 2022, Lauterbach had a high profile in Cabinet as the leader of the government's policies to contain the coronavirus epidemic. The four ringleaders were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five years and nine months to eight years. One of them, a former teacher, was accused of being the group's "political mastermind." During the proceedings, she frequently expressed conspiracy theories from the so-called Reichsburger (Reich Citizens) movement, which does not recognize the authority of the German state. Aim to topple democratic order According to the indictment, the group wanted to plunge Germany into chaos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their plan was to use bomb attacks to cripple the country's power supply, kidnap Lauterbach from a talk show and "take out" his bodyguards. According to the indictment, they wanted to overthrow the government and appoint new leaders in a constituent assembly and reintroduce the 1871 imperial constitution. An actor was to appear on television as the federal president or chancellor and announce the dismissal of the federal government. An undercover investigator who offered weapons for sale played an important role in the arrest of the accused men, court documents showed. In total, 38 witnesses gave testimony at the trial. Koblenz trial led to Prince Reuss case Proceedings against two alleged supporters of the group are still ongoing at the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz. Another man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a Frankfurt court in November 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigations into the "United Patriots" were the starting point for investigations into another sensational criminal conspiracy, surrounding the figure of Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss. The alleged ringleaders of this group were arrested in December 2022. They are also said to have planned to overthrow the political system in Germany by force of arms and install a new government. Prosecutors in the case in court in Frankfurt allege that the group's paramilitary wing aimed to raid parliament, arrest politicians and ultimately install Reuss as Germany's new leader. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) The Second Court of Appeals has reversed the capital murder conviction of James Irvin Staley, III, for the 2018 death of 2-year-old Jason Wilder McDaniel. Staley was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by a Tarrant County jury on March 13, 2023, following a three-week trial in Fort Worth. According to Wichita County officials, the Fort Worth appellate court informed them of the decision to reverse the conviction and remand the case for a new trial on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OTHER COVERAGE: James Staley appeal submitted after oral arguments John Gillespie, Wichita County District Attorney, said he doesnt agree with the Second Court of Appeals decision. Im extremely disappointed with the Second Court of Appeals decision to reverse James Staleys conviction, and I disagree with the decision, Gillespie said. Despite the reversal of Staleys conviction for Wilders death, Gillespie said he will use every resource at his disposal to ensure justice is served. The fight isnt over, this is only the beginning, Gillespie said. We will exhaust every appellate option available, including petitioning the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reinstate the conviction. If we cannot get the conviction reinstated, then well try the case again and get him a second time. Ive only begun to fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staley has been serving his sentence in the Bill Clemens Unit in Amarillo while awaiting the result of his appeal, which was submitted nearly a year ago on March 13, 2024. According to Keith Hampton, Staleys appellate attorney, his case for an appeal of his conviction stems from a failure by the Wichita Falls Police Department to produce an adequate search warrant or affidavit to obtain such. Staleys defense alleged that key evidence taken from a Mac Mini and Staleys cell phone was unconstitutional because the specific devices were not named in the affidavit or warrant, and therefore, it should not have been admitted into evidence during Staleys trial. Gillespies main counterpoint to Hamptons argument was that specific details actually were contained within the affidavit that led to the warrant to search Staleys devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was far from boilerplate, Gillespie said. These ample facts implicated a key Texas law, Article 3836, which authorizes prosecutors to provide relationship and state-of-mind evidence in murder trials.Further details regarding the reasoning for the appellate courts decision are unavailable at this time. The memorandum opinion has not been publicly released by the Second Court of Appeals as of the publication of this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Thursday that high tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration would make investments in the United States difficult. Japanese companies need to generate the funds for U.S. investments, so "high tariffs would make it difficult to invest in the U.S.," Ishiba told parliament. Almost 90% of Japanese companies expect Trump's policies to hurt business, a Reuters survey showed last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ishiba stressed the importance of articulating how Japanese investments benefit not only Japan but also contribute to U.S. job creation and economic expansion, as he did during a summit meeting with Trump last month. The premier also said he plans to dispatch the nation's industry minister Yoji Muto to the U.S. for talks with Trump administration officials. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Jamie Freed) Democratic firebrand Representative Jasmine Crockett went after her Republican colleagues Wednesday for holding a sham hearing about crime in sanctuary cities. During the hearing before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, in which four Democratic mayors defended their cities immigration polices, the Texas Democrat called out Republicans over their hypocritical focus on so-called migrant crime. I know that many of you prepared for todays hearing by making sure that you got a little bit of information about immigrants and crime in your cities. Let me ask each of the mayors, just yes or no, Crockett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have any of you been made aware of any immigrant that has had 34 felony convictions that has still been able to roam in your cities? she asked. Each of the four mayors predictably answered, No, or said nothing, and so Crockett continued. Im just curious because we are so concerned about crime, and I know that my Republican colleagues would never want anybody with 34 felony convictions roaming around, because that could be a danger to the community, she said. Crockett has been known for stirring the pot among her Republican colleagues, and was one of the Democratic lawmakers to walk out on Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday night. The mayors who testified Wednesday were Mike Johnston of Denver, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Michelle Wu of Boston, and the embattled Eric Adams of New York, who recently agreed to walk back certain measures protecting undocumented immigrants after the Department of Justice moved to drop his public corruption indictment, leading to allegations there had been a quid pro quo agreement. Adams continued to deny those claims Wednesday. With the nation clearly polarized by politics, many Black Americans are wondering where are the leaders who can bring the country together. From Frederick Douglass to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., past Black political thinkers and activists have always rewritten history and reshaped the Black experience in the U.S. But, where are the leaders of today? The Root spoke to Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett on the matter, and according to her, the country is facing a crisis we havent seen in decades. This may be the closest that some of us have ever been to a Civil Rights Movement, she said. Between President Donald J. Trump rescinding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and continuous concerns about police brutality, socio-economic divides, and education, many fear the path to progress is drastically slimming. Lord knows it feels like the Jim Crow laws are all coming back, Crockett said. It seems as if they want to make sure that I have more encumbrances to upward mobility than say somebody else who just happens to lack the amount of melanin that I have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with that, the Texan argued the problem isnt a lack of modern day leaders. We were used to the photos of Martin Luther King leading everybody, and we know that we had other amazing figures like the John Lewises of the world, Crockett said, and according to her, similar voices exist today. I think people are looking for the visual again because thats really the only thing that we know, she continued to The Root. But the reality is that a lot of this has been decentralized. The solution, according to Crockett, isnt to try to recapture Malcolm X and Rosa Parks. Instead, she said Black Americans are allowed to choose which leaders they want to follow. She pointed to local leaders like Pastor Jamal Bryant whos been leading the charge on saying, You know what? Dont spend your money at these particular stores. And other folks like Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries and journalist Don Lemon that continue to speak out against the Trump Administrations targeted efforts against protected civil rights. As one of the few Black members of Congress, Crockett also realizes many Black folks are looking to her and her colleagues to drive political efforts for the people. Im still only the 55th Black woman to ever be sworn into the United States Congress, she said. Crockett has made waves throughout her political career with her fiery tone, memorable clap backs, and constant calling out of Trump and the MAGA movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, the congresswoman acknowledges that everyone is not like her. I think that there were definitely people who signed up to go to Congress or go into elected office, she started. They didnt sign up because they were activists. They didnt sign up because they knew how to be activists. They signed up because they wanted to legislate in some way. Crockett said all good politicians arent good leaders. And thats more than okay. In fact, she argued that trying to force some folks into the leadership mold is kind of where we go wrong. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. JAY-Zs rape accuser allegedly lied about the attack, a new legal filing suggests. In an affidavit filed on Wednesday (Mar. 5), a private investigator named Charlotte Henderson claims to have met with the accuser in late February in Alabama, per TMZ. Doe allegedly told Henderson during this meeting that she fabricated her story against the Roc Nation boss at the request of her attorney, Tony Buzbee. Jane Doe stated that Buzbee pushed her to implicate Shawn Carter in the lawsuit that originally only included Diddy, accusing him of rape in 2000. Rapper and Record Producer Jay-Z interacts with associates prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 01, 2024 in London, England. Henderson recalls the woman blatantly stating that Carter was present at the party that night, but he was not involved in the sexual attack. Buzbee reportedly knew this information and still went forward with including Jay in the now-dismissed lawsuit. The affidavit drew attention to various outlets who caught on to the inaccuracies present in Jane Does story as proof that there wasnt a real case against JAY-Z. Furthermore, the P.I. asserted that he was not working for Carters legal team for the investigation into Jane Doe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Complex reports that another private investigator named Ian Pillinger filed a separate affidavit in connection with the case. Pillinger stated that the rape accuser has a legally-documented history of mental health issues and that this allegedly led to the woman losing custody of her children. These mental health issues reportedly include bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, and a history of auditory hallucinations. Per Pillingers legal filing, Jane Doe spent time at a facility for mental health before lumping Hov into the Diddy lawsuit at the order of Buzbee. Sean P. Diddy Combs and singers Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z attend the Sean Jean/Zac Posen CFDA after-party at Marquee, on June 7, 2004 in New York City. Now, Hov is looking to take Jane Doe to court for these alleged lies. On Monday (Mar. 3), JAY-Z filed a lawsuit accusing the woman, Buzbee, and lawyer David Fortney of engaging in an evil conspiracy to extort him with completely fabricated allegations of sexual assault. Tony Buzbee hit back at Carters lawsuits and claims, asserting that the rappers false story doesnt measure up to the documentation they have for their clients case. Each assertion is flat-out false and made up. Jane Doe called referring counsel, the Ava Law Group, and alleged she was assaulted by PDiddy and JAY-Z before her case was EVER referred to our firm. Thats indisputable, Buzbee told TMZ in a statement. In fact, we have obtained the actual intake sheet from Ava Law groups intake personnel where Jane Doe signed up to be a client with them long before her case was ever sent to my firm. In that form created by their firm, I take it shows who she was making the assertions against. Those investigators likely didnt know that the paper trail will demonstrably prove what they say to be false. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Billionaire Jeff Bezos has decided to use his newspaper to propagate an outdated story that Americans like to tell themselves: that economic freedom equals human freedom. The myth of meritocracy might be designed to inspire striving, but in a country with the greatest income inequality in the developed world, it does something more harmful. It threatens Americans health, gaslighting people to believe that unchecked capitalism delivers personal liberty, when decades of research show it shackles people to financial and emotional insecurity. Bezos announced on February 26 that The Washington Posts opinion pages will be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. The paper will not publish any viewpoints opposing his priorities, he said, while adding, Freedom is ethicalit minimizes coercionand practicalit drives creativity, invention, and prosperity. For an editorial section that long prided itself as a marketplace of ideas, and a newspaper historically dedicated to holding the powerful accountable, this edict by a union-busting business mogul engaged in a pay-to-play scheme with a president who disdains the Constitution is bad for journalism and democracy and, perhaps most personally, Americans mental health. I worked at The Washington Post from 2017 to December 2023, establishing the Opinion sections first documentary film unit and pioneering a column about mental health and society. In 2021, I covered the January 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol as part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. When I learned of Bezoss editorial edict, I talked to former colleagues and learned of heartbreak, confusion, and anger in the newsroom. I also reached out to Post leadership for a comment on what defines personal liberties and free markets and who would be the arbiter of who deserved this freedom. No response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is happening inside the Post is, in some ways, a microcosm of the country. The hierarchical, authoritarian nature of most workplacesoften disguised by language about valuing peoples feedbackhas been revealed, according to Seth Prins, assistant professor of epidemiology and sociomedical sciences at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health. This forces people to confront the fact they dont have much control under the current structure, which can be extremely stressfuland not just among D.C. journalists and government workers being targeted for cuts. This is bad for Americans physical health, mental health, finances. Anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and other stress-related disorders are all caused by precarious employment, overwork, unemployment, and lack of autonomy and control in the workplace. These problems are rife at another Bezos company: Amazon, the worlds second-largest employer. Corporate executives say theyre concerned about employee health and safety. The Center for Urban Economic Development notes, however, that the intensity, injuries, surveillance, burnout, and high worker-turnover rate at Amazon should raise concerns about the potential long-term effects on wellbeing, medical costs, future employment and overall economic security. The system Bezos is championing has enabled the rich to get richer faster and the working class to burn out more quickly. And the assignment hes given The Washington Post opinion pages is to make his story look good. There is a dataset that gives it credence: Since the 2020 pandemic, the U.S. economy expanded at a solid pace, wages have grown, and more people are working. But if you widen the lens to look at health, well-being, and human flourishingsome peoples definition of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happinessthe United States does abysmally, social epidemiologist Richard Wilkinson, a professor emeritus at the University of York in Britain, told me. The costs of the way the society works are absolutely horrendous, Wilkinson said in an interview. We must, at some point, get people to address that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suicide and drug overdoses are leading causes of death in the U.S., where were strangled by an epidemic of lonelinessthat heartbreaking mix of anxiety, depression, and fear that chips at our physical and mental health. The American mindsome might say spiritis in crisis. Dont blame Covid-19 alone. In the decade leading up to the pandemic, high school students persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness increased by about 40 percent. This isnt an individual failing, and it cant all be pinned on social media and cell phones, either. Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, his co-author of the book The Spirit Level, have found that in more unequal societies, kids do less well on math and literacy tests, teenage birth rates are higher, theres more homicide, more people in prison, lower levels of trust and public engagement, and higher obesity rates. Wilkinson focuses on what psychologists refer to as social evaluative threat. Its measurable. In experiments, people facing threats to their self-esteem or social status show sharp spikes in cortisol, while other tasks have little effect. Thats what makes being lower down on the hierarchy so painful, Wilkinson told me, noting that research shows people not only despise poverty, they despise themselves for being poor. Self-loathing and internalized shame can play out as violence and tension or conflict in the family, at work, and with authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rich may be able to buy their way out of some angst, but they cant escape the stress of being judged. Plus, income inequality and low trust can breed resentment, which can inspire violenceand the fear of it. After the killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, several major health care executives reportedly increased personal security measures. Whether you are quite resilient or vulnerable to all the social anxieties, Wilkinson said, everyone is more worried about others judgments of them in more unequal societies. Censoring critiques of Bezoss world-view, as is now the rule at Post opinions, doesnt make the problems go away, though. Similarly, the Trump administrations executive order to ban mentions of racism, inequality, and gender in scientific research will not erase them from our lives. One can understand why it is trying, however. The illusion of truth can be powerful and effective. Misinformation about the 2020 election and the Capitol attack propagated by right-wing media helped President Donald Trump win back the White House. And in a Pew Research Survey conducted before the election, just 30 percent of conservatives said economic inequality is a very big problem in their country, compared with 76 percent of liberals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When powerful elites control the information ecosystem, perception can feel like reality. But heres the truth: Deregulation and tax breaks for the wealthy have enabled Bezos and his peers, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, to rack up $227 billion, $230 billion, and $359 billion in worth, respectively, according to Forbes. These oligarchs would like people to believe that if youre innovative and hardworking, you can achieve their success too. At the same time, however, they oppose labor rights and data protections, consumer safety, and regulationsthe measures that shield Americans from exploitation and promote social mobility. So while the wealth gap grows, the poor and working classes are slipping down or stuck on the rung their parents stood on. Free markets and personal liberties are excellent ideas that can complement each other, but only when society collectively decides that dignity, health, and well-being are included in the definition of freedom. One of the major purposes of the individual liberty language is to divide workers and make them think only of themselves, Prins told me. We know that actually we are stronger when we come together to demand what we want. Americans want to do better and feel better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, 79 percent of Americans said they believe mental health is a public health emergency and needs more attention from lawmakers. And last year, a majority of Americans suggested they wanted the government to look out for peoples health and to regulate business to protect the public interest, according to a Pew Research Survey. But just 22 percent said they trust the government in Washington to do what is right. Its hard to trust the government to help people feel better when our culture blames individuals for collective problems. Bezoss ideological pivot at one of the worlds most influential newspapers reinforces a false narrative that economic freedom and human freedom are the same thing and that its up to the individual to achieve both. At a time when economic anxiety, loneliness, and distrust in institutions are deepening, the shift is not just misguidedits dangerous. We need media that advocate for well-being, not gaslight people into believing their suffering is liberty. (NewsNation) Americans are still waiting for more Jeffrey Epstein files to be released as Attorney General Pam Bondi said her office has been given a truckload of evidence, according to the New York Post. Previously, Bondi had given the Federal Bureau of Investigations New York field office until Feb. 28 to hand over any information about Epsteins case. She had accused the office of not sharing thousands of pages of documents before the release of Epsteins contact book and flight logs in February. NYC sues over $80.5M FEMA grant for migrant housing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, we got them all hopefully all of them by Friday at 8 a.m., Bondi told Fox News. I have the FBI going through them. She also said that FBI Director Kash Patel will get us a detailed report as to why those documents have been withheld until now. Pam Bondi: Americans will see full Epstein files Bondi told Fox News that she was tricked into believing she had all the files related to Jeffrey Epstein. I kept saying, there has to be more. There has to be more, Bondi told Fox News on Saturday. I was assured thats it. Boy reportedly kidnapped from Atlanta 7 years ago found in Colorado; 2 arrested She claims a whistleblower told her the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is sitting on thousands of pages of documents that she hasnt seen, according to The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi promised that all Americans will see the full Epstein files. She told Fox News, We will get everything. We will have it in our possession. We will redact it, of course, to protect grand jury information and confidential witnesses, but American people have a right to know. Bondi said that anything related to national security would also be redacted. She also said any redactions would be explained to the American public, according to the New York Post. Jeffrey Epstein files released in February Before some files on the Epstein case were released in late February, Bondi had said in several interviews that Epsteins actions were pretty sick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The files that were released included Epsteins flight logs, but nothing groundbreaking was revealed. Most of the information in those files had already been known. The Department of Justice released those files to a small group of conservative influencers first, which brought backlash. (From L) Political commentator Rogan OHandley, aka DC Draino, TikToker Chaya Raichik, commentator Liz Wheeler and US conservative activist Scott Presler carry binders bearing the seal of the US Justice Department reading The Epstein Files: Phase 1 as they walk out of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025. The Trump administration has said it would release documents on late tycoon and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein who was found dead in his prison cell in 2019. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from Florida is a chair of the House panel in charge of reviewing classified documents in high-profile cases for release. She posted on X to voice her concerns, saying, in part, This is not what we or the American people asked for and a complete disappointment. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, also from Florida, said it had been a bad day for the White House. It was not a good day for the administration. I have never seen the Left and the Right come together in a moment on the debacle of what the Epstein files contained, he told CNN. Jeffrey Epstein case: Where it stands now Epstein was originally arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019. His girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping Epstein traffic minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, Americans borrowed $74B to pay medical bills: Report Previously released files related to his case have included the names of many political and Hollywood figures, including: Trump Former President Bill Clinton Prince Andrew Stephen Hawking Leonardo DiCaprio Michael Jackson Cate Blanchett David Copperfield George Lucas It is important to note, however, that someones name appearing in Epsteins files is not an indicator they participated in sex trafficking. The files included some names who only had brief contact with Epstein. Epstein died of an apparent suicide in his federal jail cell in New York City in August 2019 while awaiting trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is hammering the Republicans campaign arm for falsely characterizing a Hispanic member of Congress as an illegal immigrant. The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) on Wednesday blasted a message on social media attacking Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), who is a U.S. citizen, over his critical response to President Trumps speech to Congress the night before. Democrats literally chose an illegal immigrant to give their response to President Trumps address, the NRCC posted on the social platform X. Predictably, this radical called Trumps presidency a reign of terror. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats couldnt be more disconnected from the American people. Jeffries, who also hails from New York City, wasted no time responding to the smear with a barb of his own. These people are disgusting, he wrote on X. Espaillat, 70, was born in the Dominican Republic in 1954 and immigrated to the United States with his family a decade later. The family overstayed its tourist visa and lived in the country without proper documents for a time, then obtained green cards within a year of the expiration. He became a citizen before the age of 30 and was first elected to the House in 2016, becoming the first formerly undocumented immigrant to join Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the start of this year, Espaillat became head of the Congressional Hispanic Congress (CHC), which put out its own statement attacking the NRCCs false characterization. The xenophobic rhetoric from Trump Republicans proves that you can follow the law, get your papers, become a citizen, get elected to Congress swear multiple oaths to protect and defend the Constitution and all you will ever be to Trump Republicans: an illegal immigrant, the group posted on X. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the NRCC defended the initial statement as facts and dismissed the criticisms, saying Democrats should focus their outrage instead toward issues such as public safety. Democrats caring more about policing words and fighting facts instead of policing our border and fighting crime shows just how out of touch they are, the spokesperson said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday signed into law a redesign of primary ballots, formally ending an entrenched system that gave unique influence to the states party bosses but faced an unexpected wave of opposition. Its known as the county line and was an only-in-Jersey phenomenon that faced a reckoning following the 2023 indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez. But it became a strange vestige of Tammany Hall-era machine politics that then-Gov. Woodrow Wilson tried to snuff out over a century ago. Now it is officially dead with term-limited Murphys signature, making this years gubernatorial race to succeed him the most unpredictable in generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county line system gave political parties in all but two of the states 21 counties the power to help design primary ballots based on party endorsements. Party-backed candidates were grouped together while candidates without endorsements were displayed awkwardly or on obscure parts of the ballot. Getting the line could make or break a campaign. If that sounds unusual, it is. The 49 other states group candidates on the ballot by the office they are running for. Now New Jersey will too. The bill Murphy signed will shift to office block ballots in primaries and prohibit candidates being separated from others running for the same office. One study found double-digit changes in voter behavior because of "the line," as it's commonly called in New Jersey, compared to much smaller swings caused by voter ID laws, voter roll purges and scaling back early voting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For much of the past year the line system has been on trial in the public, in the Statehouse and in the courtroom, thanks to a lawsuit filed by then-Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat who was running for Menendezs Senate seat (he ultimately won). Early last spring, U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi sided with Kim and ordered county clerks not to use the line system in the June Democratic primary. An appeals court upheld the decision in mid-April. Since then, the county line effectively collapsed as county clerks entered into agreements to use office block designs like other states. Kim filed the lawsuit back when he was running against Murphys wife, Tammy Murphy. The first lady had been amassing county party support and county lines, but dropped out amid intense pushback to her candidacy by grassroots Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kims challenge was not the first to attack the line, but his legal filings came packed with evidence that showed just how much the line had affected voters. The whole point of democracy is to give the people a choice and be able to have the decision be made by the people, Kim testified during a day-long hearing last year. Its been obvious for years that getting the line means winning races, but it had been difficult for critics to untangle whether thats because the line makes candidates strong or only strong candidates get the line. The line was usually a far greater influence on election results than photo ID or proof-of-citizenship requirements, voter roll purges and cutbacks to early and absentee voting, according to a legal brief filed by Harvard Law Schools election law clinic and the Rutgers Constitutional Rights Clinic that cited a variety of academic studies of voting behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another study, cited by Quraishi in his ruling, looked at candidates who ran in districts that included counties with the line and without the line. Even when those candidates had party endorsements in every county, they did 12 points better on average in counties with the line than the counties without. But even when the line didnt give candidates a leg up, it could cause confusion. The same study, by Rutgers public policy professor Julia Sass Rubin, looked at ballots where voters either voted twice or didnt vote for certain offices, likely because of the way the line creates confusing ballots. A review of the lines legal history shows the line evolved ironically and haphazardly out of a system that was meant to curb the power of county party bosses starting in the early 1900s. Those protections, though, were gradually undone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several years ago, Brett Pugach, Kims attorney in the line lawsuit, wrote a lengthy law review article on the line that made it seem more like a muddled accident than anything previous generations of lawmakers meant to create. If anything, he argued, they tried to create a system that undermined party power but the system ended up reinforcing it. You cant step too far out of line or youll be off the line, Pugach said. Thats because if the ballot design can determine the outcome of an election and local parties are able to shape the design of the ballot, the local parties have enormous say over who does and doesnt get elected and even who decides to run in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a powerful position that grants political leaders, a handful, not only who their candidates are but often times who the actual officeholders, said former state Sen. Ray Lesniak. According to Pugachs history, throughout the 1800s, party machines were picking party candidates and putting them on the general election ballot. In a series of laws in early 1900s, New Jersey lawmakers gradually created direct primaries for most offices, giving voters the chance to pick party nominees. When he was New Jersey governor in 1911, Woodrow Wilson signed a law designed to give more power to voters. Elections at the time were nothing more than a choice between one set of machine nominees and another, Wilson, who became president two years later, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the 1930s, lawmakers went a step further and banned parties from endorsing candidates in primaries, another move meant to ensure voters were doing more than rubber stamping candidates already selected by party leaders. That law was flaunted while it was in place and so strict it was eventually found unconstitutional. But New Jersey lawmakers also created a way for candidates to choose to be grouped together on the ballot a practice known as bracketing that helped create unusual groupings that the line requires. A 1941 law allowing bracketing has been heavily litigated, though most of the legal cases are about how it should work. Kims case was about whether that should be allowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics of the line pointed out that bracketing was created amid the lengthy period some 70 years in total where party endorsements were technically banned. Even though party machines existed and exerted influence throughout those decades, its unclear if state lawmakers decades ago envisioned a system where parties so clearly dictated ballot design. Conditions have subsequently altered the real-world impact of those statutes, New Jersey Solicitor General Jeremy Feigenbaum wrote in the filing where the Attorney Generals Office said it thinks the line is unconstitutional. For most of the twentieth century, including when the bracketing law was first enacted New Jersey prohibited political parties from endorsing primary candidates. But then came a series of court cases that would hand power back to parties. In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California law that prevented party officials from endorsing primary candidates, finding it interfered with parties free speech rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case didnt say anything about crafting ballots, but the ruling was interpreted in New Jersey as a way to keep the line until Kims challenge. Because of the line, candidates who couldnt get the line may never have run and those who did are never sure if they could have won. Murphy, for instance, swept the county lines in the state when he first ran in 2017. In Pugachs law review article, he pointed to that years primary ballot in Middlesex County as a textbook example of the advantage the line can give a partys preferred candidate, in that case Murphy. There, Murphy was atop a column filled with incumbent members of the Legislature beneath him. John Wisniewski, a former state lawmaker running for governor, is two columns over, squeezed into the same column as Lesniak. They were the only two candidates for governor forced to share a column. And Wisniewski was the only one with his name below another candidates. It made him wonder what would have happened if the line hadnt been around. Theres a lot of maybe and ifs in between that, but it certainly was a major impediment to my candidacy, Wisniewski said in an interview last year. JetBlue Airways is extending its suspension of flights into Haitis main international airport in Port-au-Prince. Flights will remain suspended until at least June 11, a spokesman told the Miami Herald. The U.S. carrier operates the only direct flights between Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince and South Florida and New York. Citing Haitis ongoing civil unrest, the airline previously announced that all of its flights into Haiti would remain suspended through at least April 30. Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our customers and crew members, the spokesman said on Wednesday. Due to the ongoing civil unrest in Haiti, we have made the decision to suspend all flights to and from the country through at least June 11, 2025. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and update our plans as necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspension announcement comes exactly one week before the Federal Aviation Administration ban on U.S. commercial and cargo airlines is set to expire on March 12, and on the same day that Haitis Transitional Presidential Council announced that the domestic airport in the southwestern city of Les Cayes is now capable of receiving international flights. The runway was extended to 5,905 feet from the original 4,265. The opening, along with the recent inauguration of a major port in Les Cayes, is being hailed as a major step forward for the development of the South, which remains cut off from the capital by criminal gangs that are in control of all the major highways out of Port-au-Prince. Haitian authorities have spent weeks completing renovations on the runway at the Antoine Simon Airport in the coastal city in order to be able to receive international jetliners. A similar renovation effort was also done at the smaller airport in the southeastern city of Jacmel in January ahead of a visit by Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The renovations come amid the ongoing ban of U.S. commercial flights at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. The airport itself remains open, having recently received deployments of foreign troops and equipment for the Kenya-led multinational security mission. But the airport has been off limits to regular international commercial flights since criminal gangs opened fire on three U.S. jetliners on Nov. 11 of last year. No passengers were injured, but a Spirit Airlines flight attendant was hurt. The countrys local carrier, Sunrise Airways, also has yet to resume domestic flight operations from Toussaint Louverture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recently published analysis by the aviation security firm, Osprey Flight Solutions, found that the situation in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, remains highly volatile. This was underscored on Wednesday when videos circulating on social media showed heavily armed members of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition occupying the area in front of the States vehicle insurance office in Tabarre unchallenged, and controlling movement around the area surrounding the US embassy. Jetblue Airways is one of three U.S. carriers that offered daily flights to Haiti before the attack by criminal gangs prompted the the FAA to issue a ban on all U.S. commercial and cargo airlines into Port-au-Prince. In the weeks that followed, American Airlines, which flew directly out of Miami International Airport, announced the indefinite suspension of its daily service into Toussaint Louverture. Spirit Airlines, the only U.S.-based carrier that connected Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport with Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitiens Hugo Chavez International Airport, also suspended all of its Haiti flight operations. The airline, according to a source, is looking to restart its Cap-Haitien service pending an assessment by the Transportation Security Administration, which recently traveled to Haiti for a safety evaluation. Earlier this week, Dennis Hankins, the U.S. ambassador to Haiti, met with the new director of Haitis National Office of Civil Aviation, Reginald Guignard, to discuss efforts to secure the perimeter of the airport. Increasing the security around the airport is a top pre-requisite for the resumption of international flights. For now, the Cap-Haitien international airport is the only way in and out Haiti via Sunrise Airways service into Miami, and flights being operated by airlines between Haiti and The Bahamas, and the Turk and Caicos. The American Jewish Committee and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned deputy Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson over social media posts they described as antisemitic. Anyone who posts antisemitic conspiracy theories lifted right out of the neo-Nazi playbook should not be in public office, the American Jewish Committee wrote in a Wednesday post on the social platform X. Kingsley Wilson, newly appointed @DepPressSecDOD, is clearly unfit for her role, they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments from the committee and ADL come after Wilson criticized the ADL for their decision to condemn the lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who the ADL says was falsely convicted for the murder of a 13-year-old in 1913. Leo Frank raped & murdered a 13-year-old girl. He also tried to frame a Black man for his crime, Wilson wrote in August of last year. The ADL turned off the comments because they want to gaslight you, she continued. The organization did not respond to her comments publicly but did condemn her post as a false conspiracy theory, urging her to retract the remarks. We are deeply disturbed that any public official would parrot these hateful and false conspiracy theories and we hope Kingsley Wilson will immediately retract her remarks, the ADL said in a statement to Jewish Insider when asked about her posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House and the Pentagon did not respond to The Hills requests for comment. Wilson has denounced the Pentagons decision to send troops to Lebanon in an effort to ease tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, and she blasted the Biden administration for their financial support of Ukraine in their war against Russia. She has also urged the U.S. to stay out of foreign ethnic conflicts. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have disapproved of Wilsons rhetoric online. Im not gonna tell them who to hire, but I do know that Trump doesnt believe any of the things shes talking about, and Ill leave it up to them to determine if they think shes the right spokesperson, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Politico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If what you say about these posts are true, then shes completely off-script with President Trump, he continued. Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres (N.Y.) described Wilsons words as historical revisionism. Kingsley Wilson, the Deputy Press Secretary for the Department of Defense, is shamefully attempting to delegitimize Kosovo, which has been the single greatest American ally in the Western Balkans, Torres wrote on X. No amount of historical revisionism can change the fundamental fact that Kosovo is and will always be an independent democracy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. John F. Kennedys grandson, Jack Schlossberg, continued his trolling of his relative Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday via Instagram. But this time, his target wasnt RFK Jr., the Health and Human Services secretary known for promoting conspiracy theories about vaccines, but Kennedys wife, former Curb Your Enthusiasm cast member Cheryl Hines. Hey Cheryl Hines, its Jack Schlossberg. I just got out of the shower, said Schlossberg, who apparently felt compelled to send the video while shirtless and to misspell Hines last name in text overlaying the clip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve never met, but Ive got a favor to ask. I need you to call up the family of the child who died of measles and say sorry. Can you do that for me, babe? Schlossberg was referring to the recent outbreak of measles in Texas that has made at least 150 people sick and caused the death of an unvaccinated child. After saying that almost every single case of measles is in someone whos not vaccinated, Schlossberg said he thought Hines is the perfect person to say sorry. You can see him make his plea in the video below. Kennedy came out in support of the measles vaccine on Monday despite nearly 30 years of spreading disinformation about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a big flip from his other recent statements about the outbreak, such as his claim that there was nothing unusual about the Texas outbreak. Hines representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Schlossbergs video. Related... ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Digital Reporter Jim Hagerty shares what it was like as a young reporter nearly 20 years ago to learn about the 1977 murder of 16-year-old Louise Betts and follow her killers numerous attempts at parole. This segment includes a conversation with former newspaper editor who was on the ground covering the Betts case in the 1970s, a crime that continues to have a tremendous impact on the community nearly 50 years later. Just shy of her 17th birthday, Louise Betts was abducted and killed on Sept. 27, 1977, while hitchhiking in Loves Park. Her killer, 23-year-old Curtis Brunell, was initially sentenced to death but is now serving 100 to 300 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres more on the Louise Betts case here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. CHICAGO (WGN) A perennial candidate for office in Illinois has decided to try his luck running for a Florida congressional seat. Republican Jim Oberweis hopes to represent Floridas 19th district, which runs from Ft. Myers to Marco Island. The district is currently represented by Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who last month announced a run to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Running in Florida is a change of scenery for Oberweis, who ran and lost campaigns for Illinois governor, the US Senate and US House. He was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2012 but gave up the seat for his failed run for Congress in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oberweis new website VoteJimO.com calls into question that defeat by suggesting that mail-in ballots were improperly counted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The future of meteorology has become a concern in recent days for students and those seeking jobs in fields dealing with weather and atmospheric sciences. As soon as the news broke, the student (have been), like, I dont know if this job is for me anymore, said Dr. Caitlin Crossett, a professor in Atmospheric Sciences at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. Meteorology and atmospheric sciences, by their nature, are more than broadacast meteorology or work with the National Weather Service (NWS). Multiple fields, both in the public and private sectors, rely on meteorologists in making decisions on everything from agriculture to airlines. Click here to see our latest Pinpoint Weather forecast! However, news of cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service have resulted in uncertainty on several fronts, from job prospects to proposed projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A reported 600 people have been cut from NOAA, including people who recently retired. Queen City News came across several social media posts on National Weather Service pages over the last week of people who are retiring from local NWS offices across the country. For some, working for the organization has been a viable option when pursuing a career involving weather. Preliminary data shows an EF1 tornado touched down in Union County The National Weather Service itself has noted a long-standing policy of not commenting on personnel issues and emphasized as much when we reached out for comment on the reported cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for projects, Queen City News has previously reported on efforts to get an NWS Doppler in the Charlotte area to address a radar gap in the area. Queen City News received a comment from Rep. Tim Moore on the matter. In a statement, he said, The radar gap in the Charlotte area is deeply concerning, especially after Hurricane Helene we need to be sure North Carolinians have the accurate weather data they need to stay safe. Im looking into options to close this gap and ensure our communities have the tools necessary to prepare for severe weather. It is not known how the cuts to NOAA and the NWS could affect future funding for additional offices or equipment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Capitol Police arrested House Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) chief of staff on DUI charges Tuesday after President Trumps first address to Congress concluded. Authorities say Hayden Haynes backed into a parked vehicle around 11:40 p.m. Johnsons office said they are aware of the incident and still confident in Haynes ability to lead the office team. The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress, Taylor Haulsee, a spokesperson for Johnsons office, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office. NBC News first reported on the charges. D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb will handle Haydens prosecution, which differs from most cases in the District of Columbia. Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., would oversee most cases except in the instance of a DUI. Schwalb has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and his efforts to eradicate the Districts autonomous government. The Hill has reached out to Schwalb for comment on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated at 6:13 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jonesboro Mayor Donya Sartor is resigning, she announced in a special called meeting on Thursday afternoon. Sartor says the city council has called for a forensic audit of Jonesboros finances. While she says there have been no allegations of wrongdoing, she wants to cooperate with the audit by stepping down. I dont quit. This isnt quitting. I chose myself, Sartor said as she fought back tears. Channel 2s Tom Jones was at the meeting when she added tearfully that she wants to leave office with no impropriety on her record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important that my tenure concludes with those findings of no wrongdoing or mismanagement of funds, she added. Sartors last day in office will be April 19. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We werent expecting this today. We just dont know, Councilman Billy Powell said. Councilman Powell said he didnt believe the audit had anything to do with Sartors decision. Its more personal than it is work. When asked what he meant, he said Her personal life. Jones tried to ask the mayor why she chose to resign. Mayor can you say why? he asked. No, thank you, Sartor responded. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was elected the citys first Black mayor in March 2023. The mayor has found herself at the center of controversy before. Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln first reported on allegations of misconduct after councilmembers voted to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of abuse of power and misuse of city resources. She said the allegations were nothing more than an attempt to discredit her leadership. In September 2023, she was accused of pointing a loaded gun at a police officer, but the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. Sartor also received criticism for firing a police officer who was involved in the investigation against her, as well as the police chief. She said replacing officials like the police chief are not uncommon when a new mayor takes office. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] JOPLIN, Mo. A Joplin man is facing drug and weapons charges. Prosecutors have charged Dr. John Jay Joseph with first-degree drug trafficking and unlawful use of a weapon. Joplin police arrested him Wednesday night in the parking lot of the Kum & Go on South Main in Newton County. A special team of investigators called the Joplin Flex Platoon was there. Court documents say they saw Dr. Joseph engage in a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction with Kenneth Heistand and Kayla Hayes (below). When Dr. Joseph got back in his truck, police detained him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayes and Heistand were sitting in their vehicle when the exchange was made. Officers say the couple tried to drive away, but they were able to stop the vehicle and arrest them as well. L-R: Kenneth Heistand, 66 and Kayla Hayes, 34, both of Joplin (Courtesy: JPD). Investigators say they found a large package with 11 grams of fentanyl in Dr. Josephs pocket. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says thats enough of the drug to kill about 5,500 people. Police say they also found a gun and another gram of fentanyl in Dr. Josephs truck. Dr. Joseph is awaiting trial in the fatal hit-and-run case involving his son near Galena, Kansas that resulted in the death of Gary LaTurner, 60 in August 2023. According to authorities, Dr. Joseph returned to the scene of that crash with his son and did not call authorities. LaTurners body was not found until the next day. His next court date is set for April 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Hayes and Heistand have prior criminal convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, DWI, and stealing. Dr. Joseph was held in the Joplin City Jail Thursday morning but was released after bonding out that afternoon. His dental license is still listed as active as of today. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. By Tala Ramadan DUBAI (Reuters) - Jordanian border forces clashed on Thursday with armed smuggling groups attempting to cross the northern border from Syria into Jordan, the Jordan Armed forces said in a statement. The clashes resulted in the death of four smugglers, while the remaining individuals retreated into Syrian territory. According to the statement, the smugglers had attempted to exploit poor weather conditions and dense fog to cross the border, but Jordanian forces "applied engagement rules to prevent their infiltration." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Large quantities of narcotics and weapons were seized and transferred to the relevant authorities, the armed forces said. The amount of the seized drugs was not disclosed. In January, Jordan and Syria agreed to form a joint security committee to secure their border, combat arms and drug smuggling and work to prevent the resurgence of Islamic State militants. Western anti-narcotics officials say the addictive, amphetamine-type stimulant known as captagon has for years been mass-produced in Syria and that Jordan is a transit route to the oil-producing Gulf states. Jordan's army has conducted several pre-emptive airstrikes in Syria since 2023 that Jordanian officials say targeted militias accused of links to the drug trade, as well as the militias' facilities. (Reporting by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) A federal judge on Thursday denied a request from U.S. Agency for International Development contractors to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration's mass termination of their contracts. The Personal Service Contractor Association, an advocacy group for U.S. personal services contractors employed by USAID, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration last month after the secretary of state issued a stop-work order for all foreign assistance and contracts. MORE: 'Many of them will die': Hammer drops on USAID with organizations left reeling Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contractors alleged the stop-work order prevented the association's members from carrying out work for "which their positions were created and exist by law and from overseeing often lifesaving humanitarian relief." According to the complaint, the contractors were "irreparably injured" because they say the stop-word order cut "essential communication and network access, endangering their personal safety and security" and water and electricity for their homes overseas due to the funding freeze. PHOTO: A USAID flag flutters outside, as the USAID building sits closed to employees after a memo was issued advising agency personnel to work remotely, in Washington, D.C., Feb. 3, 2025. (Kent Nishimura/Reuters) "The impact around the world of freezing foreign aid funding and stopping foreign aid programs has been and remains calamitous," the contractors said in the complaint. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols denied the contractors' request for the temporary restraining order. Judge denies request from USAID contractors to block mass termination of their contracts originally appeared on abcnews.go.com NEW YORK A New York federal judge has halted discovery in Justin Baldonis $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, for its coverage of Blake Livelys sexual harassment and smear campaign allegations against her It Ends With Us director and co-star. Judge Lewis J. Liman granted the papers request for stay of discovery Tuesday, Deadline reports. The Wayfarer Parties are unlikely to be unfairly prejudiced by a stay while the Court decides the pending motion, Liman wrote in reference to the Times motion to be dismissed from Baldonis $400 million defamation suit, which he amended Jan. 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jane the Virgin alum, 41, sued the 37-year-old Gossip Girl star, her husband Ryan Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane for alleged defamation and civil extortion. Lively in late December filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us as well as a retaliatory smear campaign. The Times detailed the allegations in an article entitled, We Can Bury Anyone. Lively then sued Baldoni on Dec. 31, the same day he formally sued the outlet, which said in its motion to dismiss: The Times does not belong in this dispute. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Times told Deadline that it appreciate[s] the courts decision today, which recognizes the important First Amendment values at stake here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court has stopped Mr. Baldoni from burdening The Times with discovery requests in a case that should never have been brought, continued the spokesperson. At present, Baldoni and Livelys dueling lawsuits are scheduled to head to trial next March. The New York Times is moving closer to a dismissal from Justin Baldonis $250 million defamation lawsuit over the newspapers coverage of It Ends With Us co-star Blake Livelys accusations of sexual harassment and a smear campaign effort. NewsNations Paula Froelich explains how District Court Judge Lewis Limans indefinite pause on discovery affects the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. The former director of communications for Kansas City government on Wednesday won a whistleblower lawsuit he brought against the city in which he alleged he was forced out of his job because he resisted City Manager Brian Platts suggestions that it would be ok for city officials to lie to the news media. Platt denied doing so during testimony last week. But a Jackson County jury believed Chris Hernandez instead. In a unanimous verdict, jurors recommended on Wednesday evening that Hernandez receive $928,829 in damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of that, $228,828 was due to his demotion from the communications job hed held for nine years after a long career as a television news reporter. And the jury awarded him $700,000 because Hernandez felt he had no other choice but to retire early from the city at age 58 a year after his demotion because he had transferred to another city job with far fewer responsibilities and no chance for advancement. The city will also likely owe a substantial amount to pay his lawyers for their time and expenses, which will be determined by a judge at a later date. City officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday night. Hernandez filed his lawsuit in the fall of 2022. He retired from the city at the end of September 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eight-day trial began last Monday and included testimony from a number of current and former city officials, including Mayor Quinton Lucas, who supported Platts decision to move Hernandez out of the communications job and replace him with someone who would be more loyal to Platts vision. This is a victory for the truth and transparency that Kansas City residents deserve, Hernandez said in a written statement after the verdict. During my whistleblower lawsuit we presented solid evidence of multiple times I pushed back when the City Manager wanted to inflate numbers, as well as when he suggested that we make lying to the media a part of our media relations strategy. Kansas City taxpayers who believe that City Hall should be more transparent and truthful should express their opinion to the City Managers bosses - all of the City Council members and Mayor. Just sickened me Hernandez claimed in his lawsuit that he was demoted in August 2022 because he challenged Platt on several occasions when he felt Platt had crossed ethical lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his testimony on Monday, Hernandez said Platt once ordered his communications team to erase critical comments from the citys social media accounts after it faced backlash for suggesting homeless people could store their belongings in city-branded trash cans. The jury also heard repeated testimony about a Jan. 3, 2022, meeting between Platt, Hernandez and three other communications staffers in which Platt allegedly suggested that it was ok for city officials to lie to the news media and exaggerate the citys accomplishments. Why cant we just lie to the media? Platt allegedly asked during that meeting, the lawsuit says. To which Hernandez said, Thats not a good idea. We shouldnt do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his testimony last week, Platt denied suggesting that the communications staff lie to the news media but acknowledged that he told a story that day about the mayor of the city where he used to work in New Jersey. That mayor, who later went to prison for fraud, believed it was ok to lie to the news media, because there was a good chance reporters would never check him on his facts. In his testimony on Wednesday and Thursday, Platt said he was merely telling a sarcastic anecdote to lighten the mood during a tense conversation, with a communications staff of whom Platt had been critical for not being more aggressive in promoting his initiatives. But Hernandez said Monday that he believes Platt was 100% serious. Hernandez alleges that Platt was clearly conveying that he had no problem exaggerating Kansas Citys accomplishments with inflated statistics on how many miles of road were repaved, for example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats how others at the meeting understood his meaning, as well. Go ahead and make up numbers for the media, is the message former city water department public information officer Brooke Givens took away from that meeting, she testified on Wednesday. They wont check it anyway. Thats what they did in Jersey City. Hernandez and two other former staffers who attended that meeting testified that they were shocked and demoralized by Platts attitude. It revealed something about his character that just sickened me, Hernandez said. Evidence and testimony show Platt began the process to get rid of Hernandez around the time of that meeting. A different philosophy Platt had ordered a restructuring of the citys communications staff, putting a higher emphasis than his predecessors on promoting his and the citys accomplishments, rather than simply providing unadorned factual information, Hernandez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Platt came in with a different philosophy, Hernandez said. ...more in the direction of less information and more fluffy stuff, more promotional. Instead of having a spokesperson for every city department, there would be one for all of city government. Both Platt and the top aide who followed him here from Jersey City in May of 2021, Assistant City Manager Melissa Kozakiewicz, agreed. And they felt Hernandez and his staff fell short of expectations of executing their vision. It wasnt a right fit, Platt said of Hernandez in the communications director role. We were always disagreeing on things. Hernandez kept his salary and benefits, but transferred to another city job with fewer responsibilities and filed for early retirement in the fall of 2023. He sought damages for lost income, emotional distress and harm to his career, among other things. The jury ruled unanimously in his favor Wednesday evening. He was represented by attorneys Erin Vernon and Lynne Bratcher of the Bratcher Gockel law firm in Independence. This is a developing story. Tax season is here, which means just about everyone is re-evaluating their budget and looking for opportunities to save. Look no further than your internet and mobile service, because Comcast has a solution that brings both under one umbrella ensuring the best connectivity, reliability, security and overall value. Find flexibility for your plans Today Xfinity Mobile customers can save on their monthly mobile bill as our streamlined unlimited offerings deliver some of the lowest prices on the market. You can check out the latest here or visit any of Comcasts Xfinity Retail stores in the greater Twin Cities. Advertisement Advertisement If keeping it simple is your thing, Comcasts NOW Mobile features all-in pricing, reliable service, and no contracts, meaning you can choose to pause and resume service on their terms. 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Make the switch to Comcasts Xfinity suite of service offerings today! Click here to learn more. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A juvenile carrying a fake firearm was spotted near a Las Vegas school, prompting a police investigation. According to police, a person described as a juvenile was seen carrying a firearm near a school in Spring Valley. When officers arrived, they discovered that the firearm was fake. The incident occurred in the 5400 block of Redwood Street, near Grant Sawyer Middle School, although police officials did not specify the school in question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say there is no longer a threat to the school and that the investigation is ongoing. Police officials did not say whether the juvenile was a student at the nearby school, nor did they detail what, if any, charges the young person might face for carrying the fake firearm. It was not immediately clear if the school was placed on lockdown during the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The St. Gabriel Police Department is reminding the community to take firearm safety seriously after a juvenile was injured in an accidental shooting Wednesday night. According to the police, officers were called to the area between Ravier Street and Jake Lane Street around 9:30 p.m. March 5 after reports of gunfire. Shortly after, the victims mother contacted police, stating her son had been shot and was being transported to a local hospital in a personal vehicle. Detectives met with the victim and his mother at the hospital and officers gathered evidence at the scene. Investigators determined that the shooting occurred while two juveniles who were friends were playing with a firearm when it accidentally discharged, striking one of them in the arm. The victims injuries were non-life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrest warrant issued for Southern University campus shooting suspect Following the investigation, another juvenile was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a juvenile, aggravated second-degree battery, and illegal discharge of a firearm within city limits. The juvenile was later released into the custody of his mother, and two firearms were secured as evidence. The St. Gabriel Police Department is urging residents to practice gun safety and ensure firearms are kept out of the hands of children. Guns are not toys, and this could have been a senseless act of gun violence that we are fortunate didnt result in a tragedy, the police department said. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. (NewsNation) Counterterrorism Chief Sebastian Gorka told NewsNation that the suspect in the Kabul airport bombing confessed to the attack, which killed 13 American service members during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The suspected senior planner, identified as Mohammad Sharifullah, has been taken into custody, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday. Officials accuse him of being a member of the Islamic State groups Afghanistan affiliate, known as ISIS-Khorasan, or ISIS-K, and say he admitted his role in that attack and others during an interview with FBI agents Sunday after being taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Use of military aircraft for deportations has stopped, source says When he saw my team, he knew that the freedom he had enjoyed for far too long was over, and he will die in prison, Gorka said during a Wednesday appearance on NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas Reports. On Wednesday, senior Pakistani intelligence officers confirmed the arrest and said Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, was captured in the countrys restive southwest Balochistan province near the border with Afghanistan after multiple operations had failed to seize him. The officers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, said Sharifullah had joined the militant group in 2016 and was involved in numerous attacks across Afghanistan. Sharifullah is charged in federal court in Virginia with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death. He will face a judge and be assigned a lawyer to speak on his behalf. Additional charges are possible as the case moves through the court system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (left) and Tim Kaine in February 2024. (Official U.S. Senate photo by Rosa Pineda) In a move to prevent what they call an unnecessary and damaging trade war, U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia on Wednesday introduced legislation to roll back President Donald Trumps controversial tariffs on Canadian imports. The tariffs, which impose a 25% tax on goods from one of the United States closest allies and largest trading partners, have already sparked economic retaliation from Canada and drawn backlash from lawmakers, business leaders and consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans want prices to go down not skyrocket, which is exactly what will happen if Congress lets President Trump slap new taxes on goods from one of our largest trading partners and closest allies, Kaine said in a statement. We dont need to guess what kind of damage these senseless new taxes will do. During Trumps first term, his trade wars spelled disaster for Virginians, particularly for farmers and foresters who were hit especially hard. Congress has a responsibility to stop that from happening again, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in blocking Trump from destroying our economy. The proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., aims to terminate Trumps Feb. 1 emergency declaration, which he used to justify the tariffs under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). His move marks an unprecedented use of the IEEPA, a law historically reserved for national security threats, to impose sweeping economic restrictions, Kaine and Warner said. However, the White House has defended the tariffs as a necessary response to what it describes as a national emergency fueled by the flow of contraband drugs like fentanyl into the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its statement, the administration cited a public health crisis exacerbated by illicit distribution networks and accused Chinese officials in particular of failing to take meaningful action to curb the supply of precursor chemicals to known criminal cartels or to crack down on money laundering by transnational criminal organizations. The tariffs, according to the White House, are intended to pressure China, Mexico and Canada into stronger enforcement measures, though critics argue they could have unintended economic consequences, particularly for American consumers. And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed back against claims that his country is fueling the fentanyl crisis, emphasizing that less than 1 percent of the fentanyl intercepted at the U.S. border comes from Canada. He highlighted Canadas commitment to tackling the issue, pointing at $1.3 billion in new security measures aimed at strengthening border enforcement. We have worked relentlessly to address this scourge, Trudeau said, rejecting the premise that Canada is a major contributor to the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The import taxes officially went into effect on Tuesday, after an initial one-month delay, and are expected to cost the average American household up to $2,000 per year with a significant portion of that burden coming from the tariffs on Canada alone. The backlash has been swift. Trudeau, in one of his final acts before stepping down, condemned Trumps decision in blunt terms, calling the tariffs a very dumb thing to do and accusing the administration of deliberately trying to ruin the Canadian economy. Within hours of Trumps announcement, Trudeau fired back, imposing 25% tariffs on C$30 billion worth of U.S. imports, with a warning that an additional C$125 billion in tariffs could follow in three weeks. There is absolutely no justification or need whatsoever for these tariffs, Trudeau said. Canadians are reasonable and we are polite, but we will not back down from a fight, not when our country and the well-being of everyone in it is at stake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump wasted no time in escalating the standoff, vowing to impose immediate reciprocal tariffs of the same size on Canadian imports. The tit-for-tat measures have alarmed business leaders and economists, who warn that the economic fallout could be severe, particularly in states with strong trade ties to Canada. This Administration is igniting a reckless trade war, and regular Americans are paying the price, said Klobuchar, who represents a state bordering Canada. Costs for everyone will go up, and our farmers and businesses will suffer. Canada is Minnesotas top trading partner and a key U.S. ally. We must reverse these damaging tariffs before its too late. Virginia, which exports more goods to Canada than it does to any other country, stands to be particularly hard hit. In 2024 alone, Canada accounted for 15% of Virginias total exports, with major industries like motor vehicles and heavy-duty trucks relying heavily on cross-border trade. In Southwest Virginia, 56.1% of the regions economic output depends on trade, making it especially vulnerable to the fallout of Trumps tariff war. Virginians cant afford the cost of President Trumps tariffs, which will raise prices on everything from groceries to houses and cars, Warner added. Congress must step in before President Trump tanks our economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public opinion is overwhelmingly against Trumps latest trade war. A recent Public First survey found that only 28% of Americans support tariffs on Canada, while 43% oppose them outright. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Welcome to The Scoop the ultimate back-to-the-office water cooler cheat sheet, your go-to source for all things everyone really wants to know! Get the latest on everything from the political swamp maneuvering in D.C. and Hollywood drama to jaw-dropping small-town shenanigans from Paula Froelich. Subscribe to her newsletter here. (NewsNation) Kamala Harris is absolutely planning on running for governor of California, sources say. The former vice president is looking to take over from Gavin Newsom when he steps down in 2026 and is shoring up her support in Hollywood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One source told me that she was on the party circuit in Los Angeles during the Oscars and has been cozying up to power brokers like Barry Diller in recent weeks. While she didnt attend the Vanity Fair bash, Harris was seen at several smaller functions full of very powerful people and working the rooms. Progressive fault lines emerge after Harriss loss Former Vice President Kamala Harris accepts the Chairmans Award onstage during the 56th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET) Kamala Harris gets Hollywood agent As I previously reported, Harris has been getting personal attention from mega-power broker and CAA head Bryan Lourde since her defeat in the 2024 presidential election. Her rep at CAA didnt return emails. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. KANSAS CITY, Kan. Kansas City, Kansas, firefighters were called to a large fire Thursday morning at a tire shop off Southwest Boulevard. The fire was reported at Boulevard Tires & Service on Southwest Boulevard near Lincoln Street just before 10:30 a.m. View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com Scott Schaunaman, assistant chief for the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department said it took firefighters about half an hour to get it under control, with some extra hazards that firefighters had to deal with, including some tanks exploding inside the building and a downed power line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One employee was reported to have minor injuries. The building appears to be a total loss, but the fire department said that adjacent buildings had minor exterior damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation. KCK firefighters at the scene of a business fire Thursday morning. This is a developing story. FOX4 will provide updates when they are available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. A participant in the March 31, 2023, March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy at the Kansas Statehouse holds a sign that reads: "Make no mistake, they are killing us." The demonstration was a response to legislative attacks on the LGBTQ community, including the ban on transgender athletes. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) When the Trevor Project the national suicide prevention organization for queer youth reached out offering an advance look at their state-by-state survey of LGBTQ+ kids mental health, I thought I knew what to expect. The Kansas results were so much more alarming than that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 39% seriously considered suicide in the past year, including 40% of transgender and nonbinary young people. 15% actually attempted it. 65% reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety, including 68% of transgender and nonbinary young people. 49% had symptoms of depression. 46% said they wanted to access mental health care but did not receive it. 28% were physically threatened or harmed based on their sexual orientation or gender identity in the past year. 63% faced discrimination. Most importantly for this column, 53% said recent politics negatively impacted their well-being by a significant amount, with 47% considering leaving the state. LGBTQ+ kids dont face these challenges because theyre gay. Theyre the same as anyone else. They face these challenges because of discrimination and stigma. This basic fact has been accepted since 1973, when the American Psychiatric Association took homosexuality off its list of mental disorders. The Trevor Projects report shows over and over, in state after state, that lawmakers advocating discrimination have a direct, negative effect on childrens mental health. Ive written about the subject an awful lot over the past 3 years. Its time to drop any flowery language and state the truth: Kansas lawmakers are killing gay kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats my take. Ronita Nath, vice president of research at the Trevor Project, had a more restrained but forceful perspective when we spoke Wednesday. Policy environment matters, she said. So broadly speaking, LGBTQ+ youth living in states with more protective and inclusive policies reported lower rates of suicidal thoughts, attempts and barriers to care than those living in states with more restrictive or hostile policies. Who would have thought? Kansans need to understand this. While we should remain committed to robust public debate about important issues, no one should defend arguments over the basic humanity of our children. You need only listen to the more than 18,000 young people ages 13-24 surveyed, of whom 192 were from Kansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HOME to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential. In the aftermath of the 2024 election, those from the center and left have debated whether Kamala Harris paid a price for going too far left on social issues. Most often, thats shorthand for saying that Democrats should throw LGBTQ+ people and their rights under the bus. Im sorry, but any sort of political movement that treats children as dispensable needs to rethink its priorities. Emphasize or minimize whatever you want. But dont make common cause with those who harm our children. The epitome of this candy-coated, scorched-earth approach could be seen in Rep. Susan Estes, R-Wichita, chairwoman of the House Education Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, she repeatedly admonished those testifying about a bill restricting use of students preferred pronouns. In her committee, she said, people maintain a good tone, smile, and never make anything personal. The crowd needed to refrain from showing any emotion. In the Kansas Statehouse, you see, the gay people need to worry about hurting straight peoples feelings. Not the other way round. Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ youths face barriers that lawmakers could lower, if they cared. Thats right: Kansas politicians could actually improve the lives of young people and strengthen the state they claim to care about. In Kansas, close to 50% of young people are not able to get the mental health care they wanted, Nath said. And then when young people list the top barriers to getting that care, youll see its a combination of both tangible and intangible barriers. So for Kansas, the No. 1 barrier is they couldnt afford it, which is a very tangible barrier. But then the rest is their intangible barriers, right? Theyre afraid to talk about their mental health care concerns with someone else. They were afraid they wouldnt be taken seriously. They did not want to have to get their parent or caregiver permission. They didnt want to look weak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politicians could make mental health care more accessible and available through expanding Medicaid or funding extra counseling services for public schools. They could add resources for community mental health centers. These problems could be solved. Instead, legislators have banned gender-affirming care and plan to police pronoun use. The report does offer glimmers of hope. Looking through the findings for Kansas, I noticed an opportunity that many of us could and should take. Only 44% of queer youths said that their homes were affirming spaces where they could be themselves. That still comes in ahead of school. And 65% identified their communities as accepting of LGBTQ+ people. The best way to show support? More than 90% said it would be trusting that I know who I am. So thats your job, Kansans. Make sure you trust the gay kids in your life. Make sure your homes and communities accept those kids, whether theyre in your family or not. Show that love that Kansas legislators cant bring themselves to express. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Save the precious lives that they refuse to. Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. After a year away, Kate Middleton will make her return to the royal familys annual Commonwealth Day service, held this year on March 10. The public can expect to see the Princess of Wales on Monday, Buckingham Palace announced on March 5. Kate will attend the service alongside her husband Prince William and father-in-law King Charles, who also missed the 2024 celebrations; both Kate and Charles were battling cancer at the time. The King announced his cancer diagnosis on February 5 of last year, and his treatment continues; Kate didnt announce her own diagnosis until March 22, and announced on January 14 of this year that she is in remission. Prince William and Kate Middleton at the 2023 Commonwealth Day service The Commonwealth Day service will take place at Westminster Abbey with the theme Together We Thrive; Queen Camilla and Princess Anne will also be in attendance, though Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburghusually staples at the eventwill not be there this year. March 10 marks Edwards 61st birthday, and Sophie will be visiting New York, according to the royal diary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Commonwealth is made up of 56 independent nations that voluntarily accept the monarch of Great Britain, Charles, as their head of state. A statement from the palace said that the celebrations will be rooted in the principles of family, unity, and peace, and over 2,000 guests will join members of the royal family at Mondays service, per Tatler. The celebrations will also begin the countdown to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, set to take place in Glasgow next year. Getty Images Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Day service in 2020 Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Day service in 2020 Getty Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Day service in 2022 Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Day service in 2022 Kates attendance at the Commonwealth Day service has always provided a fashion-forward moment for the future queen. At her last Commonwealth Day service in 2023, Kate wore a navy printed two-piece by Erdem and has worn that brand as well as Catherine Walker, Beulah London, and Alexander McQueen in years past. Read the original article on InStyle PITTSBURG, Kan. A stream advisory has been issued for an area waterway. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, a stream advisory has been issued for Cow Creek, near Pittsburg and Highway 160. The reason for the advisory is due to operational issues at the Pittsburg Wastewater Treatment Facility, according to a press release. Certain contaminants, including potentially elevated levels of E. coli bacteria, may be present in this area of Cow Creek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are advised not to allow children or pets to enter the stream at this time and to avoid activities near the creek. The city of Pittsburg is reportedly correcting issues at the wastewater facility, and KDHE will rescind the advisory once testing indicates that contact with the stream is deemed safe. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) Police in Kalamazoo say a 12-year-old girl was injured Wednesday evening in whats believed to be an accidental shooting. The suspect is a 16-year-old boy who has been cooperating with police, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety told News 8. KDPS: Shooting that sent juvenile to hospital was accidental The shooter happened around 7:15 p.m. on Clinton Avenue near Bank Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival on scene, officers did locate a 12-year-old female victim who was suffering from a gun wound to her head, face area. She was alert and was conscious and she was transported to a local hospital, where she is currently listed in stable condition, KDPS Capt. Danielle Guilds said Thursday. Officials have forwarded the case to the prosecutors office, seeking a charge of careless discharge causing injury. While detectives know who owns the gun, they are not sharing the persons connection to the teens pending an investigation. The weapon used in this incident was a shotgun. It was not secured properly inside the home and unfortunately, it was accessible to minors inside the house, Guilds said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guilds said the circumstances of the case might fall within the states safe gun storage law, which went into effect last year. They need to be locked and that they need to be inaccessible to minors, so we are looking at possible violations of that safe storage law and violations for that can range anywhere from a 93-day misdemeanor up to a 15-year felony, just depending on the circumstances of the incident and if somebody was hurt in the situation, Guilds said. She said this may be KDPS first safe storage case. There has been one conviction under that law in Kalamazoo County so far, the county prosecutors office said. KDPS officials encourage the community to pick up a free gun lock available at police headquarters on Crosstown Parkway. The department also encourages people to take advantage of its gun amnesty program, though which unwanted guns can be anonymously surrendered at partnered churches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch Eighty percent of the challenge in producing a daily newsletter is finding a topic. Identify a subject that moves you and the words will flow naturally. Fail to do so and youre left squeezing blood from a stone. Writing is easy, inspiration is hard. Political columnists take inspiration from the daily news cycle, which one might assume has made the job less burdensome lately. This is, after all, a moment in which big things are happening domestically and abroad. The morning hunt for a topic should be a turkey shoot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It isnt. Its gotten more difficult since January 20. Let me explain. This morning, I pinged my editor with a suggestion. How about something on the White Houses new tariffs on Canada and Mexico, I asked? The president slapping a gigantic, regressive, wholly unnecessary tax on Americans seems worth a few paragraphs. Youd better not, he told me. Yesterday, Trumps commerce secretary hinted that the tariffs, which took effect early Tuesday morning, might be rolled back by Wednesday afternoon. Trump is thinking about a plan, Howard Lutnick reiterated on Wednesday morning, and would reach a decision in hours. Theres no sense in me toiling all day over a newsletter about tariffs that might be outdated by my 5 p.m. deadline. How about something on Ukraine instead, he suggested? Theres always more to say about Trump selling out liberal Europe to fascist Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id better not, I told him, as thats likely to be overtaken by events too. Yesterday, it looked like the minerals agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine was back on track, but news swirled last night that Trump now wants a bigger, better deal than the current terms allow. Then, on Wednesday morning, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz tossed another condition into the mix when he announced that the United States will suspend weapons shipments and intelligence-sharing with the Ukrainians until they agree to peace talks with Russia. Possible outcomes today range from the original minerals deal being signed to a revised deal being signed to nothing being signed and a new rift opening between Washington and Kyiv. Its not even clear if Waltzs threat about withholding intelligence from Ukraine is true or merely half-true. Anything I write is likely to be obsolete by 5. And thats how the topic for this newsletter revealed itself. After four years and six weeks of being boiled, were all resigned to the fact that uncertainty under Trump will be higher than it is under other presidents. But lets pause today to appreciate the insanity of a moment in which the fate of the worlds biggest economy and the fate of liberalisms proxy war with authoritarianism in Ukraine have both somehow been left to the devices of a histrionic narcissist whose moods seem to swing dramatically hour to hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is no way to run a railroad, never mind a planet. Guesswork. Trumps politics of uncertainty isnt just a matter of vibes. There are numbers that document it. The will-we-or-wont-we tariff kabuki involving two of our three biggest trading partners has sent the U.S. Trade Policy Uncertainty Index soaring. The average daily degree of uncertainty around trade during Trumps first term was the highest of any president since 1960, per Dispatch columnist Scott Lincicome, and the index for February 2025 already dwarfs any number recorded during those four years. A study flagged by Lincicome found that uncertainty in Trumps first term reduced aggregate investment by U.S. businesses by somewhere between $23 billion and $47 billion in 2018 alone. The pool is open on how much more this years vacillations will end up costing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But trade uncertainty isnt the only driver of wider economic uncertainty. No one knows which federal agency is next to be targeted for cuts by DOGE or how aggressive those cuts will be. Congressional Republicans are considering a tax bill in which steep cuts to Medicaid may or may not be on the table. Kooky gimmicks like creating a U.S. sovereign wealth fund and a federal cryptocurrency reserve are regularly announced with no sense of what theyll look like in practice or how serious Trump is about them. According to one index, less than two months into Trump 2.0., uncertainty about U.S. economic policy already exceeds post-9/11 levels and is on its way up toward the worst of the pandemic recession. Some uncertainty in policymaking is unavoidable, of course. There was plenty, for instance, around what Joe Biden would do in Afghanistan. Would he follow through on the withdrawal framework Trump left for him, ending a 20-year war that most Americans wanted out of but placing the stability of the Afghan government at risk? Or would he recommit to a U.S. occupation, demonstrating American resolve to see the Taliban defeated but igniting a new round of fighting? The more difficult a strategic question is, the greater the uncertainty around the answer will be. Whats distinctive about Trump is the degree to which policy uncertainty is being driven by non-strategic factorsto the point that his motives are inscrutable even to experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why are we waging a trade war on Canada and Mexico? Why has that war turned out to be more aggressive than the one were waging on China? Why is the U.S. allying itself with Russia against Ukraine and Europe, going so far as to resist admitting that Moscow started the war? Do we want Ukraine to win and supply us with mineralsor do we want it to lose and prove that Russian imperialism is superior to Euro-liberalism? Who are our allies? Who are our enemies? What is America getting from these policy shifts? Whats the strategic endgame? Why is there so little clarity about all of this? These are tectonic, epoch-defining realignments, the stuff of which new world orders are made, yet theyre being driven by the president instead of by Congress and for reasons whose logic often seems to evade Trumps own supporters. Look no further than how their attitude toward protectionism changes as their heros political needs require: If tariffs benefit America economically, how can they find it praiseworthy when Trump imposes tariffs and when he lifts them? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uncertainty in policymaking is inevitable. Uncertainty in policymaking based on whether an ally is wearing a suit to a meeting is not. Thats the Trump difference, and thats an entirely new universe of risk. In a government of rule by presidential whim, one cant even make educated guesses about where policy might go. Today its pointless trade war on Canada, tomorrow its we should own Gaza. And thats why, apart from a few straightforward issues like immigration, appraisals of his agenda are so often drawn into psychoanalysis and palace intrigue. You cant make sense of we should own Gaza using logic. To explain it, you need to look elsewhere. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 28, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Volatility. I suspect Trump relishes the uncertainty he causes for the same reason any narcissist would. From powerful nations to major corporations to the humble American homeowner, no one can make plans with any confidence until hearing from him. The further the United States veers into autocracy, the more his personal hourly whims dictate how the world behaves. The rich and powerful have gone out of their way to show him that they know it, too. Last week, he had a brief argument with a visiting dignitary on television; days later, plans for a continent-wide European nuclear deterrent were already afoot. It used to be said that when America sneezes, the world catches a cold, but now its Trumps personal sniffles that determine that. To an ego like his, the thought of it must be intoxicating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not surprisingly, his sense of greatness also skews away from serious long-term strategic planning that wont bear fruit until after hes gone and toward audacious stunts for which he can claim immediate credit. His trade war on Canada is inexplicable as economic policy, for instance, but it communicates his supreme faith in tariffs in a sensational way. And his insulting fantasy that it might lead Canada to acquiesce in becoming the 51st state is terrible for diplomatic relations but unbeatable as a vacant gesture of nationalist grandiosity. Look at this deal. Look at this press release. Look at this building, is how a Dispatch colleague summarized Trumps approach to politics, remembering how the president gloated over bringing a new Foxconn plant to Wisconsin in 2017 and how that turned out. The important thing is to win the daily news cycle by dazzling Americans with some astonishing new promise and not to worry too much about following through, knowing that theyre unlikely to hold him to it. Its all part of the show. Thats probably where his designs on turning Gaza into a resort came from. His proposal might earn the United States new enemies and provide political cover for Russian and Chinese expansionism, but one must admit that its a hell of a press release. Its bold! It dares to offer a solution to the endless Israeli-Palestinian conflict that no one else has been dumb enougher, brave enough, I meanto offer. Hes thinking big thoughts no one else would have the nerve to think, whatever that might mean for our long-term national credibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres something distinctly adolescent to Trumps form of politics, as others have noted. Volatile, self-absorbed, melodramatic, consumed with status: Like an attention-seeking teenager, hes the main character in whatever conflict hes embroiled in. Go figure then that hes behaving more unpredictably in his second term, when there are far fewer adults around to restrain him, than he did in his first. As a wise man once said, Trump 2.0 is what you get when you take Trump 1.0 and subtract nearly every element of accountability. There are still a few adults around him, though. And that, ironically, might be contributing to the freakish degree of uncertainty in his policies. His daily mood swings over Ukraine might be less a matter of his moods shifting than the ebb and flow of his more hawkish advisers prevailing upon him. Its easy to imagine Trump telling Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz that he wants to cut off Ukraine entirely, only to have them cook up the minerals deal to reassure him that hed be gaining some sort of material benefit by continuing to support Kyiv. There isnt much strategic logic in that, but there doesnt need to be; all there needs to be is some sense for Trump that hes winning. Maybe the volatility over Ukraine policy this past month is a simple matter of him continuously reassessing whether backstabbing the Ukrainians or taking the deal is a bigger win. His vacillations on tariffs for Canada and Mexico are also being opposed by adultsspecifically investors. Stocks tanked when he first announced the policy last month, causing him to backpedal and postpone the tariffs. They tanked again this week when he declared that the policy would finally take effect on Tuesday. His fragile political ego is bound up in pride over the strength of the economy during his first term; if the selloff this week causes him enough embarrassment, he might relent yet again to protect that ego. In fact, to some degree, he already has. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A teenager prone to misbehaving might, or might not, behave better after adults step in to punish him. Thats a form of uncertainty in itself. Rule by whim. Conservatives dislike volatility in policymaking as a matter of temperament, but also as a matter of economic sense. The state cant allocate resources as efficiently as private enterprise, but what it can do is strive to maintain a stable regulatory framework. A business thats confident that the rules wont suddenly change is a business thats willing to make expensive plans and to hire accordingly. The more information markets have, the more efficient theyll be. If you believe that, one of the worst things one could do for growth would be to hand over that regulatory framework to a teenager with a personality disorder, a thin grasp of economics, and something to prove. No one knows what hell do. His moods are the opposite of reliable information. He might change the rules repeatedly, sometimes multiple times a day, and for no better reason other than some dim sense that trade imbalances are morally wrong. As an approach to policy, keep em guessing is lunacy. And as you move beyond economic markets, it becomes dangerous lunacy. The allocation of geopolitical power across the planet has also functioned relatively efficiently since 1945: Under the rules-based international order, nations that proposed to threaten American allies in Europe or the Far East could predict with a strong degree of certainty that immense costs would be imposed on them if they did so. Unsurprisingly, there havent been many serious threats. That certainty is now gone. We might defend a NATO ally if its attacked by Russia, or we might not. We might support South Korea against a North Korean invasion, or we might not. Trump apologists like to imagine that his unpredictability deters foreign aggression, but the more he undermines the transatlantic alliance, the less sense that makes. For the first time in 80 years, there now exists a chanceand a pretty good onethat menacing an American ally will draw no reprisal. If youre one of the worlds bad guys, the current uncertainty from the U.S. is a rare opportunity to strike that might evaporate in 2029. They now have to guess what Trump will do. Maybe theyll guess right. Maybe they wont. Another term for guesswork in this context is catastrophic miscalculation. All of the above explains why major policy changes should flow from Congress, of course. The legislature moves slowly by design; its functionally incapable of acting on a whim. If it undertakes to change the rules, it will do so with more consideration for all affected stakeholders than a surly adolescent on a power trip will. And when it does change them, its changes will take the form of enduring statutory law, not ephemeral executive orders that tend to evaporate the moment the other party regains the presidency. Theres another reason conservatives should blanch at Trumps rule by whim, though. Its plainly conditioning Americans to expect the president, not Congress, to set major policy. More than they already expect it, I mean. The legislature ceding power to the executive didnt start with Trump, lord knows. But hes taking that phenomenon to new places: Because hes the least ideological president of my lifetime, because he enjoys a cult of personality unlike any of his predecessors, and because he plainly regards the constitutional order as an imposition rather than a point of civic pride, whims and expectations of obedience are really all he has. So when he announces new tariffs and heralds the golden age of prosperity theyre about to usher in, and then announces that the country targeted by those tariffs has made some token concession thats convinced him to postpone them, his fans can cheer the first announcement as economic genius and the second as negotiating genius without seeing a contradiction. The president had an idea and then he had another idea, and thats just how American government is supposed to work. It is now, anyway. It wasnt always. But I see from the clock that its almost 5 p.m., and Ive been waiting all day to check the news and find out which side were on in Ukraine now and whether theres a trade war still happening in North America, and to what extent. Great dramas are always suspenseful. Im on the edge of my seat. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Appearing in a building of books instead of a stadium with amps, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was honored Wednesday with a new award that recognizes Connecticut residents for their creativity, passion and generosity. Richards, 81, who is British, has kept a home in Connecticut since 1985. He became the first recipient of the Connecticut Governor's Award of Excellence, receiving a custom-designed medallion and hearty applause from dozens attending the ceremony at the Westport Library. Gov. Ned Lamont, a Stones fan, praised Richards for his music career and philanthropy to local organizations, and the state's first lady, Annie Lamont, placed the medallion around his neck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, thank you very much. And thank you Connecticut, Richards said before pausing briefly. You kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck. All I gotta say is, you know, Ive been here for 40 years, and its been a great place for me. Richards said he moved from New York City to the leafy, wealthy suburb of Weston about 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the northeast so his children could get some fresh air. The family's had a great life," he said. "The kids grew up great and incredibly happy about everything. Richards and his wife, model and actress Patti Hansen, have two adult children. He also has two children with ex-wife Anita Pallenberg. Another child with Pallenberg, Tara, died from sudden infant death syndrome in 1976. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamont noted Richards' support of local organizations that serve people with disabilities including SPHERE, an education, recreation and arts group, and The Prospector Theater, which operates a movie theater and online popcorn business. Keith Richards is an amazing member of our community, and were so proud that hes here, Lamont said. And Im so proud for the opportunity to give him this award in excellence. The Democratic governor also joked that Richards is one of his top political advisers, through his music. Lamont played snippets of Stones' songs including Start Me Up saying it was an inspiration for helping small businesses and You Can't Always Get What You Want his answer to state lawmakers' requests to increase the budget, he said. The award medallion was designed by a Connecticut state trooper, Danny Carvalho, to which Richards may have raised an eyebrow during his earlier, hard-partying days. A fashion designer from Enfield, Justin Haynes, designed the ribbon attached to the medallion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Westport Library's executive director, William Harmer, had an extra gift he presented to Richards, one Harmer said was more prestigious than a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame or a personal parking space in Times Square: a Westport Library card. Richards has an affinity for libraries, calling them a great and publicly owned equalizer in society. Without our books and without knowing things, and without their special meaning this is not movies, he said. This is not somebody drawing you images or anything. This is a book, and you have the movie in your head. And its very important that we keep our books unburnt. Richards is considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. He is a founding member of the Rolling Stones, which formed in 1962 as a blues band and gained popularity with original songs including "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," Gimme Shelter and Sympathy for the Devil. He also has released solo recordings and ones with other artists. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s rhetoric on Texass measles outbreak is concerning physicians, who fear his public guidance is misguided and verges on being dangerous as he promotes vitamins and steroids as ways of treating infections. The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) says 159 measles cases have been identified, including one unvaccinated child who died last week shortly after being hospitalized. Only five of the infected individuals are confirmed to have been vaccinated against measles. Physicians in the state have urged parents to isolate their children and ensure that all members of their household have received a measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to mitigate the spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 80 percent of the measles cases in Texas have been found in children. Kennedy has long questioned the safety and efficacy of vaccines, particularly the MMR vaccine. In the face of the outbreak, he seemingly softened his stance, writing in an op-ed for Fox News that the vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, though he maintained that getting immunized should be a personal choice. At the same time, Kennedy has begun promoting the use of vitamin A, cod liver oil and the steroid budesonide as a way of treating measles, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updating its guidance on measles management to include physician-administered outpatient vitamin A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no antivirals specifically indicated for measles. Most cases will resolve on their own rest at home. People who are hospitalized for measles receive supportive care until they recover. HHS did not respond to a request for comment on Kennedys promotion of vitamin A, cod liver oil and budesonide for treating measles. The case for vitamin A Kennedys encouragement of vitamin A for children with measles is not entirely unfounded. It has long been observed that a vitamin A deficiency coupled with a measles infection can be devastating for a child. We know with some certainty is that in settings where a lot of children have vitamin A deficiency, giving vitamin A to children with measles saves lives, prevents complications, Andy Pavia, professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Utah, told The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a measles patient without a vitamin A deficiency may not be helped by that prescription. According to Susan McLellan, professor in the infectious disease division at the University of Texas Medical Branch, there is no evidence that vitamin A supplementation improves the outcome of measles in a child who has no vitamin A deficiency in the United States. The relative protective efficacy of vitamin A relative to immunization is minuscule in a non-vitamin A deficient population, McLellan added. Pavia also expressed concerns that Kennedy is misrepresenting what added vitamins can do for a measles patient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Mr. Kennedy has suggested is that vitamin A is a treatment that will prevent the complications of measles, and we dont think thats very likely in the U.S. to make any difference, Pavia said. He also intimates that it will be a preventive therapy, and theres absolutely no evidence that taking extra vitamin A will prevent you from getting measles. Only vaccines will do that, or having had a previous infection. The updated CDC guidance advises that vitamin A should be administered immediately on diagnosis and repeated the next day for a total of 2 doses. In his op-ed, Kennedy pointed to a 2010 analysis that found a 62 percent reduction in measles mortality following two doses of vitamin A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several of the studies cited in the analysis focused on countries in Africa where vitamin A-deficient populations are more prevalent, including Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau and South Africa. Riskier recommendations In a Fox News interview Tuesday, Kennedy said, Theyre getting very, very good results, they report from budesonide, which is a steroid. Its a 30-year-old steroid, and clarithromycin and also cod liver oil, which has high concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin D. Pavia said taking cod liver while infected with measles wont hurt, but pushed back on Kennedys apparent endorsement of budesonide and clarithromycin for treating measles, saying these drugs carry little benefit while adding unneeded risks. Not only is that not based on any science or good rationales, any good reason that it might work, but its potentially dangerous, Pavia said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the greatest problems with measles is that after you recover, you have suffered damage to your immune system, what we call immune amnesia, because the destruction of some of the memory lymphocytes that help protect you against future infection Pavia continued. So, giving steroids is only further going to reduce your immune ability to fight future infections. The Hill has reached out to the TDSHS for confirmation on whether budesonide is being deployed to treat measles patients in Texas. When it comes to clarithromycin, Pavia noted one of the potential side effects is a fair bit of GI distress without offering any added benefits for treating the virus. What physicians want the public to know McLellan is one of a minority of physicians today who can say they encountered a debilitating measles outbreak, having been a practicing physician in Los Angeles when the city suffered one of the worst measles outbreaks in its history with more than 16,000 reported cases and 75 deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like other physicians, McLellan emphasizes the critical need for a full two-dose administration of MMR vaccines and pushed back on the notion that one dose is sufficient. People keep talking about, Oh, your first dose gets you 90 percent protected, and the second dose gets you 98 percent. Thats not the way that it works, McLellan said. When one gets a dose of MMR vaccine, especially in the early childhood age, 1 in 10 doesnt respond well. Thats why a second dose is required to consider somebody fully immunized, because when they get their second dose, the chances that theyre fully protected now go up to 97 to 98 percent, she added. In Pavias view, the situation in Texas has slipped our ability to easily contain it Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We talk about outbreaks kind of slipping containment as happened with Ebola in West Africa. At a certain point, it becomes so large that containment becomes extraordinarily difficult. I think weve hit that point with measles in Texas, he said. While most coverage has focused on children, Pavia also noted unvaccinated adults who have never previously been infected with measles are also at risk of developing a severe disease, adding that it can cause miscarriage and early labor in expecting mothers. When asked how it feels to witness a measles outbreak of this level decades after it was considered eradicated in the U.S., McLellan said, It absolutely breaks my heart. My heart breaks for the child who died and for their family, she said. I also recognize that this is again one of those things where it is sad to see, perhaps a decreased amount of community, feelings of community support, where what I do helps you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Kentucky congressman is leading the committee in charge of cutting $880 billion in spending over 10 years under the Houses recently passed budget resolution a move experts say will likely heavily affect Medicaid. U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie is chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, health care and interstate and foreign commerce. The committee oversees $25 trillion in spending, the vast majority of which goes toward Medicaid and Medicare, two government-funded health insurance programs. The budget resolution does not specifically mention Medicaid, but as one of the governments largest expenses, experts believe a large portion of the cuts could come from the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know about Guthrie and what his committee has been tasked with accomplishing. Outsized influence: How Kentucky 'punches above its weight' in DC Who is Congressman Brett Guthrie? Since 2008, Guthrie has represented Kentuckys 2nd Congressional District, which includes Fort Knox, Owensboro, Bowling Green and part of eastern Jefferson County. He was named chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in December. Prior to being elected to Congress, he served as a member of the Kentucky Senate from 1999 to 2009. He is a graduate of both West Point and Yale University and worked at automotive part supplier Trace Die Cast, Inc. prior to entering politics. Kentucky U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie was in attendance at a Mitch McConnell appearance at U of L on Friday afternoon. 10/4/19 Guthrie has been a longtime opponent of the Affordable Care Act, which expanded Medicaid access, calling it bad for patients, providers, and employers. He's called for per capita caps on Medicaid spending, which "would give states a fixed maximum amount of money for each person" in the program, according to Axios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must work together to restore Americas energy dominance and lower energy prices, protect childrens online safety and ensure America remains the world leader in technological innovation, and protect access to life-saving treatments while lowering health care costs, Guthrie wrote in a statement after becoming committee chair. The task before us is significant, but together the House Energy and Commerce Committee will lead the way to restore the American Dream for hard-working families. How much is spent on Medicaid? More than $880 billion was spent on Medicaid in fiscal year 2023, with $600 billion coming from the federal government and nearly $275 billion coming from state governments. As a joint program, the federal government matches at least 50% of state spending on the program. In some less wealthy states, the federal government matches a higher percentage. Kentucky has a match rate of 71.41%, the 10th highest in the nation, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Of the continental states, Kentucky ranks fifth, beaten out only by Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama and New Mexico. Kentuckians received $16. 3 billion in Medicaid spending in fiscal year 2023, $13.3 billion of which came from the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to health care policy nonprofit KKF, one in every four dollars of federal spending goes to health programs or services. Whats next? The budget resolution, although passed in the House and supported by President Donald Trump, has a few steps to go. The Senate, which passed its own budget resolution, would have to adopt the Houses plan. Then, both sides of Congress will have to write and pass legislation outlining the budget. Reach reporter Keely Doll at kdoll@courierjournal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Who is Brett Guthrie? KY congressman over possible Medicaid cuts Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, sponsored the anti-DEI bill that cleared the Kentucky on Wednesday. (LRC Public Information) FRANKFORT After an impassioned but futile push by House Democrats to block a measure that eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at Kentucky public universities, the House gave its approval to the bill Wednesday. House Bill 4 passed in a floor vote of 81-18, largely on party lines. The lone Democrat to vote with Republicans on the bill was Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty of Martin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, aims to increase oversight of public colleges and universities to ensure they do not spend dollars on or have employees devoted to DEI programs. The Kentucky proposal is reflective of a nationwide trend of Republican politicians seeking to end DEI across a swath of sectors. Members of the Kentucky House debated for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon ahead of the vote. Rep. Joshua Watkins, D-Louisville. (LRC Public Information) If education is to be the great equalizer in the commonwealth, the opportunity to obtain a college degree in our state must be equally available and affordable for all, Decker said in support of her bill. House Bill 4 would allow our universities and colleges to return to their focus away from social engineering to provide Kentucky students with excellent academic instruction in an environment that fosters critical thinking through open, constructive dialog. Meanwhile, Democrats largely railed against the measure. Rep. Joshua Watkins, D-Louisville, who pointed out that he is Black to his fellow lawmakers, recalled how he saw an effigy of President Barack Obama hanging on a tree at the University of Kentucky as a student in 2008. Watkins said the incident created a chilling effect on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I think about bias on our colleges and university campuses in Kentucky, I dont need to go back to 1865, Watkins said. I can go back to 2008. A couple of representatives invoked the words of renowned civil rights activist the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. although the representatives differed on how his influence impacted their votes. Wednesday also marked the 61st anniversary of Kings participation in the Freedom March on Frankfort. Rep. George Brown Jr., D-Lexington. (LRC Public Information) I would ask that the members of this body think long and hard long and hard about turning back the clock on what it is that we have in this state and this country, and that we do not go back to a place and a time that there were people that could just simply be put down because of their work, because of their gender, and not by the content of their character, said Rep. George Brown Jr., D-Lexington. He referenced a line from Kings famous I Have a Dream speech. Meanwhile, Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, also quoted the speech while speaking in favor of the bill saying lawmakers are facing the very thing that he was fighting for, based on being hired because youre good enough, youre qualified, not because of anything else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I come from a little different perspective because I have two grandchildren, two beautiful grandchildren, that are mixed, Dotson said. I dont want them to grow up thinking theyre entitled to anything. I want them to grow up working hard and pushing forward, just as each and everyone of us should. Democratic Whip Lindsey Burke, of Lexington, called a point of order amid the debate, saying Democrats had evidence a lobbyist contacted Decker while she was on the floor about the bill a violation of House rules. However, after several minutes of meetings in House Speaker David Osbornes office, he ruled that nothing prohibited had occurred. The latest version of the bill, updated in a committee substitute, would eliminate DEI offices or employees from Kentuckys public universities and colleges by June 30. It directs the state auditor of public accounts to complete compliance audits of universities every four years to see if a university spends money on such policies. Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester. (LRC Public Information) The bill also now includes a definition of indoctrinate, which it says is to imbue or attempt to imbue another individual with an opinion, point of view, or principle without consideration of any alternative opinion, point of view, or principle. Under the legislation, universities could not require students to enroll in or complete an academic course of which the primary purpose is to indoctrinate participants with a discriminatory concept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed out of the House Committee on Postsecondary Education Tuesday after a tense one-hour meeting. Decker and Michael Frazier, the executive director of the Kentucky Student Rights Coalition, addressed the committee for nearly 45 minutes through testimony and questions. To voice opposition, four speakers, including two students, had about 10 minutes total. After the meeting adjourned, a woman approached lawmakers at the front of the room, challenging them on how the bill would impact her academic work. The committees chair, Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, called for Kentucky state troopers to remove her. Four University of Louisville students approached Tipton in the hallway, saying the bills backers appear to be trying to ram it through without real debate or listening to students. Last week, students led protests against the legislation at Kentucky public universities. House Democrats filed several floor amendments to the bill, though none were adopted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deckers floor amendment passed in a voice vote. It removes requirements for public universities to give the Personnel Cabinet and state treasurer the name, job title, duty station, and salary or wages of each employee each month and post the institutions annual budget. It also prohibits the Council on Postsecondary Education from approving new academic programs of which the primary purpose is to indoctrinate participants with a discriminatory concept. The bill passed the House on Day 22 of the 30-day legislative session. The bill needs approval from the Senate before the veto period begins on March 15 to ensure the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly would have time to override a likely veto from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. The governor has previously signaled support for DEI programs and initiatives. During the 2024 session, Decker was the primary sponsor of a bill that also sought to curb DEI initiatives in higher education. That legislation morphed into Senate Bill 6, which died at the end of the session. Last summer, the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University closed their DEI offices. Though a revival of last years proposal, House Bill 4 comes this year as DEI programs in higher education, the private sector and federal government are under siege by Republicans, including President Donald Trump. In his Tuesday evening address to a joint session of Congress, Trump railed against DEI initiatives while waging other culture war issues. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, picks up a hemp-derived beverage with the flavor "Wild Blueberry Mojito" from the cans on the table. Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, is seated beside him. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) FRANKFORT Kentucky lawmakers advanced a shell bill Wednesday evening to ban the sale of hemp-derived beverages in the state until summer of 2026, a move supporters say will allow time to understand how intoxicating versions of the beverages are impacting consumers. But those involved in the hemp industry decried the proposed moratorium on the sale of hemp-derived beverages as hampering, or even crippling, small businesses trying to market, distribute or sell the canned beverages that are gaining popularity across the country and popping up in places including convenience stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 202 sponsor Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, said the goal of her bill is to better understand and regulate intoxicating hemp-derived beverages similar to how the state regulates other intoxicating beverages such as beer or liquor. Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, said samples from cans of intoxicating hemp-derived beverages sent to the University of Kentucky have shown the amount of THC in each can has been inconsistent with what is labeled in each can. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) She spoke to lawmakers alongside Rep. Matthew Koch, R- Paris, with a line of cans on a desk featuring various flavors and amounts of infused non-intoxicating cannabidiol, known as CBD, and cannabinoids, which can include intoxicating tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. We are simply placing a moratorium on their sale until such time as we can establish robust regulations that protect Kentucky consumers and, most importantly, Kentucky children, Adams said. We have a real, I think, consumer protection issue going on right now. We need to make sure that Kentucky gets this right. Legislative concerns about regulating hemp-derived beverages sprang into public view on the 22nd day of this years 30-day session. The deadline for filing bills in the Senate was Feb. 18. A line of THC-infused beverages on a desk before state lawmakers. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) Senate Bill 202 originally made minor technical corrections in Kentucky law but was rewritten Wednesday through a substitute bill adopted by the Kentucky Senates Licensing and Occupations Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The practice of rewriting seemingly unimportant bills, known as shell bills, with little notice in order to make significant changes to state law has been criticized by the Kentucky League of Women Voters, along with other legislative maneuvers that the League says exclude the public from participation in the legislative process. Lawmakers have argued shell bills allow them more time to work on legislation and advance it beyond the deadline to file bills each legislative session. What would Senate Bill 202 currently do? Under SB 202, the ban on the sale of hemp-derived beverages would begin immediately upon the legislation becoming law and continue until July 1, 2026. The bill also directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create regulations specifically for beverages containing non-intoxicating cannabidiol, known as CBD, and cannabinoids, which can include intoxicating THC. Additionally, SB 202 would direct the University of Kentucky Cannabis Center to study the testing, manufacture, distribution, sales and effects on consumers of such beverages and present a report to the Legislative Research Commission by January 1, 2026. Adams said given the chatter the bill has created among the states hemp industry, the version of SB 202 is likely just a starting place with the end goal of finding appropriate regulations for a nascent industry. She said she ultimately wants to engage stakeholders on how it should be regulated. Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, voted to advance Senate Bill 202 despite concerns a moratorium on sales of hemp-derived beverages would hurt businesses. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) SB 202 advanced from the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee with seven Republicans voting in favor, two Republicans voting against and the two Democrats on the committee voting to pass on the legislation. Both Republicans and Democrats on the committee were concerned about the impacts a moratorium could have on businesses in the state, though some Republicans voted to advance the bill with the understanding it would be changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By having a total prohibition in July of 2026, were punishing the good players as well, said Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, who voted to advance the bill. Itll shut down their revenue stream and, probably, they wont exist. Various people representing the hemp products industry strongly opposed the current version of the legislation implementing a moratorium, though those who testified to lawmakers disagreed over how the beverages should be regulated whether there should be a cap on the amount of milligrams of intoxicating THC in each beverage and what that cap should be. Jim Higdon, the co-founder of Cornbread Hemp, said Senate Bill 202 would put his growing hemp products business at risk of downsizing. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) Jim Higdon, the co-founder of the Kentucky company Cornbread Hemp which makes various hemp-derived balms, gummies and oils, told lawmakers the moratorium would put his growing company at risk by undercutting a THC-infused beverage product launch the company has planned for April. I dont understand how a moratorium is different from a ban, Hidgon said. If, as a small business, we are forced into a moratorium, it will kill our growth. And as a small business thats growing and being successful successful in Kentucky we would like to help the General Assembly to continue to grow and employ Kentuckians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Higdon said his company has spent a little more than $1.2 million to launch the planned beverage, featuring fruity flavors and about five milligrams of THC in each can. He told the Lantern that canceling the product launch would take a toll on his staffing, hemp farmers and more. Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, the father of the Cornbread Hemp co-founder, voted against the bill advancing out of committee. The Republican said the bill was detrimental to small business and that such beverages were already regulated by the state. Where hemp-derived beverages go from here The rise of hemp-derived beverages and other products proliferating across Kentucky began with federal lawmakers legalizing the cultivation of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill. That federal legislation also removed the prohibition of the production of intoxicating Delta-8 THC, a hemp-derived version of the THC found in marijuana that can give a user a similar high. But the legality of hemp-derived Delta-8 THC products in Kentucky wasnt immediate, and the initial focus of Kentucky hemp production honed in on the extraction of non-intoxicating CBD products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kentucky Hemp Association sued the state in 2021 after a series of police raids of Delta-8 THC products, arguing Delta-8 THC was made legal under a past federal farm bill. A Boone County Circuit Court judge sided with the association in 2022 to legalize the products in the state. In 2023, Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill into law directing the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to regulate Delta-8 THC products. The cabinet subsequently created a series of regulations overseeing the sale of such products including restricting sales to people 21 years old or older. The creation of intoxicating hemp-derived beverages with Delta-8 THC have followed since with state legislatures taking a harder look at the regulation of such beverages. Dee Dee Taylor, the president of the Kentucky Hemp Association, cautioned against adding a cap of the amount of THC in hemp-derived beverages. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) Higdon, the hemp products company co-founder, told lawmakers hed prefer SB 202 to be amended to have a cap on the amount of milligrams of THC in each beverage. But Dee Taylor, the president of the Kentucky Hemp Association and an owner of a Louisville hemp business, cautioned against having such a cap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor said her husband deals with seizures and needs a higher amount of THC in such beverages, and anecdotally shes had alcoholics come into her business who use the beverages instead of drinking alcohol. Hidgon said the hemp industry includes people from various backgrounds, describing the industry as an island of misfit toys. Because of that its difficult to find consensus on how to regulate the beverages. The thing industry stakeholders agree on: a moratorium isnt the way forward. States are robustly regulating this sector, and lots of states are coming up with lots of different answers, Hidgon said. A moratorium is prohibition. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Kentucky lawmakers have drafted two bills that could have a lasting impact on the Commonwealths hemp industry, garnering attention from farmers and advocates across the Bluegrass. Two bills in the Kentucky Committee were aimed at hemp regulation. According to the Kentucky General Assembly website, Rep. Matt Koch sponsored HB 734, creating a law indicating that the Department for Public Health would regulate manufacturing, distribution, and sales of cannabis-infused beverages. Senate Bill 202, sponsored by Sen. Julie Adams, is pending an approval vote in the Senate Committee. The bill addressed technical corrections involving the regulation of hemp and cannabis products. ONE Lexington engages with heartbroken neighborhood after shooting kills teen: It will take a village Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kentucky chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) told FOX 56 that hemp farmers across the Bluegrass are urging lawmakers to vote against HB 734 and SB 202 and said that the laws would eliminate over 70% of the states registered hemp products. Banning these products isnt just bad policyits an economic gut punch to farmers, small businesses, and local economies across the state, said Matthew Bratcher, Executive Director of Kentucky NORML, Government Relations Committee member of Hemp Beverage Alliance, and State Regulations Committee for the National Cannabis Industry Association. Kentucky NORML members said that hemp beverages are currently regulated and approved by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) under state law. The cabinet reportedly oversees the labeling, approving product ingredients, and compliance checks. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let CHFS do its jobregulate smart, dont ban blindly, Bratcher said in a news release. FOX 56 reached out to Sen. Adams and Rep. Koch for comment on SB 202 and HB 734, respectively, but have yet to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. BARDSTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56) Nearly a month after being named in a whistleblower lawsuit, the Nelson County sheriff and his chief deputy were indicted by a grand jury. In February, Sheriff Ramon Pineiora and Chief Deputy Brandon Bryan were named in a lawsuit that claimed two sheriffs deputies were allegedly retaliated against after reporting a supervisor for breaking the law. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents allege that Bryan privately sold three vehicles, awarded to the office through drug forfeiture, from a Nelson County evidence warehouse despite Kentucky law requiring them to be sold in a public auction. The buyer reportedly found fentanyl and other drugs inside the vehicles. Court documents claim that Bryan told the buyer to throw them in the trash. A deputy reported the illegal sale to the sheriff and Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement, Special Investigations (DESI), who began investigating the reported private sale. KSP DESI advised that Pineiora and Bryan would be advised in around two weeks. Around that time, the reporting deputy was allegedly pulled from the process of joining a DEA division task force and forbidden from working any overtime, alongside another deputy who supported his decision to report the incident. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both deputies were suing for damages, including lost wages. In a subsequent court filing, Pineiora denied the allegations. On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted the sheriff and chief deputy. Bryan has been indicted on the following charges: Abuse of public trust, greater than $10,000 but less than $100,000 Two counts of theft by deceptioninclude cold checks $10,000 or more Two counts of second-degree forgery First-degree official misconduct Two counts of violation of KRS 61.102 An indictment shows Pineiora faces the following charges: Abuse of public trust, greater than $10,000 but less than $100,000 Two counts of theft by deceptioninclude cold checks $10,000 or more First-degree official misconduct Two counts of violation of KRS 61.102 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither are currently booked in the Nelson County Detention Center. According to the sheriffs office, Pineiora began his career with the Nelson County Sheriffs Office in 2006 and was named Sheriff of the Year in 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. (Bloomberg) -- Maine Senator Susan Collins said she has areas of disagreement with President Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making the moderate Republicans position key to the votes outcome. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collins expressed concern about physician Dave Weldons views on childhood vaccines. In his days as a former congressman, Weldon promoted the idea that a mercury-containing vaccine preservative caused children to become autistic. That runs counter to CDCs stance that there is no link between the preservative and autism. There are some areas of disagreement, and I look forward to the public hearing when I will be able to question him in public and in more depth on issues like vaccine recommendations, Collins said in a brief interview with Bloomberg at the US Capitol on Wednesday. The position of CDC director will be Senate-confirmed for the first time this year. A hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee has been scheduled for March 13. If confirmed, Weldon plans to resign from his internal medical practice in Florida, called Health First Medical Group, and an organization for pro-Israel lawmakers, according to ethics disclosure documents. He also plans to resign from Privia Quality Network Central Florida, a group of health care providers who coordinate to improve care and lower costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collins Votes Collins is one of the few Republican lawmakers to have opposed Trumps nominees for key positions, although shes yet to decide on how she will vote on Weldons confirmation. The senator voted against Pete Hegseths nomination as Secretary of Defense, and had expressed concerns about Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s views on vaccines. While Hegseth managed to secure enough votes from others to be confirmed anyway, Collins ultimately decided to support Kennedys confirmation. Collins said recommendations for childhood vaccines came up in her conversation with Weldon, and are particularly relevant given the current measles outbreak in Texas where a child died the first known child fatality from the disease in a decade in the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaccine recommendations have already been a controversial issue at CDC as the agency decided to postpone a meeting of its advisory committee on the matter. It also cut employees who worked in a division that oversees vaccine outreach programs. Four Votes In total, four Republicans will have to oppose Weldons nomination for his confirmation to fail if all Democrats oppose his nomination. Other Republican lawmakers who have been willing to buck Trump at times either appear to support his nomination or have not yet met with him. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who leads the Senate committee that will host Weldons confirmation hearing, said his meeting with Weldon went well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were both doctors. He understands the importance of immunization, Cassidy said. Cassidy was conflicted over Kennedys confirmation due to his reluctance to state that there is no relationship between vaccines and autism, but ultimately voted to confirm him. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, another swing Republican vote, said he has not yet met with Weldon. Tillis told Bloomberg that he wants to ensure that Weldon supports independence among scientists. He said he expected vaccine views to come up in his eventual conversation, but is not concerned yet. We cant pretend like [vaccines] dont exist, Tillis said. We need to understand how they work in the context of today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Gerry Smith and Catherine Larkin. (Updates with details from Weldons financial disclosure form in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) An Altoona woman was arrested Wednesday evening after police found her crying at Sheetz by UPMC Altoona with a memorial placard she allegedly stole. Annette McGahan, 36 (Blair County Prison) Annette McGahan, 36, was charged Wednesday with theft, receiving stolen property and intentional desecration of a venerated object an object that is respected or honored. According to the criminal complaint, Altoona police were responding to an unrelated call at Sheetz on Chestnut Avenue when a customer alerted them of a woman, later identified as McGahan, crying and screaming something to the effect of They killed my baby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When approached, McGahan allegedly started crying uncontrollably while telling police that UPMC killed her baby while giving birth. Police noted in the charging documents that McGahan had a thin stone placard with a name and a sketch of a younger male on it along with a memorial quote and the years 2000-2022. McGahan acknowledged that it was her child that passed away. The officer stepped away to radio the turnkey at the station to find any information on the name. According to the complaint, they came back with a memorial in the city from a deadly accident in 2022. Missing Pennsylvania teen found in Kentucky, woman charged with kidnapping While dealing with McGahan and the reason they were first called to Sheetz, McGahan allegedly began screaming Are you f serious? Hello, they killed my baby, and Are you kidding me right now? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers noted they could smell alcohol on McGahans breath and placed her into custody for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. According to charges, McGahan had two smoking devices on her at the time. After taking her back to the station, police said she showed signs of paranoia and euphoria, including removing her clothing and wincing anytime she touched metal. According to the complaint, officers spoke to the family of the young male on the placard who said they did not know who McGahan was and that they maintained the memorial site often. His mother told police she was upset by a stranger stealing her sons memorial placard. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. McGahan was placed in Blair County Prison with bail set at 10% of $5,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) Nearly three years after a teenager lost her life as an unintended victim of a shooting in New Jersey, her killer has yet to be arrested. Nyasia Peppers, 18, was killed in a shooting near 146 Goodwin Ave. in Newark the night of June 8, 2022, according to the Essex County Prosecutors Office. More Local News Investigators said Peppers was not the intended target of the shooting and was hit by gunfire meant for something else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peppers was shot in the chest and died from her injuries at a hospital, authorities said. Nyasia Peppers, 18, was killed in a shooting in Newark, New Jersey, on June 8, 2022, authorities said. (Courtesy of Essex County Prosecutors Office) The suspects fled the scene in a stolen blue Toyota C-HR, which was later found abandoned near Millington Avenue in Newark, according to the Essex County Prosecutors Office. Surveillance video showed two people exiting the Toyota and jumping into what appeared to be a black Honda Accord before driving away, authorities said. To date, no arrests have been made. On Tuesday, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens and Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones announced a Crime Stoppers Program reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to arrests in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutors Office tips line at 1-877 TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than six years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The King should stand up to Donald Trump over his threat to annex Canada because it is a direct confrontation to British sovereignty, the head of the Commonwealth nations richest province has said. In an interview with The Telegraph, Alberta premier Danielle Smith said that the King had a duty to confront the US president in his role as head of state. We sing God save the King every week when were in the legislature, Ms Smith said. I swear an oath to the King, our cabinet secrecy is affirmed by our oath to the King, and weve got him on our bank notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So I think he should have something to say about [Trumps campaign to absorb Canada], because it is, I think, a direct confrontation to British sovereignty. I look forward to seeing what kind of reaction he might have, the premier said, adding that Canadas deep royal ties were one reason why I think the notion of a 51st state is being rejected out of hand. Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to absorb Canada, referring to Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, as Governor and saying the country would cease to exist without US trade. Mr Trudeau met the King at Sandringham House on Monday after announcing he would raise his concerns over the threats directly with the monarch. The King meets with Justin Trudeau at Sandringham on Monday - Aaron Chown/REUTERS After the meeting, a royal source said the King was planning an overseas tour of Canada in 2026, but suggested it would not be fitting for him to respond to Mr Trump directly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a global statesman and a head of state for both the UK and Canada, the Kings role is highly significant, and His Majesty is determined to play his part, within appropriate parameters, they said. His role by necessity and constitutional obligation is to offer symbolic gestures, rather than express comment. As constitutional monarch, the King can only act on the advice of Canadas prime minister. Jason Kenney, the former Alberta premier, called on Mr Trudeau to make a request of the King to underscore Canadas sovereignty in their meeting. On Tuesday, the King paid a visit to HMS Prince of Wales, the aircraft carrier that is the largest ship in the Royal Navy. He was pictured wearing his Order of Canada, Canadian Order of Military Merit and Canadian Forces Decoration medals an unusual grouping of medals to be worn outside of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any direct statement issued over Canadian sovereignty would come loaded with risk, given Mr Trump is due to arrive shortly for a state visit and the British government has been assiduously courting the US president on the issue of Ukraine. Of course a statement would be wonderful but this [subtle statement] helps, said Robert Finch, the chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada. Mr Finch also welcomed the prospect of a Royal Tour. Lets get him here to Canada first before going to Washington, he told The Telegraph. Better yet have him fly to Washington from Canada on the RCAF jet as the King of Canada! On Tuesday, Ms Smith put on a united front with Mr Trudeau, with whom she has had an abrasive relationship, in the face of Mr Trumps imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods except energy products which face 10 per cent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These tariffs will hurt the American people, driving up costs for fuel, food, vehicles, housing and many other products, she wrote on X. This policy is both foolish and a failure in every regard. It marks a change of tack for the leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP), who flew to Mar-A-Lago to seek talks with Mr Trump as the rest of the countrys premiers banded together to discuss a united response to the tariffs as Team Canada. Albertas vast reserves of oil and gas give it leverage to seek sweetheart deals with the United States. Speaking to The Telegraph, Ms Smith said that Mr Trumps tariffs had reopened discussions over building pipelines to transport Albertas energy products east, west and north through Canada rather than overwhelmingly south across the border into the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid Mr Trudeaus pursuit of net zero, plans for an Energy East pipeline were among several major infrastructure projects to be cancelled. We would love to be able to be a secure supplier to our European allies, Ms Smith said. According to a report last week, EU member states paid more for Russian gas in 2024 (21.9 billion euros) than they spent defending Ukraine (18.7 billion euros). Fentanyl trafficking Unlike Mr Trudeau, the 53-year-old conservative leader agreed with Mr Trump that fentanyl trafficking is a major problem in Canada and not a political fig leaf for the president to apply his tariffs. We have super labs that have been busted in British Columbia and Alberta, and our own people are dying in British Columbia and Alberta. So I would have to differ from our federal government, she told The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should be doing this for our own sake. We shouldnt want to be a haven for organised crime and cartels to be able to victimise our own people and then also create an export problem. After the tariffs were applied on Tuesday, Ms Smith described the moves as so disappointing. Canada including us here in Alberta took Americans at their word when they asked us to strengthen border security and tackle fentanyl trafficking. In a statement, Mr Trudeau said that fentanyl seizures at the Canadian border had dropped to near zero. While less than one per cent of the fentanyl intercepted at the US border comes from Canada, we have worked relentlessly to address this scourge, said the prime minister, who will step down later this month. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. KINGSTON, Tenn. (WATE) Two people were arrested Tuesday in Kingston after they allegedly charged someone hundreds of dollars a month to live in a shed and illegally took money from the victims financial accounts. Lewis Walker, 30, and Linda Shultz, 71, were charged with financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable adult. The Kingston Police Department announced the arrests on Wednesday following an investigation involving Adult Protective Services. How does an insanity defense work? Lawyer breaks down former Kentucky sheriffs case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was reportedly charged $300 per month to live in a shed with no bathroom or running water and an additional $100 monthly to use a microwave. Police said the pair had access to the victims financial accounts and made numerous purchases using the victims funds, even after the victim was removed from the Hope Circle residence by Adult Protective Services. Purchases made by Shultz and Walker with the victims funds reportedly included $2,000 for a vehicle, utility bills, multiple purchases from Walmart, and payments to the online content subscription platform OnlyFans. See more top stories on WATE.com Shultz was arrested Tuesday and transported to the Roane County Detention Facility where Walker was already incarcerated on unrelated charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. A person holds a sign in front of a burning Arbys in Minneapolis on May 29, 2020, amid riots and protests in the city following the death of George Floyd.
Credit - Julio CortezAP Donald Trump is no stranger to controversial pardons. He granted clemency to accused war criminals in 2020 and, since returning to the White House in January, has extended the same mercy to over a thousand Capitol rioters, including some convicted of violent crimes, as well as the the founder of Silk Road, an online marketplace for drugs and illegal services, who had been serving a life sentence. Now, conservative media personality Ben Shapiro wants the President to turn his attention to Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted in Minnesota of the 2020 killing of George Floyd and who pleaded guilty to two federal civil rights violations, resulting in dual state and federal sentences of over 20 years each, which he is serving concurrently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, before Shapiro attended Trumps speech to Congress as a guest of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Shapiro posted an open letter to Trump on his site The Daily Wire and launched a petition at PardonDerek.com that claimed Chauvin was unjustly convicted for Floyds death, which in large part inspired a nationwide wave Black Lives Matter protests. Shapiro asserted: Make no mistakethe Derek Chauvin conviction represents the defining achievement of the Woke movement in American politics. The country cannot turn the page on that dark, divisive, and racist era without righting this terrible wrong. It would be incredibly controversial, Shapiro said in a Tuesday segment about the pardon petition on his popular eponymous web podcast, but I think that its absolutely necessary. Suggesting that the petition has already begun to get attention from those in the halls of power, tech billionaire and presidential adviser Elon Musk responded to a clip of the segment shared on X, adding: Something to think about. Heres what to know. Who is Derek Chauvin? Chauvin, who is now 48, worked with the Minneapolis Police Department for 19 years before Floyds death. In 2020, the Associated Press reported that, based on personnel files, Chauvin had first studied cooking and served in the Army in the late 1990s as a military police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His time with the department prior to the fateful incident was already rife with issues: the New York Times reported in 2020 that Chauvin was reputedly a tough Dirty Harry whose performance led to at least 22 complaints or internal investigationsthough only one had resulted in disciplinary action. But Chauvin had also received accolades for his police work. The department reportedly issued him two medals of valor: in 2006 after he opened fire on a stabbing suspect who aimed a shotgun at him and his colleagues, and in 2008 for responding to an armed-man incident. He also received two medals of commendation, per the AP: in 2008 after he and a partner tackled a fleeing suspect with a pistol, and in 2009 for apprehending a group of gang members while working as an off-duty security guard at a Minneapolis nightclub. On May 25, 2020, Chauvin and three other police officers, responding to reports of the alleged use of a counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store, encountered Floyd, a 46-year old Black man. In apprehending Floyd, Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyds neck for about nine minutes. In videos captured by bystanders, Floyd could be heard saying, I cant breathe, before going limp. Floyd was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. In an interview on Fox News in June 2020, Trump said he couldnt really watch the video of Floyds apprehension and, without naming him, said of Chauvin: That man has some big problems, theres no question about itthe police officer, what he did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2021, Chauvin was convicted by a Minnesota jury of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, and he received a 22.5-year sentence in June that year. In December 2021, after an agreement with prosecutors, Chauvin pleaded guilty before a federal court to two civil rights violations, including admitting to kneeing on Floyds neck even after he became unresponsive, resulting in Floyds death. He received a federal sentence of 21 years, to be served concurrently with his state sentence but in federal prison. Chauvin attempted to appeal his state conviction, citing how highly-publicized the case was and pressure on the jury, but Minnesotas appellate court upheld the conviction. He tried to take his appeal to the Supreme Court, but in November 2023, it declined to review his case. Chauvin moved from a Minnesota state prison to a federal facility in Tucson, Ariz., in August 2022, but in November 2023, he was stabbed 22 times by a fellow inmate. Chauvin was then moved to a low security prison in Big Spring, Texas, in August 2024, where he continues to serve his sentences, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, with a scheduled release date of Nov. 18, 2037. What would a pardon do? Calls for Trump to pardon Chauvin did not originate with Shapiro. Right-wing figures such as Laura Loomer and Jack Posobiec have campaigned for Trump to do so since even before he took office again in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while Shapiros petition has received support from some, its received pushback from others, notably Floyds brother. In a statement to CNNs Sara Sidner, Philonise Floyd said that if Trump were to pardon Chauvin: It would hurt us. It is so personal. We saw our brother tortured to death. Philonise added that it would set America back 400 years and that the ones pushing for this are trying to remove any power that black Americans have to get justice. It is disgusting. Why would you do this? Why would you re-injure this family and America. Shapiro and others have suggested that Chauvin was not responsible for Floyds death, and that Floyd actually died from a drug overdose. Washington Post reporter Robert Samuels, who co-authored a Pulitzer-winning book on Floyds life and death, said this theory is based on misinformation in a thread of posts on X. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who oversaw Chauvins state prosecution, pointed out to HuffPost that Trump cannot pardon a state conviction. The only conceivable purpose, Ellison suggested of the push for a federal pardon, would be to express yet more disrespect for George Floyd and more disrespect for the rule of law. Some conservatives have even flagged that a federal pardon may do Chauvin more harm than good. National Review contributor Andrew McCarthy wrote in a recent column that while he believes Chauvin did not get a fair trial, Chauvin voluntarily pleaded guilty to the federal charges at the time because it afforded him relative safety in federal custody compared to a state prison. State prisons, populated by many inmates associated with violent gangs, can be extremely perilous for former police officers who worked in the state, writes McCarthy. To be sure, any prison is apt to be tough for former copscriminals are vengeful toward convicted cops who wielded their state power against those criminals on the outside and are now at their mercy. Contact us at letters@time.com. In this image from video provided by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Dr. Martin Makary speaks during a select subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic roundtable in Washington on Feb. 28, 2023. Credit - Committee on Oversight and Government Reform/AP President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Marty Makary to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency tasked with ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs, medical devices, food, and cosmetics. Makary, a surgical oncologist at Johns Hopkins University, will appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Thursday, March 6 for his nomination hearing. If confirmed by the Senate, he would run one of the countrys leading health agencies, overseeing the regulation of products ranging from vaccines to abortion medications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what to know about Makary. He works at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Makary serves as the chief of islet transplant surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Much of his research has focused on the underlying causes of disease and the cost of health care. Hes also a member of the National Academy of Medicine. He has made controversial statements about COVID-19 vaccine mandates Makary initially expressed support for lockdown restrictions and masking early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. But later, he made regular appearances on Fox News, where he opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the vaccine education center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the FDAs vaccine advisory committee, says that we shouldnt have had to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine, but it made sense to do so during a global pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a better world, a world in which we do not live, anybody who looked at the data for those vaccines would have gotten the vaccine, Offit says. Hospitals were being overrun. We had nurses wearing bandanas for masks. We had nurses wearing garbage bags for gowns, he continues. You shouldnt have had to have mandated vaccines, but it just seemed like a perfectly reasonable thing to do at the time to try and increase vaccine rates. Some estimates suggest that, in the first five months of vaccine availability, COVID-19 vaccines saved nearly 140,000 lives in the U.S. While Makary has not publicly aligned himself with the anti-COVID-19- vaccine views that his would-be boss, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has shared, he accused public-health officials in former President Joe Bidens Administration of instituting a vaccine mandate that ignored natural immunity. In an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal published in Feb. 2021, Makary argued that the U.S. was moving toward herd immunity, predicting that COVID will be mostly gone by April, allowing Americans to resume normal life. Months after the piece was published, COVID-19 cases surged as the Delta variant spread across the country. Soon after, in the winter, the Omicron variant tore through the nation, leading to another spike in cases. Thousands of people died during the surges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If confirmed to lead the FDA, Makary would oversee the regulation of the countrys vaccine supply. At the end of February, members of the FDAs vaccine advisory committee learned that a meeting on March 13 to decide on the influenza strains that would be included in the next flu shot was canceled. The meeting has been held every year since the late 1960s. Offit says he hopes that Makary, at Thursday's nomination hearing, will say he values external, expert advisors, like those on the vaccine advisory committee. He suggested the countrys food supply could be to blame for chronic health problems Makary shares many of the same views on food that Kennedy and his Make America Healthy Again movement do. He has suggested that chronic illnesses and diseases may be tied to food additives and other chemicals that Americans are being exposed to. He has labeled the countrys food supply poisoned. The Associated Press spoke to nutrition experts, who criticized Makary for his remarks, arguing that its overly simplistic to blame ultraprocessed foods for chronic diseases in the U.S. He has been accused of spreading misleading information on abortion After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Makary appeared on Fox News, where he claimed that fetuses between 15 and 20 weeks of gestation will actually resist the instruments of abortion. Reproductive rights advocates slammed Makarys comments, accusing him of spreading disinformation. Read More: The Powers Trumps Nominees Will Have Over Abortion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If confirmed as the commissioner of the FDA, Makary would have significant influence over the abortion medication mifepristone, which the FDA approved to be used for abortions more than 20 years ago. The Biden Administration made efforts to increase access to the medication, but reproductive rights advocates are concerned that Makary, if confirmed, could roll back those efforts and restrict access to the drug. Hes been a vocal critic of federal health agencies During the COVID-19 pandemic, Makary called the FDA broken, accusing it of being mired in politics and red tape. He claimed that the agency needed fresh leadership that would promote scientific advancement, not hinder it. He has also accused the nations leading health agencies of not paying enough attention to chronic diseases, claiming without evidence that the greatest perpetrator of misinformation has been the United States government with the food pyramid. Contact us at letters@time.com. Russia has said it agrees with US Secretary of State Marco Rubios claim that Russias full-scale war against Ukraine is a proxy war between the United States and Russia. Source: Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in a comment to journalists on 6 March, cited by Russian media outlet Interfax Quote: "We can and want to agree with this, and we do agree. That is the case. We have repeatedly stated this. We have said that this is in fact a conflict between Russia and the collective West, and the United States is the main country of the collective West." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Peskov also added that the Kremlin agrees that "it is time to stop this conflict and this war". Background: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed that Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is in fact a proxy war between the US and Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! European leaders have welcomed Frances offer to protect them with its nuclear shield, inciting fury from the Kremlin. Poland, Denmark and Lithuania were among countries keen to explore the proposal, which was formally discussed for the first time among EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday. In a move that will likely require a change to Frances constitution, Emmanuel Macron sought to take the lead on European defence at a time when there is deep unease about Russias aggression and Americas reliability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could see French weapons housed in other European countries. The offer came after Friedrich Merz, Germanys chancellor-in-waiting, said Berlin could ask for shelter under France and Britains nuclear umbrella, if the US pulled out of Nato. The decision on whether to use the deterrent would remain in French hands. It will increase pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to offer up Trident after he and Mr Macron took a lead role in Europes response to Donald Trumps peace talks with Russia at a summit in London on Sunday. Vladimir Putin warned the French president to remember the fate of Napoleon, whose 1812 invasion of Russia ended in a desperate and deadly winter retreat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are still people who want to go back to the times of Napoleon, forgetting how it ended, Putin said. Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, viciously condemn Emmanuel Macron, likening his speech to nuclear blackmail - Pavel Bednyakov/Reuters Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, branded the offer a threat and compared Mr Macron to Adolf Hitler, while Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, said Micron posed no threat at all. Mr Lavrov said: Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight against Russia Napoleon, Hitler Mr Macron does not act very gracefully, because at least they said it bluntly: We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia. Mr Macron said in a televised speech on Wednesday night that Russia was a threat for France and Europe and reminded the world that the war in Ukraine was already a global conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You are, I know, legitimately worried about the current events, which are disrupting the world order, he said. To watch and do nothing would be madness. He added: I want to believe that the United States will stand by us. But we need to be ready if that is not the case. The summit in Brussels represented the first formal discussions among EU leaders of his idea. Diplomatic sources warned that the plans were at a very early stage and that any negotiations on issues such as hosting French nuclear jets would be most likely bilateral between individual countries, rather than a full EU agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said: This topic has come up in conversations with me several times. This is something worth considering. Mr Merz was in Brussels for a meeting of centre-Right political leaders before the European Council, where Germany was represented by Olaf Scholz, the current chancellor. Mr Merzs Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) is in talks to lead a coalition government with Mr Scholzs Social Democratic Party, and the two parties have already agreed to reform Germanys constitutional debt brake on public spending to free up billions for defence spending. Friedrich Merz has made it his priority to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible - Lisi Niesner/Reuters A diplomat in Berlin suggested the CDU were ready to talk about sharing the deterrent and were willing to pay for it, if Mr Trump pulled out of Nato. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve, step by step, real independence from the US, Mr Merz, who hopes to form a government by Easter, said after his election victory last weekend. Like Mr Merz, Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, is a staunch transatlanticist who is convinced of the need to build a joint European defence capable of acting independently of Washington. She has clashed with Mr Trump over his repeated demands that the US take over Danish-owned Greenland one way or another. Its not something we are working on, but you wont get me to stand here and say no to others ideas. Everything has to be on the table now, she told reporters after being asked if Denmark could host French nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuanias president, called Mr Macrons potential plans very interesting, saying on Thursday: A nuclear umbrella would serve as a really very serious deterrence toward Russia. The US and Russia possess approximately 88 per cent of the worlds inventory of nuclear weapons, with about 5,000 each. France has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads, while the UK has 225, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Frances force de dissuasion programme has weapons with sea and air-based launch capabilities. Britains Trident nuclear deterrent consists of four Vanguard-class submarines, which can carry up to 16 warheads each. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Questions had been raised about whether the UK and US were too tightly interlinked for British weapons to be used independently of America. But a No 10 spokesman said: The UKs nuclear deterrent is completely operationally independent. Only the UK Prime Minister can authorise the firing of our nuclear weapons. The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that the US is a reliable ally. Downing Street maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity over what conditions Trident could be used. It comes as Mr Macron prepares to host European army chiefs next week in Paris to discuss sending troops to Ukraine after an eventual ceasefire with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keir, who hopes to sign a defence pact with the EU, has offered troops to police the peace deal and called for a coalition of willing countries to join the British and French-led plan. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's view that the Ukraine conflict is a proxy war between the United States and Russia is in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin's own assessment. "It's been very clear from the beginning that (U.S. President Donald Trump) views this as a protracted, stalemated conflict," Rubio told Fox News in an interview on Wednesday. "And frankly, it's a proxy war between nuclear powers the United States, helping Ukraine, and Russia and it needs to come to an end." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow agreed with Rubio's assessment and noted that Russia has said many times that the war is a conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led collective West. "We can and want to agree with it, and we agree with it. That's the way it is. We have said this repeatedly. We have said that this is actually a conflict between Russia and the collective West. And the main country of the collective West is the United States of America," Peskov said of Rubio's remarks. "So it is absolutely in line with the position that our president and foreign minister have repeatedly expressed. We have said this repeatedly, and yes, we agree that it is time to stop this conflict and this war." (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou/Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Andrew Osborn) Young women protesting the Vietnam War, wearing flowers in their hair and joining peace marches were not uncommon sights during the 1960s. When the nuns at Immaculate Heart College in Hollywood started doing it, they made headlines. Their conflicts with L.A.s Catholic cardinal became international news when he forced them to choose between following the old ways or leaving. Three quarters of the sisters formed a new independent community in Echo Park and the college building was eventually sold to the American Film Institute. The progressive order with the rebellious spirit published books, cut an album for Capitol Records, and one of them, the former Sister Corita Kent, opened an art studio that became an outlet for her activism. Kent was the chair of the schools art department, and her building became a meeting place for artists, intellectuals and activists like Jane Fonda, Charles and Ray Eames and Buckminster Fuller. Related: This Is Paris Hilton: Activist that they may have life (1964) by Corita KentPhoto courtesy Corita Art Center My heart throbs for her studio, says Nellie Scott, executive director of the Corita Art Center, which is opening a new facility downtown this month. It is a Historic-Cultural Monument, which is a really important designation since only 3% of historic sites are associated with womens heritage. Corita Kents original landmark at Franklin and Western now houses a gym, and her collection had long been sequestered at Immaculate Heart High School, but the new home of Corita Art Center opening in Downtown L.A.s Arts District will host researchers and exhibits (it opens on March 8 with Heroes and Sheroes) as well as workshops and community programming like drawing classes and zine making. Related: Iconic Downtown Diner Closes Its Doors After a Century of Service Corita Kent with students at Immaculate Heart College in 1969Photo courtesy Corita Art Center The nonprofit will also continue one of Kents favorite art exercises: distributing paper viewfinders to help people see the art in billboards, signs, grocery stores and the chaos of the urban built environment. Her art was a tool for change, Scott says. I think of her as a social practice artist working with students. She was a photographer and a watercolor painter. You can draw a line between her and the Abstract Expressionist movement and beyond Pop Art. Kents work is in the permanent collections of more than 40 museums, including LACMA, the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian. hope (1965) by Corita KentPhoto courtesy Corita Art Center Kent left the order and moved to Boston, where she designed one of the United States Postal Services iconic LOVE stamps. She died there at age 67 in 1986. The Immaculate Heart Community still thrives in L.A. as an independent religious organization and Scott is constantly approached by Kents fans. Were surrounded not only by her students, she says, but people who remember that moment of the 60s in L.A. Artists are the visionaries and their job is to envision a better future for us all. A federal judge repudiated President Donald Trumps effort to remove the chair of the National Labor Relations Board, calling it an illegal act and power grab that misunderstands the limits of his authority. An American President is not a king not even an elected one, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell wrote Thursday ina 36-page opinion, and his power to remove federal officers and honest civil servants is not absolute, but may be constrained in appropriate circumstances. Howells order reinstates Gwynne Wilcox to the NLRB, which plays a major role in policing labor disputes across the country. Though presidents nominate and the Senate confirms members of the board, federal law restricts the ability to remove board members absent neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that restriction, Trump fired Wilcox in a Jan. 27 email delivered by a subordinate, saying Wilcox was not working in a manner consistent with the objectives of my administration. The firing is part of a broader effort by the president to take control of all purportedly independent agencies within the executive branch and undermine decades of efforts in Washington to insulate some federal agencies from political pressure. On Thursday, a federal workplace watchdog fired by Trump Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger dropped his legal bid to reclaim his post after a federal appeals court permitted his termination. Cathy Harris, a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which oversees the grievance process for many federal employees, is also resisting Trumps effort to remove her and was reinstated last month by a federal judge. The Supreme Court likely will soon weigh in on Congress ability to insulate executive branch officials from being fired by the president without cause. With Dellingers decision to drop his legal fight, Harris case appears likeliest to reach the high court in the near-term. Its possible Wilcoxs case will get folded into that ongoing fight. The NLRB consists of five members who serve five-year terms. But without Wilcox, three of the boards seats are currently vacant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilcox was appointed to the NLRB by former President Joe Biden in 2023 and became the boards chair in December 2024. She was the first NLRB member ever to be fired in the boards 90-year history. Trump also fired the boards general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, in a broad effort to take control of the regulatory agency. Howell, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, wrote that reinstating Wilcox is in the public interest because without her, the NLRB will remain without a quorum and be unable to perform its required role of resolving labor disputes. And she said that Trump had other avenues to control the direction of the board without firing Wilcox: He could have appointed two new members to fill the already vacant seats, along with a new general counsel to steer the boards policies. The judge also delivered a warning about Trumps multi-faceted bid to expand presidential power. She noted that, in defending the firing of Wilcox, Justice Department lawyers cited the Supreme Courts ruling on presidential immunity that shielded Trump from some aspects of the criminal case he faced last year for seeking to subvert the 2020 election. The President seems intent on pushing the bounds of his office and exercising his power in a manner violative of clear statutory law to test how much the courts will accept the notion of a presidency that is supreme, Howell wrote. The courts are now again forced to determine how much encroachment on the legislature our Constitution can bear and face a slippery slope toward endorsing a presidency that is untouchable by the law. LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM) The Lancaster City Bureau of Police announced they are joining other law enforcement agencies to conduct driving enforcement operations over the St. Patricks Day holiday week. The bureau says authorities will be conducting DUI roving patrols and/or sobriety checkpoints throughout the city from March 7 through March 17. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts Police are reminding all Midstate citizens that Pennsylvanias legal blood alcohol limits are: .08 for drivers, .04 for commercial vehicle operators, and .02 for school bus drivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say responsible adults need to be aware of the alcohol content of what they are consuming, as impairment begins with that first drink, and buzzed driving is drunk driving. The Bureau says that over the next few weeks, officers in the city will be: Conducting high visibility enforcement activity to deter motorists from driving impaired Increasing public awareness of the dangers and consequences of driving impaired Encouraging the use of shared ride services or designating a sober driver Apprehending those who violate the laws of the Commonwealth Police say they are committed to reducing the number of impaired driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities in Lancaster County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A man was charged for a February road rage incident in Lancaster County where State Police say he punched another man in the head about a dozen times. Ramon Beachy, 40, of New Holland, is accused of assaulting and threatening to kill a man during the road rage incident on Feb. 1 in the 300 block of Farm View Drive in Salisbury Township, according to charging documents from State Police at Lancaster. Illegal Lebanon County speakeasy operation uncovered, two charged Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim reported that a vehicle in front of him stopped in the middle of the intersection and that he and Beachy exited their vehicles. Troopers were told the victim was punched in the head multiple times, causing them to fall to the ground, where the assault continued with death threats. According to Troopers, Beachy also reached for his waistband as if he were trying to get a firearm. The assault caused major swelling to the victims face, according to State Police. A video recording of the incident was given to Troopers by a witness during the investigation. On it, Troopers said they could see the victim was hit in the head six times before he fell to the ground, where the assault continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat Beachy was identified through the video by his appearance and through vehicle records. When interviewed, State Police say Beachy at first denied being involved in the incident but later admitted to it after being confronted with the video, saying he should not have punched the victim that much. Clothing was also found in Beachys home that was seen on the video recording, State Police said. Beachy faces a felony charge of aggravated assault and misdemeanor charges of simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats. He is locked up in Lancaster County Prison with his bail set at $250,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Police continue to investigate a separate road rage incident in the 200 block of Amishtown Road in Earl Township. No charges have been filed yet in this incident as of Wednesday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A newly awarded 3-year, $1.8 million Department of Justice grant will fund the establishment of a community violence intervention program at the Lancaster Police Department. The grant will support hiring key roles, including a program coordinator, a gang investigator, and a community liaison officer. Lancaster Police competed with major cities across the nation to win the grant money, and they believe it will make a major difference when it comes to protecting kids and this community from gangs and violence. 16 people arrested in deadly shooting police believe to be gang-related Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been in denial about this issue for years, said Anthony Pelham, the CEO and pastor at Community Powerhouse, which has worked for years to steer at-risk youth away from violence. Pelham said hes grateful his community is waking up to the reality of gangs and gang violence. They may not call themselves gangs, their clicks, but they are organized, and they operate like a gang whether you want to acknowledge it or not, Pelham said. His program helps kids be their own person. Were teaching them how to critically think, he said. Most of our youth dont know how to critically think. In January, local police, with assistance from the ATF and FBI, arrested and charged more than a dozen people accused in shootings thought to be gang-related. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the suspects were teens. Lancaster Police Chief Don Roper is preparing to apply more resources. Lancaster non-profit paying police to do special patrols, curb gang violence This trend of youthful violent offenders is very serious, Roper said. Thats why weve put so many resources into trying to break this cycle of violence. The federal grant paves the way for a plan. It will be based on thorough research-based strategies led by law enforcement in partnership with community partners here in Lancaster, the police chief said. Pelhams Community Powerhouse will be a community partner and said the money will help him serve up to 100 additional people a year and show them they have an identity beyond the labels given by society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not about trying to dismantle a gang, Pelham said. Its dismantling a mindset that leads you to a gang or has you in the gang. Lancaster was the only city in South Carolina to receive the funding, and the DOJ gave out about 20 of these grants nationwide. VIDEO: Lancaster non-profit paying police to do special patrols, curb gang violence OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Senator James Lankford spoke out on Wednesday about the Department of Government Efficiencys (DOGE) federal employee firings, budget cuts, and facility closures, raising some concerns about the impact on Oklahomans and military operations. For weeks, News 4 has been reporting on the thousands of federal employees whove suddenly found themselves without jobs, many in Oklahoma. Were not faceless bureaucrats. Were your neighbors, friends, and family members. We chose public service because we believe in the mission, a fired FAA employee recently told News 4. It bothers me a lot that now I think were going in a direction where were not trying to do things the right way, a fired IRS employee recently told News 4. Sen. Lankford takes questions on ongoing efforts by DOGE to downsize government Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those employees said that their termination letters stated they were fired due to performance, even though they hadnt even worked in their roles long enough to have a performance review. News 4 has had a hard time getting direct answers from Oklahomas congressional delegation about the exact number of Oklahomans who have been or will be fired due to DOGE cuts. But on Wednesday, News 4 heard directly from Senator James Lankford (R-OK), who held a virtual Q&A with Oklahoma journalists. News 4 asked Lankford how he felt about DOGE firing probationary employees and blaming it on performance. I dont agree that you just come in and blanket remove. But I would tell you, if you work in a corporate entity in America, thats typical, Lankford said. A probationary employee, the executive branch is allowed to be able to remove them. And so what were trying to be able to push on is, okay, I know thats permissible for you to be able to remove that person. Are you going to rehire for that same position? Is this the right person to be able to remove? Many of those positions we still need. And so were already seeing secretaries step up and press back on this. Lankford raised concerns about reports that DOGE will be cutting hundreds of jobs at Tinker Air Force Base and the Armys ammunition plant in McAlester. Tinker cannot operate if we lose 600 civilian employees there, Lankford said. We will not be able to keep aircraft in the air long term for the Air Force. That is really important for us to be able to have. The same thing in McAlester. If we remove a thousand civilians there, we wont be able to operate. News 4 has reported that DOGE has announced plans to end leases for hundreds of federal office spaces, including the U.S. Attorneys Office for Oklahomas Eastern District in Muskogee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump administration considers selling OKC Federal Building Were trying to find out, is this a storage unit connected to this office, or is it the office? Lankford said. We followed up and said, where are the U.S. Attorneys going to be? And they have now said, hey, thats not actually going to be canceled. But other facilities are also on the chopping block, including a National Weather Service radar facility in Norman. Getting any answers from DOGE, even for this U.S. senator, has been a challenge. Were tracking trying to be able to find out fact from fiction, Lankford said. Were not getting an answer on that yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the same goes for the federal building in downtown Oklahoma City that replaced the Murrah Buildingwhich was also recently on a list to be sold by the General Services Administration (GSA). You cant just dispose of federal property, Lankford said. How did that end up on the list? What was the scoring on this? We cant get anybody on the phone yet to be able to answer the question. The lack of answers, Lankford says, makes his job that much harder. If we cant get the information on that, it doesnt help us to be able to know whats the strategy, whats the timing, whats actually going to occur, Lankford said. Lankford pointed out that during the Clinton administration, more than 400,000 federal employees lost their jobs. But said that was over an eight-year period, and this mass firing has taken place over eight weeks. Theyre going to throw everything out there to say, were going to close it, were going to change it. And unless somebody complains, thats going to just keep moving, Lanford said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Lansing, Kansas inmate, already serving time for rape, has been sentenced to additional prison time for kidnapping a prison employee last year. Allan B. Kari, 48, was sentenced during a hearing on Wednesday to 19 years and five months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for kidnapping. According to Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson, the sentence will run consecutively to any sentence he is already serving. Two men charged in connection to deaths of 3 Chiefs fans in Northland backyard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kari pleaded no contest to the kidnapping charge on Friday, Jan. 3. The incident was reported on June 7, 2023. The Leavenworth County Attorneys Office said Kari left his housing unit and walked to the reentry office complex on the lower level, where he was not authorized to be. He was carrying a canvas bag, which contained books, papers and a homemade gag. The Leavenworth County Attorneys Office reports once in the complex, Kari went to the womens restroom and hid with the lights off. An employee entered the restroom a few minutes later and turned on the lights and saw Kari standing against the wall. The employee then saw Kari reach for the door lock but the employee was able to open it before he could lock it. The victim then placed her hand outside the door and started to scream. Kari told the employee not to scream, grabbed her and put his hands over her mouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other employees heard the victims scream and responded. One employee grabbed the victims hand and pulled her from the restroom before stepping between the suspect and the victim. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Prison employees gave Kari commands to leave. He took his bag and walked to the door of the complex where a correction officer placed him in restraints. During the investigation, Kari told an investigator he had thoughts of raping a woman and carried the gag with him in case he had the opportunity to, according to the Leavenworth County Attorneys Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The owner of Equine Assisted Programs of Southern New Mexico (EAP) in Las Cruces, which uses animals for mental health therapy, was indicted on Wednesday, March 5, for submitting false Medicaid claims totaling nearly $1 million, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) said in a news release. NMDOJ said Nancy Marshall is charged with 18 felonies, including one count of fraud, nine counts of Medicaid fraud, six counts of falsification of documents, and two counts of identity theft. If convicted on all counts, Marshall could face over 80 years in prison, NMDOJ added. Medical providers should be held accountable not only for their duties to their patients but should also be held to high standards when it comes to accurate and lawful billing, said Attorney General Raul Torrez. This indictment should be a powerful signal to anyone who thinks they can take advantage of patients and taxpayers: we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NMDOJ said the case was brought to their attention after two key staff members terminated their employment with EAP. These employees expressed concerns regarding improper practices that they witnessed while employed by Marshall, while also expressing concern for the patients of EAP, NMDOJ said. The NMDOJs Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau (MFEAB) conducted an investigation, and unveiled a multitude of alleged false Medicaid claims over approximately two and a half years, including allegations that the defendant was billing for services that were never rendered, billing for treatment of children who were actually in school at the time of the alleged service and committing identity theft by utilizing the National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers of other therapists for improper billing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Las Vegas event set to highlight women in construction LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Hammers and Hope event in North Las Vegas is set to highlight the growing role of women in a historically male-dominated industry. Right now, women make up 14% of the construction industry workforce, Heather Cassel, senior staff accountant for Nigro Construction, said. Cassel is one of the many women at Nigro Construction contributing to projects that bring communities together. She began her construction career at 17, right after high school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive worked in civil contracting. Ive worked in HVAC. Ive worked in steel, a bunch of different trades, Cassel said. Project engineer Caitlin Johnson explained that there are many components involved in constructing a building. Youve got the project engineers side. Youve got the contract side. Youve got the marketing side. Youve got the accounting side, Johnson said. While construction is often seen as a field-based industry, it offers a wide range of career paths for women beyond job sites. From finance and engineering to operations and business development, the industry provides opportunities to build meaningful careers while shaping a better future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I love about construction is building something new, creating something new, Cassel said. Its amazing to drive around town and see the progress in real-time and know that it benefits the community. In honor of National Women in Construction Week, the Nevada State Contractors Board is hosting its annual Hammers & Hope event on Thursday, March 6, at the Cheyenne CSN Campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit Hammers and Hope Las Vegas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Las Vegas woman told 8 News Now her family is struggling after her husband was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Kimberly Aquino admitted her family is trying to move forward without her husband, Enrique. He is everything, Aquino said. He does everything for me, and my kids too. She chose to share his story but did not give his last name or discuss details about his case to protect it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He takes care of all four of our kids, Aquino said. Were a blended family. They have been building that family since they got married several years ago, but last Friday everything changed. Hes on the phone, Aquino explained. Whoever came up to the window, my husband told me, its ICE.' Enrique came to the United States from Mexico when he was 13 years old, but due to his undocumented status, he was detained by ICE. They didnt let him speak, Aquino said. They basically pulled him out of the car from what I am understanding. The Trump Administration continues to tout a crackdown on immigration policies, targeting those who lack legal status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to get the bad ones out, President Trump said. We have many murderers, many bad people in our country that they have allowed. A Las Vegas woman told 8 News Now that her family is struggling after her husband was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Credit: Kimberly Aquino) A Las Vegas woman told 8 News Now that her family is struggling after her husband was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Credit: Kimberly Aquino) A Las Vegas woman told 8 News Now that her family is struggling after her husband was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Credit: Kimberly Aquino) ICE statistics show approximately 37,600 were deported during Trumps first month in office. Just under half of those did not have any violent criminal history. People arent prepared, Aquino said. And they arent asking questions because theyre scared. Aquino is now doing whatever she can to bring Enrique home and reunite her family. Hopefully we can get him out from where he is at, she concluded. And get him home with us. Aquino told 8 News Now that Enrique was in his car with their five-year-old daughter when he was taken into ICE custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and her siblings are now with Aquino, who is a United States citizen. According to ICE records, Enrique is being held at the Southern Nevada Detention Center in Pahrump. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has postponed 25% tariffs on most goods from Mexico for a month after a conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The U.S. is still denying the flow of weapons and vital information that has helped Ukraine survive Russia's invasion. But Trump administration officials said Wednesday that positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean it may only be a short suspension. A new Senate bill on from Republican Sen. Jim Risch and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen would expand authorization to sanction Chinese entities that help finance foreign opioid trafficking. And the House has voted to censure Texas Democrat Al Green for disrupting Trumps address to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's the latest: Trump signs executive order creating cryptocurrency reserve The White House says Trump has signed an executive order creating a strategic bitcoin reserve and a digital asset stockpile. Both stockpiles will be fed from cryptocurrency assets seized by the U.S. government through civil or criminal forfeiture proceedings, Trumps cryptocurrency czar, venture capitalist David Sacks, wrote on the social platform X. This means it will not cost taxpayers a dime, Sacks said. Trumps order directs a full accounting of the digital assets the federal government owns and authorizes the Commerce and Treasury secretaries to develop budget-neutral strategies to boost the bitcoin stockpile, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from bitcoin, the best-known cryptocurrency, the federal government will not acquire digital assets except those seized through court proceedings, Sacks said. Trump briefly sent cryptocurrency prices soaring over the weekend when he made a surprise announcement that he wants the U.S. government to purchase and hold a variety of digital assets. War heroes and military firsts are among 26,000 images flagged for removal in Pentagons DEI purge References to a World War II Medal of Honor recipient and the first women to pass Marine infantry training are among the tens of thousands of photos and online posts marked for deletion as the Defense Department works to purge diversity, equity and inclusion content, according to a database obtained by The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The database, which was confirmed by U.S. officials and published by AP, includes more than 26,000 images that have been flagged for removal across every military branch. The eventual total could be much higher. The majority of the Pentagon purge targets women and minorities. It also removes a large number of posts that mention various commemorative months such as those for Black and Hispanic people. In some cases, photos seemed to be flagged for removal simply because their file included the word gay, including an image of the B-29 aircraft Enola Gay, which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II. Ukrainian ambassador to the US says Russia is attacking Ukraine not only militarily but ideologically Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. says its important to inform Americans on how Russia is attacking Ukraine not only militarily but ideologically by denying Ukraines identity and history. It is the war on multiple fronts, Markarova said Thursday via a prerecorded video statement played at a Ukrainian studies conference at Notre Dame University in Indiana. Our brave soldiers and civilians defend Ukraines physical and spiritual integrity while we diplomats, scholars and experts continue our efforts on information fronts by educating American and international societies about what is really at stake and why Ukraine resists so persistently and so relentlessly, even in the most difficult situations," she said. She said its important to restore historical justice and recognize that appropriation of Ukraines culture and denial of our national identity remains the key avenues of Russias criminal war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron says France and the US have always been there for each other French President Emmanuel Macron invoked centuries-old history in a response to Trumps suggestion that France may not come to defend the United States if the country was attacked, despite being a NATO ally. Lafayette came, Macron said during a news conference in Brussels. Pershing made the journey in the opposite direction. Macron added that he met American WWII veterans who landed on Omaha Beach a few days ago. France and the U.S. have always been there for each other, he said. We are loyal and faithful allies, Macron said, expressing respect and friendship towards U.S. leaders. I think were entitled to expect the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump uncertain if NATO would jump to US defense, though it has before Trump is expressing uncertainty that NATO would come to the U.S.s defense if the country were attacked, though the alliance did just that after 9/11 the only time in its history that the defense guarantee has been invoked. Trump also suggested Thursday in the Oval Office that the U.S. might abandon its commitments to the alliance if member countries dont meet defense spending targets. A day prior, his pick for NATO ambassador assured senators that the administrations commitment to the military alliance was ironclad. Walz blames Trump for destructive chaos in Washington Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz blamed Trump for the uncertainty and the destructive chaos in Washington as his administration presented an updated budget forecast Thursday. There is a storm in the federal level, and that storm is Donald Trump, Walz told reporters. Walz, who was Kamala Harris running mate in the 2024 presidential election, spoke after his budget commissioner and her team said their projections did not include the impacts of potential cuts in federal funding because the situation in Washington is so uncertain. This is chaos. Its nonsense, Walz said. Its not how you run any business, let alone the federal government. And the impact on states is immense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If threatened cuts happen, Management and Budget Commissioner Erin Campbell said it could blow a dramatic hole in the state budget. Trump says hed probably extend TikTok sale deadline if no deal by then Trump signed an executive order in January pushing to early April the deadline for TikTok to cut ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban in the U.S. Asked Thursday about a possible extension, Trump said one isnt needed at this time because theres still a month to go before the deadline. But if I needed the extension, Id probably get an extension, he said, adding, We have a lot of interest in TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says a scalpel not a hatchet is needed in cutting federal workforce Trump says he has instructed department secretaries to work with DOGE but be very precise about which federal workers stay or go. He told them to use a scalpel writing in a social media post rather than the hatchet. Those comments come amid mounting legal disputes over billionaire Elon Musks attempts to centralize management of the government workforce and bypass Congress making the tech entrepreneur both an admired and deeply feared figure in Trumps second administration. Musk says its not his fault Elon Musk is telling Republican lawmakers that hes not to blame for the firings of thousands of federal workers as he pushes to downsize the government. Instead, the billionaire said in private talks this week that those decisions are left to the various federal agencies. The message from one of Trumps most influential advisers came as Republicans publicly support Musks mandate at the Department of Government Efficiency to dig up waste, fraud and abuse. Privately, however, they are raising questions as personnel cuts ripple out across the country. Read more about Musks talks with lawmakers Justice Department moves to boost staffing at federal prosecutors offices along the border The Justice Department is moving to beef up staffing at federal prosecutors offices along the U.S. border as part of the Trump administrations crackdown on illegal immigration, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in a memo sent to the Justice Department workforce on Thursday that federal prosecutors must commit to investigations and prosecutions targeting all of the insidious results of the four-year invasion of illegal immigration that we are now working to repel. Blanche is authorizing U.S. attorneys offices in border districts to hire lawyers to work on investigations and prosecutions related to illegal immigration, drug trafficking and cartels. Other government lawyers, especially those at Main Justice in Washington, are encouraged to volunteer for details or permanent transfers to border districts, he wrote. Officials should be more careful in cutting federal workforce, Trump says I want the Cabinet members to keep good people, the president told reporters in the Oval Office, adding, I dont want to see a big cut where a lot of good people are cut. He also suggested that agency leaders would take the lead but that Elon Musk could make his own push if reductions dont go far enough. Agencies have occasionally needed to reinstate fired workers who handled critical tasks, such as maintaining nuclear weapons. Trump says hes heading to Saudi Arabia Trump said he expects to go to Saudi Arabia soon and that the leaders of the oil-rich kingdom have agreed to make a $1 trillion investment in the United States. So I said, Ill go if you pay a trillion dollars, $1 trillion to American companies, Trump said. Theyve agreed to do that, so Im going to be going there. Trump also made Saudi Arabia the first country he visited during his first White House term. He said the upcoming visit would likely happen sometime in the next month and a half. The Saudis hosted talks last month between senior U.S. and Russian officials to discuss Moscows ongoing war in Ukraine. The Saudis are also expected to host talks next week between U.S. and Ukrainian officials about ending the war. Trump walks back threat to end daylight saving time Last December, Trump said on his social media platform: The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldnt! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation. He softened those comments Thursday when asked about the upcoming switch to daylight saving time. Its a 50-50 issue. When somethings a 50-50 issue, its hard to get excited about it, he said. I assume people would like to have more light later, but some people want to have more light earlier because they dont want to take their kids to school in the dark. Usha Vance will lead US delegation to Special Olympics Second lady Usha Vance will lead the U.S. delegation to the Special Olympics in Turin, Italy. The games begin with the opening ceremony Saturday. As one of her first official assignments as second lady, Vance will be among eight people in the U.S. presidential delegation. The others are: 1. Shawn Croley, Charge dAffaires a.i., U.S. Embassy to Italy and San Marino 2. Trent Michael Morse, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel 3. Riley M. Barnes, Senior Bureau Official of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State 4. Douglass Benning, Consul General, U.S. Consulate Milan, Italy 5. Rachel Campos-Duffy, FOX News Host and wife of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation 6. Boris Epshteyn, Senior Counsel and Senior Advisor to Trump 7. Richard Walters, Partner at FGS Global State Department holds its f irst news conference of Trumps second administration Appearing before a capacity crowd of journalists who crammed into the departments small press briefing room and an overflow conference space across the hall, spokesperson Tammy Bruce parried virtually all the questions she was asked during the roughly 45-minute event. That included declining to answer most queries about the status of Gaza ceasefire talks, discussions with Russia and Ukraine on ending their conflict and the state of U.S. foreign aid, which the administration has gutted in its first six weeks. Trump wants to make it harder for political opponents to sue his administration He signed a presidential memorandum directing the Justice Department to ask judges to require litigants to post injunction bonds. Essentially, Trump wants to force people to put up money if theyre seeking a temporary restraining order against his policies. The president said that it was from a legal standpoint, really a very big thing. Will Scharf, the cabinet secretary, said the tactic could be used whenever someone tries to challenge our policies in court. If the litigants lose, they would forfeit the bond, meaning they would be held financially responsible for the disruption of federal activities that their actions have caused. Trump signs orders for monthlong delay on some new tariffs on Mexico and Canada Trump is postponing 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war. Trump said in the Oval Office that he still plans to impose reciprocal tariffs starting April 2. Most of the tariffs go on April the second, Trump said before signing the orders. And then we have some temporary ones and small ones, relatively small, although its a lot of money having to do with Mexico and Canada. Imports from Mexico that comply with the 2020 USMCA trade pact will be excluded from the 25% tariffs for a month, according to the orders signed by Trump. Imports from Canada especially autos and auto parts that comply with the trade deal will also avoid the 25% tariffs for a month. The potash that U.S. farmers import from Canada will be tariffed at 10%, the same rate at which Trump wants to tariff Canadian energy products. Zelenskyy says Ukraine-US talks on ending the war will take place next week In his nightly address, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday and his team would stay on to hold talks with U.S. officials. I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince. After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace, Zelenskyy said. UN releases $110 million in emergency humanitarian aid amid US foreign aid freeze Thursdays release of funds for humanitarian emergencies worldwide comes as the international body and nonprofits continue to grapple with the growing impact of the U.S. foreign aid freeze. For countries battered by conflict, climate change and economic turmoil, brutal funding cuts dont mean that humanitarian needs disappear, Tom Fletcher, the U.N.s humanitarian chief, said in a statement. Todays emergency fund allocation channels resources swiftly to where theyre needed most. Humanitarian funding levels, which were dwindling well before President Trumps decision earlier this year to cut off foreign aid, are now projected to hit a record low this year, according to the U.N. The latest batch of funding will go toward supporting countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa, such as Sudan, where a civil war has resulted in a massive displacement of the population, hunger and most recently a cholera outbreak thats left more than 90 dead, according to the international medical aid group, Doctors Without Borders. Class action appeals filed for thousands of fired federal workers Attorneys have announced they have filed several appeals before an independent board against multiple federal agencies and are planning additional appeals on behalf of thousands of probationary federal workers fired by the Trump administration. Christopher Bonk, a partner at Gilbert Employment Law, confirmed the appeals Thursday. Multiple lawsuits have previously been filed in federal court over the mass terminations. But the latest legal challenges have gone to a federal board responsible for protecting government employees from political reprisals or retaliation for whistleblowing. The attorneys said the appeals seek to get the workers reinstated with back pay. Read more about the appeals on behalf of the fired workers Top Trump administration officials aim to meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia next week Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff confirms that senior administration officials are arranging to hold talks next week with senior Ukrainian officials. The anticipated talks, which he said would either take place in Riyadh or Jeddah, come after last weeks disastrous Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy led to the White House announcing it was pausing military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Zelenskyy has called the heated words during his recent White House visit regrettable and said hes ready to sign a critical minerals agreement with the U.S. that Trump has been seeking. Well see if he follows through, Witkoff told reporters, when asked if the agreement could be signed during the upcoming talks. Zelenskyy told European leaders in Brussels on Thursday that teams from the U.S. and Ukraine had resumed their work and hoped to have a meaningful meeting next week. Citing DEI, Trump cut teacher training grants that helped rural schools The cuts to teacher training grants are putting a strain on rural school systems, which have relied on the money to help address teacher shortages. In an overhaul at an agency Trump has described as being infiltrated by radicals, zealots and Marxists, the Education Department last month cut $600 million in grants to the training programs, which it characterized as supporting divisive ideologies. Trump has said he wants to close the department, and new Education Secretary Linda McMahon has laid out how it could be dismantled. Federal money makes up a significant portion of budgets in some rural districts, which rely more on grants and philanthropy because of their limited tax base, said Sharon Contreras, CEO of the Innovation Project, a collaboration among North Carolina school districts. A grant to that group supported teacher recruitment and retention, providing scholarships for teachers pursuing masters degrees if they agreed to return to the area and serve as principals for three years. Read more about the administrations cuts to teacher training grants Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the US has kept its sanctions on Russia in place Speaking about the sanctions on Russia at the Economic Club of New York on Thursday, Bessent also said the U.S. will not hesitate to go all in should it provide leverage in peace negotiations. Over the course of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration imposed thousands of sanctions on Russian firms, people, ships and imposed a price cap on Russian oil, among other actions. In New York, Bessent called Bidens sanctions on Russian energy egregiously weak and stemming from worries about upward pressure on U.S. energy prices. Per President Trumps guidance, sanctions will be used explicitly and aggressively for immediate maximum impact. They will be carefully monitored to ensure that they are achieving specific objectives, Bessent said. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum elaborated on her call with Trump She said later that she told the president Mexico was making great strides in fulfilling his security demands. I told him were getting results, Sheinbaum said. But the U.S. imposed the tariffs, so she asked Trump how are we going to continue cooperating, collaborating with something that hurts the people of Mexico? I need to continue working together and cooperating with you all, but we need to work as equals, she said she told Trump. She added that practically all of the trade between the U.S. and Mexico will be exempt from tariffs until April 2. She said the two countries will continue to work together on migration and security, and to cut back on fentanyl trafficking to the U.S. She added that Trump said he would crack down on the flow of American weapons trafficked into Mexico, which has fueled cartel warfare in the Latin American country, though Trump hasnt elaborated on what his government has done to address the weapons trafficking. National Endowment for the Arts is sued over gender ideology ban Four arts groups filed federal lawsuits against the NEA on Thursday, seeking a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order before March 24, when the next round of grant applications are due. President Trumps executive order titled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government calls for denying federal money to any programs that promote gender ideology. The American Civil Liberties Union argues on behalf of the Rhode Island Latino Arts, National Queer Theater, The Theater Offensive and Theater Communications Groups that the NEAs new certification requirement and funding prohibition violates the First Amendment, the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment. FBI director: Agency is committed to bringing home American hostages Kash Patel says the bureau will work to zero out the population of Americans detained or held hostage in foreign countries. He spoke Thursday during a flag-raising at the State Department honoring hostages and their families. Americans are being held in multiple countries including Russia and Venezuela. The Trump administration is also working to secure the release of Americans still held by Hamas. Adam Boehler is President Donald Trumps nominee to be special envoy for hostage affairs, leading direct talks with the militant group. Trump hosting Cabinet-level meeting on DOGE One day after Elon Musk met with Republicans on Capitol Hill, the president is convening Cabinet members to discuss the Department of Government Efficiency. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted a video of himself arriving at the West Wing of the White House and said they would be talking about where we can make us more efficient, where we can cut. Federal agencies are putting together plans for large-scale layoffs, known as reductions in force, to achieve Trumps goal of a radically smaller government workforce. Trump delays tariffs on most goods from Mexico until April 2 President Donald Trump said he's postponed 25% tariffs on most goods from Mexico until April 2 after a conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The reprieve would apply to goods that are compliant with the trade agreement Trump negotiated with Canada and Mexico in his first term. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum, Trump said. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Sheinbaum posted on X that they had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results. The Mexican government has cracked down on cartels, sent troops to the U.S. border and delivered 29 top cartel bosses long chased by American authorities to the Trump administration in a span of weeks. Why tariffs, President Trump? To President Donald Trump, tariff is more than the most beautiful word in the dictionary, something he says often. Tariffs, in Trumps view, are a cure for a number of the nations ills and the tool to reach new heights. Among the reasons for steeply taxing the U.S. consumption of products from Canada, Mexico, China and beyond: Most economists see taxes paid on imports as capable of addressing unfair trade practices, but theyre skeptical of the quasi-miraculous properties that Trump claims they possess. Read more on how Trump justifies his trade policy Trumps FDA pick says trust in doctors and hospitals is at a crisis Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire held stacks of paper that she said show lots and lots of data supporting the safety and efficacy of mifepristone. The concern is whether youre going to unilaterally overrule the data that currently exists for political purposes, she said. Makary responded to each question on the abortion pill by saying he had no preconceived plans on mifepristone policy. I wish you were hedging a little bit less today, Hassan said. Makary rose to national attention by bashing the COVID-19 response, calling the federal government the greatest perpetrator of misinformation. Fired head of federal watchdog agency ends legal battle Hampton Dellinger announced his decision after the federal appeals court in Washington sided with the Trump administration in removing him as the head of the Office of Special Counsel. The case had become a flashpoint in the debate over how much power the president should have to replace the leaders of independent agencies as he moves to radically reshape and shrink the federal government. The case was expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court, but justice delayed is justice denied In the months it would take to get a final ruling, the office will be run by someone totally beholden to the President, he said. Class-action appeals seek jobs and back pay for thousands of fired workers The filings by lawyers with Gilbert Employment Law and James & Hoffman say Trumps layoffs arent individualized actions but large-scale terminations, and laws for such reductions in force havent been followed. The appeals to the U.S. Merit Systems Protections Board say the workers got no advance notice, no severance pay and no consideration of job performance. Probationary workers generally have a limited recourse before the board. But attorney Daniel Rosenthal says it is clear from regulations and precedents that even probationary employees can challenge an improper reduction in force to the board. Dire warning at United Nations: US aid freeze is forcing decisions on which lives not to save The UNs humanitarian chief told the U.N. Security Council that U.S. foreign aid cuts are a body blow to our work to save lives. Tom Fletcher said the pace of the shutdowns of so much vital work adds to the perfect storm that we face. He said hes had to ask UN partners to provide lists of areas where they have to abandon lifesaving help. Commerce Secretary: Most tariffs on Canada and Mexico likely to be delayed Howard Lutnick said Trump will likely broaden the exemption to 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico that he granted Wednesday to the auto industry. Lutnick told CNBC that this one-month delay in import taxes will likely cover all USMCA- compliant goods and services, referring to the trade agreement Trump negotiated in his last term that replaced NAFTA. Lutnick estimated that more than half of what the U.S. imports from those two countries would be eligible. Lutnick added that Trump could make an announcement after speaking with Mexicos president Claudia Sheinbaum later Thursday. Read more on tariffs developments Medical research cuts could affect patients, universities and local communities The ripple effects of Trump crackdown on U.S. medical research promise to reach every corner of America. Among the biggest blows, if it survives a court challenge: Massive cuts in funding from the National Institutes of Health that would cost an estimated 58,000 jobs across every state, according to an analysis by The Associated Press with assistance from the nonprofit United for Medical Research group. These layoffs would be in addition to the mass firings of other government workers and uncertainty about how already-funded research is being canceled under Trumps anti-diversity orders. Read more on Trumps cuts to medical research Rep. Al Green says: Friends, I would do it again The House voted mostly along party lines, 224-198, to censure the unrepentant Texas Democra t for disrupting President Donald Trumps address to Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson had Green removed from the chamber after Green stood and shouted that Trump wasnt telling the truth when he claimed the election gave him a governing mandate not seen for decades. Thursdays majority vote requires Green to stand in the well of the House while the speaker or presiding officer reads a rebuke. Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern noted that Republicans were silent when their own side interrupted Democratic President Joe Bidens speech last year. Nobody apologized for interrupting Joe Biden time and again, McGovern said. You talk about lack of decorum. Go back and look at the tapes. Trumps FDA pick says he'll review abortion pill; Democrats note it's safer than Viagra Marty Makary said he would create an expert coalition to review ongoing data on the abortion pill mifepristone and that he has no preconceived plans on what the Food and Drug Administrations policy should be on medication abortion. Makary told the Senate health committee at his initial confirmation hearing that he would take a solid, hard look at the data and meet with the professional career scientists who have reviewed the data at the FDA. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy had asked Makary whether he supports reinstating requirements that mifepristone be dispensed in person. The FDA has been facing mounting pressure from anti-abortion groups to restrict mifepristone following legal battles over access, despite the drugs decades-long safety record, vouched for by leading medical associations and health experts. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, pressed Makary about his plans to convene experts to review this data. If thats youre approach for something that has been approved for now decades, are you going to do the same with Tylenol? she said. There are a lot of side effects for daily use, including liver damage. Trudeau describes colorful call with Trump Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that after his call with the U.S. president, he expects Canada and the U.S. to be in a trade war for the foreseeable future. Trudeau said the call was constructive nevertheless, and said both sides are actively engaged in ongoing conversations in trying to make sure these tariffs dont overly harm certain sectors and workers. There are conversations ongoing right now with the U.S. administration but as I have said, we will not be backing down from our response tariffs until such a time as the unjustified American tariffs are Canadian goods are lifted. Read more about Canadas response to Trumps tariffs Trump envoy: Ukraine brought on themselves the US pause of aid and intelligence Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trumps special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said it was made clear to the Ukrainians that last weeks Oval Office meeting would focus on signing a critical minerals deal. Kellogg said it went sideways when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed to press Trump who is trying to play the role of intermediary to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia to side with Kyiv. Zelenskyy, who insisted that Ukraine needs security guarantees before any cease fire, later called the heated words regrettable and said hes ready to sign. But Kellogg said he couldnt guarantee a resumption of weapons deliveries even if Zelenskyy accepts the deal Thats up to the President, he said. Read more on developments between the U.S. and Ukraine Trump moves swiftly to assert his vision at Voice of America Just last week, there were moves to reassign the Voice of America's White House bureau chief and to investigate the social media practices of another veteran correspondent, who was effectively put on paid leave. President Donald Trump chose Arizonas Kari Lake to lead the agency, but she cant be installed because Trump fired members of the board empowered to do that. So now shes on board as a special advisor. The agencys charter requires its journalists to deliver independent news and information, and not be a government mouthpiece. Trump posted that Lake will help ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the world. Read more on changes at the VOA Another federal judge extends block preventing Trumps freeze on federal funding The grants and loans involved potentially total trillions of dollars. U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, who had already approved a temporary restraining order on the funding freeze, on Thursday granted the request for a preliminary injunction from nearly two dozen Democratic states. Last month, the White House said it would temporarily halt federal funding to ensure that the payments complied with President Donald Trumps orders barring diversity programs. Government lawyers argued the court lacks the constitutional authority to block a funding pause by the Republican administration. Read more about court action on funding freeze Trumps FDA nominee faces Senate questions after agency layoffs and resignations A surgeon, author, researcher and Fox News contributor, Dr. Marty Makary is known for his contrarian views and outspoken criticism of the medical establishment. Like health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Makary traces many of the health issues afflicting Americans to food additives, overprescribing of drugs and the influence of drugmakers, insurers and food companies. Republicans generally support Kennedys Make America Healthy Again agenda. But Senate Democrats are expected to press Makary on his willingness to break with Kennedy on some scientific issues. If confirmed to lead the Food and Drug Administration, Makary would take over a shaken agency, which fired hundreds of employees only to quickly rehire some of them. Fear of Trump's next moves unsettles US consumers and worldwide markets Anxiety has returned to Wall Street with markets poised to give back much of Wednesdays gains, which were spurred by President Donald Trumps one-month exemption for U.S. automakers on his 25% tariffs for Mexican and Canadian imports. Futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq all slid in premarket trading. Shares in retailers Macys and Victorias Secret fell sharply as consumer confidence tanks. Applications for U.S. jobless benefits fell, showing the labor market was steady ahead of the purge of federal employees. And Europes Central Bank lowered interest rates to support consumers and businesses bracing for Trump to impose new import taxes on U.S. consumers buying European goods. Trump administration pauses flow of intelligence to Ukraine that helps on battlefield The U.S. has paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine, cutting off the flow of vital information that has helped the war-torn nation target Russian invaders, but Trump administration officials said Wednesday that positive talks between Washington and Kyiv mean it may only be a short suspension. Information about Russias intentions and military movements has been critical to Ukraines defense and a strong indication of support from the U.S. and other Western allies. The suspension comes after Trump paused military aid to Ukraine and is another sign of how he has transformed Americas relationship with close allies. We have taken a step back and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship, national security adviser Mike Waltz said Wednesday. Comments from top Trump administration officials suggest the decision is part of the broader negotiations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate a peace deal with Russia, and that intelligence could begin flowing to Ukraine again soon. CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the suspension a pause and said it came after the disastrous meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last week. Ratcliffe said Trump wanted to know that Zelenskyy was serious about peace. Read more about the suspension of U.S. aid to Ukraine Veterans fired from federal jobs say they feel betrayed, including some who voted for Trump The mass firing of federal employees since Trump took office in January is pushing out veterans who make up 30% of the nations federal workforce. The exact number of veterans who have lost their job is unknown, although House Democrats last month estimated that it was potentially in the thousands. More could be on the way. The Department of Veterans Affairs a major employer of veterans is planning a reorganization that includes cutting over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. Veterans represent more than 25% of the VAs workforce. In interviews, several veterans who supported candidates of both parties described their recent job losses as a betrayal of their military service. They are particularly angered by how it happened: in an email that cited inadequate job performance despite, they say, receiving positive reviews in their roles. Read more about the veterans losing their federal jobs Trump issues last warning to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza Israelis take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, and the release of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Jerusalem,Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a last warning to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, directing a sharply worded message after the White House confirmed that he had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group. In a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting at the White House with eight former hostages, Trump added that he was sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job. The pointed language from Trump came after the White House said Wednesday that U.S. officials have engaged in ongoing talks and discussions with Hamas officials, stepping away from a long-held U.S. policy of not directly engaging with the militant group. Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha came as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance. Its the first known direct engagement between the United States and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Read more about the negotiation talks By Sarah Morland and Natalia Siniawski MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Latin American rights activists on Thursday warned of growing political threats to reproductive rights across the region, as the United States rolls back access to abortion. "What we are seeing is a lot of backlash of progress after many years of human rights struggles," Paula Avila-Guillen, executive director of the Women's Equality Center told a conference. "What happens in one country has repercussions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latin America has a patchwork of policies on reproductive rights. El Salvador has one of the world's strictest abortion laws, imposing homicide sentences for what rights activists say are miscarriages, while a top Colombian court ruled in 2022 that abortion is for up to 24 weeks from conception. Many countries in the region limit access to women or girls who can prove their pregnancy carries life-threatening risks or resulted from rape - often causing long delays past gestational week limits. In Argentina, where abortion is legal, activists pointed to funding cuts by the government of libertarian President Javier Milei, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, that have effectively cut off access to abortion and restricted supplies of contraceptives. "For us not having contraception is taking us back to the 1960s. It's a really, really, really significant rollback," said Amnesty International Argentina's executive director Mariela Belski. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belski said state cuts had left a national helpline for gender violence nearly completely unmanned. Provinces were already reporting shortages of misoprostol and mifepristone, essential drugs for safe abortion, after the government froze funding for new purchases. Milei argues that abortion and feminism are part of a "nefarious ideology" and that the state should not spend money on related services. Argentina is one of a handful of Latam countries that allow abortion for up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, without needing to prove rape or serious medical conditions. Milei's party last year presented a bill to criminalize abortion, less than four years after a previous government legalized it, but the measure failed to gather the necessary support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The World Health Organisation has estimated that 5% to 13% of maternal deaths worldwide are due to unsafe abortions, and that three in every four abortions in Latin America are unsafe. In the Dominican Republic, where abortion is banned entirely, Natalia Marmol, a Women's Equality Center program lead, said grassroots movements are looking to ease criminal penalties in a country with some of the region's highest maternal mortality and teenage pregnancy rates. "We're going to have setbacks," Marmol said. "We need to remember this is just a moment and we need to continue to fight so it does not gather more strength." (Reporting by Sarah Morland and Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Richard Chang) Madison city hall during the April 2020 spring election. (Henry Redman The progressive voting rights-focused firm Law Forward filed a class action lawsuit against the city of Madison and Dane County Thursday over the 193 absentee ballots that city election workers lost and didnt count during the 2024 election. The ballots were found in sealed courier bags after the Nov. 5 election and not counted even though the bags were discovered for the ballots to be added to the final vote tally. Law Forward staff said the lawsuit was filed because voters were denied their constitutional right to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal of this lawsuit is to reinforce and strengthen the right to vote in Wisconsin law, the right to vote is absolutely fundamental in our democracy, the cornerstone of our entire system of governance, Jeff Mandell, Law Forwards general counsel, said at a news conference Thursday. Law Forward exists to defend and advance democracy in Wisconsin, standing up for the right to vote, whenever and wherever it may be violated, is a key part of Law Forwards mission. This lawsuit is not an attack on any individual municipality or election official. It is instead a necessary and important defense of the right to vote in Wisconsin. Since discovering the mistake, the city has notified the public about the error and participated in an investigation into how it occurred. Dylan Brogan, spokesperson for Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, said the city couldnt comment on the pending litigation, but that city officials have worked to make sure the mistake isnt repeated. The City of Madison takes election integrity extremely seriously, Brogan said. Our Clerks Office has issued a public apology and reached out to affected voters directly to apologize for the failure to count their absentee ballot. They have also taken a number of steps to ensure this never happens again. Ahead of the February primary, election officials were trained on new safeguards and procedures for handling absentee ballots. Internal review of the incident is still underway, and additional steps may be taken. The City is also looking forward to any additional guidance the Wisconsin Election Commission may offer to further strengthen our elections processes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, Law Forward is representing four of the voters whose ballots went uncounted, but Mandell said the remaining 189 voters would have the ability to join the lawsuit if a judge allows the class action to move forward. The suit requests that damages totalling $175,000 be paid to each affected voter which exceeds the $50,000 limit under state law for claims against municipalities. If all 193 voters participate and receive the full requested amount of damages, the city would be forced to pay more than $33.7 million for the error. The truth is the right to vote is valuable, and I think that we are in an ecosystem where standing up for the right to vote matters, Law Forward staff counsel Scott Thompson said. Across the country, there have been efforts to subvert the right to vote, and we believe that this litigation sends a message to anyone who might seek to do something like that. In Wisconsin, theres going to be a price to pay. At a meeting on Friday, the Wisconsin Elections Commission is set to hear an update on its investigation into the issue and how the ballots were lost. Among the actions it may take, the commission could decide to issue a statement to municipal clerks across the state reminding them of the best practices when handling absentee ballots. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Proposed legislation would penalize the Milwaukee Public Schools if the district cancels plans to place police officers inside school buildings. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Republican lawmakers are proposing a law that would financially penalize the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and the city of Milwaukee if they stop complying with a state law that requires police officers in schools. The bill, coauthored by Rep. Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) and Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), comes after months of noncompliance with state law by the school district. Wisconsin Act 12, which provided a boost in funding to local governments, included requirements that Milwaukee Public Schools place 25 school resource officers sworn police officers assigned to schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law took effect in 2023, and officers were supposed to be in MPS schools by Jan. 1, 2024, but the district missed the deadline. On Tuesday, the city and the school district voted to approve an agreement to install the officers in response to a lawsuit. Donovan said during an Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety hearing Wednesday that its unconscionable the district took so long to follow through on the requirement. The biggest district, the one in my estimation that could benefit the most, has, along with the city, dragged their feet for 400 days. Its absurd and the safety of our kids is at jeopardy, Donovan said. Citing a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report found MPS averaged 3,700 police calls each year over 11 years, Donovan said the calls were pulling officers from street patrols to respond. He added that SROs trained specifically for school incidents can handle many of these situations quickly, leaving officers to stay in our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school resource officer requirement was controversial when Act 12 was passed. Officers had not been stationed inside Milwaukee schools since 2016, and the district ended its contract with the Milwaukee Police Department in 2020 in response to student and community opposition to the practice. At Wednesdays hearing, Wanggaard blamed the districts contract cancellation on a fit of anti-police bias. Many advocates opposed to police officers in schools have pointed to potential negative impacts. A Brookings Institution report found that the presence of school resource officers has led to increases in use of suspension, expulsion, police referral and arrest, especially among Black students and students with disabilities. The agreement that the Milwaukee Common Council and Milwaukee School Board both voted to approve Tuesday was in response to a lawsuit against the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October 2023 the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) sued MPS and the city of Milwaukee on behalf of Charlene Abughrin, a parent in the district, arguing the districts noncompliance presented a substantial risk to her and her childs safety. Last month a judge ordered the district and city to comply with the state law and instructed the district and the city to split the cost for the officers evenly. According to the agreement, officers in schools will have to be properly vetted and required to attend state- and city-mandated training, including a 40-hour National Association of School Resource Officers course. The agreement also specifies that officers will not participate in enforcing MPS code of conduct violations and that school conduct violations and student discipline will remain the responsibility of school administrators, not police officers. Despite the agreement, the bills authors said Wednesday that a law is needed to serve as an enforcement mechanism and address potential future noncompliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that agreement is terminated, this legislation provides a similar compliance framework to ensure that both remain in compliance with Act 12, Donovan said. To prevent the ongoing and future non-compliance, consequences must be in place. If the agreement is terminated, the bill would implement a timeline requiring a new agreement within 30 days, another 30 days for the city to certify with the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee that officers are trained and available. The district would then have 30 days to certify with the committee that officers are present in schools. If there is noncompliance, 10% of the citys shared revenue payment will be withheld by the state and 25% of the school districts state aid payments would be withheld. Under the bill, MPS would be responsible for paying 75% of the cost for the school officers program, while the city would be responsible for the remaining 25%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire) asked about the discrepancy between the 50-50 payment implemented by the judge and the one in the bill. Wanggaard said that bill assigns a larger share of the cost to the school district because it was MPS that made the schools less safe by not having officers in the school, not the city, and based on these factors and other conversations Ive had, I believe MPS was the major cause of delaying returning officers to the schools. However, he appeared open to amendments, noting that the bill is still pending. MPS is opposed to the bill, in part because of the difference in how it apportions the cost. The district said in written testimony that school officials have been working on getting a memorandum of understanding with the city for over a year, sought the selection and training of police officers, and worked to negotiate a fair apportionment. The statement noted that the district has no authority to train or hire officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district statement endorsed a plan proposed by Gov. Tony Evers, which assigns 75% of the costs to the city and 25% to the district. The statement said that because the school resource officers were part of a legislative deal negotiated without the participation of MPS and that provided hundreds of millions of dollars to the City of Milwaukee, the Governors proposal appears as the fairest. The district statement also called for the state to reimplement a law in the 2009 budget that allowed districts to use generated funds to purchase school safety equipment, fund the compensation costs of security officers, or fund other expenditures consistent with its school safety plan. Whatever the apportionment, there should be no debate that school safety costs be adequately funded, the district statement said. The Wisconsin Police Association and WILL support the bill, according to the states lobbying website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Lawmakers from both parties are voicing concerns over President Donald Trumps recent tariffs on major U.S. trading partners, warning that the increased costs could hurt American farmers and raise prices on everyday goods. The tariffs include a 25% increase on certain imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as an additional 10% hike on goods from China. Lawmakers and industry experts say the impact will be felt across the agriculture sector. The cost of living is going up, said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.). Farmers ability to sell their products overseas is going to be affected, and their ability to keep their farms open is going to be affected. This hurts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brandon Arnold, Executive Vice President of the National Taxpayers Union, shared those concerns, pointing to past financial aid given to farmers under Trumps first administration to offset similar trade policies. We had to make farmers whole to the tune of tens of billions of dollars just to make sure they werent being hurt hard, Arnold said. Despite growing opposition, the White House is standing by the tariffs. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the policy, arguing that tariffs will ultimately benefit the U.S. economy and workers. The president believes in tariffs because theyll ultimately make America rich again, Leavitt said. Theyre going to raise revenue and help us pay down our debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Glenn GT Thompson (R-Penn.), who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, said he hopes Trump will reconsider the move, though he acknowledged the potential need for reciprocal tariffs. Im hoping that we wont see tariffs, Thompson said. But that said, I cant disagree with reciprocal tariffs. The next round of tariffs is expected to go into effect in April. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) With five working days left in the main run of the 2025 legislative session, its coming down to crunch time at the state Capitol to find a way to slow the growth of property taxes on owner-occupied residences in South Dakota. State senators on Thursday afternoon could vote on a plan from Republican Rep. Greg Jamison to further restrict spending by local governments. Meanwhile the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon is scheduled to debate a package from Gov. Larry Rhoden and a task force of 10 lawmakers. Senate Bill 216 would cap assessment growth countywide at 3% and limit spending growth, while also expanding financial limits for people aged 65 and older to have assessments frozen on their owner-occupied homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then theres also a proposal that the House will take up Monday from Republican Sen. Amber Hulse and Republican Rep. Jack Kolbeck, who want to roll back many owner-occupied assessments to 2021 levels and do it without causing a tax shift to agriculture or commercial properties. Jamisons approach, House Bill 1235, would reduce the amount of property taxes that a taxing district including school districts can collect to 2.5% per year. Currently state law limits the increase to no more than 3%. The House voted 39-31 to send Jamisons plan to the Senate. On Wednesday, it received the endorsement of the Senate Taxation Committee 6-0, despite opposition from lobbyists for the South Dakota Municipal League, the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners and the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. The Rhoden-task force proposal, Senate Bill 216, rolled through the Senate a week ago 30-5 and came out of the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday night 9-4. One section limits assessment growth on owner-occupied property for the county as a whole to no more than 3% annually for the next five years, with an exception for new construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another section of SB 216 caps spending growth to no more than 3% annually but allows for an additional 2% of tax revenue raised from any new construction or changes in circumstances. It also would give all school districts authority for capital outlay levies. The final sections of SB 216 expand eligibility for people ages 65 and up to qualify for assessment freezes. The current household income limits of $35,000 for single-person households and $45,000 for multi-person households would increase to $55,000 and $65,000. The upper limit for a homes assessed value also would rise to $500,000 from the current $300,000. The Hulse-Kolbeck proposal, Senate Bill 191, proposes to roll back owner-occupied homes to 2021 assessment levels for people who have been living in the same homes since then. Owner-occupied properties that have changed hands or circumstances since then would be assessed at fair-market value. Wendy Semmler, director for the state Property Tax Division in the state Department of Revenue, said the result of SB 191 would be a $16 billion reduction in taxable value of owner-occupied property. Semmler said that tax levies would have to be increased to make up the difference and those higher levies would hit harder on people who didnt own their current residences prior to 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 191 came out of the Senate 35-0 but barely got out of the House State Affairs Committee 7-6 Wednesday night. In addition to Revenue being against it, opposition also came from South Dakota Retailers, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, several county directors of equalization, South Dakota Farm Bureau and every other South Dakota agricultural group, South Dakota Association of County Commissioners, South Dakota Towns and Townships and a company official from a financial services firm that advises many local governments on debt issues, who warned it could endanger state governments AAA bond rating. You got four days, Republican Rep. Spencer Gosch told Hulse. Youll have the weekend to work with some of the opponents and maybe pull a rabbit out of the hat. Republican Rep. Marty Overweg, an agricultural businessman and farmer, voted against both the governor-task force bill and the Hulse-Kolbeck bill because he doesnt trust that either one wont push tax burden onto agricultural property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its dangerous. I really do think its dangerous, Overweg said. You want corporate farming in South Dakota, just let taxes go crazy on the property. On the other hand the committees chair, Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach, voted for both. I hope one of these measures, the best measure for relief, can make it out of the House, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. State lawmakers are vowing to take a deep dive into Floridas home insurance crisis. This comes after reports that insurance companies were moving billions of dollars to their own affiliate companies while claiming to lose money. Do you have a consumer complaint or need help from Jeff Deal and Action 9? Click the banner below to submit a tip. Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced it in his opening remarks for the legislative session Tuesday. He said the reports show some insurance companies may have been using creative ways to hide their profits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, first there was Hurricane Ian that ravaged southwest Florida. Hurricane Nicole followed about six weeks later. That year Florida saw half a dozen insurance companies go under and homeowners saw rates skyrocket. The property insurance market in the Sunshine State was in freefall. The state called two special sessions to try to fix the mess by limiting lawsuits and helping the insurance industry. Florida judge stops MV Realty from enforcing controversial homeowner agreements Now lawmakers are raising questions about how badly the insurance companies were really doing. House Speaker Daniel Perez said, Property insurance matters to the people of Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He announced the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee will hold hearings to take a close look at the insurance companies claims. This comes after the Tampa Bay Times first reported findings in a 2022 document that never made it to state legislators back then that indicated insurers moved large amounts of money to affiliate companies and claimed to lose millions of dollars. The Office of Insurance Regulation paid for the study. It looked at what was going on from 2017 through 2019. Thats bad business: Homeowner said $4000 check bounced from company owned by state lawmaker Perez said the report may suggest some insurance companies were using accounting tricks to hide substantial profits while telling us they were in crisis. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association responded by claiming insurance companies lost money from the storms and rampant legal system abuse. As part of a news release, it wrote that recent news reports about the issue are very misleading and lack an understanding of the reporting, dividend, and capital requirements for insurers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tariff Tension: How tariffs could affect central Florida home prices Speaker Perez is vowing the subcommittee will have the resources to get to the bottom of the issue including, issuing subpoenas, putting witnesses under oath and hiring outside experts. The House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee held its first meeting of the session Wednesday and announced it will call special meetings for this investigation. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) Lawmakers are considering taking away some of the governors power in the states Public Education Department. A new joint resolution, SJR 15, would re-establish a state Board of Education that would pick the secretary of PED. The democratic senator pushing the legislation says its about taking politics out of education. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea behind this is people who have a real interest in the education of children, would be in charge of education in the state of New Mexico, said Senator William Soules, (D-Dona Ana). The sponsor said its an effort to get more educators deciding broad policy for New Mexico schools. Sen. William Soules is proposing a joint resolution that would restructure how the states public education department is run, by re-establishing the state Board of Education. New Mexico used to have a board until 2003 when the Public Education Department was established along with a Secretary of Education, who gets appointed by the governor. Senator Soules legislation would instead create a nine-member board that would appoint a superintendent as the head of the Public Education Department. The idea is that this provides stability so that the education changes that were making have an opportunity to move through and to mature without a new administration that might come in and totally change with a different direction, said Sen. Soules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board would also be able to determine public school policy, including financial powers. Supporters of the bill said its a popular idea among New Mexico school leaders. NMSBA membership from across the state and at our annual conference in December voted to pass a resolution asking the voters to approve a constitutional amendment to re-establish a state board of education, said Lilliemae Ortiz with the New Mexico School Boards Association. While those in opposition said theyre skeptical it will improve the Education Department. There is no body of research to support that the effort to put into making another change to state governance would benefit student outcomes, said Gregory Frostad with the Public Education Department. The sponsor said the board members would be selected by legislative leadership on both sides of the aisle and educational organizations. The governor would get one appointee. Although some committee members expressed concerns about that process, the resolution passed 6-2. The joint resolution is now headed to the Senate floor. As the bill would amend the constitution, it would still need to be approved by voters in the next general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada rendering of a proposed light rail along Maryland Parkway. In 2019 the RTC opted to enhance bus lanes instead. Reno Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch brought forward legislation on Tuesday she hoped would be the first step to potentially bring a regional rail system to Southern and Northern Nevada. Assembly Bill 256, heard Tuesday at the Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections, would create a Regional Rail Transit Advisory Working Group to assess the need for mass transit via rail in the states largest metro areas, as well as potential funding sources for such a system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group would submit legislative recommendations for the 2027 Legislative Session. A fully functioning regional transit system with rail is not a-one session bill, La Rue Hatch said. This is the first step in getting there. Rail transit would ease traffic and congestion while reducing emissions that exacerbate climate change, La Rue Hatch said. There have been previous efforts to assess feasibility of rail transit systems in Las Vegas and Reno by regional transportation groups, La Rue Hatch noted. State lawmakers even passed legislation in 2017 authorizing Southern Nevada to pursue a light rail system. Upon consideration, Southern Nevada officials in 2019 opted to enhance the bus system instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement La Rue Hatch said there was never a plan for how we would make those things get off the ground, adding discussions and studies assessing regional rail systems were all happening in silos without much coordination. The legislature is not fully informed on how we can help support this, she said. The aim of the bill would be to consolidate efforts, build on the work thats already being done and bring recommendations to the legislature, she said. La Rue Hatch was joined by Gabe Christenson, legislative director for SMART TD, which represents railroad conductors, and Anne Macquarie with the Nevada Rail Coalition, an advocacy group made up of railroad unions and environmental groups, in presenting the bill to the committee on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christenson said with an increased number of people relocating to Nevada, transportation infrastructure is struggling to keep up with demand. Building new roads or even expanding existing roads is a massive financial endeavor that takes a very long time, he said. In many cases, by the time the projects are done, its already time to start expanding again. While it would be up to the working group to assess funding sources to pay for a potential rail system, there are billions of dollars available annually in the form of federal grants for new passenger rail projects, he said. Neither Christenson nor any of the lawmakers discussed how efforts by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, an unelected adviser and director of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, to slash government services and funding federal cuts could stymie efforts to use federal dollars for a potential regional rail system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation also proposed looking at state, private and nonprofit dollars as potential funding sources. Macquarie said rail systems bring economic benefits to communities. Property taxes in the areas surrounding stations can quadruple when theyre developed with businesses that serve rail passengers, she said, while contributing to meeting the states environmental, economic and quality of life goals. The working group outlined in the bill would include representatives from Clark and Washoe Counties, both counties Regional Transportation Commissions, state lawmakers, labor unions, as people with expertise in rail transit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study bill received overwhelming support from business groups and environmental organizers. Reno Ward 4 City Councilwoman Meghan Ebert was the lone local elected official to testify in support of the bill. Ebert, who represents a more rural area of Reno, said the number one concern she hears from constituents is about the lack of transit infrastructure and ways to get in and out of the North valley into the rest of Reno. I think this is a great option to move this forward and find ways to include light rail or whatever type of train system the study decides is feasible, Ebert said. Both the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County supported the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Hillerby, a lobbyist with the RTC in Washoe, said the county is in the middle of its own feasibility study using outside consultants, but didnt specify a timeline for when it would be completed. The Vegas Chamber also supported the bill, requesting the working group include a member from the chamber as well. La Rue Hatch said she was open to adding a representative for a trade association or Chamber of Commerce. The committee took no action on the bill. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Lawmakers have put forward legislation that would allow State Board of Education members to have more of a say in Oklahoma education. For me, the way I look at this is if were going to have a board overseeing how taxpayer dollars are being spent and the education of our kids, then the board members should be able to have some say on the agenda items, said House Speaker Kyler Hilbert (R-Bristow). Hilbert is pushing for the amendment which would allow board members to introduce an item at the monthly board meetings. According to the legislation, two members would agree, and then that item would be added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, repurposed House Bill 1491 to allow board members to place items on their meeting agendas. Many lawmakers on both sides if the aisle endorsed the measure. Stitt-appointed OSBE members clash with Supt. Walters As of right now, the law states that the Superintendent of Public Instruction has all the say in what goes on the agenda. That is Ryan Walters. Governor Stitt recently appointed three new members to the board of education after Walters proposed a rule to count undocumented students and their families. Do your job, said Stitt at a presser after his announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the following board meeting where the new members brought up that they had concerns surrounding the proposed rule and wanted to discuss it or take action. But they found out they couldnt take action, that it was up to the superintendent as to what goes on the agenda. Why am I even here? asked new board member Ryan Deatherage during the meeting. Now, lawmakers appear to be stepping in to try and give them more power at the meetings. This isnt about Supt. Walters. This isnt about Governor Stitt. I want to take the focus of everything that were doing and bring it back to the students, said Speaker Hilbert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters responded to the push from lawmakers in part with, Ill let them argue over this like kids in a schoolyard kickball game. Im going to focus on fighting for the best interests of Oklahomas parents and students. Attorney General Gentner Drummond responded by approving of the move by lawmakers in part saying, I applaud our legislative leaders for doing what they can to clean up the mess that Gov. Stitt and Supt. Walters have made of our public education system. It passed Wednesday morning but still must go through the Senate and the governor. Supt. Walters responded saying, Governor Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond want to continue to play politics with President Trumps mandates. Ill let them argue over this like kids in a schoolyard kickball game. Im going to focus on fighting for the best interest for Oklahomas parents and students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Mar. 5The nation's largest teachers union filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in New Hampshire against the U.S. Department of Education, looking to stop enforcement of a directive threatening to pull federal funding from schools with race-based programming, arguing it violates free speech rights of teachers and students. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Concord by the National Education Association (NEA) along with the National Education Association New Hampshire (NEA-NH), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU-NH, is the second lawsuit to challenge the DOE's Feb. 14 "Dear Colleague" letter, which threatened federal funding cuts for education institutions nationwide if they engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts; and a 14-day window before "appropriate measures" would be taken. The American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association sued the department over the letter on Feb. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit argues the DOE overstepped its legal authority by imposing "unfounded and vague legal restrictions" that violate due process and the First Amendment, limit academic freedom, and dictate what educators can teach and what students are allowed to learn. "Across the country educators do everything in their power to support every student, no matter where they live, how much their family earns, or the color of their skin, ensuring each feels safe, seen, and is prepared for the future," Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said. "We're urging the court to block the Department of Education from enforcing this harmful and vague directive and protect students from politically motivated attacks that stifle speech and erase critical lessons." The lawsuit challenges the letter on four legal grounds: violation of the First Amendment (unconstitutionally restricts speech by prohibiting educators from teaching about race, diversity, equity, and inclusion); violation of the Fifth Amendment (fails to define key terms and practices); violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (imposes new legal obligations without the required process and justification); and claims the letter misrepresents the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. Advocates say the decision in that case only addressed race as a formal admissions factor in higher education, and did not ban curriculum, student groups, DEI programming, or race-neutral diversity initiatives. The lawsuit argues the DOE has no authority to dictate curriculum or educational programs, and that federal law protects educational institutions' ability to shape their own curriculum, including programs that reflect and celebrate diversity. "Like New Hampshire's classroom censorship law that we successfully challenged in court, this unconstitutionally vague letter is an attack on educators who are simply doing their job," said Gilles Bissonnette, legal director of the ACLU of New Hampshire. "Teachers are already reporting being afraid to teach for fear of having their teaching deemed unlawful, and that deprives Granite State students of the complete education that they deserve." SALEM, Va. (WFXR) The Salem Veterans Affairs (VA) Department held its quarterly town hall meeting Wednesday afternoon, and after what was scheduled on the agenda, things took a turn once the meeting shifted to open discussion. With more employees laid off across the VA nationwide, officials took questions from people in attendance at their facility. Executive Director of healthcare Rebecca Stackhouse confirmed employees had been laid off in Salem, but did not hint to how many. She also said the decision to cut employees was out of their control, and the people who lost their jobs were probationary workers and did not provide direct care to patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was something nobody at the VA wanted to happen. You never want to lose employees, and you never want to have staff turnover that is not up to the employee, who is not making that choice, Stackhouse said. It was challenging for us to navigate. Volvo confirms 250+ layoffs coming to New River Valley truck assembly plant Even though people there complimented the Salem VA for its work, some were still not happy with what officials had to say. Its not a good business plan to cut your employees when youve increased the number of vets that are coming in, and that need these special programs under the Pact Act, Bridget Kelley, a protestor in support of veterans, said. I think thats bad business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stackhouse said its unclear how many more employees at Salem could be affected, but wanted to reassure the people there that they are committed to giving veterans the best healthcare they can. We have the best staff, Stackhouse said. We have the most dedicated, mission-focused staff that Ive had the pleasure of being able to work with. Stackhouse also said some of the employees have picked up additional work amid the layoffs to make sure service remains uninterrupted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. A massive wave of layoffs, closures and furloughs has hit workers and companies tied to the manufacturing, distribution and freight sectors in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Since Jan. 20, there have been 14,357 job cuts, according to media reports and Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices. Food processors and distributors hit hard Among the companies facing layoffs this month, major food processors and distributors Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors, Cargill Inc., Archer-Daniels-Midland Inc., Foster Farms, and Perdue Farms all reported significant job cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detroit-based Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors is shutting down all its operations across the U.S. and laying off about 1,500 workers by April 21. In WARN notices, Harvest Sherwood cited rising costs and a diminished market for its products as the reasons for the shutdown. The company, one of the largest meat and seafood distributors in the country, has facilities in Michigan, Florida and Oregon. Farm giant Cargill Inc. will close a Springdale, Arkansas, turkey processing plant with 1,100 workers on Aug. 1, the company announced Jan. 28. Minneapolis-based Cargill has not confirmed why its shutting down the Springdale facility but said production is being shifted to processing plants in Missouri and Virginia. In December, Cargill announced it would be reducing its global workforce by 5% as a long-term strategy to strengthen Cargills impact, The Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grain producer and distributor Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) posted its lowest fourth-quarter profit in six years last month and said it would eliminate up to 700 workers to streamline its operations. Chicago-based ADM has a global workforce of more than 40,000. The company has not specified where it would be conducting layoffs. In the U.S, ADM has locations in 11 states. Automotive sector sees over 2,000 job cuts The automotive industry in the U.S. and Mexico saw widespread layoffs in January and February due streamlining operations, weaker sales and a slowing transition to electric vehicles. In February, electric truck maker Nikola Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after years of struggling financially. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Phoenix-based manufacturer of zero-emissions trucks was founded in 2014 by Trevor Milton. The founder resigned shortly after and was later convicted of securities fraud and wire fraud in 2022 for misleading investors about Nikolas technology and operations. As part of its bankruptcy filing, Nikola Corp. said it plans to lay off over 900 workers in Arizona and California. Goodyear Tires plans to cut about 850 jobs at a plant in Danville, Virginia, by the end of the year. The Akron, Ohio-based company said the cuts are part of a plan to repurpose the Danville facility for rubber mixing and aviation tire production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bridgestone Tires plans to close its truck and bus radial tire plant in LaVergne, Tennessee, by July 31. The closure will impact 700 workers. The closure is related to the plants age, along with shifting production to its facility in Morrison, Tennessee. General Motors laid off 800 workers at a plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, due to operational adjustments, the company said. With the goal of increasing operational efficiency at General Motors Ramos Arizpe, starting on January 20, the Assembly Plant returned to a two-shift operation, GM told Mexico Business News. On Monday, Volkswagen laid off 156 workers from its operation in Puebla, Mexico. The company said the workforce reduction was due to switching to a new parts supplier and streamlining production at its assembly plant. 3PLs and trucking companies also report layoffs DHL Supply Chain plans to close a facility in Union City, Georgia, and lay off 614 employees, according to a state filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility is near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and the job reductions will take effect starting April 6. The company did not provide a reason for the closure. Smart & Final Logistics is cutting 217 workers from a logistics warehouse operation in Riverside, California. The layoffs will be finalized April 21. The company did not provide a reason for the worker reduction. Parcel carrier UPS is closing facilities in Maryland and Florida, eliminating 146 jobs. Swiss logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel Inc. is closing two facilities in Illinois and California, resulting in 109 job cuts. Carriers announcing recent layoffs include SDK Logistics, 10 Roads Express and Together Logistics LLC. Canada pantyhose maker said tariffs caused furloughs Montreal-based pantyhose-maker Sheertex is temporarily laying off 40% of its staff partly due to tariffs the U.S. has placed on Canadian goods, the CBC reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheertex CEO Katherine Homuth said the company does about 85% of its sales in the U.S. and her business would be hurt by the 25% tariff, as well as the removal of the de minimis exemption. CompanyCityTypeReasonLayoff dateNumber of layoffs The post Layoffs hit over 14,300 workers tied to freight sectors in US, Canada, Mexico appeared first on FreightWaves. Former Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess recently won preliminary plan approval to build 606 homes in Rockvale school zones. The Burgess Farms subdivision, under the legal owner name of Burgess Property LLC, will be built on 713 acres in the rural Midland Road area on the south side of Rutherford. Burgess served as mayor from September 2006 to August 2018. This development follows the former mayor selling 576 acres of another farm on Franklin Road (state route 96) on Rutherford's west side for the county-government approved Del Webb Southern Harmony development in 2020 to build 1,150 homes for owners aged 55 and up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission led by chairman Pettus Read unanimously approved the preliminary plans on Feb. 24 that include three off-site intersection improvements for Burgess Farms. "Its a farm Mayor Burgess has had for many years and farmed," said Read, who owns and operates a 40-acre farm in the Versailles community on the far southwest side of Rutherford. Read also serves as an elected county commissioner with a district representing the Rockvale community and schools located southwest of Murfreesboro. The development plan complies with existing zoning previously established by the County Commission for lot sizes ranging from 15,000 square feet (over a third of an acre) to 5 acres, Read said. Residential development: 1,150-home Del Webb retirement community on Ernest Burgess farm backed by planners Development in school zone with 10 portable classrooms This map in the center shows 713 acres in diagonal lines where developer Ernest Burgess, the former Rutherford County mayor, plans to build Burgess Farms subdivision of 606 homes off Midland, Panther Creek, Oak Grove and Carlton roads on the south side. The plan calls for 522 homes being on a minimum 15,000 square-foot lots and 84 homes on lots ranging from an acre to 5 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The developer also is donating about 3.2 acres for a future public health and safety building that can serve as combined fire and ambulance stations, Planning Director Doug Demosi told the appointed planning commissioners. Burgess Farms will have land set aside for step systems under fields for wastewater from the homes, Read said. The farmland plans will add children to the existing zones for Rockvale Elementary with 956 students, Rockvale Middle with 1,556 students and Rockvale High with 2,014 students, school district records show. Rockvale High also relies on 10 portable classrooms. 'This is bigger than us': School Board seeks improved zoning for Rockvale HS and other schools Burgess will fund 52% of off-site intersection improvements Read said that the development team also completed a traffic study that includes seven entrances for the future Burgess Farms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Planning Commissioners that include Jim Averwater are pleased that Burgess also has offered to pay 52% of the costs to improve and widen three off-site Midland Road intersections impacted by the development at Barfield Crescent, Panther Creek and Walnut Grove roads. "This is revolutionary," Averwater said. He suggested that the county will be looking for other developers to make similar offers in the future to help pay for needed road improvements. Fellow Planning Commissioner Michael Shirley said the roads in question are narrow and lack shoulders to serve the increase in traffic. "The roads have not kept up with that demand," said Shirley, who also is an elected member of the Rutherford County Highway Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fellow Planning Commissioner Jeff Phillips, who's also chairman of the elected county commission, said he's impressed by what the Burgess Farms developers are doing. PlanRutherford: Rutherford County officials discuss planning for rural growth and development Right of way needed for intersection improvements Burgess is working with Murfreesboro-based SEC (Site Engineering Consultants) on the Midland Road development. SEC civil engineer Jamie Reed presented the Burgess Farms plan to the planning commissioners with project attorney Bricke Murfree. Reed said the development team expects to spend over $1 million on roads and will need help from the government to obtain other property for the upgrades for the off-site intersection work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We dont have the right of way to fix these improvements," said Reed, who's the chief executive officer and president of SEC. Planning Commissioner Shirley said the county will face challenges to condemn people's property to improve safety for the benefit of the development owner's plans. "It doesn't sit well to take people's land," Shirley said. Murfreesboro council expands boundary: Annexation and housing development upsets Rockvale neighbors Attorneys crafting development agreement on road funding Murfree said he'll be working on a development agreement on the off-site intersection improvement plans based on the completed traffic study with Rutherford County Attorney Nick Christiansen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Were going to work collaboratively with (county planning and engineering) staff and the planning commission on this," Murfree said. "These intersections need to be improved, either in near future or not-near future." Murfree also told the planning commissioners that there's a huge benefit to long-term planning for 713 acres all at once for the roadway intersections, traffic mitigation and utilities. The approach is different and better than planning for multiple 20- to 30-acre projects, he said. "It's a big piece of property," Murfree said. "It's going to be developed over time." Development issues: 620-home Hidden River Estates plan gets final approval from Murfreesboro City Council Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. Burgess Farms won preliminary approval from the Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission for a 606-home development on 713 on MIdland Road on the south side in the Rockvale school zones. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: 606-home Burgess Farms development in Rutherford County Rockvale TN SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Trump Administration is cracking down on government spending, targeting numerous federal agencies, and now, their office spaces, including some in western Massachusetts. The Department of Government Efficiencys website lists 748 federal properties for lease termination totaling 9,587,384 square feet, bringing approximately $468 million in savings. It includes dozens of offices used by energy and environmental agencies, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and its space in Amherst. The Amherst offices annual lease costs just over $484,000, and terminating the lease will save the government about $80,000. This is just one of several facilities to have their leases terminated in western Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These federal buildings in Massachusetts are targeted for potential sale by the Trump administration Others include The Small Business Administration, the Internal Revenue Service National Office, and the Employment Standards Administration, all in Springfield, estimated to save more than $565,000 combined. While thousands of federal workers have already been fired in the last month, thousands more are likely to face relocations or lose their jobs in the months to come. These lease terminations come as the Trump administration is also requiring federal employees to return full-time to federal offices, when many held remote working status previously. List of leases slated for terminations in Massachusetts Natural Resources Conservation Service in Amherst 22,428 square feet $484,122 annual lease cost $80,687 total savings $80,687 Small Business Administration in Springfield 894 square feet $20,562 annual lease cost $61,686 total savings Internal Revenue Service National Office in Springfield 14,036 square feet $294,206 annual lease cost $465,826 total savings Employment Standards Administration in Springfield 599 square feet $9,995 annual lease cost $38,315 total savings Drug Enforcement Administration at the North Andover Center 5,300 square feet $67,470 total savings $115,664 annual lease cost National Park Service in Lowell 3,900 square feet $149,509 total savings $44,853 annual lease cost Internal Revenue Service National Office in Lowell 36,752 square feet $0 total savings $1,189,592 annual lease cost Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Sutton 1,273 square feet $67,109 total savings $33,554 annual lease cost Agricultural Marketing Service in Everett 2,789 square feet $383,972 total savings $121,254 annual lease cost Geological Survey in Northborough 20,893 square feet $1,494,720 total savings $358,733 annual lease cost Food and Drug Administration in Boylston 2,360 square feet $98,610 total savings $56,349 annual lease cost Internal Revenue Service National Office in Worcester 14,511 square feet $994,040 total savings $361,469 Internal Revenue Service National Office in Southborough 10,787 square feet $1,099,427 total savings $263,862 annual lease cost United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Hadley 72,220 square feet $11,531,053 total savings $1,590,490 annual lease cost Occupation Safety and Health Administration in Andover 4,903 square feet $82,084 total savings $140,716v Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Uxbridge 4,852 square feet $415,728 total savings $101,811 annual lease cost United States Trustees in Worcester 5,506 square feet $0 total savings $165,787 annual lease cost Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. DAMASCUS (Reuters) -Fighters linked to Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad mounted a deadly attack on government forces on Thursday, authorities said, in some of the worst violence against the government since Islamist-led rebels seized power. At least 13 members of the security forces were killed in the clashes in the coastal region of Jableh, the government-aligned Syria TV reported. The regional security chief said many members of the security forces had been killed and wounded in what he described as a well-planned attack carried out by "remnants of the Assad militias". It marked a sharp escalation of tensions in the coastal area that forms the heartland of Assad's Alawite sect and has emerged as a big security challenge for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he works to consolidate his control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three months since Islamist insurgents led by Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham toppled Assad, his efforts to reunite Syria after 13 years of civil war are facing myriad challenges. Among them are Israel's declaration that it won't tolerate HTS having a presence in the southwestern region near the Israeli frontier. Tensions have been particularly acute in the mountainous coastal region where the Syrian government has deployed many of its forces and where residents reported hearing heavy gunfire in several cities and villages as tension spread on Thursday. Thursday's attack involved several groups of Assad-aligned militias who targeted security patrols and checkpoints in the Jableh area and surrounding countryside, the chief of security in Latakia province, Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kunaifati, said. The attack resulted in the death of "many martyrs and wounded among our forces", he added in statements published by the Interior Ministry. Security forces had absorbed the attack in the countryside around Jableh, though clashes were ongoing inside the city, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Assad-led government recruited heavily from the Alawite community for the security apparatus and bureaucracy of the Syrian state, which the Islamist-led authorities are seeking to remake, including through mass sackings. Alawite activists say their community has been subjected to violence and attacks since Assad fell, particularly in rural Homs and Latakia. While Sharaa has pledged to run Syria in an inclusive way, no meetings have been declared between him and senior Alawite figures, in contrast to members of other minority groups such as the Kurds, Christians and Druze. "The Alawites are not organized or united. But the spread of discontent and demonstrations against the regime will embolden militias across Syria, those that oppose the (new) regime and those that presume to speak in the name of the revolution," said Joshua Landis, head of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It may also drive foreign intervention," he said. State news agency SANA reported that security forces in Jableh had detained Ibrahim Huwaija, a top intelligence officer in the time of Assad's late father Hafez. A Syrian defence ministry official said security force operations in the Latakia area aimed to pursue armed groups including known war criminals affiliated with a prominent former Syrian army officer. Authorities declared a curfew in the coastal city of Tartous where protests erupted. A resident said security forces fired guns to disperse crowds. Earlier this week, two members of the defence ministry were killed in the city of Latakia by groups also identified by state media as remnants of pro-Assad militias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tensions have also stirred deadly violence in Syria's southwest this week, with security officials reporting around a dozen people killed in the town of al-Sanamayn in two days of violence on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Reporting by Damascus bureau; Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman and Timour Azhari in Beirut; writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Toby Chopra, Bernadette Baum, Mark Heinrich and Daniel Wallis) Mar. 5One app to talk to friends in another country, another to clock in at work or pay for the laundry machine at an apartment complex the ubiquity of internet services is growing ever more. So, too, is the personal data shared freely across the web. While skimming through a long terms of service agreement might not cause the average user much heartburn, the information being shared or misused just might especially concerning data about a person's health or children. One bill making its way through the New Mexico Legislature seeks to address that problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 410, the Consumer Information and Data Protection Act, would align New Mexico with similar laws in 22 other states. According to the bill's sponsor, Rep. Linda Serrato, D-Santa Fe, it also gives the New Mexico Department of Justice more teeth in punishing bad actors. Serrato said the time to pass this legislation was now because law enforcement can do little to help people when their data is compromised. "It really leaves all New Mexicans vulnerable to the fact that we can't protect our data," Serrato said during the first of two hearings in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee. After the bill was amended, the committee passed the bill on an 8-0 vote during a March 3 hearing, sending it to the House Judiciary Committee for review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serrato told the Journal the enforcement component was among the bill's most important changes. The Consumer Information and Data Protection Act gives the attorney general the power to investigate and fine businesses out of compliance, she added. If passed, businesses could not sell or offer to sell consumer health data without first obtaining consent. They also cannot share health data with employees or contractors unless confidentiality agreements bind those individuals. Additionally, businesses cannot use deceptive or manipulative user interface designs that make it harder for consumers to exercise their data rights, such as pre-ticked boxes, unclear language and no reject button. They also cannot ignore or delay consumer requests to access, correct or delete personal data, opt out of data processing for targeted advertising or profiling, or obtain a copy of their data. Restrictions would also apply to geofencing, a targeted marketing practice that sends tailored advertising to people when they enter a geographic area or, more specifically, mental health, reproductive health or sexual health facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lastly, the bill would require businesses to use assessments to ensure that data is processed in compliance with the law. Serrato noted that this was a piece that other states do not have. The bill would not apply to nonprofit groups and colleges. It would only affect businesses that handle the data of at least 35,000 consumers or have processed data from at least 10,000 consumers and made over 20% of their total income from selling personal data. Most of the bill components are standard among the 22 states with similar laws. But for critics of the bill, that's exactly the problem. Caitriona Fitzgerald, a national advocate for data privacy, testified that measures like this around the U.S. don't go far enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They do little to change the status quo of companies being able to collect and use personal data however they like as long as they tell us what they are doing in a privacy policy that nobody reads," Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald's organization, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, sent a letter to the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee denouncing the bill. "The bill seeks to provide to New Mexico consumers the right to know the information companies have collected about them, the right to access, correct and delete that information, as well as the right to stop the disclosure of certain information to third parties," the letter said. "However, in its current form it would do little to protect New Mexico consumers' personal information, or to rein in major tech companies like Google and Facebook." The letter also called for stronger protections, something Serrato described as unrealistic. When asked if she thought there would be enough time for the bill to pass through both houses before the session's end, Serrato said she's optimistic the bill will pass. I wanted to provide some context regarding talk of changing Pennsylvanias education funding formula. I began my career working in the state Senate for the Education Committee. Public schools are funded with a mix of state, federal and local funds. A key element of the state funding process is the aid ratio, essentially an estimate of the ability of each school district to generate funding through local taxes. There are significant disparities among school districts. For a long time, the state funds were to be used to help balance the differences in local taxing ability. Poorer districts were to receive more state funding per pupil than wealthier districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point, the goal was for Harrisburg to provide half the cost of education statewide. For a long time the state has failed to meet that goal. Unfortunately the 50% requirement was removed from state law, but the challenge remained. A lawsuit on the issue and the consequent adequacy funding is designed to address this gap. Students in poorer districts should not be less supported because of the ability of the community in which they live to generate tax revenues. The goal is for every child to have a quality education. After nearly 30 years of underfunding, the state through the adequacy funding formula is attempting to address this challenge. It is highly unlikely that it will lead our poorest school districts to raise local taxes to qualify for more state funding. The formula really doesnt work that way. David Myers Reading As an American and a supporter of Ukraine, I must apologize to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the disrespect and poor treatment he received during his visit to the White House. This behavior and shouting should not represent the office of the president of the United States and is not conducive to reaching the goal proposed. A person with deal-making skills would not have acted this way. I believe I speak for many in saying that the goal of peace is necessary and can be achieved. Wilhelm Diedrich Reading To the editor: President Trump trumpeted how much he has done since his inauguration ("Trump vows to press ahead on reshaping America in speech to Congress as Democrats register dissent," March 4). But, unfortunately, the volume of action is not matched by careful consideration. Many of the actions he and the Department of Government Efficiency have taken have needed to be walked back, corrected or reversed by the courts. I think the American people deserve an administration that gives more priority to considering the impact of its actions than it does to the speed and volume of those actions. Ken Ziskin, Sherman Oaks .. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To the editor: After watching Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, two things are immediately obvious: The United States of America is the greatest country on the face of the Earth and the adults are back in charge in Washington. Michael Murphy, San Pedro .. To the editor: As a college professor, I focus on identifying teachable moments outside the classroom. Trump's address was a grand slam of teachable moments of cruelty, malevolence, bullying and arrogance. These assertions misdirect the growth and development of our youth. Kevin Anthony, Studio City .. To the editor: The 13-year-old brain cancer survivor lauded by Trump undoubtedly benefited from work done by those at the National Institutes of Health. Left unmentioned was that the NIH was among the agencies cut up by Elon Musk's chainsaw. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hideo Karatsu, Long Beach .. To the editor: All in all, the evening was all one could possibly expect from a Trump spectacle, which it was. And yet I almost missed the presence of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) sitting behind him, waiting to tear up his speech. No, Pelosi was sitting in the gallery with the rest of the glum-faced Democrats, never standing, never applauding. Judging from her facial expression, she actually appeared to be in distress, as did a number of the Democrats. Are they upset about what is happening or what is still to come? Maybe both. Arthur Saginian, Santa Clarita .. To the editor: President Trump said that he was taking back the Panama Canal. What will happen if Mexico decides to take back the Gadsden Purchase, which gave the U.S. portions of what are now Arizona and New Mexico in 1854? And, what if Russia decides to take back Sewards Folly, the deal where it sold Alaska to the U.S. in 1867? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephen Darling, Long Beach .. To the editor: I figured it out: The Republicans' relationship to Trump is like someone in an abusive relationship. The person knows it is bad, yet they refuse to accept it and hope that the abuser will do better, yet it never happens. Democrats are like their best friend, warning them of the nature of the abuser, yet they refuse to listen to the truth. Stephen Mirkin, North Hollywood This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. HONOLULU (KHON2) In the ahupuaa of Waikiki, which lies in the moku of Kona here on Oahu, stands a roadway named after a haole merchant. Were speaking of Lewers Street. Hawaiian language was nearly silenced By the middle of the 1800s, Ireland native Christopher Lewers arrived in Honolulu and started a lumber business. In partnership with a man named Joshua Gill Dickson, the lumber business evolved and was named Lewers & Dickson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10 things to know about the God Squad: How it impacts Hawaii Robert Lewers, who was a cousin to Christopher, arrived from New York and became a carpenter. It was Robert Lewers and a man named Charles Cooke who eventually continued the business under a new name. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You As Lewers & Cooke, the company became one of the largest dealers of lumber and building materials across Hawaii. From its beginnings on Fort Street, Lewers & Cooke eventually moved to what was once 404 Piikoi Street. 7 things to know about U.S.s stalled economy: Hawaii money matters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, the address has changed to 88 Piikoi Street, which is now the site of the Hawaiki Tower condo and the KHON2 News Station. The name of the street, however, remains Piikoi. Hooponopono with Kumu Earl Kawaa | Aloha Authentic Episode 505 In Hawaiian language, the word piikoi can mean to claim honors not rightfully due or to aspire to be the best. But the street name Piikoi is named after High Chief David Kahalepouli Piikoi, father to influential sons. Given the title of Prince, his sons included Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, David Kawananakoa and Edward Keliiahonui. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together, these three royal brothers introduced the art of surfing with the west coast of America while attending college. Check out more news from around Hawaii And it was through the works of Prince Kuhio as a Delegate to the US Congress that today, we have what is known as Hawaiian Homelands. Did you know? Now you do! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Gavin Newsom, the California governor who is seen as a likely 2028 presidential hopeful, is under fire from liberals and progressives for his friendly interview with Charlie Kirk, which featured Newsom agreeing with the MAGA provocateur on trans athlete bans and other culture war issues. Gavin Newsom is trash and always has been, one Bluesky user noted about the Newsom-Kirk sitdown. In the aftermath of Republicans taking control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Newsom announced last month that he was launching a new podcast that would feature prominent Trump world figures for spirited discussions. The governor pointed to his high-profile appearances on Fox News, including a 2023 debate against Ron DeSantis moderated by Sean Hannity, as proof the project could work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We already know what our disagreements are with the MAGA movement. I want to understand what the motivations are, the legitimacy of those motivations, and just really understand where people are coming from, he said about the launch of This Is Gavin Newsom. They are influential they are. They explain more things in more ways on more days about whats going on and if were not trying to understand their motivations, we will be victims of their motivations. At the time, Newsom declined to reveal who his first few guests would be on the podcast, but hinted that they would be fairly well-known figures in Trump world. I dont want to lose these folks by letting their names out there, he said, adding: Look at the lineup at CPAC. Its that crew. California Gov. Gavin Newsom interviews Charlie Kirk on debut episode of podcast, agreeing with the conservative activist on trans athlete bans and other culture war issues. (iHeartRadio) Ahead of the first episode of the podcast dropping on Thursday, Newsom posted a photo of him and Kirk the founder of MAGA youth advocacy group Turning Point USA standing together and smiling. The revelation that the governor had made the far-right activist and Trump acolyte his first podcast guest was enough to spark outrage among many on the left, even before the episode went live. The first guest on Gavin Newsom's podcast was Charlie Kirk is more than enough for me to say absolutely not to any suggestion Newsom play any role in the future of the Democratic Party, attorney Max Kennerly wrote on Bluesky. People like him are the past, the failures, the ones who got us here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes you see something that makes you realize that another person's mind is just always going to be a locked door to you, a total mystery, games journalist Ian Boudreau stated. Impenetrable. For me that was Gavin Newsom making his debut podcast episode a talk with Charlie Kirk. Center for International Policy chief editor Kelsey Atherton snarked that Newsom would have put down the Bell Riots with tanks and napalm I can tell you that much, referencing a 1995 Deep Space Nine episode about a fictional civil disturbance that took place in 2024 San Francisco. The criticism of Newsom only escalated after his interview with Kirk aired. During the episode, the governor asked Kirk to give him advice for his party while also agreeing with the ultra-conservative activist that Democrats were in the wrong when it came to protecting trans athletes in sports. I think its an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness its deeply unfair, Newsom, who has long touted his LGBTQ advocacy, declared. I am not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, after Newsom said that Republicans were able to weaponize that issue at another level, Kirk challenged him over the use of the term weaponize, prompting the governor to demur and change it to highlight. The exceedingly friendly chat with Kirk and his agreement on trans athletes and other hot-button social issues only drew more backlash from the left. If you want to understand the DNC's relationship with trans people you have to ask yourself why Montana, Nebraska, and Oklahoma had openly trans legislators before California and New York (which still have never had any), ACLU communications strategist Gillian Branstetter reacted. Who do Democrats think is the audience for Gavin Newsom in a podcast with Charlie Kirk, former Washington Post reporter Christopher Ingraham wondered, while podcast host Andy Levy flatly said it was utterly contemptible how Newsom readily embraced Kirks viewpoints. I know we all know this absolute toad of a man is scum but it truly cannot be overstated just how much he sucks and looks like you threw a Bond villain and the rich property developer who wants to close the Community Center in an 80s kid movie in the Fly machine, comics writer Zoe Tunnell shared in a post. This is Dem leadership. While progressives torched the Democratic governor for his congenial sitdown with the TPUSA founder, Kirk was busy gleefully retweeting clips of Newsom proclaiming that his 13-year-old son was a massive fan of Kirks. Lidl has attacked Tesco after the supermarket giant launched an 11th-hour bid to block a new branch of the German discounter. Tesco has been accused of unfairly exploiting the planning system to scupper Lidls expansion plans. It comes after Tesco lodged a third objection in as many years to plans for a new Lidl on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The objection has been raised just before a hearing on the proposals on Thursday evening. Adam Forsdick at Lidl accused Tesco of objecting to the plans only to prevent competition for a nearby Tesco. Tesco insists it does not object to nearby stores on the basis of loss of trade and is simply questioning the quality of data used by Lidl in its application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Forsdick said: Competitors remain intent on putting up roadblocks that only serve to prevent households from getting access to the quality and value that Lidl offers. Whilst they maintain that their objections are based on material planning considerations, its been clear over the last three years that the delays incurred have benefitted only them. The allegations of dirty tricks, which Tesco denies, come days after Co-op admitted to unfairly blocking rivals from opening branches near its stores on more than 100 occasions. Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer have also been rebuked in the past for breaching rules meant to stop supermarkets blocking rivals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two German discounters are not beholden to the same rules, as they were still very small in the UK when the regime was created in 2010. Last year Richard Walker, Icelands chief executive, claimed Aldi and Lidl were using legal tricks to stop their rivals from opening nearby. In 2023, Giles Hurley, Aldis UK chief executive, said larger supermarkets were seeking to stop customers switching away by slowing down openings. Swale borough council initially granted Lidl planning permission for its Isle of Sheppey shop. However, both Tesco and Aldi objected in 2023 and 2024. The pair sought to overturn the decision, citing concerns including that the new out-of-town Lidl outlet could stop people coming into the town centre as often. In November, Aldi was successful in getting Lidls planning permission overturned by the High Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council officers have since recommended the scheme be approved again. Ahead of a planning committee meeting this week, Tesco has lodged a fresh set of objections. It argued that some of the data used by Lidl to support its case for the store was outdated. Tesco declined to comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Massachusetts is a mecca for cutting-edge science. New changes in how the federal government plans to fund research are sending a chill through many local laboratories. Many scientists are trying to figure out if they can continue their work with deep budget cuts. My group and I study the evolution of disease, in particular, the evolution of cancers, said John Quackenbush, Ph.D., the chair of the department of biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Our goal is to identify the point in time, the place where those changes occur, with the idea that we can intervene and block cancer from progressing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Quackenbush is usually thinking about curing cancer, hes now trying to think of a way to keep his research alive after a sudden announcement by the National Institutes of Health. The federal governments leading provider of scientific research funds said they were capping the money institutions could receive for indirect costs at 15%. Were all scrambling to try to figure out how we would make this work. Where we would find the additional money. We cant just set up a GoFundMe page. Indirect costs cover things like rent, utilities, support staff and grant management. Quackenbush said the federal government already has stringent oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process of determining the indirect cost rate is a rigorous one. Every few years representatives from the government visit the institution. They do a thorough audit. My hunch is that we would be better of with less, and not any government funding, but its a controversial question. Theres not a trivial right or wrong answer to that, said Jeffrey Miron, vice president for research at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank that promotes less government. But that doesnt mean he thinks the Trump Administrations approach is good. Because theyre not cutting the underlying funding. Theyre disrupting. Theyre creating a lot of confusion and anxiety and messiness of the activities, many of which are totally productive, and not having the conversation of, should we be funding this activity in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of Alzheimers research believe theyd pass any litmus test like that. Theyve seen big steps forward for the roughly seven million Americans who currently have the disease. The scientific progress has been extraordinary, said Jim Wessler, CEO of the MA/NH chapter of the Alzheimers Association. Ive been at this for 27 years and I would say the last five years have just been remarkable. Thats thanks to better diagnostic tools and the first drugs that can slow the progression of Alzheimers Disease. Today, Wessler is worried, particularly for patients currently in clinical trials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With therapeutics that are now in phase 2, some even phase 3 clinical trials, and the idea that those would just be frozen for families that are looking for anything that will help their loved ones is extraordinarily concerning. Another concern is the regional economy. The NIH distributed about $3.5 billion to 219 Massachusetts organizations in fiscal 2024. Thats the highest amount per capita in the country. Every dollar invested in research here creates $2-$3 in economic activity. Theres no doubt that the uncertainty about these federal NIH grants trickles down to every level of our economy, said Greg Reibman, the president and CEO of the Charles River Regional Chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will impact whos able to go out to eat at a restaurant, who is able to hire a babysitter, whos able to purchase their next car. Some of the largest recipients of NIH grants in Massachusetts include Mass General, Brigham and Womens, Boston Childrens, and the UMass Medical School in Worcester. Like many of the cost cutting measures initiated by President Trump and Elon Musk, this one is now being challenged in the courts. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Mar. 5LIMA A Lima man has been found competent to stand trial Monday after being deemed temporarily incompetent in August. Allen County Common Pleas Judge Terri Kohlrieser reviewed a report written by a psychologist about defendant Bryan Booth before making the decision. "It is the opinion of the evaluator, Dr. Sirkin, psychologist, that the defendant currently does understand the nature and objectives of the charges pending against him and is capable of cooperating with his attorney in preparing a defense," Kohlrieser wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Booth, 56, was found incompetent for trial but restorable within one year due to mental illness, he was transported to the Northwest Ohio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital in Toledo. Booth is facing a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, due to allegedly hitting someone in the head with a baton in a domestic dispute May 25, according to court documents. He reportedly told officers, "He's not going to be anywhere, I hurt him, I killed him just about." Court documents said the victim was transported to Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center and needed 11 staples and two stitches in his head. Featured Local Savings Mar. 5LIMA A Lima man was deemed competent for trial Tuesday after his attorney from the public defender's office requested he receive a mental evaluation in February. Allen County Common Pleas Judge Terri Kohlrieser made the decision after reviewing a report on defendant James Bailey that was written by a clinical psychologist. Now that the case has resumed, a final pretrial was set for March 27 and a jury trial was scheduled to begin April 14. Bailey also waived his right to a speedy trial Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey is facing second- and fourth-degree felony charges of felonious assault and domestic violence for an incident that occurred Dec. 13. According to a statement of facts provided in court documents by Allen County Sheriff's Detective Brett Rider, deputies responded to a domestic violence situation with the victim at the hospital with a swollen shut right ear and eye and at least one possible rib fracture. The victim said Bailey, 48, caused the injuries. When deputies arrived at the scene, "James Bailey barricaded himself in the residence, refusing to exit, stating he would shoot any officer that approached his residence. James was known to be in possession of a .22 caliber rifle," Rider wrote. The SWAT and hostage negotiation teams responded to the scene, and a search warrant was issued. Several hours later, Bailey was taken into custody. Bailey is being held in the Allen County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451. Featured Local Savings Mar. 5LIMA A Lima man was sentenced to 120 days in jail and four years of probation after being found guilty of abduction, a third-degree felony, by a jury in January. Arthur Brown III, 25, must also complete anger management counseling, seek and maintain full-time employment and obtain a GED. He received 48 days of jail credit for time spent in custody while the case was pending. Allen County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Reed found that he showed genuine remorse for the incident that occurred Sept. 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the trial, prosecutors said an argument between Brown and his girlfriend resulted in a broken front window that occurred when Brown threw the woman's phone; texted threats Brown made to the woman's life; and the woman feeling like she couldn't leave the house due to Brown holding a kitchen knife while blocking the exits. Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451. Featured Local Savings Credit: Holy See Press Office Pope Francis recorded and released an audio message on Thursday thanking those who had been praying for his recovery, his voice breathless after nearly three weeks in hospital with pneumonia. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square, I accompany you from here. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pope spoke in his native Spanish in the message, which was played in St Peters Square at the start of a prayer for his recovery. Doctors said they did not expect to provide a new medical update until Saturday as the Popes condition was stable. His prognosis remains guarded, meaning he is not out of danger. #PopeFrancis sends audio message of thanks to people who are praying for his health. It was played at the beginning of the rosary in St. Peter's Square. pic.twitter.com/7CDbme1gni Catholic News Service Rome (@CatholicNewsSvc) March 6, 2025 The Vatican said the Pontiff continued respiratory and other physical therapy on Thursday, and that he worked, rested and prayed from the 10th-floor papal suite at Romes Gemelli hospital. The Pope has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical mask to guarantee that his lungs expand properly overnight and help his recovery. Nuns listen to the Popes message in St Peters Square - Christopher Furlong/Getty He has been transitioning to receiving high-flow oxygen with a nasal tube during the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 88-year-old, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been stable for three full days after suffering two respiratory crises on Monday. The Vatican said the evening rosary prayer for Francis would be presided over by Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, the deputy official in charge of the Vaticans department for religious orders. The Pope celebrates the Holy mass of the Epiphany in St Peters Basilica on Jan 6, but no new pictures have been released during his hospital stay - Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty The department is headed by Sister Simona Brambilla, the first nun to be prefect of a major Holy See office. When Francis appointed her in January, he simultaneously named Cardinal Artime as pro-prefect in a sign that he foresaw there were some functions only an ordained priest could perform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pope was supposed to attend a spiritual retreat this weekend with the rest of the Holy See hierarchy. On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would go ahead without the Pope but in spiritual communion with him. The theme, selected before the Pontiffs illness, was hope in eternal life. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. People who gathered in St. Peters Square in Vatican City on Thursday to pray for Pope Francis got quite a surprise right at the start of the event. They unexpectedly heard an audio message from the pope himself, who expressed his gratitude for the support hes received from near and far during his ongoing hospitalization. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square; I accompany you from here, Pope Francis said in the audio message, per America magazine. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you. #PopeFrancis sends audio message of thanks to people who are praying for his health. It was played at the beginning of the rosary in St. Peter's Square. pic.twitter.com/7CDbme1gni Catholic News Service Rome (@CatholicNewsSvc) March 6, 2025 The pope sounds different than normal in the recording, as if hes short of breath and congested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats to be expected, since hes battling double pneumonia. The latest update on the popes health from the Holy See Press Office said that the prognosis remains guarded but that his clinical condition is stable. He did not experience any episodes of respiratory insufficiency today, the Thursday statement said. Pope Francis' clinical condition remained stable today, and he did not experience any episodes of respiratory insufficiency, according to the Holy See Press Office on Thursday evening.https://t.co/fa4Jz95mWS pic.twitter.com/MYsho2J5UM Vatican News (@VaticanNews) March 6, 2025 Vatican officials also announced that there will not be another update on the pope until Saturday. Since he entered the hospital with bronchitis on Feb. 14, theres been at least one update every day. The shift in the schedule could be a sign that Pope Francis' condition is definitely improving, but it could also stem from the fact that pneumonia is often slow to respond to treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In treating pneumonia, you have to have patience and wait for the therapies to produce a definite effect; the doctors cannot say something new every day given that the situation is stable, said Dr. Anna Lisa Bilotta, who works in the Salvator Mundi International Hospital in Rome and is not treating the pope, to America magazine. In addition to recording the unexpected audio message, the pope spent time on Thursday working, praying and resting. Before lunch he received the Eucharist, America reported. Lithuania officially withdrew from the international convention on cluster munitions on Thursday due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. More than 120 countries have signed the convention, which prohibits the acquisition, use and production of the weapons. The parliament in Vilnius decided in July to withdraw from the agreement, which Lithuania joined in 2008. Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said the withdrawal was not just about the type of weapons Lithuania plans to buy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on Lithuanian radio, she said it was also about sending a "strategic message" that Lithuania was prepared to "use absolutely everything" if necessary. Cluster munitions are missiles and bombs that burst in the air above their target, scattering many small explosive devices. They are controversial mainly because a significant proportion of them fail to detonate and land on the ground as duds, where they endanger civilians. However, the government in Vilnius views cluster munitions as a highly effective defence measure. It also notes that, apart from Norway, no state sharing a border with Russia has signed the cluster munitions convention. Lithuania borders the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia's ally Belarus, neither of which have joined the cluster munitions convention. The war in Ukraine is seen as a direct threat to national security in the Baltic state. Lithuania formally withdrew on March 6 from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty that bans the production and distribution of this controversial weaponry. The Lithuanian parliament voted to exit the treaty last July, leading to Vilnius submitting documents for withdrawal in the autumn of that year. The six-month deadline for leaving the convention expired on March 6. Cluster munitions, weapons that disperse hundreds of smaller "bomblets" in a wide area upon impact, have seen extensive use during Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. Russian forces have repeatedly deployed this weapon in civilian areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. began providing Ukraine with cluster munitions in the summer of 2023, provided they are used outside of populated zones against Russian forces in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. are not parties to the convention, which includes over 110 countries worldwide. The weaponry is seen as posing a risk to civilians as some of the bomblets often fail to explode, presenting danger to local populations for years after the war. Lithuania, which lies at NATO's eastern flank and borders Russia's ally Belarus and the heavily armed exclave of Kaliningrad, argued that it requires all possible means to deter potential aggression, especially since Russia uses the weaponry as well, the LRT broadcaster reported. Lithuanian officials pledged to minimize potential risks by implementing algorithms that would prevent the munitions from failing to detonate. The Baltic country is also examining alternatives to cluster munitions but sees the withdrawal from the treaty as a strategic message to potential opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vilnius is also mulling a withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines. "I think that we will have the final decision in the spring," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said regarding the treaty on land mines. Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The Little Rock NAACP branch will commemorate the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday with a march this weekend. The march will be held Sunday, March 9 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will begin in the parking lot of Dickey Stephens Stadium at 400 Broadway Street in North Little Rock. The march will go across the Broadway bridge to Little Rock City Hall at 300 Main Street. Black Lives Matter painting to be removed from street near White House, mayor says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Little Rock NAACP branch is holding the march to celebrate the March 7, 1965, march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The march, which was led by activist John Lewis, was a statement to demand African Americans the right to vote. Civil rights activists call for a Target boycott after retailer backs away from diversity programs Months later, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. For more information on the Little Rock NAACP branch, visit LRNAACP.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Frank Curran of Walpole is a mainstay at the U.S.S. Jacob Jones VFW Hall in Dedham, serving as quartermaster. He became the posts commander back in 1971 at the age of 25. Now I am 74, and I am still around, Curran laughed. He was drafted to serve in the army during the Vietnam War, where he spent a year overseas. Curran said he began receiving healthcare from the Department of Veterans Affairs about 10 years ago after he lost his job. At that point, he had survived colon cancer. Curran continues to depend on the VA to receive routine colonoscopies to ensure he stays cancer-free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im truly happy with the treatment that I get at the VA right now. Ive had operations there. Theyre easy to deal with, he said. Curran told Boston 25 News that he saw the video shared Wednesday by Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins on the social media platform X. The days of kicking the can down the road are over. We owe Americas Veterans solutions! pic.twitter.com/KDHMefOWOH VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) March 5, 2025 In the four-minute video, Collins explained how the department plans to restructure the VA, including their effort to eliminate what they call Waste and bureaucracy through a 15 percent workforce reduction. That would turn its current 470,000 employees to 389,000. According to the Associated Press, 25 percent of the VAs workforce is comprised of veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to accomplish this without making cuts to healthcare or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries, Collins said. He added, The federal government does not exist to employ people. It exists to serve people. Curran said he came away from watching the video feeling cautiously optimistic about the changes planned. Its early in the administration. They claim theyre going to take care of the veterans, and well see if they live up to their claims. He said veterans will have the right to resist if the department doesnt follow through and their care is impacted. According to a memorandum from the VAs Chief of Staff, the department will publish its reorganization plan this June. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Residents of Lakewood and Puyallup may soon see a slight increase in their electric and natural gas bills. Puget Sound Energy announced last week that it has gone to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to raise those rates. The requested changes are proposed to be effective on April 1, 2025, PSE said in a news release. According to tables from PSE, residents in every city it covers who use who use 800 kilowatts per month will see a decrease in one cent each month for both their electric and natural gas bills except for Lakewood and Puyallup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average American used 899 kilowatts of electricity per month in 2022. For electricity, residents in Lakewood who use 800 kilowatts per month would pay an extra $1.33 a month under the proposed changes. Those in Puyallup who use 800 kilowatts would pay an extra $2.40. When it comes to natural gas, residents in Lakewood who use 64 therms per month will pay $1.11 extra, while those in Puyallup who use 64 therms will pay $1.99. PSE told the News Tribune that the increases for Lakewood and Puyallup customers would happen because those cities recently raised their utility taxes. Because that increased tax makes it more expensive for PSE to operate in those cities, PSE would pass that down to its customers if the UTC approves the changes. The UTC allows PSE to increase the amount it charges its customers to recover the cost of a city/county utility tax levy and the additional expenses associated with collection of the utility tax, PSE said in an email to The News Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Lakewood sent an email to The News Tribune saying they increased rates for electric and gas from 5% to 6% on Jan. 1, 2025. Prior to Jan. 1, 2025, Lakewood levied a 5% tax gross income for electric and gas services and 6% of gross income for solid waste, cable, cellular phone, landlines and storm drainage, Brynn Grimley, spokesperson for the City of Lakewood, wrote. The rate on electric and gas increased from 5% to 6% with the 2025-2026 biennial budget adoption. Grimley also said residents who use Lakeview Light & Power can expect to see an average monthly increase of $1.08 due to the new tax rate. Bonney Lake, Buckley, Carbonado, University Place and Fife all have 6% taxes on electricity and natural gas. This new increased utility tax rate brings Lakewood in alignment with the majority of surrounding cities, Grimley wrote. It is also consistent with the utility tax on phone/cell, cable TV, solid waste and stormwater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grimley told The News Tribune that the tax increase will bring $500,000 in revenue. Grimley said that money will be used to fund four police officer positions. These are not new positions rather, the funding will allow the city to keep four of its existing police officers. Public safety is a priority of the City Council, so cutting police positions would not be something they would want to see done because of public safety, Grimley said. If we couldnt come up with the funding, wed have to look at where else wed get it and if we dont get the funding, wed have to eliminate positions. In Puyallup, the city increased its utility tax on PSE from 4.2% in 2024 to 6% in 2025. This will bring in $1.1 million in revenue for the city, said Eric Johnson, spokesperson for the City of Puyallup, in an email to The News Tribune. [The revenue] will go towards funding the Public Safety Building project, Johnson wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Puyallup City Council approved a lease for a new police station on Aug. 20, 2024. The city plans to move its police station to the Benaroya Business and Technology Center near Bradley Lake Park. The project also includes revamping the aging police station downtown into a police substation. The jail will also remain downtown. Voters rejected a bond proposal to build a new police station three times, most recently in November 2023. The city is now paying for the project in large part through councilmanic bonds, which are bonds the city issues on itself and then pays off over time, that dont require voter approval. ALEXANDRIA, Pa. (WTAJ) Meet Tosha Mills Simpson, a local author who recently published her book about grieving and navigating loss through her personal experience of losing her mother. Toshas book is titled Permission To Laugh At a Funeral and it touches on embracing life, even when youre surrounded by death. Her goal with publishing her book was all about telling her story in a real and authentic way that inspires others to lean into and embrace their own experiences. Permission to laugh, but also to feel what they feel, and to grieve and handle death however works best for them. Barnes and Noble will be hosting a reading and book signing in Altoona this Saturday, March 8th at 1pm. Alexandria Public Library is hosting a reading with a Q & A with grief on Monday, April 7th at 6pm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tosha is also available for public speaking engagements message on social media to discuss further. Click here to purchase Toshas book, Permission To Laugh At a Funeral. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. SHARON, Pa., (WKBN) A local book and art store is reaching out to the community for support after some recent financial struggles. Inside The Wandering Soul in downtown Sharon, is an assortment of unique artwork and books. Its very unique. People in our area have such amazing and creative abilities and I like that so thats whats displayed here. And then I also have a section thats displayed here thats strictly a bookshop area, owner Dani Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson opened the shop in 2022 but has recently experienced some financial struggles. She says sales and foot traffic were comparatively low in 2024, and while its affecting her shop, its also affecting local artists. Shes asked for the communitys support with donations. This is a source of income for them as well, so this, the money they receive from the creative pieces they make also feeds back into the community, Johnson said. Supporting small, local artists and authors is something Johnson is passionate about, which is why shes fighting to keep the store open. My shop is the only bookshop we have in the surrounding area now and so my plan is to grow that and expand and be here for the book lovers and the local art lovers, said Johnson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson has applied for small business grants to keep her bookstore in the area. Shes also created events at the shop to bring more people to the Wandering Soul and the downtown area. For more information on hours and upcoming events, visit the shops Facebook page or website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Business owners in City Heights are seeking support after a road construction project has put their businesses at risk of closing. The city of San Diego has been making improvements to University Avenue between Fairmount and Euclid Avenues since January 2023. Rainfall totals across San Diego County According to city officials, phase one of construction is expected to be substantially complete in the spring of 2025. This updates comes after officials initially stated it would be done last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of current, you will see dozens of barricades still up at storefronts. The City Heights Community Development Corporation, which represents the impacted businesses, held a news conference Thursday, making it clear they are fed up with delays. A relief fund has been set up help those business owners, with the development corporation also encouraging the community to shop local. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. For veterans, phantom limb pain after amputation can be a lifelong burden. Doctors knew it was a nerve and tissue problem, but other than prescribing pain medication, they could do little to help. Now there is a new approach that has been studied in Ukrainians due to the massive limb loss in recent years. And the answer could help all those who suffer, from amputees to spinal cord injury patients. For Northwestern Medicine anesthesiologist Dr Steven Cohen, the research is personal. Im a retired army colonel, he said. I treated many, many patients with war trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His latest mission a humanitarian one in Ukraine, where its estimated up to 100,000 people have undergone amputations since the Russian invasion in 2022. It is a much higher number compared to the 1,750 major limb amputations in U.S. military who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The scope of the problem is astronomical, Cohen said. You can have pain in the residual limb, specifically the stump, you can also have pain in the phantom. The anesthesiologist was contacted by doctors in the war-torn country searching for solutions for amputees suffering with intense pain. When a nerve is cut or when a nerve is injured, it forms a tangled web and that can send spontaneous pain signals into the stump into the phantom, the nerve can become entrapped, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oleks Gushchyn is an Ukrainian soldier and amputee who served on the frontlines. In the beginning it was horrible, Gushchyn said. It was last year March 16. I was on the battlefield and I was hit by enemy drone. The soldiers leg was amputated below the knee. As a result, he suffered unbearable phantom limb pain. The sensation of electricity all the way down to his missing big toe. Like needles going through your toes. Its like 11 out of 10. Its really horrible, Gushchyn said. More Coverage: WGNs Medical Watch To help patients like Gushchyn, Cohen brought his expertise and potential new treatments, including whats called hydro dissection. The procedure relies on a basic ultrasound machine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we would do is find the tangle of mass of nerves and then inject very, very high volumes of fluid around the nerves, Cohen said. The flush of fluid appears to help release entrapped nerves and stop pain signals from firing. Hydro dissection resulted in decreased pain when we looked at 12-week outcomes. It resulted in decreased anxiety and depression and decreased opioid use, Cohen said. The simple treatment may help other types of patients, not just amputees. This is not unique to post-amputation pain so if someone has spinal cord injury, they might not be able to feel their legs but more than 50 percent have pain in the legs they cant feel. Same thing after a stroke, Cohen said. Theres no reason this cant be done in community hospitals. Ultrasound is very simple. Its very cheap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And theres another reason Cohen plans to continue his work among military members. His own son enlisted. This has personal meaning to me as a retired colonel, as the father of a son in the infantry who is likely to be deployed in future conflicts, Cohen said. This is really personally satisfying. Cohen plans to go back to Ukraine to continue his study this time using botulism toxin to block nerve pain. The ultimate goal is to help a wider group relieve their pain. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGNs Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. George Brauchler is the 23rd Judicial District attorney and former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District. He has served as an Owens Early Criminal Justice Fellow at the Common Sense Institute. Follow him on Twitter (X): @GeorgeBrauchler. EAGLE PASS, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- In January, President Donald J Trump declared a national emergency after he was sworn into office and signed several executive orders to stem illegal crossings. During Tuesday nights address Trump touted the success of those orders amid a massive drop in illegal border crossings since he took office. Monthly apprehensions, which have been on a decline since last year, hit their lowest level in more than two decades last month. On the heels of that success, Congressman Tony Gonzales, along with Vice President JD Vance and other members of Trumps cabinet, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Border Patrol agents on members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Governor Greg Abbott, visited Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement visit two border communities in Gonzales district, Del Rio and Eagle Pass. While at the border, the group took an aerial tour led by CBP, participated in a roundtable with CBP personnel, and received a briefing from Border Patrol and the Texas Air National Guard. Pictured: Congressman Tony Gonzales, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard with Border Patrol Agents and Texas DPS in Eagle Pass, Texas Under President Biden the border was a disaster, and it was our communities that were at the eye of the storm. We all remember the Haitian caravan in Del Rio nearly four years ago or the thousands of illegal crossings that led to a shut down at the rail bridge in Eagle Pass last year. Fast forward to now and its a night and day difference, said Congressman Tony Gonzales. Within hours of taking office, President Trump took decisive action. He declared drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, ended catch-and-release policies, and drove down illegal immigration to record lows. Thank you to Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Hegseth, and Director Gabbard for showing up for us along the southern border today. I look forward to working together to maintain law, order, and common-sense at our borders. U.S. Border Patrol arrested 8,300 migrants at the southern border in February, Trump said on social media over the weekend. The lowest monthly total on record previously was April 2017, when the agency arrested about 11,100 at the start of Trumps first term. Migrant arrests are often used as a proxy to estimate illegal crossings although some migrants also enter undetected. The February arrest total was a steep drop from the 141,000 migrants picked up in February 2024 and down from 29,000 in January, according to U.S. government figures. Now, the Trump administration aims to keep illegal crossings low and drive them even lower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagon recently announced plans to increase its deployment of 10,000 active-duty and National Guard troops at the border. And the Republican-led Senate in February passed legislation that would boost spending by $85 billion a year for four years for Trumps immigration, energy and defense priorities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. TENNESSEE (WJHL) The Ink of Hope Act passed the Tennessee General Assembly, which requires tattoo artists to undergo training to recognize and help stop human trafficking. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, tattoo artists renewing their licenses will be required to watch a short video on the signs of human trafficking and how to safely report it to authorities. The training will only be one hour and is at no cost. PREVIOUS: Ink of Hope Act passes Tennessee General Assembly Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heathur Sawyer, owner of Til Death Tattoo in downtown Johnson City, said in her past while working at other shops, she has been suspicious of human trafficking. Its just noticing and being very close with your clients and knowing what to say and what to do to know these things, Sawyer said. Sometimes it can be as simple as a very small little design, and you just have to know and recognize and understand the person that this person is with, and recognize the smallest things. Thats why this training is important. Sawyer said a big signifier of human trafficking is noticing if a customer is not engaged in the decision process of their tattoo. Theres not anything that shows that same sparkle as just like somebody thats getting this because they wanted to celebrate something or to commemorate something, Sawyer said. This is a person thats with somebody whos making a choice for them. Theyre not telling you what you want. The person is telling them to you, this is what shes getting or this is what hes getting. Thats your number one red flag, is why is this person not making this choice for themself. Because in any tattoo shop ever, you should always be the person to make the choice for yourself. No one should make that choice for you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victor Agosto at 420 Tattoos in Johnson City agrees that paying attention to customers behaviors is important. You can see when somebody is in distress, you always try to find out, Agosto said. Because us as tattoo artists, we talk to our customers and hopefully they will give us a sign or something that lets us know, hey, you know, Im in trouble and hopefully well be able to help in that situation. Bradley Simon at Alchemy & Shade in Piney Flats has noticed human trafficking-type behaviors in past shops he has worked in. I have had suspicions of certain people coming in with what is supposed to be a boyfriend or a husband, and it just felt off especially with what they were getting tattooed, Simon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres certain tattoos that youll see, whether its some kind of marking thats not related to an actual initial of either of the people, maybe some type of like cartoon character, even just a symbol you might not recognize right off the bat, Simon said. If its not having to do with pop culture or anything like that, is usually a really big signifier. Sawyer told News Channel 11 a challenge that may come with this law is becoming a target for reporting human trafficking. First off, you could be wrong and then youve got a whole nother box of worms there, Sawyer said. Or secondly, you could make some people that arent very happy with you once youve reported this, cause if theyre human trafficking, theyre not going to be a good person out the rip. So it does put you in a little bit of a place of danger. But for my personal opinion, protecting other people is worth that little bit of danger you could put yourself in. Sawyer said she has even had to report suspected human trafficking before, although the person was not a customer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a situation that was downtown Johnson City, where we actively [saw] this girl get thrown into a vehicle and nothing could be done about it, Sawyer said. At the time we reported it, that was all we could do was report it, and we had no clue where else that went. So knowing after seeing that and experiencing that, that we have an extra step that can keep people safe is honestly a relief to us as well, because it is a problem. Both Agosto and Simon agree that its important to know signs of human trafficking and believe this law will be helpful. Even just with how long Ive been doing it, Im still learning every day, new things, new symbols, new anything, Simon said. So knowing those things is really important and especially with the bill also promoting awareness towards reporting. I think thats also a huge step, is knowing how to report. Truthfully, its everybodys job to be aware, Agosto said. So not only for tattoo artists, but everybody in the world, everybody, so know your surroundings. That helps a lot. Here at 420, we will be happy to comply with whatever the state needs to make us aware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sawyer believes anyone with a career related to personal services can benefit from human trafficking training. So tattoo shops, you know, hairdressers, anything like that, Sawyer said. Nail artists even, anybody touching another human should undergo this training, in my opinion. The Ink of Hope Act just needs a signature from Governor Bill Lee. Rep. Rebecca Alexander from Jonesborough was one of the co-sponsors of the bill. After Jan. 1, 2026, Tennessee tattoo artists renewing their license will have until Dec. 31, 2028 to undergo the training. A summary of the bill can be seen here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) More than 50 students from across the Miami Valley will compete in a regional spelling bee on Friday at Wright State. The winner of the Wright State University Regional Spelling Bee will earn a spot in the 100th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee to be held near Washington D.C. at the end of May. The competitors are all from fourth to eighth grade. The Wright State Bee will begin at 5 p.m. in the Student Union Apollo Room. The National Spelling Bee will be held at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center hotel in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington D.C. It will run Tuesday, May 27, through Thursday, May 29. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Spelling Bee will be available to watch on our CW station WBDT. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Veterans and their family members in Colorado Springs are coming together to demand that the government uphold its promise to provide quality health care benefits to those who have served. On Wednesday, March 5, several people gathered outside a Veterans Affairs (VA) community outpatient clinic to protest recent VA cuts. This is the second protest in Colorado Springs over the past few weeks. On Friday, around 50 people gathered outside Congressman Jeff Cranks office in Colorado Springs to protest the entire department of DOGE. Protesters rally outside Jeff Cranks office to criticize Trump and Musk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA plans to lay off 80,000 jobs from the agency providing health care for retired military members. The Associated Press reports the VAs Chief of Staff told top-level officials at the agency that they need to cut enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000. That would require terminating tens of thousands of employees. A memo from the Chief of Staff also instructs top-level staff to prepare for an agency-wide reorganization in August. It calls for agency officials to work with the DOGE to, move out aggressively, while taking a pragmatic and disciplined approach to the Trump administrations goals. They send us to bad places, they have us doing bad things and then for the five decades were still alive afterwards we need help, said Frederick Pamp, a Vietnam veteran. The cuts come as the VA last year experienced its highest-ever service levels, with more than nine million veterans enrolled for benefits across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the Presidents been pretty clear that he wants to do this in a way that it doesnt affect service, whether its veterans or its at the Forest Service, or anywhere else, he wants to do this in a way that isnt impacting services, said Rep. Jeff Crank, Congressman for Colorados 5th Congressional District said. I will never support cutting benefits to veterans. Secretary Doug Collins, the Secretary of the VA, said that this will be done to improve efficiency and not going to impact health care or benefits and Im going to hold him to that. Local Vietnam veteran Pamp is concerned if additional cuts are announced, funding for programs like the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act, will be affected, on top of the other services the VA provides. 80,000 more employees are going to get canned so they can get down to the staffing levels of 2019, and the problem with that is they passed the burn pit law, giving us more medical help in 2022, Pamp explained. Weve got that much more stuff to do and we got that many fewer people and were already understaffed. Its something the Legislative Director of the VFW Department of Colorado is also keeping a close eye on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most important thing we want the VA to be able to do is expand on the presumption of the toxins out there that were exposed to, by the time we deploy and also when were at home station, Steve Kjonaas explained. For instance, theres a lot more agent orange out there that people during the Vietnam War were exposed to, but now people who were not even old enough to go to Vietnam, are exposed to. As veterans wait to find out how these cuts could affect the PACT Act, the Legislative Director told FOX21 News the VFW Department of Colorado wants more communication from the VA. Wed like to see other releases or wed like to see the VA Secretary come out and say yes or no or whats going to go on, or exactly when thats going to happen if it will, Kjonaas said. Newly appointed Secretary of the VA, Doug Collins, took to X on Wednesday to do just that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VA will continue to hire for more than 300,000 mission critical positions to ensure health care and benefits for VA beneficiaries are not impacted, Collins said. The Legislative Director for the VFW Department of Colorado told FOX21 News he doesnt know how many VA employees across Southern Colorado have been let go, but its something hes working on gathering. If you have been let go by the VA or know someone who has, we want to hear from you. You can email us at News@FOX21news.com or call our station directly at (719) 596-2100. You can remain anonymous. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. NOTE: As of 12:02 p.m. Thursday, the Ovid Police Department and Clinton County 911 Central Dispatch Facebook pages reported the Shelter in Place order has been lifted and that the man they were looking for is not believed to be in the area anymore. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Ovid police in Clinton County are asking residents to, Please lock your doors, vehicles, and check your cameras for this subject. The subject is a man police are looking to question. Ovid police, however, are not saying why they want this man for questioning. (Photos: Ovid Police Dept.) Police said officers and a K9 are tracking the person near the Elm Street ball fields. He is described as last seen wearing black pants with a white stripe down the side and had his jacket turned inside out. Police also say he is 511 tall and thin build. Police say he might be in a white 2025 Chevy Silverado with flags on the back that was stolen from Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) in Ovid around 9:40 Thursday morning. The truck has a license plate of EUF0577. It was last seen at Shepherdsville corner store at 9:54 a.m. according to police. (Photo: Ovid Police Dept.) (Photo: Ovid Police Dept.) You are asked to call the police or 911 if you have any information about the mans location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. President Trumps address came on the heels of a volatile meeting with the president of Ukraine last week. Since the meeting, the United States has halted aid to its longtime ally as it enters its fourth year at war with Russia. Erie Catholics mark beginning of Lent with ashes, reflections Erie-based Logistics Plus has been delivering supplies to the front line since the war began. Its COO said while concerned, he hopes Fridays meeting serves as a reset of the two world leaders relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said the proposed mineral deal is very important for both countries. Senator Laughlin re-introduces bill to end PAs ban on Sunday hunting I think its a great deal for both and set as a reset of this relationship and hope help will resume this week and move toward a peaceful solution to this war, said Yuriy Ostapyak, COO of Logistics Plus. Some progress in relations this week as President Zelensky sent a letter that was reportedly well received by President Trump. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Hours after the nations first execution by nitrogen gas in January last year, Alabama's attorney general urged other states to also develop it as a method for carrying out death sentences. Now, some states are following suit. Louisiana is scheduled to execute a man with nitrogen gas on March 18. Arkansas lawmakers are seeking to introduce nitrogen there after an eight-year pause in executions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The use of nitrogen gas is one way for death penalty states to resume executions after being hampered by a shortage of lethal injection drugs. But the proposed expansion comes amid continuing debate over its constitutionality and what four Alabama inmates experienced as they were put to death. As Alabama has demonstrated, nitrogen hypoxia is a humane and effective method of execution, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said as he praised Louisianas plans to use it, and offered assistance. Critics said that states, in a rush to carry out death sentences, are turning to a method that increases suffering. I would say it's horrific and evil, said the Rev. Jeff Hood, who witnessed the first nitrogen execution in Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How does a nitrogen execution work? An inmate is forced to breathe pure nitrogen gas, depriving them of the oxygen needed to stay alive. In Alabama, the inmate is strapped to a gurney with a gas mask covering their face. Nitrogen is pumped into the mask and is kept flowing for five minutes after the persons heart stops beating. The nitrogen gas flowed for about 18 minutes during Alabamas last execution on Feb. 6. What happened at the first four nitrogen executions? Alabama has executed four people with nitrogen gas. The inmates appeared to shake and gasp, to varying degrees during their executions, according to media witnesses, including The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A medical doctor who served as a spiritual adviser to Alabama inmate Alan Miller said during his Sept. 24 execution by nitrogen gas, Miller grimaced and shook on the gurney. It was unclear when Miller lost consciousness. I imagine this is what water boarding looks like, just that your body would shake like this while youre slowly suffocating. ... Its certainly not a peaceful way to die, Dr. John Muench told The Associated Press last year. State officials have said the shaking and gasping are involuntary movements associated with oxygen deprivation. There is going to be involuntarily body movements as the body is depleted of oxygen. So that was nothing we did not expect, Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said after Millers execution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana plans to be the second state to use nitrogen Louisiana plans to use a mask to deliver nitrogen gas to execute Jessie Hoffman on March 18. If the execution goes forward, Louisiana will become the second state to use nitrogen to carry out a death sentence. Hoffman was convicted of the 1996 kidnapping and murder of Mary Elliott. A judge has scheduled a Friday hearing for a preliminary injunction to stop the execution. Hoffman's attorneys say that Louisiana is seeking to make him their test case for the new method. Louisianas Republican-dominated Legislature last year expanded the states capital punishment methods to include nitrogen hypoxia and electrocution in an effort to resume executions after a 15-year pause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said that she expects at least four people on death row will be executed this year. The family and friends of people who have been brutally murdered in our State should get the justice the law has promised them, Murrill said on social media. Arkansas lawmakers consider allowing nitrogen gas executions Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday advanced legislation to authorize nitrogen gas as an execution method. Supporters say it will allow executions to resume in a state that hasnt put anyone to death since it executed four inmates in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Arkansas House passed the nitrogen execution bill on a 67-23 vote, sending the measure to the state Senate. More than half the Senates 35 members have signed on as sponsors of the legislation. Republican Rep. Jeff Wardlaw proposed the measure after talking with families of the victims of a mass shooting at a grocery store in his district that killed four people. Prosecutors have not said whether they intend to seek the death penalty against Travis Eugene Posey, who was charged in the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty. As long as we have the death penalty as a sentence Arkansas courts can impose, I think its important we have a method that can actually take place, Wardlaw said last week. Drug manufacturers have opposed the use of their products in lethal injections, and state officials say that has prevented them from resuming executions. Arkansas has 25 inmates on death row. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has not said if shell sign the legislation if it reaches her desk. Arkansas and other states have expanded the secrecy surrounding executions in recent years, enacting laws blocking information about the source of their lethal injection drugs and other details. That secrecy raises more questions about efforts by states to add nitrogen as an option for executions, experts say. Its very hard to know why they would be pivoting to what is essentially an experimental method of execution, Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said. These secretive efforts are only raising more questions and concerns about safety and whether this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. Jeff Rosenzweig, an attorney who has represented death row inmates in Arkansas, said nitrogen hypoxia is still going to face legal challenges in the state. He cited concerns raised about the executions carried out using the method in Alabama. Youre going to end up with a lot of litigation about it so its not going to solve the problem that has been identified, he told lawmakers. Baton Rouge police are investigating the death of a 20-year-old Louisiana student as a possible fraternity hazing incident, a school spokesperson said. Caleb Wilson, a junior at Southern University and A&M College, died Feb. 27 after he attended an off-campus event. The university said Wednesday on Facebook that an internal investigation had been launched following reports that the event was unsanctioned. Caleb Wilson. "The University has begun the student judiciary process as prescribed by the Universitys student code of conduct and aligned with Louisiana law," the school said. "All organizations on campus are required to undergo rigorous anti-hazing training and are held to high standards related to membership intake processes. Any breaches of these policies prompt disciplinary sanctions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson was at a gathering with members of Omega Psi Phi, according to WVUE-TV of New Orleans. He was unresponsive when he was taken to the hospital. "Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who were touched by him," the fraternity has said in a statement. Wilson, who was from New Orleans, was a junior mechanical engineering major and a "dedicated" member of the university's "Human Jukebox" marching band. "This tragic loss leaves a void in our Jaguar family, and our thoughts and prayers are with Calebs family, friends, classmates, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time," the school said. The fraternity said Wilson was "more than a beloved son, grandson, brother, nephew and cousin." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was a scholar, an exceptional member of the Southern University Marching Band, and a passionate and dedicated leader in student life," the statement read. All membership intake activities for school fraternities, sororities and clubs have been paused, the university said in a memo. The organizations are not allowed to recruit, induct new members or conduct initiation processes and meetings. A school spokesperson could not say how many students may face disciplinary actions, citing the ongoing police investigation into Wilson's death. Baton Rouge police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Louisiana Department of Health continues to monitor measles outbreaks in the U.S., specifically outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Nine states are reporting measles cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, and Texas. Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham said there are no confirmed cases in the state as of March 5. The best way to protect against measles is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR is safe and effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective, Abraham said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the vaccine is typically recommended for children and adults, with most Louisiana children getting two doses of the MMR before kindergarten. A total of 164 measles cases and three outbreaks have been reported to the CDC in 2025. Ninety-three percent of cases are outbreak-related. One death was confirmed in Texas. Click here for more information about measles from LDH. Measles is popping up in the US. Heres how to avoid one of the worlds most contagious viruses Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Blue tarps cover the roof of Paula Bermudez's storm-damaged house in Galliano on Oct. 5, 2021 six weeks after Hurricane Ida. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) Since President Donald Trump first suggested maybe getting rid of FEMA and letting states manage federal disaster funding, emergency preparedness experts have expressed mixed feelings about the idea. Those wary of Trumps direction point to Louisianas Road Home program as a cautionary tale, citing tens of thousands of homeowners left without adequate resources to repair or rebuild. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump floated the elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a visit to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, criticizing it for being too slow and inefficient. Proponents of the idea are frustrated with disaster management bureaucracy and invite changes to the current system, but some believe a complete dismantling of the agency would invite even more problems. The president ultimately convened a committee to review FEMA and file a report later this year with recommendations on how to improve it. Disaster experts who spoke with the Illuminator agree the underlying problem is not so much with FEMA itself but with the publics misconceptions about its role. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Theyre not out there handing out bottles of water Trumps criticism of FEMA began last year on the campaign trail when his allies spread lies that the agency, under then President Joe Biden, was diverting disaster money to immigrants without legal status. They also falsely claim federal recovery aid was limited to $750 per person, and support was being withheld from Republican strongholds likely to vote for Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEMA has also struggled with an image problem mostly because the public doesnt understand its role, according to several experts. I think theres some misunderstanding about how FEMA works, said Andrea Davis, a former FEMA external affairs director in Louisiana. She worked for the agency after Hurricane Katrina and now does emergency preparedness consulting. Many people mistakenly confuse FEMAs role with that of first responders and local emergency operations officials, Davis said. Jacques Thibodeaux, director of the Governors Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), explained that disaster response is generally organized into three stages each with a different level of oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local officials handle the initial response during the first 72 hours after a disaster, according to Thibodeaux. The state then handles the second phase, from three to 14 days after the event, and FEMAs role typically begins after two weeks, he said. Theyre not out there handing out bottles of water, GOHSEP spokesman Mike Steele said. Thats not [FEMAs] role. Jacques Thibodeaux, director of the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, addresses the media ahead of Tropical Storm Francine, which struck Sept. 11, 2024, in coastal Terrebonne Parish as a Category 2 hurricane. (Louisiana Illuminator photo) Funding and bureaucracy Chris Boudreaux, emergency preparedness director for Lafourche Parish, agreed FEMA isnt supposed to be doing his job, though he said he doesnt like some of the bureaucracy of the agency. Lafourche Parish has had 27 declared disasters in the past five years and relies heavily on FEMA funding, he said. Theres a common phrase among emergency operations managers, according to Boudreaux: The disaster after the disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boudreaux said he is constantly filling out FEMA paperwork and following agency regulations but rarely ever speaks directly to federal officials. Even though recovery grant money originates from FEMA, Boudreaux said he has to apply through GOHSEP. State officials then have to review and relay funding applications to FEMA. If approved, FEMA gives the grant money to GOHSEP, which then funnels it down to Boudreaux at the parish level. This setup is not unique to Lafourche Parish. Nearly all of FEMAs resources are coordinated at the state level before reaching local officials on the frontlines of disasters, Thibodeaux said. This gives state officials flexibility to decide where to focus recovery resources, he said. Still, its a system that can be frustrating to some. Boudreaux said he is still filing paperwork to get the parish reimbursed for expenses incurred during Hurricane Laura in 2020. There are what seems like 15 different people who have to review it at the state level, he added. A penny off and they wont take it. he said. Ill have to spend a half a day correcting it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thibodeaux and Davis said the deep scrutiny for disaster spending is largely a result of the Stafford Act, which Congress approved in 1988. It established strict requirements for the distribution of federal dollars to state and local governments. Davis said Trumps suggestion that the federal government can just hand over large sums of disaster funding to the states and then get out of the way is not practical. A version of that idea Louisianas Road Home Elevation Incentive program didnt turn out well after the money was disbursed to the state, she said. After the 2005 hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the state devised ways to draw displaced homeowners back to Louisiana with federal funding to help with recovery. This included the Road Home Elevation Incentive program, in which 32,000 recipients received $30,000 grants to elevate their homes. However, the vast majority of the recipients didnt elevate their homes but used the grants on renovations their insurance claims or personal savings didnt cover, according to a joint investigation by ProPublica, The Advocate and WWL-TV. The money came from U.S. taxpayers through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but the state was in charge of managing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Office of Community Development and the contractor it hired, ICF Emergency Management Services, mismanaged the program based on an internal HUD review. With prompting from HUD, the state then sued between 3,200 and 3,500 grantees to claw back the misspent funds. The lawsuits were eventually dropped but not before many homeowners paid back the money. Tiffany Guidry stands outside the sno-ball stand she owns in LaPlace following Hurricane Ida. (Julie ODonoghue/Louisiana Illuminator) FEMAs future Experts tend to agree that reforms are needed to certain aspects of emergency management. Thibodeaux said there is general consensus that there are problems with areas such as the National Flood Insurance Programs 50% rule, which limits claims to damaged structures if repairs cost more than half its market value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He believes Trump might institute some changes but is confident FEMA will continue to exist largely intact. The agencys not gonna go away, Thibodeaux said. Disaster response in Louisiana relies heavily on federal funding as GOHSEPs budget is roughly $3.1 billion, and about $2.7 billion of that comes from FEMA, Thibodeaux said. He added that he believes Trump will remove the agency from the Department of Homeland Security and require the FEMA administrator report directly to his office, similar to the way it was originally structured. President Jimmy Carter created FEMA through an executive order in 1979. Congress placed it under Homeland Security following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the local level, Boudreaux said linking emergency preparedness to homeland security makes little sense to him, and he believes the two should be completely severed. If we get an active shooter in a school, I dont respond, he said. Thats the sheriffs office that handles that. Justin Kates, who served as a local emergency response manager in New England and was a member of the FEMA National Advisory Council in 2023-24, echoed several of Boudreauxs points. Emergency management should be completely severed from Homeland Security, he said. Kates also noted that individual assistance, the money FEMA often provides to families after large disasters, doesnt need the approval of state and local officials. So all the extra layers of scrutiny for FEMAs other funding programs are not really necessary, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sure, there are many questions right now about what this would entail, but an approach that simply provides money to states to get to work would allow great flexibility, Kates said. We saw a similar level of this flexibility in how COVID-19 funds were distributed. He cited some of the COVID-19 relief programs that distributed cash to states and local governments, such as the American Rescue Plan, as an example. However, some states took pandemic relief money intended for workers, health care and social programs and diverted it to businesses, tax cuts and construction projects. Any time taxpayer money is used, every penny needs to be monitored, said Davis, the former FEMA external affairs director in Louisiana. There should be more transparency and a better auditing process to allow the public to see how states are spending some of their federal funding, she added. Its never bad to look and see if were doing things the best that we can do, Davis said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A day after President Donald Trump gave his the first formal address to Congress of his second term, Colorado Springs U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank backed and defended Trump's policy decisions during an inaugural virtual town hall meeting. The event took place less than a week after more than 60 demonstrators stood outside the Republican congressman's local office, protesting his vote to approve Trump's proposed budget, which includes an $880 billion budget cut that would likely affect Medicaid benefits. Crank pushed back against the notion that the resolution would eliminate Medicaid benefits during Wednesday's event, saying that the budget proposal "creates efficiencies" within Medicaid to ensure only those who qualify for the program receive its benefits. "There's a lot of scaremongering going on by groups out there," Crank said. "It kind of angers me when I hear the folks that are out there saying that there are cuts to Medicaid." The event began with Crank discussing Trump's congressional address, saying he saw Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green's interruption of the address as disrespectful to both the president and the political establishment. "As long as I serve you, I will never insult the 'People's House' like the left did last night," Crank said. "I was shocked and I was disappointed for the institution of the House of Representatives." Crank added that he co-sponsored a motion to censure Green that will be voted on Thursday on the House floor. Additionally, Crank took a call from a retired veteran asking about making veterans care more efficient. In his response, Crank said he would "never support" cutting veterans benefits, and that he would hold Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins accountable for ensuring services and benefits would not be affected by a planned a reduction in the VA workforce. Crank also discussed his endorsement of plans to eliminate the U.S. Education Department, highlighting the need for the government to reduce its $36 trillion debt. He also asserted that eliminating the Education Department would allow for teachers to be paid more and for parents to have a greater say in what their children are being taught. "You don't want your congressman deciding on what kind of books should be in a library or what the curriculum should be," Crank said. "It's not an attack on education in any way; it's a way to think of it differently." Callers asked Crank about a variety of topics, including the proposed state assault weapons ban, U.S. Space Command's continued presence in Colorado Springs, and navigating political civil discourse. No callers asked Crank about the protests outside his office last week. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) will be laying off more than two dozen employees in three cities, including seven from the Sioux City office. The Iowa Workforce Development WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) page lists layoffs for the LSI offices in Des Moines, Waterloo, and Sioux City. They will be effective on March 28, 2025. 17 employees will be laid off in Des Moines, four in Waterloo, and seven in Sioux City. KCAU 9 confirmed the layoffs with Nick Wuertz, the Director of Immigrant & Refugee Community Services for LSI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the employees affected will be laid off on March 28, with others being laid off on April 25. This is so they can continue to work with recently arrived families to help them get settled and into the workforce. Wuertz told KCAU 9 that the federal government has not reimbursed LSI for its refugee resettlement programs. School bus hit in minor collision at Irving Elementary In January, the Trump Administration suspended the Refugee Admissions Program, which helped refugees legally come to the United States. It also provided funding to community programs like LSI that help refugees resettle. A federal judge halted the suspension last week after aid groups sued the Trump Administration. The judge has yet to release a written ruling, but the administration has indicated it will appeal. It leaves funding for refugee resettlement programs like LSI, but its unclear if LSI will ever receive funds for its services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Federal Government resumes reimbursements before layoffs being, Wuertz said LSI will retain those staff members. Nick Wuertz said that Lutheran Services Iowas Foster Care and Early Childhood divisions are not affected by the current layoffs. LSI will still offer refugee and immigrant workforce and childcare business development programs for Sioux Citys refugee and immigrant community. Lutheran Services of Iowa will be holding a virtual town hall on Thursday, March 13 to update stakeholders and Iowans on how this is affecting LSI and local communities, as well as how Iowans can take action. Additional information about the town hall can be found at this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. President Donald Trump, in an abrupt about-face, announced Thursday he will delay 25 percent tariffs on a significant portion of Mexican and Canadian goods until next month. The carve-out applies to autos and all other goods from the two countries that comply with the duty-free terms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, White House officials said. The update marks a significant retreat of the tariffs on the two North American neighbors that went into force on Tuesday, and would apply to approximately 38 percent of imports from Canada and 50 percent from Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USMCA, which the U.S. negotiated during Trumps first term, maintains duty-free trade for most goods, although some restrictions, exemptions and qualification requirements apply for select items. Energy accounts for a large share of the 62 percent of Canadian goods that are not imported under USMCA terms, so it could still face a higher tariff, according to a White House official, who was granted anonymity to brief reporters on the policy shift. Trump announced in February that Canadian energy products would only face a 10 percent tariff, as opposed to the 25 percent tariff on all other goods. The president has justified the tariffs on Canada and Mexico over what he claims is a national emergency from fentanyl flowing across the U.S. borders with the two neighbors. We've got to stop the flow of fentanyl being made in Canada and Mexico and coming into our country, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a prepared statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 2, we're going to move into the reciprocal tariff and hopefully Mexico and Canada will have done a good enough job on fentanyl that this part of the conversation will be off the table and will move just to the reciprocal tariff conversation, Lutnick added. The Commerce chief was referring to Trumps plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners based on his administrations analysis of the tariff and non-tariff barriers that American companies face in those markets. Both Canada and Mexico have zero tariffs on most U.S. products under the USMCA pact, but the Trump administration could presumably find non-tariff barriers in both countries to justify imposing reciprocal tariffs. Those might include Canadas dairy import restrictions and Mexicos restrictions on foreign investment in its energy sector. Trumps actions on Thursday also remove tariffs on a key mineral used to make fertilizer, called potash. The U.S. imports the vast majority of its potash from Canada, which is one of the worlds largest producers of the mineral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exemption will cheer farmers, a key Trump constituency that was expecting to bear the brunt of Trumps tariff actions as a target of retaliatory tariffs from China and Canada and through higher prices on fertilizer and farm equipment. Fertilizer prices were already high because of the war in Ukraine, which limited access to materials from Russia used in nitrogen based fertilizers, as well as access to potash mines in Russia and Ukraine. The orders come after Trump announced on Truth Social that he would be suspending the tariffs on all USMCA products out of Mexico without mentioning any products from Canada. Trump, meanwhile, continued to post criticism of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his social media account. "Many thanks to President Donald Trump. We had an excellent and respectful call in which we agreed that our work and collaboration have yielded unprecedented results, within the framework of respect for our sovereignties, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said after the call in a post on X. As mentioned by President Trump, Mexico will not be required to pay tariffs on all those products within the USMCA. This agreement is until April 2, when the United States will announce reciprocal tariffs for all countries." The tariff pause on more Canadian and Mexican goods comes one day after the White House announced a one-month reprieve for all auto manufacturers operating in North America who abide by the rules established under the USMCA. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) In Lafayette, new developments are being made for Elora Place Apartments as residents say they are continuing to fight unsafe and unfair living conditions. At Elora Place Apartments, 27 violations were found during a second inspection performed on Jan. 9. The notice of violations was mailed out on Feb. 18 informing the propertys management that an Administrative Adjudication Bureau hearing was scheduled for March 5. This comes after the apartment complex received an initial compliance letter indicating nearly 60 violations were found back in August of 2024. During the hearing, violations ranging from mold, rodent infestation, to overflowing trash and debris were presented in front of Judge Stuart Paul Bowie and addressed by the propertys management and LCG Compliance. The propertys management answered questions regarding issues that werent addressed. They responded with being unaware saying, If our office is unaware, they cant fix it. Other questions about the cost tenants pay to live there each month resulted in Judge Bowie calculating the complex collecting approximately over $3.3 million a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This led to the apartment complex being fined for code violations ranging from $100 to $200 per violation. Philip Raymond, one of the residents who spoke at the hearing says he was not satisfied with the judges ruling. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Just off of this apartment complex alone, they are making $3 million a year, so the fines that they were given was like a penny in the ocean to them, said Ramond. Raymond also said living at Elora Place and not having issues fixed in a timely manner is frustrating. They are quick to in their rent, but they are not quick to get things fixed and repaired, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other residents, like Glenn Webster, said filing complaints with LCG Compliance is not vindictive its just them following protocol once they feel they are not being heard by management in addressing the issues. After Judge Bowie reviewed evidence of managements claim that half of the violations from the initial compliance letter were fixed, Judge Bowie adjudicated that Elora Place Apartments pay a fine of $3,450 and $500 for court fees. Judge Bowie gave an abatement period of three months to fix the remaining violations. If management fails to do so, they are subjected to a daily fine of $100 per violation which could cost the property up to $81,000 a month. After the hearing, management declined News 10s request for comment. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. A Richmond Township man accused of strangling his father's dog in January pleaded no contest to a lesser offense this week in district court. William Kucharski Jr., 48, pleaded no contest to animals-abandoning/cruelty to one animal, a misdemeanor, according to 42-1 District Court in Romeo. The original charge of animals-killing/torturing, a felony, was dismissed during a preliminary exam Tuesday, according to the court. Kucharski is scheduled to be sentenced March 18, according to online court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Messages were left for his attorney, who could not be immediately reached Thursday. Kucharski was being held in the county jail on a $150,000 bond, according to online jail records. Macomb County authorities accused Kucharski of strangling to death his father's fully-grown Labrador retriever named Punky in their home Jan. 14. In a release in January, the Sheriff's Office stated deputies were sent to a residence on Prinz Road on a report of dead family pet and possible threat to a family member. The caller was concerned for the welfare of the suspect and the suspect's father. Kucharski lived with his father, according to a prior news release from the county prosecutor's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sheriff's Office stated in its release that the suspect was home alone with the dog. When his father returned home, he found the suspect with his arms around the dog and was unable to remove them, per the release. It stated the suspect made threats to harm himself. The suspect was uncooperative with deputies and was taken into custody. Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jennifer Putney previously told the Free Press that she did not know the dog's age or how long the suspect's father had the dog. The 911 caller, she had said, was the suspect's sister. Putney previously said the dog was beside the suspect when deputies gained entry to a bedroom. The dog was found dead, she had said, and the suspect told deputies that he killed the dog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Macomb man accused of strangling dog pleads no contest to misdemeanor A woman from Macomb is in the Scott County Jail after Davenport Police say she drove her son to Davenport to sell marijuana. According to the criminal complaint, officers with the Davenport Police Departments Tactical Operations Bureau were conducting a narcotics investigation on March 5 that led to a traffic stop on a Jeep in the 100 block of Main Street. The defendant, identified as Alicia Summers, 37, was driving the Jeep and her 17-year-old son was inside. Alicia Summers (Scott County Jail) Officers conducted a probable cause search of the Jeep and found: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10.07 grams of marijuana wax 147.23 grams of marijuana 11 THC vape cartridges The marijuana field-tested positive using a NARTEC test kit. Summers admitted in a post Miranda interview that she drove her son from Macomb to Davenport so he could sell marijuana to a friend. The marijuana and marijuana vapes did not have Iowa Drug Tax Stamps which are required by the Code of Iowa. Summers was arrested and charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of failure to affix a drug tax stamp and one count of using a juvenile to commit certain offences, according to jail records. She is being held in the Scott County Jail on a secured $20,000 bond and has a preliminary hearing March 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. French President Emmanuel Macrons TV address on the challenges facing France and Europe in the new era of U.S. President Donald Trump drew 15.1 million viewers, according to local audience monitor Mediametrie. The 14-minute live address at 8pm local time on Wednesday was broadcast on TF1, France 2, M6, TMC, LCP as well as four news channels. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mediametrie said the speech took a 71.6% share of all the viewers watching TV at that time. The address followed in the wake of the Trump administrations decision to halt the delivery of military supplies to Ukraine, as well as its threats to impose trade tariffs on goods produced in Europe. Macron told the French population that a 30-year era of innocence in the wake of the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall was over, and that France and Europe needed to take their security into their own hands and embark on an ambitious plan of rearmament. He was speaking on the eve of a meeting today in Brussels gathering European leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss a 800 billion ($863B) plan to boost the regions military capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macrons most watched address was on March 16, 2000, when he announced measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, which drew 35 million people. Wednesday nights address was his joint fourth most watched TV address after broadcasts on the resignation of short-lived Prime Minister Michel Barnier in December 2024 (17M); the shock dissolution of the national assembly in June 2024 (15.3M), and the 2023 pension reforms (15.1M). According to a poll by research body Toluna Harris for news channel LCI, 68% of those questioned said they were in favor of increased defense spending, while only 35% backed the intervention of French troops on the ground. Questioned on their current attitudes towards the U.S., 61% of those questioned said they no longer saw the country as an ally, while 65% said they would consider boycotting U.S. goods. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It was just two weeks into Donald Trumps second term when the public learned that a man with a history of using racist rhetoric had been appointed to key post at the State Department. Days later, the public learned that a member of Elon Musks DOGE operation also had a history of using racist rhetoric. And now this week the public has learned about Kingsley Wilson, who was recently tapped to serve as the Pentagons deputy press secretary. A Mother Jones report summarized Wilsons record this way: Shes also an overt internet troll with a long history of bigoted, xenophobic, and deliberately provocative s---posting. Its reached the point where even some congressional Republicans are raising public concerns about the White Houses vetting process. Politico reported: The backlash over a top Pentagon aide who has touted antisemitic views, white supremacist conspiracy theories and Kremlin-like statements on social media grew wider on Wednesday in a sign of increasing frustration among Republicans about the Trump administrations seemingly unvetted appointees. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilsons posts which include comparing the murders of Israeli babies during the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks to abortion and spreading the far-right great replacement theory have angered lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Republican Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska told Politico, in reference to Wilsons remarks, Its horrible, its just not appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior Republican congressional aide added, Weve got enough real, serious challenges from outside without having to worry about Pentagon staff who like to spread antisemitism or Russian propaganda. Im amazed at who this administration has been willing to trust with national security responsibilities. Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska was more cautious, but even he was willing to state the obvious: Doing appropriate vetting for all those jobs is very important. During Trumps first term, the president bragged, [W]e have a great vetting process. It was absurd at the time, but the boast now looks even worse. The problem, of course, isnt that the White House has no vetting process, but rather, that Team Trump has the wrong vetting process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wall Street Journal reported last month, for example, that the Republican operation vetted prospective employees through a series of loyalty tests, asking applicants about whether they agreed with Trumps positions even on issues wholly unrelated to the jobs they were seeking and whether they ever worked for a politician who disliked Trump. (The report has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News.) The Washington Post had a similar report on the tests being applied to candidates for top national security positions. The questions asked of several current and former officials up for top intelligence agency and law enforcement posts revolved around two events that have become President Donald Trumps litmus test to distinguish friend from foe: the result of the 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, according to the people, who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matters sensitivity. For example, the Posts report, which also has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, highlighted a pair of applicants for positions within the intelligence community, who were asked to give yes or no responses to questions such as: Was Jan. 6 an inside job? And was the 2020 presidential election stolen? The same article went on to note that at least two individuals in FBI field offices who were being interviewed for senior positions were asked who the real patriots were on Jan. 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, those seeking jobs in the administration have too often been pressed on their allegiance to Trump and Trumpism instead of being pressed on whether theyve published racist and antisemitic content online. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com UPDATE (March 6, 2025, 4:46 p.m. ET): This post has been revised to reflect the fact that the latest White House "pause" applies to both Mexico and Canada. About a month ago, Donald Trump said he was moving forward with sweeping new trade tariffs against the United States three largest trading partners. Asked if there was any chance his foreign targets could convince him to delay the policy, the president replied, No, no. A few days later, Trump said hed made some last-minute deals, allowing him to back down from his threats. Calling them deals, however, was overly generous: Officials in Canada and Mexico told the White House they would keep doing what theyd already done Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were left with a rather obvious conclusion: Trump picked a fight for reasons he struggled to explain; he faced pressure; he saw stock market declines; and he caved in exchange for effectively nothing. A new round of international headlines about the Republican being a paper tiger soon followed. A month later, the president took a walk down a similar path, again announcing tariffs on our largest trading partners and again saying nothing could change his mind. Why? Because of fentanyl. Or maybe immigration. Or perhaps the trade deficit. Trump has changed his own rationale several times, and none of the explanations make sense. Nevertheless, the administration is moving forward with its radical and potentially destabilizing plan or at least was. NBC News reported: President Donald Trump on Thursday issued exemptions on tariffs for a wide range of goods coming into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada, two days after putting in place sweeping 25% tariffs that rattled stock markets, as businesses warned the move would increase prices for consumers. The exemption would apply to goods compliant with the North American free trade agreement reached during Trumps first term and will last until April 2, when Trump plans another round of retaliatory tariffs on goods from a range of countries. The developments came one day after the Republican announced his policy also wouldnt apply to the auto industry because the largest U.S. auto manufacturers asked him for a reprieve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Industries that lack direct access to the White House were, evidently, out of luck, though Politico reported that administration officials were weighing additional exceptions for the agriculture industry. By any fair measure, this entire policy Im using the word loosely is utterly incoherent. Worse, its a moving target that seems to change by the day, creating new layers of chaos and uncertainty and leaving whole industries with a sense of whiplash. Whats more, theres no actual governing taking place. Only an erratic president doling out favors to some of the people who manage to get him on the phone. No one seems able to say what the policy is, what the policy will be, why Trump is doing this or what he hopes to achieve. Other than that, though, its a great plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revisiting our earlier related coverage, imagine being an American executive at a company that relies on imports and exports. As part of your day-to-day responsibilities, you have to make decisions about product purchases, shipping, staffing and investments that will shape your business future. Then imagine youre watching your own countrys White House make threats, impose costly trade tariffs and then waver about the implementation of the presidents own agenda for an indeterminate length of time. Could you do your job effectively? Could anyone in your industry do their jobs effectively? A striking number of American business leaders are making their displeasure with Trump known. It shouldnt surprise anyone when their ranks continue to grow. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * The NLRB case: An American President is not a king, a federal judge wrote in ruling against President Donald Trump on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in the District of Columbia made the stark statement in rejecting Trumps bid to fire Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board. * A closely watched ruling: A federal appeals court Wednesday said President Donald Trump can fire a top government watchdog in the latest round of a legal fight over the authority to dismiss federal officials. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C., put on hold on a lower courts ruling that found Hampton Dellingers termination at the Office of Special Counsel was unlawful. The court said it would expedite its review of the ruling, but in the meantime Dellinger can be removed from his post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * The ruling the National Institutes of Health was hoping for: A U.S. judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trumps administration from carrying out steep cuts to federal grant funding for research that universities and Democratic-led states warn would lead to layoffs, lab closures and a curtailment of scientific and medical studies. * This was an important speech, which got Moscows attention: President Emmanuel Macron has warned that France needs to prepare for the possibility of the United States disengaging from Europe by increasing spending on defense needs and rethinking how the country uses its nuclear deterrent. * The sequel: The Trump administration is reopening a sprawling detention center in South Texas for migrant families facing deportation, resuming the practice of detaining children four years after the Biden administration ended it, according to the private prison contractor that runs the facility. * Why do this? U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would soon decide whether to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, following a Reuters report that his administration planned to take that step. Such a move would be a stunning reversal of the welcome Ukrainians received under President Joe Bidens administration and potentially put them on a fast-track to deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * The confirmation vote was 52 to 46: The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Trumps criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche to take the No. 2 position at the Justice Department, where he has vowed to end the kind of investigations and prosecutions that led to indictments against his client. * All is not well at the Social Security Administration: The Social Security Administration wrote in a Thursday morning email that employees can no longer read news websites on work devices. See you tomorrow. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com MADISON, Miss. (WJTV) Officials in Madison County celebrated the opening of the second stage of the Reunion Parkway. When I was in the Senate, you all were talking about building Reunion to connect Madison County, get some relief of SR 463 and support future growth to accompany the companies coming to the area, said Commissioner Willie Simmons, Chairman of the Mississippi Transportation Commission. There are a lot of opportunities here. As your Commissioner, I am thrilled to be here today to celebrate this phase and look forward to being back to do the same for the next one. MDOT will shift traffic to new lanes for I-55 project work Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ribbon cutting event was held on the new road just west of the intersection of U.S. 51 and Green Oak Lane in Madison County on Wednesday. Crews recently completed an intersection improvement project that consisted of widening roadways along with the installation of intersection channelization and a traffic signal system. According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), the project provided the U.S. 51 tie-in needed for the adjacent Reunion Parkway project underway by the Madison County Board of Supervisors. Pictured left to right: Lee Frederick, MDOT, Director Of Preconstruction Engineering; Madison County Aldermen Guy Bowering and Janie Jarvis; Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons; President of the Madison County Board of Supervisors Gerald Steen; Brady Stewart, Office of Congressman Michael Guest, Umesh Sanjanwala, Office of Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith; Madison County Chancery Clerk Ronny Lott. (Courtesy: MDOT) The opening of the second stage of Reunion is important because it will greatly decrease traffic on congested roadways, increase safety, and provide economic development opportunities for Madison County by creating conditions that are favorable to businesses, said Madison County Board of Supervisors President Gerald Steen. As our county grows, we are committed to providing infrastructure that will support growth. Steen anticipates the next stage opening later this fall. Officials broke ground on the first phase of the Reunion Parkway project in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. None of the Republican members of Congress from Colorado threatened Denver Mayor Mike Johnston with arrest or accused the Democrat of committing treason, but U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her three Republican colleagues held Johnston's feet to the fire Wednesday during House committee hearing on "sanctuary" cities. Only one Democrat had the gall to call Donald Trump out for preaching endless falsehoods during his address to a joint session of Congressand House Republicans are planning to punish him as a result. Ten Democrats joined Republicans Thursday in voting to censure Representative Al Green after the Texas Democrat momentarily halted Trumps speech. But that was apparently not penalty enough. Hours later, the House Freedom Caucus announced it would be filing a resolution to strip Green from his committee assignments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We expect @SpeakerJohnson to bring it to the House floor for a vote next week, the caucus chairman, Representative Andy Harris, posted to the extremely conservative coalitions official X account. Green was censured in a bipartisan vote but he needs real consequences to demonstrate that no one gets to disrupt the Peoples business in lame attempts to derail President Trumps agenda. When Trump claimed during his Tuesday night speech that he had been given a mandate by the American people to radically reimagine the federal government, Green interrupted the president by yelling, You have no mandate to cut Medicaid! That got Green ousted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called on the sergeant of arms to remove the 77-year-old from the chamber against a backdrop of jeers from Republicans. I did it from my heart, and I will suffer whatever the consequences are, Green told reporters the next day. But truthfully, I would do it again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Republicans are working to pass a budget that even party members have recently admitted will result in a $880 billion cut to Medicaid, much to the chagrin of their own constituents. The multibillion-dollar cut is a trade-off for conservatives who were tasked by Donald Trump to extend his 2017 tax plan, which will overwhelmingly benefit corporations and is projected to add as much as $15 trillion to the national deficit. Greens protest was practically the only noticeable rejection of Trumps agenda that Democrats could muster Tuesday night. Other liberal lawmakers were torched for flipping paddles that read False, Musk Steals, Save Medicaid, in a silent protest in the face of the administrations apparent oligarchy and its systemic dismantling of the federal government. And viewers watching live at home would never have known that a handful of Democrats stood up and walked out of the chamber in protest, as TV cameras never bothered to pan to their mute, dignified spectacle. Others, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Patty Murray, opted to not show up at all. A CNN Poll released this week found that just 39 percent of Americans felt the country was moving in the right direction, as opposed to 45 percent who believed it was moving in the wrong direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even Republicans dont seem to believe in the mandate decree coming from the White House. In Tennessee over the weekend, an angry town hall before Representative Diana Harshbarger screamed, No! when the Republican lawmaker asked if there had been a mandate to the president from the American people, who she claimed overwhelmingly voted Trump in. Were giving the billionaires tax cuts! a man shouted at Harshbarger. Elon Musk made a boob joke and MAGAworld went wild. The billionaire face of the powerful Department of Government Efficiency, who is a self-described proponent of legalizing comedy, trolled a Fox News reporter on his way to a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Wednesday. After reports that Musk provided perturbed GOP lawmakers with his phone number after meetings on the Capitol, a reporter jokingly asked Musk if they could get his cellphone number as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk, donning his favorite Tech Support shirt, laughed as he responded: [Its] something 8008. The comment referenced a decades-old joke about a string of numbers that appear to spell out the word boob when typed out on old devices. Elon Musk leaves a meeting with House Republicans in the basement of the U.S. Capitol building on March 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Samuel Corum / Getty Images Musk chuckled as he walked away, ignoring another reporter who asked him what he planned to discuss with Republicans. The cringeworthy moment was a certified hit in right-wing spaces. Conservative commentator Nick Sortor effusively hyped up Musks joke in a series of posts on X. Elon Musk just trolled the media at the Capitol, making a B00B joke when they asked for his cell phone number Its something 8008! Trolling the legacy media never gets old. pic.twitter.com/DkUwNzGVYq Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 6, 2025 Trolling the legacy media never gets old, he said. I was sort of impressed with how off-the-cuff this was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by a follower whether Musk or President Donald Trump was better at trolling the media, Sortor said Elon just makes fun of them. Trump intentionally gets under their skin and demoralizes them. Its great teamwork. Right-wing influencer Benny Johnson said Musk savagely mocked the Media right to their faces when they begged for his phone number, appearing to miss the fact that it was a Fox News reporter who asked the question. The right can meme.The left cannot, he said. Elon Musk just savagely mocked the Media right to their faces when they begged for his phone number Something at 8008 Spells out B00B The right can meme.The left cannot. pic.twitter.com/U0Etqpqfpy Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 6, 2025 A popular X account called MAGAVoice also found humor in Musks comment, saying: Liberals cant stand this. Conservative pundit Evan Kilgore took the joke a step further by cooking up a screenshot of a fake text conversation with the phone number 8008. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holy crap... I just texted Elon Musk at the 8008 number he shared... and he replied, he said. Holy crap... I just texted Elon Musk at the 8008 number he shared... and he replied. Thanks, @elonmusk. Very cool!! pic.twitter.com/XN7nvJF8ev Evan Kilgore (@EvanAKilgore) March 6, 2025 Musk also reposted a clip of the viral moment on his X account. Musk met with Republican lawmakers in a pair of meetings on Wednesday. He had lunch with GOP senators and spoke to conservative representatives over dinner. The Washington Post reported that Musk told conservatives on Capitol Hill he wanted to set up a direct line of communication with them to answer their questions and address their concerns. Musk also urged Congress to codify the sweeping cuts on government spending initiated by DOGE, arguing that the law was needed to make them permanent. Im very reassured by hearing him, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said, according to the Post. I mean, he wants to do logical, rational things. [But] the system needs to be fine-tuned to coordinate between DOGE and Congress and the administration, how its all working. DIXMOOR, Ill. After an all-night battle, firefighters extinguished a blaze that erupted at a magnesium factory in south suburban Dixmoor late Wednesday night. Crews had the fire under control by early Thursday morning, but not before one of three buildings belonging to the Chicago Magnesium Casting Company in Dixmoor was destroyed. Inside the burning building, fire officials say, were 55-gallon drums of chemicals and magnesium, which is highly flammable and can ignite easily under certain conditions. On arrival of the first engine company on the scene, well over half the business was on fire, Jeff Cook, chief of the neighboring Posen Fire Department, said early Thursday morning. Companies went right to work on saving the buildings to the north and south, which we did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to its website, the family-run Chicago Magnesium Casting Company was founded in 1953. Its an aluminum and sand casting foundry, specializing in parts used in the aerospace industry, and holds some government contracts. Woman struck by Cook County Sheriffs officers squad car in Glenview dies The roof of the affected building caved in due to the fire, and firefighters were pouring water on the facility all night long. Skycam 9 was over the building early Thursday morning to get a birds-eye view of the damage. See photos below: No injuries, however, were reported. Nobody was inside the factory when it caught fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Magnesium reacts with water, so that makes it a challenge, Cook said. We had quite a few different explosions that were happening from that chemical reaction. We were able to contain it, but that was one of the big issues. Fire officials have been working with the Environmental Protection Agency, which arrived to the scene and has been monitoring the air to make sure its safe for people nearby to breathe. Cook said fire crews were lucky with the wind overnight, so theres been no need for evacuations thus far. Officials say it will be a while before it can be determined what caused the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Mar. 5A Maine lawmaker charged with felony assault has pleaded not guilty and is still waiting for the results of a legislative ethics investigation. Rep. Lucas Lanigan, R-Sanford, was arraigned Wednesday in York County Superior Court on one count of domestic violence aggravated assault, a Class B crime, and one count of domestic violence assault, a Class D crime. He entered not guilty pleas on both charges. Police say that he attempted to strangle his wife after she confronted him and another woman whom his wife believed he was having an affair with. Lanigan has denied the assault, and his wife previously recanted statements she made to police, though prosecutors have said they would still pursue the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lanigan represents the 141st District, which includes parts of Shapleigh, Newfield, Sanford and Springvale. He was charged weeks before an extremely close election in which he was declared his district's winner by a single vote following a recount. But on his first day back to the Maine House of Representatives, the speaker of the House stripped him of his committee assignment. The House later voted along party lines to refer Lanigan's case to an ethics committee, which is investigating whether he violated the House's code of conduct but has yet to meet on the matter. "I haven't been convicted of any crime," Lanigan said in a phone call after his court appearance. Through his office, House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, declined to comment Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Maine Democratic Party's vice chair, Imke Schessler-Jandreau, said in a statement that Lanigan has been indicted, which requires a grand jury to agree there's enough evidence for a case to move forward. (Grand juries do not decide whether someone is guilty.) "There is no place for domestic violence in our society and I call on Republican leaders to join the widespread calls for Mr. Lanigan's immediate resignation," Schessler-Jandreau said in a written statement. Maine Republicans have previously said a House investigation would "trample the constitutional rights" of Lanigan and that his charges should be argued "in court, not in the House." Lanigan said Wednesday that he promised his caucus he would "immediately resign and step down" if he is convicted, "because someone that's convicted of that should not be serving in the House of Representatives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he is representing himself in the case because he can no longer afford an attorney, saying he had to step back from his job to focus on his criminal case and his position as a lawmaker. Lanigan plans to file a motion this week to adjust his bail conditions so he can return to the house he shares with his wife and their children. He hasn't been allowed back since he was charged about four months ago. Prosecutors offered him a deal to plead guilty to a misdemeanor-level crime and serve 14 days behind bars, Lanigan said, but would have barred him from returning home for another two years. "I told them I would not take less than a dismissal," Lanigan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant District Attorney Kristen Dorion declined Wednesday to discuss the specifics of Lanigan's case, citing the "ongoing prosecution." She wouldn't confirm what offer was made to Lanigan but did confirm they weren't able to reach a deal. Should the case go to trial, Lanigan said he has witnesses who will back him up. A police affidavit that Sgt. Jeremy Riddle wrote in October references potential witnesses, including the woman Lanigan was allegedly with and the friends his wife called after the incident. Lanigan's wife has said he didn't attack her and only tried to stop her from harming herself. He said police body camera footage suggests they questioned his wife unfairly, and that medical evidence supports that his wife's strangulation-like symptoms were a reaction to a medication she had been taking mixed with alcohol. Riddle reported the woman had "bruising on the left and right side of her neck." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lanigan's wife told a judge last year that Lanigan hadn't actually choked her, but prosecutors and the judge citied the complicated factors involved in domestic violence cases. Dorion said in an email that "in general, recantation is a highly common occurrence in cases involving allegations of domestic violence." Lanigan said he expects the district attorney's office will call on experts who will reiterate this. Staff Writer Daniel Kool contributed to this report. ------ How to get help IF YOU or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, you can call the Statewide Domestic Abuse Helpline at 1-866-834-4357. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOR ASSISTANCE during a mental health crisis, call or text 888-568-1112. To call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org. TO LEARN more about domestic violence prevention and response in Maine, visit the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence website. FOR OTHER support or referrals, call the NAMI Maine Help Line at 800-464-5767 or email helpline@namimaine.org. Copy the Story Link Staff Sgt. Myra Estes, a dental hygienist of the Maine Army National Guard Medical Detachment mentors Pfc. Allison Alcantara, a dental specialist with the detachment during a land navigation course at the Bog Brook Training Site in Gilead, August 11-17, 2017. (Photo via Maine National Guard) Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle urged the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee to provide funding to increase services for both active duty military and veterans who are survivors of sexual assault and harassment. The Legislature approved one of these measures last session, which aims to fund military sexual trauma liaisons, however end-of-session procedural scuffles resulted in it ultimately failing to become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Morgan Rielly (D-Westbrook) re-introduced that initiative this session, along with another bill aimed at lowering barriers for survivors who already have a military protective order and are seeking the additional protections available through Maines courts. While there was no opposition during Wednesdays public hearing on the renewed push for liaisons, the plan to streamline Maine courts abilities to consider military protection orders when ruling on abuse or harassment cases was opposed by the states judicial branch, representatives of which argued the change would negatively interfere with a defendants due process rights. Military sexual trauma liaisons For the third time, Rielly came before the committee to ask for funding for military sexual trauma liaisons this time through LD 662, which is also co-sponsored by three other Democrats and one Republican. Last session, a similar bill from Rielly, LD 2263, initially passed both chambers but got caught up in the funding process. Initially drafted to fund two liaisons at community-based organizations, the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee adjusted the fiscal note to only approve funding for one. When the amended bill was sent back to the Legislature for approval, it was not voted on again before the session ended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans of all ages, racial backgrounds and branches have experienced military sexual trauma, a term used by Veterans Affairs to refer to sexual assault or harassment experienced during military service. However, MST is most common among female veterans, with about one in three reporting it to their veteran affairs health care provider. Veterans and those who work for organizations that support active and former service members repeatedly cited these statistics but with the caveat that the true number of cases is much larger, as MST is underreported because of fears of retaliation, skepticism about being believed and stigma surrounding blame. In Maine, specifically, a Bangor Daily News investigation in 2021 found assaults and harassment against women in the state Army National Guard had continued unchecked for more than a decade and created a predatory culture that drove women out of the service. These liaisons wouldnt replace nor interfere with existing supports, such the Maine National Guard Sexual Assault Response Coordinators, Rielly clarified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These positions are purely for support out in the community, and theyre also for veterans who arent able to access SARCs and for any Guard members who feel the need to reach out to them for additional support, Rielly said. He also pointed out that liaisons have been recommended on the state level by the Advisory Council on Military Sexual Trauma and the federal level by the Department of Defenses Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Mathew David McIntyre (R-Lowell) said while he understands there are some existing resources for the states active duty reserve and veteran uniform military who have faced sexual trauma, he believes the funding in this bill is both nominal and reasonable to improve the portfolio of support available to victims. I have been provided assurances the program will remain under the careful watch of stakeholders to ensure that resources sought and authorized do not grow beyond a defined need and, most importantly, that we will not accidentally create layers of bureaucracy that impede timely victim access to these critical support resources, McIntyre said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riellys proposal last session sought to fund liaisons at organizations such as Sisters in Arms, which offers temporary housing and resources to female veterans, representatives from which turned out in support of the measure reintroduced on Wednesday. Recently retired soldier Brian Kresge, who told lawmakers he was sexually assaulted during a hazing ritual, said he has seen Sisters in Arms help house both veterans and active duty members. As the former treasurer for Sisters in Arms, Kresge said while the group has recently increased its donation revenue, it cannot continue to meet the demand for services or provide more meaningful wrap-around support without commitment from the state. The more we can offer beyond just housing, the more we can tap into grants and funds, Kresge said. I would urge this committee to see this relatively small apportionment as planting a seed that will grow into something meaningful for this underserved group of veterans in Maine. Protective orders A Military Protection Order is issued by a commanding officer to protect a victim of alleged abuse, harassment or threats by restricting the actions and movement of the service member who is alleged to have committed harmful behaviors, however MPOs arent recognized or enforced outside of military installations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melissa Willette, regional liaison for the U.S. Department of Defense, told lawmakers that explicitly allowing MPOs to be introduced in court as evidence when a victim is seeking a temporary protection from abuse order would provide greater access to protections, services and advocacy that arent otherwise available to victims through a standalone MPO. Thats what Rielly has proposed allowing through LD 665, which has Democratic and Republican co-sponsors. If a victim can swiftly convert a military protective order into a temporary protection from abuse order, we are helping to ensure consistent safety across jurisdictions, which is crucial for a population that relocates often, Willette said, testifying in support of the bill. Violence and harmful behavior extend well beyond an individual victim, as the effects of violence directly impact our service members and their families, the units to which they are assigned and our greater national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is also supported by the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence and the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, however its opposed by the Maine Judicial Branch. Julie Finn, legislative analyst for the judiciary, told lawmakers that such a change puts due process protections at risk. Currently, a plaintiff seeking an order of protection commonly referred to as a restraining order under state law can request that the court issue a temporary order, which if granted remains in effect until the final hearing on the complaint. Because a temporary protection order can be issued when only one party is present in the courtroom, Maine law requires the plaintiff to put their allegations in writing under oath for the court to determine that the strict standards necessary for such an order have been met and before the defendant is notified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed amendments would remove these requirements, Finn said, allowing the court to issue a temporary protection order based solely on the existence of a military protective order. Military protective orders do not afford the respondent the same important due process protections as Maine statute, Finn explained. Specifically, a military protective order does not require a written sworn request, does not need to be made by the alleged victim. It can be requested by a victim advocate or certain limited other people, and does not involve a hearing or any opportunity for appeal. Mar. 5Maine is the first state in the country to buy out a farmer driven off his land by forever chemicals. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry spent $333,000 from the state's $60 million forever chemical relief fund to buy a secluded 24-acre hay field and 83 acres of forest in Palermo, according to state officials and county land records. "It's bittersweet," said Beth Valentine, the director of the state's Fund to Address PFAS Contamination. "I'm glad we've closed on our first property so other landowners can see that this is a potential option if they want to move off the land, but I also recognize it was very hard for this landowner." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valentine and National and state level farming groups say that Maine is the first state in the country to offer a buyback program to farmers whose land is contaminated by a group of long-lasting chemicals collectively known as PFAS. Maine is leading the nation in many aspects of forever chemical regulation, including product and sludge spreading bans. "Maine's PFAS Fund continues to provide a cutting edge model for how other states and the federal government can help alleviate the PFAS in farmland crisis," said Adam Nordell, who in 2023 sold his contaminated 45-acre farm in Unity to Maine Farmland Trust for use as a PFAS research site. Two additional farmers have asked for a buyout, with the state expecting to close on their sales next month. The field purchased by the state had been considered prime farmland where hay was grown as feed for dairy cows. Then a state investigation of land where sewage sludge had been used as agricultural fertilizer revealed in 2022 that the enriched soil had unsafe levels of toxic forever chemicals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state did not identify the former owner of the farm, who asked that his name not be published. In an old listing of the property, a real estate broker gushed over the pristine farmland. The farmhouse and barn are now gone, but the recently plowed and harrowed field remains. The woods are loaded with deer, and horseback, hiking, and snowmobiling trails. 1 OF 3 SITES IN PALERMO The sludge fertilizer had been applied by a previous landowner. A 2022 municipal report identified the Parmenter Road field one of three sludge application sites in Palermo had an estimated 5,000 cubic yards of sludge licensed to be spread there from 1997 to 2002. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hayfield soil contained 36.9 parts per billion of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, and 21.2 parts per billion of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, state records show. These chemicals are used to make consumer products like non-stick pans and ski wax and industrial products like electrical wire casings. These chemicals have been linked to developmental effects, liver damage, immune system dysfunction, kidney and testicular cancer and thyroid disease, with some studies suggesting PFOS may be more toxic and linger longer in the environment, building up over time, than PFOA. Compared with other forever chemical hotspots in Maine, the contamination level at the Palermo site was considered moderate but still more than three times the state's 6.4 parts per billion PFOS guideline for agricultural soil to be used to produce hay intended as the sole source of feed for dairy cows. However, it's likely that other products could still be safely grown, sold and consumed on this property. For example, Maine toxicologists have determined that corn, which doesn't take up PFOS the same way that hay does, could be grown there and safely fed to dairy cows, especially if mixed with other feeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the owner wasn't up for such a change. "He's a hay farmer," Valentine said. "That's what he knows." Now that the land belongs to the state, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry plans to try to lease the field for limited agricultural use consistent with those PFOA and PFOS conditions and may have the Maine Forest Service turn the wooded area into a demonstration forest. The state doesn't have the authority to lease land right now, but the Legislature's agriculture committee voted 9-1 Tuesday in favor of a bill codifying Maine's PFAS response program, LD 130, that would give the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry the authority to do just that. The department wants any lease profits earned from tainted land to be returned to the PFAS relief fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state purchase removes the land from the local tax rolls, which means Palermo is out about $816 a year in lost property taxes. The advisory board that oversees the PFAS relief fund will now consider if it will reimburse Palermo for lost taxes, and for how long overseers say they can't afford to do it forever. PROPERTY TAXES AN ISSUE The PFAS fund budget $60 million in state funds and $10 million in likely federal funds is split into pieces: about $30 million in grants to get farmers back on their feet, $21.5 million in compensation for contaminated land, $7.3 million for medical needs, and $11.2 million for scientific research. The fund was created by the Legislature in 2022 to help Maine farmers, farmworkers and those who live near them whose lives have been upended by toxic forever chemicals left behind by a now-defunct state-approved sludge-spreading program that dates to the 1970s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PFAS Fund will supplement the agriculture department's existing response program, a first-in-the-nation effort to work directly with commercial farmers whose water, fields, animals or crops test positive for PFAS contamination. In most instances, contaminated farms can find a way to remain viable. As of January, Maine had identified 82 PFAS-contaminated farms, about 1% of Maine's 7,000 farms. Of those, five have closed and three have scaled back their operations. The rest have stayed in operation by changing their feed, installing water filtration or switching to a crop that doesn't absorb PFAS. But that's not possible for everyone. The PFAS Fund will purchase PFAS-tainted land at fair market precontamination value, as established by a team of third-party appraisers. Once purchased, Maine plans to manage the lands with a long-term goal of one day returning them to agricultural production. Farmland in Maine is valued at about $2,860 an acre, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That value varies depending on the location, with land in the south and along the coasts much higher in value than in other areas. The national average is $5,050 an acre. Copy the Story Link Most New York City voters say embattled Mayor Eric Adams, who is campaigning for a second term, should resign from office, according to a new poll. The Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found 56 percent of voters want Adams, a Democrat who is embroiled in a federal corruption probe, to immediately step down, while 35 percent said he should stay. The results were split along party lines. More than 70 percent of Democrats polled said he should resign, while 68 percent of Republicans said that he should remain in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams, who was elected mayor in 2021, has faced dozens of calls for his resignation from fellow Democrats since he was indicted last year on federal charges of bribery, wire fraud and solicitation of illegal campaign donations. He has denied any wrongdoing. The case is on an indefinite hold, and the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled that the charges could be dropped. After President Trumps successful 2024 campaign, Adams began working with the new administration on immigration issues. He notably appeared alongside Trumps border czar Tom Homan on Fox and Friends in January to plug the joint effort. About 73 percent of voters surveyed in the latest poll said they are following developments in the corruption case. Just 13 percent of New Yorkers said they believe Adams did nothing legally or ethically wrong. Quinnipiacs poll also found Adams approval rating is at a record low, with just 20 percent of voters in support of the way he is handling his job as mayor. Sixty-seven percent disapprove, and 13 percent had no opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the lowest job approval rating of any New York City mayor in the nearly three decades that Quinnipiacs pollsters have been surveying New York City voters besting the previous record low also from Adams in December 2023. The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,260 New York City voters from Feb. 27 to March 3. It has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points. The margin of error for results limited to the 771 self-identified registered Democrats has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A majority of Americans in a new poll said that the U.S. and not other countries will feel the brunt of President Trumps tariffs. When asked about the cost of tariffs on foreign products imported into the U.S., 54 percent of the respondents in The Economist/YouGov poll said they believe mostly companies and people in the U.S will feel their weight. Twenty-four percent said mostly companies and people in the country exporting products will suffer the consequences. On Tuesday, the president imposed 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods. Trump cited irritation over the stream of fentanyl into his country, but experts have noted not much of the drug comes into the U.S. via its border with Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went after the Trump tariffs aimed at Canada on Tuesday, noting a Wall Street Journal editorial calling them dumb. Now, I want to speak directly to one specific American, Trudeau said. Donald, in the over eight years you and I have worked together, weve done big things. We signed a historic deal that has created record jobs and growth in both of our countries. Weve done big things together on the world stage, as Canada and the U.S. have done together for decades, for generations. And now, we should be working together to ensure even greater prosperity for North Americans in a very uncertain and challenging world. The following day, Trump unveiled a monthlong exemption on tariffs against its northern and southern neighbors for cars in the wake of a meeting with the U.S.s three major automakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Economist/YouGov poll also found that most respondents, 68 percent, said they believe increasing tariffs on foreign goods imported into the U.S. generally results in prices rising. Eight percent said raising tariffs on foreign goods imported into the U.S. generally results in no effect on prices. The Economist/YouGov poll took place March 1-4, featuring 1,638 participants and a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BAMAKO, Mali (AP) Mali said on Wednesday it was suspending licenses for foreign artisanal gold mining companies after a series of fatal accidents in the West African country, one of Africas top three gold producers. Gen. Assimi Goita, president of Mali's transitional government, ordered the suspension of artisanal mining permits granted to foreigners, according to a statement issued following a Council of Ministers meeting which was read out on the national television station ORTM. The move comes in response to accidents at mining sites that have claimed the lives of dozens of people, most recently in January in the Koulikoro region, in the south of the country, and in February in the Kayes region, in the southwest. Artisanal gold mining is estimated to produce around 30 tons of gold a year and represents 6% of Malis annual gold production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Council of Ministers' statement said measures would be taken to facilitate the recovery of equipment used in gold panning and its addition to the national patrimony. This is a major change, as previously mining companies could recover their equipment after paying a fine to the countrys authorities. These measures are designed to further strengthen the state authorities and protect our fellow citizens. These measures give us the power to seize materials (mining equipment), which will be confiscated and placed in the domain of national heritage, Gen. Daoud Ali Mohammedine, the minister of security and civil protection, said on ORTM. In recent years, there have been concerns that profits from unregulated mining in northern Mali could benefit extremists active in that part of the country. Gold is by far Malis most important export, comprising more than 80% of total exports in 2021, according to the International Trade Administration, which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. More than 2 million people, or more than 10% of Malis population, depend on the mining sector for income, according to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mali is one of the top three gold producing countries in Africa. Several major gold producing companies operate in this West African country, including Barrick Gold, B2Gold, Resolute Mining and Allied Gold. Tensions have been rising between some mining companies and the military authorities, who are demanding that companies pay money and comply with a new mining code. At least four employees of the Canadian company Barrick were still in prison in Bamako at the end of last year. Military authorities then seized 3 tons of gold from Barricks mining site and deposited it in a Bamako bank. (Bloomberg) -- Mali has stopped issuing permits for small-scale gold mining to foreign nationals, after several deadly incidents in recent weeks and amid a drop in gold production. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interim President Assimi Goita urged the government to strengthen measures to avoid human and environmental tragedies, Minister of Security and Civil Protection, General Daoud Aly Mohamedinne, said Wednesday. The government stopped local authorities from granting artisanal mining permits to foreign nationals and ordered the seizure of any equipment used to extract gold at small-scale mines. The move comes as one of Africas top gold producers saw a 23% drop in industrial gold output to 51 tons last year from 66.5 tons in 2023, according to government data, and as the junta demands foreign companies adopt a new mining code which raises the states stake in foreign mining operations. It has also detained mining executives from Barrick Gold Corp. and Resolute Mining. Four Barrick staff have been held by the country since November on accusations of money laundering and financing terrorism, allegations the company denies. Barrick suspended operations at its Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex, the countrys biggest gold mine, earlier this year after authorities seized 3 tons of gold from the mine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malis says that foreign miners including Barrick has failed to pay taxes. Barrick remains the West African nations biggest gold producer with an output of 18 tons in 2024 followed by B2Gold with 12.3 tons and Resolute Mining at 6.7, according to company data. The countrys informal sector, which has seen several deadly incidents lately, could be as high as about one third of industrial production, according to government estimates. At least 49 people, many of them women, were killed after an artisanal gold mine collapsed in western Mali last month. The accident took place in an open-pit area where people had gone in search of gold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Robert Jameson. (Adds drop in gold output in third paragraph, details on gold production throughout.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Oregon State University temporarily shut down parts of its student government late last week, and on Monday, March 3, fired at least three students for allegedly violating the directive. Earlier this year, the student government president alleged a culture of bullying and harassment, all of which appears to stem from internal squabbles around student fees. The email and shutdown According to a Friday, Feb. 28 email from OSUs Vice Provost for Student Affairs Dan Larson and signed by student government President Audrey Schlotter, certain functions of the Associated Students of Oregon State University, or ASOSU, are on pause, with student employees and officers directed to undertake a "comprehensive" programmatic review. This review will include an extended assessment of both student conduct as well as student employment, in matters related to allegations of intimidation, hostile work environment, retaliation, acts of bias, and other behavior and performance issues, Larson said. ASOSU leadership positions are paid. The pause hit ASOSUs senate, judicial council and student fee committee, while ASOSUs elections and executive branch meetings, as well as its annual student incidental fee-setting process were spared. Its expected to last until May 2, Larson said in his email. He also said all currently employed student government leaders were expected to remain employed. Firings and strong feelings Reached by phone Monday, ASOSUs Senate Pro-Tempore Adison Rowe said OSU had fired them from their ASOSU position after trying to organize a Senate committee meeting, an activity prohibited by the recent order, outside the Student Experience Center on campus, which houses ASOSU offices. Matteo Paola, a member of the student governments judicial council, which acts like the governments Supreme Court, was also on the receiving end of a termination letter and student code of conduct charges for allegedly violating the government pause. Paolas code of conduct letter, which he shared with Mid-Valley Media, cited an email he addressed to Larson and students, in which he wrote: The best way to fight fascism, whether it be at the federal level or against OSU administration, is to resist, especially unlawful orders, commands or calls for what is essentially martial law that are unprecedented in ASOSUs 100+ year history. Additionally, OSU fired ASOSU student Dylan Perfect, who was recently elected chair of the student fee committee, also related to his participating in Senate committee meeting which he said was called off before it occurred and who posted about his termination on his Instagram account. Neither Perfect, Paola nor Rowe said they had clarity about whether their terminations meant they only lost their compensation or their office. When asked about the firings, university spokesperson Rob Odom said OSU does not comment on personnel matters involving university employees. A toxic culture? Perfect, a frequent critic of OSUs actions on student fees over the last year, called the shutdown the most authoritarian order hes seen at a state university, in his response to Larsons email last week and shared with Mid-Valley Media. In a phone call, Perfect was also critical of what he called an unprecedented level of administrative interference at ASOSU, and faulted administrators for not citing a specific incident in suspending the university's elected student government on Friday. Paola also criticized the pause. Im not going to disagree that there has been a toxic environment within some of the meetings, Paola said by phone, but added that the president and the executive branch had played a large role, and that, as far as he was aware, the administration had only talked to the president about her concerns. But when asked if any complaints from ASOSU members had been filed before the announced pause, Odom said in an email there have been ongoing concerns and complaints that the culture of ASOSU is not conducive to student health and well-being. He added: Students have resigned from their leadership roles, citing concerns and an assessment conducted by the Ombuds office had indicated hostility in the workplace. Indeed, last week the student governments vice president, Zach Kowash, resigned, announcing his decision in a blunt letter that, while not calling out individual students, had no kind words for ASOSU as a whole. I cant keep skipping class or missing assignments or canceling on my friends for a job that has unequivocally shown, time and again, to be downright terrible and populated with the cruelest people Ive met in my life, Kowash wrote. Paola said he wouldnt want to speculate when asked what prompted Kowash's resignation. Perfect said he respected Kowashs decision, but added he feared it was being used to justify this democratic backsliding. Schlotter could not be reached for comment. Beyond the resignation, Odom additionally said advisers to the student government had seen increased communications of both those working for ASOSU and students outside of student government regarding the alleged negative treatment they have either been on the receiving end of, or witnessed personally themselves, both in-person and online. He added: OSU leadership observed and listened to the pattern of behavior, the consistent and urgent feedback from students, and incorporated student input in making this decision. Facing division Cracks in OSUs student government were publicly aired earlier this year, when ASOSU President Schlotter told the university Board of Trustees at a January meeting that the student government faced a constitutional crisis and that she faced bullying and harassment stemming from internal divisions over student fee proposals, though she didnt identify individual students. In an interview, when asked what that bullying looked like, Schlotter pointed to past negative comments on social media, while adding a protest outside her office last year had made her concerned about ASOSUs atmosphere. Comments on ASOSUs Instagram account from student government officials responding to Schlotters statement to trustees in January underscored the division. Paola wrote that the statement was inappropriate and filled with misinformation, while Perfect said Schlotter had made libelous claims. In a statement earlier this year, trustee Chair Roman Hernandez said the behaviors described by Schlotter in her report to the board were deeply concerning to all of the trustees. During our board meeting, we expressed the seriousness of our concerns and expressed our expectation that all members of our community follow the law and university policies while treating one another with dignity and respect, he said. Discord over student fees and a bill related to campus Israel-Gaza protests last year appears to have fueled the drama. Student fees For context, the universitys student government is charged with managing the allocation of incidental fees. Those are projected to amount to more than $35 million in the current fiscal year. These are the fees students pay to fund clubs, facilities and services on campus, such at the Memorial Union or the Family Resource Center. Students currently pay a total of around $530 per term. Modeled after the federal government, ASOSU has a legislative branch consisting of student senators who review and vote on recommendations from ASOSUs student fee committee on where those fees should be set. Those levels are then signed off by the ASOSUs president and then submitted to OSUs president and the Board of Trustees members, who give the allocation their final stamp of approval. The board approved ASOSU's most recent allocation last year, hiking the incidental fee on the Corvallis campus by 4.27%. However, a separate referendum organized last year and backed by Perfect to increase incidental fees to raise wages for student workers on campus hit a roadblock. The process by which that proposal passed, according to OSUs Larson, didnt meet state rules around allocating incidental fees, according to an email he wrote to Schlotter in December about the fee proposal. Perfect disagreed with that assessment. Larson poured cold water on the proposal being taken up by trustees at the January meeting. But beyond that fee referendum, actions by the ASOSUs senate around a separate fee-related bill appeared to stoke greater tension. Protest That bill, related to divestment demands made in pro-Palestinian protests last year, called for the creation of a work group to make ethics recommendations related to incidental fees and carves out exceptions in ASOSUs code of conduct for members participating in peaceful demonstrations. While the Senate passed that bill, Schlotter vetoed it in December because she said in an interview in January, that it would dismantle ASOSUs student fee committee and compromise the fee-setting process. As students debated that bill last December, Schlotter said a member of the Student Fee Committee and an ASOSU Senate member, whom she did not name, organized a protest outside of her office at the Student Experience Center in support of its passage. There were probably about 100 people outside, and then the two members brought about 30 students up to my office to bang on my door, she said. In her statement to the Board of Trustees in January, she said she felt endangered and trapped. Rowe, ASOSUs senate pro-tempore who supported the bill, said they had helped organize that protest which they called peaceful and polite. Rowe said they led barely 15 people into the office and that they had knocked on her door. Perfect also said he helped organize the protest, and he and Rowe also contend the president had welcomed protesters into her office to discuss their views on the bill, which she eventually vetoed. Perfect also shared a screenshot from a text exchange with Schlotter that he said showed her saying she hoped an upcoming event where students could share their thoughts about the bill would be fairly calm and conversational like yesterday, in apparent reference to the protest. Next steps? In an email, Odom said all ASOSU officers are invited to participate in the review and can conduct review activities on their own or will be invited to attend work sessions or meetings. The intention is that ASOSU can resume activities after the pause with appropriate adjustments having been made to practices and policies, and employment training and employment expectations are met. In her own assessment of the state of affairs back in January, Schlotter had said she felt policy disagreement had now turned into people disagreements. I feel like we mirror our federal government a little bit too closely, she added. Related stories: MAMOU, La. (KLFY) Mamou police pleaded for the city to change Mardi Gras plans weeks before the celebration started. Chief of Police Charles Pat Hall said he presented various safety plans at a February city council meeting over concerns the New Orleans, New Years terror attack would repeat itself in Mamou. What we did, me and my assistant chief of staff, created contingency plans and courses of actions. And we brought it in front of the councils, and it went the way it went, Chief Hall said. So, my thing was, I wouldnt be the person I am if I didnt come on the drawing board and bring things out and point out some of the infrastructure and the things we need, the resources to make sure that we are safe. So, I put the ball in their court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their first strategy to secure the town was to block the streets. They added barricades to the North side of Sixth Street, where both shootings happened. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest On the opposite end of Sixth Street, there was a separate Mardi Gras celebration happening, but no barricades were there. Mayor Leisa Deshotel said barricades were not needed on the South side of the street because the string of buildings blocked people from driving onto the street. The other major concern was lack of police presence. At the council meeting, police asked the city to combine the two separate events into one space to consolidate police presence, making more police in one spot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Deshotel said this decision never needed to be voted on by the council. She said it was discussed by the council and members of town in attendance. It was decided they would not condense the events because they tried it in the past with no success. Deshotel said a few years ago, they tried to move the two events into one space, but the event was not successful because people wanted to attend the two separate events. Latest news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. An 18-year-old South Korean native in metro Atlanta on a tourist visa is facing charges days after being banned from school campuses in Gwinnett and Hall counties. Dongha Lee was arrested on Wednesday afternoon at a home in Flowery Branch. Hes currently being held in the Hall County Jail on an immigration hold and a misdemeanor Gwinnett County School Police charge. He was charged with failure of unauthorized person to check in at designated location upon entering school, according to an arrest warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An incident report states that Lee gained unauthorized entry to Seckinger High School on February 28 when a student opened a side door, bypassing normal security protocols. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Community concerns escalated on Monday when Seckinger High School officials sent parents an urgent letter warning about an individual contacting students through social media and inviting them to meet in person. By Tuesday, both Gwinnett County School Police and Hall County Sheriffs deputies had issued criminal trespass warnings against him after he attempted to enroll at West Hall High School. Hall County School officials say he didnt have the proper paperwork and he was not the appropriate age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee spoke with Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson on Wednesday, claiming his presence at Seckinger High School last week was legitimate, stating unidentified parents let him in and staff provided him with a visitors badge. I just wanted to make friends, Lee said before his arrest. I didnt do anything illegal to them. As for why he came to Georgia, he says it was to reconnect with people he had met previously. He denied he ever introduced himself as a student at the school. I arrived in here, like five days ago, and I didnt do anything illegal, he insisted. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lydia Clark, who says her daughter encountered Lee at Mall of Georgia, said earlier this week that Lee purchased expensive gifts such as perfumes and bags for teenagers. The sets he was buying were like $200 apiece, Clark said. This person is incredibly detailed. He has names and photos of other kids. While admitting to purchasing gifts for teens he met, he disputed those claims. I bought gifts, but it was like 43 U.S. dollars included tax. Also, it is not luxury gift, he said. Im using my parents money. Homeland Security investigated and confirmed Tuesday that Lee possesses a valid 90-day tourist visa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before his arrest Wednesday evening, Lee posted on social media about a March 11 first-class flight from Atlanta to Seoul. It includes a caption that read: Ughby the way good bye Atlanta. Hes eligible for a $2,500 bond, according to court records. However, its unclear when his immigration hold will be lifted. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A California man was arrested Wednesday for making repeated obscene and threatening calls to several women in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, according to acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Justin Glauthier, 30, was taken into custody at his home in Anaheim and charged with cyberstalking, interstate threats to injure and making interstate obscene or harassing calls. A recently unsealed federal criminal complaint accuses Glauthier of relentlessly calling and harassing women using personal information he found online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In dozens of calls, Miron Bloom said Glauthier made sexually explicit comments and, at times, threatened his victims if they did not stay on the phone or comply with his demands. The complaint states that he sometimes claimed to know where they lived or worked and threatened to visit them unannounced. Last August, a victim reported to the Lincoln Police Department that she had been receiving sexually explicit calls for more than two years. She told police that Glauthier, who identified himself on the phone as David, would sometimes convince her to speak with him. She hoped he would stop calling if she talked with him, according to the criminal complaint. If the woman blocked his number, the criminal complaint noted that Glauthier would just call from a different one. The victim reported that during the last half of 2024, his calls became increasingly aggressive and explicit. Glauthier reportedly told her he was obsessed with her, had photos of her and that the calls were no longer enough. He warned that, if they ever met in person, she wouldnt like what happens next, the criminal complaint added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint states that Glauthier tried to coerce the victim into what she described as sexual cooperation, telling her he would leave her alone if she did what he demanded. Due to the incessant calls, the victim told police she has suffered significant emotional distress, has been unable to work, and has faced financial hardship. In an ongoing FBI investigation, at least nine women were identified as victims of his harassment and threatening calls, according to Miron Bloom. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. For a second time in as many weeks, a person has been found unfit for trial after being accused of shooting at law enforcement. Jonny Santiago is accused of killing his father in Volusia County, dumping the body in Orange County, and then getting into a shootout with police in Mount Dora. A judge declared Santiago incompetent on Thursday, delaying prosecutors pursuit of justice. Its been nearly 1,000 days since prosecutors said Santiago crashed into a Mount Dora synagogue and shot at police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santiagos attorney, Brian Pakett, said his client has been evaluated several times as they sorted through the charges he murdered his father and dumped the body before the synagogue crash. Its similar to what happened last week when a judge also sent Julie Sulpizio to a hospital. Sulpizio is accused of killing a Lake County deputy in an ambush attack in August. Both defendants will be treated and reevaluated, with the goal of being competent for trial by then. Prosecutors say incompetency in cases like these is not that uncommon. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. BEDFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) The Bedford County Sheriffs Office announced the arrest of a man accused of killing his mother Monday. MNPD finds vehicle associated with hit-and-run crash that left doctor seriously injured In a Wednesday press release, the BCSO said deputies responded to a welfare check at a Davis Lane residence and made contact with 24-year-old Curtis Colten Edwards. Upon further investigation, deputies also found the body of a 58-year-old woman in the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BCSO determined that the woman was Edwards mother and foul play was suspected. The BCSO worked with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to process the scene. Edwards was charged with criminal homicide in the death of his mother. Nashvilles Most Wanted fugitives: Man sought for sexual battery by an authority figure As of publication, Edwards is being held without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) A man was accused of slashing the tires of 19 police cruisers in Manhattan on Tuesday, according to the NYPD. It happened along West 30th Street between 6th and 7th avenues, where the NYPDs citywide traffic task force is headquartered, around 11:40 p.m., police said. Its not known what object was used to slash the tires, according to authorities. More Local News The man then fled into the 33rd Street subway station, police said. Hes described as being around 511 and 260 pounds, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, blue hat, gray sneakers and white surgical facemask. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. KEARNS, Utah (ABC4) A Kearns man was charged earlier this week with second-degree felony aggravated assault after allegedly stabbing a victim several times during a party in early February. Investigators say Arbiel Miguel Plasigue, 28, asked one of the partygoers to step outside with him to smoke. The victim told police this raised suspicions and he followed the two outside, but soon found himself alone with Plasigue. According to court documents, Plasigue told the victim that it seemed like you guys think you have a very cool vibe. He allegedly followed this comment by saying So if I wanted to beat you up right here, what do you think the rest of the group would do? Could they stop me? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family saddened after skier who died in Utah was reportedly unable to get his last rites The victim said at that moment, the two got into a fight and he eventually felt a sharp pain in his chest. Plasigue allegedly then attempted to stab the victim in the head, but he was able to block it with his hand. Plasigue then allegedly stabbed the victim several times before fleeing the party. When officers arrived, they said they found the victim coming in and out of consciousness, according to court documents. The victim had six stab wounds and lost a significant amount of blood. First responders provided life-saving efforts to prevent the victim from bleeding out before he was taken to a local hospital for care. Plasigue was later taken into custody after allegedly telling a friend that he was going to run to Las Vegas. He has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Talk about taking a bite out of crime: Police in Orlando, Florida, have arrested a man who allegedly attempted to steal $770,000 worth of diamonds by swallowing them. Jaythan Gilder, 32, was arrested Feb. 28 in connection with a robbery two days earlier at a Tiffany & Co. store at a local mall. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun, Gilder told store employees he was there to negotiate a purchase for an unnamed Orlando Magic player. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gilder was then taken to a private room and shown a diamond ring worth $587,000 and two sets of diamond earrings worth $609,500 and $160,000 apiece, the affidavit states. But during a discussion about using a wire transfer to purchase the jewels, Gilder allegedly jumped out of his seat, grabbed the jewelry and ran to the door. As he attempted to leave the VIP room by violently pushing and pulling the doors open, according to the affidavit, Gilder got into a scuffle with an employee, who reportedly knocked a diamond ring from his hand. Gilder still had the earrings and was able to elude other store employees and get out of the store and into a getaway car in the parking lot, the affidavit says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives were able to identify the vehicle Gilder was in and stop him on Interstate 10 in Washington County after officers noticed the car didnt have its rear lights on. What allegedly happened next may seem a little hard to swallow. When Gilder was taken into custody, he resisted arrest and was seen swallowing several objects believed to be the stolen earrings, an Orlando Police Department spokesperson told People. The affidavit says that a body scan of Gilder at the jail showed the presence of foreign objects in his body, though local NBC affiliate WFLA said the objects will have to be analyzed after they pass through Gilders system to confirm if they are diamonds. This X-ray photo shows the insides of Jaythan Gilder, who is accused of swallowing $770,000 worth of diamonds stolen from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida. Orlando Police Dept. According to the affidavit, Gilder asked his jailers, Am I going to be charged with whats in my stomach? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also allegedly said, I should have thrown them out the window when he was in the back of a patrol car after his arrest. Gilder was charged with one count of grand theft in the first degree and robbery with a mask. USA Today reported that Gilder has been accused of similar robberies in the past. In 2022, he was arrested for theft at another Tiffany & Co. store in Texas, and had 48 failure to appear warrants in Colorado. A Roslindale man was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly tagging several Tesla vehicles over the weekend with Elon Musk decals. 39-year-old Harrison Grant Randall is charged with six counts of defacing property. According to Brookline Police, Randall was filmed while riding his bike on Sunday, vandalizing Tesla vehicles in the Brookline Village area claiming he had the right to deface others property because of free speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He allegedly defaced the vehicles with a sticker of Elon Musks controversial inauguration day salute. Police posted a video of the encounter and within hours, say they received a tip from the public of Randalls whereabouts on his bike. Brookline District Court issued a warrant for his arrest Wednesday. He was taken into custody shortly before 7 p.m. in Roslindale and booked at the Brookline Police Station. His bail has been set at $2,500. We are looking to identify this suspect who was seen tagging Tesla vehicles with Elon Musk decals. When confronted the suspect claimed he has the right to deface the property of others because it's his free speech. Contact Detective Ryan McCarthy 617-730-2710 with any info. pic.twitter.com/OWLXPJI9Bb Brookline PD (@BrooklineMAPD) March 4, 2025 Boston 25 News spoke with one of the Tesla owners on Tuesday night, who said he felt Randalls anger was misdirected. I understand he wants to express his opinions, but freedom of speech has nothing to do with defacing a car, the victim said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 37-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, March 5, for sex crimes and possession of drugs, the El Paso County Constable Office for Precinct 3 said. The Constables Office said Samuel Reyes, 37, had active personal recognizance bond revocation warrants for aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual abuse of a child continues/victim under 14 years of age with a $100,000 bond, and possession of a controlled substance. Reyes was taken into custody at the 900 block of S. Mesa and booked into the El Paso County Jail without further incident, the Constables Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Constables Office said Reyes had originally been arrested in July 2024 for the sexual assault charges by the Department of Public Safety. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. DENVER (KDVR) Aurora police arrested a 37-year-old man in connection to a deadly hit-and-run from October 2024. According to the Aurora Police Department, Brian Vondersmith of Arvada was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Arapahoe County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, reckless manslaughter, first-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident involving death. Vondersmiths charges stem from a crash on Oct. 20, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Police said officers responded to a report of a hit-and-run between a pickup truck and motorcycle on northbound Interstate 225 near 6th Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 arrested, accused of targeting motorcyclist in deadly November hit-and-run crash The motorcycle rider, identified as 38-year-old Aurora resident Matthew Bouchard, died at the scene. Witnesses told Aurora police that a Yamaha motorcycle was allegedly racing a Dodge pickup truck. The driver of the Dodge reportedly sideswiped the motorcyclist, sending him into a guardrail. Police said the Dodge was found abandoned a short time after the crash. Following the initial investigation, police said they identified Vondersmith as the suspect, and he was arrested at the Adams County Courthouse where he was appearing for a hearing in an unrelated theft case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is ongoing, anyone with information is asked to call the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. ST. LOUIS A 28-year-old man was arrested on Monday after allegedly assaulting a 70-year-old woman when she confronted him about illegally dumping trash, police said. According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police, the man assaulted the woman in the 7800 block of North Broadway on Feb. 8 in the citys Baden neighborhood. St. Charles pursuit ends in 3 detained Allegedly, the man was illegally dumping trash when the 70-year-old confronted him and took photographs of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the man became angry and yelled at the woman to leave him alone, then struck her in the face with his fist. The man was previously charged with at-large warrants for third-degree assault and tampering with a witness by the Circuit Attorneys Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. RIDGELAND, S.C. (WSAV) A man has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting his girlfriends 10-year-old granddaughter, a Jasper County Sheriffs Office (JCSO) spokesperson said. On March 3, Jasper County deputies responded to a report on a sexual assault and spoke to a 10-year-old and her grandmother. Through investigation, deputies determined that the girl was assaulted by her grandmothers boyfriend, the spokesperson said. The man was arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct in the first degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A man has been charged with murder after a fight in east Columbus last month resulted in a mans death. Dustin M. Thompson, 36, is charged with murder in the death of Tommy McClendon, 70, after a fight on Feb. 1 sent McClendon to the hospital. According to Columbus police, officers responded to the 1900 block of East Main Street for a fight complaint. When they arrived, they found McClendon unresponsive. McClendon was taken to the hospital in stable condition, but his health declined. After 18 days, McClendon was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thompson was arrested and initially charged with felonious assault. On March 5, he was formally indicted on the murder charge. According to police, Thompson is claiming self-defense, but the investigation into the incident continues. Thompson remains in custody in Franklin County Jail; according to online records, he is scheduled to appear in court on March 7. Anyone with information regarding the fight is asked to call Columbus Police Det. Pribe at (614) 645-0114, the Columbus Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The man who killed two Wyandotte County Sheriffs deputies in 2018 will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. Antoine Fielder, 36, was sentenced in Wyandotte County District Court on Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Fielder pleaded guilty back in December to two counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated robbery, avoiding the death penalty at a trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes more than six years after Fielder shot and killed Wyandotte County Deputy Patrick Rohrer and Deputy Theresa King on June 15, 2018. Prosecutors said a shackled Fielder took one of the deputies guns and fired at them while he was being transported. Joined by the deputies families and law enforcement, in a news conference after the sentencing Thursday, Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said Fielder received the maximum punishment for the capital murder and robbery convictions. This shocking, cowardly act tore at the heart of not only law enforcement but Wyandotte County at large, Dupree said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Rohrer and Deputy King swore an oath to protect and to serve the citizens of Wyandotte County and both carried out those duties in an exemplary manner. To strike one of us, is to strike all of us, and we all felt it. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Before pleading guilty, a trial for Fielder was delayed three times since he was charged in 2018. Wyandotte County Sheriff Daniel Soptic described the yearslong wait for justice and grief that deputies families, the sheriffs office, and community has endured since 2018. What we can say about that is today, the process is over, Soptic said. I struggle with what to say because its unfathomable that anybody should have to go through this. I can never put myself in the place of this family. All I can do is put myself in the place of the agency that it affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man who ran from a Haywood County deputy Monday was found dead in a water-filled ditch not far from where he crashed his car. On March 3, the deputy stopped a 2016 Dodge Charger on Briarcreek Road near Highway 19 West for traffic violations. JaMarion Russell, 19, pulled over but took off at a high speed when the deputy approached his vehicle. Ex-group home employee had warrant for arrest when helping teens escape Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to reports, the deputy returned to his vehicle and followed Russell until he realized he was not going to stop. The deputy continued down Briarcreek Road in Russells direction when he saw his vehicle had crashed. Russells vehicle left the roadway, propelled over a large ditch, and struck a tree. Deputies say Russell bailed out of his vehicle and ran away, and they lost sight of him on the other side of the ditch. Dog beaten, dragged, thrown off bridge to its death Russells mother showed up on the scene after she received a crash notification from her sons phone. Family members continued to search for Russell and hours later found his body in the ditch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office is investigating what happened. Russells body will be sent to Nashville for an autopsy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) A man was convicted of aggravated rape in Putnam County Wednesday in connection with an incident from more than a year ago. According to District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway for the 13th Judicial District, Jayden Ray Worley was accused of committing aggravated rape against a woman he knew on Feb. 3, 2024. The Cookeville Police Department investigated the allegations. Officials presented the results of the investigation to the Putnam County Grand Jury, which found probable cause the crime was committed and issued a true bill of indictment formally charging Worley with aggravated rape, Dunaway said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man accused of shooting at law enforcement during chase, driving into oncoming traffic before deadly Warren County crash In this instance, the crime of Aggravated Rape involved the unlawful sexual penetration of the victim by the defendant and the defendant caused bodily injury to the victim, which is a Class A felony, the district attorney general stated. Starting on Monday, March 3, this case was tried in front of a Putnam County jury. Then, after days of testimony and proof including the victims testimony, expert medical testimony, witness testimony, and DNA evidence the jury unanimously convicted Worley of aggravated rape on Wednesday, March 5, according to Dunaway. After the verdict, Dunaway said the Criminal Court ordered any bond that may have been in place be revoked, and Worley was taken into custody in the courtroom. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Please pray for the victim in this case, Dunaway posted on Facebook on Thursday, March 6. She showed great courage in coming forward to report this crime and in following through with her testimony describing the worst day of her life. As of Thursday afternoon, the Putnam County Sheriffs Office website shows 24-year-old Worley is still being held for aggravated rape and aggravated assault. No additional details have been released about the crime that led to Worleys conviction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. AUSTIN (KXAN) A man was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in connection with a fentanyl-related death. According to Williamson County court documents, Marek Tabar Dillard was given a prison sentence of 30 years. PAST COVERAGE | Man charged with murder in connection with fentanyl-related death in Williamson County Dillard was arrested in February 2024 and accused of causing the death of a 40-year-old man who died in September 2023. According to the Williamson County Sheriffs Office, the mans death was fentanyl-related. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toward his sentence, Dillard received a jail credit of 389 days. Fentanyl-related death bill In 2023, Texas lawmakers passed a bill allowing prosecutors to seek a murder charge in connection to fentanyl-related deaths. The bill also increased criminal penalties for selling and distributing fentanyl. The bill went into effect Sept. 1, 2023. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man who led police on a chase in November was sentenced Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to one year in jail. Decarlos Jones, 48, received the sentence from Visiting Judge W. Wyatt McKay, who adopted a sentencing recommendation by the attorneys in the case after he pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, third-degree felony. Jones was charged following a Nov. 19 chase on the South Side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports said Jones was the driver of an SUV police tried to pull over at Overland and Falls avenues for an improper turn. However, Jones failed to stop and led police on a chase across the lower South Side until he ended up back on Falls Avenue, where he abandoned the SUV and ran away. He was caught a short time later, reports said. Jones was given credit for 107 days served in the county jail while awaiting the outcome of his case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. GRIMES COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) A man receives the maximum sentence for Sexual Assault of a Child after pleading guilty in Grimes County. The Grimes County District Attorneys Office says 25-year-old Renato Vargas Arenas previously pled guilty to Sexual Assault of a Child on April 25, 2024, a second-degree felony. He requested a sentencing hearing in front of 506th District Court Judge Gary Chaney. The sentencing hearing was held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Assistant D.A. Meagan Ghormley put on evidence of two different Sexual Assault of a Child cases which originated in Brazos County. Both victims testified they met Arenas through Snapchat when they were 14 years old. He lied them about his name and age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The D.A.s Office says Arenas told both victims he was a teenager. Both victims testified Arenas sexually assaulted them on more than one occasion in Brazos County. Assistant D.A. Ghormley put on a testimony from a Brazos County Deputy Constable, who caught Arenas engaged in one of the sexual assaults in Brazos County. A probation officer also testified about a pre-sentence investigation, which suggested incarceration in prison as an appropriate punishment for Arenas. Mexican national with Vehicular Homicide conviction in federal custody The D.A.s Office says Assistant D.A. Ghormley put on evidence of the Grimes County case. The sexual assault victim testified that she also met Arenas through Snapchat when she was 14 years old. Arenas also lied to her about his name and told the victim he was a teenager. He ultimately sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. The Judge also heard evidence that Arenas was on bond with an ankle monitor when he committed the Grimes County offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After hearing the evidence from both the State and Defense, Judge Chaney sentenced Arenas to 20 years in prison, which is the maximum penalty allowed by law. Arenas is in the custody of the Grimes County Jail awaiting transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A Kern County jury on Wednesday found a man guilty of murder in a deadly shooting that occurred outside the Foods Co. on Haley Street, according to court records. Adrian Sanchez Jr., 35, faces a life term in prison for the 2021 shooting death of Chad Tyler Reeves, 31. Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4. Amazon arson suspect held to answer on all charges Reeves was shot in the grocery stores parking lot on the afternoon of Jan. 29, 2021. He was taken to Kern Medical and pronounced dead within an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance video captured Sanchez approach with a gun and reach through the drivers side window of Reeves vehicle while Reeves was seated inside, prosecutors said. Sanchez fired a shot when Reeves tried to leave. The bullet went through his arm and entered his chest, hitting his heart. Three people were arrested in Reeves death: Sanchez, who faced the most serious charges; and Christopher Herrera and Andi Queen, who pleaded no contest in 2021 to accessory charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The El Paso County Coroner has identified the victim of a shooting that happened in the overnight hours of Friday, Feb. 28 on North Academy Boulevard near Galley Road as 24-year-old Shahid Burke. According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), on Friday at around 2:45 a.m., officers were called to the 1000 block of N. Academy Blvd. near Galley Rd. When officers arrived, they found evidence that a gun had been fired, but no victim was found. Police were told the victim had been shot and got into a car, then left the scene. Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Adam Drake Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Adam Drake Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Adam Drake Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Adam Drake Moments later, police were called to a hospital about a shooting victim. Police arrived at the hospital and found Burke dead from his injuries. Police determined Burke was the victim of the earlier shooting call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the El Paso County Coroner conducted an autopsy and identified Burke. While the Coroner will determine the cause and manner of death, CSPD is investigating the shooting as a homicide. Courtesy: Photo provided to the Colorado Springs Police Department by the family According to a spokesperson for the Mountain Post, Burke was an active duty soldier stationed at Fort Carson, having served the military for over five years. Burke was assigned to the 2-23 Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team family is devastated by the loss of Sgt. Shahid Burke. He was an instrumental member of the Raider team, and his loss will be felt across the brigade, said Col. Anthony Keller, commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Our hearts are with Burkes family and all who knew him during this difficult time. We are committed to supporting our Soldiers struggling with this sudden and tragic loss. CSPD said Burkes death was the 11th homicide in Colorado Springs in 2025. At this time last year, there were six homicides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) A man was sentenced to 17 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to multiple charges involving a deadly wrong-way crash. According to 13th Circuit Solicitors Office, Ryan Edward Bishop pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence resulting in death and felony driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury. The crash occurred on May 14, 2021, when Bishop was heading north on I-385 southbound lanes when he collided with a Honda Civic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Greenville County Coroners Office said Thelma Marie Leake, 48, died in the crash. A passenger in the car was also injured. FILE Damaged vehicle at scene of crash on I-385 in Greenville, S.C., May 14, 2021 (WSPA File Photo) FILE Pickup truck upside down at scene of crash on I-385 in Greenville, S.C., May 14, 2021 (WSPA File Photo) Wilkins said test results of Bishops blood showed he had a blood alcohol content of 0.10, hours after the crash took place. Officials said he was also driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. A man repeatedly stabbed his Queens girlfriend in an argument over cigarettes, law enforcement sources said Wednesday. The 39-year-old victim and her boyfriend, identified by sources as 34-year-old Daquan Spence, bickered over smokes in their apartment on 155th St. near Baisley Blvd. in South Jamaica around 8:35 p.m. Tuesday. As the argument spiraled out of control, Spence pulled a knife and stabbed his girlfriend, the sources said. The woman took refuge in a bathroom, but the crazed man broke down the door and plunged the knife into her at least 10 times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As she lay bleeding in the bathroom, the wounded womans son ran for help to a neighbor who called 911. Medics rushed the woman to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where she was expected to survive. Police took Spence into custody at the scene. He was charged with attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, assault and acting in a manner injurious to a child, among other offenses, according to law enforcement sources. His arraignment in Queens Criminal Court was pending Wednesday night. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Police are investigating after a man told them his brother fired three shots at him late Wednesday. Read next: Good Samaritans help officer with arrest Police were called about 11:40 p.m. to a gas station at East Midlothian Boulevard and South Avenue, where they met a man who told him he was arguing with his brother at a nearby home when his brother pulled a revolver and fired a shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shot missed and the man ran into another room, reports said. Two other shots were fired but both missed. The man then got in his car and drove away. Reports said police went to the mans home and found bullet holes but the suspect was gone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. INDEPENDENCE, Mo. A man claims staff at a Kansas City-area hospital neglected his grandmother and that she sat in a hallway for more than five days. No family member should have a loved one go through that, grandson Kevin Hopkins said. Hopkins said while his grandmother was sitting in the hallway, she suffered a stroke and developed several bedsores. He said the chief nursing officer with the hospital told him they were sorry, and theyll work to do better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two men charged in connection to deaths of 3 Chiefs fans in Northland backyard The then 97-year-old Gracie Reed fell and hit her head about a week before Christmas at her nursing home. She was moving from the bed to her wheelchair. An ambulance took Reed to Centerpoint Medical Center. Hopkins met her there on Saturday and doctors told him the CT scan came back OK. But they wanted to admit her. Reed has dementia and a nurse gave her medicine to calm down, according to Hopkins. He said staff sat her in a chair next to the nurses station to keep an eye on her. When Hopkins came back to visit the next day, Reed was still sitting in the same chair in the hallway and thats where she stayed for days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was shocked, shes sitting out in a hall, nearly 98 years old, Hopkins said. Hopkins said despite the family pushing for a room, Reed was left in the hallway for six days. Its just basic human dignity, Hopkins said. When family visited they found Reed in wet clothes. He said by Thursday, Reed had four bedsores on her back, bottom and heels. Neglect is not OK. They cant just assess somebody and go, were just going to ignore this person, Hopkins said. Im angry and I want to get this message out, so it doesnt happen to somebody else. While coming to visit, Hopkins found food trays stacked up, untouched. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hopkins said Reeds speech was slurred and the right side of her face was drooping. Hopkins believes she suffered a stroke and said doctors didnt run a CT scan for another day or two. This week, Hopkins said the chief nursing officer told him they did do a CT scan that Sunday. Hopkins said the nurse on the phone also apologized for the neglect and said theyll work to do better. Hopkins filed a complaint with the Missouri Department Health and Senior Services and Centerpoint. Chiefs parade shooting victim files lawsuit against KC Sports Commission A spokesperson for Centerpoint said they cannot comment on specific patient care, but did say, We regularly review our processes and when there is a complaint, work to resolve concerns. We are committed to constantly improving services to meet the needs of our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hopkins believes a quicker reaction couldve lessened the issues Reed now faces. He said her vision is severely diminished, she cant chew and will need a catheter for the rest of her life. Im hurt, Im angry, Hopkins said. I realize her age, I realize shes not going to live forever, but what little, little quality of life and independence she had is gone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A Poland man who pleaded guilty in January to his second felony OVI conviction was sentenced Wednesday to nine months in prison. Patrick Paris, 58, received the sentence in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court from Visiting Judge W. Wyatt McKay. Paris pleaded guilty Jan. 21 to a third-degree felony count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A specification in the charge says that Paris is accused of having cocaine in his blood when he was arrested July 11 in Boardman by troopers with the Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The charge was filed following a two-vehicle crash Paris was involved in on July 11 at Market Street and U.S. 224 in Boardman. The other driver in the crash received minor injuries. In 2016, court records show Paris was charged in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court with a third-degree felony OVI because of previous offenses following an arrest by Vienna Township Police. In that case, court records show he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man charged with setting an October fire in Youngstown who reports said fought police in one jurisdiction and led police in another jurisdiction on a chase was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison. Read next: OSHP supervisors punished after abuse reported by subordinates Damon Williams, 36, received the sentence from Visiting Judge W. Wyatt McKay in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams pleaded guilty last month to a charge of attempted aggravated arson for an April 3 fire at a home in the 400 block of Almyra Avenue. Reports said police were called to the home because a woman wanted Williams to leave. Williams at first said he lived there for six or seven months, but he gathered his belongings and left, reports said. A couple of minutes later, someone told police they thought there was a fire inside and officers discovered a fire in a closet, reports said. Reports said the officers tried to put it out with the fire extinguishers from their cruisers but could not and called the fire department. Firefighters were able to put the fire out, reports said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was injured. While free on bond in that case, Williams was arrested Oct. 28 after reports said he ran from Austintown police who were trying to break up an argument between Williams and a woman. Reports said Williams lunged at an officer inside an apartment in the 100 block of North Main Street, knocking the officer down, before running away. He was caught in the 100 block of North Edgehill Avenue and had to be stunned several times before he was able to be searched. Reports said police found a bag of cocaine in his pockets when he was searched. He was also charged with leading Beaver Township police on a chase April 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He entered guilty pleas on Feb. 28 in all three cases. The sentence was recommended by the attorneys in the case and adopted by Judge McKay. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) A man pled guilty to a series of crimes in South Jackson, which included armed robbery and kidnapping. Hind County District Attorney Jody Owens said Steven Jones, Jr., pled guilty to four counts of armed robbery and two counts of kidnapping on Monday, March 3, 2025. Victim found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in Jackson Jones crimes began on March 19, 2023, and continued for two weeks. Investigators said Jones terrorized residents, as he held multiple people at gunpoint, robbed them and kidnapped them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some instances, Owens said Jones locked victims in the trunk of their vehicles, demanding they drive to ATM locations and withdraw cash. He was later arrested by Jackson police. Jones was sentenced to 40 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) with 17 years suspended to be served concurrently. He will not be eligible for release until 2047. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) A man was sentenced to two life sentences Thursday for killing two Kansas sheriff's deputies as they were trying to move him between a courthouse and a jail in June 2018. Antoine Fielder, 36, pleaded guilty in December to two counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated robbery to avoid the death penalty. Fielder had already been charged with two other killings before overpowering and fatally shooting Wyandotte County Deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer in a gated area behind the courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas. Rohrer, 35, died shortly after the shooting and King, 44, died the next day at a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Fielder had been tried twice for the June 2015 killing of 22-year-old Kelsey Ewonus, whose body was found in a parked car in Kansas City, Kansas. But the murder charge was dropped after a second trial ended in a hung jury. Authorities allege that Fielder then fatally shot Rosemarie Harmon, 55, in December 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri, and wounded her friend. Ballistics testing on a gun stolen during a carjacking in Kansas City, Kansas, earlier in December tied him to Harmons killing. When the deputies were shot, Fielder was already facing a first-degree murder charge in Jackson County, Missouri, in Harmons death as well as multiple charges in the carjacking in Wyandotte County. Relatives of Ewonus, whose son was 1 when she was killed, have expressed frustration that Fielder went free after the mistrials, saying they knew he would kill again. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) The man who pleaded guilty to lesser charges stemming from a vacant house fire in Warren will spend another two weeks in jail. Robert Armstrong was sentenced to 355 days in the county jail with credit for the 341 days he already served. Back in January, Armstrong pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and vandalism charges. It stems from a March 2024 fire at a vacant home on North Park Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I apologize. Long story short, I went into an abandoned building, looked aroundIve done a year. No windows, no doors and I get a breaking and entering, Armstrong said. You lit something on fire, Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice said. Allegedly its vandalism, a curtain, Armstrong said. Armstrong told Judge Westcott Rice he wouldnt do anything like this again Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Seattle Police are investigating a shooting in the Broadview neighborhood that sent a man to the hospital in serious condition. Around 7:27 p.m. on Wednesday, Seattle Police answered calls about reports of gunshots near 12200 Ridgemont Way North. When police arrived, they found a man in a car who had been shot in the chest and abdomen. The suspect left the scene and is not in custody. Police tried to save the mans life until Seattle Fire took over rescue efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 27-year-old man was taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. Detectives from the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are investigating what led up to the shooting. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Seattle Police Departments Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. SAINT MATTHEWS, S.C. (WJW) A man died after walking into a relatives house where a shotgun had been rigged to fire if anyone opened the door, a sheriffs office in South Carolina revealed. On Feb. 24, deputies with the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office were sent to a home on reports of a shooting, according to a news release posted on Facebook. At the scene, they located Jordan Dove, 34, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. Remains of Cleveland WWII airman brought home after 80 years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the investigation, Dove was checking on a vacant property that belonged to a family member. Deputies determined the gunshot came from inside the home and they believed the residence may have been booby-trapped. According to the release, deputies set up a perimeter around the home and slowly made their way inside. They discovered a shotgun that had been rigged at the back door to fire once anyone went inside. The front door was also barricaded shut and nobody was located inside the residence. Deputies dismantled the shotgun while investigators processed the crime scene, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies announced that charges will be filed against a man named Alfonzo Brown who is incarcerated out of state. According to WIS, Brown is Doves uncle and a person of interest in non-fatal triple shooting in Maryland. Authorities in Calhoun County told WIS they believe the booby-trapped gun was set up for them. Owners surrender hundreds of roosters, chickens allegedly used for cockfighting This was a very dangerous situation that appeared to be targeted towards law enforcement. It is another example of the dangers faced by law enforcement everyday, said Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Summers told WIS that Brown will face charges including murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon in connection with Doves death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A 24-year-old man has surrendered to law enforcement after he allegedly shot and killed his roommate Wednesday night inside an Antioch home. The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said the shooting took place at approximately 8:50 p.m. in the 900 block of Birchmill Point South. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) Authorities reported a preliminary investigation indicates that 24-year-old Davis Owolo Jr. was upset that his roommateidentified as 33-year-old Johnia Ishan Wilsonmay have attempted to enter his room when he wasnt home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, Wilson denied the claims and witnesses attempted to deescalate the situation before shots were fired. The 33-year-old was reportedly found at the top of a staircase with fatal gunshot wounds. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Owolo fled the home Wednesday night with his girlfriend, officials said. He later surrendered at the Criminal Warrants Division Thursday morning. Booking records show Owolo was charged with criminal homicide and is being held without bond. No additional information was immediately released. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities are searching for a man wanted in connection with a deadly shooting in Gallatin Thursday morning. The Gallatin Police Department said it responded to a home at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 6 after a person was found dead by a relative. Officials have identified the victim of the shooting which appears to be the result of a domestic situation as Lisa Drake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man shot, killed inside Antioch home Law enforcement announced Thursday morning they were trying to find Little Page Drake III for a welfare check and information about the situation. Several hours later, police issued a statement saying he now has active warrants for criminal homicide. According to authorities, the suspect was last seen driving a 2007 Honda Ridgeline truck with Tennessee license plate 727BNDY. Little Page Drake III and the vehicle he was last seen driving (Courtesy: Gallatin Police Department) No additional details have been released about this active investigation, including where in Gallatin the shooting took place. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com If you know anything about the suspects whereabouts or Thursdays shooting, youre asked to call the Gallatin Police Department at 615-452-1313. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A man attacked a ticket office employee with a knife at the central train station in the western German city of Dortmund on Thursday, police said in a statement. The 56-year-old employee was critically injured and taken to hospital, the police and the public prosecutor's office said. The police said they arrested the suspect, a 22-year-old Syrian man, at the scene. The investigating public prosecutor, Maribel Andersson, said the stabbing followed an argument between the two men "apparently about the extension of a bus ticket." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to initial findings, the suspect left the ticket counter after the argument, but returned around one hour later and stabbed the employee several times. Police were at the scene to secure evidence and an investigation has been launched, the statement said. A police vehicle from the Forensic Investigation Unit parks in front of the main station. A man attacks a ticket counter employee with a knife at Dortmund Central Station at midday. Bernd Thissen/dpa Mar. 5The chief of police in the state's largest and most diverse city says his department has no plans to apply to be deputized with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which would allow officers to question, detain and arrest individuals based on their immigration status. "My take on it is, we currently have 23 vacancies we have a hard time getting to all the calls for service that we currently have," Manchester Police Chief Peter Marr told aldermen Tuesday night. "I did look into it. There's no funding for that program. "It just didn't seem like the best idea for our department." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Hampshire State Police and Gorham Police have applied to be deputized with ICE through section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows ICE to "delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency's direction and oversight." Belknap County Sheriff Bill Wright has said publicly that his department has also applied. Gov. Kelly Ayotte has expressed support for the idea. "It is critical for state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities and protect our citizens," Ayotte said in a statement. "Criminals who are in our country illegally and pose a danger should be apprehended and removed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The task force model that both State Police and Gorham Police have applied to be a part of is a "force multiplier," allowing police to enforce "limited" immigration authority, including making arrests and questioning individuals about their immigration status, during routine police work, according to ICE. "We are pleased to see that the federal government is interested in reinstating the task force model, which would grant both legal authority and protection to our State Troopers when they encounter individuals in the United States illegally," New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn said in a statement. Level of cooperation On Tuesday, Alderman Bill Barry asked if Manchester Police cooperate with federal, state and county authorities if they ask for help with a situation or assignment in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So if they needed help, if they had a dangerous fugitive, if they need backup, you'd be there?" Barry asked. "Absolutely, they notify us when they're in the city," Marr said. "In the city, we're trying to, you know, get a full complement of officers, and we're having a difficult time doing it," Barry said. Marr said whenever someone is arrested, his department runs their information through a database. "If they do have an ICE detainer, we will hold them and tell ICE we've got them and to come pick them up. We do ask their citizenship when we make their arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we have a foreign national, we are required to notify their consulate, and it is extremely rare that we get one." Alderman Ed Sapienza said he was glad to hear Manchester Police are cooperative with federal officials. "But that's mainly when the federal officials contact you," Sapienza said. "Something like this might go a long way as far as, for the Manchester Police Department to perhaps be a little more proactive. But if you're not in favor of it, then you're not in favor of it." Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur asked Marr if nationally known gangs reported in larger cities are showing up in Manchester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't have them, that I'm aware of, embedded in our city," Marr said. "Our city is primarily more along the lines of neighborhood gangs that are trying to pass themselves off sometimes as being affiliated with national gangs, gangs such as the Bloods or the Crips." Protocols in place Alderman Christine Fajardo said there is a set of protocols in place for dealing with people of various statuses that come through the Manchester Police Department, and "that system has been in place for a while." "Nothing's changed, and it's extremely rare," Fajardo said. "So then I would say that the citizens of the city don't have to concern themselves too heavily with the thought of a potential influx of criminals from other countries." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm not aware of, nor have I been aware of, any major problems in the city of Manchester," Marr said. Marr said his department may arrest one person a year that has an ICE detainer on them. "It's very rare." "So we're not a sanctuary city, and we cooperate fully with federal law enforcement?" asked Mayor Jay Ruais. "Absolutely," Marr replied. After lengthy debate and concerns expressed by citizens, the Danville City Council voted Tuesday night to rezone two parcels on Sellers Road for a project that would include 16 single-family homes. The 7-1 vote came after defeat of a motion by council member Gary Miller to send the rezoning request back to the Danville Planning Commission, which had narrowly voted to recommend approval of it last month. During a public hearing Tuesday night, residents who live along Sellers Road said the project would add too many homes and too much traffic there for such a narrow road. I just feel like its overkill, Scott Jarrett, who lives on Sellers Road, told council members. Applicants Jeffrey McDowell and James Farruggio want to subdivide the property to build 16 single-family homes. The units would be 1,600 square feet and contain three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. The rezoning from S-R suburban residential to OT-R old town residential allows creation of a higher number of subdivided lots. With a zoning designation of OT-R ... the subject properties can be subdivided into 16 separate lots, with a 50-foot public [right-of-way], Planning Director Renee Burton wrote in a letter to City Council. The surrounding area is zoned as suburban residential. Scott added that he was not against building homes on Sellers Road. However, the road is just 14 feet wide in some places and designating the area OT-R for the project would be spot-zoning, he said. Also, there is enough opportunity for the developers to make money on a residential project under the current suburban residential zoning, he added. As for traffic issues, Dan Lewis told the council that when two cars pass by each other on Sellers Road, one has to pull over. The project would more than double the number of houses and traffic on Sellers Road, Lewis said. Its a great idea, he said of the project. But 16 is way too many. McDowell said during the public hearing that there is a great need for housing in Danville. Rent would be $1,600 to $1,800 per month and each home would have shrubbery, greenery and trees, McDowell said. Burton explained why planners recommended the rezoning. This is bringing additional housing to the area, Burton said. This is something that is needed in the city of Danville. Commissioners voted 4-3 to recommend approval of the rezoning Feb. 10. At the beginning of a City Council discussion of the item, council member Lee Vogler pointed to the uniqueness of the project being the first proposing rental of single-family homes. Its filling a niche that weve not had, Vogler said. Council member Sherman Saunders asked if there were options available to widen the road. Burton responded that there is an opportunity to do so in the right-of-way. But, we havent talked to property owners, she added. Vice Mayor James Buckner asked whether there was a way to add a cul-de-sac. Buckner said adding amendments to provide conditions to the project could be an appropriate middle ground for everyone involved. Echoing residents concerns, Miller said just one car can barely get through Sellers when residents place their trash boxes on the street for garbage pickup. Miller made a motion to send the rezoning request back to the planning commission. Councilmen defeated it by a 5-3 vote, with Miller, Saunders and councilman Larry Campbell voting in favor, and Buckner, Vogler, councilmen Barry Mayo and Bryant Hood and Mayor Alonzo Jones opposing Millers motion. There are issues the planning commission needs to examine, Saunders said. The neighbors deserve some consideration in this matter, he said. But the developers could still build seven houses in that area if the City Council does nothing, Vogler said. But if approved, a cul-de-sac would have to be built, he said. If we dont vote on this, the street wont get widened, regardless, Vogler said. Saunders acknowledged that more housing is needed in the city, but added that residents in that area need protection and safety for the traffic. With a cul-de-sac, there would be only one way in and out of that street, Miller said. Thats dangerous, Miller said. Buckner proposed adding amendments to require addition of a cul-de-sac and widening Sellers road from the developments entrance to U.S. 58 East. Councilmen voted 6-2 to add the amendments to a motion for approval of the rezoning, with Miller and Saunders opposing. The subsequent vote on the entire motion including the two amendments passed by a 7-1 vote, with Saunders the lone vote against it. In another vote of 8-0, a special-use permit for a 120-room hotel planned at River Street received approval from City Council. The vote allows Dan Hotel River St LLC to build a four-story Hyatt Studio at 100 River St. The former Dan River Inc. Long Mill property contains lot frontage on the Dan River. The hotel will be the River Districts first branded hotel and involves the redevelopment of an existing brownfield site with direct access to the Riverwalk, applicant Rory Dowling wrote in the permit application. A brownfield site is a property with the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. The hotel project is a joint endeavor by Lansing Melbourne Group, based in Concord, North Carolina, and Durham-based 1st & Main Development. The project is an investment of more than $30 million. The developers hope begin site work in April, with construction to be complete in July 2026 and a grand opening to be held in August or September 2026. Mar. 5A Manchester woman was injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 93 in Manchester on Tuesday, authorities said. Vanessa Popovich, 31, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at Elliot Hospital, according to State Police Troopers found a sedan and a tractor-trailer unit had become entangled on an overpass, just south of Exit 8, around 5 p.m. A preliminary investigation and witness statements determined that Popovich was driving north in a bronze 2008 Acura TL when she left her travel lane and crossed underneath a white 2017 Freightliner tractor-trailer, driven by Tralon J. White, 21, of Texas, who wasn't hurt. Traffic was limited to one lane for about two hours. Anyone with information can contact Trooper Matthew Howe at 603-451-9588 or Matthew.S.Howe@dos.nh.gov. NEW YORK (AP) Lindsey Boylan helped drive Andrew Cuomo from office in 2021 when the former aide came forward as the first woman to accuse the governor of sexual harassment. At the time she had allies in high places: Every New York Democrat in Congress, the state's legislative leaders and then-President Joe Biden all condemned Cuomo's behavior and said he should resign. But now that Cuomo is back as a serious contender in the race to be mayor of New York City, many of those top Democrats have little to say about his candidacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Boylan, that feels like a betrayal one that can't simply be explained away as an easing of #MeToo outrage. If anything has changed, momentarily, its that across our country, across issues, people who should be speaking up, arent," Boylan, who served in the Cuomo administration for three years, said in an interview with The Associated Press. I dont think anything has specifically changed with women being angry about how our rights are being taken away," she said. "But the fact that most of our leaders are more interested in staying comfortable and staying in their jobs than actually protecting us and defending us. Thats gotten much worse. Cuomo resigned in 2021 after a report released by the state attorney general concluded that he had sexually harassed 11 women, including Boylan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Cuomo is a frontrunner in the mayoral race, even as state and party leaders, while not warm to his candidacy, havent condemned it either. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who as Cuomos lieutenant governor had called his alleged behavior with women repulsive and unlawful, said Tuesday she stood by those comments. But, she added, she had to deal in the reality today." I have to go forward in light of where we are today and deal with whatever the voters decide to deal with, she said, adding that she would work with Cuomo if he was elected. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said on the NY1 television station that Cuomo made mistakes, but was also a talented executive who did good things as governor. It was up to New York City voters whether he deserved a second chance, she said, declining to give her own opinion on his candidacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said last week that he would not endorse a candidate until after the citys June primary. The office of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, declined to comment. Cuomo comeback linked to disorder in New York City Hall That Cuomo is a credible candidate is likely due to a mix of factors, experts said. These include the former governor's aggressive effort to discredit his accusers and his deep record of accomplishments as governor, as well as a field of mayoral candidates with little name recognition and an ongoing sense of disorder at City Hall. Mayor Eric Adams, the incumbent, was indicted in September on federal corruption charges and is now dealing with a tempest of criticism after President Donald Trumps newly installed Justice Department leaders asked a court to drop the case so Adams could assist with the federal governments immigration crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, a Cuomo spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, said multiple prosecutors have dug into the allegations the former governor sexually harassed women and none have sought to pursue the cases. He accused Boylan of making false accusations during a failed run for a local political office in 2020, and accused her of bullying behavior Three years, five district attorney reviews that resulted in zero cases and civil cases that were either dropped or are dying on the vine, Azzopardi said, calling that a clarifying dose of due process. New York City "is in crisis and everybody knows that Andrew Cuomo has the experience, the record and the skill to help save it," he added. Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University, said the current mayor's legal and political troubles help place Cuomo at the front of the pack of candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York is in such a state of chaos and the government needs someone to come in and take charge and run the show. He is well-matched for that moment," he said. Not to Boylan, though, who joined a demonstration outside a Cuomo campaign fundraising event on Tuesday. His path to victory is to destroy the women he abused, she told the AP. Ill do everything within my power and my sense of ethics to make sure it doesnt happen. Boylan, who said she was subjected to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments from Cuomo, was disappointed but not surprised that other Democrats in New York had not spoken out more forcefully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most powerful people in New York politics are afraid of him," she said. Other female ex-aides described fielding kisses sometimes on the lips and sexually charged questions and remarks from him about their personal lives and appearance. A staffer at a state-related agency said he groped her rear while they posed for a photo. A state Health Department doctor was affronted by his comments, such as you make that gown look good, while she gave him a COVID-19 test at a news conference. Another woman described Cuomo planting an unwanted kiss on her face when she met him at a wedding. One aide, Brittany Commisso, filed a criminal complaint accusing Cuomo of groping her breast while they were alone in an office at the governor's mansion, but a local district attorney declined to prosecute, citing lack of sufficient evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomo apologized for having offended the women with remarks he said were intended to be collegial, and allowed that he sometimes had been too familiar with people. But he denied touching anyone inappropriately and said the investigation of his conduct was flawed and politically motivated. Attorney General Letitia James, the Democrat who commissioned the sexual harassment investigation, herself briefly ran for governor in 2021 after Cuomo resigned, but dropped out after two months. Trump helps reshape idea of what is acceptable Cuomo's lawyers and representatives have since fought to vindicate him amid multiple lawsuits from his accusers. Cuomo even has indicated he plans to file a defamation suit against one of the women, former aide Charlotte Bennett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the accusations, Cuomo has lined up some endorsements from women in politics. City Council Member Kamillah Hanks, a Staten Island Democrat, said in her statement endorsing Cuomo that the unprecedented times called for a strong, unapologetic leader. Trump, who has himself been accused of sexual misconduct and was found liable in 2023 by a New York City jury for sexual abuse, charges he denied, has also reshaped the idea of what is acceptable conduct for public officials, said Leigh Gilmore, a professor emeritus at Ohio State University and author of The #MeToo Effect: What Happens When We Believe Women. The political winds have shifted with Trump being in office, where its not agreed anymore that those are disqualifying allegations, she said. What Cuomo is betting on is that New York City will say, We need a strong man, she said. ___ Associated Press reporter Jennifer Peltz contributed. MARYLAND (DC News Now) Maryland lawmakers are looking to increase the minimum wage to $20 per hour and provide more protections for restaurant and hospitality workers. Marylands minimum wage is currently $15 an hour and for restaurant workers, its $3.63 an hour. Lawmakers said the No Tax on Tips Act would offer more stability when it comes to employees paychecks, especially during a time when the cost of living is so high. Its also going to put more money in peoples pockets and at the end of the day that what we need, said Maryland Delegate Adrian Boafo representing District 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A proposed bill in the Maryland House and Senate would gradually increase the state minimum wage to $20 by July 2028. Boafo is one of the sponsors of the House bill. RELATED STORY | Montgomery County minimum wage to increase in July We want to make sure those workers in the service industry are actually fully getting their tips, and its in a transparent and real manner and thats just not happening, he said. The bill aims to remove taxes on tips for restaurant and hospitality workers and get rid of sub-minimum wage requiring restaurants to pay the federal or state minimum wage. So its a really a holistic approach to protecting consumers and giving Maryland workers a tax cut and raise at the same time, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also requires restaurants to disclose service fees on the menu or a visible location and share whether it goes to the employee wages or not. Boafo believes this will make a difference in the lives of many. So things are already getting expensive. We have to make sure that were actually keeping the wage at a CPI index actually makes a lot of sense, said Boafo. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Prince Georges County District 1 Council Member Tom Dernoga is hosting a community conversation to share an update on how President Donald Trumps executive orders will impact families. On March 6, the District 1 Virtual Community Conversations will start at 7 p.m. featuring Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. Speaker Mike Johnsons chief of staff arrested for DUI following Trump address to Congress, police confirm Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the senator will share updates on key federal issues and how they directly impact thousands of federal employees and families who live in Prince Georges County, the economy and quality of life. The conversation will give residents the chance to hear directly from officials and gain insight into the latest developments on Capitol Hill. Im pleased to welcome Sen. Van Hollen for this important conversation with our community, said Council Member Dernoga. Federal policies affect so many of our residentswhether they work for the federal government or rely on its services. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from our Senator about whats happening in Washington. I encourage everyone to join us and stay informed. To register for the event and submit questions, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. BALTIMORE Against the backdrop of a raging national fight as President Donald Trump overhauls the U.S. government, tensions bubbled up at the Maryland State House Wednesday over fired federal workers. House Republicans accused Democrats of trying to battle the federal government while debating a bill that would provide the attorney general an additional $1.5 million to sue Trumps administration on behalf of the fired federal workers. We cannot overcome the federal government, said House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, an Allegany County Republican. You are not going to stop the federal government through the operations of a state of six million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis, a Prince Georges County Democrat, said the legislation is not about dictating or responding to what happens in Washington, D.C. Its ultimate purpose, he said, is to stand up to protect federal workers. Lewis criticized Republicans in the chamber for not publicly doing the same. I have not heard you all stand up once to talk about how you are going to stand up for the workers in your districts particularly the federal ones, he said. Because of its proximity to Washington, Maryland is uniquely impacted by mass layoffs at federal agencies being implemented by Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. In 2023, nearly 160,000 state residents worked for the federal government. Buckel said that if lawmakers want to engage in lengthy, partisan debates about national politics, then well be here every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pack a lunch, pack a dinner, pack a midnight snack, he said. I appreciate my friend, but when he says, Were here, were going to protect our people, why are our people only federal government workers? Fighting on our front foot The Protect Our Federal Workers Act, sponsored by Lewis, would create the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund to provide money to Maryland residents who worked for the federal government but were terminated by the Trump administration during the ongoing waves of mass firings. The legislation would allow money in Marylands Catastrophic Event Account and Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund to provide six months of no-interest loans to federal employees who live in Maryland and arent being paid due to a full or partial government shutdown. It would also help those who left their jobs because of the voluntary incentive payment program or were let go due to closures, relocations or mass layoffs at federal government agencies. The bill was amended in the House Appropriations Committee to allow Attorney General Anthony Brown, a Democrat, to sue the Trump administration on behalf of terminated federal employees. An additional $1.5 million would also be allocated in the state budget to the attorney generals office to carry out lawsuits against the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buckel unsuccessfully attempted to strip the $1.5 million from the bill and remove the attorney generals ability to sue the Trump administration on behalf of employees, whom he called private individuals who lost their job because of a policy decision or a budgetary decision. The attorney general litigates cases on behalf of the state of Maryland. The state doesnt have the right to enforce the employment and labor laws of the federal government on behalf of private individuals, Buckel said. Im going to bet you money that if we do this and the attorney general brings suit, some court somewhere will say, Nope, you cant do that. Lewis said that the intent of the amended bill is to fight to protect all constituents, regardless of whether they work in the private or public sector. He said that the amendment would neuter the bill, which empowers the attorney general to take on these cases because a significant portion of Marylands economy is wrapped up in the federal workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are fighting on our front foot, he said. What this amendment does is it says Maryland is going to fight with our arms behind our back. Del. Chris Adams, a Republican representing the Lower Eastern Shore, disagreed with Lewis and called the bill reactionary. Marylands current budget deficit is $3 billion, which Lewis said could be exacerbated by the layoffs. Buckel said the state has become a ward of the federal government. We are their orphan child, he said. Our budgets are completely reliant or largely reliant upon their largesse. Roughly one-third of Marylands budget is federal funding, and a significant portion of that goes to Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buckel also said that the federal government is a big economic driver for jurisdictions across the state because it is a major employer in areas where the private sector is hollow. Without those federal jobs, Maryland doesnt look so good, Buckel said. We all want Maryland to be the best. If we had the same level of federal jobs that someone has in, say, Ohio or Oklahoma or Oregon, we would not look very good under almost any set of metrics. In defense of the legislation, House Appropriations Committee Chair Ben Barnes, a Democrat representing Anne Arundel and Prince Georges counties, said Democrats believe Trump is taking illegal action that directly impacts Marylanders through these mass firings. When the federal government takes adverse actions that is illegal, that adversely affects Marylanders, youre damn right were going to fight, Barnes said. We might not beat the federal government, but were going to fight them. And our constituents who are hurting, who are losing their jobs not just the federal workers, but the workers who are going to have the ancillary effects of that as it flows through the budget should know today the Maryland legislature is going to stand here and fight for you. ------------ The explosion caused windows on the side of the factory to shatter A mass casualty incident has been declared in Germany after an explosion at a tyre factory in Hanover. Photographs of the scene show shattered windows on the side of the factory, which belongs to Continental, a tyre and car firm. A fire spokesman told Bild, a German tabloid: One person was injured and five other people were affected. NDR, a regional news broadcaster, said the explosion was caused by a malfunctioning boiler installed on the upper floor of the plant. Media reports said it triggered a mass casualty response alert for firefighters in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses said they heard a large bang followed by a pressure wave. The shockwave is understood to have been the cause of the windows in the plant breaking. There is an ongoing operation in Hanover to bring the incident under control, including road closures, local newspapers reported. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Massachusetts gang member of the Gangster Disciples will spend more than a decade in federal prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, drug and gun charges, the U.S. Attorney said. Justin Suriel, 28, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement Wednesday. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani handed down his sentence. Suriel pleaded guilty in August to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine and Suboxone;, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suriel was charged in November 2021 along with 12 others in connection with a large drug ring centering around the Gangster Disciples gang in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen, Foley said. An investigation launched in August 2020 intercepted communications between Gangster Disciples leaders, members and drug suppliers about their alleged distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and Suboxone in Massachusetts, Maine and southern New Hampshire as well as into the Essex County Jail, Foley said. Calls were intercepted between Suriel and other gang members, who conspired to kidnap and assault a marijuana supplier from Maine, prosecutors said. Intercepted phone calls also uncovered Suriels cocaine and fentanyl distribution ring, wherein he used gang members to sell drugs throughout the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The calls also revealed that Suriel offered protection to his cocaine supplier, remarking that he would shoot bullets for anyone bothering his drug supplier, Foley said. Investigators later recovered a loaded firearm during a search of Suriels home. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW DORCHESTER, Mass. (WWLP) Several Massachusetts residents are starting the month with life-changing prizes after recent wins in a variety of Massachusetts State Lottery instant ticket games. You can win more in Mass! New Hampshire resident said after winning $4M on scratch ticket purchased in Somerville Jessica Wood of Auburn became the first-ever winner of the new $100 a Week for Life instant ticket game, which launched on February 18. Courtesy of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission Wood selected the annuity option for her prize, receiving an initial payment of $5,200 before taxes to cover her first years winnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning in the second year, she will receive weekly $100 payments for the rest of her life. Wood shared that she plans to use her winnings to support her family and grow her savings. The winning $1 ticket was purchased at Greige Summit, located at 321 Southbridge St. in Auburn. For selling the winning ticket, the store will receive a $1,040 bonus from the Massachusetts State Lottery. In addition to the lifetime winnings, two players claimed $1 million prizes from separate instant ticket games. Robert Hadayia of Norfolk celebrated a big win after claiming a $1 million prize from the Massachusetts State Lotterys $4,000,000 Bonus Bucks instant ticket game. Courtesy of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission Hadayia, accompanied by his wife Marissa, collected the winnings at the Lotterys Dorchester headquarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He chose the cash option, receiving a one-time payment of $650,000 before taxes. Hadayia said he plans to use his prize money to make home improvements and purchase two new cars. The lucky ticket was bought at Snacks Express, located at 60 South St. in Boston. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Amjad Rubieh of Winthrop also won $1 million, this time from the $10,000,000 Cash King instant ticket game. Rubieh took the cash option and received a $650,000 lump sum before taxes. He said he plans to invest his winnings. Rubieh purchased his winning ticket at Saratoga Market, located at 16 Trident St. in East Boston. The store also receives a $10,000 bonus. Courtesy of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission The Massachusetts State Lottery continues to award prizes of all sizes through its array of instant ticket games, creating winners across the state while supporting local businesses through retailer bonuses. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. A Massachusetts state employee and a prison inmate are accused of smuggling drugs into the federal prison in Devens, the U.S. Attorney said Wednesday. Tasha Hammock, 43, of Bridgewater, an employee with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and Raymond Gaines, 45, an inmate at FMC Devens, are both charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. Hammock was arrested Tuesday and appeared in federal court in Boston, Foley said. Gaines will make an initial appearance at a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair are accused of conspiring to distribute a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as K2, into the Devens prison. Gaines had been granted clemency on Jan. 17, reducing his 2022 federal prison sentence for drug distribution. On Jan. 25, 2022, Gaines was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court in Boston to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. At the time he committed the offenses, he was on federal judicial supervised release after serving a prison sentence resulting from a 2017 conviction for distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court records, in both prior cases, Gaines was alleged to be an associate of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, a street gang in Boston. On Jan. 17, Gaines received an Executive Grant of Clemency, reducing his current federal sentence to five years in prison. According to the charging document, on Aug. 18, 2024, Hammock, while visiting Gaines in the prison, surreptitiously passed K2-laced papers to Gaines, which he pocketed. Foleys office on Wednesday released photographs of the alleged transaction between Hammock and Gaines. In addition, Hammock allegedly previously handled money connected with the distribution of K2 to Gaines in FMC Devens, and she allegedly received K2 at her home for distribution into the prison, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement became interested in Hammocks visits to Gaines after obtaining a cellphone that had allegedly been smuggled to an inmate in the prison. That inmate, in September 2023, allegedly sent messages on the cell phone to another person, discussing obtaining K2 in prison. The inmate allegedly told the other person that the drugs could be delivered to a particular address in Bridgewater later determined to be Hammocks home, - and that the inmates co would arrange for the drugs to be brought into the prison from there. According to prosecutors, K2 presents a health problem at FMC Devens, where inmates have become sick from smoking paper believed to contain K2, as well as prison staff who have been exposed to the secondary smoke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If convicted on the charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue, Hammock and Gaines face a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW UPTON, Mass. (WWLP) The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) celebrated Women in Construction Week with students from Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School. As part of this national and statewide initiative to promote womens roles in the construction industry, EOLWD Secretary Lauren Jones toured the schools construction training programs and spoke to the high school girls within them. March declared Massachusetts Maple Month Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women in Construction Week is an opportunity to showcase the amazing women in construction, celebrate increased exposure for girls to learn about careers in construction, and encourage women to join the industry, said Jones. Through the recent Executive Order, continued investment in Registered Apprenticeship, and great partnerships, we are working every day to increase access to training and career opportunities right here in Massachusetts for women and people of color. Courtesy of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The Healey administration signed an executive order in December 2024 to promote women and diversity in construction, establishing a Diverse and Equitable Construction Workforce Participation Committee within the governors office. The committee aims to encourage equitable workforce participation in construction. Secretary Jones serves as chair of this committee. After Jones visit at the high school, she got the chance to tour the Blackstone Valley HUB for Workforce Development, which provides a space for students to gain technical and employability skills. BV Hub is thrilled to welcome Secretary Jones during Women in Construction Week as we highlight the critical role of women in the trades within our broader workforce development initiatives, said Joscelyn Young, Blackstone Valley HUB Vice President. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Healey administration has also invested in Registered Apprenticeship, a construction and trade model that helps recruit and train apprentices in the construction workforce and other high-demand industries. More information about Registered Apprenticeship can be found at mass.gov. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) Mayor Eric Adams was grilled during several tense moments on Capitol Hill Wednesday while testifying about immigration and sanctuary city laws. Adams has expressed some reservations about New Yorks sanctuary city status and has angered fellow Democrats for pledging to work with the Trump Administration on matters of immigration. More Local News Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat representing the Bronx & Queens was among those who raised the accusation, which the Mayor has denied, that he offered to trade immigration enforcement for the Trump DOJ dismissal of his corruption case. In one poignant moment, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez confronted the Mayor asking him if he wanted to plead the 5th. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im answering your question, Im answering your question directly, Adams said. You are not Mayor Adams, Ocasio-Cortez retorted. Later the Mayor repeated a familiar denial of the accusation: There was never any agreement, any quid-pro-quo, I did nothing wrong. Those few tense moments aside, most of the House Oversight Committee hearing with Mayors of New York, Boston, Chicago, and Denver focused on the impacts of immigration and sanctuary city laws. Those laws generally limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials by local authorities. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each Mayor said their immigrant communities make their cities more prosperous. Republican Representatives took a different view during questioning and threatened to refer criminal charges against the Mayors for not cooperating with ICE on matters of immigration. In his opening statement, Mayor Adams said New York City needs to strike a balance. To be clear, our sanctuary city designation does not mean our city will be a safe haven for violent criminals, Adams said, later adding: Law-abiding immigrants in our community have an important role, contribute billions in taxes, and contribute billions more to our economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But back home at a rally on the steps of City Hall immigration advocates and many other city lawmakers viewed the Adams testimony as a betrayal of the citys values especially because its not just violent criminals getting caught up in immigration sweeps. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said the Mayor is too far removed from the feelings of most New Yorkers, especially on immigration. He cant have it both ways, Williams said. I guess he wants to try and uphold his quid-pro-quo deal and try to keep a piece of who he was, but people are concerned, people are in fear, and they need a leader at this moment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu defended the citys approach to immigration enforcement, and called for congressional action to address problems with the nations immigration system, as she and other mayors faced an intensely partisan congressional hearing Wednesday. During more than five hours of questions and political statements Wednesday, Wu and a trio of other mayors targeted by Republicans repeatedly argued they do not violate federal law by limiting local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration authorities. The theatrical hearing reflected enormous tensions as President Donald Trump continues a major crackdown on undocumented immigration, with Democrats and Republicans sparring over the course of proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wu on several occasions urged Congress to approve comprehensive immigration reform legislation, an idea that had momentum in 2024 before it was derailed by Republicans and some Democrats. Please, pass comprehensive immigration law that is consistent and compassionate. That will make our jobs possible, and we would so appreciate that partnership, Wu told lawmakers on the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican, asked mayors how to achieve comprehensive immigration policy when youre defying it from the very get-go, alleging that their cities effectively shield people without legal status from deportation efforts. Respectfully, Congressman, you could pass bipartisan legislation, and that would be comprehensive immigration law, Wu replied. The false narrative is that immigrants in general are criminals, or immigrants in general cause all sorts of danger and harm. That is actually what is undermining safety in our communities. If you wanted to make us safe, pass gun reforms. Stop cutting Medicaid. Stop cutting cancer research. Stop cutting funds for veterans. That is what will make our city safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wu was joined by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. After opening statements from mayors, committee members took turns -- alternating between Republicans, who were mostly critical of the mayors, and Democrats, who were mostly supportive -- asking questions and presenting their own views about immigration enforcement. In Massachusetts, immigrants have accounted for a big share of the states population and labor force growth over the years. More recently, an influx of migrants fleeing conditions in their home countries have swamped the states emergency family shelter system, forcing the state to overhaul eligibility in a bid to control costs. Wu described Bostons strengths as not in spite of our immigrants, but because of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She called the states capital the safest major city in the country thanks to its gun laws, relationships police have built in the community, and local faith in first responders -- all of which she said the Trump administration is undermining. This federal administration is making hard-working, tax-paying, God-fearing residents afraid to live their lives, Wu said. A city thats scared is not a city thats safe. A land ruled by fear is not the land of the free. U.S. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the panels Republican chair, argued that Congress should restrict federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities. President Trump and his administration are taking action against sanctuary cities, and Congress must follow not by allowing a single penny of federal funding to go to cities and states that prioritize criminal aliens over the American people, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing highlighted the partisan divide over what sanctuary city status entails. Republicans argued that the four mayors lead municipalities where local policies shield people without legal status from immigration enforcement. U.S. Rep. Andy Briggs, an Arizona Republican, alleged that each of the four mayors is exposed to criminal culpability over failure to comply with federal enforcement efforts. Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina told the mayors, You all have blood on your hands. Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida called out Bostons Trust Act, which limits local police from working with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement on civil immigration efforts. Limiting police communication with federal immigration authorities about someones immigration status violates federal law, Luna alleged, prompting Wu to reply, That is not the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As she wrapped up her questioning, Luna said she planned to refer all four mayors to the U.S. Department of Justice for investigation. Im not doing that in an effort to bully you guys, but I do believe that your policies are hurting the American people, and you can make that known with the evidence that you can present to the Department of Justice, Luna said. If you guys continue doing what youre doing, youre not going to help anyone. Youre going to hurt more people. Mayors did not directly answer yes or no when asked if they view their homes as sanctuary cities, with Wu replying that Boston is a safe city. They also argued that their municipalities each follow federal, state and local law, and said immigration enforcement falls to the federal government under the Constitution. What Republicans are calling sanctuary cities simply means that a city or a state is not going to do the job of ICE for them. Thats it, said U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, a Pennsylvania Democrat. Republicans are acting like theres like a mythical barrier that keeps ICE completely out of cities. If youre listening to Fox News, they make it seem like theres police at the borders of Chicago keeping ICE agents out, and thats simply not the case. Republicans want every town, city, state to dedicate their limited resources to entering whats called a 287(g) agreement with ICE to either do their enforcement work on the ground or hold people in custody for an additional 48 hours on detainers. Thats 48 hours beyond the lawful detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, a former colleague of Wus on the Boston City Council, also invoked Fox News during a defense of her hometown. Its clear my colleagues across the aisle didnt do their homework because the fears and division theyre trying to project onto Boston are really the stuff of Fox News fever dreams, Pressley, a Democrat, said. Our city is vibrant, our city is diverse, our city is beautiful. Pressley and Comer, the committees Republican chair, raised their voices at one another as tensions flared. Pressley asked for unanimous consent to enter several news articles into the record. Comer said they would indeed be entered before Pressley finished reading the headlines and describing each article, and when she continued speaking, Comer attempted to cut her off and move on to the next lawmaker up for questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This trend of you all trying to get thrown out of committees so you can get on MSNBC is going to end. Were not going to put up with it, Comer said. Pressley argued that Comer should not get to dictate how I recite the articles for the record. Several Democrats zeroed in on Adams, pressing New Yorks mayor on the federal corruption charges against him and the circumstances behind the Trump administrations push to drop that case. U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, displayed an image of Adams appearing on Fox and Friends alongside Trump border czar Tom Homan, who described a commitment between himself and the mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are you selling out New Yorkers to save yourself from prosecution? Garcia asked. Theres no deal, no quid pro quo, and I did nothing wrong, Adams replied. Homan in recent months has made a point to target Wu, at one point pledging he would be bringing hell to Boston as he sought to crack down on undocumented immigration. Shame on him for lying about my city, for having the nerve to insult our police commissioner, who has overseen the safest Bostons been in anyones lifetime. Bring him here under oath and lets ask him some questions, Wu said about Homan at the hearing. I am here to make sure that the city of Boston is safe. Others may want to bring hell. We are here to bring peace to cities everywhere. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW City of Springfield Mayor Rob Rue is speaking out after President Donald Trump brought up the city while addressing a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Towns like Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, buckled under the weight of the migrant occupation and corruption like no ones ever seen before, Trump said. Beautiful towns, destroyed. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rue released a statement in response to Trumps comment on Wednesday. He said he isnt surprised that the city was mentioned during the address, since it was specifically highlighted in an Executive Order about immigration and border control. I commend the fact that those who have entered the United States and have caused harm to our citizens are being held accountable, Rue said. The Springfield community has experienced a strain on resources, but Rue said most immigrants within the city are living peacefully. Rue said the greatest hardship the city has faced over the past six months is mischaracterization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Springfield has not been destroyed; on the contrary, we are seeing economic growth and new housing developments. Community leaders are actively collaborating and making decisions to move the city forward, he said. Rue said he hopes the Trump administration takes a comprehensive look at immigration policies and makes changes that genuinely enrich the United States. If the previous administration had taken a closer look at the impact of the influx on communities like ours, we might not be in this situation. However, the same mistake can be made by overcorrecting, Rue said. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] March 5 -- WASHINGTON -- Despite the Trump administration's threats to withhold funding, four Democratic mayors defended their cities' sanctuary policies before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston all said their policies foster trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. "When there is trust between a city's residents and the police, undocumented immigrants come forward to report crimes," Johnson said. "Scapegoating entire communities is not only misleading, but it's unjust and it is beneath us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance prohibits city officials from asking about an individual's immigration status and cooperating with federal immigration enforcement actions, except in cases involving serious criminal offenses. New York City and Denver have similar laws. Sanctuary policies often also provide housing, food and help applying for legal status. Wednesday's hearing showcased the clash between these measures and President Trump's immigration enforcement priorities. Boston's mayor, Michelle Wu, speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on sanctuary cities at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI House Republicans spent the hearing criticizing the mayors' sanctuary provisions, including those who were bused in from the border over the past few years. "Today, mayors Wu, Johnson, Johnston and Adams will be publicly accountable for their failure to follow the law and protect the American people," Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson looks on during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on sanctuary cities at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI But the mayors countered Republican accusations that their sanctuary laws give safe harbor to criminals. Johnson and Wu cited their cities' decreasing violent crime rates, and said their immigration policies play a role in that decline. In 2024, Boston saw record-low numbers in homicide rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Last year, Boston saw the fewest homicides on record in the last 70 years," said Wu, a daughter of immigrants and a new mom who brought her 1-month-old to the hearing. "The laws on our books promote the kind of community trust that keep all of us safe." Denver Mayor Mike Johnston speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on sanctuary cities at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. "When there is trust between a city's residents and the police, undocumented immigrants come forward to report crimes," Johnson said. "Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI "As mayor, I have to protect the health and safety of everyone in our city. As a man of faith, I have a moral obligation to care for those in need," Johnston said. The term "sanctuary city" has no uniform definition, but it generally refers to limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, Michelle Mittelstadt of the Migration Policy Institute said. Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, looks on during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on sanctuary cities at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Adams warned that the financial burden of sheltering and providing services to large numbers of migrants would have lasting effects on New York. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Experts say sanctuary policies do not increase crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A mountain of empirical research shows that restrictions on ICE cooperation do not raise crime rates," said David Bier of the Cato Institute, a conservative think tank. President Trump renewed efforts to penalize sanctuary cities that he started during his first term. The Department of Transportation threatened to withhold federal funding. Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed increased enforcement by federal law enforcement officers. "As a result of the Mayor's decision to side with public safety threats over law-abiding citizens, DOJ will have no choice but to increase efforts in the city of Boston. Criminals will be prosecuted, illegal aliens will be arrested, and justice will be served," Bondi posted Tuesday on the social media site X. At the hearing, Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., accused Johnson of representing migrants instead of Chicago residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Who elected you? The people that came illegally, whether they were sent to you or not, or the people that reside in Chicago?" In Chicago, city clerk Cata Truss advocated for more restrictions and accountability for migrants. "I think that it's OK for people to want to have a better life. I just think that it should be done legally," she said in an interview. "We should help, but not at the expense and on the backs of people who are already suffering." Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., who represents the north side of Chicago in Congress, said that migrants fleeing violence have no legal pathways to safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you are starving, if you are escaping violence, dying, raped on the other side of the border, the only option, so that you can find some safety, is coming here through between ports-of-entry because [Congress] won't create legal pathways," she told Medill News Service. One Democratic mayor seemed more open to Trump's policies. Adams previously indicated a willingness to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement agencies in New York. Last month, he met with President Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, to discuss addressing violent migrant gangs in New York City. The next day, the Department of Justice dropped charges against Adams. On Wednesday, Adams warned that the financial burden of sheltering and providing services to large numbers of migrants would have lasting effects on New York. "There will be long-term impacts for New Yorkers due to the amount spent on taking in large numbers of migrants," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some experts warned that the cost of accepting migrants outweighed the benefits. "The harm that is created by allowing criminal aliens to be released back into the community far outweighs any political gains," said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that supports limiting immigration. "The human cost of these policies is just too high." MUSCOGEE, Okla. (KFOR) All eyes are on the next decision for Jimcy McGirt as he returns to court facing new charges in the Eastern District Court of Oklahoma. Jimcy McGirt. Photo:Seminole County Sheriffs Office. Jimcy McGirt (landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma), who was released from federal prison under supervised conditions, is now facing re-sentencing in an incident involving Seminole Nation Lighthorse and allegation of approaching children on a playground in Seminole County, reported by KOSU. Jimcy McGirt charged with one felony & two misdemeanors amid sex offender violations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGirt faces charges for residing next to a playground and failing to notify his parole officer of the move while living with his son. McGirt pleaded no contest and was sentenced to spend six months of his five-year sentence behind bars. Federal prosecutors are now seeking his supervised release be revoked in full. According to prosecutors, McGirt was caught outside of the Muscogee Creek Nation and broke rules while on release. Man behind McGirt v Oklahoma decision to be released McGirt is set to remain behind bars in an Okmulgee County jail pending the revocation decision. Additionally, he faces violations, including failure to appear for court-ordered sex offender treatment sessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) Nine states are trying to mitigate the spread of measles. Kentucky confirmed its first case on Feb. 26 in Frankfort. The Kentucky Department for Public Health said on Feb. 17 a man visited the Planet Fitness on 101 Allen Way in Frankfort while being infected. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department told FOX 56 News that people were exposed to the measles at a Lexington healthcare facility. The department told FOX 56 that all of the Fayette County residents who were exposed had their vaccination status verified or were instructed to quarantine until they could prove they are immune to measles. According to the department, all of the known Fayette County contacts have been released from quarantine, and no new cases have been reported. How can you prevent measles? Health officials said the best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old, and the second between 4 and 6 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels at UK Healthcare said those who have had the MMR have a 97% chance of fighting off any chance of sickness; those without it have a nine out of 10 chance of losing this fight. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Before 57 (1957), protected by just the prevalence of measles and how easily it spreads. Sixty-three to 68, a little bit of a gray zone, we had a vaccine that wasnt as effective. Sixty-eight and 89, you probably got one dose if youre born here and got your childhood vaccines, and after 89, if you got the childhood vaccines, you should have gotten two doses, Sickels said. The Hill reported that vaccination rates have declined nationally since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most states, including Kentucky, are below the 95% vaccination threshold for kindergartenersthe level needed to protect communities against measles outbreaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Florida has confirmed its first measles case of 2025, two counties south of Palm Beach. Miami-Dade County Public Schools reported Tuesday that a student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School has contracted the highly contagious respiratory illness, according to multiple published reports. The report comes amid an outbreak of measles in nine other states, including nearly 160 cases in Texas since January. As of February 27, measles cases had also been reported in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island, according to the federal Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palm Beach County has not reported any measles cases as of Thursday morning. Measles cases in U.S. surpass 100: Which states have reported measles in 2025? See map Florida surgeon general: Measles vaccinations require parents' consent Measles can cause threaten the life of anyone who is not protected against the virus. It can be transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets, and can be spread by air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. In Texas, a school-age child died in February, marking the first measles-related death in the United States since 2015. The child had not been vaccinated against measles, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department has reported 159 cases statewide since late January. The majority have involved children, with 127 cases involving patients under 18, Texas state health officials reported. Tanya Roland vaccinates Fatima Wolfe, the 1-year-old daughter of Jordan Wolfe, against the measles on Wednesday, Feb. 5, in Austin, Texas. A measles outbreak in Texas has seen nearly 160 cases, most of them involving children. During a news conference Wednesday in Tampa, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said state officials have talked with school officials in Miami about the Florida case. The state has provided information about options available to parents, Ladapo said. He noted that measles vaccines are available for children, but added that decisions about whether to give a child the vaccine, or whether to send an unvaccinated child to school, should be left to parents. "There may be more cases and we'll continue providing education and resources," Ladapo said. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a vaccinate skeptic, expresses support for measles shot U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement Monday that he was "deeply concerned" about the recent outbreak in Texas. Kennedy, who has expressed skepticism about vaccines in the past, said the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is a crucial factor in avoiding the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons" Kennedy wrote in his statement Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Measles in Florida: Miami school reports first measles case in 2025 GOP state Sen. Tom Wright during committee meeting on March 5, 2025. (Screenshot from the Florida Channel) A proposal to strengthen penalties for the impaired driving of an automobile or boat passed in a Senate committee on Wednesday, but only after concerns about the definition of the phrase any impairing substance led to two Democrats dissenting. Existing Florida law says that a person is guilty of a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) if they are under the influence of alcohol, a chemical substance, or a controlled substance. But a measure (CS 138) sponsored by east central Florida Republican Tom Wright would expand that definition to include or any impairing substance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice on Wednesday, Sen. Wright his bill was response to a request by the judicial system to include anything that would impair a driver, including medicines that you overdosed on, or it be some sort of powder or something that you use. In other words, were trying to cover all the bases of anything like a drug that might be used and has the individual impaired and not able to drive correctly, he said. That drew an objection from Aaron Wayt, a Tallahassee attorney representing the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He said some medications can cause an unexpected negative reaction and that it would be unfair to criminalize people who had no intent to do anything unlawful. Test for Nyquil? Wayt wanted to know how a law enforcement officer could test someone they consider impaired. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement does not now test for substances such as Nyquil, he noted, an over-the-counter medication used to treat nighttime symptoms of the common cold and flu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, a first refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test can result in a one-year license suspension but is not considered a crime. Under the proposed legislation, a first refusal could result in a second-degree misdemeanor charge. A second refusal could result in a first-degree misdemeanor, carrying more fines and possible jail time. South Florida Democratic Sen. Tina Polsky asked Wayt if the way the bill is written could include someone driving and acting a little strange while using a prescription drug or Nyquil. He said he believed yes, because of the phrase any impairing substance. Spring Hill Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia suggested the all-encompassing phase any impairing substance could help law enforcement cite drivers for ingesting designer drugs that dont fit the exact definition of say, cocaine. Wayt agreed the change would make for better public policy, but only if language is amended to include a determination the driver knew the substance could impair them. Good human beings Polksy and Tampa Bay area Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson ended up opposing the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This catch-all is just too broad and Im going to vote against it, Polsky said. Im certainly not pro-DUI. I dont want it to be construed that way. I dont know what the current law is missing its just too far. Wright insisted that, as good human beings, we are well aware when we are not able to drive a car. Or when were drinking Nyquil by the gallon. Or taking medicines that we shouldnt have taken. Or smoking too much. Or snorting too much. You name it we know when we are impaired, and we should make the decision not to drive on the state roads. He said he was inspired to sponsor the legislation after watching an Orlando television news report about how a mother and her children were killed in an auto accident by a drunk driver who had 16 previous DUIs. Dont we need to do something about that? he asked. Dont we need to defend the families that are on the streets? The measure passed the committee, 6-2. It now has just one more committee before going to the floor of the Senate. A companion bill (HB 687) has been filed in the House by St. Augustine Republican Kim Kendall. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE East Greensboro residents came to the city council with a clear message: Were tired of waiting for progress in our community. Many of the speakers who addressed the council on Tuesday spoke of the need for grocery stores. But the concerns went beyond that, with residents pointing to the need for better infrastructure, more development and an increase in the standard of living. The meeting grew contentious at times, with one speaker being removed from the meeting after shouting at a councilman from the audience. Were demanding action When Dominic Mercurio of the Old Asheboro Street Neighborhood Association stood up to address council, he rattled off a list of concerns related to quality of life in his community. He spoke of the lack of options for buying fresh food, crumbling sidewalks, which made it difficult for him to walk with his young son to nearby Douglas Park and substandard infrastructure prone to blockages and backups. Mercurio called on the city to do more to address the problems that were keeping grocery stores out of the community, namely the lack of housing density and the lower median incomes. We cannot simply wait for the market to correct itself, Mercurio said. The city must invest in housing and infrastructure to create the conditions necessary for businesses, including grocery stores, to recognize East Greensboros potential. Deena Hayes-Greene, who serves as chair of the Guilford County Board of Education, said the city needed to step up to address the lasting impact that years of housing segregation and neglect have had in eastern Greensboro. She noted that people in some parts of that city have life expectancies 15 years lower than in other parts of Greensboro, a disparity which has also been noted by Cone Health CEO Mary Jo Cagle. My community is a dessert of every kind: food, health care, housing and economic opportunity, Greene said. Our development plans have been delayed, disregarded and dismissed for decades and we are here to tell you, No more. She added: Were demanding action not empty promises, not more studies, not more delays. Crystal Black, a leader in the Southeast Greensboro Coalition, said the citys concentration of low-income housing in the eastern part of town was a major factor in keeping businesses like grocery stores out of the area. She also told council members that people from Greensboros east side were mobilizing for change and she alluded to the upcoming city elections this fall in which all Greensboro officials will be up for election. The quote of, It takes time, were done with it taking time, Black said. We are organizing. This is a voting year. Some of you need to be concerned. The meeting grew particularly heated after two speakers, Eric Robert and Jason Hicks, accused Councilman Zack Matheny of impeding development in East Greensboro because of his connections with local businessmen. Matheny responded, first asking City Attorney Chuck Watts to review that tape on the derogatory language that was used about me, specifically alluding to comments regarding racism and corruption. Robert had mentioned institutional racism as part of his criticism of Matheny. The District 3 councilman went on to defend himself, saying: There is not one document in the world that says anything about me stopping a grocery store. Matheny asked city staff to compile a report for other council members on the amount of city funds Robert, who is a businessman, had received, with Matheny saying he believed the amount exceeded $500,000. Matheny said he had thick files with information on those who had berated him during the meeting. As Matheny was speaking, Hicks shouted at him and was ultimately removed from the meeting. Hicks called Matheny a parasite and a piece of s- as he was escorted from the chamber. Hicks was previously kicked out of a meeting last July for insulting Matheny and yelling. Some speakers, including Black, said they objected to the way Matheny had handled the situation. Matheny defended his decision, saying: It was my opportunity and it was my time to take up for myself. Theres no place in this world for the hatred that you saw walk out of here. Council members respond Members of the council also addressed the concerns with the neighborhood and spoke of the challenges of bringing in new grocery stores while also urging members of the community to work together. Mayor Nancy Vaughan referred to her attempts, along with other leaders such as former N.C. A&T State University Chancellor Harold Martin, to bring a grocery store into Bailey Village by the universitys campus. This was a brand-new facility in a new apartment complex right across the street from a major college, Vaughan said. We could not get one commitment. Nobody even came out to see the spot. So saying, Lets get a grocery store, its not easy. Councilwoman Goldie Wells, whose district includes part of East Greensboro, said grocery stores have many requirements for choosing where to locate, but added that the city is still working to put a grocery store near Bailey Village. Councilwoman Sharon Hightower, another East Greensboro representative, said she understood the concerns within the community and referred to her own 16-mile round trip to the grocery store. Hightower mentioned retail incentives and changes to zoning regulations as some potential solutions for bringing grocery stores and other new types of development to the area. Matheny said it would take collaboration to get a grocery store. We write a resolution, Matheny said. We go to the county to write a resolution. We get the neighborhoods to do a petition and we beat on every door until somebody says, Yes. Matheny also said he believed the insults from some speakers hurt their own case. If I was a grocery store and Im watching a city council meeting, it aint a neighborhood that I want to invest in, he said. Mayor Pro Tem Marikay Abuzuaiter also expressed the concern, saying she was aware of businesses that had dropped plans in Greensboro after viewing council meetings. I have the fear that if we want to bring more and more businesses here and we want to be able to raise the median incomes for all of our areas that we do need to have the decorum and not the attacks, Abuzuaiter said. Harold Arthur Fritz commissioned as an Armor Second Lieutenant through OCS in 1967. While serving as a Platoon Leader in Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, then-First Lieutenant Fritz earned the Medal of Honor for actions near Quan Loi in Vietnam. Binh Long Province, Vietnam Fritz as a captain (Congressional Medal of Honor Society) On January 11, 1969, Fritz led a seven-vehicle armored column on Highway 13 to rendezvous with and escort a truck convoy. Fritzs column was engaged from multiple directions by a reinforced enemy company in prepared ambush positions. At the outbreak of the ambush, Fritzs vehicle was hit and seriously wounded. Despite his wound, the 24-year-old lieutenant leaped atop his burning vehicle to reposition the remainder of his vehicles and organize his men. Fritz as a field grade officer later in his career (U.S. Army) Without regard for his wound or safety, Fritz exposed himself to enemy fire and ran between vehicles to direct his platoons fire, assist the wounded, distribute ammunition, and rally his men. When the enemy assaulted the American position to overrun them, Fritz manned a machine gun himself and returned a high volume of fire. Inspired by their PLs actions, the rest of the platoon intensified their own fire to break the assault and route the attack. Convoys were common targets for enemy forces in Vietnam (U.S. Army) A second enemy force attacked and closed to within two meters of the American position. Armed with a pistol and bayonet, Fritz led a small group of his men in a fierce and daring counterattack that inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke their offensive. Fritz holds a lifesaving Zippo lighter that his wife gave him which deflected a bullet in Vietnam (Fort Irwin via Facebook) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a relief force finally arrived, Fritz saw that they were not deployed effectively against the enemy positions. Moving through enemy fire, he directed their deployment which forced the enemy to withdraw. Despite the intense combat and his wounds, Fritz refused medical attention to assist his men and ensure that his wounded troops were treated and evacuated first. President Nixon presents the Medal of Honor to then-Captain Fritz (Pritzker Military Museum & Library) For his actions in Vietnam, Fritz was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Nixon at the White House in March 2, 1971. Fritz went on to serve 27 years in the Army before retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. Beyond his Medal of Honor, Fritz was also awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with V device for combat and oak leaf cluster, and Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster. He also served as the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Fritz at the Peoria VAC ceremony (Peoria County Government via Facebook) Born in Chicago, Fritz settled in Peoria, Illinois, where he worked at the Bob Michel VA Clinic. In recognition of Fritzs extensive service, the Peoria County Veterans Assistance Commission was renamed in his honor on November 15, 2024. During the ceremony, Fritz joked about previous honors that didnt last. They named a building after me in Germany, but then they closed the base. The Army named a horse after me, but then they sold the horse, Fritz said at the Peoria VAC. Hopefully, this place sticks around longer. How to support the Medal of Honor mission Learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at cmohs.org or find them on Instagram |Facebook Participate in Medal of Honor Day on March 25 by sharing a recipients story Support veteran hiring and transition programs in your workplace Teach younger generations about the values of courage, sacrifice, and service Medal of Honor Month isnt just about recognizing history. Its about keeping the mission alive for the future. Observe Medal of Honor March on We Are The Mighty here. (Photo via Getty images) Iowans would have to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week to remain eligible for Medicaid health care coverage under legislation that passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday. Senate File 363 would require Medicaid recipients to work, participate in a work program or volunteer at least 20 hours per week. Certain people would be exempt from the requirement, including people under age 19 or over age 64, people medically certified with a disability that makes them unable to work, people who are pregnant or parenting a child under age 1 or a child with a serious illness or disability. People in substance abuse treatment would also be exempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee amended the bill to align the exemptions with work requirements for SNAP and other programs for low-income Iowans. Sen. Mike Zimmer, D-DeWitt, sought to expand the list of exemptions to include caregivers for a disabled adult or elderly family member or someone experiencing homelessness. But the bills floor manager, Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, said the amendment would have to be offered on the Senate floor. The bill would require the state to request a waiver, if necessary, from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement the requirements. The amendment also would provide an upgrade in computer systems for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to help administer Medicaid and other programs. Klimesh said he did not yet have a cost estimate for the computer work. Democrats voted against the bill. Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said the experience in other states shows Medicaid work requirements cause eligible recipients to lose their health care benefits because additional reporting requirements are complicated, there are delays for qualified people to get accepted because the additional workload for administrators and an increase in uncompensated care that hurts hospitals and clinics. And the biggest thing that every state that has implemented similar policies has seen is an increase in the cost to taxpayers, she said. I mean, that is a given. It is a guarantee that it is going to cost our state a lot of money to hurt people, a lot of money to hurt our health care system, a lot of money that is going to not do us any good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klimesh said out of Iowas expanded Medicaid population of about 180,000 people, roughly 60% of able-bodied adults arent working at all. So theyre not even attempting to find work, he said, even though recipients could maintain their benefits while gaining experience that could eventually qualify them for a job with health benefits. The bill moves to the Senate floor for further debate. It does not have a companion bill in the Iowa House, but it is a priority of the governor. During her Condition of the State address in January, Gov. Kim Reynolds said she planned to apply for a federal waiver to implement Medicaid work requirements, though she did not share details like how many hours would be required to continue receiving benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters Monday that House Republicans have not had a discussion with Reynolds on the right path for pursuing Medicaid work requirements, but that lawmakers are pursuing legislative action because the subject was brought up as a priority leading into the 2025 session. Whether its the governor doing it, whether its through our bill, I think we just want to make sure that its something that does get done, Grassley said. And we know if we could pass a bill to do it, well at least get that formal request submitted through legislation as well. Robin Opsahl contributed to this report. PHILADELPHIA (AP) The cockpit voice recorder was not working on a medical transport plane that killed seven people when it plummeted into a Philadelphia neighborhood in January and likely had not been functioning for several years, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report Thursday. The NTSB also confirmed the crew made no distress calls to air traffic control. A ground warning system that may contain flight data memory is still being evaluated by the manufacturer, the agency said. The plane plummeted into a residential and commercial area within a minute of taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport and erupted into a fireball on Jan. 31. Officials said the crash killed all six people aboard the Learjet 55 and a seventh person who was in a vehicle on the ground. At least two dozen others were injured, including a 10-year-old boy in a vehicle who was hit by debris while trying to protect his sister. Former NTSB Chairman Jim Hall called the finding about the cockpit recording disturbing" because that and the whole flight data recorder are important to find out what went wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a significant loss of important information that should have been there, Hall said. He noted that the lack of any distress call shows the emergency occurred too quickly for the crew to communicate with the tower. Those on the plane included an 11-year-old girl who had received medical treatment at Shriners Childrens Philadelphia hospital. Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said the plane was taking Valentina Guzman Murillo and her 31-year-old mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna, home to Mexico. Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with Jet Rescue. The company previously identified its team aboard as Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, 41; the captain, Alan Montoya Perales, 46; copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, 43; and paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, 41. All four were from Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the report, the recorder was recovered 8 feet (2.4 meters) underground after the crash and had significant damage, including exposure to liquids. After extensive cleaning and repairs, the agency discovered the 30-minute tape didn't have audio of the flight. The high-impact crash destroyed or badly damaged more than a dozen homes and business, leaving debris from the plane scattered across a wide area nearly 500 yards (457 meters) long and 300 yards (274 meters) wide. Former NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti said the loss of any cockpit recordings makes the agencys work more difficult, but not impossible. He hoped the ground warning system can provide some data, and wondered why the voice recorder hadn't been inspected regularly. I really think that puts a black mark on this Mexican operator, for not ensuring that their cockpit voice recorder was operating, Guzzetti said. The NTSB, I think, will still be able to come to a probable cause, just because theyre really good at extracting circumstantial evidence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Mexican regulations, owners are supposed to include the voice and flight data recorders in the maintenance plans for aircraft, and the government authority where aircraft are registered is responsible for supervising those plans and checking aircraft to make sure that whats in the documents is true at least once a year, said Rogelio Rodriguez Garduno, a professor of aviation law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Civil aviation authorities in Mexico have not responded to an Associated Press request for documents about Jet Rescues maintenance. Guzzetti, a lead NTSB investigator on John F. Kennedy Jr.s fatal crash near Marthas Vineyard, believes the Philadelphia crash has some of the same hallmarks of a pilot suffering from spatial disorientation in dark or cloudy skies. That occurs, he said, when pilots lose their bearings, don't trust their instruments and turn, sometimes repeatedly, in a misguided attempt to correct course. The Learjet in Philadelphia, he noted, came screaming out of the sky and it did some turns too -- and again you see those same types of turns in the JFK Jr. accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The human body can play tricks on you, and thats why you have to be incredibly vigilant as a pilot and trust your instruments, he said. But, you know, its not to say that there couldnt have been some sort of distraction in the cockpit too that occurred during that time. Several victims on the ground retained law firms to represent them in potential lawsuits, including a man badly burned after his SUV became engulfed in jet fuel. The crash was among recent aviation disasters and close calls that left some people worried about the safety of flying. It happened two days after an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter collided in midair in Washington, D.C. the deadliest U.S. air disaster in a generation. ___ Reporters Maria Verza in Mexico City and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report. (Bloomberg) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Ukraine should be granted the security of NATO without the actual membership in the military alliance. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on the sidelines of a European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday, she said we need to think about more durable solutions than sending European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. Extending the provision of NATOs Article 5 the collective defense clause that commits members to protect each other would be much more effective, she said. The proposal comes as European leaders are seeking ways to shore up Kyiv as the administration of President Donald Trump pushes for a rapid end to the three-year war. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month ruled out Ukraines NATO membership. Its the first time Meloni has backed the idea in such clear terms. While the Italian prime minister has been seen as a potential conduit between Europe and Trump, the proposal is unlikely to find the support of the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a different thing than entering NATO, but it implies extending the coverage that NATO countries have also to Ukraine, Meloni said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) Craven County Sheriffs Office Animal Protective Services underwent an operation to save a dog. Operation Under a Shed came to an end after three weeks. The dog had escaped every attempt to contain her until Wednesday when she sought shelter under the shed from the storm that came through eastern North Carolina. Members from the animal protective services placed food nearby to devise a plan to catch her. They say the space was small and the members got a little dirty in the process, but they were able to get her to safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is now with Craven-Pamlico Animal Services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. President Trump eased his newest tariffs on Wednesday after two days during which those levies roiled financial markets. But the latest tweak only adds to the uncertainty over what Trumps longer-term policy will be. The shadows of doubt and the belief even among many conservatives that sweeping tariffs will raise prices for American consumers pose real political dangers for the president. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to reporters Wednesday that Trump would exempt the three major automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis from paying tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico for one month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that was a modest-sized asterisk next to Trumps imposition, starting Tuesday, of 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, and a doubling of tariffs on Chinese imports from 10 percent to 20 percent. A near-immediate compromise deal on those tariffs, flagged as a possibility on Tuesday by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, had not materialized at the time of going to press Wednesday. Now, huge swathes of the economy are on a roller-coaster ride, waiting to see whether there are more exemptions for specific industries, whether Trump will suspend the tariffs once again and, if he does not, how the nations affected will respond. China hit back at this weeks tariff announcement threatening that if war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, were ready to fight till the end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The political danger here for Trump is broader than the battle over tariffs. The volatility itself could, in time, fuel voter doubts about his core competency. That, in turn, could undercut his standing with the small but vital share of the electorate who still do not have an opinion set in stone about him. An Economist/YouGov poll released Wednesday found the nation split almost evenly on how it views Trump. The poll found 47 percent of Americans viewing him favorably and 50 percent unfavorably, most of them hewing to a very favorable or unfavorable view. But Trumps political fortunes might well rest with the roughly 1 in 5 Americans who view him less emphatically, one way or another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are the voters who Democrats have not been able to win over by their frequent claims that Trump is an aberrational danger to the fabric of the republic. But ham-fistedness or chaos on the presidents part could alienate those voters in the end. After all, back in 2020, a key factor in Trumps defeat was voter concern over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to exit polls, voters who saw COVID-19 as the most important issue backed former President Biden over Trump by more than 20 points. Beyond tariffs, there have already been other missteps in Trumps first six weeks back in power that have raised the competency question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of them relate to the government-slashing effort spearheaded by Elon Musk. In mid-February, a significant number of employees up to 350, according to The Associated Press were fired from the National Nuclear Security Administration. The vast majority of those firings were rescinded the next day, presumably amid concerns about whether nuclear safety would be compromised. The Department of Agriculture saw a similarly chaotic U-turn during the same period, initially firing some employees working on the avian flu outbreak. A department spokesperson acknowledged to NBC News at the time that several people were notified of their terminations but that they were working to swiftly rectify the situation and rescind those letters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musks quasi-official Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has also been caught making significant errors as it has sought to provide proof of its savings. Most notably, DOGE misstated savings from one canceled contract at $8 billion, when the correct sum was $8 million. Reuters reported Tuesday that in the last two weeks alone, DOGE has deleted hundreds of claimed savings, including some of the largest items that it had previously boasted about. On Ukraine, Trumps approach has primarily been questioned on the grounds of the policy itself rather than competency. But the infamous Oval Office clash between Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has caused tremors across Europe, as leaders try to figure out how to best deal with the American presidents volatility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, the dangers to Trump should not be overstated. He is riding high for several reasons: Novembers election victory, Republican control of the Senate and the House, his iron grip on the GOP, and the general sense that Democrats are struggling to get traction in their political battle against him. Furthermore, some of the policies that elicit most angst among liberals are popular with the broader public. The Economist poll and a separate survey from CBS News both showed significant support for his approach on immigration, for example. His actions on that topic were viewed favorably by a 13-point margin in the Economist poll and by an 8-point margin in the CBS News poll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, for all his current momentum, Trumps political strength is not as robust as he or his allies claim. Polling and data site 538 puts him already underwater in terms of favorability, being seen negatively by 48 percent of Americans and positively by 46 percent. That is thin ice on which to skate if the tariffs issue, or anything else, calls Trumps core competence into further question. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Light Gas & Water is looking to the sun to generate its own electricity and improve the power grid for customers. The utility is issuing a Request for Poposals to have vendors help it install 100 megawatts of solar generation and 80 megawatts of battery storage. That will allow MLGW to generate a portion of the energy it needs at a low cost. The batteries will store some of that energy for when demand is high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed date for the solar site to be operational is the third quarter of 2026. Trump administration listed Memphis IRS center, federal court building for sale Remember, we have about a 3,500-megawatt system, so were talking about adding 100 megawatts of solar, so it will partially meet the need here, said Doug McGowen, president and CEO of MLGW. What I can say is, its not going to increase the cost for anybody. So we already had this forecasted and budgeted and it will be affordable energy that we will be able to bring into our portfolio. There is no location planned for the solar generators yet, but McGowen says at least one of the battery locations will be in one of MLGWs electric substations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (NewsNation) Two men have been charged after investigators said they were connected to the deaths of three Chiefs fans who were found dead in the backyard of a Kansas City home in January 2024. Jordan Willis and Ivory J. Carson were charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance in the deaths of Ricky Johnson, 38; Clayton McGeeney, 36; and David Harrington, 37. Meghan Markle done at Netflix after debut savaged by fans Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigations have been ongoing since Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, when a woman called Kansas City police and said she had found a dead body at the Kansas City home after she had been searching for her fiance, 36-year-old McGeeney. Investigations revealed that two days before, the three had arrived at their friend Jordan Willis home to watch the Chiefs final regular season game of 2024. Over the next 48 hours, the men would go silent, leaving family and friends to worry, according to police. Casey Anthony not capable of telling truth: Former family lawyer A composite picture of the three Kansas City Chiefs fans found dead in After the woman informed police of the body, they arrived at the home and knocked on the door. They said Willis opened the door and let them inside, even though he never opened the door to McGeeneys fiance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police later found not just the one body but two others in the backyard. The Chiefs fans death investigation Willis reportedly told police his friends froze to death as temperatures dipped in the area. Preliminary autopsy and toxicology results later showed all three men had cocaine and fentanyl in their systems. At the time, prosecutors hadnt announced any charges related to the January investigation. Some of the mens families, however, have said they would like to see Willis held responsible. APRIL 2024: Victims cousin doesnt blame Jordan Willis for deaths It was his home. He had the party, Jennifer Marquez, David Harringtons mother, told Fox News Digital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Picerno, attorney for homeowner Jordan Willis,m said, From Day One, we talked about the fact that he had absolutely nothing to do with causing harm to his lifelong friends. APRIL 2024: Months after Chiefs fan deaths, families await answers He doesnt use that particular door. He goes out in the front, Picerno told NewsNation host Dan Abrams. He had absolutely no knowledge they were out there. They were his friends. They were at his house socializing. If he had found them there, or if they were in danger, he would have called the police and tried to help them. NewsNation local affiliate WDAF in Kansas City contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. athens A Mercer County town is seeking to increase its water and sewer rates. According to a legal notice published in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, the town of Athens has adopted by ordinance on Feb. 18 a tariff containing increased rates, tolls and charges for furnishing water service to 1,766 water customers and 44 sewer customers in the town limits. The town is seeking permission from the West Virginia Public Service Commission to increase water rates by 10 percent and sewer rates by 15 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed rate increase will become effective 45 days after adoption, unless otherwise ordered by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, according to the legal ad. If the change in water rates is approved, the average monthly bill of residential customers would increase by $2.58 cents a month, or 10 percent. Commercial customers would see water rates increase by $35.01 a month, also a 10 percent increase. If the change in sewer rates is approved, the average monthly bill of residential customers would increase by $5.32 a month, or a 15 percent increase. Commercial customers would see an increase of $104.49 a month, or a 15 percent increase. The proposed increases are based upon averages of all customers in the indicated class, according to the legal advertisement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The requested rates are only a proposal and are subject to change (including increases or decreases) as ordered by the Public Service Commission in its review of the filing if petitions are filed by customers within 30 days of the adoption of the ordinance. All petitions should be addressed to the Executive Secretary of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, 201 Brooks Street, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, W.Va., 25323. At least 25 percent of the customers served by the utility would need to sign a petition. A complete copy of the proposed rates also is available for public inspection at the Athens Town Hall, which is located at 202 South State Street. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com When Germany went to the polls on Feb. 23, the timing of the election was unusual. According to the electoral calendar, the election should have taken place in September. But the coalition government of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz had broken apart over a variety of issues, most immediately a disagreement over how to finance future government spending. As a result, the vote was held a mere month after U.S. President Donald Trumps return to the White House and just a week after Vice President JD Vances bombshell speech at the Munich Security Conference, which attacked some of the most fundamental foreign policy beliefs that Germans hold. Despite the prominence of these and other foreign and defense policy developments these days, as well as the obvious challenges they pose to Germany, those issues didnt played a particularly important role in the campaign, which focused primarily on migration and the economy. The election resulted in a win for Friedrich Merzs conservative Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, whichcombined with its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, or CSUtook 28.6 percent of the votes, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party with 20.8 percent. Scholzs Social Democratic Party, or SPD, dropped substantially from its previous showing, winning only 16.4 percent. In total, five parties, including the far-left Die Linke party, made it over the 5 percent threshold to enter parliament. Nevertheless, despite the relative disinterest in defense topics in the runup to the election, when Merznow the likely next German chancellorannounced his three priorities for any potential coalition government the day after the election, Germanys defense policy was first on his list. Since then, Trump ambushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in one of the most shocking Oval Office meetings in living memory; stopped U.S. arms deliveries to and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine; and demonstrated in various ways that Washingtons European allies, most of which rely extensively on U.S. security guarantees, are less than an afterthought for his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether German politicians or the public wanted it to be or not, security policy has therefore become an urgent challenge to deal with. As the first meetings to negotiate a possible coalition government comprising the CDU/CSU and SPD take place in Berlin, what debates are taking place on the directions of security and defense policy for Europes largest and economically strongest country? And what changes are to be expected? To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. More Money for the Bundeswehr The Bundeswehr, or the German armed forces, is Europes second-largest military, with 185,000 soldiers in uniform. Nevertheless, for decades, it has suffered from poor funding, leading the inspector of the army to note on the morning of Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine three years ago that the Bundeswehr was more or less bare. Three days after the Russian invasion, Scholz announced in his now famous Zeitenwende speech the establishment of a special fund amounting to 100 billion euros to fill some of the Bundeswehrs gaps, with a substantial part of it going to U.S.-made big-ticket items, like F-35 aircraft and Chinook helicopters since then. But more equipment is needed, even as experts agree that substantial amounts must also be spent to equip, train and recruit for the Bundeswehr going forward. With the help of the special fund, Germany just about reached NATOs target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense last year. But the special fund has now been emptied, meaning Germany has to find more money for the Bundeswehr, even as there is growing consensus among NATO allies that the peacetime spending target of 2 percent of GDP is obsolete under the current circumstances and will need to rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is how to do so under the constraints of Germanys debt brake, a law introduced into Germanys constitution in 2009 by the government at the timeironically also a coalition comprising the CDU/CSU and SPDprohibiting annual structural deficits from exceeding 0.35 percent of GDP. Since then, the rule has severely limited German governments ability to borrow money to finance anything, meaning that any increase to defense spending must be funded through tax hikes or budget cuts elsewhere. That explains Berlins underfunding of defense and infrastructure, but also why Germanys debt is lower than that of its European partners. It looks like the new prospective CDU/CSU-SPD coalition government has just found a way to clear the debt brake hurdle, however, and in record time. Despite the fact that the coalition has not been formally constituted yetthe parties are still in exploratory talks, not even coalition negotiationstheir representatives announced truly momentous proposed changes on Tuesday. It appears that Germanys leaders have a clear vision of the task at hand and its urgency, and that they are ready to respond quickly. The first decisions are encouraging, but many open questions remain. First, if the changes take effect, all German defense spending over 1 percent of GDP will be exempt from the debt brake. This would give the next government room to raise spending to the level it feels is needed without restrictions. The prospective coalition partners also announced that they would implement a law so that defense funding can be spent effectively and as fast as possible, and will put together a list of priorities for equipment to be procured quickly. Second, Germany will spend 500 billion euros over 10 years financed through a special fund to rebuild German infrastructure, which has been shown increasing signs of wear in recent years. This spending is not directly related to defense, but because of its geographical position and its role within NATO as a logistical hub, Germanys infrastructure plays an outsize role for the transport and concentration of allied troops and equipment. Hence, it needs bridges and roads that can carry tanks, trains that can transport material and hospitals that can take care of potential casualties. A big push to improve Germanys infrastructure is thus highly welcomed from a defense standpoint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement German politics tends to move slowly, so yesterdays announcement came at warp speed for Berlin. Two reasons explain this. First, the shock of the recent announcements and actions by the Trump administration cannot be overstated. As Merz, a staunch trans-Atlanticist from Germanys most trans-Atlanticist party, put it on election night, I never thought I would have to say something like this on a television program. But after Donald Trumps statements last week at the latest, it is clear that the Americans, at least this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe. He went on to compare Elon Musks open support for the AfD ahead of the voting, including a video appearance at an AfD campaign rally, to election interference by Russia. And Merzs statements came before the U.S. cut its support for Ukraine and before Vance called Europes biggest military powers random countries which have not fought a war in 20 or 30 years. It seems that the shock in Berlin at having lost its most crucial military ally is bigger than even the shock of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The second reason things are moving fast is that the window of opportunity for the new prospective government to act is running out quickly. The old German parliamentin which the CDU/CSU and SPD, together with the Greens, have the two-thirds majority needed for these constitutional changes to be passedis only in place until March 24. Once the new parliament convenes, however, the political extremes on the far left and far right will have a blocking minority in the Bundestag, making these changes impossible. Berlin, it seems, has understood the urgency of the situation and is acting accordingly. German Troops for Ukraine Remain Unlikely At the same time, debates are taking place in Europe on whether Europeans will secure any future peace deal in Ukraine with troops on the ground. The U.K. and France have shown themselves open to the idea, but so far Berlin had been very clear that this is not an option for Germany. Scholz pushed back very forcefully against French President Emmanuel Macron in February 2024 when Macron refused to exclude the possibility of deploying European troops to Ukraine in a defensive capacity while the hostilities were ongoing. More recently, Scholz noted repeatedly that he considered all discussion of deploying European troops to secure a peace deal as premature, since no peace deal or ceasefire agreement has been agreed to yet. At this point, there are no indications that the new prospective government in Berlin will be more sympathetic to the idea, though one can hope that Merz is able to communicate the German position better. Despite the Zeitenwende and the more recent shock of being abandoned by the U.S., the German mindset remains deeply skeptical of military power. The idea of putting German troops in a situation where they might face a real danger of engaging with Russian forces seems beyond the scope of whats imaginable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are also questions as to Germanys ability to send troops even if it wanted to. Berlin has been an important supporter of NATOs new plans to boost the defense of the alliances eastern flank. Specifically, the Bundeswehr is creating a permanent combat brigade numbering 5,000 troops to be stationed in Lithuania. This is a crucial contribution to build up NATOs deterrence, but it has also proven to be a challenge for Germanys hollowed-out armed forces. So even if the government decides it wants to contribute substantial troop numbers to a future peacekeeping force in Ukraine, there is no guarantee the Bundeswehr would be able to do so. Will Germany Change Its Stance on Funding European Defense? The shock in Germany regarding the perceived end of the trans-Atlantic relationship runs deep. Merzs aforementioned statements would have been unimaginable only weeks ago. Now Germany, as well as the rest of Europe, will need to reevaluate and reconfigure its relations with the United States. It might be good news for Germany that the next government will be led by a Christian Democrat, as it creates an Only Nixon could go to China situation: No one can accuse Merz or the CDU/CSU of being anti-American. Hence, no one is in a better position to make the argument for less dependence on the trans-Atlantic partnership and more European cooperation. Common European defense efforts are the obvious way to replace some of what the trans-Atlantic alliance provides. Indeed, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has just proposed a new plan to Rearm Europe, and efforts to build up the EUs defense capabilities predate the most recent shakeup of trans-Atlantic relations. Merz has identified European defense cooperation as an immediate priority. Rhetorically, Germany has always been very committed to common European defense. Berlin, however, has always been skeptical when it comes to funding European defense through collectivized debt, so-called eurobonds. So far, there are no clear indications that the next German government plans to shift its stance on this issue. EU leaders are meeting today to discuss European defense in Brussels, where Germany will be represented by Scholz, who is still chancellor; Merz is also in town, though not part of the meeting itself. It will be interesting to see whether Germany, as well as the EUs other frugal states opposing eurobonds, will face any pressure to change their stance. What does appear likely is more openness from Berlin to discuss joint European options for nuclear deterrence. To be clear, engaging in discussions and debates is a far way off from any kind of real European nuclear-sharing arrangement. But at a time when Macron just announced in a major address last night that France would consider ways of adding a European dimension to its nuclear deterrent, even engaging in such debates seriously would be a sign that the thinking is changing in Germany as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new German government has not been formed yet, and it is already facing Berlinsand Europesmost momentous foreign and defense policy challenges in a generation. It appears that the leaders in Berlin have a clear vision of the task at hand and its urgency, and that they are ready to respond quickly. The first decisions are encouraging, but many open questions remain, not least whether the CDU/CSU and SPD will finalize a coalition agreement. When it comes to defense, the biggest question mark is how much this government will actually spend. Its one thingadmittedly an important oneto give oneself the option to spend more. It is quite another to actually do so. In their election programs, both the CDU/CSU and SPD only pledged to meet the 2 percent of GDP target stipulated by NATO, while making no firm commitments to anything higher than that. Whether the prospective government will be able to manage the dramatic changes in trans-Atlantic relations skillfully, whether it will find compromises on common European defense funding and whether troops in Ukraine are an option remain unclear. What the past few days have shown, however, is that Germanys new government and its likely leader are still good for some surprises, bold moves and clear statements, which is already an encouraging development. Ulrike Franke is a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, based in Paris. She focuses on German and European security and defense, the future of warfare and the impact of new technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence. Her bi-weekly WPR column appears every other Wednesday. The post Merz Just Shifted Germanys Defense Policy Into Warp Speed appeared first on World Politics Review. By Jose Luis Gonzalez and Laura Gottesdiener CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Reuters) - The flow of Mexican goods exported to the United States has slowed as companies anxiously hold back stock and wait to see if U.S. President Donald Trump might reverse his decision to implement 25% tariffs on Mexico this week. On Tuesday, the first day of the across-the-board tariffs on Mexican goods, exports to the U.S. dropped some 40% in Ciudad Juarez, a manufacturing powerhouse across from El Paso, Texas, according to Marcelo Vazquez, the state representative of Mexico's National Association of Importers and Exporters (ANIERM). That represents some $100 million in Mexican goods held back from being sent across the border, he added. "The movement of these products has been stopped with the hope that one day, one day soon... there will be an agreement to lift the tariffs on these goods," Vazquez told Reuters. "The merchandise is just stranded here, as (companies) are waiting for the tariffs to be readjusted." Trump imposed tariffs this week not only on Mexico but also on Canada, along with fresh duties on Chinese goods, sparking trade wars that could send prices soaring in the United States and tip the Mexican economy into recession. Trump's tariffs mark a turning point in U.S.-Mexico relations and more than 30 years of economic integration between the two countries. Both countries are each other's top trading partners on products ranging from avocados to the automobile sector. Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are slated to speak by telephone on Thursday. Many companies in Ciudad Juarez that have held back some exports are hoping a tariff reprieve may be announced following the call, Vazquez said. In many ways, Ciudad Juarez embodies the decades-long economic integration of the U.S. and Mexico, with the city's manufacturing sector teeming with factories that produce everything from auto parts to medical devices specifically for export to the U.S. But if the tariffs are here to stay, the city's economy may be forced to pivot away from its northern neighbor, said Mario Cepeda, the local representative for the National Mexican Employers' Confederation (COPARMEX). He said the tariffs could disrupt regional supply chains and stall foreign investment, at a time when Mexico has been betting on "nearshoring," the trend of relocating manufacturing capacity away from Asia and closer to the United States. "It's extremely concerning... I think our city, as well as the country, should look towards more market diversification," he said. (Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey and Jose Luis Gonzalez in Ciudad Juarez; Editing by Marguerita Choy) WACO, Texas (FOX 44) A Mexican national has been transferred into federal custody in Waco on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry. According to court documents, 40-year-old Arturo Olalde-Velazquez was booked in the Falls County Jail in December 2024 for Driving While Intoxicated, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Olalde-Velazquez had been previously removed in December 2019 after being convicted in Louisiana for a 2016 vehicular homicide. The Department of Justice says Olalde-Velazquez is charged with one count of Illegal Re-Entry. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. VALENCIA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) The price of eggs has New Mexicans scrambling, which is why some people are turning to backyard chickens to avoid further sticker shock at the grocery store. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current price of eggs sits at about $8 a dozen, which is why baby chicks are in high demand at stores like Tractor Supply. Some people have been waiting up to 5 hours to buy them. The Tractor Supply store in Bosque Farms is seeing an uptick in calls and foot traffic. People are in search of chicks. The store received over 300 chicks on Wednesday morning and people were lined up for hours. Everybodys interested this year. Last year, you know, you had your loyal farmers. This year, everybodys doing it, said Brenda Aragon, store manager of Tractor Supply at Bosque Farms. Staff members are hearing from customers who are trying their hand at making their own chicken coops or expanding their existing coops. Well, it is the price, the price of eggs. You know, how much is it a dozen? I havent bought eggs in a while, but its really pricey. So thats the main thing. People want eggs, continued Aragon. But staff and customers alike say, starting your own backyard flock isnt for the faint of heart, Well before you go to the store and buy them you need to understand it takes maintenance. You need to clean up after them. You need to feed them water them, and of course collect the eggs, you know, emphasized Gregorio Luca of Belen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say backyard flocks are an investment and require a lot of attention, especially in their first few weeks of life. Not only is it money, but its also time. You know, youve got to love your chickens. Go outside, hang with them, play some music, and so that way youll have lots of eggs, shared Aragon. And for those doing it for the cost savings, its important to note, the initial setup for a backyard coop starts around $500. These chicks are going to take eight to nine months before they start even laying eggs, Thats why the store recommends that people do their research before coming in. With cases of avian flu reported recently in Bernalillo County, the staff is also offering education to chicken owners on how to keep their flocks safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stores manager said this is only the beginning with two more months left of chick season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. An adult who was infected with measles has died in New Mexico, state health officials announced Thursday, though the virus has not been confirmed as the cause. The person who died was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care, a state health department spokesperson said in a statement. The persons exact age and other details were not immediately released. The person was from Lea County, just across the state line from the West Texas region where 159 measles cases have been identified and a school-age child died last week. New Mexico health officials have not linked the outbreak there to the Texas cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The person is the 10th in Lea County to have a confirmed measles infection. Seven were unvaccinated. The vaccination status of the other three is unknown. Six of the cases are in adults and the rest are in children younger than 17. On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that they were sending a team to Texas to help local public health officials respond to the outbreak, which began in late January. Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the CDC. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing infection and severe cases. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles, said Dr. Chad Smelser, the deputy state epidemiologist. The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) said during an interview that her This is not normal sign she held up near President Trump right before his Tuesday night speech to Congress was an SOS to the world. Stansbury said it is really important not to normalize what Trump and his administration are doing because the things that they are doing are not only not normal, they are illegal. He is dismantling federal agencies; he is firing thousands of federal workers. They are laying off veterans, teachers, military, and they are harming our communities, and he is cozying up to our foreign adversaries at the same time, Stansbury, who represents New Mexicos 1st District, said during her Wednesday appearance on CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its critical that we dont normalize this behavior, so Ill just say that my sign was an SOS to the world, and I think I communicated what I intended to, the House Democrat added. Stansbury was one of many House Democrats who, in various ways, protested Trumps joint address to Congress. The New Mexico Democrat stood along the aisle as Trump walked into the chamber. She held up a handwritten sign that said: This is not normal. As Trump walked by, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas), who had greeted the president, reached across the aisle, snatched away Stansburys sign, and threw it away. Now, I think my Republican colleagues behavior was unbecoming of the institution, but welcome to Trumps world we are living in MAGAland right now, Stansbury said on Wednesday on CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early in his one-hour-and-39-minute speech, Trump was heckled by a Texas Democrat after the commander-in-chief boasted about this 2024 presidential election victory. You dont have a mandate, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) shouted as the speech stopped. After the lawmaker didnt relent and refused to sit down, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) directed the Sergeant at Arms to escort the House Democrat as a loud applause from GOP legislators ensued. I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or make them stand and smile or applaud, Trump said Tuesday night. I could find a cure to the most devastating diseases. A disease that would wipe out entire nations, or announce the answers to the greatest economy in historyand these people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements, the president added as he looked the side of the chamber where Democrats were seated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer speaks during the trial of Actor Alec Baldwin, July 12, 2024. (Santa Fe New Mexican press pool photograph courtesy of the Administrative Office of the Courts) First Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer will retire this spring after 15 years on the bench, the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts announced on Thursday. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of New Mexico, Judge Marlowe Sommer said in a statement. However, it is time to step away from the hectic schedule of court business and enjoy retirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marlowe Sommer gained national attention for her role in overseeing the criminal prosecutions of actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez for their roles in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust in 2020. During my time on the bench, I have admired and deeply appreciated those who work so hard each day to ensure the court delivers the fair and timely justice that people are entitled to in our legal system, she said. Marlowe Sommer was born in Pasadena, California and worked as an assistant attorney general under former New Mexico attorney general Paul Bardacke in the 1980s, according to the Santa Fe Reporter. Former Gov. Bill Richardson appointed Marlowe Sommer to the bench in 2010 when she was a domestic relations and child support hearing officer for the court, according to a news release from the AOC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Democrat, Marlowe Sommer ran unopposed in the election that November, and voters retained her in 2014 and again in 2020. She was the courts chief judge from April 2019 to April 2022, the news release states, and has presided over 21,600 cases. According to the release, the judicial nominating commission for the First Judicial District will screen applicants for the vacancy created by Marlowe Sommers retirement, and will recommend nominees to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for possible appointment to serve the remainder of Judge Marlowe Sommers term, which expires Dec. 31, 2028. The nominating commissions chair, UNM Law School Dean Camille Carey, was not immediately available for comment on whether anyone has applied or been nominated to fill Marlowe Sommers upcoming vacancy. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With her family, first in the House chamber and then the Senate, and with Mia Love attending virtually, the Utah Legislature honored the former Utah congresswoman on Wednesday with an official citation honoring her service to the state and the nation. Loves family recently went public that her brain cancer is no longer responding to treatment. The legislative citation was presented in the House by Majority Leader Jefferson Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, who served with Love in the Saratoga Springs city government. In the Senate, the citation was presented by Sen. Heidi Balderree, R-Saratoga Springs, who has known Love for more than two decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moss shared his admiration for Loves ability to find common ground and make friends with anybody. He said he really appreciated her positive attitude, her optimism, (and) her grace under pressure. House Speaker Mike Schultz shared that he would never forget the splash she had in Washington, and how she represented Utah, taking what Utah valued most to the nations capitol. He thanked her and her family for their service to the state. In the Senate, an emotional Balderree called Love a dear friend, comparing her to a supernova and calling her a force of nature who is unapologetically bold, endlessly passionate and radiating a light that has touched so many. Balderree continued: Because Mia was not too big to do the little things, she was able to do big things. She has taught us to apply for the job, run for the office, make the move, take the trip, tackle the issue, and stand up to the big guys, especially when others say that you cant. Because for Mia, the answer has always been to live boldly, love deeply and take every opportunity that life presents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Balderree left her colleagues with a challenge based on Loves name: M: Make every moment count. I: Ignore fear and take risks, and A: Act with passion and purpose. Former Utah Congresswoman Mia Love speaks to family and friends in the lounge of the Senate Chamber at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. The Love family announced on social media that Love is now losing her battle with brain cancer. Love became the first Black Republican woman in Congress, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. Before that, she served both as mayor and city councilor of Saratoga Springs. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News The Senate held a moment of silence for Love before giving her and her family a standing ovation. The citation reads as follows: Official Citation from the Utah Legislature Recognizing Mia Love Mia Love made history as the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Utahs Fourth Congressional District from 2015 to 2019. During her time in Congress, Congresswoman Love tirelessly advocated for policies in tax reform, economic development and public safety, always prioritizing the well-being of her constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before her service in Congress, Congresswoman Love distinguished herself as the Mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership in promoting community growth, effective governance, and local economic prosperity. The Utah legislature deeply appreciates Congresswoman Love for the time, energy, and dedication she devoted to serving the State of Utah and its citizens, and for the profound impact she made both locally and nationally. Congresswoman Loves admirable leadership, commitment to public service and inspiration to future generations will continue to resonate long into the future. Despite her courageous battle with brain cancer, Mia Love exemplifies strength, resilience and unwavering determination, inspiring all who know her story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Utah legislature expresses its deepest sympathy to Congresswoman Love and her family during this difficult time, offering them comfort and support as they navigate her ongoing battle. Now therefore be it known on this fifth day of March, 2025, that the Utah state legislature honors Mia Love for her extraordinary contributions to public service, her groundbreaking role in American politics and her lasting legacy of leadership, dedication and perseverance in service to Utah and the nation. Signed, President J. Stuart Adams, Speaker Mike Schultz, Sen. Heidi Balderree, and Rep. Jefferson Moss. LANSING, (Mich.) WLNS Democrats in the Michigan House of Representatives introduced three bills Wednesday, hoping to prevent a bird flu outbreak among humans, which they say could be catastrophic. State Rep. Carrie Rheingans said bird flu is already spreading to humans. Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, H5N1, is actually already affecting humans across the world, said Rheingans. The bills would fund bird flu testing among wild animals, livestock, and humans. Carrie Rheingans and other House Democrats think this might prevent the next pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all have a duty, a responsibility to protect the people and the communities of Michigan and this country, and to support our farmers and our food chains, said State Rep. Betsy Coffia. Rheingans says about 50% of bird flu cases in humans worldwide have been fatal. She said only one or two individuals have died from bird flu in the U.S., but she warns that if the disease becomes transmissible from person to person, things could escalate. Right now, people only get the disease from sick animals, but that could change. Every single time the virus transmits from an animal to a human, there is a chance for that mutation to happen, and thats why we are trying so hard to reduce the number of infections among all sorts of animals, including wild animals, says Rheingans. State Rep. Reggie Miller said a pandemic could weigh on the health care system as well as the price of goods like eggs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farmers will certainly struggle to make a profit when entire flocks are killed by this virus, which can mutate, which in turn creates higher prices for consumers in the end, said Miller. Some states are already performing universal bird flu testing in hospitals, but Wednesday, state Democrats called on the federal government to take the sickness more seriously. The federal government is not taking action to address this at this moment, said Rheingans. In fact, theyre cutting 25% of the staff at the national lab founded by the USDA that would be doing testing of Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Getty Images As technology progresses and becomes more accessible to the public, perpetrators have been able to refine artificial intelligence to enact sexual violence without ever having met their victims, supporters of a ban on nonconsensual deepfake pornography told Michigan lawmakers Wednesday. The fact that the AI-generated sexually explicit images arent real, meaning they can be created without the victim engaging in the portrayed actions, doesnt make the impact any less real for victims, Zoey Brewer, policy and grassroots coordinator with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network said during a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You may have never even been in the same room as the person who created this photo or video of you, but the damage and harm is just as pervasive as if the violence had occurred in person, Brewer said. You feel humiliated and embarrassed. Youre dreading every single notification that pops up on your phone. Its harder to face your peers, your community, you dont go to work or class anymore. The legislation before lawmakers now, a reintroduction of a widely bipartisanly supported package that died last term, looks to recognize the impact non consensual deepfake pornography can have on a persons life and provide avenues for individuals to seek justice through the court system, bill sponsor Rep. Matt Bierlein (R-Vassar) said during the committee meeting. Creating or distributing media that falsely portrays an identifiable person in a sexual manner without that persons permission would be a crime under House Bill 4047 and House Bill 4048. Victims would be permitted to sue for damages accrued by such an image being created and criminal penalties would range from a one-year misdemeanor offense to a three-year felony. As artificial intelligence continues to outpace our legal system, this initiative demonstrates our states commitment to protecting its citizens from the harmful consequences of non consensual deepfake creation and distribution, Bierlein said. Such content can inflict severe psychological trauma, damage relationships and even result in financial loss or physical harm by specifically targeting deepfakes that depict intimate parts or sexual acts. This bill acknowledges the need for tailored protection in these highly sensitive areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have noted the creation of deepfake sexually explicit images is growing, while at the same time extorting individuals with the threat of releasing sexually explicit materials,known as sextortion, is also on the rise. The consequences of not updating laws to keep up with the ever-evolving digital age are too great to ignore, especially for women and children, Ilana Beller of the democracy team for Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization said. She noted that experts and studies reflect that the vast majority of all deepfake pornography portrays women and girls. The feelings of shame and hopelessness victims, particularly younger victims experience, can become unbearable as they worry what sexually explicit images could mean for their future relationships, job prospects and educational opportunities, Beller said, lamenting that in some cases, teenagers have killed themselves when a perpetrator attempts to extort them with sexually explicit images. The vast majority of states are starting to try and address these emerging forms of sexual violence and bills to address deepfake pornography typically have bipartisan support, like the Michigan bills do, Beller said, its just important for Michigan to now see these bills through. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at March 5, 2025, results for each game: Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 5 drawing Midday: 7-0-5 Evening: 7-8-5 Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 5 drawing Midday: 4-8-7-1 Evening: 9-7-2-2 Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 5 drawing 04-12-21-22-40, Lucky Ball: 17 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Poker Lotto numbers from March 5 drawing KD-JS-7C-3D-8H Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from March 5 drawing 06-15-16-28-34 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 09-11-20-21-33 Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily Keno numbers from March 5 drawing 06-07-08-14-21-26-33-36-39-40-41-48-53-58-59-69-70-71-72-75-77-80 Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Classic Lotto 47 numbers from March 5 drawing 14-18-19-25-36-41 Check Classic Lotto 47 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lotto Double Play numbers from March 5 drawing 14-20-24-26-44-47 Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Are you a winner? Heres how to claim your lottery prize All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lotterys Regional Offices. To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan Lottery Attn: Claim Center 101 E. Hillsdale P.O. Box 30023 Lansing, MI 48909 For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a drivers license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2. If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325 Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325 Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325 Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325 Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325 Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325 For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery's prize claim page. When are Michigan Lottery drawings held? Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m. Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for March 5, 2025 LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) A chaotic scene of people frantically trying to save a boys life after he was found unresponsive in a pool was brought under control by a Warren Police Ofiicers sprint through a building and quick thinking to do CPR saved the boys life. All of it was recorded on the officers body-camera. The near-drowning happened last Saturday at the TownePlace Suites Hotel in Warren around 7 p.m. Michigan officer saves childs life after near drowning. (Image from video : Warren Police Dept.) Michigan officer saves childs life after near drowning. (Image from video : Warren Police Dept.) Michigan officer saves childs life after near drowning. (Image from video : Warren Police Dept.) Warren Police Officer Jacob Brooklier responded to the initial call and his body-cam video shows him sprinting through the building before finding a group of people, including the unresponsive child, at the side of an indoor swimming pool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooklier quickly moved people out of the way and began chest compressions for about two minutes on the boy until he began breathing again. Moments after showing signs of life more first responders from the Warren Fire Department arrived to treat the boy. The first responders rushed the boy to a hospital where he was treated and released. He is now expected to make a full recovery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. MONROE, Mich. (AP) A woman accused of being drunk when she crashed her SUV into a birthday party at a Michigan boat club, killing two children, was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder. Marshella Chidester's blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit to drive, according to evidence, though her lawyer questioned how the sample was handled and insisted that a leg problem caused her to press hard on the gas pedal last year. Chidester, 67, was found guilty of second-degree murder and other charges. The jury in Monroe County court returned a verdict in less than two hours on the fourth day of trial. She faces a possible sentence of up to life in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security video showed an SUV zipping along a dusty, pitted road at 44 mph (71 kph) before crashing into the side of the boat club, near Lake Erie, last April. Before the crash, it was any kids dream birthday party, Diane Medina, an adult guest who was seriously injured, told the jury. It was just magical. Prosecutors in a final step played a video from inside Chidester's home that appeared to show her drinking wine earlier on the day of the crash. Her home is about 500 feet (152 meters) from the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Detroit. Separately, there was no dispute that she had wine at Verna's Tavern that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the evidence shows the drink at Vernas wasnt her first, or last, drink of the day, assistant prosecutor Ken Laurain told jurors. Defense attorney Bill Colovos said Chidester, a former boat club commodore, had only a glass of wine with chili at the tavern. In America, in Michigan, youre allowed to have a glass of wine, Colovos said. Alanah Phillips, 8, and her 4-year-old brother, Zayn Phillips, were killed. At the time, Sheriff Troy Goodnough said first responders found an extremely chaotic scene. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Midland man was arrested after allegedly stalking his ex-girlfriend, repeatedly contacting her despite her requests for him to stop, and showing up at her workplace uninvited. 38-year-old Andrew Scott Johnson has been charged with Stalking, a third-degree felony. According to police reports, officers responded to a call on February 18 at a business on South Big Spring Street, where a woman reported that her ex-boyfriend had been circling her workplace, attempting to contact her through calls and texts, and had even entered the building without permission. Alleged stalker arrested after woman leads him straight to Midland Police station Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The harassment allegedly began on February 17, when Johnson was arrested for Unlawful Restraint after refusing to let the woman leave their shared apartment. While in custody, he continued to call her from the jails phone system. After his release, the situation escalated after Johnson allegedly sent multiple text messages and attempted to call her several times in just a few hours, despite her explicit message: Please stay away from me and my family. The victim also told police that Johnson entered her workplace through an employee-only entrance, despite no longer being employed there. He reportedly began cursing and screaming her name and caused a disturbance until staff stood in front of the woman, intervened, and removed him from the premises. Shortly after, the victim said she began noticing a black Cadillac, linked to one of Johnsons associates, repeatedly circling the parking lot and nearby streets, which heightened her fear that she was being monitored. Concerned for her safety, she had a relative pick up her vehicle to prevent Johnson from tracking her whereabouts. Midland man arrested after stalking new owner of childhood home for months Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities reviewed text messages, call logs, and witness statements that corroborated the victims account, leading police to determine that Johnsons repeated actions met the criteria for Stalking, a third-degree felony. On Tuesday, February 4, Johnson was arrested and transported to the Midland County Detention Center, where he remains as of Wednesday evening on a $20,000 bond. The victim has since requested legal protection. Stalking is a serious crime, and resources are available for victims. If youre experiencing stalking in Texas, you can call the Texas Abuse Hotline at (800) 252-5400 if your situation is urgent. You can also call 911 or your local law enforcement agency if you have an emergency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Back in 2017, former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski garnered headlines when he formally established a religious group that worshipped artificial intelligence. The so-called Way of the Future's mission is to develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on artificial intelligence and through understanding and worship of the Godhead contribute to the betterment of society. Sounds eerie, right? But it's not unique in being a spiritual ideology centered on technology. In the 1990s, the term technopaganism emerged as a definition for those whove made technology a centerpiece of their religious ethos. All of this came to mind for me this week, when House Speaker Mike Johnson touted algorithms that Elon Musk is purportedly using to determine which parts of the federal government should be slashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We meet late into the night in his office, and weve looked at that. What hes finding with his algorithms crawling through the data of Social Security system is enormous amounts of fraud, waste and abuse," Johnson told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. He's publicly gushed about those algorithms in the past, and as was the case then, his claim on "Meet the Press" sounded pretty nonsensical. In reality, no one aside from, perhaps, Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency aides hes deployed to gut the federal government appears to know any details about the algorithms being used to make these determinations. But the House speakers deference to Musks algorithms sounded almost spiritual as if he were speaking of some infallible, inhuman force whose decisions are prudent and final, even if incomprehensible by mere mortals. Tech writers have warned that Silicon Valleys obsession with AI resembles a religion. And now that religion seems to be pervading the federal government. Just trust in the algorithms, were encouraged. Have faith in them. These are dangerous notions, considering what we know about the possibility for algorithms to mete out all kinds of bias and discrimination across federal agencies, like the IRS, and in the housing industry overseen by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. And Musk's xAI company has set out to build an AI chatbot free of "woke ideology" on issues of racial and social justice, Business Insider reported last week, citing internal documents obtained by the outlet. (A spokesperson for xAI did not respond to Business Insider's requests for comment.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So theres no reason to believe Musk's algorithms either for commercial use or to slash the federal workforce have been or will be effective in avoiding bias. Nor is there reason to believe the Trump administration, currently on a warpath against diversity, has any interest in doing so. And unfortunately, the federal government seems likely to become more reliant on algorithms in the coming years of the Trump presidency. In January, OpenAI, the company led by Sam Altman who personally donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee unveiled ChatGPT Gov, an artificial intelligence chatbot meant to be used within government agencies. And DOGE has been working on an AI chatbot for the U.S. Government Services Administration, which it's calling GSAi, Wired reported in February, citing two people familiar with the project. (Neither the White House nor GSA responded to Wired's requests for comment.) And one neednt look any further than social media platforms like Musk-owned X and Meta-owned Instagram to see how mysterious algorithms are manipulating our personal lives, as well. Its as if Washington, D.C., under Trump has found a new, tech-centered religion in its embrace of algorithms. And conservative lawmakers like Mike Johnson are acting as shameless evangelists. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com House Speaker Mike Johnsons chief of staff was arrested after allegedly hitting a Capitol vehicle while driving drunk on Tuesday night after President Donald Trumps big speech to a joint session of Congress. A police report indicated that Hayden Haynes struck a U.S. Capitol Police vehicle around midnight on Tuesday, according to two law enforcement sources who spoke to NBC News . He was arrested and released with a citation to appear in court. A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m., the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement to the Daily Beast. We responded and arrested them for DUI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haynes is a trusted aide to Johnson, having worked with the Louisiana representative for nearly a decade. Haynes served as Johnsons campaign manager in 2016 and has been the congressmans chief of staff since he became House Speaker in 2023. The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police, Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee said in a statement first given to NBC News. The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress, Haulsee added. Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office. WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House (R-LA) applaud behind. President Trump was expected to address Congress on his early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) / Getty Images Johnson sat right behind Trump as the president addressed a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early into Trumps speech, Johnson called in the House Sergeant of Arms to kick out Texas Rep. Al Green for yelling and refusing to sit down in protest of the presidents comments on Medicaid. He couldnt behave himself, its quite shameful, Johnson later said of the incident. It was really quite a spectacle, he added. If theyre gonna use a 77-year-old heckling congressman as the face of their resistance, then bring it on, but were not gonna tolerate that on the House floor. Several other Democrats protested Trumps speech in different ways, from donning pink outfits in solidarity with women to holding up placards that read Musk Steals, Save Medicaid, and Protect Veterans. Hayden Haynes, chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson, was arrested late Tuesday night for drunken driving on Capitol grounds after President Donald Trumps address, the speakers office confirmed. U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement to HuffPost that a driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11:40 p.m., causing minor damage. We responded and arrested them for DUI, a spokesperson said. The parked vehicle was a Capitol Police car, according to NBC News, which first reported the arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haynes is a longtime aide to Johnson, having joined his congressional campaign in 2016 from Louisiana. The incident came after Haynes boss presided over the House floor during Trumps record-breaking speech, which ran over 90 minutes and ended around 11 p.m. Johnson showed his support for Haynes in a statement provided to HuffPost. The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress. Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office, read the statement provided by Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As noted by NBC News, most crimes in Washington are prosecuted by the U.S. attorneys office for the District of Columbia, occupied by a conservative activist, but DUI charges are prosecuted by the D.C. attorney generals office. That office is currently led by Brian L. Schwalb, a member of the Democratic Party. Related... When Sir Keir Starmer visited Scotland days after becoming Prime Minister, he sought to reassure workers at the Grangemouth oil refinery by claiming that saving their jobs was a priority. What has happened since then, however, has been far from comforting. After learning their jobs were at risk in December 2023, employees at the PetroIneos refinery in Falkirk which produces 80pc of Scotlands petrol were told last September that the site would close with the loss of more than 400 jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bosses blamed the decision on the costs of operating Scotlands last refinery, as well as Britains plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. Still, many employees were left stunned. As well as Sir Keir, both Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, and Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, had given strong assurances they would seek to save the sprawling facility, which has been a fixture in Grangemouth since 1924. I think everyone was shocked that the announcement came when it did, says Jack, an employee who started as an apprentice at the refinery and has been there for more than a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worker, who does not want to give his real name, adds: The refinery has been around for more than 100 years and its part of the community. There are people who are the third or fourth generation of their family to work there, others who have been there for 40 years. Lots of people here saw it as a job for life, and Labour had said that oil and gas was still going to be around for a long time. So its been very worrying and theres a lot of anger and frustration. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had given strong assurances that the Government would seek to save the Scottish oil refinery - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Europe The episode has raised troubling questions about the Governments repeated promises of a just transition, where no workers in the oil and gas industry will be left behind as Britain phases out fossil fuels in favour of green energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keir has repeatedly vowed that Labour will not repeat the Thatcher governments callous decision to shut down Britains remaining coal mines in the 1980s without ensuring workers had alternative jobs to go to. The effects of that are still felt in communities across the country and never, ever again must we make that mistake, the Prime Minister said in a 2023 speech. Yet if Grangemouth is the first big test of this policy, local people say the Government is failing badly. No plan for jobs Cliff Bowen, a union convenor for Unite who has worked at Grangemouth for 30 years under Ineos and the sites former owner BP, is furious about the failure to prevent the refinerys demise and the lack of action to provide it with an alternative future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What particularly angers his members, he says, is that the closure will not even dent overall global carbon emissions, of which the UK makes up less than 1pc. Now, Ineos and its partner PetroChina have said the site will become an import terminal for bringing in refined fuels from abroad. The reason we ended up with final closure is because theres not been any political will to get behind it, says Bowen. If you cant get a just transition at Grangemouth, you have no chance elsewhere. No chance. Because what else is it youre looking for? Weve got the skills, weve got the geography, were blessed with the resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what were going to do is just completely and utterly give all that up on the back of some campaign, this altar of net zero that they all seem to worship in government with no plan for jobs. He adds: Why would you continue to import from foreign regimes and prop up their economies, to the destruction of your own communities? Were not averse to the transition to net zero. But we dont want to get there at the cost of jobs and our communitys jobs. The PetroIneos refinery produces 80pc of Scotlands petrol - Stuart Nicol There are several parties to blame for the refinerys closure, says Bowen, not least the previous Conservative government and the devolved SNP administration in Scotland, both of which were warned for years that the ageing site was at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was why 1.5m had been put towards a process known as Project Willow to explore the potential uses for the refinery complex in future, including the production of hydrogen, bio-fuels or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In the long term, one of these options was meant to provide replacement employment for those working at the refinery. Yet when the Grangemouth closure was confirmed, none of them was anywhere near ready. Nor had Miliband, whose department was taking the lead for the Government, succeeded in changing minds at Ineos or PetroChina. Unjust transition The result has been the very definition of an unjust transition, admits Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Falkirk, which includes Grangemouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve got people losing their jobs but the replacement green energy roles are not ready, he says. Sir Keir recently announced a 200m Grangemouth support fund, matched by 25m from the Scottish Government, which will go towards finding a new purpose for the site. But details remain scarce. I welcome the PMs announcement, says Leishman. But I fear it is not going to be done in time. What we really need to do is accelerate Project Willow and get new investors in there as soon as possible. Failing to fill the gap left by the refinery would be costly. A report produced by PwC, the consultancy giant, for the Scottish Government estimates that the closure will cost the local economy 404m a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That will not just harm workers but also the local businesses that benefit from their custom, including hotels, pubs and food vans. The refinerys closure will cost Grangemouths economy an estimated 404m a year - Stuart Nicol It has a knock-on effect on workers, their families, the community, says Amrit Dhillon, who owns Candied, an ice cream parlour. Many of the refinery workers live here and by extension, they spend their money here as well. We make fresh ice cream every day. But if people dont have as much disposable income, they might not be able to buy our products not for lack of desire. It affects everyone here. Another business that could be hit is Rumbling Tum, a hot-food van that attracts queues of workers from the Ineos complex every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the town of Grangemouth, the threat has not receded. There are growing fears for the rest of the Ineos complex, as well as a surrounding constellation of chemical businesses. Ineos has already warned that the Forties pipeline system, which runs into Grangemouth from the North Sea, may have to close earlier than expected because of Labours policy to ban new oil and gas drilling licences. Meanwhile, the Grangemouth chemicals plant which includes plants that make chemical building blocks for plastic products such as bottles, cabling and insulation is losing tens of millions of pounds a year because of high energy costs and carbon taxes. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire owner of Ineos, has invested 500m (413m) in the business over the past five years to help keep it afloat. American threat Challenges have emerged amid growing competition from China, the Middle East, and since the shale gas revolution the US. All of these regions produce energy more cheaply than Britain and Europe, and do not levy carbon taxes on manufacturers. Compared to its US equivalent, the Grangemouth chemicals business has paid 100m more for energy per year and up to 30m in carbon taxes, says Andrew Gardner, the chief executive of Ineos Forties Pipeline System and chairman of the companys European olefins and polymers business. The big, big one that we never had to worry about before is America, says Gardner. Not only has cheap energy there driven manufacturing to a much more profitable level, it has also enhanced the new plants take-up. The number of chemical plants getting built in America today is unbelievable. When youre trying to make stuff, fundamentally, energy is such a huge part of your cost base. Gardner says that while he ultimately supports cutting carbon emissions, he believes that the chemicals business at Grangemouth can survive. However, his view is based on an assumption that less efficient plants in Europe will be forced to close. Ineos blames the refinerys closure on high operations costs, as well as Britains plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars - Stuart Nicol Both Gardner and Unite argue that, unless ministers do more to support British industries through the green transition, more plants and refineries will end up failing in the next few years. We have to find the right balance between that decarbonisation journey and actually still being here to manufacture things, Gardner says. The risk we run is that none of our heavy industries will be left because they will be priced out by the competition. The differential between the UK and Europe on energy and carbon tax is so huge that the Government has to give us a sign that theyre going to support us, until we can rationalise that back to a safer position. That safer position is either some border mechanism to protect us or a policy that gets us cheaper energy. But Grangemouth is not the only community at risk of job losses and time is running out for the Government to act. Last month, The Telegraph revealed that chemical manufacturing giants including Ineos, Dow, Johnson Matthey and Croda had warned ministers that sky-high energy costs were pushing their industry to breaking point. They said more plant closures were inevitable unless the UK became more competitive. Industry sources point out that many of the factories make the building blocks for more than 90pc of manufactured products. It is those critical national infrastructure industries, including chemicals, that not only ensure delivery of a net zero future but are also critical to areas of immediate need such as defence, says Steve Elliott, the chief executive of the Chemical Industries Association lobby group. Miliband has promised that 650,000 roles will be created by 2030 through Labours push to make Britain a clean energy superpower. But that has prompted scepticism even from usually supportive quarters. In a report last month, Sir Tony Blairs think tank warned that the claim was misleading and unlikely to be delivered. It said only 425,000 people were likely to be employed in net zero-related jobs by 2050 in a best-case scenario. Another concern is the relatively low pay in green energy, compared to what oil and gas workers are used to. At the Grangemouth complex, many skilled workers are on salaries of around 50,000 or 60,000 per year, says Unites Bowen. In comparison, the average wage of a wind farm technician is around 35,000. So how can Labour deliver the net zero revolution it has promised? In Grangemouth, the Government is being urged to speed up the development of Project Willow. Gardner, at Ineos, believes it can have a thriving future producing sustainable aviation fuel but this needs to be backed up with regulations that require airlines to use it. Voting with their feet The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero insists the 200m announced by Sir Keir will support investment in new opportunities to ensure the long-term future of the site, unlock its potential and secure our clean energy future. Before July, there was no overall plan for the future of the refinery, a spokesman adds. Within weeks, we worked with the Scottish Government to put together an unprecedented 100m package to invest in the local workforce and are jointly funding Project Willow, which is urgently engaging with trade unions and developing options for a sustainable industrial future at the site. But while they wait, some workers in Grangemouth are voting with their feet. Those laid off by the refinery are still viewed as having valuable skills and have received job offers from eager employers in other parts of the world, including Saudi Arabia. Some workers expected to be laid off at the site have been offered jobs abroad - Stuart Nicol And Bowen fears those who stay behind will not be kind to Labour at the ballot box. He sees Nigel Farages Reform UK, which has vowed to campaign on an anti-net zero platform, as a particular threat. We know theyre going to fight the Scottish elections on net zero, Bowen says. If you stand up in any town hall and say Im going to fight for your job, people will give you their vote. And if you think anybody in this area is going to vote Labour again for a generation, I cannot help you, right? Because theyve stood up and said all this stuff Vote for Labour and save the refinery and people are not going to just forget that. For Jack, the redundancy process at Grangemouth has proved a sobering experience. Usually its someone elses factory when you read the paper, he says. But when youre on the receiving end, you realise that what Ed Miliband says on TV and what happens in reality are two different things. To have any hope of re-election, Labour will have to show things can be different and fast. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (NewsNation) The Trump administration has stopped using military aircraft to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally. A U.S. Defense Department source tells NewsNation the Pentagon has not received a request from the Department of Homeland Security for military aircraft since Saturday, March 1. US troops prepare tent camp for some migrants at Guantanamo Bay Since Donald Trump began his second term Jan. 20, his administration has used military planes to send some migrants to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba as well as international locations for deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military flights are only one option available to DHS to relocate immigrants. The Defense Department source said the military would comply with any requests for future flights. The migrants who have been sent to Guantanamo Bay are considered the most dangerous immigrants who have entered or remained in the U.S. illegally, Trump administration officials have said. The Wall Street Journal reported the suspension of military flights earlier Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. President Donald Trump took action last weekend to increase domestic logging by circumventing environmental protections and to staunch the flow of imported timber and lumber products into the country, primarily from Canada. A pair of executive orders March 1 one addressing timber and wood product imports, the other addressing logging on federal lands drew swift praise from the logging industry, searing condemnation from environmental and wildlife groups, and concern from the construction industry over higher prices of tariff-hit building materials. The order on domestic logging, titled "Immediate expansion of American timber production," pertains to federal land under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, an agency in the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Land Management, an agency in the Department of the Interior. The Forest Service accounted for much of the U.S. domestic timber production through the 1990s but now represents only a sliver of domestic harvest. The order rolls back the degree to which the agencies have to comply with the Endangered Species Act or consider negative environmental impacts of logging and forest thinning projects. Contrary to a slew of social media posts criticizing the order, it does not call for or mention clear-cutting the roughly 280 million acres of forest under Forest Service and BLM control. Clear-cutting is not mentioned at all in the order. However, because the order significantly lowers the regulatory hurdles for logging projects, it will be easier for environmentally damaging clear-cut logging to be approved. "This executive order will decimate our federal forests," a consortium of environmental and wildlife groups wrote in a March 1 statement. "It will use tax dollars to line the pockets of corporate logging interests, undermine environmental laws, and take public forests out of public hands. This directive is part of a pattern to undermine science, gut the federal workforce, and privatize our public lands. Clearcutting our public lands for private profit will destroy mature and old-growth forests, pollute our air and water, and in bypassing the Endangered Species Act, actively drive vulnerable wildlife to extinction." The joint statement, from the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Oregon Wild and WildEarth Guardians, noted that the Trump Administration recently picked logging executive Tom Schultz as the new chief of the Forest Service. In contrast, logging industry group the American Forest Resource Council expressed "strong support" for both executive orders. The group's president, Travis Joseph, called them "common sense directives Americans support and want from their federal government." "Our federal forests have been mismanaged for decades," Joseph said in a statement Monday. "Americans have paid the price in almost every way. Lost jobs, lost manufacturing, and infrastructure. Lost recreational opportunities like hunting and fishing, and access to our lands. Degraded wildlife populations, water, and air. Landscapes and communities devastated by wildfire. Our federal forests are facing an emergency. Its time to start treating it like one by taking immediate action." Recent data from the 2025 Conservation in the West Poll of eight western states including Montana showed that 60% of voters in the Rocky Mountain and Intermountain West oppose increasing access for commercial logging on public lands. What the order does Normally, the Forest Service and BLM are required to consult the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the agency that implements and enforces the Endangered Species Act on projects like logging or thinning work that could harm protected species. Projects generally are not legally allowed to harm such species. The executive order on timber production directs the Secretary of the Interior to convene the rarely used Endangered Species Committee, which can exempt projects from complying with the landmark law. The committee can give emergency approval to projects, allowing them to proceed even if they will harm a protected species or result in its extinction. Historically, the committee has been used to aid recovery from natural disasters, not to expedite resource extraction. The order further directs the heads of the Forest Service and BLM to use "categorical exclusions" for forest thinning projects and the salvage of trees in forests damaged by things like fire, flood, insects or disease meaning those projects will be exempted altogether from in-depth environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. Such analysis would require consultation with FWS to ensure compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The AFRC cited a June 2022 analysis from the Bozeman-based Property and Environmental Research Center, a group that advocates for free-market-based conservation instead of government regulations, that found that the Forest Service took an average of 3.6 years to complete an environmental assessment (the second-most robust level of NEPA analysis) on logging and thinning projects. The more robust environmental impact statement took an average of 5.3 years to complete. The order directs the heads of the Forest Service and BLM to examine ways to streamline permitting rules around timber sales, and to issue new guidance to increase and accelerate timber harvest through partnerships with state agencies and tribes and contracts with nonprofits or businesses to conduct forestry work. Impacts to Montana, housing costs The domestic timber production order's effects could be felt widely in Montana, especially in the western part of the state that harbors significant timber resources on federal land. According to federal data compiled by the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research, the state of Montana has a total 25.9 million acres of forestland, 69% of which is under federal ownership, nearly all of it by the Forest Service. According to a 2020 report from the Congressional Research Service, in 2018 the Forest Service controlled 17.2 million acres in Montana, or 18.5% of the state's total area. (Overall, Montana is about 27.8% forestland by area.) The BLM oversaw 8.02 million acres, or about 8% of the state. Much of the Forest Service's land is forested; much of the BLM's is plains and rangeland. Federal ownership of forests is often much higher at the county level in western Montana than statewide. In Ravalli County, for example, 88% of forested land is national forest land. In Lincoln County, 80% of forested land is national forest land. In Lewis & Clark County, it's 71%. More than half of forestland is under Forest Service supervision in Cascade, Flathead, Gallatin, Missoula, Silver Bow and Deer Lodge counties. The American Forest Resource Council noted that Trump's orders came as the U.S. faces "a severe national housing shortage." Montana has been hit hard by housing shortages and skyrocketing prices in recent years. It's not clear the president's actions will alleviate those problems. The order on imports, titled "Addressing the threat to national security from imports of timber, lumber," directs the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the threat that timber and wood product imports pose to the U.S. domestic timber industry, and whether measures like tariffs "are necessary to protect national security." The U.S. imported $61 billion of forest products like uncut timber, lumber and other wood products in 2021, the most recent year of data available from the U.S. International Trade Commission. Almost half of that, or $28.2 billion, came from Canada. At the same time, the U.S. exported more than $39 billion of forest products in 2021 $9.8 billion, or one-quarter of exports, went to Canada. That disparity leaves the U.S. as a net importer of timber products overall and from Canada specifically. Any tariffs specifically on timber or other wood products would go on top of a blanket 25% tariff Trump instituted on all Canadian imports, which went into effect Tuesday, March 4. (On Wednesday he gave automakers a one-month reprieve.) Last year, then-President Joe Biden almost doubled tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber imports to a total of 14.5%. In a statement Jan. 31, well before Trump's blanket tariffs took effect or he issued the order on timber imports, the National Association of Home Builders expressed concern that such measures would increase homebuilding costs and harm consumers. "Tariffs on lumber and other building materials increase the cost of construction and discourage new development," the group stated, "and consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices." The group sent a letter to Trump expressing concern over tariffs. "Bringing down the cost of housing will require a coordinated effort to remove obstacles to construction, be they regulatory, labor or supply-chain related," the group wrote in the letter. "NAHB stands ready to work with you to accomplish these goals. However, we have serious concerns that proposed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico will have the opposite effect, by slowing down the domestic residential construction industry." U.S. still major timber producer Trump's administration and executive orders, and the industry groups that support them, portray U.S. timber production as a once-grand industry that was kneecapped by runaway environmental concerns. The reality is more complex and market-driven, although environmental concerns did lead to a significant shift away from timber production on Western national forests in the latter 20th century, costing thousands of jobs and stagnating some towns' and regions' economies. The AFRC noted in its statement Monday that just 0.5% of total national forest land is logged annually, and that only 35% of national forest land is even available for logging. Forest Service data shows that timber production from national forests peaked at just shy of 12 billion board-feet annually in both the early 1970s and very early 1990s before plummeting to less than 4 billion board-feet by the late '90s. By 2017 it was just 2.6 billion board-feet. In 1991, national forest lands provided 84% of all U.S. timber harvest. By 2017 it was only 5%. But other land still produces. Although national forest production the timber targeted by Trump's order has plummeted, overall U.S. timber production has roughly tracked with consumption and broader economic cycles. A USDA analysis of U.S. timber production, trade and consumption from 1965 to 2017 showed that U.S. per-capita consumption of forest products decreased steadily from 1986 through 2008 and then roughly leveled-off through 2017. The drop was due in part to significant decreases in the usage of paper products. Homebuilding, whether single- or multi-family, also plummeted after 2006. Also during that time, domestic timber production shifted from the Western U.S. to the South, and fluctuations in the market resulted in mill and other supply chain infrastructure closures that led the U.S. to rely more on imports when demand increased again. The data show a cyclical landscape of domestic timber production that has shifted regions within the country, rather than one in a precipitous decline. While the South increased production, for example, the largely federal land-reliant West saw its timber industry atrophy. Less logging in the West did result in a measurable decline in overall domestic output. But production has rebounded in recent years. "Since 1965, lumber production has generally trended upward, except for periods of economic slowdown such as the mid-1970s, early 1980s, and more recently 2006 to 2010. Many Western mills dependent on federal timber were forced to dramatically decrease production or close entirely," the analysis stated. "This resulted in an overall decline in lumber production, shifts in production to other regions, and increased levels of foreign imports. These declining trends have reversed since 2011 as annual lumber production continues to increase." ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) News Channel 11 met with an economics professor at Milligan University on Wednesday to discuss tariffs. Milligan University professor David Campbell discussed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, how local manufacturers could be affected, and whether keeping natural goods domestic is plausible. When asked how President Trumps tariffs compared to other imposed American tariffs, Campbell remembered the Great Depression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, most economists regard Smoot-Hawley as being a contributor to the Great Depression, he said. It wasnt the cause, but we think it made it worse, and thats a pretty mainstream view, that tends to be peoples reactions when the economy gets going sideways, maybe tension rising among nations, and you might be looking [for] a place to blame. And so tariffs have been used in this way before, but it generally works out poorly. Regarding who bears the cost of imposed tariffs, Campbell noted that this is often misunderstood. Who actually pays the tariffs is the importing company, he explained. So it is actually a company inside the country that pays the tariff. Its not foreign governments or corporations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost passed to consumers depends on the nature and demand of the good. Consumers will always purchase certain items like gasoline, milk, and eggs, which economists refer to as inelastic goods. Inelastic goods have few substitutes, leaving the cost wholly passed on to consumers, Campbell said. Elastic goods, such as concert tickets, designer bags, or video games, are easier for consumers to replace. Tariffs on elastic goods leave businesses to act more astutely. The more elastic goods, the companies have to be a little bit more careful with it because if they do try and pass on the higher cost, consumers again, in the nature of demand, theyve got more substitutes available, and they may put off that consumption decision altogether, Campbell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News Channel 11 asked Campbell how he thought local manufacturers, such as Eastman, Domtar, and Food City, would be affected. He said companies would face higher costs; it would just be a decision to determine the source. A lot of manufacturing will probably be affected by this, Campbell said. We import steel from Canada. So, from a manufacturing perspective or even just a retail perspective in your grocery store, they are going to face higher costs. To some extent, theyre going to pass those costs onto the consumer. But on the flip side, theyre going to try and cut costs in other places. So, if youre thinking manufacturing, that may take the form of them cutting back labor hours if the other costs of their materials are higher. So, thats a possible outcome. They may alter the products that theyre producing. So this may make some product lines less profitable than others, and they may pivot away from certain things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News Channel 11 also asked Campbell about the feasibility of sourcing all goods domestically and if it would create more American job opportunities. He said to keep two thoughts in mind. Number one is that theres a reason companies were choosing to import those materials and goods from another country, and thats because it is cheaper. So even if we do start producing those things here, its going to be a higher cost. Were going to get higher costs one way or another with the tariff, either paying the tariff to import the goods, or theyre going to be more expensive to produce here. Campbell said the second idea to remember is that the ultimate goal of the tariffs is to reduce imports. To better understand these two concepts, Campbell explained when President Trump placed tech tariffs on imported washing machines during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So what we saw was that a few of the foreign companies, manufacturers like Samsung, did open some additional factories in the United States. There were some jobs associated with that. But we also saw that the price of all washing machines went up, not just the imported ones but also the domestically manufactured ones. So the price of washing machines went up, and the price of dryers went up because when you buy a washing machine, you usually buy a dryer, he said. Campbell said the economic playing field among the United States, Canada, and Mexico is equitable and mutually beneficial, allowing economists to assess each country fairly. In this instance, with these trade agreements and the putting tariffs on our neighbors where we have a free trade agreement in place, you know, I hate to say it, but the United States is the one whos doing some, you know, outside of orthodox trade policies, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked what would prompt President Trump to withdraw the imposed tariffs, Campbell believes he will be triggered by a recently reported weak stock market performance. But ultimately, at the end of the day, at least from perspective, hes the one driving this. Hes really the only one whos going to decide when to pull back on it, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. The woman who accused an Arlington pastor of sexual assault last June has filed a lawsuit against the pastor and the church, according to court documents. The woman is seeking over $1 million in damages from Koinonia Christian Church and its pastor Ronnie Goines, according to the suit filed Feb. 28 in Tarrant County. In the suit, the accuser details how Goines allegedly groomed her after she began attending the church in August 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After she asked a question at the churchs Bible study, Goines invited the woman to see him privately, according to the lawsuit. During that meeting, Goines told the woman that she needed to learn how to trust again and that it was essential for her to be part of a community and receive counseling, the suit states. Beginning in January 2023, Goines repeatedly tried to contact the accuser, calling her multiple times and texting her, she said. In March of that year, the woman alleges that Goines sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions at his home, according to the lawsuit. More top stories from our newsroom: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rapper, child dead in shooting at Forest Hill car wash North Texas assesses storm damage after tornado watch These parents are trying to save their kids school [Get our breaking news alerts.] Goines turned himself in to Tarrant County authorities in July 2024, the Star-Telegram previously reported. He was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The criminal charges are still pending, with the next hearing scheduled for May, according to court records. Officials with Koinonia Christian Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit Wednesday. Goines returned to the church in October to continue preaching and is listed as the lead pastor on the churchs website. Molson Coors is once again offering free bus rides for Milwaukee County residents on the weekend before St. Patrick's Day. All Milwaukee County Transit System bus rides will be free beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, according to a March 4 MCTS news release. The free fares will continue until the end of regular service on all MCTS routes. The free rides coincide with the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin's annual St. Patrick's Day parade, which is slated to begin at noon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No matter where your celebrations take you, we want our Milwaukee community to feel confident knowing that free rides will be available on Saturday evening, ensuring everyone can get to their destinations with a reliable ride," said Molson Coors Community Affairs Manager Alison Hanrahan. Miller Lites Free Rides program provided more than 2,000 free rides for Milwaukeeans celebrating St. Patrick's Day in 2024 alone, the release said. Moreover, the program has provided more than 9 million free rides across the nation since its inception in Milwaukee in 1988. Here's what to know: When will MCTS bus rides be free for St. Patrick's Day? Rides will be free throughout Milwaukee County beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 until the end of regular service on all MCTS routes. How to plan your MCTS route: You can view route maps by visiting RideMCTS.com/schedules, or you can download the Umo app to plan your trip. Another way to plan your trip is by using the MCTS website trip planner feature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Here's what to know about Shamrock Club of Wisconsin's 57th annual Milwaukee St. Patrick's Day parade This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County bus rides will be free before St. Patrick's Day 2025 A 50-year-old Milwaukee man is charged with homicide in the late February killing of his brother. Prosecutors charged Brandon Smith with first-degree intentional homicide on March 1 in the Feb. 26 murder of Justin Smith, whom the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner identified. Brandon seemed to be undergoing a mental health crisis the night it occurred, growing paranoid of his brother before the murder, according to a criminal complaint outlining what occurred. The complaint details that Brandon Smith lived at his mother's home on the 4900 block of North 47th Street with his brother since September, when he went through a divorce. Over time, he had grown paranoid and "was exhibiting more mental health issues," the mother told authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two men's mother was in the home at the time of assault and attempted to calm Brandon during the incident but was unsuccessful. She told police the two men argued the night of the homicide, with Brandon later attacking his brother with a hammer and shooting him. She later told police that "this (is) the one that hurt the other one" and identified a room Brandon was in to police. Prosecutors write Brandon told his mother that God "sent him a sign that he needed to kill the victim" and discussed with her the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, where one brother murdered the other. Brandon told an officer he called police earlier in the night, because he believed an "unknown male" and his brother were waiting to ambush him. Police arrived and left, but he did not feel safe, and would later attack his brother, according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police call records show three calls were made to the address on Feb. 26. One at 4:13 a.m., another at 6:41 a.m., for the homicide, and another at 3:04 p.m. Smith is currently held on $150,000 bond and his next court appearance is on March 12. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man charged in late February killing of brother A critically missing 11-year-old boy has been found, according to Milwaukee police. The boy was last seen Wednesday at about 9 a.m. on the 5400 block of North 83rd Street, but police said the boy "has been located and is safe" as of 5:18 p.m. Wednesday. "Critically missing" is a label police apply to people who may be especially vulnerable due to a variety of factors. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police locate critically missing 11-year-old boy Several Utah representatives shared personal stories of struggling to conceive Wednesday during a tearful debate as the Legislature voted to authorize coverage for fertility treatments for state employees. Freshman Rep. Jason Thompson, R-River Heights, was honored to support SB242, which he called the most personal bill of the session. For many couples, the journey to parenthood is natural and straightforward. However, for some including my wife and I it was not, Thompson said, his voice breaking with emotion. Our struggle with infertility was emotionally devastating, causing immense distress, anxiety, doubt and a profound sense of incompleteness and failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But thanks to in vitro fertilization, Thompson said he and his wife are now the proud parents of six children. In vitro fertilization was not just a treatment, it was a miracle, he said. Utah has a pilot program to provide $4,000 for IVF and other fertility treatments for state employees, but under SB242, that would expand to cover all qualified assisted reproductive technology cycles. Although IVF can cost up to $20,000 per procedure, fiscal analysts estimate the bill will cost taxpayers about $150,000 a year and raise insurance premiums for state employees by about 37 cents per member per month. This bill is great, said Rep. Stephanie Gricius, R-Eagle Mountain, the bills floor sponsor. Its going to help our state employees have the families they want, which is also going to make them happier, which we know leads to greater employee retention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is sponsored by Sen. Calvin Musselman, R-West Haven. Thompson wasnt the only lawmaker with a personal story to share about the miracle of IVF, and he wasnt the only one to grow emotional during debate. As someone who also is so grateful for this medical advancement so that I could have my little girl ... I am rising in support of this today, said Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman. We are a pro-family state, and we do want to make it possible for them to expand their home. Ive got three beautiful little nieces today because of this particular procedure, added Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden. If we are truly a pro-family state, then this one should be pretty easy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was. SB242 passed unanimously Wednesday and will take effect July 1 if signed by Gov. Spencer Cox. For me, I dont ever want to stand in the way of two people and their ability to have a baby, Gricius said. We want everybody to have as many as they want because that is the Utah way. BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Authorities are looking for a Benton County woman last seen in Oct. 2024. Rebecca Kay Edmisten, 60, was last seen on Oct. 15, 2024, at 17685 Bolinger Lane in Siloam Springs. Edmisten was reportedly traveling to Fayetteville in a 2019 blue Kia Forte with Arkansas license plate AUF08R. Cave Springs doctor pleads guilty to amended charges in Washington County, gets probation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has not been seen or heard from since. Edmisten is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 134 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on Edmistens location is urged to contact Detective Johnathan Medina at the Benton County Sheriffs Office at (479) 271-1008 Ext. 3626. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Montanas distinction as the only state where people convicted for misdemeanor domestic violence can carry guns will likely continue for at least two more years after lawmakers and lobbyists abandoned efforts to close the legal loophole. 'Absurd results': Ruling removes protections for MT's domestic violence survivors "The way they viewed it, Montana gives more protections, and as a result survivors in Montana get less protection from the federal statute." A federal appeals court decision in December effectively shields Montanans from a federal firearms ban that typically accompanies those convictions. Prosecutors, legal experts and even the appeals judges who issued the decision expressed alarm at the implications, an absurd result that came as an unintended consequence of U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Given the longer odds of Congress updating the federal law, several state lawmakers sought to tweak Montanas domestic violence laws this session to realign with the federal statute. But after a GOP legislator opted against introducing his bill draft, lobbyists who had advocated for a fix asked two other Democrats to also nix their proposals. The political will does not seem to be there, and I think its incredibly unfortunate, said Rep. James Reavis, a Billings Democrat who had drafted a proposal but declined to introduce it before the Feb. 26 deadline. Rep. Bill Mercer, a Billings Republican and former U.S. Attorney, declined to comment on his reasons for scrapping his draft legislation. Lobbyists working on the issue said there had been agreement to back Mercers bill if it was introduced. Montanas domestic violence laws called partner or family member assault in state criminal parlance have for years extended to not only physical injuries but also other forms of assault, like threats or emotional attacks. But because a federal law banning firearm possession after those convictions defines domestic violence more narrowly, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found it cant apply in Montana. Even the decisions lead author, Appeals Court Judge Morgan B. Christen, expressed regret at the outcome: Ironically, the result in this case would be different if Montanas laws were less protective of domestic violence victims. Montana prosecutors and legal experts have expressed concern that the decision would put more guns in the hands of violent partners, with potentially deadly consequences. Researchers have found a majority of homicides with a female victim are committed by current or former male partners. Of those, a majority are murdered with firearms. Mercers proposal, drafted by a group of city and county attorneys, would have more narrowly defined physical force to allow the federal firearms ban to once again apply to Montanas first- and second-time domestic violence offenders. But Nanette Gilbertson, president of the Montana County Attorneys' Association, said her group failed to come together on the specific language. Some members feared it could have unintended consequences. She ultimately asked Reavis not to introduce his bill, and the freshman lawmaker said he followed the advice from lobbyists on the issue. I think it would be better to come forward with a bill that had been thoroughly vetted, thoroughly thought through, not done after the session started, and give it the best chance of a good hearing and moving through the process, Gilbertson said. She declined to speculate on Mercers reasons, but said that he didnt think he had full support from all stakeholders. Second Amendment concerns Kelsen Young, executive director of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, had hoped at the sessions outset that state lawmakers could close the new loophole. But she agreed with Gilbertson in urging the Democrats to hold their fire, fearing a hostile committee hearing. I dont want the first time I talk about this in front of the House Judiciary Committee to be messy, Young said. Its going to be a lot of work and you cant do it in this environment with something thats not solid, thats not tight. That committee in particular could present an uphill battle for any bill implicating Second Amendment rights. Pro-gun Republicans on the panel have recently advanced proposals to prevent Montana cities and counties from passing red-flag laws and to let crime suspects keep their firearms until after a conviction. The second bill died earlier this week on the House floor after its sponsor failed to muster support for amendments requested by prosecutors. That bill, combined with DeFrance (US v. DeFrance), would have basically eviscerated our ability to protect victims from firearm violence, Ben Halverson, a prosecutor for the city of Billings, said in an interview. DeFrance refers to the recent 9th Circuit decision on Montanas domestic violence laws, which overturned gun charges against Brian DeFrance, the former boyfriend of missing Native American Jermain Charlo. Firearms conviction overturned for Jermain Charlo's ex-boyfriend The Ninth Circuit Court opinion also means that being convicted under Montanas misdemeanor domestic violence law no longer triggers a federal ban on possessing firearms. As Billings top prosecutor on domestic violence cases, Halverson was part of the working group drafting proposed language to close the DeFrance loophole. Beyond the concerns prosecutors had about the committees appetite for gun restrictions, he said they also worried the panel could end up weakening Montanas partner or family member assault laws. Once you hand over the entire PFMA statute to the committee, its theirs, he said. That statute has been steadily improved since 1985 ... we want to end the session with at least what we have remaining intact, instead of making it worse. And the gun lobby might not have been alone in opposing the bill. Defense attorneys, too, have argued the firearms ban can amount to an especially severe punishment in a state with strong cultural ties to guns. It has lifelong implications on someones fundamental right, Nate Holloway, a Missoula defense attorney, told the Missoulian in an interview earlier this year. Noting that Montanas domestic violence laws can be triggered by words instead of actions, he added, If you make it easier to get a conviction just because thats what somebody said to somebody the consequence of that is now it doesnt meet that definition under the federal law. The political realities were part of the reason supporters favored a bill carried by Mercer, according to Young. Republicans, despite shedding some of their House and Senate seats last election, still remain firmly in command of the Legislature. As much as (Democratic) Rep. Reavis had language ready, his wasnt the bill that was most likely to move, partly because in this political makeup," she said, "the (low) likelihood that a bill like this would pass would require a Republican sponsor." Noting that her group wasnt at the table as county attorneys and others worked to find a legislative fix, Young added that shes hopeful it will get renewed attention before the next legislative session. Its not tolerable to us that we will do nothing, she said. If you or someone you know are a victim of sexual violence, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is available to help. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or chat online at online.rainn.org. RAINN is the nations largest anti-sexual violence organization, working in partnership with more than 1,000 local service providers. Online: rainn.org. A Bronx woman missing for days since she failed to show at church was found dead Thursday, her body stuffed in a bag in a shallow creek off the Saw Mill River Parkway, leaving her family distraught and looking for justice. Pamela Alcantara, 26, was last seen around 2 a.m. on Sunday in her apartment that she shared with her boyfriend on Morris Ave. near E. 179th St. in Morris Heights, police said. The boyfriend was taken into custody, but no charges have been filed. The womans brother, Isacc Lopez, remembered his sister as a churchgoing girl, who worked at a Bronx homeless shelter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She always had the heart to work with the less fortunate, Lopez said. She preached on the street, and she worked with the homeless. The woman took pride in her work, and believed she could help people facing homelessness improve their lives. She knew they could do better, her brother said. My sister was kind and helpful. She never had any problems with anybody. Alcantara and her boyfriend had been together for about five years, but the woman recently told family she needed to move out of the apartment, her brother told The News. It wasnt working out, said Lopez. She wanted to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In surveillance video from the building viewed by The News, Alcantara can be seen carrying a bag of takeout food into her apartment Sunday morning, but she never leaves. As police searched for the woman, her boyfriend became a person of interest in her disappearance, according to sources. A license plate hit indicated that he had been in the area of Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers, where Alcantaras body was discovered Thursday morning inside a bag in a creek, about 100 feet off the Saw Mill River Parkway, law enforcement sources said. The city medical examiner will determine Alcantaras exact cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police later took the dead womans boyfriend into custody. Charges against him were not immediately filed. Alcantaras family last heard from her on Sunday. But when she didnt attend a scheduled church service, they reported her missing and her mother quickly flew in from the Dominican Republic to assist in the search. We knew she was missing because she didnt go to church on Sunday, said Lopez. She never missed a service. Now, as the family grapples with Alcantaras sudden death, theyre calling for justice. This shouldnt have happened to anybody, Lopez said. Not my sister, not anybody. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Firefighters successfully rescued a dog that was stuck in a dangerous situation near a Florida river earlier this week. The Sumter County Fire and Emergency Services said it received several calls from concerned boaters in the Jumper Creek Wildlife Management Area on the Withlacoochee River around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. A dog, who was later identified as Blackie, got his collar and leash tangled in a tree and was unable to free himself from the waters edge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An animal control officer responded and tried to reach Blackie by land. However, the attempts failed and rescuers realized the only way to reach the dog was by boat. Firefighters with Sumter County Fire & EMS were called in and launched two boats to Blackies location. The team carefully freed Blackie from his entangled leash and brought him back to land. Firefighters said Blackie was miraculously unharmed and had been missing for about a week. After his microchip was scanned, his owner was contacted and quickly arrived for an emotional reunion. This rescue highlights the dedication, skill, and teamwork of both SCAS and SCFEMS in serving and protecting the community, whether human or animal. Their swift actions not only saved Blackies life but also reunited a lost pet with his family, firefighters posted on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Missing man misidentified, buried in veterans cemetery MEMPHIS, Tenn. The West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery is being asked to exhume a body after a DNA report revealed a man buried five years ago was misidentified as an Army veteran who is still alive. Family members said they had been searching for Dennis Henry Martin and, through their own investigation, recently discovered he had died in an Orange Mound neighborhood on Sept. 3, 2019. Martin was found unresponsive in the 2400 block of Douglas Avenue on Sept. 3, 2019. Claire Jackson said her uncle had bruises on his body, but the medical examiners office ruled his cause of death unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center also identified Martin as a man they believed Martin was living with at the time of his death. Jackson said that man is still living. What they did not do is get it right, said Jackson. They did not contact the reported next of kin, nor did they use any analysis to reach out to any individuals that were connected to him before burying him under the name he was buried under. Jackson said her uncle was from Marvell, Arkansas, but was living in Memphis before he died. She said her mother tried for years to find out what happened to her brother but could not get any answers from authorities. Dennis Henry Martin. Courtesy: Claire Jackson Jackson, who lives in Southern California, said her mom asked for her help, and last December, she contacted the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I requested they do a fingerprint match to see if he had been in any confrontation with law enforcement, medical examiners, or any agencies that would fingerprint him, Jackson said. We were notified by federal agents that he was last fingerprinted at the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center. Jackson said family members were shocked when they learned Martin was dead and had been buried at the veterans cemetery as someone else. She said Martin was never in the military. Theres several rumors about what happened to him, a lot of folklore, and just absolutely untrue considering what was actually uncovered, Jackson said. Its appalling in this century such a thing as this could occur. It makes you wonder how many more out there that we dont know about. Last week, a DNA sample from Martins sister confirmed that the man buried at the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery was Martin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family has filed a request for disinterment and plans to bury Martin near his hometown in Phillips County. We need to get him a proper burial. Its going to start the path to healing, said Jackson. The director of the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on Forest Hill Irene Road said she received the DNA results but couldnt make a statement about the case. West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Germantown Jennifer Heisleman said the disinterment process usually takes weeks, but this situation is unique. We are taking it one step at a time because its a lot, Jackson said. According to an autopsy report, after Martin was pronounced dead at the hospital, police told the medical examiners office that the victims identity, medical history, and next of kin were unknown. 2019 autopsy report 2019 autopsy report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report said Martin had abrasions on his forehead, knee, and right hand. Jackson believes her uncle was killed and has asked Memphis homicide detectives to take a look at the case. He had defensive wounds on the back of his dominant hand, which was his right hand, along his right hand, all over his head and several places and on his knees, said Jackson. Jackson has also filed a complaint against a medical examiner at the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center with the Tennessee Department of Health Office of Investigations. WREG contacted the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center and UTHSC for a comment about the misidentification, but we have not heard back. The 2019 report, taken when Martin was found unresponsive on Douglas Street in Orange Mound, is not available. We asked MPD about the case but have not received a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. State Sen. Tracy McCreery, a Democrat from Olivette, prepares to introduce a bill (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Marriage would be banned for anyone under 18 under a law that advanced out of the Missouri Senate Thursday. Under current Missouri law, anyone under 16 is prohibited from getting married. But 16 and 17 year olds can get married with parental consent to anyone under 21. The bill, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Tracy McCreery, would ban child marriage outright. State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville, filed similar legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current marriage laws incentivize and legalize the trafficking of minors under the guise of marriage, McCreery said Thursday. The vote Thursday was 32 to 1. The only no vote was state Sen. Mike Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove. In 2023, Moon garnered national attention when he said: Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12? I do. And guess what? Theyre still married. There was no opposition voiced in the public hearing in January, or the Senate debates this week. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. Last year, the bill cleared the Senate in April with only Moon in opposition. It was stalled by a small group of Republican critics in a House committee, who said it would constitute government overreach and infringe on parental rights. After the bill finally passed out of that committee, when several of those critics were not present for the vote, it was never brought up in the House for a vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im honored to pick up where we left off last year and to get this legislation passed into law, McCreery said during Mondays Senate debate. Those in favor of the ban argue child marriage is coercive and can transform into forced marriage, especially because children lack the legal rights of adulthood. This is not only a legislative imperative, but also a moral one, McCreery said, pointing to data showing those married as children are at a higher risk of mental and physical health issues, isolation, poverty, and intimate partner abuse. Others in favor at the public hearing in January included women who had been forced into marriage as children and advocates against domestic violence and child abuse. No one testified in opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until the legislature voted to raise the minimum marriage age to 16 in 2018, Missouri had among the most lenient child marriage laws in the nation making it an especially popular state for 15-year-olds to travel to be married. Despite the 2018 change, Missouri law still does not align with international human rights standards, which set the minimum age at 18. Activists argued at the time Missouris new law would continue to leave 16 and 17-year-olds vulnerable to potential coercion. Brattin said Monday during Senate debate that initially hed been against the ban because he knew family members whod been married young and had long, successful marriages. And it was difficult to kind of come to the realization that thats not where were at any longer, that yesterday was yesterday, and this is today, Brattin said. Ive come around completely, so much so that Ive even sponsored the parallel bill that you have. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Mar. 6MOSES LAKE On Wednesday at around 11:45 a.m. the Moses Lake School District was made aware of a potential Friday threat to Columbia Middle School, according to MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon. "We are continuing to investigate the situation in an effort to maintain a secure environment while there is no immediate danger," Shannon said. "We're just going to go through the necessary precautions, and we did reach out to Moses Lake police, and they will have extra presence Friday for safety reasons." With added caution, all building doors will remain locked, Shannon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MLPD Captain Jeff Sursely said he could not comment on the matter since it is an ongoing investigation. The district is exercising similar restraint to allow law enforcement to conduct the investigation properly. "At this point, I would rather not get into details of the investigation," Shannon said. "I want to make sure that law enforcement has the time to do their job." No further information has been released regarding the matter. The Columbia Basin Herald will have an updated story as more information is released. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The driver allegedly responsible for a deadly hit-and-run crash Monday in South Nashville has been taken into custody. Charles Fountain, 65, was killed while riding a scooter on Old Hickory Boulevard near Firestone Parkway when he was hit by a pickup truck that drove away from the crash. RELATED: Police find truck involved in fatal hit-and-run in South Nashville We seen a body laying down in the middle of the street, one witness told News 2. That was hurtful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, officers with Metro police said they found the truck allegedly involved parked at an apartment complex on Edmondson Pike. However, the driver was nowhere to be found. Whoever did it come forward please, the witness added. Come forward. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee According to a press release, it was a tip that led officers to the parked, gray Toyota Tundra. The registered owner of the truck told officers the driver wanted to surrender. Karla Guadalupe Armendariz (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) Karla Guadalupe Armendariz, 25, was taken into custody in Brentwood and interviewed. She admitted to drinking six beers and taking a prescription drug prior to the crash, according to Metro police. She claimed to have blacked out and did not remember the collision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Fountain, a truck driver from Florida, had parked at the TA Truck Stop Monday and rode his scooter to a nearby Dollar General. As he was headed back to the truck stop, the MNPD said the pickup truck dragged the scooter for more than 900 feet. Armendariz was booked into the Metro jail and charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication, leaving the scene of a crash involving death and driving without a license. Her bond was set at $100,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Mardi Gras festivities in the Port City have come to an end. With all of the excitement that comes with Mobile Mardi Gras like the beads, moon pies, and stuffed animals, one Mobile Police Sergeant believes that hes discovered an alarming trend of inappropriate dancing during parades. Mobile County Sheriff: Person who put now-euthanized dog in bag is a piece of trash Sergeant John Young with the Mobile Police Department also runs Men United Against Violence said hes noticed dances during the parades over the years become more extravagant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no reason for a minor 4 to 17 years old to be gyrating or bending over at the waist in front of a crowd at whats supposed to be a family-friendly event, Young said. Were asking the city government and the citizens to speak out against it. Young said its not just the dancing, but it also is what he describes as inappropriate outfits. He was compelled to speak out after he said he saw men in thongs on Joe Cain Sunday. These were not well-built men either, Young said. UPDATE: Pensacola mayor looks forward to growth of our aviation sector as VT Mobile Aerospace plans move Mardi Gras lovers acknowledged Youngs take, but they believed its what makes the Mardi Gras experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought everything was very classy; it was a very high level, Darien Gilbert from Pensacola said. I didnt think anything was distasteful. I just enjoyed myself, and my family enjoyed themselves. Its really just how you perceive it, Joshua Burns from Jacksonville, Fla said. Really, the way that I saw it, it was just like that was what it was, you know, its Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is the time to, you know, for the community to come together, bring people together, cut loose, have fun, you know, people, you know, enjoy and do what they want to do, Jonathan Pham from Irvington said. I dont think its been more provocative. Its just time for people to get away from the stresses of life and just enjoy themselves. Even though Mardi Gras is a time to let loose and celebrate for many, Young believes people should speak against what he sees as a growing issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What happened to tap and jazz and ballet and twirling batons? Young questioned. Lets just get back to that. And then we have to be a mature, responsible adults in this city. We have to speak out against it. We have to stand up against it. So Im asking every Mobilian to call their council member in this election year and state that its time for a change. Person stabbed in Mobile: police Young said he plans to talk to the Mobile City Council next Tuesday about his concern. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Channel 2 Action News cameras were rolling when the mother of an eight-year-old girl killed trying to catch her school bus confronted the lawmaker who wants to reduce the fines for passing a stopped school bus. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The mother of Adalyn Pierce, who was killed last year in Henry County, was elated. Ashley Pierce had a tense exchange with State Rep. Don Parsons, who wanted to reduce the fines for passing a stopped school bus where kids are getting on and off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want to be here, Pierce told Parsons. He apologized and walked away. Say her name. Its Ashley Pierce, one of her supporters shouted in the Capitol hallway. Pierce was not happy with Parsonss attempts to reduce the $1,000 minimum fine she fought for, for drivers who unlawfully pass a stopped school bus when kids are getting on or off. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this hearing, Parsons says he now wants the fine to be not less than $500 and not more than $1,000. He wants judges to have the discretion to decide the amount. I think to get a $500 fine, you are not likely to do it again, Parsons said. Addys uncle testified Parsons is concerned with the violators and not the victims. Were asking that you withdraw this bill so that Georgias children are not compromised over a monetary penalty, Caleb King testified. State Rep. Clint Crowe reminded Parsons the higher fine is about saving lives. If this fine is a minimum of a $1,000, you wont do this but once, Crowe said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he vehemently opposed the legislation. Then, there was a motion to table the issue. All those in favor of motion to tabling HB344 say I, a lawmaker asked, the motion passed. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Lawmakers said that potentially puts the bill on ice this legislative session. Addys mother, Ashley Pierce, was elated. Hopefully, this is the last time, she said, to applause from her many supporters who showed up. A lawmaker said its possible someone on the Senate side could revive the bill. But she said if the House side wouldnt go forward with it, most likely the Senate side wouldnt either. MEXICO CITY (AP) The number of monarch butterflies wintering in the mountains west of Mexico City rebounded this year, doubling the area they covered in 2024 despite the stresses of climate change and habitat loss, experts said Thursday. The annual butterfly count doesnt calculate the individual number of butterflies, but rather the number of acres they cover as they gather on tree branches in the mountain pine and fir forests. Monarchs from east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada overwinter there. Mexicos Commission for National Protected Areas (CONANP) said that this year, butterflies covered 4.4 acres (1.79 hectares) compared to only 2.2 acres (0.9 hectares) the year before. Last years figure represented a 59% drop from 2023, the second lowest level since record keeping began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After wintering in Mexico, the iconic butterflies with black and orange wings fly north, breeding multiple generations along the way for thousands of miles. The offspring that reach southern Canada begin the trip back to Mexico at the end of summer. Gloria Tavera Alonso, the Mexican agencys director general of conservation, said the improved numbers owed to better climatic factors and humidity. Drought along the butterflies migratory route had been listed as a factor in last years decline. The impact of changes in weather year after year mean fluctuations are expected. For that, Jorge Rickards, Mexico director general for the World Wildlife Fund, said you can't let down your guard and must continue to expand conservation efforts. Tavera Alonso credited ongoing efforts to increase the number of plants the butterflies rely on for sustenance and reproduction along their flyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butterflies have not been faring well north of the border. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation has been counting western overwinter populations of monarch butterflies a separate population from those that winter in central Mexico along the California coast, northern Baja California and inland sites in California and Arizona for the last 28 years. The highest number recorded was 1.2 million in 1997. The organization announced in February that it counted just 9,119 monarchs in 2024, a decrease of 96% from 233,394 in 2023. The total was the second-lowest since the survey began in 1997. And the first countrywide systematic analysis of butterfly abundance in the United States found that the number of butterflies in the Lower 48 states has been falling on average 1.3% a year since the turn of the century, with 114 species showing significant declines and only nine increasing, according to a study in Thursdays journal Science. Experts say that monarchs face risks across North America in large part due to the reduction in milkweed where the monarchs lay their eggs. The plant has been disappearing due to drought, wildfires, herbicides and urbanization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed that monarch butterflies receive protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america Hannah Schoenbaum Associated Press A Republican proposal to leave current levels of Medicaid coverage in place in Montana is headed to the governor's desk as Congress considers billions of dollars in cuts to the low-income health program. The Montana Senate gave final legislative approval to the bill in a 30-20 vote Feb 27. Expanded coverage had been set to expire on the safety net program that insures more than 76,000 Montana residents. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte has voiced support for continuing coverage, but has not commented on the specific proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats carried the bill across the finish line, after effectively wresting control of the Senate agenda from conservative GOP leaders in recent days. The measure includes new work requirements for some Montana Medicaid enrollees, criteria that had been blocked under former President Joe Biden. In 2015, Montana lawmakers voted to extend Medicaid coverage to adults between the ages of 18 and 65 with annual incomes slightly higher than the federal poverty level. Before the Affordable Care Act let states extend coverage to this group, the program was limited to disabled, pregnant and elderly people, and children in low-income households. It now insures nearly 80 million people nationwide. The state renewed the expanded program in 2019, but set an expiration date for this summer. Under the latest bill, lawmakers would no longer need to periodically renew the program. State Rep. Ed Buttrey, a Great Falls Republican and the bills sponsor, said the program has been a lifeline for low-income residents and the states rural health care providers, which no longer need to spend as much money caring for uninsured patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid expansion has especially benefitted Montana's Native American population, improving health outcomes and treatment access, while taking the strain off the overburdened Indian Health Services. Most states receive extra federal funding for expanding Medicaid coverage to more residents. In Montana, the federal government currently foots about 90 percent of the $1 billion annual bill. Republican opponents such as state Sen. Carl Glimm of Kila warned Montana could soon be saddled with much higher costs if Congress cuts funding for the states. The $880 billion Medicaid program is a prime target for the GOP-controlled body as it looks to slash federal spending. Montana is one of nine states with trigger laws automatically or almost automatically ending Medicaid expansion if the federal government decides to cover less of the cost. Its law requires the state to identify additional funding if the federal contribution rate drops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also floated imposing work requirements, which would limit Medicaid coverage to qualified people who are actively working, volunteering or otherwise engaging in their community. Montana and other states have previously attached work requirements to Medicaid expansion plans, but they were blocked from taking effect by the Biden administration. About 92 percent of Medicaid enrollees are already working, attending school or caregiving, according to an analysis by the health policy research firm KFF. The bill headed for Gianforte's desk renews the state's own push for work requirements, which President Donald Trump's administration may be more likely to approve. Its a safety net we need to have, but we also have to make sure the people that get in the safety net doesnt cause the safety net to collapse under its weight, Gianforte said recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican governors in Arkansas, Iowa and Ohio have also announced plans to seek approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to introduce work requirements. South Dakota voters signed off last year on a plan to add a similar rule, which also requires federal approval. About 18,000 people lost coverage when Arkansas enacted work requirements during the first Trump presidency but those were later blocked by a federal judge. A bill to block Montanas National Guard from being deployed into combat without a congressional declaration of war suffered a fatal blow in the state House of Representatives on Wednesday amid a rolling sequence of debates. Montana Legislature transmittal deadline: What it is and why it's important This week, the 100-member House of Representatives is planning to debate more than 80 bills per day. Some bills draw protracted debates that can run up to an hour. House Bill 404, sponsored by Rep. Lee Deming, R-Laurel, carried the "Defend the Guard Act," a proposal working its way through state legislatures across the country. Supporters argue the guard's deployments have been unconstitutional absent a congressional declaration that despite engagement in conflicts across the Middle East hasn't been issued since World War II. Opponents contend the acts passage would hobble the Montana National Guards funding and, by extension, its operations within the state. But more pointedly, they contended on Wednesday that HB 404 ignores the reasons why people sign up for the National Guard, and why service members are deployed to dangerous parts of the world. "Our enemies are looking for signs of weakness," said Rep. David Bedey, a Hamilton Republican and retired U.S. Army colonel. "This bill is a sign of weakness." National Guard soldiers are deployed into combat zones under what's known as Title 10, authority that gives the president the ability to order soldiers into active duty. The bill to block that authority from the state angle has itself had a precarious path through the Montana Legislature but has been growing roots into mainstream politics in recent years. Supporters during the bills hearing last month before the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee raised previous statements of support from Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News host recently confirmed as President Donald Trumps Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, since being installed, has not reiterated that support or signaled publicly on any action toward internally advancing the proposals effects. They also slammed Adjutant General for the State of Montana, Major General John Hronek, for lobbying legislators against HB 404 ahead of its committee hearing. Several people referenced a tour of Fort Harrison and helicopter rides Hronek offered to lawmakers before its hearing. "I dont have helicopters to give you rides to convince you to vote against this bill," Deming told the committee during his muted but searing testimony. "All I have is the constitution." Proponents emerged from around the country, including some standard bearers of the Defend the Guard movement, like Dan McKnight, a retired member of the Idaho National Guard. "Its now in 30 states moving through the legislatures as we speak right at this moment," McKnight told the committee. "And there hasnt been any loss of funding." A fiscal note prepared for HB 404 suggests Montana would lose $132 million in federal funding if the bill were to be signed into law. McKnight and other Defend the Guard supporters said no other state has seen such a threat to cut funding when considering the same proposal. Hronek, for his part, defended his efforts to kill the bill early in the process. He also said the debate over the president's Title 10 authority would be better hosted on a federal level. "It will have catastrophic impact on our members and our national security," he said. "If there is a conflict with the constitution, I really believe it should be held at the national level, at the Supreme Court." The committee initially rejected the bill. Deming attempted a procedural maneuver that would have lifted the bill from the committee to the House floor for a full debate, but that effort likewise failed. Demings bill got new life on Tuesday when, in the final hours ahead of a deadline that would have otherwise meant the bill died, Rep. Shelly Fyant, D-Arlee, flipped her vote on the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee, sending the bill into the House chamber for a full vote in what may be the busiest week of the legislative session. Deming objected when, during the traffic controlling of bills between the chamber and the appropriations committee, legislative leadership opted to send HB 404 back to a budget committee. "I suppose I should take it as a compliment," he said. "To be honest, I feel a little targeted when all Im trying to do is preserve the constitutional order and save Montana State Guard lives in undeclared and unconstitutional wars. I would like an explanation. What are you so afraid of?" House Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick then called for the bill to be debated next. It was in that environment the debate over HB 404 veered from solemn objections to blistering condemnation. "I dont think Ive seen a bill come through the Legislature that hurts the people of Montana more than this one," Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Great Falls, said after noting how the Montana Air National Guard aids his community, particularly the fire department at the Great Falls International Airport. "Its no different than saying, 'Im going to defund. That was not a winner for anybody,'" Fitzpatrick said. "Defunding the National Guard is not a winner either." Active or retired service members who are also lawmakers were far greater in numbers on the opponents' side of the debate. Rep. Brad Barker, a 20-year veteran who was of the U.S. Army as an attack helicopter pilot and aviation commander, pushed back on the suggestion that any conflict U.S. troops have engaged in were done so through "choice and adventurism." "It completely disregards the blood and sacrifice of very close friends, loved ones, who went to defend our freedoms and respond to the call when our nation was attacked on 9/11," he said. "Has it been too long that we forgot 9/11? Has it been too long that we forgot why we went and fought that conflict? I certainly hope not, because the consequences could be grave." Deming, in his closing statements on the bill, urged lawmakers to think of the National Guard troops who would not suffer PTSD, but ultimately brought his demands back to fealty to the constitution. "You and I swore an oath to defend the constitution, not federal funding," he said. The bill ultimately died on a 41-58 vote. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A finance manager who has spent more than 30 years with the Montgomery County Auditors Office has been appointed its new Director of Tax and Finance. County Auditor Karl Keith announced the promotion Monday, March 3, of Gloria Butler, who has been with the office for 31 years. Butler most recently has served as finance manager for the past nine years, working alongside schools, municipalities, libraries and parks in Montgomery County. Before this, she worked in the Auditors accounting and dog licensing departments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She earned a business degree from Lane College. Gloria has dedicated her career to serving the people of Montgomery County and I am excited for her to step up into this important role, said Keith. With her decades of experience in government finance, I have no doubt she will be an excellent Director of Tax and Finance. The auditors finance department is responsible for property tax revenue distribution, property tax rates certification and calculating levy estimates. These responsibilities support critical government services which everyone relies on in the county roads, education and law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scouts lead community project for local foodbank The former director, Larry Hartlaub, left at the end of February to pursue another opportunity in local government. Larry has been a key part of our team here and we have been fortunate to tap into his experience as a former County Auditor, said Keith. We look forward to continuing to work with him in the years to come. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Town leaders in Mooresville are cracking down on people selling dogs and cats in public places and parking lots. Mooresville commissioners voted unanimously on new rules Monday night to ban many public animal sales, according to our partners at the Charlotte Observer. The Observer first reported on the issue with its investigation in 2024. The Observer spoke with neighbors who described sick, emaciated, caged puppies near the Walmart off Interstate 77 in Mooresville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were permitting members of the public, including children, to play with the dogs, Joyce Glass, an animal welfare attorney, told The Observer. Glass said the puppies werent fully vaccinated, and the sellers told buyers to get vaccines at Tractor Supply Co. instead of going to a veterinarian. Mooresville Police Chief told The Observer that officers would most likely issue a warning for first-time offenses, but files could be charged if they keep failing to comply. (VIDEO: Family asks for help fostering puppies found dumped along side of Shelby road) The majority of people in the UK and Spain believe that Russia will attack Ukraine again within 10 years after a possible peace deal. Source: results of a YouGov poll, as reported by European Pravda with the reference to The Guardian Details: The majority of Britons (65%) and Spaniards (55%) believe that Russia is likely to attack Ukraine within 10 years after a peace agreement is concluded, as do 49% of French respondents and 48% of Germans. Italians are divided: 35% think a new war is likely, while 37% do not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have proposed deploying European peacekeepers to Ukraine to prevent such a development, and in both countries, more people support this idea than do not. Around 52% of Britons support the plan, compared to 27% who oppose it, while French respondents are 49% in favour and 29% against. Spaniards also supported the plan (53%), but in Germany and Italy, only 36% and 37% were in favour, while 45% and 47% were against. The survey also revealed different opinions on whether Russia will attack other European countries over the next decade. Six out of ten Britons think it is likely, as do 44-47% of respondents in France, Germany and Spain, although 45% of Italians think it is unlikely. Background: The poll also showed that overwhelming majorities in five Western European countries consider Donald Trump a threat to peace and security in Europe after the US president put pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy and suspended military aid to Ukraine. Another poll showed that just over half of Americans said they personally support Ukraine in its war with Russia, but few believe that President Donald Trump is on the same side. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Voters still have a sour view of Democrats six weeks after President Donald Trump and Republicans swept into Washington with control of all branches of the federal government, according to a new poll. A plurality of voters 40 percent said the Democratic Party doesnt have any strategy whatsoever for responding to Trump, according to the survey by the liberal firm Blueprint that was shared first with POLITICO. Another 24 percent said Democrats have a game plan, but its a bad one. A paltry 10 percent said that the party has a solid technique for dealing with Trump. And thats coming from a Democratic outfits survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unsparing findings, issued by a group backed by mega-donor Reid Hoffman, amount to a major rebuke of the partys approach to the dawn of Trump's second term. And they come at a moment when Democrats are already feeling despondent after their roundly mocked response to Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday, which was lambasted as unproductive and amateurish. Voters correctly identified that the Democratic Party has lost its way, said Evan Roth Smith, the top pollster for Blueprint. The Democratic response [Tuesday] night was more or less a continuation of what we've seen from Democrats so far. Which is, there was nothing overtly wrong about it, but it didn't actually do anything to ameliorate this core issue Democrats face, which is voters aren't quite sure what we stand for and would like us to get back to the basic principles of the party. On Capitol Hill, top Democrats put on a brave face Wednesday in the wake of their widely criticized reaction to Trumps speech. But across the party, the damage was still reverberating, as elected officials and strategists scrambled to clean up their response. It was an effort mired in finger-pointing and with little agreement over how Democrats should oppose Trump. The strategy for countering the presidents speech or lack thereof laid bare how divided Democrats still are on how to counter Trump's steamrolling of Washington, and how ineffective their efforts to blunt him remain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had cautioned Democrats to take a measured approach to Trumps speech at the Capitol. Instead, Democrats walked out of the chamber, interrupted the president and held up signs in protest that read False and This is not normal. There was no blunt-force attempt by Democrats to reestablish themselves as the party of the working class. Instead, Symone Sanders, an ex-top aide to former Vice President Kamala Harris, said on the social media platform X that the signs were not landing. Progressives complained that Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who delivered the official Democratic response to Trump, positively invoked former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Others on the left disagreed, arguing that Slotkins speech represented the respectful, down-to-earth approach they think Democrats should take. To critics, the night embodied many of the partys tendencies that have turned off voters: that it is performative, too often takes the bait from Republicans and is failing to express a coherent message focused on Americans economic well-being. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who has been one of the most vocal critics of his partys approach to Trump, said in an interview that the spectacle from Democrats was sad AF. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said that while he understands the emotion behind such outbursts, they are not my style. In an illustration of how sharply Democrats are split over how to take on Trump, one of the partys rising stars, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Florida), said his colleagues rowdiness on Tuesday was the point. He was among a group of Democrats who departed before the end of Trumps speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is rude. It is disrespectful, he said. That was the whole point of it to disrespect him. Frost said it was old-fashioned to adhere to norms of decorum given the presidents own behavior, pointing to the fact that Trump taunted Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as Pocahontas during his speech. David Axelrod, the past top strategist for former President Barack Obama, said Democrats in blue districts are likely facing enormous pressure from constituents to take a stand against Trump. He compared Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) disrupting Trump to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) calling then-President Joe Biden a liar during his State of the Union address in 2023. Green was tossed out of the chamber after he disrupted Trump, yelling "you have no mandate" and shaking his cane. I'm sure Rep. Green got plenty of attaboys from the base for his protest. But with many other Americans and not just Republicans it was no more appealing than Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert heckling Biden, Axelrod said. It's just not particularly helpful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it did win accolades from some within the party. Michael Hardaway, a former aide to Jeffries, said on X that Green was an American hero for standing up to Trump. He added in a text message to POLITICO that he applauded Greens push to draft articles of impeachment against Trump. Green now faces the possibility of censure after Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) on Wednesday introduced a measure to formally punish him for his outburst. Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, Green stood by his approach. When you are engaged in peaceful protest, you get in the way, he said. You sometimes create a disturbance, but you have to be willing to suffer the consequences. And I'm willing to suffer the consequences for my actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, some Democrats insisted there was no disagreement within the party over how to attack Trump, despite evidence to the contrary. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) said House Democrats were in lockstep over opposing Speaker Mike Johnsons push to pass a six-month funding extension to keep the government open beyond March 14, in an effort to slow down Trump and Elon Musks dismantling of the federal government. It's actually remarkable when people say Democrats are not unified, she said. I haven't heard a single Democrat stray away from that message. Roth Smith, the Blueprint pollster, said Democrats message on Tuesday was a little highfalutin, pointing to Slotkins nods to Reagan and bipartisanship, when what the party needs is a reset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as Democrats are unsure of what to do in the second Trump era, he said voters see a straightforward path: Get back to their roots as a party that defends Social Security and Medicare, workers rights and a good economy for all Americans. As simple as that sounds, it has so far proven elusive for Democrats. CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this report misstated which state Frost represents. (NewsNation) The mother of a soldier killed in the 2021 bombing at Kabul airports Abbey Gate during the United States chaotic exit from Afghanistan is so pleased that a suspect in the attack has been extradited. If we can take one terrorist off the list of harming Americans, especially our soldiers, then that is a good day, Paula Knauss Selph told Morning in America. The Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing killed 13 American service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians. Selphs son, 23-year-old Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, was among the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump announced the arrest of accused ISIS-Khorasan member Mohammad Sharifullah on Tuesday during a joint address to Congress. Trump expected to sign order calling for Education Departments end White House counterterrorism chief Sebastian Gorka told NewsNation on Wednesday that Sharifullah confessed to involvement in the attack. When he saw my team, he knew that the freedom he had enjoyed for far too long was over, and he will die in prison, Gorka said on NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas Reports. Its a development Selph and other victims family members have been sorely waiting for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As long as were bringing justice for our men and women who wear the uniform, then we are truly doing our job as Americans, she said. And I want to give kudos to the president for keeping his word to many Americans right now. She said that while her sons life was cut short, he truly believed in his military mission: If he had to choose it again, Im certain Ryan would say, Send me.' Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss was among the 13 American service members killed in the 2021 bombing at the Kabul airports Abbey Gate in Afghanistan. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss was among the 13 American service members killed in the 2021 bombing at Kabul airports Abbey Gate in Afghanistan. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss was among the 13 American service members killed in the 2021 bombing at Kabul airports Abbey Gate in Afghanistan. Hamas disregards Trumps last warning over hostage release Selph said she met former President Joe Biden at a White House Memorial Day event, though she never got the accountability she wanted. Biden robbed us a little bit there, didnt he? she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His conclusion was that a photo-op was a better decision on that day with me than it was to answer questions that I really had, Selph recounted. A report from Republican representatives on the House Foreign Affairs Committee was released in September 2024, accusing the Biden administration of failing to see warning signs about how quickly Kabul would fall to the Taliban, as well as delaying an evacuation, NewsNations partner The Hill reported. Biden-era White House officials said the report cherry-picked details and didnt place enough blame on President Donald Trump, who began the withdrawal process by signing a deal with Afghanistans militant Islamist Taliban in 2020. President (Joe) Biden faced a choice. It was between ending the war or escalating it, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in December 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsNations Elina Shirazi and Joe Khalil contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Mar. 5OLYMPIA Seven years after a gunman killed 17 people in a Florida high school, the mother of one of the victims testified in support of a bill in the Washington Legislature that would encourage schools to install panic alert systems to hasten emergency response times. If passed, the bill would require schools to develop emergency response plans that use technology to bring quicker help to campus, including panic buttons, live video or audio feeds that can be accessed by law enforcement, remote access to doors, or live two-way communication. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, has received broad bipartisan support so far this session. The legislation unanimously passed the state Senate earlier last month, and on Wednesday, received a hearing in the House Education Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those who testified in support of the legislation was Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter, Alyssa, was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and teachers were killed and an additional 17 people injured in an incident, Alhadeff said, that "destroyed" her community. "The wounds affect us so deeply; it's so difficult," Alhadeff said. "So if we can put these emergency response systems in our schools, it will not only save lives, it will prevent future harm to communities that have to go through these school shootings, that unfortunately, we have every day." Following the shooting, Alhadeff founded the nonprofit Make Our Schools Safe, which encourages schools to install security features for emergencies. "No mother, no father, no family should ever have to feel the helplessness, the gut-wrenching pain of knowing that their child needed saving and that time ran out," Alhadeff said. "The principle of Alyssa's law is simple: time equals life. And when a threatening emergency does happen, whether it's an active shooter or a medical crisis or other danger, seconds matter." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her testimony Tuesday, Alhadeff described her daughter as a "bright, fierce, and passionate young girl who dreamed of becoming a lawyer, a leader." The day of the shooting, Alhadeff said she sent her daughter to school like it was "any other day." "I never imagined it would be the last time I would see her alive," Alhadeff said. In recent years, more than a half-dozen states around the country have passed versions of Alyssa's law, with legislation currently active in an additional 16 states. "Alyssa's law ensures that our schools have the tools to get help immediately by using emergency response systems that connect directly to law enforcement," Alhadeff said. "It empowers teachers and safeguards students and speeds up response times. Had Alyssa's law been in place on that tragic day ... lives could have been saved. I believe that with every fiber in my being." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Torres, her office contacted each of Washington's 295 school districts to inquire about their safety protocol, with responses from 195. While each school district told Torres' office that their facilities had exterior doors that locked, 42 districts lacked key card access. Of those that responded, 107 told the Senator's office that their campus' had either panic or lockdown buttons, though some were either outdated or only partially installed. "There is definitely a need, and I'm hoping that you will see the importance of this bill in keeping our students safe at school, because that's where we send them off," Torres said in her testimony Wednesday. "We're expecting them to be safe." VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) As soon as they heard about the deaths of the two Virginia Beach officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese, the Boneshakers Social Club immediately started planning a motorcycle ride to help raise money for their families. Complete Coverage: Fallen VBPD Officers Girvin and Reese Leon Kline, Boneshakers Social Club standing president, told 10 On Your Side they aim to get around 100 people for the ride on Saturday. With a $20 donation per rider and $10 for every passenger, they plan to give all of the proceeds to the two families. They already have other clubs joining in and hope to welcome even more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group will leave at 10 a.m. that Saturday morning from General Booth Boulevard in Virginia Beach. From there, the group will head down to Walnut Island in North Carolina, then back up to Virginia. Kline said since planning the ride, they heard from an officer in Virginia Beach who is close to both families. They said they appreciate the support. Thats what thats what the Boneshaker Social Club is all about helping a community, Leon Kline said. We had a lot of quite a few members come up and say we need to do something. Kline said they are working with Virginia Beach Police Department to transfer the funds. More information about the event can be found on their Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Tolentino mourns death of air force pilots from jet fighter crash; says AFP modernization must continue Caloocan City - Senate Majority Leader Francis 'TOL' Tolentino today expressed his sympathies for the death of two Philippine Air Force pilots from the FA-50 jet fighter that crashed while on a combat mission in Bukidnon. "I join our nation in mourning the loss of our two air force pilots, and extend my condolences to their families and loved ones," Tolentino told reporters in an ambush interview in Caloocan City. "What happened was very unfortunate. Those jet fighters were recently acquired. Let us wait for the results of the investigation on the wreckage," the senator replied, when asked how the incident could affect the country's air defense, following the grounding of the PAF's entire FA-50 fleet. "This incident should not delay the AFP modernization program. Instead, it should encourage us to pursue the further upgrading of our defense equipment," added Tolentino, a reservist in the Philippine Army with the rank of Brigadier General. On a related note, the senator cited the Armed Forces of the Philippines for successfully undertaking its routine rotation and resupply (RORE) mission for Filipino soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, West Philippine Sea, last March 4. "I congratulate the Western Command, our Philippine Coast Guard and the entire AFP," remarked the reelectionist senator, who authored the landmark Philippine Maritime Zones Act (RA 12064), which strengthens the country's maritime rights and territorial integrity. The Arthur Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is only 20 minutes from Mar-a-Lago. (Photo via Friends of the Arthur Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge) Dear Elon Musk, Hi! Weve never met, but I feel like we have some things in common. A college dean once dubbed me the most destructive force on campus, and youre clearly the most destructive force in the entire U.S. government. So, we got that going for us, which is nice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, in running your Department of Government Efficiency, you seem as comfortable riding a wrecking ball as Miley Cyrus! Look at all the stuff your unleashed DOGE has wrecked in just a months time Social Security, Veterans Affairs, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You even had the gall to lay off air traffic controllers right after the deadliest crash in the U.S. since 2001 and to fire weather forecasters right after a season full of hurricanes. Thousands of federal employees have been fired (albeit illegally). Entire agencies shuttered. The millions of poor people they serve abruptly kicked to the curb at the behest of the worlds wealthiest man. Its enough to make those old bomb-throwing anarchists of the 1920s weep for joy. Sure, there have been pointed jokes that YOURE the immigrant whos come to steal all those jobs. Persnickety reporters have pointed out that the math on this massive purge doesnt work. And, of course, there have been gobs of angry protesters at Tesla dealerships Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But hey, you know what they say: You cant make an omelet without firing a bunch of veterans. However, I want to warn you about one big mistake youre making. You have GOT to stop firing park rangers. Your dodgy DOGE has been laying off rangers and scientists left and right. This must stop before you do irreparable damage to the peoples property. Theresa Pierno via National Parks Conservation Association Eve Samples via Friends of the Everglades Quite simply and astonishingly, this is dismantling the National Park Service as we know it, ranger by ranger and brick by brick, said Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association. Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, told me that, so far, shes heard of at least 25 rangers and scientists who have been laid off or fired from Floridas national parks, refuges, and seashores. Thats a cut deeper than any made by slash-happy movie monster Freddy Krueger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am not saying you should stop just because I like our national parks. Im saying you need to stop because we really depend on them in Florida for a big chunk of our tourism trade. If your cuts trash our national parks, youll crash our economy. Unless, of course, thats your intention. In that case, youre right on target for blowing up the whole system and leaving nothing but a big crater. But I beg you, please dont. Americas best idea Pull out a map, Mr. M, and marvel at how much federal parkland is in Florida. From the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola to the Dry Tortugas southwest of Key West, weve got 11 national parks, plus preserves, refuges, and monuments all across the state. Weve even got one that goes underwater, Biscayne National Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, more than 13 million people visited them, creating an economic boon of $1.4 billion to the economy, according to the Palm Beach Post. If you fire the rangers who tend to those parks, the places will fall apart and then shut down. The visitors will stop coming. The ancillary businesses that depend on the parks hotels and motels, airboat tours, kayak rentals, bait shops, and so forth will see their traffic and profits shrivel up. None of us wants that. Perhaps youre under some false impression about what these parks are for. Maybe you think theyre like New Yorks Central Park a green space in a gray place, full of park benches and playgrounds, nothing more. But thats not the case. Mark Woods via X Ken Burns called the national park system Americas best idea, and theres a lot of truth in that, said Mark Woods, a Jacksonville newspaper columnist whos written an award-winning book about spending a year visiting parks across the country called Lassoing the Sun. These parks are places where I go and I feel proud to be an American. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When hes chatted with foreign visitors in the parks, Woods told me, They say, We dont have national parks like you do. He pointed out that your dogged DOGE is supposed to be sniffing out waste and fraud. But the rangers losing their jobs are people who do essential services, such as cleaning the toilets, rescuing hikers in trouble, and keeping the park trails clear of obstructions. Theyve been underfunded for a while, too, Woods said. I looked it up and hes right. In 2023, a top official of the National Parks Service told Congress, The NPS has more assets than staff and funding to adequately operate and maintain them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now here you are, Mr. Musk, telling the painfully skinny park service that its overweight and needs to lose a lot of pounds. That makes no sense at all. Heck, from what Ive read, those park rangers that youre trying to oust make a lot less money than the staffers on your dopey DOGE division. Considering the number of errors DOGE has made, I think your Musk-ovite minions are overpaid. A visit to Loxahatchee I have read that youre renting a $2,000-a-night bungalow at Mar-a-Lago. That means youre just 20 miles away from one of Floridas great environmental preserves, the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach. You should take a day off from destroying the government and go take a gander at this place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Loxahatchee refuge is one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the nation with more than 145,000 acres of land where visitors can unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Michelle Hendricks via Friends of the Arthur Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Lots of people go to the refuge to bike, hike, fish, look at birds, or paddle their canoes and kayaks, said Michelle Hendricks, president of the Friends of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. But refuges are not the same as parks, she told me. Parks are a refuge for people, she said. The refuges are maintained for the animals. Loxahatchee in particular is pretty special. According to Hendricks, its one of the last remaining intact parcels of the once-vast Everglades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within its boundaries youll find wet prairies, sloughs, a 400-acre cypress swamp, and around 47,000 tree islands that the Native Americans regard as sacred. As for animals, its full of alligators, bobcats, sandhill cranes, white tail deer, and 40 kinds of butterflies. Not a lot of people know this, but the whole darn national wildlife refuge system started in Florida with a place near Vero Beach called Pelican Island. Poachers were swarming the island to kill pelicans and use their feathers to decorate ladies hats. In 1903, a fledgling organization called the Audubon Society persuaded then-President Teddy Roosevelt to set that island aside as a refuge for the birds. Soon the refuge idea spread all over the country, and then other countries copied the idea, creating their own refuges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida alone has 29 national wildlife refuges, including one for manatees, one for Florida panthers, and one for Key deer. Thats the third most of any state, after California and North Dakota. Now you want to cut their staff like it was just another interchangeable fast-food franchise location. But theyre not. Theyre a rare piece of living American history thats also good for preserving the environment. Does this help you see whats wrong with ripping up the refuge staff? I sure hope so. But thats not even the worst of what youve done. For that, we have to look further south. The Everglades president? Let me give you another little history lesson. In September 2020, that fellow you supposedly work for who owns a club in Palm Beach went to Jupiter and held a big event to declare his undying commitment to Everglades restoration. Lots of Florida Republicans fell all over themselves praising him for this. Gov. Ron DeSastrous er, excuse me, DeSantis told reporters, President Trump understands that restoring Floridas Everglades is critical to the economic growth and well-being of our state. And Sen. Marco Rubio went so far as to predict hed go down in history as the Everglades President. Now, five years later, here you come trying to chop up the whole thing like its a slab of meat on a butchers block. Not only are you laying off park rangers and scientists in Everglades National Park whove been working on the multibillion-dollar project thats been going on for 25 years. Its worse than that. Youre also kicking people out of their offices. In its bid to cut costs, the Department of Government Efficiency has ended leases around the country, including at the Florida office staffed with hundreds of federal workers focused on Everglades restoration and maintaining beaches across the state, the Miami Herald reported this week. That would be the Jacksonville office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, their main HQ in Florida, which contains about 800 people. Ive been there, Mr. Musk. I didnt see any solid gold doorknobs or diamond encrusted toilets. Just a lot of hard-working people. The Armys lease on its Jacksonville offices is supposed to run until 2027, but your folks have notified the lessee that the federal government would now like to end it in August of this year. And exactly where will those hardworking but suddenly homeless engineers go next? No word on that one. The Herald caught the irony in this move, by the way. The move to close down the Corps Florida headquarters comes amid a simultaneous federal push to send all remote workers back to the office, the paper reported. Dozens of federal employees near the Jacksonville office had already sought to work in person at the massive office in order to comply with the new directive. The Corps office is not the only important lease your flunkies want to fling into the garbage can. They also want to shutter the South Florida Natural Resources Center, which does the science for four national parks: Everglades, Big Cypress, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas. Losing these two offices would cause untold complications for the future of the River of Grass. First authorized by Congress and the Legislature in 2000, the Everglades restoration project is the largest environmental restoration ever, covering an area the size of New Jersey. After 25 years, were only now starting to see some results from the work, but theres a lot more to do. We just dont have the time to make all these folks pack up their desks and move somewhere else. Were especially concerned about those cuts, Samples of Friends of the Everglades told me. We want to keep Everglades restoration on track. This is a time for doubling down on restoration, not throwing up roadblocks. Melissa Abdo via NPCA-Florida And Melissa Abdo, Sun Coast regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association, made a similar point, reminding me that the Everglades restoration program has always drawn bipartisan support. It would be senseless to undermine this program just when weve started making some progress, Abdo said. We cant advance the work of restoring the Everglades without these experts. Theres one more reason why these particular cuts of yours are a bad idea. The Everglades project isnt just about fixing the damage done to the environment. Its about keeping South Florida livable. You know, that place where you and your boss live. Everglades restoration began in 2000 and its still not done. (Photo via South Florida Water Management District) Keep the water flowing The reason why there was such widespread support for Everglades restoration was that it didnt just benefit the River of Grass. It benefited the growing population of South Florida, too. The destruction done to the Everglades in the mid-20th Century harmed the water supply for the growing population there. Thats why, when it came time to sell politicians on the fix, they were reassured that the restoration project would also guarantee the supply of fresh water for the booming cities on the Atlantic coast. They need 300 million gallons of water daily. So, Mr. Musk, by jeopardizing Everglades restoration, youre also jeopardizing the South Florida fresh water supply that makes the faucets and sprinklers at Mar-a-Lago work. I dont think your boss is going to like that. Heres my suggestion. You should announce that your dumb DOGE made a mistake and Americas park rangers and other seashore and refuge employees will all be reinstated with full pay. And then you very dramatically pull a wad of bills out of your own pocket and start peeling them off and laying them down like a Baptist deacon who hit the lottery and is filling up the offering plate. You then announce that you, personally, are putting up $100 million to repair anything thats needed to be fixed in the park system. Then, if theres any money left over, it will be used to boost the rangers pay. Oh, and whatever you do, do NOT finish up by throwing your right hand in the air. Do you Nazi how wrong that would be? SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Editors Note: This story has been updated to include information from Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch. MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) Mobile County Sheriffs Office deputies and Homeland Security investigators have arrested a member of one of the most violent gangs in existence, News 5 has learned. Mobile County Sheriff: Person who put now-euthanized dog in bag is a piece of trash A mugshot of Orlando Rizo-Perez (Mobile County Sheriffs Office). According to an MCSO news release, Orlando Rizo-Perez is a member of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and was arrested on federal arrest warrants related to drug trafficking and having a gun in furtherance of a drug crime out of Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are an extremely violent gang, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said. They usually use edge weapons versus firearms, cut people up, behead them. Theyre just really, really ruthless. MS-13 is an international criminal gang from Los Angeles that was formed in the 1980s, according to the release. The gang was created to protect Salvadoran immigrants from violent gangs in the area, but over time, it became a more traditional criminal organization. Officials said Rizo-Perez is in the United States illegally. He is a known MS-13 gang member, Burch said. And, you know, they dont usually travel alone. So we do believe that theres more than just him here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the investigation continues, deputies are looking for ways to identify others associated with Perez. They hope Perezs tattoos will help connect and lead them to his associates. Whats common with these gang members, some of them are just very blatant, especially if they dont live in the United States, theyll just put MS-13 across their head, Burch said. But, you know, the younger ones seem to embed different coded type MS-13 signs. President Donald Trump signed an order in January that would designate some drug cartels and transnational gangs as foreign terrorist organizations that includes MS-13. Armed disturbance reported at Corry Station in Escambia County, Florida Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive order was officially enacted on Feb. 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. MSNBC has hired Scott Matthews, who has most recently been vice president and news director at WABC-TV, as its senior vice president of newsgathering. Matthews is a key component of MSNBC President Rebecca Kutlers plans to build up a news operation as the network prepares to separate from Comcast and will no longer have the resources of NBC News. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthews is planning to hire more than 100 journalists, including field producers, correspondents and photographers. He will also establish a new assignment desk and set editorial priorities. Scott Matthews Before WABC-TV, Matthews was the vice president of news and specials for CNBC from 2011 to 2019. He also led the investigative unit and developed shows like the CNBC Prime series Secret Lives of the Super Rich. He also worked as director of programming for CNN Productions and at other stations in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Phoenix. Kutler has previously said that she plans to establish and MSNBC Washington, D.C. bureau, as well as hire a head of talent and content strategy. This week, Kutler announced that two D.C. veterans, Eugene Daniels of Politico and Jackie Alemany of The Washington Post, would be joining the network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthews will start in his new position on March 17. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A Sun Country Airlines flight that left Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Wednesday was diverted to Texas in response to a security concern. Sun Country Airlines flight 593 was headed to Mazatlan, Mexico when it was diverted to El Paso, Texas out of an abundance of caution in response to a security concern, the airline said Thursday. Law enforcement, including FBI El Paso, responded to the scene late Wednesday afternoon to investigate, but found no threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation determined there was no threat to the safety of the passengers, flight crew or the plane, said FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales, in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. FBI El Paso wants to thank the 156 passengers for your patience as our team conducted interviews to determine the circumstances behind the reported security concern. The plane landed without incident and passengers were deplaned safely and given overnight accommodations, the airline said in an email. We apologize to our passengers and all those affected by this situation, but safety and security are our highest priorities. The passengers are expected to depart El Paso for Mazatlan Thursday afternoon, the airline said. The news of the diversion comes on the heels of several recent plane crashes, including a Delta Air Lines flight that left MSP and crash-landed in Toronto last month. The jet, carrying 80 passengers who all lived to tell the tale, flipped onto its roof while landing. Related Articles A rare storm is brewing in the Pacific Ocean, sparking one cruise port to batten down the hatches. As a result, some passengers are getting extended vacations while others have found their travels canceled. A Category 2 tropical cyclone named Alfred is hurtling toward Brisbane, located on the southeastern coast of Australiaa city that hasn't been impacted by such severe weather in decades, according to The New York Times. Airports, schools, and public transportation were all shuttered in response to the storm expected to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday morningincluding its port, which ships like Carnival Luminosa and Royal Caribbeans Quantum of the Seas call home at this time of year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox The Luminosa was expected to return to the port on March 6, after an 11-day Fiji South Pacific itinerary, while the Quantum of the Seas was meant to return on March 7, after a seven-day South Pacific cruise. John Heald, a senior cruise director and brand ambassador for Carnival Cruise Lines, shared the message the company sent to passengers who had their trips aboard the Luminosa canceled as a result, on Facebook, noting that, once the storm passes, officials will still need to "conduct a post-storm assessment before [the ship] can be cleared to safely return to port." The earliest they anticipate the ship docking is on March 8. However, the speed of the storm and any resulting damage will factor into it. Until then, the ships will remain at sea, with the captain "keeping the ship a safe distance from any bad weather." While some might expect those stuck on the water due to weather to panic, passengers aboard the Luminosa replied to Heald's post with praise for the crew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am onboard the Luminosa now and the Captain and all involved has done an amazing job all cruise to keep us safe," one wrote. Another agreed that the crew was "amazing," keeping them "updated throughout the cruise with as much information as has been available." Next: South Carolina Wildfire Footage Captures "Zero Visibility" Conditions: "Extreme Caution Is Urged" Multiple federal agencies have joined the Gila County Sheriff's Office to investigate the disappearance and murder of 14-year-old Emily Pike. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI joined the investigation, according to a Gila County Sheriff's Office spokesperson. The spokesperson could not say to what extent the agencies are involved. An FBI spokesperson confirmed the bureau is assisting in the investigation but declined to share details on why the agency became involved. On Sunday, an FBI spokesperson told The Arizona Republic that the bureau did not intend to join the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pike was reported missing in late January and was last seen on foot near her group home, according to the Mesa Police Department. Her remains were found almost three weeks later near a Forest Service Road off U.S. 60 northeast of Globe in Gila County. What we know about Emily Pike: A 14-year-old girl disappeared from Mesa. Her body was found near Globe 17 days later Leaked information from the Gila County Sheriff's Office intended for law enforcement led to speculation about the condition of Pike's body. A spokesperson for the agency said that information was not officially released and declined to comment. No suspects were identified as of Wednesday evening, according to the Gila County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office, which is the lead agency on the case, said it is working closely with the federal agencies, as well as the San Carlos Apache Police Department, Mesa Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A memorial was set up at the last place Pike was seen alive, the intersection of Mesa Drive and McKellips Road in Mesa. People left heartfelt messages, stuffed animals and gifts for Pike, describing her as a sweet girl. A candlelight vigil for Pike was scheduled for Thursday night. Organizers asked attendees to bring bags of flour, beans, macaroni noodles and other shelf-stable items. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Emily Pike: FBI, other agencies join investigation Traci DuBose moved 600 miles to Wisconsin last summer to start her dream job. Eight months later, she was terminated by the federal government, shattering that dream. The official notice of her firing incorrectly listed her as working in Indianapolis, nowhere near the U.S. Geological Survey science center in La Crosse where she worked as a research fish biologist, studying threatened freshwater mussels in the Mississippi River and elsewhere. DuBose is one of about a half-dozen scientists fired last month from the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, which sits on French Island between the Black River and Mississippi River and employs about 90 people, according to a staff directory. Other terminated employees were tracking invasive carp, researching aquatic ecosystems, restoring habitats and mapping environmental features. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The center has for decades produced critical research on the upper Mississippi River and other places across the Midwest and the world. Its data on water quality, invasive species and ecosystem trends are used by local, state and federal land managers to make decisions about how to preserve natural resources. Former employees who spoke with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said their firings will slow the pace of research on a river that is already changing faster than science can keep up. The firings were part of sweeping terminations of federal workers across the country by President Donald Trump's administration, aimed at decreasing the size of the federal government. Billionaire Elon Musk and the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, are leading the effort. The U.S. Geological Survey is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, which fired 2,300 employees Feb. 14, according to The Hill. All were probationary, meaning they'd started in their various positions relatively recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Interior Department declined to confirm or comment on the firings, writing that the department is working to "ensure we are prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people." More: 800 federal workers fired at NOAA, which impacts weather forecasts, Great Lakes science Fired workers focused on invasive carp, habitat restoration Over several years as a scientist, DuBose had come to realize that working for the federal government would give her a way to use her scientific knowledge to solve real-life problems. At the center, she was working with colleagues on improving management of imperiled freshwater mussels, including helping the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers incorporate mussels into their many habitat restoration projects on the Mississippi River. Freshwater mussel expert Traci DuBose collects sediment samples from the Mississippi River on her first day as an employee of the U.S. Geological Survey's science center in La Crosse in June 2024. She was told after lunch that Friday that her position was being terminated, and got the letter confirming it from the Interior Department later that night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You have failed to demonstrate fitness or qualifications for continued employment because your subject matter knowledge, skills, and abilities do not meet the Department's current needs," the letter reads. "There were lots of tears," DuBose said. Tyler Butts started as a biologist at the center in December to begin a four-year project analyzing the movement of invasive carp in the Mississippi River, which is believed to be a sort of superhighway for the nuisance fish. He hadn't been there long enough to get a performance review, but his supervisors had applauded his work, he told the Journal Sentinel. More: Can fired federal workers collect unemployment benefits in Wisconsin? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butts was excited to put his skills in managing invasive species to good use in federal service. Being let go was devastating, he said. He received the same letter as DuBose, including the incorrect reference to working in Indianapolis. Tyler Butts Both Butts and DuBose expressed concern that their work will be added to the plates of other scientists that already have several projects in the works, slowing down results that could help protect mussels and control invasive carp. The science center isn't alone in Wisconsin in losing probationary employees. Several Veterans Affairs workers in Madison and Milwaukee were fired late last month, the Journal Sentinel has reported. Other employees of the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Institutes of Health in Wisconsin were also let go, according to the Cap Times and Wisconsin Public Radio. More: Federal workers, including at least one disabled veteran, fired from the VA in Madison Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: 10 federal workers, including at least 3 veterans, fired at the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee Last week, a federal judge in San Francisco said the mass firing of probationary workers across the country was likely illegal and ordered the Office of Personnel Management to rescind directives to several agencies to do so. Before that ruling, the Trump administration told federal agencies to prepare for "large-scale reductions in force" by March 13 that would not be limited to probationary workers. Searching for new jobs DuBose is five months pregnant with her second child. She and her family want to stay in the area, so she's looking for new jobs, but many of the ones she's qualified for would require her to be out on a boat for field research when the baby is due. At the moment, she said, she's searching for any job that will give her health insurance and allow her to keep her eldest child in daycare. Butts is also exploring his job options, none of which so far would allow him to stay in La Crosse, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks before he was terminated, he recalled someone telling him how true the adage "No man ever steps in the same river twice" was for the Mississippi, which is experiencing widespread ecological consequences due to climate change, habitat loss and human engineering. "It's not time to pull back from science," Butts said. "It's time to invest in it." More: Concerns raised over potential cuts to federal fish, wildlife and co-op programs in Wisconsin More: Summer at Lake Superiors Apostle Islands threatened by federal workforce cuts, tourism boards warn Madeline Heim is a Report for America corps reporter who writes about environmental issues in the Mississippi River watershed and across Wisconsin. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com. This story was updated to change a photo gallery. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Multiple researchers fired from La Crosse USGS science center By Cassandra Garrison ACAPULCO, Mexico (Reuters) - Clerical workers in an Acapulco courthouse heard the shots ring out as they were wrapping up their workday. Gunmen had opened fire on Magistrate Edmundo Roman Pinzon, a former president of the highest court in Guerrero state, killing him instantly as he tried to pull out of the parking lot. The December 11 killing happened months before thousands of candidates will vie for federal judge and magistrate positions in an election that marks a sea change in how Mexico runs its judicial system after years of rampant lawlessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a country that last year endured the bloodiest political elections in its modern history, the heightened public exposure of those competing for the prestigious posts has sparked fears that the candidates will be easy targets. "Undoubtedly all of us are at risk to suffer an attack," Ynocente Orduno, former president of Guerrero's judges' association, said in an interview at his office in the courthouse where Roman was killed. Roman's position is expected to be on the ballot in Guerrero's local judicial elections slated for 2027. Two legal professionals in Acapulco who knew Roman and spoke to Reuters said many in the community believe the magistrate was targeted directly for his work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guerrero's attorney general and Mexico's security secretary have announced at least three arrests in the case, including a person suspected of links to organized crime, according to local media. Authorities have not disclosed a motive and the prosecutor declined to comment. The June 1 elections are part of a reform passed last year that overhauls the country's judicial system. Around 5,000 candidates are vying for more than 840 federal positions in June, including Supreme Court justices. Another 1,737 candidates will compete for local positions in 17 states. Other states will hold their local elections in the coming years. President Claudia Sheinbaum's mentor and predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the reform was necessary to root out corruption and better serve the interests of ordinary citizens. But it has raised fears that judges will be targeted by criminal gangs. Ahead of the 2024 elections that Sheinbaum and her party won in a landslide, 37 candidates were assassinated, which human rights monitors largely link to organized crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters spoke to six judicial professionals, security experts, politicians and academics who questioned how the government will keep the election safe. Mexico is up against a budget crunch and a depleted National Guard as it focuses on collaboration with the United States at its shared border. "Mexico is going through a very important (deficit) crisis, there will not be money for these conditions," said Jose Ramon Cossio of Tec de Monterrey university, a former Mexican Supreme Court justice. Mexico's autonomous election body INE serves as a conduit between candidates who report threats and authorities, but any protection measures fall to the federal government, according to Claudia Zavala, an electoral advisor at INE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokeswoman for Sheinbaum reiterated INE's role in requesting security for candidates and said "normally, if there is a request, security is assigned to them." She did not elaborate on a specific plan or budget resources dedicated to candidate security. 'JUSTICE BY THE STRONGEST' Orduno, a judge of almost three decades, acknowledged it would be financially difficult for the government to fully protect every candidate, but implored officials to take the issue more seriously. At least 22 local judicial professionals, including Roman, have been killed in Mexico since 2012, according to think tank Mexico Evalua. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the majority of cases, authorities did not publicize the motives for the killings, though Mexico Evalua found at least four to be associated with the judges' work. When Reuters visited the courthouse in Acapulco's rough Las Playas neighborhood in February, a state police officer stood outside. At the door, there were no security checks and no surveillance cameras. Members of the public moved freely between floors. An abandoned car with smashed windows sat parked outside. Guerrero state is one of the most dangerous areas of the country to campaign. A mayoral candidate in the town of Coyuca de Benitez was shot point-blank at a rally just days before the 2024 elections. In October, the newly sworn-in mayor of state capital Chilpancingo was brutally murdered and decapitated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I could foresee a scenario where (cartels) are supporting a particular candidate, and another candidate on the other side is equally as popular. The threat of violence or coercion is very strong," said Mike Ballard, director of intelligence at international security firm Global Guardian. "Then you end up with a number of judges who are in the pockets of the cartels, which is not going to be a positive thing for fairness or democracy in Mexico," Ballard said. Sheinbaum is trying to control a worsening security crisis in the country, which has recorded an average of 78 homicides daily since she took office in October, according to pollster TResearch. Without real protection available, cartels could strong-arm their opponents to drop out, said Cossio, the former Supreme Court justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If Mexico is left without justice, you are opening the doors for justice by the strongest," said Cossio. NOT ENOUGH POLICE Ramiro Solorio, an attorney and law professor who has made three unsuccessful bids for mayor of Acapulco, knows the risks. When he started receiving death threats ahead of last year's election, Solorio reported them and INE activated a protocol that prompted protection by the National Guard. "There will not be enough police to follow each candidate," Solorio said. He pointed to security for government officials and questioned why it should be different for those in the judicial branch. "The president, the governor, secretaries... they have security even for their families," Solorio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a recent visit to Acapulco, Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado was flanked by members of her security team as she prepared to depart a busy street after speaking to journalists. Asked about candidate security, Salgado said coordination with Sheinbaum's administration has been "perfect." "As always, a security protocol that we have for each election will be followed to guarantee that the elections are peaceful," Salgado said. Then her team ushered her into an SUV and drove away. (Reporting by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Christian Plumb and Claudia Parsons) HONOLULU (KHON2) A murder suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Volcano, Hawaii, on Monday evening. Handi-Van driver narrowly escapes falling tree Police had been searching for 28-year-old Isaiah Fourshey, who was wanted in connection with two shootings that occurred in Puna earlier that day. Hawaiis most dangerous professions: New report Authorities said Fourshey fired at a home while searching for his ex-girlfriend, and during the incident, his ex-girlfriends 25-year-old sister was shot multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She succumbed to her injures. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Fourshey also fired shots at his ex-girlfriends parents house, though no one was injured in that incident. 6 things to know about POTUS aim to curb protest freedoms on college campuses: Will it impact Hawaii? Around 6 p.m. Monday, law enforcement officers engaged with Fourshey near a campground off Highway 11 in Volcano, located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Authorities said the confrontation led to the officer-involved shooting, and Fourshey was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly afterward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The FBI has taken over the investigation, as the shooting occurred within the boundaries of the national park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is again speaking out against the Trump administration this time blasting efforts led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to gut the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by slashing jobs and foreign contracts. Murkowski, a crucial swing vote in the Republican-controlled Senate, said Thursday in a post on social platform X that she recently met with USAID employees from her state. They not only informed me of the confusing and callous handling of personnel matters by [the Office of Personnel Management] and DOGE, but they also painted an incredibly troubling picture of what the world looks like without humanitarian assistance from the United States, she wrote. Although I support measures to find inefficiencies within the agency, USAIDs mission to keep people healthy and safe in even the most remote corners of the world should not be eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration drastically cut USAID funding and contracts, after DOGE flagged several programs. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading the DOGE effort, has accused USAID of corruption and fraud, but completely shuttering the agency has faced political and legal resistance. Murkowskis latest remarks echo concerns she raised in February about the impact that slashing federal jobs would have on Alaskans. Many of these abrupt terminations will do more harm than good, stunting opportunities in Alaska and leaving holes in our communities. We cant realize our potential for responsible energy and mineral development if we cant permit projects, she wrote in a Feb. 14 post on X. Murkowski similarly took to social media on Sunday to express her frustration with the White House, specifically questioning President Trumps refusal to acknowledge Russias role in starting the war in Ukraine with its invasion three years ago and Trumps relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know foreign policy is not for the faint of heart, but right now, I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world, she posted on X. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. KENTUCKY (FOX 56) Several Kentuckians are taking the spotlight in Music City. The Country Music Hall of Fames annual American Currents: State of the Music exhibit opened on Wednesday. It aims to showcase whats happened in country music in the past year, from musical developments and artist achievements to notable events. Read more of the latest Kentucky news The museums annual American Currents exhibition examines a wide variety of music and events that took place the prior year, said Kyle Young, chief executive officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Last year, we witnessed innovative collaborations, well-deserved honors and the continued expansion of country and roots-inspired musics reach to broader audiences. American Currents allows us to highlight these significant moments within the context of music history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exhibit features artists who figured prominently in 2024, including names like Megan Moroney, Post Malone, The Red Clay Strays, Wyatt Flores, and more. Among them are a few familiar faces. Chris Stapleton Chris Stapleton performs at the 50th annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 2, 2016. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File) Chris Stapleton, a Lexington native, was honored as he approaches a decade of being known as one of country musics most popular, admired, and awarded performers. Chris Stapleton has also proven to be one of the genres most consistent artists, the display case reads. The exhibit honors Stapleton as a titan in the concert space, and his profile extends far beyond the bounds of the genre. In 2024, Stapleton shared the spotlight with Ryan Gosling on Saturday Night Live and collaborated with artists like Dua Lipa and Slash. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE MARCH 04: Artifacts seen on display during the opening of American Currents: State of the Music at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on March 04, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) In an age rife with division, GQ magazine said of Stapleton, hes maybe the only thing Americans can agree on. Keith Whitley The Sandy Hook native is no stranger to the Hall of Fame. According to the CMHOF, Whitley was inducted posthumously in 2022 for his contributions to reconnecting the genre to vital traditional sounds and styles. Country singer and songwriter Keith Whitley poses for and RCA Records publicity still in 1984. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Unlike his major contemporaries, though, Whitleys solo career barely spanned five years. Yet his remarkable body of recorded work proved enormously influential to country musicians who followed, his Hall of Fame biography reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitley was featured in the American Currents exhibit beside newcomer Zach Top whose sound, similar to Whitleys, is reviving 90s country. You wouldnt have to search very long to find a video of Top covering a Whitley song. The Washington native has been outspoken on his admiration for the late Kentucky legend. Like Whitley, Top has the instrumental chops, malleable voice, and fluency with classic country sounds that have made him an exciting performer to watch, the display signage reads. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitleys influence on the young star is more than superficial. His influence has seeped through the groundwork of Tops songs. For his 2024 album, Cold Beer and Country Music, Top worked alongside producer Carson Chamberlain, who previously led Whitleys band until his untimely death. I think people have had an appetite for my kind of country for a little while, Top told Billboard. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE MARCH 04: Artifacts seen on display during the opening of American Currents: State of the Music at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on March 04, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE MARCH 04: Artifacts seen on display during the opening of American Currents: State of the Music at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on March 04, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) Beyond the exhibits, American Currents explores key moments in the genre in 2024 through an archival video compilation from chart-topping country albums and highest-grossing tours. Here, you may catch a glimpse of Versailles native Sturgill Simpson. Sturgill Simpson Johnny Blue Skies performs onstage during a 50th season taping of the long-running music series Austin City Limits (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images) In 2024, Simpson said goodbye to his namesake and introduced fans to a new persona: Johnny Blue Skies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement came after a four-year hiatus as Simpson hit the road under a new name, filling arenas across the nation. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news After the release of Dood and Juanita in 2021, Simpson promised that hed only release five studio albums under his own name. Johnny Blue Skiess introduction kicked off with the release of Passage Du Desir in July. The Why Not? Tour marked his first full-length tour in over four years, and things looked a bit different than the average ticketholder would expect. No openers, no breaks, just three hours of Sturgill Simpson covering a diverse setlist showcasing what he and the band have to offer. NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE MARCH 04: Shannon Sanders attends the opening of American Currents: State of the Music at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on March 04, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) Tickets to view the American Currents exhibit are included with admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Click here for more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. By Brendan O'Brien (Reuters) - The hit musical "Hamilton" is scrapping plans to take part in John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' upcoming celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence after President Donald Trump's overhaul of the center in Washington. In February, weeks after taking office, Trump fired the center's president, replaced the board of trustees and named himself chairman of the organization. In response, the musical's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and lead producer Jeffrey Seller said on Wednesday that "Hamilton" will not perform during the center's celebration next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It became untenable for us to participate in an organization that had become so deeply politicized," Seller said in an interview with the New York Times. "The Kennedy Center is for all of us, and it pains me deeply that they took it over and changed that." The moves represent a takeover by Trump of a cultural institution that is known for its signature Kennedy Center Honors performances and is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. In a social media post, Richard Grenell, the center's new president, accused Miranda of intolerance toward those who differ with him politically. "This is a publicity stunt that will backfire," Grenell wrote on X. "The Arts are for everyone - not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miranda, a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner of Puerto Rican descent, has been a vocal critic of Trump and his policies on several occasions. His musical is a hip-hop infused musical with a diverse cast featuring African-American and Latino actors who tell the story of how penniless immigrant Alexander Hamilton rose to become the right-hand man of General George Washington. The show was to run at the center from March 3 to April 26, 2026 to celebrate 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The announcement by Miranda and Seller comes after several artists canceled shows at the center in reaction to Trump's moves, including folk musician Rhiannon Giddens, comedian Issa Rae and musician Low Cut Connie. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Marguerita Choy) WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Billionaire Elon Musk met with Republicans on Capitol Hil to talk about cuts to the federal government. Stocks rebounded Wednesday on news President Donald Trump would temporarily pause tariffs for carmakers. Elon Musk gave congressional Republicans his personal phone number. The topic: cuts to the federal government and his efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans say theyre generally happy with Musks efforts to cut the size of the federal government, but some say they want more transparency. Musk has put entire federal agencies in his crosshairs. The Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and USAID. The Trump administration ordered that agency to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid but the Supreme Court stepped in ruling against the administration. The courts are one of the best tools available for protecting the rule of law, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). In meetings with Musk on Wednesday Republicans floated the idea of voting on DOGE cuts to avoid court challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well be much more accountable to the taxpayers in this country, said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Republicans are also defending President Trumps tariff plan. President Trump granted automakers a one-month pause from 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. They seem to be changing their plans by the hour, said Schumer. Economists warn tariffs could cost the average American family more than a thousand dollars a year. Vice president JD Vance said the solution is simple. Invest in America. That is how you will avoid being penalized by these tariffs, said Vance. Weve seen escalations between China and the U.S. over these tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump imposed a 20% tax on everything imported from China. Chinas embassy posted on X, If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, were ready to fight till the end. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. I note Elon Musk required government employees to list five bullet points of what they accomplished to justify their positions. Their reports will be sent to his unelected government efficiency associates. In that spirit, I will give a partial list of Musks five accomplishments at the Department of Government Efficiency: Let go many IRS/Social Security staff so personal data will be at risk. Fire many national security/Department of Energy staff so our nuclear defenses will be at risk. Eliminate thousands of USAID staff positions so we can deny contracted food to poor people in allied countries Bypass Congress and try to collapse the function of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance so our bank deposits can be at risk. Fire dedicated Veterans Administration staff and government scientists so services and health care advances will be eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Backlash to Musk isn't imagined. When they slash Medicaid it will be worse. I expect Congress to step up and stop Musks unsupervised slash and burn approach. If that is too much to expect, then those that dont hold Musk accountable should be voted out of office. Dennis Murphy, Beloit Here is my 5 things I've done this week list for Elon Musk While not a federal employee, as a retired person receiving Social Security and a taxpayer, these are my five bullet-points for what Ive done in the last week that I sent to Elon Musk: I wrote U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore asking why an unelected billionaire and his unvetted college-age staff could have access to the personal records of myself and millions of other Americans and what harm it might create if they were hacked by criminal elements or foreign governments. I also wrote Sen. Tammy Baldwin asking the same questions. I wrote Sen. Ron Johnson to also say that, while I support the elimination of fraud and waste wherever it exists, it should be done in a systematic, professional audit, not Musk digging around with no oversight. I signed up on Johnsons website to be notified of future Tele-townhall meetings so I can voice my opinions to him in person. I emailed Maine Gov. Janet Mills to thank her for refusing to be bullied by President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Trokan, Milwaukee Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Congress must hold Elon Musk accountable for slash and burn | Letters An anti-hate rally was held in Wayland on Thursday morning after a large swastika was painted on a public building near the towns high school. Officers found the swastika scrawled on the side of a building that houses Wayland Community Pool at 258 Old Connecticut Path just before 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Town Manager Michael McCall, Wayland Public Schools Superintendent David Fleishman, and Police Chief Ed Burman said in a joint statement. The Wayland Facilities Department quickly painted over the swastika and police immediately launched a criminal investigation, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that this incident occurred on a main road in our town, there is concern that members of our community, including school students, may have seen the symbol, officials explained. Since the swastika was found near Wayland High School, Wayland Public Schools reached out to families impacted by the act of hate. Before the start of school on Thursday, students and residents lined the neighborhood streets with signs in hand that read, Love, We care, We chose freedom, Fight antisemitism, Love wins, No place for hate, and No way! Wayland against antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are deeply saddened and angered to hear of this incident. This hateful act does not reflect Waylands values and will not be tolerated in our town, officials added. Hatred will be called out and denounced in all its forms, and we will not tolerate incidents such as this one violating our nations basic principles and attempting to intimidate our community members. Rabbi Danny Burkeman of Temple Shir Tikva and Rabbi David Finkelstein of Congregation Or Atid urged the town to come together to reject antisemitism. Given rising levels of antisemitism in this country, it is unsurprising that our Town has once again been desecrated by the drawing of a swastika in a public space. The response to this hateful act cannot be from the Jewish community alone; our Town must come together to unequivocally reject antisemitism to ensure that Jews, and all other residents, feel safe and welcomed here in Wayland, Burkeman said in a statement. Finkelstein added, I strongly condemn this act of vandalism and hate placed where many of our children and educators were exposed to it. I appreciate the responsiveness of Chief Burman, the administration of Wayland Public Schools and the township, and I look forward to the responses of Wayland residents and their expression of support for their neighbors who are targeted by hate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wayland school officials noted that the Anti-Defamation League was notified of this incident. Wayland detectives are leading an investigation and have vowed to prosecute whoever is responsible. Anyone with information on the swastika is urged to contact the Wayland Police Department at 508-358-4721. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Embattled Myrtle Beach pastor John-Paul Miller is again being accused of sexually assaulting a young girl, this time when he was teaching at his fathers former Christian school more than 20 years ago. The 46-page suit filed Wednesday in Horry County Common Pleas Court by Jane Doe #2 alleges that Miller not only repeatedly groped a girl who was 14 at the time, but humiliated her while encouraging others to do as well when she tried to report the alleged abuse. Miller on Feb. 25 was named in a complaint by Jane Doe #1 that he assaulted her when she was 15 years old, continuing a pattern of sexual abuse and predatory conduct that often targeted minors over decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Timeline: The saga of John-Paul and Mica Miller The new wave of accusations center around incidents that happened at Cathedral Hall Academy in 1999 a private Christian school in Myrtle Beach operated by Millers father, Reginald Wayne Miller. JP-lawsuit-2Download John-Paul Miller at the time was 19 and his victim was 14, the suit says. He couldnt immediately be reached for comment but has refused to speak with News13 multiple times. Anguish in a former bowling alley The school was run by pastor Wayne Miller and his son, John-Paul Miller, who portrayed themselves as devout men of God, offering a faith-based education in a nurturing environment, the lawsuit says. Instead, Plaintiff walked into a nightmare. Cathedral Hall Academy was not a school. It was a trap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With no certified teachers, legitimate coursework or structured academics, the classrooms carved out of a repurposed bowling alley were incomplete, with uneven, slick foors. It was in that environment that the torment began for the unidentified woman, according to the suit. After a morning chapel service, she was asked to hold the door as students departed. John-Paul stayed behind, playing a piano when he asked the girl to join him, the complaint says. She agreed, and John-Paul pulled her in for a hug when she got up to leave. She barely had time to react before JPMs hands moved down her back, past her waist and under her clothing and touching her bare butt, the lawsuit says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim wasnt sure what to do, so reported the action to a teacher. From there, she was sent to Reginald Wayne Millers office, where John-Paul was waiting as well. RWM demanded she repeat her accusation with his son standing beside him. Jane Doe #2s voice waved, and she told the truth, the lawsuit says. After shouting to her not to lie about his son, Reginald Wayne Miller forced to write I will not lie about John-Paul Miller 5,000 times. Raped by demons The girl soon became a victim of intense bullying that included name calling and, physical assaults and mockery by John-Paul, who was on hand for several of the confrontations including once when her shirt was ripped open and tissues stuffed into her bra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through it all, JPM was there, smirking, encouraging, watching, the lawsuit alleges. His father, who found her crying one day, told her she was disrupting the Lords work and needed to repent. The message was clear. No one would protect her, the lawsuit claims. By the time she entered ninth grade, the girl stopped hoping things would change, was sexually assaulted again after Miller said she failed a test and needed to stay behind after class for extra help. At another point, the Jane Doe brought a Harry Potter book to school, which ended up with being taken back to Reginald Wayne Millers office again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They berated her, called her a servant of Satan and told her that if she continued down this path, she would be raped by demons, the lawsuit says. The Millers then set the book on fire, beat her and poured water over her head. Sixteen at the time, it was her final year at Cathedral Hall Academy. The Millers and their ministries are being sued on grounds of negligence, civil conspiracy, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violating the South Carolina Fair Trade Practices Act. Miller has been embroiled in controversy since his wife Micas death last April, while he was pastor at Solid Rock Church in The Market Common. Micas death at the Lumber River State Park near Lumberton in Robeson County was ruled a suicide, but her family and numerous protestors within the Justice for Mica movement have pushed forward with claims that he abused his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John-Paul was jailed on an assault charge in November after an incident near the Solid Rock Church, which has since been closed and sold. Prior to that, the FBI searched his home in the Azalea Lakes neighborhood near Myrtle Beach. The Millers ministry dates back to the early 1970s, when Reginald Miller founded the Florence Tabernacle Church, the lawsuit said. The ministry eventually grew into the Gloryland Bible College and later Cathedral Bible College. The ministry was relocated to Myrtle Beach in 1993 following allegations of sexual misconduct involving Reginald Miller and students of the college, the lawsuit said. That was followed by the creation of Cathedral Baptist Church. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A state-of-the-art unmanned warship designed for autonomous naval missions has been spotted in waters off of Washington state. The USX-1 Defiant was being pushed by tug boat earlier this week through the Saratoga Passage in Puget Sound, just a few miles from the U.S. Navys Naval Air Station Whidby Island, according to The War Zone. The 180ft, 240-ton unmanned surface vessel, a type of drone, was completed last month after a five-year development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been constructed as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencys No Manning Required Ship program alongside private maritime and operations company Serco the primary contractor for the Defiant. The ship was first launched at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard near the unincorporated community of Freeland, just northwest of Seattle, last month in preparation for a series of trials that aim to bring a cost-effective USV to the Navy. The Defiant is still under wraps, despite its construction being finished last month (DARPA) The Navy primarily uses USVs for surveillance, reconnaissance, and to glean intelligence. Its construction comes amid increased calls from American policymakers and combat commands for cost-effective USVs to help Taiwan defend against a potential Chinese invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, detailed the use of the unmanned ships last summer in the Navys hellscape, which aims to flood the Taiwan Strait with drones to deter aggression from the Peoples Liberation Army. Removing the human element from all ship design considerations has allowed for a narrower beam which means better stealth performance, better hydrodynamic efficiency, and a better operating window in rough seas, the agency said. It was not immediately clear whether the vessel would be controlled remotely or operate fully autonomously. The vessel was first launched at the Nichols Brothers Boat Builders shipyard last month (DARPA) The Defiant, however, is still quite literally under wraps with photos of the ship released by the agency showing it partially covered in a tarp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DARPA serves as the central research and development arm of the Department of Defense to develop new technologies for the military. The agency said the Defiant is set to undergo extensive in-water testing, both dockside and at sea and is scheduled to depart for a multi-month at sea demonstration in spring 2025. Ryan Maatta, a Marine Engineer Manager with Serco overseeing the NOMARS project, told Naval News it hopes the ship is much less expensive to do the same mission as a manned platform. Maatta added that the Defiant would undergo two months of sea trials before a very large and extensive demonstration of the vessel and its capabilities. Matt Platkin and other attorneys general allege the Trump administration's bid to cut $600 million in congressionally approved funding violates federal law. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) New Jersey and a coalition of other states on Thursday sued the federal government, arguing President Donald Trumps attempt to cut $600 million in congressionally approved teacher training grants violates federal law that governs the process U.S. agencies use to create regulations. The challenge by Attorney General Matt Platkin and attorneys general in states like California, Massachusetts, and five others argues Trumps attempt to terminate that funding outstripped executive authority and must be barred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress authorized this spending, Platkin told the New Jersey Monitor. As weve argued in other cases successfully, the president cannot just decide that he does not want to spend money that Congress authorizes and appropriates. In a mid-February press release, the U.S. Department of Education said it terminated those programs because they touched on topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion. The president is not a king. He has to follow the law. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin The state attorneys general allege the grants elimination would only worsen longstanding teacher shortages, particularly in the urban and rural school districts the program is intended to aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would also harm special education students whose supports like aides are paid for by federal dollars under the Americans with Disabilities Education Act, they said. If you have a kid with autism, odds are their aide that they have with them all day thats making sure they can go through the day and get the learning environment that they deserve is funded in some way, shape, or form by our federal government, Platkin said. New Jersey has for years faced shortages of teachers, with particularly severe shortfalls of educators for subjects like math, science, special education, and English instruction for non-native speakers. A report drafted by Rutgers University researchers last year found the state issued only 1.1 provisional teaching certificates for every teacher that left the profession in the 2022-2023 school year, down from 2.9 certifications nine years earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study warns that ratio risks unsustainably reducing the states ranks of educators. Because at least 10% of teachers leave the profession within their first three years, hiring roughly as many replacements would further winnow teachers ranks over time. Thursdays suit, which follows a separate legal action from teacher preparatory programs, is the latest of many Platkin has lodged to block actions taken by the Trump administration. Past filings have targeted administration efforts to stop disaster relief funding, lay off significant chunks of the federal workforce, and restrict constitutionally granted birthright citizenship. The spate of suits has drawn ire from New Jersey Republicans, who in recent days have called for Platkin to resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our attorney general is very busy inserting himself into federal politics to do anything here in New Jersey, Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-Warren) said on the Assembly floor last week. He should resign. Hes a disgrace, and he needs to go back to wherever he came from. And we need an attorney general who will do the will of the people. Assembly Republicans have drafted articles of impeachment against Platkin, but theres little chance of them securing the simple majority in the Assembly to actually impeach him, let alone the two-thirds Senate supermajority they need to remove him from office. Platkin said he has paid those efforts little mind. I dont spend a whole lot of time thinking about partisan political attacks, he said. My job is to uphold the law, uphold the constitution, and protect the residents of this state. Thats what I do every single day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More suits could be on the horizon. Trump has said he wants to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, created by an act of Congress, and reports have said he is preparing to issue an executive operation to begin dismantling the agency as early as this week. Any attempt to unlawfully gut or end a federal agency thats congressionally authorized is something we are going to, I think, very strongly oppose, Platkin said. The president is not a king. He has to follow the law, and theres legal ways to effectuate the policies that he cares about. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A Naperville Fire Department program devoted to tackling nonemergency medical service calls saved residents more than $5 million in 2024, Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis says. Puknaitis lauded the estimated cost savings at the Naperville City Council meeting Tuesday night as part of a presentation on how the fire departments Community Advocate Response Team (CART) program performed in 2024. The program, piloted in 2022 and launched last year, created an ambulance unit solely dedicated to answering 911 calls that may not require a trip to the emergency room but still need attention. Those calls could include requests for help with mental health crises, drug and chemical dependencies, memory care and senior care issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CART responded to 1,488 incidents in 2024, according to Puknaitis presentation. Of those, 1,005 ultimately did not require transport to the hospital. Estimating that an average trip to a medical facility for a nonemergency situation would cost about $5,000, Puknaitis said he believed CART helped the city save more than $5 million last year in avoided emergency room visits. This is a great program, Puknaitis told council members. Its building, I can tell you that. Theres more people that are learning about this every single day. We do have a mental health situation that is occurring around Naperville. (CART) is truly making a difference in peoples lives, and were learning from this every single day. When the fire department started piloting the CART program in January 2022, it operated on a limited, 40 hours a week basis. Three shift personnel were reassigned to the initiative and used a reserve ambulance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, the city council authorized the department to hire six new full-time employees to give the program the staffing it needed to be a 24/7 operation. CART launched full time in January 2024. The types of incidents the unit responded to in 2024 were overwhelmingly more than 80% nonemergency and most related to mental health issues, Puknaitis said. When the CART unit responds to a call, the team focuses on determining the root cause of the situation and typically treats the patient on scene, he said. Patients are then connected to applicable community resources for preventative care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats different from the departments pre-CART model and the model used for regular ambulances where a unit responding to a nonemergency situation would give patients two options: sign a release or go to the hospital. The average time a unit spends on a scene with a treat no transport incident is about 20 minutes, Puknaitis said. On average, the team is spending 25% more time with patients compared to other units, and in some cases has spent as many as three hours on scene with a patient trying to find the right solutions, he said. Beyond initial response, CART also performed 1,536 follow-up services for patients. Additional service calls exceeded the number of initial calls due to some patients needing repeated follow-up attention, Puknaitis said. Follow-up services are centered on checking in with patients to ensure they are receiving the help they need to prevent their situations from becoming an emergency in the future, the chief said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are many Naperville residents that have conveyed to myself and members of my department how fortunate they are to have this program, Puknaitis said. As the program continues to grow, the department is hoping to really get the message out to residents that CART is an available resource to them, he said in a call Wednesday. Should someone want help through CART, they can call 911 and request the unit or call the departments nonemergency number, 630-305-5900, during regular business hours, he said. In addition to expanding the programs reach in Naperville, Puknaitis said he could see similar initiatives taking shape in other communities in the future. In the wake of its launch, several other municipalities including Joliet, Elgin, Lockport and Naples, Florida have reached out to Naperville fire to learn more about the initiative, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at Tuesdays meeting, Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli commended CARTS impact. This is a real feather in Napervilles cap, for (the fire department) to be on the frontline with this particular program, he said. tkenny@chicagotribune.com March 5 (UPI) -- Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have conserved energy supplies on the record-setting Voyager 1 & 2 deep space probes nearly 50 years after their missions launched to extend them further. NASA launched the probes in 1977, which rely on a diminishing radioisotope power system that uses the heat from decaying plutonium to generate electrical power. Each probe loses about 4 watts of power every year, but NASA has extended their respective missions by shutting down some of its instruments to conserve their remaining power sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Voyagers have been deep space rock stars since launch," Voyager project manager Suzanne Dodd said. "We want to keep it that way as long as possible." Dodd said the probes' electrical power is running low and only would have a few more months of power before shutting down and ending their missions without taking steps to reduce power consumption. NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft, encapsulated within its payload fairing, is seen on August 5, 1977, and launched atop the Titan/Centaur-7 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on August 20, 1977. Photo Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/KSC Each spacecraft contains identical sets of 10 scientific instruments, some of which are designed to collect data during planetary flybys. The instruments for the flybys have been turned off after each probe completed exploratory missions of the solar system's gas giants. This view of Jupiter was taken by Voyager 1 through color filters and recombined to produce the color image from three black and white negatives by the Image Processing Lab at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Photo Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech Other instruments have remained under power while studying the solar system's heliosphere, which NASA describes as a "bubble of solar wind and magnetic fields created by the Sun." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remaining powered instruments also will help the probes explore interstellar space, which is the region located outside the heliosphere. The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes reached the edge of the heliosphere and began entering interstellar space in 2012 and 2018, respectively. They are the only man-made spacecraft that have operated in interstellar space. NASA engineers in October shut down an instrument that measures the amount and direction of electronically charged atoms called plasma on Voyager 2. Engineers shut down the same instrument on Voyager 1 years ago due to degraded performance. Mission engineers last week shut down the cosmic ray subsystem on Voyager 1, which was used to study cosmic rays, including protons, by measuring their energy and flux. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cosmic ray subsystem used three telescopes to accomplish its mission and determine when and where the probe exited the heliosphere. Mission engineers also are preparing to deactivate Voyager 2's low-energy charged-particle instrument that measures ions, electrons and cosmic rays that originate from within the solar system and galaxy. "The Voyager spacecraft have far surpassed their original mission to study the outer planets," NASA Voyager program scientist Patrick Koehn said. "Every bit of additional data we have gathered since then is not only valuable bonus science for heliophysics, but also a testament to the exemplary engineering that has gone into the Voyagers - starting nearly 50 years ago and continuing to this day." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NASA engineers say the probes should operate for another year before each will require another system to be shut down to preserve more power and extend their missions. The power-conservation plan for the Voyager 1 and 2 probes should enable them to remain active into the 2030s. Each probe has suffered deep-space weathering for 47 years, which might lessen their service lives. Each probe is the most distance man-made object ever built with Voyager 1 traveling more than 15 billion miles from Earth and Voyager 2 more than 13 billion miles, according to NASA. "Every minute of every day, the Voyagers explore a region where no spacecraft has gone before," Voyager project scientists Linda Spilker said. Indiana music lovers can put their boots on the ground in Nashville, Tennessee, a lot faster starting today. Southwest Airlines launches a daily non-stop flight to Music City out of Indianapolis International Airport today. The new flight to Nashville International Airport is an hour long. A Southwest Airlines flight departs as plows clear snow at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Before today, a Southwest passenger wanting to fly from Indy to the country music mecca had to opt for one of dozens of connecting flights with travel times ranging from 3.5 to seven hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drive time from downtown Indianapolis to Nashville is about four hours. Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: New direct flight from Indianapolis to Nashville launches Nashville police arrested a 25-year-old woman after the owner of a Toyota pickup truck, involved in the fatal hit-and-run of a Florida man, told investigators the suspect wanted to surrender herself. Karla Guadalupe Armendariz was charged with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident with death and driving without a license Wednesday evening. She was booked at the Downtown Detention Center with a combined $100,000 bond. Charles A. Fountain, 65, of Jacksonville, Florida, was killed Monday when he was hit by the Tacoma shortly before 7 p.m. on Old Hickory Boulevard near Firestone Parkway. Fountain, a tractor-trailer truck driver, parked his rig at the TA Truck Stop and used his electric scooter to run errands, police said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fountain pulled out of a nearby Dollar General and drove along the shoulder of the road before he tried to cross to the other side when he was hit by the Toyota, police said. The scooter, and Fountain, were drug under the truck for about 900 feet, police said. A Crime Stoppers tip led police to the truck, abandoned at an Edmondson Pike apartment complex Wednesday afternoon. The front bumper was scuffed, grill cracked and the hood bowed up. The front passenger tire was also flat. The registered owner of the truck reported to police that Armendariz, who was driving the truck that night, wanted to surrender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She admitted to drinking six beers and taking a prescription drug prior to the crash. She claimed to have blacked out and did not remember the collision," police said in a statement. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Police: Woman charged after Florida man killed in hit-and-run Nashville Police captured a man wanted in connection with the April 2024 death of a California rapper. Officers with the department's TITANS Unit arrested 19-year-old Amir Carroll on East Thompson Lane Wednesday night on 11 grand jury indictments, police said in a statement Thursday afternoon. Another man, Adrian Cameron Jr., is still being sought, police said. Christopher Cheeks, known in the music industry as Chris King, was shot on April 20, 2024, at about 2:30 a.m. in an alleyway between Hayes and Church streets in the Midtown area outside of a music studio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Cheeks was chatting with friends when three men walked up to them. A 29-year-old man with Cheeks, who was also injured in the shooting, told police that the three tried to rob the group. "It was then that he heard gunfire and realized he was struck," police said in an April statement. More: California rapper Chris King gunned down in Nashville; police search for 19-year-old suspect Cheeks and his friends scattered. Cheeks was ultimately found wounded in a parking garage at the Hayes Street Hotel. Both Cheeks and his friend were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Cheeks died there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carroll was booked at the Downtown Detention Center on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and felony weapon possession, among others. Police initially identified Cameron as a suspect in April. At the time of the shooting, Cameron was free on bond in connection with the September 2021 death of 50-year-old Josh Evans. Police continue to search for Cameron. Anyone with information on Cameron's whereabouts or the identities of other suspects involved in the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Police: Suspect arrested in California rapper's death Switzerland is stepping up its efforts to cut emissions, approving new climate targets. Reuters reported that the goal is to reduce emissions by 2035 to at least 65% of 1990 levels. Last year's European court ruling that Switzerland was not doing enough to protect the environment prompted this more aggressive approach to combating rising global temperatures. These new objectives coincide with the country's commitment to The Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty adopted by 196 parties in 2015 at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, France. In contrast, President Trump is withdrawing the United States from The Paris Agreement, as he did during his first term, citing that it poses an unfair economic burden on the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmental groups have criticized the decision. As NPR reported, Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and an architect of the Paris Agreement, was unhappy about losing U.S. support but said that international climate action "has proven resilient and is stronger than any single country's politics and policies." Despite policies and politics, we can still take steps as individuals to combat the warming of the planet. Upgrading your appliances can reduce energy usage in your home, resulting in cost savings. Installing solar panels is another way to combat the warming of the planet, and community solar programs allow you to tap into clean energy without the need to install rooftop panels. By adopting new climate targets, Switzerland is taking a more aggressive approach to the climate crisis. The country had previously committed to cut emissions in half by 2030 from where they were in 1990. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new amendment is part of a long-term climate strategy focused on the important role of renewable and clean energy. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The days are getting warmer and that means hiking season for many is right around the corner. But with the mass layoffs among National Park Service workers, what will our beloved parks look like? The National Park Services mission is to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Department of the Interior agency looks over great swaths of land all over the United States, with an already small staff. Now it is more than 1,000 probationary workers less, thanks to the Trump administration cuts to the federal workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway have reported losing personnel in the firings, and with threats of possibly even more cuts in the coming months, it could have an impact on the experience of visitors during peak months. Visitors to Great Smoky Mountains, national parks might not have the same experience as in years past So far one park has specifically cited staffing issues as the reason for a reduction in operations. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado will be closing two days a week due to staffing. In the Smokies, people might not notice changes right away, but the signs could be subtle: visitor centers closing early or opening later, trash cans in need of emptying, restrooms that aren't as clean or trees not being cleared on hiking paths. For national park advocates, it is worrisome. "I don't know whether well see overflowing latrines, polluted streams or deadly wildfires first, but (Secretary of the Interior) Doug Burgum is already leaving a path of destruction across Americas parks and public lands," said Aaron Weiss, the deputy director of the public lands advocacy group Center for Western Priorities. "These terminations are foolish, heartless, and do nothing to make the government more efficient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major parks have already announced changes and have even cancelled some services altogether: Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona: Will be closing its two visitor centers on Mondays starting Feb. 24. Yosemite National Park: Has halted reservations for 577 camping spots this summer. Effigy Mounds in Iowa: Will be closing its visitor center two days a week until the summer. Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico: Has canceled its guided tours, and announced that self-guided tours will end sometime in March. How many people visit national parks each year? Millions of people visit parks each year to catch a glimpse of some of the natural, untouched beauty that has been preserved within those boundaries and learn more about why the site is preserved. In 2023, more than 325 million people visited national parks, the most recent year for which national park statistics are publicly available. How many national park sites are in the United States? There are 433 national park sites in the United States and Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam, according to the nonprofit National Parks Foundation. These sites cover more than 85 million acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the locations are considered park sites, but only 63 have "National Park" in their name, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the National Park Service. Park rangers, both civilian and law enforcement, cover wide swaths of land while they are working, often by themselves. How many people are employees of the National Park Service? Between permanent, temporary and seasonal employees, there are usually around 20,000 people employed by the National Park Service. Seasonal employees make up thousands of those positions. Many of these are people who work during the busy season, staffing educational centers, giving tours and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Permanent employees typically include maintenance staff, law enforcement rangers, park rangers, communications and administration. National Park Service preps for more layoffs as people plan visits to parks The Great Smoky Mountains that crest the border between Tennessee and North Carolina already have lost a dozen national park employees due to the mass layoffs, and there could be even more in the future. We have just received word in the last couple of days that layoffs are not finished, that agencies all federal agencies including the park service have to submit a reorganization plan which will call for additional, quote, massive layoffs,' Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers, told Knox News at the end of February. USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Smoky Mountains visits could be very different in 2025 due to NPS cuts Over 30 National Park Service leases could be canceled, advocacy group NPCA said. The NPCA said the canceling the leases could impact visitor experiences and safety. The potential lease terminations are part of the Trump administration's push for spending cuts. More than 30 leases that house National Park Service operations from visitor centers to law enforcement and search and rescue facilities are on the chopping block, according to an analysis by the National Park Conservation Association, or NPCA. The NPCA, a nonprofit that advocates for the national parks, compiled a list of leases that have been targeted for termination by the Trump administration. If approved, the terminations would take effect at various times this year or next depending on the locations, according to the list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Whoever's making these decisions is not making them in the best interest of the park service or park visitors," Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs at NPCA, told Business Insider. "Sure, you could be saving some money, but at the expense of public safety." The potential cancelations are part of the Trump administration's push for efficiency and spending cuts across the federal government, which has included mass firings as well as lease terminations by various agencies. Park advocates and employees have already expressed concern about staffing cuts around 1,000 NPS employees were believed to have been fired last month while an additional 700-plus opted into the deferred resignation program, according to an internal NPS memo viewed by BI. They said the staff cuts would make the parks less safe and less enjoyable for visitors. NPCA said canceling these leases would have a similar effect. "The Department of the Interior and its bureaus are committed to upholding federal responsibilities to communities and tribes," a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, which includes NPS, told BI, adding that the department is working with the General Services Administration, or GSA, "to ensure facilities or alternative options will be available for the continued delivery of Interior services as we embrace new opportunities for optimization and innovation in workforce management." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GSA, which sent a memo to various agencies last month requesting lease terminations, did not respond to a request for comment from BI. So what could that mean for travelers headed to National Parks for their vacations? The facilities being targeted include at least eight visitor centers, including some that have no apparent alternative location, Brengel said. The visitors centers on the list include the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center, the visitor center for Little River Canyon National Preserve in Alabama, the visitor center for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in Minnesota, and the visitor center for the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Seattle. Brengel said visitor centers are the first stop for many park-goers, who rely on park rangers at those centers to get information on what to do or see, park history, and how to stay safe while exploring, as well as any trail closures or potentially dangerous weather conditions. Other facilities that NPCA found could have their leases terminated include those used for law enforcement or search and rescue, or SAR. One facility in Utah is located centrally to several national parks and houses staff and equipment, including some used to address wildfires and for SAR. NPCA said it's currently unclear where these resources would be relocated if the lease was terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The list also includes facilities focused on science, like water quality testing, and that house delicate artifacts that require specific conditions to be safely stored, like the Southeast Archeological Center in in Tallahassee, Florida. The potential impacts are compounded by the staffing cuts, which advocates and park service employees said could lead to overflowing trash cans and poorly maintained bathrooms and other facilities, as well as long entrance lines to enter parks or closed off areas. Some park service employees are making the case that the leases are necessary and are appealing to the GSA for exceptions, Brengel said. It's unclear when the appeals would be granted or when the final termination orders would be issued. Brengel said it seems like these only reason these particular leases were targeted was because they were considered "soft-term," meaning they were in a period of their contract in which they could more easily be terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the superintendents of the parks had been consulted in advance of proposing cuts, she said, they would have found NPS has been "underfunded and understaffed for 15 years." Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at kvlamis@businessinsider.com or Signal at @kelseyv.21. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider Lili Zheng and Neil Fischer - NBC Philadelphia Lili Zheng and Neil Fischer have joined NBC owned Philadelphia station WCAU as full-time, general assignment reporters. Zheng started on March 3 as a weekend reporter. Fischer has been working as a freelancer at the stations since August 2024, can be seen reporting weekend mornings and some weekdays. "We are pleased to have Lili and Neil join the NBC10 team," said Elizabeth Flores, vice president of news for NBC10 and Telemundo62. Lili, who has strong ties to this community after graduating from Temple University brings a unique understanding of our area, making her an invaluable addition to our team. Alongside her, Neils experience and passion for local storytelling will strengthen our coverage and help us continue providing the high-quality news that our viewers trust. Together, they will help us keep our community informed and engaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zheng comes from WTTG in Washington, D.C. where she worked as a freelance reporter covering crime, politics and community issues. Before that, she was a reporter at KXAS in Dallas, Texas. Shes also worked as a multimedia journalist at KFOR in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Fischer joined NBC10 as a freelance reporter in August 2024. Before joining NBC10, Fischer was a reporter and anchor at WKYC in Cleveland, Ohio and was a reporter and anchor at KAPP-KVEW in Kennewick, Washington before that. The 2023 North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force Report reveals that non-Hispanic Black and American Indian children face significantly higher mortality rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the state. 2023 report: Infant mortality higher in the Carolinas compared to national average In 2023, the disparity in infant mortality rates worsened, with Black infants dying at rates three times higher than white infants. North Carolina ranks as the 10th highest in the nation for infant mortality, underscoring the urgent need for intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All babies born in North Carolina deserve a healthy start to life, said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. We are committed to ensuring women and families have the care and support they need prior to, during and after pregnancy, no matter where they live or how much money they make. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has launched an updated NC Perinatal Health Strategic Plan to address these disparities. The plan includes measures such as paid parental leave for state employees, Medicaid reimbursement for group prenatal care, and increased postpartum health care coverage for NC Medicaid beneficiaries. North Carolinas Healthy Opportunity Pilots are also playing a crucial role in addressing non-medical drivers of health, such as housing, food, and transportation, which are vital for improving the health of women and children. Since North Carolina expanded Medicaid, over 640,000 residents have gained health care coverage, which is expected to lead to healthier pregnancies and better maternal and infant outcomes. The efforts by NCDHHS and the expansion of Medicaid are critical steps towards reducing infant mortality and improving health outcomes for children and families across North Carolina. VIDEO: Local nonprofit addresses Black maternal and infant health disparities North Carolina Rep. Brendan Jones (R-Columbus), left, and Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Bladen) listen to testimony at a hearing on Hurricane Helene recovery on March 6, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) State officials charged with leading western North Carolinas recovery from Hurricane Helene have warned that there are years of rebuilding ahead. But top state lawmakers made their expectations clear Thursday: they want shovels in the ground, and houses under construction, as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a two-hour hearing, Republicans demanded details on how Gov. Josh Steins lieutenants for Helene recovery would approach homebuilding a process that bedeviled former Gov. Roy Coopers administration and infuriated lawmakers across the aisle. Its starting to feel like Groundhog Day again, said Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus), the House majority leader. We dont have six years to do this, he added. I want to see some houses. This body wants to see some houses. We want some people made whole. But rebuilding cant begin in earnest without funding, administration officials said and it remains an uphill battle to get aid money flowing into the mountains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislature is on the brink of approving $140 million to kickstart the program. But federal dollars which make up the lions share of relief will be slow to arrive, between a strict regulatory process and staffing shakeups in Washington. We have to work through (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) and the federal requirements, said Stephanie McGarrah, a Stein appointee heading up a new Department of Commerce team focused on Helene. We just have to be realistic about what we can, and cannot do, with these funds. Officials have submitted their plan to spend $1.4 billion in federal dollars a key chunk of money for housing efforts. But reported cuts to the office handling that money could complicate things. McGarrah said when the state met with HUD officials last week, they couldnt confirm whether or not those cuts were coming. The data we have and dont have When that money does arrive (likely in late summer), the administration will face other obstacles in spending it. Information on housing damage in the region is fuzzy, McGarrah said, between FEMA, the Small Business Administration, HUD and local governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were struggling to define the problem because of the data we have and dont have, she said. Republicans are frustrated by those complications. Sen. Timothy Moffitt (R-Henderson) said he didnt have a lot of trust in either the state or federal efforts. I would trust my colleagues to take a checkbook to their districts, he said. Because we could administer that more immediately than these complicated processes. Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) cautioned her colleagues against directing frustrations attributable to federal government delays and inaction toward state officials. I dont want us to be back here in two years yelling at you all because of chaos at the federal level that has prevented that money from flowing, Mayfield said. Jonathan Krebs, right, Gov. Josh Steins advisor to western North Carolina, speaks with Sens. Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson) and Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) on March 6, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) The state will soon start taking steps towards a formal housing aid program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Krebs, Steins advisor for western North Carolina, said theyd begin shopping for a vendor to lead the application process within the next 30 days. But they would not begin accepting applicants for rebuilding until the money was totally guaranteed, he said. Our ability to not wait depends on your action, Krebs told lawmakers. Key numbers to watch in Helene recovery process Steins Helene staff shared a raft of data and numbers with legislators Thursday as they outlined recovery efforts. Here are a few of the most notable. The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Clayton Henkel) Attorney General Jeff Jackson said he joined a legal challenge to the federal funding freeze out of concern for widespread and immediate damage to North Carolinians. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline) Senate Republicans surprise with sudden vote on presidential executive orders Republicans in the North Carolina Senate, in an unexpected Wednesday vote, approved a bill that would ban Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, from challenging presidential executive orders. Senate Bill 58 forbids the states attorney general from filing any action or making any argument that would invalidate an executive order from the White House. It comes just months after Jackson won the AGs office, defeating Republican Congressman Dan Bishop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Timothy Moffitt (R-Henderson), the bills sponsor, has called it housekeeping, arguing that policy battles in the courts fall outside the AGs purview. I just think that anything that would rise to a level of concern, this General Assembly is capable of interceding, Moffitt said in February. Democrats blasted both the bill itself and the unexpected motion to debate Wednesday. With this bill we kneel to the president, Sen. Terence Everitt (D-Granville) said. And with this bill, North Carolina will always kneel. And Sen. Graig Meyer (D-Caswell) said if party control was reversed, I would do not this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats easy to say, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) told reporters in response after the vote. Its easy to criticize. So, I mean, I take him at his word. The vote on the measure was added suddenly to the Senates calendar on Wednesday. Democrats said they were given notice only after the afternoon floor session commenced. It was approved 28-17, along party lines. One more vote is needed to send the legislation to the House; that vote is scheduled for Tuesday. In the first months of his tenure, Jackson has joined lawsuits against the federal government over the potential exposure of North Carolinians personal information to Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, an attempted freeze on wide swaths of funding from the National Institutes of Health, and most notably, an order by Trump purporting to end birthright citizenship in the United States. Federal judges granted relief to the states in every challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NC Newslines Brandon Kingdollar contributed reporting. Mangled railroad tracks and damaged buildings wrought by Hurricane Helene can be seen along the French Broad River on October 3, 2024 in Marshall, North Carolina. Helene caused more than $59 billion in damages to the state. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Summer school money, more farm aid added to Helene relief as latest bill inches closer to passage The state Senate passed new spending for Hurricane Helene relief on Wednesday, adding money for summer school programs and boosting the amount of agricultural aid in the half-billion-dollar spending package. House Bill 47, the legislatures third dedicated relief bill for western North Carolina, also sends a final bundle of money to finish post-hurricane homebuilding efforts for in the east. The bill, passed unanimously in the Senate, now returns to the House for final approval. The bill lays out $545 million in new state spending for Helene recovery efforts. And it sends $217 million to ReBuild NC, the long-struggling homebuilding program, to finish construction projects from post-Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I appreciate the fact that it was a unanimous vote here in the Senate, and looking forward to the House concurring with the changes that weve made, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) told reporters. Among those changes are an additional $4.5 million to fund summer schooling for districts in western North Carolina. Gov. Josh Stein had requested the money, previously absent in the bill, to help students who missed weeks of classes after the storm catch up. Senators also added more money to agricultural aid, making it the largest line-item in the bill at $192 million. That money will fund a crop loss program, as well as debris removal on farms. Other major spending includes $140 million for a new homebuilding program, $100 million for private road and bridge repairs, and $55 million for local governments to repair business infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Democrats voted in support of the bill, but lamented a continued lack of money for small business grants and rental assistance. Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) questioned why the bills extensive aid to farmers couldnt be extended to other industries. That is frankly a distinction I do not understand, Mayfield. Nor does anyone in my district. Correction: An earlier version of this story misattributed a quote during Senate floor debate. The quote was from Sen. Terence Everitt (D-Granville). DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) As residents flock back home for the evening, some may find themselves in the dark. As of 5:52 p.m., the AES Ohio Outage Map reports 60 residents are without power. The map saw its highest outage peak of the afternoon in the Bellbrook area. Around 4:40 p.m., 2,811 outages were reported. Since then, power has been restored. Mary Ann Kabel, director of corporate communications for AES Ohio, told 2 NEWS crews are prepared to restore power as soon as possible if an outage would occur. We are fully staffed to restore power to our customers impacted by this weather event. Our crews are working quickly and safely on restoration efforts for customers without power. We encourage customers to contact us if they are experiencing an outage AES-ohio.com/outages or call 877-4OUTAGE. Make safety your priority. Mary Ann Kabel If your electricity is out, click here to report it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Teresa Ranken, 59, of Lincoln, hangs up signs reminding voters of acceptable forms of identification cards needed for voting on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at Sower Church in Lincoln, Neb. (Sammy Smith/Nebraska News Service) LINCOLN State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue says he wants to eliminate online voter registration, restrict absentee voting, provide more security for ballot boxes and require hand-counting of election results, citing election integrity concerns. State and local election officials testified against Holdcrofts Legislative Bill 541 during its public hearing Wednesday before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, questioning the need for changes to election law and raising concerns about possibly violating federal law and the potential costs to taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other bill opponents said the changes would introduce unnecessary burdens to voters and make it harder for Nebraskans to participate in elections. Holdcroft said while he has confidence in the integrity of Nebraska elections, the bill is simply to give peace of mind to the electorate and our state regarding the security of our elections. Ties to 2020 election Supporters of the bill claim it would prevent voter fraud and cheating in state elections, pointing to the 2020 election, when President Donald Trump falsely claimed victory but lost to former President Joe Biden. The Nebraska proposal is being discussed as Republicans across the country ramped up unproven claims of non-citizen voting and fraud. Deputy Nebraska Secretary of State Wayne Bena, who oversees the states Elections Division, said state elections officials appreciated Holdcrofts interest in election integrity. He said Secretary of State Robert Evnen agrees with some provisions of LB 541, such as tightening security around ballot boxes, but said Evnen has practical concerns about hand counting and legal concerns about voter registration changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Hand] counting, which is statistically the least reliable way that you can count ballots, add significant times and add significant cost to conducting an election, Bena said. Potential costs and burdens Tracy Overstreet, Hall County Election Commissioner, said during the hearing that the proposed changes would require her to hire more staff and violate the federal National Voting Rights Act because of the way the bill would restrict voter registration by mail. According to the bills fiscal note, the changes Holdcroft seeks would cost the state nearly $1 million when Nebraska is facing a significant budget shortfall. Danna Seevers, who testified in support of the bill, said the committee should act to honor the will of the people who overwhelmingly elected Donald Trump in 2024 and carry out his agenda, adding that LB 541 delivers on that with surgical precision. Trump met with state governors late last month, including Gov. Jim Pillen, and urged them to modify their voting laws to implement paper ballots, one-day voting, voter ID and proof of citizenship. However, Most states, including Nebraska, already have voter ID laws and utilize paper ballots, often as backups, and only U.S. citizens are legally allowed to vote in federal elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt just a bill, Seevers said. Its a battle cry for election integrity that echoes Trumps call to action. What might the bill mean? Voting advocacy groups said the bill would place unnecessary burdens on voters. By restricting early voting to a handful of the scenarios, voting in Nebraska will become more challenging and less convenient, said Cesar Garcia, a Nebraska Appleseeds Community Organizer. As a consequence, our state will likely see lower voter turnout. Nebraskans passed a state constitutional amendment in 2022 requiring the Legislature to implement voter ID in Nebraska. Fewer voters were turned away under the law than in other states with similar laws. The committee took no immediate action on the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bena said the Secretary of State and the county election commissioners would implement the Holdcroft bill if the Legislature passes it. However, if youre asking our office [if] such a law is justified? Bena said. The answer is no. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX There is no trade-off between economic growth and net zero. We have been told this repeatedly by policymakers, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Jan 29 further and faster speech. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Is it really true that in this all-important instance, the general rule that there are very few, if any, genuine economic policy solutions only trade-offs is wrong? No surprises, the answer is no. Here are the facts. In 1920, the electricity available to the UK economy was 4.1 terawatt hours (TWh). Throughout the 20th century, capacity rose steadily to a peak of 385 TWh in 2005. Over that period, productivity, measured in output per hour terms, rose by an impressive 700pc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2005, however, electricity availability has declined by 21pc. This fall has occurred largely because of the planned decommissioning of various types of electricity production facilities including coal and oil, but also nuclear. As capacity has been destroyed or mothballed, it has not been replaced like-for-like, and overall electricity availability has declined precipitously. Also, during the mid-2000s, the UK shifted from being a net exporter of oil and gas to a net importer. In response to the huge decline in available energy relative to demand, prices have risen and risen across all types of industrial and household energy. Indeed, energy prices had been broadly stable for almost a decade for industry and households until the amount of electricity that the UK could use peaked in 2005. And relative to general prices across the economy, industrial energy prices were actually declining implying a positive effect on producers margins as energy costs shrank relative to final prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Up until about 10 years ago, UK electricity prices were only slightly above the average for International Energy Agency (IEA) members. Occasionally, UK prices even fell below the average. But since 2014, UK prices have remained consistently above average. By 2023, the UK had the highest domestic electricity prices in the IEA at some 80pc above the average. Why does this matter? Well, peak UK electricity coincides with the stagnation in UK productivity and living standards. This stalling of living standards has been, for two decades, the all-important puzzle that policymakers have repeatedly failed to solve. But what if the answer to this puzzle is that the UK is suffering from a chronic and self-inflicted energy shortage? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The economics are simple. Everything requires energy. The more you have at a cheap price, the more quality goods and services can be produced for consumption. It is easy to show this by stepping back from a narrow focus on the UK and looking at the experience around the world. Data for 189 countries almost the whole world show a clear positive relationship between GDP per capita which is the result of productivity growth and energy consumption per capita. Put differently, rich countries tend to be rich partly because they supply themselves with and utilise more energy than poorer countries. In 2005, when UK electricity supply peaked, energy consumption per capita was 50pc of the US level and our living standards were around 79pc of the US level. But by 2022, UK per capita energy consumption had declined to around 38pc of the US level, while per capita GDP had fallen to 74pc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, energy demands vary a lot by country. Large geographies such as the US require more energy for travel and haulage, and economies oriented towards industry may demand more energy than services-oriented economies. But the argument goes the other way, too. The cost and availability of energy influence economic activity. Countries with access to large supplies of cheap energy can produce manufactured goods cheaper than countries with scarce and costly energy. As Germany has shown in the wake of the 2021 to 2023 gas shock, rising energy prices are a recipe for deindustrialisation. Its industrial output is 17pc lower than it was at its peak in 2018. When it comes to net zero, the UK and the US have implicitly made different policy choices. The US has continued to grow living standards while keeping per capita energy consumption roughly stable. The UK has held living standards broadly stable but reduced its per capita energy consumption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How did we get here? The 2008 Climate Act committed the UK to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 80pc by 2050 relative to 1990 levels. In June 2019, the Conservative government strengthened the commitments by aiming to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The UK has reduced emissions relative to its peak by more than any other G7 economy. Whereas UK emissions have more than halved versus peak, the US has cut its emissions by around a fifth. The problem for the UK, despite how much it has managed to cut its emissions, is that it does not really matter much for the global story which is what ultimately decides the impact on climate and global temperature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UK makes up less than 1pc of all global emissions. But emissions from intensive consumers of hydrocarbons such as China and most other large emerging markets have continued to rise. Between 2005 and 2022, global CO2 emissions rose by 25pc. There is a snag here. The UK counts territorial emissions, which can be reduced by allowing production to migrate abroad. You might therefore argue that its true carbon footprint is higher, as much of our emissions have simply been exported. However, even if counted properly by looking at emissions linked to consumption, the UK trajectory would be too small to matter. It is sad to say, but the result of the UKs decarbonisation efforts appears to be weak economic growth, stalling living standards, high energy prices and deindustrialisation without denting rising global emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government claims that it wants to lead the world in green energy. But if the result is impoverishment, who would choose to follow? Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Dutch government has commenced discussions on a potential allocation of 3.5 billion to support Ukraine in 2026. Source: European Pravda, citing Dutch public broadcaster NOS Details: Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced during a parliamentary debate that approximately 3.5 billion is planned to be allocated to support Ukraine in 2026, maintaining the policy of previous years. Currently, the Netherlands' total aid to Kyiv amounts to around 5.8 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is still no complete agreement within the coalition. Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom, has stated that his party would support the allocation of such a sum provided that measures are also taken to lower food prices and utility bills for ordinary citizens. The debate on aid to Ukraine is linked to upcoming negotiations on the Spring Memorandum within the coalition. The Freedom Party and the Farmer-Citizen Movement argue that increased investment in security and defence should not come at the expense of consumers spending power. The use of proceeds from frozen Russian assets is also part of the discussion. Schoof also remarked during the debate that maintaining peace in Europe is impossible without the military might of the United States, emphasising that the government is focused on strengthening relations with US President Donald Trump. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Democrats who represent Nevada in Washington, D.C., condemned what they see as a failure by President Donald Trump to lower prices for Nevada families, while state Republicans applauded his leadership the morning after his address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. President Trump spent tonights address repeating falsehoods and attacking our allies without actually offering solutions to lower costs, Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevadas senior U.S. senator, said in a Wednesday statement. From raising prices on families to threatening to gut Medicaid, Social Security, and public education funding Donald Trump is focused on paying for tax breaks for his billionaire friends and seems happy to leave middle-class Americans with the bill. While the President offers empty words, my priority will continue to be delivering for Nevadans and lowering the cost of living. Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael J. McDonald countered, The contrast in the chamber couldnt have been clearer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emboldened Trump praises his swift action in address to Congress As President Trump laid out his vision for a stronger, more secure America, Republicans stood and cheered for the success of the American people, while Democrats sat in silence even on nonpartisan issues like childhood cancer, supporting our workers, and securing our border. Their refusal to celebrate policies that help everyday Americans speaks volumes. Here in Nevada, we stand with President Trump and his fight to put Americans first, McDonald said. Statements also came in from Democratic Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen, and Democratic congressional Reps. Dina Titus and Susie Lee. Their statements are below: U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen: Nevadans sent me to the U.S. Senate to work with anyone no matter the political party to deliver for our state. While Ive been open to working with President Donald Trump when its right for Nevada, he has made it clear that hes not interested in taking meaningful bipartisan action to lower costs for families. Instead, Trump is looking to cut Medicaid to pay for more tax giveaways for billionaires, add new taxes on products from Mexico and Canada, and give Elon Musk unprecedented control over the federal government with no guardrails to prevent conflicts of interest. This is not what Nevadans voted for, and Ill continue pushing back on actions that hurt our state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not normal: Who held up the protest sign before Trumps speech? U.S. Rep. Dina Titus: President Trump wants us to believe our lives are getting better under his new Administration, but we are not fooled. Nevadans are already feeling the pain of higher prices because of Trumps disastrous policies. One estimate says prices will rise by $1,250 per family as Trumps tariffs spark a trade war and choke off the supply chain. Gas prices, for example, are set to rise because of the tariffs on Canadian oil, and housing prices will skyrocket as construction materials get more expensive. Meanwhile as we impose tariffs on our neighbors, Trump is directing the Treasury Department to ease sanctions on Russia. This Administration is making us less secure while making everything more expensive. Nevadans are paying higher prices and seeing the loss of services because of Trumps cuts to the federal workforce, including those who provide critical services like protecting Lake Mead, caring for our veterans, and making sure Social Security checks go out on time. This is just the beginning. Thousands of Nevadans will lose their health care coverage because of massive cuts to Medicaid. Seniors living in nursing homes will not be able to pay for their care. Children relying on food assistance will go hungry. Students will go to schools with fewer teachers. Immigrants will live in fear of mass deportations. In just 43 days, Donald Trump has made one thing clear. He doesnt care. Trump doesnt care about the vital services Nevadans rely on; he doesnt care about our national security; he doesnt care about grocery prices; he doesnt care about the Constitution; and he doesnt care about protecting marginalized communities. He does care about making more money, punishing those who disagree with him, rewarding his friends like Elon Musk, and cozying up to Putin. Rest assured, I will continue to speak out against this Administrations dereliction of duty and stop its gutting of the federal resources my constituents count on. 5 takeaways from Trumps address to Congress U.S. Rep. Susie Lee: I listened to the President for two hours and not once did I hear a plan to lower the cost of living for Nevada families. His new tariffs are increasing costs across the board and his budget proposal will take away health care for millions to provide tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. When he says, There will be a little disturbance, be clear, the pain will be felt by the middle class. I support his strong border policies. I support the pressure he has placed on Europe to increase investment in their own defense. I support making government more efficient. So, Im willing to work with Republicans. Im ready to work with them to actually make life more affordable for Nevadans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Republicans applauded Trumps America First Agenda, saying under his leadership, illegal border crossings have plummeted, protecting American families and strengthening the nations security. He reaffirmed his commitment to hardworking Americans by pledging no federal tax on tips, Social Security, or overtime payensuring that Nevadans and workers across the country keep more of what they earn. His agenda continues to prioritize economic prosperity, job creation, and putting Americans first. And nationally, the campaign arm of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives chided Nevadas congressional delegation: Susie Lee, Dina Titus, Steven Horsford and their entire partys behavior last night made one thing crystal clear: Democrats have abandoned leadership, policy and even basic political instincts, reducing themselves to a singular emotion: outrage. This full-blown meltdown was a massive middle finger to the American people and only solidified voters support of the Republican Party, NRCC spokesperson Ben Petersen said. Freedom Caucus vows quick censure resolution against Al Green Horsford has posted a thread on X criticizing Trumps actions since taking office. Last night, he posted, Donald Trump claims hell lower costs, but his actions say otherwise. Egg prices are up, gas is uphe promised to ease the burden on Americans, yet he hasnt kept his word. On Wednesday morning, he called out Elon Musk. Elon Musk needs to keep his hands off Social Security. If he has a problem, then he can call me. 140,000 people in NV-04 rely on their Social Security benefits. If hes coming for them, hes going to have to go through me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei of Northern Nevada hasnt made a comment since Tuesday nights address. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Democratic leaders in the Nevada Assembly are urging Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo to hire federal workers laid off as part of recent firings from President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager and Assems. Daniele Monroe-Moreno and Sandra Jauregui sent a letter to Lombardo on Wednesday. Nevada is home to an estimated 80,000 federal workers, the assemblymembers said. It was unclear how many federal workers lost their jobs from the layoffs as of Wednesday. Nevada-related cuts from Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have hit the U.S. Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the General Services Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As you are aware, Nevada currently has the highest unemployment rate in the nation and lags the rest of the country in job growth, and these firings threaten to worsen the rate even further, the letter said. By taking swift action to integrate the fired federal workers into vacant state government roles, we can reduce our unemployment rate, ensure that essential public services remain strong, and, most importantly, ensure that Nevadans can provide for their families. Nevadas unemployment rate clocked in at 5.7% for December 2024, the latest month with data available from the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). The national unemployment rate was 4% as of January. Nevada Democrats control both the Nevada Assembly and Nevada Senate. Last legislative session, Democrats and Lombardo raised state employee pay, leading to a decrease in state vacancies. As of last summer, there were 2,000 open positions. Under Governor Lombardo, Nevada has seen record economic investment, led the nation in annual employment growth, and added over 30,000 employees to its labor force, a spokesperson for the governor said in a statement. Governor Lombardo simultaneously ordered state employees back to the office, implemented state hiring fairs, and modernized the state hiring process, which slashed the state vacancy rate from 25% to nearly 12%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokesperson encouraged state workers to apply at nvjobs.nv.gov/Jobs/Current_State_Job_Openings. For Governor Lombardo, state employment isnt a political talking point: its been his focus since day one, the spokesperson said. Instead of grandstanding, the Legislature would be better off focusing on their actual job: passing legislation for the betterment of Nevada. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) He is the newest suspect linked to EBT benefit thefts in Kern County, 23-year-old Bogdan Boceanu from Romania. Boceanu was found with 36 cloned EBT cards and over $4,000 in stolen cash. Part of something much bigger than the District Attorney is disclosing to the public. Yes, I would say both, Romanian and International crime, said Lt. Alecio Mora with Wasco Police. They go all over the state committing this type of crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators with the District Attorney and California Department of Social Services arrested Boceanu at the Wells Fargo bank in Delano on March 1. Suspect in abuse investigation shot, killed by deputies at Virginia Ave Park: Kern County Sheriffs Office Boceanu faces felony charges including grand and identity theft, but this isnt the first time hes allegedly done this. In July of 2024, Boceanu was arrested by the Wasco Police Department after tampering with a Bank of America ATM. Boceanu was allegedly found with a skimming device and video camera for skimming. He posted bail and the case was not filed until January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to have more accountability. These guys can go away, leave, leave, escape, and then not be identified in the future, said Lt. Mora. We need to be able to keep these guys in jail a little longer. Now, rearrested, he joins seven Romanians alleged to have committed card skimming fraud in Kern County, some dating back to 2023. Five of them, have not shown up for their court dates and have outstanding warrants for their arrests. I think this is organized crime, they know what theyre doing, they have the technology and the training to pull it off, said Lt. Mora. Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boceanu would be the first suspect of EBT theft case to not be allowed to post bail. Hes due back in court Thursday. To keep your benefits safe, download the ebtEDGE app to your phone. Learn more about it here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. WJET SIgn - Greg Wohlford - Erie Times-News Last month, Jennifer Mobilia sued Nexstar owned Erie station WJET claiming she was paid less than her male counterparts. Parent company Nexstar Media Inc., denies the claim and wants a judge to dismiss the discrimination lawsuit. At all times, according to a legal answer Nexstar filed in court, the companys employment decisions concerning Mobilia were based upon legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons that were not pretextual or retaliatory and without malice, ill-will or other improper motive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mobilia claims that she asked for a pay increase to get her closer to what she said her co-anchor, Sean Lafferty, earned in 2024. Mobilia claims her workload is heaver than Laffertys. Nexstar admits it rejected Mobilias request for a raise. But, WJET claims, any difference in salary was not the result of discrimination. Any alleged wage disparity, according to the answer, was due to four factors: a seniority system, relevant work experience, a system that measures market ratings related to compensation rates and/or factors other than sex. Mobilia, a native of North East, has more than 20 years of experience in television news and previously worked in many large markets, such as those in Fort Myers, Florida; Providence, Rhode Island; and Buffalo and Rochester, New York, according to the suit. Lafferty has more than 35 years of experience in local television news, according to Mobilias suit. In 2021, according the suit, Lafferty was also hired as the news director at WJET for another $10,000 a year, for a total salary of $105,000 at the time. The station hired another news director in 2023, according to the suit, and Laffertys salary was $99,000 in 2024. GoErie.com We asked Nexstar about it, but it declined to comment. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration since Inauguration Day, and some have made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 5-4 decision Wednesday, the justices reinstated a federal judges order requiring the Trump administration to restart foreign aid payments DOGE blocked. The nonprofits and businesses that sued are still waiting for about $2 billion they say they are owed, with one of the organizations writing in court documents the delay forced it to lay off 110 employees last week. However, Democrats worry the White House will ignore the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cannot allow any administration to defy a court order. Period, said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). The courts are one of the best tools available for protecting the rule of law and preventing the worst abuses of the administration, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The issue played out Tuesday during a House hearing on the future of FEMA, an agency also facing DOGE funding cuts. Even after a judges order, reports indicate that many grants remain blocked, jeopardizing emergency readiness, said U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.). But Jeff Smitherman, Alabamas Emergency Management Agency director, told Kennedy his state has only experienced slight delays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process has become a little bit slower due to the review, but we have not missed any payments at the state level based on that, Smitherman said. The Trump administration is arguing in lawsuits that Elon Musk is not DOGEs chief, but President Trumps joint address to Congress Tuesday complicated that for DOGE. Which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight, President Trump said. Musk returned to Capitol Hill Wednesday for DOGE meetings with many Republicans still supporting his efforts. To have someone like Elon Musk and DOGE come in and shake things up is just exactly what Washington needs, said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal judge over the foreign aid case is holding a hearing Thursday to potentially determine how quickly the money could start flowing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. During dark times in Europe, which are arriving with alarming frequency these days, optimists like to say that the continent was "forged in crisis". The quote from one of the European Union's founding fathers, Jean Monnet, has been wheeled out during banking crashes and sovereign debt crises, the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to show that the notoriously divided bloc comes together at moments of true cataclysm. In the cafes of Brussels, it has been heard more than ever in recent weeks, with various degrees of enthusiasm, as Europe faces what may be its greatest crisis of all: abandonment by the United States, which has provided the security blanket that has allowed widespread peace and prosperity since World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. After months of denial, when it was hoped that returning US President Donald Trump would stand by Europe and Ukraine, the penny has now dropped - among even the most ardent of transatlanticists - that the bloc is on its own. "Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader," said the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas of Estonia, in the aftermath of the defenestration of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House on Friday. In the days that followed, Trump's pivot to Moscow only deepened. Reports emerged on Tuesday that he was cancelling aid to Ukraine, while on Wednesday it was reported that he would stop sharing intelligence with Kyiv, a move that would severely hamper its efforts to target Russian forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as the bad news kept coming, however, some European optimists are getting more vocal. Taboos have been dropping like flies as political action on the continent takes place at an uncharacteristic speed. Notoriously slow Europe, they say, is finally grinding into gear. This week, as the US' position became crystal clear, the Europeans were fast-tracking plans to rearm themselves. On Tuesday morning, the European Commission proposed lending 150 billion to governments to help them boost military spending. That evening, the German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz said Berlin would change its constitution to exempt defence and security spending from the country's famous debt brake, and would launch a 500 billion (US$535 billion) infrastructure fund to upgrade its transport, energy grids and housing network over the next decade. There is a renewed debate across the continent about whether more countries should develop nuclear weapons to fend off the threat of Putin. To compound matters for peaceniks, a bonfire of green legislation is burning as the bloc pivots towards resilience and security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Europe will do it because Europe feels the threat with its own skin," former Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told the Post. "One thing is to have to feel the threat coming from Russia, but knowing that the US is going to defend you. But knowing that Russia poses a physical threat and the US is not going to defend you, that takes your sense of threat and urgency to a completely new level." Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met in the Oval Office on February 28 in what was a historic encounter that raises questions for US allies in Europe and around the world. Photo: AFP via Getty Images/TNS alt=Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met in the Oval Office on February 28 in what was a historic encounter that raises questions for US allies in Europe and around the world. Photo: AFP via Getty Images/TNS> Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, views the need to hike defence spending as a potential boon to a Europe that is otherwise in danger of deindustrialising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The EU remains a funny animal. From the outside, it looks like a rich bloc with a strong industrial base and lower debt than the US or China - surely capable of rearming quickly and cheaply if it just coordinated. Inside, leaders are too busy distrusting each other to act, squabbling while the house burns," he said. Two crucial leaders' meetings within the next fortnight could help determine how quickly the bloc changes. China, meanwhile, will be watching anxiously for what sort of Europe emerges. Beijing senses immediate openings as the US backs off from the transatlantic alliance. It has dialled up its rhetoric in support of the existing order, in what Europeans have noticed to be in great contrast to the US. China has long urged Europe to follow the "correct form of strategic autonomy", a phrase popularised by French President Emmanuel Macron during Trump's first term to imply independence from any other powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In China's usage, however, it is seen as shorthand for separation from the US. Now, it can see that schism happening in real time. Its diplomats have been touring Europe on a "charm offensive", buoyed by the Western fracture, but not making any immediate offers to help Europe peel further away from Washington. EU-China ties have become increasingly tense in recent years over Beijing's relations with Moscow and economic imbalances that European leaders claim is leading to underpriced exports arriving at their ports, damaging local industries. In Europe, many are open to taking the sting out of the relationship - even its top hawk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before Trump's clarifying shift on Ukraine she said the EU could "engage constructively with China - and find solutions in our mutual interest. And I think we can find agreements that could even expand our trade and investment ties". But while the geopolitical ground may be fertile for a rapprochement, Europe may not walk straight back into Beijing's arms. While being receptive to improving ties, von der Leyen has been clear that de-risking is here to stay, meaning the hunt for new partners and the quest to reduce dependency on China continues. Last week, she led 21 commissioners on a trip to India, a pointed move that officials said was an effort to find alternatives to both superpowers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Overall I see a lot of alignment between EU and India on concerns we have vis-a-vis China. Coming together at a geopolitically interesting and tense time, things are shaping up and aligning for us," a senior EU official said. An EU-India statement pledged to have an exchange "regarding best practices in the screening of foreign direct investments, which is an area of growing importance to foster economic security", suggesting the pair could even team up in some areas of China policy. "This is a decisive moment for the EU to become an important pole in global relations. There is a world beyond the US-China rivalry (or accommodation) that will not benefit from any possible binary division," said Romana Vlahutin, a European ambassador working as a distinguished fellow for geostrategy at the German Marshall Fund. "Europe is economically the strongest element of that world and can and should engage in peer support, including by providing investment and trade relations that strengthen both Europe and its partners," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislatively too, the signs are mixed for Beijing. While the tone of engagement may improve, Europe is likely to continue launching trade and competition cases until it sees an improvement in the overcapacity situation in China's industrial economy. After launching a new programme to help steel producers this week, von der Leyen said "product prices have dropped due to increasing global non-market overcapacity and decreased demand", alluding to ongoing issues in China. The Clean Industrial Deal introduced last week, meanwhile, will insist that European goods are prioritised over dominant Chinese products in cleantech industries, while firms investing in Europe may be asked to transfer their technology. On the other hand, China may benefit from von der Leyen's move to gut green initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese electric vehicle makers could win from Monday's move to water down penalties for European car companies breaching emissions targets, while the decision to hollow-out recently-adopted rules around supply chain due diligence may allow many European companies to continue doing business in parts of China. But overhanging all the commercial issues is geopolitics. Observers warned that just because the US has sided with Russia, Europe would not stop pressuring China to limit its relations with Moscow. "Actors that are hostile to the West no longer have to take into account that when push comes to shove, Europe and the US will always be on the same side," said Sven Biscop, a political scientist at Brussels' Egmont Institute. "China hopefully realises that it has a great interest in restraining Russia and putting pressure on it to respect any ceasefire. For Europe is Beijing's indispensable economic partner too, hence a European-Russian war would be a catastrophe for China as well." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. The NHS may be collapsing, Wes Streetings chief strategy adviser has warned. Paul Corrigan, one of the key figures behind the Governments forthcoming 10-year health plan, in a rare public appearance, warned that a wave of doom caused by an ageing and sicker population was about to hit the NHS. Mr Corrigan, who was a special adviser to Alan Milburn, Sir Tony Blairs health secretary, said since the general election last July, the landmark plan to reform the health service had been his primary work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wave of doom is people like me, Im 76 and its quite likely that Ill get a couple of long-term conditions [in the next 10 years] and become much more dependent on the health service, he told delegates at ukactives Active Uprising 2025 conference. And actually the ageing population, which I refuse to see as a problem or burden, because I am it, is going to grow considerably in the next 10 years. Mr Corrigan said the population would get sicker as a result and the crucial thing about the 10-year plan is it is built upon the fact that if we carry on doing what were doing in the same way as were doing it, the health service will collapse. In fact, it may be collapsing now, he added. Health Secretary Wes Streeting wants to divert billions of pounds in funding from hospitals to GPs - Leon Neal/AFP via Getty The plan was announced last September with Mr Streeting declaring he would fix the broken NHS and is due to be published in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will set out how the Government will deliver its pledge to make key three shifts: moving more care from hospitals to the community, focusing more on preventing disease than treating it, and digitising the NHS. Mr Corrigan said the health service would be in very big trouble if the radical changes that are needed had not happened in 10 years time, and that the necessity for change, is my certainty that there will be change. He said one of the key aspects of the plan would be to overhaul the financial flows in the health service to better reward GP surgeries and community services for keeping patients out of hospital. Currently, if a GP keeps patients out of hospital by preventing the onset of a disease, the money for doing so is saved by the hospital having fewer patients, while the GP and community services receive no savings despite having all of the cost, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan will reconfigure that relationship so the savings can be reinvested in more prevention and outline new ways to incentivise and pay local organisations to keep people fit. Mr Streeting has pledged to divert billions of pounds in funding from hospitals to GPs. Mr Corrigan said the proposals were not revolutionary and in five years time it will look straightforward, but at the moment it is very different. He also apologised for the NHS being a really bad partner with the wider health and care industry, which includes both charity and private sector businesses. It needs relationships outside of itself to solve the problems of health and it needs to recognise this, he said. The answer to this is in every locality, rather than here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said it was about liberating local areas to create relationships with partners such as gyms and leisure centres and getting people to be active in their health, which is not what the NHS has historically been set up to do. One of key initiatives expected to be part of the plan is the return of a neighbourhood healthcare model, with GPs, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other local services all working together to proactively protect peoples health and treat them in the community. Asked what role the fitness and leisure community could play, Mr Corrigan said: If the neighbourhood healthcare model doesnt embrace neighbourhood health, it will fall over, because of the amount of need. In a local area, how a GP-led neighbourhood relates to the voluntary sector and to the broader health sector, will be the only way it will construct a sustainable future, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Farrar, the chairman of ukactive, said Mr Corrigan was very, very influential individual around this plan. Mr Farrar, a former NHS boss, said the physical activity industry could be key to the Governments plan to better prevent disease, but also to unlock billions of pounds in the economy. He listed some staggering statistics including that workplace sickness cost the UK 138 billion, for mental health among employees, cost UK employers 51 billion each year, and between 2 and 16 per cent of the annual salary bill by employers is spent on sickness absence. That is a huge amount of this thats in our system that we can do something to sort out. I know that the Government can achieve growth through health a nation that is more physically active will be more economically active. Any growth plans will need to focus on immediate growth as well as long-term strategy such as plans for airport runways, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social prescribing and building physical activity into care pathways now provide the opportunity for the NHS to address the needs of tens of thousands of people suffering from chronic conditions and to help them avoid costly hospital admissions and loss of independent living. This is where the forthcoming 10-year vision for health can really signal a shift in priorities and resources by establishing a new relationship between the NHS and the physical activity sector. If we do not address our populations worsening health with true preventative measures, our economy will struggle immensely to be supercharged, the way we all hope. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Nigerian national living in Mexico has been extradited to the United States for his role in a scheme to break into Massachusetts tax preparation firms computer networks, steal data, and file more than 1,000 fake tax returns. Matthew A. Akande, 36, who is accused of filing the fraudulent tax returns seeking millions of dollars in tax refunds, was arrested in October at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom at the request of the United States, the U.S. Attorney said. Akande was extradited to the U.S. on Wednesday, the same day he appeared in federal court, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foley said Akande and others allegedly filed more than 1,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking over $8.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds over approximately five years. They allegedly successfully obtained over $1.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds. Akande was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022 with one count of conspiracy to obtain unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud and to commit theft of government money and money laundering; one count of wire fraud; four counts of unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud; 13 counts of theft of government money; and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft. FILE PHOTO: The Internal Revenue Service. Another person, Kehinde H. Oyetunji, 33, a Nigerian national living in North Dakota, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to one count of conspiracy to obtain unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud and to commit theft of government money and money laundering, Foley said. Oyetunjis sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege that between about June 2016 and June 2021, Akande, Oyetunji and others worked together to steal money from the United States government using taxpayers personally identifiable information to file fraudulent tax returns in the taxpayers names. In addition, about February 2020, the scheme involved stealing taxpayers personal information from Massachusetts tax preparation firms via phishing attacks and computer intrusions, prosecutors said. To carry out the scheme, Akande is accused of sending fraudulent phishing emails to five Massachusetts tax preparation firms. The emails purported to be from a prospective client seeking the tax preparation firms services but in truth were used to trick the firms into downloading remote access trojan malicious software (RAT malware), including malware known as Warzone RAT, Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege that Akande used the RAT malware to obtain the personal information, and prior year tax information of the tax preparation firms clients, and then filed the fraudulent tax returns seeking refunds. The tax returns directed that the fraudulent tax refunds be deposited in bank accounts allegedly opened by Oyetunji and others, prosecutors said. Once the refunds were issued, Oyetunji and others withdrew the stolen money in cash in the United States and then transferred a portion to third parties in Mexico, allegedly at Akandes direction, while keeping a portion for themselves. Federal authorities encourage all businesses that suspect they have been the target and/or victim of a cyberattack to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. Tax fraud. Taxpayers and tax preparation firms that suspect they have been the target or the victim of a phishing attack can also forward phishing emails to phishing@irs.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the charge of conspiracy, Akande faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. For the charge of wire fraud provides, Akande faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. For the charges of unauthorized access to protected computers in furtherance of fraud, Akande faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. For the charges of theft of government money, Akande faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the charges of aggravated identity theft, Akande faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Nipsey Hussle's former partner, Tanisha Foster, and his family strike a deal on Emani's guardianship. The late rapper's ex lost her case to terminate her daughter's guardianship program with the deceased's family after he died in 2019. Nipsey Hussle left behind two children following his death, and an estate worth over $17 million is now looked after by his brother, Sam Asghedom. The Presiding Judge Helped Tanisha Foster And Nipsey Hussle's Family Review Their New Deal ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Tanisha and Sam appeared in court a day before their trial scheduled for February 25, where Tanisha's petition to terminate Emani's guardianship was dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the proceedings, the judge carefully examined a written agreement between the two parties and assisted in refining its language. According to court documents obtained by In Touch, a follow-up hearing has been scheduled for later this month, where the judge will evaluate the finalized agreement. As a result, the trial date has been canceled. Tanisha and Sam have been engaged in a prolonged legal battle over the custody of Emani for several years. Tensions have escalated as Nipsey's family has expressed that they believe they would be better suited to care for her, citing various concerns regarding her living situation with Tanisha. Tanisha's Request To Depose Nipsey's Younger Brother Was Dismissed ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Tanisha is facing a new obstacle in her case, which arose just weeks after a judge at the Los Angeles Superior Court denied her urgent request to depose Nipsey's brother. Court documents reveal that the judge ruled against Tanisha's petition, stating: "The Court finds that insufficient evidence has been provided to grant the matter on the calendar this date based upon the reading of the moving papers and consideration of all presented evidence." As shared by The Blast, the dispute, which has been ongoing for over a year, has seen most filings heavily redacted. Since Nipsey's untimely death at the age of 33 on March 31, 2019, his family has been co-guardians of Emani, a role that Tanisha has been contesting in her efforts to overturn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial date to finally determine Emani's fate in her guardianship was set for February 25, which she has now lost. The Mother-Of-One Initially Agreed To Guardianship To Protect Her Daughter's Interest Tanisha, in her legal filing, revealed that she initially agreed to allow Nipsey's family to take guardianship of her daughter Emani following the artist's tragic passing, believing this decision was in her daughter's best interest. However, after several years of legal struggles over the guardianship, Tanisha filed a petition in 2022 to terminate it. She cited her financial difficulties and expressed a strong desire to provide Emani with the stable lifestyle she had had before Nipsey's death. Additionally, Tanisha claimed that she had received verbal assurances from Nipsey's family that they would prioritize her daughter's welfare. Tanisha also expressed her frustration over what she believes to be broken promises regarding her relationship with her daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her petition, she accused Nipsey's family of leveraging their wealth and influence to restrict her visitation rights and financial assistance, making it increasingly difficult for her to be involved in Emani's life. Tanisha emphasized her desire to regain her role as Emani's primary parent, noting that Emani often asks when they can live together. She pleaded with the court to terminate the existing guardianship, stating that there are no circumstances in her life that should disqualify her from being with her daughter. Nipsey's Sister, Samantha Smith, Questioned Tanisha's Ability To Properly Parent Emani The fight for Nipsey's daughter was not a one-man affair for his family. Aside from his brother, his sister also played an active role in fighting for Emani's guardianship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samantha originally began the filing process on behalf of the family to become the legal guardian of Emani after she expressed concerns over Tanisha's parenting abilities. In her application, she highlighted her strong commitment to Emani's welfare and underscored the importance of maintaining Emani's connection to Nipsey's family. Samantha aims to provide Emani with a secure and stable home environment. The request was met with strong resistance from Nipsey's ex-girlfriend, but she ultimately lost the battle when Nipsey's family clinched the victory. In October 2019, a judge officially appointed them as the legal guardians of Emani. Nipsey Hussle's Killer Bagged Lengthy Jail Term For His Crimes In 2023 MEGA The family recorded another victory in Nipsey's case when his killer, Eric Holder Jr., was eventually found guilty of first-degree murder of the father of two in July 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As noted by The Blast, the late rapper and Holder were reportedly once members of the same gang, the Rollin' 60s. But Hussle became a well-known activist who spoke against gun violence and an influential figure in his neighborhood. A Los Angeles courtroom finally sentenced the shooter to 60 years to life in prison in February 2023. The convict received his verdict with little to no expression on his face as he dressed in his usual orange jail attire He was also convicted of two counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter brought on by his causing two bystanders harm when he attacked the "Victory Lap" rapper. A friend of the late rapper also read an emotional speech, and the courts read a letter from Holder's father before Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke declared his decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holder's attorney, Aaron Jansen, had previously requested a shorter conviction, arguing that the shooting should only carry a sentence of either manslaughter or second-degree murder. However, the judge trashed Holder's request and upheld the initial charges with a guilty verdict. From the look of things, Nipsey Hussle's daughter Emani's well-being is the priority for both parties. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez joined AGs from Arizona, Minnesota and Oregon, with whom the state has joined on legal actions against the federal government, for a panel discussion on Wednesday, May 5, 2025. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror The attorneys general of New Mexico, Arizona, Minnesota and Oregon vowed at a town hall in Phoenix Wednesday evening that they would continue to fight back against sweeping federal cuts being made by President Donald Trump and his ally, Elon Musk. It is not efficiency, it is destruction, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said to a crowd that gathered at Central High School to share their stories and concerns over the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, that has been directed by Musk, the richest man in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk and his minions have overseen DOGEs effective takeover of the federal government, with sweeping and indiscriminate layoffs, canceled contracts, blocked funding and a host of other disruptions. The ostensible reason is to cut government spending, though Musk has written on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, that the takeover is actually all about stopping Democrats from giving money to undocumented immigrants to convince them to vote for Democrats. Noncitizens are not able to vote, and Musks claims are part of the racist Great Replacement conspiracy theory, which falsely claims that nefarious forces are flooding the U.S. with nonwhite immigrants in order to overtake the country. The AGs are part of a group of 23 Democratic AGs that have banded together to file seven lawsuits against the Trump administrations actions. Mayes said that an eighth lawsuit will be filed this week, and the AGs will be releasing information about a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the number of veterans and spouses of veterans who have been fired as a result of DOGE cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town hall is the first in a series of town halls the four attorneys general are intending to do across the country. The next is scheduled for March 20 in Minnesota. We are going around this country to listen to you, Oregon AG Dan Rayfield said. Much of the focus Wednesday night was around the chaos that has ensued in recent weeks as federal employees across the country have been laid off via emails or memos, only to be told to return again to find out that their office will be going away. In the case of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 6,000 workers fired by Trump were ordered back to work after the Merit Systems Protection Board found the agency illegally terminated the employees. The turmoil at agencies such as the USDA was front and center in testimonials from some in attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elyse Guidas, the executive director for the nonprofit Activate Food Arizona, a group that works to bring affordable food to rural Arizona communities, said the suppliers they work with that rely on federal funding may go under due to the Trump administrations spending freeze. Her organization has already lost several grants. Adrienne Udarbe with Pinnacle Prevention, a non-profit that does similar work, said her organization is facing similar challenges. It impacts us all, and we are all going to be feeling it with rising food costs, Udarbe said, adding that the USDA has not been sending money to farmers they had been scheduled to send that is intended to help reimburse them for providing food for low-income programs. It was a lawsuit from the Democratic AG coalition that led USDA to say it had released those funds after a judge had ruled the money couldnt be frozen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve had to go to court twice now to get a motion to compel, Mayes told Udarbe. While the president may be a powerful person, he does not have some sort of super power that allows him to travel back in time to reverse decisions that have already been approved, Rayfield said of Trumps funding freezes. The AGs also focused on the impact the firings have had on the employees themselves. What I hear from the president and Elon Musk and others is a language that is stripped of any humanity, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said of how the two men speak about federal employees. We dont ask them if they are Republican or Democrat. We dont demean what they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of recently laid off federal workers shared their stories with the AGs. All of them recounted how they were laid off by an email from Washington DC, via Musks DOGE, and that their supervisors were unaware of the impending firing. Employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans themselves spoke about services such as music therapy being cut, and a recently leaked memo shows that the agency is anticipating firing 83,000 employees. While fear permeated comments from many of the speakers, the AGs tried to strike a tone of hopefulness when speaking with the press. I thought this was an incredibly powerful town hall. Maybe the most powerful town hall Ive ever seen, Mayes told reporters afterwards. She said the 23 AGs have been meeting daily via Zoom and that reporters should be keeping an eye out for litigation around firings of federal workers in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota AG Keith Ellison had a message to those federal workers who may have been listening or are currently worried about the future. Youre not alone, he told the Arizona Mirror, adding that the battle will not be won in a courtroom but in the court of public opinion. Honor commitments to Indian Country: Tribal leader highlights impact of federal cuts Tribal leaders nationwide have voiced their concerns regarding federal budget cuts that affect Indian Country. During the community hearing, Paul Russell, the vice president of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, emphasized how these cuts directly impact his community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is one of 22 federally recognized tribes in Arizona. They have nearly 1,000 tribal members and their tribal land is about 35 miles northeast of Phoenix. Russell was the only Arizona tribal leader to stand before the attorneys general on Wednesday night and declare that the situation is dire in Indian Country. He said the substantial budget cuts and firings enacted by the Trump administration have left many tribal nations in a state of extreme concern. We need to demand that the federal government honor its commitments to Indian Country, Russell said. The future of tribal communities depends on your actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that the impacts on tribal governments and economies are devastating, with some potential consequences including a reduction in services for tribal members, layoffs of tribal government and enterprise employees, and the reduction or elimination of grant funding for key projects. The uncertainty of the future is perhaps the most alarming aspect as we are left questioning how much worse things will get in the coming weeks and months, Russell said. He shared two ways in which actions from the Trump administration have already impacted his community. First, there has been a pause in grant funding from the Bureau of Reclamation, threatening two significant projects within the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, including a crucial well rehabilitation project for their tribal farm. Without federal support, we risk losing farmland productivity, which will impact revenue for our community, he said. These cuts stifle our ability to be self-reliant and violate the federal governments trust responsibilities to honor tribal economic development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second was the effects the proposed closure of the Bureau of Indian Affairs western regional office in Phoenix will have on his tribe. Russell said that the closure of the BIA office will directly affect the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation by removing its support for tribal governance, law enforcement and land management. Because of the office closure, these essential functions will be delayed or neglected. Our law enforcement and emergency response rely on timely Bureau of Indian Affairs support, he added. With this office closing, public safety in our community is severely at risk. Russell said these federal budget cuts not only undermine tribal sovereignty and economic self-sufficiency but erase the years of hard-earned progress throughout Indian Country. By Shondiin Silversmith Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. Mar. 5Automakers were granted a one-month reprieve after the Trump administration delayed enforcement of tariffs on the industry amid an escalating trade war. But the move did little to ease the concerns of New Mexico's federal delegation. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, a Democrat, called the trade war reckless and said Americans should expect high prices on groceries, energy, cars, electronics and more. "Instead of strengthening our economy, he's putting American jobs and businesses at risk while pushing the Tax Scam 2.0 for the wealthy and gutting essential programs," Lujan said. "These tariffs could cost American families up to $2,000 a year in higher prices." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The auto industry urged President Donald Trump to waive 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, which experts have said could lead to higher car prices, job losses and potential closures of auto parts suppliers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the tariffs for car manufacturers would go into effect April 2. "We spoke with the Big Three auto dealers," Leavitt said during a White House briefing on Wednesday, referring to Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. "We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through (U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement)." Following the announcement, shares of major automakers in the U.S., Asia and Europe jumped as much as 6%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest Trump tariff delay prompted Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez to call for all tariffs to be rolled back. "The president doesn't get credit for solving an unnecessary problem he created," Vasquez said. "The uncertainty around tariffs is impacting farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and border communities in my district." Trump was also open to hearing requests from other industries seeking exemptions, Leavitt said. U.S. automakers rely heavily on labor from Mexico and Canada, and have since the early days of car manufacturing in the U.S. Eugene Pickett, left, and Pam Roy stand in the rotunda Wednesday. Both are awaiting USDA funds for what they say are vital New Mexico agriculture projects. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM) As soil and water and conservation district employees and enthusiasts packed into the Roundhouse on Wednesday, the words cuts and frozen could be heard echoing through the rotunda. Recent spending and staffing cuts at the federal Agriculture Department have left many farmers and ranchers unable to complete projects or get reimbursed for ones theyve paid for out of pocket. Some of those projects are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which supports farmers efforts to boost harvests, save water or improve their soil quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly $27 million from EQIP that was intended for New Mexico farmers is stalled, according to a news release Wednesday from the Thornburg Foundation. The Natural Resources and Conservation Service, which is under the Agriculture Department, manages EQIP programs, and layoffs among an already short-staffed crew have made things move even slower. For farmers and the people they feed, delays have real consequences, said Eugene Pickett, a board member for Latino Farmers and Ranchers International, who lingered in the rotunda Wednesday afternoon. The earth requires cyclical treatment, he told Source New Mexico. If you dont have the resources in place when theyre supposed to be in place, you get behind, and the consumer doesnt realize it until harvest. Pickett is awaiting NRCS funding for technical assistance his organization provides to farmers, assistance he described as vital to help farmers and ranchers navigate a complex array of agencies and grant projects to make agriculture viable in New Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pam Roy, executive director at the farmer advocacy nonprofit Farm to Table in Santa Fe, said her organization received 73 applications from farms big and small for innovation in farming projects. Her organization needs just $1.1 million from the USDA to fund those initiatives. Theyre shovel-ready, ready to rock and roll, especially for the growing season, and we are waiting, literally, to hear whether were going to have that funding in the bank or not to do that, she said. New Mexico has126 NRCS employees, according to the Thornburg Foundation, a sharp decrease after 35 staff members were laid off in February. The NRCS set a target of growing to 190 staff members by the end of the year, according to the news release. On top of that, the NRCS and the Farm Service Agency have started closing offices in Clovis, Roswell, Gallup and Raton with no relocation plans for displaced staff or critical paper records, including easement filings, according to the news release. If the shoe fits Mostly when hitting the Roundhouse, our only footwear-related thoughts involve wearing comfortable shoes in which we are unlikely to trip or fall down the stairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some folks, however, are more fashion-minded. We received a tip early this morning from a regular attendee at the Legislature that declared: Shoes at the roundhouse are an amazing and little celebrated display. When asked for examples, our source replied: blue stilettos, the comfy earth friendly chevron flats, cowboy boots, snazzy sneakers. Legislative analyst and T or C School Board member Rebecca Bartoo was kind enough to serve as our first (possibly last) legislative shoe model (Julia Goldberg/SourceNM) Feeling both intrigued and a little chastened, we set off in search of snazzy sneakers and luxury loafers. Blue stilettos we did not find. But we did come across T or C Municipal School Board of Education Secretary Rebecca Bartoo, who was sporting gorgeous soft-looking grey cowboy boots with intricate designs (we are including a picture because we are not shoe reporters and dont know how else to describe them), along with killer jewelry. Bartoo, who is also the minority analyst for the House Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources Committee, did not remember where she had acquired her boots, but she was a good sport considering we initially forgot to identify ourselves or explain why we were asking so many questions about her shoes. See or hear something at the Roundhouse you want to share with the wider world? Send it to: info@sourcenm.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Roundhouse runners we came across today: Contrary to common belief, asking people if you can take pictures of their shoes is not a great ice breaker. (Julia Goldberg/SourceNM) Albuquerque Journal reporter Megan Gleason's Zia symbol cowboy boots. "I'd like to thank (fellow Journal reporter) Noah Alcala-Baca for pushing me into buying the boots and ABQ's Vintage Vault for the steal," she told Source New Mexico. Eugene Pickett's moccasins. He needs to walk around in them for a couple more years for them to look as nice as his neighbor's do, he said. Bill Watch Twin bills to set aside $10 million for community based domestic-violence prevention programs sailed through initial committees, but are awaiting adoption into the state budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A slate of more than a dozen bills to address health care provider shortages including hearing specialists, doctors, psychiatrists and more are currently awaiting committee hearings. The Health and Human Services committee advanced a memorial supporting the federal bid to restart and expand a program to pay people harmed by radiation exposure from the U.S. nuclear program Wednesday. A bill that would require public secondary schools and post-secondary educational institutions to provide free condoms for students passed its first committee Wednesday. Cleared the floors Two newly elected House members passed their first pieces of legislation through the chamber, which, according to House hazing practices, requires them to sing a song. Rep. Marianna Anaya (D-Albuquerque) sang Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival and Rep. William Hall (R-Aztec) sang James Browns I Feel Good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anaya, whose song was the better of the two, introduced House Bill 15 to encourage health care graduates of New Mexico universities to return to the state and work here, including helping them find housing, find a job and get licensed here. Halls bill allows Educational Retirement Board pension recipients to change beneficiaries, like if they get remarried and need to change benefits from an ex-spouse to a current one. Another bill that cleared the House on Wednesday is House Bill 281, which removes cosmetology license requirements for people who provide hair-braiding services. New Mexico is one of only three states that has that requirement, explained sponsor Janelle Anyanonu (D-Albuquerque), and its a burdensome regulation for the safe and culturally important service, she said. It passed 61-1, with Angelita Mejia (R-Dexter) the sole no vote. The Senate voted unanimously in favor of an amended version of Senate Bill 88, which would create a $290 million trust fund expected to grow to $2 billion, which would help pay for the states Medicaid program. The amendment fixed an incorrect label in the bill. Senators, without debate, voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 123, which would authorize police officers to work on any of the four existing public bus systems called regional transit districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 119 got a 26-15 vote in the Senate. It would allow $25 million in public funds to be invested in local bioscience companies that would invest twice as much as the state. The Senate voted 37-4 on a substitute version of Senate Bill 235, which would establish policies to improve mathematics education, including screening students for early teaching interventions. Senators, without debate, voted unanimously in favor of Senate Joint Memorial 2, which asks Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to appoint a task force to study the needs of frontier areas, including government services and infrastructure; and Senate Joint Memorial 1, which would ask the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources and the Economic Development Development Department to jointly study and make recommendations about how to avoid wildfires through forest restoration. Power lines in Barelas, Albuquerque in February 2022 (Photo by Marisa Demarco / Source NM) Update March 6 at 2:35 p.m.: No shutoff will occur today, PNM officials said, because the intensity of the storm is lower than forecasted. According to spokesperson Jeff Buell: We continue to monitor real-time weather, and additional crews are standing by in the field. About 10,000 customers in the East Mountains near Albuquerque should gear up for a power shutoff in anticipation of high winds and wildfire risk, electric utility officials said at a news conference Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High winds are expected throughout the day, particularly in Las Vegas, N.M., Santa Fe and the East Mountains. Gusts could reach 50 mph or higher, according to the National Weather Service. The shutoff would affect all customers in the map below, including schools, officials with the Public Service Company of New Mexico said at a news briefing Thursday. The shutoff will begin at noon Thursday and is scheduled to last until 6 p.m. tomorrow, but conditions could change to shorten or lengthen the amount of time power is out, officials said. This is the area in the East Mountains of the Sandias where power is expected to be shut off. (Map courtesy PNM) PNM officials also said conditions are improving in the East Mountains, but they are going forward with a shutoff as planned for now. We are monitoring the system and conditions real time, said PNM spokesperson Jeff Guell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the utility put customers in three areas on notice that shutoffs were likely. But the conditions improved in Santa Fe and Las Vegas such that the shutoffs will not occur, at least for now, officials said. Potential PNM power shutoff Customers can sign up for outage alerts by texting #REG to 78766 from a phone number associated with their account. Then text #ALERT to 78766. Customers should update their contact information at PNM.com/login or call us at 888-DIAL-PNM. Customers can report a power outage at PNM.com/outage or by texting #REG to 78766 and then #OUT to 78766. Customers can view the power outage map at PNM.com/outagemap. In both areas, officials warned that the power grid would be more sensitive to debris or trees coming into contact with power lines and would not automatically re-energize, as the system does during calmer weather. Instead, lines would be inspected in person before being re-energized, so power outages could be longer than normal. The San Miguel/Mora Electric Cooperative also put customers on alert that it may have to shut off power for its customers in the Las Vegas area, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the shutoff occurs as planned, it would be the first time in PNMs history that it preemptively shutoff power during a weather event, officials said. They cited the increase in extreme weather and other factors as reasons for the unprecedented step. They also said the shutoff is not an attempt to prevent lawsuits if a tree falls on a live power line sparks a wildfire, though utilities have been on the hook for multi-billion-dollar lawsuits elsewhere. In 2013, a series of wildfires in California deemed to have ignited from trees hitting PG&E power lines resulted in a $13 billion lawsuit. PNM is also currently fighting a lawsuit for the McBride Fire in Ruidoso in 2022. Shortly after the fire, lawyers began suing PNM and its contractor, Trees, Inc., ultimately representing hundreds of plaintiffs. The lawsuit alleges that the McBride Fires cause was a pine tree that blew over onto a power line maintained by the utility. They say PNM and its contractor were negligent in allowing the tree to be tall enough and close enough to the power line to cause a fire on a windy day. PNM previously denied any wrongdoing in a statement to Source New Mexico: Public reports have noted a tree spanning approximately 50 feet tall that was outside of our right-of-way had contacted a power line due to unanticipated wind gusts of over 90 miles per hour, spokesperson Eric Chavez told Source New Mexico. PNM proactively employs vegetation management and wildfire mitigation practices that comply with applicable authorities. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. The Cole County Prosecutors Office said that no charges will be filed against State Representative Tricia Byrnes for an incident that happened at the Missouri State Capitol on Feb. 20. On Feb. 20, officials were alerted to the Capitol for what appeared as a false suicide threat, according to the office. Byrnes previously highlighted issues with 988 and its texting services. She alleged that the texting services was with a bot, rather than a real person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News After reviewing new information in the investigation, it appears that Representative Byrnes was acting under the reasonable belief that she was engaged in a legitimate test of the 988 system, said Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson. I appreciate the representatives cooperation in the investigation as well as her condemnation of the misuse of emergency hotlines. I would like to thank the Missouri Capitol Police and MSHPs Division of Drug and Crime Control for conducting a thorough investigation into the matter and reiterate than any intentional misuse of an emergency line will be fully investigated and prosecuted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the conclusion of the investigation, Byrnes expressed gratitude for the Prosecutors Office. Find a St. Louis fish fry with this 2025 Lent map Ensuring compassionate and timely support for individuals in crisis is a moral imperative. House Bill 1148 strengthens the 988 Lifeline, ensuring no call for help goes unanswered, with immediate human intervention for those in acute crisis, Byrnes said. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the intentional misuse of a hotline or emergency line should never be done under any circumstance. I have tremendous respect for our law enforcement and first responders, and I want to make clear that I am appreciative and supportive of those who run toward unknown danger every day to keep us safe, including those who did so on February 20th. Byrnes further noted that she is committed to improving 988 Lifeline. And to combat the issues with 988s automated texting services, she introduced HB 1148. The bills purpose requires counselors to determine if an individual needs immediate medical intervention or emotional support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cole County Prosecutors Office announced that it will have no further comment at this time Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. AUSTIN (KXAN) On Thursday, the Austin Police Department provided an update on Tuesdays fatal crash involving an Austin Fire Department engine. RELATED | 1 dead after crash involving Austin fire truck near airport According to APD, the fire engine was responding to an emergency incident when it collided with a sedan at the intersection of East State Highway 71 and Presidential Boulevard. At the time of the incident, APD said the fire engine had its emergency lights and sirens activated. KXAN viewer photo of crash involving an Austin Fire Department truck and a vehicle outside the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Evan Zimmerman) KXAN viewer photos depict an Austin Fire Department truck and a vehicle involved in a crash outside the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Chase Duhon) KXAN viewer photos depict an Austin Fire Department truck and a vehicle involved in a crash outside the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Chase Duhon) The driver and passenger of the sedan were taken to the hospital, where the passenger later died. They have not yet been identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four of the personnel from the firetruck were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. They were later released. According to APD, no criminal charges have been filed related to the crash. MAP: Where have Austins fatal crashes occurred in 2025? APD said the incident was being investigated as Austins tenth fatal crash of 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The White House has not come to a decision yet regarding the legal status of 240,000 Ukrainian refugees currently living in the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on March 6. Earlier in the day, Reuters reported that the administration is planning to revoke the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of these Ukrainians, potentially paving the way for their deportation. Trump said he had not made a decision on the matter yet, but planned to do so "pretty soon." He also claimed that his administration did not want to hurt refugees from Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're not looking to hurt anybody and we're certainly not looking to hurt them," Trump said. "And I'm looking at that, and there were some people that think that's appropriate and some people don't, and I'll be making a decision pretty soon. But we're not looking to hurt them. Especially Ukrainians. They've gone through a lot." According to four undisclosed sources who spoke to Reuters, the plan to revoke TPS predates Trump's public argument with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 28 and is part of the administration's broader crackdown on the more than 1.8 million people staying in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds. Later in the day, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt dismissed the report as "fake news," claiming that no decision had been made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who campaigned intensively on promises to deport millions of migrants, began rolling back protections for Ukrainian and other refugees mere days after returning to the White House. In late January, the administration suspended the Uniting for Ukraine program, which allowed Ukrainians to stay in the U.S. for up to two years. The program also granted refugees the right to work and receive health insurance. Over 6 million Ukrainian citizens fled their homes in the wake of Russia's all-out invasion in 2022. Around 5.2 million remain abroad, with the vast majority receiving protection in EU countries. Trump's decision on TPS could affect 240,000 Ukrainian refugees in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration has come under scrutiny for its treatment of Ukraine, a longstanding ally, in contrast to its increasing warmth towards Russia. In recent days, the White House has frozen all military aid shipments and stopped intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Zelensky said on March 6 that the U.S. and Ukraine have resumed cooperation and that delegations will meet for talks next week. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine, US delegations to meet next week, Zelensky announces Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Various claims made online accuse Ukraine of selling weapons provided by the United States and other countries on the black market amid the war between Russia and Ukraine. These accusations may be connected to Russian disinformation. A 2022 BBC investigation found what appeared to be Russians posing as Ukrainian weapons vendors on the dark web. Research from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, a nongovernmental organization, found most purported instances of online illicit arms dealing by Ukraine were either scams or "Russian information operations to discredit Kyiv." Specific claims about weapons ending up in Mexico, Gaza or Syria are also not based on fact. While data shows more than half of the guns seized in Mexico were manufactured or legally moved through the U.S., only 3.5% of them 618 guns in 2023 could be traced from a U.S. firearms licensee to a foreign actor. Claims about weapons ending up with Hamas appear based on misinformation and the rumor about Ukraine's American weapons in Syria likely began with an Iranian official who did not cite his sources. Finally, a 2024 report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime found no confirmed reports of arms trafficking out of Ukraine. While there have been isolated incidents of stolen Ukrainian weapons, most weapons seized and sold on the black market in Ukraine are Soviet or Russian weapons. The U.S. and Ukraine work together to track weapons sent to Ukraine; while tracking can be spotty, there are no confirmed reports of illicit arms trafficking out of Ukraine into other countries. Just months after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, rumors began spreading online that Ukraine sold weapons provided by the United States and other Western countries on the black market to various militant and criminal groups. As early as June 2022, BBC reported that Russian state TV "routinely runs stories claiming Ukraine is selling weapons supplied by the West" on the dark web, a part of the internet not visible to search engines and home to online black markets. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, news reports have claimed weapons from the war in Ukraine were "finding their way to Finnish gangsters, French rioters, Nigerian fighters and the Mexican cartels." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, on Feb. 10, 2025, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson claimed the "Ukrainian military is selling American weapons systems on the black market, including to drug cartels" on the U.S.-Mexico border (see 31:40 below). The Ukrainian military is selling American weapons systems on the black market, including to drug cartels. This war is killing the United States. Col. Daniel Davis on how Donald Trump can end it. (0:00) Why Crimea Is So Pivotal (13:17) Ukraine Is Powerless Without the US (31:16) pic.twitter.com/PgL3og9lTE Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) February 10, 2025 Snopes readers also asked via email whether Ukraine sold American weapons on the black market or to various militant or criminal groups, including Hamas, Syrian rebel groups and Mexican drug cartels. These claims are not backed by credible evidence and may be part of a Russian disinformation campaign. While it is not possible to definitively disprove that U.S. or European weapons sent to Ukraine have ended up in the hands of militant or criminal groups, the information available suggests these rumors are not founded in truth; reports from reputable researchers have found "no instances of arms trafficking of weapons out of Ukraine." Furthermore, the Ukrainian government is not only eschewing any participation in selling U.S. weapons, it is attempting to disrupt or block any illicit arms trafficking happening in Ukraine. However, arms trafficking by criminals is still a legitimate potential issue within Ukraine as it usually is in regions of conflict. A Russian disinformation campaign In a 2022 BBC report, journalists went undercover on the dark web to debunk accusations made by Russian state media about Ukraine's purported illicit weapons sales. The report found multiple inconsistencies casting doubt on these accusations; for example, some sellers mentioned by Russian media posted manipulated images of Syrian weapons to pass them off as Ukrainian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, BBC showed its conversations with purported Ukraine weapons sellers to linguists, who determined that "there is substantial evidence that the messages written in Ukrainian were translated from Russian with the help of an online translator." Examples included numerous grammatical errors and typos which "meant the online translator could not understand them, and left the original words" in Russian written with Russian letters. BBC also spoke with a cybercrime intelligence company that determined it was not clear whether the ads were created by Russian actors or whether independent scammers first created them but "the timing and the similarity of claims made by Russian state media outlets suggest that it could be an organised disinformation campaign." Similarly, research by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, an international nongovernmental organization, found the "overwhelming majority of activity" on the dark web connected to illicit arms dealing from Ukraine is fake and are either "Russian information operations to discredit Kyiv, or simply scams" (see Page 24 of this March 2023 report). Claims about Ukraine's US weapons in Syria, Gaza and Mexico It is not clear whether specific reports about Ukraine selling weapons to Mexican drug cartels, Hamas, a militant group in Gaza at war with Israel, or Syrian rebels started as Russian disinformation. However, it is true that these claims are not supported by evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carlson, for example, did not cite any sources when claiming that Ukraine's American weapons ended up on the U.S.-Mexico border. Logistically, however, it would be much easier for Mexican cartels to procure illicit weapons directly from the United States or neighboring Latin American countries, rather than shipping them from Ukraine. In fact, there is plenty of evidence that Mexican drug cartels procure many of their weapons from the United States. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Explosives shows that in 2023, 49% of weapons seized in Mexico were manufactured in the United States and an additional 19.3% were legally imported into the United States using a federal firearms license but only 3.5%, or 618 guns, could be traced from a U.S. firearms licensee "to a foreign government, law enforcement, dealer or entity." If Ukraine sold "up to half" the weapons it received from the United States, as Carlson claimed, the percentage of guns traced to foreign actors would be expected to jump exponentially starting in 2022 or 2023, given the United States' ramp up in weapons aid to Ukraine after Russia's February 2022 invasion. This is not the case in 2021, for example, 3.4% of U.S.-sourced guns could be traced to foreign actors, showing only a 0.1 percentage point increase from 2021 to 2023. ATF data compiled by the Wilson Center, which provides nonpartisan counsel to Congress, shows most illicit weapons seized in Mexico can be traced to Southwest border states; Texas alone accounts for 38% of firearms found in Mexico traced back to the United States. As of this writing, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a lawsuit brought by Mexico against American gun manufacturers over their alleged complicity in weapons smuggling at the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, there have been numerous efforts by reputable news organizations to debunk various claims attempting to suggest Ukraine sells arms to Hamas. For example, the Netherlands-based news outlet Bellingcat said in an Oct. 10, 2023, X post that a "fake BBC video circulating on social media falsely claiming that Bellingcat has verified Ukrainian weapons sales to Hamas" is a "fabrication." Bellingcat's founder, Eliot Higgins, said an X post about the video that it is "unclear if this is a Russian government disinformation campaign or a grassroots effort, but it's 100% fake." Finally, the claim about American weapons sent to Ukraine ending up in Syria appeared to originate from Iran's deputy foreign minister, Mojitaba Damirchilo, who claimed in Iranian state media that Ukraine sent U.S. weapons to "terrorist groups" in Syria. As noted by Ukrainian outlet Ukrainska Pravda, Damirchilo cited "unnamed and unverified reports." Iran has allied with Russia in its war with Ukraine. Arms trafficking in Ukraine limited to isolated incidents By and large, "the conflict in Ukraine is absorbing weapons, not releasing them," according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. "The intensity of the fighting in the east and south has resulted in materiel being used as soon as it arrives," the organization found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Defense and Ukraine also work together to track American arms sent to Ukraine and where they end up. Detailed investigations and oversight reports on Ukraine-related spending can be found on the U.S. government's Ukraine Oversight webpage. Officials under both former President Joe Biden's and President Donald Trump's administrations have contradicted claims that the United States doesn't know where its aid to Ukraine is going. Biden's undersecretary of defense for policy, Colin H. Kahl, said in 2023 that "we think the Ukrainians are using properly what they've been given." Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Gen. Keith Kellogg, said on Feb. 5, 2025, that "we have put inspector generals in the ground in Ukraine, in Europe to track that money and we have a pretty good idea where it's going" (see 2:18). Despite assurances otherwise, there is evidence that the United States and Ukraine do not know where some of the weapons America sends to Ukraine are ending up. A 2024 Department of Defense audit report found the agency failed to properly track $1 billion worth of military equipment sent to Ukraine; the Pentagon's poor accounting is a known issue that extends far beyond Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a Defense Department spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said shortly after the report published that "there remains no credible evidence of illicit diversion of U.S.-provided, advanced conventional weapons from Ukraine." "We do see some instances of Russia continuing to spread disinformation to the contrary," he added. A 2022 report from the Pentagon's inspector general found that criminals, volunteer fighters and arms traffickers in Ukraine stole some American-provided weapons and equipment, but the items were recovered by Ukraine's security service (pages 7 and 8). The report, titled "The DoD's Accountability of Equipment Provided to Ukraine," does not list any militant groups or locations outside of Ukraine or Russia as places where these weapons were intended to go or ended up in. Finally, a June 2024 report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime found no "confirmed instances of arms trafficking of weapons out of Ukraine." Most weapons seized and sold on the black market in Ukraine are "overwhelmingly Soviet- or Russian-type trophy weapons captured on the battlefield or taken from weapons dumps, although there have been isolated attempts to steal Western weapons," the report found (see Page 6). (A weapons or ammunition dump is a designated area where weapons or ammo are stored by militaries.) Still, the initiative's report warned that "as with the war itself, the governing conditions of illegal weapons may quickly change," and "the lack of current activity does not imply an absence of risk" (pages 29 and 7). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In conclusion, there is no credible evidence that American weapons sent to Ukraine are ending up in Mexico, Syria, Gaza or any location outside of Ukraine, and claims otherwise may be attributed to Russian disinformation campaigns. The United States and Ukrainian governments have attempted strict oversight of their weapons to mixed results but any arms trafficking happening in Ukraine appears, as of this writing, to be contained to isolated incidents by criminals. Sources: Avdaliani, Emil. "Iran and Russia Enter a New Level of Military Cooperation Stimson Center." Stimson Center, 6 Mar. 2024, www.stimson.org/2024/iran-and-russia-enter-a-new-level-of-military-cooperation/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. BAHL, Vedika. "Truth or Fake - No, This Video Does Not Show Ukrainian Arms Deliveries to Hamas." France 24, FRANCE 24, 13 Oct. 2023, www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/truth-or-fake/20231013-no-this-video-does-not-show-ukrainian-arms-deliveries-to-hamas. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. "BBC Did Not Report That Ukraine Is Sending Arms to Hamas, a Video Was Fabricated." AP News, 11 Oct. 2023, apnews.com/article/fact-check-israel-hamas-ukraine-russia-weapons-265852026856. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bellingcat. "We're Aware of a Fake BBC Video Circulating on Social Media Falsely Claiming That Bellingcat Has Verified Ukrainian Weapons Sales to Hamas. We've Reached No Such Conclusions or Made Any Such Claims. We'd like to Stress That This Is a Fabrication and Should Be Treated Accordingly." X (Formerly Twitter), 10 Oct. 2023, x.com/bellingcat/status/1711788647425409104. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. "Firearms Trace Data: Mexico - 2018-2023 | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives." Atf.gov, www.atf.gov/resource-center/firearms-trace-data-mexico-2018-2023. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Galeotti, Mark, and Anna Arutunyan. PEACE and PROLIFERATION: The Russo-Ukrainian War and the Illegal Arms Trade. Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, Mar. 2023, globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mark-Galeotti-and-Anna-Arutunyan-Peace-and-proliferation-The-Russo-Ukrainian-war-and-the-illegal-arms-trade-GI-TOC-March-2023.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. GI-TOC ARMS MONITORING PROJECT. SMOKE on the HORIZON: Trends in Arms Trafficking from the Conflict in Ukraine SMOKE on the HORIZON. Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, June 2024, globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Smoke-on-the-horizon-trends-in-arms-trafficking-from-the-conflict-in-Ukraine-GI-TOC-June-2024.v3.pdf. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Guilty Pleas for Two Mexican Nationals in Conspiracy to Acquire 'Stinger' Missile and Other Military-Grade Weapons." DEA, 2025, www.dea.gov/press-releases/2011/05/02/guilty-pleas-two-mexican-nationals-conspiracy-acquire-stinger-missile-and. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Hernandez-Roy, Christopher, et al. "Under the Gun: Firearms Trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean." Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2024, www.csis.org/analysis/under-gun-firearms-trafficking-latin-america-and-caribbean. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Higgins, Eliot. "A Fake BBC Video Claiming a Bellingcat Investigation Shows Ukraine Smuggled Weapons to Hamas Is Being Pushed by Russian Social Media Users. It's Unclear If This Is a Russian Government Disinformation Campaign or a Grassroots Effort, but It's 100% Fake." X (Formerly Twitter), 10 Oct. 2023, x.com/EliotHiggins/status/1711782985815453902. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Inspector General U.S. Department of Defense. "Evaluation of the DoD's Enhanced End-Use Monitoring of Defense Articles Provided to Ukraine." U.S. Department of Defense, 10 Jan. 2024, media.defense.gov/2024/Jan/11/2003374323/-1/-1/1/DODIG-2024-043-EEMU_REDACTED%20SECURE.PDF. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Korenyuk, Maria, et al. "Undercover with Russia's Fake Arms Dealers." BBC News, 23 Sept. 2022, www.bbc.com/news/world-62983444. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Lemus, Guillermo. "Infographics | Arms Trafficking across the US-Mexico Border." Wilson Center, 2024, www.wilsoncenter.org/article/infographics-arms-trafficking-across-us-mexico-border. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Mehr News Agency. "Iran Urges Ukraine to Stop Supporting Terrorists in Region." Archive.ph, Mehr News Agency, 6 Dec. 2024, archive.ph/kCD9y. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. "Monitoring Illicit Arms Flows from the Conflict in Ukraine." Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, 2023, riskbulletins.globalinitiative.net/ukr-obs-001/01-monitoring-illicit-arms-flows-from-the-conflict-in-ukraine.html?ref=hir.harvard.edu. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. NEWSMAX. "President Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Gen. Keith Kellogg Joined 'Rob Schmitt Tonight' to Describe next Steps in the Administration's Plan to End the Russia-Ukraine War. 'the Only Guy That Can Do That in the World, and Bring This to a Conclusion, Is Donald J. Trump.' @SPE_Kellogg." X (Formerly Twitter), 5 Feb. 2025, x.com/NEWSMAX/status/1887336719877292081. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. "Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing." U.S. Department of Defense, 11 Jan. 2024, www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3643869/pentagon-press-secretary-maj-gen-pat-ryder-holds-a-press-briefing/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Pohorilov, Stanislav. "Iran, Backing Russia, Claims Ukraine Supplies Weapons to Syrian Rebels." Ukrainska Pravda, 6 Dec. 2024, www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/12/6/7488010/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Reuters Fact Check. "Fact Check: Washington Post Headline about Ukraine and Hamas Weapon Supply Is Fake." Reuters, 25 Nov. 2023, www.reuters.com/fact-check/washington-post-headline-about-ukraine-hamas-weapon-supply-is-fake-2023-11-25/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Ukraine Oversight. "Funding." Ukraineoversight.gov, www.ukraineoversight.gov/Funding/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. "Ukraine Oversight - Oversight." Ukraineoversight.gov, www.ukraineoversight.gov/Oversight-Work/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. Vergun, David. "Defense Officials: U.S. Ensures Accountability of Systems Supplied to Ukraine." U.S. Department of Defense, 28 Feb. 2023, www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3313904/defense-officials-us-ensures-accountability-of-systems-supplied-to-ukraine/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025. HENDERSON, Texas (KETK) Students of Henderson ISDs Wylie Elementary and Wylie Primary were evacuated on Thursday, when smoke was detected in the common areas of the building. Fire crews were called to scene to investigate. The smoke was traced back to a malfunction in the air conditioning equipment. No fire was reported. Henderson ISD mourns loss of student killed in car crash Students are safe and have returned back to class. Parents will receive updates from the district as soon as they are available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The City of Midland, in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and the National Fitness Campaign, has unveiled a new outdoor fitness hub at Dennis the Menace Park, offering residents a free and accessible way to stay active. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of the Fitness Court, celebrating the citys commitment to wellness and the importance of public-private partnerships in enhancing local parks. This Dennis the Menace Park development is just another step in elevating our community spaces, said Midland Mayor Lori Blong. We are so thankful for these public-private partnerships that allow us to really enhance the experience at our parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Fitness Court is part of a statewide initiative aimed at making exercise more accessible for Texans of all backgrounds. Cynthia Hendon, Senior Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, emphasized the importance of eliminating financial barriers to health and wellness. That was our motivation, Hendon said. We dont want any financial harsdships on someone, I cant get healthy cause I cant afford a gym or I cant, so thats why we built these type of fitness centers so that anyone at any abilty level any financial level can come out and get some health and wellness activity into their lives. The Fitness Court features an interactive workout system that allows users to scan an app and find exercises suited to their fitness level. Todd Triggs, Wellness Coordinator for the City of Midland, is excited about the courts potential to encourage healthier lifestyles across the region. I like how simple it is, Triggs said. You scan the app, find the level thats right for you, and get movingputting fitness into our community and making it accessible. People can go to the park with their kids, come over here, and do a quick workout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Triggs hopes this new addition will help bridge the gap between wellness and accessibility, both for city employees and the broader community. Im on a mission to improve the health of all City of Midland employees, he added. But beyond that, we want to help our entire community take one step closer to a healthier lifestyle. The Fitness Court at Dennis the Menace Park is open to the public, offering a free, easy-to-use space for Midlanders to stay active and prioritize their well-being. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. During the first address to Congress of his second term this week, President Donald Trump bragged about the accomplishments he achieved during his first weeks back in office. "It was exactly what you'd expect," wrote Reason's Liz Wolfe. "Trump emphasized border security and law enforcement, the cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiencyand the importance of ending the war in Ukraine." But while calling out some of the newly uncovered waste and fraud, specifically at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during President Joe Biden's administration, Trump made an inaccurate claim that his White House has continued doubling down on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Just listen to some of the appalling waste we have already identified," Trump bragged. "$8 million for making mice transgenderthis is real." Indeed, spending $8 million to make mice transgender would be an appalling waste of tax money, if it were real. Thankfully, it isn't. At the time of the speech, some online commenters noted that the program was likely not transgender but transgenic"an organism or cell whose genome has been altered by the introduction of one or more foreign DNA sequences from another species by artificial means," according to the National Human Genome Research Institute. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician and a professor at Harvard Medical School, said on Instagram that it's actually not either of those. "You can take a male mouse and you can inject it with hormones to make it more feminine," or vice versa, "and scientists have been doing this for a long time, and it's to find out about the biophysical effects" of hormones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, this would be the exact purpose of doing experiments on mice: to study the efficacy and risk factors of substances that humans take for medical use. A CNN fact check during the speech called Trump's claim "false" and said he had mischaracterized grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The morning after the speech, the White House issued an article, titled "Yes, Biden Spent Millions on Transgender Animal Experiments." It lists six bullet points of NIH grants for experiments using estrogen or testosterone on mice, totaling more than $8.2 million in total awards. "The Fake News losers at CNN immediately tried to fact check [this claim], but President Trump was right (as usual)," the article gloatstruly an embarrassing sentence for any public relations flack to write, much less on behalf of a U.S. president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a quick glance at the list shows Trump's claim is still not accurate: Indeed, the top bullet point lists $455,000 in grants "to test the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on HIV vaccine-induced immune responses." That funding went to a team at Duke University "designing an HIV vaccine that maximizes efficacy but minimizes adverse outcomes." They would use the grant money to study "the immunological responsiveness of transgender people, a population at considerably higher risk for HIV and other STIs [sexually transmitted infections]." Another grant provided $2.5 million to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, to study the "reproductive consequences of steroid hormone administration." The largest grant listed was $3.1 million for Trustees of Indiana University to examine the efficacy of estrogen in treating asthma. "Women have increased asthma prevalence and higher rates of asthma exacerbations than men," the project description noted, and even though the cause of that discrepancy remains unclear, "studies have shown that sex-specific inflammatory mechanisms controlled by hormones contribute to differences in airway reactivity in response to environmental stimuli." Indeed, at most, the listed NIH grants describe studies in which scientists are studying the effects of gender-affirming hormones on mice, and not "making mice transgender." This is not to say that NIH must be in the business of giving out these grants. Perhaps the recipients' institutions should shoulder a greater burden of the research their faculty and staff are conducting, leaving those millions of dollars in taxpayers' pockets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And this is also not to suggest HHS' programs have no waste or fraud. In 2023 alone, Medicare and Medicaid issued over $100 billion in "improper payments." But that's the point: When HHS, just like any government program, already has plenty of silly and wasteful line items ripe for cutting, there's no need to just make up new ones. The post No, HHS Didn't Spend $8 Million 'Making Mice Transgender' appeared first on Reason.com. (KRON) A Santa Rosa man who pleaded no contest to bashing a strangers face with a rock after groping her in front of her daughter, leaving the mother permanently disfigured, will not face any prison time, the Sonoma County District Attorneys Office announced this week. Trevor Lee Colombano, 38, of Santa Rosa, was sentenced Tuesday by Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Dana Simonds to four years of probation for the Oct. 30, 2023, attack. He had faced up to nine years in state prison in addition to 18 months in county jail after pleading no contest to assault with a deadly weapon, sexual battery and mayhem. The judges decision countered requests from the victim, along with District Attorney Carla Rodriguez, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Sonoma County Probation Department to send Colombano to prison, the DAs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mother had just left her Santa Rosa apartment on a sunny fall afternoon, joined by her 13-year-old daughter and 13-year-old cousin and family dog, when Colombano approached from behind, prosecutors said. The stranger pressed up against the mother, and the mother attempted to fend him off. Woman grabbed off street, dragged into car in brazen daylight kidnapping in Oakland Colombano started punching the woman in the head before he grabbed a landscaping rock and continued to bash her face with it, according to the DAs office. The victims shirt and bra were ripped off in the struggle. Two bystanders who saw the attack pulled Colombano from the mother and pinned him to the ground until Santa Rosa Police Department officers arrived. I have cried more in the last six months than I have in my entire lifetime, the mother told the court at her attackers sentencing. My daughter and my little cousin, both thirteen at the time, had to witness the whole thing I cannot even put into words the feeling of not being able to protect yourself or your child at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DAs office said that the woman moved away from California following the assault. In its recommendation of a prison sentence, the Sonoma County Probation Department said, The defendant is statutorily limited from receiving probation and we cannot, even after much effort considering the complexities, favorable, and mitigating factors involved in this case, identify any factors that mark this matter an unusual case for probation consideration. Judge Simonds, who diverged from requests and recommendations when giving Colombano probation, referenced mental health issues and said Colombanos cannabis consumption and stress were contributing factors in the brutal attack, according to the DAs office. Justice was not served in this case, DA Rodriguez said in a statement Tuesday expressing frustration with the sentence. This woman will be permanently scarred for the rest of her life, both physically and emotionally. Her daughter and nieces sense of safety and well-being will never be the same. Mr. Colombano is a menace to public safety, period, and should be sitting in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colombanos defense attorney, Roy E. Miller of Hansen & Miller Law Firm, said his client expressed remorse and is considered low-risk for reoffending. In the weeks leading up to the attack, Columbano was experiencing auditory hallucinations, along with racing thoughts and hyper focus on subjects, according to Miller. He was diagnosed with a psychosis disorder. It didnt fit neatly into schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, though it had features of both, the defense attorney wrote. Miller told KRON4, The judge had two choices, prison or probation. Many of course would say prison simply because of what happened. It is an understandable reaction to what Trevor did. However, there is very little mental health treatment in the prison system which means when he got out in roughly two years from the date of sentencing he would not have received treatment which could help ensure his and the publics safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday afternoon, Columbano remained in custody pending placement into a mental health treatment facility, Miller said. Probation conditions require him to register as a sex offender. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) A Huntsville non-profit focused on offering hands-on skills training for people looking to start a career in residential construction, recently got a big boost. The North Alabama Homebuilding Association (NAHA), is one of only 15 non-profits across the country, to be a recent recipient of a Lowes Foundation Gables Grant. NAHA received a $500,000 grant. Alabama service member comes home and surprises his kids Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were just absolutely ecstatic about it, said Larry Durham, the owner of Durham Service Company and the Chairman of the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy Foundation. Image Credit: North Alabama Homebuilding Academy (NAHA). Durham explained that the grant money will go towards expanding NAHAs workforce development program throughout the state of Alabama. Its going to be used as seed money to start up more satellite programs around the state, Durham said. NAHA offers classes and courses to train people who are interested in pursuing a career in the residential construction industry. Durham explained that theres a major shortage of new people joining the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Muscle Shoals welcomes new fire chief The average age of a journeyman plumber, electrician, carpenter, HVAC technician in state of Alabama is 57 years old, Durham said. For every five the industry is losing, were only gaining one back. The demand has never been greater for skilled construction services, and were trying to do our best to rebuild that, The Lowes Foundation Gable Grants program has a similar goal. When we talk to our professionals out in the field, 9 out of 10 tell us, that they have trouble finding the workers they need, Director of the Lowes Foundation Betsy Conway said. So, being able to address this worker shortage crisis through these local programs like NAHA is really critical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lowes Foundation has pledged to donate $50 million dollars to organizations that support training programs in carpentry, construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and appliance repair. So far, the foundation says it has awarded $34 Million in Gable Grants towards that goal. Durham told News 19 that working with the Lowes Foundation on the grant was a great process. He said NAHA originally applied for a $250,000 grant, but that quickly changed. What was astounding, is when Lowes called us back and asked us if we could use an additional $250,000, said Durham. That doubled their grant to a total of $500,000. Conway said the foundation was so impressed with NAHAs work that they had to double the funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I was on the call and NAHA started walking through all of their plans, the foundation board, which is a part of this process, was so impressed by their plans for future growth that after the call, we actually decided to go back to not and say, look, if we were able to provide you with more funding, what more could you do?' Conway said. This expansion plan came back and we are just thrilled to be able to make this happen. I think what NAHA is doing in northern Alabama, how theyre now going to be able to replicate their program across the entire state, is a best practice that I hope many will replicate Conway added. Durham told News 19 that NAHA plans to work with the state homebuilders association and other partners to get the ball rolling on expanding programming statewide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. PLATTSBURGH Hundreds of striking North Country correction officers joined hundreds more from across the state at a rally on the steps of the state capitol in Albany Tuesday demanding safer conditions inside state prisons. Officers began their wildcat strike, which is not sanctioned by their union, the New York State Correction Officer Police Benevolent Association, on Feb. 17 at prisons across the state. The officers are demanding more staffing to alleviate double and triple shifts, better measures to screen mail and visitors to keep troublesome contraband out, and a repeal of the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act, which strictly limits how long and which inmates can be sent to Special Housing Units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and NYSCOPBA representatives met last week for a series of mediation sessions and came up with an agreement, which called for a suspension of HALT for 90 days after which it will be examined, more screening and no discipline for striking officers. But the rank and file, which did not vote on the agreement, was not enthused with the offer. Some officers returned to work by the March 1 deadline imposed by the state, but hundreds remained on the picket lines outside prisons across the state including in Dannemora, Altona and Malone in the North Country. BUS CARAVAN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After picketing outside prisons for more than two weeks, a caravan of buses filled with officers and supporters trekked to Albany for a show of solidarity Tuesday. Reports of 2,000 to 3,000 people were there. Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake), a former correction officer himself, met with the striking officers who visited Albany. I remain committed, as Ive always have been, to fighting for safe working and staffing conditions at correctional facilities, Jones, who is also a co-sponsor on a bill to make changes to the HALT Act, said. My message has always been consistent, and Ill continue pushing the governor and DOCCS for much-needed facility updates to keep our workers safe... Two decades of my life have been spent behind the walls of our correctional facilities as a correction officer, so I know all too well the challenges facing officers, staff, and their families. Making sure our men and women who serve in our facilities can go to work and return home safely will always be a top priority to me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Lake George) also took time to speak with officers. Our correctional officers put their lives on the line every day, yet Albany policies like the HALT Act have made their jobs even more dangerous. Assaults on officers have risen 76%, and inmate-on-inmate assaults rose 169%. Todays demonstration is proof the crisis can no longer be ignored, Simpson said. I stand with these brave men and women in demanding action. We must repeal the HALT Act and restore the tools necessary to keep our correctional facilities safe, Simpson continued. Simpson is sponsoring legislation in the Assembly to repeal HALT and protect those who work in and serve time in New Yorks prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its time for Gov. Hochul to listen to the voices of our correctional officers and take real action before this crisis spirals further out of control, Simpson said. On Monday, the state began terminating some officers who have been out of work since the strike began. Gov. Kathy Hochul did, however, use the State of Emergency designation to make body scanner use mandatory for visitors. SCANNERS State Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) said that was a good first step, but more needs to be done. On Jan. 30, I visited Upstate Correctional Facility (Malone) after an unknown chemical exposure and met with the superintendent, officers and civilian staff. During this meeting, I learned that body scanner use is optional for inmates and their visitors and on Feb. 4, I introduced Senate bill S.4422 to close this loophole and make body scanner use mandatory, Stec said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After introducing this bill, I wrote to both Governor Hochul and Senate Majority Leader (Andrea) Stewart-Cousins, requesting this measure be included in the upcoming state budget. The main reason correction officers across the state are on strike is that they are forced to endure extraordinarily unsafe working conditions. Making body scanner use mandatory for inmates and visitors is a crucial step in the effort to make correctional facilities safer. Stec said the governor and DOCCS decision to make body scanners mandatory for visitors during the ongoing state of emergency is a welcome first step that he, officers and other advocates for prison safety have called for. But a temporary change in policy and executive order is exactly that, temporary and must go further, he said. Mandatory use of body scanners for visitors and inmates must become a permanent change in policy and that requires a legislative resolution. I urge the governor and Legislative leaders to either pass my legislation concerning body scanners or include analogous language in this years state budget. Its clear that the governor and DOCCS know that this is the right thing to do and given the fraught situation, immediate action on my legislation is more necessary than ever. Exterior of the Morton County Courthouse in Mandan on Feb. 27, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) The North Dakota Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a petition by Greenpeace to move its legal battle with Energy Transfer out of Morton County. Attorneys for Greenpeace argued that the jury in the lawsuit, which concerns the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, will not be able to deliver a fair verdict since many Morton County residents were directly impacted by the demonstrations. It cited survey data as well as statements made by prospective jurors during the jury selection process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The environmental group also raised concerns that jurors may have been targeted with pro-fossil fuel content, including political mailers and advertisements, leading up to the trial. More Dakota Access Pipeline coverage Greenpeace suggested moving the case to Cass County. Energy Transfer has said that its own survey data indicates that Morton County residents would not be biased jurors in the case, and that moving the lawsuit to a different court would be cumbersome. The Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning in denying Greenpeaces petition. On Wednesday, the North Dakota Supreme Court also denied a request by a group of news outlets, which included the North Dakota Monitor, for expanded access to the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The high court did not provide a reason for that denial, either. The group had asked the Supreme Court to review Southwest Judicial District Judge James Gions decision not to allow any photography, video or livestreaming of the trial. While media and other members of the public may attend the trial, they arent allowed to use phones or other electronic devices in the courtroom. In an order denying requests for expanded access, Gion said he was worried about keeping witnesses sequestered as well as the possibility for the harassment of witnesses, jurors, attorneys and court staff. Media attorney Jack McDonald in the petition asked the court to order Gion to reverse his decision given the significant public interest in the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the petition, McDonald cited the North Dakota Constitution, which holds that all courts shall be open, as well as the First and Fourteenth amendments of the U.S. Constitution. McDonald also argued that Gion didnt sufficiently explain the reasons behind his decision. North Dakota district judges commonly allow up to two photographers and up to two video cameras in the courtroom during proceedings. Some expanded media orders also allow journalists to bring audio recorders and cellphones. Some North Dakota judges have allowed media to view hearings remotely through Zoom, though not consistently. A private livestream is being provided to some attorneys for Greenpeace and Energy Transfer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other media organizations that joined the petition were Forum Communications, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, KFYR-TV, KXMB-TV, The Bismarck Tribune, DRILLED, The Intercept, the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, News/Media Alliance, Society of Environmental Journalists and the Minnesota Newspaper Association. In the lawsuit, Energy Transfer seeks roughly $300 million from Greenpeace for damages it claims the environmental organization caused in relation to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Energy Transfer alleges Greenpeace aided and abetted criminal behavior by protesters, and spread a misinformation campaign about the pipeline project in order to delay its construction and tarnish the companys relationships with banks. Greenpeace denies all the claims, and says Energy Transfer is unfairly targeting it in an attempt to harm the environmental group and intimidate other activist organizations. The high court last week also denied a petition for expanded livestream access submitted by a group of attorneys monitoring the case. The Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning behind that decision. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HONG KONG North Korea has once again closed its borders, suspending foreign tourism just weeks after the secretive state welcomed its first Western visitors in five years. North Korea sealed its borders in early 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic, gradually lifting restrictions starting in mid-2023. The first tourists, a group from Russia, were allowed into the country in February 2024, but the first international visitors from other countries including Britain, Canada, France and Germany only arrived in North Korea for the first time last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit by the Western group was limited to the remote northeastern city of Rason, which the North Korean government has designated a special economic zone. During the trip, they visited factories, shops and statues of late North Korean leaders. Unlike the Russians, they were not allowed to visit Pyongyang, the capital. Tour operators said Wednesday that travel to North Korea was no longer possible until further notice. It was unclear why North Korea had closed again to foreign visitors and how long the suspension would last. We have been informed that Rason is temporarily CLOSED, Koryo Tours, a tour operator based in Beijing, said in a statement Wednesday. Its an unprecedented situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other travel agencies that organize North Korea trips made similar announcements. We recommend that those planning tours in April and May refrain from booking flights until we have more information, China-based Young Pioneer Tours said in a Facebook post, adding that refunds are available for tours that are canceled due to the abrupt change. People walking along a road outside Rason, North Korea, near the border with Russia and China, in 2017. Rason has operated differently from the rest of North Korea since it was declared a special economic zone in 1991. It has been used as a testing ground for new economic policies, the countrys first mobile phone network and the first card payment system. Before the pandemic, North Korea had hosted hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists who provided up to $175 million in extra revenue in 2019, according to the South Korea-based news outlet NK News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, North Korea has been deepening ties with Russia, signing a mutual defense pact last year and sending weapons and troops to support President Vladimir Putins war against Ukraine. In 2024, almost 900 Russian tourists visited North Korea, the South Korean Unification Ministry said, citing official Russian data. The United States banned its citizens from traveling to the country in 2017 after the death of American student Otto Warmbier. Warmbier, 22, a University of Virginia student, stole a propaganda banner from a hotel during a visit to Pyongyang in January 2016 and was later sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for committing a hostile act against the government. He was returned to the United States in a coma the following year and died shortly afterward. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A Whole Foods in Beverly is sinking into the ground, and the popular supermarket chain says repairs could cost millions of dollars. The grocery store, located at 150 Brimbal Ave, opened less than six years ago and is built on a former landfill. Regular customers have been noticing cracks that continue to appear on the ground and spots where the floor dips. A lawsuit filed by Whole Foods alleges negligent design, planning, and construction and claims the ongoing problems are indicators of faulty workmanship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit blames landlord CEA Beverly LLC, the general contractor, the site developer, and sthe ubcontractors. In mid to late 2022, Whole Foods became aware of numerous structural and foundational issues with the Store, such as noticeable floor and ceiling movement in multiple areas, the suit states. Whole Foods said it had to pay to replace storefront glass windows and install acrylic windows to allow for movement and to prevent glass from shattering. The store is also reporting issues with its doors caused by the shifting foundation. There are jokes that we should be coming in here with hard hats on, said shopper Nancy Littlehale. My cart almost went into the seafood counter. Thats where the dips are, and you can see cracks in the floor,r which is a little disconcerting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Whole Foods in Beverly quickly became a popular location for several surrounding North Shore communities after opening in 2019 in the North Shore Crossing Plaza. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Boston, said fixing the problems will likely cost millions of dollars and could force the store to close for a prolonged period. It claims a closure would result in $1 million dollars per week in lost profits. Id be incredibly disappointed. I come to this Whole Foods daily, said shopper Mike Lyons. I dont know who knew, but if they shouldve known, and they didnt report it, I think thats a huge liability on their part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, the issues with the Whole Foods structure could be connected to improper design assumptions. A reasonably prudent landlord would have made certain that all designs and construction accounted for the decomposition of the Rubbish Fill, it states. CEA failed to supervise its agents, employees, and others with whom it had contracted and instead allowed for the construction of a site pad that was negligently engineered, designed, and constructed. Boston 25 News reached out to CEA Beverly LLC and the other co-defendants and have not yet heard back. A Whole Foods spokesperson declined to discuss the case and said the company does not comment on pending litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Beverly has not publicly commented on the lawsuit and hasnt said if the structurally unsound building potentially presents any safety concerns in the community. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A North Tonawanda man who fatally stabbed a man in Buffalo in 2023 is heading to prison on a 20-year sentence John A. Rudes, 29, of North Tonawanda, was sentenced Wednesday morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to 20 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. In the early morning hours of Sept, 17, 2023, Rudes stabbed a man multiple times in the neck while inside of an apartment building on the 1000 block of Kenmore Avenue in Buffalo. The victim, 59-year-old Terry Jackson, was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, Rudes pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree manslaughter (Class B violent felony). He entered the plea to the charge in full satisfaction of the indictment. Rudes also pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree grand larceny (Class E felony) in a separate case. Prior to the homicide, Rudes was under investigation for stealing money from his former employer. Wednesday, he received the maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison, which will be served concurrently to his sentence for the manslaughter conviction. In January 2023, the victim reported to the Depew Police Department that several checks had been stolen from his business checkbook, resulting in a total loss of $3,763. The investigation determined that Rudes, who had been an employee of the victims landscaping company, wrote several checks payable to himself. Between Dec. 7, 2022, and Jan. 12, 2023, he deposited the stolen checks at various bank locations, which was supported by video evidence. As a condition of the plea, Rudes agreed to pay full restitution to the victim. Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended Detective Sergeant Keith Fitzner and Detective Jen Zhangi of the Buffalo Police Department as well as Officer Patrick Canna and Detective James Refermat of the Depew Police Department for their work in these investigations. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney William Fitzgerald of the Felony Trials Bureau, Assistant District Attorney Ryan A. Emmerling of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Jordana C. Grosodonia of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau. The Norwegian parliament has decided to increase aid to Ukraine by US$4.6 billion to US$7.8 billion in 2025. Source: a statement, following a meeting of the leaders of parliamentary factions, as European Pravda reported with the reference to NRK, a Norwegian public broadcaster Details: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said that the decision to increase support for Ukraine was made "because there is a need for it". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a significant contribution to peace and stability in Europe," he added. Currently, NOK 35 billion (US$3.2 billion) has been allocated for support until 2025. "There is a cross-party agreement in the Storting [Norwegian parliament ed.] to significantly increase support for Ukraine...Norwegian support will help Ukraine to stand up to Russia and also to help with the peace plan that European countries are working on," Stre said. Background: Earlier on Thursday, 6 March, Stre briefed the parliament on the situation in Ukraine. He touched on direct support for Ukraine, as well as relations with the new US administration, while Norway works to strengthen its own defence. Stre called the US signals that it would end its military and intelligence support for Ukraine "very sad and depressing". Last year, Norway approved the NOK 75 billion (US$6.9 billion) Nansen programme, which provides long-term support to Ukraine until 2027, with NOK 15 billion (US$1.4 billion) annually. However, this year, the country's authorities proposed to increase the programme's funding to 135 billion and extend it for another three years, until 2030. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (Bloomberg) -- Norway will more than double its aid to Ukraine for 2025 after President Donald Trump paused all US military aid to the warn-torn nation. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nordic nation among the few members of the NATO defense bloc that share a border with Russia will increase the size of its support package to 85 billion kroner ($7.8 billion) this year versus the earlier plan for 35 billion kroner, the government said in a website statement on Thursday, citing a unanimous agreement by parliamentary party leaders. Theres now a clear need for increased support to Ukraine, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told lawmakers in Oslo earlier on Thursday. Norways assistance will be designed to give as much fighting power as possible, as quick as possible, he said. The announcement that mirrors similar initiatives by Germany and neighboring Denmark comes a day after the US froze some intelligence-sharing amid an escalating standoff with Kyiv thats fighting off a full-scale invasion by Russia for a fourth year. The new amount comes on top of Norways previous long-term commitment of 155 billion kroner of aid to Ukraine in 2023-2030, according to the statement. Still, in an interview with Bloomberg Television last week, Store ruled out directly tapping the energy-rich nations $1.8 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the worlds largest, to boost defense spending or aid to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of its support, Norway has vowed to lead the training of a brigade-sized Ukrainian military unit that the eight Nordic and Baltic countries have jointly pledged to equip. A brigade size usually ranges between 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers. Its also spending about 300 million euros ($320 million) on arms purchases from the Ukrainian industry for the countrys military. Norway is among the ten biggest contributors of donations to Ukraine as a share of its economy, while trailing its Nordic neighbors, based on data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. The exporter of oil and gas has benefited from increased demand from Europe after many nations cut off or reduced imports from Russia. (Updates with size of package from first paragraph.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. By Gwladys Fouche and Nora Buli OSLO (Reuters) - Norway will more than double its financial pledge to Ukraine this year while also hiking its own defence spending, the prime minister said on Thursday, declaring the Nordic country faced its most serious security situation for 80 years. Norway, home to the world's largest sovereign wealth fund with assets of $1.8 trillion, has seen soaring income from gas sales to Europe as a result of Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion, and faces pressure at home and abroad to increase its aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government and opposition leaders agreed on Thursday to raise this year's Ukraine funding to 85 billion Norwegian crowns ($7.83 billion), up from a plan agreed in November of 35 billion crowns, Labour Party Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said. Stoere's move marks the latest example of a European country scrambling to boost defence spending and support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump froze U.S. military aid to Kyiv and fuelled doubts about its commitment to European NATO allies. It comes on the same day as European Union members, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in attendance, are meeting in Brussels to pledge more money to Ukraine and towards their own defence. Norway is not in the EU but is part of NATO. The Nordic nation now faces "the most serious security situation for our country since World War II", Stoere said in an address to parliament earlier on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he would come back to parliament at a later time with revised defence spending plans. In recent days Norwegian politicians have been debating how much more Oslo should support Ukraine, given the drop in U.S. support for Kyiv and the fact that Norway's neighbours such as Sweden and Denmark have so far made bigger donations. Norway's opposition Conservative Party supported the increase, and said further increases could be considered later this year. 'THE ONLY RIGHT THING TO DO' In the parliament's upstairs gallery, a delegation of six Ukrainian lawmakers listened to the PM's address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of them, Volodymyr Kabachenko from the opposition Batkivshchyna party, said he welcomed Norway's move and said the country could do more, noting it was the only European nation that could finance aid with its own money rather than debt. "If Norway wants to secure the lives of its own citizens ... the only right thing to do is to provide Ukraine with money and we will be fighting on behalf of Ukraine, Europe and Norway," Kabachenko told Reuters. In 2023 alone, inflows to Norway's wealth fund from oil and gas revenues swelled to 1.1 trillion crowns - or around $100 billion nearly three times the previous record set in 2008. ($1 = 10.8493 Norwegian crowns) (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche and Nora Buli, editing by Terje Solsvik, William Maclean) Democratic attorneys general held their first of a series of town halls to discuss how they are standing up to President Donald Trump on March 5, 2025, in Phoenix. From left to right: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Arizona Mirror. The attorneys general of Arizona, Minnesota, New Mexico and Oregon vowed at a town hall in Phoenix Wednesday evening that they would continue to fight back against sweeping federal cuts being made by President Donald Trump and his ally, Elon Musk. It is not efficiency, it is destruction, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said to a crowd that gathered at Central High School to share their stories and concerns over the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, that has been directed by Musk, the richest man in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk and his minions have overseen DOGEs effective takeover of the federal government, with sweeping and indiscriminate layoffs, canceled contracts, blocked funding and a host of other disruptions. The ostensible reason is to cut government spending, though Musk has written on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, that the takeover is actually all about stopping Democrats from giving money to undocumented immigrants to convince them to vote for Democrats. Noncitizens are not able to vote, and Musks claims are part of the racist Great Replacement conspiracy theory, which falsely claims that nefarious forces are flooding the U.S. with nonwhite immigrants in order to overtake the country. The AGs are part of a group of 23 Democratic AGs that have banded together to file seven lawsuits against the Trump administrations actions. Mayes said that an eighth lawsuit will be filed this week, and the AGs will be releasing information about a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the number of veterans and spouses of veterans who have been fired as a result of DOGE cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town hall is the first in a series of town halls the four attorneys general are intending to do across the country. The next is scheduled for March 20 in Minnesota. We are going around this country to listen to you, Oregon AG Dan Rayfield said. Much of the focus Wednesday night was around the chaos that has ensued in recent weeks as federal employees across the country have been laid off via emails or memos, only to be told to return again to find out that their office will be going away. In the case of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 6,000 workers fired by Trump were ordered back to work after the Merit Systems Protection Board found the agency illegally terminated the employees. The turmoil at agencies such as the USDA was front and center in testimonials from some in attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elyse Guidas, the executive director for the nonprofit Activate Food Arizona, a group that works to bring affordable food to rural Arizona communities, said the suppliers they work with that rely on federal funding may go under due to the Trump administrations spending freeze. Her organization has already lost several grants. Adrienne Udarbe with Pinnacle Prevention, a non-profit that does similar work, said her organization is facing similar challenges. It impacts us all, and we are all going to be feeling it with rising food costs, Udarbe said, adding that the USDA has not been sending money to farmers they had been scheduled to send that is intended to help reimburse them for providing food for low-income programs. It was a lawsuit from the Democratic AG coalition that led USDA to say it had released those funds after a judge had ruled the money couldnt be frozen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve had to go to court twice now to get a motion to compel, Mayes told Udarbe. While the president may be a powerful person, he does not have some sort of super power that allows him to travel back in time to reverse decisions that have already been approved, Rayfield said of Trumps funding freezes. The AGs also focused on the impact the firings have had on the employees themselves. What I hear from the president and Elon Musk and others is a language that is stripped of any humanity, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said of how the two men speak about federal employees. We dont ask them if they are Republican or Democrat. We dont demean what they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of recently laid off federal workers shared their stories with the AGs. All of them recounted how they were laid off by an email from Washington DC, via Musks DOGE, and that their supervisors were unaware of the impending firing. Employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans themselves spoke about services such as music therapy being cut, and a recently leaked memo shows that the agency is anticipating firing 83,000 employees. While fear permeated comments from many of the speakers, the AGs tried to strike a tone of hopefulness when speaking with the press. I thought this was an incredibly powerful town hall. Maybe the most powerful town hall Ive ever seen, Mayes told reporters afterwards. She said the 23 AGs have been meeting daily via Zoom and that reporters should be keeping an eye out for litigation around firings of federal workers in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota AG Keith Ellison had a message to those federal workers who may have been listening or are currently worried about the future. Youre not alone, he told the Arizona Mirror, adding that the battle will not be won in a courtroom but in the court of public opinion. Like Minnesota Reformer, Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. Democratic attorneys general held their first of a series of town halls to discuss how they are standing up to President Donald Trump on March 5, 2025, in Phoenix. From left to right: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. (Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Arizona Mirror) The attorneys general of Arizona, Minnesota, New Mexico and Oregon vowed at a town hall in Phoenix Wednesday evening that they would continue to fight back against sweeping federal cuts being made by President Donald Trump and his ally, Elon Musk. It is not efficiency, it is destruction, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said to a crowd that gathered at Central High School to share their stories and concerns over the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, that has been directed by Musk, the richest man in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk and his minions have overseen DOGEs effective takeover of the federal government, with sweeping and indiscriminate layoffs, canceled contracts, blocked funding and a host of other disruptions. The ostensible reason is to cut government spending, though Musk has written on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, that the takeover is actually all about stopping Democrats from giving money to undocumented immigrants to convince them to vote for Democrats. Noncitizens are not able to vote, and Musks claims are part of the racist Great Replacement conspiracy theory, which falsely claims that nefarious forces are flooding the U.S. with nonwhite immigrants in order to overtake the country. The AGs are part of a group of 23 Democratic AGs that have banded together to file seven lawsuits against the Trump administrations actions. Mayes said that an eighth lawsuit will be filed this week, and the AGs will be releasing information about a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the number of veterans and spouses of veterans who have been fired as a result of DOGE cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town hall is the first in a series of town halls the four attorneys general are intending to do across the country. The next is scheduled for March 20 in Minnesota. We are going around this country to listen to you, Oregon AG Dan Rayfield said. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield speaks to an attendee at a town hall in Phoenix. Rayfield was one of four AGs at the March 5, 2025, event to discuss the impacts of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. (Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Arizona Mirror) Much of the focus Wednesday night was around the chaos that has ensued in recent weeks as federal employees across the country have been laid off via emails or memos, only to be told to return again to find out that their office will be going away. In the case of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 6,000 workers fired by Trump were ordered back to work after the Merit Systems Protection Board found the agency illegally terminated the employees. The turmoil at agencies such as the USDA was front and center in testimonials from some in attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elyse Guidas, the executive director for the nonprofit Activate Food Arizona, a group that works to bring affordable food to rural Arizona communities, said the suppliers they work with that rely on federal funding may go under due to the Trump administrations spending freeze. Her organization has already lost several grants. Adrienne Udarbe with Pinnacle Prevention, a non-profit that does similar work, said her organization is facing similar challenges. It impacts us all, and we are all going to be feeling it with rising food costs, Udarbe said, adding that the USDA has not been sending money to farmers they had been scheduled to send that is intended to help reimburse them for providing food for low-income programs. It was a lawsuit from the Democratic AG coalition that led USDA to say it had released those funds after a judge had ruled the money couldnt be frozen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve had to go to court twice now to get a motion to compel, Mayes told Udarbe. While the president may be a powerful person, he does not have some sort of super power that allows him to travel back in time to reverse decisions that have already been approved, Rayfield said of Trumps funding freezes. The AGs also focused on the impact the firings have had on the employees themselves. What I hear from the president and Elon Musk and others is a language that is stripped of any humanity, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said of how the two men speak about federal employees. We dont ask them if they are Republican or Democrat. We dont demean what they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of recently laid off federal workers shared their stories with the AGs. All of them recounted how they were laid off by an email from Washington DC, via Musks DOGE, and that their supervisors were unaware of the impending firing. Employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans themselves spoke about services such as music therapy being cut, and a recently leaked memo shows that the agency is anticipating firing 83,000 employees. While fear permeated comments from many of the speakers, the AGs tried to strike a tone of hopefulness when speaking with the press. I thought this was an incredibly powerful town hall. Maybe the most powerful town hall Ive ever seen, Mayes told reporters afterwards. She said the 23 AGs have been meeting daily via Zoom and that reporters should be keeping an eye out for litigation around firings of federal workers in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota AG Keith Ellison had a message to those federal workers who may have been listening or are currently worried about the future. Youre not alone, he told the Arizona Mirror, adding that the battle will not be won in a courtroom but in the court of public opinion. Arizona Mirror, like the Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. (KRON) A man is facing assault and narcotics charges after Novato police responded to a report of domestic violence Saturday morning. Novato Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence on Brown Drive after a caller said that her roommate was being assaulted, authorities said. The officers found the victim was locked inside a second-floor bedroom with the suspect and attempted to forcibly open the door. The suspect, identified as Parrish Dejoun Marquise Wallick, 33, of Vallejo, jumped from the window into the backyard as officers attempted to make entry, according to police. One officer who was positioned at the back of the house tased and arrested Wallick after authorities said Wallick did not comply with commands to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marin County elder scam suspect arrested An investigation determined that the reported altercation was not domestic since the suspect and victim were acquaintances, and it was about money, Novato PD said. Wallick allegedly began to strangle the victim when she said she was calling the police. During Wallicks arrest, officers located fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription pills, a scale and cash in his possession, authorities said. (Novato Police Department) Wallick was booked into the Marin County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon, illegal narcotics for sales, transport of controlled substances, possession for sales of controlled substances, resisting arrest, and two outstanding warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. NTSB releases preliminary report on Philadelphia plane crash The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary investigation into the Philadelphia medevac jet crash that killed seven people last month, just days after the countrys deadliest aviation disaster in over 20 years. On board the crashed plane were Valentina Guzman Murillo, an 11-year-old girl, and her mother, Lizeth Murillo Osuna, 31, who had just left Shriners Children's Hospital Philadelphia, where the child spent five months receiving life-saving treatment. The pair were heading home to Mexico on the aircraft with a planned pit stop at Springfield-Branson National Airport in Springfield, Missouri. The Learjet 55 departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport around 6:06 pm. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft proceeded southwest before it turned slightly right then entered a gradual left turn, ultimately reaching 1,650 feet, according to the crash report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane crashed a minute after it took off, killing everyone on board. Crew members, including two pilots and two medics, never issued a distress call, the new report states, noting the blackbox did not record the flight and had likely not been functioning for years. The crew was in contact with the airports air traffic control tower at the time of the accident, according to officials. Besides the mother and daughter, the other victims were Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, 41, pilot Alan Montoya Perales, 46, copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, 43, and paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, 41. One person on the ground was also killed when the plane crashed into a residential and commercial area. Four people were seriously injured and 20 people incurred minor injuries. Security camera footage showed a large explosion triggered by the initial impact. First responders work the scene after a small plane crashed in Philadelphia January 31, 2025 (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The wreckage debris field spanned roughly 1,410 feet in length and 840 feet wide. By morning, the crash site revealed an eight-foot-deep crater in the sidewalk. Debris penetrated numerous homes, commercial buildings and cars in the area, resulting in extensive damages, the report noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report did not provide any details about what may have caused the crash. Federal investigators typically release a final report about a year after transportation incidents. The agency is currently analyzing an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System recovered from the jet. The crash occurred two days after an American Eagle regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. on January 29. All 64 people on board the plane died, as did the three soldiers on the helicopter. A preliminary report on that crash is due any day. It was the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Belle Harbor, New York two months after 9/11, killing 251 passengers, nine crew members and five people on the ground. Faby Guzman, the aunt of the young girl killed in the Philadelphia crash, described Valentina as brave in her struggles with health issues in an interview with ABC 6. It was a long process from the day she was born, Guzman said. "Her mom and dad were always with her many sleepless nights ... Lizeth always looked for a better quality of life for her daughter. We had many plans, but unfortunately, it didn't happen. Valentina was super smiley. She really liked me dancing for her and listening to music. She danced too and laughed." Union Electric Callaway Nuclear Power Plant in Missouri. (Photo by Joe Sohm/Getty Images) A bill laying the foundation for Utahs nuclear energy future was almost uncontroversial among lawmakers as it made its way through the Legislature until it hit a rough spot with an update introduced in the Senate. HB249, sponsored by Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield, establishes the Nuclear Energy Consortium and the Utah Energy Council, subdivisions of the Utah Office of Energy Development, which would study the ways Utah could produce nuclear energy, alongside Idaho National Laboratory, some industry players and other academics. It also facilitates the construction of power plants, transmission lines and energy storage facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senators who opposed the bill didnt do it because they are against nuclear energy. They did it because signing on would mean a loss of some local control for municipalities if the new groups have an option rather than a requirement to collaborate with them on energy projects. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Those of you who are getting your phones blown up by your county commissioners, by your clerks, and I am, too, Albrecht told the House on Wednesday. Relax, take a pill, cool your jets, were going to fix this in committee. But that resolution didnt come true as of Wednesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the House refused to accept those changes, the bill sponsors and other lawmakers met in a conference to find middle ground on the bill. But, the main issue remained in the choice of a single word that, for local governments, would either make or break how much involvement municipalities will have in future energy projects may or shall. Will the bill specify the new state-appointed energy council may, or the council shall, collaborate with cities and counties to determine the fate of the new energy development zones? Currently, with the Senates version, the bill uses may. According to Brandy Grace, chief executive officer of the Utah Association of Counties, it should be shall. Not including a mandatory provision takes away our ability to be at the table to talk about land use authority and property tax, she told lawmakers at the table. That, Grace said, is a hard line for counties. We want to be collaborative, but the message youre sending is that you dont, Grace said. By saying you may coordinate, youre sending a message that youre really not interested in working with local government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ann Millner, R-Ogden, the floor sponsor in the Senate and author of the updated version of the bill, disputed that argument and said the reason why the state cannot immediately commit to collaborate with cities and counties is because we dont know what those projects are going to look like when they are ready for prime time decades from now. Cameron Diehl, executive director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, also advocated for an update to shall. He said it was important after spending the last week discussing the potential of SB337, which would have established the Beehive Development Agency, an office with ultimate planning power. According to Diehl, that may means essentially, this state action could occur and preempt local land use, and preempt and take away that local revenue. Lawmakers couldnt agree on definite language and may meet again sometime in the final two days of the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, on the floor, Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, said he shared some of the concerns expressed by the counties, but more especially about their ability to welcome other clean energy sources, like wind and solar. What Im hearing, though, is that this would preclude counties who are looking to do new developments for any type of energy () it would preclude community reinvestment areas in rural parts of the county that are looking to get new development, Cullimore said, referring to wind and solar projects. They would only be able to do that for nuclear power and not other and a lot of other types of power. I just ask for everybodys cooperation The bill has been presented as a legislative priority for the majority caucus and Gov. Spencer Cox. Millner described the policy as especially important, particularly if were going to meet the governors goal to double our production capability in the next 10 years, Millner said about Coxs Operation Gigawatt. But, with a split between the two chambers, lawmakers seem to be growing more and more frustrated. Let us know what you think... I just ask for everybodys cooperation and coordination as we move forward. That includes you, Ann (Millner), whoever else is in the room, the league, everyone, Albrecht said during the conference. Its not a perfect bill, but by then, were going to make it work, OK? Lets all work together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Millcreek, also pointed out a change he considered problematic the makeup of the energy council, which, under Millners version eliminates the only two appointees from the minority caucus. The governor has concerns about who gets appointed to the council, Millner said in response, and does not want it to be a legislative-heavy group. But, ultimately Blouin said that most of the talking points on the discussion didnt really address the essence of the issue. I dont think this is an anti-nuclear conversation thats being had. I think its an anti-process conversation, Blouin said on the floor. People are concerned about having local input or not having local input here, and the ramifications of trying to push big projects on the communities from the top down, which weve seen fail in the past and create more controversy. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE New York Attorney General Letitia James told schools on Wednesday that President Trumps attempts so far to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs were on shaky legal ground paving the way for a showdown with the White House. In joint guidance led by James, a coalition of 14 attorneys general said neither an executive order nor a memo from the U.S. Education Department known as a Dear Colleague letter threatening schools with DEI policies could make or change the law. The administration cannot ban diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts with a Dear Colleague letter, James said in a statement. Schools and educational institutions can rest assured that they are well within their legal rights to continue building inclusive learning environments for their students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My office will always stand up for the rule of law and defend New Yorkers from threats. In the Feb. 14 letter, the Education Department gave schools and colleges two weeks to drop all policies and actions that treat students differently based on race. The guidance would dramatically expand the Supreme Courts 2023 ruling against affirmative action in college admissions to all race-based efforts in schools. Schools that do not comply risk unwanted scrutiny or the loss of federal funding, the letter warned. But as the deadline came and went on Friday, few schools in New York made sweeping changes, the Daily News has reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in follow-up guidance this month, the Education Department appeared to soften its stance, recognizing it could not directly control school curriculum and permitting schools to recognize events such as Black History Month and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Dear Colleague Letter is clear: The Trump Department of Education will not allow educational institutions that receive federal funds to discriminate on the basis of race, Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the department, said in a statement released with the FAQ. In a press release, the attorney generals office blasted the letter as an attempt to misinterpret and improperly expand the U.S. Supreme Courts narrow ruling. The law, under James interpretation, still permits colleges to boost diversity by non-racial means, such as targeted outreach to applicants from poor backgrounds. Its not yet known how the Trump administration will respond to schools that continue diversity programming. During his first month in office, Trumps Education Department launched an investigation into the Ithaca City School District over an annual student conference in which white children were reportedly excluded. The Dear Colleague letter is currently being challenged in court. NEW YORK The NYPD took multiple protesters into custody at Barnard College late Wednesday as an occupation of the school library against three pro-Palestinian students expulsions was broken up over a bomb threat. Hours earlier, dozens of masked protesters had taken over the Milstein Center with Palestinian flags and materials labeled as coming from the Hamas media office, according to images shared on social media. The occupation escalated tensions with school administrators in the aftermath of another building occupation last week. The demonstrators filed into an unmarked side entrance of the Milstein Center around 1 p.m., according to videos posted by a pro-Palestinian organization not associated with Barnard or its affiliate, Columbia University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police officers, with helmets and zip ties, entered campus and began removing the protesters around 5 p.m. after the NYPD received a 911 call of a bomb threat. Multiple demonstrators who did not comply with the order to move to a safe distance were taken into custody, cops said, though could not immediately say how many. Charges were pending as of early Wednesday evening. The protesters had previously received warnings from Barnard demanding the group disperse because they were in violation of campus rules. Activists ripped the written notices to shreds, saying they intended to stay. We were left with no choice but to resume the sit-in because Barnard has shown they will sabotage negotiations unless we hold them accountable, the protesters wrote on Substack. Until administrators concede to our demands, we in our hundreds will continue to disrupt their business as usual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnard administrators renewed their plea when the college became aware of the threat. I am telling you that we need to evacuate the building. We have received a bomb threat to the building. You need to leave now. This is not a joke, Barnard Vice President Robin Levine said in a video posted by protesters, who accused the school administrator of lying to get students to disperse. In an email to students and faculty a couple of hours into the disruption, Barnard President Laura Rosenbury said the actions of a few must not be allowed to disrupt students education. Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated, wrote Rosenbury, adding that campus activities outside of Milstein were proceeding as usual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside the building lobby, protesters holding the Palestinian flag chanted through megaphones: We want justice, you say how? Un-expel our students now, while others played drums and cymbals, videos show. Demonstrators held Wanted signs of Rosenbury and Student Life Dean Leslie Grinage for the wrongful expulsion of pro-Palestinian students. The three expelled students faced disciplinary action over their participation in either a class disruption this semester involving antisemitic flyers or last springs occupation of Hamilton Hall. Another activist jostled with a puppet that had a name tag identifying it as Rosenbury, before hanging it outside the building by its neck. Protesters continued to call on the college president to disclose Barnards investments in Israel. Puppet President Rosenbury, are the Zionist Donors pulling the strings? Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of various student clubs, wrote on Instagram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In photos shared by a pro-Israel student group, the protesters appeared to be distributing a pamphlet titled: Our Narrative Operation Al-Aqsa Flood from what was labeled as the Hamas Media Office. They also hung stickers and posters calling for Death to Amerika (sic) and Burn Barnard Burn. Public safety agents blocked the entrance of Milstein shortly after the disruption began, according to Bwog, a student-run campus news website. About an hour in, administrators issued a notice to protesters as a final warning. We have offered you multiple opportunities to leave the building peacefully and without further escalation, read the memo. If you do not comply with this request, we will take further action as necessary to clear the building. In a brief phone call, Rosenbury offered a meeting with the Barnard administration, so long as students removed their masks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our demand is to reinstate the expelled students because of how unjust this process has been, and we dont intend on leaving until that happens, one of the participants responded, videos show. Columbia, which is under intense pressure to crack down on protest activity amid threats to withhold funding from the federal government, released a statement separating itself from Barnard, though adding it was in touch with the affiliated colleges leaders. The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct, it read. We are committed to supporting our Columbia student body and our campus community during this challenging time. The U.S. Education Department, the Department of Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration are considering stop-work orders for at least $51.4 million of active contracts in Morningside Heights. _____ (With Barry Williams and Elizabeth Keogh.) _____ Cops have nabbed a speeding hit-and-run driver who fatally struck a Harlem father on a scooter while fleeing an NYPD car stop in a stolen minivan four months ago, police said Thursday. Facial recognition technology helped police identify suspect Enesin Delarosa, who was charged Wednesday with manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, fleeing police and possession of stolen property for the Nov. 2 crash. Delarosa, 26, is accused of mowing down scooter rider Devon Hughley, 45, near W.155th St. and St. Nicholas Ave. while fleeing the car stop. He sped off when police tried to pull him over for a traffic infraction on Broadway between W. 152nd St. and W. 153rd St., cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medics rushed Hughley to Harlem Hospital, but he could not be saved. Hughleys sister said the victim, the second oldest of 12 siblings, was a natural leader. Before bikes, he had a passion for dogs, and this passion for dogs developed as to where he always had dogs. He took care of them. He always taught people in the community how to take care of dogs, said Hughleys sister, Yvette Palmer, 41. Hughley eventually got into bicycles and then scooters and other wheeled vehicles. He kind of became famous for [it]. All around town people started saying, Oh, thats your brother. You know, hes on social media,' Palmer said. It was always something about him that always just shined, no matter what day. He just mastered whatever he did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second tragedy in a short time for Hughleys family. A few months before his death, the victims daughter, a nursing student who had just received a real estate license, suffered a fatal asthma attack, Palmer said. We just were in a grieving process of that when this happened, she said. So, its like the level of devastation just put us in a numb kind of state, just because its a traumatic loss for us. Just trying to wrap our heads around just living with this new reality. Palmer said she hadnt expected the person responsible for her brothers death to be caught, and that the arrest has given her some solace. I feel a level of peace because otherwise the question would always linger, she said. I hope justice does prevail in this situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memorial posters with messages to Hughley were still on display in the lobby of the building where he lived on W. 115th St. near Fifth Ave. Long Live Hawk the Legend read one note. Rest easy, Brown Eyes, read another. He helped me. This is my home because of him, George Adeyinka, 32, told the Daily News, standing in the doorway of the apartment he shared with the victim. Adeyinka, who said Hughley was like an uncle and mentor to him, added that he wasnt the only one to benefit from the victims kindness. He was the freaking community superhero, he said. He did things for people that people wouldnt do for themselves. He took care of a little kid that wasnt his. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adeyinka said on the night of the crash Hughley was running a quick errand to Washington Heights to pick up some marijuana, but he never came back home. He had left around 8 or 9 p.m., Adeyinka said. I knew he was going to Washington Heights to go get weed, so Im like, why is he not back right now? And it just made me panic, because hes a guy takes care of his dogs every single day. That night and the next day, he didnt. But the next day came, it was like 3 p.m., then 4 p.m., and then 5 p.m. It confused me and made me worried, because hell call me at least to let me know if hes not coming back. It was less than 24 hours, but I was worried so I started calling family and friends. Somebody sent Hughleys family a photo of his scooter in the street after the crash and said he was missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So we ran to the precinct and they didnt want us to see the body, Adeyinka said. A longtime resident who saw the victim grow up in NYCHAs King Towers remembered Hughleys love for bicycles and dogs. He was a celebrity around here. It was crazy what happened to him, but he was a celebrity, and he knew how to ride really well, said Leonard Swinton, who has lived at King Towers since 1955. He had been riding bikes since he was about 13 years old, which is why he was so skilled. He grew up right here. I remember his dogs sitting out there, puppies and everything. He had three dogs, but they had babies, too, said the neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swinton also recalled the victims generous, community-minded spirit. He was a good dude, he said. He never started trouble with anybody. He looked out for the kids around here. If he liked a kid, hed go buy them a bike, like a little motorbike. A couple of times, he even took kids shopping, bought them a lot of clothes so they could look nice when they went to school. Whenever he saw a kid who didnt have a coat and it was cold outside, he told the kids mother that he was taking him to the store, Swinton recalled. He would take him to a shop that sold coats and bought him a nice coat for about $100. An online obituary for Hughley said the lifelong Harlemite left behind four children and a stepson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Devons greatest joy in life was his family, especially his children, whom he loved beyond words, read the obituary. As a child, Hughley was seen popping wheelies in his aunts wheelchair, which hed later go on to do with motorcycles and four-wheelers in countless videos, his obituary says. He was definitely one of the best to do it in the streets of Harlem, his home town. Devon was always, unintentionally, the life of the party! During their investigation, members of the NYPDs collision investigation squad recovered surveillance video of the van driver. Using facial recognition technology, cops were able to get a tentative ID, which was confirmed by a police officer who had dealt with Delarosa previously, a police source said. After a Manhattan grand jury indicted him for the crash, cops arrested Delarosa at a court appearance for an unrelated crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delarosa lives in the Bronx and has numerous prior arrests for grand larceny and stolen property, cops said. Records show he was paroled in June 2020 after serving seven months in state prison for a Bronx stolen property conviction. He was awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Thursday. The minivan was stolen in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx about 10 days before the crash, police said. Cops later learned two people on a scooter were seen checking vehicles for unlocked doors before the minivan was stolen. Cops have not yet proven if Delarosa was one of the men on the scooter, and so he is currently charged with possession of the stolen van but not with stealing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt clear if cops pursued Delarosa when he fled the Harlem car stop, but the fatal crash renewed concerns that the NYPD, which in 2023 decreed it was done with letting suspects routinely speed away from them, is too aggressive in pursuing suspects in vehicles. In January, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch revised that approach, limiting chases only to suspects who have committed a felony or violent misdemeanor. A 55-year-old gunman who called 911 on himself was shot and killed by NYPD officers on Staten Island early Thursday in a possible case of suicide by cop, officials said. The gunman was found firing his weapon in the air at a parking lot of a Home Depot in Charleston after he called 911 about 5:20 a.m., officials said. Cops were called to the popular Bricktown shopping center just off the West Shore Expressway on a report that the shooter called in of a man with a gun sitting in a black Jeep Wrangler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are investigating the possibility he may have wanted to die at the hands of police in a suicide by cop scenario, police sources said. When cops arrived at the parking lot near Veterans Road West and Tyrellan Ave. they heard multiple shots being fired, NYPD Patrol Borough Staten Island Chief Melissa Eger said. The gunman was shooting off a .380-caliber pistol. Once again our officers ran towards gunfire and bravely confronted danger, Eger said during a Thursday morning press conference at the Home Depot. The officers tactically positioned themselves around their police vehicles and immediately verbally engaged with the male. Multiple officers repeatedly instructed him to show his hands and drop his firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The male did not comply and aimed the firearm at the officers, Eger added. Five cops opened fire, striking the gunman multiple times. Medics rushed him to Staten Island University Hospital North, where he died. Police said the man has four arrests, all of which are sealed. Two cops were taken to area hospitals for evaluation. The shooting, Eger said, was recorded on the officers body worn cameras as well as surveillance cameras at the Home Depot parking lot. Our officers confronted a dangerous and armed individual and attempted to deescalate the situation multiple times. Thats exactly what theyre trained to do, Eger said. The shooting is being investigated by the NYPDs Force Investigations Division. The New York Police Department responded to -- and then cleared -- a bomb threat at the Milstein Center at Barnard College on Wednesday. Officers worked to evacuate the building just before 5 p.m. ET, according to a post on X "Anyone who refuses to leave the location is subject to arrest," the NYPD advisory said. "Please stay away from the area." PHOTO: Entrance Gate and Barnard Hall, Barnard College, New York City, New York (UIG via Getty Images) Just before 8 p.m. local time, the NYPD announced that it had cleared the area and concluded that there was no threat to the public, per a follow-up social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The bomb threat incident at Barnard College has been investigated and cleared," the post read. "There is currently no threat to the public. Please continue to avoid the area and expect traffic delays." PHOTO: Protestors interrupt classes at the Milstein Center of Barnard College in New York City on March 5, 2025. (@Eliana_Goldin / X) A statement from Barnard later in the evening confirmed its campus was secure. It further explained that the bomb threat arose amid an earlier incident at the school's Milstein Center, in which "masked disruptors" entered the building in the midst of classes. "During de-escalation efforts, the college received a bomb threat. Despite warnings and a fire alarm activation, many protesters stayed, putting the campus at risk," it said. "For the safety of our entire community, we requested NYPD assistance," Barnard College President Laura Rosenbury said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Protesters across the US rally against Trump administration policies Confirming that the officers "found no active threat," the statement explained that classes are expected to resume on Thursday. In a separate statement at the time of the protest on campus, the school said, "Barnard is committed to fostering a safe environment where all students can learn and all members of our community are respected. Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated." Columbia University, which is separate from but affiliated with Barnard College, released a statement regarding the disruption that said, in part, "We are in touch with Barnard's leadership and security team as they address the situation and will continue to monitor it closely. The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct. We are committed to supporting our Columbia student body and our campus community during this challenging time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnard's statement noted that activities across its campus were proceeding as normal following the protests. Within an hour, however, the NYPD was first alerted to a supposed bomb threat in the same vicinity. ABC News' Morena Basteiro contributed to this report. 'No threat to the public,' NYPD says after responding to Barnard College bomb scare originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Update 2 p.m. Friday 3-7-25: According to a post on the New York State Police Facebook page, Brenden Warner was found in good health in North Syracuse Friday morning 3-7-25 CLAY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) New York State Police are searching for a missing teen believed to be possibly armed and in distress who was last seen at his home in the Town of Clay. Courtesy of NYSP. 16-year-old Brenden Warner has fair white skin, is 57 and 130 lbs. He has brown hair, and blue eyes and was last seen wearing a black cap, a red hoodie, and black or red pants. He was noted carrying a red designer backpack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A family member of Warner last saw him at 10 a.m. on March 5. State Police say his direction of travel is unknown, but he was last seen on foot. They add he may have taken vehicle transportation as well. Multiple locations have been checked with negative results. It is believed he may be in the City of Syracuse, said NYSP. If you see Warner or have any information on his whereabouts, do not approach him, immediately call 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WETM) If you know a woman in the Southern Tier who has made a positive impact on her community, consider nominating her for an award from the New York State Senate. State Senator Tom OMara is looking for nominations for the 27th annual Women of Distinction program. This program recognizes one woman from each New York State Senate district who has made exceptional contributions to local communities. Community members nominate exceptional women, and each state senator selects an honoree to represent their legislative district. The selected Woman of Distinction will be honored during a ceremony in Albany. Chemung County now accepting applications for Casella Waste Systems scholarship Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Woman of Distinction tribute is a meaningful recognition. I look forward to this annual opportunity to recognize an outstanding area citizen, said OMara. We all know someone who makes an enormous difference to the community at large. Whether she is a service provider, a law enforcement officer going above and beyond the call of duty, a teacher, a nurse, a business leader, or simply a community resident known for her good deeds, Id like to see her recognized. OMara is accepting submissions of women who live within his district, which includes all of Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, and Yates counties and parts of Allegany County, until Friday, March 14. People can nominate someone by filling out this form from OMaras page on the New York State Senate website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Odessa father arrested in 2020 after his adopted daughter died when she was forced to jump on a trampoline amid triple digit heat as a punishment has pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter. Hes been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Daniel Schwarz, 48, and his wife, Ashley Schwarz, were arrested in October of 2020 but the investigation began on August 29 of the same year after officers with the Odessa Police Department were called to a home in the 4300 block of Locust for a medical call. Eight-year-old Jaylin was pronounced dead at the scene. While investigating, officers learned the child had been punished and was not allowed to eat breakfast and was forced to jump on a trampoline without stopping for an extended period of time, according to an affidavit released at the time. Additionally, police said the girl was not allowed to drink water after jumping on the trampoline. Officers obtained a search warrant a learned the temperature of the trampoline was about 110 degrees and the ground was about 150 degrees, police said. An autopsy revealed the child died from dehydration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel and Ashley were granted custody of Jaylin and her younger sister after they removed from their mothers care. At trial in 2023, Ashley testified that shed fed both Jaylin and her sister breakfast and lunch and that Jaylin had been given water throughout the course of her punishment. Ashley was convicted on multiple counts, including Capital Murder, and was sentenced to prison for a term of three life sentences. Daniel did not stand trial at that time and his charges were later reduced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Mar. 5An Odessa man is facing felony drug charges after detectives found 12 grams of fentanyl-laced pills in his possession along with crack cocaine and marijuana. According to an Odessa Police Department report, detectives received information Cody Sarakas was distributing large amounts of fentanyl in Odessa and they pulled him over Feb. 20 after noticing his license plate wasn't associated with the Chevrolet Tahoe he was driving. The detectives found 1.5 grams of crack cocaine in the vehicle, along with fentanyl-laced M30 pills, the report stated. They also found 0.23 ounces of marijuana in Sarakas' sock. Sarakas was booked into the Ector County jail on suspicion of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The group behind the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program is awaiting feedback on their proposed purchase of a portion of Hayden Island. The Oregon Department of State Lands began accepting public comments on the potential sale of 65 acres of the property on Wednesday. The Oregon Department of Transportation wants to purchase the land, located on the south shore of the west side of the island, to fulfill the City of Portlands requirements for anticipated compensatory mitigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ritz-Carlton building in downtown Portland in trouble? Lender may foreclose, documents state ODOT aims to modernize the Interstate 5 bridge connecting Portland to Vancouver over the Columbia River. According to the agency and Washingtons transportation regulators, the bridges current foundation makes it vulnerable to earthquakes. Program leaders have also cited congestion and narrow paths for pedestrians and cyclists, among other concerns for the 108-year-old structure. Although the portion of Hayden Island that officials hope to buy is not located within the City of Portland, it sits within the citys urban growth boundary and could be affected by changes made under the bridge replacement project. The state lands board approved the due diligence period for the potential sale of the property during a meeting on Feb. 11. At that meeting, ODSL Deputy Director of Land Management Chris Castelli said transportation officials would be expected to maintain the natural state of the parcel in perpetuity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall to visit Oregon as part of lecture series Bill Warncke, deputy environmental manager for ODOT and the replacement project, explained that the sale would result in the removal of dredged soils from that portion of Hayden Island to prevent flooding. While were doing that, our intent is to improve habitat for listed salmonids and other aquatic species in North Portland Warncke said. If you approve the sale, well buy the land, put a conservation easement on it and that conservation easement will allow further restoration and enhancement on that site. DSL will accept comments on the proposed purchase through Saturday, Apr. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Akron police seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and cash and arrested two people after an investigation by the departments Anti-Violence Bureau, according to a post on the departments social media. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] William Watkins, 33, and Tori Peake, 39 were arrested, the post says. Officers seized 178 grams of fentanyl, 225 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of cocaine and nearly $3,000, according to police. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watkins was the subject of the investigation and was charged with Possession or Trafficking of Methamphetamine, Possessing or Trafficking of Fentanyl, Possession or Trafficking of Cocaine, Criminal Tools and Drug Paraphernalia, according to the departments post. Watkins was booked into the Summit County Jail, police say. Peake was charged with Permitting Drug Abuse and was later released with a court summons, according to police. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] HONOLULU (KHON2) The Mayors proposed budget for 2026 has been released. Its a massive $3.93 billion operating budget plus $1.2 billion in capital improvements. The City is making some big investments in fiscal year 2026, most notably in affordable housing, addressing homelessness and public safety. 6 things to know about POTUS aim to curb protest freedoms on college campuses One of Mayor Rick Blangiardis top priorities is housing. He plans to spend $100 million for affordable housing projects, plus $10 million to renovate and build new low-income units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also a push to develop small lots, with $5 million in city funding matching a $5 million state grant. Homelessness is another major focus with the City doubling its operating budget for homeless services, meaning more outreach, shelters and services. The capital budget includes $22.9 million for homeless facilities. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Public safety is also getting a $657.2 million boost, which includes $390.5 million for police, $159.9 million for firefighters, $51.3 million for EMS and $27.9 million for Ocean Safety. Despite all the spending, Mayor Blangiardi said one thing is off the table: property tax increases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have no plan to raise property taxes, none, not for this budget, or for the whole time that were here, said Mayor Blangiardi. The Mayors budget includes $118 million in operating funds for city parks and $71.8 million for park improvements. The budget also includes $476.7 million in operating funding for transit and transportation, including $341.9 million for TheBus and TheHandi-Van and $120.7 million for Skyline. More states want to stop taxing groceries City officials said theyre banking on the full $744 million from the federal government to help pay for the rail project. We just collected $250 million right at the end of last calendar year, and we have not heard of anything being paused or, you know, ceased as of this point in time, said Andy Kawano, Director of the Budget and Fiscal Services Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the uncertainty in Washington, the City said its setting aside contingency funds, just in case federal grants get cut under President Trumps policies. We set aside $10 million for federally funded grant short falls if those come up, and we have also up to 10 more million dollars to further supplement that amount, if needed, said Kawano. Check out more news from around Hawaii The city council will review the budget before its finalized. In a statement, Council Chair Tommy Waters said they will remain focused on being fiscally responsible while prioritizing impactful investments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Officials provided a desperately needed positive update on the world's largest human-made lake, Lake Kariba, and the nearby Zambezi River. Bulawayo24 News reported the lake and the river are returning to healthier water levels following the carnage of a devastating drought fueled by El Nino. Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) chief executive engineer Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the levels "have been gradually rising," which was "primarily attributed to intensified rainfall activity on and around the lake." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between January 13 and February 2, flows at Chavuma Gauging Station doubled. The improvements might accelerate if more runoff occurs when the ground becomes oversaturated. This is welcome news, as the low water levels at Lake Kariba in 2024 came with a slew of destructive consequences for local residents. The AP reported much of Zambia faced an electricity crisis for months as the hydroelectric power generated by the Kariba Dam was unable to function. Only one of six turbines was able to operate, leaving power generation at a mere 10% of normal levels. Considering 80% of Zambia's power comes from the dam, that had a hugely detrimental impact on the economy. Making matters worse, the drought hit agriculture in Southern Africa, increasing hunger and starvation concerns. The African Wildlife Foundation said the havoc wreaked by El Nino on the continent should "remind us of the interconnectedness of our global climate system and the urgent need for coordinated action." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These developments drive home the reality that while Africa contributes little to the climate crisis, it disproportionately bears the consequences. This is also apparent in the rise of mosquito-borne illnesses on the continent spurred by a shifting climate. Meanwhile, there is a concerning lack of investment. The UN revealed that the continent receives just 1% of global climate funding while losing up to 5% of production amid rising temperatures. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. For residents relying on Lake Kariba, water levels remain lower than at the same point in 2024. Still, Munodawafa sounded an encouraging note for the future, indicating that things are moving in the right direction for more water availability and recovery for the region. "This trend is projected to continue as we approach the end of the first quarter of 2025," he said. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. State Sen. Louis Blessing, III, R-Colerain Township, is co-sponsoring a measure prohibiting noncompete contracts in Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.) Opponents got their chance Wednesday to weigh in on an Ohio Senate measure banning noncompete contracts in the state. The sponsors contend that tools like nondisclosure and nonsolicitation agreements as well as trade secrets law are more than enough to protect employers business and intellectual property. But opponents argue that without post-employment restrictions, small employers would face a disadvantage with large ones, and rural employers would struggle to maintain their ranks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They raised a handful of narrower critiques as well. Employers who cover benefits like relocation, tuition reimbursement, or visa sponsorship could be hesitant to offer them if workers could leave without penalty. Hospitals warned it could be more difficult to offer specialty care because of the front-end investment in equipment and support staff. Insurers argued noncompetes are important when an agency sells its business to ensure the seller doesnt immediately open a new competing agency. Proponents Despite the broader tenor of opposition, committee members did hear from a pair of supporters as well. The company Veeva Systems, which submitted written testimony previously showed up in person to reiterate their arguments. Speaking on behalf of the company, Caleb Tuten argued noncompetes stifle mobility and entrepreneurship, depress wages and restrict employers access to the most talented employees. Attorney Pete Friedman is the employment law chair with the Ohio Association for Justice. He explained that although he represents employees, he can empathize with critics he comes from a family of business owners and owns one himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In theory, noncompete agreements are designed or intended to protect the companys business interests, he said. But the reality is, the extent of harm resulting from noncompete agreements does not justify the means. He noted noncompetes are rarely negotiable and rarely make a distinction when it comes to how an employee left the job. A company can require an employee to sign a one-year noncompete and then terminate that person for no reason one month after they sign that agreement, Friedman said. That puts the employee in a position, without a job, without income, and a restriction for one year impeding their ability to advance their career. Friedman praised a provision requiring that employment disputes be litigated in Ohio, recalling a client who had to travel to Texas to pursue a wrongful termination case. He added that if lawmakers want to set a threshold above which noncompetes would be legitimate, they should set the cut-off as high as $200,000. Critics weigh in The noncompete ban faced stiff opposition from business and industry groups who insisted the agreements are critical to protecting their members businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tony Long from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce said, It is unclear if the legislation would continue to allow nondisclosure agreements, nonsolicitation agreements, or standard confidentiality agreements if they contain restraints on the conduct of a former partner, owner or employee. The bills sponsors have noted Ohio is one of just eight states in the country with zero noncompete restrictions in state law. Ohio does have restrictions on (noncompetes), Long argued back. Ohios body of law is developed in court decisions instead of legislative enactment. Facing questions, Long allowed that the Chamber might consider a bill that included an income threshold. Theresa Nelson from the Ohio Manufacturers Association, though, insisted they would not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think thats too arbitrary, she said, and does not go to the actual facts of whether or not that company needs to have protections, contractual protections in place for when that employee leaves. She also said theres no reason to void a noncompete contract just because an employee was fired. It depends on the circumstances, right? she said. Because if you are terminated from a position that does not erase what you may have done during the time that you were employed, it does not erase what information you were exposed to. Jay Pascoe from the Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association said that if you dont like noncompetes, you dont have to accept the position. But by that logic, you might not have a future in mortgage banking. He insisted post-employment agreements are important for businesses that are often on the hook for the cost licensing and training for their employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio Insurance Agents Executive Director Jeff Smith criticized the bill but stopped short of outright opposition. He repeatedly argued that people buy insurance from agents they know, like and trust, and so the industry needs guardrails to ensure business doesnt walk out the door with employees who leave. Like Long, he said the measure should have explicit protections for post-employment contracts like nonsolicitation or nonpiracy agreements. Smith added theyd like to see protections tied to the sale of a business. If you were able to sell your interest as a minority owner and then go out and start a competing business, it would significantly devalue the asset and the value of that transaction. Lawmakers reactions Committee chair state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, pressed Friedman on the point about noncompetes remaining in force despite an employee being fired. Manning was under the impression, based on a client he previously represented, that a noncompete agreement wasnt enforceable under those circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some noncompete agreements have terms that say if youre terminated, the noncompete provision will not be enforceable, but the law doesnt provide for that, he explained. Manning repeatedly asked opponents about that point. It doesnt really seem fair that they cant go get a job in the same field when they were the ones let go, he said I understand if youre trying to leave and start your own business or something along those lines and youre taking clients, but do you think its fair that they cant go and get a job in the same field, even though they were the ones fired? None of the opponents offered an unqualified defense of employees in those circumstances. Only Smith allowed that employees shouldnt face restrictions if they were laid off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills sponsor, state Sen. Louis Blessing, R-Colerain Township, dismissed opponents insistence that employees can always go to court if they believe their noncomptete agreement is excessive. Is it really a solution for employees insisting that they work this out through the courts? he asked. Its something that I have noticed in my time in the legislature, he said. You know, were saying that, hey, employees work this out in courts, whereas for the business community, I can assure you, over the last 10 years, the legislature and the business community would never suffer that level of uncertainty. Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Mar. 6Two names will go forward to the Ohio Secretary of State's office as options for the next Greene County elections director, after the Greene County Board of Elections came to five stalemate votes Wednesday evening. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose will break the tie between Democrat Jordan Huber, the current acting elections director, and Republican Tracy Smith, who served as Greene County elections director years ago. The split votes came at the conclusion of a four-hour continuation of the board's annual reorganization meeting from the previous day, in which all four candidates for the director's job were re-interviewed by all four board members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Ohio, each county's elections office has a four-member voting board (two Democrats and two Republicans), and that board hires a director and a deputy director (one from each party) to run the day-to-day operations of the office. Three Republicans and one Democrat were considered for Greene County's director position. Each party can only nominate directors or deputy directors from their own party affiliation. Huber, a Democrat, is the current acting director of the Board of Elections, and has served as the deputy director of the Greene County Board of Elections for just over a year. Smith, a Republican, served as Greene County's Elections Director from 2005 to 2011, when he took a position in Florida. "I think we had very good candidates, and I think they all have their strengths," Republican board member Anita Swan said during the vote. "I think the management skills that Tracy brings would be a value added to the organization." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "(Huber) stepped up at a time when we needed him to," Democratic board member Kim McCarthy said. "He has done an outstanding job, and he deserves to be made the actual director. He's done the work." Republicans had previously been critical of Huber's lack of management experience, while Democrats were concerned by the circumstances under which Tracy previously left the job. "I feel that leaving a job five weeks before an election, regardless of circumstances, frankly, they were left short-handed. To me, that's a no-hire situation," McCarthy said. At the time, Smith had given a 30-day notice of his departure, Republicans said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCarthy added that the board had been facing "outside pressure" from other Greene County officials, who are predominantly Republicans, to select Smith. "I'm not happy with the way it was handled," McCarthy said. "Other people in the county knew about this candidate before we did, and it just left a really bad taste in my mouth." Huber and Smith were both nominated by their respective parties in each of the five votes, and each vote was a 2-2 split along party lines. The next step is for both Republicans and Democrats to submit briefs to LaRose's office, arguing why their choice for elections director should be picked. LaRose is a Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the board technically has 14 days to submit those briefs, Secretary of State Regional Liaison Kenny Henning encouraged the board to submit them no later than Friday. "You have (military) ballots going out March 21 (for the May election)," he said. "I would urge that you get those arguments in ... so the secretary can go about making a decision very soon, because we have an election to administer." Until LaRose breaks the tie, Huber will remain in his role as acting director, with Republican Jen Corcoran as acting deputy director. Whoever becomes the director and deputy director will have a salary of $95,000 annually, as the board approved payroll Wednesday evening. The Greene County Board of Elections came to a similar stalemate last year over the hiring of Huber as deputy director. At the time, representatives for LaRose's office told the Dayton Daily News that the Secretary of State does not intervene in personnel matters, except during a board reorganization, which is the process going on now. BEDFORD, Pa. An Ohio woman was arraigned Tuesday in Bedford County, charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old girl and taking her to Kentucky where they were found hiding in a motel, authorities said. State police in Bedford charged Hannah Audrianna Strychalski, 19, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, with kidnapping a minor, concealment of whereabouts of a child, interference with custody of children and corruption of minors. According to a complaint affidavit, the girl allegedly told high school classmates that Feb. 21 was her last day and that she planned to run away with Strychalski. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When troopers reviewed the girls Snapchat, they reportedly found a booking reservation for 3Y Motel in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, with a check-in date of Feb. 24 and a check-out date of Feb. 25. Kentucky state police located Strychalski and the girl at the motel. Troopers in Bedford said a similar incident happened Jan. 9 where the two were found in Ohio. Strychalski was aware the girl was 15, the affidavit said. Strychalski was arraigned before District Judge Kevin R. Diehl, of Bedford, and freed after posting $200,000 bond. ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) President Donald Trumps crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in education has left many schools scrambling to comply. Ohio State recently closed its diversity and inclusion office. Now, Ohio University has announced its placing its Black Alumni Reunion on hold. When we think about the current climate in our nation in general, its concerning, because whats next?, said Michelle Calloway, an Ohio University alum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news surrounding the universitys second-largest alumni reunion, behind homecoming, has many concerned. It also comes just days after the universitys president Lori Gonzalez said she stood by student protests against legislation disrupting DEI programs. Citing DEI concerns, Ohio University places Black Alumni Reunion on hold Anthony Webb graduated from Ohio University in 1976. He sits on the alumni board. Hes never missed a reunion. The tradition goes back to the 1980s and attracted thousands of participants across the globe in 2022. Webb said he was planning on flying in from Philadelphia. I catch a train, a plane, and an automobile to get to Athens, Ohio, Webb said. It has a lot of meaning to people just being in Athens. You cant even put it into words sometimes. Its O-U. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A letter from Ohio University Tuesday stated the Black Alumni Reunion is on pause while they assess the impacts of the dear colleague letter from the Education Departments Office of Civil Rights, as well as proposed Ohio Legislation. It went from like wow, to disappointment, to rage because youre 30 days out, Webb said. The full letter reads: The 2025 Black Alumni Reunion, originally scheduled for April 10-13 in Athens, has been placed on hold. Ohio University and the Alumni Planning Committee are pausing the event to assess the impacts of the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Dear Colleague letter(opens in a new window) as well as proposed State of Ohio legislation. OHIOs Black Alumni Reunion is an important celebration of the OHIO community and has always been open to all individuals who have an interest in the event. However, based on OCRs recent guidance related to Title VI compliance, some of the programming historically included in the event may need to be reimagined. The University is obligated to follow OCRs guidance in order to protect our access to critical federal funding, including students continued access to federal financial aid.While this is difficult news to share, we remain committed to honoring the legacy and accomplishments of Ohio Universitys Black alumni. We will continue working with the University to develop a plan that aligns with evolving federal and state guidelines while preserving the significance of this gathering, said Terry Frazier and Jillian Causey, co-chairs of the BAR Alumni Planning Committee.We are always eager to welcome our graduates back to campus, so we are disappointed that we need to place this gathering on hold, said President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. As I shared with our University community(opens in a new window) earlier this week, in light of changes to federal and state guidance, we will need to think differently about some of the ways that we live out our mission and vision, and Im incredibly thankful for the Planning Committees willingness to work with us to reimagine this event moving forward.The Alumni Planning Committee will meet over the coming months to evaluate next steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its scary to think that my nieces and nephews, or young people that I mentor may not have opportunities that I once had because there are groups at play that dont value them, Calloway said. Several O-U alums said they feel the university dropped the ball. It tells us nothing, Webb said We want a date. We want a place. How long will this process take? Republican strategist, Mike Gonidakis, called the universitys decision a gross over exaggeration of what President Trump asked for in his executive order regarding DEI programs and policies. He said colleges should continue to celebrate African American alumni. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its a very, very obscure reading of what the order says, Gonidakis. And Im rather disappointed in the University president, to be frank. And Im disappointed in the trustees that it would get to this. Weve ended the tyranny of so-called diversity equity and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government and indeed the private sector at our military, President Trump said. Calloway said its unfortunate to see this current administration take stances that dont support or value groups of all different backgrounds. I think about how my grandparents and my great grandparents fought for freedom that I have now and I dont want to see us go back to a place that was really dark in our time, Calloway said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Webb said its not like the university didnt know Senate Bill 1 was around. He believes there shouldve been early conversations and planning. Im just hoping that the university can come out in a few weeks and take a stand either way, but also listen to the students and the alumni, Calloway said. The Black Alumni Reunion was scheduled for April 10-13. Ohio University said the alumni planning committee will meet over the next few months to plan for next steps. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. ITOMAN, Japan (AP) Takamatsu Gushiken turns on a headtorch and enters a cave buried in Okinawa's jungle. He gently runs his fingers through the gravel until two pieces of bone emerge. These are from the skulls, he says, of an infant and possibly an adult. He carefully places them in a ceramic rice bowl and takes a moment to imagine people dying 80 years ago as they hid in this cave during one of the fiercest battles of World War II. His hope is that the dead can be reunited with their families. The remains of some 1,400 people found on Okinawa sit in storage for possible identification with DNA testing. So far just six have been identified and returned to their families. Volunteer bone hunters and families looking for their loved ones say the government should do more to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gushiken says the bones are silent witnesses to Okinawas wartime tragedy, carrying a warning to the present generation as Japan ups its defense spending in the face of tensions with China over territorial disputes and Beijing's claim to the nearby self-governing island Taiwan. The best way to honor the war dead is never to allow another war, Gushiken says. I'm worried about Okinawa's situation now. ... I'm afraid there is a growing risk that Okinawa may become a battlefield again. An island haunted by one of the deadliest battles of World War II On April 1, 1945, U.S. troops landed on Okinawa during their push toward mainland Japan, beginning a battle that lasted until late June and killed about 12,000 Americans and more than 188,000 Japanese, half of them Okinawan civilians. That included students and victims of mass suicides ordered by the Japanese military, historians say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fighting ended at Itoman, where Gushiken and other volunteer cave diggers or gamahuya in their native Okinawan language have found the remains of what are likely hundreds of people. Gushiken tries to imagine being in the cave during the fighting. Where would he hide? What would he feel? He makes a guess about the age of the victims, whether they died by gunshot or explosion, and puts details about the bones in a small red notebook. After the war, Okinawa remained under U.S. occupation until 1972, 20 years longer than most of Japan, and it remains host to a major U.S. military presence to this day. As Japan enjoyed a postwar economic rise, Okinawa's economic, educational and social development lagged behind. Gushiken says when he was a child growing up in Okinawa's capital, Naha, he would go out hunting bugs and find skulls still wearing helmets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A slow search for remains Nearly 80 years after the end of World War II, 1.2 million Japanese war dead are still unaccounted for. Thats about half of the 2.4 million Japanese, mostly soldiers, who died during Japans early 20th century wars. Thousands of unidentified bones have been sitting in storage for years waiting for testing that could help match them with surviving families. Gushiken says the governments DNA matching efforts have been too little and too slow. Of the estimated 188,140 Japanese killed in the Battle of Okinawa, most of their remains had been collected and placed in the national cemetery on the island, the health ministry says. Around 1,400 remains found in recent decades sit in storage. The process of identification has been painfully slow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was only in 2003 that the Japanese government started DNA matching after requests from the families of the dead, but tests were limited to the remains found with teeth and manmade artifacts that could provide hints to their identities. In 2016, Japan enacted a law launching a remains recovery initiative to promote more DNA matching and cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense. A lear later, the government expanded the work to civilians and authorized testing on limb bones. In all, 1,280 remains of Japanese war-dead, including six on Okinawa, have been identified by DNA tests since 2003, the health ministry said. The remains of around 14,000 people are stored in the ministry mortuary for future testing. Hundreds of American soldiers remain unaccounted for. Their remains, as well as those of the Koreans mobilized by the Japanese during the war, may yet be found, Gushiken says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Locating and identifying decades-old remains have become increasingly difficult as families and relatives age, memories fade, artifacts and documents get lost, and the remains deteriorate, says Naoki Tezuka, a health ministry official. The progress has been slow everywhere, Tezuka said. Ideally, we hope to not just collect the remains but return them to their families. The burden of history Japan is undertaking an accelerating military buildup, sending more troops and weapons to Okinawa and its outer islands. Many here who have bitter memories of the Japanese armys wartime brutality view the current military buildup with wariness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington and Tokyo see the strong U.S. military presence as a crucial bulwark against China and North Korea, but many Okinawans have long complained about noise, pollution, aircraft accidents and crime related to American troops. Okinawa today is home to more than half of the 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan, with the majority of U.S. military facilities on the small southern island. Tokyo has promised to relocate a U.S. Marine Corps air station that sits in a crowded town after years of friction, but Okinawans remain angry at a plan that would only move it to the island's east coast and may use the soil possibly containing the remains for construction. Gushiken says the Itoman caves should be protected from development so that younger generations can learn about the war's history, and so searchers like him can complete their work. Like him, some Okinawans say they fear the lessons of their wartime suffering are being forgotten. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tomoyuki Kobashigawas half-sister Michiko was killed soon after she got married. He wants to apply for DNA matching to help find her. Its so sad ... If she would have lived, we could have been such good siblings. The missing remains show the governments lack of remorse over its responsibility in the war, Kobashigawa says. Im afraid the Okinawan people will be embroiled in a war again. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) After a measles scare in Oklahoma turned out to be a misunderstanding, were learning more about the testing process after measles is suspected. Ive been a doctor for 20 years and Ive never seen measles, said Dr. Kate Cook with Norman Regional Hospital. Unfortunately, here we are. LOCAL NEWS: OSDH says Bartlesville teacher does not have measles despite diagnosis Tuesday, Bartlesville Public Schools announced a staff member had measles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma State Health Department later said that person was positive for having immunity, but negative for the measles virus. Dr. Cook said its been a long time since this disease was a concern. The WHO declared it was eliminated from the US in 2000. All of us are having to kind of refresh of things that weve learned about a disease that we thought was in our past, said Dr. Cook. She said it starts out like the common cold, with a cough, stuffy nose, red eyes, a fever, and white spots on the inside of the cheek. Then, a few days later, the rash starts. It starts at the hairline then spreads down the face and rest of the body, said Dr. Cook. It can be a few spots here and there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cook said there are two ways to test for measles. I think thats where the test results can get a little confusing, said Dr. Cook. Theres the antibody test, which shows if youve had the measles or the vaccine. Then, theres a throat swab. However, most hospitals dont have the actual test, so it has to be sent off to a lab. LOCAL NEWS: Highly likely: Doctors on high alert for possible measles outbreak in OK So ,it could take awhile to get back unfortunately for this infection that could be very contagious, said Dr. Cook. In a statement, the OSDH said While residents may be tested and diagnosed at a health care facility, that facility must work with the OSDH to confirm a positive case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department also has an on-call epidemiologist to help. As vaccine skepticism and hesitancy increases, were unfortunately seeing these diseases come back, said Dr. Cook. As a pediatrician and a mom, the safest thing you can do is get the vaccine. The doctor said measles is one of the most contagious infections. Youre most contagious four days before the rash and four days after. If measles is suspected, the patient must make sure theyre isolated as much as possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A sign for Oklahoma State University is pictured at the Stillwater campus Dec. 6. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY A day after a critical audit of Oklahoma State University was made public, the university refused to answer questions on if it had prompted the sudden February resignation of the universitys president. The audit found millions of dollars that were intended for specific programs instead went to unrelated funds, and OSU leaders understated the amount of money the university had in its budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to open records requests, the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents released the report Wednesday from its internal auditing office two days before the regents scheduled monthly meeting, shedding light on the financial circumstances during the tenure of OSU President Kayse Shrum. The regents Friday meeting agenda does not mention the audit or launching a search for a permanent replacement for Shrum. Dr. Kayse Shrum resigned Feb. 3 as president of Oklahoma State University. (Photo by Payton Little/The OColly) After the universitys governing board began receiving anonymous employee complaints related to funding and spending at the Innovation Foundation in the spring of 2024, a governance task force was created to review the situation in the fall and an internal audit followed, an OSU spokesperson said Thursday. Auditors found OSU since 2022 had wrongly transferred $41 million into accounts that didnt align with the specific purpose the state Legislature had intended the money to support. The audit recommended the misappropriated funds be returned. An OSU spokesperson said the university will be able to rectify what was discovered through the audit process and is confident that this will not impact students tuition or academic programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, $11.5 million designated for health, polytechnic and aerospace programs instead went to the Innovation Foundation at OSU, rebranded from the Oklahoma State University Research Foundation in 2023. The foundation aims to maximize the impact of OSUs excellence in aerospace and advanced mobility, energy and agriculture. The foundation received this money without the Regents approving a contractual agreement for it, according to the audit. The board and OSU administration are committed to transparency and to taking swift action that protects the universitys commitment to students, regent Jennifer Callahan said in a statement Wednesday. Jennifer Callahan, a member of the board, sits at a meeting of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents Feb. 7 in Stillwater. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OSU officials declined to answer questions Thursday on what role the universitys governing board played in overseeing these transactions, but said a member of the board may be able to shed more light on the situation after Fridays board meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The audit does not specifically name any individuals as being at fault. Shrum suddenly resigned Feb. 3, but it was not made public by the Regents or the university until Feb. 5. A spokesperson for the university said the news was made public two days after Shrum resigned because that was the agreed upon timeline between Shrum and the board. OSU has not connected Shrums resignation with the audit and continued to decline to answer questions on her reasons for departing. Her nine-sentence long resignation letter, obtained by Oklahoma Voice, provided no reasons for her departure and did not mention the Innovation Foundation. In the letter, Shrum wrote that she plans to return to the tenured faculty at the OSU Center for Health Sciences in July following a sabbatical, per her contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shrum did not respond to messages left seeking comment. Auditors recommended a review of whether the foundation is financially viable. The report found 96% of the foundations funds came from OSU and that it generated only 2% of its own revenue independently while the remainder came from professional services. OSU officials on Thursday did not say where the funding would come from, but said there is ongoing strategic review of the foundations operations, governance and funding. The OSU regents have halted any further fund transfers to the foundation. Multiple top OSU administrators, including Shrum, served on the Innovation Foundations board, raising conflict of interest concerns, auditors reported. In 2023, Shrum said the foundation was a crucial pillar of her strategic plan for OSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Innovation Foundation President Elizabeth Pollard resigned following Shrums departure. Pollard could not be reached for comment Thursday. She told the Tulsa World in an email that regents and administrators were kept informed of the foundations activities and that she was not aware of any missing funds. The audit report also raised significant transparency concerns within Shrums administration. OSU leaders underreported to their governing board the amount of money the Legislature had appropriated to the university by $55.5 million. These funds werent included in the administrations budget presentation to the OSU regents, according to the report. Jim Hess was selected by the OSU A&M Board of Regents at a special board meeting Feb. 7 in Stillwater. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) The $55.5 million were funds the Legislature appropriated to the OSU Medical Authority. The medical authority had cooperative agreements in place with the university that outlined how the money was intended to be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Shrum resigned, the regents appointed Jim Hess, an administrator at the OSU Center for Health Sciences, as the universitys interim president Feb. 7. Hess and the regents are taking swift action to address the matters raised in the audit, said Lance Latham, OSUs chief communications officer. Hess is listed in the audit as the official responsible for overseeing all recommended corrective actions. Dr. Hess has underscored that while the financial decisions and transactions which occurred are concerning, they were isolated and do not impact OSUs overall financial foundation, which remains the strongest among Oklahomas institutions of higher education, Latham said in a statement. OSU declined to comment on whether or not criminal charges would be pursued as a result of the audits findings. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Wedding in a recent surveillance photo disseminated by the FBI. - Credit: FBI Ryan Wedding, a former Olympian turned alleged drug kingpin, was named to the FBIs Ten Most Wanted list today. A $10 million reward was announced for his capture. In January, Rolling Stone detailed how Wedding went from a snowboarding prodigy who raced for Canada in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics to the top of a drug trafficking empire that allegedly transported as much as $1 billion in cocaine a year from Colombia to Canada. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wedding has essentially been on the run since 2015, when he was identified by police as El Chapos man in Canada, and implicated in a large-scale cocaine trafficking ring that involved cargo ships out of the Caribbean. While we havent ruled out other countries, we believe Wedding is residing in Mexico and possibly living under the protection of the Sinaloa drug cartel, said Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office, at a press conference today. When federal charges against Weddings organization were first announced in October, federal law enforcement sources told Rolling Stone that it was just a matter of time before Wedding was arrested, or killed unless he could keep his transportation network up and running. On Monday, the CBC reported that Wedding is very much alive, and that he continues to traffic drugs while in hiding, referencing a three-page memo U.S. federal prosecutors filed in Ontario at a bail hearing related to one of Weddings co-defendants. That defendant, Gurpeet Singh, is currently in custody in Canada fighting extradition to the U.S. for allegedly coordinating shipments of cocaine for Wedding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a hearing last week, Canadian prosecutors revealed that U.S. authorities have allegedly obtained communications that show Singh travelled to Culiacan, Mexico, the de facto headquarters of the Sinaloa Cartel, last summer to resolve a $600,000 debt. On Aug. 2, 2024, Singh was kidnapped, bound, and given till the end of the day to pay the debt, prosecutors say. And if not for Wedding, Singh may have been killed, but over the next five days, prosecutors say Wedding negotiated with cartel leaders for Singhs release. Weddings placement on the FBIs top 10 list could be tied to the slaying of the governments top witness against him in Medellin, Colombia, in January. According to Calvi Leon of the Toronto Star, the witness, who had been working with Wedding for over a decade, had agreed to testify against him in 2023, and in January 2024 recorded a conversation with Weddings right-hand man in Mexico City during which they arranged cocaine shipments. But on Jan. 31 of this year, at around 2:30 p.m., the witness, a 42-year-old Canadian named Jonathan Acebedo-Garcia, was sitting in a restaurant in a shopping center in Medellin when a person armed with a handgun and silencer approached and opened fire, before fleeing on a motorcycle. By the time police arrived, Acebedo-Garcia was dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weddings second in command, a 34-year-old former elevator mechanic turned real estate investor from Toronto named Andrew Clark, had been detained in October and held in a Mexican jail, but at the press conference this morning, the FBIs Davis said Clark had inexplicably been released from jail on bail, and had only recently been recaptured. Clark was extradited last week as part of the extraordinary and unprecedented transfer of 29 high-ranking members of Mexican cartels to the United States that included Rafael Caro Quintero, the so-called Narco of Narcos wanted for the murder of DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena in 1985. According to law enforcement in Mexico and Canada, Clark was the logistical link between the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels. Wedding, who is wealthy, is dangerous and has connections in very high places, Davis said. Trial is set for May 7 for the defendants who allegedly belonged to Weddings organization who are in custody in Los Angeles, which served the primary hub for the organizations narcotics operations, said Alan Hamilton, chief of detectives for the Los Angeles Police Department. Hamilton said the organization moved an estimated 60 tons of cocaine a year and five tons of fentanyl a month through the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to drug trafficking and conspiracy charges, Wedding and Clark have also been charged with ordering contract killings that resulted in four deaths in Canada. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in federal prison. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. CALEDONIA, Wis. (WFRV) One person is dead and another is injured following a motor vehicle crash Thursday morning in southeastern Wisconsin. At about 8:38 a.m. on March 6, 2025, local police and fire personnel responded to the 10200 block of Northwestern Avenue in Caledonia. Operation Ripsaw leads to arrest of man accused of trafficking firearms from Wisconsin to Mexican cartel Preliminary investigations revealed that an SUV was traveling westbound while a sedan was traveling eastbound in the same area. Authorities say the sedan crossed the center line into the westbound lane, causing the collision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the SUV, a 39-year-old male from Racine, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the sedan, a 33-year-old male from Milwaukee, was pronounced dead at the scene. Wisconsin traffic stop leads to arrest of 21-year-old on drug charges Authorities have not yet determined if the death was caused by the crash or a medical episode prior to the collision. The Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit responded to assist with the investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information is urged to contact the Caledonia Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Tolentino pauses motorcade to visit hundreds of fire victims in Binan, Laguna Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino paused his motorcade to personally visit hundreds of residents whose homes were destroyed by fire in Gonzalez Compound, Sitio Pulo, Barangay Dela Paz, Binan, Laguna. Previous to this, the senator led a motorcade on Wednesday, which kicked off from Muntinlupa and went through several localities in the province of Laguna. When Tolentino learned that a fire had broken out in Binan a few hours before that razed 60 houses, he immediately instructed his team to change the motorcade's route to head to the community. "I decided to go here when I learned about the fire and that hundreds of residents lost their homes," Tolentino told members of the media in an ambush interview. The senator rode a tricycle and walked through narrow streets to reach Gonzalez Compound, Sitio Pulo, where he personally checked on the condition of the fire victims, and committed to bring in help. One person was slightly injured when a boiler exploded on the premises of automotive supplier Continental in the central German city of Hanover, a spokesman for Continental subsidiary ContiTech said on Thursday. Another six people were examined by the company's in-house medical service, he said. The cause of the explosion was initially unclear. The incident occurred shortly after 10 am (0900 GMT), with residents reporting hearing a loud bang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fire that broke out on the top floor of the affected building has since been extinguished according to the spokesman. The building, which is several dozen metres long, was initially not evacuated beyond the affected area, with a structural engineer checking it for stability. Images of the scene showed shattered windows on the sixth floor of the building. Parts of the facade had also come off, according to a dpa reporter at the scene. The adjacent street was covered in glass fragments and closed off. Emergency services had initially prepared for a mass casualty event. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) One person is left with life-threatening injuries after a shooting on Rhode Island Drive in Evansville. Officials with Evansville Dispatch say they got multiple calls about gun shots at 8:13 p.m. Wednesday night. They say officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Rhode Island Drive. EPD has confirmed one person is being treated for life threatening injuries. Officials go on to say that multiple people are involved in the shooting. No arrests have been made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eyewitness News is working to get more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Ontario Premier Doug Ford is steaming ahead with his pledge to impose 25 percent tariffs on electricity sent to the United States starting Monday, despite President Donald Trumps decision to suspend most tariffs on Mexico and Canada Thursday afternoon. The move is an escalation of the trade tensions between the two countries after Trump has repeatedly threatened and withdrawn tariffs against Canada, which is the U.S. biggest energy trading partner. Were going to put a 25 percent tariff on electricity coming from Ontario to Michigan, New York and Minnesota, Ford said to Fox Business Network in response to a question on whether he had changed his mind about imposing the tariff in light of Trumps shift. And isnt this a shame? Its an absolute mess hes created. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials in affected states say the move could raise costs and threaten grid stability for the 1.5 million customers across Minnesota, Michigan and New York who receive power from the province. Ford lamented the decision in a CNN interview earlier Thursday but said he felt he had little choice. And honestly, it really bothers me we have to do this, Ford said in that interview. I dont want to do this. I want to send more electricity, more critical minerals, more oil. Thats what we want to do. Though Canadas total exports of hydropower to the U.S. make up only a sliver of U.S. electricity generation, experts say the shared grid between the two countries is critical to maintaining system reliability. The premier of Quebec previously told POLITICO the province would similarly consider stamping tariffs on their power exports to New England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Border states have raised concerns about the impact of such tariffs on both customer costs and grid stability. The United States and Canada share one of the most integrated international electric grids in the world, allowing system operators in both countries to pool resources for reliable and economic electric supply, read a Feb. 28 statement from the New York Independent System Operator, which operates the state power network, in response to tariff threats. The NYISO and neighboring system operators have serious concerns that applying export tariffs to electricity may have serious adverse effects on reliability and wholesale electric markets, the statement added. NYISO did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the premiers tariff announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Helms, a spokesperson from Michigans utility regulator, similarly listed possible reliability disruptions on the power grid as one of the agencys most significant concerns related to retaliatory tariffs earlier this week. Helms said the Public Service Commission does not have any further comment on the latest tariff action. And the Minnesota Commerce Department released a statement this week decrying the manmade crisis the tariffs would cause. We are confident that we will be able to keep the lights on for Minnesotans, but potentially at a much higher cost for energy bills, the statement read. A department spokesperson said its position remains the same when asked for comment Thursday. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report incorrectly identified the Fox Business Network. Kelso Albright Alaska is uniquely at risk as congressional Republicans attempt to slash the Medicaid program, which provides health coverage for nearly 250,000 Alaskans and most Alaska children. The impact of these cuts would be immediate and devastating: Families without access to care, higher crime due to untreated mental health and substance abuse issues, and children suffering without access to doctors. Alaska has one of the highest rates for child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence, suicide mortality and out of home placements for kids. Many of Alaskas children, who have been directly affected by these rates, receive crucial services funded by Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of our youth in the foster care system have experienced adverse life experiences that have greatly impacted their mental and behavioral health. Our youth rely on services such as therapy, community programing and behavioral support, foster home placements, and advocacy efforts. These provide consistency, stability and support during an uncertain time in their life. As a front-line worker, I have seen firsthand how the already grossly underfunded Medicaid program has affected our youth. Weve seen a decrease in available foster homes and in adoptions, and we struggle with appropriate staffing levels, which means many of our youth miss out on services and support that they may need. Further limiting access to these services by reducing funding could devastate our small rural communities, which sees a Medicaid enrollment rate of 39 percent, most of which are children and pregnant people. Disruption in services could decrease the availability of medical flights, practically cutting off our rural communities from essential, routine medical care that may not be available within villages. Reducing community mental health centers capacity even further to provide services to Indigenous youth means that many could be sent out of state to gain access to the care they need, subsequently separating families. The goal of community mental health centers is to reunify families, not to create additional barriers that only distress and break them more. Access to mental health services, majorly provided by community mental health centers, has been linked to a decrease in crime, incarceration and suicide rates. Children and teens thrive when they have routine, structure and consistent relationships with safe caregivers. Adding additional red tape to these services could devastate Alaskas rural communities by cutting off accessibility to services provided by community mental health centers, which is already strained by a reduced capacity. Cutting funding and access will only disrupt these services and could directly increase Alaskas already high crime, suicide and incarceration rates, especially within our small rural Indigenous communities and at-risk youth population. Our members of Congress can stop these devastating cuts: Given very narrow majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Nick Begich can protect Alaska, but only if theyre willing to put our states best interests ahead of the radical billionaires running the Trump administration. Begich has already contradicted his oath to the constitution. He voted to cut at least $880 billion in Medicaid funding, proving his is not a voice for all Alaskans and is only the voice for some who agree with his ideology. His vote is contradictory to his pro-life stance, as cutting Medicaid funding will affect programs that our foster care youth, veterans, Alaskans in small rural communities, and struggling families utilize as lifelines. When he votes like this, he works for the far-right administration, and not for the American people, especially not Alaskans. This Op-Ed was first published by the Alaska Beacon Kelso Albright is a front-line behavioral health worker engaged in mental health services for kids. She lives and works in Anchorage. WISCONSIN (WFRV) A 44-year-old man accused of trafficking high-powered firearms from Wisconsin to a Mexican cartel was arrested in Mexico as part of Operation Ripsaw. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Roland Munoz was taken into custody in coordination with authorities in Mexico. Wisconsin man hospitalized after crashing into rock embankment Munoz was indicted on Sept. 21, 2021, along with five other defendants, on a 12-count indictment that included charges of smuggling goods from the United States and the straw purchase of firearms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment was the result of a yearslong investigation called Operation Ripsaw, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. Prosecutors allege that Munoz led a conspiracy to smuggle high-powered firearms from the United States to Mexico. According to court filings, he recruited straw purchasers in Wisconsin and other states, coordinated couriers to transport firearms and money across the country, and arranged for smugglers to bring the firearms across the border in Texas to supply a Mexican cartel. Police in Wisconsin find dead woman in a home following a standoff, man arrested Investigators say the group purchased and attempted to smuggle more than 25 firearms. Court records show that many of those weapons were later recovered in Mexico, including a .50-caliber rifle found on Dec. 20, 2020, after Mexican law enforcement engaged armed members of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, a transnational criminal organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Munoz faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million if convicted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A recent article in The 74 highlighting dual-enrollment outcomes for high school students touches on several themes that are of significant importance to educators and policymakers who seek to improve postsecondary access and strengthen workforce pipelines. Of particular importance is the wide variety of programs and how those differences impact outcomes. In some versions of dual enrollment, students take college classes on top of their required high school course load. Requiring extra courses in order to reap the benefits of early college creates a disadvantage for those who work, help with siblings at home or have long commutes to and from school. It can also be a challenge for students already struggling to keep up with advanced courses. In addition, while some states pay for or subsidize college courses for high schoolers, others make parents shoulder the financial burden. Postsecondary institutions may offer financial aid for economically disadvantaged high schoolers, as they do for their own students, but this adds just another hurdle to what should be a seamless early college experience. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Taken together, this lack of equal access to the time and financial resources needed to pay for, and do well in, college courses can skew participation and successful completion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, concurrent enrollment swapping a college course for a high school class instead of adding it on top of the regular course load increases students opportunity to pay little to nothing for the advanced coursework while enhancing their readiness for college and a future of work. The terms dual and concurrent enrollment are often used interchangeably. But in their purest form, they are quite different. Policies that prioritize concurrent enrollment can have a substantial impact on student outcomes and postsecondary access. Related Community College Classes for High School Students Explode in Idaho, Indiana In Arizona, for example, state law defines concurrent enrollment to mean a student enrolls in a state university or local community college course instead of the high school course he or she would otherwise take. It also requires that the student cost be as close to free as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the context of public policy and program design, the seemingly semantic distinction between dual and concurrent enrollment can help improve lifetime outcomes and deliver a future-ready workforce. Swapping college for high school courses also makes it easier to integrate workplace and college campus experiences into students normal school day. Instead of taking extra classes, students can spend their time in career-aligned projects and clubs or even commute to a nearby college to take courses on campus. In addition, concurrent credit can limit financial burdens on schools and districts by relieving them of the burdens of having to pay for doubled-up coursework, educators and space, as well as the costs of procuring college-equivalent programs in lieu of actual college courses. A related policy change simple, yet critical would allow for the smooth transfer of earned concurrent credit. When students move from one high school to another, they must often retake courses or submit to a test to transfer college credits they have already earned. Its a hiccup that adds cost across the system while slowing high school graduation or postsecondary attainment. States can ensure that these concurrent credits transfer when students move or otherwise change schools, and require that the new schools accept credits earned in these rigorous classes without onerous testing. Inefficient transfer policies not only threaten early college, but on-time high school graduation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concurrent enrollment can also respond to the increased demand from families and students for a transformed high school experience that is more relevant in todays world. As the leader of a college prep network, I know firsthand how concurrent enrollment is meeting the demands of a new generation of parents and students. Millennial parents are seeking ways to save on college costs, and their children want high school to be more engaging and relevant to their futures. Offering them postsecondary opportunities aligned to a career does just that. Policymakers around the country should adopt equitable policies and funding for concurrent enrollment while helping educators implement these models. This will accelerate the efficiencies, economic mobility and work readiness that postsecondary learning provides. Large investments in dual enrollment have boosted interest in and access to postsecondary education. But after decades of implementation around the country, clarity is developing on how best to accelerate these gains, eliminate redundancies and deliver a future-ready workforce. Concurrent enrollment is that promising path forward. In recent weeks, weve witnessed an alarming and accelerating trend: elected officials brazenly filing articles of impeachment against federal judges not for corruption or misconduct, but for the crime of upholding the law against executive overreach. This represents a profound threat to judicial independence that should concern everyone, regardless of political affiliation. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge John Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, was targeted for ordering federal agencies to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act before purging transgender health information from government websites. The act requires government agencies to justify and document major changes to public information ensuring that data collection and dissemination serve the public interest, not political whims. The rushed removal of information that benefits a vulnerable community violated this basic safeguard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) outrageously claims that Judge Batess ruling was utterly lacking in intellectual honesty and basic integrity. In reality, Batess opinion was a straightforward analysis of longstanding law and practice. Less than 48 hours later, Ogles was back on the attack, filing articles of impeachment against District of Columbia U.S. District Judge Amir Ali for ordering the administration to restore funding to USAID. In his resolution, Ogles used a classic right-wing dog whistle in using Alis Arabic name, arguing the judges order was corrupt based on spurious and bigoted assertions about the agencys relief efforts in Syria and Gaza. Judges Ali and Bates did not issue radical rulings they simply ordered federal agencies to follow the law. Judicial impeachment was never intended to punish a judges determination of law and fact. Of the 15 federal judges impeached in 250 years only eight of whom have been convicted by the Senate and removed from the bench the grounds for removal have always involved serious misconduct, not legal disagreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout U.S. history, judicial impeachment has been reserved for crimes, bribery and corruption not for decisions that anger those in power. As Chief Justice William Rehnquist documented, the failed 1804 impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase established the crucial norm that judges should not face removal over their rulings. Republican lawmakers have similarly moved to impeach Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York and threatened to file against Judge John McConnell of the District of Rhode Island for temporarily halting administration policies on Treasury Department access and federal spending freezes rulings that upheld clear legal limits on executive power. These impeachment attempts transform a vital safeguard against corruption into a political weapon against judicial independence. Our constitutional architects deliberately insulated the judiciary to prevent this exact scenario: judges facing professional consequences for applying laws that restrain power. If judges can be removed merely for upholding established law, judicial independence crumbles. The separation of power that safeguards our republic collapses, leaving all constitutional protections vulnerable to political manipulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gravest threat comes from the executive branch openly declaring war on judicial independence. President Trumps statement that maybe we have to look at the judges is a direct threat from the head of one branch of government against another. Even more troubling is Elon Musks call for an immediate wave of judicial impeachments, demanding the removal of judges who rule against his interests. Despite having no elected office or constitutional authority, Musk has positioned himself as an enforcer, pressuring lawmakers to punish judges who rule against his interests. The pattern is unmistakable: These impeachment efforts dont target judges based on misconduct or corruption, but on whether their rulings inconvenience those in power. Judges have been singled out for upholding transgender health resources, enforcing government transparency and stopping unlawful funding freezes. This is not about the rule of law its about punishing judges for applying it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When judges must look over their shoulders before ruling against the powerful, equal justice becomes impossible. This threatens not abstract principles, but tangible protections for everyday people from civil rights to consumer protections to environmental safeguards that we all depend on. The impeachment power was created as a shield to protect democracy from corruption never as a sword to punish judges who faithfully uphold the law. And yet an unelected billionaire is weaponizing his outsized and inappropriate influence to issue social media decrees against federal judges, with elected officials scrambling to comply. This is not normal and we must not normalize it. History has shown time and time again that once judicial independence falls, all other rights and liberties quickly follow. The weaponization of judicial impeachment isnt merely wrong it represents an existential threat to the American system of government itself. We must defend our independent judiciary from baseless attacks so it can protect us from abuses of power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khadijah M. Silver, JD, MPH, is a supervising attorney for civil rights at Lawyers for Good Government, with expertise in health law and policy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. For nearly three years, European leaders have done what they do best talk. While Ukraine continues to fight for its survival against the Russian invasion, European governments have spent countless hours issuing statements, attending summits and making commitments to bolster their defense capabilities. They have indeed taken steps in pledging military spending, sending aid and discussing long-term security strategies, but concrete action remains slow, and tangible results are hard to see. Instead of urgently ramping up defense production and building a self-sufficient security framework, European nations continue to lean on Washington for leadership and resources. Europes citizens, meanwhile, are left watching and waiting, hoping that NATOs security umbrella will hold. But NATO is strongest when its members contribute equally and Europe is still not doing enough to meet the challenges ahead. The war in Ukraine should have been a turning point. Instead, progress remains sluggish, bogged down in bureaucratic inertia while time runs short. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the clearest examples of NATOs misaligned priorities is Germanys extensive Air Force deployment across the Indo-Pacific, a region increasingly defined by military tensions, territorial disputes and strategic competition between China and the U.S. As part of its operations, Germany has sent fighter jets and support aircraft to Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, Australia and India for joint training missions. Why is Germany prioritizing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific when European security remains fragile? The U.S. values European support in Asia, but what it truly expects is a stronger, self-sufficient defense framework in Europe that ensures NATO remains a collective alliance, not one dependent on America. Some nations understand the urgency of the moment. Poland is emerging as one of Europes strongest military powers, rapidly expanding its armed forces, modernizing its capabilities and reinforcing its role in NATO. It hosts a NATO battlegroup led by the U.S. and is home to an American missile defense base, solidifying its position on the eastern flank. The Baltic states are also strengthening their defenses, with Lithuania securing a permanent German brigade deployment, a historic shift for Berlin. Yet while frontline states prepare, many of Europes larger powers remain stuck in debate, delaying the hard choices needed to deter future threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe cannot assume American support will last, as the new administration looks to reshape the war in Ukraine. President Trump has already signaled interest in striking a deal, whether through a ceasefire or by leveraging Ukraines rare earth minerals in exchange for military aid. If Trump disengages, Ukraines survival and the stability of the entire region depend on how quickly European nations can fill the gap. At the same time, Trump has repeatedly demanded that European countries spend more on defense. If they meet his expectations, he may not abandon NATO entirely. This leaves Europe with a choice. It can either wait and react to shifting U.S. policies, or it can take control of its own security now. What happens if Washington significantly scales back its commitment to NATO? Does Europe finally step up, or does the dithering continue? Military readiness cannot be built overnight, yet European nations are acting as if time is on their side. Trump can act on a whim, and he has already signaled his willingness to upend alliances. If Trump were to withdraw or weaken U.S. support, Europe would be left unprepared. European leaders must anticipate this possibility rather than scramble to react too late. If they refuse to take responsibility for their own security, is it really up to the U.S. to fill in the gaps indefinitely? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is time for Europe to break free from bureaucratic inertia and take real action. While some European nations are showing signs of life, too many still behave as if war could never reach their borders. But history has shown that peace is never guaranteed. The price of security is high, but the cost of inaction is far greater. The U.S. does not want to shoulder this burden alone; it wants equal partners in Europe, nations that can deter aggression together. The time for hesitation is over. Europe must act before it is too late. Paulius Razukevicius is deputy director of policy content at Our National Conversation and a Boston University graduate specializing in security, defense and nuclear deterrence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Europe is facing an existential crisis. For now, Ukraine is ground zero in Russian President Vladimir Putins war against the West. If Russia is allowed to achieve a victory either on the battlefield or at the negotiating table then Europes thin red line in Eastern Europe will become even thinner. To shield itself from the Russian menace in the East, Europe, since the end of World War II, has always looked west to the U.S. Either conventionally as part of NATO or under the aegis of Washingtons nuclear umbrella. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those options are in danger of disappearing or at least of being significantly reduced. President Trump is signaling to Europe that he no longer views defending the continent as his paramount strategic priority. There are signs Europe is waking up to this new reality. On Sunday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk pointed out what he called a paradox before leaving for an emergency summit in London. He noted that 500 million Europeans [are asking] 300 million Americans to protect them from 140 million Russians. Tusk argued that Europe must take greater responsibility for the continents security. That is President Trumps position, in a nutshell. And it is why his administration is calling for NATO member-states to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP. Last Fridays dust-up in the Oval Office between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has the potential to undermine European security in the short term and jeopardize it in the long term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, the Trump administration acknowledged that it had egregiously suspended military aid to Ukraine as a result. On Wednesday, Trump officials admitted this included pausing intelligence sharing as well. It is utter madness that these levels of national security decisions are largely being made as a result of a disagreement over a suit, or over whether or not Ukraine has said thanks enough times to a petulant Vances liking. But here we are. And so too is Europe. This makes the 800 billion ReArm Europe plan, proposed on Sunday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, all the more urgent if Europe is to help stop Russia from crossing the thin red line in Ukraine and breaching the underbelly of Eastern Europe. The threat looms now not four years from now. Europe must enable Ukraine to win now so it does not have to face a Russian aggressor in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Von der Leyens proposal is essentially spread out over four years. The large majority, 650 billion, would come from European Union member states increasing their defense spending to 3 percent of GDP. The other 150 billion would come in the form of EU loan guarantees. That is a good collective start for defending against future Russian threats. However, it is not nearly fast enough to backstop Ukraine today, given Trumps arbitrary suspension of arms and intelligence sharing. The fight for Europes immediate security is now, and it is being contested in Kursk, Russia and along a 600-mile front in Eastern Ukraine. Europeans, fairly or not, need to understand that they are facing a future Russia that is now operating as a full wartime economy. Presently, the International Institute for Strategic Studiess Military Balance Report estimates that Russia is spending $146 billion, or 6.7 percent of GDP. That may seem small in comparison to Europes $457 billion, but in terms of purchasing power, Russia is actually outpacing Europe on defense spending. When purchasing parity is applied, the Military Balance Report estimates that the Kremlin is spending the equivalent of $462 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That buys a lot of weapons, ammunition, and soldiers from the likes of North Korea, Iran and Chechnya. Europe is falling behind. And inexplicably, Europe continues indirectly helping to fund Putins war against Ukraine. Europe and the United Kingdom have, since the wars beginning, spent far more in the aggregate purchasing Russian oil and liquified gas than they have put toward Ukraines military and economic needs. Since 2022, the EU has provided 118 billion in assistance to Ukraine. The UK has sent roughly 8 billion. According to the Russia Fossil Tracker website, Europe combined over that same period has purchased 206 billion of Russian energy 50 percent on oil, 48 percent on liquified gas and 2 percent on coal. At that rate, Europe is arguably funding half of Russias current defense budget. Brussels is not only harming Ukraine but foolishly helping to fund a Russian military that one day might be used to attack Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europes days of having it both ways are over. Its underfunding of its military commitments are coming back to haunt and if Ukraine loses or is allowed to fall back under the Russian sphere of influence, Europes future security will be inexcusably undermined. Just talking the talk is no longer enough. Europe must immediately begin walking the walk. Especially given Trumps pivot away from London, Brussels and Kyiv. Europes time to lead is now. However, there is no clear sense of who among the European leaders will step up to the plate. French President Emmanuel Macron vied for that role late Wednesday. In televised speech to the nation, he proposed using Frances nuclear arsenal as a deterrent to protect Europe from Russia. Asserting that Russia cannot be trusted to adhere to a ceasefire, he also insisted that Moscow and Washington not be allowed to decide the future of the European continent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and von der Leyen are two other possible candidates. If the former, then perhaps King Charles II can play a key role behind the scenes, given Trumps high regard for him. Hopefully Trump will come around. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz signaled on Wednesday that he might after discussions between Washington and Kyiv. But Europe cannot wait. It must act. London and Brussels must recognize one more thing. Tusks paradox almost got it right, but not quite. Currently, Europe is asking 39 million Ukrainians to defend the European continent from Putins war on the West. The 340 million Americans need to understand this too. For now, it is Europes thin red line in Ukraine, but if Ukraine falls, Europe will become our thin red line, and potentially we will find ourselves in harms way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Toth writes on national security and foreign policy. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan E. Sweet served 30 years as an Army intelligence officer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. I watched President Trumps seemingly staged humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a sick recollection of how I felt at age 22, standing in a basement office in Heidelberg, Germany my desk drawer perpetually stuck half-open, like Americas understanding of its own power. My worldview, shaped by my experience growing up in a town of less than 1,000 collapsed during my federal service in Germany. As a child, other countries were places on maps or in textbooks. Our problems were real, theirs were theoretical. Our hunger was urgent, theirs was distant. Our needs were American, theirs were foreign. Rwanda transformed my understanding of America in the world, and how geopolitical power works. I was tracking rice shipments through vast logistical and budget systems. A clerk with a tie clip taught me how $400 million of supplies runs through cables while I thought about all the people struggling back home and wondered how to understand this vastness of resources we just give away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt data that changed my understanding it was human testimony. A colonel handed me a Rwandan mothers letter that had moved through seven levels of clearance before reaching my desk. Then soldiers returned from deployment farm boys who shared my background and initial skepticism. I didnt want to go, a specialist from Nebraska told me, his hands still raw from carrying rice sacks. Kept thinking about my grandmas medical bills, schools in my town with no heat. He paused, eyes distant. Then these mothers Ive never seen skin stretched tight like that over bones they handed me their babies. Sixteen hours theyd waited. When we unloaded those pallets, whole villages appeared from nowhere. A staff sergeant, with a Mississippi drawl, described the sound that haunts him: America, he whispered, America, America. The only English word they knew, chanted by mothers holding starving babies as our helicopters appeared over mountains. Not because were heroes, he told me. Because we showed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The staff sergeants eyes found mine across the forms he was signing. I thought I knew what it meant, being American, he said, voice cracking like spring ice. Thought it was about my town, my family, my rights. But maam, when they say America, theyre not talking about a place. Theyre talking about whether their children will see morning. They talk like were the only ones who matter and the only ones who care. This is Americas invisible hand holding up worlds. Feel good stories are only the front half of the equation. This is geopolitical gravity with economic mass that affects every Americans paycheck, including those who believe global leadership is someone elses burden to carry. The emotional reality anchors a strategic truth: American global leadership directly impacts American prosperity in measurable ways: In regions where China has expanded its influence through the Belt and Road Initiative, U.S. exports have significantly declined, leading to substantial job losses in American industries. After America reduced its leadership role in certain international organizations (2017-2021), we lost decision-making influence over $428 billion in international development contracts. American companies were disqualified from 42 percent of those opportunities. Areas where America maintains strong diplomatic, economic and humanitarian leadership saw faster growth in American business opportunities over the past decade compared to regions where our influence has waned. Every $1 billion in U.S. exports supports approximately 6,000 American jobs. Our global leadership enabled $3.2 trillion in exports last year thats 18.6 million jobs dependent on American global influence. The security umbrella we provide through NATO and other alliances saves us in additional defense spending we would need without these partnerships. Global leadership is not charity it is a strategic investment with measurable returns. When we abandon leadership positions, we dont save money; we lose economic opportunities, security advantages and influence over systems that govern global trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This reality makes President Trumps treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky particularly concerning. When Zelensky departed the White House looking stricken after being criticized for his casual attire and insufficient gratitude, the damage wasnt merely symbolic. Within 48 hours, Zelensky was meeting with European leaders to discuss how to continue, to win, potentially making the U.S. obsolete, or at least diminished in this global conflict. European allies privately expressed concerns about committing to joint ventures with an America that treats partners as supplicants. Whats at stake is a core principle of post-World War II American strategy: America leads or is replaced. Leadership isnt eternal or guaranteed. It requires consistent investment of resources, respect and strategic engagement. In global affairs, there is no America First that doesnt eventually become America Alone and consequently, America Diminished. The infrastructure of American prosperity depends on global leadership that cant be maintained through demands for gratitude or public humiliation of allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you dont think America can afford soft power efforts or that it should concern itself with global leadership, consider that we dont do it just to be charitable. Its because the alternative costs far more in dollars, in jobs and in the American way of life we all want to protect. Cheryl Kelley is a former senior government official with experience across five U.S. Cabinet agencies, including serving as director of planning, management, and budget. She is an adjunct fellow at the Pell Center at Salve Regina University and the author of An Informed Citizenry: How the Modern Federal Government Operates and the novel Radical, An American Love Story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Trump administration wasted little time in shaking up the long-accepted practices of the White House press corps. President Trump barred one of the worlds largest news organizations, the Associated Press, from access to White House functions and Air Force One. It seems there are some nits to pick regarding what the body of water west of Florida should be called. Then the administrations press office wrested control of the traditional press pool from the White House Correspondents Association. The press desks also got rearranged at the Pentagon, with high-profile outlets such as the Washington Post and CNN losing their workspaces in favor of more Trump-friendly outlets such as Newsmax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Predictably, the journalism industry went into a frenzy over the changes, jumping on their free press high horses to claim the White House is diminishing the First Amendment. The AP has sued Trump administration officials, including press secretary Karoline Leavitt and chief of staff Susie Wiles, seeking to have its access restored. WHCA President Eugene Daniels issued a blistering public statement, which said, This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States. Another statement of protest came jointly from the editors of Reuters, the AP and Bloomberg News, saying the White House move harms the spread of reliable information. Journalism rights organization Reporters Without Borders also weighed in, stating, No politician should get to decide which journalists get to cover them but President Trump keeps opening new fronts in his war on the press. The news industry is quite right that Trump is treating the press with hostility, even if the antagonism was to be expected, given Trumps long-running battle with journalists. And the AP has a solid point that it should be allowed to refer to the Gulf of Whatever as it sees fit. The issue here is not whether Trump is justified in his anti-press machinations, but rather what the press can do about it. Guidance on the government-press relationship can be found in a seminal address delivered by former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in 1974 to Yale Law School. Stewarts address came in the aftermath of the Nixon administration, which certainly had its own running battle with the media. Press rights were very much a matter of debate at that time, with the Supreme Court having recently made several key First Amendment decisions on topics including libel, confidential news sources, and the publication of stolen government documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stewart bluntly stated that the journalism industry should expect no help from the government in carrying out its free press duties. The press is free to do battle against secrecy and deception in government, he said. But the press cannot expect from the Constitution any guarantee that it will succeed. Stewart staunchly defended the importance of a free press, even as he scolded some newspapers and television news outlets for at times being outrageously abusive, untruthful, arrogant, and hypocritical. He wrapped up his analysis by stating there is no constitutional right for the press to access the government bureaucracy, concluding, The Constitution, in other words, establishes the contest, not its resolution. It would behoove the media industry to reflect on Stewarts perspectives before it goes too far down the path of self-righteous entitlement. Claiming any media outlet has a right to be in the press pool or on Air Force One, or to have a desk in the Pentagon, would likely have been a non-starter for the high court of his day. Such claims of access rights might well fall on deaf ears at todays Supreme Court, too. All sitting justices, particularly Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, have probably been rereading the Stewart speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the Trump administrations heavy-handed treatment of press-White House protocols and traditions, the president has actually made it rather easy to cover him. Trump is quite the open book. The press and the public can know minute-to-minute what is on his mind, thanks to his posting constantly on social media and answering questions from the press on an almost daily basis. Trump even allowed the press, with its television cameras, to witness an intense diplomatic debate with the president of Ukraine. As the news industry engages this contest for press freedom, it should keep in mind that public sentiment is not necessarily on its side. Americans trust in the news media continues its steady decline, as evidenced in Gallups most recent polling that showed only 31 percent trust the media a great deal or a fair amount. Perhaps even more shocking, a new YouGov survey shows more Americans trust the Trump administration than the media to state the facts fully, accurately, and fairly. Shoring up press credibility would be the best way for the media to make points in the contest described by Justice Stewart. Whining about press access in front of an unsympathetic citizenry comes off as small ball in a contest that is too important for the press to lose. Jeffrey M. McCall is a media critic and professor of communication at DePauw University. He has worked as a radio news director, a newspaper reporter and as a political media consultant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The brutal verbal ambush by United States leaders of Ukraines beleaguered President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to resonate in the worlds capitals, especially in Europe as well as in North America. The demeaning insults directed at him by President Donald Trump and especially Vice President JD Vance are probably unprecedented for any media-reported meeting held in the Oval Office of the White House. Obviously, Zelenskyy erred by losing his temper and responding in kind. A more skilled diplomat would have kept a poker face and directed a calm response to Trump. But cut some slack for the Ukraine leader. He has been directing the defense of his country in heavy combat with invading Russia forces for three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, a wider perspective provides some hope for Ukraine and eventual peace accord. Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer provided bookends to the political disaster. Starmer met with Trump in the Oval Office the day before Zelenskyy, and with the Ukraine leader in London the day after. London also just hosted an emergency summit of European leaders. Britain enjoys a firmly established special relationship with the United States, and a long history of favorably influencing developments in Europe. This special relationship was initially formalized and announced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the darkest days of World War II. The leaders met off the Coast of Newfoundland in August 1941. Churchill returned to meet with Roosevelt in the White House and address a joint session of Congress in December of that year, shortly after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first of these historic meetings resulted in the Atlantic Charter, defining broad positive human goals of freedom and basic economic security. The follow-up session resulted in commitment to the concept of the United Nations. This close partnership between Britain and the U.S. has endured down to the present despite sometimes severe strains. The evolution of the Anglo-American Special Relationship underscores important events of that global total war, and the Cold War and post-Cold War era which have followed. During the mid-1960s, the Johnson administration pressed extremely hard for at least token direct military participation in the Vietnam War. Australia and New Zealand, both members of the British Commonwealth, did provide forces. In the case of Australia, there was considerably more than a token commitment. Britain remained out of that war, for understandable reasons. In hindsight, this lack of support by a close ally was an early indication of the questionable nature of the American military escalation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the other direction, the most serious Anglo-American and wider Atlantic alliance crisis was over the Suez Canal in 1956. Britain, France and Israel launched a coordinated surprise military attack to retake the waterway and associated territory from Egypts nationalist government. President Dwight Eisenhower was completely opposed as well as offended by lack of consultation. His administration forced an abrupt halt to the operation. No crisis since has so seriously threatened the alliance. Economics strengthens alliance cooperation. Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers deregulation of the economy in the 1980s pays powerful dividends today. For example, Canary Wharf, formerly grim docks and housing in eastern London, has been transformed into a mammoth global commercial center. Trump and Vance may garner some momentary satisfaction, along with Trumps core voters, by insulting Zelenskyy. But more important, Britains government is working with others to implement a realistic, workable Ukraine peace agreement. Starmer refers to A Coalition of the Willing. Such leadership is essential as the U.S. withdraws. The European Union needs to update its web page on human rights. The fundamental right to freeload off American defense seems to be missing. The EU acts like it is entitled to unencumbered American protection, given the responses to President Trump. I guess thats what happens when the continent that invented the welfare state gets cut off from American welfare. Too bad all the brave talk about separating fully from the U.S. is just that a lot of talk. The basic fact of the matter is that Europe has no good alternative to making every attempt to salvage some partnership with America and Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To start, the Europeans need a history lesson. Since 1917, Europe has been bailed out eight times by the U.S., in situations where the continent could have devolved into authoritarianism, chaos, depression and mass mortality. There have been two world wars, massive famine relief in the wake of World War I, the Marchall Plan after the Second World War, the Cold War, the Yugoslav civil war, the 2010-11 Euro crisis and the current war in Ukraine. And the bill for the U.S. taxpayer has been pretty high. The Marshall Plan alone cost $135 billion (in 2018 dollars). Two world wars add over $4 trillion to the bill (2008 dollars). Post-World War I famine relief was a relatively cheap $4 billion. It is absolutely true that the U.S. benefited from these interventions, but Europe benefited far more. Consider the 1919-1921 Hoover famine relief program. Herbert Hoover and the U.S. government used its food aid program to buy excess American grain, with the political objective of limiting the expansion of communism by feeding those in need in Russia. For many in Europe (particularly on the left), ulterior motives cancel out any credit due to America. However, I would suggest a starving child is probably grateful to be fed even if a farmer in Iowa gets a check out of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is difficult to come up with a major security or economic crisis in the past 100 years Europe has successfully handled on its own. Europe could not go three years past the end of the Cold War for it to need American military force and diplomatic mediation to stop the genocidal Yugoslav civil war, for example. Even the more recent portents are not good for Europe defending itself militarily and economically. EU members are still buying Russian oil and gas. In fact, EU nations have purchased $220 billion in Russian hydrocarbons since the start of the war in Ukraine. And despite sanctions, Russian weapons are packed with European parts and technology (and American, to be fair). Worst of all, the EU is sitting on over $200 billion in frozen Russian assets. Only now, after more than three years of war and the prospect of the loss of American protection, are Europeans considering tapping into frozen Russian assets and they still are not planning on liquidating them. What the Europeans cant (or wont) figure out is that weakness encourages aggression when it comes to Russia. The failure to cash in Russian assets is a signal Europe is still not serious. The EU should have learned this lesson when Russia invaded Ukraine. Much of Europe, but mostly Germany, had become dependent on Russian gas. What the Germans saw as a linking of two economies for mutual benefit and the promotion of peace, the Russians clearly saw as energy dependency that would give them free rein for aggression against their neighbors. The Russians certainly miscalculated, but Europe is paying the price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So where does Europe go now that Trump wont pay any more bills? Its hard to see. There has been defiant talk about partnering with China. Good luck with that. Economically, China and Europe dont match up. The EU has a 158 billion Euro trade surplus with the U.S. and 176.9 billion surplus overall. Meanwhile, Chinas trade surplus for 2024 approached $1 trillion, including over 300 billion Euros with the EU and that deficit has been on an upward trajectory for over 10 years. Countries with export-dependent economic models make very bad partners somebody has to absorb the deficit. There could be a match between a natural resource producer and a manufacturer, but thats not the case here, with both China and Europe relatively resource-poor and focused on manufacturing. Worse, China has massive manufacturing overcapacity, and its dumping of products has spurred nations in Asia and Latin America to impose selective tariffs. Trumps general tariffs add to the pain. China also wants to move up the value chain, which means displacing any European companies sitting at the top. Who knows, maybe the EU will agree to buy sophisticated goods from China and Europe will make the cheap stuff they sell on Temu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe could go back to its pre-Ukraine war model of cheap Russian energy propping up its own manufacturing and consumers. Of course, that means ceding Russia a free hand in Ukraine and any other parts of the old Russian Empire Putin wants to grab. That kind of makes the last three years pointless. To top it all off, Europe and the EU are stuck with a bad currency, an unwieldy bureaucracy and a decision-making process that is simply impossible in a crisis where difficult decisions must be made. The requirement for supermajorities on many votes and a de facto veto for the Big Four (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) slows and de-rails the process. Spain, run by socialists and far from Russia, has very different concerns than Poland, the Baltic states and other frontline countries. France and Italy have massive debts, with France barely having a functioning government. In the midst of a panic attack over J.D. Vances speech in Munich, the so-called emergency summit called by Emmanuel Macron resulted in no agreement. Europe is an aging continent too dependent on legacy manufacturing. It has been coasting along under the umbrella of American military protection, while ignoring American security concerns with respect to China and Iran. Their leaders and the voters have shown zero willingness to sacrifice and restructure their economies and security arrangements and there is no one ready to bail them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The blunt truth is that their best option is to knuckle under to whatever Trump wants. Europe put itself in this position: It deserves no sympathy. Keith Naughton is co-founder of Silent Majority Strategies, a public and regulatory affairs consulting firm, and a former Pennsylvania political campaign consultant. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The health of America is in jeopardy. Doctors do not have access to the full safety and effectiveness data for the treatments we rely upon. Pharmaceutical companies control and hide information from their clinical trials, preventing health care professionals from making the most informed decisions to best treat patients. The newly confirmed secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., can take immediate action as part of his prioritization of radical transparency to aid his mission to Make America Healthy Again. In order to get a drug on the market, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has to determine that it is safe and effective for at least one specific use and patient population. Pharmaceutical companies sponsor and fund clinical trials to test their products, and the FDA analyzes the results when making an approval decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the pharmaceutical companies own the data from their trials, meaning that those outside the FDA cannot see the full results. Medical journals the gold standard of medical knowledge for doctors publish articles describing the results of drug trials. Yet the manuscripts that the peer reviewers scrutinize only include limited, selected summary pieces of information rather than the full data. Thus, clinical trial results published in peer-reviewed medical journals are not truly vetted. This lack of transparency grants drugmakers incredible power over the decisions of doctors, patients and even governments through controlling the information they see. From 1999 to 2014, pharmaceutical company Roche raked in $18 billion globally from Tamiflu, a drug to prevent and treat influenza, even though it offered minimal benefits and caused harmful reactions like vomiting. Roche achieved success based on hiding the results from their sponsored trials and promotion from the American Medical Associations journal JAMA Internal Medicine. After years of Cochrane Collaboration investigators hounding Roche, they got access to their trial data, and they were able to expose the scam in 2014. In the early 2000s, an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 Americans died from the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx, after pharmaceutical company Merck hid serious cardiovascular adverse events such as heart attacks and strokes. Different published articles in the New England Journal of Medicine did not disclose or downplayed Vioxxs risks. Merck had reported even more serious cardiovascular risks to the FDA. Fortunately, independent investigators like Drs. Jennifer Hrachovec and John Abramson were able to find the discrepancies in publicly available FDA review documents; however, the case reveals the dangerous consequences of poor transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get access to full trial data, people mainly file Freedom of Information Act requests to the FDA. These requests are inherently reactive, where investigators must petition and wait long periods of time and spend lots of money. For example, the FDA attempted to punt the request to release clinical trial information for Pfizers COVID vaccine by determining it would take 75 years to release the data. Ultimately, a judge forced the agency to begin releasing data in 2022. That result was better than many FOIA requests; the FDA has historically sided with industry to keep clinical trial data locked away. FOIA Exemption 4 allows agencies to protect commercially confidential information and trade secrets. The FDA has consistently accepted industry objections to requests to release clinical trial information under Exemption 4 when it is under no legal obligation to do so. The Supreme Court has ruled that FOIA exemptions are optional and do not prevent disclosure. While Kennedy could direct the FDA to increase transparency by simply releasing more trial data requested under FOIA, he can go much further. He has the full authority to prospectively release clinical trial data (de-identified to protect trial participant privacy) for medical products upon FDA approval, and to retroactively release clinical trial data from previously approved products. The Supreme Court has upheld that under the Federal Housekeeping Statute, federal agencies can disclose their records, papers, and property as long as they are not violating other laws that explicitly bar certain disclosures like the Trade Secrets Act. Clinical trial data providing full results demonstrates safety and efficacy and decidedly does not constitute trade secrets. In fact, Congress instructed the Department of Health and Human Services to increase drug data transparency in the 2007 Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his confirmation hearing, Kennedy discussed his desire to bring the public health agencies under his purview to the gold standard, partly through ensuring that all the science is published with the raw data. Ensuring medical decisions are informed by correct information is critical: The United States alone accounts for 60 to 80 percent of global spending on drugs. Americans are increasingly taking more medications, and the country suffers from far worse health outcomes compared to peer nations. Through releasing clinical trial data upon approval, Kennedy can provide doctors and healthcare professionals with the information they need to truly determine if a drug is safe, effective and reasonably priced compared to alternative treatments. Research shows that pharmaceutical companies do not spend the most on advertising drugs that actually provide the most medical benefit, and drugmakers have a history of paying billions in fines for fraudulent behavior. As head of HHS, Kennedy can use his existing power to bolster transparency, protect patients and help Make America Healthy Again. Brandon Novick is the domestic program outreach assistant at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, where he conducts health policy research and educates federal policymakers on issues like Medicare, private equity in healthcare, and industry control of medical research. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Remember when Republicans opposed political correctness, because it inhibited free speech? Political correctness is just absolutely killing us as a country, Donald Trump said on the campaign trail in 2015, during his first run for the White House. You cant say anything. Anything you say today, theyll find a reason why its not good. But in his second term, President Trump and his minions are establishing their own form of political correctness. They have found reasons why some speech isnt good, and they are absolutely trying to kill it. In short, the GOP has gone full-on PC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witness Trumps executive orders requiring federal agencies to remove terms like diversity, gender, and inclusion from their documents. Or his decision to bar Associated Press reporters from the Oval Office and Air Force One, because their employer refuses to use the new name that Trump assigned to the Gulf of Mexico. Were going to keep them out until such time as they agree that its the Gulf of America, Trump declared. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt went even further, claiming that Trump was simply holding the AP accountable for its lies about geography. It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America, Leavitt said. No, it isnt. It is a fact that the president of the United States is using that term. It is also a fact that he is using his power to try to enforce his preferred language on everybody else. And you cant get more PC than that. The term politically correct was coined by Communist regimes that required people to say certain words and avoid others. In the Soviet Union, under Lenin and Stalin, being politically correct meant following the party line. In Mao Zedongs Little Red Book the term denotes adherence to his doctrines on class struggle, the bourgeois West and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The term was adopted ironically in the 1960s by American student radicals, who invoked it to tease people who were too ideologically rigid. It was always used in a tone mocking the pieties of our own insular political counterculture, one veteran of the left recalled. As in, We could stop at McDonalds down the road if youre hungry but it wouldnt be politically correct.' But starting in the late 1980s, PC got dead serious. On college campuses, especially, a new glossary of euphemisms arose to govern speech. Crippled people became handicapped, and then differently abled; Hispanics became Latinos, and then Latinx; homosexuals were gay, then LGBTQ, and finally LGBTQIA. (In case youre wondering, the I and A stand for intersex and asexual.) If it was only about the words, it wouldnt matter. But the new terms also signaled a liberal political orthodoxy, which sometimes constrained free expression and debate. Thats what President George H. W. Bush said in 1991, on the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. Political correctness arises from the laudable desire to sweep away the debris of racism and sexism and hatred, Bush acknowledged, in a graduation address at the University of Michigan. But PC replaces old prejudice with new ones, he added, and declares certain topics off-limits, certain expression off-limits, even certain gestures off-limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abortion rights? In. Gun rights? Out. Affirmative action is good. Police are bad. And woe to dissenters from these views, who risk social censure that is, cancellation for saying what they think. The safest move is to keep quiet and move on. Studies have confirmed that large swaths of students and faculty bite their tongues for fear of violating PC norms. The same thing happens in the broader culture, breeding anger and resentment. In a 2018 survey of over 8,000 Americans by the non-partisan group More in Common, 80 percent of respondents agreed that political correctness is a problem in our country. And if you think its just white people who say that, think again. According to the More in Common study, Asians, Hispanics and Native Americans were more likely to express disdain for PC than whites were. Thats precisely the sentiment harnessed by Trump, who drew increased numbers of minority voters in his victorious 2024 campaign. Now thats hes back in the White House, however, Trump is making new rules about what can and cant be said, particularly around race and gender. And his rules are vastly more dangerous, because they have the power of the presidency and the law behind them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is Trump being hypocritical, by railing against political correctness and then requiring it? Sure. But so are you, dear reader, if you demand strict adherence to left-wing PC and then denounce Trump for enforcing the right-wing version. To resist Trump, we need to rededicate ourselves to free speech for everyone. Thats the only correct way to fight political correctness. Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania and serves on the advisory board of the Albert Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. It may seem that President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk are solely responsible for dismantling the federal bureaucracy while Congress sits idly by cheering (or jeering) them on. The dynamic duo is often credited for wielding such metaphorical demolition devices as chain saws, sledgehammers, wrecking-balls and wood-chippers. For instance, when President Trump, took office Jan. 20, he signed one executive order repealing 78 regulations promulgated during the Biden presidency, and another order requiring agencies to repeal 10 regulations for every new one they propose. But Congress has a more targeted process available less divisive and less subject to court challenges. It is called the Congressional Review Act of 1996. It was the brainchild of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and pert of his Contract with America in the 104th Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps ironically, Democratic President Bill Clinton signed the measure into law, even though his regulations would most immediately be on the chopping block. He dodged that bullet the act was never used successfully against any Clinton regulations. Under the Congressional Review Act, any proposed federal regulation must be published in the Federal Register at least 60 legislative days in advance. If, during that review period, both houses pass disapproval resolutions and the president signs them into law (or his veto is overridden), the regulations are blocked and the administration may not propose a similar regulation. Prior to 2017, the law had only been used successfully once, when Congress blocked a regulation being proposed by President George W. Bush in 2001. When President Donald Trump took office in 2017, the Republican-controlled 115th Congress passed a flurry of 14 disapproval resolutions of proposed regulations left pending from the Obama administration. A 15th resolution passed the House but failed to pass the Senate. Data compiled by Sarah Hay with the Regulatory Studies Center at George Washington University, covering the 115th Congress (2017-2018) through the 118th Congress (2023-2024), shows that 368 disapproval resolutions were introduced over that eight-year period, but only 31 passed Congress and only 19 became law. The remaining 12 were vetoed by the president and not overridden. In the most recent 118th Congress (2023-24), 11 disapproval resolutions cleared both houses of Congress, but all were vetoed by Biden. The success rate corresponds to periods when both houses of Congress and the president belong to the same party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the beginning of the current 119th Congress, the new Republican-controlled House, anticipating a spate of proposed last-minute Biden administration regulations, passed a measure titled, The Midnight Rules Relief Act. The bill provided that either house could bundle multiple proposed regulations into a single disapproval resolution to expedite their consideration and floor votes. While the House passed the measure, 212-208 on Feb. 12, it has been reposing in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ever since. In the meantime, the House passed two disapproval resolutions of Biden administration regulations last week, dealing with water heater standards and waste emission charges. Three other disapproval resolutions are scheduled for House consideration this week. They cover proposed Biden administration regulations on marine archaeological resources, rubber tire manufacturing emissions and appliance standards. While the president is taking victory laps for the regulations he supposedly deep-sixed on his first day of office, as well as his other dramatic orders, the background noise of various court challenges to those and other matters persists. The president surely recognizes that, to the extent that some of his initiatives will be tossed-out by the courts either on constitutional or statutory grounds, the day will come when he must turn to Congress for essential backup for achieving his 100-day policy agenda. The Congressional Review Act is a limited tool for curbing excessive regulations. However, a Government Accountability Office opinion in 2017, backed by the Senate parliamentarian, concludes that even decades-old-regulations that were never published in the Federal Register also qualify for CRA treatment as proposed regulations subject to disapproval resolutions. Moreover, Congress can always enact bills that repeal longstanding regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As previous presidents have lost much of their popular support, and that of Congress, in the second half of their four-year terms, they tend to turn to executive orders to circumvent the Hill. Trump has turned that operating model on its head by gambling on the riskier, faster approach up-front. If that back-end-first approach meets with only partial success, he is hoping to retain sufficient sway with his party in Congress to enact most of what remains. Its called leading from behind. Don Wolfensberger is a 28-year congressional staff veteran, culminating as chief-of-staff of the House Rules Committee in 1995. He is author of Congress and the People: Deliberative Democracy on Trial (2000), and, Changing Cultures in Congress: From Fair Play to Power Plays (2018). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Last year at this time, our Republican legislatures leaders proclaimed their belief that small government and free markets promote individual freedom. Senate President Stuart Adams recently affirmed the partys allegiance to Ronald Reagons philosophy that Government is not the solution to our [economic] problem; government is the problem." How quickly they forget. It is astonishing how far Utahs Republican supermajority has strayed from its spiritual roots. Conservatively, its various development authorities have already used nearly $5 billion in government subsidies to steer over $15 billion in capital investment away from free-market outcomes. This reduces efficiency, misallocates resources and increases prices. In the current legislature session, the supermajority proposes a radical escalation of its campaign to remake our states commercial real estate and energy markets. If it succeeds, those markets will be shaped more by legislative fiat than by the invisible hand of competition. When our Republican supermajority and governor pursue non-market outcomes, they work through various development authorities. These authorities create zones called Project Areas within which developers receive tax subsidies. Within Project Areas, subzones are created called Public Infrastructure Districts. PIDs issue bonds and obtain government loans, both at below-market-rates because they are backed by local tax revenue. Utah has over 138 PIDs and counting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, authority decisions to distribute these financial gifts to specific developers and specific projects are not made objectively by the invisible hand of free markets, where all the needed information is open and public. Their decisions are unavoidably political. Legislators (or their proxies) sit on authority boards to influence where development zones will be established, which private developers and which projects will benefit from tax subsidies, and which will obtain below-market-rate loans. Typically, these decisions are being made by non-experts behind closed doors, heavily influenced by developers whose private interests are at stake. What could possibly go wrong with such a process? The governor and legislative leaders now propose creating yet another authority to intervene in Utahs energy markets. HB249 would create a Utah Energy Council dominated by the Legislatures appointees. The council would formulate state energy policy, create electric energy investment zones, and oversee an Electric Energy Development Investment Fund. Through this fund, legislators would influence which transmission lines, energy storage facilities and related infrastructure get subsidies. HB249 has other important anti-market features. It would establish a consortium overseen by the Office of Economic Development to promote nuclear power over renewables, despite the high costs, technological uncertainty and decades-long lead times that plague nuclear projects. This statutory bias against renewables would reinforce another one adopted in 2024 which arbitrarily pressures Rocky Mountain power to choose coal over renewables. Compare this government-dominated approach with competitive markets for grid-scale power generation. There, 90% of buyers choose renewables paired with battery storage because this combination provides more reliable base load power than aging coal plants, has much shorter lead times than nuclear, costs less than either and protects our health and our climate. Monday of the last week of the session, our legislative leaders filed substitute SB337. It comes close to abandoning free markets altogether. It proposes to create what amounts to an authority of authorities. This bill would establish an Economic Opportunity Coordinating Council that would function as an unconstitutional standing legislature with broad powers to choose which growth path that Utahs economy will take, what economic sectors Utahs taxes will subsidize, what technology a given sector should adopt, what firms will be chosen to build out that technology and where those buildouts will be located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To implement the Councils policy, its Chief Executive Officer could decide which of Utahs geographic zones will be spared and which will be covered with asphalt and concrete using just a map and a magic marker. He could then order the proposed new Beehive Development Authority to reach into its bag of tax subsidies and make it happen. SB337 is a 147-page bill that alters over 100 provisions of current law that took months to draft. It is inappropriate to spring a bill granting such sweeping powers to new government agencies in the last week of the legislative session, rushing it through under suspended rules. SB337 is not ready for decision. It should be withdrawn and resubmitted in the next legislative session, early enough to receive the close scrutiny it deserves. Our Republican state leaders insist on expanding state control over our economy despite their professed small government beliefs. They seem happy to abandon the bedrock conservative principle that an invisible hand guides free markets to an optimal result. The development authorities they have created are becoming arbitrary and secretive shadow governments. Their reliance on subsidies leads to an oversupply in the areas subsidized, reduced efficiency, higher costs and a more polluted environment. Ask your legislator to listen again to Ronald Reagan, reread Adam Smith and oppose both HB249 and SB337. During President Trumps speech to Congress on March 5, he offered no olive branch to Democrats, nor to the people who did not vote for him last November. Instead, he made clear his intention to use what he described as a mandate to usher in a golden age for America. Along the way, the president showcased things he has done in his first weeks in office which, so far, have little appeal to the American public. He is betting the House that he can ignore the polls and do what he wants. Whether that will be an effective governing strategy remains to be seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For as long as people have been writing about politics, they have been trying to figure out the most effective strategies for governing. In democracies, that would seem to be easy: do what wins elections. But on closer examination, even that is not as simple as it appears. Public opinion is not fixed; what is popular in one moment may be rejected in the next. Moreover, keeping a finger in the wind to see how it blows can make a party look weak or indecisive. Or the party in power may decide it is worth accomplishing something, even if it comes at a political cost. It may be hopeful or confident that it can recover in time for the next election. Whatever the policy, polls show that many Americans crave strong leadership that can bring radical change. That desire is registered in surveys showing that 55 percent of the respondents say the current political and economic system needs major changes, with another 14 percent saying it should be torn down completely. A president who is weak cannot accomplish that because, as political commentator Bill Schneider writes, weakness invites defiance, even from members of his own political party. Other politicians need to understand that they cannot defy the president with impunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strong leaders also are in vogue because of the deep fissures that mark contemporary American politics. Many Americans view those in the other party as existential threats to the country, political scientist Tarah Williams and her colleagues write. Many citizens prefer leaders who are willing to undermine democracy if it means protecting people like themselves from groups that threaten their values or status. Republicans seem to have learned the lesson Machiavelli taught hundreds of years ago: All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (its impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Or, as Bill Clinton put it in 2002, When people feel uncertain, theyd rather have someone strong and wrong than weak and right. Beyond offering strong leadership, lets look at a few things the Trump administration is doing or planning to do and the way the American public views them now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, the president has given the billionaire Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency extraordinary authority. Musk is using it to cut government programs and fire thousands of people who work for the federal government. Even though he is deeply unpopular over half of the public has an unfavorable view of him personally Musk has been given a starring role in an Oval Office press conference, at the Trump Cabinets first meeting, and in Trumps speech to Congress Tuesday night. The extent of the publics distaste for Musk is revealed in a Reuters-Ipsos poll released on Feb. 20, in which a majority worried his cuts could hurt services their communities depend on, and 71 percent agreed that billionaires have too much influence on the Trump administration. Another 62 percent of respondents did not think that the president has the right to fire any federal employee who disagrees with the president. Musk himself would hardly win a national popularity contest only one-third of Americans approve of what he is doing, though there are stark partisan differences. Regardless, the president and his Republican allies are steadfast in their public expressions of support for Musk and DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A similar damn-the-torpedoes approach has characterized the rollout of the Republican budget blueprint, which promises massive, regressive tax cuts and severe cuts in social programs. Here again, surveys show that voters strongly oppose this. According to Groundwork Collaborative, Americans want to protect or even increase funding for many of the programs that Republicans are putting on the chopping block. In addition, most believe that the wealthy do not pay enough in taxes. Nonetheless, on Feb. 25, Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) pushed through their deeply unpopular budget plan. By running against that plan, Democrats hope to replicate in 2026 what happened in 2018, when House Republicans lost 42 House seats and their majority. Finally, there is the partys about-face on Ukraine and Russia, which was on public display on Feb. 28 in Trumps Oval Office flare-up with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Republican members of Congress quickly lined up behind Trump, in the face of clear evidence that the public is not on their side. Even most Republicans disagree with Trump on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, Trump and his party have not flinched from pursuing unpopular policies. That is partly because, as prominent libertarian Jerry Taylor observes, they know they can craft compelling, easy to understand political messages, and that public opinion and the political landscape can be moved by powerful rhetoric and political leadership. Trump and the Republican Party seem untroubled by polls, living by the maxim that political power is a terrible thing to waste use it while you can. Austin Sarat is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The stakes are too high for the U.S., Ukraine, Europe and world peace for President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to repair their relationship. American support for the Ukrainians defending their country must resume. There will be no just and lasting peace if Trump and Zelensky dont quickly reconcile their differences. Handing a political and military advantage on a platter to Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin could quickly lead to a new genocide of Ukrainians by Russian soldiers and foreign mercenaries. If that happens, the majority of Americans would view the resulting triumph by Russia and the complete collapse of Ukraines independence as a premeditated betrayal of American values. It could become Trumps Afghanistan, with the political effect many times worse for him than the fall of Kabul to the Taliban was for former President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolshevik Russia committed a genocide in Ukraine in the 1930s, ordered by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Millions of Ukrainians starved to death. Putin is now accused of horrific war crimes committed by his troops in Ukraine. If Putin gets his way and Ukraine becomes a historic debacle, Trump, the Republican Party and the U.S. will pay the same horrific price as all Americans paid after the sellout of Eastern Europe to Stalin by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II became known. The appeasement of the murderous Soviet dictator led to the enslavement of millions of people by Communist regimes. Stalins promise to FDR of post-war peace was a cruel joke. No one got a Nobel Peace Prize. Every country dominated by Soviet Russia conducted a murderous purge of political opponents. In Europe, most victims of Communist repressions were innocent Christians. As the Cold War progressed, American voters of Eastern European heritage largely abandoned the Democratic Party. I understand why Trump wants to end the war in Ukraine. He wants the war to end fast because young people are dying on both sides, and he wants to focus on rebuilding Americas economic, political and military power. The wars end on the correct terms and with greater military expenditures by European Union members would be in the interests of America and Ukraine. Unfortunately, as last weeks meeting at the White House showed, the peace effort has moved in a wrong and dangerous direction. Personal emotions and American domestic partisan considerations took center stage to the detriment of the national interests of both countries. I blame it on bad advice from Trumps and Zelenskys closest aides. I also blame it on the Kremlins successful disinformation warfare that targeted far-right Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have worked for 50 years to counter Soviet and now Russian propaganda as a journalist, interviewing Lech Walesa, future Pope John Paul II and George H.W. Bush. I worked during the Reagan administration as part of the Voice of America team that helped to win the Cold War, and I closely follow events in Ukraine. Putins propaganda lies, now being repeated by Tucker Carlson and other right-wing partisans, are almost identical to Stalins lies. They are beyond contemptible, yet many Americans are deceived and repeat them on social media. Something is terribly wrong when the New York Post has to remind its readers that Putin, not Zelensky, is the dictator. Trump and Vice President JD Vance must move fast to defuse the quarrel with Zelensky to avoid historys harsh judgment. Zelensky must likewise immediately try to resume a dialogue with Trump, knowing that NATO membership is not a realistic goal now. Even though Zelensky is leading a courageous fight for his countrys survival, if Ukraine falls to Putin, he will also be blamed for not being more diplomatic at the White House meeting, not using an interpreter and allowing himself to become too closely aligned with the Biden administration to the ire of Trump and the Republicans. However, most of the blame will be attached to Trump and Vance when it becomes apparent, and it will, that Putin cannot be trusted, and the U.S. withdrawal of support for Ukraine ends in disaster because, sooner or later, Russia will resume aggression and genocide unless it knows that its aggression would be repulsed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mistaken idea that Russia could become a strategic counterweight in Americas competition with China is another example of successful Russian influence operations. Putins regime cannot survive without Chinas support. Europe has problems, but they are no greater than Americas problems. Our American values are far closer to European values than to those of Russia. Europe and the U.S. will always be the closest allies. Putin will never antagonize China to help the U.S. because Russia would never win a political or military conflict with China and cannot risk it. Those who think they can trust Russia or Putin are repeating the mistakes made by FDR, President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. Former Polish President Lech Walesa and dozens of former Solidarity labor union movement activists who were political prisoners of the Communist regime wrote a letter to Trump this week expressing horror and distaste after watching Zelenskys treatment at the White House. It reminded them how they were treated during interrogations by Communist secret police and judges. Israeli politician Natan Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident, had a similar reaction. Their statements should be a wake-up call to Trumps advisors, who must develop a just peace plan with Zelensky that he and Trump can accept and point to as their success, rather than being judged by the fiasco of last weeks meeting. Ted Lipien was Voice of Americas Polish service chief during Polands struggle for democracy and its acting associate director. He served briefly in 2020 to 2021 as president of Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Shortly after the video of George Floyds death went viral in May 2020, a popular conservative pundit released an online video in which he decried Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for kneeling on Floyd for four straight minutes, even though Floyd, bystanders and even other police officers told Chauvin that Floyd couldnt breathe. This pundit pointed to video of the incident to dismiss the argument that Floyd was resisting arrest. Its really ugly and really bad, he said, adding that Chauvin should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and should go to jail and that everyone should be on the same side of this. Several days later, the same pundit wrote in his syndicated column that Floyds death at the hands of Chauvin and other Minneapolis police officers should inspire Americans to rally against such obvious evil. That pundit was the Daily Wires Ben Shapiro. This week, Shapiro called on Donald Trump to pardon Chauvin on the federal charges he faced for causing Floyds death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As you might have guessed, Ive left out some important context to Shapiros 2020 condemnation of Chauvins brutality. The problem is that the context doesnt help it makes it all a lot worse. Even as he condemned Chauvins brutality, Shapiro also scolded activists, racial justice advocates and protesters for claiming that what Chauvin did was commonplace or racially motivated. He chastised critics who argued that police brutality is systemic. George Floyds killer would be prosecuted, Shapiro promised, and that would prove the system works. Shapiro seemed particularly offended at the very idea that other police officers or conservatives like him would defend Chauvin. Everyone condemned Chauvins actions, he assured us from him to police groups around the country to President Donald Trump. The mere fact that so many people on the right had condemned a white cop for killing a Black man was, he argued, in and of itself proof that systemic racism is a myth. What a difference five years makes. Now Shapiro claims that Chauvins trial was a farce and that his conviction represents the defining achievement of the Woke movement in American politics. The country cannot turn the page on that dark, divisive, and racist era without righting this terrible wrong. Other conservative commentators and politicians have also come to Chauvins defense, but Shapiros plea achieved particular significance after it was amplified by Elon Musk, Trumps unofficial co-president and his largest campaign donor. That conservative pundits like Shapiro now defend Chauvin isnt surprising. It follows a familiar pattern after high-profile incidents of police brutality spark large protests. Those protests are rarely only about the precipitating incident itself. They tend to happen in places with long-established police abuse and racism. And as the 2023 Justice Department report documented, there was plenty of both at the Minneapolis Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campaign to retroactively exonerate Chauvin and reverse the progress made by George Floyd protests began with a video produced and co-written by a former TV host who is married to the former head of the Minneapolis police union. It was then distributed by a far-right advocacy group that poses as a news organization. Among other risible claims, the documentary accuses the FBI of pressuring Minneapolis officials to manufacture evidence to implicate Chauvin. You know the FBI. Always looking for reasons to smear cops. Nevertheless, the documentary slowly gained purchase in online right-wing culture, first with MAGA influencers on social media, then with far-right personalities like Megan Kelly and Tucker Carlson and finally with more mainstream, heterodox and right-of-center podcasts and publications. As with most lies perpetuated by the far right, the truth is there for those who want it. In a long three-part series, I documented in detail how its producers duped gullible pundits and columnists into amplifying claims that were false, misleading or wholly made-up. But as is also the case with far-right mythology, the true believers arent interested in reality. They want validation. So the documentary is now MAGA canon. The video depicting George Floyds murder hasnt changed in five years. Its as harrowing as ever. Bystanders, other police officers and Floyd himself plead with Chauvin. They tell him Floyd isnt breathing. They cry out to Chauvin that Floyd doesnt have a pulse. Chauvin callously ignores them. And George Floyd dies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What has changed is the rights posture toward racism and political violence. The gutter politics of people like Laura Loomer, Marjorie Taylor-Greene and Nick Fuentes is now part of the Republican Partys core. People who were too racist for the first Trump administration have been rehired or promoted in the second. Its now acceptable to tell vicious lies about immigrant groups like the Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, to Venezuelans in Aurora, Colorado. Pizzagate propagator Jack Posobiec now advises Trump Cabinet officials like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and accompanies them on official trips. The sitting vice president wrote the foreword to Posobiecs book a book in which, right in the title, Posobiec declares his political enemies to be unhuman. Donald Trump has always valorized political violence. He has spent the last decade dehumanizing immigrants, defending police brutality, celebrating the violent suppression of dissent and boasting about the bikers, soldiers and cops waiting to spill blood on his behalf should he ever need them (as they already have). The political right has now fully embraced that ethos. When Kyle Rittenhouse lugged his guns into a volatile protest zone and killed two people, those deaths were treated not as tragic but as legally justified. They were celebrated. A year after Daniel Perry was convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pardoned him at the urging of right-wing voices like Tucker Carlson. And when, in one of Trumps first acts after his inauguration, he granted clemency to the Jan. 6 rioters, including those who violently attacked Capitol Police officers, those on the right praised the pardons and commutations. Shapiro himself acknowledges that Trump can pardon Chauvin only on the federal charges of violating Floyds civil rights. The more serious charges came in state court, where Trump has no clemency power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means Shapiros demand has nothing to do with the alleged injustice done to Chauvin. Its purely symbolic: Shapiro wants validation for his argument that Chauvin was wrongly convicted. He wants the president to refute the notion that Shapiro himself advanced in 2020: that Chauvins treatment of George Floyd was really ugly and really bad and obviously evil. When we contrast the two Ben Shapiros, five years apart, the rights grim trajectory over that time comes into focus. The 2020 Ben Shapiro argued that the rights near-universal condemnation of Chauvin was proof that his side takes police brutality seriously, that its support for the prosecution of a white cop for killing an unarmed Black man was proof that it isnt racist and that Chauvins inevitable prosecution was proof of its belief that the criminal justice system is fair and just. The 2025 Ben Shapiro along with much of the right now says that Chauvins killing of Floyd was justified, that his prosecution should never have happened and that his conviction was political and vindictive. However flawed his arguments, the 2020 Ben Shapiro was at least eager to defend the right from claims that it is racist, oblivious to injustice or eager to embrace violence. The 2025 Ben Shapiro seems hell-bent on proving him wrong. CORRECTION (March 26, 2025, 8:10 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the first name of a podcast host. She is Megyn Kelly, not Megan. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com A doctor analyzes cell samples in a clinical fertility laboratory. (Getty Images) A bill in Colorado that would remove some administrative requirements for fertility clinics that help with in vitro fertilization and gamete donation faced pushback on Tuesday from people who were conceived through assisted reproduction. They claimed that the bill would roll back protections Colorado lawmakers passed in 2022. The House Health and Human Services Committee heard witness testimony on House Bill 25-1259 but, at the sponsors request, did not take a vote on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would put protections for IVF into statute, one year after the Alabama Supreme Court decision that briefly halted IVF services in that state. When the Alabama Supreme Court came down with its decision, I reached out to some of the same people that Ive done previous work with to talk about if we needed to do anything in Colorado to protect assisted reproduction and IVF, bill sponsor Rep. Meg Froelich, an Englewood Democrat, said. I was hearing consistently that there were implementation problems with an earlier Senate bill on gamete and donor regulations. Froelich is running the bill with Rep. Kyle Brown, a Louisville Democrat. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She characterized HB-1259 as a slight course correction on the bipartisan 2022 bill by removing some of the enacted requirements that people in the industry say could have a dampening effect on donor participation, and ultimately the success of assisted reproduction, in Colorado. That bill went into effect this year. The goal is to balance donor privacy with the interest of parents and children involved with assisted reproduction to know about genetic and medical history. Betsy Cairo, the founder of CryoGam Colorado, said donor applications numbered about half what they did last year. The new bill would eliminate the requirement that fertility clinics and donor banks request updated contact information and medical history from donors every three years. They would only need to get that information at the time of donation. The bill would also eliminate requirements about record retention and live birth reporting from gamete recipients, allow donor banks to create educational materials for donors instead of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and change a licensure requirement to every five years instead of annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2022 bill ensured that Coloradans conceived through egg or sperm donation would be able to learn the identity of that donor when they turned 18 and specifically allows the person to talk about the donors identity with family, friends and third parties. This years bill would remove that guarantee for family and friend communication and allow clinics to prohibit it. We can honor donors desire for privacy, while also compelling information to be shared, Froelich said. Were not going back to anonymous donations. Were not going back to a place where we dont share critical medical information. She said its an effort to curb harassment or doxxing sharing someones private information online of donors, especially with the rise of genetic testing services and ubiquity of social media. There are instances of Facebook posts saying This guy is my dad. Hes a dirtbag because he wont have a relationship with me, Froelich said. Were trying to swing the pendulum back a little bit to honor some donor privacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But opponents see that provision as a pathway for clinics to require non-disclosure agreements or other communication barriers before telling a person the identity of their biological parent. One day after my children turn 18, if they would like to obtain the identity of the donor that I chose, the sperm bank will make them sign a non-disclosure agreement. Essentially, the bank is saying Well give you this information about where half your DNA comes from, but you cant talk about it, said Laura Runnels, who has two donor-conceived children. Required education materials are supposed to inform donors of the risk, and increasing likelihood, of people conceived through their gamete contacting them when they turn 18. Former state Sen. Steve Fenberg, who sponsored the 2022 bill, characterized the legislation as a hot mess to lawmakers in committee. He said there has not been enough time to know if his bill actually reduced donor participation or clinic operation in the state because it has been in effect for two months and the licensure requirement does not kick in until July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also argued that IVF is already protected in Colorados Reproductive Health Equity Act. I believe (IVF protection) is put into this bill, as some of the witnesses have said, because no Democrat in America today would vote against a bill that is pro IVF. That is political suicide, he said. The only parts of this bill that actually have an impact policy-wise are the rollbacks of the Donor Conceived Protection Act that was put into law in 2022. He said that a reasonable relaxation of regulations should include input from people conceived through gamete donation and IVF. Many donor-conceived people testified in opposition to the bill, including Jamie Spiers with the U.S. Donor Conceived Council. She told lawmakers the bill would gut DCPA before it goes fully into effect, and said there are unclear legal implications for putting IVF protections into the DCPA section of state law. Not all people who utilize IVF use donated gametes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill has not undergone proper vetting by key stakeholders and will have unintended consequences for many groups that have not been able to provide their input or lend their expertise, she said. Froelich told Colorado Newsline that she and Brown plan to offer some amendments, which could include a softening of the third-party communication piece and guidance for donors to report to banks significant medical issues that could be genetic. Since we have rolled this bill out, I have had hours of conversations with folks who are donor-conceived, and I have really appreciated their feedback, Brown said in committee. We have been working diligently on ways that we can improve this bill to strike the right balance. The committee will consider amendments and vote on the bill at a later meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editors note: This story was updated from its original version to include comments from Jamie Spiers, correct that Laura Runnells children were donor-conceived, not through IVF and clarify that not all people who use IVF to conceive a child use donated gametes. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, right, speaks with Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, on the Senate floor at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Citing higher-than-anticipated caseloads in the states Medicaid program and the agency that provides services to seniors and people with disabilities, Oregons budget writers plan to spend nearly $426 million more than they initially budgeted before the end of the fiscal year in June. The new spending is detailed in a set of amendments to five bills Senate Bills 5550, 5049, 5050, 5051 and 10 released Wednesday afternoon. Theyre part of a routine budget rebalance, which the Legislature does before the end of each two-year budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state budgets in two-year cycles, passing a spending plan during the five-month-long legislative session each odd-numbered year and adjusting it as needed during its 35-day sessions in even-numbered years, during special legislative sessions called by the governor or by votes of the emergency board, a group of lawmakers who can approve spending requests when the Legislature isnt in session. In this case, most of the new spending is going toward the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services. The health authority, which administers the Oregon Health Plan or Oregons Medicaid program, will receive nearly $198 million to respond to growing caseloads. Weve planned for a certain amount of money to go out in Medicaid, and if the caseload increases or utilization increases, theyre telling us we need X amount more dollars to get to July 1, Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton and a co-chair of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee, told reporters in a Tuesday briefing. Lawmakers attributed the more than $161 million for the human services department to increased demand for programs from its Aging and People with Disabilities Office, in part due to more people going into long-term care after the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DHS will also receive $10 million to help keep foster children from being kept in temporary lodging like hotel rooms. Lawmakers appropriated that money already, but it hadnt been spent when they needed to use all available funds to pay wildfire bills during a December special session. Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland and the other committee co-chair, said lawmakers are just restoring the money they already allocated. We want to make sure that were doing all we can to prevent kids from going into hotel lodging, Sanchez said. The new spending also includes $6 million for wildfire prevention this spring, $4 million for court interpreters and $50,000 for a management review of the Oregon Department of Transportation that will be completed before lawmakers end the 2025 session. One of their major goals this year is to come up with a permanent funding plan for the transportation department as the gas tax covers less and less of its needs, but lawmakers say they need to hold the department accountable for spending that money efficiently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieber and Sanchez dont yet know when theyll release a framework for the 2025-27 budget, which is in flux because of uncertainty related to federal funds and the impact of federal decisions like imposing tariffs. That budget will rely on the next quarterly economic and revenue forecast, expected in late April. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This story has been updated with new information from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Oregons corporate-owned landfills are using a loophole in state law to avoid methane monitoring on an average of about half of their operating surfaces, a new study concludes. County-owned landfills, meanwhile, are exempting an average of 10% of their surfaces, according to the report released Thursday by the Eugene-based environmental group Beyond Toxics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers set out to determine how well Oregons new landfill methane emission standards, the strictest in the nation, are working. Landfills are among the nations largest sources of methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide and a major contributor to climate change, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Oregons new rules, part of a larger state effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions, went into effect in October 2021. The rules require quarterly monitoring of the landfill, by walking the surface with a handheld gas analyzer. Identified leaks measuring over 500 parts per million must be fixed within 10 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rules allow landfills to use alternative compliance options, including changing walking paths, to exclude monitoring where there are potential safety and other issues, such as steep or slippery slopes and physical obstructions. A new report from environmental group Beyond Toxics found between 53% and 62% of Coffin Butte Landfill went unmonitored each quarter for methane in 2023. Mason Leavitt, data analytics specialist for Beyond Toxics, said companies appear to be abusing that exemption. For example, the 178-acre Coffin Butte Landfill, near Corvallis, exempted 40 acres in the third quarter of 2022 and 30 acres in the fourth quarter of the same year, citing high vegetation, according to the report. The landfill continued to exempt those areas in 2023 without citing a reason. Alternative options must be submitted in writing and receive written approval from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality before they may be implemented, according to state rules. But Leavitt found no evidence that was happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The reports we analyzed did not include information or details on alternative monitoring plans approved by DEQ, so its difficult to evaluate exactly what agreements are made between private owner-operators and DEQ," the Beyond Toxics report states. Half of private landfill surface area is going completely unmonitored for methane leaks, Leavitt told the Statesman Journal. Were blind to whats happening in those sections of the landfill. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality just received the report and is reviewing it, spokesman Dylan Darling said. The findings come as the Oregon Legislature considers a bill to improve landfill methane monitoring and reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 726 would require municipal solid waste landfills to use advanced technology, such as drones, planes or satellites, to measure methane releases. It would require landfill owners to report the results to the DEQ, in GIS software, which would make it easier to visualize. And it would require landfills to fix any areas exceeding limits, and monitor that area again. No methane monitoring data for 3 Oregon landfills Oregons new quarterly surface emissions monitoring rules apply to landfills with more than 200,000 tons of accumulated waste and methane emissions modeled to be greater than 664 tons. Eleven landfills statewide met that criteria, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond Toxics asked DEQ for quarterly emission reports for all 11 landfills for 2023, the first full year of monitoring. In response, the group received the reports for eight of those landfills. Roseburg Landfill, managed by Douglas County, had not complied with the new rules. DEQ has issued a pre-enforcement notice to the landfill, warning that it could be cited and fined, Darling said. The landfill began monitoring in second quarter 2024 and found two exceedances of the methane emission limits, he said. Because of that, DEQ has given the landfill until June to submit a design plan to DEQ and until December 2026 to install and begin operation of a gas collection and control system. At that time, it will be required to resume methane emissions monitoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hillsboro Landfill, owned by Waste Management, has until April to begin modeling under the terms of its air quality permit, according to DEQ. And Baker Landfill, managed by a local private company, argued that it actually was two landfills, with each separately falling under the threshold for monitoring. One of the landfills, which are next to each other, closed in 2002, Darling said. Beyond Toxics found companies exempted as much as 69% of landfill Landfills provide data in their quarterly monitoring reports in print form, rather than using GIS software. Leavitt, working with university students, spent about 300 hours translating it into spatial data, to map the areas monitored at each landfill each quarter. Without that work, its difficult to know which areas of a landfill are unmonitored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats another shortcoming of the current rules, Leavitt said. That arcane system is currently what DEQ would have to rely on to be able to look at all of this in one place, he said. The researchers determined the percentage of each landfill that was unmonitored each quarter. Here are the results: Dry Creek Landfill, in Eagle Point, operated by Waste Connections: 69% each quarter Coffin Butte Landfill, near Adair Village, operated by Republic Services: Between 53% and 62% Wasco County Landfill, in The Dalles, operated by Waste Connections: Between 46% and 62% Finley Buttes Landfill, in Boardman, operated by Waste Connections: Between 27% and 58% Columbia Ridge Landfill, in Arlington, operated by Waste Management: Between 12% and 19% Knott Landfill, in Bend, operated by Deschutes County: Between 12% and 16% Short Mountain Landfill, near Eugene, operated by Lane County: 8% each quarter Crook County Landfill, in Prineville, operated by Crook County: Between 7% and 8% U.S. EPA finds problems with methane monitoring Beyond Toxics conclusions mirror those in a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 100 EPA inspections over the past three years found that many municipal solid waste landfills across the country were not properly monitoring emissions. While the regulations allow municipal solid waste landfills to exclude certain areas from the surface emissions monitoring (e.g., areas with steep slopes or other dangerous areas), the EPA observed during recent inspections that areas that are not dangerous are improperly excluded from monitoring, the EPA report states. If a municipal solid waste landfill excludes areas from the surface emissions monitoring, the facility should document and explain the basis for excluding each area from monitoring in the surface emission design plan and SEM reports. The regular side slopes of the landfill may not be excluded from monitoring per the regulations, the report reads. Coffin Butte Landfill was among those the EPA inspected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the EPA found Coffin Butte was leaking methane at levels that exceed state and federal limits and what the landfill had publicly reported. EPA investigators returned in 2024 and found more than 40 locations where methane exceeded limits, including at holes in the cover material. EPA, rather than DEQ, is continuing to lead that investigation, Darling said. Coffin Butte expansion decision expected by August The findings come as Coffin Butte Landfill, which takes waste from Marion and Polk counties, has just passed a major hurdle in its yearslong effort to expand. On Feb. 28, Benton County deemed the companys application for a conditional use permit for the expansion complete. Sometime this spring, the county will open a two-week public comment period and a public hearing on the application. The countys planning commission is expected to decide on the application by Aug. 11. Tracy Loew covers the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on X at @Tracy_Loew This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon landfills use loophole to avoid methane monitoring: Study SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) For years, Oregon has struggled with a public defender shortage, which experts say is the root cause of issues like delayed trials and overcrowded jails. Multnomah Countys jails are over 90% full, and officials have warned that any further increase in the jail population could force them to release inmates. Armed and dangerous murder suspect in custody On Wednesday, district attorneys from some of Oregons largest counties testified at the Capitol, urging lawmakers to find solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House Judiciary Committee is reviewing two bills aimed at addressing the crisis. House Bill 3376 would create seven district defender offices in the most overburdened counties, including Multnomah and Washington. Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton testified in support of the bill, calling the shortage the single most important public safety challenge facing Oregon today. Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said the shortage of defenders not only hinders fair trials but also delays justice. We want to be able to tell all our victims when they come to court that we are here to get them justice, and we know that cant happen unless this moves forward, Vasquez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OSU baseballs home opener: What to know Another bill, HB 2614, would require the Oregon Public Defense Commission to study improvements to the public defense system and report findings to lawmakers by next year. Jessica Kampfe, executive director of the OPDC said, Weve been working on how we can adjust the policies within our contracts to be more responsive to the needs in our community. The commission contracts with the state to oversee Oregons public defense system, ensuring effective legal representation. However, it has faced criticism for leaving thousands of defendants without lawyers. Kampfe added, Providing public defense in the least expensive way possible has created a lot of problems for Oregons public defense system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With rising case filings and high attorney turnover, the governors budget proposes adding 42 trial lawyers and more support staff in crisis counties. Pilot found dead at crash near Whiskey Dick Mountain Still, experts say Oregon needs 1,300 more defenders to ensure fair justice. It is something that affects us on a very daily basis, Vasquez said. The bills are under review. Public testimony continues Thursday in Salem. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Oregon man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails, shooting at Tesla dealership PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An Oregon man accused of trying to destroy property at a Tesla dealership in Salem twice since January has been arraigned on federal charges, according to court documents obtained Nexstars KOIN. Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arrested Tuesday after authorities linked him to reports that someone had been throwing Molotov cocktails and shooting at the dealership on two separate occasions. Elon Musk comes to Capitol Hill to meet with Republicans who discuss turning DOGE cuts into law Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first instance, on Jan. 20, involved a Molotov cocktail, according to court documents. The Subject walked between the building and the vehicles parked in front of it, then pulled out a bag and started lighting an object on fire, the court document said. The Subject threw the object at a red Tesla SUV parked in front of the building, which started to catch fire, and then threw an object through the showroom window. The Subject proceeded to throw three or four more objects at other vehicles parked in front of the building. A month later, on Feb. 19, officials received reports that someone had caused damage by firing bullets into the building and a vehicle. Court documents said the suspect had been seen carrying an AR-15 style rifle with a suppressor. The Molotov cocktails seized by authorities at the northeast corner of the Tesla parking lot. (US District Court District of Oregon) The Molotov cocktails seized by authorities at the northeast corner of the Tesla parking lot. (US District Court District of Oregon) (US District Court District of Oregon) (US District Court District of Oregon) (US District Court District of Oregon) Authorities are investigating a possible arson at a Tesla dealership in Salem on Inauguration Day 2025. (Salem Police) No suspects were found at the scene on either occasion, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators later said Lansky could be spotted in surveillance footage throwing the Molotov cocktails that struck a dealership building and several vehicles in January and his car could be seen parked near the dealership during the second attack in February. Lansky, a Salem resident, was charged by criminal complaint with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device in a federal court. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance. No other details were immediately available. CHP blames drug use, speeding for deadly Cybertruck crash Tesla dealerships throughout the U.S. became a site for protest gatherings this weekend, amid backlash over the automakers billionaire CEO, Elon Musk, and his push to slash government spending on behalf of President Donald Trump. But at least one other person is accused of vandalizing a different Tesla dealership in Colorado with incendiary devices in January and February, according to officials. The suspect, in that particular case, also spray-painted the words Nazi cars on the building, the Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cases come amid rising concerns voiced by Democrats and some Republicans about Musks influence over the administration of President Donald Trump, and accusations that Musk made a gesture compared to a Nazi salute on Trumps inauguration day. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An Oregon man accused of trying to destroy property at a Tesla dealership in Salem twice since January has been arraigned on federal charges, according to court documents obtained by KOIN 6 News. Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arrested Tuesday after authorities linked him to reports of someone throwing Molotov cocktails and shooting at the dealership on two separate occasions. Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside indicted on felony theft charges Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first instance involved someone throwing Molotov cocktails at the Tesla dealership on Jan. 20, according to court documents. The Subject walked between the building and the vehicles parked in front of it, then pulled out a bag and started lighting an object on fire, the court document said. The Subject threw the object at a red Tesla SUV parked in front of the building, which started to catch fire, and then threw an object through the showroom window. The Subject proceeded to throw three or four more objects at other vehicles parked in front of the building. A month later, on Feb. 19, officials received reports that someone had caused damage by firing bullets into the building and a vehicle. Court documents said the suspect had been seen carrying an AR-15 style rifle with a suppressor. The Molotov cocktails seized by authorities at the northeast corner of the Tesla parking lot. (US District Court District of Oregon) The Molotov cocktails seized by authorities at the northeast corner of the Tesla parking lot. (US District Court District of Oregon) (US District Court District of Oregon) (US District Court District of Oregon) (US District Court District of Oregon) Authorities are investigating a possible arson at a Tesla dealership in Salem on Inauguration Day 2025. (Salem Police) No suspects were found at the scene on either occasion, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, investigators said Lansky could be spotted in surveillance footage throwing the Molotov cocktails that struck a dealership building and several vehicles in January and his car could be seen parked near the dealership during the second attack in February. Lansky, a Salem resident, was charged by criminal complaint with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device in a federal court. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Breaking News Alerts He will remain in custody until his next court appearance. No other details were immediately available. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, told fired federal employees who live in and around Republican House Districts and in states with Republican senators to press those lawmakers to stop the cuts and to protect federal public lands. (Bonnie Cash-Pool/Getty Images) Bailey Langley was 52 days from the end of her year-long probationary period as a public information officer for the U.S. Forest Service in Pendleton when she was fired in February under President Donald Trumps sweeping directive cutting federal probationary employees. Langleys work required informing federal officials, ranchers, wildfire agencies, local and tribal governments and the public about laws, management plans and coordinating emergency response in the Umatilla, Malheur and Wallowa Whitman national forests in eastern Oregon. Last summer, she spent 16 days getting critical information to affected peoples and agencies as tens of thousands of acres around the forests burned in wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I firmly believe personally and as a public servant that we need to spend tax dollars efficiently and effectively, but gutting one of the cornerstones of our nations workforces is not the way to do it, Langley said. She was among several guests invited to a virtual roundtable Wednesday evening hosted by Oregons U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, and ranking member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee. Merkley urged Langley and other guests to continue trying to convince Republican members of Congress to stop the cuts. Were in dangerous territory right now, Merkley said. Any of you who operate in or near a Republican House District or Republican state, where the senators are Republican, we need colleagues across the aisle. And there are plenty of colleagues across the aisle who treasure public lands, but we need them to stand up and fight and join us so we can, in a bipartisan way, reverse whats happening. The roundtable was also led by New Mexicos U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat who serves as ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who is a ranking member of the National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. A performance Merkley warned that the firings of tens of thousands of probationary employees at public lands agencies was an intentional first step by Trump and special government employee Elon Musk to sow chaos that would bely an argument to return federal lands to states that could then sell them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First comes the firing of the staff, then comes dysfunction that comes from that, then comes the argument that the land should be given to the states, then comes the loss of our public lands as theyre sold off, Merkley said. U.S. District Judge William Alsup in the northern district of California ruled this week that the Trump memo directing the federal Office of Personnel Management to order mass firings of probationary employees across agencies violated the law. No statute anywhere, ever has granted OPM the authority to direct the termination of employees in other agencies, Alsup wrote in his opinion. Trump administration lawyers argued the agency had asked, not ordered, agencies to fire probationary employees. On Wednesday, an independent federal board ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore employment to about 6,000 people that were cut since Feb. 13. Its unclear how many of those worked for the U.S. Forest Service, which is housed in the federal agriculture department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Tina Kotek this week sent a letter to the heads of the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy urging them to rehire critical wildfire employees. Half of all land in Oregon is managed by the federal government. Staffing shortages at the Forest Service and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and a lack of federal funding pose a huge risk that can be mitigated, but now is when we must get ready for the upcoming fire season. The risks to public safety and state budgets are substantial, she wrote. King of Maine argued that cuts to staff of the National Park Service are particularly worrisome, since most parks were already understaffed before the layoffs. He warned that this summer parks would be less safe, have limited hours, longer lines and potential closures due to the random nature of the employee cuts. Another guest at the roundtable, a former park ranger at Badlands National Park in South Dakota, was one of only three permanent emergency medical responders at the remote 244,000-acre park before she was cut. King called the firings a performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is intended to lead people to believe that somethings really happening here with regard to the budget and the deficit, when, in reality, its really simply cutting government services, he said. Its disrupting peoples lives. And the point Im trying to make is: Whats the point? SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Orleans County is celebrating its bicentennial in a unique and exciting wayby bringing its rich history to life! Meet Orly the Ox. The countys historian, Catherine Cooper, told News 8 that April 15th, 1825 Orleans County was set aside as an administrative and political separate entity from Genesee County. She noted that the idea for Orly the Ox came at a bicentennial committee meeting. According to the countys tourism site, Oxen played a vital role in our countys history by digging the canal, clearing land, pulling wagons, and so much more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orlys costume was made locally and was debuted at the Medina Parade of Lights during Thanksgiving. Cooper said they could tell right away the crowd loved the energy Orly had to offer. Whats intriguing about Orly, he is bringing history to life, connecting the Oxan and three settlers to todays life Hes been everywhere and is very popular, Cooper added. Orly is also giving social media a shot. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To learn more about Orleans bicentennial, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. (WKBN) Three men in supervisory positions with the Ohio State Highway Patrol were either reprimanded, demoted or recommended for termination after other staff members reported various acts of abuse. Read next: Report: Browns restructure QB Deshaun Watsons contract What began as an investigation into one man resulted in repercussions for two additional men in positions of power as the investigative process progressed. While some instances are specific to one supervisor in particular, many of the situations overlap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WKBN obtained the documents, which include testimonies and official notices, following a public records request to the Highway Patrol. In an interview with one of the employees who reported mistreatment, the employee told the investigator they did not come forward earlier because all three men are associated with each other and they did not feel anything would get done. However, after months of investigations and interviews, corrective actions were taken. Please note the following reports are cumulative and redacted to protect the identities of the victims as well as to censor obscene content. Termination recommended for lieutenant placed on paid administrative leave A lieutenant was recommended for termination after six employees with the Canfield post of the OSHP reported allegations against him. They were reported to the Office of Personnel in October 2024 but some of the employees detailed incidents going back several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation was launched into Lt. Eric Brown after allegations of derogatory profanity directed at employees, disparaging remarks regarding women, inappropriate comments about employees significant other, sexual misconduct, and inappropriate physical contact with employees. Read next: Woman says she swallowed baggie of fentanyl during traffic stop Abuse reported by subordinates against Brown A trooper told those investigating the complaints that Brown had at one point during an investigation shined a flashlight on the private parts of a passed-out woman who wasnt wearing underwear and that he would make breast gestures with his hands when arresting a woman. The trooper also reported Brown would make comments anytime he arrested an attractive woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown was also accused of smacking troopers on the head, with employees reporting to the investigator it happened between 15-20 times, claiming the open-handed hit was hard enough to make [trooper] mad and make his head go down after the strike. He was also accused of smacking troopers in the groin with the back of his hand. One trooper who reported Brown referred to him with a derogatory nickname said that, along with being smacked, it was demoralizing and made him lack confidence. One of the troopers also reported that Brown said he did not want troopers working in the city of Youngstown, referring to the people there as animals. Another incident was reported of Brown pulling down a troopers pants, including underwear, and exposing the troopers bare backside. The trooper told investigators Brown was the only one laughing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another trooper reported Brown repeatedly made offensive and obscene comments about their significant other. Troopers said Brown said there were things he could do to make their lives harder and continuously reminded them of what he could give or take away. When one trooper was asked to word in a sentence why they did not come forward, the trooper said they were scared to come forward and questioned who they would come forward to. When asked what the trooper was scared of, they replied they were scared of losing their jobs. Another trooper said they took time to come forward because they did not want to be known as the trooper who told on their lieutenant and wanted to avoid a bad rap on their name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trooper said it wasnt just one of them coming forward, but all of them coming together to report it. Browns interview with investigators During Browns interview on Nov. 15, he told investigators he believed he had a great relationship with all of the employees at the post, stating he has an open-door policy. [Brown] has told the employees that if they have any issues with him, if he is doing something they do not like, if there is anything that can be done differently to make the workplace more enjoyable, or anything operationally, then they can come to sit and talk it over with him, he told the investigator, according to the document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown told investigators he finds humor in many things and likes to joke with people and believes it helps put them at ease. He said he would never do anything that would be considered harassment, and if he knew somebody did not like something he did, then he would stop doing it. When inspectors questioned Brown about the alleged sexual comments he made to coworkers and in reference to female arrestees, he said he did not recall making the comments. It could be, and it could not be. I dont know, without being there, you know, again, uh. Is that inappropriate? Yes, but you know what, there are comments these guys [], and like I said at the beginning of this meeting, you know if Im guilty of anything, it is letting my guard and becoming one of them, Brown was quoted by investigators as saying. Brown told investigators he did not remember the incident regarding the woman who did not have underwear on but clarified that he was not saying it did not happen, just that he didnt recall the specific incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown also said he did not remember the incident in which a trooper reported that Brown pulled their pants down, but admitted his memory is not good and said he believes the trooper who made the allegation is an honest person. According to the investigative document, Brown clarified that he takes full responsibility for what he says and added that if he knew [the trooper] was offended by his comment, then he absolutely would not have said it. When asked if Brown routinely makes jokes of a sexual nature, Brown said no. He said he knows his lieutenant role and has to hold himself to a higher standard. When I say its retaliation, it is because I let my guard down. Did I say these things? Absolutely. Brown told investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown questioned why no one ever brought these concerns to him, and recommended investigators speak to all members of the post, not just the six that spoke against him. He said he is being made out to be some monster because its retaliation. Brown added he owns what he said to [trooper name] and feels bad. As for the allegations of physical violence where Brown is accused of hitting troopers, he said he Would joke around with them, tap them on the head and comment like get back to work.' Brown said he would not hit them with force or smack them. He said he was not just doing it to specific people or a shift and entirely denied doing it to use his position to intimidate others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown said the act of tapping/hitting others is nothing, and as crazy as it may sound, he believes it is a positive work environment. In reference to hitting troopers in the groin, he said it is something they would do to each other, adding, There is nothing assaultive or demeaning about it; they do it back and forth. Brown also said absolutely none of the allegations had anything to do with race or gender. He said he takes pride in the work he does, and he loves his people. He used the analogy of having kids, explaining sometimes you discipline them, you hold them accountable, and other times you joke with them. He reiterated that there was nothing that was harassing or retaliatory. He said he loves the Three Stooges and said they smacked each other on the head; that is how he is. Brown ultimately said it was disheartening to hear all the accusations and felt that he was being targeted. Brown had been with OSHP since 1997 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2023. Investigative results into Brown Brown was immediately removed as the commander of the Canfield Post upon the Patrols learning of the allegations and reassigned to the Warren District Headquarters throughout the investigation. He was placed on administrative leave with pay effective in January 2025. It was recommended by investigators that Brown be terminated on grounds of sexual harassment and discrimination and military courtesy and respect for rank. A lieutenant in the Ohio State Highway Patrol public affairs unit tells First News that Brown retired before he was served with discipline. During the investigation into Brown, allegations arose against two other men in supervisor positions, detailed below. First News has been unable to reach Brown for a response on the situation. OSHP supervisor demoted for verbal abuse of subordinates One Ohio State Highway Patrol employee was recently demoted after a letter from the Department of Public Safety stated he was verbally abusive to subordinates. Jeffrey Greene was demoted from his position as Highway Patrol Captain to Highway Patrol Staff Lieutenant effective Feb. 12. As part of the demotion, Greene will be transferred from a local OSHP post to Cleveland District Headquarters. The letter from Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andrew Wilson to Greene stated the demotion was a result of an administrative investigation that found he engaged in on-duty conduct which would bring discredit to the Division, stating Greene was verbally abusive toward subordinates. The report says reasonable cause found that Greene violated the regulations of Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Military Courtesy and Respect for Rank. Allegations against Greene reference certain incidents from the past as well as ongoing profane and derogatory language directed at subordinates. In one instance, a trooper reported that Greene used profane language when insulting them during a training event when surrounded by approximately 30 other troopers. The trooper told investigators it embarrassed them in front of their peers. During a capstone interview with superiors, a trooper alleges that Greene made a very off-place comment about professionalism and compared it to not committing a vulgar act. According to a background investigation, a trooper reported that Greene made the following comment in 2018: What are you looking at before I slap the st out of you. The report states Greene allegedly attempted to apologize and referenced Middle-Eastern people, to which the involved trooper took offense. This is stuff I have kept in for a very long time. Again, cause who am I going to say something to? The captain who that physically said he would slap the st out of me, or the lieutenant who actually done it, one of the troopers told the investigator. Greene told investigators he does not recall threatening to slap the trooper. He said the allegations are very pointed and noted the allegation reportedly occurred seven years ago. Greene said he is not derogatory, challenging, or puts people down. He said one thing people dont realize is that with elevation in rank comes alienation, adding that someone who was once a close coworker is no longer. Some of these things I remember, some I dont remember. So if that is the case, then I need to be better about the professionalism if these are founded, Greene said to investigators. Greene admitted there is enough of this to make him realize his actions were not reflective as a captain. A letter addressed to Greene from Public Safety Director Andrew Wilson states that if Greene continues to violate work rules and procedures, further progressive discipline could lead to termination. The demotion comes with a reduction in pay, according to the department record. Lt. issued a written reprimand for unbecoming conduct A lieutenant was also issued a written reprimand on Feb. 12 for conduct unbecoming an officer and the rules and regulations of Ohio State Highway Patrol. The captain investigating found the lieutenant failed to perform his duties in a professional and courteous manner when interacting with a subordinate. The lieutenant was listed as an immediate supervisor for some of the interviewees who reported abuse. While the lieutenant himself was not often portrayed as the primary aggressor, it was reported he was present during situations of unbecoming behavior, used profanity, and did not intervene in defense of others. First News reached out to the Public Affairs Unit of OSHP asking to interview those involved in the investigation and was denied. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. When Jim Hess was named Oklahoma State University interim president Feb. 7, some people not familiar with his work had a question. Who is Jim Hess? Hess said it wasnt an uncommon question. My goal over the last 43 years is to have a low profile and just do my work, Hess said. So, the fact that some people say, Who the heck is Jim Hess? is actually a compliment. Hess sat in the OSU Presidents office, where, as of yet, the space isnt fully furnished. It was a space occupied a month ago by former president Dr. Kayse Shrum, who handed her official resignation to the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents on Feb. 5 in what appeared to be a sudden decision with little warning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The soft-spoken Hess, known for hard work behind the scenes, discussed his new role, his passions and his goals for the university. Let me start by saying that its a real honor and a privilege to serve in this job, Hess said. There have been lot of great people sit in this corner office over the decades, and I feel unworthy sometimes, having worked for many of those people in the past. Other days, he said he feels like the fastest three-legged dog, a phrase that showed that, although he may feel unworthy, hes worked just as hard as anyone and proven it. Hess has served the higher education system in Oklahoma for more than 43 years. In 2023, Hess was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hess served as vice provost for graduate programs at the OSU Center for Health Sciences, helping to create what is now OSU Medical Center, the only osteopathic teaching hospital in the United States. He most recently served as CEO of the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority and is designated as a Riata Faculty Fellow in the OSU School of Entrepreneurship. Despite his accomplishments, his wife, Angela, told the News Press that sometimes he doesnt realize all he has done. She doesnt often get to say much about him, but when she has the chance, she wants to speak up. Theres something really special and endearing about Jim, and I think its his humility, Angela said. If I wasnt married to him, I would want him to be my best friend, I would always want him to be in my corner, because what you see is what you get. Angela said stepping in as interim president and First Cowgirl was not on their radar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were headed to retirement, and we had been praying consistently every day God, what do you want us to do? Where do you want us to go? she said. And then this came open, and we were both like, Oh, my goodness, this is no mistake. She said her husband works 16 hours a day, but shes never seen him complain. Hess is a native of Henryetta, a town one hour south of Tulsa, where he said he grew up poor. This place changed my life, changed the direction of my life years and years ago, when I first came down here as a student, Hess said. So, I felt like since the universitys done so much for me, its my duty to pay back and to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a freshman, he came to OSU to study petroleum geology because he was intrigued by the oil and gas business. At OSU, his professors saw his potential and challenged him. I was gifted that experience of some great professors who inspired me to be a good student, to do the very best that I could and basically live up to the potential that they saw in me, saying, You can be an outstanding student, but youre going need to be motivated to be an outstanding student, Hess said. One thing he is grateful for was the scholarship he received as a freshman from anonymous donors that enabled him to compete his education. Its with this in mind that Hess wants to create those same opportunities for other students, especially those in need of scholarships. He said the Board of Regents has been holding the line for the costs of student tuition and fees, but this means there is a greater need for private scholarships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student experience from the time they arrive to the time they leave is a window that is really the measure of success and that depends on the financial pressures students face, he said. We like to measure ourselves by numbers, and thats important, Hess said. But its the student experience that really matters because when a student comes here, we have the opportunity to change their lives and change the trajectory of forever. A professor himself, Hess was responsible for creating several online graduate programs, including the Master of Science in Health Care Administration, the Master of Science in Global Health, the Master of Science in Medical Sciences, the Doctor of Health Care Administration and the Doctor of Forensic Sciences. He teaches the Healthcare Administration course at OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, in addition to a Higher Education Finance course in the College of Education and Human Sciences in Stillwater. The Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa became known as the only institution in the states higher education system to achieve consecutive year-over-year enrollment growth over the last 10 years, according to a Feb. 7 story published at OSUs website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody in the graduate college teaches more than me, Hess said. Thats been true for the last five years. And heres why this is so important to me: the interaction with students that change(s) me, and I hope it changes them. He said the close interaction with students as a professor helps him learn what students need, the challenges they face and how theyre approaching them. Hess said another area that hes passionate about is in making OSU the premier veterinary medicine university it used to be in the 1960s and 1970s. As a freshman, his work study was in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I shoveled stalls you know what that means, Hess said. I was so proud to be there because the College of Veterinary Medicine was at its pinnacle, its high point. I was fascinated by the kinds of clinical work they did there and solving a lot of complex animal problems. Fast forward almost 50 years, he said, and he became the CEO of the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority, the entity that supports clinical training, student training and the veterinary teaching hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine. OSUVMA operates much like the OSU Medical Authority and the University Hospitals Authority in their support for the states medical schools. Hess said it was a full-circle moment. I believe that everything happens that happens in life, happens for a reason, Hess said. Thats always been my philosophy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opportunity to serve in his previous capacity has given him perspective that OSU can once again be the premier college for veterinary medicine. Heres what we once were, heres what we can still become, he said. Only 33 veterinary colleges exist in the United States, and OSU used to be ranked among the Top 1 or 2 of those colleges in terms of reputation, numbers of clinical volume, including referrals and procedures, but due to financial constraints has dropped in ranking. Hess said its important that OSU regains that status, because the agricultural economy of the state including large animal food and production is totally dependent on that very profession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think, with the help of our legislative partners, we can restore the College of Veterinary Medicine to the greatness that OSU deserves, Hess said. The No. 1 legislative priority is to build a new animal teaching hospital, Hess said. As for the future, Hess said hes approaching his role with the idea of making the best decisions that are in the long-term best interests of the institution. If at the end of whatever time period Im here, if I can say that I left the place better than when I found it, then I was successful, Hess said. And I think thats really the only measure for me. Hess also touched on the relationship between OSU and the community, noting that it was a great connection and not one found in many college towns. Everybody who works here (at OSU), lives here, Hess said. If you were going to describe the ideal place to put a university where the culture of the community is important, you couldnt describe a better place than Stillwater. MIDDLEFIELD, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A nurse from the Otsego County Correctional Facility has been arrested after an investigation into falsified business records involving medicine, the Otsego County Sheriffs Office announced Thursday. 44-year-old Karli Sydor, of Albany, turned herself in to the OCSO on Thursday, March 6, and has been charged with three counts of falsifying business records in the second degree following the investigation by OCSO. Its alleged that while under contract as a nurse at the Otsego County Correctional Facility, Sydor altered medical records to cover shortages in medicine after failing to resupply orders in a timely fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, Sydor was fired by her parent company and had relocated to a new area. The initial warrant for her arrest was issued by the Middlefield Town Court. Sydor is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Instagram users have some harsh words for a Texas pastor who is celebrating his Christian churchs private school having the states lowest vaccination rate for measles amid a deadly outbreak of the highly contagious virus. Mercy Culture Church Lead Pastor Landon Schott posted a video to the platform on Wednesday to commend the K-12 preparatory school. I just want to congratulate all the family members of MC Prep that embrace freedom of health, and theyre not allowing government or science projects to affect how you live and lead your life, Schott told his more than 47,000 Instagram followers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know the entire world was shut down with insanity and people were fired from their jobs, he said, for forced vaccinations. Schotts remarks, which have been shared by multiple news outlets, have resulted in criticism from other social media users. Absolutely nutty that you brag about this, you are the uneducated that the administration loves to hurt so much, user @sheeeshmayne said on Instagram. Mercy Culture Pastor Landon Schott posted an Instagram video this week that celebrated the Texas churchs partner school reportedly having the states lowest vaccination rate for measles. His video has drawn support and criticism amid a measles outbreak in West Texas (@landonaschott/Instagram) Thats not something to be proud of. Wouldnt God want you to take every precaution to keep your kids healthy? Just no, this isnt the flex yall think it is! exclaimed @helenheard. An UNVACCINATED child died in Texas February 26, 2025! said @amberdwhitfieldaw. Maybe go visit the west Texas hospital where the unvaccinated measles children are being treated. Mostly because they cant breathe on their own. You are truly a nut job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, others, including the school, wrote comments of support. We love it! #1, the school said. I absolutely LOVE that were celebrating this, Instagram user @deidrameckel wrote. Only 14.3 percent of kindergarteners at the 300-student Fort Worth school were vaccinated for measles for the 2023 to 2024 school years, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said. It is one of six facilities in North Texas that have less than 50 percent of its kindergarten population vaccinated, according to The Dallas Morning News. The measles vaccine is the only way to prevent infection. An outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease in West Texas has prompted the set up of vaccination clinics (AFP via Getty Images) Schott claimed that the news had been trying to spin the schools low vaccination rate like it was some awful thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He did not bring up the measles outbreak thats currently ripping through West Texas. The viral disease has sickened more than 150 people and killed an unvaccinated child. The outbreak has been tied to Gaines Countys close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. Since the initial outbreak, more cases have been reported in neighboring New Mexico and other states around the country. Medical experts are urging residents to get vaccinated, and have opened mobile clinics. The only effective way to prevent measles is the MMR vaccine, said American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases Chair Dr. Sean OLeary. OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) In Owensboro, First Presbyterian Church made sure everyone could celebrate the start of lent no matter how busy. From 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., the church hosted its 11th Ashes-To-Go. Over a dozen people were marked in the first hour. Church officials say the ashes refer to Adam and Eves creation from dust. The churchs interim pastor says its a reminder of humanity and humility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UE students to grow produce with vertical garden a way of welcoming them, not requiring them to sign up for anything. Rather just to, know that we care for them and want to help them address their spiritual needs, says Interim Pastor Matthew Convington. Pastor Covington says the event also serves as a reminder for people to reflect on their day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). OWENSBORO, Ky. (FOX 56) Owensboro law enforcement officers are asking the community for help finding a person of interest who used an umbrella to hide their face from security cameras during a robbery. Around 11 a.m. on Thursday, the Owensboro Police Department (OPD) posted security camera footage on Facebook, showing a person walk into the store masked by a pink umbrella. Officers with the Owensboro Police Department (OPD) are searching for a person of interest who was captured on security camera footage hiding behind a pink umbrella during a robbery. (Owensboro Police Dpeartment) Security footage showed that just before 5 a.m., a person seemed to demand cash from a store staff member, who opened the register and prepared to give the robber money. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers wrote on social media that an investigation is underway into the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call the OPD at (270) 687-8885 or leave an anonymous tip at (270) 687-8484. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. On a bluebird spring day a few years back, Boone Taylor gathered his cattle from a grazing parcel he leases from the federal government. He rode his red roan, Navajo, through the Sandy 3 allotment, which crosses through Bitter Creek in Capitol Reef National Park. From the creek bed, the striations of yellow-beige earth get steadily darker as they rise up the canyon walls. Taylors horse, chaps, work coat and cowboy hat were all roughly the same hue as the ombre landscape. His cattle made their way to the east slope of Boulder Mountain, where they spent the summer grazing on U.S. Forest Service land. Taylors family has ranched in this region of southern Utah for five generations and is grandfathered into some of the few remaining federal grazing permits within a national park. The government no longer offers such permits and the family will lose access to those grazing rights when the last child of his grandfather passes away. But for the foreseeable future, Taylor can still graze in federally protected land, which is not the case with all of the state-managed parcels hes leased. HarrisX/Deseret News survey of 1,512 registered voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in November 2024. Margin of error +/- 2.5% Four years ago, Taylor was notified that his grazing permit on state land near Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was reclassified. The Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, a state agency commonly called by its acronym SITLA that generates revenue for public schools and hospitals, sold that permit to a developer of a still-unfinished glamping project, Boone said, which left a bad taste in his mouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I might be a little different than some, but Im not so hung up on the state of Utah managing more public lands, says Taylor. But the 49-year-old rancher understands the strong feelings that his parents generation, and even his first cousin Redge Johnson, executive director of Utahs Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, have about local control of public lands. We, locally, have knowledge about these lands that others dont, says Johnson. And, too often regardless of party you see decisions being made in Washington, D.C., and then pushed out that dont make sense. I feel there is a need for more local input and more local control. Utahs Stand for Our Land campaign Taylor stands out for not fully embracing Utahs Stand for Our Land campaign. The marketing and PR push corresponds with a lawsuit the state filed against the United States last August with the Supreme Court, arguing that its unconstitutional for the federal government to hold unappropriated public lands in perpetuity 18.5 million acres of Utah, specifically, which is an area about the size of South Carolina and for states not to have the right to manage those public lands within their borders. The state has spent $1.35 million on advertising for the campaign, including a website, and ads in The Wall Street Journal, National Review and The Washington Post, podcasts, videos and scores of billboards along the Wasatch Front. HarrisX/Deseret News survey of 1,512 registered voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in November 2024. Margin of error +/- 2.5% The campaign resurfaces a long-standing debate over federal versus state land stewardship in the West. But its origins go back to the nations founding, and resurfaced with the Sagebrush Rebellion in the late 1970s, when many of todays politicians from the West were old enough to watch their parents and grandparents chafe under increasing federal land restrictions and national conservation efforts. Today, the U.S. government owns 650 million acres of public land, including national parks, forests, monuments, military bases, and, in large volume, land that has not been designated for a specific use and is largely overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. Certain states primarily in the West, home to 92 percent of the federal governments land have long sought to manage the undesignated land (referred to in legal documents as unappropriated). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State officials in Utah, Nevada and Wyoming, among others, believe they can manage that unappropriated land better than the feds, who are viewed, at best, as an out-of-touch absentee landlord. But, the federal government retains the right, explicitly written into the Constitution, to own and manage its property. On the land it does own, the government has increasingly prioritized conservation over development and resource extraction, and its those conflicting uses that are at the heart of the dispute. Its a deeply American conflict: individual rights against, what some call, a greater good. HarrisX/Deseret News survey of 1,512 registered voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in November 2024. Margin of error +/- 2.5% Plenty of legislative pathways A recent poll by HarrisX for Deseret Magazine finds broad agreement with the ideas behind the Stand for our Land campaign: 73 percent say that states should manage more land within their boundaries, and a majority of Utahns, specifically, are supportive of the lawsuit itself. As for how public land is managed, 87 percent say conservation should be a medium to high priority. Still, its a dispute that many legal scholars, who describe Utahs petition to the high court as a frivolous hail Mary, agree is best decided legislatively. And the states publicity campaign appears to be less about whipping up support for a court battle especially since the Supreme Court declined to hear the states lawsuit this past January and more about convincing voters that its time to take the cause to Congress. These are not either-or, says Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, referring to addressing the federal land debate in the judicial or the legislative branch. They both need to happen. And as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, hes in a position to shape and put forward that legislation. In his mind, there is no question that President Donald Trumps administration is more sympathetic to Western states federal land issues than, at least, the previous one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therere plenty of legislative pathways for this to happen, Lee says. A lot of which Im already working on to try to transition at least some federal land to state, local, and in some cases even individual control. Its a deeply American conflict: individual rights against, what some call, a greater good. At the second Continental Congress in 1776, delegates from the 13 original colonies were charged with forming a new government following their Declaration of Independence. They debated voting and representation but were also locked in battle over whether states or the new federal government should own rights to lands west of the colonies. While the founders deliberated for only two days about breaking away from Britain, the western land debate prevented ratification of a new government for nearly five years. New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia held rights to land beyond their western borders along with the potential wealth and associated influence. Delegates from the other six states with fixed western borders felt that if certain states grew much larger and wealthier than others by expanding west, theyd be trading one overlord for another. Resolution came when the states with western land rights agreed to create a common property to be held by the newly formed government. Real estate west of the colonies could immediately earn the fledgling nation some much needed cash. The nation was in the midst of an expensive war and could sell land to private interests and foreign nations eager to support the colonists cause. The resolution put the collective needs above the individual states by assuring all that the lands would be disposed of for the common benefit of all the United States. HarrisX/Deseret News survey of 1,512 registered voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in November 2024. Margin of error +/- 2.5% Not all of that land was transferred to each states individual management as they were formed, and a percentage was retained by the U.S. government. The feds withholding that land from the states is seen by some today as breaking the resolution passed by the Continental Congress. If you change the nature of that agreement, where the federal government only holds the land in trust, youre undermining the very principles and patriotism and compact upon which the nation was founded, says state Rep. Ken Ivory, a Republican and longtime advocate for transfer of public lands to the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Leshy, a law professor at University of California, San Francisco, and a former solicitor at the U.S. Department of the Interior from 1993 to 2001, understands that moment in history differently. He opens his book on the history of public lands, Our Common Ground, with the same proud American moment of the nations founding, but contends the deal was struck for the common benefit of all the United States, not just those states with greater rights to large allotments of land. The Sagebrush Rebellion Pursuing the greater good didnt make the thorny nature of federal stewardship go away. When Congress admitted Utah Territory into the Union as a state in 1894, the statehood Enabling Act had this clarification: That the people inhabiting said proposed State do agree and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries thereof. The language was copied nearly verbatim into the states constitution that was ratified a year later. Statehood came in 1896. As decades passed, relations with the states federal landlords simmered and finally boiled over after Congress passed the Federal Land Policy Management Act, or FLPMA, in 1976, which ended homesteading and redefined the Bureau of Land Managements mission to prioritize multiple uses of the lands it managed in the West. In addition to natural resource extraction and grazing, the law mandated recreation and conservation as legitimate uses of government land. Nevada and Utah state legislators introduced a number of bills and filed lawsuits attempting to transfer control of federally owned public lands from Uncle Sam to the states none of which stuck. It wasnt just FLPMA, either, but the culmination of years of frustrations felt by Westerners who thought that the governments presence in the West was heavy-handed imposing oversight and regulations that ignored the needs of those living closest to the land. The Western outcry grew into a social movement dubbed the Sagebrush Rebellion. The movements heyday in the late 70s and early 80s was an identity-driving experience for many Westerners whose livelihood was tied to the land. Even Ronald Reagan referred to himself as a rebel in a 1980 campaign speech in Salt Lake City. The remnants of the rebellion, or at least the ideas animating it, turned ugly 10 years ago with an armed standoff between federal officers and Nevada rancher Cliven Bundys family over grazing fees. It culminated in the 2016 occupation of Oregons Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, led by Bundys son, Ammon. HarrisX/Deseret News survey of 1,512 registered voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in November 2024. Margin of error +/- 2.5% Charges against Cliven and his sons were dismissed following a mistrial in the Nevada case in 2018 after Ammon and his brother Ryan were acquitted in Oregon of firearms and conspiracy charges in 2016. But both events stemmed from the ideological and cultural moorings of the Sagebrush Rebellion shared by the current Stand for Our Land campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson references lingering frustrations from the Sagebrush Rebellion in his explanation for Utahs strategy to take their case to court. I wish that the federal government lived up to their agreement under FLPMA, he says. Instead, there is less and less multiple use and more and more conservation. I dont think anybody wanted to be here, but this is where we are. Taylor may not like what happened to his state lands grazing permit, but he really gets upset over what happens when federal land policy changes every time someone new occupies the White House. He references Bears Ears National Monument, where President Barack Obama, then President Donald Trump, followed by President Joe Biden, have pingponged the monuments size and status. In early February, Trumps new Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered a review of all federal land withdrawals, which includes Bears Ears. Reacting to laws and permissions that change every four years, rather than consistent long-term planning, is not the way to operate a viable ranching operation, Taylor says. It takes years to implement stuff, he says. Four years on a resource on the mountain or desert, thats a drop in time. It doesnt make one bit of difference as far as getting things done. The resentments felt by ranchers, miners, developers and the states against federal management align with how most folks feel about the current public land arrangement. Conducted in November, following the presidential election, pollsters surveyed 1,512 registered voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Nearly 75 percent of respondents would prefer their states public land to be owned by the state rather than the federal government. HarrisX/Deseret News survey of 1,512 registered voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in November 2024. Margin of error +/- 2.5% The vast majority of Utahns polled, 86 percent, say that public lands should stay public and not sold to private interests. But that opinion is mitigated with a touch of skepticism. Some 43 percent of respondents believe the state would sell those lands to the highest bidder. To that suggestion, Gov. Spencer Cox is unequivocal: Theres no intention to sell lands off. He adds, however, that Lee is working on a bill in which states would take over federal land within city limits to sell to developers for much needed housing. That has nothing to do with these vast landscapes that were talking about with the lawsuits, says Cox. Public lands means nothing if theyre not open to the public. And thats what were trying to do, is to keep public lands public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kate Groetzinger has her doubts. As the communications manager for the Center for Western Priorities, a nonpartisan conservation and advocacy organization, shes followed Utahs actions on public lands for years and has no faith that conservation is a priority. Our main concern is that Utah lawmakers have shown time and time again that they are interested in privatizing federal land and state land, she says. Theyve sold hundreds of thousands of acres of the state trust lands that they were given at the time of statehood, and Utah lawmakers have made their intentions clear: They want to drill and develop and sell off national public lands. The states publicity campaign appears to be less about whipping up support for a court battle and more about convincing voters that its time to take the cause to Congress. While the debate over who should own public lands goes back decades, the idea to sue the government came up in a bipartisan committee when Cox was lieutenant governor. Rep. Brian King, a Democrat who would later run unsuccessfully against Cox for governor last year, suggested they stop talking about the legal arguments and just file a lawsuit. While King says the comment was tongue-in-cheek, its resonating logic was instead of wasting money and talking about it, lets find out one way or another and move it along the path, Cox recalls. The lawsuit asked a very narrow constitutional question: Can the federal government permanently retain the unappropriated lands within the state of Utah? Requesting a hearing before the Supreme Court was a long shot, and legal observers like Leshy gave it little chance. He explains that the high court has issued numerous decisions, often unanimous, confirming Congress unlimited constitutional power to manage government land. And the only time the court attempted limiting that power was the 1857 Dred Scott decision when it confirmed slaves could never be U.S. citizens which is considered the worst decision in Supreme Court history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a single sentence, the high court stuck to precedent in Utahs suit: The motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied. Cox, who has clerked for federal courts, gave Utahs filing a 50/50 chance from the onset and says that even when the court likes an argument, they prefer to see complaints wend their way through the lower courts. Were not done with the lawsuit, he says. An option that I feel fairly confident that we will take, is just to file it in district court. At the same time, the state will pursue other avenues to address its concerns over public lands. Well continue to work closely with the president and specifically with the secretary of the interior (former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum), whos a dear friend of ours, great guy, wonderful governor, and someone who understands this, Cox says. And the state isnt wasting time on the legislative front. Three days after the Supreme Court ruling, Reps. Celeste Maloy of Utah and Mark Amodei of Nevada introduced a bill that would presumably prevent another Bears Ears controversy by stripping presidential authority to unilaterally designate national monuments and give that authority to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the Trump administrations review of federal land withdrawals, Maloy wont back off her proposal. Congress should be deciding what should be a national monument and whats not, she says. Thats something I want to fix, no matter whos in the White House. Even Ronald Reagan referred to himself as a rebel in a 1980 campaign speech in Salt Lake City. States supporting Utahs campaign Utah is not alone in its campaign to change federal land management in the West. Fourteen other states filed amicus briefs in support of Utahs case, emphasizing similar arguments for state ownership of federal land. Those states have no qualms with national parks and forests within their borders rather, their beef is with BLM lands. The Wyoming brief stated that the BLM is wielding an unconstitutional police power over Wyomings lands and resources by keeping that land outside of the states management. Another amicus brief from a coalition of counties in Arizona and New Mexico with large percentages of their territory managed by the BLM stated, the federal governments retention and control of these (unappropriated BLM) lands both negatively impacts the tax revenue in these counties and inhibits state sovereignty. HarrisX/Deseret News survey of 1,512 registered voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming in November 2024. Margin of error +/- 2.5% Of course, the BLM takes a more conciliatory tone in a statement summarizing its approach to working with Utah: The BLMs mission is to provide balanced management and allow for multiple uses and sustainable recreation across the millions of acres of public lands in Utah, and it is important that we have a good working relationship with our state agency partners. These relationships remain strong and center upon shared interests and mutually beneficial outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent example of that cooperation was Biden signing a bill earlier this year that transferred title to several parcels of BLM and Forest Service land adjacent to three Utah state parks to the state. Our door is, and has always been, open to their input and collaboration, the BLM spokesperson says. Utah officials likely wont experience much, if any, political fallout from the states Stand for Our Land campaign, as 62 percent of Utah voters polled by HarrisX largely support the state spending $14 million of taxpayer dollars in its first step of petitioning the Supreme Court. That is, so long as the end game is to preserve the land for future generations 68 percent of Utahns and 69 percent of Western folks would like those resources to be preserved for public use, regardless of who manages them. Taylor shares that view. But the future of his operation and ranching in general, whether under state or federal land management, weighs on him. The average age of the American rancher is pushing 60, and of his three daughters (two in college, and one in high school), he doesnt know if any of his children will take over the business. As fewer people live and work in these remote places, there is ample reason for concern about who manages the public lands and how, and whether or not they prioritize making opportunities for future ranchers or recreators to enjoy them as previous generations have. In the fields around Capitol Reef National Park, condos and bed-and-breakfasts stand where there were once farms. The resource is whats taking the hurt, Taylor says. Thats what really matters, and it gets locked up in the political fight back and forth. This story appears in the March 2025 issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) President Donald Trump is set to make a decision on Thursday that could have major ramifications for the U.S. Department of Education. The president has said he wants his new education chief, Linda McMahon, to put herself out of a job and begin dissolving the department that directly manages funding for K-12 public schools along with federal student aid for college students. Significant tip in 1958 Martin Family disappearance prompts underwater search Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A draft of the executive order obtained by the Wall Street Journal early Thursday morning reportedly directed McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure. However, a White House official has told NewsNation the president does not plan to sign the order. While the county awaits Trumps decision, lawmakers in the Pacific Northwest have begun calling out what they say could be a devastating plan to worsen public education in America. It does not take a former teacher to tell you how obliterating the Department of Education hurts students, said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). I think even a preschooler could tell you this is a terrible, terrible idea. The threat to close the department comes after Trump has accused the department of indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual and political material. Instead, he believes states should be in control of what is taught in their public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ritz-Carlton building in downtown Portland in trouble? Lender may foreclose, documents state However, the change could have major implications on what and how students learn especially in regard to standardized testing and the impact of federal student loans. For example, dissolving the department would cause the funding that supports Pell Grants or need-based financial assistance that does not need to be paid back to hang in the balance. Trump and Musk dont know what its like to count on their local public school having the resources to get their kids a great education, Sen. Murray said. They dont know why Pell Grants are so important. And they dont care to learn why. They want to break the Department, break our government, and enrich themselves. The threat also comes as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by the Trump Administration and led by billionaire Elon Musk, works to slash the federal workforce and cut down on unnecessary government spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Sen. Murray sent a letter to the Education Department demanding answers for recent personnel changes that have taken place since Trump took office. In the letter, she claimed the department has illegally fired an unknown number of staff and placed dozens of other staff on paid administrative leave, unable to carry out their job responsibilities for the American people. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Eye on Northwest Politics Legally, a president does not have the power to eliminate a department with an executive order. Rather, these major changes would require congressional approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, McMahon has previously told members of Congress the department would be expected to follow President Trumps executive order until lawmakers have a chance to weigh in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Residents and businesses in Pacific Palisades will be able to safely use water this week, Mayor Karen Bass announced Thursday, touting the milestone as a sign of the speed of efforts to rebuild the devastated neighborhood. The "do not drink" notice will be lifted Friday, the two-month anniversary of the deadly Palisades fire, after engineers and experts at the L.A. Department of Water and Power confirmed the absence of contaminants in the water supply. Bass credited DWP crews for working seven days a week to restore and flush out toxic substances from the water supply, drawing a comparison to the November 2018 wildfire in Paradise, where the do-not-drink advisory remained in place until May 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the tragic Camp Fire, it took 18 months. It was done here in two," Bass said at a news conference at Palisades Recreation Center. "I'm committed to rebuilding this community at lightning speed." Janisse Quinones, chief engineer and chief executive of DWP, said that before using water Friday, residents and businesses in the Palisades should flush their systems for at least 10 minutes, turning on all spigots, showers and faucets. Customers will receive a $50 credit on their next bill, "so you don't have to worry about the cost of running water," Quinones said. Read more: Inside the battle to restore drinking water in Altadena and Pacific Palisades "We flushed the system all the way to the meter," said Quinones, who called on residents to finish the flushing process inside their homes and eliminate any remaining contaminants. "Once you flush it and the water comes clear inside your structure, we know the water from the meter is clean so you should be good." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents and businesses will be able to drink, shower and cook with the water as they had prior to the wildfire. At the Palisades Recreation Center, Bass and city officials also highlighted progress in the recovery efforts since the Jan. 7 blaze, which destroyed thousands of homes and killed 12 people. Noting that the Environmental Protection Agency completed debris removal last week in a third of the time originally projected, Bass said that 60 properties were now in Phase Three the permitting and rebuilding process. Bass thanked the Trump administration for providing the staff and resources "to move so quickly." Both Bass and the DWP chief reiterated their commitment to "undergrounding" power lines in the Palisades. Parts of the Palisades including the Highlands and some streets in Castellammare already had underground power lines. DWP engineers began planning the move about a week after the Jan. 7 fire broke out and have so far designed 4,000 feet of new underground lines that are now "ready for construction," Quinones said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: What or who started the Palisades fire? Two leading theories emerge as investigation intensifies "The goal is to have all of Palisades with new underground infrastructure, power infrastructure," Quinones said. Underground lines are protected from wind, falling branches and lightning, reducing the risk of sparking a wildfire. DWP plans to place underground the 80 miles of electric lines across the Palisades area, a process that can take several years. Each mile of subterranean electric line can cost from $1 million to $4 million, and Quinones said the utility was assessing how to finance the overall installation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Quinones said, the utility has rebuilt distribution systems and replaced 800 power poles to restore electricity to nearly every customer. As of Thursday, 143 customers in "hard to reach areas" of the hilly, coastal neighborhood remained without power, Quinones said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ROYAL PALM BEACH Plans for an $90 million expansion at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital are moving forward. Palm Beach County commissioners on Feb. 27 approved a needed zoning change for Nashville-based HCA Health Care, the company that owns Palms West at Southern and Crestwood boulevards near Royal Palm Beach. Plans call for a 56,000-square foot, 42-bed post-surgical unit to provide customized care for patients who undergo robotic surgery. There will also be a new grand entrance, registration and admitting area, gift and coffee shop, a community education space, classrooms and cafeteria. Parking is expected to be reconfigured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initially, the new part of the the hospital will be a one-story addition but Palms West is expected eventually to have a tower of up to five stories. The one-story building is being built to accommodate future growth. The investment will allow the hospital to specialize even further in the emerging technology of robotics surgery, which allows for smaller incisions and faster recoveries, said Jason Kimbrell, the CEO of Palms West. "We are pleased to obtain the county approval. It is now full speed ahead," Kimbrell said. "This is our next chapter. In the long term, we want patients to come from around the country and the world to undergo robotic-assisted surgery here." Palms West already is a leader in robotics surgery in South Florida. More than 1,200 of robotic-type procedures are performed every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hospital employs 22 robotics-assisted surgeons who operate Da Vinci machines, a robotics system with four interactive arms and a high-resolution 3D camera. The surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures involving less blood, less scaring and a reduced risk of infection. Rendering of addition planned for Palms West Hospital near Royal Palm Beach In calling for the zoning change, HCA said the expansion is needed to meet "an increasing need for hospital facilities and beds in the region due to new residential development," according to documents submitted to the county. More than 2,000 homes, HCA noted, have been built as part of the nearby Arden development and more residential projects are planned for the county's western suburbs/ Palms West has already experienced a significant increase in patient volume, according to the hospital. "Given these factors, expanding Palms West Hospital is not only justified but essential for maintaining a high standard of health care for the community," the hospital said. "The demand for health care services has significantly increased, driven by population growth and the aging demographic." How long will it take to complete Palms West Hospital expansion? New lobby area planned for Palms West Hospital near Royal Palm Beach Palms West currently has has 206 beds. The expansion will be constructed on 19 acres to the west of the existing main hospital building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HCA also says it expects spend an additional $90 million on other projects to improve and expand services offered at Palms West. They include: $10 million for a second cardiac catheterization lab to offer additional interventional cardiology capabilities and electrophysiology services. $10 million to expand the emergency department by 10 beds to help handle the 65,000 patients Palms West serves annually. $10 million to complete a new operating room to support minimally invasive interventions. $30 million to expand and improve a robotic surgical room. $30 million for a freestanding emergency room in West Palm Beach. $500,000 to build a medical office building dedicated to womens health on Vista Parkway in West Palm Beach. Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today. In addition to the bed tower, HCA Healthcare will invest in several other projects at the hospital, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $30 million for expanding operating rooms and adding more advanced robotic surgery capabilities. $10 million for a comprehensive stroke center. Expanding the emergency room to handle the 65,000 patients it serves annually, along with plans for two off-site free-standing emergency departments. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palms West Hospital's $90M expansion near Royal Palm gets key go-ahead PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) A man was found with a trafficking amount of methamphetamine in his truck after he fled an attempted stop and was found guilty on Wednesday. 30-year-old Devan A. McDonald of Panama City was found guilty as charged of trafficking more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine about 1 hour after prosecutor Frank Sullivan gave his closing arguments. The first-degree felony has a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison with a minimum mandatory 15 years under Floridas enhanced trafficking laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark agreed with Sullivan that the maximum was appropriate in this case and sentenced the defendant to 30 years and fined him for $250,000, officials wrote. Suspect arrested after fleeing deputies during a traffic stop in Jackson County According to a news release, the defendant was released from prison in 2019 on a methamphetamine trafficking charge. At the time of this offense he was out on bond for another meth trafficking charge. Prosecutor Sullivan called four witnesses and provided evidence, including a large bag of methamphetamine that covered the top of the court podium, to prove the States case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The testimony and evidence showed that the Bay County Sheriffs Office Special Investigations Division was working on a case that led to the defendant agreeing to sell a large amount of methamphetamine on March 7, 2023. The defendant was under surveillance leading up to the transaction, and for safety reasons, the decision was made to stop him after he was seen placing a large bag in his truck from a residence near the meeting site. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Mar. 6To understand the challenges Portland restaurants face today exemplified, perhaps, by the spate of closures last fall it helps to look at the problems that have confronted the food and beverage industry since the start of the COVID pandemic. The reasons that forced some places to permanently close during the pandemic and since while others launched and have succeeded (so far) are as varied and complex as the coronavirus itself. In the five years since the pandemic swept into Maine, Portland restaurants have contended with rising food, utility and labor costs, as well as a nationwide staffing shortage that has hit the hospitality industry in this state particularly hard. Maine had 3,100 fewer restaurant workers in December 2024 than in December 2019 (a 7% dip), according to the National Restaurant Association, the second-biggest drop-off in the country behind Maryland (-8%). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Restaurants' location, size and certainly during the pandemic their suitability to offer takeout also helped decide their fate. Even weathering the storm came at a steep cost: The National Restaurant Association's data show that 43% of restaurants nationwide today still carry debt they accumulated during the pandemic. For some local restaurants, the unremitting pileup of problems led to permanent closures. Of the roughly 300 independent restaurants, bars and cafes in Portland at the start of the pandemic, a third have closed. But nearly as many have opened and a couple dozen more have come and gone. The pandemic didn't lead to a mass restaurant die-off in Portland, rather to a period of intense turnover. Local commercial Realtors say we're now in the middle of another such turnover period. It may even be a sign of the industry's strength. Why did some restaurants succeed and others fail in the face of daunting challenges? We took a look back at the pandemic years and their aftermath to try to understand how COVID's lingering impact still affects Portland's restaurant scene today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SWIFT PIVOT TO TAKEOUT Consider the plight of former Old Port Thai restaurant Cheevitdee. The restaurant's focus on Thai breakfast and brunch offerings proved a poor match for the early demands of the pandemic. Many of Cheevitdee's dishes simply weren't adaptable for to-go orders, like omelets served in hot cast-iron skillets and congee in cast-iron pots. "And people don't tend to get takeout breakfast anyway," co-owner Darit "Dee" Chandpen said. "That hurt us a lot." After struggling through the first year of the pandemic, Cheevitdee's ownership team chose to close the Fore Street venue in February 2021. Their lease was up, and the new one cranked up their rent by an unaffordable $700 a month. Even more dire, while their landlord had allowed them to pay less rent as an emergency measure in 2020, under the terms of their agreement, they had to pay back the $30,000 difference at the end of the lease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In lieu of raising the cash, the owners transferred all of Cheevitdee's kitchen equipment and furnishings to the landlord for him to sell to new tenants. "It was a big learning experience," co-owner Darit "Dee" Chandpen said. After they closed Cheevitdee, they turned to smaller restaurants, opening Mitr on Outer Congress Street and Indy's sandwich shop in South Portland. Both launched in 2022 and both remain open today. "And for both, we own the buildings too," co-owner Wan Pitafai said. "That's what we learned, to be our own landlord," laughed co-owner Pattira Tedford. Any money the owners spend on the Mitr and Indy's properties is equity. "At Cheevitdee, we spent $240,000 to open a restaurant," Pitafai said, "and walked away with nothing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some restaurants that had the bad luck to open right at the start of the pandemic had to upend their business models on the fly to meet the demand for takeout. Ramona's sandwich shop on Washington Avenue was slated to launch in March 2020, just one week before the shutdown. "We were somewhat fortunate because we were two days away from bringing in perishable product, so we didn't take a loss there," said Ramona owner Josh Sobel. "But we had all this great momentum, and it came to a screeching halt in a day, basically. I have a family, and this was going to be my source of income, so I needed to make it work somehow." A & C Grocery across the way on Washington Avenue was selling food through an ad hoc takeout window. If they can do it, Sobel thought to himself, we can do it. Ramona's opened its own takeout window, with limited hours and a limited menu, in April and May. They were serving the full menu for takeout by June. Of course, the service model didn't require a dramatic shift for Ramona's. "Our plan was to make takeout sandwiches from the start," he said. "We're a little place with seven seats, and we knew takeout was going to be 90% of our business." Sal de la Tierra, near Congress Square Plaza, was also set to open in early spring of 2020 but had to delay the launch until August. "When the pandemic hit, at first it was kind of like, I don't know how you say it in English," said co-owner Isai Galvez. "We say 'balde de agua fria,' like if you throw cold water on somebody. It's just like a shocker." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortunately, because the menu had plenty of portable items like tortas, tacos, burritos and quesadillas, they did enough business to get through the critical first year. "Our food makes good takeout food, good food to walk down the street and eat," Galvez said. "The fact that it is that type of restaurant helped us make it through. If it would have been a fancy sit-down restaurant, no way we'd make it." PRIME LOCATION Established restaurants also found themselves implementing a takeout program. At upscale pan-Mediterranean restaurant Tiqa, co-owner Deen Haleem estimated his Commercial Street restaurant did as few as two or three takeout orders a week before COVID. But when the pandemic hit, his team quickly developed a full takeout menu, and signed on for delivery services. Takeout suddenly accounted for half of Haleem's business, a shift that continued even after the initial lockdown was lifted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deering Center restaurant Bird & Co. offered no takeout when it launched in March 2019. "Once you open the floodgates of takeout, you can't control the quality of food," co-owner Wills Dowd explained. But once the pandemic hit, it was "adapt or die," he said. They quickly turned to takeout, and after about three weeks, were significantly busier than before. "It was a blessing in disguise, for sure," Dowd said. Location was also a major factor in Bird & Co.'s ability to survive the worst of the pandemic. Being situated at the corner of Forest Avenue and Woodford Street at the intersection of several off-peninsula neighborhoods was a boon. At certain times of day, the streets were lined with the cars of customers, said Dowd's business partner, Jared Dinsmore. "People were also walking down," Dinsmore said. "You could ride your bike there. It was the right place at the right time." The momentum continued. Dinsmore and Dowd estimated that business at Bird & Co. roughly tripled between February 2020 and February 2022. Location helped Sal de la Tierra, too; Galvez believes being in a comparatively busier downtown was a lifesaver. "If we were anywhere outside of downtown, we'd probably be closed by now," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, a downtown location was no guarantee. Rachel Sagiroglu opened The Maker's Galley at 5 Commercial St. in November 2021. The worst of the pandemic had passed, but knock-on effects were very much in play. As a former Wex employee, Sagiroglu knew that office workers in that part of town wanted a nearby place to eat. "In my mind, I'm thinking, 'When the offices start coming back in, I know I'm in a prime location,'" she said. But with the mass switch to remote work spurred by the pandemic, staffers never returned to downtown offices in numbers that could support restaurants. Sagiroglu had also counted on promised nearby development that was supposed to make the neighborhood a destination. But projects like 58 Fore a plan to turn 10 waterfront acres into a mixed-use residential and commercial neighborhood and slated to break ground in 2021 remain stalled today. "It just never happened," she said. "If (The Maker's Galley) was two blocks down in the Old Port, it would have been completely different. I'd still be open. One-hundred percent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SMALL PROBLEM/BIG PROBLEM Damien Sansonetti, co-owner of the former Italian restaurant Piccolo, called its location at 111 Market St. a "dead zone" at the outset of the pandemic. "There wasn't enough foot traffic around that area," he said. Even worse, the intimate size of the restaurant at a time when indoor dining was restricted. "With social distancing, I think we could have had about two two-tops. We joked that we'd open for a super fine-dining experience," Sansonetti said. "Piccolo was financially successful for all of its lifetime. The pandemic forced us to shut it down because we couldn't get the guests in there that we needed to." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After six years in business, the 20-seat venue was one of the early victims of the pandemic, closing permanently in July 2020. But the pandemic also provided the impetus for Sansonetti and his wife, chef Ilma Lopez, to launch the coffee shop and luncheonette Ugly Duckling on Danforth Street in early 2023. "When we were stuck at home during the pandemic and had super-reduced business hours, Ilma started making English muffins," Sansonetti said. "Then she started selling them to coffee shops and wholesale accounts, like Speckled Ax and Sur Lie. She was even selling them to (Lost Kitchen owner) Erin French in Freedom for her market once a week. Some of that ended up becoming why we opened Ugly Duckling. So you look at the silver linings of what can come out of things, and you have that." As late as 2022 and 2023, restaurants were still being affected by customers' pandemic concerns. When Jordan Rubin launched Bar Futo on Fore Street in December 2022, it was too cold to eat outside yet some customers were too nervous to eat inside. "It was a challenge for us just getting people in the restaurant," he said. At Tiqa, Haleem faced similar anxieties. Michelle Corry and her husband, Steve, closed Petite Jacqueline on Market Street after 12 years in business in the fall of 2023, citing the impact of the pandemic among their reasons. "Social distancing made it difficult for small places to have enough seats to make their service financially viable," Corry said. Petite Jacqueline's full capacity was 50 seats, though social distancing requirements left them with room for only 25-30 customers. In warmer months, the restaurant's special permit for outdoor seating added another 20-25 seats, bringing them back up to capacity which helped. STAFFING WOES Yet other issues, such as the staffing shortage, proved insurmountable. "Staffing levels were definitely our hardest challenge," Corry said. "It wasn't just the number of bodies, but consistent and key bodies that we were missing, like a chef and sous chef and high-level managers we needed and just weren't getting." By the summer of 2022, diners were returning. But Petite Jacqueline had to trim its hours and close one day a week because the restaurant lacked the staff to meet the demand. "It was frustrating," Corry said. "Staffing was a huge issue for me," Sagiroglu said of The Maker's Galley. "Turnover was big. It felt like I spent all of my time putting out ads, setting up interviews. I'd set up a day of interviews, three or four in a row that I'd blocked time for, and they'd just not show up." To lure reluctant workers and keep them from working elsewhere, restaurateurs had to raise their pay rates significantly. "To get a dishwasher that wasn't a high school kid who could only work two days a week, they're $20 an hour, when before COVID they're making $12 or $13 an hour," Sagiroglu said. Some employees from pre-COVID days were hesitant to return to work, especially older staff, as Chandpen experienced at Cheevitdee. "My staff came back (from the initial COVID shutdown) really, really shell-shocked," Haleem said. "They had gone from hiding in their bedrooms for two and a half months, avoiding human contact, to being in a restaurant with 15 or 20 people working, dealing with guests. It was such a radical, immediate shift that it freaked some people out." Over on Pine Street, Sansonetti and Lopez were operating Chaval, their French- and Spanish-influenced fine-dining restaurant, with "a severely reduced team. A couple of our team members came back (after the shutdown). A lot of them didn't." Lopez was working with their young daughter in tow and while pregnant with their son because schools were closed. For an entire month, Chaval operated with just Sansonetti in the kitchen. Tiqa, likewise, had a bare-bones staff. "From a kitchen perspective, I was always one (staffer) away from closing," Haleem said, "meaning if one person called out sick, I would have to close that day." As time went on, staffing woes escalated, leading Haleem and his wife and partner Carol Mitchell to close Tiqa for more than a year, from April 2023 until August 2024. "It got to a point where it wasn't just difficult, it was almost impossible (to properly staff). I didn't believe I could offer the food and service I wanted to offer with the labor force that I had," Haleem said. "The experience in the talent pool was lower than it's ever been, and the expectations for compensations were the highest they'd ever been." 'RESTAURANT WORK FLIPPED ON ITS HEAD' Tiqa now pays experienced line cooks $23-$25 per hour, up from $16-$17 before COVID. "The labor cost has gone up, and I don't think it'll ever go back down," Haleem said. "But the people I can get now are good. It's much easier to justify they're talented, hard-working, want to do a great job. And I can find them." Those workers were nowhere to be found for Haleem in 2022 and early 2023, when much of the public started to regain its appetite for dining in restaurants. "The amount of pent-up demand that we were observing was just off the chart," Haleem said. "In the '22 summer, I probably turned away just as many people as I seated because of my staffing challenge." For their part, staffers at Portland restaurants faced their own challenges. Kristen Mixter, now co-owner of Vesta restaurant in North Yarmouth, was bar manager at Tipo at the outset of the pandemic. After the shutdown, the restaurant reopened with a much smaller staff "who felt comfortable working together with maximum safety precautions," Mixter told the Press Herald in an email. "It felt like restaurant work flipped on its head for those of us serving," she went on. "The management team would have weekly meetings to make constant changes and adjustments to our operations, which became difficult at times. As the months went on, and we allowed some outdoor dining, we struggled to find a happy medium between the service that our guests wanted and what we were comfortable with." Mixter added that while many customers were cooperative and grateful for the restaurant's safety precautions, some were "obstinate and rude. Emotions were high, and it took a great deal of energy to keep calm during those situations." Burned out and frustrated, Mixter left the hospitality industry for a few months. But when she learned that Crispy Gai was opening a brick-and-mortar location (it started life as a pop-up), she was drawn back, impressed by its owners. By the time of the restaurant's launch in June 2021, "indoor dining with minimal restrictions was the norm, and restaurant workers had really started to assimilate to the COVID safety procedures." Just as importantly, Mixter said she felt a sense of stability working at Crispy Gai during such a volatile time because the business had previously established itself as a viable takeout operation. "I believe that is exactly why Crispy has been a success," she said. "Having launched during the dine-in shutdown, they provided a fun, bold, accessible menu of food that travels well." THE PUZZLE OF PRICING Beyond labor, restaurants faced other operational expenditures like soaring food costs, a problem that has not gone away. Chandpen said when Mitr opened in November 2022, the price of a basic ingredient like chicken, for one, had tripled. "But even though the cost is rising very fast, I'm also scared of raising prices too fast," he said. "The customers might not come back." Corry echoed that sentiment. "You can raise your prices, but at a certain point the customer is not going to want to go out to eat, or can't afford to go out to eat often," she said. "Petite Jacqueline was supposed to be a casual bistro for the community, and the prices were becoming so high that it was more like a fine-dining restaurant." Over at Tiqa, "You were tempted to almost put 'market price' on everything (on the menu), because you just didn't know what your food and labor costs were going to be next week things were just constantly going up," Haleem said. To tempt cost-conscious diners, when Tiqa reopened last August, it lowered its prices. They were able to pull it off in part by trimming portion sizes and swapping salmon and cod for pricier haddock and halibut, for instance. For Haleem, the spate of recent closures suggests that each restaurant needs to prove its worth to the dining public. "I don't see the (Portland) dining scene deteriorating a lot," he said, "but I do see it getting a haircut. We're seeing a tightening up of the market, and if you're not really good at what you do, if you're not well funded, it can be extremely challenging to keep it moving forward." Indeed, Portland saw 11 restaurants close this fall, from places open not quite a year to decades-old venues like Local 188. Market observers differ on the significance of the recent rash of closings. "We've seen it before," said Derek Miller, partner and broker at The Boulos Company. "It's not uncommon to see a cluster of closures going into the winter months. These things are cyclical in the restaurant business, just like they are in life." Joe Malone, founder and president of Malone Commercial Brokers, agreed that winter turnover is nothing new. "The thing that's a little different this time is that these are significant, experienced players turning over it's not first-time restaurant owners. The turnovers now are more problematic." SIGNS OF A REBOUND? Josh Miranda, owner of four Old Port restaurants and bars, said he fully agreed with Malone's assessment. "The margins in a restaurant are incredibly slim right now, and people don't have the disposable income they once did to go out to restaurants and bars," he said. "And this younger generation doesn't go out as much or drink as much." Miranda painfully felt this changing dynamic during the year and a half that he operated Henry's Public House on Fore Street. He closed it in February. "We tried to be a true public house and be open seven days a week, for seven lunches and seven dinners, and it just wasn't manageable," he said. "And it's such a big space. We were full every night at least once, but I needed it to be full two or three times. Those kinds of places aren't popular right now. "The market has changed," Miranda added. "I think if Henry's was in business 10, 15 years ago it would have done a lot better." Sad as it is to see a place close, vacancies like Henry's often become "second-generation" restaurant spaces, eventually filled by other restaurateurs seizing the chance to launch a new operation without the burdensome costs of a full build-out and buying kitchen equipment. This gives several developers hope. "When some of these businesses fail, that creates opportunities for other operators to backfill those spaces," Miller said. "That's what we've seen in the past, following the pandemic: the resiliency of the market. I was pleasantly surprised then by how quickly the market absorbed all the available space. I think we'll see that again." Once such second-generation space is absorbed, Malone predicted that Portland will see fewer new independent restaurants. Well-capitalized local restaurant groups may have the money to launch a new place, but the steep cost "will keep some of the mom-and-pops out, for sure." But despite the dispiriting fall season and quite a few closures over the winter, too, Malone foresees Portland's restaurant scene remaining robust. "There's going to be a quick revival," he said. "It's a lull. The operators who are looking at the current vacancies are extremely experienced. I do believe it will come back strong." Indeed, Dowd and Dinsmore opened the upscale Chinese food and cocktail lounge Lucky Cheetah last summer in the Moulton Street space that had housed the Old Port Tavern for 50 years. And so far, more than a dozen new restaurants are slated to launch in Portland this year, including ZA pizzeria in the former Slab Sicilian Street Food space, and Silver Street by Taj in the former North Point venue. "One of the bright spots on the restaurant scene right now is that second-generation restaurant space is actually very sought after," Malone said. "Those closed spaces will not stay closed for long." Copy the Story Link Paramount Global and CBS legal team issued a broadside against Donald Trumps $20 billion lawsuit over the way that 60 Minutes edited an interview with Kamala Harris last fall, as the network has characterized the litigation as an affront to the First Amendment. Last month, Trumps legal team filed an amended complaint, claiming CBS deceptively edited the interview in a way that cost traffic and viewership to his own media company, Trump Media and Technology Group, which includes his social media platform Truth Social. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a motion to dismiss filed Thursday, CBS legal team contended that the lawsuit is without basis in law or fact. The network said that the litigation was the presidents effort to seek to punish a news organization for constitutionally protected editorial judgments they do not like. They not only ask for $20 billion in damages but also seek an order directing how a news organization may exercise its editorial judgment in the future. The First Amendment stands resolutely against these demands. Trumps lawsuit was originally filed in October, just weeks after 60 Minutes aired an interview with Harris in which she is shown giving a different answer to a question than one that was shown on a Face the Nation preview for the broadcast. At one point in the interview, correspondent Bill Whitaker asked Harris why Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not listening to the Biden administration. Harris answered, Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region. And were not going to stop doing that. We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris was shown giving the first part of her answer on Face the Nation, and the second part on 60 Minutes. CBS has said that the edit was not deceptive and is a standard practice in the business due to time constraints. Trump, though, has claimed that the edit was done to boost Harris electoral chances. His initial lawsuit filed before the presidential election, claimed it was a violation of Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, while adding Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) as a plaintiff. After CBS legal team pointed out that he won the race, he amended the complaint, not only citing the Texas law but an alleged violation of the federal Lanham Act. The Texas law and the federal law are directed at false advertising. In their latest filing, CBS legal team all but says what many political observers have: The lawsuit is frivolous. They wrote that Trump and Jackson have not and cannot plead the most basic elements of their claims. They wrote that Trump failed to plausibly allege even the foundation of the claim: that CBS news programming is commercial advertising or promotion.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS also is seeking dismissal on the grounds that Trump lacks jurisdiction by filing the case in Texas, accusing him of engaging in forum-shopping to try to get a better outcome. What has caused consternation at CBS is that Paramount Global is seeking federal regulatory approval of its acquisition by Skydance. The company and Trumps team have confirmed that that have been in settlement talks, sparking worries that the network would deliver a payout to the president to try to ease the way for the mergers completion. Trump has said that he is asking for a lot of money to settle the case. The latest filing also calls into question Trumps assertions of harm from the broadcast. CBS legal team noted that the alleged damages are to his presidential campaign or to Truth Social, but not to he himself. Moreover, his legal team wrote, Truth Socials share price allegedly skyrocketed nearly 75% in the same month that the Face the Nation and 60 Minutes broadcasts aired, while Trumps victory in the election has mooted the need for relief for any ostensible injury to his campaign. Brendan Carr, appointed chairman of the FCC by Trump, revived a conservative groups complaint over the 60 Minutes broadcast. As part of an inquiry, CBS turned over an unedited transcript of the Harris interview. It showed what the network has said all along: One part of Harris answer was featured on Face the Nation and the other part on 60 Minutes. Nevertheless, Carr opened a public docket to collect comment on the complaint. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Paramount and CBS filed motions Thursday to throw out President Donald Trumps lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview last year, calling the suit an affront to the First Amendment. Trump first sued the network a few days before the November election, alleging that the program had violated a Texas consumer protection law by deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris. Last month, the president expanded the lawsuit, alleging an additional claim under the federal Lanham Act and seeking $20 billion in damages. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a bid to establish jurisdiction in federal court in Texas, Trump also added Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, as a co-plaintiff. The company filed two motions to dismiss the case, one for lack of jurisdiction and the other on grounds that consumer fraud laws do not govern editorial speech. This lawsuit is an affront to the First Amendment and is without basis in law or fact, the companys lawyers wrote. The lawsuit has been the subject of consternation within CBS, as Paramount has indicated it may be willing to settle with Trump. In part, the company is fearful that Trumps appointees at the Federal Communications Commission may hold up the merger with Skydance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motions filed Thursday laid out a forceful argument that the suit is an unconstitutional threat to free speech. If the First Amendment means anything, it means that public officials like Plaintiffs cannot hold news organizations like CBS liable for the simple exercise of editorial judgment, the motion argues. Whether Plaintiffs believe the entire unedited Interview should have aired or only edited in a way they approve, they are not entitled under the First Amendment to demand only news that fits their wishes. Trump filed the suit in the Amarillo federal courthouse, where nearly all cases are assigned to Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee. In the motion regarding jurisdiction, Paramount argued that there is no reason why a Texas judge should hear a lawsuit filed by Trump, a Florida resident, against CBS, which is based in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS aired two excerpts from Harris response to a question about Gaza. In the first airing, on Face the Nation, she gave a relatively circuitous response. The clip used the following day on 60 Minutes was more succinct. Trump has argued that CBS sought to falsely portray Harris as more coherent than she was by deleting her word salad response. Trump claims that the editing violated the state and federal consumer fraud laws, because they created confusion and amounted to unfair competition with Truth Social, his social media platform. CBS had filed a similar motion to dismiss in December, but that became moot when Trump amended his claim last month. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Paramount Global has asked a federal judge to toss President Trump's $20-billion lawsuit over edits to a "60 Minutes" interview, alleging Trump's legal effort was designed to "punish" CBS for editorial decisions a violation of protected free speech rights. In its motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed Thursday, Paramount argued that Trump and fellow plaintiff Rep. Ronny Jackson, a Texas Republican, "seek to punish a news organization for constitutionally protected editorial judgments they do not like." "They not only ask for $20 billion in damages but also seek an order directing how a news organization may exercise its editorial judgment in the future," Paramount said in the court filing. "The 1st Amendment stands resolutely against these demands." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First Amendment experts have long said Paramount, the parent company of CBS, had a solid defense in the "60 Minutes" case because news producers and editors have wide latitude to decide what material to broadcast as long as the information aired isn't distorted. Read more: Trump amends CBS '60 Minutes' lawsuit and demands $20 billion Nonetheless, Paramount's controlling shareholder Shari Redstone has agitated to settle the lawsuit with Trump to help clear a path for her company's sale to David Ellison's Skydance Media. The $8-billion transaction requires the approval of federal regulators. The effort to try to settle the case was met with loud protests by CBS News journalists who insist they did nothing wrong in the editing of last fall's "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramount has separately agreed to mediation, as required by the judge. Paramount was facing a Friday deadline to file the motion to dismiss. Last fall, CBS invited Trump for an interview with "60 Minutes," but he backed out. The network went forward with a broadcast that featured Harris. CBS News has acknowledged that it aired a partial answer by Harris to a question by CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker about the Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war. The issue became controversial after CBS aired different portions of Harris' answer on two news programs. Trump has alleged the network deceptively edited a 60 Minutes interview with Harris to try to tip the election in her favor. Last month, he amended his initial $10-billion lawsuit increasing the alleged damages to $20 billion in an attempt to steer the legal argument away from 1st Amendment grounds by claiming that "60 Minutes" was a fraudulent product foisted on the people of Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: '60 Minutes,' the Associated Press, an Iowa newspaper: Trump's attacks on the media reach new heights Trump filed the suit in Amarillo, Texas, where it would be heard by a Trump-appointed judge. Jackson, Trump's former doctor who lives in Texas, was added to the lawsuit and alleged that he suffered harm by the "60 Minutes" broadcast. Paramount separately asked the judge to move the case to federal court in New York, where CBS is based, if he declined to dismiss the claims. CBS producers have long insisted that they quoted Harris accurately. The Federal Communications Commission has separately opened an investigation into claims of news distortion stemming from the "60 Minutes" broadcast. Video of the unedited interview, released last month by FCC Chairman Brendon Carr and separately by CBS, supported the network's account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the release also showed that Harris gave a jumbled answer, which was clipped to its most succinct and cogent sentence. Conservatives have criticized CBS for not airing more of Harris' response. Trump described Harris' answer as a "word salad" that suggested she was "incoherent" and "indecisive," according to the president's amended complaint. News organizations routinely edit interviews, removing extraneous words and redundant phrases. The practice has long been accepted as long as the edits don't change the context or meaning. Paramount defended the edits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The answers that aired on each news show were simply excerpts of a single answer Vice President Harris gave to a single question, and taken together, viewers heard virtually all of Harris' answer," Paramount argued in the motion. First Amendment experts have said Trump would have had a difficult time arguing the "60 Minutes" interview harmed him because the question did not reference him. Instead, it was about whether the Biden administration had sway with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Read more: Not just CBS. How Trump 2.0 is already changing Hollywood and media Trumps amended filing also tried to steer the case away from 1st Amendment grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the Trump amended filing asserts the case should not hinge on free speech arguments but should be considered a violation of the Texas Deceptive Practices Trade Act, which regulates commercial business practices. Trump has asserted the interview amounted to "election interference," and that it constituted "unfair competition" to his Truth Social platform. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A school security guard in Pittsburgh was reportedly assaulted by a parent Wednesday afternoon. A statement from Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson Ebony Pugh said the incident happened at Brashear High School along Crane Avenue. She says a parent, who has not been identified, is facing charges after assaulting a school security officer as that officer was trying to de-escalate a situation between two middle school students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer was treated by paramedics. No students were hurt. Pugh says the district takes incidents of violence seriously, and the parent also faces a potential ban from school policy. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW CHEYENNE Zoom-recorded meetings show that administrators in Laramie County School District 1 were considering closing schools as an alternative in the controversial Most Cost-Effective Remedy as early as March 2024. Wednesday afternoon, the Cheyenne Parent Alliance released a statement saying they are deeply disappointed in the Laramie County School District 1 (LCSD1) administration, which appears to have driven the outcome of the Most Cost-Effective Remedy (MCER) study to justify closing eight neighborhood elementary schools in Cheyenne. The news release included a video compiled from meetings between the district, the State Construction Department (SCD) and consulting firm FEA dating back to January 2024. The meetings were part of the process that led to the MCER report, which was released in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (The video) shows LCSD1 administrators, along with the SCD actively shaped the MCER process and advocated for eliminating elementary schools, rather than pursuing necessary renovations or replacements, according to the release. The district pursued the MCER study following an appropriation of approximately $82 million from the Legislature in the 2023 and 2024 sessions. The funds were appropriated for one grades 5-6 and two grades K-4 facilities in the South triad. District officials said they intended to replace Arp and Cole elementary schools and build a new grades 5-6 facility. Doing so would subsequently take Hebard, Lebhart, Fairview and Bain elementaries offline, meaning they could no longer be used for educational purposes. However, the final MCER proposed closing eight schools across the district in order to fund essential maintenance and build two new schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan, which was voted through by both the LCSD1 Board of Trustees and Wyomings School Facilities Commission (SFC), sparked outrage among parents who protested the lack of public input, claiming there were other options in which no schools had to be closed. Two parents filed a lawsuit in Laramie County District Court, asking a judge to review the final agency actions of the SFC and SCD. Additionally, parents worked to obtain Zoom recordings of the MCER development meetings. Those videos called into question the districts claims that they were uninterested in closing schools and resulted in the video sent out Wednesday. The District understands and appreciates that parents feel passionately about the education of their children, and that the decision to take schools offline feels very personal to the affected families, LCSD1 Community Relations Director Mary Quast told the WTE via email. The District did not go into the MCER with an intent to shut down facilities. However, with aging school buildings and declining enrollment across the district, the job of the administration is to recognize that sometimes in order to be good stewards of public funds, it is no longer feasible to keep all buildings operational. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Save neighborhood schools The alliance distilled more than 30 hours of district meetings and hundreds of emails into a 32-minute video, which they felt demonstrated the districts objectives. The only objective set by the district was to ensure equity across the district and to be good stewards of public funds and facilities, the district told the WTE via email. The videos show administrators discussing options and expressing hopes of closing schools to save on staffing and limit the number of times the district has to go to the Legislature asking for funds. The alliance has been active since October, when the board concurred with the study. Since then, their goal has been to save Miller, Deming, Jessup, Hebard, Bain, Fairview, Lebhart and Henderson from being offlined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents emailed the video to the board earlier this week, writing, You have a clear logistical and legal pathway forward to preserve schools for all students, families and staff in this district. Time is of the essence, as teachers and families at affected schools may already be making plans to prematurely jump ship. Wednesdays email reiterated a desire to be a part of the solution, claiming their objective is to save schools and preserve the educational integrity of our district for years to come. Sparse funding In a July meeting, one district administrator, who couldnt be identified from the video, said, I was in hopes of, whatever our remedy is here, we get rid of some of these old schools. Probably two huge reasons: Money/staffing; and then simply, I dont want to keep coming down here every year asking for money to fix things up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Money for building upkeep comes from the state, and a state Construction Department employee noted in one meeting that obtaining funds for major projects has not been easy. Every renovation that no longer needs to happen because the schools now offline, every boiler that doesnt blow up because its offline and we dont have to divert major maintenance to it, all of the eventual remedies that these schools would need to come offline stack up, LCSD1 Superintendent Stephen Newton said in an April meeting. Its hard to predict how much we we would need to invest in those schools. The final MCER does spread out construction and offline dates over several years in hopes of making funds more obtainable, with all projects being completed over the course of a decade. Though the stated intent of the district was to efficiently and equitably use its funds to better the quality of education, the Parent Alliance pointed out that this study is unprecedented in its results. It is rare for a MCER study to cause the closure of a school, let alone eight, the group said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public comment The alliances news release claimed that the administration knew its decision to close eight schools would be massively unpopular throughout the community, and they appeared to obscure both their involvement in the process and the recommendations they put forward. We believe that decisions about our childrens schools and the core structure of our community should be made openly and honestly, said Katie Dijkstal, a Jessup parent who is one of the parents to file the lawsuit. Any school district administration should want to hear from their constituents, and should value and appreciate feedback as they manage public property and educational facilities for students. Video evidence shows that the district and SCD were asked in March if they wanted public comment, as other districts previously conducting MCERs had asked for such input. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While acknowledging that there are smaller schools that would be good candidates for taking offline, Chairman and Principal of FEA Bill Small noted to the district and SCD representatives during a March 2024 meeting that offlining any school will result in backlash. You say, Were going to close some schools, and the community blows up and nothing goes forward, Small said. It is unclear when the final decision about public comment was made, but ultimately LCSD1 took none. The school board was only involved in the final vote on whether to accept or reject the remedy. The states process for facility ranking and having an outside group conduct a MCER study does not incorporate a school boards wishes until the time a board has to vote on the findings of the MCER study, board chairwoman Alicia Smith said via email. The board was aware our district administration was having conversations with the SFC to advocate for new facilities and regarding the condition and capacity issues of our existing facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Parent Alliance had four major claims in their release: School closures were the goal, cost savings dominated the process, public involvement was deliberately limited, and trustees were given limited information in order for the administration to achieve the desired goal of closing schools. The video seems to capture discussions about circumventing public meetings by splitting information into multiple smaller, non-public sessions, limiting community oversight and transparency, according to the release. All while acknowledging that the public would not agree with the recommendations. The alliance claims that the board was misled regarding their options with the MCER, a claim echoed in the lawsuit against the SFC and SCD. The LCSD1 board appears to have been misled about their ability to challenge the closures and their decision on the MCER, the release reads. The study recommendation was messaged to the board as a take it or leave it deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawsuit Though separate from the alliance, the lawsuit petitioning the state district court to review the final agency actions of the SFC and SCD makes similar points. The suit, filed by Dijkstal and Franz Fuchs, a soon-to-be Deming parent, claims that the MCER violates the state constitution. Initial filings also claim that the final decision was made without sufficient information. The Wyoming Constitution provides for equal and quality education, which has been supported by case law since 1995. This right was reaffirmed by Laramie County District Judge Peter Froelicher in his ruling last week on a suit filed by the Wyoming Education Association (WEA) and eight school districts, including LCSD1, against the state in 2022. Frolichers 186-page decision said that the Wyoming Legislature has been unconstitutionally underfunding public schools and ordered the state to remedy the issue. Froelicher is also overseeing the MCER lawsuit, which claims that the remedy violates Wyomingites constitutional right to an equal and quality education because it closes eight historically provided neighborhood elementary schools and forces students into distant, significantly larger schools. While not involved in the MCER lawsuit, the district did note that they doubted the WEA decision would immediately impact the implementation of the chosen remedy. While the district appreciates and agrees with the Courts findings, it also recognizes that the decision is subject to appeal, Quast wrote in her email to the WTE. Even if the decision is not appealed, the district also recognizes that it is the States responsibility to determine how to address these deficiencies, and the Court did not dictate a particular remedy. While the District looks forward to the State addressing these deficiencies, it does not appear that the decision has any immediate effect on the funding or evaluation processes. The SFC and SCD filed a motion to dismiss the MCER lawsuit due to a lack of statutory standing, claiming that the petitioners werent able to allege a statutory or constitutional violation. The petitioners responded by opposing the motion for dismissal, claiming that petitions for review of agency action are not subject to dismissal according to Wyoming Rule of Civil Procedures. Additionally, they claimed to have standing to petition the final actions of the SFC. A decision on the cases dismissal has yet to be filed in Laramie County District Court. CALIFORNIA (WJW) A TikTok video showing a stroller, allegedly with a child left inside unattended at Disneyland as parents went to get on a ride at the park, is sparking outrage. According to TikToker @keesha4rank, she allegedly watched a couple leave their child in a stroller covered with a Spiderman Blanket while they went on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride at Disneyland, Calif. Ohio Walmart sells $300K scratch-off ticket Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive honestly never seen this happen. Why did somebody leave their baby here in a stroller while they went to go get on a ride? she said in the video. That stroller, right there, there is a baby in there as you all can see (movement under a blanket). Somebodys kid is in there. According to @keesha4rank, before she knew a child was inside the stroller, she heard one of the adults say, Oh, just put a chair there to block that side off. In the video, Disney authorities are seen coming to assist with the situation as @keesha4rank says aloud, I wonder how old you can be to wait by yourself. According to the Disneyland Resort Help Center, Guests under 14 years of age must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 years of age or older to enter Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New restaurants coming to Great Northern Mall The situation sparked outrage in the TikTok comments. One user said, They shouldve had police there waiting for the parents to get off the ride. If that doesnt scream neglect, then idk what does, while another said, This breaks my heart. Thank God there are good people around watching. Couldnt imagine if there wasnt. That poor baby. According to the Disneyland website, the park offers a service called Rider Switch, which allows parents and other guests to take turns enjoying attractions without having to line up twice or leave anyone alone. FOX 8 News reached out to Disneyland for comment but have not yet heard back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Francis H. Smith Hall on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) The Virginia Military Institutes (VMI) first Black superintendent, Ret. Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, says partisan politics played a key role in the Board of Visitors decision to not renew his contract a move that comes after four and a half years of leadership at the nations oldest state-supported military college. I am disappointed by the Board of Visitors decision not to renew my contract as superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, Wins said in a statement on Thursday. This decision was not based on my performance or the tangible progress we achieved. It is the result of a partisan choice that abandons the values of honor, integrity, and excellence upon which VMI was built. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board, appointed by the governor, held a special closed meeting last week, where members ultimately voted to seek a new leader to replace Wins. Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins (Courtesy Photo of Virginia Military Institute) Wins took over as VMIs superintendent in 2020, stepping into the role at a time when allegations of racism within the institution had made national headlines. The Washington Post first reported on the accusations, and a state-commissioned investigation later confirmed deep-rooted racial and gender disparities at the school. Tensions escalated further in 2022 when Wins requested funding to expand Title IX and bolster diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. That push sparked backlash from a faction of alumni, parents, and students tied to the Spirit of VMI PAC, a political action committee that urged supporters to reject the woke assault on VMI. Wins did not comment immediately after the Feb. 28 vote, but in his Thursday statement, he defended his leadership, saying he was proud of the work his team accomplished to restore VMIs reputation as one of the nations top-rated institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement l pledged to protect and modernize VMI while preserving its unique method of education and right traditions, he wrote, noting that under his tenure, the institution increased state funding by 50% and secured over $321 million for facility upgrades. Wins said VMI reversed a decade-long decline in admissions, secured a $3.8 million grant to boost Pell Grant enrollment, and maintained budget surpluses despite earlier projections. There are a tremendous number of faculty, staff and alumni who partnered with me in their support of the institute. They know the worth of VMI and support what it does for these young cadets, regardless of what they look like, where they come from, and how they identify themselves, Wins said. Unfortunately, the winds of resistance by the few have drowned out those who desire to bring the Institute into the 21st century while maintaining the right traditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VMIs Board of Visitors President John Adams, appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, did not comment after the board voted 6-10 against renewing Wins contract. The board, made up largely of Youngkin appointees, saw some division two members, C. Ernest Edgar IV and retired Rear Adm. Terence McKnight, broke from the majority and voted to extend Wins contract, while another Youngkin appointee, Maj. Gen. James Ring, was absent from the vote. In a statement following the Feb. 28 vote, Adams expressed appreciation for Wins leadership but did not elaborate on the boards reasons for the decision. The foundation he has provided us will ensure VMI continues to fulfill its vital mission of educating future leaders, Adams said, adding that the board was supremely grateful for Wins service during a difficult period for the institute. The statement did not provide details on the search process for a new superintendent. While the boards next scheduled meeting is May 1-3, it remains possible that a special session could be convened sooner to discuss the transition. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Get out the blankets again because its going to be another chilly night across North Georgia, and parts of the North Georgia Mountains could even see a dusting of snow. They could see a dusting to 1 inch in some of those most-highest peaks. That will make for some slippery travel, Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nitz said rain will start mixing with snow around 9 p.m. in the mountains, and by midnight that mix will change over to light snow. Again, this is only for the highest elevations of the mountains. As for the Atlanta metro, it is just going to be cold by the time you wake up on Thursday. Temperatures will be near freezing for most of us, Nitz said. Nitz said there will be some early morning clouds and the gusty winds will stay with us through the day, but the sun returns. AUSTIN (KMID/KPEJ)- On Wednesday, the Supreme Court wrestled with whether to move forward with plans to temporarily store nuclear waste at a site in Andrews, Texas and parts of rural New Mexico even as some justices worried about safety and lack of progress toward a more permanent solution. Its an issue that has been on the minds of people across the Permian Basin for years- simply put, they dont want a nuclear waste in their backyards. Originally planned for a site in Andrews, Texas, the Florida-owned company that would build and maintain the site began looking at another site in Carlsbad, New Mexico last year after locals pushed back on the idea, which was eventually blocked by the Fifth Circuit of Appeals. The waste would travel through Midland-Odessa by trainsomething not too many people are happy about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have told the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) that its unfair to impose this burden upon these small jurisdictions. A volunteer group of firefighters showing up to respond to a derailment of spent nuclear fuel, how fair is that, so theyre taking advantage of these small communities, and theyre aware, and thats part of what were doing, were raising awareness, said Monica Perales, Attorney for the PB Coalition of Land and Royalty Owners and Operators. The people of Texas have made it clear they dont want this high-level radioactive waste in their communities. This issue is about state sovereignty and respecting the consent of the governed. Im confident the Supreme Court will recognize Texans rights and uphold the law we passed to protect our state from spent nuclear fuel rods and other forms of high-level radioactive waste, said Representative Brooks Landgraf said last year as the Biden Administration sought to overturn the ban and once again allow radioactive waste to be stored in the Permian. Now, Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken up the fight stop the facility from rising in the worlds most productive oil field. Texas Solicitor General Aaron Nielson presented the case on behalf of Texas. Background In 1987, Congress determined that the nations spent nuclear fuel should be securely deposited deep underground in a permanent facility in Yucca Mountain, Nevada. But the site has yet to be established amid pushback from the state, and funding from Congress which dried up years ago; the project was halted during the Obama administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 100,000 tons (90,000 metric tons) of spent fuel, some of it dating from the 1980s, is piling up at current and former nuclear plant sites nationwide and growing by more than 2,000 tons (1,800 metric tons) a year. The waste was meant to be kept there temporarily before being deposited deep underground. And now, the site is running out of room. Paxton argued that the federal government has failed to follow the law for decades and has now attempted to authorize private interim storage projects, approving a facility that would store thousands of metric tons of spent nuclear fuel in an above-ground facility in the Permian Basin. Congress, however, never authorized such a scheme. In 2016, Interim Storage Partners (ISPs) predecessor applied for a license to operate a consolidated interim storage facility where it could house thousands of metric tons of spent nuclear fuel in dry-cask, above-ground storage in Andrews County, less than a mile from the TexasNew Mexico border. The license would be valid for forty years, but ISP may seek to renew it for an additional twenty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas strenuously objected. On Texass behalf, Governor Greg Abbott submitted comments explaining why spent fuel is too dangerous to be placed anywhere other than in a deep geologic repository and definitely should not be stored on a concrete pad atop an oil field where 250,000 active oil and gas wells capture 40% of Americas oil reserves. If something were to happenbe it terrorism or an accidentthe result would devastate the worlds largest producing oil field and would significantly harm the entire country. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) warned that because the Commission has disregarded Yucca Mountain, ISPs facility could become the permanent solution for the nations nuclear waste. Although the Commission says that it expects that the waste will eventually be shipped to a permanent geologic repository, the Commission never addressed what would happen ifas has been the case for decadesno permanent facility is ever built. New Mexicos Governor raised similar concerns, warning of significant risk that the nations spent nuclear fuel will stay in Texas forever. Nevertheless, the Commission licensed ISPs proposed facility in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But heres the rub, the Permian Basin facility could cause shipments of dangerous materials to be moved through major population centers and transportation hubs, such as Fort Worth, exposing Texass infrastructure to potential accidents or terrorist attacks. My office argued before the Supreme Court to protect Texas from an illegal plan to send dangerous radioactive materials to the beating heart of Americas energy industry. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has no lawful authority to irresponsibly dump thousands of metric tons of radioactive nuclear waste on top of the vital oil fields in Texas, said Attorney General Paxton. The Commission should follow the law instead of jeopardizing national security, threatening environmental catastrophe, and inviting untold disaster. Now, the justices will have to hear arguments from all sides, and consider whether, as the NRC and Interim Storage Partners argues, the states and a private energy company forfeited their right to object to the licensing decisions because they declined to join in the commissions proceedings. A decision is expected by late June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read Paxtons full brief here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. AUSTIN State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has filed House Bill 3866, legislation designed to protect Texas homeowners from dangerous chemical containers being brought in and stored in their neighborhood. The legislation comes in direct response to the July 2024 Permian Basin Container fire in northern Ector County, where a chemical storage facility that recently moved into a residential area went up in flames and sent hazardous smoke into nearby neighborhoods and contaminated groundwater sources relied upon by area residents. Due to the type of materials involved, the fire smoldered for days, prompting local and state agenciesincluding the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)to coordinate air and water quality monitoring, distribute bottled water to affected residents, and conduct soil testing to protect public health. RELATED: Environmental Disaster- Residents seek millions in PBC fire aftermath Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was dubbed an environmental disaster by people living in the area. In a lawsuit filed last August in Ector County, lawyers for more than a dozen plaintiffs said, On July 23, 2024, just before dawn, a fire erupted at the Permian Basin Containers site in northwest Odessa, Texas. Flames shot over a hundred feet in the air as explosion after explosion awakened nearby residents. Some immediately fled for their lives. Others tried to hold their ground, but the massive chemical fire left them no choice. Residents throughout the area were forced to evacuate. The blaze continued for days, but that was only the beginning. The lawsuit went on to describe the aftermath felt by residents in the area. People in the area of the fire began to notice a noxious smell in the air. It caused eyes to burn and tear up. Many experienced headaches and nausea, as well as strange sensations in their nose and throat. Worse yet, the chemical soup created by the fire and its aftermath was everywhere. The millions of gallons of water used to fight the fire drove a flood surge of hazardous wastewater throughout the surrounding neighborhood. An orange and black slick, more than a foot deep, rushed across property lines onto and into homes and cars, coating everything in between, eventually morphing into a ubiquitous black sludge. The chemical smell was overpowering. And yet, no one could answer the seemingly obvious question: What was it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These lawyers said the true dangers caused by the fire went well beneath the surface. In this part of Texas, water is a scarce resource. And perhaps, apart from oil and gas, it is the most valuable resource. In the community surrounding the Permian Basin Containers site, homes and businesses rely on well water as their primary source of potable water. These wells have now been ruined. The water applied to the fire scattered the chemical constituents formerly housed in plastic tanks at the site and drove them across the area and, ultimately, into the ground. The results have been disastrous. Well water throughout surrounding areas now presents as discolored with a foul odor. According to the suit, recent analytical tests have shown water wells in the area are now polluted with a laundry list of toxic compounds. These include: 2-hexanone (a solvent that is considered a neurotoxin) acetone (a solvent that can cause birth defects) 1,3,5 and 1,2,4 Trimethylbenzene (TMB) (a byproduct of petroleum processing that is a fuel additive in gasoline) Naphthalene (an organic compound that can cause organ damage) Toluene (a solvent that can damage the central nervous system and cause developmental abnormalities) Xylene (a hydrocarbon that can cause neurological problems) Propylbenzene (a solvent that can cause severe respiratory effects) Butylbenzene (a corrosive chemical used to make insecticides) Isopropylbenzene (a volatile organic compound that is a known human carcinogen) and Ethylbenzene (a petroleum byproduct that is a known human carcinogen) Photos courtesy of Hicks Johnson PLLC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report came as no surprise to residents who complained about the storage site for years prior to the fire. Remarkably, residents in the area complained about the Permian Basin Containers site for years prior to the fire, the lawsuit stated. However, the complaints fell on deaf ears. Its that inaction that prompted Landgraf, who visited the site on multiple occasions and kept residents updated on cleanup efforts, to seek to make a change. No family should have to fear for their safety because hazardous chemicals are stored just a stones throw from their home, Landgraf said. This bill establishes a commonsense safety buffer for families living in unincorporated areas where zoning laws dont exist to provide that protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under House Bill 3866, outdoor containers holding dangerous chemicals cannot be stored within 2,000 feet of a private residence that existed before the storage facility. To ensure compliance, these containers must be registered with TCEQ and will undergo annual inspections to verify they remain outside the 2,000-foot boundary. The bill also preserves local control, allowing cities to enforce or adopt even stricter regulations if they choose. This is about common sense and public safety, Landgraf added. Ive worked closely with the people impacted by the PBC fire in its aftermath. I want to make sure no West Texas familyor any Texas familyhas to experience what our community went through last summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. With every day of the new White House administration that passes, the chances of Russia being brought in from the cold on the international stage after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine appear to be increasing. U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing Kremlin charm campaign has seen Ukraine and Europe sidelined in peace negotiations, reports that sanctions against Moscow could be lifted, and even accusations from top Democrats that the U.S. is actively siding with Russia. Experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent say the U.S.'s new stance ignores one crucial thing Vladimir Putin's Russia does not, and never has wanted, truly peaceful relations with the West and has been engaged in a hybrid war with it for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putins hybrid assaults on the West have included assassinations abroad, the egregious jailing of foreigners in Russia, the funneling of weapons and facilitation of corruption, and, of course, an infamous army of hackers who carry out cyberattacks. Conflict with the West is "the foundation of (Putins) rule now," John Foreman, CBE, a former UK defence attache in both Kyiv and Moscow, told the Kyiv Independent. "If you've got the foreign bogey you know, Anglo-Saxons, the predatory West, fascist Ukrainians, puppet states and all that that's the justification for why you have to be in power indefinitely, why Russian freedoms are being crushed and why there's no free media." Foreman was stationed in Moscow in the immediate aftermath of the poisoning of Soviet defector Sergey Skripal in Salisbury, an event he says sealed U.K. hostility towards the Russian government after a long history of hybrid attacks on NATO members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of Trumps planned peace deal with Russia, that campaign, he said, "will endure, because the wider conflict with the West and with Ukraine is about dividing us to achieve political goals." "So why would Putin stop that? Read also: The Czech weapons giant replacing the Kalashnikov in Ukraines army Lauri Luht is currently Estonias cyber attache in Kyiv. He recalled waking up during a 2007 cyber attack to find government websites, including that of the border service for which he worked at the time, shut down and an email inbox choked with junk. Those attacks which struck as Estonia removed a Soviet monument from Tallinn were one of the first times Russian actors had weaponized cyberspace for geopolitical aims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A distributed-denial-of-service attack like the 2007 hit on Estonia is almost quaint today. In subsequent years, Russias cyber arsenal has "grown so vicious, Luht said. "And the problem, of course, is that the best cyber attacks still remain invisible," Luht told the Kyiv Independent. Like Foreman, he sees no reason to think Russia will stop. "Ukraine is the primary focus of Russia right now, but that doesn't mean that they don't have others in their focus," Luht said. "The (cyber) attacks which are carried out against Ukraine today might be already happening or might happen tomorrow against others." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe the Russians, energized by the internal belief that Trump will save them, will start testing Article 5 in a systematic manner to trigger a slippery slope undermining NATO." Trump's warming relations with Russia threaten NATOs fundamental protections, said Dr. Jan Kallberg, a research scientist and associate professor at West Point. "I believe the Russians, energized by the internal belief that Trump will save them, will start testing Article 5 in a systematic manner to trigger a slippery slope undermining NATO," Kallberg told the Kyiv Independent. Kallberg added this could take many forms but used the hypothetical example of false Kremlin claims of Norwegian border guards crossing the border into Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this example, Russian forces could open fire on actual Norwegian guards manning the border, prompting Norway to invoke Article 5. Kallberg said it's unlikely that NATO would declare war on Russia over such an incident, so faith in NATO as a reliable defensive mechanism would be thrown into question. "Five to ten of these provocations and Article 5 is undermined. Then Russia has succeeded," he said. Trumps current courting of Putin for a peace deal neglects that Russian agents have obliquely attacked the U.S. and NATO with relative impunity for almost 20 years. Russia has shown little respect for NATO and its Article 5, nor for the borders, security, or interests of any country that is not Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below is an incomplete timeline of Putin-era hybrid attacks on NATO nations. The total number of such attacks will never be known Western computer systems silently fall victim to Russian cyber gangs every day. Read also: How US right-wing podcasters shape pro-Russia, anti-Ukraine sentiments 2006: Assassination of Alexander Litvinenko A Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agent who investigated organized crime, Litvinenko fled Russia for the U.K. after growing critical of Putin. He was later poisoned by FSB agents in London with polonium-210, leading to a slow and painful death and Putins first major hybrid incursion into the West. Alexander Litvinenko is pictured in the Intensive Care Unit of University College Hospital in London, U.K., on Nov. 20, 2006, in this image made available on Nov. 25, 2006. The 43-year-old former KGB spy, who died on Nov. 23, 2006, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of poisoning him. Litvinenko died after radioactive polonium-210 was found in his body. Russia's foreign intelligence service denied any involvement in the case. (Natasja Weitsz / Getty Images) 2007: Estonia cyber attack Three years after joining NATO, Estonia relocated a Soviet statue from the center of Tallinn. A massive distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack roiled the countrys digital infrastructure for almost a month, an attack that was subsequently connected to pro-Kremlin but formally independent cyber gangs. 2013: Simulated attack on Stockholm The Russian Air Force ran training missions over the Baltic Sea, 35 kilometers from the Swedish border, including a simulated attack on military targets in and around Stockholm. 2014: Illegal annexation of Crimea, unofficial invasion of Luhansk and Donetsk. Russian soldiers, wearing no identifying insignia, patrol outside the Simferopol International Airport after a pro-Russian crowd had gathered near Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine on Feb. 28, 2014. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) People walk outside the building of the Crimean parliament, bearing a Russian flag in occupied Simferopol, Ukraine on March 20, 2014. (Dmitry Serebryakov/AFP via Getty Images) 2015: Poisoning of Bulgarian arms dealer supplying Ukraine Agents from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (GRU) poisoned Emilian Gebrev, a Bulgarian arms manufacturer selling weapons to Ukraine in Sofia the first of many attempts on Gebrevs life. 2015: Russia begins running air raids on behalf of Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad. Smoke rises after Russian airstrikes hit Daret Ezza in Aleppo, Syria, on Oct. 13, 2015. (Mamun Abu Omer / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several hundred people, holding up portraits of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (L), gather near the Russian embassy in Damascus, Syria on Oct.13, 2015 to express their support for Moscow's air war in Syria, just before two rockets struck the embassy compound sparking panic among the crowd. (Louai Beshara / AFP via Getty Images) 2016-2020: Arms to Taliban; bounty on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan Reports from U.S. intelligence in 2020 revealed evidence of a Russian campaign to pay the Taliban for killing U.S. soldiers. While the CIA at the time said it had low to moderate confidence in that intel, 2025 investigations from Germanys Der Spiegel and Russian dissident outlet the Insider identified individuals involved in a scheme to pay $200,000 per dead soldier. 2015-2017: Maria Butinas infiltration of conservative groups in U.S. Russian agent Maria Butina used affairs with well-connected conservatives like political operative Paul Erickson and Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne to infiltrate Republican groups like the National Rifle Association. After pleading guilty to acting as an unregistered agent, she served a year and a half in jail. Today, Butina is a member of Russias parliament. 2016: Russian hack on U.S. Democratic National Committee As part of a broader cyber campaign against the West, Russian government actors hacked the Democratic National Conventions servers as well as then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clintons campaign staff, releasing tens of thousands of emails through WikiLeaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hack followed a public statement from then-candidate Donald Trump calling on anyone who could to get a hold of Clintons emails, which would lead Trump to spend subsequent years denying collusion with Moscow. 2016-2017: Alleged coup, definite threats in Montenegro Montenegros NATO accession was rife with Russian threats of "active measures" to stop the longtime Balkan ally from joining the block. In 2016, Montenegrin authorities accused 13 Montenegrins, Serbians, and Russians of planning an armed coup, though those charges were dropped in 2024. 2018: Battle of Khasham, Syria against U.S. soldiers During the Battle of Khasham, around 500 pro-Assad forces, including Wagner mercenaries, attacked 40 U.S. Special Forces who had turned a derelict oil refinery into an outpost while fighting ISIS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. airstrikes killed 200-300 members of the Syrian coalition, while taking no casualties. A Russian military police officer stands guard near portraits of Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin at the Wafideen checkpoint near Damascus, Syria, on March 1, 2018. (Louai Beshara / AFP via Getty Images) 2018: Poisoning of Sergei Skripal in U.K. Russian agents traveled to Salisbury, in the rural south of England, to poison former KGB agent and U.K. defector Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, using a Soviet-designed nerve agent, Novichok. While denying Russias role ultimately confirmed based on OSINT investigations Putin described Skripal as a "traitor to the motherland and a scumbag." Military personnel in protective suits cover two ambulances with tarpaulin before removing them from Salisbury ambulance station in Salisbury, England, on March 10, 2018. Sergei Skripal was granted refuge in the U.K. following a 2010 'spy swap' between the United States and Russia. (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) 2019-2021: SolarWinds hack on U.S. govt In possibly the biggest cyber attack ever to hit the American government, hackers directed by the GRU slipped malicious code into a software update that compromised an estimated 18,000 devices and government agencies, including the defense, justice, treasury, and energy departments. 2021: Colonial Pipeline hack on U.S. energy DarkSide, a ransomware gang believed to be based in Russia, hit the networks behind an oil pipeline that paralyzed energy supplies along the U.S. East Coast. 2020-2024: Arming Iranian proxy groups and militias An arms channel between Russia and Iran has for years provided Russian weapons to Iran-backed militant groups ranging from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen, which have at various points targeted U.S bases and embassies as well as Western shipping in the Gulf of Aden. Rockets like Russias Grad have been particular favorites. Iran, in turn, provides Russia with weapons that it uses to attack Ukraine. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi walk together following their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on Dec. 7, 2023. (Sergei Bobylyov / POOL / AFP) 2022: Attacks on al-Tanf in Syria The Russian Defense Ministry struck U.S.-backed Syrian groups at a U.S. garrison in al-Tanf with air strikes multiple times over the course of 2022. 2024: Attempted assassination of German arms executive The Russian government reportedly planned to assassinate Armin Paperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, one of the largest weapons makers in Europe, over the firms supply of weapons to Ukraine. German and U.S. intelligence ultimately foiled the plans. Read also: Trump lifting US sanctions on Russia would be huge win for Putin, chaos for global economy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) One person was injured and some peacocks and rabbits died after a garage fire in Gorham Wednesday evening, the Ontario County Sheriffs Office confirmed to News 8 late Wednesday night. Crews were called to the blaze on Lake to Lake Road in the Gorham-Stanley community around 3 p.m. Gorham Fire Chief Brandon Ayers said he believed a couple of peacocks were lost to the fire, but could not specify how many. The sheriffs office later confirmed rabbits were also lost, but again did not specify how many animals in total. The scene was still active around 5 p.m., firefighters told News 8 they requested mutual aid from Stanley, Rushville and Crystal Beach. (WROC/Melanie Sosa) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Chief Ayers, the home was able to be saved, with minimal damage to its exterior as the fire threatened the home and began to melt the wall outside. The home is still livable, Chief Ayers confirmed. One resident reported smoke inhalation, though refused to be transported to the hospital, according to Ayers. That person was treated by an ambulance and released. No other injuries were reported. (WROC/Melanie Sosa) Cause of vacant house fire on Montrose St. under investigation The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though Ayers said its believed a water heater inside the garage for the animals may have malfunctioned. The garage itself was destroyed, along with everything inside of it, including a vehicle, tractor, and some tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. MANY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A rare story of American history is found in Many, Louisiana where a longtime resident once served in World War II and survived to tell the story. Jessie Alton Mahaffey survived the attack on Pearl Harbor while being stationed on the infamous battleship, the USS Oklahoma.His family said he has passed away at the age of 102. Our news team spoke to Mr. Mahaffey for a Veterans Voices special report in 2022. He was placed inside the city office and I was put on the battleship Oklahoma, Mahaffey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahaffey recounted how he joined in the United States Army in 1941. Born in Florien, Louisiana, he and a group of friends graduated high school and made their way to Shreveport to enlist. He was sent to board the now infamous USS Oklahoma that was soon stationed in Hawaii. When on December 7 of that year, Japanese bombers appeared in the skies and began the attack on Pearl Harbor. Torpedoes hit the Oklahomas hull and the ship capsized. Then it sunk on December 7. First, it all started with Oklahoma. It was easy. She gradually rolled over, and we slid off the bottom of it, Mahaffey said. Sabine Parish veteran turning 100, shares story of surprise attack on Pearl Harbor The haunting images of the sinking of the USS Oklahoma are now a part the famous scenes of what led to World War II. 429 crew members died on the USS Oklahoma, many trapped underneath as the water rose. Some sailors survived through air pockets and rescuers drilled holes and opened hatches to save them. Others jumped off the 50 foot ship into burning oil in the water or crawled across the mooring lines to the USS Maryland. Such a horrifying moment in history that Mahaffey survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right out of high school in 41 and stayed in the war was over in 45, Mahaffey said. Mahaffey continued his service until the wars end. He moved back home to Louisiana and resided in the town of Many. Celebrated by his community in 2022 when he turned the amazing age of 100. When our news team interviewed him then, he told us he was thankful to survive and his best memories were with his shipmates before they died. We got to go ashore off the ship to try and find a pretty little lady, Mahaffey said. Mahaffeys remarkable journey of survival did not end there. Not only did he survive the bombing of the USS Oklahoma, he survived the sinking of another ship, the USS Northampton, a heavy cruiser in the Battle Tassafaronga on November 30, 1942 when it was struck by two Japanese torpedoes. 50 crewmen died that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funeral services for Mahaffey are Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m. at Warren Meadows Funeral Home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Mar. 5If you see Pelham's Jose Collado today, no need to wish him luck. He's got plenty. Collado won a $4 million grand prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery's "$4,000,000 Gold 50X" $10 instant ticket game, lottery officials said Wednesday. Collado won $1,000 on another instant ticket the day before and returned to the same store to purchase an additional ticket, which turned out to be the $4 million winner, lottery officials said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collado claimed his prize on Tuesday at the Massachusetts State Lottery's headquarters in Dorchester, Mass. Collado bought his winning ticket at a Speedway located at 709 McGrath Highway in Somerville, Mass., lottery officials said. The store receives a $40,000 bonus for its sale of the ticket. "You can win more in Mass!" Collado said in a statement. Mass Lottery officials said Collado plans on investing his winnings. This is the second New Hampshire resident to win a seven-figure prize with a Massachusetts Lottery ticket in the last three months, officials said. On Dec. 10, a Nashua resident claimed a $1 million prize won on a Powerball ticket purchased at Mobil, 940 Andover St. in Tewksbury, Mass. Former Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) is reportedly considering a run for Alaska governor, stoking Democratic hopes that she could clinch another upset victory in the red state. Peltola became the first Democrat to win the states lone House seat in 50 years when she won her race in 2022 before narrowly losing reelection in 2024 as Alaska went for President Trump. This made her the most successful statewide Democratic candidate in years. Now, Democrats are hopeful she could pull off another win in 2026, in a state where a registered Democrat hasnt held the governors mansion since 2002. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant think of a Democrat who is better positioned than her, and I think she would stand a very strong chance, said Alaska strategist John-Henry Heckendorn. Peltola was relatively little known nationally when she pulled off a win in the special House election to fill the remainder of the late Rep. Don Youngs (R) term after Young died in 2022. She prevailed in the race after her two main Republican opponents, former Gov. Sarah Palin and Nick Begich, focused on attacking each other, helping her become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Alaska since 2008. She then won again against Palin and Begich in that Novembers general election to be elected to a full term. Being a Trump-district Democrat, Peltola was one of the top targets for Republicans to pick off in 2024, and in a presidential election year in which Alaska almost would certainly vote for Trump, the GOP seemed to be the favorites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans also consolidated their support behind one candidate, Begich, ahead of the general election and avoided attacking each other to avoid splitting the vote in the first round of the states ranked-choice voting system. Despite the odds being against her, Peltola still nearly pulled off a win. She was just 2 points behind Begich in the first round of voting and ultimately lost by only 2.5 points in the final round. That was a significant overperformance compared to how former Vice President Harris (D) fared, losing the state by 13 points. Peltolas putting up one of the top five performances in the [election] for a Democrat anywhere in the country. By that metric, shes probably one of the most talented Democratic candidates in the U.S. Heckendorn said, comparing her to former Montana Sen. Jon Tester, another red-state Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her profile and past success would give Democrats a boost in any future office she seeks. And a gubernatorial run may be in her sights. After her loss, Peltola was noncommittal about her future in an interview with Alaska Public Media, saying she was looking forward to returning to private life. The law firm Holland & Hart announced Monday that Peltola was joining as senior director of Alaska affairs. The Hill has reached out to Peltola for comment. Sources told Cook Political Report last month that Peltolas old House seat would become a top target for Democrats if she runs in a rematch against Begich, but running for governor may be more likely. Cook reported the field for the House seat is frozen until Peltola decides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She could also plan to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in 2026. Ivan Moore, the founder of the polling firm Alaska Survey Research, said he conducted a poll about a year ago exploring a hypothetical match-up between Peltola and Sullivan, which found Peltola viewed more favorably than the incumbent senator. Its hypothetical, but this was at the height of Mary in office, and she was still halfway [in the] honeymoon, he said. But despite Peltolas advantage in favorability, Sullivan still led by 3 points, he said. The nature of Alaska is that if youve got two candidates, one a Democrat and one a Republican, and both of them have basically identical name ID and identical popularity, the Republican will win by 10 points, Moore said. So its one thing to have good numbers, but if youre running as a Democrat, its a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he said running for governor would be a different matter because it will be an open seat with Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) term-limited. And he said the field, at least currently, is pretty thin. She would walk into the race with a huge advantage in name ID, he said. I mean literally hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of name ID. Shes a household name, and there arent really any household names out there. People are getting up there, but theyre still a ways short. On the Republican side, state Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom is considered a likely candidate to succeed Dunleavy, but shes coming off an unsuccessful House bid last year for the seat Begich won, and analysts said shes not as well known as Peltola. Democratic strategist Amber Lee said she hopes Peltola runs for governor because she believes Peltola would best be able to protect the state from what is happening at the federal level in that role. Lee noted Alaska is highly reliant on federal funding for jobs and Medicaid, which covers almost 250,000 Alaskans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressional Republicans are currently working to make massive cuts to government spending. While Trump and the GOP have vowed Medicaid wouldnt be cut, critics have argued the extent of the cuts would be tough to achieve without cutting programs like that. At this point, it looks like where were really able to stand up for each other is more at the local level, and I think that she could protect Alaska from some of the things thats happening if she were here as governor, Lee said. Heckendorn said the electorate may also be better for Democrats in 2026 amid expected backlash to Trump, standard for the sitting president, giving her tailwinds to propel her forward. Even with headwinds last year, she almost won, he noted. He said Peltolas strength has been demonstrating an authenticity that voters feel they can trust personally. Peltola has often spoken about her background working in the fishing and mining industries, coming from rural Alaska and growing up with guns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peltola was the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress. Mary doesnt have to fake anything, Heckendorn said. I think shes seen as an authentic person, an authentic Alaskan. I think that strength is going to apply in any of those races. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) A mental health counselor had a message Wednesday for those who respond to traumatic situations: that its always OK to ask for help for themselves. A special Stamp Out Stigma seminar was held Wednesday afternoon at the Penn State-Shenango campus in Sharon. Michelle Kahl, a certified trauma therapist, spoke to a couple dozen students and staff, as well as first responders and health care workers about the problems those who help others through traumatic situations can often find themselves needing therapy over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What burnout looks like, what compassion fatigue is and then the vicarious trauma, Kahl said. We talked about it when helpers that are in the field or folks that respond to different things. Over time, theyre just affected. This is the 11th year for the Stamp Out Stigma program, an effort across the entire university system to bring more awareness to mental health issues in the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) Penn State Health recently shared multiple actions they will be taking to increase safety measures in the wake of last months shooting at UPMC Memorial. Last month on the morning of February 22, a man identified as Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz opened fire and took a staff member hostage inside the UPMC Memorial Hospital ICU in York County. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts West York Borough Police officer Andrew Duarte was killed while responding to the shooting. Following the tragic incident, a petition was started calling for UPMC to enact stricter security measures. Additionally, another neighboring healthcare provider, WellSpan, announced updates to its security measures that it enhanced following the shooting. WellSpan provides update to security measures Now, nearly a month later, Penn State Health has also shared multiple new actions it has taken to increase its safety measures, which include: Our security team is strengthening its partnership with local law enforcement, and we are working with them on ways to provide additional police presence and other potential security measures. We are reengaging with an independent security consultant to review security measures throughout our hospitals, including a full review of entry points. We have already begun this work by reducing the number of publicly accessible entrances on the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center campus and redirecting most hospital patient and visitor traffic to the Main Hospital Entrance. By early April, we will begin testing a new wireless alert system that will expand the use of personal duress buttons to notify Security of the need for immediate help. We are exploring new technology to enable timely emergency alerts that are sent directly to all desktops across Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We stand in solidarity with our health care colleagues at UPMC and the families who have been affected by the tragedy at UPMC Memorial Hospital, Penn State Health shared in an email to abc27 News. Such senseless acts of violence have no place in health care settings, which are meant to be places of caring and healing. It should also be noted that prior to the shooting at UPMC, Penn State Health had several policies in place to improve safety such as having staff members across the organization participate in active shooter drills. They had also previously implemented a program to enable staff to quickly identify safe rooms throughout their facilities. Penn State Health also says that each acute care department(s) or clinic(s) have an emergency operations plan that includes run/hide/ fight criteria. According to Penn State Health, their Interim CEO and President/Chief Operating Officer Deborah Addo has now also convened a task force to urgently review its current safety procedures, gather feedback from front-line staff, and look at ways the health system can further enhance its overall safety and security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This work is a top priority for the leaders at Penn State Health and security enhancements will be deployed rapidly as decisions are made, Penn State Health added. We will continue to work every day to make sure Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine are safe places to deliver our healing mission. To read UPMCs most recent update alert regarding the February 22 shooting, you can click here. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A Pentagon press secretary with a long history of bigoted and antisemitic social media posts faces calls to resign. Jewish organizations have blasted the appointment of Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, who compared the murders of Israeli infants during the October 7 Hamas attacks to abortion. She has also peddled the antisemitic conspiracy theory about Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman who was wrongly convicted and hanged for the murder of a 13-year-old Georgia girl in 1915. The 26-year-old MAGA supporter, whose father is longtime Trump advisor and right-wing commentator Steve Cortes, joined the Pentagons press office in January. A review of her social media activity by the outlet Mother Jones revealed a long history of bigoted, xenophobic, and deliberately provocative posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one post, Wilson supports the racist, xenophobic and long-debunked Great Replacement theory the idea that there is a plot to replace white Americans with non-white immigrants, Mother Jones reported. A post falsely claiming that Frank, raped & murdered a 13-year-old girl and tried to frame a Black man for his crime remained on Wilsons personal X account. Wilson was responding to a post last year by the Anti-Defamation League that marked the anniversary of Franks lynching by a hate-filled mob in Georgia after being falsely accused & unjustly convicted of murder in a trial marred by antisemitism. Deputy Department of Defense press secretary Kingsley Wilson has a long history of bigoted social media posts, according to a report (Department of Defense) Anyone who posts antisemitic conspiracy theories lifted right out of the neo-Nazi playbook should not be in public office, Jewish civil rights group the American Jewish Committee, posted in a statement Wednesday. Kingsley Wilson, newly appointed @DepPressSecDOD, is clearly unfit for her role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has contacted Wilson and the Department of Defense for comment. Republican and Democratic lawmakers also rebuked Wilsons posts. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wilson was completely off-script with President Donald Trump. Im not gonna tell them who to hire, but I do know that Trump doesnt believe any of the things shes talking about, and Ill leave it up to them to determine if they think shes the right spokesperson, Graham told Politico. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska told the outlet that Wilsons remarks were horrible and just not appropriate. Unvetted Pentagon appointees such as Wilson have raised a red flag for some GOP members (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Sometimes people think theyre anonymous when theyre on social media, that they can comment or post on whatever may be their attitude at the time, and then they later regret it, the Republican said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic congressman Ritchie Torres called Wilson out for a post she wrote about Kosovo at the end of February, signaling her support for Russia. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Kingsley Wilson, the Deputy Press Secretary for the Department of Defense, is shamefully attempting to delegitimize Kosovo, which has been the single greatest American ally in the Western Balkans, the congressman wrote on X. No amount of historical revisionism can change the fundamental fact that Kosovo is and will always be an independent democracy. Unvetted appointments such as Wilsons at the Pentagon have raised red flags for some GOP members. Weve got enough real, serious challenges from outside without having to worry about Pentagon staff who like to spread antisemitism or Russian propaganda, a senior Republican congressional aide told Politico on the condition of anonymity. Im amazed at who this administration has been willing to trust with national security responsibilities. The Pentagon has signed a deal with AI company Scale AI, in an initiative it's calling "Thunderforge," to use AI agents for military planning and operations. The team-up, described as a "flagship program," is a notable development given how divisive the topic of the use of AI in warfare has proven and how many of the tech's nagging shortcomings have yet to be meaningfully addressed. Yet the encroachment of AI tech within the military has been unmistakable. Both Google and OpenAI have walked back rules forbidding the use of their AI tech for weapons development and surveillance, showing that Silicon Valley is opening up to the idea of having its tools be used by the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just last month, a senior Pentagon official told Defense One that the US military was looking to move away from funding research on the topic of autonomous killer robots and investing in actual AI-powered weaponry instead. And it goes beyond the Pentagon. Late last year, OpenAI also announced a partnership with Palmer Luckey's defense tech company Anduril to focus on "improving the nations counter-unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS) and their ability to detect, assess and respond to potentially lethal aerial threats in real-time." Basically, though, the pitch is a familiar one for the AI industry. As part of Scale AI's multimillion-dollar deal, as CNBC reports, the firm is looking for ways to accelerate the military's ability to churn through data. "Thunderforge marks a decisive shift toward AI-powered, data-driven warfare, ensuring US forces can anticipate and respond to threats with speed and precision," the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) wrote in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The system will allow "planners to more rapidly synthesize vast amounts of information, generate multiple courses of action, and conduct AI-powered wargaming to anticipate and respond to evolving threats," the DIU wrote. According to a statement by the program's lead Bryce Goodman, there's a "fundamental mismatch between the speed of modern warfare and our ability to respond." "Our AI solutions will transform today's military operating process and modernize American defense," said Scale AI founder and CEO Alexandr Wang in the statement. Scale AI had already signed a contract with the Department of Defense's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office last year to test and evaluate large language models. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But giving an AI agency is a considerable step up over an LLM that could have plenty more far-reaching implications, particularly when it comes to military planning and operations. Whether Scale AI's tech will allow the military to make faster decisions and without hallucinating anything that throws operations into chaos remains to be seen. One ominous data point: when Stanford researchers tested how OpenAI's GPT-4 LLM responded when told it was representing a country inside of a wargame simulation, it proved to be particularly violent and unpredictable. "A lot of countries have nuclear weapons," the otherwise unmodified AI model told the researchers, per their paper. "Some say they should disarm them, others like to posture. We have it! Lets use it." More on war AI: Senior Pentagon Official: New Plan Is to Invest in "Autonomous Killer Robots" Ever since I was a kid, Ive loved movies about giant monsters like Godzilla, Rodan and King Kong. I watched as these fantasy beasts destroyed huge swaths of Tokyo, sank battleships and shrugged off missiles and bombs. They left swaths of destruction in their wake. Well, like I just said, that was all fantasy. A real Godzilla would collapse under his own weight and a giant gorilla like Kong wouldnt be able to function. The big apes body isnt designed to be so huge. Another part of the fantasy is how we rarely see the people who were in all those buildings Godzilla smashes under his feet. The very first Godzilla movie showed audiences the human suffering inflicted by his rampage, but later movies glossed over that part of reality. New Godzilla movies bring up human suffering again and portray the monster as a terrible force of nature. Well, many people in southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia can testify that the damage Godzilla causes in those movies is nothing compared to the real losses inflicted by hurricanes and floods. That destruction caused by an actor in a Godzilla suit or a computer-generated version is all make believe. Audiences forget about it as soon as the movie ends. Thats not the case when real disasters strike. When Tropical Storm Helene, the last breath of Hurricane Helene, hit the region back in September 2024, its wind and rain knocked out power to thousands of people, blocked roads, flooded basements and damaged or destroyed homes within a few hours. Yes, the storm didnt last that long, but its impact has lasted. Then came the Feb. 15 flood that hit a lot of southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. Within a few hours, inches of rain fell. Rivers and creeks left their banks and unleashed the awesome and terrible power of water. Photographer Tara Wyatt and I saw the results Tuesday as we visited McDowell County. When we stopped in Kimball and spoke with Fire Chief Jimmy Gianato, I saw some picnic tables piled against each other. Im not talking about light tables made of aluminum tubing. Im talking about those big tables made of heavy timbers, the ones you see at state parks. Gianato told me that those tables had been placed around town, but the flood waters had scooped them up and piled them up. And that was just one example. I was reminded of the terrible damage I saw after the 2001 and 2002 floods that hit McDowell County and other areas. During a visit for interviews, one homeowner led me to his property and showed me how the neighboring creek had ripped away half his yard during the flood. He paused and I realized that he was staring at a boulder in the creek. That hunk of rock was about the size of a refrigerator. That wasnt there before, he said. Despite the damage, we saw reasons for hope. Volunteers were helping their neighbors and strangers clean up from the flood. Volunteer fighters and other first responders were helping collect supplies and get them to people needing them. People living well away from the Virginias are coming in to help. More than one resident told us how ATV enthusiasts that come regularly to McDowell Countys branch of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail have brought in supplies. The people theyve met in the county have become friends and those friends are in need. People recovering from the Feb. 15 flood still need cleaning supplies plus tools such as wheelbarrows, push brooms, mops and shovels, fans and dehumidifiers. Linda McKinney with the Five Loaves & Two Fishes Food Bank in Kimball said gallon jugs of water are needed along with Little Buddy heaters. The food bank also needs the filters and hoses necessary to safely hook these heaters to large propane tanks. The region will recover because the people here are determined to stay undaunted. They are willing to do whatever it takes to clean up and do what can be done to reduce the chances of future floods inflicting such heavy damage. Federal disaster assistance will help them a lot, but their spirit will help the region recover and move ahead. Wisconsin Democrats launched a People vs. Musk ad campaign to counter Elon Musk's support for a conservative candidate in the state's Supreme Court election. Ben Wikler, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, joins Chris Jansing to share more on the election and what the results could tell us about voters stance on Elon Musk. When I taught national security affairs, I had my students memorize a succinct definition of power: Power = capability x will. The world is seeing this maxim play out in real time concerning Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has a lot of will to fight the Russian invasion, but its capability to do so is perilously dependent on others. The UK and France, at least, have the will to support Ukraine, but precious little capability. Both countries ammunition stores would run out within a month of conflict, for example, and the number of field-able troops are in the low five figures. The UK and French nuclear arsenals have only a few hundred weapons in its combined tally, while Russia has over 5,000. The Americans, on the other side, arguably have the capability (at least in some areas), but under the Trump administration, have decided they no longer have the will to support Ukraine in its continued conflict with Russia. Currently the only party with both capability and will is, frankly, Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a hard pill to swallow, most of all for Ukraine. The Ukrainians have fought creatively and valiantly over the past three years against naked Russian aggression. However, in general, they have not regained their land from the Russians, and they have chewed up manpower they could not afford to lose in the process. We are now reaching a stage where Ukraine-the-land and Ukraine-the-people cannot both be saved. For the sake of the people, the war must come to an end. That Trump saw this clearly does not make him a foreign policy savant, but it does make his instincts sound. The war will never end if the U.S. continues to give military aid to Ukraine to continue the fight. Trumps pausing of aid tangibly establishes that the Ukrainian fight to regain territory has failed and cannot succeed. President Donald Trump, right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington. | Mystyslav Chernov And in such a case, friends dont let friends destroy themselves. One of the tenets of just war theory is that a state is only justified going to war if the situation is not hopeless. As the BBC explains, A State should only go to war if it has a reasonable chance of winning. Going to war for a hopeless cause may be a noble act, but it is an unethical one. This comes from the idea that war is a great evil, and that it is wrong to cause suffering, pain, and death with no chance of success. So it would be unethical for a state to sacrifice the lives of its people (and the lives of its enemys people) in a futile gesture that would not change anything. After three years of unrelenting effort, it is almost impossible to make the case that Ukraine has a reasonable chance of recovering the territory lost to the Russians. It is no longer ethical to feed this conflict, even though the Russians are the clear aggressors. A cold peace is preferable to continued loss of life in a hopeless cause. Servicemen carry the coffin of Ukrainian soldier Vasyl Ratushnyy, 28, during the funeral ceremony in St. Michael Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. | Efrem Lukatsky But it would be a mistake to disrespect cold peace or see it as some type of failure, for two reasons. The first is that by means of a cold peace, much suffering and death is prevented. We have certainly seen that on the Korean peninsula, where a stalemated cold peace based on an armistice has been in place for more than 70 years, allowing South Korea to flourish. The barren Korean demilitarized zone is an achievement, not a failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second reason is even a hopeful one. Sometimes, over the course of decades, the existence of a cold peace can lay the groundwork for making real peace possible. We saw this in 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of East and West Germany, and united Germanys accession to NATO and the EU. Time can change the facts on the ground in unforeseen ways, rendering cold peace no longer necessary. Consider, for example, that Vladimir Putin is 72 years old. Will Russia remain the same when he passes? Indeed, strategist Edward Luttwak asserts that Trump not only wants to stop the meat grinder of the Ukraine conflict in the short term, but that he also has his eye on the long term. Luttwak believes Trump is pulling a reverse Nixon. This has reference to Richard Nixons overtures to China in the early 1970s, attempting to pull Beijing away from its Russian orbit and into a more non-aligned situation, thus weakening the USSR. The reverse Nixon would entail an attempt to pull Moscow away from its dependence on China, and into a more non-aligned situation, thus weakening China. A post-Putin Russia might begin to feel that China, and not the West, was its biggest national security threat, given Chinas designs on the Russian Far East. The existence of a cold peace in Ukraine might actually give a post-Putin Russia additional pivot room in the future. Another benefit of a cold peace in Ukraine has been the salutary effects on Europe, which appears to have finally woken up to the fact that it has been shirking its own obligation to defend itself. It is scandalous what most European nations thought sufficient to skate by on in terms of military capabilities. This is not a new problem but goes back to the early days of NATO, and by the time of Nixon had its own buzzword, burden-sharing. European nations were virtual free riders on the U.S. through NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It looks like this may finally be changing: Europe has been galvanized by Trumps throwing down of the gauntlet concerning Ukraine. If Europe had been strong, Ukraine might have been able to continue its conflict with Russia, but Europe is not strong. The leaders of Europe have chosen military weakness for almost seven decades. Indeed, in 2024, Europe spent more money buying oil and gas from Russia than it spent on aid to Ukraine, raising the uncomfortable question of whose side Europe is actually on in this conflict. But consider: Russia only has 145 million people; Europe has 450 million. Europe produces almost 17% of world GDP; Russia produces less than 5%. If Europe had invested in its military capabilities, including a credible nuclear deterrent, Russia would never have dared to invade Ukraine in the first place. What modus vivendi or even rapprochement might happen in a future generation when we could potentially see a militarily strong Europe and a weaker post-Putin Russia that might have more cause to fear China than Europe? No one can predict, of course, but a cold peace in Ukraine gives the time needed for significant change to occur over the ensuing decades. Sometimes the world cannot achieve justice in the moment; sometimes it must wait for the march of decades. A cold peace in Ukraine now gives time the chance it needs to work its magic on the international system. House Bill 251 would allow raccoons and gray squirrels to be kept as pets without a permit under certain circumstances. (Photo by Cappi Thompson/Getty Images) A state agencys seizure and euthanasia of a New York mans pet squirrel and raccoon ignited viral outrage in the fall even drawing attention from the presidential campaign trail. Now, a group of Republican lawmakers are seeking to allow the creatures as pets in New Hampshire under certain circumstances, but opponents warn the move could carry serious negative consequences for animal welfare and public health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon became symbols of anger in November after they were taken and put down by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The move came after the agency received complaints about illegally held wildlife at a mans home and animal sanctuary, according to the Associated Press. For some conservatives, the deaths became a rallying cry against government overreach. J.D. Vance criticized the agency at a North Carolina campaign rally, and said then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was fired up about the issue. Joan OBrien, an animal advocate from Amherst, said she was heartened to hear so many people around the country care about these creatures and express outrage over their deaths. Still, she told lawmakers in a February hearing, she opposes the measure that would legalize raccoons and gray squirrels as pets in the state in some cases. Wild animals belong in the wild, she said. We dont want to do anything that would encourage more people from taking wild animals and bringing them into their homes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 251, which has yet to receive a vote in either chamber of the Legislature, would allow raccoons and gray squirrels to be kept as pets without a permit if a wildlife rehabilitation facility makes the determination that the animal cannot survive in the wild and such animal is up to date on any vaccines required. But there are problems with the vaccine requirement in the text of the bill, said Dan Bergeron, the chief of the Fish and Game Departments wildlife division, who told lawmakers on the House Environment and Agriculture Committee that the agency opposes the legislation. The bill references that a squirrel or raccoon would have to have any required vaccinations, Bergeron said. Currently, there are no statutes that we have that requires vaccinations for either of these animals, and one of the main reasons for that is because there are no approved vaccines for these animals, because they are wild animals. Any vaccination given to them would be considered off-label use, and the effectiveness is not proven. The animals can carry serious diseases, he said, including rabies, which has a virtually 100% fatality rate once symptoms appear. Rep. James Spillane, a Deerfield Republican and bill sponsor, expressed support for adding language to the bill that would spur rulemaking around vaccines for these animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the bill allows those who relocate from a state where the animals are allowed as pets to keep them if they move to New Hampshire. It also says that the animals shall not be confiscated or euthanized without the permission of the owner. Spillane, in response to a question from a committee member, said he wouldnt be opposed to adding language to the bill that requires confiscation in a case where the animal bites someone, though he would still prefer that it be encouraged to seek an owners permission before euthanizing an animal. Bergeron also raised concerns about that portion of the bill as it was introduced. While he hopes that most owners would agree to euthanasia and confiscation when appropriate, I would not want to hang my hat on that for a disease as deadly as rabies, he said. Kurt Ehrenberg, the New Hampshire state director for the Humane Society, an animal welfare nonprofit, said that these are wild animals with wild behaviors that are unpredictable. Their complex physical and social needs cant be met in captivity, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are often confined to small, barren cages, which prevent them from exhibiting natural behaviors, and suffer from poor nutrition, inadequate veterinary care, and mental distress, Ehrenberg said. When they become too difficult to handle or care for, as they frequently do, owners often abandon them, turning them loose where they may die or threaten the native ecosystem. Meanwhile, Spillane sees the bill as a better alternative to the status quo, giving animals that are not fit to be returned to the wild another chance at life. Bergeron pointed out that not even rehabilitation centers can keep these animals indefinitely; if they cannot return to the wild, the states rules say they should be euthanized. There may be opportunities to obtain an exhibitor permit, in which case the animal can be kept for educational purposes, he said. In online testimony submissions, 17 people supported the bill, one a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services who said the bill could potentially increase the risk of rabies was neutral, and 78 opposed it. Peter Sichel, who has died aged 102, was a German Jewish emigre to the US who oversaw postwar CIA activities in Eastern Europe and the Far East until, disillusioned, he resigned to take over his familys wine import business. Sichel re-invented himself as Americas most persuasive salesman of table wine, but he was probably most often identified as the man who made Blue Nun one of the most popular wines in the world. At its peak in 1985, 30 million bottles of the slightly sweet German white wine were sold, its label featuring a smiling nun, sometimes several nuns, holding baskets of grapes in a vineyard. It was his great-grandfather, Hermann Sichel, a Jewish wool merchant from Mainz, who founded the family wine negociant business in 1857, bottling and marketing a blend of regional wines known generically as Liebfraumilch. In the 1920s Sichel sought to export these wines, especially to Great Britain, and the Blue Nun label, featuring nuns of a severe mien, was invented to facilitate sales abroad. One source holds that the nuns were originally clad in brown habits, but a printers error turned them blue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Peter took charge of the family wine business in 1960, Blue Nun was a faltering brand. He set about promoting the wine, changing the label to make the nuns younger looking and more cheerful, and travelled the world to market the brand as the wine that will go with everything to a public unschooled in the world of wine. In the US a memorable series of radio ads in the 1970s featured the young married comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara bantering about life and a wine from Germany with an unlikely name. Blue Nun, the delicious white wine thats correct with any dish, ran the tagline. The ads were so effective they boosted US sales by 500 per cent. In the 1970 and 1980s Blue Nun, closely followed by other branded wines such as Le Piat dOr and Mateus Rose, were staples of middle-class dinner parties. Connoisseurs had always been sniffy about Blue Nuns rather cloying sweetness, however, and by the 1990s the brand had become a byword for naffness. When the writers of the TV comedy Im Alan Partridge wanted to choose the most embarrassing wine for the hapless hero to order over an important lunch with Tony Hayers, chief commissioning editor of the BBC, there could be no better choice. As the lunch goes badly wrong, however, Alan (Steve Coogan) starts to imagine grotesque scenes in which he gyrates on a stage in a leather posing pouch in front of Hayers (David Schneider), who is laughing hysterically and screaming Blue Nun! while holding a bottle. Peter Max Ferdinand Sichel was born in Mainz on September 12 1922, to Eugen Sichel and his wife Franziska, nee Loeb, and grew up in a five-storey mansion, surrounded by servants. We were part of a big, closely-knit family who lived on the same street and my parents did lots of entertaining, he said. Because I was forbidden to attend the dinner parties, I was naturally curious about the wonderful smells emanating from the kitchen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He recalled, aged six, sneaking down to the kitchen to visit the family cook, Bertha: Id help her make mayonnaise and thick, mealy German pancakes and delicate rosehip and quince jelly, and other marvellous things. By the late 1920s the family company, H Sichel Sohne, sold wine throughout Germany and exported it, as well as importing wine from France, and had outposts in London, New York and Bordeaux. When the Nazis came to power Peters parents, seeing the way the wind was blowing, sent Peter and his older sister Ruth to England, where, aged 14, Peter enrolled at Stowe, the headmaster insisting that he changed the pronunciation of his name from seashell to sitchel to make it sound less German. His parents, however, were unable to obtain an exit visa because the family business was considered too vital to the German export trade. They finally escaped in 1938, by telling the authorities that their daughter was dying of meningitis in England. The ruse worked, but their property in Germany was confiscated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They fled to Bordeaux, where Peter and his sister joined them in 1939, but when Germany invaded Poland and war was declared, they were arrested by the French authorities as enemy aliens and sent to internment camps. When Germany invaded France, Peters father was able to persuade a camp official to free them, arguing that, as the Sichels were Jews, they were unlikely to be sympathetic to the Nazis and would be in danger if the Germans arrived. Making their way to the Pyrenees, they found shelter in a chateau and Peter worked as a farm hand. A relative in New York managed to get visas for the family, as well as transit visas through Spain and Portugal, and in March 1941 they left for Lisbon, where they boarded a steamer. Rod Stewart and David Bowie backstage at Madison Square Garden in 1975, enjoying a bottle of Blue Nun before the brand became a byword for naffness - Hulton Archive/Getty Images Arriving in New York in April 1941, they settled in the Queens district and Peter found work with a shoe supply company until the December 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor, when he volunteered for the US Army. Because he spoke fluent French and German he was sent to Algiers to collect intelligence, and in 1943 was recruited into the newly formed Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the CIAs precursor. After landing in southern France, Sichels job was to interrogate German prisoners of war and recruit spies for the Allies, infiltrating them back into the German army on the Western front, reckoning that during the fog of war their absence could easily be explained away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was great camaraderie among our team and a feeling that we were doing something useful, Sichel recalled. Like all wars, there were periods of long, hard work followed by periods of inactivity where we played bridge or chess. We had assured ourselves of a good cook, and I used the family connections to buy wine in Burgundy. At one point Ernest Hemingways flamboyant son Jack, who had parachuted into occupied France with fly rod, reel and flies, was sent to the front to assist Sichels operations, only to be taken prisoner by the Germans, Sichel recalling him as the most beautiful, dumbest man I ever met. In February 1945, Sichel managed to be assigned to the US troops scheduled to liberate his hometown of Mainz: My big concern was to prevent them from liberating and looting any wine that might be left. I felt very strange coming home. Our big house, built in 1876, was in ruins... But, by a miracle, the family wine cellar was left intact about 1,333,000 bottles of Blue Nun contained in bulk barrels. They were declared off-limits to US troops, a vintage treasure which to me tasted very fine that year. When the war was over he was sent to Berlin, and by December 1945 he was heading up operations in Berlin. In early 1946 he reported on the methods the Soviets were using to control political parties in the Russian sector of Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He remained in Berlin after the OSS was dissolved and replaced by the CIA, his responsibilities including investigating Soviet nuclear capabilities and tracking German war criminals and scientists. In 1951 he was involved in the approval process for Operation Gold the $25 million joint operation by the CIA and MI6 to tap into Soviet cable lines in East Berlin by digging a tunnel under the Soviet sector. The operation eventually got underway in 1954. But it eventually transpired that George Blake, a member of MI6s Section Y involved in secret meetings to discuss progress, was a Soviet spy and that Moscow had known about the tunnel from the start. Sichel returned to the US in 1952 as head of the CIAs Eastern Europe operations. In 1956 he was posted to Hong Kong as station chief to keep an eye on the Communist-Nationalist war in China and the rise of communism in South-East Asia. Sichel (1972): his parents house in Mainz was ruined during the war but in 1945 the cellar was discovered intact, with about 1,333,000 bottles of Blue Nun contained in bulk barrels. They were declared off-limits to US troops, a vintage treasure which to me tasted very fine - Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media via Getty As Cold War paranoia set in, however, and the US government under President Eisenhower shifted the CIAs focus from intelligence-gathering to covert operations, Sichel became increasingly disillusioned. He was particularly dismayed by the agency parachuting anti-communist expatriate volunteers into Albania, China and other countries to foment unrest via fabricated resistance groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sichel had collected intelligence which showed that such operations had no chance of success. The volunteers, he objected, were potentially being sent to their deaths. I made a huge fuss. He also felt that such operations were against Americas true long-term interests. He resigned from the CIA in 1959. As head of his family wine concern Sichel streamlined the business, merging with Schieffelin & Co, an alcohol and pharmaceutical company that could handle importing and distribution, allowing him to concentrate on promoting the companys brands. He would eventually sell the American company in 1995. In 1971 he used his contacts in Bordeaux, to put together a group of investors to buy Chateau Fourcas Hosten, an underperforming Bordeaux producer in Listrac, and after a difficult few years revived its fortunes, selling the company in 2006. Sichel was the author or editor of several books on wine and in 2016 published a memoir, The Secrets of My Life: Vintner, Prisoner, Soldier, Spy. A first marriage, to Cuy Hottler, was dissolved and in 1961 he married Stella Spanoudaki. She and a daughter predeceased him. He is survived by two other daughters. Peter Sichel, born September 12 1922, died February 24 2025 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. As much as half of the fentanyl sold on Phillys streets contains an industrial chemical used in plastics manufacturing. Thats according to our November 2024 testing of fentanyl samples collected in Philadelphias Kensington neighborhood, regarded as the largest open-air drug market on the East Coast. Whats more, the amount, or concentration, of this industrial chemical in the drug samples often exceeded the amount of fentanyl. We are an epidemiologist and anthropologist whose research focuses on substance use disorders and the opioid overdose epidemic. Our teams findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association in February 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The industrial chemical we found is called BTMPS, which is the common abbreviation for bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate. BTMPS belongs to a class of molecules called hindered amine light stabilizers that manufacturers frequently add to plastics and other polymers to protect against degradation from heat and sunlight. Since March 2024, our team has tested 228 street fentanyl samples collected in Kensington. Of these, 39 or 17% contained BTMPS. We first detected BTMPS in Philadelphia in June 2024. We found it in two of the eight samples 25% that we collected that month. By November 2024, 12 of 22 samples or 55% contained BTMPS. Why BTMPS is being added to the street opioid supply, and at what stage in production or distribution it is being added, remains unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers suspect that it may be added to stabilize a fentanyl precursor chemical that is susceptible to degradation from heat and oxygen. Given its low cost, BTMPS may also be added to dilute other psychoactive substances or more expensive ingredients or both. Kensington Avenue in North Philadelphia is considered the epicenter of the citys opioid crisis. Spencer Platt via Getty Images How toxic is BTMPS? Among the 39 samples that contained BTMPS in Philadelphia, the average amount of BTMPS was nearly double that of fentanyl. On average, BTMPS made up 4% of the sample, while fentanyl made up 2.3% of the sample. In one sample tested, BTMPS made up 18% of the sample. BTMPS has not been approved for human consumption or been studied in humans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it has been shown in rat studies to reduce nicotine use and attenuate withdrawal symptoms associated with morphine and cocaine. The rat studies revealed several adverse health effects from exposure to BTMPS. They include heart defects, serious eye damage and death. These findings raise concerns about the increasing exposure of BTMPS to humans through street drugs. The concentrations up to 18% found in the Philly samples are many orders of magnitude higher than the estimated concentration of 0.1% to 0.5% that people are exposed to through plastic products. Some of the street fentanyl samples from Philadelphia contained more BTMPS than fentanyl. Joe Lamberti for The Washington Post via Getty Images BTMPS appearing in fentanyl across the US Our colleagues who are testing street opioid samples in other regions also detected BTMPS in fentanyl samples or paraphernalia residue in Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Washington and California. In Los Angeles, BTMPS was first detected in July 2024 by September, 56% of samples there contained it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sudden and almost simultaneous appearance of a new adulterant in U.S. street opioids from the East Coast to the West Coast is rare. For example, fentanyl, xylazine and medetomidine became prevalent in the U.S. opioid supply in different regions at different times. The recent emergence of BTMPS in street opioid markets nationwide suggests that it may be entering the supply at an early stage in production or wholesale distribution. Historically, Philadelphias street opioid supply has had strong ties to Puerto Rico. These ties influenced Phillys early incorporation of the veterinary sedative xylazine into the street drug supply. Since 2021, xylazine has been present in virtually all of Phillys street fentanyl. Given these associations, we are also testing the street opioid supply in Puerto Rico to examine potential similarities and relationships with Philadelphias supply. To date, we have detected BTMPS in two out of 49 or 4% of street opioid samples in Puerto Rico. We first detected it in a sample in September 2024 and again in December 2024. Whats next We continue to monitor BTMPS trends in Philadelphias street fentanyl. We are also examining whether concentrations of fentanyl and other key compounds such as xylazine in Phillys street fentanyl have changed as new adulterants such as BTMPS and medetomidine become more widespread and whether these changes play a role in the declining overdose death rate in Pennsylvania and other parts of the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are also developing plans to study the immediate and long-term effects that BTMPS exposure has on people using drugs. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Karli Hochstatter, Columbia University and Fernando Montero, Columbia University Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karli Hochstatter receives funding from the NIH. Fernando Montero receives funding from the NIH, the Social Intervention Group at Columbia University, and the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at New York University. DENVER (KDVR) A 3-year-old yak found herself in a precarious situation when firefighters had to rescue her from a frozen pond. On Wednesday at around noon, Evergreen Fire Rescue crews were called to Evergreen Memorial Park where a young yak had fallen through an icy pond. Fire crews find pepper spray after odor investigation in Adams County According to Evergreen Memorial Parks website, the 100-acre park, located at 26624 N. Turkey Creek Road, is mainly used as a private animal ranch for elk, fallow deer and buffalo. When firefighters arrived on scene, they said they treated it like a full ice rescue. Those with ice rescue training waded into the pond near the yak and helped open a path to the shore. From there, firefighters said the yak figured out the rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The fire rescue shared a handful of photos showing two firefighters in safety gear, clearing a path with what appears to be a saw for the soaked animal. She was then able to climb up the shore. A young yak was rescued from a frozen pond at Evergreen Memorial Park on March 5 (Evergreen Fire Rescue) A young yak was rescued from a frozen pond at Evergreen Memorial Park on March 5 (Evergreen Fire Rescue) A young yak was rescued from a frozen pond at Evergreen Memorial Park on March 5 (Evergreen Fire Rescue) A young yak was rescued from a frozen pond at Evergreen Memorial Park on March 5 (Evergreen Fire Rescue) A young yak was rescued from a frozen pond at Evergreen Memorial Park on March 5 (Evergreen Fire Rescue) A young yak was rescued from a frozen pond at Evergreen Memorial Park on March 5 (Evergreen Fire Rescue) Evergreen Fire Rescue said the yak is now back with her herd. Law enforcement advises anyone who sees an animal in need of rescue to call 911 first. Do not attempt to rescue them yourself. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Gov. Jim Pillen, left, signs an executive order related to applications, software or platforms created or owned by the Chinese Communist Party or its affiliates on state networks and devices. (Courtesy of Office of Gov. Jim Pillen) LINCOLN Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday banned the use or download of applications, software and platforms created or owned by the Chinese Communist Party or its affiliates on state networks and devices. The executive order blasts China, a foreign adversary, as a critical security risk because of human rights violations and military threats to seize Taiwan. The order states China poses a comprehensive threat to national sovereignty intellectually, militarily and economically through its aggressive actions, data exploitation and attempts to undermine global security and stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pillen said the order is about protecting Nebraska and continuing to identify and eliminate threats from the Chinese Communist Party. They dont mean well, and we must ensure that Americas adversaries cant hack our states data or critical digital infrastructure, Pillen said in a statement. This is important, ongoing work and commonsense governance. The latest order doesnt target any specific applications, software or platforms but states the technology could compromise the states information infrastructure security or lead to the harvesting of data from users, including confidential, private or other sensitive data. Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Pillen, described the action as proactive and said it would include apps such as DeepSeek, RedNote and Lemon8, which have been identified by some as alternatives to the popular video social media application TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The highest responsibility of government is ensuring the safety and security of its citizens, Strimple said in an email. That includes threats posed by technology utilized by other nations to gain data, information and access that could prove to be damaging. State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln speaks about his bill to prohibit using Nebraska Universal Service Fund dollars on wireless companies with Huawei or ZTE equipment on their networks in 2023. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) Pillen directed the Office of the Chief Information Officer to: Investigate potential security vulnerabilities that could result from China-based companies or companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. Report such findings to the governor and take all steps necessary to prevent the download or use of such tech determined to be a security risk to state-owned or operated devices, networks and infrastructure. Continue to monitor potential security vulnerabilities and make recommendations to the governor as frequently as necessary. The new executive order expands upon a February 2023 order from Pillen that banned communications equipment and services produced by CCP-controlled companies specifically listed on the Federal Communications Commissions Covered List. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That order included Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Dahua Technology and its subsidiaries or affiliates. Pillen signed into law in May 2023 some companion legislation to that executive order, led by State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln. Bostar, with Pillens backing, also created a Committee on Pacific Conflict in 2024 to identify and prepare for specific risks over conflict in the land, sea or air of the Pacific Ocean. Just by preparing here, here in Nebraska, we are in effect doing our part to prevent a conflict from even starting, Bostar told the Nebraska Examiner last year. In August 2020, former Gov. Pete Ricketts, now a U.S. senator, banned the use of TikTok on state devices. The platform has been designated by Congress as a foreign adversary controlled application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal legislation required the sale of the app to remain operational in the United States after Jan. 19, which President Donald Trump delayed. All five of Nebraskas Republican members of Congress supported that legislation. Trump has sought to find a legal path forward for TikTok. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Pinellas County schools won't enforce agreement with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Stock photo/Getty Images) Pinellas County Schools are backing off from an agreement with the federal government to deputize school police for immigration enforcement efforts. Luke Williams, chief of Pinellas County Schools Police, signed the agreement authorizing officers to question peoples immigration status and detain them for turnover to immigration enforcement officials, according to a statement a district spokesperson sent to Florida Phoenix Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the school board and superintendent didnt authorize Williams to sign that agreement and didnt know he had. The agreement is administrative in nature as it does not obligate the district to participate in training, wrote Isabel Mascarenas, the school districts public information officer. Pinellas County Schools does not intend to nominate any member of the Schools Police department to attend the training program to perform the functions of an immigration officer through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE took the Pinellas school police off its list of agencies with a pending task force agreement on Thursday morning, a day after the Phoenix reported that the district would have been the first in the country to enact such an agreement. The district received confirmation from ICE after this article was published that it was no longer considering the application agreement in Pinellas schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education directed questions to the county but confirmed the department has encouraged districts to enact task force model agreements with ICE if they believe it would benefit safety. All the sheriffs in the state and several municipalities and state agencies have entered task force model agreements with ICE, which Gov. Ron DeSantis has described as the maximum level of collaboration with the federal government. Guidance the district issued following the Trump administrations reversal of a policy restricting immigration arrests at schools remains in place, Mascarenas said. Safe learning environment As always, the goal is to maintain a safe learning environment for our students. Ultimately, law enforcement is the function of law enforcement agencies, and not of the schools or the District, the Jan. 27 guidance from the district to school principals states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district recommended that principals contact the legal department if ICE or other immigration officials contact them and emphasized that schools cant inquire about students immigration status. However, the guidance also instructs schools to cooperate with officials seeking access to students and contact the parents only if the officials allow it. Jared Nordlund, Florida director for Latino civil rights group UnidosUS, found it concerning that the school board and superintendent hadnt been informed that the police chief had signed the agreement with ICE. Im now wondering if thats going to happen across the state, I mean, that shouldnt be happening at all. All people involved in the school district, from managing down to teaching, should be involved in a plan, he said in a phone interview with the Phoenix. Note: This article was updated to include new information from the district. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE REEVES COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A massive pipeline explosion and tank battery fire rocked a site near Highway 285 and County Road 436 in Reeves County late Wednesday night, prompting an urgent response from emergency crews. According to officials, at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, Reeves County Sheriffs deputies and Emergency Services District (ESD) personnel arrived at the scene, where they found crude oil burning and two tanker trucks present. Authorities say the pipeline has been shut off, but approximately 2.5 miles of pipeline still need to burn off. Due to the severity of the fire, it remains unclear whether there are any casualties. The site foreman confirmed that all his employees were accounted for and stated that no one else should have been on-site at the time of the explosion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, as a precaution, the Reeves County Sheriffs Office is urging oil companies to inventory their trucks and ensure all employees are accounted for. Companies with missing personnel or vehicles have been asked to contact the Sheriffs Office to assist in the investigation. Please contact the Sheriffs Office at (432) 445-4901 if any trucks and employees are unaccounted for to aid in the investigation to confirm or dispel any possible fatalities on scene. Cooperation with our investigation is appreciated, Chief Deputy Ernesto E. Lazcano wrote. Authorities are also warning oilfield traffic to avoid the area until further notice. Deputies remain on-site as the fire continues to burn, and officials are working to determine the cause of the explosion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will provide updates as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. On Wednesday, Channel 11 pressed members of Pittsburgh City Council on their involvement with Acting Chief Chris Raglands resignation. Sources close to the process told us that Ragland was getting pressure from city council members about who he should promote to be his assistant chief. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Acting Police Chief Chris Ragland resigns, pressured to meet demands that went against his morals Mayor Ed Gainey called those actions inappropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing was said, nothing was done, and if the chief was there, the director was there, somebody should have intervened, said Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, who represents District 2. I believe I threw three or four names out that were on the top of my head, said Anthony Coghill, who represents District 4. Sources close to the process told us that acting Chief Ragland was getting pressure from council members Anthony Coghill and Theresa Kail-Smith about who he should make his assistant chief. They both denied those claims. Coghill told us he made suggestions based on his role as the public safety chairman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For me, it was important for him to win my vote, that I needed to know that he was going to surround himself with professionally experienced people that I know in the police force, not anybody in particular, Coghill said. The mayor said those actions were inappropriate. I think its wrong, and I think at the end of the day no council person should be asking somebody that you can have my vote if you put somebody in position, Mayor Gainey said. Other members of the council, on Wednesday, weighed in on the incident. I think the coordinated efforts behind the scenes from certain members of council really at the end of the day became too much, said Barb Warwick, who represents District 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, the council along with community stakeholders like the NAACP and the Black Political Empowerment Project asked for several community town halls before Raglands appointment. RELATED COVERAGE >>> NAACP schedules 6 public forums to question proposed police chief Chris Ragland Kail-Smith said those meetings were not a stall tactic, despite her belief that a chief should not be selected until after the May Democratic mayoral primary. I thought it was a good process that we had the public involved, we had the police involved, we were trying to get to a place where everyone felt comfortable, Kail-Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gainey is confident that his administration keeps politics out of the selection process and said he is committed to finding the best person for the position. We are always going to make decisions not based on politics or external pressure; Ive never done that, Gainey said. The mayor said he will likely look within the department for the next chief and plans to meet with commanders later this month. The council plans to introduce legislation to solidify the hiring process next week. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has promoted Sierra King Watson to Vice President of Commercial Lending, the bank announced Wednesday. In her new role, Watson will oversee commercial lending services, working with local businesses to provide tailored financial solutions that support growth and strengthen the regional economy. Those who impacted the community recognized during International Womens Day at STCC Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sierras promotion is a well-earned recognition of her exceptional work ethic, strong client relationships, and commitment to our values as a community bank, said Mike Ferry, Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking. Her ability to combine financial expertise with a genuine understanding of our local business community makes her a perfect fit for this elevated role. Watson brings 15 years of experience in banking and lending to her position. She has earned a reputation for her personalized approach, working closely with business owners to understand their goals and provide customized financing, including real estate loans, equipment financing, lines of credit and business expansion funding. As vice president, Watson will continue to expand the banks commercial lending portfolio and help develop new lending initiatives designed to meet the needs of area businesses. In addition to her work at the bank, she serves as President of the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, headquartered in Pittsfield, is a community-focused institution providing a range of financial services to individuals and businesses throughout the region. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. It was a jubilant and historic Cabarrus County Board of Education meeting Monday as the school board approved the districts first K-8 English Language Arts (ELA) comprehensive curriculum in around 15 years. In a unanimous vote, the board approved $2.3 million for the new curriculum, Arts & Letters, which will be aligned with the Science of Reading research and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Arts & Letters is a comprehensive curriculum that teaches reading, writing and address speaking and listening standards. The price for Arts & Letters, which will be utilized by roughly 1,100 teachers in elementary and middle schools, is $450,000 less than the $2.8 million the school board voted to appropriate when the issue was first presented to them in November. A raucous applause erupted from the audience following the vote, most of them from English teachers who, minutes earlier, spoke to the board about why such a curriculum was so critically important. The district selected Arts & Letters from a field of three curricular programs (the others were American Reading Company and Wit & Wisdom) based on numerous factors. These included an in-person preview fair, where ELA teachers met with representatives of the three curriculum vendors teachers and then rated each of them based on a rubric to evaluate how successfully they aligned with the appropriate standards. There was also a virtual preview fair, where all educators and families could also learn about the curriculums. The curriculum, which will be good for five years (through 2030), comes from the nationally recognized curriculum developer, Great Minds. Arts & Letters is designed to support all learners, as the curriculum offers teachers the flexibility to tailor instruction and address the individual needs of every student in the classroom, according to its website. Our curriculum revitalizes the traditional ELA block, the website reads, seamlessly integrating literary knowledge with subjects like social studies and science, cultivating a dynamic and cohesive learning environment that builds enduring knowledge. Overall, 75% of the total cost of the curriculum will be made up of student books and workbooks, which was important for Chief Academic Officer Sarah Reeves and her team. The district also will be purchasing geodes, a curriculum of books for developing readers in kindergarten through third grade. I cant think of anything more valuable than putting books in the hands of children to help teach them strong literacy practices, Reeves told the board. Reeves told The Independent Tribune that the district, which is one of the last school systems in the state to adopt a curriculum, will hopefully start training teachers before the summer and implement at least some aspects of the curriculum next school year. When asked why the district went so long without an ELA curriculum, Reeves said funding has been the biggest barrier, as adopting a new curriculum is incredibly expensive. Helping to solve a critical problem The districts teachers have leveraged free open-source online resources for years, many of which are now behind pay walls. The last time CCS had an ELA curriculum was around 2010. Having a quality curriculum has been a key priority for the district, as many teachers have voiced support for such an initiative. Once our teachers were telling us this is what they needed, we knew we needed to take some action, said Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Tracey Hayes. The lack of a uniform curriculum has been a burden for educators like Sarah Anthony, a third-grade teacher at Rocky River Elementary, who, like many of her peers, has regularly spent hours looking for other resources to connect with her students. Currently in her 19th year as an educator, Anthony has previously taught in public school districts in Virginia and New York, both of which had established ELA curriculums. Despite her vast experience Anthony earned her Masters in 2006 and achieved national board certification in 2013 teaching in Cabarrus County has not been easy. Without having a cohesive curriculum, I felt lost and it felt like I had hardly any teaching experience whatsoever, she told the board, noting that a large portion of her time was spent simply searching for resources to create engaging lessons for her students. I was exhausted. Brandi Rollins, a multi-classroom leader at Bethel Elementary School, said the most pervasive issue when creating learning plans using free and open source materials is there is no guarantee those resources will be available each year. The success of students, she emphasized, should not come down to whether teachers can access such online resources each year. I just really believe that our teachers and students need more than luck to drive our day-to-day instruct, Rollins told the board. Having access to quality instructional materials is critical to teachers being able to successfully educate their students. Improving the quality of curriculum is about 40 times as cost effective compared with simply trying to reduce class sizes, according to data from the Center for American Progress, which was shared with the board. Having a curriculum will create some much needed consistency for the schools, which will only help to empower teachers. It will enable them to be more of a champion for all students each and every day, said C.C. Griffin STEM Middle School Principal Orlando Robinson. James Fleming, an eighth-grade ELA teacher at C.C. Griffin, said Arts & Letters will serve as a floor or base that our scholars know they will be educated with pride. For veteran teachers like Fleming, the curriculum will serve as a key tool in their toolkit to help our students and supplement our already strong teaching practices. Educators have a deep knowledge about how to implement Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, commonly known as LETRS, which teaches students about the Science of Reading (including Scarboroughs Reading Rope), but they just dont have the resources to do so. By voting to approve the curriculum, said Sarah Anthony, the Rocky River teacher, you are supporting teachers, which in turn, lifts up every single student that we serve. Board members are impressed Many of the school board members, while they had some questions, seemed excited about how the new curriculum would prepare teachers to be better equipped to help their students. Its really impressive to hear the amount of work that our teachers have done to be at the level that were at, Pam Escobar said. I cannot wait for next year if we do this. Youre going to be even more amazing, and thats hard to believe that thats even possible. Melanie Freeman asked how many years it would take for the district to assess the effectiveness of the curriculum. Reeves said student progress will be tracked immediately through both quantitative measures (daily checks for understanding, end-of-module assessments, benchmarks) and qualitative measures, including anecdotal feedback from teachers. Our plan is to be proactive through this entire journey, Reeves said, noting the curriculum will be tweaked as needed. Board member Catherine Moore appreciated that Arts & Letters will be but one tool in the teachers toolbox, as they can still pull from other resources as needed. Moore highlighted the importance of having a consistent curricular program across the district, especially for students relocating to different schools. Board member Shannon Lancaster, a former teacher and administrator, liked that the schools would receive physical books, which will help reduce the amount of screen time for students. I think its important that we get this done tonight, so you can order the materials and the teachers will be comfortable and ready to use this when we start school next year, Lancaster said. Superintendent Dr. John Kopicki, after the vote, noted it was an historic move the school board took in approving the curriculum, saying you dont even know how far you moved the needle. Tonight was a good example of support around our teachers, which is amazing, Reeves said. Im so, so grateful. HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) A Pleasant Grove High School student is headed to the most magical place on earth. The nonprofit group Magic Moments gifted Kenneth Spencer a vacation to Orlando on Wednesday morning at Bumpus Middle School in Hoover. It was all a part of an elaborate surprise. Birmingham Zoo welcomes orphaned cougar cub Spencer is battling sickle cell anemia and dreamed to visit Disney World, so Magic Moments sprang into action to make it happen. Organizers told the teen he was nominated to be a guest judge for a talent show at Bumpus Middle School. But at the end, organizers told Spencer he was the winner and going on vacation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It feels good because I havent really met that many people with sickle cell, Spencer said. I have probably met maybe I can count on my fingers but its good to know that people that they care, and Im not alone inside the journey. Spencer and his family are now going to spend a week in Orlando in May with trips to Disney, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. The Bumpus Middle Schools student government association provided some of the money for the trip through fundraising. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Public Service Company of New Mexico has warned of potential power outages in Santa Fe and other areas of the region Thursday because of critical fire weather conditions in the forecast. PNM executives announced during a news conference Wednesday crews could intentionally power down lines in much of Santa Fe and surrounding communities, Cochiti Pueblo, the East Mountains area and Las Vegas, N.M., overnight Thursday and into Friday in what the utility calls a public safety power shutoff. Vice President Mike Mertz noted predicted wind speeds of up to 70 mph in some places, which would heighten the risk of electrical infrastructure sparking a fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Areas across the state will be under a red flag warning or fire weather watch Thursday because of dry and windy conditions, with wind gusts of more than 40 mph forecast in Santa Fe. National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Overpeck wrote in an email high winds are forecast for Central and Eastern New Mexico, which will be exacerbated in areas with humidity below 15%. Rapid fire growth will occur in these conditions if there are any fires, he wrote. School, other closures The high winds and potential power outages prompted Santa Fe Public Schools to schedule a remote learning day Thursday and the city of Santa Fe to announce the closure of the Genoveva Chavez Community Center pool and the possible closure of other recreation facilities, senior centers and libraries at noon if outages occur. The Municipal Court will close at 1 p.m., the city said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city police and fire departments will have extra staff on hand to respond to any emergencies, the news release said, adding residents should have an emergency kit prepared, keep cellphones charged and stay off the roadways if possible. Santa Fe Public Schools said in a news release grades K-12 will meet remotely over Google Meet, starting at the regularly scheduled time and ending at 12:30 p.m., due to potential power and internet outages. The district advised parents to ensure students devices are fully charged with internet access, and to contact tech support at their childs school if they have any technology-related issues. It also provided a written guide for parents on the use of school-administered laptops at tinyurl.com/4zhb5cvb. 35,000 customers could be affected Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PNM provided a map showing the roughly 35,000 customers who could be without power Thursday. The map indicates much of the city of Santa Fe, as well as Eldorado, Tesuque and La Cienega, could face blackouts, but the citys downtown area and stretches of Cerrillos Road were not included. PNM spokesperson Jeff Buell said all businesses and homes should be prepared for the possibility of losing power Thursday, given the extreme weather statewide. The utility will decide whether to power down lines in each area Thursday morning, Buell added, and customers will be notified at that time if they will lose power. The utility will issue direct notifications to customers cellphones, he said, so all PNM customers should ensure their cellphone number on file with the utility is up to date. The company will also post updates on social media, and a news conference is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday, Buell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important to point out that PNM has not made the decision to implement a public safety power shutoff at this time, but we are mobilizing crews and resources in case it becomes necessary, Mertz said. PNM will communicate directly with potentially affected customers if the decision to implement a public safety power shutoff is made. A power shutoff in the East Mountains could affect 11,000 customers, he said, and one is possible in Las Vegas for about 2,300 customers. The utility considers several different models to predict fire risk, including factors like wind speed, moisture, terrain, and the age and condition of electrical infrastructure in different areas, Buell said. The weather conditions are expected to shift later in the week, with another storm front bringing colder temperatures and a chance of rain beginning Friday. The National Weather Service forecasts a slight chance of rain during the day Friday and a 70% chance at night and into Saturday. Staff writers Carina Julig and Andre Salkin contributed to this report. Mar. 6Residents in the East Mountains should prepare to lose power temporarily around 1 p.m. Thursday due to high winds in the area. According to Michael Mertz, vice president of New Mexico operations for PNM, the outage may affect 10,500 PNM customers, including schools in the East Mountains. Merz described the planned outage as "a proactive measure," a public safety power shutoff, to avoid a possible wildfire sparking from downed lines in high winds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service said in a social media post that winds could reach 48 mph in the Albuquerque area and East Mountains. PNM does not expect to turn off power in Santa Fe and Las Vegas, New Mexico, but said that is subject to change depending on wind speeds and potential safety concerns throughout the day. Merz said PNM emergency operations have been fully activated and are on standby through the day to prepare for any situations. This is the first time the power company has implemented public power shutoffs. BRUSSELS (AP) Poland and Baltic nations welcomed Thursday a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to launch talks about using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats, a move Moscow quickly dismissed as extremely confrontational. The comments came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined European Union leaders in Brussels for an emergency summit on defense and security. On Wednesday, Macron said he has decided to open a strategic debate on using France's nuclear deterrent to protect European allies amid concerns over potential U.S. disengagement. The French president described Moscow a threat to France and Europe," in a televised address to the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France is the only nuclear power in the European Union. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday Macron's speech was extremely confrontational." One can conclude that France thinks more about war, about continuing the war, he said during a regular call with journalists. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed Peskov, saying during a news conference in Moscow that Macrons comments were a threat against Russia. Poland praises a significant proposal In Brussels, several eastern European nations welcomed Macron's move. Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country holds the EUs rotating presidency, said we must seriously consider this proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that as always, the details matter, but Frances willingness in this regard is very significant. Baltic nations also showed interest in Macrons offering as they push for more defense spending by EU countries to avoid any future aggression by neighboring Russia. Lithuanias President Gitanas Nauseda praised a very interesting idea. We have high expectations because a nuclear umbrella would serve as really very serious deterrence towards Russia, Nauseda said. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina called the French proposal an opportunity to discuss, stressing that more time was needed to have talks with other European allies and at the domestic level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads The Federation of American Scientists, or FAS, says France maintains the worlds fourth largest nuclear arsenal, with an estimated 290 nuclear warheads. Frances arsenal consists of ballistic missiles deployed on its nuclear-powered submarines, which represent approximately 80% of the country's warheads, and air-launched cruise missiles carried by long-range bombers. Although France is a member of NATO, its nuclear forces are not part of the alliance's integrated military command structure. The FAS estimates the United States and Russia possess over 5,000 warheads each, all together representing approximately 88% of the worlds total inventory of nuclear weapons. They are followed at a distance by China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Kingdom, which is no longer an EU member but is working on restoring closer ties with the 27-nation bloc, also has nuclear weapons. In terms of extending our nuclear deterrent or using it to protect other European nations - we already do, said Tom Wells, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The U.K. already commits its nuclear forces to NATO, helping to safeguard European Euro-Atlantic security." Many countries count on U.S. umbrella During the Cold War, the U.S. nuclear umbrella was aimed at ensuring that allies, especially NATO members, would be protected by American nuclear forces in case of a threat. Thats one of the reasons why many nations in Europe and across the world havent pursued their own nuclear arsenals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Germany's election winner and likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a discussion on nuclear sharing with France. Germany is among the European countries that host U.S. nuclear weapons under NATOs nuclear sharing policy, Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed reservations on Thursday in Brussels. In response to questions from journalists, he said the existing NATO system of nuclear deterrence "should not be abandoned. Macron said Wednesday any decision to use Frances nuclear weapons would remain only in the hands of the French president. - Associated Press Writers Lorne Cook in Brussels, Jill Lawless in London and Harriet Morris contributed. Polish and Lithuanian leaders spoke in positive terms on March 6 about French President Emmanuel Macron's suggestion that Paris could extend its nuclear umbrella to protect European allies. Macron proposed to start "strategic discussions" on the subject as he warned Europe against the Russian threat and stressed that European countries should no longer rely on the U.S. for their security. France is the only EU country with nuclear weapons. "This readiness of France, this is something very promising," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters in Brussels on the sidelines of an EU summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have to treat this proposal seriously." Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda called it a "very interesting idea," adding that a nuclear umbrella would serve as an effective deterrence against potential Russian aggression. Both Poland and Lithuania lie at NATO's eastern flank and share a border with Moscow's ally Belarus and the heavily armed exclave of Kaliningrad, putting them on the front line of a potential NATO-Russia clash. The idea of nuclear sharing with France was also previously floated by Friedrich Merz, who is likely to be Germany's next chancellor after victory in the February elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discussion comes amid mounting uncertainty of the U.S.'s commitment to European security under President Donald Trump. The Trump administration has frozen military aid for Ukraine and signaled that its geopolitical focus will no longer be on the European continent. Washington also seeks to renew its relationship with Moscow, supposedly in an effort to drive it away from China. European leaders are gathering in Brussels to discuss the EU's need to boost defense spending and support for Ukraine. This involves the European Commission's ReArm Europe plan that could mobilize up to 800 billion euros ($860 billion) to arm Europe and Ukraine. Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. DENVER (KDVR) The man who police say was behind a string of armed gas station robberies in Aurora is now behind bars. Police say they arrested Ross Woessner, 20, of Aurora, for multiple armed robberies that began July 21, 2024. He is being investigated for aggravated robbery and menacing with a firearm, and is currently being held on a $50,000 bond. Weld high school students add concerning adaptions to live-action game Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Aurora Police Department said the most recent robbery was on Feb. 24, which is after the department issued an alert asking for help again in the case on Feb. 13. The department previously asked for help identifying the robbery suspect January. The suspects pattern was unique, in that he targeted only two locations. Its unheard of for someone to keep doing this over and over at the same place, Aurora Agent Matthew Longshore told FOX31s Shaul Turner in February. The police department said Woessner conducted six different armed robberies and five of them were at the same Shell gas station at 3385 South Tower Road. The other location robbed was a 7-Eleven at 18883 Hampden Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also wasnt searching for money, in most cases: Police said the robbery suspect would show the store clerk he had a weapon, such as a handgun or knife, and then would jump over the counter to steal vapes, cigarettes and beer before fleeing. Most of the time hes stealing merchandise: Vape, tobacco products, alcohol, Longshore told Turner. On Wednesday, the Aurora Police Department searched Woessners residence, which they said resulted in officers recovering property related to the robberies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Editors Note: If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you are encouraged to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man is in custody on assault charges after attacking his ex-girlfriend with a hammer inside her Wilsonville apartment, according to Wilsonville police and the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. Authorities responded to the Terrene at the Grove apartment complex on SW Parkway Avenue just before 10 p.m. on Feb. 28 after receiving a domestic disturbance call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clackamas County Commissioner Melissa Fireside indicted on felony theft charges When deputies arrived, they found a woman who reported that she had been assaulted by her ex-boyfriend 41-year-old Steven Michael Hir of Scappoose after he broke into her apartment by smashing a rear door, according to CCSO. Officials said the woman ran to a neighbors apartment to call for help and was taken to the hospital with multiple serious injuries. Hir was not at the scene when law enforcement arrived. Pilot found dead at crash site near Whiskey Dick Mountain On March 3, Hir was arrested in Portland and booked into Clackamas County Jail on charges of second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, strangulation, first-degree burglary, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, and harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. A 32-year-old Tamaqua man was charged with simple assault after he struck his mother in the head repeatedly with a tray, borough police said. Police charged Matthew P. Kern on Feb. 24 after they were dispatched to a domestic dispute on Lafayette Street. The victim, who was bleeding from the side of her face, told officers that Kern was upset that he could not find his wallet. Kern accused the woman of taking it, threw a statue at a wall and then used a wooden tray to strike her in the head area multiple times, according to police. Charges were filed through the office of Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer in Tamaqua. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man found deceased in home State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating the death of an 84-year-old man in Tremont Twp. Police said the deceased, John Brommer of Brommer Lane, had talked to his brother on the phone at about 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13. At about 1:30 p.m. that day, his brother arrived at Brommers residence and found him dead in his bedroom, police said. The death was ruled natural, police said. Man reports possible poisoning A 56-year-old man claimed he was possibly poisoned by a family member at a Norwegian Twp. home Feb. 21, according to state police at Schuylkill Haven. Police were called to the 100 block of Saint Clair Avenue for a report of a welfare check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim told police that a family could have poisoned him because he woke up feeling ill. Police said an investigation is ongoing. Man charged with assault A 46-year-old Tamaqua man was charged with simple assault after borough police said he hit his wife with a wine bottle. Fidel Brown, of the 100 block of Schuylkill Avenue, had just arrived home from work Feb. 4 when he got into a verbal argument with his wife while they were drinking, police said. During the argument, he grabbed an empty wine bottle and hit the woman with it, causing it to smash and leaving a bump on the womans head. Charges were filed through District Judge Stephen J. Bayers office. Michael Arkinson, the Sag Harbor Police Department officer who arrested Justin Timberlake on suspicion of driving while intoxicated last summer, has been awarded for his work. The cop was named officer of the year by Chief Rob Drake in a recent ceremony, per TMZ, for making an immediate impact within the department and the community. More from Billboard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Timberlakes DWI case began June 17, 2024 after police reported witnessing him failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign and failing to maintain his lane of travel while operating in Sag Harbor. Arkinson noted in a court filing that the defendant was operating said vehicle in an intoxicated condition in that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests. The Grammy winner had also reportedly told Arkinson during the arrest, I had one martini and I followed my friends home. Timberlakes lawyer also argued that his client wasnt drunk at all during the arrest. In September, Timberlake moved forward with a plea deal after previously pleading not guilty to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge. After pleading guilty in New Yorks Sag Harbor Village Court, according to the Associated Press, Timberlake was sentenced to a $500 fine with a $260 surcharge as well as 25 hours of community service at a nonprofit of his choosing. Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. AI continues to be a force multiplier for good, aiding cybersecurity protections, while also enabling bad actors to harness the technology in their attack vectors. There has been a 44% increase in global cyber-attacks year-over-year, according to CheckPoints State of Global Cyber Security 2025 report, with generative AI (GenAI) playing a significant role in cyber-attacks. In 2024, the popular technology was used in a wide range of attacks including disinformation campaigns and deepfake videos. It enabled bad actors to steal money, influence public opinion and exposed security vulnerabilities in cloud-based platforms. GenAI amplifying the human element in cyber attacks Over the last year there has been a spate of AI-driven financial cyber attacks, with cyber criminals deploying GenAI in business email compromise (BEC) and know your customer (KYC) types of attacks. These sorts of cyber crimes are likely to escalated as criminals developed more ways to exploit GenAI tools. These threats will become more prevalent this year, as cyber criminals are actively working to implement GenAI in these malicious services, the report notes. GenAI is also amplifying the human element in cyber attacks. The potential for data breaches caused by employees inadvertently sharing sensitive information with AI platforms like ChatGPT or Google's Gemini is a significant risk, the Check Point Software Technologies report notes. Employees are at risk of entering sensitive business information, such as financial details, to generate reports or analyses, yet they may not realise the information could be stored and accessed by bad actors. For example, in September a vulnerability in the ChatGPT macOS app allowed attackers to implant persistent spyware, SpAIware, into the apps memory through indirect prompt injection, enabling continuous data exfiltration of user inputs and future chat sessions. OpenAI has since resolved the issue. Disrupting elections with fake content In addition, AI was utilised in at least one-third of the elections that took place around the between September 2023 and February 2024, either by candidates themselves or potentially by foreign actors, according to Check Point research. For example, the Russian-linked APT group CopyCop targeted the June 2024 USA primary elections with fabricated news segments featuring deepfake portrayals of political figures. Using platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook, this content exploited platform algorithms to target specific voter demographics. AI-generated bots further disseminated divisive narratives, posing as genuine opinion pieces to polarise the electorate. In another case, Chinese-aligned bad actors used AI-generated deepfake videos to portray false endorsements and misleading public service announcements. Once again, this content was published on X and TikTok to discredit candidates and deepen partisan divides. Additionally, viral posts embedded with skewed polling questions seemingly portrayed support for certain candidates or fabricated evidence of fraud, undermining trust in the electoral process. Countering GenAI-fuelled attacks To counter the GenAI-fuelled attack vector, organisations will need to establish stricter internal controls on AI tools, while trying to find a balance between the productivity gains of GenAI tools and robust data protections. However, AI is allowing bad actors to quickly change their spots, creating challenges for security teams to understand changing tactics. Security researchers are recognising the evolving nature of GenAI-powered attacks and are responding with adaptive tools to counter this type of dynamic threat, according to Lotem Finkelstein, director of Threat Intelligence and Research with Check Point Security. By tracking and monitoring the activities of cyber criminal groups, security researches are stepping up efforts to learn about attacks methods and understanding their patterns of attack. Our mission is to develop products that are capable of being dynamic, by investing in computational resources and other solutions that may not yet exist, to remain dynamic in adapting to future challenges, says Finkelstein. CHICAGO (WGN) Balloons, flowers and other items dotted North Avenue between Linder and Lotus in the citys Austin neighborhoodtributes in memoriam of a woman who died this week from injuries sustained in a late February hit-and-run. I feel sorry for the family, said Celestine George, who works in the area. They have my condolences It hurts my heart seeing anybody get hurt. 68-year-old Pamela Lukes was critically injured after she was hit by a vehicle crossing the street in the 5400 block of West North Avenue sometime around 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, according to the Chicago Police Department. The vehicle fled the scene. It is described as a light-colored sedan going west on North Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 68-year-old woman dies after being struck by hit-and-run driver in Austin neighborhood on Feb. 24 Police said the suspect vehicle is described as being a 2007-10 Hyundai Sonata with a missing passengers side mirror and front end damage. Police images of the suspect vehicle (Courtesy: CPD) Lukes suffered lacerations on her head and fractures to both of her legs before being taken to a local hospital where she died this week. Ald. Emma Mitts (37th Ward) released the following statement in response to Lukes death Wednesday: The driver of the identifiable car that hit her never even stopped, and this is both deplorable and unacceptable. This could have but never should have happened to anyone!! However, primarily thanks to area camera footage, this dangerous vehicle is currently being sought by authorities. Alderwoman Emma Mitts (37th Ward) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you or someone you know has information that could help lead police to the suspect vehicle, or an arrest and conviction in the investigation of this fatal hit-and-run, anonymous tips can be filed online with police at cpdtip.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. MURRAY HILL, Manhattan (PIX11) Police are searching for multiple suspects after a 2024 Mercedes-Benz was stolen in Murray Hill on Feb. 18. The car theft happened around 11:30 p.m. in front of 235 East 40th Street, according to the NYPD. More Local News Police say a 33-year-old victim was sitting in the Mercedes-Benz when a group of individuals approached him, displayed a gun, and ordered him to exit the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects fled in the victims vehicle and a white BMW. The NYPD released the following surveillance video of the suspects. Police say the same suspects attempted to steal a 2023 Bentley sedan just 10 minutes prior in front of 37 West 28th Street but were unsuccessful. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Polish lawmakers voted on Thursday to lift nationalist opposition leader Jarosaw Kaczynski's immunity from prosecution in a defamation case. The PAP news agency reported that 236 members of parliament voted in favour of the authorization for prosecution, while 200 voted against. The lifting of immunity was based on a private lawsuit filed by Krzysztof Brejza, a member of the European Parliament, against Kaczynski. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The politician from the ruling centre-right Civic Platform said that statements made by the leader of the Law and Justice party before a committee of inquiry have defamed him. The committee was investigating the so-called Pegasus affair. Critics accuse the Law and Justice government, which was voted out of office in 2023, of using the Pegasus spyware to monitor members of the opposition. Brejza was allegedly affected by the phone surveillance. Kaczynski is said to have justified this before the committee by claiming that Brejza committed "very serious and extremely repulsive crimes." Canceling Starlink access for Ukraine would lead to an international crisis between Poland and the U.S., Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said on March 5. Poland helps Ukraine maintain its Starlink access and has provided half of all its terminals, totaling over 20,000 terminals since 2022. Starlink satellite internet access plays a crucial role in Ukraine's civilian and military communications infrastructure. Canceling Poland's Starlink contracts that provide Ukraine with internet access would be "a big international relations crisis," Gawkowski said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I cannot imagine a situation in which a business relation between Poland and a U.S. company would be suddenly interrupted," Gawkowski said. Gawkowski's comments follow media reports that the U.S. has threatened to cut Ukraine's Starlink access unless Kyiv agrees to a critical minerals deal with Washington. Starlink is owned by SpaceX, a company belonging to billionaire Elon Musk. Musk has denied these reports. If Musk were to cut off Ukraine's Starlink access, Gawkowski said, he would be effectively terminating a corporate contract with an EU nation. Poland and the EU are currently trying to diversify satellite internet access provided to Ukraine, Gawkowski continued. The EU is considering the Paris-based satellite communications company "Eutelsat" to provide satellite internet access to Ukraine's army. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Poland is maintaining it, Poland purchased Starlink and transferred it to Ukraine. Poland ensures security by paying the subscription fees. I cannot imagine any American corporation violating such agreements," Gawkowski said on Feb. 25. Musk, a key ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, has drawn scrutiny at home and abroad over his ties to Russia and repeated inflammatory comments regarding Ukraine. Read also: How US right-wing podcasters shape pro-Russia, anti-Ukraine sentiments Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Participants in the trial involving Energy Transfer and Greenpeace arrive at court Feb. 26, 2025, in Mandan, North Dakota. The judge in the case is not allowing cameras in the courtroom. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor) MANDAN, N.D. A former Energy Transfer executive on Tuesday blamed political pressure for the federal governments decision to delay a key permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline eight years ago. Joey Mahmoud, who oversaw the pipelines development, told a Morton County jury that the energy company was on track to get authorization to build the pipeline under Lake Oahe until fall 2016, when he claims protests interfered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands flocked to rural North Dakota near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to support the tribe, which is opposed to the project. The tribe considers the Dakota Access Pipeline a pollution threat and an infringement on tribal sovereignty, and claims that the pipeline has disrupted numerous sacred sites. The pipeline crosses underneath Lake Oahe, a reservoir on the Missouri River, less than a half-mile upstream from the reservation. The Department of the Army on Sept. 9, 2016, announced in a joint statement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior that it would hold off on granting an easement authorizing the pipeline to cross beneath the river, which is under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction. The agencies said in light of concerns voiced by Standing Rock and other tribes, the Corps would take a deeper look at whether the pipeline complies with federal law. Mahmoud said that the pipeline has met all federal regulations from the beginning and that the issues raised by the tribe and its allies were based on misinformation. When we were first told that the easement was going to be postponed, it was a complete shock, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He speculated that said the Obama administration must have been persuaded by pipeline opponents, but that he did not know by whom. Mahmoud said that over the course of his career, hes sought approval for thousands of permits. He indicated this is the only time hes seen federal agencies issue a joint statement on a permitting decision of this nature. Mahmoud testified as part of an anticipated five-week trial between Energy Transfer and Greenpeace. Energy Transfer alleges the environmental group co-opted a local protest effort led by Standing Rock to serve its own anti-fossil fuel agenda. The company accuses Greenpeace of funding and training protesters to commit criminal acts to stop construction of the pipeline, as well as of circulating defamatory claims to tarnish Energy Transfers reputation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the case, Energy Transfer presented depositions and written statements from Greenpeace employees indicating they supported the demonstration with supplies, intel and training. Greenpeace denies Energy Transfers claims. It has argued that its role in the protests was minimal, and that the federal governments decision to delay granting the easement was in response to actions by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, not the environmental group. Standing Rock Chairwoman Janet Alkire in a Monday statement called the lawsuit frivolous. The case is an attempt to silence our Tribe about the truth of what happened at Standing Rock, and the threat posed by DAPL to our land, our water and our people, Alkire said. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe will not be silenced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for Greenpeace on Monday showed jurors a January 2016 letter from Standing Rock leaders urging the Army Corps to conduct a more thorough environmental review of the pipeline, months before Greenpeace started supporting the protests. The jury was also shown part of a memo Energy Transfer sent to the transition team for President Donald Trump after the 2016 election. Energy Transfer in the memo called on the president elect to reverse the Obama administrations decision to delay the easement, maintaining that complaints about the pipeline circulating in the news media were all false. Just like the people coordinating with President Obama, we were coordinating with President Trump, Mahmoud said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memo also accused the Obama administration of denying repeated requests to send federal law enforcement to help protests. It also references a free speech zone that the Army Corps of Engineers created to allow protesters to demonstrate on federal land adjacent to Lake Oahe. The state of North Dakota has previously claimed that an alleged lack of federal assistance, coupled with the Army Corps taking actions to accommodate protesters, prolonged and intensified the demonstrations. Both claims were key to its lawsuit against the Army Corps, which went to trial in a North Dakota federal court about a year ago. North Dakota seeks $38 million of dollars in damages from the federal government. A judge has yet to issue a final ruling in that case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standing Rock also has an active lawsuit against the federal government related to the Dakota Access Pipeline. The tribe filed suit against the Army Corps of Engineers in October, arguing that the pipeline is operating in violation of federal law and must be shut down. Energy Transfer said Wednesday it expects to finish presenting its case this week. This story was originally published by the North Dakota Monitor. Like South Dakota Searchlight, its part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: info@northdakotamonitor.com. Politico has reported that four high-ranking associates of US President Donald Trump have held secret talks with Yuliia Tymoshenko, leader of Ukraines Batkivshchyna party, and members of European Solidarity, the party of former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko. Source: Politico, citing three Ukrainian MPs and a Republican foreign policy expert Quote: "Four senior members of Donald Trumps entourage have held secret discussions with some of Kyivs top political opponents to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, just as Washington aligns with Moscow in seeking to lever the Ukrainian president out of his job." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: According to Politico, the discussion focused on whether Ukraine could hold early presidential elections. "The Trump aides are confident that Zelenskyy would lose any vote due to war fatigue and public frustration over rampant corruption," Politico writes. The news outlet noted that although Zelenskyy's approval rating had been declining for years, it rose following the spat between him and Trump in the Oval Office on 28 February. Furthermore, the latest poll shows that Zelenskyy is still well ahead in the presidential race. "The official line from the US administration is that Trump is not interfering in Ukraines domestic politics. This week, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick denied his boss was weighing into Ukrainian politics, adding all that Trump wants is a partner for peace. But the behaviour of Trump and his officials suggests quite the opposite. Trump has accused Zelenskyy of being a dictator without elections, while Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has falsely accused Kyiv of cancelling the election," Politico says. It was also reported that although the Trump camp may hope that an election will sink Zelenskyy, he is still much more popular than Tymoshenko and Poroshenko. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a poll conducted by the British polling company Survation this week after the White House spat, 44% said they would support Zelenskyy in a presidential election. His closest rival, more than 20% behind him, is Valerii Zaluzhnyi, a former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukraines current ambassador to the UK. Only 10% supported Poroshenko, and Tymoshenko received only 5.7% support. "The key to all of the plans under discussion via back channels is to hold presidential elections after a temporary ceasefire is agreed, but before full-scale peace negotiations get underway in earnest. The idea of an early presidential election is also being pushed by the Kremlin, which has wanted to be rid of Zelenskyy for years," Politico noted. Both Tymoshenko and Poroshenko have publicly opposed holding elections before the end of combat actions, as has Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a leading Republican foreign policy expert, who asked not to be named so that he could speak freely, told Politico: "Poroshenkos people and Yuliia, theyre all talking to Trump World, positioning themselves as people who would be easier to work with. And people who would consent to many of the things that Zelenskyy is not agreeing to." Asked whether Tymoshenko has had talks with representatives of the US administration or Trump's inner circle about a presidential election or peace talks, her spokeswoman Nataliia Lysova thanked Politico for its interest. "We wont comment on that yet," she said. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Mar. 5POLO A Polo police officer has been recognized by state Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, for his lifesaving actions while responding to a house fire in December. Patrol officer Kaden Coppotelli was the first to arrive at 611 N. Division St. the morning of Dec. 17, 2024. He was advised that there was possibly a person inside the home, unable to leave because of health issues. Coppotelli ran into the home and found an elderly man in the kitchen. He carried the man outside to safety as other first responders began to arrive, Polo Police Chief Matt Coppotelli said in an interview with Shaw Local. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCombie presented the certificate from the state of Illinois to Kaden Coppotelli at the Jan. 20 Polo City Council meeting. It felt "kind of surreal," Kaden said in an interview with Shaw Local. "Especially coming from the state of Illinois. It was just really special and caught me off guard." "It's definitely a really special award that very few officers get during their career," Matt Coppotelli said. Matt served for 27 years at the Dixon Police Department before becoming Polo's police chief Jan. 2, 2024. Kaden, who is the police chief's son, started at the department about a year ago, Matt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is a great start. I'm very proud of him," Matt said. The Polo Fire Protection District was notified of the fire with the possibility of a person inside at 8:29 a.m. Dec. 17, Polo Fire Chief Jim Ports said in a previous interview with Shaw Local. Kaden Coppotelli found an open door that led into the kitchen and went inside to find the elderly man standing across from the fire. He tried to put out the fire but was unable to, and "he carried the man to safety outside," Matt Coppotelli said. Ports said that when he arrived at the scene, "the police had the occupant right here on the north side of the house." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polo firefighters cleared the house and recovered three large dogs who survived. The firefighters also recovered two cats but, despite resuscitation efforts, they died, Ports said. Unfortunately, one of the dogs had suffered severe smoke damage to its lungs, and a family member made the decision to have it euthanized, veterinarian Dr. Shauna Roberts of the Polo Animal Hospital said in a previous interview with Shaw Local. The family also lost a pet bird in the fire. "I believe it is a total loss," Ports said, referring to the damage to the two-story home. "The main fire was in the front living room. It did a lot of damage." Area departments providing mutual aid included Dixon Rural, Oregon, Mt. Morris and Milledgeville. ROME (AP) A weak and breathless Pope Francis thanked people for their prayers for his recovery in a remarkable audio message broadcast Thursday, the first public sign of life from the 88-year-old pope since he was hospitalized three weeks ago with double pneumonia. Francis feeble voice, discernible through his labored breaths and in his native Spanish, was recorded Thursday from the hospital and broadcast to the faithful in St. Peters Square who had gathered for the nightly recitation of the rosary prayer. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square, I accompany you from here, he said, his soft voice piercing the hushed square. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For anyone used to hearing Francis voice, which is often so soft it sounds like a whisper, the audio was an emotional punch to the gut that hammered home just how sick he is. The cardinal presiding over the prayer, Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, had told the crowd at the start of the service that he had beautiful news, a beautiful gift" to share. The clearly surprised crowd broke into applause and then applauded again after Francis final Gracias. Fernandez Artime, for his part, bowed his head as he listened. The 88-year-old pope has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man. The Vatican has given twice-daily updates on Francis' medical condition, but has distributed no photos or video of him since the morning of Feb. 14, when he held a handful of audiences at the Vatican before being admitted to Romes Gemelli hospital for what was then just a bad case of bronchitis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis for the longest period of his 12-year papacy and raised questions about the future of his papacy. Francis has issued written messages from the Gemelli, including some that sounded very much like him. But even Vatican officials had been clamouring to hear his voice, saying the pope's calls for peace are particularly needed at a time of such global conflict and war. More than any pope before him, Francis has mastered the art of informal and direct communication, often recording cell phone videos for visitors to bring home to their communities. For the considerable effort it must have taken, the audio message made clear that he understood the power of his voice, even in its weakened state. Doctors on Thursday reported that Francis was in stable condition, with no new respiratory crises or fever. He continued his respiratory and other physical therapy Thursday, worked, rested and prayed from the 10th floor papal suite at Romes Gemelli hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the continued stability of Francis' condition, doctors said they didnt expect to provide a new medical update until Saturday. His prognosis remains guarded, meaning he is not out of danger. The pope has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical mask to guarantee that his lungs expand properly overnight and help his recovery. He has been transitioning to receiving high-flow oxygen with a nasal tube during the day. His routine now includes physical therapy, along with treatment for double pneumonia and respiratory therapy, Vatican officials said. The 88-year-old pope has been stable for three full days after suffering a pair of respiratory crises Monday. The pope was supposed to attend a spiritual retreat this weekend with the rest of the Holy See hierarchy. On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would go ahead without Francis but in spiritual communion with him. The theme, selected before Francis got sick, was Hope in eternal life. Pope Francis health battle was on the minds of parishioners at St. Patricks Cathedral in Charlotte and other Catholic churches around the world on Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is traditionally a time for Catholics and other Christians to sacrifice something that may be a distraction from their relationship with God. Bishop Michael Martin with the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte told Channel 9 that many are praying for the popes health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Certainly Catholics around the world are lifting the Holy Father up in prayer, and trying their best to have their Lenten journey hopefully to unite their sacrifices in a way that hopefully shows him we are united with him in the suffering he is going through right now physically, Martin said. Lent runs to Easter Sunday, which is on April 20 this year. (VIDEO: Bishop to retire after 20 years at the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte) Nicholas II, Assurbanipal, and Marco Polo Walk Into a Bookstore Left: Tsar Nicholas II, the last reigning Emperor of Russia, photographed in 1912. Centre: Detail from a mosaic of Marco Polo, displayed in Genoa's Palazzo Doria-Tursi. Right: Detail from a sculpted relief depicting Assyrian king Assurbanipal (r. 668--631 BC) hunting lions, originally located at his palace in Nineveh. If you're a fan of ancient history, I heartily recommend the Lost Civilizations series published by the University of Chicago Press through its Reaktion Books imprint, which I first encountered via Frances F. Berdan's outstanding 2021 volume on the Aztecs. The latest entry is The Assyrians, by British Museum Mesopotamia expert Paul Collins (who also wrote the Sumerian entry back in 2021). Like other books in this series, it's a quick read, compressing many centuries of history into a volume that I was recently able to consume cover-to-cover during a single four-hour plane trip from California to Toronto. The Assyrian empire existed in some form for a period of about 1,400 years, from its origins as a city-state in the northern part of modern Iraq in the 21st century BC, to its (shockingly precipitous) demise in the late seventh century BC. At the height of Assyrian power, this was the largest empire the world had ever witnessed, extending from Egypt into the Levant and the Anatolian plateau, and east through the ancient cities of Aleppo, Nineveh, Assur, Babylon, Uruk, and Susa. Many centuries before the Romans brought the Mediterranean world under the Pax Romana, Mesopotamian merchants ran donkey-powered caravan networks from the Nile to Persia's Zagros Mountains under the protection (and taxing power) of Assyrian rulers and their local proxies. The wealth fuelled the construction of cities whose size and grandeur put any of Europe's fledgling Iron Age counterparts to shame. Like their counterparts in other ancient Mesopotamian societies, Assyrian elites were literate, and left modern historians with a rich trove of written artefacts. These include not only formal stone inscriptions and artwork found on surviving temples and other public works, but also mundane public records stamped into clay tablets using the logo-syllabic writing system known to us as cuneiform. One surviving 3,900-year-old set of tablets found at the site of an Assyrian trading post in modern Turkey, for instance, records the conflicting testimony of two merchants, one of whom claims to have had his goods stolen by the other. "In spite of the fact that you had no claim on either me or my agent Idi-Ishtar... you high-handedly entered [Idi-Ishtar's] house and you robbed the strongroom," one complains. "Ever since then, I have been chasing you... After all this, you go on asking me questions in court concerning my [former statements recorded on] tablets!" A Wikipedia map indicating the extent of the Assyrian empire's colonial expansion in the seventh century BC. The red area indicates the original pre-imperial Assyrian heartland. Surviving inscriptions also teach us much about Assyrian supernatural mythology, a polytheistic system based around four main gods--Assur (formerly a regional deity associated with Assur, the original Assyrian city-state), Anu, Enlil, and Enki. Collins doesn't provide a systematic overview of Assyrian supernatural beliefs, but does describe a number of their fascinating idiosyncrasies, including this one: When court priests concluded that the Assyrian king was about to be attacked by one or more gods, they'd send the king into hiding, and recruit a commoner to play the role of fake king. This faux-monarch would dress and act as if he were truly ruling the country--the odd conceit being that while the gods were powerful enough to strike down any man they pleased, they were also so utterly clueless that they couldn't tell one man from the next if they dressed and acted alike. In a morbid denouement, the fake king would then make a great show of reciting out loud all of the crimes and evils that the real king had committed (and which were believed to have attracted the gods' ire in the first place). And then a funeral would be conducted for the fake king so that the gods might imagine that there was no need for divine regicide, as the object of their anger had already been dispatched. A stature of a man-headed lion, now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which once adorned an Assyrian palace in Nimrud constructed by Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II (r. 883--859 BC). There are also numerous surviving tablets containing correspondence between Assyrian rulers and their neighbours, which have helped historians understand the region's (often fantastically complex) geopolitics; as well as produce detailed genealogies of most of Assyria's 117-odd kings. An Assyrian cuneiform tablet, dating to the nineteenth century BC, recovered in Kayseri Province, Turkey, recording the repayment of a loan valued at nine-and-a-half minas (about 5.4 kilogrammes) of silver. A major theme in these documents is a fixation on status and opulence. Certainly, rulers from this period weren't shy about pestering one another for gifts and tribute, as in this excerpt from a (somewhat petulant) letter sent by the then-upstart Assyrian ruler Assur-uballit (1356--1322 BC) to his Egyptian pharonic counterpart (thought to be Amenhotep IV): I send as your greeting-gift a beautiful royal chariot outfitted for me, and two white horses, [another] chariot not outfitted, and one seal of genuine lapis lazuli. Is such a present [not fit for] a great king? Gold in your country is dirt; one simply gathers it up. Why are you so sparing of it? I am engaged in building a new palace. Send me as much gold as is needed for its adornment. When Asur-nadin-ahhe, my ancestor, wrote to Egypt, 20 talents of gold were sent to him... Now I am the equal of [such kings], but you sent me [illegible cuneiform markings], and it is not [even] enough for the pay of my messengers on the journey to and back. If your purpose is graciously one of friendship, send me much gold. Other surviving writings from ancient Assyria relate to that age-old problem of all hereditary monarchies: succession. Brothers, cousins, uncles, and nephews were constantly looking for opportunities to seize the throne by stabbing a royal relative in the back--sometimes with the connivance of neighbouring powers, or aggrieved elements from among the many peoples whom the Assyrians had colonised. In this regard, one of the most extraordinary writings discussed by Collins is the Succession Treaty of Esarhaddon--a loyalty oath written up by the Assyrian king of the same name (r. 681--669 BC). Under its terms, vassals were required to swear to Assur, the Assyrian national god, that they would recognise crown prince Assurbanipal as royal heir and successor upon the king's death. Lest such oath be broken, the tablet lists no fewer than 68 curses that would befall the oathbreaker, ranging from the medically precise (leprosy, blindness, death by vultures), to the sexually lurid ("May Ishtar make your wives lie in the lap of your enemy before your eyes") to the underwhelmingly vague ("May Assur decree an evil and unpleasant fate for you"). Black basalt monument produced under the rule of Assyrian King Esarhaddon (r. 681--669 BC), detailing his reconstruction of Babylon following its destruction by his father, Sennacherib. If this ominous style sounds familiar, it may be because such Assyrian writings likely influenced the Jewish authors of Deuteronomy ("You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit," and so forth). Indeed, the Assyrians make cameos in several parts of the Bible, in which they are generally portrayed as a cruel and proud race that tormented the Jews. (In Isaiah 37:36, God becomes so enraged by Assyrian barbarism that "the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.") The Succession Treaty of Esarhaddon achieved its purpose: Three years after it was drafted, Esarhaddon died, and his son Assurbanipal ascended to the throne--just as planned. He reigned for 38 years, from 669 BC till his death in 631 BC, a period corresponding to the height of Assyrian territorial expansion. Unfortunately, Assurbanipal was something of a sadist, inflicting what we would now call genocide upon the conquest of various enemy-held cities. He boasted, for instance, of completely destroying the capital of neighbouring Elam (in modern-day Iran), plundering its temples, sowing farmland with salt, and enslaving those he hadn't annihilated. A relief celebrating Assurbanipal's campaign against Elam. The image depicts the sack of the Elamite city of Hamanu in 647 BC. Flames are seen rising in the background as Assyrian soldiers destroy buildings with axes (top) and leave with plunder (bottom). "For a distance of a month and twenty-five days' journey, I devastated the provinces of Elam," he claimed. "The dust of Susa, Madaktu, Haltemash, and the rest of the cities I gathered together and took to Assyria... The noise of people, the tread of cattle and sheep, the glad shouts of rejoicing, I banished from its fields." Such campaigns filled Assurbanipal's royal coffers with plunder, but also helped unite Assyria's enemies against this marauding king. During the latter part of his reign, Assurbanipal seems to have become depressed and possibly even mentally ill. One of his final inscriptions laments that "I cannot do away with the strife in my country and the dissensions in my family; disturbing scandals oppress me always. Illness of mind and flesh bow me down; with cries of woe I bring my days to an end. On the day of the city god, the day of the festival, I am wretched." The Assyrian Empire went into decline, and its many enemies seized the opportunity to attack. Soon, an alliance of Median and Babylonian troops would destroy both the Assyrian religious capital of Assur, and the administrative capital of Nineveh--repaying all the gratuitous destruction and cruelties that Assurbanipal had inflicted in the process. In the space of a generation, a 1,400-year-old empire went from its geographical maximum to non-existence, a stunning pace of collapse that makes the fall of the Roman Empire look positively glacial by comparison. Tsar Nicholas II, being the last reigning Emperor of Russia, ranks as a major historical figure. Yet in many histories of the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Tsar is treated almost as a secondary character--more a passive symbol of old-world aristocracy than a major protagonist in his own right. This is why I was uncertain about launching myself into historian Tsuyoshi Hasegawa's newly published book, The Last Tsar: The Abdication of Nicholas II and the Fall of the Romanovs. As despotic and bloodthirsty as Vladimir Lenin and his fellow Bolshevik revolutionaries proved to be, they were decisive figures who bent history to their will. By comparison, Nicholas II struck me as torpid and dull. Reading The Last Tsar only reinforced this impression. Hasegawa's expert description of Nicholas II's last years also raises the question of whether a more enlightened and competent Imperial leader (such as, say, his first cousin once removed, Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich) might have managed to hold Russia together long enough for it to make the transition to a liberal constitutional monarchy. In the Russian tradition, Tsars were idealised as divinely ordained autocrats in the absolutist feudal tradition. It was a thoroughly antiquated conceit, but one that Nicholas II embraced wholeheartedly, assuring more liberal-minded critics within his own family that he would "devote all my strength to maintain, for the good of the whole nation, the principle of absolute autocracy, as firmly and as strongly as did my late lamented father [the reactionary Alexander III]." Much like Charles I of England three centuries earlier, he was a believing Christian who truly imagined himself to be God's chosen leader. Unfortunately, Nicholas didn't have the strength of character required of a national leader, as became tragicomically evident once he declared himself Russia's commander-in-chief during World War I: When the Tsar showed up at military headquarters to assume "command," his own generals relegated the aristocrat to ceremonial and back-office functions. To describe Nicholas II as out of touch with Russia's soldiers, peasants, and urban proletariat during this time of crisis would be an understatement. While (literally) millions of Russian men were dying at the front, his diary entries were dominated by lists of people he'd lunched with, and amusements he'd undertaken with his family. In one letter to his wife that he wrote from the Russian war room, he spoke vaguely of "big maps... full of blue & red lines, numbers, dates, etc," like a schoolboy on a field trip to a military museum. At the height of a key campaign, Russia's massive summer 1916 offensive in Galicia, Nicholas II was holed up reading a soppy children's tale called The Story of Little Boy Blue. By the time Nicholas was forced to step down in early 1917, several of his own Romanov relatives were predicting (accurately) that his incompetence would invite violent revolution. It's rare to read a biographical work whose author is so contemptuous of his subject as Hasegawa is of Nicholas. And yet the author, a specialist on 20th-century Russian history, seems even more ill-disposed toward the Tsar's wife, Alexandra Feodorovna (born Princess Alix of Hesse), whose surviving letters to Nicholas are full of terrible political advice, parochial attacks on their perceived enemies, and hectoring demands that he more ruthlessly embrace his role as autocrat. Much of her counsel wasn't even her own: Often she was just parroting opinions from Grigori Rasputin, the debauched mystic who'd gained the royal couple's favour by presenting himself as a miraculous faith healer who could help their hemophiliac son, Alexei. It's rare to read a biographical work whose author is so contemptuous of his subject as Hasegawa is of Nicholas. Before reading The Last Tsar, I hadn't fully appreciated the full fanatical extent of Alexandra's dedication to Rasputin, nor the degree to which his influence on affairs of state had caused the royals to become mocked and reviled by fellow nobles. (In one letter to her husband, she wrote: "Oh, my dear, I pray to God so passionately to convince you that in Him [Rasputin] lies our salvation. If He weren't here, I don't know what would become of us. He is saving us with His prayers and His wise advice.") Amazingly, even after Rasputin was murdered in late 1916, the Tsar and his wife simply transferred their mystical allegiances to Rasputin's acolytes--including a mentally unstable occultist named Alexander Protopopov, whom Nicholas propped up as Interior Minister till the end of his reign. Nicholas II's story ends in July 1918, with the cold-blooded slaughter of his entire family by Bolshevik agents--including five children, several of whom were bayonetted after watching their parents shot to death. Ineffectual, gullible, and imperious as Nicholas and his wife may have been, they did not deserve to die like this. Nor did the millions of other Russians who were exterminated (or worked to death in gulags) by the communist regime that would transform the Tsar's decrepit autocracy into a full-fledged totalitarian dystopia. No doubt, many Russians imagined that whatever replaced Romanov rule could not possibly be worse. Tragically, they were very much mistaken. Marco Polo (1254--1324) is likely the most famous merchant who ever lived. Even small children know his name, thanks to the swimming-pool game that shares his name (though no one is quite sure why). Less famous is Rustichello da Pisa, the florid romance writer who served as ghostwriter for Polo's legendary work, The Travels of Marco Polo. The two men struck up their partnership in a Genoese prison, after both had wound up on the wrong side of that city-state's commercial rivalry with Pisa and Polo's native Florence. The fact that the book became one of the great blockbusters of the European Middle Ages is owed to the combination of Polo's extraordinarily detailed knowledge of the Orient's great trading civilisations with Rustichello's sensational writing style. The former appealed to the professional merchant class; the latter to the great reading public (such as it was before the invention of the printing press). Sharon Kinoshita, a specialist in medieval French literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz, knows Polo as well as any modern scholar, having published her own translation of his Travels in 2016. (Kinoshita's language specialty is apt, as The Travels was not written in Italian, but rather in an adapted form of French known as lingua franco-veneta, then commonly employed by Italian writers who, in this age before Dante, regarded their mother tongue as too vulgar for literary use.) In a beautifully illustrated new book, Marco Polo and His World, she revisits The Travels, but this time as guide instead of translator. Her goal is to provide readers of The Travels with the historical information they need to situate Polo's adventures in their correct thirteenth-century context. Polo was still in his teens when he made his first trip to the court of Qubilai (Kublai) Khan at Shangdu (often anglicised as "Xanadu"). Yet Kublai was so impressed by Polo's communications skills that he hired the youngster as a foreign emissary, dispatching him to other Asian ports of call. (According to Rustichello's prologue, Polo somehow had managed to learn Mongolian--along with several other unspecified languages--even before meeting the khan.) Polo describes "Cathay" (northern China, as distinct from the Southern Song Empire, which Kublai required more time to subdue) as a land of wonders, many of them never before observed by Europeans. He was especially awed by the port of Quinsai (modern Hangzhou); and by Khanbaliq, Qubilai's winter capital in modern Beijing, where "greater quantities of the most costly and most worthy things come to this city than to any [other]. For know in truth that each day, more than 1,000 carts loaded with silk enter this city." As Kinoshita emphasises, Kublai's world was, in some ways, new to the local Chinese population as well, as their lands had only recently been folded into the Mongols' enormous continent-spanning empire. As a means to legitimise his conquests, Kublai styled himself as the founder of a legitimate dynasty in the ancient Han tradition--known to history as Great Yuan. But there was no disguising the fact that China had effectively been taken over by Mongolian steppe warriors. The fortunes of Mongol subjects varied according to region, as the empire became politically subdivided among Genghis Khan's descendants (including Qubilai, a grandson of the founding khan) following a 1259 succession crisis. In eastern Europe, the Mongols were feared as ruthless pillagers and despots. And the English Benedictine monk Matthew Paris described them as a "monstrous and inhuman race" of cannibals. But as Marie Favereau emphasises in her 2021 book, The Horde: How the Mongols Changed the World (which focuses on a separate khanate, the Golden Horde), the sheer scope of Mongol conquests also facilitated new opportunities for international trade and cultural exchange. During this Pax Mongolica, the Mongols popularised the use of paper money; and created the yam, a long-distance postal relay service with 1,400 stations that allowed messages to be transmitted across Eurasia in a matter of just a few months. ("I tell you that such men as these often bring the lord [Qubilai] fruit from ten days away in one day," Polo informed readers.) To facilitate communication, Qubilai even ordered the creation of a new universal script, known as 'Phags-pa, into which scribes could transliterate all of the many languages spoken in his empire. And it was this globalised world that Polo entered when he sailed out of Venice at age seventeen. Polo was very much a capitalist avant la lettre, which may be one reason The Travels proved so popular. The standard literary genres of the era were dominated by hagiographies of monarchs, along with religious texts documenting the lives of saints. But wherever he went, Polo was primarily interested in the merchant class and those it employed--what they bought, what they sold, and how they conducted business. "Even the well-born nobles who would hold pride of place in other civic descriptions are nearly squeezed out by the attention given to merchants, craftsmen, and sailors," Kinoshita writes of The Travels. As for Polo's broader observations of eastern peoples and their cultures, it is something of a mixed bag, ranging from surprisingly enlightened to hilariously ignorant. Being a staunch proto-capitalist, Polo seemed impressed by the sheer diversity of merchants mixing freely in China's great commercial hubs--including Jews, Muslims, and members of the various Christian sects--a laissez-faire atmosphere that would have been unthinkable in thirteenth-century Europe. But when it came to areas of Asia (India, in particular) that were seen as more primitive, he and Rustichello trafficked in all sorts of nonsense--material that did not reflect Polo's first-hand observations, but rather simply recycled overheard folklore. Many parts of The Travels are characterised by a mash-up style, whereby Polo casually intermingles banal reports about natural resources and local flora with horrific fictions--as in his description of the Andaman Islands in the northeastern Indian Ocean: Now know in all truth that all the men of this island have heads like dogs and teeth and eyes like dogs... They are a very cruel people; they eat as many men as they can catch, if they are not their people. They have all kinds of spices in abundance; their food is rice, milk, and meat of all kinds; they also have fruit which is different from ours. Such descriptions will obviously strike the modern reader as, let us say, problematic. But Kinoshita's take on these flourishes is laudably nuanced. She notes that however absurd Polo's descriptions may have been, they weren't any more far-fetched or denigrating than those written up by Arab, Persian, and Chinese writers of the same period. Put another way: Polo's attitudes can't be neatly shoehorned into the stigmatised category of thought now known as "Orientalism." As the author notes, moreover, The Travels was published, in large part, to satisfy the enormous appetite for "wonders" (mirabilia and merveilles, in Latin and French respectively) among both Christian and Islamic readers during the Middle Ages. The original French title of Polo's book was Livre des merveilles du monde; and it was one of just many famous books from the period that purported to catalogue the mysterious and other-worldly phenomena that existed on the other side of the planet. To give Polo his due, many of the "marvels" he reported served to cast local populations in a positive light. In regard to the Indian province of Lar, for instance, he reported on the abstemious lives of the "Yogi," holy men whom he praised as "the best merchants in the world and the most truthful." What's more, he added, "they fast all year and drink nothing other than water." It's a claim that's plainly at odds with the laws governing human biology--and so, like much else in The Travels, must be read as fiction. But surely, it speaks well of Polo's intentions that he extended his credulity to fables that cast these exotic cultures in such flattering terms. At the very least, I hope, it means we can go on listening to blindfolded children grope around swimming pools shouting out Marco Polo's name without chastising them for being insensitive. Validating the time that an employee has worked has been around a very long time. Who could forget 1960s cartoon character Fred Flintstone punching his concrete tablet in and out at the Bedrock quarry? Today, the task of clocking in and out is increasingly automated through various measures such as facial recognition and biometric technology. This is beneficial for both the employer and the employee to ensure they are paying their staff correctly and that they are getting the right pay for the hours they are working. However, with that automation, particularly when it involves AI, there is an increasing need for more transparency and visibility. Damien Durston, the Head of People Management Solutions at OneAdvanced ANZ, says these technology advancements are designed to enhance workplace efficiency and compliance. "As AI becomes more prevalent in the workplace, Australian businesses face increasing scrutiny regarding compliance, fairness and transparency. The modern workplace requires AI use in HR to align with ethical principles and the law, he said. "Our people management platform ensures that automated decision-making is balanced with human oversight and that employees are informed and consulted on AIs role in their working lives. Workers deserve to understand how they are measured and monitored using AI-driven insights. Without this level of transparency, businesses risk eroding employee trust and engagement. "There is a clear pathway for Australian businesses to succeed with AI while empowering their workforce. Ethical AI in HR isnt just about compliance; its about supporting a workplace where technology drives human potential, not diminishes it. Organisations prioritising responsible AI adoption will be better positioned to attract and retain talent, build stronger workplace cultures and stay ahead of regulatory changes." Durston said many businesses were still using manual processes to capture time and attendance in the workplace whereas automation gives a business greater control over its number one cost of doing business its payroll. What our technology does is validate the time that an employee has worked to the appropriate rule or award and then it tidies it up ready to process. We see our tech as enhancing business insights and efficiency, not compromising ethics. We focus on mobile applications for connecting employees to their workplace, which provide real-time data and generate exception reports for managers. One of the features of the OneAdvanced technology is geofencing, meaning that a worker cannot clock in for work unless they are within a 50-metre radius of their workplace. This alleviates the potential for buddy clocking, buddy punching or ghost punching whereby someone else clocks an employee in. There is also facial recognition and biometric technology. These technologies are not only there for verification but also to track overtime, which results in fewer overtime discrepancies. Durston said privacy concerns are addressed through secure data handling in that biometric data is stored as an algorithm not as an image via Microsoft Azure and stored at military level data centres in Sydney and Melbourne. Pope Francis, who is suffering from severe pneumonia, is now receiving almost constant supplemental oxygen, either through a breathing mask or tubes, according to people familiar with his situation. The 88-year-old wears a mask over his mouth and nose at night to provide mechanical ventilation, while during the day he's usually given oxygen through a tube in his nose. Those around him emphasize that he is not artificially ventilated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Holy See, the pope spent the previous night in hospital without new complications. The head of the Catholic Church has now been in the Gemelli Hospital in the western Rome for almost three weeks. At the hospital, Pope Francis has had at least four attacks of respiratory insufficiency, some of which were also accompanied by cramps and vomiting. As a result, he was given a mask for mechanical ventilation during the day as well. The Vatican initially gave no further information on the 88-year-old's state of health. Doctors are refraining from making a prognosis about the course of his condition. Ex-President Petro Poroshenko's team works "publicly and transparently" with U.S. partners to ensure bipartisan support for Ukraine, Poroshenko said on March 6, reiterating his opposition to elections during the war. His comments came in reaction to Politico's article, which claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump's team has been leading secret talks with Poroshenko and another opposition leader, Yuliia Tymoshenko, as Washington ramps up pressure against President Volodymyr Zelensky. Tymoshenko also reacted to the story, saying that her party, Batkivshchyna, is negotiating with "our allies who can help secure a just and peaceful solution as soon as possible. " She reaffirmed that elections are possible only after the war ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's push for a quick settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war saw him adopt Moscow-aligned positions while pressuring Kyiv by cutting off crucial military aid and intelligence sharing. In recent weeks, the White House has echoed the Kremlin's false narrative about Zelensky's illegitimacy, referring to the fact that Ukraine did not hold elections last year. The Ukrainian Constitution does not permit elections under martial law, and critics pointed out difficulties in organizing elections during an all-out war, such as the possibility of voting for front-line soldiers and refugees. According to Ukraine's former president, his team's talks with U.S. partners focused on security and a peace through strength approach, including the provision of weapons, intelligence, sanctions, and transatlantic unity. At the same time, Poroshenko criticized the supposed lack of communication between Zelensky's team and the U.S. government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ukraine and President Zelensky said this clearly is ready for talks to end the war under strong leadership of President Trump," Tymoshenko said on Facebook. According to Politico, senior members of Poroshenko's European Solidarity party and Tymoshenko have been in contact with four members of Trump's team. The two opposition leaders reportedly tried to position themselves as more flexible partners for the U.S. than Zelensky. Trump falsely claimed last month that Zelensky's approval rating has dropped to 4%. While Zelensky's popularity was steadily declining throughout 2024, the mounting pressure from Washington seemed to have boosted his support. According to a survey by the British pollster Survation, carried out between Feb. 25 and 27, Zelensky leads in the polls with 44%. He is followed by former Commander-in-Chief and Ambassador to the U.K. Valerii Zaluhnyi who has not publicly confirmed presidential ambitions at 21%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poroshenko came third with 10%, while Tymoshenko scored only 6%, signalling slim chances of beating Zelensky in the election. Read also: Trumps team leads private talks with Zelenskys political rivals, Politico reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Mar. 5Ben Pearson kind of has a thing about serving subs. The Mead High School graduate, who served most of an eight-year career on a nuclear submarine for the U.S. Navy, has signed on as a regional developer who will work with other franchisees to open about 10 local Port of Subs restaurants in Spokane, the Tri-Cities and Coeur d'Alene. So a guy who once served on submarines could finish his career serving submarine sandwiches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's a coincidence," Pearson said of his submarine career, from which he retired from the Navy as a Petty Officer First Class, "but a comical coincidence." The first restaurant will likely open sometime around September in Kennewick, where Pearson has called home for the past 15 years. After serving on the USS Ohio, a 560-foot-nuclear-powered-ballistic-missile submarine, Pearson worked as the senior manager of hydrogeneration for the Grant County PUD. "I was just ready to do something new and different," Pearson said. "I've always had entrepreneurial aspirations. I had been looking for an opportunity to make that happen that isn't extremely risky for myself and my family." Then he came across Port of Subs, which was looking for regional developers to help manage the company's expansion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Port of Subs makes fresh-to-order sandwiches while the customer looks on, comparable to Subway. The chain offers hot subs, cold subs and wraps, salads, breakfast items, basked desserts and drinks. Specific subs include the Classic Sub #1, with ham, salami, capicolla, pepperoni, provolone cheese and the guest's choice of toppings, like shredded lettuce, tomato, oregano, Pomace Olive Oil and red wine vinegar, or the warmed Grilled Chicken Buffalo melt with grilled chicken strips, provolone and Frank's Red Sauce. Subs can be ordered in 5-, 8-, 12- or 24-inch lengths. "I had never heard of it before. There are a couple locations on the West Side near Seattle. I tried the food," he said. "It was incredible. It's probably the best sub sandwich I ever had at a restaurant." Port of Subs is owned by parent company Area 15 Ventures, which is based in Colorado. Port of Subs is using the regional developer program to coordinate other franchisees, who would then operate individual restaurants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They have a phenomenal business plan and model to expand this nationwide," Pearson said. Area 15 Ventures is led by Dave Liniger, who is also the chairman and co-founder of RE/MAX realty company. Area 15 recently hired regional developers in Washington, D.C., Florida, Texas and Arizona. "There's a lot of national food chains, but Port of Subs is really a community-central brand," Pearson said. "They really lean into the community and want to be part of the community. They want to be locally owned ... and be a positive influence. That's a big part of the business." Coming to Spokane Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plans remain underway to open the first restaurant later this summer in Kennewick. Pearson hopes to also help set up restaurants in Spokane, Pasco, Walla Walla, Ritzville Richland and Coeur d'Alene. The timing for the restaurants will depend in signing franchisees and finding locations. "We look forward to continuing our expansion into the Pacific Northwest with a dedicated regional developer leading the way," Healey Mendicino, president of Port of Subs, said in a news release. "Ben's experience and familiarity with the region perfectly prepare him to lead our brand expansion in Washington. Port of Subs has been driving rapid growth, and we're thrilled to continue to attract dedicated entrepreneurs like Ben to our growing brand." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pearson, 45, grew up in Colville before moving to Spokane to attend high school. His brother and sister both have families in the Lilac City. "Tri-Cities is a booming area. A lot of people are moving here," he said. He hopes to contribute to that economic success. "A lot of people may not know what Port of Subs is. Subway is a very well known brand," Pearson said. "But Port of Subs is really focused on customer service and the community and they have really high-quality food. I think that's what will separate Port of Subs from the competition." PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The man killed during a shooting in Piedmont neighborhood of Northeast Portland on Monday has been identified by police. Authorities said Brandon J. Sotelo, 29, had bullet wounds when officers arrived at the scene near 8100 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. just before 11:10 p.m. Significant tip in 1958 Martin Family disappearance prompts underwater search Sotelo was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died. A medical examiner has determined that his death was a homicide by gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details of what led to the shooting are unclear. No arrests have been reported. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to contact Portland police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. (Bloomberg) -- Portugal could face early elections in May if the government loses a confidence vote in parliament next week, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Wednesday hell seek a confidence vote in parliament to clarify whether his minority government has all the conditions to carry out its program. The premier has been struggling to put an end to speculation about potential conflicts of interest related to a company owned by his family, and faced two censure motions in two weeks. Montenegros center-right administration doesnt currently have enough support to win the confidence vote. If he loses, his government will fall and Portugal may face its third early election in less than four years. A snap election could delay government decisions, such as a plan to privatize state-owned airline TAP SA this year and investments in infrastructure such as high-speed railway links. If the government loses the confidence vote, elections could take place on May 11 or May 18 at the earliest, President Rebelo de Sousa said in televised comments on Wednesday night. The confidence vote will be held on Tuesday afternoon, news agency Lusa reported. While the president is mainly a figurehead, he has the authority to appoint the premier, dissolve parliament and decide whether to call early elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government said on Thursday that the text of the confidence motion has already been approved. The Socialist Party, the biggest opposition group in parliament, reaffirmed on Wednesday that it will vote against the government if it presents a confidence motion. Previously, the Socialists let the administrations 2025 budget pass by abstaining in a vote in November, and theyve also helped Montenegro defeat censure motions. Chega leader Andre Ventura also said on Wednesday that his far-right party wont give Montenegro a vote of confidence. Still, Montenegro will remain candidate to be premier again if theres a new election, Hugo Soares, parliamentary leader for the prime ministers PSD party, told SIC Noticias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A poll published by TVI on Feb. 3 showed the ruling AD coalition leading with 33% support, followed by the opposition Socialists with 27% and far-right party Chega with 17%. Narrow Win Portugals last election was held in March 2024, four months after it was called, and Montenegro took office in April. The premiers AD coalition got a narrow win over the Socialists in that early election . Montenegro succeeded Antonio Costa, a Socialist who unexpectedly quit as prime minister in November 2023 amid a probe into alleged influence peddling. Costa, who denies wrongdoing, is now European Council president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minority governments in Portugal have tended to be short-lived in 50 years of democracy, only two have survived a full four-year term. The Socialists and Montenegros center-right PSD party, which is the senior partner in the governing AD coalition, have dominated Portuguese politics in those five decades. Fiscal discipline has been a focus for successive administrations since the euro-area debt crisis, when Portugal needed a bailout. While in 2023 the debt ratio dropped below 100% of gross domestic product for the first time since 2009, its still at a high level and the memory of the debt crisis and Portugals bailout is relatively fresh. On Friday, S&P Global Ratings upgraded Portugals government bond rating to A from A-, citing deleveraging. The yield on Portugals 10-year bonds rose 7 basis points to 3.37% on Thursday. The spread over comparable benchmark German bunds widened 2 basis points to 52 basis points. Budget Surplus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government aims to post a budget surplus of 0.3% of GDP this year as economic growth accelerates. The Bank of Portugal in December raised its 2025 growth forecast to 2.2%. Questions about the family-owned firm and potential conflicts of interest have been adding pressure on Prime Minister Montenegro since February. Montenegro, 52, said on Feb. 21 that he set up the family-owned company, called Spinumviva, when he wasnt active in politics and that its absurd to consider that owning a stake in the firm generates a conflict of interest. Hes said he never took any decision that involved a conflict of interest. The prime minister said on Saturday night that the company will now be totally owned and managed by his children. Solverde, a Portuguese operator of casinos and hotels, told newspaper Expresso that its paid Spinumviva 4,500 ($4,872) a month since July 2021 for services related to compliance and personal data protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prime minister, who worked as a lawyer earlier in his career, has said he wont take part in decisions involving companies that he has links to. For example, the government may have to take decisions about the Algarve and Espinho casino concessions, which end in 2025 and are currently held by Solverde. Solverde on Wednesday ended its contract with Spinumviva, according to Portuguese news agency Lusa. (Updates date for confidence vote in fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Whether its plastic bottles or cups near waterways, smashed cans scattered in the grass, or plastic bags caught in the branches of a bush or tree Litter is everywhere this time of year. Throughout the winter, snow may have covered up the litter, but now, youll find it everywhere. People see green grass and they think that this is a great time to get out of their houses to pick up the sticks and branches in their own backyards. But as you drive around the melting snow reveals a whole variety of other issues that are happening out there, said Don Benczkowski, program coordinator for the Lake Erie region of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most litter is the direct result of human activity, and shows off how much waste we produce through one-time-use items, like fast food wrappers, cups bottles, straws and cigarette butts. Millfair Compost and Recycling Center officially opens, operating regular hours It finds its way to a sidewalk or yard near you after someone disposes of it incorrectly, and the wind or rain carries it sometimes miles away from where it was dropped. Trash is coming in from all over the place. Its not necessarily ours. During one of the first coastal cleanup events that I coordinated, we had a garbage can that came from Cleveland Metroparks. We picked that up in Springfield Township, said Benczkowski. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the City of Erie and surrounding municipalities collect your trash that is put out on collection day, oftentimes, theyre not the ones picking loose items up by hand. Its why those with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful are advocating for you to get involved. Senator Laughlin re-introduces bill to end PAs ban on Sunday hunting If you see something, pick it up, and dont rely on others to do it for you. Its a very transitional time of year but from that standpoint, its good to notice that, said Benczkowski. We live in a community that borders 20% of the worlds fresh water supply. So if theres a place that needs to be protected, that needs special consideration, its right here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful supports roughly 75,000 volunteers statewide who help to keep things clean. On average, they remove more than 7 million pounds of trash from roads, waterways, parks and shared public spaces. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy, said Elon Musk who now has his sights on the Department Veterans Affairs. In an internal VA memo, the department stated plans to reduce their staffing levels by roughly 83,000 workers. Very worrisome and at the same time, its infuriating, said Mario Campos, a federal employee and union vice president. Campos is a retired Marine Corps veteran and current Border Patrol Agent. He says his government employee union is not taking these proposed layoffs lightly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Diego City Council votes to begin rolling back controversial ADU program Their unions here and we are going to fight for them. We are going to fight for all federal employees and all civil servants, said Campos. The American Federation of Government Employees, or the AFGE union, has already filed several lawsuits against DOGE and the Trump administration, bringing some workers back to their jobs. The VA serves over 15 million veterans with healthcare, home loans, educational benefits, among other services. Former Army Capt. Matthew Shillingburg says redundancies at the VA were to be expected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are looking at that situation where youre going to be terminated and let go, just reach out to your other veterans, said Shillingburg. Folks in the VFW the American Legion, all different veteran services organizations to help you. Now with roughly 20,000 vets losing their jobs, Shillingburg says veterans are going to need each other more than ever. With the speed with the cuts, there are fears of immediate termination, but Shillingburg doesnt believe it will all happen as fast as other departments. Doug Colins (Secretary of VA) said that they will be phasing that all of this year and I hope with his integrity that they wont just slice it all across the board like that, Shillingburg continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Workers for Veterans Affairs have been ordered not to speak with the media, but FOX 5 spoke to one worker who says there is a meeting set up for Friday where they will be hearing about staffing issues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. KANSAS CITY, Mo. As of 4:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, there were just more than 7,300 people without power in Evergys coverage area that goes from Central Kansas to Mid-Missouri. The majority of the outages caused by severe weather and high-powered winds were in the KC metro or near St. Joseph, Mo. Kansas City area crews cleaning up after recent storm Evergy spokeswoman Courtney Lewis said on Wednesday morning that crews started monitoring this situation days in advance as their workers kept a close eye on the forecast. Lewis says the city has basically experienced three of the four seasons in the past 24 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, we made sure that we had crews ready to go, Lewis said. We contacted all of our Evergy crews and all of the crews that we contract with here across our service area, and they were ready, they were mobilized, so when outages started happening, we were able to deploy them quickly and safely once conditions allowed. FOX4 found both contractors and Evergy crews working at 69th and Monroe Wednesday afternoon. That areas near Cleveland Avenue and just north of Banneker Elementary School in the city. Im fine just cold, and we want the lights back on, Sharon Payne said. [That] would be nice, but Im fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Payne was watching her mother in this area because the residents that live on 69th Street didnt have heat or power due to Tuesday nights wind. The lights, the heat, the gas, of course. Its cold. Its cold out there, Payne said when asked if she wanted the heat on. How windy was it, and how much snow fell in Kansas City? Just south of 69th Street, resident Armeta Floyd hadnt had power since 11 p.m. Tuesday when we caught up with her around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Yep, resident Armeta Floyd said when asked if she was doing okay. Yep. Im 67 years old, but Ive got on lots of clothes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While FOX4 doesnt know for sure when Floyds power will come back on, Lewis gave us an update just before 4 p.m. Wednesday on when power should be back on. She says people in Atchison, Lawrence, Shawnee and Leavenworth, should have their power back on Wednesday night. She says people in Blue Springs, the Northland, and Platte City should get their power back late Thursday morning. Lewis added that people in St. Joe, Lees Summit, and the folks south of the river in the metro who had their power knocked out, should get it back late Thursday afternoon. Lewis says 175,000 customers were without power at the peak of this storm from Central Kansas to Mid-Missouri, so its decreased dramatically since early Wednesday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Deer are seen outside of a Google data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. (Google Data Centers) This story was originally published by Floodlight. The explosive growth of data centers around the country driven in large part by the burgeoning use of artificial intelligence could come at a staggering cost for average residents with skyrocketing electricity bills. A new report from Harvards Electricity Law Initiative says unless something changes, all U.S. consumers will pay billions of dollars to build new power plants to serve Big Tech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data centers are forecast to account for up to 12% of all U.S. electricity demand by 2028. They currently use about 4% of all electricity. Historically, costs for new power plants, powerlines and other infrastructure is paid for by all customers under the belief that everyone benefits from those investments. But the staggering power demands of data centers defy this assumption, the report argues. Were all paying for the energy costs of the worlds wealthiest corporations, said report author Ari Peskoe, director of the initiative at the Harvard Law School Environmental and Energy Law Program. He worked with co-author Eliza Martin to produce the report, Extracting Profits from the Public: How Utility Ratepayers are Paying for Big Techs Power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Data Center Coalition, which advocates for the industry, did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Dominion, which serves one of the nations largest data center loads in Virginia, said establishing rates in the state is an open and transparent process. Aaron Mitchell, vice president of pricing and planning at Georgia Power, testified to a Georgia legislative committee that adding 3,300 megawatts (MW) of new generation for data centers will actually reduce customers bills. Thats enough electricity to power roughly three million homes. The more that we are able to serve, the more that we can provide benefits to existing customers, by virtue of those new customers coming online and paying their fair share of the costs that we incur to serve those customers, Mitchell said. 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, December 2024. Secrecy hides full picture of utility costs But Martin and Peskoe examined nearly 50 regulatory proceedings around the country between utilities and data centers to determine who pays the costs for electricity for data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In many cases, agreements between tech companies and utilities are confidential, limiting the information thats available including how much electricity a data center will use and how much it will pay for the power, according to the report. In Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana is proposing to build 2,250 MW of new natural gas generation for Meta, the tech company. But neither Meta nor its data center affiliate Laidley, is involved in the proposal before the states Public Service Commission. A new report finds that the secrecy around proposed data centers can lead to higher costs for residential utility consumers. In this document from Entergy Louisiana filed with the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the name of the owner of a proposed data center in northern Louisiana is redacted. State officials have since announced Metas plans to build a $10 billion data center there. Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law organization, filed a motion with the PSC seeking to force Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and Laidley to disclose information including anticipated energy demand, justification for its request for an expedited approval and verification of how many local jobs it will create. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskoe and the researchers found that in some cases, utilities appear to have hidden how much average residents pay to offset special rates or incentives given to other customers, including data centers. The report cites a lawsuit against Duke Energy that alleges Duke intentionally hid a $325 million discount provided to a large customer and, according to internal documents, that Duke planned to shift the cost to other ratepayers. We should be skeptical of utility claims that data center energy costs are isolated from other consumers bills, the report says. The potential costs arent just in bill increases, the paper points out. If utilities can profit from building new generation for data centers, they have no incentive to modernize their systems by switching to renewable or more efficient power, which would provide longer term benefits to customers and the climate. Rather than adding cleaner, renewable sources, utilities are instead offering to meet data center demand with transmission (upgrades) and gas-fired power plants, which have been the industrys bread-and-butter for decades, according to the report. Some utilities are even propping up their oldest and dirtiest power plants to meet data center demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Tait is a research and communication director for the utility watchdog Energy and Policy Institute. In February, Tait released an analysis about how the demand for data center power has caused utilities, mostly in the South, to continue operating coal-fired power plants some of them on the verge of closure. Such a move would stall or reverse efforts to decarbonize the electric sector, he wrote. Electric utility Entergy Louisiana has filed hundreds of pages of documents with state regulators about the development of a massive data center to be built by Meta on this state-owned site in Holly Ridge, La. (Louisiana Economic Development) Size of energy demand, benefits, hard to find State utility regulators are often under pressure to approve data centers because of their perceived benefits, the report says. That dynamic is playing out in Louisiana, where the Public Service Commission agreed to fast-track approval of $3.2 billion in new natural gas-fired generation to serve a $10 billion Meta data center. The announcement had one normally skeptical commissioner labeling the proposed development in economically impoverished North Louisiana a godsend. In its initial filing in which key information was redacted Entergy told the PSC the data center would provide 300 to 500 jobs. But Entergy later said it couldnt provide evidence of those jobs. Meta did not respond to a question about the number of jobs and whether they would be located in Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Entergy spokesman Brandon Scardigli confirmed that Meta has guaranteed it will pay the costs for the new generation for 15 years. But, he said he couldnt comment on the specific economic impacts of the data center, including the number of jobs it would create. The data center, he said, represents a major investment in the state. Tait questioned whether the promised jobs would ever come. Heres whats so sick about this, is that they are doing this in a deeply impoverished area of Louisiana, with the presupposition that theyre doing it to bring wealth and jobs to that area of the state, right? he said. Earthjustice is an intervenor in Entergy Louisianas request to build new gas plants to fuel the Meta data center. Using its access to the confidential agreements made with Entergy Louisiana, the advocacy group is examining how costs may be spread to other customers in the state and what happens after the 15-year contract ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our argument is that the ratepayers dont actually benefit from the existence of this data center in this spot, said Susan Miller, the lead Earthjustice attorney in the case. They should not be paying greatly increased utility rates just so that the data center can have a business. The Harvard report makes the same point, arguing that data centers dont need subsidized rates if they are already receiving other incentives from a state to locate there. In 2023, for instance, Virginia data centers were exempted from paying $1 billion in sales tax, the report says. In Louisiana, Meta will receive, among other things, a use and sales tax exemption on data center equipment and software. The amount, which isnt specified, is contingent on the data center creating 50 direct, permanent new in-state jobs and spending at least $200 million in new capital. Construction is underway in 2024 on data centers in Ashburn, Virginia, where a number of the energy-intensive facilities are located. (Gerville/Getty Images) Can ratepayers, taxpayers be protected? To prevent a race to the bottom, the report recommends that U.S. public utility commissions require the same terms and rates for all data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report said utility commissions also could establish robust guidelines, like those in Kentucky. There, a utility can only provide a discounted rate for service when it already has excess generation. It also requires that any special contract rate exceed the cost of providing the power and that the discount extend for no more than five years. Kent Chandler, former chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, said the state has handled special contracts that way for 35 years. Weve laid out rules for the utilities, saying you should only offer these when these circumstances exist and in this way, Chandler said. And I think that that served the state particularly well. Kentucky still has a robust manufacturing base. Chandler argues that a new regulatory regime isnt necessary to handle data center demand, but quality implementation would go a long way in alleviating a lot of the concerns raised in the Harvard paper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says one way to protect ratepayers is to allow data centers to contract directly with independent electricity providers. The paper also envisions the creation of energy parks where power is provided to a cluster of data centers. That park might not even be connected to the grid, to completely insulate ratepayers from data centers energy costs. Artificial intelligence is one technology driving the number and size of data centers. President Donald Trump announced Stargate, a $500 billion investment in AI, at the White House on Jan. 21, 2025. Speaking was Sam Altman of Open AI, flanked by Larry Ellison from Oracle. Behind them is Masayoshi Son from SoftBank. (C-SPAN) The growth is occurring so quickly that regulators are grappling with the issue on the fly. Louisiana Commissioner Davante Lewis said he welcomes the economic development Meta could bring but still lacks a full understanding of the long-term repercussions of any deal. I have to do extra due diligence to ensure the people of Louisiana dont get stuck with a ginormous bill because we were promised a bunch of economic development that happened in a very secret way that I dont think was good for the public, Lewis said. Floodlight is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powerful interests stalling climate action. GUEST OPINION: Netflixs Zero Day delivers a gripping cyber thriller, dramatising a large-scale attack on U.S. critical infrastructure. Its suspenseful, and packed with high-level political intrigue, but like any Hollywood production, it bends the truth to fit the narrative. Robert De Niros character, former President Mullen, makes a statement early in the pilot that feels eerily close to reality: People think these systems we have are infallible. But for this many different ones to all go down at the same time, thats beyond any capability that we haveor at least that I know of. Hes not wrong. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure are a very real concern, and unknown vulnerabilitieszero-daysare one of these risks. But the way Zero Day portrays the attacksimultaneously shutting down multiple critical systems for exactly one minute before restoring themleans more into fiction than fact. What the Show Gets Right About Zero-Days The series attempts to explain zero-day vulnerabilities through a background news report: In simple but technical terms, zero day refers to a cyber breach that targets unknown vulnerabilities in software systems. This is mostly correct, but the term cyber breach is unnecessary. Also, zero-days dont just exist in softwarethey can be found in hardware as well. However, later in the episode, President Mitchell (Joan Allen) makes an inaccurate claim: Usually a zero-day vulnerability exists on a single operating system, say your iPhone, but this thing exploited unknown vulnerabilities across dozens of systems. Zero-days can and do exist across multiple operating systems, not just a single one. Unknown vulnerabilities are zero-days by definition, so the statement overcomplicates the concept. The biggest stretch? The idea that a cyberattack would shut off critical systems for exactly one minute before turning them back on. Real cyberattacks arent designed for temporary disruption; they aim for data theft, stealth persistence, or long-term damage. Attribution is a Tough Task, but Not Impossible President Mullen asks a key question: There was no ransom demand, nobody claimed responsibility? This aligns with how many cyberattacks play out. While ransomware operators seek financial gain, state-sponsored cyber espionage groups often avoid public recognition to maintain stealth. The CIA describes sorting through the attacks digital trail as a Gordian knot, implying that attribution is almost impossible. While difficult, attribution isnt a guessing game. Tools like the MITRE ATT&CK framework help analysts map attack techniques back to known threat actors. When Mullens daughter, Alex, speculates on who might be responsiblementioning Russia, Irans Revolutionary Guard, and Neo-Nazisshe covers some usual suspects but leaves out China, which has been implicated in major espionage campaigns, including the recent Salt Typhoon attacks. The State-Sponsored Hacking Angle A conversation between Mullen and intelligence contact Natan gets one thing right: nation-states often fund cybercriminal groups. The show mentions Russias GRU backing hackers, which aligns with real-world tactics. It also highlights how state-sponsored groups, like North Koreas Lazarus Group, use ransomware and cryptocurrency theft to fund their operationssomething we saw in the recent ByBit exchange hack. The Server Farm Misconception One of the shows weaker cybersecurity moments involves a so-called server farm in the Bronx. The processing power is suggested to be used for Bitcoin mining or cyberattacks, but the logic doesnt hold up. If the writers were implying the servers could be used for a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, that has nothing to do with zero-day vulnerabilities. It feels like a forced plot device rather than a realistic attack vector. Final Verdict: Entertaining, but Still Hollywood Zero Day gets some key cybersecurity elements rightespecially the challenge of attribution and the role of state-sponsored cybercrime. But its depiction of zero-days and attack methods takes creative liberties. Compared to past TV portrayals of hacking, its a step forward. But for accuracy? Its no Mr. Robot. MANITOWOC, Wis. (WFRV) A man accused of playing a role in the 2018 death of seven-year-old Ethan Hauschultz has had his pre-trial conference and jury trial scheduled for early October. According to court records, Timothy Hauschultz attended a scheduling conference where a judge set his pre-trial conference for September 9, with an eight-day jury trial set to begin on October 1. Two Rivers man arrested after domestic disturbance report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hauschultz faces multiple felony charges, including: Felony murder Intentional contribution to the delinquency of a minor (death) Child abuse intentionally causing harm (party to a crime) Battery (party to a crime) The charges stem from an incident in which Ethan Hauschultz was reportedly forced to carry a heavy log as punishment. Police reports state that while doing so, he was kicked, hit, and knocked to the ground by Timothys then-15-year-old son, Damian Hauschultz. Damian allegedly rolled the log on top of Ethan and buried him in the snow, leading to the childs death. Brown County Sheriffs Office seeking help in identifying suspect in numerous thefts from Kwik Trip Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Timothy Hauschultz was Ethans legal guardian. In 2021, Damian was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision for his role in Ethans death. Tina McKeever-Hauschultz, who was also involved, served five years in prison and was released to extended supervision in January 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The preliminary hearing for the man charged with the murder of a Harvest Circle K employee in February was continued once again Wednesday. Jahree Williams, charged with the murder of Taylor North, was set to appear before Judge John Allen Wednesday, but the hearing was continued. This is the second time in the last month that his preliminary hearing was continued. Former Fayetteville City Schools employee charged with rape Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Madison County Sheriffs Office said Williams was charged with murder following the shooting. According to the sheriffs office, when they arrived on the scene, they found North unresponsive with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses on the scene reported that a black man entered the store, walked up to the counter and shot the clerk. Sheriffs deputies found Williams near the gas station In February, Madison County district judge Ronald Smith denied Williams bond, citing that Williams may suffer from a mental illness and that no condition of bond could guarantee his appearance in court or protect the safety of the community if he were to be released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show probable cause was found that Williams walked up to North, who was working at the gas station on Harvest Road, and shot her without being provoked or having spoken to her. Norths death has prompted calls for lawmakers to pass a law that would require protections put in place for store clerks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Prepare your boots and hats for the 9th Annual Shriners Rodeo hosted by the Shaddai Shriners. The rodeo begins on Friday, March 7, at the Bay County Fairgrounds on 15th Street and Sherman Avenue. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the rodeo begins at 7 p.m. General admission is $15 and is free for kids age 4 and under. On Saturday, March 8, there will be a rodeo dance. Admission is $20 per person and begins at 8 p.m. after the rodeo. There will also be a live band until midnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 13 Pet Adoption Option: Collin Proceeds will go towards the Shaddai Shriners. Shriners have hospitals for children who need to be treated for burns and orthopedic concerns. We cover about 39 kids here in our area, and we have different fundraisers throughout the year, Shriners spokesperson Brad Clark said. We have some that go straight to the hospital and some that go straight to transportation funds. For more information about the event, click here for their Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump Thursday paused the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico that started earlier this week, with plans to restart them in April. Canada had threatened retaliating against U.S. tariffs with tariffs of their own, and in some provinces, pulling American alcohol off liquor market shelves. Totally unfortunate and really over the top, President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. and Responsiblity.org Chris Swonger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swonger says Americans like U.S.-made alcohol, but he says: They also relish and appreciate tequila, and you can only make tequila in Mexico, and you can only make Canadian whisky in Canada. According to the Council, in 2024 the U.S. imported more than $5 billion of tequila and more than $600 million of Canadian spirits. Swonger says he doesnt want to see U.S. spirits embroiled in a trade war. It would be of significant pain. Wed see significant export declines of American distilled spirits products to Canada and Mexico, and theyre one of our two or three largest markets, Swonger said. The president announced Thursday hes pausing the tariffs on most goods from Mexico and Canada covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would embrace that, Swonger said. President Trump wrote on Truth Social, I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. He said Mexicos president is working with the U.S. to stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigration. What hes calling on is to secure our borders to protect American families, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) said. Some Republicans in Congress have embraced tariffs as a negotiating tool. Congressman Troy Nehls (R-Texas) says its about fairness. Why are we letting countries take advantage of America? Nehls asked. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The Trump administration is heading south to the border to shore up support as they promise a crackdown on the illegal smuggling of immigrants and fentanyl into the U.S. The White House called Tuesday nights speech incredible. Now the Trump administration is shining a spotlight on the presidents priorities. The White House says its ramping up pressure on Mexico and Canada to secure its borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen incredible movement on the part of the Mexican government, but we need to see more on Canada, said National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. President Donald Trump says newly imposed 25% tariffs on both countries are necessary to stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigration. On Truth Social Wednesday the president said Canadas efforts so far, are not good enough. To underscore their message Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border. We didnt need new laws to secure the border, we needed a new president, said Vance. The tariffs which sent markets into a free fall Tuesday could launch the U.S. into a trade war with its two biggest trading partners. Canada and Mexico are vowing to retaliate with tariffs of their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tariffs mean the cost of pretty much everything would go up, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Democrats warn a trade war will only harm middle class Americans. Its a reality the president appeared to acknowledge Tuesday. There will be a little disturbance. But were ok with that, said Trump. The White House announced Wednesday an exemption for the auto industry. He spoke with the big three auto dealers. We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Auto leaders warned tariffs on aluminum and steel would have sent car prices surging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House says more tariffs will be announced April 2nd. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) President Donald Trumps address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night has drawn both praise and criticism in political circles throughout the D.C. region. Congresswoman April McClain Dulaney (D, Md.-06) brought to the speech a western Maryland constituent whose job was cut by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). People in her district have expressed concern following cuts to the National Park Services (NPS) operations along the C&O Canal in Williamsport, as well as the general downsizing of federal programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melissa Moye of Rohrersville, Md., for example, is livid about the presidents attacks on social security. Dont drink and drive: Heres how you can get a free Lyft ride during St. Patricks Day in the DMV He actually said there is probable fraud, but his numbers are not correct. The Associated Press has done the work on it and [his numbers are] not correct, she said. Not everyone, however, shared Moyes concerns. Nancy Allen is first vice chair with the Washington County Republican Central Committee and says she likes the way the president is cutting costs and looking for ways to save money for the American taxpayer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What distressed Thomas Rhuff with the United Democrats of Washington County about the presidents speech was his body language and the message he believes it sends about bridging divisions in Congress. Trump spend nearly all that time up there never looking at the Democrats on the other side of the aisle, said Rhuff. But for Republican Stalwart Allen, the president is on precisely the right track. Everything he said was so spot on for what the American people are looking for, Allen said. With Capitol Hill so evenly divided, the presidents challenge now is to build a coalition that can get his agenda passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. President Trump delivered the longest-ever presidential address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, but the TV ratings fell short of his previous outings. The speech averaged 36.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen data, an increase of nearly 14% from former President Biden's 2024 State of the Union address. The audience for Trump's first appearance in his second nonconsecutive term fell below the levels of his past speeches. His first address in 2017 was watched by 47.7 million viewers, while his State of the Union addresses scored 45.5 million in 2018, 46.8 million in 2019 and 37.1 million in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump spoke for an hour and 40 minutes, topping former President Clinton's record-setting stemwinder given at the 2000 State of the Union, which ran for an hour and 28 minutes. Read more: When red meant Democratic and blue was Republican. A brief history of TV electoral maps The TV landscape has changed since Trump emerged as a political force 10 years ago, with the number of homes that receive cable declining dramatically. Many TV news organizations presented Trump's speech on YouTube or their own livestreaming platforms, but not all of that viewing is included in the Nielsen audience total. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News had the most TV viewers for the speech, with 10.7 million watching coverage led by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. ABC finished second with 6.3 million viewers, followed by CBS (4 million), NBC (3.9 million), the Fox broadcast network (2.7 million), MSNBC (1.9 million) and CNN (1.9 million). Trump's rowdy speech a litany of actions taken during his first 43 days in office and a list of his plans for the future was interrupted by some Democratic legislators in the House chamber. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was removed after he stood and shook his cane toward the president in the opening minutes of his speech. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A bill that targets fraudulent and deceptive actions that try to manipulate prices of essential goods and services prompted a backlash from the business community on Wednesday in Carson City. Food, clothing, gasoline, medicine, housing, household utilities, ground transportation, and phone and internet access were cited as essential needs. Attorney General Aaron Ford a Democratic contender for governor in two years wants a change in state law related to essential goods and services. After Ford introduced Assembly Bill 44 (AB44), lawmakers challenged the bill on several points. But opposition from the business community went beyond that, casting the bill as an overreach that would apply to mom-and-pop businesses as well as the business giants like AT&T, home builders, auto dealers, generic drug manufacturers and even the Henderson Chamber all who showed up to testify against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breastfeeding, second chances and student trustees: A look at new bills in the Nevada Legislature The bill specifies the kinds of increases it is targeting: The price for which results in the person paying more than $750 for the good or service over a 30-day period or $9,000 for the good or service over a 1-year period. Proposed amendments are already looking to change that section of the bill, but substitute language that compares price changes over a five-year period doesnt appear to be a viable solution either. Ford and Mark Krueger, chief deputy attorney general for the consumer protection bureau, had a bigger sales job to worry about. Business representatives who showed up to testify in opposition seemed to think the bill could be targeting them. They presented all kinds of arguments, including conflicts with federal law, duplication in state law and the fear that AB44 would open everyone up to lawsuits by anyone who wanted to claim price fixing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Euthanasia pill proposed as Nevada law after Gov. Lombardos veto in 2023 Opponents argued that the bills language is subjective and too broad, that it would scrutinize anyone who raised prices even when there were legitimate reasons. They said it doesnt take into account market conditions that could provide good reasons for higher prices. Were talking about knowingly engaging in fraudulent and deceptive conduct. Thats the threshold, Ford said. He and Krueger said it again and again. They presented that intent as an assurance to the people who protested. But they didnt make much headway. Ford and Krueger tried to stop a belief that AB44 is an attempt at rent control, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kruegers comment on deceptive trade practices gave businesses another reason to wonder whether they would be targeted. In particular, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile all sent representatives to oppose the bill. We know what it looks like and we know that its prevalent, especially when it preys on Nevadans, Krueger said. Jonathan Norman of the Nevada Coalition of Legal Service Providers was the only voice in support: This is about scammers trying to fleece Nevadans. And when I think of the consumers we see, the people we see coming into our offices, they almost uniformly no matter the issue have been had economic harm happen to them. And I appreciate any bill that stands up for those consumers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Originally appeared on E! Online The royal family has a history of adopting different surnames. In fact, even before they were bestowed new titles during their wedding celebrations, Prince William and Prince Harry didnt use the Mountbatten-Windsor surname. Instead, while serving in the U.K. military in their 20s, they used the last name "Wales" as an ode to their father, King Charles III, who was the Prince of Wales at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, members of the royal family tend to select surnames based on the official titles of their parents until they are anointed their own title from the monarchy. And there's photo evidence to prove William and Harry followed suit before tying the knot with their respective wives, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. In a 2009 snap from their time in the service, the brothers can be seen laughing together while wearing their green uniforms, which included undershirts and matching zip-up jackets. And patched on top of each of their ensembles were name tags, with Harry's reading "Harry Wales" and William's reading "William Wales." Of course, both siblings' names have gone through changes since then. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2011, William earned the title Duke of Cambridge when he married Kate, thus becoming William Cambridge. However, the 42-year-old returned to using the Wales moniker in 2022, when his dad became King and passed his title as Prince of Wales onto William. (Similarly, William and Kate's kids Prince George, 11, Prince Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, all used the surname Wales starting in 2022.) Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage As for Harry, he and Meghan became the Duke of Sussex and Duchess of Sussex, respectively, when they got married in 2018. And while their firstborn was christened Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor by the Archbishop of Canterbury the following year, Meghan has since revealed that the pair go by the last name Sussex in order to maintain a sense of unity with their kids, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. "You have kids and you go, 'No, I should share my name with my children,'" the 43-year-old explained during the second episode of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan. "I didn't know how meaningful it would be to me, but it just means so much to go, 'This is our family name, our little family name.'" Paul Grover- WPA Pool/Getty Images And that's not the only reason she plans to keep her title as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, even after the couple stepped away from royal duties in 2020. After all, the Suits alum said that the name is also an important part of her and Harry's love story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the kids get older, theyre so excited about, Oh my gosh, Mama and Papa, how did you meet?" she told People in an interview published March 3. "I think that will come with time as they get older, but for right now a huge part of our love story is that we share the name Sussex." To find out the meaning behind more royal family members' names, keep reading. Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II shared her first name with her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (known as the Queen Mother later in life), and the remaining names of her full born name, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, came from her maternal and paternal grandmothers, respectively. Moreover, her full title was Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. Meanwhile, it's royal protocol that every new royal family member's name is approved by the reigning monarch. (Elizabeth's younger sister Princess Margaret was originally intended to be Ann, but their dad King George V wasn't feeling it.) King Charles III The current monarch was born Charles Philip Arthur George and went on to be the longest-serving heir apparent in British history before becoming king at 73. His first name is one of the royal family's oldest names, dating back to the 17th century, while Philip is inspired by his father, the Duke of Edinburgh. Formerly the Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay, Charles became the Prince of Walesa title historically given to the eldest son of the reigning monarchat the age of 21 in 1958. Prince William and Kate Middleton The future king's full name, William Arthur Philip Louis (born June 21, 1982) is filled with tradition, including Philip as a nod to his grandfather, Arthur, which he shares with Prince Charles, and Louis, which he passed down to his two sons as well. In the 1992 book Diana: Her Story, it was revealed that Princess Diana actually picked her two sons' names after vetoing her husband Prince Charles' picks. When she was asked, "Who chose [Harry's] name?," Diana answered, "I did... chose William and Harry, but Charles did the rest." She also revealed Charles' original picks: "He wanted Albert and Arthur, and I said no. Too old!" After William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton married in 2011, they became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. When his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II died and his father Charles ascended to the throne in 2022, they became the Prince and Princess of Wales. Incidentally, they also replaced Charles and now Queen Camilla as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, and Earl and Countess of Chester. They've also had the Scottish titles Earl and Countess of Strathearn since their wedding day and are known as Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. And that's not all. Prince George of Wales George Alexander Louis was Prince George of Cambridge at birth on July 22, 2013, but is now Prince George of Wales, his name shifting accordingly. Louis was seemingly a nod to Louis Mountbatten, Prince Philip's beloved uncle and a mentor to future King Charles, who was killed in an IRA bombing in 1979. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Charlotte of Wales William and Kate's daughter's full nameCharlotte Elizabeth Dianais filled with poignant tributes to many of her family members. Charlotte, born May 2, 2015, is also believed to be a nod to her granddad Charles, as well as the middle name of Kate's sister Pippa Middleton and grandmother. Elizabeth is clearly a reference to Queen Elizabeth, her great-grandmother, while Diana is also another clear tribute, paying respect to William's late mother. When her parents became Prince and Princess of Wales, she also went from being a Cambridge to being Princess Charlotte of Wales. Prince Louis of Wales "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles," Kensington Palace announced shortly after the birth of William and Kate's third child on April 23, 2018. "The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge." Once again, he too is now Prince Louis of Wales. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Henry Charles Albert David was born Prince Henry of Wales on Sept. 15, 1984, but his parents said they'd be calling him Harry and that's the name that stuck. When Harry married California native and Suits alum Meghan Markle in 2018 they became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Prince Archie of Sussex Meghan and Harry just liked the name Archie, so that's what they named their firstborn child when he was born on May 6, 2019. The choice stumped royal experts, with historian Marlene Koenig previously telling E! News, "This is a most unusual choice [of name], but I am not surprised because I have said that they would go out of the box. There are no Archies or Archibald's in the family. I have said a few times that the parents of non-royals seem to have more leeway, more freedom." (It is worth noting that Princess Diana has an ancestor named Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll of Scotland.) Harrison, however, literally means "son of Harry." His surname upon arrival was Mountbatten-Windsor, the adopted surname of Prince Philip when he became a British citizen, combined with Windsor, the last name of the queen's male-line descendants who do not have royal styles and titles. When his great-grandmother the queen died and grandad Charles became king, as a child of the son of the reigning monarch he became Prince Archie of Sussex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Lilibet of Sussex Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born to Meghan and Harry on June 4, 2021. "Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet," read a statement from the family. "Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales." Akin to her brother, she became Princess Lilibet of Sussex when her grandfather Charles became king. Princess Beatrice Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's third child, Prince Andrew, became the Duke of York when he married Sarah Ferguson (post-divorce, they're still Duke and Duchess of York), and they welcomed their first child in 1988, Beatrice Elizabeth Mary. Beatrice, which means "she who brings happiness," was the name of Queen Victoria's fifth daughter. It was far from the odds-makers' radar when they were predicting the name of the queen's fifth grandchild. Elizabeth, of course, is an homage to the queen, whose own grandmother was Mary of Teck.) As a child of the son of the reigning monarch, Beatrice was given an HRH (Her Royal Highness) title and became a princess. The queen didn't give her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi a title when they wed in 2020, so their daughters Sienna and Athena are Mapelli Mozzis. Princess Eugenie Andrew and Sarah returned to the Victorian era to name their second daughter, Eugenie Victoria Helena. Princess Victoria Eugenie was a daughter of the aforementioned Princess Beatrice, Victoria's ninth and final child. When Eugenie wed Jack Brooksbank in 2018, the queen opted not to give him an official title, so he remains a mister and their sons August and Earnest are Brooksbanks. For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App Western Australia Police Force is conducting faster and better-informed investigations and road policing throughout the state through the addition of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) capability within Motorola Solutions PSCore mobile application. The expanded app has been deployed in more than 80 police vehicles and operates ANPR seamlessly via Apple CarPlay, making it simple to use while negating the need for additional equipment including screens and brackets. Real-time ANPR data helps to ensure that front-line officers are more aware of potential risks and able to make better decisions, said Superintendent Dean Snashall, Technology Portfolio, WA Police Force. This latest evolution of Motorola Solutions PSCore application helps our officers to document incidents faster and more accurately, freeing more of their time to protect our communities. The PSCore app has been deployed across WA Police Force's entire fleet of more than 6,000 mobile devices and integrates critical operational information from multiple systems, presenting it through a single, intuitive interface. The solution represents a key part of the forces digital policing strategy to leverage technology to improve productivity, incident awareness and safety for officers and the public. Through continued development and innovation, the PSCore mobile app has provided WA Police Force with greater capabilities to respond to a wider variety of incidents including family violence incidents. This capability has since been automated to publish family violence reports in real-time to the Department of Communities, accelerating referrals to support agencies for victims while police are in attendance at the scene. About Motorola Solutions | Solving for safer Safety and security are at the heart of everything we do at Motorola Solutions. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our technologies support public safety agencies and enterprises alike, enabling the collaboration thats critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals and safer businesses. Learn more about our commitment to innovating for a safer future for us all at www.motorolasolutions.com. CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) On Thursday, Gov. JB Pritzker laid out details of a proposed Illinois plan to ban the use of cell phones by school students across the state. Study after study has demonstrated the benefits of a ban on classroom use of cell phones not just on student performance but on overall health and wellbeing. This legislation will allow our teachers to focus on what matters most delivering a quality education that opens up opportunity for kids across the state, Pritzker said. The governor had announced the cell phone ban during his state budget address, citing cyberbullying and learning distractions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The policy, if it becomes law, would effectively ban the use of wireless communications devices by students in all Illinois classrooms, with the following exceptions: In the event of an emergency or in response to an imminent threat. When a teacher or instructor has authorized the student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposese.g. Chromebook use, technology-based activities, etc. When a licensed physician determines that the possession or use of a wireless communication device is necessary for the health or well-being of the student. To fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan. When the wireless communication device is necessary for students who are English learners to access learning materials, participate in class or otherwise facilitate communication. However, schools are prohibited from issuing fines, fees, ticketing, or the deployment of a School Resource Officer or local law enforcement officer for the enforcement of the ban. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. A private prison company has signed an agreement to reopen an immigrant detention facility in Texas that previously held families with children for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the business said Wednesday. Nashville-based CoreCivic announced the contract with ICE and the city of Dilley regarding the 2,400-bed South Texas Family Residential Center, located about 85 miles (135 kilometers) north of Laredo and the Mexico border. The center was used during the administration of President Barack Obama and Donald Trumps first presidency. But President Joe Biden phased out family detention in 2021, and CoreCivic said the facility was idled in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do acknowledge that we anticipate housing families at Dilley, CoreCivic spokesman Ryan Gustin told The Associated Press. CoreCivic said in a statement that the facility was purpose-built for ICE in 2014 to provide an appropriate setting for a family population. The new contract runs through at least March 2030. ICE officials did not immediately respond to messages seeking information about who will be held at Dilley and how soon. The agency which mostly detains immigrants at privately operated detention facilities, its own processing centers and local prisons and jails entered this year with zero facilities geared toward families, who last year accounted for about one-third of arrivals on the southern border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has expanded the detention of migrants to military bases including Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba, via flights out of Army installations at El Paso, Texas, as it promises to ramp up mass deportations. Private detention contractors with longstanding ties to ICE, including CoreCivic and GEO Group, say they offer less expensive options than the military for an array of immigrant detention services and transportation including international flights. During Trumps first administration, he authorized the use of military bases to detain immigrant children, including Army installations at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Goodfellow Air Force Base. In 2014, Obama temporarily relied on military bases to detain immigrant children while ramping up privately operated family detention centers to hold many of the tens of thousands of Central American families crossing the border illegally. After 25 years in the heart of Tacomas Proctor district, womens boutique store Envy will be closing at the end of March, its owner said this week. Upon a visit Tuesday racks of floral shirts and sweaters filled the room, as did dozens of patterned pants and skirts stickered with orange sale tags. Displays of beaded necklaces, earrings, rings and colorful jewelry stood by the register as a small brown dog mulled around, begging for treats. Shannon Thompson operated a bohemian-style boutique in Montana before operating a similar shop in Gig Harbor for more than a decade and eventually moving to Tacomas North End at 3813 N. 26th St. Thompson said everything in the store is between 20%-50% off, and there is a deal where if you buy one item, you get the next one half off. Starting March 16 everything in the store will be half off, she said Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new mens and womens clothing store will open in the space in late spring or early summer, said Ginny McClure, who is getting the keys in April. McClure said the new shop will focus on sustainable fashion, craftsmanship and stocking small independent brands. Thompson said she, and her 3-year-old shop dog Rusty, will miss Proctor. Over the decades shes built relationships with regulars and seen them and their children grow up. While shopping for wares, Thompson said shes kept an eye out for clothing she knows her regulars would like and would call them when it was on the racks. After having a scare with breast cancer last year, Thompson said, it just kind of made me re-evaluate everything. This year Thompson plans to enjoy semi-retirement and move to Texas, where she might sell clothes out of a decked-out truck at flea markets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thompson said she got into selling clothes a long time ago, operating out of a one-room space next to a flower shop in Montana. When the flower shop closed, Thompson said, she had the opportunity to take over the whole space for $250/month in rent, but ended up renting half the space for $125/month because she wasnt sure if shed be able to afford it. Three years later, Thompson said, her little store grossed over $100,000. I was so worried, I [didnt] know if I could pay that rent. Its so funny. Oh, its just crazy, she said. I look back and go, How is that possible? SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) The City of Spartanburg rolled out a new program for homeowners struggling to recover from Hurricane Helene. The storm left a trail of devastation throughout the Upstate. Months later, cleanup efforts are still underway in Spartanburg. Christopher George, the city communications manager, said Helenes impact was unprecedented. Its been a very long recovery from Helene, George said. Of course we have never seen anything like it in our area. Thankfully, we are on the downhill side of that now, and the last things we have are really these large tree trunks and stumps our team is still removing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some homeowners in the city have not been able to recover as fast as others. This is one of last pieces of the puzzle, is helping folks who have not been able to get these issues taken care of on their own and need that assistance, George said. Spartanburg has partnered with the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund to provide assistance to property owners. Our low-income homeowners in particular were hit harder than anyone because they already are struggling day to day, living paycheck to paycheck on a fixed income, George added. Some folks still have trees in their yard, some have trees on their home still, we know folks need some assistance, maybe they dont have homeowners insurance and this program is designed to help folks with those costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the program can help cover up to $30,000 in repair costs, including: removing fallen or leaning trees on homes removing trees blocking entryways and exits home repairs for damages caused by Helene The program is funded by a grant and eligibility is based on income. If youre a household of four, that would be around $60,000, George explained. So, if you are at or below $60,000 and you are having difficulty removing trees from your property, please get in touch with us. Household Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 80% of the Area Median Income $42,150 $48,150 $54,150 $60,150 $65,000 $69,800 $74,600 $79,400 Inspectors and contractors will assess each property to determine the amount each applicant receives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the program can be used to help residents pay their insurance deductible. Homes must be located in the city and be owner-occupied. Those interested in applying can call 864-580-5011. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. \t\t\t\tFor the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. \t\t\t\t BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Two people, both prominent artists in the community, were found dead in their Allentown residence Tuesday afternoon, Buffalo officials said in a press conference Wednesday. Michael Harmon, 40, co-owner of The Good Stuff on Allen Street, and Jordan Celotto, 37, were found deceased at 5 St. Louis Place, according to Buffalo police. Mickey was an anchor of Buffalos LGBTQ+ community, a talented artist, and a dedicated leader in Allentown, said State Senator Sean Ryan in a statement. From Remedy House to the dance floor, Jordan will always be remembered for the welcoming presence and joy that he brought to countless friends and neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were dispatched to the residence around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. A friend called police after checking on one of the victims when they didnt show up for work. Police said the friend spotted a person with a knife outside of the residence. When police arrived, the man dropped the knife after cutting himself. The 35-year-old person-of-interest was taken to ECMC and remains there under police supervision. Police said the cause of death for Harmon and Celotto was blunt force trauma. On Thursday, police said key pieces of evidence have been recovered to help determine what happened. Harmon and Celotto were a couple but officials said they have no reason to suspect it was a hate crime or that the person-of-interest was known to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As district councilmember and as a member of the LGBTQ community, there is nothing that suspects that this was a hate crime, said Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. I want to put those tensions at ease. The individual is at ECMC so no one is believed to be at large. Both Harmon and Celotto were artists together in Allentown. Art was the centerpiece of their lives. Harmon was known for his drawings of historic Buffalo homes and landmarks, as well as murals with LGBTQ themes and themes of giving. He was a staunch Buffalonian, said Nowakowski. He believed in our neighborhoods, he believed in walking and biking and not using a vehicle, he believed in artwork and bringing people together, having a ton of fun and evolving. This is a huge loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remedy House, a cafe on Buffalos West Side, made a post honoring Celotto, who worked there. The homicides remain under investigation. Latest Local News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Anti-abortion and pro-abortion people rally outside of the Florida Supreme Court on Feb. 7, 2024, after the oral argument on the proposed amendment to enshrine abortion-rights in the Florida Constitution. (Photo by Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix) A bill that would radically change Floridas citizen-led constitutional amendment process received its first hearing in the Legislature on Thursday, where dozens of Floridians warned it would deal a major blow to direct democracy. The measure (HB 1205), sponsored by Fort Myers Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, was approved mostly along party-lines by the House Government Operations Subcommittee, although Osceola County Democrat Jose Alvarez joined committee Republicans in voting yes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members, it has become apparent that our citizen-initiative process is broken, Persons-Mulicka said in introducing the legislation. The citizen initiative process was initially intended to allow Floridians who believed passionately that the Constitution should be changed to go out into their communities to go out into communities across the state and convince their fellow Floridians to support putting an amendment on the ballot. Now the process has been taken over by out-of-state fraudsters looking to make a quick buck and by special interests intent on buying their way into our Constitution. The proposal comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced in January that he wanted lawmakers to reform election laws regarding signature petition fraud in a special session. They did not at that time. The governor lambasted the organizers of two separate proposed constitutional amendments last year that would have legalized adult cannabis use and enshrined abortion rights into the state Constitution, respectively. Both organizers spent well more than $100 million to fund their efforts. Both received majority support but fell short of the 60% required for passage. Provisions The bill approved Thursday during its first committee stop makes a number of significant changes to the initiative process, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Requires all petition circulators volunteer as well as paid staff to be residents of Florida. Petition sponsor must post a $1 million bond payable to the Division of Elections. Submit an affirmation that each person handling or collecting a petition form has never been convicted of a felony related to the Florida Election Code; exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult; sex offense or murder; fraudulent practices; forgery; counterfeiting or perjury. Revises the deadline by which petition forms must be delivered by the sponsor to a supervisor of elections from 30 days to 10 days and increases the fines if those deadlines are missed up to $2,500. For each form that is ultimately willingly not submitted by the petition sponsor, the measure increases the fine from $1,000 to $5,000. Once a supervisor of elections has verified and validated a petition form, they must send a notice to the voter that a petition with the voters information has been validated, with a statement notifying the voter that if he or she did not sign the petition, that voter can file a complaint alleging that his or her signature has been misrepresented or forged. Creates a process allowing that voter to fill out a form and submit it to their local supervisor of election. Unrepresentative government Several dozen people spoke out during the nearly three-hour committee meeting to denounce the legislation. This bill is not about election integrity, its about fear fear of the people using their constitutional right to act when you fail to deliver on the issues that matter most to them, said Genesis Robinson, executive director of Equal Ground Education Action Fund, a Black-led social justice and voting rights group. HB 1205 would make [the] citizen initiative process nearly impossible. Simone Liang, a 22-year-old recent graduate of the University of Florida, said that it was sad that in recent years democracy was being eroded in the Sunshine State. I dont think its a coincidence that this bill is being proposed right after one of the amendments from the last election cycle was close to 60%. (Amendment 3 on cannabis got 56% of the vote; Amendment 4 on abortion rights received 57%). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There shouldnt be a need to have a $1 million bond set in case there are errors for the petitions, Liang said. Petitions are already hand checked by the supervisor of elections, one-by-one. There is no need to install a $5,000 fine. That is crazy. Because if we arent able to participate directly in our democracy, we are getting closer and closer to fascism, to unrepresentative government. Liberal special interests There were significantly fewer voices supporting the bill. John Labriola, a lobbyist for Christian Family Coalition Florida, noted how Floridians Protecting Freedom, the group behind the abortion-rights amendment, paid a $328,000 fine after the Florida Department of States Office of Elections Crimes and Security claimed the groups petition-gathering efforts amounted to widespread election fraud. Although the campaign to defeat Amendment 4 and also Amendment 3, the pro-marijuana amendment, was successful, both measures came close, which proves that our constitutional amendment process urgently needs protection from deep pocketed liberal special interests, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure has a Senate companion sponsored by Spring Hill Republican Blaise Ingoglia (SB 1414). Andrew Shrivell, executive director of the anti-abortion group Florida Voice for the Unborn, said his organization preferred Ingoglias measure, because it contains more of the proposals DeSantis released in January, such as eliminating third-party collection of petition forms. Without that key measure, HB 1205 is the Ford Edsel of initiative petition reform, while SB 1414 remains the Cadillac version, he said. In declaring his support for the proposal, Hernando and Pasco County GOP Rep. Jeff Holcomb questioned the claim about the loss of direct democracy, saying the United States and the state of Florida are a representative republic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have 120 chances in the Florida House, and you got 40 chances in the Florida Senate. It is not hard to get a bill created, he said. But while getting a bill created might not be that difficult, getting one passed if youre a Democrat on a cutting issue isnt so easy, which is why previous Democratic lawmakers efforts to raise the minimum wage, restore voting rights to the formerly incarcerated, and legalize medical marijuana only passed through citizen-led constitutional amendments. Not on the same page Both chambers in the GOP-led Legislature agree with Gov. Ron DeSantis that these measures need to be addressed. We want to make sure that people have the ability to get their thoughts on the ballot but that its done without fraud, that its done in the right manner, House Speaker Daniel Perez said earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where that bill ends, well see. I dont believe that were all on the same page as of now. I think that we understand that theres an issue at hand, and an issue that needs to be solved for us, but we are going to give the opportunity for our members to kind of work out the details of that. I dont know if the House and the Senate are on the same page, if were in line with the governor. Its my understanding that were all on different pages at this point, but its early. The bill has only one other stop in committee in the House before reaching the floor for a full vote. The Senate version has yet to go before its first committee stop. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BOSTON (WWLP) The state is considering updating bear hunting regulations and is seeking public comment. One regulation under consideration is expanding the time frame of bear hunting season. The new proposal would allow for one continuous bear hunting season from Labor Day in September through the end of the Shotgun Deer hunting season. Currently, there are three bear hunting seasons between September and mid-December. Massachusetts residents urged to take precautions as black bears emerge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This regulation is under consideration because of an increase in bears moving into more developed areas, as well as vehicle collisions, agricultural damage, and livestock attacks. The hunting season expansion may help stabilize the bear population and reduce conflict. The state estimates there are over 4,500 black bears living in Massachusetts. Another change involves creating a free Youth Bear Permit for hunters age 12-14. Under current regulations, youth hunters can harvest a bear during the regular bear hunting seasons using the permit of a licensed adult. The new youth permit would let young hunters harvest a bear without an adult permit. Additionally, minor hunters aged 1217 with a valid Youth Deer Hunt Permit and Bear Permit would be able to hunt bears on the Youth Deer Hunt Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public can review the full proposed regulations using this link: DRAFT DFW Bear Hunting Regulations 321 CMR 3.02(1). Written comments can be submitted using this online feedback form, or mailed to MassWildlife. All comments must be received by 4:00 p.m. on March 17. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. (COLORADO) Colorado Congressman Jeff Crank has introduced a new bill, which, if passed, would bar federal transportation dollars from going to sanctuary cities. On Thursday, March 6, Congressman Crank introduced his first bill to Congress as the Blocking Lawless Open Border Cities and States Act of 2025. Also known as the BLOC Act, it seeks to bar the Department of Transportation from funding infrastructure projects in sanctuary cities and counties that do not give a 48-hour warning to U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) ahead of the release of an illegal immigrant. Its simple: cities and counties that do not support federal law enforcement shouldnt have their coffers filled with federal dollars, said Congressman Crank. For some odd reason, Democrats that run these sanctuary cities believe that federal dollars will be handed to them when they do not comply or support the federal governments orders. The BLOC Act sends a clear message: the Biden-Harris era of open borders and free government handouts to illegal immigrants is over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Crank, the 48-hour warning allows ICE to apprehend individuals, enforcing federal immigration laws that sanctuary cities have tried to avoid. Crank used Denver as an example, which only gives ICE a one-hour warning before releasing an individual. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Librarians could soon face penalties in Georgia for loaning obscene material to minors under proposed legislation, Senate Bill 74. Library staff have been free from Georgias Harmful to minors law since the 1980s, but over a dozen republican lawmakers are trying to remove that exemption. Senator Max Burns of Sylvania is the author of the bill. According to Georgia code, obscene means the material is shameful or morbid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live Oak Public Libraries serves the Coastal Empire with 16 locations, one on Bull Street in Savannah. Their policies encourage parents and caregivers to take an active role in helping kids select books. Some said they believe SB74 puts the parenting responsibility on library staff. WSAV reached out to all the sponsors of the bill from the Coastal Empire. Senator Blake Tillery of Vidalia told WSAV, it was a no brainer to support this bill. We now have specific examples in Georgia where books are doing cartoon illustrations of sexual positions, and nobody thinks that should be found in the childrens section of the public library, Tillery said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tillery didnt name specific titles, but there has been controversy over banned books in Georgia and South Carolina in recent years. Lola DeWitt, Executive Director of Live Oak Public Libraries, sent WSAV the following statement: As a public institution, Live Oak Public Libraries takes its responsibility to abide by laws enacted by our government seriously, DeWitt wrote. If SB74 becomes law in the state of Georgia, we expect it will take some time to understand what it would mean to public library operations, most notably, how it may affect our collections and how it will impact service to patrons. We are already finding it difficult to fill higher level open positions in our system, with candidates stating their hesitancy to join us due to the possibility of becoming liable for prosecution or fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Karen Reads legal team made a final plea in Norfolk Superior Court on Wednesday for the dismissal of all her charges while accusing law enforcement of egregious misconduct. Norfolk County Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan blasted Reads lawyers for allegedly creating a false narrative and shifting blame. The nearly 4-hour hearing, presided over by Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone, featured competing narratives in the now three-year-old case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch live: Karen Read appears for 2nd hearing of day after double jeopardy appeal in federal court Read is charged with 2nd degree murder for the death of Boston Police Officer John OKeefe in Canton. Defense attorney Alan Jackson repeatedly asserted that the prosecution engaged in bad police work rooted in bad faith. He claimed that evidence, including videos of Reads Lexus, had been hidden and manipulated, and Jackson even alleged that potential jury tampering occurred during Reads first trial. Jackson referenced video of Reads Lexus inside a garage at the Canton Police station that appeared inverted when shown to jurors in Reads first trial. He claims it was manipulated to hide that now suspended State Trooper Michael Proctor was standing near Reads taillight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution alleges Read cracked her taillight when she drunkenly struck OKeefe while nearly flooring her SUV in reverse during a snowstorm. The conduct in this case is so egregious, its so pervasive and its so deliberate that prejudice must be presumed, Jackson stated. All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Read jurors tell judge theyve been unable to reach unanimous verdict Day 3 of jury deliberations finishes without verdict in Karen Read trial Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe. Karen Read Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Read Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Read smiles after listening to her attorney Alan Jackson during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Karen Read Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Read Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) Jackson said a state trooper from the Norfolk County District Attorneys office played a role in the removal of a juror Jackson perceived as potentially favorable to the defense. Judge Cannone questioned the integrity of Jacksons claim. Cannone said state police do not supervise jurors and, the only people who have any access to those jurors are the court officers and the Department of Security of the trial court. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan accused Jackson of besmirching the Trooper. Brennan described the jury tampering allegation as one of the most serious claims that one can make, arguing that it questions the fabric of our entire judicial system. Unprecedented: Karen Reads team asks federal judge to allow questioning of jurors from 1st trial Brennan presented videos of Reads Lexus taken before it was in police custody, arguing that they demonstrated pre-existing damage to the taillight, contradicting the defenses suggestion that it was damaged by police to frame her. They would not have gotten the productionif the government was looking to hide anything, Brennan stated, refuting claims of intentional withholding of evidence or bad faith. Brennan also referenced an interview conducted by Boston 25 with Karen Read, criticizing the news outlet for what he perceived as a willingness to share Reads narrative. At the time, Boston 25 also requested an interview with Brennan, which was declined. Judge Cannone will rule on the motion to dismiss ahead of Reads trial scheduled in April. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (Towada Oirase Tourism Organization) Editors Note: Japans cherry blossom events generally rely on the Japan Meteorological Agencys forecasts. Since blossom dates are subject to change, please always check the venues official site before you visit. Kanchogai Street in Aomoris Towada City has been listed as one of Japans Top 100 roads, and over 150 cherry trees line the route alongside numerous pine trees. In addition to all of the natural beauty, there are also various contemporary art pieces on the sidewalks. (Towada Oirase Tourism Organization) When the cherry trees are looking their best, the annual Towada City Spring Festival takes place, and along with the trees there will be a variety of other activities to enjoy along the streetflea market stalls, stage performances, and even a tea ceremony experience are some of the highlights. There is no admission fee to enjoy the atmosphere of the event, but do bring yen if you plan on making any purchases. Location: The Towada area can be accessed by bus from Shichinohe-Towada Station, with the travel time taking just over 30 minutes. Dates: April 19 - May 5 (Main events to be held on Apr. 19 and 20) Website Map This undated photo provided by the New York State Police shows Sam Nordquist. - Credit: New York State Police/AP Two children were forced to participate in acts of torture that led to the death of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old trans man, prosecutors investigating the killing in upstate New York have alleged. The shocking new allegations were revealed in an 11-count indictment that charged the seven people allegedly involved in Nordquists death with first-degree murder, battery, and other charges, including kidnapping and child endangerment. The same seven people were previously arrested on second-degree murder charges. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a press conference conference Wednesday, March 5, Ontario County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford said Nordquist was held captive at a motel in Canandaigua, New York and treated like a dog for a month before his death on Feb. 2. Sam was beaten, assaulted, sexually abused, starved, held captive and we cannot make sense of that, Wolford said. One defendant, Precious Arzuaga, was charged with coercing two children, aged seven and 12, to engage in the conduct thats charged in this indictment, Wolford said. Further details about the childrens alleged involvement were not provided, nor were they identified. To have two children have to participate in the beating of another human being, its deeply disturbing, Wolford said. It has I can speak for myself and everyone involved in this investigation been one of the most troubling parts of this. Its heartbreaking. Along with Arzuaga, the other six people charged in connection with the killing of Nordquist are Patrick Goodwin, Kyle Sage, Jennifer Quijano, Emily Motyka, Kimberly Sochia, and Thomas Eaves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arzuagas attorney David Pilato confirmed his office had received the indictment and are aware of the allegations. As with all defendants, Precious is presumed innocent, Pilato said in a statement to Rolling Stone, and had no further comment. An indictment is not a conviction, Neil Gunther, an attorney for Quijano said in a statement to Rolling Stone. Ms. Quijano is presumed innocent. We are in the very early stages of this case and it is important that we let the legal process play out and not rush to judgement. An attorney for Goodwin declined to comment. Attorneys for Sage, Motyka, Sochia, and Eaves did not immediately respond to Rolling Stones requests for comment. According to The New York Times, some of the attorneys for the defendants were caught off guard by the new indictment. Some said they expected their clients to be arraigned next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nordquist, originally from Minnesota, was reported missing by family on Feb. 9, after they became concerned that they hadnt heard from him. His body was found not long after, wrapped in plastic and dumped in a field. While New York Governor Kathy Hochul has directed the New York State Division of Human Rights Hate and Bias Prevention Unit to aid the case, prosecutors have declined to charge the suspects with hate crimes. Investigators previously said this decision was made because some or all of Nordquists alleged killers were members of the LGBTQ+ community. Wolford addressed the issue further on Wednesday, saying the case was bigger than a hate crime, and, To limit this to a hate crime would be an injustice to Sam. She added: We cannot put that on his gender, and we cannot put that on his race. And I know many will ask the question: Why? Well, as I stand here today as a human being, well never know the answer why. Because what human being could do what happened to Sam? Well never make sense of this case. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Hundreds of protesters are expected to descend upon Lansing Friday as part of a nationwide effort called Stand Up for Science. The march is a direct response to the Trump Administrations latest medical research funding cuts and dismissal of thousands of federal employees who work in the science world. We want to secure the current state of funding and expand funding, said Dr. Jamie Bernard, director of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. And to [protest] the censorship and political interference in science. The third national bullet point is to defend diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility in science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Institutes of Health announced last month it would cap the indirect costs portion of federal funding provided to thousands of universities and institutions nationwide to a flat 15%. Indirect cuts typically cover basic administrative and infrastructure costs associated with medial research. A spokesperson for MSU told News 8 those cuts would cost the university $27 million in future research efforts. National cap on health funding could have significant impact on Michigan research Theres a massive amount of drug discovering at the University of Michigan, at Michigan State, at Western Michigan University, said Dr. Nathan Tykocki with MSUs pharmacology and toxicology department. Theyre not all going to be the next big thing, but some of them are and well never know if we dont have the funds to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge has temporarily blocked the NIH indirect funding cuts following 22 states, including Michigan, filing suits last month. Still, proponents of the cuts argue scaling back indirect funding would save the government billions of dollars and ensure federal funding is going directly to medical research itself. The march is scheduled to start at noon at the state capitol. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Protestors rally for Ukraine, against Trump administration at Friendly Center in Greensboro GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) Protesters took to Friendly Center in Greensboro to speak out against President Donald Trumps administration and in support of Ukraine. From about 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., protestors rallied at the intersection of Northline Avenue and Pembroke Road. List: DOGE cancels leases for federal facilities all across North Carolina Many protestors stood on the sidewalk with signs and flags in support of Ukraine, calling for the U.S. to, as one sign read, Support Democracy. Stand with Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inez Elliott, of Brown Summit, told FOX8, I came out today because [North Carolina Sen.] Thom Tillis spoke about supporting the Ukraine and the Ukrainian president, and I want to encourage him to continue doing that. The Ukraine did not start the war. We have always fought for democracies in other countries. We need to continue to do so. Trump has been criticized for saying on Feb. 18 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should have never started it, referring to the countrys three-year war with Russia. While the conflict has been ongoing for more than a decade, the conflict sharply escalated when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Others spoke against Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency and the drastic cuts it has made across the federal government with signs reading Restore USAID and Cut DOGE. DOGE has had a tangible impact in North Carolina, claiming millions of dollars in federal office leases have been cut in this state alone, according to data provided on the departments website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGE reports 20 terminated leases in North Carolina, reportedly saving the government $3,414,203. Five leases in the Piedmont Triad were ended, totaling $978,749. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. 'We have a long road ahead of us, to be sure,' Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said after a Providence federal judge sided with 23 Democratic attorneys general in granting a preliminary injuction on Thursday, March 2, 2025, blocking the Trump administrations federal funding freeze. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current) A Providence federal judge on Thursday offered a civics lesson along with his order stopping the Trump administration and federal agencies from blocking access to federal grants and aid. The preliminary injunction by Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island grants a request from a coalition of Democratic attorneys general seeking to reverse the federal funding freeze set in motion by a memo the Office of Management and Budget released in late January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Executives categorical freeze of appropriated and obligated funds fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government, McConell wrote at the beginning of his 45-page ruling. The interaction of the three co-equal branches of government is an intricate, delicate, and sophisticated balancebut it is crucial to our form of constitutional governance. Here, the Executive put itself above Congress. It imposed a categorical mandate on the spending of congressionally appropriated and obligated funds without regard to Congresss authority to control spending. This case, State of New York v. Trump, was filed by Democratic attorneys general from New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha applauded the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont have kings in this country, and todays preliminary injunction reaffirms that, Neronha said. The Trump administration had argued that the freeze officially ended with the rescinding of the two-page Jan. 27 memo instructing departments and agencies throughout the federal government to pause payments on grants and loans. However, the AGs had outlined a long list of harms caused by the disruption, including to Head Start program providers across the country who had difficulties accessing federal funds and were forced to consider layoffs, service reductions and even closures. McConnell took note of federal funds for critical transportation infrastructure, including the $60 million reimbursement promised to Maryland for the costs of removal and salvage of debris from the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Budget uncertainty caused by the freeze led Brown Universitys research community to suspend orders of large research equipment, which over time will negatively impact the ability of researchers to conduct their studies, McConnell wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnells ruling followed a two-hour hearing in Providence on Feb. 21, during which Department of Justice attorney Daniel Schwei acknowledged the budget memo was too broadly interpreted at first. But Schwei argued the AGs request seeking to stop the administration and federal agencies from blocking access to any federal grants and aid was too broad. Lawyers for the Trump administration, McConnell said, had not cited any constitutional or statutory authority allowing it to categorically freeze funds Congress authorized federal agencies and departments to spend. The Court is not limiting the Executives discretion or micromanaging the administration of federal funds, McConnell continued. Rather, consistent with the Constitution, statutes, and caselaw, the Court is simply holding that the Executives discretion to impose its own policy preferences on appropriated funds can be exercised only if it is authorized by the congressionally approved appropriations statutes. The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case and another lawsuit filed by the National Council of Nonprofits, American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance and SAGE in Washington, D.C. began when the Office of Management and Budget issued a two-page memo on Jan. 27 instructing departments and agencies throughout the federal government to pause payments on grants and loans the next day at 5 p.m. In the other case, District Judge Loren L. AliKhan issued a preliminary injunction last week blocking the Trump administration from implementing a sweeping freeze on grant and loan programs. Both AliKhan and McConnell are Biden appointees. AliKhan had issued a temporary restraining order on Feb. 3, shortly after McConnell Jr. had issued one on Jan. 31. There is a silver lining here: right now, the Judicial Branch stands strong, Neronha said. Judge McConnell decided to grant our request for a preliminary injunction, so that this case may be heard on its merits, because frankly, the law is on our side. In doing so, Americans should feel encouraged that the President cannot impose his will where he does not have the constitutional power to do so. And while he may continue to try, we will continue to fight. Neronha added that We have a long road ahead of us, to be sure. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Emily Green, Jarrett Renshaw and David Ljunggren MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) -Mexican and Canadian officials are increasingly frustrated by tariff negotiations with the Trump administration, with a lack of clarity over exactly what the U.S. wants making any resolution seem impossible, sources from both countries told Reuters. After implementing across-the-board 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico earlier this week, President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a one-month reprieve for both countries on goods compliant under a North American trade pact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The on-again, off-again tariffs and the high-level discussions surrounding them have exasperated negotiating teams, according to three Mexican officials and two Canadian sources familiar with negotiations. It's like "dealing with an angry partner and you dont know what they're mad about," one Mexican official. "It's not clear what they want." The press person for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to a request for comment by directing Reuters to Sheinbaum's public comment on Thursday. In a post on X, Sheinbaum said: "We had an excellent and respectful call," that respected the "sovereignties" of both countries. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office and the White House both did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump based the legal justification for the tariffs on combating fentanyl and illegal immigration, but he and others in his administration often expand the justification to include trade deficits and protecting U.S. industries like autos and lumber. Despite the shared frustration of Mexico and Canada, the two countries have taken distinct tones in public. Sheinbaum has stressed her respect for Trump and the close cooperation with the U.S. Canada has bluntly criticized the chaos. Trudeau on Thursday, before Trump announced a reprieve, said Canada will be in a trade war with the United States for "the foreseeable future." U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Trudeau "a numbskull." Trudeau's foreign minister has been even franker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We won't get through this, another psychodrama every 30 days," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told business leaders in Toronto earlier this week. "The problem we've had is it's not clear what the American president wants," she added. "I've had conversations with colleagues in Washington saying, 'Okay, but at the end of the day, what do you guys want?' And I got the answer, 'We're about to know.' There's one decision maker in the system. He's the only one to know." U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dismissed the idea that he didn't know what Trump wants as "fake news" and "so silly" in an interview on Thursday with CNBC. Trump "calls everybody all the time," Lutnick said. "I speak to him all the time. You've got to be kidding me. The president knows exactly what he wants. We know exactly what he wants." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Canadian and Mexican officials said the lack of clarity over demands as well as uncertainty over whether Trump administration officials in bilateral meetings were actually able to deliver on what they said was making discussions incredibly challenging. The scope of negotiations is not clear, they said, with talks sometimes seeming to be focused on fentanyl and at other times on migration, while on some occasions the focus seemed to be trade deficits. "The U.S. reasons for the tariffs constantly shift, said another Mexican official. "If we can't identify the problem, we can't identify the solution." (Reporting by Emily Green in Mexico City, Jarrett Renshaw in Washington, David Ljunggren in Ottawa; writing by Stephen Eisenhammer; Editing by Leslie Adler and Daniel Wallis) The event is a prelude to Sunshine Week, the annual observance of the value of open government and journalisms role in keeping it open. The public is invited to a forum on open government March 11 in Frankfort. The reception and forum are sponsored by the Bluegrass Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists as a prelude to Sunshine Week, the annual national observance of the value of open government and journalisms role in keeping it open, according to a news release from Bluegrass SPJ. The forum is free and open to the public, and any open-government issue is fair game, says the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event begins at 6 p.m. with a reception at The Foundry (with light hors doeuvres) and a cash bar next door at The Cooperage, 325 West Broadway. The 7 p.m. panel discussion at The Foundry will feature: Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, Kentucky House majority whip, Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, a University of Louisville law professor, David Thompson, executive director, Kentucky Press Association, Becky Jones, first vice president, League of Women Voters of Kentucky. Topics will include research findings by the League of Women Voters about how the General Assembly is increasingly passing legislation by fast track techniques that limit and discourage participation by the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kentucky Press Association will discuss legislative efforts to allow local governments to publish their public notices (legal ads) on their own websites instead of local newspapers. That is likely to cause some newspapers to close because public notices have become such a significant part of their income with the migration of retail advertising to digital-only media, according to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. There will be a question-and-answer period; members of the public are invited to share their views on openness and transparency in government or on how journalists perform their jobs as watchdogs of government. Organizers suggest signing up for the event to help with refreshment planning at EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-forum-on-open-government-tickets-1260333353989?aff=oddtdtcreator The Montana House of Representatives convenes for a floor session on Jan. 6, 2025. (Micah Drew/ Daily Montanan) A bill requiring public schools to allow children to attend religious instruction for at least one hour per week is headed to the Senate. House Bill 343, brought by Rep. Randyn Gregg, R-White Sulphur Springs, narrowly passed the Education committee by an 8-7 vote and squeaked by in the House on a 54-45 vote on Tuesday night. It passed a third reading, moving it to the Senate, on Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gregg presented it as an opportunity for religious families to be able to choose public schools over homeschooling. Montana had about 8,524 home school students during the 2023-24 school year, an increase of almost 9% over the previous year, according to the Office of Public Instruction. Additionally, there are over 8,500 private school students enrolled in Montana. For many families, faith is an important part of their childrens upbringing, Gregg said. Without options like time-released religious instruction, some parents feel they have no choice but to leave public schools for private or home education. Montana law already allows districts to release students for religious activities. The bill changes the word in the law from may to shall, thereby requiring districts to allow time for released religious instruction. The bill also allows schools to provide credit for the time those students are receiving religious instruction. An amendment to the bill does give districts the option to not allow credit for that time. If the school or district does provide credit, they are required to review the curriculum. Some legislators expressed worries the review process could include uncomfortable conversations with religious leaders. However, the bill stipulates districts have to be neutral and cant test the religious affiliation of requestors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill strengthens that commitment between schools and families by allowing schools to offer academic credit for these programs if they meet specific rigorous criteria, Gregg said on the floor. By doing so, we free up valuable resources and time for public educators, while ensuring families have access to the education they seek for their children. The bill received support from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group. The bill provides local school boards with clear guidance on how to award elective credit for release time and allows schools to examine whether the courses are academically rigorous and comparable to other elective courses offered to the students, said Matt Sharp, an attorney with ADF. It also avoids impermissible entanglement with religion by informing school officials that they shouldnt examine the religious content or denominational affiliation of the course. Rob Watson, representing the Coalition of Advocates for Montana Public Schools, spoke against the bill. The coalition also includes the Montana School Boards Association and the School Administrators of Montana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watson said they have no issues with allowing students to leave school for religious instruction and their issues stemmed from awarding credits. A one size fits all mandate from the state does not serve the best interest of students, families or educators, Watson said in a comment to committee on Feb. 19. School districts should have the autonomy to determine which external coursework aligns with the academic frameworks and whether such courses should be eligible for credit. Gregg said during the floor debate it had strong support from legal and educational advocacy groups. However, the Montana Federation of Public Employees and the Montana School Boards Association spoke against the bill. School instruction also came up in a second bill on Tuesday. House Bill 471, brought by Rep. Jedediah Hinkle, R-Belgrade, passed a second reading Tuesday night on a 56-43 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hinkles bill would require teachers to obtain written parental permission before students receive any instruction on identity. The bill adds language to laws regarding human sexuality instruction, commonly called sex ed. In this bill, identity instruction is a parental opt in, meaning that the school may not present these materials to any student that does not have permission from the parent or guardian, Hinkle said on the House floor. The bill defines the term identity instruction as having the goal or purpose of studying, exploring, or informing students about gender identity, or gender expression, or sexual orientation. This bill assumes withholding education is the safest option, Rep. Melissa Romano, D-Helena, who is a teacher, said in opposition to the bill on the floor. But in reality this just creates gaps in knowledge that harm all students. My job is to teach children how to think, not what to think. To help them navigate the world with knowledge, empathy and confidence. (PUEBLO, Colo.) Pueblo School District 60 (D60) will be hosting a college fair with more than 70 universities, colleges, trade schools, and military service branches. The third annual Pueblo and Southern Colorado College Fair is set to occur on Friday, March 7 from 4 p.m. to 7;30 p.m. Attendees will be able to receive information from several colleges, and can expect to hear presentations on financial aid, scholarships, and the college experience. Upon arrival, all students will receive a tote bag with college planning books. The first 100 families that register and attend will also receive a $25 gas voucher. Visitors who complete a college passport will be eligible for a prize drawing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fair will be held at Colorado State University-Pueblo. To register, click the link above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A man from Puerto Rico was sentenced to prison on Wednesday in connection to a child rape case in Athol back in 2023. Massachusetts governor and education secretary visit Athol High School to announce new funding for Innovation Career Pathways Program The Northwestern District Attorneys Office states that 22-year-old Anthony Rodriguez pleaded guilty to charges of statutory rape of a child, assault and battery, and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older. These charges stem from an assault in Athol back on New Years Day of 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was reported to police in mid-January of 2023, and after an investigation, Rodriguez was arrested in Puerto Rico just a few months later in April. Rodriguez was sentenced to serve 4 to 4 years in state prison. After he completes this sentence, he will be out on five years probation, where he must undergo sex offender treatment, register as a sex offender, and refrain from any contact with the victim. Praise was given to the survivor from Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington for coming forward. He noted that the plea agreement was supported by both the survivor and her family. Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to report these crimes to the police, Covington said. We want to thank the Athol Police Department and Sergeant Doug Kaczmarcyk for their hard work in helping bring Mr. Rodriguez to justice. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Some Department of Government Efficiency staffers were blocked by staffers from entering an African aid office in the latest clash between federal agencies and the Elon Musk-led cost-cutting arm. On Wednesday, DOGE workers and Pete Marocco, director of the Office of Foreign Assistance at the State Department, arrived at the U.S. African Development Foundation headquarters in Washington, D.C., to get access and fire employees, according to the Washington Post. The roughly 50-person agency refused to let them inside After about an hour of trying to enter the independent federal agencys building, they left, the Post reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USADF is an independent agency established by Congress in 1980 to invest in African grassroots organizations, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises. It currently operates in 21 African countries and has made investments in over 40. Two very young men sporting backpacks at around 11.30 a.m. claimed to a security officer that they were staff at the foundation yet they lacked key cards and needed access to the building. The security officer then asked agency employees whether to allow the visitors inside; the employees refused, an official familiar with the matter told the outlet. The description of the visitors aligned with the DOGE workers who had previously shown up to the building for an initial introduction, the Post reported. The aid workers were then aware that DOGE had plans to dismantle the agency. Thats when the security guard reported that the young men were threatening to call the U.S. Marshals; his boss told him to let the visitors upstairs. The pair reached foundations floor, but no workers let them in, as staff stayed at their desks while the men roamed the halls before leaving at around 12.30 p.m., the outlet reported. Video footage, posted online by a ProPublica reporter, captured the backpack-strapped men and others wearing suits and ties standing near the elevators. Its not immediately clear when Marocco and the others joined the two young men. DOGE staffers were blocked from entering the U.S. African Development Foundation's office on Wednesday in the latest clash between federal agencies and the Elon Musk-led cost-cutting force (USADF) They threatened to come back Thursday flanked by U.S. Marshals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day before the visit, agency President and CEO Ward Brehm signaled he was aware that Marocco had planned to visit the building in a letter to a DOGE official. Trump is considering tapping Marocco, who also currently serves as deputy administrator-designate at the U.S. Agency for International Development, to lead the foundation, The Hill reported. In the letter, Brehm explained his instructions to his staff for when he was out of office: In my absence, I have specifically instructed the staff of USADF to adhere to our rules and procedure of not allowing any meetings of this type without my presence. The president has the authority and responsibility to nominate foundation board members, but by law, no person may be seated on the Board until the President has made such a nomination and that nomination be confirmed by the Senate, Brehm continued. He looks forward to meeting Marocco after hes nominated and confirmed, he added. Until these legal requirements are met, Mr. Marocco does not hold any position or office with USADF, and he may not speak or act on the Foundations behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has reached out to the foundation and the State Department for comment. The standoff comes weeks after Trump issued a February 19 executive order calling for the elimination of a handful of foreign assistance agencies including the Presidio Trust, the Inter-American Foundation and the United States Institute of Peace that the President has determined are unnecessary. Days later, Democrats wrote a letter to Trump on February 24 laying out that only Congress has the authority to dissolve the African aid foundaiton. Eliminating this agency or reducing its activities in an effort that would effectively eliminate it would undermine U.S. leadership in the region and create a vacuum that adversarial powers would exploit to expand their influence, and undermine congressional intent, the letter reads. If your administration believes changes to the mission or funding levels of USADF are necessary, such proposals must be submitted to Congress for legislative consideration, as required by law. Fire Walking Festival (Photo courtesy of Takaosan Yakuo-in) Head to Takao Mountains in western Tokyo for a yearly rite of passage youve just got to see with your eyes. Takaosan is a three-star Michelin star-rated tourist destination and about a short 45-minute drive from Yokota Air Base. Here not only will you find a great hike with a great view at the top, but multiple shrines, temples and even hot springs close by. The mountain itself is considered as strong power spot and is home to a 1300-year-old Yakuo-in Buddhist temple on the mountain where hermits or mountaineering ascetics live. Every year, the temple hosts Hiwatarisai, a fire-walking festival, to wish for peace and the safe and happy life of all people. This year, the event will take place on March 9 and will be limited to 1,000 ticketed participants. Tickets are available on a first come-first serve basis. (Photo courtesy of Takaosan Yakuo-in) (Photo courtesy of Takaosan Yakuo-in) During Hiwatarisai, cypress branches piled in a long brazier are ignited and the mountaineering ascetics in white traditional wear and small skullcaps walk barefoot while chanting and blowing on conch horns. After the fire has subsided, visitors are invited to walk barefoot on the warm ground. The ritual and those who walk along the embers are thought to be totally purified and will have their wishes granted. After participating in the unique event, take the opportunity to hike up to the top of Takaosan or, if you want a break, take the cable car or chairlift. Takaosan offers great views of Tokyo and the surrounding nature, so a visit there is great any time. But, dont miss the Hiwatarisai festival, as this one is only once a year and definitely one-of-a-kind. Fire Walking Festival Upon hearing the news that President Donald Trump had suspended military aid to Ukraine, I sat down for some Russian must-see TV: white guys screaming about international relations. Curious to understand how Trumps Kremlin-friendly move was playing in the motherland, I wanted to compare the reaction of Russian state news to that of American right-wing channels. Pretty soon, I started thinking about that meme from The Office in which Pam holds up two photos, saying, Corporate needs you to find the differences between this picture and this picture, before the camera cuts to her privately admitting, Theyre the same picture. Over the past few days, Russian news talk shows have consisted almost entirely of translated clips of Trump-administration officials and Trump surrogatesVice President J. D. Vance, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, among othersdefending the president and attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Fox News. The interview clips were interspersed with video of the fateful meeting between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office last week, along with readings, in Russian, of Trumps posts on Truth Social and Elon Musks posts on X, which is funnier than it sounds. Soon after the Trump-Zelensky blowup, the Kremlin said that Americas foreign policy now largely aligns with our vision. Across three different news shows on the state-owned Channel One and Russia-1, which take their marching orders directly from Russian President Vladimir Putin, this cozy alignment was on full display. It seemed that Russian state TV, and Putin by extension, could not be more pleased with what has been happening. The shows I watched simply broadcast clips of Trump officials, and then their all-male panels of analystsno DEI in Russia!echoed their exact words, approvingly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: The simple reason for why Trump turned against Ukraine] Even when the shows panelists admitted to some nervousness about Trumps next moves, they said his decision to cut off aid to Ukraine raised our spirits, as one guest put it. At times, they sounded like they were discussing a problematic friend who everyone agrees is crazy but who inadvertently did something useful. Panelists repeatedly made reference to Ukraine drawing the world closer to World War IIIa direct quote from Trump, which has since been parroted in various U.S. media appearances by his loyalists. They fawned over Trumps prowess and insulted Zelensky; one guest called the Ukrainian president dust under the feet of Trump, an even nastier take on the man whom Trump called no angel and a dictator. On the show The Great Game, panelists derided Zelensky as someone who believes himself, wrongly, to be the great leader of the West. One panelist referred to Zelenskys conduct during the Oval Office meeting as hysterical diplomacy and said, He couldnt figure out how to behave himself in the interest of his own country. The panelist declared that the showdown probably shortened the war by many months. Presumably, he said this because he believes Russia will win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, panelists discussed how the confirmation of Elbridge Colby, Trumps nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy, would be very good news for us, because the part of Trumps team that supports putting Ukraine on Europes shoulders would be strengthened considerably, as one analyst put it. Solovyov noted favorably that Trump hit Europe and Zelensky on the nose. The show played a clip of Vance saying that the United States and Europe cant support Ukraine indefinitely, and one panelist heartily agreed. Actually, they all agreedthey arent allowed to disagreeand they voiced this agreement at an eardrum-popping volume. They sounded mad, but they were very, very happy. 60 MinutesRussias versionpointed out how reasonable Trump was being, highlighting that Trump had praised Ukrainian soldiers during the Oval Office meeting. Zelensky, however, called Vance J.D., as though they are schoolyard buddies, and was biting the hand that feeds him. The show then played clips of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying that he wished Zelensky had said We love America, and of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claiming on Fox News Sunday that Zelenskys government is canceling elections and silencing the opposition. (Elections there have been postponed because of the war.) The panelist Spiridon Kilinkarov added that Zelensky presented not the interests of Ukraine but of the anti-Trump European globalists, a nearly verbatim echo of Republican Senator Tommy Tubervilles claim that Zelensky has been brainwashed by the globalist socialist group in Europe. The show played a clip of Tuberville saying on Newsmax that Putin and President Trump and the people on our side will end up making this decision for the future of Ukraine. They liked the sound of that. [Phillips Payson OBrien: Trump sided with Putin. What should Europe do now?] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another panelist jumped in with a claim that Zelensky once campaigned for the Democrats in Pennsylvaniaa misleading statement, originally made by Vance, that referred to a fall meeting between Zelensky and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at an ammunition plant. Then, in an ouroboros of surreality, the show played a clip of The Daily Show, which itself featured a clip of that same Russian show in which a host expressed joy at the crumbling of the U.S.-Ukraine alliance. Perhaps DOGE can make the Russian news industry more efficient by firing all its commentators and broadcasting a direct feed of One America News instead. Finally, the panelist Igor Korotchenko put a bow on everything by remarking with relief that Biden financed this war, but the priorities of the new administration are different. He suggested that the Trump administration should go further than pausing military aid, that it should have Elon Musk cut Ukraines access to the Starlink satellite-internet systemsomething the Trump administration has already threatened to do. If Trump is able to remove Zelensky as a political figure from the global chessboard, Korotchenko added, he should be eligible for the Nobel Peace Prize. Darrell Issa, the Republican U.S. representative who nominated Trump for the award on Monday, couldnt have said it better himself. Article originally published at The Atlantic By Vladimir Soldatkin and Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will seek a peace deal in Ukraine that safeguards its own long-term security and will not retreat from the gains it has made in the conflict, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday in comments to relatives of soldiers killed there. Putin also took an indirect swipe at French President Emmanuel Macron, saying Western leaders should not underestimate the Russian people and should keep in mind the fate of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose invasion of Russia in 1812 ended in disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We must choose for ourselves a peace option that will suit us and that will ensure peace for our country in the long term," Putin told a group of Russian women who have lost loved ones during the three-year war in Ukraine. Asked by the mother of one fallen soldier if Russia would retreat, Putin said he did not intend to do that. Russia currently controls just under a fifth of Ukraine - or about 113,000 square km. At times during the meeting some women wiped away tears. U.S. President Donald Trump has upended Western policy on the Ukraine war, opening up bilateral talks with Moscow and pausing military aid to Kyiv after clashing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the White House last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters reported in November that Putin was open to discussing a Ukraine peace deal with Trump but ruled out any major territorial concessions and would insist that Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO. In comments last summer setting out his terms for ending the war, Putin also said Ukraine must withdraw all its forces from the entire territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed and partly controlled by Russia. MACRON MOCKED Trump's dramatic change of U.S. policy on Ukraine has raised hopes for peace talks but has also alarmed Washington's European allies who this week have reaffirmed their support for Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France's Macron angered Moscow on Wednesday when he said in an address to the nation that Russia was a threat to Europe. Macron said Paris could discuss extending its nuclear umbrella to allies and that he would hold a meeting of army chiefs from European countries willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after any peace deal. Russia mocked Macron, calling him "Micron". Russian cartoons cast him as France's Emperor Napoleon riding towards defeat in Russia in 1812. "There are still people who want to go back to the time of Napoleon, they forget how it ended," Putin said on Thursday, without mentioning Macron by name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All the mistakes of our enemies and opponents began with this: in underestimating the character of the Russian people and representatives of Russian culture in general," Putin added. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Maxim Rodionov; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Gareth Jones) The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission voted 2-0 to approve a settlement reached between Rhode Island Energy, the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, and the Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office. The commission's third seat is currently vacant. (Screenshot) Rhode Island Energy is on the hook for nearly $8 million to make up for an alleged fraud scheme by its predecessor under a settlement agreement approved Wednesday by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The settlement marks the closing of an investigation that looked into mismanagement practices by National Grid extending back over a decade. Pennsylvania-based PPL Corp. took over National Grids electric and natural gas business in Rhode Island in May of 2022, creating Rhode Island Energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2021, the PUC discovered that National Grid knowingly misfiled invoices for its energy efficiency program over an eight-year period to make more money, overcharging customers as much as $2.2 million. The commission voted 2-0 to approve the settlement, which was reached between the energy provider, the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, and the Rhode Island Attorney Generals Office. The commission has three seats, but one is vacant. While Rhode Island Energy did not create this issue, we are taking responsibility for resolving it in a way that benefits our customers, Rhode Island Energy spokesperson Caroline Pretyman said in a statement. Attorney General Peter Neronha lauded the settlement as a way to provide relief to Rhode Islands ratepayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a time when the cost of energy is extremely high, every little bit helps, Neronha said in a statement. Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement he was pleased to see the agreement be reached. This settlement not only holds National Grid accountable, but also puts directives in place to prevent any similar issues, he said. The energy efficiency program is funded by a surcharge on customers bills. It provides home and business owners with financial incentives for energy-efficient upgrades such as lighting and appliance replacements, insulation improvements, and other projects. National Grid acknowledged in a 2023 report to the commission that company employees acted inappropriately by deliberately delaying invoices for the energy efficiency program. Any fraud was not intentional nor necessarily profit-driven, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the terms of the settlement, Rhode Island Energy will funnel the $7.9 payment into its storm contingency fund, which is used to pay for emergency response operations during storms. The fund was about $36 million in the red, but will be reduced to a $28 million negative balance with the injection of the settlement payment. The utility company will also conduct independent audits of its energy efficiency program over the next five years. National Grid has already credited $2.4 million to the energy efficiency fund following the allegations from the PUC. PUC Chairman Ronald Gerwatowski called the terms of the settlement an unprecedented hit to a utility carrier, but appropriate. The admitted conduct was egregious in my estimation, Gerwatowski said during the commissions meeting, which lasted under 10 minutes. The invoice manipulation was a major black eye on what was otherwise an outstanding nation-leading energy efficiency program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was updated to include comment from Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and Gov. Dan McKee. It was also updated to correct how the settlement money will be used. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Donald Trump has called for Rachel Maddow and her co-host to resign over comments they made about a teenage cancer patient. During his address to Congress on Tuesday, Mr Trump honoured 13-year-old DJ Daniel for persevering in his battle with brain cancer, and had him sworn in as an honorary member of the Secret Service. Ms Maddow and her co-presenter Nicole Wallace issued a scathing rebuke of Mr Trumps actions, accusing the president of making a spectacle out of Daniel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Wallace was widely criticised for saying she hoped the teenager did not become a police officer and lose his life to suicide. I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer, but I hope he never has to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trumps supporters and if he does, I hope he isnt one of the six who loses his life to suicide, she said. DJ Daniel was honoured by Donald Trump for persevering in his battle with brain cancer Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Mr Trump branded the presenters commentary disgraceful. He said: Frankly, what Nicole Wallace said, Ive never been a fan of hers, but shes not very talented. But Ill tell you what she said the other day about that young man is disgraceful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She should be forced to resign, and Rachel Maddow should be forced to resign. Nobody watches her anyway. I dont know if its possible they pay her as much money as I hear, but certainly shes lost all credibility, both of them. But what they what they said the other day, they should be forced to resign, about that young person. Ms Wallace, speaking on a special edition of The Rachel Maddow show, also said that she felt joy for DJ over his moment in the limelight, and said I hope hes alive for another 95 years and I hope he lives the life he wants to live. Ms Maddow, meanwhile, branded Mr Trumps tribute disgusting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the record and this is disgusting the president made a spectacle out of praising a young man whos thus far survived pediatric cancer as if the president had something to do with that, the Left-wing television host said. The MSNBC presenters comments were ridiculed online, with some branding their leaps of logic hateful and vile. Mr Trumps comments come after DJs father, Theodis Daniel, called for Ms Maddow to shut her mouth. Mr Daniel hit back at the talk show host for spreading bad energy. DJ Daniel was given five months to live in five months to live in 2018 but has since undergone 13 brain surgeries and remains alive six years later - SAUL LOEB She needs to shut her mouth if she has nothing nice to say, he told The New York Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This lady didnt even serve time in the military, he added. I was on the USS Kitty Hawk. She does not need to put her bad energy on us. Mr Daniel also criticised the behaviour of some Democrat lawmakers for heckling Mr Trumps speech, including All Green of Texas, who was escorted from the chamber. When Al Green stood up and made that ruckus, I was disgusted, he said. What kind of message is he sending? Footage of Daniel went viral on Wednesday after the president paid tribute to him in his address. Mr Trump singled out Daniel by name, spoke of his brain cancer diagnosis and then gave him the biggest honour of them all by making the teenager an honorary secret service agent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wearing a police uniform, Daniel was hoisted into the air by his smiling father, held up his new law enforcement badge and was met with chants of DJ! DJ! DJ! by congressmen. The move received support from Democrats who had vowed to protest Mr Trumps speech, with some rising to their feet to join in the applause. Discussing how the invitation to attend the address came about, Mr Daniel said: The White House reached out to us and said that president Trump wants to meet Devarjaye. After being flown to the capital from Houston, Texas, they were met by FBI agents at the airport and escorted to the Capitol to be guests of honour at the presidents speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There, Daniel was sworn in and met Tom Homan, the border tsar, before the family were escorted to their seats. We sat next to Mr Elon [Musk], the first lady was in front of us and [FBI Director] Kash Patel was at my sons right shoulder, said Theodis, 47, a former machinists mate and fireman with the navy. The first lady was nice, sweet, down to earth. Mr Elon shook hands with us. The father and son were guests of honour at the presidents speech - JIM WATSON Daniels aunt told the outlet that the occasion was awesome and that her nephew deserves it. I think that such an honor will help him to reach his goals. If you can accomplish this, you can accomplish anything, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer in 2018 and was given no more than five months to live. He has since undergone 13 brain surgeries and remains alive six years later. Prior to his diagnosis, Daniel had already decided he wanted to be a police officer when he grows up. To support his son, Mr Daniel arranged for him to be sworn in as an honorary officer with the police department of Brookshire, Texas, in 2019. The swearing in ceremony on Tuesday marked the 909th time Daniel has been made an honorary law enforcement officer. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WVNS) The Raleigh County Sheriffs Office issued a statement regarding packs of dogs roaming local neighborhoods. According to a press release, Raleigh County Sheriffs Office received multiple reports about packs of dogs roaming neighborhoods that show aggressive behavior, as well as attacks on other animals and concern for the safety of people in the area, especially in the G Street area in Beckley. Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits available for communities affected by storms and flooding in February 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The press release stated that the reports were being investigated by the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office Animal Control Unit, and members of law enforcement are trying to identify and find the people who own the dogs roaming in the area, and increasing patrols in neighborhoods where the dogs allegedly roam. They are also reportedly working to enforce animal control ordinances such as leash laws and animal nuisance regulations. The safety of our residents and their pets is a top priority. We understand the communitys concerns and are taking these reports seriously. Our Animal Control Unit is working diligently to address the situation and ensure the safety of our neighborhoods. It is important to note that while the Sheriffs Office is committed to resolving this issue, the ability for Animal Control Officers to seize animals depends on the available space at the Raleigh County Humane Society or other animal rescue shelters. At times, these facilities may operate at or near capacity, which can limit the immediate placement of seized animals. Raleigh County Sheriffs Office Two WVSOM alumni were inducted into the Health Care Hall of Fame Those in the area are advised to keep any pets under control and on leashes at all times when having their pets outside, and to avoid any dogs that are unfamiliar or aggressive. Any incidents regarding aggressive animals or roaming dog packs can be reported to the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office. Stick with 59News for continuous updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Advocates for LGBTQ, immigrant and disabled kids march around the Arizona Capitol during the Rally to Protect Our Kids on March 5, 2025 at the Arizona state Capitol. Photo by Caitlin Sievers | Arizona Mirror The youth advocates who gathered on the Arizona Senate lawn the evening of March 5 said they will not stand for state and federal Republican officials targeting vulnerable students who are members of the LGBTQ and immigrant communities, as well as those with disabilities. Ive watched in horror as the majority party at our legislature leads the attack on our most marginalized, Raquel Mamani, a board member for Save Our Schools Arizona, told the crowd. This is an exact reflection of a hate coming from our national leaders towards the immigrants, educators and LGBTQ communities. I should not have to hear the very existence of my family and loved ones being questioned by the president of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamani was one of more than a dozen speakers from left-leaning groups like SOS AZ and Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization who called for increased funding for public education, an overhaul of the universal school voucher program, respect for the identities of transgender students, continued funding for students with disabilities and safety for children without legal immigration status. Around 150 people carrying signs that read fund education, not deportation and keep MAGA out of schools cheered on the speakers and marched around the state Capitol, chanting Si se puede and This is what democracy looks like. Mamanis child, Mimi, who is a junior in high school, said she was inspired by her mother to fight for social justice. My mother has taught me that silence is violence, Mimi Mamani said. I cant physically sit back any longer and let them continue to dehumanize and demonize my communities. Ill be finishing high school soon, and I dream of a world where I will at least have the same amount of rights as my mother did when she was my age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tami Staas, executive director of Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization, told the crowd that an existential crisis is threatening the safety of transgender and nonbinary kids. This is not just a political issue, this is a matter of human rights, she said. Through executive orders and legislation, President Donald Trump and Arizonas Republican lawmakers aim to erase the identities of transgender youths, Staas said. Trump has issued several executive orders aimed at transgender minors, including one that defines gender as synonymous with physical sex at conception and one that bans transgender girls from competing in girls sports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans in the state legislature have for years unsuccessfully tried to ban transgender students from bathrooms that align with their gender identities, and the House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would narrowly define gender in state law, similar to Trumps executive order. Advocates for LGBTQ, immigrant and disabled kids march around the Arizona Capitol during the Rally to Protect Our Kids on March 5, 2025 at the Arizona state Capitol. Photo by Caitlin Sievers | Arizona Mirror Staas said that her son, who is transgender, moved out of state because of the anti-transgender sentiment in the Arizona government and beyond. I want to live in a community that values inclusion, compassion and love, and where kids arent treated as political pawns, she said. Staas called on the crowd to put pressure on both Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature to make changes to protect vulnerable children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must be on the right side of justice, she said. Amy Pedotto, of EPIC Disability, said shes the mother of a nonbinary child with a disability. Pedotto said shes worried that federal and state officials will cut off funding for Medicaid and the state Division of Developmental Disabilities, putting an end to life saving services that they provide to those with disabilities. Pedotto added that, if the U.S. Department of Education is dismantled, as Trump has promised, along with the protections it provides to students with disabilities, it could mean a return to isolation and lack of services. Democrats are outnumbered in Congress and the Arizona Legislature, limiting their power to fight back against attacks on transgender, immigrant and disabled students. But Arizona has Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the executive tower, who has vetoed all anti-trans bills passed by the Republican-led legislature since she took office in 2023. Brent Whiting, co-founder of Tomorrow We Vote, encouraged everyone at the rally to get involved in political advocacy by attending local school board meetings and backing candidates willing to protect students, as well as volunteering for and donating to organizations that work to protect Arizonan kids from marginalized communities. Rallies are not enough, he said: This is where it starts. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Anna Coburn vividly remembers the moment she realized she wanted to be a park ranger. It was 2013, and she and her dad had just road tripped across the country from Alabama to Wyomings Grand Teton National Park with a canoe strapped to the top of her dads truck. When they arrived at the park, she walked up to the visitor kiosk where a woman park ranger helped them figure out which lake they should go to for the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I remember looking at her and looking at her little hat and looking at the big smile on her face, and I was like, Thats what I want to do, Coburn said. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2015, Coburn got an internship with the U.S. Forest Service at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington. Her dad was so excited for her to embark on this adventure. And as a queer woman, Coburn was happy to get some distance from her conservative-led home state. The job, which involved educating visitors about the volcanic eruption that occurred there in 1980, quickly became her passion. I never felt like I worked a day in my life, because I was always so happy to teach people about how cool this volcano was, Coburn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She returned for the next two summers before moving to Colorado for a masters program. She continued to work on public lands, in national parks and forests, paying her dues in the federal service in the hopes she would be able to secure a coveted permanent position with benefits like health insurance and retirement, which can typically only be attained after years of working as a seasonal employee. In 2024, over a decade after she was greeted by the woman park ranger in the Grand Tetons, she was hired back on at Mount St. Helens as a lead park ranger. The offer came at the perfect time: Coburn was itching to leave Colorado, and her dad had recently passed away. It felt like the perfect place to grieve and do a job that I wake up every day just excited to get out of bed and overwork myself, because I think its such an important mission, she said. But in mid-February, the job that Coburn had poured her life into, and that had meant so much to her, was ripped away. As a probationary employee, Coburn was one of 2,000 people fired from the Forest Service that week by the Trump administrations so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which is run by Elon Musk. In the federal government, probationary simply means that an employee had been hired in the last year or two or had recently been promoted. With limited employee protections, they are among the easiest to fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The culling of workers could hurt the demographics of the workforce in an agency that has spent decades trying to bring women, and more recently LGBTQ+ people, into what is still a predominantly male career. Many affected employees say they were told their firing was related to poor performance despite excellent reviews. An independent commission tasked with reviewing disputes between workers and federal employers issued an order on Wednesday to reinstate these employees until April while the firings are investigated. The Department of Agriculture, which oversees the forest service, has five days to comply. While Coburn is happy that her firing was deemed illegal, the order doesnt make her feel much better about her future. It doesnt feel secure at all, and I know that there is a massive reduction in force effort coming down the pipe that those of us that may be reinstated might still be [fired] anyway, Coburn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration is touting the cuts as part of an effort to reduce wasteful government spending, yet the total cost of employee wages in the government makes up just 4 percent of the federal budget. The firing of Erikka Olson, a wilderness ranger, will have far-reaching consequences for the 102,000 acres of land she helped manage in the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest. (Courtesy Erikka Olson) Erikka Olson, a wilderness ranger for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which extends from Nevada to California, said she made just $21,000 last year. Like many forest service employees, she is typically furloughed for parts of the year, meaning she doesnt receive a paycheck for chunks of time when her job isnt needed. Thats not even like a drop in the budget of federal funding, she said. But while the cost savings associated with firing her are small, the consequences for the land could be far reaching. Depending on what happens after April, the 102,000 acres of wilderness areas Olson oversaw could be left unattended this summer the only other wilderness ranger was fired too. Olsons job consisted of trail work, like clearing logs from paths, and collecting data about visitor usage to monitor impact to the land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olson also spent a lot of time interacting with visitors out on the trails and serving as a resource in case of a medical emergency or if a fire ignites. Its really helpful to have boots on the ground in a lot of these places, she said, particularly in more remote areas, where it can be a welcome site to see a ranger and be able to ask them questions. Nearly everyone from the trail crew she used to work with was also fired, leaving just one person left to manage trails for her entire district. The cuts came on top of a hiring freeze instituted under the Biden administration, which meant thousands of seasonal forest service employees would not be hired back this year due to budgeting constraints. Olson predicts many trails will become inaccessible to visitors and she worries about the upcoming fire season. Without people like her to educate about campfire safety and to work on fuel management the clearing of brush and downed trees that make good fire kindling the forest will be at a higher risk of burning in an already dry year, she said. Many of the rangers who have been let go are certified to fight fires, like Sarah Fuller, a front country ranger in Idahos Sawtooth National Forest who helped fight the Wapiti Fire last year. (Courtesy Sarah Fuller) Sarah Fuller, a front country ranger in the Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho, said she was one of many employees fired who hold a red card, a qualification needed for wildland firefighting. While it wasnt her primary job, she, like many forest service workers, mobilized to fight fires when necessary. Last year she helped fight the Wapiti Fire, which was ignited by a lightning strike and burned over 100,00 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also was classified as a forest protection officer, which allowed her to write tickets if she encountered people breaking rules like not camping in designated areas. Now, there could be an uptick in unattended visitors, camping and driving wherever they want, she said. Its just going to ruin resources. The impacts extend beyond land stewardship. The abrupt firings are also decimating the livelihoods of workers like Fuller, Olson and Coburn, who spent the majority of their early careers working up a very specific kind of job ladder to get stable permanent jobs. This was after years of trying to make ends meet with low wages in the West where housing prices have skyrocketed. At one point Fuller lived in her van. This summer she was depending on living in government housing. All of the women lost their health insurance. And future job prospects look grim, with thousands of people now flooding the job market in adjacent fields, like state ranger jobs. But even before the firings, the change in administration had already impacted their morale. Fuller, Olson and Coburn are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and were witnessing the rapid implementation of new policies aimed at complying with the administrations executive orders on DEI and gender ideology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olson, who has been volunteering as a ranger in Yosemite National Park, where her girlfriend works, has seen all the gender-inclusive bathrooms changed to male or female. She recently heard an employee suggest that maybe they should take down Pride flags that had been on their desks to avoid running into issues with Trump administration policies. With employee resource groups being disbanded, including one for LGBTQ+ workers, she worries about the splashy annual Pride events in Yosemite. All these little things contribute to an overall environment where people can feel unsafe to be who they are in the workplace, she said. Coburn, like the others, is trying to find her footing in her new reality. She was supposed to be working at a visitor center at the Mount St. Helens Volcanic National Monument, but unless she and other employees get hired back permanently, she doesnt even think itll be able to open this summer. Shes sad to miss out on sharing her knowledge about the volcanic eruption and how the landscape has recovered in the decades since, something she calls a marvel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its so unique, and it draws people from all over the planet to come see it, she said. But now she worries they wont get that chance. Coburns currently working at a hardware store, a job she got to make ends meet on her furlough. In the past two weeks shes applied for state park jobs but says the process has been heartbreaking after having to leave a position she cared about so much. Now shes waiting to hear on the next steps from her supervisor about whether she will be reinstated. Even if she ends up being cut once again, she at least feels better about knowing her performance wont be unfairly documented as the reason why she lost her job. But Coburns future looks much different today than it did just a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea I had to grow into that old lady at Grand Tetons has just completely been changed forever, she said. The post Three women grieve their dream jobs after being fired by the Trump administration appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. Planning approvals for new homes have dropped to a decade low amid the steepest slump in housebuilding since the financial crisis, dealing a significant blow to Angela Rayners promise to build 1.5m new homes this parliament. Approvals for new homes fell to 242,610 in England last year, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and data provider Glenigan, marking the lowest total since 2014. Separate figures showed residential construction slumped at its fastest pace since early 2009 last month, according to S&P Global UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Development declined steeply for the fifth month in February and deep into contraction territory, according to the construction purchasing managers index (PMI). S&Ps measure of activity fell from 44.9 in January to 39.3 last month. Any figure below 50 signals contraction, meaning that the sectors slump in activity has worsened. The findings are a blow for the Government, which has vowed to build 1.5m homes during this parliament. The HBF said Ms Rayner, the Housing Secretary, needed to build 370,000 new homes per year to meet its target. That would mean boosting construction by 53pc. Neil Jefferson, the chief executive of the HBF, said: The latest planning figures show that housing supply in the short and medium terms is at critical crisis levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Increasing housing delivery will require much more than just planning reform. Government has to address broader issues like financing for homebuyers and ensuring there are sufficient providers in the market to take on the affordable homes developers are building and reduce the crippling levels of taxation being planned and imposed that are making development across swathes of the country unviable. In reality, planning permissions and house building levels are falling and companies do not have the confidence to invest with SMEs in particular struggling and a growing number unable to continue to operate. Overall construction activity slumped to its weakest level since May 2020 last month, according to S&P. It means the sector is now at its weakest point since the depths of the pandemic. Tim Moore, of S&P Global Market Intelligence, said there were accelerated reductions in output volumes, employment and input buying amid soft market conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Moore said: Weak demand conditions were attributed to entrenched caution among clients, against a backdrop of subdued consumer confidence and lacklustre economic performance. He added that rising payroll costs and purchasing prices have become a source of anxiety, with overall business expenses at their steepest since March 2023. A government spokesman said: This Government inherited a broken planning system and we are determined to get Britain building again so we can deliver our Plan for Change. We have already taken decisive steps to get spades in the ground, including introducing a new National Planning Policy Framework and investing 5bn in housing for this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure and unblock the clogged-up planning system that serves as a chokehold on growth. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Millions of Americans opposing this will remain Lexington, Ky.: Dear world, we are sorry. What you are seeing from the United States right now does not represent who we are. It does not reflect the values we hold dear, nor does it define the spirit of our people. The rhetoric, the one-sided decisions, the division they are not the voice of all of us. In fact, for many of us, they are the opposite of what we believe. All my life, I have believed that humanity is moving toward a broader, more connected perspective, one in which we recognize that we are not just citizens of individual nations but citizens of Earth. Our challenges climate change, diminishing natural resources, the health of our air, soil, and water are not confined by borders. They demand cooperation, compassion and a shared responsibility. We know that words and actions matter, that leadership should uplift rather than divide, and that the world is watching. Please know that many of us are watching, too. We are standing up, speaking out and working for something better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He does not speak for us. He does not represent us. And although this moment is painful, it will not define us. We remain committed to a future where collaboration prevails over isolation, where progress is driven by empathy and reason, and where the bonds between people are stronger than the forces that seek to break them. Tom Wilmes Damned shame Brewster, N.Y.: This administration is alienating all of our friends and allies, democracies that shared our values. Meanwhile, President Trump and JD Vance shamelessly sidle up to bloodthirsty butcher Vladimir Putin. I am ashamed of and embarrassed by this administration. Larry Maslak Insightful New Rochelle, N.Y.: Re Trumps Oval Office tantrum (editorial, March 1): Thank you, thank you, thank you for this brilliant, intelligent commentary on one of the most graceless and shameful acts of this current president and his administration. Well thought-out, well-written. Keep up the good work. We need you. Joanne Harris Russian aggression Davidson, N.C.: Trump invited Zelenskyy only to tell him that the U.S. will no longer support Ukraine. It was obvious that Trump had no compassion for Ukrainians. He thinks meeting with Putin would bring the conflict to a peaceful closure. Apparently, Trump doesnt remember the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and Russias annexing of Crimea and four Ukrainian provinces. The conflict went on as Russia gained more Ukrainian land. In 2017, Putin signed the Minsk Agreement that brought a ceasefire, restoring the border between Ukraine and Russia and confirming Ukraines sovereignty. But Russia disregarded that agreement and continued to take over more of Ukraine. When Russia launched its current invasion, Putin declared that the Minsk Agreement no longer existed and Ukraine was to blame for its collapse, which allowed Putin to point at Zelenskyy. Mr. President, did you know this, and would it make a difference in your decision to support Putin? Sorrell Chesin Silver-spoon scoundrels Stockholm, N.J..: I think the problem isnt that Zelenskyy doesnt wear a suit, its that the ones barking at him have never worn blue jeans. Nat Saraceni Fiendish faux pas Ridgewood, N.J.: The Europeans embracing Zelenskyy have left Trump Home Alone. His Oval Office ambush has badly misfired with the American people, who do not like a bully treating a man who is fighting for the survival of his country with disrespect. Ed Houlihan Break away Edinburgh, Scotland: The selective catastrophic amnesia needed to suck up to Trump in exchange for trade has to give way to reality, and soon. Even if Keir Starmer hasnt worked it out, there is no appeasement or debasement low enough to make working with the corrupt U.S. administration worth the while. That was made clear by the shocking scenes in the Oval Office, where the vile Vance and criminal con man Trump disrespected and attempted to bully Europes only real hero, Zelenskyy. At the end of the Cold War, Ukraine held albeit controlled by the USSR a huge arsenal of nuclear warheads and gave them up on a promise of security from America (1994). What Trump is doing is the grossest form of betrayal, and the only way to work with this man is, as Emmanuel Macron pointed out, if we behave like vassal states. No, no and no. Amanda Baker Overblown Brooklyn: Mondays two-page spread titled The long arms of Trump and Musk (three-quarters of which are taken up by a photo of City Hall, by the way) proves why so many of todays media outlets cant be trusted. The featured article details how one unnamed city official refused to sign a lawsuit against the Trump administration for fear of reprisal. So, one city official, afraid to sign onto a New York City lawsuit, warrants a two-page spread claiming that Trump and Musk have instilled fear in even non-federal employees? The piece looks more like a Democratic Party smear campaign than actual news. Jack Flynn Inappropriate idol Monmouth Beach, N.J.: To Voicer Dave Kalin: Congratulations are in order again. Your writing ability and articulation of your viewpoints are written on a considerably higher plane than the third-grade-level communication skills of your idol Trump. Perhaps he could use you as his communications director. That said, Dave, we all need idols to admire. You have chosen Trump. Good for you. For some reason, my family raised me to admire people who were not convicted felons or court-adjudicated predatory sexual assaulters. This is where we diverge. Fortunately for me, I was raised by parents for whom the MAGA-faithful definition of family values would not be deemed appropriate. I guess my parents were just too woke. David W. Kay Cut and ran Manalapan, N.J.: The recent cowardly retreat of Republican Sen. Roger Marshall from his town hall meeting in deep red Kansas underscores the bitter message of todays Republican Party: We dont care what you think, we just want your vote. If this is the Republican idea of how our democracy is going to work, I have a message for them: We citizens dont care about your politics anymore, and you can prepare to join the dinosaurs in their glass museum cases. Marshall walked out of his town hall within minutes of the start when a veteran complained that the ruthless DOGE cuts were kicking thousands of veterans out of their hard-earned jobs. Marshall listened for a few minutes, then excused himself with barely a comment while cries of coward followed him. Veterans who risked their lives to defend our nation discovered the truth about a senator who ran at the first sign of trouble. Herb Paserman Save Medicaid Bronx: Congress vote to slash $880 billion from Medicaid is an attack on millions of New Yorkers like me. More than 4 million NYC residents depend on Medicaid for life-saving services like primary care, mental health support and HIV treatment. These cuts would be catastrophic for low-income communities, children, seniors and people with chronic illnesses. When I was struggling with HIV, diabetes and high blood pressure, Medicaid helped me get the treatment I needed. I know what its like to sit at a pharmacy counter and be told you cant get your medication. Without Medicaid and community health organizations, I dont know where Id be today. Medicaid is the backbone of our health system, ensuring people get care before conditions worsen. If Medicaid is slashed, we all suffer patients lose care, providers struggle and costs shift elsewhere. New Yorks congressional delegation must protect Medicaid. Anthony Randolph Touching tribute Manhattan: Be still my heart. It wasnt murder, mayhem, congestion (cough, cough) or politicians running amok. I opened my hometown Sunday newspaper to its middle, even before I had my morning cup of joe or done my bit of yoga. I was gobsmacked by the glowing editorial tribute to Gene Hackman, The French Connection, New York City and its inhabitants (Gene Hackmans greatest co-star, March 2) My city. Our city. Because no matter what happens, this is our treasured city. What a wonderful way to start the day. Thank you, Daily News Editorial Board. You gave me the shivers. Susan A. Stark If you put off getting a REAL ID, now is the time to do it. Beginning May 7, U.S. agencies will require people to present REAL IDs to get through airport security or access federal facilities, including nuclear power plants. Congress passed the law 20 years ago, but its implementation has been delayed multiple times since then. About 55% of the 9.1 million licenses and IDs in Ohio are already REAL ID-compliant, according to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what you need to know about the new rule. How do I get a REAL ID in Ohio? Ohioans can visit any BMV location to update their driver's license with documents proving: Full legal name. Date of birth. Legal presence in the U.S. Social Security number. Ohio street address (two documents from different sources). Name change, if applicable. How long does it take to get a REAL ID? The BMV will give you a temporary ID and mail your new driver's license in a plain, white envelope. You will receive your ID in the mail within 10 business days. If you have not received your new card after 28 days, contact Ohio BMV online or call 1-844-OHIO-BMV (1-844-644-6268) to check the status of your card. What documents do I need to bring to the BMV? The BMV accepts a wide range of documents for REAL ID requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Name, date of birth and residency: Birth certificate, U.S. passport, permanent resident card, naturalization certificate. Social Security number: Social Security card, W-2, 1099 form, pay stub. Ohio address: Driver's license, tax return, credit card statement, insurance policy, utility bill, Ohio concealed weapons permit, proof of home ownership. Name change: Marriage license, divorce decree, annulment of marriage. You can see a full list of acceptable documents here. REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses have a star in the top right corner. Do I need a REAL ID to travel? Ohioans who don't have a REAL ID must show a passport or other approved ID to travel domestically. The Transportation Security Administration also accepts permanent resident cards, U.S. Department of Defense IDs, Global Entry cards and photo IDs issued by federally recognized tribal nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. passports are still required for international travel. What does a REAL ID look like? REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses have a star in the top right corner. Standard licenses say "not for federal ID" in the same corner. Haley BeMiller covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: REAL ID deadline is approaching: What Ohioans need to know Sir Keir Starmer must be terrified of having to lead Britain into World War Three. Not least because our young men could so easily dodge conscription. All theyd have to do is tell a judge that being sent overseas would breach their right to family life in the UK. After all, that excuse always seems to work for foreign criminals. So why not for innocent British men? There is, however, an even greater problem facing the Prime Minister. Because I strongly suspect that hes starting to grasp the real reason why Britain is doomed to lose the next war. Its not just our inadequate spending on defence, or our complacent reliance on the USA to protect us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got a crisis thats more fundamental, which is that we simply wont want to fight. For decades now, young people have been taught to be ashamed of this country. Theyve been taught that Britains history is one of almost uninterrupted, and unparalleled, cruelty and exploitation and that the figures once hailed as national heroes, from Francis Drake to Churchill, were really villains. In short: theyve been taught that the British are the baddies. And so, having had it drilled into them practically from birth that their country is nothing to be proud of, why on earth would they want to risk their lives defending it? As it happens, we already know they dont want to. Remember that extraordinary poll of Gen Z from last month, showing the near-total collapse in patriotic feeling among Britains young? In 2004, a similar poll found that 80 per cent of young people felt proud to be British. Today, a mere two decades later, its just 41 per cent. Is it any surprise, therefore, that only 11 per cent said theyd be willing to fight for Britain? And that more than 40 per cent said they would absolutely never fight for Britain, in any circumstances at all? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course its not. Previous generations were taught very differently. And yes, to our superior 21st-century eyes, perhaps that teaching was a little jingoistic. But jingoism can actually have a useful purpose. By telling children that their nations history was glorious and brimming with heroes, you give them a reason to cherish it, and perhaps even to become heroes themselves one day, in their nations hour of need. When our forefathers were sent to fight in the trenches of the Western Front, not all of them might have known exactly why the Great War was being fought. But they at least had a clear idea of what they were trying to defend. Would todays young men be able to say the same? Im not sure they would. The grim truth is that we no longer have a strong and unifying national identity the sort of identity that pulls a country through a war, and gives it the courage to fight on. Our schools may teach something they call British values, but these values are always hopelessly vague as, of course, they have to be. In our atomised, multicultural society teachers darent suggest that any values arent British. After all, we wouldnt want anyone to feel excluded. As a result of this loss of identity, we are simply not a united people any more. In fact, many of us share little more than a language and often, not even that. On Tuesday it was reported that almost one million people in England cant speak English fluently and more than 130,000 cant speak English at all. Meanwhile, Im sure no one has forgotten that, in 2014, it was claimed that more than twice as many British Muslims had joined Isis than the British Armed Forces. The Prime Minister is right that we need to spend more money on arms. The question is: who will we find to fire them? Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. COFFEE COUNTY. Ala. (WDHN) The western side of the Wiregrass, like Coffee and Geneva counties, was spared from this round of severe weather after being at an enhanced risk a level 3 out of 5. We always get concerned in the county about downed trees and power lines road issues, but we were very fortunate to come out of it relatively unscathed, Coffee County EMA Director Grant Lyons said. However, the strong winds did down some trees in the area. The storm snapped and downed trees in a New Brockton residents yard, barely missing the home, and took down trees all across the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So we work with the highway departments, the county highway departments and of course ALDOT and those people are great, so at this time we dont have any unmet needs, Lyons said. While the area was spared from major damage, officials say this round should remind citizens to make sure they are weather-ready, such as having multiple ways to get notifications, as spring severe-weather season is around the corner. Whether its your phone, cell phone, texts or computers, however you get it, make sure you have multiple reliable ways to get notifications before the event because sometimes we have night storms like last night, He said. As for the dispatchers, who are looked at as the unseen heroes, they bring in extra people during incoming rounds of severe weather. They are bracing for an active season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also do more in-service training so we can stay up to date when there is bad weather, so we can see how to approach it and provide the best service for our residents. Much like Coffee County, Geneva County also fared well, with a few reports of downed trees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. You can watch the full panel in the video player above. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Following a study on future improvements to the North Nevada Avenue corridor, experts will offer their recommendations at a presentation on Friday, March 7. According to the City of Colorado Springs, the study, which was authored by a nine-person panel from the Urban Land Institutes (ULI) Advisory Services Program, will provide the community with opportunities for improvements and long-term growth in the North Nevada Avenue Corridor. A full report will be produced at a later date and published on ULIs Knowledge Finder, the City said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presentation on Friday is expected to cover topics including market potential, planning and design, development strategies, as well as recommendations for implementation. Over the last 15 years, two other ULI studies have been conducted in Colorado Springs, according to the City. In 2018, a ULI panel focused on Southeast Colorado Springs, and, in 2012, a ULI panel studied Downtown. Recommendations from the 2012 panel study laid the foundation for the City for Champions initiative and revitalization of the Downtown core, including the development of 2,840 apartment units. The presentation will be held at the Chapman Theater at the Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., beginning at 9:30 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. The Caddo Parish Civil Rights Heritage Trail project is expanding its scope with a new series designed to help historic villages, towns, neighborhoods, and/or cities in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, investigate three different versions of their communities: the past, the present, and the future. Team members include Dr. Gary Joiner, Mik Barnes, Jaclyn Tripp, Dr. Laura Meiki, Dr. Jolivette Anderson-Douong, Dr. Amy Rosner, Dr. Rolonda Teal, and Brenton Metzler. The team is now focusing on the history of the Cedar Grove neighborhood. In the first article in the series on Cedar Grove, Dr. Gary Joiner (Professor of History at LSU Shreveport) showed us how a social movement in 1911 Shreveport drastically changed Cedar Grove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the second article of the series, we learned how Shreveport became a hub for automobile production in the early days of the horseless carriage. The third article of the series examined how manufacturing changed in Cedar Grove after automobile production ended. For the fourth article in our series on Cedar Grove, Dr. Gary Joiner took readers back to 1905-1910, when Cedar Grove sprung up in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, as a small oil boom town. The fifth article on Cedar Grove explored how Cedar Grove was settled after the Louisiana Purchase, how streets became bisected in Cedar Grove, and described the topography of the little community that later became a Shreveport community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will learned about how glass coffins were once fashionable in the United States in the sixth article in the series, and we learned about a glass coffin factory that once operated in Cedar Grove. In the seventh article in the series, Dr. Gary Joiner discusses how redlining harmed Cedar Grove. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Is it possible to point to a single factor that doomed Cedar Grove from recovering its vibrancy from the first third of the twentieth century? The answer is unequivocally yes. The US Government created the Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) as part of the New Deal programs in the 1930s. The intent appeared noble: to rescue clients and banks from bankruptcy and catastrophic failure. In practice, however, they assured strong banks would mitigate potential losses by protecting their best accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any property with a mortgage in a good neighborhood was safe. Any street with such housing was deemed acceptable for long-term loans. Any properties not meeting the highest standards became increasingly suspect. Any streets where people lived who were not White Anglo-Saxon Protestant were suspect and affected adjoining good properties. The reasons given for rating neighborhoods are overtly bigoted from todays lens. HOLC map of Shreveport from 1940. Source University of Richmond Mapping Inequality. The base map is the 1940 Globe Map Co. Map and Street Guide of Shreveport, LA. https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/map/LA/Shreveport/areas#mapview=full&loc=13/32.4829/-93.7526 The HOLC surveyed 239 cities nationwide to determine the viability of granting or continuing mortgages. Only two cities in Louisiana was surveyedNew Orleans and Shreveport. The HOLC came to Shreveport in 1940 and left chaos in its wake. The survey team, by practice, none of whom were from our region, created 25 neighborhoods. Twenty-three were in Shreveport, and two were in Bossier City. They used the 1930 Decennial Census to identify streets. They also used local street maps or Sanborn Fire Insurance Mao Companys index pages. They used the local Globe Map Company street map of Shreveport. The surveyors, called valuators, artificially ranked neighborhoods by letter grade, A-D. Class A was the best, and Class D was hazardous and uninsurable. They created artificial boundaries that suited their purposes. They also did not cover all areas within cities. They flagged industrial areas (appropriately) as non-residential but penalized adjoining residential neighborhoods as undesirable. When they canvassed Cedar Grove, they ended the survey at 79th Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The canvassers deemed Cedar Grove below the street to be primarily rural. Digital Map of the Cedar Grove neighborhood. Colors indicate HOLC-surveyed neighborhoods. Class D is red. Class is yellow research and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. The industrial northwestern area of Cedar Grove was hatched, indicating the proper extremities. The remainder from Hollywood Avenue/Pierremint/Southfield, south to 71st Street, was coded Yellow C-7, except for the area south of 65th Street, midway between Fairfield Avenue and Thornhill Avenue, west to the previous town boundary and south to 71st Street. This portion was coded Red D-9. This extended south to 80th Street and east to Linwood Avenue. C-7 Population 90% white, 10% negro composed of middle class salaried workers, mechanics and quite a few tradesmen who maintain their business in this section. It is the best section of Cedar Grove, formerly a separate municipality. Predominant type of building is single family, with a small commercial area along 70th street and Fairfield street. Area is about 60% built up. Age of properties 1 to 25 years only fairly well maintained. No shifting of population. D-9 Population 60% white 40% negro. This section is the Southern part of Cedar Grove. About 20% built up. Population consists mostly of wage earners of lower to middle class, some salaried workers, laborers and mechanics. White population resides West of Railroad. Single family buildings predominate. Age of properties 1 to 20 years with white property fairly well maintained and negro property poorly maintained. Section is at the extreme end of the city limits, somewhat inaccessible. Cedar Grove has been an integrated, working/middle-class neighborhood from its inception. The harm done by the HOLC in 1940 still rings true throughout the decades. Redlining harmed its residents by preventing them from obtaining mortgages and/or low-interest mortgages. According to the 2020 Decennial Census, Cedar Groves population is healthy but older: Total population 4161 White 371 White % 8.92 All persons Black 3630 All Person Black % 87.24 Asian 14 Hispanic 120 18+ Population 3210 Housing Units 2260 Occupied 1757 Unoccupied 503 59th Street to Hollywood Ave/Pierremont/Southfield West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 231 through 233 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 59th Street to Hollywood Ave/Pierremont/Southfield East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 233 and 234 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Hollywood Ave/Pierremont/Southfield West To 60th Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 235 and 237 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Hollywood Ave/Pierremont/Southfield East to Sherwood Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 237 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 60th Street West to 61st Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 235 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Sherwood Street East to Evangeline St East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 237 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 61st Street West to 63rd Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map plates from 1935. Plates 235 and 237 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Evangeline St East to 63rd Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 238 and 239 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 63rd Street West to 65th Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company61st Street West to 63rd Street West plates from 1935. Plate 236 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 63rd Street East to 65th Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 238 and 239 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 65th Street West to 68th Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 236, 238, and 241 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 65th Street East to 68th Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 238 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 68th Street West to 71st Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 241 and 245 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 68th Street East to 71st Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 238, 239, 240, 242, and 245 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 71st Street West to 73rd Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 241 and 242 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 73rd Street West to 76th Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 243 through 244 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 73rd Street East to 76th Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 240, 242, and 244 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 76th Street West to 78th Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 242 and 244 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 76th Street East to 78th Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 244 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 78th Street West to 80th Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plates 242 and 244 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 78th Street East to 80th Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 244in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 80th Street West to 83rd Street West. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 244 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 80th Street East to 83rd Street East. Digital composite map Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company plates from 1935. Plate 244 in Volume Two, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Company 1935 maps of Shreveport, Louisiana. Sanborn Map Collection in the Library of Congress. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. 83rd Street West (no Sanborn coverage) to 85th Street West (no Sanborn coverage). Digital map. Red lines are neighborhood boundaries. Gray polygons are building layer objects from the City of Shreveport GIS georeferencing, research, and Cartography by Gary D. Joiner, Ph.D. Sources: Library of Congress, Introduction to the [Sanborn Map] Collection. https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/articles-and-essays/introduction-to-the-collection/ Fighters; Louisiana Campaign Gains Heat From Charges, but Effect on Primaries Is Doubtful. Home Rule Chief Issue, New York Times, December 8, 1935, Section E, Page 11. See Richard L. Engstrom, Home Rule in LouisianaCould This Be the Promised Land? Louisiana History, Vol. 17, No. 4, 1976, pp. 431-455. Cedar Grove Pastor Asks Probe of Riot, Shreveport Journal, January 7, 1936, Page 11. For an extensive investigation of housing discrimination by the Federal Government during the 1930s and since, see Gary D. Joiner, Redlining in Shreveport, https://www.ktalnews.com/louisianas-lost-history/history-of-redlining-in-shreveport-part-1/ or https://www.yahoo.com/news/history-redlining-shreveport-part-1-175358147.html Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) No more refugees will be coming to Nashville for the foreseeable future after a local nonprofit that helps resettle refugees received an email saying the U.S. Department of State terminated all its agreements for the program. At the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), the nonprofit works to resettle refugees who were cleared to move to Nashville legally. Last year, NICE helped resettle about 500 people in Middle Tennessee. They undergo several years of vetting, of security screenings, both by U.S. agencies and by international agencies, Max Rykov, director of development and communications at NICE, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has been in place since 1980. Refugee aid groups say Trump administration is trying to circumvent court order Sometimes people can be living in refugee camps for up to two decades before they even get invited to interview with the United States, Rykov said. However, Rykov told News 2 the program is terminated. NICEs partner, the Ethiopian Community Development Council, was notified through email by the State Department that it will no longer receive funding. Back in January, President Donald Trump originally ordered a 90-day review process on the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Essentially what this memorandum does is it ends that review process, so as far we understand, there will be no refugees coming into the United States for the foreseeable future, Rykov said. Vance visits the US-Mexico border to tout Trumps immigration crackdown Federal funding to help refugees get on their feet when they first arrive in the U.S. is also in limbo. The State Department supplies about $1,600 per person to last 90 days while they search for housing and a job. That federal funding was frozen back in January. There was a lot of confusion of freezing and unfreezing of funds, but the freeze of federal funding for refugees has not been unfrozen yet, Rykov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the federal funding, Rykov fears the nonprofit will be dismantled, which is why people are urged to consider donating to the emergency fund. Its a feeling of devastation all around. I have coworkers and friends who have been waiting for years, trying to be reunited with their family members, Rykov said. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com NICE is in need of volunteer help and asking Nashvillians to consider helping refugees who are already in Middle Tennessee. The nonprofit also encourages community members to contact their elected officials and recommend to reinstating the USRAP and unfreezing federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. CLEVELAND (WJW) June 20, 1944, World War II: 2nd LT Robert T. McCollum was assigned to the 565th bombardment squadron of the United States Air Force in the European Theatre. While flying onboard the B-24J Liberator, he and his squadron went missing in action after their aircraft collided with another B-24 in the same formation, crashing into the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark. Trump administration plans to cut 80K employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pilot and co-pilot bailed out and survived, but the 22-year-old McCollum, and seven other Airmen were presumed dead. Their remains unrecoverable, until a breakthrough in 2019 when Danish divers found wreckage from a WWII aircraft about 60 feet deep on the Baltic Sea floor. Divers discovered a .50 caliber machine gun with a partially matching serial number to McCollums craft. My engineer is actually the one who found the first signs of remains, University of Delaware Professor and Co-Founder of the Project Recover Partnership Mark Moline said. Project Recover is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding the remains of our fallen service members. Moline said his team used underwater vehicles to map the crash site, using high-resolution sonar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We found bits of parachute and the parachute led us to the parachute cords, and then the harness and then the remains, he explains. So yeah, the bone remains are still there. The remains were then analyzed by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in a Forensics Lab in Hawaii, cross referencing the bones with military records, and also pulling DNA from the bones, checking for potential family members. Arrests made after teen injured, ATV stolen at Akron skate park And ask for their DNA samples, Moline said. And when they get a positive match there, they know who they have. So, its quite a process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A process that can take around a decade, Moline said. McCollums remains were pushed through the system swiftly, confirmed recovered on December 10, 2024. For the folks at Project Recover, its all about bringing closure for families of service members MIA/KIA. Moline said hes proud of the work to repatriate LT McCollum, and views it as a major victory, but said theres more work to be done for so many others. Resolve these over 80,000 cases that are of service members that are still missing, he said. So we have a daunting task ahead of us. But we do it for the families. If you would like to donate to those efforts you can find a portal right here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. WASHINGTON The remains of an Iowa soldier who was killed in World War II have been accounted for, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. U.S. Army Pvt. James L. Harrington, 21, of Cincinnati, Iowa, was part of operations to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Normandy, France. Harrington, a member of Company A, 149th Engineer Combat Battalion, was on a Landing Craft Infantry 92 headed for the beach when it struck an underwater mine, causing the craft to burst into flames. Enemy artillery fire also struck the craft, causing an explosion that ignited the ships fuel supply, immediately killing everyone in the troop compartment. DMPS plans to put district-wide cell phone policy in place next school year U.S. Army Pvt. James L. Harrington U.S. Army Pvt. James L. Harrington Landing Craft Infantry (Large) 92 The burnt remains of servicemen were found in the troop compartment and recovered on June 10, 1944. They were first buried at the United States Military Cemetery St. Laurent-sur-Mer. In 1946, the American Graves Registration Command examined the remains and separated them into four separate Unknowns. Efforts to identify the Unknowns were unsuccessful and they were interred in the Normandy American Cemetery, in France. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DPAA and officials with the American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed the remains in 2021 and scientists from the DPAA laboratory conducted anthropological analysis. The mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA were further analyzed by scientists with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System in order to identify Harringtons remains. The DOD says he was accounted for on August 21, 2023. Harrington will be buried in his hometown of Cincinnati at a later date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) For International Womens Month, WRBL is taking time to recognize Remarkable Women in our community. This is part of a nationwide Nexstar Media initiative to honor the contributions that women have made in our nation and communities from public policy to social progress to quality of life. Tuesday, we recognized Brittany Santiago. Santiago is the public information officer for the Columbus Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is also a mother of two, community advocate and skilled problem solver. Community members who nominated Santiago said in part, Her ability to juggle her demanding career while raising two young boys is a testament to her resilience and determination Brittany consistently rises to the occasion, earning the respect of her peers and the gratitude of her community. Santiago is especially passionate about keeping young people out of trouble by informing them about what resources the community offers. I think that its important because being transparent is not you dont want to hide whats happening. And I think even when I go to these school visits and stuff, I go to a lot of Muscogee County schools and I talk to kids who are very open with me and Im open to them like, Hey, these things are available to you. And we want to make sure that you know, thats available to you,' said Santiago. So I think that being transparent is just the key to everything. I dont want to see them coming to the police station for something bad. I want to prevent that. So when I tell them, like, Hey, we have a 13 year old that was just arrested, I dont want to see you there.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Santiago, kids are the future of the Columbus community and she hopes her efforts will help create the king of community she wants to see her children grow up in. On March 29, we have a Remarkable Women special coming up on Channel 3. At 12 p.m. eastern and 11 a.m. pacific, all five nominees will be revealed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Some call Mary Jayne Mousel the miracle worker for the Siouxland community. I just have always liked to help people, she said. Any way I can live the scripture teaching about, I was hungry and you fed me, youre doing things for others and being a servant. So before I retired, I had looked for things during the summer to get started. Born and raised in Sioux City, Mary began teaching elementary students at Bishop Heelan more than 40 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have just always loved children, she said. Growing up, my mom and dad were foster parents, so we always had a baby in our house. And then my mom had daycare, so we always had and when I say a house full, I mean a house full of children so I just was a natural with them. So the teaching was just a natural thing to do. Inspired by her parents, Mary also decided to help out in the community. Siouxland Stories: 3 working women bring back popular Hinton steakhouse We were a strong Catholic family, so they helped out at church, she said. They take three older kids and wed go help and they would have bingo and serve donuts and make the coffee, and thats where I started. After 43 years of teaching, Mary decided to spend her retirement devoted to volunteering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I spent a lot of time at Marys Choice, especially in the summer, she said. And then Queen of Peace, I love Queen of Peace Trinity Heights because its so peaceful up there. A friend of mine is the director, and one time he says we sure need helpers and I said like what? and he said well, we have weeds to pull. So being outside, working outside in the sunshine pulling weeds, I love it. I really learned in all my volunteering how well these nonprofits work together, Mary continued. Marys Choice gives to SafePlace, SafePlace gives to the Bargain Center, the Bargain Center gives here, [Siouxland Foster Closet] givse what they cant use to here, so theres a lot of circular where we just help each other out. The Bargain Center, a local thrift store, shares a family connection with Mary as well. The Bargain Center has always been close to me because my grandma worked there, she said. My grandma was born in 1902, so she started working in 1950-1960, so I like to go the last hour and organize, straighten things, clean it up. Mary hopes to set an example for others when it comes to volunteering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot of people dont realize how easy it is to volunteer and how easy it is to find places to volunteer, she said. I think most places need people to just help them and not get paid, so hopefully this gets out there and other people will think of, oh, I can do that or maybe even think of some other places that need help. Mary says she has no plans to leave Sioux City and will continue to keep spreading joy to all Siouxlanders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The House voted to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas.) after he interrupted President Donald Trump during his joint address to Congress. Ten Democrats joined Republicans in voting to condemn him. Oh, deep in my heart, Green, joined by other Democrats, sang the civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome moments after the House formally censured him. The yeas are 224. The nays are 198, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson ordered Green to be escorted out of the chamber after he interrupted President Trumps speech. I was prepared to suffer the consequences, Green said in a one-on-one interview. Green said he protested over concerns about potential cuts to Medicaid but does not regret his actions. It is important for some of us to take a stand for people who dont have the health insurance we have, he said. Ten Democrats voted with Republicans to censure Green, but he said he was not disappointed, as he encouraged lawmakers to vote freely. What I have done was a question of conscience for me. Vote your conscience, Green said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) who shouted You lie! during President Barack Obamas 2009 address and was reprimanded, said respect should be shown to the president. I had a town hall moment. That, indeed, I apologized for. And the president accepted, Wilson said. If people intentionally disrupt a presidential speech, that is just wrong. Since then, more interruptions have occurred, though not all resulted in punishment. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas.) expressed outrage, pointing to past instances. We know that. Weve seen Marjorie yell at Joe Biden. There was no outrage. None. So there shouldnt be any outrage today, Crockett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the House Freedom Caucus are now pushing to strip Green of his committee assignments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Rep. Al Green Thursday was censured by the House of Representatives for heckling President Trump during his speech to a joint session of Congress. The firebrand Houston lawmakers colleagues voted 224-198 to hit him with what amounts to a slap on the wrist over his cane-waving interruption of Trump on Tuesday night. Ten Democrats joined all Republicans in chiding Green over the disruption, including Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen of New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A member of Congress who is censured is normally ordered to stand in the well of the House to accept his or her punishment. But Green stood with about a dozen colleagues and sang the civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome, forcing House Speaker Mike Johnson to put the House into recess instead. Green, an 11-term Democrat, was escorted out of the House chamber when he stood and shouted at Trump after the Republican president claimed the Nov. 5 election had handed him a historic governing mandat. You have no mandate, Green shouted, shaking his trademark walking stick and refusing an order from Johnson to sit down and keep quiet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green, who said he wasnt sorry, was hit with the censure resolution by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), who called it a necessary, but difficult step. Green shook hands with Newhouse but insisted he had no regrets about taking on Trump. This resolution is offered in all seriousness, something that I believe we must do in order to get us to the next level of conduct in this hallowed chamber, said Newhouse. Once an extremely rare action, censure has become more common in recent years as Congress has become more polarized along partisan lines. House Republicans censured former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) for triggering a Capitol fire alarm and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) over her anti-Israel views. GOP Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) was reprimanded by the House in 2009 for interrupting then-President Barack Obamas speech by shouting you lie. Rep. Jasmine Crockett did not hold back when asked what she would say to President Donald Trump given the chance and her advice was pretty straightforward: Stop being Putins ho. Following Trumps joint address to Congress on Tuesday night, attorney Joe Gallina asked Crockett: If you could tell Donald Trump anything tonight, what would you tell him? I would tell him to grow a spine and stop being Putins ho, the congresswoman replied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crockett, who was referring to Trumps controversial relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, continued, per The Hill: Thats all we got right now, is Putins little ho that is out here really doing the bidding of Russia in a way we have never seen an American president do. Her remarks about Trump come after the president and Vice President JD Vances fiery meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week. During that tense Oval Office sit-down, Trump scolded Zelenskyy over the decisions he has made in his countrys fight against Russia. He also alluded that Zelenskyy was ungrateful for all the assistance he has received from the U.S. For those that believe that we should only focus on the United States, this is a focus on the United States, Crockett continued. We need a president that understands what diplomacy looks like, and it does not look like the disgrace that we saw that took place in the Oval Office. She also criticized Trumps imposition of tariffs on U.S. allies Mexico and Canada, telling Gallina that diplomacy does not look like sting on our allies by telling them we are going to impose tariffs to the north and the south of us. (Trump has since walked back some of these latest tariffs.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the first time Crockett has verbally come for Trump and his camps neck and it likely will not be the last. Back in February, she flat out called members of the presidents cabinet idiots and said Trumps only mission was to make sure sure that he can line his pockets and those of Elon Musk and any other billionaire all at Americans expense. This is nothing more than a money grab, Crockett said during an appearance on All In With Chris Hayes. Hes not out there trying to save money for the American people. Thats not what hes doing. Hes lining his pockets and, at the same time, hes outraging people who do not know exactly how we spend our money, and how it benefits us to make sure that things like HIV and AIDS does not become the worldwide pandemic it used to be. We need people that are experts, not idiots that play on Fox News or play on the Internet. The post Rep. Jasmine Crocketts Suggestion to Trump: Stop Being Putins Ho | Video appeared first on TheWrap. Rep. Paul Gosar clashed over immigration with big city Democratic mayors in a congressional hearing, going as far as to quiz them on Arizonas controversial Senate Bill 1070 law. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing, titled A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors, included Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Gosar, R-Ariz., accused the mayors of disgracing a legal immigration system and promoting a false narrative on illegal immigration. He asked them if they supported Arizonas hardline SB 1070 immigration law that passed 15 years ago, most of which the Supreme Court struck down in 2012 because it violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Did you support the Arizona law called SB 1070? Gosar asked New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Adams and the other mayors said they were unfamiliar with the Arizona law and assured Gosar that they comply with all state and federal laws. SB 1070 was passed by state lawmakers in Arizona in 2010, not by Congress. The hearing came as Republican President Donald Trump continues his immigration crackdown and looks to ramp up mass deportations of illegal immigrants. Trump border czar Tom Homan has taken aim at Boston and Chicago as places to carry out immigration raids. He has a warmer relationship with Adams of New York City. Boston, New York City and Chicago are sanctuary cities, where municipal laws protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and prosecution. The mayor of Denver calls his city welcoming but does not use the sanctuary city label. Advertisement Advertisement The federal government has jurisdiction and supremacy over all immigration laws, right? Gosar asked the mayors. How can you get a comprehensive immigration policy when you're defining it from the very get go. You're building on false premises. Wu, the mayor of Boston, responded by pointing to the sweeping Department of Government Efficiency cuts enacted by Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Respectfully, Congressman, you could pass bipartisan legislation, and that would be comprehensive immigration law. The false narrative is that immigrants in general are criminals, or immigrants in general cause all sorts of danger and harm. That is actually what is undermining safety in our communities, Wu said. If you want to make us safe, pass gun reforms. Stop cutting Medicaid, stop cutting cancer research, stop cutting funds for veterans. That is what will make our city safe. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rep. Paul Gosar grills 'sanctuary city' mayors on SB 1070 The state for two of the nations top economic indicators the employment rate and GDP is presenting a gloomy outlook for Black Americans when it comes to job prospects. The unemployment rate for Black workers is projected to rise to 6.8% for February 2025, up from 6.4% the previous month, according to a new analysis by Creative Investment Research. The calculation means that the firm believes Black Americans will lose an additional 78,000 jobs between January and February this year. Simultaneously, the latest Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta GDPNow projection from Mar. 3 showed that the U.S. economy is expected to fall 2.8% in the first quarter of 2025. That is nearly twice as low as the -1.5% prediction for gross domestic product on February 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William Michael Cunningham, an economist and owner of Creative Investment Research, told BLACK ENTERPRISE that his firms analysis was done ahead of the employment report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) scheduled for March 7, 2025. Cunningham says his firms figures are based on non-seasonally adjusted data released by the BLS. Updates on both the unemployment and GDP numbers are expected later this week. In general, a rise or drop in unemployment often moves in tandem with the direction of the GDP, which is a key measure of the nations economic health. Another report by the payroll services firm ADP revealed that private sector employment rose only by 77,000 jobs in February. That was significantly lower than the 148,000 estimate, and a higher adjusted 186,000 in January. ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson stated, Policy uncertainty and a slowdown in consumer spending might have led to layoffs or a slowdown in hiring last month. Our data and other recent indicators suggest hiring hesitancy among employers as they assess the economic climate ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cunningham said his firms 0.4 percentage point increase from January reflects government job reductions and weaker hiring in sectors that disproportionately employ Black workers. The U.S. government began firing thousands of people at numerous agencies nationwide in recent weeks as President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk cut federal government spending extensively. Cunningham expects the overall unemployment rate to rise to 4.2% in February from 4.0% in January. He expects the change to slow hiring, growing layoffs, and weakened economic activity. He anticipates white unemployment growing to 4.0% in February from 3.9% the prior month. He said unemployment is less affected by the downturn, due to greater employment mobility, stronger job networks, and lower exposure to declining industries. He forecasts Hispanic unemployment to soar to 5.8% in February from 5.5% in January. He said the sharp downturn in consumer spending will likely disrupt service-sector employment, where Hispanic workers hold a large share of retail, hospitality, and food services jobs. Also, Cunningham maintained that as government employment declines further, Black workers overrepresented in the public sector are more vulnerable to job losses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These revised numbers show that the economic slowdown is accelerating faster than expected, Cunningham stated in writing. The steep contraction in GDP, coupled with near-zero consumer spending and investment growth, is a warning sign that employment conditions may worsen in the coming months. He added, Black and Hispanic workers, who have historically been most vulnerable to downturns, are already experiencing higher job losses, and without policy intervention, these disparities could widen. RELATED CONTENT: Citigroup Erroneously Credits $81 Trillion To Customers Account, Highlighting Years Of Operational Failures Moments before President Donald Trump delivered his address to Congress in the House chamber on Tuesday night, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) snatched a sign from the hands of Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), who held up a paper that said This is NOT normal in protest of the current administration. And theres a lot to take away from that moment, according to an expert. As C-Span cameras captured Trump entering the House chamber, Stansbury could be seen standing to his left holding up the sign in silent protest. The president appeared to notice the sign as he made his way through the crowd, right before he stopped to greet Gooden. While speaking with Gooden, the president made a gesture with his thumb pointing behind him, but its unclear what he said to Gooden during that time. As the president continued walking, Gooden continued to greet others before he abruptly leaned over, ripped the paper out of Stansburys hands and tossed it in the air. He then continued cheering on Trump as normal. (Watch a clip capturing the incident above.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moment, reported by HuffPosts Arthur Delaney, did not sit well with many online. People on X, formerly Twitter, called Goodens actions aggressive, and said his response was hypocritical given the Republican Partys messaging on calling for freedom of speech. Not to mention Republicans have demonstrated various forms of protests during past State of the Union addresses, like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who have notoriously heckled former President Joe Biden during his speeches. In 2023, Greene yelled liar at Biden at the top of her lungs in the House chamber. People on X also questioned whether Gooden wouldve snatched the paper if it was a man holding it. I bet you he wouldnt have been tough enough to do it to a man, one X user wrote. Gooden stands by his actions toward Stansbury. He retweeted a video clip of the moment on X later that night, writing: Putting the American people FIRST is normal. No one will disrespect President [Trump] in front of me. Tabitha Bonilla, an associate professor of Political Science and Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University, told HuffPost that she believes the moment revealed quite a lot about the Republican Partys current views on free speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodens conduct seems to underline the stance the Republican party is currently taking: their interpretation of free speech is for them and their values, but not for anyone who appears to disagree with them or point out problems with their approach to government, she said. She continued, By pulling away her sign (possibly at that moment because the camera picked it up next to the president), Gooden seems to be sending a message that Stansbury is not allowed to comment or be heard. Heres what else Bonilla, who studies political behavior and communication, took away from the moment: Goodens actions toward Stansbury seemed to be a show of power. It felt more similar to what we see in more contested protests than what we see on the floor of Congress, Bonilla said. It also felt like a surprising show of power between a taller man ripping the sign from a woman, who stands there silently, and not engaging with the men around her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was surprised by it, she added. Stansbury was among several Democrats who demonstrated various forms of protest on Tuesday night. Many Democratic women in Congress wore pink to signify a protest against Trumps policies impacting women and families. Other Democrats held up matching black signs throughout Trumps speech that said phrases like, Save Medicaid or False. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted from the chamber after he rose from his seat and yelled as Trump spoke: You have no mandate to cut Medicaid. Republicans in the chamber responded by yelling at Green to sit down and started chanting USA, USA, USA! The right to free speech and protest is embedded in the Constitution via the First Amendment. It is important to the functioning of our government, our political system, and even our education system, Bonilla said about free speech and peaceful protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted that there are, however, important limitations on free speech. As Bonilla pointed out, free speech is only guaranteed in public spaces. And examples of speech thats not protected by the First Amendment include speech that constitutes a true threat or incites imminent unlawful action, among other examples. Bonilla said she would argue that if members of a party can wear hats and shirts with messages, then Stansbury should be able to hold a sign, and members of the opposite party should not be allowed to police them. (Greene, who wore a MAGA hat to Bidens State of the Union last year, wore a red cap on Tuesday night that read: Trump Was Right About Everything.) In fact, I would argue that holding a small sign without comment is less disruptive than boos or cheers that we tend to see from Members of Congress, Bonilla added. Gooden boasting about protecting Trump speaks to a bigger issue about loyalty. Bonilla said that she believes unwavering loyalty to Trump from Republican members of Congress and not loyalty to the country and the constitution will hurt Republican lawmakers in the future, considering Trump has sought to expand executive power, i.e., cutting spending programs approved by Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And as it relates to Stansburys silent protest, Bonilla emphasized that Dissent is a critical feature of democracy. I am concerned that many Republican leaders, including the president, are misinterpreting dissent and criticism as disrespectful, when really, its one of the most critical features of liberal thought and free speech, she added. Related... Voters at a polling station in Buckingham County. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury) Republican leaders in Virginias 6th Congressional District have voted overwhelmingly to challenge a new state law they say strips political parties of their right to control their own nomination process. On March 1, members of the districts GOP committee by a 22-1 margin agreed to file a lawsuit seeking to overturn what has been dubbed Helmers law, named after Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, who sponsored the legislation in 2021. The law effectively forces parties to nominate candidates through state-run primary elections rather than their own party-run contests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, which Republicans said will be filed by Staunton attorney Jeff Adams, argues that the law which went into effect in January 2024 violates both the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions by removing a partys ability to determine how it selects its own nominees. Republicans have long expressed concerns that because Virginia does not require voters to register by party, the law allows Democrats to participate in Republican primaries, and vice versa, potentially influencing the outcome. John Massoud, chairman of the 6th Congressional District Republican Committee, made it clear that the legal challenge is not aimed at any specific Republican elected officials, all of whom the committee continues to support. Instead, he framed the legal challenge as a fight for the partys fundamental rights. We believe that the law in question, which went into effect in January of 2024, is a civil rights lawsuit in which something was stolen from us. And that is our right to select our nominees by a method which we choose, not a process which is imposed on us from Richmond, Massoud said at the committee meeting last week. John Massoud, chairman of the 6th District GOP Committee. (Photo courtesy of John Massoud) Massouds sentiments were echoed by nearly every district committee member who spoke on the issue, with the overwhelming vote demonstrating broad Republican opposition to the state-mandated primary system in the 6th District, which leans strongly Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law in question, which received bipartisan support, was originally introduced by Helmer ahead of the 2021 legislative session. It mandates that all absentee voters including those serving overseas in the military, studying at higher education institutions, temporarily residing outside the country, living with disabilities, or exposed to communicable diseases must be given an opportunity to participate in the nomination process. This requirement has effectively eliminated firehouse primaries, mass meetings, and conventions as nomination methods in Virginia, as these processes would make it impossible to accommodate absentee voters. Last year, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares weighed in on the law, issuing a legal opinion that cast doubt on whether firehouse primaries remain a valid nomination method under the new restrictions. A political party may not select a nomination method that de facto requires covered voters to be physically present to participate or that otherwise has the practical effect of excluding their participation, Miyares wrote in response to a request by Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, the House Minority Leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opinion came as Lynchburg Republicans attempted to hold a firehouse primary for an upcoming city council election an effort that raised concerns about whether such a contest would be in violation of state law. A spokesman for Miyares did not comment on the lawsuit by the time of this storys publication. By mandating state-run primaries, Helmers law effectively prevents political parties from holding closed nomination contests, a practice many Republicans favor. The 6th District GOPs lawsuit follows a successful legal battle to overturn the Incumbent Protection Act, and party leaders see this latest challenge as a continuation of their fight to preserve party autonomy. Helmer on Thursday pushed back against the Republican effort, arguing that the lawsuit against his 2021 election law misrepresents its intent and undermines the rights of active-duty military members, students, people with disabilities and Americans living overseas to participate in the nomination process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration taking jobs away from thousands of thousands of veterans is no surprise, but now Republicans in the 6th District are trying to take away their ability to vote in elections, too, Helmer said in a phone interview, condemning the GOPs legal challenge. Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax. (Photo courtesy of Dan Helmer) Helmer insists that the law does not mandate state-run primaries, despite Miyares interpretation, but instead requires political parties to provide access for absentee voters who might otherwise be excluded from party-run nomination processes. He dismissed Republican claims that the law infringes on party rights, describing it instead as an accommodation bill rather than a restriction on free speech or party autonomy. Helmer also rejected concerns from some Republicans that Virginias lack of party registration allows Democrats to vote in GOP primaries, arguing there is little evidence to suggest widespread crossover voting is a significant problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The evidence of that happening in large scale is basically nil, Helmer said, adding that if Republicans wanted to fight that battle, they should focus on passing legislation to enact closed primaries statewide. Thats a fight they can fight, people can put forward a bill, but thats not what people wanted to do in Virginia, he said. David Richards, a political science professor at the University of Lynchburg, sees the 6th District GOPs lawsuit as another attempt to bring back firehouse primaries a nomination method that, he argues, disenfranchises many voters who would otherwise participate in a primary election. This includes not just people out of the state serving in the military but anyone who wants to pop by the polling place and vote in a primary but does not want to spend four hours on a weekday night at a firehouse-style meeting, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richards also noted that the lawsuit puts Miyares in a politically precarious position. While Republicans have historically used party-run conventions to ensure their nominees are selected by party insiders, Miyares role in enforcing Helmers law could strain his standing within the party. Republicans have often used the firehouse primary system to ensure only GOP insiders get nominated. If Miyares continues to enforce the current law, it could possibly alienate him from the state GOP, Richards explained. With Miyares seeking re-election as Attorney General rather than challenging Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears in the gubernatorial race, the lawsuit could open the door for a GOP challenger to emerge. According to Richards, Republicans looking to unseat Miyares might seize this moment to align themselves with party activists who oppose Helmers law. Right now, Miyares does not have any serious GOP rivals for the nomination to serve another term as attorney general. Republicans thinking of challenging Miyares might see this as an opportunity to court the GOP and get their support if Miyares does not support the GOP effort to skirt Helmers law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massoud, however, doesnt want the pending lawsuit to be understood as an attack on Miyares. I think Attorney General Miyares is doing a great job, and I look forward to voting for him in 2025 and working together to get him reelected, Massoud said in a phone interview Thursday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Billionaire Elon Musk, left accompanied by U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Musk's son, X Musk, speaks during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Something has been nagging at me when I see all these male Republican politicians parading their babies and young children around like, Lookit me! Im Superdad!! Verily, baby spit-up is the new must-have accessory for the MAGA male politician. Look! Its J.D. Vance toting his kid off an airplane and the kid is wearing pajamas!!! And whats this? Co-President Elon brings his 4-year-old son to the Oval Office for a press conference where he smeared his snot-rockets all over the resolute desk. Presh!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The achingly socially awkward Musk clearly brought the kid as a distraction, and I suppose it worked since so many Rs gushed about the precocious spawn atop Musks shoulders. Look! A man holding his own child!! What miraculous feat will the worlds richest person perform next? Wash his own cereal bowl? Closer to home, a Republican in my North Carolina State House was praised on Monday for bringing his toddler to work. In a fawning article entitled Republican Dads Are Leading by Example in the conservative newsletter, Longleaf Politics, Andrew Dunn writes glowingly of Republican State Representative Mike Schietzelts decision to hold his 18-month-old son during a speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schietzelt showed that being a father and a public servant arent just compatibletheyre powerful together, Dunn wrote, adding Theres a new crop of Republican leaders with young children who are unapologetic about their balancing act while in officeFamily isnt an obstacle to leadership. Its part of it. For those of you old enough to remember SNL character The Church Lady you know what Im bout to say. Well. Isnt that special? Lets leave for another day the mind-blowing irony every seasoned woman officeholder must be feeling now that its not just OK but laudable to bring your child to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres why this celebration of Republican dads in office ticks me off. While its true Rep. Schietzelt is brand new to the General Assembly and therefore had no personal vote against the Medicaid expansion, his party and his fellow legislators most certainly did. For many years. For year after year after year, the Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly refused to accept the Medicaid expansion that wouldve been life-changing (and often live-saving) for the states poor families. Finally, in December 2023, it became apparent that was a fools game and a mean-ass fool at that. Former Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat prevailed (thanks be to God), but only after nearly a decade of mudslinging and, far worse, ignoring the states desperately poor children and families. The Republicans Christmas capitulation wasnt noble. No, no. They just looked around and realized the nations eighth-most populated state would be FORTIETH to expand Medicaid and we were looking more cruel and callous than the jewel of the South vibe we were going for. Think of the thousands of children and families that had to wait that out all those years. In North Carolina today, 41.2 percent of all children rely on Medicaid for health coverage. Let that sink in for sec. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, FINALLY, these folks have a chance as of early 2024. But wait! Theres a plot twist! Donald Jetraitorous Trump is leading the call for Congress to cut $880 billion which would have to include Medicaid reductions. North Carolinas Medicaid recent expansion, which is conditioned on the feds picking up 90% of the cost, would almost certainly disappear along with coverage for many other low-income folks. Yes! Lets balance the budget on the backs of hungry toddlers and sick children. A pox on him. And anyone who doesnt see this for what it is. Republican dad politicians, you can parade around with your photo-opp adorables all you want. I dont worry about YOUR kids. Your income is fine. I worry about the millions who dont have a daddy in the State House or U.S. Congress who want to slash the first decent chance at security and good health a generation of children has seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Would Freshman Representative and kid-totin Mike Schietzelt have broken ranks with his party and supported the Medicaid expansion early on? Maybe. Well never know. What I do know is These Handmaids Commanders yammering about needing to boost birthrates while they strap their kids to their hips as props have demonstrated zero care for the nations poor children time after time. They remind me of the creepy rich guy in Titanic who grabs a random urchin from steerage and fibs, Im all she has to get a spot on the lifeboat. And Im being kind. MANILA, Philippines Rescuers found the wreckage of a Philippine fighter jet and the bodies of its two pilots on Wednesday in a mountainous region in the countrys south where they had been deployed on a nighttime mission to fight communist guerrillas, military officials said. The FA-50 jet lost communication during the combat mission with other air force aircraft earlier this week before reaching a target area in southern Bukidnon province. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province after carrying out assaults, military officials said. The FA-50 jet was deployed with other air force aircraft to provide combat support to troops battling dozens of suspected New Peoples Army guerrillas near Cabanglasan town in Bukidnon, the military said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Philippine fighter jet, 2 pilots missing on mission against insurgents "It was a total wreck, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante said of the fighter jets wreckage, which he said was found by Filipino special forces in a jungle on Mount Kalatungan in Bukidnon. A regional military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, said without elaborating that the bodies of the two air force pilots were found near the wreckage. Pilots can eject from the supersonic jets in case they encounter any problems, but the Philippine air force said it remained unclear if the two pilots aboard the FA-50 ejected as it plummeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was also not immediately clear what caused the crash of the jet, which was acquired by the Philippine government from a South Korean company about a decade ago. An investigation was underway, the air force said. The rest of the countrys 11 FA-50s were grounded following the incident, according to the Philippine air force. The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s multipurpose fighter jets starting in 2015 from South Koreas Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The $331 million contract had been the biggest under a military modernization program that has been repeatedly stalled by a lack of funds. The Philippines has plans to acquire another 12 fighter jets from South Korea. The military estimates about 1,000 communist guerrillas remain after decades of battle setbacks, surrenders and factional fighting. Peace talks brokered by Norway collapsed under previous President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused the other of continuing deadly attacks despite the negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the government and the communist rebels agreed to resume talks aimed at ending one of Asias longest insurgencies. But the talks still have not restarted under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Aside from anti-insurgency operations, the jets have been used in a range of activities, from major national ceremonies to patrolling the disputed South China Sea. Mar. 6After avoiding any major snow throughout the rest of the winter, residents are digging out after a storm dumped more than 7 inches of snow on the area. According to snowfall totals reported to the National Weather Service, Clarks Grove received 7 inches of snow, Albert Lea received 8, Wells received 10, Ellendale 10.2 and 10.9 in Minnesota Lake. Snowfall and high winds led to the cancellations of schools and many businesses, as well as the closure of Interstate 90 west of Albert Lea at Interstate 35. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to assist the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office in emergency response, declaring a peacetime emergency. He said the National Guard would assist in providing personnel, equipment, facilities and resources necessary to respond to the severe weather and rescue stranded motorists. "Minnesota is no stranger to winter weather, but conditions can quickly become unpredictable and dangerous," Walz said in the news release. "As we work to alleviate the dangerous road conditions, the National Guard is stepping up to provide life-saving support." An emergency shelter was also set up at the National Guard Armory on Prospect Avenue in Albert Lea for those needing a place to stay during the blizzard. As of Wednesday evening, much of the city of Albert Lea appeared to be plowed and residents could be seen outside clearing their driveways and sidewalks. The highest snowfall totals from the event were measured in Lakeville with 12 inches and Dennison with 13. Much of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area received 9 to 12 inches. Residents in a Panorama City neighborhood are frightened after they say an unknown man is constantly lurking around and trespassing onto properties. Neighbors on Tyrone Avenue said theyre being terrorized by the man and theyre struggling to understand the motive behind his behavior. Im very nervous and at the same time, angry, said a neighbor named Maria. Why is this happening? Its very scary. Residents in a Panorama City neighborhood are frightened after they said an unknown man who constantly lurks on their street and trespasses onto properties began puncturing the tires of parked cars. The male suspect always arrives in the neighborhood driving a dark-colored Nissan Titan SUV. Residents in a Panorama City neighborhood are frightened after they said an unknown man who constantly lurks on their street and trespasses onto properties began puncturing the tires of parked cars. Residents in a Panorama City neighborhood are frightened after they said an unknown man who constantly lurks on their street and trespasses onto properties began puncturing the tires of parked cars. Residents in a Panorama City neighborhood are frightened after they said an unknown man who constantly lurks on their street and trespasses onto properties began puncturing the tires of parked cars. Residents in a Panorama City neighborhood are frightened after they said an unknown man who constantly lurks on their street and trespasses onto properties began puncturing the tires of parked cars. For at least six months now, the suspect would drive to the neighborhood in his dark-colored Nissan Titan SUV while his hazard lights remained flashing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance video showed him exiting his car and walking onto a driveway before jumping over fences and sneaking into backyards. We dont know exactly what hes up to, said a neighbor named Frank. He could be somebody trying to steal things or we dont know if hes a rapist or anything. We have no idea. The suspect doesnt attempt to hide his face with a mask or a hoodie. Why is this person doing this to us? Maria said. We dont even know him. We havent done anything to him. Why would he do this? Neighbors on the street said nobody knows the man or what his motives are. On Tuesday night he returned again, however, this time the situation escalated. Using a pocketknife, he punctured the tires of vehicles that were parked outside several homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security cameras captured a partial license plate number of the mans truck. Residents said theyve called the police for help, but were told that officers would not respond to the scene if no one was hurt or if nothing was stolen. For now, neighbors said they feel helpless and are staying alert as the suspect remains at large. Many are worried about a possible confrontation turning dangerous or even deadly. What if something more serious happens? Maria said. What if he becomes more brazen that he will knock on our doors or do something to us? Residents have filed a police report and said they hope the lurker is caught soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the suspect can call the Los Angeles Police Department at 1-877-527-3247. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Residents of St. Pauls Payne-Phalen neighborhood have filed a class action lawsuit against the owners of the Northern Iron and Machine metal foundry, claiming emissions have lowered their home values, damaged property and left them dealing with soot and dust. The civil action, filed Monday in Ramsey County District Court, names the Lawton Standard Co. of De Pere, Wis., Northern Iron LLC and Specialty Metals Holdco, LLC as defendants. It was filed on behalf of neighborhood resident Brittney Bruce and others living within a half-mile of the foundry. The suit, which claims three counts of nuisance, negligence, and the trespass of pollutants, dust and soot on residents homes, seeks unspecified damages and equitable relief enjoining defendants from engaging in wrongful conduct. The plaintiffs are represented by the law firms of Storms Dworak LLC of Minneapolis and Liddle Sheets, PC of Michigan, which specializes in class action cases involving pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not asking for the facility to shut down, said Joe Heegaard, an attorney with Storms Dworak. Were trying to figure out the breadth, and scope and the severity of the harm, as well as the total number of class members so we can make a more concrete request. This is just the initiation of the lawsuit. The complaint notes Northern Iron was fined $41,500 in 2023 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for air quality permit violations. A recent MPCA investigation tested soot collecting on homes near the foundry and found toxic heavy metals such as lead, chromium and manganese, which the suit calls evidence it originated from the Forest Street metal plant. We allege Northern Iron has permitted pollutants to invade the homes of St. Paul families for years, despite repeated warnings from environmental regulators, Heegaard said. This lawsuit seeks justice for the residents who have suffered property damage due to what we believe amounts to the companys disregard for its neighbors. The lawsuit notes that the Payne-Phalen neighborhood is designated an environmental justice area under Minnesota law, as a large percentage of residents are people of color or living in low-income households. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawton Standard, which has promoted the foundry as a longstanding community employer, has denied that the foundrys emissions remain out of step with state standards. The history of the foundry dates back more than a century to 1906, and they maintain that compliance troubles with state permitting such as out-of-date pollution control equipment and equipment updated without a permit occurred before Lawton purchased the Forest Street foundry in 2022. Northern Iron, which produces custom metal parts for clients, employs nearly 80 United Steelworkers, some of whom are second-generation employees, and chief executive officer Alex Lawton expressed interest last year in improving community relations and even expanding operations. Northern Iron does not comment on active litigation and will not be providing any comments at this time, reads a statement forwarded Thursday by a spokesperson for Lawton Standard. The company will have 21 days to file a response to the lawsuit or seek an extension. Calling some of the companys PurpleAir testing equipment outdated, the MPCA issued an April 2024 order limiting Northern Irons material processing to 10 tons per day, or roughly a third of normal 25- to 30-ton production. That limit held for several months, until a July 2024 decision from Ramsey County District Court Judge Leonardo Castro lifted it after he reviewed the data himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The companys petition to the court, filed in May of last year, calls MPCA pollution modeling assumptions off base and computed on a 24-hour production schedule rather than on actual output. It also said the ordered production limits would likely lead the foundry to be shut down. The company has offered alternative compliance plans, which the MPCA has rejected. That has been going back and forth since April of last year, Heegaard said. I think the facility and MPCA are working to find some middle ground on that, but it will be subject to the judges orders. Last July, state lawmakers representing the East Side of St. Paul expressed concern with the Castro decision and called for a return to the 10-ton processing limit. Related Articles HONOLULU (KHON2) The trade war with Americas neighbors started as imports from Canada and Mexico and are now taxed at 25-percent. Theres also the 10-percent tariff that was placed on Chinese imports last month that has now doubled to 20-percent. BBB details riskiest scams to help keep you protected On top of that all 3 countries have already retaliated with tariffs on American goods. You know what were seeing is a lot of prices going up whether its fuel for your car, for our delivery trucks, electricity, we also get power from Canada. A lot of our apparel like our clothing and our shoes are manufactured in places like China and Mexico. And if you noticed when youve gone to the grocery store lately, your fruits and vegetables may have gone up in price too because we depend a lot on imports, especially from Mexico for these items, said Tina Yamaki from Retail Merchants of Hawaii. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Yamaki says retailers are also bracing for other hikes in the cost of doing business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news I wish I had a crystal ball and tell you when it was going to end and all of that but like everybody else, were living day to day. We dont know when its going to end. We dont know how long this is going to take place. And when it does end, are the tariffs going to be rolled back? Or the prices? We all know things are going up in cost and businesses are struggling right now too. So its a hard time. A lot of small business have to pay off their PPP loan and other loans they took out during Covid. Theyre looking at how theyre going to pay for the next increase in minimum wage, said Yamaki. People who are making above minimum wage also expect that $2 increase so theres a lot of things going on with not just the increase cost of products and shipping and everything else thats going on with small businesses and a lot of them are scared that they wont be able to keep their doors open. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WPRI) Rhode Island will soon welcome its second Chick-fil-A just down the road from the Ocean States first location. In a statement to 12 News, Chick-fil-A confirmed that it is in the process of constructing a new restaurant off of Quaker Lane in the same plaza as Showcase Cinemas, Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks, Orange Theory and Chipotle. Though the restaurants address is listed in East Greenwich, its actually on the Warwick border and is being zoned and permitted through the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No opening date has been set yet. The new restaurant will be situated nearly 10 minutes away from the states first Chick-fil-A, which opened on Bald Hill Road back in September 2014. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. WARWICK Rhode Island Energy has agreed to pay nearly $8 million to compensate ratepayers for a billing manipulation scheme that occurred under the watch of National Grid, the previous owner of the states largest gas and electric company. The money, which was agreed to in a settlement approved by the state Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday, will pay back Rhode Islanders for actions by National Grid, which over a nearly decade-long period intentionally misfiled invoices in the states energy efficiency program to earn higher incentives for its shareholders. The payment from Rhode Island Energy will go into a fund supported by ratepayers that is used to cover some of the costs of storm damage to the energy system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes on top of $2.4 million that National Grid credited back to the state energy efficiency fund in 2022 after a preliminary investigation found dozens of instances in which employees had filed invoices in the wrong billing cycle to circumvent annual caps on payments received as an incentive to help homes and businesses conserve electricity. All of the instances of misreporting occurred before May 2022, when Pennsylvania-based PPL Corp. bought the Narragansett Electric Company from National Grid and renamed it Rhode Island Energy. With about 780,000 customers in the state, the company is the dominant heating and electric supplier in Rhode Island. A truck for Rhode Island Energy, the gas and electric company formerly known as National Grid. The settlement was agreed to by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, the Office of Attorney General Peter Neronha and Rhode Island Energy. While Rhode Island Energy did not create this issue, we are taking responsibility for resolving it in a way that benefits our customers, Caroline Pretyman, spokesperson for Rhode Island Energy, said in a statement We have already put in place processes and controls to ensure this type of activity would not happen under our ownership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the meeting Wednesday in which the utilities commission approved the settlement, chairman Ronald Gerwatowski called the billing scandal a major black eye on what was otherwise an outstanding, nation-leading energy efficiency program. He said the repayment amount is unprecedented for a utility in Rhode Island but that its warranted for behavior he described as egregious. Rhode Island Energy is accepting the financial responsibility, but we are very much aware that Rhode Island Energy did not engage in the improper billing practice, he said. Governor Dan McKee applauded the settlement. I am pleased that my administrations efforts have resulted in the recovery of significant dollars that would otherwise have been borne by ratepayers in the future, he said in a statement. This settlement not only holds National Grid accountable, but also puts directives in place to prevent any similar issues. Nearly a decade of manipulated bills Rhode Islands energy-efficiency program is a fundamental part of the states effort to curb greenhouse-gas emissions. Perennially ranked among the most effective in the nation, the program, which has a $134 million budget this year, provides homeowners and businesses money to insulate buildings, upgrade appliances and replace old lighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is funded by surcharges on gas and electric ratepayers. Efficiency improvements benefit the energy system as a whole by reducing the need for upgrades to transmission and distribution pipes and wires, leading to net savings for ratepayers. The utility formerly National Grid and now PPL manages the program and is paid an incentive for meeting energy-savings targets. Payments over the last decade have ranged from about $3 million a year to more than $6 million. Those payments are capped. Once the utility reaches its targets in a given year, any additional energy savings wont lead to a bigger incentive. National Grid employees worked around this restriction by delaying the filing of invoices at the end of the year when the company was at or near its targets, according to a 2022 report commissioned by the company. The invoices were for things like high-efficiency light bulbs and heating and cooling equipment. 'This proceeding shook my confidence' in the utility Three years ago, the state utilities commission launched an investigation into the practice known as invoice stacking. The utilities division and the attorney generals office subsequently joined the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a report to the state agencies, National Grid calculated the total customer impact of the improper billing to be about $323,000 in the years the practice was employed between 2012 and 2021. But the division argued that all annual performance incentives that were associated with invoice stacking should be repaid, plus interest. After negotiations, the parties settled on a total figure of $10.4 million to be repaid. The $2.4 million that National Grid paid back over several months in 2022 was used to offset the energy efficiency surcharge paid by ratepayers, effectively reducing their bills. The remaining $8 million that the company will pay is going to Rhode Island Energys storm contingency fund, which is currently in the red. The fund is replenished through a surcharge on ratepayers and is used to pay for overtime and outside contractors to repair storm damage to poles, wires and other energy infrastructure. Because that damage can be extensive, the money in the fund can easily be exhausted, and it has been running at a deficit in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gerwatowski said the repayment will help ratepayers by paying down the principal thats owed to the fund as well as preventing more interest from accruing. For comparisons sake, the utilities division calculated that if the money were credited directly back to electric ratepayers instead of going to the storm fund, it would have amounted to a one-time $6 bill credit, according to spokesman Thomas Kogut. The settlement includes safeguards to ensure that bills won't be similarly manipulated again. In order for us to have confidence that ratepayers are receiving reliable value that can be shared with the utilitys shareholders, it requires that we believe that the utility is acting honestly and in good faith, and this proceeding shook my confidence, said utilities commissioner Abigail Anthony. Im really glad for the work that the parties have done to make sure that the harm caused is resolved and that the division and Rhode Island Energy are working to right the ship for the future. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Energy to pay $8M to settle National Grid billing scandal BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Ridgecrest police are attempting to identify a thief who allegedly stole a brand-new Ford Bronco from a dealership in February. Ridgecrest police told 17 News the suspect stole a gray, 2024 Ford Bronco from the Jim Charlon Ford on Feb. 17. The incident occurred at about 1 a.m., according to Sgt. Marrone, with the Ridgecrest Police Department. The vehicle that was stolen is unregistered, police said. There is no other vehicle description available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about the incident can contact Corporal Cushman at 760-499-5116. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) Rio Rancho Public Schools students will see a change in their school schedule next month. RRPS said April 21 was previously scheduled as an in-service day for elementary students and a split in-person, online learning day for middle and high school students. Albuquerque Fire Rescue reminds residents of burn restrictions On Wednesday, the district announced it will now be a normal, in-person day of learning for all students. School officials said the adjustment is to meet the public education departments required number of instructional hours and days for this school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A federal jury this week convicted a man accused of being a member of a white supremacist group on rioting charges, bringing to a close a case that dragged on for seven years. After a five-day trial, Robert Boman, 31, was convicted on Tuesday of conspiracy to violate the anti-riot act and violating the anti-riot act, charges tied to his role in the Rise Above Movement, or RAM, a group accused of inciting brawls at political rallies throughout the state. Boman is the final defendant in a saga that involved dismissals, appeals and one group member's extradition from Romania to face charges. He is set to be sentenced Aug. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peter Swarth, Boman's attorney, said that "at least until" sentencing, neither he or his client has any public comment. Federal authorities originally charged Boman and three others in October 2018, describing RAM as a "white supremacy extremist group." Read more: Vegan computer savants with Bay Area ties linked to deaths across U.S., authorities say The indictment alleged that RAM members participated in attacks at political rallies in Huntington Beach on March 25, 2017; in Berkeley on April 15, 2017; and in San Bernardino on June 10, 2017. Afterward, members allegedly trained for future events and celebrated by posting photos online of their altercations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boman testified in his own defense during the trial, telling jurors he didn't plan on attacking people while attending rallies, according to Meghann Cuniff, an independent legal affairs reporter. Boman reportedly testified that his resentment toward racial minorities dated back to elementary school, when he and his sister were among the few white children and endured bullying and violence. An Orange County federal judge at least twice dismissed charges against Boman and Robert Rundo, the co-founder of RAM, at one point finding that the men were being selectively prosecuted, while far-left extremist groups, such as Antifa were not. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that finding last year. Rundo pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to riot. He was sentenced to two years but released based on time served. Another defendant, Tyler Laube, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for repeatedly punching a journalist and was sentenced to time served. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Road closures in East Walnut Hills are back. Portions of William Howard Taft Road and Collins Avenue will be closed this weekend and into early next week due to security measures, city officials said in a release. Starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday through the morning of Monday, the following road closures will be in place: William Howard Taft Road between Torrence Parkway and East McMillan Street. Collins Avenue at Riverside Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same roads were closed for one weekend in late January and early February. Drivers are encouraged to use Torrence Parkway, Madison Road and Woodburn Avenue as a detour while the closures are in place. Road closures will occur between Friday and Monday in East Walnut Hills. Residents who live within the area where roads are closed will be able to access their neighborhood through one of three marked security checkpoints: William Howard Taft Road and Torrence Parkway. William Howard Taft Road and East McMillan Street. Riverside Drive and Collins Avenue. City officials said residents should expect to encounter law enforcement at these checkpoints. Drivers are encouraged to factor in extra time when traveling as a result of these security measures. Officials said delivery trucks and other commercial services delivering to addresses in those neighborhoods may use those checkpoints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials confirmed the closures are due to Vice President JD Vance, who has a home in East Walnut Hills, visiting Cincinnati, but they did not specify the purpose of his visit. Officials added that "emergency vehicles will not be delayed as a result of these checkpoints." This story has been updated to add new information. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: W H. Taft Road, Collins Avenue closed in East Walnut Hills for weekend The Tories will attempt to overturn new two-tier justice rules for judges that give special treatment to criminals from ethnic, religious and gender minorities. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, is to seek a judicial review of the new guidance unless the Labour Government changes the law in order to block the rules. He said the two-tier justice rules discriminated against white and Christian men and breached the principle that everyone should be treated equally under the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has already urged the Sentencing Council to abandon the rules and is understood to be considering whether to change the law to give Parliament powers to veto future guidance. The new Sentencing Council guidelines, published on Wednesday, require judges and magistrates to take into account the background of criminals when deciding whether to send them to jail. Courts have been told that they should normally consider ordering a pre-sentence report on an offender if they came from an ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community or are transgender. The Tories have criticised it as two tier justice as there are no requirements for similar reports on offenders of any other ethnicity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pre-sentence reports are drawn up by the probation service to provide courts with information that could mitigate against jailing an offender in favour of suspending their sentence or handing them a community punishment. The new rules mean criminals from ethnic, religious or gender minorities could be more likely to escape jail than offenders from other backgrounds. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has urged the Sentencing Council to abandon the two-tier rules - Joe Giddens/PA Mr Jenrick has instructed a respected senior barrister to seek a judicial review of the rules on the grounds that they discriminate against people from particular backgrounds. Anti-white and Christian bias He said: I will be challenging this sentencing guidance in the courts on the grounds it enshrines anti-white and anti-Christian bias into our criminal justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if Labour wont amend the law to prevent this, the Conservatives will. There are few more important principles than equality under the law we will fight tooth and nail to defend it. He said the Tories would lay an amendment to Labours Crime and Policing Bill to give ministers the power, through Parliament, to overrule the Sentencing Council unless the Government agreed to change the law. At present, ministers can only make recommendations to the Council as it is a judicial-led body independent of Parliament. They have no powers to overturn its guidance except by submitting their concerns as part of a consultation process. Mr Jenrick said the guidance was completely outrageous and enshrined a double standard, two-tier approach to sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Two-Tier Keir, our justice system is set to have an anti-white and anti-Christian bias, he said. He said that if ministers could not overrule the Council then they should change the law to enable them to do so. There is a bill going through Parliament at the moment with respect to crime and the criminal justice system. That could be used as a vehicle, he said. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said: If the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, doesnt want a two-tier criminal justice system she should change the law and the Conservatives will back her. Ministers should decide, not quangos. Labour need to grip this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were backed by Alex Chalk, the former justice secretary, who previously criticised the Council when it introduced guidance that judges should consider more lenient sentences for offenders from deprived or difficult backgrounds. Kemi Badenoch said the Conservatives will back the Justice Secretary if she changes the law on sentencing - AFP Mr Chalk said: The Sentencing Council does important and valuable work, but it is overreaching itself. The time has come to consider a democratic lock on their recommendations, to ensure confidence in sentencing is not undermined. On Wednesday, Ms Mahmood said she would write to the Council registering her displeasure at the Councils changes. She said: Todays updated guidelines do not represent my views or the views of this Government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As someone who is from an ethnic minority background myself, I do not stand for any differential treatment before the law, for anyone of any kind. There will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch. No 10 on Thursday backed her decision. Thats a move that the Prime Minister welcomes, said his official spokesman. Parliament will always have the power to determine the minimum sentence people will face for their crime. Its for judges to decide on individual sentences. Asked about two-tier justice, the spokesman added: I think the Justice Secretarys been very clear that no one should be treated differently under the law. I think more broadly tackling race disparities in the criminal justice system remains a priority. We have a broad programme of work to review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other factors included an offender disclosing that they were transgender, had an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a chronic health condition or were victims of domestic abuse, modern slavery or grooming. The Sentencing Council said that these factors were not an exhaustive list and that a pre-sentence report could still be necessary if an individual did not fall into one of these cohorts. The Sentencing Council guidance will come into force on April 1 and represents a significantly revised version of previous advice. In particular, it places greater emphasis than before on pre-sentence reports in sentencing decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord Justice William Davis, the chairman of the Sentencing Council, said: A sentence properly tailored to the individual circumstances of the offender and the offence, that makes full use of the range of sentencing options available and is based on evidence, has the greatest likelihood of being effectively completed, while still fulfilling the purposes of sentencing. A Sentencing Council spokesman said the guidance on ethnicity reflected the need to include evidence of disparities in sentencing outcomes, the disadvantages faced within the criminal justice system and complexities in circumstances of individual offenders that can only be understood through an assessment. The consultation on the new rules by the Sentencing Council was first issued in March last year, under the Tories, when they said a pre-sentence report may be important in considering ethnic background. After the consultation, the council toughened up its final version, which was approved at a meeting of the Sentencing Council attended by Claire Fielder, the Ministry of Justices director of youth justice and offender policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Ms Mahmood was said to have been unaware of the change as it had not been flagged to ministers until it was publicly criticised on Wednesday by Mr Jenrick in Parliament. The guidance follows the councils request that judges consider more lenient sentences for offenders from deprived or difficult backgrounds. That guidance for the first time spelt out mitigating factors relating to disadvantages that courts should consider before passing a sentence. The guidelines on difficult and/or deprived background or personal circumstance state that these factors include poverty, low educational attainment, experience of discrimination and insecure housing. The council went ahead with the changes last April despite warnings from Alex Chalk, the then justice secretary, who said the guidance was patronising, inaccurate and risked making poor schooling and poverty excuses for offenders to commit crimes. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Three Rockford area healthcare providers joined forces to provide childbirth classes. UW Health, Crusader Community Health and Molina Healthcare hosted four educational classes for the community. The classes covered information on parental care, infant feeding, health insurance questions and car seat safety. Participants who complete 3 out of 4 classes receive a voucher for a free infant car seat and information on how to install the seat thanks to Safe Kids Winnebago Staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers said it is important to have an outlet to spread information to parents and caretakers. We had a lot of unsafe sleep practices happening in Winnebago County and the surrounding area, said UW Health Social Worker Michelle Strand. So, we really talk about safe sleep and the importance of infants sleeping in their own space and having a place for a baby to sleep. So for us to explain why thats so important so that parents have time to prepare and purchase a crib or bassinet for their baby. The classes first began in 2023 and another health series is set to begin in April. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) A Rockford Police Officer has been found not guilty of battery during a 2022 arrest. According to Winnebago County States Attorney J. Hanley, the charges stemmed from an incident on May 14th, 2022, when Officer Frank Fabiani was assisting with the arrest of Alize Jones. Prosecutors said after Jones was handcuffed, Fabiani allegedly slammed Jones head into a glass window, causing it to break, and resulting in injuries to Jones head and shoulder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, a Winnebago County Jury found Fabiani not guilty of two counts of battery. This is the second time Fabiani faced battery charges. In 2021, Fabiani was charged with battery to a protester, William Sage Gettings. Charges against him were later dropped in that case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville, voted against House Bill 196 which would rolli back part of a state mine safety law. (LRC Public Information) FRANKFORT Despite reservations voiced by some Republicans, state senators advanced a bill Thursday that would weaken a safety protection for coal miners put in place almost two decades ago after the death of a Harlan County miner. Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Georgetown House Bill 196, sponsored by Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, advanced from the Kentucky Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee by a vote of 7-4. Two Republicans, Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, and Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville, joined the two Democrats on the committee in opposing the bill. Other Republicans voiced concerns about the bill but voted to advance HB 196 with the understanding it may be changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a very difficult bill because theres arguments on both sides, said. Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, who presented the bill to the committee and voted to advance it. If I felt that this would substantially impair the safety of our working miners, I would be the first to come out against it. Wheeler echoed Blantons reasoning for the bill, saying he wanted to keep small coal mines in business. The legislation would reduce the required number of trained and certified coal miners able to respond to medical emergencies, known as mine emergency technicians (METs), depending on how many miners were working a shift. Under HB 196, a shift with 10 or fewer miners would be required to have only one MET, down from the current requirement of two. METs are trained to provide emergency medical care and stabilize a miners condition. The requirement to have two METs was spurred by the 2005 death of a Harlan County miner, David Bud Morris, who didnt receive proper first aid to stop bleeding after a loaded coal hauler nearly amputated his legs. The only MET on site failed to give Morris necessary medical care. The requirement for two METs on a mining shift was intended to ensure a backup MET is available if one MET is not able to provide aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courtney Rhoades, an organizer for the Letcher County-based legal organization Appalachian Citizens Law Center, told lawmakers in testimony the group has seen no evidence that coal companies are unable to maintain two METs on mining shifts. At least one small coal mine operator has said its been a struggle to have two METs on site. Both Morris son, Landen, and his wife, Stella, have spoken out against the bill, arguing the need for a backup MET is a vital protection and that they dont want other families of coal miners to go through the loss they went through. On Thursday, Stella Morris testified against the bill through a video conference call with the legislative committee. Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville. (LRC Public Information) Its not about wanting to put anybody out of business. Its all about wanting to keep their miners that we have underground safe at all times, Morris told lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nunn, one of the Republicans who voted against the bill, said he had a lot of food on the table because of coal and didnt want to harm the industry. I have concerns about this bill and the impact on safety for our miners, the ones who ultimately do put that food on the table, Nunn said. Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, who voted for the bill, said he had some consternation with the legislation and that senators may have to work on the bill before it reaches a Senate floor vote. The Senate could change HB 196 through a floor amendment, which would send it back to the House to concur or disagree with the changes. WESTPORT, Conn. (WTNH) Legendary rock guitarist Keith Richards is the first person to be honored with the Governors Award of Excellence in Connecticut. Gov. Ned Lamont vetoes $43 million in Democrat-led spending The honor celebrates Connecticut residents who epitomize creativity, passion and generosity. The Rolling Stones guitarist has lived in Connecticut since 1985 and supports local organizations like Sphere in Ridgefield and the Prospect Theater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richards was presented with the award and a key to the state at Westport Library. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Six people suspected of colluding with Russia to plot a coup against the Romanian government have been detained, according to police in the European Union and NATO-member country. Romanias anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, detained all six on Wednesday for forming a criminal group, which was initially set up in 2023 and had links to Russia. Police said the group was formed to allegedly undermine the sovereignty and independence of the Romanian state by politically undermining the countrys defense capacity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigations supported by Romanian intelligence services revealed that the group allegedly sought the removal of the current constitutional order, the dissolution of political parties, and the installation of a new government formed by its members, police said. In order to achieve their destabilizing objectives, representatives of the group actively requested support from officers within the Embassy of the Russian Federation, said Romania's domestic intelligence agency, the SRI. The group had a military-type structure that aimed to negotiate withdrawal from NATO, which Romania joined in 2004, as well as the adoption of a new Constitution, country name, flag and anthem, police said. The members of the criminal group would have repeatedly contacted agents of a foreign power, located both on the territory of Romania and the Russian Federation, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the suspects allegedly traveled to Moscow in January this year, where police allege they had contact with individuals who supported the organizations efforts to take over state power in Romania, police added. Police raids and diplomatic expulsions raise tensions with Moscow On Wednesday, authorities raided eight homes in the municipality of Bucharest and the counties of Ilfov, Giurgiu, and Maramures, which police said yielded several pieces of evidence that were seized. The raids came the same day Romania expelled two military diplomats from the Russian embassy in Bucharest as tensions soar between Moscow and Bucharest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romanias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision related to Russias military, air and naval attache, Victor Makovskiy, and his deputy, Evgeni Ignatiev, over alleged activities that contravene the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. The ministry did not provide further details. The two Russian diplomats carried out intelligence-gathering actions in areas of strategic interest and took actions to support the groups anti-constitutional actions, the SRI added in its statement Thursday. There was no immediate comment from Russia. On Wednesday, the Russian embassy described the expulsions as unfounded and unfriendly and said the embassy reserves the right to take retaliatory measures." Russian state news agency TASS on Tuesday reported claims from Russia's SVR foreign intelligence agency that the EU was seeking to interfere in Romania's upcoming presidential election. The SVR said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had asked Bucharest to bar Romanian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, who emerged as the frontrunner in last years canceled election, from participating in the rerun in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgescu has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past as a man who loves his country and called Ukraine an invented state, but he claims not to be pro-Russian. The Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the election two days before the Dec. 8 runoff after Georgescus surprise first-round win. The far-right populist had polled in single digits and declared zero campaign spending, after which allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged. Moscow has denied interfering in the Romanian election process. Georgescu under investigation by prosecutors Romanian prosecutors launched a criminal investigation against Georgescu last week, accusing him of supporting fascist groups, incitement to actions against the constitutional order, and false declarations regarding electoral campaign financing and asset disclosures. On Thursday, a court in Bucharest also rejected an appeal by Georgescu that challenged judicial control measures imposed on him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgescu, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, said on Monday outside a court in Bucharest that it is a political case against him. The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday also rejected a complaint lodged by Georgescu on Dec. 16 after the election was annulled, in which he claimed the cancellation was unlawful and based on unsubstantiated accusations. The decision was final, the court said. In a separate case last week, Romanian authorities conducted 47 searches in five counties reportedly linked to some of Georgescus associates, which uncovered a large cache of lethal weapons including grenade launchers and guns and several million dollars (euros) in cash of various currencies. Prosecutors said the allegations against the suspects included false statements regarding the sources of financing of an electoral campaign, illegal possession of weapons and initiating or establishing an organization with a fascist, racist or xenophobic character. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first round of the rerun of the election is scheduled for May 4. If no candidate gets more than 50% of ballots, a runoff will follow on May 18. It isnt yet clear whether Georgescu will be able to participate in the new election. (Bloomberg) -- Romanian prosecutors detained six people suspected of plotting to overthrow the government, as authorities clamp down on the rising far-right amid fears of foreign meddling before a key vote. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The six people, whom the prosecutors didnt name, are suspected of establishing a paramilitary organization in a bid to withdraw the Black Sea nation from NATO with Russias help, Bucharest-based prosecutors said in a statement on Thursday. Prosecutors said the group repeatedly contacted foreign agents active in Romania and Russia. They also said they will request that four of the people are kept in pre-trial detention and two under house arrest. Multiple investigations into far-right figures and mercenaries, some linked to presidential frontrunner Calin Georgescu, have raised concerns about the extent of extremist networks in Romania and their possible ties to hostile powers. Romania was thrown into political crisis in December when its top court annulled the result of a presidential election won by Georgescu, a fringe far-right candidate who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing suspicions of Russian interference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The courts decision was controversial in a country with a deep anti-establishment mood and buoyed the resurgent far-right. Georgescu remains the frontrunner for a re-run of the annulled vote in May, though its uncertain whether hell be allowed to run again. Georgescu was not among those detained or accused in the suspected plot. He has previously denied receiving any assistance from Russia, and Moscow has denied any interference in the election. Russian diplomats have also come under scrutiny, with Romanias foreign ministry on Wednesday declaring two military attaches at the embassy in Bucharest persona non grata, saying they breached the Vienna convention diplomatic rules. The two diplomats had supported the group, Romanian intelligence services said in a statement on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those suspected of treason, according to media reports, was Radu Theodoru, a 101-year old former major general and far-right author. On Thursday morning his daughter posted a social media video in which Theodoru said his house had been raided by law enforcement and showed a document from prosecutors concerning charges against him. Theodoru is affiliated with a far-right group named the Vlad the Impaler Command after medieval Romanian prince Vlad Tepes, the basis for the character of Dracula. The retired officer had publicly supported Georgescus campaign in social media posts, calling for authorities to let the frontrunner take power after the canceled vote. Georgescus Pushback Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks Georgescu has started his own legal pushback against Romanias institutions. Last week, prosecutors brought six criminal charges against him for extremism and campaign irregularities. They also placed restrictions on his activities, which Georgescu challenged in court. A judge rejected his appeal on Thursday. Georgescu had also challenged the top courts cancellation of the vote at the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the ruling was unlawful, disproportionate and based on unsubstantiated accusations. However, on Thursday the ECHR found Georgescus complaint inadmissible, concluding that Georgescu raised no factual or legal arguments to support his claim of political interference, which it called manifestly ill-founded in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with context on those detained and expelled diplomats from seventh paragraph,) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Romania said on March 5 that it had expelled Russian military attache Victor Makovskiy and his deputy, Evgeny Ignatiev, for breaching diplomatic rules of conduct. "It is an exceptional measure... It is not a measure taken easily, and it is taken when the breaches are grave," Romanian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Andrei Tarnea told Euronews. The decision was communicated to the Russian side, which promised an "appropriate response." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Undisclosed sources told Euronews that the move was connected to the campaign of Romania's pro-Russian presidential candidate, Calin Georgescu. The far-right politician, who won the first round of a November vote that was later annuled, was detained last month as he faces criminal investigation on suspicions of misreporting his campaign's finances and promoting war criminals and fascist organisations. Georgesu surged to first place in the November vote with almost 23% despite being seen as a marginal and largely unknown candidate. He was expected to face pro-EU Elena Lasconi in the second round, but Romania's Constitutional Court annuled the results after a declassified intelligence report pointed to extensive Russian interference in the elections. Georgescu's surge in popularity was also connected to a massive campaign on the TikTok social media platform shortly before the vote. He remains the front-runner for the rescheduled vote in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The politician has praised Romania's World War II fascist leader Ion Antonescu and Russian President Vladimir Putin and proposed a post-war partition of Ukraine. Annulled elections have come to the attention of the Trump administration in the U.S., which has lambasted Romania for the decision as Washington adopts increasingly hostile rhetoric toward its European partners. Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Reuters) - A Romanian court upheld preventative measures against Calin Georgescu, the far-right frontrunner of Romania's cancelled presidential election, on Thursday pending a criminal investigation on charges that include promoting antisemitism. Prosecutors formally opened the criminal investigation last month on six counts including membership of a fascist organisation, promoting war criminals and fascist organisations, and communicating false information about campaign financing. Georgescu denied all wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Bucharest district court rejected his challenge to preventative measures as being "unfounded". The investigation came after Romania's top court voided the presidential election in December amid accusations of Russian interference - which Moscow denied. Georgescu is subject to preventative measures including an obligation not to leave the country, not to bear firearms and not to post xenophobic or antisemitic content on social media. Also on Thursday the European Court of Human Rights said it has rejected a challenge by Georgescu against the cancelled election, after rejecting a prior claim in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgescu remains voters' top choice in opinion polls ahead of a planned rerun of the presidential election in May, although it remains unclear whether he will be allowed to run at all. He has praised Romania's 1930s fascist leaders as patriots and martyrs. The promotion of fascist leaders and Nazi, racist or xenophobic symbols is banned in Romania and carries a prison sentence, although cases only rarely made it to court prior to the voided election. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk have criticised Romania for cancelling the election. However, German, French and Dutch ambassadors expressed support for Romania and the independence of its courts. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie and Alan Charlish; Editing by Frances Kerry) By Malgorzata Wojtunik and Marissa Davison ROME (Reuters) - Clutching a bouquet of yellow roses, 79-year-old Carmela Vittoria Mancuso makes her way to Rome's Gemelli hospital each morning and later heads to St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in the evening to pray for the ailing Pope Francis. The pontiff, who is 88 and has been battling double pneumonia, was admitted to Gemelli on February 14 and has not been seen in public since. The Vatican said on Thursday that he had spent another "tranquil" night and was resting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diminutive Mancuso, who has attended daily mass in the hospital chapel since Francis was admitted, travels by train to join the faithful in St. Peter's Square for a rosary prayer. "I have been on a continuous pilgrimage," said Mancuso, noting that February 28 was particularly moving as she heard that the Pope had an "isolated breathing crisis." "I heard from others that (the Pope) had got worse. It was a moment of discouragement. I took part in the rosary where I was almost crying," she said. Mancuso first encountered Pope Francis in December 2017 at Santa Marta House, his residence in the Vatican City. She shouted, "Greetings, Holy Father" as he greeted staff, and recalled that "as he made the toast, he turned around and said 'Thank you.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, Mancuso has attended weekly Wednesday audiences with Francis, offering him yellow roses that symbolically match the Vatican flag. Originally from Calabria in the south but now living in the Rome neighbourhood of Monteverde, Mancuso walks down the cobblestones of St. Peter's Square for the evening prayer. Wrapped up in a coat and scarf against the late winter chill, she takes a seat in the front row to pray for the pope and the "tenderness, joy, and exultancy" that, in her view, made him special. (Editing by Keith Weir and Bernadette Baum) WASHINGTON Wisconsin's top Republican this week expressed reservations over the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs and plans to implement more next month, warning the moves could impact key state industries. Obviously were a manufacturing state," Sen. Ron Johnson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Thursday. "Id be concerned about retaliation against those manufacturers. Im concerned about them losing overseas markets. Im concerned about the cost to builders. Im concerned about retaliation against our farmers." "There are a lot of concerns," Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnsons comments came as President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, the U.S.'s two largest trading partners. At the same time, tariffs on some Chinese goods doubled from 10% to 20%. The moves have ignited a trade war, with Canada and China threatening retaliatory action. Trump has framed the tariffs, which are fees levied on imports that generally lead to higher prices, as a way to force the three countries to curb the flow of migrants and illegal drugs into the country. Administration officials have also suggested theyre a response to unfair trade practices. But the situation is also in flux. Trump on Wednesday paused tariffs on Canada and Mexico for auto imports and on Thursday delayed the implementation of tariffs on most Mexican imports for a month. During his joint address to Congress this week, Trump said he would levy reciprocal tariffs on trading partners beginning April 2. Wisconsin consumers and businesses are expected to feel the impacts of the tariffs, raising prices on everything from produce to fuel to building materials. Canada and Mexico are Wisconsins two largest trading partners, supporting a combined $25 billion in cross-border trade in 2023, according to the most recent available figures. China is the state's third largest trading partner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, a number of Wisconsin Republicans have defended the tariffs. And when Trump announced his plans for reciprocal tariffs during his speech before Congress this week, Wisconsins GOP lawmakers including Johnson applauded. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, a Juneau Republican, in a statement said he trusts Trumps tariff negotiations will ultimately benefit American citizens, workers, and businesses. For too long, what we thought was free trade under NAFTA became an erosion of American jobs into Canada and Mexicoour manufacturing base simply disappeared, and thats not acceptable, Fitzgerald said. Rep. Tom Tiffany, of Hazelhurst, has suggested Trump is selectively using tariffs as a negotiating tactic. He posted on X this week that the cost of past trade deals have been too high for too many American workers for too long. He added: Reciprocal tariffs will change that by making trade FAIR again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others, though, have been less outspoken in their support. Rep. Glenn Grothman, of Glenbeulah, told the Journal Sentinel this week he thinks there are some countries taking advantage of the U.S. but said lawmakers have to make sure these tariffs dont go overboard. Obviously, trade wars are expensive for everybody, Grothman said when asked about tariffs on Mexico and Canada. But theres probably some countries taking advantage of us, and hopefully President Trump will show urgency in wrapping this up. "So far, when President Trump adds tariffs, he usually winds up removing them or reducing them in the near future," Grothman added. "Well just have to see how this one goes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Johnson, Wisconsins highest-ranking Republican, delivered the clearest warning. He pointed to the U.S. stock market, which tumbled in the wake of the tariff announcements. Well, look what happened to the market, he said when asked to elaborate on his worries. That concerns me. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson concerned about Trump tariffs' impact on Wisconsin WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Award-winning journalist and member of the DC News Now family Ross Simpson died Wednesday. He was 82 years old. Ross, who was a military veteran, began his career in broadcast journalism in 1961 in the U.S. Air Force. He reported from the D.C. area before working as a radio news anchor with the Associated Press for 18 years. Veterans Voices: The 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1981, he was the only journalist to get access to George Washington University Hospital to report on the condition of President Ronald Reagan. On September 11, 2001, Ross was on the air when a colleague called and reported the third plane hijacked by terrorists crash into the Pentagon. Ross, who worked in the journalism field for more than 60 years, was honored in 2022 with a Golden Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). Ross joined DC News Now (WDVM) as a morning show anchor. Outside of the studio, Ross work included spotlighting veterans in the region through DC News Nows Veterans Voices. Flying with the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He received two Edward R. Murrow Awards, one for his coverage during 9-11, and the second when he was the first multimedia journalist to enter Iraq with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. From all of us at DC News Now, thank you, Ross. You are in our hearts forever. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine is a "proxy war" between Moscow and Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News on March 5. Rubio's remarks underscore how the Trump administration steadily adopts Kremlin narratives. Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin falsely claimed the West is fighting Russia "with the hands of Ukrainians." After Russia failed to take over Ukraine within days and suffered several defeats in 2022, the Kremlin began to push the false claim that Russia was at war with NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Western partners have been providing Kyiv with weapons since the beginning of the all-out war but have never sent troops to Ukraine, fearing escalation. The U.S. has now frozen all military assistance to Ukraine as the rift between Kyiv and Washington widens. According to Rubio, U.S. President Donald Trump sees the all-out war against Ukraine as "a protracted, stalemated conflict." "And frankly, its a proxy war between nuclear powers the United States, helping Ukraine, and Russia and it needs to come to an end," Rubio said. The secretary of state said that continuing to give Ukraine weapons "as much as they need for as long as it takes" is "not a strategy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking about the clash between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office last week, Rubio said that Washington wants to engage both Russia and Ukraine in resolving the war and "we asked the Ukrainians not to sabotage it." He blamed Ukraine's president, who answered to U.S. Vice President JD Vance's comments, for "undermining" Trump's plan. "(To find a way to end the conflict) is going to require concessions from both sides, but we have to get them both to the table. The Ukrainians have to be there, obviously. Its their country. The Russians have to be at that table," Rubio said. Read also: Trump lifting US sanctions on Russia a huge win for Putin, chaos for global economy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The News Marco Rubio assured his former colleagues in Congress that he can at least partially repair the wreckage of US foreign aid, according to one Senate Democrat. Whether the secretary of state can make good on that is another matter one that could determine how many Democratic friends he has left after a turbulent few weeks. As Rubio allies urge patience with his response to the blunt cuts of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, which has toppled the US Agency for International Development and largely stalled non-military foreign aid, many Democrats who had voted for their former colleagues confirmation are now panning the Floridians performance. One of them, Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith, said she thought Rubio would be a voice of reason. And hes disappointed me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Chris Coons, a close ally of former President Joe Biden, is among the few Democrats still reluctant to criticize Rubio, for now. Im withholding judgment until I see whether he actually delivers on the things that hes been telling senators, both Republicans and Democrats, about his intention to fix the huge mess at AID that DOGE has made, the Delaware Democrat told Semafor. It hasnt happened yet. One of Democrats most consequential early choices in Trumps second term was unanimously backing Rubio, and they are plainly second-guessing that decision. Many Democrats supported him to show they wouldnt cause a clamor about all of Trumps nominees, and for opportunity to gain an ally on the inside. But after Rubio went viral last week with his subdued on-camera look while Trump and Vice President JD Vance dressed down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the secretarys willingness to use his power has become one of the most compelling mysteries in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump himself ribbed Democrats on the matter this week, telling them that we appreciate you voting for Marco. The feeling is not exactly mutual. Asked if he regretted his vote, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said, I sure as hell regret what [Rubios] done since. I have a feeling that hes disappointed in himself, based off his facial expressions during the Zelenskyy meeting, added Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who served alongside Rubio on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rubio ran against Trump in 2016 and had maintained more traditional GOP views on national security in the years afterward. Yet one person close to Rubio told Semafor that Democrats were wrong to assume that he would become a Resistance secretary because of his past differences with Trump, adding that their desire for him to push back reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the role and Rubios perspective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump respects Senator Rubio, said Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who is close with both Trump and Rubio. He trusts him and values his judgment; the president will ultimately make the final decision. The person close to Rubio urged lawmakers to be patient about dismantled foreign assistance programs, saying Rubio understands the frustration among his former colleagues yet he also sees the need for sweeping changes. Inside Trumps network, theres clear skepticism that Rubio even supports what Democrats are asking for. One person close to the president said its reasonable to assume Democrats would maintain ties to him over other, more pure-MAGA officials, and that Trump isnt always expecting him to be a yes-man, but that the secretarys work so far has focused on doing what Trump wants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubio is facing a lot of expectations to be an influencer, this person close to Trump said, and I think mostly all weve seen him do is implement. Know More Rubios at the center of some of Trumps most significant decisions so far. When Trump moved to shutter the USAID and shift it under the State Department, he made Rubio the acting administrator. The secretary defended the move to dismantle the agency and review foreign aid, accusing USAID employees of deciding that theyre somehow a global charity separate from the national interest or taxpayer dollars. That was bad enough for Democrats, but the buyers remorse deepened among them when Rubio sat quietly during the verbal skirmish with Zelenskyy. They later noticed Rubio was the first one sent on TV in the wake of the flap (which one White House official said was purposeful). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was partially eaten by the couch in the Oval Office, said Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. And he needs to speak up and speak truth in that environment. The White House maintains that viral memes of Rubio sinking into the furniture dont mean he disagrees with Trumps approach, describing the two as in lockstep on foreign policy. I cant think of one thing where there has been any distance, the White House official said. They were aligned [on the Zelenskyy meeting]. Even afterwards, privately, [Rubio] was saying, This is exactly what you need to do. Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Chris Von Hollen, D-Md., each said over the weekend they regretted voting to confirm Rubio. But others, like Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said they assumed Rubio would take on Trumps positions: Im not really sure why thats a meaningful pursuit, Fetterman said of Democrats airing regrets over their Rubio votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said that within her party, the buyers remorse isnt for Marco Rubio, its for Donald Trump. Rubio hasnt been a champion of open-ended Ukraine aid, anyway; he was among the Republican senators who voted against a bill that included billions of dollars in Ukraine funding last year. He criticized the Biden administration for failing to define victory in Ukraine and said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict would ultimately end in a negotiated settlement not to mention that he was in the running to be Trumps vice president. The View From Republicans Even Republicans who dont share Rubios worldview continue to support him. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., pulled Rubio aside at Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday night to tell him that hes doing a great job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I voted for him but with some reservations, because his opinion I thought really wasnt in step with President Trump. I think he has done a great job of moving forward President Trumps vision for foreign policy, Paul said. Other Republicans acknowledged the steep challenges of the job, given the myriad of global threats across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Remember, this world is on fire, said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. Hes one of these guys that we all feel comfortable making contact with and we know that he fully intends to be a player. As for how the White House feels about Democratic remorse? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, sorry about that, the person close to Trump said. Where do I send the sympathy card? Burgess, Morgan and Shelbys View Its well-known how divided Democrats are over tactics and strategy, but Rubios vote represented one of their few unifying moments. That support is now obviously fraying, and could sink further if foreign assistance doesnt resume, or if DOGE comes for the State Department. But for Democrats, there arent exactly a lot of other places to turn in times of crisis other than Rubio. As the person close to Trump put it: Whats the alternative, Ric Grenell? Notable Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a Wednesday interview described the war in Ukraine as a proxy war between the United States and Russia, as he sought to explain on the Oval Office blowup last week between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump and Vice President Vance. I think an important thing to understand about last Friday is not last Friday. Its everything that led up to it, Rubio said during an interview on Fox Newss Hannity. Its been very clear from the beginning that President Trump views this as a protracted, stalemated conflict, Rubio said. And frankly, its a proxy war between nuclear powers, the United States helping Ukraine, and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, nearly a decade after it occupied and annexed Crimea, then a region of Ukraine. The U.S. under the Biden administration, along with traditional allies in Western Europe and around the world, backed Ukraine after the invasion. Describing the fighting between Russia and Ukraine as a proxy war meshes with a Russian narrative of why the war started. Russia argues that Ukraines efforts to join NATO, coupled with the western military alliances encroachment on Russia, triggered the fighting. After the end of the Cold War, NATO extended to include many countries in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states, which at one time were under Soviet control. NATO has added Sweden and Finland as members since the Russia-Ukraine war began, after those two countries decided it was in their interest to join the alliance given what they saw as Russias aggression toward Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia agreed with Rubio and said they have agreed several times that the war is a conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led West, Reuters reported. Trump in the past few weeks has accused Ukraine of starting the war and blamed Zelensky and the Biden administration for its continuation. He also cut off aid to Ukraine on Monday, which has led European countries to look for ways to build up their support for Kyiv. Ukraine this week has sought to mend fences with Trump, signaling it could agree to a deal that would share some of its mineral wealth with the U.S. as a repayment for U.S. support. Rubio slammed Ukraine during the interview on Hannity, arguing that it has no plan besides asking allied countries for more aid for as long as it takes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He reiterated his point that the European conflict is stalemated. One of Zelenskys top aides said there would be another meeting between the two leaders in the near future to further discuss peace talks. Rubio said he was glad that it appeared another talk was coming because he believes the conflict needs to end. Its going to require concessions from both sides, but we have to get them both to the table, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Reuters) -Russian prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. owner of canned food maker Glavprodukt, which was seized by Moscow in October, accusing him of illegally withdrawing around $15.5 million from Russia over the last two years, the RBC news outlet reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed in October 2024 that Glavprodukt and other assets ultimately owned by U.S. company Universal Beverage and Leonid Smirnov be placed under the "temporary management" of the Russian state, giving Moscow control over the running of the business. The General Prosecutor's lawsuit, filed on March 5, contained no details, beyond naming the defendants as Smirnov, who is a U.S. citizen, Universal Beverages and other companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glavprodukt is a subsidiary of Universal Beverages, which is owned by Smirnov. The RBC business daily, citing unnamed sources, said the lawsuit was based on the allegation that Smirnov and the foreign companies controlled by him had moved around 1.38 billion roubles ($15.46 million) out of Russia from 2022 to 2024. "Universal Beverage Company categorically denies any wrongdoing in relation to the distribution of dividends from its Russian subsidiaries comprising Glavprodukt," Smirnov said in a statement to Reuters via a representative Smirnov said the company would defend its position in courts in Russia, the United States or elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he saw the lawsuit as part of a "Russian-style corporate raid" to steal his company and that prosecutors have sought to pressure him and his employees on multiple occasions to stop fighting against the state's takeover of Glavprodukt's management. He wants the U.S. government to ensure that American-owned businesses in Russia are protected, he said. Smirnov previously told Reuters that he had completely lost control of Glavprodukt, the largest maker of canned food in Russia, since the seizure, and accused the new bosses of presiding over a drop in sales. RBC cited a source as saying that Smirnov had sought to block the Russian state's takeover of the management of his company and had issued written instructions to employees not to cooperate with Rosimushchestvo, the federal property management agency. ($1 = 89.2500 roubles) (Reporting by Alexander Marrow and Anna Hirtenstein; Editing by Mark Trevelyan, Susan Fenton and Tomasz Janowski) Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on March 6 appointing Alexander Darchiev as Russia's new ambassador to Washington. Darchiev, a veteran diplomat with a half-decade of experience in Washington, previously served as Russia's ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021 and later as the director of the North American Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry. The U.S. approved his appointment last month amid renewed diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Russia. A Russian delegation met U.S. officials in Istanbul on Feb. 27 for a second round of talks, following an initial meeting in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the first meeting reportedly focused on Moscow's war against Ukraine, the second round did not include discussions on the war, a U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Istanbul discussions centered on embassy operations. The previous Russian ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, was dismissed from his post on Oct. 10, 2024. Under former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, the U.S. had largely severed official diplomatic contacts with Russia in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump's return to office has shifted U.S. foreign policy. His administration engages more directly with Moscow while adopting a more critical stance toward Ukraine. Trump has also paused military and intelligence sharing with Kyiv to pressure Ukraine to enter peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trump lifting US sanctions on Russia a huge win for Putin, chaos for global economy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MOSCOW (Reuters) - A man accused of spying on Russia's navy on behalf of Ukraine was sentenced by a Russian military court on Thursday to 15 years in prison. The office of Russia's prosecutor general said Dmitry Levin, a Russian citizen, had been found guilty of high treason and being part of a terrorist organization. "On instructions from his handlers, he collected information about Russian navy ships in the waters of the Tsemes Bay of Novorossiysk, as well as about the location of the military unit and airfield, and the methods of protecting them," it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He transmitted the data he received via messenger to representatives of the Ukrainian special services." Novorossiysk, which has been the target of Ukrainian attacks during the war, is a major Black Sea port with a naval base, shipbuilding yards, grain elevators and an oil terminal. In a separate case, the prosecutor's office said a 56-year-old woman, Natalia Shulga, had been jailed for 15 years for attempting to blow up a power transmission line in the Russian-held city of Enerhodar in southern Ukraine in June 2024. (Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Russia has officially appointed Alexander Darchiyev, who previously headed a department in the Foreign Ministry, as ambassador to the United States. Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS, as reported by European Pravda Details: Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a decree on 6 March appointing Darchiyev as Russia's ambassador to the United States and Russia's permanent observer to the Organisation of American States in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's previous ambassador to the United States ended his tenure in October 2024. The intention to appoint ambassadors as soon as possible was announced after talks between the US and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on 18 February. Washington handed Moscow an agrement (a note of acceptance) for Darchiyev's appointment after another round of talks on 27 February in Istanbul. Prior to this role, Darchiyev, 64, headed the North Atlantic Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Over his diplomatic career, Darchiyev has spent a total of 10 years working at Russia's diplomatic mission in Washington, serving as an embassy counsellor from 1997 to 2002 and as an envoy counsellor from 2005 to 2010. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least eight people and injured 39 others over the past day, regional authorities said on March 6. Ukrainian forces downed 68 out of the 112 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, as well as two ballistic missiles of either the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Forty-three drones disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement. Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are usually decoys. Russia launches them alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine's air defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian forces struck a hotel in Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with a missile overnight, killing four people and injuring at least 30, including a child. A search and rescue operation is ongoing as of 9:40 am local time. The missile strike also damaged 14 apartment buildings, a post office, almost two dozen cars, a cultural center, and 12 shops, the governor said. A Russian drone strike on the city of Sumy killed one person, according to the Sumy regional military administration. Two people suffered injuries as a result of a drone attack on Odesa Oblast, Governor Oleh Kiper said. Russian forces destroyed two houses and targeted an energy facility, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person was killed in the village of Novoolenivka in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Two more people were injured in the region over the past day. A Russian drone attack near the town of Derhachi in Kharkiv Oblast set fire to a house and a car, killing a man and injuring a woman, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 27 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. One person was killed and four others injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Read also: Rubio labels Russias all-out war against Ukraine proxy war between Washington, Moscow Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that French President Emmanuel Macron's "nuclear rhetoric" is a threat to Russia. Source: European Pravda with reference to Interfax, a Russian news agency Quote from Lavrov: "Of course, this is a threat to Russia. If he considers us a threat, convenes a meeting of the chiefs of staff of European countries and the UK, says that it is necessary to use nuclear weapons, to prepare for the use of nuclear weapons against Russia - this is, of course, a threat." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Lavrov pointed out that Macron "says from time to time that he will call Putin, he will definitely talk to him" and added that "there are such opportunities, no one is forbidding it. On the contrary, the president [Russian ruler Vladimir Putin ed.] constantly emphasises his openness to contacts with all his counterparts." In turn, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Macron's statements very confrontational and added that the French leader's nuclear rhetoric gives the impression that Paris is seeking to continue the war. "If you read Macron's speech, you get the feeling that France is really looking for a continuation of the war. Moreover, France is ready to use its nuclear weapons for security purposes and so on. This is nuclear rhetoric, a claim to nuclear leadership in Europe. So it's very, very confrontational," Peskov said. Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day before, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that he was ready to talk about the possibility of France's "nuclear umbrella" protecting other European allies. Macron also announced that a meeting of the chiefs of staff of the armies of European countries potentially ready to participate in the European contingent in Ukraine as part of security guarantees is planned for next week in Paris. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A Delaware chancellery judge ruled for a final time Monday that ITG Brands LLC is responsible for making annual Master Settlement Agreement payments on four traditional cigarette brands in Florida. Vice chancellor Lori Will wrote in her final order that Greensboro-based ITG owes R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. $251.5 million in reimbursement as of Monday. Reynolds also is entitled to pre- and post-judgment interest on this amount. When Will ruled the first time in September 2022, the amount was just more than $170 million. Reynolds declined to comment on the ruling. ITG said in a statement that we believe the court erred in its finding of liability in this case and plan to appeal. While we disagree with the ruling on damages and interest, we remain confident in our arguments and look forward to vigorously defending our position as we seek a reversal in the Court of Appeals. In June 2015, Reynolds divested Kool, Salem and Winston, while Lorillard Inc. divested Maverick, to gain federal regulatory approval of Reynolds $29.25 billion purchase of Lorillard. Reynolds and Lorillard sold the four brands to Imperial Brands Plc, ITGs parent company, for $7.1 billion. The four brands have represented about 8% of the U.S. market share for traditional cigarettes. The annual MSA payments for the four brands in Florida have ranged from $26.1 million to $28 million from 2016 to 2023. Reynolds made the annual payments as it was requesting reimbursement through its lawsuit. Shortly after the megadeal was completed, the manufacturers began disputing MSA payment responsibility in both Delaware and Florida state courts, with ITG tending to gain legal victories in Florida and Reynolds in Delaware. The Reynolds-Imperial deal included language that called on ITG to use its reasonable best efforts to reach an MSA settlement with Florida, which ITG has said it was unable to do. Will wrote that in her 2022 memorandum opinion that the liability imposed on Reynolds by the Florida court was the sort that ITG had assumed in the asset purchase agreement, and that ITGs refusal to assume the liability was a breach of contract. This final memorandum opinion sets the amount of indemnification damages Reynolds is owed. Will said she did not find that ITG was liable for failing to join the Florida settlement agreement. I did not hold that it breached any such obligation in the asset purchase agreement, Will wrote. ITG was, instead, found liable for failing to assume the liability imposed on Reynolds by the Florida court. ITG must make Reynolds whole for the entirety of that breach, which totals over $250 million (and counting). Background The largest U.S. tobacco manufacturers agreed in November 1998 to pay at least $206 billion over 20 years to the 46 states to help pay for health-care expenses related to smoking. Some payments are required to be made in perpetuity, including to North Carolina. The payment amounts are based primarily on sales and market share of individual brands. The payment amounts are based primarily on sales and market share of individual cigarette brands. However, Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas are the four states that reached its own MSA agreement with Philip Morris USA, Reynolds and Lorillard in perpetuity. Reynolds legal position has been that ITG purchased the brands and should be making the MSA payments. Imperial has countered that it did not agree to assume the payments, and that it was relieved of payment responsibility since it couldnt reach an agreement with Bondi before the closing of the simultaneous purchases. As the legal dispute simmered, then-Floridas attorney general Pam Bondi sued both manufacturers. Bondi now serves as U.S. attorney general. Bondi obtained a judgment that Reynolds must continue to make settlement payments based on ITGs sales of the four brands unless and until ITG joins the Florida settlement agreement. In November 2017, the Delaware court ruled ITG has not met its obligation to use its reasonable best efforts to reach an agreement with Florida on assuming responsibility for the MSA payments. However, Judge Jeffery Gillen of the 15th Florida Circuit Court ruled in December 2017 that Reynolds still has liability obligation for the brands even though ITG is getting the revenue from their sales. Bondi said her legal action made clear (the state) does not claim that by closing on the asset-purchase agreement Imperial automatically assumed liability for the payments. The sale of major, pre-existing tobacco brands to another company for billions of dollars does not cause the payment obligations to vanish like a puff of smoke. Gillen agreed with Bondi and Imperial, ruling that Reynolds is still obligated to make the payments pursuant to the Florida agreement. Gillen said it is up to the Florida legislature to pass legislation making Imperial legally responsible for making the MSA payments on the four brands. In August 2020, a three-judge District Court appeals court in Florida ruled that Reynolds remained obligated to make annual payments. In December 2020, the Florida Supreme Court declined jurisdiction to hear Reynolds appeal. In May 2021, Reynolds and ITG reached a financial settlement with the state of Texas. The main development was that ITG accepted as of Jan. 1, 2021 all future payment obligations to the Texas MSA agreement. Russian forces have attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles and 112 Shahed UAVs and decoy drones since the evening of 5 March. Ukrainian air defence has managed to down 68 of the drones, while 43 disappeared from radar. Source: Ukraine's Air Force Quote: "As of 09:00, 68 Shahed attack UAVs and other types of drones have been confirmed shot down over Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa oblasts. In addition, 43 enemy decoy drones disappeared from radar (without causing adverse effects)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts came under attack. The Air Force noted that the ballistic missiles had been launched from Russias Voronezh Oblast and temporarily occupied Crimea, while the drones had been launched from the Russian cities of Oryol, Kursk, Shatalovo and Bryansk as well as from Cape Chauda (Crimea). Aircraft, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups from the Air Force and the rest of Ukraines defence forces were involved in repelling the attack. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A total of 109 combat engagements have taken place on the front line over the past 24 hours, with the heaviest fighting occurring in Russias Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk and Pokrovsk. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 08:00 on 6 March Quote: "Yesterday (5 March), the enemy carried out three missile strikes on Ukrainian positions and settlements using four missiles, along with 85 airstrikes, dropping 121 aerial bombs. In addition, Russian forces conducted more than 4,000 attacks, including 144 from multiple-launch rocket systems, and deployed 2,547 kamikaze drones to attack." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: On the Kharkiv front, Ukrainian defenders repelled six Russian attacks near the town of Vovchansk and towards the settlement of Petro-Ivanivka. On the Kupiansk front, Russian forces launched three attacks yesterday. Ukrainian defence forces repelled assault operations near the settlements of Holubivka and Zahryzove. On the Lyman front, Russian troops mounted 10 attacks and attempted to advance near Novomykhailivka and Novyi. On the Kramatorsk front, nine combat engagements occurred near the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Oleksandro-Shultyne and Predtechyno. On the Toretsk front, Russian troops launched 21 attacks near the settlements of Toretsk, Dachne, Krymske and Dyliiivka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 18 Russian assaults near the settlements of Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Pishchane, Kotlyne, Kotliarivka, Serhiivka, Bohdanivka and Andriivka. On the Novopavlivka front, Ukrainian defence forces repelled eight Russian attacks on their positions near the settlements of Kostiantynopil, Rozdolne, Skudne and Burlatske. On the Huliaipole front, Russian troops launched one attack towards the village of Vilne Pole. On the Orikhiv front, Ukrainian troops successfully repelled four Russian attacks near the settlements of Kamianske, Pavlivka and Lobkove. In Kursk Oblast (Russia), Ukrainian defenders have repelled 27 Russian attacks over the past 24 hours. Russian forces also launched 35 airstrikes, deploying 46 aerial guided bombs, and carried out 380 artillery strikes on Ukrainian positions and settlements, including 10 from multiple-launch rocket systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Prydniprovske and Siversk fronts, no offensive actions by Russian forces were recorded. On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, no signs of Russian offensive groupings were detected. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Russians have sentenced Nataliia Shulha, a 56-year-old Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant employee, to 15 years in prison, accusing her of "attempted sabotage" and supposedly collaborating with the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU). Source: Dmytro Orlov, Mayor of Enerhodar, on Telegram Quote: "The woman was accused of 'attempted sabotage in collusion with SSU employees'. In June 2024, she supposedly tried to 'blow up the power line in the city of Enerhodar to damage the electricity supply to the 3rd microdistrict'". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Orlov reported that Natalia was detained and imprisoned by the Russians on 12 July 2024. A staged video was used against her and was spread on propaganda resources. The Russians filmed it in different locations and from various angles, forcing the woman to participate. On 5 March, the Russian occupation court of Zaporizhzhia Oblast sentenced her to 15 years in prison and fined her RUB 500,000 (about US$5,599). Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed that the potential deployment of European troops in Ukraine would mean NATO's official and direct involvement in the war. Notably, the Russian propaganda machine has been claiming for three years that Moscow is at war with the "West" and NATO on the battlefield in Ukraine. Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti Quote from Lavrov: "We will categorically not tolerate such actions. Again, I want to emphasise that this would not be a so-called hybrid involvement but direct, official and undisguised participation of NATO countries in a war against the Russian Federation. This must not be allowed to happen." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: He added that this is particularly significant in light of a statement made by French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday, in which he labelled Russia as a threat. "So, if it's a threat, then troops should be sent against this threat," Lavrov said. He is also convinced that the proposal by Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to hold a truce in Ukraine for a month "in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure" is supposedly aimed at deploying European troops in Ukraine during this time. "Macron and Starmer, how are they describing their plans? They say it's necessary to suspend hostilities in the air, at sea and on energy facilities for at least a month and deploy troops there during this month, in parallel with agreeing on peace terms. But once you have boots on the ground, you probably wouldn't want to agree on any conditions as you are creating realities on the ground," Lavrov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why this is important: Russia, which had planned to "take Kyiv in three days" but failed to do so, quickly began to justify its failures on the battlefield in Ukraine by claiming that it was fighting the whole of NATO on Ukrainian soil. The Russians have spread numerous false claims about the collective West's alleged preparations for an attack on Russia and the construction of NATO bases and biolabs in Ukraine, among others. Meanwhile, it is Russia that is drawing other nations into the war against Ukraine. For example, the Russian forces invaded Ukraine from Belarusian territory in 2022. For a period, Russia also used Belarus to carry out missile strikes on peaceful Ukrainian cities. Subsequently, Russia began acquiring loitering munitions from Iran which it has since used to carry out daily attacks on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, Russia further involved Pyongyang in the war, purchasing North Korean missiles and deploying at least 12,000 North Korean troops in combat against Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow's primary objective now is "inflicting maximum damage" on Ukraine. The Trump administration paused US military aid to Kyiv this week. There are Western fears that the suspension could hinder Ukraine's vital fighting capabilities. Russia's former president, Dmitry Medvedev, said the Kremlin should press the attack on the battlefield as the US suspends arms supplies to Ukraine. "Inflicting maximum damage to the enemy on the ground remains our primary objective today," Medvedev wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medvedev noted that President Donald Trump had on Monday paused American aid. However, he said Ukraine's disadvantage from the US aid pause would exist only for a limited time window. "As soon as the deal is concluded, American arms supplies will likely resume (especially since Europe has already increased them)," Medvedev wrote. "Russia is advancing," he added. "The enemy resists and is not yet defeated." Medvedev, who was Russia's president from 2008 to 2012 and then its prime minister for eight years after, still holds a key position in the Kremlin's top military decision-making body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He's now the deputy chairman of the Security Council, ranking behind only Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The former president is no stranger to hawkish rhetoric toward Ukraine and the US, previously threatening nuclear attacks on Western cities if NATO deployed soldiers in Ukraine. He's also called for a "maximum reward" bounty on such troops. His new post comes as Ukraine's air force reported that Russia attacked with three Iskander ballistic missiles on Tuesday, alongside Moscow's regular daily barrage of over 100 Shahed attack drones. Russia's ballistic missile attacks are rarer than its drone assaults and typically come every few weeks. This time, it launched a salvo on the same evening as Trump's address to Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a report on the military's Tuesday operations, the Russian Defense Ministry posted on Telegram that it had attacked Ukrainian airfields, an oil depot, drone production workshops, and other military assets in 150 districts. It's still unclear how Ukraine's warfighting capabilities might be affected by a loss of continued US support. But there are fears in Kyiv that the move will scupper the effective use of critical American weapons, such as Patriot air defense systems and HIMARS long-range artillery. "My guess is if US aid does not restart, then Ukrainians could hold out two to four months," Mark Cancian, a senior advisor on defense and security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, previously told Business Insider. The CIA's director, John Ratcliffe, and Trump's national security advisor, Mike Waltz, both said that the US had also rolled back the amount of intelligence it shares with Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War wrote on Wednesday that losing US intel would hurt Kyiv's ability to find and hit Russian ammo depots and air defense systems, giving Moscow more options to strike Ukraine and allowing its pilots to get closer to drop bombs. The move would also hurt Ukraine's chances of detecting incoming drone attacks so it can warn civilians and troops, they added. "Russian forces exploited the previous suspension of US military aid in early 2024, including by trying to seize Kharkiv City in May 2024 before US military aid resumed flowing to Ukrainian forces on the frontline," the analysts wrote. US military aid to Ukraine was paused for several months last year amid resistance from congressional Republicans. Read the original article on Business Insider Russias human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova has claimed that Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna had no procedural status in Russia. There are currently no details regarding the transfer of her body. Source: Ukrinform news agency, citing a statement by Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, MP and Chair of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) Committee on Freedom of Speech Quote: "There are currently no details on the transfer of the body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna. Russia has repeatedly agreed to hand it over unofficially, as there has been no official communication, but every time, in the final arrangements, Viktoriias body was missing. We view this as an additional form of torture against her relatives, as Russia has not confirmed to either the Ukrainian authorities, her family or international organisations the information previously provided to Viktoriias father." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Yurchyshyn stated that in response to an inquiry from the Ukrainian side regarding Roshchynas place of detention, Moskalkova said that she had no procedural status in Russia. He notes that Moskalkovas statement could be interpreted in various ways, including as an indication that Viktoriia was held in Russian captivity as a hostage. Read Viktoriia Roshchyna's writing on Ukrainska Pravda. Background: To access occupied territory for an upcoming report, Viktoriia Roshchyna left Ukraine for Poland on 25 July 2023 to travel to the occupied territory. She planned to reach the occupied part of Ukraine's east via Russia in three days. Roshchyna disappeared on 3 August 2023 in the temporarily occupied territories from where she was reporting. Russia admitted for the first time in May 2024 that they had detained Roshchyna. The Russian Ministry of Defence sent a letter of confirmation to her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn. On 10 October 2024, Petro Yatsenko, the head of the press service of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, confirmed on the national joint 24/7 newscast that Viktoriia Roshchyna had died in Russian custody. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said she had been due to be brought back to Ukraine in the near future. On 11 October, the Office of the Prosecutor General reported that the criminal proceedings initiated into Roshchyna's disappearance had been reclassified as a war crime combined with premeditated murder. Investigators from Slidstvo.Info have found that the Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who died in 2024, was brutally tortured in Russian captivity. She had stab wounds on her body and had been electrocuted, and staff at the Russian penal colony where she was held hid her away when inspections were carried out. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Guy Faulconbridge and Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia warned French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday not to threaten it with nuclear rhetoric and, mocking his height by calling him 'Micron', ruled out European proposals to send peacekeeping forces from NATO members to Ukraine. Macron said in an address to the nation on Wednesday that Russia was a threat to Europe, Paris could discuss extending its nuclear umbrella to allies and that he would hold a meeting of army chiefs from European countries willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after a peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin said the speech was extremely confrontational and that Macron wanted the war in Ukraine to continue. "This (speech) is, of course, a threat against Russia," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. "Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight against Russia, Napoleon, Hitler, Mr Macron does not act very gracefully, because at least they said it bluntly: 'We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia'. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to the biggest confrontation between the West and Russia since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Kremlin and White House have said missteps could trigger World War Three. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and the United States are the world's biggest nuclear powers, with over 5,000 nuclear warheads each. China has about 500, France has 290 and Britain 225, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Russian officials and lawmakers accused Macron of rhetoric that could push the world closer to the abyss. Russian cartoons cast him as Napoleon Bonaparte riding towards defeat in Russia in 1812. "Micron himself poses no big threat though. He'll disappear forever no later than May 14, 2027. And he won't be missed," former President Dmitry Medvedev wrote on X, looking ahead to the end of Macron's term. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested Macron might want help measuring his true military size, and her ministry said his speech contained "notes of nuclear blackmail" and amounted to a threat directed towards Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Paris' ambitions to become the nuclear 'patron' of all of Europe have burst out into the open, by providing it with its own 'nuclear umbrella', almost to replace the American one. Needless to say, this will not lead to strengthening the security of either France itself or its allies," it said. NO ON PEACEKEEPERS Russian advances in Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump's upending of U.S. policy on the war have caused fears among European leaders that Washington is turning its back on Europe. Russian officials say tough rhetoric from Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European powers is not backed up by hard military power and point to Russia's advances on the battlefield in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavrov and the Kremlin dismissed Macron's proposal to send peacekeepers to Ukraine and said Russia would not agree to it. "We are talking about such a confrontational deployment of an ephemeral contingent," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Lavrov said saying Moscow would see such a deployment as NATO presence in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western assertions that Russia could one day attack a NATO member. He portrays the war as part of a historic struggle with the West following the collapse of the Soviet Union and NATO's encroachment on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week cast the conflict as a proxy war between Russia and the U.S., a position the Kremlin said was accurate. "This is actually a conflict between Russia and the collective West. And the main country of the collective West is the United States of America," Peskov said. "We agree that it is time to stop this conflict and this war." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, Dmitry Antonov, Mark Trevelyan, Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Stephen Coates, Michael Perry, Philippa Fletcher and Timothy Heritage) Oklahoma's Republican state schools superintendent, Ryan Walters, has been a vocal advocate for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, and his wish seems to inch further to fruition as President Donald Trump prepares an executive order to dismantle the agency. A preliminary executive order prepared for Trump seeks to eliminate the agency to "the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law," according to a draft reviewed by USA TODAY. Congressional action would be needed to officially close the agency. The order would direct Linda McMahon, the newly installed federal education secretary, to dismantle the agency she oversees. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in a statement on X that Trump won't sign an order Thursday, as some media outlets have reported, but she did not rule out action coming later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023-24, Oklahoma received more than $1 billion in federal funds for public schools, according to the National Education Association. That academic year, the state's public schools received $4.3 billion in state funds and $3.5 billion in local funds. A look at Ryan Walters' vocal support for Trump, dismantling the Department of Education Since Trump was elected in November, Walters has posted on social media about his support of abolishing the federal Education Department at least 30 times. .@Linda_McMahon will Make Education Great Again Its time to tear down the broken system, give power back to parents, and send funding straight to the classrooms. pic.twitter.com/nspphH4y7d Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) March 3, 2025 Congratulations @Linda_McMahon ! Its time to get to work dismantling the US Department of Education. Fantastic addition to @realDonaldTrump team! Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) November 20, 2024 Walters was especially at odds with the federal agency when former President Joe Biden was in office, with a fellow Oklahoma Republican, former state Rep. Mark McBride, asking the agency's former leader to investigate the Oklahoma State Department of Education. In the waning days of the Biden administration, Walters sued the federal agency concerning the cost of illegal immigration to Oklahoma schools. No action has been taken on that lawsuit since Jan. 14, the day it was filed. Six days after Trump won the presidential election, Walters announced the formation of an education advisory committee within the state Education Department to oversee anticipated public education policy changes under the new administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The future of Oklahoma's public education is bright with incoming President Donald Trump who has been a fearless champion of efforts to eliminate the federal bureaucracy that has shut local communities and parents out of the decisions that impact their students' educations," Walters said at the time. More: Ryan Walters working with country singer Lee Greenwood to encourage Bible donations for schools The advisory committee is charged with oversight of policy changes and timely execution of reforms, according to a November news release. The goals of the committee are to set clear priorities in alignment with Trump's education policies, replace federal programs and develop legislative recommendations for the president's priorities. At the time of the announcement of the advisory committee, Walters was thought to be trying to gain Trump's attention in hopes of being named to lead the federal education agency, a job later given to McMahon. But Walters' enthusiasm over Trump's policies hasn't wavered, despite being overlooked for the federal post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, the superintendent said closing the federal agency would provide his state agency more flexibility to use tax dollars. "I think it would be more appropriate for individual students, individual families," Walters said. "Without the regulation and strings of the federal government, you see a much more agile, innovative state government." He's said he believes if the U.S. Education Department is dissolved and his agency is granted more flexibility, the state's education rankings would be improved, but hasn't explained specifically how. Walters said the federal government attaches strings to standards regarding special education, and without it, more innovation would be allowed by the state. How Oklahoma public school districts are reacting Most school districts surveyed by The Oklahoman on Thursday opted to withhold comment on any potential Trump order concerning the federal education agency until the order is issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One district superintendent who did comment was Rick Cobb, a veteran educator who leads the Mid-Del school district in eastern Oklahoma County. Cobb noted the dependence of school districts on federal funding, as well as "drastic changes in staffing, priorities, and even funding in a number of other federal agencies" since Trump was inaugurated in January. "School districts throughout Oklahoma rely on funding from the federal government for a number of purposes," Cobb said. "These include child nutrition, support for Title I schools, services for English learners, professional development for teachers, principals, and support staff, staffing for special education programs, career and technical education, and much more. "It's still too early to know how the administration intends to move programs to other departments, or whether funding will be impacted at the local level. Federal funds flowing through the Oklahoma State Department of Education serve every single student in Mid-Del in multiple ways and pay part or all of the salaries of about 20% of our staff." Cobb said school districts are hoping for "minimal disruption," but said that what's happened with other agencies, such as (NOAA) and the Federal Aviation Administration, could indicate "that the impact could be far-reaching." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angela Caddell, associate vice chancellor for communications for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, said a key higher education service strand in question if the U.S. Education Department closes is the administration of Title IV federal financial aid. She referenced the quickly halted pause on federal funding mandated by Trump in late January, and said the U.S. Education Department confirmed that Title IV funding for federal student loans and Pell Grants will continue without interruption. Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts "We dont know at this time how other forms of federal financial support our public colleges and universities receive, such as TRIO grants, research grants, and funding for various other programs, may ultimately be impacted," Caddell said. "Given pending legal action on several fronts, any considerations at this point are speculative." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For fiscal year 2025, Oklahoma's public colleges and universities received about $460.6 million from several federal agencies, Caddell said. The regents also receive federal grant funds for several initiatives, including the college-readiness GEAR UP program and National Science Foundation-funded OneNet cyberinfrastructure connectivity expansion projects, currently totaling about $34.3 million. "We have contacted members of our congressional delegation to request additional information and clarification regarding potential implications for our public higher education system," Caddell said. "If changes are enacted at the federal level that negatively impact Oklahoma higher education, our team will work with state leaders and our public colleges and universities to examine the information available, determine potential implications, and identify action steps, as appropriate." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters a vocal advocate for closing Department of Education SALEM, Ohio (WKBN) Salem police arrested two people as part of a drug task force bust with the help of the departments K-9 officer, Chaz. Tuesday night, officers reported observing a vehicle commit multiple traffic violations and conducted a traffic stop. After speaking with the two men in the vehicle, K-9 Chaz a trained and certified narcotics K-9 conducted an open-air sniff and indicated he smelled a narcotic odor. Police then searched the vehicle, and reports state the passenger handed contraband to officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search warrant was later conducted in the 500 block of E. Pershing Street where additional drug paraphernalia was seized, police say. Courtesy: Salem PD Courtesy: Salem PD The collective efforts resulted in the recovery of about 1 ounce of meth, according to police. Between both investigations, two people were arrested on misdemeanor drug charges and police say additional charges are pending. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. The Utah House of Representatives passed an omnibus transportation bill late Tuesday, but with yet another adjustment to a portion about a Salt Lake City transportation study that the city finds concerning. The House voted 60-14 to pass SB195 now on its fifth version, which its sponsors had viewed as a compromise to concerns the city brought up about a one-year pause in implementing road safety projects. However, critics say a slight change in its language since it cleared a House committee last week could derail the compromise. The Utah Senate refused to concur with the substitute Wednesday evening, sending the issue to a conference committee to resolve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fifth substitute had called on a "highway reduction strategy" to review "permanently reducing the number of motorized vehicle travel lanes" along with a handful of other strategies that "may increase congestion for motor vehicles" on arterial or collector roads. But the bill language was adjusted again before Tuesday's vote to switch the language back to "highway." Rep. Kay Christofferson, R-Lehi, the bill's floor sponsor, said it's meant to reflect state roads in the city. The Utah Department of Transportation manages some of the city's roads, including state highways and roads by freeways. He said the substitute would still allow the city to move forward with roadway safety projects that are "already planned and going." The study would evaluate any potential impacts that safety projects have on traffic, including impacts on the arterial and collector roads. "We took that language out the moratorium so we just said, 'We're going to evaluate future projects,'" he said. "I feel like after talking to the city leaders we came to a position where we're OK with that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said the slight change to "highway" in the language could have wider impacts. "When we use the word highway, that includes all local and state roads," she said. "I just really have concerns with this language because I know the good sponsors have been working with Salt Lake City and I don't know if Salt Lake City has had an opportunity to look at this amendment." The vote took place late Tuesday as Salt Lake City meetings had just ended. A spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office told KSL.com Wednesday that the city views the latest version as "concerning" again, adding that the city is working with its legislative team and legislative leadership to address it. Rachel Otto, chief of staff for Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, had thanked the bill's sponsors for the original language in the fifth substitute last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's really crucial for Salt Lake City to enact traffic safety measures and make sure that we have a multimodal transportation system that functions safely for all users," she said at the time. "We also want to be sensitive to the growth that Salt Lake City is seeing and ensuring that we are really building a city that works for everyone." Salt Lake City recently approved a budget amendment that included funding more protected bike lanes at Capitol Hill, as well as bike and pedestrian crossing improvements along West Temple. The road safety advocacy group Sweet Streets called the version that passed Tuesday "its worst form yet," asserting that it "reneged on the compromises" made last week. The Utah Senate previously voted to approve a version of the bill that included a one-year moratorium on road safety projects in Salt Lake City, on Feb. 20. Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, the bill's sponsor, proposed the fifth substitute after meeting with the city over its concerns. All bills must clear the House and Senate by the end of Friday and then be signed by Gov. Spencer Cox in order to become law. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A trailblazing public servant who dedicated his decades-long career to shaping San Diego into what is now known as Americas Finest City has died. Leon Williams was the first Black person elected to both the San Diego City Council and the County Board of Supervisors. He died Saturday at the age of 102 from cardiac arrest, surrounded by his loved ones. He was instrumental in expanding public transit, including bringing trolley service to San Diego State University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams bought his home in the Golden Hill neighborhood in 1950, and it remains filled with photos and awards, serving as a testament to his legacy of service. Despite facing racism and other challenges, Williams never backed down in his commitment to improving the lives of all San Diegans. Everywhere we go, we see something that he participated in, something that hes done for this entire county, said his son, JJ Anderson. The pope has increased his physical therapy and marked the start of Lent in the hospital Williams made history in 1969 when he was elected to the San Diego City Council. A little over a decade later, he broke barriers again by becoming the first Black member of the County Board of Supervisors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William Jones, who succeeded Williams on the city council in the 1980s, talked about his grace in the face of discrimination. He endured insults, he endured the sort of discrimination that African Americans and people of color have endured for many decades, Jones said. And he always said to all of us that knew him, Dont allow yourself to become bitter, because if you become bitter, that would rob you of your energy. Williams was a champion for equitable city planning, working to prevent urban decay and improve land use policies. He also played a major role in modernizing San Diegos public transportation system. He was a champion for transit in this region, Jones said. If you look at the trolleys, the busesLeon Williams was a major force behind their modernization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2011, San Diego State University honored Williams by dedicating the SDSU trolley station in his name, one of many honors recognizing his lifetime of public service. My dad, that was his spiritual practiceto give, to pay it forward, to help, Anderson said. And because of that, he will live eternally in this city. A funeral service for Williams will be held at 11 a.m. on March 28 at Calvary Baptist Church in Logan Heights. The public is invited to attend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The Sangamon County Sheriffs Office has stopped its contract with a state department. Sangamon County officials confirmed with WCIA Thursday they are no longer having two deputies assist the Department of Children and Family Services full-time. Two different interpretations of the law: Veterans Assistance Commission sues Sangamon County over funding dispute The decision to discontinue the state agencys contract was made based on operational need at the Sheriffs Department, Sheriff Paula Crouch said in a statement to WCIA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on current staffing levels, I felt it was necessary to discontinue the DCFS contract and utilize those two deputies to assist with day-to-day operations within Sangamon County, the sheriff said. Crouch emphasized that DCFS case workers can still call dispatch to get an officer or deputy for visits they think think will have a risk to safety in any jurisdiction in the state. Both offices have discussed deputies assisting on a part-time basis. In Jan. 2022, DCFS case worker Deidre Silas was stabbed and killed during a house visit in Thayer. Benjamin Reed pleaded insanity, and a judge ruled him guilty but mentally ill. He was sentenced to life in prison. Gov. Pritzker signs KIND Act Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A DCFS spokesperson gave the following statement on the end of their partnership: Illinois DCFS appreciates the support that the Sangamon County Sheriffs Office has provided to the agency in the interest of our shared goals of child safety and well-being. DCFS and the Sherriffs Office are currently in discussions about ways in which we can continue to support each other. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Santa Fe County could take action against the owner of property in Agua Fria village where a two-story house was engulfed by a fire last year, potentially forcing the removal of the damaged structure. The move would mark the first test of a more aggressive nuisance abatement ordinance the County Commission approved in 2023. Code enforcement officials say the abandoned property, at 2133 Paseo Mel Senaida, is in violation of the nuisance ordinance because of substandard building conditions after the fire in May, as well as a 1993 anti-litter ordinance. The two-story house and a single-story extension that remain standing but badly damaged drew a complaint from a neighbor who claimed squatters have occupied portions of the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials recommend removal of the structure, according to county documents, but the scope of what would be removed is unclear. nuisance home1.jpg Santa Fe County code enforcement officials say the abandoned property at 2133 Paseo Mel Senaid is in violation of a nuisance ordinance because of substandard building conditions after a fire in May, as well as a 1993 anti-litter ordinance. Property owner Randy Ray Tapia said during a recent public hearing he plans to demolish the extension but not the main, two-story portion of the home. Im going to be knocking down the trailer part of it, not the two-story part, because the structure isnt messed up, Tapia said, noting the trailer is scorched. He said he was unaware the county was considering taking action until recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tapia could not be reached for comment this week. County spokesperson Olivia Romo wrote in an email code enforcement staff recommends removing the fire-damaged portion of the structure, which may require the removal of the structure in entirety. She added, The extent of removal will be determined through the administrative enforcement process as we assess the structural integrity of the fire-damaged components. This recommendation is based on reports of squatters occupying the property. If the fire damage prevents the property from being adequately secured, complete removal of the structure may be the only viable solution. While demolition of a nuisance property would be a first for the county under its tougher nuisance ordinance, the city of Santa Fe has razed several structures in recent years on abandoned properties that have drawn vandals, drug activity and squatters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not fit for human habitation No one was injured the morning of May 31 when the home on Paseo Mel Senaida ignited, according to a report in The New Mexican. Santa Fe city and county firefighters responded to a blaze around 9 a.m. A nearby resident, Heidi Montes, said she heard explosions and pops around 8:30 a.m. and saw two people fleeing the property through a back fence. Two people left the property, she said: A woman wrapped in a blanket and a man wearing only jeans. 053124 jw house fire 2.jpg Santa Fe firefighters keep an eye on hot spots after battling a house fire May 31 on Paseo Mel Senaida in Agua Fria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The property has long been a trouble spot, Montes told The New Mexican, with different people crossing neighboring properties to access the house at late hours. Several days after the fire, a man described as a neighbor in a county document submitted a letter complaining the property was creating a nuisance. This prompted code enforcers to inspect it June 11. The house does not look like it [is] fit for human habitation. There is no running power, water, and would really appreciate if somebody will come take a look at this house as there are still people trying to live there, the neighbor wrote in his complaint, according to county records. A county memo says officials sent several letters to Tapia outlining violations, but he argued at the public hearing last week he didnt receive them because he doesnt live at the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notices of violation also were posted on the property in June and August. nuisance home2.jpg Property owner Randy Ray Tapia indicated during a recent public hearing he plans to demolish a trailer extension on the home but not the main, two-story portion of the home. The memo states the county filed a criminal complaint against Tapia on Aug. 24 in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court alleging continued noncompliance, and a summons was issued for a hearing Sept. 30. Tapia didnt appear in court, however, leading to a bench warrant accusing him of failure to appear. When a final county site inspection was conducted Feb. 6, the memo states, officials confirmed Tapia had taken no corrective actions, and a public hearing notice was posted on the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Active squatters on the propertyHearing officer John Ziegler has five business days after the Feb. 27 hearing to make a recommendation on how to resolve the matter. If he decides the property is indeed a nuisance, he will prepare a resolution for the County Commissions consideration. As of Wednesday afternoon, Ziegler had not weighed in on the matter, Romo said. Tapia and another person who testified on his behalf indicated at the hearing they did not know the county was considering taking action until early February. I just found out about everything that was going on, Tapia told Ziegler. Obviously, I dont live at the residence, so thats why I couldnt sign for any mail that they were sending. I dont go over there because its burnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since he became aware of the proceedings, Tapia said, he has made efforts to clean up the property, such as removing debris. The property is now surrounded by screening so it cannot be accessed by anyone, he added, and the windows have been boarded up. Everything is covered, so theres not a nuisance for squatters because now everything is boarded up and closed off, he said. Theres no way inside the house, any part of it. ... Im not rich but Im trying to get as much done as I can. A county code enforcement official argued at the hearing the property is still a nuisance in Agua Fria. We feel that we have presented evidence enough to prove that, even with the testimony that was provided by the property owner and his witnesses, that only the exterior has been shielded and none of the substandard conditions that still exist in the home have had corrective action taken to address those issues, said Joseph Martinez, a county code enforcement supervisor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, with the testimony that we heard today, theres active squatters on the property. Thats going to invite criminal activity, Martinez added. No one from the public spoke in support of the county taking action against Tapia. One neighbor defended him. The nuisance that was reported ... they are called squatters ... where people are just coming into his house and living there, said a woman, who is related to Tapia, according to comments made at the hearing. I mean, you cant really determine to throw them out if youre not here because he doesnt live there. She acknowledged the property was dirty. But if you dont have the money to pay someone, you cant afford to pay for them to clean it up, the woman said. I live literally next door. I see everything. The man that made the statement about the nuisance doesnt even live down the road. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) A Santa Fe judge who recently presided over two of New Mexicos most high-profile cases will soon be stepping down. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer will retire at the end of May after 15 years in the First Judicial District Court. She has presided over 21,600 cases in her career. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those cases included the trial against actor Alec Baldwin for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust. Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case in which Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter over issues with some evidence. She also presided over the trial against Jeannine Jaramillo who lied about being kidnapped, ran from police, and caused a wrong-way crash that left an officer and a retired firefighter dead on I-25. Marlowe Sommer was appointed to the district court in 2010 by then Gov. Bill Richardson, was elected in November of that year, and has since been retained by voters, most recently in 2020. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. The SAS are under attack not by enemies of the state but by legal processes seemingly determined to put some of the best soldiers Britain has ever produced on trial for carrying out orders sanctioned by the government. In an unprecedented move, the SAS Association, a charity which supports former and serving elite troops, has urged its members to break cover and declare their Special Forces backgrounds in order to lobby MPs about comrades hounded for doing their duty in the likes of Northern Ireland. They have finally had enough of being put through the grinder by a system which they always assumed would be there to protect them, it seems, and warn that repeated witch hunts are worsening an already severe recruitment crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a clear indication of the growing dismay, the association shared a template letter for its members to send to parliamentarians. The letter, obtained by The Sun, warns that veterans feel badly let down by successive governments. The association blames one-sided prosecutions and states: UK Special Forces veterans feel they alone face criminal investigation and risk prosecution for doing what they were trained, authorised, and expected to do as part of a successful counterterrorist campaign. It is not lost on those currently serving, or those who may wish to serve, that the ingenuity and courage they display today could see them accused of crimes decades in the future, it adds. In particular, the letter focuses on historic operations in Northern Ireland after a coroner ruled last month that SAS troops serving there in 1992 had used excessive force and were unjustified in killing four IRA terrorists who minutes earlier had fired 50 rounds from a Russian heavy machine gun into a Royal Ulster Constabulary police station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A team of SAS operatives ambushed the terrorists in a car park as they were about to dismantle the weapon. The SAS had claimed that they thought their hidden positions were about to be exposed by the terrorists vehicle headlights and so they opened fire. IRA members Peter Clancy, 19, Kevin Barry ODonnell, 21, and Sean OFarrell, 23, were killed by SAS soldiers in Co Tyrone in 1992 While many might assume that this was a perfectly reasonable response in a perilous situation, the coroner ruled otherwise much to the delight of the dead terrorists families. Worse still, the coroner has sent his finding to the Director of Public Prosecutions who will consider whether criminal charges should be brought against the SAS veterans. So, more than three decades after the events of that night, when brave, highly trained British soldiers were ordered to confront a group of heavily armed terrorists full of murderous intent, they now face the possibility of being charged with murder. Little wonder that the SAS Association has asked its members to break cover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of SAS veterans are now potentially ensnared in the Troubles legacy investigations which are re-examining the deaths of people killed by both the IRA and members of the armed forces during the sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. Additionally, the ongoing Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan has heard accusations against the SAS for carrying out numerous illegal killings, while live investigations into alleged war crimes in Syria could potentially lead to the prosecution of nine special forces personnel. The understandable sense amongst the SAS fraternity is that they are under siege. In rare public comments made late last year, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, a former SAS commander, warned serving troops felt abandoned. For the first time in my experience, the serving generation today dont believe their chain of command can guarantee they wont face a lifetime of hounding, he said, adding the sentiment was hardly conducive to morale and military effectiveness. George Simm, who joined the SAS in 1975 and served as the units Regimental Sergeant Major from 1992 to 1994, winning the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his service, is furious with the status quo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He and other SAS veterans believe service personnel should be immune from prosecution in relation to any actions taken in line with duties conducted under the laws of armed conflict and Geneva Conventions, as is the case in other allied countries, such as the United States. No-one can be immune from investigation it is part of the job and we are not asking for that. It is unreasonable. What we demand is fairness and clarity right now there is neither, says Simm. Addressing the issue of lawyers bringing human rights claims against the government for troops actions, he adds: Without clarity of the legal framework these troops will be operating within, the British public should prepare for more instances of ambulance-chasing, human-rights zealots like Phil Shiner assuming their international duty of ensuring that no enemy of this country will die on their watch under any circumstances. The scene of the 1992 SAS ambush in Co Tyrone in which four IRA members were killed - Pacemaker Press Shiner, a former Left-wing lawyer once celebrated by civil rights groups, received a two-year suspended sentence at the end of last year for making false abuse claims against British troops in Iraq. Disbarred and declared bankrupt, Shiner had illegally pocketed millions of pounds in taxpayers money while pursuing those claims. The SAS is a highly respected organisation, where personal integrity, professionalism and loyalty to the Crown are just as vital as the ability to carry out covert operations in hostile environments with limited resources and against all odds. Unsurprisingly, gaining entry to this elite force is famously challenging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only around 10 per cent of those who step forward often the Armys top soldiers, who have trained for months to pass the gruelling selection process and have already undergone various forms of pre-selection successfully make it into the ranks. But now the seemingly endless rounds of inquests, inquiries and court cases are beginning to take their toll, leaving recruitment under more pressure than ever. Recently, the SAS have taken unprecedented measures to convince serving soldiers to consider joining the elite organisation. One SAS warrant officer recently gave an interview to Soldier Magazine urging troops to try their hand at special forces selection a move that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Its no surprise that the current situation is having an impact on recruiting, one SAS veteran says. Would you want to join an organisation which trains you to do something no one else can do, which requires you to risk your life in the service of your country, then 10, 20, 30 years later puts you in the dock and attempts to pin a murder charge on you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SAS are usually deployed on covert, intelligence-led operations to either kill or capture Britains enemies. Often, this will mean that people die. This was the case in Northern Ireland, and equally so in Iraq and Afghanistan. A British soldier stands guard in the centre of Belfast in 1972 - Popperfoto Many SAS veterans, and those still serving, believe that the disconnection between what the SAS are asked to do kill people in the name of the British Government and the reality of that process, is at the crux of the current problem. A former SAS officer tells The Telegraph that politicians like to bathe in the glory of the SAS without really understanding what they do and why. What we are seeing now is basically the people who pulled the trigger on covert operations being thrown to the wolves. Why arent the senior officers, government officials and ministers of state who signed off these operations also in the dock? the source says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They demand sacrifice and ingenuity at the tactical level and then seem surprised when they get that. In Iraq and Afghanistan kill or capture was the actual mission statement, yet everyone seems surprised when people die. The officer says there is a displacement between decision makers and the delivery end. Leaders that truly take time to understand their decisions to go to war or join coalitions would understand what they are asking people to do. That often means killing people, especially for the special forces, and this was the case in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are going to tell people to carry out those operations, then the government must make sure they are properly protected months and years down the road otherwise youll end up with no one wanting to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those who have already served their country, says Simm, the sense of betrayal runs deep. The anger, frustration, and embitterment they feel at their treatment will need to be addressed if they are to be persuaded to cooperate with future reviews and investigations, he says. Veterans have lost trust. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sam Bankman-Fried's crisis PR rep didn't know about his interview with Tucker Carlson. The rep, Mark Botnick, resigned from the role on Thursday. The crypto scammer is reported to be seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump. Tucker Carlson's jailhouse interview with Sam Bankman-Fried came as a surprise to everyone including the crypto scammer's crisis manager. Mark Botnick, who had represented Bankman-Fried since the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange FTX in November 2022, resigned from his role on Thursday after learning of the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told Business Insider he had no involvement in planning the interview with Carlson, which was posted to social media outlets on Thursday afternoon Bankman-Fried's 33rd birthday. "As of today, I no longer represent SBF," Botnick said. Bankman-Fried is serving a 25-year prison sentence after a jury found him guilty in 2023 of an $11 billion fraud and money-laundering scheme through his cryptocurrency exchange, FTX. Botnick is a seasoned public relations operative, having worked on several political campaigns for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He represented Bankman-Fried through the turbulent waves of his criminal case, including when he violated the terms of his bail and was jailed ahead of his trial because of witness tampering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Bankman-Fried has gone off-script. Posts from his X account offered advice on the Trump administration's efforts to fire federal employees. Botnick told BI he wasn't involved in those X posts and was unsure who posted them on Bankman-Fried's behalf. Bankman-Fried's conversations with journalists have gotten him in trouble before. His interviews with the Financial Times, Bloomberg News, and Vox were cited in his criminal trial as evidence of how he misled FTX investors and customers. Botnick referred additional questions about Bankman-Fried to his criminal appeals attorney, Alexandra Shapiro, who didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Bankman-Fried is incarcerated, declined to comment on his interview with Carlson. A representative for Carlson's media company didn't respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former crypto mogul who once had an on-paper net worth of more than $26 billion has been fishing for a pardon from President Donald Trump, Bloomberg News reported. Trump and Bankman-Fried may have some perceived enemies in common, though Bankman-Fried didn't raise the issue with Carlson, a staunch Trump ally. The federal judge who oversaw Bankman-Fried's trial and sentenced him, Lewis Kaplan, also oversaw two cases that the writer E. Jean Carroll successfully brought against Trump. Danielle Sassoon, the lead prosecutor in Bankman-Fried's criminal case, resigned as the acting head of the US Attorney's office in the Southern District of New York after refusing a demand from a Trump-appointed Justice Department official to drop charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Carlson raised the question of a pardon in the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you are not pardoned, how old will you be when you get out?" he asked Bankman-Fried. Bankman-Fried said he'd be in his late 40s. During FTX's collapse in 2022, Bankman-Fried had considered an interview with Carlson, a Fox News host at the time, to "come out as a republican" and rail "against the woke agenda" as a way to restore his reputation, he wrote in a Google Document that became public as part of his criminal case. "Note: these are all random probably bad ideas that aren't vetted," Bankman-Fried wrote at the top of the document. Read the original article on Business Insider The Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee meets Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Screenshot of SCETV Livestream) COLUMBIA A bill prohibiting vaccine mandates in some future pandemic advanced Wednesday after senators restored pharmacists rights to decline to fill most prescriptions. The bill would make it illegal for companies, colleges, nonprofits and state agencies to require employees, students and customers to get certain vaccines. Violators could be fined up to $5,000 or spend five years in jail for a third or further offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Shane Martin of Spartanburg County proposed the bill in response to requirements people get vaccinated for COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. Legislators passed a law in April 2022 banning public employers in South Carolina from mandating COVID vaccinations. But that entire law expired Dec. 31, 2023. If they come out with some new shot and you want to stick it in your body, Im not going to tell you you cant, the Pauline Republican said. But the government is not going to tell you you have to. The bill sent to the full Senate Medical Affairs Committee would not apply to all immunizations. After pediatricians raised concerns that the bill would dissuade schools from requiring childhood vaccinations, senators specified the rule would apply only to novel vaccines, meaning theyre not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration. That would not include flu shots or other vaccines that change annually to fight different strains of a disease, Martin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While supporters of the bill said the mandates were unlike anything the state had ever seen, Sen. Ronnie Sabb said the requirements were warranted amid the pandemic. The vaccines that companies required saved lives, the Greeleyville Democrat added. The reality is, weve never seen anything like COVID, with hundreds of people dying every day that we know of, Sabb said. After changes Wednesday, the proposal also prohibits pharmacists from refusing to fill a prescription for an off-label use of an FDA-approved drug to treat a debilitating or life-threatening disease while a statewide public health emergency is in place. Or, if a pharmacist objects, they can send the prescription to another pharmacist who is willing to fill it, as long as they tell the patients doctor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would have allowed patients during the COVID-19 pandemic to get ivermectin, as long as they did so during the states yearlong state of emergency. The anti-parasitic drug was sometimes prescribed experimentally to treat COVID-19, despite the FDA saying it was not effective as a treatment and could be dangerous in some circumstances. Some people insisted it worked and were upset when they couldnt get it. The crux of the matter was, we were in a public health emergency, Martin said. People were scared to death. They were fighting for their lives. They saw their loved ones dying in the hospital. That made people want to try a medication they believed could help them, he said. The change came after pharmacists raised concerns about not being able to use their discretion when distributing drugs that could potentially harm a patient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like doctors, pharmacists take an oath to do no harm, said Brian Clark, CEO of the South Carolina Pharmacy Association. The original version of the bill included a list of situations in which a pharmacist could refuse to refill a prescription, but that didnt account for the patient-by-patient risk analysis pharmacists conduct in deciding whether their actions are safe, Clark said. Clark has distributed ivermectin to treat COVID-19 in some cases, he said. In others, though, he felt the medication would be potentially dangerous, regardless of what a patients doctor said. Were not being given the respect of other health care professionals, Clark said. Were the last line of defense before that prescription is handed to that patient. If a doctor prescribes the medication for that use, patients should be able to get it, no matter what the pharmacist thinks, replied Sen. Richard Cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not trying to control pharmacists, but if the doctors prescribing it and the patient cant get it filled Im not sure why different pharmacies would refuse that do you see why we see that as an issue that needs some clarity? the Powdersville Republican said to Clark. A similar bill never got a vote in the Senate last year. The proposal a panel of senators advanced Wednesday had fewer of the restrictions included in last years attempt. Unlike in that version, the state would be allowed to administer vaccines with emergency use authorization, K-12 schools would not be included among places not allowed to require vaccines, and the state would be allowed to require quarantines for people exposed to or positive for a dangerous disease for up to 21 days. State workers would be allowed to administer vaccines, but only with written consent, in a change that mirrored an amendment from last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The changes were meant to help the bills chances of becoming law, Martin said. There are some people who want this bill to go further. I probably would, too, Martin said. But Ive been here long enough to know that I have a chance to fix some of the wrongs that have been done and have a bill that does that. Gov. Henry McMaster remains unconvinced, a spokesman said. McMaster does not think the legislation is necessary, spokesman Brandon Charochak said Wednesday. State law already prohibits state officials from vaccinating people without consent, as the bill would require, McMaster has previously pointed out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican governors stance has not changed since he sent a letter to senators last year saying parts of the bill could compromise the states ability to respond to public health emergencies, Charochak said. As a general rule, placing overbroad restrictions on the authority of public health officials, law enforcement officers, first responders, and emergency management professionals responding to emerging threats and disasters whether public health or otherwise is a bad idea, McMaster wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster wants nearly $30 million to hire and train school resource officers for schools that dont currently have one. 177 out of 1,300 schools in South Carolina dont have a full time School Resource Officer. Governor McMaster making changing that a top priority. At my request, the General Assembly began funding an SRO program- grant program administered by the Department of Public Safety. It provides school districts with funds to hire full time SROs for schools without one. This program has been enormously successful in 2018, only 406 schools had an SRO in 2024. It grew to 1,106, the governor said in a recent press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In WJBFs viewing area, there are only 2 school districts that arent fully staffed with a full time SRO. According to the governors office, Aiken County needs them in 15 out of its 44 campuses and Bamberg County needs them in 1 out of 6. Bambergs Superintendent, Dottie Brown told NewsChannel 6 that its not just about money saying: In order for districts to be able to have full-time SROs, your local police or sheriffs departments have to employ these officers and provide them to the schools. Brown said the district does employ private security to keep its students and staff safe. Its sad the Governors request wasnt fully granted, as trained SROs play a vital role in school safety. I will add that even though the amount of funds requested by Gov. McMaster were not fully approved, our district (like others) will continue to be resilient and find creative ways to fulfill these needs with the funds that are provided as we have done in the past, Brown said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for the Edgefield County School District agrees that full time SROs are vital to school safety. Having an officer there full time, allows the officer to get to know everyone. You know, they get to know the staff. They get to know the students. They get to know any situations that may come up in the school. And it really just it opens up the lines of communication, said Mike Rosier, Public Information Officer for Edgefield Schools. Lawmakers only granted $3.7 million of what Governor McMaster asked for. Brandon Charochak, a spokesperson for the governors office said There should be no higher priority for the General Assembly than placing a school resource officer in the last 177 public schools without one. The governor will continue to urge the General Assembly to finish the job this year and protect the students, teachers, and staff at these remaining schools. Rosier said that lawmakers have to prioritize when they are setting the budget and hopes that soon it will include funding for more SROs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know how you could feel less safe with a school resource officer on campus, especially one thats full time. And its just, like I said, just the reality of the times that we live in. And its unfortunate, but it is also real, he added. Governor McMaster has been working with lawmakers to make SRO funding a top priority since 2018. The state has funded 700 new officers since then. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. An opponent of a Senate insurance reform bill held up a sign Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at a press conference in support of the legislation. (Photo by Shaun Chornobroff/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA The House passed legislation Thursday focused on aiding South Carolina restaurant owners whove been slammed by growing insurance costs and a shrinking number of providers, taking action on what Speaker Murrell Smith said they know is a problem. But leadership balked at broadening the scope to other industries rising rates. That appeared to set up a future battle of wills between GOP leaders in the two chambers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislation that senators opened debate on Tuesday is much broader. While it, too, tackles restaurants liability for serving alcohol, the bill also deals with a host of other business insurance issues, including medical malpractice, liability for manufacturers and truckers, and negligence for construction defects. However, on Thursday afternoon, it became clear that extensive approach lacks support to even pass the Senate. The chamber adjourned for the week after senators refused to kill an amendment that would gut the bill. Following that lopsided 19-25 vote, the bills chief sponsor said he was considering making the motion himself to end debate on the bill. Instead, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey asked to adjourn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were done. Its over. Congratulations, the Edgefield Republican said from the podium, motioning to opponents in the balcony. There will be businesses closed now because of this. The bill is on a special priority status on the calendar, so senators will have to take it back up when they return Tuesday. What theyll do with it is unclear. The bill that passed the House unanimously would eliminate the state law that holds a restaurant responsible for 100% of court-awarded damages for an injury, even if it played little role in the accident. It would add that an employee must knowingly serve an intoxicated person to be in violation of law. Other changes designed to lower insurance rates for liquor liability include strengthening penalties for drunken driving and requiring alcohol server training for employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to solve this problem (first) and then move on to the next one, said House Judiciary Chairman Weston Newton, R-Bluffton, the House bills chief sponsor. Instead of tackling the other issues in one bill, House leaders say theyll form a special committee to keep probing the long-debated issue and study how liability law changes have played out in other states. South Carolina is at a tipping point, said Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton. Policies are being cancelled. Were hearing that every day. In particular, House members say they need to hear from insurance companies directly about rising premiums and what it will take to lower them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got to get to the bottom of rising insurance costs, said Herbkersman, chairman of the House Labor Commerce and Industry Committee. In hearings on the Senate legislation, no insurance company came to testify, which Smith called questionable. The House committee will be equipped with subpoena power to force insurance companies to come to the podium for questioning. The way to do it is to understand the problem, said Smith, R-Sumter. Smith declined to comment on the Senate legislation until something actually passes out of the upper chamber, though he said its no secret insurance costs for both business owners and consumers are one the rise across the board. SC Daily Gazette reporter Shaun Chornobroff contributed to this report. A growing measles outbreak in Texas that has claimed the life of one unvaccinated child has brought a renewed focus to a highly contagious disease that remains a threat in a time of falling kindergarten immunization rates across the country, including Forsyth County. Mirroring a concerning nationwide trend, immunization rates among kindergartners in Forsyth County and North Carolina have slipped below the desired threshold of 95% immunity for the second year in a row. That rate of immunity, called herd immunity, keeps diseases, particularly measles, at bay and protects communities from outbreaks. At the same time, the number of parents filing religious exemptions for their children is on the rise locally, most dramatically in the countys private schools, where 7.9% of kindergartners were exempt for religious reasons in 2023, compared with 1.8% in 2020, according to state statistics. Just under 2% of kindergartners in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools have religious waivers, but that, too, is up from 2020 when .7% cited religious reasons for remaining unimmunized. Forsyth Countys immunization rate among kindergarteners entering WS/FCS, charter schools and private schools was 92.6% at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, similar to the state rate. That number might be high enough to prevent outbreaks for most infectious diseases, but not measles, said Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious disease doctor at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health. Im not kept up at night over this, but it increases the chance that youll have pocket outbreaks, Ohl said. If a case were introduced from foreign travel, youd end up having to scramble. So yeah, were lower than we should be. Measles would not spread in a highly vaccinated place such as Baptist, for instance, but it could within an unvaccinated community, he said. The spread in Texas has been tied to a county where 14% of school children were not fully vaccinated against childhood diseases, the Associated Press reported. It has resulted in the countrys first measles death since 2015. As of Tuesday, the outbreak had grown to about 160 cases, representing about half of the reported measles cases in all of 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recent confirmation of vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has also concerned public health experts. Kennedy said last week that the Texas outbreak was not unusual. But on Tuesday, he posted on social media that the Texas outbreak was a call to action for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to public health. North Carolina has not reported a measles case so far this year, but there was a case in Charlotte in September, the first in the state since 2018. Measles was considered eliminated in the United States in 2000. North Carolina law requires children to have a certain number of immunizations before entering kindergarten, including two rounds of measles immunizations. Children who are not fully vaccinated or on schedule to be fully vaccinated, are excluded from, or kept out of, classrooms. The state does allow for medical and religious exemptions. Katie Key, the director of nursing for WS/FCS told the school board on Tuesday that a religious exemption amounts to a parent writing that their religion is opposed to vaccinations. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services collects the data for kindergartners attending public, private and charter schools, and posts it on a dashboard. It does not collect immunization data on children who are home-schooled. Historically, the percentage of immunized kindergartners in North Carolina and Forsyth County has been closer to 97%. But the percentage has been dropping over the last few years. In Forsyth County in 2023, the rate was 93.2% in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools; 89.7% in charter schools; and 89.5% for private schools. Compare that to 2020 when the rate was 95.8% for WS/FCS and 97.8% for private schools. Ohl said that drop may be due to a couple of different factors. COVID disrupted regular childhood visits to pediatricians, throwing some children off their vaccination schedule; many never caught back up, he said. The pandemic also fueled an anti-vaccine sentiment. (Some) people think vaccines have more risk than benefit, and I think thats because they dont understand the benefit anymore. They havent seen whooping cough kill babies, Ohl said. Social media hasnt been all that helpful to us because misinformation spreads. WS/FCS includes information about immunization requirements as it meets with parents and guardians about kindergarten enrollment, but many parents still miss that message, Key said. Its just about education, and the importance of vaccines, especially if a parent has never had a kid in school, Key said. They may not know that its a requirement. In WS/FCS, children not fully vaccinated are excluded from the classroom until they get their shots, though some who are partially vaccinated can stay if a doctor certifies that the students are on a vaccination schedule (some shots must be spread out). The school district and Forsyth County Department of Public Health work with parents to set up vaccination appointments for those not up-to-date. Public health advocates must keep combatting misinformation for vaccine rates to improve, Ohl said. Primary care physicians are particularly key because they have an established relationship with parents. I think the odds of us having a widespread outbreak are pretty low, but you have to understand that measles is not a good thing to get, Ohl said. Of the 150 people with measles in Texas, 20 have been hospitalized. Ohl thinks people are so far removed from the horror of polio and whooping cough, particularly in infants, that they dont fully understand the danger of some of these diseases. So these childhood diseases, Ohl said, theres a reason we made vaccines for them, and I think people have forgotten those reasons. COLUMBIA S.C. (WSPA) South Carolina lawmakers are discussing a bill that could help victims of human trafficking and prostitution. Lawmakers said the main goal is to protect individuals and punish people who commit this crime. We need protection, and those who exploit and buy others must be held accountable, said Heather Pagan, a human trafficking survivor. For 18 years, Pagan was sold for sex and, in her words, used as a reusable, disposable commodity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its about surviving, and when all the cards are stacked against you, it becomes a choice between evil or evil. Im one of the few who made it out. Currently under state law, prostitution and coercion are misdemeanors, but Senator Josh Kimbrells (R District 11) bill would upgrade them to felony charges. He said this bill also aims to protect human trafficking victims who were coerced into performing criminal acts. I think it may be a unanimous vote. I cant imagine anybody who doesnt agree. Ultimately, we should protect these victims and go after people who victimize them. Kimbrell added that leaders need to pass this bill immediately because the bill is already a law in North Carolina, and he believes predators would change their focus to targeting South Carolinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not need that culture in South Carolina. If we dont do something pretty quick, all these folks are forced out of North Carolina, will come here, and we need to make sure we stop that. Democratic Senator Overture Walker (D District 22) agrees, saying its important to protect people from prostitution and human trafficking. Walker also suggested an amendment to the bill that would give immunity to a person forced into the sex trade. Give them the opportunity pretrial to have that hearing, to offer up our evidence, where a judge can decide based on a preponderance of evidence, if this individual was in fact a victim of sex trafficking, or was involved in prostitution under duress, and avoid prosecution, Walker said. Kimbrell said he looks forward to putting the bi-partisan amendment into the bill alongside Walker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. SOUTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) South Carolina lawmakers are considering passing a stricter abortion ban. A lawmaker in the Palmetto state has filed H 3457, legislation that would ban the procedure at conception with few exceptions. If 3457 became law, South Carolina would fall in line with a handful of other conservative states that have enacted identical bans that only allow for abortion to protect the life of the mother. As a society, weve done a terrible job recognizing the fact that babies in the womb deserve the same protection and the same chance at life, said State Rep John McCravy, the bills author. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current state law is a six week ban that allows exceptions for fetal anomalies and an abortion at twelve weeks for cases of rape or incest. None of those exceptions are included in this new bill. NC Congress members bring up FEMA, federal cuts ahead of Trumps joint session address This is not a total ban; we hear this over and over again, we have numerous exceptions for life or serious health of the mother, said McCravy. Dozens of women and physicians testified before a subcommittee in Columbia on Tuesday. Those opposed argued that limiting abortion even further would do more harm to womens healthcare in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is nothing worse as a grieving mother who already knows she is going to lose her child to feel unsupported and disrespected by the state she has chosen to raise her family in, said an opponent. SC legislature unanimously passes fentanyl-induced homicide bill However, supporters of the bill said it reflects the public and electorates support for pro-life legislation. Science, medicine, natural law and moral law all disaffirm the necessity and rightness of abortion because it violates the integrity of the mothers, fathers, and childs body and soul, said a supporter. The bill is still in the very early stages of the lawmaking process. It still needs votes at the subcommittee, and in committees and floors in both chambers before it can be sent to Governor McMaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel addresses canvassers at an early March event. (Screenshot) Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel told a group of canvassers in Waukesha County last weekend that he needs to be elected to provide a support network for President Donald Trump and shared complaints about the 2020 election that have been frequently espoused by election deniers. In a video of the remarks, Schimel is speaking to a group of canvassers associated with Turning Point USA a right-wing political group that has become increasingly active in Wisconsins Republican party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the campaign trail, Schimel, a Waukesha County judge and former Republican state attorney general, has repeatedly said he is running for the Supreme Court to bring impartiality back to the body. Hes claimed that since the Courts liberals gained a majority after the 2023 election, it has been legislating from the bench on behalf of the Democratic party. But in more private events and to more conservative audiences, hes often spoken more openly about his conservative politics. At the Turning Point event, he said that prior to the 2024 presidential election, the country had walked up to edge of the abyss and we could hear the wind howling, but that the Republican party and its supporters helped the country take a couple steps back by electing Donald Trump. Democrats and their media allies still have bulldozers waiting to push into all that, he said, by bringing lawsuits to stop Trumps efforts to dismantle federal agencies without the approval of Congress, end birthright citizenship and fire thousands of federal workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump doesnt do this by himself, there has to be a support network around it, Schimel said. They filed over 70 lawsuits against him since he took the oath of office barely a month ago, over 70 lawsuits to try to stop almost every single thing hes doing because they dont want him to get a win. Theyre so desperate for him to not get a win that they wont let America have a win. Thats what theyre doing. The only way were going to stop that is if the courts stop it. Thats the only place to stop this lawfare. When Schimel was the state attorney general, he lobbied the Republican-controlled Legislature to create the position of solicitor general under the state Department of Justice to help him file lawsuits against Democratic policies enacted by then-President Barack Obama. Republicans cut the position after Democrat Josh Kaul defeated Schimel in the 2018 election. During his time in office Schimel joined a lawsuit with the state of Texas to have the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional. After the suit was successful in a Texas court, he said, Im glad he did this before I left office, because I got one more win before moving on. Kaul withdrew the state from the lawsuit after taking office in 2019, and the the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the suit by a 7-2 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, in his Turning Point remarks, Schimel accused his opponent, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, of participating in the kind of lawfare that is being used against Trump now. My opponent is an expert on lawfare, he said, citing her work as a lawyer against the states voter ID law and support from liberal billionaire donors. Crawford campaign spokesperson Derrick Honeyman said that Schimels comments show hell be a rubber stamp for the Republican party. Brad Schimels latest remarks are no surprise, especially coming from someone whos been caught on his knees begging for money and is bought and paid for by Elon Musk, Honeyman said. Schimel is not running to be a fair and impartial member of the Supreme Court, but rather be a rubber-stamp for Musk and a far-right agenda to ban abortion and strip away health care. Schimel has recently been caught behind closed doors saying the Supreme Court screwed Trump over by refusing to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and these latest remarks are all part of a pattern of extreme and shady behavior from Schimel. Wisconsin deserves a Supreme Court Justice who answers to the people, not the highest bidder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schimels campaign has received millions in support from political action committees associated with Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, who has been leading Trumps effort to slash government programs. Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that Schimel told a group of supporters in Jefferson County that Trump had been screwed over by the Wisconsin Supreme Court when it ruled against his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. In his remarks in Waukesha, he highlighted a number of talking points popular with many of the states most prominent 2020 election deniers. He blamed decisions by the Supreme Court for allowing those issues to persist. There were a string of other cases that the Supreme Court refused to hear before the election that impacted the election that year unquestionably, Schimel said. Schimel pointed to the issue of special voting deputies in nursing homes as a major problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials known as special voting deputies who normally go into nursing homes to help residents cast absentee ballots were unable to enter those facilities. Republicans have claimed that decision allowed people who should have been ineligible to vote because theyd been declared incompetent to cast a ballot. Conspiracy theorists have pointed to affidavits filed by family members of nursing home residents that their relatives were able to vote. Only a judge can declare someone incompetent to vote, however. The issue led to the Republican sheriff of Racine County to accuse members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) of committing felony election fraud and became a target in former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gablemans widely derided review of the 2020 election. Schimel also blamed the election commissions decision to exclude the Green Partys candidates from the ballot that year for Trumps loss. WEC voted not to allow the party on the ballot because there were errors with the candidates addresses on the paperwork. The party sued to have the decision overturned, but the Supreme Court ruled 4-3 against the party because it was too close to the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While conservatives held the majority on the Court at the time, Schimel blamed liberals. Well, that was with three liberals and a conservative getting soft headed, Schimel said, referring to Justice Brian Hagedorn, who frequently acted as a swing vote when conservatives controlled the Court. Schimel added: Those billionaires from around the country said, What if we could get four liberals on the court? Then we dont have to fool a conservative into doing something stupid. And then they did it in 2023. They bought that election, and they stole the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and they put us in chaos ever since. Mike Browne, a spokesperson for progressive political group A Better Wisconsin Together, said Schimel is willing to say anything to curry favor with right-wing supporters and financial backers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brad Schimel has extreme positions like using an 1849 law to try to ban abortion, supporting pardons for violent January 6 insurrectionists, endorsing debunked 2020 election lies, and shilling for Elon Musk, Browne said. His bungling attempts to try to talk his way out of it when he gets called out dont change the fact that time and again we see Brad Schimel on his knees for right-wing campaign cash instead of standing up for Wisconsin or our rights and freedoms. The Schimel campaign did not respond to a request for comment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mar. 5In order to make Newton High School more accessible for people with disabilities or mobility issues, architects last week proposed the district install a platform lift to reach the second floor bleachers and also change the event entryway to the lower level east entrance and parking lot, which would need handicap stalls. Rachelle Hines of FRK Architects + Engineers provided updated accessibility information to the Newton school board at its Feb. 24 meeting. As part of her presentation, she showed the route individuals would take to access the upper levels which are more difficult or even impossible for some students and visitors. If the district moved forward with these changes, the high school's east entrance would need new handicap parking and a new crosswalk. Hines also proposed good exterior signage would be needed to mark out the routes individuals would need to take to enter through the east side. Interior signs would be needed, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You'd come in and you'd come down to that existing elevator there, so we might need to add some signage and spruce that up a bit." Hines said. "...You'd then take the elevator up. Let's say you wanted to get off and go to the gym or you wanted to get off and go to the commons or have events in the auditorium." Individuals would then exit the elevator on the first floor and make their way through the cafeteria and commons to the auditorium or gym, the latter of which has a ramp to access floor side. But right now if people in wheelchairs, for example, want to access the second floor, that provides a challenge. Designs shared by the district's architectural firm show those individuals could take the elevator to the second floor and access a wheelchair lift to the upper level seating in the gymnasium to get a better view of events. Hines said a small restroom area currently resides where the lift would be constructed. Instead of narrowing the current stairs located nearby to fit the lift, Hines said it would be less invasive to build the lift in the adjacent storage/restroom area. If needed, the district would even install a second wheelchair lift located just to the west to access the third floor seating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I thought this was a better sequence," Hines said. "...The sequence felt a little bit cleaner than having to go all the way to the gym, coming through that and then modifying that stairway there. The existing stairs there are kind of a nice feature, and it felt like you were doing such a huge loop." Hines noted this sequence would affect how the school takes tickets for events. School board member Ray Whipple has long pushed for better ADA accessibility throughout the district. He was confused by the placement of the handicap parking stalls and said it would make more sense to put handicap parking along the roundabout. Hines said the designs were to help tighten travel distances. "This was just keeping everything more isolated in the school so you weren't having to travel completely through all those classroom areas," Hines said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whipple argued if the district took eight feet off the south end of the roundabout on the northwest side, it would allow more stalls to be used by teachers during the day but also reserve spots for handicap parking. School board member Kristi Meyer said it would be ideal to have handicap parking in both areas. "We need better parking everywhere," Meyer said. "Handicap or not." Costs for these ADA improvements are estimated at $196,750. The lift to the second floor bleachers costs an estimated $96,750. The lift to the third floor costs $55,000. The new crosswalk and parking changes near the entryway could cost $20,000. Signage costs were yet to be determined. Designs would cost $25,000. The school board took no vote on the improvements since this presentation was part of the superintendent's report, which has no action items. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not a decision day," Hines said. If the school board did decide to move forward with the ADA improvements to the high school, Hines said the construction could theoretically finish in the summer. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Strong winds and hazardous road conditions prompted several school closures Thursday in San Diego Countys backcountry and mountain areas. The Office of Education announced early that the Mountain Empire Unified School District would remain closed on March 6, 2025. In a later update, it was also announced the following schools would close a noon: Julian Union School District Julian Union High School District Spencer Valley School District Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Diego is getting its own Monopoly game. How to suggest landmarks This comes amid a winter weather advisory that went into effect at 4 a.m. Thursday for the regions mountain areas, including places like Julian and Pine Valley. During this kind of advisory, the National Weather Service warns that travel could be difficult and the strong winds could cause extensive tree damage. The safety of students and school staff is of the utmost importance to San Diego County school districts, officials with the Office of Education noted in a press release announcing the closures. For more real-time updates on school closures, follow @SanDiegoCOE on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winter weather advisory will remain in effect until 10 a.m. Friday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Having a park within walking distance could add years to your life. The Straits Times reported on a study that found people with access to green spaces were biologically younger than those without. Green spaces like trees and parks positively impact our physical health. Access to greenery has been linked to better cardiovascular health and scientists are discovering it can even slow down aging on a cellular level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 20-year study followed over 900 Americans in four major cities. Researchers looked at satellite images to determine how close participants were to green spaces. They then compared this with blood samples, examining participants' DNA methylation, a biochemical modification used as an epigenetic clock to measure biological age. People whose homes had 30% green cover within a three-mile radius were on average 2.5 years younger than those with only 20% green cover. Researchers found these benefits were not shared evenly. Data showed that Black people with better access to green space were only one year biologically younger compared to white people who were three years younger. "Other factors, such as stress, qualities of the surrounding green space and other social support can affect the degree of benefits of green spaces in terms of biological aging," explained Kyeezu Kim, the study's lead author, per The Straits Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A similar study measuring telomere length, another epigenetic DNA trait, found access to green spaces slowed the aging process. People living near trees and parks also show slower cognitive decline. One reason could be the cleaner air. Greenery in urban areas filters out harmful air pollutants, and research has shown children with green space access have higher lung function. Our mental health gets a boost when we connect with nature. Plus, adding greenery makes our cities more beautiful. Paris was encouraged to replace parking spaces with green spaces. Greenery in cities also helps us keep cool by reducing urban heat, which is particularly important with rising temperatures. One city in Colombia lowered temperatures by planting green corridors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts hope research into these benefits expands green space access for urban dwellers. "We have more and better scientific evidence to increase and promote the use of urban green spaces," said Manuel Franco, an epidemiologist, who commented on the study to The Straits Times. "We believe our findings have significant implications for urban planning in terms of expanding green infrastructure to promote public health and reduce health disparities," said Kim. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Scientists have found a new way to detect the smallest and most dangerous microplastics in our drinking water and are calling on the European Union to update its drinking water limits. What's happening? A team of scientists used a new method to analyze microplastics in both bottled and tap water in Toulouse, France, and found a range of 72 to 4,368 microplastic particles per gallon. Euronews summarized the findings, explaining that most of these were "fine microplastics," which the researchers defined as particles measuring under 20 microns. The European Union currently has a detection limit of 20 microns, which first author Oskar Hagelskjaer told the publication "makes very little sense" in light of the findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The authors stated in the study's abstract, "Importantly, 98 and 94% of [microplastics] measured less than 20 and 10 [microns] in diameter, respectively, demonstrating the importance of small [microplastic] inclusion in potable water analyses and regulation." Bethanie Carney Almroth, a Sweden-based ecotoxicology expert, called microplastics "a very pervasive problem," in response to the study, telling Euronews that there's "no place left on the planet that's not contaminated." Why is this study important? According to the research team, these finer microplastics are more likely to pass through the intestine into the blood and organs. Microplastics, which are produced when larger plastics break down, are already pervasive in our environment. While scientists are still trying to understand how they affect our bodies, several studies suggest adverse health outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, one study indicated that microplastics can affect the functioning of a nervous system connected to digestion. Another paper linked them to chronic kidney disease. What's being done about microplastics? In a bid to cut down on plastic pollution, England and France have banned plastic cutlery for most fast food and takeout, and India banned a selection of single-use plastics in 2022. Plus, scientists are discovering innovative methods to remove these plastic particles from water. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. For instance, researchers in Australia have created an absorbent in the form of a powder additive that attracts microplastics and dissolved pollutants. They say it can do the job in about an hour and has the power to remove microplastics that are 1,000 times smaller than those currently detectable. Another method can remove over 99.9% of pollutants including microplastics within 10 seconds. You can help by avoiding single-use plastics as much as possible. For instance, carry a reusable water bottle, bring a reusable shopping bag to the market, and bring your own to-go containers to restaurants, especially if they aren't made of plastic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. MILAN President Donald Trumps ambition to build 40 new icebreakers in the United States is unrealistic given the current state of the national shipbuilding industry, which may require Washington to ask for Canadas help, according to a major Canadian shipbuilder specializing in the construction of such vessels. In a Jan. 24 press briefing , Trump announced a target of acquiring roughly 40 icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard. Were going to order about 40 Coast Guard big icebreakers big ones and all of a sudden, Canada wants a piece of the deal. I say, Why are we doing that, he told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 4, the U.S. government reinstated an executive order that hit its northern neighbor with 25% across-the-board tariffs and 10% on Canadian energy, triggering a continental trade war. Ottawa has responded with its retaliatory tariffs at the same rate but placed on a smaller basket of American goods. According to Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan, in charge of building two new heavy polar icebreakers for the countrys Coast Guard, the Canadian naval industry already possesses the requisite know-how for Trumps plan. 40 icebreakers are fantastic, but that is pretty aggressive I dont want to go against what Mr. Trump said, but I would say that the U.S. shipbuilding industry capability is pretty stressed and busy right now. I think its fair to say that it is not [currently] capable of doing that, David Hargreaves, senior vice president of business development at Seaspan, told Defense News. He also said that Canada is trying to get a part of it what we are trying to do is be a contributor to our neighbors and help them, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The economic rift between the two nations does not appear to have negatively impacted the shipbuilding industry so far. On the contrary, companies from both sides of the border continue to engage in dialogue and appear determined to carry out business as usual. Davie, a Quebec shipbuilder, told Defense News earlier this year that it was moving forward with plans to acquire an American shipyard despite the threat of a looming trade war. Canadian and Finnish government representatives shared similar perspectives in Feb. 4 email statements, stating that the tense climate seen as of late between Canada and the U.S. had not compromised cooperation within the trilateral Icebreaker Collaboration Effort. While that agreement, signed last summer and known as the ICE Pact, seeks to bring together Finnish, Canadian and U.S. expertise to build best-in-class ice boats and cooperate in other areas, Hargreaves notes that Washington has the most to gain from it when it comes to gaining knowledge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think it explicitly says this, but it is really about helping the U.S. to build their icebreaking capability, he said. Whereas Finland and Canada have long histories of manufacturing these vessels, America has lagged behind. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard has not launched a new heavy icebreaker since 1976. U.S. regulations have previously required that military vessels be built domestically. Two new bills introduced last month by Utah senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, both Republicans, seek to modify these practices, placing greater emphasis on shipyards in NATO countries or in trusted Indo-Pacific nations for getting Americas ship count up quickly. Regardless of the bills prospects for adoption, Canadas Seaspan is already putting itself in a position to help out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are exploring how a U.S. shipyard(s) could use our existing Canadian Coast Guard Multi-Purpose Vessel design, a polar class 4 icebreaker that could be relatively easily upgraded to class 3, Hargreaves wrote in an email. Talks are already underway with the U.S. Coast Guard about cooperating. The Americans are very interested in the ship design, according to the company. A scratch-off ticket worth $150,000 was recently sold in the Miami Valley. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The winning Monopoly Bonus Spectacular 100X ticket was sold at Om Oil Needmore in the 3400 block of Needmore Road in Dayton, according to the Ohio Lottery. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After taxes, the winner will receive approximately $108,000. The Monopoly Bonus Spectacular 100X is a $20 scratch-off. The top prize is $40,000 a year for 25 years. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Rep. Kevin Van Diepen, R-Huron, speaks with lawmakers on the South Dakota House floor during the governor's budget address on Dec. 3, 2024. Van Diepen opposed a bill Wednesday that would have required PFAS labeling on firefighting gear. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) PIERRE Legislation that would have required protective firefighting equipment purchased by fire departments in South Dakota to be labeled with its forever chemical status failed Wednesday in the state House of Representatives. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s and dont break down easily in the environment or in the human body. The chemicals can be found in everything from firefighting foam to thermal and water-resistant clothing to soil and water. Research indicates PFAS exposure may be linked to negative developmental and reproductive effects, and an increased risk of some cancers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government finalized phased-in limits on some types of PFAS in drinking water earlier this year. PFAS has been found in preliminary testing of Mount Rushmore drinking water and in the Big Sioux River. Senate Bill 163 would have required South Dakota fire departments future purchases of coats, coveralls, footwear, gloves, helmets, hoods and trousers to have a permanent label from the manufacturer identifying whether the material includes PFAS. Occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service, and the International Association of Firefighters attributes 66% of firefighter deaths between 2002 and 2019 to cancer. Rep. David Kull, R-Brandon, carried the bill on the House floor, saying that the legislation would send a message to companies to develop PFAS-free gear and protect South Dakota firefighters from increased cancer risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Fire Protection Association, a nonprofit organization that develops and publishes safety codes and standards, issued new standards in August 2024. The standards require manufacturer-suppliers of firefighting safety gear to test their materials for some types of PFAS. Lawmakers who spoke against the bill largely cited opposition from local fire chiefs, saying the legislation would amount to government overreach by the state. The state Department of Public Safety and the South Dakota Joint Fire Council opposed the legislation during its committee hearing. Were going to make them spend more money on things that they could buy cheaper because it doesnt have a label, said Rep. Kevin Van Diepen, R-Huron, and were going to force them to do this. The House voted 57-13 to defeat the legislation. Let us know what you think... CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Deputies in Charles County are asking for the communitys help in searching for an 86-year-old man who disappeared from his home in Waldorf over a month ago. Richard Wilson Jr., 86, who has Alzheimers disease, was last seen by family members on the morning of Jan. 25. According to the Charles County Sheriffs Office (CCSO), at around 6:51 p.m. on Jan. 25, deputies responded to Sweetbay Street after a family member discovered that Wilson was not home. That same day, the sheriffs office launched an extensive search using helicopters and boats to find Wilson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search prompted multiple law enforcement agencies to respond, including Prince Georges County police, Maryland State Police, Fairfax County police, Department of Natural Resources police and Maryland Transportation Authority police. Search crews also used K-9s, but were unsuccessful in locating Wilson. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Charles County deputies search for missing 86-year-old man with Alzheimers disease The CCSO noted that during the initial days of the search, investigators used Wilsons cell phone information, which indicated that he had possibly gone to the Tantallon area of Prince Georges County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After going door-to-door and canvassing the area, detectives recovered surveillance video showing Wilson walking on Swann Creek Road in Fort Washington. This is more than 10 miles away from his home in Waldorf. As the search for Wilson continues, deputies urge residents and business owners in the Fort Washington area to check their property and review security camera footage that may have captured Wilson. Officials said this would help investigators establish a clear timeline of his movements since his disappearance. According to the sheriffs office, Wilson was last seen wearing a tan winter coat, blue hat and blue jeans. He is around 56 tall and weighs 150 lbs. Deputies are searching for 86-year-old Richard Wilson Jr. after he went missing from a Waldorf home on Saturday, Jan. 25. (Courtesy: Charles County Sheriffs Office via X/@CCSOMD) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who believes they may have seen Wilson or has information that can help detectives should call 301-609-6453 or their local police department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. LABETTE COUNTY, Kan. Labette County officials are still searching for an elderly man who reportedly fell from his tractor Tuesday into a creek near his home. The Labette County sheriff says local and state officials are searching for 82-year-old Lynn Gregory. Gregory was reportedly trapped in his tractor in a low-water crossing along Elm Creek, which runs through his property at 7038 Ness Road near Edna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office says a number of area fire and EMS agencies are helping in the search, along with Kansas Wildlife and Parks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. The leader of a national bank fraud scheme pleads guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Amber Towndrow pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering after ripping off people of $1.4 million. According to court records, Towndrow and coconspirator, Darby Canfield, got the personal information of 19 people across the country and registered businesses in Washington. Through identity theft, those charged opened business accounts and linked those accounts with the victims personal account and would then transfer money into the fraudulent account. Towndrow and Canfield would then use the business account debit card to buy money orders and make high-value purchases. The plea agreement details how Towndrow defrauded a victim living in Illinois by creating a company registered in Colorado. Towndrow listed the Illinois victim as the registered owner of the company. Towndrow traveled to a Chase branch in Seattle where she opened a business banking account for the fake company. Towndrow and her coconspirators used online banking to transfer $131,709 from the Illinois victim account to the business account. Towndrow used the business debit card to purchase 128 U.S. Postal Service money orders totaling $126,653. The money orders were made payable to various people the co-schemers could impersonate with their fake IDs. The conspirators then cashed several of the money orders at various locations in the Seattle area. U.S. Attorneys Office, Western District of Washington The U.S. Attorneys Office of the Western District of Washington said the scheme affected people in Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Indiana,and Washington D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the plea agreement, Towndrow said she opened at least 50 business bank accounts and tried to get $1.4 million but only got $664,000. Without the guilty plea, Towndrow would have faced up to 30 years for bank fraud, 20 years for money laundering and two years for identity theft. Prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than eight years in prison if Towndrow agreed to plead guilty. Towndrow is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2025. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Get ready music lovers, theres a new record company moving into the Bluff City. The independent record label Light in the Attic just announced plans to move its distribution center to memphis. The Seattle-based label was founded in 2002 and first specialized in re-releasing vinyls from hip-hop pioneers. The company has since expanded, releasing its own catalog along with distributing over 100 different labels to record stores and retailers across the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warehouses intended location has not yet been released, but the record company is currently hiring. Click here to view job openings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A baby allegedly kidnapped was located safe in Detroit, MI. Uncle Kracker, TLC named in Lallycooler festival lineup The fugitive task force began looking for Betty Cross, who is accused of kidnapping 7-month-old Chosen Butler. SFPD spokesman Sam Clemens said at Thursdays police briefing that the Fugitive Task Force received information that Cross may have been in Detroit and notified the Michigan authorities. Cross was then arrested and found with an accomplice, another Sioux Falls woman Taylor Edwards, who was arrested on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clemens said police believe Edwards helped Cross bring the baby across state lines. KELOLANDs Dan Santella will have a full report both on-air and online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration suffered another legal blow in its efforts to freeze federal funding for programs that do not align with the Republican's agenda on Thursday when a second judge blocked it from implementing a sweeping pause on spending on grants, loans and other financial support. U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, at the behest of Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia, issued an injunction blocking the administration from reissuing or adopting the funding freeze first announced in a since-rescinded memo from the White House budget office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell's decision built on an earlier temporary restraining order he issued on January 31, and came after another judge in Washington on February 25 issued a preliminary injunction that similarly blocked what she called an "ill-conceived," abrupt pause on up to $3 trillion in federal funding. McConnell, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, said the Trump administration had "put itself above Congress." "The Executive's categorical freeze of appropriated and obligated funds fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government," McConnell wrote. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the administration is expected to appeal the decision, after having already unsuccessfully sought to put a prior order of McConnell's on hold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state attorneys general sued after the White House's Office of Management and Budget on January 27 issued a memo directing federal agencies to temporarily pause spending on federal financial assistance programs. That memo said the freeze was necessary while the administration reviewed grants and loans to ensure they are aligned with Trump's executive orders, including ones ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs and directing a pause on spending on projects seeking to combat climate change. OMB withdrew that memo after it became the subject of two lawsuits, one before McConnell by the state attorneys general and the other before U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington by groups representing nonprofits and small businesses. The plaintiffs argued the memo's withdrawal did not mean the end of the policy itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They pointed to a social media post on X by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shortly after the memo was withdrawn saying: "This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo." (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot) A second federal judge indefinitely blocked President Trumps blanket freeze on federal grants and loans, saying the administration put itself above Congress. U.S. District Judge John McConnells preliminary injunction in favor of Democratic state attorneys general adds to a near-identical block imposed by a federal judge in the nations capital late last month. Both lawsuits commenced after Trumps Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a now-rescinded memo that instructed federal agencies to pause grants and loans, a sweeping freeze that covered trillions of dollars of federal spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under McConnells order, the Trump administration is indefinitely prohibited from implementing an across-the-board funding freeze under a different name. Agencies can still limit funding access on an individualized basis under applicable laws and regulations. The Executives categorical freeze of appropriated and obligated funds fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government, wrote McConnell, an appointee of former President Obama. Led by New York, the lawsuit is brought by Democratic attorneys general in Washington, D.C., and 22 states as well as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D). It is one of three lawsuits challenging the rescinded OMB memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late last month, a judge similarly agreed to block Trumps funding freeze plans in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of nonprofits. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has brought yet another lawsuit but has not yet sought an immediate injunction. And beyond the battles over Trumps across-the-board pause, groups have filed lawsuits over Trumps efforts to reshape specific areas of federal spending. Lawsuits are currently pending over the administrations efforts to freeze foreign aid contracts, halt refugee resettlement program funding and cap indirect costs in research grants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An unvaccinated adult in New Mexico tested positive for measles after dying, state health officials announced Thursday. The patient would be the second measles death in 2025 and the second in the United States in a decade following an unvaccinated school-age child who died in late February in nearby West Texas amid a growing outbreak of nearly 160 people identified as infected from the highly contagious disease. The outbreak, which is suspected to have spread to eastern New Mexico, is the nation's largest in six years. The New Mexico resident didn't seek medical care before dying, but the person tested positive for measles, according to a state Department of Health news release. The person's cause of death is under investigation. Devonay Pena comforts her 13-month-old daughter, Jaqi Herrera, after Herrera received her first dose of the MMR vaccine at the City of Lubbock Health Department in Lubbock, Texas on Feb. 27, 2025. State health officials released no further details about the deceased person, though officials said the new case was not among the state's nine prior identified cases. Health department spokesperson David Morgan said this would be the state's first measles death in at least 40 years, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has records dating back to 1985. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles, Dr. Chad Smelser, the deputy state epidemiologist for New Mexico's health department, said in a statement. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease. All of New Mexico's 10 cases six adults and four children under the age of 17 are in Lea County, which borders the Texas outbreak's epicenter in Gaines County. In Texas, there have been at least 22 hospitalizations. Before the New Mexico resident who died, the state's nine previous cases didn't require hospitalization. Cases have been overwhelmingly among people who were not vaccinated or had no known vaccination status. Officials and experts have stressed vaccination is the best protection against measles. This story was updated to clarify the cause of death. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Unvaccinated New Mexico resident dies, tests positive for measles The political action committee started by Elon Musk has launched its first commercial, highlighting four long years of humiliation under the Biden administration. America PAC aired the ad on Wednesday, shortly after Donald Trump delivered his address to a joint session of Congress. After four long years of humiliation, a failure at home, and embarrassment abroad, our long, national nightmare is finally over, the ads voiceover stated. Strength is back, common sense is back, America is back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Playing underneath the voiceover is a compilation of clips, including of former president Joe Biden falling over, and other clips of former First Lady Jill Biden and former vice president Kamala Harris. The political action committee started by Elon Musk has launched its first commercial (AP) The minute-long commercial goes on to highlight Trumps actions on the southern border, energy and foreign policy, and efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, since he returned to office on January 20. It claims the new administration has delivered the lowest level of illegal immigration in history with criminal deportations and the hunting down of cartels. He's draining the swamp, slashing billions in waste at home, while closing the spigot of American tax dollars to foreign regimes, the ad says. Hes taking on the ruling elite and returning the rule of the people. Musk was in attendance on Tuesday as Trump delivered his remarks to Congress, and received a shoutout from the president and a standing ovation from Republicans in the chamber (via REUTERS) America PAC played a large role in supporting the president ahead of his victory in the November election. Musk vowed that the committee would continue to keep grinding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Normally, PACs go somewhat dormant after a big election, he wrote on X on November 12. @America PAC is going to do the opposite and keep grinding, increasing Republican registrations in key districts around the country, in preparation for special elections and the midterms. Normally, PACs go somewhat dormant after a big election.@America PAC is going to do the opposite and keep grinding, increasing Republican registrations in key districts around the country, in preparation for special elections and the midterms. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 12, 2024 The worlds wealthiest man was in attendance on Tuesday as Trump delivered his remarks to Congress, and he received a shoutout from the president and a standing ovation from Republicans in the chamber. However, Senator Elissa Slotkin, who delivered the Democratic rebuttal to Trumps address, criticized Musk and his efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency, which has continued on its mission to slash the federal workforce and reduce alleged wasteful spending. Is there anyone in America who is comfortable with him and his gang of 20-year-olds using their own computer servers to poke through your tax returns, your health information and your bank accounts? Slotkin said in her rebuttal. WEDNESDAY, 3/5/25, 6:52 p.m. LAWRENCE, Wis. (WFRV) All I-41 Northbound Lanes at Little Rapids Road south of De Pere are reopened after a semi-crash was cleared. The closures lasted roughly 83 minutes. UPDATE: Semi crash in Brown County on I-41 closes left northbound lane, slowing traffic WEDNESDAY, 3/5/25, 6:30 p.m. LAWRENCE, Wis. (WFRV) The left lane on I-41 Northbound at Little Rapids Road just south of De Pere is still closed due to a semi-truck crash. The right lane is back open, as traffic is continuing to go slowly due to the conditions and crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story will continue to be updated as needed. Semi crash in Brown County on I-41 shutting down northbound lanes, slowing traffic WEDNESDAY, 3/5/25, 5:46 p.m. LAWRENCE, Wis. (WFRV) A semi jackknifed on I-41 North has caused lanes to close down south of De Pere near Little Rapids Road. According to WisDOT, all northbound lanes of I-41 North near De Pere are closed beyond the ramp from County S. A camera shows a jackknifed semi that appears to be blocking all lanes of traffic. (WFRV) Tow ban issued in Brown County due to winter storm WisDOT officials say that the Brown County Sheriffs Office is responding and expect lanes to be closed for roughly two hours. This is a developing story. Local 5 will provide an update when more information is provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. U.S. Sen. James Lankford didnt dodge DOGE questions during a press conference with Oklahoma news outlets on Wednesday. Speaking from his office in Washington, D.C., Lankford said hes trying to find fact from fiction on the federal Department of Government Efficiency's terminated office leases in Oklahoma, and also challenging some of the closings as well and having the ability to say, Hey, this is not an office that can just close. Over the past few weeks, The Oklahoman counted at least 15 federal office leases that have been terminated. Numerous people have been let go from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Weather Service in Oklahoma, among other offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lankford said the country is overdue for reinventing government, but it has to be done the right way, and it has to be strategic, such as considering the termination of employees. He added while the courts have said the federal government can fire employees, the legal authority to do something and should do something are not necessarily always the same thing. Sen. James Lankford speaks during a GOP watch party on election night in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Tinker Air Force Base cannot operate if rumored layoffs happen, Sen. Lankford says Recently, it was reported about 600 probationary employees would be laid off from Tinker Air Force Base. The source behind the story, Diana Hicks, is the national vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees for the 9th District. Hicks told The Oklahoman that even if the layoffs didn't happen Monday, she expected them sometime during the week. Tinker cannot operate if we lose 600 civilian employees. We will not be able to keep aircraft for the Air Force, Lankford said. He said he heard 1,000 employees could have faced potential termination from the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, which wouldnt be able to operate without them. There's not a thousand extra people there at Macalester. There's not six hundred extra people that are at Tinker. He said hes trying to do a person by person check on who is getting terminated. He did not agree with terminating people based on blanket criteria, because people will need to be rehired for the same positions other people were fired for because that position is actually needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lankford said when his office has heard about lease terminations, theyve asked for the exact address in an effort to find out if its an actual office or a storage unit connected to the office. Were not getting an answer on that yet, he said, adding its difficult for U.S. legislators to get people on the phone because the Senate hasnt confirmed all of the secretary nominations yet, and theres very little political staff. Lankford said when he found out the Oklahoma City Federal Building was listed among 443 properties by the General Services Administration as not critical to core operations and should be sold, he immediately questioned it but couldnt get anyone on the phone to answer questions. The decision comes just before the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. You cant just dispose of federal property, Lankford said, adding theres a long legal process that has to take place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lankford said the U.S. Attorneys Office in Muskogee wont be closed, after his office followed up on the termination. The senator acknowledged there are mistakes made on some of the DOGE decisions, and said he thought the department is running faster than theyve had time to be able to investigate. He compared the decisions to that of former President Bill Clintons effort to reinvent government and removed about 400,000 federal workers and jobs over eight years, but the Trump Administration is trying to do that in eight weeks. We want to be able to make sure that we're paying attention, that somebody's not making a mistake, because they just don't know and they're not actually following through, he said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sen. Lankford on DOGE: 'This is not an office that can just close' A trail at Jester Park near Saylorville Lake on Nov. 6, 2024. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Senate Natural Resources Committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would bar the Iowa Department of Natural Resources from purchasing land at auction. Senate Study Bill 1198 would prohibit DNR from acquiring land in Iowa unless it is from a willing donor or seller. The bill would also stop DNR from purchasing land above the appraised value from a nonprofit corporation that had purchased the land from auction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Weve been down this path before, Sen. Tom Shipley said in his opening remarks on the bill, which resembles bills from past legislative sessions. Shipley said there are a number of people in his district, in southwestern Iowa, who are very unhappy with the state and federal governments overstep of land ownership and control. I have yet to get more than one email from my district thats opposed to us doing this, Shipley said. Sen. Mike Zimmer, D-DeWitt, said his inbox has been jammed with comments from constituents opposed to the bill. Zimmer said some of these emails said the bill intruded on individual property rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If an owner wants to sell their property to whomever they want to do, they should have that right to do that, Zimmer said. On the rare occasion that the DNR might be able to put together a financial package to actually show up to an auction and bid on a piece of ground, they should be able to do that. Shipley clarified the bill does not restrict a seller from willingly selling to the DNR, and also said the DNR has not bought land at auction for 20 years. Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, opposed the bill and it would take a lot of years and a lot of money for the DNR to become a real threat in terms of land ownership. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the State of Iowa owns around 400,000 acres of land, which equates to roughly 1% of Iowas nearly 36 million acres of land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I hear from Iowans repeatedly over and over, the one thing that they want more than anything is more access to public land for recreation, for hunting, for fishing, Trone Garriott said. Its something that Iowans continue to show up for and speak out for so every time bills like this show up, I gotta vote no. Trone Garriott, Zimmer and committee ranking Democrat Sen. Art Staed voted no on the bill, which passed with an amendment striking a section that provided an exemption to auction purchases if it advanced a conservation or recreation plan and was approved by the Natural Resources Commission. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (Photo by Getty images) The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee recommended approval Wednesday of two bills that would reform the parole process for medical and geriatric parole petitions. It appears to be the first time Senate Bill 181 has made it out of committee, after four years of trying. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Shelly Hettleman (D-Baltimore County), would give long-serving or ill inmates a chance to take their case directly to the states Parole Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill originally called for incarcerated individuals who were 60 years old and had spent at least 15 years in prison to seek parole and, if turned down, they could reapply every two years. The committee Wednesday raised the age to 65, with 20 years incarcerated, and a five-year pause between petitions. But another hearing could be sooner if the commission determines that extraordinary and compelling circumstances justify the subsequent parole hearing. The committee also amended the geriatric inmate portion of the bill to include someone with a condition that substantially diminishes the ability to provide self-care. That and a few other phrases mirror federal law when it comes to compassionate release. The bill is supported by the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and Attorney General Anthony Brown. Sen. William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery), chair of the committee, said a work group with senators, members of the Public Defenders Office and states attorneys agreed on the amendments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone walked away in an agreement and has blessed off on this, he said. I think its amazing. Miracles do happen, said Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince Georges). Muse and Smith added themselves as co-sponsors of the bill, along with Sen. Chris West (R-Baltimore County and Carroll) and Democratic Sens. Sara Love of Montgomery, Charles Sydnor III of Baltimore County, Nick Charles of Prince Georges and Shaneka Henson of Anne Arundel. Sen. Mary-Dulany James (D-Harford) was the only committee member to vote against the amendments. Muse sponsored the second bill, Senate Bill 648, long sponsored by former Sen. Jill P. Carter. The bill would remove the governor from the process of approving parolee for a geriatric or medical parole release. The legislature had approved removing the governor from the parole process four years ago, but Carter said last year that an oversight at the allowed the governor to remain a part of the process for medical parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years measure would let the Parole Commission to decide whether a person can be released whose poor health condition pose no danger to society. As a condition of release, the commission may require that person to be placed in a hospital, hospice or other housing. Both measures are scheduled to be read on the Senate floor next week. By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Republicans pushed for Congress to codify spending cuts identified by billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency on Wednesday, after the Supreme Court declined to let President Donald Trump withhold payments to foreign aid organizations. After a lunch meeting with Musk, Republican lawmakers acknowledged the 5-4 court ruling did not bode well for White House hopes of taking unilateral action to cut spending allocated by Congress through a controversial process known as impoundment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is a realization going to set in that Congress has to be a part of that," Senate Republican Rand Paul told reporters. "I love what Elon is doing. I love the cutting of the waste. I love finding all the crazy crap that we're spending overseas. But to make it real, to make it go beyond the moment of the day, it needs to come back," the Kentucky Republican said. Republicans said Musk, a top adviser to Trump, was "elated" by Paul's suggestion that the White House request congressional approval to rescind spending through a legislative process that would circumvent the Senate's 60-vote filibuster. "He was, like, so happy," said Senator Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What we've got to do as Republicans is capture their work product, put it in a bill and vote on it. So, the White House, I'm urging them to come up with a rescission package," the South Carolina Republican added. The rescission process, which Congress established in 1974, allows presidents to cancel allocated funds through legislation approved by simple majorities in Senate and House of Representatives. The procedure was last used under former President Bill Clinton. An attempt at rescission during Trump's first term failed in the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson seemed open to the possibility, telling reporters: "We'll do whatever the White House requests. It's a little premature to expect that. But that's certainly a possibility and one that we would entertain, if it's appropriate." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk's DOGE has rattled members of the public by moving to cut spending programs, eliminating government contracts and ousting tens of thousands of federal workers, resulting in stormy town hall meetings with lawmakers that led Republican leaders this week to discourage open public forums. Lawmakers said Musk and his team are working on a communications system that would enable members of Congress with questions or concerns about DOGE's activity to reach out quickly to the team of the unofficial entity. Republicans said Musk offered no specific figure for the amount of spending DOGE has identified as evidence of waste, fraud and abuse. The only official window into DOGE's effort to slash spending and the federal workforce is a website that is marked by major errors, including hundreds of deleted claims of savings, according to a Reuters analysis of the data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "DOGE is doing a lot of good things, and some things they need to change," said Graham, who told reporters that Musk acknowledged that some things need to be fixed. "Some of them probably have gone too far. The probationary status ... we need to revisit that. I'm very reassured by hearing him. I mean, he wants to do logical, rational things, and the system needs to be fine-tuned." (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone and Diane Craft) The Senate Education Appropriations subcommittee presented its budget recommendation for the Oklahoma State Department of Education Wednesday, which nixed a $3 million request by the agency to place Bibles in classrooms. In January, Walters presented his agency's proposed budget to the subcommittee, which included $3 million to place Bibles in classrooms. The request was not considered by the subcommittee, said its chairman, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, Wednesday during the Senate Appropriations committee meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Lawsuit filings confirm Ryan Walters' agency tried to buy Trump Bibles a second time OSDE plans to distribute Bibles to every US government AP class in Oklahoma The subcommittee's budget recommendation came as the state education agency announced Wednesday that it's distributing Bibles to every Advanced Placement U.S. Government classroom across Oklahoma. Walters announced in November 2024 that the agency purchased more than 500 Bibles for AP U.S. Government classrooms. In late January, Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, R-Norman, asked the superintendent whether the Bibles had been disbursed to classrooms. At the time, Walters said his agency was working on it. "Students need to understand the foundation of American History," Walters said in a news release Wednesday. "That's the Bible, the Constitution, and The Declaration of Independence." Gov. Stitt echoes lawmakers that the state should utilize free Bible apps instead of buying Bibles Shortly after Walters' announcement, Gov. Kevin Stitt was asked during his weekly news conference about his thoughts regarding state funding being allocated toward placing Bibles in classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's why I believe in school choice," Stitt said. "We love Christian schools and Catholic schools, and that's why we passed the first ever religious charter school." More: Want the Bible in public school classrooms? There's an app for that The governor said he's heard arguments against Walters' $3 million proposal that question the education department's refusal to consider free Bible apps. He mentioned the YouVersion Bible App created by popular Oklahoman Bobby Gruenewald. "I'm sure most kids have the Bible App on their phone," Stitt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The superintendent's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The subcommittee also left out a $500,000 request for firearms safety training to allow teachers to carry firearms in classrooms along with a $1 million request to fund the recruitment and credentialing of retired law enforcement and military veterans to become educators. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters' $3 million Bible request nixed in Senate committee SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The South Dakota Senate voted Wednesday to pass a bill considered to be a compromise between supporting State Library services and reducing part of the state governments budget. Lawmakers voted unanimously on an amended version of the bill, which now heads to Gov. Larry Rhodens desk. House Bill 1052 on CO2 pipelines passed. Now what? House Bill 1041, in its original version, cut significant programs from the State Library, including support for summer reading programs, Interlibrary Loan and personnel training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An amendment by Republican Rep. Terri Jorgenson restored most of those programs while still reducing costs during a budget deficit year. HB 1041 goes hand in hand with the proposed cuts to the state budget by former Gov. Kristi Noem. During her budget address in December, Noem recommended a cut of $1.4 million in federal aid, $1.3 million in state aid and 12 full-time equivalent positions. 30-year-old sentenced to a year for beating girlfriend Jorgensons amendment reallocates funds and allows the state to maintain the $1.4 million in federal funds, keeping the programs at risk of being gutted. Most of the things that [lawmakers] received emails on with people requesting they be maintained, theyve been worked out in this compromise, Republican Sen. Mykala Voita said. I think that it is a great bill. Were giving them a little bit of a trim back on their budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the original bill was working its way through committees, President of the South Dakota Library Association Elizabeth Fox and multiple local libraries testified against it. Kurtenbach leaves as CEO of Daktronics Fox told KELOLAND News in an interview on Wednesday the library association is now happy with the amendment. As written now, this bill works for the libraries of South Dakota, Fox said. I believe it will work for the state government as well. I think this is a really good compromise between virtually wiping [the state library] out and completely restoring it to where it was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill does still cut some services from the State Library, including a few research databases, state document archives and the governor-appointed State Library board. Fox said the board had a larger role many years ago when they handled federal grants. Now, they operate as more of an advisory board. Fox says its not a bad thing that the library board is being cut. However, Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith noted his concern with cutting the board. That decision-making body of the board, it worries me a little bit because they were from all over our state and were able to then disseminate information but also bring back information, Smith added. People saying it wasnt working that well, but thats because the board was hobbled. In the future, I think we should look at that and I think we should pay attention to that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite maintaining a large amount of programs, the State Library is still looking at cuts of around $825,000. The state budget will be one of the last things the Legislature votes on this session. We recognize that cuts have to be made because revenues are down and thats just the way life is, Fox said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham expects US President Donald Trump to impose new sanctions on Russias already weak economy if Vladimir Putin refuses to come to the negotiating table. Source: Lindsey Graham on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Grahams statement was prompted by Putins remarks on Thursday, 6 March, in which the Russian leader stated that Russia would seek a peace settlement that guarantees its long-term security and would not retreat from its territorial gains in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graham noted that in the past 48 hours, Ukraine has made significant announcements regarding a ceasefire, a resource extraction agreement and its willingness to engage in peace talks. However, "Putin has been defiant and resistant publicly to President Trumps overtures". Quote: "If Putin refuses to seriously come to the peace table, I hope and expect that President Trump would unleash more economic sanctions on Russias banking and energy sectors, and if necessary, apply massive tariffs. The impact on Russias already weak economy will force them to the table." More details: Graham emphasised that it is time to end the war between Russia and Ukraine "justly and honorably, as President Trump is trying to do". Background: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Thursday that the US is prepared to go "all in" on sanctions against Russian energy resources if it would contribute to achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine. Meanwhile, US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg reiterated on Thursday, 6 March, that the Trump administrations new approach to Russia involves a reset in relations with Moscow. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing is responsible for overseeing Iowa's nursing homes. (Photo illustration via Getty Images; logo courtesy of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing) Fourteen bills related to nursing home oversight were introduced in the Iowa Senate this week, although none are expected to win approval. At the beginning of the 2025, Senate President Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, told Iowa Public Radio she didnt anticipate any action on nursing home regulation, saying the state was already doing a good job overseeing the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to the session, Sen. Claire Celsi, a Polk County Democrat, had called for stricter oversight and increased enforcement of nursing home regulations. On Wednesday, just ahead of this weeks deadline for approving non-appropriations bills, she introduced 14 separate bills dealing with nursing homes. State Sen. Claire Celsi is a Democrat from West Des Moines. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Legislature) Celsi acknowledged that since the GOP controls both the House and Senate, it will be difficult to have the bills considered and discussed this session, let alone voted on, but said shes prepared to pursue the matter. Were not going to drop this issue, she said. Even though its an uphill battle, this is something that still needs to be handled and were going to shame the hell out of people until they start, you know, introducing some of this stuff. It might take forever, but were not going to give up. One of the 14 bills, Senate File 532, is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that would increase the penalties imposed for certain regulatory violations and would prohibit any Medicaid-certified home in Iowa from requiring residents or their families to agree to arbitration should they seek to make any claims for negligent care. In recent years, dozens of lawsuits filed against nursing homes have been tossed out of Iowa courts due to arbitration agreements that residents or their guardians signed at the time of admission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The bill would also make it a serious regulatory violation for any facility to retaliate against an employee or resident for filing a quality-of-care complaint with the state or cooperating with state investigators. Senate File 532 would also provide a $600,000 increase in state funding, which would generate additional funding from the federal government, to pay for 30 more care-facility inspectors to visit assisted living centers and skilled nursing facilities. John Hale owns the Hale Group with Terri Hale. (Photo courtesy of John and Terri Hale) John Hale, a consultant and an advocate for Iowa seniors, said the bills introduced Wednesday present an opportunity to do what Iowans are asking elected officials to do to discuss and pass bills that actually help people, that make the lives of Iowans a little better, and that give taxpayers assurances that their dollars are being well used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the bills, Senate File 527, would establish minimum staffing levels in Iowa nursing homes. Those levels would match those set under current federal rules approved by the Biden administration, which the Trump administration is widely expected to eliminate. According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 14% of Iowas 422 nursing facilities were cited for insufficient staffing in fiscal year 2023. That was more than double the national average, which was 5.9%. Only five other states Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico and Oregon had a worse record of compliance with the sufficient-staffing requirement. Dean Lerner, who headed the state inspections department under Democratic Gov. Chet Culver, said the bill is necessary to protect seniors from insufficient staffing given the potential rollback of federal regulations. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird have gone out of their way to kill the recent federal minimum staffing standards rule for nursing homes, Lerner said. Republicans in Congress are also attempting to kill the rule. Nearly every resident in every nursing home will share their daily struggles with having enough trained, caring staff to help them. The Democrats care about these residents, the Republicans care about industrys campaign contributions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the prospects of the 14 new bills, Hale said that if legislators truly care and are on the side of the residents, the bills will move forward. If they really dont care and fall on the side of nursing home operators and owners, the bills will die. Every Iowan needs to watch what happens to these bills and judge their legislators accordingly. Among the 14 bills Celsi introduced on Wednesday: New levels of oversight: Senate File 539 would create a Long-Term Care Facility Safety Council to establish standards for nursing homes and review the licensing of facilities repeatedly cited for serious violations. Taxpayer recoveries: Senate File 538 would establish a working group to study the potential recovery of Medicaid payouts after a care facility is closed or sold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cameras in rooms: Senate File 537 would bar care facilities from prohibiting the installation of video cameras in nursing home residents rooms by the residents or their guardians. Its similar to House File 664, which has not advanced in the House since it was introduced on Feb. 28. Legislation along these lines has been vigorously opposed by the industry in years past. More ombudsmen: Senate File 536 would increase the number of regional long-term care ombudsmen working for the state and would require them to prioritize on-site visits to nursing homes that have recently changed ownership or been taken over by private equity firms. Ownership changes: Senate File 535 would require a more detailed state review of change-of-ownership applications by nursing homes and would involve a review of the new owners compliance with state and federal regulations in other jurisdictions. It would also increase the amount of money the new owner is required to have in escrow to ensure there is sufficient cash on hand for the continuation of services to residents. Private equity ownership: Senate File 533 would bar the state from approving any change of ownership that result in a nursing home being acquired by a private equity fund or real estate investment trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taxpayer dollars for lobbying: Senate File 531 would prohibit care facilities from using Medicaid dollars to pay for industry-association dues and lobbying expenses. Around $2.3 million taxpayer dollars annually are funneled through membership dues to the Iowa Health Care Association, Lerner said, noting that the head of the IHCA was paid $780,000 in 2023. That association represents the interests of for-profit nursing homes: more taxpayer money and less government oversight. Residents health, safety, and welfare take a back seat to funding and accountability. Caregiver minimum wage: Senate File 530 would establish a new, minimum hourly wage of $15 for direct-care workers in nursing homes, with increases of $1 per year, to at least $20 per hour by the year 2031. Personal needs allowance: Senate 528 would increase, from $50 to $85, the personal needs allowance collected each month by Medicaid beneficiaries in nursing homes. A similar bill, introduced earlier this year, would increase the allowance to $65. Iowa lawmakers havent increased the personal needs allowance for nursing home residents since 2001. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is speaking out after President Trumps address to Congress Tuesday night in D.C. In a virtual meeting, Markey shared his plans to block President Trumps agenda. The call also included other Massachusetts members of the democratic party. Senator Markey said he has high hopes of defending democracy from D.C. He added that the goal will continue to be to move toward technologies like wind and solar battery storage, and electric vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im voting against every single Trump nominee, he says. The department of energy and EPA and all the other energy agencies, its not a cabinet, its just a cartel they are putting together. The senator also thanked Bostons mayor Michelle Wu. She testified before Congress at a sanctuary cities hearing Wednesday. Markey hopes to defend mayor Wus plans to protect migrants. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Mar. 5BEMIDJI Bemidji's Indian Health Service office is listed on the Department of Government Efficiency's website as a potential lease termination in an effort to cut costs, leaving the future of the office unclear. U.S. Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar wrote a letter Tuesday demanding answers about the possible lease termination for the office, which occupies a 4,896-square-foot building located at 2225 Cooperative Court NW near Beltrami Electric. The IHS office joins a list of 748 potential lease terminations throughout the country. According to the DOGE website, terminating the lease would save the government $178,554. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the IHS website, the Bemidji office provides health care services for 34 tribal nations and four urban health programs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The office operates three federal/direct service programs on behalf of the Leech Lake, Red Lake and White Earth Nations. These programs Cass Lake Hospital, Red Lake Hospital and White Earth Health Center are staffed by about 500 federal employees and Public Health Service commissioned officers. In a letter to General Services Administration Administrator Stephen Ehikian and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Smith and Klobuchar "highlighted the devastating impact this decision could have on the health and well-being of thousands of Native Americans across the region," a release said. "Thousands of members of federally recognized tribal nations receive health care within the Bemidji Area Office's purview," the letter reads. "This includes emergency care, substance use disorder treatment, mental health care, primary, specialty, and dental care, and much more. Without an operational area office, recipients of this care will face immediate disruptions in care and health consequences. It is unconscionable to risk the health care of children and families in this way." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, Smith and Klobuchar noted that IHS services are provided under the federal government's trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations and that any disruption in operations could jeopardize essential medical services. They requested clarity on whether GSA intends to terminate the lease and if so, what plans exist to prevent service disruptions. "The Bemidji area is already the least resourced IHS service area, and putting the administration of those services into chaos as a result of this abrupt office closure will only exacerbate this disparity," the letter reads. "This is not in the spirit of making America healthy again." If youre heading up to the mountains in Southern California in the next couple of days, make sure to bring your chains, and your brains. Thats what one man, Jack, told KTLAs Megan Telles on Thursday morning in Wrightwood as piercing winds met heavy snowfall. More rain, snow, and now gusty winds in Southern Californias forecast Chains were required on California highways including the 18 and 38 in the San Bernardino Mountains. A map can be seen here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Winter Weather Warning was in effect for the mountain areas in Riverside and San Bernardino counties between the early morning hours Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday. Radar imaging showing snowfall in yellow and blue. (National Weather Service) According to the National Weather Service, the storm was mainly set to affect the cities of Big Bear Lake, Running Springs, Big Bear City, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline and Wrightwood. Areas above 4,500 feet can expect as much as 9 inches of snow accumulation on Thursday. Wind gusts could reach as high as 60 miles per hour. Several inches of snow landed in Wrightwood overnight as a NWS Winter Weather Warning is in place until Friday morning at 10 a.m. (KTLA) Several inches of snow landed in Wrightwood overnight as a NWS Winter Weather Warning is in place until Friday morning at 10 a.m. (KTLA) Of course, the heavy snowfall is a skier and snowboarder paradise. Mountain resorts in Big Bear received a healthy dose of fresh power ahead of Thursdays opening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain have received 5-7 inches of fresh snow across the board since the storm began last night, and a heavy storm continues to impact the area, Big Bear Mountain Resort said on X, formerly Twitter. Our seven day snow total is now 11 inches of fresh natural snow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. This article contains spoilers through the seventh episode of Severance, Season 2. The promise of Severance is a seductive one: The titular procedure separates a persons work self from the rest of their identity, granting them a literal work-life balance. Lumon, the biotech company that offers severancewhich involves implanting a microchip into employees brainsmarkets it as a method to free oneself of difficult feelings or experiences. What those who elect to undergo the process arent told is that their severed personalities, innies who toil away in Lumons offices, seem to be fully formed human beings of their own. But they have no free will, chained to a numbing in-office existence about which their outies remain oblivious. That reality has chilling ramifications for everyone directly affected by the procedure, which the show has only just begun to reveal in its second season. Neither severance nor Severance, we come to find out, was meant to offer an escape from anything. Much of Severances success rides on its cryptic, thematically rich world building, which invites viewers to form theories about nearly every aspect of the story it tells. Even some of the most basic elements of the plot remain opaquesuch as the purpose of the mundane computer tasks that some of the innies are asked to perform. (The show implies that their seemingly menial jobs at Lumon have an importance that extends outside the company itself; the tension ramps up when an especially productive employee named Mark, played by Adam Scott, begins to investigate the true fruits of his labor.) But beyond specific questions about what Lumon is really up to, Season 2 has inspired deep philosophical debates about what makes a person a person, rendered through the shows specific lens: Is a severed person home to many unique souls, or just one, fragmented into parts? Can an innie have a different fate from their outie? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executives in charge of Lumon have given no indication that theyve ever bothered to consider these questions. Those at the top seem to be preoccupied with the technologys mechanics, not its repercussions; they appear to be stress-testing the barriers between innies and outies. Season 2s devastating seventh episode, Chikhai Bardo, highlights this dehumanizing experiment with horrific detail. We see that Gemma (played by Dichen Lachman), Marks wife, presumed dead in the outside world, has been trapped on an inaccessible floor of Lumon. She is the subject of a cycle of emotionally taxing trials, while her husbands innie plugs away on a floor above hers. [Read: When work is a terrifying dystopia] The evaluations involve repeated severance of Gemmas brain, producing different personalities that are exposed to various forms of routine pain (such as dental work and tumultuous airplane rides); their responses are measured against the original Gemmas recollection of them. The end goal isnt clear, but it appears that Lumons scientists wish to ensure that an innie and outie cannot share memories. When one of Gemmas severed personas, a Lumon wellness counselor known as Ms. Casey, meets Marks innie in Season 1, they are strangers to each otherwhich would seem to confirm that the technology functions as intended. But even if they dont share each others memories, the innies and outies do have related desires. Mark, who chose to be severed in order to compartmentalize his grief over Gemmas death, falls for another innie, Helly (Britt Lower). Their colleague Irving (John Turturro), overwhelmed by his loneliness when outside Lumons confines, also develops feelings for someone. Dylan (Zach Cherry), whose outie is disillusioned by his suburban doldrums, finds a fanatic sort of motivation within the mysterious computer assignment his team is required to complete. And alongside pursuing a romance with Mark, Helly takes every opportunity to rebel against the companys bizarre rules and rituals; her outie is similarly headstrong, as she chafes under her despotic fathers authority. (He also happens to be Lumons CEO.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Innies and outies share elements of their foundational selves; as such, they not only have the same basic wants, but also seem to face the same fears and consequences. Marks budding relationship with Helly is threatened by his outies continued feelings for Gemma. Irving becomes despondent after learning that his innie lover has abruptly retiredand thus disappearedfrom Lumon. Dylan, despite the confidence his work has given him, begins to obsessively covet his outies family and home life. [Read: What are the puzzles of Severance about?] For each of the innie workers, the realization that their two halves share some core truths is both a comfort and a torment. They seem doomed to repeat patterns, unable to break free of them. Yet the show obscures whether innies and outies should be considered parts of a single being, making it difficult for viewers to know how to judge their behavior. If they can be considered independently of each other, one persona could be seen as more virtuous than the other. If so, perhaps an inniewho knows nothing of reality outside Lumons controlled environmentwould be more appreciative of the life that their outie seems to take for granted. Exploring these hypotheticals matters only to a point; their shared body will bear all of the outcomes regardless. That innies have some level of autonomy is good news for them, and bad news for Lumon, whose project to create powerless mind-serfs is looking more sinister by the episode. But there are limits to that self-determination; an outies problems are their innies, too. Severance began with a relatively simple promptif you could separate yourself from your dissatisfaction and pain, would that be enough to make you a happier person? The show seems to be delivering an uneasy verdict: New discomforts will only take their place. Article originally published at The Atlantic SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Federal cuts to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs are now threatening art programs in the Bay Area. A memo from the United States Department of Education forced the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to pause their Emerging Black Composers project. One of the programs recipients explained that without investment, he fears there will be a lack of representation in classical music, especially when young, Black talent is already so limited. 40-day Target boycott begins: Why are some shoppers fasting from the retailer? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intoxicating is the word I would use. It is incredible to have something you wrote be played by an orchestra, said Jens Ibsen of Berkeley, who was the programs 2022 winner. The Emerging Black Composers project launched in 2020 with the goal of commissioning 10 works by early-career Black American composers over 10 years. Now five years in, the project has awarded prizes to seven composers, including Ibsen, whose commissioned piece Drowned in Light was performed by the San Francisco Symphony in 2023. He says the program catapulted his career. Conservatory students depend on federally subsidized loans and grants to support their education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea that other people may not be able to participate in this is of course heartbreaking, its a butterfly effect. How many composers would have been chosen for this, and then how many people would have heard their pieces or heard that they won and then be inspired to put themselves to do similar things? he said. The San Francisco Symphony and Conservatory say they will continue the emerging composers project in the future though the details have yet to be ironed out. A spokesperson said in a statement: SFCM is committed to continuing its work in building an ever-more inclusive and welcoming community. This is an essential component of the conservatorys mission to advance music and education across the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The symphonys 2024 winners work will premiere later this season, showing that young talent cannot be silenced. Ibsen will perform his latest work with the SF Chamber Orchestra in October. The SF symphony will reveal how to push the program forward in the near future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The missing baby and the woman suspected of kidnapping him were found in Detroit, Michigan, on Wednesday, Sioux Falls Police said. 30-year-old sentenced to a year for beating girlfriend The baby, Chosen Butler, age 7 months, appeared unharmed Michigan authorities said. Butler was reported missing on February 28 and last seen February 27. Accused kidnapper Betty J. Cross is being held in Michigan. A warrant for first-degree kidnapping had been issued for Cross on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The baby is in protective custody in Michigan. South Dakota Department of Social Services will facilitate his return to South Dakota. According to court documents, Cross had been caring for Butler since August. Child Protective Services told Cross the day before he went missing that he would be placed with another family. When CPS arrived at her apartment, neither Cross or the 7-month-old were anywhere to be found. Her 2008 red Jeep Liberty was also gone. Courts documents say camera footage showed three people carrying multiple bags and blankets from Crosss apartment last Thursday evening. One of them was seen carrying a child that looked like Butler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Sioux Falls police tried to call Cross, but her phone was inactive. So, they issued a warrant. Situations like this obviously arent very common, Minnehaha County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jeff Gromer said. The more serious the crime or more serious the violation or the person that were looking for on the warrant, that really changes the practices as to how were going to go about serving the warrant. Court records say CPS has had no contact with Cross for almost a week. KELOLAND News will have more coverage on this alleged kidnapping case on-air and online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A Nebraska lawmaker who is seeking to end online and mail-in voter registration and do away with "no-excuse" early and mail-in voting in the state insisted Wednesday that his efforts are only "meant to bolster the confidence of Nebraskans in the security of our elections." At a public hearing on his proposed law Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue told lawmakers he is confident in Nebraska's top election administrator, the company that supplies the state's election equipment and the integrity of the state's elections. "My goal in introducing this bill is not to rehash past elections or to criticize any state officer or agency," Holdcroft told the Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs committee. "It is simply to give peace of mind to the electorate in our state regarding the security of our elections." But the Nebraskans who lined up at Wednesday's hearing in support of Holdcroft's proposal (LB541) offered no such niceties. Instead, they put forward a chorus of misinformation as they urged lawmakers to curb mail-in voting in Nebraska, citing unfounded claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election and fears over the use of "ballot mules" that have been debunked by local election officials while accusing election software companies and administrators of wrongdoing. Nebraska's top election officials, who work for Republican Secretary of State Bob Evnen, have repeatedly assured lawmakers the state has the gold standard" in election integrity and there has been no credible evidence of widespread fraud in the state. And state voters in 2022 approved a change to the state's constitution to require voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot in elections going forward, a policy implemented by the Republican-dominated Legislature. But election integrity remains a platform issue for the Nebraska GOP and for Holdcroft, whose proposal would end online voter registration that has been in place in Nebraska since 2015 and halt mail-in registration that has been available for even longer while limiting who would be allowed to cast mail-in ballots in elections in Nebraska, which for now is one of 28 states that offer "no-excuse" absentee voting. The Republican lawmaker's proposal would instead require voters applying to cast early ballots to have an eligible reason to do so, including being age 80 years or older, blind, a member of the U.S. military or military spouse, expecting to be out of town on Election Day or being unable to travel to a polling place for health or religious reasons, among other exceptions. The bill would also require election administrators to hand count at least 25% of votes cast to verify machine-counted results. And the bill would require the state to use ballots with "covert watermarks" as an added layer of security. At Wednesday's hearing, Holdcroft indicated he would abandon the portion of the bill calling for an end to online voter registration and instead focus on reining in the use of mail-in ballots. His proposal would not halt mail-in voting in Nebraska's rural counties with 10,000 or fewer residents that have since 2005 been permitted to conduct all-mail elections, only affecting the state's most populous counties, which tend to be more Democratic. More than a dozen Nebraskans spoke in opposition to Holdcroft's proposal, including poll workers, civic engagement groups, Deputy Secretary of State Wayne Bena and the election commissioners in the state's two most populous counties. Election officials said the onerous hand-counting requirements in the bill would cost taxpayers millions of dollars, while advocates warned that reducing mail-in voting would result in lower voter turnout. "This bill is offering solutions to a whole host of problems that simply do not exist," Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said. "In short, the laws we have are working well for election officials, candidates, campaigns and, most importantly, the voters of Nebraska." But the laws are not working for backers of Holdcroft's bill, like Connie Reinke, who suggested without evidence that high voter turnout in Nebraska's most populous counties in 2020 was evidence of fraud at the hands of hackers. "This is a massive cheat," she said. "It couldn't happen with just random people cheating. This had to be planned." Gus Ponstingl, a Republican who described himself as an election observer, told lawmakers there are "two major styles of cheating in the election: there's the Democrat style and the Republican style." He said Democrats often use "ballot mules," offering a handout to lawmakers that included the photo of a young voter returning his mail-in ballot to a Lincoln drop box in November. Conspiracy theorists labeled the voter a "ballot mule" in a viral video that was debunked by Lancaster County's Republican election commissioner. He said Republicans rig elections "through vote manipulation" that he said "candidates themselves may not be actively involved in." He pointed to "odd patterns" in Lancaster County's election results, where he questioned how Republican Congressman Mike Flood, who made Lincoln a focal point of his campaign and squared off with an underfunded opponent, outpaced President Donald Trump and performed nearly as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris. "That kind of irregularity just screams, 'There's something being manipulated with the vote machines themselves,'" he said. Danna Seevers urged lawmakers to view Trump's election as a mandate to carry out the president's agenda that she said calls for "ironclad security, zero tolerance for cheating and a system where every legal vote counts, nothing less." She told lawmakers that despite Trump's victory, she doesn't trust the outcome of elections. "So then how do you know that President Trump won?" Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha asked. "I don't," she said. Mar. 5U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., has signed onto bipartisan legislation aimed at making child care more affordable and accessible by increasing federal tax credits for employers and individuals and competitive grants to states that offer pay increases for childcare workers. Shaheen said the Child Care Workforce and the Child Care Availability and Affordability acts would help improve one of the top issues facing working families in New Hampshire. "I hear time and again from parents in New Hampshire who are desperate for reliable, affordable child care options, but for too many families, their options are limited at best and nonexistent at worst," Shaheen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sens. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, and Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, have joined Shaheen, who is the lead sponsor of both bills. "For an issue that impacts so many families in every corner of every state, it's time we find a bipartisan path forward, which is why I'm proud to join my colleagues on this common sense, bipartisan proposal to lower child care costs, increase wages for the workforce and ensure providers can keep their doors open," Shaheen said. The bill would expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to a maximum of $2,500 for families with one child and $4,000 for families with two or more children. This would allow parents to deduct 50% of their child care expenses from taxes up from the current 35%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would increase the maximum allowable expenses for families from $3,000 to $5,000 for one child and from $6,000 to $8,000 for two or more children. The tax credit for employers would increase the maximum credit of support to employee child care from $150,000 to $500,000 a year. Fifty percent of employer expenses could be deducted, up from 25% under current law. The competitive grants for states to increase child care worker pay could reduce staff turnover, Shaheen said. Model programs exist in Virginia, Nebraska, Maine and the District of Columbia. A large coalition of groups supports these measures, ranging from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Save the Children, the National Association of Women Business Owners and the American Hotel and Lodging Association. klandrigan@unionleader.com YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) In loving memory, we celebrate the life of Shalaunda Nakaia Adkins, affectionately known to many as Lala, who left us on Thursday, February 27, 2025, just shy of her 50th birthday. Born to the union of Vickie Adkins and Nelson Kennedy, on March 7, 1975, in Youngstown, Ohio, Shalaunda was a vibrant spirit whose light touched everyone she encountered. Find obituaries from your high school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A graduate of The Rayen School and a proud follower of her passion for fashion, Shalaunda was a true trendsetter, pursing a degree at Youngstown State University for Interior Designing. Always dressed to impress, her zest for life was matched by her love for the Dallas Cowboys and her strong spirit as a first female enforcer of the Jokers MC, known as Xclusive Monroe. Shalaundas presence was magnetic; her laughter infectious, and her ability to demand respect was unparalleled. Those who knew her felt her strength and were captivated by her lovea unique blend of discipline and warmth that made her a compassionate leader in all facets of her life, including her faithful presence at Christ Centered Church. A beloved member of the community, Shalaunda dedicated her professional life to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through her work at Invision. She approached her role with fierce dedication and a heart full of compassion, reflecting her strength as a person and her unwavering commitment to uplift those around her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shalaunda was more than her career. She was a devoted mother, nurturing her children, Jujuan Adkins-Pinkard, Sr., Jontae Rivere, Reginald Jones, Jr., Jalazia Green and Annjalasha Martinez, with love and tenacity. Lala remains deeply cherished and embedded in the hearts of her father, Nelson Kennedy; brother, Durwin L. Adkins and sister, Latisha Alexander. Lala was a beloved Gaga to her 11 grandchildren, showering them with affection and wisdom, creating memories that will forever echo in their hearts. Her legacy will remain vibrant among a score of family and friends. As Lala crossed the celestial shores into eternity, she was reunited with the ancestors who preceded her including her beloved mother, Vickie Adkins and sister, Keishma Adkins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we remember Shalaunda, a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, friend, and fierce advocate for love, we cherish the legacy of strength and compassion she leaves behind. Her departure leaves a space that will forever be filled with the memories we created together, and her spirit will continue to guide us. The community will gather to honor Lalas incredible journey with a Fifty Shades of Blue Celebration of Life to be held on her 50th Birthday. Friends and family are invited to join the Adkins family on Friday, March 7, from 3:00 7:00 p.m., at Club 221, located at 166 Mahoning Avenue. In the spirit of Shalaundas vibrant personality and favorite color of hues of blue, all attendees are encouraged to dress to impress in the theme color of blue. The family of Shalaunda Lala Nakaia Adkins entrusted the Ministry of Comfort & Care, along with Transitional After-Care Arrangements, to J. E. Washington Funeral Services, located at 2234 Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio. For any inquiries, please call 330-782-8500 Send flowers to the service of Shalaunda Lala Nakaia Adkins. A television tribute will air Friday, March 7 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:21 p.m. on WYTV and 6:35 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. (WHTM) As President Donald Trumps trade war continues, he is not only facing retaliation from our nations biggest trading partners Mexico, Canada and China but Governor Josh Shapiro as well. At a press conference Wednesday, Shapiro said these tariffs would drive up prices for consumers across the country and we will feel the effects right here Pennsylvania. Let me explain with a concrete example, Shapiro said. Our Pennsylvania dairy farmers sell more product to Mexico than any other state. So, when you are a Pennsylvania farmer trying to sell your milk or your cheese to Mexico, as a result of the presidents tariffs, our products now cost more in Mexico, which means Mexicans are going to buy less product from Pennsylvania, or maybe no product at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therefore, he says Trumps tariffs will only make it harder for Pennsylvania farmers and small businesses to get by. I dont know why he did it, but were going to see a real effect of his policies, and the effect is going to be higher prices for Pennsylvanians, Shapiro added. During Tuesdays Presidential Address, Trump said these tariffs were essential to strengthen Americas economy even if prices do rise. There will be a little disturbance, Trump said. But were ok with that. Its no surprise that two of the Midstates Republican Congressmen agree. I do understand and appreciate that we need reciprocity and that weve been taken advantage of over the years, said Dan Meuser. We just have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lloyd Smucker said, I think youre going to see benefit from the tariffs that hes imposing and also the tariffs that hes threatening to impose. Meanwhile, Shapiro said he will, Stay focused on cutting costs. I dont know why the federal government is jacking up costs on Pennsylvanians. It makes no sense. President Trump believes Canada, China and Mexico are responsible for the fentanyl crisis in the United States. He says thats one of the main reasons behind the tariffs. Get the latest Pennsylvania politics and election news with abc27 newsletters! According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, less than one percent of fentanyl enters the U.S. from Canada. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Shawnee County ranks in the top 7% of counties in the U.S. for wage growth TOPEKA (KSNT) According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, out of more than 300 of the largest counties in the country, Shawnee County is ranked 26th in the country for wage growth. Weekly wages in Shawnee County increased nearly 6% in the third quarter of 2024. The president of the Greater Topeka Chamber, Juliet Abdel, said this is evidence of the hard work happening in the community. Its a testament to so much of the work thats going on in our community, Abdel said. Weve got this ecosystem that supports new existing businesses, and those that are looking to relocate to our community. And as weve leveraged all those resources, were truly able to catapult those businesses that are here to continue to thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement February Teacher of the Month: Nicolas Carr With an average weekly wage of $1,123, Shawnee County is tied with Johnson County for the highest in the state. While being in the nations top seven percent is an honor, Abdel said theyre always looking to be even better. What we like to say is were in competition and its competition with yourself more than anything, right, she said. Like, youre looking at where youre at today and where you want to be tomorrow. And that continues to mean that we look at things that are working, things that may not working, and then the additional resources that we can try and use here in our community that we havent done before. Abdel told 27 News that we live in a time of uncertainty, so when something like this happens, she says it sends a message about the amazing things that are happening in Shawnee County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) The Llano County Sheriffs Office said two people were found dead in a home in a neighborhood on Lake Buchanan Wednesday evening. Deputies responded around 5:19 p.m. to a report of a discovery of two deceased individuals in a home in the Buchanan Lake Village neighborhood in Tow, Texas, according to a press release the sheriffs office shared on Facebook. LCSO said the scene was investigated, and the home did not have any signs of forced entry, and there were no indications of criminal activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said there is no active threat to public safety. The names of the two people are not being released at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Commercial ships must be registered, or flagged, with a particular country or jurisdiction to comply with safety and environmental rules. The concerns of shipowners and their actions to curb exposure to Hong Kong have not been previously reported. The perceptions of risk have grown in recent years, coinciding with a tightening security climate in the Chinese-ruled city and tensions between the world's two largest economies. "We don't want to be in a position where China comes knocking, wanting our ships, and the U.S. is targeting us on the other side," said one executive, who like others was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue. Many pointed to China's intensified focus on national security objectives; trade frictions; and the broad powers of Hong Kong's leader, who is accountable to Beijing, to seize control of shipping in an emergency. Reuters interviews with two dozen people, including shipping executives, insurers and lawyers familiar with Hong Kong, revealed growing concern that commercial maritime operations could be ensnared by forces beyond their control in a U.S.-China military clash. The city's flag is the eighth most-flown by ships worldwide, according to VesselsValue, a subsidiary of maritime data group Veson Nautical. Hong Kong for more than a century has been a hub for shipowners and the brokers, financiers, underwriters and lawyers supporting them. Its maritime and port industry accounted for 4.2% of GDP in 2022, official data show. Washington in September warned American businesses about growing risks of operating in Hong Kong, where the U.S. already applies sanctions against officials involved in a security crackdown. The U.S. Trade Representative's office last month proposed levying steep U.S. port fees on Chinese shipping companies and others that operate Chinese-built vessels, to counter China's "targeted dominance" of shipbuilding and maritime logistics. Beijing's emphasis on the role of Hong Kong in serving Chinese security interests and growing U.S. scrutiny of the importance of China's commercial fleet in a possible military clash, such as over Taiwan, are causing unease across the industry, the people told Reuters. Behind these low-profile moves, six shipping executives said, lie concerns that their ships could be commandeered by Chinese authorities or hit with U.S. sanctions in a conflict between Beijing and Washington. HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) -Some shipping companies are discreetly moving operations out of Hong Kong and taking vessels off its flag registry. Others are making contingency plans to do so. Story Continues Despite an influx of Chinese-operated ships onto Hong Kong's registry, the number of oceangoing vessels flagged in the city fell more than 8% to 2,366 in January from 2,580 four years earlier, according to independent analysis by VesselsValue. Government data show a similar drop. Among the ships that left Hong Kong's registry, 74 re-flagged to Singapore and Marshall Islands in 2023 and 2024, chiefly dry-bulk carriers designed to transport commodities such as coal, iron ore and grain. Some 15 tankers and seven container ships separately left the Hong Kong registry for those flags, according to VesselsValue. The outflow of ships since 2021 marks a reversal for Hong Kong's registry, which official data show grew roughly 400% in two decades following 1997. In response to Reuters questions, Hong Kong's government said it was natural for shipping companies to review operations given changing geopolitical and trade circumstances, and normal for the number of ships on registries to fluctuate in the short term. Hong Kong would "continue to excel as a prominent international shipping centre", a spokesperson said, outlining a range of incentives for shipowners, including profits tax breaks and green subsidies. Neither the laws governing the registry nor emergency provisions empowered Hong Kong's leader to commandeer ships to serve in a Chinese merchant fleet, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson declined to elaborate when asked about industry players' concerns over how colonial-era emergency powers might be applied during a U.S.-China conflict. The provisions allow the city's leader to make "any regulations whatsoever", including taking control of vessels and property. China's defence and commerce ministries didn't respond to questions about the role of a merchant fleet in Beijing's warfighting plans, the potential involvement of Hong Kong-flagged vessels, and the worries of commercial shipowners. The U.S. Treasury and Pentagon declined to comment about potential sanctions, shipping executives' concerns, and the role of Hong Kong-registered vessels in a Chinese merchant fleet. Lawyers and executives say ships can be re-flagged for various reasons through sale, charter or redeployment to different routes. Basil Karatzas, U.S.-based consultant with Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co, said Singapore had become the preferred domicile for companies with lesser exposure to Chinese shipping and cargo trade, because it offered many efficiencies, including its legal system, but less risk than Hong Kong. Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority said decisions about domiciles and flagging were based on commercial considerations. It had not observed any "significant change" in the number of Hong Kong-based shipping companies relocating operations or re-flagging vessels to Singapore. MERCHANT FLEET Hong Kong's shipping registry is widely regarded for its safety and regulatory standards, executives and lawyers say, allowing its ships to pass easily through foreign ports. Hong Kong's flag is now flown by many of China's state-owned international vessels. In a conflict, these tankers, bulk carriers and large container vessels would form the backbone of a merchant fleet serving the People's Liberation Army to supply China's oil, food and industrial needs, according to four security analysts and PLA military studies. By contrast, the U.S. has a small commercial shipbuilding industry and far fewer ships under its flag. While China's state-owned fleet is growing in size, it would be a target for the U.S. in a military clash, and Beijing would likely require other vessels to ensure supplies given its vast needs and reliance on international sea lanes, three analysts said. Strategic maritime operations have surfaced on President Donald Trump's radar. In his inauguration speech in January, Trump threatened to "take back" the Panama Canal, which he said had fallen under Chinese control. He did not give specifics, but Trump's remarks focused attention on two Panama ports operated by a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings. The group, which didn't respond to questions about Trump's comments, agreed this week to sell a majority stake in the subsidiary to a consortium of investors led by BlackRock, giving U.S. interests control over the ports. Trump told Congress on Tuesday that his administration will create an office of shipbuilding in the White House and offer new tax incentives for the sector. A U.S. congressional study in November 2023 stated that "cargo ships typically transport 90% of the military equipment needed in overseas wars". It noted that Chinese shipyards had 1,794 large oceangoing ships on order in 2022, compared with five in the U.S. Merchant vessels were vital in Britain's long-range mission to retake the Falkland Islands from Argentina in 1982. And UK-flagged commercial ships operating out of Hong Kong - many owned by local firms dependent on or controlled by China - supplied communist Hanoi during the Vietnam War, frustrating the U.S., declassified CIA documents show. The need for a strong Chinese merchant fleet to help build China's maritime power was outlined by President Xi Jinping in a Politburo study session in 2013. Over the last decade, Chinese government and military documents and studies have highlighted the dual-use military value of China's merchant ships. Regulations enacted in 2015 required Chinese builders of five types of commercial vessels - including tankers, container ships and bulk carriers - to ensure they could serve military needs, according to state media. Since then, the state-owned COSCO line has grown significantly. Public COSCO documents show China is placing political commissars - officers who ensure Communist Party goals are ultimately served - on nominally civilian ships. In January, the U.S. blacklisted COSCO subsidiaries for what it said were links to the Chinese military. COSCO did not respond to questions about its deployment of commissars, the U.S. restrictions and what role the company's ships, including Hong Kong-flagged ones, might play in a wartime scenario. 'REALLY DE-RISKED' Hong Kong remains an important base for shipowners, despite the geopolitical challenges. But some are quietly hedging their bets. One company founded in Hong Kong in 2014, London-listed Taylor Maritime, now has a smaller presence in Hong Kong after making several strategic moves over the past few years. Since 2021, it has kept its ships flagged in the Marshall Islands and Singapore. Its offices are in London, Guernsey, Singapore, Hong Kong and Durban. The firm "really de-risked Hong Kong", said a person familiar with the matter, citing investors' concerns about a Chinese invasion of Taiwan and the Communist Party's increasing control of Hong Kong. A Taylor Maritime spokesperson said that initially, the company moved its Asia-based commercial teams to Singapore from Hong Kong to be closer to clients. With its acquisition of shipping company Grindrod, which had its Asia office in Singapore, Taylor Maritime expanded its operation there and relocated some functions from Hong Kong, to the point where Singapore became its primary Asia hub, the spokesperson added. Hong Kong-listed Pacific Basin Shipping has traditionally flagged its 110-strong fleet of bulk carriers in Hong Kong but is drafting contingency plans to register them elsewhere as it gauges potential risks, said two people familiar with the matter. A Pacific Basin spokesperson said the company was constantly evaluating geopolitical risks but that its fleet was still flying the Hong Kong flag, "which at least for now outweigh(s) the challenges". "Being in Hong Kong positions us close to China's 40% share of global dry bulk import/export activity and close to Asias strong economic and industrial growth regions," the spokesperson said. Angad Banga, chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, said shipping firms adjusted contingency plans based on risk assessments in a complex geopolitical environment but he had not encountered concerns about the commandeering of vessels. "While some may be reviewing operational strategies, we as an organisation do not to see any widespread exodus or loss of confidence in Hong Kong," Banga told Reuters, adding that the city remained attractive for maritime commerce. Yet some industry figures described a broad unease about Hong Kong that was affecting their planning. Three lawyers said that until recent years, contracts hammered out for the growing number of ships built in China and financed by Chinese banks typically stipulated that they must fly the Hong Kong flag. But over the last two years, some have included a caveat demanded by owners to provide flexibility: a few other prominent flags are listed as options alongside Hong Kong, the lawyers said. Reuters could not independently verify the changes. Beyond China's military modernisation and its refusal to renounce the use of force to seize Taiwan, Beijing officials have stressed the importance of Hong Kong in fulfilling national security priorities. Three executives and two lawyers told Reuters that sweeping security legislation, first imposed on Hong Kong in July 2020 and strengthened in March 2024, had added to the dangers. The lawyers said any move by Hong Kong's leader to commandeer vessels in an emergency might prove difficult in practice, as locally registered ships often plied routes far from Hong Kong. But such long-standing powers now had to be viewed through a national security lens, they said. Some shipowners wouldn't object to an official request to turn over their vessels, either out of patriotism or the potential to profit from a crisis, one lawyer said. But "it is better not to be in a position where you might even be asked", said another veteran lawyer. "It was not an issue just a few years ago, in what is clearly a redrawn national security map." (Reporting by Greg Torode and Jonathan Saul; additional reporting by Andrea Shalal and Idrees Ali in Washington, and the Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong newsrooms; editing by David Crawshaw) A recent nationwide survey by Flock Safety and Zencity reveals a significant shift in consumer behavior due to escalating concerns over organized retail crime. Approximately one-third of consumers see crime at retail locations as a serious issue, prompting many to alter their shopping habits. The survey highlights that 58% of shoppers now prefer online shopping to avoid potential in-store crime incidents. Furthermore, among those who have witnessed retail crime firsthand, 63% are more inclined to shop online, underscoring the direct impact of these experiences on consumer preferences. In response to rising theft, retailers have implemented measures such as locking merchandise, leading to longer wait times for customers. Notably, 51% of consumers report waiting over five minutes to access items in stores with locked merchandise, which may further deter in-store shopping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey also indicates strong public support for technology-driven security solutions. Over half of the respondents believe that license plate recognition cameras effectively deter retail theft, and 62% feel that recorded security video enhances store safety. This sentiment is particularly pronounced in major metropolitan areas, where 52% of consumers advocate for technological interventions to combat retail crime. The findings suggest that retailers that adopt advanced security technologies may not only reduce crime but also restore consumer confidence in the safety of in-store shopping. As Michael Simon, chief strategy officer at Zencity, observes, American consumers want to feel safe while shopping and are eager for retailers to adopt new technology to restore a safer, more welcoming, and more convenient shopping experience. (GIF: Tenor) Rail theft on the rise Cargo theft from U.S. Class I railroads exceeded $100 million in 2024, according to the Association of American Railroads. The industry is dealing with a 40% increase in thefts, with more than 65,000 reported incidents last year. Organized criminal groups are increasingly targeting freight shipments, and many suspects are armed, raising concerns about the safety of law enforcement. The AAR reports that fewer than 1 in 10 theft attempts result in an arrest, and many of those arrested are repeat offenders. One railroad even noted that a single individual was arrested 17 times. The industry is calling for tougher penalties for cargo theft, as well as more resources for federal prosecutors to combat the crime effectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the AAR is advocating for the passage of a bill introduced in 2024 by U.S. Reps. David Valadao and Brad Schneider, which would improve coordination between federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to address supply chain theft. While the bill did not pass last year, the push for stronger legislation continues as freight theft remains a growing concern.Learn more about the rise of rail theft here. (GIF: Tenor) International package hackers Thirteen individuals have been charged as part of an international theft ring targeting cell phone shipments. Over the past year, an investigation led by Glen Rock Police, Homeland Security, the FBI and other agencies uncovered a scheme involving the theft of valuable electronic devices. The ring used automated scripts to scrape data from FedEx and a major U.S. cellular providers tracking systems, while bribing employees to provide confidential customer information. This intelligence allowed the group to identify valuable packages and steal them during delivery. The thefts spanned multiple locations, including Glen Rock, New Jersey, and involved a multilayered operation, with dispatchers selling delivery information and runners stealing the packages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those charged face multiple counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to transport stolen goods. Learn more about the allegations here. (GIF: Tenor) Registration now open for Mays Freight Fraud Symposium in Dallas Be part of the solution that stops freight fraud in its tracks. Lets cut through the noise and address this issue head-on! Freight fraud has reached a crisis level, and it impacts everyone in the industry. Its time for us to come together to address this critical problem and share best practices on how to mitigate it. Join us on May 14 in Dallas at the Freight Fraud Symposium where transportation executives, freight leaders and technology buyers will come together to discuss the issues we all face, share lessons learned and get insights on the latest technology to help us tackle this problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Space is limited, so register now to save your spot! (GIF: Tenor) Articles by Grace Sharkey Lawmakers look at expanding FMCSAs power to rein in cargo theft 3PL Summit: Truckstop reflects on 30 years of fighting freight fraud Cargo thefts surge 49%; driver training under Trump; up close with NASA crawler The post Shoppers fearful of crime at retail locations appeared first on FreightWaves. The Shorewood-based, buffet-style restaurant Ninos Southern Sides may soon be bringing Southern comfort food to Fox Point. The expansion would be a triumph after a rough few years, said Jeffery Carter, director of operations for the Wisconsin market of V&J Food Holding Companies, which operates Nino's, along with several fast food franchises around the country (including numerous Burger King, Haagen-Dazs and Pizza Hut locations). The restaurant was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic harder than most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the business' founders and co-owners, husband and wife duo Odell and Gloria Robinson, contracted the virus. Following six successful years of running the beloved restaurant and 40 years of marriage, Gloria died in April 2020 shortly after she was hospitalized for the virus. The two were high school sweethearts. She had been both tough and pure hearted, friends and family members told the Journal Sentinel at the time. And with decades of experience managing restaurants, Gloria, who had been Nino's kitchen manager, was a staple of the business and a "bright light," Carter told the Journal Sentinel recently. Odell exited the company shortly after her death, seeking to close the family's chapter in a space holding painful reminders of Gloria's absence, Carter said. While the pandemic slowed sales, Nino's was able to survive, selling its signature Southern soul food classics like fried chicken, fried catfish and collard greens, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Years later, Nino's is entering a period of growth. The business has already received partial approval to open the new Fox Point location (7 miles north of the Shorewood one) in the Riverpoint Shopping Center. On March 3, the business obtained Plan Commission conditional use approval for the restaurant. The Fox Point Village Board will take up the application at a future meeting. The new Fox Point Nino's Southern Sides would fill the vacancy left by Cosi at the Riverpoint Shopping Center by summer of 2025 According to V&J Food's application submitted to Fox Point's Plan Commission on Feb. 11, the restaurant is looking to occupy 8775 N. Port Washington Road in the Riverpoint Shopping Center by April 15. Carter said the goal is to open by early summer of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storefront is the 3,600-square-foot former home of Cosi, a New York-based fast-casual restaurant chain, which opened its first Wisconsin location at the River Point Village Shopping Center in 2001. The location closed at the end of 2019, according to Fox Point Assistant Village Manager Kevin Ausman, three years after the company first filed for bankruptcy and three months before the company would file for bankruptcy again, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Shorewood and Milwaukee locations will remain open The Fox Point Nino's Southern Sides location will be the restaurant's third. Nino's first started serving generous portions of hearty, homestyle Southern comfort food in 2014 at 4475 N. Oakland Ave. in Shorewood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Robinsons then opened a second restaurant, Nino's Express, on King Drive in 2015. That restaurant has been under different ownership since 2018. What is on the menu at Nino's Southern Sides? The menu at the new Nino's will feature the restaurant's signature Southern-inspired side dishes, including mac and cheese, collard greens, fried corn, pinto beans, yams, mashed potatoes, fries, spaghetti and coleslaw, according to the application. It also includes fan-favorite entrees like catfish fillet, pork chops, turkey legs, meatloaf and butterfly shrimp and desserts like sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, and banana pudding cheesecake. Unlike the Shorewood location, the Fox Point one will not sell breakfast and lunch, Carter said. What hours would Nino's have? The restaurant would employ 20 people and stay open between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily, according to the Feb. 11 application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The application also includes future plans to build out the interior and eventually offer seasonal outdoor seating. Nino's was also chosen as a Milwaukee Summerfest vender Carter also shared that Nino's Southern Sides will be a participant at the Summerfest Music Festival taking place June 19 to 21, June 26 to 28 and July 3 to 5. "Our idea is to try to make it the preeminent Southern cuisine brand in the state," he said. Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Shorewood mainstay Nino's Southern Sides looks to open in Fox Point Tax-avoiding second home owners in Cornish beauty spots are set to burn a hole in the local authoritys balance sheet, councillors have warned. Cornwall Council had hoped to raise 24m by charging a punitive 100pc council tax premium on those with second residences in the county. But, officials have become increasingly concerned that affluent owners are exploiting loopholes to avoid the four-figure bills such as transferring properties into their childrens name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other tactics being deployed include turning the property into a holiday let or putting it on the market with no intention of selling up. Cornwall is amongst hundreds of English local authorities introducing additional tax charges in April as part of a nationwide bid to deter second home ownership and balance council budgets. It means holiday home owners in the region can expect to pay an extra 2,460 on a Band D property or 4,920 for Band H. Cornwall currently has a budget gap of 100m and believes it can earn 23.7m in 2025-26 by charging the tax premium on 12,200 non-main residence properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But councillor, Steve Arthur, believes the authority will struggle to hit those figures. He said: The council needs to be careful. Theyre banking on this double council tax to bring in so many millions to shore up the finances. But they shouldnt spend this money before theyve got it because there are ways around paying it. People are going to think, well, Ive only got to put it in my son or daughters name and I can save myself thousands of pounds a year. Cornwall is the second home capital of England, with around one in 20 homes in the county being second homes. Hotspots such as Cawsand and Padstow have an even higher concentration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Truro area which includes attractions such as St Ives and Falmouth has seen a surge of properties hit the market ahead of the introduction of a tax premium. But many owners are still planning on staying put. Cllr John Conway said: Whether its making it a holiday let, trying to put the property in someone elses name or some other ways that they come up with, I am absolutely convinced those with second homes will do everything they can not to pay the extra tax. The various tactics will make it like a learning curve for the council this year. The head of compliance will look into any houses that are trying to avoid it. Theyll be looked at closely to make sure everything is being done properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of Cornwalls tax premium, owners can be granted a 12-month exemption if their home is listed for sale. This rule has already been enforced in Wales, with estate agents in Pembrokeshire telling The Telegraph that owners were pretending to sell up in order to save thousands of pounds. Across the country, an increasing number of second home owners are also turning their properties into holiday lets and registering them as businesses in a bid to reduce extra council tax charges. Cllr Arthur believes the simple step Cornish parents will utilise is handing over ownership to their children. He said: Theyll realise that Oh, little 18-year-old Johnny hasnt got a house yet, so lets put his name down as council tax. Its a simple solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Chris Etherington, of tax firm RSM, said such action is riddled with potential pitfalls. He said: Parents might think they are solving a problem by gifting a property but could end up creating larger ones if they dont look at the whole picture. Home owners could trigger a series of tax headaches if they fail to consider the wider implications of transferring a property. The gift of a property to a child can give rise to a capital gains tax bill, which may need to be reported and paid within 60 days, even if no sale proceeds are received by the parent. There may be an inheritance tax bill payable if the parent making the gift does not survive the gift by seven years. HMRC will ordinarily seek to recover any inheritance tax due from the recipient of the gift in the first instance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putting a second home in the name of a child will also impact their status as a first-time buyer in the future. For instance, when they come to buy a first home, they will not be able to use the perks of a lifetime Isa or Help to Buy Isa. Mr Etherington added: If there is a mortgage on the property, which the child takes over in return for the gift, there could be a stamp duty land tax bill to pay as a result. Cornwall Council, which is increasing standard council tax by 4.99pc from April, was approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A man scheduled to be in court tomorrow in Duval for trying to meet a minor for sex back in 2024 was just arrested again in Kingsland, Georgia on similar felony charges involving children. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 34-year-old Benjamin Stancil is back behind bars for criminal charges similar to those leading to his previous arrest that happened less than a year ago in Jacksonville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stancil was served a warrant and then arrested at his Kingsland home Tuesday morning on two counts of felony sexual exploitation of children. Officers said Stancil was out on a $150,000 bond when the sheriffs office said they picked him up on the new charges. As a part of that bond, Stancil was not allowed to be on the Internet or have contact with minors. But then last month, the Camden County Sheriffs Office said they received tips from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) that Stancil was uploading photos that included sexual abuse of children. Now, he is being held at the Camden County jail. Benjamin Stancils next-door neighbor Tyler Prokosch said he barely saw Stancil leave his home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I rarely saw anyone there. Id see him go to his car once or twice and thats really about it, said Prokosch. The Camden County Sheriffs Office announced on its Facebook page that its investigators worked closely with the GBI to make the arrest. Another neighbor who asked to stay anonymous said she is relieved for the children that walk through the neighborhood. There are still a few young ones here because I see a mom that walks down with her daughter in the morning. Just last year, Jacksonville Sheriffs Officers arrested Stancil when they said they caught him trying to meet up with a girl who he thought was 14 years old for sex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In reality, Stancil was speaking with an undercover officer from April 24th to the 29th on an app called Whisper before he tried to meet who he thought was the child. He was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, soliciting a child online and other related counts. There are a lot of kids in this neighborhood which makes this even more sickening and frightening for the community, said Tyler Prokosch, next door neighbor. Action News Jax reached out to the Camden County Sheriffs Office on whether Benjamin Stancil will be granted bond this time around. We are waiting to hear back. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. UPDATE 03/06/25 5:25 p.m: The Hood River County Sheriffs Office said they could not remove the vehicle in the Columbia River thought to be connected to the Martin Family cold case due to significant debris, but the crew will continue efforts on Friday. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A new lead in a decades-old cold case of a missing Portland family has prompted an underwater search of the Columbia River Thursday morning. Investigators with the Hood River County Sheriffs Office say they received information from a local diver who claimed to have found the station wagon belonging to the Martin family, who vanished in 1958. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After matching a partial plate, officials now say they are 99% sure this is the Martins car. A barge with a crane attached is soon set to pull the car out of the river near Cascade Locks. Were going in with the mindset of not having any preconceived ideas about what happened, said Hood River County Sheriffs Deputy Pete Hughes. So well have the crime lab, well have detectives and theyll be investigating this just like they would investigate any case, a known case at this point. TIMELINE: What we know about the 1958 Martin family disappearance Officials add that the vehicle is currently sitting upside down and theres debris on top of it. But for the most part, its intact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to preserve this vehicle the best that we can to ensure that any evidence that comes out is able to be saved, said Hood River County Sheriff Matt English. Its all dependent on whats in that car. The sheriff also confirmed this is still an ongoing criminal investigation with the Oregon State Police Crime Lab now involved as well. Archer Mayo, the diver who found the vehicle, told KOIN 6 News he has been searching for the car for seven years. He always believed it to be at Cascade Locks, in a deeper hole near the locks called The Pit. Mayo recalled the moment he first saw the car underwater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I went further on, I realized Oh my gosh, this is the car! This is a 54 wagon.' He then alerted authorities. The underwater remains of a car believed to belong to the Martin family, who disappeared in 1958. (Archer Mayo) KOIN 6 News anchor Jeff Gianola is at the scene and will have more detailed information later in the day. The case background In December 1958, the typical holiday season in Portland was full of caroling neighbors, school holiday pageants and the hustle and bustle of gift buying. On December 7, it became something else entirely. DONT MISS: Martin Family Mystery podcast series Ken Martin and his wife Barbara told family members and their Northeast Portland neighbors the family was going to spend Sunday afternoon in the Columbia River Gorge collecting Christmas greenery. The two Martin parents and three young girls, Barbara, Virginia and Susan would never return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official story remains the same: five members of the Martin Family accidentally drove into the Columbia River in December 1958 and died. In this undated photo, Ken and Barbara Martin sit on the couch in their living room with son Don and the three girls. (KOIN Archives) The Martin family loved Christmas. Barbara, Virginia and Susan Martin sit in a sleigh during a neighborhood Christmas celebration. (KOIN Archives) The Martin family loved Christmas. Barbara, Virginia and Susan Martin sing carols during a neighborhood Christmas celebration. (KOIN Archives) Coverage of the search for the Martin Family features pictures of Barbara, Virginia and Susan Martin in the Oregon Journal. (Oregon Journal) Coverage of the search for the Martin Family in the Columbia River near Cascade Locks from the Oregon Journal. (Oregon Journal) An undated photo of the 1954 Ford Country Station Wagon the Martins drove into the Columbia River Gorge on Dec. 7, 1958. (KOIN Archives) A report from the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office detailing the discovery of a girls body near Bonneville Dam. The body is later identified as Virginia Martin. (Graven family) A gas station receipt from a Chevron station in Cascade Locks shows Ken Martin purchased five gallons of gas on the afternoon the family vanished. (KOIN Archives) Aerial photo of Cascade Locks, Ore. taken in 1958. According to the official report, the Ken Martin accidentally backed the family car into the river here on the afternoon of Dec. 7, 1958. (KOIN Archives) Detective Walter Graven (left) speaks to Don Martin when he returns to Portland to settle the family estate. (Graven family) Detective Walter Graven was the only investigator following leads and connecting the dots in the disappearance of the Martin family. (Courtesy: Graven family) Seen here in his Navy uniform, Don Martin was somewhat estranged from his family and living on the East Coast when his father, mother and three sisters vanished. (Graven family) The Martin family loved Christmas. Ken Martin is seen here dressed as Santa Clause with two unidentified boys. (KOIN Archives) A glimpse of the Martin Family home in Northeast Portland taken during the investigation into the familys disappearance. (Graven Family) However, the discovery of a damaged gun and bodies of the two younger Martin girls floating to the surface seem to point to something more sinister. Despite the discovery of the bodies, the official investigation was shut down. The disappearance of the Martin Family was ruled a tragic accident. TIMELINE: What we know about Dane Paulsen, the missing Siletz child So, why was someone inside the Martin home after they, according to the official report, drove into the Columbia River, but before anyone knew they were gone? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, Gianola did a 4-part podcast, What Happened to the Martin Family? The podcast remains available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) The corrections officers strike in Elmira has been ongoing since Monday, Feb. 17 and people continue to strike despite New York State sending termination letters and their health insurance being canceled. In the area where the strikers gather across from the Elmira Correctional Facility are signs which a couple of strikers said are from family, friends, and community members showing their support. Some of the messages relate to the HALT Act, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and include positive messages. DOCCS starts firing striking correction officers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the course of the strike, people involved in it have told 18 News that it is not about the money, but for better safety conditions. Some of the signs had messages calling for the HALT Act to be repealed, which has been one of the demands from the strikers. One sign said, Stand for safety, not money, and repeal the HALT Act. Some of the signs included Hochul where one said, Your governor doesnt care about you. Another one featured a quote from Hochul and read, Every once in a while, you have to stand up and do whats right. Kathy Hochul. Other signs at the strike expressed prayers for everyones safety and a message of love for the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Singapore authorities added further charges on Thursday against three men remanded in a case that is part of a wider police investigation into server fraud that may contain AI chips, court documents showed. The men were charged with committing fraud against Dell and Super Micro by falsely representing where the servers they bought would end up. They made "false representation that the items would not be transferred to a person other than the authorised ultimate consignee of end users," police said in the charge sheets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials in the city state have said the servers may contain Nvidia chips, but stopped short of saying if they are subject to U.S. export controls. The case is part of a wider police investigation in Singapore of 22 individuals and companies suspected of false representation. The United States is investigating if DeepSeek, the Chinese company whose AI model's performance rocked the tech world in January, has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China, Reuters reported. Singapore has said the servers made their way to Malaysia and Malaysia is investigating if its laws were breached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two suspects, Aaron Woon, 41, and Alan Wei, 49, face one more charge each for conspiring to commit fraud on tech firm Super Micro in 2024 in Singapore. Authorities also amended earlier charges, dating from late in February, to include that they conspired to commit fraud against tech firm Dell in 2024. A third suspect in the investigation, Chinese national Li Ming, 51, who was also charged in February, had his earlier charge amended to include that he defrauded Super Micro in 2023. Wei's lawyer Shashi Nathan from Withers KhattarWong said the matter was complex as it involves different jurisdictions and it was too early for his client to consider a plea. Woon's lawyer declined to comment and Li's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phones, computers and laptops are among 42 devices seized by police that are being examined by forensic experts, with investigations in a preliminary stage, prosecutors said in court on Thursday. Police, who sought bank statements to trace the movement of funds, will also seek the help of foreign law enforcement bodies, prosecutors added. (Reporting by Bing Hong Lok; Writing by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Barbara Lewis) SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Singapore authorities added further charges on Thursday against three men remanded in a case that is part of a wider police investigation into server fraud that may contain AI chips, court documents showed. The men were charged with committing fraud against Dell and Super Micro by falsely representing where the servers they bought would end up. They made "false representation that the items would not be transferred to a person other than the authorised ultimate consignee of end users," police said in the charge sheets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials in the city state have said the servers may contain Nvidia chips, but stopped short of saying if they are subject to U.S. export controls. The case is part of a wider police investigation in Singapore of 22 individuals and companies suspected of false representation. The United States is investigating if DeepSeek, the Chinese company whose AI model's performance rocked the tech world in January, has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China, Reuters reported. Singapore has said the servers made their way to Malaysia and Malaysia is investigating if its laws were breached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two suspects, Aaron Woon, 41, and Alan Wei, 49, face one more charge each for conspiring to commit fraud on tech firm Super Micro in 2024 in Singapore. Authorities also amended earlier charges, dating from late in February, to include that they conspired to commit fraud against tech firm Dell in 2024. A third suspect in the investigation, Chinese national Li Ming, 51, who was also charged in February, had his earlier charge amended to include that he defrauded Super Micro in 2023. Wei's lawyer Shashi Nathan from Withers KhattarWong said the matter was complex as it involves different jurisdictions and it was too early for his client to consider a plea. Woon's lawyer declined to comment and Li's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phones, computers and laptops are among 42 devices seized by police that are being examined by forensic experts, with investigations in a preliminary stage, prosecutors said in court on Thursday. Police, who sought bank statements to trace the movement of funds, will also seek the help of foreign law enforcement bodies, prosecutors added. (Reporting by Bing Hong Lok; Writing by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Barbara Lewis) SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Some Siouxland communities have begun to issue Snow Emergencies on Thursday. Ahead of snow thats forecasted to hit the Siouxland area once again on Thursday, some Siouxland communities have begun to issue Snow Emergencies. Moville Movilles snow emergency will go into effect Thursday night at 9 p.m. It will last until Friday at 9 p.m. The city asks that residents remove all vehicle from public roads so that snow can be removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parking is allowed at a designated parking area next to Haskell Pool. There is another designated parking area on the west side of the 200 block of North 4th Street for of up to 72 hours. For those in which complying with the Snow Emergency parking rule would create an extreme hardship, the city council may grant an emergency snow parking permit to be displayed on the vehicle dashboard. Storm Lake The city of Storm Lake released a statement Thursday that their Snow Emergency procedures will go into effect at 10 p.m. and last until Sunday morning at 6 p.m. or if the city declares it over sooner. During a Snow Emergency in Storm Lake, parking is not allowed on the residential roads between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and is not allowed in the downtown business area from 2 a.m. until 6 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any vehicles in violation of the Snow Emergency policies may be ticketed and towed. For more information on Snow Emergencies in Storm Lake, click here. This is a developing story. KCAU 9 will update as we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Troopers in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota responded to numerous incidents, including one deadly crash, as a winter storm blew through the states. Iowa In Iowa, state troopers responded to a total of 412 calls for service between Tuesday at 9 p.m. through Wednesday at noon. Of those incidents, there were 344 motorist assists. There were 68 crashes the Iowa State Patrol responded to and 59 that involved property damage. There were also nine injuries during the winter storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tow ban lifted in Woodbury County Nebraska The Nebraska State Patrol said that troopers responded to more than 300 motorist assists since the storm started on Tuesday. Additional troopers were also called to assist. They also responded to 28 crashes, one of which killed two people. The crash took place Tuesday around 4 p.m. near Grand Island. NSP said a Chevrolet Trailblazer was going west on Interstate 80 when the driver lost control. The SUV crossed the median and then hit am eastbound semi. The two people in the SUV Emelin Ortega Rodas, 25, and Daniel Ortega Marroquin, 62, both of Lexington were both pronounced dead at the scene. The semi driver was taken to a hospital with injuries considered non-life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NSP considered the severe weather to be a factor in the crash. They are continuing to investigate the incident. South Dakota The South Dakota Department of Public Safety told KCAU 9 that District Two of the South Dakota Highway Patrol responded to dozens of incidents between midnight on Tuesday and 3 p.m. on Wednesday. In total, troopers responded to 22 crashes involving property damage and three involving injuries. They also assisted 27 motorists, helped with 26 vehicle slide-ins, and responded to nine abandoned vehicles. District Two of the Highway Patrol covers the southeast region of the state. School bus hit in minor collision at Irving Elementary Road conditions in all states were still impacted Wednesday. Even with conditions improving, drivers in all states are asked to exercise caution while driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a specific states road conditions, check their individual 511 websites. The websites also have cameras showing road conditions on some highways. And for the latest weather any time in Siouxland, visit the KCAU 9 weather page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. MADISON COUNTY, Ill. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is hosting a job fair on Thursday at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) to assist former federal workers and others seeking employment opportunities. The job fair is a response to President Trumps plans to streamline the federal government, which could impact approximately 42,000 of the 81,300 federal employees in Illinois. Governor Pritzker has criticized President Trump and Elon Musk, the Director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), for their plans to fire federal workers and close federal buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The job fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Meridian Ballroom, located at 6 Hairpin Drive in Edwardsville. A second job fair is scheduled for March 20 at Malcolm X College in Chicago. Third person arrested in connection to death of Colin Brown Governor Pritzker has directed the Department of Central Management Services to organize these job fairs in response to what he calls the indiscriminate firing of workers. Multiple state agencies will be present at the job fair, offering opportunities in fields such as engineering, healthcare, accounting, auditing, environmental services, and fiscal management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These job fairs aim to provide new employment opportunities for those affected by federal government changes, with a focus on integrating them into state roles across various sectors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Erik Kalinak, an MEP and deputy leader of Slovakias ruling party, Smer-SD, has said that he sees no problem with the Russian occupation of Ukraine, as Slovakia would then have a "reliable neighbour". Source: European Pravda with reference to Slovak media outlet Aktuality Details: Asked by a journalist what it would mean for Slovakia if the Russians were in Kyiv, Kalinak said that while he does not want the Russians on Slovak borders, he sees them as more reliable partners than the Ukrainians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Kalinak: "Im going to be cynical and say that we would finally have a reliable neighbour. Because if you look at Slovak-Ukrainian relations and how many times weve had to rescue them after theyve built up an economic conflict with Russia, and how many times theyve failed to help us, then from that point of view the Russians are a more reliable partner for us." Details: The opposition party Progressive Slovakia has reacted to Kalinaks remarks, calling them a betrayal. "We have been talking about this for a long time and clearly. No policy on the four fundamental points, but Russian rule that is this government's vision for Slovakia. Just like when Tibor Gaspar suggested that Slovakia leave the EU, this is the moment when the Smer party reveals its true intentions for Slovakia," the opposition party said in a statement. Progressive Slovakia added that Fico is moving the country "away from Europe". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fico is burning bridges with our allies, delivering us into the hands of Putin and Trump. This is a betrayal. He has no legitimacy to do this, this government must resign as soon as possible, and the only solution is snap elections," the party said. Background: After a Slovak parliamentary delegation returned from a visit to Moscow, Tibor Gaspar, Deputy Chairman of the Slovak Parliament, admitted the possibility of Slovakia withdrawing from the European Union, although he said it would be a last resort. This triggered protests in a number of Slovak cities in January under the slogan "Slovakia is Europe". Prime Minister Robert Fico said the demonstrations had been organised on the basis of lies and that the government had no plans for Slovakia to leave the EU. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! *Video features coverage of Ashleys Pastry Shop DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A Dayton-area bakery thats operated since 1906 will soon open its second location. Smales Pretzel Bakery announced in a press release that they will open a second shop later this year inside the Dayton Arcade. Emma Smales, the bakerys fifth generation owner, is looking forward to the arrival of the new locale. Were honored to bring our familys tradition back to the heart of downtown. The Arcade holds a special place in Daytons history, as well as ours, and were proud to be part of its revitalization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bakery has operated at its Xenia Avenue location, within the Twin Towers neighborhood for nearly a century. Visit their website for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. The number of people arriving in the UK on small boats increased 25 per cent last year, even as irregular migration into the European Union dropped, according to government data. Registered arrivals to Britain 36,816 last year have fallen from a record peak in 2022, when 45,774 people crossed the Channel in more than 1,100 small boats. However, last year saw a 25 per cent increase from the 29,437 people who crossed in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2024 data suggested that any potential knock-on effect from the 38 per cent decrease in the number of migrants arriving into the European Union via irregular methods according to Frontex, the European border and coastguard agency was yet to be felt in the UK. A similar pattern was observed in the number of asylum claims made in the UK, which hit a record high, versus the EU, where claims decreased slightly. Government data show that the UK reached a peak of 108,138 claimants in 2024, an 18 per cent increase from the previous year, while the EU saw an 11 per cent decrease in the number of claims logged. About 1.01 million people filed asylum applications in the EU, based on figures compiled by the EUs asylum agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The central Mediterranean and Baltic routes in particular saw a reduction in the flow of migrants last year, according to data released earlier this year by Frontex. For the Mediterranean route where migrants leave the shores of Tunisia and Libya and try to reach Italy, Greece or Malta there was a 59 per cent decrease. There was an even more dramatic reduction 78 per cent in the number of migrants entering the EU via the western Balkans route. The decreasing numbers in the central Mediterranean has in particular been attributed to the controversial deals by Giorgia Melonis Italian administration with the two North African states to stop boats from departing in the first place. But the latest data suggest this is not impacting the UK, as migrants continue to cross the worlds busiest shipping lane in their thousands to reach Britain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the number of small boats crossing the Channel last year was registered as 695 down from over 1,100 in 2022 the average number of people on each boat rose to around 53, according to Telegraph analysis. This was up from 41 migrants to a boat in 2022 and almost 49 in 2023 a trend that indicates more people are being crammed into each vessel as authorities crack down on crossings, and as people smugglers adopt more extreme tactics to get people across the Channel. The overall rise of irregular migration was partly driven by a surge of Yemeni nationals coming to Britain, as well as other nationalities fleeing their war-torn homelands. Yemenis represented the biggest increase, with 1,280 people arriving, 14 times more than the year before, according to Telegraph analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many fled their homeland as Yemen already embroiled in civil war was plunged into further chaos when the Houthis, the Iran-backed rebel group, launched attacks against Israel last year in response to the war in Gaza. Israel and its Western allies, including Britain, responded by launching air strikes on targets in the country, and on Tuesday the Houthis were designated by the Trump administration as a foreign terrorist organisation. How the Houthis react to this change as well as developments in regional conflicts is likely to cause the instability in Yemen to persist, potentially leading more people to flee the country for Europe and the UK. For the second year in a row, Afghans represented the greatest number of arrivals, at 5,919 people. Many fled after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Since then, around 35,000 have arrived in the UK, primarily through special government programmes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is just a fraction of the 10 million displaced Afghan refugees, most of whom have sought shelter in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran. Syrians made up the second-largest group of small boat arrivals, a figure that doubled to 4,630 people in comparison to 2023. Syria has been the single largest place of origin of refugees in recent years, with many fleeing to Europe to escape the bloody civil war that broke out in 2011 and the terror exacted by the Assad regime. Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator, was toppled in December, although the country remains in transition with an interim government. In response, the UK and other European governments stopped processing asylum claims for Syrian refugees, but many continue to make their way to the northern French coastline, hoping to find a way to cross the Channel to the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We left because there is no life any more, no country any more, said Sara, 47, a Syrian national in Calais seeking to cross. Abdel, Saras 28-year-old brother, said: There is no income, no jobs, no dignity. Sudanese nationals arriving by small boats increased by more than 60 per cent last year, a significant spike that followed a drop in the previous year. This jump is particularly remarkable, as many Sudanese refugees escaping the brutal war do not have the funds to pay smugglers. Instead, they typically travel to Libya, stowing themselves away on ships bound for Italy or Greece, and then traverse to France.From there, they attempt to jump onto lorries, squeezing into the space between the driver cabin and the truck bed a very dangerous option that has killed at least two migrants, aged 17 and 20, in recent weeks. If I start talking about war in my country, it will take a very long time, said Jamal, a 16-year-old Sudanese boy who has been given a pseudonym to protect his privacy. It has been happening for as long as I can remember. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The desperation to escape war caused Jamal to leap onto a lorry a few weeks ago, but he almost died when he was squashed into the narrow space between the cabin and bed, sustaining injuries and burns to his chest and back. One Sudanese man, aged 25, said he loiters on roads near the beach around Calais or Dunkirk, hoping to spot groups en route to a dinghy, and then attempts to jump on. Other Sudanese migrants go in small teams to negotiate directly with the smuggler launching the boat along the coast. News that Sudanese stowaways have made it to the UK have circulated via word of mouth, piquing the interest of others to try such methods, however risky. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. **Related Video Above: Widespread natural gas smell reported in Painesville earlier this week PAINESVILLE, Ohio (WJW) The Painesville City Fire Department is continuing to field calls for strong natural gas odor in the area. In a press release Wednesday, the fire department said its responded to at least 40 odor complaints since Monday, when the rotten eggs smell was first reported. Fire marshal investigating Barberton home explosion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department said the smell is coming from an inadvertent increase in the amount of the odorant Mercaptan, which is added to odorless natural gas to alert people when there is a leak. Most of those affected have been in the Liberty Greens and Heisley Park areas, the fire department said, and are Northeast Ohio Natural Gas customers. Other communities in Lake County have also been affected, the fire department said. The natural gas company is reportedly working with the fire department to address the odor complaints. Geese found dead at Wade Lagoon, believed to have bird flu: ODNR If at any time a resident becomes ill or has any immediate safety concern, we recommend you evacuate your home and call 911, the fire department said in the press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For non-emergency questions and concerns, call the fire department at 440-392-5848. Northeast Ohio Natural Gas can be reached at 1-800-451-9465. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Mayor Brett Smiley is trying to prepare Providence residents to expect higher property tax bills, though he wont yet commit to an exact amount that taxes will go up. The mayor said the citys budget needs to grow by about $25 million, largely due to a recent $15 million settlement with the the R.I. Department of Education, which controls the citys schools. He began warning about potential tax hikes and budget cuts to offset the budget gap as early as last fall. RELATED: Smiley mulling tax hikes, cuts in 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That has to come from one of three places: either property taxes, other revenue, or cuts to city budgets, Smiley said. And in my plan that Ill introduce to the City Council when I introduce the budget at the beginning of April, well have a combination of all three of those things. Smiley said in addition to the money owed in the settlement, there are other nonnegotiable costs that have to be included in the next budget, too, from increases in pension payments, medical insurance, contractual raises and more. The next fiscal year starts July 1. The mayor said the city is looking at several scenarios to close the budget gap. If we eliminated or laid off 10% of the workforce, wed save about $5.5 million, Smiley said. We could close all of our rec centers one day a week and save $2 million. We could go to every other week trash service and save a couple million dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of these are good options, he added. So, were looking for places where we can cut the budget that doesnt significantly impact the services that residents receive while looking for other revenue sources. Smileys also considering a commercial parking tax and said his administration is reviewing all municipal fines and fees. So, everything from the cost of a parking ticket to the cost of a permit is all on the table, he said. The city just underwent property revaluations. Smiley says property values went up dramatically, but that shouldnt be cause for alarm. Smiley said for every 1% increase in the tax rate, that would mean about $42 more on the average homeowners annual property tax bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the citys tax rate increased by 4%, for example, that would mean an average increase of $168 more per year. The mayor said hes aware that recent property revaluations found property values went up dramatically, but stressed that tax bills rise wont rise by the same percentage. Just because your reval went up on average 40%, doesnt mean your taxes are going up 40%, Smiley said. People are worried that they got a piece of paper from the city that said their house is worth 40% more than it used to be, and Oh my gosh, my taxes are going to go up by that much? They wont. The mayor is seeking support from the R.I. General Assembly to go over the state-mandated 4% annual cap on tax hikes. The bill was supposed to be heard before the R.I. House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing on Tuesday, but was postponed. A new hearing date has yet to be set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smiley said hes working with the City Council to try and craft a resolution in support of his request to go over the 4% levy. Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for City Council President Rachel Miller, told Target 12 the resolution has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in councils Committee on Finance. Richner said Miller and councilors are exploring all options to try and find alternative, sustainable, new, non-residential property tax revenue. In the coming weeks, she will be calling on the General Assembly to put guardrails on the citys exemption request, including an upper limit on the overall levy increase and new proposals that reduce the levys impact on housing affordability, Richner said. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. It was fun while it lasted. While Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached the eastern seaboard of Australia, it brought with it some historically epic surf to the Gold Coast and, in particular, the sand-bottomed tube treadmill of Kirra. Jack Robinson, Mick Fanning, and many others enjoyed a slew of cavernous, extra-long pits. Now, with the category 2 storm nearing landfall, things are looking a little different, with coastal erosion, sketchy rogue waves, and dangerous conditions for all. Officials are warning against beachgoers and surfers from getting close to the action, like this guy below at Snapper Rocks. In fact, the Gold Coast City Council is threatening surfers and beachgoers with a $16,000 fine for acting recklessly during the heavy storm conditions. A spokesperson said: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement " Although the large waves may be exciting to witness, we need everyone to stay well away from coastal areas for your own safety. No photograph or video is worth your life. "Increasing winds will see conditions deteriorate further and conditions become more dangerous. "We have seen several people involved in incidents because of the hazardous surf conditions including falls from rock walls and being swept out in the surf." Related: Tears of Joy: Mick Fanning, Tubes, and a $20 Surfboard Elsewhere, scenes of heavy seas washing into residential areas, and catching humans in the process, are also pouring in. Like cars being washed out to sea, and a woman and her dog, who narrowly made an escape as the ocean grew angry and nearly swept them away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natalie Edwards, Surf Life Saving Queensland lifesaving services manager, warned: "We are experiencing erosion along Gold Coast beaches already that has created cliff drops of up to two meters in highly populated areas of Surfers Paradise, Main Beach down to Burleigh and Coolangatta. "Now is not the time to head to the beach for a look, especially with young children who may be pulled out by the fast moving tides that are encroaching on walkways and areas that normally would be far from the water. "Please don't put at risk emergency services personnel because you want to venture out in these conditions." Related: How Cyclone Alfred Turned Kirra Into 10-Foot Sandy Cathedrals (WJW) Its a unique sign of the changing season in Northeast Ohio, the return of sobriety checkpoints. Thats where local deputies will be looking for impaired drivers. Guide: 2025 St. Patricks Day parades, events There has not been a sobriety checkpoint in our area since November. However, the Summit County Sheriffs Office issued its first alert about a sobriety checkpoint this weekend. The Summit County OVI Task Force will be conducting sobriety checkpoints across the county from Saturday, March 15, to early Sunday morning, March 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RECALL: Crackers sold at Walmart, Giant Eagle No specific locations have been released yet. In 1990, the Supreme Court upheld the use of sobriety checkpoints as long as they meet certain guidelines, which includes public notification. You can learn more about the legality of checkpoints in Ohio in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Amid increased reports of immigration authorities in Los Angeles, organizations are hosting informational workshops and events to inform residents of their rights and detail what to expect during interactions with ICE agents. The need for such resources is apparent, advocates say. During a recent City Council meeting, council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents part of South L.A., said when agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were in his district, "neighbors were on the street helping neighbors. People who didnt know their rights, neighbors were telling them their rights. Organizations across Los Angeles County are now hosting "know your rights" workshops aimed at providing that same kind of support and information in a more formal way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is a list of free workshops, programs and events in and around the county. This list will be updated with the latest information from organizations and legal groups: Read more: LAPD presence at South L.A. immigration raid sparks questions Upcoming workshops and events March 10: The Equity & Justice Alliance will present a "know your rights" free legal workshop. The presentation will include a panel discussion and a Q&A with immigration, criminal defense, family law and civil rights attorneys. The event runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the East Los Angeles College Ingalls Auditorium. Registration is required; you can sign up here. The college is located at 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park. A map of the campus can be found here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 11: The Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic is hosting two virtual "know your rights" webinars for teachers and students of the Los Angeles Regional Adult Education Consortium. The first session is from 10:30 to 11 a.m. and the second is 6:30 to 7 p.m. To register yourself or your class, go to the "student connect" registration page on the school's website or fill out the form here. Read more: ICE agents are setting their sights on L.A. What employers need to know March 11: The Immigrant Defenders Law Center is holding a virtual presentation about a person's constitutional rights and how to protect yourself and others in case of an immigration emergency. The virtual presentation will be held over Zoom from 4 to 5 p.m. Registration can be found here. March 13: The Los Angeles LGBT Center's legal services team will run a Know Your Rights: Immigration Rights Now legal clinic at Mi Centro, 553 S. Clarence St. in Boyle Heights. The event starts at 6 p.m. For more information or to register, email legalservices@lalgbtcenter.org or call (323) 993-7670. Clinics are held in both English and Spanish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March 18: The Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic is co-sponsoring a " know your rights" presentation from noon to 1 p.m. at the Robinson Courtroom in Los Angeles. The courtroom is located at 919 Albany St., on the first floor of the Dordick Family Trial Advocacy Center. Read more: A sanctuary law aimed to 'Trump-proof' California on immigration. What has it accomplished? Ongoing 'know your rights' resources The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrant rights in Los Angeles County and throughout the nation. It holds in-person and virtual weekly workshops. For more information, visit the organization's website or call (213) 353-1333. Long Beach Forward is a local nonprofit organization that offers community outreach sessions and educational workshops. You can learn about the next session by checking the organization's calendar , calling (562) 436-4800 or following its Instagram account . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The East Los Angeles Occupational Center has prerecorded immigration rights and resources webinars on its website from Los Angeles Unified School District officials. The recordings are in English and in Spanish. RepresentLA is a public-private partnership that provides legal representation to immigrants in custody or in the community, as well as those who face deportation or are seeking relief. The organization hosts an immigrant workshop on the last Wednesday of every month from noon to 2 p.m. at the South Whittier Community Resource Center, 10750 Laurel Ave. The workshop covers topics such as avoiding scams, understanding your rights in immigration court and determining eligibility for family-based immigration and citizenship. Read more: Kern County immigration raid offers glimpse into new reality for California farmworkers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The L.A. County Office of Immigrant Affairs has an online calendar of "know your rights" and legal assistance workshops. The office's website also serves as a hub of information and immigration resources. Catholic Charities of Los Angeles conducts regular workshops as well as informational sessions on citizenship and applications related to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. The organization has an online calendar that lists its monthly events. Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandezs office is collaborating with Mijente, CHIRLA, the Central American Resource Center and other advocacy groups to facilitate regular training as well as provide free red resource cards at local field offices. The office has partnered with Mijente and deployed a community defense organizer to train local leaders and build rapid response networks specifically in Council District 1. You can reach the council member's City Hall office at (213) 473-7001, the Glassell Park field office at (323) 709-1800, or the Westlake district office at (213) 314-6290. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children's Institute has an in-person "Keeping Our Communities Safe" workshop in English and Spanish every Thursday from 3 to 5:30 p.m. During the sessions, the staff reviews constitutional rights, how to identify different law enforcement agencies and how to respond safely during different types of encounters with these agencies. The institute is at 2121 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. Read more: Republicans target 4 'sanctuary' cities as Trump pushes mass deportations Rapid response contact information You can call your local rapid response network to report ICE activity and enforcement actions. Participating organizations document immigration enforcement and can send trained individuals to assist anyone who is being stopped or questioned by agents. Here is a list of local rapid response contacts compiled by the ACLU of Southern California and California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles: (888) 624-4752 Koreatown: (323) 894-1504 Boyle Heights: (323) 805-1049 Promesa Boyle Heights: (323) 922-5644 CHIRLA: (213) 353-1333 ORALE (Long Beach): (562) 276-0267 Immigrant Defenders Law Center: (213) 833-8283 Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice: (909) 361-4588 Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) The Utah Legislature passed a bill on Wednesday that would require app stores to verify the age of their customers, the latest attempt by the state to rein in teen social media use. And unlike some other social media bills passed by lawmakers, SB142 received positive feedback from some of the countrys biggest tech companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit, reads a joint statement from Meta, X and Snap on Wednesday. Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their childs age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way, the companies said. The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. The bill is now headed to Utah Gov. Spencer Coxs desk. The bill, which passed with near-unanimous approval, requires Apple and Googles app stores to verify a users age. The sponsor, Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, said companies could use a credit card as age verification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX If the user is identified as a minor, the bill would require the app store to tie their account to a parent or guardians account the minor would need parental approval before they download any app that requires a terms of service agreement. Weiler described it as a contract bill. Those terms of service agreements are binding contracts that allow app developers to access the devices data, microphone, camera and more in no other circumstance are minors allowed to enter into a binding contract, said Weiler. The bill also addresses what lawmakers say are deceptive app ratings. Apps largely rate themselves, said Rep. James Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, who is sponsoring the bill in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, if a developer misleadingly rates an app that could be unsafe for kids, it could be liable Weilers bill creates a private right of action, tying any misrepresentation of an app to Utahs deceptive advertising laws. If passed, SB142 would join a growing list of laws aimed at curbing youth access to social media and the internet in the name of mental health. In 2024, the Legislature passed a bill requiring social media companies to verify the ages of all users, and place default restrictions on accounts belonging to minors. Lawmakers hoped the new restrictions would give parents a tool to restrict their childrens online presence, citing studies and stories that showed a link between social media use and depression, even suicide. But the constitutionality of those restrictions has been questioned. The state was promptly sued by a trade association, which argued the law violated the first and 14th Amendments. In a ruling last September, a federal judge blocked the law from taking effect until the lawsuit plays out. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ST. MARYS COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A 21-year-old social media creator accused of making false 911 calls and setting fires in Charles and St. Marys counties is facing several charges, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal. Officials said Joshua Christian-Stanley Jackson of Prince Frederick was taken into custody in Charles County last month after he was charged with setting a vacant commercial building on fire and calling 911. Jackson is known for filming emergency responses for various social media sites. During an interview, he told investigators he intentionally set the building on fire and that he made money on other videos he recorded, according to the state fire marshals office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 men dead, 2 injured after shooting in Anne Arundel County, police say He was charged with second-degree arson, malicious burning and causing a false fire alarm and was being held at the Charles County Detention Center. He was later released on home detention. As the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal continued their investigation, authorities discovered that Jackson was allegedly responsible for setting a vacant home ablaze on the night of Feb. 14 on Maddox Road in the Chaptico area of St. Marys County. Fire marshals also learned that he had reported the fire. Their investigation revealed that Jackson made a false 911 call last year about a crash on Three Notch Road in the Hollywood area. The call was determined unfound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, authorities discovered that when Jackson made the 911 call he recorded himself as emergency crews arrived. He then monetized the video and posted it on multiple social media pages. Speaker Mike Johnsons chief of staff arrested for DUI following Trump address to Congress, police confirm On March 5, he was arrested for second-degree arson, second-degree malicious burning, malicious destruction of property, and making a false 911 call in St. Marys County. Jackson was being held at the St. Marys County Detention Center. Arson is a serious crime that puts lives at risk and places an unnecessary burden on our first responders. I commend our Deputy State Fire Marshals who worked tirelessly in this case, said Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray, in a release. We want to remind the public that making false 911 calls is a criminal offense, and anyone who engages in such reckless behavior will be held accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Deputy State Fire Marshals are reviewing incidents and 911 calls made in Calvert County, and Jackson could face additional charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A partial solar eclipse is coming up near the end of March, according to NASA, and it will be visible in Rhode Island. The eclipse won't be quite as impressive as the one last April when the sun blocked 90% of the sun in Rhode Island (and reached totality in other parts of New England) it will create a stunning view. This time, about 40% of the sun will be obscured in Rhode Island. Here's what to know. When is the partial solar eclipse? It is coming up on March 29, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASA stated that it will begin at 4:50 a.m. and will last until around 8:43 a.m. on March 29. The peak time in Rhode Island will be at about 6:30 a.m. Where will the eclipse be visible? The eclipse will be visible in the northeast. "The eclipse will be visible in the eastern states, including Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey," NASA stated on its website. "The eclipse will be strongest in Canada, where over 92% of the sun will be covered." What's the best way to see the eclipse? NASA stated on its website that people planning on viewing the event should wear "eclipse glasses or a solar telescope to view the sun during a partial solar eclipse" or else damage could be done to the eyes. A view of a partial solar eclipse. Such an eclipse is coming up at the end of March. How do I know solar eclipse glasses are safe? If you buy or are given eclipse glasses, be sure they are made by companies the American Astronomical Society has certified as safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASA does not certify glasses, so be wary of any manufacturers claiming that to have the space agency's approval. Eclipse glasses should all have the "ISO" (International Organization for Standardization) icon. The glasses also must have the ISO reference number 12312-2. If you cannot find certified glasses, there are other ways to view the eclipse, including with a shadow box you can make yourself. Whatever you do, don't look at the sun without proper protection. How to make solar eclipse glasses? NASA recommends creating a cereal box viewer, using cereal box, cardboard, foil, paper, scissors and tape or glue. Here are the steps: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get an empty, clean cereal box. Cut a white piece of cardboard that will fit snuggly in the bottom of the box, or secure it permanently by gluing it in place. Cut the top of the cereal box, removing both ends and leaving the center intact. Put a piece of tape across the center of the top to securely hold it closed. Tape a piece of heavy-duty foil or double a single layer for additional strength, covering one of the openings at the top of the cereal box. The other opening will remain open for viewing. Using a small nail (approximately 3mm in diameter) push a hole in the foil. Cover the entire box with construction paper, leaving the single-viewing opening and the foil uncovered. Once it is done, to use it you point the pinhole at the sun and then with your back facing the sun, look through the viewing opening. A small image of the sun should be reflected on the white paper in the box. When are some other partial solar eclipses happening? According to NASA, they will occur on: Sept. 21, 2025 : This partial solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Feb. 17, 2026 : This eclipse will be annular in Antarctica, and partial in Antarctica, Africa, South America, and the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Aug. 12, 2026: This eclipse will be total in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small part of Portugal. It will be partial in Europe, Africa, North America, and the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Solar Eclipse 2025: How to see an eclipse in RI this month BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) Many West Virginia residents continue to struggle with high utility bills. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, West Virginia ranks as the 18th most expensive state for monthly utility costs. Their average monthly utility bills amount to $401.91. Included in that total are electricity, water, natural gas, water waste and other bills like phone, internet and streaming services. Solar Holler is a West Virginia-based Benefit Corp. The Director of Marketing and Residential Sales, Heather Ransom, says many people are looking into solar energy as an alternative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eclipse to cause huge dip in solar-energy production mostly in 1 state Its not really solar or, you know, my utility. In every case, oftentimes its both, right? Because obviously solar is only producing when the sun is shining. So your nighttime energy has to come from somewhere. Again, more and more folks are opting for battery storage systems to bridge that gap. Those are becoming far more affordable than they have ever been before, said Ransom. Solar advocates across West Virginia were disappointed following Governor Jim Justices decision to veto House Bill 5528, back in 2024. Ransom says that if people obtain solar energy before the fall of this year, they will not be faced with rate increases for around 25 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US charges one of the worlds richest people with fraud West Virginia has the highest utility rates of any state in the Lower 48, and our increases in the past 20 years have also jumped up, I believe, more so than any other state or where at least, you know, right there in the in the upper few, said Ransom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. The Fall My previous posts have set the scene in the part of West Sussex where the Sussex muralist worked and taught. By now you should have... Killeen, Tx (FOX 44) III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos confirm that a fire which occurred this past weekend in the city of Killeen, Texas, damaged and destroyed a number of warehoused household goods shipments belonging to military members and their families. Fort Cavazos authorities say they are working with Army Sustainment Command and surging support measures to assist affected individuals throughout the process. The command will activate its Emergency Family Action Center on Fort Cavazos and staff the center with experts who will assist affected personnel. The Department of Defenses United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), administers the Personal Property Program and will be on scene to support the assessment. Individuals will be notified directly if their household goods have been affected. III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos officials are closely coordinating their response and support with USTRANSCOM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a terrible situation for our people who have lost their goods or had them damaged, said Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos commanding general. While we are grateful nobody was injured, we recognize this is a tremendous loss and an incredibly stressful event for everyone affected. We are committed to supporting our Soldiers, families, and Army civilians through this, from start to finish. Individuals with questions about their shipments may contact their servicing installation transportation office (ITO) or the Fort Cavazos ITO at 1-800-521-9959. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. ELKHART A strong odor that closed Elkhart Clinic is petroleum-based, but its source has not been confirmed and an investigation is ongoing, environmental officials say. Representatives from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and city officials addressed the issue during a meeting Tuesday of the Strong Avenue Neighborhood Association at Mary Daly Elementary School. About 70 people attended the meeting, which included remarks from Elkhart Fire Chief Rodney Dale; Jim Weingart, director of IDEMs Northern Regional Office; Tim Veatch, branch chief of IDEMs Petroleum Branch in Indianapolis; and Megan Erwin, chief of staff for the mayors office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Elkhart Clinic, 303 S. Nappanee St., closed its main building in January due to an unidentified vapor. At the meeting Tuesday, IDEM officials confirmed the vapor to be a significant petroleum contamination, but Veatch said investigators are still unsure about where the contamination is coming from. Small amounts of contamination were detected coming from a gas station across West Lexington Avenue from the clinic, Veatch said, but further investigation is needed. We didnt find what we were hoping to not that we want them to be the source, Veatch said. But we wanted to find an answer to the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veatch said no hazardous levels of harmful chemicals, like carbon monoxide, have been detected from the gas station. He said the investigation did confirm a release from the gas station and that records show two prior releases, one in 1996 and one in 2017, Veatch said. Veatch said because of the confirmation of a release, further investigation has been requested, including additional soil and groundwater samples and a report within 60 days. The Elkhart Clinic hired its own environmental consultants, who found a small amount of petroleum contamination in soil samples collected between the clinic and the gas station. So, theres more to do, Veatch said. Theres more things to look at. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IDEM is not sure if the petroleum vapors detected inside the clinic are a health risk to the public or clinic employees. However, Veatch said the contamination looks to be flowing toward the river, away from the nearby school and residential area. Weingart, with IDEMs Northern Regional Office, said his agency could provide only the facts they know regarding the situation and said the investigation is still under way. I would caution you that were in the very early stages of investigating this, Weingart said. The problem with soil and ground water investigations is that they take a lot of time in some cases, and they take months before we fully understand the extent of this contamination. Erwin, with the mayors office, said the highest priority for the city is resident safety. The city followed established procedures as soon as it heard of the issue, she said, and officials are now closely monitoring the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chad Crabtree, city councilman and secretary of the Strong Avenue Neighborhood Association, said he thought the meeting was a great opportunity. I think IDEM was very truthful and factual on the information, Crabtree said. As one of the representatives said, it is an ongoing investigation and its not going to happen overnight. It takes time. Barring a last-minute reprieve, Brad Sigmon will be led into South Carolinas death chamber Friday evening. He will be strapped into a metal chair and, nearly 24 years after beating his ex-girlfriends parents to death, he will wait for three people to shoot him. Hell be the first South Carolina death row inmate ever to be killed by a firing squad. If his appeals fail and Gov. Henry McMaster does not commute his sentence, Sigmon will be shot to death inside of the state death chamber at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. The firing squad was added as an option for the death penalty in 2021 following a nearly decade-long effort to restart executions after the South Carolina Department of Corrections ran out of the the chemicals needed to perform the lethal injection in 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Carolina is one of five states, along with Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma and Idaho to have adopted the firing squad as a method of execution. Since 2021, the South Carolina Department of Corrections has spent $53,600 renovating the states death chamber to facilitate death by firing squad, but like many processes related to the death penalty in the state, few details are known about how the execution will be carried out. But some information has emerged. Execution by firing squad is performed by volunteers from the South Carolina Department of Corrections. These volunteers must meet certain undisclosed qualifications, according to a statement released by the department in 2021. Shortly before 6 p.m., when executions South Carolina take place, Sigmon will be strapped into the chair, which is in a corner of the room. Its away from the electric chair, which cannot be moved, according to the Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sigmon, 67, will be dressed in a standard prison uniform. A hood will be placed over his head, and a small aim point will be placed on his heart, according to the corrections department. The three members of the firing squad will be armed with rifles, all loaded with live ammunition. Traditionally, firing squads have at least one rifle unloaded or loaded with blank rounds so members of the squad are unsure if they fired a fatal shot. Brad Sigmon, 67, was sentenced to death in 2001 for the murders of his ex-girlfriends parents, Gladys and David Larke The Department of Corrections has not disclosed what kind of rifles it intends to use, but representatives have state that four rifles were purchased. Purchase orders show $14,600 spent on rifles. During a 2022 hearing before the South Carolina Supreme Court, Colie Rushton, the director of security and emergency operations at the Department of Corrections, said the agency planned to use .308 Winchester 110 grain TAP URBAN ammo in executions by firing squad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bullet was chosen because it expands and fragments on impact, causing a more instantaneous death, Rushton said. The firing squad will aim and fire on Sigmon through a rectangular opening in a wall of the death chamber 15 feet away. During lethal injections, the IV lines have similarly been described as running to a hole in the chambers wall. The metal chair used during the firing squad is located against a wall. During renovations to the death chamber, it had to be located near the electric chair, which is attached to the floor in the middle of the room. Purchase orders from the Department of Corrections from 2021 show that the department spent $3,400 to purchase a ballistic blanket, made of woven Kevlar or a similar material that can stop bullets, as well as a ballistic armor partition for $7,400. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spokespeople for the department have previously confirmed that renovations included replacing the window separating the witness room from the death chamber with bullet-resistant glass. Witnesses to the execution traditionally include members of the victims family, a representative of the solicitors office that prosecuted the inmate, law enforcement agents, media representatives, and the individuals spiritual advisor and attorney. While the electric chair directly faces the witness room, Sigmon will only be visible to witnesses from his right profile, according to the departments memo. The firing squad is honest about the brutality of the death penalty, said Hilary Taylor, a Methodist pastor who is Sigmons spiritual advisor and executive director of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. It is probably the most honest of the methods for what it means to kill somebody as a citizen of a state. Lethal injection is designed to look like a real medical procedure, but its just pumping people full of poison. Attorneys for Sigmon say that he made the impossible choice to die by firing squad because South Carolinas shield laws meant that he did not have enough information about the states lethal injection process to ensure that he would not suffer a prolonged death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unless he elected lethal injection or the firing squad, he would die in South Carolinas ancient electric chair, which would burn and cook him alive, said federal Public Defender Gerald Bo King. Given South Carolinas unnecessary and unconscionable secrecy, Brad is choosing as best he can. Why does South Carolina use the firing squad? In 2021, the South Carolina General Assembly approved the use of a firing squad for executions. The intention behind the change in the law was simple, said former state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Richland, one of the champions of the change: saving people from the electric chair. I thought then and I believe now that it (the electric chair) is a horrendous, barbaric way to kill somebody, Harpootlian said. His conviction came from an unusual place. As the 5th Circuit solicitor, Harpootlian secured a death penalty conviction against infamous serial killer Donald Pee Wee Gaskins, who killed fellow inmate Rudolph Tyner using plastic explosives hidden inside of a radio while both were incarcerated at the former Central Correctional Institution in Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harpootlian did not attend Gaskins execution the former prosecutor said that he decided not to leave his family alone because Gaskins had reportedly put out a hit on Harpootlians then 4-year-old daughter just two weeks before. But he said multiple people, including Department of Corrections employees, told him how Gaskins execution went wrong. They had to give him two jolts. His hair was on fire and his eyeballs popped out, Harpootlian said. The brutality of Gaskins execution led Harpootlian to push for another method. For much of the last 100 years, executions in South Carolina have been performed primarily by electric chair. In the mid-1990s, the method of execution shifted to lethal injection. Since 1995, 39 people have been executed by lethal injection. Thirty-six were killed using a three drug cocktail, where the inmates received chemicals that anesthetized, paralyzed and then ultimately stopped their hearts. But in 2013, South Carolina ran out of the drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies that produced the drugs and pharmacies that prepared them stopped providing the drugs following a public outcry. The companies also stopped providing the drugs to other states and the federal government. But in 2021, South Carolina lawmakers pushed to resume executions by introducing the firing squad and reintroducing the electric chair. Back when we reinstated the death penalty, I told everybody, If you push that green button youre voting to execute a couple of people. You may as well be throwing the switch or pulling the trigger yourself, said Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg. The law does not prescribe how the firing squad is to perform, leaving it up to the Department of Corrections to develop the states protocol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have spoken to people in my years as a prosecutor who have been shot and survived. Some feel pain and some dont feel pain, but all of them indicate that if its a high-powered weapon, the shock of getting shot means you dont feel much, Harpootlian said. I know its more humane than the electric chair. Now whether or not you pick that over the lethal injection is a matter of your conscience. What have other states done? In 2010, Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by firing squad in Utah. It was the last time that the firing squad was used to execute someone in the United States. Gardner, who shot and killed a liquor store clerk during a robbery and a lawyer during a botched escape attempt, requested to be executed by firing squad. The firing squad shot at Gardner from 15 feet away through horizontal gun ports in the Utah death chambers walls. He asked that his family not attend the execution. But afterwards, his brother, Randy Gardner, viewed Ronnies body along with Ronnies daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Randy unzipped the body bag, he saw four holes in his brothers chest. I thought, God I could fit my fingers in those holes, like a bowling ball with one extra hole, Gardner said. The autopsy pictures were far worse than I thought. Blood and bones and lungs were shot out the back. His brothers shorts and socks had turned red with the blood. Utahs firing squad has five people. All have to be police certified. One member is given a wax bullet as a blank round the intention is that any member of the firing squad can tell themselves that they did not fire the lethal shot. Everyone can consider themselves the one person, but in the long run everyone volunteered, Gardner said. Its kind of a silly thing they do to cover up the inhumane fact of what it is. On Gardners death certificate, the manner of death was listed as state sanctioned homicide, his brother said. I dont condone what my brother did; I never have, Gardner said. But I dont condone the government doing the same thing that he did. South Carolina death row inmate Mikal Mahdi has chosen to die by firing squad, making him the second in the state to choose the controversial and rarely used execution method this year. Mahdi, 41, pleaded guilty to murder for shooting and killing an off-duty police officer in 2004 and was sentenced to death in 2006. He is scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. on April 11 at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. While death by firing squad is legal, it's viewed by many Americans as an inhumane form of justice. "Faced with barbaric and inhumane choices, Mikal Mahdi has chosen the lesser of three evils," one of his lawyers, David Weiss, said in a statement. "Mikal chose the firing squad instead of being burned and mutilated in the electric chair, or suffering a lingering death on the lethal injection gurney." Mikal Mahdi. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP) Mahdi has one more chance at clemency. Just minutes before he is scheduled to be executed, he can ask Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole. In the 49 years since the state reinstated the death penalty, no governor has granted clemency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news comes weeks after South Carolina executed death row inmate Brad Sigmon, 67. He was executed by firing squad on March 7. It was the first such execution since South Carolina legalized the method in 2021. Sigmon was convicted in 2001 of killing his ex-girlfriend's parents at their home. Prosecutors said he also held his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint and attempted to kidnap her, but she escaped. He shot at her as she ran but missed. Before Sigmon's execution, there had been only three executions by firing squad in the United States since 1976, and they all occurred in Utah. Sigmon's execution was the first time in over 15 years that a U.S. inmate was shot to death as an execution method. According to the Associated Press, Sigmon's attorney, Gerald King, said in a statement that his client acknowledged a firing squad execution would be a violent death, but he considered it to be the best option available. Electrocution, King said, would "burn and cook" Sigmon alive, while lethal injection would mean risking "the prolonged death suffered by all three of the men South Carolina has executed since September three men Brad knew and cared about who remained alive, strapped to a gurney, for more than 20 minutes." How death by firing squad generally works An execution by firing squad, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, usually involves the prisoner bound in a chair in front of a wall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prisoner can speak any last and final words before a firing squad stands in an enclosure about 20 feet away from the prisoner. Sandbags are placed near the chair to keep bullets from ricocheting around the room. In accordance with South Carolina's rules, three volunteer employees from the Department of Corrections were all armed with weapons loaded with live ammunition. The prisoner typically dies as a result of blood loss caused by a rupture of the heart or a large blood vessel, the DPIC website states. How many firing squad executions have there been? In the nation's history, 34 people have been executed by firing squad, according to data from the DPIC. Its the only method of execution that has a 0% botched rate. Comparatively, death by lethal injection has the most botched execution rate at 7.12%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to Sigmon's execution, the most recent death by firing squad was in 2010, when 49-year-old Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed in Salt Lake County. He was declared dead two minutes after he was shot. What states currently use the method? The following five states have authorized execution by firing squad in certain cases: The South Carolina Supreme Court has denied the final appeal of Brad Sigmon, paving the way for his execution by firing squad on Friday, according to the Associated Press. Sigmon, who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriends parents in 2002, will be the first person executed by firing squad in the United States in 15 years. There is no justice here. Everything about this barbaric, state-sanctioned atrocity from the choice to the method itself is abjectly cruel, said defense attorney Gerald Bo King in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sigmons lawyers sought to delay his execution to obtain more information about the lethal injection drugs used by South Carolina, arguing that the lack of transparency forced Sigmon to choose the firing squad over lethal injection. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: SC man who requested execution by firing squad is fighting to stay alive The state also offers execution by electric chair, but Sigmon declined, citing concerns about suffering from electrocution. In recent executions using lethal injection, autopsies revealed fluid in the lungs of inmates, raising concerns about potential suffering during the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Carolinas shield law keeps details about the lethal injection drugs and execution procedures confidential, leaving questions about the protocol unanswered. Sigmon plans to request clemency from Governor Henry McMaster, who will make a decision shortly before the execution. The decision to proceed with Sigmons execution by firing squad highlights ongoing debates about execution methods and transparency in the states capital punishment system. VIDEO: SC man who requested execution by firing squad is fighting to stay alive IRMO, S.C. (WCBD) State authorities arrested and charged a Midlands politician this week after he was accused of engaging in sexual activity with a juvenile. Erik Kenneth Sickinger, 42, who serves as the Town of Irmos mayor pro tem, was arrested Tuesday following an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Affidavits provided by SLED outline several incidents where Sickinger engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old male, which was disclosed by the juvenile during a forensic interview with the Dickerson Childrens Advocacy Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sickinger was identified through communication within the teenagers Snapchat account, according to documents. Affidavits also state that Sickinger provided marijuana and alcoholic beverages to a 15-year-old while at his home and took the teen to get a tattoo which Sickinger paid for. He is also accused of enticing and luring the teen for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with the defendant who was 42 years old. The Lexington County Sheriffs Office asked SLED to investigate. Sickinger was charged Tuesday with three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor second degree, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and luring a child under 16 years of age. He was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Town of Irmos website, Sickinger was elected to the town council in 2020 and was named mayor pro tem in 2023. His focus, according to the website, is on citizen feedback, neighborhood issues, and community engagement. An investigation by SLED is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) South Dakota lawmakers no longer want to have unlimited use of revenue from unclaimed property. The South Dakota House of Representatives on Wednesday approved capping the amount that can be used in state governments general fund. With State Treasurer Josh Haeder looking down from the gallery, House members voted a perfect 70-0 for Senate Bill 155. House Bill 1052 on CO2 pipelines passed. Now what? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That matched the unanimous approval by the Senate two weeks ago. Its expected that Gov. Larry Rhoden will sign it into law. The bills passage marked completion of a six-year effort by Haeder and various lawmakers such as Republican Sen. Taffy Howard and Republican Sen. Chris Karr. The legislation caps at $61,384,827 the amount of unclaimed property revenue to be used in the 2026 budget that the Legislatures Joint Committee on Appropriations is wrapping up. The amount would decline to $58 million for the 2027 budget and then decrease by $4 million each year, until the amount reaches $25 million for the 2035 budget. It would remain at $25 million each year after that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A four-year controversy that has shaken South Dakotas Republican political establishment culminated Tuesday in the Legislatures passage of a ban on eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines. The state Senate voted 23-12 to approve the bill, which previously passed the House, and sent it to Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden for his signature or veto. He declined to state his position on the bill during recent press conferences. His spokesperson issued a statement Tuesday in response to a question from South Dakota Searchlight. Sen. Mark Lapka, R-Leola, speaks on the South Dakota Senate floor on March 4, 2025. Winter weather: How much snow has fallen in South Dakota? Here are totals from across region Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Rhoden is committed to protecting landowner rights and keeping South Dakota Open for Opportunity, the statement said. He has a wealth of knowledge on both eminent domain and property rights issues, and he is well aware of all the arguments in this discussion. He will be carefully considering this bill in the coming days. The legislation would prohibit carbon pipeline companies from acquiring land by eminent domain. Thats the right to access private property for projects that benefit the public, with just compensation determined by a court. Eminent domain is commonly used for projects such as electrical power lines, water pipelines, oil pipelines and highways. Sen. Tom Pischke, R-Dell Rapids, supported the bill. He called it a response to an outcry from landowners. Private companies should not be able to take South Dakotans land against their will, Pischke said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: South Dakota records its first-ever February tornado with a twister near Watertown Sen. Mark Lapka, R-Leola, also supported the legislation. I dont want to see us go down a path where eminent domain becomes a way of doing business, he said. Lapka owns land near the proposed route of Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions $9 billion pipeline. So does the bills main House sponsor, Rep. Karla Lems, R-Canton. The pipeline would transport carbon dioxide from more than 50 ethanol plants in five states, including eastern South Dakota, to an underground storage site in North Dakota. The project would qualify for billions in federal tax credits incentivizing the sequestration of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Summit issued a statement after the bills passage Tuesday. Summit Carbon Solutions has been inclusive signing easement agreements with more than 500 landowners, working with nearly every ethanol plant, and ensuring economic benefits for farmers and ethanol producers in the upper Midwest, the statement said, in part. The company went on to label its project as important to American energy dominance and said South Dakota should be part of that future. Private companies should not be able to take South Dakotans land against their will. Summit was denied a permit by South Dakotas Public Utilities Commission in 2023, largely due to the routes conflicts with local ordinances that mandate minimum distances between pipelines and existing features. The company has since made some adjustments to its route and reapplied, and that application is pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project has received permits in Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota, while Nebraska does not have a permitting process, and some of the permits have been challenged in court. Lapka and Lems are among the legislators who were motivated to run for office by their opposition to Summits potential use of eminent domain. The company has voluntary agreements called easements with some landowners but will likely need eminent domain to complete its project. Summits eligibility to use eminent domain in South Dakota is being challenged in court. Since Summit announced its plan in 2021, a politically diverse grassroots movement has formed across South Dakota to oppose it, mixing everything from Republican climate change deniers to Democrats concerned about the fate of family farms. Last year, after state lawmakers passed legislation placing new restrictions on carbon pipelines and implementing new protections for landowners and counties without banning the use of eminent domain opponents petitioned the legislation to the ballot and defeated it. They also helped to oust 14 Republican incumbent legislators in last Junes primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new makeup of this years Legislature, with more pipeline critics and some of them elevated to leadership positions, made the passage of the eminent domain ban likely. Supporters of the bill said its necessary to protect landowners from having their property accessed and developed by a private corporation against their will. The bills opponents said it could harm the ethanol industry, which is seeking ways to lower its carbon footprint as some states and countries limit sales of carbon-intensive fuels. Yet carbon dioxide can also be injected into old oil wells such as in North Dakotas Bakken oil fields to bring more oil to the surface, leading some critics of carbon sequestration to label it as a boondoggle ultimately benefiting oil companies. One legislator invoked that possibility as a positive, and a reason to oppose the eminent domain ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor [Kelly] Armstrong is talking about how this has the potential for us to retrieve the remaining oil thats left in the Bakken, said Sen. Casey Crabtree, R-Madison, in reference to North Dakotas governor. According to reporting by the North Dakota Monitor, Armstrong recently called for policies that promote using carbon dioxide to enhance oil recovery in the Bakken. Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron, also opposed the bill. He said it unfairly singles out one type of project. He introduced a failed amendment to allow carbon pipeline companies to use eminent domain if they first obtain agreements with 75% of affected landowners. Eminent domain has existed since the country was founded, Wheeler said. And we determined, long ago, that public use includes development that goes across the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff, R-Pierre, was one of the most vocal critics of the bill. It tells developers that South Dakota is not open for business, he said. It tells them that if enough people get together and raise enough ruckus, they can get enough senators elected and House members elected that theyll come to Pierre and cut the legs off your project. Other bills targeting carbon pipelines were heard in the Senate State Affairs Committee later Tuesday. The committee voted 5-4 to reject legislation that would place a moratorium on carbon pipeline permits until new federal safety regulations for the projects are finalized. The committee voted 5-4 to advance a bill that would empower landowners to sue for alleged deception, fraud, harassment, intimidation or misrepresentation by pipeline land agents. South Dakota Searchlights Seth Tupper and Makenzie Huber contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: SD Senate approved eminent domain ban for carbon pipelines bill SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korean and U.S. troops will begin their large annual joint military drills next week to enhance readiness against North Korean threats, the allies announced Thursday, days after North Korea threatened high-profile provocations against what it called escalating U.S.-led aggression. However, the announcement was overshadowed by the news of two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropping eight bombs on a civilian area during a joint live-fire exercise with the U.S. military earlier Thursday. Eight people were injured and South Korea's military halted all live-fire drills across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The allies have already begun joint field training for the March 10-20 command post exercise dubbed Freedom Shield exercise, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The accidental bombing happened during one of the joint training exercises, though there were no U.S. soldiers involved in the incident. South Korean military spokesperson Lee Sung Joon and his U.S. counterpart, Ryan Donald, told a joint news conference that the training is meant to strengthen their countries' combined defense posture by reflecting evolving challenges such as North Koreas growing military partnership with Russia. Lee said the two allies plan 16 brigade-level field trainings this year, up from 10 such drills last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear how long the live-fire suspension would last. Military officials said they can restart firing exercises once authorities determine the cause of Thursday's accident and take steps to prevent recurrences. An initial investigation indicated one of the KF-16 pilots had entered wrong coordinates for a bombing site. North Korea views major South Korean-U.S. military training as an invasion rehearsal and often reacts with missile tests and fiery rhetoric. Earlier this week, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accused the United States of intensifying confrontational actions and threatened to ramp up measures threatening the security of the enemy at the strategic level. She cited the recent temporary deployments of U.S. strategic assets like an aircraft carrier and long-range bombers in South Korea and other U.S.-involved military activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Observers say North Korea could test-fire powerful nuclear-capable missiles designed to strike the U.S. mainland and American military bases in the region. Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, President Donald Trump has said he would reach out to Kim Jong Un again to revive diplomacy. North Korea has not responded to Trump's remarks and says U.S. hostilities against it has deepened since Trumps inauguration. During 2018 and 2019, Kim Jong Un and Trump met three times to discuss potential benefits for North Korea should it return to nuclear disarmament. But their diplomacy eventually fell apart after Trump rejected Kims offer to dismantle his main nuclear complex, a limited denuclearization step, in exchange of extensive sanctions relief. Senator Dick Durbin proudly describes his career in the following quote: Before I was elected to Congress, I worked in a courtroom. For years, I defended doctors and hospitals, and for years, I sued them on behalf of people who were victims of medical malpractice. Thirty percent, 131 members, of the House of Representatives and 51 percent, 51 members, of the Senate are lawyers. Senator Durbin is one of 182 lawyers in Congress. It is roughly estimated that 15 percent of all lawyers in the country are malpractice attorneys. Hence, including Dick Durbin, roughly 27 former malpractice attorneys are in Congress. Senator Durbins own words betray something very troubling about him. For years, he defended doctors and hospitals who were sued by patients for medical malpractice. Seventy percent of these claims were likely frivolous. One could only assume that an exceptional lawyer should win 70 percent of all claims they represent. If he was paid billable hours by a malpractice carrier for defending a doctor or hospital, whether he prevailed or not, and if he was successful in that role, he would prosper, and malpractice carriers would seek him out. He would never have changed. But he did change. For whatever reason, he flip-flopped. He sued doctors and hospitals. His clients were patients who were alleged victims of medical malpractice. Seventy percent of their claims were likely frivolous. He intended to thrive from 30 percent to 40 percent of an award through a contingency fee every time he prevailed, whether the claim was meritorious or not, by suing the same malpractice carriers that paid him in the past. He was a typical ambulance chaser. If he was successful as an ambulance chaser, he would prosper, and clients would seek him out. He would never have changed. But he did change. For whatever reason, he became a senator. His words make him a fitting symbol for a lawyer in Congress. Like him, 27 of 182 lawyers in Congress were likely malpractice attorneys before they were elected. Is it any wonder that a malpractice crisis waxed and waned for 65 years without a legislative solution? How much in political contributions do these members of Congress get from the medical liability litigation industry? By connecting the dots, a disturbing picture emerges. Today, our country is in disarray because the president is a lawyer and 33 percent of all members of Congress are lawyers, 15 percent of whom are former malpractice attorneys. When practicing law, they represented or defended against lawsuits of which 70 percent had no merit. What could possibly go wrong? Think in terms of the Moneyball test: If he is supposed to be such a good hitter, why doesnt he hit so good? Paraphrasing it: If government is supposed to govern so well, why doesnt it govern so well? Governance fails when government fails. This is only possible when decision-makers, regardless of the capacity in which they serve, are unethical or incompetent or both. Today, a day does not pass without reminding us of this. A day also does not pass without another frivolous medical malpractice lawsuit being filed; more precisely, another 163 frivolous lawsuits. See the connection? Today, attorneys act with impunity because they know they will never be held accountable. We should not be shocked by the attitude that lawyers know best. First, they change their rules to suit them; next, they change our rules to suit them. One could almost hear them say, Its not so bad; just a few more rules. Put your mask on and shut up! Do what we say or we will cancel you, put you in jail, or kill you. This is how it works. This is how mass hysteria always works. Summary: The high percentage of lawyers in Congress, particularly those with backgrounds in medical malpractice litigation, contributes to a flawed legal and political system where governance is compromised by self-serving interests, leading to unchecked litigation and legislative stagnation. Howard Smith is an obstetrics-gynecology physician. South Korean fighter jets accidentally bombed homes during a live-fire drill with US forces, injuring more than two dozen people on Thursday, Seouls military said. Eight MK-82 general-purpose bombs were abnormally dropped from two KF-16 fighter jets and landed outside the designated firing range at approximately 10:07 a.m. local time, hitting civilian infrastructure in Pocheon city, northeast of the capital Seoul, according to the South Korean Air Force. South Koreas defense ministry said initial findings indicated the accident was caused by a pilot inputting incorrect bombing coordinates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An image that local media outlets said captured the aftermath of the explosions showed thick smoke billowing into the air in a rural area. At least 29 people, including 14 soldiers, were injured in the incident, according to authorities. Among 15 injured civilians, two people were seriously wounded. A South Korean fighter jet accidentally dropped bombs on a civilian area during training in Pocheon, South Korea on March 6, 2025. - Yonhap/AP The blasts destroyed two residential buildings, part of a church, and a truck. The scene of the incident is chaotic, resembling a battlefield, Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun said in a televised statement. The aircraft were participating in a joint live-fire exercise with the South Korean Army and the US military, related to the annual joint US-South Korea Freedom Shield military drills, the South Korean Air Force told CNN, without providing further details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Koreas military said all live-fire training would be suspended from Thursday until a probe into the incident had concluded. An accident response team has been formed to investigate and the air force said it would provide compensation for damages. The air force apologized that the abnormal bomb release has caused civilian damage and wished the injured a swift recovery. Officials have not ruled out the possibility of a malfunction, an air force official told CNN. A spokesperson for the United States Forces Korea (USFK) later said in a statement that no US Air Force aircraft were involved in the exercise. Besides the suspended live-fire training, the other planned military exercises would go ahead, and the USFK is coordinating with Korean authorities on the investigation, it said. Firefighters and police officers walk at an area cordoned off after MK82 bombs fell outside the shooting range during joint live-fire exercises in Pocheon, South Korea, on March 6, 2025. - Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters The Freedom Shield drills were scheduled to run from March 10 to March 20 to strengthen the US-South Korean alliances combined defense posture, Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The annual drills often rile nuclear-armed North Korea, which views them as provocations. In a statement in state-run media on Friday, North Korean authorities condemned the exercises for infringing on its sovereignty and security interests, and warned that the US and South Korea would pay a severe price. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has accused the United States and South Korea of increasing tensions with their joint drills and Pyongyang often responds with bellicose threats. In 2023, as US strategic bombers took part in joint air drills with South Korean forces, North Korea carried out a ballistic missile test, according to the South Korean military. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Hayden Haynes, chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), was arrested following President Donald Trumps address to Congress on Tuesday night, officials confirmed. Hayes was charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) after allegedly hitting a parked car shortly before midnight. President Trumps speech to Congress draws praise, criticism in western Maryland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the United States Capitol Police (USCP) confirmed the incident with DC News Now. In a statement, USCP explained that a driver backed into a parked vehicle [Tuesday] night around 11:40 p.m. We responded and arrested them for DUI. Johnsons office sent a statement to DC News Now saying the Speaker is aware of the incident. The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police. The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress. Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among Members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office. House Speaker Mike Johnsons Office Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. House speaker Mike Johnsons chief of staff was charged with driving under the influence after crashing his car while departing Donald Trumps congressional address. Hayden Haynes, the top aide to one of the most powerful men in Washington, was arrested after the presidents address when his car hit a capitol vehicle. Mr Haynes was arrested around midnight and released with a citation to appear in court, according to NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A driver backed into a parked vehicle last night around 11.40 pm, a spokesman for the US Capitol Police said. We responded and arrested them for DUI. Mr Haynes is a trusted and long-time aide to Mr Johnson who has served as chief of staff in the speakers office since he won the top job in 2023. The Speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his Chief of Staff and the Capitol Police, Taylor Haulsee, spokesman for Mr Johnson, added in a statement to the broadcaster. The Speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his Chief of Staff for his entire tenure in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of this and Haydens esteemed reputation among members and staff alike, the Speaker has full faith and confidence in Haydens ability to lead the Speakers office. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. SALYERSVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) In January, State Auditor Allison Balls office released the findings of a limited-scope examination of Salyersville Water Works (SWW). It was meant to examine the financial and operational procedures from July 2021 through March 2024. Ball said this wasnt part of the regular audits her office does but came about from tips from the city of Salyersville as well as residents who had concerns with SWW. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For context, the city of Salyersville took over control of SWW in 2024; it was previously owned by a group not associated with the city. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: The following are the findings from the audit: SWW lacked adequate internal control structure lacked internal controls and engaged in poor security practices, leaving them vulnerable to fraud and other unlawful activities. Billing adjustments were not handled properly SWW did not have a policy outlining when an adjustment to a customers bill would be appropriate and allowable, nor sufficient documentation explaining why some adjustments were made. As a result, hundreds of thousands of dollars were adjusted on bills without any supporting documentation over the examination period. Insufficient controls lead to questionable purchases . Numerous purchases, totaling over $20,000, by SWW staff were excessive, predominantly personal, or lacking a clear business purpose. When credit card transactions and checks were tested, few were adequately supported by proper documentation. Additionally, SWW employees were not required to log mileage or turn in receipts for gas purchases. Receipts were not accounted for properly : Cash, checks, and credit card deposits were not properly accounted for nor supported by proper documentation, resulting in numerous occasions in which auditors were not able to determine if funds were deposited. Public funds were improperly utilized for employee bonuses . Bonuses were given to employees during the Christmas holiday, totaling $6,750 for FY 2021 and $7,042 for FY 2022. The use of public funds for bonuses violates Section 3 of the Kentucky Constitution. The SWW Board does not have statutory authority to establish fees SWW started charging $7 per month to customers with a grinder pump for grinder pump maintenance fees to offset the rising cost and upkeep of grinder pumps. This fee was passed with one board members approval; however, the Board does not have the statutory authority to impose these fees. SWW engaged in questionable real property transaction : The City sold property to SWW. SWW was established and currently operates as a department of the city. SWW is not a separate corporate entity entitled to hold real property in its own name. Rather, any real property should be held in the name of the city. SWW mortgaged the property, and the city allowanced it. This was found to be in direct violation of state law. SWW has failed to maintain a sufficient capital assist listing : SWWs capital asset listing did not provide descriptions, historical costs, or year of acquisition for any of the recorded assets, which included vehicles and buildings. SWW lacks written policies and procedure s: It operated without guidance and uniformity because they did not have any written policies and procedures to create an organizational structure to follow on a day-to-day basis and to ensure financial transactions were properly handled, recorded, and documented. SWW failed to implement segregation of duties: Without supervision, the office manager was responsible for preparing bills, adjusting bills, accepting payments, posting payments, making deposits, and reconciling accounts. These duties should be segregated or compensated with controls to mitigate the risk of undetected waste, fraud, and abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an eastern Kentuckian herself, Ball said she always keeps an eye on local waterworks companies, given the trouble various parts of the region have had with water and the amount of money it costs to keep them running properly. She hopes this audit will show there is a right way to go about things and a wrong way. I actually dont think theyre isolated to Salyesrville, Ball said. I think these are the kinds of things that youre going to see in water districts all over the state because theres not been a lot of training, theres not been a lot of uniformity. Some of the problems here were adjustments being made without a policy for adjustments. For example, in the first quarter of 2024, I think there were about 1000 bills that were adjusted, and it was almost $1 million in adjustments when you actually looked at it. So thats real money. Ball said things have already begun to improve with SWW under the citys control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salyersville Mayor Stanley Howard said that under the old regime, SWW was struggling financially and now the city is trying to right the wrongs. When the city took over SWW, Howard said money was kept in closets, which were poorly secured. The old regime would spend more money than what they had for things such as Christmas parties, then ask the city council for more money. But now the city has completely reorganized the books and now does daily deposits into a secure account. Howard said the real changes wont be felt for some time, but its his promise to his neighbors that the city is going to make things right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more of the latest Kentucky news Were going to get it fixed, Howard said. Were trying to keep the rates as low as possible. We cant raise rates because weve got a lot of leaks; thats not the cure for it. Our cure is to change the water lines, change our meters, and not put the burden on the people raising our water bills because were in a fixed-income community and everybodys on fixed incomes; most of us are retired. When they retire, they come to town, and were going to have good water rates. Thats the benefit of living in the city, and well fix our problems and not put the burden on the people. Another issue the audit found was meter rates that overcharged customers. Howard said those problems were a result of human error, as employees would have to write down the meter readings by hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city recently received grant funding from the state that would replace all the meters in the city and automate that process. You can read the full audit below: Salyersville-Water-Works-Special-Examination-ReportDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. The head of the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) is ending his legal bid to remain in his post after being fired by President Trump, calling into question the future of an office that has been battling to return fired federal workers to their posts. Special counsel Hampton Dellingers announcement comes one day after a federal appeals court panel greenlighted Dellingers termination until they resolve the case, an indication that the court may ultimately side with the Trump administration. This new ruling means that OSC will be run by someone totally beholden to the President for the months that would pass before I could get a final decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the circuit judges erred badly because their willingness to sign off on my ouster even if presented as possibly temporary immediately erases the independence Congress provided for my position, a vital protection that has been accepted as lawful for nearly fifty years. Until now, Dellinger continued. Dellinger said losing the independence of the office could be immediate, grievous, and, I fear, uncorrectable. His announcement takes the pressure off the Supreme Court by opting against filing an emergency appeal to the justices seeking his immediate reinstatement. Already, the high court punted the Trump administrations emergency appeal at an earlier stage of the case, but the court had not weighed in on the underlying legality of the firing. And given the circuit courts adverse ruling, I think my odds of ultimately prevailing before the Supreme Court are long, Dellinger wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dellinger has filed numerous complaints with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), scoring early victories in asking it to return fired probationary employees to their jobs, arguing they were wrongfully terminated. The Trump administration ordered the firing of as many as 220,000 federal workers hired or promoted within the last year or two, a status that varies by agency. In filings before the quasi-judicial board, Dellinger had argued the Trump administration failed to follow civil service law, claiming to fire each for performance reasons without doing an individual assessment. Dellinger said the move was akin to layoffs, requiring the government to instead embark on a reduction in force. Dellinger scored two initial wins before the MSPB, which agreed to reinstate six federal workers across different agencies for 45 days as it continues to weigh the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building on that action, the MSPB on Wednesday ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to return nearly 6,000 fired probationary workers to their jobs for 45 days. In addition to protecting federal workers from so-called prohibited personnel practices, the Office of the Special Counsel is another avenue for whistleblower reporting and is tasked with protecting them from reprisal. The office also investigates Hatch Act violations of federal workers accused of electioneering. Today would have marked my one-year anniversary as head of the Office of Special Counsel. For the rest of my life I will regret that I could not make it to the milestone. I tried, Dellinger wrote in his statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) A special election will be held in May to replace two North Charleston city council members who resigned last week amid a federal corruption probe. Jerome Heyward (District 5) and Sandino Moses (District 3) were charged Feb. 26 in a year-long public corruption investigation that uncovered several schemes involving bribery, kickbacks, extortion, and money laundering. Both resigned shortly after the charges were announced. The special election to fill their seats has been scheduled for May 27, according to the Charleston County Board of Elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike A. Brown, who represents District 1, was also charged in the investigation. The governors office suspended him as he did not immediately resign from his post. County election officials said the May 27 election will not include Browns seat. It could, however, be postponed to a later date should he be removed from office or resign. South Carolina mayor pro tem charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor, luring a child Prosecutors said the council members used their positions to enrich themselves by participating in schemes involving payments related to the rezoning of the historic Baker Hospital site in North Charleston and the citys violence reduction grants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heyward and Moses pleaded guilty to their respective charges on Feb. 28 at the U.S. Court House in downtown Charleston. Two of their alleged associates also pleaded guilty. Each was given a $50,000 unsecured bond, which means they must follow restrictions, including that they cannot violate any federal, state, or local law, must be supervised by a probation officer, and may not travel outside South Carolina without the courts permission. The defendants who entered guilty pleas have not yet been sentenced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. This is an edition of Time-Travel Thursdays, a journey through The Atlantics archives to contextualize the present and surface delightful treasures. Sign up here. The most striking images from Donald Trumps second inauguration were not of the president himself. Rather, they featured the array of tech billionaires who occupied some of the best seats in the crowded Capitol rotunda. There was Xs Elon Musk, Amazons Jeff Bezos, Metas Mark Zuckerberg, Apples Tim Cook, and Googles Sundar Pichaiall sitting alongside one another, their proximity to Trump sending a decidedly unsubtle message about the new power structure in America. The scene set up the possibility of a new kind of American oligarchy, my colleagues Michael Scherer and Ashley Parker wrote in The Atlantic that afternoon. Trumps empowerment of Musk, the worlds richest man, to rampage through the federal bureaucracy in the weeks since has only deepened the sense that in America right now, a wealthy few are governing the many. Since its earliest editions, The Atlantic has been preoccupied with the specter of oligarchy. The word appeared in this magazines endorsement of Abraham Lincoln in 1860its only presidential recommendation for more than a centurywhen James Russell Lowell, The Atlantics first editor, wrote: Theoretically, at least, to give democracy any standing-ground for an argument with despotism or oligarchy, a majority of the men composing it should be statesmen and thinkers. Two years later, in the midst of the Civil War, Ralph Waldo Emerson contrasted Americas two states of civilizationthe free, democratical North and the South, a lower state, in which the old military tenure of prisoners or slaves, and of power and land in a few hands, makes an oligarchy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades thereafter, The Atlantics writers occasionally referred to the postwar southern political and economic hierarchywealthy, white landowners who dominated a disenfranchised Black populationas an oligarchy. In the early-20th-century trust-busting era of Theodore Roosevelt, oligarchy became a byword for the threat of corporate power. The corporation has subverted law and honesty between individuals, the writer Robert R. Reed warned in 1909. It can and will, if unrestrained, subvert the basic ideal of American government, the happiness and welfare of unborn generations of American people. A generation later, Arthur E. Morgan, the first chairman of Tennessee Valley Authority under Franklin D. Roosevelt, approached the idea of American oligarchy with a slightly more open mind. Writing in 1934, he noted that some institutions that Americans held in the highest regard were hardly democracies. Henry Ford, then the revered titan of the automobile industry, was both an economic dictator and a popular hero. Harvard University, governed by a selfperpetuating board of wealthy trustees, was essentially an oligarchy. The American people has sized up this situation and is not worried about political theories, Morgan wrote. It tends to give its loyalty to the institution which best serves the public good, whether it be controlled by a democracy or by an oligarchy. Only around the turn of this century, as economic inequality increased to the point of crisis, did warnings about the dangers of an American oligarchy reemerge in these pages. Some appear quite prescient. A 1990 cover story profiling the economist Lester Thurow described a speech he addressed to members of the Washington, D.C., establishment, warning that they risked becoming an oligarchy of greedy profiteers that could bring economic ruin to America. Surveying the global landscape in 1997, Robert D. Kaplan wrote that democracy in the United States is at greater risk than ever before Many future regimes, ours especially, could resemble the oligarchies of ancient Athens and Sparta more than they do the current government in Washington. Perhaps Thurow was presaging the financial collapse of 2008, which helped spawn a revival of anti-government populism that propelled Trump and his wealthy allies to power. And maybe Kaplan, writing in the relatively halcyon period of 1990s economic expansion, had people like Musk and his fellow tech tycoons in mind when he warned that the accumulated concentration of wealth and the productive anarchy of the technological revolution would need to be supervisedor else there will be no justice for anyone. Article originally published at The Atlantic Mar. 5SPIRIT LAKE RESERVATION Two people were killed in a St. Michael shooting Tuesday morning, March 4, and one remains in critical condition, according to a correction issued by the Spirit Lake Tribal Council. The shooting took place at approximately 9:30 a.m., and all involved including the alleged shooter are members of the Spirit Lake Tribe, according to the updated statement issued Wednesday afternoon, March 5. "Initially, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement we reported that three individuals had lost their lives as a result of this incident," the statement said. "However, we must retract that statement as we have received updated information from law enforcement confirming that only two victims have been pronounced deceased while one remains in critical condition. While this adjustment in our report is crucial for accuracy, it does not diminish the severity of this incident and the impact it has on our community." The council apologized to the family for the mistake and expressed regret that the shelter-in-place order impacted how quickly the family was able to receive information, the statement said. The council urged the community to honor the family's wishes that their privacy be respected and no names be released at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, who was apprehended at approximately 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, remains in custody. Their identity has also not been shared. The council acknowledged many agencies for their swift response during this incident, as well as their continued efforts to carry out the investigation, including the Fort Totten Bureau of Indian Affairs, Turtle Mountain BIA, Ramsey County, Benson County, Nelson County, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Devil's Lake Police Department, FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, Lake Region Drone Team, Spirit Lake Ambulance, Spirit Lake Incident Command, Spirit Lake Emergency Management Services and Lake Region Ambulance. The tribal council also extended its gratitude to North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann for their quick response and air support amid the search for the suspect. "Their collaborative efforts exemplify the strength of our community and state in times of crisis," the statement said. Tribal citizens are reminded that grief counseling services are available, and everyone is encouraged to prioritize their mental health and overall well-being during this time. Spirit Lake Behavioral Health can be reached at 701-766-1613, and Spirit Lake Suicide Prevention at 701-381-0047. Many years ago, an immigrant from China and I were talking about Voice of America, which was a radio system used to communicate American ideas into Nazi, Fascist, and communist countries during World War II. It worked. The elderly Chinese immigrant learned English from these broadcasts and legally came to the United States already speaking our common language. He told me it was the only way they could learn the truth about what was going on in the world. My uncles and grandfather built and wired the towers out on Tylersville Road. (We donated some photos to the museum up there.) The United States continues these transmissions to provide news and information in nearly 50 languages to audiences around the world. Opinion: Trump's speech covered everything from tariffs to DOGE. Tell us what you think Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But teaching American concepts can also be taught in children's TV programs, like Sesame Street. If we start teaching early, perhaps we can break the cycles of hate and violence that have ravaged the Middle East for centuries. My personal choice would be Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, but Sesame Street also teaches basic core values. Perhaps one day, we can all sing, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" Karen Bertke, Western Hills This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: If radio could fight fascism, can 'Sesame Street' fight hate? | Letter SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Calling all spring lovers Dunkin has released its seasonal menu with the return of some favorites and new items to try. Dunkin locations across Massachusetts are bringing back the Dunkalatte. It was first introduced in the fall last year, which has a secret ingredient, coffee milk. Its made by blending whole milk with Dunkins coffee extract. It sips like a latte and tastes like a melty milkshake! Also making a comeback for a limited time is Pistachio coffee. It features nutty, subtly sweet Pistachio Flavor Swirl combined with Dunkins Original Blend coffee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These leased federal offices in Massachusetts impacted by DOGE cuts Including the new seasonal items that launched on menus Wednesday, Dunkin has implemented no additional cost for its non-dairy options, almondmilk and oatmilk. A new food item has debuted, Ham & Swiss Pretzel Sliders! Enjoy two sliders with Black Forest ham, Swiss and honey mustard, on a Kings Hawaiian Pretzel Slider Buns. Heres a full look at the items on the spring menu: Dunkalatte Pistachio Coffee Ham & Swiss Pretzel Sliders Sweet Black Pepper Bacon Chicken & Bacon Croissant Stuffer Brown Sugar Shakin Espresso Raspberry Watermelon Dunkin Refresher $6 Meal Deal (Dunkin) (Dunkin) (Dunkin) At Dunkin, we know our fans are passionate about their favorite drinks, and nothing proves that more than the overwhelming demand for the return of the Dunkalatte and Pistachio Coffee. These two beverages have each built a cult following, from customers raving about the Dunkalattes one of-a-kind creamy flavor, to years of petitions calling for Pistachios comeback, said Beth Turenne, Vice President of Category Management at Dunkin. Were also bringing more delicious flavors to the menu with the new Ham & Swiss Pretzel Sliders, served on Kings Hawaiian Pretzel Slider Buns, a sweet and savory twist perfect for any time of day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The month of March will also come with some new weekly deals for Dunkin Reward members: March 11 March 17: $3 Pretzel Slider with beverage purchase March 25 March 31: $3 Chicken & Bacon Croissant Stuffer with beverage purchase Every Monday in March: Receive 100 Bonus Points when ordering ahead in the app Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. UPDATE 3-6-25 Daryll Lamont Carter was sentenced to 25 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for robbery in the first-degree, armed criminal action, and resisting arrest. Original Story 4-16-23 GREENE COUNTY, Mo. Deputies with the Greene County Sheriffs Office have arrested a man for stealing a womans car at knifepoint. According to a Facebook post from the Greene County Sheriffs Office, a Springfield woman reported she had been robbed while inside her open garage on April 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozarks Amphitheater building severely damaged by fire The woman told deputies she was unloading items from her car when a man armed with a knife approached her. The man, later identified as 47-year-old Daryll Lamont Carter, demanded money and the keys to her car. Deputies searching the area later saw the stolen car being driven by a man matching Carters description. When deputies tried to pull Carter over, he drove away but ran off the side of the road and crashed the car before being taken into custody. Amber Alert issued for abducted child canceled Carter was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries from the crash. He was later booked into the Greene County Jail and is currently held without bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges against Carter are pending and have not yet been formally filed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Three suspects were arrested in Springfield on Wednesday in connection to a drug distribution ring on Malden Street. Three without a home after apartment fire on Suffolk Street in Springfield Detectives with the Springfield Police Department have been investigating an apartment on the 100 block of Malden Street over the past several months in connection with crack-cocaine distribution. The primary suspect was identified as 59-year-old Brian Dawson of Springfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives applied for and executed the search warrant around 12:20 p.m. on Malden Street. Twelve people were detained inside the home. A K-9 search was requested to search for drugs and K-9 Flexx found over 22 grams of crack-cocaine, 62 bags of heroin, five oxycodone pills, and more than $2,500 in cash. Dawson and two women who had outstanding warrants were placed under arrest. The other people in the apartment were released. Springfield Police Department Springfield Police Department Springfield Police Department Springfield Police Department Springfield Police Department 59-year-old Brian Dawson of Springfield is charged with: Cocaine Trafficking 18-36 Grams Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 46-year-old Betty Guerra of Holyoke is charged with: Arrest Warrant Arrest Warrant 44-year-old Leslie Hernandez of Springfield is charged with: Arrest Warrant Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Amid federal plans to lay off 15% of the Veterans Affairs workforce, one veteran is lending his insights. Ive seen some waste things that could be changed. But all in all, its necessary for those agencies to be there, said Garry Gannon, a Vietnam veteran from St. Joseph. In an effort to shrink the federal government, President Trumps Department of Government Efficiency plans to fire 80,000 VA workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo Last month, we reported that the VA dismissed almost 3,000 probationary employees. Now, as cuts mount, questions continue to be raised. Looking nationwide, the dismissals indicate the VA is planning to return to 2019 staffing levels by cutting roughly 82,000 jobs. Here in Illinois, WCIA spoke with one disabled veteran who shared his thoughts on the cuts and how they could impact those who rely on VA services. Its too much. I think it will sacrifice the services that they presently have, Gannon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More cuts are coming to the VA. A senior VA official sent an internal memo on Tuesday confirming the agency would reduce nationwide staffing levels below 400,000 workers. SEE ALSO: Danville VA dismisses small number of probationary staff amid national downsize Gannon said he supports better efficiency and eliminating waste, but has concerns about cutting from the VA. There needs to be some very diligent strategy as to who gets let go and what changes need to be made, Gannon said. You just cant go in there and say, Youre going, without checking things out first. Gannon believes the cuts could be detrimental, especially for veterans who rely on the VA as their primary source of medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the cuts will be detrimental to the service, to a lot of veterans, because there are a lot of veterans for whom the VA is their primary source of medical care, Gannon said. And if they dont have that, bad things are going to happen. He also worries the cuts could limit services he already believes need improvement like access to care. A lot of veterans dont have alternatives, Gannon said. They have to depend on the VA, and it needs to be there when a veteran needs help. PREVIOUSLY: VA axes another 1,400 employees Overall, Gannon said hed like to see a selective process for cuts that wont come at the expense of those who need the VA most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets face it. When you spend three or four years in the military, especially in a combat situation, you need to be taken care of, Gannon said. WCIA has reached out to the VA Illiana Health Care System for more details about which types of workers will be affected, the exact number of layoffs, and when they will begin. We are waiting to hear back. VA Secretary Doug Collins posted a video to social media, saying in part: The department is conducting a department-wide review of its organization, operations, and structure. He also stated the review will be based on input from career VA employees, senior executives, and top VA leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. CANTON, N.Y. (WWTI) St. Lawrence University has announced that the Edward John Noble Foundation has given the university a $1.5 million contribution to establish a comprehensive scholarship for middle-class students from the North Country. Noble Smith 71, the head of the Foundation and grandson of the late Edward John Noble, and his wife, Maribeth, established the Anthony and Constance Soupios P71 Scholarship in honor of the late parents of Michael Soupios 71, a close friend Smith met at St. Lawrence. The scholarship provides a loan-free financial aid package for up to four years of study, which includes full tuition, room & board, and student fees. SUNY Canton partners with local Auto Industry for on-the-job training Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comprehensive scholarships like these are absolutely transformative for our middle-class students and vital to the future of the University, says President Kate Morris. We are grateful to Noble and the Foundation for their generosity and alignment with our strategic goals to ensure that these students have access to the powerful liberal arts education St. Lawrence offers. Noble Smith voiced trust in the Universitys leadership, emphasizing the significance of philanthropy for St. Lawrences future. The Foundation usually chooses to keep its philanthropic gifts private, explains Noble Smith. But we do believe that middle-class students can get lost in the shuffle when it comes to college affordability, so we hope that by sharing the news publicly, we can inspire others to fund a similar type of gift at St. Lawrence. The university says the Noble family has been involved with the University for nearly a century, beginning with Edward John Nobles appointment to the Board of Trustees in 1934. He served as chair from 1942 to 1954. The renowned industrialist co-created the Life Savers Candy Company, served as the first chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Authority, was designated the first Under Secretary of Commerce by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and formed the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). St. Lawrences Noble Center is named after Edward John Noble, who was awarded an honorary degree in 1939. SUNY Canton offering no-cost peer support microcredentials Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the Noble family have maintained close ties with the University throughout the years. Edward Nobles daughter, June Noble Smith Larkin Gibson (Noble Smiths mother), was later awarded an honorary doctorate. In addition to Noble Smiths continuous involvement with the University through his leadership of the Edward John Noble Foundation, his brother, Jeremy Smith 73, got an alumni citation in 2023. President Morris expressed gratefulness to the Noble family and their ongoing support. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. Since 1972, Idaho has been part of the WWAMI program to send students to the University of Washington's medical school. (Courtesy of the University of Idaho) The Idaho Legislature introduced a new bill Wednesday that would cut Idahos medical education seats through a partnership with University of Washington, or UW, and instead expand other medical education seats. The bill, which is expected to be posted on the Idaho Legislatures website within the next day, is an alternative to another bill that would end Idahos decades-long participation in the WWAMI partnership with a slew of rural Western states that carves out state-subsidized slots for Idaho students to attend UWs highly regarded medical school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 176, the Idaho WWAMI termination bill, has stalled for weeks after wide backlash from doctors. Rep. Dustin Manwaring. R, Pocatello, at the Idaho Capitol on April 6, 2021. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun) Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, and Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, cosponsored both bills. I think theres a lot of discussions that were going to have in the coming days about these proposals moving forward, and which one makes the most sense for Idaho, Manwaring told the House Education Committee. Part of what I heard in the last few weeks was some folks wanted both. They wanted to try to keep an attachment to the University of Washington and WAMMI, while we build out a different program. Idaho ranks 50th in the nation for the number of active physicians per capita. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bill calls to gradually add 30 more non-WWAMI Idaho medical student seats, and cut 10 WWAMI seats Their new bill calls for Idaho to add 10 medical education seats each year outside of WWAMI, beginning with the academic year that starts in 2026. Under the bill, Idaho would continue that expansion each year until the incoming class size reaches 30 students. The bill doesnt name a medical school that would fulfill that requirement. But as Manwaring presented the bill to the committee Wednesday, he hinted at options. He said hes seen strong interest in University of Utah to stand up a program with University of Idaho, and said Brigham Young University is starting a medical school, and referenced Idaho State Universitys exploration of buying the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, as reported by Idaho Education News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee introduced the bill, teeing it up for a full committee hearing in the coming days before it would be considered by the full House and Senate. But several committee members had concerns. Rep. Mark Sauter (Courtesy of the Idaho Legislature) Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint, voted against introducing the bill, saying he believes Idaho should keep WWAMI whole and build a good program going forward. I do think that we need to have some leadership in the building and also recognize that theres a lot of things that we dont know, he said. The bill also directs Idaho to cut at least 10 seats in the WWAMI program starting in the 2027 academic year. In the meantime, the bill directs the Idaho State Board of Education to appoint a working group to develop a plan for Idaho medical education due in January 2026 to the Legislature and Idaho governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills fiscal note estimates boosting non-WWAMI Idaho medical education seats would cost $512,400 in fiscal year 2027. To become law, Idaho bills must pass the House and Senate, and avoid the governors veto. What is the WWAMI medical education program? Since 1972, Idaho has been part of the WWAMI program to send students to UWs medical school. Through the partnership, Idaho can send 40 medical students to UW each year. But for years, Idaho lawmakers wanted more seats and some have wanted assurance from the medical school that it is not teaching abortion-related care. The day the Idaho WWAMI termination bill passed committee, UW signed a statement saying it doesnt use Idaho taxpayer dollars for abortions or abortion-related activities, Idaho EdNews reported. After passing a House committee in mid-February, the Idaho WWAMI termination bill has not been voted on by the Idaho House for weeks. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE UPDATE: After much deliberation, a jury found Teresa Zeppi guilty on all charges. UPDATE: Closing arguments began Thursday morning in the hit-and-run trial in Manatee County. MANATEE COUNTY (WFLA) Both the state and defense rested their cases in the Teresa Zeppi trial on Wednesday. The 60-year-old Manatee County woman is accused of leaving the scene of a crash involving death back in 2020. The victim was Joseph Dralus Sr. The 82-year-old, who neighbors call the peace walker was on one of his daily five-mile walks when he was struck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadly hit-and-run suspect will go to trial after state pulls plea deal The prosecution focused heavily on the DNA evidence located on Zeppis Lincoln Navigator Wednesday. Their final witness was a crime laboratory analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The analyst said she was given five swabs taken from the vehicle. One of the swabs from the hood/fender, she said, matched the DNA profile of Dralus Sr. For this item, the DNA results I obtained was a complete DNA profile that was consistent with a male individual, so it was a single-source profile obtained from the hood and fender area. I then compared the profile from Joseph Dralus to this profile and the profiles matched, meaning that, at every one of those 21 locations, the DNA types were the same as the DNA types from Joseph Dralus, said Kaleigh Brownell with FDLE. So the observed DNA profile in this case is greater than 700 billion times more likely to have occurred if it originated from Joseph Dralus then if it originated from an unrelated individual, she explained to the jury. During cross examination, the defense questioned the analyst about how and when the DNA could have ended up on the vehicle. I cannot determine, again, the source or how DNA was deposited. I can say there was a good amount of DNA in my quantitation for at least that item one, the hood fender, said Brownell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DNA samples from Dralus were provided by his son, Christopher, after his death. He obtained two of his fathers toothbrushes as well as a hairbrush from his fathers vehicle. All were provided to FHP and FDLE. Once the state rested its case, the defense brought up only two witnesses. Zeppi did not take the stand. The defenses first witness was hired by Zeppi in 2023 to serve as an expert opinion. The accident reconstruction expert went through a series of photos with the jury, suggesting the damage to Zeppis SUV was from a minor crash she was in earlier that day, before Dralus Sr. was struck. Given the nature of the injuries that Mr. Dralus had, in my opinion, there is absolutely no way the vehicle that the struck him would have no damage, said accident reconstruction expert Sean OLeary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zeppis 21-year-old daughter was the final witness to take the stand. She spoke to her mothers character and testified that her mother was home around 4 p.m. the day of the deadly crash. It is believed to have happened around 5 p.m. I got home around 2:45 and my mom was not at the house. I left and went on a little bike ride until a little bit after four when I came back home and she was there. We hung out around the house, until I went upstairs into my room for the rest of the evening until later at night until I was called downstairs for dinner, said the 21-year-old. She told the jury her mom was not acting unusual in any way and said she did not say anything about a car crash. During cross examination, the state pointed out Zeppi did not tell her daughter about her minor crash earlier in the day either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Closing arguments are set to begin Thursday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Traditional clothes (Daegu National Museum) Exploring museums offers children a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable and educational experiences. Museums are also an excellent indoor activity when the weather is not cooperating. Discover Daegus top three museums promising exciting experiences for both parents and kids. Moreover, these fantastic places have extremely affordable admission! DAEGU NATIONAL MUSEUM The museum primarily focuses on the preservation and research of ancient and medieval history in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do. Daegu National Museum is particularly renowned for its extensive Korean traditional costume collection. Admission is free and there is even a childrens museum section designed like a kids cafe. Additionally, the museum features a fantastic digital art zone, as well as indoor and outdoor childrens facilities, making it a great family destination. English brochures are available, and most exhibits have English explanations. The museum offers free parking and is only 5 km (3.1 mi) away from the U.S. military bases in Daegu. Daegu National Museum (Daegu National Museum) Address: 321 Cheongho-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu, NAVER MAP Hours: 9 a.m. 6 p.m. (Closed on Mondays or on Tuesdays when Monday is a holiday, and closed on Chuseok and Seollal) Phone: 053-768-6051 Admission: Free WEBSITE -Main exhibits Ancient Culture Hall Introducing major relics and cultural assets from the prehistoric era to the Three Kingdoms period in the Gyeongbuk region. Ancient history exhibition (Daegu National Museum) Medieval Culture Hall Learn about Buddhist and Confucian culture in the region. Confucianism exhibition (Daegu National Museum) Buddhism exhibition (Daegu National Museum) Costume Culture Hall Experience the beauty and history of Korean traditional costumes. Traditional clothes (Daegu National Museum) Special exhibits Every season, the museum offers special ancient or medieval history exhibits. -Digital Art Zone Following a Zoo in the Museum theme, the Digital Art Zone inside the Daegu National Museum features screens projecting images of lions, elephants and more during a 9-minute show. The artwork beautifully depicts the day and night of the forest and the sea, providing a fantastic experience for audiences. Postcards or stickers are provided for free as souvenirs after the show. RESERVATION Digital Art Zone (Daegu National Museum) Digital Art Zone (Daegu National Museum) Digital Art Zone (Daegu National Museum) Digital Art Zone (Daegu National Museum) -Childrens Museum This portion of the Daegu National Museum is designed as an educational and interactive kids cafe where little visitors can learn about traditional Korean clothing while parents relax in comfortable chairs. All visitors are required to take off their shoes upon entry. Reservations can be made through Naver or on-site, and each session allows for 50 minutes of playtime. Make sure to reserve ahead if visiting on the weekend. Naver reservations are available without creating an account. Only elementary school students, younger children, and guardians are allowed to enter. Childrens Museum (Daegu National Museum) Childrens Museum (Daegu National Museum) Childrens Museum (Daegu National Museum) Childrens Museum (Daegu National Museum) Hours: 10 a.m. - 5:50 p.m. RESERVATION DAEGU NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM Explore nature, evolution of life, space, technology and more at the science museum located about 25 kilometers away from U.S. military bases in Daegu. The Daegu National Science Museum has an extensive exhibition hall, astronomical projection hall, 4D theater and plenty more to fill a full day of fun and education. This museum is a top pick for families in Daegu as it also boasts a top-notch childrens science museum. Given its size, if you plan to explore the main halls and the Childrens Museum on the same day, allow yourself enough time. For families with children, the childrens science museum is a must-visit, and exploring the Astronomical Projection Hall or 4D Theater in the main building is highly recommended. Each exhibit comes with English explanations, and lockers are available at the ticket booth with a 100 won coin. Daegu National Science Museum (Korea Tourism Organization) Address: 20, Techno-daero 6-gil, Dalseong-gun, Daegu, Naver Map Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Closed on Mondays or on Tuesdays when Monday is a holiday, and closed on Chuseok and Seollal) Phone: 053-670-6114 Tickets: Adults 3,000 won / Children 2,000 won (Separate admission fees are required for the Astronomical Projection Hall, 4D Theater, and Childrens Science Museum) Parking: 1,000-2,000 won (9 a.m. - 6 p.m.) Website -Main exhibits Nature and Discovery: Explore the relationship between humans and nature in this extensive exhibit analyzing environmental and natural disasters. Science, Technology, and Industry: Learn about the impact of energy on civilization, energy shortages, and various industries through science and technology. Evolution of Life: Take a close look at the huge dinosaur bone and fossil displays in this section. There are also large-scale models of animals showcasing the history of life on earth and marinelife in the East Sea. History of Science and Technology Civilization: Highlights science and technology related to civilization and clocks. The water clock (Jagyeongnu), Sejong the Greats invention, is the main exhibit. Evolution of Life (Daegu National Science Museum) Evolution of Life (Daegu National Science Museum) Evolution of Life (Daegu National Science Museum) -Astronomical Projection Hall Visitors to this section of the Daegu National Science Museum can observe the beautiful stars and celestial phenomena through a projection on a dome screen. It offers vivid learning experiences through simulations and videos. Astronomical Projection Hall (Korea Tourism Organization) Tickets: Adults 2,000 won / Children 1,000 won -4D Theater Dont miss the immersive experience at the Daegu National Science Museums 4D Theater. Visitors go on a journey through jungle to learn more about nature and science. 4D Theater (Daegu National Science Museum) Tickets: Adults 2,000 won / Children 1,000 won -Childrens Science Museum This part of the Daegu National Science Museum allows kids to nurture their interest in science. The childrens museum is divided into two sections: Kids World and Mobility World. Also, there is a fun indoor playground. Reservations are required through the website or on-site, and its possible to book on-site on the day of your visit. Only elementary school students, younger children, and guardians are allowed to enter. Tickets: 3,000 won Childrens Science Museum (Daegu National Science Museum) Childrens Science Museum (Daegu National Science Museum) Childrens Science Museum (Daegu National Science Museum) -Kids World exhibit At the Childrens Science Museums Kids World exhibit, science and technology is explored through games and activities. Create a tornado, check out the robots and more. -Mobility World exhibit This section of the Childrens Science Museum has an automotive theme. Kids can enjoy driving RC cars, participating in 4D simulations of driving on an unpaved road, learning about the functions of car parts, and experiencing future driver convenience systems. NATIONAL DAEGU METEOROLOGICAL SCIENCE MUSEUM What the National Daegu Meteorological Science Museum lacks for in size, it makes up for in the amount of educational and entertaining exhibits it offers. Take your kids to explore weather and natural phenomena through interactive displays. Exhibits feature brief English explanations, but please note that videos and shows dont offer English service. This fun easy outing for families is only about a 25-minute drive from the U.S. bases in Daegu and offers free parking. National Daegu Meteorological Science Museum (National Daegu Meteorological Science Museum) Address: 10 Hyodong-ro 2-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu, NAVER MAP Hours: 10 a.m. 5:30 p.m. (Closed on Mondays or on Tuesdays when Monday is a holiday, and closed on Chuseok and Seollal) Phone: 053-953-0365 Tickets: Adults 2,000 won / Children 1,000 won (Free for children under 7 years old) WEBSITE -Key activities/displays Creating weather using air, humidity and wind Exploring wind dynamics at the Wind Research Center Learning about clouds, rain, and weather at the Raindrop Research Center Experiencing simulations of typhoons, tornadoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis Hot air balloon experience Learning about global climate change Watching 3D videos about weather changes Discovering nine meteorology-related professions and playing the role of a weathercaster By Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. is reviewing all existing sanctions waivers that provide Iran any degree of economic relief, and urging the Iraqi government to eliminate its dependence on Iranian sources of energy as soon as possible, the U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Thursday. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce made the comments at her first briefing under President Donald Trump's administration when she was asked whether a sanctions waiver that allows Iraq to pay Iran for electricity would be renewed or not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have nothing to announce with regard to the current electricity waiver that expires on the (March) eighth...We are reviewing all existing sanctions waivers that provide Iran any degree of economic or financial relief," she said. "We are urging the Iraqi government to eliminate its dependence on Iranian sources of energy as soon as possible, and welcome the Iraqi Prime Minister's commitment to achieve energy independence." The U.S. is using the waiver review in part to increase pressure on Baghdad to allow Kurdish crude oil exports via Turkey, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Washington wants the increased Iraqi oil to boost supply to the global market and keep prices in check, giving the U.S. more room to pursue efforts to choke off Iranian oil exports as part of a strategy to curb Iran's nuclear program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iraqs negotiations with the semi-autonomous Kurdish region over the oil export resumption have been fraught so far. The U.S. government has said it wants to isolate Iran from the global economy and eliminate its oil export revenues in order to slow Iran's development of a nuclear weapon. Trump's restoration of the "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran was one of his first acts after returning to office in late January. The U.S. has imposed a range of sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program and support for militant organizations, effectively banning countries that do business with Iran from doing business with the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran views its neighbor and ally Iraq, a key partner to both the U.S. and Iran, as vital for keeping its economy afloat amidst sanctions. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Washington and Maha El Dahan in Dubai; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio) Emergency management officials and Gov. Josh Steins office are urging all North Carolinians to prepare for the possibility of severe weather on Wednesday. The state faces the potential of severe storms, strong winds, potential flooding, and isolated tornadoes. As our state from the mountains to the coast faces a severe storm, strong winds, and potential flooding late tonight and all day tomorrow, we urge all North Carolinians to stay tuned to their local weather forecast and stay safe, Stein said Tuesday. If a severe weather warning for isolated tornadoes is issued for your area, please have a plan to take immediate cover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Marginal Risk (level 1 of 5) for severe storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall has been introduced to portions of the mountains overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning. On Wednesday, a line of storms ahead of a strong cold front will move into western North Carolina before sunrise and continue moving eastward while strengthening, reaching western portions of central North Carolina by late Wednesday morning. The line of storms will reach eastern North Carolina by early afternoon eventually moving offshore by Wednesday evening. This line of storms has the potential for wind gusts in excess of 70 mph. The current forecast places much of central and eastern North Carolina at a level 3 of 5 (enhanced risk) for severe weather on Wednesday. In the enhanced risk area, there is the potential for a few isolated tornadoes. Risk levels vary across the state; North Carolinians should pay attention to local forecasts and make plans that are appropriate for the risk level in their area. Ahead of tomorrows severe weather, dry conditions, gusty winds, and low relative humidity will increase the threat for wildfires. Outdoor burning is discouraged today. PREPAREDNESS TIPS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During periods of severe weather, it is important to go inside a sturdy structure and to the middle of the building, away from windows. You should secure all outdoor items at your house that could become airborne in gusty winds. Make sure your cell phone is charged and that you have enabled emergency alerts so you can be informed by local emergency management and by the National Weather Service. Have a plan to take cover if a severe weather warning is issued for your area. As a reminder, a watch is a reminder that weather conditions may support severe weather conditions. A warning means that hazardous weather conditions are expected and imminent. Visit www.readync.gov for more information on how you and your family can be prepared. BOSTON (SHNS) Eligible MassHealth members and Health Safety Net patients will have access to prenatal vitamins and over-the-counter birth control at no cost, under two standing orders that the Healey administration announced Thursday. The orders, which essentially enable the state to write a prescription for a large group of people, will allow about half a million patients to access the reproductive health medications. The medications will be available at all MassHealth-enrolled pharmacies, and available for eligible MassHealth members and those who use the Health Safety Net, a fund used to pay care costs for certain low-income and uninsured individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MassHealth currently covers 40 percent of all births in Massachusetts, according to the Healey administration. Removing barriers like this is one of the simplest ways we can work toward better health outcomes for mothers and infants in our state, Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh said. The standing order covers a 90-day supply of over-the-counter prenatal vitamins or multivitamins containing at least 400 mcg of folic acid, a B vitamin that helps bodies create new cells. Doctors recommend that people considering getting pregnant, pregnant, or nursing, take these vitamins. Pharmacists will be required to counsel patients on the use of prenatal vitamins, including when to start and stop taking them, and encourage follow-up with a primary care provider and obstetrician/gynecologist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second standing order covers oral hormonal contraceptives. It allows pharmacists to give out a 365-day supply of over-the-counter birth control pills specifically norgestrel 0.075 mg tablets to eligible MassHealth members and HSN patients. It specifies that birth control is accessible to individuals of reproductive potential and age, according to Healeys Executive Office of Health and Human Services. As part of this initiative, pharmacists will be required to counsel patients on contraindications, side effects, and the proper use of the birth control pill, emphasizing the importance of daily adherence and informing patients that the pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, information from EOHHS says. We know that prenatal vitamins and birth control play an essential role in womens health. No one should be prevented from getting the care they need because of cost or because they are waiting for a prescription, Healey said in a statement. These standing orders will make it easier and more affordable for people to make the best health care decisions for themselves, will improve health outcomes for women and babies, and will reduce health disparities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. BOSTON (WWLP) Early education advocates say the industry is in good shape, but will need continued public investment in the upcoming budget. Last budget cycle, early childcare and education received $1.5 billion, 78% more than just four years ago in 2021. Lawmakers also codified COVID-era funding for childcare for low-income families, and expanded subsidies for middle class families. These federal buildings in Massachusetts are targeted for potential sale by the Trump administration Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, advocates say they need more, to move 2,000 children off of the 30,000-child care waitlist. The Senate president said these changes are feasible. We are going to continue to invest in this system, we are going to continue to explore policy reforms to lower costs and increase access, said Senate President Karen Spilka. Governor Healeys budget proposal includes increased funding for income-eligible early childcare programs, and advocates say they would need to see $32 million on top of the proposed budget just in order to meet their waitlist-shrinking goals. The lieutenant governor expressed concern about the states ability to continue to increase funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were likely not to have as strong a federal partner given some of the reductions were seeing, and that only means were going to need your help, your best ideas, your continued collaboration, said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. Chief budget officials say this years budget will feature cuts in order to protect Massachusetts economy should federal funding cuts continue. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Gov.-elect Josh Stein addresses supporters in Raleigh on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) Gov. Josh Stein sent congressional leaders a letter asking them to spare Medicaid from budget cuts. About 3.1 million North Carolinians use the government health insurance. The U.S. House is considering Medicaid cuts that could reach $880 billion over 10 years. North Carolina Medicaid Director Jay Ludlam told legislators last week a cut of that magnitude would mean a possible loss to North Carolina of $27 billion over 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children in North Carolinas rural counties are more likely to rely on Medicaid than their urban counterparts, according to a recent report. Rural adults are more likely to rely on expanded Medicaid than adults living in urban areas, according to DHHS data. Rural adults ages 18-64 are about 19% of the states population, but make up more than 36% of the people enrolled in expanded Medicaid. The state launched Medicaid expansion in December 2023, which allowed more low-income adults to enroll. Stein touched on these issues in his letter to Congressional leaders. Medicaid serves a central role in North Carolinas health care system, with more than 640,000 people newly enrolled under Medicaid expansion, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rural counties disproportionately benefit from Medicaid, with 29 mostly rural counties enrolling 40% or more of their population in Medicaid. Cuts to Medicaid would severely harm these areas, where access to care is already limited. Medicaid expansion has been instrumental in reducing uncompensated care and stabilizing the finances of rural hospitals, enabling them to continue to serve their communities. Medicaid also supports nursing homes and long-term care facilities, helping to cover nursing care, personal care, rehabilitation, medications, and medical supplies. The federal government pays for 90% of the cost of people using Medicaid under expansion. Most of the rest is covered by an assessment on hospitals. The 2023 law expanding Medicaid in the state says it will end if the federal government stops covering 90% of the cost. Lowering the enhanced federal match for Medicaid expansion would end Medicaid expansion in North Carolina after a hard-fought bipartisan bill finally implemented the program in December of 2023, Stein wrote. More than 640,000 North Carolinians would immediately lose their health care coverage and providers would lose $6 billion in federal funds. The damage to North Carolinas health care system, particularly rural hospitals and providers, would be devastating, not to mention to people who can no longer afford to access health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. House committees were told to hit budget targets, but Republicans have not voted on any cuts. The House and Senate would need to agree on a budget before it goes to President Donald Trump. No agreement is expected for months. Though state legislators have not said how they would handle Medicaid cuts, Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth), senior chairman of the House budget committee, and leaders of the chambers Health and Human Services budget committee filed a bill last month that would create a committee to consider ways to cut the states Medicaid program in response to federal budget cuts. Republicans in Congress are looking for budget cuts to pay for the tax cuts and immigrant deportation plans that top Trumps domestic agenda. Steve Carell is helping those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. On Tuesday, a video displayed at six high school assemblies in Altadena, California, showed Carell explaining how he partnered with a charity that will cover the cost of prom tickets for the community that was affected by the devastating wildfires earlier this year. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attention. Attention all seniors. This is Steve Carell with a very special announcement. I work with a wonderful charity based out of Virginia called Alices Kids. And Alices Kids wanted me to let you know that they will be paying for all of your prom tickets, he said in the video. And if you have already paid for your prom tickets, they will reimburse you for your prom tickets. Its a pretty good deal. Have fun. Enjoy the prom, and remember, this is Steve Carell. The message from The Office star was reminiscent of an episode from the NBC sitcom where Carells character, Michael Scott, says to students he will pay for their college tuition with the Scotts Tots program. However, Scott doesnt end up following through with his word. But thats not the case for Carell here, as hes partnered with Alices Kids, a nonprofit that aims to help kids improve their self-esteem. The Alices Kids Instagram captioned Carells video: A special message from our friend Steve Carell. Right now, this is being viewed by every senior at the six high schools in Altadena, CA!! In January, the wildfires burned through Altadena and the Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles and at least 29 people lost their lives. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Hundreds of students impacted by the Los Angeles area wildfires in January can go to prom this spring thanks to actor Steve Carell. Carell said in a video message shared to students at six Los Angeles area high schools on Tuesday that he was teaming up with the nonprofit Alice's Kids to share the generous gift. "Attention! Attention all seniors! This is Steve Carell with a very special announcement," Carell began. "I work with a wonderful charity based out of Virginia called Alice's Kids, and Alice's Kids wanted me to let you know that they will be paying for all of your prom tickets." PHOTO: Steve Carell attends Universal Pictures And Illumination Present 'DESPICABLE ME 4' Premiere on June 09, 2024 in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images) Hollywood stars share devastation from California fires Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Have fun! Enjoy the prom! And remember, this is Steve Carell," he added. Alice's Kids confirmed in a Facebook post Tuesday that the organization will fund tickets for about 800 students in six high schools in Altadena, California, that were affected by the Eaton Fire, which burned over 14,000 acres across Los Angeles County from Jan. 7 until Jan. 31, according to Cal Fire. Moms launch 'Lost Stuffy Project' to reunite kids impacted by LA fires with stuffed toys "Today, the six high schools in Altadena, Ca are holding special assemblies for their seniors. Once seated, the kids will see this wonderful announcement from our friend, Steve Carell," Alice's Kids wrote in their post. "Yes, we are paying for every prom ticket (about 800) for every senior in that area that was impacted by the Eaton fire!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video clip from one of the assemblies shared by Alice's Kids, students yelled out in surprise and burst into cheers and applause upon hearing the news. Steve Carell helps save prom for hundreds of students impacted by LA fires originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Originally appeared on E! Online Steve Carell is treating his own Scotts Tots to a special surprise. Much like his iconic character in The Office, the 62-year-old has shown incredible generosity to a group of Los Angeles teens that have been impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. But what sets him apart from Michael Scottwho made empty promises to pay students college tuitions in the sitcoms sixth seasonis that he fulfils his promises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attention. Attention, all seniors, Steve said in a video, shared to Instagram March 5, that was shown to every senior at six Altadena high schools. This is Steve Carell with a very special announcement. I work with a wonderful charity based out of Virginia called Alice's Kids. And Alice's Kids wanted me to let you know that they will be paying for all of your prom tickets. And if you have already paid for your prom tickets, they will reimburse you for your prom tickets. It's a pretty good deal, he added. Have fun. Enjoy the prom. And remember, this is Steve Carell. Take it easy, guys. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In hopes of sponsoring a memorable and joyous night for over 800 students, the organization has committed to donating around $175,000 to the high school seniors. Going to prom should be a celebration, executive director of Alices Kids Ron Fitzsimmons said in a statement to ABC News, and we wanted to help make the big night just a little easier for seniors whose lives have been turned upside down by the wildfires. Hopefully this allows the students to unwind and have some fun after a devasting year. The devastating Eaton and Palisades wildfires damaged and destroyed thousands of homes, scorching even school campuses in its path. And along with the first responders that spent a long, arduous month putting out the blazes, the community is banding together to recover from the devastation. As for why Alices Kids chose to have the Crazy, Stupid, Love actor deliver the news in his classic stoic tone? It turns out, he has some pretty big fans in those schools. "For some reason, someone mentioned that the kids 'love' Steve Carell," Ron explained in a statement to People. "It seems they got 'hooked' on The Office during COVID and they also know him from Despicable Me. Now, Steve and [his wife] Nancy have been big supporters of ours for years so I came up with the idea of having Steve announce the free tickets in senior assemblies. I asked if he would do a video and he sent it to me within hours!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prom is a rite of passage, he continued, and so many kids would not have been able to pay the approximately $150 fee. We were thrilled to lift them up and let them have a party. Along with Steve, keep reading for more stars that have spoken out about the devastating LA fires. Taylor Swift The "Karma" singer posted a handwritten statement about the "suffering, loss and destruction" caused by the wildfires. "The fires in California have devastated so many families, and it's been heartbreaking to see these stories unfold," she wrote on Instagram Story Jan. 16. " As so may people embark on some of the most challenging times of their ives, there are also many amazing organizations and groups banding together to help these communities rebuild." Sharing that she donated to multiple organizations providing relief to those affected by the blazes, including the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and MusiCares, Taylor added, "If you feel compelled or able to donate, please do." Leonardo DiCaprio The Titanic actor is helping with relief efforts by donating. "The Los Angeles wildfires are devastating our city," he wrote on Instagram Jan. 15. "I am committing $1 million in partnership with @rewild's Rapid Response Program to support both urgent needs and post-fire recovery efforts." He said aid will immediately benefit the LA Fire Department Foundation, California Fire Foundation, World Central Kitchen, California Community Foundation, Pasadena Humane Society, and SoCal Fire Fund, which he described as "organizations on the frontlines providing much-needed resources to our first responders and firefighters, and the people, animals and communities who need it most." Bill Hader The Saturday Night Live alum confirmed on Jan. 14 that his Pacific Palisades home had been damaged by the fire. "It doesnt seem real," he told local news station KTLA5, while visiting the charred remains of his neighborhood. "I'm in shock. Its just gone. Everything." Jennifer Lopez "My heart goes out to everyone affected by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires," the singer wrote on Instagram Jan. 11. "I cant even imagine how deeply traumatic these events can be, especially for children who've lost their homes and sense of security." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Levy The Schitt's Creek alum shared a heartbreaking message about her "sweet home" after it had been destroyed by the Palisades Fire. "My heart so deeply aches," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 14. "What I would give to hear the key slide in the front door one more time or the baby gate click behind me as I bring the laundry upstairs." "How blessed we were to raise our son in such an idyllic, magical place away from the hustle and bustle of LA," Sarahwho shares son James with husband Graham Outerbridgecontinued. "Our whole future ahead, planned in our little kitchen. Luckily we are all safe and if this has taught me nothing else, its to appreciate every last detail of your life." Her dad Eugene Levy's home has also been reportedly destroyed by the fire. Bella Hadid On Jan. 9, the supermodel shared the childhood home she shared with sister Gigi Hadid and mom Yolanda Hadid had burned down in the Palisades Fire. Gwyneth Paltrow The Iron Man actress took to social media to express her sadness about the tragedy that has fallen over her beloved city. We are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything, she wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Thank you to those inquiring, we are currently safe. When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do. The city of angels will need angels of all kind, she continued. Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant. Harvey Guillen "Thank you to everyone who has checked in," the What We Do in the Shadows actor wrote on Instagram Jan. 14. "my house has damage and will take some time .. but nothing compared to the city I call home." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jamie Chung & Bryan Greenberg The Once Upon a Time actress and the One Tree Hill actor are sharing resources after tragically losing their home in the Los Angeles fire. It was all a dream, Bryan wrote on a Jan. 9 Instagram story, showing the rubble that was once their family home. Thankfully the family is safe. Thank you to all the firefighters risking their lives. Stay safe out there. And in between posting helpful resources, Jamie shared a tragic video of their entire neighborhood. Damn. Our entire neighborhood is gone, she wrote Jan. 9. We are grateful to our brave firefighters and first responders and pray we dont lose any more lives to these catastrophic fires. Stay safe and stay vigilant. Joshua Jackson The Dawson's Creek alum confirmed on Jan. 12 that he had lost his home to the L.A. fires. First and most importantly, all the people closest to me affected by the fire are ok," Joshua told Deadline in statement. "My daughter, my family, my neighbors all made it out safely. Sadly my beautiful home did not survive the fires. But today, I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by the people I love. Barbara Corcoran On Jan. 9, the Shark Tank star shared that her "little slice of heaven" at the Tahitian Terrace Mobile Home Park in Pacific Palisades, Calif., had been burned down. "For the past five years, I've been privileged to have a home in this loving, tight-knit community," she wrote on Instagram. "Its a place where kindness thrives, friendships are cherished, and neighbors become family. My heart breaks again and again as I see these incredible people who built their lives here for decades, many of them seniors who poured their hearts and life-savings into their trailers, left with absolutely nothing." Diane Warren The Grammy winner shared one last view from her Los Angeles beachfront home before it was lost in the fire. This is the last pic I took of Leah's rock from my beach house, the songwriter, who confirmed her animals and rescue ranch were safe, wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post of the ocean view. I've had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessica Simpson Amid the outbreak of the Kenneth Fire on Jan. 9, the "Irresistible" singer shared an image of smoke rising from beyond her backyard. She wrote in the caption, "We stayed as long as we could." Cary Elwes The Princess Bride actor shared his and his wife Lisa Marie Kurbikoffs Malibu home did not survive the fire in a heartfelt message to fans. Firstly, myself and my family are all safe, thank God, he wrote in his Jan. 9 Instagram post. Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it, he continued. We want to thank everyone for their incredible outpouring of support. It really means a great deal to us. Ricki Lake Sharing a video of the raging fires in the near distance, the former talk show host detailed her and husband Ross Burninghams final efforts to save her Los Angeles home in a Jan. 9 Instagram post. Were going down my street praying for these homes and these people and my house, she said in a video, showing the fire in the near distance. I dont even know what I grabbed, I think I might have just said goodbye to my house. Grateful to have made it out alive and uninjured, she added in the caption. Forever grateful to @kirbykotler_ our absolute angel. He did everything to try to save our precious property. No doubt had we stayed, we would not have survived. Mel Gibson During a Jan. 9 appearance on Elizabeth Vargas Report, the Braveheart actor shared that his Malibu home was destroyed while he was away recording Joe Rogans podcast in Texas. "Obviously, its kind of devastating. Its emotional," the 69-year-old said. You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I had my stuff there, and its all like, Ive been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because its all in cinders. But when he returned home to discover that his home had been destroyed, he was relieved to find that, at least, his chickens survived, adding, It was amazing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miles Teller & Keleigh Teller The Top Gun Maverick stars wife shared one last photo of what was their Los Angeles home before it was lost in the fire. To everyone reaching out I cant thank you enough, your kind hearts have meant the world, Ill never forget them, Keleigh wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. Community has come out stronger than I could imagine, pacific palisades I love you beyond measure you are a little slice of heaven, we will come back stronger than ever. If youre in the LA area PLEASE get out if you can, she continued. I wish I grabbed my wedding dress .. wish I did a lot different but it doesnt matter, stay safe, get out. there are no words. THANK YOU to the first responders fighting. Mandy Moore The This Is Us alumwho is mom to three kids with husband Taylor Goldsmithshared an update on her family after having to evacuate their home. "We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact." However, she noted that the home studio, garage and back house were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. "Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends," she added. "Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support." Milo Ventimiglia Like his This Is Us costar, the actor's Los Angeles home was destroyed by the fires. While visiting what remained of his property, he told CBS Evening News his heart felt "heavy." "You start thinking about all the memories," he continued. "My heart just breaks." Olivia Wilde "My block was on fire tonight and the only reason we still have a home is thanks to the brave members of the @losngelesfiredepartment who worked on the ground and from the air to save us," the Don't Worry Darling director wrote on Instagram Story Jan. 8. "Thank you." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bozoma Saint John The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star revealed her dream home in Malibu, where she lived with her teenage daughter Laela, was totaled in the fires. "This is an unimaginable loss," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. "I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns and even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling. Chrissy Teigen The Cravings cookbook author started preparing in case of an evacuation, writing on Instagram Story Jan. 8, "This is surreal. I'm very scared. Packing." Jen Atkin The hairstylist and her husband Mike Rosenthal safely evacuated along with their kids and pets, though she said their home was "gone." "Our whole area demolished," she added on Instagram Stories Jan. 8, alongside a tearful selfie. "So many are displaced and feeling scared right now it's almost too much to comprehend." Olivia Culpo One day after the Sunset Fire set the Hollywood Hills ablaze, the Culpo Sisters starwho is married to San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffreywrote on Instagram Story Jan. 9, "Im praying so hard for our community. My heart aches for everyone who has lost so much so fast. Its just unimaginable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App Gov. Kevin Stitt has asked the state auditors office for an audit of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, following concerns about long-term patterns of financial mismanagement raised by state Mental Health Commissioner Allie Friesen. Less than an hour after Stitt issued a news release about his request, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton issued their own release, saying the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, known as LOFT, also will investigate the issue. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services oversees all prevention, treatment, and education of mental health and substance abuse in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friesen told Stitt in a letter, dated Wednesday, that her staff has uncovered serious concerns regarding the allocation of State appropriated funds within the behavioral health program of the State Medicaid program. Those concerns include that for at least the past five years the Department has a structural budget deficiency that I believe was intentionally created by the previous administration. We cannot fulfill our financial obligations under the State Medicaid program because this department has historically paid for prior years debts with present years money a shell game, as it were. Gov. Kevin Stitt speaking at the Oklahoma Capitol during his weekly news conference on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Audit is unrelated to approved lawsuit settlement with mental health agency, Gov. Stitt says Also Wednesday, Stitt relayed Friesens concerns to the state auditors office. Later in the day, Stitt said during his weekly news conference that we just want to find out whats going on with the agencys finances, but he expects the agency will require a supplemental appropriation from the Legislature. He said Friesen has fired some agency staffers as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as I find out theres an issue, I want to immediately put eyes on it and put a focus on it, Stitt said. I like to say, shine a light and see where all the rats scurry to and lets just shine a light on everything thats happening in state government. Unfortunately, its just so frustrating here that sometimes, as were moving thats why Im such a proponent on making change and putting a fresh set of eyes on boards and different agencies. He said he had confidence in State Auditor Cindy Byrds ability to determine what happened. Stitt added the request for an audit had nothing to do with a settlement between the state agency and a group of plaintiffs who sued the state. Both the Oklahoma House and Senate have approved that consent decree, which settled a lawsuit filed in 2023 against the mental health agency that claimed the state violated the substantive due process rights of pretrial defendants who had been declared incompetent to stand trial and were awaiting competency restoration treatment. Paxton and Hilbert noted the Legislature must pass a state budget within the next 12 weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the engagement of LOFT through a joint legislative service request to dig into the agency's finances, we also urge the state Auditor to conduct a forensic audit, the lawmakers said in a joint statement. LOFT can provide us the quick answers we need to do our constitutional duties before sine die adjournment while the breadth of a forensic audit from the State Auditor is needed to ensure there is no waste, fraud or abuse associated with this shortfall. This two-pronged approach, which is supported by the Department, is needed to give us both short-term and long-term answers to rectify the situation and ensure it does not happen again." Asked about audits of government agencies in general, Stitt said the issue is complicated, given the size of the states budget. We want to be as transparent as possible, he said. Management is hard sometimes. Weve got people that are embedded in these agencies for a long time, and youve got lobbyists in this building that have relationships. Every time I turn around, it feels like theres an agency that we kind of need to look at. The auditor, Im sure shes doing the best job she can. It does seem like it takes awhile to get these things out. But I can assure you that we want to shine a light on these issues. We want to hold people accountable. We want to make sure that we are spending tax dollars efficiently. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Stitt requests audit of Oklahoma mental health agency ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA)A car chase in multiple counties with seven people inside crashed in Orlando, the Polk County Sheriffs Office announced. Deputies said after 1 a.m. Thursday, they received information about a stolen grey Mitsubishi from the Osceola County Sheriffs Office that was in the area of Ronald Reagan Parkway and Champions Gate Boulevard. When deputies turned on their sirens and lights, the vehicle fled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PCSO deputies, a helicopter, and FHP assisted with pursuing the Mitsubishi. According to PCSO, deputies deployed stop sticks along Westside Boulevard but the vehicle moved around them and headed east on Ronald Reagan Parkway in the wrong lane, then headed north on Champions Gate Boulevard in the right direction. The SUV continued to flee on I-4 heading east when FHP became the lead vehicle in the chase as the car went back into Osceola County before going into Orange County. 18-year-old arrested in deadly shooting at basketball court: HCSO According to PCSO, the car exited I-4 on Lee Road where they lost control and crashed the SUV around 1:39 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven people were inside the vehicle when it crashed. Christopher Lee Smith, 18, was the driver of the stolen SUV and a warrant has been obtained for the following charges: Burglary unoccupied conveyance unarmed Grand theft motor vehicle less than $100,000 Flee attempt to elude LEO with lights and sirens activated Reckless driving No valid drivers license Cause child to be delinquent/dependent According to deputies, Smith also has seven active warrants out of Orange County. The front seat passenger, a 16-year-old from Orlando, had the key to the stolen vehicle in his pants pockets and their charges are: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burglary unoccupied conveyance unarmed Grand theft motor vehicle less than $100,000 The other six people in the car were all from Orlando and ages ranged from 13 to 17. Charges against them are pending the outcome of the investigation deputies said. They have been taken to a local hospital and will be booked in Orange County. Deputies said every occupant in the vehicle has a criminal history. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. U.S. President Donald Trump needs to stop appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin, Representative Jasmine Crockett said in response to Trump's congressional address on March 4. Crockett, a Democrat, was asked by the digital media organization Call to Activism to share what she would like to say to Trump following his speech. "I would tell him to grow a spine and stop being Putin's ho," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crockett's remarks come amid a series of disastrous upheavals in U.S.-Ukraine relations, beginning with Trump kicking President Volodymyr Zelensky out of the White House on Feb. 28 and culminating in Washington's freeze on military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The Kremlin has hailed these developments, saying they align with Moscow's interests. Trump "is out here really doing the bidding of Russia in a way we've never seen an American president do," Crockett said. She went on to denounce Trump's treatment of Zelensky, calling their White House meeting a "disgrace." "We need a president that understands what diplomacy looks like, and it doesn't look like the disgrace that we saw that took place in the Oval Office." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of Trump's address, other leading Democrats in the House and Senate issued a statement warning that the administration's ties with Russia were a threat to U.S. security interests. "Trump has shown more alignment with Vladimir Putin, who threatens the international rules-based order, than with our long-standing partners and allies," congressmembers serving on military, intelligence, and foreign policy committees wrote. During his speech, Trump was vague about the decision to halt all military aid to Ukraine. He read out a recent statement from Zelensky expressing Ukraine's readiness for a peace agreement, framing it as a diplomacy win for his administration. He also claimed Russia had sent "strong signals" that they were ready to make a deal. The freeze on military support to Ukraine remains in place despite Zelensky's statement. U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said on March 5 that Trump may resume aid deliveries once Ukraine makes further steps towards peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia, China salivating as Trumps Ukraine peace plan unfolds, experts say Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Most of central and eastern KELOLAND have stayed quiet today, but we have been continuing to watch the snow moving into southern South Dakota. Winter Storm Warnings now stretch along the South Dakota and Nebraska border after Yankton was upgraded this afternoon. The snow will continue to move into the rest of southern KELOLAND by this evening. The heavier band will set up along and just north of the border. Totals in the warning areas will range from four to eight inches with isolated higher totals. Areas in the Winter Weather Advisory can expect around two to five inches of snow and the northern end of the system will receive around an inch. Clouds will continue to hang around in Northern KELOLAND while the south gets the snow. temperatures will cool into the teens and 20s tonight and winds will stay on the lighter side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The snow will begin to move out of KELOLAND by tomorrow morning. More sunshine will return to the north with highs getting into the 40s as there is minimal snow cover. It will stay seasonably cool to the south with winds turning mainly to the north. After the snow this weekend, we look to dry out just in time for the weekend. It will be pleasant, but breezy across KELOLAND as a ridge builds in and our temperatures start to warm towards the 60s. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. SPRINGFIELD, Mo Meteorologist Tom Schmidt sits down with a storm chaser Brian DePriest to discuss a bill making its way through the Oklahoma legislature right now. It would put a licensing process in effect for people chasing storms in the state. In todays episode of Science with Schmidt, Tom and Brian break down the Oklahoma Emergency Weather Response and Tracking Regulatory Act of 2025. It would allow for certain privileges for chasers, but would require them to pay a $500 fee to obtain a license. DePriest weighs in on what it would for how people chase storms, including some concerns he has heard from the storm chasing community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DePriest also shares some of the most breathtaking pictures from his 27-year career chasing tornadoes and storms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Strong winds from a recent storm in the south sent a US Customs and Border Protection surveillance blimp flying nearly 600 miles across Texas. The blimp resembling a while-hot air balloon - was dislodged from its base in South Padre Island, a beach town on the southern coast of Texas, around 3:15 p.m. local time Monday due to a severe wind event, US Customs and Border Protections Air and Marine Operations department said in a statement. Officials were at first unable to locate the blimp, known as a Tethered Aerostat System, after its communications were lost due to damage from winds. It urged the public to help find it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Quinlan Texas Fire and Rescue in Hunt County found the blimp 30 miles east of Dallas, the department said. The incident is being investigated by Air and Marine Operations, as well as federal, state, and local officials, it added. CNN has reached out to South Hunt County Fire and Rescue. Tethered Aerostat Systems are used by Customs and Border officials to track suspicious air traffic along the southwest border, according to an official fact sheet. These helium-filled systems are attached to the ground, can be as long as 208.5 feet and can weigh up to 2,400 pounds. Video obtained by CNN affiliate WFAA shows the blimp rotating downwards from the sky, before it crashed and folded over a power pole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clay Hinton told WFAA he was initially confused about what the big white body of material could be. Finally, I was like what is this? Its not a hot air balloon! he said, adding he was surprised when federal agents had arrived to look at the aerostat. A family living near the site of the crash told WFAA the blimp hit their home on the way down, damaging their roof. Its a lot of missing pieces, broken pieces, 9-year-old Axel said in a video interview with WFAA. When I looked outside, I was about to cry. Geneva Larsey, who lives nearby, told WFAA four or five wrecker trucks came to collect the balloon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were in a small town that no one comes to, Larsey said. Who would have thought a little balloon would crash here? Storm brings gusty winds, fire South Padre Island, where the blimp was dislodged, recorded max gusts over 30 mph on Monday ahead of a massive storm that swept through the central and southern US, bringing a multitude of effects, including tornadoes, gusty winds, a notable dust storm, and fire weather. In Texas, severe thunderstorms Tuesday caused significant damage to buildings and gusty winds brought down trees and power lines across several cities, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Several wildfires erupted across central Texas on Tuesday as the strong winds and dry air exacerbated fire conditions. Nearly all of these have since been contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, another round of dry air and gusty winds on Thursday poses the threat of fire conditions with fire weather expected from central New Mexico to western Texas. Across the region, winds could gust to 65 mph. Red flag warnings are in effect Thursday for over 3 million people across western Texas, much of New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, southwestern Kansas and western Oklahoma. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WILLIAMSTON, S.C. (WSPA) The Williamston Police Department said a student was arrested after two firearms were discovered in their vehicle. Police said they received a tip regarding a 16-year-old student possessing firearms at the Anderson District 1 and 2 Career and Technology Center, on Wednesday. Police said they discovered a Taurus 9mm handgun and a Scout .44 caliber rifle. The handgun was reportedly loaded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student was arrested and was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice Holding Facility, in Columbia. They were charged with possession of firearms on school property. Police said the situation was an isolated incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. A group of students is suing the Texas A&M University System after a vote last week banned all drag performances from taking place on its 11 campuses. The resolution and subsequent lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the Southern District of Texas, are the latest developments in a yearslong battle within one of the nations largest university systems over on-campus drag performances. Texas A&Ms Board of Regents voted almost unanimously late last month in favor of a resolution that states drag events are inconsistent with the systems mission and core values, including the value of respect for others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution says drag shows are likely to create or contribute to a hostile environment for women in violation of university anti-discrimination policies and Title IX, the federal civil rights law against sex discrimination. These events often involve unwelcome and objectively offensive conduct based on sex for many members of the respective communities of the universities, particularly when they involve the mockery or objectification of women, the resolution says. The document directs the systems chancellor and the president of each university to prohibit drag shows from taking place on campus, citing an executive order from President Trump that proclaims the government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, and broadly prevents federal funds from being used to promote what Trump and his administration have called gender ideology. The resolution also acknowledges a Jan. 30 letter from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) commanding state agencies to implement Trumps order. Given that both the System and the Universities receive significant federal funding, the use of facilities at the Universities for Drag Show Events may be considered promotion of gender ideology in violation of the Executive Order and the Governors directive, the resolution says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by students at Texas A&M University, the systems flagship institution, argues the resolution violates their First Amendment rights and the Texas Open Meetings Act, which requires governmental bodies to post a meetings location and agenda at least 72 hours in advance. The resolutions adoption means Draggieland, an annual drag competition at A&M, will need to find a new host. The event scheduled for March 27 had been set to take place at the schools Rudder Theater. We refuse to let Texas A&M dictate which voices belong on campus, the students, known collectively as the Queer Empowerment Council, said in a statement. Drag is self-expression, drag is discovery, drag is empowerment, and no amount of censorship will silence us. A spokesperson said the A&M University System had received the lawsuit and was in the process of reviewing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public universities cant shut down student expression simply because the administration doesnt like the ideology or finds the expression demeaning, said Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney at the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which is representing the Queer Empowerment Council in court. The organization also represented students at West Texas A&M University in a 2023 lawsuit over the university presidents decision to cancel a charity drag show on campus. West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler argued drag performances degrade women and compared them to blackface. If other students dislike or disagree with Draggieland, the solution is simple: dont go, said Jeff Zeman, another FIRE attorney. Or they could organize a protest, as students opposing drag have in the past. The First Amendment protects drag and the ability to criticize drag and it forbids the government silencing the side it disagrees with. A Texas state law against drag performances was ruled unconstitutional in 2023. U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas David Hittner, a former President Reagan appointee, ruled that drag is expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the Supreme Court turned away a case challenging similar restrictions on drag in Tennessee, leaving that law partially intact. Updated at 5:53 p.m. EST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The State Board of Education on Wednesday approved new labels to inform families and teachers about how students are performing on state standardized tests, aiming to provide clear descriptions that will not be demoralizing for lower-performing students. Student scores will be ranked in one of four categories on California's annual tests in math, reading and science. The new categories will be: Advanced, Proficient, Developing and Minimal. The old categories being replaced are: Standard Exceeded; Standard Met; Standard Nearly Met, or Standard Not Met. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 7-4 vote, the board majority rejected labels recommended by staff from the California Dept. of Education, which had conducted two rounds of focus groups. Rob Manwaring, who was part of a coalition of nine groups that had raised concerns about earlier labels, was cautiously optimistic. He said he understood the value of providing information in a positive, encouraging way, which is called an "assets-based approach," but that parents also need a sober understanding of where their child stands academically to convey an appropriate "sense of urgency." "I think the labeling of the lowest level as Minimal and the second level as Developing seems to suggest that level of need," said Manwaring, senior policy and fiscal advisor for the Oakland-based advocacy group Children Now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coalition had expressed strong concern over labels for the lowest two groups that had been proposed in November: Foundational and Inconsistent. The coalition which included EdTrust-West, California Charter Schools Assn., Alliance for a Better Community, Teach Plus and Children Now had said the terms Foundational and Inconsistent would "would make the data more confusing and misleading." The state board delayed action in November, in large part because students, parents and rank-and-file educators were not given an opportunity to provide input. Focus groups in December and January reinforced the objections to Foundational and Inconsistent, according to a staff report. Read more: Low math and English scores mark the nation's report card, California and L.A. included Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, state education department staff changed direction and recommended Basic and Below Basic for the lower two levels. These labels had the broadest support within focus groups of students, parents, teachers, testing coordinators and advocates. The full set of recommended labels Advanced, Proficient, Basic and Below Basic also aligned with the labels used on a well-known nationwide test, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, which is often called the nation's report card. The proposed labels also are in common use on tests in other states. But members of the appointed state board did not fall in line. "Labels matter," said Francisco Escobedo. "We see our kids as continual learners. Below Basic suggests failure, he said. Emerging is a more fitting word." He noted that Emerging is used for lowest level on a state test of assessing how well non-English-speaking students are learning English. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a staff member pushed back saying that a term to capture a student who is just starting to learn English is different from a description of a student's academic skills. Other board members were not won over by Escobedo's suggested term. But they shared his concern over negativity. "I also had a visceral reaction to the word Basic," said Haydee Rodriguez, who added that students use the word basic as a slang insult, a revelation that caused board President Linda Darling-Hammond to take pause. Read more: Compton Unified stands out as a national leader in raising student test scores Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Board member Cynthia Glover Woods first suggested Minimal for the lowest category. Another suggestion brought forward for the lowest scorers was Beginning. Board members also slightly reworded the extended description of what became the Developing label saying it did not convey that a student at that level was likely to need extra academic support. Among those who voted no on the new labels, board member Alison Yoshimoto-Towery felt the discussion was being unnecessarily curtailed. Escobedo said the new labels remained too harsh. Gabriela Orozco Gonzalez said the views of students and parents in the focus groups should be respected they apparently had no issue with the word Basic. Disappointing scores, regardless of label Even if the board had opted for the NAEP-style labels, they would not have been interchangeable across the tests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In general, the NAEP labels represent a more rigorous grading standard, with a higher threshold for achieving a rating of Proficient or Advanced. These higher levels are harder to achieve on NAEP than on California tests concluded research that compared state tests with the national NAEP exams. NAEP results remain low nationwide and in California and have generally failed to recover from the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Math and English test scores of fourth- and eighth-graders largely held steady or declined nationwide over the last two years results that were about the same in Los Angeles and California. Not only are few students scoring as Advanced or Proficient, but fewer are achieving NAEP's version of a Basic ranking, the next level down. On the most recent results from this test, for example, the percentage of L.A. students who scored as Proficient or better in fourth-grade math was 27%. For California it was 35%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Low math and English scores mark the nation's report card, California and L.A. included In fourth-grade reading, 25% of L.A. students tested as proficient or better. California's rate was 29%. On California's tests, student proficiency rates are higher, but still widely trailing pre-pandemic achievement levels that themselves were considered unacceptable at the time. Overall, the state tests offer a more precise check than NAEP on what students in California are supposed to be learning. The NAEP test, in contrast, tests a small sample of students to allow for state-to-state comparisons. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Mar. 6Students and staff were evacuated from the Wentworth School in Scarborough after kids reported feeling ill Thursday morning. School staff called 911 just after 10 a.m. and ambulances from multiple towns were sent to the school to begin treating students, police and fire officials said in a statement. They did not say how many students were being treated or if anyone has been taken to the hospital. School staff have notified the parents of all students who were ill, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students were moved to Scarborough High School, where parents could pick them up. There was still a large presence of first responders at the school late Thursday morning. Ambulances from Scarborough, Falmouth, Biddeford, Buxton, Portland and Northeast were on scene. About a dozen firefighters stood outside the entrance of the school around 11:15 a.m. and some staff members appeared to go back inside the building. One employee said officials had been looking for a gas leak but had not found any signs of one. Wentworth serves about 700 students in grades 3 to 5 and has more than 100 staff members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police and school officials said they would provide additional details at a 12:30 p.m. news conference. This story will be updated. Staff Writer Morgan Womack contributed to this report. Copy the Story Link Propel ATL, a sustainable transportation advocacy organization in the metro Atlanta area, says hundreds of people die each year in the region due to crashes, safety issues and other traffic-related risks. For the organizations latest safety report on the metro area, which covers crashes through 2023, Propel ATL said 2023 was the worst year for fatalities in the past decade for DeKalb County. The report, released Wednesday along with an accompanying interactive site, focuses on the City of Atlanta as well as Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Propel ATL, those three counties are the core of the metro and are all served by MARTA. In 2023, those three counties saw almost 350 people lose their lives to what the organization calls traffic violence, with the numbers in DeKalb County being particularly shocking. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Despite fewer crashes overall, 2023 was the worst year for fatalities in that county in the last decade, with a stark 25% more people killed in traffic violence in 2023 vs. 2022. Pedestrians made up the largest portion of this, with 40% more people killed while walking after being hit by drivers, according to their analysis. Additionally, across Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties, Propel ATL said traffic crashes kill as many people as homicides. Of those incidents, Propel ATL said more than 80% of crashes happened within walking distance of a bus stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Serna, Propel ATL Executive Director, says that simple changes to roadways could make a big impact on fatal or harmful crashes. TRENDING STORIES: Each death and injury is a result of a compounded series of decisions; to build dangerous, high-speed roadways that are hostile to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, to refuse to match walkability with transit use and density, and to build inequitably, with the regions most dangerous corridors traversing the poorest census tracts, Serna said, adding that theres not really such thing as an accident when it comes to traffic injuries and fatalities. Simple changes in design could virtually eliminate the vast majority of traffic crashes that result in injury and death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also said that none of the changes, like adding signals, clearly marking crosswalks and making lanes thinner would be difficult or complicated, they only require political will to execute. Here are the numbers from their data study: In 2023, 344 people died on roadways in counties with MARTA transit service: Clayton, Fulton, and DeKalb. Thats a 3.1% decrease from the 355 people killed in 2022 In 2023, more than 103,137 crashes occurred in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties 1,431 of these crashes involved people walking, biking, and rolling 108 of these crashes resulted in pedestrian deaths The 108 pedestrian deaths in 2023 represent a decrease of 10% compared with 2022 However, pedestrian fatalities increased dramatically in DeKalb County, jumping from 42 people killed by drivers while walking in 2022 to 59 in 2023 an increase of 40% In contrast, pedestrian fatalities dropped by 35% in the City of Atlanta In the City of Atlanta, 71 people were killed in traffic crashes (all modes) in 2023, down from 91 in 2022, which still represents the third-highest total number of traffic fatalities in the last decade In the three-county area, Census tracts with predominantly Blank or African American population make up 54 percent of all tracts but account for 73 percent of all traffic fatalities Between 2013 and 2023, Atlanta averaged 14.6 traffic deaths (pedestrians and non-pedestrians) per 100,000 people. By comparison, the more heavily populated Chicago and Seattle experienced just 5.4 and 3.7 respectively Just 10% of Atlantas streets account for 50% of its pedestrian crash fatalities and 60% of its pedestrian and bicycle crashes [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Sudan filed a case at the top United Nations court accusing the United Arab Emirates of breaching the genocide convention by arming and funding the rebel paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Sudans deadly war, the court announced Thursday. The UAE called the filing a publicity stunt and said it would seek to have the case dismissed. The International Court of Justice said Sudans case, filed Wednesday, concerns acts allegedly perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias including genocide, murder, theft of property, rape, forcible displacement, trespassing, vandalism of public properties, and violation of human rights targeting the Masalit people. The United Arab Emirates issued a statement after the filing asserting the case was a nothing more than a cynical publicity stunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The filing is aimed at diverting attention from the established complicity of the Sudanese Armed Forces in the widespread atrocities that continue to devastate Sudan and its people, the UAE statement said, referring to the government-backed forces fighting in the war. Both the RSF and the Sudanese military have been accused of abuses in the war. The UAE statement said the allegations in Sudan's case lack any legal or factual basis, representing yet another attempt to distract from this calamitous war. Out of respect for the International Court of Justice, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the UAE will seek the immediate dismissal of this baseless application. Sudan alleges that the UAE was complicit in the genocide on the Masalit through its direction of and provision of extensive financial, political, and military support for the rebel RSF militia, the court said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sudan also asked the court to impose urgent interim orders known as provisional measures on the UAE, including doing all it can to prevent the killing and other crimes targeting the Masalit. Both Sudan and the UAE are signatories to the 1948 genocide convention. Sudan descended into a deadly conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military and paramilitary rebels broke out in the capital, Khartoum, and spread to other regions. The war has killed more than 24,000 people and driven over 14 million people about 30% of the population from their homes, according to the United Nations. An estimated 3.2 million Sudanese have escaped to neighboring countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case at the world court was announced less than two weeks after the Rapid Support Forces and its allies signed a charter that paved the way for the establishment of a parallel government, following recent advances by Sudans army against the rival groups. The group Conflict Observatory, which is funded by the U.S. State Department and has been monitoring the war in Sudan, has identified aircraft it says carried UAE arms transfers to the RSF. Those flights went through Aeroport International Marechal Idriss Deby in Amdjarass, Chad flights the UAE has claimed have been for supporting a local hospital. In January, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, also known as Hemedti, had been targeted for sanctions along with seven RSF-owned companies in the United Arab Emirates, including one handling gold likely smuggled out of Sudan. That came as the U.S. declared the RSF are committing genocide. The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and a U.S. ally, has been repeatedly accused of arming the RSF, something it has strenuously denied despite evidence to the contrary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UAE said it has been calling for an immediate ceasefire in the war. The Sudanese Armed Forces application to the ICJ does not absolve it from its legal and moral responsibility for its criminal acts and the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the country, the UAE said. Two decades ago, the Sudanese region of Darfur became synonymous with genocide and war crimes, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias, against populations that identify as Central or East African. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. Rulings by the International Court of Justice, also known as the world court, take years to reach and are legally binding. ____ Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed. CANTON, N.Y. (WWTI) SUNY Canton announced that their Center for Workforce, Community and Industry Partnerships (WCIP) is collaborating with the local automotive industry on its next round of on-the-job training opportunities. Apprenticeship programs can help employers develop the next generation of experienced mechanics and technicians, said Chris White, SUNY vice chancellor of workforce development and upward mobility. These programs can also help individuals develop or renew an interest in the field without initially enrolling in a traditional college curriculum North Country SBDC at SUNY Canton: A New Name, Same Mission Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUNY has allocated funds to help both industry providers and apprenticeship students to highlight the value of the related instruction pathway to higher education institutions. White was among 17 industry professionals, experts and educators that attended SUNY Cantons recent automotive industry roundtable. The Vice Chancellor was joined by officials from Blevins Motors, Star Route Auto, Bill Rapp Chevrolet and Riverside Auto, among others. A dealership or independent business could sponsor a student to take classes while they are a mechanic at their shop, said Associate Professor Brandon Baldwin, who teaches Automotive Technology at the college. Those students would earn college credit for those classes. Some of the sponsorships will help pay for tools or textbooks as part of the program. Explore Engineering: SUNY Cantons Engineers Week Open House Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldwin proposed that such a curriculum would benefit students of all ages, from high school graduates to those seeking to change careers. He stated that the program already provides advanced training in electric and hybrid automobiles to prepare mechanics for the future of the business. Baldwin said that apprenticeships and retraining are good approaches for employees to obtain a grasp of the complicated circuits found in modern automobiles. Another roundtable discussion featured input from SUNY Apprenticeship Business Developer Angelina Blank, who discussed apprenticeship funding and how pre-apprenticeship funds could help credential and better prepare New York States future workforce. Discovering the needs of industry and ways to engage a younger generation of future automotive technicians is the main reason we offer roundtable discussions, said Liz Brown, Director of the Center for Workforce, Community & Industry Partnerships. Building partnerships with our local employers helps the college offer cutting edge programming, purchase equipment aligned with industry standards and develop training to engage the future workforce. What happens if the Department of Education is abolished? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, automobile mechanics can expect an average of 67,800 job vacancies every year through 2033. The rapidly changing auto industry needs more skilled workers. Employers may find it difficult to train, retrain, and hire qualified technicians. The SUNY Canton WCIP has developed a variety of career-focused possibilities, the most recent being automotive apprenticeships. The office previously hosted a pre-apprenticeship training session, which allowed students to get industry qualifications required for advanced manufacturing careers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. PLATTSBURGH After their efforts were thwarted last year, animal rights advocates are continuing to push on for a dog tethering law in Clinton County. These people want a dog tether law in Clinton County, its undeniable, Jennifer Jewett, the face behind the movement, said as dozens of residents packed into the Clinton County Legislature chambers with her for the Feb. 26 meeting in a show of support. Tonight, this is my 32nd legislature meeting, and frankly, you guys have done nothing to fix the 24/7 dog tethering problem in Clinton County. This week, I looked at a video taken last winter, a video of a German Shepherd, a one-and-a-half-year-old puppy, chained up in the freezing rain in Mooers. It made me so angry even today especially since you havent done a single thing, except stall our efforts, all year long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since February of 2024, Jewett, of Champlain, has repeatedly asked the legislature to pass a county-wide dog tethering law that would include making tethering or tying a dog out 24/7 illegal. Jewetts pursuit for this legislation began after learning that two dogs in Mooers had been living most of their lives tied out on chains with no consequences to the owner. Since her advocacy began, one of the dogs she hoped to help, a husky, has since died, according to Clinton County Sheriff Department records. Jewett was hoping for the county to pass legislation that would mirror Essex Countys existing tether law, which has been in place since 2016, but recognized the legislators may not like all of the restrictions in it and would prefer crafting their own to better fit the needs of Clinton County residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout most of last year, Jewett advocated for the tether law, traveling to each of the 17 municipalities in the county to speak with supervisors and gauge support for it. VOTED DOWN Last fall, Jewett came close to her wishes coming true after working for months to craft a law legislators would feel more comfortable about and getting it approved by the countys attorney, Jacqueline Kelleher. However, when it came time to vote, the legislature, following a heated discussion, shot it down before it could move to a public hearing. Opponents to the law, such as Legislature Chairman Mark Henry (R-Area 3, Chazy), continuously argued they wanted the towns to create their own laws and not have one forced upon them by the county. This would mean 17 towns creating 17 different laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want one county-wide dog title law, just like so many around the country, not 17 laws within the county that will only confuse law enforcement and make it harder to enforce, Jewett said. You know, as well as we do that having 17 separate laws makes no sense whatsoever. GROWING PRESSURE Since her proposal was shot down in October of 2024, Jewetts movement has only picked up steam across the county. At the Feb. 26 meeting, more than 30 people were in attendance to show the legislature they want a law, however, only three were granted the ability to speak during public comment. Jewett was one of them. Betty Lou LaJoy, one of the founding members of the local National Alliance on Mental Illness, was another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaJoy said studies, including a United Nations one, have shown that cruelty to animals has a negative effect on childrens empathy. She said society is currently paying for its cruelty to animals. Everybody knows that serial killers and other people that do cruel things to people have done cruel things to animals, she said. Weve known that for years. Tethering a dog or any animal, in my opinion, for 24/7 on a short chain, is cruel. So were paying for it in our criminal justice system. Were paying for it for mental health care, and they even found out that it affects children physically when they become adults and as children. So its costing us money, and again, its a problem that we looked at the world over, not just the United States, not just Clinton County. Jessica Murnane felt similarly. She said the legislature is listening to a minority of county residents who dont want a law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Animal cruelty equates to human cruelty, she said. The lack of empathy to watching animals out in sub-zero temperatures and justify it by saying, but I love that dog. Well, then sir or maam, you need to be taught what love looks like. Can we please get some hope in this room that you guys can stand up and do the right thing and tell the minority of your constituents that listen, this makes sense; 80% of the county says yes, 80%. If you want your votes, please vote yes. The Supreme Court sided on Wednesday with a federal judge who had ordered the U.S. Agency for International Development to pay its contractors for completed work, rejecting the Trump administrations wish to continue to withhold roughly $2 billion in funds. Its the first significant decision the court has handed down on President Trumps whirlwind of executive ordersand a sign of support for lower court judges who are wrestling with intransigence and potential defiance of judicial orders from the Trump administration. At the same time, the 54 rulings narrow splitJustice Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh emphatically dissented, while their conservative colleagues Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett sided with the three liberal justicesis less reassuring when it comes to predicting future legal battles with White House. Does a single district-court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the government of the United States to pay out (and probably lose forever) 2 billion taxpayer dollars? Alito wrote in his dissent, which the other three justices joined. The answer to that question should be an emphatic No, but a majority of this court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case, Department of State v. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, sprang from the administrations decision to dismantle USAID and freeze tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid that it distributed. The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and other litigants sued the State Department over work and products that it had already completed for USAID. Those contractual obligations remain despite the agencys fate. Judge Amir Ali, a federal district court judge in Washington, D.C., issued a temporary restraining order last month that instructed the State Department to make the payments. That order apparently went unheeded, through either incompetence or malice. Late last month, after receiving evidence that the administration was (at best) dragging its feet on the payments, Ali issued a new, more forceful order that instructed the State Department to pay all invoices and letter of credit drawdown requests for all of its contracts, grants, and programs for work completed prior to the entry of the Courts [order] on February 13, and to do so by midnight on February 26. Shortly before Alis deadline, the Trump administration asked the justices to pause the lower courts order. This directive was not party-specific, was not limited to invoices that are due or overdue, and did not explain how agencies are supposed to identify those invoices, the Justice Department complained in its stay request. It claimed the lower court lacked jurisdiction and that the Administrative Procedures Act, which governs how agencies issue new rules and policies, did not waive the federal governments sovereign immunity in this case. The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, for its part, urged the justices to reject those argumentsand the false sense of urgency that the Justice Department had invoked. The government comes to this Court with an emergency of its own making, it argued in the opening line of its reply brief. AVAC also emphasized the ongoing, immediate harms of the State Departments noncompliance with the lower courts order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By forcing thousands of American businesses and nonprofits to suspend their work, and by halting disbursements for work that they had already performed, even work that already had been reviewed by the government and cleared for payment, the government plunged respondents into financial turmoil, the group claimed. AVAC noted that they and their fellow litigants have faced cancellation of credit lines, civil and regulatory actions for employment violations, evictions, insolvency, and even physical threats to personnel in conflict areas. The Justice Departments stay request went first to Roberts, the chief justice, in his role as the circuit justice for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. He granted a last-minute administrative stay to Alis order before the deadline expired. That move preserved the status quo and gave the rest of the justices time to deliberate about the matter. Much of that deliberation over the last five days appears to have been used by the four justices in the minority to craft a dissenting opinion. As is customary for the high courts emergency-docket work, the five-justice majority did not write an opinion of their own to outline their reasoning. An unsigned order announcing their decision briefly instructed Ali to write a new temporary restraining order since his previous one had been overtaken by events. But the justices wrote enough to suggest that their support for the lower court may not be unlimited. Given that the deadline in the challenged order has now passed, and in light of the ongoing preliminary injunction proceedings, the district court should clarify what obligations the government must fulfill to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order, with due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines, the majority wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That passage is a Rorschach test of sorts. One could read it as a simple instruction to restart the payment deadlines, which is the practical effect it will have. Telling the lower court to clarify the State Departments obligations and show due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timeline could also be read as a subtle admonition of its approach thus far. Either way, the outcome is the same: The State Department must pay up. That outcome drew a furious response from the four dissenting justices. Alito chastised the lower court for labeling the order as what he described as a non-appealable TRO, meaning a temporary restraining order that could not ordinarily be challenged before a higher court, and for demand[ing] that the money be paid within 36 hours, even though Ali had already given the State Department roughly a fortnight to comply. Alitos primary concern was not the harm inflicted on the plaintiffs, but the potential harm to the Trump administration if it had to pay out completed contracts. As a result, the Government must apparently pay the $2 billion posthastenot because the law requires it, but simply because a district judge so ordered, he wrote. As the nations highest court, we have a duty to ensure that the power entrusted to federal judges by the Constitution is not abused. Today, the court fails to carry out that responsibility. That phrasenot because the law requires it, but simply because a district judge so orderedis a troubling one. What is the law in this case? Is it the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which created USAID and the decades of regular appropriations bills that kept it funded? Is it the Administrative Procedures Act, which generally bars federal agencies from adopting arbitrary and capricious rules and policies? Is it the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which generally forbids the executive branch from refusing to spend congressionally appropriated funds? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Or, alternatively, is the law the executive order of a president who claims unlimited authority to stop and start congressional appropriations at a whim? Alitos phrasing seems to suggest that he and the other three dissenters think its the latter. Today, the Court makes a most unfortunate misstep that rewards an act of judicial hubris and imposes a $2 billion penalty on American taxpayers, he wrote toward the end of his dissent. Except its not a $2 billion penalty on American taxpayers. Its $2 billion in owed compensation for services undertaken on the American taxpayers behalf. Alitos choice of words here mirrors the rhetoric of Trump and Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency. They have regularly justified their freezes and impoundments under the premise that they are saving taxpayer money, when there is little evidence to support that claim and plenty of reason to doubt it. If Alito and the other three justices, who presumably signed off on their colleagues opinion before its release, are willing to freely adopt the Trump-Musk framing on these matters, then the administration will only need to persuade one other justice to prevail in future cases. Roberts and Barrett were willing to hold the line on executive power in this dispute; they will be asked to do it again and again for the next four years. As Wisconsin's April 1 state Supreme Court election draws nearer, you've probably started seeing ads or receiving mailers about the two candidates competing for an open seat that will again determine the court's ideological majority. While the race is officially nonpartisan, justices on the state Supreme Court typically lean liberal or conservative, and partisan groups often heap donations and support into their campaigns. Susan Crawford, a circuit court judge in Dane County, is the liberal candidate in the race. The conservative candidate is Brad Schimel, a circuit court judge in Waukesha County and a former Republican state attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the court flipped to a liberal majority for the first time in over a decade with the election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz. The 2025 race will determine if the court remains under liberal control or switches back to a conservative majority. Supreme Court candidate and Dane County Judge Susan Crawford speaks with Derek Mosley, director of Marquette University Law School's Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education at Marquette University at Marquette University Lubar Center at Eckstein Hall in Milwaukee on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. The court is often the final voice on contentious issues in Wisconsin, from abortion to election laws to redistricting. A case that will decide the fate of Act 10, the 2011 state law that stripped bargaining rights from most state employees, is likely to land before the Supreme Court. In a Marquette poll conducted in late February, most Wisconsin voters said they did not know enough about either Supreme Court candidate to have an opinion about them. Nearly three out of five said they don't know enough about Crawford. Here's what to know about Crawford, including her experience in the legal system, positions on key issues, education and more. This guide may be updated as campaigns continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Who is Brad Schimel? Where Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate stands on voter ID, abortion, redistricting and more What is Susan Crawford's job? Crawford is currently a circuit court judge in Dane County, first elected in 2018. According to her campaign website, she has presided over trials for homicide, sexual assault and domestic violence cases. Before becoming a judge, Crawford was a partner at Pines Bach, a Madison law firm often hired by Democrats. As a private attorney, she represented groups that fought for abortion rights and sought to overturn Act 10 and the state's voter ID law roles conservatives have seized on. Earlier in her career, Crawford served as chief legal counsel to former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and worked in the state Department of Natural Resources and Department of Corrections. She also worked as an assistant attorney general under Doyle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: What to know about the sexual assault cases Brad Schimel is criticizing Susan Crawford over Who has endorsed Susan Crawford? Crawford's endorsements include the state Democratic Party, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin AFL-CIO, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, EMILYs List, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin and several labor unions. She is also backed by each of the court's liberal justices: Ann Walsh Bradley, whose retirement created the vacancy in the seat that's up for election, Rebecca Dallet, Jill Karofsky and Janet Protasiewicz. While Schimel has touted endorsements from dozens of Wisconsin sheriffs, Crawford is endorsed by Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett and Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball, plus retired sheriffs from Dane, Green and Chippewa counties. What groups have donated to Susan Crawford? Crawford has raised about $7.7 million since entering the race, including $4.5 million in the first month of 2025. The state Democratic Party has funneled $3 million into her campaign. Labor unions have also supported her campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National, big-money donors have gotten involved in both campaigns. While individuals can only donate $20,000 to a candidate, they can send unlimited donations to the state parties, which then transfer money to the campaign. Investor George Soros, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman have recently donated large sums to the state Democratic Party, which then forwarded money to Crawford's campaign. More: Flush with cash, the Susan Crawford campaign ran Supreme Court ads during the Super Bowl More: Wisconsin Democrats to counter Elon Musk's spending in Supreme Court race with seven-figure initiative What is Susan Crawford's stance on abortion? In a recent interview with the Journal Sentinel, Crawford called the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade "wrong." One of her campaign ads says she "fought for abortion rights." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether she would call herself "pro-choice," Crawford told the Journal Sentinel she supposed that was accurate, but that she doesn't tend to use the term because of its policy implications and the way it's been politicized. "I approach it more from a common sense, like what do women need to make sure that they're safe and that their families are safe?" she said. "It's about self-determination, it's about being able to make your own choices for yourself." More: Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel bring opposing views on abortion to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race More: Would Susan Crawford have to recuse from any abortion case? Why experts say she wouldnt. What is Susan Crawford's stance on voter ID? Crawford previously represented the League of Women Voters in trying to block the state law that requires voters to show photo ID, comparing the law to a poll tax. While running for Dane County court in 2018, she called the law "draconian." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crawford has been quieter on voter ID since launching her Supreme Court campaign, saying she doesn't take positions on issues that could land before the high court. She has also declined to say how she would vote on the photo ID referendum question on the April ballot. More: Bice: Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford is mum on voter ID. That wasn't always the case. What is Susan Crawford's stance on redistricting? Conservatives have criticized Crawford for attending a donor advisory meeting that was billed as a "chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026" in an email invite. Her campaign said she was on the call briefly to share her background and why's she's running, and she has "not publicly or privately commented on congressional redistricting at any time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In late 2023, the state Supreme Court ordered new legislative maps in Wisconsin but rejected a request to reconsider the state's congressional boundaries. The western and southeastern U.S. House districts in Wisconsin are considered the state's most competitive. More: Supreme Court race puts spotlight on congressional maps as GOP files complaint against Crawford How old is Susan Crawford? Crawford is 60. Where is Susan Crawford from? Crawford and her husband, Shawn, live in Madison and have two adult children. She grew up in Chippewa Falls. Where did Susan Crawford go to college, law school? Crawford received her bachelor's degree in English from Lawrence University and a master's degree in English from Indiana University. She then attended the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating in 1994. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alison Dirr and Daniel Bice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Supreme Court voter guide: What to know about Susan Crawford WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. apprehended the top terrorist who he says was behind the 2021 bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. He arrived in the U.S. Tuesday night after Pakistan helped arrest the individual. I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, said Trump. During his joint address to Congress President Trump announced a member of Afghanistans branch of ISIS-K was captured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks especially to the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster, said Trump. Federal agents brought Mohammad Sharifullah to the United States Tuesday night. FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi met the plane at Virginias Dulles airport. In charging documents, the U.S. says Sharifullah helped plan the 2021 Kabul airport terror attack that killed 13 American soldiers. The President was It was emotional, but he was thrilled to be able to call those families and say, this monster is going to be brought to justice, said National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The complaint alleges Sharifullah conducted surveillance to prepare the suicide bomber and later transported the bomber to the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharifullah appeared in federal court Wednesday. The White House says the FBI got a confession out of him. Muhammad confessed to his crimes related to Abbey Gate and other attacks in Russia and Iran, as well to the Pakistanis, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. If found guilty Sharifullah could face a maximum penalty of life in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) 17 News has learned new details about Tuesday nights fatal deputy-involved shooting, which left one man dead at Virginia Avenue Park in southeast Bakersfield. When 17 News went to the site the following morning, blood, as well as police tape, still remained on the ground from the shooting. The officers are fine; the suspect is dead. I know there was a firearm involved. Well have to wait and see how that plays out, said Sheriff Donny Youngblood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The armed man was shot and killed by sheriffs deputies. KCSO said the man was the alleged suspect of an abuse investigation though the agency declined to specify what type of abuse. KCSO said deputies arrived around 6:30 p.m. Witnesses and residents of the area told 17 News they heard about eight shots and that there was heavy KCSO presence. By 17 News count, so far in 2025, there have been three officer-involved shootings one by Bakersfield Police and two by KCSO. This is the first fatal OIS of the year. Woman sentenced in Valentines Day 2024 drugged driving crash Here are some of the still-unanswered questions by KCSO: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How many deputies responded and how many fired? How many shots were fired? How many shots hit the suspect? Why did deputies fire? Were less-than-lethal methods used? KCSO said per protocol, the deputy or deputies who fired are on paid administrative leave. Its also unclear at this time if the suspect has a criminal record. KCSOs Use of Force Policy emphasizes the sanctity of human life, as well as de-escalation and crisis intervention. It also states, Officers shall use deadly force only when reasonably necessary in defense of human life or serious bodily injury. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. Editors note: The attached video is from an earlier report. BELLFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. Investigators say theyve identified the trio who attacked White Castle employees earlier this week. According to a spokesperson for the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department, the assault occurred around 4:50 a.m. Sunday at the White Castle in the 10700 block of Bellefontaine Road. Police said the incident unfolded over an incorrect order. Three customersTrayonna Howell, 26; Melody Anderson, 30; and Christian Parker, 20began arguing with employees at the drive-thru window, which escalated into a fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Third person arrested in connection to death of Colin Brown Howell, Anderson, and Parker then illegally entered the business and struck the employees, police said. The fight spilled into the parking lot, where Parker took out a firearm and struck an employee in their head. The trio fled in a white 2015 Chevrolet Equinox with Missouri license plates XK4Z8L. Police said the suspects should be considered armed and dangerous. Theyre known to frequent Alton, Illinois, as well as areas in north St. Louis County, including Dellwood, Blackjack, Moline Acres, and north St. Louis City. Anyone with information on the suspects whereabouts is asked call 636-529-8210 (ask for the Bellefontaine Neighbors P.D.) or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. KINGWOOD, W.Va. (WBOY) Several dozen people were indicted by a grand jury in Preston County this month, including suspects of kidnapping, malicious assault and child neglect. Jason Larman Jason Larman, of Valley Point, was charged with malicious assault in November after he allegedly hit a victim in the head repeatedly with a dog bowl during a dispute. He was indicted on that charge and others, including one count of first-degree arson. James Albright James Albright, of Masontown, was indicted on a kidnapping charge stemming from an incident in August where he allegedly grabbed a woman and held a knife to her throat at a home in Arthurdale. The woman told West Virginia State Police troopers that she escaped by biting Albright on the arm that was holding the knife. Ashleigh Ireland Ashleigh Ireland, of Bruceton Mills, was indicted on multiple counts, including DUI with serious injury, child neglect causing serious injury, DUI with injury and DUI with a minor under 16. She was arrested after she was involved in a vehicle collision with a 4-year-old child in the vehicle and suffered a broken leg in the accident. During an interview with troopers, Ireland admitted to killing a bottle of Pinnacle vodka before the collision. Cole Saunders Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cole Saunders was also indicted on one count of DUI with injury, as well as one count of child neglect with risk of death or serious injury and DUI with a minor under 16; and Destiney Saunders was indicted on one count of child neglect with risk of death or serious injury. Man charged after allegedly attacking woman with knife at Grafton home Samantha Pyles Samantha Pyles, of Tunnelton, was indicted for gross child neglect creating substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. In October, Pyles allegedly failed to report a 14-year-old child missing for more than 12 hours; arresting deputies said in a criminal complaint that she showed no concern or care for the welfare of the child. James McCormick, of Tunnelton, was indicted for two counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm and assault on a law enforcement officer. He was arrested in September after he allegedly fired multiple shots at a residence, and when law enforcement arrived, he pointed a gun at them and said Ill state police you, according to court documents filed at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Dalton was indicted on charges of first-degree sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a parent or guardian. Cameron Wilson, of Tunnelton, was indicted on four counts of first-degree sexual abuse, three counts of sexual abuse by a parent or guardian, and one count of third-degree sexual assault. Details about their arrests are limited due to a West Virginia law that restricts the release of information related to sexual crimes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosted on Monday its eighth of nine meetings to update anglers about various fish species in Wisconsin. This meeting highlighted the history of various fish species and the work that has been and will continue to be done to keep a healthy population of these fish in the Green Bay system. The DNRs senior fisheries biologist, Jason Breeggemann, was the presenter. Sustainably Speaking: Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance hosts 10th annual farming roundtable Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breeggeman mentioned that in the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was an abundant walleye population, but over the years the habitat has been degraded and the population has therefore declined. After many regulations and environmental restorations were issued, the Wisconsin DNR began stocking the Green Bay system with walleye in the mid 1970s. At the meeting, Breeggemann said that they are very happy with how the walleye population has come along in the Green Bay system and the area is now an attractive spot for anglers. We consider this a pretty successful walleye restoration program, said Breeggemann. We went from a nearly extinct fishery to a fishery that we all think of it today and that one supports the ability to produce very large walleyes, as well as one that produces large numbers of walleyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DNR has partnered with the organization Walleyes for Tomorrow to help with the process of tagging and researching walleye in the Green Bay System. This goal is to tag and measure at least 5,000 walleye in the Green Bay system this season. Last year, 2024, the DNR fell just short of that at 4,535 tagged. The species are marked with either a yellow or red tag. Of those 4,535 tags, 4,333 were yellow and 202 were red. The significance of the red tag is that if the angler catches one with that tag and reports it to the Wisconsin DNR with proper verification, the angler will receive $100 from Walleyes for Tomorrow. At the meeting, the DNR also released their estimated caught and harvest numbers for the previous season. The process they go about in estimating those numbers is by whats called a creel survey, where the DNR hires creel clerks to go out to boat ramps and access points to ask anglers how many they caught and harvested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sustainably Speaking: Greener Bay Compost expands to Appleton The numbers revealed that 2024 was a down year, with 217,550 walleye being caught and 74,506 being harvested, a drop off from 2023 when 328,366 were caught and 131,612 were harvested. Breeggemann believes the decline was caused due to anglers targeting walleye less this past year. Breeggemann has been in this role as senior fisheries biologist for the past few years. One of the complaints from anglers is that they believe there are too many walleye being caught, thus, more restrictive measures should be implemented. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -Switzerland has cancelled a conference on the application of the Geneva Conventions to the occupied Palestinian territories for want of participants, its Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed on Thursday, after some countries expressed dissatisfaction. The country had invited 196 parties to the conventions to participate in the March 7 conference in Geneva on the situation of civilians living in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, but then told them the gathering had been cancelled, four diplomatic sources told Reuters earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the absence of a consensus between the High Contracting Parties, (Switzerland), as depositary State, decided not to convene the meeting," Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Nicolas Bideau said on X. The conference was set to address the Fourth Geneva Convention, part of a series of international treaties agreed in 1949 after World War Two, which defines humanitarian protections for civilians living in areas of armed conflict or occupation. The cancellation amounted to a diplomatic blow for neutral Switzerland, which prides itself on conflict mediation and frequently hosts summits and peace talks. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, told Reuters earlier that his delegation did not plan to attend the event, criticising a draft declaration circulated among participants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want the international community to take concrete measures and this fell short of expectations," he told Reuters, saying such measures could include economic or diplomatic steps against Israel. "What we want is for the Geneva Conventions to be implemented." A member of The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said that the group had also planned to miss the event, saying the document "did not reflect the gravity of the situation". Israel, whose war with Palestinian militant group Hamas has devastated Gaza, and which has been expanding settlements in the West Bank, stirring fears of annexation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It also criticised the Swiss conference, calling it "part of the legal warfare against Israel". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain felt that, along with many other states, it could not fully support a proposed declaration as a precondition for attending the conference, according to a statement from its diplomatic mission. Diplomats from other Western states that back Israel also privately expressed concerns about the meeting, although at least some European countries were planning to attend. (Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Toby Chopra and Mark Heinrich) Turkiye's Defence Ministry has said that it is ready to send troops to Ukraine "if necessary" to ensure peace. Source: European Pravda with reference to AFP Details: "The issue of participation in the mission... will be assessed with all interested sides if it is deemed necessary to establish regional stability and peace," the statement said. "After recent events, it is impossible to ensure European security without our country," the Turkish Defence Ministry insisted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As a member of NATO and the OSCE, Turkiye is an integral part of the European security architecture with its developed defence industry, important role in resolving regional crises and a powerful army," Turkiye further emphasised. Background: Earlier, there were media reports that Turkiye, in conversations with representatives of Ukraine and Russia, had indicated its openness to the idea of deploying its military on Ukrainian territory as part of a peacekeeping force. At the time, sources said that Turkiye would not participate in any peacekeeping mission unless it were involved in all consultations and preparations for its formation. It is worth noting that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was one of the participants in the defence summit in London on 2 March. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Taiwan's president and top chipmaker TSMC held a joint news conference Thursday to defend the company's decision to invest $100 billion in the U.S., saying it stemmed from customer demand and not pressure from the Trump administration. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the worlds largest chipmaker, said earlier this week it would invest $100 billion in three more chip manufacturing plants, along with two packaging facilities in Arizona. The decision sparked concerns that Taiwan would gain little in return for moving some of its most advanced manufacturing processes to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwan President Lai Ching-te denied that TSMCs investment decision was due to political pressure by the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously said that Taiwan had taken away the U.S. chip business and that he wanted it back. "TSMC's decision is necessary for its future development. The government did not face pressure from the United States during TSMC's investment process in the U.S.," said Lai on Thursday. TSMC CEO C.C. Wei said that he had spoken with the firm's customers and realized that TSMC's current expansion plans in the U.S. were insufficient to meet current demand. "Customer demand has been steadily increasing. For TSMC, our investment plans are based on customer needs, and we are very cautious," Wei said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The amount of investment in the U.S. may seem large, but it is still not enough to meet demand," he added. He also said that the development plans in the U.S. would not affect TSMC's plans in Taiwan, and that the company currently had 10,000 employees researching and developing 1.0 nanometer chips. While Taiwan is a self-ruled island, Beijing sees Taiwan as a renegade province to be taken back by force if necessary. The U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a country, but is its strongest backer and biggest arms provider. But the continued support of the U.S. appears increasingly fragile under the Trump administration, who has contended that Taiwan relies too much on the U.S. and needs to spend more on defense. A Pentagon nominee earlier this week said Taiwan should be spending about 10% of its gross domestic product on defense to deter a war with China. Taiwan's Lai last month pledged to increase defense spending to over 3% of its gross domestic product, up from less than 2.5%. The mayors of four sanctuary cities faced tough questions from lawmakers about their policies toward immigrants and how they work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday. New York Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, all Democrats, were grilled by Republican lawmakers critical of their cities policies that limit cooperation with ICE. Some even accused them of violating federal law and raised the possibility of criminal charges. The committee is led by Rep. James Comer, Republican of Kentucky, who issued a fiery statement setting the tone for the hearing that at times devolved into a yelling match. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pro-illegal alien mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City have implemented reckless, illegal policies that shield criminal aliens from federal immigration enforcement and endanger public safety, he said. On March 5, the House Oversight Committee will hold sanctuary mayors publicly accountable for refusing to abide by the law and placing Americans lives at risk. The hearing came amid President Donald Trumps efforts to crack down on immigration to the US and deport people who are in the country illegally. The Justice Department has said it plans to be aggressive against Democratic-led sanctuary cities and has threatened to withhold federal funds from cities that refuse to cooperate on immigration enforcement. Here are some takeaways from the hearing: What actually is a sanctuary city? Sanctuary city is a broad term referring to jurisdictions with policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement actions, but the term is nebulously defined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These cities often refuse to honor ICE detainer requests, which ask local jails to hold individuals beyond their scheduled release for immigration enforcement. Many also restrict local law enforcement from inquiring about or sharing immigration status. Some provide legal aid and public services, such as health care and education, without requiring proof of legal status. Supporters argue these policies build trust, encouraging undocumented immigrants to report crimes and seek assistance without fear of deportation. Critics claim they allow individuals, including those with criminal records, to evade immigration enforcement. Comer opened the questioning period of the hearing by asking each mayor a yes-or-no question on whether they consider their city a sanctuary city. Three of the mayors offered qualifying answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Folks use that term differently; Ill tell you what Denver does Johnston said. Ill take that as a yes, Comer said, interrupting. (Chicago has) a 40-year policy of being a welcoming city, Johnson said in response. Boston is a safe city, Wu said. To each, Comer said he would take the answer as a yes. Adams was the only one who offered a straightforward answer. Based on our classification, yes. Mayors say they follow local, state and federal law In their prepared remarks to open the hearing, the mayors spoke about their general approach to immigration enforcement and rejected the argument that they are violating any federal law. To be clear: A sanctuary city classification does not mean our city will ever be a safe haven for violent criminals, Adams said. It also does not give New York City the authority to violate federal immigration laws. To the contrary, New York City will always comply with city, state, and federal laws, as it does now. New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrives to testify during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on sanctuary cities' policies at the US Capitol. - Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images Johnston said Denver welcomed about 42,000 migrants over 18 months the largest per capita influx of any US city some unprepared for the cold weather. The city helped settle them and there are now no migrant encampments or shelters open, and crime numbers still declined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When buses started showing up filled with migrants, some in my city were afraid, just like Im sure some of your constituents are afraid, he said. They were afraid about crime and homelessness and worried about what these new people might take away from them. I understand that fear, and the truth is people who are new to this country do good and bad, just like all of us. He said Denver often works with ICE and has notified them to pick up someone in their custody 1,226 times over the last 7 years. Johnson said Chicago is safer due to its Welcoming City Ordinance that ensures police are focused on law enforcement priorities rather than immigration laws. Put simply, any actions that amplify fears of deportations make Chicago more dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, Wu said the Boston Police Department collaborates with state and federal law enforcement when there is a criminal warrant, but state law restricts law enforcement agencies from detaining people solely for alleged civil immigration violations. This constant collaboration with state and federal law enforcement is a crucial part of making Boston the safest major city in the country, she said. Republicans raise possibility of charges Multiple Republican congressmembers raised the possibility that the mayors could face criminal charges such as obstruction of justice for violating federal law. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania questioned the mayors on the degree to which they work with federal immigration policies and whether they were violating federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it were up to me, Id be considering referring charges, said Rep. Gary Palmer, Republican of Alabama. Weve got a problem here when we decide that there are some laws that we will obey and some laws that we wont. Americas fed up with this betrayal of oath, and youll be held accountable, Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana said. Rep. Andy Biggs, Republican of Arizona, held up signs reading Sanctuary cities are illegal with text from two federal laws relating to communication between agencies and harboring undocumented immigrants. Every one of you is exposed to criminal culpability here, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said she will be referring the mayors to the Justice Department for prosecution, earning several surprise gasps from the audience. Im not doing that in an effort to bully you guys, but I do believe your policies are hurting the American people, she said. Mayors challenge questioners to pass immigration reform In turn, the mayors challenged Congress to take actions to make cities safer and to reform the countrys immigration policies. Under questioning from Rep. Paul Gosar, Wu said it was Congress role to pass an immigration law and questioned the false narrative that immigrants cause crime. If you wanted to make us safe, pass gun reforms. Stop cutting Medicaid, stop cutting cancer research, stop cutting funds for veterans, she said. That is what will make our city safe. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu challenged her questioners to pass comprehensive immigration law at the hearing. - Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images Adams inverts partisan questioning The mayors generally faced sharp, fiery questions from Republicans and more open-ended questions from Democrats, but that dynamic was flipped for Adams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams received some praise from Republicans for his willingness to work with border czar Tom Homan, his attacks on former President Joe Bidens immigration policies and his calls to change the citys sanctuary policies. Meanwhile, he faced tough questions from Democrats about the controversy surrounding his federal corruption charges. The Justice Department last month ordered federal prosecutors to drop federal corruption charges against Adams so he can better help their immigration crackdown. The directive led to a series of high-profile resignations, including from the acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who said the New York mayors attorneys repeatedly urged what amounted to a quid pro quo to help Trump on immigration if the case was dropped. Rep. Robert Garcia, Democrat of California, called on Adams to resign. Further, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Democrat of Virginia and ranking member of the committee, asked directly whether he made any quid pro quo deal with the Trump administration. I think I was extremely clear: No quid pro quo, no agreement, Adams said. I did nothing wrong but serve the people of New York City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At other points, Adams declined to respond to questions about his criminal charges out of deference to Judge Dale Ho, the judge overseeing his case. After Rep. Laura Gillen, Democrat of New York, said she had no confidence in him and called for his resignation, Adams brushed her off. But you dont live in New York City, you live on Long Island. You dont vote for me, he said. Comer and Pressley yell over each other Comer and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts, yelled over each other in a tense moment at the hearing. The incident began when Pressley attempted to read into the record news articles comparing the crime rates of immigrants and native-born Americans. As she began to read the first article, Comer admitted it into the record without objection and asked Pressley to move on to the next one, cutting her off from reading the full title. She continued reading the title of the first article, and the two began to yell over each other in loud voices. This trend of you all trying to get thrown out of committee so you can get on MSNBC is going to end, Comer said. Were not going to put up with it. This is my procedural right as a member of this committee, Pressley said. I take particular umbrage as a survivor of sexual violence; I will answer into the record. This is my right. Comer insisted she stop and directed Rep. Suhas Subramanyam to begin his questioning. Once his time was up, Rep. Melanie Stansbury then read those same article titles into the record and defended Pressley, leading Comer to accuse her of filibustering. Mace asks explicit questions One of the more aggressive and explicit lines of questioning came from Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina. When an illegal alien rapes a woman, do you believe youre on the right side of history? she asked each mayor. No, rape is obviously horrible, Wu responded. Then why are you letting rapists back onto the streets of Boston? Mace said. That is not true. That is not whats happening in Boston, Wu said. Mace often added her own snarky asides to their responses, telling Adams at one point you suck at answering questions. All of the mayors here today are actively working to harm the American people you represent, Mace said at another point. You all have blood on your hands. CNNs Omar Jimenez contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com While many companies have announced plans to roll back DEI policies in the past couple of months, fewer have paid a higher price than Target (TGT). The Minneapolis-based retailer had been very vocal in support of DEI efforts after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020 and their pausing of efforts has caused a backlash. Rev. Jamal Bryant, an Atlanta-based megachurch pastor, is leading the boycott, which comes just over a month after the companys announcement. This decision has sparked criticism from customers and activists alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with CNN, Bryant urged consumers to divest from shopping at Target, accusing the retailer of turning their back on our community. Rev. Bryant has started a website, Targetfast.org, to promote the idea of a 40-day fast to coincide with the Lenten season. The website states, in part: This Lent, we will begin a corporate fast, starting with Target, as a spiritual act of resistance. Just as Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, challenging the exploitation and hypocrisy of his day, we too must disrupt business as usual. Fasting is not just about what we abstain fromit is about what we embrace. By redirecting our resources toward businesses that uphold justice, we embody our commitment to Gods vision of equity and love in action. Target also was a target of the Peoples Union economic blackout day on Feb. 28, organized by a New York activist Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, some Black-owned businesses that sell products at Target worry that the boycott will only hurt them. We dont want these minority businesses to suffer or to be impacted negatively, Black entrepreneur Melissa Butler told CNN. Francisco Velasquez contributed to this article For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Target faces a 40-day boycott after reversing DEI policies Target faces a possible 40-day nationwide boycott after the retail giant ditched its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives following Preisdent Donald Trumps return to the White House. Approximately 110,000 people, including many parishioners at Black churches, have signed up to join the Target Fast which began on Wednesday, aligning with the first day of Lent, according to the Washington Post. Consumers pledging to abstain from shopping at Target are instead being urged to spend their money at Black-owned businesses. This boycott is the latest headache facing the retail giant with CEO Brian Cornell admitting this week that prices are likely to increase for customers as a result of Trumps Mexico tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prominent Christian and civil rights leaders such as Jamal Bryant, a senior pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, is among the movement's leaders and is calling for spiritual resistance. Target Fast organizers are asking people to divest from the chain claiming that its DEI rollback demonstrates a pattern of a deeper erosion of the moral and ethical commitments necessary to build a just society, its website reads. Jamal Bryant (R) photographed with former Vice President Kamala Harris at his church in October 2024 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The advances made during the civil rights movement are being pushed backwards with the cancellation of DEI, Bryant told The Post. This generation owes it to the previous generation to fight to try to make America great, which is only happening through diversity. Before it scaled back its DEI efforts, Target was long considered a leading advocate for the rights of Black and LGBTQ+ people in the retail space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Target was one of dozens of Fortune 500 companies to announce it would scale back its DEI policies after Trump issued a sweeping executive order banning DEI initiatives across the federal government two days after returning to the White House on January 22. Amazon, Google, Meta, McDonalds and Walmart also began winding down their DEI programs in recent months, sparking backlash from many consumers. President signed an executive order calling for DEI programs to be dismantled across federal government (AFP via Getty Images) Target announced it was eliminating hiring goals of minority employees and dismantling a committee focusing on racial justice while culling other initiatives on January 24. The company also said it would terminate initiatives aimed at improving the representation of Black businesses and suppliers and said it would stop submitting information to the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates LGBTQ+ corporate policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was shocked because they made a commitment to invest in Black businesses upward of $2 billion after the death of George Floyd, Bryant said, referring to Targets 2021 pledge to add products from more than 500 Black-owned businesses by 2025. The company, however, said it remained committed to creating a sense of belonging for our team, guests and communities, while stressing the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape. The boycotts come as Target faces pressure from what the company calls tariff uncertainty, Trumps 25 percent import taxes on goods from Mexico and Canada went into effect Tuesday. Tariffs on Mexico may force Target to raise prices on fruits and vegetables as soon as this week, Cornell told CNBC Tuesday. A prominent Atlanta megachurch pastor is calling on the Black community to boycott Target for 40 days in retaliation for the company ditching its diversity, equity and inclusion policies upon President Donald Trumps return to the White House. The so-called Target fast spearheaded by Rev. Jamal Bryant, who has more than 800,000 followers on Instagram and promoted the campaign across several media outlets, kicks off Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and lasts the duration of the Christian observance period. Were protesting with our pocketbooks, Bryant told Atlanta News First. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Wednesday interview with the popular radio show The Breakfast Club, Bryant explained why the boycott is focused on Target for now. People are asking why did we pick Target, when Walmarts out of order, McDonalds is out of order, John Deeres out of order, Bank of Americas out of order, Amazon is out of order, he said. A person heads into a Target store Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Lakewood, Colorado. via Associated Press Bryant pointed to Target being headquartered in Minneapolis, the same city where George Floyd was killed in 2020. After Floyds death, Target made a series of racial reckoning pledges, including one to increase its Black workforce by 20%. Thats one of the DEI initiatives the company announced last month it was dropping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dishonored that commitment, Bryant said on the radio show. He also pointed to the size of Targets Black customer base. One academic told CNN that Black Americans make up roughly 9% of consumer spending at Target. But not everyone is on board with a boycott. Melissa Butler, whose makeup brand The Lip Bar has been in Target since 2017, raised concerns about the practice in a now-viral TikTok she posted shortly after Target dropped its DEI policy. The immediate risk is if all of our consumers boycott Target, then that will absolutely impact us, she said, saying shes seen Target drop brands when they dont perform well on shelves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a really shitty situation to be in, she said. Butler added that shes disappointed but not that surprised that Target reneged on its DEI commitments, saying, Trump is emboldening companies to reverse commitments that they never wanted to do in the first place. Pastor Jamal Bryant attends the Percy "Master P" Miller Live "Let's Be Clear" podcast recording and book signing event at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Oct. 22, 2024, in Stonecrest, Georgia. Derek White via Getty Images The founders of Rucker Roots, another Black-owned beauty brand carried in Target, also expressed some concern about a boycott in an appearance on The Breakfast Club last month. In his appearance on the radio show Wednesday, Bryant said the campaigns website would direct people to other retailers stocking products from Black-owned businesses. But, he conceded, A movement comes with inconvenience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a spiritual warfare that were under with [Vice President] JD Vance and Donald Trump, Bryant said to emphasize the seriousness of Target ditching its DEI commitments. Diversity initiatives have become one of Trumps biggest punching bags since he took office earlier this year. He even went so far as to baselessly blame DEI for a deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., in January. He also mentioned the policies in his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, ranting about the end of wokeness. We are getting wokeness out of our schools and out of our military, and its already out, and its out of our society, we dont want it, Trump said. Wokeness is trouble, wokeness is bad, its gone. Its gone. And we feel so much better for it, dont we? Dont we feel better? Related... President Trumps continuous back-and-forth on tariffs is taking a toll on Republican lawmakers who admit the constant announcements are difficult to follow even as they try to assuage concerns from constituents. Trumps six weeks in the White House have been a roller coaster on a number of fronts. But tariffs have topped that list as Trump has threatened to impose them on numerous U.S. trade partners, delayed their implementation, gone through with enacting them, hinted at compromises and carved out exceptions. While Senate Republicans are willing to give him plenty of leeway despite their overall lack of enthusiasm for tariffs generally they acknowledge the will-they or wont-they nature of Trumps threats and constant uncertainty is giving them whiplash, especially in recent days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one thing about it is it provides us with the opportunity to say, Just hold your breath. Its kind of like the weather in South Dakota itll change by tomorrow. Were just waiting, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said. It is [frustrating], but were used to it, Rounds said with a laugh. Im taking a deep breath before I make comments, because I may be commenting on something that is no longer a valid point within hours. This week in particular has been a roller coaster as Trump carried out plans to slap tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China as part of his push to renegotiate what he views as lackluster trade deals. After delaying early February plans to implement 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, two of the U.S.s top trade partners and closest allies, he put those into effect Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What ensued was a war of words with Canada and questions over whether the tariffs would stick, as the U.S.s northern neighbor threatened to cut off electricity to multiple states and impose a 25 percent surcharge on energy exports. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later Tuesday said a compromise might be struck with the two allies a day later. That came to fruition as they were given a monthlong reprieve on automobiles that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). But those expire when Trump has pledged to impose reciprocal tariffs against nations that place duties on American goods. In addition, Chinese goods already hit with a 10 percent tariff in early February had another 10 percent tacked on in the latest push. China responded that it is ready to fight any type of war with the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has given Republicans a headache trying to keep up on an hour-by-hour or even a minute-by-minute basis, especially as many of the ruby red states GOP members hail from could be disproportionately affected by the tariffs. Its a lot to follow, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) conceded, saying there hasnt been a major effect yet on his state. Its a wait and see. Theyre supportive of the president. But at this point its very much in flux, Hawley said of his state, which backed Trump by 18 percentage points over Vice President Harris in November. The Missouri Republican added that he believes his constituents, including farmers, are prepared to give Trump a fair amount of rope on this issue. He pointed to Trumps move to give farmers significant aid in his first term amid the trade war with China to help them through what was a difficult time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president, during his address to Congress on Tuesday, asked farmers for some space despite what could be some turbulence in the near-term. Bear with me again, he said in his speech. I love the farmer. Trump has also promised that more tariffs which he has often dubbed the most beautiful word are likely coming down the pike in the coming weeks and months. He is set to impose a 25 percent tariff on all foreign steel and aluminum starting March 12. Next month could also bring a new tariff on agricultural goods. A number of Republicans have indicated this is not something they are pining for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told CNN on Tuesday ahead of the joint session of Congress that he sees the tariff issue through a different lens. Wall Street also made its feelings known on the issue. A day after the S&P 500 saw all of its postelections gains evaporate, it rebounded amid hopes that more tariff concessions could be in the offing. However, Thune and his colleagues have made it known they are willing to give Trump space to get outcomes even if it means they have to keep their heads on a swivel. Its not like hes inconsistent, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said. Its just that its such a fast pace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I always say I never cease to be amazed, he said. On the other hand, I dont know why any of us would be because its the new normal and weve been through it before. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sometime between two weeks to 45 days from now, consumers are likely to begin noticing a bump in prices via President Donald Trump adding tariffs to products coming from the three biggest U.S. trading partners, one logistics expert predicts. The president has a beef with Canada, China and Mexico, and Florida is likely to feel the results of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and a 10% tariff for Canadian energy products more than most other states, trade reports show. Chinese goods are facing a 20% tariff on goods, which was doubled from a tariff imposed last month. Trump launched the trade war as an effort, he says, to combat illegal immigration, stem the flow of illegal drugs and rebalance trade. Many are worrying that it's going to mean consumers will face higher prices and that visitors who help make tourism the state's biggest industry will be discouraged from spending their money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How it works: Trump tariffs hit China, Canada and Mexico: See how tariffs work, which goods are impacted The day after tariffs kicked in, on March 5, the White House announced that the auto industry would be exempt from the tariffs hitting products coming out of Canada and Mexico for at least the coming month. But the president, in his address to Congress on March 4, the same day the trade war started, suggested more tariffs against more countries are coming. The effects of tariffs are likely to be greater here because Florida is more dependent on international trade and goods than most other states due to how much of the Sunshine States supplies come through its international ports. International trading in Florida reached a new high last year since the COVID-19 pandemic tanked it in 2020. President Trump's tariffs on Canada, China, Mexico: What's at stake Canada is closely tied, in particular, to the state thats farther south than any other part of the U.S. mainland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The land of maple syrup accounts for the most international visitors to Florida. Also, theres about $6 billion in business goods at stake when what Florida gets from Canada is added to what Florida sends to Canada, according to the latest number from SelectFlorida, an international commerce association that brings together businesses, government leaders and economic-development partners aiming to improve the Florida economy. More: Thousands of miles apart, Florida and Canada are tightly entwined by trade Nearly all goods from Mexico and China will face tariffs, but some exclusions are expected. How soon the tariffs that went into effect Tuesday morning will hit consumers largely depends on how quickly suppliers disburse the goods theyve stockpiled in anticipation of the trade war Trump has threatened since he took office Jan. 20, according to Steven Carnovale, an associate professor of supply chain management in Florida Atlantic Universitys information technology and operations management department. But he expects its going to be apparent to consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Florida in particular, because of our proximity to Latin America, we do a ton of imports. Were pretty reliant on imports, Carnovale said. Some Canadians wonder: Is President Trump being truthful about tariffs? This new sort of Trump bump is already bruising feelings among those who make up the states biggest source of international visitors and real-estate buyers: Canadians. Residents of the land of the living skies are allowed to stay in the United States for six months without a visa. And it looks like many took full advantage of that privilege, which Canada also allows U.S. visitors. Canadians accounted for 20.4 million U.S. visits last year that generated an estimated $20.5 billion in spending, according to the U.S. Travel Association, a travel industry-funded national nonprofit. Florida welcomes the biggest share of any state, drawing 3.3 million Canadians to the states temperate climes last year, according to Visit Florida, the states official tourism marketing corporation. The latest has the Geisslers of Toronto concerned that they might have to rethink their decades-old tradition of spending the winter season enjoying Floridas balmy breezes and sandy shores. They started coming to the Florida Keys more than 30 years ago and now own a condominium in North Palm Beach. Their tradition is to come the day after Christmas and stay until April or late March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a terrible thing to do, said Terry Geissler, talking about the tariffs and Trumps suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. Apologizing and declaring how much she loves Florida, Geissler said that she doesnt think Trump is being truthful about the reasons hes imposing the tariffs. The president said its because Canada isnt doing enough to control the flow of illegal immigrants and the deadly drug fentanyl across the northern border. More than 20 million Canadians visited the U.S. each year, and Florida, with its beaches and cruise ship ports like the Port of Palm Beach, draw about 3.3 million of them, officials said. Canada has stepped up with $1.3 billion to improve enforcement at the border, she noted. Canada has its own issues about whats coming north to her country, too, said Geissler, now retired from running an engineering contract firm with her husband. Do you realize that 30,000 guns are coming into Canada yearly from the United States? Geissler said. We have gun laws. Youre absolutely not allowed guns in Canada, but they come in every year. This is really not fair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her husband, George Geissler, said the jokes about how Canada should be the 51st U.S. state have become a serious insult. I am absolutely incensed, he said. Canada already imposing billions in tariffs as retaliation against U.S. As the U.S. tariffs on goods coming out of Canada went into effect, Canada announced its own set of tariffs on goods that are coming from the U.S. into Canada, and more are on the way. It adds up to $30 billion worth of products subject to tariffs as of Tuesday and an additional $125 billion in products in the coming weeks, according to the Canadian consul generals office in Miami. Canada is Floridas largest export partner, trade association documents show, and the biggest international customer for its produce and agricultural products. With the increase in prices, Florida businesses might find their Canadian customers looking elsewhere for fresh tomatoes, citrus, beans and melons, which are all on the list of products Canada says they will tariff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It doesnt have to be this way, said Sylvia Cesaratto, consul general of Canada in Miami. Weve been doing everything we possibly can to stave off tariffs, Cesaratto said, pointing to list of nearly two dozen specific actions that have been taken to beef up security at the border. Border crossings dropped by more than 90% since last June, more drug labs shut down and more fentanyl seized on the Canadian side of the border and less on the U.S. side are some of the results these stepped-up efforts have already achieved, according to information the consul generals office supplied. But a statement coming from the White House shows Trump doubling down on this approach, instead of issuing last month's last-minute reprieve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When voters overwhelmingly elected Donald J. Trump as President, they gave him a mandate to seal the border, the statement reads. That is exactly what he is doing. Anne Geggis is the insurance reporter at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at ageggis@gannett.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: President Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China: What to know WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) President Trumps long-threatened tariffs are underway, sending the country into an escalating trade war with China, Mexico and Canada. One of the industries already feeling the heat of these tariffs is childrens toys. Trumps 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico went into effect on Tuesday alongside a 20% tariff on Chinese goods. Claytons Toys in Williamsville has been in business for over 100 years. Co-owner Tara McElligott says 90% of the products they sell come from Chinese suppliers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, what weve seen is newly printed catalogs coming in outdated, McElligott said. Weve got some vendors that are emailing us saying that the prices they gave us last week are higher now. Now, the business is thinking about looking elsewhere for its inventory. We used to have a vast selection of American and European made toys which are really much better quality, McElligott said. But the prices are going to be high on those. McElligott says shes fortunate to have had many local customers throughout the years. Shes hoping that even if prices do have to increase, people will still support local businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our hope is that we can continue to make up for it in the services that we provide, McElligott said. There will be some adjustments happening but there will be a little bit of a balance. Latest Local News Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. SIOUX FALLS (KELO) President Donald Trump is moving forward with imposing tariffs on goods coming into the United States from Canada, Mexico and China. Some of those tariffs have raised concerns for South Dakota farmers. Trump says he wants to hold Mexico, Canada and China accountable for allowing illegal immigrants and fentanyl to come into the U.S., but tariffs are also expected to impact farmers. Were concerned about the long-term impact of the tariffs and what they might have on our industry, South Dakota Pork Producers Council executive director Glenn Muller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of our largest partners in terms of ag trade is Mexico, so when we see that problem arise in those tariffs, its going to have a negative effect on the whole farming community, South Dakota Soybean Association president Kevin Deinert said. Prayers for the pope during Ash Wednesday Mass The President addressed farmers directly while speaking to Congress on Tuesday. He said tariffs on agricultural products coming into America will go into effect April 2. Theyre uninspected. They may be very dirty and disgusting, and they come in, and they pour in, and they hurt our American farmers, Trump said Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Deinert and Muller are worried about the potential impact of retaliatory tariffs. The concern for us is going to be that there will be retaliatory tariffs placed on our products going into their country so that we cant market our product into those countries. Thats where we really get concerned because we need to maintain an open trading market to move the product that we have here that we can produce the safest, best product in the world, Muller said. We had built up some really long-lasting relationships, a lot of trade partners, so these tariffs come to disrupt that, Deinert said. Muller also says that South Dakota imports around 800,000 pigs per year from Canada. He believes a retaliatory tariff on them could impact that market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier today, Trump announced a one-month pause for tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Tatmans Towing is set to honor one of its employees three years after he was tragically killed while doing his job. Ross Booker was a 20-year-old tow truck driver and volunteer firefighter from St. Joseph who was hit by a car the night of March 5, 2022. He was clearing debris from the scene of a crash when the Champaign County States Attorney said a 16-year-old failed to slow down as he approached the scene of the crash. The teens car hit Booker, and he passed away from his injuries the following day. Champaign unanimously approves $2M wrongful death settlement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every March 6, Tatmans Towing organizes a memorial procession of tow trucks in Bookers memory. The third such procession will take place Thursday. Starting at Tatmans shop on Perkins Road in Urbana, the procession will leave just after 5 p.m. (at the time Booker was pronounced dead) and will make its way to his hometown of St. Joseph. Late tow truck driver honored by towing museum The procession is meant not only to honor Booker, but to raise awareness of Scotts Law, the law that requires drivers to slow down and move over when approaching first responders vehicles with their emergency lights activated. While the States Attorney determined the driver who hit Booker did not violate Scotts Law, Bookers name is often mentioned with the law as many other violations of it kill emergency workers doing their jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is NOT about Tatmans Towing, but rather, an annual reminder to Slow Down and Move Over, to help save the lives of every person who works along our roadways and highways, Tatmans said through spokesperson Bart Greenberger. This includes, but is not limited to, police, fire, EMT, tow drivers, construction workers, road crews and many others. We hold no ill will: Parents remember son killed on the job in Champaign Scotts Law violations have been a persistent issue in Illinois for years before and after Bookers death. The Illinois State Police said there have so far been three instances of their Troopers being hit by cars since the start of the year, including one on March 1. In 2024, ISP handled a total of 27 Scotts Law crashes an increase from 21 in the previous year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Authorities have arrested two individuals accused of planning a large-scale ticket scam linked to Taylor Swifts Eras Tour. The suspects allegedly exploited a security loophole to steal nearly 900 digital tickets, reselling them for massive profits. Now, many are eager to know what happened. Here are more details about the same. 2 hackers arrested over Taylor Swift ticket scam, claims report Two individuals from New York have been arrested for allegedly hacking and reselling nearly 900 concert tickets, including those for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour, making over $600,000. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the arrests on Thursday, stating that the suspects exploited the high demand for tickets to Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Adele concerts, among other events. They have been charged with grand larceny, computer tampering, and conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the suspects exploited a security flaw in an offshore ticket vendors system. Two insiders at a third-party company linked to StubHub allegedly stole ticket URLs and passed them to their associates in Queens, who then resold the tickets at inflated prices. Katz said, According to the charges, these defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swifts concert tour and other high-profile events to profit at the expense of others. (via Deadline) The accused, Tyrone Rose and Shamara P. Simmons, now face charges including second-degree grand larceny, first-degree computer tampering, and fourth-degree conspiracy. They could face sentences ranging from three to 15 years in prison if convicted. Authorities continue to investigate the extent of the operation and potentially more conspirators. StubHub responded by stating that they immediately reported the fraudulent activity to Sutherland Global Services (SGS), their third-party customer service provider. They also claimed that they worked with law enforcement to address the issue. They shared, At StubHub, ensuring a safe and secure platform for our fans is our highest priority. (via Variety) The post Taylor Swift Tickets Hackers Arrested Amid $600K Scam Report appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Two individuals have reportedly been accused of planning a large-scale ticket scam linked to Taylor Swifts Eras Tour. The suspects allegedly exploited a security loophole to steal nearly 900 digital tickets, reselling them for massive profits. Now, many are eager to know what happened. Here are more details about the same. What happened to Taylor Swift ticket scammers? Two individuals from New York have been arrested for allegedly hacking and reselling nearly 900 concert tickets, including those for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour, making over $600,000. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the arrests on Thursday, stating that the suspects exploited the high demand for tickets to Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Adele concerts, among other events. They have been charged with grand larceny, computer tampering, and conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the suspects exploited a security flaw in an offshore ticket vendors system. Two insiders at a third-party company linked to StubHub allegedly stole ticket URLs and passed them to their associates in Queens, who then resold the tickets at inflated prices. Katz said, According to the charges, these defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swifts concert tour and other high-profile events to profit at the expense of others. (via Deadline) The accused, Tyrone Rose and Shamara P. Simmons, now face charges including second-degree grand larceny, first-degree computer tampering, and fourth-degree conspiracy. They could face sentences ranging from three to 15 years in prison if convicted. Authorities continue to investigate the extent of the operation and potentially more conspirators. StubHub responded by stating that they immediately reported the fraudulent activity to Sutherland Global Services (SGS), their third-party customer service provider. They also claimed that they worked with law enforcement to address the issue. They shared, At StubHub, ensuring a safe and secure platform for our fans is our highest priority. (via Variety) Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon. The post Taylor Swift Tickets Hackers Reportedly Arrested Amid $600k Scam appeared first on Mandatory. MOUNT CARMEL, Tenn. (WJHL) A man has died after being shot by a family member in Mount Carmel, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The TBI reports it began investigating a March 1 shooting in Mount Carmel at the request of 3rd Judicial District Attorney General Dan Armstrong. TN bill to require checking students legal status advances 5-4 The bureau stated that shortly after 12 p.m., Mount Carmel police officers and the Hawkins County Sheriffs Office responded to a reported shooting in the 600 block of Independence Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When authorities arrived, they reportedly found Joshua Britton Fann, 36, had been shot. Fann had been shot during what the TBI described as an altercation with a family member. Fann was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died. As of Thursday, the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. No further details were released by the TBI. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Editors Note: The age of the child has been corrected based on new information from police. (WJW) A 3-year-old girl missing from Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been safely located by Shaker Heights police, the FOX 8 I-Team has learned. Police responded to an Aldi on Kinsman Road on Thursday morning. Travel advisory issued by US government for Turks and Caicos Islands A witness told FOX 8 News crews at the scene that police converged on a car in the parking lot and recovered the girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a news release from Shaker Heights Police, the department was alerted Wednesday evening that the child may be in Northeast Ohio. Police learned that a woman in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said her ex-boyfriend assaulted her and kidnapped her 3-year-old daughter. Police said they received intelligence that the ex-boyfriend had ties to Northeast Ohio and may have returned. Its disheartening: 40-year tradition paused at Ohio University Working on a tip, officers with Shaker and the Orange police departments pulled over the ex-boyfriends vehicle near Interstate 271 and Chagrin Boulevard on Thursday, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man, identified later Thursday as Shaquille Thomas, is being held in the Cuyahoga County jail on a warrant for assault and domestic violence charges out of Fort Wayne. Police said the little girl was in the company of another family member at a location in Cleveland. According to Fort Wayne police, a missing persons report was filed for the little girl on Monday, March 3, at about 2:30 p.m. According to Capt. Jeremy Webb of the Fort Wayne Police Department, the child was abducted on Jan. 7, but the report couldnt be filed until the mother could provide paperwork proving that she had sole custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are working to reunite the child with the mother. The child is in good condition, police said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. The failure to send evacuation alerts to west Altadena in the early hours of the Eaton fire was not the result of a technological error, according to the company that provides L.A. County with emergency alert software. Until the statement by Richard Danforth, head of Genasys, it was unclear whether the failure was due to software issues or if, during a chaotic night, county officials made mistakes and bungled the alerts. The system was up and operational, said Danforth in a Tuesday Zoom meeting billed as a town hall for some of the companys worried stockholders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company, which provides emergency alert software to governments across the country, has found itself repeatedly in the headlines as L.A. County faces intense scrutiny over the evacuation alert failure. The county had begun using the Genasys software a month before the Eaton fire started on Jan. 7, The Times reported. All 17 deaths from the fire occurred west of Lake Avenue, which did not get evacuation alerts until nearly 3:30 a.m. long after the fire tore through the neighborhood, The Times previously reported . Zones to the east of Lake Avenue, on the other hand, got multiple evacuation alerts. Why those messages werent sent we know it wasn't technology, Steve Sickler, Genasys' vice president of field operations, said on the call. Read more: L.A. County had a new emergency alert system. Did that hurt west Altadena? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Alger, a senior vice president with the company, said the longest lag between when officials in the field ordered an alert and when it hit cellphones was 14 minutes. The average was five and a half minutes, he said. L.A. County switched from its previous emergency alert system to Genasys in fall, spending $321,000 for one year of the software, according to the countys agreement with the company. The county moved quickly to bring the new system online, raising questions about how much time officials allotted for debugging the software and training employees on the new technology. Sickler said he visited the county's emergency command center the week after the fire broke out and found its system for sending the requests very refined. I know there was some speculation about were the people trained? Were they familiar enough with the system? he said. They clearly had a process down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement L.A. County officials have told reporters that decisions on when and where to send evacuation alerts are made in coordination with the countys Office of Emergency Management, the Sheriffs Department and the county fire department. The county has hired an outside consulting firm, the McChrystal Group , to review how evacuation alerts were handled during the wildfires. Local members of Congress have also launched an investigation into why a faulty evacuation order meant for residents near the Kenneth fire was sent countywide Jan. 9, alarming residents already on edge who were miles away from any danger. Danforth said Tuesday that L.A. County officials correctly used the Genasys software to draw a polygon that would alert only residents near the fire, which sparked in West Hills. But the shape they drew with the software somehow disappeared after they configured the alert, and the system defaulted to sending it out countywide. He said that Genasys has issued a temporary fix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have never been able to duplicate that error in our software. Is it our software? I don't know, he said. In time, I'm sure we'll get to it. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A new telehealth service is expanding its efforts to Ohio, but its journey has been polarizing. Hey Jane, is a virtual clinic site offering reproductive care, medication-induced abortions and more. Supporters say that the clinic site increases access to safe and legal healthcare, opponents say that it puts women at risk. Hey Janes co-founder and CEO/CO, Kiki Freedman, said that the clinic is a leading provider of virtual healthcare, becoming the first virtual abortion clinic to accept insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Financial accessibility is a key part of our mission, and we feel that accepting insurance is an absolutely necessary part of that. So, we are able to accept many major insurance plans for our abortion care and for those other services, Freedman said. Through the virtual clinic, patients are able to fill out an online form to receive consultation from a provider. If the patient is eligible, they can have medications shipped discreetly to their address. Freedman explained the importance of the work. In a state where there are only 11 in-person abortion clinics right now, but also at a time when Ohio has really become a destination for care for people across surrounding state states like West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, who have some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not everyone sees it that way though. Ohio Right to Life, an anti-abortion organization, argues that telehealth abortion lacks proper medical oversight. The organization filed a complaint with the Ohio Department of Health as a result, saying that the service should be prohibited in Ohio. We have laws specifically on the book that require women to see an actual physician, a licensed doctor in the state of Ohio, prior to having an abortion, said Michael Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life. Why would any organizations such as Hagan or Planned Parenthood want to give less health and safety standards to women instead of more health and safety standards? That should alarm everybody, Gonidakis continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Becca Kendis, an attorney with the Reproductive Rights Law Initiative at Case Western University School of Law says that telemedicine abortions are legal in Ohio. Telemedicine abortion is legal in Ohio. There are laws that the Ohio Legislator has passed that attempt to restrict telemedicine abortion, said Kendis. Kendis said too that the restrictions are on hold at the moment, pending several lawsuits. Ohio Right to Life is confident that theirs will win out. We believe existing laws, rules and regulations are being violated, and its our responsibility to ensure that the millions of women in Ohio are safe and protected from reckless out-of-state websites like Hey Jane, Gonidakis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friedman says that comments like these are harmful to public information. We do feel its really important that we can provide accurate, truthful, up-to-date information to potential patients who should know telemedicine abortion is completely legal, unambiguously in the state of Ohio, Friedman said. The complaint for the Ohio Right to Life was sent two weeks ago. The state health department has not yet submitted a response. A spokesperson with the department did release a statement directly to 2 NEWS, stating the following: The Ohio Department of Health takes the allegations in the complaint seriously and believes they deserve a thorough review. The departments review remains underway at this time. Please note, it appears that at least some elements of the complaint fall outside the departments regulatory authority. However, in these cases, the department plans to share the complaint with the appropriate agencies. Spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Health. The department later issued a response to the Ohio Right to Life in a press release obtained by 2 NEWS. In the statement, the Ohio Department of Health said that their office has no enforcement authority for this specific complaint case from Ohio Right to Life against Hey Jane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They instead have referred the case to the State Medical Board of Ohio and the Ohio Attorney Generals Office. Ohio Revised Code Section 2919.124 is a criminal statute under which ODH is provided no enforcement authority. This matter would be more appropriately directed to the State Medical Board of Ohio and the Ohio Attorney Generals Office. ODH has shared Ohio Right to Lifes complaint with those offices for their review. While these matters are outside ODHs purview, we note that Ohio Revised Code Section 2919.124 has been enjoined by a judge in Hamilton County. The Ohio Department of Health. As far as the allegations against Hey Jane are concerned, which allege that they are not submitting abortion reports, a state law, ODH is monitoring the situation closely. ODH has been in communication with the company to remind them of this obligation under Ohio Revised Code Section 3701.79 and that failure to comply will result in legal action from the department, ODH said in the statement. ODH also said they appreciated Ohio Right to Lifes time and effort with the complaint. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) will host a waterway debris removal open house for the Greene County community on Thursday. The open house is designed to keep local communities informed and involved in the restoration of area waterways after Hurricane Helene swept through the region. Annual Niswonger Childrens Hospital Radiothon kicks off Thursday morning Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Progress, positive impact on local ecosystems and an explanation of how the ongoing project will ensure the health of Tennessees natural resources will be highlighted at the event. Community members are encouraged to attend the open house from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Greeneville Emergency and Rescue Squad (602 West Church Street). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Sen. Keith Kelley (R-Anniston) wants schools to put these commandments where students can see them. His bill would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in common areas of public schools. He said the display pays homage to our nations foundation. So, its a foundation of our society you shall not kill, just some of the basic things, said Kelley. In my mind, its a historical document thats helped shape our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That document would also have to be shown at public universities. A similar bill was passed in Louisiana last year, but its been blocked in federal court. Kelley said the Ten Commandments would encourage students. You would have less kids, maybe, looking at each other, looking down on each other, he said. I think you would have a better situation socially in schools. More acceptance of other people. But, Rev. Julie Conrady, president of the Interfaith Alliance of Central Alabama, said it violates the First Amendment. I think its just really important that we place this sacred text where it belongs as a position of faith, Conrady said. Not as something that the government or schools are dictating to students. Rev. Conrady said there are different interpretations of those commandments. All of the students in Alabama that are not Jewish or Christian, or adhering to that document in a more formal way, they are getting left out, she explained. And, it is expected upon them to have one religious tradition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Kelley said the purpose of the display goes well beyond religion. We hear of school shootings, we hear of all these things, and see all these things in our society, he said. And, I think refocusing on these simple rules we need to get back to basics. The bill was discussed today in a public hearing. Next, itll be taken up for a vote in committee. If enacted, the Ten Commandments would need to be displayed in schools by January 1st of 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. A controversial bill that would require Tennessee public schools to verify citizenship status of students and potentially block them from attendance cleared its first General Assembly hurdle by a narrow vote on Wednesday. Three Republicans joined the Senate Education Committee's single Democrat to vote against Senate Bill 836, though five Republicans voted for it and cleared its passage out of committee. Loud protests erupted as soon as the bill passed from a large crowd gathered in opposition to the bill. Several Republican senators immediately exited the committee room, temporarily shutting down the committee meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's trash. These are our kids, these are our kids," one man shouted before chanting "shame" toward the departing senators. Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, originally filed legislation last month that would allow allow public schools to deny enrollment to children without U.S. citizenship or legal residency. Students hold signs outside of an education committee meeting for SB 836 at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 5, 2025. On Wednesday, Watson significantly amended the bill. Under a new amendment, local public schools would be required to collect evidence of citizenship or legal residency status. If a school found a potential student who unlawfully resides in Tennessee, the school could charge those students tuition to attend or block them from attending if they don't pay. "This is not about denying an education to those students," Watson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the bill is a direct attempt to challenge a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that enshrined the requirement for American public schools to provide equal access to all children. The legislation would almost certainly be legally challenged if passed into law, and its GOP sponsors have said that is their explicit intent to potentially overturn the Supreme Court precedent. Watson argued the bill is necessary to help ease the financial burden of "English as a second language" instruction. Watson said the costs for ESL instruction have risen significantly in recent years, though he acknowledged that doesn't necessarily mean ESL students are not lawful residents. "Under the current system, we do not report the status of any of the students that we have," Watson said. "While most of the students may be properly documented, may be here legally, we don't know what that number is so we don't know what the cost is. We don't have that kind of information and data, and that's one thing we will see very quickly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents of the bill, including at least one Republican Senate chair, have pointed out that as Tennessee's tax structure is sales-tax based, even undocumented residents pay into the system that funds public schools. Phillip Lovell, an associate director at the national education organization All4Ed, argued the legislation could actually increase costs for local schools, which are currently not equipped to act as immigration officials when enrolling children. "This is saying that babies, you start school at 5 years old, that you do not deserve to be educated when your parents pay taxes," said Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis. "It is very emotional, because we're not talking about numbers. We're talking about people. We're talking about politics getting in the way of policy that impacts people." Ruby Aguilar, a Nashville native and local teacher, testified in opposition, calling the bill divisive and a distraction from Tennessee's "real issues with education." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I wish you could spend just one minute of your day with my students and gauge just a snippet of all the potential and possibility for the future of Tennessee," Aguilar said. In a rare narrow, bipartisan committee vote, Akbari was joined by Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin and Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield in voting no on the bill. The committee vote drew such a large crowd of opponents the committee opened up an overflow hearing room during the debate. After the vote, more than 100 protestors spilled into the hallway. "All kids deserve to learn," the crowd chanted. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee bill to document citizenship status of students advances As demand for long-term energy reliability solutions increases, Tennessee has emerged as a key player in the global energy economy. From electric vehicle manufacturing to new data centers, our state has become a hub for advanced energy technologies and investments and thats a good thing. The advanced energy sector is growing faster than the overall U.S. economy, according to the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Councils (TAEBC) 2024 Advanced Energy Economic Impact Report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advanced energy generates a staggering $370 billion in revenue each year in the United States. In Tennessee alone, this sector has generated over $55 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since 2019. This growth is not only fueling innovation but also creating high-quality, high-paying jobs across the state. Over the last reported decade, employment in Tennessees advanced energy sector has grown by nearly 30% compared to a 19% increase in total employment across all industries, according to TAEBC. Recent $140 million investment in Mt. Juliet shows commitment Advanced energy jobs now account for over 14% of all jobs in Tennessee. In Davidson County, there are more than 3,350 advanced energy companies that employ nearly 63,000 people. However, jobs in the advanced energy sector arent exclusive to residents of our larger metropolitan areas. The states advanced energy workforcespans all 95 counties, creating a network of skilled professionals and innovators driving this industry forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Auto manufacturers like Ford have noticed the tremendous benefits of investing in Tennessees advanced energy economy and workforce, but theyre not alone. For decades, Schneider Electric has had an impactful presence here. What began with two operations centers in Davidson and Rutherford counties has since expanded nearly tenfold. Last year alone, we announced an investment of $140 million into a new Mount Juliet hub alongside Gov. Bill Lee in March 2024 to strengthen our U.S. manufacturing capabilities and support critical infrastructure projects. Opinion: University of Tennessee plays critical role in developing the state's workforce Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our commitment to expand in Tennessee reinvests in the advanced energy workforce by creating over 1,900 jobs across our facilities in the state. Private and public sector must collaborate to secure a better future Our Nashville hub is now home to our sales development program, which attracts talent from across the country. We have also developed a range of training programs that train skilled workers in cutting-edge technology, further strengthening our Tennessee energy workforce. As a company, were proud to be part of Tennessees transformation into a leading U.S. energy innovation hub, and I am very proud to be contributing to such a thriving community. The advanced energy economy is an integral part of Tennessees economic future. To ensure this remains the case, we must collectively continue to foster workforce development, collaboration, education, and innovation to ensure that we remain a top destination for advanced energy jobs and technologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together, with continued support from state leaders, we can continue to build an energy future that works for everyone and leads the way in efficient, resilient, and optimized energy solutions.Angela Chan is Schneider Electrics head of operations transformation and culture, operational excellence and AI North America. Schneider Electric is a global energy company that helps businesses realize their energy efficiency and sustainability goals. Chan also serves on the board for the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee energy investments benefit companies and residents | Opinion Gov. Bill Lee has banned two Chinese artificial intelligence applications from Tennessee's state network, citing "serious threats" to data privacy. Lee announced on Thursday the AI tools DeepSeek and Manus will be blocked from state computers and devices as Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued a wider consumer warning about AI products "controlled by or accessible to the Chinese Communist Party." As artificial intelligence platforms emerge and this technology landscape evolves, there is growing concern regarding data protection and the threat of influence from foreign adversaries," Lee said in a statement. Tennessee has taken consistent action to mitigate risk from platforms with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, including TikTok, and banning Manus and DeepSeek on state devices will further reduce security risks to Tennesseans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeepSeek caused huge waves in the tech market earlier this year when the Chinese start-up claimed its generative AI product can compete with similar tools like ChatGPT at much lower costs. It quickly became the most downloaded app in the U.S. for its AI assistant feature. Manus launched just this week. The Associated Press last month reported DeepSeek's website contains computer code that could transfer some U.S. user information to China Mobile, a communications company that has been banned from operating in the U.S. DeepSeek creates real risk for both our country and our consumers, Skrmetti said in a statement.The Tennessee state government has banned the use of DeepSeek on state phones and computers. Any private citizen thinking of using DeepSeek needs to be sure they understand the ramifications for their privacy and their security. Lee previously blocked TikTok from state devices, citing similar security concerns. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: DeepSeek: Gov. Bill Lee blocks AI tool from Tennessee networks State lawmakers have given final approval to a bill requiring all Tennessee school districts ban the use of cell phones, laptops, smart watches and other devices during instructional time. It now goes to Gov. Bill Lee's desk. State Senators approved House Bill 932 in a bipartisan vote of 30 to 0 with one member voting present on Thursday morning. It passed the House overwhelmingly on Monday. While many districts already have phone and device policies in place, Tennessee is one of several states considering similar statewide bans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The bill aims to minimize classroom distractions and internet bullying on our school campuses," said sponsor Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin. The bill would require each school district to develop and implement policies restricting the use of any wireless communication devices during instructional time. A student locks her cellphone in a Yondr pouch as she enters KIPP Nashville Collegiate High School in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. The school uses Yondr pouches for students to lock up their phones during school hours. Policy specifics would be up to the discretion of local school boards. Districts could adopt policies requiring students to stop device use at the beginning of the school day bell to bell or adopt restrictions on their use during classroom time only. Districts are required to allow students to access and use devices in emergency situations so they can contact their parents. The bill also requires districts to make exceptions for students with disabilities and special learning needs. Sen. Raumesh Akbari D- Memphis raises her hand to speak during the third day of special session at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. If signed into law, the measure would take effect on July 1, and apply statewide beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During discussion on the Senate floor, members of both parties thanked Haile for the legislation. "When I was in high school, we had to leave our cell phones in the car," said Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis. "I think this goes a long way to make sure that kids are focusing in school. I cannot see what sort of benefit it would be for a child to text or be on the internet during class. Even when I was in law school my first semester, our teacher banned the use of laptops and we were grown because she felt like we would get distracted." Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee school cell phone ban: Lawmakers give final approval Protesters against a bill that would allow public schools to deny education to some immigrant children stand outside a Senate committee meeting in March. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Tennessee lawmakers on Wednesday voted to advance a bill that would require public K-12 and charter schools to verify student immigration status and allow them to bar children who cannot prove they lawfully reside in the United States unless they pay tuition. The 5-4 vote by the Senate Education Committee came despite the Legislatures own fiscal analysis, which said the proposed legislation may jeopardize federal funding to the state and to local governments and violate the federal Civil Rights Act, which specifically prohibits discrimination based on national origin in programs receiving federal dollars. Three Republicans joined the committees sole Democrat in voting no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immediately after the vote was cast, shouts of so shameful and thats trash erupted inside the hearing room. Others, including school-age children in attendance, streamed out of the room in tears. The bill (HB793/SB836) by Sen. Bo Watson, a Hixson Republican, and House Majority Leader William Lamberth, a Portland Republican, says that local school districts and public charter schools shall require students to provide one of three forms of documentation: proof of U.S. citizenship, proof the student is in the process of obtaining citizenship or proof they have legal immigration status or a visa. Students who lack one of the three forms of documentation could then be barred by their local school district from enrolling unless their parents paid tuition. Watson, the bills sponsor, said he brought the measure in response to the increasing cost to the state of providing English-as-a-second-language instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remember, we are not talking about people who are here lawfully, Watson said. What Im trying to discuss here is the financial burden that exists with what appears to be an increasing number of people who are not lawfully here. In response to a question from Sen. Raumesh Akbari of Memphis, the sole Democrat on the panel, Watson said he had received no formal request from any school official to introduce the measure. In an official capacity, this is one of those issues people do not talk about, Watson said. This is a very difficult bill to present. It is very difficult to have all these eyes on you. In an unofficial capacity at numerous events, have people mentioned this problem to me? Absolutely, Watson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Akbari responded: Im from the largest school district in the state. I have not had those conversations. I am offended by this legislation, Akbari said. I find that it is so antithetical to the very foundation of this country.This is saying that babies you start school at five years old that you do not deserve to be educated. Protesters against a bill that would allow public schools to deny education to some immigrant children stand outside a Senate committee meeting in March. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Steisy Vasquez, 20 Photographs by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Bo Watson, a North Chattanooga Republican. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout Photographs by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout 2025 The bills sponsors have acknowledged the measure is likely to face a legal challenge if enacted. The proposed legislation, they have said, is intended to serve as a vehicle to potentially overturn the Supreme Courts Plyler v. Doe decision, which established a constitutional right to a public school education for all children. The 1982 decision was decided by a 5-4 vote, Watson noted. Many 5-4 decisions taken to the court today might have a different outcome, Watson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed legislation is part of an unprecedented slate of immigration-related bills introduced in the Tennessee legislature this year as Gov. Bill Lee and the General Assemblys GOP supermajority seek to align with the Trump Administrations immigration policies. Lee last month signed into law legislation to create a state immigration enforcement office to liaise with the Trump administration, create distinct drivers licenses for noncitizens and levy felony charges at local elected officials who vote in favor of sanctuary policies. I find that it is so antithetical to the very foundation of this country.This is saying that babies you start school at five years old that you do not deserve to be educated. Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis Among nearly three dozen other immigration-related bills still being considered is one to require hospitals that accept Medicaid payments to report on the immigration status of their patients. Another bill would open up charitable organizations, including churches, to lawsuits if they have provided housing services to an individual without permanent legal immigration status and that individual goes on to commit a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following Wednesdays hearing in the Senate Education Committee, hundreds congregated in a hallway of the Legislature, chanting education for all and pledged to return as the bill winds through the committee process. The bill instills fear and hopelessness in these students, said Ruby Aguilar, a Nashville teacher who testified against the bill during the hearing. Education is not merely a privilege, it is a shared human right every child should have access to. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On Wednesday afternoon, the Tennessee Senate Education Committee advanced a bill that could potentially impact the education of children who are part of undocumented families. Senate Bill 836 passed through the committee on a narrow 5-4 vote, pushing the potential bill to the Tennessee Senate floor for another vote. The bill includes language that could deny public education for children who are undocumented or who cannot prove their citizenship or legal residence in the U.S. If they cannot prove their legal status, the bill allows districts to charge the students tuition and if they can't pay "tuition in full" deny enrollment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, introduced the bill amenment, declaring it was about funding, not keeping undocumented children out of Tennessee schools. "This is not about denying an education to those students," Watson said on Wednesday. Opponents to the bill filled the committee chambers and could be heard chanting "all kids deserve to learn" during the proceedings. Here's what the measure entails and what comes next. What does the Education Department do? What to know amid Trump push to dismantle it and its impact in Tennessee What is in the bill introduced to exclude undocumented children from Tennessee public schools? The immediate language of the bill states: "Local Education Agencies - As introduced, authorizes LEAs (public schools) and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States," according to the Tennessee legislature website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watson presented amendments to the bill on Wednesday night. Which include: Local public schools would be required to collect evidence of citizenship or legal residency status. If a potential student was not a citizen or doesn't have legal residency in Tennessee, the school could charge them tuition to attend or block them entirely from attending if they don't pay. Opponents of the bill pointed out that since Tennessee has a sales-tax and not an income state tax, even undocumented residents pay into the system that funds public schools. "This is saying that babies, you start school at 5 years old, that you do not deserve to be educated when your parents pay taxes," said Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis. "It is very emotional, because we're not talking about numbers. We're talking about people. We're talking about politics getting in the way of policy that impacts people." Watson focuses on cost of English as a Second Language program Watson stated Wednesday that the state's English as a Second Language program had become costly, stating the bill would help to curb some of the cost of the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Under the current system, we do not report the status of any of the students that we have," Watson said. "While most of the students may be properly documented, may be here legally, we don't know what that number is, so we don't know what the cost is. We don't have that kind of information and data, and that's one thing we will see very quickly." He did acknowledge that it doesn't necessarily mean ESL students are not lawful residents. What is Plyler v. Doe? And what does it have to do with the Tennessee law? If Tennessee were to pass the bill and Gov. Bill Lee signed it into law, it would set up a challenge to the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe. The case stated states could not deny public education to undocumented children. The case was based off a lawsuit in Texas against the state for a law that "prohibited the use of state funds for the education of children who had not been legally admitted to the U.S," according to law website Justia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state argued that "the law was intended to prevent an influx of illegal immigrants into Texas, to alleviate the burdens on the educational system caused by educating undocumented aliens, and to alleviate the burdens created by educating children who are unlikely to remain in the state and contribute to it." The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff. If Tennessee legislatures were to pass the proposed bill and it was signed into law, it will most likely be met with legal challenges. GOP sponsors have stated it's their explicit intent to potentially overturn the precedent, according to previous reports by The Tennessean. Who voted in favor, against SB 836 on Wednesday? There were nine members at the Senate Committee on Education vote, including eight Republicans and one Democrat. Three Republicans sided with the lone Democrat on the committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's who voted against it: Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield Committee members who voted in favor of the bill: Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City Sen. Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun Sen. Bill Powers, R-Clarksville Who is my state representative? How do I contact them? Not sure who represents you in the Tennessee legislature? The Tennessee General Assembly has district maps for both Senate and House of Representatives seats for the entire state. People can also look up who their representatives are in Tennessee with their addresses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can find your representative at Find My Legislator - TN General Assembly and at wapp.capitol.tn.gov/. Once you find who represents you in the Tennessee legislature, you can click the name and it will take you to a profile page where you can send them an email and find a phone number for them as well. Melissa Brown with The Tennessean contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee students' immigration status could face scrutiny under bill NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Tennessee tattoo artists could soon be trained to recognize and report human trafficking, making Tennessee the first state to require such training for tattoo professionals. The Ink of Hope act, prompted by a survey showing 47% of survivors had forced branding tattoos, would mandate a one-hour training for tattoo artists and shop owners. You are helping people with painful parts of their life, [and] super happy parts of their life, said Tayler Wooten, a tattoo artist at Kind Tattoo Parlor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Ink of Hope Act passes Tennessee General Assembly With needles and listening ears, tattoo artists in Tennessee will soon be on the front lines fighting against human trafficking. This will also help to address some of those situations where the sex traffickers actually tattoo their victims so they can keep up with them? asked Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D- Memphis) during a February House Commerce Committee meeting. That is true, replied Rep. Mary Littleton (R-Dickson). That is the purpose of the bill because they do that. The measure passed the House of Representatives on Monday, March 3, following passage in the Senate on Feb. 20. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anything that we can do to impede that scourge from our boundaries, our borders is greatly appreciated, said Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R- Collierville). Tennessee bill to make impersonating rideshare, taxi drivers a crime gains bipartisan support Wooten told News 2 that tattoo artists are in a unique position to help. I think every artist, everybody in the shop, should be able to know when something is not right, know how to handle it, with or without a law being passed, he expressed. But the bill also includes protection for artists, so they are not held responsible by the state or courts for their decision to report or not report human trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once signed into law, tattoo artists will have until January 1, 2026, to complete the training. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Stay close to people who care about you, Wooten encouraged. Dont be afraid to ask for help. You know, people dont ask for help because they are afraid of the consequences or they are afraid, or they are afraid of people judging them or not believing them. Ask questions, ask for help, no matter what. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, you can call the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-800-558-6484. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Terre Haute firefighters responded to a residential structure fire at 1927 Eighth Ave. Tuesday evening. No one was injured, but residents cannot stay in the home because of fire and smoke damage. Units were dispatched about 7 p.m. and found smoke upon arrival. The home was occupied and utilities were on. Red Cross was contacted for three adults. The investigation was ruled incendiary (intentionally set) and turned over to the Terre Haute Police Department, according to fire officials. AUSTIN (Nexstar) A spokesperson for the Governors Office confirmed Texas agencies will follow the lead from the federal government to end hybrid work schedules where possible and bring workers back into the office full-time. Multiple people have reached out to Nexstar asking if Gov. Greg Abbott is mandating state agencies to end hybrid work schedules for state employees. Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for the Governors Office, sent this statement to Nexstar: State agencies have been in office, and any remote work policies must ensure taxpayer dollars are being utilized efficiently. Texans expect their public servants to be present and engaged in the work on their behalf. With remote federal workers returning to the office where possible, its important that state agencies ensure they do the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House sent out an official memo on January 20 stating, Heads of all departments and agencies in the executive branch of Government shall, as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary. The Legislative Budget Board released a report for each agency in October detailing the remote policy each agency has and whether or not it has created any impact. What are agencies saying? During the first ever DOGE committee hearing in the House of Representatives this week, Brian Guthrie, the executive director of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, answered questions relating to remote work at his agency. Rep. Daniel Alders, a Republican from Tyler, asked Guthrie about the employees who work from home. Do you imagine if those employees were not working from home, but were in the office, that you could operate more efficiently, Alders asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have not seen a dip in operating efficiency with having those employees have a day or two being able to work from home, but we recognize that that the trend is to return to the office, Guthrie said. He went on to say he would make employees come back on one exception based off of what they learned from remote work following Covid. We learned that it was much more efficient to actually deliver telephone counseling services from home. Sure. We also found that we could employ statewide for telephone counselors. Finding them in Austin is nearly impossible, given the marketplace, but if you being able to offer that to individuals outside of the Austin area has been tremendously beneficial for us, and thats why we have the customer service levels that we do, Guthrie said. He went on to say if he was told to bring employees back to the office five days a week he would do so with open arms, but he would like to have his telephone counselors stay at home. Between 200 and 300 people are telephone counselors at TRS, according to Guthrie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alders then asked if Guthrie had a plan to bring people back five days a week. Guthrie responded saying it was an easing-in process, but said it would not be hard to implement as some employees do not take advantage of working from home on certain days. I think that we are reaching a point where being able to pull the plug on that, if you will, would not be as problematic as it perhaps two even two years ago, Guthrie explained. Nexstar is reaching out to every state agency to confirm which hybrid policies will be ending, or if the agency has already sent out messaging to its employees. You can check back here throughout the day as we update our story. Here is a list of the agencies we have reached out to: Legislative Budget Board A spokesperson with the agency said, No guidance has recently been provided to our staff regarding telework policies. All of our employees are currently required to work full-time in office. Sunset Advisory Commission Waiting to hear back from the agency. State Bar of Texas Waiting to hear back from the agency. Attorney General Waiting to hear back from the agency. Comptroller of Public Accounts Waiting to hear back from the agency. General Land Office Waiting to hear back from the agency. Secretary of State Waiting to hear back from the agency. State Auditor Waiting to hear back from the agency. Department of Information Resources Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Lottery Commission Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Military Department Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Veterans Commission Waiting to hear back from the agency. Department of Public Safety Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Department of Insurance Waiting to hear back from the agency. Railroad Commission of Texas A representative with the Railroad Commission said, We have not sent anything to employees. The agency currently has a telework program. Public Utility Commission of Texas Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Medical Board We have not heard back from an official spokesperson of the TMB, but an employee did anonymously share an internal email from executive director Brint Carlton. The employee said two weeks ago employees were told productivity was so good and goals were being exceeded, there were no plans to go back to the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The email from Carlton on Wednesday signaled a change is coming. The email reads, We know some of you have heard from other agencies that changes to telework policies are coming. We have heard this as well, but have not yet received official guidance. As of today, there are no changes at TMB. We will update you when we have more information. The email continues, In the meantime, we all might want to think through different scenarios, needs, or plans if changes are made. We understand such changes will be challenging for some staff. We will do our best to provide as much support as we can. Health and Human Services Commission An employee with Health and Human Services shared an email sent to staff on Thursday directing all supervisors to ensure offices and leased spaces are fully occupied by March 31. The employee said Yesterday, during our new mandatory in office day all teams in the division were sent a meeting invite with little to no notice. During these meetings we were all informed that the governor issued orders to return to office and it was just confirmed for leadership the previous night at 9pm. Leadership seemed unable to answer any questions that were raised by staff and cited the orders vague wording and a multitude of logistics uncertainties. Email from Texas Health and Human Services Executive Director Cecile Erwin Young to employees detailing the departments return to the office policy. A spokesperson with the agency sent the exact same email to Nexstar. Department of State Health Services A representative with the Department of State Health Services sent an bulletin from the departments Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford, confirming they have received the legislature and state leadership would like state agency employees who telework to return to state offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the change might not be immediate. We also know that things like space constraints need to be taken into consideration. So in the coming days and weeks, we will need to determine what a practical DSHS return-to-office plan might look like, Shuford wrote. In the meantime, I ask you to please keeping doing the excellent work youre doing. Update from the Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford detailing the departments return-to-work directive. Department of Agriculture Waiting to hear back from the agency. Teacher Retirement System of Texas Waiting to hear back from agency. Texas Division of Emergency Management Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas A&M Forest Service Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Water Development Board Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Commission on Environment Quality An employee with the agency anonymously shared an email that was sent to TCEQ workers from executive director Kelly Keel. The email said, TCEQ will transition to a return to office posture over the next several months. Texas Department of Transportation Waiting to hear back from the agency. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles A spokesperson with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed they are working to return staff to the office after a verbal notification from the Office of the Governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email sent to employees Wednesday morning, Executive Director Daniel Avitia told employees, I realize we are temporarily restricted in the space available at regional offices, and both space and parking availability at the Austin headquarters with construction of new facilities underway. Because of these restrictions and operational considerations, we plan to be strategic with how we return to our available office environments. We do plan to continue leveraging telework options in some form and will be reviewing other flexible schedule options where appropriate. Email sent from Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Executive Director Daniel Avitia detailing the agencys return to office policy. Texas Department of Criminal Justice A spokesperson for the agency said, TDCJ is reviewing its remote work policy. It is worth noting, however, because of the nature of our work (correctional officers, support staff for the units), the majority of TDCJs workforce does not work remotely. Texas Education Agency Waiting to hear back from the agency. Parks and Wildlife Department A spokesperson for the agency said, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is currently reviewing and revising our telework plan and will communicate with TPWD employees in timely manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A Texas migrant processing facility is due to close after U.S.-Mexico border arrests hit a two-decade low, a source says. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to shut the doors of Firefly, a temporary facility in Eagle Pass, designed to quickly process migrants in Border Patrol custody, a source told the New York Post. The processing facility was opened during the Biden administration in July 2022 to provide additional capacity for the Border Patrols Del Rio Sector. The 153,000-square-foot, air-conditioned complex has a 1,000-person capacity and replaced a smaller structure opened in Eagle Pass the year prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigrants are held at the facility which is not a detention center before being passed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homeland Security sources told The Post that other temporary holding facilities are expected to close, though a timeframe was not given. They were always supposed to be temporary, a CBP source added. That temporary solution became four years. However, similar facilities in El Paso and San Diego are due to remain open, sources told NewsNation Wednesday. Migrants wait to climb over concertina wire after they crossed the Rio Grande and entered the U.S. from Mexico in September 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard took an aerial tour of the border by helicopter on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their trip was intended to promote Donald Trumps immigration crackdown and highlight tougher immigration policies, which the White House says have directly led to fewer illegal crossings at the southern border since the presidents inauguration six weeks ago. Roughly 8,300 people were apprehended last month during Trumps first full month in office, according to the presidents announcement on TruthSocial over the weekend. That would put crossings at its lowest level since 2000. The Invasion of our Country is OVER," Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday. His claims were corroborated by preliminary government data obtained by multiple news outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Border Patrol made 21,593 arrests during January, down from 47,316 in December, with the White House praising the Trump Effect. Arrests have been falling sharply since well before Trump returned to office from an all-time high of 250,000 in December 2023. While Firefly is due to be close, an operations base for up to 1,800 National Guard members is being built in Eagle Pass, expanding the presence of soldiers in the city to allow military department personnel to operate more effectively and efficiently, Governor Greg Abbott announced last month. The Pentagon is additionally sending another 2,500 to 3,000 troops to the southern border as the Trump administration continues to ramp up its immigration crackdown. The Independent has contacted the CBP for more information. The House has voted to censure Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green for his repeated interruptions of President Donald Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. The 77-year-old Green shook his cane at Trump as he shouted that the president had no mandate to cut Medicaid. After being told twice by Speaker Mike Johnson to sit down or be ejected, Green was escorted from the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms as Republicans cheered. Greens actions also rejected the guidance issued by Democratic leaders, who had told their members to attend Trumps speech without disruptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House voted to censure Green by a vote of 224 to 198. Ten Democrats voted with Republicans to censure the Texas Democrat. Two members voted present, including Green himself. Plenty of Democrats including Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who faced a censure for her comments on Israel and Gaza last Congress, went up to Green and hugged him afterward. After Green exited the floor, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who famously shouted you lie during Barack Obamas joint address to Congress, roamed around the floor and chatted with other Republicans. Trump attacked Green in comments to Fox News Digital on Thursday, saying that he should be forced to pass an IQ test because he is a low IQ individual and we dont need low IQ individuals in Congress. He should be censured, the president added, referring to Green as a fool and a clown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody takes him seriously, said Trump. He is an embarrassment to Congress but a much bigger embarrassment to the Democrats. Green is a longtime Democratic congressman from the Houston, Texas, area and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. During Trumps first term, he pushed for the presidents impeachment. After Trumps speech, multiple factions of the House GOP immediately pushed to censure Green, including Texas Republicans and the House Freedom Caucus. Green's censure comes as Democrats remain divided on how to express their dissatisfaction with Trump. Five months after Trump won re-election and Republicans won back the Senate and held the House, Democratic advocacy groups are pushing for their party's elected officials to put forward a more robust opposition to Trump. Democrat Al Green repeatedly interrupted Donald Trumps speech to Congress on Tuesday night, before being escorted from the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms (EPA) During Trump's joint address, other Democratic elected officials expressed their dissatisfaction in other ways. Reps. Maxwell Frost of Florida, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Maxine Dexter and Andrea Salinas of Oregon, all walked out of Trump's address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congresswoman Sarah McBride of Delaware told The Independent that the Republicans would rather talk about decorum rather than the fact that theyre trying to gut health care for one in two kids in this country. Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari added that We demonstrated a very strong opposition. The fact that you saw Democrats from every spectrum, every type of district, sit and listen to the president silently and disregard the lies that he was telling shows a very strong condemnation, of course, we chose to react in slightly different ways. Elected to the House in 2004 to represent the Ninth Congressional District, Greens website describes him as a veteran civil rights advocate and his page on X shows a video of him being detained outside the Capitol in August 2021. He used the hashtags #GoodTrouble and #NecessaryTrouble in reference to the late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis, who died in 2020. Green was also detained in 2012 alongside actor George Clooney as well as other lawmakers outside Sudans embassy in Washington as they protested against the countrys then-president during a civil war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green anticipated that his actions could lead to a congressional censure. On Wednesday, he acknowledged that he will suffer the consequences. What I did was from my heart. People are suffering. And I was talking about Medicaid. I didnt just say you dont have a mandate. I said you dont have a mandate to cut Medicaid, he added. Last night I stood up for those who need Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Democrats will never abandon the fight to make sure every American has a safe, healthy, and financially secure life. #ISaidWhatISaid, he wrote on X on Wednesday night. Just after 7 a.m. on Thursday morning, Greens account stated: During the 10:00 hour ET, Congressman Al Green will be censured this morning for standing up to President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born in New Orleans, Green focused his activism on civil rights, voting rights, and battling poverty. Going against Democratic leadership, Green was the first lawmaker to put forward articles of impeachment against Trump during his first term. Green subsequently voted in favor of Trumps 2019 and 2021 impeachments. His website states that he attended Florida A&M University, Howard University, and the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama but never received an undergraduate diploma. He subsequently earned a doctorate in 1973 from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston before opening a law firm. In addition to the Congressional Black Caucus, Green is also a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and he held a leadership position in the NAACP for about a decade. Four years ago, after all electricity sources struggled to keep Texans lights on during Winter Storm Uri, the states top Republican leaders singled out solar and wind energy for scorn as they worked to goose natural gas-powered generation. After decades of growth in solar and wind put Texas among the nations top producers of renewable energy, the states leaders turned against renewables as they began to compete more fiercely with coal and gas-fueled power. At the same time, anti-renewables rhetoric swelled nationally as well as part of a broader fight over combating climate change which climate scientists say has led to more severe weather in Texas and increased risks to life and property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with this years legislative session underway, the political tides around energy are quietly turning in the countrys biggest oil and gas state. Texas faces a massive surge in demand for electricity due to an increase of large users like crypto mining facilities, in addition to population growth and more extreme weather. And policymakers are recognizing that in order to meet that demand, the state will need all the generation it can get from every source. Here in Texas, we believe in an all-of-the-above energy approach, Gov. Greg Abbott said in December, touting Texas as the fourth-largest oil producer in the world and the leading state for wind and large-scale solar generation. We will increase capacity of our grid to ensure that every Texan has affordable, reliable power and unleash the full potential of Texas nuclear industry. And we will produce enough energy power on the grid to make sure that every home, every business and every location is going to have access to the power they need. The recent expansion of renewable energy in Texas has helped stave off crises since the grid came close to catastrophic collapse in February 2021 when Uri plunged millions of Texans into darkness and left hundreds of people dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas increased its energy supply by 35% over the last four years, Abbott said in his State of the State address in February. A whopping 92% of that new supply, according to energy consultant Doug Lewin, came from solar, wind and battery storage. Texas added more battery storage capacity than any other state last year, and, excluding California, now has more battery capacity than the rest of the country combined. The state installed around 9,700 megawatts of new solar generation last year and 1,735 megawatts of wind power, according to a January report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Solar power and battery storage set records last summer, providing nearly 25% of electricity needs in the middle of the day, according to the Dallas Feds report. Texas also added 3,410 megawatts of gas-fueled power last year after losing 2,172 megawatts in 2023. The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, the states main grid operator, estimates that 1 megawatt of electricity can power around 250 homes. These additions meant that ERCOT didnt have to issue a single emergency alert last year during the sixth-hottest summer on record in Texas. In 2023, during the states second-hottest summer, ERCOT issued 11 alerts asking Texans to conserve energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grid also made it through several cold snaps this winter with plenty of supply on hand though experts warn that solar plays a smaller role in meeting peak demand during the winter. Weatherization requirements the Public Utility Commission imposed on power plants after Winter Storm Uri also contributed to greater resiliency on the grid. On top of increased reliability, renewable energy resources saved Texas power consumers around $11 billion in the last two years, according to a report by IdeaSmiths LLC, an energy analytics firm, that was funded by pro-renewables trade groups. These resources materially contribute to having enough power on the system and also being able to do it most affordably, said Bryn Baker, senior director of policy innovation at the Texas Energy Buyers Alliance. Being able to maintain the ability for all resources to play in the market is critical for Texas to maintain its energy leadership, as well as economic leadership. Energy demand expected to soar Despite those gains, ERCOT predicts that Texas energy demand will nearly double by 2030, with power supply projected to fall short of peak demand in a worst-case scenario beginning in summer 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That surge in demand is being driven by population demand, more extreme heat and cold, and an influx of large power users, such as crypto mining facilities, artificial intelligence-related data centers and electrifying oil and gas field operations. State lawmakers have looked to boost natural gas-fueled generation in 2023 they established the $5 billion Texas Energy Fund, which offers low-interest taxpayer funded loans to incentivize construction of new gas-powered plants. But those plants take years to build. New advanced nuclear technology at scale is also years away, even as the states top leaders throw their support behind the burgeoning industry. As a result, experts warned, Texas cant afford to block any forms of generation, including renewables. Were going to need every megawatt that we can get, from every generation resource that we can get, Michael Jewell, an energy attorney and expert, said. Legislative proposals that would discourage the continued development of every resource thats anti-energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renewable energy advocates hope that message is getting through to lawmakers as they grapple with how to meet soaring demand this legislative session. They emphasize that they are not against gas-fueled generation, and that Texas needs a mix of resources to grow its grid. I think, and I hope, and I pray that the conversation has changed, said Matthew Boms, executive director of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance. With those kind of numbers, the whole conversation changes from, What should the mix look like? to a different conversation, which is how were going to meet all of this load growth. Renewable energy projects benefit lawmakers districts Renewables proponents also point to the millions of dollars in tax revenue that solar, wind and battery storage projects funnel into local school districts and communities many of them in the districts of key lawmakers. In House Speaker Dustin Burrows district which includes parts of Lubbock and its surrounding counties existing solar, wind and storage projects are projected to pay around $94 million in local tax revenues over their lifetimes, according to the IdeaSmiths report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district of Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown and chair of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, is poised to see $499 million in local tax revenues from existing solar and storage projects. And Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo and chair of the House Energy Resources Committee, represents a district expected to see $293 million in local tax revenues from renewable energy. Those dynamics demand growth, the role of renewables and storage on the grid and the economic impacts of the industry suggest that the Legislature may be less inclined to clamp down on solar and wind this year as lawmakers have tried to do in previous sessions. We are actively exploring and promoting advanced technology, including small modular nuclear reactors, larger duration battery storage and geothermal energy, Schwertner said at the ERCOT Market Summit last month. These technologies and others offer unique advantages in providing stable, dispatchable power, and Texas is committed to leading in their deployment. Anti-renewables bills resurface Still, anti-renewables sentiment has not gone away in the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres certainly ideological opposition. Its very serious, Lewin said. The Legislature walked right up to the edge of really kneecapping the renewable industry last session. Im sure those discussions will be weighty this session but I hope not. Lawmakers have filed a number of bills that would restrict the development of renewable energy or favor natural gas generation in the energy market. For example, a proposal by state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham and co-sponsored by state Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, the vice chair of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee aims to reduce the impact of wind and solar projects on residential neighbors and the local environment by imposing strict permitting and siting requirements and restricting tax abatements for those projects. The bill, Senate Bill 819, would not apply those standards to other energy facilities, such as natural gas or coal plants. A near-identical bill passed the Senate in 2023 but failed to advance in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renewables advocates warned that the bill would sharply curtail new wind and solar development, unduly interfere with the energy market and step on the private property rights of landowners to lease their land out for energy projects. Senate Bill 388, filed by King, aims to offset the impact of federal incentives to build wind and solar projects by requiring 50% of new generation to be dispatchable namely, natural gas and coal. Dispatchable generation can be turned on at any point and does not rely on intermittent resources like sun and wind. Lawmakers have emphasized a need for dispatchable resources to offer greater reliability when grid conditions are tight. But at least one lawmaker, in addition to industry trade groups, expressed skepticism at a Senate Business and Commerce Committee hearing Tuesday that the bill would effectively boost natural gas and increase reliability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill represents a heavy-handed, prescriptive recipe for what the market should build, Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, said, cutting off the investment and innovation that the private sector can bring to this market. Mark Stover, executive director of the Texas Solar + Storage Association, testified to the committee that the bill would have a destabilizing effect on the energy market. While the bill may seem straightforward, Stover said, we believe it could produce unintended consequences that could actually increase costs on consumers and undermine reliability. Other legislative proposals would specifically tax renewable energy projects and bar offshore wind facilities from connecting to the grid. Lawmakers aim to boost grids growth Beyond legislation related to the type of energy on the grid, lawmakers are more broadly focused on how to meet demand growth. Senate Bill 6 a priority bill of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate and wields enormous power over which legislation is approved aims to firm up the states energy demand forecast, more fairly allocate the costs of building out necessary transmission infrastructure and ensure that existing generation is not removed from the grid to serve large industrial users. House Bill 2678 looks to support the development of advanced nuclear technology in the state, in line with Abbotts and Patricks priorities. Lawmakers have also proposed measures to increase consumer protections, including by tightening oversight of third-party solar panel sellers, re-establishing a low-income electricity bill assistance fund and requiring that new battery storage projects have safe removal and disposal plans at the end of their lives. As the clock ticks on the remaining months of session, Lewin said, lawmakers will have to decide whether they want to focus on pushing down, or building up, certain resources. There's only 140 days you dont really have enough time to do both, he said. Building up a nuclear industry in Texas will take a lot of good legislative thinking and focus and attention. I hope that they focus on stuff like that and not on punching down at renewables. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. A bill filed in the Texas House co-authored by a majority of the chamber is aiming to restrict the use of bathrooms by transgender people in public spaces and may potentially go further than previous iterations of similar bills to outline restrictions and penalties. House Bill 239 would mandate that family violence shelters, prisons and bathrooms and locker rooms of state and county buildings are segregated by state definitions of sex, and create fines for those who violate the bills provisions. HB 239 does allow for single-person and family restrooms, and creates exemptions for children under 10 and those who may need assistance using facilities, likey the elderly. The bill comes as some Texas lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have become increasingly vocal about bathrooms being used in the state Capitol by transgender people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 239 echoes 2017s Senate Bill 6 a focal point in the Legislature before withering support killed it in a special session but differs from the 8-year-old counterpart on several fronts. The 2025 bill follows SB 6s restrictions on bathrooms applying to state and county-owned facilities like the Texas Capitol, public schools or agency buildings. The bill would also extend to public universities. HB 239, however, is more detailed, crafting its own definition of biological sex, increasing proposed penalties and attempting to insulate itself from potential litigation or constitutional challenges. HB 239s definition of biological sex is similar to SB 6, yet goes further to clarify the states recognition would solely come from a persons original birth certificate. The new language would ignore updated birth certificate markings for trans people who legally amended their documentation. The bill also proposes an increased financial penalty for those who violate its provisions, with a $5,000 civil fine for the first offense, compared to a $1,500 penalty proposed by its 2017 counterpart. A second violation under HB 239 would increase the fine to $25,000. The increased penalties were what Cathryn Oakley, senior director at the Human Rights Campaign, said stood out the most in HB 239. Oakley began working in Texas with the center in 2017 to rally against SB 6, and has been working alongside and against lawmakers since to combat anti-trans legislation. While the bill does introduce some new provisions like restricting prisons in the state from accepting trans inmates which a Senate bill this session is also seeking to prohibit Oakley said the ideas behind it are far from new. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we're seeing is that there's not a ton of creativity going on, Oakley said. These bills are introduced in other states, as well, and it's interesting to me to see sort of where the trends are. HB 239 also has provisions that aim to bar state courts from certifying any writs or injunctions labeling the proposed law as unconstitutional, and that would grant sovereign immunity to the state and its employees for enforcing it. While SB 6 had a clause prohibiting lawsuits from being filed by public entities against it, it explicitly waived sovereign immunity which makes people ineligible to sue and did not block suits over the bills constitutionality. But public sentiment over bathroom laws also differs now than they did almost eight years ago, as lawmakers and advocates nationally have gradually found footing for restrictions on a myriad of issues aimed at transgender Americans. In October, the Odessa City Council passed an ordinance limiting individuals from entering public bathrooms meant for the opposite sex, and the U.S. Congress passed a similar ban for the nations Capitol in November. Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, filed HB 239 in November. It duplicates two earlier bills: one filed by another House representative in January, and another filed in the Senate. Swanson is joined by 77 co-authors on the bill, who signed on in late February when the bill was referred to committee. All are Republicans save one: Rep. Sergio Munoz, an eight-term Democrat from Mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the majority in the House signing on to the bill, the 77 members may not be completely indicative of its chances of success. As SB 6 went through the Senate in 2017, former House Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, filed House Bill 2899, which failed to leave its committee despite its 79 co-authors during the regular session. Simmons later reintroduced the bill as House Bill 46 during that years special session, but the new version garnered only 60 authors before also failing. While Swanson was a co-author on both HB 2899 and HB 46, Munoz was not on either. Neither Swanson nor Munoz could be reached for comment. HB 239 was referred to the House Committee on State Affairs and currently is not scheduled for a hearing. Disclosure: Human Rights Campaign has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. AUSTIN (KXAN) As President Donald Trump addressed Congress and the American people Tuesday night, Texas leaders issued statements on what they thought of the address. Trump addressed Congress and the American people about his first weeks in office and discussed topics involving the nations economy, immigration and foreign police, according to The Associated Press. Reactions in the House from legislators involved placards calling out lies, and even Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was ejected from the House chamber after he heckled the president early in his speech, according to The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those reactions continued at a state level, with some of those statements from Texas leaders below. Gov. Greg Abbott Gov. Greg Abbott issued the following statement on Trumps address, which was provided by his office below: Tonight, President Donald Trump laid out the bold and historic accomplishments that he and his Administration achieved in less than two months. The moment President Trump took the oath of office, he swiftly went to work to keep the promises he made to Americans. In just seven weeks, President Trump cut unnecessary government bureaucracy and brought in billions of dollars in new investments that ushered in a manufacturing revival in the United States. His Administration has cracked down on the unprecedented illegal immigration crisis created by former President Joe Biden, which allowed criminal illegal immigrants into the country who took the lives of innocent Americansincluding 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray from Houston. With illegal border crossings now at record lows that havent been seen in decades, Texas will continue to partner with the Trump Administration in their border and homeland security operations to arrest, detain, and deport illegal immigrants. President Trumps vision for the next four years is clear, and I look forward to working with him to renew the American Dream. Sen. John Cornyn U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, released the following statement on Trumps address below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tonight, President Trump laid out his vision to renew the American dream, which he is already putting into action at an unprecedented pace. In just over six weeks, the President has made historic strides to reduce illegal immigration, cut waste and fraud, get our economy back on track, and restore American dominance on the world stage. Nowhere is this success more apparent than our southern border, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection are reporting record low crossings. Thats called deterrence, and Texans are safer for it. President Trump delivered a message of peace, prosperity, and strength in tonights address, which was a welcome change after four years of failure and weakness under Joe Biden. I look forward to continuing to work alongside President Trump and my colleagues in Congress to enact his America First agenda and fulfill his promises to the American people. Rep. Lloyd Doggett U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, along with several of his colleagues, held up FALSE signs in response to Trumps joint address. His office issued the following statement below: While some of my equally outraged colleagues chose not to attend, I chose to confront Trump face-to-face and confront his lies one by one. Unlike a Republican colleague who yelled out You lie! years ago during a Joint Session speech by President Obama, I chose to raise a sign saying FALSE. Trump doesnt like fact-checking since so many of his claims dont match the facts. The Peoples House must not be left unchecked to a wannabe tyrant spewing lies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This speech coincides with Trumps imposition of his new 25% grocery tax on fresh produce and everything else upon which we rely from Mexico and Canada. Despite his repeated promises, he has done nothing to lower prices, and now hes spiking them. He promised to protect our healthcare and not undermine the Affordable Care Act, and to love Medicaid, but these are just more broken promises. Im concerned about the way he has permitted Elon Musk to callously disrupt the lives of so many and about Trumps power grabs. But I think most Central Texans will particularly feel the impact when they grab something off the store shelf for which theyll be paying more because Trump broke his promises. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. TYLER, Texas (KETK) President Trump held his first Joint Address to Congress on Tuesday night which garnered various replies from Texas politicians. The address discussed many topics ranging from the presidents plans on enacting tariffs in Mexico and Canada, which has started a trade war in North America, as well as immigration and border control. Trumps address to Congress showed the countrys stark partisan divide U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran Moran supported Trumps remarks, noting that the President is delivering on his promises at an unprecedented pace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My fellow East Texans, thanks to President Trump, America is strong again. In tonights joint address, President Trump delivered a clear message of increased liberty and a promise of an abundant life for every American, Moran said. His vision is simple: return power to the people and ensure that all Americans can pursue life, liberty, and happiness. In short, he made clear that the American Dream is still available. Moran continued on to praise how President Trump and his party have worked tirelessly since the presidents first day in office. In his first days back in office, President Trumps cabinet nominees were confirmed at record speed, and he signed more than 100 executive orders focused on putting America first. These executive orders included declaring a national emergency at the southern border; restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship; stopping the weaponization of the federal government; and delivering emergency price relief for American families, Moran said. Appeals court allows removal of watchdog agency head as legal battle rages over Trump firing Texas Sen. John Cornyn Cornyn stated that the president has already made historic strides in his time in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump delivered a message of peace, prosperity, and strength in tonights address, which was a welcome change after four years of failure and weakness under Joe Biden, Cornyn said. I look forward to continuing to work alongside President Trump and my colleagues in Congress to enact his America First agenda and fulfill his promises to the American people. Gov. Greg Abbott In his statement, Abbott praised the president for his accomplishments since taking office. Tonight, President Donald Trump laid out the bold and historic accomplishments that he and his Administration achieved in less than two months. The moment President Trump took the oath of office, he swiftly went to work to keep the promises he made to Americans, Abbott said. In just seven weeks, President Trump cut unnecessary government bureaucracy and brought in billions of dollars in new investments that ushered in a manufacturing revival in the United States. The address wrapped up at a record 99 minutes. President Trumps Joint Address was met with divided reactions and concerns from U.S politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. WASHINGTON (AP) The House on Thursday voted to censure an unrepentant Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, for disrupting President Donald Trump's address to Congress. Green was joined in the well of the House by more than 20 fellow Democrats as Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., read the censure resolution. Green and some of his colleagues began singing We Shall Overcome, an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, as Johnson spoke. Republicans in the chamber yelled order as the singing continued. Eventually, Johnson declared the House in recess. The resolution against Green was approved in a mostly party-line vote of 224-198. Ten Democrats voted for it; no Republicans voted against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson had Green removed from the chamber during the early moments of Trumps speech Tuesday night. Green stood and shouted at Trump after the Republican president said the Nov. 5 election had delivered a governing mandate not seen for many decades. You have no mandate, the Houston lawmaker said, shaking a cane and refusing an order from Johnson to take your seat, sir! Republicans acted quickly to rebuke Green with a censure resolution that officially registers the House's deep disapproval of a members conduct. There was also animated discussions among a handful of Green's supporters and Republicans after the vote. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., said Democrats were upset because they believe the rules of decorum in the chamber are not being equally enforced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., confirmed the tenor of the exchange. In terms of rules of decorum, they're often violated by our Republican colleagues and the response is not punitive, Pressley said. Rep. Dan Newhouse, the resolution's sponsor, said the censure effort was a necessary, but difficult step. This resolution is offered in all seriousness, something that I believe we must do in order to get us to the next level of conduct in this hallowed chamber, said Newhouse, R-Wash. Not the first outburst It's the latest fallout of the boisterous behavior that has occurred during more recent presidential addresses to Congress. Outbursts from lawmakers have happened on bothsides of the political aisle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., noted that Republicans were silent when members of their conference interrupted Democratic President Joe Biden's speech last year. Some yelled say her name in reference to nursing student Laken Riley, as Biden spoke about immigration legislation that some lawmakers were working on. Riley was killed while running on the University of Georgia campus by a Venezuelan citizen who illegally entered the United States in 2022 and had been allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case. Nobody apologized for interrupting Joe Biden time and again, McGovern said. You talk about lack of decorum. Go back and look at the tapes, and there was silence from the other side. The resolution says Green's actions were a breach of proper conduct during a joint address and that he had to be removed from the chamber by the Sergeant at Arms after numerous disruptions. Democrats tried to table it Wednesday, but that effort failed on a party-line vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson tweeted before the vote that Green disgraced the institution of Congress and the constituents he serves. Any Democrat who is concerned about regaining the trust and respect of the American people should join House Republicans in this effort, Johnson said. No apologies Green, now serving his 11th term, offered no regrets Wednesday when he explained his actions. Before speaking in his own defense from the House floor, he walked up to the Republican side of the chamber and shook Newhouse's hand. Green said he did not blame Johnson or those who had escorted him out after his outburst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friends, I would do it again, Green said. Green took to the House floor again Thursday, hours after the vote. He even read the resolution and called himself a proud, liberated Democrat, unbought, unbossed and unafraid. I did disrupt and I did so because the president indicated he had a mandate and I wanted him to know he didnt have a mandate to cut Medicaid, Green said. House Republicans last week passed a budget blueprint that seeks some $880 billion in savings over 10 years from the committee that handles health care spending, including Medicaid. Democrats warn cuts to the program are unavoidable under the GOP's plan, yet Trump said last week about the state-federal health care program, Were not going to touch it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Democratic lawmakers skipped Trump's address. Others walked out during it. With tensions clearly on the rise, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York had told colleagues beforehand that it is important to have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber. I think Al Green was telling the truth, said Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif. He was among the dozens of Democrats who held up signs that said False and displayed other protest slogans throughout Trumps speech. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who was speaker during Trump's first term, recalled her own memorable moment during a Trump address when she ripped his speech up after he handed it to her following his address. "Everybody has to make their expression of how they see things. I think we should keep our focus on the presidents speech, Pelosi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, in an interview with Fox News Digital, was harshly critical of Green. Nobody takes him seriously, Trump said. He is an embarrassment to Congress but a much bigger embarrassment to the Democrats. Censures becoming less rare Members of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of the most conservative Republicans, indicated that the censure vote was not the last of the efforts to punish Green. The group's chairman, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., said a resolution would be filed next week to take away Green's committee assignments. The punishment by censure is a rather infrequent event, with Green becoming the 28th House member cited. But there has been a spate in the past four years, beginning with Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., in 2021, when Democrats were in the majority. In 2023, Republicans took back the House and censured three Democrats Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and then-Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Adam Schiff of California. ___ Associated Press writers Matt Brown, Lisa Mascaro and Leah Askarinam contributed to this report. U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury found herself at the center of a dramatic moment Tuesday evening just before President Donald Trump's address to Congress. A Texas Republican ripped a sign from the New Mexico Democrat's hands that said, "This is not normal." In a video widely circulated online, Trump can be seen shaking hands and moving past Stansbury as she holds the sign in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol, where a joint session of Congress had convened for the president's speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After an exchange with Trump, U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, tears the sign from Stansbury's hands and flings it into the air, the video shows. The sign comes down near Trump as he continues shaking hands, moving toward the podium where he would deliver a fiery address doubling down on tariffs and striking a partisan tone. It is not clear what was said between Trump and Gooden. However, Gooden shared his thoughts about the episode on X, where he reposted the video. "Putting the American people FIRST is normal," Gooden wrote. "No one will disrespect President @realdonaldtrump in front of me." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stansbury also took to social media after Trump's address, underscoring the point she sought to make with the sign. "I am finally leaving the Capitol after the joint address to Congress tonight and let me just say: This is not normal, you guys," she said in a video posted to her Instagram account. "Everything that is going on right now, from the dismantling of federal agencies to the firing of our friends and family members across the federal government." She added, in a reference to Elon Musk, who is heading the Department of Government Efficiency, "Having an unelected billionaire firing people after hacking government systems, that is not normal." A spokesperson for Stansbury did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the incident. But Stansbury did call the sign an "SOS to the world" in a CNN interview Wednesday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now, I think my Republican colleague's behavior was not becoming of the institution. But welcome to Trump's world. We're living in MAGA land right now," Stansbury said on CNN. Amy Barela, who helms the Republican Party of New Mexico, took aim at Stansbury in a statement on social media while championing Trump's address. She called Stansbury "disrespectful." "Well, Representative, youre right its not normal for the government to finally represent the people instead of special interests," Barela said in the statement. "Its not normal for hardworking New Mexicans to be put first for the first time in years. Whats truly 'not normal' is the relentless obstruction from Democrats who refuse to embrace prosperity and opportunity for our state." Members of New Mexicos all-Democratic congressional delegation have been particularly animated since Trump took office Jan. 20, blasting the presidents executive orders and holding news conferences warning the state about how federal budget cuts and funding freezes could or are hurting residents of the Land of Enchantment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in deep blue Santa Fe, protests against the Trump administration and Musk continue to play out with regularity near the state Capitol. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich did not attend the speech. Im not going to President Trump's Joint Address tonight," Heinrich said in a statement. "I'll start attending when he starts following the law. U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez went as part of a group of women lawmakers wearing pink in protest. "Trump is going to address the people's House tonight, and we know he's not going to be truthful, but we are going to speak truth to power and point out the many ways in which he's hurting New Mexicans, in which he is hurting women, in which he is hurting veterans," she said in a video posted on X earlier Tuesday. Exemplifying partisan divisions in Washington, D.C., some Democrats protested the speech, holding signs that said, "Save Medicaid" and "Musk Steals." U.S. Rep Al Green, D-Texas, was removed for heckling Trump during the address. The Texas Senate on Wednesday advanced to the House a bill that would create America's largest brain health research center. Senate Bill 5, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, would create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Senate Joint Resolution 3, which would require voter approval if passed by the Legislature, would fund it with $3 billion in surplus revenue. This funding is intended to attract physicians, researchers, and experts in the field of dementia to Texas. This institute would research all brain diseases, not just dementia. Under the bill, the institute would be governed by a board of physicians and scientists with expertise in dementia research. Grants could be awarded for projects addressing the causes, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of dementia patients, as well as new medicines and facilities to help treat patients. Following the initial $3 billion in general revenue, future appropriations into the institute would be capped at $300 million annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant think as a body, as a Legislature, that we could make a wiser, more prudent, better investment for the people of Texas and future generations, Huffman said from the Senate floor prior to the vote. One of the institute's primary duties will be awarding grants. All grant proposals must undergo a peer review, and the oversight committee must approve final grant awards to ensure fairness in the grant-making process. Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, during the discussion of the bill on Wednesday, shared that his father lived eight years with dementia before passing away last year, and its a disease he wouldnt wish on anyone. He said that despite his personal experience, he didnt believe funding a dementia center was the governments role. My vote is not a vote of support. Its just a vote of recognizing that we need to focus on other things as a government, and it concerns me as we add some of these on, said Hancock, who joined Sen. Bob Hall, R-Galveston, in voting against the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huffman responded by saying she understood his point, but she believes the fund is worthy of investment from the states surplus of dollars. There are people living today because of some of the research breakthroughs in cancer. If we can do the same thing with this and help prevention and research, it seems like it could be the best money were spending, she said. Government spending has become a hot topic in the state and the nation as President Donald Trumps administration has attempted to cut medical research funding. In February, the National Institute of Health released a notice of an updated policy that would strip research groups of hundreds of millions of dollars and place a 15% indirect cost rate on all new and existing grant awards received by research institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from cutting medical research after a litany of lawsuits, including one filed by 22 state attorneys general along with universities, hospitals, and research institutions nationwide to stop the cuts, saying they would endanger patients. Texas was not among the plaintiffs. While other research opportunities may diminish, the creation and funding of (the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas) will position Texas to be a leader in dementia-related research, Huffman said in an emailed statement to The Texas Tribune on Thursday. The dementia program is modeled after the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas which voters approved in 2009 with $3.7 billion and voters again approved in 2019 an additional $3 billion. The $6 billion cancer research institute is the largest cancer research organization in the country and the second largest worldwide. The institute issues up to $300 million annually for cancer research and prevention projects, according to Kristen Doyle, CEO of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute. It has recruited 324 researchers to Texas; supported the establishment, expansion, or relocation of 74 companies to Texas; and has provided 10 million prevention services, reaching all Texas counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe we can follow this success and position Texas as a national leader in combating dementia and related disorders, accelerating groundbreaking research and improving the lives of millions of Texans, Huffman told fellow lawmakers. In 2012, allegations arose that millions of taxpayer dollars were distributed in grants without proper peer review, briefly engulfing the cancer institute in scandal. Huffman said lawmakers have learned lessons from creating the cancer research institute, which should make creating a dementia institute much smoother. Everyone who was around will admit that the (cancer institute) had a rocky start, but those problems were resolved with legislation and oversight, and all of that has been incorporated in this legislation, she said. We worked closely with the (cancer institute) as we wrote this bill and took suggestions from them so we can go full speed right off the starting gate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doyle said the merit-based, peer-reviewed grant process is central to their national reputation for integrity and transparency in funding groundbreaking projects. Huffman said that Texas already has the third-most dementia patients in the country, almost half a million, and last year, state Medicare costs for dementia care alone topped $4 billion. There is no better place than Texas to take on this challenge, Huffman said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the research institute a top bill for the session. He says that Texas size and economic strength allow it to take on big projects like this. Texas, with our vast resources, has an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of millions, he said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alzheimers, a degenerative brain disease, is the most common form of dementia, accounting for about 80% of cases, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Alzheimers symptoms memory loss and the inability to perform simple tasks tend to develop in the mid-to-late 60s and occur when clumps of abnormal proteins block the communication of brain cells. Symptoms can be mild at first and worsen over time. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that 459,000 Texans have been diagnosed with Alzheimers, about 12% of the states population over the age of 65. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, this has cost the state approximately $24 billion in caregiver time. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. The Texas Senate overwhelmingly backed a proposal Wednesday to create a multibillion-dollar dementia research center, aiming to better understand and treat the debilitating cognitive diseases that deprive hundreds of thousands of aging Texans of their quality of life each year. Senate Bill 5, authored by Republican Sen. Joan Huffman of Houston, would create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Huffman's related Senate Joint Resolution 3 is a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution to fund the institute with a $3 billion endowment. The center would "accelerate research into dementia, attracting top talent to our state and creating high quality jobs," Huffman said on the Senate floor Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But the most important goal is to improve the health and quality of life for Texans impacted by dementia," she said. Dementia is a broad group of cognitive impairments associated with aging that affects a person's memory and ability to reason and often hampers a person's day-to-day functioning. The most common form is Alzheimer's disease, which afflicts nearly half a million Texans, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. "Dementia is a disease of particular concern because it robs a person of their thoughts and memories the very essence of that person," Huffman said. "It leads to a loss of quality of life and independent function that places an immense burden on families and loved ones, and our overall health care system." More: Texas hemp production, sales have been legal since 2019. Why one senator wants to ban THC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The institute which Huffman said would be modeled after Texas' successful cancer prevention institute that is now one of the largest in the world would distribute grants to universities and other research entities to fund studies on dementia prevention and treatment. An oversight committee comprising doctors, caregivers and family members of dementia patients would administer the funding. "I believe that DPRIT will position Texas as a national leader in combating dementia and related disorders, accelerating groundbreaking research and improving the lives of millions of Texas," Huffman said. Both measures passed the Senate 29-2, with Republican Sens. Bob Hall of Rockwall and Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills dissenting. Hancock shared a personal story of his father, who died last year of dementia, but suggested it is not the role of government to research the conditions. "My father lived eight years with dementia. The last several he didn't know who I was," Hancock said. "It is horrible. There is no doubt horrible. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I do believe that as government, we have a certain role and a focus of core things that we should work on. My vote is not a vote of not support, just a vote of recognizing that maybe we need to focus on other things as government." The legislation will now head to the Texas House for consideration. If the resolution passes, Texas voters will have the final say in November. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senate advances plan to create $3B dementia research center By Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China last week was in the Southeast Asian country's best interest due to the possibility of retaliation from Beijing if the group was sent elsewhere, a Thai minister said on Thursday. Thailand's government has repeatedly defended the secretive deportation, which came despite calls from United Nations human rights experts who said the Uyghurs would be at risk of torture, ill-treatment and "irreparable harm" if returned to China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human rights groups accuse China of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority numbering about 10 million in its northwestern region of Xinjiang. Beijing denies any abuses. Russ Jalichandra, Thailand's vice minister for foreign affairs, in a statement on Thursday said some countries had offered to resettle the Uyghurs, walking back previous comments by Thai officials that no such proposals had been made. He did not name the countries. The United States, Canada and Australia were among countries that had offered to resettle the Uyghurs but Bangkok took no action for fear of upsetting China, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the offers from third countries were "unrealistic" as resettling the Uyghurs would not shield Thailand from a potential fallout with China, Russ said. "Thailand could face retaliation from China that would impact the livelihoods of many Thais," he said, adding that sending the group to China was the "best option". Russ did not elaborate on the possible retaliation. China's foreign ministry and its embassy in Bangkok did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the vice minister's remarks about retaliation. The Chinese foreign ministry told Reuters this week that the individuals Thailand sent back were Chinese nationals who were illegal migrants and the process was carried out in accordance with Chinese, Thai and international laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 40 Uyghurs deported last week were part of a group of 300 who fled China and were arrested in Thailand in 2014. Some were sent back to China and others to Turkey, with the rest remaining in Thai custody for over a decade. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal, Martin Petty) LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man accused of shooting at and attempting to kill a homeless man in the southwest valley told police they would thank him later, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, just before 5 p.m., officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a convenience store in the 7100 block of South Durango Drive after a report of a man with a gun threatening a customer. Arriving officers found a man, later identified as Christopher Callahan, 49, inside the store. Officers saw Callahan exit the store and throw a gun onto the ground before running back inside, according to an arrest report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Callahan eventually re-emerged and said, That was the only gun I had. Officers took Callahan into custody without further incident. The victim told police he lives in a tent in a desert area near the convenience store and was having ongoing issues with Callahan for the past two days, the report stated. He said Callahan approached earlier in the day near his encampment, pointed a gun at him, and threatened to kill him, according to the report. Fearing for his life, the victim ran toward the convenience store as Callahan shot toward him twice. The victim ran into the convenience store and asked the employee to call 911, and the two hid in the back of the store until police arrived, the report stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in the back of a patrol vehicle, Callahan admitted to firing two shots at the victim, saying he believed the victim was a terrorist and said, You will thank me later, according to the report. Police took Callahan to the Clark County Detention Center, where he faces a charge of attempted murder. He was held on a $25,000 bail. If he posts bail, Callahan will be required to stay away from the victim and the location of the shooting. Records show his next court appearance was scheduled for March 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. As the Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival prepares to host its 27th edition, which runs March 6 16, festival director Orestis Andreadakis sees no shortage of threats to truth, freedom and the values on which the democratic order is based. Four months have passed since the [Thessaloniki Intl. Film Festival], but it seems like were already living in a completely different world unfortunately, not a better one, Andreadakis tells Variety. Likening the times to a historical documentary about the 1930s, screened backwards, he describes world events as an educational documentary that taught us nothing. It is a testimony for the horror of fascism and totalitarianism that it seems we have forgotten, he continues. It is a film record of a horrific historical reality that some are trying to repeat in the worst possible way. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years festival begins hardly a fortnight after Russias war in Ukraine marked its three-year anniversary, and as a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza seeking to put an end to that bloody conflict appears in jeopardy. In the U.S., President Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented assault on personal liberties and political norms in his first six weeks in office. Meanwhile, Europes continued rightward turn was solidified by recent elections in Germany, where the far-right AfD party secured 20% of the popular vote. While widespread unrest and uncertainty could make the very notion of a documentary film festival seem quaint, however, Andreadakis insists such events underscore the importance of art as a bulwark against the assaults on our fundamental principles as the value of truth is in danger of becoming irrelevant. The art of documentary tries to preserve reality. This is the most important thing in our difficult times. To realize what is truth, what is reality, he says. The films screening at this years Thessaloniki Documentary Festival portray and unveil what we experience in our precarious times. The festival kicks off March 6 with About a Hero (pictured), director Piotr Winiewiczs AI-assisted documentary that takes aim at German auteur Werner Herzog who has been loudly dismissive of artificial intelligence by creating an artificial version of a Herzog film. The closing film, Shoshannah Sterns Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, which arrives fresh off a well-received Sundance premiere, tells the story of the titular, trailblazing actor who in 1986 became the first deaf person to win an Oscar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the festivals three main competition sections and diverse programming strands, a total of 261 documentaries will be screened, including 72 world, 40 international and 11 European premieres. Among them are 71 feature and short films from the host nation, reflecting Andreadakis and the programming teams commitment to the Thessaloniki Doc Fest as a showcase of the Greek industry. Highlights from the international competition, which sees 10 films vying for the Golden Alexander, include a trio of documentaries coming off Sundance premieres Coexistence, My Ass!, Amber Fares portrait of Israeli activist and comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi; Jesse Short Bull and David Frances Free Leonard Peltier, about the Native American activist who spent nearly half a century in prison; and Gianluca Matarreses GEN_, about an unconventional doctor at a fertility clinic in Milan as well as Juanjo Pereiras Under the Flags, the Sun, which follows the discovery of an audiovisual archive documenting Paraguays 35-year dictatorship, which debuted at the Berlin Film Festival. World premieres in the main competition include Sculpted Souls, the latest documentary from veteran Greek filmmaker Stavros Psillakis, which follows a Swiss dentist whos spent nearly three decades treating lepers in Greece for free, and Child of Dust, by Polish filmmaker Weronika Mliczewska, about the child of an American soldier left behind during the Vietnam War who seeks to reconnect with his father in the U.S. Weronika Mliczewskas Child of Dust premieres at the festival. Other festival highlights include a screening of Steve Pinks The Last Republican, which follows the efforts of former Republican politician Adam Kinzinger to bring Donald Trump to justice after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, as well as a sidebar dedicated to the rise of artificial intelligence which includes a screening of Tilda Swintons directorial debut, The Hexagonal Hive and a Mouse in a Maze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An honorary Golden Alexander will be awarded to French filmmaker Nicolas Philibert, who will deliver a masterclass on March 8, and whose prolific career will be celebrated with a screening of films including BAFTA nominee To Be and To Have and Berlin Golden Bear winner On the Adamant. American documentary filmmaker and multi-hyphenate artist Lauren Greenfield will also be honored with a tribute to her award-winning body of work that includes Sundance prizewinner The Queen of Versailles and her most recent project, the documentary series Social Studies. Greenfield will deliver a masterclass on March 13. The festivals 27th edition begins just days removed from massive protests on the two-year anniversary of the Tempe railway disaster that claimed 57 lives, with hundreds of thousands of Greeks taking to the streets in what have been described as the countrys largest protests since the fall of the military junta in 1974. The Tempe tragedy, which took place on the eve of the festivals 25th edition, prompted the organizers to cancel that years opening ceremony amid an unprecedented national outpouring of anger and grief. Two years later, with memories of that tragic day still fresh, more protests are planned in Thessaloniki and across Greece, as the country seeks justice for the tragic loss of so many lives. Against that backdrop, this years festival hopes to accomplish what so many documentary filmmakers set out to achieve: to bear witness, spark debate, speak truth to power, and provide some measure of comfort and community in tumultuous times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thessaloniki is a city that carries memory and history. Its a place that knows about geopolitical tensions, and the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival has always been a place of dialogue, of freedom, of culture, says Andreadakis. This is the most important thing. Because art is one of the most powerful weapons of democracy. The Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival runs March 6 16. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SPRINGFIELD, Mas. (WWLP) Springfield Technical Community College held a special event in honor of International Womens Day on Wednesday. This event was a celebration of womens achievements as well as a platform to uplift and empower women to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. Dozens came out to show their support for the women entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their communities every day. These women shared their stories and served as inspiration for others at the event. Three Community Leadership Awards were presented to one faculty member, staff member and student whove made a positive impact on the STCC community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shamrock Shakes sold at McDonalds benefits this local charity The theme for this years celebration, Accelerate Action, guiding discussions on how to work towards advancing and achieving gender equality. We are trying always to meet certain standards and trying to please everyone. I believe that as a woman, especially as a Latina, I feel its important that we have the ability to amplify our voices and to redefine our identities as many times as we need to in order to achieve the success that we want in life, said Westfield State University Assistant Director for Student Access and Support Marjorie Rodriguez. The Lead Female Leadership & Mentoring Program offers female-identifying students access to inclusive and academic support, mentoring, leadership development, and community engagement opportunities. The goal of this program is to make a difference for those women who are aiming for higher education regardless of what stage they are in. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Nearly 4,000 campsites across Californias 18 national forests could close for part or all of the summer season as the U.S. Forest Service struggles with budget constraints following President Donald Trumps federal spending freeze, according to a report by The New York Times. The potential closures could impact visitor centers and backcountry trails at popular outdoor destinations such as Desolation Wilderness in Lake Tahoe and the Mount Whitney area. An internal agency memo cited by the Times indicated that financial limitations may render some sites unsafe due to the inability to maintain them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camping at this California recreation site could cost more in 2025 Forest Service employees who spoke with the publication noted that the funding freeze could significantly impact essential services, including human waste removal, trail maintenance, and search-and-rescue operations. Mount Whitney, known for frequent rescues and fatalities, may be particularly affected. Additionally, the report stated that staffing cuts have already led to the termination of the last permanent wilderness ranger in Desolation Wilderness. In other areas, visitor centers could close. Budget constraints have already impacted the Forest Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, regional managers announced plans to eliminate 400 seasonal staff members from Californias national forests. More recently, at least 2,000 Forest Service employees were reportedly terminated by The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to the Times. DOGE requests 2nd productivity email The potential funding cuts also threaten the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile hiking route visited by approximately 1 million hikers annually. The Pacific Crest Trail Association told the San Francisco Chronicle that a $667,000 federal grant used for trail maintenance may be frozen, raising safety concerns for hikers. Meanwhile, campsites under the National Park Service have also faced disruptions. Yosemite National Park recently delayed reservations for several popular campsites between June 15 and July 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While no official reason was given, the Chronicle reported that the announcement followed widespread park service terminations by DOGE. The Forest Service remains committed to ensuring public health and safety while balancing access to recreation services and public access, which is vital to local economies. It is our intent to maintain access to recreation opportunities to the greatest degree possible, the government agency said in an emailed statement to KTLA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. DENVER (KDVR) Denver police announced Wednesday that a man wanted in connection to an eluding incident was arrested in late February. According to the Denver Police Department, officers saw a vehicle headed westbound on East Colfax Avenue on Feb. 21, and learned it was wanted in connection to a previous eluding incident. Boy reportedly kidnapped 7 years ago found in Douglas County; 2 arrested The agency said that officers witnessed the motorist commit multiple traffic violations, and they tried to conduct a traffic stop at that point. However, the motorist fled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DPDs Air1, the agencys air support helicopter, was able to track the vehicle through downtown and onto westbound West 6th Avenue. The agency said the motorist pulled into a gas station in the 15000 block of West Colfax Avenue, where officers made their arrest. The man behind the wheel was found to have a stolen firearm, approximately 3,000 suspected fentanyl pills and other suspected narcotics, according to the Denver Police Department. The Denver Police Department shared this photo of a weapon, narcotics and other items seized after a traffic stop on Colfax Avenue. (Denver Police Department) The agency also noted that the man was previously convicted of a felony. Denver officers arrested the man for investigation of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, felony eluding and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. They did not identify the man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. TYLER, Texas (KETK)- According to the National Weather Service, three East Texas counties were hit by tornados on Tuesday but no fatalities or injuries were reported. Tyler County A tornado hit Tyler County on Tuesday evening where the tornado began 0.5 miles west of Highway 287 leaving several trees damaged along with a few buildings. The tornado moved northeast where it damaged a home and destroyed an outbuilding. Several pine trees were snapped at the trunk and 30% of a roof was peeled off a home. Who will headline Tyler Cattle Barons Ball in 2025? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tornado continued going east towards Highway 287, damaging several trees before it ended near Little Cypress Creek. Photos courtesy of NWS Following the severe weather, the county issued a Declaration of Disaster on Wednesday. County officials claimed that populated areas could be impacted by flooding, property damage, short-term electrical power and utility outages. Harrison County Tornados reportedly struck down in Harrison County on Tuesday evening with peak winds going 90 mph. Most damage occurred to softwood trees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos courtesy of NWS Sabine County A strong EF1 tornado also struck down in Sabine County on Tuesday with maximum winds reaching over 105 mph. Houston man caught with 17 pounds of ecstasy, Nacogdoches officials say The heaviest damage occurred near the intersection of Forest Road 144 and Forest Road 144A, where the tornado was strongest and widest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos courtesy of NWS Bowie County A tornado was identified to have touch downed in Bowie County on Tuesday. The tornado was categorized as a EF1 and wind was reported to be going 90 mph. Three camper trailers in a RV park were overturned and destroyed during the storm. Photos courtesy of NWS Camp County An EF1 tornado was reported in Camp County on Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service wind was going as strong as 90 mph. Three RV Camper residents were reportedly injured. Photos courtesy of NWS Morris County An EF1 tornado was identified in Morris County on Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service wind was going as strong as 88 mph. A significant number of pine trees were uprooted during the storm. Reporting home or property damage East Texans can report any home or property damages using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The information provided in the survey will aid emergency management officials and give them an understanding of damages that occurred and if the state meets federal requirements. The iSTAT damage survey can be filled out in English and Spanish online by visiting https://pstat.tdem.texas.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. A three-person mixture of unknown DNA was found under a 21-year-old University of Idaho students fingernails after she and three other students were killed at an off-campus home in November 2022, a new filing reveals. The new evidence from victim Madison Mogen came more than two years after she and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were fatally stabbed in Moscow, Idaho. Bryan Kohberger, a Washington State University graduate student in criminology, faces four counts of first-degree murder. In a motion filed last Monday, the defense asked that the DNA evidence be kept from the jury in Kohbergers upcoming death penalty trial because jurors could believe the DNA is Kohbergers, and according to the defense, it is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allowing such testimony would violate Mr. Kohbergers Federal and State Constitutional rights to due process, a fair trial, effective assistance of counsel, and confrontation of witnesses, argues Bicka Barlow, an attorney specializing in forensic DNA evidence who was added to the defenses legal team recently. A not guilty plea has been entered on Kohbergers behalf, and his trial is set to begin in August. He faces the death penalty if convicted. In grand jury testimony, forensic scientist Jade Miller discussed the test results on a swab of fingernail clippings from Mogens left hand, according to the motion. The defense argued that the testimony would confuse and mislead the jury, adding that the evidence is overly prejudicial. The document shows there was preliminary testing done on the fingernail clippings and a likelihood ratio was calculated that according to the defense, proved to be inconclusive. The motion states testing did provide a likelihood ratio for Mr. Kohberger from the analysis but any conclusion is redacted in the filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would prejudice Kohberger in that it might allow the jury to infer that the inconclusive data would mean that his DNA might be present in the sample, the defense argued. According to the defense motion, the testing involved a comparison of hypotheses, not a statement of identity or probability of identity. Two hypotheses were looked at: One is that the DNA belongs to Madison Mogen, her best friend Goncalves and one unknown unrelated person. The other is that the DNA belongs to Mogen and two unrelated individuals. Mogen, a senior marketing major from Coeur dAlene, and Goncalves were found dead on the same bed at the Kings Road home on November 13, 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revelation likely means that the defense has more in their arsenal with additional DNA finds, said Misty Marris, an attorney who has closely followed the Kohberger case. The fingernail DNA may not actually be related to the crime, she said. When you see it under the fingernails, the argument is going to bethat theres a scratch that somebody fought back, Marris explained. From the prosecution perspective, the argument is, well, its not necessarily, because theres lots of different ways DNA can end up somewhere. Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were killed Sunday, November 13, 2022 off campus at the University of Idaho. - Obtained by CNN Kohberger excluded from DNA mixture, defense argues The defense states they did independent lab testing that excluded Kohberger from the DNA mixture, according to the filing. However, the defense admits this evidence was presented to a grand jury by prosecutors as they were seeking an indictment in early 2023. They also write, the state argued that the testimony was presented to the grand jury as exculpatory, and an effort to elicit favorable evidence for Mr. Kohberger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this point, the court has not posted a response from prosecutors. The prosecution has an ethical obligation and duty to turn over everything that can be exculpatory, Marris said. The defense will likely argue that theres reasonable doubt that Kohberger committed the murders, she said. Their argument is going to be that once that investigative genetic genealogy match was made and Kohberger was identified, that law enforcement essentially put on blinders, Marris said. They didnt care about anything else, so much so that they didnt even care that there is additional DNA evidence, both at the property and now on the person of one of the students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To prove reasonable doubt, the defense will likely argue that there was a significant failure in the investigation to pursue any and all possible paths to find the culprit of the heinous crime, Marris said. You have this entirely other set of potential DNA that could have led investigators had they pursued it to somebody else, and thats going to be a huge component of the argument, she said. The revelation comes as several pieces of DNA evidence have been challenged by the defense. The prosecutions most important piece of evidence is a DNA sample taken from a knife sheath left at the crime scene. Investigators then used investigative genetic genealogy, a forensic field combining DNA analysis with genealogical research, to connect that sample to Kohbergers family, according to prosecutors. Subsequent DNA testing found Kohberger was a statistical match to the sample, leading to his arrest, according to prosecutors. To combat that evidence, his defense team has repeatedly questioned the use, legality and accuracy of the DNA testing done in each step of the process. In a closed hearing last month, testimony from several witnesses raised questions about how investigators had used the DNA sample from the knife sheath to identify Kohberger as a suspect. Further, the defenses addition of Barlow to its legal team bolsters their expertise on the topic. CNNs Eric Levenson contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Atlanta police took five men into custody after they say the group broke into a car and led officers on a chase on Interstate 20. Officers performed two pit maneuvers to get them to stop, all captured on dash camera video. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Coming up to 20 eastbound, standby, lets see what it does. That is the moment on Feb. 28 when Atlanta police caught up to a SUV that reached speeds up to 90 mph on I-20. Inside were five people that Atlanta police believe broke into a car on Lakeview Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police video shows an officer perform a PIT maneuver and the SUV spins out, but then keeps going. An officer pulls up on the SUV with a slight crash, but that still didnt stop the driver. Send it Jaz! Send it! I got it! Second pit! Second pit! Standby! Box in. Then officers noticed one of the suspects throwing firearms out the window. Theyre throwing guns out! Theyre throwing guns out! Box em! Boxem! Watch out Jaz! TRENDING STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SUV finally stopped on the side of the road as several officers started to yell out commands. The driver, who police identified as 28-year-old Elijah Boyd, got out of the car with his hands up. Officers noticed that he had a gun on his waist, but they were able to handcuff him without any incident. Police arrested and charged Boyd with fleeing and eluding. They also charged Raquarez Thompkins, a passenger, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Both had active warrants in DeKalb County. Marquavious Walker was arrested on an outstanding warrant in DeKalb County. Police detained two others: Rodrekas Seaborn and Jacolbi Wideman. Officers recovered five guns after the chase and one of them was reported stolen. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Many think war in the Pacific and immediately think U.S. Marine Corps, and indeed, the Marine Corps has a long and storied history of operating and fighting in the Pacific. Yet the U.S. Army three field armies, six corps and 21 divisions fought 24 campaigns in the Indo-Pacific in World War II. Thats more campaigns than the Army fought in all other theaters combined in that existential global conflict, and far more than the Marine Corps. Its easy to dismiss the Army as irrelevant today in the Indo-Pacific. Yet history tells us otherwise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, if America is to effectively deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific, we must be seen by adversaries to pack a serious punch, and that means a significant role for the U.S. Army, because if war comes, America will have to give it all weve got. The Army fights as an integral part of the entire joint force, and it fights as part of the combined force with our allies and partners. We cant have one of the major elements of the joint force the Army mostly sitting on the bench. Thats why the Army has been investing heavily in the past several years in modernization, not only so it has the right capabilities for any contingency anywhere in the world, but also so it can effectively counter aggression from a peer adversary in the Indo-Pacific. No feature of Army modernization is more important and relevant to this effort than the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) a tiltrotor aircraft that can take off, hover and land like a helicopter, yet fly horizontally like an airplane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flying conventional helicopters, the U.S. cant leverage the bench strength that the Army can bring to bear, especially in the vastness of the Indo-Pacific theater. The truncated range and speed of the UH-60 Black Hawk, for example, simply does not provide sufficient capability to give the Army the reach it needs. With the FLRAA advanced tiltrotor, the Army becomes meaningfully additive to the joint force in the Indo-Pacific. Just look at what happened to the Marine Corps when they replaced the conventional CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter with the Osprey the tiltrotor fundamentally transformed the Corps concepts of operation. The Corps went from being able to carry eight Marines 60 miles in a single aircraft, to being able to transport an entire platoon hundreds of miles. Marines suddenly could base farther from shore and strike deeper inland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The increase in speed and range, combined with runway independence, also opened up new mission sets. Marines could self-deploy over long distances. They could operate in austere, unimproved environments, whether desert or jungle. Distributed operations became a reality, where Marines could be dispersed over wide areas, making targeting more difficult for the enemy and increasing survivability. This distributed operational posture also gave Marines more flexibility in maneuver, creating more dilemmas for the enemy. The Army currently lacks these capabilities and thus, these advantages. The Army pioneered the concept of air assault, forged in the crucible of Vietnam, that gave our fighting forces the ability to overcome the tyranny of terrain and take the fight directly to the enemy. Its time to give todays soldiers that same advantage over our future, sophisticated enemies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Army is a maneuver force. That means it embodies both movement and fires. If you engage only at range with fires, you stall out in attrition warfare. To finish the fight, you need to move assault forces at distances consistent with long-range precision and joint fires in order to achieve decisive results. FLRAA gives the Army a 21st-century capability for conducting such maneuver warfare. Whether seizing terrain or conducting raids and ambushes, the FLRAA tiltrotors speed, range, survivability and payload will be critical, especially in the vast distances of the Indo-Pacific. Consider what this tiltrotor technology will mean to medical evacuation, maritime interdiction, combat search and rescue, humanitarian relief, tactical resupply and armed escort. It changes the fundamental concepts for how our Army will fight. The Army is developing new concepts of operation to achieve large-scale, long-range air assault, or L2A2. This is intended to deliver one brigade combat team in one period of darkness, over 500 miles, arriving behind enemy lines, and able to conduct sustained combat operations, said Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who leads the 101st Airborne Division. Todays force, equipped with Black Hawks, requires multiple periods of darkness and large numbers of soldiers, equipment and fuel to achieve the same result. If we fail to modernize the Armys air assault and adopt new doctrines around advanced tiltrotor capability, we will be leaving significant forces off the field. Imagine a war in the Pacific where the Army, our largest service in terms of personnel, is forced to sit on the sidelines for lack of relevant capability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why Congress and the Army need to stop spending precious funds on modernizing legacy Black Hawks. Modernizing the Black Hawk provides only incremental improvements; it does not give the Army the meaningful quantum leap in capability that we need in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere. We are in a zero-sum budgeting environment, and every dollar spent on Black Hawk modernization is a dollar not spent on a game-changing transformation of the Army. Very simply, that program does not provide enough bang for the buck. The decisions our policymakers in Washington make today will decide whether America can bring to bear all of our potential military end strength, or just some of it, to resist aggression in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere for the foreseeable future. Lets not sideline some of our best players we need to go all-in for the win in the Indo-Pacific. That means full-throttle support for the FLRAA tiltrotor program so we can bring the Army to the fight. Maj. Gen. Rudolph Rudy Ostovich (ret.) is the former chief of branch and commanding general of U.S. Army Aviation Center. He also served as the Armys director of doctrine, J5 Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (todays U.S. Indo-Pacific Command) and vice director of the Joint Staff with over 30 years of active duty as both an infantry and aviation officer. Tim Walz is stumped when CNN asks him who leads the Democratic party Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota and former vice presidential candidate, couldnt name someone when asked who the leader of the Democratic party is. Walz appeared on CNNs The Arena with Kasie Hunt Wednesday to discuss President Donald Trumps joint congressional address. Hunt asked the governor who he thinks is the Democratic leader right now. The 60-year-old Democrat paused for a few beats before answering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the voting public, right now, is what I would say, Walz responded. Were not going to have a charismatic leader ride in and save us from this. Tim Walz told CNN's Kasie Hunt the 'voting public' is leading the Democratic party (CNN/Screenshot) Hunt followed up by asking if Walz sees anyone who could be a national Democratic figure? I see a whole lot of them, Walz said. I see young members of Congress stepping up, I see folks out there, I see it out here, state senators, state legislators, folks that are getting ready. Labor union members who are out there talking. I think the thing we need to do is: We cant cede the space. If Donald Trumps going to be out therewe have to be there every day. We need to be better organized. There is going to be an organic uprising which were seeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Hunt asked if former Vice President Kamala Harris could be that future leader, Walz responded: I certainly think she could be. Walz isnt the first to contend with this question. Since Harriss loss last Election Day, Democratic lawmakers have expressed discontent with their partys leadership or lack thereof. Theres no one, certainly, that the party, I would argue, looks to, or feels led by, or inspired by, is the truth, former Democratic Representative Dean Phillips told The Hill last month. Any organization business, for-profit, nonprofit, political party that lacks spirited leadership is going to suffer. And I think you can count us among those organizations right now. Theres just no question. A new poll from the liberal firm Blueprint first obtained by Politico also indicates 40 percent of voters believe that Democrats do not have any strategy for combatting the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That division was made clear when Democrats had a variety of responses to Trumps joint congressional address on Tuesday. Many silently listened, others walked out and some wore pink in protest. Representative Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, was even removed from the chamber for repeatedly interrupting Trump at the beginning of the address. Last night I stood up for those who need Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Democrats will never abandon the fight to make sure every American has a safe, healthy, and financially secure life. #ISaidWhatISaid, Green wrote on X on Wednesday night. Greens fellow lawmakers voted to censure him on Thursday. Nearly every Republican and 10 Democrats voted in favor of the resolution. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Dane Paulsen, the 2-year-old boy who disappeared from his Siletz home, is still missing marking five days since he was last seen playing in his familys yard. Mysteries continue to swirl around the boys disappearance as Lincoln County deputies shift their search efforts to the Siletz River with evidence indicating that he may have been at the rivers edge before he went missing. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Breaking News Alerts We express empathy for Danes family. We also want to thank our community for their compassion and assistance, officials with the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office said in a statement on Wednesday. Our teams are working to bring Dane home. Heres everything we know about Danes disappearance as of Wednesday, March 5. Day of Disappearance Dane Paulsen was first reported missing to the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office on Saturday, March 1 around 4:30 p.m. At the time of his disappearance, Dane was reported to be playing in the yard of the residence located near milepost 21 on Siletz River Highway, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, authorities report that Dane had not been in his parents eyesight at the time. That day, he was wearing a grey fuzzy hoodie with ears, black pants, and blue and white shoes. Law enforcement later updated his description to include that he has brown hair and green eyes. Officials immediately began searching the familys residence and surrounding areas. A search is underway for a 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, who went missing in Siletz, Ore. on Mar. 1, 2025. (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) Lincoln County searchers on the Siletz River looking for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 4, 2025 (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) Lincoln County searchers on the Siletz River looking for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 4, 2025 (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) Some of the hundreds of Lincoln County searchers at the scene of the search for Dane Paulsen, 2, of Siletz, March 2, 2025 (KOIN) The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office command unit at the scene of the search for Dane Paulsen, 2, of Siletz, March 2, 2025 (KOIN) An area where searchers looked for missing Siletz 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers along a road in Siletz looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) An aerial view of the area where searchers are looking for 2-year-old Dane Paulsen of Siletz, March 3, 2025 (Lincoln County Sheriffs Office) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 3, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) Searchers checked the Siletz River looking for missing 2-year-old Dane Paulsen, March 5, 2025 (KOIN) Day 2 Shortly after Danes disappearance, a gold 1990s station wagon was named as a vehicle of interest by law enforcement. On March 2, community tips led authorities to the owner of the vehicle. After officials thoroughly interviewed and investigated both the driver and car, they were found to be unrelated to Danes disappearance and are no longer a point of interest in this operation, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Search efforts continued among community volunteers and local authorities, including the sheriffs offices from Lane, Clackamas and Polk counties; Oregon State Police; Lincoln City and Newport police; Siletz Valley Fire; Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit; Marys Peak SAR; and Region 3 K9. As search efforts intensified, law enforcement said there was no evidence to suggest criminal actions are involved. Day 3 By Monday, March 3, authorities had advanced their search beyond the ground to use aerial drones with thermal imaging. At the time, officials said 382 acres have been searched and 283 miles have been covered. The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office described Dane as comfortable around strangers and water, but cannot swim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeff Lawrence, an Elks Lodge officer who fishes the Siletz River and volunteered to find Dane, told KOIN 6 News that the river is medium to where three days ago the river was quite a bit higher and a lot faster. Oregon man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla dealership in Salem Day 4 Late Tuesday afternoon, Lincoln County Sgt. Jason Spano announced that authorities would begin concentrating on a very focused area. So far the evidence available indicates Dane was at the rivers edge before his disappearance, Spano said. Because of this, we will be focusing the majority of our ongoing resources on searching the Siletz River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added officials would search the river with drones, divers, watercraft and K9s plus a sign cutter using a tracking technique to find and follow signs left behind by people or animals. But Spano added they would continue to look on land because the thick, rough forest terrain meant it could be possible to miss locating someone. By the end of the day, officials announced that 682 acres and 341 walking miles had been covered. Pilot found dead at crash site near Whiskey Dick Mountain Day 5 As of Wednesday, officials have yet to find any evidence of Danes whereabouts. Although there is currently no evidence to suggest criminal activity in Danes disappearance, investigators continue to review tips reported to the tip line, according to Lincoln County deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who think they may have information that could help authorities find Dane are encouraged to contact the Lincoln County tip line: 541-265-0669. When sharing information that may help us bring Dane home, be as specific as possible, deputies said. Note the time, exact location, and get clear photos or videos when possible. Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Downtown Tipp City Partnership is hosting a St. Paddys Beer Crawl on Friday, March 7. The crawl will begin at 5 p.m. and will take place throughout downtown. A ticket is $40. It includes 12 tasting tickets which can be redeemed for 4 oz pours at the stops and a commemorative pint glass. Check-ins for the crawl will be at Mauk Cabinets by Design. People looking to check in early can visit at 4:30 p.m. Dont forget to bring your ID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crawl will be as follows, click here for a map. Mauk Cabinets by Design Main Street Thrivent Zack Jacobs State Farm Royal Crest Agency Zach Snyder Flooring Bella Gray Market Fox and Feather Always Blooming Living Simply Soap Broadway Hair Stitched by Liv and Em Bloomora Botanicals Studio 50 The hand-picked drinks are as follows: Abita Purple Haze Ace High Pineapple Imperial Cider Epic Peach Cream Ale Metazoa Trash Panda Vanilla Blonde Outerbelt Cloverleaf Irish Stout Troegs Nugget Nectar Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) A bill to make public school systems require students seeking to enroll to show documentation of U.S. citizenship or legal status passed Tennessees Senate Education Committee 5-4 Wednesday. The bill, which is co-sponsored by Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) in the Senate, would allow public school systems to charge tuition to students who arent documented in addition to requiring all students to show documentation. Crowe was among five Republicans voting to advance the bill, with supporters citing what they said are exponentially rising costs of providing English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, including to an unknown number of undocumented students. We love these children, Crowe said. I do. Many of these families are just fantastic families. This is kind of like tough love. It really is. You know, this is not something that is fun to do, but there comes a time when you have to do whats right. And I think thats what this legislation does from a perspective of moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Raumesh Akbari, the committees only Democrat, said she would probably be the only no vote as I always am, Republicans Ferrell Haile (Gallatin), Mark Pody (Lebanon) and Karry Roberts (Springfield) joined the Memphis lawmaker in opposing the bill. The bill would reverse a 43-year national precedent based on a 1982 Supreme Court decision. In Plyler v Doe, the court held that illegal alien children living in the United States could not be excluded from a free public education based upon their immigration status, the bill reads. Senate sponsor Bo Watson (R-Hixson) addressed Plyler Wednesday, saying dissenting justices in the 5-4 decision made some statements that are almost prophetic in nature, including that a very large added cost will fall on the state as a result of the inclusion of illegal aliens. Watson said his bill was focused on finances, citing what he said was ESL costs that more than doubled statewide from 2016 to 2018, to $198 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I am trying to discuss here is the financial burden that exists with what appears to be an increasing number of folks who are educated in our system who are not lawfully here or cannot document that they are lawfully here, he said. But the bill would also require all school systems to ask all enrolling families to show documentation that their student is either a citizen, in the process of obtaining citizenship or is a legal immigrant or here on a visa. Akbari specifically asked Watson whether the bill included that requirement and he said it does. The Tennessee Department of Education would have to promulgate a new rule to deal with the bills provisions, including how school systems would go about getting and keeping the information on legal status. Its very emotional, because were not talking about numbers, were talking about people, Akbari said during a lengthy back and forth with Watson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Akbari argued the bill would put the state in court, saying it sounded like an attempt to get the Plyler decision back before the Supreme Court. Watson said he believed what was a narrow decision in 1982 could have a different outcome in todays Supreme Court. The landscape in 2025 is exponentially different than the landscape in 1982, he said. Several advocates spoke for their allotted three minutes, decrying the bill as both inhumane and unwise economically. Ruby Aguilar, a Nashville native, educator and the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, said the Plyler decision was clear and that education is a shared human right that every child should have access to. Phillip Lovell of a national non-profit education group, All 4 Ed, said estimates show undocumented immigrants in Tennessee contribute $350 million in taxes a year, have $3.5 billion in purchasing power, and take very little public funding aside from education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public school systems have interpreted that decision as preventing them from asking questions about the citizenship or legal residency status of a child or family members during school enrollment. The bill cites rapid growth of the unauthorized population since 1982, a drain on State resources from serving illegal immigrants and changes in federal immigration policy as sufficient reasons to revisit the public school issue. Watson argued that the bill doesnt prevent students from accessing public education it just gives school systems the option of recouping some costs. He compared the impact it would have on undocumented students to students having to pay tuition if they choose to attend a public school outside the district in which they live. The other person who spoke, Daisy Perez, said she was a deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) recipient, an undocumented child who was educated in Tennessee public schools from 2008-2018 and now works in immigration law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have seen firsthand how equal access to public education transforms lives, Perez said. It empowers students, strengthens communities and benefits Tennessee as a whole. She warned that if the bill passes and results in children not attending school, it would harm Tennessees economy. By pushing children out of the education system we weaken our future workforce. Akbari echoed that, saying if the legislation passed and was implemented, you will have a subclass of children who will become adults who will be uneducated, who will not be able to contribute to the workforce, who will be unable to read or count or do any of the basic things that we take for granted. How is that an acceptable vision for Tennessee? Watson said many people made the same argument when Plyler was decided in 1982. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I understand that, Watson said. Thats a fair and legitimate argument. But the reality of it is, is we have a number, however small most people argue that its a small number, we dont know the number of individuals who are here unlawfully that we are having to fund and its getting more expensive each year and we have to realize the financial consequences of that. The thinking would be, perhaps, that those who are here unlawfully, when they dont have this advantage here, will either return to where they came from or find other means. Voting with Crowe in favor of the bill (Watson is not a member of the committee) were chair Dawn White (Murfreesboro), Bill Powers (Clarksville), Joey Hensley (Hohenwald) and Adam Lowe (Calhoun). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Senate, the bill now moves to the Finance Ways and Means Committee. The House version, sponsored by William Lamberth, is scheduled for the K-12 Subcommittee on March 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two Tennessee bills are sparking debates on personal property defense. House Bill 856 and Senate Bill 1407 have caused controversy as they move into the next phase. The bills establish that a person is justified, under certain circumstances, to use deadly force to protect their property. HB 856 was authored by District 71s Rep. Kip Capley. Trump administration listed Memphis IRS center, federal court building for sale Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had a situation in East Tennessee where there was a lot of looting after the hurricane. And, were trying to also, in addition to that, to strengthen some of the self-defense laws that we have and to offer a clear protection against theft and destruction and harm to private property and to put more safeguards to prevent, really, an excessive use of deadly force going forward, said Rep. Capley. Currently, Tennessees Stand Your Ground law allows you to defend yourself with a gun only if you or another person is in imminent danger. The proposed legislation states, A person is justified in using deadly force against another to prevent or terminate the others actual or attempted trespass; arson; damage to property; burglary; theft; robbery; or aggravated cruelty to animals, seriously bodily injury, or death to animals or livestock. Deputy drives into path of wrong-way vehicle to save other drivers, woman arrested Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think, you know, once people kind of learn that, if you break into somebodys home, if you break in their property, if youre trying to loot and someone feels like their lives in danger if they realize that the possibility of deadly force being used against them could, you know, potentially happen then then maybe that would deter some crime going forward, said Rep. Capley. This year, Memphis Public Safety has reported a total of 1,095 auto burglaries and 609 home break-ins. Legislators hope these bills will allow citizens to protect their possessions and homes when necessary. House Bill 856 will be heard in the House Criminal Justice subcommittee in the coming weeks. Senate Bill 1407 has been placed in the senate judiciary committee for hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Your personalized license plate is a form of government speech and therefore can be censored, according to a 3-judge panel of the Tennessee Supreme Court. In late February, the panel ruled the state can enforce restrictions on personalized license plates it deems inappropriate, overturning a previous appellate court ruling on the matter. At issue is Leah Gilliams personalized license plate, which she initially received in December 2010, court documents state. When she applied, she asked to used the plate 69PWNDU. The term pwnd, she said in her application, is a gaming term meaning to be owned or dominated. While 69 can be a sexual reference, Gilliam said she was an astronomy buff and meant the number to represent the year the United States saw man walk on the moon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Personalized license plates are issued and must be approved by the Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDR), per state law, with the departments Inventory Unit responsible for screening and approving or rejecting personalized plate ideas. Tennessee bill would allow schools to deny enrollment for immigration status As part of the Inventory Units review process, it has criteria identified as objectionable, including profanity, violence, sex, illegal substances, derogatory slang terms, and racial and ethnic slurs. Plates with content fitting these descriptions may be rejected or revoked if the Inventory Unit deems it necessary, though the review process is not perfect, per court documents. Per the panel, the Inventory Unit has erroneously approved personalized plates that read SHTUNOT, BUTNKD, 694FUN, BIGSEXI, 69BEAST, and 69PONY. According to court documents, Gilliam was able to drive her vehicle with no issue for over a decade, until the TDR Personnel Director, Justin Moorhead, received a text message about the plate on his personal cellphone in May 2021. Moorhead brought the plate to the attention of the Inventory Unit, which then determined Gilliams plate was issued in error and elected to revoke it. The department sent Gilliam a letter informing her of the decision, stating it should be revoked because it referred to sexual domination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department offered Gilliam the options to either apply for a different personalized plate or receive a standard plate instead, according to court documents. Gilliam instead filed for an administrative hearing on the matter, and then sued the TDR Commissioner and the Tennessee Attorney General over the issue in Davidson County Chancery Court two weeks later. In her suit, she argued the state law used as justification to reject her personalized plate was unconstitutional and violated her First Amendment rights. She also challenged the departments revocation process under Due Process claims. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The Chancery Court rejected Gilliams claims, stating the alphanumeric combinations on personalized license plates constituted government speech and therefore did not qualify for the viewpoint discrimination standard in the First Amendment raised by Gilliams suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On appeal, however, the Court of Appeals reversed, concluding the state did not use personalized license plates to convey state messages. Additionally, the appellate court rejected the states argument that personalized plates were used to convey messages of identification. And while the Appeals Court conceded the department has the authority to approve personalized plate applications and revoke erroneously approved plates, it was troubled by the Departments inconsistent regulation. In a ruling issued Feb. 26, a three-judge state supreme court panel reversed, saying previous United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) precedent held alphanumeric combinations on Tennessee license plates were, in fact, government speech, and the appeals court was wrong in ruling in Gilliams favor. The state supreme court used previous SCOTUS cases like Walker v. Texas and Pleasant Grove City v. Summum in its determination. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Under a faithful application of Walker and other applicable United States Supreme Court precedents, the alphanumeric combinations on Tennessees personalized license plates are government speech, the panel said in its ruling. Even if the public understands Tennessees personalized license plates to represent the speech of the vehicle owner, that does not preclude a conclusion that the plates also convey government agreement with the message displayed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gilliams attorney, Daniel Horwitz, expressed disappointment in the ruling, calling it an outlying opinion on the matter. He also said he would be seeking SCOTUS review on the issue. A group dedicated to fighting for free speech rights, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), also said it was disappointed by the ruling and suggested the Supreme Court should address the issue. When you see a creative vanity license plate, would you think the government is the one being clever? Or the driver? Its the drivers message, not the governments, and that should count for something, FIRE Attorney Adam Steinbaugh said in a statement to News 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Heres a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 6, according to the Tribunes archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 70 degrees (2000) Low temperature: 0 degrees (2015) Precipitation: 0.92 inches (1894) Snowfall: 4 inches (1943) 1964: Elijah Muhammad, head of the Chicago-based Nation of Islam, bestowed the name Muhammad Ali on new follower Cassius Clay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am honored, the heavyweight champion said when notified in Louisville. Also in 1964: Loyola University sprinter Tom OHara set the indoor mile record of 3:56.4 in the Bankers Mile at Chicago Stadium in the 1964 Chicago Daily News Relays. 2017: Hours after Gov. Bruce Rauner offered two options to provide $215 million to Chicago Public Schools, Chance the Rapper cut the district a $1 million check that the Grammy-winning musician described as a call to action for the citys business and philanthropic community. Chance was critical of the Republican governors efforts to fix the citys schools during a news conference in West Chatham on the South Side, not far from the musicians old neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Rauner still wont commit to give Chicagos kids a chance without caveats or ultimatums, Chance told students and reporters at Westcott Elementary School. Gov. Rauner, do your job. Want more vintage Chicago? Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicagos past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com March is still well before the Atlantic hurricane season, but there was once a storm that not only formed, but hammered parts of the Caribbean. On March 6, 1908, 117 years ago today, a tropical storm formed just over 500 miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Decades before satellites, histories of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Basin were pieced together from either ship reports or land areas already impacted. As best as those records indicate, that tropical storm became a hurricane later that evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This March oddball then tracked south-southwest, intensifying to Category 2 strength as it tracked over the northern Leeward Islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis. "We of the islands in and around the northeastern corner of the Caribbean Sea were surprised to experience weather of so boisterous a character that it reminded us of what sometimes takes place in the regular hurricane season," wrote John T. Quin from St. Croix in the May 1908 journal Monthly Weather Review. One sailboat broke from its anchor in St. Eustatius and was found "abandoned and stripped of mast and sails" off the southeast coast of Puerto Rico almost two weeks after the storm, according to Quin's report. Buildings were damaged in Saint Barthelemy, including a church. Tents housing peasants were damaged in Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, along with heavy damage to the local cotton crop. Up to 8 inches of rain was reported in St. Kitts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This remains the only March tropical storm or hurricane of record in the Atlantic Basin. March 1908 Atlantic hurricane Leeward Islands 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 on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Before she showed off her leggy prowess to Reid Park Zoo visitors in Tucson, a young giraffe decided she wanted a treat from a tree outside her enclosure. Nancy Kluge, Reid Park Zoo's president and CEO, explained that 3-year-old, 12-foot-tall Msituni (pronounced see-TOO-nee) jumped out of her enclosure 10 minutes prior to the zoo opening its doors to the public. Msituni remained calm and in a grassy spot as she munched on a nearby mesquite tree's leaves, according to the zoo. The visitors were let in about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a little more than 90 minutes past its regular opening time, Kluge said. "She's a little more curious than our other giraffe," Kluge told The Arizona Republic, referencing a 1-year-old male giraffe who, along with his parents, completes the zoo's tower as a group of giraffes is called. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that giraffes "are not bound to go after a person or another animal, but just because of their size, we want to be careful. Fortunately, we were closed during that time." However, Msituni never got past the guardrails put in place to keep visitors from crossing over into the animal's enclosure, Kluge pointed out. Animal care and veterinary personnel regularly do practice emergency drills and were prepared to supervise Msituni as she jumped back into her habitat, Kluge explained. Msituni joined the Reid Park Zoo three weeks ago after making her home at a California zoo, Kluge said. The young giraffe celebrated her birthday on Feb. 1, the website mentioned. The height of the giraffe enclosure's wall is being raised, and other to-be-determined modifications will be made, Kluge added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Long term, we may do a different solution, but the one they came up with looks like it's actually going to work pretty well," Kluge said. Reid Park Zoo, which is located on Lakeshore Lane near 22nd Street, also houses African elephants, grizzly and Andean bears, lions, zebras and Chilean flamingos, among other animals, according to its website. Users on social media chimed in with humor-filled speculation as to Msituni's motivation for temporarily leaving her enclosure. "She was like 'Just getting some snacks, yall want anything,'" read one Facebook's user's comment, while another wrote, "Leave it to a toddler giraffe to figure out a way out of the enclosure!" Grieving: Arizona zoos mourning the loss of beloved lions Kaya and Sierra This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A tall tale: Tucson giraffe gets out of enclosure before zoo opens Tom Llamas will take over as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News after Lester Holt steps down this summer, the network announced Wednesday. Llamas is a senior national correspondent and anchor of Top Story with Tom Llamas, an evening newscast that streams on NBC News NOW. He will continue to anchor Top Story each weeknight, NBC News executive vice president of programming Janelle Rodriguez wrote in a message to staff. Tom Llamas. Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity all characteristics that have long been trademarks of NBC Nightly News, Rodriguez said in a statement. Additionally, hes been instrumental in growing NBC News NOW into the leading streaming news network, helping to introduce NBC News to a new generation of viewers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Llamas said anchoring Nightly News is a profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility. I look forward to working with the world class journalists at Nightly News and Top Story to bring viewers the most important stories every night, Llamas said in a statement. Lester Holt in studio in New York in 2018. Holt, the anchor and managing editor of Nightly News for a decade, announced last month that he planned to step down this summer. He will remain a fixture at the network with a full-time role at Dateline, where he has been the principal anchor for almost 15 years. Lester Holt is a great man and one of the most trusted broadcasters of our time, Llamas said. Just like Lester, I promise to be devoted to our viewers and dedicated to the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Llamas started out as an intern at a local Telemundo station before launching his professional journalism career at NBC News, working as an overnight production assistant and then a campaign embed. He rose through the news industry as a local journalist at WTVJ and WNBC. He later served as ABCs chief national affairs correspondent and anchored weekend editions of the networks World News Tonight. He rejoined NBC News in 2021 as a senior national correspondent and soon after became the anchor of Top Story. He is also a regular fill-in anchor on Nightly News and reports often for that program, in addition to the TODAY show. Llamas has led coverage of major breaking news and political events for NBC News NOW, reporting on pivotal storylines from around the U.S. and the world, including the Israel-Hamas war; Russias invasion of Ukraine; the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania; the Tokyo and Paris Olympics; and several natural disasters. He has interviewed world leaders and political figures, including Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, first lady Melania Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Llamas starts his new role this summer. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to lay off as many as 80,000 workers in the coming weeks in the latest phase of the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the federal workforce, according to an internal memo obtained by ABC News. VA Secretary Doug Collins later confirmed the planned cuts in a video posted to X, saying the agency is aiming for a 15% workforce cut that could begin in the coming months. Collins said the VA will continue to hire for open "mission critical" positions while the agency downsizes in other areas, so that "health care and benefits for VA beneficiaries are not impacted." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump 2nd term live updates "We regret anyone who loses their job, and it's extraordinarily difficult for me as a VA leader, and your secretary, to make these types of decisions. But the federal government does not exist to employ people. It exists to serve people," Collins said. PHOTO: A sign marks the headquarters of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., Feb. 20, 2025. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Top Republicans and Democrats raised concerns with the plans and how they might be implemented. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said on X that that "the Department of Veterans Affairs is in need of reform but current efforts to downsize the department and increase efficiency must be done in a more responsible manner." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I expect the VA to work with Congress to right size the VA workforce and allow us to legislate necessary changes," he added. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the panel, criticized the announcement, saying the "plan prioritizes private sector profits over veterans care, balancing the budget on the backs of those who served." MORE: 'A slap in the face': Veterans react to finding out they were laid off In a March 4 memo to senior agency leaders, chief of staff Christopher Syrek said the VA's "initial objective is to return to our 2019-end strength numbers of 399,957 employees" as part of the Department of Government Efficiency-led wave of large-scale firings and reorganization of agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "VA, in partnership with our DOGE leads, will move out aggressively, while taking a pragmatic and disciplined approach to identify and eliminate waste, reduce management and bureaucracy, reduce footprint, and increase workplace efficiency," Syrek said in the memo obtained by ABC News. Already, the VA has said it has dismissed 2,400 probationary workers -- although some were subsequently hired back to the agency, workers and lawmakers told ABC News. Agencies are required to submit the first piece of their reorganization plans -- with proposals for potential layoffs -- to the Office of Personnel Management by March 13. The VA did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as the VA prepares to trim its workforce, the agency has faced setbacks in other cost-cutting efforts. On Wednesday, Collins announced that the agency had saved $900 million by canceling more than 500 "non mission critical and duplicative" contracts, after initially claiming the agency had identified $2 billion in contracts for potential savings. The agency has faced internal resistance to the contract cuts -- some of which directly support medical care and facilities -- and has reversed the cancellation of many of the initial batch of more than 800 originally identified for cuts. Top Republicans and Democrats concerned about VA plan to cut 80,000 from its workforce originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys top aide said a meeting between Washington and Kyiv delegations was scheduled for the near future to further discuss peace talks that could end the three-year war in Eastern Europe. Andriy Yermak, who serves as Zelenskys chief of staff, wrote on Wednesday that he and national security adviser Mike Waltz discussed the next steps towards a just and lasting peace. We also exchanged views on security issues and the alignment of positions within the framework of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United States, Yermak said on social platform X. We have scheduled a meeting for our teams in the near future to continue this important work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky mentioned the developing dialogue between the two sides in his daily address on Wednesday. Everyone can see how fast diplomatic events are developing. Today, our Ukrainian and U.S. teams have started working on a meeting, Zelensky said. There is a positive movement, The discussion between Yermak and Waltz came as the Trump administrations officials confirmed earlier Wednesday that the U.S. had halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine. We have taken a step back, and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship, Waltz told reporters. But I just got off the phone before I walked out here with my counterpart, the Ukrainian national security adviser, Waltz added. We are having good talks on location for the next round of negotiations, on delegations, on substance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CIA Director John Ratcliffe said during an interview that a pause in intelligence sharing with Ukraine, as the war-torn country fights against Russia, is intended to make Zelensky rethink his current approach to peace talks. Ratcliffe, a former House GOP lawmaker, added that Ukraines presidents statements this week, in which he expressed intention to sign a minerals deal and pursue peace discussions, show the U.S. approach is working. I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen I think will go away, and I think well work shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine as we have to push back on the aggression thats there, but to put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward, Ratcliffe said. The Trump administration also temporarily paused aid flowing to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has pushed to reach a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia for some time. The president spoke with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in January. Zelensky, Trump and Vice President Vance had a falling out in the Oval Office on Friday, a meeting that appeared to damage relations between Washington and Kiev. Ukraines delegation departed early and the scheduled press conference was canceled. Since then, Trump has expressed openness to continue dialogue with Ukraine that would lead to a ceasefire in Eastern Europe. Zelensky described the Friday huddle as regrettable, argued that Kyiv is open to penning the minerals agreement and that Ukraine is ready to participate in peace discussions. Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way, Zelensky wrote Tuesday. It is time to make things right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive, he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MADRID (Reuters) - Torrential rains on Thursday caused floods that swept away cars as local authorities evacuated schools and closed roads in eastern Spain, four months after deadly flash floods in Valencia caused killed more than 220 people. The state weather agency Aemet issued orange alerts for some parts of the Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia regions on the country's Mediterranean coast as officials told people to stay indoors. Spaniards are still nervous after heavy rains last year caught authorities on the hop and caused the country's deadliest natural disaster in decades, with many blaming local and national officials for warning people of the danger too late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Images broadcast on a local television station showed a car being swept down the river Lorca in Murcia. A woman had to be rescued from the car by local firemen, La 7 television said. Another man had to be rescued from his vegetable patch with a tractor, La Sexta said. Fernando Lopez Miras, president of the Murcia region in southeastern Spain, said there had been no casualties on Thursday although one person died when they were swept away in a flooded ravine earlier in the week. "There was nothing to indicate that it was going to rain as it is raining," Lopez Miras said on La Sexta. "Every day the ravines are accumulating more water and there are more flooded streets. The water won't stop and the Aemet's alerts hadn't forecast this would be so prolonged." Aemet said that in some areas 120mm had fallen in 12 hours and some weather stations had experienced more rain in March than would normally be expected in all of the spring season. It said a new weather front coming from the west would mean the rains would continue across the country until the weekend. (Reporting by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Toby Chopra) NEW YORK (AP) As toy inventors, toy manufacturers and buyers for stores that sell toys met for a four-day annual trade show in New York last weekend, a topic besides which items were destined for holiday wish lists permeated the displays. President Donald Trump had announced days before that he planned to increase the extra tariff he put on Chinese imports in February to 20%. Would he? By Tuesday, the last day of the Toy Fair, attendees had their answer, and the talk about how it would affect the prices of playthings grew more urgent. Nearly 80% of the toys sold in the U.S. are sourced from China, according to The Toy Association, a national industry group that sponsors the show formerly known as the North American International Toy Fair. Many toy makers are now renegotiating prices with retailers and taking a hard look at their products to see if they can cut costs. Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association, said price increases of 15% to 20% are expected on games, dolls, cars and other toys by the back-to-school shopping season. The price range that U.S. consumers are willing to pay is anywhere from $4.99 to $19.99, leaving little wiggle room to raise prices, he said. Its untenable, Ahearn said, noting that small businesses make up roughly 96% of the American toy industry. Trump also moved forward this week with 25% tariffs on products imported from Canada and Mexico. Some companies have moved some of their manufacturing to Mexico to be closer to the U.S. On Wednesday, though, the president granted U.S. automakers a one-month exemption from the tariffs on the neighboring North American nations. And on Thursday, Trump postponed 25% tariffs on most goods from Mexico for a month amid widespread fears of the impact of a broader trade war. Trump's changing statements and policies on tariffs have made it challenging for toy companies to plan accordingly. Basic Fun CEO Jay Foreman said he didn't rush late last year to get shipments of Tonka trucks, Care Bears and other toys his Boca Raton, Florida-based company produces in China because he wasn't sure if the 60% tariff on Chinese goods that Trump discussed on the campaign trail would come to pass. If you plan in a chaotic environment, you have a much greater chance of being wrong than being right, Foreman said when interviewed Sunday at his Toy Fair booth. All of Basic Fun's toy products are made in China except for K'Nex, a construction set made in the U.S., he said. After Trump instead imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods last month, Foreman said he worked hard to persuade retailers to share some of the cost so he didn't have to pass it on to consumers. Now that the import duty has doubled, he said he will have to raise prices for many of his items. It was hard not to know Luther Keith in Detroit. Keith was a stellar journalist, a descendent of a legendary civil rights family and the founder and executive director of ARISE Detroit! for nearly 20 years. And if that wasnt enough, Keith was a well-known blues player. Like the stage name he performed under, he was one bad man. Keith, the Michigan Hall of Fame journalist and community activist, has died at the age of 74, his family confirmed Wednesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will miss you and love you for the rest of my life, LuLu ," his daughter, Erin Keith, posted on his Facebook page Wednesday night. His cause of death is unknown. Keith is survived by his wife, Jacqueline and daughter, Erin. An illustrious career Keith, a native Detroiter, attended Detroit Cathedral High School and began his career at The Detroit News in 1972, after graduating from the University of Detroit. He was the first Black sportswriter at a Detroit daily newspaper. It was the start of an illustrious career. Keith became the first Black reporter to cover Lansing politics, before becoming both the newspapers first Black business editor and the first to appear on the masthead as an assistant managing editor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith also spearheaded a weekly On Detroit section, which highlighted unique stories about the city. The section, which focused on Detroit business, neighborhoods, churches, schools and people won numerous honors, including a Spirit of Detroit award from the city. Podcast: Luther Keith talks Detroit Keith was inducted to the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 1995. Vincent McCraw, president of the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists who worked with Keith at The Detroit News, said many in Detroit were impacted by Keiths work. Luther lived his life making a difference, McCraw said. As a trailblazing reporter, editor and senior editor, a founding director of a university program training journalists of color and the founder and executive director of a community organization rebuilding Detroit neighborhoods, many of us are beneficiaries of Luther's work, mentorship and friendship. 'He opened doors' In 1985, Keith took a hiatus from The News to become the first director of the Journalism Institute for Minorities at Wayne State University. He was specifically tapped by Detroit News Editor Ben Burns to run the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first-of-its-kind program was designed to train and bring more journalists of color into newsrooms. Now known as the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity, it is in its 40th year, and counts as alumni numerous journalists and other media professionals, including Detroit Free Press Executive Editor James Hill, Illinois Answers Project Editor-in-Chief Ruby Bailey and former Mayor and Detroit City Council President Kenneth Cockrel Jr. Other graduates of the program have worked at organizations such as the Chicago Tribune, Wall St. Journal and the Washington Post, and at nearly every major media outlet in Detroit. I can't even really imagine a Detroit without him, said institute grad Kim Trent, a former Detroit News reporter who now serves as deputy director for prosperity for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Trent said his faith and support of her changed the trajectory of her life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would not be the professional I am, leader, the Wayne State University booster or the Detroiter without Luther Keith, Trent said. He opened doors for me that really allowed me to create a life. Hes always been the most consistent booster for me in my career. My story is the story of countless people in this community. He put his hand and his heart into so many lives. Trent added she wrote Keiths nomination letter for the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, despite pushback from some top editors who thought he was too young. (They) didn't know the impact that he had on so many young journalists like me. He was a giant already and obviously the committee agreed because he was inducted, said Trent, who also worked with Keith on the Rosa Parks Foundation.Detroit historian Ken Coleman called it a significant loss on multiple fronts. He is mostly intrigued about Keiths work in Lansing. 'Renaissance man' Its an incredible loss for the city and the state, Detroit historian Ken Coleman said. (Working in Lansing) holds great weight and significance. When you think about Luther growing up in the 50s, 60s and early 70s, seeing a lot of the civil rights gains and then benefiting from those types of gains " Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleman also linked him with other prominent journalists, Angelo Henderson and Cliff Russell, who had multiple careers. Keith wasn't afraid to approach boundaries." There's probably a generation of people that don't even know Luther managed the Sunday edition of the Detroit News for years because they know him from ARISE Detroit, Coleman said. They know him as a community advocate and activist. Some people don't know that he picked up and learned guitar as an adult and parlayed that into recordings and gigs across the city. He was sort of a Renaissance man. Keith retired from The News as a columnist in 2005, founding ARISE Detroit!, a nonprofit group with the mission of connecting people to community groups. The group aimed to launch a new wave of volunteerism for many programs and activities that are struggling with the issues that trouble Detroit illiteracy, high school dropout rates, crime and youth violence, drug abuse, domestic abuse, neighborhood blight and unemployment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ARISE Detroits! signature event, Neighborhoods Day in early August, galvanized about 400 community groups at its peak. Last years event had about 150 groups participate. It is our belief that everyone can play a role and render service, thereby having a greater impact on solving these chronic problems, Keith said on the ARISE Detroit! website. Our goal is to unite the entire community nonprofit organizations, churches, schools, the business community and the media in an unprecedented call to action. This movement is about making a personal commitment to change at a critical time in our citys history. Registration for the 19th annual Neighborhoods Day opened March 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ARISE Detroit! Board Director Leslie Graham Andrews called Keith their fearless leader. It was an honor and privilege to serve with him as we carried forth the vision and mission of ARISE Detroit and Neighborhoods Day, Graham Andrews wrote on Keiths Facebook page. It was also a true joy to watch him having the best time playing the blues. Our hearts are broken as this is truly a profound loss for the world." The Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the NAACP Detroit Branch, called Keith a "dedicated, sensitive and heart-centered man." "We often talked about Detroit and its challenges and promises," Anthony said. "From the editorial page of the Detroit News to the oratorical commentary in the Detroit streets, Luther spoke truth to power. Although he is gone physically may the warmth of his spirit ARISE inside each of us. He was indeed a BAAAAD MAN. Living life with passion Outside of all of his community endeavors, he was also known by his stage name, Luther Badman Keith, as a Blues artist with five albums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith did not pick up an instrument until he was 30. In 1980, Keith went to see legendary Blues guitarist Luther Allison perform. He called it a transformative moment, and was so inspired by Allison that he purchased a used electric guitar the next week. Blues guitar would become his passion, and he began performing professionally 15 years later. McCraw, who regularly booked Keith to play the annual Detroit NABJ Show the Love event, said many saw a new side of Keith when he began playing the blues. "When he found his passion playing the guitar and singing the blues, we all found a new way to appreciate him," McCraw said. His last gig was at Bakers Keyboard lounge, on Tuesday night, to honor the induction of his longtime friend and Free Press contributing columnist Keith Owens induction into this years class of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darren A. Nichols, named one of Michigans most recognized media figures, is a contributing columnist at the Free Press. He can be reached at darren@dnick-media.com or his X (formerly Twitter) handle @dnick12. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trailblazing Detroit journalist, musician Luther Keith dies at 74 FOX CROSSING, Wis. (WFRV) On Tuesday, firefighters in Winnebago County responded to a fire at a trailer home and quickly contained the flames. According to the Fox Crossing Fire Department, crews were called to the 1000 block of Happy Valley Drive on March 4 for reports of smoke coming from a trailer home. Nearly a dozen animals dead after 85-year-old barn in Door County catches fire, owner didnt have insurance Fox Crossing Fire Department The first crews to arrive reportedly saw smoke coming out of the roof and windows. Firefighters searched the home and said that no one was at home at the time of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire was quickly found and brought under control within 10 minutes of arrival. No injuries were reported. The Grand Chute Fire Department, Town of Neenah Fire Department, and Fox Crossing Police Department assisted the Fox Crossing Fire Department at the scene. The fire remains under investigation, officials say. Local 5 will update this story if any new details are provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. UPDATED (5:35 p.m.): Dressed in a black and white jail jumpsuit, Travis Lofton entered the courtroom to learn his fate Wedensday afternoon after his conviction in November of intentional murder. The sentence, life in prison. He looked like he had some emotion, some sadness to a certain point, said Taylor Mallette, the victims ex-wife. Then it kind of subsided to anger again. The mother of one of Jason Mallettes two boys took the stand just as she had done during the trial only this time she was fighting for the maximum sentence. We will never get him back so the least we could ask for is that he serves life in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tabatha Middleton read her victim impact statement describing in part, unimaginable grief, profound loss calling Lofton a violent monster who executed Jason Mallette as he arrived at the restaurant for work in June of 2023. Assistant District Attorney Patrick Doggett prosecuted the case. The key to today is to stop worrying about Travis Lofton and move on with their family. Lofton chose not to speak in court but he did talk while being led away in handcuffs. Im hoping we can appeal this and go to the supreme court and hopefully justice can be done for all. He has 42 days to appeal his sentence, something Malletes family and friends dont have. This is life long for us, said Middleton. I dont think we will ever completely heal from this. We all got a life sentence, added Mallette. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lofton will eventually be eligible for parole but prosecutors say he will have to serve at least 15 years before that could happen. PREVIOUS REPORTING : DAPHNE, Ala. (WKRG) Travis Lofton the man found guilty in the murder of a Daphne restaurant manager has been sentenced to life in prison. Chickasaw bank robbery suspect arrested: police Lofton was found guilty in November 2024 for the shooting death of Jason Mallette the Tazikis Mediterranean Cafe manager in 2023. In court Wednesday, Tabatha Middleton, Mallettes oldest childs mother, is the only person who spoke calling him a violent monster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lofton shot Mallette after he went to confront Mallette about an alleged sexual assault against Loftons wife. Video evidence presented during the trial showed Lofton arriving at the restaurant and lying in wait for Mallette to arrive. Argument leads to knife attack in Mobile, Alabama It came out in the trial that Loftons wife, Aerial Allen, had concocted a story about Mallette raping her that was not true; however, Lofton acted on that lie and killed Mallette. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A May 12 trial date has been set for the former Vienna Township fiscal officer charged with theft in office. Linda McCullough pleaded not guilty to the superseding indictment charging her with 10 counts including theft in office, telecommunications fraud, and tampering with records. Her bond was continued at $20,000. According to the superseding indictment, McCullough used her position as the townships fiscal officer to steal $116,370.82. The alleged crimes took place between August 6, 2021, and March 21, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCullough resigned as Viennas fiscal officer during an investigation and audit into the townships $1.3 million budget shortfall. Shes scheduled to be back in court on April 16. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Note: Whether its health care, retirement benefits, family support and child care, VA benefits or other programs, getting smart about the rewards you have earned is worth your time. Although it is not yet clear to what extent federal cuts will affect DOD programs including quality-of-life initiatives these benefits were in place as of this writing. Visit this page for all of our latest coverage surrounding military and veteran pay and benefits. The military helps troops and veterans achieve their educational goals with financial assistance offered through a number of programs. Post-9/11 GI Bill The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a benefit for the latest generation of service members and veterans, as well as their eligible dependents. It includes payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and a stipend for textbooks and supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amount of time a veteran spends on active duty determines their benefit level. In general, the higher the level, the less individuals have to pay out of pocket for school. The benefit maxes out at full coverage of in-state tuition at public universities. Heres what veterans who received an honorable discharge after Sept. 10, 2001, are eligible for, based on the amount of time theyve served: 100%: 36 months or more of active duty service, or discharged after at least 30 continuous days due to a service-connected disability 90%: 30-36 months 80%: 24-30 months 70%: 18-24 months 60%: 6-18 months 50%: 90 days-6 months No benefit: Fewer than 90 days Veterans who served before Sept. 10, 2001, are not eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another deadline vets should be aware of: If someones service ended before Jan. 1, 2013, their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will expire 15 years after they last separated from active duty. If their service ended in 2013 or later, the benefit does not expire. Veterans can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pay for courses at a college, university, trade school, flight school or apprenticeship program. While the benefit covers all in-state tuition and fees at public institutions, it may not have the same reach at a private or foreign school. The maximum tuition coverage for private nonprofit, private for-profit and foreign schools for the 2024-2025 school year was $28,937.09. That figure is expected to increase again in August. The housing stipends GI Bill users receive depend on the level of benefits theyre eligible for, how many courses they take and where they go to class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rate is determined by the Defense Departments Basic Allowance for Housing scale and is paid at the same rate an active duty E-5 with dependents would receive in a particular area. If veterans are pursuing a degree entirely online, they will get half of the national BAH average. Congress passed changes to the program at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to allow students forced online by campus closures and virus mitigation efforts to receive full housing benefits. Those protections have now expired, but could be used again in similar cases of national emergency under legislation enacted in 2022. In the past, the Department of Veterans Affairs based the housing allowance on the location of a schools main campus, even if a student took classes at a different branch. However, in 2019, the Forever GI Bill directed the VA to instead link the housing stipend to the location where a student attends most of their classes. Service members may transfer their benefits to a dependent, provided they have already served in the military for at least six years and agree to serve for four more after DOD approves the transfer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The transfer must happen while an individual is still in uniform. Veterans who have already separated from the military are not eligible to transfer their benefits. Children are only eligible to start using the transferred benefits after the service member who gave them the funds has completed at least 10 years of service. Spouses can use the transferred benefits right away. Following a Supreme Court decision in 2024, veterans who earned both Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits while completing two separate periods of military service may be eligible to receive 12 additional months of educational payouts, above the 36 that either program currently provides. Veterans should contact VA for information on eligibility and delivery of the extra stipends. Active duty service members in August 2022 became eligible for the VA Yellow Ribbon program, which allows private schools to match VA benefits with their own tuition assistance. More details about the GI Bill are available here: https://www.militarytimes.com/education-transition/2019/07/20/gi-bill-benefits-guide/ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA also maintains a GI Bill Comparison Tool, found here: https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/ Veterans can apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill online https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/ or by visiting their local VA regional office. If a beneficiary has already chosen a school or program, arrange a meeting with the institutions VA certifying official, who can help get the process started. Tuition assistance While troops can begin to use their GI Bill benefits on active duty, their service branch can often help them pay for college by using tuition assistance first saving the GI Bill for later. TA is a federal benefit that covers the cost of tuition, up to certain limits, for active duty service members, as well as some members of the National Guard and reserves. The military services directly pay those funds to schools. Generally, all service members must have enough time remaining in service to complete any courses in which they enroll and must meet minimum grade standards to remain eligible for the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each service has its own requirements. Air Force: All officers incur a service requirement if they use TA, but there is no service-length requirement to begin using the benefit. Navy: Enlisted sailors and officers, including Navy reservists, must have a minimum of three years of military service before becoming eligible to use TA. Army : Active duty officers incur a two-year service obligation if they enroll in classes. Reserve component officers incur a four-year service obligation. Marine Corps: Marines must agree to at least two more years of active duty service to use the benefit. Coast Guard: Active duty members must have been on long-term active orders for more than 180 days to access TA. The Coast Guard also has unit-specific requirements and requires commanding officer approval. National Guard/reserve: Soldiers who are activated or on drill status are eligible under the same conditions as active duty Army personnel. Air National Guardsmen and reservists of other branches are eligible for TA if they are activated, and the use of TA often comes with a service obligation once the last course is completed. All of the services cap tuition assistance at $250 per credit hour and $4,500 per fiscal year. Generally, TA funds can be used to pursue a higher degree than what troops have already earned, up to a masters degree. For instance, if someone has a bachelors degree, they can then pursue a graduate degree not an associate degree or a second bachelors degree, though there are some exceptions. Some branches require troops to create a degree plan or take a branch-specific course before TA benefits are approved. LOS ANGELES (NewsNation) As President Donald Trump postpones 25% tariffs on most goods from Mexico for a month amid widespread fears of the impact of a broader trade war, American truckers are waiting to see what happens next for their industry. Truckers tell NewsNation theyre bracing for major changes without a clear roadmap, and the American Trucking Association is warning the Trump administration of unintended consequences. Theres a lot of anxiety throughout the supply chain, and truckers are key to getting all consumer items to your door. While theres a new reprieve from Mexico, tariffs have kicked in for Canada. Some truckers say theyre turning around at the U.S.-Canada border to avoid that new 25% payment at customs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House reverses course on Education Department executive order Theres a lot of anxiety about what the next day will bring, said Greg Dubuque, a third-generation trucker. Like many others in the industry, hes worried over an uncertain future, but things continue to roll at Liberty Linehaul West Trucking, which has been transporting goods between the U.S. and Canada for decades. Clothing, produce and all kinds of items were already on the move before the tariffs kicked in, so companies are beginning to pay up In order to keep business projects and perishable products in the pipeline. Nearly half of all U.S. imports come from Mexico, Canada and China. In the short term, unwinding the process would be costlier than paying the new U.S. tariffs for nearly 3 million American truckers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to keep our wheels rolling, thats for sure, and ruling with good customer freight that pays the bills, said Dubuque. And if thats not there, that would really hurt our industry in the short term. Dubuque said if his fleet of 40 truckers were stopped just for a day, the cost would be in the neighborhood of $50,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. LOS ANGELES (NewsNation) As President Trump postpones 25 percent tariffs on most goods from Mexico for a month amid widespread fears of the impact of a broader trade war, American truckers are waiting to see what happens next for their industry. Truckers tell NewsNation theyre bracing for major changes without a clear roadmap, and the American Trucking Association is warning the Trump administration of unintended consequences. Theres a lot of anxiety throughout the supply chain, and truckers are key to getting all consumer items to your door. While theres a new reprieve from Mexico, tariffs have kicked in for Canada. Some truckers say theyre turning around at the U.S.-Canada border to avoid that new 25 percent payment at customs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House reverses course on Education Department executive order Theres a lot of anxiety about what the next day will bring, said Greg Dubuque, a third-generation trucker. Like many others in the industry, hes worried over an uncertain future, but things continue to roll at Liberty Linehaul West Trucking, which has been transporting goods between the U.S. and Canada for decades. Clothing, produce and all kinds of items were already on the move before the tariffs kicked in, so companies are beginning to pay up In order to keep business projects and perishable products in the pipeline. Nearly half of all U.S. imports come from Mexico, Canada and China. In the short term, unwinding the process would be costlier than paying the new U.S. tariffs for nearly 3 million American truckers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to keep our wheels rolling, thats for sure, and ruling with good customer freight that pays the bills, said Dubuque. And if thats not there, that would really hurt our industry in the short term. Dubuque said if his fleet of 40 truckers were stopped just for a day, the cost would be in the neighborhood of $50,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TRUMBULL, Conn. (WTNH) The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CTDPH) is investigating a water issue at the Genesis St. Josephs Center that resulted in an evacuation of nearly 200 people Wednesday. The town of Trumbull and CTDPH made the decision to relocate the residents of the facility at 6448 Main Street, to protect the health and well being of all residents in the facility, according to a press release from the office of First Selectman Vicki Tesoro Wednesday night. DCF didnt protect girl abused by guardian: Report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Town officials said the evacuation started around 11 p.m., with about 187 patients being transported to various other nursing facilities. The progress was executed by a litany of agencies and personnel, including CTDPH, the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Trumbull EMS, Trumbull emergency Management, Trumbull fire and police, and over two dozen EMS agencies and wheelchair livery services from across the state. As of Thursday morning, town officials said 66 patients were safely transported to 23 different nursing facilities and about 50 more patients were in the process of being transported. Child missing from CT since 1999 found in Mexico Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Town officials could not give an estimate as to when residents will be able to return to the facility, but they expect operations to continue through most of the day Thursday. Officials assure the public that all residents are safe, comfortable, and being well cared for during this process, the town said in a statement Thursday. Families wishing to check on the status of their loved ones can contact Genesis St. Josephs Center directly at 203-268-6204. Nearby Teresian Towers and Carmel Ridge were not impacted. Trumbull Fire Marshal Megan Murphy did not disclose what the water issue was, but the decision to evacuate was made for sanitary reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Genesis St. Josephs Center is located at 6448 Main St. in Trumbull. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. March 6 (UPI) -- An independent federal board has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reinstate nearly 6,000 employees fired last month amid the Trump administration's effort to cull the federal workforce. The Merit Systems Protection Board issued its stay on Wednesday, ordering the USDA to reinstate the 5,692 workers it has fired for at least 45 days as it continues to consider the legality of the mass removals. Those affected by the order are the probationary employees who have been fired since Feb. 13 by near-identical letters stating they were being relieved of their duties due to performance-related issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order, written by board clerk Gina Grippando, states that "there are reasonable grounds to believe that the agency engaged in a prohibited personnel action" under the law. The employees were fired as the administration of President Donald Trump has tried to remove tens of thousands of federal workers throughout the government via mass firings and incentive package-induced resignations facilitated by executive orders and policy changes. The USDA probation employees to be reinstated all received a letter since Feb. 13 informing them that "The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest." The order issued Wednesday gives the USDA five days to submit evidence to the board showing its compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Special counsel Hampton Dellinger had requested the stay on Friday on behalf of the fired workers on the grounds their removal was illegal. On Wednesday, he celebrated the board's ruling. "My agency will continue to investigate and take appropriate action on prohibited personnel practices including improper terminations of probationary employees," Dellinger said in a statement. "Voluntarily rescinding these hasty and apparently unlawful personnel actions is the right thing to do and avoids the unnecessary wasting of taxpayer dollars." The announcement comes as Dellinger is one of the federal employees Trump is trying to remove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dellinger -- who was nominated to a five-year term as head the office in October 2023 by then President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in February 2024 -- was fired on Feb. 7, but he has fought to stay in the position. Later Wednesday, an appeals court vacated a district court's block preventing Dellinger's firing. The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the temporary legal status of 240,000 Ukrainians who fled to the U.S. from Russia's invasion, potentially paving the way for their deportation, Reuters reported on March 6, citing four undisclosed sources. The plan predates U.S. President Donald Trump's public spat with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 28 and is part of broader efforts to revoke the legal status of more than 1.8 million people staying in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds, the news agency noted. The move, which is expected as soon as April, would nevertheless threaten to further widen the rift between Kyiv and Washington after the U.S. paused military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt later dismissed the Reuters report as "fake news," claiming that no decision had been made. This is more fake news from Reuters, based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about, she wrote on X. Around 5.2 million Ukrainian refugees remain abroad, with the vast majority of them receiving protection in EU countries. Migrants stripped of the humanitarian parole, granted as part of the Biden administration's programs, could be fast-tracked for deportations, Reuters reported, citing an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration has been one of the key topics of Trump's electoral campaign as he pledged to bolster border security and tighten immigration rules. His first days in office were followed by announcements of large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants, though data suggests the rate is comparable to Biden's years. The Trump administration began rolling back the protection of Ukrainian and other refugees mere days after taking office. The Uniting for Ukraine program, which allowed Ukrainians to stay in the U.S. for up to two years, work, and receive health insurance, was suspended by late January. Read also: US set to abandon partners again as history repeats in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Mar. 5The Trump administration has agreed to renegotiate funding for Maine Sea Grant, one of the state's key coastal resource programs, following conversations between U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. The renegotiation would put funding back on the table so long as the work supported by the program "focuses on advancing Maine's coastal economies, working waterfronts and sustainable fisheries," Collins' office said in an emailed statement Wednesday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Saturday that it was rescinding the $4.5 million award that supports marine science research, workforce development and education across the state for four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's unclear when the money would be restored and when projects could resume. Maine Sea Grant will need to reapply for funding, according to the statement. "I appreciate the secretary's willingness to work together to ensure that Maine Sea Grant can continue to conduct research, support a robust pipeline of skilled labor, and ensure that our coastal economies remain profitable hubs for fishermen, lobstermen and hospitality workers," Collins said in the statement. "It is important that Maine Sea Grant can continue to provide valuable services for communities across the state for years to come." "Through these bilateral negotiations, the department will ensure that the American people, including hardworking Mainers like lobstermen and fishermen, receive the benefit of the bargain consistent with the administration's priorities and continued relevance to program objectives," Nancy Hann, NOAA's deputy undersecretary for operations, wrote in a memorandum. Hann said the negotiations will modify the requirements of Maine Sea Grant's award. It is unclear how Maine Sea Grant's current work and focus differs from the Trump administration's priorities and whether the organization will have to shift that work to fall in line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University of Maine System oversees Maine Sea Grant. The program supported 332 businesses and 565 jobs in 2023 and generated $23.5 million of economic activity on $1.5 million in funding that year roughly $15 for every federal dollar invested, according to the organization. The news of the funding termination sent shockwaves through Maine's fisheries industry. Maine Sea Grant Director Gayle Zydlewski said the funding getting pulled was "devastating." The Maine Lobstermen's Association called Maine Sea Grant "an important partner" in "preserving our way of life." In a termination letter that was provided to the Press Herald, NOAA official Timothy Carrington wrote that the activities of Maine Sea Grant are "no longer relevant to the administration's priorities and program objectives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Collins said she explained to Lutnick how important Maine Sea Grant is to the state's coastal communities and that losing the funding would "cause devastating harm." This was the first major cut to NOAA, and it is the first program under the University of Maine System that has lost all of the funding it needs for base operations. The loss of funding also comes two weeks after President Donald Trump threatened to cut Maine's federal funding in the wake of a confrontation with Gov. Janet Mills over the state's refusal to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' sports. The Press Herald reached out to administrators from the 33 comparable programs in other states Tuesday and Wednesday. The 16 that have so far responded said they haven't lost funding. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, and Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, asserted this week that the Trump administration decided to defund Maine Sea Grant as retaliation, noting that there did not appear to be any similar cuts at other Sea Grant programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, they said they were pleased that Lutnick is willing to reconsider the termination, but argued that the system should not have to reapply for "funding that was improperly taken away from them in the first place." "It is critical that the federal government honor its commitment to supporting research and development in coastal communities to ensure the future success and resilience of Maine's marine economy and immediately restore the Maine Sea Grant's full funding," King and Pingree said in a written statement. Collins, meanwhile, has also spoken with leadership at the University of Maine and the director of Maine Sea Grant. University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, in a written statement Wednesday night, said she was "deeply appreciative of Senator Collins' leadership and relentless advocacy" for the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she looks forward to finding a mutually agreeable path forward and noted an "outpouring of support" since the weekend announcement. Collins has also "exchanged text messages" with Trump adviser and billionaire Elon Musk, she told Politico yesterday. Collins wouldn't say what the texts have been about, but said she has raised objections to some of the cuts and Musk's role in the U.S. government. Staff Writer Daniel Kool contributed to this report. Copy the Story Link By Douglas Gillison (Reuters) - Facing a legal challenge over its abrupt decision to halt work last month, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has since Thursday allowed several offices to resume functions that officials say are required by law, according to newly released emails. The authorizations to restart work came several days after the agency had told a court it was committed to meeting its obligations under the law and did not intend to shut itself down, as an employee union and consumer advocates have alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CFPB representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents federal workers, and others are seeking a court order blocking the Trump administration from essentially liquidating the consumer watchdog agency via work stoppages, contract cancellations and mass layoffs, arguing that officials cannot simply switch off government functions that Congress has mandated by law. The emails, made public in court late Tuesday under a federal judge's order, also show a staff whipsawed by what they saw as ambiguous instructions from agency leadership. Most notably, the emails showed confusion over the status of the agency's division of supervision - which the Trump administration specifically directed to cease operations last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a senior supervision official said the agency was not allowing policing of various financial institutions to continue, a top agency lawyer, Mark Paoletta, insisted legally mandated work could go forward, while asking for a description of all of its pending work. After taking control in early February, acting CFPB Director Russell Vought issued instructions halting work unless "required by law" and instructed agency staff not to perform "any work tasks" unless they had obtained advance authorization. The agency then canceled more than 170 service contracts, including all of those supporting its divisions of enforcement and supervision, among other offices. And a government-associated account on the social media platform X also appeared, advertising a CFPB email address and inviting the public to report on any CFPB enforcement or supervisory staff engaging in work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However on Sunday, Paoletta, the agency's chief legal officer, sent an agency-wide missive saying he had discovered that "some employees have not been performing statutorily required work" and inviting staff to seek authorization if needed. Emails show Paoletta between Sunday and Monday fielded queries from officials in the CFPB offices of Financial Education, Research, Monitoring and Regulation, Consumer Response and Education, and External Affairs, among others, granting them permission to resume work. "Consistent with my email, you should be performing these statutorily required duties," Paoletta told an official in the office of financial education on Monday. But the matter of policing banks and other financial institutions for compliance with consumer protection laws proved more confusing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The emails show Cassandra Huggins, a top official in supervision, more than once sought clarification as to whether supervisory staff should adhere to an order to halt supervision or one to perform legally mandated duties. The CFPB supervises nonbanks and lenders with more than $10 billion in assets to ensure their compliance with federal consumer financial law. Huggins told her staff on Monday that agency leadership had informed her that Paoletta's Sunday message did not pertain to supervision even though this was required by law, according to an email seen by Reuters. That message drew a rebuke from Paoletta on Tuesday who said that, like acting Director Vought, he also works at the White House Office of Management and Budget and so is "dual hatted" and had not been able to respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paoletta also said Huggins' email was "false," adding that her office was authorized "to work on matters specifically required by statute." He asked her team to report to him on its work by March 10. (Reporting by Douglas Gillison; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) The Trump administration is considering issuing an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education, a move that would require congressional approval, according to a draft order under review. Publicly traded companies with significant exposure to the student loan industry include SoFi Technologies (SOFI, Financials) and Navient (NAVI, Financials). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal contends that government control of education has failed families, teachers, and kids, therefore rendering it an ineffective "experiment." The directive, which may be released as early as Thursday, would instruct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to act within the confines of current legislation closing the agency. Operating on an annual budget of $102.24 billion, the Department of Educationwhich employs around 4,500 people last yearaccounts for 0.9% of the fiscal year 2025 federal budget. The organization manages $1.6 trillion in federal student loans and distributes important funds for low-income areas and students with impairments. Closing the agency would call for legislative action, with a Senate majority of 60-votes required. Already, the government has started to downplay the department's influence by cutting grants and contracts and laying off employees. Though federal dollars provide extra help, public school financing in the United States mostly originates from state and local governments. The suggested dissolution of the agency might have ramifications for federal student funding, therefore impacting loan servicers and borrowers. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has dismissed more 2,400 probationary employees across the country, as a part of an effort by the Trump administration to make government more efficient. Signage at the entryway to Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center, photographed on Monday, March 3, 2025, in Huntington, W.Va. (Ryan Fischer | The Herald-Dispatch) The Trump administrations recent staffing cuts have strained the Beckley Veteran Affairs Medical Center, which was already short-staffed because of prior hiring freezes, according to an official from a union representing hospital workers. Were down so many employees because we are hiring just the barest of minimum to get things done, said Greg Bailey, local vice president for the American Federation of Government Employees 2198. And now weve got people doing two and three, and some people doing four different jobs just trying to keep the facility up and running so the patients can actually get care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Feb. 13 and 24 it had dismissed a total of more 2,400 probationary employees, as a part of an effort by President Donald Trumps administration to make agencies more efficient, effective and responsive to the American People. The effort is being led by tech billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. According to news reports on Wednesday, the president plans to cut 80,000 veterans affairs employees. Four of those cuts so far have been at the Beckley VA Medical Center, Bailey said. Employees were also cut at the Martinsburg and Clarksburg VA Medical Centers, according to public affairs officers for the facilities. At VA, we are focused on saving money so it can be better spent on veteran care. We thank these employees for their service to VA, VA Secretary Doug Collins said in one of the news releases. This was a tough decision, but ultimately its the right call to better support the veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the department exists to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be perfectly clear: these moves will not negatively impact VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries, Collins said. In the coming weeks and months, VA will be announcing plans to put these resources to work helping veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors. According to the VA, the cuts will save the agency a combined $181 million per year to be redirected to health care, benefits and services for beneficiaries. The Beckley VA Medical Center is a 30-bed general medical and surgical care facility and a 50-bed community living center. Bailey said Veterans Affairs had already been under a hiring freeze since August or September. When Trump took office in January, he announced a hiring freeze of all federal civilian employees. When youre already at a critical shortage of nurses and administrative staff, four people really sways the scale big time, Bailey said. I mean, were already having to cut back on the amount of beds that we have available, because we cant compete well enough to even get enough nurses to maintain the number of beds that we are supposed to have. We were already at a critical shortage before they even lost those four. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the four people who were fired from the Beckley facility were veterans and all of them had outstanding performance appraisals, Bailey said. One employee was eight hours short of having an entire year of probation, he said. They fired him for what they said was [his] performance wasnt good enough, Bailey said. Even thoughhe was getting ready to get an award for the outstanding work that he had done in the department. All of the positions affected were low-pay administrative roles, he said. Bailey said the four were notified that they were fired by email from an email server in Washington D.C. The email said they were fired because their performance wasnt up to par and that they were not a fit for government work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even our management tried to stop it because they werent even notified, Bailey said. The supervisors didnt even know that the people got terminated until they reached out to their supervisor to ask them what was going on. So even the supervisors werent even aware, and they werent for it whatsoever, Bailey said. Even they were opposed to it, and tried to do everything they could to stop them all from being terminated. In separate statements Wednesday, public affairs officers for the Beckley, Clarksburg and Martinsburg VA medical centers said they had each dismissed a small number of probationary staff and that the decision would not have a negative effect on veteran health care or other services. The cuts will allow VA to focus more effectively on its core mission of serving Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors, the statements read. We cannot discuss specific personnel matters due to privacy concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A message to the Huntington VA medical center was not immediately returned Wednesday, however the Huntington Herald-Dispatch reported that it had received a statement similar to the ones released by the other VA medical centers that stated it had dismissed a small number of probationary staff. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, said she supported Trumps efforts to downsize the federal government. An email to the office of Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., was not immediately returned Wednesday. While I understand the concerns that some have regarding the administrations efforts to look for areas where we can cut waste, fraud, and abuse, its just as important that we have a right-size government, Capito said in a statement. My focus has been and continues to be protecting our West Virginia workforce and I will monitor the DOGE efforts closely, as I have been, to fully understand the impacts and to make sure these are being conducted fairly. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Trump administration on Tuesday published a list of more than 440 federal properties it had identified to potentially offload, including the FBI headquarters and the main Department of Justice building, after deeming them not core to government operations. Hours later, however, the administration issued a revised list with only 320 entries that excluded every previously listed building in Washington, D.C. And by Wednesday morning, the list was gone entirely. Non-core property list (Coming soon) read the web page where the list had previously been posted. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The General Services Administration, which published the lists, did not respond to repeated questions about the changes or why the properties that had been listed had been removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in an email sent to staff and obtained by The Associated Press, GSAs buildings division said the list had generated an overwhelming amount of interest and would be republished in the near future after the agency was able to evaluate this initial input and determine how we can make it easier for stakeholders to understand the nuances of the assets listed. To be clear, just because an asset is on the list doesnt mean its immediately for sale, the agency noted, while adding that it will consider compelling offers and do whats best for the needs of the federal government and taxpayer. The initial list had included some of the countrys most recognizable buildings, along with courthouses, offices and even a parking garage, and spanned nearly every state, drawing concern from local officials. In Washington, it included the J. Edgar Hoover Building, which serves as FBI headquarters, the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, the Old Post Office building, where President Donald Trump once ran a hotel, and the American Red Cross headquarters. The headquarters of numerous agencies, including the Department of Labor and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, were listed as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in the country, the administration targeted the enormous Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center in Indiana, the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco and the U.S. mission to the United Nations in New York. Roughly 80% of the countrys 2.4 million federal workers are based outside of metropolitan Washington, D.C. We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations, or non-core properties for disposal, the GSA said. Selling the properties ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal space, it said, and helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have been engaged in an unprecedented effort to slash the size of the federal workforce and shrink government spending. Selling the designated buildings could save the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars, they claim, while also dramatically reshaping how major Cabinet agencies funded by Congress operate. The Trump administration has also demanded that federal workers report to the office every day. Several of the buildings on the initial 443-property chopping block house agencies that Trump has long criticized and targeted, notably the FBI and Justice Department. The FBI and HUD headquarters are also prime examples of the brutalist architectural style that Trump has tried for years to eliminate, preferring traditional, neo-classical architecture instead. Eliminating federal office space has been a top priority of the new administration. Last month, GSA regional managers received a message from the agencys Washington headquarters ordering them to begin terminating leases on all of the roughly 7,500 federal offices nationwide. In a follow-up meeting, GSA regional managers were told that their goal is to terminate as many as 300 leases per day, according to an employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musks Department of Government Efficiency has listed scores of canceled office leases on DOGEs official website, raising questions around the country about what will happen to services provided from those offices. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Among the properties on the list released Tuesday were a large federal building and courthouse in Los Angeles; a federal building in Oklahoma City that replaced one destroyed in a 1995 bombing; an IRS computing center in West Virginia and IRS service centers in Ogden, Utah; Memphis, Tennessee; Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Andover, Massachusetts; and Holtsville, New York. The administration also said it was seeking to offload federal buildings bearing the names of civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta and Rosa Parks in Detroit, and the Montgomery, Alabama, bus station that was pivotal in the civil rights movement and now serves as the Freedom Rides Museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Tuesday statement, the GSAs Public Buildings Service had said the bulk of properties it had classified as unnecessary were office spaces. Decades of funding deficiencies have resulted in many of these buildings becoming functionally obsolete and unsuitable for use by our federal workforce, the agency wrote. It said GSA would consider the buildings futures in an orderly fashion to ensure taxpayers no longer pay for empty and underutilized federal office space, or the significant maintenance costs associated with long-term building ownership potentially saving more than $430 million in annual operating costs. The original list of 443 buildings spanned almost 80 million rentable square feet, the agency said. ___ Goodman reported from Miami. The Trump administration is weighing more exemptions from the new tariffs on Canada and Mexico this time for the agriculture industry. Amid deep concern from farm state lawmakers over the fallout for the U.S. agriculture sector, officials are discussing waiving the 25 percent duty on some agriculture products, including Canadian potash, a key ingredient in fertilizer, according to two people familiar with the conversations granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing deliberations. The White House did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada is the world's leading supplier of the mineral; the United States sources the vast majority of its potash from its northern neighbor. You cannot export a potash mine, said Jamie Tronnes, the executive director of the Center for North American Prosperity and Security, a group that pushes for stronger ties between the U.S. and Canada. Its in the ground [in Canada]. You cant just get it. GOP lawmakers began lobbying for exemptions for potash well before the tariffs went into effect Tuesday, arguing that supply shortages or price spikes will further drive up food prices. On Wednesday, they were joined by House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.), who said in an interview that he'd asked the White House for exemptions for agricultural inputs, emboldened by President Donald Trumps Wednesday afternoon announcement pausing the North American tariffs on autos and auto parts at the urging of auto makers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the first time Thompson has explicitly said he was pushing for a carve-out, following efforts by other GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa). I absolutely am weighing in things like potash, nitrogen, Id throw peat moss in there, too, because thats important to horticulture and mushroom growers, Thompson said. I'm not bashful about weighing in with the White House. I got a great relationship with everyone, including the president. The worst thing that can happen is theyll say no. Nunn said Wednesday in an interview that the Trump administration had been open to his and other farm state lawmakers request. They're being receptive, that's what we would expect, he said. Ari Hawkins contributed to this report. By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Thursday he is in discussions with Ukraine for a peace agreement framework to end hostilities with Russia and that a meeting is planned next week with the Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia. "We're now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians," Witkoff told reporters at the White House. He said it would likely be in Riyadh or Jeddah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had acrimonious talks at the White House on February 28 but since then the two sides have resumed work on a revenue-sharing minerals deal. At his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Trump said he had received a letter from Zelenskiy in which the Ukrainian leader said he was "ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible." Referring to the Saudi Arabia meeting, Witkoff said, "I think the idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well." (Reporting by Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Chris Reese and Nia Williams) Just two days after declaring an end to a 30-day pause on a new 25% trade tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, President Donald Trump announced Thursday another 30-day reprieve on the new levy for goods previously covered in a 2018 free trade agreement. The pause on Mexican imports first came to light via a Trump posting on Truth Social. After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement, Trump wrote. This Agreement is until April 2nd. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation! Workers sort avocados at a packing plant in Uruapan, Mexico, Nov. 27, 2024. | Armando Solis A few hours later, the president signed executive orders that included a delay until April 2 for Canadian import goods as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After earlier declining to extend a 30-day pause for new trade levies targeting Canadian and Mexican imports announced last month, tariffs ordered by Trump took effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Trump has said the new levies are aimed at quelling illegal immigration as well as the flow of drugs like fentanyl into the U.S. The new assessments also include a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products. On Monday, Trump also ordered an additional round of 10% tariffs on goods from China, adding to the 10% levy the U.S. imposed last month. Trump circled back on Wednesday with a temporary carveout on his tariff declarations, announcing a new 30-day pause that applies just to automotive industry imports from Canada and Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We spoke with the Big Three auto dealers. We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement), Trump said in a statement read by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, according to CNN. Those dealers included Stellantis, Ford and General Motors, which requested the call, she said. While White House officials told reporters on Thursday that details regarding exactly what import goods would or would not be covered under the new agreement were still being determined but guidance is likely to roughly follow the stipulations in the 2018 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that Trump signed during his first term in office. U.S. companies conducted $2.2 trillion worth of import-export business last year and the countries targeted by the presidents new tariffs represent the biggest U.S. trading partners. In 2024, U.S. import-export transactions with Mexico totaled $840 billion, Canada $762 billion and China $582 billion, per a report from The Associated Press. The News US President Donald Trump granted auto imports a one-month exemption from tariffs on Canada and Mexico. The move buoyed stock markets after they dipped sharply earlier this week when the duties took effect. Trump issued the brief reprieve after talking with Americas top three automakers, the White House said, but a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not yield greater relief for Ottawa, which Trump said wasnt doing enough to stop fentanyl trafficking. The tariff back-and-forth has created volatility on Wall Street, confusion for consumers and massive amounts of uncertainty for businesses, which are reevaluating supply chains and production plans, CNN wrote. Its unclear how long investors will have to celebrate until the next ride on the tariff merry-go-round begins. Donald Trump issued a last warning not only to Hamas but the residents of Gaza, cautioning in a blunt message that should they do nothing to return the remaining Oct.7 hostages in the terror groups captivity, only death awaits. The president made the harrowing ultimatum in a post on Truth Social hours after he met with eight of the released hostages from Gaza, including Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov and Eli Sharabi. The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories, a statement from the press secretary said. The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subsequently, Trump told the people of Gaza that a beautiful future awaits should the hostages be released, adding, I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job. President Trump met with eight released hostages from Gaza, listening to their heartbreaking stories. They expressed gratitude for his unwavering efforts to bring them & others home. Hamas' actions have inflicted immense suffering, AND THEIR REIGN OF TERROR MUST BE STOPPED. pic.twitter.com/Sy0G3fwSqL The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 6, 2025 Shalom Hamas means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose, Trump wrote. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed, Trump continued. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER! "'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am pic.twitter.com/88EjVAyWAe President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 5, 2025 The message came after the White House earlier confirmed that the U.S. was in ongoing talks and discussions with Hamas officialsthe first-known direct engagement since it was designated a terrorist group by the State Department in 1997, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to Fox News Jesse Watters on Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said he doesnt mind what Trump does, cause I trust Trump. Referencing Trumps Truth Social post, Graham said: Thats the kind of leadership we need, so I trust Trump as long as hes in the room, Im OK. Graham joked shalom in South Carolina translated to, were going to kick your a--. The outlet notes that according to Israeli intelligence, approximately 24 living hostages, as well as the bodies of at least 35 others, are believed to still be held in Gaza. Trump was criticized last month after posting an AI-generated video of a future Gaza filled with gold statues of Trump, money falling from the sky and luxurious beach resorts, complete with a shirtless Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In December last year, Trump warned Hamas there would be all hell to pay should the hostages not be released by the time he entered office. A group of House Republicans met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday as GOP leadership is under pressure to get their whole caucus on board with a six-month clean continuing resolution House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has been pushing since Sunday. Johnson can only afford to lose one Republican vote and still pass a stopgap spending bill to keep the government open. House Democrats have made it clear they wont help the majority party pass the legislation without an agreement that Trump wont continue his lawless DOGE rampage, freezing and rescinding congressionally authorized federal funds. Trump, who has endorsed Johnsons plan to avert a shutdown when government funding runs out on March 14, reportedly did make some progress in pressuring House Republicans holdouts to get in line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), who was undecided going into the meeting, reportedly said he was open to supporting the CR following the afternoon meeting at the White House. Ive never voted for a CR, but Im willing to consider it to back the president, if necessary, if it gives him some wiggle room, Burlison said, adding that he wants to get to a place where we actually cut spending. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), another holdout, said he was still listening and looking to see what their definition of a clean CR was after the meeting. It is not yet clear if Trump will be successful in strong-arming all the GOP hardliners who have been indicating since Sunday that they are not on board with funding the government at FY24 levels until the end of the 2025 fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill vote against a clean CR that funds everything in 2025 at 2024 levels, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said on X on Tuesday. Ill vote against a clean CR that funds everything in 2025 at 2024 levels because: 1. @SpeakerJohnson isnt following the provision in law that would have cut everything by 1% if the CR extended past April. 2. We should not fund the waste, fraud, and abuse that Doge has found. Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 4, 2025 Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-OH), who voted against the CR Johnson negotiated with President Joe Biden and Democrats last year, also said hed be a no on funding the government at current levels. I am a NO on the CR, Gonzales said in an X statement on Sunday. Congress needs to do its job and pass a conservative budget! CRs are code for Continued Rubberstamp of fraud, waste, and abuse. Johnson did acknowledge several GOP lawmakers have hesitation over backing the six-month stopgap on Tuesday, adding that he thinks once people understand the necessity of it, I think theyll get on board and well pass it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freedom Caucus members and occasional fiscal hawk holdouts Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Andy Harris (R-MD) reiterated that point, telling reporters on Wednesday that they believe other holdouts will get on board following the presidents latest push. Just two Republican no votes would be enough to tank the CR assuming all House Democrats vote against the stopgap. Johnson said he hopes to put the CR on the House floor early next week. The legislative text of the stopgap bill is expected to be released this weekend, according to some Republicans who spoke to Politico. The text is expected to include additional defense funding requests from the Trump administration and other very minimal additions, according to the Speaker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the CR passes the House, it will be subjected to the filibuster on the Senate side, requiring at least 60 votes for it to pass. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, meaning they would need some support from Democrats to pass the measure. For weeks now, Democrats have been saying in order for them to support passing legislation to keep the government funded past the March 14 deadline, theyd need some sort of guarantee that Trump and Musk will stop rescinding and withholding congressionally approved funding and spend federal funds the way they were appropriated. But it appears some Senate Democrats are becoming uneasy about the prospects of a shutdown. I think the implications of a full-year CR are really horrible, especially for the military, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) told Punchbowl on Tuesday. And for a state like ours, a shutdown is even worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who is one of the only Democrats open to working with Republicans, said he will never vote for or withhold my vote to shut the government down. Thats chaos and Ill never vote for chaos. Other Democrats are reportedly considering a third option besides a six-month CR or a shutdown: a short-term CR that would fund the government for long enough to give negotiators more time to write and pass bipartisan, full-year spending bills. We cannot stand by and accept a year-long power grab CR that would help Elon take a chainsaw to programs that families rely on and agencies that keep our communities safe, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said Tuesday. Top congressional appropriators might be close to finalizing a bipartisan agreement on funding toplines, the first step for clearing the way for a possible bipartisan spending bill. Its imminent, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), House Democrats top appropriator, told reporters Wednesday night about a funding agreement, according to Politico. Lets get the process started. Lets move. President Donald Trump convened his Cabinet in person on Thursday to deliver a message: Youre in charge of your departments, not Elon Musk. According to two administration officials, Trump told top members of his administration that Musk was empowered to make recommendations to the departments but not to issue unilateral decisions on staffing and policy. Musk was also in the room. The meeting followed a series of mass firings and threats to government workers from the billionaire Tesla founder, who helms the Department of Government Efficiency, that created broad uncertainty across the federal government and its workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGEs actions have faced ferocious resistance in court and criticism from Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans. The presidents message represents the first significant move to narrow Musks mandate. According to Trumps new guidance, DOGE and its staff should play an advisory role but Cabinet secretaries should make final decisions on personnel, policy and the pacing of implementation. Musk joined the conversation and indicated he was on board with Trump's directive. According to one person familiar with the meeting, Musk acknowledged that DOGE had made some missteps a message he shared earlier this week with members of Congress. Trump stressed that he wants to keep good people in government and not to eject capable federal workers en masse. But his administration has in recent weeks fired tens of thousands of federal workers across numerous agencies in a series of blanket terminations. A federal judge and the chair of a federal civil service board have both concluded that the terminations were not tied to performance issues and may have violated civil service laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear whether the new guidance will result in laid off workers getting rehired. Trump posted about the meeting on Truth Social after this story posted, promising to hold similar meetings every two weeks. "As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go," he wrote. "We say the 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet.' The combination of them, Elon, DOGE, and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level." The president later told reporters he wants Cabinet members to "keep all the people you want, everybody that you need." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he also said he wanted cuts, and that Musk would remain a power center: "If they can cut, it's better. And if they don't cut, then Elon will do the cutting." Musk later retweeted a Trump post and called it a "very productive meeting." The timing of the meeting was influenced by recent comments from Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who said on CNN Tuesday that Cabinet secretaries should retain the full power to hire and fire, according to one official. The official said Trump has been flooded with similar concerns from other lawmakers and Cabinet secretaries. The presidents admonition to agency heads could impact mounting legal scrutiny facing DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judges have increasingly expressed frustration and bewilderment at the Trump administrations inability to explain who is in charge of the bureaucracy-culling effort and whether Musk himself is playing any role in ordering up the steep cuts to programs and jobs. Complicating the matter further, Trump declared during his address to Congress Tuesday that Musk is indeed the head of DOGE, a label that immediately reverberated in several of the Musk-focused court cases. Trumps assertion conflicted with the White Houses representation in court last month that Musk had no independent authority to make policy decisions. Judges will now have to decide whether Trumps after-the-fact characterization of Musks role resolves the already-existing legal challenges to DOGEs work. It comes just as some of those lawsuits reach a new fact-finding phase that could produce more clarity on the SpaceX boss involvement in running the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge last week ordered sworn testimony from some DOGE officials and affiliates to more fully understand the groups work. And two lawsuits aimed at stopping Musk himself one in Washington, D.C., and one in Maryland are reaching crucial milestones as well. Those lawsuits allege that Musk has been exercising an unconstitutional degree of power for a government official who has not been confirmed by the Senate. Lawmakers and the microchip industry are struggling to respond to President Donald Trumps sudden demand that Congress get rid of the landmark CHIPS and Science Act, a popular $52.7 billion law that would be both politically and legally complicated to unwind. Leaders in the Senate said Trump's request issued during his joint address to Congress on Tuesday was new to them and, in interviews, they did not put a high priority on following the presidents direction. The microchip industry is confused about the comment, and adding to the uncertainty, it was unclear to multiple senators Wednesday what exactly Trump was instructing Congress to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rolling back the law itself would be a sharp reversal of one of the Biden administrations signature policies, one with broad bipartisan support and global implications. And while the Trump administration has asserted broader control over spending, any move to cut the CHIPS money would be procedurally and legally tricky, and run afoul of the many beneficiaries in Republican districts. First of all, how is he going to cancel it, right? Can you do it through budget reconciliation? Maybe hell try, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) told reporters Wednesday. But you normally have to do this through legislation, and you need 60 votes in the Senate, and a ton of Republicans are supportive of the legislation. CHIPS and Science passed in 2022 with bipartisan support winning over 17 Senate and 24 House Republicans and it was inspired by legislation crafted by Congress during Trumps first term. The law set aside roughly $50 billion to reduce dependence on geopolitically risky Taiwan which makes most of the worlds cutting-edge chips used for artificial intelligence and smartphones by funding semiconductor factories and research in the U.S. But Trumps request marked an escalation in his rhetoric around CHIPS, which he has long criticized as a wasteful giveaway to rich companies when tariffs could serve the same goal for free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday night, he called the law a horrible, horrible thing, then turned to GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson and demanded he get rid of the CHIP[S] Act, and whatever's left over, Mr. Speaker, you should use it to reduce debt or any other reason you want to. Johnson acknowledged to reporters the next day that everybody has different opinions about it and took himself out of the equation. Were going to wait until the presidents FY26 budget to see how he handles it. Senate Majority Leader John Thune seemed at a loss of words when answering for Trumps remarks. That was one of those statements I hadn't heard before, so I haven't given a lot of thought to it, he told reporters. Thune added that hed have to see if a proposal emerges to roll back the law but did not appear to be taking it too seriously: It was a part of the speech, but there were a lot of things in that speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican senators are not sure if Trump wants them to find enough votes to void the original law, seize funds promised in contracts but not yet disbursed, or redirect the relatively small amount of unspent CHIPS cash. All three possibilities would implicate different parts of government: Congress, the Commerce Department and the courts. Indiana Sen. Todd Young, a vocal advocate for CHIPS among Republicans, told reporters he had reached out to the White House for clarification, and his spokesperson said that Trumps comments are not consistent with the extensive conversations weve had with the administration about the many successes and future of the CHIPS program. Nearly 90 percent of the laws manufacturing dollars were already promised to chipmakers and inked into binding contracts by the end of last year, according to a POLITICO analysis. Companies including TSMC and Intel have started receiving billions from their awards. Reneging on that funding is almost certain to invite lawsuits, industry lobbyists and lawyers previously told POLITICO. The CHIPS portion has mostly been implemented. Its been one of the greatest successes of our time, said Young, adding of the administration. My expectation remains that we will be actively working on them to improve the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chip industry groups were caught off guard by Trump as well. A spokesperson for the Information Technology Industry Council, which counts the worlds biggest chip and tech companies as members, cited his long-standing support for increasing U.S. manufacturing capacity and restoring U.S. semiconductor leadership since his first administration. For that reason, we need to get clarity from the Administration about the President's comments on the CHIPS program last night, the ITI spokesperson said. Chipmakers main voice in Washington, the Semiconductor Industry Association, declined to comment. If a repeal through Congress does not happen, Trumps other options such as dialing back CHIPS requirements or even revoking award money could run through the Commerce Department. The CHIPS program is already facing disruption after layoffs hit the Commerce offices responsible for $50 billion of its subsidies. Nearly everyone from the 43 probationary staff fired was from the CHIPS Program Office, the entity overseeing multi-billion-dollar grants with chipmakers like Micron and TSMC though Commerce officials and newly confirmed Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed to pare back plans for even deeper cuts, according to two former department employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly told reporters Wednesday he plans to talk with Lutnick next week. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who sits on the Senate Commerce Committee, told POLITICO he also intends to speak with Lutnick but has zero confidence the secretary will stand up to Trump on the issue. Later Wednesday, Thune reinterpreted Trumps comments as a chance to better the program instead of axing it. He said that Trump is right about needing to take off restrictions attached to the money and if nothing else the point he was making is this program this bill hasn't been implemented the way it should have been. The more extreme option a repeal could be politically distracting at best or straight up destructive for Trumps party. CHIPS has incentivized dozens of new construction projects across America, created the promise of more than 50,000 jobs and ushered in over $400 billion in private investments, according to industry estimates. Asked about repealing CHIPS, Senate Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) agreed it is not a priority for his chamber right now. What we're doing right now is focusing on keeping the government open, that's next week. Working on reconciliation, he said Wednesday. Those are our primary priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson acknowledged Wednesday that when he suggested that Republicans probably will try to repeal CHIPS on the campaign trail last fall, it did not go so well. The speaker almost immediately walked that back after talking to a vulnerable New York Republican whose district was anticipating a megafactory from CHIPS Act recipient Micron. He clarified that the CHIPS Act is not on the agenda for repeal and said he would try to streamline regulations to improve its implementation. The law still has many overt Republican defenders. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who voted for CHIPS, credited it on Wednesday with producing huge investments that have made it possible now for the president to announce this additional infusion of investment by TSMC. Trump hosted the CEO of top Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, C.C. Wei, at the White House on Monday to announce $100 billion more in new U.S. facilities, on top of its $65 billion in CHIPS Act commitments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others reserved judgment. But even Trump ally Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) needed to hear more before backing the idea. Id like to see what hed want to replace it with, see what hes got in mind, Graham, who also voted for CHIPS, told reporters. Generally speaking, I want to bring chip manufacturing here, but if hes got to do a different way to do it, Im open-minded. Jordain Carney, Joe Gould and Adam Wren contributed to this report. (Bloomberg) -- A federal appeals court cleared the way for President Donald Trump to at least temporarily fire the head of an independent US whistleblower agency, pausing a decision by a judge who determined the dismissal was illegal. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling is a major setback for Hampton Dellinger, who was fired from the Office of Special Counsel without explanation on Feb. 7 but remained in his job by judicial order. His termination was part of the presidents bid to get rid of some agency officials whose independence was established by Congress. A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for DC Circuit on Wednesday said its order gives effect to the removal of Dellinger from his position. The Trump administration had satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending appeal, the panel said. Should Dellinger appeal, the case may ultimately be decided by the US Supreme Court. Dellingers lawyer didnt immediately return a message seeking a comment on the ruling. The decision overrides US District Judge Amy Berman Jacksons March 1 ruling that Dellingers firing was unlawful because the federal law that created the position only allows for termination by the president for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, none of which apply to the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge issued a permanent injunction barring Dellingers removal or the recognition of any purported replacement. The judge ruled Dellinger must remain on the job until his five-year term ends in March 2029, unless hes fired for cause. Jackson said there was no indication that Dellinger, appointed by former President Joe Biden, was biased. The Trump administration has been arguing in favor of a broad interpretation of presidential power as it defends itself in lawsuits filed by executive branch officials who were fired without cause before their set terms expired. At issue is whether it was constitutional for Congress to grant a measure of independence to the positions when they were created decades ago. The three-judge panel on the appeals court was comprised of one Democratic appointee and two Republicans, including one by Trump. No dissent was indicated in the order. Republicans fought to prevent Dellinger from getting the job in the first place, arguing he couldnt be fair in matters related to Biden because he allegedly had connections to Hunter Bidens business dealings. Dellinger was a partner at the office of Boies Schiller Flexner, where Hunter Biden also worked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US Supreme Court previously denied Trumps request to immediately lift the temporary restraining order Jackson issued before she ruled on the preliminary injunction. The justices deferred acting on the presidents appeal, but didnt reject it outright. The Dellinger legal fight was the first that Trump took to the Supreme Court since he began his second term, which has been marked by a torrent of lawsuits challenging his bid to assert sweeping presidential powers. The case is Dellinger v. Bessent, 25-cv-5025, US District Court, District of Columbia (Washington). --With assistance from Greg Stohr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with request for comment from Dellingers lawyer.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. President Donald Trump is considering changing U.S. engagement with NATO to favor members who spend a set percentage of their GDP on defense, NBC News reports. Officials told the network that under the changed policy, the U.S. might not come to the aid of a NATO member that has been attacked if they dont spend a certain amount of their GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on defense. The change would be a departure from NATOs Article 5, which states that an attack on one country is an attack on all. Three current and former senior U.S. officials and one congressional official spoke to NBC, saying that the U.S. may also prioritize military exercises with NATO members spending a certain percentage of their GDP on defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has already indicated that it may draw down the U.S. military presence in Europe. The officials told NBC that an option being considered is to move some U.S. troops to NATO nations that have increased their defense spending to meet the percentage of GDP required. President Trump is committed to NATO and Article V, a National Security Council official told NBC in a statement. But on Thursday afternoon in the Oval Office, Trump made extensive comments denigrating NATO members as unreliable, arguing that it was common sense not to defend countries not funding their armed forces properly. If they dont pay, Im not going to defend them, said Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said his biggest problem with NATO was that "If the United States was in trouble and we called them. He added: 'We got a problem, France ... Do you think they're going to come and protect us? They're supposed to. I'm not so sure." During his first term, Trump threatened to withdraw the U.S. from NATO, and he has raised doubts about the need for Article 5 for the U.S. While the article was initially intended to protect European countries from the Soviet Union during the Cold War, it has only been activated once since following the 9/11 terror attacks on the U.S. in 2001. Trump said Thursday that he has told NATO members in the past: If you're not going to pay, we're not going to defend. Before Trumps comments, Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense and a member of the Foreign Relations panel, told NBC that Matthew Whitaker, the presidents nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to the alliance, gave very reassuring answers regarding the White Houses commitment to NATO and Article 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Coons also noted that he was contacted by several European ambassadors concerned about rumors that Trump might make some negative announcement about NATO. If youre not given pause by everything about President Trumps statements and actions on foreign policy, youre not paying attention, Coons told NBC. President Donald Trump at Winfield House in London in 2019. He threatened to withdraw the U.S. from NATO during his first term (AFP via Getty Images) While Ukraine has pushed to be admitted into NATO, the Trump administration had stated that such a move wouldnt be part of any peace deal. On numerous occasions, Trump has slammed NATO members for not reaching the current NATO threshold of spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense. Trump has also argued that the threshold should be increased. The president has said that the difference in levels of spending is unfair and places an extra burden on the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a decade ago, NATO agreed on the 2 percent spending goal. Trump has argued that NATO countries should spend 5 percent of GDP on defense, which is more than the U.S. currently spends. In January, Trump said that NATO has to pay more, and that its ridiculous [it doesnt] because it affects them a lot more. We have an ocean in between. Last year, 23 NATO members spent more than 2 percent of their GDP on defense. The U.S., Poland, Greece, Latvia, and Estonia all spent more than 3 percent on defense. Poland came out on top according to the most recent NATO figures, spending 4.12 percent of its GDP on defense. The possible change in U.S. engagement with NATO comes as Trump is pressuring Ukraine to come to the negotiating table to end the war with Russia, and as European countries scramble to fill the gap left by a pause in U.S. aid to Ukraine. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is considering a major change to the U.S. participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, according to three current and former senior U.S. officials and one congressional official. Trump has discussed with aides the possibility of calibrating Americas NATO engagement in a way that favors members of the alliance that spend a set percentage of their gross domestic product on defense, the officials said. As part of the potential policy shift, the U.S. might not defend a fellow NATO member that is attacked if the country doesnt meet the defense spending threshold, the officials said. If Trump does make that change, it would mark a significant shift from a core tenet of the alliance known as Article 5, which says that an attack on any NATO country is an attack on all of them. Member nation flags fly outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels. The president is similarly considering a policy change in which the U.S. may choose to prioritize military exercises with NATO members that are spending the set percentage of their GDPs on defense, the officials said. His administration has already signaled to Americas European allies that the U.S. could reduce its military presence in Europe, and one option now under consideration is to reposition some U.S. troops in the region so they are focused in or around NATO countries that have scaled their defense spending to meet the specific percentage of their GDPs, the officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about Trump considering making these changes to how the U.S. engages with NATO, a National Security Council official said in a written statement, President Trump is committed to NATO and Article V. Sen. Chris Coons, of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense and a senior senator on the Foreign Relations panel, said Trumps nominee to be U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, gave very reassuring answers on the administrations commitment to NATO and Article 5. Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO countries for not meeting the current NATO member goal of spending 2% of their GDP on defense. He has argued that the disparity is unfair and puts an added burden on the U.S. NATO countries agreed more than a decade ago to set the spending goal for each of them at 2% of GDP. But Trump has pushed to increase that percentage. Most recently he said NATO members should spend 5% of their GDP on defense, though the U.S. does not currently do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO has to pay more, Trump said in January after taking office. Its ridiculous because it affects them a lot more. We have an ocean in between. According to NATOs most recent statistics, last year 23 NATO members defense spending exceeded 2% of their GDP. Five of those nations Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Poland and the U.S. spent more than 3% on defense. Poland had the highest percentage, dedicating 4.12% of its GDP to defense. The potential shift in how the U.S. participates in NATO comes as Trump is pushing European allies to do more to aid Ukraine in its war with Russia and to play a major role in maintaining peace in the country if a deal to end the war is reached. I was contacted by several European ambassadors concerned about rumors that Trump might make some negative announcement about NATO, Coons told NBC News in an interview on Wednesday. Trump didnt announce anything at his joint address to Congress on Tuesday night, but Coons said, If youre not given pause by everything about President Trumps statements and actions on foreign policy, youre not paying attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump threatened to withdraw the U.S. from NATO during his first term and has questioned the merits of Article 5 for the U.S. The article was designed to protect European nations from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It has been triggered just once, after the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. Ukraine has sought NATO membership, but the Trump administration has said that would not be part of any negotiated peace deal. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Investing.com -- U.S. President Donald Trump is now said to be contemplating an exemption of specific agricultural products from tariffs enacted on Canada and Mexico, Bloomberg News reported. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Bloomberg that the administration is considering all possible options and expressed optimism about the potential for providing relief to the agricultural sector. Rollins (NYSE:ROL), while speaking at the White House, stated that specific exemptions and carveouts- such as for potash and fertilizer imports- are yet to be determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. relies heavily on Canada for imports of potash and potash-based fertilizers. Government data showed that at least 90% of potash consumption volume in the U.S. is fed by imports, with 80% of all potash coming from Canada. The U.S. on Tuesday slapped 25% trade tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but later relented in allowing automakers a one-month exemption to comply with the trade duties, following pleas from several automakers. Lawmakers from states with heavy exposure to the agricultural industry were also seen clamoring for tariff exemptions for fertilizers and other crucial imports. Trump in a Tuesday address to Congress acknowledged that his latest round of tariffs will cause some disruptions, especially for farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trump said reciprocal tariffs against major U.S. trading partners were coming on April 2, as were planned tariffs on agricultural imports. The U.S. President had also imposed 20% tariffs on China on Tuesday. Canada, China, and Mexico announced a host of retaliatory trade measures against the U.S., potentially marking the start of a renewed global trade war. Canada in particular warned it could add a surcharge to U.S. energy exports if Trump's tariffs persisted. China imposed import tariffs on several U.S. agricultural goods, heralding more pain for American farmers. Related Articles Trump considers tariff exemptions for Canada, Mexico agri goods - report ECB to cut rates again as trade wars, defence cloud the outlook Thai business group urges action from government amid 'panic' over U.S. trade policyA The News Even cryptocurrency backers havent fully bought in to President Donald Trumps latest plan to boost digital assets. The president sent the multitrillion-dollar crypto market soaring Sunday by announcing hell create a US strategic reserve of digital assets that includes Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as more niche tokens like Ripples XRP, Solanas SOL and Cardanos ADA. Because Trump previously backed a Bitcoin-only stockpile which wouldnt require the government to buy new crypto his shift caught some pro-crypto lawmakers and industry allies off-guard. Now, Republicans and Democrats who hope to legitimize crypto by pushing regulatory overhauls through Congress are scrambling to come to terms with Trumps proposal. Private-sector supporters are raising their own concerns that the reserve plan cheapens their ongoing effort to sway the Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And experts warn that creating a reserve, as opposed to a narrower stockpile, would likely require congressional approval. I dont mind the concept. I just dont know what utility it serves, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told Semafor. And I dont like the fact that law enforcement could be negatively impacted in terms of future flows for asset forfeitures, he added, by having to turn over government-seized crypto. The skepticism about Trumps reserve pitch comes ahead of the White Houses much-touted crypto summit with industry leaders and just as Congress nears a potential breakthrough on bipartisan legislation that crypto players have long sought. The Senate Banking Committee is eyeing a vote next week on a Republican bill that would create rules for stablecoins, or tokens pegged to assets like the US dollar, a person familiar with the plans said. And Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., are actively exploring how to attach their proposed overhaul of crypto income taxation to Republicans party-line tax plan, Gillibrand said. But she warned that Trumps reserve announcement is unhelpful deeply unhelpful to those talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What President Trump proposed was very dangerous and very problematic, Gillibrand, one of the crypto industrys most loyal allies, told Semafor. She added that buying tokens like XRP and SOL is like proposing the government purchase stock in a publicly traded company. Much of the pushback has come from within the industry itself, where theres bristling at Trumps apparent willingness to elevate certain tokens but not others as well as the possibility that the US could acquire enough crypto to begin to manipulate the market. The latter could approach the creation of a de facto central bank digital currency. For Bitcoin, I think people generally understand that this is the most decentralized its very clear that no one person owns it, its very clear that no one person is making decisions or this is benefiting any one entity, one industry representative told Semafor. But the further you get down the stack, the more complicated it is. Tillis raised his own separate question about the core purpose behind the plan: Its not like we would rely on Bitcoin currency, he said. We have petroleum reserves for a reason for an obvious reason. I dont know how that maps into this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House declined a request for comment. Know More The debate over the reserve is just getting started. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters Tuesday that Trump would reveal more details at the White House event on Friday including how the other crypto tokens will be treated differently from Bitcoin. Im in close contact with the administration on digital assets legislation and I look forward to hearing more from them about their plans, Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott, R-S.C., told Semafor. Lummis, who introduced a bill last year that would create a Bitcoin reserve, said at an event last week that she doesnt see enough momentum yet to advance it. Shes planning a meeting next week with crypto representatives to discuss the proposal, a person familiar with the plans said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were now identifying offices on both sides of the aisle that we can go sit down and have the conversation with, from start to finish, Lummis said at the event. That takes time. Meanwhile, the bipartisan stablecoin bill faces several hurdles beyond Trumps new reserve proposal. The House has taken a different approach than the Senate when it comes to state regulatory frameworks, and there are fault lines within the industry, as firms like Circle and Tether advocate for policies that benefit them specifically. Even as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on Banking, marshals resistance to the legislation, senators in her party on the committees crypto panel are open to a deal. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said Democrats could get behind the stablecoin bill if Republicans agree to stronger language around enforcement and transparency. But he aligned with Gillibrand in saying Trumps reserve announcement has complicated those talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was an opportunity for us to think about this thoroughly, to study it, do it in a bipartisan manner but the fact that he moves this fast actually makes it harder, Gallego said. Gallego won his seat last year with the help of a powerful crypto super PAC known as Fairshake. Another industry ally on the Banking panel, Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said hes also requesting changes to the stablecoin bills consumer protection and illicit finance provisions. I ultimately want to see this technology proliferate and innovate, but weve got to make sure that were not creating something thats going to allow for predatory behavior, Kim told Semafor. Those are things we need to make sure were fighting against. Eleanors view For now, cryptos willingness to spend big in the 2024 elections still seems to be paying off. Eighteen Senate Democrats plus independent Sen. Angus King of Maine voted this week to overturn a Biden-era IRS rule that required crypto brokers to report their transactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had a strong bipartisan consensus, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who penned the reversal, told Semafor. But Sundays announcement from Trump exposes the industry to more criticism just as its legislative wish list appears within reach. Trumps willingness to exploit crypto to enrich himself, reminds everyone who this industry has gotten into bed with, and it doesnt look good, Warren told Semafor. Room for Disagreement Some crypto-friendly senators see no problem with Trumps reserve proposal. Like Gallego, Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno won his Ohio seat with the help of Fairshake. He told Semafor that he doesnt think Trump needs Congress to make it happen and that its a net positive for the US to be able to control the crypto market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that the US can control a decent amount of the top crypto markets just staples those markets as legitimate and makes those assets rise, Moreno said. We would end up being almost a market-maker, which benefits America. Moreno and Cruz both argued that resistance from pro-crypto Democrats has more to do with Trump than the underlying policy. Theyre literally totally irrational, Moreno said. So were just going to plow through their emotional temper tantrums. Notable Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, presents Senate Bill 257, creating the Kentucky Office of Government Efficiency, to the Kentucky Senate, March 5, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) FRANKFORT Inspired by Elon Musks band of young engineers tasked with finding federal funding cuts, Kentucky Republicans are hoping to replicate their efforts in the Bluegrass state. If passed in the General Assembly this session, Senate Bill 257 would establish the Kentucky Office of Government Efficiency in the auditor of public accounts office. The office would be known as KOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed largely on party lines in a vote of 32-6 Wednesday. The lone Democrat to join Republicans in supporting the bill was Sen. Robin Webb of Grayson. Though not an actual department, DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency has come under fire from Democratic criticsi and lawsuits over the level of access the group has to sensitive information and cuts in funding and personnel including firing some government employees. DOGE maintains a running list of savings it has claimed to achieve online. However, the New York Times has reported the DOGE wall of receipts has had to delete some claims that were in error. Backed by primary sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, the bill would give KOGE the power to conduct performance audits and fiscal and operational reviews of state agencies to find inefficiencies, waste, compliance with law, and opportunities for cost savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KOGE would also make recommendations about best practices for streamlining government operations and monitor their implementation. KOGE must report its findings to the governor and the Legislative Research Commission. This legislation builds upon our efforts to create a government that operates efficiently, delivers core services effectively and respects the contributions of hard working Kentuckians in order to operate a government that exists to serve them, Tichenor said. The Kentucky Senates vote on the bill came after DOGE got glowing praise from Republican President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress. Billionaire Musk, the special government employee spearheading DOGE, also enjoyed applause from congressional Republicans during the speech. Meanwhile, some of the Democrats who attended invited federal workers who were fired as part of the U.S. DOGE Services efforts to curtail the federal workforce by eliminating probationary workers. Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, speaks against Senate Bill 257. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer). During debate on the bill, Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, said invoking the name of the federal DOGE program was particularly concerning to me because of exactly how much upheaval that program has created. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, some Republicans rebuked the notion. Senate President Robert Stivers, of Manchester, said the auditor has no authority to fire anybody except whos in her office or change laws. Chambers Armstrong also added that she didnt believe the bill added new authority to the auditors office, as many of the provisions of this legislation are inherent to that office and have been exercised and often exercised to great effect and impact. Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, said before voting in favor of the bill that former Auditor Crit Luallen, a Democrat, notably exercised powers to do performance audits when she held the office from 2004 to 2012. He said similar efforts have lacked funding since she left the office. Tichenor introduced her bill for KOGE a couple of weeks ago in the Senate. A Senate GOP press release at the time said the bill aligns with the broader national effort led by President Donald Trump to cut bureaucratic red tape and make government work for the people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Auditor Allison Ball, a Republican who currently holds the office in Kentucky, has expressed support for the bill and testified before a Senate committee with Tichenor. This legislation strengthens our ability to hold state agencies accountable and implement meaningful reforms to improve efficiency, Ball said in a Senate GOP press release. Kentuckians deserve a government that operates responsibly, and SB 257 furthers that goal. The bill provides no funding for KOGE to hire staff but says Ball may seek additional funding through cost-saving initiatives and efficiency- related grants. Republican Daniel Cameron, a former attorney general who recently launched his campaign for U.S. Senate, said on X ahead of the vote that Frankfort is fraught with wasteful spending and the bill was a sensible reform effort that will reduce the bloated size of government and hold the unelected bureaucracy accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile in the House, Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, introduced House Concurrent Resolution 50 to create a task force called the Kentucky Discipline of Government Efficiency, or KY DOGE. Its also an homage to Musks DOGE, but hasnt gotten a committee hearing yet. Musk and Trump have floated the idea of scrutinizing the amount of gold in Kentuckys Fort Knox. The United States Bullion Depository at the fort stores precious metal bullion reserves for the country. Its also audited every year. The General Services Administration, which is one of the agencies DOGE is tracking, announced Tuesday it may sell off more than 440 buildings owned by the federal government in the months ahead. That list included federal buildings in Ashland, Bowling Green, London, Louisville and Pikeville. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX President Trump doubled down Thursday on his claim that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is using the escalating trade war between the two neighbors as a campaign issue, just before giving Mexico a delay on tariffs covered by the free trade deal. Believe it or not, despite the terrible job hes done for Canada, I think that Justin Trudeau is using the Tariff problem, which he has largely caused, in order to run again for Prime Minister. So much fun to watch! Trump said on Truth Social. Trudeau announced his intent to resign in January. The two spoke Wednesday following Trumps move to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and after the call, the president said Trudeau is using the trade war to try to stay in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, moments after doubling down on criticizing Trudeau, announced a roughly monthlong delay on tariffs on Mexican imports that are covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal that was signed during his first term. He said he spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and is making an accommodation out of respect for her. Trump had already exempted USMCA-compliant North American automakers from the new tariffs, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested he would likely announce more exemptions. Meanwhile, Trudeau earlier Thursday said he thinks the U.S. and Canada will be in a trade war for the foreseeable future, The Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump on Tuesday threatened to add additional taxes on Canada if the U.S.s northern neighbor retaliates with its own, after Trudeau called out Trump in an address, calling the tariffs dumb and defending Canadas retaliatory ones, at one point speaking directly to Americans. We dont want this. We want to work with you as a friend and ally, and we dont want to see you hurt either, but your government has chosen to do this to you, he said, later adding, They have chosen to launch a trade war that will, first and foremost, harm American families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (AP) Ukraine was given fair warning by the White House before President Donald Trump this week ordered a pause on U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a senior administration official said Thursday. The Republican administration announced the pauses this week after Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy'sOval Office meeting devolved into a shouting match, with the U.S. president and Vice President JD Vance excoriating the Ukrainian leader for being insufficiently grateful for the tens of billions of dollars in U.S. assistance sent to Ukraine since Russia invaded three years ago. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trumps special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said the pause is already having an impact on Kyiv, adding that the Ukrainians "brought it on themselves." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose, Kellogg said at an event Thursday at the Council on Foreign Relations. You got their attention. Kellogg said it was made clear to the Ukrainians before last weeks Oval Office meeting that the talks would focus on signing a critical minerals deal. The agreement, which the two sides still have not signed, would give the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth deposits and could be of value to U.S. aerospace, electric vehicle and medical manufacturing. Trump administration officials have said the economic pact would bind the U.S. and Ukraine closer together and would give Russian President Vladimir Putin pause before considering malign action against Ukraine in the future. Zelenskyy had been pressing the White House for explicit security guarantees, to no avail. Kellogg said last week's talks went sideways because Zelenskyy pressed Trump who is trying to play the role of intermediary to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia to side with Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy later called the heated words regrettable and said hes ready to sign an agreement. Trump in an exchange with reporters on Thursday said he believed his administration had made a lot of progress in recent days with both Ukraine and Russia, but did not specify how. I think whats going to happen is Ukraine wants to make a deal, because I dont think they have a choice, Trump said. I also think that Russia wants to make a deal because in a certain different way a different way that only I know, only I know they have no choice either. In his nightly address Zelenskyy confirmed that talks between Ukraine and the U.S. are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the crown prince," said Zelenskyy, referring to Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne of the oil-rich kingdom. After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace. Another Trump special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that senior administration officials are arranging to hold talks with top Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. Witkoff noted that Zelenskyy has been apologetic in recent days about the White House blowup and expressed gratitude. He was circumspect about whether the minerals deal would be signed during the expected meeting in Saudi Arabia. Well see if he follows through, Witkoff said. But Kellogg said he couldnt guarantee a resumption of weapons deliveries even if Zelenskyy accepts the deal. Thats up to the president, Kellogg said. He added, You dont negotiate peace discussions in public. You dont try to challenge the president of the United States in the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said in a speech before Congress on Tuesday that Zelenskyy had written to him to say he appreciates U.S. support for his country in its war with Russia. Trump said Zelenskyy told him that Ukraine is ready to negotiate a peace deal with Russia as soon as possible and would accept the minerals agreement with the U.S. to facilitate that. Although Trump said he appreciated getting the letter, he did not say if it would affect his policy toward Ukraine. The suspension of U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine will damage Ukraines ability to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks against military and civilian targets, according to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War. The research group said suspension of all U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine would also allow Russian forces to intensify their drone and missile strikes against the Ukrainian rear, affecting millions of Ukrainian civilians and the growth of Ukraines defense industrial base. AP writer Susie Blann in Kyiv and Michelle L. Price contributed reporting. (NewsNation) President Donald Trump will not sign an executive order Thursday asking new Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dissolving the department, a White House official confirmed to NewsNation. Instead, the White House has reversed course and will continue to review the department, a White House official said. An official previously told NewsNation the signing would take place Thursday afternoon. Linda McMahon will join NewsNation Live on Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET, heres how you can watch live. A draft of the executive order was obtained by the Wall Street Journal early Thursday morning. The draft reportedly directed McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Journals reporting, McMahon would be instructed to do whatever it takes to shutter the agency based on the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law. Is Social Security money going to millions listed as old as 149? The long-promised closure of the department could have major implications on what kids learn, how schools are funded and the future of student loans for millions. Trump has previously accused the department of indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual and political material. He campaigned on the idea of giving educational power to the states. Can an executive order close the Department of Education? Legally, Trump does not have the power to completely eliminate the department via executive order, which the draft reportedly recognized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any major changes to the department would require congressional approval, but the executive order would be the presidents first step in dismantling the department. Linda McMahon gives Education staffers their final mission During her Senate confirmation hearing, McMahon told members of Congress they would be expected to go along with the presidents plans. She then sent a final mission message to agency staffers, promising to handle one of Trumps most momentous campaign promises to families and send education back to the states. What does the Department of Education do? Founded in 1979, the Department of Education primarily oversees funding for K-12 public schools and disperses student aid for college students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding for elementary schools and secondary schools supports economically disadvantaged school systems, USA Facts reports. The department administers two programs to support low-income students who attend college: Pell Grants and the federal student loan program. Federal Student Aid, an office of the Department of Education, is the nations largest provider of student financial aid. The office reportedly makes postsecondary education possible for more than 9.7 million students each year. Elon Musk is hiring for DOGE. Heres the type of people he wants to recruit In the past month, the agency has undergone major changes, with dozens of employees fired or placed on administrative leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the department offered some employees $25,000 to quit their jobs with an explicit threat of further layoffs. It is not clear how many staffers took the offer. NewsNations Liz Jassin and The Hill contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Parents, students, and teachers beware. President Donald Trumps scorched earth campaign against federal agencies could be headed to the Department of Education, via a proposed executive order that would dismantle the department. According to a draft obtained by The Wall Street Journal, the president was expected to instruct newly confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon the wife of WWE Founder Vince McMahon to shutter as much of the department as she can to the extent permitted by law. Sources told the Journal thay the president would sign the directive as soon as Thursday. The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support has failed our children, our teachers, and our families, the proposed order reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the publication of the draft, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called reports that Trump planned to sign the order on Thursday fake news. Unnamed sources later told ABC News that the order had been pulled. Regardless of the status of the order, the core functions of the Department of Education remain in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. In one of her first acts as Secretary of Education, McMahon sent an email to department staff this week informing them that the department would be embarking on a final mission to carry out an effective transfer of educational oversight to the states. In coming months, we will partner with Congress and other federal agencies to determine the best path forward to fulfill the expectations of the President and the American people, McMahon added. Unlike Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is not an actual government department, the Department of Education was created by an act of Congress, and can only be dissolved by a 60-vote Senate majority. But as is becoming increasingly clear, the Trump administration and Musk couldnt care less if their efforts to cripple or shutter major departments and agencies violate the law. While they may not be able to officially eliminate the Department of Education without the cooperation of Congress, they can gut the agency to the point of inanimacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, DOGE offered employees at the Department of Education a one time buyout of $25,000 if they resigned or retired by Tuesday. Last month, DOGE oversawt saw millions in cuts to programs the department managed. Many of these programs had tangible benefits to low-income and disabled students. Musk claimed that his group had terminated 89 contracts worth $881 [million]. The Department of Education is the smallest Cabinet-level department in the United States, but it oversees critical functions of federal education policy including enforcing civil rights protections, distributing pell grants and other financial aid, as well as compiling data and research on the American education system. In his first weeks in office, Trump has leveraged the departments Office For Civil Rights to target transgender students, and harass schools where students protested Israels brutality in their war against Gaza. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday spoke to Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the phone amid a dispute over reciprocal tariffs. "The call ended in a 'somewhat' friendly manner!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social online platform. Trudeau had called him and asked what could be done about the tariffs, Trump wrote. The US president said he explained to Trudeau that many Americans had died from fentanyl being smuggled across the borders of Canada and Mexico into the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said Trudeau assured him that things had improved, but the US president told him: "That's not good enough." Trump accused the Canada prime minister of having caused the problem with his "weak border policies." "These policies are responsible for the death of many people! wrote the US president. According to Canadian data, only a fraction of the fentanyl in the US comes from Canada. In the post, Trump again pejoratively referred to the Canada prime minister as "Governor Trudeau," hinting at his repeated suggestion that Canada should join the US as its 51st state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also accused Trudeau of using the trade dispute to stay in power. "Good luck, Justin!" the US president wrote. The Canadian prime minister announced his future resignation at the beginning of the year after more than nine years as head of government. Earlier, the White House said that the US government has granted a one-month reprieve for US car manufacturers in the tariff dispute with Mexico and Canada. Trump has spoken to the three major US car manufacturers - General Motors, Ford and Stellantis - his spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USMCA is the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by the US, Mexico and Canada during Trump's first term. "At the request of companies associated with the USMCA, the president is giving them an exemption for one month so they are not at an economic disadvantage," added Leavitt. Tariffs announced by Trump on goods from Mexico and Canada came into force on Tuesday. Duties of 25% now apply to goods from Canada and Mexico that are imported into the US. Canada has hit back with its own tariffs and Mexico was set to make an announcement on Sunday. US President Donald Trump issued what he said was a last warning to Hamas to release all of the hostages in Gaza immediately in a move that came just hours after the White House confirmed it was negotiating directly with the militant group. Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, soon after meeting eight freed hostages at the White House. Trump wrote that he would send Israel everything it needs to finish the job, and warned that Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments came just hours after the US confirmed reports that it was negotiating directly with Hamas about hostages and the Gaza ceasefire, in a move that goes against its tradition of not talking to groups it considers terrorist organizations. Axios first reported the talks. It also comes as international aid and rights groups demand Israel ensure unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, after the country stopped all aid into the enclave to pressure Hamas into accepting new terms for an extension of the ceasefire agreement. The United States, which designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997, traditionally does not speak with terrorist organizations, though there have been exceptions both the Obama and Trump administrations negotiated with the Taliban, which was designated a terrorist organization in the wake of 9/11. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Wednesday why the US was negotiating directly and for the first time ever with Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the negotiations that youre referring to, first of all, the special envoy whos engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone, she said, referring to Trumps pick for hostage envoy, Adam Boehler. Israel was consulted on this matter, and look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven is what he believes is (a) good faith effort to do whats right for the American people, Leavitt added. CNN has reached out to the National Security Council for comment. The Israeli Prime Ministers Office said it had expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli statement did not make clear whether Israel had advance knowledge of the talks or whether it learned of them only later. Neither did the statement make clear what Israels position was. Earlier Wednesday a source had told CNN Israel was aware of the talks. CNN has asked Hamas for comment. A top Israeli diplomat appeared to reference the talks in an interview with Fox Business. Instead of putting Israel under pressure, President (Donald) Trump is putting Hamas under pressure and this is the right thing to do, Ofir Akunis, Israels consul general in New York, said. If the White House wants to talk directly to Hamas and put them under pressure to release more hostages, we will be very happy to see more hostages with their families and in Israel, he said. Comments undermine ceasefire: Hamas In his comments on Truth Social, Trump also addressed the people of Gaza directly, saying a beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER! Trump said. Trump has previously said he views Gaza as a big real estate site that he sees an opportunity to develop and that he envisions Gaza could become the Riviera of the Middle East. Hamas warned Trumps comments on Wednesday threatened to undermine the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told CNN the remarks would complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement and embolden Israels government to avoid implementing the deal. Qassem said Hamas had fulfilled its first-phase obligations under the US-brokered agreement and that the Israeli government was evading negotiations for the second phase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He urged the US to pressure Israel into entering the second phase, as stipulated in the agreement. On Sunday, a day after the first phase expired, Israel blocked humanitarian aid into Gaza, in response to Hamas rejecting a new Israeli proposal to extend the ceasefire without any commitment to end the war or fully withdraw troops. Israels foreign ministry claimed Hamas is exploiting humanitarian aid entering Gaza to rebuild its war machine, saying on Wednesday that aid trucks have become an economic engine for Hamas. Most of Gazas population is dependent on international aid, and United Nations agencies have issued stark warnings over the consequences of the aid block. At least 80 community kitchens are at risk of closing if disruption to humanitarian supplies continues, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned of severe consequences for women and girls due to the aid cutoff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany called on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and facilitate the urgent delivery of food, water, medical supplies, and fuel to Gazas 2.1 million residents. Lifesaving aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or exploited as a political tool, they said. In November, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, saying it found reasonable grounds to believe they bear criminal responsibility for war crimes including starvation as a method of warfare. Jeremy Diamond, Ibrahim Dahman, Eugenia Yosef, and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a last warning to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, directing a sharply worded message after the White House confirmed that he had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group. Trump, in a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting at the White House with eight former hostages, added that he was sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, Trump said. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pointed language from Trump came after the White House said Wednesday that U.S. officials have engaged in ongoing talks and discussions with Hamas officials, stepping away from a long-held U.S. policy of not directly engaging in the militant group. Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha come as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance. Its the first known direct engagement between the U.S. and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to provide detail on the the substance of talks, but said President Donald Trump has authorized his envoys to talk to anyone. Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries have served as mediators with Hamas for the U.S. and Israel since the group launched its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war. Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people is something that the president ... believes is a good-faith effort to do whats right for the American people, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt added that Israel has been consulted about the direct engagement with Hamas officials, and noted that there are American lives at stake. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office offered a terse acknowledgement of the U.S.-Hamas talks. Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas, the prime ministers office said. Israeli officials say about 24 living hostages including Edan Alexander, an American citizen as well as the bodies of at least 35 others are believed to still be held in Gaza. Adam Boehler, Trumps nominee to be special envoy for hostage affairs, led the direct talks with Hamas. Boehler, founder and CEO of Rubicon Founders, a healthcare investment firm, was a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team during Trumps first term that strove to win broader recognition of Israel in the Arab world. The talks, which took place last month, focused mainly on the release of American hostages, and a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official added that no progress was made but the step itself is promising and more talks are expected. Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped arrange the talks. The direct engagement comes as continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains uncertain. Trump has signaled that he has no intentions of pushing Netanyahu away from a return to combat if Hamas doesnt agree to terms of a new ceasefire proposal, which the Israelis have billed as being drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. The new plan would require Hamas to release half its remaining hostages the militant groups main bargaining chip in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners, a key component of the first phase. Trump on Wednesday welcomed eight former hostages Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories, Leavitt said. The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home. The talks between U.S. and Hamas officials were first reported earlier Wednesday by the news site Axios. Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025. Photo by Kayla Bartkowski | Getty Images It was as if my drunk, racist uncle had staggered onto the stage at a family wedding, ripped the microphone from the band leaders hand and began singing, all while waving a loaded gun around. Thats how it felt to watch Donald Trump deliver his first speech to a joint session of Congress since his reelection in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the moment he opened his mouth, I prayed for the torture to end. Instead, Trump droned on for nearly two hours in what can best be described as a cut rate, reality TV version of a Reagan-era State of the Union address. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ill leave it to other news outlets to offer up a detailed account of the presidents endless litany of outright lies and idiotic policy proposals, like his plans to get Greenland, reclaim the Panama Canal the U.S. is taking it back, he bellowed or his sudden obsession with turning Canada into our 51st state. (Interestingly, hes expressed no interest in annexing Mexico, which he probably regards as just another shithole country with too many brown people to suit his white nationalist palate.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What stood out from Trumps predictably self-serving speech was how it mirrored the through line of the rank cruelty and manifest incompetence of his so-called merit-based administration. Trump, for instance, took time in his speech to brag about the slipshod achievements of Elon Musk, the worlds richest man and head of the presidents faux Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is neither a federal department nor efficient. While falsely claiming DOGE has uncovered hundreds of billions of dollars fraud in the federal government, Trump made no mention of the tens of thousands of federal workers whose lives and careers have been upended in the wake of Musks chaotic, scorched earth management style or the hundreds of thousands more who are likely to find themselves in the unemployment line as his administration advances its goal of fundamentally breaking our government. He made no mention of the people who Musk mistakenly fired because no effort was made to learn what anyone in government does and then had to rehire, including some involved in maintaining our nuclear stockpile, or the growing number of staff cuts and services at national parks, or the heinous elimination of food programs for starving children overseas, or Musks decision to shut down life-saving AIDS prevention and treatment programs that have saved the lives of millions of people in Africa and elsewhere around the world, or the wave of impending federal job cuts, including veterans, right here in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To put it more bluntly, Trump made no mention of the fact that people around the world are dying because of he and Musks chainsaw approach to slashing discretionary spending, all in the name of paying for proposed tax cuts that will primarily benefit their billionaire cronies and even Trumps family. (Musk, meanwhile, has written on X, the social media site he owns and has transformed into a cesspool of right-wing extremists and neo-Nazis, that the takeover is actually all about stopping Democrats from giving money to undocumented immigrants to convince them to vote for Democrats. If that sounds like its ripped out of the racist Great Replacement conspiracy theory, which falsely claims that nefarious forces are flooding the U.S. with nonwhite immigrants in order to overtake the country, thats because it is.) Never let a drunk, racist uncle, or Donald Trump, take over the microphone. Or your country. Trump is raping the U.S. economy and the Republican Party is letting him do it, because, as Trump put it himself, when youre corrupt, authoritarian and a star, they let you do it. You can do anythingGrab them by the (insert favorite genital here)Whatever you want! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Highlighting his own hypocrisy, Trump boasted in his speech about ending the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity and inclusion policies in federal hiring, even though hes appointed a cabinet chock full of meritless misfits, screwballs and sycophants whose chief qualification for their jobs has been their willingness to grovel at his feet and gullibly embrace whatever lies he spews. Taken as a whole, Trumps second-term cabinet is the worst single example of affirmative action in history. Welcome to the era of W(DEI)F: White Diversity, Equity and Inclusion First. In Trumpworld, if youre a person of color, meh, maybe hell let you in but be prepared to humiliate yourself at the drop of a hat, and dont expect the federal government to defend your civil rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a big difference between the goals of DEI, which actively seeks out a diverse selection of qualified candidates when a job opportunity arises, versus Trumps practice of hiring mostly white men and women (but really mostly white men) based almost solely on how willing he or she sucks up to him. What does all of that suck-up-ed-ness get you? A cushy job in his administration, even if you dont know what the hell youre doing. As if right on cue, the day after Trump addressed Congress, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. told Americans to turn to cod oil, not effective vaccinations, to protect their children from a growing outbreak of measles. Asked how Americans might cope with the rising price of eggs, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins earlier this week said people should start raising their own chickens. And last week, Musk acknowledged that DOGE had accidentally cut off funding to treat one of the worlds deadliest infectious diseases, Ebola, leading the worlds richest man to quip, I think we all want Ebola prevention. But that funding has yet to be restored. What were my biggest takeaways from Trumps address to Congress? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flatter Donald Trump and you could be set for life, or at least until he gets bored with you. Speak truth to Trump and hell be your mortal enemy for life. Donate $280 million to help get him reelected, as Musk did, and hell shower you with praise, whether you deserve it or not unless, of course, you start to steal his limelight or stop giving him money. But the biggest takeaway of all? Never let a drunk, racist uncle, or Donald Trump, take over the microphone. Or your country. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Lots of Americans tuned in to see what President Donald Trump has in mind for his second term in office: 36.6 million viewers watched Trumps joint address to Congress on Tuesday, Nielsen has announced, marking a three-year high for the annual speech. (Note: A Presidents first speech to Congress is not technically considered a State of the Union speech, but instead referred to as an Address to a Joint Session of Congress.) Trumps speech which saw him touting his administrations accomplishments in his first six weeks in office and praising Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency task force topped Joe Bidens 2024 speech, which drew 32.2 million viewers, representing a 13% increase. (The last speech to top Trumps in viewership was Bidens 2022 address, with 38.2 million.) More from TVLine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps speech, however, fell short of all four of his previous addresses, with 37.2 million tuning into his most recent speech to Congress in February 2020. Viewership of Trumps speech peaked in the 9:45-10:00 pm ET window, with 37.9 million viewers. But the audience did skew old: More than 70% of viewers were over the age of 55, with just 2.1 million viewers aged 18-34. A total of 15 networks aired Trumps speech, including: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Merit Street, Telemundo, Univision, PBS, CNN, CNNe, Fox Business, Fox News, MSNBC, Newsmax and NewsNation. Best of TVLine Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. By President Donald Trumps notoriously high standards for TV ratings, his 99-minute-long speech Tuesday missed the mark. About 36.6 million people tuned in to 15 different networks to watch Trumps address to a joint session of Congress, according to Nielsen , making it the lowest-rated Congressional speech hes ever given. Viewership peaked roughly 45 minutes into his speech, between 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET, with 37.8 million tuning in. The majority of viewers were aged 55 and older, while viewership was lowest in the 18-34 age group at just 5.7 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Trumps Tuesday night ratings were 13% higher than former President Joe Bidens 32.2 million viewers in his 2024 State of the Union Address, they were still the lowest of the five such Trump speeches so far. WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: U.S. President Donald Trump reacts after addressing a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump was expected to address Congress on his early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) / Getty Images Trumps viewership was highest during his 2017 address to a joint session of Congress, with an audience of 47.7 million. In 2018, his viewership dipped to 45.5 million during his State of the Union Address. Ratings recovered slightly the following year, with 46.78 million viewers tuning into Trumps 2019 SOTU. The presidents second-lowest rated speech was in 2020, when 37.17 million people watched his SOTU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, a former reality TV star of The Apprentice fame, is notoriously obsessed with TV ratings. In July last year, he bragged about the Republican National Conventions big TV ratings after data showed that the event was the most watched by TV audiences that week. His second inauguration, however, saw viewership plunge to around 26 million, which was lower than the ratings for the past two Inauguration Days. In the first major address of his second presidency, Trump spent nearly a hundred minutes blaming Americas woesfrom the cost of eggs to the Ukraine waron the Biden administration and Democrats. Wokeness is trouble. Wokeness is gone, Trump said as he patted himself on the back for the flurry of controversial moves he has taken since returning to office. Our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed, and perhaps will never witness again. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that President Trump has lost his patience with Hamas and advised the administration to turn up the pressure on the Palestinian militant group to release the remaining hostages. In an interview on Fox News Channels Hannity, Rubio described the presidents last warning to Hamas earlier that day to release all the hostages, living and dead, immediately. Rubio noted that message came after hosting eight former hostages at the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People dont realize the president meets with these people, he hears their stories; hes outraged, and rightfully so, Rubio told Sean Hannity. Hes tired of watching these videos every weekend where hostages that are emaciated are released and bodies are turned over, and sometimes its the wrong bodies, and theres five here and three there, and theres games that are being played, Rubio continued, referring to recent exchanges amid the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. And hes lost his patience with it. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social to issue a direct warning to Hamas, which still holds about 24 living hostages and the bodies of at least 35 others, according to Israeli officials. An American citizen, Edan Alexander, is understood to be among the living hostages still in captivity. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president added in his post that he is sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say. His warning came after the White House confirmed it has authorized Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff to engage in direct talks with Hamas. The move is unprecedented and, according to The Associated Press, is the first known direct engagement the U.S. has had with Hamas since it was designated a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Rubio said Trumps message is consistent with his foreign policy approach, adding that he wished other foreign leaders would exert similar pressure on Hamas. Hes been very clear about this from the beginning. Hes created space and time for this to be solved. And now its time for seeing it come to an end. Enough of this already, the secretary of state said. These people have been in captivity now for over a year and a half. These are monsters. It needs to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wish there were more international pressure along the same lines here, but Im glad hes putting those statements out, Rubio continued. He doesnt say these things and not mean it, as folks are finding out around the world. He added, So theyd better take that seriously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (NewsNation) White House special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff confirmed Thursday the Trump administration has been in direct talks with Hamas. The president was pretty blunt. Its time for Hamas to act in a responsible and reasonable way, said Witkoff. Its the first known direct engagement between the U.S. and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House reverses course on Education Department executive order The talks, which took place last month, focused mainly on the release of American hostages and a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Witkoff said the U.S. would not allow Hamas to be a part of any potential government formed in Gaza. Witkoff did not say what would happen next only that theres going to be some action. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Donald Trump needs the support of the EU to end the war in Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen has insisted. The European Commission President made the declaration on Thursday as she announced that European leaders had agreed to relax fiscal rules for member states to spend more on their defence following pressure from Mr Trump. We all want a peace through strength, a just and lasting peace and this is also in the interest of President Trump to have a peace through strength, Ms von der Leyen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if he wants to achieve this, it is only possible with the support of the European Union and its member states. She added: We have been the ones, for example, who have secured the economic survival of Ukraine for the year 2025. We are the ones who now invest a lot in the Ukrainian defence industry and are providing military capabilities that Ukraine needs. European leaders have previously demanded a seat at the negotiating table with Ukraine, Russia and US officials in talks to bring the war to an end. At a separate press conference, Emmanuel Macron, the French President, said Europe had rallied to Ukraines cause because it was faced by an imperial nuclear power in Russia. 11:08 PM GMT Thats all for now Thanks for following our coverage. This live blog is now closed. 11:05 PM GMT The best security guarantee is the Ukrainians Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen is asked whether Europe can provide security guarantees without a US backstop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Costa says that the best security guarantee [is] the Ukrainians themselves and vows: We [stood] with Ukraine since day one, and we will continue. Ms von der Leyen says the EU is working with member states to procure the necessary military capabilities that then can be given to Ukraine. 10:42 PM GMT von der Leyen: Trump needs EUs support Antonio Costa says that Hungary has isolated itself from the position of most of the EUs member states but insisted an isolated country does not mean division and that there is a common desire to support Ukraine. On Thursday, Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, voted against declaration of support for Ukraine at an emergency summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all want a peace through strength, Ursula von der Leyen says. This is also in the interest of President Trump... and if he wants to achieve this it is only possible with the support of the European Union and its member states. 10:36 PM GMT Support for Ukraine has never been more urgent, says von der Leyen Ursula von der Leyen says she and other European leaders met with Volodymyr Zelensky. We spoke about how to achieve a just and lasting peace, she says. Our support for Ukraines armed forces has never been more urgent, and therefore we will work very closely and Ukraine and the defence industry to ensure that Ukraines military needs are met. 10:34 PM GMT Europe is facing a clear danger Ursula von der Leyen says: I think today history is being written... we are determined to invest more, to invest better, and to invest faster together from Paris to London to Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe is facing a clear and present danger, she says. Leaders have decided on a plan to give Europe the military capability it needs. It could mobilise up to 800 billion euros and it is about taking more responsibility on our shoulders for our own security because the urgency is legal. Member states will have greater fiscal flexibility... to invest in defence immediately and substantially, saying it could unlock up to 650 billion euros in defence expenditure. The EU will also provide 150 billion euros in loans to member states to accelerate the joint procurement, to pay for purchases from European producers. 10:30 PM GMT EU to invest much more in defence European leaders have agreed to invest in priority areas... reflecting the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, including air and missile defence, drones and anti-drone systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have decided to mobilise additional public and private funds for our defence. We will create a new European instrument up to 150 billion euros to support members states in boosting the defence capabilities that are urgently needed, said Antonio Costa, the European Council President. He continued: Member states will invest much more in defence and our common discal rules need to allow them to do so. Mr Costa said: We are putting our money where our mouth is. We are delivering on what we promised. To build our deterrence to strengthen the security of our citizens. 10:08 PM GMT Russia launches mass drone attack on Odesa Russian forces launched a new mass drone attack on Ukraines Black Sea port of Odesa on Thursday night, damaging energy infrastructure and triggering fires, Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the outskirts of Odesa, three private homes are on fire and energy infrastructure has been damaged, Mr Kiper wrote on Telegram, adding that information on casualties was being clarified. 09:47 PM GMT Europeans back 650 billion plan to boost defence spending European leaders have backed plans to boost defence spending by 650 billion by loosening budget restrictions. They also urged the European Commission to explore new ways to facilitate significant defense spending at national level in all Member States, according to a statement. 08:50 PM GMT Trump: I wont defend Nato allies who dont spend enough Donald Trump has said he will refuse to defend Nato allies if they do not spend enough on their own defence. If they dont pay, Im not going to defend them, he told reporters in the Oval Office, adding: They should be paying more. 08:03 PM GMT Zelensky: First priority is ceasefire at sky and at sea Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia and Ukraine could agree a ceasefire in the sky and at sea following talks with European leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal would mark the first steps to bring the Ukraine war to a close ahead of a full ceasefire and what Mr Zelensky calls a just and lasting peace. The Ukrainian president wrote on social media: The first priority could be to establish and fully control a ceasefire in the sky (stopping missile, long-range drone, and bomb strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure), as well as a ceasefire at sea, meaning halting all military operations in the Black Sea, which will ensure peaceful and safe navigation. We consider these initial steps as a prologue to a broader and comprehensive settlement. The war must end as soon as possible, and Ukraine is ready to work 24/7 with our partners in the United States and Europe for peace. 07:55 PM GMT Zelensky to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks with its Crown Prince. The Ukrainian President will remain in the Gulf State for talks with US counterparts, which Axios has reported will take place on Wednesday. 07:53 PM GMT Ukraine brought aid suspension on itself, claims Trump special envoy Ukraine brought the suspension of US military aid on themselves, a senior adviser to Donald Trump has claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith Kellogg, the Trump administrations special envoy to Russia and Ukraine, said that the suspension of weapons shipments was already having an effect on Kyiv, adding that the Ukrainians brought it on themselves. The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose... you got their attention, he said on Thursday. Ukraine was given fair warning before military aid was suspended, Mr Kellogg added. The move by the White House came days after a disastrous meeting in the Oval Office between Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr Trump, which ended with the Ukrainian President being thrown out. 07:11 PM GMT Ukraine ready for a ceasefire, Healey says Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire, the Defence Secretary said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by the Telegraphs Danielle Sheridan what would happen if Ukrainian frontlines fell apart, John Healey said: They are ready for a ceasefire. They want the guarantees and the security to ensure they will not again face Russian aggression. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks as he meets with British defence secretary John Healey at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C - KENT NISHIMURA/REUTERS 07:11 PM GMT Hegseth: US halt on military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine is temporary Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, said the US halt on military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine is temporary. As the president has pointed out, it is a pause. Exactly what he said from the beginning. Pause - pending a true commitment to a path to peace, he said. He added that Donald Trump is paying a very keen eye to what Kyiv is saying and doing about committing to that peace process. And were very encouraged by the signs were seeing. Ultimately, he [Trump] will make the determination. 06:53 PM GMT Twenty countries could join Starmers peacekeeping coalition in Ukraine Twenty countries could join Sir Keir Starmers plan for peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, as efforts to create a coalition of the willing stepped up in Brussels. Britain and France are leading proposals for a postwar settlement in the hope of ending the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Countries that have publicly indicated they will consider sending peacekeeping troops to enforce a deal include Australia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkey, which has the second largest army in Nato after the US. A number of other countries have not ruled out sending troops, including Canada, Denmark, and Sweden. It is understood that nations involved in a meeting on Wednesday were largely European and Commonwealth countries. The plans will eventually be presented to Donald Trump as part of the efforts to win back his support and ensure US involvement in any peace agreement. It came as European leaders convened in Brussels on Thursday to discuss defence spending and the path to a peace plan in Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky, who is at the summit, thanked the EU for ensuring that Ukraine is not alone. Russia, meanwhile, said it would not accept any European peacekeepers in Ukraine, claiming it would mean direct Nato involvement in the war. 06:40 PM GMT Healey meets Hegseth at the Pentagon US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth welcomes UK defence secretary John Healey with the guard of honour at the Pentagon. 06:24 PM GMT US Envoy to discuss ceasefire with Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia The US special envoy to the Middle East said he will travel to Saudi Arabia to speak to Ukrainian officials about a ceasefire with Russia. Were now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh, or even potentially Jeddah, Steve Witkoff told reporters. The idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire. 06:14 PM GMT US destroying world order, says Ukraines former army chief Ukraines former armed forces chief and current ambassador to Britain said the United States is destroying the current world order. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said Ukraine had held onto its independence despite animus and threats coming even from friends. He said: Its obvious the White House has questioned the unity of the whole Western world. Because we see that its not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the US is finally destroying this order. Mr Zaluzhnyi added that Ukraine should receive security guarantees and should avoid the role of bargaining chip in any negotiations. 05:48 PM GMT Zelensky backs partial truce to test Putins peace intentions Volodymyr Zelensky has backed plans for a partial truce to test whether Vladimir Putin is prepared to end his war on Ukraine. Senior Ukrainian and US officials will discuss the air, sea and critical infrastructure, as well as a large-scale prisoner exchange between Kyiv and Moscow, at a meeting in Saudi Arabia next week. We all need to feel that the Russians are not deceiving us, the Ukrainian president wrote online after meeting with EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday. His willingness to discuss the conditions of any peace deal is designed as a concession to Donald Trump, who last week accused his Ukrainian counterpart of wanting to prolong the war instead of negotiating a ceasefire. Mr Zelensky said the truce would be a prologue to a full peace settlement backed up by security guarantees from Kyivs Western allies. The first discussions on the plan will be held between Steve Witkoff, the US Middle East envoy, Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, and Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, and Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelenskys chief of staff, on Tuesday next week. 05:44 PM GMT Norway steps up Ukraine support Norway will increase its financial support to Ukraine, with prime minister Jonas Gahr Store announcing on Thursday that the country will more than double its aid package to 7.2 billion euros (6.03) for 2025. The boost comes in the form of an additional 50 billion Norwegian kroner (4.2 billion euros, 3.52) billion) on top of previously committed funds. Mr Store said: The Norwegian aid will help Ukraine oppose Russia and reinforce the peace plan on which the European countries are working. 05:29 PM GMT Zelensky urges EU to back idea of truce in air and sea Volodymyr Zelensky called on EU leaders in Brussels to support the idea of truce in the air and at sea towards achieving peace in Ukraine. Everyone needs to make sure that Russia, as the sole source of this war, accepts the need to end it. This can be proved by two forms of silence that are easy to establish and monitor, namely, no attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure truce for missiles, bombs, and long-range drones, and the second is truce on the water, meaning no military operations in the Black Sea, he said. 05:19 PM GMT US and Ukrainian officials to meet in Riyadh on Wednesday Senior Trump administration officials will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with Ukrainian officials next week, Fox News and Axios reported on Thursday. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Axios said, citing two unnamed sources. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, and Mike Waltz, US national security adviser, and others will depart for Riyadh on Tuesday for the meeting, according to reports. Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Volodymyr Zelensky, is expected to meet them. 05:16 PM GMT Zelensky praises Macrons clear shared vision Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken with Emmanuel Macron during a meeting of the military representatives of countries interested in coalition to support Ukraine. We discussed the upcoming meeting on March 11... We coordinated our positions and next steps, he said on X. We have an absolutely clear shared vision that real and lasting peace is possible through cooperation between Ukraine, all of Europe, and the United States. The war must end as soon as possible. I had a meeting with French President @EmmanuelMacron on the sidelines of the European Council meeting today in Brussels. I thanked Emmanuel for his clear and principled stance in support of Ukraine and the need for new, more substantial steps to protect our entire Europeour pic.twitter.com/lulIKiXAKI Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 6, 2025 05:12 PM GMT Twice as many Britons care if Ukraine wins than Italians Twice as many British citizens care if Ukraine wins its war with Russia than Italians, according to a recent YouGov poll. Out of those surveyed, 67 per cent of Britons said they want Ukraine to win and care if it does so, compared to just 34 per cent in Italy. For Spain, it was 57 per cent, Germany 52 per cent and France 50 per cent. The poll also revealed that Volodymyr Zelensky was considerably more popular than Donald Trump in Britain, France and Spain and slightly more popular in Italy. It also showed that most Western Europeans see Mr Trump as a big threat to peace and security in Europe, with 69 per cent of Britons saying he is a very big threat. Twice as many Britons care if Ukraine wins the war than Italians - YouGov Volodymyr Zelensky was more popular than Donald Trump in major European countries - YouGov 04:58 PM GMT Zelensky: US-Ukraine to have meaningful meeting next week Volodymyr Zelensky said he hopes the US and Ukraine will have a meaningful meeting next week. His statements come as the Ukrainian leader tries to repair relations with Donald Trump after the US cut off weapons deliveries and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv after a disastrous meeting in the Oval Office last week. Mr Zelensky this week said he will return to the negotiating table in a bid to win back US support and agreed to sign a long-contested US-Ukraine rare minerals deal. Speaking at the EU defence summit, he added that Kyiv wants peace, but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine. 04:32 PM GMT Analysis: Will Orban disrupt the EU defence summit? All eyes are on Viktor Orban and what he might do at todays European Council on Ukraine. The Trump-allied Hungarian prime minister has form when it comes to delaying or disrupting summit conclusions in Brussels. EU leaders are hoping to agree language calling for a peace deal for Ukraine, which involves Volodymyr Zelensky at the negotiating table and sending more arms to Kyiv. Mr Orban, who has previously railed against sanctions on the Kremlin, has said he disagrees with the modalities of peace being discussed. However, he has no problem with the conclusions relating to Europes need to rearm and ramp up its defence spending. The question is whether Mr Orban will try to water down or block the joint EU statements language on the peace negotiations. He has a friend in Robert Fico, another pro-Putin strongman, and the leader of Slovakia. But the latest draft of the conclusions has new language about restarting Russian gas supplies to Slovakia, a concession aimed at winning over the populist. The European Council calls on the Commission, Slovakia and Ukraine to intensify efforts towards finding workable solutions to the gas transit issue, including through its resumption, it reads. That could leave Mr Orban, who has clashed with Mr Zelensky at a previous summit, isolated. Mr Zelensky spoke to the gathered leaders over lunch before leaving. An EU diplomat told the Telegraph that Mr Orban said nothing and made no intervention during those discussions. The hope is that Mr Orban keeps silent, but if he doesnt arrangements have been made to ensure the statement is made without Hungarys support. The conclusions will be published with an asterisk to say they were agreed by 26 member states and not 27. 04:10 PM GMT Trump considers major change in Nato policy Donald Trump is considering a major change to the US participation in Nato, including possibly favouring members of the alliance that spent a set percentage of their GDP on defence, officials said. As part of the policy shift, the US might not defend a Nato member if the country doesnt meet the defence spending threshold, senior US and congressional officials told NBC News. The US president is also said to be considering choosing to prioritise military exercises with Nato members who spend more, as well as station more American troops in countries that do so. Mr Trump has repeatedly railed against Nato countries for not meeting the 2 per cent spending goal, arguing the US should not have to pick up the slack. 04:00 PM GMT Nato chief cautiously optimistic about Ukraine-US talks Mark Rutte, Natos Secretary-General, said he was cautiously optimistic that talks between Ukraine and the United States could lead to a positive result. I welcome very much that the United States and Ukraine are, as we speak, discussing ways to go forward, Mr Rutte said on Thursday. 03:46 PM GMT Healey to tell Trump that US security needs do not exist in isolation The Defence Secretary will warn Donald Trump he cannot ignore threats to Europe because Americas security needs do not exist in isolation, a minister has said. Luke Pollard, the armed forces minister, said on Thursday that Mr Trumps geopolitical priorities in the Indo-Pacific are inextricably linked to the war in Ukraine, showing we are better when we work and fight together. Speaking at a Chatham House event, he said that John Healey will be making the point during his trip to Washington, where he is meeting his US counterpart to discuss a possible peace plan. He also said the US remains a reliable ally to the UK despite pulling intelligence sharing with Ukraine, but added: We need to continue those conversations. It is the reason why the Defence Secretary is not sat here on this panel, but he is in Washington this week, speaking to his US counterpart, to make the case not just for our approach to bringing allies together on Ukraine, but making the case for why it is in all our benefits, including the USs, that we continue to invest in Nato, why we continue to invest in our security and why Americas priorities, looking at whats happening in the Indo-Pacific, dont happen in isolation, he said. Indeed, you have North Korean troops fighting on Europe. That is a perfect example of how the two theatres are interconnected, and the idea that they can be separate and not have a connection from one to the other, is an argument that I dont think stands a huge amount of scrutiny, but it is one that as a nation, we are making the case that we are better when we work and fight together. 03:21 PM GMT Ukraine knows it is not alone: Zelensky thanks Europe Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa for strengthening Ukraine and not leaving his country alone. During a meeting on the sidelines of a key EU defence summit, he said they discussed air defence, weapons and ammunition as well as boosting Ukraines defence industry and increasing sanctions on Russia. I am grateful for the leadership in discussing the enhancement of Europes defence capabilities and the strengthening of Ukraine, as well as for all the support on the path to a just and lasting peace. It is very important that Ukrainians are not alone we feel it and know it, he wrote on X. During a meeting with European Commission President @vonderleyen and @eucopresident Antonio Costa in Brussels, we discussed strengthening the defense capabilities of Ukraine and all of Europe. Air defense, weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, timely deliveries, strengthening pic.twitter.com/qRIll3liOL Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 6, 2025 03:08 PM GMT Belgium PM brands Trump a bully, considers sending troops to Ukraine Belgiums prime minister branded Donald Trump a real bully as he arrived for the European Council summit on Ukraine and defence. Bart De Wever also said it seems logical that Belgium would send troops as part of a European peacekeeping force but added, we are not there yet. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have called on European allies to join a coalition of the willing, which would commit soldier to the joint force if it was backed by US security guarantees. What Trump is doing is very un-European, Mr De Wever said of the Presidents treatment of Volodymyr Zelenksy over recent weeks. He added, using the English word, He is also a real bully. The Flemish nationalist said that did not mean cutting ties with the US or that we should tear up decades-old treaties. The US historically remains our most important ally within NATO. That does not change with a single president, he said. Mr De Wever also suggested that Belgium might not be able to deliver F-16 jets to Ukraine this year. 02:57 PM GMT Pictured: Zelensky greets Meloni Volodymyr Zelensky greets Italys Giorgia Meloni at a round table discussion at an EU summit in Brussels - AP 02:53 PM GMT Orban: Empower Europe not Brussels bureaucrats Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, stressed that Europe must strengthen its defence, rather than Brussels bureaucrats. Writing on X in the midst of the EU defence summit, Mr Orban said: My meetings in France confirmed that while we may disagree on the modalities of peace, we do agree that we must strengthen the defence capabilities of European nations, & these efforts should empower member states rather than Brussels bureaucrats. The nationalist leader has previously been at odds with the EU over Ukraine, frequently tried to block military aid to the war-torn country, and has been accused of being Vladimir Putins closest European ally. 02:45 PM GMT Pictured: Ukrainian troops load artillery on the frontline Ukrainian soldiers reload artillery shells on the frontline in the eastern Donetsk region - Anadolu A Ukrainian soldier prepares Msta-B howitzer - Anadolu 02:25 PM GMT Russia rejects temporary ceasefire in Ukraine Russia has rejected the prospect of a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine after Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a truce in the sea and sky as a first step to ending the war. Mr Zelensky had been pressured by Donald Trump to demonstrate his willingness to enter peace negotiations. Firm agreements on a final settlement are needed. Without all that, some kind of respite is absolutely unacceptable, a foreign ministry spokesman said in a televised briefing. Moscow has repeatedly rejected the idea of implementing a ceasefire without a long-term settlement. 02:09 PM GMT Zelensky thanks EU for support ahead of key defence summit Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the EU for ensuring that Ukraine is not alone ahead of a key defence summit in Brussels. The comments came after the US cut off its intelligence channels with Kyiv, threatening Ukrainian operations in their war against Russia. Speaking this morning, Mr Zelensky made clear his appreciation for the EUs support from the very beginning of the war. During all of this period, and last week, you stayed with us, of course from all Ukrainians, from all our nation, big appreciation, the Ukrainian president added. We are very thankful that we are not alone. 01:52 PM GMT Starmer: US central to peace in Ukraine Sir Keir Starmer insisted Ukraine must be put in the strongest possible position. The Prime Minister told reporters: Its important that we are all focused on that and its important that if there is a deal and we dont know there will be that we defend the deal. I think Europe needs to step up into this space. Weve said for a long time that Europe needs to do more in terms of its security and defence and I think thats right, and the United Kingdom will step up when its required. It has to be done in conjunction with the United States because for many decades we have worked very closely with the United States. No two other countries are as close when it comes to defence and security as our two countries. Its that ability to work with the United States and our European partners that has kept the peace for 80 years now. In the meantime we need to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. We dont know that theres going to be a deal. Its a big mistake to think all weve got to do is wait for a deal now. 01:33 PM GMT Big mistake to wait for peace deal, says Starmer It would be a big mistake just to wait for a peace deal, Sir Keir Starmer said as he reaffirmed British support for Ukraine. During a question-and-answer session with defence industry employees, the Prime Minister said it was important to continue to work towards a lasting peace. Sir Keir argued that this would have to ensure that Ukraine is both sovereign, able to make their own decisions, and secure, so in a position where we dont just stop the fighting. But he added: In the meantime, we need to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. We dont know that theres going to be a deal Its a big mistake to think all weve got to do is wait for a deal now. 01:20 PM GMT Denmark refuses to rule out hosting European nuclear weapons Denmarks prime minister has refused to rule out hosting European nuclear weapons. Mette Frederiksen said she was not ruling anything out when asked about Emmanuel Macrons proposal for a shared nuclear deterrent. Im not going to say no to other peoples ideas, she said. Everything is on the table. 01:10 PM GMT In pictures: Zelensky enters EU chamber Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, a prominent critic of Ukraine - REUTERS Antonio Costa, the European Council president, meets with Volodymyr Zelensky inside the EU chamber 01:06 PM GMT US helping Russia to destroy world order, says Ukrainian ambassador The US is helping Russia destroy the world order, the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK has said. Speaking at Chatham House in London, Valerii Zaluzhnyi said he had concerns Nato may not exist in the near future. Now Washington is trying to delegate the security issues to Europe without participation of the US so we can say that in the near future, Nato likewise can stop existing, the ambassador said. We see that its not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the US is finally destroying this order, Mr Zaluzhnyi said. And when those countries of the axis conclude a strategic agreement between themselves, we should have thought maybe this is an attempt to revise the existing world order. 01:01 PM GMT Ukrainian opposition rejects Trump election talk Earlier we reported that senior members of the Trump administration had held secret talks with some of Volodymyr Zelenskys top political opponents (see 9.39am post). Petro Poroshenko and Yulia Tymoshenko, both of whom were approached, backed a ban on elections until peacetime after the reported talks. In a statement Thursday, Mr Poroshenko said that his team has always been and remains categorically against holding elections during the war. We have said, and continue to say, that elections can only take place after a ceasefire and the signing of a peace agreement with security guarantees for Ukraine, he said. Ms Tymoshenko, meanwhile, said her team is negotiating with all our allies who are able to help ensure a just peace as soon as possible. Until then, and I have said this more than once, holding any elections in Ukraine is out of the question, she wrote. 12:51 PM GMT Your views... 12:36 PM GMT Twenty countries interested in coalition of the willing Twenty countries held talks at official level yesterday as efforts to create a coalition of the willing stepped up. Britain and France are leading on proposals for a settlement and post-war security guarantees in the hope of ending the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Their plans will eventually be presented to Donald Trump as part of the efforts to win back his support and ensure US involvement in any peace agreement. It is understood that the nations involved at the meeting on Wednesday were largely European and Commonwealth countries. The engagement is believed to have been welcomed by the Government although it is still thought to be early days in drawing up a more concrete partnership and deal. 12:13 PM GMT Pictured: Zelensky meets with Macron Volodymyr Zelensky has met with Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Special European Council in Brussels - AFP 12:01 PM GMT Trump plans to deport Ukrainians Moving away from the summit in Brussels, Donald Trump is reportedly planning to revoke temporary legal status for nearly 250,000 Ukrainians who fled the country after Russia launched its invasion. The move, which could occur as soon as next month, had been planned prior to last weeks public falling out between Mr Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, sources told Reuters. It is part of Mr Trumps wider efforts to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants allowed to enter the US under temporary humanitarian parole programs. 11:51 AM GMT Turkey could send troops to Ukraine Turkey, which has the second largest army in Nato after the US, has said it could contribute troops to a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. The issue of contributing to a mission will be considered if deemed necessary for establishing regional stability and peace, and will be assessed mutually with all relevant parties, a source told reporters in Ankara. Only Britain and France have publicly committed to the idea. 11:45 AM GMT Scholz: Lets not give up on the US Olaf Scholz, the outgoing German chancellor, has said Europe should not give up on US involvement in nuclear deterrence. Asked to comment on Frances offer to discuss extending the protection offered by its nuclear arsenal to its European partners, Mr Scholz said that what we have in terms of nuclear involvement ... I dont think that should be given up. However, he also warned against any dictated peace in Ukraine. It is very important that we make sure that Ukraine does not have to accept a dictated peace, but that it is a just and fair peace that guarantees (Ukraines) sovereignty and independence, Mr Scholz told reporters 11:19 AM GMT This is a watershed moment for Europe Arriving at the summit, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commissions president, said: This is a watershed moment for Europe. And Ukraine, as part of our European family, its also a watershed. Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, defend itself, as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for lasting and just peace. EU leaders will on Thursday discuss Mrs von der Leyens plans for a 650 billion boost of the blocs defence spending, including a 150 billion loan to buy missiles and air-defence systems and the loosening of debt rules. 11:11 AM GMT Zelensky thanks EU for support Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked European leaders for their strong support. The Ukrainian president said: You have made a strong signal to the Ukrainian people, warriors and civilians, and its great we are not alone. We feel it. Thank you so much for everything and signals to increase [defence] production and a new programme to increase European security is a great decision. Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Brussels ahead of an emergency EU defence summit - AFP 11:08 AM GMT Costa reiterates vow to make Ukraine EU member Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, has told Volodymyr Zelensky the EU will continue supporting Ukraine as it has done since day one. We will continue with you now, and we will continue in the future in eventual peace negotiations when you decide it is the right moment to negotiate, and most importantly, as future member state of the European Union, Mr Costa told Mr Zelensky ahead of todays emergency summit. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, calls the meeting a watershed moment. We stand by Ukraine as long as it takes, she added. 11:04 AM GMT Analysis: Zelensky likely to leave summit disappointed Volodymyr Zelensky will arrive in Brussels expecting a united front of support from the European Union as the Ukrainian prepares to face down Donald Trump. Hell be seeking cast-iron guarantees of military support and perhaps enhanced intelligence sharing to plug the gaps left by Washingtons decision to halt aid. But much to his disappointment, Mr Zelensky will only receive warm words of assurance and some vague promises around security guarantees. EU leaders have decided its too soon, and premature, to discuss troop deployments. Instead, theyll explain that the bloc best sees Ukraine being defended by itself with the help of weapons deliveries and training from its Western allies. Achieving peace through strength requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with Ukraines own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component, a leaked draft of a statement to be signed off by EU leaders, seen by the Telegraph, says. This applies before, during and after negotiations to end the war. 11:00 AM GMT US will reinstate support for Ukraine, says Tusk Donald Tusk has said he believes the US will reinstate military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. The Polish prime minister said the US had become a more demanding partner but added that an alliance with Washington was an absolute priority. Mr Tusk also said Europe would rearm quicker, smarter and more effectively than Russia. 10:46 AM GMT Merz arrives in Brussels Friedrich Merz, Germanys next chancellor, has arrived in Brussels for talks with European leaders, though will not attend the EU summit. Instead, Olaf Scholz, the outgoing chancellor, will represent Germany. Friedrich Merz, Germanys next chancellor, will attend todays summit alongside Olaf Scholz, the outgoing chancellor - Shutterstock 10:27 AM GMT Lavrov: No room for compromise on European troops in Ukraine Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow would regard European peacekeepers deployed to Ukraine as the official involvement of Nato forces in the war against Russia. Britain and France have floated the idea of sending a European peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine after any peace deal is secured. We are categorically against such actions, they will mean official involvement of Nato forces in war against Russia, Mr Lavrov said. It is worth noting Moscow made similar comments before the UK and US sent long-range missiles to Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia. Donald Trump has also claimed Vladimir Putin had no problem with European peacekeepers being sent to Ukraine. 10:19 AM GMT Analysis: A moment for Merz to make his mark No, you arent suffering from double vision: there will in effect be two Chancellors of Germany in Brussels. The first of course is Olaf Scholz, the outgoing lame duck Chancellor who presided over the worst ever result for his Social Democrats party in last months elections. The second is incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the leader of the centre-Right Chrsitian Democrats. He has taken a brief hiatus from coalition talks for this visit to Brussels. Even though Mr Scholz will officially represent Germany at the summit, Mr Merz has several good reasons for tagging along. His presence reflects a sense of urgency in Europe - it must move quickly in a new era where US security guarantees for the continent seem to be falling away on a daily basis. It also provides an opportunity for Mr Merz to have some face-to-face meetings with other EU leaders, in particular French president Emmanuel Macron. The pair are eager to strike a deal where Germany is brought under the French nuclear umbrella, in light of concerns about Donald Trumps ever closer shift towards Russia. Mr Merz has already shown himself to be much more hawkish on security than Mr Scholz, even though he hasnt even been sworn in yet. The reforms he announced this week, on scrapping borrowing limits for defence spending and setting up a 500bn euro infrastructure fund, mark a sea change in German fiscal policy. It may well be Mr Scholzs face that you see in most of the photographs taken of EU leaders at this summit. But the more important one is that of Mr Merz - even if he is mainly holding meetings behind the scenes this week. 10:10 AM GMT Kremlin blasts extremely confrontational Macron speech The Kremlin has accused Emmanuel Macron of directly threatening Russia after the French leader revealed that he is considering extending his countrys nuclear shield to protect European allies. In a series of vicious statements from Moscow, Mr Macron was compared to Hitler by Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, and told he was being extremely confrontational by Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putins spokesman. Konstantin Kosachev, a senior Russian senator, said that Mr Macron was a maniac, leading the world to the abyss. In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday night, Mr Macron said that he would launch a debate on extending Frances nuclear umbrella to European partners, following calls from Friedrich Merz, Germanys chancellor-in-waiting, for France and Britain to expand their nuclear protection. Condemning Mr Macrons plans, Lavrov warned: If he sees us as a threat... and says that it is necessary to use a nuclear weapon, is preparing to use a nuclear weapon against Russia, of course it is a threat. On Thursday, Peskov added: The speech is really extremely confrontational. He said that Mr Macrons tough rhetoric suggests France wants the war to continue. Elsewhere, Mr Macron said that a fast-rearming Russia was a threat to France and Europe, the Ukraine war was already a global conflict and the US may no longer be relied on to stand by us. Read the full article here. 09:59 AM GMT Defend Europe, Defend Ukraine Activists in Brussels are calling on EU leaders to seize 300bn of frozen Russian assets to help defend Ukraine. Activists display a 500 square meter banner in support of Ukraine in the European Quarter in Brussels - Shutterstock 09:39 AM GMT Trump team held secret talks with Zelensky opposition Donald Trumps administration held secret talks with some of Volodymyr Zelenskys top political opponents, it has emerged. Four senior members of the Trump entourage spoke with Yulia Tymoshenko, the opposition leader, as well as senior members of former president Petro Poroshenkos party, Politico reported. Discussions centred around whether Ukraine could hold quick presidential elections, according to the report. A rift has been growing between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky, culminating in a public shouting match in the Oval Office and US withdrawal of military aid and intelligence to Ukraine. Mr Trump has publicly insisted that Ukraine hold elections and labelled the Ukrainian president a dictator for not holding a vote, despite it being banned under martial law. There were some signs that their relationship could be mended after Mike Waltz, Mr Trumps national security adviser, said the US president would consider restoring aid if Mr Zelensky came to the negotiating table. 09:34 AM GMT Norway should significantly raise its aid to Ukraine, PM says Norway should significantly increase its financial aid to Ukraine,the countrys prime minister told parliament on Thursday. I want to propose to the other parties in parliament that we meet this afternoon to discuss and agree on a significant increase in the Nansen programme for Ukraine this year, Jonas Gahr Stoere said. It marks the latest example of a European country scrambling to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after Donald Trump froze US military aid to Kyiv and fuelled doubts about its commitment to Nato. 09:06 AM GMT Physically impossible to hold elections, says Zelensky opponent Oleksiy Goncharenko, an MP from the Peoples Deputy of Ukraine, said it was physically impossible to hold elections in the country amid reports the US had sounded out Volodymyr Zelenskys opponents. He told the Telegraph: I am no fan of Zelensky but it is just not possible given our current security circumstances. The law forbids it. What would happen if people who are voting are being attacked? And youre not just speaking about voting day, elections occur over a campaign, its impossible. 08:52 AM GMT Analysis: How Trump blinded Ukraine with US intelligence blackout The suspension of US military aid dealt a devastating blow to Ukraine. The halt of intelligence sharing is potentially even more catastrophic. The munitions freeze will undoubtedly affect Ukraines ability to wage war against the invading Russians over time, but thanks in part to healthy stockpiles, the impact might not be felt for several months. The loss of vital intelligence, however, will make its mark immediately. It will, simply put, blind Ukraine. The intelligence partnership between Washington and Kyiv has repeatedly proved vital not just to Ukraines ability to attack its enemy or defend itself but also in saving the lives of its citizens. Attacking targets within Russia, providing vital intelligence to Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines and giving civilians in Ukraines cities sufficient warning to get to bomb shelters will now be much harder. 08:36 AM GMT In pictures: Russian air strike on village in Kharkiv Russia launched air strikes in the Kharkiv region overnight, destroying houses and cars in the village of Slatyne. Firefighters work at the site of houses destroyed by a Russian air strike in the village of Slatyne, Kharkiv - REUTERS 08:26 AM GMT British and American volunteers inside hotel struck by Russia British and American volunteers were inside a hotel that was struck by Russia overnight, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president said they had managed to survived after fleeing their rooms. Ballistic missiles hit an ordinary hotel. Just before the strike, volunteers from a humanitarian organisation - citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and Britain - checked into the hotel, Mr Zelensky said. They survived because they managed to get down from their rooms. But, unfortunately, four people were killed in the attack. 08:20 AM GMT Lasting peace in Ukraine impossible without US backing, says minister A lasting peace in Ukraine is impossible without the backing of the United States, a minister has admitted. Sarah Jones, the industry minister, echoed remarks previously made by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that a viable peace deal needs the backing of Donald Trump. Mr Trump has suspended military aid and intelligence sharing to Mr Zelenskys country in the wake of an extraordinary public fallout between the two leaders last week. Ms Jones told Sky News: We know in the conversations we are having on Ukraine, that we cannot have a lasting peace without the support of the United States, we need that relationship to be right. We are working the Prime Minister is working to try and get an agreement that includes the EU and the US but of course must start and finish with Ukraine and what they want to do. 08:15 AM GMT Putin appoints veteran diplomat as new US ambassador Vladimir Putin has appointed Alexander Darchiev, a veteran diplomat, as Russias new ambassador to the United States. Mr Darchiev will be tasked with leading a rapprochement with that has stunned Ukraine and Washingtons European allies. Russias foreign ministry said last week Washington had given it the green light at a meeting between Russian and US officials in Turkey to appoint Mr Darchiev. That six-hour meeting in Istanbul last Thursday, where the delegations worked to try to restore normal function of their embassies, was the latest sign of a thaw between the two countries. 08:10 AM GMT France shares intelligence with Ukraine France is in a better position than the British to fill the intelligence void left by America pausing cooperation with Ukraine, according to Frances defence minister. Cooperation with American agencies on satellite observation on everything else has been suspended since yesterday afternoon, Sebastien Lecornu confirmed on Thursday morning. Asked whether Europes intelligence take Americas place if it pulls out, he said: For our British friends who are in an intelligence community with the US, its more complicated. Our intelligence is sovereign, it has been longer to ramp up in recent years but the advantage is we have done so with our own means and so yes we have our own means of intelligence, which are now benefitting the Ukrainians, he told France Inter. 08:01 AM GMT Watch: Zelenskys hometown hit by Russian strike Credit: Social Media 07:40 AM GMT Musk accuses Europe of wanting forever war Elon Musk has claimed European leaders want the war in Ukraine to last forever. The Tesla billionaire and key Trump ally was responding to an interview with Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, who said claimed Russia would not stop at Ukraine. How many more parents with no sons? How many more children with no fathers? By their logic, it never ends, Mr Musk, a fierce critic of Ukraine, posted on X this morning. 07:29 AM GMT Zelensky to attend EU summit Volodymyr Zelensky will attend a summit of EU leaders in Brussels later today. The Ukrainian president is expected to hold a series meetings, including with Mark Rutte, Nato chief, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. The purpose of the emergency summit is to cement European support for Kyiv in the wake of Donald Trumps suspending all military aid and intelligence to Ukraine. It comes after Ms von der Leyen unveiled an 800 billion boost to EU defence spending, proclaiming it was time to rearm Europe. 07:19 AM GMT Moscow scolds Macron after address to the nation Russian officials have scolded Emmanuel Macron after he told French citizens that Russia posed a threat to the European order, warning the comments could bring the West closer to a new world war. The French president said in an address to the nation on Wednesday that Russia was a threat for France and Europe, that the Ukraine was already a global conflict and that he would open a debate about extending the French nuclear umbrella to allies in Europe. Such an erroneous analysis leads to fatal errors, Konstantin Kosachev, a senior Russian senator, said, claiming that Mr Macron had mistaken Russias reaction to Nato enlargement. Macron maniacally imposes on his citizens, allies and the entire world a completely false concept of what is happening - the Russians are coming! Such false conclusions and false suggestions lead to the abyss. Emmanuel Macron addressing the nation in a TV address on Wednesday evening - AFP 07:08 AM GMT Who are Zelenskys main political opponents? Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraines opposition leader, is ruthlessly ambitious about reaching the presidency. She was prime minister in 2005, and again between 2007 and 2010 - the only woman to hold that position. Ms Tymoshenko finished second in two presidential elections in 2010 and 2014 - spending most of the interim period in jail in what was thought to be a politically motived prosecution. After being elected to Ukraines parliament in 2019, she has led her party in opposition. She is not thought to pose much of a threat to Mr Zelensky, garnering just 5.7 percent support in the latest poll. Mr Zelenskys nearest rival is Valery Zaluzhny, a former army commander who is now Ukraines ambassador to Britain, who trails the Ukrainian president by 20 percentage points. Petro Poroshenkos support has been hovering at around 10 percent. Mr Zelenskys poll ratings have been declining for several years, now sitting at 44 per cent after previously sitting above 50 - though he is still comfortably ahead in the race for the presidency, according to the latest projection. Despite claiming no interference in Ukrainian politics, several senior Republicans have attacked Mr Zelensky for not holding elections - including Mr Trump. Tulsi Gabbard, Mr Trumps intelligence chief, said earlier this week Kyiv had cancelled elections, despite them being banned under martial law. Elon Musk, a key Trump ally, has also criticised Mr Zelensky for not holding elections. Yulia Tymoshenko is the former prime minister of Ukraine - Julian Simmonds/The Telegraph 06:50 AM GMT Russian strike on hotel in Zelenskys hometown kills three A Russian missile strike on a hotel in Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown killed four people and injured 31 overnight, with about half of them in serious condition, authorities have said. Russian forces have kept up their bombardment of Ukraine even as rhetoric builds in Washington and Moscow on potential talks to halt the more than three-year war. Three people died in Kryvy Rig due to the night missile attack... Sincere condolences to the relatives, Sergiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, said this morning. There are 31 injured... 14 are in serious condition. In addition to the hotel, 14 apartment buildings, a post office, almost two dozen cars, a cultural institution, and 12 shops were damaged, authorities said. A Russian missile strike on a hotel in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown overnight killed three people 06:45 AM GMT Welcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Well be bringing you the latest news and analysis throughout the day. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The White House has dismissed as "fake news" reports in the media regarding the alleged plans of President Donald Trumps administration to revoke the temporary legal status of approximately 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the country due to the full-scale Russian invasion. Source: White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: She said that the journalists who had disseminated those claims "have no idea what they are talking about". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is more fake news from Reuters based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about," Leavitt said, attaching a screenshot of the appropriate Reuters news story to her post. She noted that no decision has been made on the matter. Background: Reuters earlier reported that in April, the Trump administration plans to cancel the temporary legal status of about 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the country due to the full-scale Russian invasion. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Russo-Ukrainian war a "proxy war between nuclear powers" that has reached a dead end and must be stopped. Media reports suggest that the suspension of US military aid to Ukraine may last until Donald Trump decides that Volodymyr Zelenskyy supports peace talks with Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he would probably extend the deadline for the sale for social video app TikTok if a deal is not reached by April 5. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said Thursday there was a lot of interest in TikTok and that right now we have at least another month, so we dont need an extension in response to questions at the White House about the apps status. At the same time, Trump said he is willing to extend the deadline if necessary. If I needed an extension, Id probably get it extended, Trump said. We have a lot of interest in TikTok. And China is going to play a role, so hopefully China will approve of the deal, but they are going to play a role, he added, without specifying the interested buyers. A bipartisan law previously set a Jan. 19 deadline for Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd. to sell the app and the services US operations temporarily went dark. But Trump upon taking office signed an executive order offering a reprieve for 75 additional days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, Trump has said that he wants to help broker a sale and that he believes the US government should be granted a 50% stake in the company as a condition. Its not clear if Trump could legally offer a significant additional extension under the law, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, without an agreement. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. President Trump is expected to issue an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin taking the necessary steps to shutter the department. An administration official told NewsNation White House correspondent Libbey Dean early Thursday that Trump would sign an executive order Thursday afternoon that directs McMahon to begin dissolving the Education Department. The official White House schedule was updated Thursday morning with Trump signing unspecified executive orders at 2 p.m. EST. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A White House official later told Dean that Trump would not be signing the executive order dismantling the Education Department on Thursday while it is being reviewed. The executive order, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, has been in the works since before Trump was sworn into office in January. The draft of the order recognizes that the president does not have the authority to abolish the department and that it would likely take 60 votes in the Senate, where Republicans hold only 53 seats, The Washington Post reported. But it directs McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department based on the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, according to the Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollarsand the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support has failed our children, our teachers, and our families, the draft order reportedly reads. The Post also noted that the draft was labeled pre-decisional, citing a personal familiar with the matter who cautioned that its details could change before it is final. The Hill has reached out to the White House and Education Department for comment. McMahon was confirmed Monday to lead the Education Department. That evening, she foreshadowed the executive order in a letter in which she described her goal of making education a matter for the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My vision is aligned with the Presidents: to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children, she wrote. As a mother and grandmother, I know there is nobody more qualified than a parent to make educational decisions for their children. She also recently laid out a final mission for the employees and said that while things are uncertain, every staff member of this Department should be enthusiastic about any change that will benefit students. McMahon specifically pointed to Trumps recent executive orders on school choice and ridding schools of critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Updated at 10:56 a.m. EST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order aimed at his long-held goal of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The order may come as soon as Thursday, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter whom it did not name. The White House and the department did not immediately respond to requests for comment late on Wednesday. Trump has repeatedly called for eliminating the department, calling it a "big con job." He proposed shuttering it in his first term as president, but Congress did not act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His fellow Republicans have long sought to chip away at its funding and influence, and his education secretary, Linda McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate on Monday, has defended Trump's plan to abolish the agency. The department's defenders say it is crucial to keeping public education standards high and accuse Republicans of trying to push for-profit education. An immediate closure could disrupt tens of billions of dollars in aid to K-12 schools and tuition assistance for college students. Trump said last month he wanted the department to be closed immediately but acknowledged he would need buy-ins from Congress, which determines its funding, and teachers' unions. McMahon told senators that unwinding the department would require congressional action and repeatedly promised the federal school funding appropriated by Congress to assist low-income school districts and students would continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk have attempted to dismantle government programs and institutions such as the U.S. Agency for International Development without congressional approval, but abolishing the Department of Education would be his first shutdown of a cabinet-level agency. The department oversees some 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the United States, although more than 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments. Instead, it provides federal grants for needy schools and programs, including money to pay teachers of children with special needs, fund arts programs and replace outdated infrastructure. It also oversees the $1.6 trillion in student loans held by tens of millions of Americans who cannot afford to pay for university outright. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Trump's Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, Republicans particularly criticized the department over student loan forgiveness and policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Janaki Venugopalan in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue and William Mallard) The producers of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton are canceling an upcoming run at the Kennedy Center over President Donald Trumps hostile takeover of Washingtons premier cultural institution. The decision, announced Wednesday by creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and lead producer Jeffrey Seller, drew a sharp rebuke from Richard Grenell, who was appointed last month to be interim executive director as part of the presidents effort to take control of the Kennedy Center and its programming. Next years production of the musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton was timed for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But Seller said in a statement that the administrations ouster of Democratic members of the Kennedy Center board violated the spirit of nonpartisanship that had prevailed at the institution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cannot presently support an institution that has been forced by external forces to betray its mission as a national cultural center that fosters the free expression of art in The United States of America, Seller wrote. Seller argued that the decision was based on the takeover of the board and wasnt directed at broader administration policies. Grenell, however, doesnt see it that way. He called the cancellation a publicity stunt that will backfire in a social media post. The Arts are for everyone not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with, Grenell wrote. The American people need to know that @Lin_Manuel is intolerant of people who dont agree with him politically. Its clear he and Sellers dont want Republicans going to their shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt the first dust-up between Hamilton and Trump world. The cast of the show took the opportunity to address Vice President-elect Mike Pence when he attended a performance in 2016, expressing concern that the new administration would not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights. Trump was quick to jump into the fray, complaining in social media posts that the cast had harassed his vice president, and commanding them to Apologize! New tariffs that began this week on most imports from Mexico and Canada have been suspended until April 2. Trump signed executive orders Thursday that suspend the 25% tariffs on goods traded under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which covers most U.S. imports from those countries, The New York Times reported. Earlier Thursday, Trump posted on social media the tariffs would be suspended on imports from Mexico, adding that his relationship with President Claudia Sheinbaum "has been a very good one." His post did not mention Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheinbaum said his decision came after she showed him how the country had limited the amount of fentanyl flowing into the U.S., The Times reported. Fentanyl was one of the reasons Trump gave for the tariffs. The round of tariffs began Tuesday and included an increase from 10% to 20% on imports from China. On Wednesday, Trump granted U.S. automakers that trade under the North American free trade agreement a one-month exemption following concerns raised by Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. The three automakers said the levies are unsustainable for domestic car manufacturing, The Associated Press reported. Ford CEO Jim Farley had previously described tariffs as devastating. Asked if the 30-day suspension was enough for the industry to adjust, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt relayed Trumps words to the automakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told them that they should get on it, start investing, start moving, shift production here to the United States of America where they will pay no tariff, Leavitt said. Trump defended his tariffs as they began, according to The Times, claiming they are needed to protect the soul of our country. He has acknowledged they could cause prices to rise for Americans. Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again, and it is happening and it will happen rather quickly, he said. There will be a little disturbance, but we are OK with that. It wont be much. Experts worry the tariffs affect international trade agreements and America's relationship with its allies. This is a day where the United States stopped seeing trade as force for mutual benefit, and began seeing it as a tool of economic warfare, Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told The Times, describing the duties as a fundamental attack on the economic well being of our closest neighbors. UPDATED President Donald Trump is delaying 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico until April 2, the White House said Thursday. Trump had earlier only mentioned an exemption for Mexico, but the amendment he signed to his order for 25% levies on imports from both covers Canada as well, according to Reuters. For at least the next 30 days, importers wont be required to pay tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico that adhere to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the latest move in a back-and-forth escalating trade war between the U.S. and its three largest trading partners. The White House announced Wednesday it would grant a one-month delay for tariffs on automakers whose cars comply with the USMCA. The White House did not specify if the 30-day exemption included both finished vehicles and auto parts imported from Canada and Mexico. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said a one-month exemption for more than just carmakers is likely. MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association, said in a statement Wednesday, Conversations held today indicate positive results that USMCA-compliant parts are included, but we are awaiting official confirmation from the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 10% duty on imports of Canadian electricity and oil remain in place, as they are not part of the USMCA. Trump said Thursday he had a positive meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, I have agreed that Mexico will not be required to pay Tariffs on anything that falls under the USMCA Agreement, President Donald Trump wrote on a Truth Social post, using the acronym for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. This Agreement is until April 2nd. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation! The Trump administration hit imports from Canada and Mexico with 25% tariffs at midnight on Tuesday, alongside an additional 10% tariff on goods from China imposed Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The import duties are aimed at forcing more cooperation from Canada, China and Mexico on stopping illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the U.S., Trump said. The White House said it will go forward with broad reciprocal tariffs to match duties that other countries charge on U.S. imports starting April 2. The post Trump pauses tariffs on all imports from Canada, Mexico for 1 month appeared first on FreightWaves. Some U.S. allies are considering scaling back the intelligence they share with Washington in response to the Trump administrations conciliatory approach to Russia, five sources with direct knowledge of the discussions told NBC News. The allies are weighing the move because of concerns about safeguarding foreign assets whose identities could inadvertently be revealed, said the sources, who included two foreign officials. Every intelligence agency treats its commitments to foreign agents as sacrosanct, pledging to keep agents safe and shield their identities. Anything that jeopardized that obligation would violate that trust, former officials said, and that could lead some spy services to hold back on some information sharing with Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia and members of the so-called Five Eyes spy alliance of English-speaking democracies, are examining how to possibly revise current protocols for sharing intelligence to take the Trump administrations warming relations with Russia into account, the sources said. Those discussions are already happening, said a source with direct knowledge of the discussions. One Western official said the Trump administration has shaken how longtime allies view the United States and whether it can be relied upon. There are serious discussions going on about what information can be shared with the United States. The Five Eyes have always worked on the premise that we dont spy on each other, the Western official said. I dont think thats reliable anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official added, Thats right now where we are, and I dont see any way that changes. No decision or action has been taken, however, the sources said. The review is part of a wider examination of the spectrum of relations with Washington among many U.S. allies, including diplomacy, trade and military cooperation, as well as intelligence matters, the sources said. Historic implications Though the extent of a U.S. policy change toward Russia remains unclear, allies are weighing the possible implications of what could be a historic shift, a Western official said. Asked about allies possibly limiting what they share with the United States, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council said President Donald Trump is clear-eyed about Americas adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has unrivaled intelligence capabilities which is exactly why intelligence sharing initiatives such as the Five Eyes exist, spokesman Brian Hughes said in an email. President Trump is clear-eyed on all threats our adversaries pose to our national security and he will work with any ally or partner who understands the dangerous world inherited after the disastrous Biden years, he added. On Bidens watch, we had the war in Ukraine, the surrender in Afghanistan, and the slaughter of the innocents on October 7th. Administration officials and some Republican lawmakers have defended Trumps handling of Russia as a tactic designed to bring Moscow to the negotiating table and clinch a peace deal that would end a destabilizing war in Europe. But distrust of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a veteran KGB officer, remains high among U.S. allies. The British Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6's headquarters at Vauxhall Cross in London. Publicly, longtime U.S. allies downplayed the issue. The United Kingdom, the most important U.S. intelligence partner, said it had no plans to reduce intelligence cooperation with the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. is the UKs closest ally and we will continue to cooperate closely on defence, intelligence and security matters, a British government spokesperson said in an email. Any suggestion otherwise is totally untrue. The Canada Security Intelligence Service said in a statement that it has strong relationships with numerous U.S. agencies that are long-standing and resilient. It added, Canada deeply values its partnership with the United States, and we believe that it is in the strategic interest of both countries to continue our strong national security cooperation. Omer Dostri, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said: "Regarding Israel, the story is baseless. Israel is not considering such a measure." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials from New Zealand, Australia and Saudi Arabia did not respond to requests for comment. Some officials in allied countries, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters, played down the idea that Trumps policies on Russia would disrupt information sharing that dates back decades. They noted that intelligence can be shared in ways that protect sources and methods. The lobby of CIA headquarters in Langley, Va. But some former U.S. intelligence officers say they are concerned that the Trump administration may opt to scale back intelligence collection aimed at Russia, as the U.S. may no longer see Russia as a top threat. The administration, for example, has indicated it may place a higher priority on efforts to counter drug cartels from Mexico and other countries in the region. Already, the Defense Department has deployed more resources to the southern border, including a team of analysts. And the CIA has launched drone surveillance flights over Mexico as part of that effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps decision this week to pause intelligence assistance to Ukraine, along with military aid, has reinforced concerns among allies. The intelligence cooperation with Kyiv which has developed since Russias initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014 has benefited both Washington and Kyiv, former officials say, with Ukraine providing valuable insights about Russia. In weighing whether to dial back some intelligence sharing, the Five Eyes allies the U.K., Australia, Canada and New Zealand and other U.S. partners would have to take into account risks to their own national security if cooperation with Washington were reduced. Cybersecurity concerns But recent moves by the Trump administration regarding cybersecurity have also fueled concerns about the administrations engagement with Moscow. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month ordered U.S. Cyber Command to halt offensive cyber operations and information operations against Russia, NBC News has reported. It is unclear how long the order will last. Ukrainian servicemen load artillery before firing toward Russian positions in Donetsk on Jan. 22. And in a speech at a U.N. working group on cybersecurity last month, a senior State Department official, Liesyl Franz, made no mention of Russia as a top cyber threat and cited only China and Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, including during Trumps first term, Republican and Democratic administrations have described Russia as one of the most sophisticated and dangerous threats to American cybersecurity. With Trump and his deputies echoing some of Russias talking points about the Ukraine war and indicating they hope to expand U.S. relations with Moscow, former intelligence officials say the administration may even share some sensitive information with Moscow. Several former U.S. intelligence officers said they and their colleagues still in government are deeply concerned about the possible implications of the administrations shift toward Russia, in which Moscow may no longer be treated as an adversary. People are very worried, a former intelligence official said. A Ukrainian soldier fires a howitzer near the border with Russia in Lyptsi, eastern Ukraine, on Jan. 10. Formidable alliance The Five Eyes alliance is arguably the most formidable espionage alliance in the world. The intelligence cooperation among its members is deeply embedded, dating to the 1940s, and officials have credited it with helping counter the Soviets during the Cold War and foiling terrorist plots in recent decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sharing of satellite imagery and eavesdropping intelligence among alliance members is extensive, highly integrated and nearly automatic, a former intelligence official said. Unwinding the technical side of the alliances cooperation would be complicated and difficult, former officials said. A likelier scenario could have allied governments withholding some intelligence from human sources or analyses that could cause friction with the White House, several former intelligence officials said. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a member of the House Intelligence and Armed Services committees, said he was deeply concerned by the Trump administrations rapid pivot towards the Kremlin and media reports that U.S. Cyber Command was pulling back on cyber operations against Russia. Russia is an adversary and, as always, looking for opportunities to sow discord and make trouble for Americans and for the government, so any stand-down or pullback of our operations could be catastrophic, Crow said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administrations actions on cybersecurity have fueled speculation that Washington and Moscow may have come to an informal understanding to pull back from aggressive digital operations to reduce tensions and open the way for more diplomacy. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., during a rally in support of U.S. Agency for International Development on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 5. It is possible that the Trump administration and Russia have agreed to a cyber detente, said Emily Harding, a former intelligence official. But Harding and other former intelligence officials warned that in past attempts by the United States to forge limited cooperation with Russia, the Kremlin has proved to be an unreliable partner. That sounds good in theory, said Harding, director of the Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. I think the next question is whether you think Russia would actually stick to it. A hub for cybercriminals A major hitch to any cyber detente with Moscow is Russias status as a hub of cybercriminals who target Americans. Russia does not extradite its citizens, and it has largely refused to work with U.S. law enforcement agencies when they identify hackers attacking American businesses, hospitals and government networks. Of particular concern is ransomware, in which hackers, often Russian-speaking criminal gangs, deploy malicious software to lock up computer networks and demand payment. Known attacks on the U.S. public sector frequently tied to Russia have steadily increased each year through 2024, according to a survey conducted by the cybersecurity company Emsisoft. The cybersecurity insurer Coalition found in a report published in October that ransomware attacks around the globe cost companies $353,000 on average last year. In some instances, ransomware gangs have alluded to ties to Russian intelligence. Philip Reiner, CEO of the Institute for Security and Technology, a San Francisco think tank that focuses on cybersecurity policy, told NBC News that any new agreement with Russia needs to persuade the Kremlin to rein in its cybercriminals who target Americans, as they rarely face legal repercussions in Russia. Any engagement the Trump administration has to normalize relations around cyber has got to take into account the economic terrorism that Russia engages in via ransomware gangs, Reiner said. That has to be a factor in any overall negotiation. Previous U.S. presidents from both parties have tried to reset relations with Russia and explored sharing intelligence about common threats with Moscow. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush asked U.S. spy agencies to pursue possible collaboration with Russia on terrorism threats. But the effort went nowhere fast, a former intelligence official said. The Russians were not interested in sharing sensitive information about terrorist groups, according to former officials. In an op-ed in 2020 in The Washington Post, former CIA officer John Sipher and other former colleagues recounted how attempts to increase cooperation with Moscows spy services repeatedly failed. Inside the CIA, we often joked that, to Putin, win-win means I beat you twice, they wrote. Good intentions from the U.S. side have proved time and again to have been futile in improving relations. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. The overriding questions of President Donald Trumps second term are how dramatically he wants to cut government, and how far hell be able to go before the courts or Congress stop him. Forty-five days into his second term, were starting to learn more about his plans to cut hundreds of thousands more government jobs, for instance. But Trumps frenzied all-of-government assault on the status quo is beginning to meet some resistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court, for instance, told the administration it would ultimately have to disburse more than $2 billion in frozen foreign aid after NGOs argued the government was not complying with a court order. The firing of the chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board was stopped by a court order. The board then reinstated nearly 6,000 fired probationary USDA employees. That case was brought by the Office of Special Counsel, whose firing was also initially rescinded by a court order but then allowed to proceed by an appeals court. In the Senate, Republicans asked Elon Musk for more input and some votes on the cuts he is driving, despite not being either elected or Senate-confirmed. He gave them his phone number to text. Well see if he gives them any input. At the same time, Trumps vision for what a drastically pared back government will look like remains unclear beyond the general goals of far fewer government workers, much less regulation, and as little nonpolitical oversight as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smaller, not necessarily smarter, appears to be the order of Musks orders to cut, cut, cut with his Department of Government Efficiency. Elon Musk delivers remarks during a Cabinet meeting held by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The less-than-transparent activities of DOGE have made it difficult to keep track of what exactly is going on. But its worth trying to assemble a view of how these actions firing workers, freezing payments, dismissing watchdogs and offloading real estate are adding up so far as Trump remakes government. Plans to cut hundreds of thousands of workers Every government agency has been ordered to prepare plans for mass layoffs at the behest of the Office of Management and Budget. The goal is for agencies to achieve maximum elimination of functions that are not statutorily mandated. In other words, get as small as possible without breaking the law. Cut the IRS in half. Most Americans are preparing to file their tax returns, but the IRS is preparing a plan to cut itself in half, removing up to 45,000 workers from its 70,000-person workforce, according to reports from the Associated Press and the New York Times. IRS employees were not given the opportunity to take part in Elon Musks fork in the road deferred resignation program until after tax filing season. How many people does it take to collect taxes from 330 million Americans? One former IRS commissioner told the AP that such a drastic reduction would render the IRS dysfunctional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 70,000+ job cuts at VA. At the sprawling agency that cares for the nations aging population of more than 9 million enrolled veterans, cuts could add up to more than 70,000 jobs. VA expanded under the Biden administration after legislation was passed to expand coverage to veterans exposed to toxins and burn pits, according to CNNs Natasha Bertrand. VA Director Doug Collins said in a recorded video statement Wednesday the cuts were essential to improving bureaucracy and care at the sprawling department. The federal government does not exist to employ people, Collins said. It exists to serve people. Big civilian cuts at the Pentagon. The Defense Department, meanwhile, could trim between 5% and 8 % of its civilian workforce, tens of thousands of jobs around the country in an organization that employs nearly a million civilians. Expand these types of cuts across federal agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agencies are already in the process of firing probationary employees who have not yet been employed long enough to get federal employee protections. Some of the most-affected agencies include the Social Security Administration, which fired more than 5,000 workers and the Department of Energy, which fired at least 1,800, according to CNNs tracker. Concerted effort to remove oversight Trumps plans to shrink the size of the government have been accompanied by an effort to erase independent oversight. Trump signed an executive order seeding to assert control over independent agencies. These are entitites set up by Congress specifically to be bipartisan in nature and less vulnerable to political pressure everything from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. As CNNs John Fritze wrote, The order is part of a broader push by Trump to consolidate power over independent agencies that Congress intended to be removed from presidential control. It follows a series of controversial firings at those agencies that are being challenged in federal courts, including at the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps order excluded portions of the Federal Reserve but certainly tees up the gnawing question over whether he will challenge the Feds immense power, granted by Congress. Trumps firings of watchdogs and inspectors general at multiple federal agencies raise similar concerns. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also purged all Judge Advocate Generals in the military. CNNs Oren Liebermann and Haley Britzky noted that in a book, Hegseth referred to JAGs as jagoffs standing in the way of war fighters. But Don Christensen, a retired military judge who served as the Air Forces chief prosecutor told CNN the move was concerning. They serve as a conscience of the military and a moral guide as to whats right and wrong, and the move makes it appear the administration want more compliant people in those positions. Whos in charge? Americans dont have a full picture of who works for DOGE, much less their salaries or conflicts of interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court, Trump administration lawyers have said that Musk is not in charge of the organization and that it is government agencies headed by Senate-approved agency heads who are making personnel decisions, not DOGE. The White House has said Amy Gleason is DOGEs acting administrator. But in his address to Congress Tuesday night, Trump told Americans DOGE is headed by Elon Musk. Musk is certainly presenting as the alpha of the organization and bragging to conservative audiences about cuts, although the math frequently doesnt add up. Republican lawmakers stand to applaud as Democrats leave their seats after US President Donald Trump delivered his address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4. - Mandel Ngan/Pool/Getty Images The question of who is pulling the strings could become consequential in court. The Office of Personnel Management, the governments HR department, has been taken over by a sort of shadow organization of political appointees affiliated with DOGE, according to fascinating reporting this week by CNNs Rene Marsh. In the midst of a government-wide purge of tens of thousands of recently hired probationary workers OPM revised its guidance to government agencies to make clear the agencies, not OPM, are in charge of personnel decisions. In terms of who is working with Musk, there have been disturbing reports about people past racist social media posts and slim resumes, but Trump on Tuesday described the DOGE team as a group of very intelligent, mostly young people working to terminate federal contracts. Agencies on the chopping block Trump wants to close or suffocate numerous agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Education Secretary Linda McMahon is now officially confirmed with a mandate from Trump to shutter the Department of Education, which Congress created to hand out federal education dollars to states. While Trump says he wants to return power over education to the states, he is also hoping to impose new anti-diversity program requirements for any school receiving federal funds. Expect a fight in court over whether the president can simply close an agency created by Congress. It will be a multi-front battle. USAID, which oversees foreign aid, has gotten the most attention as the administration tries to place it under the State Department, but there are other such fights breaking out across Washington. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which Congress created after the Great Recession to protect consumers with rules to guard against rapacious activity by banks, has been gutted. Enforcement of its rules appears to be paused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spending at the EPA could be cut by 65% as the Trump administration tries to halt and claw back funding approved by the Biden administration and Congress to fight climate change. Trumps administration does not acknowledge the US government should be doing anything about climate change. Reverberations outside of government Trump seems to be counting on a level of disdain among Americans and voters for federal workers. But the contraction of the nations largest employer will have effects beyond people directly pulling a paycheck from Uncle Sam. Far more people work for the government as contractors than as direct employees. Cuts to that spending are being conducted with little oversight, apparently by DOGE, although it has shared frequently flawed information about what cuts have been enacted. The moves have stunned the contracting world. What weve seen in the last weeks is not consistent with past government practices when it comes to paying its bills on time, and how it terminates its contracts, said Jessica Tillipman, who is Associate Dean for Government Procurement Law Studies at George Washington University Law School. She said its not at all clear what the lasting implications of these cuts will be. What does this look like six to 12 months from now? And honestly, we dont know, she said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Lisa Baertlein and Andrea Shalal LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. plans to levy fees on imports arriving on Chinese-made ships and offer tax credits to resuscitate domestic shipbuilding and reduce China's grip on the $150 billion global ocean shipping industry, a White House document seen by Reuters shows. President Donald Trump is drafting an executive order that would also establish a Maritime Security Trust Fund as a dedicated funding source and create shipbuilding incentives through the use of tax credits, grants and loans, according to a draft fact sheet of the 18-point plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The White House is standing up an office at the National Security Council to lead a whole-of-government effort to strengthen the maritime industrial base," the document said, following Trump's announcement of the plans during an address to Congress on Tuesday. The Republican president's initiative won rare praise from Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to former President Joe Biden, who said decades of unfair trade practices by China had negatively affected U.S. commercial and military shipbuilding. "American shipbuilding is critical to protecting our national and economic security. Now is the time to act to address the impact of Chinas policies and to replenish American maritime capacity and power," Sullivan told Reuters. Republican and Democratic U.S. lawmakers for years have warned about China's growing dominance on the seas and diminishing U.S. naval readiness. The pending executive order appears to be influenced by existing proposals, including legislation with bipartisan backing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's initiative comes two months after the Biden administration concluded a nearly year-long probe requested by the United Steelworkers and other unions, which found that China uses unfair policies and practices to dominate the sector. Michael Wessel, president of the Wessel Group, who helped coordinate that investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, said Trump's announcement was an encouraging step forward after years of efforts by unions to revitalize the industry. "We can still be the industrial leaders of the world but only if we act," he said, adding that a range of tools was needed, including investments, tax credits and efforts to strengthen both supply chains and the workforce. Mike Waltz, Trump's national security adviser and a former House Republican from Florida, last year introduced a bill with Democratic Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona to reinvigorate commercial and military shipbuilding in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Trade Representative's office last month proposed charging up to $1.5 million for Chinese-built vessels entering U.S. ports as part of its probe of China's growing domination of the global shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors. Trump on Tuesday hailed an unrelated deal led by U.S. firm BlackRock to buy most of the $22.8 billion ports business of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison. The deal will give the U.S. consortium control of key Panama Canal ports amid White House calls to remove them from what it says is Chinese ownership. "My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it," Trump told the U.S. Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That BlackRock announcement followed last month's reintroduction of bipartisan legislation that would require the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy to monitor China's efforts to build, buy, or own strategic ports. Other measures in the draft document would direct Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to review government procurement processes, including at the U.S. Navy, increase wages for nuclear shipyard workers and develop a security strategy for the Arctic. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Alistair Bell and Jamie Freed) Donald Trump is planning to revoke temporary legal status for some 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, according to a senior administration official. The move, confirmed to Reuters by the official and three other sources, potentially leaves the refugees open to being swiftly deported back home amid the ongoing war. According to the outlet, the revocations could begin as early as April and come in stark contrast to the welcome to those escaping the conflict that was rolled out by the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also follows the disastrous White House meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, and JD Vance on Friday, although, per Reuters, the rollback of protections for Ukrainians was underway before the feud. The Trump administration reportedly plans to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants who were allowed to enter the U.S. under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched under Biden, the sources said. (AFP/Getty) The sources requested anonymity to discuss the internal matters. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was quick to push back, branding the Reuters report as fake news and insisting that no decision on the revocations had been made yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is more fake news from Reuters based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about, she wrote in response to the story on X. The truth: no decision has been made at this time. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said on Wednesday that the department had no new announcements and Ukrainian government agencies did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters. This is more fake news from Reuters based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about. The truth: no decision has been made at this time. pic.twitter.com/djf0CjTfiD Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 6, 2025 A Trump executive order issued on January 20 called for DHS to "terminate all categorical parole programs." As well as a rollback on Ukrainian refugees, the Trump administration plans to revoke parole for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as soon as this month, the Trump official told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Migrants stripped of their parole status could face fast-track deportation proceedings, according to an internal ICE email seen by the outlet. Immigrants who cross the border illegally can be put into the fast-track deportation process known as expedited removal for two years after they enter. But for those who entered through legal ports of entry without being officially "admitted" to the U.S. - as with those on parole - there is no time limit on their rapid removal, the email reportedly said. Reuters contributed to this report. Donald Trumps pursuit of mineral deals at the expense of soft power risks strengthening rather than weakening China, mining experts and foreign policy analysts have warned. Since returning to office, Mr Trump has considered subsuming Canada, colonising Greenland and taking control of Ukraines natural resources in the hope of prising open Chinas critical minerals monopoly. But economists and mining specialists have called the strategy into question, warning that technical and geopolitical challenges mean it could take decades before new projects reach fruition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, the Trump administration is facing warnings that its decision to cancel most American aid risks alienating African states that possess in abundance many of the metals the United States most hankers for. It also creates opportunities for China to increase its global influence by presenting itself as a more reliable partner for mineral-rich eastern and southern African states, according to foreign policy experts. Donald Trump Jr in Nuuk, Greenland, which has significant rare earth reserves Last week, the Trump administration doubled down on an aid freeze it imposed after taking office by announcing the elimination of $60 billion (47.6 billion) in foreign aid and the cancellation of 10,000 overseas programmes funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAid). When we renege on our commitments in such an abrupt manner, it opens up a tremendous opportunity for China, for Russia, for other actors to take advantage of the question now around the credibility of the United States as a partner, says Kate Almquist Knopf, a Republican political appointee who headed USAids Africa bureau under George W Bush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think this weakens us immensely. I think it also limits the possibilities for the Trump administration in the near-term, even on a transactional level, to secure the deals the United States needs on critical minerals because potential partner countries cant be sure we would stick to our end of the deal. The Trump administration doubled down on an aid freeze - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images In his first few weeks in the White House, Mr Trump has made it clear he intends to upend a world order he believes is skewed against the United States, counter the rise of China and reassert Washingtons global dominance. The unorthodox deals he has sought in pursuit of this goal have sparked criticism that Mr Trump is a might-makes-right imperialist determined to project the power the United States once wore lightly by commanding tribute and imposing vassalage. Whatever the presidents motivation, the common thread running through much of his acquisitive foreign policy is an obsession with securing the 50 critical minerals the US energy act of 2020 classifies as essential to the economic or national security of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China dominates the production of nearly every one of them, from graphite and lithium, core components in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, to gallium, germanium and rare earths, used in everything from superconductors and missile systems to lasers, tanks and smartphones. Not only does China dig up the minerals from its own soil and mine them overseas, it has also has a near global monopoly on processing and refining them and is now taking the lead in turning them into finished products giving it an unrivalled dominance across the critical metals supply line. The Chinese set out a strategy 50 years ago to become the dominant player in the critical mineral space, says Jeff Townsend, founder of the Critical Minerals Association, a London-based trade group. Youve just got to look at the birth of the Chinese EV sector and how thats dominating globally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is therefore understandable, analysts say, that Mr Trump has placed mineral security at the heart of his foreign policy agenda. The urgency was only underscored when China banned the export of gallium, germanium and antimony to the United States in December. Superficially at least, the attraction of the three countries in Mr Trumps sights is clear. Canada is a key mining hub. Greenland has significant rare earth reserves. Ukraine, which estimates it holds 5 per cent of the worlds critical minerals, is the fifth largest supplier of graphite globally. Yet the idea that any of these countries will act as a magic wand to allow the US rapidly to challenge China or even gain full mineral independence is fanciful, experts warn. Canada is most unlikely to become the 51st US state. Greenlands minerals are mostly locked deep under Arctic ice: extracting them would be phenomenally expensive and technically challenging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deal with Ukraine, should Mr Trump return to it, is marginally more promising yet the true extent of its deposits is unknown since no formal geological survey has been conducted since Soviet times. In terms of future assets and their monetisation, we are largely relying on outdated and unreliable geological data, making it very challenging to assess the economic viability of these assets, says Bryan Bille, of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a research firm. Getting the minerals out of the soil will also take years. On average around the world it takes between 12 and 19 years to take an exploration project to commercialisation, says Mr Townsend. So these unexplored resources are not going to be hitting the market any time soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if Ukraines minerals are extractable, a significant challenge given security concerns and the fact that the majority of its rare earths lie in territory occupied by Russia, the deal only really addresses one element of the supply chain. When it comes to rare earths, for example, only China has the technology to separate and turn them into the metals the US seeks, says Ian Lange, of the Colorado School of Mines. The US does not have a separations facility, he said. So, I guess you could say this might be the first step along a path towards more independence from China, but theres still a lot more to walk. Rather than focus on expensive and uncertain schemes, experts say it would make more sense for the US to focus on more sensible strategies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, many rare earths and other critical minerals could be extracted in the United States, where they are usually discarded as by-product because it is commercially unviable for mining companies, focused on extracting more lucrative metals like copper and zinc, to separate them, says Mr Lange. That could change were the US to set up a strategic resource reserve to buy the minerals from the mining firms. Likewise, US and European companies could better compete with their Chinese rivals were their governments prepared to underwrite risk for projects in less stable parts of the world. This would open up opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa, a region where China is dominant because Western companies often cannot secure funding from risk-averse investment banks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The region is full of promise. Mozambique and Tanzania hold 13 per cent of the worlds graphite reserves, while Zimbabwe has the potential to supply a fifth of global lithium demand. Since the minerals are already being mined, projects could be commercialised more quickly. Zimbabwe has the potential to supply a fifth of global lithium demand - Cynthia R Matonhodze/ Bloomberg Yet it is African states that are suffering most from the shut-off of US aid, which has left millions of people across Africa without access to life-saving aid, millions of whom could die, aid workers warn. Positive feelings towards the Trump administration are in short supply on the continent. The UK has also slashed its aid budget in order to boost defence funding, but the impact is likely to be much less severe, aid workers say, because of the vastly smaller sums and because there will be time to make contingency plans as most cuts will not come into force until 2027. By contrast, the sudden manner in which the Trump administration turned off the taps risks tipping states across Africa into crisis, turning their governments against Washington and thereby ironically undermining the Trump administrations ambitions of weakening Chinas clout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only is it now less likely that angry African states will cut mineral deals with Washington, they will also be more susceptible to Chinas blandishments as Beijing looks for judicious opportunities to fill the vacuum left by the departing Americans. China stands to benefit immensely from the strategic opportunities the United States leaves behind, said Ms Almquist Knopf. The Trump administration has just stripped the US of a critical tool in battling Chinese influence and economic might. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. President Donald Trump was poised Thursday to order the elimination of the federal Department of Education although the move would likely face fierce opposition from Congress and in the courts. A draft of an executive order reportedly instructs newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to take all available steps permitted by law to close the sprawling department, which has more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget of $240 billion. The federal bureaucratic hold on education must end, Trumps planned orders says, according to ABC News. The department of educations main functions can, and should, be returned to the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order calls for an end to the agency that it calls an experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars that has failed our children, our teachers, and our families. Trump has long argued that the DOE is unnecessary and wasteful, calling it a con job on the presidential campaign trail last year. Its unclear whether Trump has the legal authority to eliminate the education department, since it is funded by Congress, which controls the power of the purse under the Constitution. Democrats and education advocates quickly slammed the proposed move on moral, political and legal grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pennsylvania, said Trump wants to eliminate the DOE so he can keep a tighter grip on an uneducated electorate. Donald Trump and his cult-like members want citizens who are not educated, Dean told CNN. The Department of Education has been a cabinet-level department in the federal government since the 1860s. It took on its current form in 1980 in a reorganization engineered by former President Jimmy Carter. McMahon, who won Senate confirmation on Monday, said during her confirmation hearing that she believed eliminating the department would require congressional approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours after being confirmed, McMahon sent a message to staff titled Our Departments Final Mission, in which she invited staff to embrace the phasing out of the agency. This is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students, she said. I hope you will join me in ensuring that when our final mission is complete, we will all be able to say that we left American education freer, stronger, and with more hope for the future. Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House, but there could be significant resistance within the GOP to a vote to eliminate the DOE. Its unclear what would happen to some of the programs overseen by the DOE if it were eliminated, such as educational plans for special needs children and federal funding programs for K-12 schools that help support the education of students from low-income families and children with disabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump claims he has the right to shut down agencies via executive order. But critics say only Congress can do so because lawmakers have the power to fund the departments. Trump has been hit with a blizzard of lawsuits over similar executive actions seeking to shutter USAID, the main federal agency funding American foreign assistance. Courts have yet to definitively rule on the issue. Donald Trump may introduce a new travel ban similar to the Muslim ban from his first term, possibly as soon as next week. Reuters reports that the order would bar people from Afghanistan and Pakistan from entering the United States, based on a government review of security and vetting risks, citing three anonymous sources, who also said that other countries could be included. In his first term, Trump used a series of executive orders that infamously banned visitors from the Muslim-majority countries of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Iraq was initially included, but later dropped after the country promised to improve vetting for its own citizens. Despite several legal challenges, the Supreme Court ultimately approved the ban in 2018, and Trump later added six more countries with large Muslim populations to the list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Trumps new ban becomes a reality, it will complicate efforts to resettle tens of thousands of Afghans cleared to come to the U.S. as refugees or on special immigrant visas because they worked for the U.S. and fear retribution after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. According to one of the sources, the State Department Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts is trying to get an exemption for special immigrant visa holders, but its not assumed likely to be granted, especially since that office was told to plan for its closure by April. While campaigning for president in 2023, Trump floated the idea of reinstating and expanding the Muslim ban, calling for a strong ideological screening of all immigrants to the United States and saying he would ban immigrants from Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, or anywhere else that threatens our security. In Trumps first term, the travel ban caused a lot of confusion and chaos, with thousands of people, including immigration lawyers, gathering at airports to protest the move. If the ban comes back, Trump will have a more compliant judiciary. The question is whether protesters will show up in the same numbers with support from Democratic politicians. President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that would initiate the dismantling of the Department of Education. After multiple reports that Trump could sign the order as soon as Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied those claims, calling it fake news. There was concern among officials about the possible criticism the administration may face because of the order including questions over how it would affect the school lunch program and other critical initiatives and some felt there wasnt sufficient messaging in place, according to ABC News. A draft of the executive order, which directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start breaking up the department, was obtained by multiple media outlets. It comes as Trump, working alongside Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, works to dramatically downsize the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the president has long made clear his desire to shut down the department, this would require an act of Congress, McMahon noted during her confirmation hearings earlier this year ahead of her Monday confirmation. The drafted executive order instructs McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department, according to CNN. The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollarsand the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars supporthas failed our children, our teachers, and our families, it states. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has told staff that Millions of young Americans are trapped in failing schools (Getty Images) There have been previous calls for the Education Department to be dismantled and merged with another agency, but in the past, such measures havent garnered congressional support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the administration pulled back the signing of the order on Thursday, Philadelphia Democrat Rep. Madeleine Dean slammed the Trump White House for taking steps to dismantle the Education Department, but she added that the news was no surprise when speaking to CNN. What you do want is an educated electorate, said Dean. Not if youre Donald Trump and his cult-like members. They want citizens who are not educated. Dean pointed to the chapter on education on Project 2025 the far-right plan for Trumps second term blasted by Democrats during the 2024 campaign. This is what the first sentence says. Shut it down. Eliminate the Department of Education, she noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the campaign, Trump often cited the department as a source of federal overreach and connected it to the culture war. We will drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate Americas youth with all sorts of things that you dont want to have our youth hearing, said Trump. Last month, the president said, I told Linda, Linda, I hope you do a great job in putting yourself out of a job. I want her to put herself out of a job. Following her confirmation on Monday, McMahon said in a message to staff, This is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope you will join me in ensuring that when our final mission is complete, we will all be able to say that we left American education freer, stronger, and with more hope for the future, she added. McMahon went on to say that Millions of young Americans are trapped in failing schools, subjected to radical anti-American ideology, or saddled with college debt for a degree that has not provided a meaningful return on their investment. Teachers are leaving the profession in droves after just a few years and citing red tape as one of their primary reasons, she added. President Donald Trump on Thursday questioned if NATO allies would come to the aid of the United States in the event of an attack. Do you think theyre going to come and protect us? Theyre supposed to. Im not so sure, Trump said as he took reporters' questions after signing executive orders in the Oval Office. Except its not a hypothetical: In fact, NATO's Article 5 clause has been invoked only once in the alliances 76-year history, and that was on September 12, 2001 -- the day after Al Qaeda killed almost 3,000 people on American soil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: A closer look at Trump's years of criticizing NATO, particularly on defense spending After 20 years of war, most of those killed in the coalition were American, but well over 1,000 of them were international partners. Article 5 is a core tenet of the alliance and dictates that an armed attack on any member is to be considered an attack on all. PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks after signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Mar. 6, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Trump's comments came after he again suggested the U.S. may not help NATO allies if they don't pay enough for defense. "Are you going to make that policy, U.S. policy, that the U.S. wouldn't defend NATO countries that don't pay?" a reporter asked him directly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Well, I think it's common sense, right?" Trump responded. "If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them. No, I'm not going to defend them. I got into a lot of heat when I said that. You said, 'Oh, he's violating NATO.'" MORE: After Trump's claims, here's what to know about NATO member defense spending He continued, "You know, the biggest problem I have with NATO, I really, you know, I mean, I know the guys very well. They're friends of mine. But if the United States was in trouble and we called them, we said, we got a problem, France. We got a problem, a couple of others I wont mention. Do you think they're going to come and protect us? They're supposed to. I'm not so sure." The rhetoric isn't new for Trump. In the 2024 campaign, he made headlines for stating he'd "encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to NATO allies who don't spend enough defense funds. Trump questions if NATO would defend US, but 1,000 allies were killed in the war on terror originally appeared on abcnews.go.com NEW YORK (AP) President Donald Trump reached an estimated 36.6 million television viewers for his address to Congress on Tuesday night, the Nielsen company said. That beat the 32.2 million people who watched former President Joe Biden's final State of the Union address last year, but was smaller than any of Trump's audiences for the annual address during his first term, Nielsen said. Trump's first speech to Congress as president, in 2017, was seen by 47.7 million people. Television viewing in general has decreased since then. Nielsen measured viewing on 15 different television networks, including those whose feed was carried on streaming services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News Channel, the most popular network for Trump fans, dominated viewing, reaching 10.7 million people. ABC had 6.3 million, CBS had 4 million, NBC had 3.9 million, Fox broadcast had 2.7 million and both CNN and MSNBC had 1.9 million, Nielsen said. Nielsen said 71% of Trump's television viewers were 55 and older. A federal appeals court is allowing President Donald Trump to fire an official who investigates complaints from the federal workforce, lifting a lower courts injunction that barred Trump from removing Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger. The Justice Department argued that Dellingers continued work as a federal ethics watchdog was undermining Trumps agenda. In particular, Dellinger has spearheaded a recent effort to reinstate thousands of probationary workers who were fired amid Trumps overhaul of the federal bureaucracy. Dellinger, an appointee of President Joe Biden, was confirmed to a five-year term last year. Trump tried to fire him Feb. 7, despite a federal law that limits the presidents ability to remove the special counsel. Until now, initial court rulings had allowed Dellinger to stay on the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two-page ruling Wednesday from three judges on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals contained no detailed explanation. But it said lawyers for the Trump administration had met the legal standard to lift an injunction that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued on Saturday. The three-judge appeals panel consisted of Karen Henderson, a George H.W. Bush appointee, Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Justin Walker, a Trump appointee. None of the three judges recorded a dissent, and the panel indicated a full opinion would be issued later. The ruling flips the momentum in the presidents favor ahead of an imminent Supreme Court battle over Trumps power to unilaterally fire executive branch officials who are protected by laws meant to preserve their independence. Last month, the high court declined to rule immediately on a request by the Trump administration to allow Dellinger to be replaced, effectively giving Dellinger a reprieve. But the high court is expected to weigh in more substantively soon on the issue whether in Dellingers case or in another case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration is also appealing a judges decision to reinstate another Biden appointee Trump sought to fire: Cathy Harris, chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which handles employee grievances. Harris, like Dellinger, has been a key player in the brewing legal battle over the Trump administrations mass firings of thousands of probationary government employees. After Dellinger brought a petition to the merit systems board on behalf of more than 5,600 fired workers at the Department of Agriculture, Harris on Wednesday ordered the department to restore the workers to their jobs for at least the next 45 days. Shortly after Trump first tried to fire Dellinger, the president moved to replace him on an acting basis with Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins. Many of the employee complaints the special counsel receives come from the VA. The agency is also planning to fire about 80,000 workers, according to the Associated Press. Dellinger had no immediate comment on the appeals courts ruling, but earlier Wednesday he issued a statement calling on federal agencies to halt what he termed apparently unlawful personnel actions. Dellinger helmed the Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency in the executive branch that has several duties. In addition to investigating federal workers grievances, it fields whistleblower complaints and enforces a federal law that limits political activity by federal employees. Despite its name, the office is not related to the special counsels in the Justice Department who sometimes handle politically sensitive prosecutions. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York has significant funding and employees on the line as President Donald Trump reviews the Department of Education. New York state receives $5.5 billion from the Department of Education annually, $3.2 billion of which goes straight into the states education budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in February. The other $2.3 billion goes to localities, she said. If that money is jeopardized, what I can tell you will happen, localities lose that money, they will have to raise taxes, Hochul said in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 5% of New York City Public Schools budget is federal funding, which amounts to $2.2 billion. That money does not just come from the Department of Education; it also includes Child Development Block Grants, federal funding for school food, and Head Start programs, according to Deputy Chancellor Emma Vadehra. More Local News Federal employees across the country have already been rocked by layoffs, and an Education Department official warned there would be significant layoffs soon. Employees on Friday were offered a $25,000 cash payout for quitting. The federal Department of Education employs 86 people in New York across multiple offices, including federal student aid and the Office for Civil Rights, according to data from September 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State For scale, the biggest federal employer in New York is the Department of Veterans Affairs, which employs over 19,000 people. Trumps administration on Thursday said it would sign an executive order asking Secretary Linda McMahon to dissolve the Department of Education. Later Thursday, a White House official confirmed he will not sign the executive order immediately, but will continue to review the department. The Department of Education did not immediately respond to PIX11s request for comment. This story comprises reporting from NewsNation. Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Mar. 5President Donald Trump referenced immigration issues in Springfield in his address to Congress on Tuesday evening, saying cities like Springfield had been "destroyed." Springfield Mayor Rob Rue pushed back, saying misleading statements like those have been a major hardship for the city. "(Former President) Joe Biden did not just open our borders. He flew illegal aliens over them to overwhelm our schools, hospitals and communities throughout the country," Trump said. "Entire towns like Aurora, Colorado and Springfield, Ohio buckled under the weight of the migrant occupation and corruption like no one's ever seen before. Beautiful towns destroyed. Now, just as I promised in my inaugural address, we are achieving the great liberation of America." Though many of Trump's pledges and promises will impact Ohio, the Springfield reference was the only direct mention of Ohio in his 90-plus minute speech Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As this news outlet previously reported, Springfield last fall had a Haitian population of 12,000 to 15,000 residents, most of whom are in the U.S. legally and chose to move to Springfield, seeking jobs and community. Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and local Republican city and county leaders have said Haitian immigrants have been a boon to local businesses. But the sudden influx of immigrants did create challenges for the Springfield community, including a strain on social services such as schools and hospitals, which was complicated by language barriers. Wednesday afternoon, Rue issued a statement in response to Trump's comments. Rue said he's happy that people who have entered the United States and caused harm to American citizens are being held accountable. But he said the majority of immigrants in Springfield are living peacefully. "The greatest hardship we have faced in the past six months is the mischaracterization of our city. We need to be recognized as a community that, despite its challenges, is continuing to move forward and is far from being destroyed," Rue said. "If the previous administration had taken a closer look at the impact of the influx on communities like ours, we might not be in this situation. However, the same mistake can be made by overcorrecting." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rue said Springfield is seeing economic growth and new housing developments as community leaders collaborate and make decisions to move the city forward. "As I have stated before, I hope this administration takes a comprehensive look at immigration policies and implements changes that genuinely enrich the United States," Rue said. Springfield's Haitian immigration issue became a major feature of last year's presidential campaign, when Trump and his running mate JD Vance repeated false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating people's pets. The Trump administration recently announced it would end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in August. That is the American program allowing people to flee chaos-ridden nations under which many Haitian migrants live legally in Springfield. Trump's move could remove the legal status for many of them and force them to lose work permits, which could impact the regional economy. WATCH TRUMP'S FULL SPEECH BELOW In Tuesday's speech to Congress, Trump declared that "Our country will be woke no longer." Win McNamee via Getty Images In Tuesdays joint address of Congress, President Donald Trump said there was one bogeyman he wanted America to stand against: Being woke. Weve ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government, he declared. Our country will be woke no longer. Trumps rally against wokeness is just the latest way this four-letter word has been co-opted by Republicans to mean the worst of humanity and to criticize progressive policies. Trump has previously said he doesnt like the term woke, believing that most people cant even define it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But can he? Can you? If youre confused about what exactly Trump means, youre not alone. The search result of What does woke mean? spiked +3,750% during Trumps address, according to Google. Although it is now a rallying cry for the GOP of what not to be, it had much more positive origins in America and many often get it wrong. What Woke Really Means Long before woke became a pejorative word by Republicans like Trump, the word had positive connotations that originated in Black vernacular. Wokeness has been used to protest injustice since the early 1900s. In one of the earliest uses, Blues musician Lead Belly evoked the phrase in his song Scottsboro Boys that was about Black teens who were falsely accused of raping white women in Scottsboro, Alabama. In the song, musician Lead Belly warns of the South, I advise everybody to be a little careful when they go down there. Stay woke. Keep your eyes open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, during the Black Lives Matter movement of the 2010s, young Black people online popularized the hashtag #staywoke as a rallying cry to stay politically aware of systemic injustices and to protest police killing Black people. Elaine Richardson, an Ohio State University literacy professor who specializes in African diaspora literacy studies, co-authored a 2018 paper that traced the history of the word. The Black word woke, in referring specifically to a political consciousness type of being awake, is an excellent example of how Black people develop African American language by imbuing it with concepts needing to be expressed efficiently in one word, Richardson and her co-author Alice Ragland wrote in the paper. Clearly, the way Trump has used it to stoke political division is a long ways from the words Black solidarity origins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woke has definitely been co-opted and stripped of its Black cultural roots and meaning, Richardson told HuffPost. It has been used to manipulate white fear and to promote hate, by people who do not want equity for Black people and other marginalized groups. Trumps Version Of Woke Is In The Minority Trumps broadly negative meaning of woke might also be by design. In his speech to Congress, Trump made the claim that because the country would be woke no longer, professionals like doctors and accountants will now be hired and promoted based on skill and competence, not race or gender. Its a claim that pits diversity, equity, and inclusion against meritocracy a false divide, many DEI experts stress, because DEI is actually what is necessary for a fair playing field in the workplace to be possible. Under the status quo, multiple studies show that white men are the most likely to get job and education opportunities that are not based in merit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But according to Republicans, wokeness needs to be rooted out. Similar to Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also frequently campaigned against the horrors of woke mob and signed legislation known as the Stop WOKE Act to ban instruction in schools or jobs that suggest a person is privileged or oppressed because of their race, sex or national origin and had enforcement provisions that were later blocked by a federal judge. When asked in a federal court, DeSantis general counsel said the term referred to the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them. Davey Shlasko, CEO and Founder of Think Again Training & Consulting, said Trumps definition might be similar to what DeSantis lawyer said when he was asked to define woke. I think that is actually what Trump and others are talking about when theyre against wokeness they dont want people to acknowledge, understand or work against systemic injustice, Shlasko said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Shlasko said others may connect Trumps version of wokeness to other things Trump has said that are more explicitly racist and hear it as a condemnation of people who arent like them, or as permission to see people who arent like them as less than human. But if you hear woke as a bad word, that might say more about you than the person you are ridiculing, according to experts. Maybe some of the people who make fun of people for being woke are secretly jealous that those people seem to have something going for them, whether it be clarity of analysis, or solidarity ... or the ability to succeed in spite of systemic inequality, Shlasko said. The truth is, Trumps view of wokeness is in the shrinking minority. In a 2023 USA TODAY/Ipsos poll, a majority of Americans said the word had a more positive definition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the survey, 56% said the term means to be informed, educated on and aware of social injustices. This group included not just three in four Democrats who believed this statement but also more than a third of Republicans. Recently, two-time Oscar winner and political activist Jane Fonda said, Woke just means you give a damn about other people. And, as Shlasko put it, if you follow the original meaning of the word, being woke is not a bad thing. It is waking up to the reality that the system is unfair, and that collectively we can do something about it, Shlasko said. Related... Trump says he wants his Cabinet to lead his federal overhaul, not Elon Musk. Musk has had broad authority to reshape the government, but Trump now appears to be tightening his leash. Lawmakers and judges express concern over DOGE's rapid cuts and unclear leadership. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he wants his Cabinet to lead the overhaul of the federal government, not DOGE's de facto leader, Elon Musk . "I had a meeting, I said I want the Cabinet members to go first, keep all the people you want, everybody you need," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "It would be better if they were there for two years instead of two weeks, because in two years they'll know the people better. I want them to do the best job they can." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump appears to be trimming Musk's mandate after essentially allowing the White House DOGE office unrestrained authority to reshape the federal government. Musk has frequently bragged about all the things he's done as the unofficial leader of DOGE to gut the federal workforce, like offering millions of staffers a buyout, and to reduce government spending, like "feeding USAID into the "wood chipper." It doesn't mean Trump is upset with Musk. Trump told reporters the billionaire is doing "an amazing job" and rejected the idea that the DOGE office was moving too quickly. At the same time, Trump still wanted his Cabinet to assert more power when it comes to cutting staff. Although DOGE was originally Musk's idea, now that the task force has an official administrator, Trump is distancing the billionaire from it, at least in some public channels. "We say the 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet,'" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The combination of them, Elon, DOGE, and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers suing the DOGE office noted Trump's comments during his address to Congress on Tuesday when he twice called Musk the "head" of DOGE. A White House official had previously declared in court that Musk is not leading the DOGE office. Members of Congress, including some Republicans, have expressed unease with the extent and speed of DOGE's cuts. Some of those lawmakers had received an earful from their constituents when they returned home. Federal judges have also taken issue with some of the DOGE-linked cuts. Multiple times Justice Department lawyers haven't been able to answer who leads the DOGE office or whether that command structure had changed. These questions still remained after the White House named Amy Gleason as acting administrator of the DOGE office. Trump has blurred that line repeatedly by saying Musk leads DOGE, even though the world's richest man isn't a DOGE office employee. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Donald Trump on Tuesday told Congress Elon Musk had rooted out hundred of billions of dollars worth of government waste thanks to Doge. Reeling off a long list of examples of apparent misspending, Mr Trump said that $45 million had been spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion scholarships in Burma, $20 million on the Arab version of Sesame Street and $8 million for making mice transgender. This is real, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Left-wing media outlets were quick to dismiss the claims as misinformation. After the White House released a statement branding CNN fake news losers, the outlet issued a correction to its fact check of Mr Trumps speech, stating that an earlier version of this item incorrectly characterised as false Trumps claim. The president was referring to an investigation by the White Coat Waste Project, a non-profit campaigning to stop animal testing, which investigates taxpayer-funded experiments on the effects of gender-affirming drugs in rodents. Justin Goodman, senior vice-president for the lobbying group, claimed it has documented over $250 million spent on transgender animal experiments over the last couple of decades. He added that there are over two dozen active federal grants funding transgender animal experiments, worth a total of $64 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These include a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded project at Duke University that allegedly received $455,000 to study how HIV vaccines work in male mice subjected to female hormones to imitate human gender transitions. In another experiment, scientists at the University of Michigan allegedly spent $2,588,000 of an NIH grant investigating the effects of hormone treatment in mice to imitate gender transition. A further experiment at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre allegedly spent $300,000 investigating breast cancer risk for transgender people by looking at tumours in mice. A study at Emory University funded by NIH also allegedly spent $735,000 evaluating the contribution of the gut microbiome towards gender affirming hormone therapy in mice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A researcher at Emory said: We study the effects of the hormone treatment used by transgender people on skeletal development. We want to know if these hormones impair skeletal growth and increase the probability of osteoporosis later in life. They added that the experiments are conducted in normal mice. Male sex hormone treatment on female mice Meanwhile, scientists at the University of California are alleged to have spent $1,229,000 of NIH money looking at the effects of male sex hormone treatment on female mice. A final experiment at Indiana University, funded by $3,100,000 of NIH money, looked into the effects of feminising hormone therapy on the lungs of rodents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives for the White Coat Waste Project testified at a February House Oversight Committee meeting chaired by Nancy Mace, in which the South Carolina congresswoman used the examples of gender experiments on animals to underscore concerns about government waste. The watchdogs representatives alleged that 95 per cent of the federal funding comes from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Mr Musk recently called government spending on research into the effects of hormone treatment on animals demented in an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. The Tesla billionaire said the scientists were mutilating animals, describing the experiments as the worst thing you can possibly imagine from a horror show. Elon Musk said the scientists were mutilating animals - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America During his first term, Mr Trump moved to restrict animal testing, with the Environmental Protection Agency announcing plans to end the practice by 2035. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the agency reportedly abandoned its plans last year amid concerns that testing chemicals on animals remains the safest means of reducing harm to humans. Mr Goodman said: Were absolutely thrilled and honoured that the president highlighted our investigation during the state of the union and helped us expose wasteful government spending thats torturing animals in grotesque experiments. I think that these experiments are a great example of DEI programmes run amok, where programmes that claim to be intended to help marginalised people are being exploited to torture animals in sick experiments that only benefit the mad scientists conducting them. I think most taxpayers agree that money should not be spent to perform hormone therapies on lab animals to make them transgender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on its website, CNN said its story had been updated with context about the spending, which was for research studies on the potential human health impacts of treatments used in gender-affirming care. Some scientists have raised concerns that Mr Trumps comments have misled the public into believing that the studies on mice are only for modelling transgender hormone replacement. One scientist said that experiments on mice have improved our understanding of the impact of sex hormones on a whole range of conditions. They pointed to raloxifene, a medication used to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, which they said would not have been available without years of studying the effects of hormones on rodents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duke University, the University of Michigan, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, the University of California and Indiana University were approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump exempted Mexican and Canadian goods covered by the North American trade agreement known as USMCA from his 25% tariffs, offering major reprieves to the USs two largest trading partners. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump signed orders Thursday paring back the tariffs, which are related to illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, until April 2. That is the date when the president is expected to start unveiling plans for so-called reciprocal duties on nations around the world as well as sector-specific duties. Theyve been working much harder lately, do you notice that? On people coming in and drugs. Weve made tremendous progress on both, Trump said in the Oval Office, referring to Mexico and Canada. Automobiles and parts that meet USMCA requirements are among the products exempt from the tariffs. Canadian potash used heavily in fertilizers for US agricultural producers faces a lower 10% duty. Some 62% of Canadian imports would be subject to the tariffs under historic trade data, with much of that energy products subject to a 10% rate, said a White House official. However, the official cautioned those proportions could change as importers rush to comply with the new rules. Trump warned that relief for automakers would be short lived, saying he would not sign another extension next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I told them thats it, this is a short-term deal, he president said, adding he told auto executives not to come back and ask for relief again. The decision nonetheless marks a significant reversal by Trump, who on Tuesday had announced the largest tariff increase in a century only to back down 48 hours later as stocks were hammered and Republicans expressed concern about the economic consequences. The president downplayed the reaction, saying Im not even looking at the market. Trump argued that foreign countries are ripping us off and that the tariffs would put the US on a stronger footing. Therell always be a little short-term interruption. I dont think its going to be big, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exempting automobiles from the tariffs was done in order to minimize disruption to the industry and auto workers, according to the White House official. The US, Mexico and Canada have a deeply integrated auto supply chain and Detroits Big Three car companies had lobbied the administration for weeks for a carve out. Trump decided to pare back the tariffs after speaking to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and auto company executives. Canada delayed its plan for a second round of retaliatory tariffs against the US following Trumps announcement, though it is keeping in place duties it imposed Tuesday on around $20.9 billion in US goods. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick telegraphed the decision earlier Thursday, saying Trump was weighing an exemption for both Mexican and Canadian goods under the agreement. Lutnick said on CNBC that both Mexico and Canada offered us an enormous amount of work on fentanyl. The president has tied the tariffs, as well as a 20% duty on China, to commitments by the other three countries to crack down on the flow of illicit drugs and migration into the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Showing Results Sheinbaum at a press conference on Thursday said she outlined Mexicos security efforts, including measures to stop fentanyl trafficking, during her call with Trump. I told him, were showing results, she told reporters. I told him that I understood his concern about the US deficit, but that it was better to continue working together and having a dialogue. The Mexican president also said she warned Trump that if the tariffs remained in place she would have been forced to respond. The delay until April made such retaliatory actions unnecessary, she added. We were treated with a great deal of respect, Sheinbaum said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using 2024 trade data, about 49% of US imports from Mexico are exempt from duties under the USMCA, according to US Census data analyzed by Bloomberg Economics. An additional 41% of imports fall into under a gray area, given that goods previously qualified under a different exemption, such as the so-called most-favored nation rate. If those goods are no longer allowed to trade under those preferential rates, providers may look to switch to complying with USMCA to avoid the 25% fees. At the very least, 10% of the goods exported from Mexico into the US will be subject to the USs new tariffs. For instance, a White House official said that if oil was covered under USMCA, its exempt, and if it wasnt USMCA-compliant, it is still subject to the 10% tariff. The American president previously offered a one-month exemption to automobiles covered by USMCA, and administration officials were considering exempting certain agricultural imports, before going ahead with broader relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The development is the latest in a frenzied week that saw Trump apply across-the-board 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, with the exception of Canadian energy, which faced a 10% rate. He also doubled his recent tariff on China to 20% from 10%. That sparked a round of retaliatory tariffs from Canada on US goods. --With assistance from Maya Averbuch, Skylar Woodhouse, Maeva Cousin (Economist), Rana Sajedi (Economist), Felipe Hernandez (Economist) and Derek Decloet. (Updates with White House Official, in 20th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. President Trump on Wednesday issued a warning to Hamas to release its remaining hostages after the White House held direct talks with the group officially designated as a terrorist organization. Shalom Hamas means Hello and Goodbye You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! Trump wrote on Truth Social. The president also said he is sending Israel resources to end the war in the Middle East, calling the warning the last he would be issuing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER! he said. Trumps directive for Hamas to leave Gaza is related to his proposal for all Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip and for a United States takeover of the territory. Israeli officials had earlier floated exile for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, before he was killed by the Israeli military. Its unclear, however, which country Hamas officials or members of the armed group could travel to. Arab countries have rejected accepting Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, and while Qatar hosts Hamas officials, its not clear it would facilitate their relocation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House said earlier Wednesday that the presidents envoys have authority to talk to anyone when it confirmed that Trumps special envoy is engaged in negotiations with Hamas. Israel was consulted on this matter. Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people, is something that the president has proven, what he believes is good-faith effort to do whats right for the American people, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The office of Israels prime minister said in a statement that Israel has expressed its position to the U.S. regarding direct talks with Hamas but did not indicate what that position is. Laura Kelly contributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (AP) Trump says he's lifting tariffs on most goods from Mexico for 4 weeks amid economic fears from trade war. (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said French shipping giant CMA CGM SA will invest $20 billion in the United States to develop maritime infrastructure, logistics and terminals. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 10,000 new jobs would be created by the projects, Trump said at an event at the White House alongside CMA CGM Chief Executive Rodolphe Saade. The investments would be made over four years, the container line said in a subsequent statement. Its so important because its about shipping, Trump said. You know, we lost our way for many years. We havent done anything. We used to build a ship a day. The president added that he plans to announce a new government program for shipbuilding next week. In his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Trump said he would create a new office of shipbuilding in the White House and offer special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America. Saades trip to Washington came as the family controlled CMA CGM seeks to lessen its vulnerability to Trumps trade and maritime policies. The company founded by his father plays a major role transporting goods across the oceans and also has a longterm partnership with Chinese shipping companies. CMA CGM, Chinas Cosco, Taiwans Evergreen and Hong Kong-based OOCL last year extended their capacity-sharing agreement called the Ocean Alliance to 2032. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are very enthusiastic about this big announcement of today, said Saade, standing at the event with Trump and a map of the southern US showing the Gulf of America. The company was also examining investing in building container vessels and could make an additional announcement in the coming weeks, the CEO said. Trump has hosted leaders from a number of companies including Apple Inc., SoftBank Group Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. promising multi-billion dollar investments in the US. In its statement, CMA CGM said the money would be spent to increase its US-flagged American President Lines fleet to 30 vessels from 10, and to develop US port infrastructure including in New York, Los Angeles, Dutch Harbor, Houston and Miami. It also plans to develop warehousing, open a logistics center in Boston and establish an air cargo hub in Chicago. Saade has in recent years taken a significant portion of his quick-paced expansion spree to the US, acquiring major container terminals in the Port of Los Angeles as well as New York and New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The billionaire was reported to have attended an event in Washington around Trumps inauguration, joining another French tycoon, Bernard Arnault, who founded luxury giant LVMH, which could also be vulnerable to US trade policies and tariffs. Trump announced the CMA CGM initiative before signing an order that partially rolls back tariffs he imposed on Canada and Mexico earlier this week. While the White House has said they want to use the import taxes to force companies to return to the US, the move has roiled markets. (Adds details about investment plans from second paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. In his speech to Congress this week, President Trump said that South Korea, alongside other countries such as Japan, wanted to invest trillions of dollars each in a $44-billion liquefied natural gas pipeline in Alaska that he has touted since taking office. But in South Korea, where the government has made no such concrete pledge, the claim is being interpreted as pressure to play ball amid the looming threat of tariffs such as those recently levied against Canada, China and Mexico. (On Thursday, Trump said he'd delay tariffs on some Mexican products for a month.) An unwelcome invitation to Alaska, one newspaper headline read. A supporter of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol holds up a sign with images of businessman Elon Musk, Yoon and U.S. President Trump. (Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press) The project would build an 800-mile pipeline to transport gas drilled from Alaskas North Slope to southern Alaska and then to Asia, home to three of the worlds largest importers of liquefied natural gas, or LNG: China, Japan and South Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There "has never been anything like that one, Trump said in his Tuesday address. It will be truly spectacular. Its all set to go. But the proposal, controversial for its potential effect on the climate, has also been dogged by long-standing doubts about its commercial viability, with Exxon Mobil, BP and ConocoPhillips backing out of the project in 2016. That bumpy track record has not gone unnoticed in Seoul. After a trip to Washington last month, during which South Korean officials asked the U.S. to exempt the country from any tariffs such as those recently placed on aluminum and steel, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun told reporters that his government needed to evaluate the plans economic viability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, with South Korea having been a frequent target of Trumps grievances about trade deficits, Ahn added that energy imports could potentially be a "card we can play. He said, It seemed like the project was a huge priority for the U.S. Read more: Trump suspends tariffs on most Mexican products In a emailed statement to the Times, a spokesperson for the Trade Ministry said that South Korea remained undecided on whether or how the country would participate in the Alaska pipeline project. "However, as this is a matter of interest to the United States, Korea plans to engage in further discussions on the issue," the spokesperson said. "As an energy importer, Korea considers the diversification of energy sources a critical security issue and is actively exploring the possibility of diversifying its energy imports to include the United States." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his Tuesday speech, Trump reiterated his longtime dissatisfaction with what he described as a lopsided trade relationship with South Korea. In 2024, the trade deficit with South Korea was $66 billion, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. South Koreas main exports to the U.S. are semiconductors and cars, while its imports from the U.S. are led by crude petroleum and machinery. South Koreas average tariff is four times higher," Trump said on Tuesday. "Think of that. Four times higher. And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea. But thats what happens. This is happening by friend and foe." But the South Korean government has disputed those figures. That is not consistent with the facts, a Trade Ministry official told reporters shortly after Trumps speech. We will explain that to the U.S. through various channels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump appeared to have been referring to the World Trade Organizations statistics on average tariff rates that governments apply to trading partners designated as most-favored nations. In 2023, South Koreas tariff rate for those countries was 13.4%, compared with the 3.3% levied by the United States. But the South Korean government has said that in practice, most tariffs on goods flowing between the two countries have been eliminated due to a comprehensive, bilateral Free Trade Agreement that they signed in 2007. As of 2024, the average tariff rate on imports from the U.S. is approximately 0.79%, the Finance Ministry said in a news release last month. For reference, under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, the tariff rate on imported manufactured goods from the U.S. is 0%. Although this means that any reciprocal tariffs the U.S. applies to South Korea probably will have only a minimal effect, there are still fears that Trump will levy tariffs anyway to offset other trade barriers he has criticized as unfair. The most notable example of this is value-added tax, or VAT, which Trump has partly blamed for the United States' $1.2-trillion trade deficit with the rest of the world. South Korea levies a 10% VAT on any goods or services sold in the country, including imports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For purposes of this United States Policy, we will consider Countries that use the VAT System, which is far more punitive than a Tariff, to be similar to that of a Tariff," Trump wrote on his social media site last month. Trade analysts say that South Koreas investment in the pipeline, along with a promise to buy Alaskan gas, may be the easiest way to keep any retaliatory moves by the U.S. at bay while also filling a 9-million-ton gap created by the expiration of decades-long LNG supply contracts with Qatar and Oman last year. As far as it can help to increase imports from the U.S. while also diversifying our energy supply, the pipeline could be a positive thing, said Kang Geum-yun, a senior researcher at the Korea International Trade Assn. The alternative to reducing the trade deficit for the U.S. is by cutting back our exports to them, but that is obviously not a desirable path. Read more: U.S. businesses brace for Trumps tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China to drive up costs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy experts, however, arent so sure. The pipelines projected completion date the early 2030s is a major cause for skepticism, said Kim Tae-sik, a researcher at the Korea Energy Economics Institute, a government think tank. South Korean firms dont have much experience building pipelines in such frigid conditions, so there can easily be unexpected delays in construction, not to mention any potential lawsuits from locals or environmental groups there, he said. Kim believes the pipeline would be operational by 2040 at the earliest. But theres a good chance that by then, demand for gas in South Korea will have fallen alongside the broader push to decarbonize, which will lead to oversupply and depressed prices, he said. The dominant view among analysts here is that, frankly, its going to be very difficult to make the pipeline commercially viable unless the U.S. or Alaska brings radically attractive terms to the table. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The on-again, off-again threat of U.S. tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada took another dizzying turn Thursday, when President Trump declared that Washington would temporarily reverse some of the sweeping taxes that he had imposed just two days earlier. In a post on his social media site, Trump said he would pause for one month the imposition of 25% taxes on Mexican and Canadian imports that fall under the free trade accord the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that he negotiated during his first term. The tariffs which Trump originally had vowed would go into effect as soon as he took office in January were enacted Tuesday after twice passing previous deadlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pascal Beltran del Rio, a columnist for Mexico's Excelsior newspaper, compared Trump to the boy who cried wolf. The bewildering tariff discourse has agitated international markets and caused deep disquiet in Canada and Mexico, which are both highly dependent on cross-border trade. It also has triggered alarm in U.S. industries, including the automotive and agricultural sectors. In his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, even Trump said his tariffs would be felt on the U.S. side of the border, referring to their effects as a little disturbance. Detroit automakers, with a massive presence in Mexico and Canada, have strongly urged Trump to pull back the tariff plan. Trucks line up to cross the border into the United States as tariffs against Mexico went into effect on March 4, 2025, in Tijuana. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press) Thursday's news probably will calm markets and U.S. consumers worried about higher prices for cars, food and other imported products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, experts said Trumps unpredictability was expected to continue to unnerve investors, who have been loath to make decisions about where to locate factories, whether to hire new employees and which suppliers to rely on amid the ever-changing tariff landscape. Its total uncertainty, said Pamela K. Starr, a professor of international relations at USC. At the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday, there was a sigh of relief. Trumps short-lived tariffs had prompted many exporters on the Mexican side to hold off on sending products north, said Israel Delgado Vallejo, vice president of a Mexican cargo association. In the border town of Nuevo Laredo, opposite Texas, trade to the U.S. had fallen by about 80%, he said. In Ciudad Juarez, which is just south of El Paso, trade had dropped by 50%, and in Tijuana, by 35%. "The prevailing enemy is uncertainty," Delgado said. Its difficult to plan when we don't have a clear picture in front of us." President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace in Mexico City on March 4, 2025. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) Before announcing the pause in tariffs on Thursday, Trump had already said there would be an exemption for Canadian vehicles and auto parts imported under the tri-national trade deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the American tariffs "really dumb" and immediately imposed tariffs on some U.S. goods, many from red states. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaumdeclined to specify how Mexico would retaliate. Trump said that his latest decision on tariffs was made after a telephone call with Sheinbaum on Thursday morning. In his social media post, Trump spoke of his "respect" for the Mexican leader and praised her "hard work and cooperation." "Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl," Trump said. Read more: Asylum requests surge in Mexico amid U.S. border crackdown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has cited shifting rationales illegal immigration, a growing U.S. trade deficit with Mexico for imposing tariffs, but lately has focused on the smuggling from Mexico of fentanyl, the synthetic opioid that has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States. A clearly relieved Sheinbaum said at a news conference Thursday that she had presented Trump with data documenting Mexico's recent success in reducing drug trafficking and illicit immigration. Read more: How Trump could pave the way for China in Latin America "It was a very, very, respectful conversation," Sheinbaum said. "All within the framework of cooperation and the respect of our sovereignty." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tariff reprieve applies only to merchandise exported under the existing trade pact. Sheinbaum said the vast majority of goods exported to the United States fall under the terms of the accord. The minority of merchandise that will still be taxed probably will include vehicles from some Asian carmakers that are finished in Mexico but arent at least 75% made in North America. Many experts had predicted that the Trump tariffs, if enacted, would throw Mexico's already sluggish economy into a full-fledged recession. The latest delay has bought Mexico some time, but observers say there is no guarantee that Trump will not reinstate trade levies. Read more: The '51st state'? Canadians say no, thanks. They don't want U.S. products either Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has vowed to impose wide-ranging reciprocal tariffs April 2 to match the taxes and subsidies that other nations charge on U.S. products. Since "practically all of the trade" between Mexico and the U.S. falls under the existing free-trade regimen, Sheinbaum said Mexico hopes to escape any new U.S. levies for its products. However, experts have warned that Mexico could be penalized for the 16% value-added tax that it imposes on many transactions, including sales of foreign products. The Mexican president, who took office in October, has generally earned high marks for navigating the delicate high-wire act of trying to mollify Trump and talk him out of the tariff notion while not alienating her nationalist base, which is wary of any perceived U.S. intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: In Mexico, fear and defiance as Trump's tariffs take effect Still, the tariffs however short-lived will have a major economic fallout for Mexico, said Starr, the USC expert. Mexico is the United States' leading trading partner, and last year exported more than $500 billion in merchandise including vehicles, computers, oil and gas to its northern neighbor. But uncertainty around tariffs has scared off investors, Starr said. New investment in Mexico will remain stagnant, and that's a real problem for Mexican growth," she said, noting that the nation's economy is now not expected to grow at all in the coming year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's about-face followed comments from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who on Thursday said in a television interview that Trump was likely to temporarily suspend 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for most products and services, widening an exemption that was granted Wednesday only to vehicles. In Canada, Trudeau said he welcomed news that the U.S. would delay taxes on imports from his country, but said some retaliatory tariffs by his country will remain in place for now. "We will not be backing down from our response tariffs until such a time as the unjustified American tariffs [on] Canadian goods are lifted," he said. The Associated Press reported that an initial round of tariffs by Canada on U.S. goods totaling $21 billion would remain in effect. A second round of such tariffs, totaling $87 billion and set to take effect in coming weeks, was suspended, AP reported. Read more: California farmers backed Trump. Now, his tariffs could hurt them Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau told reporters that the U.S. and Canada are actively engaged in ongoing conversations in trying to make sure these tariffs dont overly harm certain sectors and workers. China and Canada responded forcefully to Trump's imposition of tariffs this week, as both placed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Sheinbaum had said that Mexico also would respond with counter-tariffs, and had planned to announce them Sunday at a public rally in Mexico City. But that announcement would now be a "party," Sheinbaum said Thursday, after Trump's decision to push back the tariffs. "We're having a festival so we can all be happy on Sunday," said a smiling Sheinbaum. Times special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal in Mexico City contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump is poised to meet next week with leaders of some of the countrys largest tech companies, which are facing the prospect of import tariffs and stricter export rules that could upend their businesses. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group including the chief executive officers of HP Inc., Intel Corp., International Business Machines Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. has discussed meeting with the administration on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the plans arent public. HP confirmed that the company would be there Monday. Some of the topics top of mind for our leadership team are trade policy and US manufacturing, a representative said. Spokespeople for Intel, IBM and Qualcomm declined to comment. A representative for the White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House has promoted a range of policy changes that threaten to roil the computer-hardware industry. Tariffs will make manufacturing hubs such as China more expensive and potentially disrupt supply chains. Technology companies also want clarity on what restrictions might be placed on their export of advanced technology for artificial intelligence data centers, which are being built all over the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has vowed to follow through on his campaign promise to levy tariffs on key trade partners, an attempt to offset what he characterizes as unfair balances. The changes would make it more difficult for the electronics industry to operate in the globally segmented way thats made it so efficient. The administration is developing an AI action plan, seeking to sustain and enhance Americas leadership in the field, and is seeking public input on the effort. The president also has called on Congress to revoke the 2022 Chips Act, bipartisan legislation that is providing billions of dollars in incentives to companies like Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Your Chips Act is a horrible, horrible thing, Trump said during an address to Congress on Tuesday, imploring House Speaker Mike Johnson to get rid of the legislation. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who negotiated the law, predicted Wednesday that Trumps request would fail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Trump hosted an event this week with TSMC where the chipmaker pledged to invest an additional $100 billion in US plants. The administration has pointed to the agreement as a sign that the country can use tariffs rather than Chips Act-style incentives to attract investment. --With assistance from Jenny Leonard. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Trump administration cuts to teacher training grants are putting a strain on rural school systems, which have relied on the money to help address teacher shortages. In an overhaul at an agency President Donald Trump has described as being infiltrated by radicals, zealots and Marxists, the Education Department last month cut $600 million in grants to the training programs, which it characterized as supporting divisive ideologies. Trump has said he wants to close the department, and new Education Secretary Linda McMahon has laid out how it could be dismantled. Federal money makes up a significant portion of budgets in some rural districts, which rely more on grants and philanthropy because of their limited tax base, said Sharon Contreras, CEO of the Innovation Project, a collaboration among North Carolina school districts. A grant to that group supported teacher recruitment and retention, providing scholarships for teachers pursuing masters degrees if they agreed to return to the area and serve as principals for three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These districts struggle to attract teachers, Contreras said. They struggle to attract principals because they cant compete with larger districts. Across the country, the grants paid student teachers to gain experience in classrooms, funded scholarships for aspiring teachers, and sent teachers to workshops to learn from peers. As recipients scramble to appeal the cuts, many say they could lead to fewer well-prepared teachers in classrooms, particularly in subject areas and regions already struggling with shortages. I think whats unknown at this moment is how many individuals are going to continue to go into teaching, who may just have had their scholarships disrupted, said Kathlene Campbell, CEO of the National Center for Teacher Residencies. The teacher residencies center and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to reverse the grant terminations. It said the cuts unlawfully targeted several grant programs authorized by Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, eight Democratic state attorneys general filed a separate lawsuit over the cuts in U.S. District Court in Boston. These are programs that families and kids rely upon, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, whose office is one of the leaders on the case, said in an interview, and if the president wants to get rid of them, the appropriate way to do it is through Congress. The Education Department did not respond to a request for comment. As Trump pursues plans to dismantle the Education Department, Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency already has cut dozens of contracts it dismissed as woke and wasteful, and the administration has fired or suspended scores of employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, the Education Department sent letters to over a hundred grantees at universities and school districts saying teacher training programs were cut off because they involved diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives than ran afoul of the Trump administrations guidance. In a news release, it said the programs promoted what it called inappropriate topics such as critical race theory, social justice activism and instruction on white privilege. Grant recipients rejected the notion that their work was related to DEI. In rural South Carolina, one of the grants provided $13.5 million over three years to the Laurens 55 School District. It used the money to create 18 master teacher positions, train teachers, and pay bonuses when student test scores went up. The program did not include any race-based hiring or teacher training, Laurens 55 Superintendent Jody Penland said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think there was a priority point that kind of included in the grant something about diversity, Penland said. And you know, we took it as in, How are we going to serve all of our kids?" In New Orleans, the NOLA SEED program used its grant money to help teaching candidates pay tuition at Tulane University. A partner organization recruited local high school students to take introductory college courses and to consider teaching careers all to help address teacher shortages. Another eliminated grant allowed history teacher Brian Grindrod in New Haven, Connecticut, to work with educators across the Northeast to involve their students in We The People, a civics education program that culminates in a mock congressional hearing. When he received an email telling him that work will have to wind down, he said he was angry. This strikes at the core of what education is all about, Grindrod said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grindrod said the civics curriculum he worked on with teachers has been nonpartisan, with a focus on the history and framework of U.S. constitutional democracy. The training helped teachers engage students and apply civics education to real life, he said. This is a curriculum that looks at all sides of an issue from the constitutional perspective, he said. It allows students to develop critical thinking skills to look at all perspectives of an argument, to look at how some debates from the Federalists can still relate to today. One of Grindrod's own classes had traveled to mock Congress competitions at Yale University, competing against some of the state's most well-funded districts and earning an honorable mention. Alex Walker, a junior, said it meant a lot to him to go to Yale and keep up with the other students. It was, he said, probably the best history class I'm ever going to take in high school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the grant money, Grindrod said he doesn't know whether he will be able to help other teachers give their classes the same experience. The students are always the ones who lose out, Grindrod said. ___ Anna Mitchell of The Post and Courier and Geoff Mulvihill of the AP contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Thursday appeared not to know that the only time that NATOs mutual assistance clause has ever been invoked was on behalf of the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. If the United States was in trouble, and we called them, we said we got a problem you think theyre going to come and protect us? Trump told reporters in an Oval Office news conference in which he again suggested that the U.S. would not come to the aid of a NATO member if it had not paid enough. Theyre supposed to, but Im not so sure, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his remarks, Trump seemed neither to understand how NATO functions nor to know that the alliance has only come to the assistance of an attacked signatory once: to fight in Afghanistan alongside U.S. troops against al Qaeda and the Taliban. Trump has, since his first term, characterized NATO as sort of a protection racket, in which members must pay the United States money or not receive the benefit of the treatys Article 5, which states that an attack on one is an attack on all. When I first came in, we were paying almost 100% of NATO, he said again Thursday, falsely. In fact, member states pledged in 2014 to boost their defense spending to least 2% of their GDPs over a decade, following the Russian invasion of Ukraines Crimea region that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 32 member nations, 24 have now reached that threshold, while some bordering or close to Russia are spending substantially more. But even if a country does not meet that mark, it does not mean the United States must pay more rather, it means the total number of ships, planes and troops available to the alliance as a whole is not as high as it would be if each country met its obligation. John Bolton, one of Trumps first-term national security advisers, has said that Trump was planning to withdraw from NATO in his second term, had he won reelection in 2020. In 2023, Congress passed a law prohibiting a president from withdrawing from NATO absent either two-thirds backing of the Senate or a new law. Some legal experts, though, believe Trump could override that, citing presidential prerogative in national security matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a move, were it to happen, would be a major accomplishment for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who has aspired to expand Russias borders back to that of the former Soviet Union. Three years ago Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which former President Joe Biden worked to oppose by building a European coalition. Trump, since taking office, has essentially switched sides, demanding that Ukraine give up territory to Russia and give the United States rights to its valuable mineral deposits while not asking any concessions at all from Putin. President Trump on Thursday stressed that his Cabinet secretaries take the lead on making cuts to their agencies and staff, insisting that officials are empowered to make decisions before Elon Musk can step in. I want the Cabinet members, go first, keep all the people you want. Everybody that you need, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He added, I want them to do the best job they can, when we have good people thats precious, thats very important and we want them to keep the good people. So, were going to be watching them. Elon and the group are going to be watching them. If they can cut, its better. And if they dont cut, then Elon will do the cutting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps remarks followed his second Cabinet meeting of the administration earlier in the day, which again included Musk. After the meeting, Trump said on Truth Social that he instructed his Cabinet secretaries to work with DOGE on cost cutting efforts but keep the best and most productive people in place amid mass firings helmed by Musk since January. It comes as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk oversees, was met with controversary over its approach for radical reform of federal agencies that has including the firing of thousands of government workers. Trump also highlighted a more precise approach to eliminating staff in his Truth Social post. DOGE has been an incredible success, and now that we have my Cabinet in place, I have instructed the Secretaries and Leadership to work with DOGE on Cost Cutting measures and Staffing, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go. We say the scalpel rather than the hatchet. The combination of them, Elon, DOGE, and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level, he continued. Musk joined the first meeting with officials last month where he spoke at length to the Cabinet about the work DOGE was doing. Trump also said Thursday that he would hold Cabinet meetings every two weeks. Trumps remarks bolster an executive order he signed last week directing agency leaders to work with DOGE staff and look at contracts, employee travel and other areas, as well as build a centralized system to record every payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has so far been supportive of Musk and DOGE, insisting that he backs the moves the team has made like when the billionaire tech entrepreneur asked all federal employees to send emails listing their accomplishments. That email was a focus of the last Cabinet meeting, during which Musk dominated the conversation and disparaged government workers, saying anyone with a heartbeat and neurons could complete the email request he sent out. Musk, who is not a member of the presidents Senate-approved Cabinet, was tasked with making cuts to the federal government when it comes to spending and staff. He has since become a staple of the White House, traveling with Trump to his joint address. Musk also met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday evening a type of meeting that would typically occur with a White House chief of staff or other presidential advisers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has also traveled with Trump to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida during weekends. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Trevor Hunnicutt and Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order suspending security clearances for employees of law firm Perkins Coie and targeting the firm's business with federal contractors, citing its diversity practices and political activities. Seattle-founded Perkins Coie has long drawn criticism from Trump allies over its prior work for Trump's 2016 Democratic election opponent Hillary Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order also directed federal officials to investigate other "large, influential, or industry leading law firms" over their compliance with laws against racial discrimination. "This executive order will suspend security clearances and access to certain federal resources for that law firm and also launch a holistic review of unlawful DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) practices at some of the nation's largest law firms," Trump aide Will Scharf said during an Oval Office signing event with reporters. Trump said it was "an absolute honor to sign" the order. Perkins Coie in a statement said the executive order is "patently unlawful, and we intend to challenge it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump last week signed a similar order against another prominent law firm, Covington & Burling. In that order, security clearances were revoked for lawyers who provided free assistance to Jack Smith, the former U.S. special counsel who oversaw two criminal prosecutions against Trump. The president also directed federal agencies to review any contracts they have with Covington. The executive order targeting Perkins Coie went further, ordering agencies to require that federal contractors must disclose any business with the firm and saying contracts related to that business may be terminated. The order also said Perkins Coie employees' ability to access federal government buildings would be restricted to protect U.S. interests and national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Their disrespect for the bedrock principle of equality represents good cause to conclude that they neither have access to our Nations secrets nor be deemed responsible stewards of any Federal funds," the order said. White House officials said federal agencies would refrain from hiring Perkins Coie employees "unless specifically authorized" and block business with contractors that work with Perkins Coie because of the firm's involvement in "partisan lawsuits against the United States." Perkins Coie and Covington are among nearly a dozen major U.S. law firms representing clients in lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging executive actions related to immigration, transgender rights and other issues. Perkins is involved in two lawsuits against the Trump administration, including one in Seattle federal court that challenges the White House's move to restrict transgender people from serving in the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DIVERSITY INITIATIVES A group headed by prominent anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum sued Perkins Coie in August 2023, alleging its diversity fellowships unlawfully excluded certain people based on their race. Perkins Coie changed the criteria for its fellowship program two months later and the suit was dropped. Legal scholars said they were not aware of a U.S. presidential administration ever taking such official actions against specific law firms in the past. Michael Frisch of Georgetown University's law school said it is a foundation of the legal profession that "everyone is entitled to a defense, and you don't judge a lawyer or law firm by the client that it chooses to legitimately and lawfully represent, and that's really under challenge right now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University of Minnesota law professor Richard Painter, who served as associate White House counsel from 2005 to 2007, said he could see no direct connection between law firm diversity initiatives and risks to national security that would entail stripping a law firm's security clearances. Perkins Coie is widely known for its legal work for tech companies and other clients. It is defending Alphabet's Google against a lawsuit by the Republican National Committee accusing the tech giant of sending its emails to users' spam filters. The firm has represented Amazon in a number of court cases. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Its work for Hillary Clinton's campaign led to criticisms from Trump supporters, including Elon Musk. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Mike Scarcella; Additional reporting by Karen Sloan and David Thomas; Editing by David Bario, Rosalba O'Brien and Nia Williams) Donald Trump attacked the media on Wednesday in a Truth Social post, criticizing recent coverage of a clip of him that seized on an interaction where he thanked Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and shook his hand during the presidents joint address to Congress earlier this week. Like most people, I dont watch Fake News CNN or MSDNC, but I understand they are going crazy asking what is it that I was thanking Justice Roberts for? Trump wrote, using his pejorative nickname for MSNBC. They never called my office to ask, of course, but if they had I would have told these sleazebag journalists that I thanked him for SWEARING ME IN ON INAUGURATION DAY, AND DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB IN SO DOING! The Fake News never quits! The moment at issue was relatively brief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Trump mingled with the crowd of dignitaries in the House who gathered Tuesday to watch the address, the president shook Robertss hand and was recorded saying, Thank you again. [I] wont forget it. Some argued the exchange was emblematic of how the Supreme Court has enabled Trump in recent years. We cant know precisely what the president meant, but Trump does have a lot to thank Roberts for, Adam Serwer writes in The Atlantic. Trump said he and Supreme Court justice were talking about inauguration during hot mic moment (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) The Supreme Court delivered Trump multiple election-year victories, including a March 2024 decision blocking Colorados move to strike Donald Trump from its presidential election ballot for his role in January 6, and a July ruling finding that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions, effectively ending a federal case against the Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the administrations broad, hyper-speed attempts to cut federal spending and shutter agencies, which critics allege overstep executive authority, the high court may also be a rare roadblock against the Trump agenda, given that Republicans control both houses of Congress. The day after Trumps much-discussed handshake with Roberts, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration must pay out nearly $2 billion in foreign aid to groups that work with the U.S. Agency for International Development, despite the White Houses attempt to freeze funding and shutter the agency. Trump has a long history of criticizing the media, and his frequent attacks on the fake news beginning in his 2016 campaign helped the term enter the popular lexicon. Over time, the criticism has taken on a more barbed, violent edge, with Trump calling mainstream news channels the true enemy of the people. Some of this rhetoric has been strategic, Trump reportedly admitted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know why I do it? 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl recalled Trump once telling her in 2016. I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so that when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you. The Republicans relationship with one news channel in particular, Fox News, has been a defining feature of his political life. The network helped fuel Trumps political rise, and the Republican has staffed both of his administrations with numerous figures from the network. The current White House includes former Fox anchors and commentators as director of national intelligence and the secretaries of defense and transit. During his first term, Trump was reported to have watched Fox for hours on end, sometimes live-tweeting his thoughts about various segments on favorite shows like Fox and Friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The relationship grew more fraught by 2020, when Fox News angered MAGAworld by accurately calling the Arizona presidential election results as a win for Joe Biden, despite reported attempts from Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to lobby network leaders to revoke the call. Foxs alignment with Trump proved problematic for the network in other ways, too, including having to pay $785 million to elections contractor Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation suit, stemming from repeated reporting agreeing with the Trump campaigns false claims of a rigged 2020 election. The relationship got so tense that in 2023, network star Sean Hannity reportedly tried to appeal to Trump directly to stop attacking Fox and its owners, the Murdoch family, after Trump accused the network of collusion to boost the political fortunes of his GOP primary rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Mr. President, Im trying to help you out here with the Fox people here, Hannity reportedly told Trump, according to Revenge: The Inside Story of Trumps Return to Power, a forthcoming book from Axios journalist Alex Isenstadt. But youre not making it easy for me by going after the Murdochs. Youre not helping me. Youre not helping yourself. If you can just lay off, we can start making some moves and getting back to normal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacks on the press have continued now that Trump is back in office, including blocking Associated Press reporters from covering official appearances because the wire services influential style handbook has not adopted the administrations unilateral attempt to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. The administration, frustrated with the pace of deportations, has also cracked down on leakers speaking to the media about impending removal operations against migrants. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order targeting Perkins Coie, a prominent Seattle-based law firm that regularly represents Democratic and liberal groups. The executive order suspends security clearances for employees of the law firm, which has long provided legal work for the Democratic National Committee, other Democratic entities and Democratic campaigns, including Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. The firm was central to the commissioning of the infamous Steele dossier, which was published shortly before Trump was inaugurated in 2017. Former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele was commissioned by Fusion GPS, a research firm that had been hired by Perkins Coie, to dig up information about Trumps business relationships overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an absolute honor to sign. What they've done is, it's just terrible, Trump said as he signed the order. Weaponization you could say weaponization against a political opponent and it should never be allowed to happen again. Perkins Coie did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While the firm still represents Democrats, the scope of that work has decreased since prominent Democratic Party attorney Marc Elias one of the key attorneys involved in the commissioning of the dossier left in 2021 to establish his own elections-focused firm. Its the latest chapter in the presidents campaign to punish his perceived political enemies. Last month, Trump signed a similar presidential memorandum terminating security clearances of lawyers and other personnel at another law firm, Covington & Burling, that provided free legal services to special counsel Jack Smith, the federal prosecutor who brought two criminal cases against Trump that were dropped after he won last Novembers election. He previously revoked security clearances for former intelligence community officials who signed a letter raising concerns that Hunter Bidens hard drive bore the hallmarks of a foreign influence operation, which ultimately turned out to be false. He also suspended the security clearance for Mark Zaid, a prominent whistleblower attorney who represented the intelligence official who helped trigger Trumps 2020 impeachment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has also pulled security details for figures who have criticized and publicly opposed him, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The executive order also calls for ending all contracts Perkins Coie has with the federal government, although a federal spending database doesnt show any current government contracts. It additionally orders a holistic review of unlawful DEI practices at some of the nations largest law firms, in line with the presidents broader efforts to quash diversity, equity and inclusion efforts nationwide as part of his new culture war. Perkins Coie was sued over its diversity fellowship program in 2023, later deciding to open the program up to all first-year law students. That review, which will be undertaken by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, will apply to all large, influential, or industry leading law firms and will look at whether the firms reserve certain positions, like summer associate spots; promote individuals; permit client access or provide access to events, trainings or travel based on race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said during the Thursday afternoon executive order signing that he believes more steps should be taken against other people tied to the FBI's probe into ties between Russia and his 2016 presidential campaign, but that the decision is up to Attorney General Pam Bondi and others. Bondi has launched a Weaponization Working Group to review officials who investigated Trump, including Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James. President Trump on Wednesday told Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser that she must clean homeless encampments in the city. We have notified the Mayor of Washington, D.C., that she must clean up all of the unsightly homeless encampments in the City, specifically including the ones outside of the State Department, and near the White House, the president said in a post on Truth Social. If she is not capable of doing so, we will be forced to do it for her! Washington, D.C. must become CLEAN and SAFE! We want to be proud of our Great Capital again, he added. Thank you Mayor Bowser for your efforts on behalf of the Citizens of our Country. Hopefully you will be successful! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, Bowser said she and Trump had a great meeting in a post on the social platform X. Today, President Trump and I had a great meeting to discuss our shared priorities for the Presidents second term, Bowser said in a statement. President Trump and I both want Washington, DC to be the best, most beautiful city in the world and we want the capital city to reflect the strength of our nation. The president and the mayor of the nations capital have had a historically on-and-off relationship, with Trump referring to Bowser as incompetent following her withdrawing military personnel and federal law enforcement from the 2020 George Floyd protests in Washington. On Tuesday, a statement was issued by Bowser implying that Washington could possibly paint over the Black Lives Matter Plaza close to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a very painful period, but now we cant afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference, Bowser said on X. The comments from the mayor came a day after Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) introduced a measure looking to hold back funds from Washington if the plazas name is not changed to Liberty Plaza. Last month, Trump said the governance of the nations capital should be acquired by the federal government. I think that we should govern the District of Columbia, Trump said to reporters at the time. I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to the Washington, D.C., government for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. US President Donald Trump is granting automakers in Mexico and Canada a one-month tariff exemption after negotiations with leading industrial figures. "We spoke with the Big Three auto manufacturers. We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday. "Reciprocal tariffs will still come into effect on 2 April, but at the request of the companies associated with USMCA, the President is granting them an exemption for one month so they are not at an economic disadvantage," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 25% tariff on all imported goods from Mexico and the US had come into effect a day earlier, on Tuesday, along with an additional 10% levy on Chinese imports. Last month, Trump also announced he would impose 25% tariffs on all automobile, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor imports as soon as 2 April. Added to this, he signed an executive order to investigate trade relations, aiming to introduce reciprocal tariffs, expected to take effect as early as 1 April. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced NAFTA in July 2020, requires that 75% of a vehicle's parts be manufactured in North America to qualify for zero tariffs when traded between the three nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement is due for review by July next year. Carmaker leaders negotiate with the White House White House officials spoke with executives from Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors on Wednesday, according to Leavitt. Trumps exemption offers these automakers time to bring their production back to the United States. Related He told them they should get on it, start investing, start moving, shift production here to the United States of America, where they will pay no tariff. Thats the ultimate goal, Leavitt stated. Retaliatory tariffs Both Canada and China have retaliated to Trump's tariffs with countermeasures, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said she will announce her own response on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, Ford CEO Jim Farley warned that the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and the 10% tariffs on China would be disastrous for US companies operating globally. Additionally, a report from Anderson Economic Group (AEG) suggested that the tariffs, including the additional 10% levy on China, could increase car prices by as much as $12,200 (11,290) for some models. Automaker stocks rise Automakers shares surged following Trumps one-month tariff exemption on Wednesday. Ford Motors stocks were up 3.65%, General Motors shares rose 1.76% and Stellantis climbed 2.46%. The automakers shares in Europe also experienced gains, with Mercedes-Benz up 3.08%, Volkswagen rising 3.38%, and BMW up 4.3%. Additional tariff exemptions considered A White House spokesperson indicated that Trump may consider further tariff exemptions after pausing the automaker duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US President is reportedly weighing exemptions on certain agricultural products affected by tariffs on Canada and Mexico. However, Trump posted on Truth Social that Canadas efforts to curb fentanyl trafficking were not sufficient. He added that his call with Canadian officials "ended in a somewhat friendly manner". President Donald Trump lashed out against Democrats Wednesday night for the antics they pulled at his address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday. Trump took to Truth Social to flame his opposition and urge the Republican Party to use his Tuesday night speech as fuel for future elections. The Democrats should lose the Midterms based on their behavior at last nights Joint Address to Congress, the president said in a lengthy post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump echoed other conservatives who took issue with Democrats decision to stay seated and in many cases refuse to acknowledge the presidents guests during his speech, including the mothers of two young women who were killed by undocumented migrants and a terminally ill 13-year-old boy who was made an honorary Secret Service agent. Republicans should utilize the footage provided on the total disrespect they showed to all of those that were honored that night, Trump said. They didnt even have the common courtesy to stand, smile, or applaud. This could be, on analyzing the full tape of this Historic Event, your full CAMPAIGN TO VICTORY! the president continued. In other words, Republicans can take what happened last night, and win any Race in the Country. Good Luck!!! Early into Trumps roughly 99-minute-long speech, Texas Rep. Al Green was kicked out of the chamber for screaming that the president had no mandate to cut Medicaid and refusing to heed House Speaker Mike Johnsons order to sit down and maintain decorum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is my fifth such speech to Congress, and once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud, Trump said after the incident. These people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They wont do it no matter what and it just shouldnt be this way, he added. UNITED STATES - MARCH 4: Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, is asked to leave by an aide as he heckles President Donald Trump during an address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag Several other Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ilhan Omar, walked out of the chamber as Trump spoke. Other Democrats stayed in their seats holding up signs that read Musk Steals, Save Medicaid, and Protect Veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After, the White House blasted liberal lawmakers, saying Democrats showed whose side theyre onand its not the American people. Congressional Democrats were too consumed by their own hatred of President Trump, refusing to show support for lowering taxes, fighting childhood cancer, capturing terrorists, protecting women and girls in sports, or law and order to name only a few, the White House said in a statement. WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: Rep. Rashida Tlaib, left, joins fellow Democrats in holding up signs to protest President Donald Trump as he addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol. / Getty Images Even within Democratic circles, the protests were not well-received. One Democratic strategist told the Daily Beast that the optics were amateurish and pitiful. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus relationship continued to sour, with the pair having a heated phone call after the Canadian leader announced retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., according to a new report. Trump and Trudeau spoke Wednesday, a day after the prime minister said he was implementing 25 percent tariffs on some American exports after the presidents sweeping levies came into effect. The call which Trump told reporters was somewhat friendly while Trudeau called it colorful and substantive was in fact heated and profanity-laden, The Wall Street Journal reports. The White House referred The Independent to the presidents initial characterization of the call when contacted for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their phone call came after Trudeau tried to contact Trump on Monday night, one day before the presidents tariffs were set to hit. Trump did not take that call, the Journal reports. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a heated and profanity-laden call on Wednesday after the president ghosted his counterparts call on Monday evening, according to the Wall street Journal. (AP) When Trumps tariffs on Canada and Mexico went into effect Tuesday, Trudeau called them dumb and accused Trump of acting in bad faith. Its not in my habit to agree with the Wall Street Journal, but Donald, they point out that even though you are a very smart guy, this a very dumb thing to do, Trudeau said Tuesday, referring to an editorial Monday accusing Trump of taking the Dumbest Tariff Plunge. We two friends fighting is exactly what our opponents around the world want to see, Trudeau added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has justified the tariffs by arguing Canada has allowed fentanyl to flow into the U.S., a claim which Trudeau labelled "completely bogus, completely unjustified, completely false." The prime minister also accused Trump of orchestrating "a total collapse of the Canadian economy because that will make it easier to annex us. "That is never going to happen, Trudeau said. We will never be the 51st state. Trudeau called Trumps tariffs a very dumb thing to do and labeled the presidents claims about fentanyl flow into the U.S. as "completely bogus, completely unjustified, completely false." (AP) Meanwhile, Trudeau wasnt the only leader the president ghosted amid tariff negotiations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum tried to call Trump Monday, but he refused to take it, the Journal reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the pair did speak recently, Trump revealed Thursday as he announced that most Mexican goods are exempt from his tariff plan for the next four weeks. I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. The Trump administrations special envoy to Ukraine and Russia said Thursday that Ukraine brought it on themselves in regard to the cutoff of intelligence sharing from the US. Thats a pretty major concession to Russia, to constrain Ukraines ability to target and hit Russian forces, CBS Margaret Brennan, who was moderating the conversation with Keith Kellogg at the Council on Foreign Relations, said of the cutoff on intelligence sharing. This pressure really seems to be directly impacting potentially what they can do on the battlefield. Very candidly, they brought it on themselves, the Ukrainians, Kellogg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN reported Wednesday that the Trump administration ordered at least a partial halt of intelligence sharing that was assisting Ukraine in its defense against Russias invasion. The administration has also paused shipping military aid to Kyiv following the deterioration of the relationship between the US and Ukraine, which was clearly on display in the heated argument in the Oval Office last week between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The cut-off of American military equipment will likely have devastating effects on Ukraines capabilities on the battlefield, and could leave civilians in Ukrainian cities vulnerable to Russian strikes. Asked what Ukraine will have to do to turn intelligence sharing and flow of military aid back on, Kellogg pointed to the proposed minerals deal between the US and Ukraine. The reason he came to the White House was to sign a document that was going to say this is us going forward its not signed, Kellogg said of Zelensky. My point would be, and my personal belief would be, you dont move forward until you get a signed document. Period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But hes offering is offering to do it, Brennan said. He is offering publicly at least to do it. Theres a difference between offering to do it and doing it, Kellogg replied. By the way this is not something that is unusual. When I was in Kyiv two weeks ago, I was very clear to President Zelensky the outcome if we didnt have a signed agreement, Kellogg later added. I was absolutely I was blunt, and clear, that this was a thing that could have happened. Asked during the CFR event what the impact of turning off intelligence sharing and military aid will have, Kellogg said, The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a 2x4 across the nose, you got their attention. He gave another example in which he compared talking to Ukraine how his two granddaughters try to get his attention when he strays in a conversation, by grabbing his face and telling him, Pop Pop, listen to me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to end this war, and this is one way to make sure you understand were serious about it, Kellogg said Thursday. So is it hard, of course it is, but its not like they didnt know this was coming. They got fair warning it was coming. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy on Ukraine and Russia, has stated that the Trump administration is taking a new approach towards Russia, which involves resetting relations between the two nations. Source: Kellogg in a report on ways to end the war in Ukraine at a discussion of the Council on Foreign Relations, as reported by European Pravda Quote from Kellogg: "There is also a broader strategy at play in President Trump's approach to this war. [It lies in] the realisation that the United States needs to reset its relations with Russia... Continued isolation and lack of engagement with the Russians as the war in Ukraine continued is no longer a viable or sustainable strategy," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Kellogg, the shift in the US approach is due to the human cost of the war, the need to reset relations with Russia to safeguard US national interests, and the desire to prevent the US from becoming entangled in an "endless proxy war". "So what you're seeing now and what you're witnessing are urgent efforts by the Trump administration to bring both sides to the table in order to get to a peace settlement," Kellogg said, adding that the administration will put pressure on both sides to do so. Discussing pressure on Russia, Kellogg referenced the sanctions currently imposed on Russia's shadow fleet involved in transporting Russian oil. He also mentioned that seizing Russia's frozen assets to aid Ukraine's recovery and applying maximum pressure on Russian energy are among the strategies Trump could use to intensify pressure on Russia. Background: Kellogg also believes that a spat between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the White House last week occurred because the two leaders have "objectives that were clearly not in alignment with one another" regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war. On 4 March, it was reported that Trump had decided to suspend all military aid to Ukraine, including supplies that were already en route. On 5 March, it was revealed that intelligence sharing with Ukraine, including information on Russian missile launches, had ceased. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! President Trump announced a new White House office to tackle US shipbuilding problems. It seems to be a priority for his administration. But shipbuilding issues run deep and won't be solved overnight. President Donald Trump said that he wants to see the US building a lot of ships very fast. To get there, he's taking on the military's shipbuilding problems, and that's no easy fix. During his address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, the President announced his goal to "resurrect the American shipbuilding industry," including both commercial and military sectors. That begins with a new office in the White House focused on shipbuilding, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We used to make so many ships," the president said. "We don't make them anymore very much, but we're going to make them very fast, very soon. It will have a huge impact to further enhance our national security." Details on the new initiative were few, though Trump did say that there will be tax incentives aimed at boosting domestic industry. The White House did not offer additional insight when reached by Business Insider. Trump's Tuesday announcement shows a desire to fix issues that have long plagued US shipbuilding. For the Navy, the challenges have led to serious cost overruns and delays. Details are few on what Trump's newly announced shipbuilding office will do and who will oversee it. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cat Campbell The industry needs a revitalization, especially as China steps up as a shipbuilding powerhouse, but the problems affecting it run deep. Officials in Washington, DC, the military, and the defense industry have long lamented the complexities of getting shipbuilding back on track. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz described American shipbuilding as an "absolute mess." Key to that assessment are substantial delays and soaring costs. A Navy review last year found that most of the service's top programs, such as critical submarines and surface ships, were years behind schedule and over budget. "One of the things that has held the nation back from building more ships is cost," Bryan McGrath, a defense and national security consultant and retired Navy commander, told BI. He said the Trump tariffs probably won't help that situation. But it's more than money. America's shipbuilding woes go back decades to the hollowing out of the industrial base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers, officials, government watchdogs, and experts have all pointed to the decline in shipbuilding after the Cold War, which shrunk domestic industry for both construction of new vessels and maintenance of current ones. Trump officials have identified fixing shipbuilding as a major priority, especially for the US Navy. Matt Hildreth/HII "If we threw a zillion dollars at the Department of the US Navy today, we couldn't build the ships because we don't have the industrial base. We've got to fix that," Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said last month. Trump officials and leadership picks have talked about some of the long-standing industry problems. During his confirmation hearing, the President's nominee for secretary of the navy, John Phelan, said shipbuilding was a top priority for Trump. He offered some suggestions for fixing shipbuilding issues, including ideas from the SHIPS Act, incentivizing the private sector to invest in shipyards, and attracting skilled workers to shipbuilding careers through competitive pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shipbuilding industry leaders have noted the workforce concerns. Tom Moore, senior vice president of government relations for Hudson Ingalls Industries, pointed last month to data showing the loss of seasoned workers over the past 30 years. He said that workers today may have only a fraction of the experience of their predecessors. Past Navy leaders have said there are lessons to be learned from foreign shipyards, like those in Japan and South Korea. In his speech, Trump said he would "bring this industry home" without elaborating on specifics. A number of key questions remain about the White House's new plan and the Trump administration's efforts to fix American shipbuilding. US Navy Though the effort to revitalize US shipbuilding is generally welcomed, McGrath said the push to strengthen both commercial and naval shipbuilding simultaneously "strains credulity" because "trying to scale up to do more of both when there is insufficient workforce" likely won't work out well. He suggested focusing the effort on rebuilding the military shipbuilding industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An important factor in this discussion, however, may be the administration's broader policies. "At the end of the day," McGrath said, "building the Navy the nation needs is going to be a very expensive undertaking." If the Trump administration's shifting worldview changes what's needed from the Navy, "then all this talk of a larger Navy is noise and wasteful," he said. Readying the Navy to meet the challenges posed by China does appear to be a priority and in line with Trump's "peace through strength" agenda. The Navy has a 30-year shipbuilding plan that is focused on growing its battle force of 296 crewed ships to 381 by 2045. The Congressional Budget Office estimates this will cost the Navy about $40 billion annually. Read the original article on Business Insider President Donald Trump warned his Cabinet that Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency staffers cannot fire workers without their permission. Trump gathered his department heads Thursday afternoon and told them that they can be very precise with the billionaire and his team as to who will remain and who will go as DOGE continues to gut the federal government. The SpaceX CEO, who is participating in DOGE as a special government employee, was also at the meeting as the newly-formed department faces resistance from the courts and from Democrat and Republican lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just had a meeting with most of the Secretaries, Elon, and others, and it was a very positive one, Trump posted on Truth Social. Its very important that we cut levels down to where they should be, but its also important to keep the best and most productive people. Trump said that he has instructed his Cabinet to work with DOGE on cost-cutting measures and staffing, but added the caveat: As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments, they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go. Elon Musk, pictured at a previous Cabinet meeting, was in attendance when Donald Trump told department heads they make the decisions over firings (AFP via Getty Images) We say the scalpel rather than the hatchet. The combination of them, Elon, DOGE, and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level, the president added. Trump told reporters after the meeting that he wants Cabinet to keep good people and doesnt want to lose talent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said, I want the Cabinet members go first, keep all the people you want, everybody that you need. I want them to do the best job they can, where we have good people, those that's precious, that's very important, Trump said. He added a warning: We want them to keep the good people, and so we're going to be watching them, and Elon and the group are going to be watching them. And if they can cut, it's better. And if they don't cut, then Elon will do the cutting. The meeting follows backlash from some department leads who instructed their staff to ignore emails mandated by Musk via the Office of Personnel Management, demanding they respond with five things they accomplished at work during the week or face termination. Trump said that he has instructed his Cabinet to work with DOGE but that they call the shots over firings (AFP via Getty Images) Musks ultimatum caused chaos. The CIA, the State Department, the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services responded by telling staff to ignore the emails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The email request was utterly trivial, as the standard for passing the test was to type some words and press send! the DOGE boss fumed last month. Yet so many failed even that inane test, urged on in some cases by their managers. He spurred on his followers by asking: Have you ever witnessed such INCOMPETENCE and CONTEMPT for how YOUR TAXES are being spent? The latest to be hit by the federal job cuts is the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will lose over 80,000 jobs from the sprawling agency that provides health care for retired military members. The VA's chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, told top-level officials at the agency that it had an objective to cut enough employees to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000. That would require terminating tens of thousands of employees after the VA expanded during the Biden administration, as well as to cover veterans impacted by burn pits under the 2022 PACT Act. (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump warned Hamas there will be hell to pay if the militant group doesnt immediately release its hostages in Gaza. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump issued the caution in a social media post Wednesday that followed a rare direct meeting between a US official and Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the US and other nations. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, Trump said. The president, who met earlier in the day with freed hostages, said he was sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job and warned that not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say. He also told the Hamas leadership to depart Gaza while you still have the chance. Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER! Trump wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps threats only encourage Israel to evade its obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement that the US, Qatar and Egypt brokered, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Bloomberg News. Hamas has fulfilled its obligations in the first phase, while Netanyahus government is avoiding entering negotiations for the second phase, he said. The US administration must pressure the occupation to proceed with the second phase as stipulated in the agreement. The ultimatum from Trump came after Adam Boehler, nominated to be special presidential envoy for hostage affairs at the State Department, met with Hamas representatives in Doha, according to a person familiar with the situation. When it comes to the negotiations that youre referring to, first of all, the special envoy whos engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday when asked about the reported talks. Israel was consulted on this matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting, reported earlier by Axios, comes as Israel and Hamas explore extending their six-week ceasefire, which expired Sunday. Israel has warned it will return to fighting if Hamas doesnt release the remaining hostages seized on Oct. 7, 2023. (Updates with Hamas response starting in sixth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The News US President Donald Trump warned Hamas that it is over if it fails to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza, after reports emerged that the militant group had held secret talks with Washington. The talks between US hostage affairs envoy Adam Boehler and Hamas represent a break with a decades-long tradition that sees the US avoid direct negotiations with groups it designates as terrorist organizations. Hours after Washington confirmed the negotiations Trump posted a stark warning on Truth Social saying I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say, he wrote, adding that this was the last warning and if it didnt comply there would be hell to pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Israel had been consulted on the talks. Israel does not directly consult with Hamas. It comes as doubts grow that a temporary ceasefire, which expired on Saturday, will be renewed. Israel has blocked aid into Gaza in an attempt to pressure Hamas. Meanwhile, Arab leaders this week presented a counter-proposal to Trumps plan to turn Gaza into a Riviera of the Middle East, which was rejected by Washington. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was working with Republicans in the House of Representatives on a continuing resolution to fund the government until September. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Government funding runs out next week. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday that he wanted to pass a "clean" stopgap funding measure to keep federal agencies operating at current spending levels through September and leave proposed cuts for legislation for the next fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson said on Tuesday that the text of a continuing resolution to keep the government funded, averting a partial government shutdown, would come out at the end of the week, according to Punchbowl News. KEY QUOTES "I am working with the GREAT House Republicans on a Continuing Resolution to fund the Government until September to give us some needed time to work on our Agenda," Trump said in a post on social media on Wednesday. "Conservatives will love this Bill, because it sets us up to cut Taxes and Spending in Reconciliation, all while effectively FREEZING Spending this year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CONTEXT Johnson has dispelled the notion that cuts identified by billionaire Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which Democrats vehemently oppose, could be included in a continuing resolution intended to avert a partial government shutdown when current funding expires on March 14. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Sandra Maler and Leslie Adler) Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East, has confirmed that negotiations between the Ukrainian and US delegations regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war will take place next week in Saudi Arabia. Source: Sky News, as reported by European Pravda Details: Witkoff, who is officially responsible for Middle East affairs but has previously participated in talks with the Russians, stated that the meeting with Ukraine is being prepared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welcoming the signal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Donald Trump following their disastrous meeting at the White House last week, Witkoff called it a "positive first step". He also mentioned that while the meeting is being planned in Riyadh, it could potentially take place in Jeddah. "The city is moving around a little bit, but it will be Saudi Arabia," he added. Witkoff stated that Washington is working on defining the framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire for Ukraine. A Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously to AFP, stated that Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, will lead the Ukrainian delegation, which may also include Defence Minister Rustem Umierov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the US side, media reports indicate that the participants will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff. Axios reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 March. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! For more than a century, Fort Bennings name honored a Confederate general who supported slavery. The military changed the name of the Army base in Georgia two years ago, but now the Trump administration is set on restoring the familiar one this time for a different Benning. The new namesake is Fred Benning, a Nebraska native awarded the military's second-highest honor for his battlefield courage as an 18-year-old corporal in 1918, near the end of World War I. The military noted that he later served as mayor of the small Nebraska town of Neligh, but it did not mention that he ran a bakery, opted to have his Distinguished Service Cross mailed to him rather than presented at a military ceremony and didn't discuss his wartime experiences once home. He died in 1974. Federal law now bars the military from returning to honoring Confederates, but the move restores a name known by generations of soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honoring a soldier from the Army's lower ranks echoes President Donald Trump's anti-elite appeals to working-class voters. Still, the circumstances of the change and a similar one for North Carolina's once-and-future Fort Bragg have skeptics wondering whether their new namesakes are receiving much of an honor. But Fred Benning deserves recognition, said Andrew Orr, a professor and director of the Institute for Military History at Kansas State University. Benning was part of American assaults on the toughest German defenses by soldiers who fought to take trenches and to hold them, often hand-to-hand and under clouds of poison gas, he said. If you're the town that Benning was the mayor of, claim it, Orr said in an interview Thursday. What you can do is try and fight back against the stealing of his name by emphasizing this guy earned it. Renaming bases, again Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military renamed Forts Benning and Bragg, both established in 1918, as part of a broader effort by Congress to strip the names of Civil War rebels from military posts, roads, buildings and landmarks following protests over the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Trump, then nearing the end of his first term, opposed renaming the military bases. In 2023, the base named for Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning became Fort Moore to honor the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia, for his storied military service and her advocacy for notifying families of war casualties in person rather than by telegram. The base named for Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg became Fort Liberty and is now renamed for Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II paratrooper from Maine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last month that reverting to the previous names was about connection to the community, and that 2023 changes eroded the bases' legacies. Honoring one soldier in a highly decorated regiment Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benning was among more than 150 fellow soldiers who received the Distinguished Service Cross for their service in the 16th Infantry Regiment during World War I. Steven Clay, an Army veteran in Leavenworth, Kansas, and historian of the association dedicated to preserving the 16th Infantry's legacy, disagreed with removing Confederate generals' names from bases, and he questioned why Fred Benning should receive such a high honor. Clearly the motivation is the name, Clay said. Its not to denigrate what he accomplished. But I think the intent is that a lot of old soldiers like me like the name Benning. Fred Benning settled in Neligh, Nebraska, and married in 1926, records and newspaper stories showed. Neligh is about 150 miles (241 kilometers northwest) of Omaha and now has about 1,500 residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benning and his wife had two children, one of whom died in infancy. Their second child, a daughter, died in California in 2013. Phone messages left for people who appeared to be surviving relatives in Colorado and Nebraska were not returned. Until this weeks announcement, even some longtime Neligh residents didnt know much of Benning's story. His portrait in a City Hall display for Neligh's mayors shows a clean-shaven, middle-aged man wearing a business suit. I think its great, Mayor Joe Hartz, a 45-year resident, said of the honor. There are a lot of people who come and go in our community, and sometimes you dont know what their history is. A small-town Nebraska boy enlists at 17 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benning was just 17 when he enlisted in the Army in April 1917, joining a machine gun company, according to reports at the time in The Daily News in nearby Norfolk, where he grew up. At age 18, he had been over the top many times, into the deadly space between opposing trenches, according to the Daily News. Orr said American troops were advancing over a sea of their own dead. The announcement of Benning's honor said he took command of his platoon in October 1918 after its commander was killed and led its 20 survivors through heavy fire. Later, he didn't talk about his experiences. In 1928, The Norfolk Press caught up with him in Neligh and reported he was so busy making good in his bakery that he wouldn't discuss his wartime service, adding, Most of the fellows who did the real fighting dont talk about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building up a bakery and serving as mayor Benning and his bakery popped up in small news items over the years. He led the local American Legion Post and Chamber of Commerce and helped plan for a new hospital. In 1948, Benning ran for mayor, won easily and was reelected without opposition two years later. Before he decided not to run again in 1952, the city started trash collection for $1 a month and improved its sewers, streets and water system. At one memorable City Council meeting, the Neligh News reported Benning was examining the city night watchman's defective .38-caliber revolver. Unaware that it was loaded, he pulled the trigger. A bullet clipped another council member's finger and lodged in a wall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benning sold his bakery and retired in 1965. While Orr believes the Trump administration is appropriating Benning's service to score a political point, he said Neligh should respond with pride and say, We remember him, and were going to make it all about him regardless of why other people have done it. ___ Associated Press Writers Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, and Lolita Baldor, in Washington, D.C., contributed reporting. Cancer. Diabetes. Sickle cell. Cystic fibrosis. Thanks to decades of research funding from the National Institutes of Health, people suffering from these and countless other debilitating diseases live longer, healthier lives. Its estimated that 99% of medications approved in the 2010s were supported by NIH-funded research. Breakthrough treatments created by pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly & Co. are built on foundational studies funded by the NIH. If youve been to the doctor and received treatment, that treatment was very likely built on NIH-supported research. Opinion: DOGE fired me. I'll be fine, but America is in trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NIH is a powerful engine of American ingenuity and productivity. NIH funding has incredible returns: beyond lives saved, every research dollar spent generates about $2.50 in economic activity. Indiana is a major beneficiary of NIH funding. In 2023, NIH grants generated $1.1 billion in economic activity in Indiana and supported 5,359 jobs such as mine as a researcher at Ball State University. My lab has been funded by the NIH for over a decade. We study how cells handle the kind of molecular garbage that piles up in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases (like what my grandmother Marmee suffered with). With NIH funds, my team recently discovered that a microscopic protein motor helps cells destroy molecular garbage. Our NIH-supported work could lead to improved treatments and longer, healthier lives for people with dementia-related diseases. In addition, my lab trains Indianas biomedical workforce. Many students who conduct research in my NIH-funded lab go on to work in industry labs (like those at Eli Lilly) and academic institutions, where they perform groundbreaking research that improves the health of Americans. However, beginning January 27, a series of executive actions froze virtually all new federal grants, effectively grinding NIH-funded research to a halt. These cuts will be devastating to the economy and life-saving research conducted by scientists in Indiana. While the initial executive order has been challenged in court, the administration has found procedural loopholes to stop new life-saving research funding from being distributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This blockade not only prevents the ability to pay for lab personnel salaries and research supplies, but it also cuts funds for research support staff, administrative and maintenance staff, IT, libraries, facilities and equipment upkeep, and more. These people and resources are essential to sustaining life-saving and economy-boosting research. Gutted NIH funding will lead to hiring reductions and freezes (making it more difficult and dangerous to conduct research) and rapid deterioration of state-of-the-art scientific facilities. If NIH funding reductions are made permanent, some universities will likely stop supporting the submission of NIH grants altogether, resulting in the shuttering of entire research programs, loss of jobs, and a failure to make life-saving discoveries. Dominoes are already falling. Some institutions have enacted hiring freezes. Several graduate programs have paused PhD student admissions. Federally funded summer internship programs that launch young scientists careers have been canceled, and impactful programs and grants that reduce barriers to participation in STEM have been frozen. I know of multiple promising students who have questioned their decisions to pursue scientific careers. We are on the verge of losing a cohort of transformative young scientists. They are amazing my colleagues and I teach them in our classes and mentor them in our research labs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If NIH funding is not soon restored, careers will end, labs will close, and life-saving discoveries will not be made. The sledgehammering of NIH funding will derail American biomedical science for a long, long time. Eric VJ Rubenstein is the Thomas E. and Karen Bumb Lauer Distinguished Professor of Natural Sciences and Professor of Biology at Ball State University, where NIH funding to his lab has supported 20 peer-reviewed biomedical scientific publications and the training of 60 early-career scientists. Rubenstein is a member of the Ball State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NIH funding treats cancer, diabetes. That's over, for now. | Opinion WASHINGTON Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Donald Trumps pick to lead the National Institutes of Health, on Wednesday appeared to be open to funding new studies investigating links between vaccines and autism a theory that has been debunked by decades of research. Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor of medicine, said during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that he doesnt generally believe theres a link between vaccines and autism. However, he didnt rule out devoting funding to new research, noting the wide public distrust of vaccines and the fact that scientists still dont know whats causing rising autism rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would support a broad scientific agenda, based on data, to get an answer to that, Bhattacharya said. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya appeared before the Senate Help, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for his confirmation hearing to be NIH director. His response appeared to rankle the committee chair, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La, who spoke about fears from public health experts that the government might direct resources toward a new study. In recent days amid a measles outbreak in West Texas that has led to at least 159 cases, mostly in unvaccinated children Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suggested that vaccination against measles is important but has stopped short of fully endorsing it, instead doubling down on supplements like vitamin A and cod liver oil, which do not prevent infection. (Cassidy, who is also a physician, was a key vote in support of Kennedys confirmation last month.) A link between vaccines and autism has been exhaustively studied and would be a waste of NIH resources, Cassidy said. If we continue to plow the barren ground of something that has already been validated multiple times, that there is not a connection between vaccination and autism, we dont have the money to go after the real thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If were p---ing money away over here, thats less money that we have to go after the true reason, he added. NIH resources were a common topic during Bhattacharyas hearing. The agency has a budget of nearly $50 billion and is the largest funder of biomedical research in the world. In February, the Trump administration suspended NIH reviews of new grant applications, preventing it from funding new research, and adopted a policy that reduced indirect funding to universities. Experts say they fear the moves could upend progress in developing lifesaving treatments. I am deeply concerned about the funding there and the research that has been stopped, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., told Bhattacharya, adding that she wants strong assurances that he would get that moving again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., asked him, If confirmed, will you commit to reversing funding freezes at NIH? Bhattacharya sidestepped those questions he said he wasnt involved in those decisions, as he hasnt yet been confirmed to lead the NIH but said that he would look into it. Im going to assess it Day 1, he said. Im going to understand the resources the whole NIH needs and make sure that the scientists working at NIH have resources to do the lifesaving work that they do and that the scientists that are supported by the NIH also have that. Bhattacharya also vowed to make advances in treatments for chronic diseases like obesity, saying the goal of the NIH is to make Americans healthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has said tackling chronic diseases is one its major focuses. I dont have the answer on how to solve the obesity crisis, he said. But I want to make sure the research out there has the support of the NIH. Lawmakers like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called out what he described as wasteful spending, referring to an old federally funded study that involved putting shrimp on a treadmill. Bhattacharya appeared to be open to only funding studies where the impact on Americans is clear. I think you want to make sure studies are focused on the diseases that are hurting Americans, [like] obesity, Paul said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a lot of preclinical research, which is carried out before studies are run in humans, can seem unrelated to where it leads. For example, studies of the venom of a giant lizard called a Gila monster led to the development of the blockbuster GLP-1 drugs, now used for weight loss and diabetes. Bhattacharya said he doesnt support further job cuts when questioned about billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiencys initiative to reduce federal spending across the federal government. I dont have any intention to cut anyone at the NIH, Bhattacharya said. Republican lawmakers also appeared to use the hearing as an opportunity to air out grievances about the Biden administrations response to the Covid pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bhattacharya became a polarizing figure during the pandemic due to his opposition to Covid lockdowns. He was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, a letter that argued for letting the virus spread among young, healthy individuals at lower risk of severe illness or death, while protecting older people at higher risk, with the goal of reaching herd immunity. Transparency and trust is going to have to be earned again, said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Most people in this country dont know what NIH stands for, but now they do because of Covid. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, has stated that the idea of returning to the so-called Istanbul agreements, suggested by Trump's envoy Steven Witkoff, is not the official position of the Trump administration. Source: remarks by Kellogg during a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations, as reported by European Pravda Details: When asked whether the Istanbul protocol was something he was working with to achieve peace between Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg responded: "No." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commenting on Witkoffs proposal to use the Istanbul agreements as a framework for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg said he does not see them as a fair departure point, as they were negotiated only 30 days after Russia's full-scale invasion. Quote: "The demands in Istanbul were fairly significant on a very weakened Ukraine. And heres what, I will agree with what Steve said. Steve said its a departure point I dont believe for all of us that its an equitable framework. I think that we have to develop something entirely new. You can start from this position if you want it with the Russians. But that is going to be something up to the negotiation teams going forward." More details: Kellogg added that Witkoffs proposal was merely his own comment and not the official position of the Trump administration. Background: Earlier, Ukraines Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stated that the US has not officially proposed that Ukraine return to the so-called Istanbul agreements for a "peaceful settlement". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, believes that a spat between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the White House last week occurred because the two leaders have "objectives that were clearly not in alignment with one another" regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war. Source: European Pravda; Kellogg in a report on ways to end the war in Ukraine at the Council on Foreign Relations discussion Details: Kellogg suggested that the tension between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Trump during the Ukrainian leader's visit to the Oval Office last week arose from the contrasting goals of the two administrations becoming clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that Zelenskyy tried to convince the US president to continue to support Ukraine so that it could gain an advantage over Russia. "President Zelenskyy clearly wanted President Trump to side publicly with the United States against Russia. President Trump, however, was not approaching it as a matter of one side gaining an advantage over the other. But was instead focused on peace," Kellogg said. Kellogg also noted that defining the war in Ukraine as having a winner or a loser would only drag America into an endless proxy war, a development President Trump does not want. Background: Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Four senior members of U.S. President Donald Trump's team held secret discussions with political opponents of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Politico reported on March 6, citing three undisclosed Ukrainian lawmakers and a Republican foreign policy expert. Trump's allies reportedly held talks with Yuliia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister and head of the opposition Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, and high-ranking members of the European Solidarity party of ex-President Petro Poroshenko. The news comes after Trump lambasted Zelensky as a "dictator without elections" and publicly berated him in the Oval Office on Feb. 28, underscoring the growing pressure against the Ukrainian president from Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's push for a quick settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war saw him adopt Moscow-aligned positions while pressuring Kyiv by cutting off crucial military aid and intelligence sharing. In recent weeks, the White House has echoed the Kremlin's false narrative about Zelensky's illegitimacy, referring to the fact that Ukraine did not hold elections last year. The Ukrainian Constitution does not permit elections under martial law, and critics pointed out difficulties in organizing elections during an all-out war, such as the possibility of voting for front-line soldiers and refugees. Trump also falsely claimed last month that Zelensky's approval rating has dropped to 4%. While Zelensky's popularity was steadily declining throughout 2024, the White House fallout and mounting pressure from Washington seem to have boosted his support. According to a survey by the British pollster Survation, carried out between Feb. 25 and 27, Zelensky leads in the polls with 44%. He is followed by former Commander-in-Chief and Ambassador to the U.K. Valerii Zaluhnyi who has not publicly confirmed presidential ambitions at 21%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poroshenko came third with 10%, while Tymoshenko scored only 6%, signalling slim chances of beating Zelensky in the election. After the televised quarrel last week between Zelensky, Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, several top U.S. officials publicly suggested that Ukraine's president should step down if he is not "ready for peace." While Tymoshenko and Poroshenko publicly spoke out against holding elections under martial law, Politico reported that they are positioning themselves as more flexible partners for the U.S. than Zelensky. When approached by the outlet, their parties did not confirm talks with the U.S. Read also: Kyiv, not Kiev How Ukrainians reclaimed their capitals name Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Duane Keffe D Davis, February 2025 (John Locher-Pool/Getty Images) Duane Keffe D Davis has given his first major interview since being arrested and charged, in 2023, with first-degree murder in connection with the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur. Speaking with ABC News, Davis said hes innocent and that he aint killed nobody. Davis also expressed remorse in giving interviews and writing about Shakurs death, claiming that he did so to make money. Find the ABC News video below. Davis has not been accused of shooting Shakur. Instead, Nevada prosecutors claim that the former gang leader was the ringleader of the group that shot the rapper in a drive-by shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis is the only suspect ever to have been charged in connection with Shakurs death, and he has pleaded not guilty to murder. Davis attorney, Carl Arnold, has also sought to have the case dismissed, arguing that his client never should have been charged with a crime due to prior immunity agreements. Davis trial is due to begin on Monday, February 9, 2026. Originally Appeared on Pitchfork ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey's armed forces have killed 26 Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria in the week since jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan's disarmament call, the defence ministry said on Thursday. Ocalan last week called on his outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to lay down its arms and dissolve, and the militant group declared an immediate ceasefire on Saturday. "The Turkish Armed Forces will continue its operations and search-scanning activities in the region for the survival and security of our country," the defence ministry said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "(It) will continue its fight against terrorism with determination and resolve until there is not a single terrorist left," it added. The ministry said the PKK militants had been "neutralised" in Iraq and Syria, without specifying where the incidents took place. The ministry's use of the term "neutralised" commonly means killed. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies, said it was ready to convene a congress, as Ocalan urged, but the necessary security conditions should be established for him to "personally direct and run" it. The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara views as an extension of the PKK, has said Ocalan's message does not apply to them. The YPG is the spearhead of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a key U.S. ally against Islamic State in Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As in the call (by Ocalan), the PKK and all groups affiliated with it must end their terrorist activities, dissolve themselves, and immediately and unconditionally lay down their weapons," a defence ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters. Ocalan's message did not include a call for a ceasefire and the PKK's declaration of a ceasefire aims to sow confusion, the source added. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday Ankara would continue operations against the PKK if the group's process of disarmament was stalled or its promises were not kept. Erdogan's ruling AK Party spokesman Omer Celik said all Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria, including the U.S.-allied SDF, must lay down their weapons. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay, Writing by Huseyin HayatseverEditing by Daren Butler, Alexandra Hudson and Gareth Jones) ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey, with the second largest army in NATO after the United States, could contribute to a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, a Turkish defence ministry source said on Wednesday. "The issue of contributing to a mission will be considered if deemed necessary for establishing regional stability and peace, and will be assessed mutually with all relevant parties," the source told reporters in Ankara. Europe's main military powers Britain and France have already discussed deploying troops in a potential force to monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine after a future peace deal, while Washington has said it would not send Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine says any peace agreement would require a robust force on the ground to provide security guarantees; Moscow has rejected any deployment of NATO member forces, although U.S. President Donald Trump says he believes Russia might agree. The Turkish source, requesting anonymity, said discussions on a Turkish deployment remained conceptual, with no concrete decisions yet made. "The concept has not yet been clearly defined." If Turkey were to deploy troops, the source emphasised that a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia would first need to be declared, and initial deployments should involve non-combatant units to monitor the ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkish media reported last week that President Tayyip Erdogan had discussed a possible deployment with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during separate meetings in Ankara last month. Turkey has maintained cordial relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout their war, though it is historically a rival of Moscow, backing forces who defeated Russia's allies in Syria and Azerbaijan since 2023. Turkey has refrained from joining Western sanctions against Russia and has mediated past agreements between Kyiv and Moscow, such as a deal to allow Ukrainian exports of grain from the Black Sea. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Peter Graff) ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkish security forces have killed 26 Kurdish militants in the past week, the Turkish defense ministry said Thursday, even as the militants' imprisoned leader called on his group to disband and his fighters declared a ceasefire. A defense ministry statement said the militants were killed in military operations in areas including the north of Iraq and Syria. It did not provide details on the circumstances of the clashes. Our Turkish Armed Forces will continue its operations and its search-and-scan activities in the region for the survival and security of our country, the ministry said. It added the military would continue the fight against terrorism with determination until not a single terrorist remains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, declared a ceasefire in the 40-year insurgency against the Turkish government on Saturday, responding to a call to disarm by the groups leader, Abdullah Ocalan, on Feb. 27. Ocalans call and the PKKs declaration were part of an effort to end the conflict that was initiated in October by President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ally, Devlet Bahceli, who is the leader of Turkeys far-right nationalist party. Ocalan, who has been serving a life-term on a prison island off Istanbul since 1999, urged his group to convene a congress and take the decision to disband. The PKK has appealed for Ocalan to be released from prison, to personally direct and execute a congress. Meanwhile, the leader of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has said Ocalans call for a ceasefire does not apply to his group in Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Turkish government, however, says all Kurdish groups it claims are tied to the PKK whether in Turkey, Syria or Iraq must disband. Erdogan warned last week that Turkey would always keep our iron fist ready in case the hand we extend is left in the air or bitten. He said military operations would continue, if necessary. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has led to tens of thousands of deaths since it began in 1984. The ceasefire is the first sign of a breakthrough since peace talks between the PKK and Ankara broke down in the summer of 2015. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies. By Catarina Demony and Michele Kambas LONDON (Reuters) - The foreign minister of breakaway northern Cyprus said on Thursday an informal meeting of Greek and Turkish Cypriots called by the United Nations to discuss a way forward in breaking a deadlock between the two sides would lead nowhere. At the U.N. meeting, set to take place in Geneva from March 17-18, Greek and Turkish Cypriots will be joined by Turkey, Britain and Greece, but minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu said "not too much importance should be attached" to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The island of Cyprus was split by a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup, following years of sporadic violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots that began almost immediately after independence from Britain in 1960. Greek Cypriots seek a federal union of two ethnic zones, while a two-state deal advocated by Turkish Cypriots would imply recognition of the breakaway north, rejected outright by Greek Cypriots. Both sides have recently doubled down on their positions. "The Greek Cypriots want to use the opportunity (meeting) to... pick up the negotiation from where they were left off (in 2017)," Ertugruloglu told Reuters in an interview in London. "For us, it is an opportunity to reiterate how we see the way forward: two separate, sovereign, equal states." He added: "There is no likelihood of establishing a partnership with the Greek Cypriots so why bother? Why insist on a proven failure of a formula? It's our question to the United Nations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cyprus's President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday he was committed to resuming reunification talks with Turkish Cypriots, and said any deal should be based on U.N. resolutions. The conflict has long been on the agenda of the U.N., which has kept a peacekeeping force on the island since 1964. The most recent round of high-level peace negotiations, which collapsed in Switzerland in 2017, aimed to forge a federation, the formula defined in U.N. resolutions. "In the absence of a common ground, what can anybody realistically expect from this meeting in Geneva?" Ertugruloglu said. (Reporting by Catarina Demony in London and Michele Kambas in Nicosia; Editing by Alex Richardson) President Donald Trumps first address to Congress of his term drew an audience larger than three of those by his predecessor, Joe Biden, but also smaller than any from Trumps first term. According to Nielsen, 36.63 million people watched the 100-minute speech across 15 networks. Thats about 14 percent more viewers than Bidens final State of the Union last year (32.23 million viewers) on 14 cable and broadcast outlets. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The numbers fell short, however, of any address from Trumps first term. His four addresses to a joint session of Congress averaged 44.3 million viewers, with a low of 37.17 million in 2020. (The first speech to Congress of an incoming presidents term is not technically a State of the Union address.) The 15 broadcast and cable outlets airing the speech were ABC, CBS, CNN, CNNe, Fox, Fox Business, Fox News, Merit Street, MSNBC, NBC, Newsmax, Newsnation, PBS, Telemundo and Univision. Fox News led all outlets with 10.7 million viewers, well ahead of second-place ABC (6.33 million). CBS had 4.01 million viewers, followed by NBC at 3.91 million and the Fox broadcast network at 2.65 million. CNNs 1.93 million viewers just edged out MSNBCs 1.92 million. The remaining 5.18 million viewers were spread across the other nine channels. The audience for the speech skewed toward older viewers (as multi-network political broadcasts usually do). Nielsen says almost 71 percent of Tuesdays audience (about 25.91 million people) were 55 or older. About 7.52 million adults 35-54 watched the coverage, with only about 2.1 million adults 18-34 tuning in. That leaves roughly 1.1 million viewers ages 17 and under who watched the address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The largest audience in recent history for a State of the Union or address to Congress is 66.9 million viewers for the first one of Bill Clintons presidency in 1993. Bidens first speech to Congress in 2021 is the low at 26.94 million viewers. March 5, 3:27 p.m. Updated with ratings figures for individual networks. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Twenty countries could join Sir Keir Starmers plan to deploy peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement. British officials said the group of countries, made up largely of European and commonwealth partners, held a fresh round of talks over the strategy. Britain and France are leading efforts to form a so-called coalition of the willing prepared to put boots on the ground to uphold any agreement to end the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, held talks over the scheme and the need for new, substantial steps with Frances Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. We have an absolutely clear shared vision that real and lasting peace is possible through co-operation between Ukraine, all of Europe, and the United States, Mr Zelensky said. Mr Zelensky discussed how to achieve peace with Russia at the EU headquarters following his difficult White House visit - LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP Mr Macron and Sir Keir will hold their own talks on Friday following the discussions in the Belgian capital. Officials have refused to reveal the countries joining the broadening coalition, although several governments have publicly expressed their interest. Australia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkey have indicated they would be prepared to join a troop deployment in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bart De Wever, the Belgian prime minister, branded Donald Trump a real bully as he announced it would be logical to send troops. Canada, Denmark and Sweden have not ruled out taking part. Defence chiefs from the countries are set to meet in Paris next week to continue their discussions. Sources have indicated that not all governments involved in the talks are fully committed to supplying manpower, but want to play a role in the push for peace in Ukraine. Others, such as Poland, first want to secure commitments to boost defences on Natos Eastern flank. Ukrainian officials are likely to discuss the European strategy when they hold peace talks with their US counterparts in Saudi Arabia next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keir and Mr Macron have not ruled out making a joint trip to Washington to present their plan directly to Mr Trump. The Prime Minister was also said to be working closely with Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, on the plans. Ursula von der Leyen, right, and Antonio Costa, left, spoke with Mr Zelensky - CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK In Brussels, European Union leaders put on a united front in support of Mr Zelensky, after the US president cut the supply of weapons and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. They said their support for the war-torn nation would be enduring in a statement signed by 26 countries excluding Hungary, a Kremlin ally. Diplomats and officials managed to convince Slovakia to drop its own threat of a veto by promising to urge Ukraine to restart the supplies of Russian gas to the central European nation through its territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Volodymyr, we have been with you since day one, Antonio Costa, the European Councils president, told Mr Zelensky. We continue to be with you now, and we will continue in the future. Ukrainians are not alone The Ukrainian president went to great lengths to thank the EU for its support, in what appeared to be a riposte to JD Vance accusing him of not showing appreciation for American backing. It is very important that Ukrainians are not alone. We feel it and know it, he said after joining EU leaders for lunch. European leaders also agreed on plans to boost the blocs defence spending by up to 800 billion after the US signalled it would step away from its role guaranteeing the continents security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms von der Leyen set out plans for 650 billion to be freed up by excluding military expenditure from EU debt rules. She also proposed a 150 billion loan to buy new military equipment, such as air defence systems and missiles, for European armies. Some of the money could be channelled into Ukraines armed forces as part of a strategy to turn the country into a steel porcupine which is indigestible to a future Russian invasion. Mette Frederiksen, Denmarks prime minister, said the bloc had to spend, spend, spend on defence in light of Americas diminished role on the continent. That is the most important message, and at the same time, of course, continue to support Ukraine, because we want peace in Europe, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Tusk, Polands prime minister, said: I am convinced that Russia will lose this arms race just as the Soviet Union lost a similar arms race 40 years ago. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- Two Evansville men have been arrested following an investigation into a Wednesday night shooting on Rhode Island Drive. According to an affidavit, Jonah and Christopher Greenlee were arrested after a disagreement over a U-Haul blocking the roadway led to a shootout. Jonah Greenlee was struck in the leg during the exchange. Police were told Jonah Greenlee was the aggressor in the situation and was the first person to pull a gun and fire a shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both men were booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail. Jonah Greenlee faces charges of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon. Christopher Greenlee faces possession of a firearm and assisting a criminal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Lawmakers moved two bills forward on Wednesday that would reform Oklahomas Judiciary Nominating Commission. The 15-member commission has been responsible for vetting replacements for State Supreme Court Justices. The Houses version of the bill, House Joint Resolution 1024, would limit the number of years a person can serve on the commission, either elected or appointed. It would also remove political party affiliation restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill to make changes to citizen-led petitions passes committee Currently, the governor is required to appoint six members. No more than three can be from any political party, said House Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Anthony Moore (R-Clinton). So were removing that currently. Representative Andy Fugate (D-Oklahoma City) said that change was a sticking point for him. This particular change, unfortunately, is going to make this an even more partisan process, said Fugate. The last thing we need is partisan politics injected into our court system. Fugate was the lone no vote on the measure before it passed out of the Rules Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate version would give the Governor the power to make judicial appointments directly. The Senate would then have to confirm the picks, mirroring the federal process. I think its important to change this process because it brings more transparency to the process, said Sen. Brian Guthrie (R-Bixby). Currently, the JNC is meeting behind closed doors, bringing those nominations to the governor. In this process, itll be much more transparent. Talks on reforming the states Judiciary Nominating Commission have been going on since the last legislative session. Interim studies were held to review how the 15-member commission worked. It was put into place in 1967 to protect against political interference after scandals by several of the states Supreme Court Justices. Those for reforming the commission said change was necessary to modernize the process. Those against it said why change what has been working. I would argue that what we have today is the gold standard, said Fugate. Its intended to be a very nonpartisan process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both bills passed through the committee on Wednesday. They were joint resolutions, which would mean if the bills run through each side, the changes would have to go before voters because it is a constitutional amendment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. DETROIT (AP) Two Detroit children who recently died in a van in below-freezing temperatures were victims of carbon monoxide, not exposure to cold weather, authorities said Wednesday. Police had said that Darnell Currie Jr., 9, and Amillah Currie, 2, likely died from the cold while in an unheated vehicle on Feb. 10, though they cautioned that autopsies were pending at the time. The deaths occurred while their family didn't have a home. There were five children and two adults in a van parked in a casino garage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of death was carbon monoxide toxicity while the manner of death was accident, said Dr. LokMan Sung, the Wayne County medical examiner. The deaths caused Detroit officials to try to learn if the family had fallen through cracks in social services. The children's mother had called the city on Nov. 25 to say their temporary housing was about to end, but no one followed up and she didnt call back, Mayor Mike Duggan said. Duggan announced policy changes last week, including in-person visits with families reporting an imminent loss of housing, a 24-hour hotline and police checks of parked cars. This cannot ever happen again, he said. Belton, Tx (FOX 44) Two homes were destroyed and a third damaged as high winds pushed the flames in a Belton subdivision Wednesday morning. Firefighters were called out shortly before 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to the 5000 block of Fenton Lane in the Three Creeks neighborhood. Central Bell Fire and Rescue was listed as the primary department responding initially, with firefighters from the Belton, Nolanville, Temple, Harker Heights and Sparta Volunteers responding to assist. Bell County Fire Marsal Shane Geers said strong winds made fighting the fire particularly difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that none of the structures are safe to enter and a perimeter was set up around them and should not be crossed. In a statement released early Wednesday afternoon, Fire Marshal Geers said the official cause of the fire is under investigation. He remind all citizens that Bell County is under a burn ban and there should be no outdoor fires of any kind. He also called for being careful with cooking fires outside as these are allowed in protected areas and away from high winds and combustibles. Fire Marshal Geers said there were no injuries reported and due to multiple agencies coming together and working seamlessly in mutual aid, lth fires were contained and no other structures other than the three involved were in danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Red Cross was on the scene to assist those in need following the fires. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a two-vehicle crash that left two people dead earlier this week. According to a crash report, around 11:31 p.m. on March 4, troopers responded to the scene of a crash on US Highway 385, near mile marker 361. Investigators said the driver of a Chevrolet Malibu, identified as 20-year-old Emerald Neomi Carta, of Odessa, was traveling south in the southbound lane of US 385 and was struck head-on. Troopers said the driver of a Ford Explorer, identified as 33-year-old Jose C. Balderas Conteras, of Ballinger, was heading north in the southbound lanes for unknown reasons. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) House Republicans and the Democratic governor have both rolled out plans to fix Michigans notoriously bad roads. On paper, they have some similarities but it may be that neither ever come to fruition. In Lansing Thursday, Speaker of the House Matt Hall unveiled Republicans plan to fix local roads. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, issued her proposal last month. Whitmer rolls out $3B road funding plan, eyeing more cash from marijuana, companies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans plan calls for all tax money collected at the pump to go to roads. The governor has said the same. But diverting all that revenue to roads means that some allocated dollars, including to education, would have to come from somewhere else. Hall said the money for schools would get made up but in a release did not specify from where it would come. The Republican plan would take a billion dollars out of a favorite project of the governors: economic development and incentives. The governors plan would tax corporations specifying big tech to fund the roads, but she hasnt explained what that tax would look like. Both the governor and House Republicans want to find areas within the budget to cut spending, but the two sides would have to agree on what spending is expendable. That could be a long negotiation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans also say they would rely on higher-than-expected tax revenues of about $600 million, though its not entirely clear those dollars would be ongoing. Business leaders criticize Whitmers proposed taxes for roads All this means there is agreement that local roads need to be fixed. There is not an agreement on how to do it. In her State of the State address last week, Whitmer said it would take a combination of cutting spending and more taxes. The Republican plan mentions no new taxes and many traditional Republican constituencies have been critical of that part to the governors idea. This may be where this conversation starts, but where it ends is anyones guess. Do these talks occur simultaneously with the current budget negotiation and are the two intertwined? If they are, it almost certainly slow down the process of getting the budget done the July 1 date imposed by statute and could make even the constitutional deadline of Sept. 30 a stretch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Two 14-year-olds are facing criminal charges in connection with the shooting of an Akins Early College High School student earlier this week, officials said at a news conference Thursday. The shooting occurred in the early afternoon Tuesday at a bus stop in the 10700 block of South First Street near the Akins campus. When police officers arrived, they found a 17-year-old male student with one gunshot wound to his back, said Austin Police Department Detective Bryan Pietrowski, who investigates aggravated assaults. Pietrowski said detectives were able to quickly track down the two 14-year-old perpetrators based on witness descriptions. They were located within a mile of the bus stop and one was armed with a gun, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim is in stable but critical condition, Austin-Travis County EMS spokeswoman Christa Stedman said. While he was in "serious" condition just after the shooting, Stedman said he was "alert and talking" during transport to a local trauma center. Law enforcement is not releasing the identities of the victim or the alleged perpetrators because all are underage. Investigators determined the 17-year-old victim had been in a verbal altercation with one of the 14-year-olds prior to the shooting, Pietrowski said. One of the juveniles is facing a charge of aggravated assault and the other a charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon, Pietrowski said. Both are being held at the Gardner Betts Juvenile Center, he said. While authorities declined to identify the youths, citing state and federal protections against the identification of minors, Austin school district police chief Wayne Sneed said one of the alleged perpetrators had "a little bit of history" with school district police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the alleged perpetrators was a current Akins student and the other was a former Akins student, he said. In response to the shooting, the campus was placed on hold for about two hours on Tuesday, which meant that hallways were cleared and students and staff were kept inside classrooms with no one allowed to enter or leave the school, according to a letter distributed by the Austin school district that day. Sneed said there was no indication the gun used in the shooting had been on the school campus but that Akins would see an enhanced police presence for the immediate future. "Safety is our top priority," Sneed said. "We are constantly evaluating our methods, the standards and protocols that we have in place to make sure that they're current with current practices in our nation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Austin Police Department at 512-974-8477. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Teens charged in connection with shooting near Akins High in Austin Two teenagers were shot near James Monroe High School on Thursday morning after they were approached by five suspects at a bus stop, police said. The shooting prompted the North Hills campus to go on lockdown as Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the scene. The shooting was reported at 9:30 a.m. at a bus stop near Nordhoff Street and Orion Avenue, where two boys, between the ages of 15 and 16 years old, were waiting for a bus, said LAPD Officer Drake Madison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two victims were approached by five suspects and shot, Madison said. The suspects were seen fleeing west from the scene, while the victims fled east. The two teenagers were taken to a nearby hospital and are stable, Madison said. The victims have been uncooperative in the investigation, he said, and a description of the suspects was not available. Los Angeles Unified School District officials sent an alert to parents informing them of the lockdown, which has since been lifted. "Los Angeles School Police was called to our campus after individuals off-campus sustained injuries," the alert read. "Our campus is safe and open for instruction." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. March 5 (UPI) -- Hayden Haynes, chief of staff for U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was cited for suspicion of driving under the influence following President Donald Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday night. Capitol Police reported a driver backed into a parked vehicle at 11:40 p.m. EST near the Capitol and was arrested, cited and released, CBS News, Politico and NBC News reported. Capitol Police did not identify the motorist, but Johnson's office confirmed Haynes is the suspected DUI offender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The speaker is aware of the encounter that occurred last night involving his chief of staff and the Capitol Police," Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee told media. "The speaker has known and worked closely with Hayden for nearly a decade and trusted him to serve as his chief of staff for his entire tenure in Congress," Haulsee said. "Because of this and Hayden's esteemed reputation among members and staff alike, the speaker has full faith and confident in Hayden's ability to lead the speaker's office." There was no threat to a Sun Country Airlines flight that diverted to El Paso because of a "security concern" Wednesday during a Minnesota-to-Mexico flight, the FBI said. Sun Country Airlines Flight 593 made the unscheduled stop in El Paso as it was traveling from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Mazatlan on Wednesday afternoon. The FBI responded and later determined there was no danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The investigation determined there was no threat to the safety of the passengers, flight crew or airplane," FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales said in a statement Wednesday night. There were 156 passengers on the plane, and they all deplaned without incident in El Paso. Sun Country Airlines said the plane diverted to El Paso out of an abundance of caution in response to a security concern," but a statement about the situation did not elaborate on the details. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Above: Report by FOX 5/KUSIs Zara Barker on the fishermen who rescued the Navy pilots after the crash SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Salvage and recovery operations for the jet that crashed in San Diego Bay were completed this week, according to a statement from the U.S. Navy Wednesday. We understand the impact this accident has had on our community, and we appreciate the communitys patience while we worked to safely and efficiently salvage the aircraft, the Navy said in its statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EA-18G Growler: What to know about the plane that crashed in San Diego Bay The local community was shaken to hear of the crash, which happened the morning of Feb. 12 near Shelter Island. Crews have attempted to recover the remains of the plane for the past three weeks. The Navy takes pride in our deep history here in San Diego and could not have completed the recovery without the support of our local partners, the Navys statement said. According to officials, the downed plane was an EA-18G Growler, a variant in the F/A-18 family of military aircraft that combines the F/A-18 Super Hornet with an electronic warfare suite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Growler was assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state. Both pilots, the only two people on the aircraft, were able to safely eject and were rescued by a fishing vessel shortly after being in the water. After the incident, the Coast Guard worked to re-enforce the safety zone around the crash site to keep other vessels away from the area. True heroes: Fishing crew rescues pilots after their jet crashes into San Diego Bay The recovery team consisted of members of the Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 3-8, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional Navy commands that assisted in the recovery effort included Amphibious Construction Battalion One, Navy Region Southwest, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southwest, Naval Safety Command, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, and Electronic Attack Wing Pacific as well as the U.S. Coast Guard. The investigation into what caused the crash is still ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. UK officials held talks on 5 March with representatives of about 20 countries interested in creating a "coalition of the willing". Source: UK government official, as reported by European Pravda, citing Sky News Details: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK and France are leading a project under which soldiers from a group of countries could be sent to Ukraine as peacekeepers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official did not say which other countries had expressed interest in providing support, but added: "It shows the willingness of the coalition of the willing to convene and the desire of a number of different countries to play their part." "This is still early stages and the situation is very fluid," the official added. Russia has said it will not accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine. Background: On 2 March, UK PM Keir Starmer confirmed plans for a "coalition of the willing" to enforce any peace deal on Ukraine, with London playing a key role in it. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The News Lawmakers from Britains ruling center-left party urged banks to reclassify some defense investment as ethical. The open letter from more than 100 Labour MPs and peers said corporate environmental, social, and governance requirements often wrongly exclude all defense investment as unethical, raising barriers for the industry and slowing military spending. Europe is scrambling to boost defense spending as the US changes its stance on Ukraine, with Germany rewriting its debt rules and France discussing expanding its nuclear deterrent. Ultimately, though, the Financial Times international politics commentator wrote, Europe must accept that its social security needs to be trimmed to make way for more military spending: The mission now is to defend Europes lives. How, if not through a smaller welfare state, is a better-armed continent to be funded? The United Kingdom has announced a deal with the Anglo-American defence technology company Anduril UK which will allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to obtain more advanced strike drones to counter Russian aggression in the Black Sea. Source: a statement by the UK government, as reported by European Pravda Details: The deal was agreed ahead of a meeting between UK Defence Secretary John Healey and his American counterpart Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new contracts, valued at nearly 30 million, involve the supply of Andurils latest drones, the Altius 600m and Altius 700m, which are designed for surveillance of the terrain prior to launching strikes on targets. Quote from Healey: "We are determined to achieve a secure, lasting peace in Ukraine, which means putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position to prevent any return to Russian aggression." Details: The work with Anduril UK has been led by Defence Equipment & Support the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the UK-managed International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). The Ukrainian Armed Forces are expected to receive the drones, launchers and spare parts in the coming months. Background: It was reported that the Latvian government has allocated 10 million for the production of Ukrainian drones. Norway has also announced that it is joining the drone coalition. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (Bloomberg) -- The UK and Ireland plan to share more data and slash red tape in a bid to boost energy security as thee two countries seek a tighter relationship after years of post-Brexit tension. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two nations are planning a new arrangements that would lay the groundwork for commercial developers to increase offshore energy by minimizing the burden of maritime and environmental consent processes. The move was announced Thursday at a meeting between Starmer and Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Liverpool as part of efforts to improve the relationship between the two countries, something the British premier has made one of his governments key objectives. The meeting came against a backdrop of European nations reckoning with how to secure their continent in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine potentially with weakened US support. It is and should be seen as a new era, I think for the UK and Ireland to work even more closely than ever and to cooperate across a range of issues, said Starmer in opening remarks at the summit outside Liverpool. That means making the most of the opportunities to boost growth, jobs and trade, but also working together on climate change, the energy transition, security, justice, education and defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Russias invasion of Ukraine three years ago, European countries have sought to increase domestic energy supplies after previously relying on imports of Russian gas. While neither had been particularly reliant on Russia gas, Ireland on Tuesday announced it would build an LNG facility to be used in energy emergencies. The leaders agreed to work together to mobilize on infrastructure plans in the Irish and Celtic Seas by providing a framework to remove barriers for private investors, according to a statement published after the summit. They committed to undertaking new joint initiatives on mapping the sea basin to boost resilience in UK and Irish waters, a move aimed at improving security there. Russian attack submarines have conducted missions around the Irish Sea twice since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg previously reported. The two nations have reset their relationship, Starmer added at the summit, saying they had turned the page on a turbulent few years. The meeting symbolizes how far relations between the UK and Ireland have come since the Brexit years, when close ties fractured over negotiating a solution to the Irish Sea border problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Brexit, trade between the two countries remains strong. The UK is Irelands second largest trading partner and Ireland is the UKs sixth largest. While there is uncertainty in relation to trade with the US, the UK and Ireland as an area is seen as a safe haven, and secure investment, said Martin after meeting with business leaders before the summit. (Updated comments and details in paragraphs four, five and six) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. KYIV - With the pausing of billions of dollars in U.S. military aid and of intelligence sharing with Ukraine, there are fears in the country that billionaire Elon Musks vital Starlink internet service could also be cut. Thousands of Starlink terminals are working on Ukraines battlefields. They serve as commanders eyes and ears, providing access to drone footage in real time and maintaining command and control communications across the sprawling front. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Front-line commanders are increasingly concerned that the military has grown too reliant on Starlink, a product of Musks SpaceX, and it could become the latest pressure point for the White House as it pushes Ukraine to engage in peace talks with Russia and sign a deal giving the United States access to its minerals. Musk has publicly denied reports that U.S. officials had implied Ukraine could lose access to Starlink if it refused to sign the mineral agreement, but across Ukraine, the armed forces and their allies are already considering their options. Losing Starlink would still be a major challenge, particularly for streaming live drone footage. Without it, large-scale streaming would be nearly impossible, said Taras Chmut, head of the Come Back Alive Foundation, a nonprofit that has provided thousands of Starlink terminals to Ukrainian forces. Ukrainians emphasize that Starlink is not just a military tool. In a country where power is intermittent and communication lines are often down, it has become a vital part of life for many civilians. Speaking at a forum on Feb. 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the service was used by thousands of hospitals, kindergartens, schools and universities and that there was no hint that the service would be stopped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The long-standing concern about the militarys deep reliance on the service was heightened over the past week after the Oval Office blowup between President Donald Trump and Zelensky and the subsequent restrictions the White House put on its support for Ukraine. Russians fight without [Starlink]. It is possible to fight without it, said Serhii Beskrestnov, a prominent Ukrainian communications expert and head of the Center for Radio Technologies. But undoubtedly, for us, it will be a significant loss. It will be difficult. - - - The Musk factor Musk has had an inconsistent stance on providing Starlink in Ukraine. After Russias invasion in February 2022, SpaceX provided a free Starlink connection to Ukraine, but by October, Musk was threatening to cut the service, citing the high costs. (He eventually sent the bill to the Pentagon.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that, the services use has deepened over the past year, paid for by Ukraines other allies. In December 2024, SpaceX expanded its involvement by signing another contract with the Pentagon to expand Ukraines access to a more secure, militarized version of Starlink, known as Starshield. The contract aimed to upgrade 2,500 terminals with a classified and encrypted signal that is more resistant to hacking and jamming. That was in addition to 500 terminals already connected to Starshield, which were provided under a deal reached in 2023. According to the Space Systems Commands Commercial Satellite Communications Office, both contracts provide internet connectivity to Ukraine through 2025, covering 3,000 terminals. The agreement was signed in August, before Trump won the presidential election, as President Joe Biden ramped up military assistance to bolster Ukraines position ahead of anticipated pressure from Trump to negotiate with Russia. Neither SpaceX nor the White House National Security Council responded to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vast majority of Starlink terminals in Ukraine are not provided by the United States. According to official estimates, Ukraine has secured 47,000 terminals since the war began in 2022. Of these, 24,500 were provided by Poland and 10,000 by Germany, and 5,000 were facilitated by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other donors, including SpaceX itself. Polands contributions alone account for half of all Starlink terminals in operation in Ukraine, highlighting the critical role of international partnerships in sustaining Kyivs communication infrastructure. The terminals are officially loaned to Ukraine, though there is little expectation that they will be returned. According to the Polish outlet Puls Biznesu, Polands expenses for Ukraines Starlink terminals and services amounted to $30 million last year. In 2025, they were expected to rise to $47 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk shutting off Ukraines Starlink access would spark a crisis between Poland and the United States, Polish Digital Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski warned during a European Council meeting in Warsaw. Terminating a corporate contract with an E.U. member state would trigger a big international relations crisis, he said. I cannot imagine a situation in which a business relation between Poland and a U.S. company would be suddenly interrupted. - - - Is that all there is? Andrii Kovalenko, a member of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, said that while Kyiv may be reliant on Starlink right now, there are alternatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022 and 2023, when I was a UAV operator, our dependence on Starlink was significant - both for imagery and overall communication, he said. However, disruptions occurred even before. The front line is now saturated with fiber-optic cables, high-speed modems and satellite options from Swedish and German providers, he added. Other soldiers agreed that there were alternatives but warned that disruption could still be significant. The issue is mobility and internet speed. Theres always a risk of terminal shutdowns, which is why we are looking into alternatives like radio relay stations, said a military communications chief near the eastern town of Pokrovsk, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. Even if Starlink goes offline, command and control will remain - though it would slow troop movement, especially during offensives. Speaking at the forum last month, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Ukraine was already working on alternatives to Starlink. The solutions already exist - there is an alternative, he said, without disclosing details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European officials have said they could fill the gap if Starlink were to withdraw. One possibility is to grant Kyiv access to Govsatcom, a government service that pools the use of satellites from European Union members. Eutelsat OneWeb, a London-based satellite operator, is seen as another potential alternative. Experts said they were not aware of any single satellite operator that could match Starlink, not only for the speed and breadth of coverage but also the ease of use and cost of equipment. OneWeb terminals that Ive seen are certainly bulkier and, more importantly, costlier than Starlink terminals, said Franz-Stefan Gady, a military analyst based in London. They are also not as widely available. You cant just flip the switch to the new service, said Clayton Swope, an aerospace expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. Ukraine could cobble together a patchwork system of providers, but even then, it would end up with something that was a dim reflection of Starlink, said Swope, who previously worked for Kuiper, an attempt to build a rival to Starlink by Jeff Bezoss Amazon. If I was Ukraine, I would do all I can to try and maintain that Starlink service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Ukrainians say what they fear most is not Starlink disconnection in Ukraine but connection in Russia. SpaceX is not permitted for use by the Russian military, but Ukrainian soldiers have said that some Russian units purchased on the black market have clearly improved Russian surveillance and command and control capability. If Trump removes sanctions on Russia, SpaceX may follow suit. This would open a huge market for SpaceX, allowing them to earn much more there than in Ukraine, said Beskrestnov, the Center for Radio Technologies leader. And this would hit us just as hard as a disconnection, as it would deprive us of a significant communication and data transmission advantage. - - - Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor reported from Washington. Related Content DOGE wants them gone but makes it hard for federal workers to move on NIH reels with fear, uncertainty about future of scientific research After Trump threats, Hong Kong firm to sell stake in Panama Canal ports Key developments on March 6: Ukraine, US delegations to meet next week, Zelensky announces Istanbul talks can't serve as basis for Ukraine-Russia peace deal, Kellogg says European air forces could protect Ukraine from Russian aerial strikes, experts suggest Ukraine working on alternatives to US intelligence, defense minister says US intelligence sharing pause affects Russian aerial strikes warnings, NYT reports Ukraine and U.S. delegations have resumed work and are scheduled to meet next week, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the Special European Council on March 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ukraine is not only ready to take the necessary steps for peace, but we are also proposing what those steps are," Zelensky said, expressing hope for a "meaningful" dialogue with U.S. officials. Senior White House Fox News Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich wrote on X that the talks are set for March 11 and will involve Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff. The U.S. delegation will reportedly include U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. "The idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well," Witkoff later said outside the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that discussions are ongoing to finalize the meeting's location, with Riyadh or Jeddah under consideration. According to Axios, the meeting will take place on March 12. The announcement follows rising tensions between Kyiv and Washington after a heated Oval Office exchange between Zelensky, Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Feb. 28. The dispute derailed a planned bilateral deal on Ukraine's natural resources and led to Trump freezing all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. An agreement on Ukraine's mineral resources remains stalled as Trump seeks a "bigger, better deal," CBS News reported on March 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House officials publicly indicated that Zelensky must issue an apology and demonstrate a commitment to peace talks for discussions to resume. On March 4, Zelensky called the White House clash "regrettable" and reaffirmed his willingness to work toward peace under Trump's "strong leadership." Waltz suggested on March 5 that Trump may lift the pause on military aid once peace negotiations are arranged and confidence-building measures are taken, Reuters reported. Read also: Regardless of Trumps Ukraine peace deal, war with West is foundational to Putins rule, experts say Istanbul talks can't serve as basis for Ukraine-Russia peace deal, Kellogg says The Istanbul talks can't serve as the basis for a Ukraine-Russia peace deal, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said on March 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Istanbul accords happened 30 days after the invasion, and the demands in Istanbul were fairly significant on a very weakened Ukraine," Kellogg said at the Council on Foreign Relations discussion. He described the agreements as a starting point for future negotiations but doubted they represented a fair framework for all parties. The Istanbul agreements refer to negotiations between Ukraine and Russia held in Turkey in late March 2022, which outlined potential terms for a peace deal. They included Ukraine adopting a neutral status, abandoning NATO aspirations, imposing military restrictions, and delaying negotiations over Russian-occupied Crimea's status for 10-15 years. Trump's envoy emphasized that conditions today differ significantly from those in 2022. He also noted that the Trump administration aims to reset U.S.-Russia relations, criticizing previous U.S. leadership for avoiding direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg's remarks follow U.S.-Russian talks in Istanbul on Feb. 27 and an earlier round in Riyadh on Feb. 18, which are part of Washington's push for a swift peace settlement. Trump expressed interest in meeting Putin, marking a stark departure from his predecessor, U.S. President Joe Biden, who had refused to engage with the Russian leader since the full-scale invasion began. Earlier, U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff suggested that the 2022 Istanbul agreements could serve as a foundation for a future Ukraine-Russia peace treaty. Despite his role as Trump's special envoy, Kellogg has been sidelined in recent peace efforts and excluded from both the Saudi and Turkish negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts suggest this may be due to his perceived pro-Ukraine stance and alleged Russian objections to his involvement. Read also: The war continues because of Russia Zelenskys full speech at European Council European air forces could protect Ukraine from Russian aerial strikes, experts suggest Military experts proposed to deploy European air forces to protect Kyiv and other non-front-line Ukrainian cities from Russian aerial attacks, the Guardian reported on March 6, citing the so-called Sky Shield plan. The plan could potentially work as part of the "truce in the sky" proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week, preventing missiles, long-range drones, and bombs from targeting civilian infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project's supporters said it could be a European-led air defense zone involving 120 fighter jets that will operate separately from NATO. According to the plan, developed by former British Air Force planners in cooperation with Ukraine's Armed Forces, the protection zone would cover Ukraine's three operational nuclear power plants, as well as the cities of Odesa and Lviv in Ukraine's south and west. The country's east, where the fierce battles are ongoing in Donetsk Oblast, was not included in the zone. According to the authors, this step can be more tangible than the deployment of ground troops as peacekeepers. In February, the Washington Post reported that up to 30,000 European troops could be deployed in Ukraine after a potential ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those who supported the Sky Shield plan are Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme commander in Europe, Polish ex-President Aleksander Kwasniewski, and Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's former foreign minister. European defense ministries have considered the plan, but their leaders have been reluctant to authorize patrolling Ukrainian skies while Russia's full-scale war is ongoing, the Guardian wrote. In light of the U.S. policy shift and suspension of military aid to Ukraine, the initiative can be revisited, the news outlet noted. Yet, Western partners still fear an escalation if an aircraft from either side is attacked or shot down. Russian forces regularly launch drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, inflicting heavy civilian casualties. A Russian missile strike against a hotel in Kryvyi Rih late on March 5, carried out shortly after the U.S. paused vital intelligence sharing, killed four people and injured over 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to figures released by Kyiv, U.N. statistics, and open-source data published by BBC Russia, the total death toll of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers, as well as Ukrainian civilians, stood at over 148,000 as of mid-February. Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Ukraine working on alternatives to US intelligence, defense minister says Ukraine has not yet received detailed information on U.S. intelligence-sharing restrictions but is already exploring alternatives, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on March 6, Interfax-Ukraine reported. "We are already working on alternatives, including requesting (assistance) from Germany if necessary," Umerov said at a press conference in Berlin, following talks with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Washington cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv on March 5, following its decision to freeze all military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to end Russia's war in Ukraine on U.S. terms. The intelligence cutoff threatens Ukraine's ability to track Russian military movements and detect aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Reports suggest the U.S. may have also prohibited allies like the U.K. from passing on intelligence obtained through American sources. U.S. officials have indicated the pause could be temporary and contingent on progress toward peace talks. France has continued to provide military intelligence to Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on March 6, according to BFM TV. European leaders are expected to discuss additional support for Ukraine and increased defense spending at an EU summit in Brussels on March 6. President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels for the emergency meeting, which was convened to address Europe's security strategy amid growing concerns over Washington's shifting foreign policy. Read also: He betrayed every one of us US soldiers in Ukraine speak out after Trumps military aid halt US intelligence sharing pause affects Russian aerial strikes warnings, NYT reports The U.S. pause on sharing intelligence with Kyiv affects warnings against Russian drones and missiles striking Ukrainian military and civilian targets, the New York Times reported on March 5, citing undisclosed U.S. and Ukrainian officials. The U.S. stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine on March 5, shortly after it froze all military assistance as part of an effort to pressure Kyiv into quick negotiations with Russia on U.S. terms. Russian forces regularly launch drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, inflicting heavy civilian casualties. A Russian missile strike against a hotel in Kryvyi Rih late on March 5, carried out shortly after the intelligence sharing pause, killed four people and injured at least 30. According to figures released by Kyiv, U.N. statistics, and open-source data published by BBC Russia, the total death toll of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers, as well as Ukrainian civilians, stood at over 148,000 as of mid-February. A senior Ukrainian official told the NYT that the pause in intelligence sharing would make it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to strike Russian targets. Kyiv still has access to other satellite imagery, they added. Valerii Kondratiuk, the former Ukraine's spy chief, said that intelligence sharing primarily involves the exchange of satellite images. While European companies have their own satellites, they are not focused on military movements, he added. Some unnamed U.S. officials voiced hope that any pause in intelligence sharing would be short and have little practical impact. A senior Trump administration official told the NYT the original plan was to suspend military and intelligence sharing for a week or two as part of a campaign to put pressure on President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the NYT, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has a "sizable presence" in Ukraine, with some of its officers deployed in the country to help Ukraine with targeting. The CIA has also helped set up at least three secret signals intelligence collection bases that Ukraine uses to intercept Russian communications to reduce their reliance on U.S. intelligence, the newspaper reported. Note from the author: Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine has not yet received detailed information on U.S. intelligence-sharing restrictions but is already exploring alternatives, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on March 6, Interfax-Ukraine reported. "We are already working on alternatives, including requesting (assistance) from Germany if necessary," Umerov said at a press conference in Berlin, following talks with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Washington cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv on March 5, following its decision to freeze all military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to end Russia's war in Ukraine on U.S. terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The intelligence cutoff threatens Ukraine's ability to track Russian military movements and detect aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Reports suggest the U.S. may have also prohibited allies like the U.K. from passing on intelligence obtained through American sources. U.S. officials have indicated the pause could be temporary and contingent on progress toward peace talks. France has continued to provide military intelligence to Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on March 6, according to BFM TV. European leaders are expected to discuss additional support for Ukraine and increased defense spending at an EU summit in Brussels on March 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels for the emergency meeting, which was convened to address Europe's security strategy amid growing concerns over Washington's shifting foreign policy. Read also: European air forces could protect Ukraine from Russian aerial strikes, experts suggest Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraines former top military commander warned that the US is destroying the worlds established order, delivering a sharp critique of Donald Trumps approach to Russia that risks hampering President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attempt to repair ties. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valerii Zaluzhnyi, a popular general whom Zelenskiy replaced last year, has been viewed as a potential contender to the wartime president in any future election. He is now Ukraines envoy to the UK. On Thursday, he broke with a penchant to keep a low profile, accusing the White House of jeopardizing the unity of the Western world and warned that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization may cease to exist. It is obvious that Washingtons non-recognition of the Russian Federations aggression is also a new challenge not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe, he told a security and defense conference hosted by Chatham House in London. Not only Russia and the axis of evil are trying to destroy the world order, but the United States is actually destroying it completely, the ambassador said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments may undercut Zelenskiys effort to ease relations with the Trump administration after a visit to the Oval Office last week descended into a shouting match with the US leader and Vice-President JD Vance. The US responded this week by cutting off military aid and some intelligence-sharing to Ukraine, undermining its war effort. The Trump administration has called on Kyiv to organize a presidential election, which the countrys constitutions prohibits under the martial law. Zaluzhnyi, known as the Iron General, remains one of Ukraines most popular political figures despite tensions with Zelenskiys office that contributed to his dismissal. He was the only figure to surpass Zelenskiy in a February public survey issued by Rating Group. While he didnt explicitly rule out a potential future run against Zelenskiy for Ukraines highest office when asked about his political ambitions at an event in Kyiv last month, he suggest the timing wasnt yet ripe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Ukraine has not yet received detailed information regarding the reported restrictions on intelligence sharing from the US, but the government is already working on alternative solutions. Source: Defence Minister Rustem Umierov at a press conference following talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin, cited by Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "Regarding intelligence data, we have not yet received detailed information on how it will be restricted, but we are already working on alternatives, including the possibility of requesting it from Germany if necessary." Background: Several reputable international media outlets, citing sources, have reported that the US has ceased intelligence sharing with Ukraine, including data on military targets and early warnings about Russian missile and drone launches targeting Ukrainian territory. Experts from the Institute for the Study of War believe that the suspension of intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine could significantly strengthen Russian aircraft, which has so far been constrained by Ukrainian strikes on military targets deep inside Russia. This could impact the course of hostilities by increasing both the frequency and effectiveness of Russian airstrikes. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ukraine is continuing to make good progress in implementing structural reforms, but its economic outlook remains exceptionally uncertain given its ongoing war against Russia's invasion, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said the war was taking a heavy toll on Ukraine's people, economy and infrastructure, although the country had shown continued resilience since Russia's 2022 invasion. The IMF last month forecast Ukraine's gross domestic product growth would ease to between 2% and 3% in 2025 from an estimated 3.5% in 2024, reflecting headwinds from labor constraints, damage to energy infrastructure, and the ongoing war. She said it was premature to assess the impact of recent U.S. moves to halt aid to Ukraine or an eventual ceasefire on the country's economy, but the IMF was keeping a close eye on those developments. The same was true for Russia, she said. IMF staff on February 28 reached agreement with Ukrainian authorities on the seventh review of Ukraine's $15.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, paving the way for the release of $400 million once approved by the IMF's board. That would bring total disbursements under the program to about $10.1 billion. The disbursement is lower than the roughly $900 million that was initially expected, but reflected an adjustment in Ukraine's balance of payments needs, Kozack said, adding that changes in disbursement levels were not unusual over the life of a program. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Rodrigo Campos, Editing by Franklin Paul and Paul Simao) By Libby George LONDON (Reuters) - Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former armed forces chief and current ambassador to Britain, said on Thursday that the United States was "destroying" the current world order. The popular general, who led Ukraine's defence in the first two years of Moscow's full-scale invasion, spoke as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sought to mend fences with Washington after a fiery White House row with President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zaluzhnyi said Ukraine had held onto its independence despite "animus and threats coming even from friends". His sharp remarks, made at London's Chatham House think tank, came after Trump froze military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in moves to push Zelenskiy into peace talks with Russia, while refusing to offer Kyiv security guarantees. "It's obvious the White House has questioned the unity of the whole Western world," Zaluzhnyi said, adding: "Because we see that it's not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the U.S. is finally destroying this order." European leaders on Thursday said they would stand by Ukraine - and boost defence spending - to enable them to stand up to Russia. But the U.S. has been a key backer, and its intelligence, equipment and financial support have been crucial for Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zaluzhnyi is broadly popular in Ukraine and is seen as a potential challenger to Zelenskiy when Ukraine holds elections, although he has voiced no clear ambitions to run for office. Elections are currently prohibited by the declaration of martial law after Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelenskiy replaced Zaluzhnyi as army chief last year following battlefield setbacks. Russian forces now hold about 20% of Ukraine and have been gradually advancing in the country's east. Zaluzhnyi added that Ukraine should receive security guarantees and "should avoid the role of bargaining chip in any negotiations". (Reporting by Libby George; editing by Mark Heinrich) Ukrainian operators of a Hawk anti-aircraft missile system have joined a flash mob to thank the people of the United States for their military assistance to Ukraine. Source: Air Command Pivden (South) Quote: "Dear American people! We, the soldiers of a Ukrainian air defence unit, want to express our gratitude for all the support that you have provided to us during these difficult times. This system has already saved hundreds of lives of people in our cities, protecting them from Russian cruise missiles and drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you for standing with us in our fight for democracy and freedom. Your support is very important for us." Details: The video of gratitude has been recorded in English. Background: Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots expressed their gratitude to the American people for the opportunity to effectively defend Ukrainian cities from Russian aerial terror. Ukrainian operators of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems urged Americans to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians. On 4 March, US media outlets reported that Trump had ordered a halt to all military aid to Ukraine until he sees that the Ukrainian leadership "demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace". Trump's decision also applied to weapons that had already left US territory and were en route to the Ukrainian border. US Vice President JD Vance claimed that US President Donald Trump had felt little respect from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CNN journalists documented 33 instances of Zelenskyy expressing gratitude to the US, American officials, or the American people for their support following the full-scale Russian invasion. This is only an approximate count, as many of Zelenskyys internal statements in Ukrainian were not included. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Ukrainian Air Force has carried out precision strikes on a command post of the Russian motorisd rifle division in the occupied territories of Kherson Oblast and a stronghold of Russian marines in Kursk Oblast, Russia. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Details: On 5 March, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted high-precision strikes on the command post of the 17th Tank Regiment of the 70th Motorised Rifle Division of the Russian Armed Forces in the town of Oleshky in the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson Oblast. Another strike targeted the stronghold of the 2nd Company of the 177th Separate Marine Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces in the village of Plekhov, Kursk Oblast, Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "These strikes are part of a series of fire attacks aimed at reducing the military potential of the Russian forces on the path to liberating the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. The Ukrainian Air Force is always ready to carry out precision strikes to diminish the Russian Armed Forces' ability to wage aggressive war against the Ukrainian people. More to come Glory to Ukraine!" Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian opposition leaders have dismissed the idea of holding a wartime election, after a media report of contacts between them and U.S. officials and in the wake of President Donald Trump calling his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy a "dictator" for not holding one. Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday his team was working with U.S. "partners" to maintain support for Ukraine - but he added that he was opposed to a wartime election. In a written statement published on Telegram, Poroshenko said elections should only happen after peace had been established. He added that a vote should take place no later than 180 days after the end of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yuliia Tymoshenko, another opposition leader, said her team "is talking with all our allies who can help in securing a just peace as soon as possible," and said that elections should not take place before this had been achieved. Politico reported on Wednesday that four senior members of Trump's entourage had held discussions with some of Zelenskiy's top political opponents. The talks were held with Tymoshenko and senior members of the party of Poroshenko, who was president from 2014 to 2019, Politico reported, citing three Ukrainian lawmakers and a U.S. Republican foreign policy expert. The discussions focused on whether Ukraine could have quick presidential elections, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington has paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv in stunning moves following Zelenskiy's public spat with Trump at the Oval Office a week ago. Zelenskiy has called the clash "regrettable" and said he is willing to work with the new U.S. president to achieve peace. Moscow, which invaded Ukraine three years ago, claims Zelenskiy is illegitimate because his five-year term ran out in 2024. But under Ukrainian law elections cannot be held in wartime. Zelenskiy has instead offered to vacate his post in exchange for peace and NATO membership. Poroshenko and Zelenskiy's political rivalry, meanwhile, goes back years. Last month Zelenskiy approved sanctions against Poroshenko for what the country's domestic spy agency described as "national security reasons", without giving details. Poroshenko said the move was politically motivated. (Reporting by Max Hunder) Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have issued in absentia charges against the so-called "minister of health of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea" and his deputy for involvement in the illegal deportation of 46 children from an orphanage in Kherson to occupied Crimea in October 2022. Source: Office of the Prosecutor General; Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Details: Juvenile prosecutors established that in October 2022, the "minister of health of Crimea" and his deputy orchestrated the unlawful transfer of children from the orphanage in Kherson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "On 21 October 2022, they arrived in buses marked with the Russian invasion symbol, the letter Z. On the same day, a Russian State Duma (the lower chamber of the Russian parliament) member arrived at the facility along with Russian soldiers to oversee the process of getting children into the vehicles. The perpetrators of this crime included the 'minister', his deputy, a pro-Russian collaborator who was the orphanage director, and other unidentified individuals." More details: The investigators reported that 46 children were taken to occupied Crimea and placed in a facility controlled by the Russian occupation authorities called Yalinka (Spruce). On 28 October 2022, the "Russian childrens rights commissioner" visited the orphanage and announced that her office would facilitate placing the children in Russian foster families. Shortly thereafter, profiles of some of the children appeared on the Russian governments adoption website. Investigators also discovered that the "minister of health" and his deputy received awards from the leadership of the occupation administration in Crimea and the Russian ruler for their actions. Charges have now been filed against them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SSU reported that the suspects are two local residents who supported the 2014 Russian occupation of Crimea: Konstantin Skorupsky, the so-called "minister of health of Crimea" and his deputy Anton Lyaskovsky. Their actions have been classified as violations of the laws and customs of war (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Earlier, as part of this criminal case, three other individuals were charged, including a Russian State Duma member. Background: In June 2024, The New York Times detailed the Russian abduction scheme, which included the deportation of 46 children from the orphanage in Kherson. At the time of the Russian invasion, the orphanage housed children under the age of five, some of whom had severe conditions such as cerebral palsy and autism. However, these children were not orphans some had parents whose custody rights were under judicial review. As of June 2024, only seven children from the Kherson orphanage had been brought back to Ukraine, while one had died from an epileptic seizure. The profiles of 22 of these children appeared in Russias federal database of orphans. The database falsely listed them as being from Crimea, omitting their actual place of birth. At least two of them have already been placed with Russian families. Seven children were recently brought back from occupied territories and Russia. Some of them had witnessed Russian soldiers abusing their parents and kidnapping relatives. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian and U.S. delegations are set to discuss the framework for a potential peace agreement next week in Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, told reporters on March 6. "The idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well," Witkoff said outside the White House. He added that discussions are ongoing to finalize the meeting's location, with Riyadh or Jeddah under consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on March 6 at the European Council that Ukraine and the U.S. have resumed talks and preparing for a meeting. "Ukraine is not only ready to take the necessary steps for peace, but we are also proposing what those steps are," he said. Senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich wrote on X that the meeting is scheduled for March 11, with Ukraine's delegation led by Zelensky's Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak. The U.S. delegation will reportedly include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Witkoff. According to Axios, the meeting will take place on March 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, on March 5, Yermak wrote on Telegram that he and Waltz had discussed "further steps toward a just and lasting peace. " Tensions between Kyiv and Washington escalated following a heated Oval Office exchange between Zelensky, Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Feb. 28. The dispute led to the collapse of a bilateral agreement on Ukraine's mineral resources and prompted Trump to freeze all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The mineral deal remains stalled, with CBS News reporting on March 4 that Trump is seeking a "bigger, better deal." White House officials have publicly signaled that Zelensky must issue an apology and commit to peace talks for discussions to resume. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 4, Zelensky called the White House confrontation "regrettable" and reaffirmed his willingness to work toward peace under Trump's "strong leadership." Waltz suggested on March 5 that Trump may lift the pause on military aid once peace negotiations are arranged and confidence-building measures are taken, Reuters reported. Read also: The war continues because of Russia Zelenskys full speech at European Council Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KYIV, Ukraine Ukraine may have enough weapons to fight Russia unaffected for a few weeks at least, but President Donald Trumps decision to stop sharing intelligence will cost civilian lives almost immediately, dismayed Ukrainians said Thursday. Trumps decision to halt intelligence came as European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy, convened a summit in Brussels as they attempt to cope with an upended landscape in which the Trump administration appears to be treating them with hostility while seemingly warming to the Kremlin. Miles away from these high-powered meetings, ordinary Ukrainians may have to confront the real-world consequences of the White Houses U-turn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Washington turns off the tap on its $65 billion of military aid, Ukraine will also now have to do without American intelligence that has helped it to anticipate Russian attacks and troop movements, and avoid nightly barrages from Russian drones on its cities and infrastructure. A Ukrainian serviceman prepares to fire artillery at the front line near Donetsk this week. Viewed from the homes and apartments of Kyiv, it seems like a very petty decision by our alleged ally, said Myroslava Yeremkiv, 33, who manages donations at a nongovernmental organization in the capital. The United States has the power at least to protect and save the lives of civilians from Russias brutal and terrorizing attacks and you just choose not to.The White House cut off this intel feed following the disastrous Oval Office meeting last week between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Zelenskyy. Though Trumps team hinted that the pause is a negotiating tactic to ensure Zelenskyy is ready for peace, it has nonetheless shocked military and intelligence experts worldwide. That feeling is no less deeply felt in Kyiv. This looks like a thug tactic blackmailing and trying to break Ukrainian society into submission before negotiations, Yeremkiv said, calling it a very weak and pathetic decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some of the first practical consequences of that rupture, U.S. shipments of weapons and equipment already en-route to Ukraine were halted Monday night, a U.S. defense official told NBC News. So immediate was that order, that planes carrying vital aid for the Ukrainian war effort turned around in the sky, they added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Thursday. I really, really hope that in the near future we can restore sharing of this information, said Oleksandr Musiienko, head of the Kyiv-based Center for Military and Legal Studies. We will lose some types of information about flying warplanes from Russian airfields, about launching their terrorist attacks, added Musiienko, who also serves in the countrys Territorial Defense Forces. This means that we do not have enough security and defense for our civilians.The U.S. is not the only country providing military aid and intelligence. But it is by far Ukraines largest single contributor of both. It will be extremely difficult to fully compensate for this loss with our own capabilities or those of Europe, according to Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, a Ukraine government-backed think tank. Despite Moscow having the upper hand, Ukraine has slowed or even halted Russias grinding winter advances. Kyiv has managed to shoot down most of the hundreds of Russian drones fired almost nightly at civilian targets in cities. Thats partly down to $64 billion in American military assistance and $66 billion provided by all other countries combined, fueling Ukraines fighting spirit that confounded predictions of swift Russian victory. At the European Union summit Thursday, Zelenskyy thanked the Europeans, who unlike Trump have committed to Kyivs unconditional defense, which they see as a bulwark against wider Russian aggression. Its great that we are not alone, he told his fellow leaders. Pro-Ukraine protesters outside the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, on Monday. Some of this money covers intelligence, with U.S. know-how helping the Ukrainians to wield American-supplied materiel such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, commonly known as HIMARS, and the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS.Away from the battlefield, the decision to pull the plug and pull it so publicly will send shock waves through Americas intelligence partners around the world, former officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The signal it sends is atrocious, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA officer. Its a signal to the rest of the world that the U.S. is not a dependable ally. This message will also be heard loud and clear in Moscow. Every day that passes without a solution can be costly for Ukraine, particularly if Russia decides to exploit this weakness, said Michael A. Horowitz, a geopolitical and security analyst who is the head of intelligence at the Le Beck consultancy. The spat is public. Russia knows about this, so they will try to take advantage. Artem Grudinin and Anastasiia Parafeniuk reported from Kyiv and Alexander Smith from London. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Ukrainians who fled to the US after Russias invasion are facing deportation under plans by Donald Trump to revoke their legal status. The US president is proposing to fast-track the removal of 240,000 Ukrainians displaced by the conflict as soon as April, sources have claimed. The move would be an extraordinary reversal of the welcome Ukrainians received under Joe Biden, the former president, amid the Trump administrations rapidly fraying relationship with Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The planned rollback of protections for Ukrainians was under way before Mr Trumps ugly row with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week, a senior Trump official and three sources familiar with the matter have said. It is part of a broader Trump administration effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants allowed to enter the US under temporary humanitarian support programs launched under the Biden administration, the sources said. Rollback is part of broader Trump administration effort to strip legal status from more than 1.8 million migrants, sources claim - Alex Wroblewski/AFP It also follows the White House cutting off all US military aid and suspending intelligence-sharing to the war-torn country as it tries to force Kyiv to the negotiating table. A Trump executive order issued on Jan 20 called for the department of homeland security to terminate all categorical parole programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under US immigration law, parole is granted to certain non-citizens to allow them to enter or temporarily remain in the US for various reasons. However, the Trump administration plans to revoke this status for about 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as soon as this month, sources have claimed. Migrants stripped of their parole status could face fast-track deportation proceedings, according to an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement email. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky had a heated row in the Oval Office last week The Biden programmes were part of a broader effort to create temporary legal pathways to deter illegal immigration and provide humanitarian relief. They helped more than 70,000 Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover, including allies of American troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his campaign, Mr Trump pledged to end the Biden programmes, saying they went beyond the bounds of US law. The Trump administration last month paused processing immigration-related applications for people who entered the US under certain Biden parole programs. Tricia McLaughlin, a homeland security spokesman, said the department had no announcements at this time. The White House denied the report. No decision has been made at this time, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said, calling it fake news. The Ukrainian embassy did not respond to a request for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. WHEN I CONSIDER THE PLIGHT of Afghans who worked with U.S. forces in the past, I know in my heart that my country is perfectly capable of abandoning allies. Our bureaucrats and politicians are known to make deadly mistakes and inhuman decisions. When it comes to the Trump administrations abandonment of Ukraine, however, the process cannot be attributed to a mistakeit is gleeful and openly malicious, and carries tremendous ramifications for the role of the United States in the world. JD Vance has already accused Ukrainian-Americans like me of dual loyalty. The vice president seems incapable of understanding why anyone would support Ukraine for reasons other than self-interest, but if Putin had invaded, say, Moldova, instead of my native Ukraine, I would feel exactly the same way about him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being loyal to my adopted country apparently means being loyal to Vance himself, and his well-documented isolationism and support for nationalist leaders like Viktor Orban, who is usefulif not outright friendlyto Vladimir Putin and his goal of weakening and humiliating the United States. Join the best pro-democracy community on the internet. Become a Bulwark+ member. I dont think Vanceor Trump, for that matterreally understands Putins burning hostility toward all Americans, especially American leaders. As I like to point out to fellow Americans, we hardly think about Russia at all, and thus cant imagine the seething hatred many Russians have for us. Since Trump and Vances disastrous meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, since aid was stopped, and since intelligence sharing has also been paused, Ive found myself as the designated recipient of the grief of friends and relatives in the country of my birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been so grateful for the years of aid, my late fathers old friend, whom everyone calls Uncle Yurchik, told me, making me flinch as I remembered Vances brazen lies about Ukraines lack of gratitude. It feels impossible that a world leader like the U.S. would leave its allies to be torn apart. Yurchik and I spent the first weeks of the full-scale invasion on the phone constantly, chatting while he sheltered in a basement with his grandchildren. He had faith then, and he has it today. But few Americans, even sympathetic ones, can understand the truth of what Russia stands for, the truth that Yurchik knows and carries in his body, marked with illness and stress. Wherever Russia shows up, destruction and death follow, Yurchik told me, referencing not only Ukraine, but also Syria, Georgia, West Africa, and other places. For people who havent heard Russian planes screaming overhead, perhaps his words ring hollow. Its one thing to see videos of bombs and sterile explosions on social media or the news. Its another to hear, on the other end of the line, Yurchik in his basement, and to know that far above, another man in the cockpit of a bomber is trying to kill him. Share Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has designs beyond Ukraine, and America is not exempt from them. If they cant attack us directly for now, they are sowing discord between us, so that we may do their job for them. Thanks in part to Russian provocation, Americans are more bitterly divided than weve been in generations, while the Kremlins most provocative yet honest mouthpiece, Dmitry Medvedev, signals Russian designs on Alaska. My fellow Second Amendment enthusiasts frequently point out that locals alone could defend Alaska quite nicely, but they forget about the long-term damage that disinformation and plain disorientation can have on people. They laugh about how we have superior weapons, not understanding that a weapon that destroys the American mind over time is not so easily overcomethe Orbanism on display in the highest office in the land is proof of that already. This is what Zelensky meant when, during the Oval Office catastrophe, he talked about how the ocean wont protect us, only to be jeered and dismissed. Among my friends fighting off Russians on the front lines today, the only response to the Trump administration has been the word shock. Ive heard it over and over again, and while Im jaded enough to not be shocked myself, I cannot ask them for more at this time. Theyve seen it all by nowrotting bodies in trenches, women and children following brutal rapes, blood on nursery room floors, little old ladies starving in ruined apartment blocks. To see all that and realize that the United States does not have your back any longerwhat is there but shock? Join now Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Behind the front lines, my old friend, the radical feminist Mariya Dmytreva, a frequent critic of Zelensky, wrote to tell me that she expected better from Americans, who have been preaching for decades the virtue of democracy and honor. I couldnt argue. I couldnt even object, Not all Americans!, not even as a jokethe caveat is too feeble. Abandoning our allies is a blight that mars us all. American power likes to flex its muscle, and rightly so. As I often tell my friends and neighbors, a world ruled by the likes of China and Russia is not a world that anyone would want to live in. Yet true strength does not mean stabbing a weaker ally in the back. Strong leaders and strong societies do not revel in the rapes and executions of the vulnerable. America First is our own self-doubt, dressed up as robust, no-nonsense foreign policy. Because only an American who doubts our place in the world would copy and endorse Russian propagandaas now de-facto president Elon Musk did, for example, when he labeled the transfer of Crimea to Ukraine as Khrushchevs mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I agree with fellow Americans who say that Europe should start pulling its weightincreased defense spending is crucial. Europe cant afford to be a museumand besides, even museums have guards. But with our Orbanist vice president trashing Europe as it aims to step up in Ukraine (because, and I hate that it even needs to be spelled out, Putin is a threat to the continent as a whole), I get the feeling that this wont be good enough for the current administration, either. Russia doesnt have allies. It has nations it dominates and bullies and coerces, and nations it wishes to dominate and bully and coerce. How dissimilar is that foreign policy from Americas now? Share The Bulwark Of course, Russia also has a tremendous gap between the rich and poor, and a docile, cowed populace that takes whatever scraps the elite throws its way. And I cant help but think that this gap looks attractive to our billionaires. We are in a new Gilded Age, albeit a tremendously stupid one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations fact-free nihilism is also familiar to anyone whos observed Putin for more than five minutes. Trump administrations insistence that Ukraine is somehow responsible for Russias invasionthese are the claims of a torturer who wants to break you until you knowingly repeat a lie, and the actions of Russia itself as it insists it attacked Ukraine in self-defense. How can a country that was attacked be responsible for starting a war? Another old friend in Ukraine, Anatoly, asked me after he read Trumps statements. Like many Ukrainians, Anatoly has spent a large portion of his recent years hiding from missiles and drones instead of enjoying his retirement. He is a Russian speaker who used to have friends in Russia, the kind of person Russians claim they are protecting in Ukraine, even as they seek to murder him and his family. I had no easy answer for Anatoly, besides the fact that this state of unreality is expedient to those who wish to wash their hands of him. The illusion that it will all be okay should be shelved for now. I love the United States with the entirety of my broken heartthis country welcomed me and saved me long ago, and made me into the person I am todaywhich is why I refuse to dabble in illusions on its behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also, however, dabble in hope. A humble hope, and not the pompous kind, because pompousness leads us nowhere. A hope born of many years watching the world fall apart and realign itself around me. The gears of history are turning and some of us will be ground down, but maybe future generations will build things from our dust. Share LANSING Mich. (WLNS) Ukrainians in America are fearful after the Oval Office argument between President Trump and President Zelenskyy. Not only are Ukrainians in the United States worried for Ukraine and the people there, but they are also worried for themselves and their safety in America. Margaryta Stevens moved to Lansing from Ukraine in 2020 and explained what many Ukrainians are going through right now. People are very upset; they also are fearful, Margaryta said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and her husband, Andrew Stevens, were outraged by the argument between President Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Margaryta and Andrew Stevens. (WLNS) I had disgust watching it live, watching how Zelenskyy was treated, Andrew said. In 2022, the couple watched from America as Russia invaded Ukraine. Thankfully, they were able to get Margarytas parents, who were in Ukraine, to a safe place. Margaryta said she never would have thought the war would still be going on. Its been over three years now, and the country is flooded with blood; its very bad. The best people are dying, Margaryta said. After the recent argument, the couple worries for the future, with the U.S. pausing military aid to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres gonna be more victims, both soldiers and citizens, more destroyed buildings, cities. it will be worse and a lot faster, which is very unfortunate, Margaryta said. Now, the CIA is reporting that the U.S. has paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine as well. Thats something that has allowed Ukraine to stay in this fight. It has very little cost for us to share it with them. its definitely a tactic, but its a tactic thats going to cost lives, Andrew said. Margaryta and Andrew said that many Ukrainians feel the same way they do and are disgusted by Trumps treatment of Zelenskyy. 6 News asked the couple what the administration could do to redeem themselves in their eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He can reconsider the way he treated Zelenskyy. Margaryta continued, I doubt he would apologize, but just changing the way he talks with Ukrainians and about Ukraine. The couple hopes the two countries can come to a mineral deal. Margaryta said she isnt just worried about Ukrainians overseas. She said that in America, Ukrainians are worried for their own safety, afraid of discrimination and of being sent back to Ukraine. They were running away from the war to the country where they hoped they would be heard, be safe, Margaryta continued. Right now it doesnt seem like that. It doesnt seem safe anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Want to stay current with Arthurs writing? Sign up to get an email every time a new column comes out. In his day, the 18th-century German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was what we would call a celebrity academic, enjoying top university posts and a wide readership for his books. This might explain some of the hostility that Hegel faced from his contemporaries. Arthur Schopenhauer called his writing the work of a clumsy charlatan, which rendered readers incapable of reflection, coarse and bewildered. His compatriot Friedrich Nietzsche snorted that an education based on Hegelian craniums is terrible and destructive. Schopenhauer and Nietzsche were largely overlooked during their lifetimes, so professional jealousy no doubt accounted for some of this. But deep intellectual differences also underpinned their animus. Whereas Hegels critics largely promoted individualism, the famous author of The Phenomenology of the Spirit taught that fitting into society is generally the best path to a good life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For an individualist like mea bit Nietzschean in worldviewHegels approach might appear unsympathetic. But I have been reconsidering Hegel, and now I think that understanding his arguments for a more communitarian attitude might offer us a nudge toward greater happinessone we didnt even know we needed. [Bertrand Russell: Philosophys ulterior motives] Hegel is probably best known today for his teleological belief that human history tends toward progress and is guided rationally by Geist, or spirit, a quasi-supernatural force for good. He taught that this progress is slowly achieved through the operation of the dialectic. According to this concept, a grand conversation occurs in three partsthesis, antithesis, and synthesisin which one side presents an argument (thesis), another side gives an opposing viewpoint (antithesis), and all of this results in a resolution (synthesis) that involves more nuanced understanding of the issues. This rational reconciliation of differences thus leads to advancesin other words, progress. For Hegel, the Geist just needs time to work out its logic. Whereas todays political arguments in America might look chaotic and terrible, Hegel might say that were too close to them. Take the longer perspective and you will see that spirit is placing the hard-edged progressive activism of the past decade in dialogue with the new electoral turn toward Trumpism, and that the synthesis of that dissension will be a more balanced moderation in the years ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite ups and downs, Hegelian progress generally grants people greater happiness over time. Yet Hegel also made a startling assertion about when that happiness would be most abundant. Periods of happiness are empty pages in history, he wrote in his Introduction to the Philosophy of History, for they are the periods of harmony, times when the antithesis is missing. In other words, we remember when life is a boiling cauldron of emotions and experiences, but these are not the really happy moments. Happiness comes in the peaceful, unmemorable parts of life. So how do we get more of this unremarkable bliss? For the answer, in his Elements of the Philosophy of Right, Hegel gives a practical tutorial in dialecticsfirst offering two common but wrong answers, then the right one. One typical wrong way we search for happiness is what he calls Recht (literally, right), which involves maximizing individual satisfaction or, more colloquially, If it feels good, do it. Hegel argues that Recht leads us to chase one pleasure after another, ad infinitum, never [enabling] it to get beyond its own finitude. In other words, the goal of individual satisfaction is like filling a hole that cant be filled. The other wrong way that people pursue happiness is through Moralitat (morality), by exercising their own personal sense of right and wrong. This approach is more in line with the individualism of Nietzsche and Schopenhauerto quote Polonius in Hamlet: To thine own self be true. Hegel never says that a persons conscience is bad; he simply observes that relying solely on ones own conscience can lead to problems such as loneliness and depression. (If you happen to be someone who insists on speaking up for what you believe is right and have suffered social rejection as a result, you might relate to this.) For Hegel, the correct answer for peaceful happiness is Sittlichkeit, or ethical order, by which he means prosocial behavior grounded in tradition and custom learned from ones community. As he explains in Philosophy of Right, this ethical order involves striving to make oneself a member of civil society by ones own act, through ones energy, industry, and skill, thus gaining recognition both in ones own eyes and in the eyes of others. This is where true happiness occurs, Hegel believed, because we succeed in realizing ourselves both as individuals and as members of the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Hegel, then, we will find happiness by participating in the ordinary ways of well-ordered civil society. That means not dashing from excitement to excitement, pursuing your own goals to the exclusion of others well-being, or expressing yourself in a way that offends people. It means fitting in, conducting yourself ethically, with your family, community, and country. [Arthur C. Brooks: How my struggle with Wittgenstein can make you happier] Modern social scientists have shown that this argument about Sittlichkeit is sound. The social capital one has as an active member of the community strongly predicts ones happiness. Even so, to some peoples ear, Hegels conception of the good life may sound very conservative or reactionary. Just fit in! he seems to be saying. As an Emersonian individualist myself, I recoil from such a command. How many times in history have people just gone along with what civil society deemed right and proper, not consulting their own consciences, in order to maintain a private happiness at the expense of what is just? The result can be dangerous, even barbaric, and sometimes, you have to sacrifice your personal happiness for what is right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I also see how this misses the way that Hegels philosophy can help a natural individualist like me. His injunction about synthesis and ethical orderliness can be a valuable corrective for a tendency to seek big experiences at the expense of the moments of peace, and an egotistical tendency to disregard the wisdom and desires of the community in favor of my own opinions. I like to use Hegels ideas in the form of a simple set of questions to help temper my nature. Perhaps this checklist can be useful to you as well. 1. Where can I find happiness in the ordinary, unremarkable points in my life? What gifts am I overlooking because they are not bright and shiny, although they are beautiful in their smallness? Perhaps this is a peaceful evening at home, a quiet walk before dawn, or a little contemplation over a delicious cup of coffee. 2. Am I looking for a lift in my mood today from my personal ambitions and primal drives? This is Mother Nature with her false promise that satisfying this or that urge will give me the satisfaction I seek. Instead, what individual desire can I shed today? 3. Am I asserting my views in a way that ignores others or is disrespectful to their dignity? Am I attached to my opinions as if they were precious jewels? How can I let go of my own rightness today and listen with love more to others? 4. How might I balance my own needs and desires with those of my family and community today? How can I be a better spouse, a better parent, a better colleague and friend, and a better citizen? If youre anything like me, theres little danger that the fire of your individualistic nature will be extinguished by this interrogation. Instead, it should just sand down your edges a bit, make you more cognizant of your strong self-focus. With that awareness to keep you in check, you might just find yourself happier as a result. [Ralph Waldo Emerson: American civilization] The work of any philosopher is subject to many possible interpretations. This is especially true of Hegel, whose prose is famously dense and ellipticaljust ask Nietzsche or Schopenhauerand no doubt, my brief account of his thought will earn plenty of disagreement. After all, Hegel himself is said to have remarked: Only one man ever understood me, and he didnt understand me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even on this pointabout his resistance to intelligibilityI discern a useful Hegelian lesson for a better life. The goal is not to be understood by the world but to understand the world as best we can and participate in our human community with a spirit of love. Article originally published at The Atlantic CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) Women planning pill abortions in Wyoming will need to get an ultrasound after lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of the law. Wednesday's 22-9 vote by the state Senate followed a 45-16 vote by the House on Tuesday to override. In vetoing the bill Monday, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon questioned whether it was reasonable and necessary, especially for victims of rape and incest. Lawmakers cited concerns about women's well-being Wednesday in voting to override, and they cleared the two-thirds majority requirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes very concerned about the psychological effects of this procedure, Republican Sen. Darin Smith of Cheyenne said of the governor, but what about the psychological effects of having an abortion, for the rest of your life? The new requirement, which takes effect right away, was criticized by abortion rights advocates. We are saddened so many legislators lack empathy and respect for womens decision-making authority, but we stand ready to fight this unconstitutional, unnecessary and unreasonable bill in court, Christine Lichtenfels, executive director of the Wyoming abortion access advocacy group Chelseas Fund, said in a statement. Wyoming is the first state to explicitly outlaw pill abortions, though that and other abortion bans over the past three years are on hold pending a case before the Wyoming Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten other states require abortion providers to perform ultrasounds on women seeking abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. Under Wyoming's new law, pregnant women planning pill abortions will have to drive potentially long distances to get an ultrasound and have it documented. They would have the opportunity but not be required to view the image of the fetus at least 48 hours before a pill abortion. Existing state law already requires abortion providers to offer an ultrasound to women getting abortions. Pregnant woman who do not get an ultrasound will not be penalized under the new law, however. Instead it is medical providers who face up to $9,000 in fines and six months in jail for not arranging it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are few if any active abortion providers left. Last week the state's only full-service abortion clinic stopped providing any abortion care, surgical or medicinal, after Gordon signed a bill requiring such facilities to be licensed as surgical centers. Wellspring Health Access in Casper is wary of running afoul of the law while it challenges it and others in court, President Julie Burkhart said. It was not clear whether Wyoming's only other clinic providing medication abortions, a family medicine practice in Jackson, continues to do so. There was no response to phone messages left with the clinic seeking comment Tuesday and Wednesday. Pill abortions remain possible in the state through remote services: Women have access through the Just the Pill telehealth service and online providers such as Abuzz, The Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, and Aid Access, according to Chelseas Fund. The Guttmacher Institute found that more than 3 in 5 abortions carried out in the U.S. through the formal health care system in 2023 were medicinal. Wyoming had the biggest portion of abortions via pill that year: 19 in 20. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) A groundbreaking event was held for the construction of a new clinical building for the University of Mississippi Medical Centers (UMMC) School of Dentistry. The project, supported by a $40 million legislative appropriation, will provide all predoctoral students with the opportunity to deliver comprehensive care in a modern clinical area, enhancing both patient experience and student learning environments. How springing forward to daylight saving time could affect your health and how to prepare Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the future, we will be able to train more dentists, more dental hygienists and more dental health professionals, said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs. We will be able to increase access for the patients in Mississippi and advance the research that happens here. Our role as the states only academic medical center is important in all aspects of health care, and that includes oral health. Breaking ground on the new UMMC School of Dentistry are, from left, architect Jim Eley, principal of Eley Guild Hardy Architects; Rep. Clay Deweese, Chairman House Appropriations C; Sen. Josh Harkins, Chairman Senate Finance; Malon Stratton, a fourth-year dental student; Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr.; Dr. Scott Rodgers, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs; Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann; Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs; Dr. Pia Chatterjee Kirk, interim dean of the School of Dentistry; Rep. John Read, Chairman House Appropriations A; Gee Ogletree, School of Dentistry alumna and previous IHL board member; Sen. Briggs Hopson, Chairman Senate Appropriations; and Secretary of State Michael Watson. (Courtesy: UMMC) The first floor will house areas dedicated to University Dentists and Advanced General Dentistry. The second floor will feature the Comprehensive General Dentistry clinic, designed to enhance both patient care and hands-on student training. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) An individual was hurt after a Portsmouth fire on Thursday morning, officials said. Around 5:30 a.m., crews from Portsmouth Fire Rescue and Emergency Services and the Navy Regional Fire Rescue Hampton Roads were dispatched to a residential fire in the 3000 block of George Washington Highway. Crews made an aggressive offensive attack and extinguished the fire without it spreading to other structures. Fire was determined to be a result of unattended cooking on the stove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injures. No fire department members were injured. The American Red Cross has been contacted to assist with one displaced occupant. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ousting the United States African Development Foundations CEO and President Ward Brehm, the latest development in the fight between the independent agency and Department of Government Efficiency. Its a temporary reprieve, pending a motion on a lawsuit filed Thursday against DOGE and a State Department official, for the small agency thats been pushing back against efforts to effectively shutter its doors. Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, issued a stay that bars the administration from removing Brehm until a formal hearing early next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The foundation filed a lawsuit in federal district court against DOGE and State Department official Peter Marocco for their attempts to dismantle the agency. The complaint claims DOGE has violated the African Development Foundation Act, which created the independent agency through Congress. In the complaint, the foundation details how DOGE tried to access their agency under false pretenses of modernizing and streamlining USADFs computer systems. Staffers refused to allow DOGE access to cancel their grants and contracts and DOGE responded by threatening to sack the foundations board of directors. DOGE notified the foundation that a staffer with the Elon Musk-inspired department and Marocco, whos tasked with dismantling the United States Agency for International Development, would be visiting the foundation. They first attempted to visit on Wednesday, according to the complaint. Brehm, had notified DOGE that he is out of office and would not allow his staff to meet with DOGE without him, effectively shutting it out, according to a letter obtained by POLITICO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the letter, Marocco and other officials went to the USADF building on Thursday, attempting to gain access to the building for a second time, according to the foundation. After Marocco was blocked from access, the Department of Justice determined that Marocco had a right to enter and they did gain access to the foundation building, according to a White House official. The move comes as DOGE looks to dismantle the agency by installing Marocco as chair and the foundations sole member on the board of directors, canceling the foundations grants and cutting their staff, the foundation said. The USADF is one of the smallest agencies in the federal government, with a relatively low appropriation of $45 million for assisting economic development in Africa. But one of President Donald Trumps latest executive orders calls for the USADF to be eliminated and to reduce its performance and personnel to the absolute minimum required by law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump's executive order moved to eliminate bureaucracy by reducing the USADF and by appointing Marocco as chair of the foundation's board. "Entitled, rogue bureaucrats have no authority to defy executive orders by the President of the United States or physically bar his representatives from entering the agencies they run, Kelly said in a statement to POLITICO. The USADF referenced a sister agency, the Inter American Foundation, in the lawsuit, pointing to how Marocco was installed as the sole board member on the IAF and effectively shut down the agency after laying off staff. Through the courts, the USADF is arguing their jurisdiction through Congress prevents DOGE from installing Marocco to control their Board of Directors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Marocco to lead the board, Brehm said he would have to first be appointed to the board and confirmed by the Senate. I will look forward to working with Mr. Marocco after such time that he is nominated for a seat on the Board and his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Brehm wrote in his letter. USADFs pushback is part of a larger conflict with U.S. foreign assistance agencies that were created by Congress, but that have become swept up in Trumps effort to cut U.S. foreign aid and reduce the size of the government. The Trump administration cut 90 percent of its foreign aid contracts last week, and thousands of USAID staff have been placed on administrative leave since Trump took office. If DOGE achieves its goal of shutting down USADF, we will feel the ripple effects across the African continent and in the United States, Brehm said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A representative of DOGE did not respond to request for comment. The State Department said they do not comment on pending litigation. Brehm signaled in his letter that Marocco would not be let into USADF unless Congress moves to install him in an official position. Until these legal requirements are met, Mr. Marocco does not hold any position or office with USADF, and he may not speak or act on the Foundations behalf, Brehm wrote. Faced with impending federal funding cuts, universities are reducing their graduate school programsincluding rescinding offers to some unlucky Gen Zers Universities are bracing for the impact of Elon Musks DOGE on their bottom lineand graduate students are feeling the brunt of the effects. Multiple schools, including the University of Pennsylvania, West Virginia University, and University of California at San Diego, have reportedly cut back or rescinded graduate admissions offers in the wake of billions of dollars in anticipated cuts to federal research funding from agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wendy Roth, a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, told The New York Times that departments are being directed to cut Ph.D. admissions and unaccept informal offers. Another professor told The Daily Pennsylvania that one graduate program will be forced to rescind the acceptances of around 60% of its students. The school could lose about $240 million in annual federal funding from the NIH alone. If other agencies follow similar cutting practices, the losses could reach $315 million, according to a community message from the University of Pennsylvanias interim president, Larry Jameson. These cuts by NIH will affect universities across the country, and we continue to explore legal options to address these reductions, wrote Jameson. Grant reductions are likely to affect nearly all universities, not just the Ivy Leagues. For example, a student at West Virginia University told local news outlet WBOY that her biomedical sciences Ph.D. program offer was abruptly rescinded. The school confirmed to Fortune that it was limiting admission to its health sciences doctoral programs "due to the unforeseen budgetary challenges resulting from proposed cuts to federal research funding." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Indirect costs are partial reimbursements for real costs essential to support human and physical infrastructure required for university research programs. Without support for these costs, our nations research universities cannot maintain research programs essential for continued national prosperity," April Kaull, executive director of communications at West Virginia University, said in a statement. UCSan Diegos School of Biological Sciences is similarly cutting its doctoral program admission, with a 32% reduction this year, due to funding uncertainties at both the state and federal level, The Washington Post reported. Program reductions could negatively impact the job market While court challenges have already placed pauses on some NIH cuts, the uncertainty itself could have dramatic effects on research efforts in the U.S. and the future of the workforce. Going back to school is a common practice during a rocky job market for individuals to upskill or pivot into a new career. Pairing reduced graduate school opportunities with spiking layoffs could leave thousands of workers with an unclear future. This just adds fire to the career struggles of Gen Zersespecially among men, many of whom have been frozen out of the job market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other universities, like Stanford, Emory, and North Carolina State, have implemented hiring freezes to prepare for potential dramatic changes to their funding models. This all comes as President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as soon as today, directing the abolishment of the U.S. Department of Education. While experts have long placed doubt on its outright closure, reductions in programs and funding are likely to cause additional confusion among students, especially those who carry student loans. University representatives from the University of Pennsylvania and UCSan Diego did not immediately respond to Fortunes requests for comment. Was your graduate program offer rescinded in recent weeks? Contact preston.fore@fortune.com to share your story. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The University of Iowa International Writing Program will end certain programs and shrink its next cohort after seeing federal funding cuts. (Photo courtesy of the University of Iowa International Writing Program) One of the University of Iowas premiere writing programs has seen its federal funding cut, the university announced Thursday, a blow causing the closures of programs and smaller cohorts. The UI International Writing Program announced online that as of Feb. 26, grants it had received from the U.S. Department of State and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs had been terminated. According to a notice cited in the release, programs funded by the grants no longer effectuate agency priorities, and do not hold with agency priorities and national interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canceled federal funding amounts to nearly $1 million, the university stated in a news release, the same amount that would have been generated for the U.S. economy by the program in the next year, as more than 90% of federal grant dollars are spent domestically. We are devastated by the abrupt end of this 58-year partnership and are working closely with the Office of General Counsel and the universitys grant accounting office to review the terminations, understand their full impact, and respond in the best interest of the organization, International Writing Program Director Christopher Merrill said in the release. Despite this disappointing turn of events, the IWPs mission remains the same and, with the help of a small number of other partners, we will still hold a 2025 fall residency as we also pursue new sources of funding. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Separate from the UIs Iowa Writers Workshop, the International Writing Program brings international writers and literature to Iowa City and exposes American writers to cultures from across the globe, according to its website. Its main program is an 11-week residency that does not include academic credits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the cuts, the writing program will discontinue its summer youth program, Between the Lines, the Emerging Voices Mentorship Program, distance learning courses and more, according to the release. The fall 2025 residency cohort, which has traditionally brought in around 30 writers, will be cut in half. The Fall Residency is an 11-week program that brings established international writers to the UI campus, providing them with time to produce literary work, while also introducing the social and cultural fabrics of the United States, the release stated. The experience enables them to take part in American university life and creates opportunities for them to contribute to literature courses both at the UI and across the country. South Korean author and 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature winner Han Kang attended the program in 1998, according to a news release, joining fellow program participants, Nobel Prize-winners and novelists Orhan Pamuk, born in Istanbul, and Chinese author Mo Yan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Founded in 1967 by Paul Engle and Hualing Nieh Engle, both of whom were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976, the release stated the program has welcomed more than 1,600 writers from more than 160 countries. The program stated in its announcement it will pursue new funding opportunities in the light of these losses and has other established funding streams in donors, grants, nongovernmental organizations and foreign ministries of culture. The UI is also weathering uncertainty with other federally funded programs, especially research projects with National Institutes of Health grants. According to a March 5 update, Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has issued a preliminary injunction on a proposed 15% cap on indirect costs for NIH grants and contracts. The update stated the university will continue to submit research proposals according to our federal negotiated indirect cost rate agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Considering the irreparable harm likely to befall similarly situated nonparties, the chaos that would result both for institutions and NIH from a patchwork of injunctions, the diffuse nature of the Plaintiffs, and the nature of the suit, a nationwide preliminary injunction is the appropriate and reasonable remedy, Kelley wrote in her ruling. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE KU Students for Justice in Palestine march on March 2, 2024, down Massachusetts Street in Lawrence. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector) LAWRENCE A new Anti-Defamation League report assessing how 135 U.S. colleges address antisemitism gave the University of Kansas a B reduced because of a level of hostile anti-Zionist student groups. The reports analyzed how the universities responded to antisemitic acts, and how university policies actively fight antisemitism but some student groups and a professor at KU questioned the classification of anti-Zionist student groups as antisemitic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the majority of schools received a C or lower, nationally there was an improvement from last years report. The ADL, a Jewish anti-hate organization, surveyed 50 more schools in 2025 than in 2024 including KU and found that 36% of schools received an A or B in 2025 compared to 23.5% in 2024. The ADL found that 45% of previously graded schools improved, while 9% declined. The antisemitic incidents were reported by Jewish students on campus, and ranked on their level of concern. Jordan Kadosh, the regional director of ADL Heartland, said theres a difference between criticism of Israels policies or response to war and opposing Israels right to exist. I think that you have to understand that a lot of this rhetoric that supports the elimination of the state of Israel relies on antisemitic tropes, Kadosh said. Denying the state of Israels right to exist and employing antisemitic tropes and antisemitic rhetoric in order to advocate for that position is where this falls into the antisemitism category. Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel, co-director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life Serving KU, said he has had conversations with KUs administration on how KU can be a safe campus for Jewish students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many students, many organizations, and many individuals like to hide behind that claim, Tiechtel said. They like to say: Were not antisemitic, were anti-Zionist. Its very important to stress that many of the sentiments that have been expressed on campuses across the country and that have been expressed here at KU over the last year and a half have been antisemitic. The ADLs 30-point grading system categorized university responses into three areas. The Jewish life on campus category was all positive, the publicly disclosed administrative actions category had some yellow flags and the campus conduct and climate concerns pinged level of hostile anti-Zionist student groups as a red flag. KU Students for Justice in Palestine, a pro-Palestinian group, has organized multiple protests in Lawrence in hopes of ending Israels occupation of Palestine including the encampment on KUs campus last May. The encampment was met with retaliation from pro-Israel groups. KU Students for Justice in Palestine promoted the encampment as anti-Zionist meaning as an act against Israels occupation, not in hatred of Jewish people while the ADL flagged it as antisemitic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiechtel said some of the rhetoric used in chants at the encampment, like from the river to the sea which some people view as calling for the ethnic cleansing of Jewish people and some view as calling for Jewish and Palestinian equality promoted hostility toward Jewish people. Jessie Duke, executive director of the Ecumenical Campus Ministries, which helped plan and supply the encampments, said this isnt a fair assessment. Antisemitism on college campuses is a serious concern that needs to be addressed. Calling criticism of the state of Israel antisemitic denies Palestinians their humanity, Duke said. The university put a policy in place in February 2024 prohibiting camping, meaning protesters are not allowed to stay past 10 p.m. When protesters in May stayed past that deadline, three were arrested. Law enforcement confiscated protest signs, cases of water, and tents from the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police did not have probable cause to arrest them, so it was not fair that they were arrested, said Dan Curry, an attorney for the student protestors. These three students should not have been arrested, and their charges were dropped. Duke says the universitys response was unfair. The crackdown on the encampments was clearly an attack on free speech, Duke said. The framing of students fighting against genocide as being antisemitic is a diversion, and a disingenuous starting point. Don Haider-Markel, a political science professor at KU, said that while he formerly used the ADL as a data source, he has become hesitant because of their interpretation of antisemitism. He referenced the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Israel. The 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages taken that day triggered the intensification of the war that has since killed 48,000 Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haider-Markels concerns are part of a national debate on whether the ADL has lost credibility on antisemitism since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. Beginning last year, they really began to classify incidents that are anti-Israel as or anti-Zionist as being antisemitic equating them as one in the same, Haider-Markel said. I just dont think thats a fair way to characterize protests against the (Israel Defense Forces) actions in Gaza. Jake Kurz, the director of ADL communications, said the ADL does not conflate anti-Israel protests with antisemitism shown in their methodology. Legitimate political protest, support for Palestinian rights, or expressions of opposition to Israeli policies are not included in the audit, Kurz said. For example, post-October 7, ADL reviewed more than 1,800 anti-Israel protests, and about 25% were found to focus on legitimate criticism of Israel and were not included. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the report card was released Monday, the ADL began its Never is Now summit in New York City to combat antisemitism. The ADL hosted Washington University in St. Louis chancellor Andrew Martin, who prohibited encampments on campus. He said that time, place and manner restrictions were essential for encouraging equal free speech and to not disrupt education. The rules we have are not there to stifle opinion. In fact we want opinions lifted up. But at the same time we need to focus on the mission. Teaching needs to continue, Martin said. One of the issues we saw on many campuses last year is we have rules, but we had campus leaders who chose not to follow them. Duke, the executive director of the Ecumenical Campus Ministries, said encampments nationwide were held to a different standard than a typical protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university encampments, across the board, were met disproportionately with force and repression, Duke said. The students at KU and across the country put themselves on the line. What they wanted was to be heard. The conversation focusing on this ADL grading system demonstrates that the students were not heard. Tiechtel, the rabbi, said the KU protests were often disruptive and hateful. He said the universitys response to the encampment was fair. The KU administration is very supportive of the Jewish community, has been very responsive and has done a tremendous amount both on the front lines and largely behind the scenes ensuring that Jewish students feel safe and comfortable on campus since October 7th, Tiechtel said. In recent months, he said, conversations have become less hostile, and that Jewish students have become more comfortable on campus. We are hoping that the positive trend weve seen in recent months will continue where we can have healthy dialogue without any hateful elements or intimidation, Tiechtel said. Were very proud to be affiliated with a university like this that creates an environment where everyone can feel comfortable. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) New research by the University of New Mexico shows how grasslands recover from drought. UNM researchers said grasslands play an important role in agriculture and tourism, as well as helping local wildlife and water conservation. UNM Professor of Biology Scott Collins co-authored the study, looking at grasslands across the United States and in China that receive different amounts of rainfall with two of those sites in New Mexico. High winds impact irrigation ditch clean up along the Rio Grande Their findings show certain species of plants, grass, seeds, and animals thrive under certain conditions. In New Mexico, Collins said the grass species that grew before the drought seemed to give up but was soon replaced with a new, more resistant species. The overall research showed that American grasslands are much more resistant to the over seven-year drought experiment compared to Chinas grasslands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Donald Trumps attempts to browbeat Ukraine into peace negotiations seem to have given Europe what Vladimir Putins invasions in 2014 and 2022 did not: a wake up call. Now, countries across the continent are being forced to confront their hollowed out armed forces and the realities of their reliance on the goodwill of the American taxpayer. A summit in Brussels appeared close last night to agreeing an 800 billion plan for European defence spending, consisting of 150 billion in loans against the common EU budget, and specific exemptions from the EUs rules on national deficits. In Germany, Friedrich Merz widely expected to become the next Chancellor has advanced proposals that would exempt defence spending from the countrys debt break, putting the rearmament of the much-diminished Bundeswehr at the centre of politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A decade ago Angela Merkel remarked that Europe could no longer account for 7 per cent of the worlds population, 25 per cent of its GDP, and 50 per cent of its welfare spending. Her words did not result in action. Her successors must. Britain will need to keep step. Sir Keir Starmers pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP from 2027 onwards is not sufficient. The ambition of reaching 3 per cent in the next parliament should be accelerated, with a proper allocation set out based on the capabilities this country needs. Defence can no longer solely receive whatever spending power is left over after the Government has funded its other supposed priorities. Realism is now required, and ambitious cuts to welfare unavoidable. But rebuilding our military strength should also involve a slowing down of our rush to Net Zero and serious thought over the risks of increasing dependency on electricity imports. Moreover, dozens of Labour MPs and peers have this week written to Britains banks and pension funds urging them to drop environmental, social and governance rules which restrict the sectors access to finance. As Rishi Sunak once argued, there is nothing more ethical than defending our way of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to 2022, ethical investment rules were a myopic luxury. In 2025, they put at risk our ability to arm ourselves. A full rearmament will not be achieved without the participation of the private sector. Woke nostrums that could stand in its way should be discarded. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Warning: This story contains images of objects used in an alleged child abuse case. TAVARES, Fla. (WFLA) Police release images of objects used in Florida child abuse case that left a 10-year-old boy in critical condition. On Feb. 22, officers were called to Advent Health Waterman around 10 p.m. in regards to a 10-year-old boy in cardiac arrest and visibly covered in bruises and burn marks, the Tavares Police Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boys mother, Kimberley Mills, and her boyfriend Andre Walker brought him to the hospital but fled when they found out officers were on the way. Kimberly Mills, Andre Walker Courtesy: Tavares Police Department Kimberley later returned to the hospital with the childs younger brother. Detectives spoke with the younger sibling and uncovered details of the abuse. The younger brother told detectives that he and his older brother suffered unspeakable torment. Florida 10-year-old in critical condition after suffering gruesome abuse; mother, man arrested According to police, a search of the home uncovered evidence such as a six-foot ladder, a 10-pound weight, and duct tape that was all used to restrain the child while weights were intentionally dropped onto his exposed stomach. (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) The red sweatshirt in the photos has duct tape around the arms, and the gray sweatpants also have duct tape around the ankles. Both of these were found outside in the trash bin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the 10-year-olds hands were bound above his head, which left him defenseless. Detectives also found a thick insulated copper wire in the 10-year-olds bedroom that had been used to inflict harm on both boys. Kimberley and Andre have been arrested and are facing multiple charges of aggravated child abuse, neglect, and tampering with evidence, police said. The 10-year-old remains to be unconscious and in critical condition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) A financial professional based in Simpsonville is putting people on high alert about their finances as The Trump Administration continues its mass layoffs of thousands of federal workers. Being proactive, having a good savings plan in place, can help you, at least your lifestyle, stay kind of smooth as things go through their normal cycles, said Eric Lahaie of JEHM Wealth and Retirement. Lahaie told 7NEWS federal employees in the Upstate are being faced with the decision to relocate or lose their job. The Congressional Research Service reported nearly 25,000 federal workers in South Carolina last year, prior to Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lahaie is urging them to take a good look at their finances, develop a savings plan, and work with an advisor to maximize their financial health. The economy goes through cycles, and the business community goes through cycles. This is one of those cycles, so its important to understand that and always try to be proactive, you know, making sure you do have that emergency fund set up, said Lahaie. He recommends setting aside enough money to cover six to twelve months worth of expenses in an emergency fund. In the event something major happens, like getting laid off, youve got an emergency fund you can access to help continue to pay your bills, until you get re-employed, Lahaie explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lahaie added people should do an inventory of their survival expenses like rent and groceries as well as their lifestyle expenses. He went on to say folks should be leery of using credit cards to get through financial hardships. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. CENTRAL SQUARE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Eight search and rescue crews from around Upstate New York are in Oswego County helping neighbors dig out after getting over four feet of snow in February. Two feet of snow and ice were keeping Suzanne Tassones children from using their wheelchair ramp. All the ice came down all at once, she said. There was 24 inches of ice with a whole bunch of snow on top of it, Tassone said. Latest local news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes grateful volunteers from Massasauga, Saratoga and Erie County came and cleared it off. They couldnt get out, Tassone said. If I had an emergency, then I wouldve needed them to bring shovels and ice picks. Chris McAllister was one of the volunteers who helped get the job done. This is not our MO for search and rescue, she said. Typically, we are in the woods and wilderness searching for missing people. This is something we do to help other teams around the state. Back at the county emergency operations center, Aaron Albrecht and his team are taking phone calls and directing crews on where to go next. Some of our vulnerable population like the elderly, are not able to get to those fuel-filling points, Albrecht said, who is the executive director of the Oswego County Search and Rescue team. The snow is so heavy they cant clear out access points to their house. He decided to bring in crews after such a harsh February. Its been a trying winter, Albrecht said. It brings back memories of some harder winters that we had when I was growing up. But Oswego County residents are resilient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews will be helping around the county for one more day. If you need assistance, call 211. They will not be able to help with clearing snow off roofs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Deputies are asking for information regarding the whereabouts of a woman who has not been seen in weeks. According to the Anderson County Sheriffs Office, Amanda Nichole Brown was last seen on February 17, in the Martin Road area of Starr. Officials said Brown may have been going to visit a friend by the Anderson Jockey Lot. Brown previously went missing in early February, but after being located, she ran off. No one has heard from her since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information regarding Browns location is asked to call (864) 260-4400. Tips can be submitted anonymously online, using case number 2025-02005. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. After US President Donald Trump's criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, representatives of the US government have consulted with leading Ukrainian opposition politicians. Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko wrote on Facebook that he was working "publicly and transparently" with his US partners with the aim of maintaining support for Ukraine. At the same time, he accused Zelensky's team of not communicating sufficiently with Washington. He said that this "poses a risk to the state." Among the topics discussed with the US representatives were arms, sanctions on Russia and financial support for Ukraine, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With regard to Trump's accusation that Zelensky is not prepared to face a new election, Poroshenko said: "Our team has always been and is categorically against elections during the war." He said that a ballot is only possible after a peace treaty and the lifting of martial law. Poroshenko's party, European Solidarity, is currently the strongest opposition force in parliament. Indirectly, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko of the All-Ukrainian Union, or Fatherland, party also confirmed that she had been contacted by the White House. "The Fatherland team is in talks with all our allies who are able to ensure a just peace as quickly as possible," Tymoshenko wrote on Facebook. However, there could be no talk of elections before a peace agreement, she asserted. "And I have said that several times." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US online political newspaper Politico had previously reported on "secret talks" between representatives from Trump's entourage and Ukrainian opposition figures. The main topic of the talks was reportedly the rapid holding of elections in Ukraine. When Russia invaded Ukraine just over three years ago, martial law was imposed on the country. This law prohibits the holding of elections. Zelensky's term in office was set to end in May 2024. By Jack Queen (Reuters) -The head of a federal watchdog agency was removed from his post on Wednesday after a federal appeals court cleared the way for President Donald Trump to fire him. Hampton Dellinger, the former head of the Office of Special Counsel, told Reuters he was fired but declined to comment further. In an unsigned order, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit paused a lower court order that had reinstated Dellinger after Trump fired him without explanation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wednesday ruling is temporary while the appeals court weighs the merits of the case. White House representatives did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The decision came the same day that a board that reviews firings of federal workers reinstated thousands of U.S. Department of Agriculture employees at the request of Dellinger, who said the dismissals were illegal. Trump fired Dellinger on February 7 without providing a reason, part of the Republican's wide-ranging shake-up of the federal government. Dellinger was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris said Dellinger's continued work as special counsel was harming the Trump administration, pointing to Dellinger's role in halting the firings of six probationary government workers the administration had sought to dismiss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington previously declared Dellinger's firing illegal and said he could remain at his post while his legal challenge played out. Jackson said in her ruling that upholding Trump's action would give him "a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will." The Office of Special Counsel allows whistleblowers to make disclosures about alleged misconduct within federal agencies and investigates complaints of retaliation. It also enforces a U.S. law known as the Hatch Act that limits political participation by federal employees. The Supreme Court at an earlier stage in the case declined on February 21 to let Trump immediately fire Dellinger while litigation proceeded in a lower court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and his billionaire advisor, Elon Musk, are rapidly reshaping the federal government. They have dismantled some agencies, fired thousands of workers, dismissed or reassigned hundreds of officials and removed the heads of independent agencies, among other actions. (Reporting by Jack Queen, Additional reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Leslie Adler, Sonali Paul and Sandra Maler) GRAFTON, W.Va. (WBOY) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District held a public information session Wednesday night at the Grafton High School auditorium to present the findings from an analysis of water levels at Tygart Lake. Since the construction of the Tygart Lake Dam in 1938, a federally funded water control manual has been in place to regulate water levels and mitigate flooding. This manual ensures effective management of both the Tygart and Monongahela Rivers, supporting commerce and economic development. So, the water control manual dictates how we manage water flow in Tygart Lake. So, in the summer time we hold more water so that we can maintain navigation, and in the winter time we decrease the amount of water in the reservoir so that we can handle large rain events, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District Commander Col. Nicholas Melin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The session addresses proposed administrative updates to Tygart Lakes water control manual, giving the community a chance to engage with and discuss the findings. In addition to reviewing the results of the water level analysis, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the proposed changes to the manual that could impact water management practices at Tygart Lake. Emergency management warns against traveling to Spruce Knob, dont go! Public comment sessions allow us connections with interested citizens. And so, I view tonights session as being very successful. We needed to communicate the reasons why we operate the revisor in the way we do, but we also need to understand local citizens and what they view as being important, Col. Melin said. The event also featured a 30-minute presentation that outlined the key points of the analysis and proposed updates, followed by a question-and-answer session where community members could ask questions and share their thoughts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tygart Lake provides flood risk reduction for a large portion of Northern West Virginia and upstream communities, Col. Melin added. The dam enables us to be able to maintain water flow along the Monongahela River, because we had such a dry summer, last summer, during a large portion of the summer and fall water levels were lower than where we would like to keep them in the summertime. The current water control manual for Tygart Lake was last updated in 2020. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations require water control manuals to be periodically reviewed to meet authorized purposes while considering public safety, public use and environmental principles. Col. Melin added that they are authorized to update the water control manual once every ten years. Water control manuals guide daily water-management operations and are a reference for project issues, authorities, data, and schedules. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. A Brentwood man is facing federal charges after authorities say he threatened to firebomb the Fred D. Thompson Federal Building in downtown Nashville. Alexander Thompson, 35, is charged with making threats in interstate commerce and making a threat in interstate commerce to damage or destroy a building or property by means of fire or an explosive. If convicted, Thompson faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. The FBI Nashville field office is investigating the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We take dangerous threats to public spaces and public servants extremely seriously and will always act swiftly to hold those responsible accountable for their actions, Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire said in a Wednesday press release. People who work in courthouses, and citizens who attend proceedings there, should be free from threatening behavior. The release said Metro Nashville Police received a tip from someone at Tucker Carlson Network saying the network had gotten an email from Thompson containing threats he would "firebomb the Fred D. Thompson Federal building and Courthouse in downtown Nashville." Thompson wrote in the email that he did not wish to shoot or kill law enforcement and was rational and non-suicidal, authorities said. "But, the current American Government is no longer lawful and legitimate and must therefore be exposed and overthrown pursuant to Founding documents of the United States," Thompson wrote in the email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thompson claimed there is surveillance on every device in the country and he believed it was his duty to stop "horrendous physical and digital attacks against myself, but also inform my nation that it is on the brink of totalitarianism," authorities noted. The streaming network shared images believed to be social media posts by Thompson Sunday asking followers how many firebombs he should use against the federal courthouse in Nashville. Thompson was arrested Monday while he was working in Goodlettsville. At the time, Thompson told officers, "You read the email, I was going to bomb the building, I couldnt change the system from the outside and I need to be arrested to effect change from the inside," authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search of Thompson's home revealed several bomb making materials and other criminal evidence, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Investigators also found several empty jars, and wicks and wax consistent with items depicted in Thompson's social media posts. "Investigators also located a Molotov cocktail that was assembled and just missing a fuel source," the release from the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: US Attorney: Tennessee man had Molotov, threatened to bomb courthouse China's youth redefining wellness culture with precision, style 09:02, March 06, 2025 By Wu Yanxia, Yang Shiyan and Li Sibo ( Xinhua Young people attend a rock climbing activity after work at a climbing gym in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) CHONGQING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- During her lunch break, 28-year-old office worker Li Qing heads straight to a chain health center in a bustling mall in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, relying on a rejuvenating session of massage and moxibustion to combat work fatigue. "This is my secret weapon against work burnout," Li said, flashing a three-session pass on her phone. In nearby treatment rooms, clients unwind amid the rich herbal scent of moxa, mingling with the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee from downstairs. This scene offers a snapshot of the growing wellness craze of urban Chinese. From herbal teas to smartwatches, Chinese youth are leading a "refined wellness" revolution that blends science, personalization and lifestyle. Unlike older generations' somewhat passive habits, such as drinking hot water, Chinese youngsters see wellness as a daily act of optimization. According to a report on the consumption trends of Generation Z nutrition released by Xinhuanet, young people are becoming the main force in health consumption -- with young consumers aged 18 to 35 accounting for 83.7 percent of China's health consumers. Liu Junkang, general manager of Jin'aitang Health Management Co., Ltd., said that young people are willing to pay for high-quality health products and favor personalized services. At a herbal milk tea shop in front of a hospital, crowds could be seen queuing for innovative blends like dark plum milk and angelica cassia tonic brew. "Our recipes combine traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wisdom with modern culinary tech," said Liao Changying, director of the nutrition department of Chongqing Jiangbei Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Liao's team has developed over 40 wellness foods -- ranging from medicinal gummies to protein-rich pastries. As young consumers embrace TCM, clinical consultations have surged by 30 to 35 percent annually in the nutrition department of this hospital. Liu Shiting, a 25-year-old fitness enthusiast, scrutinizes yogurt labels using three nutrition apps in a supermarket in Fuzhou in east China's Fujian Province. "Label-literate" consumers like Liu have helped nurture a premium health snack sector now commanding a significant market share. Tech is also reshaping the wellness game. When programmer Zhang Yang's smartwatch vibrates after 90 minutes of sitting, he steps away from his work for a round of Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese aerobic exercise, while his health app logs the activity in real time. China's wearable device shipments soared 36.2 percent year on year to 33.67 million units in Q1 of 2024 -- as advanced health tracking becomes a must-have for young people. Smartwatches now offer features like heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen measurement and ECG tracking, making 24/7 wellness management more accessible than ever. "Wellness is no longer just elders' advice but a measurable part of daily life," Liu Junkang observed, noting three major trends among young consumers -- using data to customize their health routines, reinventing traditional therapies in a modern way, and prioritizing enjoyable, hands-on wellness experiences. As China's health industry pivots from one-size-fits-all to hyper-customized solutions, a generation embracing biohacking and TCM fusion is rewriting the rules of preventive care -- one herbal latte and smartwatch alert at a time. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a "last warning" to Hamas, demanding the release of all hostages and the return of Israeli bodies, or face severe consequences, as the US confirmed direct talks with the Palestinian militant group in Gaza. "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say," Trump continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is your last warning!" wrote Trump, urging Hamas leaders to leave the Gaza Strip while they still had the opportunity. In a message to Gaza's population, Trump appealed for them to make a "smart decision" and release the hostages, warning that there would be "hell to pay" if they did not. "A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages," he wrote. Meanwhile, the US government confirmed that it is holding direct talks with Hamas in Gaza. The special envoy tasked with this is authorized to talk to anyone, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters when asked why the US was negotiating directly with the group for the first time, contrary to its long-standing policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel had been consulted on the matter, said Leavitt. She did not want to comment on the content of the talks. Trump fundamentally believes in dialogue with "people around the world" in the interests of Americans, she emphasized. "Israel has communicated its position to the United States regarding direct talks with Hamas," announced the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. No further details were given. Hamas sources had previously confirmed to dpa that direct talks were taking place with the US government regarding American hostages and a more comprehensive agreement to end the war in Gaza. No agreement has yet been reached, the sources added. The US officially classifies Hamas as a terrorist organization. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has stated that Washington is "very encouraged by the signs" coming from Kyiv regarding its commitment to the peace process. Source: Sky News, citing Hegseth speaking in Washington on 6 March on the sidelines of a meeting with the UK defence secretary, as reported by European Pravda Details: Hegseth was asked whether Donald Trumps decision to halt military aid to Ukraine was final. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As the president has pointed out, it is a pause. Exactly what he said from the beginning. Pause - pending a true commitment to a path to peace," he said. Hegseth added that Trump is "paying a very keen eye" to what Kyiv is "saying and doing about committing to that peace process". "And we're very encouraged by the signs we're seeing. Ultimately, he [Trump] will make the determination," Hegseth added. Background: Next week, negotiations between Ukrainian and US delegations regarding the Russia-Ukraine war will take place in Saudi Arabia. A Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously to AFP, stated that Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, will lead the Ukrainian delegation, which may also include Defence Minister Rustem Umierov. On the US side, media reports indicate that the participants will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff. Axios reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 March. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The U.S. is destroying the world order as Washington is making overtures to the Kremlin, said on March 6 Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the U.K. Speaking at the Chatham House, Zaluzhnyi said that President Donald Trump's administration has questioned the unity of "the whole Western world." "Now Washington is trying to delegate the security issues to Europe without participation of the U.S. so we can say that in the near future, NATO likewise can stop existing," the ambassador said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Zaluzhnyi, Europe can be Russia's next target. He said that fears of Western partners made it possible for Moscow to start forming "an axis." The two key Russian allies, Iran and North Korea, supply Russia with weapons that are used against Ukraine. Pyongyang has also sent over 10,000 troops to fight alongside Russian forces in the embattled Kursk Oblast. "We see that it's not just the axis of evil and Russia trying to revise the world order, but the U.S. is finally destroying this order," Zaluzhnyi said. "And when those countries of the axis conclude a strategic agreement between themselves, we should have thought maybe this is an attempt to revise the existing world order." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remarks come amid rising tensions between Kyiv and Washington following a clash in the Oval Office exchange on Feb. 28 between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump. The dispute led to the collapse of a bilateral deal on Ukraine's natural resources, after which the U.S. president paused all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The move to suspend aid to Ukraine came on top of other Kremlin-friendly steps recently taken by the U.S. The Trump administration has also been considering lifting sanctions imposed against Russia for its brutal all-out war against Ukraine that killed hundreds of thousands. Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. For most of the past 17 months, the idea of a political settlement to the war in Gaza, much less the Israel-Palestinian conflict, has appeared far from reality eclipsed by a devastating military campaign that has killed tens of thousands, and black and white rhetoric. Hamas members are sick and twisted, in the words of US President Donald Trump. The only option, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly pledged, is to eliminate the militant group his oft-vaunted total victory. And yet on Wednesday it emerged that the US president may be willing to settle for something far more practical: His government is breaking with its longstanding policy of not talking with groups it deems to be terrorist organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special envoy whos engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told reporters Wednesday. These are ongoing talks and discussions. Beyond Trumps rhetoric of expelling Palestinians from Gaza and taking over the enclave, it appears as though the US government wants to hear what Hamas might want in exchange for the release of 59 hostages it still holds. Only one American still believed to be alive, Edan Alexander, remains in Gaza. The group also holds four dead Americans. Previous talks have all been held through the intermediaries of Qatar and Egypt. Hamas, which grew out of the Muslim Brotherhood, was founded in the late 1980s and is dedicated to resisting the Israeli state. It had long advocated for the destruction of Israel, but in 2017 said that it was prepared to accept a Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem inside the borders that existed before Israel captured large swaths of territory from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under international law, Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem are considered to be militarily occupied by the Israeli state. A central goal of Israels devastating war on Gaza has been to remove Hamas from power and to eliminate its ability to threaten Israel. On at least that first point, Hamas leadership abroad has been increasingly clear that it is willing to step aside. We say clearly that it is not necessary for Hamas to be part of the political or administrative arrangements in the next phase, spokesperson Hazem Qassem told Al Arabiya last month. When Arab leaders, scrambling to respond to Trumps Gaza plan, proposed this week an interim coalition government for Gaza which would not include Hamas, the militant group quickly endorsed the plan. Palestinians in Jabalya gather for the iftar, the fast-breaking meal, on the first day of Ramadan, on March 1. - Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images Governance has become a burden for the group, Mkhaimar Abusada, a Palestinian politics professor who fled Gaza in November 2023, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mundane realities of providing schooling, healthcare, and basic municipal services is incompatible, he said, with resisting Israeli occupation. Since they won the elections in 2006 and they took over the Gaza Strip in summer 2007, it has become obvious to Hamas that they cannot do both things, he said. The fact that so many of Hamas political leaders who have for years live abroad in Qatar and Turkey were unaware of the plan to attack Israel on October 7 speaks to the relative supremacy of resistance over governance within the movement. But the central, unresolved issue is whether the group will disarm. I am aware that discussions on this matter are ongoing within Hamass leadership abroad, and opinions are divided, Gershon Baskin, a veteran Israeli negotiator-turned-peace activist who has a long history of speaking with Hamas, said recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no one left from the political command of Hamas in Gaza today, he told CNN on Thursday. And were relying on these young people who are holding the hostages and delivered so far, but there could be rift developing between the political leadership of Hamas outside and the military leadership of Hamas inside of Gaza today. And thats a very dangerous situation. Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh (left) and Yahya Sinwar (center) in Gaza City, in March 2017. Israel killed both men last year. - Mohammed Salem/Reuters Publicly, the group has been unequivocal. The idea that Hamas would lay down its arms is a red line and is not up for discussion or negotiation, Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesperson, said in a recent interview. The reality may be a bit more complicated. Hamas are not lunatics, said Hamze Attar, a Palestinian journalist and defense analyst from Gaza who has lived abroad for more than a decade. They know that there is a point where weapons mean nothing, and they will be more of an obstacle than a leverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That point, however, will be hard for Netanyahu to stomach: a Palestinian state. For them it is inconceivable to ask Hamas to lay down their weapons or their arms before there is a meaningful political settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Abusada said. For them, according to international law, any occupied people like the Ukrainians for example have the right to defend themselves. The group is also very aware, analysts say, that any commitment to a state must be ironclad and backed by international actors such as Saudi Arabia, which has said that normalized diplomatic relations with Israel are conditional on Palestinian statehood. Even before October 7, the Israeli prime minister paid only the most passing lip service to the two-state solution. Since then, he has steadfastly vowed that a state would be a reward for terrorism. He has endorsed Trumps plan to encourage the emigration of all 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza, and his far-right coalition partners are readying their plans to re-establish Jewish settlements in the enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in Washington, in February. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Trump has proven over and again that he is willing to force longtime American allies into uncomfortable positions if he thinks it will benefit him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His administration negotiated with the Taliban to withdraw Western forces from Afghanistan, leading to the eventual overthrow of the longtime American-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. Israels leaders are clearly nervous about what Trump might negotiate with Hamas. When it was revealed that the US was speaking with Hamas, the prime ministers office released a terse statement that Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas without saying what that position was. The question now will be how far Trump is willing to go. The US has almost no leverage on Hamas and US threats against Hamas are almost useless, Baskin said. The US is not likely to bomb Gaza or to have US boots on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main danger, in his view, is that the US would give a green light to further Israeli breaches of international law, such as cutting humanitarian supplies. Israel denies breaching international law in Gaza. There is no deal without ending the war and without Israel exiting Gaza. There is no end to the war without all of the hostages being freed. There is no real end to the war if Hamas militarily or politically continues to control Gaza. A Palestinian mother tends to her two-month-old baby, Yousaf, a hypothermia patient at Nasser Hospital, southern Gaza, on February 25. - Tareq El Hilou for CNN Trump may tell Hamas leadership that now is the time to leave Gaza, but his national security advisers will surely be telling him that America believes that the militant group has recruited more members than it has lost fighting Israel. A senior member of Hamas politburo, Osama Hamdan, said recently that the group has an opportunity to expand, and that any outside actor who comes into Gaza to do Israels bidding will be treated like Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels new military chief warned this week that the country must prepare for a prolonged multi-front war of attrition. That will not sit well with an American president who casts himself as a peacemaker. I understand that we are all still in a state of deep trauma, Baskin said of his fellow Israelis. I understand that the majority of Israelis today reject the idea of a Palestinian state. But the reality of more than 7 million Israeli Jews and more than 7 million Palestinian Arabs living on the land between the (Jordan) River and the (Mediterranean) Sea is much stronger and compelling than the current mood of Israeli public opinion. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) - U.S. government employees who have been fired in the Trump administration's purge of recently hired workers are responding with class action-style complaints claiming that the mass firings are illegal and tens of thousands of people should get their jobs back. Lawyers at two firms said on Thursday that they had filed six appeals with the federal Merit Systems Protection Board since last week and, along with other law firms, plan to bring about 15 more on an agency-by-agency basis on behalf of large groups of workers who were fired in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal workers must go through the merit board to challenge their terminations. But the panel's work could be brought to a standstill if President Donald Trump succeeds in removing the board's only Democratic member, Cathy Harris, who is locked in a legal battle with the administration to keep her job. Harris on Tuesday ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to temporarily reinstate nearly 6,000 probationary employees, while the board considers a challenge to their firing. Probationary workers typically have less than a year of service in their current roles, though some are longtime federal workers. The lawyers filing the new appeals, Christopher Bonk and Daniel Rosenthal, said the mass terminations of probationary employees amounted to layoffs that are supposed to be guided by complex rules. Probationary workers have limited legal protections compared with other civil servants, but agencies are still required to explain why they are being fired and give them advance notice of mass layoffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are regulations in place to make sure that layoffs, when necessary and appropriate, are done with intentionality," said Bonk, of the Maryland firm Gilbert Employment Law. "The Trump administration has willfully ignored the law." Appeals have been filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterans Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior and the Federal Deposit Insurance Company, the lawyers said. Reuters reviewed a redacted complaint filed against the Interior Department. The Interior Department and the FDIC declined to comment. The other agencies and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. POLITICAL TURMOIL Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three-member merit board reviews federal workers' appeals when they are fired or face discipline. Cases are typically first heard by administrative judges and then reviewed by the board, whose decisions can be appealed to a Washington, D.C.-based federal appeals court. Trump fired Harris from the board last month, and the administration is appealing a federal judge's ruling this week that said her removal was illegal. The term of another Democratic board member expired last week, leaving Harris and Acting Chair Henry Kerner, a Republican. If Harris is ultimately removed, the board will not have a quorum of at least two members that can decide workers' appeals. The agency's resources are also likely to be strained by an influx of new cases. More than 4,800 appeals were filed between the week Trump took office and March 1, according to the board. Trump had separately moved to fire Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, a watchdog agency that can bring cases to the merit board on behalf of federal employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dellinger filed the case that led Harris to reinstate workers at the Agriculture Department for 45 days. Only the Special Counsel, and not individual employees who file appeals with the board, can ask for a temporary ruling reinstating workers. Dellinger sued over his firing and was briefly reinstated, but a federal appeals court temporarily allowed Trump to remove him and he dropped his legal challenge on Thursday. Bonk and Rosenthal said the political turmoil was even more reason for federal workers to band together to challenge mass firings. "There's a lot that we don't know about what's going to happen, and that highlights the importance of bringing these appeals directly without going through the Special Counsel process," said Rosenthal, of the firm James & Hoffman in Washington, D.C. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Chizu Nomiyama) The United States government has issued an advisory for travelers heading to a popular vacation spot. On Tuesday, the US Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory on Turks and Caicos Islands, urging travelers to exercise increased caution when on these islands. A Level 2 advisory means that travelers should be aware of heightened risks to safety and security, as noted by the federal agency. The travel advisory for people going to Turks and Caicos is due to crime, with most occurring in Providenciales, which is one of the main islands in the archipelago. On this island, police may have limited investigatory resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All firearms and ammunition, including single bullets brought by mistake in carry-on bags or luggage, are illegal in Turks and Caicos, and those laws are strictly enforced by the police. Travelers who break these laws could face arrest, jail time, or heavy fines. Some U.S. citizens have been detained and unable to depart for several weeks or more after being found with bullets in their luggage. Offenders can face 12 years or more in prison, the advisory reads. Though the law allows for some exceptions and discretion, the Department of State cannot guarantee your release. For travelers who are going to Turks and Caicos, the US Department of State urges them to follow a few guidelines. This includes passengers checking their luggage for bullets and firearms before leaving the US, and to buy travel insurance before they go. US government issues level 2 travel advisory for Americans going to Turks and Caicos (Getty Images) Travelers on the islands are also encouraged to avoid walking alone and at night, and they should not answer their door at their hotels unless they know who it is. They also should not physically resist any robbery attempt, and they should prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. The government also recommends travelers enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, which allows the US State Department can quickly contact them in case of emergency. The program is free to join. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, five Americans were arrested in Turks and Caicos on charges they illegally carried ammunition during trips to the popular destination, and they could have been sentenced to up to 12 years of jail time. At the time, three of the arrests prompted pleas for mercy from the governors of Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia. One man from Pennsylvania, Bryan Hagerich was able to return to the US, after being given a suspended sentence of 52 weeks. He also said to pay a $6,700 fine. A terminally ill man from Texas, Michael Lee Evans, was given a 33-week suspended sentence after pleading guilty to having ammunition in his luggage, as reported by CBS News. A third American arrested, a woman from Florida named Sharitta Grier, was given a 23-week suspended sentence and paid a $1,500 fine. The fourth American arrested, a man from Virginia named Tyler Wenrich, was sentenced to time served with a $9,000 fine, while Ryan Watson from Oklahoma received a 13-week imprisonment, which was suspended for nine months. Watson also paid a $2,000 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The British territory significantly tightened its gun laws in 2022 following a jump in gun violence and weapons trafficking. The strict penalties were meant to protect the community by deterring gun crimes, the government has said. In gun and ammunition cases, courts have sentencing discretion for exceptional circumstances, but they cannot limit punishment to a fine with no prison term, the country's Court of Appeal ruled in February 2024. The halt in intelligence sharing between the United States and Ukraine could significantly strengthen Russian aviation, which has so far been severely restricted due to Ukrainian strikes on military targets in Russias rear. This could impact the course of hostilities by increasing the frequency and effectiveness of Russian aerial attacks. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: ISW experts noted that without access to US intelligence, Ukraine will have fewer opportunities to target Russian air defence systems. Russian aircraft will be able to operate more aggressively, reducing the distance required to launch glide bombs and missiles on Ukrainian territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Kremlin has repeatedly insisted on an end to the provision of all foreign assistance to Ukraine as part of any peace agreement," ISW said. ISW emphasised that Ukrainian strikes on military targets within Russia had significantly affected the combat capability of Russian forces. In particular, the destruction of ammunition depots in the town of Toropets (Tver Oblast) and the Tikhoretsk arsenal (Krasnodar Oblast) has reduced missile and shell supplies, weakening the Russian armys capabilities. Quote: "Russian forces previously leveraged their quantitative artillery ammunition advantage and glide bomb strikes to facilitate battlefield gains by destroying settlements before deploying infantry to attack the area. Ukrainian strikes against military targets in Russia also pushed Russian aircraft operations further from Ukraine into Russia's rear areas, hindering Russia's ability to conduct glide bomb and missile strikes against Ukrainian frontline positions from Russian airspace." To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 5 March: The Trump administration suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine, one of many demands the Kremlin has made of the US, Ukraine, and Ukraine's other supporters. The suspension of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine will damage Ukraine's ability to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks against military and civilian targets. The suspension of all US intelligence sharing with Ukraine would also allow Russian forces to intensify their drone and missile strikes against the Ukrainian rear, affecting millions of Ukrainian civilians and the growth of Ukraine's defence industrial base (DIB). The Trump administration has been applying considerable pressure on Ukraine, whose leaders continue to offer concessions and publicly declare their interest in achieving a lasting end to the war. These Trump administration policies are undermining the leverage that the United States needs to get Russian leader Vladimir Putin to accept any peace agreement that is in the interests of the United States, Ukraine, and Europe. Kremlin officials announced their intention of taking advantage of the suspension of US military aid and intelligence sharing to make additional battlefield gains. Russian officials continue inaccurately to place the blame on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and not Russian leader Vladimir Putin for the lack of meaningful peace negotiations. Kremlin officials continue to use business incentives to make further demands of the United States and to push the United States to de facto recognise Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk and Pokrovsk. Over 50,000 Russian servicemembers are reportedly listed as having abandoned their units and being absent without leave (AWOL) between February 2022 and mid-December 2024. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The U.S. pause on sharing intelligence with Kyiv affects warnings against Russian drones and missiles striking Ukrainian military and civilian targets, the New York Times reported on March 5, citing undisclosed U.S. and Ukrainian officials. The U.S. stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine on March 5, shortly after it froze all military assistance as part of an effort to pressure Kyiv into quick negotiations with Russia. Russian forces regularly launch drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, inflicting heavy civilian casualties. A Russian missile strike against a hotel in Kryvyi Rih late on March 5, carried out shortly after the intelligence sharing pause, killed four people and injured at least 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to figures released by Kyiv, U.N. statistics, and open-source data published by BBC Russia, the total death toll of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers, as well as Ukrainian civilians, stood at over 148,000 as of mid-February. A senior Ukrainian official told the NYT that the pause in intelligence sharing would make it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to strike Russian targets. Kyiv still has access to other satellite imagery, they added. Valerii Kondratiuk, the former Ukraine's spy chief, said that intelligence sharing is concerned primarily with the exchange of satellite images. While European companies have their own satellites, they are not focused on military movements, he added. Some unnamed U.S. officials voiced hope that any pause in intelligence sharing would be short and have little practical impact. A senior Trump administration official told the NYT the original plan was to suspend military and intelligence sharing for a week or two as part of a campaign to put pressure on President Volodymyr Zelensky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the NYT, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has a "sizable presence" in Ukraine, with some of its officers deployed in the country to help Ukraine with targeting. The CIA has also helped set up at least three secret signals intelligence collection bases that Ukraine uses to intercept Russian communications to reduce their reliance on U.S. intelligence, the newspaper reported. The conflict between Kyiv and Washington has been simmering for weeks as U.S. President Donald Trump adopted increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Zelensky while intensifying diplomatic outreach to Moscow. The most explosive episode came on Feb. 28, when Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance publicly berated Zelensky in the Oval Office, derailing plans for the signing of a minerals agreement. Read also: Ukraine war latest: US halts intelligence sharing with Ukraine, CIA director confirms Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. As American travelers get ready to head to beachfront destinations for spring break and summer, the U.S. Department of State has issued a new travel advisory for Turks and Caicos Islands due to crime. The State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory on Tuesday for the British overseas territory, signaling travelers to exercise increased caution. "Most crime occurs in Providenciales. Police may have limited investigatory resources," the agency stated in its country summary. "U.S. Embassy Nassau, located in The Bahamas, provides consular services (including assistance to victims of crime) for U.S. citizens in the Turks and Caicos Islands." PHOTO: Turks and Caicos (Nancy C. Ross/Getty Images) The alert also reminded travelers that "firearms and ammunition, including single bullets brought by mistake in carry-on bags or luggage, are illegal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Police strictly enforce these laws, even at the airport when travelers are leaving. Travelers face arrest, jail time, and heavy fines. Some U.S. citizens have been detained and unable to depart for several weeks or more after being found with bullets in their luggage," the travel advisory stated. "Offenders can face 12 years or more in prison. Though the law allows for some exceptions and discretion, the Department of State cannot guarantee your release." What to know about travel to Turks and Caicos Islands For anyone with plans to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the State Department outlined a few helpful safety points: Check your luggage and hand baggage carefully for bullets or firearms before leaving the United States. Do not bring these items to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Avoid walking alone and at night. Do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the latest travel health information. Recommended: Buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance and trip cancellation coverage. US issues travel advisory for Turks and Caicos originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com (This Mar. 6 story has been corrected to clarify that the judge denied an injunction, not barred copies, in the headline) By Patrick Wingrove and Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge has refused to allow compounding pharmacies to keep making copies of Eli Lilly's popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro in the United States. The decision was filed late on Wednesday in response to an October lawsuit from a compounding industry group against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision last year that there was no longer a shortage of the medicines' active ingredient, tirzepatide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Compounders had been allowed to produce hundreds of thousands of doses of copies of obesity drugs only while the FDA said there was a shortage of them. The Outsourcing Facility Association, the lead plaintiff in this case, has said its estimates put the number of people taking compounded tirzepatide in the millions. Without a shortage, compounders may not produce copies of commercially available drugs regularly or in large amounts, according to FDA guidance. The FDA had said it would not take any enforcement action against compounders before the court ruled. Smaller compounding pharmacies, which make drugs to fill prescriptions for individual patients and are primarily overseen by U.S. states, must immediately cease making copies of tirzepatide. The FDA has given larger so-called outsourcing facilities, which make compounded drugs in bulk and are regulated by the agency, until March 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The compounders argued in their lawsuit that the FDA relied solely on statements by Lilly in determining that there was no shortage, and that patients were still often unable to access the drugs. They asked U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman for a preliminary order barring the agency from taking enforcement action against them while their lawsuit went forward. Wednesday's order from the judge rejecting that request was sealed and not available for review by Reuters or other parties, including the Outsourcing Facility Association. "We are stunned by the judge's decision, but without the opportunity to review the sealed order, we cannot comment on why he made this decision," Lee Rosebush, chairman for the Outsourcing Facility Association, said in a statement, adding that the association was considering its options. The FDA declined to comment. Lilly said the decision "marks the end of the road for mass compounding" of its drugs, and that it would work with regulators and law enforcement to stop the sale of these copies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDA last month removed Novo Nordisk's competing drugs Wegovy and Ozempic from the shortage list, and compounders have sued the agency over that decision as well. The case remains pending. Insurers generally cover Lilly's and Novo's drugs for diabetes, but many do not cover the weight-loss medications. That has led many patients to pay out of pocket for compounded versions, which are typically much cheaper. (Reporting by Patrick Wingrove and Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Franklin Paul and Bill Berkrot) The US may not defend Nato allies who do not meet Donald Trumps spending targets as part of a major shake-up of the alliance. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said: When I came to Nato, when I first had my first meeting, I noticed that people werent paying their bills at all, and I said I should wait till my second meeting. And I did. And I brought that up, and I said, if you dont pay your bills, were not going to participate. Were not going to protect you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And when I said that, as soon as they said that, it was amazing how the money came in, the money came in, and now they have money. But even now, its not enough. They should be paying more. His comments come after it was reported the administration is redrawing Nato engagement in a way that favours member countries with higher defence spending. The president is also said to be considering prioritising military exercise with member countries that are spending the set percentage of GDPs on their defence, officials told the broadcaster. Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised Nato countries for not meeting the current two per cent spending goal, arguing that the disparity puts an unfair burden on the United States which spends around 3.4 per cent of its GDP on defence, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ( SIPRI ). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nato has to pay more, Mr Trump said in January after taking office. Its ridiculous because it affects them a lot more. We have an ocean in between. The move would come after Sir Keir Starmer announced that he would meet a commitment to spend 2.5 per cent on defence by 2027, an investment he hoped would improve his relationship with the president. In what he called the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, Sir Keir said the increase will be funded by a cut to the overseas aid budget, which will be reduced from 0.5 per cent of GDP to 0.3 per cent. Five nations Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Poland and the US spend more than three per cent on defence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poland has the highest dedicating 4.12 per cent of its GDP to the cause. He wants to rework it so it is more favourable to those that spend more, a source close to the administration told The Telegraph. He is saying to European leaders that beating your chest and cashing the cheque are two different things. Facing the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift under Mr Trump, European Union leaders launched a day of emergency talks on Thursday in an attempt to beef up their own security and ensure Ukraine will still be protected. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, has proposed a plan to loosen budget rules so countries that are willing can spend much more on defence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her proposal is underpinned by 150 billion euros ($162 billion) worth of loans to buy priority military equipment. Most of the increased defence spending would have to come from national budgets at a time when many countries are already overburdened with debt. Part of Mrs von der Leyens plan includes measures to ensure struggling member states will not be punished for going too deep into the red if the spending is earmarked for defence. Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, she said. Watershed moment for Europe Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, who attended the summit, received warm bonhomie from most leaders a stark contrast with the verbal lashing he got from Mr Trump last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to thank all our European leaders, Mr Zelensky said. Strong support from the very beginning of the war. During all this period, and last week, you stayed with us. This is a watershed moment for Europe and Ukraine as part of our European family. Its also a watershed moment for Ukraine, Mrs von der Leyen said as she stood alongside Mr Zelensky before striding together into the summit. Part of any security plan would be the protection of the increasingly beleaguered position of Ukraine. European leaders meet in London to discuss how they can support Ukraine - JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP Twenty countries could join Sir Keir Starmers plan for peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, as efforts to create a coalition of the willing stepped up in Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain and France are leading proposals for a post-war settlement in the hope of ending the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Countries that have publicly indicated they will consider sending peacekeeping troops to enforce a deal include Australia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkey, which has the second largest army in Nato after the US. A number of other countries have not ruled out sending troops, including Canada, Denmark, and Sweden. It is understood that nations involved in a meeting on Wednesday were largely European and Commonwealth countries. Early this week, Mr Trump ordered a pause in US military supplies being sent to Ukraine as he sought to press Mr Zelensky to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Washington halted military aid for Ukraine, Mr Zelensky said it was regrettable what happened in their Oval Office meeting and told the US president that it is time to make things right. None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians, the Ukrainian leader said, praising Mr Trumps strong leadership. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A U.S. Navy sailor was indicted on Thursday in Japan on negligent driving charges related to a deadly vehicle crash, a Navy spokesperson said. The sailor is affiliated with the U.S. Fleet Activities in Yokosuka, Japan, and was "involved in a motor-vehicle incident with a Japanese national on Sept. 18, 2024," Cmdr. Paul Macapagal, spokesperson for U.S. Naval Forces Japan, told ABC News in an emailed statement. "It would be inappropriate to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings," Macapagal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Navy did not identify the sailor by name, but local media and Stars and Stripes identified him as Jaden Llanos. The sailor has reportedly been held in U.S. custody since the crash. The crash was reportedly near the Womble Gate at the naval base in Yokosuka. Tsubasa Ito, a 22-year-old motorcyclist, was killed in the crash, according to Stars and Stripes and TBS, a Japanese news outlet. US Navy sailor indicted in Japan over deadly vehicle crash, Navy says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Senior Trump administration officials are planning a meeting with their Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia next week, to begin discussions about a cease-fire to end the countrys war with Russia. Special envoy Steve Witkoff, who confirmed Thursday that planning was underway, will be part of the U.S. delegation alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz. The idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and initial cease-fire, Witkoff told reporters outside the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another administration official, granted anonymity to discuss plans that are not yet public, confirmed that the meeting has been under discussion and is possible. One aspect of the meeting that remains unsettled, Witkoff said, was the city in Saudi Arabia where the meeting could take place. Zelenskyy confirmed the meeting on X, reiterating that Ukraine is most interested in peace. The Ukrainian leader did not say he would participate in the talks, but instead said his team would remain in Saudi Arabia after a pre-planned visit between Zelenskyy and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The meeting would be the first high-level, in-person engagement between the U.S. and Ukraine since last Fridays disastrous Oval Office meeting, where President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and scuttled plans to sign an economic agreement to share profits from Ukraines rare earth minerals. Since that public breakdown, Trump and aides have signaled that Zelenskyy would have to demonstrate a willingness to negotiate a truce with Russia in order for the U.S. to reengage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witkoff said Thursday that another visit to Washington could still come. There is a path back, and President Zelenskyy has demonstrated that he is intent on that good faith path back, he said. The path briefly seemed clearer when Trump appeared to soften his public rhetoric on the wartime president during his Tuesday night address to Congress, lauding Zelenskyy for penning an important letter expressing gratitude for the U.S. support and promising to work under President Trumps strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. But the administration continued amping up the pressure on Kyiv this week by pausing all military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence sharing. Four senior Trump allies have also held secret meetings, first reported by POLITICO, with some of Zelenskyys top political rivals amid growing calls from Trump allies for Ukraine to hold presidential elections. Elections have been on hold while the country remains under martial law, with some critics arguing that launching an election during the countrys upheaval could strengthen Russias hand. Trumps recent shift away from European allies and increasing alignment with Russia which the Kremlin has gleefully embraced has prompted panic from European leaders, who have been scrambling to respond to the upheaval of the global security order. European Union leaders kicked offan emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday, pushing to replace U.S. military aid in the wake of Trumps cuts. The United States has stopped sending Ukraine critical intelligence as relations remain strained following a blow-up between the countries' two leaders at the White House, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said on Wednesday. In an interview with the Fox Business network, Ratcliffe confirmed there had been a "pause" in support "on the military front and the intelligence front." On Monday, the Trump administration announced it was suspending the delivery of all US military aid to Ukraine. Ukraine has been defending itself from an all-out attack by Russia for more than three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the CIA chief offered Kiev some hope that support could soon be resumed following the recent reconciliation efforts from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said separately on Fox News that if Kiev is willing to put forward "confidence-building measures" then Trump "will take a hard look at lifting this pause." 'Moving in a positive direction,' says Waltz Waltz later spoke of progress in repairing relations with Ukraine and moving towards a possible end to the war with Russia. "I think we're moving in a positive direction," Waltz told Fox News. He had spoken to the head of Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak, on the phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yermak and Zelensky have also confirmed the call. Waltz explained that they are currently talking to the Ukrainians about "a location, a date, negotiating team" for a new meeting. "Confidence-building measures" are also being discussed which could then be presented to the Russian side "to test" how they react. "Yesterday and today was a positive step forward ... we are going to negotiate this peace," added Waltz. According to Yermak, steps towards "a just and lasting peace" were discussed. There was also an exchange of views on security issues and the harmonization of bilateral relations. Zelensky confirms plans "Today our teams - those of Ukraine and the US - have started to prepare a meeting," Zelensky said in his nightly video address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yermak had spoken to the us national security advisor on the phone, Zelensky added. The first results of talks may be available as early as next week, Zelensky said, but it remained unclear who would take part in a possible meeting. Zelensky said on Tuesday he was ready to work under Trump's "strong leadership" to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine, days after their explosive Oval Office meeting in which Zelensky called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "killer and terrorist." The exchange, in which Zelensky was criticized as being ungrateful and accused of wanting to prolong the war, led to Trump pausing US military aid to Ukraine as a pressure tactic to get him to move toward the negotiating table. Macron warns of Russia's aims French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the threat to Europe from Russia. In a televised speech on Wednesday evening, Macron said that Russia is continuing to pursue its rearmament in parallel with its war of against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In this context, who can believe that today's Russia will stop at Ukraine? Russia has become a threat to France and Europe while I am speaking to you and for years to come." "Overall, our prosperity and our security have become more uncertain, and it must be said that we are entering a new era," Macron said. "Beyond Ukraine, the Russian threat is present and affects the countries of Europe. It affects us." Russia has already turned the Ukraine conflict into a global conflict, the French president asserted. Russia sees Ukrainian law as obstacle to talks In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Zelensky's willingness to negotiate for peace a "positive" step but said the Ukrainian leader had legally barred such negotiations with Putin through a decree he signed in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So, in general, the approach is positive, but the nuances have not yet changed," Peskov said. "For the time being, there's still a legal ban on the president of Ukraine negotiating with the Russian side." Zelensky proposed a new framework for a partial ceasefire, which would include a "ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure." A top Zelensky adviser reiterated on Wednesday that Moscow must stop its relentless attacks, if it is truly interested in a peace deal. "Russia must immediately stop the daily bombardment of Ukraine if it really wants an end to the war," wrote Yermak on Telegram. Russian barrage continues Russia struck Ukraine overnight with 181 drones and four missiles, authorities in Kiev said on Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov also responded to Kremlin ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's offer to host negotiations in Minsk, calling it "the best place" due to Belarus being Russia's "most important ally." However, Ukraine views Belarus as a warring party, given its role in facilitating Russian military actions, making such a venue unlikely. Germany: First step could be halt to air, naval strikes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Zelensky by phone on Wednesday and welcomed the Ukrainian leader's willingness to talk peace, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two leaders agreed on the importance of Trump's leadership in achieving an early ceasefire and lasting peace in Ukraine. He added that a first step could be an end to air and naval strikes and attacks on civilian energy infrastructure. Scholz and other EU leaders will discuss their response on Thursday at an EU summit. Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the United States. Denying speculation that Macron was going to travel to Washington with Zelensky and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the French leader's spokeswoman said a trip by the trio was "possible" but "not planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in the United Kingdom there was a diplomatic push to secure peace as British Defence Secretary John Healey headed to Washington on Wednesday. Healey is set to meet on Thursday with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, a former Fox news host. US President Donald Trump (R) meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in presnce of US Vice President JD Vance (2nd R) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in the Oval Office of the White House. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa US President Donald Trump wants the signing of a deal on mineral extraction in Ukraine to be conditional on Kyiv agreeing to a ceasefire in the war with Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Source: Bloomberg, citing its own sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: Bloomberg revealed that Washington has made it clear to European officials that Trump is willing to finalise the natural resources deal only if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to a tangible path towards a ceasefire and negotiations with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These additional conditions are the main reason why the economic cooperation deal has not yet been signed, despite public statements from both Trump and Zelenskyy indicating their willingness to do so, sources told the agency on condition of anonymity. Some sources indicated that progress on the deal could be made in the coming days. Others warned that the US position could change at any time, as Trump is known for shifting his stance. Several Trump administration officials recently stated that the critical minerals deal is an essential component of the US presidents peace plan for Ukraine. There is no indication that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is prepared to agree to a ceasefire. Nor is there evidence that the US is pressuring Moscow to compromise, in contrast to the demands placed on Zelenskyy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any ceasefire would require both Russia and Ukraine to agree to halt hostilities. In recent days, the US has increased pressure on Zelenskyy by suspending all military aid and intelligence sharing. European officials believe this is meant to persuade the Ukrainian leader to align with Trumps objectives. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News that if progress is made towards these negotiations and some confidence-building measures are put on the table, then the president will carefully consider the possibility of lifting this pause [on assistance]. At the same time, US officials are reportedly in talks with Russia, though it remains unclear whether any pressure is being applied to Moscow to bring it to the negotiating table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several European officials believe that Putins ultimate goal of conquering Ukraine has not changed and that the Russian leader cannot be trusted. They argue that the war will only end if Putin halts his invasion. Background: Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich reported that next week, representatives of Trumps administration will visit Saudi Arabia to meet with a Ukrainian delegation, including Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. On Thursday, 6 March, US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg stated that Trumps approach to the Russia-Ukraine war involves resetting relations with Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Department of Education has been a source of political controversy since opening its doors in 1980 during Jimmy Carters presidency. President Ronald Reagan, who was first elected that year, called for it to be disbanded. As a scholar of educational policy and the balance of federal and state roles in American education, I believe that understanding the department and its leaders responsibilities is especially important today. Every child in the United States is required to attend school in some capacity, and what happens at the federal level can have real-world impacts on students ranging from preschool to grad school. In addition, President Donald Trump has pledged to dismantle the department. And his secretary of education, Linda McMahon, has made it clear that shes on board with this final mission for the agency shes running. The secretary of education The secretary of education belongs to the presidents cabinet, leads the Department of Education and advises the president about educational policy issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They oversee a department with a US$228 billion budget that enforces many civil rights laws and ensures compliance with federal laws such as the Every Student Succeeds Act. Some of the Education Departments key responsibilities include administering Title I funding to help schools serving low-income students obtain an equitable education regardless of their socioeconomic status; managing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act known as IDEA to ensure services for students with disabilities; and overseeing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA which helps millions of students afford college. Through the FAFSA, millions of students obtain Pell Grants, which dont have to be repaid, student loans, which do, as well as part-time work-study jobs. In the U.S., education is mainly a state responsibility. As a result, the function of schooling largely falls to individual states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each state has its own education system, with most designating a significant amount of control to local jurisdictions. Locally elected school boards bear the responsibility for setting many policies and approving budgets for their district. Federal funding makes up about 14% of K-12 education funding. States and localities foot the rest of the bill, mostly through a combination of taxes on income and property. In some cases, there are other taxes, such as those on tobacco and alcohol sales, or revenue is raised through state lottery systems. These funding formulas can be complicated and inequitable. Secretaries who stood out Ultimately, the role of the secretary of education is less about wielding substantial power and more about using the position as a platform to influence the national conversation on education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Education secretaries often act as thought leaders, shaping public dialogue and policies rather than directly implementing sweeping change. Some have garnered more attention than others. William Bennett, who served as secretary of education during the Reagan administration, became a prominent conservative voice. He advocated for virtue-based education rooted in traditional values. Bennett also sharply criticized public education and teachers unions, blaming them for the perceived decline in the quality of American education. Margaret Spellings commanded more national attention as secretary of education than most people who have held the position during her tenure in the George W. Bush administration. Spellings championed standards-based education with an emphasis on accountability. She played an important role in implementing No Child Left Behind, a federal education initiative that aimed to increase accountability by requiring all public schools to meet consistent standards. Arne Duncan, who served as education secretary during the Obama administration, also made a lot of headlines. His Race to the Top program encouraged school districts and states to compete for federal funding as a way to drive improvement through competition. Duncans support for school choice and policy reforms, as well as his occasional criticisms of teachers unions, made him a controversial figure including within his own Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Betsy DeVos, who served during Trumps first administration, was one of the most polarizing education secretaries in the departments brief history. Her tenure was defined more by efforts to diminish federal influence in education than attempts to build new initiatives or improve public education. DeVos also supported the establishment of religious charter schools, which are funded with tax dollars but operated independently of local school systems. Student loan debt The amount of student debt Americans owe has hovered around $1.75 trillion in recent years. Reducing that burden was among the top priorities of Miguel Cardona, President Joe Bidens education secretary. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Bidens plan to forgive up to $20,000 per borrower. In response, the Biden administration announced other student debt relief efforts that included lower loan payments and additional forgiveness; most of them are on hold due to pending court cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the courts will determine the legality of these relief efforts underscoring the limits of the secretary of educations power. With the scale of this debt, I am certain that student loan debt is likely to remain a big focus for anyone serving as the secretary of education. Culture wars battleground Debates regarding education policies sometimes double as battles over cultural issues, such as LGBTQ rights in schools and whether parents should have more control over what students are taught in classrooms. Conservative groups such as Moms for Liberty have pushed for laws that restrict discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity and have supported bans on transgender athletes in school sports. LGBTQ rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, support policies that protect trans children from bullying at school. On the chopping block? The education secretarys job would go away if Trump were to succeed with his campaign promise to close up the department. Doing that would require an act of Congress, but experts question whether such a measure would prevail when Republicans have narrow majorities in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if the department were abolished, many federal education programs could be distributed to other agencies. The debate over the federal governments role in education predates the establishment of the Department of Education. I have no doubt that it would continue should there not be a secretary of education anymore. This story is part of a series of profiles of Cabinet and high-level administration positions. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Dustin Hornbeck, University of Memphis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Dustin Hornbeck does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche to serve as Deputy Attorney General, the No. 2 role at the Justice Department. Blanche was confirmed in a 52-46 vote, with all Democrats voting against his nomination. As Deputy Attorney General, Blanche will be in charge of overseeing all 93 U.S. Attorneys across the country, as well as the department's law enforcement components including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blanche's former law partner Emil Bove, who worked with him to defend Trump against federal and state criminal charges, has been serving as Acting Deputy Attorney General until Blanche could be confirmed. Since that time, Bove has presided over the firings of top FBI officials and prosecutors who were involved with politically sensitive matters, including former Special Counsel Jack Smith's two criminal cases against Trump and people who investigated and prosecuted rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. He also ordered prosecutors to dismiss criminal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, leading eight prosecutors in Washington and New York City to resign in protest. Once Blanche starts his job, Bove will continue working closely with Blanche as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On her first day, Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered the Deputy Attorney General's office to launch a so-called "weaponization working group" that will be tasked with reviewing the two criminal cases brought against Trump by Smith for retaining classified documents and trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election, as well as Trump's conviction in New York on falsifying records to hide hush-money payments to a porn star. During his confirmation hearing, Blanche dodged questions about whether he would recuse himself from reviewing cases that he was directly involved in as Trump's defense attorney. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Marguerita Choy) The US government will stop sharing air quality data gathered from its embassies and consulates, worrying local scientists and experts who say the effort was vital to monitor global air quality and improve public health. In response to an inquiry from The Associated Press, the State Department said Wednesday that its air quality monitoring program would no longer transmit air pollution data from embassies and consulates to the Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow app and other platforms, which allowed locals in various countries, along with scientists around the globe, to see and analyze air quality in cities around the world. The stop in sharing data was due to funding constraints that have caused the Department to turn off the underlying network read the statement, which added that embassies and consulates were directed to keep their monitors running and the sharing of data could resume in the future if funding was restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fiscal cut, first reported by the New York Times, is one of many under President Donald Trump, whose administration has been deprioritizing environmental and climate initiatives. The US air quality monitors measured dangerous fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and lead to respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and premature death. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year. News of the data sharing being cut prompted immediate reaction from scientists who said the data were reliable, allowed for air quality monitoring around the world and helped prompt governments to clean up the air. A pedestrian wears a face mask in front of a sign displaying the Air Quality Index in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 6, 2025. - Sakchai Lalit/AP/File A big blow to global air quality research Bhargav Krishna, an air pollution expert at New Delhi-based Sustainable Futures Collaborative, called the loss of data a big blow to air quality research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were part of a handful of sensors in many developing countries and served as a reference for understanding what air quality was like, Krishna said. They were also seen to be a well-calibrated and unbiased source of data to cross-check local data if there were concerns about quality. Its a real shame, said Alejandro Piracoca Mayorga, a Bogota, Colombia-based freelance air quality consultant. US embassies and consulates in Lima, Peru, Sao Paulo and Bogota have had the public air monitoring. It was a source of access to air quality information independent of local monitoring networks. They provided another source of information for comparison. Khalid Khan, an environmental expert and advocate based in Pakistan, agreed, saying the shutdown of air quality monitoring will have significant consequences. Khan noted that the monitors in Peshawar, Pakistan, one of the most polluted cities in the world, provided crucial real-time data which helped policy makers, researchers and the public to take decisions on their health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their removal means a critical gap in environmental monitoring, leaving residents without accurate information on hazardous air conditions, Khan said. He said vulnerable people in Pakistan and around the world are particularly at risk as they are the least likely to have access to other reliable data. In Africa, the program provided air quality data for over a dozen countries including Senegal, Nigeria, Chad and Madagascar. Some of those countries depend almost entirely on the US monitoring systems for their air quality data. The WHOs air quality database will also be affected by the closing of US program. Many poor countries dont track air quality because stations are too expensive and complex to maintain, meaning they are entirely reliant on US embassy monitoring data. A bird flies through a thick layer of smog in New Delhi, India, on November 20, 2024. - Manish Swarup/AP/File Monitors strengthened local efforts In some places, the US air quality monitors propelled nations to start their own air quality research and raised awareness, Krishna said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In China, for example, data from the US Embassy in Beijing famously contradicted official government reports, showing worse pollution levels than authorities acknowledged. It led to China improving air quality. Officials in Pakistans eastern Punjab province, which struggles with smog, said they were unfazed by the removal of the US monitors. Environment Secretary Raja Jahangir said Punjab authorities have their own and plan to purchase 30 more. Shweta Narayan, a campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said the shutdown of monitors in India is a huge setback but also a critical opportunity for the Indian government to step up and fill the gaps. By strengthening its own air quality monitoring infrastructure, ensuring data transparency, and building public trust in air quality reporting, India can set a benchmark for accountability and environmental governance, Narayan said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The United States has completely halted the exchange of intelligence information with Ukraine, including data on military targets and warnings about Russian missile and drone launches against Ukrainian territory. Source: The Wall Street Journal; The Economist correspondent Oliver Carroll, citing sources Details: Carroll wrote that at around 14:00 Kyiv time, the United States cut off the "key intel link for alerts". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Before that: targeting data for HIMARS. Ukraine also isnt receiving realtime information for long-range strikes. 'Trump wanted a thank you,' says a source. 'We will be writing it on graves of dead Ukrainians'," Carroll quoted his anonymous source. America cut a key intel link for alerts at 2pm Kyiv. Before that: targeting data for HIMARS. Ukraine also isnt receiving realtime information for long-range strikes. Trump wanted a thank you, says a source. We will be writing it on graves of dead Ukrainians Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) March 5, 2025 CIA Director John Ratcliffe and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the pause in intelligence support, but both suggested that the pause could be short-lived if Ukraine quickly returns to the negotiating table. The WSJ, citing an unnamed American official, reported that the suspension of intelligence-sharing applies not only to target designation for strikes against Russian forces but also to warnings about possible Russian drone and missile launches against Ukrainian territory. Valerii Kondratiuk, former head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, stated that "everything that came from the Department of Defense has stopped". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This mostly concerns the exchange of imagery. This isnt critical because European companies have their own satellites, but not all these are focused on military dislocation and movements, which is important," Kondratiuk emphasised. Quote: "The CIA has a sizable presence in the country, where it has been working alongside the Ukrainians to help with targeting. Some of its officers have been deployed to Ukrainian bases, where they review lists of potential Russian targets that the Ukrainians are preparing to strike, comparing the information that the Ukrainians have with US intelligence to ensure that it is accurate. The CIA has also helped the Ukrainians build at least three secret signals-intelligence collection bases, which the Ukrainians use to intercept Russian communications, reducing their dependence on the United States for intelligence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: A senior Trumps administration official told the WSJ that "the initial plan was to pause military and intelligence sharing for a week or two as part of the campaign to pressure Mr. Zelenskyy". Background: Earlier, the British tabloid Daily Mail reported that the US had banned the UK from sharing intelligence gathered from Washington with Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal previously stated that the suspension of US military aid to Ukraine could remain in effect until Donald Trump deems that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supports peace talks with Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Luc Cohen, Karen Freifeld and Chris Prentice MIAMI - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said on Thursday she would support revisiting sentencing guidelines for white collar crime because the current framework leads to uneven punishments. The amount of money involved has more sway than the level of culpability, Jackson noted at an American Bar Association conference in Miami. "Fairness requires that similarly situated defendants be treated similarly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'd like to see the guidelines revisited as a whole," she said to applause from the audience largely composed of white collar criminal defense lawyers. Jackson, an appointee of former Democratic President Joe Biden, previously served on the independent U.S. Sentencing Commission, which develops guidelines for judges to consider as they impose sentences. During her time on the commission, she said the recommended sentences in white collar cases "ratcheted way, way up" because of the rising amount of money involved in fraud schemes. Judges are not required to impose a sentence within the guidelines. Some violent crimes and drug offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences, while white collar crimes do not, Jackson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson was interviewed at the conference by former San Francisco U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey, her onetime classmate at Harvard Law School. Asked about the court's 6-3 decision last year finding broad immunity from criminal prosecutions for presidents, in a challenge brought by President Donald Trump, Jackson pointed to her written dissent arguing the decision was introducing inequality in the criminal justice system. Regarding social relationships on the court, Jackson said she was closest in age and life circumstances with Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, and the two frequently talk about being working mothers. Jackson, a musical theater aficionado, said Barrett threw her a party based on the Broadway play "Hamilton" after she joined the nation's highest court. (Reporting by Luc Cohen, Karen Freifeld and Chris Prentice in Miami; Editing by Richard Chang) The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 5 the Trump administration must adhere to a lower court ruling that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) restart payments worth nearly $2 billion for the remaining USAID projects. The split 5-4 decision did not explain the reasoning for its decision, nor did it provide a timeline as to when the payments must restart, but did note that "feasibility of any compliance timelines" must be considered. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, who ordered the initial payments, must now provide clarity on the foreign aid's release. The ruling does not apply to the Trump administration's decision to terminate over 90% of the USAID foreign aid contracts that cuts $60 billion in foreign assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cuts will include 5,800 of 6,200 USAID contracts, purportedly saving $54 billion, and 4,100 of 9,100 State Department grants, for a cut of $4.4 billion, Politico reported. Multiple global health groups challenged the Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid for work already completed until Feb. 13. The White House initially appeared as though they would not comply with the court order but eventually appealed the decision. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration initally halted almost all foreign aid for 90 days for a review amid efforts to shutter the aid agency and merge it under the State Department. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, USAID has provided $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, $5 billion in development assistance, and more than $30 billion in direct budget support to Kyiv. The agency has funded school reconstruction, bomb shelters, critical energy repairs, and civil society initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has accused the agency of pushing a "liberal agenda" and widespread waste, despite foreign aid making up just 1% of the federal budget. USAID cuts not only marked a significant realignment of U.S. foreign policy but also threatened various Ukrainian organizations and projects across multiple sectors reliant on U.S. funding. Ukraine is in talks with private and EU partners to replace funding sources for key projects in energy infrastructure, veterans' affairs, and more. Read also: Trump may resume Ukraine aid after further progress toward peace, White House says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. DALLAS (AP) A large balloon used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for surveillance along the Texas border broke free and traveled about 600 miles (966 kilometers) to the north before crashing as high winds swept through the state, officials said. On Monday afternoon, the aerostat system broke free from its tether during a severe wind event on South Padre Island and contact was lost, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. The agency said it was located the next day in Hunt County, about 30 miles east of Dallas. All the neighbors were over there. Nobody knew what it was, Clay Hinton told WFAA television station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, he said, officials began arriving. I was like, oh, OK its not just a tarp or anything," he said. "Thats something! A storm system that moved through the Dallas area early Tuesday brought wind gusts over 75 mph (120 kph), and on Monday afternoon wind gusts in South Padre Island and the surrounding area had ranged from around 20 mph (32 kph) to 30 mph (48 kph), National Weather Service officials said. A fact sheet from Customs and Border Protection says it uses the Tethered Aerostat Radar System to detect low-altitude aircraft. The hull of the aerostat consists of an upper chamber filled with helium, and the lower chamber is a pressurized air compartment. Customs and Border Protection said it will work with federal, state and local officials to investigate the incident. The United States has suspended tariffs on most goods coming into the US from Mexico until April 2, President Donald Trump announced on the online platform Truth Social on Thursday. The announcement came after Trump spoke on the telephone with his Mexican counterpart, Claudia Sheinbaum. "I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum," Trump posted. "Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl," Trump added. "Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspension of tariffs applies to all goods under the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA), the replacement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiated by Trump during his first term as president. Trump had already granted a one-month reprieve to US car manufacturers on Wednesday. The White House announced that manufacturers would not have to pay punitive tariffs on products coming from Mexico or Canada under the USMCA during this period. The United States has suspended tariffs on most goods coming into the US from Mexico until April 2, President Donald Trump announced on the online platform Truth Social on Thursday. The announcement came after Trump spoke on the telephone with his Mexican counterpart, Claudia Sheinbaum. "I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum," Trump posted. "Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl," Trump added. "Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspension of tariffs applies to all goods under the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA), the replacement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiated by Trump during his first term as president. Trump had already granted a one-month reprieve to US car manufacturers on Wednesday. The White House announced that manufacturers would not have to pay punitive tariffs on products coming from Mexico or Canada under the USMCA during this period. Back and forth on tariffs in North America Tariffs on goods imported into the US from Canada and Mexico came into effect on Tuesday. Trump justified these punitive duties of 25% by saying that the two countries were not doing enough to combat cross-border drug trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada had responded with retaliatory tariffs of the same rate. Mexico also announced countermeasures, although the exact details were initially left unspecified. The US, in turn, reserved the right to respond with an expansion of its own tariffs. However, there is not expected to be a further escalation with Mexico for the time being. Whether the US could also temporarily suspend the punitive tariffs on Canadian goods is questionable. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau does not foresee a quick end to the trade conflict with the Trump administration, despite positive signals from Washington. Trudeau said in Ottawa that the tariff dispute would continue "for the foreseeable future." He described a phone call with Trump as "colourful," noting moments of tension during their discussion on resolving the dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trudeau responded to the US tariffs of 25% on all goods with counter-tariffs and maintained a firm stance. Trump initially threatened to further increase the tariffs but then announced a one-month delay on tariffs for certain goods from the automotive industry amidst sharply falling stock prices on the markets. At the beginning of February, a North American trade war was initially averted at short notice. Trump agreed to concessions, mainly concerning border security, just a few hours before the threatened tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico were originally due to take effect. In exchange, he postponed the trade restrictions for 30 days - but after the deadline earlier this week, he went ahead with the tariffs. Other trade conflicts continue Trump frequently uses tariff threats as a negotiation tactic to force concessions in other areas. This was already the case in his first term from 2017 to 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking office in January, he has not only initiated trade disputes with Canada and Mexico, he also imposed new tariffs on imports from China - initially at 10%, then doubled to 20% in a second step. Europeans are also likely to face tariffs from Trump. The US president has already issued such a threat several times, though without specifying details. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Though President Donald Trump delayed automotive industry tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports by one month, 25% taxes on all other goods coming into the United States may affect restaurants in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Restaurants are among the biggest industries that could be affected by the tariffs. Avocados, berries, tomatoes, bell peppers, sugar snap peas and tequila, all key imports from Mexico, could be affected along with canola oil from Canada, according to Jeff Cooperstein, a senior research associate at the Center for Business & Economic Research at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business. If these tariffs remain in effect which Cooperstein said is hard to forecast he said prices for both businesses and customers would likely increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump announces 1-month delay on Canada, Mexico tariffs for automakers Restaurant profit margins are pretty low, Cooperstein said. I think its very unrealistic to assume that restaurant owners are going to be able to internalize that entire tax themselves. Theyre going to pass on at least a percentage of the tariff increase to their consumers. One restaurant that may feel the brunt of these tariffs is Sabor Guacamole, located at 1120 N. Lindell Ave. in Fayetteville, as a decent number of appetizers and entrees include the use of avocados. Yair Cordero, the son of owners Jorge Cordero and Cristina Vargas, said the cost of a case of about 25 avocados fluctuates regularly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know that the lowest weve had them was like $45, Yair Cordero said. The highest weve had them was about $70 per case. Yair Cordero said between the name, logos and reputation of the restaurant, he knows customers are likely going to order guacamole, an avocado-based dip. However, if prices continue to rise as a result of the tariffs in place, Yair Cordero said the business will have to balance how many avocados it orders each time. Id say, if it were to happen, worst-case scenario we run out of avocados, Yair Cordero said. Ill worry about having to change the name (of the restaurant). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooperstein said the construction industry in Arkansas could be impacted if the tariffs stay in place due to the reliance on Canadian lumber. He said the Natural States aircraft, arms and pipe manufacturing production could be impacted if the price to get steel and aluminum from Mexico also continues to increase. Cooperstein said consumer power holds weight in economics, so if the prices of goods are too high, he suggests avoiding buying them. He also suggests calling attention to the high prices at the stores selling those products. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit widened to a record high in January amid front-loading of imports ahead of tariffs, suggesting that trade could be a drag on economic growth in the first quarter. The trade gap surged 34.0% to an all-time high of $131.4 billion from a revised $98.1 billion in December, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) said on Thursday. The percentage change was the largest since March 2015. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade deficit soaring to $127.4 billion from the previously reported $98.4 billion in December. President Donald Trump this week slapped a new 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada and doubled duties on Chinese goods to 20%, triggering a trade war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imports soared 10.0%, the most since July 2020, to $401.2 billion. Goods imports increased a record 12.3% to an all-time high of $329.5 billion. They were driven by a $23.1 billion increase in imports of industrial supplies and materials, mostly reflecting finished metal shapes, which are probably gold. Consumer goods imports rose $6.0 billion, boosted by pharmaceutical preparations, cell phones and other household goods. Imports of capital goods increased $4.6 billion amid rises in computers, computer accessories and telecommunications equipment. Imports of services rose $0.4 billion to $71.7 billion, lifted by rises in charges for the use of intellectual property and other business services. But travel service imports decreased. Exports rose 1.2% to $269.8 billion. Goods exports increased 1.6% to $172.8 billion, boosted by a $4.2 billion rise in capital goods that reflected civilian aircraft, semiconductors, computers and civilian aircraft engines. Consumer goods exports increased $1.7 billion, driven by pharmaceutical preparations and jewelry. But exports of other goods dropped $1.3 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food exports decreased $1.0 billion, pulled down by a $0.8 billion drop in soybeans. Exports of services increased $0.6 billion to $97.0 billion amid gains in financial, telecommunications, computer and information as well as other business and transport services. But exports of government goods and services decreased $0.3 billion. The deterioration in the trade deficit and drop in consumer spending in January have raised the risk of a contraction in gross domestic product in the first quarter. But some economists still expect moderate growth this quarter, arguing that gold, mostly from Europe, accounted for much of the surge in imports. The increase in gold imports was seen related to fears of tariffs on the precious metal. "Most gold imports into the U.S. are unrelated to U.S. production or consumption and instead fluctuate based on demand from gold market participants, so the BEA excludes them altogether from the national accounts," Goldman Sachs said in a note. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlanta Federal Reserve is currently forecasting GDP declining at a 2.8% annualized rate this quarter. The economy grew at a 2.3% in the October-December quarter. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday said they agreed to strengthen dialogue and enhance collaboration in a meeting Wednesday focused on the two countries' economic partnership. "This is a critical time to shape a new strategic economic future for both countries, reinforcing American global leadership and Israel's role as a key economic partner," the two men said in a joint statement released by the Treasury. "To advance shared economic interests, both sides agreed to strengthen dialogue mechanisms to enhance collaboration in key areas, including economic policy, technology, and financial regulation," they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement underscored the need for a coordinated approach aimed at ensuring bilateral ties remained a source of economic resilience, innovation and mutual benefit. The statement made no mention of Israel's banking relationships with Palestinian banks, which had been an irritant between Smotrich and Treasury officials under former President Joe Biden. Treasury in December welcomed a decision by the Israeli cabinet to approve a one-year extension of its indemnification for Israeli banks, which shields Israeli banks with ties to the Palestinian counterparts from anti-terrorism laws, after previously approving just one-month waivers. Bessent's predecessor, Janet Yellen, in May raised public concerns about Israel's threat to cut off Palestinian banks from their Israeli correspondent banks, potentially severing a critical lifeline for the Palestinian economy. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates) U.S. and Ukrainian officials are talking to set up a meeting next week in Saudi Arabia aimed at structuring the framework for a ceasefire with Russia and a peace agreement, President Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters on Thursday. The meeting signals a thawing of relations between the U.S. and Ukraine, which ruptured abruptly following an explosive Oval Office confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. We are now in discussion to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or even potentially Jeddah, Witkoff told reporters outside the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So the city is moving around a little bit, but it will be Saudi Arabia. And I think the idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well. Zelensky said Wednesday that discussions were taking place to set up a meeting next week with American officials. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskys top aide, talked with national security adviser Mike Waltz. Zelensky has sought to repair relations with Trump following the Oval Office debacle, the fallout from which has included Trump halting military assistance to Ukraine and cutting off intelligence sharing with the Ukrainians, harming Kyivs ability to hit high-value Russian targets. Zelensky sent a letter to the president and posted on social media overtures to the power of the U.S. and his intent to sign a minerals deal with the president that was shelved in the aftermath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope we get things back on track with the Ukrainians and everything resumes, Witkoff said, but he noted the decision rests with Trump. I think those are all decisions of the president, but I think he felt that Zelenskys letter was a very positive first step. Witkoff also held back commitments to reviving the minerals deal. I think Zelensky has offered to sign it, and well see if he follows through, Witkoff said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Fox News White House correspondent Jackie Heinrich has reported that representatives of Donald Trumps administration will visit Saudi Arabia next week for a meeting with a Ukrainian delegation, which will include Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Source: Fox News correspondent Jackie Heinrich on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: The journalist wrote that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Trumps special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff will attend the meeting in Riyadh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Rubio, Witkoff, Waltz headed to Riyadh on Tuesday to meet with Ukrainians, including Yermak." More details: The meeting comes amid strained US-Ukraine relations following Trumps confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. This dispute led to the US suspending military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. Background: On Thursday, 6 March, Trumps special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, stated that the idea of returning to the Istanbul agreements, suggested by Witkoff, does not reflect the Trump administrations position and that a new document must be developed. Kellogg also stated that US President Donald Trump's administration is taking a new approach towards Russia, which involves resetting relations between the two nations. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! JOHANNESBURG (AP) The United States has withdrawn from a climate agreement where rich nations have pledged billions of dollars to help a small group of developing countries switch from coal to green energy sources in a possible blueprint for future deals to cut carbon emissions, one of the participating countries said Thursday. South Africa said it had received notice that the U.S. had withdrawn from the International Partners Group, a bloc of rich countries that has pledged money for energy transitions in South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam and Senegal. The bloc includes the European Union, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan, Norway and Denmark. The U.S. had declared, effective immediately, its withdrawal from the agreements in South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam, said Chrispin Phiri, a spokesperson for the South African Foreign Ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. had not pledged money for Senegal's energy transition, although other members of the IPG did. Its another move by President Donald Trump to take the U.S. out of global climate pacts after he signed an executive order in January to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement that brings countries together to combat global warming. That agreement is aimed at limiting long-term global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels or, failing that, keeping temperatures at least well below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels. The U.S. withdrawal from the IPG meant South Africa would lose more than $1 billion in future investment pledges from the U.S. to gradually decommission its polluting coal-fired power stations in favor of renewable energy, according to a statement from the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phiri said grant projects in South Africa that were previously funded and in planning or implementation phases have been canceled. The U.S. had canceled future funding for Indonesias energy transition program that had been provided through the United States aid agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, said Fabby Tumiwa, executive director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform, a climate-focused non-profit. Officials said the other rich countries were still part of the agreements and they would continue to provide support. South Africa remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving a just and equitable energy transition, said Joanne Yawitch, the head of the Just Energy Transition Project Management Unit in South Africa. All other IPG partners remain firmly committed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.K. Climate Envoy Rachel Kyte, who was in South Africa for an energy conference, told the News24 outlet it was regrettable that the U.S. had withdrawn. South Africa was the first country to sign up to a so-called just energy transition agreement at the United Nations climate conference in 2021. It said it had received $13,8 billion in pledges before the U.S. withdrawal. Indonesia and Vietnam signed their multibillion-dollar deals in 2022. The agreements are meant to recognize that some developing countries are reliant on coal to keep their economies going. They don't have the money or the green energy capacity to swiftly change and need to convert more gradually. South Africa, the most advanced economy in Africa, relies on coal for more than 80% of its electricity supply. Nearly all of Indonesias energy needs are currently met by fossil fuels, with 60% coming from coal. South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam are all among the worlds top 20 emitters of greenhouse gases, according to ClimateWatch, which compiles data on climate change. ___ Associated Press writer Victoria Milko in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa (COLORADO) Former U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) and Woodland Park High School graduate from Divide, U.S. Air Force Major Nichole Ayers is headed to space next week after she was selected as one of 10 astronaut candidates from a pool of more than 12,000 applicants by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in December of 2021. This photo provided by NASA shows its 2021 astronaut candidate class, announced on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. The 10 candidates stand for a photo at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Dec. 3, 2021. From left are U.S. Air Force Maj. Nichole Ayers, Christopher Williams, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. (retired.) Luke Delaney, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Wittner, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Anil Menon, U.S. Air Force Maj. Marcos Berrios, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jack Hathaway, Christina Birch, U.S. Navy Lt. Deniz Burnham, and Andre Douglas. (Robert Markowitz/NASA via AP) Now just over three years later, Ayers dream of going to space is coming true. Next week, on [Wednesday, March 12] Nichole and three other astronauts will launch to the International Space Station on the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, a post read on the City of Woodland Park Governments Facebook page. Lets give Nichole our best wishes for a safe and successful mission from Woodland Park! Congratulations, Nichole! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ayers selection to the 2021 astronaut class was officially announced by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Dec. 6, 2021. Ayers and nine others began two years of training in January of 2022, which, according to NASA, included operating and maintaining the International Space Stations complex systems, training for spacewalks, developing complex robotics skills, safely operating a T-38 training jet, and Russian language skills. According to NASA, Ayers graduated from USAFA in 2011 with a bachelors degree in mathematics and a minor in Russian; during her time at the Academy, she also played Division I college volleyball. Ayers then went on to obtain a masters degree in computational and applied mathematics from Rice University in Houston; while pursuing her masters, Ayers also competed internationally on the USA Armed Forces Team. When Ayers was selected by NASA in 2021, at the time she was serving as the assistant director of operations in the 90th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. As an instructor in both the T-38A and F-22 Raptor, Ayers has flown missions all over the nation and the world, according to NASA. She is currently training for her first spaceflight where she will serve as pilot of NASAs SpaceX Crew-10 mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ayers will be joined by fellow NASA astronaut Anne McClain, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov on March 12 as they gear up to launch to the International Space Station as part of NASAs SpaceX Crew-10. The launch is expected to take place next Wednesday around 6 p.m. local time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Crew from the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous are back home following a 46-day border security patrol off the coast of Florida. According to a release, the Vigorous was deployed to the Florida Straits to support the Homeland Security Task Force with alien interdiction or the detection and monitoring of migrant smuggling vessels and border security operations. While deployed, the crew worked alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vigorous returned to its homeport of Portsmouth on Wednesday, March 5. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. SWATARA TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) Federal workers were ordered to go back to the office to work in person. Now some of those government offices are closing. An employee with the USDA says theyre taking it one day at a time with more questions than answers. Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE will close more than 20 federal government offices in Pennsylvania. Two are in the Midstate. DOGE says closing the Rural Housing Service in Swatara Township will save an estimated $119,066. Closing the Geological Survey office in Fairview Township, York County saves an estimated $454,138. Its part of a plan to save taxpayer money. Every day we come in the office, theres a different chaos because we have literally no idea whats going to happen, a USDA employee tells abc27. All were trying to do is our jobs, which is help to rural folks and get these programs where theyre needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USDA employee tells abc27 that no one from DOGE contacted the USDA to tell them that their Harrisburg area office would be closing. The employees found out from DOGEs website. Without the employees to process these applications and answer the questions, which they do on the phones all day, every day, it can be a massive impact for Pennsylvania, the employee tells abc27. 250 people work in the Swatara Township location. The lease is up in September and employees have no idea if theyll be relocated or receive severance packages. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah on Wednesday became the first state to pass legislation requiring app stores to verify users ages and get parental consent for minors to download apps to their devices. The bill headed to the desk of Gov. Spencer Cox has pitted Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, against app store giants Apple and Google over who should be responsible for verifying ages. Similar bills have been introduced in at least 12 other states in the latest fight over children's online safety. The proposals targeting app stores follow legal fights over laws requiring social media platforms to verify the ages of users. Meta and other social media companies support putting the onus on app stores to verify ages amid criticism that they dont do enough to make their products safe for children or verify that no kids under 13 use them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their childs age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it," Meta, X and Snap Inc. said in a joint statement Wednesday. "We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit. The app stores say app developers are better equipped to handle age verification and other safety measures. Requiring app stores to confirm ages will make it so all users have to hand over sensitive identifying information, such as a drivers license, passport, credit card or Social Security number, even if they don't want to use an age-restricted app, Apple said. Because many kids in the U.S. dont have government-issued IDs, parents in the U.S. will have to provide even more sensitive documentation just to allow their child to access apps meant for children. Thats not in the interest of user safety or privacy, the company said in its most recent online safety report. Apple considers age a matter of privacy and lets users to decide whether to disclose it. The company gives parents the option to set age-appropriate parameters for app downloads. The Google Play Store does the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apple and Google are among a litany of tech companies that help support the Chamber of Progress, a tech policy group that lobbied Utah lawmakers to reject the bill. Last year, Apple helped kill a similar bill in Louisiana that would have required app stores to help enforce age restrictions. Kouri Marshall, a spokesperson for the Chamber of Progress, called the measure a tremendous encroachment of individual privacy that he said places a heavy burden on app stores to ensure online safety. Republican Sen. Todd Weiler, the bills sponsor, argued it's a lot easier to target two app stores than it is to target 10,000 (app) developers. Under the bill, app stores would be required to request age information when someone creates an account. If a minor tries to open one, the bill directs the app store to link it to their parents account and may request a form of ID to confirm their identity. Weiler said a credit card could be used as an age verification tool in most cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a child tries to download an app that allows in-app purchases or requires them to agree to terms and conditions, the parent will first have to approve. Melissa McKay, a Utah mother, is among those who pushed for the legislation. She said she started asking questions about device safety after her nephew in 2017 was exposed to really harmful content on another students device at school. Inaccurate age ratings on apps and faulty parental controls are at the root of online harm, McKay said. The 12 other states considering proposals would similarly place responsibility on app stores to verify ages and seek parental permissions. A legislative committee advanced Alabama's bill last week. Lawsuits have delayed implementation of state laws regulating social media apps and websites. A federal judge in 2024 temporarily blocked Utah's first-in-the-nation law requiring social media companies to check the ages of all users and place restrictions on accounts belonging to minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Cox signs the Utah bill into law, most provisions would take effect May 7. The governor's office did not respond to emails seeking comment Wednesday. Cox, a Republican, supported the state law currently on hold that requires age verification on social media. ___ Associated Press reporters Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama, and Barbara Ortutay and Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed reporting. Utah passed a bill on Wednesday that will require app stores to verify users ages and receive parental consent for minors to download applications, making the Beehive State the first in the country to pass such a measure. The bill, titled the App Store Accountability Act, now heads to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R)s desk. If signed, the majority of the bills stipulations would take effect May 7. I am pleased that the majority of my colleagues in the #utleg voted to protect children from accepting sometimes predatory terms and conditions when downloading apps that may collect and sell their personal data, Utah state Sen. Todd Weiler (R), the bills sponsor, wrote on the social platform X Wednesday night. We shouldnt encourage children to enter into contracts. #utpol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills passage comes amid a wider debate between major technology firms over whether it is up to the app stores or the application developers to verify users ages. At least eight other states are weighing similar measures. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and social media apps X and Snap believe the onus to verify kids ages is on the app stores following criticism that technology devices and social media networks are causing harm to minors. Meta, X, and Snap agree! Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their childs age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way, Antigone Davis, Metas vice president of global safety, wrote on X following the bills passage. The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apple and Google, which host two of the markets largest app stores, lobbied against the Utah bill, arguing age verification presents risks to the privacy of minors and their parents or guardians. The two companies have argued developers are a better fit to handle age verification. Last week, Apple introduced what it called age assurance technology to allow parents to be able to select the age range of their kids instead of providing their exact birthdates when setting up child accounts. This is done before young users download apps from third-party developers, who will soon be able to use a Declared Age Range API that gives them access to this range. Apple described the API as a narrowly-tailored, data-minimizing, privacy-protecting tool. The technology company argues a requirement to verify age on the actual app marketplace would make all users hand over sensitive information, when only a limited number of apps need such specific information about users. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means giving us data like a drivers license, passport, or national identification number (such as a Social Security number), even if we dont need it, the company said in its online safety report last year. A federal judge in 2024 put a temporary block on a Utah law that would have required social media companies to check the ages of all users and implement restrictions on accounts of minors, The Associated Press reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) As the end of the Utah Legislative Session is nearing, organizations are fighting against budget cuts that would potentially impact sexual assault prevention in the state. Friday, the Executive Appropriations Committee released a list detailing the states planned budget, revealing what would and wouldnt receive funds. Although the Social Services Appropriations Committee recommended $1,625,000 of funding to go toward sexual assault prevention, it wasnt included in the list. Utah public unions seek to repeal controversial law banning collective bargaining Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bethany Crisp, the systems director for the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault which focuses on statewide sexual violence education, prevention, and response said these cuts are highly concerning. Crisp said Utah is ranked ninth in the U.S. for rape per capita, making education key to preventing assault. The removal of this funding in a state that already has high rates of sexual violence can be catastrophic, she said. We really believe that this is an issue of public safety because prevention efforts are proven to work. Getting rid of these prevention efforts can only make the issue worse. In Tuesdays Utah Senate media availability, Rep. Scott Sandall (R Tremonton) said there were several requests for funding by social service programs, but due to the smaller state budget, some services had to be slimmed down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was one of those things. Unfortunately, we cant fund everything in social services, Sandall said. Senate leaders shared that an error made in hospital medical provider reimbursement created about a $120 million deficit, contributing to the decision. Lawmakers said other programs were impacted as well. UCASA is asking the public to reach out to legislators and rally for support for sexual assault prevention before decisions are finalized this week. It says without the funding, staff may have to be let go and prevention programs could close across the state. Crisp said, Sexual assault is a community problem, which means it requires a community response. What impact will this make? Crisp said when the committee released the list on Friday, that was the first she had heard of the budget changes. Previously, $3.3 million had been allotted to sexual assault prevention over the course of three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been told that this is a busy year as far as many requests coming in with a smaller budget. However, these are services that have already been happening. Were not requesting a new program. These are services that are in the community that would be ended if we do not receive this funding, which is what were trying to bring attention to, she said. Sonya Martinez-Ortiz, the executive director of The Rape Recovery Center, said the organization serves as the designated rape crisis center for Salt Lake and Tooele counties and provides direct services to victims and survivors. She said The Rape Recovery Center runs nearly 400 prevention and awareness workshops annually throughout communities, schools, universities, and businesses. Martinez-Ortiz explained that last year, tests were implemented before and after the workshops that revealed an increase in protective factors meaning participants demonstrated that they learned skills to better identify and prevent violent behaviors and unhealthy relationships. Workshops like these could lessen, or even end, without funding. One in three women and one in six men in Utah will experience sexual violence in their lifetime, according to Martinez-Ortiz. She said in Salt Lake County the rate of reported rape is twice the national average. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez-Ortiz further stated that sexual assault incidents have continued to increase since 2020, leading to the center receiving a rising number of community requests for workshops. We have a really huge problem, and this is based on reported rapes and assaults. What we know, based on research, is that over 80% of survivors and victims actually never report, and so we have an epidemic that is also still pretty much silent, she said. Resources If you or anyone you know may be a victim of sexual assault, Crips said to call UCASAs helpline at 801-736-4356 for English or 801-924-0860 for Spanish. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. The Utah legislature passed an age-verification bill on Wednesday requiring app store operations to verify the age of their users and require consent from the parents of minors before downloading an app. The state became the first in the US to pass a bill, the App Store Accountability Act, as many states grapple with evolving age verification requirements for social media platforms and how to protect young users online. Lawmakers in several states have proposed bills requiring app stores to verify children's ages through official identification or parental consent, but many have been blocked or failed to gain traction. The bill now goes to Gov. Spencer Cox for his signature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The act dovetails with Utah's efforts to require age verification on social media sites. It would put the burden onto mobile app stores to verify ages rather than relying on individual websites to do so an approach social media platforms have long wanted. In a joint statement, Meta, Snap and X said: "Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit." It's unclear how Apple and Google will adapt their existing parental controls and policies to comply with the new law. Apple and Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, however, Apple introduced new child-safety measures affecting how minors' accounts are set up and what they can access in the App Store. This includes the ability for parents to update their child's account age if they previously set it incorrectly and more granular app age ratings. It also added a way for parents to consent to share their child's age range with app developers so they'll be shown more age-appropriate content in the App Store but without disclosing exact birth dates or sensitive information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Because many kids in the U.S. don't have government-issued IDs, parents in the U.S. will have to provide even more sensitive documentation just to allow their child to access apps meant for children. That's not in the interest of user safety or privacy," Apple said in its online safety report published last week. Aisling Dawson, an analyst at ABI Research, said the wider significance of this regulation should not be downplayed. "While age verification by app developers is unlikely to be the panacea for limiting minor access to inappropriate content, Utah takes the lead in regulating this space," she said. "Other online age verification laws exist; however, these do not specifically mandate app developers to themselves be proactive in terms of age verification and application content." She believes legal challenges are to be expected as Utah's new law triggers similar legislative movements in other states over the next couple of years. This may include legal issues such as how to define material that amounts to speech or expression which requires protection, how those curbing freedom of expression can provide evidence of harm caused by online content, and legal enforcement as it pertains to technical and privacy protections over data collected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some critics, meanwhile, argue that the latest change could still raise concerns around data privacy and freedom of speech. Kerry Maeve Sheehan, the legal advocacy counsel at tech coalition Chamber of Progress, wrote in a blog post that the bill "tramples the constitutional rights of adults and kids." "While the bill purports to protect minors from inappropriate content, it ultimately imposes sweeping restrictions on the free speech rights of all Utahns," she wrote. "SB 142 is not just a misguided law; it represents a major shift in how the states seek to control online speech, creating a dangerous precedent for digital freedoms." But some organizations, such as the Digital Childhood Alliance, praised the bill as a significant milestone: "Utah is showing the country how to put kids and parents first," the organization tweeted. "This is a major step toward a safer online world for our children." CONTENT WARNING: This article contains information about alleged child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Report child pornography to law enforcement by contacting the ICAC Tip Line at (801) 281-1211 or your local law enforcement agency. WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A West Haven man was arrested for allegedly using an online tool to edit childrens faces onto inappropriate photos, according to the Weber County Sheriffs Office. Sean Layton, 46, of West Haven, was booked into jail on 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICAC ride-along: An inside look at the takedown of a child predator Detectives with the sheriffs office were first alerted to the situation via a cybertip from the online photo editing tool Layton was using. The tip involved suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which has also been referred to as child pornography. Detectives found several CSAM files manufactured by the account holder, who was later identified as Layton. Through the investigation, detectives also learned that the suspect was sexually exploiting children, both local and throughout the country, by editing their faces onto CSAM, the sheriffs office said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said some of the childrens faces that were used were taken from public social media accounts. The Weber County Sheriffs Office reminds parents and caregivers to privatize access to any account featuring photos of their children as a general safety precaution, the sheriffs office said. Detectives with the sheriffs office and members of the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force served a search warrant on the suspects home on March 4, 2025. Before serving the search warrant, officials found evidence related to the case and obtained a confession from Layton. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. On the heels of President Trump's address to Congress, Salt Lake City's NAACP branch president spoke to FOX 13 News about her concerns with the current administration and why she has taken those concerns to Gov. Spencer Cox. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A coalition of public labor union groups is launching an effort to repeal the controversial labor union bill that was signed into law last month. After debate within the legislature and intense public backlash, H.B. 267 Public Sector Labor Union Amendments narrowly passed the Utah Senate on Feb. 6 and was signed by Gov. Spencer Cox on Feb. 14. On Wednesday, March 5, the coalition announced its intention to file official referendum paperwork with the Lieutenant Governors Office and launched a Protect Utah Workers website. While the group intended to file immediately, the Lt. Governors Office denied its application saying it had to wait until the session ends this Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the coalitions application is accepted and the group collects the necessary signatures, the labor union bill will be placed before voters as a proposition. Our legislators and the governor did not listen to the huge public outcry against H.B. 267, and we believe that we the people should be able to weigh in and have our voice heard by voting on the referendum to repeal H.B. 267, said Renee Pinkney, president of the Utah Education Association. H.B. 267 which bars public labor unions from collectively bargaining with employers has been at the center of public rallies and internal bipartisan debate this legislative session, with a compromise being proposed and later rescinded in favor of the original provisions. The suggested compromise would have allowed unions to bargain if a simple majority of the employee class voted in favor of the labor union representing them in the negotiations. However, senators ultimately passed the version of the bill that bans collective bargaining altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coalition has, at most, 40 days after the end of the legislative session to gather 140,748 signatures statewide. The amount equates to 8% of active registered voters in the state of Utah, and at least 8% of voters in 15 of the 29 senate districts must be represented in that number. The bills sponsor, Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-South Jordan) said he is not surprised by the repeal effort, but that getting the referendum on the ballot will be a heavy lift. Lawmakers prepared for this possibility by passing an additional bill that would dictate when the labor union law would take effect should a referendum be launched. Pinkney said the coalition has a plan to collect the necessary signatures and will be looking at data throughout the next 40 days. We are confident that we will be successful in this effort, Pinkney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A survivor of the Uvalde mass shooting is celebrating her quinceanera this year with a special gift from a prominent dress shop. Miah Cerrillo, a former student at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, got her dream dress through a donation from Moda 2000, a popular quinceanera store known for its viral fashion videos on TikTok and YouTube. A quinceanera is an important celebration in Latino culture that takes place at the age of 15 and marks a young girl's transition to womanhood. "It turned out that she has been watching Moda 2000 since she was little, and she watches all the YouTube videos, so hearing that overall was very exciting to get her in here, because I knew this was, like, such a special moment for her and her family," Gelssy Rodriguez, president of Moda 2000, told ABC News. PHOTO: Miah Cerrillo, a survivor of the 2022 Robb Elementary School mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, got her dream quinceanera dress through a donation from Moda 2000. (Stephanie Mendez/ABC News) Like weddings, quinceaneras can take a year to plan, and in 2024, Miah told her parents she wanted her dress from Moda 2000 -- owned by Gelssy Rodriguez's parents and run by Gelssy and her sister Gipsy Rodriguez. Eager to grant their daughter's wish, the Cerrillos decided to make the trip from Texas to visit the store in Anaheim, California, but they never expected the offer they received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These sisters used social media to supercharge their parents' small business "After we tried on the dress and everything, Gipsy and her mother came up to us and said they would like to be the 'madrinas' [or godmothers] of the dress, and obviously we started crying, and we were really happy, and we couldn't believe that it was gifted to her," Miah's mother Abigale Veloz told ABC News. PHOTO: Miah Cerrillo, a survivor of the 2022 Robb Elementary School mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, got her dream quinceanera dress through a donation from Moda 2000. (Stephanie Mendez/ABC News) Miah survived the deadly Uvalde mass shooting on May 24, 2022, during which a gunman stormed into her classroom and killed her two teachers and several of her classmates. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed in the shooting, one of the deadliest school shootings in the United States, and several others were injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'Dear Future Survivor': School shooting survivors pen letters to future survivors "The day that the mass shooting happened, I feel like it touched everybody in the nation, and me and Gipsy had like talked about it we wanted to give back to that community somehow, some way, and I think that the universe aligned itself, and it brought Miah here, because we were finally able to give back to her," Gelssy Rodriguez said. PHOTO: Miah Cerrillo, a survivor of the 2022 Robb Elementary School mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, got her dream quinceanera dress through a donation from Moda 2000. (Stephanie Mendez/ABC News) Miah and her family returned to California this week to try on the dress one last time and take it home. They also took part in a sentimental ritual Moda 2000 has for its customers, which involves parents doing a waltz with their daughters while they wear their dream dresses. The ritual was highly emotional for Miah and her parents, who cried tears of joy during the dance. "It's a blessing to have her here, so that's why it was emotional for us," Veloz said. "It's kind of like a 'what if' moment -- what if she wasn't here? And thank God she is here, and it's a blessing for us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Gipsy and Gelssy Rodriguez have witnessed countless tearful moments in their store, they said this moment was especially powerful. PHOTO: Miah Cerrillo, a survivor of the 2022 Robb Elementary School mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, got her dream quinceanera dress through a donation from Moda 2000. (Stephanie Mendez/ABC News) "Miah looked extremely thankful for her parents, for bringing her all the way over here from Texas. I know that she appreciates everything that they're doing for her special day," Gipsy Rodriguez told ABC News. I spent a year covering the Uvalde shooting. Here's what I learned: Reporter's notebook Gelssy Rodriguez added, "Up until now, the whole process for Miah has been very like smiles and everything, and we really got to see some raw emotion from her." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miah chose a lavender ball gown, which she will wear at her quinceanera celebration in November. "I think it's really special that Miah is choosing to do a quinceanera. I feel like a lot of times people just see it as a big party, and that maybe it could be like, 'Oh, such a waste of money for like, one day,'" Gelssy Rodriguez said. "[But] I think it's important to highlight that a quinceanera brings families together, and it's really a celebration of life." Uvalde mass shooting survivor gets dream quinceanera dress thanks to popular dress shop originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins on Wednesday confirmed plans to scale back his departments workforce by roughly 80,000 staffers in coming months, saying the moves are needed to properly balance and reform the massive federal bureaucracy. If the answer was money and people, then we should have solved our problems at VA a long time ago, Collins said in an interview with Military Times. The problem is not resources at this point. The question is, are we utilizing that function the best way we possibly can? Were looking at it from the perspective of, How do we make the greatest employees in the world which I think our VA employees are better, more efficient? The government is not about employing people, its about serving people. Thats what were doing here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments came after the leak of an internal memo that outlined plans to scale back the departments workforce to 2019 levels, before significant hiring efforts during President Joe Bidens administration. Government Executive first reported on the document. Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 VA employees, memo says That plan would drop staffing levels to fewer than 400,000 workers from the current mark of approximately 480,000. About 2,500 employees have been dismissed from VA in recent weeks through probationary employee layoffs and the elimination of diversity and inclusion posts. Collins described the staff dismissals difficult and concerning, but he emphasized that he feels the moves are necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a game being played here, and it has been going on for years, he said. Lets give more money and stuff to the VA, and then lets beat up on the VA when theyre not doing what we think they should be doing. Were not gonna do that anymore. Were gonna work together with the funds and resources we have to make a better product with some of the best employees around, who want to take care of veterans. The leaked memo instructs top-level staff to prepare for an agency-wide reorganization in August to resize and tailor the workforce to the mission and revised structure. It comes on the heels of a department review of spending, which has already led to the cancellation of more than 500 contracts, with a reported savings of around $900 million. But veterans groups have expressed significant concerns about the long-term effects of those moves, and Democratic lawmakers have accused administration officials of endangering veterans with slipshod and erratic cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, House Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Mark Takano, D-Calif., called the plans a deliberate dismantling of VAs workforce and an outright betrayal of veterans. His Senate counterpart, Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal, said Thursday that such cuts among VA staff would eviscerate department operations. Republican leaders did not endorse or condemn the news. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kan., acknowledged the need for reform at VA but said, current efforts to downsize the department and increase efficiency must be done in a more responsible manner. He promised continued oversight on the issue. Collins insisted his staff is reviewing and driving the staff changes, and not just looking for ways to justify cost-cutting efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency. Last time I checked, I was one that raised my hand and swore in to be the secretary of VA, he told Military Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were looking at this in the best way we can, coming through my office, coming through this department to look at ourselves, not others. The president himself has made the declaration that were going to make government more efficient. Were going to make it more streamlined, and its going to see fewer workers as we go through. The VA workforce grew by about 14% during Bidens presidency, after growing by about 12% during President Donald Trumps first term. Department medical centers and benefits offices have added more than 100,000 employees in the last decade. But the department has also seen a steady increase in medical appointments and disability claims over that same period, especially with the expansion of benefits approved by Congress under the 2022 PACT Act. Federal surveys have also shown a steady increase in veterans satisfaction with VA over that time period, too. About 85% of patients surveyed in fiscal 2017 said they trusted the department for their medical needs. By the end of Trumps first term, that figure was 89%. Last year, it was 92%. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) A vacate letter sent by the City of Charleston to the Dockside Association details corrective actions the Dockside board must take after residents of a condominium tower and nearby townhomes were evacuated last week due to structural concerns. All residents of the Dockside Condominiums and nearby townhomes were ordered to evacuate by 5 p.m. on Feb. 28. In the vacate order sent by the City of Charleston to the Dockside Board of Directors, the city ordered the board to have its engineer evaluate the threat the condo tower poses to the townhomes and other neighboring properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the order obtained by News 2, the board must provide the engineering report to the city by 5 p.m. Friday. Also due tomorrow, the engineer must provide an updated summary of corrective action, conduct a visual interior survey of each unit to identify signs of distress and inform the city of the severity and nature of the threat to the surrounding properties. The building sits on Concord Street next to the International African American Museum and South Carolina Aquarium. A second report that evaluates the likelihood of a progressive tower floor collapse is due to city officials by Friday, Mar. 14, at 5 p.m. Officials did not provide an update on when residents would be allowed back in the evacuated properties. Its pretty unsettling Residents describe hasty exit amid Dockside Condo evacuation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 60-70% of the condo towers 112 units were occupied when the evacuation occurred. Built in the 1970s, the tower has a history of structural issues that were discovered in 2022 after contractors found problems with the column and floor connection of a private unit. Following the discovery, the Dockside Association Board hired an engineering firm, SKA, to inspect the building. Inspectors were able to investigate 16% of the building because of the intrusive inspections only some residents would allow inspections. Based on SKAs findings, the problem stemmed from the initial construction, not a gradual deterioration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although SKA recommended temporary shoring efforts, they did not say the tower was unsafe. After the SKA report, the Dockside Association hired another engineering firm, WJE, to investigate further, particularly to assess the load capacity of the floors, according to information provided by the city. On Feb. 25, WJE notified the association that the building was unsafe, and residents were subsequently informed of an evacuation plan. The association notified the city about the report at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The City of Vandalia will host their large item drop-off on Saturday. The city announced on social media that the event would be happening at the Vandalia Public Works Garage on 97 Clubhouse Way. Vandalia names Sucher new police chief Acceptable items include brush, limbs, dirt, construction debris, fencing, bricks and blocks. Non-acceptable items are refrigerators, AC units, appliances containing freon, paint, upholstered furniture, tires and batteries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drop-off event is on March 8 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be the first of its kind in the city this year. Those in attendance must have their proof of Vandalia residency Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. The Vatican appears to have modified its position against gender-affirming surgery and gender theory last year, raising the possibility of exceptional situations. This week the Vatican published a speech by doctrine chief Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez where he said, there are cases outside the norm, such as strong dysphorias that can lead to an unbearable existence or even suicide. These exceptional situations must be evaluated with great care. The Argentinian prelate, speaking to a theology conference in Cologne, Germany, explained: We dont want to be cruel and say that we dont understand peoples conditioning and the deep suffering that exists in some cases of dysphoria that manifests itself even from childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April last year, the Vatican issued a strong warning against gender theory and said that any sex-change intervention risks threatening the unique dignity of a person. The document, signed by Pope Francis, focused on what it describes as a range of threats to human dignity, including poverty, the death penalty, war, assisted dying, abortion, sexual abuse, and the abuse of women. Last years text stated that attempts to obscure the sexual difference between man and woman, including gender-affirming surgery, should be rejected. It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception, it added at the time. While this weeks publication on the Vatican site acknowledges the possibility of gender dysphoria, it still makes clear that the church opposes the idea that bodily-sexual identity can be the object of radical change, always subject to ones own desires Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis has in the past welcomed a community of transgender women to his weekly general audiences while he signed off on a Vatican document permitting trans people to be godparents. This comes as the ailing 88-year-old pope battles double pneumonia at Romes Gemelli hospital where he has been since mid-February, often working during the day. From the hospital, the pontiff has still been making decisions such as calling a meeting of pope and cardinals to decide sainthood causes at an unspecified date. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Pope Francis has spent another night in hospital without new complications, according to an announcement from the Holy See on Thursday. "The night passed quietly; the Pope is still resting," the statement said. The Vatican initially gave no further information on the 88-year-old's state of health. The head of the Catholic Church has now been in the Gemelli Hospital in the western Rome for almost three weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Francis is suffering from severe pneumonia, which has affected both lungs. He has had several episodes of episodes of respiratory failure and is reportedly wearing a mask over his mouth and nose for mechanical ventilation overnight. Doctors are refraining from making a prognosis about the course of his condition. (NewsNation) Two Venezuelan members of the Tren de Aragua gang stole more than $110,000 by manipulating a drive-up ATM at a Western New York credit union, federal prosecutors said. David Jose Gomez-Cegarra, 24, and 19-year-old Jesus Segundo Hernandez-Gil face charges of bank theft and conspiracy to commit bank theft after several fraudulent withdrawals were made at an ATM at Radius Federal Credit Union in Kenmore, the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Western District of New York said this week. Trump administration labels 8 Latin American cartels as foreign terrorist organizations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors say surveillance video shows that Gomez-Cegarra drove a vehicle alongside the ATM on Oct. 5, 2024, while a co-conspirator opened the machine and installed something inside it. Over the next several hours, the vehicle visited the ATM multiple times and conducted illegal withdrawals. What is jackpotting? The practice of removing an ATM cover and infecting the hard drive or replacing it with an infected hard drive is known as jackpotting. Manipulating the computer inside the ATM allows thieves to assume control of the ATM and cause it to dispense currency, prosecutors said in a news release. Radius Federal reported that $110,440 was stolen in the October theft. But it wasnt the only time this particular crew effectively broke into ATMs, federal authorities allege. Bill to pay troops during shutdown filed as funding deadline looms Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gomez-Cegarra, Hernandez-Gil and other co-conspirators last year were behind ATM jackpotting thefts in Framingham, Mass.; Dryden, New York; and at two locations in Southern Illinois, prosecutors said. Another $187,000 was allegedly stolen across these incidents. Venezuelan gang members in police custody Gomez-Cegarra and Hernandez-Gil were taken into local police custody in Central Illinois in November at the time of the ATM thefts in that state, prosecutors said. The Venezuelans are members of Tren de Aragua, a gang the Trump administration has designated as a global terrorist organization, the U.S. Attorneys Office noted. Hunter Biden asks for laptop data case to be dismissed, citing financial problems The charges the pair faces carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. No further details were available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. APPLETON One of six people from Venezuela charged in connection with robbing an ATM at a Kaukauna bank last summer was convicted Wednesday and sentenced to a year in jail. Manuel Pina Gonzalez, 40, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft of moveable property valued between $10,000 and $100,000, as party to a crime. He is not a U.S. citizen and likely faces deportation from the country following his jail sentence, both prosecution and defense attorneys said at his plea and sentencing hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Yadira Rein accepted the 12-month jail time recommendation agreed upon by both the prosecution and defense. "To some, perhaps the joint recommendation that I am being asked to accept may not seem like enough of a punishment," Rein told Pina Gonzalez. "But the collateral consequences of your poor decision-making is going to follow you and your family for the rest of your life." Pina Gonzalez already has around eight months of jail credit, Rein ruled. According to a criminal complaint, six people, including Pina Gonzalez, were involved in the robbery of an ATM at Unison Credit Union, 1000 W. Hyland Ave. in Kaukauna, in the early morning hours of July 5, 2024. When officers arrested them, they found five of the six individuals had Venezuelan IDs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outagamie County Assistant District Attorney Joshua Dryak said the six people were involved in a "theft scheme" to get money from older ATMs that had security flaws. They downloaded malware onto the ATM, which allowed them to retrieve funds, and took $38,000 out of the machine, he said. In court, Pina Gonzalez said he was ashamed of his actions. He said he came to the United States for safety and to help his children have educational opportunities. While his family settled in Kansas City, Pina Gonzalez moved to Minnesota to find work to help provide money to his mother, who was sick with cancer, and his father, who had been detained at the U.S. border and needed an attorney. While in Minnesota, Pina Gonzalez said, he borrowed money from someone, and in exchange was roped into committing the theft. "Sometimes we make decisions because we don't have the same opportunities as others," Pina Gonzalez said, through a court-sworn Spanish-to-English translator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rein said she believes Pina Gonzalez is genuinely sorry for participating in the theft. "I know that you are very ashamed, because you can barely look up at me," the judge told him. "I don't know what life has in store for you, sir, but you need to hold your head high with the fact that you are here and you took responsibility for your actions, and you truly are remorseful." Rein also told Pina Gonzalez the crime made life a little harder for people who had money in the bank and made some in the community feel unsafe. She expressed empathy for his situation. "This sentence doesn't stop making you a dad and a son, and that's something that you will be no matter where you are," Rein said. "I encourage you knowing that it's easy for me to say up here but I encourage you to have hope." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pina Gonzalez's attorney, Paul Zilles, pointed out the "current political climate" between the United States and Venezuela does not ensure that Pina Gonzalez will be able to return to Venezuela if he is deported, but may instead be sent to a "facility" with other people from South America and Central America. Four people Jesse Duque Escobar, 52; Johamnel Ortiz Sanchez, 39; Andres Escobar Rodriguez, 31; and Adonay Dalis Ramirez, 32 have ongoing cases related to the robbery. Yenaiker Avila Acevedo, 24, was convicted in October of theft of movable property and two counts of disorderly conduct, and given a deferred sentence. Convicted defendants will also have to pay restitution together, Rein said. RELATED: Rep. Murphy draws criticism for concerns that Kaukauna ATM robbery was linked to Venezuelan gang Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ATM theft became a political talking point in September, when David Murphy, representative for Wisconsin's 56th Assembly District, issued a news release stating he was concerned that five people arrested in July and charged with stealing money from a Kaukauna ATM are members of a Venezuelan gang. His opponent in the November 2024 election, Emily Tseffos, slammed Murphy's statements as "irresponsible assumptions." No discussion was given at the hearing of any known ties between the theft and gang activities. Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Venezuelan man convicted of Kaukauna ATM robbery, 5 others charged AUTHORS NOTE: This story contains details from court documents regarding allegations of sex crimes committed against a child victim. Due to the content of this story, discretion is advised before reading. If you know or suspect that someone is being abused sexually, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1 (800) 656-4673. WILBARGER COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) Authorities arrested a Vernon business owner for the second time in less than a month on child pornography charges connected to pending allegations of sex crimes against a teenage girl. According to the Wilbarger County Jail roster, Miguel Angel Delacruz, 26, of Vernon, was booked into the Wilbarger County Jail on Feb. 24, 2025, and charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. He was released the next day after posting bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delacruz was initially arrested on Feb. 6, 2025, and charged with one count of sexual assault of a child and three counts of indecency with a child. The new child pornography charges against Delacruz are connected to his previous arrest. PREVIOUS STORY: Vernon business owner accused of child sex crimes The initial charges against Delacruz stem from an outcry made by a 16-year-old girl to her mother. According to the arrest affidavit, the girls mother said her daughter told her she and Delacruz were having sexual intercourse. According to the affidavit, Delacruzs phone was seized during the investigation. A search warrant was obtained for the phone, which was sent to a Computer Forensic Analyst with the Wichita Falls Police Department for extraction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vernon police officers said when they reviewed the digital evidence taken from Delacruzs phone, they found two sexually explicit videos of the teenage girl that were saved on the phone on Jan. 22 and Jan. 30. According to the affidavit, the alleged victims mother told police shed found handwritten love letters from Delacruz expressing his love and affection for the victim. Police said the girls mother also accessed the victims phone and discovered inappropriate content in the teens Snapchat. The affidavit said Delacruz agreed to an interview with the Vernon Police Department. Officers said Delacruz was shown the nude Snapchat photos and videos from the girls phone. Police said Delacruz affirmed it was him but denied having sexual intercourse with the girl. According to the affidavit, police said Delacruz then requested a legal representative and refused to answer any further questions. This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, R-Sioux Falls, speaks on the South Dakota House floor on March 5, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) The effort to win state financial support for a new elementary school necessitated by growth at Ellsworth Air Force Base won a legislative endorsement Thursday at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. The state House of Representatives 41-28 vote was the latest twist in a multi-year struggle. Legislation to provide $15 million of state funding for the project failed last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Sen. Helene Duhamel, R-Rapid City, tried a new approach. She convinced the Senate to pass a bill that would transfer $15 million from a state housing infrastructure fund to a new support and development fund for projects promoting the development, expansion, and support of the mission at Ellsworth. Duhamels legislation did not mention the need for a new elementary school in the Douglas School District near the base, which neighbors Rapid City and Box Elder. When the bill came up Thursday for debate in the House, Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, R-Sioux Falls, convinced representatives to adopt an amendment. The amended bill, which the House ultimately passed, authorizes the South Dakota Housing Development Authority to make an interest-free, 20-year loan up to $15 million from the housing infrastructure fund to a school district adjoining a federal military installation for the purpose of constructing or expanding a school building. Speaking on behalf of her amendment, Rehfeldt said it provides both transparency and very forthright intention about what this money is going to be used for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growth at the base is driven by an estimated $2 billion worth of construction to accommodate the future arrival of B-21 stealth bomber planes, which are under development. That activity is expected to expand the population of the base and the surrounding area significantly, putting stress on local governments to respond with new roads, housing, schools, and other infrastructure and services. The formal name of the housing infrastructure fund is the Housing Infrastructure Financing Program. The Legislature created it two years ago with state dollars and federal pandemic relief money. Half of the $200 million fund was made available as grants to support infrastructure for housing projects, and all of that money has been awarded. The other half was made available as loans, but demand has been low, leaving more than $80 million still available as of December. Debate on the amended bill was long and lively, with some legislators seeming to suggest that the unused housing funds are proof they were duped into putting too much money into the program. I guess we can officially declare the workforce housing crisis over now, right? said Republican House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach with intended sarcasm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some said the money is still needed for housing infrastructure including around the growing base and should be retained for that purpose. Others said it would set a bad precedent to single out one school for state help, while other schools finance their own construction projects. Let us know what you think... Arguments on behalf of Ellsworths role in national defense and the economy of South Dakota its the states second-largest employer, one lawmaker said ultimately won out. Several legislators described an ever-escalating competition among communities around the country to keep their military bases from closing. Ellsworth was temporarily on a closure list 20 years ago, which sparked a successful state and local campaign to protect it. That campaign has included clearing land in accident potential zones, adding a drone mission, creating a new training airspace and other initiatives. Rep. Jack Kolbeck, R-Sioux Falls, said providing money for a school to educate the children of people stationed at Ellsworth is another way to protect the base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that is something that we can show, that we want that B-21 here, and we want that air base to stay here, Kolbeck said. According to past information presented to legislators, the school is expected to cost more than $60 million, with federal and local funding sources providing the rest of the money. The bill now goes back to the Senate for its consideration of the amended language. Duhamel said Thursday evening that the Senate could concur with the amendment, or the bill might go to a conference committee for further work. Duhamel said shed prefer a grant to the school rather than a loan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A zero-interest loan for 20 years is an option, and an option is better than nothing, she said. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated since its original publication with the addition of reaction from Sen. Duhamel. TOPEKA (KSNT) Serving in the Navy for more than a decade, Ramona Weekley-Long worked behind the scenes ensuring pilots and support staff were equipped with everything they needed. At the turn of the decade, Weekley-Long was looking for a change. In 1980 I was 18-years-old and I just thought you know, Indiana, small town, Weekley-Long said. I decided I wanted to do a little more with my life. I studied aviation, maintenance administration, usually taking logs and records for all the aircraft that you would be working with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She would have to wait to put that record training to use though, filling another vital role in the meantime on the line shack. Go out on the tarmac and you go ahead and you give different instructions to the pilots to lower their tail hook or to move their flaps, Weekley-Long said. These are all safety things that pilots need to do before they proceed. Shed soon be in her preferred position, as the squadrons tech librarian. Every single department in the squadron I would have communication with, Weekley-Long said. So anytime an update would come in, I would make sure that I went to that department and they got their update, and Id double check that they implemented that update. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through her service, Weekley-Long would meet her husband, a fellow Navy servicemember and Vietnam War veteran. We were introduced by a mutual friend, Weekley-Long said. It was quite comical, we ended up getting married in a car lot because you know, we didnt have family around. Thats where the justice of the peace worked. Id say our marriage was quite unique. Weekley-Long took a four-year break from the military to start her family. Returning through the Navy Reserves, she would serve in quite an interesting pair of bases. I was at Andrews Air Force Base, where Air Force 1 is at, Weekley-Long said. Our sister unit was in Iceland, so therefore I ended up in Iceland for a couple of weeks. I still did the same type of job, only I did logs and records instead of tech librarian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 12 years ago, Weekley-Long returned to her place of birth in the Capital City. She stays plenty busy these days with sewing, upholstery work and helping her dad out with antique car restoration. For more Veteran Salute, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Department of Veterans Affairs is the latest federal agency expected to be hit with massive job cuts. The Associated Press reports more than 80,000 workers will be fired at the VA. Those planned cuts have left some veterans in the D.C. area confused and concerned. Our veterans are uncertain, theyre confused, theyre very much scared, said Angela McConnell, the president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Veterans Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VA axes another 1,400 employees McConnell said the agency provides crucial healthcare and mental health care to many vets in the area. We cannot reassure them as an organization because we have no idea whats going to happen next, she said. Meanwhile, VA Secretary Doug Collins said healthcare and benefits wont be impacted and that the layoffs are part of needed changes. VA will always fulfill its duty to provide veterans, families, caregivers and survivors the healthcare and benefits they have earned. Thats a promise, he said in a video statement shared on social media. VAs biggest problem is that its bureaucracy and inefficiencies are getting in the way of customer convenience and service to veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressional Democrats are not buying that explanation. Its going to mean longer wait times, fewer appointments and ultimately less health care for our veterans, said Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). VA secretary: Were not cutting benefits McConnell said she does not know if this many cuts will have an impact on healthcare or benefits, but if it does, it would have a devastating impact. All I know is that our veterans are being told by VA healthcare providers that theyre not sure if theyre going to be able to continue providing care in the same way, she said. I know that for a fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. When the Department of Government Efficiency swings an axe, its bound to hit a veteran who voted for President Donald Trump. Veterans make up thirty percent of the federal workforce and more than sixty percent of veterans said Trump was their candidate, according to a Pew Research survey conducted two months before the 2024 election. One veteran in Kansas who voted for Trump describes terminations that have upended the lives of many employees in his agency as a sudden military drawdown, poorly executed: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im sorry to put it like this: it was like the pull out of Afghanistan, he said. He doesnt want me to identify him by name. Hes concerned it will negatively impact him. He still supports Trump and shrinking the federal government, but not how the administration is going about it. They got in there, they thought we need to shake things up. The system is rigged, he insisted, but with that being said, nobody stopped to take a minute, sit back. It was a rash decision. So far, the Trump administration has based firings mostly on whether an employee is probationary, a status conferred on new federal employees but also on some who have been recently promoted or those who have moved between jobs even within the same agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has been little accounting for military service and, in at least one case, whether theyre actively deployed as a member of the National Guard or Reserve. At one agency - not the Department of Defense, to be clear - I learned officials fired a probationary employee on leave from his civilian federal job for a military deployment, according to a source familiar with the circumstances of the employee. Agency officials took the action despite a longstanding federal law that specifically prohibits employers from terminating members of the Guard and Reserve from their civilian day jobs while their units are activated. At this position I have found my peace The Kansas veteran, like so many other vets, was sold on working for the federal government by none other than the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administration after administration - including Trump in his first term - have championed veteran hiring, not just at the Pentagon, but at agencies across the government, in positions around the country, doing work that affects Americans in flyover states. I realize a lot of people from the east coast and Washington DC and from the west coast dont get out here much, the veteran says, but when youre driving through Missouri, Kansas Illinois, sometimes Kentucky, Tennessee, you see fields on both sides of the road and theres terraces out there, theres waterways out there: those are infrastructure to help keep eroding soils from turning into essentially dirt farms that blow whatever direction the wind is blowing. He found a job - a job he loved - at the Natural Resources Conservation Services, an agency within the Department of Agriculture that was created as a direct result of the Dust Bowl in 1935, back when it was known as the Soil Conservation Service. The agency protects farmlands and grasslands, manages watersheds, smaller dams and assists areas recovering from natural disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After fighting in the war in Afghanistan, helping rural communities, farmers and ranchers allowed the Kansas veteran to serve in a different way. It also provided him something unexpected and priceless: a way to process his experience in the military. (a way to calm what his military service had stirred up - a way to quiet what his military service had made so loud). At this position for the NRCS I have found my peace, he said. You go from one extreme to another. You go from war and terror to barbecuing with your family in the backyard. Its hard to do that, he explained. This job was a way Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He paused. You know, in the military, being combat arms, you see death, destruction and dismay. This was life, rejuvenation and construction. It was the complete opposite of what us combat arms guys come from. On Wednesday morning, the Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent agency that has the power to review and reverse federal employee firings, ordered the nearly 6,000 probationary workers fired by USDA reinstated for 45 days pending an investigation of the legality of their firings. Presumably the order covers this veteran, but as of the publishing of this story he hadnt heard from his former employer that he had his job back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the move provides little certainty to these workers. The standing of the chair of the Merit Board, Cathy Harris, is tenuous. Trump recently fired her. A judge quickly stayed her firing, but the administration is expected to appeal the decision all the way to the Supreme Court, which has favored expanding presidential power. We love our veterans Last Friday in the Oval Office, a pool reporter asked Trump if he was tracking how many veterans have been fired so far. Yes we are, and we take good care of our veterans, he said. And were watching that very carefully. And we hope its going to be as small a number as possible. But we are having great success in slimming down our government We love our veterans. Were going to take good care of them. If the Trump administration is tracking the number of veterans it has fired, they have not disclosed it, and a number of sources familiar with the information used in the initial firings say veteran status was not considered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans have been left to plead their cases on an ad hoc basis, without much success. The Kansas veteran called the state offices of his member of congress. He also called the office of Jerry Moran, Kansass senior senator, a Republican who has served almost three decades in congress and chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. They were like well let him know and if he gets back to you he gets back to you. Were sorry, hes a busy man, the veteran recalled a young staff member telling him. The Kansas veteran was hoping for a chance to ask his congressman for help in person, but recent confrontations at town halls have gone viral on social media, prompting many GOP lawmakers to abandon talking to their constituents in person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These skype calls: theres a lot of these senators and congressmen holding these town halls through conference calls, lamented the veteran. You have constituents who voted for you, and you cant look them in the eye? Why not? Democrats have loudly criticized the administration for firing veterans, introduced a bill to reinstate their jobs and invited axed vets as guests at Trumps address to the joint session of congress. But theyre in the minority. They dont have the votes to pass legislation and they dont have the ear of the president. While some Republican lawmakers hide from the problems the government overhaul is causing the military and veteran communities, others are working to quietly address the issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, several successfully lobbied the White House behind the scenes to carve out an exemption for military spouses in Trumps executive order requiring all federal employees to return to work in person, though agencies are still not uniformly honoring those exemptions. Some GOP lawmakers have quietly lobbied the administration to rehire sacked veterans on a case-by-case basis, but many veterans worry about raising their hands to make their identity known. These firings - thats the erosion In ranching, there are consequences if you let cattle graze a pasture all the way down to the roots, or grease it down to dirt, as the veteran explained it. Theres a common rule for grass, he said. Take half, leave half. If you take more than half of that grass off that pasture that kills the grass. If you dont have those root fibers in that soil to hold that soil together, youre going to start eroding. And in farming, theres also a right way and a wrong way to avoid erosion. Drop the tine of the plow too deep, past the fertile topsoil, past the subsoil beneath that, into the compacted hardpan earth below, and you can turn a field into moondust that washes away with the rain or blows away with the wind. If youve ever taken a blow-dryer to baby powder on the counter, thats exactly what its doing, the veteran said. Thats the type of erosion that were trying to prevent. Hes talking about sustainable farming practices but its also his metaphor for whats happening to jobs like his. These firings - thats the erosion, he said, describing the job cuts in terms of soil conservation. They built this big trench and theres nothing to slow down the water, to slow down their reactions to what theyve done, theres no infrastructure there to hold that water back, to hold it down to a trickle and not a flood. The Kansas veteran doesnt regret voting for Trump, but he is unhappy with the people Trump has chosen to execute his vision for a smaller government. He thinks theyre disconnected from how their decisions are affecting veterans and people in rural communities like his, taking jobs from veterans and the services they provide farmers and ranchers as well as freezing USDA funding for much needed and already approved projects, including those that address active soil erosion. My message to the president is Ive got faith in you and I understand what youre doing but I need you to step back from the situation for a minute and look at the repercussions, the veteran says. You can have all these yes men around you but you also need some nos. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com As President Donald Trump and Elon Musk lay waste to scores of federal programs and the careers of thousands of government workers, Republicans on Capitol Hill have mostly kept their objections to themselves with one big exception. Military veterans have been disproportionately affected by the administrations early cuts, and GOP lawmakers have unleashed a rare tide of public pushback. That reached a crescendo this week as the Trump administration raises the possibility of large-scale dismissals of Department of Veterans Affairs employees. Mass firings at the VA began weeks ago, spurring a flurry of panicked calls from GOP lawmakers to the White House. But a new memo outlines the potential for 80,000 more firings across a roughly 480,000-person department, according to an internal memo obtained by POLITICO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Veterans Affairs Chair Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said in a statement that while the massive department is in need of reform, efforts to downsize must be done in a more responsible manner, after the AP first reported the 80,000 figure Wednesday. Moran, who has been in close contact with VA Secretary Doug Collins and White House staff about personnel issues for weeks, added in an interview Thursday that lawmakers need information and that the numbers need to be justifiable. Leaving a lunch meeting with Musk Wednesday where the VA cuts came up, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) voiced his irritation to reporters and suggested Trumps veterans chief needed to get a better handle on his department. It's political malpractice not to consult Congress if that's what you intend to do, Graham said. Maybe you've got a good reason to do it. I like Doug Collins he's a great guy. But we don't need to be reading memos in the paper about 20 percent cut at the VA." Even before the VA memo became public, there was heartburn about how the cuts undertaken by Musks Department of Government Efficiency initiative might impact the countrys roughly 18 million veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal job cuts generally affect veterans more profoundly, since they are given preference in government hiring. The provision of health care and other services is directly threatened by cuts to the VA, and those impacts have been a frequent concern at the spate of town hall protests GOP lawmakers have encountered in recent weeks. There are signs the message has gotten through. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday that senators raised the issue of VA cuts directly with Musk during the lunch meeting at the Capitol on Wednesday. I'm hoping there will be some clarification on that issue soon," Thune told a small group of reporters. Sen. John Barrasso, Thunes No. 2, said that while they didnt get confirmation of the VA cuts, Republicans stressed to Musk that Collins needs to be involved, with the concern being that we want to make sure that veterans get the care that they need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, who has recently been in contact with Musk, said shes also coordinating with Moran as he tries to get answers. We have an obligation to our veterans, and these mass firings undermine that obligation, Collins told reporters. Democrats, who have been searching for a political foothold as they try to fight back against DOGE, blasted the proposed VA cuts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a betrayal of our promise to our service members that will spark longer wait times, fewer appointments, less health care service for our veterans. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, said the move, if carried out, would put "private sector profits over veterans care." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the Capitol, the more DOGE-friendly House GOP is more willing to give the administration leeway on efforts to slash the size of the federal workforce. But even GOP leaders who are normally quick to praise Musks slash-and-burn operation are sensitive about the VA and impacts on veterans. Were going to talk to the secretary to see what their needs are, said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.). You had, in a lot of these departments, a large increase during COVID, some of which may have been needed but a lot of which wasn't justified. So you need to sort through what actually helps the veterans versus what actually takes money away from veterans benefits, Scalise added. Rep. Michael McCaul said in an interview Thursday he needed to study the VA cuts in more detail. But he had a visceral reaction when informed of the level of workforce cuts in the memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeez, McCaul said, his eyes widening. I worry because our veterans are hurting after Afghanistan; PTSD has gone way up, McCaul added. Suicide rates gone way up, and morale has gone way down. So I worry in the sense that I don't want that to be a signal that we don't care about our veterans. Some House Republicans, including some with a high number of veterans in their districts who get their care from the VA, offered measured support. I trust the president, said Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), adding there are a lot of complaints about the VA. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) added that he had faith in Collins to make cuts that "create efficiencies and actually improve care" at VA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee whose state includes large numbers of federal workers and veterans warned the job cuts would have real impacts on his constituents. "I think everybody looks at it and says, 'Let's get the federal government to the right size that's sustainable.' Companies do that all the time," Wittman said. "But I also want to be mindful that these employees are really good people. They work hard, and I want to make sure we keep in mind the impact that it has on them." Ben Leonard, Connor OBrien and Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report. More than 350 people have died in a battle between Unita rebels and Angolan government forces in the city of Huambo, according to Angolan army reports. The government of the southern African country also said that up to 1,500 people had been injured in the fighting. Diplomats say the battle is vicious, with neither side taking many prisoners. According to the radio station of Angolas rebel movement Unita, government troops are fleeing from the city and large amounts of arms and ammunition have been seized, including several Russian-built tanks. The government garrison in the city has been cut off for several weeks and is being supplied by occasional air drops. Fighting around Huambo has intensified after Unita brought in troop reinforcements from Bie province, which is around 165km away to the east of the city. Unita radio also reported that its leader, Dr Jonas Savimbi, would address the nation on the search for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Since January there has been no running water or electricity in Huambo, which is home to 400,000 people, and many areas have been flattened by artillery shells. The battle for the key city is seen as more symbolic than strategic. The fighting in Huambo comes after the breakdown of a 1991 peace agreement which was aimed at ending 16 years of civil war in the former Portuguese colony. Huambo is home to the Ovimbundu, the people who gave Mr Savimbis Unita (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) movement its main support. Earlier, UN officials admitted defeat in their diplomatic attempts to halt renewed civil war in Angola, calling the outcome a bitter disappointment. Unita failed to attend UN-sponsored peace talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, last week, but proposed fresh talks in Geneva. Local aid agencies have described the health situation in Angola as dramatic with a child dying every two hours in the paediatric hospital in the capital Luanda. Most of the main aid agencies have left the country after Unita launched an abortive coup attempt in Luanda last November. Courtesy BBC News In context Two days after the gun battle started in Huambo, Unita announced it had seized the countrys second city and was in complete control after capturing government positions. More than 10,000 people are estimated to have died in the two-month battle for Huambo. The rebel leader of Unita, Jonas Savimbi, died in a gun battle with government forces in February 2002. Unita went on to become a political party and signed a ceasefire with the Angolan government in April 2002. In 2003, Unita apologised for its part in Angolas 27-year civil war and asked for forgiveness. Unitas secretary for political affairs, Abilio Camalata Numa, said his movement took responsibility for the many lives lost but he defended what he called the political project which had been the reason for the war. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Local veterans joined in on the national March 5th Day of Solidarity and Protest at the Veterans Affair (VA) Community Outpatient Clinic in support of healthcare providers and to protest the reduction in benefits. Veterans nationwide stood together to demand the government hold its promise of providing quality healthcare benefits to those who have served. The goal of the rally was also to resist the administrations cutback of personnel and services. Moments before the rally began in Colorado Springs, the Associated Press reported that an internal memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs planned an aggressive reorganization that included cutting 80,000 jobs. More than 25% of the VAs workforce are veterans themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump admin plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs: internal memo Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Earlier in February, the VA dismissed thousands of employees and suspended billions of dollars in planned contract cuts. The Associated Press showed a full list of the 875 affected contracts, which would affect everything from cancer care to the ability to assess toxic exposure. We need more vocal voices, more exposure, you cant avoid it, thats what they want, said Angela Puente, a protestor. Because if you avoid it, then you are saying is okay, so lets stand up and say this isnt okay. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. NORFOLK, Va. Stephen Watson served in the Marines for 22 years and receives care through the Department of Veterans Affairs for a traumatic brain injury. He supports President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musks cost-cutting program even if it affects the VA. Were no better because were veterans, said Watson, 68, of Jesup, Georgia. We all need to take a step back and realize that everybodys gonna have to take a little bit on the chin to get these budget matters under control. Gregg Bafundo served during the first Gulf War and has nerve damage to his feet from carrying loads of weight as a Marine mortarman. He says he may need to turn to the VA for care after being fired as a wilderness ranger and firefighter through the layoffs at the U.S. Forest Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre going to put guys like me and my fellow Marines that rely on the VA in the ground, said Bafundo, 53, who lives in Tonasket, Washington. The Trump administrations move to end hundreds of VA contracts initially paused after public outcry and ongoing layoffs are affecting the nations veterans, a critical and politically influential constituency. More than 9 million veterans get physical and mental health care from the VA, which is now being examined by Musks Department of Government Efficiency. The VA manages a $350 billion-plus budget and oversees nearly 200 medical centers and hospitals. Veterans have shown up at town hall-style meetings with Republican lawmakers to voice their anger, and groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars are mobilizing against cuts. The department is considering a reorganization that could include cutting 80,000 jobs, according to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans were much likelier to support Trump, a Republican, than Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, in Novembers presidential election, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of the American electorate conducted in all 50 states. Nearly 6 in 10 voters who are veterans backed Trump, while about 4 in 10 voted for Harris. Joy Ilem, national legislative director for the nonpartisan group Disabled American Veterans, said her group was studying how the ongoing cuts might affect care. You could lose trust among the veteran population over some of these things that have happened and the way that theyve happened, Ilem warned. And we do fear damage to the recruitment and retention of hiring the best and brightest to serve veterans. The White House said last week that it wants to slash $2 billion worth of VA contracts, which would affect anything from cancer care to the ability to assess toxic exposure. The department quickly paused the cuts following concerns about the impact on critical health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VA Secretary Doug Collins told Fox News Channel this week that the effort was focused on finding deficiencies. Anything that were doing is designed and will not cut veterans health or veterans benefits that theyve earned, he said. In a Tuesday statement to The Associated Press, VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz said the agency is putting Veterans at the center of everything the department does. Every dollar we spend on wasteful contracts, non-mission-critical or duplicative activities is one less dollar we can spend on Veterans, and given that choice, we will always side with the Veteran, Kasperowicz wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans have pointed out that the VA has rehired employees who were let go during an initial round of layoffs in February, such as those working for a crisis hotline. However, during a subsequent round of layoffs, the VA cut 15 other employees who were in jobs supporting the crisis line, including a trainer for the phone responders, according to congressional staff who are tracking the cuts. The VA has long faced calls for reform The VA has been plagued for years by allegations of poor medical care and excessively long wait times. Investigators a decade ago uncovered widespread problems in how VA hospitals were scheduling appointments after allegations that as many as 40 veterans died while awaiting care at the departments Phoenix hospital. A group of employees accused the department of retaliating against potential whistleblowers. President Barack Obama, a Democrat, eventually put into place a program allowing veterans to go outside the VA system to seek medical care. The Choice Program was extended by Trump during his first term. Marine veteran Gregg Bafundo was fired as a wilderness ranger and firefighter through the layoffs at the U.S. Forest Service. (Gregg Bafundo via AP) Richard Lamb, who was shot down twice in Vietnam as an Army helicopter crew chief, said the department should be cut to the bone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamb, 74, said he broke vertebrae each time his helicopter was shot down. Decades passed, he said, before a VA doctor acknowledged he had compression fractures. Lamb later had a private doctor perform surgery on his back after he said the VA wouldnt perform the procedure. Id be happy to see VA, not torn down, but cleaned up, cleaned out and recast, said Lamb, who lives in Waco, Texas. The VA is supposed to be a wonderful thing for veterans. Its not. It sucks. Daniel Ragsdale Combs, a Navy veteran with a traumatic brain injury, strongly disagrees. Ragsdale Combs, 45, suffered his injury while running to respond to an order on an aircraft carrier and striking his head above a hatchway. He receives group therapy for mental illness brought on by the injury but says he had heard those sessions might be canceled or reduced due to staffing shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im deeply concerned because the VA has been nothing but great to me, said Ragsdale Combs, who lives in Mesa, Arizona. Im angry, upset and frustrated. Lucy Wong relies on a team of VA doctors in the Phoenix area to treat her scleroderma, an autoimmune condition that attacks connective tissue. She said she developed the disease as a medical technician in the Navy in the 1980s, working with toxic chemicals and enduring extreme stress. Driving is difficult. She worries that the VA will cut Uber rides to her medical appointments, among other things. I ask if Trump is cutting anything back here, and the reply is, Not yet, Wong said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josh Ghering, a Marine veteran from Parsons, Kansas, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he had to fly to San Antonio for an appointment with a neurologist before he was medically retired for back issues, including herniated discs. He questioned why he couldnt get the same appointment closer to home. I think theyre headed in the right direction, Ghering, 42, said of DOGE. But theyre going to have to be more thorough with what it is theyre doing, to make sure theyre not cutting jobs that are needed. Will service members be expected to accept VA cuts? The nations service members have never been a political monolith and the same holds true for their views on the VA. But the split between two Marines on opposite sides of the country raises a question not just about DOGE but about Americas military: Who is expected to sacrifice? Watson, the Marine veteran in Georgia, sustained various injuries while serving, including a traumatic brain injury when a cable snapped and a crate fell on him. He said hes willing to accept fewer visits to his VA doctor and forgo other conveniences as a matter of service to the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many veterans who voted for Trump understood this was going to be his policy and are now screaming bloody murder because the axe is going to fall upon the VA, Watson said. And to me, thats just a little bit self-centered. Bafundo, the Marine veteran in Washington state, pushed back against the idea that all Americans are making a sacrifice when, as he sees it, its really falling back on the little guy. Americas billionaires wont be shouldering any of the burden, he argued, while Musk, whos the worlds richest person, and others pay little, if any, taxes. If were going to sacrifice, the wealthy need to sacrifice, too, he said. And, frankly, they dont. Groves reported from Washington. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) There is more trouble for the operators of a South Side Youngstown restaurant where a man was killed Monday. Read next: Man says brother fired shots at him in Youngstown home Officers with the Code Enforcement Department inspected Vibez on Wednesday. They say the building on Midlothian Boulevard failed on nine different maintenance regulations. The owners were told they have until April 7 to bring it to compliance or they will face possible criminal prosecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Youngstown Councilwoman Amber White called for the closing of Vibez. The victim of the deadly shooting was Deandre Stores. So far, no arrests have been made. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Do you love collecting trading cards? Well, heres a new one for you. You can now have your very own Virginia Beach Sheriffs K9 training cards, deputies said. K9s Pablo, Apollo and Boyka are now featured on a glossy card with movie-like backgrounds. The cards will be shared at upcoming community events attended by the K9 deputies and their handlers. K9 Pablo. Courtesy: Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office K9 Pablo. Courtesy: Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office K9 Boyka. Courtesy: Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office K9 Boyka. Courtesy: Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement K9 Apollo. Courtesy: Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office K9 Apollo. Courtesy: Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office The VBSO K9 Unit is proud to announce the acquisition of K9 Hero Cards for all its K9 deputies. These cards showcase each K9s unique role within the office, highlighting their skills, training and dedication to serving the community, said Lt. Lisa Clark with the VBSOs Criminal Intelligence Unit, which includes the K9 Unit. The VBSO K9 Unit and its handlers regularly participate in community events and public demonstrations. Providing K9 Hero Cards allows us to engage with citizens of all ages while offering a token of appreciation for their continued support. These cards serve as a fun and educational way for the public to learn more about the vital work our K9 teams perform in keeping Virginia Beach safe. The VBSO K9 Unit started in 2013. In FY 2024, the unit conducted 187 operational searches, which secured six felony drug convictions, including against inmates found with narcotics in their possession. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. The atmosphere is complex, and invisible vortexes twist around us all the time. It just takes something to give them form, anything from dust to fire to snow. Here's a rundown of more than a dozen different spinning weather phenomena. Dust devils Form on a hot, calm day Strength: Weak to medium Danger: Minimal to moderate One of the most common forms of spin in the atmosphere is the dust devil. They are formed when the ground heats significantly while the air above remains cool. A less dense pocket of warm air rises, and more follows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the column of air begins to rotate, cool air eventually descends in the middle of the vortex, causing it to move along the ground as a chimney of sorts. Dust devils are generally seen on hot days when winds are calm. Otherwise, the temperature differential between the ground and the air would be reduced, and they couldn't form. Multiple dust devils can exist at once. They are normally weak but can have winds up to 100 mph and can do minor damage and injure bystanders. In 2019 in Australia, a dust devil picked up an unsuspecting paraglider. In August 2024, two skydivers were killed when they were sucked into a dust devil in California. Dust devils have even been spotted on Mars. Hay devils, coal devils and even bugnadoes Dust devils can be invisible, as is the case in some bounce house incidents, but they can also turn various colors from black to red, depending on what type of dirt they pick up. They can also pick up leaves, hay or even tumbleweeds and spin them in circles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various types of insects, from mosquitoes to mayflies, can even get caught up in a dust devil's vortex or form their own twist naturally, something we call a bugnado. Whirlwinds Form on a windy day Strength: Weak Danger: Low Vortexes of wind can form on windy days as wind curls around buildings or structures. You may have seen trash or leaves form into a whirlwind on city streets. Wind shear - different wind speeds at different heights - can cause whirlwinds. In one rare example, a family dog was taken for a brief ride by an invisible whirlwind on a windy day. Fire whirls Form during a wildfire Strength: Medium Danger: High Fire whirls, sometimes called fire tornadoes, are not uncommon during wildfires. As with dust devils, the ground is hot, and the air above is cooler. Vortexes form, often egged on by wind shear. The whirls can then pick up smoke, or rarely, fire, which makes them quite dangerous. One famous video from 2016 shows a Canadian firefighter outrunning a fire whirl by jumping into a lake. Dramatic footage captured in Louisiana shows an intense firenado swirling amid the Pirates Cove fire. pic.twitter.com/SiHlK47id4 AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 2, 2023 Firenadoes Form during a wildfire Strength: Very strong Danger: High Large, powerful wildfires can create their own clouds and even supercell thunderstorms. Tornadoes formed by these storms are just like those from a thunderstorm and are called firenadoes, although this term is also used interchangeably with fire whirls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first firenado, rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, was documented in Australia in 2003 and had winds as high as 160 mph. A second, violent firenado was the EF3 fire tornado observed during the Carr fire in California in 2018, another EF3 twister that produced 143-mph winds. Lava-nadoes Form in or near a volcano Strength: Medium Danger: High A relatively new type of fire whirl, which we'll call a lava whirl or lava-nado, was documented for the first time recently at Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano. In the video, you can see lava being lifted out of the volcano's lava field and into the air briefly. Snow devils Form on a windy day with snow on the ground Strength: Weak to medium Danger: Low Snow devils, sometimes snow called snownadoes, are formed from wind shear. As winds blow at different speeds at different heights, vortexes form and pick up snow from the ground. Steam devils Form over water on a calm, foggy morning Strength: Weak Danger: Low Steam devils are formed over water but are produced by the same process as a dust devil -- a warmer surface, in this case, water under cold air. If there's fog already on the water, it can be picked up by the rotating vortex, creating a steam devil, which really should be called a fog devil. Like dust devils, winds are typically calm in the area where steam devils form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second, more rare kind of steam devil can form at sea in rough conditions during Arctic sea smoke. It's not actually smoke but steam which continually re-forms as cold air rapidly moves over very warm water. This phenomenon occurred in 2023 at Lake Champlain in Vermont. Waterspouts Form on a relatively calm day with puffy clouds or showers Strength: Weak to strong Danger: Medium Waterspouts can be dangerous when they move onshore, at which point they are considered a tornado and can throw objects or damage structures. There are two types of waterspouts. Fair-weather waterspouts form when benign cumulus clouds during light winds start on the ocean's surface and reach up to connect to the base of a cloud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tornadic waterspouts are essentially tornadoes over water, which develop out of the parent cloud of a supercell thunderstorm, just like those over land. Since they are only picking up tiny water droplets, waterspouts often look very smooth in appearance, and can appear otherworldly, like this one in Florida in 2013 or this famous photo of a waterspout illuminated by lightning taken in 1993. Funnel clouds, tornadoes, gustnadoes, landspouts and QLCS Form on a stormy day Strength: Weak to very strong Danger: Varies Tornadoes are typically vortexes of wind that form from a supercell thunderstorm cloud, but there are several other types of tornadoes that form in different ways. QLCS Tornado: This acronym stands for Quasi-Linear Convective System, meaning a tornado occurring in a line of storms, as opposed to an individual supercell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landspout: Landspouts are considered a type of tornado by the National Weather Service, but they form from the ground up, typically during stormy weather, and they don't connect to a cloud. It can be hard to tell the difference between a landspout and a dust devil, but remember that dust devils typically form on clear, dry, hot days. Gustnado: A gustnado is another type of tornado that forms when the edge of the downdraft of a severe thunderstorm -- a gust front -- causes the air to spin, from the ground up, but the gustnado does not connect to a cloud. Funnel cloud: Funnel clouds are vortexes that form like tornadoes but have not yet reached the ground. Sometimes funnel clouds appear to end in midair, but they are invisible below that, and there can still be swirling dirt or debris at ground-level, which defines them as a tornado. Cold-air funnel A cold-air funnel is a type of funnel cloud that forms when very cold air aloft leads to a small funnel at high elevation, which rarely touches down. Sharknado? How about frognado? Sorry, folks. This one's just ridiculous, although tornadoes have been known to pick up small fish and frogs then deposit them from above down the road. Frogs have fallen from the sky in Serbia at least four times in history, most recently in 2005. Fish were picked up by a waterspout and deposited on the ground in Australia in 2010. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the familiar whirl of dust devils to the sometimes intense fury of firenadoes, the variety of spinning weather phenomena underscores the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of our atmosphere. Each vortex, whether driven by heat, wind, fire, snow or water, highlights the intricate processes at work in our environment. While some, like dust devils and snow devils, pose minimal danger and offer a captivating spectacle, others, such as fire whirls and tornadoes, are a reminder of the formidable forces that can impact our lives. Understanding these phenomena enhances appreciation of the natural world and underscores the critical need for awareness and preparedness in the face of these sometimes powerful weather events. Senate President Ty Masterson on the Senate floor March 5, 2025, during debate on a constitutional amendment that would let voters decide if they want to begin electing justices on the Kansas Supreme Court. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Kansas Senators advanced a constitutional amendment Wednesday that would change how state supreme court justices are selected. The amendment, which requires approval from two thirds of the Legislature and more than 50% of voters, would convert Kansas method for selecting state supreme court justices from a merit-based system to an elections system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Senate Democrats opposed the change saying it was equivalent to hanging a for sale sign on the state supreme courthouse. Republicans said the change gives a voice to the people. Under the current merit-based system, a nine-member judicial nominating commission that consists of five attorneys and four laypeople creates a list of potential appointees, and the sitting governor selects a justice from that list. Kansas Supreme Court justices serve six-year terms, but only if they are retained by voters. Appointed justices undergo a retention vote in a general election once theyve served for a year and subsequently every six years. Clifton Boje, of Bonner Springs, demonstrates his anti-abortion views on March 5, 2025, outside the Senate chamber entrance at the Statehouse in Topeka. The Senate took up a constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices, which is viewed as a way to overturn the courts 2019 ruling that established the right to terminate a pregnancy. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said the change boils down to controversial issues including school funding, voting rights and reproductive freedom. Anti-abortion protesters held signs outside the entrance of the Senate chamber as legislators arrived. Once we put a for sale sign on the Kansas Supreme Court, we will never get justice back, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ethan Corson, D-Prairie Village, echoed Sykes concerns that a partisan elections system would give funding undue influence over an outcome. The voice of the people is simply just going to be drowned out by dark money and special interest money flooding these elections, he said. Corson, who is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, said that under an elections system, the best lawyers for the job arent likely to run if they have to go through an 18-month statewide political campaign. The most qualified judges wont make it on the court, he said. Following Corsons comments, Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said he was taken aback by the fear of the voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Make no mistakes, politics is in it, Masterson said. Its just behind the curtain. He alleged Democrats were contending that the rest of us arent smart enough to choose. Darkness is just cheaper, Masterson said. Thirteen other states select justices the way Kansas currently does. Equally as common are nonpartisan elections, which permit voters in 14 states to select a justice from multiple candidates who arent identified on ballots by party labels. Ten states, all in the northeast, select justices through gubernatorial nomination from a list of committee-approved appointees and Senate confirmation. Seven states conduct partisan elections. Four use a mix of methods, and two use a legislative appointments process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the resolution passes, a special election would be called on Aug. 6, 2026, so voters could weigh in on the change. Positions four and five would be elected in November 2030. Positions six and seven would be elected in November 2032. Each position would be subject to a six-year term. Vacancies that occur because of unexpired terms would also be filled by an election. Justices are required by law to retire after their 75th birthday or after completing the term during which they turn 75. A number of advocacy organizations opposed the resolution when it was heard in committee, including voting-rights organization Loud Light, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, the bar associations in Johnson County and Wichita, the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association and the Kansas Bar Association. Fred Logan, on behalf of the state bar association, wrote in testimony that the resolution ignores the history of Supreme Court justice selection. The introducer of the bill, Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, pointed out on the Senate floor Wednesday that prior to 1958 voters selected justices through elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logan said the combination of political campaigns for a seat on the state Supreme Court and the fair administration of justice are a bad mix. The merit selection process ensures that individuals will be appointed to the Supreme Court because they have shown the legal skill and temperament to honorably serve Kansans, he said. An amendment from Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, to clean up some language in the bill to make it clearer to voters, failed. She also said the process of hearing the resolution was rushed, like many things this session. An amendment from Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, R-Wichita, passed. It would permit district court judges to retain their seats if one decides to run for a position on the state appellate court. The bill is pending final action in the Senate and has yet to be heard in the House. Vice President JD Vance traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday and touted his administrations efforts to secure the border while criticizing his predecessor for not doing the same. Joe Biden opened up the American southern border and allowed the cartels to turn it into their playground. Now thats the bad news, the vice president said at a press conference in Eagle Pass, Texas. The good news is, he continued, it turns out, we didnt need new laws. ... We just needed a new president of the United States, and thank God thats exactly what we have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Migrant crossings at the southern border are down from 1,500 a day to 30 a day, Vance said, before promising more improvements. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard accompanied the vice president at the press conference and the helicopter tour around Eagle Pass. The drone technology that the cartels are using requires, unfortunately, a military response and military support, said Vance. Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to send 5,050 troops to the border on Friday, as The Hill reported. They will join the 1,600 U.S. Marines deployed by Trump earlier in January, and the 2,500 National Guard troops sent under the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense secretary promised to dedicate his departments resources from troops and surveillance to strategic planning to securing the border. Gabbard said her agency is focused in finding and deporting migrants affiliated with terrorist organizations. What did Gabbard and Hegseth say? Noting the millions of undocumented migrants who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration, Gabbard expressed concerns about unvetted migrants. Vice President JD Vance speaks to reporters during a visit to the U.S. border with Mexico Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Eagle Pass, Texas, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard listen. | Brandon Bell There were over 4,000 people who came across our borders using an ISIS affiliated network. Our National Counterterrorism Center ... identified those individuals, Gabbard said. There were hundreds of them who were either known terrorists or associated with known terrorists. The national intelligence director said the Biden administration failed to deport all these individuals. The U.S. National Counterterrorism Center is creating one source for vetting migrants and identifying those who pose a threat to the country, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents designation of the cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations falls directly into this especially as were seeing some of the tactics that these cartels are using reflect some of the tactics that weve seen used by Islamist terrorists in countries that many of us have served in overseas. The future of the border wall Directing his question to Vance, a reporter asked what the biggest obstacles to mass deportation were. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers line up before Vice President JD Vance's arrival at Shelby Park, Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Eagle Pass, Texas. | Chitose Suzuki Rome wasnt built in a day, the vice president responded. We have to remember that President Biden gutted the entire immigration enforcement regime of this country. The Trump-Vance administration wants to empower the country to enforce common sense immigration laws, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to get ahead of any public announcements, but you know, one of the ways that we wanted to make sure that were enforcing our border is that we make it easier for people who are here illegally to go back home of their own accord, Vance said. He noted that funding is necessary for deportation flights, deportation centers and other measures to ensure compliance with the federal law, and said its a part of Trumps priorities. I think the presidents hope is that by the end of the term we build the entire border wall, Vance said. And of course thats the physical structure, the border wall itself. Mar. 5WAGNER, S.D. The sound of a curfew whistle, once a familiar childhood signal, is making a comeback in Wagner as city officials work to curb youth-related vandalism and improve public safety. As of Monday, March 3, the whistle blows nightly at 9:30 p.m., giving minors 30 minutes to get home before the 10 p.m. curfew takes effect. The ordinance, unanimously approved by the Wagner City Council on February 3, requires minors to be home by 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and by midnight on weekends unless accompanied by an adult, on a parent-approved errand, or attending a school or church event. City Administrator Debbra Houseman explained that Wagner previously had a curfew whistle, but it was apparently discontinued by resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We used to have the whistle years ago. The ordinance says that the whistle will blow one short blast at 9:30. That's to notify people under the age of 18 that they need to get off the streets," Houseman said. "The ordinance says that by resolution you can stop it. That must be what happened." Concerns about late-night vandalism prompted the return of the whistle. Mayor Tammy Thornton emphasized that while the ordinance includes penalties, its main goal is protecting minors and reinforcing parental responsibility. "They're out at all hours, and vandalism has become a serious issue," Thornton said in a Facebook post about the curfew. "This is for everyone's safety, including theirs." Councilman Taylor Mohr, who lives near the city park and pool, said he frequently caught groups of minors trespassing in the pool after hours over the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is when I get home at 1 or 2 in the morning. I back my car into our back garage, and my headlights point right at the pool," Mohr said. "I always see little heads popping up." Although the curfew extends to midnight on weekends, Police Commissioner and Councilman Tom Abdouch did not believe it was necessary or beneficial to sound the whistle at 11:30 p.m. on those nights. The decision was made to keep the whistle limited to the weekday curfew reminder at 9:30 p.m. Council member Mieke Slaba questioned whether the police department had the resources to enforce the curfew effectively. "There are a lot of juveniles running around late at night. I just worry we don't have enough officers or that they will come back and say they have better things to do," Slaba said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the ordinance, minors caught violating curfew will be detained at the Wagner Police Department. A second offense could lead to arrest and placement in a detention center, while a third violation may result in juvenile proceedings. Parents may also face fines of up to $200. Some council members debated whether the fines were enough to deter violations. Police Chief Damon Griffith noted that fines and enforcement could work as they did with the city's dog ordinance. "Since we started issuing fines for dogs running at large, complaints have gone down," he said. Mohr stressed the need for parental accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The whistle should be a reminder for parents as well," Mohr said. "It blows every day, so there's no excuse." Slaba agreed that the curfew whistle would serve as an important reminder but emphasized that parents must also take responsibility. "But parents have to start parenting," she said. While officials believe the curfew whistle will help address youth-related crime, some acknowledge it may not be a complete solution. "If this doesn't work, then we can try something else," said Councilman Dan Cimpl. Other South Dakota cities, including Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Mitchell, enforce curfews, though policies and enforcement vary. Wagner officials hope reinstating the whistle will help maintain order as warmer months approach. The full ordinance can be found on the mayor's Facebook page. WAGONER High school math teacher John French says he was surprised to be honored among Oklahomas Top 20 teachers. It was no surprise to Wagoner High Principal Roy Pinney. He is everywhere, Pinney said. He runs our academic team. Hes a part of our teachers union, he takes care of our Rotary stuff. He designs some of our benchmark curriculum to give us direction as to where our kids need to go, identify weak points. One of the many reasons this place runs so well is because of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people of Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas selected French as one of the Top 20 Teachers of 2024-25. French receives $5,000 and Wagoner High receives $2,000 for the award. Muskogee Cherokee Elementary teacher Melody Cranford also was honored. The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board represents the people of Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas. The board is dedicated to cleaning well sites and helping educators. French said he was surprised when Pinney told him about the honor. I had no clue anyone nominated me, French said. Its not every day someone drops $2,000 on you and says here, buy what you need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pinney said he will let French decide how the $2,000 will be spent. French said he might use the money to get a color printer or other equipment to supplement his teaching. He said he might use the $5,000 for something more fun. Now in his 22 year of teaching, French takes a practical approach to math. When I teach my classes, I think about when will they use it and why is it so important , he said. I always try to relate it back to things, especially money, they know how money works. If were talking about exponential functions, exponential growth, why investing when youre young is an important thing because it can grow every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Math also helps students think critically, he said. I understand my students arent going to use calculus every day, he said. What they do use every single day is the ability to think and reason and make decisions on their own. Math allows you to think for yourself. You think through a process and you have to get to a certain answer. My job is to make sure they know how to use their reasoning ability. A Hong Kong-based conglomerate has agreed to sell its controlling stake in a subsidiary that operates ports near the Panama Canal to a consortium including BlackRock Inc., effectively putting the ports under American control after President Donald Trump alleged Chinese interference with the operations of the critical shipping lane. In a filing, CK Hutchison Holding said Tuesday that it would sell all shares in Hutchison Port Holdings and in Hutchison Port Group Holdings to the consortium in a deal valued at nearly $23 billion, including $5 billion in debt. The deal will give the BlackRock consortium control over 43 ports in 23 countries, including the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, located at either end of the Panama Canal. Other ports are in Mexico, the Netherlands, Egypt, Australia, Pakistan and elsewhere. The transaction, which must be approved by Panamas government, does not include any interest in a trust that operates ports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and South China, or any other ports in China. Some 70% of the sea traffic that crosses the Panama Canal leaves or goes to U.S. ports. The United States built the canal in the early 1900s as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. Trump has claimed that Carter foolishly gave the canal away. Trump and his supporters have also complained about the fees that ships are charged to use the waterway and alleged that China has been operating the canal, an assertion denied by Panamas government. In January, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, raised concerns that China could exploit or block passage through the canal and that the ports give China ready observation posts to take action. This situation, I believe, posts acute risks for U.S. national security, Cruz said. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama in early February and told President Jose Raul Mulino that Panama had to reduce Chinese influence over the canal or face potential retaliation from the United States. Mulino rejected the idea that China had any control over canal operations. Panama quit Chinas Belt and Road Initiative following Rubios visit, drawing condemnation from Beijing. Belt and Road is Beijings global development strategy to build roads, ports and railways to open up new markets. But while much attention was focused on Trumps threat to retake control of the canal, his administration trained its sights on Hutchison Ports, the Hong Kong-based consortium that manages the ports key ports at either end of the canal. Hutchison Ports had recently been awarded a 25-year no-bid extension to run the ports, but an audit looking at that extension was already underway. Observers believed the audit was a preliminary step toward eventually rebidding the contract, but rumors had swirled in recent weeks that a U.S. firm close to the White House was being lined up to take over. Frank Sixt, co-managing director of CK Hutchison, said in a statement that the transaction was the result of a rapid, discrete but competitive process in which numerous bids and expressions of interest were received. I would like to stress that the transaction is purely commercial in nature and wholly unrelated to recent political news reports concerning the Panama Ports, Sixt said. In addition to BlackRock, a New York-based global investment management company with $11.6 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, the consortium includes BlackRock subsidiary Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited. BlackRock declined to comment outside of a press release touting the deal. Shares in BlackRock fell 1.5% in afternoon trading Tuesday. DIDI TANG & ALEX VEIGA, Hong Kong, MDT/AP Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Wednesday slammed President Trumps address to Congress in an interview on CNN, referring to the speech as reality TV. Look, it was what I expected, it was reality TV, it was for consumption for those, you know, the folks who are going to line up there, the Republican senators and House members, Walz told CNNs Kasie Hunt on The Arena. On Tuesday, the president gave his second terms first congressional address. The president butted heads with Democrats during the speech, which started with a Democratic House member from Texas being taken out of the chamber. Multiple Democrats also exited the chamber amid the presidents remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or make them stand and smile or applaud, Trump said of Democrats during his address. I could find a cure to the most devastating diseases, he added. A disease that would wipe out entire nations, or announce the answers to the greatest economy in historyand these people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. On Wednesday, Walz also appeared to swipe at Trump for referring to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as Pocahontas, a nickname the president has often used for the senator. The idea of a president standing at that rostrum and throwing a slur at a United States senator in the middle because you disagree on policy is absolutely ridiculous, Walz told Hunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who ran to be vice president on the Democratic ticket alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris, said he believes the next leader of the party is going to be the voting public. Walz appeared Wednesday on CNN to discuss President Trumps joint address to Congress and the future of his party. Who do you think the leader of the Democratic Party is right now? CNNs Kasie Hunt asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walz paused, then said he believes the leader is the voting public. In the aftermath of the election, Democratic officials have questioned who will step up and become the partys next leader. Harris and Walz have been part of that conversation, though neither of them have explicitly said they will run in 2028. Walz said he doesnt believe the party will have a charismatic leader right in here and save us from the Trump administration. He said he believes party leaders need to be standing alongside the people who have been protesting the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunt again questioned if Walz saw someone who would be able to dominate politics in the way that President Trump has for the GOP over the last decade. I see a whole lot of them, he replied. I see young members of Congress stepping up. Walz argued that Democrats have to be out there every day to combat Trump. We need to be better organized. There is going to be an organic uprising, which were seeing out of folks, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Three candidates filed last year to be Riviera Beachs next mayor. Or at least they tried to. Somehow none of the three including the current mayor managed to do so correctly under the states exacting rules for paying filing fees. After a lawsuit and an appellate court ruling in December, all three would-be candidates Mayor Ronnie Felder and challengers Kendra Wester and Kendrick Wyly were declared ineligible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the city of 39,000 is facing an unusual situation: no eligible candidates to be its ceremonial leader in the March 11 election. When city voters go to the polls, the mayors race will not be on the ballot. With the mayors office set to be vacant after the election, the city commission plans to appoint someone to the position in April. And starting next month, theyre taking applications. Any adult Riviera Beach resident whos interested in the job will be able to apply by submitting a resume, a letter of interest and proof of residency, said City Clerk Debrah Hall. Its a situation, she said, with no apparent precedent in recent times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the first time that I know of that the board has selected a mayor, she said. Riviera Beach City Hall, June 19, 2019. MELANIE BELL / Palm Beach Post The appointed mayor would serve for only two years, not the typical three-year term. City voters will be able to elect a mayor in March 2027 the next city general election. Weighted with symbolism though it may be, the brief absence of a mayor would not significantly affect the citys operations. Like most small and mid-size Florida cities, Riviera Beach has a weak-mayor system in which the mayor has few administrative powers. And unlike most Florida cities, Riviera Beachs mayor does not vote as or form part of the city council, though the mayor does have some veto powers and ability to take disciplinary actions. Riviera Beach election: Political dreams dashed by debit cards The Riviera Beach City Hall in 2019. The trouble that led to a mayor-less election started in November when the deadline approached for filing to run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Felder, the incumbent mayor, paid a filing fee with a debit card, which is not a legally permissible way to pay under state law, court records show. Courts have ruled that state law requires election filing fees to be paid by a check drawn from an official campaign bank account. The two-term mayor realized his error before the deadline expired, the records stated, and instead paid with a check. Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie L. Felder But Felder later told WPTV NewsChannel 5 that in his haste to correct his error, he paid with a check from an old, deactivated campaign account and the check bounced, leaving him off the ballot. Felder did not respond to messages seeking comment this week. The two challengers, Wester and Wyly, also filed to run and paid their filing fees in November with debit cards, court records show, along with three candidates for city council seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, Felder and a sitting city council member filed a lawsuit alleging Wester, Wyly and the three city council candidates were ineligible to run because of their use of debit cards to pay. A circuit court judge agreed, and an appeals court upheld his decision in late December. Riviera Beach election: Two races are on the ballot The March 11 city elections will now feature only two races with two candidates in each. In Council District 1, challenger Bruce Guyton faces incumbent Tradrick McCoy. In Council District 3, incumbent Shirley Lanier faces challenger challenger Cedrick Thomas. Hall said the city will be accepting applications for mayor from March 26 to April 4. The applications must be hand-delivered to city hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RIVIERA NEWS: Why Riviera Beach could be a gem of a place to live in the future despite past struggles The council is tentatively scheduled to choose a mayor from the applicants April 16. Its wide open, Hall said. I havent received any feedback about who might be interested in submitting their resume and letter of interest. ELECTION 2025: A city-by-city guide to the upcoming Palm Beach County municipal races Andrew Marra is a reporter at The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at amarra@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Riviera Beach has no eligible candidates for mayor. What now? Editor's note: This is the transcript of President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the Special European Council released by the President's Office on March 6. President Costa! President von der Leyen! Dear colleagues, glad to see you all. Ive already spoken to many of you these days and weeks, and I am grateful for your support. Ukrainians really appreciate that in a time of such great emotions in global politics, European integrity is preserved, and Europe is really trying to do the right thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First. I want to inform all of you that our teams Ukraine and America have resumed work. We hope that next week we will have a meaningful meeting. Ukraine has been seeking peace since the very first second of the war, and we have always said that the only reason why the war continues is because of Russia. Ukraine is not only ready to take the necessary steps for peace, but we are also proposing what those steps are. And I ask you to support us in this support Ukraine and those European leaders who are helping to pave the way for peace. We see several steps now. Everyone needs to make sure that Russia, as the sole source of this war, accepts the need to end it. This can be proved by two forms of silence that are easy to establish and monitor, namely, no attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure truce for missiles, bombs, and long-range drones, and the second is truce on the water, meaning no military operations in the Black Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next step is basic trust to the circumstances in which the negotiations are taking place. Ukrainians, all Europeans, Americans, every human heart in the world that does not agree with the war we all need to feel that the Russians are not deceiving us. The release of prisoners can be a means of establishing basic trust. And this should be based on the understanding that any truce and any form of trust building measures can only be a prologue to a full and fair settlement, to a comprehensive agreement on security guarantees and an end to the war. Let me emphasize once again that Ukrainians do really want peace, but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine. Is Russia capable of giving up the war this is the question that any negotiations must answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine And please be sure that Ukraine will share all the details of peace plans and talks process to all of Europe, every European nation that helps must be on board on the path to peace. Second. I urge you to continue to support the position that any issues related to Ukraines security should be resolved with Ukraines participation, just as any issues related to the security of your nations or any issues related to the security of our entire Europe should be resolved with your participation. Only this can guarantee peace on the continent and respect for the interests of all European states. That is why we are trying to ensure that European interests are represented. Anything that affects the security of Europe should be resolved with the participation of Europe. Third. I thank you for your determination to help us defend Ukraine. Every day and every night we have to protect lives. Russian ballistic missiles continue to strike our cities. The shelling at the front continues. Russian sabotage groups are still trying to enter our territory across the border in Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Moscow is not reducing its investment in death, increasing its army, and making no pauses in trying to overcome sanctions. Russia now has 220 brigades with war experience. In five years, they will bring this number to 300. We need to respond to this by taking care of lives now, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I welcome the European Commissions efforts to re-arm Europe and the Rearm Europe Plan is the right initiative. The defense funds under this European Plan should strengthen all parts of Europe, and I call for a significant part to be allocated to arms production in Ukraine our industrial capabilities are the fastest and most relevant to the current security threats. Read also: Trump lifting US sanctions on Russia would be huge win for Putin, chaos for global economy I welcome the efforts of my European colleagues and this is not just about the EU, but about Europe in a broad sense to increase national defense spending and modernize national armies. Everyone in Europe needs this. When we agree on the format of the Armed Forces of Europe, this format will rely on the strength of national armies and on the experience of deploying partner contingents in Ukraine, which is what we are now working on. I also welcome the investments of all partners in the defense industry in Ukraine and in your countries, the industrial base of Europe must grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe should become the place where the most technologically advanced and effective weapons in the world are produced, and this is not a fantasy if Europeans really set themselves this goal. And a few more things. Im grateful to you for the 16th EU sanctions package, and we must continue this pressure. We need a 17th sanctions package. The sanctions should work until Russia stops the occupation. I know that a special European financial instrument for Ukraines resilience is being developed, please speed up this work. In all these circumstances, it is needed to speed up the work of our teams in the negotiations on Ukraines membership in the EU. As of now, the work on clusters is actually blocked without any rational reason. We need common sense, we need to unblock the work on clusters, and this can be done at the leadership level. Thank you. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) People with outstanding bench warrants have a chance to resolve their cases at a clinic hosted by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. The clinic is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Friday, March 7, at the 19th Judicial District Court. and East Baton Rouge Parish Family Court and Baton Rouge City Court. The event is open to individuals with warrants for traffic, child support, misdemeanor, and felony offenses (excluding violent offenses). Residents are encouraged to bring valid identification, relevant documentation and information to help facilitate the resolution process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Expungement services and consultations will also be offered. The clinic aims to ease the burden on individuals with bench warrants, offering them an alternative to arrest while ensuring that they can address their legal obligations. Free parking will be available at the River Center West Parking Garage. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. The News Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Thursday that Democrats would vote for a short-term patch to keep the government open while Congress hashes out a longer-term funding deal. We need a short-term continuing resolution, maybe four weeks, in order to finish the budgeting process and get that done, Warren told Semafors Burgess Everett in an interview. The current government funding is due to expire on March 14, meaning Congress has eight days to avoid a shutdown. House Republican leaders have aimed to hold a vote on a full year continuing resolution, which would maintain current levels of funding for the military and non-defense agencies through Sept. 30 Senate Democrats are not yet bought into the proposal, however. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at Semafors event in Washington, DC, Warren said that Democrats are not prepared to write a blank check for Donald Trump to just have a big slush fund to do whatever he wants to do, stressing that a short-term CR, we can put our shoulder behind that and make that happen. Know More Warren also laid down an early marker on the countrys debt ceiling, which Congress will have to tackle in the coming months. She argued that it should be scrapped, as Republicans seek to lift the cap by $4 trillion so the US can continue to pay its bills. Im tired of this thing being used as a political lever, Warren told Semafor. So maybe Trump and I can make that happen. Warren, a former teacher, also gave a strong defense of the Department of Education, which President Donald Trump has said should be shuttered. I dont think he has the legal authority to do this, Warren noted. What is he telling us about his vision of America? Warren said. Its a vision of America that says weve got to stop these crazy investments in our children, like getting them educated And what we want to do with that money is that we want to spend that money instead on tax cuts for billionaires. Mar. 5ROSEAU COUNTY, Minn. A Warroad woman pleaded guilty Tuesday, March 4, to felony first-degree sale of at least 17 grams of methamphetamine within a 90-day period. Kristina Marlene Deedrick, 51, gave an Alford plea to the crime, meaning she maintains her innocence but admits there's enough evidence to convict her. A warrant was executed on Deedrick's residence in November 2023 after a known individual told law enforcement she had recently received an ounce of methamphetamine, and was in possession of related paraphernalia, according to a probable cause statement filed in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reported items were found in Deedrick's home, including inside a safe two gallon-sized baggies that contained what appeared to be methamphetamine. The total weight was determined to be 41.9 grams, and the substance later tested positive for methamphetamine. Approximately 2.1 and 8.1 additional grams of methamphetamine were found in smaller bags. Deedrick claimed that the reporting party was the one who owned the drugs that were in the safe; she purchased eight ounces of methamphetamine once a month to last her until the next, the statement said. She is charged with three other felonies: second-degree possession of at least 25 grams of methamphetamine, third-degree possession of at least 10 grams of a narcotic drug other than heroin or fentanyl and threats of violence -causing or attempting to cause terror. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No plea negotiations have been made public, but it is possible that these remaining charges will be dismissed. Deedrick faces up to 30 years imprisonment for her crime, however, state sentencing guidelines recommend between 56 and 150 months, depending on the person's criminal history. She will be sentenced at 10 a.m. May 5. Mar. 5OLYMPIA The Washington State Attorney General's Office has joined a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration's efforts to terminate probationary federal employees. It anticipates more Washingtonians will lose their positions if the plan moves forward. In a filing Wednesday, the Attorney General's Office said the state government believes at least a thousand federal employees in Washington have been terminated as part of President Donald Trump's plan to downsize federal offices. According to the state Employment Security Department, the state is home to roughly 76,000 federal employees. "Many of the president's power grabs have this problem in common they're illegal," Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement Wednesday. "These firings don't save the public a dime, but they do make government less responsive, particularly in the communities across the nation where these employees live and serve." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit was initially brought by a collection of union groups who represent federal employees against the Office of Personnel Management. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday and directed the Office of Personnel Management to rescind its guidance to federal agencies to identify probationary employees, typically those who are in the first year of their position. Following the ruling, Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the ruling was an "important initial victory for patriotic Americans across this country who were illegally fired from their jobs by an agency that had no authority to do so. "These are rank-and-file workers who joined the federal government to make a difference in their communities, only to be suddenly terminated due to this administration's disdain for federal employees and desire to privatize their work," Kelley said in a statement Monday. "OPM's direction to agencies to engage in the indiscriminate firing of federal probationary employees is illegal, plain and simple, and our union will keep fighting until we put a stop to these demoralizing and damaging attacks on our civil service once and for all." On Tuesday, the Office of Personnel Management amended a Jan. 20 memo and added a paragraph that said the agency "is not directing agencies to take any specific performance-based actions regarding probationary employees." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Agencies have ultimate decision-making authority over, and responsibility for, such personnel actions," the updated memo states. In February, the Washington State Governor's office said that the state's Employment Security Department had seen an uptick in federal employees filing for unemployment in the new year. As of Feb. 21, an average of 14 federal employees filed for state unemployment benefits per day. Between Feb. 13 and 18, 156 federal employees filed for unemployment in Washington, with 63 employees filing on Feb. 18. "My administration is standing at the ready to support all Washington workers including federal government employees impacted by chaos in the federal government," Gov. Bob Ferguson said in a Feb. 21 statement. "We will help you get back on your feet." Spokane County is home to roughly 5,000 federal employees, according to data from the Employment Security Department. The largest concentration of federal employees in the state is in King, Pierce and Kitsap counties, which are home to large military installations, among other facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a filing Wednesday, the Washington Attorney's General Office argued that staff reductions in federal agencies would have far-reaching impacts, past the immediate impact on those who have lost their jobs. "Reduced staffing at any of the federal agencies on which the State relies and interacts with every day will directly impact the State, far beyond the immediate harm to federal employees based in Washington who have lost their livelihood and benefits," the filing states. The filing highlights many cooperative efforts between the federal government and the state that could be impacted by the staffing cuts. "The State relies on partnerships with the federal government to fight wildfires, contain outbreaks of communicable diseases, keep its waters clean, and respond to natural disasters," the filing states. "Without sufficient federal staffing, the State's workload and costs will increase, forest fires within the State will be harder to fight, diseases will be harder to control, and emergency response times will drop." Artificial intelligence is one of the promising areas of cooperation between China and Africa. The continents flourishing tech hubs and young tech-savvy population are well complemented by the Asian powerhouses wealth of expertise and investment capability. Speaking ahead of the two sessions, the annual meetings of Chinas National Peoples Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, Lawrence Nderu, a research fellow in the Department of Computing at Kenyas Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, said that China is revolutionizing the AI sector. He said that through the development of DeepSeek, China has proven that its possible to develop AI solutions with fewer computing capabilities as long as the developer is efficient at the algorithm level. This, he said, has particularly given confidence to the Global South, which lacks computing capability and will leapfrog the regions ability to benefit from AI and create meaningful solutions. Nderu hopes that the two sessions could hold discussions that will pave the way for collaborations between Chinese and African scientists to build solutions that can upscale, taking note of Africas constrained resources in terms of computing capability. Nderu said that AI can help Africa improve its agriculture and healthcare sectors as well as address climate change and security challenges. In the education sector, he said that AI can be used for personalized learning. Teachers and lecturers can also build lesson plans using AI or create solutions that students can use for science, technology, engineering and mathematics-based courses. In light of corruption that has plagued some African countries for a long time, he said that AI can be used to ensure that resources are utilized properly. Financial institutions or tax authorities can deploy AI solutions to uncover money laundering, fraud, or tax evasion. AI applications have the ability to work with datasets too large for manual handling, making it possible to reveal or even predict corruption or fraud that previously was nearly or completely impossible to detect, according to some anti-corruption experts. Noting that China is known for its production capability, which also involves the use of AI in some industries, Nderu suggested the need for technology transfer capability to Africa. With DeepSeek having sent shockwaves through the US tech establishment, Nderu said that he expects heightened competition in the development of AI solutions and building of more optimized solutions. Going forward, this kind of competition has its own advantage as well, because here in Africa, where we believed that it would take a bit of years for us to get to that computing power, we know we can do it now, he said. Nderu said that contrary to the current scenario, many people would expect China and the US to cooperate, which could result in the development of the best solutions because they both have tech-intensive industries. EDITH MUTETHYA, Nairobi, MDT/China Daily (NewsNation) A lunar lander designed by Intuitive Machine reached the moon, but the status of the Athena lander remains unclear. Athena does appear to have touched down but has not communicated its safety. A live stream of the landing ended before there was any confirmation of how the lander landed, whether it tipped over or how it is functioning. The goal of the mission is to set up the first cellular network on the moon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starliner astronauts avoid engaging in politics about their return There may not yet be any humans on the moon to pick up the signal, but the IM-2 Athena lander, which launched in February on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is carrying Nokias Lunar Surface Communication System. The mission also includes the Micro-Nova Hopper, which will explore shadowed lunar craters and test sensors that could help identify resources like water ice. The mission is part of NASAs partnership with the private industry to increase the capacity for space exploration by working with industry-driven space missions. The landing comes shortly after Blue Ghosts successful landing on the moon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASA and the private industrys focus on the moon is part of an effort to put humans back on the lunar surface for the first time in decades and work toward establishing a long-term human presence on the moon. The ability for humans to live on the moon for extended periods is critical for launching crewed explorations deeper into our solar system, including the goal of putting humans on Mars. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Democrats sang We Shall Overcome as a congressman was reprimanded for his protest during Donald Trumps joint address. Al Green, a Texas representative, was ejected from Mr Trumps speech on Tuesday night after heckling the US president, waving his cane in the air, and refusing to sit down. He was set to be censured by Congress on Thursday following a fast-track measure that was voted through the House of Representatives, which was supported by all Republicans and ten Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically, the process involves the member standing at the front of the House while a censure motion is read out. However, as Mr Green made his way up, he was joined by more than a dozen colleagues to sing We Shall Overcome, a gospel song associated with the civil rights movement. Mike Johnson, the House Speaker who ordered that 77-year-old Mr Green should be thrown out during Mr Trumps speech on Tuesday, was forced to put the chamber in recess instead. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson before at the Capitol on Thursday - SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Arguments broke out between Democrats and Republicans on the floor of the chamber as Mr Green walked out, hugging colleagues along the way. When the House reconvened some 25 minutes later it did not proceed with the censure, despite Mr Johnson having previously demanded that the Texas congressman faced swift punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Green and other Democrats were roundly criticised for their protests during Mr Trumps speech this week, including by members of their own party. Credit: Reuters Some waved paddles reading Musk steals referring to government efficiency tsar Elon Musk and false, and declined to stand for a 13-year-old boy with cancer when Mr Trump appointed him an honorary secret service agent. One Democrat strategist later described the tactic as very silly and unserious, telling Politico: Im sure they feel like they have to do something, anything, [but] that wasnt it. David Axelrod, a former chief strategist to Barack Obama, told CNN that he thought Mr Greens protest was despicable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Johnson told Fox News that it was important to censure Mr Green to maintain the dignity of the House. Were the greatest deliberative body in the history of the world. Theres a deep and rich tradition here and it is violated, he continued. To our understanding and our review of history, that was the first time that any member of Congress has ever had to be removed in the middle of a presidential address. And its shameful. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. WAURIKA, Okla. (KFDX/KJTL) Some Jefferson County parents are outraged after a sexually explicit questionnaire was assigned to Waurika High School students. On Monday, March 3, students in a WHS psychology class were assigned a 30-item survey asking them to answer which sexually explicit activity was normal or not. Photos of the assignment have been shared hundreds of times on social media, leaving parents with more questions than answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Somebody stapled these together and did not see all this vile explicit language flashed 30 times across that paper. Thats a problem, an anonymous parent of a WMS sixth grader and family member of a WHS psychology student said. How did nobody catch this before it was sat on the desk of a student? Students were assigned to answer prompts like watching several X-rated movies a night and becoming excited by exposing oneself in public, even ranging to bestiality and necrophilia. As you can tell from the picture, my cousin was stopped dead in her tracks. Imagine being 16 years old, in the middle of a classroom, trying to think of all these scenarios, the family member said. Those questions are hard for me to answer at 30 years old. In response, she reached out to Waurika High School Principal Derek Milburn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told me that it was not a big deal; he had apologized to all the parents that it had affected already, she said. I wasnt satisfied with that. Waurika Public Schools Superintendent Cody Simmons responded to the matter, saying the assignment came from an approved psychology curriculum but has since been removed. This form was taken from a state-approved psychology curriculum. The content of this form was inappropriate for students and should have never been dispersed, Simmons said in a statement. However, the family member urges teachers to be more aware of potentially harmful assignments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think that this teacher is a predator at all. I think he made a mistake that never should have happened, she said. I would like to see these teachers trying to pay closer attention. These classrooms have to be a safe place. According to Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, those involved will be held accountable. This is not acceptable in any classroom; this is the first time weve seen this questionnaire, and were comprehensively investigating the matter. The teacher and district will be held accountable, Walters said in a statement on X. A link to the survey can be found here. Note that viewer discretion is advised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A Waverly teen is on life support at Nationwide Childrens Hospital after complications of the flu. Now, her mother is speaking out about the importance of getting vaccinated and donating blood. A month ago, Jocey Tackett was a healthy 17-year-old girl, enjoying her senior year with friends and looking forward to her future. Now, shes fighting for her life. Animals were definitely her passion, and she was super looking forward to, you know, going to college next year and pursuing that degree, said Renee Tackett, Joceys mom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jocey is the middle child; she has an older and younger sister. After high school graduation, Jocey plans on attending Otterbein University to be part of the Zoology program. CPDs underreported crime data still not fixed We were supposed to go next month to visit her sister. And Jocey wouldve had her 18th birthday in Ireland, and now she will most likely spend her 18th birthday in the hospital, said Renee. On a Sunday in February, Jocey began experiencing flu-like symptoms. By Tuesday, Renee says Jocey just wasnt looking right, so she took her to their local hospital. As soon as we got there, she coded, said Renee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, Jocey has spent nearly a month in the cardiac intensive care unit at Nationwide Childrens Hospital. While there she tested positive for Flu A and Strep A. Her body didnt fight that off and she went septic, said Renee, So it went all through her whole body. So that stopped her heart, and her lungs are completely destroyed. Since being at Nationwide, Jocey has made some progress. Her heart is now functioning on its own, but her lungs are badly damaged. After watching her daughter code twice and fight for her life, Renee knew she needed to become an advocate for blood donations and vaccines. She received, I dont know, exact number, but the nurses tried to figure it out and probably 30 units of blood and about 15 units of platelets and six of plasma. So, without those, again, she wouldnt be here, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing Jocey really needed was platelets, which Renee says were not easy to come by. Every time I would be so nervous that they werent going to be able to find the platelets that she needed, and every time they came through, said Renee. According to Dr. Jason Newland, the Chief of Infectious Diseases at Nationwide, donating blood and platelets is equally as important as getting the vaccine, especially for patients critically ill with the flu. Father behind Laruens Law in Ohio sues disability care facility after eviction When you get very critically ill and land in the intensive care unit with many factors, including just having, you know, just a bad infection that might have a bacterial component to it. Platelets and blood cells, red blood cells can be very, very important for the supportive care that they require, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we do not know if this contributed to her extreme symptoms, Jocey did not get the flu shot. Her mom said that they never took the flu seriously, until now. If youve been debating getting the flu shot, Renee says to use this as a sign. Protect yourself and protect your family, because, I mean, our lives were completely destroyed in a second with no warning, she said, You just dont think anything like this can ever happen. But its not just my daughter. This is happening. I mean, all over, especially in Ohio. Dr. Newland says that the community needs to come together and identify why getting the flu shot is important. Influenza is a severe disease. It comes quick. And then one might say it can be really, really destructive to people and families in their lives and our preventative strategies have really been focused within the vaccination piece because we know they can be effective against serious disease, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renee lives roughly an hour and a half away from the hospital, but thanks to the Ronald McDonald House she has had a place to sleep while remaining close to her daughter. She says shes thankful for the staff and volunteers there and grateful for the staff at Nationwide Childrens hospital. To find the nearest location offering the flu vaccine near you, click here. If youd like to donate blood or platelets, click here to find a place near you. If youd like to support the Tackett family, visit this GoFundMe page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The future of the Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) is up in the air as President Donald Trump calls for an end to policies related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). RIBBA hosts workforce development programs and helps smaller businesses grow, particularly businesses owned by people from marginalized or underserved communities, although their free services are open to all. The organization said it has served more than 6,000 local businesses in its nearly 15-year history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RIBBA President Lisa Ranglin told 12 News on Wednesday that since Trumps DEI rollbacks, the people RIBBA had been communicating with at the federal level appear to have been laid off. The two people that we were connecting with, theyre gone with email just going off in the space and were not getting anything back, Ranglin explained. The uncertainty of everything is what Ranglin said keeps her up at night. There are way too many unknowns, she said. Some RIBBA programs were already approved, but the funding has yet to come through and the organization hasnt been able to get any answers. We have federal dollars that could be clawed back. We dont know, Ranglin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenges RIBBA is facing started before Trump took office. After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action last year, Ranglin said promised funding began to shrink. That also had a cascade effect where we got smaller funding that we may have gotten more in the past, Ranglin noted. In December, RIBBA laid off two workers, leaving the organization now with 11 employees. If the federal dollars are yanked, it could mark an end for RIBBA once its already-funded projects come to a close. In the meantime, RIBBA is scrubbing its websites and grant proposals of words like underserved and equity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We heard that these are the words that theyre flagging, Ranglin explained. Despite the new challenges, Ranglin hopes RIBBA will be able to continue its mission for years to come. Were looking for support, financial support. Were looking for volunteer support. Were looking for people to advocate on our behalf. RIBBA needs to be here, Ranglin said. Its about closing the racial wealth gap. Its about allowing families to thrive. Ranglin is not alone in her concerns about losing funding. Rhode Island Foundation President David Cicilline told 12 News hes contacted by nonprofit organizations every day looking for guidance on how to navigate Trumps federal funding freeze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are organizations receiving notifications that theyre grant has been frozen, or if they go to access the funds, like theyve done every month suddenly theyre unavailable, Cicilline said. United Way of Rhode Island President Cortney Nicolato said theyre hearing similar concerns. Its a very anxiety-filled, uncertain time for many nonprofit organizations, Nicolato said. Both Nicolato and Cicilline urged Rhode Islanders to support nonprofits if theyre able to during these difficult times. Sometimes you hear about these numbers, and about freezes, and it feels like something big and unrelated, Cicilline said. But this is about actual Rhode Islanders. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Mar. 5The $29 million rebuild of Waynesville's sewer treatment plant is expected to be online this summer after delays due to design changes and unexpected costs. The project is still within budget, but has nearly burned through $1.2 million in contingency set aside for unforeseen conditions. With the contingency nearly exhausted, and completion still a few months from the finish line, it's likely the project will end up going over budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There won't be a huge overage of the contingency, but we do expect it won't be enough," Waynesville Town Manager Rob Hites said. The town took out a $29 million loan to rebuild the antiquated sewer plant $25.7 million of which was the construction contract. The rest was for design, engineering and environmental permitting. Town leaders anticipated that upgrading and renovating an aging plant would come with unexpected costs. "The engineers contemplated that numerous unknown issues would arise that would necessitate a change order," Hites wrote in a memo to town council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So the budget also included a $1.2 million contingency fund in the construction contract awarded to Harper Construction in July 2022. Town council approved a change order to the tune of just over $300,000 in the fall of 2023. Another change order last month totaled just over $811,000, for a total of around $1.1 million. The project's contingency fund has just over $173,000 remaining. The bulk of the latest change order $560,824 is to Harper Construction for additional replacement of key parts needed to operate the new facility efficiently. Hites told town council last month that he does not anticipate further substantial changes to the contract. "During the course of the project a number of the plant's aging infrastructure were found to be too worn to be used with the new equipment," Hites said. "They were required to be replaced to ensure that the new equipment would properly operate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second change order approved by town leaders last month is an additional $187,000 paid to the project's engineering firm, McGill Associates. It covers 220 additional days of construction administration and design changes at a cost of $152,000 and $35,000 to negotiate with the state's Department of Environmental Quality. Those additional costs aren't recent, but were incurred three years ago when McGill was sent back to the drawing board to find cost savings. "McGill had to redesign components of the plant to reduce the original bid price," Hites said. The final charge to the project's contingency fund was almost $65,000 paid to AMCI, Inc. to install a potable (clean-water) backwash system for the primary clarifiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have discovered in testing the new disc filter system that there are times when the non-potable water pulled from the treated waste contains too many particulates to pass through the backwash system," Hites said. "On those occasions, we will use potable backwash water." Hites said issues that may still need to be resolved include motor control panels and possible motors that weren't part of the initial construction contract which could use up the amount remaining in contingency and then some. Hites anticipates that the sewer plant will be completed in June. "We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel of this project," Hites told town council at its Feb. 25 meeting. A state order has prohibited on new large-scale development from hooking on to the sewer system until the plant rebuild was complete. That should be lifted once Waynesville has the capacity to treat its wastewater. AUSTIN (KXAN) Choosing a nursing home for a loved one can feel overwhelming. How is the care? What is staffing like? Are there any inspection issues? Those are just a few of the questions that can come up when researching a facility. A new online tool tries to help answer those questions. CareWatch is a website designed to help families find skilled nursing facilities. The website looks at nursing homes across the country. (Photo: KXAN) The website looks at nursing homes across the country. (Photo: KXAN) The website looks at nursing homes across the country. (Photo: KXAN) The idea came from key findings out of the University of Texas. UT Finance Professor John Griffin and Dr. Alex Priest worked on the paper Overbilling and Killing? An Examination of the Skilled Nursing Industry. A way to distill our 90 page paper and get it out there to the public so that the public can use this information. John Griffin, UT Finance Professor In their research, Griffin said they found facilities that over-billed Medicare, also cut back on expenses like staffing higher level nurses. Because of that, he claimed patients received worse care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bed sores and pressure ulcers and urinary tract infections, Griffin said. These are preventable, and yet these facilities had much higher rates of all of these preventable diseases. The site creates its assessments based on ratings from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and data from their research. Ratings are decided based on the following: CMS Health Inspection Rating CMS Staffing Rating Externally Validated Health Outcomes Abusive Reviews and Review Sentiment Misreported UTIs and Pressure Ulcers Post-discharge Mortality and Rehospitalization Ethical Reimbursement Rating The website allows someone to tailor their search based on what matters most to them. Griffin said they plan to update this data at least every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not just do research for the purpose of academia, Griffin said. Do research thats practical and can lead to potentially, at least practical change. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Two adults are dead and one 17-year-old boy was seriously injured in a wrong-way crash in the Hudson Valley area early Wednesday morning, New York State Police said. The head-on vehicle collision happened just before 2 a.m. on a highway in the Village of Chester, approximately 60 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan. According to state troopers, the female driver of a 2009 Nissan was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of State Route 17, when she collided head-on with a 2014 Honda Odyssey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the driver of the Nissan, later identified as 25-year-old Sydney M. Haines, of Blackwood, N.J., and the other driver, 54-year-old Mordichy Zafir, of Kiamesha Lake, N.Y., were pronounced dead at the scene. A 17-year-old male passenger of the Honda, also from Kiamesha Lake, was seriously injured in the crash and rushed to Garnet Medical Center in Middletown, N.Y. His condition wasnt immediately available Thursday morning. Zafir, a rabbi and a member of the Vizhnitz community, was returning home from a wedding in Monsey, N.Y., according to multiple reports. The young victim is described as his son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have not said what may have led Haines to drive on the wrong side of Route 17. The crash remains under investigation, NYSP said. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact the State Police Monroe Bureau of Criminal Investigation at (845) 344-5300. The government has confirmed an increase in approved tax rebates for gross gaming revenue generated by international players in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, specific details on the total rebate amount or whether all six gaming concessionaires applied for the relief remain undisclosed. This follows lawmaker Lei Chan Us inquiry to the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) regarding the citys efforts to broaden its international tourism feeder markets. Under Macaus revised gaming law, implemented in 2022 alongside new 10-year gaming concessions, operators must pay a 40% levy on their gross gaming revenue. This includes a 35% gaming tax and up to 5% allocated to public and social initiatives. However, to encourage international market expansion, a rebate of up to 5% is available for operators who successfully attract foreign visitors. All six gaming operators have responded to this incentive by establishing designated foreigner-only betting zones within their casinos. As of 2023, 12 such areas had been set up across the city. According to the MGTO, which consulted with the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), the total approved tax rebate amount for these efforts increased in 2024 compared to 2023. Despite the rebate program running for over two years, the government has yet to publish detailed figures on the total amount granted. Lawmakers have previously urged the administration to disclose the data, emphasizing the need for public accountability. In response, the MGTO reiterated the DICJs regulatory commitment, stating that it will continue to ensure strict oversight of gaming concessionaires compliance with tax reduction requirements. Additionally, the MGTO highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance Macaus international appeal, including premium membership benefits, private jet services, and overseas promotional campaigns. With gaming tax revenue reaching MOP88.13 billion in 2024a 35% increase year-on-yearthe government projects further growth in 2025. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) Christians all over West Virginia and the world observed Ash Wednesday this week. The day marks the first day of Lent and challenges Christians to pray, fast, and follow Christ more faithfully for 40 days. In Clarksburgs Christ Episcopal Church, members were anointed with ash in reference to the Bible verse Genesis 3:19, which reads you are dust, and to dust you shall return. We like to make money, we like to accomplish things, but at the end of the day, just like people from time eternal, we will pass away, were fragile, Reverend Christopher Scott of Christ Episcopal Church said. And we need to rely on God to sustain us and care for us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snow returning to West Virginia Thursday In his sermon, Scott also touched upon the divisive climate in our society, and how Lent challenges Christians to look inward when looking to improve the world. We live in a time thats so divisive and a time thats so hostile and we have a tendency to want to blame other people or blame communities of people for all the problems, Scott said. What Ash Wednesday is about and what Lent is about is saying you know, weve seen the problem, and it is us, right? Its being able to look inwardly, its a mirror in ourselves to see where we need to change and not just point the finger at others. Christ Episcopal Church held a second Ash Wednesday event at 7 p.m. with the public invited to attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Wednesday is the first day of lent, and many people in western Massachusetts received ashes at their church in the morning. This comes as Pope Francis is still dealing with his own health issues. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the 40-day stretch before easter. However, many residents said that this years observance is different. Longmeadow church offers ashes to go for busy Ash Wednesday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first day often sees people dropping bad habits for over a month before Easter. Christians around western Massachusetts attended services to receive their ashes. One Chicopee resident told 22News how shes going to observe lent this year. Trying to be more Christian, like show more love with my neighbors and share more patience with my neighbors and even the fellow Christians, said Barbara McBride-Williamson of Chicopee. I want to show my love and devotion by attending Mass and then do my lental services. People received ashes at Saint Michaels Cathedral in Springfield, but some came with a heavy heart as the pope was not able to attend Mass due to health concerns. Pope Francis had to receive communion in the hospital as he continues to battle double pneumonia. The Vatican said in a statement Wednesday morning that the Pope is stable, but still requires oxygen and respiratory treatments. Bishop William Byrne expressed that the effects are felt in Massachusetts. Its heartbreaking to think of him being in any type of suffering, Bishop Byrne said. We had a special Mass for him here recently to pray, but weve been encouraging prayers in all the parishes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Thursday will mark three weeks since Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital. There is currently no expected timeline for the popes release. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. In National Geographics series No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski, six Hollywood stars follow the Queer Eye star on a journey through food and time as they travel through their ancestral homelands in search of family history. Starting with just one homemade family recipe, Porowski helps stars Awkwafina, Justin Theroux, Issa Rae, James Marsden, Florence Pugh, and Henry Golding connect with their pasts by eating foods that fed their ancestral lineages and exploring the places they once called home. (Related: Antoni Porowski wants you to learn about your ancestorsthrough their recipes.) Jajangmeyon, Korea Jajangmyeon Photograph by Julia Gartland With its roots in Northern China, jajangmyeon is among Koreas most popular dishes, available at thousands of restaurants across the world alongside dozens of instant and frozen versions at grocery stores. The dish, recognizable by its signature glossy, midnight hue, is a variation of the Chinese dish zhajiangmian that migrant workers from Shandong brought to Korea in the late 19th century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jajangmyeon is a rich yet hearty dish, typically made with wheat noodles, ground or diced meat and/or seafood, vegetables (like zucchini or cabbage), and aromatics including ginger and garlic, and chunjang, the sweet-savory caramelized black bean paste that gives the dish its distinctive black shade. The dish is so well-known and beloved that it plays a starring role in the unofficial Korean holiday, Black Day, on April 14, when single people celebrate or commiserate their singledom with friends over a bowl of jajangmyeon. Where to try it in Korea: Almost anywhere. This dish is so ubiquitously known and loved that there are tens of thousands of places to find it in Seoul alone, but the Chinese restaurant Ehwawon () in Yeonhui-dong has been perfecting its silky version for three generations. (Related: Everything you need to know about bibimbap, Korea's famous rice dish.) Tortellini en Brodo, Italy Tortellini en brodo Photograph by Food magic, Shutterstock Traditionally found in cities like Bologna and Modena in Italys Emilia-Romagna region, tortellini en brodo is a regional specialty, highlighting the quality and history of its ingredients. This dish should not be confused with tortelli (this dishs larger namesake), tortelloni (also larger but with different fillings and preparation), or ravioli (different shape, different fillings). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tortellini is pint-sized, barely an inch big, and folded into chubby rings stuffed with a mixture of meat, like prosciutto or mortadella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and nutmeg. Once filled and folded, the tortellini is simmered in a golden broth made traditionally with capon, a castrated male chicken, or a mixture of chicken and beef bones and served to float in the savory soup. Where to try it in Italy: Some of the best examples of regional cuisine, including tortellini en brodo, can be found at Trattoria di via Serra or AllOsteria Bottega in Bologna. Both restaurants are mentioned in the Michelin Guides Bologna Restaurants, with Trattoria di via Serra receiving a coveted Bib Gourmand award. (Related: Chef Angela Hartnett's guide to eating in Emilia-Romagna.) Soupe kanja, Senegal Soupe kanja Photograph by John Wendle, National Geographic This okra and seafood stew is one of Western Africas most popular dishes and is usually found in many of the countries along the Atlantic coast from Senegal to Guinea. Born from the regions rich fishing traditions, this stew uses a multitude of fish, fresh and dried shellfish, okra, peppers, and other aromatics simmered in candy-apple red palm oil. Once simmered and reduced, this thick stew is often served family-style over rice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though this dish might be unfamiliar at first for many diners outside Africa and the African diasporas, youve likely eaten or heard of its later incarnation. If youve ever visited New Orleans or the Creole regions of the world, soupe kanja is the progenitor for one of this cuisines most iconic dishes: gumbo. Where to try it in Senegal: In Dakar, the family-owned Chez Loutcha is a popular and colorful local haunt that serves Senegalese staples alongside Cape Verdian and other menu items. (Related: Drumbeats and heartstrings: tuning in to the rhythms of Senegal.) Chicken with mushrooms and bamboo, Borneo Ayam pansuh or chicken cooked in bamboo) Photograph by Stella Putri PS, Shutterstock Chicken with mushrooms and bamboo possibly gets its influence from multiple sources. The first, manuk pansuhor chicken cooked in a bamboo stalk with tapioca or cassava leavesis a staple of Sarawak cuisine and is often prepared during festivals by the Iban and the Bidayuh peoples. The meat is typically seasoned with aromatics like torch ginger, galangal, and lemongrass before being stuffed into the bamboo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second influence comes by way of Malaysias significant Chinese population, which has existed across Malaysia and the Indonesian archipelago as early as the 13th century. Various versions of a dish featuring chicken with mushrooms and bamboo shoots can be found in both China and Malaysia and are made with ingredients that would be easy to source in the mountainous regions of both countries. Where to try it in Borneo: Serving Sarawak cuisine for more than a decade, Lepau Restaurant in Kuching showcases dishes from numerous indigenous communities, including Iban, Kelabit, Ulu, Bidayuh, and beyond, offering diners a rich entry point into this regions most celebrated foods. (Related: We are what we eat: Diving for dinner with the sea gypsies.) Shepherds Pie, UK Shepherd's pie Photograph by Julia Gartland Like many recipes from the 18th and 19th centuries, shepherds pie was a way for families with little money or access to expensive ingredients, like prime cuts of meat, to stretch what they had to feed the household. First referred to as cottage pie in the late 18th century, this dish has changed very little from its original recipe and still features many of the same ingredients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingredients for this British dish include ground beef or lamb/mutton (a fairly accessible ingredient for the sheep farming region in this dishs early days) and diced vegetables in a rich gravy. One of shepherds pie's distinct identifiers is its pillowy mashed potato topping, which is spooned atop the hearty meat mixture and baked to crisp, golden brown perfection. Where to try it in the UK: The Ivy restaurant has posted its iconic version of shepherd's pie online for people who are unable to make the trip to the restaurant, located in London. (Related: Where you can find the best British pubs that serve food.) Chicken Fried Steak, Texas Chicken fried steak Photograph by Zerb Mellish, New York Times/Redux This simple and beloved Southern American diner classic has changed very little from its European ancestors. Similar to Austrias wiener schnitzel, chicken-fried steak is just that, typically a thin cut of beef, often a tenderized cube steak, dredged in flour and eggs before frying. The breading and frying technique gives the dish its signature name, though technically, pan-frying instead of deep-frying would make this dish country-fried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement German and Austrian immigrants who migrated to Texas in the 19th century and later became cattle farmers are believed to have brought chicken-fried steak to the United States. Its one of the tastes of home these communities carried with them to America, says rancher Jim Kearney. Food is the last thing to go, says Kearney. Thats what people hold onto as a symbol of their former life or wherever they came from. Where to try it in Texas: Dallas original farm-to-table Celebration Restaurant has perfected its grass-fed, chicken-fried steak for more than 50 years. Make sure to order it with the house specialty spicy jalapeno gravy. Samantha Bakall is a Portland, Oregon-based freelance writer specializing in equity-based storytelling and the AAPI diaspora in the Pacific Northwest. Follow her on Instagram. The Trump administration is holding direct talks with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, with the White House saying the presidents envoys have authority to talk to anyone. The office of Israels prime minister said in a statement that Israel has expressed its position to the U.S. regarding direct talks with Hamas. The statement did not indicate what position the Israeli government holds. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Wednesday that President Trumps special envoy is engaged in negotiations with Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the negotiations the special envoy whos engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone, Leavitt said. Israel was consulted on this matter. Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do whats in the best interest of the American people, is something that the president has proven, what he believes is good-faith effort to do whats right for the American people. Axios first reported that Trumps special envoy for hostage negotiations, Adam Boehler, is talking directly with Hamas officials over the release of U.S. hostages in Gaza and a broader deal to end the war with Israel. Its not unprecedented for the U.S. to hold talks with designated terrorist groups, but it typically requires the president or secretary of State to waive restrictions in the national interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps officials negotiated with the Taliban during his first term, and the Biden administration engaged Syrias caretaker government, headed by the designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, following their ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad. An exception to the ban on speaking to FTOs [Foreign Terrorist Organization] (and this particularly vicious one) contains risks and could complicate needed efforts to remove them from power in Gaza, Daniel Shapiro, former ambassador to Israel and who served most recently as deputy assistant secretary of Defense for the Middle East in the Biden administration, posted on the social media site X. But with the life of a US citizen hostage at stake, it should be in play. Details matter. A six-week truce between Israel and Hamas is on shaky ground amid uncertainty over the next phase of talks and allegations of violations by both sides. While fighting has not resumed, Israel halted humanitarian aid to Gaza, and talks on moving to a second phase of the deal appear stalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We confirm that the only way for the occupation [Israel] to free its prisoners [hostages] is by adhering to the ceasefire agreement, immediately entering into negotiations for the second phase, and upholding commitments under the deal, Hams said in a statement on March 2. Trump has increasingly criticized the terms of the deal, laid out by the Biden administration, although he committed to bringing dozens more hostages home who are held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including Americans. Were bringing back our hostages from Gaza, Trump said in his address to Congress on Tuesday night, although he did not address what steps are being taken. Updated at 4:18 p.m. EST Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The US government is planning a meeting with representatives from Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, the White House's special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters on Thursday. He said it could take place in Riyadh or Jeddah and that they were still coordinating. "But I think the larger discussion for us ... is to get a peace deal done," he said. According to media reports, Witkoff is expected to participate in the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He hinted at travelling to the meeting himself, saying, "I think I'm going to be in four countries next week, and we have to determine the sequencing of it." Witkoff also spoke positively about the letter that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had written to US President Donald Trump. Trump had previously stated that he had received a letter from Zelensky, in which the latter reportedly stated that Ukraine was ready for peace negotiations. "There was an apology. There was an acknowledgement that the United States has done so much for the country of Ukraine, and a sense of of gratitude," Witkoff said about the content of the letter. The US president believes that it was "a very first positive step," Witkoff said. In February, representatives of the US government met their counterparts from Russia in Saudi Arabia to negotiate an end to Russia's war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Peace ... is ultimately the goal," Witkoff emphasized again, describing Trump as "a peace-through-strength president." Norway doubles aid to Ukraine Meanwhile Norway is increasing its financial support for Ukraine this year to $7.77 billion, the government in Oslo said on Thursday evening. Previously, aid was planned to be just under 3 billion for 2025. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said: "We are in Norway's worst security situation since World War II. This is a solid Norwegian contribution to peace and stability in Ukraine and Europe." Norway shares a 198-kilometre-long border with Russia in the far north. The country is a founding member of NATO, but unlike its neighbours Finland and Sweden, it is not a member of the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jens Stoltenberg, Norwegian finance minister and former NATO secretary general, wrote in a post on the platform X: "Europe must do more. I am pleased about the unanimous support from the Norwegian parliament behind this decision." Six killed in Russian airstrike As the war in Ukraine drags on, Russia launched another airstrike on Ukraine overnight, resulting in the deaths of six people, Ukrainian officials reported on Thursday. An attack on a hotel in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih in the south-east of the country claimed the lives of four people, authorities reported. Zelensky, who was born in Kryvyi Rih, wrote on Telegram that more than 30 people were injured in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly before, volunteers from a humanitarian organization had reportedly checked into the hotel but survived according to reports. The governor of the region, Serhiy Lysak, said on Telegram that 14 multi-storey residential buildings, a post office, almost two dozen cars and 12 shops were damaged. Initially, reports mentioned two dead and seven injured. The information from the war zone cannot be independently verified. Airstrikes in the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv and Odessa in the same night, killed two and left three injured. According to Ukrainian air defence, Russia attacked with two Iskander-M type missiles and 112 drones. They reportedly shot down 68 drones. The location of 43 decoys was lost, which is usually due to electronic countermeasures. Originally appeared on E! Online Abdul Aziz Khans mother is facing legal trouble. After the 14-year-oldwho went missing in 2017was found in Colorado with his mother Rabia Khalid and her partner Elliot Blake Bourgeois as they attempted to burglarize a vacant home for sale, Khalid and Bourgeois have been hit with criminal charges, including second-degree kidnapping, identity theft, and trespassing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalid, 40, and Bourgeois, 42, were approached by authorities Feb. 23 after a call was made by the homeowners of a vacant Highlands Ranch home to report suspicious activity. When approached by authorities, the couple said they were working with the realtor, per a release shared by Douglas County Sheriffs Office, but deputies were able to unravel their identities after four hours of questioning. Amid their investigation, authorities also found Khanwho was just 5 years old at the time of his disappearanceand another unidentified child in a vehicle parked near the home. Through questioning and research, police were able to verify his identity as a very high-profile missing child. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There had been an active arrest warrant issued for Khalid, Khans mother, since she disappeared with her son amid a custody battle with his biological father in 2017. On the day of a court date that year, Khalidthe noncustodial parentdisappeared with her son. Khalid and Bourgeois were booked in the Douglas County Jail for second-degree kidnapping, as well as forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities, and trespassing due to how they were initially discovered in what the Douglas County Sheriff referred to as a routine trespassing call. Authorities have not revealed their plea, but emphasized they are innocent until proven guilty in a press release. They are being held for a $1 million bond each. Missing Kids Khanwho was the subject of a 2022 episode of Netflixs Unsolved Mysteriesand the unidentified child were taken into protective custody, and his family is requesting privacy. Were overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found, his family said in a statement to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. We specifically want to recognize the Douglas County Sheriffs Office for their exceptional work in solving this case. Now, as we navigate the next steps, we ask for privacy so that we can move forward as a family and heal together. E! News has reached out to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office for comment but has not yet heard back. For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App When Christopher Brock received a citation for building a small shed on his property in Hamilton County, Ohio, he turned to an unusual legal adviser: artificial intelligence. Despite having no legal background, Brock used AI to help create legal filings and motions that ultimately led to his case being dismissed in July 2023, he told Cincinnati's Fox19. Through the court process, Brock learned to use AI strategically by carefully feeding the tool information about his situation and using it to create multiple legal documents. He filed six or seven motions across two courts before winning his dismissal, he said. "There were so many ways that this bureaucratic system can really slow down the average person from fighting and protecting their rights, and by seeing that, I realized the value of AI," Brock told the station. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey of 11,004 U.S. adults, AI has rapidly become part of daily life, with more than 1 in 4 (27%) Americans reporting they interact with AI multiple times per day. Yet many remain cautious about its expanding influence: Fewer than 1 in 5 (15%) said excitement about AI outweighs their concern about its increasing role in daily activities compared to the 38% who think otherwise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys examined the promise and peril of AI in the legal profession, exploring both its potential benefits and significant risks for individuals seeking legal assistance. As AI technology becomes more accessible through chatbots and other consumer tools, people are testing its capabilities in increasingly high-stakes situations, including legal matters. However, while Brock's success shows what's possible with careful preparation, the technology's limitations and potential for errors raise important questions about when and how consumers should use AI for legal help. insta_photos // Shutterstock The legal hallucination problem Understanding AI's limitations could be the difference between winning and losing a case for people considering using it for legal help. A New York attorney learned this when he used ChatGPT for legal research in an injury case. The federal judge overseeing the lawsuit found that the AI had made up fake case citations and quotes, claiming these made-up sources could be found in major legal databases. If trained lawyers can be misled by AI's confident-sounding but false information, the risks for people handling their own legal matters could be greater. These "hallucinations"the term used to describe convincing but false information that AI makes uppose real risks in legal situations. According to legal experts, people should be cautious about using AI to interpret contracts, analyze their legal rights, or prepare court documents as the AI might invent legal principles or misinterpret important details that could harm their case. This happened in the United Kingdom, where a person representing themselves inadvertently made entirely fake submissions to the court based on ChatGPT-generated advice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problems with AI's accuracy are concerning for people seeking legal help. Most legal documents are kept behind expensive paywalls, meaning AI systems often lack access to important legal information. For example, a 2022 study of one of the largest databases offering free access to British and Irish legal judgments found that only half of court decisions can be found on the site. This means when someone uses an AI tool to help understand their legal situation or prepare documents, they have no way of knowing if it is working with complete or accurate information. Legal organizations have raised several specific warnings about using AI for legal help. The State Bar of California warned that AI can sound confident even when giving wrong advice, making it hard for users to spot mistakes. LexisNexis, a leading provider of legal research and analytics tools, emphasized that AI should never make final legal decisions without human review. Meanwhile, Clio, a major legal practice management software company, warned that AI systems might give biased advice if they learned from biased historical data. Pickadook // Shutterstock AI can help lawyers and perhaps even close the justice gap too Despite early concerns, people are finding ways to use AI as an assistant rather than a replacement for human judgment. Brock's successful handling of his property citation shows one approach. "You can't go into an AI and say, 'Win my case,'" Brock told Fox19. Instead, he used AI strategically by uploading information about his case and using the technology to help draft initial filings and motions while maintaining control of his legal strategy. Recent research suggests this approach can work. An April 2024 Berkeley Law study of lawyers and legal aid professionals found that 90% reported increased productivity when using AI for specific basic tasks. The study found AI was most helpful for simpler legal work, like summarizing documents, conducting preliminary research on straightforward topics, and translating complex legal language into more accessible terms. However, users emphasized the importance of carefully reviewing all AI-generated content for accuracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law firms are also exploring AI's potential, according to Bloomberg Law's 2023 State of Practice survey of more than 450 legal professionals. More than half of lawyers surveyed used AI to help draft communications or conduct legal research, respectively, while more than 2 in 5 (42%) used it to summarize legal narratives. The technology remains in an assistant role, with human lawyers providing necessary oversight and judgment. Bloomberg Law's research also shows about half of firms reported having internal discussions to better understand the technology, while about 1 in 3 are developing policies for using external AI tools or have implemented restrictions on AI use. The technology could help address a significant challenge in the legal system. David Freeman Engstrom, LSVF professor in law at Stanford Law School, found that most civil cases in America, including debt collections, evictions, and family law matters, involve individuals facing legal teams without having lawyers of their own. While AI can't replace human attorneys, it might help make basic legal information more accessible to those who can't afford traditional legal services. Reuters reports that smaller practices may benefit from adopting AI as the technology could level the playing field by helping them increase efficiency and potentially offer more competitive fees for standard services for clients seeking representation. Meanwhile, a Stanford Law analysis shows courts are already taking action, with some jurisdictions partnering with technology providers to create accessible tools that simplify court forms and filing processes. With oversight from legal experts, initiatives like these could leverage AI to better serve people who are unable to afford traditional legal help. Story editing by Natasja Sheriff Wells. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Few issues in contemporary medicine have generated as much controversy as the use of puberty blockers in gender distressed children. The Government, responding to the findings of the Cass Review, has rightly banned the prescription of these drugs. Many other countries have, too. However the Government last week announced an 11 million clinical trial of these medicines to gather evidence of their effects. This raises a fundamental question: can a clinical trial of puberty blockers on children experiencing gender distress be done ethically? The answer, upon scrutiny, is a resounding no. I have witnessed firsthand the grave dangers posed by the rush to medicalise childhood gender distress. As a former psychiatrist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, I was one of the whistleblowers who raised concerns about the practices at the now shuttered Gender Identity Development Service (Gids). What we uncovered was a service driven more by ideology than by robust clinical reasoning. Many distressed children, often same-sex attracted and with autistic comorbidities, were put on a medical pathway to transition by some clinicians who had been captured by trans ideology and, as a result, cast aside ordinary sound clinical judgment. A clinical trial risks repeating these ethical failures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These trials are governed by rigorous ethical and legal standards, designed to protect participants from harm. The foundation of these standards is the Declaration of Helsinki, alongside the Good Clinical Practice guidelines and the UKs Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations. These frameworks exist to ensure that the benefits of any new medical intervention outweigh the risks. The Cass Review has made it clear that the evidence base for the safety and effectiveness of puberty blockers is extraordinarily weak, and that their risks are significant. Existing studies suggest serious concerns, including negative impacts on bone density, cognitive development, and future sexual function. Further, over 95 per cent of children started on a medical pathway will proceed to cross sex hormones and many to surgical intervention. Thus starting any child on PBs is freighted with that knowledge, and of course the ethical implications of that knowledge. To be clear, the prescription of puberty blockers in the context of a trial would, in effect, introduce a known risk of systemic physical harm to a physically healthy child. To put it mildly, this is a divergence from normal clinical trial practice. One of the core principles of medical research is that a clinical trial must seek to answer a question that cannot be resolved by other means. Yet in the case of puberty blockers, safer research avenues remain unexplored. We should be conducting robust long-term follow-up studies of those who have already undergone such treatment, qualitative research into the experiences of the growing numbers of detransitioners, and further animal studies to understand the biological impact of these drugs on adolescent brain development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another major ethical concern is the question of informed consent. Children under 16 cannot legally provide informed consent for a Clinical Trial of an Investigational Medicinal Product, meaning that parental consent would be required. Yet, given the politicised environment surrounding gender identity, it is difficult to see how true informed consent can be obtained. For example, parents, subjected to trans activist narratives claiming that refusal to provide puberty blockers increases their childs risk of suicide, will not be in a position to make a free and uncoerced decision. The argument that puberty blockers prevent suicide is completely unsubstantiated. For example, a recent Finnish study found no significant difference in suicide rates among youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria when adjusted for mental health comorbidities. In the UK, Professor Louis Appleby, the leading authority on suicide prevention, has called for caution on the use of false assertions as regard risk of suicide in this group . Informed consent is meaningless when it is obtained under conditions of misinformation and fear. There are moments in medical history when the imperative to pause and reflect must override the drive to push forward. Now is one such moment. Given the absence of an established safety profile, the lack of high-quality evidence supporting their efficacy, and the well-documented risks, any such trial would violate our ethical and regulatory frameworks. The medical community, politicians, and regulators need to draw a line under this scandalous piece of medical history. Instead of experimenting on confused children with medical interventions that do more harm than good, we should be dedicating our resources to understanding and addressing the root causes of gender distress, researching psychosocial treatments and following up on the 9,000 children who went through Gids. Let us not repeat mistakes of the past. Dr David Bell is a retired consultant psychiatrist and was a Governor of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A millennium-old porcelain craft in north China's Shanxi Province has been pulled back from the brink of extinction and is now poised for a modern renaissance. The techniques for making Honglyucai (Red and Green Color) Porcelain of the Bayi kiln, one of China's earliest producers of the distinctive porcelain, was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. The kiln is located in Bayi township, Shangdang district, Changzhi city of Shanxi. Archaeological excavations reveal that during the Song Dynasty (9601279) over 1,000 years ago, the kiln was the largest porcelain production hub in southeastern Shanxi. Porcelain from the kiln became the gold standard of Honglyucai porcelain in China. Today, visitors to Honglyucai village, 2 kilometers from the Bayi kiln, can explore a Honglyucai porcelain museum housing over 600 ancient porcelain treasures from the kiln and over 10,000 modern pieces of Honglyucai porcelain. Honglyucai porcelain features a signature white base and is adorned with vibrant red, green, and yellow designs depicting auspicious flowers, birds, and figures, according to Li Yamin, a municipal-level representative inheritor of the techniques for making Honglyucai porcelain of the Bayi kiln. Li Yamin said more than 100 ancient kiln sites were unearthed in Shangdang district, which is nestled in the Taihang Mountains and characterized by rolling ridges and deep ravines, confirming that Bayi township was a thriving commercial hub as early as the Song Dynasty. The region boasts abundant high-quality kaolin, coal, and water resources essential for porcelain production. "Red is one of the most iconic colors in Chinese culture, yet achieving a vibrant red glaze on porcelain was a significant challenge. It wasn't until the Song Dynasty when the Bayi kiln pioneered the use of iron-red pigment that Honglyucai porcelain products were successfully produced," Li Yamin noted. But the road to revival wasn't exactly a cakewalk. The Honglyucai porcelain industry was in decline over the past decades due to high production costs and complex craftsmanship. Li Yamin's father Li Jianping grew up hearing stories about Honglyucai porcelain. His grandfather was a kiln worker at the Bayi kiln, and from a young age, Li Jianping learned pottery and painting techniques. After high school, he worked as a farmer and miner, but always dreamed of reviving Bayi kiln porcelain. In 2012, as part of an industrial transformation initiative, the local government launched a cultural heritage project for the Bayi kiln. Seeing an opportunity, Li Jianping decided to reignite the kiln fires and restore Honglyucai porcelain production. To make a Honglyucai porcelain item, 72 procedures must be followed, including a twice-firing technique. The procedures are so complicated that the techniques were lost for decades. Many people told Li Jianping not to waste his time, but he couldn't bear to see this ancient craft disappear. Li Jianping collaborated with Honglyucai village to establish a company and construct a cultural expo center, the Honglyucai porcelain museum, and a production base of Honglyucai porcelain. Meanwhile, he visited local elderly artisans and technical experts to rebuild lost knowledge. After years of trial and error, the techniques for making Honglyucai porcelain were recovered by Li Jianping, who became a provincial-level representative inheritor of the craft. The father-son duo have adopted a strategy of integrating tradition with innovation to promote the development of Honglyucai porcelain. In recent years, they've inked partnerships with prestigious institutions like the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Academy of Arts & Design under Tsinghua University to tackle everything from material research and color matching to painting skills and product design. After years of dedicated efforts, the issues of rough bodies and dull colors of Honglyucai porcelain items were overcome. As a result, these items have gained greater popularity in the market. "Thanks to our independently developed new materials that withstand temperatures above 1,300 degrees Celsius without warping, our everyday-use porcelain items are thinner, lighter and more lustrous than traditional ones and are easy to clean," said Li Yamin. In recent years, local rural tourism has thrived thanks to measures including the establishment of organizations aiming at passing on the intangible cultural heritage. The Honglyucai porcelain museum receives over 10,000 tourist visits annually. So far, the company has developed over 300 kinds of Honglyucai porcelain products, which have caught the eye of porcelain enthusiasts both at home and abroad, Li Yamin said. For the first time, representatives of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) conducted investment and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) promotion activities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. IPIM noted in a press statement that, at the end of last month, a five-day series of activities promoting Macaus advantages to foreign investment took place. During the trip, IPIM representatives visited enterprises in the Middle East. They presented IPIMs one-stop services, Macaus favorable MICE environment, and business opportunities to entice these enterprises to invest in Macau and encourage them to host a diverse range of MICE events in the region. The local delegation participated in two Middle East Market Tourism and MICE Destination Promotion and Networking Seminars (Promotion and Networking Seminars) organized by MGTO. According to a Saudi Arabian enterprises owner, face-to-face communication with the IPIM team provided insight into Macaus MICE activities, noting that the enterprise intends to organize buyers to participate in conventions and exhibitions in Macau for more collaboration opportunities and business expansion. The exchange included a general presentation of the MICE software and hardware facilities in Macau and Hengqin. A UAE-based MICE enterprise expressed interest in visiting the locations for field inspection and participation in MICE events. The same delegation also visited the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Dubai World Trade Centre to explore how their MICE facilities and services consistently attract international MICE events. The IPIM discussed potential future collaborations in exhibitions and conferences with the organizer of the Gulfood Expo. During the Promotion and Networking Seminars organized by MGTO, IPIM representatives presented the latest updates on the Macau-Hengqin exhibition to the local MICE industry, fully leveraging the advantages of the Multi-venue Event pattern. As Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, an important aspect of their faith is their role as stewards of God on Earth. One way Muslims do this is through the practice of Zakat, an obligatory kind of charity thats one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat requires Muslims to give 2.5% of their wealth to eight prescribed categories: the poor; the needy; Zakat administrators; those whose hearts can be reconciled; to free the enslaved; to help those in debt; for travelers; and for the sake of God. Muslims, however, worry that they are responsible to God to ensure that their Zakat is used by institutions in ways that would do good, while adhering to the theological requirements of this religious practice. Yet, my research shows that Muslim American nonprofits are taking steps to build trust with donors. Zakat as a communal practice Muslims see themselves as custodians of whatever they possess as gifts from God. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During their lifetime, they must use wealth responsibly and for good; upon their death, the Quran prescribes who can inherit their wealth. One important aspect of how Muslims are supposed to use their wealth is through charity. Zakat is an obligatory charitable practice in which donations are traditionally channeled through institutions. According to research my team conducted, nearly 70% of Muslims in the United States report giving Zakat during Ramadan. Ramadan is thus a critical time for nonprofits to solicit Zakat funds. Historically, Zakat was given through central Zakat collection agencies, or bait-ul-maals. For example, at the time of the Prophet Muhammad and early Islamic rulers, Zakat collection and distribution was carried out by the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Zakat collection and distribution varies from place to place. In six of the 47 Muslim-majority countries Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen Zakat is obligatory and collected by the state. In Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon and Bangladesh, Zakat is regulated by the state, but contributions are voluntary. Most countries do not have a formal Zakat collection agency and rely upon local nonprofits or individuals for the collection and distribution of Zakat. Over time, due to distrust in Zakat collecting institutions and perceived corruption, the practice of Zakat has become more individual and less communal. The vast majority of Zakat across the globe is collected and distributed individually rather than through institutions. Scholars have argued that many fear that Zakat collecting institutions may not be using the funds ethically, impactfully and in accordance with Islamic requirements. For example, according to the Hanafi school of thought, a Zakat collection agency can spend up to 12.5% of donation money on administrative costs; other schools of thought argue that Zakat should be administered at no cost. Building trust through transparency It is important for many Muslims that their contributions are used in compliance with Islamic religious requirements. Photo by Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images Nonprofits are taking steps to build trust. For example, Muslim American charities were among the first to embrace Charity Navigator as a way to evaluate their impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charity Navigator is a U.S.-based nonprofit that rates nonprofits. Many Muslim-led charities in the United States proudly display their Four Star Charity Navigator status. My team has found that Muslim Americans are more likely to donate to nonprofits that the Internal Revenue Service has granted 501(c)(3) status. This is true even if they dont claim the charitable deduction on their taxes and therefore cannot get tax breaks for their donations. More recently, in my conversations with leading Muslim-led nonprofits, I learned that they are seeking to respond to Muslim concerns about how these nonprofits use Zakat funds. It is important for them that funds are used in compliance with Islamic religious requirements. For example, they are looking at how nonprofits interpret what it means to be needy, the poor, the enslaved or for the sake of God in the contemporary context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many nonprofits are adopting Zakat policies that explain how they define these terms and how much of their budget covers their administrative costs. These include international organizations that are not led by Muslims, like the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, Save the Children, and the anti-poverty group Oxfam. A case study The Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University, which I lead, convened a group of scholars in November 2024 to discuss challenges of collecting and distributing Zakat in the U.S. This discussion resulted in a report that sums up these conversations and examines the Zakat policy of the largest U.S. Muslim-led nonprofit: Islamic Relief USA. Islamic Relief USAs Zakat policy limits its administrative costs to 12%; it permits funding for both immediate and long-term projects and allows Zakat to be distributed not just as cash payments but also as goods and services. It does not discriminate on the basis of religion. While not all scholars at the convening agreed with every aspect of the Islamic Relief USA Zakat policy, they accepted that diversity in Islamic thought permitted various approaches to Zakat. They also concurred that Islamic Relief USAs process was likely the best framework for how nonprofits should approach the development of Zakat policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, there was consensus that nonprofits seeking Zakat should have Zakat policies; should make them available on their websites; should state the process through which it was developed; and name the scholars and other experts who took part in the process. Since a majority of American Muslims prefer to donate their Zakat during Ramadan, perhaps this might be the time when nonprofits can build trust through adopting more transparent Zakat policies. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Shariq Siddiqui, Indiana University Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article discusses a meeting funded by the the Islamic.. However, Islamic Relief USA is not consulted on any of our scholarly or public facing publications resulting from that convening. ALTON Evangelina Yzaguirre had worked as a clerk for the bilingual department at a local school district for nearly 14 years when last summer the school board slashed her modest pay from $29,000 a year to $23,000. With all four of her children fully grown, the 68-year-old Alton resident only has herself to support. Even so, her income is stretched thin to cover her health expenses stemming from a lymphoma diagnosis. I am struggling, Yzaguirre said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is one of the 146,000 people in the Rio Grande Valley who experience food insecurity, according to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, which reports feeding 88,410 people a week. To help cover some of her expenses, Yzaguirre has turned to a food pantry launched by DHR Health, a local hospital system, that serves Hidalgo County. At the food pantry, staff supplied Yzaguirre with beans, rice, macaroni, and tuna. [In Texas Rio Grande Valley, a push for residents to lose weight and curb diabetes] Its a good help, she said. The food pantry at DHR is one example of how community institutions, such as churches, schools, and nonprofits, feed hungry Texans. At best, this loose network of support helps the most dire, but many more Texans live with limited access to healthy food due to a variety of factors, including an inability to afford food. Texas lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want to take action and have collectively filed nearly a dozen bills to take on the states food scarcity crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than half of the neighborhoods are considered food deserts in the Rio Grande Valley, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For some, reliable food proved so hard to come by that they check themselves into the hospital just to eat, said Lauren Boeta-Lopez, a mental health clinician at DHR Health. "I would have patients that would say, 'Well, I came here because I knew that I would get at least three hot meals,'" she said. She wanted the hospital to help these people get food and avoid a night at the hospital. Through a partnership with the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, she spearheaded the launch of the food pantry at the hospital in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pantry has two walls of shelves stocked with canned goods, cereal, peanut butter and other non-perishable food items. It had served about a thousand people by the end of January. Boeta-Lopez, now the health equity officer at DHR Health, plans to grow the pantry to include refrigerated items as well. The need for greater access to food extends beyond South Texas. At 16.9%, Texas has the second-highest prevalence of food insecurity in the U.S., according to the USDA. Lauren Boeta-Lopez, the health equity officer at DHR, in the hospital food pantry on March 3. Boeta-Lopez helped found the pantry after witnessing so many patients checking themselves into the system merely to get three meals a day and a place to sleep. There was a real need in the community, she said. Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune State Rep. Christina Morales, a Democrat from Houston, filed a bill to investigate the causes of food deserts and their effects across various demographic groups. "Everyone deserves to have healthy food, Morales said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morales has first-hand experience with food deserts, growing up in the Second Ward neighborhood of Houston, one of the first Hispanic neighborhoods in the city. Over the years, shes seen one grocery store after another close. Constituents there often express disappointment in the lack of grocery stores, she said. The term desert may give the impression that an area is empty, but cities and neighborhoods experiencing food insecurity are anything but that. Texans are living, working, playing, in food deserts all the time, said Amber OConnor, food policy analyst for Every Texan, a nonprofit organization that advocates for equitable access to health care, food security, education and financial security. A more accurate description of what Texans are experiencing is a form of grocery store segregation, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People were relegated to certain parts of the city, and the grocery stores didn't go in them because they weren't making enough money or they were afraid, OConnor said. OConnor hopes to prevent this regression of resources that has been occurring in low-income neighborhoods. Outside the DHR Health Food Pantry in Edinburg on March 3. Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune So much of what we're fighting right now in the Legislature isn't about even expanding access, it's trying to maintain what little access we do have, OConnor said. For Morales, it seemed evident that food deserts led to a reliance on junk food for many in her community. And that was making them unhealthy. During a school supply drive she hosted with the Morales Memorial Foundation, Morales noticed many of the kids were overweight. That prompted her and the organizers to partner with a local H-E-B grocery store to hand out healthy snacks along with school supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is about having equity and better health outcomes for our communities and making sure no family struggles to find fresh food in their own neighborhood, Morales said. Another bill hopes to address health issues with changes to eating habits. Filed by state Rep. Tom Oliverson, a Cypress Republican, the bill would allow health care organizations to provide access to healthy food programs instead of prescribing medication when appropriate. These programs could include nutrition counseling, providing meals tailored to a persons medical needs, and food prescription programs that prescribe a certain amount of fruits and vegetables to a patient. Just as some lawmakers are trying to create more access to food, others are trying to limit what low-income Texans using government assistance can buy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 3.3 million Texans receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, but state lawmakers are proposing four bills that would impose restrictions on the program. One bill would ban the purchase of candy and soft drinks under SNAP. While the ultimate goal is to provide nutritious food, OConnor argued that its important to maintain access to less healthy food through OConnor and Every Texan oppose restrictions under SNAP, pointing out that it is often a temporary benefit for some that helps them get through the day. You need enough calories to get through the day and then we can start talking about what those calories should look like, she said. That's what it's intended for. It's an emergency type of situation with SNAP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like with Yzaguirre, one of the biggest issues with accessing healthy food is the strain on peoples budgets. Evangelina Yzaguirre's modest salary was slashed by the local school board. "Its a good help, she said of the food pantry. Credit: Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribune In Hidalgo County, the biggest county in the Valley, 27% of people live in poverty, which is double the rate statewide, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As part of the food pantry services, Boeta-Lopez delivers food to hospital patients who are about to be discharged and who are identified as food insecure. Countless times, she said shes encountered patients who struggled to afford food. She recalled a couple who were especially grateful for the emergency bag of food because the husbands hospitalization had meant they could not rely on his income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I brought the food, the wife just broke down in tears, Botea-Lopez said. The couple said they didnt know where their next meal would come from. Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. Disclosure: DHR Health, Every Texan and H-E-B have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. As you go about your day today, you may notice Texas flags flying at half-staff Thursday across the state. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the flags at half-staff for the memorial of Congressman Sylvester Turner of Houston through Friday, March 7. Flags should return to full-staff by sunrise on Saturday, March 8. Who is Sylvester Turner? U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner served Texass 18th Congressional District in Houston from January 2025 until his death on March 5. He was 70. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A member of the Democratic Party, Turner previously served as the 62nd mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024 and as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1989 to 2016. "Texas has lost a longtime leader and dedicated public servant with the passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner," a release from the governor's office stated. "On behalf of Texas, the First Lady and I offer our thoughts and prayers to the Turner family in their time of mourning. I urge all Texans to appropriately remember Sylvester Turners service to Texas." When are flags flown at half-staff? There are specific holidays and events when flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website. That includes: Memorial Day, when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. Patriot Day. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. National Firefighters Memorial Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Dwight Eisenhower also issued a proclamation on the proper times for flying the flag at half-staff when government officials die. That includes: 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president. 10 days at half-staff after the death of the vice president, the chief justice or a retired chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives. From the date of death until interment for an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former vice president, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, or the minority leader of the House of Representatives. The date of death and the following day of a United States senator, representative, territorial delegate, or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It should also be flown at half-staff on all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory, or commonwealth of these officials. From the date of death until interment for the governor of a state, territory or possession. The president may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of other officials, former officials or foreign dignitaries, in addition to tragic events. For instance, on Oct. 7, Abbott declared Monday a statewide Day of Observance for Israel in Texas and asked residents to hold a moment of silence for the people of Israel and the seven Americans who remained hostages. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Why are Texas flags at half-staff? Death of Rep. Sylvester Turner The Texas A&M Queer Empowerment Council, a student organization, filed a federal lawsuit against the Texas A&M University System board of regents and other administrators for alleged free speech violations after the A&M System passed a resolution last week banning drag shows at its 11 campuses, including the flagship campus' annual student-funded performance "Draggieland," which is scheduled later this month. The lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Texas on Wednesday by free speech rights organization the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, on behalf of the student group accuses the system's order of violating the "First Amendment's strict prohibition against viewpoint discrimination" and engaging in prior restraint. It names all regents, the chancellor and the Texas A&M president as defendants in the suit. The board's resolution states that drag shows will no longer be allowed at special event venues at its 11 institutions because of President Donald Trump's executive order banning "gender ideology," which the regents believe drag shows promote. It also stated that drag shows were "inconsistent with the System's mission and core values of its universities," accusing the shows of creating a "hostile environment for women contrary to System anti-discrimination policy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drag shows are a form of artistic performance and expression that exaggerates gender for social commentary, and they're key to LGBTQ+ empowerment, the student organization said. The university sponsored the annual event during its first run in 2020 and in 2021, according to the suit. After the university pulled its sponsorship, the student organization began privately funding the Draggieland show, which was set to take place March 27 at the campus' Rudder Theatre. The Queer Empowerment Council formally launched in March 2023 to take over sponsoring the event and to raise money to help put on other queer events that were no longer backed financially by the university or allowed under Senate Bill 17, a 2023 anti-diversity, equity and inclusion law that prohibits universities from having DEI offices or programs, though it exempts student groups. The student-run council "exclusively funds" the event, the lawsuit states, and did not receive any money from Texas A&M for its 2025 planned performance. "We refuse to let Texas A&M dictate which voices belong on campus," The Queer Empowerment Council said in a statement shared by FIRE. "Drag is self-expression, drag is discovery, drag is empowerment, and no amount of censorship will silence us. Students and FIRE sued West Texas A&M University in 2023 after its president, Walter Wendler, canceled a drag performance on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FIRE argues that the First Amendment protects the art form and the right to critique the art form. Adam Steinbaugh, an attorney with the organization, said, "Public universities cant shut down student expression simply because the administration doesnt like the ideology or finds the expression demeaning." Texas A&M System confirmed this afternoon that it had received the lawsuit and its lawyers are reviewing it. A spokesperson declined to comment further as it is pending litigation. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas A&M students sue university administrators over drag show ban Among the official White House records housed in the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, in Atlanta, is a photograph of the late president shaking hands with an 80-year-old Black schoolteacher, Septima Poinsette Clark. The photo was taken in February 1979 at a White House ceremony honoring Clark with a Living Legacy award, in recognition of her work as a voting-rights educator and civil-rights activist. I intended to use this photo to illustrate my talk next week at the Carter Library discussing my new book, Spell Freedom, which tells the story of Clark and her work training Black citizens to assert their constitutional rights. The venue seemed to be a perfect match for the theme. But late last month, I found out that I wouldn't be speaking at the Carter Library after all. My publisher informed me that my book event had been canceled, and I subsequently learned from other sources that all programming at the library, which is operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, now needs to be approved by the new administration in Washington. I was confused. My presentation had been arranged back in the fall and had already gone through NARAs routine vetting process, usually a pro forma confirmation that affiliated programs are of high quality and based on research using the National Archives rich resources. Spell Freedom is my third book of narrative history, and Ive given numerous presentations at NARA locations before. The event was already up on the Carter Library website. Clearly, the criteria for approval had changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My little cancellation drama was not unfolding in a vacuum. Just a few weeks into Donald Trumps second administration, the president fired the archivist of the United States, Colleen Shogan, who was the first woman to lead NARA, and pushed out most of the senior staff. Trump made no secret of his special animosity toward the National Archives, which protects presidential records and had played a role in exposing his improper handling of files from his first presidency. Trump has also purged the governing board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, and installed himself as board chairman. Speaking of his new side gig, the president promised no more woke and no more anti-American propaganda on Kennedy Center stages. He also signed executive orders ending all diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities revised their funding guidelines to align more closely with the administrations ideology. [Read: America now has a minister of culture] Sitting at my desk, I tried to channel my suspicion and anger into action. Im a journalist, so I went to the press. Reporters at The New York Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that other events had been canceled at the Carter library: Joining Spell Freedom on the chopping block were Mike Tidwells The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue: A Story of Climate and Hope on One American Street and Brian Goldstones There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America. Other events went on as scheduled; it seemed obvious that books on race, poverty, and the climate had failed the new administrations ideological testthough we cant know for certain, because government officials declined to answer reporters questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stifling inconvenient discussions is dangerous business, and it goes far beyond book talks. The Trump administration has flaunted its contempt for many of the countrys cultural, scholarly, scientific, medical, and educational institutions while announcing its intention to defund and destroy them. Investigation and expression on vital topics disfavored by the White House are being squelched. As many writers have already warned, these moves represent a frightening step toward autocratic rule and an erosion of democratic values. The core value that defines NARA, as well as the many libraries under its management, is the notion that the United States is ruled by lawsand that the office of the president matters more than whichever party or person happens to occupy it. NARA has always been a proudly nonpartisan institution; it holds and protects sacred historical documents, and it is our nations collective memory bank. From the Declaration of Independence to the files of the tiniest bureau of the federal government, its all there, neatly filed. The presidential libraries chronicle the policies and proclamations of Republican and Democratic presidents alike, providing the essential primary-source material for analyzing their impact on the country and the world. In recent decades, the archives have been open to all researchers, and therefore to all stripes of historical interpretation. Public programs, including book talks, bring the documents to life, expanding our understanding of the national story and fortifying our collective ownership of our nations pastits triumphs and its mistakes. They serve an educational function, which is why it makes sense that they are under attack. Another of the presidents executive orders promotes patriotic education in the countrys K12 schools, threatening to withhold federal funding from those that teach that the United States is fundamentally racist, sexist or otherwise discriminatory. That cuts out a lot of history. Under the new administration, the National Endowment for the Arts has declared that its most urgent priority is funding projects that honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Our foundational document, held and displayed in the National Archives building on the National Mall, insists that all men are created equal and rails against the tyranny of despots and kings. It is certainly patriotic; it is also revolutionary in every sense of the word. The president is right to recognize its monumental importance, and he should also honor the principles written into it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: Control. Alt. Delete.] Septima Clark was dedicated to making her country live up to its democratic ideals, to honor in practicenot just in words or flag pinsthe historical principles outlined in the Declaration and the Constitution. A widowed grandmother who stood up to local tyrants, she lost her job and 40 years of pension benefits in 1956 when she refused to renounce her membership in the NAACP, which the southern states had outlawed as subversive and Communist. She took her teaching talents to the emerging civil-rights movement, developing hundreds of citizenship schools across the South that trained tens of thousands of Black citizens to read, write, and reclaim their voting rights. She stared down the Klan, knelt in prayer before a southern sheriffs tanks, guided the hands of the poor and unlettered so they could hold a pencil and sign their name at the voter-registration office. In this new culture of cancellations, it seemsthough no official will admit itthat this story does not fit into the administrations definition of patriotic narratives of American history. I would argue that the story is absolutely one of fierce patriotsBlack citizens who so loved and believed in the promise of the United States, in the constitutional right to vote, in the Declarations claim of equality, that they faced down suppression, violent reprisals, economic ruin, imprisonment, and death to participate in their own government and assert their rights as Americans. I think Clark would have some sharp words for the current administration, with its callous attempts to bend language, art, science, and history to its liking. I believe unconditionally in the ability of people to respond when they are told the truth, Clark proclaimed. We need to be taught to study rather than believe, to inquire rather than to affirm. This may not fit the current governments definition of patriotism, but to me, its the right spirit in which to honor the history and guard the future of the United States. Its the kind of patriotism we need right now. Article originally published at The Atlantic In a move hes been telegraphing for months, President Trump signed an executive order Thursday to begin eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. We have to get our children educated, Trump said at the signing ceremony. Were not doing well with the world of education in this country. According to the presidents executive order, newly confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon must take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the Department of Educations main functions can, and should, be returned to the States, the order continued. Trump signed the order alongside the Republican governors of Texas, Indiana, Florida and Ohio, who he claimed would now oversee schools as good as Norway, Denmark, Sweden. Then youll have some laggards, the president continued. We can all tell you who the laggards will be, but lets not get into that. He went on to mention his home state of New York, which has a Democratic governor. Last week, the Department of Education under Trump abruptly closed its offices for unspecified security reasons, then sent reduction in force notices to roughly 1,300 employees part of an effort to slash nearly half of the departments 4,200 workers while also terminating leases on buildings in New York, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland and other cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was the presidents mandate, McMahon told Fox News at the time. His directive to me, clearly, is to shut down the Department of Education. But can Trump really dismantle the Education Department? And what will happen if he does? Heres everything you need to know. Where did the Department of Education come from? In 1867, President Andrew Johnson signed legislation establishing a Department of Education. Just one year later, however, the department was demoted to an Office of Education within the Department of the Interior amid worries that it would exert too much control over local schools. The office initially had four employees and a budget of $15,000; its job was to gather information and advise the nations educators. In 1939, the Office of Education moved to the Federal Security Agency; in 1953, it shifted to the new Department of Health, Education and Welfare. But it wasnt until 1979 that the office became a cabinet-level department of its own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal education spending had soared during the 50s, 60s and 70s to compete with the Soviet Union in science; to battle poverty; to provide equal access for women, people of color and Americans with disabilities. As a result, President Jimmy Carter urged Congress to consolidate the scattered, education-related functions of other departments Defense, Justice, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development into a new (and hopefully more efficient) U.S. Department of Education. What does the Department of Education do? Today the Department of Education oversees a budget of $268 billion. Its role, according to the DOE itself, is to establish policy for, administer and coordinate most federal assistance to education. That assistance takes two forms. The first is loans and grants. A full 60% of the Education Departments 2024 budget (or $160 billion) went to the Office of Federal Student Aid, which administers Pell Grants, federal direct subsidized loans, federal direct unsubsidized loans and the federal work-study program. Pell Grants help roughly one-third of U.S. undergraduates all from lower-income families pay for college, with an average award of about $4,500. At the same time, more than half of undergraduates in the United States receive federal loans to make college more affordable. The second form of DOE assistance is spending on public elementary and secondary education. The largest federal fund for K-12 schools is Title I, which supplements state and local funding for low-achieving children, especially in poor areas ($18.4 billion in 2023). The next largest is the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), which helps schools cover special-education costs ($14.2 billion in 2023). Through these programs and others like them Title IX, Title VI, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Department of Education holds schools accountable for complying with federal nondiscrimination laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All told, public K-12 schools receive about $125 billion in federal funding each year, or roughly $2,500 per student. That might sound like a big number, but it still represents less than 14% of the total spent on public K-12 education in the U.S. The other 86% comes from localities (often through property taxes) and state education departments. The idea behind federal spending on education which started in earnest after Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965 is to provide supplementary funding that will help states and localities close achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds. Seeking to increase accountability and achievement, President George W. Bushs No Child Left Behind Act (2002) tied some of this federal funding to statewide standards of student testing and teacher performance. In response to criticism, President Barack Obamas Every Student Succeeds Act (2015) retained NCLBs focus on accountability while giving states more control over testing and reform. Why does Trump want to end the Department of Education? According to his draft order, Trump believes that "the experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support has failed our children, our teachers, and our families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a new argument. In 1980 just one year after its creation Ronald Reagan campaigned on eliminating the Department of Education, slashing bilingual education and gutting federal funding for public schools. Better education doesn't mean a bigger Department of Education, Reagan said in 1983. In fact, that department should be abolished. Trump has long agreed. "I think that education should be local, absolutely, he said while campaigning in 2015. I think that for people in Washington to be setting curriculum and to be setting all sorts of standards for people living in Iowa and other places is ridiculous." During his first term, Trump took various steps to reduce the Education Departments power. But he didnt eliminate it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, however, he has started to blame the department for imposing policies designed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion on local districts and used that argument to justify ending it once and for all. We will drain the government education swamp and stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate Americas youth with all sorts of things that you dont want to have our youth hearing, Trump said during the 2024 campaign. I told Linda [McMahon]: Linda, I hope you do a great job in putting yourself out of a job, he added last month. I want her to put herself out of a job Education Department. Can Trump single-handedly end the Department of Education? The short answer is no. The department was established by an act of Congress, meaning that Congress would need to pass another law to abolish it. Trump cannot just dissolve a cabinet-level agency with the stroke of his pen and hes extremely unlikely to find 60 votes in the U.S. Senate to eliminate the department either. Even if every Republican senator voted yes a big if Trump would still fall seven votes short. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At her confirmation hearing last month, McMahon admitted as much. Yes or no: Do you agree that since the department was created by Congress, it would need an act of Congress to actually close the Department of Education? asked Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. President Trump understands that well be working with Congress, McMahon replied. Wed like to do this right. At Thursdays signing ceremony, Trump signaled that he might ask Congress to codify his order into law, saying he hoped Democrats would be voting for it as well as Republicans because ultimately it may come before them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet even without congressional approval, the Trump White House can do a lot to alter the Department of Education. Previously, Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency had cut dozens of contracts it dismissed as woke and wasteful, firing or suspending scores of employees while gutting the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on Americas academic progress. Then came last week's layoffs. So what happens if Trump succeeds? If Congress actually eliminated the Department of Education and all the programs it funds the consequences would be huge. According to experts who spoke to ABC News, such a move would gut public education funding and disproportionately impact high-need students across the country who rely on statutorily authorized programs, leaving billions of dollars' worth of funds, scholarships and grants hanging in the balance for millions of students in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For her part, McMahon has insisted that isnt Trumps vision, or hers. It is not the presidents goal to defund the programs, she said during her confirmation hearing. It is only to have it operate more efficiently. The presidents mission, she continued, is to return education to the states. I believe as he does that the best education is closest to the child and not certainly from Washington, D.C. But what is that likely to mean in real-world terms? For years, Republicans who oppose the Department of Education have talked more about moving its most popular programs to other departments rather than ending them altogether and McMahon has sounded similar notes. Long before there was a Department of Education, we fulfilled the programs of our educational system, she said last month. Are there other areas, other agencies, where parts of the Department of Education could better serve our students and our parents on a local level? This suggests that Trump is likely to propose a similar reorganization in the days ahead. On Thursday, for instance, the president repeatedly emphasized that the departments useful actions and there arent that many of them would be preserved in full and redistributed to other agencies and departments. He then named Pell Grants, Title I funding and resources for children with special needs. Trump has also spoken of imposing different conditions on public schools that receive federal funds. After vowing to cut off money for schools and colleges that push critical race theory, transgender insanity and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content, Trump recently withheld $400 million in government grants and contracts from Columbia University while demanding changes in student discipline. He has also said that he would like to reward states and schools that end teacher tenure and support universal school choice programs. Its unclear how the Department of Educations long-standing role in enforcing federal protections for poor children, children of color and children with disabilities would work under Trumps new system. But the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 the far-right blueprint that Trump seems to be following in his second term offers one possible glimpse. Its authors suggest first shifting oversight of such programs to the Department of Health and Human Services before eventually converting their funding to no-strings-attached block grants that would be sent to the states to spend as they please. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A Wichita man has been found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges in connection with a shooting that killed 1-year-old Taidyn Anderson and injured two others last year. A Sedgwick County jury on Tuesday found 26-year-old KVeion Richard guilty of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm, and criminal threats. He is one of two men charged. The jury deliberated for just under two hours. A sentencing date has not been set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from an altercation and shooting on Feb. 19, 2024. According to the Wichita Police Department, officers responded to a shooting call in the 2500 block of South Oliver on that night and found three shooting victims: Anderson and two 24-year-old women. East Wichita neighborhood a hot spot for vehicle thefts All three were taken to a local hospital. The two women suffered critical but non-life-threatening injuries. Anderson died of his injuries. An investigation revealed that other people were also in the home, including a 24-year-old man, a 5-year-old girl and a 10-month-old girl. None of them were struck by the gunfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the evidence, the WPD says they believe it was a targeted incident and that the suspect fired multiple rounds from a handgun into the apartment. A second man, 22-year-old Jonathan Tillery-Matthias, also faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the shooting and is being held on a $1.5 million bond. A third man, an 18-year-old who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was arrested alongside Richard and Tillery-Matthias. The District Attorneys Office said a motion hearing to prosecute him as an adult has been set for March 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. FRIDAY UPDATE: The Sedgwick County Election Office has released the final results of the USD 259 Wichita $450 million school bond. The bond failed by just over 300 votes. The school district wanted the $450 million bond to make the district more efficient. Wichita Public Schools Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld has said that four elementary schools would close regardless of the vote. Those schools are LOuverture, OK, Pleasant Valley, and Woodland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KSN News is getting reactions from the school district and the union representing teachers. Look for that story later Friday afternoon and evening on KSN and KSN.com. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Sedgwick County Board of Canvassers met Thursday morning to review the election results for the USD 259 Wichita $450 million school bond. It happened at the Sedgwick County Election Office at 510 N. Main. The canvassers reviewed 670 provisional ballots and approved 535 to be counted and 135 not be counted. The approved votes were for either voting at the wrong polling place or had moved since the last election. Of the 135 votes not counted, the ballots had mismatched signatures, were postmarked beyond Tuesday, or were not registered to vote in the school district. After reviewing the ballots, the canvassers motioned to recess until Friday to give the election office time to tally and approve all the votes for final certification. Sedgwick County says the final count will be certified at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will add in the 535 that will be counted, so thatll be your total ballots cast, Rainwater said. VIDEO: Canvassers certify the USD 259 Bond Election results As of last Friday, the election offices most recent ballot count lists 13,928 votes against and 13,634 for the $450 million bond, a nearly 300 vote difference. The school district wants the $450 million to make the district more efficient. The plan includes closing four elementary schools and rebuilding seven elementary and middle schools. The district previously said it is evaluating its next steps, adding, regardless of the outcome: the district has a tremendous amount of facility needs and we will continue making every student future ready, even in our current learning spaces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wichita BOE meets for first time since bond vote, parents concerned about future For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Mar. 5A wildfire above the Pigeon River Gorge along Interstate 40 in the remote northern reaches of Haywood County was expected to reach 200 acres by Tuesday night. The inferno was first reported late Saturday afternoon and grew rapidly. Within the first 24 hours, it burned 50 acres, and then tripled in the next 24 hours. By Monday evening, the fire was estimated at 150 acres with 30 to 40% containment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fire behavior has been a slow-backing downslope towards the river and along the edges," U.S. Forest Service Public Affairs Specialist Matt Switzer said. "No private property or structures were threatened in this fire." Officials have not publicly speculated on the cause of the fire, though it was one of dozens of wildfires that broke out across the state during dry, windy conditions over the weekend. The fire was expected to burn 200 acres of the Pisgah National Forest in total before reaching containment lines. It has been just 15 months since the Black Bear Fire burnt more than 2,000 acres in the Pigeon River Gorge over the course of a few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This fire is located near the Harmon Den exit, which is exit 7, along I-40. It's near the section of I-40 that washed away during Helene. It had just reopened to one-lane-each-direction traffic Saturday before the blaze broke out. I-40 traffic narrows to two lanes upon reaching exit 7, which is where fire crews would get off anyway. "Fortunately, the current condition of I-40 did not impact firefighter access to the fire, and crews were able to access the fire via forest roads," Switzer said. Firefighting crews launched their assault by creating containment lines around the blaze. The focus then switched to firing operations to burn out potential fuel between the main blaze and the containment lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A Chinook helicopter was also used to drop water along potential fire fuels until containment lines could be improved," Switzer said. Local firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management firefighters from Utah and private sector firefighters with PatRick Environmental have been battling the blaze. Clean-up of downed trees that blew over during Helene have also played a big part in firefighters' efforts, along with repairs to washed out roads. "One thing I'd like to make note of is how important all the post-Helene debris removal and road repairs have been, especially in rural areas," Switzer said. "Had that work not been done early on, access to these recent fires would have been severely hindered. It's a testament to how beneficial all that hard work early on truly has been." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electronic signs have been placed along the interstate warning drivers of the smoke. Heed warnings Haywood County Emergency Services Public Information Officer Allison Richmond warned drivers against the dangers of rubber-necking. "There's been smoke in the area between the seven- and nine-mile marker. Anytime you have smoke down there, you have people concerned," Richmond said. "They're looking for where the source is." Richmond also discouraged anyone from attempting to capture videos of the fire. She said it has become much more common to see drones flying over major fire scenes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have seen them on incidents near us. We haven't had anything major enough. A lot of ours are in remote areas," Richmond said. The sheer number of drones on the market, along with the number of people itching for some video, has led to the increase in unauthorized drones at fires. Just having a drone in the air can present new challenges for those trying to battle the blaze. "It's potentially life threatening," Richmond said. "You've got folks flying in helicopters and small planes, and they can't do their job anytime there's a drone." A large smoke column from the South Moccasin Fire near Lewistown, Montana. (Photo by Lauren Kokinda, BLM) When Rep. Denise Baum, D-Billings, first heard about a bill to call on utilities to submit wildfire mitigation plans, she said she was a solid no. But this week, Baum was among 98 representatives who voted in favor of House Bill 490, and she said it was thanks to the work of the sponsor, Rep. Amy Regier, R-Kalispell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, initially controversial, was described as one of the first attempts at addressing climate change in the Montana Legislature. It requires regulated utilities and electric cooperatives to file and follow wildfire mitigation plans, outlines specific requirements for those plans, and it protects those entities from being liable for fires they didnt cause. The bill was heavily amended, and, according to legislators, it continues to need scrutiny given its complexity and how quickly it has moved, but it garnered broad support in the House this week. The fundamental goal of this bill is to prevent wildfires so we dont get into the issue as often about who pays for what when were looking at potentially tens and tens of millions of dollars of money needed to repair and replace property and potentially (compensate for) human life, said Rep. Tom France, D-Missoula. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just one representative opposed it one seat is open after Rep. Ron Marshall, R-Hamilton, resigned and Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, had strong criticisms of the bill in committee and on the floor. Zephyr said the fact that one of the first looks at climate change resulted in a bill giving cover to the entities that contribute to climate change was an indictment of capitalism. She said she feared the bill would protect utility ratepayers on one side, but at the cost of higher insurance premiums on the other side. This is such a wide miss of the mark, its going to be bad for Montanas homeowners, Zephyr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As amended, the bill says utilities and electric co-ops must file mitigation plans (instead of may), and it is headed to the Senate after having passed the House on Wednesday on third reading. Wildfires have become more frequent and are costly. In 2021, the state spent $54 million on firefighting, according to Montana Public Radio. In southern California, losses from recent fires were estimated to have reached more than $250 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times. Earlier in California, a legal firm secured a $13.5 billion settlement from PG&E for victims of fires in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 after the utility filed for bankruptcy protection, according to National Public Radio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a narrative about the settlement it negotiated, the Watts Law Firm said PG&E should have done more to mitigate risk. On the House floor, other Democrats and Republicans spoke in favor of the bill and Montanas attempt to get ahead of the legal battles over who pays for wildfires. Regier said the bill aims to ensure the electric co-ops and utilities demonstrate their commitment to reducing fire risk by requiring fire mitigation plans. The bill also declares strict liability does not apply to utilities and electric cooperatives in Montana when it comes to wildfires, a standard Regier said has caused bankruptcy, layoffs and skyrocketing utility rates in California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under strict liability, a party is liable for damages even if they didnt act negligently. In California in a 2023 memo, the Public Advocates Office, which advocates for ratepayers, said strict liability contributes to the financial burden on ratepayers, and the office recommended changes. We need to ensure that these utilities operate responsibly and can continue to provide reliable service to ratepayers, while still being held accountable for wildfire damages where they act negligently or imprudently, said the memo. Regier said the required wildfire mitigation plans must meet nine specifications, including vegetation management and regular inspections and maintenance. She said the Montana Public Service Commission will review plans for regulated utilities, and electric co-op boards will review co-op plans. Electric facility providers are not automatically liable for damages from wildfires if they were not negligent and took preventative measures, Regier said. To hold a utility liable, a plaintiff must demonstrate they were negligent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plans must be updated every three years. They must include descriptions of areas where facilities may be subject to heightened risk of wildfire, strategies for inspecting the facilities, ways the supplier will reduce risks of its equipment igniting a fire, and methods for de-energizing power lines, among other requirements. Legislators stood up in favor of the bill for a variety of reasons, even though some said it still needs work. Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning, said the financial risk to electricity customers in tribal communities was especially great. The rate impacts on utility customers and co-op members from unreasonable court judgments increase insurance costs, but have significant impact on tribal communities, which have poverty rates above the statewide rate average, Running Wolf said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Shane Klakken, R-Grass Range, said hes from a small town, and he doesnt want the electricity co-op of which hes a member, Fergus Electric, to get sued into nothing and then go bankrupt. He said any company that purchases it would only jack up rates to pay off the debt. Im in the middle of nowhere. Klakken said. I want my electricity. Rep. Bill Mercer, R-Billings, sponsored a controversial but successful amendment he said ensured the bills title reflected its content, which does not preclude the ability to get relief under certain circumstances. Mercer, former U.S. Attorney for Montana, also said a couple of other changes align the bill with standards in such legal cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some opponents of the amendment, including Regier, said Mercer made some good points but they were also hard to weigh at the last minute. Despite their arguments, the amendment passed 58-41. Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, ultimately supported the bill on the floor, although in committee, he voted no and said he would like to see the issue continued to be studied to address the argument that home insurance prices would spike. I think the amendment will help with that, but without an opportunity to study it, Im just not sure its enough, Stafman said of work in committee. Editors note: This story is updated to clarify the nature of a bill amendment. Lawmaker Ho Ion Sang has questioned the effectiveness of the Healthy Macao Blueprint in tackling mental health awareness amid the rise in suicide deaths in 2024. The blueprint is the governments long-term plan that aims to transform Macau into a healthy city by 2030. In recent years, the rising number of suicide cases in the city has sparked growing concern among lawmakers and the public. According to official data, a record 90 suicide deaths were reported in 2024, the highest in the past decade. To tackle these concerns, the government has implemented several initiatives aimed at enhancing mental health services. These include increasing accessibility to psychological counseling, promoting community-based mental health support organizations, and launching suicide prevention and intervention programs. However, despite these efforts, Ho said the region still faces a pressing need to further strengthen its social support networks and increase resource allocation to mental health services. He has urged authorities to analyze suicide cases in accordance with the Healthy Macao Blueprint, identifying high-risk groups based on factors such as age, occupation, and personal circumstances. Given the aging population, the lawmaker said there is also a need to address loneliness and depression among senior citizens through education, awareness campaigns, and the integration of technology in mental health services. Will the authorities concerned conduct a territory-wide survey and assessment on the mental health of Macau residents on a regular basis, so as to understand the mental health conditions of residents, with particular attention to the mental health of groups such as the elderly and the youth? he asked. The lawmaker noted that such surveys would help policymakers understand mental health trends and provide targeted support, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the youth. In the face of the rising number of suicides, Macau still needs to further strengthen its social support network and increase resource allocations, so as to enhance mental health awareness and strengthen professional services, said Ho. Health Bureau data shows that 2024 figures indicate a 2.3% increase, constituting a new record high of suicide cases in Macao. The figure represents an average of one suicide case every four days for the whole year. The same report notes that the people involved were between 13 and 75 years old, which indicates a large spectrum of issues among all age groups. The L.A. County government is considering a hiring freeze as its $45-billion budget faces enormous pressures from devastating wildfires, a flood of sex abuse lawsuits and a White House threatening to slash funding. Without a hiring freeze, Chief Executive Fesia Davenport warned county supervisors in a March 4 letter that the situation could devolve into a fiscal crisis. Davenport appeared in front of the supervisors Tuesday to get permission to start implementing the freeze. The supervisors told her they wanted her first to return with more details on which positions would be exempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I'm concerned that if we're flipping a switch today without really understanding ... there will be impacts beyond what this board is aware of today, said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. The county has roughly 117,000 budgeted positions. About 13,000 of those positions are unfilled, according to the chief executive's office. Under the hiring freeze, Davenport said, departments could still bring on new employees, but they would need permission from her office. The Sheriff's Department would be exempt, as would positions that are grant-funded or related to recovery from the January fires, she said. Even before the Palisades and Eaton fires scorched thousands of businesses and homes, the countys financial outlook was unusually grim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement County officials were not clear if the federal funds they relied on during the Biden administration would continue under Trump. They had exhausted the roughly $2 billion they received during the pandemic through the American Rescue Plan Act. And the countys liability from a flood of sex abuse lawsuits kept growing. Since the state changed the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse in 2019, thousands have sued over abuse in the countys juvenile facilities and foster care system. The county has said the liability for these lawsuits could be in the billions , which officials warn would be catastrophic to the regions social safety net. The unprecedented fires added to the strain. Sales tax revenues will be down due to shuttered businesses. Property taxes will be too, with so many homes destroyed. Then there are the cleanup costs. These will be multiyear costs, reverberating well beyond the 2024-25 budget year, Davenport wrote in a Feb. 10 letter to the board detailing the countys financial woes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labor could be another big cost. Davenport said in the letter that county unions are hungry for a raise following a significant pay hike for L.A. city workers last year. As we enter this bargaining cycle, labor expectations are at an all-time high, Davenport wrote, citing significant gaps between labor expectations and fiscal realities. SEIU 721 head David Green, who represents 55,000 county workers, said an additional 12,000 unfilled positions fall under his union many of them frontline workers for the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Children and Family Services. Were desperately in need of filling those vacancies, he said. This is the worst possible time to have a hiring freeze in L.A. County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than halt new hires, Green said he would like the county to pull back on expensive outside contracts and real estate purchases, such as the $215 million it recently paid for the Gas Company Tower, a prominent skyscraper downtown that may become the new county government headquarters . The last I checked, it was an uninhabitable building, Green said. The county countered in a statement that the tower was "fully habitable," and officials believe moving there will save more than $1 billion by avoiding seismic upgrades at the Hall of Administration, the county's current headquarters. The county most recently froze hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, the last freeze was during the Great Recession in 2008. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from the potential pause on new hires, union-represented county employees could go without a cost-of-living adjustment. Green said all of the county unions were called into a meeting Wednesday with Davenport. Green said he was told there would be no pay increase when SEIU 721's contract expires at the end of March. "I've never been part of negotiations where they open with zero," said Green. "Our members are furious." The county said in a statement that no "formal proposals" have been presented yet to the county unions, 14 of which are actively negotiating contracts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are working to build awareness among our labor partners of the significant budgetary pressures the County is facing," the county said. The possibility of no raises sparked concern among sheriff's deputies as well. The nation's largest Sheriff's Department has been struggling with staffing woes for some time, and deputies have complained of being forced to work excessive overtime. We are experiencing a serious staffing crisis and without competitive pay and adequate benefits, including an annual cost of living adjustment, the departments retention of employees and recruitment efforts will be severely impacted, which ultimately affects public safety," Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday in an emailed statement. "Department employees are overworked, and we cant sustain the mandatory overtime without the necessary personnel. As of last month, department data showed that 1,408 of the county's 10,213 deputy positions were vacant, with another 898 filled by people on leave or who were relieved of duty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing those figures, the union representing deputies the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs said the prospect of no cost-of-living increases made it "hard to feel after today that the county truly values its public safety professionals or is appropriately prioritizing the safety of our communities. Steve Johnson, president of the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Assn. which represents higher-ranking department officials had a similar take. "Morale is at a historic low for our hardworking members because of massive overtime and critical staffing issues," he said. "Our members must be provided with pay and benefits that at a minimum respect and appreciate their dignity, sacrifices and commitments." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) Although its been more than eight years, the Sevier County wildfires that happened in 2016 still feel like a recent memory for many East Tennesseans. On Tuesday, the strong winds and dry conditions reminded some firefighters battling brush fires in the county of the fire they fought years ago. Tuesday evening, firefighters with the Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department responded to the brush fires in Sevier County that prompted evacuations, and ultimately destroyed two structures and damaged a camper that was overturned because of the wind. Earlier in the afternoon, crews with the VFD responded to a mutual aid call in Del Rio, but a few hours later, they were sending two engines and nine firefighters to Sevier County on a mutual aid call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parrottsville VFD Fire Chief Jacob Henry explained that their firefighters were working to protect homes as the flame front passed through. The task involves using blowers to keep embers and debris away from the home, keeping houses wet as the flame front moved through, and ensuring no embers or burning debris get stuck to the home. One home lost in wildfires as Tellico Plains community surveys damage Yesterday, the very first house that we started to protect, an ember got on the eave of it, in a little tight spot that we missed and luckily we had nine guys on the scene, so we were pretty quick to see, Hey, the house is on fire from the eave, so we get we got water on it real quick, but you know if somebody [wouldnt have] been there, the house would have been engulfed, Henry shared. Video from the VFD showed the flames from the brush fire just feet away from a building. Henry said the second place they were stationed at was closer to the Cobbly Nob area where there is house after house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the issues that firefighters faced when getting the brush fires contained was the wind. Several counties in East Tennessee were under a High Wind Warning and a Red Flag Warning, with the possibility that strong gusts of winds could cause any fire that started to quickly spread. Henry explained that with wind like what was seen Tuesday, it can sometimes feel like a never ending battle, regardless of what equipment is available. He also shared that with dry and windy conditions, a large fire can start very easily. It can be as simple as somebody towing a trailer and the safety chains fall off their truck and create a spark, and youve got a fire on the side of the road before somebody can get there you know the winds took it and its two or three acres, Henry said. (Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department) (Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department) (Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department) (Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department) (Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department) Those conditions are also something that might spark painful memories for those who lived in or near Sevier County in 2016. Henry was a firefighter with the VFD at the time, but he did not respond to the wildfires in Sevier County. He said, however, that the VFD did send an engine to Gatlinburg during those wildfires, and some of the firefighters who responded to that call also helped fight the brush fires Tuesday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a few guys that went with us yesterday that went up there and they just said that, you know, the wind [was] exactly how it reminded them of, Henry said. All evacuation orders lifted after wildfire near Tellico Plains controlled Parrottsville VFDs crew battled the blaze overnight and was released from the mutual aid call around 4 a.m. Wednesday. Although two buildings were destroyed, Henry said they are thankful things didnt get worse. Its just in one of those places in the woods, you know when fires do happen, they can turn bad quick, Henry said. Im glad that the fire didnt start like, two or three days ago when we didnt have no rain. It would have been a rough two or three days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Henry said Tuesday was just another day on the job, he added that its also something they volunteer to do because they love to do it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)Happy Thursday, Utah! We have had a soggy start to our Thursday, and you can expect periods of precipitation to continue as a trough swings through Utah. Bottom Line? Soggy setup for Thursday with a cold front late day! This storm system is juicy, bringing significant valley rain and heavy mountain snow through the close of the work week. Daytime highs will only make it into the upper 40s and low 50s statewide. Winter driving conditions exist in the mountains, but we will see the snow level drop as we get through the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to heavy higher elevation snow, Winter Storm Warnings are in effect through Friday evening at 5 p.m. for the mountain spine throughout the state, with 12 to 36 inches of snow expected in the Cottonwoods, 12 to 24 inches in the Northern mountains, 10 to 20 inches in the Central mountains and eight to 16 inches in the mountains of Southern Utah. We also have Winter Weather Advisories in effect for the Wasatch Back and the Bear River Valley. These mountain valleys are looking at accumulating snow with the Park City area expecting five to 10 inches with other spots under the advisory looking at three to six inches. On top of accumulating snow with this storm cycle, winter driving conditions and road snow can be expected on mountain routes, with road slush above 6000 ft. Winds will be the big story in southeast Utah today, gusty conditions have prompted a Wind Advisory until 7 p.m. in the Four Corners area and near Moab. This storm system will bring primarily valley rain with showers by tonight and periods of rain showers Thursday, but we see a change by Thursday night. A cold front will track through and we will see winds change to a westerly then northwesterly flow, which will allow for cooler air to filter into the state. The cold front could pass through Northern Utah early enough to see a messy evening commute for some, so plan accordingly. This northwest flow will also help drive down snow levels to the valley and possibly bring scattered snow showers for our Friday. While valley accumulation doesnt look to be very impactful, we could see commute impacts. This storm is still evolving, so stay tuned for updates! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well keep you posted on the latest updates in our 4Warn Weather forecast both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. We Energies has invested in renewable energy such as this solar farm, yet it continues to push for new gas-powered plants. Columnist John Imes argues that these proposals would set Wisconsin back, delaying progress toward a smarter, clean energy future. (WEC Energy Group photo) Wisconsin stands at a critical energy crossroads. We Energies plan to build massive new methane gas plants is a costly misstep that threatens to lock in high energy costs, undermine clean energy goals, and leave ratepayers footing the bill for outdated infrastructure. At a time when clean energy and storage solutions are proving to be more reliable and cost-effective, doubling down on fossil fuel dependency is a financial and environmental mistake Wisconsin simply cant afford. Conflicts with We Energies climate goals and corporate objectives We Energies has publicly committed to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Yet, its proposed gas plants move in the opposite direction locking in long-term fossil fuel reliance when cleaner, cheaper alternatives are available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the key justifications for these plants is the anticipated electricity demand from data centers. However, rapid advancements in AI-driven efficiency such as DeepSeek could dramatically cut data center energy consumption. If We Energies locks in billions for gas plants just as these efficiency gains accelerate, Wisconsin ratepayers could be left footing the bill for infrastructure that is no longer needed. Instead of overbuilding based on outdated projections, Wisconsin should prioritize flexible, adaptive energy solutions that can evolve with technology. If Wisconsin continues to lag in clean energy, it risks losing business investment. Major corporations like Microsoft, Google, and Meta have committed to 100% carbon-free energy by 2030. We Energies push for new gas plants directly contradicts these corporate sustainability goals, which could drive investment out of the state. Rather than doubling down on fossil fuels, Wisconsin should implement on-site demand response incentives for large energy usersreducing peak demand without costly new gas infrastructure. Costly and unnecessary rush to gas We Energies push for new gas plants isnt just unnecessary its an economic gamble that could burden ratepayers for decades. Natural gas prices remain volatile due to global market instability, making long-term reliance on gas a risky bet for Wisconsins energy future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, states across the Midwest are rejecting new gas plants in favor of renewables, battery storage and energy efficiency. If Wisconsin fails to follow suit, residents and businesses could face skyrocketing energy costs and stranded fossil fuel assets that quickly become obsolete. Wisconsin needs a plan to manage its clean energy transition Rather than allowing utilities to dictate energy policy, Wisconsin must take a more strategic approach. Other states have already adopted comprehensive energy transition plans that prioritize renewables, storage and grid modernization. Without a coordinated strategy, Wisconsin risks falling behind leaving businesses and consumers to bear unnecessary costs. Business voices matter The recent GreenBiz 25 conference, where more than 2,500 sustainability professionals gathered, underscored a key reality: Businesses are proving they can do well by doing good. Companies are cutting energy use, reducing emissions and making strategic clean energy investments that align with both business and environmental goals. Despite political resistance, responsible businesses are stepping up. But they cant do it alone Wisconsin policymakers must work with business leaders to create a regulatory environment that supports clean energy innovation rather than hindering it. Battery storage is outpacing gas nationwide The outdated notion that natural gas is the only way to meet peak demand is being disproven across the country. Texas, California and even Alaska are deploying large-scale battery storage systems to replace gas-fired peaker plants. Battery storage costs have fallen 90% over the last decade, making it the clear economic winner over new fossil fuel generation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before committing billions to new gas plants, Wisconsin should first maximize cost-effective battery storageproven technology that reduces emissions while keeping electricity rates stable. Modernizing existing power plants is a smarter alternative Instead of building expensive new gas infrastructure, Wisconsin should follow the lead of other states that are repurposing existing fossil fuel plants into clean energy hubs. By investing in solar, wind, and battery storage at existing power plant sites, Wisconsin can leverage existing grid connections and transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system. This clean repowering strategy allows for a smoother transition while maintaining grid stabilitywithout saddling ratepayers with the cost of unnecessary new gas plants. Wisconsin has a historic opportunity to lead the Midwest in clean energy innovation. But We Energies gas expansion plan is a step in the wrong direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investing in clean energy solutions creates jobs, lowers costs and aligns with corporate sustainability goals. Locking in new gas plants while battery storage and renewables continue to outpace fossil fuels is an expensive mistake Wisconsin cant afford. The choice is clear: Do we cling to outdated, expensive fossil fuel infrastructure, or do we embrace a smarter, more resilient clean energy future? The answer should be obviousfor our economy, our environment and the future of Wisconsin. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Developed in the southeast and southwest regions of the country, wake boats were first used on large reservoirs which typically dont have defined shorelines due to varying water levels and rarely have shoreside owners with docks and other structures built on the banks of lakes and rivers. In Wisconsin our conditions couldnt be more different. Most of our 15,000 lakes were formed by the glaciers. Our lakes have well defined shorelines that are by-and-large natural in the northern part of the state while many docks and structures are armored in the southern part of the state as a result of high power boat traffic. Low average wind speeds in the southeast provides the additional benefit of little competition with wind waves even on these very large bodies of water. Wake boats, which are specially built to displace water to create waves for surfers or tubers to ride, are fine on these large reservoirs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Doctors battle misinformation. RFK Jr. is wrong and measles may only be start. Exposure to artificially large waves has resulted in shoreline damage on our northern lakes in Wisconsin. This has led to increasingly tense debates about whether we will need to armor these shorelines and at whose expense? Will the boating industry or the owners of the boats that are creating these destructive waves offer to pay? Or will the owners, who in large majority do not like the presence of these boats in the first place, have to shoulder the expense? And while our lakes in the southern part of the state are often armored, few if any of our lakes experience natural 4-foot-high waves. Wake boats now boast making waves higher than 4 feet Just a few years ago, wake boats generated waves between two-and-three feet. Todays boast 4.4 foot waves. When you double the height of a wave, the wave has four times as much destructive energy. It makes you winder how big these waves will be in two or three years. Is the boating industry making any commitment to limit what it will offer in the future? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How many times will lake property owners have to re-build their shorelines to accommodate what today is only 4% of the boating population? With new wake boat prices ranging from $200,000 to $400,000, this is not the sport of the average Wisconsinite, yet wake boat owners are asking average residents to bear the cost of their sport. Unlike the reservoirs in the southeast and southwest regions of the country, Wisconsins shorelines have riparian owners and are typically developed with docks, boat lifts and swimming rafts. Tying a boat or other watercraft to a dock is virtually impossible when there can be a random 4-foot wave crashing onto the shore. And more important than the damage that may be caused to either the boat or the dock, people trying to get on or off their boats or attempting to fend their boats off run the risk of being seriously injured. Who is liable for this damage and injury? Four-foot waves are not natural on our lakes and when we do have our largest waves they are wind driven and regular. The wind alerts you that there will be waves and their regular period allows them to be anticipated. Enhanced wakes are random and silent until they come crashing onto the shore or into your boat. Opinion: Wisconsins sandhill cranes are beautiful but damage our crops. Let hunting help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The random and silent nature of these over-sized waves make them particularly dangerous for other boaters. Many of our fishermen practice their sport standing up. If facing away from an incoming wake boat wave, the first warning a fisherman has is when his boat starts violently rolling. Pontoon boats, which were never designed to handle large waves and are typically occupied by groups of people enjoying an afternoon on the water, can be rocked by these waves causing people to fall and food and drinks to be spilled. Artificial waves threaten shorelines and silent paddle sports These large artificial waves are both a threat to and an encroachment on our paddle sports. The joy of paddling can be quickly overcome by the fear of capsizing. Competitive sailing is rendered meaningless when wake boats, capable of changing the outcome of a race, are in the area. The downwash from heavily loaded wake boats has been documented to damage fishing beds and weed beds while increasing turbidity. Lake bed sediment can be disturbed to depths of 26 inches according to recent research. Increased nutrients in the water column can lead to algae blooms. Toxic chemicals, like mercury and arsenic, can be re-suspended unknowingly. Opinion: We want to hear from you: How did President Trump do in address to Congress? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wisconsin has a problem, in general, with the transfer of invasive species in boats and on trailers moving from lake-to-lake. This problem is particularly acute with wake boats in that manufacturers have made no attempt to facilitate thorough draining and inspection. Its not that these are bad boats, theyre just inappropriate for Wisconsins glacial lakes with their defined shorelines, shoreline infrastructure, shallow depths, and high density usage by Wisconsin residents and tourists. Enhanced wake boats constitute a non-native, invasive species in Wisconsin and need to be thoughtfully regulated on our precious lakes. Hans Meyer, of Pewaukee, serves on the board of directors of Lakes at Stake, a bipartisan group raising awareness and lobbying for regulations of wake sports on Wisconsin lakes. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin must thoughtfully regulate wake boats on its lakes | Opinion WESTFIELD, Wis. (WFRV) A 27-year-old Wisconsin man is being held on a $500,000 cash bond after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman he reportedly catfished online. According to the Marquette County Sheriffs Office, authorities received a report of an assault on Feb. 25 in the village of Westfield, about 30 minutes northeast of the Wisconsin Dells. Pre-trial, jury trial dates set for Manitowoc man accused in 2018 death of 7-year-old Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies met with the victim, who said she had been communicating online with a man described as a white male with curly brown hair. She had arranged to meet him that evening at Pioneer Park in Westfield. While waiting in her vehicle, the victim reported that a Black male approached her car. When she asked if he needed help, the man claimed to be the person she had been talking to online. As the victim attempted to close her car door, the suspectlater identified as Robert Andersonallegedly forced his way into the vehicle, threatened her with a gun, and sexually assaulted her. After the assault, the victim drove to a nearby gas station, where she sought assistance from deputies. She also reported that her phone was missing after the suspect exited the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the victims description, deputies identified a suspect vehicle using a Flock camera, a license plate reader that assists law enforcement. The footage led authorities to Anderson, who was later interviewed by detectives in Madison. According to officials, Anderson admitted traveling to Westfield that day to meet the victim and acknowledged creating a fake online profile to increase his chances of matching with women. Two Rivers man arrested after domestic disturbance report A search warrant executed at Andersons residence and vehicle reportedly uncovered a firearm matching the description provided by the victim. Anderson was subsequently arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show Anderson is facing multiple felony charges, including: First-degree sexual assault with use of a dangerous weapon Armed robbery with use of force False imprisonment Marquette County Sheriff Joseph Konrath commended deputies and detectives for their swift actions in locating Anderson. He also emphasized the importance of safety when meeting individuals from online platforms. We encourage the public to always meet in well-lit, public places and let someone close to them know their plans, Konrath said. Authorities identify two found dead in Wisconsin home The Marquette County Sheriffs Office is continuing to investigate. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact authorities at (608) 297-2115. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No further details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. LINCOLN, Wis. (WFRV) A 43-year-old Wisconsin man has been sentenced to prison for attacking a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warden who had pulled over his daughter for speeding in a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). Mark Szczerba II of Kansasville was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, followed by four-and-a-half years of supervision, after pleading guilty to battery of a law enforcement officer in July 2022. Operation Ripsaw leads to arrest of man accused of trafficking firearms from Wisconsin to Mexican cartel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident occurred on July 15, 2022, when Szczerba attacked a DNR warden who had stopped his daughter for speeding in the Town of Lincoln. According to the warden, they feared for their life during the attack and fired their weapon, striking Szczerba. In November 2022, the Forest County District Attorney cleared the DNR warden of any criminal charges related to the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. MADISON Wisconsin education officials scrambled Thursday to make sense of a new order expected from President Donald Trump that could seek to begin the process of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education a move that constitutional experts say requires a vote of Congress, potentially setting the stage for legal challenges. Trump in 2024 campaigned on eliminating the federal agency as part of a larger pitch to voters who in recent years have opposed a series of school mandates, including those related to vaccines and efforts to bolster diversity and inclusion within classrooms. But the agency also distributes billions in federal aid to schools, including in Wisconsin, where more than $1 billion has been committed for just K-12 schools in this school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Over $1 billion in 'critical' K-12 federal funding is under threat, Wisconsin officials say A preliminary executive order prepared for Trump seeks to eliminate the agency to "the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law," according to a draft reviewed Thursday by USA TODAY. Since only Congress can abolish federal agencies, the decree would set up a new test for the bounds of presidential authority. And it has the potential to create a new wave of anxiety about the billions of congressionally appropriated dollars that regularly flow through the Education Department to schools and students. Wisconsin leaders, representatives react to potential elimination of education department Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat who previously worked as a public school educator and state superintendent, called the move "bullshit." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know Wisconsin's kids and our schools this decision would be catastrophic for them. There's no question," he said in a post on X. He also signaled he could pursue a lawsuit over the move. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Madison, said the willful dismantling of the Department of Education harms school districts abilities to do what theyre charged with doing, noting the agency has focused on helping children with special needs and disabilities gain access to education. Its very clear that the Trump administration has no authority to violate the law, and we have laws that set up the Department of Education, Baldwin said. The problem is we have an administration thats flouting the law and is doing a lot of things that appear to be dismantling agencies without congressional authorization, Baldwin said. We need to mount an opposition to that lawlessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said hes all for dismantling the Department of Education. He said there should be virtually no role for the federal government in education. Thats a state and local issue. Still, he said he thinks Congress will have to play a role outside of the executive branchs unilateral moves to slash agencies. All these things: The (Department of Government Efficiency), what theyre exposing, in some way, shape or form is going to have to come through and be enacted legislatively, whether its through the decision process or reconciliation process or the appropriations process. DPI expects funding gaps for K-12 schools In a memo to school district administrators this week, state Department of Public Instruction officials speculated the move could "include changes to funding mechanisms and priorities, such as additional diversions of public dollars to support private schools." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While the specifics of these proposals remain vague and unclear, we understand that such a shift may raise questions and concerns about the future of federal support for public education," the officials wrote. Aides to co-chairmen of the Legislature's budget-writing committee did not immediately say whether they would seek to set aside state funds to make up any funding gaps that materialize after the federal agency is eliminated. DPI officials said they expect the agency elimination to reduce funding for K-12 schools, which would affect "essential services for schools." "In Wisconsin, federal funding and programming has been instrumental in improving educational outcomes for all kids, allowing us to reduce class sizes and provide extra support for learners who need it most," the memo said. Chris Bucher, a spokesman for DPI, said Thursday "the full effects wont be known until theres some type of specific plan instead of a vague communication." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Superintendent Jill Underly, who is running for reelection in April, has blasted Trump's plan to close the department. Her opponent, education consultant Brittany Kinser, said at a candidate forum last month so long as Wisconsin continues to receives the federal education funding it currently receives, she is open to changes. Education department also responsible for financial aid, civil rights investigations The federal agency distributes federal financial aid to students through universities and colleges. UW System students, for example, received about $720 million in federal financial aid last school year, the bulk of which was delivered through the department. The department also administers Pell grants to make college more affordable for low-income students. More than 63,000 Wisconsin students received Pell grants totaling $241 million in 2020-21, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Managing a $1.6 trillion federal student loan program also falls under the department's oversight. The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a conservative policy initiative, suggested moving this responsibility to the Treasury Department. The idea was also raised during Trump's first term. Wisconsin has about 725,000 borrowers who hold nearly $24 billion in federal student loan debt, according to the latest federal education data. The department also handles investigations into violations of federal student privacy laws and of students' civil rights. Unclear whether education department will be fully abolished A copy of a draft order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear whether this draft of the executive order, which has been in the works for weeks, is the version that Trump is now contemplating. McMahon, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Monday, has included the agency elimination in what she called the "final mission" of the agency. That vision, she said in a message to staffers, is to "end the overreach from Washington." "This restoration will profoundly impact staff, budgets, and agency operations here at the Department," she wrote. "In coming months, we will partner with Congress and other federal agencies to determine the best path forward to fulfill the expectations of the President and the American people." McMahon did not, however, explicitly call on Monday for the total abolition of the Education Department. In her public statements on the subject, she has walked a fine line since Trump tapped her to manage the agency. Her boss has repeatedly signaled he intends to shutter the department. A few weeks ago, he said he wanted it "closed immediately." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But McMahon admitted during her Senate confirmation hearing last month that the agency "clearly could not be shut down without" congressional approval. She also stressed that key funding streams such as Pell Grants, federal student loans and Title I financial assistance for low-income schools would not be affected by the Trump administration's efforts to downsize. K-12 schools with students living in poverty receive additional federal funding through a stream known as Title I. For the 2023-24 school year, Wisconsin received $226 million in Title I funds across the state. Roughly $90 million went toward programs in Milwaukee Public Schools, according to MPS legislative liaison Chris Thiel. "Wisconsin does not have a corresponding program that exists or is funded to make up for the elimination of that federal support to students," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zachary Schermele and Joey Garrison of USA Today contributed to this report. Molly Beck, Kelly Meyerhofer and Lawrence Andrea can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com, kmeyerhofer@gannett.com and landrea@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin scrambles as Trump poised to dismantle education department In the 10 years since Madison police officer Matt Kenny fatally shot 19-year-old Tony Robinson on March 6, 2015, Madison officials say theyve made significant changes in how this city polices. Reformers say results have been mixed, with big successes in some areas and slow progress in others. Robinsons killing prompted a wave of examination of Madison law enforcement, including task forces and independent reports that identified reforms to city policing that have been implemented and endure. After a Wisconsin Department of Justice investigation, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne cleared Kenny of any criminal wrongdoing, and the Madison Police Departments internal review found that Kenny, who shot Robinson seven times at close range, followed department policies during the incident. In February 2017, the citys insurer agreed to a $3.35 million civil settlement with Robinsons family. The city did not admit to any wrongdoing. But Robinsons grandmother Sharon Irwin-Henry has long sought to have the case reopened. This year, my boy is turning 30. This year, I will be able to get this evidence out, Irwin-Henry said Wednesday. Fifty to 75 years from now, when everybody involved in this is dead and gone, hes going to be a case history, and people will see the truth, and see how, as a society we let this happen because we were afraid. And at an event last year marking the ninth anniversary of Robinsons death, after the dedication of a mural honoring Robinson at McPike Park, the crowd marched down to Williamson Street decrying the citys refusal to fire Kenny, chanting, Black lives matter and No justice, no peace. The mural has since been moved to the 1400 block of Williamson Street. In the fallout from Robinsons killing, a pair of reports the 2017 report from an outside contractor hired by the city and a 2019 report by an ad hoc group of residents and city officials identified dozens of recommendations for how to improve the departments policies and image. A key finding of the two reports was the need for an independent police monitor overseen by civilians. Another recommendation was the creation of a crisis response program that sends other emergency personnel and not police to calls involving nonviolent mental health emergencies. The city did not immediately implement those reforms. They were made in the aftermath of the 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis that prompted protests and civil unrest across the United States, including in Madison. By 2020s end, though, the city had created the Police Civilian Oversight Board and the Office of the Independent Monitor and had appropriated money for what would become Community Alternative Response Emergency Services, known as CARES, a crisis response program thats run out of the Madison Fire Department. In June of that year, the Madison School Board also voted to stop stationing a police officer in Madisons four comprehensive high schools, a reform that local activists Freedom Inc. had pushed for heavily. Were so overjoyed and excited that we got (police officers out of schools), activist Mahnker Dahnweih said the following May. Mixed results In the 2010s, the citys insurer had to pay out $12.5 million to settle lawsuits brought over three police killings, one of them Robinson, and other excessive force and civil rights violations. But since 2019, the city has only had to make one payout $850,000 in 2023 reached through mediation with a man injured by a police dog. There have actually been a number of very substantive changes, and I believe thats much of why youre not seeing incidents anymore of unarmed people being shot, said Greg Gelembiuk, a data analyst in Madisons Office of the Independent Monitor. The city has been criticized, though, for slow-moving progress in the independent monitor office and Police Civilian Oversight Board, which have been challenged by personnel issues and budget cuts. The boards initial task, the hiring of the independent monitor, wasnt completed until late 2022. It took another two years for the monitor to make progress on two of its main functions: receiving complaints about police and investigating the department. Last fall, Independent Monitor Robin Copley finalized the offices complaint process and opened its first investigations, which were announced amid proposed budget cuts to the office by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, who cited the offices lack of progress. The City Council reversed some of the mayors proposed cuts during budget talks. The monitor also is partnering with UCLA to track and analyze cellphone GPS data of police officers to determine if officers have a disproportionate presence in neighborhoods with low-income residents and people of color. Some of the most impactful changes, Gelembiuk said, arose from a Presidents Work Group on Police and Community Relations, in which city officials met with local activists to review police policies and procedures. Before the shooting, police did not have a standard operating procedure for encounters with people in altered mental states, suffering from mental health crises or intoxicants, he said. This largely contributed to the formation of CARES. We realized that alders, the Council could actually give orders to the chief of police, and they proceeded to do so, he said. I think that had major impact. Madison police devoted particular focus to its policies on use of force, crisis response and officers calling for backup whenever possible before taking action in potentially volatile situations, according to Interim Chief John Patterson. In 2017, for instance, the department employed Integrating Communications Assessment and Tactics to enhance its crisis intervention and scenario-based training, emphasizing de-escalation techniques and alternatives to use of force. Officers are more mindful than ever of the complexities of responding to calls involving individuals in crisis, Patterson said Wednesday. Continuous improvement is a critical core value of this organization, so in the past 10 years, we have routinely looked to improve our policies, our training, and our engagement and collaboration with the community. CARES has been widely well regarded and continues to expand. Launched in mid-2021, CARES sends community paramedics and mental health workers to behavioral health crises, instead of police officers. Beginning with one team, CARES has since expanded to three at peak service hours, while extending its hours to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. CARES service also extended to Sun Prairie in February, and the city expects to have a little over 100 CARES calls each year. Remembering Robinson Community members are planning to honor Robinsons memory through multiple events Thursday afternoon, all to take place along Williamson Street. The gatherings are set to commence at 4 p.m., with Jump on the Mic for Justice, an open mic event at Cafe Coda. Also at 4 p.m. is a showing of 19, The Tony Robinson Shooting: a Case of Deadly Bias, a Beloit Film Festival Documentary winner. A Wisconsin teenager was arrested in Iowa, more than 800 miles from the home where his mother and stepfather were found slain, authorities said Tuesday. The juvenile was stopped for running a stop sign in WaKeeney, Iowa, at 11:25 p.m. CT Friday, WaKeeney Police Chief Michael Romero said in a statement. "The subject was taken into custody with no further incident. The subject was identified and found out to be a juvenile wanted out of Wisconsin," Romero added. "The subject is a person of interest in a double homicide that this Wisconsin sheriffs office is still investigating." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romero declined to name the driver, but Waukesha County prosecutors identified the teen as a 17-year-old Waukesha West High School student. The boy's mother and her husband were found fatally shot at their Waukesha home on Friday afternoon when local authorities conducted a welfare check. The woman's face "was blackened from decomposition with dried blood on the floor around her," according to the criminal complaint filed against the teenager. The woman's husband was also found at the home "covered by a pile of clothing" with "an obvious wound to the back of" his head, the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen has been charged with taking his stepfather's Volkswagen Atlas and a firearm. Waukesha County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday identified the slain victims as Donald Mayer, 51, and his wife, Tatiana Casap, 35, who was the teenagers mother. Mayer and Casap had been married for nine years after they met online when she was living in Moldova, the man's mother Judith Mayer said. "Donald didnt have any other children, so when he married, he enjoyed having a son, and they did father-son stuff," Judith Mayer told NBC News. "They went to all kinds of places, to the beach, to ballgames, all that kind of stuff." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judith Mayer said that she was impressed with how quickly Casap's son picked up English from scratch and that she can't recall any tensions between him and her son. The teenager had perfect attendance before he failed to show up for class for two weeks, prompting the welfare check request from school officials, according to the criminal complaint. "He did very well in school, got good grades," Judith Mayer said. "He was quiet and polite. Teachers never mentioned that there was anything wrong." A neighbor of the family saw the 17-year-old driving his stepfather's Volkswagen on Feb. 23, the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cellphone pings showed that he left Waukesha at about 10 a.m. on Feb. 24 and "took a general route through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado," according to prosecutors. He visited the World's Largest Truckstop in Walcott, Iowa, from 2:25 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. the day he left Waukesha, prosecutors said the cellphone records showed. Nearby security cameras showed the teenager, accompanied by the family's small black dog, driving the Volkswagen Atlas, court document said. Records found at the victims' home showed that Mayer owned a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum, which police didn't find at the house. The gun, the victims' driver's licenses and spent shell casings were all found in the Atlas, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judith Mayer said her son had the gun for protection but didn't know of any ongoing threats. Mayer and his stepson both had green thumbs and enjoyed working outside together. "He [Mayer] loved flowers," Judith Mayer said. "There was always a lot of planting of flowers and trees. Whenever he went out to do anything, he always asked [Casap's son] to come with him and they'd work together." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The U.S. decision to stop sharing military intelligence with Ukraine hobbles its ability to strike and defend against the Russian army, and increases the pressure on it to accept a peace deal being pushed by the Trump administration. Earlier in the week, the U.S. suspended weapons shipments a severe blow, but one that experts said Ukraine could withstand for at least a few months. The suspension of intelligence has a more immediate impact by disrupting Ukraines ability to track and target Russian troops, tanks and ships; its other allies lack the same resources to fill the gap. Here are things to know about the U.S. decision and its likely effects: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why did the U.S. stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine? The decision to withhold intelligence and military aid came on the heels of a tempestuous White House visit last week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance want Zelenskyy to quickly accept a truce with Russia which now controls one-fifth of his country and to give up significant mineral rights to the U.S. to help fund any future support for Ukraine. The Trump administration says Ukraine hasnt demonstrated sufficient willingness to seek peace with Russia, with whom the U.S. has held separate talks to try to bring an end to the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. officials suggested Wednesday that the withdrawal of intelligence-sharing might only be a temporary measure to expedite truce negotiations, citing more positive talks since the White House blowup. We have taken a step back and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship, U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz said Wednesday. CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the suspension a pause. Zelenskyy has repeatedly said he is ready to discuss peace, but that any deal must offer his country sufficient security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. He has also publicly stated his regrets about the contentious, and televised, White House meeting. Trump administration officials have said the deal for mineral rights would more closely bind the U.S. and Ukraine, giving Russian President Vladimir Putin pause before considering future malign action against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How will the lack of U.S. intelligence affect Ukraine? The White House hasnt specified what aspects of intelligence-sharing have been suspended. But without help from the U.S. which includes vital data captured by Elon Musk's Starlink satellites Ukraines ability to strike weapons and other targets inside Russia will be severely degraded. Its attacks inside Russian territory which rely on U.S.-provided longer-range weapons -- have been key in deterring Russia's capabilities and advances. Ukraine relies on U.S. intelligence when operating U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS. Ukraine also relies on U.S. intelligence as an early warning system to help it defend against Russian long-range missiles and drone strikes. Such intelligence in the wars early days allowed Ukraine to thwart Putins hopes for a quick victory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the recent restrictions imposed by the U.S., a rising tempo of Ukrainian strikes inside Russia such as those targeting stores of ammunition -- relieved pressure on Ukrainian troops on the front lines. It is one of the reasons Russias advances in eastern Ukraine have slowed in recent weeks, analysts say. Will the U.S. ever share intelligence again with Ukraine? Waltz, Trumps national security adviser, said in a Fox News television interview that the suspension of intelligence-sharing could be reversed once Zelenskyy demonstrates to President Trump that he is sufficiently willing to discuss peace with Russia on Trumps terms. Zelenskyy has said he would like to make things right with Trump, but that does not yet appear to have assuaged the U.S. -- Ukraines biggest military backer since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials from Ukraine and the U.S. will hold talks next week in Saudi Arabia next week, Zelenskyy said late Thursday. In the meantime, Zelenskyy has been leaning into support from Europe, most of whose leaders are dismayed by the Trump administrations decision to deprive a key American ally of assistance needed to fight Russia. On Thursday, European Union leaders launched a day of emergency talks to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be protected. Its unclear whether the American suspension affects the intelligence-sharing ties between Ukraine and other Western powers, including four of the Five Eyes, an intelligence sharing coalition of the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and New Zealand. French defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in a radio interview Thursday that his country would continue providing military intelligence to Ukraine. And French President Emmanuel Macron said he would talk with EU leaders about the possibility of using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A Warren woman entered a guilty plea in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court in connection to a police chase and crash that injured two people last year. Read next: Man says brother fired shots at him in Youngstown home According to the Trumbull County Prosecutors Office, Tabitha Flight, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated vehicular assault and failure to comply with order/signal of a police officer, both third-degree felonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flight will be sentenced following a presentence investigation. The judge said that because of the nature of the offenses, Flight faces mandatory consecutive prison sentences. The case involved a December 2024 incident when Warren police were investigating a theft at a dollar store. An officer spotted the suspected vehicle containing women who matched the description of those involved in the theft and the driver, identified as Flight, refused to stop, prosecutors said. That led to a high-speed chase that ended with the vehicle crashing into a business at West Market Street and Southern Boulevard NW. Two passengers in the vehicle were injured, but Flight fled the scene on foot before being apprehended by a police dog, police reports stated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) A woman who took part in a fatal summertime shooting at a Nexton apartment complex in 2022 was sentenced Thursday for kidnapping and voluntary manslaughter. Jennifer Mae Todus, who was 34 at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Deputies responded to the Isaac Apartments on July 8, 2022, after receiving a report about an altercation between several individuals at the complex pool. The situation was resolved, and deputies left, only to be called back about an hour later for reports of a shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When law enforcement arrived the second time, they found 20-year-old Caleb Mitchell suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at the scene. According to the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office, male juveniles were seen fleeing the scene after the shooting. On July 13, authorities announced Todus was wanted for murder in connection to the shooting. U.S. Marshals captured Todus alongside a 14-year-old and 16-year-old suspect on July 22 after the group had fled to Mexico. The two minors were charged with murder and turned over to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. Their identities were never released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Woman found dead at Greensboro Arboretum near intersection of Ashland Drive, Tryon Street, police say GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) Greensboro police are investigating after a woman was found dead on Wednesday, according to a Greensboro Police Department news release. Around 2:47 p.m., Greensboro police, Greensboro firefighters and Guilford County EMS responded to the Greensboro Arboretum near the intersection of Ashland Drive and Tryon Street during a death investigation. Officials identified the person found dead as 33-year-old Amber Shelton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was reported as a missing person to the GPD on Dec. 9, 2024. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at (336) 373-1000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. OPELOUSAS, La (KLFY) Opelousas fatal car crash involving an overturned vehicle claimed the life of a woman not wearing a seatbelt. Anna Landy, 86, of Church Point and Beverly Landry, 58, of Church Point were traveling south on LA. 357 on Feb 28., authorities said. During the investigation, authorities said Beverly Landry, the driver, veered the vehicle off the roadway to the left and entered a ditch before striking the mail and overturning the vehicle onto its roof. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities reported that Anna Landry was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered from serious injuries while Beverly Landry, who had a seatbelt on, suffered moderate injuries. Authorities said as part of the investigation routine toxicology samples were obtained from Beverly Landry. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Anna Landry had succumbed to her injuries and died on Monday, March 3, authorities said. Louisiana State Police reminds the public while not all crashes are survivable, wearing seat belts correctly can significantly improve your chances of survival and reduce injury severity. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. A flight bound for Phoenix took an unexpected turn after a passenger started undressing from head to toe. The Houston Police Department said they received a call about a disturbance out of gate 42 at the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston on Monday afternoon. Officers found out a woman had stripped off her clothes after the plane pulled away from the gate. The plane returned to the gate, and the woman was transported for medical evaluation and was going through a crisis, Houston police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southwest Airlines confirmed that local law enforcement met the plane after it returned to the gate because of a "customer situation onboard." "Weve reached out to Customers to apologize for the delay in their travels and appreciate their patience as our Teams worked to get them to their destinations as quickly as possible," a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines wrote in an emailed statement to The Republic. Flight 733 was bound for Phoenix from Houston, the Southwest Airlines spokesperson said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Passenger on Houston flight bound for Phoenix undressed before takeoff SMYRNA, Tenn. (WKRN) A woman wanted out of New Mexico for multiple sex crimes against a child was arrested in Smyrna, according to U.S. Marshals. A Middle Tennessee Task Force of the U.S. Marshal Service found 46-year-old Lesa Lasster at a Smyrna residence Wednesday. The Farmington Police Department in New Mexico had requested help from U.S. Marshals with finding Lasster. Nashvilles Most Wanted fugitives: Man sought for sexual battery by an authority figure Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lasster was charged with one count of criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13 in the first degree as well as three counts of conspiracy to commit criminal sexual perpetration in the first degree against a child under 13. A warrant for her arrest had been issued in the San Juan County Magistrate Court on Feb. 25. The U.S. Marshals Service of New Mexico developed information and found that Lasster had been residing in the Smyrna area. Thats when they enlisted the help of the Middle Tennessee Task Force of the U.S. Marshal Service. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee The U.S. Marshals Service is committed to protecting the American people, especially our most vulnerable population our children, a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service reads in part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of publication, Lasster is in custody at the Rutherford County Jail where she was booked as a fugitive from justice. She awaits extradition to New Mexico. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Two daughters of a legendary Argentine mountaineer who died on an icy peak 40 years ago, have retrieved his backpack from the spot finding camera film inside that allowed them a glimpse of some of his final experiences. Guillermo Vieiro was 44 when he died in 1985 while descending Argentina's Tupungato lava dome, one of the highest peaks in the Americas. Then last year, his backpack was spotted on a slope by mountaineer Gabriela Cavallaro, who examined it and contacted Vieiro's daughters Guadalupe, 40, and Azul, 44. Azul Vieiro, 44, daughter of the late legendary mountaineer Guillermo Vieiro, poses for a picture with her father's rucksack and pickaxe in Mendoza, Argentina, on February 28, 2025. / Credit: ANDRES LARROVERE/AFP via Getty Images In February this year, the three set out with four other guides and two filmmakers on an 11-day journey to recover the bag from an altitude of about 6,100 meters (20,000 feet) close to the summit of the 6,600-meter volcanic peak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In my family, the word 'mountain' was always forbidden. My mother wants nothing to do with the discovery of this backpack. It's a family that has been broken by grief, by the void," Azul, who was just 4 years old when her father died, told AFP. "It all seemed crazy to me, and I didn't want to go back to the volcano where he had died. But as the months went by... I started to loosen up, and began thinking: 'Why not?'" Inside the backpack, the women found a jacket, a sleeping bag, a water bottle, aspirin, Vitamin C tablets, a set of knives and two rolls of film that had belonged to their father. Azul Vieiro, 44, daughter of the late legendary mountaineer Guillermo Vieiro, looks at a picture of his father in her mobile phone during an interview in Mendoza, Argentina, on February 28, 2025. / Credit: ANDRES LARROVERE/AFP via Getty Images "Spiritually, it felt like a greeting, like: 'I'm still here, I exist. You're not alone,'" Azul recounted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That slope has never been scaled again" The experience also allowed her to learn more about a man she never got a chance to know. "My mother never really told us who he was. We knew he had died in the mountains and that he was a mountaineer, but not much more than that. So, it was like rediscovering his story, like saying, wait... we have a father who had a life, a history. So it was like discovering him all over again." Photos taken from other film found inside the same backpack by Cavallaro a year earlier, showed that Vieiro and his partner Leonardo Rabal, 20, had been the first climbers to reach the top of Tupungato from its eastern side the most challenging route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That slope has never been scaled again," Cavallaro, who lives at the foot of Tupungato in the city of the same name, told AFP. "What they (Vieiro and Rabal) accomplished has real historical value in Argentine and international mountaineering," she added. According to the Smithsonian Institution, Tupungato is a Pleistocene stratovolcano capped by a lava dome complex that is about 800,000 years old. There have been no reported eruptions there in modern history, according to Andean Geology, which noted that "landslide and sector collapse events are likely" on certain parts of the mountain. The bodies of Vieiro and Rabal were recovered shortly after they died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azul and her sister said they would donate their father's belongings in an attempt to share a "piece of Argentine mountaineering history" with others. Azul Vieiro (C), 44, daughter of the late legendary mountaineer Guillermo Vieiro, poses for a picture with climbers Juan Schiappa (L) and Gabriela Cavallaro -who participated in the expedition to rescue the backpack- her father's rucksack and pickaxe, in Mendoza, Argentina, on February 28, 2025. / Credit: ANDRES LARROVERE/AFP via Getty Images The journey to retrieve Vieiro's belongings come just months after another deceased climber's possessions were found on a peak in South America. Last summer, the preserved body of American mountaineer Bill Stampfl who disappeared 22 years ago while scaling a snowy peak in Peru was found by a climber. A hip pouch contained Stampfl's driving license, a pair of sunglasses, a camera, a voice recorder and two decomposing $20 bills. A gold wedding ring was still on the left hand. Watch: Trump's full address to Congress Ex-Army recruiter flees state with 17-year-old girlfriend after estranged wife's murder Takeaways from Trump's joint address to Congress NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) On Wednesday, a group of Nashville women sat and told their stories at the states highest level. These women appeared before lawmakers, sharing painful details of a crime that spanned years. All of them were the alleged victims of a scheme to secretly record them while having sex. ORIGINAL STORY: Man charged for hidden camera recordings, police say In June of 2024, I came across a file with my first name on it on my then-boyfriends computer, Christiana Werner testified before state lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though its not the typical place where you would hear this kind of story, behind the doors of a House Committee hearing, Werner shared a moment of honesty and reflection. I didnt expect it to be one of the most horrific and disturbing discoveries I have ever experienced, Werner said. Numerous sexually explicit videos of us all recorded without my knowledge or consent. At the time, Werner had access to her then-boyfriends computer after he had given her the passcode to his computer while he was out of town. Werner described the terrifying moments when she realized that her private moments in the bedroom were captured on camera. For the past several months, News 2 has followed the case. Matthew Vollmer was arrested for allegedly recording their sexual interactions with a hidden camera. The camera was supposedly capturing dozens of women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NOVEMBER 2024: Woman illegally recorded by man files $1.8M lawsuit on behalf of all victims The oldest recorded dated back several years. It was at this moment this point all attempts to rationalize went out the door, Werner said. There were other women involved who had no idea what this man had done to them. However, even though the evidence was seemingly stacked in Werners favor, she couldnt file a criminal case against Vollmer. I was not granted my order of protection because unlawful photography did not meet the criteria for one, Werner testified. I was not protected by the law and I still live in fear to this day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the new legislative session began, Werner and several other alleged victims went to the Capitol with the hope of working with lawmakers to create a bill that would protect future victims from the exact crime they experienced. Its being called the Voyeurism Victims Act, and its already gained bipartisan support. [This crime] takes the feeling of power away from people, Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville) said. If they feel powerless to make a difference, and if this bill passes, were going to give these women some power back. They hope the bill will extend the statute of limitations for any future victims, giving them up to one year after the discovery of content like this to press charges instead of one year after the creation of the content. In addition, they expressed hope to focus on unlawful photography. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JANUARY: Women advocate for bill that would extend statute of limitations, increase penalties for unlawful photography As of publication, the crime is a misdemeanor in Tennessee; if the bill passes, it would become a felony. The law would also close possible loopholes in similar cases. We are here today because our lawmakers chose to hear us, support us and stand beside us in our time of need, Werner said. Vollmer faces eight counts of unlawful photography. His case is set to go to trial March 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The rights of women and girls around the world are facing a multitude of threats, according to a UN study released on Thursday ahead of International Women's Day on March 8. These "unprecedented, growing threats worldwide" include higher levels of discrimination, weaker legal protection and less funding for programmes and institutions that support and protect women, UN Women said in a press release. The organization's latest report, "Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing," based on data from 159 countries, shows that almost a quarter of governments worldwide reported a backlash against women's rights in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Many countries have made strides on gender equality and women's empowerment, from banning discrimination in employment to adopting gender-responsive climate action plans," notes the report, which reviews progress since the signing of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on gender equality in 1995. "Yet gender discrimination remains deeply embedded in all economies and societies, imposing chronic constraints on the rights and hopes of women and girls," it adds. The study shows progress on women's representation in national parliaments, which has more than doubled since 1995. However, it notes that almost three quarters of all members of parliament are still men. It also shows that 1,531 legal reforms have sought to advance gender equality around the world since 1995. Nonetheless, it finds that women still have only 64% of the legal rights of men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Progress on maternal mortality has slowed, the report notes, falling by a third between 2000 and 2015 but remaining roughly the same since then. Meanwhile, it finds that the number of cases of sexual violence in conflicts has risen by 50% since 2022 - with women and girls making up 95% of the victims. In the report, UN Women presents an action agenda for gender equality consisting of six pillars. These include a digital revolution for women and girls, as well as measures to address poverty, violence, peace and security, and climate justice. When George Floyd was killed at the hands of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin back in May 2020, it became the catalyst for America to pay attention to the plight of Black people in this country. Not only were Black Lives Matter protests taking place on both national and international levels, the federal government and corporate America were finally showing solidarity by implementing intentional diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Chauvin was later convicted for murdering Floyd in 2022 and is serving out concurrent federal and state sentences in a federal prison in Arizona. Considering that Black folks rarely get justice when they lose their lives at the hands of cops, his guilty verdict and sentencing was seen as a rare victory for our community. But if Trump and his supporters continue to have their way, all of this progress will be erased. In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious college admissions which galvanized conservative groups to go after corporate wokeism. Since being re-elected, Trump along with his fellow Republicans have worked tirelessly to undermine everything accomplished after Floyds death through a slew of disturbing actions. Trumps executive orders have led to DEI rollback Trump wasted no time signing off on executive orders that direct the Attorney General to identify and possibly investigate private sector companies with egregious and discriminatory DEI programs. The orders also discontinue nearly all DEI-related activities in the federal workforce, in addition to rescinding a number of DEI-related executive orders issued by prior administrations undoing what was put in place after Floyds death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has prompted notable companies, including Target, Walmart, Meta, and McDonalds to get rid of their programs that center diversity. It has also led to many executives altering their language around DEI efforts. For example, SHRM (also known as the Society for Human Resource Management) got rid of the word equity from its Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity approach, referring to its commitment to leading with Inclusion as the catalyst for holistic change in workplaces and society. Police misconduct database has been taken down by Trump In January, Trump signed an executive order that removed a federal system for doing background checks on police. The National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD) was founded in 2023 and contained the professional records of federal law enforcement officers. Its primary goal was to allow prospective employers including federal agencies and local police to check their backgrounds for misconduct. But once Trump was re-elected, he made sure the system was taken offline. After Floyds death, there was a national outcry for police reform. Former President Joe Biden issued a police accountability executive order in 2022 with the database being just one item among many in the order. Despite Trump removing it, the National Decertification Index (NDI) still allows departments to check officers records in other states, NPR reports. An open letter to exonerate Derek Chauvin Chauvins conviction in the murder of Floyd felt like justice for Black folks, but that now may be in jeopardy. Conservative media pundit Ben Shapiro recently launched a petition requesting Trump to pardon Chauvin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We write to urge you to immediately issue a pardon for Officer Derek Chauvin, who was unjustly convicted and is currently serving a 22-and-a-half year sentence for the murder of George Floyd and associated federal charges, Shapiro wrote in a letter to the president. Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who serves as a senior adviser to Trump posted about Shapiros petition on X and stated it was something to think about. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A man was found guilty of fatally shooting his wife in Woodbridge last year. The Prince William County Commonwealths Attorney, Amy Ashworth, said a jury found 25-year-old Daniel Lawson guilty on March 4 for voluntary manslaughter. On Jan. 6, 2024, officers with the Prince William County Police Department went to Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center for a shooting that had happened earlier that day, which resulted in serious injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brother of Irvo Otieno sues hospital that saw him before his death for $25 million There, Lawson said his wife, Desire Buggs, was attacked by a group of women while she was waiting at a stop sign in Dumfries. He said one of those women shot her. Buggs died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Police found out throughout the investigation that Lawson had made multiple inconsistent statements to them. His sentencing is set for June 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A Woodbury man who robbed two banks in Woodbury and one in Oakdale just up the road from his workplace and was arrested after tips to police was sentenced to five years of probation on Wednesday. Zahir Mohamednazir Bachelani, 39, pleaded guilty Dec. 3 in Washington County District Court to three counts of felony simple robbery in connection with the bank robberies on three days between June 14 and Aug. 3. In total, he made off with just over $5,000. Judge Juanita Freeman followed a plea agreement and stayed a nearly 3-year prison sentence for five years, during which time he will be on supervised probation. He had served 213 days in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bachelani was tracked down and arrested Aug. 5 while leaving work, the same day Woodbury police posted on Facebook four photos from bank surveillance video and received calls to its tip line identifying Bachelani as a suspect. Later in the day, Bachelani told police in an interview he carried out the robberies due to financial troubles from medical bills, the charges say. But Bachelani held a secret, which he divulged to Eden Prairie police the next day under questioning at the Washington County jail, according to Hennepin County District Court charging documents. Bachelani was identified as a suspect in a March 28 robbery at Old National Bank, near the Eden Prairie Center shopping mall, after investigators compared bank surveillance photos to those circulated by Woodbury police. He admitted to the robbery, saying it was his first. I am armed with a gun According to the Aug. 6 Washington County complaint, Woodbury police responded to Huntington Bank at 7377 Currell Blvd. about 4:30 p.m. June 14 on a report of a bank robbery in progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man wearing a dark red shoulder-length wig, long black and purple dress, medical facemask, medical gloves and knee-high black boots passed a note to a teller that read: This is a robbery. You are going to take all of the $100 bills from your drawer and place them in an envelope. My partner is waiting outside. Once I leave, my partner will leave. Do as I say and no one will get hurt. He made off with $700. About two weeks later, on June 29, Oakdale police responded to U.S. Bank at 7620 10th St. N. around 11:15 a.m. for a hold-up alarm. A man wearing a medical facemask and medical gloves gave a note to a teller that read: This is a robbery. My partner is waiting outside. Take $4,000 out of your drawer and place it in an envelope. Once I leave my partner will leave. Shake your head if you understand and no one will get hurt. He was given $4,000 and left in a silver Hyundai Sonata. Woodbury police were called to Wells Fargo at 7525 Currell Blvd., just west of Huntington Bank, about 9:30 a.m. Aug. 3. A man wearing a medical facemask and medical gloves handed over a note that read: (T)his is a robbery. Put $6,000 from your drawer into an envelope and no one gets hurt. He made off with $370. After the tip-line calls, police discovered Bachelani owned a 2015 silver Hyundai Sonata and that he worked at a medical clinic just up Helmo Avenue from the U.S. Bank. Officers saw him leaving work around 5 p.m. and arrested him. He was wearing blue Under Armour shoes that matched those the robber wore during the Aug. 3 robbery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search of his home turned up a dark red wig and clothing also seen in bank video, including the black and purple dress, according to police. Related Articles In his Aug. 6 interview with Eden Prairie police, Bachelani said he lived near Old National Bank at the time and picked it at random on March 28, according to the Sept. 4 criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court. Bachelani, who passed a note to the teller and made off with $6,824, told investigators he was behind on rent and afraid of being evicted. Civil filings show Bachelani was ordered in housing court to pay an Eden Prairie apartment building owner nearly $5,400 in missed rent payments in July 2023 and a Woodbury apartment building owner more than $3,700 on June 11, three days before the first robbery in that city. Bachelanis Hennepin County case remains pending, with a next court hearing scheduled for March 24. Authorities are asking for the publics help with information regarding a severely emaciated dog found near a liquor store last week. According to police, Worcester Animal Control was dispatched to a residence on Chandler Street Monday after a caller said he found a male pit bull near a liquor store on Chandler and Main Street within the past week. The caller reportedly told police he was trying to nurse the dog back to health, but the animal was too emaciated and suffering from serious injuries to his face and legs. Officials say the animal control officer had to carry the pit bull to her vehicle because he could not walk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about the animal or his owner is asked to call Worcester Animal Control at 508-799-1211. The dog, now named Phoenix, was treated at an emergency veterinary hospital and is being cared for by the Broken Tail Rescue, Inc. Staff their say Phoenix is receiving fluids, diagnostics, medication and carefully measured snacks. He is doing well so far, according to a social media post. A link to donate to Phoenixs care can be found below: Phoenix is now in the care of Broken Tail Rescue and was brought to the vet yesterday morning. He is receiving fluids,... Posted by Broken Tail Rescue, Inc. on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW When I was approached in 1994 by Lewis Bernstein of the Childrens Television Workshop to participate in a joint Israeli-Palestinian production of Sesame Street, I was reluctant. I argued then, as I have argued since, that Palestinians under years of occupation prefer an amicable divorce from the Israelis rather than an equal marriage without equal rights. With funding from the Ford Foundation and other philanthropy, we agreed on training Palestinians and producing a separate Palestinian show (Sharaa Simsim) while also producing some crossover segments. Before we began, a radical right-wing Israeli assassinated Yitzhak Rabin, with the brave Israeli leaders blood spilling during a song that was part of a rally for peace in Tel Aviv. For me, the concept of mutual respect was translated into childrens episodes by concentrating first on internal mutual respect, between male and female, between abled and disabled, between urban and rural people, as well as between people of different faiths and nationalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project was not without challenges. At the time we had no studio big enough for such a huge production, so we used the studios of Israeli Educational Television. Of course, we had lots of trouble getting our set from Ramallah to Tel Aviv and allowing our actors, including our star puppeteer, to pass the local security guards at the Israeli public service studio. It was also challenging to get the New York team to approve of some of our episodes that included pride in our culture, for fear it would anger and touch some nerves, including those of the funders. But we fought our way through all that, and on my 40th birthday, we broadcast the first season of Sharaa Simsim from the tiny studios of Al Quds Educational Television in Ramallah. The first season was produced working with Palestinian teachers and child psychologists, as well as artists and puppets, to craft 26 episodes around themes of tolerance, sharing, and friendship. The second season included some funding from USAID and the participation of the Palestinian Ministry of Education, which used the program as part of its early childhood education. A studio in Ramallah was able to host the filming. USAID again funded the third season. This time it was expanded to include Jordanian production. The three-way separate but equal production was a success. We won a BAFTA nomination in England and the Japanese Emperors Award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, learning from the worlds best childrens programming teams, we acquired the practical translation of life concepts into a fun childrens program. Palestinian and Jordanian children loved the program, and Jordans Queen Rania spread the curriculum of mutual understanding to all schoolchildren in Jordan. But in 2012, after USAID had signed a $2.5 million grant that was scheduled to cover the programs costs until 2014, Congress canceled the funding due to the decision by the Palestinian leadership to seek a vote at the U.N. for the state of Palestine. The star of this unfair stoppage was Florida Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ross-Lehtinen of Florida. The Sharaa Simsim cancellation raised the question of whether a U.S. bias toward Israel is reflected not only in the political arena but in the humanitarian realm as well. Congress froze the funds for Palestinians, but the State Department is still investing $750,000 in the Israeli version of Sesame Street. When Donald Trump denounced spending American dollars on the Arab Sesame Street in his address to Congress Tuesday night, he cited a figure of $20 million. I am not sure where that $20 million figure came from, but for an American export that encouraged peace and goodwill, the amount is nothing compared with what is spent on war, death, and suffering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For some time, the Congress was the bastion of pro-Israeli American popular support while the executive branch was much more interested in the soft power that programs like Sesame Street provided. Now we are in a new stage where even the White House has become beholden to a few powerful hawks who see their power emanating from the barrel of a gun rather than from the lens of a camera or the actions of a puppeteer. While I loved working on the Palestinian version of Sesame Street, the experience and the politicization of it has proved to me that no childrens program, however wholesome, can replace or defeat the ugliness of war, occupation, and colonial settlements. By disparaging the very idea of funding Sesame Street, the president is criticizing one of the most wholesome American exports to the world. Why? Is it because of the crazy antidiversity, equity, and inclusion crusade that the Republican right has brought to the center of American policy landscape? Donald Trump can try to use a tiny grant over many years that helped encourage peace and tolerance among children of the Middle East to boast his and Elon Musks DOGE initiative. But instead of making fun of Elmo and Big Bird, Trump should follow up his own words of wanting world peace and work for peace in Palestine as well as in Ukraine. He says he wants that, but disparaging an educational childrens show that teaches tolerance is not the way to do it. For countries in armed conflicts, what is needed more than ever is the end of wars and occupations. After that, and for countries that are not experiencing war, should come an increase in wholesome children-focused programs like Sesame Street. Volodymyr Zelensky is receiving a crash course in how to grovel for Donald Trumps favor after the Ukrainian presidents disastrous Oval Office sit-down last week, according to a report. His teachers are seasoned Trump-handlers: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, the New York Times reported. The two men are giving Zelensky advice on how most effectively to flatter Trump, inside sources told the Times. Their advice comes after the dramatic shouting match between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance, which has led Trump to pause aid for Ukraines war effort against Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the meeting, Trump and Vance both complained that Zelensky had not adequately offered his thanks for Americas support. Afterwards, Trump demanded an apology. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025. / SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images Although in the immediate wake of the confrontation Zelensky said he didnt think he had anything to apologize for, on Tuesday, after America paused the aid, he struck a different tone. It is regrettable that it happened this way, the Ukrainian wrote on X. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive. He also vowed his commitment to brokering peace, starting with a mineral rights deal between Ukraine and America, which Trump had pulled amid the spat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively, he said. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trumps strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. British and French inside sources told the Times that Zelenskys course-correction came after talking with Starmer and Macron, each of whom had White House visits days before Zelenskys that were far more amicable. Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron hold a meeting during a summit at Lancaster House on March 2, 2025 in London, England. / WPA Pool / Getty Images A French team even helped Ukrainian officials iron out the precise language of Zelenskys fawning statement, a senior Macron aide told the Times. So far, the flattery seems to have improved Trumps opinion of Zelensky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Directly after the contentious meeting, Trump took to Truth Social to write, He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace. In his address to Congress on Tuesday night, however, Trump beamed as he read Zelenskys new statement, which the Ukrainian also sent to him in the form of a letter. I appreciate that he sent this letter, Trump said. (Bloomberg) -- The world needs to prepare to fight global warming without the help of the US as the Trump administration pulls billions of dollars pledged to initiatives funding the green transition, the UKs climate envoy said. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, South Africa said the US notified it about withdrawing from a coal-transition pact to which it had committed $1 billion. In January, Washington canceled $4 billion of pledges to the Green Climate Fund, the largest of its kind globally. The fate of billions of dollars pledged by the US to green shifts in Indonesia and Vietnam is unclear. You plan for the worst and hope for the best, Rachel Kyte, the envoy, said in an interview in South Africas capital of Pretoria on Thursday. We have to plan for a world where the US is not transfusing funds into the green transition. Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has disrupted the aid and development-finance worlds by dismantling organizations and initiatives, canceling funding and railing against efforts to combat climate change. While thats thrown those sectors into disarray, leaders from outside the US said they will continue with their programs. The science didnt change on Jan. 20, Kyte said, before opening the launch of the findings of a UK-funded study into the health impacts of living near coal-fired power plants. Even though we see US entities green hushing or mollifying their commitments to ESG, the investment patterns outside the US remain the same, she said referring to environmental, social and governance issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kytes comments come as climate initiatives also deal with the slashing of aid and development budgets by rich European nations including the UK that are diverting money to defense after Trump indicated he would water down US security commitments to the bloc. A shift in focus is necessary, Kyte said. Climate-finance initiatives will need to attract more money from private investors, multilateral development banks will need reform to play a larger role and a myriad initiatives must be de-fragmented to build larger pools of capital, she said. There has been an uptick in calls for reform to make the multilateral development-bank system, the international financial architecture, more fit for purpose, she said. Bigger, bolder, better. Bigger is the question mark as we see how the US shows up in the international arena, but better and bolder is still on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyte also cautioned that the impact of the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement international climate treaty and climate-finance initiatives should not be overestimated. While the worlds largest economy has pledged billions of dollars to climate initiatives, it has delivered a lot less, she said. We have over many years now lived and managed our multilateral climate funds and multilateral development banks, the whole international architecture, on the basis of US pledges that have been unrealized because Congress has been on balance opposed to this kind of expenditure, she said. We have to hope that it comes back one day with more than pledges. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. By Tim Cocks PRETORIA (Reuters) - The world must carry on pursuing the greenhouse gas emissions reductions outlined in the Paris Agreement, despite the United States' withdrawal, Britain's climate envoy said on Thursday, adding that the UK was moving ahead with its targets. Last month U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the world's second biggest emitter from the agreement that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Around the world people are noting that the U.S. has pulled out of Paris, but we've got to carry on," Rachel Kyte told Reuters in an interview on a visit to South Africa's capital Pretoria. "The science hasn't changed, no other country has changed its position ... the direction of travel is the same." U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Monday called pledges to achieve net zero carbon emissions a "sinister goal," singling out Britain for its clean energy targets. "(Britain's) energy security ... food security, and the well being of the British people is entirely linked to the (world's) ability ... to manage this climate crisis," Kyte said. "So it's regrettable that the United States is out ... but we're moving ahead," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain's decision this month to use its National Wealth Fund for defence spending has raised fears of reduced funds for green energy. Kyte said no decisions had been made on how funds will be earmarked. "It's not a zero-sum game," she said, because the energy transition was being driven by "using public money effectively to crowd in private investments. The United States is also withdrawing from the Just Energy Transition Partnership to help developing countries including Indonesia, Vietnam and South Africa transition from coal, Reuters reported exclusively on Wednesday. "It's too early to tell what impact that has, but all the other partners are remaining, and ... deploying capital," which will in turn attract commercial investment, Kyte said. (Reporting by Tim Cocks; editing by Barbara Lewis) WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) Williamson County has sued the Cameron County Housing Finance Corporation for two future developments that they say will be tax-exempt, thus draining millions of dollars in valuable tax revenue, according to the county. Williamson County has alleged that the developer is using a loophole to build projects with tax exemptions by working with Housing Finance Corporations, or HFCs. These are intended to encourage developers to build more affordable housing in their local jurisdictions by offering tax exemptions. But in recent years, developers and HFCs have been building projects outside their municipalities to earn money from tax breaks and, in some cases, not offering affordable units. Williamson County has zero need for the Cameron County Housing Finance Corporation in Williamson County. We did not ask for your help, said Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What youre really doing is youre robbing from our childrens educational future by creating these tax schemes that take away tax to pay for teachers in the local classroom. It is wrong, he continued. Wednesday morning, Williamson County was successful in obtaining a temporary restraining order against the Cameron County HFC, temporarily blocking the entity from taking further action on the Williamson County developments. KXAN reached out to the Cameron County HFC for comment and they declined to respond before the given deadline. Cameron County is more than 300 miles away from Williamson County. Williamson County has drawn a line in the sand, Gravell said. We will pursue every legal option and path that we have. We are also working with our state leadership to see that laws are changed. Texas Rep. Gary Gates, R-Richmond, filed legislation in January to put an end to these types of deals. Gates told KXAN that there have been hundreds in recent years, depriving jurisdictions of millions of dollars in tax revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont have to ask the judge, the city, the school district, or no one. They can wipe out that property tax and not and they dont have to notify anyone. Thats the one abuse, Gates said. Gates said the second abuse involves these housing groups providing little to no affordable housing, despite utilizing a policy designed to create more. Thats why there is this just mass rush of developers doing this, he said. They can wipe out the property taxes and suffer nothing on the income side. Theres absolutely no public benefit. Gates is working with Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, to pass legislation this session. Bettencourt recently filed legislation in the Texas Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because I have a priority number, I think Im going to be able to move it out of the house here fairly quickly, Gates said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The Folly of Realism How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine by Alexander Vindman PublicAffairs, 304 pp., $30 JUST OVER THREE DECADES AGO, American policymakers faced a dilemma. A pair of new states, emerging from decades of Soviet rule, possessed massive nuclear arsenals. As American policymakers saw it, only one of these states should retain its nuclear arsenalall the better, Washington thought, to prevent loose nuclear weapons from spilling outward. One of the states was busy consolidating a new nation, clearly angling for membership in multiple Western bodies. The other, however, had already exhibited shocking instability: ruling officials had ordered their military to shell opposing parliamentarians; other officials were prepping to launch a devastating war against a separate nation that had declared independence; some officials even floated the use of force to change borders across the entire region if neighboring nations didnt do their bidding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For anyone even tangentially familiar with the news over the past few years, the identities of these two nations are obvious. The latterthe one whose ruling government had, by the mid-1990s, already come within a hairs breadth of civil war, already begun slaughtering Chechens who had the temerity to try to declare independence, and already declared its neo-imperial right to dominate the entire post-Soviet regionwas Russia. The formerthe one that Moscow had already begun threatening, openly musing about what it would take to forcibly change its borders, regardless of what populations on the ground wantedwas Ukraine. For Washington, all of these factors were immaterial. All that mattered was succoring the Kremlin, ignoring the revanchism already boiling within Moscow, and forcing Ukraine (as well as Belarus and Kazakhstan) to divest its nuclear arsenalall in return for little more than empty promises, easily broken. It is an era that Alexander Vindman deftly details in his new book The Folly of Realism. And it is a decision that has not only come back to haunt Americans and Ukrainians alike, but that sums up so much of the American policy priorities in the region overall, both then and now. Over multiple administrations, both Democratic and Republican, American policymakers have done everything they can to prioritize Moscows needs over any other nations in the regioneven, as weve seen, to the point of degrading American interests and leaving places like Ukraine vulnerable to Russian aggression. Share Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vindman traces this Russia-centric approach to the waning days of the Soviet Union itself, when American officials finally realized that the Soviet splinter was not a matter of if, but when. The George H.W. Bush administration gathered a small group of expertsso off-the-books that it was dubbed the Ungroupto try to chart out American policy within the shattered superpower. The Ungroup came to a quick conclusion: The primary thing that mattered was preventing the USSRs nuclear arsenal from falling into the wrongor even numeroushands. Things like Russian nationalism, Russian imperialism, or Russian revanchism were hardly concerns; the thought that Russia could ever one day be a threat to the West, let alone to Moscows neighbors, was laughable. As such, with fifteen new states emerging from the Soviet rubble in the early 1990s, American policy was simple: corral the nukes, regardless of the cost. And if that meant forcing Ukraine to hand over to Russia the Soviet nuclear arsenal on Ukrainian territorygutting Ukrainian national security and strengthening the Kremlin in the processso be it. The number of Soviet nukes that were stationed outside Russia was enormousespecially the arsenal that ended up in Ukraine. Vindman cites a declassified September 1991 intelligence estimate finding that Ukraine hosted about 20 percent of the former USSRs ICBM warheads, 40 percent of its heavy bomber warheads, and 20 percent of its medium bomber warheads, totaling some 4,500 nuclear weapons. The government in Kyiv never controlled these weapons, just as the governments in Minsk and Almaty didnt control the arsenals on Belarusian and Kazakh soil. After all, as Vindman notes, The Ukrainian state began with no defense or security or foreign-policy structures. . . . Retaining nuclear weapons as a deterrent to Russian irredentism and aggression was not a workable policy in practice even if it guaranteed greater security in theory. For American policymakers at the time, the possibility of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands seemed significant and alarmingand the wrong hands quickly became synonymous with anyones but Moscows. The Ungroups central conclusion, which became U.S. policy under the president, was to do everything we could to maintain a strong central government in Moscow, because that was essential to maintaining control of the nuclear weapons, then-CIA Director Robert Gates later told Vindman. And therefore, it was important to do everything we could, once the collapse took place, to have Russia itself retain its territorial integrity, but further to be as strong a government as possible in Moscow in order to have command and control over the nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a decision that set the tone not only for the immediate aftermath of the Soviet collapse, but for three decades of American policyand toward not just Moscow, but toward Kyiv and the entire range of former Soviet states that finally broke free of the Kremlins control. When it came to crafting regional policy, Russia became, as it were, a first among supposed equalsand places like Ukraine became little more than nuisances for a Russo-American partnership that is, under Trumps second administration, now showing signs of coming to fruition. When the going gets tough, the good band together to find a way through. Ride with us: AT THE RISK OF STATING THE OBVIOUS: Its not as if American policymakers overweening focus on Russian interests and on the potential for nuclear disaster didnt have a logic. The H.W. Bush administration was heavily influenced by the recent and ongoing example of Yugoslavia, Vindman writes. But Bush, as well as his successor, Bill Clinton, seemed impervious to any signs that Moscows gestures at democracy, or even at being a potential partner of the West, might be disingenuous, masking a far deeper rot of revanchism that has now burst forth under Vladimir Putin. The signs were all there for American policymakers to see, if only they had wanted to look. Long before Putin ever ascended to the Russian presidency, Russian President Boris Yeltsin was writing a neo-imperial playbook that his successor would later expand upon. There was Yeltsin threatening to forcibly redraw Ukraines borders if Kyiv insisted on independence from Moscow. There was Yeltsin, a few years later, unleashing military forces on opposition politiciansa landmark turning point in Russias failure to develop democracy, said one analysis. There was Yeltsin, shortly thereafter, siccing his military on Chechnya, after Chechens voted for independence from Russiaall while Yeltsin refused to remove troops from Moldova, launched armed interference efforts in northern Georgia, and backed genocidaires in Serbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of it seemed to matter to the Americans, whether in the Bush or Clinton administrations. All the American lecturing, all the American condescension, all the precious American lines about the sanctity of democracy and civil rights and basic freedomsall of it applied to other Soviet republics, but never to Russia. The U.S. set Western standards of conduct only for the non-Russian former Soviet republics, Vindman writes. Russia got a pass on using force to crush political dissenters because they were communists, waging a violent war to suppress separatists in [Chechnya], and supporting the Serbian regimes campaign of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. Russia was thus permitted by the sole superpower to conduct its own fitful transformation, without sufficient criticism or conditioning of aid, engagement, support, and inclusion in reform-minded Western institutions. U.S. policymakers continued to fear that criticism would roil Russian elites or give Russian nationalist reactionaries ammunition for further retrenchment. All of thisthis soft-glove treatment of Russia, this willingness to parrot Russian pressures on places like Ukraine, this refusal to see the region as anything but Russias playgroundculminated in a confused, historically ignorant policy regarding Ukraine, regarding Russia, regarding everything that Moscow now threatens. It is, as Vindman correctly argues, a throughline tethering every American administration from H.W. Bush through Joe Biden. Donald Trump may have swung more in favor of Moscow than any previous administration, but many of the elementsnot least a refusal to listen to Ukrainians, or any of the other former nations once dominated by Moscowwere present in previous administrations. It is a series of policies that have clearly failedand now, unsurprisingly, risk the kind of disaster previous administrations long claimed to want to avoid. Indeed, you could argue that the seeds of the ongoing Russian devastation of Ukraineand the fact that Moscow has now pushed the world closer to the nuclear brink than it has been since the early 1960swere the direct outgrowth not just of Russian revanchism, and Russians inability to come to terms with their imperial identity, but of Americans inability to foresee the kinds of effects their actions would take. Ukraine, in surrendering the nuclear weapons on its soilwith lots of American encouragementalso gave up its best chances of maintaining its distance from Moscow, all in return for paper promises, shredded the second Russian troops began ransacking Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the long run, the American focus on nonproliferation in the 1990sto the exclusion of Russian political currentsall but guaranteed a new chapter of nuclear proliferation. It will forever be a bitter irony that a figure like Barack Obama, who swept to power publicly claiming a desire to rid the world of nuclear weapons, did breathtakingly little when Russia first barreled into Ukraine in 2014that is, when a nuclear power invaded one of the few countries to have actually removed its nuclear weapons. Obamas recalcitrance effectively guaranteed that no nation would ever get rid of its own nuclear weapons ever againand that, if anything, states would now view nuclear weapons as the sole guarantor of stability, sovereignty, and safety moving forward. Share The Bulwark Incredibly, Obama later indicated that backing Ukraine was not a core interest for the United Statescompletely missing that he set the stage for the new burst of nuclear proliferation that now appears in the wings. Because this escalation-averse, risk-sensitive approach is inspired by the existence of the nuclear arsenal that distinguishes Russia from non-nuclear authoritarian aggressors, the West has encouraged the idea that a nuclear arsenal is the ultimate security guarantee, Vindman writes. Among vulnerable borderline democracies and authoritarian regimes alike, the denuclearization of Ukraine, permitting Russian aggression and making the West a victim of nuclear extortion, has only increased the desire to establish nuclear weapons programs, eroding Western nonproliferation efforts. Small wonder that most Ukrainians regret giving up their nukesand now want them back. ALL OF WHICH RAISES THE QUESTION: What now? Here, Vindman shines. He doesnt simply dispense with the Russocentric visions of previous administrations, but he eviscerates the schools of thought undergirding the realism motivating Bush, the idealism motivating Obama, and the kleptocratic rapaciousness motivating Trump. (Its worth recalling that Vindman, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, played a key role in exposing the corrupt nexus at the heart of Trumps first impeachment, which led to his firingas well as his first book.) All of these schools have not only overweighted the importance of Moscows interests, but have undervalued Americas own interests. They have all been, as the books title indicates, follies of their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is, however, a potential solution at hand: neo-idealism. A term first coined by analyst Benjamin Tallis, this new school of strategy marries value-based judgments with resource-based decisions. As Tallis has described it, neo-idealism is a morally-based approach to geopolitics, grounded in the power of values conceived as ideals to strive for: human rights and fundamental freedoms, social and cultural liberalism, democratic governance; self-determination for democratic societies; and perhaps most importantly, the right of citizens in those societies to a hopeful future. Crucially, its proponents see the struggle for these ideals, and making progress toward them, not as luxuries to be set aside when hard-nosed interests are at stake. For the Neo-Idealists, our values are our interests. It is an emerging school that Vindman not only backs, but applies to ongoing American support for places like Ukraine. More consonant with American values than realism, and more literally realistic about achieving long-term stability and securing vital American interests, neo-idealism is emerging as a new way of thinking about foreign relations, Vindman writes. It is a matching of force and rhetoric, of realistic assessments of American interests hewed to the best elements of American values. Its a flexible pairing, one that brings the airy, Obama-era paeans to a more grounded levelall while leaving the cynicism, and even nihilism, buttressing realism in the gutter. It is something that takes the world as it is, while never sacrificing the best that America can beor forgetting what American interests are. It is an idea, as Vindman writes, whose time has come. Policies grounded in realism have failed spectacularly, in the United States and Ukraine alike. And as neo-imperialism rears its head once more in Ukraineand in Taiwan, Guyana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and anywhere elsewhere suddenly watching the wolves circlethe best antidote is the neo-idealism that Vindman describes, if only we give it a chance. Share New York City is declaring again that it has made significant progress keeping overweight trucks off a key highway using a weigh-in-wotion (WIM) system. Now it wants to expand the use of the technology to other parts of the state that handle heavy truck traffic. The WIM technology is on the unique cantilevered section of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, designated Interstate 278, that runs between south Brooklyn and north into Queens. The cantilever is a three-tiered structure that moves northbound traffic toward Queens on one level, southbound traffic toward Brooklyn and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on another level, and a public park promenade at the top. All three levels offer a spectacular view of Lower Manhattan. The cantilever stretch of the highway is less than 2 miles. Given its location, it is a key trucking route and potential bottleneck. But its deterioration has been a hot topic in New York City planning for years. The failure to come up with a long-term solution led to the interim step of attempting to crack down on overweight trucks using the cantilever, with WIM technology as the key. Staten Island-bound traffic will get WIM later this year Although the system is now only implemented for the Queens-bound portion of the BQE, the city DOT said it expects to add the direction heading into Brooklyn and toward the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to Staten Island later this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it doesnt want to stop there. The citys prepared statement on the latest numbers announcing WIM enforcement data said it would seek broader legislative authority that would enable it to put WIM technology elsewhere, with the Washington Bridge over the Harlem River targeted next. While the Washington Bridge parallels the portion of Interstate 95 that crosses the Harlem River as part of the Cross Bronx Expressway, it is not part of an interstate highway. It connects upper Manhattan to the Bronx. The DOT said it is a designated local truck route. Expanding the system will help reinforce existing vehicle weight restrictions citywide and protect additional pieces of critical infrastructure, the DOT said. NYC DOT will work with New York State agency partners and the New York State Legislature to explore these opportunities. Our nation leading weigh-in-motion technology continues to prove effective and efficient for keeping overweight trucks off of the BQE, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi said in a prepared statement. Were hopeful this progress makes the case for wider adoption of these in ground sensors to protect roads and bridges across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Joshi was a Biden administration appointee to head the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, had the role as acting administrator but withdrew her nomination in late 2021 to join the administration of Mayor Eric Adams.) WIM technology is used extensively to avoid needing all trucks to pull into weigh stations. But the New York City DOT says its use as an enforcement mechanism is unique. The citys DOT commissioner, Ydanis Rodriguez, said the WIM system for enforcement can serve as a national model for other cities and states, including the rest of New York State. How the WIM system works was illustrated in the report issued by the citys DOT. It consists of two main functions: weighing the vehicles using sensors and then recording which trucks violate the limits through camera technology. Violators are charged $650. The weight limit for trucks with more than three axles is 80,000 pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the WIM system was only implemented in October 2023, the DOT said it had WIM technology in place prior to that which could measure the number of overweight trucks. It is that data that gives it a basis to claim overweight trucks operating in the Queens-bound section of what the DOT calls BQE Central has fallen 60%. Prior to the start of enforcement, the monthly average of overweight trucks on BQE Central was 7,920. After enforcement began, it was down to 3,354 trucks. That dropped the average number of overweight trucks to 2.2% for all of 2024, from 5.1% for all of 2023. Some other data highlights of the report: In November 2023, the first month of enforcement after a three-month warning period, average weekly violations for overweight trucks issued by the city were 80. Since May 2024, they have ranged from a low of 32 to a high of 61, with 56 issued in November, the most recent month with available data. The most recent average weekly figure showed 1,289 vehicles identified as overweight in November. But that includes trucks that fall into a 10% dispensation that the city allows over the weight limits, which are smaller for trucks with two axles. The weekly average in November for trucks that exceeded the limit, even with the 10% forbearance, was 68. The number of trucks that drove through BQE Central monthly toward Queens in 2024 ranged from a low of approximately 95,000 in April to a high of 133,285 in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More articles by John Kingston Tariff impacts on diesel prices will likely hit New England first Northeast-based regional LTL carrier A. Duie Pyle expanding in Ohio What did these men do? judge asks in throwing out indictment of NFIs Brown The post New York City wants wider use of WIM technology to fight overweight trucks appeared first on FreightWaves. Perhaps Ken, in the overhyped live-action Barbie movie, spoke for many of Americas young men when he defiantly sang, Im enough. The film was mostly a feminist screed that bashed men as obsolete bird brains while pretending to say something profound about gender dynamics and the human condition. Whatever the directors intentions, a major takeaway was that men are useless, unnecessary creatures who should shelve themselves. But that was 2023, when the Biden regime was aggressively infecting the country with DEI and gender ideology. Young men were demonised and sidelined, at least until Kamala Harris realised that she needed them to win. Even the Democrats attempts to sway the demographic were patronising and ineffective, however. The result was that, according to exit poll data, Trump won young men by 56 per cent to Harris 42 per cent. Joe Biden had won the group in 2020 by 56 to 41 per cent. As my 26-year-old twin brother, a finance professional, told me: Especially for young men in their 20s and 30s, the last four years felt like the world was flipped upside down on its head in every aspect of life from the dating scene to getting jobs. Things are starting to make sense again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anything, young men may be the group that is most optimistic of all Americans about the next four years of Trump. According to a CBS News poll earlier this year, 60 per cent of voters said they felt generally optimistic about the new administration, but that figure rose to 67 per cent among under-30s. There was a sharp sex split, too: 65 per cent of men said they were optimistic, compared to 55 per cent of women. It stands to reason. One of the main policy priorities of the Trump administration has been to roll back the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) agenda. Many companies have now thrown out a system that privileged minority candidates in hiring, was often accused of discriminating against men, and institutionalised the idea that white men are at the root of the worlds evils. Whether these firms conversion is genuine or a grift to stay relevant is a separate question, but young men must now sense that theyre finally allowed to thrive. As of early February, over a dozen companies had pared back or totally scrapped references to DEI in their 2024 annual reports to investors, including Pepsi, GM, Google, Disney, GE, Intel, PayPal, Chipotle, and Comcast, signalling a shift in corporate priorities including in staffing, NPR reported. Where the last four years had young men such as my brother saying, Why bother applying?, now they should have the chance to compete on the basis of merit. Trumps second term so far has not been shy about showing physical strength, either, another point that is likely to psychologically resonate with many young men. Masculinity, loyalty, and excellence are no longer under political attack, and pride in America is no longer discouraged. It is hardly surprising that, while in 2022, the military faced its most challenging year in recruiting history, with the Army falling 15,000 short of its 60,000 enlistment goal, the service since election day has experienced an enlistment boom, with a record-setting 5,877 recruits joining up in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And are we seeing other, more ephemeral trends starting to turn young mens way? Since the 1980s, a gender voting gap has persisted, with women consistently backing the Democratic presidential candidate in greater numbers than men, according to a Rutgers study. The chasm was the largest in 2020 at 12 points, spelling bad news for men hoping to find a significant other with similar values. But in November the gap narrowed significantly, with Trumps support among young women rising to 41 per cent in 2024 from 33 per cent in 2020. Mens dating woes are well documented, partially stemming from frustration with apps that encourage potential partners to focus excessively on appearance and give an over-abundance of choice. Perhaps life will be a little easier if there isnt any longer such a gulf between men and womens political views. For years, the plight of young men has been largely ignored, despite the harrowing evidence of high rates of suicide, depression and loneliness. So the new spirit of optimism is encouraging, particularly if it translates into action to address some of the underlying causes. It is also a political problem for the Left and one that is unlikely to go away even as memories of Harriss condescending campaign fade. Her teams attempts to win over young men consisted of insulting stereotypes and lectures on why they should suppress their inner demons and back her because she was a woman. Trump, by contrast, made a concerted effort to appear on male-centric podcasts. But even if Gen Z legend Barron Trump hadnt set his dad up with Theo Von or Lex Fridman, it was his platform and policies that seemed to appeal to young men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe even Hollywood will soon get the memo and stop producing movies that treat men as toxic, sexist or problematic. But even if it doesnt, in the real world something significant has shifted. To paraphrase Ken, young men have their mojo back. Caroline Downey is a staff writer at National Review and visiting fellow at the Independent Womens Forum Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A Youngstown City Councilwoman asked for a performance audit for the police and fire departments at the end of Wednesdays finance committee meeting. With all of council and the mayor present, Councilwoman Anita Davis formally asked for the audit for both departments since the two together make up the largest budget allocation in the city. The announcement came as a surprise to many people at the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We require a performance audit of both YFD and YPD focusing on the following key areas,Davis said. Davis in her position as finance committee chairman read a letter addressed to finance director Kyle Miasek, asking Miasek to request the state auditor complete performance audits of the Youngstown fire department and police department. The audit will be comprehensive and upon completion, a detailed report will be provided that includes findings, recommendations for improvements and suggested timelines for implementation, she said. The areas Davis wants to focus on are the efficiency and effectiveness of equipment, vehicles, finances and resources; staffing levels, scheduling and overtime practices; contract management; and compliance with policies and procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one on the council objected to the idea. Councilman Julius Oliver said this was not a criticism of either department. Its our responsibility to our constituency to get down to the nitty-gritty of the numbers, Oliver said. Neither Police Chief Carl Davis nor Fire Chief Barry Finley wanted to comment on the possibility of a performance audit. Mayor Tito Brown said if thats what council wants, theyll get it done. The auditors office may charge for such an audit so council would have to vote to spend the money. Also discussed at the meeting were code violations issued Wednesday against the company that owns Vibez Nightclub where three murders have occurred in four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the violations were: removal of all trash and debris; exterior paint where needed; repair of the concrete, wood and metal; broken windows; and the rear entrance door. The owners have until April 7 to comply or face a maximum fine of $500 and up to 60 days in jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Nearly 200 Madison residents were denied their constitutional right to vote last year after local election officials failed to properly address the uncounted ballots cast in Wisconsins presidential election, under a class-action claim filed Thursday. Liberal law firm Law Forward on Thursday filed a notice of claim with the city of Madison and Dane County on behalf of four Madison voters, alleging the offices of the city and county clerks failed to address and count ballots cast by 193 voters through negligent and/or intentional acts. These 193 voters followed the rules, they obtained and cast their ballots and, of no fault of their own, they had that right to vote violated, Law Forward general counsel Jeff Mandell told reporters Thursday. The Madison City Clerks Office announced Dec. 26 more than a month after the election that 193 absentee ballots cast in three wards were never counted. City officials said the uncounted ballots would not have changed the results of any elections or referendums. An investigation into the incident by Wisconsin Elections Commission staff did not determine if Madison Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl abused her discretion as clerk or failed to follow state law. The truth is, the right to vote is valuable and I think that we are in an ecosystem where standing up for the right to vote matters, Law Forward staff counsel Scott Thompson said. Across the country there have been efforts to subvert the right to vote, and we believe that this litigation sends a message to anyone who might seek to do something like that in Wisconsin: Theres going to be a price to pay. The claim estimates the damage suffered by individuals at $175,000 per voter, meaning if the lawsuit is successful and if none of the 193 voters opt out of the case, the price tag could reach nearly $33.8 million. State law caps the damages individuals can receive from lawsuits against municipalities at $50,000, but the cap may not apply depending on the facts and circumstances of the case. The city and county have 120 days to decide whether to allow or disallow the claim. If the claim is disallowed, the claimants have the option to file a lawsuit. If the court takes up the class-action lawsuit, all 193 voters will be notified and have the opportunity to opt out of the case, Mandell said. A week after the Nov. 5 election, the city clerks office found the first set of uncounted ballots, 67 of them from Ward 65 and one from Ward 68, but waited until Dec. 18 to alert the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Those ballots were found when staff emptied out tabulator bins and found a sealed bag containing the ballots. The clerks office found the other 125 uncounted ballots, from Ward 56, in two sealed absentee carrier envelopes while going through the reconciliation process to compare ballot counts and determine voter participation on Dec. 3. Wards 56 and 68 are Downtown just west of the state Capitol. Ward 65 is part of the Regent neighborhood. Upon their discovery, there was still time for these 193 ballots to be counted and included in the states final election results, attorneys for Law Forward wrote in court documents. And even though Respondents knew these votes had yet to be counted, Respondents chose to act without sufficient alacrity to ensure those ballots would be counted. Mandell said more details on the incident will be unearthed as part of the lawsuits discovery process, and it was too early Thursday to speak to specific facts in the case. The city has issued both a public apology and individual notices to all affected voters. In a statement, Madison city spokesperson Dylan Brogan said he couldnt speak to the specifics of the case but said the city takes election integrity extremely seriously. Brogan said election officials were trained on new safeguards and procedures to handle absentee ballots ahead of the February primary and an internal review is still underway. The city is also looking forward to any additional guidance the Wisconsin Election Commission may offer to further strengthen our elections processes, Brogan added. Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. The bipartisan commission in January ordered an investigation into the incident the agencys first formal investigation since the commission was formed in 2016. The six-member commission is slated to discuss the issue at its meeting Friday. A staff report prepared for the meeting lays out a few options for the commission to consider, including directing further investigation into the matter; requesting the city clerks office make appropriate changes to comply with election requirements; and preparing statewide communications to local election officials for best practices to prevent similar instances in the future. Mandell said the lawsuit and the commissions actions arent mutually exclusive, meaning both will likely proceed independent of each other. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Another big donation is coming in for a renovation project at Youngstown State University. Dr. George Young is pledging $400,000 for the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign. Young is an alumnus of YSU and the son of Dr. Warren Young, founder of YSUs Ward Beecher Planetarium. In the past, he also donated $1.5 million to the YSU Foundation. In 2004, Young co-founded Kalypso, a management consulting firm focused on digital transformation. He now serves as vice president of Global Digital and Cybersecurity Services at Rockwell Automation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recognition of Dr. Youngs commitment, the Student Activities Suites will be named the Dr. George Young Student Activities Suites. The campaign aims to raise millions of dollars to renovate YSUs student center to modernize it and better meet students needs. It is expected to be completed by September 2027. Sarah DeLisio contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. New Zealands high commissioner to the UK has been fired after questioning US President Donald Trumps grasp of history at an event in London. Speaking at international think tank Chatham House on Tuesday, Phil Goff, the former mayor of the city of Auckland who has also served as foreign minister, said: I was re-reading Churchills speech to the House of Commons in 1938 after the Munich Agreement, and he turned to Chamberlain, he said, You had the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, yet you will have war. President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office, added Goff. But do you think he really understands history? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goff was making a comparison between Trumps efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the 1938 agreement signed by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and the leaders of France and Germany which gave Adolf Hitler permission to annex part of Czechoslovakia. The Nazi leader invaded Poland a year later, triggering World War II. New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters later fired Goff over his comments and said he would have done the same if he had said something similar about other countries. If he (Goff) had made that comment about Germany, France, Tonga, or Samoa, Id have been forced to act, Peters told journalists. Its seriously regrettable and one of the most difficult things one has had to do in his whole career, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive worked with Phil Goff, Ive known him for a long time, said Peters, adding that Goffs comments were seriously disappointing. When you are in that position, you represent the government and the policies of the day; youre not able to free think; you are the face of New Zealand, he added. However the move was not without its critics, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. This looks like a very thin excuse for sacking a highly respected former #NZ Foreign Minister from his post as High Commissioner to the UK, wrote Clark in a post on X. I have been at Munich Security Conference recently where many draw parallels between Munich 1938 & US actions now. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Alasdair Pal SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealand's foreign minister Winston Peters said on Thursday he had sacked the country's ambassador to the United Kingdom, after he made comments seen as critical of United States President Donald Trump. Phil Goff made the comments at a forum in London on Tuesday that appeared to question Trump's grasp of history, contrasting the president's attempts to thaw relations with Russia with the actions of Britain's wartime leader Winston Churchill, who fought against Nazi Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?" Goff asked during a panel with Finland's foreign minister Elina Valtonen. Peters said in a statement on Thursday Goff's comments were "deeply disappointing". "They do not represent the views of the NZ Government and make his position as High Commissioner to London untenable," he said. Goff did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment via his X account outside U.K. business hours. Bede Corry, New Zealand's top government bureaucrat in the foreign ministry, was working with Goff on a transition to a new ambassador, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goff, a former foreign minister and lawmaker in the centre-left Labour Party, was appointed as ambassador to the UK in 2023. Peters leads the populist NZ First party in the current right-leaning coalition governing New Zealand. (Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Christopher Cushing) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealands most senior envoy to the United Kingdom has lost his job over remarks he made about U.S. President Donald Trump at an event in London this week, New Zealand 's foreign minister said Thursday. Phil Goff, who is New Zealand's high commissioner to the U.K., made the comments at an event held by the international affairs think tank Chatham House in London on Tuesday. Goff asked a question from the audience of the guest speaker, Finlands Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, in which he said he had been rereading a famous speech by former British wartime leader Winston Churchill from 1938, when Churchill was a lawmaker in the government of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Churchill's speech rebuked Britain's signing of the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler, allowing Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia. Goff quoted Churchill as saying to Chamberlain, You had the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, yet you will have war. Goff then asked Valtonen: President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history? As the audience chuckled at the New Zealand envoy's question, Valtonen said she would limit myself to saying that Churchill has made very timeless remarks, according to video of the event published by Chatham House. Valtonen's speech on Tuesday was billed as covering Finlands approach to European security at an event entitled Keeping the peace on NATOs longest border with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to questions from reporters, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that Goffs remarks were disappointing and made the envoys position untenable. When you are in that position you represent the government and the policies of the day," Peters said. Youre not able to free think, you are the face of New Zealand. Officials would work through with Goff the upcoming leadership transition at New Zealand's mission in London, said Peters. Goff has been New Zealands envoy to the U.K. since January 2023. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials were in discussion with High Commissioner Goff about his return to New Zealand," according to a statement from New Zealand's foreign minister. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark who was Goff's boss during his time as a lawmaker denounced his sacking in a post on X, where she wrote the episode was a very thin excuse for removing a highly respected former foreign minister from his diplomatic role. (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on EU leaders on Thursday to support the idea of a truce between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the air and at sea, saying it would be a chance to test Moscow's will to end its three-year invasion. "Everyone needs to make sure that Russia, as the sole source of this war, accepts the need to end it," Zelenskiy said, addressing a summit in Brussels where European leaders have gathered to discuss defence spending and support for Ukraine after the U.S. paused military aid to Kyiv. "This can be proved by two forms of silence that are easy to establish and monitor, namely, no attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure truce for missiles, bombs, and long-range drones, and the second is truce on the water, meaning no military operations in the Black Sea," Zelenskiy added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He underlined that any such truce could only be seen as a first step towards comprehensive agreement on ending the war and providing security guarantees to Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian leader, the release of all prisoners of war could also be a means of establishing "basic trust". Zelenskiy once again stressed the need to adhere to the principle of no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine after U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in bilateral talks with Russia, sidelining Kyiv and European leaders. "Anything that affects the security of Europe should be resolved with the participation of Europe," he added, welcoming a new rearmament plan to boost the EU's defence spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The summit in Brussels takes place after a disastrous Zelenskiy-Trump clash in the Oval Office last week, and weeks of harsh criticism of Zelenskiy from the Trump administration as the U.S. president presses for prompt end to Russia's war in Ukraine. "Let me emphasize once again that Ukrainians do really want peace, but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine," Zelenskiy said. As Ukrainian and American officials agreed to hold a meeting next week, Zelenskiy expressed hope that it would be "meaningful". (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Toby Chopra and Nia Williams) President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels on March 6 to attend an emergency EU summit, which was called to discuss further support for Ukraine and Europe's efforts to boost its own defense capabilities. The meeting comes amid seismic geopolitical shifts as U.S. President Donald Trump cut off military aid for Ukraine while renewing ties with Moscow, casting doubt on his commitment to Kyiv's and Europe's security. European leaders are expected to discuss the European Commission's ReArm plan, which would free up billions of euros for defense investments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The topic of Europe's military assistance for Ukraine, even more crucial now amid the U.S. pause, is also expected to be on the agenda. It is unclear whether the EU will be able to move forward with new commitments to Ukraine as Hungary's Moscow-friendly leader, Viktor Orban, promised to block military aid. "A stronger European defense is a boost for Ukrainian defense, and a stronger capacity of Ukraine's defense is also important (for boosting) our own defense," European Council President Antonio Costa said during doorstep comments beside President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "This is a watershed moment for Europe... Europe faces clear and present danger," von der Leyen said, stressing that EU countries need the capability to protect themselves as they push for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. "And this is the reason why I present today to the leaders the ReArm Europe plan. The ReArm Europe plan provides up to 800 billion euros ($860 billion) for defense investment," von der Leyen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky thanked the European leaders for their "strong support" for Ukraine. "You made a strong signal to Ukrainian people, to Ukrainian warriors, civilians, to our families, and it is great that we are not alone. We know it, and we feel it," he said. Read also: Trumps alignment with Russia derails Europes push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived on Thursday at a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels focused on increasing aid for Ukraine and European defence capacities. "During all this period and last week, you stayed with us," said Zelensky. "We are very thankful that we are not alone. These are not just words. We feel it," he added. Zelensky addressed journalists together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, who will chair the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a watershed moment for Europe," said von der Leyen. "Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace," she added. In a dramatic confrontation that has reverberated far beyond Washington, the explosive Oval Office exchange on Feb. 28 between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky represents a broader U.S. foreign policy one that many in the Middle East have long viewed with deep skepticism. The confrontation, which was intended to cement a framework minerals deal linking Ukraines resource wealth to continued U.S. aid, instead degenerated into a public spectacle marked by Trumps patronizing demands and verbal ultimatums. As the U.S. pressed Ukraine to show gratitude and compromise on its security priorities, critics in the Middle East saw confirmation of Americas global arrogance, as Washington sacrificed the interests and dignity of smaller states for its own national benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, states like Iran and its regional allies have maintained that American grandstanding comes at the expense of genuine partnership. Afghanistan under Ashraf Ghani, Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Libya under Gaddafi, Egypt under General Morsi, and even Iran under Rouhani have negotiated with the U.S. only for Washington to demonstrate its fickleness. Instead of forging a balanced approach to address Ukraines security needs amid ongoing Russian aggression, the Trump administrations focus on securing economic concessions specifically, a deal that would have transferred 50% of Ukraines natural resource revenues to an American-controlled fund exposed an approach that treats allies as bargaining chips. This echoes the capitulations British and French empires once imposed on the Ottoman and Persian empires to extract oil and other raw materials. Of course, this was not the first of Trumps coercive and abrasive policies in his second administration. King Abdullah of Jordan was also treated in a non-diplomatic manner during negotiations over hosting people from Gaza. Middle Eastern leaders, including those who rely on strong international partnerships to navigate complex regional security challenges, can draw a sobering lesson from this: that negotiating with a hegemon often means accepting a subordinate role, where loyalty and gratitude are demanded in exchange for minimal security guarantees. During Trumps first term, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once attempted to deliver a message from Trump to Iran a gesture that the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, unequivocally rejected, declaring that a U.S. leader of Trumps ilk did not deserve any form of communication with Iran. At that time, Khameneis refusal was widely criticized within certain segments of the Iranian government and society, with detractors arguing that his anti-American ideology was an impediment to resolving longstanding issues with the United States. However, in light of Trumps recent humiliating exchanges with Ukraine and Jordan, those very critics have dramatically reversed their stance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, many voices in Iran and its regional circles are lauding Khamenei for his steadfast rejection of American overtures, viewing his decision as a robust defense against what they perceive as Americas global arrogance. They contend that making further concessions to the U.S. would only serve to exacerbate Irans vulnerability, reinforcing the belief that genuine problem-solving in international relations must prioritize sovereign dignity over transactional appeasement. This incident also underscores the inherent risks in alliances where power dynamics are unbalanced. In the heated Oval Office, Vice President JD Vances curt remark Have you said 'thank you' once? was not simply an offhand criticism; it symbolized a broader expectation that smaller partners must publicly affirm their indebtedness to the U.S. regardless of their own strategic imperatives. For Middle Eastern states, especially Israel a nation that has long balanced a unique security partnership with Washington this scenario offers a cautionary tale. When a powerful ally imposes its own agenda and demands visible signs of subservience, the smaller partners strategic autonomy is inevitably compromised. The berating treatment suffered by Zelensky, broadcast live on global media, serves as a warning that in dealings with a country that prioritizes its own interests above all, even a stalwart leader may find himself forced into a position that undermines both national pride and strategic bargaining power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the fallout from the meeting has already begun to reshape international diplomatic calculations. European allies, alarmed by Washingtons apparent willingness to engage in a high-stakes power play at the expense of a key ally, have expressed concerns that such behavior could destabilize collective security frameworks. Many rockets fired from Iran are seen over Jerusalem from Hebron, West Bank, on Oct. 1, 2024. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Anadolu via Getty Images) For Israel and other Middle Eastern nations, the situation presents an opportunity to reevaluate the dynamics of their own alliances with global powers. It reinforces the need for diversification in diplomatic engagements and a cautious approach toward any bilateral arrangement that might leave them vulnerable to coercive tactics. Instead of relying solely on U.S. backing, regional states might explore strengthening multilateral institutions or forging independent strategic partnerships that allow for more equitable negotiations an approach that has long been advocated by critics of American foreign policy in the region. Ultimately, this catastrophe exposes a critical flaw in U.S. diplomatic rhetoric that Middle Eastern states, including Israel, must heed. Finally, this episode raises broader questions about the nature of modern geopolitics and the balance between national interest and alliance solidarity. The public debacle in the Oval Office is not merely a clash of personalities; it is a reflection of an enduring principle in international relations that many in the Middle East have always warned about: powerful nations often view alliances through the prism of transactional benefit rather than mutual respect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Israel, which has historically benefited from American support yet sometimes chafed under its conditions, the events of Feb. 28 serve as a critical reminder to safeguard its own strategic autonomy. In an era marked by shifting global power balances, regional states must remain vigilant and assertive in defining the terms of their cooperation. The humiliation of a leader like Zelensky should not be taken as a precedent to follow, but rather as an impetus to demand a more balanced, reciprocal form of engagement one that recognizes the intrinsic worth and sovereignty of all partners, regardless of size. Ultimately, this catastrophe exposes a critical flaw in U.S. diplomatic rhetoric that Middle Eastern states, including Israel, must heed. If Washington continues to employ aggressive, self-serving language that reduces alliances to transactional power plays, it risks alienating vital partners in the region partners like Saudi Arabia, Israel, and even Iran, which are increasingly gravitating toward China for a more balanced approach. Such rhetoric not only humiliates key leaders like Zelensky, but also reinforces a dangerous narrative that only military might can prevent the humiliation and destruction of Middle Eastern nations. This perception, in turn, fuels an already volatile arms race and may even accelerate nuclear proliferation in countries like Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a policy imperative, the U.S. must recalibrate its diplomatic tone and adopt a more inclusive, respectful strategy that prioritizes mutual benefit and long-term stability over short-term economic gain. Failing to do so will not only weaken U.S. credibility but also reshape the geopolitical landscape in a manner that could leave American interests increasingly isolated. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion Read also: Trumps Oval Office clash with Zelensky killed diplomacy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with European leaders in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday as his nation seeks to weather continued attacks from Russia and growing political pressure from President Donald Trump's administration in the U.S. The Ukrainian president's latest visit to Brussels comes at a difficult moment for his nation, the White House having announced an open-ended pause on all military aid and intelligence sharing in a bid to force Kyiv into negotiating a peace deal with Russia to end Moscow's three-year-old invasion. The freeze came after a tumultuous meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump in the Oval Office last week, which descended into a shouting match and ended with the Ukrainian president's team being asked to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy this week released a statement calling the meeting "regrettable," saying he is ready to engage in the U.S.-facilitated peace process and sign a controversial minerals sharing deal with the U.S. Teams from the U.S. and Ukraine "have resumed work" and "we hope that next week we will have a meaningful meeting," he wrote on X. Andrii Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, is set to go to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to meet with U.S. officials to discuss possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on Tuesday, a source in Zelenskyy's office told ABC News. Other Ukrainian officials and military representatives may also attend the meeting, the source said. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are expected to attend the meeting, a Trump administration official confirmed to ABC News. "I think the idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire, as well," Witkoff said outside the White House on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy said during his evening address Thursday that he will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, and then his team will remain to "work with American partners." PHOTO: European Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speak to press at European Union headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on March 6, 2025. (Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images) During a special meeting at the European Council building in the Belgian capital earlier on Thursday, Zelenskyy proposed the "necessary steps for peace" in his speech, according to a transcript released by his office. Zelenskyy repeated the partial truce idea floated by French President Emmanuel Macron last week that would see Russia and Ukraine agree to a halt on long-range strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure and halt operations in the Black Sea. "Everyone needs to make sure that Russia, as the sole source of this war, accepts the need to end it," he said in the published remarks. "This can be proved by two forms of silence that are easy to establish and monitor, namely, no attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure -- truce for missiles, bombs and long-range drones, and the second is truce on the water, meaning no military operations in the Black Sea." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy also thanked the leaders for their "determination to help us defend Ukraine" amid continued Russian strikes and called for a "significant part" of the defense funds under the proposed ReArm Europe Plan to be allocated to arms production in Ukraine. "Let me emphasize once again that Ukrainians do really want peace, but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine," he said in the published remarks. "Is Russia capable of giving up the war -- this is the question that any negotiations must answer." Zelenskyy was welcomed to the European Council building by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. "We discussed strengthening the defense capabilities of Ukraine and the whole of Europe," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram of his meeting with von der Leyen and Costa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Air defense, weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, timely supplies, strengthening the Ukrainian defense industry, negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and counteract the circumvention of sanctions -- all this was among our topics today," he wrote. "Thank you for your leadership in discussing increasing Europe's defense capabilities and strengthening Ukraine, for all your support on the path to a just and sustainable peace. It is very important that Ukrainians are not alone. We feel it and know it." "Europe faces a clear and present danger," von der Leyen said in a post to X as Zelenskyy arrived. "We must be able to defend ourselves and put Ukraine in a position of strength." Zelenskyy spoke at a special meeting of the European Council and was expected to hold meetings with European leaders on defense matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Russian strike kills 4 in Ukraine amid US aid, intelligence freeze European leaders have rallied to Zelenskyy's defense in the face of U.S. pressure, while simultaneously warning that peace in Ukraine is not possible without American backing. The U.K. and France have said they will work with Kyiv to present a peace deal to Trump. European allies have been rattled by the opening months of Trump's second term, which have been characterized by efforts to undermine Zelenskyy's legitimacy, alignment with Russian narratives about the war and criticism of Europe's ability to ensure security on the continent. Trump and his officials have been reluctant to offer any security guarantees to Kyiv as part of a peace deal with Russia -- an element Zelenskyy and his European partners say is vital to the success of any accord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Trump's Ukraine-Russia envoy Keith Kellogg said a signed minerals deal would be a "de facto security guarantee" for Kyiv. "If the United States has direct economic interest in Ukraine, then the United States has a direct invested interest to protect its economic interest, as well," he said during an event at the Council on Foreign Relations. As to the intelligence-sharing freeze, Kellogg said it was "a pause, not an end." Trump's envoy acknowledged it was "important" if a military loses intelligence support, adding, "We know that, but that's one of the reasons why it was done." Asked whether the tactic was unfairly extractive of Ukraine, Kellogg replied, "Very candidly, they brought it on themselves," referring to the dramatic Oval Office meeting last week. President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 4, 2025.U.S. President Trump delivers a speech to a joint session of Congress (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) European nations announced fresh tranches of assistance for Ukraine ahead of Zelenskyy's arrival in Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced that his nation would provide $3.8 billion in funding in 2026, $700 million of which is earmarked for drone development. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said his nation would ensure a "significant increase" in aid for Ukraine, while Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced another $215 million in aid from Warsaw. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, meanwhile, said on France Inter that his nation was sharing intelligence resources with Ukraine following the U.S. freeze. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova framed Thursday's meeting as an impediment to peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The EU is torpedoing any preconditions for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine," Zakharova said, as quoted by the state-run TASS news agency. ABC News' Patrick Reevell, Guy Davies and Oleksiy Pshemyskiy contributed to this report. Zelenskyy attends emergency Europe summit amid pressure from US, Russia originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will take part in an extraordinary summit of EU leaders in Brussels on 6 March and will have a series of meetings, including with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Source: European Pravda with reference to Zelenskyys spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov Details: Zelenskyys visit to Brussels will begin with a meeting with De Wever, followed by statements to the media outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy will move to the building where European Council meetings take place at around 12:00 and will meet with European Council President Antonio Costa and von der Leyen. He will take part in the extraordinary meeting of EU leaders after that. Following the summit, Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Austrias new Chancellor Christian Stocker, have an audience with King Philippe of Belgium and meet with Rutte. Background: Earlier, Finnish news agency STT reported that no specific aid packages for Ukraine would be announced following the summit. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BRUSSELS (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says talks between Ukraine and the US on ending the war will take place in Saudi Arabia next week. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In his nightly address on Thursday, Zelenskyy said he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday and his team would stay on to hold talks with U.S. officials. I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince. After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace, Zelenskyy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below. BRUSSELS (AP) European Union leaders on Thursday backed new defense spending plans aimed at freeing up hundreds of billions of euros for the continents security after the Trump administration signaled that Europe would have to fend for itself in future. Facing the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift, EU leaders held emergency talks in Brussels to explore new ways to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be protected. The 27 leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending. They also urged the European Commission to seek new ways to facilitate significant defense spending at national level in all Member States, a statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EUs executive branch estimates that around 650 billion euros ($702 billion) could be freed up that way. The leaders also took note of a commission offer of a loan package worth 150 billion euros ($162 billion) to buy new military equipment and invited EU headquarters staff to examine this proposal as a matter of urgency. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump and also considered to be Russian President Vladimir Putins closest ally in Europe, refused to endorse part of the summit statement in favor of Ukraine. But all 26 other EU leaders approved the blocs stance that there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine and that the Europeans must be involved in any talks involving their security. The Europeans have so far been sidelined in the U.S.-led negotiations with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Trump has overturned old certainties about the reliability of the U.S. as a security partner, as he embraces Russia, withdraws American support for Ukraine and upends the tradition of cooperation with Europe that has been the bedrock of Western security since World War II. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country holds the EUs rotating presidency, said that three years of war in Ukraine and new attitudes in Washington pose entirely new challenges for us, and Europe must take up this challenge ... and it must win. We will arm ourselves faster, smarter, and more efficiently than Russia, Tusk said. The plan to loosen budget rules originated with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who oversees the EUs executive arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spending plans win early support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the plan and expressed hopes that some of it could be used to bolster Ukraines own defense industry, which can produce weapons more cheaply than elsewhere in Europe and closer to the battlefields where they are needed. We are very thankful that we are not alone, and these are not just words. We feel it. Its very important, Zelenskyy said, looking far more relaxed among Europes leaders in Brussels than almost a week ago when he received a verbal lashing from Trump in Washington. Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, and summit chairman Antonio Costa discussed ways to fortify Europes defenses on a short deadline. Merz pushed plans this week to loosen his nations rules on running up debt to allow for higher defense spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others too appeared ready to do more. Spend, spend, spend on defense and deterrence. Thats the most important message, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters. The call is a sharp departure from decades of decline in military spending in Europe, where defense often ranked low in many budgetary considerations after the end of the Cold War. In an address to his country Wednesday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron said the bloc would take decisive steps forward. Member states will be able to increase their military spending, he said, noting that massive joint funding will be provided to buy and produce some of the most innovative munitions, tanks, weapons and equipment in Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron was expected to confer with his EU counterparts about possibility of using Frances nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats. Helping EU countries find more funds Von der Leyens plan was hailed by many, but its short-term benefits are not obvious. Most of the increased defense spending would have to come from national budgets at a time when many countries are already overburdened with debt. Part of her scheme includes measures to ensure struggling member states will not be punished for going too deep into the red if additional spending is earmarked for defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe faces a clear and present danger, and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, she said. France is struggling to reduce an excessive annual budget deficit of 5% of GDP, after running up its total debt burden to 112% of GDP with spending on relief for businesses and consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis that followed Russias invasion of Ukraine. Five other countries using the euro currency have debt levels over 100% of GDP: Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal. Europes largest economy, Germany, has more room to borrow, with a debt level of 62% of GDP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressing security needs in Ukraine Part of any security plan would be to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian attacks such as the one that hit Zelenskyys hometown overnight. A Russian missile killed four people staying at a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, in central Ukraine, shortly after volunteers from a humanitarian organization moved in. The volunteers included Ukrainian, American and British nationals, but it wasnt clear whether those people were among the 31 who were wounded. Early this week, Trump ordered a pause in U.S. military supplies being sent to Ukraine as he sought to press Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia. The move brought fresh urgency to Thursdays summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the meeting was unlikely to address Ukraines most pressing needs. It was not aimed at drumming up more arms and ammunition to fill any supply vacuum created by the U.S. freeze. Nor will all nations agree to unblock the estimated 183 billion euros ($196 billion) in frozen Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house, a pot of ready cash that could be seized. As always among the 27 nations, a major challenge is building a united stance at a moment when the bloc is fractured, since many of its actions require unanimous support, and Hungarys veto of the Ukraine statement underscored the problem even though it did little damage. We have to take decisions no matter the one or two which are opposing every time, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said. Otherwise history will penalize us, and we will pay a very high cost. ___ Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Brussels; David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany; Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal; and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Yuliia Tymoshenko, leader of Ukraines Batkivshchyna party, and Petro Poroshenko, former Ukrainian president and leader of Ukraines European Solidarity party, have commented on a Politico report alleging that they held secret talks with members of US President Donald Trump's team. Both politicians stated that they are opposed to elections being held before peace is achieved. Source: Tymoshenko on Facebook; Poroshenko on Facebook Quote from Tymoshenko: "Ukraine, as President Zelenskyy has clearly stated, is ready for negotiations to end the war under strong leadership from President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Batkivshchyna team holds talks with all our allies who can help ensure a just peace as soon as possible." Details: Tymoshenko said "holding any elections in Ukraine is out of the question" until the war is over. Poroshenko stated in his post that his party is working publicly and transparently with American partners to maintain bipartisan support for Ukraine. "We have repeatedly offered to coordinate these meetings with the authorities, even suggesting inviting the ambassador. We have also repeatedly stated publicly that there is a lack of communication between the government team and the US administration, which poses a risk to the state," Poroshenko noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poroshenko said that discussions with American representatives have always centred around two principles: security first and peace through strength. They have covered weapons, intelligence, sanctions against Russia, financial support, democratic resilience (freedom and democracy) and transatlantic unity. Quote from Poroshenko: "Our team has always been and remains categorically against elections during the war. Unlike the authorities, who divert funds from the army and try to buy votes while also using unconstitutional and extrajudicial sanctions to eliminate their political opponents this amounts to politically motivated persecution and pre-election preparations. We have said and we continue to say that elections are only possible after a ceasefire and the signing of a peace agreement with security guarantees for Ukraine. After that, martial law will obviously end, and no later than 180 days thereafter, free and democratic elections must take place in the country to ensure the citizens will and the trust of the free world." Background: Politico has reported that four senior associates of US President Donald Trump held secret talks with Yuliia Tymoshenko and Petro Poroshenko at a time when Washington and Moscow were aligning in their efforts to remove President Zelenskyy from office. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Arsen Zhumadilov is stepping down as director general of the State Logistics Operator, the procurement agency of the Ministry of Defence, on 6 March. The Defence Ministry has appointed him as the director of the Defence Procurement Agency. Source: a statement from the State Logistics Operator on Telegram; Defence Procurement Agency on Facebook Quote: "As of today, Arsen Zhumadilov is leaving the post of Director General of the State Logistics Operator. CEO Andrii Sozanskyi will serve as acting director until a new director is chosen. This decision was supported by the Supervisory Board." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The State Logistics Operator team thanked Zhumadilov for his effective management, trust in the team, and the opportunity to learn. "Under his leadership, the State Logistics Operator not only launched, but has become an institution that has made qualitative changes in logistics," the statement said. The State Logistics Operator also noted that Andrii Sozanskyi, who will temporarily head the agency, has been part of the team since the agency's creation. Sozanskyi has significant experience in procurement and logistics and an in-depth understanding of the system and processes, and he shares the agencys values. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has appointed Zhumadilov as the director of the Defence Procurement Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Today, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine appointed Arsen Zhumadilov as the director of the Defence Procurement Agency. The defence procurement system needs clear rules, swift decisions and efficient deliveries. The main priority is not merely signing contracts but ensuring that the Armed Forces are supplied with the weaponry they need on time and in the required volumes. The agency's task is to make the defence procurement system effective, predictable and resilient." For reference: Zhumadilov was appointed Head of the State Logistics Operator on 30 October 2023. In January 2025, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov announced that Zhumadilov would be appointed Director of the Defence Procurement Agency due to its decision not to extend its contract with former director Maryna Bezrukova. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! CHEYENNE There is little hope a measure to change zoning protest requirements at the state level will pass in the final hours of the current legislative session, after an amendment was added in the House of Representatives to restrict mitigation fees on development. It is going to be harder and harder for us to build necessary housing that our folks need, so I was really hopeful that the bill would pass, Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins said. I am very disappointed this amendment ended up killing the bill. Mayor Patrick Collins portrait Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Patrick Collins Senate File 40, Zoning protest petition-amendments, passed in both the House and Senate, but stalled after a joint conference committee could not agree on the amended bill. As it left the House, SF 40 addressed the petition process for protesting local developments, and how such protests affect zoning changes in Wyoming cities and towns. The bill said that 33% of resident neighbors in an area near a planned development must sign a protest petition and demonstrate harm to a planned project to be considered by a local body. Zoning changes to allow for development would have to be approved by a simple majority of a local body like a city council. Current state law says that only 20% of owners in the area need to sign a protest petition, and that any changes must be approved by a supermajority vote. In Cheyenne, that means a vote of 8-2 by the City Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the House, Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, proposed an amendment to SF 40 that he originally proposed in the House Appropriations Committee, to prohibit governing bodies from imposing a monetary fee or non-monetary condition on residential or commercial development related to workforce housing. The House debated at length whether SF 40 was the correct place for that amendment, and ultimately voted in favor of it. Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette (2025) Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette The House and the Senate could not come to an agreement in a joint conference committee over the amendment, which officials have said largely targets a practice in Jackson. Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, said the members of his joint conference committee were willing to accept any other changes made in the House, except for the mitigation fees amendment, which significantly amended the bill beyond its scope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bears amendment, which was adopted as a standing committee amendment on the House floor, had nothing to do with zoning protest petitions, (and was) totally not a part of the bill, Gierau said. Passing the bill with the amendment, Gierau said, would subvert the public process because there was no time for public comment on it. Another piece of legislation related to mitigation fees failed in the House earlier in the session. House Bill 197, Limits on property development exaction and mitigation fees, dealt with the exact issue addressed in the amendment to SF 40. The House Judiciary Committee voted against that bill 6-3 on Feb. 10. Majority Floor Leader Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, said the ability to pass SF 40 lies squarely in the Houses hands. They have the choice to allow that good piece of legislation that was worked through the interim, fully supported by all the stakeholders, to pass, if they remove that non-germane amendment, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, said on the House floor that he went down the hall to the House to ask if an agreement could be made. There was no desire on the part of (the joint conference) committee to even sit down and talk about the language, Landen said. The other side refused. Senate President Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, ultimately ruled that the mitigation fees amendment was not germane, and the Senate did not concur on the bill. Collins said he is reluctant to criticize the city of Jackson for using mitigation fees to create affordable housing for its residents, but added that it was unfortunate a bill that was vetted through the Regulatory Reduction Task Force and the Appropriations Committee and received widespread public support would fail because of the amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant go against those folks. It is so difficult for us to understand the complexity of the (housing) issue they face, Collins said. But I was disappointed that the amendment, which seems to be targeting one community of 10,000 in a state of 580,000, killed the bill for the rest of us. SF 40 was just one in a long list of housing-related bills that did not pass this legislative session. Some were killed in committee, and others were never introduced by House Speaker Chip Neiman, R-Hulett. Renny McKay with the Wyoming Business Alliance said he is now part of a group recommending the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee take up housing as an interim topic. Collins said SF 40 had support from the task force, a Harvard working group focused on housing in Wyoming and developers, as well as others who spoke during the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody who studied housing has said that it is OK to have a protest process, but you cant make it so onerous that you cant get it through a governing body, Collins said. In Cheyenne, if we get a protest, we have to get eight of our 10 members to vote yes present and voting yes. That is a pretty high bar. Collins said hes afraid that with a real need for housing in Cheyenne, more zoning protests will pop up, and without SF 40, a few vocal opponents may stall good projects. Hopefully we can come back next year, run the same bill and have a clean bill go through, Collins said. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Future / Mike Lowe Quick Summary The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 could pack in a much larger battery than its predecessor. That would offer better battery life particularly in conjunction with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. When it comes to foldable phones, Samsung has long been at or about the top of the pile. The Korean brand was one of the first household name brands to adopt the technology, and has made continual if incremental improvements ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, a new report about the successor to its current Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 model suggests it could raise the bar in terms of battery life. That comes courtesy of GalaxyClub a Samsung specialist blog based out of the Netherlands. Their report suggests that the new device the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 could come with a battery capacity of 4,300mAh. That's a small but significant boost over the current model, which has a battery of around 4,000mAh. It's not just the raw size of the battery which looks to improve the situation, either. We're expecting the new handset to make use of the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, found in the Samsung Galaxy S25 range. That means better efficiency, which should help the bigger battery to last even longer. It's a significant combination previous generations of this device have been marred by slightly mediocre battery longevity, so a well-earned boost is nothing to be scoffed at. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere, the improvements are expected to be fairly muted. We're anticipating almost no hardware changes based on the leaks and reports we've seen, with the brand instead focussing on improving the software within devices. There is, however, talk of a second Flip model. It's expected to be a more wallet-friendly variant, though little else is known about the model. Still, that could be an exciting development for the brand, as it looks to bring more users into the foldable phone realm. The only other sliver of hope comes in the form of some recently granted patents for the brand. Those clearly show a Z Flip-esque design, but with three cameras. One features a cover display to the side of the camera mount, while the other has the cameras set into the display, a la the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. Personally, that's the most exciting possible development in my eyes. Flip phones are great, but sacrificing a telephoto lens isn't and for me it has always been the blocking factor. If Samsung can add a long-range lens into the Z Flip 7, it might just make it a must-buy model. Support Local News Reporting Journalists at the Yakima Herald-Republic bring you timely, in-depth and credible local news. Your generous donation supports their work. Questen Inghram is a Murrow News Fellow at the Yakima Herald-Republic whose beat focuses on government in Central Washington communities. Email qinghram@yakimaherald.com or call 509-577-7674. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, email news@yakimaherald.com. Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. The Philippines and Paraguay renewed their commitment to deepening economic cooperation, with a particular focus on agriculture, manufacturing and industrial development. High-level discussions between the two nations concluded with a pledge to enhance bilateral trade, attract new investments and strengthen diplomatic relations for mutual growth. - Advertisement - The Department of Trade and Industry Foreign Trade Service Corps (DTI-FTSC), supported by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC-Mexico), facilitated a series of successful meetings from Feb. 20 to 21, 2025 in the Philippines. The discussions aimed to promote foreign investment in both countries and bolster bilateral trade relations. DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo expressed interest in Paraguays trade relationships, while Paraguayan Vice Minister of Trade and Investment Rodrigo Viveros discussed potential trade and investment collaborations with ASEAN countries, particularly in food processing and livestock exports. Both nations acknowledged their strengths in the manufacturing and energy sectors, agreeing that they could be strategic partners in attracting foreign investors. Viveros also introduced Paraguays Bioceanic Corridora strategic transportation route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans that is expected to boost trade by linking Mercosur markets in the region. Both parties also agreed to facilitate direct engagement between Filipino and Paraguayan businesses, including potential future visits by Paraguayan business representatives. Paraguayan delegates highlighted their key agricultural products and export potential to San Miguel Foods which showed interest particularly due to a coconut oil shortage in the Philippine market, presenting an opportunity for trade partnerships with Paraguay. If you ask anyone whos ever visited the Philippines, theyll likely say the same thing, Filipinos are among the warmest and most welcoming people in the world. Be it with food, giving directions, or inviting a stranger into their home, hospitality comes naturally to people living in this archipelago. - Advertisement - However, time can change things. While traditions hold firm, what we knew as right then could be something else entirely in the present. And Filipino hospitality is not exempt. What once was only practiced inside Filipino homes or gatherings has now expanded to high-end resorts and digital spaces. But even though the setting may change, the heart of Filipino hospitality remains the same. It started with bayanihan Long before hotels and travel apps, Filipinos opened their homes to guests, offering food and shelter without expecting anything in return. This was bayanihan in action, an age-old tradition where those in the same community, barangay in the local language, help each other in times of need. Fiestas, introduced during Spanish rule, took this hospitality to another level. Entire barrios came together for celebrations, doors were thrown open, and no one was left with an empty stomach. It didnt matter if you were family, a friend, or just passing throughyou were always welcome to celebrate even the simplest of occasions. In the provinces, this attitude was even more evident. Travelers found shelter with locals who, even with little, shared what they had. Meals were simple but heartfelt, often featuring the best dishes a family could offer. Even to this day, this way of welcoming guests is alive and well in many parts of the country. Then theres delicadeza, a deep sense of politeness and respect that shapes Filipino hospitality. From homegrown to world-class As the world became more developed, so did the way Filipinos extended their warmth to the world. Tourism grew, and the Philippines became known for its hotels, resorts, and customer service. But what made these places stand out wasnt just the facilities and the inviting structures, it was the people themselves. Filipino hotel staff and tour guides became known for going above and beyond to ensure guests had a great experience. The sector thrived and the Philippines became a sought-after destination for its friendly locals as much as its beautiful landscapes. Many Filipinos also brought their hospitality to different parts of the world. Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) became known for their exceptional service in hotels, cruise ships, and airlines. From housekeeping to five-star hotel management, Filipinos built a reputation for their warmth, politeness, and hard work in the global hospitality industry. Filipino hospitality was able to expand even further with the rise of digital platforms like social media and hotel booking apps. Locals are now able to share travel tips in online forums, host guests through Airbnb and homestays, and welcome international visitors with the same warmth that was only available in Filipino homes before. Filipino vloggers and content creators also contribute to this growing online presence of Filipino hospitality. They share the countrys local culture with audiences and highlight traditions for would-be travelers to see, which further reinforces the image of the Philippines as being warm and welcoming towards others of different ethnicities. Filipino hospitality remains strong despite societal changes, with traditions that continue to make others feel welcome. The Tuloy po kayo culture is still evident in many households, where visitorswhether familiar or neware warmly invited in and offered food. This simple yet heartfelt gesture reflects the deep-rooted Filipino value of generosity. The pasalubong tradition also endures, with Filipinos bringing home gifts for loved ones after traveling. Whether its local delicacies or souvenirs, this small act of sharing experiences highlights their thoughtfulness. The spirit of bayanihan remains alive, especially in times of crisis, as communities rally together to help those in need, whether through volunteer groups or community kitchens. Beyond homes and emergencies, Filipino hospitality is seen in everyday interactionsguiding strangers to the right jeepney, offering directions with a smile, or engaging in friendly conversationsall reflecting a culture of warmth and kindness. In many ways, this culture of warmth also plays a role in how Filipinos treat foreign visitors. Tourists often comment on how easy it is to ask for help in the Philippines, how locals are happy to give recommendations, and how theyre treated like long-lost friends rather than strangers. Times may change but Filipino warmth stays the same Even as the world changes, Filipino hospitality remains deeply ingrained in daily life. It may take new forms through tourism, technology, or global influence, but at its core, its still about making people feel at homewherever they are. As life becomes more modern by the day, some worry that traditional hospitality might vanish, especially in urban areas where life moves faster. But the reality is, Filipinos continue to show kindness in their own wayswhether through a heartfelt Ingat po (Take care) to a stranger, a warm welcome to a new neighbor, or even just a simple act of inviting someone to eat Kain tayo. For Filipinos, hospitality isnt just a traditionits a way of life. Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration of China, gives an interview after the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] China will step up efforts to facilitate financing for private enterprises and micro and small enterprises, Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, said Wednesday. China will increase the supply of credit to private enterprises, and reduce overall financing costs to deliver more benefits to businesses, Li said on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the national legislature. Private enterprises account for over 92 percent of all companies in China, and their share in micro and small enterprises is even higher, Li noted. In a government work report unveiled Wednesday, China has pledged to refine and develop new structural monetary policy instruments to provide stronger support for private businesses and micro and small enterprises. Half a month before the annual sessions of China's top legislature and political advisory body, China held a high-level symposium on private enterprises, sending a signal of strong support for private businesses. As part of its latest efforts to ramp up the growth of the private sector, the country is also advancing the private economy promotion law, in a move to dismantle barriers, unlock the sector's full potential and create a fairer and more dynamic business environment. On 5th March 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a stark warning about the increasing exposure of children to lead poisoning in Zambia, particularly in the central town of Kabwe. The report highlights that more than 95% of children in the area have elevated levels of lead in their blood due to ongoing mining activities in the region, despite the mines closure in 1994. HRW criticizes the Zambian government for its failure to enforce environmental laws, allowing South African, Chinese, and local mining companies to continue processing toxic lead waste from Kabwes mining site. The mining activities in Kabwe, one of the worlds most polluted places, have left behind an estimated 6.4 million tonnes of hazardous lead waste. These operations are placing thousands of residents, especially children, at severe health risk. HRWs Childrens Rights Director, Juliane Kippenberg, emphasized that mining companies continue to profit while exacerbating the health crisis, with the contamination in the soil reaching dangerous levels. The lead concentration is reportedly 300 times higher than the hazardous threshold set by the US Environmental Protection Agency, leading to severe health issues, including brain damage and, in extreme cases, death. HRW has called for immediate government action to revoke mining permits and clean up the area to protect the health of the affected communities. The rights group has urged the Zambian government to end its complicity in enabling hazardous mining and to prioritize the health and safety of its citizens. As of the reports release, the Zambian government has yet to respond to these alarming concerns. International Womens Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the achievements of women and a call for gender equality. Every year, this special day is observed with events, campaigns, and initiatives aimed at empowering women. When is Womens Day 2025? In 2025, International Womens Day will be celebrated on Saturday, March 8. This date remains constant each year, making it a globally recognized event. What is the theme of International Women's Day 2025? The theme for 2025 is "Accelerate Action," which emphasizes the importance of strategic efforts to promote gender equality. History of International Womens Day Womens Day has its roots in the early 20th century, when women began demanding better working conditions, voting rights, and equal opportunities. The first official National Womens Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909. However, the idea of an International Womens Day gained momentum in 1910, when German activist Clara Zetkin proposed a global celebration. The first official International Womens Day was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. The United Nations later recognized March 8 as International Womens Day in 1977, making it an annual observance worldwide. Significance of Womens Day Womens Day is not just a celebration but a movement toward gender equality. It highlights: Womens achievements in social, political, economic, and cultural fields. Gender equality and the ongoing fight for equal opportunities and rights. Challenges women face such as gender discrimination, wage gaps, and violence. Every year, the United Nations sets a theme for Womens Day to focus on specific issues. The theme for 2025 is yet to be announced, but it will likely continue the conversation around womens empowerment and inclusivity. How is Womens Day Celebrated? Womens Day is marked by various activities, including: Somnath Kshetra in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, is home to the first of the 12 holy Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Situated on the Arabian Sea's shore, this ancient temple finds mention in sacred texts like the Skanda Purana and Shiv Purana. The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is believed to have been built in four phases, each using a different material. Gold: The first phase was built out of gold by Chandra, the moon god. Silver: The second phase was built out of silver by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Wood: The third phase was built out of sandalwood by Lord Krishna. Stone: The fourth phase was built out of stone by Bhimdeva, the Solanki ruler of Gujarat. The temple, featuring a grand 155-ft Shikhar, a 10-ton Kalash, and a 27-ft Dhwajdand, is one of India's most visited Shiva shrines. Deeply rooted in Shaivism, Somnath embodies the tradition of Natya (dance) and Gana (music), where spiritual devotion merges with artistic expression. The Natya Mandap stands as a testament to this heritage. To revive this tradition, the Somnath Festival of Dance & Music, curated by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited and IGNCA Regional Centre Vadodara, gathers esteemed artists to celebrate Maha Shivratri. The festival, featuring Veena, Bhajans, Raas, and Dyro, offers a soulful tribute to Lord Shiva, reconnecting the temple with its rich artistic past. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the three-day Somnath Mahotsav, a grand celebration marking Mahashivratri at Somnath, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas and a revered pilgrimage site. He described the festival as a harmonious blend of faith, devotion, and art. Organized by the Tourism Department of Gujarat, this year's Mahotsav is themed "Kala Dwara Aaradhana" (Worship Through Art). He emphasized that Somnath is not just a religious landmark but a symbol of resilience, cultural heritage, and Indian identity. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he noted that Somnath exemplifies the Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat initiative. In this context, he acknowledged the Somnath-Tamil Sangam and Kashi-Tamil Sangam as significant cultural exchanges. Calling this first-ever Somnath Mahotsav a divine coincidence, the Chief Minister highlighted its alignment with the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the leader behind the temple's reconstruction. He also spoke about the spiritual importance of the Triveni Sangam, where the Sarasvati, Hiran, and Kapila rivers meet near the Arabian Sea. To mark the occasion, he announced a special evening aarti with 108 lamps at the Triveni Sangam during the festival. Before officially inaugurating the Mahotsav, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel participated in the sacred Sangam Aarti at Triveni Sangam, offering prayers at spiritually significant site. A special three-day exhibition, - (Vadyam - Nadasya Yatra) "Instruments A Journey of Sound," explores the deep connection between sound, spirituality, and artistic expression. Showcasing the evolution of musical instruments in sacred Indian traditions, the exhibition highlights their mythological significance and representation in visual and sculptural arts. Additionally, the Sangam Aarti at Triveni Ghat will be held every evening, featuring 108 diyas at the sacred confluence of the Kapila, Hiran, and Saraswati rivers. Scholars from Sri Somnath Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya hosted seminars on "Somnath: Temple, Tirtha & Tradition" ( , , ) on the mornings of 24th and 25th February 2025, delving into the temples spiritual and historical legacy. New Delhi: The Gujarat Semiconnect Conference, held at Mahatma Mandir, in Gandhinagar saw the signing of eight major Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. These agreements, collectively worth more than Rs 1.04 lakh crore, aim to bolster semiconductor and electronics manufacturing in Gujarat, generating thousands of jobs. The three-day event features more than 1,500 delegates and 250 exhibitors, positioning Gujarat as a key player in India's semiconductor sector. Among the key agreements, JABIL INDIA signed an MoU to establish a Silicon Photonics Manufacturing Unit in Gujarat, investing Rs 1,000 crore. This unit will manufacture photonics transceivers vital for AI, telecom, Internet of Things (IOT), and smart infrastructure, generating nearly 1,500 new jobs. Additionally, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and Tata Electronics (TEPL) signed a Financial Support Agreement (FSA) for the development of a semiconductor fab unit at Dholera with a staggering investment of Rs 91,526 crore, backed by financial assistance from the Central government. In another major step towards skill development, Tata Electronics entered into an MoU with IIT Gandhinagar to enhance training in the semiconductor sector. A tripartite agreement was also signed between Tata Electronics, Taiwanese company PSMC, and Himax Technologies for semiconductor chip production in Dholera. Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology (TSMT) signed an MoU to establish an Electronics Manufacturing Service (EMS) unit in Gujarat with an investment exceeding Rs 500 crore, promising around 1,000 job opportunities. Micron Technology, based in Sanand, entered into an agreement to contribute towards environmental, health, and safety initiatives, along with STEM education and workforce development in the surrounding rural areas. NextGen announced an ambitious Rs 10,000 crore investment to establish a compound semiconductor fab and optoelectronics facility in Gujarat, with technical support from Hitachi and Solidlight. Additionally, CANS secured a significant partnership with Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited (AOS), a leading US-based semiconductor chip designer and global supplier, for multi-year semiconductor chip products, including POWER MOSFETs, IGBTs, and IPMs. The conference also marked the release of the semiconductor supply chain compendium, the launch of the "Semiconductor Manufacturing Supply Chain" report by the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), and the introduction of the "Vision to Reality" -- a 'Make in India' product initiative. The foundation stone for Keynes Technology's semiconductor unit in Sanand was also laid, with pilot manufacturing set to commence in June 2025 and full-scale production by January 2026. Addressing the event, Chief Minister Patel highlighted Gujarat's proactive approach in developing a robust electronics manufacturing ecosystem. He emphasised the state's dedicated Semiconductor Policy of 2022 and the ongoing development of Dholera as India's first greenfield smart city with plug-and-play facilities. CM Patel further detailed the recently announced Global Capability Centre Policy aimed at fostering advancements in AI, machine learning, and analytics, reinforcing Gujarat's role as a leader in high-tech manufacturing. Netherlands Ambassador to India, Marisa Gerhards, underscored the semiconductor sector's pivotal role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India by 2047. The Chief Minister expressed optimism about Indo-Dutch collaboration in semiconductor technology, emphasising that Gujarat's contributions to this sector will be instrumental in shaping India's technological landscape. Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi reaffirmed Gujarat's status as a national manufacturing hub, attributing it to the state's robust financial management, world-class infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies. He noted that Dholera Semicon City and Sanand GIDC are evolving as key semiconductor packaging hubs, supported by strategic infrastructure projects such as uninterrupted power and water supply, expressway connectivity, a new railway station, and the upcoming Dholera Greenfield Airport, which is set to be operational by July 2025. SEBI's New Algo Trading Framework: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced revolutionary algorithmic (algo) trading regulations with the objective of modifying retail traders relationships with automated trading systems. The new provisions, which take effect on August 1, 2025, will fundamentally reshape the retail trading environment by introducing new opportunities and changes for traders. As algorithmic trading continues to gain traction among retail participants, these new guidelines seek to bolster market integrity while enhancing protection for individual traders. In a recent discussion with Ankit Yadav, Founder and Director of Market Maestroo, he provided insights into SEBI's new Algo Trading Framework. A New Era for Algo Trading Algo trading has recently grown in scope, and a study published by the Indian Institute of Finance states that automated trading accounts for nearly 50% of total trading volume on Indian stock exchanges. This highlights the need to regulate algo trading in a manner that is both protective of the retail investor and of the market against volatility. With these measures in mind, SEBI is proposing an algorithmic trading framework that could transform retail trading as it is known today. The new changes will importantly grant specific protections to retail traders employing algorithmic trading strategies. They will reap the benefits chiefly from a blanket requirement to register algorithms and obtain the exchanges permission before use. This helps guarantee that thorough scrutiny is placed on every algorithm before it interacts with the market. With these new regulations proposed, it is hoped that there will be fewer algorithmic disruptions where the algorithms used in trades result in unintended detrimental trading actions and greatly affect retail traders' portfolios. Decoding SEBIs Stricter Algo Trading Rules: What It Means for Institutional and Retail Traders SEBIs updated rules arent just limited to retail traders but have substantial implications for institutional participants as well. For institutions, the stricter rules concerning the registration of algorithms and their subsequent approval by the exchange means that larger firms will have to ensure that their trading systems are scrutinized like that of retail traders. This is expected to facilitate more uniformity in market access so that both institutional and retail traders are subject to the same set of conditions when using algorithms for trading. These regulations allow retail traders greater leeway to function in a marketplace that is better organized and more transparent. Retail traders who use broker APIs for automating their trading will still have access to these tools, although, they will face more scrutiny making their trades safer and more reliable. In addition, the unique identifiers provided for unique algorithms will facilitate a level of supervision that has never before been attempted because traders will be able to monitor their algorithms in real-time. API Access and Trading Flexibility: The Balancing Act A key aspect of the new framework is its impact on retail traders who rely on broker APIs for automated trading. While the regulatory changes introduce security layers to protect the integrity of the market, they also maintain accessibility for retail traders, ensuring that they can continue utilizing algorithmic tools. One of the most critical adjustments is the introduction of order frequency limits. Retail traders can still use automated trading systems as long as they stay within these prescribed limits, which is a preventive measure against potential market manipulation. By limiting excessive order volumes, SEBI hopes to curb the possibility of market disruptions caused by erratic algorithmic behavior. This ensures that the retail traders access to automated trading systems remains unhampered, but within a framework that protects the broader markets stability. Automated Trading: SEBI's New Rules for Unclaimed Funds and Securities A further noteworthy aspect of SEBIs revised regulations is the management of unclaimed money. It is the responsibility of brokers to prominently make attempts to reach out to clients whose funds have been left unattended for long periods. Before such funds can be categorized as dormant or unclaimed, there is a process, traders are given sufficient notice to retrieve their funds. This change prevents traders from being unable to access their capital because of dormant accounts or other issues. Moreover, these funds are to be considered unclaimed after the fact and taken to liquid assets mutual funds, where the money has to be kept active, even though it will be dormant. In augmenting the protection of the funds of retail traders, SEBI ensures that the trading capital will not be smothered by non-valued assets. Practical Benefits for Daily Trading: Transparency and Traceability One of the most anticipated aspects of the new framework is the introduction of unique identifiers for algorithmic orders. This shift represents a major step toward a new level of transparency in retail trading. With these identifiers, traders can follow their automated orders more closely and better understand their trading activities and behaviors. Retail traders can now maintain clearer audit trails for the automated trading they engage in, which could be useful for tax filings as well as for analyzing their trading strategy. Protection of Trading Capital: Safeguarding Retail Investors Aside from the modification of the trading system, the new framework encompasses issues that pertain to safeguarding the capital of retail traders. Based on the new regulations, brokers will be obliged to make several attempts at contact before funds that have not been claimed by brokers are transferred to a dormant or unclaimed category. This rule ensures that the capital that retail traders have invested is safe against account inactivity and ensures that the funds are not claimed out of sheer negligence. Furthermore, the strategy that SEBI employs for dealing with unclaimed funds is meant to enhance the protection of retail investors by making it impossible for such investments to be lost due to any omission that is procedural in nature. Funds that remain unclaimed will now be invested into liquid mutual funds as a form of interim investment, thereby ensuring that the funds kept unclaimed for longer periods do not lose value while having them accrue in interest at the same time. Strategic Advantages for Retail Traders Improved Algorithm Efficiency: Requiring registration and exchange permission approval for trading algorithms means that retail traders only have access to verified trading strategies, which reduces failure risks. Increased Insight: The invention of unique identifiers for trades provides retail traders with even greater insight into the performance of their strategies and impacts decision-making in more positive ways. Capital Preservation: Frameworks approach with unclaimed funds guarantees that capital is always active regardless of the users trading activity, thus lowering the risks of losing funds or having them idle in the brokerage account. Technological Advancement In Retail Trading Ecosystem With the incorporation of these procedures, India has taken a substantial leap towards technological advancement within the retail trading ecosystem. Traders at the retail level will benefit from greater algorithm sophistication, improved transparency, and new protective measures for their trading capital. These shifts signify the advancements in the Indian retail trading community and the growing use of trade automation. In the end, while the new changes will require deep adaptation, they will subsequently create a robust and matured market that can sustain both individual traders as well as institutional ones. For retail traders, this is a herald of new dawn in automated trading with great emphasis on accessibility, security, and transparency of information. UPSC CAPF ACs Registration 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has begun online registration for the recruitment of 357 Assistant Commandants (ACs) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Eligible candidates can apply at upsconline.gov.in until March 25. Admit cards will be available on the last working day before the exam at upsconline.gov.in. The written exam is scheduled for August 3, 2025, and will have two papers. Paper 1 will take place from 10 AM to 12 PM, while Paper 2 will be held from 2 PM to 5 PM. UPSC CAPF ACs Registration 2025: Eligibility criteria Candidates must be between 20 and 25 years old as of August 1, 2025. This means their date of birth should be between August 2, 2000, and August 1, 2005. Age relaxation is available for reserved category candidates as per government rules. To be eligible for UPSC CAPF ACs 2025, candidates must have a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification. Those who are in their final year of graduation can apply provisionally. However, if they qualify for the PET/PST round, they must provide proof of passing their degree within the specified time, as mentioned in Sub-Rules 9.1 and 9.2 of Rule 15 of the CAPF (AC) Exam, 2025. UPSC CAPF ACs Registration 2025: Steps to apply here Visit the official website, upsc.gov.in. Click the "Exam Notification: Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2025" link on the homepage. Click on it, and a new page will open. Select "Click Here" to access the application form. Fill in the required details, upload the necessary documents, and complete the payment process. After submitting the form, download the confirmation page and print a copy for future reference. UPSC CAPF ACs Registration 2025: Exam pattern The first paper will be on General Ability and Intelligence, worth 250 marks. It will have multiple-choice questions available in both English and Hindi. The second paper, carrying 200 marks, will focus on General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension. Candidates can write the essay in either English or Hindi, but the precis writing, comprehension, and language skills sections will be in English only. After the written exam, candidates will have to go through a Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Physical Standards Test (PST), an Interview/Personality Test, and a Medical Standards Test. UPSC CAPF ACs Registration 2025: Application fees Candidates who have already been selected through a previous exam for the recruitment of Assistant Commandants in the participating CAPFs are not eligible to apply again. The application fee is Rs 200, but female candidates and those from SC/ST categories are exempted from paying it. In a shocking incident, a student from Telangana was allegedly found dead in the United States, with his friends claiming that his body was with bullets. The deceased student was identified as G. Praveen. The circumstances leading to his death were not clear, his family members said on Wednesday. Praveen was pursuing an MS in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His family was informed by US authorities on Wednesday morning (Indian time). Some friends said that Praveen's body was found with bullets, his cousin Arun told PTI. Some say Praveen was shot dead by unknown assailants at a store, but the cause of death was not known to the family, he said. Arun said Praveen called his father in the early hours of Wednesday, but the latter could not take the call as he was sleeping. Praveen's parents are in a state of shock after learning about the incident, he said. The family is native to Ranga Reddy district, neighbouring Hyderabad. The US authorities informed family members that the cause of death would be known after an autopsy. Praveen, who studied B Tech in Hyderabad, had gone to the US in 2023 to pursue an MS. He visited India in December 2024 and left for America in January this year. The family members approached MLAs and other leaders for help. At least two Indian students from Telangana, one from Khammam in November last year and another from Hyderabad in January this year, were allegedly shot dead in the US. (With agency Inputs) AIMIM Bihar unit chief and MLA Akhtarul Iman on Wednesday called Mughal emperor Aurangzeb a noble emperor, and said that he unified India and made it Akhand Bharat.. Speaking to the news agency ANI, Iman further said that Aurangzeb did not loot India like the Britishers; instead, he served the country. The remarks from the AIMIM MLA came amid a raging controversy over Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi's comments praising the Mughal Emperor. Eulogizing Aurangzeb, Azmi, president of the Samajwadi Party's state unit, had said that during his reign, India's border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar). Azmi had reportedly also stated that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples," as reported by ANI. He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim. Azmis remarks drew flak and led to his suspension from the Maharashtra legislative assembly till the ongoing budget session ends on March 26. Reacting to the action taken against the SP leader, Akhtarul Iman criticized the BJP, saying that the saffron party has no other work, and they only see political gains through the politics of hatred. "BJP has no other work but to have political gains through politics of hatred...Aurangzeb was a noble emperor. He earned a livelihood by stitching caps. He didn't use taxpayers' money on himself, the AIMIM MLA said. He was buried here. He didn't loot and leave like the British, but he served this country. He unified India, stretching from Afghanistan to Burma (Myanmar), and made it 'Akhand Bharat.' He treated both temples and mosques equally. So, why is such a controversy being stoked? ...The Supreme Court should take suo motu cognizance of such governments. The action (against Abu Azmi) is unconstitutional," he further stated. #WATCH | Patna: On Maharashtra SP MLA Abu Azmi's suspension from Assembly over his statement on Aurangzeb, AIMIM Bihar president & MLA Akhtarul Iman says, "BJP has no other work but to have political gains through politics of hatred...Aurangzeb was a noble emperor. He earned a pic.twitter.com/fRRSJHNjzw ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025 Crying injustice, Azmi said the action against him was taken despite him retracting his remark. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked the Samajwadi Party to take a stand on Azmis remarks, demanding that it must expel him for glorifying the Mughal ruler. Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil moved the motion of suspension of Azmi from the House for the remainder of the sessions term. Members of the treasury benches said Aurangzeb's praise amounted to an insult to Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The motion was passed by a voice vote. (With agencies inputs) NEW DELHI: Women in the age group of 21-60 years in Delhi with an annual income of not more than Rs 2.5 lakh are likely to be eligible for the monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 under the draft proposal of BJP government's Mahila Samriddhi Yojna that is expected to be rolled out on March 8, sources said on Thursday. The eligibility criteria were discussed in a meeting attended by the Delhi Chief Secretary, said an official on the scheme which was a major poll promise of the BJP in the assembly election. "The income limit for women eligible to register under the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana will be Rs 2.5 lakh. We have prepared a draft of the Yojana which will be presented in the Cabinet meeting for approval," the official said. Once the draft is approved, the registration process will begin, the official said. Women in the age group of 21-60 years can benefit from the scheme, according to the draft proposal. BJP chief JP Nadda, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior ruling party leaders will be present at the March 8 event where online registration of the scheme to provide Rs 2,500 to women from the economically weaker section and symbolic payment to some beneficiaries will be done, sources in the party said. The programme will be held at JLN stadium on International Women's Day celebrated on March 8, they said. The registration process for the scheme will begin on March 8, party MP Manoj Tiwari had recently said. In its Delhi Assembly election manifesto, the BJP promised to provide Rs 2,500 per month to women from poor families under the scheme once it came to power in Delhi. Tiwari had said that a list of beneficiaries is to be prepared and the entire process of providing Rs 2,500 to every financially poor woman will be completed in one and a half months. The opposition AAP has criticised the BJP government for not approving the scheme in its first Cabinet meeting despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "promise" in this regard. The party held a protest at several places, questioning the BJP over the delay in the implementation of the scheme. "We will not let the BJP mislead the people with false promises; Our demonstrations will continue, and we will keep questioning them from streets to Assembly," AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha said. Party leader Rituraj Jha said that Prime Minister Modi promised during elections that the BJP government in Delhi would approve the scheme in its first Cabinet meeting and transfer Rs 2,500 to the women by March 8. Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama held talks on March 5 in Abidjan, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation. The leaders discussed various issues of mutual interest, including defense, security, the cocoa economy, mining, energy, and key ECOWAS initiatives such as the Abidjan-Lagos corridor and the proposed ECO currency. Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the 2017 Cote dIvoire-Ghana Strategic Partnership Agreement. During the meeting, Mahama highlighted the close relationship between Ivorians and Ghanaians, calling for continued collaboration between the two nations to strengthen their roles within the African Continental Free Trade Area. The presidents also underlined the importance of security cooperation to address regional challenges such as terrorism, climate change, maritime piracy, and trafficking. Their discussions underscored the need for peace and stability in West Africa. Addressing the ongoing political situation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, both leaders expressed concern over the countries withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024. Ouattara expressed confidence in Mahamas ability to persuade these nations to rejoin the regional bloc, stressing that we are stronger as 15 nations than as three. Mahama, in turn, pledged to approach the matter diplomatically, stressing the importance of regional economic interdependence and the challenges facing citizens of the Sahel states due to border restrictions. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday staged a protest against a derogatory remark made about the July 13 Martyrs during a session in the Legislative Assembly. Led by party leader Iltija Mufti, the protest march concluded at Polo View, Srinagar. Iltija Mufti emphasized that July 13, 1931, marked the beginning of Jammu & Kashmirs fight for democracy. "The people of J&K made sacrifices for democratic ideals, just as the rest of the country did, the only difference being that their struggle was against a local ruler," she stated. Iltija expressed gratitude to Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather for expunging the controversial remarks and demanded an unconditional apology from BJP leader Sunil Sharma. She accused the BJP of distorting historical facts for political gain. "The BJP is trying to manipulate history with a divisive agenda. If they truly revere Maharaja Hari Singh, why did they revoke J&Ks state flag, its constitution, and the special status that he had negotiated at the time of accession?" the PDP said in a statement. Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday condemns the 'provocative activities' after the security breach during EAM S Jaishankar's visit in London. In a released statement EAM spokesperson called out the misuse of "democratic freedoms" by a small group of "separatists and extremists". "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live upto their diplomatic obligations," the spokesperson said. Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs says, "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025 Earlier, a group of pro-Khalistan supporters staged a protest, attempting to disrupt Jaishankar's visit to London. The protesters held flags and speakers while chanting slogans outside the venue where Jaishankar participated in a discussion hosted by Chatham House. During his six-day visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland, EAM Jaishankar held discussions with UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and several other senior leaders. The video of the incident went viral on social media, showing a man aggressively rushing toward the minister's convoy while officers initially appeared hesitant to act. The clip shows the man holding a tricolor, with others chanting pro-Khalistan slogans. During his six-day visit to the UK and Ireland, EAM Jaishankar participated in a session titled 'Indias Rise and Role in the World' at the Chatham House think tank in London on Wednesday evening. On the specific issue of tariffs, he noted that Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington to discuss a bilateral trade pact, following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump at the White House last month. We had a very open conversation about it (tariffs) and the result of that conversation was that we agreed on the need for a bilateral trade agreement, he said. Jaishankar further stated that the US administration under President Donald Trump is moving toward multipolarity, which aligns with Indias interests. He also mentioned that both nations have agreed on the need for a bilateral trade pact. When asked about his views on the initial weeks of the new US government, particularly regarding Trump's reciprocal tariffs, the External Affairs Minister (EAM) responded, saying, We see a president and an administration which, in our parlance, is moving towards multipolarity and that is something that suits India. From President Trump's perspective, the one big shared enterprise that we have is the Quad, which is an understanding where everybody pays their fair share There are no free riders involved. So that's a good model which works, he said. The Quad alliance consists of the US, India, Australia and Japan. Kerala Lottery Results Thursday 06-03-2025 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Karunya KN-562" Lucky Draw Result today Karunya KN-563, March 06, 2025. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2025 for "Karunya KN-563" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KN-563 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 80 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Karunya KN-563 results today. 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The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi kicked a storm after he said that learning 'Marathi' is not mandatory when coming to Mumbai. With opposition and the ruling BJP sparring over the remarks, Joshi later apologises and clarified that his comments were misunderstood. Mumbai does not have a single language, Mumbai has many languages. Different areas have different languages. For example, the language of Ghatkopar is Gujarati. Similarly, you will find fewer people speaking Hindi in Girgaon. There, you will find people speaking Marathi. There is no requirement for people coming to Mumbai to learn Marathi, said Joshi. However, the opposition latched out on his remarks to corner the ruling Mahayuti and the issue was raised in the Maharashtra assembly as well. Speaking to media, NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad said, "He (Bhaiyyaji Joshi) has disrespected our mother. He took one station's name and claimed that its language is Gujarati, but he does not understand Mumbai... Mumbai is a place, whoever comes here and embraces it never has to turn back... Earlier they used to divide in the name of caste, then religion, now it is language..." Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray demanded a sedition case against Bhaiyyaji Joshi. However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde made it clear that Marathi remains the language of Mumbai. Addressing the Assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "In Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the State government's language is Marathi, and people who live here should learn it." "Marathi is a part of the state's culture and identity, and it is the duty of every citizen to learn it," the chief minister and BJP leader said. Seeing the political backlash, Joshi later clarified saying that there is no question of Marathi not being the language of Mumbai. "The language of Maharashtra is Marathi. Mumbai is in Maharashtra and naturally, the language of Mumbai is Marathi. Different languages are spoken in India. People speak different languages while living in Mumbai as well. So, it is a natural expectation that they should also come here and learn Marathi, understand Marathi and read Marathi. I think that this is a great example of co-existence that people speaking so many different languages in India live together," he said. Joshi further said, "My mother tongue is Marathi. But I also respect the existence of all languages... I request everyone to see it from the same perspective." This comes amid the ongoing debate over Hindi vs Tamil and Hindi vs Kannada as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been alleging Hindi imposition. Israel's Population and Immigration Authority on Thursday said that it rescued 10 Indian workers from a Palestinian Village where they were held captive. Israel said that it carried out the rescue operations in the dead of night. The department said that the operation was complex and the workers were rescued from the village during the night in coordinated operations. It said that the 10 workers were transferred at 2:30 AM by representatives of the Enforcement and Foreigners Administration to a safe location and their legal employment arrangements are being secured. "The Enforcement and Foreigners Administration of the Population and Immigration Authority led a rescue operation last night to extract ten Indian workers who had come to Israel to work in the construction industry but were being held in the village of Al-Zaim. In a coordinated effort with the IDF and the Ministry of Justice, the ten workers were rescued from the village in the dead of night," it said. The department further said that the information received by the Enforcement and Foreigners Administration indicated that ten Indian foreign workers were staying in Al-Zaim after a local resident had promised them work but their passports were taken, leaving them with no choice to escape from the captive. "Their passports had been taken from them. The workers had been in the village for over a month without employment and without the ability to return to Israel, as they lacked their passports. According to the information, Palestinians had used the Indian passports for quick passage through a checkpoint, were caught by the IDF, and the passports were returned to the Indian workers," it said. Reacting to the rescue, Indian Embassy in Israel said, "Israeli authorities traced 10 missing Indian construction workers to West Bank & have brought them back to Israel.While the matter is still under investigation, the Embassy is in touch with the Israeli authorities & have requested to ensure their safety & well-being." Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness intensified anti-terror operations as security forces prepare to make the Union Territory terror-free. A deadline has been set for eliminating terrorists and preventing terror-related incidents in the region. According to sources, joint operations involving the Indian Army, Paramilitary Forces, and Jammu and Kashmir Police will soon be underway. The Narendra Modi government has decided to deploy Specially trained Quick Action Teams (QATs), comprising soldiers skilled in high-altitude warfare, to neutralize the remaining terror threats. Para special forces, NSG and Assam Rifles Commandos have already been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. Former Jammu and Kashmir Police DGP SP Vaid stated, "The Home Ministry has decided to form Quick Action Teams by selecting the best officers from every unit. These teams will receive specialized training and advanced weaponry to ensure a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir. NSG and Assam Rifles commandos will work alongside CRPF and J&K Police, launching targeted operations based on specific intelligence inputs." Operations will focus on challenging terrains, particularly near the Line of Control (LoC) and higher altitudes. The Indian Armys Assam Rifles, along with NSG commandos, will lead efforts in these difficult areas. Security agencies have already devised a comprehensive strategy, coordinating with the Home Ministry to ensure the success of these operations. Intelligence reports indicate that multiple terror launchpads remain active across the border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with an anticipated rise in infiltration attempts this summer. However, advanced surveillance technology is aiding security forces in closely monitoring these movements. With this multi-agency effort, Jammu and Kashmir is on the path to eradicating terrorism and ensuring lasting peace in the region. MP Raghav Chadha has been selected as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF) from across the globe, a distinction awarded to exceptional individuals under 40 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and a commitment to shaping a better future. Among the YGLs, a select few are chosen for the Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century program at Harvard Kennedy School, the worlds leading institution for public policy. This exclusive program, taking place in Boston, Cambridge from March 5 to 13, 2025, brings together top politicians, policymakers, executives, and thought leaders for an intensive learning experience focused on global governance, leadership, and policy innovation. The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) has a long-standing reputation for developing world-class leaders in governance, diplomacy, and administration. Many of its alumni have gone on to become heads of state, senior government officials, and influential decision-makers across sectors. The Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century program is specifically designed to enhance the leadership, negotiation, and strategic decision-making skills of those tackling some of the worlds most pressing challenges. Participants engage in rigorous academic sessions, case studies, peer-to-peer learning, and discussions with Harvards distinguished faculty and global experts. Learning is a lifelong journey! I am delighted to share that I've been selected by the prestigious Harvard University for its program on Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century - at Harvard Kennedy School @Kennedy_School in Boston, USA. As one of the youngest pic.twitter.com/q7BoGvhO3k Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) March 6, 2025 At a time when nations are grappling with challenges such as unemployment, climate change, economic volatility, energy crises, and growing social & economic inequalities, this program provides leaders with cutting-edge insights, tools, and strategies to navigate complex policy landscapes and drive impactful change. The curriculum blends theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, ensuring that participants gain both a global perspective and practical problem-solving skills. Expressing his excitement about the opportunity, Chadha said, "I am super excited to be back at school. I am honoured to be hand-picked for this prestigious program, and deeply grateful to the Harvard as well as World Economic Forum for this opportunity. This is a unique opportunity to enhance my learning in global leadership and acquire a skill set in policy-making while engaging with some of the brightest minds in governance, public affairs, and public policy. Its truly a back to school moment for me, and I look forward to gaining new insights that will contribute to Indias policymaking landscape." Chadha also highlighted the importance of applying these learnings to Indias policy framework, stating, "I am eager to bring back valuable global perspectives to enhance policy decisions in India. The world is interconnected, and learning from top policymakers and experts will help us innovate and craft better solutions to challenges that affect not just India but the world at large." This selection underscores Chadhas rising prominence as a globally recognized policymaker. His contributions to governance and lawmaking, combined with his legal acumen and commitment to public service, have positioned him as a leader capable of driving meaningful policy reforms both in India and on the global stage. His participation in this program not only enriches his personal and professional growth but also strengthens Indias representation in international leadership discussions. The World Economic Forums Young Global Leaders initiative plays a critical role in shaping the next generation of global changemakers by connecting them with transformational learning opportunities such as this program at Harvard Kennedy School. Through this experience, Chadha will enhance his strategic decision-making, leadership, and governance skills, ensuring that his contributions to policy making remain impactful, innovative, and globally informed. As Chadha joins a select group of global leaders in Boston, Cambridge, his participation further reinforces Indias growing influence in international policymaking and governance discussions. This experience at Harvard Kennedy School will not only expand his skill set but also empower him to craft more effective, future-ready policies for India. Hours after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Kashmir issue will be solved once stolen territory under illegal Pakistani occupation is returned, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that no one has stopped the government from bringing the PoK back. Speaking in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Abdullah said they would be grateful to the BJP-led government if it also retrieves the part of the Union Territory (UT) under illegal occupation of China. Referring to the speech of BJP MLAs in the House, Abdullah said the Congress was targeted for leaving Haji Peer in the Uri sector to Pakistan but the BJP did not get back even after getting an opportunity in 1999. "During the Kargil war, there was an opportunity to get back PoK because it was Pakistan which attacked us. If you were so willing, you would have brought back that part but what stopped you? When you look at the map of Jammu and Kashmir, one part is also in China but you do not talk about it," he said. He said when the BJP-led central government brings back PoK, they should also bring that part of J-K which is presently in China and "we will be grateful to you". Abdullah said the BJP is justifying the separation by saying that it was the long-pending demand of the people of Ladakh. "Have you asked them? Have you tried to find out? "From day one, the people of Kargil were against this decision. The Buddhists of Ladakh who distributed sweets are today of the opinion that they were better placed with J&K. They walked from Leh to Delhi to get back their rights," he said. The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government shared an inspiring story of a boatman who earned Rs 30 crore during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh held in Prayagraj. Pintu Mahara garnered the limelight after his story was shared by the UP CM himself. Sharing the story of the boatman, the state government called his decision to expand his fleet just before the mega-religious gathering a "bold decision" that changed his life. According to a statement issued on Wednesday, the 45-day Maha Kumbh brought forth many success stories, but one that stood out was that of Pintu Mahara, the boatman from the Arail area of Prayagraj. "Pintu Mahara, a boatman from the Arail area of Prayagraj, earned Rs 30 crores in 45 days. Pintu's life took a dramatic turn with one bold decision. Anticipating a massive influx of devotees, he expanded his fleet from 60 to 130 boats ahead of the Maha Kumbh," the statement read. "This strategic move proved highly rewarding, ensuring substantial earnings and securing his family's future for generations," the statement said. The press statement did not give other details, including the cost incurred on purchasing the boat and the daily cost of running one boat. The statement came a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told the state assembly about the earnings of the family while countering the opposition's criticism of the Maha Kumbh. Reacting to the Samajwadi Party's allegation that the boatmen of Prayagraj were "exploited," the chief minister told the House, "I am telling the success story of a boatman's family. They have 130 boats. In 45 days (of Maha Kumbh), they made a profit of Rs 30 crore... This means each boat has earned Rs 23 lakh. On a daily basis, they earned Rs 50,000-52,000 from each boat." The Maha Kumbh 2025 began on January 13 and ended on February 26. The state government has claimed that over 65 crore devotees visited Maha Kumbh. Mozambican police opened fire on supporters of opposition leader Venancio Mondlane as they marched on March 5 in the capital, Maputo, resulting in at least 10 injuries, according to Mondlanes team and human rights groups. The protest occurred yesterday just hours before President Daniel Chapo signed an agreement with some political parties aimed at addressing ongoing protests related to his controversial election victory. Mondlane, who came second in the presidential race, was excluded from the discussions and the resulting agreement, which is intended to review Mozambiques electoral laws. The polices action to disperse the march left Mondlanes whereabouts unknown, with his team stating that 16 individuals had been injured during the crackdown. A video posted on Mondlanes Facebook page showed him earlier in the day surrounded by a crowd before gunshots were heard, and the broadcast abruptly cut off. Zenaida Machado, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, confirmed that at least 10 individuals were injured in the police response, describing the use of force against a peaceful gathering as detrimental to Mozambiques stability. Political analysts argue that the exclusion of Mondlane from the talks undermines any potential for meaningful progress, with many viewing the negotiations between Chapos government and other political parties as merely symbolic. Mondlane has continued to denounce the results of the 2023 election, claiming it was rigged by the ruling Frelimo party. He has vowed to persist in his anti-government protests, asserting that the fight for a fairer political system will continue, even if it takes years. Police have detained a 17-year-old boy for killing an elderly man, who allegedly tried to sexually attack him in Nagpur city of Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday. The incident occurred on February 25 in Durga Nagar area of Koradi in the city, they said. The deceased, Papa Madavi, was 65 years old, an official of Koradi police station said. "The boy, who works as a construction worker, had met Madavi in January this year. On the day of the incident, the man invited the teenager to his house and tried to sexually attack him. The boy resisted the attempt, but the man pulled out a knife and a scuffle ensued," he said. The boy grabbed a blade and slashed the man on his neck, he said, adding that the minor also took hold of the knife and stabbed the man multiple times, killing him on the spot. After the incident, the boy escaped from the spot and went to his native place in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat. After the police were alerted about the incident, a probe was launched and they tracked down the boy in Balaghat. He was brought to Nagpur and detained, he said. Tamil Nadu Three Language Policy: Amid the ongoing debate around the alleged 'imposition of languages' in the Southern States, a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court seeking implementation of the three-language formula, proposed by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. The plea filed by BJP lawyer GS Mani said the refusal or failure of the state government to implement the National Educational Policy of the Central Government or sign an MoU may harm the public interest or infringe on citizens' rights. Meanwhile, former Telangana Governor and BJP Leader Tamilisai Soundarajan was stopped by police in her attempt to carry forward the BJP Signature Campaign in support of the National Education Policy in Chennai. Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP State President K. Annamalai, and others participated in the campaign questioning DMK's opposition to the three-language policy under NEP. The BJP leader Soundararajan questioned why children are denied the opportunity to study another language, which will open new job opportunities. Annamalai claimed that police have "arrested" Tamilisai Soundararajan and said the party will not back down. Here Are Top Updates 1. Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai on Thursday claimed that over one lakh people across the state have supported the Bharatiya Janata Party's online campaign on the three-language policy. 2. The petition filed in the top court sought direction to the state governments to implement the National Education Policy and sign an MoU, which involves fundamental public welfare and rights of education, constitutional rights, or government obligations that are being neglected or violated and is very well maintainable. "The state government is under a constitutional or legal obligation to implement the National Educational Policy 2020 of the central government and to enter into an MOU for the implementation of the said policy, scheme, or project," the petition stated, as quoted by ANI. 3. All state governments except Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal have adopted and implemented the central government's most important national education policy, the tri-language curriculum policy, advocate Mani said. 4. In the petition, the National Education Policy is a major education policy plan brought by the central government to improve the quality of school education for students from all walks of life. "All Indian languages should be taught free of cost to schoolchildren belonging to the poor, scheduled tribes, backward, and the most backward classes children," the petition added. 5. The petition said that the state governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal are refusing to accept the three-language formula for political reasons, citing the false reason of imposing Hindi. 6. The central government's laws, plans, and policies apply to all state governments, the petition further stated. It is the duty of the state government to implement such a policy, and this is a fundamental duty and right given in the Constitution, it added. "Free education is a fundamental right given by the Constitution. By refusing to accept this plan, the state government is denying the fundamental right of free education to the schoolchildren concerned. Therefore, the Supreme Court should intervene in this matter and issue an order to these three state governments to immediately implement the central government's National Education Policy," added the PIL. 7. While the Centre defended the policy as a step towards multilingualism, Tamil Nadu said that it unfairly pressures non-Hindi-speaking states. 8. The Tamil Nadu government has accused the central government of trying to push Hindi "sideways" through the NEP, despite the state's longstanding resistance to such policies. 9. The government has strongly opposed implementing the NEP, raising concern over the three-language formula and alleging that the Centre wants to "impose" Hindi. 10. In a post on X, Annamalai attacked CM Stalin on the issue and said, "Having realised that the opposition to the three-language policy hasn't yielded support from the common people, Thiru MK Stalin has now jumped to the imaginary Hindi imposition." The Tamil Nadu BJP chief further claimed that the Tamil language is not being taught compulsorily in the matriculation schools. (With ANI Inputs) US President Donald Trump accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after a telephone conversation about the trade war, of trying to "use the issue to stay in power." Trump shared details of conversation with Trudeau on social media and said, " He (Trudeau) was unable to tell me when the Canadian Election is taking place, which made me curious, like, what's going on here? I then realized he is trying to use this issue to stay in power." The US President also stated that nothing has convinced him the smuggling of fentanyl has stopped and mentioned that their conversation ended "somewhat" friendly. "Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs. I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped. He said that its gotten better, but I said, Thats not good enough. The call ended in a somewhat friendly manner!" Trump said. US President Donald J. Trump posts, "Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs. I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped. He said pic.twitter.com/O2hleRtq6c ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2025 Trump also stated that he told the Canadian PM it was due to Trudeau's "weak border policies" that large amounts of fentanyl and "illegal aliens" have entered the United States. "For anyone who is interested, I also told Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada that he largely caused the problems we have with them because of his Weak Border Policies, which allowed tremendous amounts of Fentanyl, and Illegal Aliens, to pour into the United States. These Policies are responsible for the death of many people!," Trump added. (With ANI inputs) A group of pro-Khalistan supporters staged a protest on Wednesday, attempting to disrupt India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar's visit to London. The protesters held flags and speakers while chanting slogans outside the venue where Jaishankar participated in a discussion hosted by Chatham House. During his six-day visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland, EAM Jaishankar held discussions with UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and several other senior leaders. The video of the incident went viral on social media, showing a man aggressively rushing toward the minister's convoy while officers initially appeared hesitant to act. The clip shows the man holding a tricolor, with others chanting pro-Khalistan slogans. Khalistani goons attempt to heckle Indias External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar in London while he was leaving in a car. A man can be seen trying to run towards him, tearing the Indian national flag in front of cops. Police seem helpless, as if ordered to not act. pic.twitter.com/zSYrqDgBRx THE SQUADRON (@THE_SQUADR0N) March 5, 2025 In his meeting with UK's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Tuesday, Jaishankar said that the two leaders held discussions on areas such as the flow of talent and joint efforts between India and the UK to tackle "trafficking and extremism". He shared a post on X and said, "A good meeting with Home Secretary @YvetteCooperMP today in London. We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism." Earlier in January, a group of pro-Khalistan extremists gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London for a protest. (With ANI inputs) The typical adult in the UK spends nearly two hours on social media per day. And for younger users, this can easily be up to five hours. The likes of Instagram or TikTok seem to draw us into their ever-changing feeds and its difficult to tear ourselves away from these platforms. Now our latest study shows that even our body reflects a state of being glued to the screen when we are on social media. We asked 54 young adults to browse their Instagram on their phone for 15 minutes as they would normally do in their daily life. However, in our study we had attached electrodes to their chest and fingers that allowed us to record their heart rate and skin conductance, which is an indicator of sweating. Psychologists can use these physiological markers to infer subtle mental states and emotions. We also added a control condition where our participants read a news article on their phone, just before they logged onto Instagram. What we found was that, relative to the news reading condition, scrolling away on Instagram led to a marked slowing of participants heart rate while, at the same time, increasing their sweating response. From other research we know that such a pattern of bodily responses shows that someones attention is fully absorbed by a highly significant or emotional stimulus in their environment its a state of simultaneous excitement and deep immersion into something very meaningful to us. Importantly, from the control condition we knew that it was not just being on the phone or reading that caused this bodily response. So there seems to be something special about social media that can easily engross us. The most intriguing effect in our study happened when we interrupted participants at the end of their Instagram stint and asked them to go back to reading another news article. Rather than snapping out of the excitement and returning to a calmer state, participants sweating response increased further, while heart rate also increased rather than slowed down further. Is it addiction? What was going on? What helped us interpret these effects were participants ratings of their emotions. We collected these before their social media bout and at the time we asked them to log off. Participants reported being stressed and anxious when they had to disconnect from their feed. They even reported having social media cravings at that moment. So it looked like the physiological response that we observed when participants had to log off reflected another form of arousal but this time it was more negative and stress-related. Such bodily and psychological stress responses also occur when people with a substance addiction go through withdrawal during abstinence or after quitting cold turkey. So were these signs that we observed withdrawal from Instagram? The answer to this question is not straightforward. However, our study may give us some clues. After the experiment, we asked all participants to fill in a questionnaire assessing symptoms of social media addiction. While this concept is controversial and currently not recognised as a mental health disorder, the questionnaire told us something about how social media use can negatively affect someones daily life. This can even include their work or school results, or lead to conflict with their partners. Notably, we did not see any heart rate and sweating differences between participants who scored high or low on these addiction measures. That means, that all our participants showed a pattern of excited immersion during use and stress-related arousal when use was interrupted. We dont think that this finding means that we are all addicted to social media though. Instead, we believe that social media offers very powerful rewards. And some of its features may indeed have an addictive dimension, such as the personalised short-video streams that trap us in an endless loop of entertaining content. Critically however, our previous study shows that it is primarily the social aspect of social media that drives most people to use it so intensively. This also means that in contrast to drugs social media taps into basic human needs: we all want to belong and to be liked. So if we recognise the existence of social media addiction, we might also need to recognise a friendship addiction. We should therefore exert caution with the term addiction in the context of social media the risk is that normal behaviour could become pathologised and lead to stigma. And, as our previous research indicates, we may be just fine abstaining or cutting down from social media for a while without experiencing dramatic changes to our wellbeing (either positive or negative). The reason for this is that in contrast to drugs, we can satisfy our needs through other means for instance, by talking to people. New Delhi: The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has simplified the process for members to update their personal details. Now, if your Universal Account Number (UAN) is linked and verified with Aadhaar, you can update key informationlike your name, date of birth, gender, and morewithout needing to upload any documents. This change makes profile updates quicker and hassle-free for EPF members. Earlier, EPF members had to wait for their employers approval to update their profiles. This led to an average delay of about 28 days. However, with the new rule, many changes can now be made faster. According to the EPFO, Out of the total 8 lakh requests received at EPFO for correction through employers in FY 2024-25, almost 45% of the change requests can be self-approved by the member without employers verification or approval at EPFO. Is employer approval needed for these updates? Employer certification is only required in certain cases, specifically if the UAN was issued before October 1, 2017. To update or withdraw from your EPF account, you must link both your Aadhaar and PAN. If there are any mismatches between your EPF details and Aadhaar, it could delay approvals. Resolving these discrepancies may take a few weeks, depending on how long the employer and EPFO take to process the corrections. How to Update Your EPF Profile Details? Follow these simple steps to update your EPF profile details online: Step 1: Visit the Unified Member Portal. Step 2: Log in using your UAN (Universal Account Number), password, and captcha. Step 3: Click on the Manage tab from the top menu. Step 4: Select Modify Basic Details to update details like name, date of birth, or gender. Step 5: Enter the correct details as per your Aadhaar card and submit. You can track the status of your request under the Track Request section in the portal. What is UAN? UAN (Universal Account Number) is a unique 12-digit number that helps employees manage their provident fund accounts easily. To access benefits under the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme by EPFO, members must activate their UAN and link their bank account with Aadhaar. Samsung One UI 7 Update: South Korean giant Samsung has officially confirmed that the Android 15-based One UI 7 update will begin rolling out to the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S23, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 models. However, the eligible Galaxy devices will be able to access the new update next month in April. The company has already released the beta version and will expand the public beta version to Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 this week in a limited region that will include India, Korea, the UK, and the US. The users can apply to join the beta program via Samsung Members. To recall, Samsung officially released the One UI 7 update with the Galaxy S25 series on January 22. The Samsung One UI 7 update brings a refreshed interface, enhanced features, AI-powered upgrades, and a more personalized user experience. It is important to note that Samsung releases the new One UI update between 1 and 3 months after Google releases the new Android. Samsung One UI 7 Update: AI Features Samsungs One UI 7 introduces a range of visually appealing UI enhancements, including the AI-powered Now Bar and Now Brief, which analyze user interactions with apps. The new update update also debuts a redesigned Quick Settings Panel, now distinct from the notification panel. Adding further, the AI-driven features like an improved Circle to Search, Object Eraser, AI Writing Tools, and Interpreter elevate the smartphone experience, bringing the power of AI to users fingertips. Samsung One UI 7 Update: Security Features Samsung's One UI 7 update strengthens security with the Knox Matrix system, providing a clearer and more user-friendly way to manage protection across connected devices. The update also simplifies data recovery with its Enhanced Data Protection feature. If users lose access to a trusted device, they can securely transfer their Samsung Cloud data to a new one by verifying the lock screen (PIN, pattern, or password) of the old device. Samsung One UI 7 Update: Secure Wi-Fi Networks The update also brings passkey login for Samsung Accounts, providing a more secure and convenient sign-in method. Additionally, the new Maximum Restrictions feature enhances network security by blocking 2G services and preventing automatic reconnection to less secure Wi-Fi networks. Samsung One UI 7 Update: Malicious Apps And Threats To protect against malicious apps, the Safe Install feature, along with Auto Blocker, warns users about downloads from untrusted sources. Adding further, One UI 7 enhances security for Galaxy devices with exclusive features, including the new Identity Check, which adds an extra layer of protection if a PIN is compromised. This complements existing tools like Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has claimed that the Biden administration deliberately blocked the return of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS), despite his company's offer of a rescue mission months earlier. Musk shared a post on microblogging site X saying that now the President Donald Trump intervened, pushing for their immediate return. "The astronauts were only supposed to be up there for 8 days and now have been there for 8 months. SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it. President Trump asked to bring them back as soon as possible and we are doing so," the post read. The astronauts were only supposed to be up there for 8 days and now have been there for 8 months. SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it. President Trump asked to bring them back as https://t.co/BVsHRn2Ocf Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2025 Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June. They launched on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 5 for its inaugural crewed mission, arriving at the space station on June 6. Beijing: Days after its assertion to fight trade or any other type of war with the US, China on Thursday toned down its stand saying that no such wars should be fought because they cannot be won. The US must no longer seek to contain or go after China in the name of strategic competition, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told the media here responding to US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth's remark that his country doesn't seek a war with China, but will rebuild the military and prepare for war. We've always held the clear cut view that whatever kind of war it is, a tariff war or a trade war, a cold war or a hot war, they should not be fought and cannot be won, Lin said. In contrast, on Tuesday Lin had said: Let me reiterate that intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us. Pressuring, coercion or threats are not the right way of dealing with China. Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating. If the US has other agenda in mind and if war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end, he said, replying to a question on US tariffs on Chinese goods. Reacting to Lin's comments, Hegseth said on Wednesday on Fox News: Those who long for peace must prepare for war, [and] that's why we're rebuilding our military. That's why we're establishing deterrence. President Donald Trump understands peace comes through strength, and he also has a good relationship with the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Hegseth's comments posted on the US Defence Department website on Wednesday said. He said the US is not actively seeking conflict with China. We don't seek that war, Hegseth said. But my job as secretary of defence is to make sure we're ready. [So], we need the defence spending, the capabilities, the weapons and the posture in the Indo-Pacific, which is something we're very much focused on. Asked for his reaction to Hegseth's remarks, Lin said on Thursday the rhetoric of the US official is aimed at fuelling ideological confrontation and spreading the so-called China threat that doesn't exist. The US needs to realise that China is not a mirror image of the hegemonic US. The US should stop viewing China-US relations with an outdated Cold War mentality, he said. Beijing's heightened rhetoric comes in the midst of growing tensions between US and China over Trump's two instalments of 10 per cent tariffs on Chinese exports to America with threat to impose more. Trump is demanding China to address US concerns over fentanyl, a potent opioid drug blamed for widespread drug addiction in America. China on Tuesday retaliated against Trump's imposition of second round of 10 per cent tariffs on its export by slapping an additional 15 per cent tariffs on American goods and initiated legal action against Washington in WTO. China's rhetoric also coincides with China's annual parliament session which opened on Wednesday here. Chinese President Xi Jinping and close to 3,000 legislators are attending the weeklong session. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to address the media on the sidelines of the Parliament session on Friday. On the fentanyl issue, Lin said on Tuesday that the US, not anyone else, is responsible for the fentanyl crisis inside the US. In the spirit of humanity and goodwill towards the American people, we have taken robust steps to assist the US in dealing with the issue. This is obvious to all and people from various sectors in the US have expressed thanks to China on multiple occasions, he said Instead of recognising our efforts, the US has sought to vilify and shift the blame to China, and is seeking to pressure and blackmail China with tariff hikes. They've been punishing us for helping them. This is not going to solve the US' problem and will undermine our counter-narcotics dialogue and cooperation, Lin said. Five people were killed and five others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the Khuzdar district of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province on Wednesday. Naal police Station House Officer (SHO) Bahawal Khan Pindrani said that the explosion took place after an IED attached to a motorcycle was detonated by a remote device. The blast took place at Naal Market and the injured have been moved to the hospital, he said. District Health Officer Rafiq Sasoli said the condition of two of the injured was serious and they had got five bodies in the morgue. Khan said the bomb disposal squad was present at the spot and inspecting the site. Khuzdar Senior Superintendent of Police Javed Zehri told a television channel that the blast occurred near a college in the markets vicinity and burnt vehicles too. He said security forces timely action prevented another terror attack in Balochistans Pishin area. Acting on intelligence, four terrorists were arrested in Pishin as they were planning a terror attack on Wednesday, he added. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the blast in a statement, adding that orders were issued to provide the injured with the best medical care available. Terrorism will be eradicated in all its forms, Bugti was quoted as saying. Elements hostile to peace will fail in their nefarious objectives and those involved in this incident will be brought to justice. Balochistan has been braving violence for more than two decades. On January 26, two people were killed and seven others injured in a car bomb explosion close to a passenger bus travelling from Khuzdar to Rawalpindi. The Islamabad-based think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, has said that the country has already witnessed 79 terrorist attacks last month, resulting in the deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, while 45 civilians and 81 security personnel were injured. It said during counter-terrorism operations, 156 terrorists have been killed, 20 injured and another 60 arrested. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A spatial transcriptomics machine holds brain tissue samples in David Gate's lab in Chicago. Credit: Northwestern University For more than three decades, scientists have been racing to stop Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloid beta plaquessticky clumps of toxic protein that accumulate in the brain. Now, a new Northwestern Medicine study suggests a promising alternative: enhancing the brain's own immune cells to clear these plaques more effectively. The paper was published in Nature Medicine. The findings could reshape the future of Alzheimer's treatments, shifting the focus from simply removing plaques to harnessing the brain's natural defenses. Earlier attempts at an Alzheimer's vaccine failed when the immune system's response caused dangerous brain swelling. Even today's FDA-approved antibody treatments remain controversial, offering only modest benefits with potential side effects and high-price points. "I think everyone agrees that, although these drugs are becoming more effective, they ultimately do not cure Alzheimer's disease patients," said corresponding author David Gate, an assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the director of the Abrams Research Center on Neurogenomics. "These drugs stimulate the immune cells of the brain to remove amyloid beta, but we believe that the data in our publication can be utilized to make these drugs work even better." A computer image of a brain with Alzheimer's Disease that has been treated with amyloid-beta immunization. Credit: Northwestern University Study authors David Gate and Lynn van Olst examine a computer image of a brain with Alzheimer's Disease that has been treated with amyloid-beta immunization. Credit: Northwestern University The study is the first to use a cutting-edge technique called spatial transcriptomics on human clinical-trial brains with Alzheimer's disease. The technique allows scientists to pinpoint the specific spatial location of gene activity inside a tissue sample. By analyzing donated brain tissue from deceased people with Alzheimer's disease who received amyloid-beta immunization and comparing it to those who did not, the scientists found that when these treatments work, the brain's immune cells (called microglia) don't just clear plaquesthey also help restore a healthier brain environment. But not all microglia are created equal. Some are quite effective at removing plaques, while others struggle, the study found. Also, microglia in treated brains adopt distinct states depending on the brain region and type of immunization. Lastly, certain genes, like TREM2 and APOE, are more active in microglia in response to treatment, helping these cells remove amyloid beta plaques, according to the findings. "A long-standing question in the field of Alzheimer's therapeutics is, if we coax these immune cells into removing the amyloid, are they just always going to be in that amyloid-removal mode?" Gate said. "The answer we found is no, they can remove the amyloid and then go back to being good and appear to actually help the brain heal." Stopping Alzheimer's 'dominoes' from falling The amyloid cascade hypothesis, the prevailing theory of Alzheimer's disease development, can be compared to a row of dominoes. If amyloid plaques can be cleared from the brain before they trigger the formation of tau pathologythe key driver of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patientsthe cascade is halted before it can begin, preventing further damage. "The idea is that in people who already have Alzheimer's disease, yes, you can maybe remove amyloid, but if the tau spread has been set in motion, you are fighting an uphill battle," Gate said. "But maybe, if you treat people so early that they don't yet have tau pathology, you can stop the domino effect from happening. Our study is the first to identify the mechanisms in microglia, the brain's immune cells, that help limit the spread of amyloid in certain brain regions following treatment with amyloid-targeting drugs. "If we can define the mechanisms that are associated with clearance of the pathology, and we can find the genetic makeup of immune cells that are associated with people that are really responding well to the drug, then maybe one day we can circumvent the whole drug process and just target these specific cells," Gate said. Brown amyloid beta plaques are visible in the slide on the left, which contains a tissue sample of an untreated brain with Alzheimer's Disease. There are no plaques in the tissue sample on the right, which is from a treated brain. Credit: Northwestern University Study authors David Gate and Lynn van Olst compare two tissues containing brain tissue. Brown amyloid beta plaques are visible in the slide on the left, which contains a tissue sample of an untreated brain with Alzheimer's Disease. There are no plaques in the tissue sample on the right, which is from a treated brain. Credit: Northwestern University Currently, there isn't a way to target these immune cells, Gate said, but methods of targeting cells in the brain are improving year over year. The study included six control brains that had no neurologic disease; six brains with Alzheimer's disease that had not been treated with any immunization drug; and 13 brains that had been vaccinated with amyloid beta. Of those 13, seven had high levels of amyloid-plaque clearance in the brain while the other six had limited amounts of clearance. The scientists then compared the immune cells in the brains between those two groups. "Our study is highly novel because we had the rare opportunity to analyze one of the largest post-mortem brain cohorts of Alzheimer's patients treated with amyloid-targeting drugssimilar to those now approved by the FDA for Alzheimer's disease," said lead author Lynn van Olst. "This allowed us to investigate the brain mechanisms that determine why some individuals respond well to these treatments and successfully clear toxic amyloid-beta, while others do not. We found that brain immune cells play a crucial role in this process and identified the molecular genetic factors that drive these differences." More information: Microglial mechanisms drive amyloid- clearance in immunized Alzheimer's disease patients, Nature Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03574-1. www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03574-1 Journal information: Nature Medicine Maharishi Vedic City, a small community in Iowa, has been using a local currency known as the "Raam" for transactions within its boundaries. The currency was introduced in 2001 by the Global Country of World Peace (GCWP), an organization founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the proponent of Transcendental Meditation. The Global Country of World Peace, established by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, is a network of educational organizations operating in over 100 countries with the goal of fostering global peace, progress, and prosperity. The Raam currency was created as an alternative monetary system to support local businesses and economic activities within the city. It is available in denominations of 1, 5, and 10 Raam notes, with each Raam pegged at 10 U.S. dollars. While primarily used in Maharishi Vedic City, it has also seen limited circulation in some European countries, particularly in the Netherlands. The currency is not considered legal tender by the U.S. government but is accepted within the community by businesses and institutions affiliated with the GCWP. The initiative was intended to promote economic self-sufficiency and encourage sustainable development. Ram Currency is used in Maharshi Vedic City, Iowa, US. It is so beautiful to watch our Prabhu Shri Ram on currency. 1Ram = $10 pic.twitter.com/9tkyFVT9K7 Tathvam-asi (@ssaratht) March 4, 2025 Maharishi Vedic City was incorporated in 2001 and is built around Vedic principles, including architecture, meditation, and sustainable living. The city follows strict guidelines in construction and lifestyle, promoting a holistic way of living based on ancient Vedic traditions. Although the use of Raam currency remains niche, it highlights the city's unique approach to self-sustained economic practices. However, all residents and businesses continue to use the U.S. dollar as the primary currency for official transactions outside the community. President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a last warning to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, directing a sharply worded message after the White House confirmed that he had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group. Trump, in a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting at the White House with eight former hostages, added that he was sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you, Trump said. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! The pointed language from Trump came after the White House said Wednesday that U.S. Officials have engaged in ongoing talks and discussions with Hamas officials, stepping away from a long-held U.S. Policy of not directly engaging in the militant group. Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha come as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance. It's the first known direct engagement between the U.S. And Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to provide detail on the the substance of talks, but said President Donald Trump has authorized his envoys to talk to anyone. Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries have served as mediators with Hamas for the U.S. And Israel since the group launched its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war. Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what's in the best interest of the American people is something that the president ... Believes is a good-faith effort to do what's right for the American people, she said. Leavitt added that Israel has been consulted about the direct engagement with Hamas officials, and noted that there are American lives at stake. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office offered a terse acknowledgement of the U.S.-Hamas talks. Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas, the prime minister's office said. Israeli officials say about 24 living hostages including Edan Alexander, an American citizen as well as the bodies of at least 35 others are believed to still be held in Gaza. Adam Boehler, Trump's nominee to be special envoy for hostage affairs, led the direct talks with Hamas. Boehler, founder and CEO of Rubicon Founders, a healthcare investment firm, was a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team during Trump's first term that strove to win broader recognition of Israel in the Arab world. The talks, which took place last month, focused mainly on the release of American hostages, and a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that no progress was made but the step itself is promising and more talks are expected. Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped arrange the talks. The direct engagement comes as continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains uncertain. Trump has signaled that he has no intentions of pushing Netanyahu away from a return to combat if Hamas doesn't agree to terms of a new ceasefire proposal, which the Israelis have billed as being drafted by U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff. The new plan would require Hamas to release half its remaining hostages the militant group's main bargaining chip in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners, a key component of the first phase. Trump on Wednesday welcomed eight former hostages Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani to the White House. The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories, Leavitt said. "The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home. The talks between U.S. And Hamas officials were first reported earlier Wednesday by the news site Axios. Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The British government has reacted to the major security breach during Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's visit to London. Yesterday, when Dr Jaishankar was leaving the Chatham House in London, Khalistani extremists tried to heckle him and one of them even ran in front of his car, triggering a major security breach. External Affairs Ministry of India condemned the incident and hours later, now the UK also issued a statement. Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said that it strongly condemns the incident. "We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside Chatham House yesterday during the External Affairs Ministers visit to the UK. While the UK upholds the right to peaceful protest, any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly to address the situation, and we remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations," said the FCDO. Earlier, India's MEA said, "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations." Pro-Khalistan protesters staged a demonstration outside Chatham House in London on Wednesday (UK local time), where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was attending a discussion. Holding flags and loudspeakers, the demonstrators gathered outside the venue, chanting slogans as Jaishankar spoke inside. United States President Donald Trump has already shaken the world with his unpredictable moves and policy decisions. Speaking to the US Congress, Trump praised Pakistan for the extradition of terrorists responsible for the killings of US soldiers. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif was quick to respond to Trump for his praise. But now, the US President is all set to drop a travel ban bomb on Pakistan, a nation known for harbouring terrorists. According to reports, US President Trump is expected to issue a travel ban order as early as next week, potentially restricting entry for individuals from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The decision follows a government review assessing security and vetting risks associated with various countries. This decision echoes Trump's previous travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations during his first term. The policy, which included Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 but later revoked by President Joe Biden. On January 20, Trump issued an executive order mandating stricter security vetting for foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S. to identify potential national security threats. The order required several cabinet members to submit a list of countries by March 12 where travel should be partially or fully restricted due to inadequate vetting and screening procedures. According to four sources, Afghanistan is expected to be included in the list for a complete travel ban. Three of those sources also indicated that Pakistan would be recommended for inclusion. Notably, the US has been deporting illegal migrants to their respective countries including Europe and Asia. Pakistani nationals already have been on the radar of security forces across the globe and are often subjected to stricter frisking. Recently, Pakistan also warned its citizens and first-time fliers against taking foreign trips. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: UC Davis Professor Janet Foley takes a blood sample from a dog in Mexico as part of Rocky Mountain spotted fever prevention efforts. Credit: Oscar Zazueta, Harvard Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a bacterial infection spread by biting ticks to humans and dogs. Found on every continent except Antarctica, the infectious disease has been spreading since the early 2000s, most notably in Mexico and Brazil. Of the cases reported, more than half of infected people and dogs die. A paper led by the University of California, Davis, highlights one of the most effective but often missing solutions to surviving this preventable, deadly disease: awareness. Most fatal cases stem from delays in diagnosis and treatment. "The No. 1 thing that prevents human death from Rocky Mountain spotted fever is for everyone at high risk to knowincluding their doctorsand to seek medical care on day one," said lead author Janet Foley, a professor of medicine and epidemiology in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The paper, published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, suggests how doctors, veterinarians, public health officials and communities can reduce the spread of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. An urban epidemic Symptoms often begin as a fever, headache and rash and, untreated, can lead to organ failure and death. While cases are reported worldwide, the disease has become an urban epidemic in Mexico and Brazil, where it often occurs in highly marginalized neighborhoods. Children and people living in extreme poverty with under-resourced health care systems and little community infrastructure are at the greatest risk. A dog rests on a chair in Mexicali, Mexico. Ticks that carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever prefer to feed on free-roaming dogs, which can spread the disease to humans. Credit: Janet Foley, UC Davis Capybaras, the world's largest rodent, are well-adjusted to urban life in Brazil, living alongside city parks. Ticks carrying Rocky Mountain spotted fever prefer to feed on them, creating unprecedented case numbers of the disease in Sao Paulo. Neutering capybaras in affected areas could help, a UC Davis study says. Credit: Marcelo Labruna, University of Sao Paulo The ticks that carry R. rickettsii, the bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, prefer to feast on free-roaming dogs in Mexico and on capybaras in Brazil. Docile and water-loving, capybaras are the biggest rodent in the world. Like dogs, they are well-adjusted to urban life in Brazil, with large populations living alongside city parks and waterways. This has created unprecedented numbers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases in Brazil, especially in Sao Paulo. Recommendations for dogs, capybaras and people There is no vaccine available to prevent Rocky Mountain spotted fever in dogs, capybaras or people. To reduce ticks and the spread of disease, the authors recommend dog owners keep fewer dogs, restrict them to their property, and spay and neuter them. The paper also suggests neutering capybaras in affected areas, either through surgery or chemically. Additionally, intact wild lands and fencing around croplands could reduce capybara interactions with humans. The paper notes that capybaras are extremely territorial, which suggests that sterilizing a large population of urban capybaras would likely prevent other capybaras from reestablishing in the area. "We have to protect people and get rid of the ticks," Foley said. "When you think about dogs and ticks, you'd assume this would be easy. These aren't obscure animals you have to catch and find. Their ticks often aren't highly resistant to insecticides. And yet, we have a super serious problem that is deceptively hard to treat. These problems require real, sustained intervention." Rather than spread limited resources around a city, Foley recommends public health officials prioritize an especially vulnerable neighborhood and treat every single dog over the course of several months until the ticks are gone. "One small piece at a time, we can bring down tick numbers, and that will protect people and dogs," Foley said. The authors urge people who think they may have Rocky Mountain spotted fever to seek medical treatment immediately. They said veterinarians and doctors need to learn to recognize the symptoms, understand the treatments, and consider prescribing the antibiotic doxycycline, which can prevent death and severe illness. Hundreds of bites from Amblyomma sculptum larvae cover a man's side and back. The ticks are known to carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Credit: Marcelo Labruna, University of Sao Paulo Ticks cover the ears and back of this dog in Mexico, where the disease has become an urban epidemic in some areas. Credit: Janet Foley, UC Davis From left, Oscar Zazueta of Harvard and Janet Foley of UC Davis evaluate neighborhood homes in Mexico for risk of ticks and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a tickborne disease that transcends borders and can be prevented if diagnosed and treated immediately. Credit: State of Baja California, ISESALUD Disease transcends borders Rocky Mountain spotted fever transcends national borders. As the climate gets hotter and drier, ticks that spread the illness are expected to feed further and farther north. Health care practitioners globally can learn from experienced doctors in Latin America about how to recognize and treat the disease. "The myriad of determinants involved in the causal chain of Rocky Mountain spotted fever needs to be addressed with a comprehensive approach like that of One Health, and with a regional perspective in the Americas," said co-author Gerardo Alvarez Hernandez, a professor of medicine and health sciences at the University of Sonora in Mexico. More information: Janet Foley et al, A wolf at the door: the ecology, epidemiology, and emergence of community- and urban-level Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the Americas, American Journal of Veterinary Research (2025). DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.24.11.0368 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In collaboration with the Andrology Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, over 500 men with unexplained infertility were studied to determine a possible genetic cancer predisposition. Credit: Andero Kalju A study conducted by researchers at the University of Tartu showed a nearly five-fold enrichment of hereditary cancer variants in infertile men compared to fertile men. The article "Significantly increased load of hereditary cancerlinked germline variants in infertile men" was published in Human Reproduction Open. One in 10 men suffer from sub- or infertility, and it is an independent risk factor for several chronic diseases. According to Anu Valkna, a Junior Research Fellow in the Chair of Human Genetics at the University of Tartu and one of the study's authors, previous research has shown that men with lower sperm counts have an increased risk of developing cancer during their lifetime. "Previous studies have also shown that not only infertile men but also their relatives have a higher risk of cancer. We explored whether these observations could be explained by genetic predisposition," she said. In collaboration with the Andrology Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, over 500 men with unexplained infertility were studied to determine a possible genetic cancer predisposition. An analysis pipeline developed by the Chair of Human Genetics at the University of Tartu was used to assess more than 150 hereditary cancer genes. The data showed a nearly five-fold higher load of hereditary cancer-linked findings in infertile men compared to fertile men. "We found that among infertile men, every 15th infertile man carried a predisposing genetic variant, compared to one in 64 fertile men. This may explain why infertile men have a higher cancer riskthey already have a genetic predisposition that makes the body more susceptible to cancer," said Valkna. The researchers also found that several patients had been diagnosed with cancer by the time the study was conducted, and several had a family history of the disease. "This supports the hypothesis that there is a predisposition in these families. Unfortunately, we couldn't assess the prevalence of cancer among the patients as hereditary cancer syndromes are usually diagnosed later than the average age of those included in the study," Valkna added. According to Anu Valkna, the study results have broader clinical implications. "We know that men seek medical attention for infertility at a younger age, usually before the progression and diagnosis of cancer. Therefore, early identification of predisposed patients would offer effective monitoring and early interventions. Moreover, since some hereditary cancer syndromes tend to disproportionately affect female family members, additional identification of at-risk family members would offer added clinical value to these families," she explained. More information: Anu Valkna et al, Significantly increased load of hereditary cancerlinked germline variants in infertile men, Human Reproduction Open (2025). DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoaf008 Provided by Estonian Research Council This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The diathesis-stress model of perinatal intrusions. Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adt2170 Researchers aim to investigate the causes and potential treatments for perinatal intrusionsintense and vivid thoughts that impact most people during and after pregnancy. Intrusive and distressing thoughts affect virtually all mothers during pregnancy and beyond, but little is known about their causes and ways to treat them, due to a lack of evidence in what a UNSW scientist calls a "completely neglected" field of research. Now researchers from UNSW Sydney and the George Institute will redress this knowledge gap by embarking on a five-year study into perinatal intrusions, which they outline in a focus article published today in the journal Science Advances. "Intrusions are thoughts of infant-related harm that women can have during the pregnancy, or more commonly, in the first year after childbirth, or postpartum," says Scientia Associate Professor Susanne Schweizer, who is leading the research in UNSW Science. "So the type of thoughts that most women will have are thoughts of accidental harmlike imagining the baby falling off a changing table, or a pram rolling awayand these are quite vivid images that seem to come out of nowhere." But perhaps more distressing, not to mention isolating, are thoughts of causing intentional harm to the infants. "Half of all women who give birth will additionally have thoughts of intentionally harming their baby. Again, these thoughts come out of nowhere and it's one of the worst things you can think of as a human being." A/Prof. Schweizer stresses that these thoughts are very common and are not linked to behavior that goes beyond these thoughts and is acted upon. She compares it to the fleeting thought about stepping off the ledge of a high cliff when in close proximity to a lethal drop that many people experience. "It makes sense from an evolutionary perspective that women are extremely sensitized to threats in the caregiving environment, because their infant is entirely dependent on them being alert to those threats," she says. But knowing that it may have evolutionary roots and may be designed to keep mothers and infants safe doesn't stop the thoughts from causing distress. A/Prof. Schweizer says some women will be particularly vulnerable to these perinatal intrusions developing into an anxiety disorder that could negatively affect both mother and infant. "There is barely a handful of people worldwide looking into this at the moment, mainly because the perinatal period is a completely neglected area of research. "So we're trying to redress that and understand why women are vulnerable to these thoughts. We know that more intense, more distressing, more frequent, intrusive thoughts are associated with worse perinatal outcomes, not just in the mental health for the mother, but also in terms of the baby's emotional well-being." Hormones and the perinatal period The research that the UNSW team and collaborators in India and Canada are embarking on will focus on the social, biological and cognitive factors that contribute to the heightened vulnerability to mental health problems women experience in the perinatal period. One part of the study will look at the role hormones play on a mother's cognition and mood during the perinatal period. "We already know from menstrual cycle research that some women are very susceptible to the hormonal changes that occur during the cycle," A/Prof. Schweizer says. "For some, it's so extreme that it can lead to actual symptoms of depression, complete hopelessness and an inability to be motivated to do anything, and a lack of pleasure." The researchers are planning to map hormone fluctuations across the perinatal period to see if any patterns emerge. "Identifying who is susceptible to hormone sensitivity, and why, is crucial to implementing early intervention, and even prevention, strategies to bolster women's mental health during the peripartum," the researchers say in the article. Looking ahead: Intrusive thoughts for mothers The research team is working with women with lived experience of perinatal mental health problems to design the research materials for a first study from this project that is launching in the next few weeks. This study will track women across the perinatal period and measure intrusive thoughts and how they are associated with mothers' mental health through a range of possible factors such as women's thinking styles, hormone sensitivity and social connectedness. A/Prof. Schweizer says this work is much-needed, and she hopes that the knowledge this research advances will ensure expectant parents and their health care providers are better prepared and informed about the range of experiences women may have in this unique period of life. "Today most health care providers and parents are aware of the possibility of postpartum depression, the 'baby blues,'" she says. "Expectant parents are currently not routinely informed that they will likely have intrusive thoughts and that some will also experience perinatal anxiety as well as a range of other mental health conditions. Armed with this knowledge, women at-risk can be identified and supported earlier, so that morehopefully, one day, allmothers and babies can thrive." More information: Susanne Schweizer et al, Perinatal intrusions: A window into perinatal anxiety disorders, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adt2170 Journal information: Science Advances This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Ebola virus isolated in November 2014 from patient blood samples obtained in Mali. The virus was isolated on Vero cells. Credit: NIAID Three new Ebola cases have been reported in Uganda, bringing the total to 12 since the outbreak began in late January, the African Union's health agency said Thursday. Ugandan authorities said in mid-February that the outbreak was contained. But the Ethiopia-based Africa CDC said a new cluster had been identified with three confirmed cases, and two others probable. A total of 69 people have been identified as contacts and "all are currently being followed up," CDC chief of staff Ngashi Ngongo told reporters. The Ebola outbreak in Uganda has left two people dead, a four-year-old child and a nurse, and currently affects five districts. The epidemic poses "a very important challenge," said Ngongo, adding "everything is being done in the country to intensify the monitoring of contacts." On Monday, the United Nations launched an appeal to raise $11.2 million to deal with the outbreak after the United States announced the cessation of most humanitarian aid. There is currently no approved vaccine for Ebola-Sudan, the strain behind the current outbreak. But a vaccination trial for the strain was launched in the country last month. It was praised by the World Health Organization as the "fastest roll-out" of an Ebola vaccine trial in the midst of an epidemic. Ebola is transmitted between people through body fluids. People who are infected do not become contagious until the appearance of symptomsmainly fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrheawhich occur after an incubation period of between two and 21 days. More than 15,000 people in Africa have died of Ebola, all six strains combined, in the past half-century. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Behavioral task. A) Structure of the experimental paradigm. B) Subjects managed to correctly learn the different stories after a few trials, as measured by the recall performance. Credit: Cell Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115218 A study led by Dr. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, group leader of the Neural Mechanisms of Perception and Memory Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, has allowed scientists to observe for the first time how neurons in the human brain store memories independent of the context in which they are acquired. Published in Cell Reports, the study confirms that neurons can distinguish objects or people regardless of their context, enabling the formation of higher and more abstract relationships, which constitute the basis of human intelligence. This is the first study to observe this neuronal behavior in humans. Until now, research conducted on animals had shown significant differences in the coding of concepts (such as a specific place, object, etc.) when the context changed. For example, neurons responded very differently if a rat found an object in one location versus another. As a result, it was believed that such memories were stored in different groups of neurons. The study led by Dr. Quian Quiroga has yielded "surprising responses" that contradict previous findings, as neuronal responses to a specific concept remain the same when the context changes, such as remembering having seen a person in different locations. "The basic principle of neuronal coding in humans is the opposite of what has been observed in other species, which has significant implications," notes Dr. Quiroga. Single neuron data The study involved data from nine patients in Argentina and the United Kingdom with treatment for refractory epilepsy, who had electrodes implanted to monitor the activity of specific groups of neurons individually. This allowed researchers to obtain precise recordings of their responses, unlike previous human studies based on fMRI recording, which cannot differentiate individual neurons. Patients were presented with two stories featuring the same person in different contexts, supported by images. Thanks to the monitoring of individual neurons while performing this task, researchers could observe which groups of neurons were activated and how they responded in the two stories. Specifically, they confirmed that if a neuron responded to a person's image, the response remained the same in both stories. Furthermore, when patients recounted the story themselves, the same neurons were activated seconds before they referred to the protagonist, and also in the same way for both stories. "Memories are stored in a much more abstract manner in humans compared to other animals. You can think of concepts or anything else in more abstract terms, independent of the context in which you learned them," explains Dr. Quiroga, suggesting that this could be one of the "foundations of human intelligence." "This ability allows us to make much more abstract and complex associations and inferences than if we were forced to think of each concept within a specific, concrete context," he asserts. In other words, humans can decontextualize their memories to create more abstract thought. More information: Hernan G. Rey et al, Lack of context modulation in human single neuron responses in the medial temporal lobe, Cell Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115218 Journal information: Cell Reports Provided by IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: JESHOOTS.com from Pexels Patients who struggle to take daily HIV pills can benefit from long-acting injectable treatments, a new study by researchers at UCSF has found. The strategy could also help stop the spread of HIV by keeping more patients from being infectious. In 2021, federal regulators approved the first long-acting antiretroviral (LA-ART) injectable, which is a combination of long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine. But they only approved it for HIV patients who already had their infections under control with pills. Researchers at UCSF wanted to see if it would work for patients who could not control their infections with pills, whether that was because they had trouble swallowing or remembering, or because they did not have a place to live and faced other life challenges, such as substance use disorder. So, they gave these patients monthly or bimonthly injections and compared their viral loads to other patients who already had their viral loads controlled with oral medication before starting injectable HIV therapy. More than 98% of participants in both groups had what's known as "viral suppression," or undetectable levels of HIV, after 48 weeks. It is the largest and longest such comparison. The paper appears in JAMA. 'Transformative' for people with adherence challenges The research, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, could help stop the spread of HIV, since those who are virally suppressed cannot transmit the virus. And it's a game changer for patients who have trouble maintaining a regimen that requires multiple pills each day. "These long-acting treatments are likely to be transformative for people in this population," said Matthew Spinelli, MD, assistant professor in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at UCSF and first author of the paper. "We've had folks who struggled for years and when we put them on injectables, it's like magic. It's exciting to see success in the population we're most worried about." The publication of the JAMA article was timed to coincide with the presentation of the findings at the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), which is being held in San Francisco from March 9 to 12. The annual conference brings together researchers from around the world who are focused on HIV/AIDS and related conditions. To conduct this evaluation, the researchers relied on patient data from the Special Program on Long-Acting Antiretrovirals to Stop HIV, or SPLASH, at Ward 86, the UCSF HIV/AIDS clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. They studied data from 370 patients129 of whom had detectable viral load levels when they started on injectables, and 241 of whom did notfrom January of 2021 through September of 2024. After about 11 months, 99% of those who were virally suppressed when they started the injectable medication continued to have no detectable HIV in their blood. The results were essentially the same for the group that started injectables before getting the virus under control: 98% achieved viral suppression in that period. The paper's senior author, Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, professor of medicine, associate division chief of UCSF's Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, and medical director of the Ward 86 HIV clinic, said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the International Antiviral Society-U.S. have already updated guidance to recommend this strategy, partially as a result of UCSF's data. "We hope our results will encourage providers around the country to use long-acting ART in those with detectable viral loads and adherence challenges," she said. "It really works." The global shift to clean energy cannot happen without China's manufacturing, said Liu Hanyuan, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and chairman of Tongwei Group, in a recent interview. Liu Hanyuan, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, and chairman of Tongwei Group, speaks at a group interview. [Photo by Wang Ran/China.org.cn] "China's dominance in the photovoltaics industry is undeniable and difficult to surpass," Liu said, emphasizing the country's leadership in solar technology. He called for stronger government and business collaboration to expand the "new three" electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and solar products into global markets, reinforcing their role in the world's energy transition. Liu noted that China's PV industry commands more than 85% of the global market and maintains leadership in producing high-purity polysilicon, wafers, solar cells and modules. Furthermore, its levels of automation, smart manufacturing, and product quality are at the forefront globally. This market dominance developed through deliberate technological innovation and economies of scale over many years, he explained. Although the United States and European Union imposed trade restrictions on Chinese solar products, China's PV industry maintained its growth trajectory while the EU's low-carbon transition slowed. After the EU lifted restrictions in 2018, its solar installations and clean energy adoption accelerated significantly. Liu pointed out that it would take 15 to 20 years for the EU to build a solar supply chain matching China's scale and cost efficiency. With just over 20 years remaining to meet the EU's 2050 carbon neutrality targets, decoupling from "Made in China" is highly impractical. "We maintain close ties with our European counterparts, who recognize China's essential role in the global energy transition," Liu said. "Despite differing views, long-term cooperation remains the dominant trend." Liu believes that expanding China's "new three" globally will accelerate clean energy transitions in developed nations but also help developing countries bypass the traditional "pollute-then-clean-up" model, leapfrogging into sustainable development. To support this, he called on the government to strengthen policies across products, technology, talent and services to drive the full industrial chain's global expansion. He also called for streamlined trade processes, including information-sharing platforms, simplified customs procedures and dedicated funding for key technology advancements. "Expanding the 'new three' supply chain globally will inject strong momentum into the global energy transition and sustainability, demonstrating China's responsibility as a major country and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind," Liu said. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The 12-amino-acid BRP peptide (spheres are atoms and sticks are bonds) suppresses appetite and reduces weight gain in mice and pigs without causing nausea or food aversion. Credit: Katrin Svensson/Stanford Medicine A naturally occurring molecule identified by Stanford Medicine researchers appears similar to semaglutidealso known as Ozempicin suppressing appetite and reducing body weight. Notably, testing in animals also showed that it worked without some of the drug's side effects, such as nausea, constipation and significant loss of muscle mass. The newly discovered molecule, BRP, acts through a separate but similar metabolic pathway and activates different neurons in the brainseemingly offering a more targeted approach to body weight reduction. "The receptors targeted by semaglutide are found in the brain but also in the gut, pancreas and other tissues," said assistant professor of pathology Katrin Svensson, Ph.D. "That's why Ozempic has widespread effects, including slowing the movement of food through the digestive tract and lowering blood sugar levels. In contrast, BRP appears to act specifically in the hypothalamus, which controls appetite and metabolism." Svensson has co-founded a company to launch clinical trials of the molecule in humans in the near future. Svensson is the senior author of the research, which was published in Nature. Senior research scientist Laetitia Coassolo, Ph.D., is the lead author of the study. The study would not have been possible without the use of artificial intelligence to weed through dozens of proteins in a class called prohormones. Prohormones are biologically inert molecules that become active when they are cleaved by other proteins into smaller pieces called peptides; some of these peptides then function as hormones to regulate complex biological outcomes, including energy metabolism, in the brain and other organs. Each prohormone can be divided in a variety of ways to create a plethora of functional peptide progeny. But with traditional methods of protein isolation, it's difficult to pick peptide hormones (which are relatively rare) out of the biological soup of the much more numerous natural byproducts of protein degradation and processing. The researchers focused on the prohormone convertase 1/3 (also known as PCSK1/3), which separates prohormones at specific amino acid sequences and is known to be involved in human obesity. One of the peptide products is glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1, which regulates appetite and blood sugar levels; semaglutide works by mimicking the effect of GLP-1 in the body. The team turned to artificial intelligence to help them identify other peptides involved in energy metabolism. Peptide Predictor Instead of manually isolating proteins and peptides from tissues and using techniques like mass spectrometry to identify hundreds of thousands of peptides, the researchers designed a computer algorithm they named "Peptide Predictor" to identify typical prohormone convertase cleavage sites in all 20,000 human protein-coding genes. They then focused on genes that encode proteins that are secreted outside the cella key characteristic of hormonesand that have four or more possible cleavage sites. Doing so narrowed down the search to 373 prohormones, a manageable number to screen for their biological effects. "The algorithm was absolutely key to our findings," Svensson said. Peptide Predictor predicted that prohormone convertase 1/3 would generate 2,683 unique peptides from the 373 proteins. Coassolo and Svensson focused on sequences likely to be biologically active in the brain. They screened 100 peptides, including GLP-1, for their ability to activate lab-grown neuronal cells. As expected, the GLP-1 peptide had a robust effect on the neuronal cells, increasing their activity threefold over control cells. But a small peptide made up of just 12 amino acids bumped up the cells' activity 10-fold over controls. The researchers named this peptide BRP based on its parent prohormone, BPM/retinoic acid inducible neural specific 2, or BRINP2 (BRINP2-related-peptide). When the researchers tested the effect of BRP on lean mice and minipigs (which more closely mirror human metabolism and eating patterns than mice do), they found that an intramuscular injection of BRP prior to feeding reduced food intake over the next hour by up to 50% in both animal models. Obese mice treated with daily injections of BRP for 14 days lost an average of 3 gramsdue almost entirely to fat losswhile control animals gained about 3 grams over the same period. The mice also demonstrated improved glucose and insulin tolerance. Behavioral studies of the mice and pigs found no differences in the treated animals' movements, water intake, anxiety-like behavior or fecal production. And further studies of physiological and brain activity showed that BRP activates metabolic and neuronal pathways separate from those activated by GLP-1 or semaglutide. The researchers hope to identify the cell-surface receptors that bind BRP and to further dissect the pathways of its action. They are also investigating how to help the peptide's effects last longer in the body to allow a more convenient dosing schedule if the peptide proves to be effective in regulating human body weight. "The lack of effective drugs to treat obesity in humans has been a problem for decades," Svensson said. "Nothing we've tested before has compared to semaglutide's ability to decrease appetite and body weight. We are very eager to learn if it is safe and effective in humans." Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; and the University of British Columbia contributed to the work. Svensson and Coassolo are inventors on patents regarding BRP peptides for metabolic disorders. Svensson is a co-founder of Merrifield Therapeutics. More information: Laetitia Coassolo et al, Prohormone cleavage prediction uncovers a non-incretin anti-obesity peptide, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08683-y Journal information: Nature This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When a wildfire approaches a prison and an evacuation warning is issued, what are the health risks that incarcerated people face when officials decide not to evacuate? What happens if the evacuation warning turns into a mandate and there are no transportation options to securely move everyone, or there are no nearby facilities to go to? These are some of the issues raised by two University of Colorado Department of Medicine faculty membersKatherine LeMasters, Ph.D., and Lawrence Haber, MDin a correspondence titled, "The Hidden Crisis of Incarcerated Individuals During Wildfires," which was recently published in The Lancet Regional HealthAmericas. "Climate change has intensified wildfire conditions worldwide, doubling their frequency over the past two decades," the authors wrote. "Wildfires pose immediate health risks including burns, extreme heat, and smoke inhalation, along with long-term pulmonary, cardiovascular, and mental health impacts. Incarcerated individuals are a population uniquely poised to suffer from extreme weather events, as demonstrated by the 2025 Los Angeles (LA) fires." LeMasters, an assistant professor of general internal medicine, is a social epidemiologist who focuses her research on how the system of mass incarceration creates and exacerbates health inequities. We recently spoke with her about her concerns on how climate change may affect incarcerated youth and adults, the need for more research, and the actions she hopes to see leaders take. What made you want to write this correspondence? Was it the LA fires, or had you been thinking about it beforehand? When the COVID pandemic hit, prisons and jails experienced some of the biggest outbreaks of the virus, and I think that's the first time the general public realized how massive our criminal legal system is and how it really wasn't prepared for this crisis. Once that public health emergency subsided, I started thinking about what the next crisis impacting these facilities may be. I realized that climate change is that next crisis, and it is already having an effect, as shown by studies on extreme heat and how that negatively impacts incarcerated people's health, primarily through increased suicides and cardiovascular deaths. When I moved to Colorado in 2023, I saw that wildfires are a big issue. It made me wonder how wildfires are impacting these facilities. Overall, there is a lack of research on this, and it's not often written about. When I connected with Dr. Haber, who offers clinical care to incarcerated patients, it was around the time the LA fires happened. We felt this correspondence was an opportunity to bring this timely and terrible issue to light. In the correspondence, you write that incarcerated individuals are 'uniquely poised to suffer from extreme weather events,' like wildfires. Can you explain why that is? It's multifaceted. People who are incarcerated disproportionately come from disadvantaged backgrounds and from places where they haven't had access to health care. Many folks are disproportionately sick coming in. For example, the prevalence of asthma in incarcerated individuals is double that of the general population. There are also many with mental illness who take psychotropic medications that prevent them from sweating, for example. Wildfires often bring a lot of heat, so those individuals may suffer. Many of these facilities are also very old, and a lot of them have poor ventilation, which can pose risks like ashes from fires entering the facility through the vents. A lot of these facilities were also built in at-risk, high-disaster areas. Also, people who are incarcerated do not have the ability to decide when to evacuate. In this correspondence, I mentioned that 4,700 people in the Castaic jail complex, which is four north LA county facilities, were told to shelter in place rather than evacuate, despite there being evacuation orders. They didn't have the infrastructure to evacuate everyoneone of the issues was a lack of busesso only some people were evacuated. It shows the systems set up for evacuation are insufficient. You also explain that it's not just adults at riskit's also incarcerated youth. For example, the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, which houses 100 people aged 14-18, was under an evacuation warning due to the LA fires, and no one was evacuated. Can you talk more about that case and what it represented to you? In this case, the facility was in an evacuation warning zone, so there were no mandates to leave. The advocacy organization Youth Justice Coalition LA shared audio that it reportedly obtained from detainees, and in those audio files, you can hear people saying that they could see fire ashes coming through the vents, but they can't do anything about it. They don't have the ability to leave. Luckily, that facility never caught fire and there were no deaths that we know of, but that has the potential to be a traumatic experience for those youth. We recommend that disaster mitigation and evacuation protocols be very clear and explained to people who are housed in those facilities so they know what should happen. Why is this an issue that the general public should care about? There are many reasons. I think it's our responsibility to ensure that incarcerated people are able to lead healthy and fulfilling lives once they're released. If all we've done is make their health much worse by, say, exposing them to a ton of smoke and creating more trauma by having them see wildfires they can't escape fromthat will not help them be a better neighbor to you once they are released. This system is also incredibly large with around two million individuals incarcerated in the United States on any given day. So, this is not a small population. It's important to consider that incarceration impacts not just individuals, but also their family members and loved ones. Almost 45% of Americans are touched by the legal systemthey're a loved one or a family member. Financially, it's incredibly expensive to pay for an incarcerated person's medical care. If we're increasing the medical issues that people are facing, that's increasing costs to the state. You mention a few different calls to action in the correspondence. What do you think are the next steps needed in terms of research and public policy? On the research side, we still need more information on how wildfires are affecting incarcerated people, specifically looking at how they are impacting people's mental health and physical health quantitatively. We also need more work investigating how it's contributing to potentially excess morbidity and mortality or worsening of respiratory and mental health conditions. In Colorado, we're starting a project that is a collaboration between the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and CU Boulder to collaborate with people who were recently released from Colorado state prisons about their experiences with extreme heat and wildfires. We will separate interviewees into groups based on a prison that they spent at least five years of time in and have more in-depth conversations about the structure of the buildings and the times that disasters happened. I think that will give us a deeper understanding of how these disasters affect people and how these buildings are built to withstandor notthese fires. For example, having windows you can open makes a big difference. Policywise, we need more robust policies for emergency management and disaster response from the prisons and the jails, and from the state and federal governments. These facilities should collaborate with public health agencies and state agencies. We also need policies for decarceration (reducing the number of people in prisons)a known public health solution, as these facilities simply are not set up to handle disasters. Overall, what do you want people's takeaways to be from your correspondence? We have to improve evacuation plans in jails and prisons so that instances like what happened in LA are not happening across the country. Some facilities may claim that this is not a problem for them because there has never been a wildfire nearby. However, there are more wildfire and extreme heat events happening than there ever have been before, so all facilities need to be increasingly prepared for extreme weather events in many forms. As more work on environmental hazards and climate change is conducted, I want the broader public health and medical community to recognize that incarcerated people are disproportionately impacted. I'm hopeful that the broader medical and public health community see incarceration as critical when we're addressing climate change and climate hazards and health. People should not have to look so hard to find information on this issue. It should be really clear to all that it's a huge societal issue. These facilities house millions all across the nation and nowhere is immune to the effects of climate change. More information: Katherine LeMasters et al, The hidden crisis of incarcerated individuals during wildfires, The Lancet Regional HealthAmericas (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2025.101032 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Successful trials of ARI, the talking robot, demonstrate its potential to help hospital staff and enhance patient care. Credit: SPRING EU researchers are testing a robot that can have basic conversations in busy surroundings, with the idea of assisting people arriving at hospitals. A hospital in central Paris has had an unexpected helper: a full-sized talking humanoid robot. Created by an international team of researchers, it can interact with patients, provide practical information and answer questions to help people navigate around the hospital. Trials of the orange-and-white robot named ARI have shown promise, according to the team at the Broca Hospital, which specializes in day care for elderly patients with conditions like Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments. Cutting through the noise The challenge was to have the robot understand when it is being spoken to in a busy environment, be able to talk to different people and answer their questions while appearing friendly and non-intimidating to the patients. In a video filmed by researchers during trials, an elderly lady approaches ARI to ask directions to office 253. The robot blinks, turns its head and replies: "Office 253 is located in Building B, on the second floor." This is the type of social engagement that ARI was designed for. And it represents an important milestone in the development of systems capable of interacting with humans. These robots need to integrate sophisticated speech recognition, noise-cancelling technologies and adaptive communication strategies to ensure effective interactions even in challenging, noisy environments. Helping hand for health care The hope is that robots like ARI could take over some of the non-medical tasks in hospitals, freeing staff to focus on patient care. This would offer much-needed assistance to the often underfunded and understaffed health care sector. The research was part of a four-year initiative called SPRING coordinated by the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (INRIA). The SPRING research team included experts from Czechia, Israel, Italy, Spain and the UK who came together to address the specific challenge of robot communication in a real-life setting involving multiple parties. Their initial development and validation phase concluded in May 2024 with promising results. "We believe that the ARI robot could in the future become an essential element of patient care in hospitals, thanks to its capacity for social interaction and guidance," said Professor Anne-Sophie Rigaud, a geriatrician and psychiatrist from Greater Paris University Hospitals, one of the partners in the research team. Testing conversations ARI was tested through interaction with more than 100 patients, their companions and medical staff, with constant tweaks to improve the quality of the conversations conducted along the way. It became clear that people received the robot more warmly as those improvements were made. "That's very promising because it could have happened that even when the robot worked well, people didn't like interacting with it," said Dr. Maribel Pino, a cognitive psychologist heading the Broca Living Lab, which is responsible for the introduction of innovative health technologies at the hospital. Pino called the results encouraging, given the current primitive nature of socially intelligent robots, and said they could be a starting point for robots to provide complementary care functions. "We saw people engaging with the robot," she said. "When the robot works well, people are happy to talk to it for some minutes." Pino said the robots can also provide a conversational distraction and entertain people as they are waiting in the hospital by, for instance, telling jokes. Such mental stimulation could be useful for people with cognitive impairments. Navigating acceptance Although socially assistive robotics has come a long way in recent decades, most of today's robots are designed for single-user interaction in a few simple scenarios at museums, shopping centers or hotel reception desks. One challenge to the more widespread use of robots in public places is the plethora of legal and ethical restrictions on using autonomous machines and collecting data, especially as robots could also potentially process biometric data and health records. Since the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act entered into force in August 2024, certain obligations have been imposed on AI developers to balance innovation with safety, ensuring that conversational robots operate within ethical and legal boundaries. Data protection concerns meant the robot at the Broca Hospital had to be confined to a separate room and stand still rather than roam about, for instance. Moving forward According to Dr. Xavier Alameda-Pineda, a computer scientist and roboticist at INRIA and the person responsible for the coordination of the work carried out by the SPRING team, significant advances have been made, despite the challenges. Initially, progress was made as the robots were trained on large language modelsadvanced AI learning systems designed to understand, generate and manipulate human language. This allowed robots to engage in a more natural conversation. Further technical improvements were then made before the final tests, including adding head movements to allow the robot to better interact with people and 'look' directly at them. PAL Robotics from Barcelona, Spain, which manufactured the robot, has continued improving it following the end of the validation phase in Paris. New features include automatic speech recognition and improved gaze-following algorithms. These will allow ARI to better detect social cues. PAL Robotics has also been conducting further pilot projects using the robot for assisting and interacting with older people in residential homes in Spain, Italy and Greece. Furthermore, ARI robots have been developed and tested in SPRING's research labs in other countries, including Czechia, Israel and the UK. Social intelligence The SPRING researchers also progressed in another key area: enabling the robot to interact in more complex conversations involving more than one person and detect whether it is being addressed or not. "We now have the first system that can interact with two people," said Alameda-Pineda. "That's a huge step." But creating more sophisticated robots that fully understand social cues and non-spoken conversational gestures such as nods, quick looks or shrugs is a much bigger conundrum. "What's complicated is for a robot to get a grasp of the more subtle aspects of social interaction, such as irony, gestures, facial expressions, and combinations of those things," said Alameda-Pineda. He believes that a talking robot providing basic conversation and interaction, as well as giving appointment advice and directions, could be ready for widespread use within a few years. The advances made by the SPRING team put Europe at the forefront of work being done in this field, thanks to their robots' natural conversation style and ability to interact with several people at the same time. Separate research in the EU, Japan and the US has produced similar robots, but they either lack ARI's ability to multitask or have been too costly to produce. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Experimental human S. pyogenes pharyngitis is not associated with new serum opsonophagocytic responses or inhibition of adherence by saliva. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54665-5 Researchers have discovered how antibodies help to protect against contagious bacterial infections caused by Strep A, including strep throat. And the findings are already contributing to efforts to accelerate the development of a Strep A vaccine. The research, led by Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), Monash University and the University of Auckland, using the world's only human challenge model for Strep A, has uncovered how antibodies respond to strep throat infections. MCRI Dr. Joshua Osowicki said the research showed the power and potential for the human model to help crack the secrets of Strep A and accelerate vaccine development. The findings, published in Nature Communications, closely looked at antibodies produced against different parts of Strep A bacteria, comparing blood and saliva results before and after the Strep A challenge. The challenge involved 25 healthy adults in Melbourne who were exposed to a low level of Strep A bacteria in a controlled environment. "With Strep A being extremely common and every healthy adult having previously encountered it, all the participants had some antibodies against Strep A before the study," Dr. Osowicki said. "We found each person's pre-existing antibodies made a difference to what happened when they were exposed during the challenge. For some of the participants, the mixture of antibodies before the challenge helped to protect them from developing a strep throat infection. Even in those who did develop strep throat, with symptoms like a sore throat and fever, it was clear their pre-existing antibodies made a difference to clinical outcomes." Importantly, the response to Strep A in the participants resembled those seen in children who will be first in line for a Strep A vaccine. Dr. Osowicki said developing an effective vaccine had been difficult as there were big gaps in the understanding into how humans were protected against Strep A infections. "The bulk of Strep A research has used animal models but only humans are naturally infected by Strep A," he said. "This research helps vaccine developers to answer that key question and proves that we can use our human model to test promising vaccine candidates and explore how they work." Dr. Osowicki, alongside MCRI colleagues Dr. Hannah Frost and Professor Andrew Steer, will lead an international consortium spanning six institutes across Australia, The Gambia, the UK and New Zealand. The research partners include Monash University, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of New South Wales (Kirby Institute), University of Auckland, and University of Sheffield. The project will also involve major international vaccine developers as part of an advisory group. The project will use the MCRI team's Strep A human challenge model in trial participants in Australia and The Gambia to test different ideas about which kinds of immune responses stop people from getting Strep A infections. A vaccine that can produce similar responses should prevent infections across the whole Strep A disease spectrum. Strep A infections affect about 750 million people and kill more than 500,000 globally every year, more than influenza, typhoid or whooping cough. Strep A can also cause severe life-threatening infections like toxic shock syndrome, flesh eating disease and post-infectious illnesses such as acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease and kidney disease. Strep A vaccine research is one response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) resolution for a global, coordinated response into rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Dr. Frost said by developing the world's only Strep A human challenge model, the team had changed the vaccine development landscape. "We will answer some of the biggest and most stubborn questions that are standing in the way of developing, licensing and implementing a successful Strep A vaccine," she said. "While this was traditionally a long and difficult process, bringing world experts and industry partners together would fast-track efforts to address the unmet global public health need for a safe and effective Strep A vaccine." Professor Steer said the project could help prevent Strep A related illness and death around the world. "There is a huge need for the development of a vaccine to reduce the burden of Strep A disease and we are proud to lead this work out of MCRI," he said. "Another major benefit of this vaccine would be the reduction of rheumatic heart disease rates globally, a preventable illness that has been identified as a global priority." More information: Joshua Osowicki et al, Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis elicits diverse antibody responses to key vaccine antigens influenced by the imprint of past infections, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54665-5 Journal information: Nature Communications Five former and current officials of Add-Shop E-Retail Ltd (ASERL) and White Organic Agro Ltd (WOAL) paid Rs95.55 lakh to settle a regulatory violation case with market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The five individuals include: Vivek Gopalbhai Dadhania (audit committee member of ASERL), Nirajkumar K Malaviya (company secretary and compliance officer of ASERL), Jigna V Thakkar (audit committee member of WOAL), Dharmesh Bhanushali (chairman of the audit committee at WOAL) and Chandresh Jain (former chairman of the audit committee at WOAL). This settlement resolves allegations related to financial misstatements and false reporting concerning related-party transactions and fake supply order announcements between April 2020 and March 2023. SEBI initiated the investigation into ASERL and WOAL after receiving complaints in December 2021 and September 2023. The investigation revealed that by recording fictitious transactions, ASERL and WOAL had misrepresented their financial statements for FY20-21, FY21-22, and FY22-23. Furthermore, ASERL was found to have falsified the attendance of independent directors during board meetings and audit committee sessions for the same period. In response, the five former and current officials of ASERL and WOAL submitted a joint settlement application on 29 June 2024. In this application, they sought to resolve the case without admitting or denying the allegations, as allowed under SEBI's Settlement Regulations of 2018. On 18 November 2024, the high-powered advisory committee (HPAC) reviewed the case and recommended a settlement through a financial penalty. The committee proposed that four individuals, Mr Dadhania, Mr Thakkar, Mr Jain and Mr Bhanushali, each pay Rs13.65 lakh, while Mr Malaviya would pay Rs40.95 lakh. This would total Rs95.55 lakh. SEBI's panel of whole-time members (WTMs) approved this recommendation on 27 January 2025. After SEBI accepted the settlement, it issued notices of demand to the applicants on 28 January 2025, confirming the receipt of the payment. The settlement effectively closed the proceedings initiated by SEBI in May 2024 under Section 15JB of the SEBI Act and Regulation 23(1) of the Settlement Regulations. "However, the settlement does not preclude SEBI from taking further enforcement action if any of the representations made by the applicants are found to be untrue or if they breach the terms of the settlement," the SEBI order says. ASERL manufactures, markets and distributes Ayurveda products, while WOAL is in the organic food items business. The Bombay High Court on Thursday dismissed a habeas corpus petition moved by former Mumbai cop Sachin Waze challenging his arrest in the Antilia bomb scare case. A Bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice SM Modak dismissed Waze's petition. A detailed copy of the order is awaited. Waze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in March 2021 for his alleged involvement in planting of an explosives-laden vehicle near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis residence. He had argued that there were procedural violations in extension of his remand. He had also contended that his arrest itself was illegal as no prior sanction had been obtained from the Central government as is required to arrest a member of the armed forces engaged in maintaining public order, as notified by the State government. In October 2024, the High Court had granted bail to Waze in a corruption case involving former Maharashtra home minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh. This was after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). made a statement consenting to the grant of bail. Taking cognisance of the tight liquidity conditions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to conduct an open market operation (OMO) purchase auction of government of India securities worth Rs1 lakh crore and buy and sell swap auction of US dollar (USD) and Indian rupee (INR) for US$10bn (billion). As reported by Moneylife , the current liquidity crunch, driven by forex market interventions, tax outflows and capital market volatility, requires sustained and flexible policy measures and RBI will have to inject an additional Rs1trn (trillion) or Rs1 lakh crore in liquidity into the banking system by the end of March to stabilise financial markets. In a release, RBI says to inject liquidity into the banking system, it will conduct OMO purchase auctions of government of India securities for an aggregate amount of Rs1 lakh crore in two tranches of Rs50,000 crore each to be held on 12th March and 18 March 2025. USD/INR buy/sell swap auction of US$10bn for a tenor of 36 months is to be held on 24 March 2025. "The Reserve Bank will continue to monitor evolving liquidity and market conditions and take measures as appropriate to ensure orderly liquidity conditions," it added. Since December 2024, India's banking system has faced its worst liquidity squeeze in over a decade. Systemic liquidity shifted from a surplus of Rs1.35 lakh crore in November to a severe deficit of Rs2.07 lakh crore in January before slightly improving to Rs1.59 lakh crore in February. This strain has been exacerbated by year-end tax outflows and increased credit demand. In a research report, State Bank of India (SBI) pointed out inadvertent cash leakage. Since Mahakumbh, the withdrawal has been largely by retail depositors whereas the accretion of fresh deposits has been with non-retail participants and, hence, a significant part of the currency may not come back to systemic deposits, at least by March end. "System liquidity is still at a deficit of about Rs1.6trn (as of end-February) while the average deficit is higher at around Rs1.95trn. We believe around Rs1trn more will still be needed by March to keep the systemic liquidity in equilibrium mode," SBI says. In response to the liquidity situation, RBI took a series of steps in the past, including multiple variable rate repo (VRR) auctions, a 25bps (basis point) repo rate cut and significant OMOs. The central bank also conducted dollar-rupee swaps to manage forex-related liquidity drains but, despite these interventions, market pressures remain high, SBI says. Adding to liquidity woes, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have pulled out Rs34,574 crore from Indian equities in February alone, contributing to total outflows of Rs1.12 lakh crore in the first two months of 2025. The SBI report highlights that despite strong domestic institutional investments (DIIs) of about Rs3.3 lakh crore, FII outflows have increased market volatility and constrained liquidity. On Thursday, 3006 stocks advanced, 990 declined and 107 3006remained unchanged, with an advance decline ratio of 3.04 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), indicating positive closing of stocks in broader markets. The trend of the major indices on Thursdays trading is given in the table below. On NSE, 17 securities advanced and closed at a new 52-week high whereas 53 securities sank to close at their new 52-week lows. In sectoral indices, Nifty IT was the only loser. Nifty Metal, Nifty Energy and Nifty Pharma were among the biggest gainers. AstraZeneca Pharma India (+1.73%) received permission from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India to import pharmaceutical formulations of new drug for sale or for distribution in Form CT-20 for Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate powder for oral suspension 5 g and 10 g (Lokelma). Ola Electric Mobility (-1.00%) became the first two-wheeler automotive electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in India to receive incentives under the production linked incentive (PLI) Scheme for automotive and auto component (PLI-Auto Scheme). It was granted a total incentive of Rs73.74 crore for the determined sales value of FY23-24 under the scheme. Axiscades Technologies (+4.99%) subsidiaryMistral Solutions (Mistral) entered into strategic partnership with Altera (an Intel Company) to advance high-performance computing solutions for mission-critical defense applications. This collaboration aims to leverage Altera Agilex 9 Direct RF FPGA technology to drive next-generation innovations in defense and aerospace industries. IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals (+5.48%) received certificate of suitability for API product Quetiapine Fumarate from European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Health Care (EDQM). Jindal Worldwide (-1.96%) executed a share purchase agreement (SPA) with M/s. June Enterprises (Buyer) for sale of its entire (31.25%) stake as held in its associate Company viz. M/s. Kashyap Tele-Medicines. The consideration of Rs 2.23 crore is yet to be received. Subsequent to the execution of the aforementioned disinvestment by way of selling of equity shares, the M/s. Kashyap Tele-Medicines ceases to be an associate company of Jindal Worldwide Zydus Lifesciences (+2.19%) received final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture Dasatinib Tablets, 20 mg, 50 mg, 70 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg, and 140 mg. (USRLD: Sprycel Tablets, 20 mg, 50 mg, 70 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg, and 140 mg). Dalmia Bharats (+0.40%)wholly owned subsidiaryDalmia Cement (Bharat) entered into Share Subscription and Shareholders Agreement (SSSHA) to acquire 34.52% of equity share capital of Kilavikulam Rajalakshmi Solar Power Developer, consisting of 30,00,000 equity shares at a price of Rs10 per share, aggregating to Rs3 crore, in one or more tranches to source solar power as a captive consumer for a capacity upto 10.00 MW located in the State of Tamil Nadu. The transaction is subject to customary conditions precedents and expected to be completed within two months. Bharat Forges (+2.78%) wholly-owned subsidiaryKalyani Powertrain entered into a Technology licensing agreement with Compal Electronics, Inc for manufacturing of X86 platform servers in India. The two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop server business using locally manufactured solution in India, echoing the Indian governments Make in India policy. Compal Electronics will provide Kalyani Powertrain with technological support related to servers, including overseeing local production, assembly, testing activities, and final sales. The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below: The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below: Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese premier, joins National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from Yunnan Province in a group deliberation at the third session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Senior Chinese leaders on Wednesday attended deliberations at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature. When joining NPC deputies from Yunnan Province in a group deliberation, Premier Li Qiang urged more proactive efforts to achieve continued economic recovery and growth. Li urged Yunnan to boost upgraded tourism consumption to form new growth drivers for the economy. He also called on the province to strengthen its role as an opening-up gateway to the southwest. Top legislator Zhao Leji participated in a group deliberation with his fellow deputies from Sichuan Province, urging more effective measures to deliver on the goals and tasks set in the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). Zhao, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, also called on lawmakers in Sichuan to uphold the Party's overall leadership over people's congresses, perform their duties as stipulated in the Constitution and the law, and keep improving their work. Top political advisor Wang Huning joined his fellow deputies from Guizhou Province in a group deliberation. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged the province to promote the transformation of traditional industries, foster sound growth of the private sector, advance rural revitalization, and pursue green and low-carbon development. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, when joining the deliberation of his fellow deputies from Liaoning Province, stressed the need to expand domestic demand to make it a main engine and anchor of economic growth. He also underscored the importance of ensuring both high-quality development and greater security. Li Xi, secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC), joined his fellow lawmakers from Fujian Province in a group deliberation. He stressed that high-quality development must be guided by high-quality Party building. He expressed the hope for Fujian to explore new pathways toward integrated cross-Strait development. Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. While speaking with fellow lawmakers from Shandong Province, Vice President Han Zheng urged efforts to comprehensively expand domestic demand, and promote high-level self-reliance in science and technology. He called on Shandong to take the lead in developing new quality productive forces, and write a Shandong chapter in Chinese modernization. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, participates in a group deliberation with his fellow deputies from Sichuan Province at the third session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, joins his fellow deputies from Guizhou Province in a group deliberation at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, joins the deliberation of his fellow deputies from Liaoning Province at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, joins his fellow lawmakers from Fujian Province in a group deliberation at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese Vice President Han Zheng joins his fellow lawmakers from Shandong Province in a group deliberation at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for demolishing the houses of a lawyer, a professor and three others in Prayagraj without following the procedure under law. The Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and N Kotishwar Singh berated the Uttar Pradesh government and stated such a demolition sends a shocking and wrong signal. "Prima facie this sends shocking and wrong signal and this is something that needs to be corrected," the Bench remarked. When the counsel for the State submitted that there was a indeed a ground to attach notices to the concerned persons' property, the bench stated "it knows how to deal with such hypertechnical grounds." "You are taking such drastic action of demolishing homes and out of them one is lawyer one is professor. We know how to deal with such hypertechnical arguments. After all there is something known as Article 21 and Right to Shelter!" said Justice Oka. The Bench was hearing a plea by five individuals - advocate Zulfiqar Haider, professor Ali Ahmed, two widows and one other individual whose homes were demolished. All the houses were on the same plot of land. After Allahabad High Court rejected their plea challenging the demolition, the petitioners submitted that notices were given to them on Saturday night and demolition took place on Sunday in March 2021. Senior Advocate Abhimanyu Bhandari, arguing for the petitioners, submitted that the government mistook the petitioners' land for the land belonging to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in 2023 in a police encounter. "There was a gangster called Atiq Ahmed and they mistook our land as his. They (State) should just admit their mistake," said Bhandari. Attorney General (AG) R Venkataramani maintained that reasonable time was given to the petitioners to respond to demolition notice. But Justice Oka disagreed. "Why was the notice affixed like this ? Why not send by courier? Anyone will give notice like this and carry out demolition. This is a high handed case of demolition that is all," said Justice Oka. "Go to Page 182.. you say no procedure to send by post.. here the notice was sent by post. See it," the bench added. AG said that whether the person was there or not during the delivery of notice was a disputed question of fact. "I am not defending the demolition but let the High Court consider it," said the AG. "Not at all. No going to High Court again. Matter will be delayed then" retorted the bench. The Court said the demolished structures will have to be reconstructed. "This structure will have to be reconstructed. If you want to contest by filing affidavit then ok, else another less embarrassing way will be let them construct and then serve notices to them as per law," said the top court. The trout returned to Silver Bow Creek but no one said life would be easy. The territory served by Caleb Uerling, a fisheries biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, includes Silver Bow Creek, Warm Springs Creek, the Clark Fork River and other streams in the upper Clark Fork watershed. Uerling said recently that trout populations have been relatively low and variable in Silver Bow since brook trout and westslope cutthroat trout returned to the stream during and after Superfund remediation. There are a lot of limiting factors for trout in Silver Bow Creek, he said. They include summers hotter water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen tied to too many nutrients and, in some places, habitat challenges. Theres another variable Uerling has considered changes in stream conductivity linked to the discharge of treated mine water from the Berkeley Pit. That water has been discharged since September 2019 in Silver Bow Creek in Butte. There has been a very significant increase in the already high conductivity in Silver Bow Creek due to treated mine water, Uerling said. Conductivity is a measure of the ability of water to pass an electrical current. Water can conduct electricity because of dissolved salts. Mark Thompson, vice president of Environmental Affairs for Montana Resources in Butte, readily acknowledged the discharge water is high in conductivity. Both Montana Resources and Atlantic Richfield/BP are involved in treating water pumped from the Berkeley Pit. But Thompson said the volume of discharge has declined significantly in recent years after achieving the target capacity of water for the copper and molybdenum mine's Yankee Doodle Tailings Impoundment pond which plays a role in treating water from the Berkeley Pit. "When we started discharging, the Yankee Doodle Tailings Impoundment pond volume was 36,000 acre feet," Thompson said. "We discharged high volumes of water in 2020-2023 to reduce this stored water inventory. Now that we have reached the YDTI pond volume target of 15,000 acre feet, water discharge in the future will be greatly reduced." He said Montana Resources discharged about 6.8 billion gallons of stored water in four years, a pattern he does not anticipate repeating. "In short, what has happened in the past is not expected to be the same into the future," Thompson said. "Discharge flow rates will be much, much less than what we've seen in the past." He added, "If we knew in 2019 what we know now, perhaps we would not have been so aggressive in reducing pond inventory in a short time frame and perhaps reduce flows to reduce conductivity. Regardless, that shouldn't happen again." Thompson referenced conductivity sources. The greater the amount of total dissolved solids in a given water sample, the greater the conductivity of that water sample, he said. In the case of treated Berkeley Pit water, the total dissolved solids, or high conductivity, comes from dissolved calcium and sulfate. The sulfate is in the raw Berkeley Pit water and the calcium comes from lime. Meanwhile, Uerling said conductivity became a variable of interest when the discharge started mostly because of the magnitude of the change in the creek. We were seeing values as high as 1,600 S/cm (microsiemens per centimeter), which is far higher than values we generally see in wild trout streams, Uerling said. Conductivity is essentially a measure of salinity, Uerling said. Fish, like most other organisms in the stream, have to osmoregulate, maintaining a balance of electrolytes or salts. We dont know how stressful this process is for the fish when there are sudden changes in conductivity in the stream, but we do know those changes can be sudden, he said. Uerling said the background state of conductivity in Silver Bow Creek is already elevated, likely because of discharge from wastewater treatment in Butte and possibly naturally occurring sources. We see naturally occurring values in other area streams that have trout between about 25 S/cm to 250 S/cm, Uerling said. The EPA reports that conductivity is useful as a general measure of stream water quality. The agency says significant changes in conductivity could be an indicator that a discharge, or some other source of pollution, has entered a stream. A freshwater ecosystems salinity level can rise from human disturbances such as mining discharge, farming, removal of streamside vegetation, industrial wastes and application of salt to roadways, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Pollution. Uerling does not blame changes in conductivity for the variability in trout populations in Silver Bow Creek. I would say there was some correlation between conductivity and trout declines, he said. However, that story has evolved a bit. Brook trout and cutthroat numbers declined right around the time the discharge started. The last two years we have seen cutthroat numbers remain very low while brook trout have rebounded substantially. He said the causal effects of the conductivity and the constituents, calcium and sulfates, responsible for the high conductivity are not well understood and there is no clear relationship in the literature that I have found. Like Uerling, Thompson said any fisheries impacts from high conductivity discharge are likely part of a larger puzzle. Conductivity could be a stressor that adds to other stresses, such as low flow, high temperature and low dissolved oxygen, he said. Thats why were trying to focus on discharging during periods of high flow, low stream temperature and high dissolved oxygen for example, winter, spring and fall. Treating the contaminated Berkeley Pit has been a team effort of Montana Resources and Atlantic Richfield/BP. The campaign focuses on controlling the water level in the profoundly polluted pit so contaminated water cannot leave it and flow into surface water bodies, including Silver Bow Creek. The treatment process begins when water is pumped from the Pit for lime treatment at the Horseshoe Bend Water Treatment Plant. The water is then transported with Continental mine tailings from the mill/concentrator to the Yankee Doodle Tailings impoundment. The water is retained there for long periods and the precipitation of gypsum, which is also the removal of calcium and sulfate, reduces conductivity. The water then flows to the Polishing Plant, where treatment continues before discharge to Silver Bow Creek. Thompson said reverse osmosis is initiated when the discharge flow rate is equal to or exceeding the receiving water flow rate. The process can significantly reduce conductivity. Uerling and colleagues have studied the creek and its fish populations for years. Silver Bow Creeks transformation from industrial sewer to meandering trout stream required roughly 20 years and millions of dollars. Hammered by a century of pollution from mining and smelting wastes and the extensive dispersal of those wastes by a catastrophic flood in 1908, Silver Bow Creek sustained little life for a long time. As late as 2002, much of the stream was still presumed to be fishless. Superfund cleanup began in 1999, shepherded by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the states Natural Resource Damage Program and supervised by EPA. Population sampling in 2006 found a pioneering brook trout, captured below German Gulch. The next year a westslope cutthroat was captured in the same area. In 2010, for the first time, trout were found in all creek sections, an outcome deemed close to miraculous. The EPA designated Silver Bow Creek a Superfund site in 1985. The Streamside Tailings Operable Unit stretches about 26 linear miles from Butte to the Warm Springs Ponds. The bulk of remedial work in this operable unit took place from 1999 to 2015 with additional work completed between 2016 and 2019. More work is planned for 2025. Surface water, groundwater, biological and sediment monitoring is ongoing. Flash Editor's note: The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, opened its third session on Wednesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, with a government work report submitted for deliberation. This infographic highlights the key objectives and strategic directions outlined in the report, offering a clear snapshot of the nation's policy priorities for 2025. A group of four Kenyans has demanded that Bishop Edward Mwai of Jesus Winner Ministry in Roysambu surrender President William Rutos Ksh. 20 million donation to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), questioning the source of the funds. In a demand letter drafted by Ndegwa and Ndegwa Associates, the groupKennedy Kariithi Gachenge, Lempaa Soyinka, Fanya Mambo, and Peter Kuiraargued that the money could be proceeds of crime since the President did not disclose its origin. The letter also pointed out that the donation came at a time when the Auditor General had flagged several public institutions, including the Social Health Authority (SHA), for engaging in massive corruption schemes. This therefore means that by dint of your actions of receiving the said suspected amount, you are aiding and abetting the commission of a crime of corruption, the letter read in part. Additionally, the group questioned how President Ruto could afford to donate an amount 20 times his monthly salary while also pledging an extra Ksh. 100 million to the church. They cited Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) guidelines, which cap the Presidents gross monthly salary at Ksh. 1,443,750. Our clients legitimately believe that the Kshs 20,000,000 that was bequeathed to you by Mr. William Ruto are or were proceeds of crime, or they fall within the definition of unexplained assets, having been donated by an individual who was on the 30th of December, 2024, ranked as the 2nd most corrupt citizen of the world by the Organized Crimes and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the letter added. The four individuals urged the church to return the funds to the EACC, warning that failure to comply would force them to seek legal redress. Perhaps, the idea of surrendering these amounts to the EACC would, in your view, appear to be very unpopular, but in the circumstances, its the best thing to do, stated the March 5 letter. The demand letter also highlighted that, despite the growing public outcry, President Ruto has yet to offer a satisfactory explanation regarding the donations source. Citing Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA), the group emphasized that handling property acquired through corrupt means constitutes a criminal offense. According to the law, any individual who holds, receives, conceals, or uses such propertyor facilitates its use by othersis guilty of an offense. Those convicted under this section face severe penalties, including a fine of up to Ksh. 1 million, a prison sentence of up to 10 years, or both. The concerned citizens also instructed their lawyers to initiate civil proceedings against Bishop Mwai if he chooses to keep the money. However, should you not find favor in our advice, you may opt to keep the said proceeds of crime, but bear in mind that should the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) bury its head in the sand. And should the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) opt out or abdicate its duties from taking the appropriate action in addressing this matter, be assured that our clients have duly instructed us to commence private prosecution against you for recovery of the said amount, the letter stated. Meanwhile, a section of Kenyans has threatened to occupy Jesus Winner Ministry on Sunday in protest against the controversial donation. The government is stepping up efforts to address the growing issue of street families in Kenya. Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua has announced plans for a nationwide census aimed at identifying and rehabilitating street families while ensuring they receive proper living conditions. Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, Mutua reaffirmed the governments commitment to improving the welfare of homeless individuals and restoring their dignity. He emphasized that the initiative seeks to reintegrate them into society by providing essential support and resources. Mutua pointed out that the number of street families has surged in recent years, largely due to economic hardships, displacement caused by natural disasters, and the increasing number of destitute children and families. In response, the Ministry, through the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund, is developing a comprehensive plan to rescue affected individuals and repatriate those who are not Kenyan citizens. We are reworking the rehabilitation and identification of street families. Some of them we are seeing in our country are foreigners who have come to Kenya because it is an economic giant in the region, he said. We are working on that so we can have them sent back to their home countries. Those who are Kenyan will be taken back to their rural homes and enrolled in schools. Rehabilitation Process To ensure a smooth rehabilitation process, the Ministry is working closely with the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. Mutua explained that the planned census will provide crucial data on the number of street families, their nationalities, and their regions of origin. We are undertaking a census; we are just waiting for budgetary allocation so we can identify not only who among them are Kenyans and who are not but also their places of origin within the country, he said. We also want to determine the root causes of street homelessnesswhether it stems from family breakdown, poverty, or child trafficking for labor. We are very concerned about human trafficking, he added. Mutua called on Parliament to allocate sufficient funds to support the Ministrys programs, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions. Once rescued, beneficiaries will undergo assessments to determine their suitable placement within the education system. Those above 18 will receive identification cards, while individuals with professional training will have access to internship opportunities to help them transition into the workforce. This initiative aligns with the governments broader efforts to create a structured, long-term solution to the street families crisis in Kenya. A Naivasha High Court has found former United Nations (UN) employee Nicholas Koskei guilty of murdering his wife, Rhoda Mumbi Mutua, at Jacaranda Lake Elementaita Lodge in Gilgil, Nakuru County. The court established that Koskei lured Mumbi to the lodge on July 8, 2017, under the pretense of celebrating his 36th birthday and reconciling their marital differences. However, the trip took a tragic turn when Mumbi was found dead in the bathtub of their hotel room later that night. During the trial, lead prosecutor Nelly Maingi presented compelling evidence, including forensic reports, circumstantial evidence, and testimonies from 17 witnesses. Their accounts helped reconstruct the sequence of events leading to Mumbis death, ultimately linking Koskei to the crime. Justice Richard Mwongo, delivering the judgment on March 4, 2025, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court determined that Koskei had meticulously planned and executed the murder with premeditated intent. The case was prosecuted under Section 203, read with Section 204 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes intentional and unlawful killing with malice aforethought. Following the conviction, the court ordered a pre-sentencing probation report to be submitted within 21 days. The sentencing hearing is set for March 27, 2025, where the court will review the report along with any mitigating or aggravating factors before delivering the final sentence. The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has cautioned Kenyans against paying royalties to the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), emphasizing that the organization no longer has the legal authority to collect these funds. This directive follows a High Court ruling in Nairobi on March 3, which denied MCSKs request to continue collecting royalties on behalf of its members. Lady Justice Josephine Mongare dismissed MCSKs petition, citing that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. The High Court directed that the case be referred to the Copyright Tribunal for determination. In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 5, KECOBO ordered MCSK to immediately stop representing itself as a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) to the public and music users. MCSK is further directed to forthwith cease from presenting itself to the public and music users as a licensed CMO. The Board is pursuing other matters pending before the courts relating to the licensing of CMOs and shall inform the public upon determination, KECOBO stated. KECOBO also warned against remitting royalties to the Performing and Audio Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRISK), whose license was revoked in 2024. While PAVRISK challenged this revocation in court, the case remains unresolved. The board further issued a stern warning to any individuals or organizations illegally collecting royalties without its authorization, stating that such actions could result in prosecution. Under Section 46 (12) of the Copyright Act, offenders risk hefty fines or imprisonment upon conviction. KECOBO urged the public to remain patient as the government works to streamline the sector, ensuring fair compensation and protection for Kenyan creatives. Political activist Morara Kebaso has officially aligned his Inject Party with the opposition coalition, signaling a strategic move ahead of the 2027 general election. In an update on Wednesday, March 5, Morara stressed that his partys role extends beyond merely criticizing the government. Instead, Inject Party aims to offer alternative solutions while championing the principles of good governance. He underscored the partys commitment to youth empowerment, advocating for opportunities that allow young people to work, grow, and thrive in a fair economic landscape. Inject Party has joined the opposition coalition. Our job is not to complain about this or that & him or her. Our mission is to offer solutions. To ensure that the values and principles of good governance are held in high esteem. We want justice and opportunities for the youth to live, work, and grow, Morara stated. Expressing confidence in the oppositions prospects, Morara predicted a shift in power, asserting that the coalition will lead the next government in 2027. Genzs, we are the opposition now; in a short while, we will be the government. Let us walk into the room with confidence and change how things are done from the inside. As your leader, I commit to be an outstanding icon of integrity, he added. His declaration came just a day after the opposition coalition held high-profile talks on Tuesday, March 4. The meeting brought together prominent political figures, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Peoples Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, and Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi. DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, and Morara were also present. Prior to this, on Saturday, March 1, Morara met with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to discuss Kenyas political landscape and pressing national concerns. Morara disclosed that their conversation focused on economic stability, police brutality, and youth empowerment. He further revealed that Gachagua shared his views on ensuring justice for victims of police brutality, abductions, and extrajudicial killings. I will continue to engage leaders from across the political, religious, and civic space in amplifying the voice of the youth in their quest for change, Morara added. A joint Parliamentary committee has dismissed a proposal by the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) to extend senators terms from five to seven years, citing constitutional and financial concerns. In a report tabled before both the Senate and the National Assembly, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee stressed that such a change would require a complete constitutional overhaul. Altering the term and date of election of members of the Senate would require a complete overhaul of the constitution, the report stated. The committee, chaired by Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei and Tharaka MP George Murugara, argued that holding Senate elections separately from other polls would be costly and difficult to manage. Nadco had proposed amending Articles 101 and 102 of the Constitution, which govern parliamentary elections and term limits. Under the proposal, general elections would still be held every five years for the presidency, National Assembly, county assemblies, and governors, while Senate elections would shift to a seven-year cycle. However, the committee warned that this change would strain the countrys economy. The committee observed that conducting two general elections would further escalate the cost of elections, noting that the cost of elections in Kenya was already among the highest in the world, the report stated. No Compelling Reason for Term Extension Lawmakers also criticized Nadco for failing to provide a compelling reason for extending senators terms. Implementation of the proposal would create significant legal, practical, and administrative challenges, the panel noted. Additionally, the committee emphasized that Kenyas constitution mandates a single general election, referencing Articles 90(3), 98(2), and 136(2), which address party-list seat allocation, the election of special-interest senators, and presidential elections. The committee further observed that the proposal touched on the sovereignty of the people and would thus need to be subjected to a referendum, in accordance with Articles 255 and 256(5) of the constitution, the report added. Nadco was formed by President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga in response to nationwide anti-government protests that disrupted the economy. The dialogue team was co-chaired by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa. Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has urged former President Uhuru Kenyatta to rally behind President William Rutos administration, arguing that his support is crucial for Kenyas progress. Speaking on Wednesday, March 5, , Passaris stressed the need for unity among leaders, warning that national development could stall without Uhurus backing. It is very important for a former president to support the current president because if he (Uhuru) doesnt do that, our government wont be progressive, she stated. She acknowledged Uhurus close relationship with ODM leader Raila Odinga and expressed hope that, like Raila, he would put aside political differences for the nations greater good. But because I know that he is close with Baba (Raila) and Baba is someone who looks at ways to make Kenya move forward, I would ask Uhuru to put differences aside and prioritize Kenya and how it can be progressive, she said. Passaris also reminded Uhuru of his influential role as Kenyas only living former president, urging him to use his position to foster unity among key leaders, including Ruto and Raila. You are the only living past President of Kenya; you have huge investments and family in this country. You can sit down with Ruto, Raila, and people of like mind to drive this country in the right direction, she added. Her remarks come nearly four months after President Rutos unexpected visit to Uhurus Gatundu home, a meeting that surprised many Kenyans due to the perceived tensions between the two leaders. The Nairobi County Assembly is pushing for new regulations to bring order to non-motorized transport and reduce congestion in the Central Business District (CBD). On Tuesday, Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai introduced a motion calling for mandatory registration and regulation of non-motorized transport, including wheelbarrows, rickshaws, handcarts, animal-drawn carts, luggage trolleys, and tricycles. Alai emphasized that these measures aim to improve road safety and streamline movement in the city. This initiative aims to tackle the growing congestion and safety concerns caused by the widespread use of these transport modes, which account for 45 percent of mobility in the county, according to the UN Environmental Program, he said. The proposed policies would require all operators to have reflective number plates, wear reflective jackets, and obtain insurance coverage to protect against accidents and third-party damages. According to Alai, these measures will enhance lane discipline and provide a framework for operators to gain road safety knowledge. If approved, the County Assembly will grant a six-month grace period for compliance before enforcement begins. This will allow operators ample time to comply with the regulations before full enforcement begins, states the proposed legislation. The motion also calls on the County Executive to collaborate with the NTSA to create clear guidelines for registering and managing non-motorized transport operators. Alai pointed out that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of movement, county governments are responsible for managing traffic, parking, and public road transport. We are deeply concerned that the increasing use of non-motorized transport has worsened congestion in the city, with handcarts and trolleys being the leading cause of accidents due to users disregard for lane discipline and improper use of reflective jackets, he said. Alai said this initiative aligns with Nairobi Countys broader efforts to enhance urban safety, organization, and inclusivity for all residents and road users. Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Deborah Barasa has unveiled a series of transformative reforms aimed at improving Kenyas healthcare system and addressing concerns surrounding the Social Health Authority (SHA). Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, CS Barasa announced that SHA will start publicly disclosing payments to health facilities next week to promote transparency. The Ministry has also launched a Claims Tracking Dashboard to speed up payments, with nationwide training underway to help health providers streamline claim submissions, she stated. By the end of March, 15 high-volume hospitals will integrate into the Health Information Exchange (HIE) system, allowing seamless patient data sharing to enhance efficiency. Additionally, the government is establishing a 24-hour call center to assist Kenyans with healthcare access, registration, and claims tracking. New Healthcare Financing Model CS Barasa reaffirmed the governments commitment to strengthening Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through key reforms under Taifa Care. She introduced a new healthcare financing model that will base payments to facilities on the actual number of patients treated rather than their insurance status. This ensures fairness, efficiency, and accountability, with primary healthcare services now fully tax-funded, she emphasized. Calling Taifa Care Kenyas most ambitious health program, the CS urged stakeholders to support its implementation. She also revealed that the Ministry will finalize the Means Testing Model (MTM) by Friday, March 7, 2025, to ensure financial aid reaches vulnerable groups. Additionally, the government has expanded health benefits, significantly increasing ICU/HDU coverage from KES 4,600 to KES 28,000 and raising oncology care coverage from KES 400,000 to KES 550,000 per household. CS Barasa reaffirmed the Ministrys commitment to ensuring Taifa Care transforms Kenyas healthcare system, making quality healthcare accessible to all. The Ministry reported that over 500,000 Kenyans have since benefited from SHA, while over 18 million have registered. President Xi Jinping on Thursday visited national political advisors attending a joint group meeting at the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined the discussion of political advisors from the China Democratic League, the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and the sector of education. Xi heard their comments and suggestions. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has confirmed that the U.S. government will continue funding critical programs in Kenya, despite an executive order by President Donald Trump that suspended foreign aid funding. Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, Mbadi revealed that he recently held discussions with a high-ranking U.S. official to assess the impact of Trumps directive on Kenya. He informed lawmakers that U.S.-funded programs in Kenya had significantly declined, with the number dropping from over 100 to just 15. Mr. Speaker, a day before yesterday, I met with the Charity Affairs representative of the United States in Kenya. We had an extensive discussion, and it became clear that the U.S. has been providing aid directly through implementing partners, Mbadi stated. He further explained, Before the executive order, around 100 programs were running in the country. However, after the order, the number may drop to only 15. Despite the budget cuts, Mbadi reassured the Senate that Trumps administration would continue supporting essential sectors, particularly life-saving interventions. He confirmed that the U.S. government will maintain financial support for health emergencies, including responses to contagious disease outbreaks like Ebola. Additionally, the U.S. will continue funding emergency food assistance, particularly for drought-stricken communities in northern Kenya. Mbadi also revealed that the U.S. intends to sustain its financial commitment to Kenyas leadership in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti. These are the areas that will be spared, based on our discussions. I also requested a written report on the impact of this executive order, he stated. He assured that life-saving interventions, emergency food aid, and Kenyas security mission in Haiti would remain unaffected by the aid cuts. Photo by Bob Baer SIU plans special events to observe total lunar eclipse by Tim Crosby CARBONDALE, Ill. Southern Illinois University Carbondale will play host to sky-watchers of all types next week during a total lunar eclipse. The university will open the observation areas on the lawn at the Neckers building during the event, set overnight for the evening of March 13-14. The total lunar eclipses, also known as the blood moon, will be visible over most of the Americas. During the event, the moon will appear to go through different phases, turning to a deep orange-red for about one hour during totality about 1:30-2:30 a.m. Central. Eclipses dont happen only when the moon blocks the sun from the Earth. In this case, the Earth will return the favor for the moon, blocking sunlight from reaching its surface, said Bob Baer, associate scientist in the School of Physics and Applied Physics at SIU. I love watching lunar eclipses because you can see the shadow of the Earth as it slowly sweeps across the moon over a three-hour event, said Baer, one of the key organizers of SIUs participation in two total solar eclipses in Southern Illinois in 2017 and 2024. Although its not as spectacular or fast-paced as a total solar eclipse, a total lunar eclipse is awe inspiring. When you see totality, youre looking at light refracted from the sun through the Earths atmosphere the exact color is determined by the amount of dust particles in the air. Its like seeing sunsets around the world projected on the moon. How to enjoy the events The public is invited to join organizers at SIU, as well as members of the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois and the Adler Planetarium, for the free event. Starting at midnight, activities, including guided telescope viewings and special things to do during peak eclipse hours, will be centered on the southwest side of the Neckers building. Participants may bring lawn chairs, blankets, telescopes, photographic equipment and coolers. Alcohol is not permitted. Participants bringing their own telescopes or photographic equipment are welcome to arrive early and keep their equipment set up for the entire eclipse. Organizers hope to keep lighting at the site to a minimum. Outdoor enthusiasts are also invited to be part of another special program, Half of the Magic and Majesty of Living on Earth Happens at Night. The program features a nature walk under the eclipsed moon, led by Steve Gariepy, experiential education specialist and researcher of almost 20 years. Participants in this event should bring a flashlight or headlamp, snack, water and binoculars, if possible. The group will meet in the telescope area at midnight at Neckers. The walk is expected to last about 90 minutes, with the group returning to the telescope area at Neckers a little after 1:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for both of these outdoor events, which are weather-dependent. Organizers also plan to livestream the events from other locations. Parking Participants may park for free in Lot 47, located between the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and Neckers building. The south end of the parking lot will be blocked to keep headlights from shining into the observation area. No tickets are required. For more information or for special accommodations, call SIU Events and Outreach at 618-536-7751 or email events@siu.edu. SIUs Paul Simon Institute to host discussion on expanding educational equity CARBONDALE, Ill. Melissa Connelly, CEO of OneGoal, will join Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute for a virtual conversation on Tuesday, March 18, to discuss the barriers facing first-generation and low-income students in achieving a college education. Connelly will speak with John Shaw, institute director, about her work leading OneGoal, a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that all students have an equitable opportunity to achieve postsecondary success. The discussion, via Zoom at 2 p.m., is free and open to the public, but registration to view the conversation is required. The discussion is part of the institutes Understanding Our New World discussion series. Visit paulsimoninstitute.org/events to register. She will also discuss strategies for closing the opportunity gap and the role of policy and community engagement in shaping education outcomes, her journey as a first-generation college graduate and her more than 15 years of experience in the education field. Melissa Connelly is a creative, hopeful and determined leader in education, Shaw said. Her passion for, and commitment to, ensuring that all high school students have an equitable opportunity to earn a postsecondary degree or credential is deeply inspiring. We are especially eager to learn about her drive to transform postsecondary advising and support. Connelly has a bachelors degree from the University of Illinois Chicago and a masters degree from Dominican University. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for Connelly on the registration form or email questions to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu. More information, a list of the institutes upcoming events and past speakers and events are available. PNN Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 6: In a grand and inspiring event, the Lions Club of Hyderabad Bhooja officially marked its inception with a Charter Presentation and Installation Ceremony held at the Telangana Contractors Cultural Club Meeting Hall. The evening was a celebration of service, leadership, and commitment to social welfare. The event was graced by Lions Governor D. Koteshwara Rao, who attended as the Chief Guest, emphasizing the growing impact of the Lions movement in Hyderabad. PDG Lion Rajagopal Reddy conducted the induction ceremony, formally welcoming 50 new members into the club, while PDG Lion Bandaru Prabhakar officiated the installation of office bearers. New Leadership Takes Charge At the heart of this new chapter, Jakka Sudhakar took the oath as the President of the Lions Club of Hyderabad Bhooja, alongside Boinapalli Kiran as Secretary and Alok Garg as Treasurer. Their leadership is expected to drive impactful community initiatives in the coming years. Presiding over the event, Lions Club of Hyderabad Deccan President A Sudhakar Reddy underscored the significance of this new addition to the Lions fraternity, stating,"The Lions Club of Hyderabad Bhooja is not just a club; it is a movement driven by passionate individuals committed to making a real difference in society. With strong leadership and dedicated members, I am confident that this club will bring meaningful change to our community." Distinguished Guests Add Prestige to the Event The event was further honored by the presence of Special Honourable Guests, including Anil, Chairman of TSMDC, and Nani Raju, President of MyHome Bhooja. Their support and encouragement added to the enthusiasm and commitment of the newly formed club, reinforcing the Lions Club's mission of service and philanthropy. The ceremony concluded on a high note, with members reaffirming their commitment to Lions International's mission of humanitarian service, leadership, and global fellowship. The newly formed club is expected to initiate various social projects in healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability, further strengthening the spirit of volunteerism in Hyderabad. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL Gurugram (Haryana) [India], March 6: Phot.AI, an AI-driven creative automation platform, has secured $2.7 million in a seed funding round led by Info Edge Ventures, with participation from Together Fund, AC Ventures, and over 50 angel investors, including Sahil Goel & Akshay Gulati (Shiprocket), Aakash Anand (Bella Vita), Arjun Vaidya (V3 Ventures), Prabhkiran Singh (Bewakoof), Puneet Gupta & Anmol Jain (Astrotalk), Sandeep Agarwal (Droom), Vishesh Khurana & Raj Snehil (Tribe Capital), Pawan Gupta (Fashinza). The funds will be used to expand the team, invest in R&D, and to launch the much awaited copilot. E-commerce brands today face growing visual demands, requiring frequent updates for product listings, ads, and social media. Each platform--Amazon, Shopify, and Meta Ads--requires unique formats, sizes, and localized content, making manual design costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, traditional design platforms require technical skills or rely on static templates, limiting flexibility and scalability. Additionally, visual inconsistency, slow production, and limited A/B testing hinder brand performance, leading to higher customer acquisition costs (CAC) and lower conversions. With shoppers prioritizing high-quality images over product descriptions, brands need AI-powered automation to create, optimize, and personalize visuals at scale. Phot.AI automates creative design and marketplace listings for ecommerce, brands, retail. Its AI agents continuously learn which designs perform best for different product categories and marketplaces. This automation reduces manual effort and costs by up to 80%, accelerating brands' go-to-market strategies. It also enables A/B testing of creatives, boosting conversions by 40%, while ensuring visuals comply with the formatting and guidelines of marketplaces like Amazon and ad platforms like Google Phot.AI was co-founded in 2023 by Venus Dhuria, Aneesh Rayancha, and Akshit Raja, who previously built AppyHigh, an app publishing studio with over 700 million downloads and 100+ seed investments in promising startups. The team brings deep expertise in technology and business scaling, positioning them to disrupt the e-commerce creative automation industry with AI Agents. "Phot.AI makes it easy for brands to create high-quality visuals quickly and efficiently," said Venus Dhuria, Co-founder of Phot.AI. "Our AI-powered platform removes the need for design skills or rigid templates, allowing businesses to generate customized content for different platforms and audiences effortlessly. We help brands create A/B testing creatives so they can test and optimize visuals on their respective platforms for better engagement and performance. By automating the entire creative process, Phot.AI helps businesses save time, maintain consistency, and bring products to market faster," he added. Phot.AI has already launched a core engine that will help build AI Agents. This includes 25+ advanced photo editing tools and a design studio with an integrated App Store. The platform supports product photography, image enhancement, and batch processing using Generative AI. With over 3 million sign-ups across countries before its official launch, Phot.AI has demonstrated strong early traction in the growing market for AI-driven e-commerce design automation. Furthermore, more than 25 businesses use its photo editing APIs to automate their workflows and increase the conversion rates. Kitty Agarwal, Partner at Info Edge Ventures, commented: "Phot.AI is building a world class product for AI-led creative automation. They are redefining how e-commerce sellers create, manage and scale their visual content and listings across various marketplaces and ad platforms. We are very excited to partner with Venus, Akshit and Aneesh as they build from India for the world. Their deep experience in building global products and distribution from day 1 has been instrumental in getting the company off to a strong start." Further validating its innovative approach, Phot.AI was selected for the global AWS Generative AI Accelerator Program and the JioGenNext program by Reliance. These prestigious accelerators have supported Phot.AI in refining its technology and scaling its impact in the e-commerce industry. As e-commerce brands and sellers seek more efficient ways to create and optimize visual content, Phot.AI is leading the way with its AI-driven solutions. About Phot.AI (Boilerplate) Phot.AI is an AI-powered creative automation platform designed to help e-commerce brands, marketplaces, and advertisers scale high-quality product visuals and marketing creatives effortlessly. By leveraging AI Agents, Phot.AI automates cataloging, storefront listings, and ad creative workflows, ensuring brand consistency across multiple platforms, languages, and formats. Founded in 2023, Phot.AI has been selected for the global AWS Generative AI Accelerator Program and the JioGenNext program by Jio, further validating its innovation in AI-driven design automation. With over 3 mn+ sign-ups before its official launch, Phot.AI is rapidly emerging as a leader in AI-powered creative solutions. * For more information, visit Phot.AI. * Press Contact: ishan@phot.ai (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The tariffs that US President Donald Trump imposed on Chinese goods present a significant opportunity for India, if it undertakes internal reforms to capture a share of what China loses in exports. In 2024, China exported goods worth USD 462 billion to the US, while India's exports stood at USD 90 billion. Former Additional Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Ajay Srivastava noted that between 2017 and 2024, India's exports to the US rose by USD 38 billion, much of it at China's expense. In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Srivastava said "During the last tariff war, if we compare rise in India's exports to USA between 2017 and 2024, our exports to USA rose by 38 billion dollars. And much of it is what China has lost. So there is a scope. But for that we have to do internal reforms". He emphasized that further gains would require internal reforms, cost-effective manufacturing, and deep manufacturing capabilities. One sector where India could benefit is auto parts. In 2024, India exported USD 2.2 billion worth of auto parts to the US, while China's exports stood at USD 10 billion. Mexico, however, dominated the sector with USD 90 billion in exports. If both China and Mexico face tariffs, Indian manufacturers could secure a larger share of the U.S. market. He said "Our exports to USA of auto parts for 2.2 billion dollars in 2024. China exports were 10 billion dollars, but most export of about 90 billion dollars to the USA were going from Mexico. So if both China and Mexico they are suffering because of US tariffs, we don't know whether we are going to survive. We could survive tariffs. Then of course a fair chunk of auto part exports will come to India". However, Srivastava cautioned that the impact would depend on how Trump structures his tariffs. If he applies sector-wide tariffs, including both auto parts and passenger vehicles, India's exposure could increase. While India's tariffs on auto parts are 7.5 per cent compared to the U.S. rate of 2 percent--a difference of about five per cent--grouping auto parts with passenger vehicles could lead to broader repercussions. On passenger cars, India's exports to the US were less than USD 2 million in 2024, meaning any tariffs on this segment would have little effect. However, if Trump imposes a flat tariff across the entire auto sector, it could impact India's potential gains in auto parts exports. While full details are yet to emerge, Srivastava emphasized that India must continue strengthening its manufacturing sector to remain competitive in global trade. (ANI) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 6: The Akshaya Patra Foundation, is proud to announce its recent accolade, the 'Best Civil Society Award' for the year 2023-24, bestowed by the Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability. This prestigious recognition was received by Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman, alongside Shridhar Venkat, CEO of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, during the 11th Asia Business Responsibility Summit held at the Hotel Taj Lands End in Mumbai on March 5, 2025. In response to this significant achievement, Shri Chanchalapathi Dasa, expressed his gratitude and vision, stating, "This award is a testament to the unwavering commitment and hard work of every individual at the Akshaya Patra Foundation. It reaffirms our resolve to drive positive change within communities by upholding the highest standards of governance and sustainability. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Central and State Governments, corporate and individual donors, and the countless volunteers whose unwavering support has been crucial." Shridhar Venkat, CEO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, "We are immensely proud and honored to receive the Best Civil Society Award from the Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability. This award underscores our dedication to excellence in corporate governance and our ongoing commitment to societal development. At Akshaya Patra, we strive to set benchmarks in transparency, accountability, and sustainability which are integral to our mission of ensuring that no child in India is deprived of education because of hunger. This accolade not only celebrates our achievements but also strengthens our resolve to innovate and enhance our impact." The award, which recognizes organizations that exemplify outstanding governance and sustainable practices, places Akshaya Patra among an elite group of past recipients such as Wipro Ltd, Tata Steel Ltd, and Colgate India Ltd. The event was honored by the attendance of esteemed guests, including Chris Pierce, CEO of Global Governance Services, UK, and Member of the Global Advisory Board at the Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability, who bestowed the awards. Recognition was also given to notable industry leaders: Suresh Narayanan, CMD of Nestle Ltd; Sameer Mehta, Chair of Torrent Power Ltd; Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Co; Peyush Bansal, Amit Choudhary, and Sumeet Kapathi of Lenskart. The ceremony successfully spotlighted the outstanding contributions of these leaders to their respective fields. The Akshaya Patra Foundation extends its deepest appreciation to the Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability for this honor and pledges to continue its mission of leveraging corporate governance and sustainability to foster significant societal impact. For more details, please log on: www.akshayapatra.org. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) PRNewswire Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], March 6: Indian Ceramics Asia, India's only B2B trade fair dedicated to the ceramics and brick industry, was inaugurated on March 5 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The grand opening was graced by Anil Kapoor, an icon of excellence and reinvention, alongside esteemed industry leaders and international dignitaries. In its latest edition, Indian Ceramics Asia 2025 unites over 250 brands and more than 10,000 visitors from India and abroad, showcasing state-of-the-art ceramics machinery, raw materials, and advanced manufacturing technologies during three days of business networking, knowledge exchange, and innovation. The inauguration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by legendary actor Anil Kapoor, alongside key dignitaries including: - Bhupinder Singh, President - IMEA, Messe Muenchen & CEO, Messe Muenchen India - Amen Liao - President, Unifair Exhibition Service Co. Ltd. - Robert Schoenberger - Global Industry Lead, Messe Munchen Germany - Antonietta Baccanari - Trade Commissioner, ITA - Italian Trade Agency, New Delhi Office and Coordinator for India Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - Mukeshbhai Kundariya - President, Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association (MCMA) - Kiritbhai Patel - President (Sanitaryware Division), Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association (MCMA) - Haresh Bopaliya - President (Wall Tiles Division), Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association (MCMA) - Sanjib Behra - Executive Director and State Level Coordinator - Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. - Dr. L K Sharma - Chief Executive Officer - Mahamana Ceramic Development Organization - Dr. Chandresh Agarwal - Secretary- Gulf Countries Cooperation Chapter (GCC Chapter), Indian Ceramic Society Delivering the opening address, Bhupinder Singh, President - IMEA, Messe Muenchen & CEO, Messe Muenchen India, emphasized the trade fair's key role in advancing the ceramics industry, "The ceramics industry has navigated significant challenges in recent years, yet its resilience and adaptability have kept it at the forefront on global stage. At Indian Ceramics Asia, progress is not just about showcasing technology--it's about knowledge-sharing, strategic partnerships, and unlocking global opportunities. As we observe groundbreaking innovations, industry-defining insights, and transformative collaborations over the next three days, this trade fair remains a catalyst for the industry's next phase of evolution, ensuring a future propelled by innovation and sustainability." As the Chief Guest, Anil Kapoor shared his admiration for the industry's commitment. To add a lively touch to the event, he participated in a rapid-fire Q&A moderated by Bhupinder Singh, engaging the audience with his insights on technology, global opportunities, and innovation in ceramics manufacturing. Highlighting the international participation at the event, Robert Schoenberger, Global Industry Lead, Messe Munchen Germany, stated, "The Indian ceramics industry is at a turning point, with local innovation and global collaboration redefining its growth trajectory. Indian Ceramics Asia 2025 is not just a trade fair--it's a global hub where businesses, technology providers, and suppliers come together to build the industry's future. This year's participation from international manufacturers, especially from Italy and Germany, highlights the strategic importance of India in the global ceramics supply chain." Amen Liao - President, Unifair Exhibition Service Co. Ltd., emphasized the growing role of Indian ceramics in the global market, "India is one of the most dynamic ceramics markets in the world, and Indian Ceramics Asia is at the heart of this transformation. The collaboration between Messe Muenchen India and Unifair Exhibition Service has helped create a trade fair that connects Indian manufacturers with global technology leaders. As supply chains evolve and innovations emerge, this platform is essential for businesses to explore new opportunities and stay ahead in a competitive market." Following the inauguration, dignitaries embarked on an exclusive VIP tour of the exhibition, exploring state-of-the-art ceramics machinery, advanced raw material solutions, and live technology showcases. With knowledge-driven conferences, networking opportunities, and a strong focus on business matchmaking, Indian Ceramics Asia 2025 is set to be a power-packed three-day event, driving growth, collaboration, and transformation in the ceramics sector. About Messe Muenchen India: Founded in 2007 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Messe Munchen GmbH, Messe Muenchen India is one of the country's leading trade fair organizers. With a diverse portfolio of B2B trade shows spanning consumer goods, capital goods, emerging technologies, environmental solutions, energy sector it serves both the Indian industry and global markets. The company hosts powerful industry-leading events, including electronica India, productronica India, bauma CONEXPO India, IFAT India, analytica Lab India and more, fostering innovation, business growth, and strategic networking. About Messe Munchen GmbH Messe Munchen stands as one of the world's leading trade fair organizers, hosting over 50 flagship events annually across industries such as capital goods, consumer goods, and cutting-edge technologies. Each year, Messe Munchen attracts over 50,000 exhibitors and three million visitors to its events worldwide. With an expansive presence in China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Turkey, and a network of 70 representatives covering more than 100 countries, Messe Munchen is at the forefront of facilitating global business connections. Unifair Exhibitions Service Co., Ltd. Established in 1992, Unifair Exhibition Service Co., Ltd. is one the pioneer professional exhibition organizing service enterprises in China. Who has already organized and conducted over 40 world-class exhibitions in different industrial sectors. We have a very strong and innovative team of experienced professionals on exhibition management and organizing background as well as huge customer resources. Optimal marketing channels and complete service. UNIFAIR is the official organizer of Ceramics CHINA in Guangzhou which is the world's most influential and important ceramics exhibition offering customers and buyers extraordinary business opportunities. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635357/MM_ICA_2025_Inauguration.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday extended festive greetings and best wishes to the country's women of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life ahead of International Women's Day, which falls on March 8. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent the greetings when attending a joint group meeting at the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body. In a bid to enhance the availability of credit for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the World Bank, in its latest report, has stated that the government should remove the interest cap on NBFCs to ease the lending restriction. The World Bank's report outlined several key recommendations aimed at strengthening Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). It said, "Providing adequate financing for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by strengthening NBFCs' ability to lend to them by removing the existing interest cap on NBFCs to be eligible for guarantees provided by the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)" These recommendations focus on improving NBFCs' access to liquidity, easing restrictions on their lending, and introducing risk-sharing mechanisms to facilitate bank funding to NBFCs. One of the primary measures suggested is the removal of the existing interest cap on NBFCs to be eligible for guarantees under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE). By eliminating this cap, the World Bank says that the NBFCs will have greater flexibility in lending to MSMEs, ensuring better access to financing for small businesses. Additionally, introducing risk-sharing mechanisms for banks that lend to NBFCs would encourage greater participation from the banking sector in supporting NBFC funding. The tightening of regulatory supervision on NBFCs has led to concerns over liquidity access, particularly for smaller and medium-sized NBFCs. To address this, the World Bank recommends the introduction of a permanent liquidity arrangement that includes periodic liquidity facilities through development finance institutions (DFIs), Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTROs), and partial credit guarantee schemes. Such measures would ensure a steady flow of funds for NBFCs, reducing their dependence on short-term borrowing and making financing more accessible for MSMEs. During the pandemic, government-backed long-term lending support was largely accessible only to well-established and financially sound NBFCs, leaving smaller and medium-sized players struggling for funds. To prevent a recurrence of such disparities, the World Bank suggests that the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) implement a more structured and permanent liquidity mechanism. This would provide much-needed stability to NBFCs, particularly those catering to MSMEs, and ensure that smaller lenders are not left behind in times of financial distress. In conclusion, strengthening NBFCs through regulatory flexibility, improved liquidity access, and risk-sharing mechanisms will significantly enhance their ability to finance MSMEs. The recommendations put forth by the World Bank emphasize the need for a balanced approach--tightening regulatory supervision while simultaneously ensuring NBFCs have adequate liquidity support. (ANI) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 6: Aarthi Scans & Labs, India's leading integrated diagnostics provider, today announced a significant investment of over Rs100 crore in state-of-the-art Siemens helium-free 1.5T MRI Flow scanners. This strategic acquisition underscores the company's unwavering commitment to democratizing access to cutting-edge diagnostic technology and strengthening its market leadership position. The landmark order was formalized with the handover of the cheque to Hariharan, Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers India. These advanced MRI scanners will be deployed in newly established diagnostic centers across key metropolitan areas, including Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad. Further expansion is planned for Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, solidifying Aarthi Scans & Labs' presence in major healthcare hubs nationwide. This substantial investment fuels Aarthi Scans & Labs' ambitious growth trajectory in FY 26 and significantly expands its capacity to deliver world-class imaging services. Upon deployment, the company's total MRI scanner count will exceed 85 nationwide, dramatically increasing the availability of high-quality, affordable diagnostics for communities across India. "This investment represents a pivotal step in our ongoing mission to provide accessible, accurate and affordable diagnostic solutions to all Indians," said Dr Prasanna Vignesh, Executive Director and Radiologist, Aarthi Scans and Labs. "By partnering with Siemens Healthineers, we are equipping our new centers with the latest helium-free MRI technology, ensuring both superior image quality and a sustainable approach to healthcare delivery. We are confident that this expansion will empower clinicians with the critical information they need to provide timely and effective patient care." The Siemens 1.5T Flow MRI scanners offer cutting-edge imaging capabilities while eliminating the reliance on helium, a finite and increasingly scarce resource. This forward-thinking approach aligns with Aarthi Scans & Labs' commitment to environmentally responsible practices and ensures long-term sustainability of its operations. "We are delighted to partner with Aarthi Scans & Labs in their mission to enhance diagnostic accessibility across India," said Hariharan, Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers India. "This significant order reflects their trust in our innovative technology and reinforces our shared commitment to improving patient outcomes through advanced imaging solutions." This strategic investment underscores Aarthi Scans & Labs' dedication to innovation, patient-centric care, and its vision of a healthier India. The company continues to invest in the latest technologies and expand its network to provide unparalleled diagnostic services to a wider population. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 6: Aimed at bridging industry-academia gap by fostering industry-aligned futuristic education, AI-Augmented Chandigarh University Lucknow has forged collaborations with top 10 global and Indian multinational companies (MNC) in a landmark MOUs (Memorandum of Understandings) Signing Ceremony to offer next-gen industry collaborative programs in the field of Computer Science Engineering, Civil Engineering, Management & Commerce, Computer Applications. Chandigarh University Lucknow signed these MOUs with industry giants including Google, Microsoft, IBM, SAS, Rabbitt AI, Quick Heal, KPMG, PWC, NSE and Grant Thornton in the presence of senior officials of these leading firms. With this collaboration, Chandigarh University Lucknow will offer 15 industry collaborative programs (8 UG & PG 7) in 3 academic streams including Engineering (B Tech), Business & Commerce (BBA/MBA) and Computer Application (BCA/MCA). With this Chandigarh University Lucknow has become first university in India to forge collaborations with 10 global industry giants in a single day in UP to offer industry collaborative programs in the futuristic and emerging fields of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Fintech and Cyber Security. Moreover, majority of these programs will be offered for the first time in UP in collaboration with these global and Indian industry giants. As part of these collaborative programs, Industry experts will develop curriculum, ensure job placements, conduct collaborative research projects (at industry-sponsored high-end R&D labs and Centre of Excellences), internships, workshops, certifications, live industry projects (hands-on training using the cutting-edge technology and futuristic tools), guest lectures, ensure value-centric learning, competitions and mentorship programs with an objective to spur knowledge exchange and foster an entrepreneurial mindset among students and create the next generation technology and business leaders. The students will get the opportunity to work on collaborative programs to solve real problems of the industry. As per the collaborations, industry giants including Google, Microsoft, SAS, IBM, L&T and Quick Heal will offer Engineering programs and KPMG, NSE, PWC and Grant Thorton will offer Business & Commerce programs. Out of total 15 courses, while 8 UG courses will be offered in B Tech CSE (AI & ML), B Tech CSE Cloud Computing & Data Science, BBA (Fintech), BBA (Fintech) with ACCA, B Com with ACCA, BCA (DS) and B Tech (Cyber Security) with Com TIA, seven PG courses offered would be in M Tech (AI & ML), MCA (AI & ML), MBA (DS & AI), MBA- Applied Finance, MBA - Fintech, MBA - Business Analytics and MBA (BA). World's 2nd Largest IT firm, Microsoft signs MOU with Chandigarh University to Nurture Futuristic Workforce in Deep Tech like AI & Machine Learning Chandigarh University Lucknow Becomes the first university to offer B Tech CSE AI&ML with Microsoft in UP Pratyusha Thumiki, Technical Consultant at Microsoft, said, "As part of the MOU with Chandigarh University Lucknow, we've collaborated to offer technical courses that integrate AI early in students' education. Understanding AI is crucial, as it's a primary focus across industries today. For the BTech in AI and ML which will be offered by Chandigarh University Lucknow in collaboration with Microsoft, the curruciam has been signed in such a way students will get training in using the tolls in the latest AI and emerging technologies which will boost their skill sets and enhance their scope of job. By leveraging AI in learning, students will gain real-world skills, including Python programming and AI integration, which are essential for their future careers. The course includes practical labs where students will not only learn theory but also implement it, gaining insights into coding standards, error handling, and professional coding practices. This approach will be invaluable as they transition to the workforce." "Chandigarh University Lucknow is taking the right step and I hope other institutions will be inspired to follow suit. Students are the cornerstone of a nation's development. By integrating these skills into the curriculum, we not only strengthen education but also contribute to national growth and GDP. Ultimately, these students will lead the workforce and drive the future of technology." IBM Chandigarh university Lucknow signs MOU with Tech Giant IBM to Nurture Future Leaders in the world of Business Analytics with Next-Gen Industry Collaborative Programs Chandigarh university Lucknow Becomes the first university in UP to offer MBA Business Analytics in collaboration with IBM Gagan Agarwal (IBM) Head academic partnership and Jagdisha Bhat, Market Leader IBM Technology Expert Lab said, "IBM in collaboration with Chandigarh University, Lucknow will offer MBA Business Analytics course to provide project-based learning, quality management systems and practices, globally recognized digital badge and SME Visits and interaction. We will also provide access to digital content, experiential learning and equip students with new skills. Our program in Business Analytics is based on hands on experiential learning; today, industry is increasingly looking for students who have hands on practical experience as opposed to old years when students used to have just theoretical knowledge. Chandigarh University being at forefront, especially the AI-enabled Lucknow campus, they are giving new definition to AI. Such developments would be catalytic in leading the nation to become Viksit Bharat. The AI market is becoming bigger and bigger day by day, and we need to build the skills required within India. Going ahead, Chandigarh University is taking the right approach to skill students on AI and future-driven technologies. To enhance their learning experience, students will get the chance to participate in industry visit, IBM Day, hackathons and various other activities organized by IBM at regular intervals." KPMG Two among world's Big Four Consulting Firms, KPMG and PWC sign MOU with Chandigarh University Lucknow to offer MBA in Applied Finance and MBA (BA) and BBA Fintech Chandigarh university Lucknow becomes first university in India to offer MBA Business Analytics Program in collaboration with KPMG in UP Sankaran Venkataramani, Partner, Transformation, Business Excellence, KPMG and Amit Chaudhary, Technical Director, KPMG said, "As part of collaboration with Chandigarh University Lucknow, KPMG will offer MBA (Business Analytics) and BBA (Fintech) courses to the students. CU Lucknow students will now get access to a highly experienced and qualified faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and a global advisory board that comes from leading technology institutions and corporates." In the joint collaborative program at Chandigarh University Lucknow, KPMG will focus on developing employability skills in the students from day one by involving them in industry live case studies, business data so that they can have first hand experience of the corporate environment. KPMG will not only recruit the students undergoing this program but will also help them in finding jobs in other financial institutions and consultancy companies. Amit Chaudhary said, "When we talk about student employability, one very important factor comes into mind is how much they know in the core concept from an industry perspective. One of the key factors as part of the collaboration between KPMG and Chandigarh University Lucknow would be that we will bring the industry-related datasets, case studies and deliveries to ensure that students are ready to face the challenges in the industry when they go for the job hunts. KPMG and Chandigarh University will be creating futuristic manpower." SAS India Global leader in AI & ML, SAS to Nurture Next-Gen Data Scientists at Chandigarh University Lucknow Chandigarh university Lucknow Becomes the First University in India to offer MCA AI & ML in Collaboration with SAS in UP A global leader in AI & Machine Learning has signed MOU with Chandigarh University Lucknow to offer industry collaborative programs for MBA-Data Science & AI program, MCA in AI&ML program, MTech in AI&ML and BCA Data Science programs. Bhuvan Nijhawan, Senior Director, Education, SAS Asia Pacific and Freddy Jospeh Walespathy, Senior Business Manager, Education & Academia at SAS said, "In today's competitive landscape, businesses rely on data-driven insights for informed decision-making. By integrating SAS analytics into the curriculum, we aim to empower students with the skills and knowledge essential to thrive in the rapidly evolving industry." "With SAS analytics embedded throughout the coursework, students will gain proficiency in data analysis, predictive modelling, data visualization, enhancing their employability and career prospects in various sectors. As part of collaboration with CU Lucknow, SAS will bring the industry to the campus and give exposure to students on what is happening in the industry. Industry experts from SAS will physically teach in classrooms, provide exposure to live industry projects in SAS labs at Chandigarh University campus, provide global certifications and course curriculum will be directly coming from the industry so that students know what is happening in the industry which will not only make students industry-ready but also elevate them to global citizens. As per World Economic Forum 95 million new job roles in created in 3 emerging areas including AI&ML, Big Data and Data Science in the coming years so skilling Chandigarh University Lucknow students at its AI-enabled campus will prove to be a win-win situation both for the university and students," added Quick Heal Chandigarh University Lucknow signs MOU with India's Top Cyber Security Firm Quick Heal to Bridge Skill Gap and Prepare Industry-Ready Graduates with B Tech in Cyber Security with Quick Heal Chandigarh University Lucknow's industry collaborative programs to bridge Academia-Industry Gap, Creating Employable Cyber Security Graduates, say Top Quick Heal Executives Samuel Sathyajith, Senior Vice President at Quick Heal Technologies and Awadhesh Kumar Shukla, Training Head at Quick Heal Technologies, praised Chandigarh University Lucknow for bridging the gap between academia and industry. "Having 10 industry leaders onboard even before academic session starts is an incredible achievement for Chandigarh University Lucknow. The collaborative programs, built with industry experts like Quick Heal, will offer a great platform for students as they will become employable immediately and benefit the industry from day one," Sathyajith said. On the B Tech (Cyber Security) program, Sathyajith said, "This program will provide students practical industry knowledge to understand the cyber security threats which is in prevalent in the market. With its 70% practical approach, this program will focus on Red Teaming, Blue Teaming, Security Auditing, and Blockchain, ensuring students gain real-world skills and Quick Heal certification." Praising Chandigarh University Lucknow for providing AI augmented multi-disciplinary education, Sathyajith said, "Integrating AI into academia is crucial. With the entire program and syllabus built around AI, it's a remarkable approach," On the 3 million cyber security jobs, Shukla said, "Chandigarh University Lucknow students will have excellent opportunities across corporate, academic, and government sectors. With our virtual labs for hands-on practice and Quick Heal's 30 years of industry experience, students will gain the skills and support needed to be industry-ready." Rabbitt AI Chandigarh University Forge Collaboration with Leading Global AI firm Rabbitt AI to Establish Centre of Excellence in AI at its Campus Chandigarh University Lucknow Forged Collaboration with Rabbitt AI for Training Students to Develop Bleeding-edge Technologies The founder of the leading global AI development firm Rabbitt AI, Harneet Singh, said, "To nurture strong AI leaders of tomorrow at Chandigarh University Lucknow, Rabbitt AI will establish a world-class Centre of Excellence in AI at its campus to provide AI-focused training programs, certifications and workshops to students, faculty and professionals, conduct collaborative (industry-sponsored) research and innovation in AI, support startups and entrepreneurial ventures in AI through incubation program and launch industry focused undergraduate and postgraduate programs in partnership with corporates (Teaching and Upskilling Students) and launch real-world applications." "As part of the collaboration with CU Lucknow, we will create industry-ready, world-class talent by training students through AI immersion and focusing on application-oriented learning and also work on forefront to tackle general public issues with the power of technology and collaboration. This pioneering initiative will allow CU Lucknow students, faculty and researchers to develop bleeding-edge technologies, and work on real-life challenges and industry pain points. In the first phase COE will be established in two domains including AI Applications in Agriculture and AI Applications in Healthcare. In the next phase, three more domains will be added including AI Applications in Defence, AI Applications in Digital Marketing and AI Applications in Computer Vision and Deep Technology," added Harneet. Grant Thornton India's Top Accounting Firm, Grant Thornton Signs MOU with Chandigarh University Lucknow to Create Academically Strong & Industry-ready Talent Pipeline Chandigarh university Lucknow Becomes first university in UP to offer BBA Fintech with ACCA & B Com with ACCA in collaboration with Grant Thornton Siddharth Talwar, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat and Kamal Khatter, Manager, Grant Thornton, said, "Our collaboration with Chandigarh University reflects our dedication to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and industry exposure they need to become the business leaders of tomorrow. Our hands-on training, combined with insights from industry leaders, ensure that students gain practical, real-world experience. Our training methods empower students to develop crucial skills like problem-solving and strategic thinking and other essential skills, making them highly competitive in the job market." "We will provide hands-on experience on industry projects to the students so that they know what is exactly happening inside the organization and what they have to be prepared for when they face the real-world challenges outside the university; this is the USP we are trying to build. We empower students to do certifications which are global in nature and also provide scholarships that give students an edge over others. The curriculum designed by us is totally driven by AI. With the rise of AI, fintech, and digital transformation, hands-on experience is crucial in developing professionals who can navigate emerging challenges and drive innovation in the industry. Through this initiative, CU and GTBharat aim to create a talent pipeline that is not only academically strong but also industry-ready." NSE Chandigarh university Lucknow becomes first Indian university in UP to offer MBA Fintech in collaboration with NSE World's 7th Largest Stock Exchange, NSE Collaborates with Chandigarh University Lucknow to Nurture Future Fintech Leaders CEO NSE Academy Ltd Abhilash Misra said, "Ranganathan S, Associate Vice President of NSE Academy, said, "We are excited to sign the MoU with Chandigarh University Lucknow to offer a MBA FinTech program for its students. FinTech is a key driver across industries, and through this collaboration, we aim to equip students with the skills needed to meet the growing demand in the FinTech sector." "Partnerships with industry are crucial in today's world, as they help universities prepare students for the future workforce. In the financial domain, including data and AI, NSE is a pioneer, and Chandigarh University Lucknow is making the right move by integrating AI and technology across all course domain - engineering, sciences, arts, and commerce. The demand for AI workforce is increasing and AI augmented education will help the students get jobs easy." "The curriculum is designed based on industry needs, ensuring a win-win for both students and the industry. So there is systematic learning which will help students get jobs in the future. Chandigarh University Lucknow is doing an excellent job in connecting with corporates and embedding industry-driven content into its courses," he added. Pro Chancellor, Chandigarh University, Professor Himani Sood said, "To provide education aligned to the needs of industry and prepare our students with required skills to work efficiently in future jobs, Chandigarh University Lucknow has signed MOUs with 10 leading global and Indian companies. These collaborations with industry giants will go a long way in making our students future-ready and employable." "As per surveys, Indian IT industry is expected to see a 40 per cent increase in AI-related job roles in next 5 years and AI-augmented Chandigarh University Lucknow campus will be instrumental in catering to this job market base by training its students in deep technologies like AI. These collaborations with top industry giants will turn our students into future AI Leaders, Data Scientists, AI application developers, Cloud Solutions Architect, AI Ethics Specialists, Business Intelligence Analyst, Predictive Analytics Specialists, Banking and Finance Services Analysts, Highway Design Engineer, Bridge Design Engineers among others," added Pro Chancellor. Jai Inder Singh Sandhu, Managing Director, Chandigarh University said, "Chandigarh University Lucknow is set to play a key role in upskilling Indian youth, preparing them to become the next generation of global technology and business leaders. In collaboration with industry partners, the university will offer skill-based, employment-focused training in emerging fields such as AI & ML, Data Science, and Data Analytics. Additionally, more partnerships with leading multinational companies are in the pipeline across various other sectors." Envisioned to foster a culture of sustainability and empower future global leaders, Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, immerses 21st-century learners in a personalised and experiential learning experience, integrating an AI-powered academic model and a multidimensional, futuristic perspective on education. Our Uttar Pradesh campus carries forward the venerable legacy of more than a decade of Chandigarh University, Punjab, which has established itself as India's No. 1 Private University and a torchbearer of groundbreaking pedagogy and research-driven innovation. The AI-augmented new campus offers a broad spectrum of industry-driven futuristic academic programs encompassing data-driven insights, virtual reality experiences, real-world simulations, corporate mentorship, international perspective, interdisciplinary research, cultivation of entrepreneurial spirit, and professional competencies. For more information, please visit www.culko.in. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.) HT Syndication New Delhi [India], March 6: Education has always been a powerful tool for social upliftment, but financial barriers often prevent talented students from pursuing their dreams. Across India, many bright minds from economically weaker sections struggle to access quality education due to high tuition costs. Recognising this challenge, institution like Shri Ram Murti Smarak (SRMS) Trust steps forward with financial assistance programs that play a crucial role in transforming the lives of such students. On this note, the Trust, on February 8, 2025, in honour of 115th birth anniversary of Late Shri Ram Murti Ji, awarded scholarships to meritorious new entrants of 2024 (from different colleges and courses) from economically weaker sections, amounting to Rs 48,54,500 for the entire course, under SRMS Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme, ensuring financial barriers do not hinder their academic success. Besides its Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme, SRMS Trust also supports meritorious students by offering additional annual academic merit HYPERLINK "https://www.srms.ac.in/merit-scholarships/"scholarships totaling Rs 3.5 Crores, ranging from Rs. 2,25,000 to Rs. 20,000, based on university results, along with Rs 50,000 Entry-Level Scholarships to first-year students, based on Aptitude Test performance. However, this way, the Trust overall offers massive financial benefits of nearly Rs 4 CRORES to its deserving students, while making education more accessible for many. BUILDING DREAMS AND EDUCATION SRMS Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme was introduced in 2024 to nurture talent and support deserving students from economically weaker sections (EWS) of all SRMS Trust Educational Institutions, who excel in National Level Entrance Exams including NEET UG, JEE (Mains), CUET (Pharmacy), CUET UG, CUET PG/ MAT/GMAT/CAT, NCHMCT JEE, CNET, CPET (conducted by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University) etc. By offering free professional education, the Trust is helping many aspiring professionals overcome financial barriers and pursue their dreams, while also reaffirming its commitment to providing equal opportunities in education, in alignment with United Nations SDG-4 - Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The seat allocation for various colleges and courses under this scheme is determined annually as follows: * SRMS College of Engineering & Technology (CET), Bareilly: B Tech: 02 | B Pharm: 01 | MBA: 01 | MCA: 01 | BBA: 01 | BCA: 01 * SRMS College of Engineering, Technology & Research (CETR), Bareilly: B Tech: 01 | BHMCT (Hotel Management): 01 | BBA: 01 | BCA: 01 * SRMS College of Nursing, Bareilly: B Sc Nursing: 01 | GNM Nursing: 01 * SRMS Institute of Paramedical Sciences (IPS), Bareilly: B Sc (OTT) / BOPTOM/ BPT/ BMLS/ BMRIT: 02 * SRMS Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Bareilly: MBBS: 01 * SRMS International Business School (IBS), Unnao: MBA: 01 | BBA: 01 | BCA:01 VOICES OF CHANGE: BENEFICIARIES SPEAK For students who have been granted the SRMS Tuition Fee Waiver for the year 2024, it's nothing short of a lifeline. They feel proud and incredibly fortunate to be a part of this scheme, which is helping them to strive towards their academic goals without any financial worries holding them back. Let's read some of experiences that has transformed their lives. Divya, an MBBS student from Batch 2024 at SRMS IMS, Bareilly, expresses, "Being selected for the Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme, based on my NEET percentile, 10+2 performance, and family income, is an honor. The waiver of Rs 33, 07, 500 has eased my financial burden, allowing me to focus on my studies without worrying about fees. I'm grateful to SRMS Trust for making quality education more accessible." Manya Mittal, a B Tech (CS) student from Batch 2024 at SRMS CET, Bareilly, shares, "Coming from a financially constrained family, I never thought I could afford an engineering degree from one of the best HYPERLINK "https://www.srms.ac.in/cet/"engineering HYPERLINK "https://www.srms.ac.in/cet/"colleges in U HYPERLINK "https://www.srms.ac.in/cet/"P. The tuition fee waiver of Rs 2,60,000 on my entire course has been a game-changer, allowing me to focus and work towards my dreams without financial worries. I am glad to be a part of such an institution, which is one of the best Agrita Agarwal, a BPT student from Batch 2024 at SRMS IPS, Bareilly, shares, "My passion for a career in paramedics was hindered by financial challenges. The SRMS Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme, based on my Class 12th grades and CPET score, eased this burden. I'm honored to receive a Rs. 2,52,000 waiver for my entire course and grateful for the continuous support and inspiring learning environment at SRMS." These testimonials, along with many others, highlight that the scheme is more than just financial assistance--it's about creating opportunities and inspiring students to pursue their dreams. For aspiring students, this scheme is not merely an opportunity; it is a gateway to a brighter, more promising future. STEP TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE As more and more students benefit from Tuition Fee Waiver initiative, it is evident that such efforts have the power to transform lives and build a stronger, more educated society. Speaking about it, Shri Dev Murti, Chairman and Founder, SRMS Trust says, "I truly believe that education should be accessible to all, not just those who can afford it. The SRMS Trust Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme ensures that talent is nurtured, regardless of financial background or any financial limitations, with full fee waivers and additional scholarships for deserving students. However, we see the tuition fee waiver scheme as a vital step towards inclusive education. By investing in young minds today, we are shaping the future of our nation." ADMISSION OPEN! Log on to the website to APPLY TODAY @ https://www.srms.ac.in/cet/about-us/srms-trust/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by HT Syndication. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], March 6: Civis, supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, Indian School of Public Policy, and Shri Vinay Toshniwal Memorial Trust, hosted the 2nd edition of Civis' Public Consultation Awards (CIPCA 2025) on March 5, 2025. The initiative honors ministries, state governments, and statutory bodies for their exemplary efforts in conducting democratic, transparent, and inclusive public consultations in lawmaking. Bringing together luminaries from public administration, governance, and policy-making, CIPCA 2025 aims to foster discourse on participatory governance and highlight exemplary public consultations that have facilitated meaningful citizen engagement in the lawmaking process. The event witnessed participation of distinguished experts from governance and policy research, including, Dr. K. P. Krishnan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship; Shri P. K. Malhotra, Former Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice; Dr. Deepak Mohanty, Chairman, PFRDA; Shri Adil Zainulbhai, Chairperson, Capacity Building Commission, and Snehlata Shrivastava, Former Secretary General, Lok Sabha and Jury Member, Civis' Public Consultation Awards among others. Speaking at the event, Antaraa Vasudev, Founder, Civis, emphasized the critical role of public consultations in shaping effective governance, "In 2025, the awards have recorded a 60.8% increase in public consultations, not just in number, but our consultations have scored higher on quality indicators as well - for example 71.4% consultations were available in more than one language. This underscores the importance of creating a robust methodology to measure consultations - and the importance of putting the spotlight on best practices - both of which Civis' Public Consultation Awards aim to do." In the category of 'Best Consultation: Ministry', the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stood as winner for the public consultation on Draft Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2023. In the category of 'Best Consultation: State', the Government of Kerala stood as winner for the public consultation on Draft Kerala IT Policy 2023. In the category of 'Best Consultation: Statutory Body', the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) stood as winner for the public consultation on Draft Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2024. In the category of 'Special Mention for Citizen Government Engagement, the Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) stood as winner for the public consultation on Draft Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Amendment Regulations, 2023. In the category of 'Special Mention for Responsive Governance', we have two winners which are The Competition Commission of India (CCI) for the public consultation on Draft CCI (Lesser Penalty) Regulations 2023 and The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) for the public consultation on Draft Amendments to the PFRDA (Redressal of Subscriber Grievance) Regulations, 2015. Over the past decade, the number of policies and laws undergoing public consultation in India has increased by 2112.5% since 2014. While this growth is commendable, ensuring the quality and inclusiveness of these consultations remains a priority. Civis launched the Public Consultation Awards in 2024 to evaluate the effectiveness of public consultations across ten key metrics. These metrics include the quality of the consultation document (measured by the presence of factors like the justification for the new policy, impact assessment, readability), extent of outreach conducted, duration for which the policy was open to feedback, presence of translations and transparency concerning responses received. These metrics have been developed using internationally recognized frameworks, including India's Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy, OECD guidelines, and the UN Public Consultation Index, in collaboration with a panel of experts including Dr. M. S. Sahoo, Founding Chairperson, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI); Dr. Ajay Shah, Senior Research Fellow and Co-founder, XKDR Forum; Smt. Snehalata Srivastava, Former Secretary General, Lok Sabha and TrustBridge Rule of Law Foundation. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The role of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes in enhancing manufacturing competitiveness, India's green transition, and inclusive sustainability took center stage at an international conference organized by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL). According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the event, themed "Navigating the Future: Industrial Policy and Global Competitiveness," was hosted in collaboration with the Centre for International Trade and Business Laws, NALSAR University of Law, and the World Trade Institute, University of Bern, under the WTO India Chairs Programme. Held at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, from January 17 to 19, the conference focused on shaping India's industrial policy within the evolving geopolitical landscape. The conference featured in-depth deliberations on the resurgence and evolution of industrial policy, its measurement metrics, and its compatibility with WTO regulations. Experts underscored the significance of WTO disciplines in ensuring that industrial policy initiatives align with a rules-based international trading system. The discussions highlighted India's efforts in fostering resilient global supply chains and energy transition strategies. Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Head of CTIL, in his welcome speech, emphasized the role of green industrial policy in driving innovation and technological advancements. This was followed by a presidential address by Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, Vice Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law. Former WTO Appellate Body members Ujal Singh Bhatia and Professor Peter Van den Bossche provided key insights into the intersection of trade policy and industrial strategies. Addressing the gathering, Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, underscored India's potential as a pivotal player in the global critical raw materials supply chain. He emphasized that any strategy for value chain integration must prioritize value creation within India, generating employment and economic opportunities. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, noted the global shift from free trade to protectionism amid challenges posed by China's economic rise and evolving US policies. He stressed the need for well-calibrated interventions in critical industrial sectors, transparency in PLI initiatives, and adherence to WTO norms to ensure economic security while maintaining global competitiveness. Renowned scholars and trade policy experts, including Dr. Werner Zdouc, former Director of the Appellate Body; Sumanta Chaudhuri, Head of Trade Policy at CII; Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Head of the Centre for WTO Studies; Prof. Henry Gao, Singapore Management University; Prof. Abhijit Das, former Head of the Centre for WTO Studies; Dr. Alicia Gracia, Senior Fellow at Bruegel; and Dr. Isabelle Van Damme, Director of the World Trade Institute, contributed valuable insights into India's evolving industrial framework. During the inaugural session, CTIL introduced its new monthly investment law newsletter, Investment Law Compass: Navigating through the Global Investment Framework. The newsletter aims to provide professionals and policymakers with insights into the evolving investment law landscape and will be available online at www.ctil.org.in. (ANI) Barcelona [Spain], March 6: ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, together with China Unicom and YunHuan Technology, has been awarded the "Best Mobile Innovation for Cities" for their innovative "5G-A Smart City Low-Altitude Blood Delivery" project at the Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards during MWC Barcelona 2025. The award recognizes their joint efforts in pioneering the commercial deployment of 5G-A Integrated Sensing and Communication technology in urban blood delivery. To address the challenges of traditional blood delivery, such as traffic congestion and delayed emergency response, the partners have implemented an innovative drone-based solution in Anyang City. The project covers a 1,200-square-kilometer urban airspace, featuring 10 delivery routes that extend over 15 kilometers and serve multiple hospitals across the city. With over 50 flights operating daily, it has become the industry's largest low-altitude drone delivery network for medical supplies, transporting blood products, laboratory samples, pathological sections, emergency medicines, and surgical supplies. Operational data demonstrates remarkable improvements, with the average blood delivery time reduced from 40 minutes to 15 minutes, representing a 60% efficiency increase. This improvement directly enhanced hospital emergency response, optimized surgery scheduling, and reduced blood wastage, resulting in a 20% decrease in hospital blood costs and 10% reduction in patient blood expenses, delivering significant medical-economic and social benefits. The solution leverages 5G-A Integrated Sensing and Communication technology to provide capability of comprehensive communication support and safety sensing for drone operations. Network performance tests have proven the system's capability to simultaneously monitor multiple drones' precise positions and flight status with zero detection miss rate, validating the commercial value of 5G-A Integrated Sensing and Communication technology in low-altitude economics. Looking ahead, the three partners will continue to expanding 5G-A applications in urban management and emergency response, driving the development of low-altitude economy and bringing new momentum to global smart city initiatives. The annual GLOMO Awards represents the industry's most prestigious accolade. With a judge panel comprising over 260 global analysts, media professionals, and industry experts this year, the GLOMO Awards 2025 celebrates individuals and companies that drive innovation and showcase excellence in the rapidly growing mobile industry. MEDIA INQUIRIES:ZTE CorporationCommunicationsEmail: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2635310/China_Unicom__YunHuan_Technology_and_ZTE_win_the_GSMA_GLOMO_Best_Mobile_Innovati.jpgLogo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2601626/ZTE_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 6: Healthcare coverage is an essential part of financial planning, ensuring individuals receive timely medical treatment without financial strain. When choosing between private health insurance and public health insurance, understanding the differences is crucial. Each option has unique benefits, costs, and coverage levels, impacting accessibility and service quality. What Is Private Health Insurance? Private health insurance is a policy purchased from private insurance companies. It provides coverage for hospitalization, doctor consultations, diagnostics, and sometimes even wellness benefits. Private health insurance policies can be customized according to an individual's healthcare needs and financial situation. What Is Public Health Insurance? Public health insurance is government-funded and designed to provide healthcare access at subsidized rates or free of charge. It primarily targets low-income groups, senior citizens, and people with disabilities, ensuring that essential medical services are accessible to all. In India, schemes such as Ayushman Bharat aim to provide financial protection against medical expenses. Key Differences Between Private and Public Health Insurance 1. Cost and Premiums * Private Health Insurance: Requires policyholders to pay monthly or annual premiums, which vary based on coverage, age, pre-existing conditions, and additional benefits. * Public Health Insurance: Funded by the government through taxes, it has little to no premium costs for eligible individuals. 2. Coverage and Benefits * Private Health Insurance: Offers a wide range of benefits, including hospitalization, OPD (Outpatient Department) care, maternity benefits, pre-and post-hospitalization expenses, and wellness programs. * Public Health Insurance: Covers only essential healthcare services, usually limited to hospitalization and emergency care. 3. Hospital and Doctor Network * Private Health Insurance: Policyholders can choose from a broad network of hospitals and doctors, including private institutions that offer specialized care. * Public Health Insurance: Limited to government hospitals and healthcare facilities, where waiting times can be longer due to high demand. 4. Waiting Period and Claims Processing * Private Health Insurance: Has a waiting period for pre-existing conditions, but claims are processed quickly with a cashless treatment option in network hospitals. * Public Health Insurance: Often involves a lengthy approval process and might require patients to bear initial expenses before reimbursement. 5. Customization and Flexibility * Private Health Insurance: Allows individuals to select coverage levels, add-ons, and family floater options for additional protection. * Public Health Insurance: Limited customization options, usually covering only essential treatments. Advantages of Private Health Insurance Investing in private health insurance provides multiple benefits: * Access to a wide range of hospitals and specialists * Faster medical treatments without long waiting times * Customizable plans to fit individual healthcare needs * Comprehensive coverage, including preventive care, OPD expenses, and diagnostic tests If you're considering buying an individual health insurance plan, comparing policies can help find the right balance between affordability and coverage. Who Should Choose Private Health Insurance? Private health insurance is ideal for: * Individuals who prefer a higher standard of medical care * Those who want access to private hospitals and shorter waiting times * People looking for additional benefits, such as maternity cover or wellness programs * Families needing a customizable plan with extensive coverage Who Should Opt for Public Health Insurance? Public health insurance is best suited for: * Low-income families who cannot afford private insurance * Senior citizens and individuals with pre-existing conditions requiring long-term care * People who do not require extensive medical services beyond basic hospitalization How to Choose the Right Health Insurance Plan? When selecting between private and public health insurance, consider: 1. Budget: Determine how much you can afford in premiums. 2. Medical Needs: Analyze your current and future healthcare requirements. 3. Network Hospitals: Check which hospitals and specialists are covered. 4. Claim Process: Ensure a hassle-free claims experience. 5. Add-Ons: Consider riders like critical illness, maternity benefits, or OPD coverage for enhanced protection. Conclusion Choosing between private health insurance and public health insurance depends on your financial capacity and healthcare needs. While public health insurance ensures accessibility for all, individual health insurance policies provide personalized, extensive coverage. Investing in private health insurance can safeguard your finances and ensure superior medical care. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) 1. What is the main difference between private and public health insurance? Private health insurance offers comprehensive coverage, shorter waiting times, and access to private hospitals, while public health insurance provides basic healthcare services at little to no cost. 2. Is private health insurance expensive? The cost of private health insurance depends on factors such as age, coverage type, and add-ons. However, it provides better medical care and additional benefits compared to public schemes. 3. Can I have both private and public health insurance? Yes, many individuals opt for public health insurance as a backup while maintaining private coverage for better treatment options. 4. Does private health insurance cover pre-existing conditions? Most private insurance policies have a waiting period for pre-existing conditions, but some plans offer immediate coverage with higher premiums. 5. How can I choose the best private health insurance plan? Compare policies based on premiums, hospital networks, claim settlement ratios, and additional benefits to find a plan that suits your needs. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 6: KPMG in India and XLRI Leadership Education and Development (XLEAD) today announced that they are teaming up to jointly launch an Executive Development Programme in Applied Business Finance. The programme aims to equip finance professionals with the skills and knowledge crucial to succeed in various finance-related roles, thereby allowing them to stay ahead of the curve in this dynamic business environment. For today's finance professionals, transitioning to a managerial role requires more than just technical expertise. This means they must possess requisite knowledge and consider the impact of financial considerations on any business decision they make, and this is where applied business finance comes in. The programme can help finance professionals make informed decisions and help them achieve better outcomes by applying fundamental financial concepts and tools in their day-to-day tasks. This programme, a joint offering by XLEAD (XLRI Delhi-NCR) and KPMG in India, is driven by a shared vision to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry skills. By combining XLRI's academic excellence with KPMG in India's industry expertise, the programme aims to provide finance professionals with a broad and application-oriented learning experience. As part of the alliance, KPMG in India and XLEAD (XLRI Delhi-NCR) will jointly design a curriculum that includes key subjects such as corporate finance, Ind AS, ESG, treasury, investor relations and IPO, financial planning, and many others. The programme aims to leverage the expertise of XLRI faculty and senior business leaders from KPMG in India, who are expected to bring practical, real-world insights to their teaching, apart from practical assignments and projects. Post completion of the course, learners will be jointly certified by KPMG in India and XLRI, adding significant value to their skillset and credentials as finance professionals. "KPMG in India's alliance with XLEAD (XLRI Delhi-NCR) to introduce the Executive Development Programme in Applied Business Finance underscores our dedication to deliver and facilitate quality education and training," said Subhro Bhattacharya, Associate Partner - Human Capital Advisory Solutions (HCaS), KPMG in India. "Through this collaboration, we aim to help current and aspiring finance professionals, to not only build a solid foundation in business finance, but also learn the essential tools to effectively navigate the complexities of the modern financial landscape. We believe this initiative could pave the way for quality finance education and help foster a generation of leaders who are well-prepared to drive innovation and excellence in their organisations," added Bhattacharya. "We are very excited to collaborate with KPMG in India to offer the Executive Development Programme in Applied Business Finance," said Vaibhav Lalwani, Assistant Professor in Finance, XLRI. "As one of India's premier business schools, XLRI has a long-standing tradition of excellence in education and leadership development. This partnership reflects our continued commitment to providing innovative, high-quality learning experiences. Designed for the modern finance professional, this programme blends XLRI's academic rigour with KPMG in India's industry expertise to empower participants with both foundational knowledge and advanced tools. We aim to nurture a new generation of leaders who can drive innovation, shape business strategy, and lead organisations to success in today's fast-paced and ever-changing environment." Key Highlights of the programme: -The programme's distinctive combination of academic rigour and practical industry insights differentiates it from similar programmes like this. - It would offer insights on contemporary topics such as ESG and Fintech, equipping learners with the knowledge to tackle future industry challenges. - Learners will have the opportunity to engage with a diverse array of peers and senior industry practitioners allowing them to forge meaningful professional connections. - An opportunity to experience and participate in an intensive three-day immersion/ boot camp at the XLRI Delhi-NCR campus, facilitating networking opportunities to connect and collaborate with peers and KPMG in India and XLRI faculty. This immersive approach aims to enrich understanding through interactive sessions and hands-on activities. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The report highlighted that India's steel demand reached 13.289 million tonnes in January 2025, marking the second consecutive month of consumption exceeding 13 million tonnes. It said, "India is one of the fastest growing steel producers globally and the only one among the top ten countries to clock consistent growth". India's share in the global steel market was around 9 per cent in January 2025, reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing steel producers worldwide. The country had surpassed Japan in 2018 to become the second-largest steel producer, and its growth trajectory continues to be strong. To cater to the increasing domestic steel demand, manufacturers across different tiers are expanding their production capacities. Tier-I companies, which have over 10 million tonnes of installed capacity, along with tier-II and III manufacturers, which have capacities between 1 million and 10 million tonnes, are actively adding new production lines. This expansion is expected to push India's crude steel installed capacity to approximately 242 million tonnes by the financial year 2030 (FY30), with estimated production reaching between 210 million and 220 million tonnes. The domestic steel consumption is projected to range between 190 million and 210 million tonnes by then. Among Indian states, Odisha holds the highest installed steel capacity at around 18 per cent. The top five states--Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka--collectively account for about 68 per cent of India's total installed steel capacity and lead in iron ore production, contributing around 97 per cent of the country's total output. As capacity expansion continues, Odisha's share in installed capacity is expected to rise to 25 per cent by FY30. Additionally, green steel production capacities are being developed in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, further strengthening India's steel manufacturing footprint. During the first ten months of FY25 (April 2024 to January 2025), India's crude steel production increased by approximately 4.5 per cent year-on-year (y/y) to 124.919 million tonnes, compared to 119.493 million tonnes in the same period of FY24. With a steady increase in consumption and production, India is poised to strengthen its role in the global steel industry while ensuring sustained domestic supply. (ANI) Flash White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] The White House confirmed Wednesday that the Trump administration is having direct talks with Hamas aimed at releasing hostages. The talks, first reported by Axios, were held in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks and were led on the U.S. side by presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler. Asked about the talks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during Wednesday's daily press briefing that "the special envoy who's engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone," adding that "Israel was consulted on this matter." Leavitt refused to disclose any details on what she said are "ongoing talks and discussions" when asked if the discussions also involved President Donald Trump's plan to take over the Gaza Strip, which is now still governed by Hamas. "I'm not going to detail them here. There are American lives at stake," the press secretary said. According to a U.S. official cited in the Axios report, the discussions also included a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and reach a long-term truce. Altogether 59 hostages are still in Hamas captivity, Axios reported, citing the Israel Defense Forces, which confirmed 35 of them are dead. Among those hostages, five are Americans, including just one who is believed to be alive. New Delhi [India], March 6: Yes Germany, a leading education consultancy specializing in German higher education, has announced an Admission Alert for Indian students aspiring to pursue Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Germany. Indian students particularly benefit from Germany's no-tuition fee policy at public universities, high employability rates, and numerous scholarship opportunities. With a robust focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses, Germany has become a preferred choice for students seeking quality education with global exposure. Yes Germany is inviting applications across various disciplines, including Engineering, IT, Business Administration, Artificial Intelligence, Automotive Engineering, and more. The consultancy provides comprehensive student assistance, including university selection, application processing, visa guidance, language training, pre-departure support, and post-departure assistance. How to apply Applicants seeking admission can visit for the assistance with University admissions in Germany. Application deadlines vary by university, and Yes Germany offers free consultations to guide students through the process. YES Germany provides end-to-end support in applications, scholarships, and visa procedures. As admissions can be competitive, students are encouraged to apply early to secure their place. About Yes Germany Yes Germany is a premier education consultancy assisting students in securing admissions to top universities in Germany. With a decade of experience, the organization has successfully guided thousands of students in achieving their academic dreams. Offering a range of services from admissions to post-arrival assistance, Yes Germany remains a trusted partner for students aspiring to study in Germany. For more details on the application process, visit: yesgermany.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 6: Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has secured a landmark contract from Tata Power Company Limited, Mumbai, for the deployment of 11kV SF6-Free Ring Main Units (RMUs) using Schneider Electric's cutting-edge RM AirSeT SF6 Free technology. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in India's journey towards sustainable and efficient power distribution. "Tata Power and Schneider Electric are launching these RMUs in Mumbai & Delhi area around a new generation of MV/LV substation equipment as an alternative to the use of SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride) gas. SF6 gas, today used in MV electrical equipment for its high insulating and dielectric properties, is extremely useful for medium and high voltage electrical distribution. Harmless to health, it is however one of the six greenhouse gases targeted by the Kyoto Protocol for its very high Global Warming Potential (GWP: 1 kG SF6 = 23,400 kG CO2) in the event of release into the atmosphere." The project is capable to deliver upto ~75% reduction in Tata Power's carbon footprint in comparison to conventional SF6 RMUs. Additionally, Tata Power can reap benefit of up to 50% in cost savings over the entire lifespan of these RMUs. Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Deepak Sharma, Zone President - Greater India & MD & CEO, Schneider Electric, said, "Collaborating with Tata Power on this groundbreaking initiative is a significant milestone for us. The RM AirSeT units not only enhance the reliability and safety of power distribution but also reflect our unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. As the Indian power sector navigates the imperative of sustainable practices, this project is a crucial step towards supporting India's ambitious 2070 net-zero targets. It also reaffirms Schneider Electric's dedication to delivering advanced, eco-friendly solutions that address the evolving needs of our customers and contribute to a greener future." Underlining Tata Power's commitment towards sustainable power distribution, Mr. Sanjay Banga, President Transmission and Distribution, Tata Power, said, "We are dedicated to steering our T&D business towards a sustainable and efficient energy future. Our commitment is evident in our proactive adoption of cutting-edge technologies and our focus on building a robust sustainable ecosystem. Our partnership with Schneider Electric, highlighted by the introduction of SF6-Free Ring Main Units in Mumbai and Delhi Distribution, later extend it to Odisha Discoms, perfectly embodies this vision. This innovative project not only aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions but also enhances the efficiency and reliability of power distribution. At Tata Power, we believe that technology is essential for driving positive change, and we are continually exploring and implementing solutions to optimize energy use, minimize environmental impact, and empower communities. From smart grid technologies to advanced metering infrastructure, we are leveraging innovation to create a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape." Dr. Nilesh Kane, Chief Distribution (Mumbai), Tata Power highlighted the significance of this collaboration, and added, "We are committed to ensuring that our energy is greener, cleaner and more sustainable. Therefore, we are proud to spearhead sustainability in Mumbai by being the first to adopt SF6-Free technology. These RM AirSeT units will play a vital role in our efforts to reduce environmental impact while ensuring efficient and reliable power distribution. This partnership with Schneider Electric is a testament to our shared vision of a greener and more sustainable future." The new SF6 Free RMAirSeT utilizes pressurized air as replacement to potent SF6 gas making it environment friendly. It is also robust & designed to meet highest standards of performance & durability. Additionally, the robust systems have highest endurance increasing the overall life of the mechanism. This collaboration between Schneider Electric and Tata Power sets a new benchmark for sustainable power distribution in India. By adopting SF6-Free technology, Tata Power is leading the way in creating a cleaner and more efficient energy landscape. About Schneider Electric Schneider's purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency. We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers. We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all. www.se.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, on Thursday, inaugurated the office of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in New Delhi. On inaugurating the office of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, "I congratulate them. They have moved into the new office complex; it is a world-class office complex. An independent regulator is important for the functioning of the energy sector. Our energy sector is growing from strength to strength. So I congratulate everyone." The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) was constituted under The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006, notified via Gazette Notification dated 31st March 2006. The Act provides for the establishment of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to protect the interests of consumers and entities engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas and to promote competitive markets and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Further, as enshrined in the act, the board has also been mandated to regulate the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, excluding the production of crude oil and natural gas, so as to ensure an uninterrupted and adequate supply of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas in all parts of the country. According to the latest official information, PNGRB has authorised 307 geographical areas for the development of CGD infrastructure with a potential coverage of about 100 percent of the country's area and 100 percent of the population. As of 30.09.2024, the total number of PNG (D) connections and CNG stations in the country was 1.36 Cr and 7259, respectively. To provide the Unified Tariff for natural gas pipelines, PNGRB has amended PNGRB (Determination of Natural Gas Pipeline Tariff) Regulations to incorporate the regulations pertaining to Unified Tariff for natural gas pipelines with a mission of "One Nation, One Grid and One tariff". (ANI) PNN New Delhi [India], March 6: The Supreme Court in its recent judgment on 27th February, 2025 has cleared the way for the redevelopment of the Bharat Nagar slum in Bandra, dismissing an appeal by residents attempting to stall the project. The court ruled that the appellants were using "dilatory tactics" and were ineligible slum dwellers. The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) had surveyed 2,965 slum structures in Bharat Nagar, of which 2,625 were deemed eligible for rehabilitation. Over 70% of these residents had already consented to redevelopment. Bharat Nagar spans 44 acres and contains approximately 7,200 to 7,700 tenements, comprising 3,700 MHADA tenants and 3,500 to 4,000 Photo Pass tenants. It is divided into 22 societies and is being redeveloped by multiple developers, including Omkar, Budhpur Adani, Forum Homes, and HDIL. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K V Chandran ruled on February 27, upholding the Bombay High Court's January 4, 2023, decision that rejected challenges to SRA's eviction notice. The appellants had argued that the land was a MHADA layout and should be redeveloped under Regulation 33(5) of the Development Control Regulations (DCR) rather than under the slum redevelopment Regulation 33(10). However, the Apex Grievance Redressal Committee (AGRC) had already dismissed their claims in 2019, stating that MHADA had consistently maintained the plot was never part of its designated layout. Sanctioned in 2010, the Bharat Nagar redevelopment project involves merging three plots. While Phase I is complete, Phase II stalled due to residents resisting vacating their premises. The Supreme Court ruled that the project relates to a "censused slum" and does not require a separate notification under Section 4 of the Slum Act. MHADA, which owns the land, had granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for redevelopment under SRA, with the court stating that, while technically a MHADA property, the area had evolved into a slum and required redevelopment under SRA. Some appellants, initially ineligible, were later granted eligibility but rejected the standard rehabilitation housing, seeking larger accommodation under MHADA's scheme instead. The Supreme Court ruled that disturbing the ongoing project at this stage would defeat its purpose, benefiting thousands of eligible slum dwellers. The court also noted that only four appellants had initially approached the High Court, while others joined later, calling them "fence-sitters" attempting to claim grievances belatedly. "This ruling not only facilitates the development of Bharat Nagar but also safeguards the interests of slum dwellers and developers alike," said Adv. Sayyed Hussain. "It serves as a blueprint for similar projects across Mumbai, accelerating urban transformation,'' Hussain added. Bharat Nagar consists of two distinct layouts: the MHADA layout, spanning 7,643 square meters, which includes planned legal tenements, and the SRA layout, which consists of encroached settlements where residents qualify for rehabilitation. This distinction impacts redevelopment, as MHADA tenements fall under a structured framework, whereas SRA layouts require additional regularization and rehabilitation. As per regulations, censused slums documented in government or municipal records from 1976, 1980, 1985, or before January 1, 1995, automatically qualify for redevelopment. MHADA confirmed to both the High Court and AGRC that the land, while under its ownership, was never part of its planned layout and had been declared a censused slum in 1981. With the Supreme Court dismissing the appeal, redevelopment is now set to proceed without further legal hurdles, paving the way for a modernized Bharat Nagar that will improve living conditions for thousands of residents. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that the impact of the US tariffs will be felt on India, adding that Union Minister Piyush Goyal is going to America and holding talks with the government there. Speaking at an event in Visakhapatnam, Sitharaman further stated that the tariffs are likely to increase with the decision of the US President. Sitharaman said, "We will have to see how the Commerce Ministry takes up negotiations with the U.S. to ensure that our interests are well-represented." For context, On February 18, US President Donald Trump outlined a new trade policy focused on fairness and reciprocity and said that the US would implement reciprocal tariffs, charging other countries the same tariffs they impose on American goods. Trump emphasised that this approach would address unfair trade practices, including non-monetary barriers, subsidies, and VAT systems to encourage foreign countries to either reduce or eliminate tariffs against the US or set up their manufacturing base in the US which will add to its growth in the long term. The Union Finance Minister also spoke about the new income tax rebates announced in the Union Budget 2025. She said that new methods have made the income tax payment system easier for taxpayers, adding that only three crore people pay taxes so this number will be further reduced with the new tax relief. Going further she said that the government is holding nationwide discussions on the Union Budget, adding that the discussions have been held in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. She said we met people from different sections of the society during our session in Visakhapatnam, and took their suggestions and recommendations on the budget, highlighting the government's openness. The Union Finance Minister asserted that the the centre is making allocations without any deficit for all the projects being done jointly by the center and the state. (ANI) I arrived in Delhi later than I had planned, the air thick with the scent of marigolds, the city pulsing with a kind of joy that only an Indian wedding can summon. The rhythm of the dhol had already begun to reverberate through the streets, a primal beat calling people to dance, to celebrate, to witness the sacred union of two souls. Vardaan Marwah--my mentee, my business partner, my son, my confidant--was getting married, and the world was gathering to honor it. Not just to eat and drink and dance under the chandeliers of excess, but to stand as witnesses, to offer a benediction, to become part of a greater whole. Because that is what Indian weddings are--not mere ceremonies, not just a tying of knots or a signing of papers, but a sacred merging of past and future, a moment where lineage meets legacy, where generations gather to fortify the bridge that carries love forward. Vardaan is not just a man I know; he is a man I have known, a man I have watched grow, a man whose footsteps I have walked beside, whose triumphs I have applauded, whose struggles I have silently borne in my own way. He is one of my three sons, all from different sets of parents, three students, three mentees, three young people that I have, in my own way, raised with tough love, with education, with tutelage--not just in the culinary arts, but in the arts of living and loving and sharing and caring. With Vardaan's wedding, I knew that the next milestones in life were already waiting for the other two--Haridashv Malhotra and Ashish Sharma--both of whom, in their own time, would walk this same path. But today, it was Vardaan's turn, and today, I felt the weight of the years, the knowledge that as a mentor, as a teacher, as an elder, as a guru, I had not just taught them to cook, but to feed, not just taught them to create, but to nurture, not just taught them to succeed, but to stand, to fall, to rebuild. I have shown them the mirror of my own life, its cracks, its unfinished edges, its stories and histories that aren't always rosy and pink. This wedding was not just a milestone for him; it was one for me, for all of us, for the family we had created beyond the bounds of blood and name. And standing there, in the midst of the swirling silks and the scent of jasmine, I thought of how love is not just something we fall into, but something we are taught, something we inherit, something we pass on. And Shavika Dua, the woman who now stood beside him, was someone who had inherited love in the right way, someone who understood the art of presence and the power of absence, who knew that true strength lies not in loudness but in stillness, not in taking space but in making space. She was not just his complement, she was his counterpoint, the harmony to his melody, the quiet storm to his lightning flash. I have seen such love before, seen it in the way my mother stood beside my father for fifty years, letting him shine while she held the sky above him, letting him perform while she played the silent composer. And when my father was gone, the world discovered what we had always known--my mother was not merely a witness to his brilliance; she was his brilliance. She had only chosen not to compete with the man she loved. Love does not seek the stage; it builds it. Love does not demand attention; it nurtures it. And as I watched Shavika, I knew that one day, decades from now, she would stand where my mother stands today--strong, wise, luminous with a light that never needed a spotlight to shine. The mehendi night was a whirlwind of colors and textures, henna-stained hands weaving through the air, laughter bursting like firecrackers against the velvet of the evening. Mahesh Bhatt, the dhol player, commanded the crowd with his rhythmic wit, teasing, taunting, playing his drum like a heartbeat, like a call to arms, like an anthem of ancestry itself. He called my mother "Helen," not knowing that my mother is as far from the cabaret queen of Bollywood as the moon is from the sun. And yet, I smiled, because in that moment, in the swirl of gold and green, in the pulse of music and memory, it felt right. Because Helen was my father's favorite actress. And when he sang--oh, how he sang--he often sang the songs she danced to, the melodies she made famous, the tunes that shaped his youth and his dreams. And now, decades later, in this home, in this wedding, in this moment, a dhol player had unknowingly spoken my father's language, had unknowingly whispered a memory back into existence. Weddings have a way of making the past and present collide, of reminding us who we are and where we come from. Vardaan was everywhere, a host, a caretaker, a dreamer in motion. It was his wedding, and yet he was the one ensuring everyone else was fed, was comfortable, was having the time of their lives. It was his night, but he gave it away so generously, so effortlessly, that he became the invisible thread stitching the entire evening together. My father was like that. The life of every party, the center of every gathering, but not because he demanded to be. Because he understood something fundamental--that a celebration is only as grand as the joy it shares. And Vardaan, without knowing it, had inherited that. Indian weddings are not for the faint of heart. They are long, they are loud, they are layered with ritual and meaning, with poetry disguised as tradition, with moments so fleeting they slip through your fingers like silk. They are not just about two people; they are about two khandans, two families, two villages of hearts and histories coming together to weave something new. They are not just about the couple standing at the altar, but about the hundreds who stand around them, promising in unspoken ways to be there, to hold, to support, to celebrate, to mourn if necessary, to witness and to carry forth. People came from everywhere--Hamburg, America, Canada, England, Jammu, Jodhpur, Udaipur and beyond. Why? Because weddings are a contract not just between two individuals, but between them and their people. The presence of friends and family is not just an indulgence, it is an investment, a vow, a whispered promise that says, we were here when it began, and we will be here when it continues. And yet, a marriage is not just the sum of its guests, nor the opulence of its arrangements, nor the grandeur of its celebrations. A marriage is a mosaic--not a fusion, but a careful arrangement of distinct, brilliant, individual pieces. Vardaan and Shavika are not merging into one; they are becoming more than they were, more than the sum of their parts. A chef, a creator, a man who feeds not just with food but with laughter, with care, with endless energy. A PR maven, a woman who amplifies others, who gives without demanding, who builds empires without standing atop them. Together, they are not one thing; they are everything. I wish them not just joy, but wisdom, not just love, but understanding, not just happiness, but the resilience to weather storms and still find their way home to each other. I wish them the kind of togetherness that does not suffocate, but expands, the kind of bond that does not bind, but frees. Their wedding was grand, but their marriage will be grander. Because at the heart of it, beyond the gold and the glitter, beyond the silk and the speeches, beyond the fireworks and the flower-laden mandaps, was something far rarer--a promise, a partnership, a mosaic waiting to be built, a story waiting to be written. And as I watched them, standing there in the glow of their new beginning, I knew that I was not just looking at a couple. I was looking at a future, shimmering like a thousand tiny mirrored tiles, catching the light in different ways, always changing, always shining. And I knew, beyond a doubt, that this--this love, this partnership, this creation--would last. (ANI/Suvir Saran) Disclaimer: Suvir Saran is a Masterchef, Author, Hospitality Consultant And Educator. The views expressed in this article are his own. Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Subhash Ghai has raised significant concerns over the growing number of empty cinema halls in India, attributing it to the steep cost of movie tickets. Taking to social media, Ghai shared a picture of an almost empty theater and questioned the sustainability of the cinema industry under the current circumstances. In his post, the director wrote, "Why is Bollywood bleeding today? Because of the heavy cost to watch a film in cinema halls. Cinema lovers have stopped going to theatres to experience a collective movie-watching experience on the big screen." https://www.instagram.com/p/DG2Bp4no4-q/ Ghai proposed a potential solution to the issue writing, "The only solution... If Bollywood, along with state governments, formulate a rule to cap 30 per cent of cinema hall tickets at affordable prices, akin to the 'economy class' tickets in Tamil Nadu, then perhaps more viewers will return. This is a big question today." With his long-standing legacy in the film industry, Ghai's comments have struck a chord with many, especially given his iconic films such as Karz, Pardes, Vishwanath, Saudagar, and Khalnayak. The director's post comes at a time when the film industry is grappling with the changing behavior of audiences, with many preferring the convenience and affordability of streaming platforms over traditional cinema. The high cost of tickets, particularly in major metropolitan areas, has been identified as a significant barrier to cinema-goers. Ghai's call for capping ticket prices has garnered attention on social media, especially in light of similar measures in Tamil Nadu, where a percentage of cinema tickets are sold at subsidized rates. Subhash Ghai, who celebrated his 80th birthday in January, is also known for his contributions to film education. He recently commemorated the occasion with a special event at Whistling Woods International Film School, where he shared his thoughts on the distinction between learning acting and learning direction. During the convocation ceremony, Ghai, along with his dear friend and writer Javed Akhtar, conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award to Akhtar and actor Pankaj Kapur for their contributions to Indian cinema. In a discussion during the event, Ghai explained the nuanced differences between the craft of acting and the art of direction. "Learning acting and other things is a craft while learning direction is about one's growth. Direction and writing are two things associated with one's life, the society from where we come, and its struggles. We made films based on our experiences and the lessons we've learned along the way," Ghai stated. He further emphasized the importance of vision in directing and scriptwriting. "No director has got a break before 8-10 years. It is because as a director, you need to first understand your vision and narrative," he added. Ghai also highlighted the role of writers and directors in filmmaking, saying, "Writers and directors are the architects, while others are craftsmen. It's not a technical craft; it's a creative craft." (ANI) Kannada actress Ranya Rao's stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, said on Thursday that he was completely "unawareK'taka DGP Ramachandra Rao "dismayed" over gold smuggling case, says "Post marriage she never visited home" of the business affairs of his stepdaughter Ranya Rao and her husband. Rao said that it was a "huge disappointment" for him to find that 14 kg of smuggled gold was recovered from his stepdaughter at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). In a statement to ANI, DGP Rao said that she had never once visited his house after her marriage to Jatin Hukkeri, four months ago. He said, "Ranya was married to Jatin Hukkeri four months ago. Post marriage, she never visited our house. We are completely unaware of her and her husband Jatin's business affairs." Jatin Hukkeri's office refused to release any statement or comment regarding the allegations against his wife. Ranya, known for her roles in Kannada films like 'Maanikya' and 'Pataki, ' was detained earlier this week by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in her alleged connection to a gold smuggling case after returning from Dubai on March 3. Authorities allege that Ranya was carrying 14.8 kilograms of gold, which she intended to smuggle into the country. DGP Rao also expressed his shock and disappointment upon hearing of his stepdaughter's alleged connection to the gold smuggling. He added, "This has come as a complete shock and a huge disappointment and letdown. If any violation is there, the law will take its course." Ranya's arrest has stirred significant public and political discussion. Congress MLA and legal advisor to the Karnataka Chief Minister, AS Ponnanna, emphasized that the law would take its course, regardless of Ranya's connections. "She has been accused of smuggling, and the law will take its course--whether she is the daughter of the DGP, the Chief Minister, or the Prime Minister. If any official nexus is involved, the investigation will reveal it," Ponnanna told media persons. On March 4, Ranya Rao was produced before a special court for financial offences and was remanded to judicial custody until March 18. Prior to her transfer to custody, she underwent a medical examination at the Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. During questioning, Ranya reportedly claimed that her trip to Dubai was for business purposes, though authorities allege that her visit was linked to the illegal importation of gold. The bail application of actress Ranya Rao is set to be heard on Thursday at the 24th ACMM court in Bengaluru. (ANI) Critically acclaimed director Madhur Bhandarkar has been invited as a special guest of honor at the special screening of his film 'Fashion' at the 25th edition of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF). The screening will be held on the eve of International Women's Day at the historic Village East by Angelika movie theater in Manhattan, NY. Madhur Bhandarkar's directorial 'Fashion', released in 2008, stars Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, and Mugdha Godse in the lead roles. Over a decade after its release, the film is set to screen at the New York Indian Film Festival to kickstart the celebration of International Women's Day. The invitation received by the director on the behalf of the Indo American Arts Council stated, "On behalf of Indo American Arts Council, we are pleased to invite you as our distinguished guest of honor at the special screening of your critically acclaimed film, "Fashion" on March 7, 2025, at the historic Village East by Angelika movie theater in Manhattan, NY." It added, "In celebration of International Women's Day, this special screening of "Fashion" kickstarts our showcase & publicity of the 25 edition of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), the longest-running and most prestigious Indian film festival in North America, which we host each year and would be held later this summer." At the 25th edition of NYIFF, the Padma Shree awardee director will also receive a special award for his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. "As our distinguished guest, you will be venerated with a special award from us for your outstanding contributions to Indian Cinema." read the invitation. Meanwhile, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut's Fashion is also set to return to theaters in India for a grand re-release on March 7. PVR INOX is all set to celebrate Women's Day in a grand way from March 7 to March 13. They announced this news on their Instagram by sharing a video of Madhur Bhandarkar. He said, "Hi everyone, I am filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, and I am super excited to announce that the film Fashion is re-releasing as part of the Women's Day Film Festival at PVR INOX. The film is very close to my heart, and it's incredible to see it resonate with audiences after so many years." He added, "I am truly grateful for the love Fashion still receives. Fashion returns on big screen on 7th March 2025. Don't miss the amazing National Award Performances by Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut and all the talented other actors. The soundtracks remain favourite of countless playlists." "Be sure to check out the show on the PVR-INOX app," he concluded. Actors Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut received National Awards for their performances in the film. (ANI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government will soon give 50,000 more jobs to youth, thereby ensuring one lakh jobs for them. Continuing his government's 'Mission Rozgar' by handing over appointment letters to 763 youths on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that during the last three years, the state government has given 51,655 jobs to the youths in the state. Mann said that today is a red-letter day for these youth who have gotten jobs in the Cooperation, Health and Family Welfare and Higher Education and Languages departments. He said that the state government has crossed the figure of giving 51,000 government jobs in a transparent manner to the youth, adding that very soon the state government will cross the figure of one lakh government jobs to the youth. He said that as idle hands are the devil's workshop, the state government is trying its best to ensure that maximum youth get jobs so that they do not fall prey to the social menaces. Mann said that unemployment is the root cause of several social problems, due to which the state government is focusing on eradicating this malady. The Chief Minister said the government is giving employment to youth so that they shun the syringes and menace of other drugs. The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government fills all the posts as soon as they are vacant in the department. He said that a foolproof mechanism has been adopted for the entire recruitment process, due to which not even a single appointment out of these nearly 51,000 jobs has been challenged so far in any court. Mann said that it is a proud moment for the government of Punjab that these youth have been given government jobs completely on the basis of merit. The Chief Minister said that it is a momentous occasion when these youth are becoming part of the family of the Punjab government. He expressed hope that these youth will become an active partner in the socio-economic development of the state by joining these respective departments. Mann said that for the first time in the history of the state, any government has given a record number of more than 51,000 jobs to the youth in 36 months of coming into power. The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for him that all the jobs have been given completely on the basis of merit, sans any corruption or nepotism. He said that the state government is ensuring that no one from the state migrates abroad so that dreams of our freedom fighters are fulfilled. He said that due to the strenuous efforts of the state government, reverse migration is already being witnessed in the state and youth are returning from abroad to serve here. The Chief Minister said that the incident of deporting youth from the USA is an eye-opener for all of us that instead of going abroad in search of green pastures, the youth of the state must work hard here only and achieve success in various fields. He said that the state government is already making concerted efforts to ensure that maximum opportunities are provided to youth so that they can excel in every arena of life. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the hard work of youth coupled with their dedication will provide them success in the coming days. The Chief Minister said that the state government has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, a dedicated Sadak Surakhya Force, to ensure enhanced security and to save precious lives on the state and National Highways. He said that specially trained, freshly recruited 1597 personnel, including girls, are acting as the backbone to this force, who have been provided with the latest, fully equipped 144 vehicles and since its launch in February last year, the state has witnessed a 48.10% reduction in casualties due to accidents. Mann claimed that several other states and even the Government of India have hailed this out-of-the-box initiative of the state government. The Chief Minister said that health, education, power, water and infrastructure, along with law and order, are the top priorities of his government. He further said that no stone is being left unturned to ensure the holistic development of the state and progress of its people. He exhorted the youth to discharge their duty with utmost professional commitment. On the occasion, Cabinet Ministers Harjot Singh Bains and Dr Balbir Singh, among others, were also present. (ANI) Flash U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L) welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (2nd R) at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Feb. 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] The director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency said Wednesday that the United States has paused intelligence support to Ukraine, on top of halting weapons shipments to the country that's still at war with Russia. John Ratcliffe, the CIA chief, said in an interview with Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo that "(U.S. President) Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process, and he said let's pause." The decision came after a clash between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday, where Trump demanded gratitude from Zelensky for the aid Washington provided to Kiev. The Ukrainian leader was asked to leave the White House without signing a minerals deal with Trump as originally planned. Zelensky has since been trying to mend the relationship with the U.S. administration by efforts including sending a letter to Trump expressing his willingness "to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer," Trump said in his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. "I want to give a chance to think about that and you saw the response that President Zelensky put out," Ratcliffe told Bartiromo on Wednesday. "So I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think will go away." "And I think we'll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine," Ratcliffe said in an expression of optimism, adding that Washington and Kiev would work together to "put the world in a better place for these peace negotiations to move forward." Reacting to his daughter''s arrest for alleged gold smuggling, Director General of Police (DGP) of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation Ramachandra Rao, said that he was shocked and devastated when the incident came to his notice through the media. Ranya, the stepdaughter of DGP Rao, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) upon arrival from Dubai on an Emirates flight on Monday night. Acting on a tip-off about her suspected involvement in gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials stationed a team at the airport before her arrival. Upon landing, she was immediately taken into custody. Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Rao sought to distance himself from the controversy, stating, "The law will do its job. There is no black mark on my career." He maintained that he had no prior knowledge of Ranya''s alleged involvement in smuggling activities and came to know about the arrest only through media reports. "I was also shocked and devastated when such an incident came to my notice through the media, I was not aware of any of these things, like any other father I was also shocked. She is not living with us, she is living separately with her husband, there must be some problem between them due to some family issues," he said. "Anyway, the law will do its job, there is no black mark in my career. I don''t want to say anything more," he added. Ranya Rao, known for her roles in films like ''Maanikya'' and ''Pataki,'' was arrested by the DRI on March 3 in Bengaluru. The Karnataka government said that the law is the same for all. Congress MLA and Legal Advisor to the Karnataka Chief Minister, AS Ponnanna, issued a statement regarding the arrest, emphasizing that no one would receive special treatment. "She has been accused of smuggling, and the law will take its course -- whether she is the daughter of the DGP, the Chief Minister, or the Prime Minister. If any official nexus is involved, the investigation will reveal it," Ponnanna said. On March 4, 2025, Ranya was produced before a special court for financial offences, where she was remanded to judicial custody till March 18, 2025. Before being transferred to custody, she underwent a medical examination at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. During questioning, Ranya claimed that her visit to Dubai was for business purposes. However, DRI officials allege that she was carrying a significant amount of gold intended to be smuggled into India. According to the DRI, the gold in her possession weighed 14.8 kilograms. She remains in judicial custody as the investigation continues. (ANI) In a significant milestone for India's semiconductor industry, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL), and Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited (TSMPL) have signed a Fiscal Support Agreement (FSA) in the presence of Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel for India's first commercial semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat. This breakthrough agreement, reached at the Gujarat SemiConnect Conference 2025, represents a decisive step forward in strengthening India's technological self-reliance under the modified program for the semiconductor & display manufacturing ecosystem in India, the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT said in a release. Tata Electronics' semiconductor fab in the Dholera (SIR) commands a total investment of over Rs 91,000 crore with a capacity of 50,000 wafers starts per month (WSPM). The Government of India, through the India Semiconductor Mission, has committed 50 per cent fiscal support on a pari-passu basis for eligible project costs--demonstrating unwavering national commitment to building a world-class semiconductor ecosystem within Indian borders. Set to generate over 20,000 direct and indirect skilled jobs, this groundbreaking project brings Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) expertise to India, creating a powerful technological alliance. The facility will address critical global semiconductor markets in automotive, computing, communications, and artificial intelligence sectors--transforming India from a technology consumer into a global manufacturing powerhouse. Sushil Pal, CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission, emphasized that "the Government of India is committed to the timely disbursement of fiscal support for the execution of this project. This initiative underscores India's ambitions in indigenous semiconductor manufacturing. We are confident that Tata Electronics will play a pivotal role in strengthening the electronics value chain and make a significant contribution to India's overarching goals in this sector." Dr Randhir Thakur, CEO and MD, Tata Electronics, said, "This is a historic milestone for India and Tata Electronics in its journey of establishing a semiconductor manufacturing industry in India. The Fiscal Support Agreement (FSA) solidifies our partnership with MeitY and ISM to realize our Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of manufacturing 'Chips for Viksit Bharat'. We are grateful to the MeitY and ISM leadership for their unwavering support and resolve in not only defining but operationalizing a globally leading subsidy framework through this FSA. With construction being undertaken with a great sense of urgency, Tata Electronics is deeply committed to building India's first AI enabled Fab in Dholera." By advancing semiconductor manufacturing and creating employment opportunities, this project will drive technological innovation and deliver substantial contributions to India's economic growth. It establishes India as a reliable partner in building resilient, efficient, and sustainable global semiconductor supply chains. The strategic fiscal support from the Government of India will accelerate the transformative expansion of the country's semiconductor industry, positioning India as a key player on the global semiconductor stage and launching a new era of technological self-reliance for the nation. A Gujarat SemiConnect Conference 2025 and exhibition is being organised by the state government's Science and Technology Department in Gandhinagar. This three-day conference is witnessing the participation of more than 1,500 delegates from various countries and India, along with over 250 exhibitors. In the presence of the Chief Minister, the conference saw the signing of eight MoUs for investments in the semiconductor and fab sector, the launch of the Semiconductor Supply Chain Compendium, and the laying of the e-foundation stone for a hospital, an international school, and a fire station to be built in Dholera. (ANI) After being suspended for the entire duration of the ongoing Maharashtra budget session over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi called the suspension "arbitrary" and alleged threats to his life and his family. Azmi took to the social media platform X to express his concerns, stating, "My suspension is arbitrary on the part of the government, there is a threat to my life and that of my family. Two laws are in force in Maharashtra, if democracy has ended in Maharashtra then the government can do anything to the public and the elected representatives of the public." Ahead of this he has expressed his disappointment over the suspension and had said, "To ensure that the House functions, I spoke about withdrawing my statement. I did not say anything wrong. Still, there is a controversy and proceedings of the House are being stalled. To ensure that the House functions and some work is done during Budget Session...I withdrew the statement that I made outside the Assembly, not in the House. Still, I have been suspended." Azmi also received the support of Samjawadi Party Chief and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, who claimed that the suspension violated freedom of expression. "If the basis of suspension starts getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will there be between freedom of expression and subjection? Whether it is our MLAs or MPs, their fearless wisdom is unmatched. If some people think that by 'suspension' one can rein them in, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking," Akhilesh Yadav said. Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the entire duration of the ongoing budget session on Wednesday over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. A proposal was brought in the Maharashtra Assembly today against Azmi's remarks. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil said in the House that Azmi's objectionable statement had hurt the dignity of the House, leading to the proposal to suspend his membership for this session, which the Speaker passed. Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples". He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim. (ANI) Shifting from his previous stance, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has stated that he is now promoting population growth, recognizing it as an asset for India's future. He highlighted India's demographic dividend as a key strength and advocated for its effective management to ensure the nation's growth. In a press conference, he said, "I am changing my views and promoting population now. India is one country with the biggest advantage in the demographic dividend. If we can manage the demographic dividend for the future, India and Indians will be great. Global communities are depending on us, Indians, for global services... Naidu dismissed concerns that the issue is politically motivated, asserting that it is a matter of national interest. "It is not at all a political issue. One should be patriotic...If you can go through worldwide, wealth creation and population are conflicting with each other. When you are getting more money, automatically you won't have any children. That is where I will say IT professionals, double income, no kids, let us enjoy. Everybody will think like that. That is where globally countries have failed..." Further, regarding the three-language policy, he said, "Nowadays, everyone has to learn multiple languages for global opportunities. I am seriously considering establishing multi-language centres in all my universities." His statement comes amid the tussle between DMK-led Tamil Nadu and the BJP-led Centre over its apprehension regarding the delimitation process. On Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged couples of the state to "give birth to a child immediately" to ensure greater representation in Parliament. Addressing at the marriage ceremony of a party worker's son, Stalin said that MPs count depends on population adding that now he won't say don't rush to give birth to child. "Before it is used to say don't give birth to child immediately, no need to rush. But now it is not necessary, we shouldn't say that also. Because it is being said that the number of MPs would be decided based on population. The situation created is more population, more MPs. But we have achieved success with focusing on family planning. Now I won't say don't rush to give birth to child, give birth to child immediately." Stalin emphasised that the number of MPs is directly tied to population. (ANI) SP MLA Abu Azmi was suspended from the Budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly, keeping in mind the people's sentiments, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday. "Keeping in mind the sentiments of the people of Maharashtra, he has been suspended by the Speaker," Shinde told reporters. "Maharashtra will not spare anyone who disrespects Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. This is just the first step; he has just been given a signal that if he does anything like this again, Maharashtra will not forgive him," he added. Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the entire duration of the ongoing budget session on Wednesday over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. A proposal was brought in the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday against Azmi's remarks. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil said in the House that Azmi's objectionable statement had hurt the dignity of the House, leading to the proposal to suspend his membership for this session, which the Speaker passed. Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples". He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim. Abu Azmi expressed his disappointment after being suspended for the entire duration of the ongoing Maharashtra budget session over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Abu Azmi said, "To ensure that the House functions, I spoke about withdrawing my statement. I did not say anything wrong. Still, there is a controversy and proceedings of the House are being stalled. To ensure that the House functions and some work is done during Budget Session...I withdrew the statement that I made outside. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray slammed Akhilesh Yadav for supporting Azmi, saying, "Let him object if he wants to." "Let him object if he wants to. The entire Maharashtra has raised an objection against him. If he wants, he should make him contest from there (UP). He does not know the truth," he told reporters. Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav criticized the suspension of party leader Abu Azmi, alleging that ideological influence on such actions undermines democratic values. (ANI) The Assam government on Wednesday said in the state assembly that nearly 83,000 hectares of land belonging to Assam has been encroached by four neighbouring states. Replying to a question by Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed, Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora said that 82,751.8618 hectares of land across 17 districts of Assam has been encroached by four neighbouring states - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya. According to the data shared by the state government, Nagaland has encroached 59490.21 hectares of land, while Arunachal Pradesh has encroached 16144.0117 hectares of land, 3675.78 hectares of land by Mizoram and 3441.8601 hectares of land by Meghalaya. The Assam Minister said that among the affected districts of the state are Golaghat, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Charaideo, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Cachar, Kamrup, West Karbi Anglong, South Salmara Mankachar, Karimganj (now Sribhumi), and Hailakandi. The Assam Minister further said that the government level discussions are going on with the neighbouring states to resolve the border disputes. Assam and Meghalaya had 12 disputed sectors along their 884.9 km boundary and the disputes in six of these sectors were settled through a MoU signed on March 29, 2022, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "Similarly, both governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have formed 12 regional committees. The regional committees of both states have jointly visited the bordering areas and discussed with the local people and have taken measures to resolve the inter-state border disputes. On April 20, 2023, a MoU was signed between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments in New Delhi in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 71 of the 123 villages have been amicably resolved by the MoU and timelines have been fixed for finalization of the boundaries of the remaining villages. To resolve the border dispute issue with Mizoram, the government level discussions are going on," Atul Bora said. (ANI) Amidst the ongoing row between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over the three-language policy, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday emphasised that their intention and commitment is to protect their language. Speaking to ANI, Shivakumar mentioned that they would go by what Congress high command decides. "Karnataka is already committed to our stand. First, we want to protect our language; that is our intention and commitment. We are in a national party; we will go by our national party. Whatever the Congress party high command decides because they give us free hand locally, on these types of issues. So, we will sit, discuss and come back to you. We have already confirmed our stand," Shivakumar said. Earlier this morning, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took to X to evoke the spirit of the 1967 Tamil language protests, urging the state to rise against what he called the imposition of Hindi. Sharing a photograph of former CM Annadurai, Stalin reminded the people of the 1967 anti-Hindi movement in the state. "1967: Anna sat down; Tamil Nadu rose! If any harm comes to proud Tamil Nadu, let us roar like wildfire! Let us celebrate the victory!" he posted on social media website X, drawing parallels between past struggles and current challenges. Notably, the Tamil Nadu government has strongly opposed implementing the New Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, raising concern over the "three-language formula" and alleging that the Centre wants to 'impose' Hindi. In another post on X, Stalin expressed his strong opposition to the imposition of Hindi and defended Tamil's rightful place. Referring to a popular quote, Stalin stated, "When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." He went on to remind the public of the accusations directed at his party (DMK), by certain "bigots." "Some entitled bigots brand us chauvinists and anti-nationals for the 'crime' of demanding Tamil's rightful place in Tamil Nadu," Stalin added. (ANI) Director General of Punjab Police Gaurav Yadav on Thursday said that the apprehended Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Lajar Masih is a key associate of Germany-based BKI operative Swaran Singh and was in direct contact with Pakistan's ISI. The DGP said that Masih is wanted in multiple criminal cases in Punjab. The apprehended terrorist has been kept at Kokhraj police station in Kaushambi distrcit of Uttar Pradesh. In a social media post on X, DGP Yadav wrote, "In a well-coordinated joint operation by Uttar Pradesh Police & Punjab Police, arrested an active operative of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and ISI, Lajar Masih s/o Kulwinder, a resident of Village Kurlian, PS Ramdas, Amritsar, Punjab, from the Kokhraj police station area, Kaushambi (UP)." "The person was working under #Germany-based BKI operative Swaran Singh @ Jeevan Fauji and was in direct contact with #Pakistan's ISI. Swaran Singh @ Jeevan Fauji is a key associate of Pakistan-based BKI mastermind Harwinder Rinda and #USA-based BKI operative Happy Passian," the social media post reads. https://x.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/1897496865412911532 The DGP stated that further investigations are underway in the case. The post reads, "A significant cache of arms and explosives, including hand grenades and a foreign-made pistol, has been recovered from Lajar Masih. He is wanted in multiple criminal cases in #Punjab. Further investigations are underway." "This significant breakthrough underscores the unwavering commitment of @PunjabPoliceInd and @Uppolice to national security. We remain vigilant and dedicated to neutralising terrorist networks and ensuring the safety and security of citizens," the DGP said. Lajar Masih, an active terrorist of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and ISI module has been nabbed by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Punjab Police in a joint operation on Thursday. The security personnel have also recovered illegal arms and explosives, including three active hand grenades, two active detonators, 13 cartridges and one foreign-made pistol from the possession of the terrorist. UP STF and Police personnel disposed the explosives recovered from the terrorist. According to the UP STF, the operation was carried out in the Kokhraj police station area of Kaushambi district of the state at around 3.20 am. The officials of the UP STF stated that according to the available information, the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the Germany-based module of BKI and is in direct touch with Pakistan-based ISI operatives. The apprehended terrorist Lajar Masih is a resident of the Kurlian village of Punjab's Amritsar. As per the police, this terrorist had escaped from judicial custody in Punjab on September 29, 2024. (ANI) Four police constables posted at Dharavi police station in Mumbai were suspended for allegedly accepting bribes from hawkers in exchange for not taking action against them, officials said on Thursday. The action was taken against the police officials after a video of them taking bribes went viral on social media. The suspended police constables have been identified as Mahendra Pujari, Kashinath Gajre, Gangadhar Kharat and Appasaheb Wakchoure In another bribery incident last month, the Delhi Police Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) arrested two individuals, including a government stenographer, for allegedly demanding a bribe in connection with the revocation of a GST registration suspension. According to a release, "Today a complainant visited the office of Anti-Corruption Branch, Delhi and introduced himself as a shopkeeper who runs a business of electronic goods. He further informed that his GST registration was suspended by the concerned GSTO on frivolous grounds." As per a release, the complainant has already submitted the requisite documents and fine to the department in terms of the notice dated 09.01.2025. Thereafter, on several occasions, the complainant met the concerned GSTO and his stenographer, Mohit Yadav, with a request to revoke the suspension of the GST registration. The complainant further alleged that Mohit Yadav is demanding an illegal gratification of Rs 50000 from him for revoking the suspension of GST registration at the behest of GSTO Arifullah Khan of Ward No. 74. Aggrieved from the unethical and unreasonable demand of the government stenographer, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Branch. The raiding team along with the complainant and the 'Panch' witness reached the office of Department of Trade & Taxes, Vyapar Bhawan, IP Estate, New Delhi. The complainant and the 'Panch' witness met alleged Stenographer Mohit Yadav who directed the complainant to handover the bribe money to his private accomplice Chandan Kumar. According to the release, the team of ACB swung into action after getting a signal from 'Panch' witness. Accordingly, stenographer Mohit Yadav and his accomplice were apprehended by the raiding team while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 50,000/- from the complainant. (ANI) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday outlined his vision for the state's youth, including the establishment of a youth commission, a domicile policy prioritizing local youth in jobs, waiving government job form fees, and covering travel expenses for candidates attending exams. In a post on X, Tejashwi Yadav targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and said that the youth of Bihar no longer want a "75-year-old CM." "Yesterday during the 'Yuva Chaupal, ' we said, 'When the retirement age in jobs and services in the country is 60 years, then should the Chief Minister of Bihar, which has the largest youth population in the country, be 75 years old?" The youth of Bihar no longer want to carry the 75-year-old Chief Minister of an unhealthy government rejected by the public," Tejashwi said. He also targeted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar and said, "The alliance of tired-retired leaders-officials of the unhealthy government is ruining the present and future of the youth of Bihar. Due to the government's wrong policies, the youth are becoming over-age." "Once our government is formed- We will set up a youth commission in the state, we will implement domicile policy in Bihar which will give priority to local youth in jobs, Government job form fees will be waived and the Government will bear the travel fare of the candidates to and from the examination centre," the former Deputy CM of Bihar asserted. The RJD leader also attacked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, describing him as a "tired Chief Minister" surrounded by retired officers. Earlier on March 4, the Bihar assembly witnessed a verbal exchange between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav during Kumar's post-budget speech. In his speech, Kumar asserted that he played a "key role" in shaping the political career of Tejashwi's father, former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav. In a rebuttal on March 5, Tejashwi Yadav hit back at Nitish Kumar, accusing him of distorting facts. Tejashwi Yadav claimed that he was instrumental in making Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister twice and saving his party. (ANI) "Ear economy" thrives in China People's Daily Online) 09:23, March 06, 2025 Listeners take part in an activity held by Xiaoyuzhou in Shanghai in October 2024. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) In recent years, audiobooks, podcasts, and radio dramas have flourished. Data shows that China's online audio user base reached 747 million in 2024, with the market size of the audio industry exceeding 560 billion yuan (about $68.86 billion). Data from Ximalaya, an online audio-sharing platform, shows that Chinese podcast listeners on Ximalaya have surpassed 220 million. In 2024, the podcast platform Xiaoyuzhou added over 46,000 new shows and more than 400,000 episodes. These statistics indicate that audio programs are gaining popularity among the public. According to Xiao Xiong, head of creator operations at Xiaoyuzhou, the platform's user base grew by about 50 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. "In the past two years, we've seen a noticeable surge in college students tuning into podcasts, shifting the audience beyond its previous dominance by working professionals," he said. Platforms like Ximalaya, Lizhi, and NetEase Cloud Music offer a wide range of podcast content, including business, technology, history, culture, and intriguing stories, giving listeners diverse options. Peoeple attend a concert held on a balcony in Beilin district of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Dec. 7, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Cheng) He Tianping, an associate professor from the Department of Journalism at Renmin University of China, pointed out that the rapid growth of the podcast market is largely driven by the increasingly diverse and personalized demands of different audiences. "Distinct content preferences among various groups have opened up vast creative opportunities for podcast creators and fueled the diversification of podcast content," He said. Beyond traditional conversational podcasts, many listeners also tune into comedy shows, audio dramas, and audiobooks across different audio platforms. A 2024 industry report jointly released by Ximalaya and other organizations showed that 76.2 percent of podcast users listened to audio programs for at least 30 minutes a day. Podcasts prioritize user engagement, catering to emotional needs and fostering meaningful interaction. This gives many listeners a unique sense of belonging within the podcasting space. Beyond companionship, podcasts also offer a sense of fulfillment. Many users turn to audio platforms for in-depth learning, particularly in subjects like exam preparation and economics. Host of a podcast program records a show. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) "I used to rely on short-video platforms for study tips, but I've found that audio platforms are better for exam preparation," said Yimo (pseudonym), who is currently preparing for the civil servant exam. Yimo explained that the rapid visuals and intense background music in short videos often make it difficult to focus and absorb key information. In contrast, long-form audio offers a more structured and immersive learning experience. From a creator's perspective, producing audio content is far more accessible than video content, lowering the barrier for passionate storytellers across industries to jump in. Zhong Shu, a lecturer at Boston College, the U.S., who specializes in philosophy and political science, started her podcast in July 2023 on a whim. "I watched an hour-long tutorial on audio production and then recorded my first episode on my phone," she said. To this day, her only investment has been a single microphone. A girl listens to an audio program at the Kunshan Library in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province, on Nov. 24, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Wang Xuzhong) "The low-cost and straightforward process removes the pressure, allowing me to focus entirely on the content," she added. Her podcast now has 240,000 subscribers on Xiaoyuzhou. As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances, podcast and audio platforms are adopting new tools to enhance the listening experience. Ximalaya's AI multimodal audio model enables users to upload scripts, choose voices, and create their own audio and video contenteven cloning voices for personalized production. Ximalaya has developed a voice library with 535 synthesized voices. AI-driven audio processing improves production quality, offering listeners a broader variety of content, according to Ye Jianhao, who is in charge of Ximalaya's AI algorithms. AI also boosts efficiency for podcast creators. "In content creation, AI algorithms can analyze trending topics in real time, automatically generating ideas to help creators explore new subjects and add depth to their content," said Ye. AI now enables greater interactivity and real-time responsiveness, making content creation faster and more flexible. It also breaks down many barriers in the creative process, allowing more people to get involved, Ye explained. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Flash Flags of European Union (EU) and Ukraine are seen at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that he has decided to open strategic discussions with European allies on potential nuclear protection. "Responding to the historic call of the future German chancellor, I have decided to open a strategic debate on the protection of our allies in Europe through our (nuclear) deterrent," Macron said in a televised address. Speaking on Europe's defense and Ukraine, he emphasized that France's nuclear deterrent has played a role in maintaining peace and security in Europe. On Ukraine, Macron asserted that the country has "the right to peace and security for itself, and it is in the interest of the European continent's security." He stressed the need to ensure that any future peace, once achieved, is sustainable. "This will certainly require long-term support for the Ukrainian army and could potentially involve deploying European forces," he said. However, Macron clarified that such European forces would not engage in frontline combat but would instead help ensure that peace is upheld once secured. He also announced that France would host a meeting next week with countries willing to contribute to future European forces to be deployed in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered prayers at the winter seat of Maa Ganga in Uttarakhand's Mukhwa. PM Modi was accompanied by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who also received the PM at the the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun PM Modi also took in the breathtaking beauty of snow-capped mountains in Mukhwa and greeted the people there. State's Chief Minister Dhami said that this visit of PM Modi is essential in establishing the Mukhimath (Mukhwa) on the global tourism map and strengthening the cultural and religious heritage of the state. CM Dhami said, "We are all proud to witness this historic moment in Mukhwa. On behalf of all the people of the state, a hearty welcome and congratulations to the illustrious Prime Minister on his winter visit to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand." PM Modi will also flag off the trek and bike rally and address the gathering at a public function in Harsil. Ahead of his visit, PM Modi affirmed his government's commitment to developing tourism in the state by promoting tourism. "We are committed to further strengthen the economy of the state by promoting tourism in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. In this connection, I will get the opportunity to worship Maa Ganga in Mukhwa tomorrow morning at around 9:30 am. After this, I will communicate with my family members in Harshil", PM Modi wrote in his post on 'X'. The Prime Minister further expressed his excitement about his visit to the Mukhwa temple, which is famous worldwide for its spiritual significance and amazing beauty. "I am very excited to visit the winter residence of the pure and pure Mother Ganga in Mukhwa. This holy place is famous all over the world for its spiritual significance and amazing beauty. Not only this, it is a unique example of our resolve of 'heritage as well as development'," he stated. The Uttarakhand government has initiated a Winter Tourism programme this year. Thousands of devotees have already visited the winter seats of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The program is aimed to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, homestays, and tourism businesses, among others. (ANI) Amid the ruckus over the statement made by Samajwadhi Party MLA Abu Azmi, AIMIM Bihar president and MLA Akhtarul Iman has expressed strong support for Azmi after his suspension from the Assembly over comments on the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Iman criticized the BJP for using "politics of hatred" to gain political mileage, stating, "BJP has no other work but to have political gains through politics of hatred." Iman defended Aurangzeb, calling him a "noble emperor" and highlighting his contributions. "Aurangzeb was a noble emperor. He earned a livelihood by stitching caps. He didn't use taxpayers' money on himself. He was buried here. He didn't loot and leave like the British but he served this country. He unified India, stretching it from Afghanistan to Burma (Myanmar), and made it 'Akhand Bharat. He treated both temples and mosques equally," he said. Iman also criticized the controversy surrounding the remarks, questioning why such a debate was being stirred up. "So, why such a controversy is being stoked?" he asked. He further condemned the actions taken against Abu Azmi, labeling them as unconstitutional. "The action (against Abu Azmi) is unconstitutional," Iman remarked, urging the Supreme Court to take suo-motu cognizance of the situation. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP MLA Satish Upadhyay said on Thursday that these (Abu Azmi) are the people who consider invaders as their ideals. "There is a section in the country and Abu Azmi is one of them who consider invaders as their ideals. These are the people who consider those as ideals who came from outside and attacked our country. Not standing with those who made real sacrifices for the country is a reflection of their political mentality," Upadhyay told ANI. Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the entire duration of the ongoing budget session over his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples". He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindu and Muslim. (ANI) In a significant move to promote the use of Hindi in official work, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has acknowledged 32 offices under the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) where 82 per cent of the staff have attained working knowledge of Hindi. This initiative underscores the government's commitment to enhancing linguistic uniformity across central agencies. Of the total 32 offices, seven belong to ITBP, five of NDRF, and the remaining 20 offices are of CISF-- a development that aligns with the MHA's broader efforts to encourage the use of Hindi and regional languages in official capacities. The MHA's recognition was notified through a notification earlier this week to encourage the officials and working staffs under the ministry's other departments as well as Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel. "In pursuance of sub rule (4) of Rule 10 of the Official Language (Use for official purposes of the Union) Rules, 1976 (as amended in 1987), the Central Government hereby notifies some offices under the Ministry of Home Affairs, wherein more than 80% of staff have attained the working knowledge of Hindi," the notification mentions. Notably, in April 2023, the MHA approved the conduct of Constable (General Duty) examinations for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in 13 regional languages, in addition to Hindi and English. This decision aimed to boost local youth participation in CAPFs and promote regional languages. These initiatives reflect the MHA's dedication to fostering linguistic inclusivity and ensuring that language is not a barrier to serving in national security forces. The ministry had termed that move a "landmark" decision taken at the initiative of Union home minister Amit Shah "to give impetus to participation of local youth in the CAPFs and encourage regional languages." It is pertinent to note that the Central government has implemented various measures to promote Hindi proficiency among its employees, aligning with its official language policy. The Official Languages Act of 1963 and the Official Language Rules of 1976 outline the framework for the use of Hindi in official capacities. The Central government provides Hindi language training to personnel possessing "working knowledge of Hindi" to enhance their proficiency. The Official Language Rules, 1976, categorize states into regions based on the prevalence of Hindi, tailoring language use policies accordingly. Various official language proficiency exams assess and certify individuals' competence in Hindi, serving purposes from career advancement to cultural exchange. These initiatives aim to promote the use of Hindi in official work while respecting India's linguistic diversity. (ANI) According to information shared by UP Police on X, "An active terrorist of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and ISI module, Lajar Masih S/o Kulwinder resident of Village- Kurlian Post- Makowal, Thana Ramdas Amritsar Punjab nabbed in a joint operation of @uppstf and @PunjabPoliceInd at around 3:20 hrs on 6/3/25." https://x.com/Uppolice/status/1897515494502015234 "The arrest operation was carried out in the Kokhraj police station area of the district Kaushambi. As per available information, the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the German-based module of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is in direct touch with Pakistan based ISI operatives," the post added on X. During the arrest, UP STF recovered explosives and illegal arms from Masih, including three active hand grenades, two active detonators, a foreign-made Norinco M-54 Tokarev pistol (U.S.S.R.) of 7.62 mm caliber, 13 cartridges of 7.62x25 mm foreign make, and white-coloured explosive powder. Additionally, an Aadhaar card with a Ghaziabad address and a mobile phone without a SIM card were recovered. As per police records, Masih had escaped from judicial custody in Punjab on September 24, 2024. Meanwhile, Director General of Punjab Police Gaurav Yadav said that the apprehended Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Lajar Masih is a key associate of Germany-based BKI operative Swaran Singh and was in direct contact with Pakistan''s ISI. The DGP added that Masih is wanted in multiple criminal cases in Punjab. (ANI) RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi''s remarks that those coming to Mumbai need not learn Marathi, has provoked a strong reaction from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray. Thackeray on Thursday asserted that the language of Maharashtra will remain Marathi. RSS Senior leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, speaking at a program in Mumbai on Wednesday, said that those coming to Mumbai need not learn Marathi. He also said that Gujarati is the "language of the Ghatkopar area in Mumbai." Reacting to this, Thackeray said, "People from outside come to our state and settle here. However, the language of this land is Marathi, just like Tamil is in Tamil Nadu and Kannada is in Karnataka. The ideology of the BJP is to keep disrespecting Maharashtra." "Yesterday, Suresh Bhaiyya ji said that the language in Ghatkopar could be Gujarati, but this is absolutely not possible. The language of Mumbai is Marathi. This government even halted the Marathi Bhasha Bhavan in Mumbai because they want to disrespect Maharashtra and the Marathi language," Aditya Thackeray added. On February 16, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reaffirmed the government''s commitment to preserving Marathi education, stating that no Marathi school would be closed. Speaking to reporters, CM said, "We have constantly given instructions that no Marathi school should be closed. Secondly, we have made it compulsory to teach Marathi in schools, be it Marathi or Hindi schools. And we are setting up a mechanism to ensure that this instruction is followed properly." This comes amid an ongoing war of words between Tamil Nadu and the Centre over the three-language policy. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has objected to what he describes as the "Hindi Imposition" on the state. In counter to this, the BJP launched a door-to-door campaign in support of the three-language policy proposed in the new Education Policy (NEP). (ANI) The CPI(M) state conference kicked off with the inauguration of the delegates' meeting presided by Senior leader and Politburo Coordinator Prakash Karat. The meeting also saw the presentation of the report by CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan, in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In his speech, Prakash Karat sharply criticized the Modi government's middle east policy. "Narendra Modi government supported Israel in the war, Modi government allowed export of weapons. This is unprecedented for India. Traditionally, since independence, India supports Palestine. Modi aligned with the US," Karat remarked. He also addressed the issue of the quadrilateral alliance, stating, "The last thing the quadrilateral alliance, the only purpose of America is to use a security alliance and to use it against China." Earlier on February 21, Kerala CM Pinarayai Vijayan while addressing the Global Investors Summit 2025 in Koch said that Kerala is set to transform into a major investment hub. Addressing global investors, policymakers, and industry experts, he highlighted Kerala's evolving investment landscape and the state's efforts to build an investor-friendly environment. He said, "Kerala is a state renowned for its natural beauty and has been an attraction for tourists from within the country and abroad. Kerala's investment scenario is on the cusp of history. We are witnessing progress and change for the better in our investment arena." He added, "It is at this juncture that this Summit is taking place, bringing together global investors, visionaries in the field, experts and policymakers aiming to explore the investment potential of Kerala and witness our initiatives towards building an investor-friendly architecture in the state. The changes we have brought about now are not incremental but substantial." He emphasized the government's role in creating a favourable investment climate, stating that Kerala's policies are designed not just for short-term gains but for long-term economic transformation. "Kerala has become a noteworthy example of achieving a high score in human development indicators, is now taking a leap towards achieving the status of an investment hub. The government here considers that it has a great role to play as a facilitator and a catalyst. We have taken a holistic view and are paying equal attention to all matters from policy formulation to the last mile implementation," he added. (ANI) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo, announced that a senior team of NHRC officials will visit Bhubaneswar on Thursday to investigate the death of the Nepalese student and the alleged brutality against students protesting at KIIT University. Kanoongo in his tweet on X informed, "A team of very senior officials of @India_NHRC will reach Bhubaneswar today to investigate the incident of death of a Nepali student and alleged brutality against agitating students in a private university." On March 4, NHRC initiated a probe into the death of a Nepalese student at KIIT University in Odisha following allegations of assault on protesting students. Kanoongo said that a team has been formed to investigate the matter and will submit its report before March 10. Speaking to ANI, Kanoongo said, "We received a complaint from an organisation, Kalinga Rights Forum. In the complaint, it was mentioned that a student from Nepal had died allegedly by suicide. We don't yet know if it was a suicide." "The complainant also told us that enraged Nepalese students who wanted to raise their voices against this were beaten up. We have formed a team and it will go to the University and conduct probe. Before 10th (March), they will submit the report," he told ANI. The third-year B.Tech student was found dead in her hostel room on February 16, following which Nepalese students staged a protest, alleging that a fellow student had harassed her and that the college had failed to act despite multiple complaints.Nepal's NHRC has sent a written request to the Indian Human Rights Commission requesting to investigate death of the Nepalese student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha. The joint spokesperson Shyam Babu Kafle at Nepal's NHRC said, "The Commission has written to the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRCI) in a letter dated 2081/11/7 requesting an early investigation into the incident of Nepali students studying at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, who was found dead, demanding an investigation into the incident of beating and mistreatment of them." (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the government has launched a campaign to rehabilitate the villages evacuated during the India-China war of 1962. Addressing a public rally in Harsil, PM Modi said two villages in the Uttarkashi district were evacuated during the war in 1962, and the government is making efforts to make them major tourist destinations. "People might know that when China attacked India in 1962, these two villages of ours were evacuated. People have forgotten, but we cannot forget. We have launched a campaign to rehabilitate those two villages and are moving towards making it a major tourist destination," PM Modi said. PM Modi further said that border villages are the first villages and not the last villages, emphasising on their development and special benefits that they should get for tourism. "Our effort is that the border areas of Uttarakhand should also get special benefits of tourism. Earlier, the border villages were called the last villages. But we changed this thinking, we said that these are not the last but our first villages. 'Vibrant Village' program was started for their development. 10 villages of this area have also been included in this scheme," the PM said. Further PM Modi highlighted the development the state has made under the 'double-engine' government, noting the Kedarnath Ropeway Project and the Hemkund Ropeway Project. "Our double-engine government is working together to make Uttarakhand a developed state. Chardham All-Weather Road, modern expressway, railway, aircraft, and helicopter services in the state have expanded rapidly in the last 10 years. Just yesterday, the Union Cabinet has approved the Kedarnath Ropeway Project and the Hemkund Ropeway Project. After the construction of the Kedarnath Ropeway, the journey which used to take 8 to 9 hours, will now be completed in about 30 minutes. This will make the Kedarnath Yatra easier for the elderly and children." PM Modi said. Earlier in the day, PM Modi flagged off the trek and bike rally in Harsil after offering prayers at the winter residence of Maa Ganga Mukhwa. He was accompanied by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. The Uttarakhand government has initiated a Winter Tourism programme this year. Thousands of devotees have already visited the winter seats of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The program is aimed to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, homestays, and tourism businesses, among others. (ANI) In a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh STF and Punjab Police, an active terrorist linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and an ISI module, Lajar Masih, was arrested in Kaushambi, UP. The operation, coordinated between the two states, led to the apprehension of Lajar Masih, a resident of Amritsar, who had been on the run since 2024. SP Investigation, Batala, Gurpartap Singh Sahota, provided details of the operation, stating, "Taking a strict stand against crime, UP Police and Punjab Police made a joint effort and undertook a coordinated operation. In this, an operative of Babbar Khalsa International and ISI module, Lajar Masih has been arrested from UP, Kaushambi. He is a resident of Amritsar. Pakistan-based ISI module''s Harvinder Rinda, German-based module''s Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, and Happy Passia, an operative of US-based BKI were his handlers." AS per the Sahota, "Lajar Masih was wanted in a case of shooting at a medical shop. One person was injured in the incident. Dera Baba Nanak Police stationed in UP since several days. We had information that he was living under a new identity. He already had 3 FIRs against him. He escaped from judicial custody in 2024 and was on the run since then." Sahota added, "Our Police, along with UP Police arrested him today. 3 hand grenades, 2 detonators, one foreign-based pistol, 13 live cartridges were recovered. He was living there under a new identity. His Aadhaar Card and some cash has also been recovered. We will formally arrest him there and Batala Police will bring him to Punjab." Meanwhile, Director General of Punjab Police Gaurav Yadav on Thursday said that the apprehended Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Lajar Masih is a key associate of Germany-based BKI operative Swaran Singh and was in direct contact with Pakistan''s ISI. According to the UP Police, the arrest operation was carried out in Kokhraj police station area of district Kaushambi. The Police said that the arrested terrorist works for Swarn Singh alias Jeevan Fauji, the head of the German-based module of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and is in direct touch with Pakistan based ISI operatives. UP STF said it had succeeded in recovering 3 active hand grenades, 2 active detonators, 1 foreign-made pistol Norinco M-54 Tokarev (U.S.S.R.) 7.62 mm, 13 cartridges 7.62x25 mm of foreign make, White coloured explosive powder, Aadhar card with Gaziabad address, one mobile phone without SIM card from the terrorist. This terrorist had escaped from judicial custody in Punjab on 24/9/24 The apprehended terrorist has been kept at Kokhraj police station in Kaushambi distrcit of Uttar Pradesh. (ANI) The event will also be graced by Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi and Minister of State Savitri Thakur, along with senior officials and distinguished guests. On this occasion, a mega campaign through #SheBuildsBharat is also being organised. The event will witness the participation of women officers from the armed forces and para military forces and Delhi police along with My Bharat volunteers, Anganwadi Workers, ASHA workers, Self Help Group members etc. Additionally, lady officers from various Ministries/ Departments have been invited to participate in the event. The event will also mark the presence of representatives from international organizations such as the World Bank, UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA etc. After the inaugural session, the day will continue with a valuable high-level panel Discussion. On the side-lines of the above event, three technical sessions will be organized to bring together renowned women leaders from STEM, business, sports, media, and governance. 1. Trailblazers and Luminaries - Looking Back and Forging Ahead on the 50th Anniversary of International Women's Day This session will bring together renowned women leaders from STEM, business, sports, media, and governance to share their experiences and inspire future generations. 2. Capitalizing on Women Power - Breakthroughs in Financial InclusionThis session will focus on financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and empowering women in the economy. 3. Women in Leadership - Panchayat to ParliamentA dedicated discussion on policies and frameworks to accelerate gender equality through political leadership. A unique Digital Media and Interactive Zone will engage participants through real-time discussions, multimedia exhibits, and storytelling initiatives, showcasing the contributions of women in shaping a progressive India. The proceedings will be livestreamed on Doordarshan, Webcast link, the Ministry of Women, and Child Development's social media platforms and World Bank Live for widespread reach and engagement. (ANI) Former Telangana Governor and BJP Leader Tamilisai Soundarajan was stopped by police in her attempt to carry forward the BJP Signature Campaign in support of the National Education Policy in Chennai. Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP State President K Annamalai, and others participated in the campaign questioning DMK's opposition to the three-language policy under NEP. The BJP leader Soundararajan questioned why children are denied the opportunity to study another language which will open new job opportunities BJP state president Annamalai claimed that police have "arrested" Tamilisai Soundararajan and said the party will not back down. Annamalai, taking to X, claimed, "The Tamil Nadu Police have arrested Dr Tamilisai, former Governor of Telangana and Puducherry, who was leading a signature campaign on behalf of BJP Tamilnadu in Chennai today in support of the National Education Policy, which provides poor and vulnerable children with quality education and the opportunity to learn their preferred languages." Annamalai accused DMK of "making" Tamil a commercial language for sixty years and allowing the trilingual policy only in private schools. He added that People have understood the "drama" of DMK and CM Stalin and there's a massive support for the trilingual policy. The double role of the DMK, which has been making Tamil a commercial language for sixty years and allowing the trilingual policy only in private schools, is being exposed today. The public is starting to realize the drama of the DMK and is seeing the massive support for the trilingual policy, and the Chief Minister Mr.MK Stalin is reeling in fear. As a result, the democratic signature movement is being blocked and arrested." Annamalai wrote on X. Annamalai said the state's BJP will not back down over these "illegal" arrests. "The Tamil Nadu BJP will not back down in fear after all this arrest spree. We will go to every house in Tamil Nadu. How many people can you arrest illegally, Chief Minister? The National Education Policy provides quality education and the opportunity to learn multiple languages in government schools for free to the children of your party's cadre of volunteers. Why are you blocking that?" Annamalai wrote. Earlier today, MK Stalin expressed his strong opposition to the imposition of Hindi and defended Tamil's rightful place. Referring to a popular quote, Stalin stated, "When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression." Stalin emphasized that demanding Linguistic Equality is not chauvinism, and stressed that true chauvinism is seen when laws that govern all citizens are written in a language that Tamils cannot comprehend. The Chief Minister further spoke about what he called were the inequities Tamil Nadu faces, despite being the most contributing state to the nation. "Chauvinism is treating the state that contributes the most to the nation as second-class citizens and denying its fair share for refusing to swallow the poison called NEP," he posted on X. Stalin in his post stated that the imposition of any language breeds division and enmity, threatening national unity. (ANI) Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Jaykumar Gore on Thursday moved a breach of privilege motion against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, NCP SP MLA Rohit Pawar and a YouTube channel for making allegations that he harassed a woman and allegedly sent her inappropriate photos In the Assembly, Minister Gore stated that despite the court ordering the destruction of all relevant evidence, these individuals are still spreading some of the information and continuously attempting to defame him. Sudhir Mungantiwar supported the motion and demanded that a decision be made on it during this session. He also stated that any information regarding the breach of privilege motions filed so far, which has not yet been presented before the House, should also be shared. Jaykumar Gore, the minister for rural development and panchayati raj in Maharashtra had warned that he would move a breach of privilege motion against them and also file a defamation case. The Opposition on Wednesday targeted Gore and demanded his resignation, a day after NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde's resignation. On Tuesday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Dhananjay Munde submitted his resignation as minister, which Fadnavis accepted and forwarded to the Governor for further action. Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan accepted the resignation of Munde, who was Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection. The development follows after Munde's close aide, Walmik Karad, was sent to judicial custody in January this year in a Rs 2 crore extortion case allegedly linked to the murder of Beed district's sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that it was the biggest mistake to administer the oath of office to Dhananjay. Speaking to media, Raut claimed that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself called Munde and asked for his resignation. "He (Dhananjay) is fine, his health is completely okay. The Chief Minister himself called him and said that if you don't resign, I will have to dismiss you. It was the biggest mistake to administer the oath of office to Dhananjay," Raut said. NCP-SCP MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday demanded a thorough investigation into the Beed sarpanch's murder case, suggesting that Munde's name should be included as a co-accused in the FIR. (ANI) Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur on Thursday defended Bihar CM Nitish Kumar against RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's remarks, asserting Kumar remains the people's choice. He dismissed opposition criticism, citing the appointment of 3.65 lakh teachers, and questioned whether a "Khatara Aadmi" (worn-out man) could achieve such milestones. "In a democracy, as per people's decision, MLAs are elected, MPs are elected, MLCs are elected by MLAs. People want Nitish Kumar to be the CM and to lead them. Just because an opposition leader says something, nothing is gonna affect him...3,65,000 teachers were appointed, can a 'Khatara Aadmi' do that," he told ANI. Earlier, Union Minister Giriraj Singh fired back at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's sharp attack on Nitish Kumar, saying the people of Bihar won't go back to the "darkness" of the past, referring to it as the "Lalten Yug." Tejashwi Yadav had launched a sharp attack on Nitish Kumar following the recent Cabinet expansion, stating that the people of Bihar don't want a "Khatara Gaadi" (outdated vehicle) in the state but want a "newer one." In a social media post on March 1, Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the Nitish-BJP government has ruined the lives of two generations in 20 years and has become a burden on the people of Bihar. He emphasized the need for change. Tejashwi Yadav slammed Nitish Kumar in a social media post on X, saying, "The Nitish government of 20 years has spread terrible pollution in the form of poverty, unemployment, corruption, crime and migration in every street, every hamlet and every village of Bihar in the last 20 years." "The Nitish-BJP government has ruined the lives of two generations in 20 years. Now, this government has become a burden on the people of Bihar. Now it is very important to change it," he added. Bihar Assembly elections are expected to take place in October-November 2025. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has been invited to participate in the prestigious Global Leadership Program at Harvard Kennedy School, USA from March 5 to 13. During his visit, Chaddha will engage in high-level discussions on global politics, innovation, and leadership alongside world leaders in Boston and Cambridge, according to an official release. Recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Raghav Chadha sees this as more than a personal milestone--it is, in his words, "a matter of pride for the country." Harvard Kennedy School, one of the world's leading institutions, invites a select group of global leaders each year to participate in this prestigious program. It provides a platform for in-depth study and discussion on public policy, innovation, and global leadership. From March 5 to 13, top leaders, policymakers, officials, and experts from around the world will gather in Boston and Cambridge to discuss global politics, leadership, and policy innovations. "I am very excited to share this news with all of you--I have been selected by Harvard Kennedy School for a leadership program. As you know, Harvard Kennedy School is considered the most prestigious and finest public policy school in the world. For this program, a select group of individuals from across the globe, excelling in their respective fields--whether governance, administration, arts, or culture--have been handpicked to participate in this learning opportunity," AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha stated, The AAP Rajya Sabha MP added, "I firmly believe that I will be able to incorporate these learnings into my work in a positive manner. There is no age limit to reading, writing, and learning. I believe that whenever an opportunity to study arises, one should embrace it. As you may know, some time ago, the World Economic Forum (WEP) recognized me as a Young Global Leader (YGL). Among these YGLs, a few are handpicked for this program and invited to Harvard University." Expressing his delight at the opportunity, Raghav Chadha said, "As one of the youngest members of the Rajya Sabha, my mission has always been to address the issues that matter most to the people and champion their aspirations. This learning experience with a diverse cohort of handpicked achievers from YGL voices will broaden my horizons and enable me to serve you better. I look forward to learning from global leaders and peers, gaining perspectives that can help drive meaningful, people-centric policy changes in India," concluded the post. The Global Leadership Program program equips young leaders with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle global challenges such as unemployment, climate change, economic instability, and social inequalities. (ANI) In the ongoing debate on the alleged 'imposition of languages' in the Southern States, a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court seeking implementing of the three-language formula, proposed by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. The plea filed by BJP lawyer GS Mani said the refusal or failure of the State government to implement the National Educational Policy of the Central government or sign an MoU may harm the public interest or infringe on citizens' rights. The petition sought direction to the State governments to implement the National Education Policy and sign an MoU, which involves fundamental public welfare and rights of Education, constitutional rights, or government obligations that are being neglected or violated and is very well maintainable. "The State government is under a constitutional or legal obligation to implement the National Educational Policy 2020 of the Central government and to enter into an MOU for the implementation of the said policy, scheme, or project," the petition stated. All State governments except Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal have adopted and implemented the Central government's most important national education policy, the tri-language curriculum policy, advocate Mani said. In the petition, the National Education Policy is a major education policy plan brought by the Central government with the aim of improving the quality of school education for students from all walks of life. "All Indian languages should be taught free of cost to school children belonging to the poor, scheduled, tribes, backward, and the most backward classes children," the petition added. The petition said that the state governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal are refusing to accept the three-language formula for political reasons, citing the false reason of imposing Hindi. The Central government's laws, plans and policies are applicable to all State governments, the petition further stated. It is the duty of the state government to implement such a policy and this is a fundamental duty and right given in the Constitution, it added. "Free education is a fundamental right given by the Constitution. By refusing to accept this plan, the state government is denying the fundamental right of free education to the school children concerned. Therefore, the Supreme Court should intervene in this matter and issue an order to these three state governments to immediately implement the Central government's National Education Policy," added the PIL. While the Centre defended the policy as a step towards multilingualism, Tamil Nadu said that it unfairly pressures non-Hindi-speaking states. The Tamil Nadu government has accused the Central government of trying to push Hindi "sideways" through the NEP, despite the state's longstanding resistance to such policies. The government has strongly opposed implementing the NEP, raising concern over the three-language formula and alleging that the Centre wants to "impose" Hindi.(ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inspected a girls school and assessed the condition of drinking water, sanitation and roads in her constituency Shalimar Bagh. CM Gupta visited Shalimar Village Chowk, Max Road, Haiderpur Village Chowk and other areas of Ward No. 55 under Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency. During the inspection, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to solve all the issues related to water, sanitation and roads. The Delhi CM reiterated that the government's aim is to properly provide basic facilities to all citizens, and they are continuously working towards this goal. She also interacted with the people during her visit to the Shalimar Bagh constituency. After inspecting the Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said, "People here are upset due to the sewage, the drains are still not built...the work that had to be done in an industrial area is yet to be done. Small market complexes are also facing the same problem. Big market areas are facing issues like sanitation. The previous govt used to just advertise people's problems and pain, but I will try to solve these issues." Earlier, CM Gupta also took to social media with a post on X to inform about her visit and wrote, "Along with the officials, I visited Shalimar Village Chowk, Max Road, Haiderpur Village Chowk and other areas of Ward No. 55 under Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency to conduct a thorough assessment of the condition of drinking water, sanitation and roads. During this, I talked to the local citizens about their problems and based on their feedback, directed the officials to ensure quick solution to the problems related to water, roads and sanitation. Our aim is that all basic facilities reach every citizen of Delhi properly, and for this we are continuously working. #viksitdelhi." https://x.com/gupta_rekha/status/1897547341558898861 On Wednesday, CM Gupta conducted two separate interactive sessions--one with women from diverse sectors and the other with educationists and school principals from across the national capital--to gather their suggestions for the upcoming 'Viksit Delhi Budget 2025' for the national capital. The Chief Minister spoke to the media about the interactive session held with the women and educationists ahead of the Delhi budget 2025 and said, "This budget will be the budget of the people of Delhi." She described people's expectations and the government's aims for the national capital in the budget. "Today, we had a discussion with women's organisations regarding our Viksit Delhi Budget. Women from all sections of Delhi participated. Discussions were held on security, education, and essential issues concerning women. I want to assure people that we will meet their expectations," the Delhi CM said. (ANI) Congress leader Nana Patole on Thursday responded sharply to RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi's statement criticizing him for shifting focus from critical issues like farmer distress and unemployment in Maharashtra. RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi had remarked that those coming to Mumbai need not learn Marathi. He also said that Gujarati is the "language of the Ghatkopar area in Mumbai." Patole in a statement to Media said, "It is their government, it is RSS's government. Today, farmers' crops are drying up in Maharashtra. Can't RSS give suggestions to the government on this?" Patole criticized the RSS for diverting attention from more pressing issues facing the state, such as unemployment and farmer distress. "Is RSS not concerned about unemployment in Maharashtra? RSS and BJP are diverting attention from the main issues by creating such debates on languages," Patole added, highlighting the government's lack of focus on real problems affecting the people of Maharashtra. Meanwhile, after Joshi's remarks, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized on Thursday that the language of Mumbai and the whole state is Marathi. Addressing the Assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly emphasized, "In Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the State government's language is Marathi, and people who live here should learn it." "Marathi is a part of the state's culture and identity, and it is the duty of every citizen to learn it," the Chief Minister said. The Maharashtra Assembly was adjourned for five minutes today after a heated debated broke out between the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) over the Marathi language issue. Joshi's remarks also evoked a strong reaction from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray. Thackeray on Thursday asserted that the language of Maharashtra will remain Marathi. Thackeray said, "People from outside come to our state and settle here. However, the language of this land is Marathi, just like Tamil is in Tamil Nadu and Kannada is in Karnataka. The ideology of the BJP is to keep disrespecting Maharashtra." "Yesterday, Suresh Bhaiyya ji said that the language in Ghatkopar could be Gujarati, but this is absolutely not possible. The language of Mumbai is Marathi. This government even halted the Marathi Bhasha Bhavan in Mumbai because they want to disrespect Maharashtra and the Marathi language," Aditya Thackeray added. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar on Thursday stated that the UP Police is implementing a zero-tolerance policy against crime under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directives and the arrest of Babbar Khalsa terrorist Laja Masih was a result of that. He revealed that intelligence agencies had been warned of potential disruptions by terrorist organizations ahead of the Maha Kumbh, leading to heightened security measures. "Under the leadership of CM, there is zero tolerance for crime...a successful joint operation was carried out by UP Police's STF and Punjab Police. On 6th March, an active terrorist of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and ISI module, Lajar Masih was arrested from Punjab...Illegal arms and explosives including 3 active hand grenades, 2 active detonators, 13 cartridges and 1 foreign-made pistol, were recovered," the DGP said. The DGP further stated that the Police had been alerted after a recent joint operation with Punjab Police that had led to the encounter of 3 terrorists. "Recently, in a joint operation between Pilibhit Police and Punjab Police, 3 terrorists who used to attack Police Chowkis with hand grenades were killed in an encounter in Pilibhit. As a result, Pannu, a Khalistani terrorist who lives in the US, had threatened to carry out a terror attack at the Kumbh Mela after which all agencies were alerted," the DGP said. "For this particular operation, we and the Punjab Police team received information about the presence of terrorist Lajar. It was also found that he had made a fake Aadhaar card using which he had applied for a passport. Several items of ammunition were found with him with which he could have carried out a major incident at the Kumbh Mela," he added. Kumar also said, "This terrorist was in touch with the ISI module and used to bring ammunition through Pakistan." Earlier today, in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh STF and Punjab Police, an active terrorist linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and an ISI module, Lajar Masih, was arrested in Kaushambi, UP. (ANI) BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh said that the pro-Khalistan protest in London against S Jaishankar during the External Affairs Minister's visit to the UK was merely an attention seeking exercise. Speaking with ANI, Singh said, "There are about 100-150 people across London who do such things. They do this just to draw people's attention. They neither have a base there nor supporters here in India." A group of protestors gathered with flags and loudspeakers and sloganeered outside Chatham House on Wednesday, where Jaishankar participated in an event. The Ministry of External Affairs said that it strongly condemned the "provocative activities" of these separatists and extremists. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said that India deplores the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements and expects the host government to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations in such cases. "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live upto their diplomatic obligations," an MEA spokesperson said. Additionally, BJP spokesperson, RP Singh also spoke on the arrest of an active terrorist of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and ISI module by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Punjab Police in a joint operation. Singh said, "Khalistanis are being nabbed by UP Government and other (State) Governments, Punjab Government and Punjab Police have also played a role on this. This is the second such arrest by Punjab Police and UP Police. Khalistanis must understand that wherever they might hide, they will be caught and lawful action will be taken against them." The security personnel also recovered illegal arms and explosives, including three active hand grenades, two active detonators, 13 cartridges and one foreign-made pistol from the possession of the terrorist. According to the Uttar Pradesh STF, the operation was carried out in the Kokhraj police station area of Kaushambi district of the state at around 3.20 am. (ANI) Accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Tahawwur Rana has approached the United States Supreme Court seeking an emergency stay on his extradition to India. In his application, Rana argued that he would not survive long enough to be tried in India due to various reasons. Rana, through an appeal, stated that "if a stay is not entered, there will be no review at all, and the US courts will lose jurisdiction, and the petitioner will soon be dead." The accused in the 26/11 terror attacks claimed that if extradited to India, the likelihood is very high that he will be subjected to torture as he is a Muslim of Pakistani origin. He stated that because of his Muslim religion, his Pakistani origin, his status as a former member of the Pakistani Army, the relation of the putative charges to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and his chronic health conditions, he is even more likely to be tortured than otherwise would be the case, and that torture is very likely to kill him in short order. He cited the Human Rights Watch 2023 World Report, which documents the BJP-led government''s systematic discrimination and stigmatization of religious minorities, particularly Muslims. Rana further argued that the Government in India is increasingly autocratic, and there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of torture if he surrendered to Indian authorities. In addition to these concerns, Rana highlighted his deteriorating health. He suffers from a 3.5 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm at immediate risk of rupture, Parkinson''s disease with cognitive decline, and a mass suggestive of bladder cancer. He asserts that he cannot be sent into a "hornet''s nest" where he will be targeted due to national, religious, and cultural animosity. The US Supreme Court recently rejected a review petition filed by Tahawwur Rana. Following this decision, President Donald Trump announced that his administration had approved Rana''s extradition, referring to him as "very evil." Tahawwur Rana is a known associate of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the November 26 attacks in Mumbai in 2008. A Pakistani-origin businessman, physician, and immigration entrepreneur, Rana has alleged connections with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan''s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Rana''s alleged role in facilitating the attacks has remained a point of contention between India and the United States for years.(ANI) The Delhi High Court on Thursday set aside an order passed by the trial court in a case against gangster Hashim Baba. The trial court had observed that the FIR against Hashim Baba and his syndicate under MCOCA was based on a wrong foundation. The trial court had declined permission to interrogate Asrar, an alleged associate of Hashim Baba, under MCOCA. Justice Sanjeev Narula, after hearing the submissions of Delhi police special public prosecutor (SPP) Akhand Pratap Singh, set aside the trial court order passed on January 18, 2025. The High Court said that the trial court order was erroneous and couldn't stand. The detailed order is to be uploaded. Delhi police had prayed for setting aside the order of the trial court declining permission to interrogate the accused persons. He has already been enlarged on bail. Delhi police had sought a permission to interrogate and arrest Asrar, who is named as an accused in an FIR registered under Section 3 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 at Police station (PS) Gokul Puri. The said application was filed when Asrar was in judicial custody after arrest in an Arms Act case Delhi police submitted before the High Court that since there is judicial finding declining the Appellant's request to arrest and interrogate the Respondent, this finding needs to be set aside for the prosecution to proceed further. While rejecting the application of Delhi Police on January 18, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pulastya Pramachala said, "Therefore, I find that this FIR is based on wrong foundation and wrong notion of law. For this reason, allowing arrest of any person in this FIR, shall not be appropriate, because when foundation of this case is based on wrong notion and application of law, then certainly taking away liberty of anyone in such case cannot be legal." "In view of my foregoing discussions, observations and findings, application of IO thereby seeking interrogation and arrest of accused Asrar alias Israr alias Popat, in this FIR, is rejected," ASJ Pramachala ordered on January 18, 2025. The trial court had asked about the illegal activities that triggered the invocation of MCOCA. The trial court had said that if the activity reported in FIR No.232/2024 was actually being treated as the latest instance of continuing unlawful activity on the part of a crime syndicate, so as to invoke MCOCA, then the provisions of MCOCA were to be added in FIR No. 232/2024 , rather than registering this FIR separately under Section 3 MCOCA only. "However, as already mentioned herein-above this FIR even does not refer to the activity reported in FIR No.232/2024 as taken to be latest continued unlawful activity of the crime syndicate," the ASJ Pramachala held. He said,"Contents of this FIR reflect that probably a wrong notion of definition of Section.2 (d), 2(e) and 2 (1) MCOCA was nurtured. That is the reason that rather than pointing out to details of a third instance of alleged organised crime, reference to FIR 232/24 was simply given along with the description of other past cases." The High court said that a seperate FIR can be registered under MCOCA by Delhi Police. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav participated in the meeting of the 16th Finance Commission held at Kushabhau Thackeray Convention Centre (Minto Hall) in Bhopal on Thursday and discussed about the future financial requirements for achieving the long-term goals of the state. Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission Arvind Panagariya, Deputy Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla, state cabinet ministers and senior officials of the state government were present in the meeting. "A detailed meeting of the 16th Central Finance Commission was held here in which the Principal Secretaries of our departments explained about activities and work undertaken by our government. I am happy that the Chairman of the Commission, Arvind Panagariya and other members mentioned that Madhya Pradesh had made good preparations and also brought many innovations. The state has prepared a roadmap and stands in a position to walk alongside the prime minister Narendra Modi's dream of Viksit Bharat 2047," CM Yadav told reporters. The Chief Minister also emphasised that the state's policies are quite good and highlighted that they also put forward some demands along with suggestions during the meeting. "Madhya Pradesh should be included among the best states in the country economically. The state's policies are also very good. We have also put forward some demands with various types of suggestions. I hope that they (referring to the commission) will pay attention to all things. I extend my greeting to the chairman and members of the commission," he added. On Wednesday evening, CM Yadav met Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission Panagariya and other members, who are on a visit to the state, at the CM's residence in the state capital. The CM warmly welcomed the Chairman and members of the Commission and held a discussion with them. Earlier on February 26, Madhya Pradesh made a mark at the Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025, setting new benchmarks for investment and industrial growth. Held in Bhopal and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24, the summit became a pivotal moment in the state's journey toward becoming a global investment hub. The event shattered records, with MoUs worth Rs30.77 Lakh Crore signed, underscoring the growing appeal of Madhya Pradesh to both national and international investors. (ANI) Chief Minister of Haryana Nayab Singh Saini graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, alongside CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh, SDG/Director of the Academy Sunil Kumar Jha, and other dignitaries. Addressing the young officers, the CM emphasized that their induction marks a significant milestone and signifies their entry into the nation's frontline security force. He highlighted that this brings immense responsibility--not only to enforce the law but also to uphold justice and harmony. Emphasizing discipline and integrity, he reminded them that their every decision would shape public trust. He applauded the rigorous training at the CRPF Academy, which has set high standards of professionalism. Reflecting on CRPF's historic sacrifices, he recalled the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack, paying homage to the brave martyrs. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to the welfare of security personnel, announcing Rs 1 crore financial assistance and government jobs for the families of fallen heroes. The Chief Minister also highlighted Haryana's police modernization efforts, including AI integration and digital advancements, to enhance law enforcement efficiency. He urged officers to remain steadfast in their commitment to the Constitution, national security, and public welfare. The event also featured skill demonstrations by the trainee officers, followed by awards for outstanding performances. The ceremony concluded with DG CRPF Gyanendra Pratap Singh presenting a memento to the Chief Guest. Academy Director Sunil Kumar Jha extended his gratitude to all attendees, including senior officers, local administrators, and proud families of the new officers. (ANI) Chinese e-commerce and tech giant Alibaba on Thursday unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) model, which it claims can rival DeepSeek to solve complex problems, but is better because it uses far less data for its operations It said that its new compact reasoning model QwQ-32B is "comparable" to other larger cutting edge models such as OpenAI's o1-mini. "Today, we release QwQ-32B, our new reasoning model with only 32 billion parameters, delivering performance comparable to other larger cutting edge models," a X post by the Alibaba Group founded by billionaire Jack Ma said . Alibaba's AI model follows in the wake of another Chinese company DeepSeek, which had in January 2025 released its low-cost AI model that rivalled OpenAI's Chat GPT, a leader in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Alibaba's new model is built on Qwen 2.5, its latest Artificial Intelligence language model, which is designed to handle text, images, and audio to analyse complex data, identify patterns and generate solutions, in ways that humans do. The model, which was released on open source outperformed DeepSeek's R1, which boasts 671 billion parameters, in areas such as mathematics, coding and general problem-solving, according to a posting on the Qwen, the company's blog post on its AI models. In layman's terms, there are three main types of AI models- supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. "Our research explores the scalability of Reinforcement Learning (RL) and its impact on enhancing the intelligence of large language models," the team looking after Alibaba AI models said. "Furthermore, we have integrated agent-related capabilities into the reasoning model, enabling it to think critically while utilizing tools and adapting its reasoning based on environmental feedback," they said. "These advancements not only demonstrate the transformative potential of RL but also pave the way for further innovations in the pursuit of artificial general intelligence," they added. The company said it is confident that in future it can by "combining stronger foundation models with RL powered by scaled computational resources" get closer to achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). "Additionally, we are actively exploring the integration of agents with RL to enable long-horizon reasoning, aiming to unlock greater intelligence with inference time scaling," it said. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned a hearing on a plea that challenged the constitutional validity of various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh noted that the matter is supposed to be listed before a three-judge bench of the Court. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the petitioners, informed the Court that as per the Court's registry, a fixed date in the matter has not been given. Solicitor General of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju requested that the next date in the matter preferably be in the last week of April or the first week of May of this year. The Court proceeded to adjourn the matter to a later date and stated that it would notify the counsels about it. The Court was dealing with a review plea filed by Congress MP Karti Chidambaram that challenged a July 2022 judgment of the Supreme Court, which had upheld various provisions of the PMLA. The earlier judgement in challenge had upheld the validity of various PMLA provisions that give the ED wide powers of investigation and arrest (Directorate of Enforcement). In its earlier judgment, the court had also ruled that ED inquiries are different from criminal investigations and thus, the procedural requirements and safeguards given under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) don't apply to the ED. Further, the Court had held that during an ED inquiry, the ED is not required to provide a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) to the accused. ECIR, the Court had held, is an internal document, unlike the First Information Report, and thus, the same is not required to be shared with the accused under the CrPC. Moreover, the Court upheld the stringent bail conditions under the PMLA, which required the accused persons to prove their innocence before bail could be granted. Many other review pleas that also challenged the July 2022 judgment have been tagged along with this matter. The next date in the matter is yet to be notified by the Court. Advocate Shally Bhasin represented the petitioner, Karti Chidambaram. (ANI) Delhi Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control Parvesh Verma offered prayers at Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple located in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district on Thursday and sought blessings of Baba Mahakal (Lord Shiva). Minister Verma also expressed gratitude to the Madhya Pradesh government and extended congratulations for the arrangement and cleanliness on the premises of the Mahakal temple. Speaking to ANI, Delhi Minister Pravesh Verma said, "I express my gratitude to the Madhya Pradesh government and congratulate them for the arrangements that I have seen here are very good and cleanliness is very impressive. People visiting here are returning with quite good experiences. I also had the darshan of Lord Mahakaal. I often visit here and receive blessings from Baba Mahakal." The Delhi minister also highlighted that he visited Baba Mahakal temple on Thursday to pray for the welfare of the people of Delhi and people of the entire nation. "Today, I have come here to pray for the welfare of the people of Delhi and the people of the entire country. May the Baba Mahakal bless everyone and good things come in everyone's life," he added. He further emphasised that he prayed that Lord Mahakal may provide him strength to fulfill the promises made to the people of Delhi. "I have prayed that God may provide me strength so that we can perform our duty and fulfill the promises made to the people of Delhi in our manifesto. I sought strength from Baba Mahakal for this purpose," he concluded. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inspected a girls school and assessed the condition of drinking water, sanitation and roads in her constituency Shalimar Bagh. CM Gupta visited Shalimar Village Chowk, Max Road, Haiderpur Village Chowk and other areas of Ward No. 55 under Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency. During the inspection, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to solve all the issues related to water, sanitation and roads. (ANI) National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday reaffirmed his commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, expressing confidence that it will be achieved soon. "Inshallah, statehood will come soon. It will come," Farooq Abdullah told reporters on Thursday. Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary took a strong stance against former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's comments regarding the region's current political situation. "Mehbooba Mufti can say anything because she is the reason for the destruction of J&K. If J&K has lost its statehood and special status, it is because of her," Choudhary said. Earlier on March 3, LG Sinha addressed the inaugural session of the J-K Legislative Assembly's Budget Session. Manoj Sinha said that his government is steadfast in its commitment to the Union Territory's statehood and is actively engaging with all stakeholders to facilitate this process. "One of the foremost aspirations of the Jammu and Kashmir people is the restoration of the full statehood. My government remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing this legitimate desire of the citizens of J-K. My government recognizes the emotional and political significance of the statehood for the people and is actively engaging with all stakeholders to facilitate this process in a manner that ensures peace, stability and progress," he said. He emphasized that the budget represents a new era of participatory governance, ensuring that the need and aspirations of the common people remain at the heart of policy making. Notably, the restoration of Article 370, the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, and the implementation of the autonomy resolution were key promises in the National Conference's manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir elections. On August 2019, the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi repealed Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, effectively ending the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad on Thursday slammed RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi's remarks that "people coming to Mumbai don't have to learn Marathi." He also accused the RSS of creating division based on language. "He (Bhaiyyaji Joshi) has disrespected our mother language. He took one station's name and claimed that its language is Gujarati, but he does not understand Mumbai," Awhad told ANI. "Mumbai is a place, whoever comes here and embraces it never has to turn back... Earlier, they used to divide in the name of caste, then religion; now it is language," he added. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has demanded a sedition case be registered against Bhaiyyaji Joshi. "A sedition case should be registered against Bhaiyyaji Joshi," Uddhav Thackeray told reporters. Joshi, speaking at a program in Mumbai on Wednesday, said that those coming to Mumbai need not learn Marathi. He also said that Gujarati is the "language of the Ghatkopar area in Mumbai." His remark sparked outrage, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accusing him of attempting to divide Maharashtra and disrespecting its linguistic and cultural identity. "Constantly we see that we from Koshyari to Koratkar to Solapurkar - all of them have been insulting Maharashtra, Maharashtra's heroes and Maharashtra's gods. If you see Mr Koshyari, Mr Koratkar and Solapurkar - they have insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. Today, Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi has insulted Marathi. This will not be tolerated. I challenge him to say something like this in Tamil Nadu or Gujarat. But only because he wants to divide Maharashtra, he is coming and doing this. This is the thought process of Sangh," Aaditya Thackeray said. Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized that the language of Mumbai and the whole state is Marathi. "In Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the State government's language is Marathi, and people who live here should learn it. Marathi is a part of the state's culture and identity, and it is the duty of every citizen to learn it," Devendra Fadnavis said in the Assembly. The Maharashtra Assembly was adjourned for five minutes today after a heated debate broke out between the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) over the Marathi language issue. After the Chief Minister's statement, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) and the BJP members in the House got into a verbal duel that escalated to such an extent that the Speaker was forced to adjourn proceedings for five minutes. Congress leader Nana Patole criticised him for shifting focus from critical issues like farmer distress and unemployment in Maharashtra. "It is their government, it is RSS's government. Today, farmers' crops are drying up in Maharashtra. Can't RSS give suggestions to the government on this?" Patole said. (ANI) Advocates from the Himachal Pradesh High Court protested the proposed amendments to the Advocates Act in Shimla on Thursday. The protest march, organized by the Bar Association of HP High Court, commenced from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, and culminated at the Raj Bhawan. The legal fraternity raised strong objections to the anticipated changes in the law, arguing that they would infringe upon the independence of the legal profession and undermine the rights of advocates across the country. Former Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh and senior advocate Shravan Dogra voiced strong opposition to the amendments, stating that the very intention behind proposing such changes was questionable. "The government argues that the bill is only in the proposed stage and that its final form will be decided later. But we refuse to wait until it is finalized to voice our concerns. The very thought of altering the truth of our profession is fundamentally wrong. Your intentions are not pure. You have attempted to introduce such draconian laws in various sectors at different times, and each time, those sectors have opposed them. Now, this burden has been placed on the legal profession. What is the sudden need to change this Act?" said Shrawan Dogra, former advocate general Dogra further emphasized that the proposed amendments were not minor changes but a direct assault on advocates' independence. "This is not about small amendments; this is an attack on the independence of the legal profession. When the bill was introduced in February, it received widespread opposition. While we were told that only suggestions were being collected, this is merely an eyewash. They will formally complete the process of objections, enact the law, and we will be left fighting it in court. Our independence is under threat. If we lose our independence, how can we protect the interests of the people we represent?" he said. According to Dogra, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has not taken a clear stance on the issue, leaving room for ambiguity. "The statements coming from the Bar Council are not out rightly opposing the bill. While they acknowledge the concerns of advocates, they are not taking a firm stand against it. Today's protest in Himachal Pradesh is just the beginning. This movement needs to spread across the country because the proposed amendments will impact thousands of advocates. If this bill passes, the mechanism through which complaints against advocates are handled will see direct interference, leading to a biased process. That is why we are protesting," he said. The president of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association, Piyush Verma, highlighted the advocates' collective decision to organize the protest march. "Yesterday, we formed a State Action Committee with 30 members, and it was unanimously decided that we would hold a peaceful protest march from the Himachal Pradesh High Court to Raj Bhawan today. Despite a lack of coordination between the Bar Council and other legal organizations, there is a growing sense of unity among advocates nationwide. We have seen this before. When changes were made to the IPC and CrPC, stakeholders were assured that amendments would only be introduced after thorough consultation. However, they were implemented regardless. This is exactly what we fear now. A bill has already been drafted, and it is on the verge of being finalized, which is why we are protesting," said Verma. Verma pointed out that the letter regarding the amendments was issued on February 17, and objections were invited until February 28. However, instead of a response from the concerned legal bodies, a letter from the Finance Controller was issued on February 28, adding to the confusion. "The letter should have come from the concerned authority, such as the Bar Council of India or the Himachal Pradesh Bar Council. If an official statement is issued confirming that these amendments will not impact advocates, then our protest will automatically come to an end. Until then, we will continue our movement," he said. With over 8,000 advocates in the Shimla district alone potentially affected by the amendments, the legal fraternity remains firm in its demand for complete transparency and consultation before any changes are made to the Advocates Act. (ANI) BISHKEK, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan has arrested 30 members of an underground terrorist group planning attacks in the country, according to the press service of the country's State Committee for National Security on Wednesday. The group's activities were coordinated by foreign centers of the international terrorist organization, it said. According to intelligence services, members of the group systematically held secret meetings where they propagated radical ideology and collected funds to finance terrorist activities. The main goal of this radical group was to commit so-called jihad against the constitutional order, as well as plan terrorist attacks against officials, employees of the special services, and law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan. A video instruction on how to make a homemade explosive device was confiscated from one of the group members. An investigation is underway, the report said. Calling the pro-Khalistanis' protest outside the venue where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's event in London "unfortunate," Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday said that no Sikh in India or outside is associated with this mindset. "What happened in the UK is very unfortunate. There are a few people who want to break the country, they do such activities. Sikhs across the country and the world have to bear the brunt of it. No Sikh, neither in India nor outside, is associated with this mindset. We are patriots," Sirsa told reporters. Meanwhile, BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh said that the pro-Khalistan protest in London against S Jaishankar during the External Affairs Minister's visit to the UK was merely an attention-seeking exercise. "There are about 100-150 people across London who do such things. They do this just to draw people's attention. They neither have a base there nor supporters here in India," Singh said. A group of protestors gathered with flags and loudspeakers and sloganeered outside Chatham House on Wednesday, where Jaishankar participated in an event. The Ministry of External Affairs said that it strongly condemned the "provocative activities" of these separatists and extremists. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said that India deplores the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements and expects the host government to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations in such cases. "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations," an MEA spokesperson said. (ANI) A delegation of the Trinamool Congress met Election Commission officials in Kolkata on Thursday regarding their complaints about the same Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number. After the meeting, West Bengal Minister, and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim told the reporters that every voter should have a unique ID number and demanded a physical verification to ensure this. "Every voter should have a unique ID number; there should be physical verification, and people from outside should not have a voting right here," Hakim told ANI. Earlier, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee formed a committee to check the alleged irregularities in the voters' list in every district of West Bengal. She alleged that the BJP had added fake voters to the voters' list to manipulate elections in Maharashtra and Delhi, and they were trying the same trick in West Bengal. "Sitting in the Election Commissioner's office, they have created a fake voter's list online, and in every district of West Bengal, fake voters have been added. Using this trick, they have won elections in Delhi and Maharashtra. The opposition in Maharashtra could not find out these facts. Most of the fake voters are from Haryana and Gujarat. BJP is manipulating voters list with the blessing of EC, Bengal's culture gave rise to independence," Banerjee said earlier this week. However, ECI on Sunday clarified that having the same Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number doesn't mean there are duplicate or fake voters. The ECI's clarification comes after concerns were raised on social media and in media reports about electors in different states having identical EPIC numbers. "Irrespective of the EPIC number, any elector can cast a vote only at their designated polling station in their respective Constituency in their State/UT where they are enrolled in the electoral roll and nowhere else." ECI clarified in an official statement. This issue arose because different states and union territories used the same alphanumeric series for EPIC numbers before switching to the ERONET platform. "The allotment of identical EPIC number/series to some electors from different States/UTs was due to a decentralized and manual mechanism being followed prior to shifting of the electoral roll database of all States/UTs to the ERONET platform. This resulted in certain State/UT CEO offices using the same EPIC alphanumeric series and leaving a scope for the possibility of duplicate EPIC numbers being allotted to electors in different Assembly Constituencies in different States/UTs," the statement read. (ANI) Under the chairmanship of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, an MoU was signed between the State Health and Family Welfare Department and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) in Gandhinagar on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to make India TB-free by 2025. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the State Government has taken this step in Gujarat's commitment to fulfill this resolution of the Prime Minister, said an official release. Under this MoU, the Lions Clubs International Foundation will join hands with TB patients as a Nikshay Mitra and contribute to a TB-free India by providing nutrition kits. On this occasion, the State Health and Family Welfare Minister Hrishikesh Patel was present. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed his confidence that if the commitment of voluntary organisations is added to the efforts of the State Government, then the Prime Minister's vision of a TB-free India will definitely be realised. Along with treatment, TB patients also need nutritious food. Therefore, as TB patients are detected and put under treatment, these patients need Nikshay Mitra for nutrition kits. Under the TB-free India campaign of the Central Government, to accelerate the eradication work, the President has also urged the corporate sector, voluntary organisations, elected representatives, political parties, and institutions to organise a new initiative to ensure that TB patients get nutritious food, vocational support, diagnosis and other necessities. So far, about 10,555 Nikshay Mitras have been registered in the Nikshay portal under this campaign, and 3,49,534 nutrition kits have been distributed to TB patients for nutritious food. Lions Clubs International Foundation has shown enthusiasm to become Nikshay Mitras under the TB-Free India campaign and provide nutrition kits to TB patients, as part of which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to adopt TB patients and provide nutrition support. Under this MoU, Lions Clubs International will provide nutrition kits to all the needy TB patients identified by the state government every month till the treatment continues. On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri M. K. Das, Principal Secretary to the Health Department Shri Dhananjay Dwivedi, Secretary to the Chief Minister Smt. Avantika Singh, Health Commissioner Shri Harshad Patel, Dr. Ratan Kanwar Gadhvi Charan, Lions Clubs International Foundation office bearers Shri Rameshbhai Prajapati, Frank Moore and high officials of the Health Department were present. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party President JP Nadda on Thursday launched an attack on the Himachal Pradesh government and said that the Congress party does not have any kind of principles as the party has become a party of only brothers, sisters and mothers. Addressing the public meeting organised at Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, the Union Minister questioned the Congress party on whether it could follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Subhash Chandra Bose? "Was Congress able to stand for what Gandhiji and Sardar Patel lived... The party whose president was Subhash Chandra Bose, did the Congress party follow their ideals? Was Congress able to save the reputation of those who sacrificed everything for the freedom struggle? You should keep in mind what kind of mental bankruptcy it has committed ideologically... Today, the Congress party is neither a national party nor an ideological party. It is a party of brother, sister and mother, nothing more than that. You made them sit in Himachal by chance, so they appointed a Chief Minister... When the disaster struck Himachal, did any Congress leader come?" Nadda said. The BJP National President said that the central government sent money to build houses and roads, but the current Congress government used that money to pay salaries and pensions. "The one who used to say that Himachal was in their heart,... came to celebrate holidays but at the time of a disaster no one came to wipe your tears. I, Anurag Thakur and Jairam Thakur had the opportunity to come here... We came here thrice and gave you relief worth thousands of crores... It is a different matter that we gave money for building houses and roads, but you (HP government) used it for salaries and pensions... If the government is given in wrong hands, then this is what happens," he said. Calling the Congress leaders illiterate, Bharatiya Janata Party President JP Nadda took a jibe at the Congress and said that he is the Health Minister, he can fix the eyes but cannot give vision. "The Congress leaders are the most illiterate of the illiterate. I am the Health Minister and I can fix eyes but cannot give vision," he added. Continuing the attack on Congress, Nadda said that Congress has become unemployed. "People all over the world have praised India's economic world, but the Congress people are saying unemployment-unemployment. It is true... Congress has become unemployed. Today we have become the 5th largest economy in the world from the 11th largest economy and are moving towards becoming the 3rd largest economy. But who will explain to the illiterate Congressmen," he said. The Union Minister also mentioned AIIMS, PGI Satellite Centre, 4 Medical Colleges, Mother and Child Hospital, Cancer Centre, Super Specialty Block in Himachal. (ANI) Bihar minister Sanjay Kumar Singh has urged both the Bihar government and the Central government to act against people who "glorify" the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. His remarks came in the wake of the suspension of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the remainder of the ongoing Maharashtra Budget session over his controversial remarks on Aurangzeb. Singh told ANI, "...Those who glorify Aurangzeb, who looted this country, have no right to stay in this country...This is the nation of Lord Ram. I demand that Bihar and the Central government to take action against such people who deem the Mughal aggression and their loot as appropriate." He was asked about the JD(U) leader Khalid Anwar support for Abu Azmi's statement on Aurangzeb. JD(U) MLC Khalid Anwar said on Wednesday that discussions on historical figures should remain academic and not be politicized. "People have different opinions on Aurangzeb. Historians have said that Aurangzeb was a good ruler and he was not as cruel as he is portrayed; there is a lobby which is trying to portray him as cruel. This is an academic discussion, and it can't be discussed on the floor of Parliament or in a political rally. So, academic discussion should be left as academic. I don't understand what a political party wants to gain through such misinformation against Aurangzeb," Anwar stated. Following his remarks, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar suspended Abu Azmi on Wednesday and a proposal was brought in the Maharashtra Assembly against Azmi's remarks. Azmi had reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples". He added that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration and not about Hindus and Muslims. (ANI) No injuries or casualties were reported in the incident. According to the Delhi Fire Services Department, the fire incident was reported at around 3.30 pm. Locals noticed the flames and immediately raised an alarm. Upon receiving the information, seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the blaze. Officials said that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. "The three-storey building houses offices. However, no injuries or casualties were reported in the incident," said Firoz Khan, an official from the fire department. The fire has been brought under control. The exact reason behind the fire is still unclear, he added. Further details are awaited. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday received a Rs 10.65 crore dividend cheque for the financial year 2023-24 from Gujarat State Seeds Corporation Ltd. in Gandhinagar, a release said. As per the release, the Gujarat State Seeds Corporation Ltd., operating under the Department of Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare, and Cooperation of the Government of Gujarat, presented this dividend cheque to the Chief Minister in the presence of Raghavjibhai Patel, Agriculture Minister; Bachubhai Khabad, Minister of State for Agriculture; MK Das, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister; Anju Sharma, Chairman and Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat State Seeds Corporation; and PS Rabari, Managing Director. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat State Seeds Corporation, through its "Gurabini" brand, has been consistently delivering high-quality seeds to farmers, ensuring better yields and agricultural growth. In 2023-24, Gujarat State Seeds Corporation produced 2.92 lakh quintals of seeds and efficiently distributed approximately 2.62 lakh quintals of seeds to farmers. Meanwhile, Under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, an MoU was signed between the State Health and Family Welfare Department and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) in Gandhinagar on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to make India TB-free by 2025. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the State Government has taken this step in Gujarat's commitment to fulfill this resolution of the Prime Minister, said an official release. Under this MoU, the Lions Clubs International Foundation will join hands with TB patients as a Nikshay Mitra and contribute to a TB-free India by providing nutrition kits.On this occasion, the State Health and Family Welfare Minister Hrishikesh Patel was present.Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed his confidence that if the commitment of voluntary organisations is added to the efforts of the State Government, then the Prime Minister's vision of a TB-free India will definitely be realised. (ANI) The arrested accused have been identified as Bhawan Lal Jain alias Bhuwan Jain, his associate Suresh Kumar Salam, along with Shailendra Kumar Baghel alias Golu, and Anduram Salam. According to the NIA, the four overground workers (OGWs) and supporters of the banned CPI (Maoist) terror outfit were directly involved in hatching the criminal conspiracy to kill Army Havaldar Motiram Achala. The accused were actively aiding and abetting criminal and unlawful naxal activities, including extortion to strike terror in the minds of the people, the NIA said. Achala, who was posted in the Northeast, was brutally murdered while visiting his hometown in Badetevda village, located in the insurgency-hit Kanker district of Uttar Bastar, during a local fair in February 2023. The NIA took over the case from Chhattisgarh Police a year later and carried out extensive searches to track the culprits. Several incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized during the investigation. (ANI) A male tiger was found dead in the Edakkodu field area of Nilakottai Forest Reserve in Tamil Nadu's Nilgris district under Vilangur Police Station, officials said on Thursday. According to the Forest Officer of the Nelakottai Forest Reserve in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, the big cat was found dead during field inspection on Wednesday, and a post-mortem was conducted on Thursday as per the guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The post-mortem was carried out under the supervision of the Deputy Director of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Udalai Division. It was conducted by a team comprising Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Forest Officers Ajesh Mohandas and Induja Maya, along with NGO workers, public representatives, and forest officials. The post-mortem report confirmed that the deceased tiger was a 10-year-old male that sustained head injuries following an attack by another tiger, said officials. As per per the official website, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Spread over 688.59 sq.km, the tiger reserve plays an unique role by forming part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, the first Biosphere Reserve in India, declared during 1986. It has a common boundary with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) on the West, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) on the North, and the Nilgiris Division on the South and East and Gudalur Forest Division on the South West, together forming a large conservation landscape for flagship species such as Tiger and Asian Elephant. As per Forest Survey of India assessment (2009), the forest cover in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is very dense forest - 47.05 km, moderately dense forest - 214.98 km, and open forest - 56.16 km, as per details mentioned on the website of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. (ANI) The Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Thursday called for a national debate on the shift from democracy to 'Democracy. ' VP Dhankar said that a national debate is required so that we take note of the shift from Democracy to' Democracy. ' "Emotion-driven policies, debates, and discourses threaten good governance. Historically, populism is bad economics. Once a leader gets attached to populism, it is difficult to get out of the crisis. The central factor must be the good of the people, the largest good of the people, and the lasting good of the people. Empower people to empower themselves rather than empower them momentarily because that affects their productivity," he said. Delivering the inaugural address at the first 'Murli Deora Memorial Dialogues' on the theme 'Leadership and Governance' in Mumbai, Maharashtra, today, Dhankhar expressed deep concern over the emergence of appeasement politics and placatory strategies across the political spectrum. "There is emergence of a new strategy, and the strategy is of appeasement or being placatory. If there is excessive spending on electoral promises, then the state's ability to invest in infrastructure is correspondingly reduced. This is detrimental to the growth scenario. Election is important in democracy but not the end of it. I would call upon the leadership of all political parties in the interest of democratic values to generate a consensus that engaging in such electoral promises, which can be performed only at the cost of CAPEX expenditure of the state, must be reviewed. Some governments that took recourse to this appeasement and placatory mechanisms are finding it very difficult to sustain in power," he said. He clarified that affirmative action for marginalized communities is distinct from appeasement politics, stating, "I should not be misunderstood, ladies and gentlemen, because while the Indian Constitution has given us the right of equality, it does provide in Article 14, 15, and 16 an acceptable category of affirmative governance--affirmative action, the reservation for SC, ST, for those who are in the economically weaker section. That is sanctified. There are exceptional situations for rural India, for the farmer, where affirmative steps are required to be taken. But this is very distinct from the other aspects I was talking about. This is not placatory or appeasing. It is a justifiable economic policy. And therefore, it is good leadership that can take a call on where to draw the line in the fiscal sense in the matter of political foresight and leadership spine." Highlighting demographic challenges and illegal migration, Dhankhar said, "The Nation houses millions of illegal migrants, causing a demographic upheaval. Millions of illegal migrants are in this country, making a huge demand on our health and education services. They are depriving our people of employment opportunities. Such elements have alarmingly secured electoral relevance in some areas, and their securing electoral relevance is shaping the essence of our democracy. Emerging dangers can be evaluated through historical reference where nations were swept of their ethnic identity by similar demographic invasions." Expressing deep concern over mass conversions through allurements, the Vice-President remarked, "This malaise, far more severe than COVID, is aggravatingly intersected with conversions through allurements, with vulnerable sections trying to be trapped. The marginalized, the tribal, and the weaker become easy prey to these temptations and allurements. Faith is your own. Faith is dictated by conscience. The Indian Constitution gives freedom of faith. But if this faith is held hostage by temptations, it is, according to me, defacing freedom of faith." Dhankhar asserted that the sovereignty of 'We the People' must not be diluted: "Bharat, home to one-sixth of humanity, is the oldest, largest, most vibrant, and functional democracy. Bharat is the only nation in the world that has constitutionally structured democratic institutions from the village to the national level. Our Constitution's Preamble indicates 'We the People' as the foundational source and premise of governance. The preamble of the Constitution also reveals the purpose of governance as Justice, Equality, and Fraternity for all. We must appreciate the contours of 'We the People'--the ultimate repository of sovereignty. A sovereignty that we cannot afford to dilute or to be taken away." Honoring the late Murli Deora, the Vice-President described him as one of the finest public figures in politics: "Murli Deora was one of the finest public figures in politics, who nurtured all his life friendships. He bridged the differences and was loved by all. In his life, he missed one thing--he had no adversaries. That was his stature. Murali Bhai, as fondly reminisced by his peers, exemplified public spirit and dedication to worthy societal causes." The Vice-President praised Murli Deora's pioneering role in securing a ban on smoking in public places, stating, "Murli Deora will always be remembered for his proactive efforts to save the country from the hazards of smoking. He approached the highest court of the land and sought affirmative intervention to secure a ban on smoking in public places." Concluding his address, Dhankhar described Murli Deora's life as a testament to leadership as a journey of service: " The Life of Murli Deora Ji was a testament to the idea of leadership--that this idea is not a pedestal but a pilgrimage, a journey of service to the last, the least, and the lonely." CP Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Milind Deora, MP Rajya Sabha & Senior Kotak Representative, Raghavendra Singh, President, Kotak Mahindra Bank and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. (ANI) ALMATY, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani held a phone conversation to discuss Turkmen gas deliveries to Iraq through Iran, Turkmen local media reported on Thursday. Berdimuhamedov stated that Turkmenistan is firmly pursuing a policy of exporting its energy resources to world markets through diversification. He recalled that two years ago, Turkmenistan and Iraq began collaborating in the gas sector, and as a result, an agreement was reached to annually supply 10 billion cubic meters of Turkmen natural gas to Iraq under a swap arrangement through neighboring Iran. Al-Sudani confirmed Iraq's willingness to further enhance cooperation in the energy sector and said that the necessary work for this is underway. Berdimuhamedov also expressed Turkmenistan's readiness to facilitate the opening of an Iraqi diplomatic mission in Ashgabat. Additionally, he invited al-Sudani to an international forum set to take place on December 12 in Ashgabat. The event will mark the United Nations General Assembly's designation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, an initiative proposed by Turkmenistan, as well as the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), to boost river cruise tourism on three National Waterways in J-K, the ministry said in a release on Thursday. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Chintan Shivir being held in Srinagar in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur. Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Satish Sharma; Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, TK Ramachandran; Chairman, IWAI, Vijay Kumar along with other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. The Inland Waterways Authority of India has been actively promoting cruise tourism in India. The agreement with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, as per the statement, aims to further boost tourism, generate employment, boost economic growth, and provide a new mode of leisure/budget tourism on rivers in J-K. Of the 111 national waterways in the country, the Union Territory of J-K has three declared national waterways: the River Chenab (NW-26), the River Jhelum (NW-49), and the River Ravi (NW-84). "With the vision to promote river cruise tourism, various cruise circuits were announced for development - spanning from Kashmir to Kerala and Assam to Gujarat - in the recently concluded Second Meeting of Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC). Within a period of two months, IWAI took a significant step to develop river cruise tourism in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir for an approximate cost of Rs 100 crore". Under the framework of MoU, the IWAI will provide waterside infrastructure, i.e., ten floating jetties and landside infrastructure comprising of a waiting hall and other amenities for cruise passengers. Out of ten, two floating jetties will be installed at Akhnoor and Reasi (near Jammu) the declared portion of River Chenab (NW-26); seven floating jetties at Pantha Chowk, Zero Bridge, Amira Kadal, Shah-e-Hamdan, Safa Kadal/Chattabal Shrine, Sumbal Bridge and Gund Prang (in Srinagar and Bandipora) River Jhelum (NW-49) and one jetty at Sohar on River Ravi (NW-84). Additionally, IWAI will develop navigational fairways by executing dredging wherever required, provide navigational aids and conduct regular hydrographic surveys for the safe plying of vessels in these waterways, it added. The J&K government will provide land for the construction of landside facilities, facilitate all statutory clearances, and appoint cruise operators in identified sectors of the three National Waterways. The IWAI will also provide any technical assistance required by the J-K government, the statement added. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the able guidance of Sarbananda Sonowal, IWAI has been making several infrastructural interventions to develop waterways as a robust engine of growth. "With its concerted efforts, IWAI is expanding its footprint throughout the country and is presently working towards capacity augmentation of NW 1, NW 2, NW 3 and NW 16 among other waterways by means of developing IWT terminals, fairways through end-to-end dredging contracts, navigational aids like night navigation facility, navigational locks among others". "With proactive steps like developing cruise terminals and related infrastructure, IWAI is working towards promoting river cruise tourism by utilising the immense potential of rivers in the country. The Authority has rolled out initiatives to boost cruise tourism on the River Ganga and River Brahmaputra. The success of the world's longest cruise, MV Ganga Vilas, underlines the same. The partnership between IWAI and the Jammu and Kashmir government is an exciting initiative that promises to promote sustainable tourism practices while stimulating local economic growth and enhancing the tourist experience," the statement added. (ANI) These projects are crucial for reducing traffic congestion, fostering economic growth, and improving urban mobility in Andhra Pradesh. During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized the urgent need to expedite approvals and secure central support. He submitted a detailed note outlining the significance of these projects in enhancing infrastructure and addressing urbanization challenges. He also highlighted the disparity, noting that Hyderabad's Metro Rail was approved before bifurcation, while Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada's projects remain pending. Visakhapatnam, a key industrial hub, faces increasing traffic congestion. With the upcoming Bhogapuram International Airport set to be operational by June 2026, integrating the Metro corridor with national highways is critical. The first phase aims to connect major urban hubs, with an extension planned to the airport. As the gateway to Amaravati, Vijayawada's Metro system is essential for strengthening regional connectivity and supporting economic growth. The Chief Minister urged the prioritization of the project to meet the city's growing transportation needs. Citing financial constraints post-bifurcation, CM Naidu requested 100 per cent central assistance for these metro rail projects. He sought support in securing approvals and land acquisition for Phase 1 to ensure timely execution. These projects promise long-term benefits, including improved air quality, reduced congestion, and enhanced economic opportunities for the people of Andhra Pradesh. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel virtually inaugurated a modern semen production unit set up by Banaskantha Dairy in Dama village, Deesa Taluka, Banaskantha, via videoconferencing from Gandhinagar. Shankarbhai Chaudhary, Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and Chairman of Banaskantha Dairy, participated in the virtual inauguration alongside district MLAs Keshaji Thakor, Aniketbhai Thakor, Pravinbhai Mali, and Swarupji Thakor. This Make in India semen sex sorting machine aims to produce high-pedigree, high-milk-yielding animals for animal husbandry farmers while also addressing the issue of stray cattle in Banaskantha district. In his virtual address at the inauguration of the semen center, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel emphasized that farmers play a pivotal role in building Viksit Bharat. To support their growth, both the state and central governments have implemented numerous schemes. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Rashtriya Gokul Mission, a revolutionary step in semen center operations began in Maharashtra to produce high-quality cattle offspring. The newly inaugurated semen center in Dama, Deesa, is set to bring immense benefits to animal husbandry farmers. As a result of various animal husbandry schemes initiated in Gujarat under the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, milk production in Gujarat has increased by 119.62 lakh metric tons. The Chief Minister lauded Banaskantha Dairy's remarkable progress under the leadership of its Chairman, Shankarbhai Chaudhary. He also applauded the dairy for transforming the milk industry by diversifying into a range of value-added products beyond milk. The Chief Minister further underscored the vital role of collective efforts in Gujarat's development, highlighting the significance of cleanliness, tree plantation, and water conservation initiatives. Addressing the event, Shankarbhai Chaudhary, Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker and Banaskantha Dairy Chairman, announced that the country's first indigenous semen sorting center is now operational--a groundbreaking milestone for farmers. He expressed his gratitude to the scientists of NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) for developing this Make-in-India technology. With this facility, farmers can now access semen doses at just Rs100. Given Banaskantha's vast cattle population of over 28 lakh, genetic enhancement is crucial. The development of high-quality cattle semen is leading to superior offspring and increased milk production. Banaskantha Dairy has also made significant strides in embryo transplant technology, further advancing the Prime Minister's vision. Gujarat is experiencing a revolution in animal husbandry, with the globally acclaimed Amul cooperative model serving as a testament to its success. The Dama Semen Production Unit, operated by Banaskantha Dairy, spans 20 acres and stands as an A-grade semen station. It employs advanced scientific methods such as Genomics Breeding Value, Milk Yield Competition per Animal, Progeny Testing, and Pedigree Selection to identify and breed the best disease-free bulls and calves. As a result, approximately 25 lakh high-quality semen doses will be produced annually. With this cutting-edge technology, Banaskantha Dairy is set to bring a transformative revolution to the animal husbandry sector. Under the Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, NDDB has developed the indigenous GauSort Technology-based Semen Sex Sorting Machine, now fully operational at the Dama Semen Station. At the inauguration of the semen center in Deesa, Banaskantha, Banaskantha Dairy MD Sangrambhai Chaudhary delivered the keynote address, while ED Brigadier Vinod Bajwa extended the vote of thanks. (ANI) Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, has designed and developed TRINETRA, a cyber security operation centre for the Kerala police. C-DOT's TRINETRA solution is an AI-powered, indigenous, integrated cybersecurity platform tailored to meet the cybersecurity defence of enterprises and critical sectors. It facilitates the establishment of a comprehensive SOC within an enterprise to monitor endpoints, network traffic, and user behaviour while proactively identifying vulnerabilities, detecting anomalies, and mitigating cyber The SOC will focus on securing computers and critical infrastructure at the police headquarters, city commissionerates, and affiliated police stations. This 24x7 SOC will play a crucial role in cyber threat monitoring, identifying vulnerabilities, and ensuring robust data protection. This initiative marks a major leap in safeguarding the digital infrastructure of the Kerala Police and enhancing cybersecurity resilience. The offline inaugural function was attended over by Kadakampally Surendran MLA , Pankaj Kumar Dalela, Executive Vice President C-DOT, Councilor Sridevi. A, Technopark CEO, Sanjeev Nair, G. Tech Secretary Sreekumar. V, Cyber Operation SP Ankit Ashokan, DySP Arunkumar. S, and Cyber Dome Inspector Krishnan Potty KG. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to Pinarayi Vijayan, for motivating and inspiring C-DOT scientists. Upadhyay also assured that C-DOT remains committed towards providing support for the development and scalability of Indigenous telecom technologies. (ANI) Kolkata Police have filed an FIR against West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, his driver, and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Om Prakash Mishra in connection with the alleged violent clashes at Jadavpur University, officials said on Thursday. The Calcutta High Court, in an order passed by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, directed the registration of a case against the state minister. The FIR was filed based on a complaint by a university student, Indranuj Roy, who alleged that the minister's car hit him during his visit to the university, leading to his hospitalization. Justice Ghosh has ordered a report on the incident to be submitted by March 12. Further details are awaited. On March 1, TMC leaders had protested against the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), accusing them of attacking Minister Basu at Jadavpur University, where he had come to attend an annual meeting of the West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA). TMC leader Saayoni Ghosh condemned the alleged attack, saying, "West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu was attacked at Jadavpur University earlier today. We are here to condemn this." Visuals of the minister's car showed a damaged windshield, and TMC alleged that SFI members were responsible for the attack and for vandalizing the vehicle. Basu, who is also the WBCUPA president, was taken to SSKM Hospital after protestors gheraoed him, preventing his exit. Condemning the incident, West Bengal TMC secretary Kunal Ghosh took to the social media platform X, accusing the protestors of indulging in misconduct with Professor Pradeep Mukherjee at Jadavpur University. Earlier, CPI(M) MP Bikashranjan Bhattacharyya accused the TMC of protecting their workers by refusing to acknowledge student complaints. "This was an adversarial litigation in the Calcutta High Court against the police, who did not take cognizance of the complaints from students who were beaten up," Bhattacharyya told ANI. "On the contrary, the complaints lodged by TMC were all registered as FIRs. None of those FIRs mentioned the students being injured. The attempt was to protect the TMC and the Minister and instead accuse the students. They even mobilized ABVP with the same intention. Therefore, we moved this application, demanding an FIR for the students' complaints," he added. (ANI) Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday flagged off the CSIR-developed e-Tractor roadshow from Jammu, which is headed for Kanyakumari to cover the entire country. "This marks a significant milestone in India's journey towards sustainable and technology-driven agriculture. The e-tractor, which was initially launched in Delhi, has been put on a nationwide roadshow to raise awareness about eco-friendly and cost-effective solutions in farming," the Ministry of Science and Technology said in a release. According to the ministry release, after its stop in Jammu, the e-tractor will travel through various regions before reaching its final destination in Kanyakumari. The Minister also inaugurated an E-Tiller developed by the CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur, a constituent lab. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Singh underscored the importance of innovation in agriculture and how CSIR's technology will contribute to the ease of farming, reducing operational costs and promoting sustainability. "This e-tractor is not just an advanced technological intervention but a step towards ensuring affordable and environment-friendly farming solutions. It reflects our commitment to integrating innovation with agriculture, benefiting both farmers and agri-startups," he said. He further highlighted that the e-tractor aligns with the government's broader vision of promoting green energy and self-reliance in agriculture. He pointed out that while traditional farming practices rely on expensive fossil fuels, the electric tractor offers a viable alternative that significantly reduces carbon emissions and operating expenses. "By adopting this technology, farmers will not only reduce their fuel costs but also contribute to environmental conservation. The roadshow will allow farmers across the country to witness firsthand how this new technology can transform agriculture," he added. The Minister further emphasized that CSIR's initiatives aim to bridge the technological divide in Indian farming by bringing scientific innovations directly to the grassroots. "CSIR has been actively working on technologies that enhance efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector. The e-tractor is an example of how research-driven innovations can be commercialized for widespread adoption," he said. In his address, he also discussed the government's concerted efforts to promote agricultural entrepreneurship through policies that support agri-startups, rural youth, and women entrepreneurs. He reiterated that the government's Bio-E3 policy--Biotechnology for Environment, Economy, and Employment--ensures that scientific advancements translate into economic opportunities for farmers. "The government is providing comprehensive support, from technological assistance to financial aid, to ensure that our farmers and startups can seamlessly adopt modern solutions. The Mudra loan scheme, for example, has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs, including women-led businesses in agriculture," he added. The e-tractor roadshow, which will move from Jammu to Kanyakumari, is expected to generate significant interest among farmers, agri-startups, and policymakers. Through this initiative, CSIR aims to showcase how clean energy solutions can revolutionize Indian agriculture, making it more sustainable, cost-effective, and accessible to a larger segment of the farming community. The Minister also stressed that with increasing awareness and government support, India is witnessing a transformation in its agricultural landscape. He cited examples of successful agritech interventions, such as drone-assisted farming, soil health cards, and high-value crops like lavender, which are creating new income avenues for farmers. On the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh also inaugurated the Agro-Soil Research Laboratory at CSIR-IIIM Chatha Farm, where a group of Scientists and researchers will work on Soil testing, agrotechnology development, and plant testing. As the e-tractor travels across the country, the roadshow will serve as an opportunity for direct farmer engagement and demonstrate the tangible benefits of adopting sustainable farming practices. The minister stated, "The roadshow is not just a demonstration--it is an invitation for farmers to be part of India's agricultural revolution. By embracing new technologies, they can enhance productivity while also protecting the environment." (ANI) Many Pakistani Hindu refugees residing in Majnu Ka Tila have been granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019. Several of them recently received their citizenship and cast their votes for the first time, which is a historic moment for the community. However, despite gaining Indian citizenship, many refugees are still waiting for ration cards, which are essential for accessing government welfare schemes. The community now looks to the Delhi government for support in securing basic necessities. At the same time, a significant number of refugees are still awaiting citizenship and hope for expedited processing under the new administration. The community has high expectations from the newly elected government in Delhi, seeking relief measures and policies to improve their living conditions and secure their future in India. Neha, a teacher from Burari who works with an NGO, shared her experience. "I teach students from sixth to twelfth grade at a center where children from nursery to twelfth and beyond receive education", she said. The Manav Mandir Sharnarthi Seva Kendra, an NGO, supports these children by providing assistance in education, healthcare, food, and other essential needs. Many of them are enrolled in nearby government schools--primary for younger children and senior secondary for older students. "Tuition classes run from 1:30 PM to around 4-5 PM. Initially, language was a challenge, but now the children can read Hindi and understand English. The government should focus more on their education, food, and health. While most children complete twelfth grade, financial struggles often force them to discontinue further studies," Neha added. Bakhtawari, who is still waiting for her citizenship, expressed her hardships. "I have filled out the citizenship application form, but we have not received citizenship yet. Even those who have obtained it have not been issued a ration card", she said. "There is no stable employment. We sell goods on carts, buying stock worth a few hundred rupees, and somehow manage to survive. Sometimes, we go to bed hungry; sometimes, we manage to eat. That's all we do--keep running our carts to make a living", Bakhtawari added. "The previous government did not provide us with any assistance. For the past 10-11 years, no one has come to help us. There was no electricity, and we had to rely on private electricity at Rs 10 per unit", she added. "We've heard that even the carts are being shut down by the authorities. There has been no help from the government. Sometimes, kind-hearted people come by and give us flour or rice. There is no government-provided electricity either; we rely on private electricity, where we must pay for every unit consumed. We keep paying, even when we struggle to afford food. Electricity is a big issue here, and we somehow manage with limited water", she said. Nanki Devi, another refugee, shared her hopes for the new administration. "We have not been issued a ration card, but I have received citizenship. We hope that the BJP government in Delhi will think about us, as it was the BJP that granted us citizenship", she said. "Earlier, local people helped us with ration, but now even that support has stopped. I request the government to support us. We are farmers and need land near the Yamuna on lease for farming. We are not educated, but we need to earn a living to survive", Nanki Devi said. Dharmveer, the caretaker of the Majnu Ka Tila camp, highlighted the urgent need for basic government support. "It has been stated that ration cards, BPL cards, and Ayushman cards will be issued, but they have not been made yet. So far, identity documents have been issued to 300 people, while around 1,000 others have applied, but their documents are still pending." "These people, who come from farming families, sustain their livelihoods through labor work and street vending. We have full hope that the newly formed government in Delhi will implement beneficial schemes for them. Just as Indian citizens receive government benefits, we should also be given the same facilities", Dharamveer added. "The previous government tried to send us back to Pakistan, calling us thieves, but we were saved because the BJP government was in power at the center. We request the Modi government to provide land on lease so they can earn a living and also contribute to the nation's development", she added. "I have written a letter to the Chief Minister, requesting appropriate arrangements and facilities for the newly arrived refugees so they can sustain themselves", she said. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 6 (ANI/WAM): The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, welcomed the recommendations of the emergency Arab summit, the Summit for Palestine, hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt. The summit affirmed the adoption of the Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza without the displacement of its residents and without compromising the fundamental principles of the Palestinian cause. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, expressed the Council's support for the final communique of the summit, which has resolutions reiterating that the Palestinian cause remains the central issue for the Arab world and for all nations and peoples yearning for peace. The statement also rejects all attempts to undermine the rights of the Palestinian people and supports efforts to uphold the ceasefire in its second and third phases, leading to a permanent cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, including the Salah al-Din (Philadelphia) Corridor. Furthermore, the statement stresses the need to allow the unimpeded entry of humanitarian and relief aid and to find a just resolution to the Palestinian cause. The Council also commends the summit's recommendations calling for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, including all its provisions. It further demands the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanon to internationally recognised borders while reaffirming support for Lebanon's security, stability, and sovereignty. Furthermore, the Council strongly condemns Israeli attacks on the Syrian Arab Republic and calls on the international community and the United Nations Security Council to take immediate action to enforce international law, compel Israel to halt its aggression, and withdraw from all occupied Syrian territories. The Muslim Council of Elders reiterates its support for Arab and Muslim nations' efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause, ensuring the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Council categorically rejects any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land--whether within or beyond their territories--under any pretext, circumstance, or justification. It calls for an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people, which has persisted for more than 70 years, as a vital step towards fostering peace and stability in the region and the world. (ANI/WAM) Dubai [UAE] March 6 (ANI/WAM): Dubai Municipality, in collaboration with the Community Development Authority (CDA), has launched the 'Safe Water for a Healthy Community' initiative to enhance water system safety in senior citizens' homes and villas. The initiative aligns with 2025 as the Year of the Community, reinforcing the UAE's commitment to fostering a cohesive, supportive, and sustainable society. The initiative reflects Dubai Municipality's dedication to proactive public health protection, ensuring that domestic water systems meet the highest international quality standards. Through technical assessments, laboratory testing, and community engagement, the initiative aims to reduce health risks associated with water contamination, while strengthening community partnerships and service excellence. In the first phase, the initiative will assess 42 homes and villas in 10 different areas across Dubai, focusing on water system safety and compliance with international best practices. Field inspections will be conducted by specialist engineering teams, who will collect water samples for analysis at Dubai Central Laboratory. Any identified risks will be addressed through corrective measures in collaboration with water treatment specialists. Naseem Mohammed Rafee, Acting CEO of the Environment, Health and Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, emphasised the initiative's role in enhancing community well-being and preventive health measures: "This initiative shows Dubai Municipality's commitment to ensuring a healthy and safe environment for all community members. By implementing proactive measures, we aim to enhance public health protection, improve water quality, and strengthen Dubai's sustainable health system. Through community engagement, education, and preventive action, we are working towards a safer and healthier future for all." Naseem further highlighted the importance of regular household water testing, ensuring that water remains free from chemical and bacterial contaminants. By maintaining high water quality standards, the initiative reduces the risk of diseases linked to contaminated water, safeguarding community health. For his part, Muhannad Saeed, Director of the Senior Citizens Department at the Community Development Authority, stated, "This initiative is part of the Authority's ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens and ensure their well-being across various aspects. Safe water in homes is a fundamental factor in maintaining their health and daily comfort. Our collaboration with Dubai Municipality reflects our commitment to providing a safe and sustainable environment for senior citizens through proactive measures that ensure household water systems meet the highest quality standards. Additionally, raising awareness about the importance of regular maintenance and water quality checks helps in strengthening preventive measures and reducing health risks, ultimately contributing to the well-being and overall quality of life of senior citizens. We believe that these joint efforts will further enhance a supportive environment that safeguards their health and ensures their comfort and stability." To further promote awareness on water safety and hygiene, Dubai Municipality and CDA will host educational workshops in Dubai councils, highlighting the importance of maintaining clean and safe water systems and the impact of water quality on public health. Dubai Municipality encourages residents to adopt sustainable water safety practices to maintain the cleanliness and efficiency of domestic water systems. As part of these efforts, residents are advised to disinfect and clean water tanks and plumbing systems at least every six months using companies approved by Dubai Municipality. Regular maintenance is essential to prevent the accumulation of pollutants and ensure the proper functioning of water systems, reducing potential health risks. Additionally, draining stagnant water is recommended to minimise the risk of bacterial growth and contamination, ensuring a safe and hygienic water supply for households. By implementing preventive measures and raising awareness, Dubai Municipality and CDA aim to ensure long-term water safety, enhance public health, and promote sustainable living practices across the emirate. (ANI/WAM) The White House said that US President Donald Trump has been very tough on China when it came towards the imposition of tariffs on the country. The remarks by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday came after Trump doubled the tariff on all Chinese imports to 20 per cent from 10 per cent. "The President has been very tough on China, not just now with 20 per cent and more with the reciprocal tariffs that will hit on April 2nd, but look at what he did in his first term. There were billions of dollars' worth of tariffs that he implemented on China, and it's quite telling that the previous administration did not rescind those tariffs because they realised the value that they had in not only deterring China, but also raising revenue here in the United States," she said. Leavitt reiterated the stand of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said that the country will always remain prepared to defend itself, as a reponse to the statement by China where it said it is ready to fight "any" type of war, be it tariff or trade. "He (Hegseth) said that America will always be prepared to defend itself, especially under the leadership of this President in the Oval Office. And that certainly remains true, again, when it comes to tariffs, " the White House Press Secretary said. Earlier, the New York Post reported that America's Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, declared that the US is "prepared" to go to war with China, hours after alarming threats from Beijing in response to President Trump's stiff new tariffs. "If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong," he said, as quoted by the New York Post. On the US tariffs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian had said in a statement. "If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we're ready to fight till the end." As per the New York Post, China swiftly retaliated against the fresh tariffs, announcing its own 10 per cent to 15 per cent hikes to import levies covering a range of American agricultural and food products. Speaking about other issues concerning China, Leavitt mentioned about the Panama Canal and said, "President was very vocal several weeks ago about the need to ensure that China is not controlling the Panama Canal. This is a very important place for the United States of America." Leavitt further said, "President will continue to ensure that the Chinese government, the CCP cannot be infiltrated in the Western Hemisphere and certainly not in the Panama Canal which is a very important place for our country." (ANI) During the session, Jaishankar shared updates on the progress of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), emphasizing its potential to strengthen economic ties and promote mutual growth, as per an official statement. Speaking on India's neighbourhood relations, EAM highlighted the complexities of maintaining balance with neighbouring countries, particularly China, stressing the importance of creating stable and respectful relationships amidst shifting regional dynamics. On the issue of global economic stability, EAM Jaishankar clarified that while there is no active policy to replace the US dollar, discussions around economic resilience and diversification are growing, especially among BRICS nations with varying perspectives on the issue. The statement noted that EAM reaffirmed India's approach towards global governance, and he underlined the importance of working closely with the United States, recognizing its key role in the international order while supporting a multipolar world. Addressing concerns around human rights, Jaishankar described such criticisms as largely political, asserting that India's democratic institutions remain robust, fair, and committed to protecting rights, the statement observed. Looking ahead, the External Affairs Minister expressed optimism about India's expanding role in global research, innovation, and enterprise, reinforcing the country's commitment to contributing meaningfully to the global economy and knowledge sectors. As per the statement, the event provided a comprehensive overview of India's strategic vision for diplomacy, economic cooperation, and global leadership in an increasingly complex international landscape. EAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland from March 4 to 9 to provide renewed impetus to India's friendly ties with both the UK and Ireland. A Ministry of External Affairs release said that India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has strengthened across diverse areas, including defence and security, trade and economy, health, education, and people-to-people ties (ANI) Pro-Khalistan protestors staged a demonstration outside the venue where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in a discussion held by Chatham House on Wednesday (UK local time). The protestors had gathered outside the building, holding flags and speakers as they sloganeered. During his ongoing visit to the United Kingdom, EAM Jaishankar had held discussions with UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and several other senior leaders. In his meeting with UK's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Tuesday, Jaishankar noted that the two leaders held discussions on areas such as flow of talent and joint efforts between India and the UK to tackle "trafficking and extremism". He said on X, "A good meeting with Home Secretary @YvetteCooperMP today in London. We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1896933587989193067 Earlier in January, a group of pro-Khalistan extremists had gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London to stage a protest. They had also previously stormed a cinema in the London town of Harrow and attempted to stop the screening of the Kangana Ranaut starrer film "Emergency". When asked about the destructions being caused by Khalistani forces in some UK theatres screening 'Emergency', MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said, "We consistently raise concerns with the UK Government regarding incidents of violent protest and intimidation by anti-India elements, freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively and those obstructing it must be held accountable". He added, "We hope that the UK side will take appropriate action against those responsible. Our High Commission in London remains in touch in regular communication with our community members for their safety and welfare. We expect the UK side to take strong appropriate action in this matter". Notably, in 2023, the Indian High Commission in London faced a violent attack by Khalistani supporters who were attempting to further the cause of Khalistan, advocating for the secession of the state of Punjab from India, as alleged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).According to the NIA, the attacks in London were perpetrated in retaliation to the action taken by Punjab police against Amritpal Singh, Chief of Waris Punjab De, with the objective of influencing the crackdown on the outfit and its leader. (ANI) US President Donald Trump has issued a final warning for Hamas, demanding the release of all hostages and return of the dead bodies of the people who have been "murdered" by them or "it is over" for them. Trump stated that the US is sending Israel with everything it requires to finish the job and not a single Hamas member will be safe if they don't release the hostages. He urged the Hamas leadership to leave Gaza while they still have a chance. In a post on X, Trump stated, "'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say." He further added, "I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!" In a statement on March 5, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump met eight of the hostages released from Gaza and listened to their heartbreaking stories. Trump met hostages - Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani. "Today, President Trump took time to meet with eight of the released hostages from Gaza. The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories. The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home," Leavitt stated. Officials of the US and Hamas held a meeting in Qatar regarding hostages in the Gaza Strip, The New York Times reported, citing two Israeli officials, a Western official and a diplomat briefed on the matter. According to the diplomat, Trump's nominee to be special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, participated in the meeting held with Hamas officials this week. All four officials discussed the meetings on the condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly regarding the sensitive diplomacy. The talks during the meeting in Qatar's Doha were focused on securing the release of Edan Alexander, the only Israeli American hostage still believed to be alive and bodies of four other Israeli Americans who were taken hostage in Gaza on October 7, 2023 after Hamas launched an attack on Israel, according to one of the Israeli officials and the Western official, The New York Times reported. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not deny that direct talks between the US and Hamas were underway. When asked why the US administration was holding talks with Hamas during the press briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt stated that Boehler, "who is engaged in those negotiations," had "the authority to talk to anyone." After the White House confirmed that the Trump administration has been holding direct talks with Hamas, Israel expressed its position to the US regarding the contacts but did not share further details, The Times of Israel reported. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated, "In our contacts with the US, Israel expressed its stance on direct talks with Hamas." (ANI) Australia's Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston AC RAN hosted Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Canberra on Wednesday. Admiral David Johnston AC Ran welcomed General Chauhan to Australia and expressed Australia's commitment to working closely with India on enhancing interoperability, strengthening people-to-people ties and further cooperation with key partners to promote regional stability and security. General Chauhan's visit included meetings with senior Defence leaders, according to the Australian government's statement. During General Chauhan's visit, discussions focused on practical ideas to realise both nations' long-term vision of a defence and security collaboration that enhances collective strength and contributes to the security of two nations. This was the first visit of India's Chief of Defence Staff to Australia. The Australian government called India a "top-tier security partner" for Australia. He said, "It was a pleasure to welcome General Chauhan on his first official visit to Canberra. General Chauhan's visit underlines the value of our defence partnership with India." "We are committed to working closely with our Indian partners to enhance our interoperability, strengthen people-to-people links, and further cooperation with key partners to promote regional stability and security," he added. CDS General Anil Chauhan is on a four-day official visit to Australia from March 4-7, reflecting the deepening ties between two nations in the realm of defence cooperation. In the statement, the Australian government said, "India is a top-tier security partner for Australia, with both countries committed to working together to promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region." India and Australia have established a strong tempo of exercises and activities across maritime, land and air domains working through the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and as trilateral and quadrilateral partners. During the visit, General Anil Chauhan and Admiral David Johnston AC RAN laid a wreath at the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. In a statement, the Australian government stated, "The visit advanced cooperation on shared priorities and interoperability, including in maritime domain awareness, reciprocal information sharing, and deployments from each other's territories." In a press release, the Ministry of Defence noted that the visit underscores the growing engagement between India and Australia. Ministry of Defence stated, "This visit underscores the growing engagement between the two nations which share a commitment towards strengthening diplomatic and military collaboration under Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and fosters greater cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region." (ANI) India's Consulate General in Chicago expressed sadness over the death of Praveen Kumar Gampa, a student pursuing post-graduation at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the US. The Consulate General of India in Chicago said on Wednesday (local time) that they are in contact with the family of Gampa and the university is offering them all possible support. The Indian Consulate has not revealed details about the cause of his death. In a post on X, Consulate General of India in Chicago stated, "We are saddened by the untimely death of Praveen Kumar Gampa, a postgraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Consulate is in contact with Praveen's family and the University, helping them with all possible support. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with his family and friends of the departed." In November 2024, the Consulate General of India in Chicago expressed shock and sorrow over the reported murder of Indian student Nukarapu Sai Teja from Telangana, who was killed outside a store in Chicago. On the social media platform X, the Consulate General of India in Chicago called for immediate action against the perpetrators and assured that all possible assistance would be provided to the victim's family and friends. The victim's uncle Talluri Srujan said Sai Teja, who had moved to the United States for higher studies, was shot by two African American suspects. Teja was pursuing an MBA at Concordia University in Chicago after completing his BBA and had also taken a part-time job there. On the day of the incident, Sai Teja had gone to a store. While at the cash counter, the robbers entered the store and demanded money. After Teja complied and handed over the cash, the suspects reportedly shot him outside the store, according to the victim's uncle. (ANI) BRS leader K Kavitha said on Thursday that the death of a student from Telangana in the US is "very unfortunate" and urged the Telangana government and the Central government to quickly process and get the body home. She advised Indian students in the US to be brave and assured that the Indian government and the embassy will come to their rescue. On the Indian student's death in the US, K Kavitha said, "Well, it's very unfortunate. I heard about that news, and I truly demand that the Telangana government, and I request the Central government, to quickly process and get the body home, because parents here must be suffering. My prayers are with the family. My prayers are with the students who are there. They must be frightened and afraid. Please stay brave. Indian embassy, Indian government, I'm sure, will come to your rescue." Her remarks come after India's Consulate General in Chicago expressed sadness over the death of Praveen Kumar Gampa, a student pursuing post-graduation at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the US. BJP leader N Ramchander Rao said that the death of a Telangana student who was working part-time in a store in the US is an "unfortunate incident." He urged the US government to protect the legal migrants who are staying there. Speaking to ANI, Rao said that the incident shows that racial discrimination still exists in the US. He urged the US government to take stern measures against such criminals who try to attack Asians. On the Indian student's death in the US, Rao said, "The unfortunate death of a Telangana student who was working as a part-timer in a store in the US is an unfortunate incident wherein the US government also should try to protect at least the legal migrants who are now staying in the U.S. The incident has shown the racial discrimination still going on in the country of USA, wherein we are trying to avoid the racial discrimination. But, unfortunately, the racial discrimination is being increased in spite of Indians' contribution to the growth of the US economy." "I think the government of the USA should take stern steps against such criminals who are trying to attack basically Asians, Indians, and that tooTelugu people. This is not an isolated incident. Several incidents have also occurred earlier also. So, the U.S. government should definitely take firm steps to protect the Indian students who are legally staying in the USA," he added. The Consulate General of India in Chicago said on Wednesday (local time) that they are in contact with the family of Gampa and the university is offering them all possible support. The Indian Consulate has not revealed details about the cause of his death. In a post on X, Consulate General of India in Chicago stated, "We are saddened by the untimely death of Praveen Kumar Gampa, a postgraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Consulate is in contact with Praveen's family and the University, helping them with all possible support. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with his family and friends of the departed." (ANI) The Trump administration has rejected a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza proposed by Arab leaders. The Trump administration has said that US President Donald Trump stands by his vision, which includes expelling the Palestinian residents of the territory and transforming it into a "riviera" owned by the United States, CNN reported. In a statement on Tuesday night, White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said, "The current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance." "President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas. We look forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region." The postwar plan for Gaza, proposed by Egypt, calls for Hamas to cede power to an interim administration until a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) can assume control. The Egypt's postwar plan for Gaza would allow roughly 2 million Palestinians to remain there in contrast to a proposal presented by Trump, CNN reported. Speaking in Cairo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that elections will be held in the West Bank, Gaza and occupied East Jerusalem for the first time in nearly 20 years "if circumstances are suitable." Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet revealed what he envisions for Gaza's future after the war between Israel and Hamas ends. However, he has expressed support for Trump's plan for a "different Gaza." The USD 53 billion proposal presented by Arab nations calls for rebuilding Gaza by 2030. The first phase calls for the beginning of the removal of unexploded ordnance and clearing over 50 million tons of rubble left by Israel's bombardment and military offensives. Speaking to CNN, Jordanian officials said that the plan will be presented to Trump in the coming weeks. Arab states backed Egypt's plan, however, the extent of its regional support remains uncertain. Notably, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates were not present in the summit while Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune boycotted the meeting, citing "imbalances and shortcomings" and criticizing it as being "monopolized by a limited and narrow group of Arab countries." The document lays out a plan to make shopping malls, an international convention centre, and an airport within five years, CNN reported. It also wants to attract tourists by developing resorts and enhancing the enclave's Mediterranean coast. It also acknowledges the difficulties it could face in disarming terrorists in the Gaza Strip. It said, "It is something that can be dealt with, and even ended forever, only if its causes are removed through a clear horizon and a credible political process." Earlier in February, US President Donald Trump said that the United States will take over the Gaza Strip, dismantle dangerous weapons, get rid of the destroyed buildings and work for economic development of the area. While addressing a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump also affirmed that the ongoing ceasefire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas will be the beginning of a larger and more enduring peace. "The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it. We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site and getting rid of the destroyed buildings. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area," Trump said at the press conference. "I'm hopeful that this ceasefire could be the beginning of a larger and more enduring peace that will end the bloodshed and killing once and for all. With the same goal in mind, my administration has been moving quickly to restore trust in the alliance and rebuild American strength throughout the region," he added. (ANI) Chinese authorities have unlawfully detained thousands of individuals for peacefully asserting or exercising their rights over the past six years and have sentenced 1,545 individuals classified as prisoners of conscience, a rights organization reported on Wednesday, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), a non-governmental organization consisting of domestic and international rights activists, stated that the extent of unlawful detention by Chinese authorities could amount to crimes against humanity. "They were convicted and imprisoned based on charges arising from laws that do not align with the Chinese government's domestic and international human rights commitments," the organization noted in a report, the RFA said. "Their cases went through the entire criminal justice system, where police, prosecutors, and courts arbitrarily deprived them of their freedom, violating their human rights." Prisoners of conscience have encountered harsh penalties, with an average sentence of six years, which increases to seven years for national security-related charges. The RFA report pointed out that three individuals, named Tashpolat Tiyip, Sattar Sawut, and Yang Hengjun, received death sentences, while two others, Rahile Dawut and Abdurazaq Sayim, were given life sentences. The organization also noted that 48 individuals were imprisoned for a minimum of ten years. Among those convicted, there was a noticeable overrepresentation of women activists and marginalized groups, including ethnic Tibetans and Uyghurs, according to the organization. The report indicated that among all prisoners of conscience aged 60 or older, two-thirds were women. The CHRD reported that under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the prevalence and extent of arbitrary detention aimed at silencing dissenters and punishing human rights defenders have increased. The organisation recorded a total of 58 individuals known to have been found guilty of "endangering national security." "The overall average prison term for a national security violation is 6.72 years, although this figure does not include those sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve or to life in prison," RFA quoted the organization as saying. China also imposes sanctions on individuals for political activities concerning Taiwan under broad legal guidelines that criminalize discussions about Taiwan's status, advocacy for referendums, and support for its international participation. As per the report, these regulations permit trials in absentia and the death penalty, creating an atmosphere of fear among Taiwanese individuals who defend democratic principles. (ANI) India on Thursday said that it has seen footage of a breach of security during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to the UK and strongly condemned the "provocative activities" of these separatists and extremists. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said that India deplores the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements and expects the host government to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations in such cases. "We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live upto their diplomatic obligations," an MEA spokesperson said. Pro-Khalistan protestors staged a demonstration outside Chatham House in London, the venue where Jaishankar participated in a discussion on Wednesday (UK local time). The protestors gathered outside the building, holding flags and loudspeakers, and chanted slogans as Jaishankar participated in a discussion inside the venue. The conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House, addressed India's evolving foreign policy, regional dynamics, and global economic challenges. Earlier in January, a group of pro-Khalistan extremists had gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London to stage a protest. They had also previously stormed a cinema in the London town of Harrow and attempted to stop the screening of the Kangana Ranaut starrer film "Emergency". When asked about the destructions being caused by Khalistani forces in some UK theatres screening 'Emergency', MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said, "We consistently raise concerns with the UK Government regarding incidents of violent protest and intimidation by anti-India elements, freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively and those obstructing it must be held accountable". He added, "We hope that the UK side will take appropriate action against those responsible. Our High Commission in London remains in touch in regular communication with our community members for their safety and welfare. We expect the UK side to take strong appropriate action in this matter". Notably, in 2023, the Indian High Commission in London faced a violent attack by Khalistani supporters who were attempting to further the cause of Khalistan, advocating for the secession of the state of Punjab from India, as alleged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). According to the NIA, the attacks in London were perpetrated in retaliation to the action taken by Punjab police against Amritpal Singh, Chief of Waris Punjab De, with the objective to influence the crackdown on the outfit and its leader. (ANI) Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain has condemned the Pakistan government over the arrest of political prisoners. In a post on X, Hussain called on Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to uphold the sanctity of Ramzan by freeing detainees who have been wrongfully imprisoned. He said that it is "deeply unfortunate" that a system of repression is in place in Pakistan, where political opponents are targeted with brutality. Altaf Hussain stated, "Ramadan is a sacred month, a time of mercy and compassion. Even convicted prisoners are spared execution during this period, and no one should be subjected to oppression or political persecution. Yet, it is deeply unfortunate that in Pakistan, a system of repression is in place where political opponents are targeted with brutality." He argued that in Karachi and other cities in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citizens critical of the government's policies were being arrested or disappeared. The MQM leader highlighted several specific cases, including the abduction of senior MQM Pashtun leader Anwar Khan Tareen. Tareen was abducted from his home ten days ago and remains missing, despite a petition being filed in court. Similarly, Muhammad Kamran, an MQM Baldia Town Sector worker, has been unaccounted for since his arrest on December 9, 2024. He lamented, "Moreover, the wife of Kashmiri poet Ahmad Farhad was unjustly arrested and implicated in a fabricated case. Her only "crime" being her association with a man who dares to call out injustice. Meanwhile, oppressed Baloch individuals continue to disappear without a trace, and elderly and young Pashtuns affiliated with PTM are being unlawfully detained. Shockingly, all of this is taking place during the sacred month of Ramadan." He further criticised the ruling parties--Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and other Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) affiliates--for mismanagement of the country's resources, which have led to an economic disaster. Hussain lamented that while Pakistan's economy remains dependent on foreign aid, the common citizen continues to face shortages of basic necessities like electricity, gas, and water. "Where does the money from the IMF, World Bank, and other global financial institutions go? Is it spent on the people? Why are the ruling elites untouched by the crises plaguing the poor and middle class?" he asked. He warned that the ruling elite's luxurious lifestyles remain insulated from the hardships faced by the majority of Pakistan's population, leading to growing dissatisfaction among the masses. https://x.com/AltafHussain_90/status/1897374307522674815 Altaf Hussain's statement paints a grim picture of the political and economic landscape of the country, with a call for urgent change and reform. (ANI) Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) chairman Sohail Abro has strongly condemned the violent crackdown on Sindh University students protesting the construction of illegal canals on the Indus River, as reported by Voice of Sindh News. The protest, which took place in Jamshoro on Tuesday, was met with brutal state repression by Pakistani authorities, including baton charges, shelling, and open firing on the students. Abro stated that the actions of the Pakistani forces were a clear violation of human rights, emphasizing that the students' right to protest is fundamental. According to Voice of Sindh News, Sohail Abro said, "We strongly condemn the violations against the students of Sindh University during their peaceful protest. The state's violent treatment of the students is not only an attack on them but on the entire Sindhi community." The protest was organized in response to the controversial water canal projects that aim to divert the Indus River's water for the irrigation of land in Punjab. Abro pointed out that water from the Indus is the lifeblood of Sindh, and such projects threaten the region's very existence. "The water of Sindh is our lifeline, and we will continue to fight against these illegal canals," Abro said. He further stressed that the police's actions, including baton-charging and tear gas shelling, have injured many students and led to several arrests. Despite the violence, Abro assured that the spirit of the students would not be broken. "The jail tortures and FIRs cannot weaken the resolve of the students," he added, as reported by Voice of Sindh News. Abro also called on international human rights organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, to take immediate action against Pakistan's state-sponsored oppression. "We stand in solidarity with the students and urge global organizations to hold Pakistan accountable for these human rights violations," he concluded. The Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement reiterated that Sindhi students play a crucial and influential role in the national movement. They are committed to providing them with complete political, moral, and practical support in all situations. (ANI) Bangladesh's Jatiya Party, which was an ally of the ousted premier Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, has called for free, fair and inclusive elections to be held on a level playing field with party leader Masroor Mawla emphasising that until polls are declared the country will not attract any investments. "Unless the election is declared, no new investment will come in Bangladesh," Masroor Mawla, a presidium member of Jatiya Party, said in an interview with ANI. The Jatiya Party, founded by late President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, was part of the Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance, and participated in three previous general elections. "What we have seen is that for the last six or seven months, this interim government has been running the country. So far, we haven't seen any development except the rising rate of everyday crimes. The economy has completely deteriorated because no new investors are coming to Bangladesh at the moment," Masroor Mawla said in an interview with ANI. "Whenever we talk to the international community, they only talk about elections, they want hear an election roadmap of Bangladesh. Unless the election is declared, no new investment is coming. The old investors, I mean the investor who already invested in Bangladesh huge amount of money are also feel insecure," Mawla said. Mawla, who is also the Special Envoy for International Affairs of the Jatiya Party has criticised the Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus' recent remarks which stated that the crime rate of the country had reduced from before. "So what this government is doing, I am sure this government does not know what they are thinking about. I don't see any focus on the economy. A few days back Professor Yunus spoke to one of the BBC journalists, he said, the crime rate is now normal than before. Honestly speaking, how can you judge or how you differentiate about the crime rate in Bangladesh. How many general diaries or the cases are being recorded in the police station that you have to see first", Mawla said. Jatiya Party's headquarters in Dhaka was set ablaze by protesters in November last year for their alliance with ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mawla said that he had gone to the police station for filing the case regarding arson and vandalism of the party's central office, however, none of the cases had been recorded. "I faced a lot of difficulties when I went to the police stations to file case about the burning and vandalizing our central office. We wanted to file case, but none of the cases has been recorded. If you look into this way, you will find the answer, whether the crime rate is stable or crime rate is deteriorated," he said. The Jatiya Party leader further said that Professor Yunus does not have any idea about the law and order situation in the country. "I think Professor Yunus is out of his mind. I am sure he is not following the law and order where going. He doesn't have any idea, he doesn't have any clue. Because if you talk about law and order, you will find no law and order at all," Mawla said. He accused the the Yunus-led government of differentiating between political parties and claimed that the Jatiya Party is not being given level-playing field alleging that media in the country have been directed to "not give coverage" to them. "After our Jatiya Party office burned down, our office is still active, regular activities are going on, the question is regarding our political role, we haven't got any level playing field so far. A level playing field is being given only to other two political parties, not Jatiya Party. That is the reason we are doing the meeting is internal. Outside we can't do any meeting," he said. "This government is differentiating between the political parties. Professor Yunus has called unity, he has called level playing field for all the political parties, he said election will be inclusive, how he is talking about because we are completely neglected. Even they said to the media to do censor or not to give any coverage of our political activities," Mawla said. Masroor Mawla said that Jatiya Party will participate in the polls if they are held free and fair and the level playing field is ensured. He said that Jatiya Party does not trust the present local administration. In response to a question, he said, "Of course, Jatiya Party will participate in the election if election is held free and fair and the level playing field is ensured. It should be inclusive. If don't all party participate, we will not participate. We don't trust the present local government administration. We have not any faith on them. We have requested the United Nations and other stakeholders in international community, we told that we need United Nations and Bangladesh army intervention. Without their intervention election will not be free and fair". Regarding the newly launched political outfit the National Citizen Party (NCP) led by the students, the Jatiya Party leader said, "As a democratic country, everybody can form a political party. I don't think it is a negative thing. But the question is what is their motto?. What I have seen, their first stand was Inquilab Zindabad. What does it mean Inqilab Zindabad, in English Inqilab means revolution, but why do they have to say Inqilab Zindabad, they could have said in a different form, so there is a big question mark for me what is their moto." Responding to a question regarding Bangladesh's relation with India, he said both the neighbouring countries need to rely on each other to maintain stabilty. "We are the neighbouring countries, India needs us, We need India, We can't ignore India. The students are completely out of reality. Maybe somebody from somewhere is poisoning them and feeding them poisonous things against the neighbouring country. To keep our country stable, the economy as well as security, we need India and India needs us". In August 2024, a student-led movement led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after weeks of protests and violence. According to a UN fact-finding assessment report, as many as 1,400 people could have been killed during the protests. Hasina, 76, fled to India, and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was subsequently formed. (ANI) Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini departed from Port Stanley and was heading to Cape Town. The Navika Sagar Parikrama circumnavigation is being attempted by a crew of two women officers from the Indian Navy. During their stay at Port Stanley, the crew undertook repairs and maintenance of the vessel to address the defects that occurred during their most treacherous leg while passing through the Drake's passage, the Indian Navy spokesperson said. Indian diaspora, local enthusiasts and tourists also INSV visited Tarini. In a post on X, Indian Navy Spokesperson stated, "#INSVTarini left Stanley on #04Mar 25 at about 0910h local time (+3) for its onward journey to Cape Town. This historic #NavikaSagarParikrama circumnavigation is being attempted by a crew of two women officers from #IndianNavy, Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa A, symbolising India's growing prowess of maritime exploration. At Stanley, the crew undertook repairs & maintenance of the vessel to address the defects that occurred during their most treacherous leg while passing through the Drake's passage. Tarini also had a footfall of visitors that included the Indian diaspora, local enthusiasts and tourists who visited the vessel & were impressed by the crew's achievements." https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1897525104386695681 The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini had entered Port Stanley at about 05:15 hours Indian Standard Time (IST) on February 18, completing the third and most challenging phase of Navika Sagar Parikrama II, a pioneering expedition showcasing the resilience, courage, and skill of the Indian Navy's women officers, according to Ministry of Defence's earlier press release. "The Navika Sagar Parikrama initiative underscores the Indian Navy's commitment to gender empowerment and maritime excellence. The expedition, crewed by two women officers, aims to promote ocean sailing, self-reliance, and India's rich maritime heritage. Their experiences serve as an inspiration for young aspirants, encouraging greater participation of women in maritime and defence sectors," the Ministry of Defence had said in a press release. This marked a significant milestone in the vessel's journey of circumnavigating the globe, according to the statement. During this phase, the vessel experienced three cyclones while passing through Point Nemo, known as the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, according to the Ministry of Defence. They also passed through the treacherous waters of Drake Passage before crossing Cape Horn. In an earlier press release, Ministry of Defence stated, "Following its stop in Port Stanley, INSV Tarini will continue its expedition, sailing through to Cape Town before returning to India. The expedition reinforces the spirit of adventure, resilience, and India's commitment to enhancing global maritime cooperation." (ANI) China possesses the largest fishing fleet globally, which is increasingly depleting Argentina's marine resources through a combination of legal and illegal fishing activities, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported, citing an Argentinian environmental organization A significant number of Chinese vessels are legitimately registered to operate under the Argentine flag and fish in its waters, while a rising proportion of Chinese fishing boats are illegally operating under the flags of other nations, according to the group El Circulo de Politicas Ambientales, as noted by RFA. In the past, Chinese fishing boats would typically linger at the edge of Argentina's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and turn off their automatic identification systems to fish illegally on occasion, stated marine conservation specialist Milko Schvartzman, as quoted by RFA. However, it is now observed that they are registering to fly the Argentine flag, despite being owned by Chinese companies, thereby "slowly taking control of Argentina's resources," according to Schvartzman in his comments to Radio Free Asia. The environmental group estimates that over half of Argentina's squid fishing fleet is composed of Chinese vessels. "This represents a state-sanctioned strategy," the expert remarked, adding that the majority of Chinese fishing enterprises are affiliated with the state-owned China National Fisheries Corporation, or CNFC." Additionally, the group indicated that Chinese boats are illegally operating in Argentine waters under the flags of other nations, which is an attempt to obscure the extent of China's activities in the South Atlantic and to circumvent sanctions and scrutiny, as stated by RFA. Recently, the Argentine navy conducted Operation Mare Nostrum I within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), where Buenos Aires has the authority over marine resources both in the water column and on the seabed according to international law. As per the report, the navy employed two maritime surveillance aircraft, a C-12 Huron and a P3-C Orion, along with two corvettes to perform the operation. (ANI) Tel Aviv [UAE], March 6 (ANI/TPS): Expecting a post-war surge in travel, Ben Gurion Airport's Terminal One will resume operations during the last week of March, the Israel Airports Authority announced on Wednesday. The terminal was closed in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks as international airlines suspended their flights to Tel Aviv. The terminal initially reopened in June 2024, but the Airports Authority subsequently closed it in November to make renovations. The reopening comes as international airlines gradually resume flights to Israel for the first time since the October 7 war, with passenger traffic expected to surge ahead of the busy holiday season. Domestic flights will return to the terminal in the last week of March, with international operations resuming at the end of the month. According to IAA data, more than 1,377 flights are expected to depart from Terminal 1 in April, accounting for roughly a quarter of all outbound passengers at Ben Gurion. Airlines operating from the terminal will include El Al, Arkia, Israir, Wizz Air, Ryanair, and EasyJet. Wizz Air is set to operate approximately 110 weekly flights to 19 destinations, while Ryanair will offer 86 weekly flights to 22 locations. EasyJet is expected to resume flights to Israel in June. Passengers flying from Terminal 1 will have direct access to a range of popular destinations, including Sofia, Budapest, Berlin, Rome, Athens, and Vienna. With the reopening of the terminal and increased passenger traffic expected ahead of Passover, the IAA has expanded its workforce, hiring dozens of security and operations employees. Several major airlines are resuming service to Israel after a hiatus. United Airlines and Delta will restart flights in March and April, respectively, while British Airways resumes on April 5 with one daily flight, increasing to two on April 20. Other airlines returning include Air India, Air Baltic, Iberia Express, and Hainan Airlines. And the Lufthansa Group announced an increase in weekly flights to Israel, rising from 35 to 60, with added overnight routes to connect Israeli passengers to North America via Europe. (ANI/TPS) As the protest over a 31-point charter of demands reached its 18th day, those impacted by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project locked down the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) offices and a private contractor's operations at the dam site, as reported by local media outlet Hum English. The protesters also called on contractors working on the dam site to halt their operations. According to Hum English, Maulana Hazratullah, leader of the Huqooq Do Dam Banao Tehreek, stated that despite prior warnings, the private contractors had continued their work and even dismissed 10 to 15 local workers. Hazratullah criticized WAPDA for what he called a deliberate deprivation of the rights of local communities. "Today, we are locking up their luxuries in retaliation," he said. "The lock will remain until our demands are addressed. If our concerns are ignored, we will make this land uninhabitable for WAPDA," he warned. Hum English reported that during a press conference earlier, Hazratullah accused the government of not taking the protest seriously. He emphasized that despite repeated assurances, the authorities had failed to engage in meaningful negotiations. He explained that the government had initially encouraged the formation of a negotiation team with promises of a high-level ministerial committee to mediate the discussions. However, after submitting the details of the team, no significant progress had been made with WAPDA or the government. "We've sacrificed everything for this project, including our cemeteries and mosques, yet the people of Diamer are left suffering in the cold during Ramadan while the authorities remain indifferent," Hazratullah lamented. He further expressed frustration that, while government officials were living comfortably in Islamabad, the protesters had to endure harsh weather and break their fasts on the streets, as reported by Hum English. Hazratullah called on the people of Diamer to prepare for a stronger response, warning that if the situation remained unresolved, they would take more drastic measures. While the protesters had temporarily postponed further action, the lack of progress would force them to intensify their efforts, potentially leading to a large-scale movement. He demanded an immediate shutdown of WAPDA's operations and those of its consultants until their 31-point charter of demands was fully addressed. The people of PoGB have repeatedly protested to express their concerns, focusing on a range of issues, including social, economic, and political challenges, as they call for justice, equality, and better living conditions. (ANI) People along Australia's eastern coast are preparing for the arrival of a slow-moving storm, which marks the most southerly tropical cyclone to threaten the area in over 50 years. According to Brisbane Times, the track map released by the Bureau of Meteorology shows the cyclone's landing time further delayed until 7am (local time) on Saturday. Cyclone Alfred has dropped in speed to 6 kilometres per hour, and has remained the same distance from land since 5pm. The storm is predicted to have the strength of a category 1 Atlantic hurricane as it moves westward toward Brisbane, a city of 2.5 million residents, and surrounding coastal suburbs. Reports by CNN claim that Alfred is threatening a region where cyclones are not usually experienced as they typically form much further north, over warmer waters in the tropics. The delay in the storm's arrival has given officials more time to issue warnings. According to Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), as of Thursday, Cyclone Alfred was around 245 kilometres (152 miles) off the coast, moving west with damaging winds of around 100 kilometres per hour. Schools, public transport, major roads and airports are closed with elective surgeries also put on hold, but emergency departments remain open, Brisbane Times reported. Reports suggest that the cyclone has already whipped up hazardous waves along the coast, including one measuring a record 12.3 meters on the Gold Coast, a popular tourist strip south of Brisbane. In northern New South Wales (NSW), around 4,000 homes were without power on Thursday due to downed power lines. Heavy rain was reported in some areas, and riverine flooding was already threatening low-lying communities. Authorities have warned millions of residents in the storm's path to prepare for destructive wind gusts, flash flooding and storm surges that may combine with high tides. Flood watches have been issued across the coast, where rainfall of 200 to 400 millimetres is expected, and isolated totals nearing 500 millimetres are possible. "There are waves, there is wind, there is rainfall, and there will be flooding, but none of those challenges are insurmountable, and I have every faith in the work that has been done to date," Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said, warning on late Thursday of the four key challenges. (ANI) A security guard at a law college in Balochistan's Turbat, has reportedly been detained and disappeared by Pakistani forces, Balochistan Post reported. The missing individual, identified as Saeed Baloch, a resident of Sangabad, worked at the college for several years. According to the Balochistan Post, eyewitnesses claim that Baloch was detained by Pakistani forces in the western part of Turbat before his disappearance. His current whereabouts remain unknown, causing distress among his family and the local community. This incident is part of a worrying trend of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, where activists and human rights organizations have raised concerns about state-led abductions. The Balochistan Post reported that the authorities have yet to issue any official statements regarding Baloch's disappearance, intensifying fears and calls for accountability in the region. The growing number of such incidents continues to fuel tensions and demand for justice from both local communities and international observers. According to the Balochistan Post, Paank, the human rights division of Baloch National Movement, recently reported that at least 48 individuals have been forcibly disappeared in the first five days of the current month. The report highlights that 35 of these individuals were detained by Pakistani security forces in Kalat before they went missing, while five others from different regions were victims of custodial killings. Paank has urged international human rights organizations to urgently address the situation, stressing that the scale of enforced disappearances in Balochistan cannot be fully captured in one report. The organization called on global institutions to review Paank's ongoing daily reports, which document numerous human rights violations in the region, the Balochistan Post reported. Paank described the situation as a "severe humanitarian crisis" and accused the Pakistani state of committing "genocide" against the Baloch people. The organization continues to push for global attention and intervention to end these abuses. (ANI) The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has condemned the protests staged by pro-Khalistan elements outside Chatham House during the External Affairs Minister's visit to the UK. A Foreign Office spokesperson said, "We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside Chatham House yesterday during the External Affairs Minister's visit to the UK. While the UK upholds the right to peaceful protest, any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly to address the situation, and we remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations." The Khalistani protestors had gathered outside the building, holding flags and speakers as they sloganeered. During his ongoing visit to the United Kingdom, EAM Jaishankar had held discussions with UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and several other senior leaders. Earlier in January, a group of pro-Khalistan extremists had gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London to stage a protest. They had also previously stormed a cinema in the London town of Harrow and attempted to stop the screening of the Kangana Ranaut starrer film "Emergency". Meanwhile, in his meeting with UK's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Tuesday, EAM Jaishankar noted that the two leaders held discussions on areas such as flow of talent and joint efforts between India and the UK to tackle "trafficking and extremism". In a post on X he said, "A good meeting with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper today in London. We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism" The EAM also held wide-ranging and productive talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy over past two days at the Chevening House. The two leaders discussed the entire gamut of bilateral ties, especially the focus on strategic coordination, political cooperation, trade deal negotiation, education, technology, mobility and people-to-people exchanges. They agreed to formulate the next steps to further strengthen and structure them. In his post on X the EAM said, "We exchanged views on regional and global issues including the Ukraine conflict, West Asia, Bangladesh and the Commonwealth. In an uncertain and volatile world, India-UK ties contribute to stability and prosperity." (ANI) Four terrorists were arrested by security forces near Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Toba Kakri area of Balochistan, The Dawn reported citing Radio Pakistan. The suspects, who were caught with weapons like Kalashnikovs and hand grenades, confessed to planning a large-scale attack. One of them revealed that they had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan just three days ago. This operation comes as Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist activities over the past year, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The Pakistani government has repeatedly expressed concerns that terrorists are using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan, as per The Dawn. According to sources, the local population played a significant role in the success of this operation against the terrorists. It added that "defence experts described it [as] a positive development that the local population is fighting alongside security forces against the terrorists". The defence experts were quoted as saying that the "primary reason for the rise in terrorism in Pakistan are the terrorist organisations flourishing on Afghan soil". "They said Afghanistan has become a haven for terrorists and immediate international action is needed," Dawn reported citing Radio Pakistan. Notably, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, with multiple incidents reported in the past week. On Wednesday, a remotely detonated blast in Balochistan's Khuzdar district claimed five lives and critically injured 10 others. The blast targeted the vehicle of Abdul Samad Samalani, a pro-government tribal elder, according to police. Earlier this week, in another incident, an attack on the Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa left five soldiers dead, while 16 terrorists were killed in the response. Unfortunately, the blasts also resulted in the loss of 13 civilian lives, including six children, and injured 32 others. These incidents are part of a larger trend, as Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025. The country saw a 45 per cent increase in deaths from terrorist attacks over the past year, with 1,081 fatalities reported. (ANI) Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Thursday received the 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' Award on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the President of Barbados Dame Sandra Mason. Margherita said the award was bestowed upon PM Modi in acknowledgment of his strategic leadership and significant assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a post on X, he said, "Honoured to receive, on behalf of PM Narendra Modi the 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' Award from the President of Barbados, H.E Dame Sandra Mason, at the Government House in Bridgetown, in the presence of PM H.E Mia Amor Mottley, FM H.E Kerrie Symmonds and other dignitaries. The award was bestowed upon PM in acknowledgment of his strategic leadership & significant assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1897578755427614858 "In a ceremony held in Bridgetown, Barbados, Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita received the prestigious 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' Award bestowed upon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in recognition of his strategic leadership and valuable assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic," a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said. As per the ministry's tatement, the award announcement was made at the second India-CARICOM Leaders' Summit in Georgetown, Guyana. "The award announcement was made by Mia Amor Mottley, SC, M.P., the Prime Minister of Barbados, during a meeting with Prime Minister Modi on November 20, 2024, held on the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Leaders' Summit in Georgetown, Guyana. Prime Minister Mottley acknowledged the vital role played by Prime Minister Modi in strengthening international cooperation and support during the unprecedented situation during COVID19 pandemic," the statement said. While receiving the award on behalf of Prime Minister Modi, Margherita expressed his gratitude for the recognition. As per the statement, Margherita said, "It is a profound honour to represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accept this prestigious award on his behalf. This recognition underscores the deepening ties between India and Barbados, as well as our shared commitment to collaboration and development, especially in times of crisis." "Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966, India and Barbados have fostered a robust partnership characterized by continuous engagement and development initiatives. This award symbolizes the enduring friendship between the two nations," the statement added. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Brussels, expressing gratitude for Belgium's support, particularly the decision to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1897632187698090452 Sharing the post on X, "I met with Belgian Prime Minister @Bart_DeWever in Brussels. I thanked the government and all Belgians for their support, particularly for the decision to transfer F-16 fighter jets." "We greatly appreciate these strong steps to protect Ukrainian lives. I informed the Prime Minister about the preparation of a European plan to bring a just peace closer and invited him to take part in its development," he added. During their talks, Zelenskyy and De Wever focused on defense needs, including the supply of artillery systems and ammunition, as well as investment in Ukraine's domestic production of long-range drones and missiles. These systems have proven effective on the front lines, and Ukraine aims to strengthen this advantage. "During our talks, we focused particularly on defense needs, primarily the supply of artillery systems and ammunition, as well as investment in Ukraine's domestic production of long-range drones and missiles," he said. Zelenskyy thanked Belgium for its unwavering support, highlighting the country's significant defense assistance, including the provision of F-16 fighter jets and training for Ukrainian pilots . "These systems have already proven their effectiveness on the front lines, and we must work together to strengthen this advantage. We also discussed Ukraine's integration into the EU. I am grateful to Belgium for its unwavering support for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. On Thursday, all 27 EU leaders meet in Brussels for a critical defense summit. This gathering comes on the heels of a tense meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington DC last week, as per Al Jazeera. Zelenskyy had pressed Trump to provide a security guarantee, which initially sparked a strong reaction from the US President. However, Trump has since softened his stance after Ukraine agreed to sign a major mineral deal with the US. Zelenskyy had pressed Trump to provide a security guarantee, which initially sparked a strong reaction from the US President. However, Trump has since softened his stance after Ukraine agreed to sign a major mineral deal with the US. Washington says Ukraine's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - established in 1949 against the Soviet Union threat - is "unrealistic" and has threatened to withdraw US troops from Europe, asking European allies to step up their defence spending and prompting today's emergency talks in Brussels. (ANI) Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE Ambassador to India, hosted a Ramadan Iftar celebration at the UAE Embassy in New Delhi in the holy month of Ramadan. The event, attended by senior dignitaries, diplomats, government officials, and business leaders, highlighted the deep cultural ties and longstanding friendship between the UAE and India. During the Iftar, Ambassador Alshaali emphasised the values of peace and harmony that underpin relations between the UAE and India, as well as the significance of the Holy Month of Ramadan as a time of unity and reflection, according to official statement. "It is a pleasure to welcome so many friends and colleagues to the UAE Embassy in New Delhi's annual Iftar celebration. Events like these reinforce the shared values of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect that transcend borders and faiths. Through its bilateral relationship with India, the UAE is committed to promoting cross-cultural collaboration and inter-societal understanding. It is upon these foundations that our ties have continued to flourish across all areas," Ambassador Alshaali said. The event featured a traditional Iftar meal, showcasing the rich cultural flavours of both nations. Guests were also given the opportunity to engage directly with the UAE Ambassador to India on a wide range of important topics, including the political, economic, investment, and cultural partnership between the UAE and India. Underpinned by frequent high-level visits, close collaboration, and key initiatives such as the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), bilateral ties between the UAE and India have flourished. Significant strides continue to be made in deepening the economic, investment, and trade partnership between the two countries. Since the signing of the CEPA in February 2022, bilateral trade has nearly doubled from USD 43.3 billion in 2020-21 to USD 83.7 billion in 2023-24. Over the first ten months of 2024-25, total bilateral trade reached USD 80.5 billion. Notably, the CEPA has been critical in supporting non-oil trade between the two countries. Non-oil trade reached USD 57.8 billion in 2023-24, underlining that the UAE and India are on track to reach the target of achieving USD 100 billion in non-oil trade by 2030. These figures have reinforced the UAE's position as India's second-largest export market, third-largest trading partner, and fourth-largest investor. (ANI) Ambassador of Ukraine to India, O Polishchuk, met with Maharashtra's Resident Commissioner R Vimala to discuss stronger bilateral ties. Vimala and Polishchuk also discussed about the upcoming opening of Ukraine's Consulate General in Mumbai. In a post on X, Ukraine's Embassy to India stated, "On March 5, Amb. of Ukraine to India Dr O Polishchuk met with Maharashtra's Resident Commissioner Mrs R Vimala to discuss stronger bilateral ties, business partnerships & investments. Special focus on the upcoming opening of Ukraine's Consulate General in Mumbai." https://x.com/UkrembInd/status/1897596290428535009 India has an extensive bilateral relationship with Ukraine, spanning all spheres of cooperation. India was one of the first countries to recognize Ukraine. India recognized Ukraine as a sovereign country in December 1991 and established diplomatic relations in January 1992. The Embassy of India in Kyiv was opened in May 1992. (India had a Consulate in Odessa, which functioned from 1962 till its closure in March 1999). Ukraine opened its Mission in Delhi in February 1993 - its first in Asia, as per Indian embassy in Ukraine. Taking into account the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, India decided to extend humanitarian Assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries. Since February 24, India has provided 12 consignments measuring 99.3 tons of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries comprising medicines, blankets, tents, tarpaulin, medical equipment, etc. GoI is also providing financial assistance for reconstruction, remodeling and refurbishment of Kyiv Gymnasium of Oriental Language No 1 In addition, Indian Pharmaceutical Companies have donated more than USD 8 million worth of medical aid and financial assistance to Ukraine. Many other Indians, who are permanent residents of Ukraine, and Indian organizations have provided food, and other humanitarian relief to the people of Ukraine, the embassy website stated. Meanwhile, as Ukraine grapples for support in its conflict with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed heartfelt gratitude to European leaders for their unwavering support during the European leaders summit in Brussels, Al Jazeera reported. Standing alongside top EU chiefs, including Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, Zelenskyy said it meant Ukraine was not "alone" in its fight to repel Russia's invasion. (ANI) According to officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aircraft, with the call sign 9N-ANH, took off from Janakpur Airport at around 4.45 pm (NST) and landed safely at 5.10 pm (NST). "The pilots of the plane that took off from Janakpur Airport at 4:45 pm on Thursday were not aware of the wheel falling off during the takeoff, nor did the plane's indicators show any unusual activities during the flight," Gyanendra Bhul, deputy spokesperson at CAAN, told ANI over the phone. After landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, a routine technical inspection was conducted. During the inspection, the nose landing gear was found to be missing, prompting an immediate search. The missing wheel was later found near the runway at Janakpur Airport. "The wheel was later found at the turning point of the runway at Janakpur Airport. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident," the official added. All 62 passengers on board were safe, and the aircraft has been grounded as CAAN conducts a detailed investigation. This is not the first incident involving Buddha Air. On January 6, another aircraft operated by the airline made an emergency landing at Tribhuvan International Airport after reporting a "flame out" in its left engine while en route to Bhadrapur. Nepal has a history of aviation safety concerns due to poor air-safety regulations. The European Union has blacklisted Nepali airlines due to their poor safety records. (ANI) A resident of the village lured the Indians to A-Za'im with promises of work, then took away their passports. Without their passports, the Indians could not return to Israel. The workers were stuck in A-Za'im for more than one month before the Population and Immigration Authority rescued them. (ANI/TPS) Tel Aviv [Israel], March 6 (ANI/TPS): The Israeli Police said on Thursday that 3,000 officers would be deployed in Jerusalem for the first Friday of Ramadan as thousands of Muslims are expected to gather at the Temple Mount for morning prayers. "The ongoing security system will be intensified and police activity on traffic routes will be intensified, all with the aim of providing the best response to any scenario and acting to prevent attempts by hostile elements to exploit the days of the month of Ramadan to incite, disrupt order, terror or violence of any kind," the police said. Friday morning prayers are especially large, and Palestinian terror attacks have surged during the Islamic holy month. On Friday, 10,000 Palestinians at a time will be allowed to pray. Imprisoned Palestinian terrorists who returned to their homes in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria in exchange for Israeli hostages will be banned from the holy site. Hamas has called on Palestinians to travel to the Temple Mount en masse. Police are also monitoring Arab social media networks for incitement. The Temple Mount, where the First and Second Jewish Temples were built, is the overall holiest site in Judaism. The Western Wall, the only remnant of a retaining wall encircling the Temple Mount, was built by Herod the Great in the first century and is the holiest site where Jews can freely pray. According to the delicate status quo governing the Temple Mount, non-Muslims are allowed to visit the site, but not pray there. The status quo goes back to 1967 when Israel liberated the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordan during the Six-Day War. Fearing a religious war, then-defense minister Moshe Dayan agreed to let the Islamic Waqf, a Muslim trusteeship, continue managing the holy site's day-to-day affairs, while Israel maintained sovereignty and responsibility for security. The Waqf is overseen by Jordan. (ANI/TPS) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is on an official visit to the UK and Ireland, called upon Ireland President Michael D Higgins. Jaishankar on Thursday conveyed the regards of President Droupadi Murmu to him and the two leaders discussed about the role of culture in strengthening the nationhood. Sharing the details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar said, "Honored to call on President Michael D. Higgins in Dublin this evening. Conveyed the warm regards of President Droupadi Murmu. Value his insights on the contemporary world and its development debates. Spoke of the role of culture in strengthening nationhood." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1897715077291061422 S Jaishankar is on an official visit to the United Kingdom & Ireland from March 4 to March 9. During the Irish leg of his visit on March 6-7, EAM will be meeting with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, other dignitaries and members of Indian community, the Ministry of External Affairs has said in an official statement. India and Ireland share friendly bilateral relations based on shared democratic values, cultural ties and growing economic engagements. India-Ireland interactions date back to the 19th century when a significant number of Irishmen joined the British Civil Service, medical, engineering and army services, the MEA observed. Ireland had supported and assisted India during the COVID-19 pandemic under EU-ECHO mechanism, Ireland sent emergency medical assistance of 1248 oxygen concentrators, 425 ventilators and 2 oxygen generators in two consignments. Notably, Ireland has consistently supported India in its fight against terror. In the aftermath of the Pulwama cross-border terrorist incident on February 14, 2019, resulting in the killing of 40 CRPF personnel, then Irish Deputy PM and FM Simon Coveney issued a statement, strongly condemning the suicide bombing, expressing concern at the increasing levels of violence in the region and maintaining that Ireland will continue to work with India and the international community to support a comprehensive international response to preventing and countering terrorism. As per the MEA, Indian Embassy has been encouraging Irish companies to engage in major flagship programmes like "Make in India", "Digital India", "Clean India" and "Smart Cities". (ANI) Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita called upon the Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley during his official visit to the Caribbean country. He shared the details of the meeting in a post on X on Thursday. MoS Margherita expressed gratitude to the government and the people of Barbados for conferring 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' on PM Modi for his leadership and vision during COVID-19 pandemic. He shared that discussions were held to further enhance the bilateral relationship between the two countries and increase cooperation on global matters of common interest. Margherita wrote on X, "Honoured to call on Prime Minister of Barbados Hon. @miaamormottley and conveyed the warm greetings of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji. Expressed my gratitude to the Barbados Govt. and its people for conferring the prestigious 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' award on Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji in recognition of his strategic leadership and valuable assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed the ways to further enhance our bilateral partnership and cooperation in global matters of mutual interest." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1897700620640862575 Earlier on Thursday, MoS Margherita shared that he received on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 'Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados' Award from the President of Barbados. https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1897578755427614858 The award announcement was made by the PM Mia Amor Mottley, during a meeting with PM Modi in November last year, held on the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Leaders' Summit in Georgetown, Guyana. Prime Minister Mottley acknowledged the vital role played by Prime Minister Modi in strengthening international cooperation and support during the unprecedented situation during COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs noted in an official statement. As per the MEA, while receiving the award on behalf of PM Modi, Minister Margherita expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, "It is a profound honour to represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accept this prestigious award on his behalf. This recognition underscores the deepening ties between India and Barbados, as well as our shared commitment to collaboration and development, especially in times of crisis." Signficantly, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966, India and Barbados have fostered a robust partnership characterized by continuous engagement and development initiatives. The MEA highlighted that this award symbolizes the enduring friendship between the two nations. (ANI) President Donald Trump has accused Justin Trudeau of "using the tariff problem" with the US to run again for Prime Minister despite the "terrible job he has done for Canada." Trump claimed that he was using the 'tariff problem' to run for the post, also claiming that Trudeau himself had caused it. "Believe it or not, despite the terrible job he's done for Canada, I think that Justin Trudeau is using the Tariff problem, which he has largely caused, in order to run again for Prime Minister. So much fun to watch!" Trump stated in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday. Notably, the US imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports, accusing Trudeau of not doing enough to curb the flow of the synthetic drug fentanyl to the United States and Trudeau responded with retaliatory tariffs of equivalent amounts on US imports. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump, who dubbed Trudeau as the 'Governor' of Canada, said that the latter called him to ask about the tariff situation and the call ended in a "somewhat friendly manner". Trump further said Trudeau was "unable" to tell him when the Canadian Election would take place. "Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs. I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped. He said that it's gotten better, but I said, "That's not good enough." The call ended in a "somewhat" friendly manner! He was unable to tell me when the Canadian Election is taking place, which made me curious, like, what's going on here? I then realized he is trying to use this issue to stay in power. Good luck Justin!" Trump said on truth Social. Trump also said that he told the Canada PM that it is because of Trudeau's "weak border policies" that tremendous amounts of fentanyl and "illegal aliens" have made their way into the United States. "For anyone who is interested, I also told Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada that he largely caused the problems we have with them because of his Weak Border Policies, which allowed tremendous amounts of Fentanyl, and Illegal Aliens, to pour into the United States. These Policies are responsible for the death of many people!" Trump added. (ANI) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), shared details of a Pakistani national Syed Rizvi who arrived "illegally" in the US and was sent back on February 25. In an X post shared on Thursday evening, the FBI said that it partnered with agencies across America to "remove a Pakistani national identified as a national security priority." "The #FBI is partnering with agencies nationwide to support immigration enforcement operations. Learn how @FBIDallas, @ICEgov, and @ERODallas worked together to remove a Pakistani national identified as a national security priority," https://x.com/FBI/status/1897664832712691941 The statement issued by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in this regard read, "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Dallas removed an illegally present Pakistani national identified as a national security priority to his home country Feb 25." ICE Dallas shared the details of the Pakistani national. "Syed Rizvi, 56, a Pakistani national was ordered removed from the U.S. after being identified by U.S. intelligence sources as a national security priority, designated as removable per the Immigration and Nationality Act." It noted that Rizvi was residing in Dallas, Texas without authorization prior to his removal. "ERO Dallas arrested Rizvi Jan. 31, following a routine traffic stop. He was ordered removed by an immigration judge Jan. 24. Rizvi entered the United States legally Sep.20, 2017 near the New York port of entry and he violated the terms of his admission", the statement said. Enforcement and Removals Operations Dallas Field Office acting Director Josh Johnson said, "Illegal aliens suspected or known to have ties to organizations that threaten public safety will not find refuge in the US." He also added, "Our most important priority is to arrest and remove those who pose an imminent danger to the citizens of the U.S." The details of Rizvi's deportation comes after FBI Director Kash Patel made a bold statement, reaffirming the US government's commitment to tracking down terrorists worldwide. Patel's declaration came after a successful operation at Dulles airfield, where FBI personnel, along with DOJ and CIA partners, apprehended a terrorist wanted for the Afghanistan Abbey Gate murders in 2021. Patel had said in a post on X, "To terrorists around the world responsible for harming Americans: We will hunt the ends of the earth and find you." (ANI) Sharjah [UAE], March 7 (ANI/WAM): The Emirate of Sharjah, represented by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), along with a delegation of 19 entities from both the public and private sectors, is participating in ITB Berlin 2025, the world's largest travel trade event. The event, held from March 4 to 6 at the Berlin Exhibition Centre, is under the theme "The World of Travel Lives Here." SCTDA participation aims to highlight Sharjah's unique tourist attractions, solidifying its position on the global tourism map. At the exhibition, Sharjah's distinguished pavilion offers visitors an interactive journey to explore the emirate's natural, cultural, and recreational destinations, including desert, mountainous, and coastal areas, heritage sites, and modern landmarks. This immersive experience showcases the exceptional tourism offerings of the emirate. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, emphasised the exhibition's importance in presenting Sharjah's diverse landmarks, rich culture, and advanced infrastructure. He highlighted the strong historical relations between Sharjah and Europe, particularly Germany, positioning the emirate as a prime destination for European and German tourists seeking unique cultural experiences. The Sharjah delegation includes representatives from key government entities such as the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah International Airport Authority, and Sharjah Museums Authority, alongside private sector participants including Air Arabia and Sharjah National Hotels. The collaborative approach reflects Sharjah's commitment to developing its tourism and travel sectors. During the event, the Sharjah delegation will also showcase the emirate's efforts in sustainable tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism, and cultural tourism, which have enhanced Sharjah's position as a regional tourism leader. The pavilion emphasises initiatives aimed at preserving cultural and environmental heritage while offering world-class tourism experiences. Sharjah's participation in ITB Berlin 2025 is a significant opportunity to attract more visitors from Europe and beyond. The emirate has seen a notable increase in German hotel guests, with around 13,000 German visitors in 2023 and expectations for a rise to 14,000 in 2024. The number of European tourists is also growing, with a 16 per cent increase in 2024, reflecting Sharjah's growing appeal to international travellers. (ANI/WAM) A majority of middle and high school students and their parents believe Lynchburg City Schools stricter cellphone policy has made no difference on the students academic performance or ability to focus in the classroom during the first two months of the new rule. Teachers, on the other hand, generally believe the new no-cellphone policy has had a positive impact on students academic performance, socialization, engagement and mental health, according to the results of a survey conducted by LCS and released Tuesday at the Lynchburg City School Board meeting. Annitra Leigh, principal at Sandusky Middle School, said 24 of her schools 40 classroom teachers responded to the survey. Seventy-nine percent of them said they have seen improvements in students attention and focus in the classroom. Leigh also said 75% of those teachers have seen a decrease in social media drama spilling over into the classroom. Derrick Brown, chief student services officer for LCS, presented the survey findings to the school board Tuesday evening, saying the results were fresh off the press. Research from across the nation shows decreased cellphone use by students is improving their mental health, academic performance and behavior, Brown told board members. With its own survey, Lynchburg City Schools wanted to see how students, parents and teachers view the impact of the stricter cellphone policy in the Hill City. Under the revised policies that went into effect Jan. 6, Lynchburg public school students are not allowed to carry a cellphone from bell to bell in their pockets or anywhere on the students person. High school students are prohibited from using cellphones during lunch, a change from the policy adopted by the school board last summer. Middle school and elementary school students were barred from using electronic devices during lunch under the previous policy. Elementary school students are not allowed to use cellphones on school buses unless they get permission from the bus driver when the bus is running late or has broken down. Middle school and high school students are allowed to use their devices on buses. Heritage High School Principal Timothy Beatty conceded it has been a challenge implementing the stricter policy, especially with regard to the students use of headphones, which are also prohibited under the new policy. The kids wear them all the time, Beatty said. And most of the time they are listening to music. For cellphones, getting students to stop using them during the school day has been less of a problem, he added. E.C. Glass High School Principal Daniel Rule agreed with Beatty, telling the school board that getting students to stop wearing headphones also has been an issue at his school. Overall, though, Rule said students at E.C. Glass have responded very positively to the change in the cellphone policy. In fact, students adapted to the updated policy better than I anticipated, he said. LCS conducted the online survey the week of Feb. 24. Parents received an email and text notification about the survey on Feb. 24, letting them know that input would be shared with LCS leadership and the LCS Department of Student Services. Staff received notifications about the survey in LCSs internal staff newsletter on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28. Middle and high school students were able to voluntarily participate in the survey in English class during the week of Feb. 24. At the meeting, School Board Vice Chair Martin Day said he has heard about the no-cellphone policys impact on neighboring school districts, where staffers are noticing more interaction and conversations between students. Day asked the Lynchburg principals if they have noticed more interaction between students that is not electronic. Id say the cafeteria is a little louder, Beatty responded. There are more interactions. There are more conversations between students. District 1 board member Daryl Conner said he has received feedback from students who are annoyed they must put their cellphones away for the entire day, while teachers freely use them in the classroom. Teachers will tell students to start a test and then the teacher will immediately start using a cellphone, Conner said. Rule said students have come up to him and said, off and away, when they see him using his cellphone. Fellow District 1 board member Christian DePaul, who participated in Tuesdays meeting remotely, said teachers use of cellphones in the classroom should not be viewed as problematic. Much in the way that adults are allowed to do things that young people are not, I dont know if that is really an issue, DePaul said. If a teacher or an administrator uses anything that a student is not entitled to use, I dont think that is even an issue to be considered in this. The student may perceive an issue of unfairness, but the reality is there are a lot of things that adults can do that students or children cannot, DePaul said. The Lynchburg City Council voted against a motion last month to ask DePaul to resign voluntarily from his position after he admitted to replacing a portrait of former Superintendent Crystal Edwards with an image of a character from the 1985 movie The Goonies, an action local residents said would have led to severe consequences if a student had done it. The incident happened at the end of a meeting of the boards student discipline committee. After learning who defaced the portrait, School Board Chair Atul Gupta appointed Day to replace DePaul on the committee. In the cellphone survey results, among the students who said the new rule has had an impact, the responses leaned slightly toward the negative on the policys effect on their ability to focus in class, its effect on stress and anxiety levels, and its impact on their academic performance. Among parents who also saw differences since the implementation of the new policy on Jan. 6, their responses leaned toward the negative on its impact on the mental health of their children. As for the policys impact on academic performance and social interactions, the responses of parents who said it made a difference leaned slightly toward the positive side. As for teachers, their responses indicated a positive impact on students socialization during non-instructional times of the day. As for the effect on students mental health, the largest number of teachers responded no noticeable change, although close behind were teachers who responded slight improvement and improved [less anxiety and stress]. Nearly 1,500 students participated in the survey and about 470 parents participated. Brown said LCS was pleased with the response rates from students and their parents. On the other hand, Brown said only 69 educators responded to the survey. The school board will hold a work session on March 18 where it will discuss candidates to be the next LCS superintendent. The meeting will not be open to the public or livestreamed because the names of the superintendent candidates must remain confidential. The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on April 1. TOKYO, Mar 06 (News On Japan) - The number of cases involving fraudulent home inspection scams by unscrupulous renovation companies reached a record high in 2024, according to a report by the National Police Agency. These scams, often targeting single-family homes, involve fraudulent contractors offering free roof inspections and then pressuring homeowners into unnecessary repairs under the guise of legitimate renovation work. According to the National Police Agency, there were 66 reported cases of such scams last year, a 1.7-fold increase from the previous year, marking the highest number since statistics began in 2010. A total of 130 individuals were arrested in connection with these cases. Among the 66 cases, 15 were linked to so-called "anonymous and fluid crime groups" (Tokuryu), which recruit individuals through social media to carry out crimes such as burglary. Authorities arrested 56 people involved in these operations. Fraudulent renovation companies primarily target elderly homeowners, often using scare tactics such as claiming that the roof is damaged and urgently needs repair to pressure victims into signing contracts. These scams are difficult to prosecute, as some perpetrators deliberately damage hidden parts of homes to fabricate the need for repairs, making it challenging to gather concrete evidence. Source: TBS Never let the guy with the broom decide how many elephants can be in the parade. Even if I was the guy with the broom, Id have 10 elephants. Youve got to love a parade, and if you or your kids or your grandkids havent already done so, this is the year to be part of the walking party cal Africa continues to bear the heaviest burden of malaria globally, with the disease slashing GDP growth by approximately 1.3 percentage points annually in the most affected nations. This economic drain, resulting from mounting medical costs, widespread absenteeism, and diminished productivity, compounds the public health crisis across the continent. Besides, climate change threatens to worsen the situation dramatically. The Malaria Atlas Project (2025) forecasts that global warming could cause 550,000 additional malaria deaths across Africa by 2049, as flooding and rising temperatures expand mosquito habitats into previously unaffected areas, such as Ethiopias highlands. Yet, despite the existing challenges, several African nations have demonstrated that malaria elimination is achievable. Morocco was among the first countries to receive the World Health Organizations certification as malaria-free in 2010. It was preceded in 1973 by Mauritius, while Egypt and Cape Verde both received the WHO certification in 2023. The economic benefits of elimination are substantial and multifaceted. As put by Olivia Ngou, Executive Director of Impact Africa each dollar invested in malaria control yields a return of forty dollars. Yet the disease continues to cost the continent more than 12 billion dollars annually in lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and economic growth potential. Achieving elimination of the scourge across the continent is within reach, but requires unprecedented collaboration between scientific communities, policymakers, and local populations, supported by significant investments that anticipate and address the impacts of climate change on disease transmission, experts note. In its 2024 Global Malaria Report, WHO reveals a concerning concentration of cases. Nigeria alone accounts for 25.9% of global cases and 30.9% of deaths, with financial losses estimated at $906 million annually. The Democratic Republic of Congo follows with 12.6% of global cases, while Uganda, Ethiopia, and Mozambique round out the top five most affected countries. Together, these nations represent more than half of all worldwide cases. Recent trends show alarming increases in infection rates. Between 2019 and 2023, Ethiopia recorded the sharpest rise with 6.9 million additional cases, closely followed by Nigeria with 6.8 million new cases. None of these countries is currently on track to meet the WHOs 2025 target of reducing malaria incidence and mortality by 75%. Beyond these primary hotspots, several secondary epicenters have emerged. Madagascar saw 4.2 million new cases from 2019 to 2023, while Mali and Cameroon reported increases of 1.4 million and 1.2 million cases respectively. These regions face common challenges: seasonal rainfall creating favorable breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rapid unplanned urbanization leading to stagnant water accumulation, and limited access to rapid diagnostic tools. After nearly two months of intense combat, Puntland forces in Somalia claim to have successfully pushed back Islamic State (IS) militants, dealing significant blows to the terror group in the region. However, despite recent victories, experts warn that the IS may attempt to regroup and continue its operations across the Horn of Africa. The offensive, which began in early February, saw Puntland forces making steady gains against IS fighters, who had entrenched themselves in the rugged mountains of Puntland. After fierce clashes, including the loss of at least 70 militants in a counterattack on the Togjaceel Valley, Puntland forces captured key positions and pushed IS fighters into multiple retreat routes. While IS has suffered heavy casualties, including the death of prominent leaders like Ahmed Maeleninine in airstrikes carried out by US forces, the groups ability to retreat into remote areas may allow them to persist. IS is known for its use of guerilla tactics, which could enable it to launch irregular campaigns against Puntlands forces. Experts caution that the groups ability to regroup, particularly in the mountainous regions, poses a long-term threat. With the support of the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Puntland forces are committed to eliminating IS strongholds, but the challenge remains in securing and holding these territories to prevent a resurgence. The number of IS fighters in Somalia is estimated to be at about 1,600, according to Somali and Western counterterrorism officials, as they have been bolstered by an influx of fighters from Ethiopia, Sudan, Syria, Morocco, Tanzania and Yemen. The fate of IS-Somalias leadership, including Abdul Qadir Mumin, remains uncertain as Puntland continues its offensive. Amnesty International has called on Egyptian authorities to halt reprisals against prisoners at 10th of Ramadan Prison who have been protesting against their arbitrary detention through a hunger strike. The detainees began their strike in early January 2025, demanding the release of those held in pretrial detention for over six months, the right to outdoor exercise, full visitation rights, and the removal of a National Security Agency officer accused of abuse. Following the protest, at least three detainees were transferred to prisons notorious for their harsh conditions, and their personal belongings were confiscated as punishment. Amnesty Internationals Egypt Researcher, Mahmoud Shalaby, condemned the authorities actions, stating that instead of addressing the dire detention conditions at 10th of Ramadan Prison, the government was attempting to silence the prisoners by punishing them. Detainees have reported being denied sunlight and exercise, confined to their cells for 23 hours a day, with only limited, inadequate exercise in a corridor. Family visits are severely restricted, with some prisoners denied visits entirely. In some cases, the authorities have moved detainees to distant prisons as a punitive measure, making it even more difficult for their families to maintain contact. The Egyptian authorities have yet to take meaningful action to address these violations, despite calls from both local and international human rights organizations to allow independent monitoring of detention conditions in the country. Amnesty has reiterated that Egypt must ensure humane conditions in line with international law, including the Nelson Mandela Rules, which govern the treatment of prisoners, and stop punitive measures such as internal exile used to punish detainees and prevent them from communicating with their families or legal representatives. On Wednesday, 5th March 2025, Libyan Interior Minister Emad al-Tarabelsi called on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to help the country and facilitate the voluntary departure of migrants from Libya to their home countries. This came during a meeting the Libyan official held Wednesday with Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Libya and head of UNSMIL The meeting discussed a range of security issues and reviewed the progress of the Ministry of Interiors security plans and ongoing efforts to stabilize the country. Al-Tarabelsi underlined to his interlocuter the negative impact of illegal migration on Libya and other Mediterranean nations, stressing the critical role UNSMIL could play in supporting Libyas voluntary return program for migrants, the Ministry said in a statement. The Interior Minister pointed out that many migrants, primarily from African nations, risk crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Europe due to the ongoing instability in Libya since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafis regime. The International Organization for Migration has reported that 4,204 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya this year alone, while 80 have died attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean route. Al-Tarabelsi warned that without sufficient international assistance, Libya may resort to forced deportation of illegal migrants, highlighting the urgency of addressing the migration crisis in the region. The presidents of Cote dIvoire, Alassane Ouattara, and of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, jointly appealed Wednesday for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to return to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), following their collective withdrawal in January. The three Sahelian nations formally severed ties with the regional bloc after mounting tensions. I propose to serve as a bridge between ECOWAS and these three countries to explore how we can work together, keeping them within the sub-region while transitioning toward constitutional democracy, declared Ghanas President during a visit to Abidjan. His Ivorian counterpart echoed this sentiment, expressing hope that these three brother countries would heed the call for regional unity. The three nations experienced military coups between 2020 and 2023, subsequently forming their own confederation, the Sahel States Alliance. Their dramatic departure from ECOWAS followed a particularly contentious period after the Niger coup in July 2023, when the regional organization threatened military intervention and imposed severe economic sanctions on Niamey. The leadership of the Sahel States Alliance have consistently accused ECOWAS of insufficient support against jihadist violence and alleged subservience to France, with whom they maintain frosty relations. Despite previous mediation attempts by Togo and Senegal, the military governments characterized their departure as irreversible when it took effect on January 29. We stand ready to help them combat terrorism, because when your neighbors house burns, you must help extinguish the fire before it spreads to yours. What unites us far outweighs what divides us, emphasized Ghanas president, who plans to visit all three countries soon. During their meeting, the leaders also discussed defense matters, security concerns, and cocoa economicsthe two nations being the worlds top producers. Saudi Arabia on Wednesday reiterated its unwavering support for Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara, and insisted that it considers the Autonomy Initiative as the only basis to resolve this regional dispute, in full respect of Moroccos sovereignty and territorial integrity. This stance was expressed during the 14th session of the Morocco-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission, held in Mecca, on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia also insisted that any resolution to this regional dispute must come within the framework of Moroccos sovereignty. The Saudi Kingdom also welcomed the pioneering initiatives launched by King Mohammed VI in favor of Africa, including the Royal Initiative to facilitate Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Process of Atlantic African States, and the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project. Saudi Arabia also commended King Mohammed VI for his leadership in strengthening the pillars of sustainable development and consolidating peace, security, and stability across Africa, to meet the aspirations of its peoples for progress and prosperity. In this connection, the Saudi Kingdom praised Moroccos efforts to uphold African partnership with various continental groupings and influential States, based on sound principles. Additionally, Saudi Arabia praised the tireless efforts made by King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to support the Palestinian cause, defend Al-Quds Asharif, preserve its civilizational heritage, and its status as a symbol of tolerance and coexistence among the monotheistic religions. The Kingdom also praised the Sovereigns support for the resilience of Al-Quds inhabitants through humanitarian and social projects implemented by the Rabat-based Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, the executive arm of the Al-Quds Committee. Elon Musk alongside MAGA senator Rick Scott. Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Youd think the man that Donald Trump empowered to tear the federal bureaucracy limb from limb would have taken the trouble to familiarize himself with the procedures available for cutting federal spending in a more orthodox manner. But it seems Elon Musk did not know there was a way to cut current-year spending without unleashing kiddie coders to commandeer federal-agency data and boss around (or fire) personnel, as Axios reports after Musks March 5 meeting with congressional Republicans: Elon Musk and Republican senators are eyeing a package to claw back tens or hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending after meeting in a closed-door lunch on Wednesday. Musk has been leading the charge on spending cuts from the White House. Some lawmakers want to make his actions more permanent by making them law. No decisions have been made, but there was some early, general support for the idea being pushed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) after the lunch. An infamous deficit hawk, Paul pitched Elon Musk on a massive rescission package during a lunch on Wednesday, he told reporters. Such a package would undo federal funding already approved by Congress. The bill would also only require 51 votes to pass the Senate no Democrats needed. Paul said specific numbers werent discussed, but hed like to see $500 billion. Musk was elated at the idea, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told reporters. I think he didnt realize it could be done at 51. What they were talking about is an arcane procedure, called rescissions, established by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 wherein the president can propose clawbacks of unspent current-year appropriations and Congress can approve them on a fast-track vote that cannot be filibustered. Its a counterpart to the future-year cuts obtainable through budget-reconciliation bills, which the Republican-controlled Congress is slowly moving toward enacting later this year. Rescissions should be familiar to Team Trump, since the 45th president proposed a $15 billion package of such cuts in 2018; they passed the House but were rejected by the Senate, as it happens. This time around, rescissions could be immense, as Rand Pauls half-trillion-dollar suggestion indicates. But the real idea is to reassert some sort of congressional involvement in spending decisions currently being made in the executive branch by Musks DOGE, Russ Voughts Office of Management and Budget, and in some cases by agency leaders following directions from Musk and Vought. Congressional authorization of current-year cuts might also help insulate them from judicial cancellation on grounds that Trumps agents are usurping powers constitutionally assigned to the legislative branch, as CNN explains: What we got to do as Republicans is capture their work product, put it in a bill and vote on it, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and chair of the Senate Budget Committee, said, describing how Congress can play a bigger role in implementing DOGE cuts. We need to capture this in the legislative process to make it real. If thats as far as it goes, that might indeed elate Musk, since it means Congress rubber-stamping his work and reducing the amount of time his minions spend being deposed for lawsuits over the legality of DOGEs raids on the deep state. Presumably, congressional Republicans might want some input into the previously chaotic DOGE processes and the chaos and fear they have engendered, not just with respect to federal employees and contractors but among the constituents who depend on the services they provide. But on the other hand, by pursuing rescissions Trumps faithful congressional allies will own DOGEs chainsaw approach to federal spending. An additional problem is the risk of losing a rescission vote, as happened to Republicans in 2018 when two GOP senators voted with Democrats to kill the action. Mike Johnsons entire strategy for surviving 2025 without losing his gavel is to minimize the number of major House floor votes that stress-test his fragile majority. A big rescission package could produce another dangerous moment for House Republicans. Presumably, Russ Vought and the White House will make the real decision about the advisability of a rescissions package. Its possible that they are so very deeply invested in consolidating a vast expansion of executive power that they dont actually want even a rubber-stamp from Congress. But there are some advantages this approach will give them: Once rescissions are proposed, affected spending items are frozen for 45 days until Congress acts upon them, buying time and preventing judicial interventions. Going forward, shifting power from DOGE to agency leadership on the one hand and Congress on the other would free up Elon Musk for whatever task he chooses next. Its sobering to realize that the whole immensely consequential DOGE project was apparently dreamed up by Musk after the November elections and probably took powerful Republicans at both ends of Pennsylvania very much including the president of the United States by surprise. A lot may depend on whether the financial savior of Trumps 2024 campaign keeps at his current self-appointed task or moves on to something equally destructive. Photo: Lev Radin/Sipa USA/AP Photo Though Mayor Eric Adams might soon be clear of his pending legal case, his bid for reelection is still likely to face some challenges. A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found that only 20 percent of New York City voters approve of Adamss handling of his job, with 67 percent saying they disapprove. According to Quinnipiac, this is the lowest mayoral approval rating since the university began polling city voters close to 30 years ago. The poll surveyed 1,260 New York City self-identified registered voters from February 27 to March 3. It didnt end there. On the subject of Adamss corruption case, 40 percent of voters said they believed the mayor did something illegal, while 31 percent said they thought Adams did something unethical but not illegal. Only 13 percent of voters said they think the mayor did nothing wrong. And 56 percent of respondents said they believed Adams should resign from office entirely, while only 35 percent said that he shouldnt. When it came to whether Adamss case should be dismissed as the Justice Department has argued, 63 percent of respondents said the charges shouldnt be dropped, while 25 percent disagreed. The new polling comes as another prominent politician has decided to toss her hat into the ring. Politico reports that City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is joining the mayoral race with plans to officially debut her campaign at a rally in Queens, her home district. I never planned to run for mayor, but Im not giving up on New York City, she said in a statement to the outlet. Our city deserves a leader that serves its people first and always, not someone focused on themselves and their own political interests. The Speaker and the mayor, who arent related, both entered their positions of leadership together in 2022, highlighting a long-standing relationship that goes back to their high-school days. But that dynamic has strained in recent years as the two Adamses have clashed as City Hall and the City Council have found themselves increasingly at odds. The Quinnipiac University poll shows neither Adams at the head of the crowded field at this juncture. When asked who they would support if the Democratic primary was held today, 31 percent of voters said they would back former governor Andrew Cuomo, followed by Mayor Adams with 11 percent, Queens assemblymember Zohran Mamdani with 8 percent, former comptroller Scott Stringer with 6 percent, and current comptroller Brad Lander with 5 percent. Queens state senator Jessica Ramos and Speaker Adams both received 4 percent, while Brooklyn state senator Zellnor Myrie, former hedge-fund manager Whitney Tilson, and former Bronx assemblymember Michael Black were tied with one percent. The survey also included public advocate Jumaane Williams, who is not currently running but would succeed Mayor Adams in the event of a resignation, and he received 7 percent. Photo: Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Redux Weve all been there: You spend time carefully putting together a surprise gift for a loved one, but when they open it up, you can tell they dont really love it. Thats basically what happened to Attorney General Pam Bondi last week but in this case, the recipient was the Trump White House and MAGA conspiracy theorists, and the present was previously released information on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, repackaged into a binder. Donald Trumps new attorney general managed to anger people across the political spectrum last week when she teased the release of new files related to the Epstein investigation on Fox News, only to hand out binders full of previously released documents to far-right influencers, including Mike Cernovich, Liz Wheeler, Jack Posobiec, Rogan OHandley (a.k.a. DC Draino), and Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik. So what was Bondi thinking? On Tuesday, ABC News reported that neither the dozen-plus MAGA influencers nor the senior White House officials who organized the February 27 event were informed of Bondis plans to distribute the Epstein files, as she thought it would be a welcome surprise: Ahead of the Justice Departments public release, Bondi directed her staff to compile binders of the materials to distribute to the influencers at the event, sources said. She also instructed her team not to inform White House officials of the plan, according to multiple sources, apparently thinking the surprise would be well received inside the West Wing. The White House had organized the event a week earlier to engage influential pro-Trump voices who the president credits with aiding his 2024 campaign. According to multiple sources, the agenda never included distributing Epstein-related materials. It seems the viral images of the influencers brandishing the binders which were marked Declassified, though they did not contain official government declassification markings were not part of her plan. Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel unexpectedly handed out the documents at the meeting, then press cameras that were set up to cover British prime minister Keir Starmers visit happened to capture the influencers leaving the White House. Trump does love made-for-TV theatrics, but usually hes the one berating a foreign leader or holding the map-doctoring Sharpie. ABC reports that the incident left White House officials scrambling to smooth things over with some of the presidents most loyal supporters (though Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied that): White House staff moved quickly to try and contain the fallout, privately reaching out to influencers who were critical of Bondi and the move online, according to sources. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, responding to a request for comment from ABC News, said, Everyone is working together as one unified team at the direction of President Trump. Any notion to the contrary is completely false. Either way, it doesnt seem as though Trump himself is too angry about the botched stunt. He gave Bondi and Patel a shout-out during his address to Congress on Tuesday, as he claimed that our justice system has been turned upside down by radical-left lunatics and gestured at Democrats in the room. And Bondi has managed to deflect some of the blame onto the FBIs New York office. After the binders stunt flopped, she accused the office of withholding information about the Epstein investigation without providing evidence to back up that claim. The head of the office, James Dennehy, was forced to submit his resignation the following day. Dennehy said he was not given a reason for this decision. But in addition to clashing with Bondi over the Epstein files, he had angered the Trump administration by publicly supporting bureau leaders who resisted pressure to turn over the names of people who investigated the Capitol riot. In a Monday interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Bondi claimed that the FBI has now turned over a truckload of Epstein files, which the bureau is reviewing as fast as we can. Its a new day, she said. Its a new administration, and everythings going to come out to the public. The public has the right to know. Americans have a right to know. BREAKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi says a "truckload" of Jeffrey Epstein files arrived on Friday, says FBI Director Kash Patel is looking through them now. "We got them all Friday at 8AM. Thousands of pages of documents. I have the FBI going through them." "It's now in the pic.twitter.com/rxABwmO5p2 Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 4, 2025 So while Bondis big surprise may have flopped, alls well that ends well. It looks as if she isnt facing any serious consequences, a well-respected FBI official who annoyed the Trump administration has been let go for unclear reasons, and the search for the (possibly nonexistent) Epstein client list continues. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. Last week, the White House invited a handful of giddy conservative influencers to policy briefings with top administration officials like Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel. The influencers, who included OANN anchor and Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec, Rogan OHandley (a.k.a. DC Draino), and Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik, happily walked away with binders adorned with the Justice Department seal and branded The Epstein Files: Phase 1. It turns out there wasnt any new grist in them for the conspiracy-theory mill. Were all waiting for juicy stuff, and thats not whats in this binder at all, podcaster Liz Wheeler wrote on X. What we were looking for was hidden from us. Still, the Roosevelt Room gathering was indicative of the Trump administrations evolving relationship with the press. These folks have larger followings than most mainstream-media reporters, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X. The media landscape has changed, and we are fully embracing it here at the Trump White House! The influencer briefing came in the midst of one of the most tumultuous periods in recent memory for the Washington press corps, which is not only coping with a nonstop news cycle but battling a White House that has blocked mainstream outlets like the Associated Press from events and, for the first time in a century, said it would determine which news outlets are part of the press pool, long the purview of the independent White House Correspondents Association. And while Trump has always made life difficult for journalists, this time they find themselves divided, squabbling, and unsure whether they even want to present a united front. Said Peter Baker, the New York Times reporter who has been covering the White House for three decades, Its as volatile a moment for the White House press corps as Ive ever seen. The troubles began on February 11, when the White House blocked the Associated Press from an event in the Oval Office; on February 14, the White House made the ban official, saying the AP would be barred from entering the Oval Office and traveling on Air Force One over the news outlets decision to continue using the name Gulf of Mexico for the body of water Trump had recently renamed the Gulf of America. Other news outlets signaled their support for the AP, with dozens, from CNN to the Washington Post to Fox News, signing a letter urging the White House to reverse its decision. But notably, they continued to show up to press events even as their colleagues at the AP could not. After all, they still had a job to do. A few days later, the AP sued Trump officials over the ban, a move that greatly pissed off the White House because it had let an AP photographer (but not a reporter) into an event earlier that week as an olive branch. A few days after that, the White House announced it would also determine the participants in the daily presidential press pool, the small group of reporters allowed to observe the presidents actions and record his remarks in small spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One, then communicate their reporting to the rest of the corps. The makeup of the pool a rotating cast of print and/or online reporters, TV cameramen, and photographers has long been decided by the WHCA, which represents hundreds of correspondents, in part to ensure that friendly outlets are not the only ones to get access to the president. The move was intended to allow new media outlets to share in this awesome responsibility, said Leavitt, who introduced a new media seat in the briefing room during her first presser that so far has been occupied by various journalists, including Axios Mike Allen, Breitbarts Matt Boyle, and Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski. The two actions by the White House made it clear that if journalists do anything Trump doesnt like, they could be kicked out. The implications for the fate of the free press were also clear. There will be a chilling effect. People will be much more careful about what questions they shout, one political reporter said. Americans dont realize its a big deal because they dont understand how Washington works, and they think were privileged anyways. And White House reporters are annoying, but it matters who is, on a day-to-day basis, around Trump to ask questions that the administration hasnt screened or planted. Especially, they noted, because Trump, unlike many other politicians, will actually give you an answer: His advisers will spin you or ignore your calls, but hell just say it. Yet even while reporters agree the White House is way out of line, they dont agree on how to respond. Initially, WHCA president Eugene Daniels said the association would no longer be facilitating the pool now that it is under White House control and that it would be up to each news organization to decide whether it wanted to participate. Daniels explained that, with the White House controlling the process, the WHCA couldnt ensure the veracity of the pool reports. That decision frustrated some reporters, who felt the WHCA was just picking up its ball and going home. What was the association for other than the big fundraising party it throws in April if not for a moment like this? I dont think the solution is to have the White House control complete access, but the WHCA has shit the bed on this, one White House reporter said. We got an email from Eugene basically being like, Youre on your own, heres the questions you should ask the White House, and a lot of reporters were like, Youre the one who is supposed to be asking these questions. At the same time, many also recognize that the association was in a difficult spot, torn between asserting its independence and keeping some semblance of control over the pool. Its a very tough moment, and there are no easy answers for the WHCA and its leaders, another White House reporter said, while acknowledging that a lot of us wanted a more vocal, robust response to meet the moment. Daniels personally is a vulnerable target for right-wing figures in and around the White House as an openly gay Black correspondent for Politico (and soon MSNBC) who was seen as the Kamala Harris whisperer during her presidential run the embodiment, in other words, of a woke press corps the White House is keen to push around. This week, Daniels seemed to revise his initial guidance and announced a new system would be put in place. Basically, the pool reports will resume (though they wont be called pool reports) as long as the White House continues to use poolers who are part of the WHCA. But it remains to be seen what the WHCA will do if the White House picks, say, Posobiec to write the pool report. We dont know how the WH intends to operate, but on the day that they select someone who is not a part of our rotations, we will need to lean on another constituency such as radio, wires, or TV to assist getting that information out, Daniels wrote. So far, the White House has largely kept things running as it did under the WHCA. But it has added some more friendly faces: right-wing broadcaster Brian Glenn, who dates Marjorie Taylor Greene, was picked to be in the Oval Office during Trumps disastrous meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which Glenn asked the Ukrainian president why he wasnt wearing a suit. And the other day, the administration kicked a HuffPost reporter out of the pool. The White House then asked The Wall Street Journal if it wanted to take HuffPosts spot and it said no; later, the White House called Axios, which jumped at the opportunity. It really just feels like theyre trying to pit organizations against each other and make people pick sides, and they know that, one White House reporter said. These are among the calculations news outlets are being forced to make internally: Do they take another outlets spot if the White House offers it? What happens if they are the ones who get kicked out? Conversations ultimately come back to the bigger question for the press with this administration: How far will they go to preserve their independence? That is our larger debate do we continue to participate in this pool or not? said Baker, noting that in doing so, theyre seemingly giving credibility to a government-run press pool, which is an anathema to us. He added, however, If you back out, it means the only questions being asked of the president end up being of the Why are you so great? variety. Where is the line, and who do you trust? You can be a conservative or liberal organization and still be a trustworthy pooler and journalist, Baker said. But increasingly, he noted, youre seeing basically inherently political organizations masquerading as news organizations, calling themselves news organizations, and injecting themselves into our pool. And for the viewer at home watching this, its confusing. They dont know the difference between Marjorie Taylor Greenes boyfriend and the Washington Post. Earlier this week, Jessica Reed Kraus, one of the influencers invited to the Epstein Files briefing, celebrated her official induction into the White House press pool as she joined CBS and Bloomberg to observe Melania Trump at the Capitol. Like members of other groups, journalists are facing a problem of collective action. If not all of us do it collectively, does it have an impact? The truth is, getting all the White House reporters to agree is like herding cats, said Baker. Were competitive; each has our own interests, our own judgments. And a boycott would just give the White House what it wants. For now, reporters appear to be keeping their heads down and hoping the situation wont get worse. We still have access, one White House reporter said. If it turns to a point where the White House is saying CNN cant come in because they didnt like what it said, thats an issue, and the problem is it could turn into that. I dont know if it has. After thinking about it for a moment, the reporter added, With the exception, obviously, of the AP. Int'l Day for Dialogue among Civilizations to be celebrated on June 10: FM spokesperson Xinhua) 09:45, March 06, 2025 BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- On June 10 this year, the international community will celebrate the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks in response to a query regarding the recent launch of an English version of a dedicated website by the United Nations Secretariat for the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Last year, the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a China-proposed resolution to establish the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, Lin noted, adding that this marks the successful implementation of China's Global Civilization Initiative and constitutes a significant contribution to fostering exchanges and dialogues among diverse civilizations, as well as promoting world peace and development. The United Nations recently launched a dedicated website to promote the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. The website is designed to highlight the common values of mankind, raise public awareness of the importance of respecting the diversity of civilizations, and focus on finding solutions to global challenges, Lin said. On June 10 this year, the international community will celebrate the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. As the initiating country, China is ready to work with all parties to implement the spirit of the resolution, hold a variety of celebratory activities, promote exchanges and mutual learning among global civilizations, and better safeguard world peace and promote common development through dialogue among civilizations, Lin said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images Since taking office, Donald Trump and his administration have embarked on an unsparing quest to reduce government spending by making substantial cuts to federal agencies across all sectors. Their efforts have resulted in slashed departmental contracts and programs, as well as mass layoffs of federal workers, in exchange for a questionable amount of savings. Though the cuts have prompted pushback and legal challenges, the presidents Department of Government Efficiency agenda shows no signs of abating and the administration stands poised to institute further cuts to another crucial agency. The Associated Press reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs intends to eliminate at least 80,000 jobs as part of a restructuring of the agency, which provides health care and other benefits and services to American veterans. In an internal memo, VA chief of staff Christopher Syrek outlined goals to return the department to its 2019 staffing levels to resize and tailor the workforce to the mission and revised structure. According to the outlet Government Executive, which first reported on the memo, the VA currently employs 482,000 staffers and would have to eliminate 83,000 jobs to reach its 2019 level of 399,000 workers. Syrek urged agency officials to work alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musks DOGE in these efforts and to move out aggressively while taking a pragmatic and disciplined approach. If implemented, the substantial cuts will impact veterans not just as care recipients but also as employees. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, veterans make up about 30 percent of the federal workforce. Democratic members of the House Appropriations Committee estimate that Musk and Trumps DOGE initiative has resulted in the firing of nearly 6,000 veterans from the overall civilian federal workforce as of late February. Several congressional Democrats sought to highlight this fact on Tuesday by inviting federal workers, many of them veterans, who were fired as a result of the administrations cuts to attend Trumps joint address to Congress as their guests. Last week, Trump was asked about the firings impacting veteran workers during a press conference with Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. The president said he was aware that veterans had been caught up in the layoffs but gave no signal that a change in approach was coming. Were watching that very carefully, and we hope its going to be as small a number as possible. But we are having great success in slimming down our government, he said. Trump continued, We love our veterans. Were gonna take good care of them. President Donald Trump walks from Marine One with Col. Angela Ochoa, commander of the 89th Airlift Wing, to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Trump was traveling to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla. Photo: Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times/Redux In filmmaker Paul Verhoevens adaptation of Starship Troopers, military service guarantees citizenship in a futuristic and fascist regime. The policy is simple: Join the war on the alien bugs or suffer a second-class life. Verhoevens satire worked in part because it echoed real-world politics. Although the American government is a mite less radical than the fanatical world government of Verhoevens film, our politicians have long promised a form of enhanced citizenship to those who fight. The military welfare state supports active-duty servicemembers and their dependents, and once a person separates, theyre eligible for benefits that arent available to anyone else. They can receive affordable health care through the VA or go to college on the GI Bill or apply for a reasonable home loan. If theyre able to work, they might look to the federal government, which offers preferential hiring to veterans. Veterans benefits once seemed like the third rail of American politics, but perhaps no longer. As Elon Musk and his DOGE goons slash away at federal jobs, theyve laid off thousands of veterans with few repercussions to date. Alina Habba, Donald Trumps former attorney and a White House adviser, told reporters on Tuesday that the veterans theyve fired might not be fit to have a job at this moment, or not willing to come to work. She added, And we cant, you know, I wouldnt take money from you and pay somebody and say, Sorry, you know, theyre not going to come to work. Its just not acceptable. A day later, the Associated Press reported that the VA plans to fire about 80,000 workers, a clear threat to veterans care. The news hit home: My husband, a Marine veteran, relies on the VA for his health care. Trumps patriotism has always been bluster, a way to mobilize his base without much of a material commitment to veterans or servicemembers. Thats not so unusual for an American politician, even if most are not as blunt as Trumps adviser, Habba. Anyone can campaign on so-called veterans issues; its much more difficult to reckon with the human cost of our bloody foreign policies. In the absence of moral accountability, the American government offers its youth a fragile bargain instead: Kill the bugs, and well take care of you later. But theres no way to trust a promise that recognizes the humanity of some while denying it to others. What we do on the battlefield and in prisons like Guantanamo Bay reflects the domestic values and priorities of the American government. We have always reserved humane treatment for a select few while we force everyone else to struggle for scraps, though we insist the system is based on merit. Dignity is a luxury, meted out on the basis of race and gender and disability status. In such a country, the benefits we offer veterans rest on a shaky foundation. If health care and housing and education are unique privileges, not universal rights, the government can easily go back on its word. Veterans are only special as long as theyre convenient. In betraying veterans now, the Trump administration merely hastens the inevitable. It has been popular to think of veterans as an exception to centuries of rhetoric and policy that cast people in need as takers and moochers; the uniform has, in theory, distinguished those who bore it from those who belong to a parasitical class. We see now that the uniform never meant all that much and that whats given can be taken away in a flash. But policy does not exist in a void. In this case it depends on a Praetorian culture that achieved new strength in the post-9/11 era. We honor the troops with parades and flags and discounts at Applebees, as if no form of citizenship is entirely separate from consumer identity. Members of both parties brandish the uniform to win office and curry favor not just with veterans themselves but with moderate and conservative voters who say they respect the military. By definition, American Praetorianism singles out military service for special treatment, almost sanctification. That can be powerful, but for whom? Although millions of people have achieved middle class stability thanks to the military welfare state and veterans benefits, their rise always depended on the whims of the government. An administration that is poised to damage Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid is an administration that can strip veterans of everything we said they had earned. Habbas comments are remarkable because she is telling us the truth about the order of things. Veterans remain subject to political forces that prioritize profit margins over human life and dignity. With each week that passes, it becomes harder to deny that Elon Musks billions carry more weight than the uniform ever could. It is similarly no coincidence that the administration is purging veterans from the federal workforce while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks of lethality and warfighting. This is a cruel ideology, which treats humanity as a trait it can bestow or rescind. No one is safe, not even the troops. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Dominique Pariso Welcome to Jeans Month on the Strategist, where were obsessively vetting denim from trying on every pair at the Gap to asking dozens of stylish people about their favorite fits. For more, head to our Jeans Month hub. Shopping for jeans is tough. Shopping for plus-size jeans, while once nearly impossible, has gotten easier over the years as more brands have started to offer extended sizing. However, most brands still only offer 100 percent cotton denim up to a size 32. Stretch denim which adds elastane, spandex, or Lycra to cotton is more forgiving when it comes to fit. But in my experience, it never holds its shape and never lasts for more than a year because the elastane weakens the cotton. One hundred percent cotton denim, on the other hand, is quite rigid on first wear and requires a breaking-in period, but over time, the jeans mold to your body, creating a much nicer shape, and they last much longer. Photo: Dominique Pariso I hunted for a dream pair of non-stretch denim for years. And one day, I found them at a Mara Hoffman sample sale. Not too long, not too cropped. One hundred percent cotton, high-rise with a straight leg, and a button-fly closure. The Georgina Pant was perfect. They look like they were made specifically for you, my best friend had said. The following year, I bought a second pair, confident in the knowledge I had finally found a place to buy jeans. Then the brand shut down. While I take excellent care of my precious pants, one day soon I will wear holes into the inner thighs of my beloved Georginas. I cant fight friction forever. So its time to go back to the drawing board and find their replacement. For context: Im five-foot-six with a 32-inch inseam, and usually wear a size 18 in pants. But with a 39.5-inch waist and 53-inch hips, I have a pretty large hip-to-waist ratio, which makes it hard to find jeans without a waist gap that will still fit over my hips and thighs. I tried on 17 pairs of jeans in a variety of styles. Overall, it was disappointing to see how the plus-size selections have shrunk this past year and how few options there were. But I found a few pairs that came close to fulfilling the brief and one pair that actually blew me away. The Cropped Jeans Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. Wray Hester Jean $175 $175 Wray NYC has an adorable storefront on the Lower East Side that is definitely worth a visit, as they keep a robust stock of all their plus sizes in addition to their straight-size clothes, which is not something you can say for a lot of brands. Their salespeople are also wonderful, and the service is top notch. Its actually a joy to try on clothes here. I tried on the Hester Jean and was very taken by the contrast orange stitching and the brands nifty, adjustable elastic waistline. It offers the option of wearing the jeans looser or tighter but, unlike Big Bud Press, its been sewn into the waistline so you cant see it. The jeans are definitely cropped on my frame, but if youre petite, these are a great option. $175 at Wray Buy Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. Lucy and Yak Drew Cropped Jean $65 $65 Its probably no surprise that the Drew Cropped Jean from British-based brand Lucy and Yak is, well, cropped. Though it is slightly less cropped than the Hester Jean, I prefer a pair that doesnt show my ankles. These jeans are made from 100 percent GOTS Certified Organic cotton denim and have a non-elastic waist. $65 at Lucy & Yak Buy The Carpenter Pair Photo: Dominique Pariso Photo: Dominique Pariso New! You can now save this product for later. Big Bud Press Carpenter Jeans, Dark Wash $155 $155 The Big Bud Press trouser jeans looked like a diaper on me, but the carpenter jeans fit much better. At 14.5 ounces, they had the thickest, most rugged denim of all the jeans I tried on. The only flaw is that the back of the waistband is elastic, which takes the jeans from workwear to kindergarten very fast. We can do better! $155 at Big Bud Buy The Barrel Jeans Saved View New! You can now save this product for later. Abercrombie Curve Love Mid-Rise Barrel Jean $90 $90 If my high-school self could see me trying on Abercrombie jeans, she would laugh. But the brands more size-inclusive image has been going strong for a few years now, the crown jewel of which is the Curve Love line, which is designed to accommodate curvier hips and thighs without any waist-gapping. However, almost all of Abercrombies Curve Love offerings feature stretch denim. The one pair I was able to find in non-stretch made it over my hips and fit through my leg but, once buttoned, left a pretty significant waist gap, so I would have to get them taken in. $90 at Abercrombie and Fitch Buy The Runner-up Photo: Dominique Pariso Photo: Dominique Pariso New! You can now save this product for later. Eloquii The Loose Fit Jean $67 $67 Because Eloquii only makes clothes for sizes 12 to 34, they had a large selection of denim to choose from. I liked both the Tall Cuff Jean and theYvette Rigid Wide Leg Jean (though the former was unsurprisingly too long), but I was very happy with the brands Loose Fit Jean. While the denim wasnt as thick as I wouldve liked and there was no button fly, I did like the loose fit through the leg. And the $100 price point is hard to beat. $67 at Amazon Buy $100 at Eloquii Buy The Winner Photo: Dominique Pariso Photo: Dominique Pariso New! You can now save this product for later. Decade Studio Andy Jean $244 $244 Decade Studio is based out of Vancouver, but it was in New York for a trade show, so I trekked out to Chelsea to try on a few pairs. The brand designs its pants with different hip-to-waist ratios in mind, which seemed super-promising. The second I buttoned up the Andy Jean, I knew I had found my perfect match. They have a high-rise waist with a straight leg. They are made with 100 percent cotton sourced from an Italian mill and have a sturdy 13.5 ounce weight. They also have the nonnegotiable five-button fly I was after. After the first few wears, they started to break in beautifully, and I look forward to seeing how they continue to shape to my body over time. They do run a bit long, but I actually love the way they looked cuffed, which surprised me. And while the price tag is a bit steep, they feel like jeans Ill have for the rest of my life. I never thought Id love again after Georgina, but Andy has proven me wrong. $244 at Decade Studio Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Theragun comes up quite a lot, especially with celebrities (Sasheer Zamata, for example, swears by it). Strategist associate editor Jeremy Rellosa also named it the best portable massage gun, noting that it offers an effective massage despite its tiny size. I can get closer to the muscle and apply more pressure to my body, and in this way it gives me more control than other massage devices with gun-style handles, he says. The latest iteration of the mini is even smaller and lighter than the original but offers the same muscle relief. I have the potential to gain both German and Polish citizenship through my holocaust survivor grandparents. It's a very personal decision to reclaim citizenship for the relatives of survivors tbh. I have mixed feelings about it. Edited at 2025-03-05 11:12 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link i do too, and ill never do it. my grandparents hated poland with every fiber of their being. even after the war, they were treated so horribly by polish people. they would be rolling in their grave if they knew i lived there or became a citizen. Reply Parent Thread Link A friend had the right for German citizenship but his grandma who survived the holocaust was very vocal about it, so the family (along with her knowledge of it) decided to wait for her passing to obtain it. He had no feelings of proud of being German, just wanted for easy access to the EU to potentially live and work there, plus its a much stronger passport than ours. Im doing the same but through Italian descent bc you never know, I like having my options open Reply Parent Thread Link Im not Jewish so Ill never fully understand the feelings that come along with that, but I can totally see the several sides to citizenship by Holocaust survivors. It feels sometimes like sorry we killed your people here have citizenship but also I can understand the perspective that someone might be regaining something that was taken away from them because they didnt have any other option. Interesting topic nonetheless tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link Good for him, even though he is a celeb he seems really into it. I am Chinese and not talented like Eileen Gu so I can't get a Chinese passport, nor do I want one tbh. Reply Thread Link He does seem very enthusiastic about it and has for a while. Hopefully spending more time here (if he intends to) will not damper his enthusiasm. Then again, Polish people complain about Poland more than anybody else. For all our flaws, we're not the worst country out there and things are better than, say, 20 or even 10 years ago. (except for the general international situation, obviously) Plus some issues, like the housing prices, will obviously not be a problem for him. I do hope he votes in the presidential election and votes CORRECTLY. Reply Thread Link Speaking of the upcoming election, on my way to work a few weeks ago I saw some men with signs saying Krzysztof Stanowski for president, embarrassing. Reply Parent Thread Link (I thought I replied to you but I just saw I didn't, sorry!) I think Stanowski has zero chance of winning, so I don't mind people voting for him - at least they won't be voting for Mentzen. Reply Parent Thread Link For lgbtqa+ people its one of the worst European countries to live in right now sorry to say. Reply Parent Thread Link hmmm my partner is of polish descent... Reply Thread Link Hmm, my grandparents were from Poland. Easier to get alternate citizenship that way than via my friend from Ireland who offered to lend me his son for a while. Nice offer though. Reply Thread Link Wish other European countries were that lax about citizenship. Aren't my ancestry.com results enough??? Reply Thread Link italy has similar requirements for citizenship by decent, i don't think they make it very easy for people though iirc Reply Parent Thread Link They make the requirements unclear and convoluted, but the bigger problem is that Italian consulates take forever to do anything and never give out a lot of appointment bookings. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I knew someone who had an Irish passport despite having never gone there. He got it through his grandparents Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I know a man who gained Irish citizenship a few years ago and now his daughters and grandkids can, if they havent already. And one of my close friends just had her interview with the Spanish consul in December. So jealous. Reply Parent Thread Link if my parents didn't immigrate to the US, I could have easier access to Spanish citizenship just being born in a former colony and the annoyanceI've had about not being that lucky since our current dickhead leader was elected the first time is real Reply Parent Thread Link just a note re: polish citizenship it has to be a direct relation who: - resided in poland post 1920 - retained polish citizenship until they died - were alive at the time of your birth Reply Thread Link My great grandfather was from a very small town outside odz, but he noped out of Poland when he was 18 so I would not qualify. That part of Poland was in the Pale of Settlement so not very accommodating to Jews. Like Jesse, my family were Polish and Ukrainian Jews. Reply Parent Thread Link Ok, I meet all of these requirements, but I guess you have to have many documents to prove this? Reply Parent Thread Link yes. i had to go through a similar process to certify my canadian citizenship, i needed 70+ year old documents from quebec and nb so i hired an investigator to obtain the necessary records. that won't be financially feasible for everyone but if you can/want to go that route i am sure you could find someone similar to help in poland Reply Parent Thread Link Wait really? My great grandparents came from Poland, although Im not sure when. I miss living in a place with Polish immigrants. I didnt even remember it was paczki day yesterday until I saw Big Gretchs post on Instagram. Edited at 2025-03-05 11:38 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link In Poland we eat paczki on Fat Thursday, I didn't even have to buy any last week because our company ordered a lot. During the year I eat them rarely but when Fat Thursday comes, there's no holding back. lol Reply Parent Thread Link Ive had other things in my plate do I didnt get to find a place order for paczki day. We moved a few months ago and I wasnt going to drive to my old neighborhood in a Tuesday and stand in line. I did go to a place called Polish Paczki Cafe last Thursday to get some, but the line had 15 people in it, apparently two people rain and fulfilling orders and I dont know what the hell was making them so slow but my toddler was not going to sit there for 20-30 more minutes. They had ONE flavor; I do not understand what the deal was. Edited at 2025-03-06 03:57 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link i could get italian citizenship through my grandfather on my mother's side but i have been no-contact with her for 12 years so i don't really have a good way to get the information i'd need. my dad's father's family left germany when hitler rose to power, but they weren't jewish so i don't think i qualify for citizenship. Reply Thread Link I did a lot of my research for Italian citizenship through familysearch.org! Maybe it could help you Reply Parent Thread Link My mom was born in France but left when she was a baby. I have her birth certificate but I don't think it's enough for my brother and I to get citizenship. Her parents were Canadians who were just in France at the time. Even though she left as a baby and never went back (so never worked there or anything), we did get some pension papers from France after she died. We're not even sure how they were notified? Maybe her death certificate got registered somewhere?? A mystery. We figured she wouldn't have been entitled to anything anyway and we were so overwhelmed with other paperwork at the time that we just ignored them. Reply Thread Link For France: Automatic - born within the country to at least one French national - born abroad to at least one French parent - born in France to foreign parents are automatically granted French nationality at age 18 if they are domiciled in France and have been resident in the country for at least five years since age 11 Aquired: - you can always ask for naturalisation (happened fairly often post war - my grand pa was a political refugee/Asylum seeker) - through mariage Reply Parent Thread Link I really liked A Real Pain! I saw it on Monday. Kieran was really fantastic. I'm in the process of getting an Italian passport right now! Reply Thread Link Any chance youre looking for a wife Reply Parent Thread Link lol well, as luck would have it Reply Parent Thread Expand Link What is that process? Is it really hard? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My parents both qualify for citizenship in Poland and Germany, but when I brought it up they just doubled down on Trump nonsense. I can't qualify on my own. Reply Thread Link They wont even go for the ease of travel argument? I would be sooo frustrated if I was that close yet it was still out of reach. Reply Parent Thread Link Nope, once they heard an iota of anxiety from me they wanted to be able to hold it over me. My parents are shit but Ive been able to cut them off nearly entirely, but this also means when they can have power over me they exploit it to the fullest. Reply Parent Thread Link That's awesome. I had a Polish classmate in first grade who immigrated to the US halfway through the school year. He and his family were really kind and always told stories about their lives there. I still think about them from time to time and hope they're well. I have Philippine citizenship through my mom but we still need to submit my application, which is a huge priority of mine this year. Reply Thread Link I have always been curious about how this would work (if even possible) for me because my grandpa immigrated to Canada and he always said he was Ukrainian. However, when I was looking through his documents about 10+ years ago, his passport was Polish (not sure if my uncle has his birth cert). I asked my mom and she was floored because she had never heard that before. Turns out where he was born, got invaded during the first world war and the border shifted. So when his passport was issued (he came over in 1928), the land was Poland. Some time later, probably after WWII, it went back to Ukraine because when I look it up now, that's where it states. Reply Thread Link That is so interesting. Reply Parent Thread Link I've been researching my family history and it's difficult to do largely because of the Russian Empire. Borders in eastern Europe were constantly shifting. The country of birth was changing between Russia and Ukraine, Poland or Lithuania on census forms as decades passed. Reply Parent Thread Link My mom is Ukrainian, but she has Polish citizenship because she grew up in a town right on the Polish/Ukrainian border that was either part of Poland or Ukraine at different times. Reply Parent Thread Link The quick answer is when WWI ended and they gave Poland its country back it gave it a bigger border than modern Poland. Then post WWII the borders changed and a chunk was given to modern day Ukraine. Close to Lviv, Ukraine and that general border region is historically a mix of Poles, Ukrainians, Jews and some German/Austrians due it being apart of the Austrian partition of Poland. Its super culturally rich area. My family is from SE Poland and my great great grandparents from the region spoke Polish and a little bit of German because of it. Reply Parent Thread Link I understand the war (majored in history at a smaller canadian university with little diversity outside of the world wars/military history) - I meant, if I were to pursue trying to get citizenship, I dont know if it would be Polish or Ukrainian given my grandpa claimed Ukrainian and it may have been when he was born but the one piece of paperwork Ive seen is Polish. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yeah there's a lot of border towns that did the Hokey Pokey historically Reply Parent Thread Link Is your family from Galicia or Lodomeria, by chance? My Oma had Poland listed on her passport as place of birth, but her nationality was German (really should be Austrian... but that's a longer story). When she was born it was Poland, when her grandparents moved there it was Austria-Hungary, and when they left Germany after 1945 it was in western Ukraine. I can still find it on Google maps (the town/hamlet/whatever was named after her Grandfather), including the family cemetery for her fathers side, full of people I have heard about my entire life. Reply Parent Thread Link Talks on resuming Iraqi oil flows to Turkey once again have ended in deadlock for the second time in a week despite Washington applying pressure to Iraq to resume the exports, Reuters has reported. Export flows to Turkiye's Ceyhan port stopped two and half years ago after Ankara halted Iraqs 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of exports through the Iraq-Turkiye pipeline following an ICC ruling that Turkiye should pay Baghdad damages of $1.5 billion for unauthorized exports by the KRG. The stoppage is estimated to have cost the KRG billions of dollars. Iraq is OPECs second largest producer after Saudi Arabia. Iraq's economy relies heavily on crude oil exports, with crude accounting for more than 90 percent of the country's revenues. However, its not all doom and gloom for Iraqs beleaguered energy sector. Last year, British Oil & Gas giant BP Plc (NYSE:BP) agreed to develop Iraq's Kirkuk oil and gas fields based on a profit-sharing model, Iraqi oil ministry officials revealed. According to the officials, Kirkuk oil fields are currently producing 245,000 barrels of crude per day. Meanwhile, French oil and gas multinational TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) reached an agreement with the government of Iraq to start a long-delayed $27 billion energy project. Total first signed a deal with the Iraqi government in 2021 that would see Total build four oil, gas and renewables projects in southern Iraq over 25 years with an initial investment of $10 billion. Unfortunately the giant project was shelved amid disputes and squabbling between Iraqi politicians over terms of the deal. However, Iraq finally agreed to a smaller 30% stake in the project, setting in motion a deal that could lure foreign investment back into the country. After years of instability, Iraq has been enjoying a period of relative stability, increasing the chances of foreign investors returning to the country. "The government of Iraq confirmed the whole contract, no modification at all ... so that was for me more than good news," Total Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne has told Reuters. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Latin America has long been a dominant force in the global energy market, built on vast oil and gas reserves. While the world increasingly eyes renewable sources of energy for the future, hydrocarbons remain the bedrock of economic stability for the region. As energy demand evolves, national oil companies (NOCs) must not forsake oil, but rather ensure its competitiveness while prudently exploring emerging energy markets. The challenge is not whether hydrocarbons have a future, but how regional NOCs can harness their expertise to safeguard Latin Americas standing in the global energy landscape. For Latin Americas NOCs, oil and gas are not merely commodities, but are lifelines of national prosperity. Brazils Petrobras, Mexicos Pemex, and Colombias Ecopetrol have generated vital revenues over the years, providing energy security and sustaining domestic industry. Schreiner Parker, Managing Director for Latin America For Latin Americas NOCs, oil and gas are not merely commodities, but are lifelines of national prosperity. Brazils Petrobras, Mexicos Pemex, and Colombias Ecopetrol have generated vital revenues over the years, providing energy security and sustaining domestic industry. Despite all the buzz around renewables, global oil demand remains robust, particularly in transport, heavy industry, and petrochemicals, and will continue to grow into the next decade. To remain relevant, Latin American NOCs must double down on efficiency, embrace cutting-edge extraction techniques, and adopt cleaner production methods to ensure the hydrocarbons they produce retain their edge in an increasingly scrutinized market. Natural gas, a pragmatic "bridge fuel", offers another key opportunity. With plentiful reserves, Latin America is well-placed to expand liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports while keeping the lights on at home. Meanwhile, investment in refining and petrochemicals would allow the region to extract more value from its crude rather than merely shipping it off in barrels and hoping for the best. Latin America has historically played a formidable role in shaping global energy markets. Venezuela and Mexico were among the original oil powerhouses, while Brazils deepwater discoveries and Argentinas Vaca Muerta shale play have reaffirmed the regions relevance. These resources remain invaluable, but history has shown that riding the booms and busts of commodity cycles is no way to build a resilient economy. Latin American NOCs must, therefore, look beyond just exploration and production and will need to integrate new revenue streams into their businesses while keeping hydrocarbons at the heart of the equation. That said, it would be reckless to dismiss renewables altogether. Latin America already boasts some of the greenest energy grids on the planet, on the back of its abundant hydropower. Rather than treating this as an either-or proposition, regional NOCs should see renewables as a strategic complement to their existing portfolios. Green hydrogen, even with its current long-distance transportation issues, proves a prescient example of what the commodity of the future could be for Latin America. With its vast renewable resources, coupled with its low demand density, the region could become a major supplier and exporter of green hydrogen, provided the infrastructure and investment are in place. Lithium, critical for battery production, presents another tantalizing opportunity but only if managed sustainably and with a keen eye on long-term profitability rather than a short-lived gold rush. The smartest path forward is not some radical transformation but a pragmatic, integrated approach one that ensures hydrocarbons remain the mainstay while capitalizing on green energy where it makes good business sense. For Latin Americas NOCs, the future is not about abandoning oil but instead about making it better, cleaner, and more profitable while keeping an eye on new frontiers. By optimizing production, embracing technological innovation, and selectively investing in renewables, these companies can secure their place in the global energy hierarchy for decades to come. The world still needs hydrocarbons, and Latin America has plenty to offer. The challenge now is to ensure it remains a supplier of choice rather than just another name on a lengthy list of resource exporters. By W. Schreiner Parker, Managing Director for Latin America at Rystad Energy More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Abu Dhabis national oil company ADNOC has made its first trades via the S&P Global Platts pricing process for Dubai crude oil, in a rare move for a Middle Eastern producer, traders told Reuters on Thursday. Dubai crude is a key benchmark for setting the price of oil in the Middle East and the pricing of the crude that most Middle Eastern exporters sell to Asia. It is unusual that a producer in the Middle East takes part in trades that underpin the price of the crude produced in its own region, according to the trading sources who spoke to Reuters. ADNOC has bought crude from BP and Trafigura at $70.25 a barrel, the traders said. The Oman/Dubai average is used by Middle Eastern exporters to price their crude going to Asia. The price movements of the Dubai and Oman crude are key in the decision-making process of Saudi Aramco, the worlds single biggest crude exporter, when it sets the price of its oil going to Asia. Saudi Arabia typically announces around the fifth of each month its crude pricing for the following month and doesnt comment on price changes. It also sets the tone for the pricing to Asia of the other major oil producers in the Middle East. The price of the flagship Saudi crude, Arab Light, for March was hiked last month to the most in over two years, over the Oman and Dubai benchmarks, as premiums for Middle Eastern crude rose at the start of 2025 amid the U.S. sanctions on Russian crude trade. Last week, Asian refining sources in a Reuters poll expected Saudi Arabia to slightly reduce the price of Arab Light loading for Asia in April, due to a minor pullback in Middle Eastern benchmarks. Asian refiners expect Arab Light to be priced at $3.25-3.70 a barrel above the average Oman/Dubai prices, down from the $3.90 for March. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chinas North Petroleum International Company (NPIC) last week signalled its intention to dramatically increase its presence in Egypts energy sector. An initial US$100 million is earmarked to acquire new concessions and establish partnerships in the gas and oil sectors of Egypts Western Desert and offshore areas, according to comments the firms regional director Sun Bao. This funding is only the opening salvo in a planned investment push from China into the strategically crucial country, a senior source in the European Unions (E.U.) energy security complex exclusively told OilPrice.com last week. Beijing has set aside billions of dollars to build its presence in Egypt starting from now, which will initially focus on the energy sector before broadening out into the range of other projects commonly seen in priority one BRI [Belt and Road Initiative] targets, he said. Perhaps the main reason for Chinas interest in significantly expanding its presence in Egypt is that the country became a key focus of the Wests attempts to secure gas supplies to help compensate for those lost from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and so it remains. U.S. and European investments poured into the country that holds a uniquely strategic position as part of North Africa, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, beginning most notably with Chevron. The oil and gas behemoth quickly expanded on its initial presence there before announcing in December 2022 that it had hit at least 99 billion cubic metres of gas with its Nargis-1 exploration well in Egypts eastern Nile Delta, about 60 kilometres north of the Sinai Peninsula. Following that, Italys Eni announced a potentially huge offshore gas field in its concession area in the Red Sea focused as well on the Nargis-1 site. According to the president of Chevron International Exploration and Production, Clay Neff: The East Mediterranean has abundant energy resources, and their development is driving strategic collaboration in the region. These entry points effected into Egypts gas sector by the U.S. and Europe have since been broadened and deepened by the U.K.s Shell and BP. The latter said recently that it will invest US$3.5 billion in the exploration and development of Egypts gas fields in the coming three years. This amount could be doubled if the exploration activity yields new discoveries. Meanwhile, Shell began the development of the tenth phase of Egypts Nile Delta offshore West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) concession in the Mediterranean Sea. This came after the British firm and its partner had developed the previous nine development phases of the WDDM concession that comprises 17 gas fields. Related: Russian Oil Supply To Czech Republic Cut Amid U.S. Sanctions The West, like China, is also well aware of Egypts unique strategic importance on several levels. For a start, it is the only country in the Eastern Mediterranean gas hotspot region with an operational liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity and is consequently ideally placed to become the top regional export hub for the gas. Crucially as well, its geographic positioning means it controls the major global shipping chokepoint of the Suez Canal, through which around 10% of the worlds oil and LNG is moved. It also controls the vital Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline, which runs from the Ain Sokhna terminal in the Gulf of Suez, near the Red Sea, to Sidi Kerir port, west of Alexandria in the Mediterranean Sea. This is a vital alternative to the Suez Canal for transporting oil from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. The Suez Canals importance to the global energy sector is further boosted by the fact that Egypt is currently one of the very few major transit points that is not controlled by China. Specifically, Beijing already has effective control over the Strait of Hormuz through the all-encompassing Iran-China 25-Year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement, as first revealed anywhere in the world in my 3 September 2019 article on the subject and analysed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. The same deal also gives China a hold over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, through which commodities are shipped upwards through the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal before moving into the Mediterranean and then westwards. This has been achieved as it lies between Yemen (the Houthis having long been supported by Iran) and Djibouti (over which China has also established a stranglehold through debts connected to its multi-generational power-grab BRI project). As important as any of these factors from the Wests geopolitical perspective is that Egypt has long been seen in the Arab world as at least as much of a leader of it as Saudi Arabia. It was a leading proponent of the Pan-Arab ideology which held that the enduring strength of the Arab world can only be found in the political, cultural, and socioeconomic unity of the Arab peoples in their various locations that emerged after the two World Wars. The idea found one of its two key champions in Egypts president from 1954 to 1970, Gamal Nasser. Among the most palpable signs of this movement at the time was the formation of the United Arab Republic union formed between Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961, the formation of OPEC in 1960, the series of conflicts with neighbouring Israel over the period, and then the 1973/74 oil embargo, as also analysed in full in my latest book. By bringing this leader of the Arab world on side, the West hoped to offset the geopolitical impact of long-term ally Saudi Arabias drift into the China-Russia sphere of influence. For its part, Egypt could well be seen by Beijing as the one that got away, so focused was it on securing its immediate post-Ukraine invasion energy supplies from other countries in the Middle East, most notably Qatar. NPIC began its operations in Egypt in 2014 with the intention being for it to rapidly expand its presence in the Eastern Desert and the Suez Canal areas, as part of a broader strategic energy push in the country led in part by NPICs parent company, ZhenHua Oil. This huge conglomerate is in turn the energy exploration and production arm of Chinese defence giant Norinco. Under international law, foreign energy firms are legally entitled to station as many of its own personnel on gas and oil sites including as many security staff as they want, in order to safeguard their investments on the ground, as also detailed in full in my latest book. China has stretched the legal point by including in its high-level government-to-government long-term relationship deals the right to build out transport routes (including airports, seaports and railway networks) that are also protected by Chinese security personnel when and wherever they are required. Beijings Egypt expansion programme under the umbrella of the BRI were a lower priority back in 2014 than its plans for the heart of the Middle East and the regions biggest oil deposits in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Consequently, NPICs plans in the Eastern Desert and the Suez Canal areas were not fully realised. However, last year saw the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership to run until the end of 2028. This agreement foresees multi-billion-dollar investment by Chinese firms into Egypt in energy, infrastructure, and technology. It also includes provisions for increased cooperation in new sectors, including technology, artificial intelligence, and defence. This roadmap to an enhanced relationship between Egypt and China has not gone unnoticed by the West. Recent weeks have seen a flurry of investment activity into Egypt. U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil recently announced a new natural gas discovery in the Nefertari-1 well in the North Marakia Block, located five miles off Egypts northern coast. Two further exploratory gas wells at the Cairo and Misri concessions in Egyptian waters in the Mediterranean Sea area will be drilled in the first quarter of 2026 at an initial cost of US$240 million. Even more potentially significant was the very recent announcement by Chevron that a development and production plan has been approved to establish a floating production unit within Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone with a pipeline to export gas to Egypt. This will build on the existing Cyprus-Egypt gas connections that allow Cyprus to export gas to Egypt for processing and re-export to Europe. This further cements Egypt as a key energy hub in the Wests Eastern Mediterranean gas supply complex, which in turn is vital to Europes future energy security. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com Turkmenistan has initiated a gas swap arrangement with Iran and Turkey, marking the first time Turkmen gas is flowing westward and bypassing Russia. Turkmenistan is trying to shed its long-standing image as a hermit kingdom, at least when it comes to natural gas exports. Over the past few months, Ashgabat has gone on a deal-making binge that, over the long term, could significantly alter the European Unions energy-import pattern. The centerpiece of Turkmenistans gas export diversification push is a swap arrangement with Iran and Turkey under which Ashgabat is expected to supply Ankara with 1.3 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas by the end of 2025, with annual supplies slated to increase to 2 bcm in following years. The gas started flowing on March 1. Regional analysts noted that the Turkish supply deal is the first of its kind in which Turkmen gas heads West along a route that bypasses Russia. According to some projections, the volume of Turkmen exports to Turkey and beyond to the European Union could reach 65 bcm within the next 25 years. The swap arrangement at present supplies only modest volumes [to Turkey], [but] its strategic significance lies in strengthening Europes energy diversification, wrote political analyst Rauf Mammadov in a commentary published by the Anadolu News Agency. It potentially provides European nations with greater leverage in future energy negotiations, particularly if Russian gas supplies are reinstated. Another regional observer, Hikmet Eren, head of the EkoAvrasya Foundation, an Ankara-based non-profit entity dedicated to promoting stronger ties among Turkic states, characterized the Turkish-Turkmen deal as capable of altering the EUs center of gravity, in terms of energy imports. The step taken today is not just a commercial agreement; it has the potential to redefine regional power balances, Eren told the Turkiye Today news outlet on March 3. In addition to the Turkish gas-swap arrangement, Turkmenistan is set to expand exports to neighboring states, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Kazakh state-run gas company QazaqGaz announced it is accelerating expansion of a pipeline connecting the two countries that will double the volume of Turkmen gas exports. QazaqGaz chief executive Sanzhar Zharkeshov also visited Ashgabat on February 28 for discussions on joint exploration and production projects. Both sides agreed to accelerate the work of their joint expert group to ensure effective cooperation, according to a statement issued by QazaqGaz. This meeting marked a natural progression of high-level strategic agreements previously reached between the two countries. Turkmenistan possesses what are estimated to be the worlds fifth largest proven reserves of natural gas and features what watchdog groups say is one of the worlds most repressive political systems. Until recently, Turkmen leaders had been reluctant to strike deals to send gas westward, with most the countrys exports heading to Russia and China. Regional experts believe that Turkmen wariness of engaging Western companies was rooted in a desire to seal the country off from foreign influence. One regional observer recently described Turkmenistan as arguably the second most insular state in the world after North Korea. A country analysis prepared by the Germany-based Bertelsmann Foundation suggests economic pressures are pushing the Turkmen leadership to open the country economically and diversify trade, although it emphasizes the goal of these activities is not to democratize the political system. For the last decade, the country has been gripped by economic dysfunction that is impoverishing a widening sector of Turkmen society via high losses of purchasing power [and] a lack of affordable food supplies, exacerbated by skyrocketing unemployment, the report states. It goes on to say the country has the resources to reverse the current trend. The energy sector gives the government considerable potential for budget revenues and for boosting the economy, but a lack of political will to maximize available economic resources has hindered the country from developing a targeted and sustainable economic policy. It may be that Turkmen leaders have determined that robust economic engagement with the outside world offers the incumbent regime the best chance of enduring. Not only has Ashgabat demonstrated heightened interest in expanding its gas export options, but also in closer integration with emerging East-West trade networks. The Bertelsman country report notes that Turkmenistan badly needs financing for natural gas and other industrial projects and the leadership sees transit business as a potentially rich source of income. The analysis also asserts the government aims to demonstrate to the Turkmenistan people that the countrys policies have high value internationally. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com European leaders are set to urge EU authorities and Ukraine to intensify talks over a possible resumption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. Slovakias Prime Minister Robert Fico has revealed that hes not ruling out the resumption of gas through Ukraine following the expiration of a 5-year transit deal between Moscow and Kyiv. Fico has been pushing President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to restart the transit, citing higher energy costs for Slovakia and the whole region. European Union leaders met on Thursday for an extraordinary summit to discuss Ukraine and European defence. The pipeline that runs through Slovakia has a capacity of 100 billion cubic meters, Fico told reporters in Brussels. I want to do everything to ensure it is used in the future, he added. Last year, Moscow said its open to another gas deal with Ukraine. Back in November, Russia said its willing to continue supplying gas to Europe via Ukraine if Kyiv and the involved European countries can come to an agreement. "Of course, in my opinion, the European countries that currently receive gas through this corridor are interested in continuing such cooperation," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who is in charge of Russia's energy policy, told reporters "We are ready to supply (gas), but not much depends on us, so probably this should be negotiated directly between the users and the country through which the transit is provided." Ukraine is set to lose up to $1 billion a year in transit fees from Russia-- which it hopes to offset by quadrupling its domestic gas transmission tariffs for consumers--while Gazprom will lose close to $5 billion in gas sales. Ukraine gas amounted to 5% of total EU gas imports. European natural gas futures rebounded to 41.5/MWh on Thursday, reversing two sessions of losses, driven by forecasts for colder-than-normal weather. This increase in heating demand is likely to further reduce gas storage levels before the end of the heating season. EU gas storage is currently 37.3% full, having depleted at a faster-than-expected clip this winter due to colder weather and less wind power generation. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Indonesia is going all-in on oil with a massive $12.5 billion refinery project, aiming to cut imports, boost energy security, and flex some refining muscle. The government announced plans for the 531,500-barrel-per-day facility, making it one of the largest in the regionbecause when youre an economy growing as fast as Indonesias, relying on imports just isnt cutting it anymore. We will build a refinery that, In shaa Allah, will have a capacity of approximately 500,000 barrels, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said, signaling Jakartas renewed commitment to domestic refining. The move reflects President Prabowo Subiantos aggressive push for energy self-sufficiency--a priority for a country that once exported crude but now finds itself importing increasing volumes to meet demand. The plan, funded in part by Indonesias Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (Danantara), is expected to save the country up to 182.5 million barrels of oil per yeara reduction in imports that could translate to a whopping $16.7 billion in savings. The bold pivot away from dependency is a logical step to take amid global markets that have been rattled by trade wars, shifting OPEC+ production strategies, and unpredictable crude prices. The refinerys construction isnt just an energy playits an employment machine. Officials estimate 63,000 direct jobs and another 315,000 indirect jobs will be created, making this more than just an oil storyits a political win. The governments 2025 priority list includes 21 downstream energy projects worth $40 billion, with this refinery taking center stage. Meanwhile, Indonesia is still struggling with declining oil production, having slipped from a peak of 1.6 million barrels per day in the 1990s to under 600,000 bpd today. The country has courted ExxonMobil to boost output, but for now, its best bet is to refine what crude it does produce and cut down on costly imports. Indonesia wants back in the oil gameand this refinery is its opening move. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Mexicos state oil firm Pemex is holding discussions with crude buyers in Asia and Europe to potentially sell there its oil, which is now being taxed with a 25% tariff by its single biggest customer, the United States, a senior government official in Mexico told Reuters. The trade wars in North America began in earnest earlier this week after the U.S. Administration imposed a 25% tariff on all imported goods from Mexico and Canada, with the exception of a 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports. Mexico has seen its total oil exports drop off in recent years due to Pemex struggling with the worst decline in production in decades. Still, Mexico exported more than 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) on average to the United States in 2024, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Of the total Pemex exports of 806,000 bpd of crude last year, 57% went to the United States. Pemexs total exports crashed by 44% in January, the lowest level since 1990, amid the continuous decline in production. But the 25% U.S. tariffs on Mexican crude as of March 4 is prompting Pemex to seek alternative export markets. Mexico will not be offering any discounts to make its crude more attractive to U.S. buyers now that the 25% tariff is in place, the government official told Reuters. Instead, Mexico is in active talks with potential buyers in India, China, and other Asian countries. The good thing is that there's appetite for Mexican crude in Europe, in India, in Asia, the Mexican government official told Reuters. There's demand for heavy crude and Pemex crude, they added. One trader believes that only refineries in Asia would be suited to process Mexicos heavier crudes due to the refinery specifications to work with heavy crude grades. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Tanzania plans to launch in May its fifth oil and gas licensing round for 26 exploration blocks in what will be the East African countrys first such bidding round since 2014. We are proceeding with promotion activities because the blocks have already been identified and the data is in place, Charles Sangweni, director general of Tanzanias Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA), told Bloomberg in an interview published on Thursday. Of the 26 exploration blocks on offer, three are in Lake Tanganyika and the rest are located in the Indian Ocean. Tanzania aims to launch the new bid round at the Africa Energies Summit event in London in the middle of May, the official said. Tanzania is believed to contain massive natural gas resources, which are estimated at 57 trillion cubic feet. Tanzania also has a planned $42-billion LNG export project, but progress on this stalled early last year as supermajors Shell and Equinor were still expecting the signing of all agreements which would allow them to start developing the project. The LNG project for connecting offshore natural gas discoveries offshore Tanzania with an export terminal on its coast has been nearly a decade in the making. After buying BG Group in 2016, Shell became the operator of two offshore blocks in Tanzania, Block 1 and Block 4, together with its partners Medco Energi (Ophir Energy) and Pavilion Energy. A total of 16 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas have been discovered in the blocks. Equinor, for its part, started exploration drilling activities in Block 2 offshore Tanzania in 2011 and has made nine discoveries with estimated volumes of more than 20 Tcf of gas in place. Last month, Energy Minister Doto Biteko said that Tanzania hopes the negotiations with the project developers on tax incentives would conclude by June this year. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. refiners have already reduced their intake of Mexican crude before the 25% tariffs that went into effect this week, Bloomberg has reported, citing nominations for delivery in March made in February. According to these, Gulf Coast refiners had ordered some 410,000 barrels daily of Mexican crude, which represented a 17% decline on February nominations from the second-largest foreign supplier of crude oil for U.S. refineries after Canada. In February, Bloomberg again reported that Gulf Coast refiners were shunning Mexican crude because of excessive water content. Instead, refiners were buying more Colombian and Canadian crude, or asking for discounts on the Pemex cargos, unnamed industry sources told the publication at the time. According to them, Mexicos flagship Maya crude had a water content of as much as 6%, which is six times higher than the industry standard. Pemex chief executive Victor Rodriguez acknowledged the problem, saying complaints have been made by buyers, citing high water content and also high salt content in the crude. We don't have problems in Pemex or with oil production, these are situations that occur and have occurred historically, Rodriguez told Reuters. Mexican crude imports into the U.S. in January fell to the lowest in 35 years, at 321,000 barrels daily. Pemex is working to boost both its oil production and exports. However, this will be tough with a revised budget that will be over $1 billion lower than previously projected as the companys head of upstream operations scales back some well repairs plans and seismic data contracts. The approach to boosting production focuses on developing new deposits, especially in the deep waters of the Gulf. Overall exports of crude oil from Mexico in January fell by a sizable 44% to around 530,000 barrels daily. That compared with an average 2024 daily rate of 811,000 barrels. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The Trump Administration is considering whether U.S. and allies could halt Iranian oil tankers at sea for inspection under an international treaty to prevent trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, several sources with knowledge of the plans have told Reuters. In his first two weeks in office, U.S. President Donald Trump restored the maximum pressure campaign on Iran, to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon, and countering Irans malign influence abroad. The pressure campaign on Iran aims to drive its oil exports to zero. Last week, the U.S. Administration imposed additional sanctions on the Iranian shadow fleet, designating more than 30 people and vessels for selling and transporting Iranian petroleum-related products. In line with the maximum pressure campaign on Iran, U.S. Administration officials are now mulling over a plan whether U.S. allies could stop and inspect Iranian oil tankers in chokepoints including the Malacca Strait in Asia, under the 2003 Proliferation Security Initiative, according to Reuterss sources. If such inspections were to take place, they would delay deliveries of Irans oil to its customers, the biggest being China, which gets about 90% of all the oil Iran continues to export despite the U.S. sanctions that have been in place since President Trumps first term in office in 2018. You dont have to sink ships or arrest people to have that chilling effect that this is just not worth the risk, one of the sources told Reuters. According to John Bolton, who was the U.S. lead negotiator for the Proliferation Security Initiative, It would be fully justified to use it to slow or delay Iranian oil exports. Irans oil sales are obviously critical to raise revenue for the government of Iran to conduct both its proliferation activities and support for terrorism, Bolton told Reuters. The U.S. sanctions from 2018 reduced Irans oil exports, but more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) continue to be shipped via shadow fleet tankers and opaque oil trading networks, mostly to China. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The United States exported in February the highest crude oil volumes to India in more than two years as Indian refiners scramble for alternative supply after the latest U.S. sanctions on Russias oil trade. Last month, U.S. crude oil exports to India jumped to 357,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to vessel-tracking data from Kpler cited by Reuters. To compare, American crude exports averaged about 221,000 bpd throughout 2024. India, the worlds third-largest crude oil importer, turned to alternative supply after the January 10 U.S. sanctions on dozens of Russian tankers, as well as on traders, middlemen, and insurance firms. For India, which imports more than 80% of the crude it consumes daily, the costs have spiked and the cheap Russian barrels are disappearing as Indian refiners steer clear of tankers explicitly sanctioned by the U.S. India is looking to diversify its crude supply after the sanctions early this year and bet on larger U.S. volumes for alternative light sweet barrels. A total of 80% of the U.S. crude oil exported to India was light sweet West Texas Intermediate-Midland crude, per the Kpler data. While India picked up more American barrels than at any month in the past two years, Indian imports of Russian crude oil slumped in February, to a two-year low. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the bans on Russian oil in the West, India has become a key buyer of Russian crude, alongside China. Russia, for its part, became the single biggest oil supplier to India. Russia appears to be prioritizing deliveries to China and has been reshuffling its tanker fleet to service the Russia-China route at the expense of India, vessel-tracking data analyses have shown in recent weeks. India will continue to buy Russian oil if it is sold below the $60 per barrel price cap and delivered on non-sanctioned tankers and without any involvement of sanctioned companies or individuals, Indian officials have said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com LINCOLN Nebraska lawmakers are tired of changing their clocks twice a year and are readying to stop the practice if neighboring states do the same. The Nebraska Legislature gave the greenlight to Legislative Bill 34 and LB 302 Thursday, pushing them through the first of three rounds of floor debate. LB 34 advanced in a 29-13 vote, while LB 302 advanced in a 28-9 vote. State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha proposed LB 34, which would signal Nebraskas support for a year-round daylight saving time, the time system that now jumps one hour forward during the warmer months of the year. LB 302, from Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, would favor a year-round standard time, the time system during the colder months that stays one hour behind. The idea has been proposed several times since 2021, but has yet to reach the finish line. If LB 34 passes this year, daylight saving time would only become permanent once federal law allowed it and three neighboring states also approved the same change. If LB 302 passes, it would only take effect once four of Nebraskas neighbors Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming adopt the same change. Wyoming and Colorado have already passed legislation supporting year-round daylight saving time, and Iowa has a similar bill pending. Kansas and South Dakota have pending bills on permanent standard time, while Missouri has pending bills on both approaches. Lawmakers praised both bills during the debate several said they were the only truly nonpartisan bills of the session. Hunt said each senators preferred bill really comes down to whether they like mornings or evenings better. Do you want a lot more sunlight in the morning, or do you want more daylight after work? Hunt asked. Past iterations of the same proposal stalled in the Legislature, partially because some senators held the sentiment that the issue didnt make a difference to their constituents. That sentiment was not as prevalent this year, as only Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue spoke in opposition to both bills, arguing were fine the way we are, although a few senators ultimately voted against both. Far more senators voted in support of both bills Thursday, saying theyre on board with ending the semiannual time changes either way. Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, who said he was leaning toward a permanent daylight saving time, said he would support both for now so lawmakers can continue considering both proposals in future debates. Hunt was previously a co-sponsor of Murmans bill, but said shes since changed her mind and voted against LB 302. She said she doesnt like dark winters and enjoys long summer nights, and said if the Legislature doesnt pass LB 34, she would prefer to keep Nebraskas time system the same. Hunt argued that permanent daylight saving time would be better for Nebraskas economy, allowing residents more daylight hours in the evening to encourage them to go outside and support local businesses. She said it would also decrease seasonal depression, which is most common during winter months. Murman pointed to the possible health risks of permanent daylight saving time, noting research has correlated the earlier mornings with an increase in sleep deprivation, fatal car accidents and heart attacks. Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha said daylight saving time also disrupts circadian rhythms, referring to the bodys internal clock that regulates our sleep cycles in line with the sun. It is so much better to use the sun as a natural rhythm, Kauth said. Murman also expressed doubt that Nebraska would be allowed to enact a permanent daylight saving time because it relies on federal approval, and said he doesnt want to hold his breath for Congress. Hunt countered that argument by saying the more states pass bills signaling their support for the change, the more pressure Congress will be under to pass such a measure. She also said if Congress acts before Nebraska, Nebraska would be out of sync with several neighboring states that have already passed their legislation. Jacobson said it was Colorados passage of permanent daylight saving time legislation, as well as Iowas consideration of a similar measure, that pushed him toward supporting LB 34. He noted that both neighbors include Interstate 80, which runs through Nebraska. With Nebraska having multiple time zones, he argued it is prudent for Nebraska to be aligned with these states so travelers dont need to change their clocks multiple times. However, Kauth argued that northern and southern neighbors, Kansas and South Dakota, are considering permanent standard time, which would also put Nebraska out of sync in the middle. Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman said she favored LB 302, because she believes it would be better for Nebraskas farmers, many of whom choose to start their days with the sunrise. She noted that under permanent daylight saving time, the sun would rise as late as 9 a.m. some weeks, which she said was depressing. Senate Bill (SB79) is to ban any new home on the Oregon Wildfire Map in a high-hazard zone. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Oregon Senate Bill (SB79), due to the wildland-urban interface on the Oregon Wildfire Map, will ban those who have land or a home in a high wildfire hazard zone from building a new dwelling. The summary of the bill (SB79) reads This Act bans homes not for farm or forest uses in sensitive or unsuitable areas of lands zoned for farm or forest use. There is no bill sponsor, but Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part of the President. The President of the Oregon Senate is Rob Wagner (D). Was this helpful? If so, Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty). SPRINGFIELD Ever since she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in 2018, the Community Care Program has been a lifeline for Diana Inman. The program helps older adults who might otherwise need to move into a nursing home to remain in their homes, by providing in-home and community-based services. The 75-year-old Decatur resident receives the services through Medicaid, the nation's health insurance program for more than 70 million people with low incomes and disabilities. "I have an active case worker who regularly checks up on me, and I've received regular cancer treatments at least every three months," Inman said. "I have a dedicated home health aide to help me three times a week for the household chores." Cuts to Medicaid would be "disastrous" for people like her, she said. "Speaking from personal experience, if I were to lose my health coverage though Medicaid, I would probably be forced to sell my home just to cover a year's worth of my medical expenses," Inman said. "And then where would I be?" Inman was one of several Medicaid recipients, hospital executives, insurance industry officials and mental and behavioral health advocates who testified before an Illinois House budget committee hearing on Wednesday about the significant impacts that would be felt across Illinois if the program were cut. One by one, they painted a picture of a health care ecosystem that would essentially collapse with up to 770,000 Illinois residents at immediate risk of losing their coverage, safety net hospitals in rural and urban areas on the brink of closure and critical services being cut. "The hospital community is deeply concerned with the size and scope of these proposed Medicaid cuts and their impact on access to health care services across the state of Illinois," said AJ Wilhelmi, the president of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association. The two-hour hearing was just over a week after U.S. House Republicans approved a budget framework that calls for more than $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that would disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans and $2 trillion in spending cuts largely to social programs. The resolution directs the House Energy and Environment Committee to come up with $880 billion in cuts over the next decade to programs it oversees, which include Medicaid. While it does not specifically call for cuts to Medicaid, several state legislators said it is likely next-to-impossible to achieve the level of cuts outlined without touching the program. More than 3.4 million Illinois residents receive health care through Medicaid, including 772,000 covered under expansion through the Affordable Care Act. Lizzy Whitehorn, the director of the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services, the agency oversees the state's Medicaid program, told lawmakers the state received more than $20 billion from the federal government in 2024 for Medicaid, accounting for about 62% of the program's cost. Of that, about $7 billion is for expansion, which has a higher 90% federal cost share. Illinois has a trigger law that would automatically end coverage if it dips below that percentage. Whitehorn said Illinois would likely lose between $24 billion and $39 billion in federal funding over 10 years under one scenario being considered by federal lawmakers. "I want to emphasize that every proposal Congress is considering to cut Medicaid costs will result in health care coverage losses in Illinois," Whitehorn said. Democratic lawmakers who dominate the state legislature acknowledged there is very little they can directly do to affect federal Medicaid funding. But the potential for deep cuts has created significant uncertainty as they seek to craft a state budget this spring. Medicaid spending accounts for about 35% of the state's all-funds budget and about 17% of its general fund budget. They used the hearing as a clarion call to Illinois' three congressional Republicans, urging them to protect the program from the deep cuts they say will hurt their constituents. "The Republicans Illinois sends to Congress have the power to do something about it," said state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston. "As mentioned, Darin LaHood, Mike Bost and Mary Miller need to see their statehouse colleagues speaking plainly and honestly about how the Trump agenda affects their communities." "Because if they stand up for their communities, they can stop the most destructive plans denying health care for everyday Americans in our country," she said. According to state data, more than 196,000 of Bost's constituents, nearly 181,000 of Miller's constituents and more than 139,000 of LaHood's constituents are Medicaid recipients. All three voted for the budget resolution, which was procedural and not the final package. Spokespeople for Bost, LaHood and Miller did not immediately return requests for comment. State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, a medical doctor, acknowledged the cuts would be "devastating" if they take place, but he called the hearing "performative" in nature. He also said Democrats were ignoring the existing problems with the program, such as low reimbursement rates. "I look at this program and I've already seen the cuts," Hauter said. "And so this, I think, is performative. We don't know what will happen. There's a lot of things that we have no control over. And I think we were here today as a performative exercise to say 'Trump is bad and we're going to lose the Medicaid system.'" But Democrats took exception to that characterization. "I just want to say to you, in earnest, this is not performative," said state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago. "... We're trying to raise the alarm to the three congressional GOP members here in Illinois. We can't take for granted that they know about the $21 billion that the feds send to Illinois every year for Medicaid." "So we are performing, I guess, for that audience, so they make sure that we can continue to have access to Medicaid in Illinois and in other states," she said, referring to the Illinois GOP members of Congress. Inman, the 75-year-old cancer patient, said the uncertainty is weighing heavily on her and her family. "Choices made by lawmakers in Washington have put the future of Medicaid in jeopardy, and as a result, lives are on the line," she said. The decision to adorn one's skin with the image of La Llorona is imbued with profound personal and cultural significance. These tattoos serve as a testament to the individual's connection to their heritage, as well as a means of exploring the complex emotions and themes that the legend represents. A Tribute to Cultural Heritage For those with Mexican or Latin American roots, a La Llorona tattoo can symbolize a deep-rooted connection to their cultural traditions and the stories that have been passed down through generations. By choosing to immortalize this iconic figure on their body, individuals are honoring the rich tapestry of their ancestral folklore and embracing a piece of their collective heritage. Advertisement Exploring Themes of Love and Tragedy The weeping woman of La Llorona embodies the duality of love and tragedy, and her tattoos often serve as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between passion and the potential for heartbreak. The tear-stained face of La Llorona can symbolize the consequences of unchecked emotions, encouraging individuals to confront and navigate the complexities of their own emotional journeys. Connecting to Empathy and Resilience The choice to wear a La Llorona tattoo can also speak to an individual's emotional depth and capacity for empathy. The weeping woman's perpetual sorrow resonates with those who appreciate the multifaceted nature of human emotions, representing both the highs and lows of life's experiences. For some, the tattoo may even symbolize resilience in the face of adversity, a testament to their ability to overcome challenges and emerge stronger. Cautionary Tales and Protective Charms In certain interpretations, La Llorona is viewed as a cautionary figure, a warning against the destructive power of jealousy. Those who choose to ink her image on their skin may see the tattoo as a protective charm, a constant reminder to confront and control their own feelings of envy before they lead to tragic outcomes. Aesthetic Allure and Artistic Expression Beyond the rich symbolism, La Llorona tattoos often showcase exquisite artistry, with the flowing tears, ethereal gown, and sorrowful expression creating a visually captivating image. These tattoos stand as works of art in their own right, telling a story with every line and shade, appealing to those who appreciate the beauty of the tattoo medium as a form of self-expression. Nautical Stars: Charting the Course of Life Nautical stars, also known as compass stars, have long been a beacon of guidance for seafaring adventurers. These intricate designs, often depicted as three-dimensional black and white stars encased within a circular frame, represent the unwavering protection, safety, and faith that sailors sought as they navigated the open waters. For those who have weathered their own personal storms, a nautical star tattoo can serve as a powerful reminder to stay the course and trust in their inner compass. Shooting Stars: Capturing Dreams and Aspirations The captivating image of a shooting star has long been associated with the pursuit of dreams and the achievement of lofty goals. Shooting star tattoos symbolize the desire to successfully reach for the stars, whether it's a musical ambition, a professional milestone, or a personal transformation. These designs often feature the shooting star motif surrounding a specific passion or objective, serving as a constant source of inspiration and motivation. Advertisement Tribal Stars: Honoring Cultural Roots Tribal star tattoos are among the most ancient and revered designs in the star tattoo family. These intricate, geometrically-patterned symbols represent a deep connection to one's cultural heritage and a strong passion for the traditions of the past. Whether it's the intricate linework of Polynesian designs or the bold, angular patterns of Native American art, tribal star tattoos serve as a powerful declaration of one's ancestral roots and a steadfast commitment to honoring their cultural identity. Pentagram Stars: Exploring the Duality of Symbolism The pentagram star, with its five interlocking points, is a design that has long been the subject of both fascination and misunderstanding. Contrary to popular belief, the pentagram is not inherently a symbol of the occult or Satanic beliefs. In fact, this ancient design has been adopted by a wide range of cultures and faiths, representing everything from the five elements of life (earth, water, air, fire, and spirit) to the balance and protection sought by practitioners of Paganism. The orientation of the pentagram is crucial, with an upward-facing star signifying harmony and a downward-facing star often associated with darker connotations. Celtic Stars: Weaving the Threads of Infinity The Celtic star, with its intricate, knotted design, is a symbol that represents the interconnectedness of all things. This intricate tattoo design can be interpreted through various lenses, from the holy trinity of the father, son, and Holy Spirit to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Regardless of the specific meaning, the Celtic star is a testament to the infinite nature of existence and the profound connections that bind us all together. Small Stars: Guiding the Path to a Better Life While the size of a star tattoo may not necessarily reflect the depth of its meaning, a small, discreet star can hold immense significance. These delicate designs, often placed in hidden or personal areas like the finger, neck, or behind the ear, can symbolize the protection and guidance that the North Star once provided for slaves seeking freedom. For those who have weathered their own personal journeys, a small star tattoo can serve as a reminder of the path to a better life and the unwavering support that shines through the darkness. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Antimicrobial resistance in soil bacteria without the use of antibiotics. Credit: BEE Lab, IISc Overuse of antibiotics is currently the primary reason for the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Kiel University, however, have shown that AMR can surprisingly be found in soil bacterial communities due to microbial interactions too, driven by a species of predatory bacteria. Published in Current Biology, the study looked at how the presence of the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus affects the number of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in soil samples. M. xanthus is a predatory species which is known to release antimicrobials and other molecules to kill its prey. The presence of this bacteria in soil microbial communities raises the question: Do other bacteria living with M. xanthus acquire resistance to these molecules over time? "Human-driven [antibiotic] resistance is a major problem, but the question is: Are there other aspects that we completely ignore? This was very exciting [to explore]," says Samay Pande, Assistant Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology (MCB), IISc, and corresponding author of the study. Pande and others found that the death of M. xanthus in soil bacterial communities increased the frequency of resistant isolatesbacterial cells resistant to antibioticsin many different species of soil bacteria. These cells also showed resistance to certain antibiotics even without exposure to these drugs. When faced with starvation, populations of M. xanthus die en masse. In famine-like conditions, which are very common in soil environments, these bacterial cells form stress-resistant structures called fruiting bodies that are filled with spores. During the development of fruiting bodies, only a minority of cells succeed in becoming spores, whereas the majority of the bacterial cells undergo lysis (rupture) and release growth-inhibitory substances into the environment. The researchers believe that exposure to these growth inhibitory molecules is the reason behind the increased frequency of resistant isolates in the soil bacterial community. Interestingly, not all strains of M. xanthus triggered enrichment of resistance; it was the ones with higher diversity of biosynthetic clusters that seem to drive it. When analyzing these inhibitory molecules, the researchers found something even more interesting. "We identified multiple different molecules and did a very crude classification," explains Saheli Saha, Ph.D. student at MCB and co-first author of the study. "Individually, these molecules might not do anything, but when you put them together, they suddenly do this strange thing where they can enrich other resistant isolates." The researchers found that resistance was enriched against several antibiotics, which include commonly used drugs such as tetracycline and rifampicin. "It is important to test whether the observations derived from culturable bacteria are also applicable for unculturable microbes," explains Jyotsna Kalathera, Ph.D. student at MCB and one of the authors of the study. Therefore, the team also analyzed the genomes of the bacterial communities in the soil. They found that AMR enriched through this phenomenon could be extended to unculturable bacterial species via similar exposure to growth inhibitory molecules. The fact that AMR can be maintained by microbial antagonism even in the absence of human-driven contamination of antibiotics is a new and unexpected discovery, the researchers say. "We need to explore and find out if this is more common," says Pande. Understanding this phenomenon better might also help predict where such antibiotic-resistant bacteria live in nature, Saha suggests. "This is something that we have just tested with soil samples from India. Testing soil samples from different locations would help us understand more about this phenomenon." More information: Saheli Saha et al, Mass lysis of predatory bacteria drives the enrichment of antibiotic resistance in soil microbial communities, Current Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.068 Journal information: Current Biology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Cole Gregg points out a curiosity in Alpha Centauri to Paul Wiegert. Credit: Jeff Renaud/Western Communications Interstellar material has been discovered in our solar system, but researchers continue to hunt for where it came from and how it got here. A new study led by Western astrophysicists Cole Gregg and Paul Wiegert recommends Alpha Centaurithe next closest solar system to oursis a great place to start, highlighting how and why it's a prime target. The findings were published March 6 in The Planetary Science Journal. Interstellar objects are astronomical material, like asteroids or comets, not gravitationally bound to a star. They can come from other solar systems and be thrown into interstellar space by collisions or be slingshotted by a planet or star's gravity. Credit: University of Western Ontario Gregg, a Ph.D. candidate in physics and astronomy, developed a computer model to study our solar system, Alpha Centauri and the interstellar activitythe movement of gas, dust and other space materialsbetween the two, side by side within our galaxy. Using the physics governing our single-sun solar system, he simulated interstellar activity in Alpha Centauri, a solar system with three suns. "We know from our own solar system that giant planets bring a little bit of chaos to space. They can perturb orbits and give a little bit of extra boost to the velocities of objects, which is all they need to leave the gravitational pull of the sun," said Gregg. "For this model, we assumed Alpha Centauri acts similarly to our solar system. We simulated various ejection velocity scenarios to estimate how many comets and asteroids might be leaving the Alpha Centauri system." If Gregg and Wiegert are correct and Alpha Centauri does indeed eject material at a rate comparable to our own solar system, they estimate (charting speed and direction) about one million interstellar objects larger than 100 meters in diameter with origins from this triple-star system are currently within the Oort Cloud (the shell of icy objects, mostly comets, that surrounds our solar system). This number will continue to climb as Alpha Centauri moves closer to our solar system, with its closest approach expected in approximately 28,000 years in the future. "Assuming Alpha Centauri is ejecting material, which it should be, there are plenty of reasons to expect some of that material is making its way to us," said Wiegert, a physics and astronomy professor who has discovered more than 80 minor planets, including asteroids and other near-Earth objects. Western scientist Robert Weryk discovered the first-ever confirmed interstellar object Oumuamua' using the Pan-STARRS telescope at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii, on Oct. 19, 2017. Oumuamua' is a small, red interstellar object estimated to be between 100 and 1,000 meters long, with its width and thickness both estimated between 35 and 167 meters. Cen's orbit about the Galactic center viewed on the xy and yz planes (top row), as well as the orbits of the ejecta from Cen viewed in a comoving frame (bottom row). Our Sun (Sol) is marked by a black hexagon, and its orbital path indicated by a gray solid line (top row only). Cen's location and path are shown by a yellow star and blue solid line (top row only). In the bottom row, the comoving frame follows Cen around its orbit while maintaining its orientation with the y-axis pointing toward the Galactic center (blue arrow) and Cen's velocity pointing in the x-direction (black arrow). This still frame is taken at t 3000 yr (that is, +3000 yr from the current epoch) after 100 Myr of integration. The colors of the ejecta represent the third dimension of position, except that any particle that will at any point come within 100,000 au of Sol are plotted in red. The full animation is available in the HTML version of this publication, which shows the time evolution from t 100 Myr to t 10 Myr. The duration of the animation is 11 s. Credit: The Planetary Science Journal (2025). DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/adb1e9 Cause for concern? The new interstellar activity model also projects as many as 10 meteors originating from Alpha Centauri may be entering Earth's atmosphere every year. These hypothetical meteors would be no greater than 100 micrometers in size and would cause no concern on Earth. "If our models are right, there is no cause for alarm, because even though these things are probably in our solar system, they're just a tiny, tiny fraction of all the asteroids and other objects that are out there," said Wiegert. In fact, according to the model, only about one in a trillion meteors that hit Earth might be from Alpha Centauri. "Throughout the history of astronomy, every time we look at a system, we think of it as a closed system. First, we thought Earth was the center of everything and then we found out we're part of the bigger solar system. Then we discovered we're part of the Milky Way galaxy," said Gregg. "The galaxy isn't a collection of all these individual star systems, rather they should be studied as an interconnected system, one that shares all of this interstellar material among the stars." More information: Cole R. Gregg et al, A Case Study of Interstellar Material Delivery: Centauri, The Planetary Science Journal (2025). DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/adb1e9 Journal information: The Planetary Science Journal This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Drought maps: North and South Carolina conditions as of Feb. 25, 2025. Credit: U.S. Drought Monitor Scores of wildfires broke out across North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia in early March 2025 as strong winds, abnormally dry conditions and low humidity combined to kindle and spread the flames. The fires followed a year of weather whiplash in the Carolinas, from a flash drought over the summer to extreme hurricane flooding in September, and then back to drought again. A storm system on March 5, 2025, was likely to douse many of the fires still burning, but the Southeast fire season is only beginning. Wake Forest University wildfire experts Lauren Lowman and Nick Corak put the fires and the region's dry winter into context. Why did the Carolinas see so many wildfires? Most of North and South Carolina have been abnormally dry or in moderate drought since at least November 2024. Consistently dry conditions through the winter dried out vegetation, leaving fuel for wildfires. When the land and vegetation is this dry, all it takes is a lightning strike or a man-made fire and wind gusts to start a wildfire. Hurricanes did flood the region in late summer 2024, but before that, the Carolinas were experiencing a flash drought. Flash droughts are extreme droughts that develop rapidly due to lack of precipitation and dry conditions in the atmosphere. When the atmosphere is dry, it pulls water from the vegetation and soils, causing the surface to dry out. In August and September, Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene caused extensive flooding in the two states, but the Carolinas received little rainfall in the months that followed, leaving winter 2025 abnormally dry again. How unusual are fires like this in the region? Fires are historically fairly common in the Carolinas. They're a natural part of the landscape, and many ecosystems have evolved to depend on them. Carnivorous plants such as Venus flytraps and pitcher plants rely on frequent fire activity to remove shrubs and other plants that would grow over them and block the light. Even some wildlife depend on fire for their habitats and for food from the mix of native plants that regrow after a fire. The expected return periods for wildfireshow often fires have historically burned in a regionrange from one to 10 years for the Piedmont and Coastal Plains in the east and 10 to 40 years in the Appalachian Mountains. However, many unplanned fires today are put out. That means underbrush that would normally burn every decade or so can build up over time, fueling more intense fires when it does burn. Some ecosystems rely on fire. To avoid that overgrowth, land managers conduct annual prescribed fires to try to mimic that natural fire activity in a controlled way. These controlled burns are critical for removing vegetation that otherwise could provide additional fuel for more intense and damaging wildfires. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Is dryness like this becoming more common? Extreme weather events are becoming more common across the U.S., including in the Southeast and the Carolinas. Increasing temperatures mean the atmosphere can hold more moisture, amplifying how much water it can draw from the land surface and eventually drop in heavier storms. That can lead to more extreme storms and longer dry periods. In humid regions like the Southeast, where there is an abundance of dense vegetation, periods of warm, dry conditions that dry out that vegetation will increase the risk of wildfire. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the southeastern U.S. experienced more droughts than other regions in the country in the first two decades of the 21st century. The weather variability also makes it harder to clear out forest undergrowth. Prescribed burns require that vegetation be dry enough to burn but also that winds are calm enough to allow firefighters to manage the flames. Studies show those conditions are likely to become less common in the Southeast in a warming world. Without that tool to reduce fuel, the risk of intense wildfires rises. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: New research by Baobao Song, Ph.D., finds that celebrity endorsements from South Korean boy band BTS and other celebrities can push their fans to take action. Credit: AJEONG_JM, Wikimedia Commons The South Korean boy band BTS boasts a fanbase of tens of millions of dedicated listeners, known for their devotion to the group and its social causes. New research from Virginia Commonwealth University researcher Baobao Song, Ph.D., finds that endorsements and advocacy campaigns from BTS and other celebrities could change fans' advocacy behavior. The findings are published in the journal Public Relations Review. "A fan might think, 'I'm involved in this because my celebrity is advocating for it. I want to see them succeed. I want the fandom to succeed,'" said Song, who studies corporate social responsibility as an assistant professor in VCU's Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture in the College of Humanities and Sciences. "So that's why we singled out fandom as the subject for this study, because fans naturally are already attached to the celebrity." Song, who herself is a BTS superfan, wanted to find out if celebrity advocacy campaigns can actually cause fans to change their behavior. She focused on BTS because the band's large, international fanbase, referred to as the BTS ARMY, is known for being extremely engaged with the band and active onlinein 2020, ARMY members matched BTS' $1 million donation to Black Lives Matter within 24 hours, unprompted by the band. The seven-member musical group also has a history of appealing to their fans in advocacy campaigns. In 2017, BTS worked with UNICEF to launch the "Love Myself" campaign, serving as global ambassadors to combat youth violence and promote self-esteem in young people. In 2021, the musical group addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the global organization's sustainable development goals. "What's unique about BTS fans is that they are highly participative in their content creation," Song said. "Usually, we see fandoms as content consumers, but BTS fans have a very high interest in producing their own content and connecting with each other." Song wanted to assess how the band's ongoing partnership with the U.N. influences BTS fans' intentions to engage in sustainability volunteering and advocacy work. Song and the study's co-author, Minhee Choi, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Texas Tech University, first interviewed BTS fans in both the U.S. and South Korea. Then, they recruited Gen Z and millennial adults from the U.S. who self-identified as BTS fans to participate in an online survey. The survey's questions centered on the respondents' general perceptions of celebrity, fandom interactions and fandom advocacy, as well as on their own identification as a member of the BTS ARMY and the BTS ARMY's participatory culture. The respondents were then presented with information about BTS' advocacy for the U.N.'s sustainable development goals and asked about their own sustainability intentions. The 424 survey responses supported the idea that celebrity endorsements shape the behavioral intentions of their fans. That effect was driven by three factors: interdependence between fans and the celebrity, the fans' individual identification within the fandom, and the fandom's norms. And while not all celebrity fandoms are as large and influential as BTS', other celebrities can still use the power of their fandoms to push their own social goals. The findings could be especially important for organizations hoping to work with celebrities to advance their causes. However, Song said, brands and organizations should be aware that celebrities need to have a strong personal connection with their fans, like that of BTS and the BTS ARMY, for their advocacy to actually change behavior and intentions. "How can you maximize the benefits of a celebrity partnership?" Song said. "You may want to understand whether the fans and the celebrity have an interdependence that is strong enough to motivate their fans to follow the celebrity in actual behavior, to support your cause." More information: Baobao Song et al, From celebrity advocacy to fandom advocacy: Harness the power of participatory fandom culture, Public Relations Review (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.pubrev.2024.102538 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Chinese construction and engineering contractors working as part of the country's Belt and Road initiative face greater challenges in democratic countries, a study shows. The findings are published in the journal International Studies Quarterly. Closer ties with the United States and the presence of institutions that allow groups to show their opposition limits the business of Chinese contractors in less authoritarian nations. The research, by Andrea Ghiselli from the University of Exeter and Pippa Morgan from Duke Kunshan University, shows how it is particularly important because these same firms are often responsible for building the infrastructure at the core of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xi Jingping's flagship foreign policy initiative. This negative effect becomes even stronger when the host government joins the BRI. The experts argue that this is because joining the BRI by signing a BRI Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is an important and highly visible event that attracts that attention and triggers a negative reaction by parts of the public, elites, and international actorslike the United Statesthat oppose Chinese involvement. The study shows Chinese contractors win significantly more contracts in countries that have more natural resources, bigger populations, trade more with China, are more stable, and receive more official finance from China. Chinese infrastructure contractors do significantly less business in countries that are further geographically from China, and which are less similar to China in UN voting behavior. Chinese contractors also appear to do less business in countries that borrow more from the World Bank. There is also a negative association between NATO membership and contract values, Experts found no evidence that the BRI is helpful for mitigating the challenges faced by Chinese contractors in democracies. Dr. Ghiselli said, "The aim of China's Belt and Road initiative is to increase China's diplomatic clout and expand the presence of Chinese companies overseas. We found that these goals conflict when the partner country is a democracy. "Chinese contractors may be more likely to penetrate the markets of non-democratic countries, thereby increasing the stake of the Chinese government in those countries' stability by increasing the presence of Chinese citizens and assets." Dr. Morgan said, "There is a negative relationship between host state democratic institutions and infrastructure contracts won by Chinese firms overseas. Democratic institutions allow a mix of domestic and international forces to limit business opportunities for Chinese contractors." Commenting on the negative effects of signing a BRI MoU, Dr. Morgan said, "This is the result of blowback against the BRI within democracies as the joining of the initiative triggers pressure on the executive to limit Chinese involvement in the economy, with unanticipated negative consequences for Chinese contractors. Beijing faces an important and unexpected trade-off between diplomatic and economic goals when it comes to persuading a democratic country to join the BRI. "Even successful diplomatic attempts to foster political and diplomatic alignment cannot offset the negative effects caused by differences in the regime type of the two trading partners." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The results show a significant negative relationship between the presence of democratic institutions in host countries and the values of contracts won by Chinese engineering and construction companies in those countries. Researchers found that the interaction between liberal democracy and the BRI is negative and statistically significant, suggesting that the more a host country has democratic institutions, the more negative the relationship between participation in the BRI and contract volumes. For a host country with the lowest possible level of democracy, the results point towards a positive association between MoUs and infrastructure contracts, whereas for more democratic host states the relationship between MoUs and contracts is negative. The study says the BRI paradoxically appears to be the victim of its own importance and visibility. The analysis points to lower-key (or simply less) BRI diplomacy if China wants its companies to succeed in democratic countries. Limitations on China's involvement in infrastructure in democratic but less well-off countries might delay economic development or make it more expensive. This blowback might also limit the amount of Chinese development finance that a country in need might receive. More information: Andrea Ghiselli et al, Blowback: When China's Belt and Road Initiative Meets Democratic Institutions, International Studies Quarterly (2025). DOI: 10.1093/isq/sqaf014 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The imagery of climate change matters. How we perceive the world affects how we perceive climate change, and how it will affect usor whether it will affect us at all. Imagery has long been understood as an important part of climate communication. Climate change is complex, and requires some simplification to be communicated widely. Yet, this process of simplification can rely too heavily on existing stereotypes, which can affect risk perception across different populations. Think of climate vulnerability. This term describes who is likely to be negatively affected by climate change. Perceptions of vulnerability are affected by the images that are chosen to represent climate change. However, the images that are chosen also reflect our perceptions of who is vulnerable. For example, sea level rise is often represented through aerial images of Pacific atolls and ice melt is made emotional through the use of polar bears. But which images are most often used to represent human vulnerability to climate change? Search online for an image of climate victims and you are likely to see a photograph showing a stereotypical image of "brown women and children" standing in rising flood waters. Images like this show women and children, usually in Asia or Africa, looking distressed in a way that frames them as victims. However, when searching by region, images of climate victims can look different. For example, compare the search for "climate victim Asia" and "climate victim UK." An image of Fuli Khatan, a Bangladeshi flood victim, shows a distraught woman waist-deep in floodwater experiencing a disaster. But another image is very different. It shows Mary Long-Dhonau, a climate victim from the UK whose home has been flooded several times. She is looking directly at the camera, smiling slightly. She is not portrayed as a victim, but as a campaigner. The difference in how these women are portrayed is effective in showing how climate vulnerability is understood. For the most part, the climate vulnerable are imagined to be women and children in the global south (developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America), due to their marginalized position within society. In other words, the climate vulnerable are portrayed as the same people who are already considered vulnerable. This framing makes climate change an issue that follows an established pattern of risk. It doesn't seem like a new issue, but rather chalk on the white wall of other political issues such as development. This overlap is partly the result of long-running and deeply embedded power inequalities that have made some people vulnerable in order to make other people wealthy. However, this pattern is overstated and climate vulnerability extends beyond those we already understand as vulnerable. Last month, the European Copernicus climate service declared that 2024 was the first calendar year to pass the symbolic threshold of 1.5C heating, as well as the world's hottest on record. Every degree of heating means more people will suffer the effects of climate change. These images also reflect the dominant understanding in the UK of climate change vulnerability as something that only happens elsewherein countries that are already vulnerable. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Climate is an 'us' problem I've often encountered this issue in my research on the politics of climate vulnerability. My work questions the assumptions of climate change and vulnerability, tracing them back to understand the logics on which they rely. For example, the Pacific was described as vulnerable and doomed to not being habitable long before climate change became an issue. At the same time, assumptions of safety are rooted in history. In developed societies, there is a popular narrative that affluence provides a shield, which assumes wealthier people will be better protected by default. And yet, the UK is already experiencing climate change. The UK's rainfall intensity has increased markedly over the past 60 years, leading to an increase of extreme flooding events. The east coast is being eroded, and battling sea level rise. And the UK government's climate change committee has argued that the UK has no credible adaptation plan. Also, in an interconnected world, we have already experienced how shocks elsewhere can affect our food supply and gas prices. Even if the UK could escape the direct effects of climate change, it would still feel the consequences. Our perceptions of vulnerability are so entrenched that even climate-related incidences in wealthy countries, like the recent floods in Valencia or wildfires in LA don't lead to a change in narrative. In fact, climate activists continue to be criminalized. Being aware of how images are used to influence our perceptions of vulnerability is an important step in changing the narrative. Climate change is already at levels at which we are all affected. We need to make this clearer. The UK has an historical responsibility to mitigate but it also needs to take more steps towards adaptation to the climate change that is already locked in. Speaking in February 2025, professor of energy and climate change Kevin Anderson described the future of humanity as a range of possibilities that goes from "dire consequences" to "catastrophic outcomes". The higher temperatures are pushed past 1.5C warming, the truer it is that nobody is safe. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Hotel guests who can customize their rooms by selecting the layout, snack bar offerings, and softness of the pillows are more likely to become loyal customers of that hotel and recommend it to others. A new study published in Cornell Hospitality Quarterly finds that guests who gain some sense of ownership for their hotel room show a greater attachment to the brand after they check out. Encouraging "psychological ownership" of hotel rooms offers a new, cost-effective strategy to enhance customer loyalty, said study co-author Suzanne Shu, dean of faculty and research at Cornell University's SC Johnson College of Business and John S. Dyson Professor of Marketing at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. "These very small interventions, including allowing people to choose their room at the time of check-in or encouraging them to move the furniture around, can have a big impact on the sense of ownership that people feel and the loyalty they have towards the hotel," Shu said. The paper, "Increasing Hotel Loyalty through Psychological Ownership," relied on four separate studies that showed the tangible benefits of increasing guests' psychological ownership of their rooms. The study defined psychological ownership as a perceptual state that is "best described as the territorial feeling that something is 'mine.'" The impact of psychological ownership of hotel rooms While the concept of psychological ownership has been used to study employee behavior in organizational settings, Shu and one of the paper's co-authors, Joann Peck, a professor of marketing at the University of WisconsinMadison, were the first researchers to apply it to the field of marketing in a paper published in 2009. Shu compared the concept to the sales process involving a consumer who test-drives a car and begins to feel attached to it even before making an offer on it. "What our research shows is that that will affect decisions like how much you're willing to pay for it, because you really think of it as yours and value it a lot more," she said. After exploring the concept's effect on public spaces like parks, Shu wanted to explore whether psychological ownership would apply to spaces that consumers don't own, such as a hotel room. She and her co-authors created four experiments that tested whether three strategies that promote psychological ownership would have an impact on the hotel guest experience: controlling the space, investing oneself in it, and having intimate knowledge of it. The first experiment they designed was conducted at the campus hotel at the University of WisconsinMadison, where they asked prospective guests to choose their hotel room from a map, allowing them to pick a layout and floor. "The process didn't make their check-in process any smoother, any shorter or more convenient, but it increased their willingness to be loyal to the hotel, come back to the hotel and refer this hotel to other people around them," said Rin Yoon, a co-author of the paper and a Ph.D. candidate in marketing at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management who will be teaching at the University of Iowa next fall. In another experiment, the study analyzed a set of 14,689 reviews of a hotel in Hawaii on TripAdvisor. The assessment showed that guests who felt a sense of ownership for their hotel room wrote longer reviews and reported higher satisfaction levels on the app. The study determined that guests who wrote reviews with the possessive pronouns "my" or "our" were more likely to have gained some sense of psychological ownership of their room. "That was a sign that they did feel ownership," Shu said. "People aren't going to say, 'my room' or 'our room,' unless they did feel some sense that it was theirs while they were there." The final two experiments created hypothetical check-ins online that included assessing whether a customer personalizing a room or using the hotel's data based on previous preferences was more effective in promoting brand loyalty. The study found that guests who customized their room on their own showed greater loyalty to their hotel. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Applying the study's results Hotel chains have already begun using some of the strategies identified in the study, including allowing guests to personalize their rooms at check-in. That process forces guests to "exert their time and effort and invest themselves in their room," which can promote loyalty, Yoon said. Another strategy hotels could adopt to promote psychological ownership is allowing guests to rearrange some of the furniture in their rooms. That is exactly what Shu did during a recent hotel stay during a business trip. "One of the first things I did to get myself set up to work was move the table a little bit closer to the window and prop the door open so I could get more sunlight from the outside," she said. "If you allow a guest to customize their environment a little bit more, they'll end up feeling more ownership over it because it's like at homethey can customize their space." More information: Y. Rin Yoon et al, Increasing Hotel Loyalty through Psychological Ownership, Cornell Hospitality Quarterly (2025). DOI: 10.1177/19389655241309634 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Europe's Ariane 6 rocket launched on its first commercial mission from French Guiana. Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket successfully carried out its first commercial mission on Thursday, placing a French military satellite into orbit to give the continent a new independent access to space. After delays including a last-minute postponement on Monday, the heavy-lift rocket blasted off into rainy skies from the Kourou space base in French Guiana. Around an hour after the launch, the control center burst into applause as the rocket released the satellite into orbit. "We could not have dreamed of a better scenario, that was a perfect launch," said David Cavailloles, head of Arianespace, operator of the rocket launcher. "A new era now opens for France's European space program." The launch came as Europe seeks to strengthen its defenses amid doubts about cooperation with the United States under new US President Donald Trump. The launch means that Europe can now independently put large satellites into orbit for the first time since Russia pulled its heavy Soyuz rockets after invading Ukraine in 2022. Ariane 6 was initially scheduled to enter service in 2020, but repeated delays meant the rocket did not blast off for the first time until July last year. Its first commercial mission put the French military satellite CSO-3 satellite into orbit at an altitude of around 800 kilometers (500 miles) above Earth. CSO-3 completes a network of three French military imaging satellites, with the first two launched in 2018 and 2020 on Soyuz rockets. Europe's Ariane 6 rocket. 'Europe must ensure its own security' European Union countries have 10 military satellitesfive French and five Italiancompared to "hundreds" for the United States and China, French General Philippe Steininger said. Britain also has its own military communications satellite system. "Europe must ensure its own security," European Space Agency's space transportation director Toni Tolker-Nielsen said in Kourou this week. While five Ariane 6 launches are planned this year, Tolker-Nielsen said up to 12 could be carried out a year in the future. An attempt to launch the mission on Monday was called off just 30 minutes before lift off due to a problem on a fuel pipes, Arianespace said. Other planned launches in December and February were also scrubbed. Postponed launches are common for new rockets. The latest test flight of the world's biggest rocket, SpaceX's Starship, is also scheduled for launch later Thursday after a last-minute postponement on Monday. The European space industry has struggled to remain competitive with Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has become increasingly dominant when it comes to launching satellites. And SpaceX is only expected to become more central to US space efforts now that the billionaire Musk has become a prominent advisor to Trump. The last attempted launch of Europe's new heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket was called off minutes before blast off on Monday. 'Important step' Europe has struggled in space since Ariane 6's predecessor Ariane 5 retired in 2023, Russia pulled its Soyuz rockets and an accident grounded the smaller Vega-C launcher for two years. But with Vega-C resuming flights in December and Ariane 6's first commercial launch, European space efforts are looking for a boost. Given the military role of the satellite, heavy security was deployed at the spaceport on the northern coast of South America, with French fighter jets deployed to patrol the surrounding skies. Arnaud Prost, a French pilot who is also a reserve astronaut for the European Space Agency, said a successful Ariane 6 launch was "an important step for the independence of France and Europe's access to space." "At the moment, Europe needs to find projects that bring us together," he told AFP. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A graphic comparing the main rockets. After several false starts, Europe's new rocket Ariane 6 is aiming to finally blast off on its first commercial mission Thursday, carrying with it the continent's hopes of bolstering its security and independent access to space. The heavy-lift rocket, which is already years behind schedule, was just 30 minutes away from launching on Monday when a faulty valve meant the mission was postponed for a third time. The mission carrying a French military satellite comes as Europe seeks to strengthen its defenses amid doubts it can still rely on the United States as a security partner under new US President Donald Trump. A successful launch will also mean that Europe can independently put large satellites into orbit for the first time since Russia pulled its heavy Soyuz rockets after invading Ukraine in 2022. The launch is now scheduled to blast off from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 1:24 pm (1624 GMT) on Thursday. Monday's launch was called off at the last minute because of a dysfunctional valve on one of the refueling pipes, according to the French company Arianespace which operates the rocket. Tests before the launch showed "abnormal behavior," so the only choice was to postpone, Arianespace chief David Cavailloles explained. Europe's Ariane 6 rocket. The rocket and satellite are "stable and safe," Arianespace said. Previous attempts to launch the mission in December and February were also scrubbed. Postponed launches are common for new rockets. The latest test flight of the world's biggest rocket, SpaceX's Starship, is also planning a Thursday launch after a last-minute cancellation on Monday. 'Europe must ensure its own security' Ariane 6 was initially scheduled to have its first fight in 2020, but repeated delays meant the rocket did not blast off for the first time until July last year. Its first commercial mission is to put the CSO-3 satellite into orbit at an altitude of around 800 kilometers (500 miles) above Earth. CSO-3 has been waiting since 2022 to complete a network of three French military imaging satellites, with the first two launched in 2018 and 2020 on Soyuz rockets. The last attempted launch of Europe's new heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket was called off minutes before blast off on Monday. Europe has just 10 military satellitesfive French and five Italiancompared to "hundreds" for the US and China, French General Philippe Steininger said. "Europe must ensure its own security," the European Space Agency's space transportation director Toni Tolker-Nielsen said in Kourou earlier this week. He called for the number of annual Ariane 6 launches to increase to 12, compared to the five planned for this year. Given the military role of the satellite, strict security precautions were taken to limit access at the spaceport on the northern coast of South America, with French fighter jets deployed to patrol the surrounding skies. The European space industry has struggled to remain competitive with Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has become increasingly dominant when it comes to launching satellites. And SpaceX is only expected to become more central to US space efforts with the billionaire Musk becoming a prominent advisor to Trump. The control room of the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana. Europe recently found itself without a way to independently launch missions into space due to the Ariane 6 delays, its predecessor Ariane 5 retiring in 2023, Russia pulling its Soyuz rockets and an accident that grounded the smaller Vega-C launcher for two years. But between Vega-C resuming flights in December and Ariane 6's first commercial launch, European space efforts are hoping to turn a page on the crisis. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: 1 in 5 butterfies in the United States disappeared between the year 2000 and 2020, according to new research featuring faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York. Credit: Jack Cochran Butterflies are beloved creatures that inspire art and play an important ecological role, but according to new research featuring faculty members at Binghamton University, State University of New York, these cherished insects are disappearing at an alarming rate. A new study published in Science examines butterfly data in the United States, and the results are troubling. Looking across 76,000 surveys, the study revealed that butterfly abundance fell by 22% between 2000 and 2020. To put it starkly: for every five butterflies in the U.S. at the turn of the century, there were only four remaining in 2020. "This was the most comprehensive analysis of butterflies in the US and at such a big spatial scale," said Eliza Grames, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University and co-author of the paper. Butterflies are the most extensively monitored insect group in the United States, but most monitoring efforts have consisted of volunteer-based and expert science monitoring programs that are limited in geography and have focused on individual species. This new study uses all available monitoring data35 programs with records of over 12.6 million butterfliesto provide a clear picture of the state of butterfly species across the continental United States. The study takes into account the variations in collection protocol and regions to produce comparable results for hundreds of species. Using data integration approaches, the team examined how butterfly abundances changed regionally and individually for the 342 species with enough data. "Abundance" refers to the total number of individuals of a butterfly species within a given area. During the two-decade period examined, 33% of butterfly species showed significantly declining trends in abundance. Many showed extreme declines in abundance107 species declined by more than 50%. Grames' role in this nationwide study was to generate range maps for all butterfly species that fed into the analyses. This allowed the team to check whether observations of species were good identifications and should go into the model or if they needed to be checked for data quality cleaning purposes. The team could also see where each of these species could be found within the U.S. and examine spatial patterns. "We didn't have maps for where many of the butterflies were," said Grames. "How do we know which records are good? A bunch of them come from iNaturalist, a citizen science platform where anybody can upload pictures of species. But sometimes people go to a butterfly house and start recording all of these tropical species in, say, Colorado, which throws off the data." Part of those conservation efforts includes involving undergraduate students in assessments to gather data and determine how at risk a species might be. In Grames' Conservation Biology class, students are currently working on IUCN assessments for western skippers, including one of the most declining butterfly species, the Julia's skipper. "Participating in this assessment has allowed me to apply what I've learned in class to real-world scenarios," said Clara Zook, a Binghamton University student working on the assessment for Julia's skipper with classmate Kieran Buchholz. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "It's empowering to know that our research could play a role in preserving this species," Buchholz said. In addition to being beautiful and inspiring art, said Grames, butterflies also play a vital role in pollination, helping to pollinate food and flowers and contributing to the health of ecosystems around the world. This study could help drive important conservation efforts, such as prioritizing species for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and/or Endangered Species Act protection. "We have much better data to go and say, 'You know, we should really consider these for federal protection.' So we can go in, conserve their habitat andhopefullythey can rebound," said Grames. Collin Edwards, the study's lead author, echoed those sentiments. "For those who were not already aware of insect declines, this should be a wake-up call," Edwards said. "We urgently need both local and national-scale conservation efforts to support butterflies and other insects. We have never had as clear and compelling a picture of butterfly declines as we do now." A second project, part of the same USGS group, is looking at the drivers of butterfly loss. A study in the Midwest has pointed to pesticides as a major driver, but there are different drivers across different regions of the U.S. For example, in the Southwest, there are concerns about drought, whereas in the Northeast, it's more about climate. Grames said that highlighting what's happening with butterflies can help to provide a clearer picture of insect population decline overall. "Insects are declining at rates of about 12% per year, which has come out across several studies," she said. "This was another study finding a supersimilar rate of decline, which really adds evidence to the growing picture of insect declines globally." More information: Collin B. Edwards, Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adp4671. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp4671 Journal information: Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Long-horned bee on broad bean. Credit: David Kleijn According to several scientific studies, three-quarters of all insects have disappeared in the last 30 years. To counter this decline, scientists from 13 countries are collaborating on a new approach within the AGRI4POL project. Unlike agri-environmental management, the researchers aim to make crops, rather than the environment, more attractive to pollinators such as wild bees and butterflies. "In doing so, we aim for a winwin situation for both farmers and insects," says research associate Andries Temme from Wageningen University & Research. Eighty percent of agricultural crops and one-third of agricultural production depend on pollinating insects. "Yet plant breeders have often ignored the attractiveness of flowers to pollinators," says Temme. "As a result, insects prefer wildflowers over crops in agricultural and horticultural sectors, and those wildflowers are becoming scarcer." That is just one of the reasons for the decline in insects, explains ecologist Thijs Fijen from Wageningen University & Research. "There are fewer natural habitats and what remains is less diverse and often not connected to other natural areas. Furthermore, excess nitrogen and the use of insecticides also play a role." Another major cause is the large-scale cultivation of a single crop, or monoculture. "This creates a one-sided food supply for pollinators and a lack of suitable nesting sites, making it difficult for them to survive and reproduce in agricultural areas. This not only leads to unbalanced ecosystems, but also reduces the yields of crops that depend on insects for pollination." Project targets To address these challenges, the AGRI4POL project focuses on improving the attractiveness of crops to pollinators. The scientists want to bring about change across Europe. Agricultural crops should no longer have a negative impact on insect numbers but rather contribute to their recovery. "We see differences in attractiveness between varieties of the same crops, but we don't yet know exactly why that is," Fijen says. "Is it because of the amount of nectar? The proteins in the pollen? The volatiles with which flowers lure pollinators? Or perhaps visual cues, such as UV stripes on petals, guiding insects where to go? We intend to explore all these elements." "The knowledge we acquire can be used to adapt existing varieties of crops or develop new ones. The goal here is to create a level playing field for both pollinators and farmers, where crops are attractive to pollinating insects and farmers benefit from higher yields and higher-quality harvests," says Temme. Within AGRI4POL, researchers from Wageningen University & Research and their French colleagues are focusing mainly on sunflowers and broad beans. "In France, we are conducting extensive trials in which cameras record how many insects, and which species, visit different varieties. We then use artificial intelligence to analyze these images. This represents an entirely new approach to studying cultivated crops," Temme explains. The next step is to use the most attractive varieties. This also requires a different view of agriculture. "For example, you can combine various varieties of the same crop, or even multiple crops, to extend the flowering period. For a successful approach, you need to look at the entire cultivation system," says Fijen. Temme highlights the potential benefits for the farmer: "Sunflowers and broad beans both benefit from better pollination. This can ensure higher yields and reduce the risk of pollinator shortages." "The new approach is an important step towards promoting biodiversity and offers an opportunity to reverse the negative trend into a positive one, where farmers and nature reinforce each other," concludes Fijen. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Photos and outputs from instruments used for O-PTIR. Researchers can interpret the images on the left, made using different optical sensors, to produce graphs like those on the right, which show the presence of microbial life. Credit: 2025 Suzuki et al. CC-BY-ND Within the next decade, space agencies plan to bring samples of rock from Mars to Earth for study. Of concern is the possibility these samples contain life, which could have unforeseen consequences. Therefore, researchers in this field strive to create methods to detect life. For the first time, researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo and NASA, successfully demonstrate a method to detect life in ancient rocks analogous to those found on Mars. The work is published in the International Journal of Astrobiology. We've all seen movies in which "scientists bring back something from space, with disastrous consequences," or with some similar premise. The idea makes for a fun story, but the idea of microbial aliens contaminating the Earth is based on genuine concerns, and is also nothing new. Back in the days of the Apollo program, on their return, the lucky astronauts who stepped foot on lunar soil underwent decontamination procedures and even quarantines, just in case. More recently, all eyes are on Mars, as multiple sample return missions are being planned. In order to ensure that samples from Mars cannot contaminate Earth life, the international Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) developed the sample safety assessment framework, essentially a set of protocols for those involved in obtaining, transporting and analyzing Mars rocks, to avoid contamination. A key component of this is the ability to detect the presence or absence of life in a sample. Associate Professor Yohey Suzuki from the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of Tokyo, and his international team, looked at ancient microbe-rich Earth rocks analogous to the kind of Mars rocks we might expect to receive from the red planet in the coming years. "We first tested conventional analytical instruments, but none could detect microbial cells in the 100-million-year-old basalt rock we use as the Martian analog. So, we had to find an instrument sensitive enough to detect microbial cells, and ideally in a nondestructive way, given the rarity of the samples we may soon see," said Suzuki. "We came up with optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy, which succeeded where other techniques either lacked precision or required too much destruction of the samples." O-PTIR works by shining infrared light onto prepared samples to analyze; in this case, the rocks had their outer layers removed and were cut into slices. While slightly destructive, it leaves plenty of material intact for other kinds of analyses, or even those we have not come up with. This essence of preservation for the future also took place with samples from the moon landings. A green laser then picks up signals from the sample where it was exposed to infrared light. With this, researchers can image details as small as half a micrometer, which is enough to discern when a structure is part of something living. "We demonstrated our new method can detect microbes from 100-million-year-old basalt rock. But we need to extend the validity of the instrument to older basalt rock, around 2 billion years old, similar to those the Perseverance rover on Mars has already sampled," said Suzuki. "I also need to test other rock types such as carbonates, which are common on Mars and here on Earth often contain life as well. It's an exciting time to work in this field. It might only be a matter of years before we can finally answer one of the greatest questions ever asked." More information: Yohey Suzuki et al, Submicron-scale detection of microbes and smectite from the interior of a Mars-analogue basalt sample by optical-photothermal infrared spectroscopy, International Journal of Astrobiology (2025). DOI: 10.1017/S1473550425000011 Journal information: International Journal of Astrobiology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A frozen lake near Wudaoliang on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau captures the striking sight of trapped gas bubbles beneath the ice. As global temperatures rise, the thawing of lake ice could accelerate the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Credit: Lei Wang A new study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences sheds light on the complex relationship between methane emissions and the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer. The research underscores how future increases in methane emissions could significantly influence ozone recovery, particularly in the polar regions. The ozone layer, which protects life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation, has been a focal point of scientific research for decades. While international efforts like the Montreal Protocol have successfully curbed ozone-depleting substances, the future recovery of the ozone layer faces new uncertainties due to global warming and human activities. Dr. Fei Xie from Beijing Normal University, one of the corresponding authors of the study, explains, "Our research highlights the dual role of methane in ozone recovery. While methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, it also has complex chemical interactions in the atmosphere that can affect ozone levels. Understanding these dual effects is critical for predicting future ozone recovery and its implications for climate." Using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (version 4), the research team conducted sensitivity experiments to investigate the independent and joint impacts of methane, carbon dioxide, and sea surface temperature on stratospheric ozone under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario in 2050. The RCP8.5 scenario is a future climate pathway that assumes high greenhouse gas emissions and limited climate mitigation efforts, leading to significant global warming by the end of the century. This scenario is often used to explore the potential impacts of a "business-as-usual" approach to climate change. The results reveal that rising methane emissions could have a particularly strong positive impact on ozone recovery in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. "Just as ozone can be harmful at ground level but beneficial in the stratosphere, methane and other ozone precursors exhibit similar dual characteristics," Dr. Xie adds. "By adopting a more nuanced perspective, we can better understand the two-sided effects of these substances and work toward optimal solutions for climate governance." Looking ahead, the research team plans to refine their models to account for additional factors influencing ozone recovery. They also aim to explore the potential climatic and atmospheric impacts of future ozone recovery, linking causes (factors affecting recovery) with consequences (climatic effects of recovery). "Our ultimate goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of ozone recovery pathways and their broader implications," says Dr. Xie. "This will help policymakers and scientists make informed decisions to address both ozone layer restoration and climate change." More information: Na Liu et al, Impact of Methane Emissions on Future Stratospheric Ozone Recovery, Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s00376-024-4142-6 Journal information: Advances in Atmospheric Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A screen capture of a virtual reality view during the Artemis III VR Mini-Simulation. The lunar surface virtual environment was built using actual lunar surface data from one of the Artemis III candidate regions. Credit: Prototype Immersive Technology lab at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. When astronauts walk on the moon, they'll serve as the eyes, hands, and boots-on-the-ground interpreters supporting the broader teams of scientists on Earth. NASA is leveraging virtual reality to provide high-fidelity, cost-effective support to prepare crew members, flight control teams, and science teams for a return to the moon through its Artemis campaign. The Artemis III Geology Team, led by principal investigator Dr. Brett Denevi of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, participated in an Artemis III Surface Extra-Vehicular VR Mini-Simulation, or "sim" at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in the fall of 2024. The sim brought together science teams and flight directors and controllers from Mission Control to carry out science-focused moonwalks and test the way the teams communicate with each other and the astronauts. "There are two worlds colliding," said Dr. Matthew Miller, co-lead for the simulation and exploration engineer, Amentum/JETSII contract with NASA. "There is the operational world and the scientific world, and they are becoming one." NASA mission training can include field tests covering areas from navigation and communication to astronaut physical and psychological workloads. Many of these tests take place in remote locations and can require up to a year to plan and large teams to execute. VR may provide an additional option for training that can be planned and executed more quickly to keep up with the demands of preparing to land on the moon in an environment where time, budgets, and travel resources are limited. Field testing won't be going away. Nothing can fully replace the experience crew members gain by being in an environment that puts literal rocks in their hands and includes the physical challenges that come with moonwalks, but VR has competitive advantages. The virtual environment used in the Artemis III VR Mini-Sim was built using actual lunar surface data from one of the Artemis III candidate regions. This allowed the science team to focus on Artemis III science objectives and traverse planning directly applicable to the moon. Eddie Paddock, engineering VR technical discipline lead at NASA Johnson, and his team used data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and planet position and velocity over time to develop a virtual software representation of a site within the Nobile Rim 1 region near the south pole of the moon. Two stand-in crew members performed moonwalk traverses in virtual reality in the Prototype Immersive Technology lab at Johnson, and streamed suit-mounted virtual video camera views, hand-held virtual camera imagery, and audio to another location where flight controllers and science support teams simulated ground communications. The crew stand-ins were immersed in the lunar environment and could then share the experience with the science and flight control teams. That quick and direct feedback could prove critical to the science and flight control teams as they work to build cohesive teams despite very different approaches to their work. The flight operations team and the science team are learning how to work together and speak a shared language. Both teams are pivotal parts of the overall mission operations. The flight control team focuses on maintaining crew and vehicle safety and minimizing risk as much as possible. The science team, as Miller explains, is "relentlessly thirsty" for as much science as possible. Training sessions like this simulation allow the teams to hone their relationships and processes. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Denevi described the flight control team as a "well-oiled machine" and praised their dedication to getting it right for the science team. Many members of the flight control team have participated in field and classroom training to learn more about geology and better understand the science objectives for Artemis. "They have invested a lot of their own effort into understanding the science background and science objectives, and the science team really appreciates that and wants to make sure they are also learning to operate in the best way we can to support the flight control team, because there's a lot for us to learn as well," Denevi said. "It's a joy to get to share the science with them and have them be excited to help us implement it all." This simulation, Sparks said, was just the beginning for how virtual reality could supplement training opportunities for Artemis science. In the future, using mixed reality could help take the experience to the next level, allowing crew members to be fully immersed in the virtual environment while interacting with real objects they can hold in their hands. Now that the Nobile Rim 1 landing site is built in VR, it can continue to be improved and used for crew training, something that Sparks said can't be done with field training on Earth. While "virtual" was part of the title for this exercise, its applications are very real. "We are uncovering a lot of things that people probably had in the back of their head as something we'd need to deal with in the future," Miller said. "But guess what? The future is now. This is now." Provided by NASA This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Veronica Godoy-Carter, associate professor of biology, discovered a purple bacteria among ancient "living rocks" of Patagonia. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University In the Patagonia region of southern Chile, there are "living rocks." While that's what the locals say, Veronica Godoy-Carter, associate professor of biology and biochemistry at Northeastern University, says it's a little more complicated than that. "They're actually little mountains," she says, of "giant biofilms that are billions of years old. Literally billions." To put that in perspective, the Earth is thought to be about 4.5 billion years old, which means these "rocks"really bacterial biofilms (a sheet of bacteria only a few cells thick)have been around a long, long time. Over the eons, these biofilms have piled up and calcified into forms that look like rocks called stromatolites. They predate humans, our primate ancestors, maybe even multicellular life itself. Now Godoy-Carter has sequenced the genome of one of these bacterial colonies, a species within a genus called Janthinobacterium, which is found in soil and water and has a distinctive violet color. The work is published in the journal Microbiology Resource Announcements. A Patagonian expedition Godoy-Carter's excitement is infectious. "Bacteria are the most awesome organisms on Earth. They can live without us, but we cannot live without them." Her research focuses on how bacteria adapt to changes in their environment, especially their response to DNA damage and the mutations that mayor may notoccur in response to that damage. In 2018, Godoy-Carter led a group of Northeastern students and researchers on a Dialogue of Civilizations trip to Patagonia, where they visited these "living rocks" and went hunting for unique bacteria. What they found was a brilliantly colored bacteria whose biofilm was strong enough to act like a lid over a test tube, holding back the liquid inside. The Janthinobacterium Godoy-Carter and her team isolated is also an extremophile, which survives despite being subjected to freezing temperatures. Janthinobacterium "makes these multicellular communities that are incredibly robust," Godoy-Carter says. "These types of formations made by bacteria are believed to be, pretty much, the first living cells, organized cells, on Earth." While their work is still in the early stages, there's still "so much fun stuff to do," she says. "With the biofilms, we can make new plastics, new textiles, maybe we can make the textiles with the pigment, and maybe the pigment protects from UV light." A purple bacterium These multicellular communities were maybe the most obvious reason to pursue this genus, but Godoy-Carter had another: "I love purple," she says with a laugh. "My dream was to get a purple bacterium, and I did." The pigment likely helps the bacterium protect itself against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. "The next thing is to know, can we molecularly work with the original bacterium?" Godoy-Carter continues. Bacteria extracted from outside environments "are very difficult to work with, because they have their own systems, and they are not familiar to the lab. They tend to change, they shut off. "They're like, 'Man, I'm not going to cooperate.'" Now that Godoy-Carter and her team have sequenced Janthinobacterium's genome, however, they'll be able to isolate the particular genes they're most interested in studying, and can effectively plug those genes into other, more laboratory-friendly bacteria. "This Janthino[bacterium] doesn't want to cooperate," she says, "so we need to move it to a different background." Systems biologists call these host bacteria chassis, like the frame of a car to which other parts can be mounted. "We need to find a good chassis," Godoy-Carter says. "And I think we have one." Godoy-Carter says that her whole expedition team was excited by the discovery and what they found in the lab. The same undergraduate researchersand others who accompanied her to Patagoniaworked with the Janthinobacterium back in the United States. The students "feel that they are contributing to the scienceand they are," she says. More information: Nicole T. Cavanaugh et al, Whole-genome sequencing of a Janthinobacterium sp . isolated from the Patagonian Desert, Microbiology Resource Announcements (2024). DOI: 10.1128/mra.00600-24 This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Coarse-grained native gold in quartz veins with presence of muscovite and sulphides. Credit: CSIRO Hydrothermal alteration is a complex geological process that can later serve as an indicator of gold deposits for mineral explorers. The process sees hot and metal-rich fluids interact with surrounding rocks, causing chemical and mineralogical changes. Potassic (K) alteration is a common geological feature of many gold deposits worldwide, particularly lode gold deposits. In these, gold occurs in veins alongside quartz and sulfides within the rock. This alteration is shown by the presence of potassium-rich minerals, such as K-feldspar and muscovite, with gold accumulating within the alteration zone. This phenomenon occurs when fluids containing potassium, sulfur and gold interact with surrounding rocks. Such alteration is easily visualized, often showing a light pink color on a rock surface. It can be used as an indicator of nearby gold mineralization. Despite this well-documented relationship, it was previously unknown whether potassium has played a role in the process of gold formation. Innovative methods fill key knowledge gaps Dr. Yuan Mei and Dr. Siyu Hu are researchers in our Mineral Resources team. To help address the knowledge gap, they co-supervised a visiting Early Career Researcher Dr. Gao-Hua Fan. The latter drove this work in collaboration with his primary supervisor, Professor Jian-Wei Li, from the China University of Geosciences, Wuhan. Together, the team developed a novel geochemical model that sheds new light on the fundamental mechanism of potassium in gold mineralization. Their work is grounded in ab initio (from inception) molecular dynamics simulations. It explored the behavior of potassium in Au-bearing hydrothermal fluids at the point of lode gold formation. The research was recently published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Our computational geochemist Dr. Yuan Mei said ab initio molecular simulation allows us to explore early metal behaviors under extreme conditions. "These tests would be impossible without supercomputers. Thanks to the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Center, we utilized over a million CPU hours through parallel computing to simulate the interaction between gold and potassium ions at the atomic scale," Yuan said. "That's equivalent to more than 100 years on a single CPU. We can simulate reaching temperatures up to 1,000C and pressures of 2,500 barconditions that are difficult to physically achieve experimentally." The results provided compelling evidence that ion pairing between K and Au(HS) is very weak in both vapor-like and liquid-like fluids. This finding indicates that potassium plays a minimal role in transporting gold within lode gold-mineralization systems. A schematic model illustrating the genetic relationship between potassic alteration and gold mineralisation in lode gold deposits. Credit: CSIRO A significant contribution to hydrothermal geochemistry In addition to molecular simulations, the team investigated fluid evolution. They were particularly interested in how the transition from early K-feldspar to later muscovite influences gold deposition. They identified that gold mineralization and K-minerals transition (from K-feldspar to muscovite) occur simultaneously during the cooling of fluids. Decreases in pH and oxygen fugacity play secondary roles in this process. These findings underscore that the genetic relationship between potassic alteration and gold mineralization arises from the impact of fluid evolution on gold precipitation. It is not due to a direct influence of potassium on gold transport. Our economic geologist Siyu explained how potassic alteration is an important indicator for gold deposits. "By better understanding the genetic association between this type of alteration and gold mineralization, gold explorers can confidently use this alteration as a robust indicator," Siyu said. "This will enhance their ability to identify and target gold deposits with greater precision." More information: Gao-Hua Fan et al, The role of potassium in lode gold mineralization: insights from ab initio molecular dynamics and geochemical modeling, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2024.12.022 Journal information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Provided by CSIRO This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Maggie Reed, a graduate student researcher at UC Berkeley, works on TESSERACTs dilution refrigerator. The setup holds and cools the dark matter detectors. Credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab For decades, people have been trying to directly detect dark matter: the missing mass in our universe. Now, there's a new, super-sensitive detector on the caseand even though it's still in the research and development phase, it's already been able to search for kinds of dark matter that other detectors can't reach. Historically, most dark matter searches have hunted for two particular kinds of dark matter: ultra-light axions and heavier WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles). But the new TESSERACT experiment searches in between these regimes, looking for low-mass dark matter that's about a hundred to a thousand times lighter than a WIMP. "It's a kind of Goldilocks dark matter," said Dan McKinsey, the project director for TESSERACT and a researcher at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), which leads the experiment. "There's this untested window that gives us an opportunity for discovery. Our detector has the sensitivity, even at this early stage, that allows us to look for dark matter candidates no one has been able to look for before." The TESSERACT (Transition-Edge Sensors with Sub-EV Resolution And Cryogenic Targets) collaboration also includes researchers at Argonne National Laboratory, Caltech, Florida State University, IJCLab (Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irene Joliot-Curie), IP2I (Institut de Physique des 2 Infinis de Lyon), LPSC (Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie), Texas A&M University, UC Berkeley, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Zurich, and QUP (the International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles). In a paper posted on March 5 to the preprint server arXiv, TESSERACT researchers presented their first dark matter results, finding no evidence of low-mass dark matter between masses of 44 MeV/ 2 and 87 MeV/ 2 (where MeV is millions of electronvolts). For comparison, the mass of a proton is slightly less than 1,000 MeV/ 2 , and the most recent results by LZ, the world's best WIMP experiment, searched for dark matter down to 9,000 MeV/c 2 . This is the first time any experiment has searched for nuclear recoil signals from dark matter with mass below 87 MeV/ 2 . If researchers were to find dark matter in this new region, they'd need a new explanation for how it interacts. For example, while WIMPs interact through the weak force, low-mass dark matter could indicate an undiscovered fifth fundamental force at play. While many advanced dark matter experiments use huge volumes of detector material or giant magnets, TESSERACT's power comes not from its size but its sensitivity. The new world-leading results came from carefully instrumented and shielded silicon chips that are one square centimeter, roughly a quarter of the size of a postcard stamp. These detectors were designed at UC Berkeley and fabricated at Texas A&M University. TESSERACT uses transition-edge sensors, a type of superconducting detector, that operate at around 8 millikelvin (nearly negative 460F). Adding even a minuscule amount of heatsay, from a lightweight dark matter particle bumping into the chip and depositing some energycan trip the sensor. "We've been working to make the sensors very consistent and high-fidelity at very low temperatures," said Vetri Velan, a Chamberlain Fellow at Berkeley lab and co-lead of the analysis. "The lower the transition temperature of the sensor, the better the noise performance and the better the sensitivity to dark matter. So it's all about how sensitive we can make these sensors." Researchers have been conducting R&D since 2020 to increase the sensitivity and reduce (or account for) potential sources of noise that might hide a dark matter signal. That includes finding the right recipe for manufacturing the sensors and reducing background vibration and electromagnetic interference in the dilution refrigerator that houses the silicon chip. The detector's small size is also an asset; less area means fewer background interactions. TESSERACT uses special transition-edge sensors, the thin strips visible on square silicon chips. Credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab TESSERACT addresses a problem common to sensitive detectors: a persistent but unexplained source of excess noise at low energies, the same region where dark matter might lurk. The experiment's approach to manufacturing and shielding the detectors has reduced that background rate 30-fold. "The devices that we are running are so quiet compared to pretty much any other device that's ever been run," said Michael Williams, a Chamberlain Fellow at Berkeley Lab and co-lead of the analysis. "And there's a really large overlap between the work we're doing on these devices and other quantum material science. As we improve these transition-edge sensors for ourselves, we can use the same engineering to make better qubits and quantum computers." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. An experiment designed to change Most dark matter experiments are placed deep underground, using thousands of feet of rock to help block out particles from space that can interact in the detector. With this first detector prototype, TESSERACT has already explored new spaces for dark matter from what is essentially Earth's surface: the sub-basement of UC Berkeley's Birge Hall (not far from the site of John Clauser's Nobel Prize-winning experiment on photon entanglement that set the stage for our current quantum revolution). But to further improve the detectors' sensitivity, researchers plan to install the full experiment beneath 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) of rock in the deepest underground laboratory in Europe: France's Modane Underground Laboratory. Construction is slated to begin in 2025, with the experiment coming online around 2029 and searching for dark matter with masses as low as 10 MeV/ 2 . The experiment will grow from its current footprint, roughly as big as a phone booth, to a six-foot cube. The heart of TESSERACT is its transition-edge sensors, but researchers are also developing additional detector modules that improve their odds of spotting dark matter. HeRALD (Helium Roton Apparatus for Light Dark matter) will be the first time that a dark matter experiment uses superfluid helium, and will incorporate TESSERACT's silicon chips as the detector's sensors. SPICE (Sub-ev Polar Interactions Cryogenic Experiment) will use single crystals of sapphire and gallium arsenide. And the science teams in France will contribute a sensor made of silicon and germanium. The different modules will give researchers unique ways to search for dark matter and test different theories. The shielding that will surround the experiment is designed to come apart, making it possible for researchers to easily access TESSERACT's components and switch things out in a matter of days. If HeRALD sees intriguing signs of dark matter, scientists can swap in SPICE and cross-check the result (or vice versa). In contrast, many advanced dark matter experiments are built like a ship in a bottle; it would take them months or years to open up and swap components, if it could be done at all. Researchers are currently continuing to develop HeRALD and SPICE and testing new manufacturing processes to further improve the transition-edge sensors. "To get TESSERACT to the sensitivity we want, these detectors have to get even better, even though they're already the best in the world," Williams said. Improved detectors and a subterranean home will let the experiment search for lower mass particles and increase the chance of detecting ultra-rare dark matter interactions with regular matter. "This result is the first indication that we can open up this new regime of low-mass dark matter to experimental testing," McKinsey said. "It's a lot of fun to have a small experiment running in the basement that can test new ideas for dark matter. This is really just the opening salvo for TESSERACT. We expect to have many more results over the next decade." More information: C. L. Chang et al, First Limits on Light Dark Matter Interactions in a Low Threshold Two Channel Athermal Phonon Detector from the TESSERACT Collaboration, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2503.03683 Journal information: arXiv Legislation in the Iowa House and Senate would prohibit unauthorized camping on public lands, which advocates for people experiencing homelessness argue would criminalize homelessness. On Wednesday, judiciary committees in both the House and Senate considered legislation that would establish a misdemeanor for individuals who refuse to leave after a warning when sleeping or camping on public land without authorization. Individuals who refuse to leave after receiving a warning and an offer for shelter or services would face a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $105 to $855. While House Study Bill 286 advanced out of subcommittee, Senate Study Bill 1195 was halted after Democratic Sen. Janice Weiner of Iowa City and Republican Dave Sires of Cedar Falls declined to sign on for its advancement. Sires said he had multiple issues with the legislation, including the fines that accompany violations of the bill. We've got to think of something else, Sires said. This is not fair to people, whether they're down on their luck or they're having a problem. I know that sounds crazy coming from a conservative Republican. Weiner pleaded to the other members not to advance the legislation, saying it needs to be reworked to include more voices from multiple communities that have stakes in the issue. It is not an Iowa bill or an Iowa solution, Weiner said. It is an outside bill that has been parachuted in here. If we want an Iowa solution, we can convene a group of all stakeholders in the intersession, including people who have experienced homelessness, and sit down and look at solutions, because they exist. On the other side of the capitol building, the bill made its way through a House judiciary subcommittee where both Republican members signed on to advance it, including Rep. Steve Holt, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. There was no intention to criminalize homelessness or anything of the kind, but rather to try to create a scenario in which people would be better cared for and be given more opportunities to be in shelters, Holt said. Republican Rep. Judd Lawler of Tiffin joined Holt in advancing the bill while Rep. Lindsay James, a Democrat from Dubuque, opposed it. Advocates speak against bill Advocates for people experiencing homelessness decried the bill as an attempt to criminalize homelessness that would exacerbate difficult conditions unsheltered Iowans already face as the price of living continues to rise. People do not choose to be homeless, that is a baseless myth used to further disenfranchise vulnerable people, Cynthia Latcham, president of Anawim Housing, said during the Senate subcommittee. They are the victims of inadequate systems of care, childhood trauma and poverty, but most importantly, they are vulnerable people who have been excluded from a competitive housing market when there is not sufficient housing within a community. Multiple people who work for organizations that provide services to Iowans experiencing homelessness said lawmakers should be focusing on providing more pathways to affordable housing instead. What is needed is Iowas stronger investment in housing and services that support people getting help they need to live stable lives, Angie Arthur, executive director of Polk County homelessness advocacy group Homeward, said during the Senate subcommittee. Expanding services by increasing access to deeply affordable housing and better connect people to behavioral health systems is crucial. Adonis Ariti, 19, from West Des Moines experienced homelessness when he was in high school. He said the legislation would only make things harder for Iowans who are unsheltered. "To make homelessness and camping on public property illegal is going to hurt a lot more people than you think it's going to help," Ariti said during the Senate subcommittee. Bill follows similar laws in states, cities Dennis Tibben, representing Cicero Action, Texas-based think tank founded by tech billionaire Joe Lonsdale which has advocated for similar legislation in other states, said it would create consistency around homelessness policies and help create pathways to self sufficiency. Cicero Action and Americans For Prosperity were the only groups registered in support of the legislation online. This is not intended to criminalize homelessness, Tibben said. The goal here is to move folks off the street and connect them with shelters and other supportive services. Tibben noted that other states including Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida, Kentucky, Utah and Tennessee, as well as 150 cities in 32 states, including Des Moines, have similar policies. The Des Moines City Council passed an ordinance in September following the June U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson which allows local government ordinances with civil and criminal penalties for camping on public land. Des Moines ordinance, which went into effect in February, prohibits sleeping or camping in public on public land. But Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders says the citys ordinance is more effective in addressing homelessness and provides more opportunities for prevention and rehabilitation compared to the proposed legislation. This bill, though, is penalty driven to enforce compliance, and there's really a lack of the preventative side and the measures and service levels that could be helpful, Sanders said during the Senate subcommittee. Des Monies ordinance bans camping on public property and decreases the number of days before tents must be removed from public land from ten to three. An individual convicted under the ordinance may be fined $15. It also includes provisions that deal with preventative measures. Both bills in the Iowa Legislature would allow cities and counties to use public funds to establish sites on designated areas of public property to be used for public camping by people experiencing homelessness. The designated areas would be required to include safety and security measures; sanitization measures, including clean and running water; a restroom; a shower and access to treatment for substance use disorders and mental health. Names of the residents staying in the area would have to be recorded and alcohol and controlled substance use would be prohibited. The bills would also create drug-free homeless service zones, which would charge facilities providing services and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness with an aggravated misdemeanor if individuals using their services possess or use a controlled substance on the premises. A facility that violates this requirement would receive a fine from $855 up to $8,540. Similar legislation was proposed last year, but it failed to meet the legislative deadline to advance out of committee. A lawsuit against BNSF Railway is set to be dismissed after the company and federal government finalized a plan to reduce grizzly bear deaths along rail lines in northwest Montana. The plan, announced Feb. 13, includes a combination of preventive measures on BNSF's behalf such as identifying leaky grain cars and removing them from use and funding for additional personnel and conflict-reduction programs at the state Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. BNSF, FWP and the environmental groups that sued the railway all praised the plan, which the railway developed in conjunction with FWP, although the environmental groups said they wished the plan also included provisions to reduce train speeds in grizzly habitat. The announcement came 14 months after WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project sued the railway over what they alleged were illegal killings of grizzly bears by BNSF freight trains. The lawsuit portrayed the deaths as unintentional but largely preventable, and it accused the railway of having killed 52 grizzly bears from 2008-18, more in following years, and another three in a matter of days in September 2023 all without receiving a legally required incidental take permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees species protected under the ESA. This month's announcement stated that BNSF received an incidental take permit in conjunction with its finalized habitat protection plan. That would mean the company is no longer in violation of the ESA, as was alleged in the lawsuit. As such, the lawsuit is set to be dismissed by March 17, according to a court filing Tuesday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto, who has presided over the case in U.S. District Court in Missoula. The parties agreed in a Feb. 13 filing that the primary allegation in the lawsuit was no longer valid. The plan stipulates that BNSF will implement a "rapid response protocol" to clean up grain spills and carcasses of animals on or near train tracks two leading bear attractants near rail lines. The company will inspect grain cars for leaks and not use ones with leaks. And the company will manage vegetation near tracks that attracts bears. Working with FWP, BNSF will also fund three new grizzly technicians who will address human-bear conflict in the area; remote bear monitoring equipment like radio collars and game cameras; waste disposal efforts to reduce attractants; community education on bear spray use and bear attractants; and fencing to prevent livestock from venturing onto rail lines, where they could be killed and then attract bears. In a joint statement, WildEarth Guardians, Western Watersheds Project and the Western Environmental Law Center the latter of which represented the other groups in court said they were "cautiously optimistic" about the outcome. The groups updated their figures to note 75 grizzlies killed by trains on BNSF tracks from 1975 to 2023. "The BNSF railway runs right alongside Glacier National Park, some of the most prime grizzly habitat in the world, so we are hopeful risks to grizzlies will be lessened," Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, said. "We are disappointed, however, that speed reductions aren't part of BNSF's conservation package. The railroad slows down for human safety, and ought to do that for grizzly safety as well." Lizzy Pennock, carnivore existence attorney at WildEarth Guardians, said the group was "pleased the (Fish and Wildlife) Service is holding BNSF responsible for operating safely in threatened grizzly bear habitat." In a separate statement released by FWP, BNSF Vice President of Environment & Sustainability John Lovenburg said the company was "grateful for the insight provided by stakeholders in this process." "We look forward to working with federal, tribal and state government partners and Montana's Outdoor Legacy Foundation to ensure the effective implementation of the measures set out in the HCP," he said, referring to the state fund the company will contribute to, "as well as the permit issued by USFWS." "This plan represents a significant partnership and step forward in our continued efforts to bolster grizzly bear recovery and conservation in northwest and north-central Montana," FWP Director Christy Clark said. "Funding from BNSF will support boots on the ground and benefit public safety and grizzly bears. We commend BNSF Railway for working with us on this plan." The end result this month wasn't the first time BNSF had tried to finalize a plan and obtain an incidental take permit from FWS. In 2004, BNSF submitted to FWS a similar habitat conservation plan and sought an incidental take permit. BNSF submitted updated plans and sought a permit again in 2020 and earlier in 2023. The 2023 plan included $2 million to hire and support three additional grizzly bear technicians two for the state and one for the Blackfeet Nation and to implement projects to reduce bear deaths. The plan also included $1 million for additional projects identified by new science or changing conditions. FWS had not finalized any of the plans when the lawsuit was filed. BNSF, which stands for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, is by far the largest railway in Montana. The Texas-based railway is the primary railway in the Pacific Northwest and northern Midwest, and operates a significant network throughout the entire Midwest, alongside Union Pacific. In Montana, the railway operates 2,772 miles of active track. BNSF previously leased 817 miles of its track to Montana Rail Link until Jan. 1, 2024, at which point it absorbed Montana Rail Link. The primary issue in the lawsuit were BNSF lines in and around the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, home to more than 1,100 bears the largest amount in the Lower 48, and slightly more than in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The NCDE is one of six ecosystems identified for grizzly bear recovery under the ESA. BNSF lines in Montana cut through the middle of the NCDE generally along U.S. Highway 2, with Glacier National Park on the north and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex to the south. Amtrak also operates its famed Empire Builder passenger trains between Chicago and Seattle on the BNSF line through the NCDE. A section of rail line through the NCDE, between Cut Bank on the east and Stryker on the west, was the primary area of grizzly deaths identified in the lawsuit. Molvar stated when the lawsuit was filed that 206 miles of BNSF lines run through the "key grizzly habitat" that is the NCDE. An average of about 29-34 freight trains, plus two Amtrak Empire Builder trains, travel that section of track each day, according to the environmental groups' statement this month. The December 2023 lawsuit also noted that BNSF lines bisect the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem in far northwest Montana. A former MRL-leased line, now once again solely under BNSF control, borders the southern edge of the ecosystem. Grizzlies in that ecosystem numbered about 60 as of 2017, but may be declining, according to more recent FWS data. The lawsuit stated that trains have killed grizzlies there, too. McKay, who leads a county of 1.1 million people, the most populous locality in Virginia, told Youngkin in a letter on Tuesday that the regional and state economy would be devastated if Trump follows through with his threat to force federal agencies to move outside the National Capital Region, which includes Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and the District of Columbia. After outlining the threat and the countys efforts to prepare for it, the board chairman challenged the governor to change his public message on Trumps sweeping efforts to slash the federal workforce and move federal agencies. We urge you to call on ... President Trump to halt these reckless relocations and to stand with Virginias workforce in protecting the economic stability of our region, McKay said in the two-page letter. You must tell the president that he is wrong, as past governors have done when Virginias economy is threatened. We also request that you brief our board on your efforts, to date and planned, to support Virginians as they face unprecedented assault, he said. Youngkin, who owns a home in the Great Falls area of Fairfax, responded, through his chief of staff, with a two-page letter to McKay on Thursday that touted Youngkins own record of job creation. Youngkin Chief of Staff John Littel suggested that the Fairfax chairman focus on the countys own budget challenges instead of national politics. While other counties in Virginia are growing and attracting new residents and tax revenue, Fairfax County is losing both, Littel told McKay. Focusing on your $292.7 million budget shortfall without raising taxes on your constituents should take priority over partisan theatrics. He added: You should reverse the mandatory union labor agreements that will cost your taxpayers millions. You should improve your commercial real estate crisis and support local business by demanding that employees return to the office. Littel did not address Trumps cuts to the federal workforce or push to move federal agencies out of the region, but suggested that the new administration represents a real opportunity to reverse a decision made by President Joe Bidens administration to award a new FBI headquarters to Maryland instead of the Springfield area of Fairfax. With Republicans hostile to the FBI under Biden, the governor played a less prominent role in the push to win the project for Virginia than Democrats in the states congressional delegation. The Republican governor has publicly supported Trumps efforts to cut the federal workforce and spending as part of the government efficiency initiative Elon Musk is leading. Youngkin has expressed sympathy for affected workers and launched an online initiative to match them with private sector jobs in Virginia. On Wednesday, the governors administration sponsored an online job fair with an estimated 300 private employers as part of the Virginia Has Jobs initiative. But McKay told Youngkin, your statements telling people they are getting what America voted for, that downsizing isnt wrong, calling the process painful but necessary are doing harm to our shared constituents. Last week, federal budget director Russell Vought ordered federal agencies to produce reorganization plans by March 13 that carry out Trumps executive order to prepare for large-scale reductions in force, or layoffs, by consolidating their operations and eliminating bureaus and offices that are not essential to serving the public. Vought faced fierce opposition to his Senate confirmation by Virginias Democratic senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, partly because of his past statement that he wants federal workers to be traumatically affected by the new administrations sweeping plans to cut the government. The Project 2025 blueprint that he helped write for the new administration to follow outlined those plans in detail. In the second phase of the reorganization plan, due April 14, agencies must include proposed relocations of agency bureaus and offices from Washington, D.C., and the National Capital Region to less-costly parts of the country. During the presidential campaign last year, Trump vowed to cut the federal workforce and move up to 100,000 government employees out of the region. McKay estimated that more than 175,000 federal employees and contractors live in Northern Virginia. Relocating federal agencies from our region would impact not only the employees working at those agencies, but the private sector contractors who are the backbone of our economy, he said. Virginia received $108 billion in federal contracts last year second only to California and Fairfax alone received $41 billion in federal funding, McKay said. These investments fuel our local economies, sustain small businesses, and provide critical employment opportunities across the Commonwealth, he added. If agencies relocated from the region, many contractors will likely do the same. McKay also contended that forcing agencies to move would not only disrupt the lives of thousands of Virginia residents but also weaken the agencies themselves by stripping them of the institutional knowledge and expertise concentrated in this region. History has shown that previous agency relocations have resulted in workforce attrition and operational challenges that ultimately cost taxpayers more in the long run, he said. NEW KENT The array of local government buildings along a gentle bend of Virginia Route 249 known in these parts as the New Kent Highway tells you a lot about what New Kent County was and what its becoming. The so-called old courthouse, which fronts on the highway, was constructed from red brick in 1909 the successor to one destroyed by fire and standing where the first courthouse went up in 1695, almost 40 years before the birth of one of the countys biggest names: Martha Washington. Outside the courthouse stands an obelisk a monument, erected in 1934, commemorating the Confederate units mobilized in the county during the Civil War: the Pamunkey Rifles, the Barhamsville Grays and the New Kent Cavalry. Carved in the plinth: Lest we forget. Behind the old courthouse is a comparatively new, low-slung office building, the design of which is somewhat brutalist. New Kents five-member governing board convenes in a shadowy room in this gray, angular edifice. Its also where meets an organization that might seem out of place in this reliably Republican, still-rural but suburban-izing locality: the countys Democratic committee. The first Saturday of every month, party activists gather for two hours and not just for coffee and doughnuts. Indeed, attendance has been growing in recent years. Two new faces were among the 40 or so who turned out this past Saturday. Both were there for the same reason others are drawn to these get-togethers: President Donald Trump. LaDonna Foley, a native Southwest Virginian retired from the Veterans Administration and living in Brickshire, a suburban subdivision that first sprang up in 2003, said she attended because she wants engage Trumpy relatives blind to benefits they may lose under 47's downsizing push. Once they feel the pain, theyre going to want an alternative, said Foley. Also showing up for the first time was Pat Jeffries, a nurse from Lanexa, on the east side of New Kent. When she was a college student, Jeffries said that she attended a Republican rally. And she long considered herself an independent. Not any more. Frightened and furious over Trumps aggressive assault on federal spending and employment, Jeffries said Democrats have to give as good as they get in explaining the threat Trump poses to services and the states economy, a third of which is derived from D.C.s beneficence. We cant be quiet and polite and reserved, said Jeffries. Lets be proud and loud. For Democrats, it may be easier to do so because of a hard reality: New Kent, barely 30 miles east of Richmond, and bisected by heavily traveled Interstate 64, is the fastest-growing county in Virginia, according to U.S. Census figures. Its population swelled 14.4% from 2020 to 26,000. That growth some 3,000 new residents, many from outside Virginia who cluster in the countys suburban hubs east of Richmond and west of Williamsburg is contributing to an elevated Democratic vote in a county long represented in Congress and the state legislature by Republicans. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, the online monitor of political data, New Kent showed the largest increase in Democratic presidential voting from 2020 to 2024 of any rural county in the state: 20%. New Kents Republican vote grew, too, but only 12%. Its momentum that Democrats aim to maintain. At that weekend meeting, activists many of whom were white women, a prized demographic for both political parties discussed in granular detail the best way to initially contact the 900 or so voters added to the county rolls in recent months. For example, should postcards with standard, printed greetings include a handwritten note? How many could a volunteer be expected to complete in a sitting? Maybe 10? And dont forget, said the county chairman, Mike Hatfield, a retired executive: it should be fun. There was also a discussion about improving the committees online presence. Social media is, increasingly, a free-fire zone. Thats the case in New Kent, too, Democrats and Republicans say. Its accelerating, in part, because of improved web service, paid for with Joe Biden COVID-19 funds. Sure, this is civics 101. The surge in Democratic presidential voting would seem promising but it does not guarantee advances for the party in off-years, such as 2025, when Virginians choose a new governor and decide party control of the Democrat-dominated House of Delegates. Thats because, in Virginia, where there are elections every year, every election draws a different electorate. Turnout peaks in presidential years. Thats when purple Virginia is its bluest. But because turnout varies, party gains one year arent necessarily transferable to the next. Regardless, Democrats here wonder if they have an opportunity in one of the two House districts in which New Kent sits. Amanda Batten, first elected in 2019, is one of eight House Republicans whose districts were carried for the presidency last year by Democrat Kamala Harris. Battens district reaches east from New Kent, down the Virginia Peninsula, to usually Democratic Williamsburg and part of neighboring James City County, a refuge for prosperous out-of-state retirees often given to Main Street Republicanism rather than the MAGA strain. Plus, the region because of multiple defense and federal facilities is thick with government workers more mindful these days, presumably, of job insecurity. Democrat Jessica Anderson, who barely lost to Batten in 2023, is certain to play to such fears in their 2025 rematch. Though its indisputable that New Kent tips Republican, its brand of GOP politics is genteel compared to that of Hanover County, to the northwest, with which it shares a House seat held by Scott Wyatt, who easily defeated Keith Braxton in 2023 and could face Andrew Ward this year. Wyatt is a product of Hanovers rough-and-tumble, hard-right GOP apparatus and denied renomination to incumbent Chris Peace in 2019, hammering him for breaking with the party to support Medicaid expansion. It was a sin for which New Kent Republicans forgave Peace, backing him for another term. And though the New Kent Board of Supervisors has among its members a MAGA-esque Republican, a Youngkin administration aide whose father is banned by court order from county buildings because he threatened another supervisor, the county tends center-right. In School Board elections last year, voters rejected candidates who sharply emphasized social and cultural themes, possibly fearing New Kent classrooms like those in Loudoun County would become battlegrounds over gender ID and immigration. History may also provide a clue or two to New Kents orientation. It installed its first Black supervisor in 1955, even as anger was building over court-ordered school desegregation, which the county unsuccessfully tried to avoid until 1968. While the board of supervisors is currently all-white, the administrator is Black and from a prominent local family. New Kent, as home to the states only horse-racing track, happily embraced gambling as a huge source of revenue in the 1990s. Almost three decades later, it could be forced to share some of those millions with other localities where the track operator has gaming parlors. Industrial development, too, has a stabilizing effect. A national used car-sales chain is planning a giant lot in New Kent, where already stands a sprawling distribution center for a motor-vehicle battery company. And a Texas-based fuel-and-food company known for its smoked brisket will be opening an outlet in New Kent. But then theres always the steady stream of new residents, many of them non-Virginians, heading to neighborhoods such as Brickshire, where last year not only were Harris-for-president yard signs spotted but those urging voters to support anyone but Trump. Said Michelle Gowdy, executive director of the Virginia Municipal League and a Brickshire resident, My cul de sac has nine houses, three of them are owned by people from New Jersey. Cancun restaurant shooting leaves one dead one injured Cancun, Q.R. Police were at the scene of a deadly shooting Wednesday night in region 93. Restaurant patrons watched as two men pulled up on a motorcycle and began shooting. Two men from inside the eatery were hit. Police arrived to find one of the shot men dead at the scene. The other was taken to hospital. Military personnel were called in to help secure the area while police searched for those responsible. The attack happened at an establishment on 104th Street between 53rd and Talleres Avenue. Authorities were notified of the shooting at around 8:00 p.m. Restaurant staff told police that the day before, two people that were eating left a note on their table with a phone number that the restaurant was to call to pay a protection fee. It is not clear if the shooting was a targeted or random attack. Cozumel police rescue 13 victims of human trafficking from island bar Cozumel, Q.R. Cozumel police rescued 13 victims of human trafficking from an island bar Wednesday night. The victims were all women forced into prostitution. Among the rescued adult women were eight Mexicans, two Colombians, one Salvadoran, one Brazilian and one Belizean. The women were removed from the Cozumel bar after authorities executed a search warrant of the building. In a statement, police said thirteen alleged victims of human trafficking in the form of prostitution were rescued during the execution of a search warrant by the State Attorney Generals Office. The search was carried out in coordination with elements of the National Guard in a bar located in this municipality. Elements of the Investigative Police assigned to the Specialized Prosecutors Office for Combating Crimes of Trafficking carried out the search warrant due to the alleged presence of minors in the business. At the end of the operation, the 13 women were transferred to the FGE facilities on the island for the corresponding procedures, while the agents proceeded to place the closure seals on the property. The bar has since been placed under FGE protection where police continue to investigate the bars activities. Visual deficiencies leaves CMIC questioning quality of Tren Maya bridges Othon P. Blanco, Q.R. The Mexican Confederation of the Construction Industry (CMIC) says they are concerned about the visual deficiencies of the Maya Train bridges. The agency expressed its concern following recent meetings with the College of Civil Engineers. Ulises Morales Estrada, President of the Confederacion Mexicana de la Industria de la Construccion (CMIC), says they have found visual structural problems. While the problems are not considered catastrophic, they are questioning the quality of the construction. Morales Estrada says key factors such as soil mechanics were not adequately considered which could compromise the stability of the bridges. Although this is not a catastrophic scenario, the deficiencies are evident and require immediate attention, he said. The CMIC is asking the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena), who was in charge of the construction, to provide a full report on several of the bridges. The bridges of concern are Expofer at the entrance to the city of Chetumal, Huay-Pix and Xul-Ha areas, all in the south. According to Morales Estrada, the bridges have visible problems that could compromise the mobility and safety of users. Among the deficiencies noted are the lack of consideration of soil mechanics studies and other essential technical factors. Although this is not a fatalistic scenario, the problems detected at first glance generate uncertainty about the quality of the work. Morales Estrada says the plans and design for the bridges have been classified as national security information which limits access to technical details and makes independent evaluation by experts difficult. This lack of transparency, he says, has been a cause for concern for both the CMIC and civil society. The CMIC has requested that the structural diagnosis be made public and that the participation of engineering and architectural associations be included. Morales Estrada said that although it is not considered necessary to demolish the bridges, a complete reinforcement is required to guarantee their functionality and safety. The lack of a detailed report by Sedena not only creates uncertainty, but also puts at risk the confidence in one of the flagship projects of the federal government. The CMIC has reiterated the importance of transparency and collaboration with experts to ensure that the work meet the quality standards necessary for the region. LE MARS, Iowa As Mike Gomez and Reese Harms struggled inside a bedroom, Gomez looked to his former girlfriend and pleaded with her to stop Harms from choking him. "He said 'get him off me' several times. I tried to pry Reese's arm off his neck, but I couldn't," Amanda Farmer testified. Harms kept his right arm wrapped around Gomez' neck and his legs wrapped around Gomez' legs for about three minutes before they fell to the floor, where Harms continued to choke Gomez, who by then was turning blue, for another five minutes, Farmer said. Harms stopped choking Gomez, "because Mike was lifeless and wasn't moving anymore," Farmer said. Gomez, 44, of Merrill, Iowa, died in a Sioux Falls hospital four days after the Jan. 19, 2024, incident inside the apartment at 1120 Second St. SE. Harms, 25, of Le Mars, has pleaded not guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder. During the opening day of testimony in Harms' trial Wednesday in Plymouth County District Court, Farmer said she'd dated Gomez for more than five years. The two had a son together, but they were no longer dating. Farmer said she'd been seeing Harms for two months, and he'd been living with her in the Fieldcrest Apartments during that time. After calling Gomez to pick up their son from school the morning of Jan. 19, Farmer said she, Gomez and Harms returned to her apartment, where she and Gomez sat in the living room with their son and Harms went into a bedroom. They each drank a couple beers during the afternoon, but based on his fidgety behavior, Gomez obviously had done some other type of drug earlier in the day, Farmer said. "I could tell there was something in his system, but he wasn't high," she said. Harms stayed in bedroom all afternoon until he began making frequent trips to the bathroom and "talking crap" to Gomez, Farmer said. She and Gomez decided Harms should leave because they didn't want their son hearing his comments. Farmer said she followed Gomez to the bedroom, where Harms was standing on the bed. "Mike made the comment, 'it's time to go, bud,'" Farmer said, and Harms approached Gomez and wrapped his right arm around his neck and his legs around his body and choked him until he quit breathing. In his opening statement to the jury, Harms' attorney, Michael Jacobsma, said Harms told police Gomez had punched him and he began choking him to protect himself. "Reese's actions were an attempt to defend himself because he feared for his safety," Jacobsma said. Farmer testified Gomez did not hit or shove Harms. When Jacobsma showed her a video of her police interview in which she said there was "a tiny bit" of punches and some shoving, Farmer said she did not remember saying that to police. "There were no punches thrown. Mike did a little shove and a wiggle to avoid him," Farmer said on the witness stand. In her deposition, Farmer said Harms choked Gomez for five seconds -- not three minutes -- before they went to the floor. Also during her deposition and police interview, Farmer said she believed Gomez was high at the time of the incident, but reiterated on the witness stand he was not high. An autopsy showed methamphetamine in Gomez' system. Both Farmer and Harms told police they did not see him use meth in the apartment, and officers found no evidence of meth use there. Le Mars Police Sgt. John Kaskie testified Harms' description of the incident changed throughout their conversations. Video footage from Kaskie's body camera taken inside the apartment showed Harms saying Gomez had punched him three times when confronting him in the bedroom. "Then I put him in a choke hold. He started tapping out, so I let him go," Harms told Kaskie, indicating Gomez was still breathing when he stopped choking him. On the ride to the police department for an interview, Kaskie said Harms told him Gomez had punched him six times. During the interview at the station, Harms said he was punched three times and later said it was twice. Harms had no injuries that indicated he'd been hit, Kaskie said. Harms explained he had blood on his lip because Gomez had headbutted him while Harms was choking him. During the interview, Kaskie said Harms told him he choked Gomez "until Mr. Gomez had learned his lesson and until Mr. Gomez couldn't breathe." After releasing Gomez, Harms said, he smoked a cigarette, noticed Gomez wasn't breathing and told Farmer to call 911. The trial will resume Thursday. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Human Rights Commission approved its FY 2026 budget under protest Wednesday and discussed ways to continue to fight a $140,000 funding reduction imposed by the City Council. "I'm asking you do this under protest, if you will," Karen Mackey, the commission's longtime executive director, said before the unanimous vote. "But do it, and, then, yes, we start fighting back." Mackey said she was "completely blindsided" when, during a Feb. 26 city budget wrap up session, Mayor Bob Scott motioned to reduce the commission's budget by $140,000. The vote was 3-2, with Mayor Pro Tem Dan Moore and Councilman Matthew O'Kane voting against the reduction. Council members have pointed out that property tax relief measures passed by state lawmakers in recent years have led to lower local government revenues and the need to cut costs. However, the reduction to the Human Rights Commission's budget also comes at a time when Iowa is rolling back civil rights protections. Last week, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that removes gender identity protections from Iowa's civil rights code. "I've never seen anything like this happen, in the 21 years I've worked for the city, at a wrap up meeting," said Mackey, who suggested the nearly 40% reduction may have been aimed at getting her to retire. She said this is her time to "fight back" and called any attempt to "break" her or get her to retire as being "foolish." The Sioux City Human Rights Commission is a neutral fact-finding agency that investigates discrimination complaints in housing, employment, public accommodations, education and credit. The commission currently has three full-time staff members -- an executive director, human rights investigator and administrative secretary. Two HUD-funded part-time clerical assistants also work in the department. Under the proposal Mackey presented to the commission, her annual compensation ($147,914.94) will be cut by $17,301.47. The administrative secretary's hours will be reduced to 35 a week. One of the clerical assistants will be eliminated, while the other's weekly hours will be reduced to 10. Mackey opted not to recommend a salary cut for the human rights investigator. Other reductions will also be made to spending, including in the areas of professional services, promotions, advertising and non-employee travel. "When the other staff either have their hours significantly cut or aren't here, guess whose (job) it's going to make worse. Her job will be more difficult," Mackey said of human rights investigator Jessica Ryan. In FY 2024, the commission opened 41 cases, 78% of which were discrimination complaints in employment. The commission closed 45 cases that year. In 18 of them, no probable cause was found, 12 were referred to another agency, 11 resulted in settlements and four in administrative closure. Fourteen cases carried over. On average, one human rights investigator can investigate 10 to 15 cases per year, according to the commission's annual report, which was given to the council. "We're to the point where, yes, we have a very low backlog. We are getting to cases real time. This is what I hoped to have in place before my retirement. And, now, the City Council has put that in danger," Mackey said. The numbers of opened and closed cases in FY 2024 are on par with the commission's average over roughly 20 years. Data Mackey provided at the meeting shows just 12 cases opened in FY 2003, which is when she said the council tried to eliminate the department. At that time, Mackey said the department's focus was solely on housing cases. "This was done to Richard Hayes. First, we couldn't just get rid of the department. They wanted to do that. We couldn't do that. We reduced the budget, so that meant his secretary position went away and, then, my memory of this is that his salary was reduced and that's ultimately when he decided to retire," Mackey said of the former human rights director. After Mackey was hired in March 2004, the number of opened cases surged, reaching a high of 72 in FY 2009, during that 22-year time frame. In FY 2010, the commission closed 83 cases. "We got, for example, 56 cases that first full year I was there. Those weren't housing cases -- I promise you that. That was almost entirely employment cases," she said. "So as I'm trying to learn my job, we are getting flooded with cases -- over 100 in that first full two years. I was working six to seven days a week." Kevin Engle-Cartie was among several residents who attended the meeting. He told the commission that "there needs to be a place to protect the most vulnerable in our community" and suggested the commission share emotionally or monetarily impactful stories to show the commission's work. The commission provides a free, confidential service. When an individual believes they have been discriminated against, they can speak with a staff member. That intake process might lead them to file a written complaint. Then, the commission gives notice to the other side, who may be an employer, a landlord or a business owner, and investigates what happened. The commission also partners with a dozen community organizations to educate the community about civil rights and sponsors or co-sponsors a number of events, including landlord and property manager fair housing training, fair housing tenant workshops and forums that provide guidance to parents and caregivers on the educational rights of their disabled children. Since the FY 2026 budget won't start until July 1, Mackey said there is a possibility of amending the budget. "I think what people need to do is, if they feel strongly that this department needs to be adequately funded and this is not adequate, let people on council know," she said. "Now, there are some people on council who may not care, perhaps having a history of animus towards the commission and any director that's been around. But there are others that don't have that history. And so talking to your individual council members, I think, is important." O'Kane advised those present to "pack the house" during council meetings if they wish to engage in a "pressure campaign." "Personally, that's the most frightening thing," O'Kane said of seeing all of the seats in the council chambers filled. Commissioner Camrie Miranda suggested the commission not only draft a letter to the council, but also include a petition filled with the signatures of residents who are against the budget reduction. Mackey said she thinks that is a "great idea," and asked if any of the commissioners would be willing to "work a table" to try to get people to sign the petition at the Faces of Siouxland Multicultural Fair on March 30. The commission organizes the event, which is being held at the Sioux City Convention Center from 12 to 4 p.m. Faces of Siouxland celebrates the community's diversity through a blend of music, dance, art and cultural foods. Access is important. Slate is offering 6 months of Slate Plus to current and recently laid off federal government employees. If you, or someone you know, has been impacted, click here to get 6 months of Slate Plus free. In December 2023, a trio of representatives from Americas august liberal institutions came to Washington to explain how they were handling a fraught political moment unfolding on their campuses. It did not go well. Within a month, two of the three university presidents had resigned. TWO DOWN, crowed then-Rep Elise Stefanik, who had manufactured one of the hearings viral moments. Surely Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the head of the powerful House Oversight Committee, was hoping to come away with a scalp of his own from Wednesdays Hearing With Sanctuary City Mayors. Once again, a handful of liberal standard-bearersthis time, the mayors of Boston, Denver, Chicago, and New Yorkwere being marched into Washington for an inquisition before furious House Republicans. To understand how hyped GOP reps were about this opportunity to trap a Democratic mayor in scandal, and get famous doing it, please take a peek at the Hollywood-caliber trailer: BREAKING: Boston, Chicago, Denver, NYC Sanctuary Mayors to Be Held Publicly Accountable on March 5 pic.twitter.com/ANujXq9tBm Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) February 26, 2025 Advertisement Six hours of charade later, its safe to say that nobody is losing their job over this one. GOP representatives failed to land any viral moments, let down partly by their own speechifying and perhaps more fundamentally by the obvious flaws in their quest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Briefly, Republicans are convinced that the mayors are breaking the law by not pulling out all the stops to accommodate ICE agents. But courts disagree, and the mayors were well briefed and careful in their responses. The overarching impression was one of well-meaning public servants being yelled at by angry people who were obviously overstating their case. Rep. Nancy Mace said: All of the mayors are actively working to harm the American people we represent. You all have blood on your hands. Rep. John McGuire said: You guys on the left believe that criminals are good and police are bad. Or consider the exchange between Rep. Scott Perry and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson: Advertisement Johnson: Were a welcoming city. Perry: Who are you welcoming? Johnson: Were welcoming everybody. Perry: So youre welcoming criminals. Floridas Anna Paulina Luna implied that the mayors would soon be prosecuted by the Department of Justicea frequent threat of Trump border czar Tom Homan. The Democrats in the room, meanwhile, repeatedly pointed out that the premise of the hearing made no sense. Immigrants, including those in the country illegally, commit crimes at a lower rate than their native-born neighbors. Boston is the safest big city in the country; New York is not far behind. If Republicans really wanted to understand how to achieve urban public safety, they would be treating New Yorks Eric Adams and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu as expert witnessesnot defendants. As the Dallas Democrat Jasmine Crockett summed it up: The Republicans put more effort into producing their little propaganda trailer for this hearing than in reforming Americas immigration system. Or, more succinctly, from New Mexicos Rep. Melanie Stansbury: This is bullshit. Advertisement Related From Slate AOCs Letter to Pam Bondi Is a Pretty Satisfying Read Read More For the Dems on the committee and on the witness stand, it was a chance to try to recapture some of the pro-immigrant patriotism that they wore so well during the first Trump administration but refused to trot out during the presidential election. Advertisement Wu, sporting a cross of ash on her forehead, with her 2-month-old baby waiting in the wings, boasted about Bostons immigrant heritage. One in seven signers of the Declaration of Independence were immigrants. On the last four Red Sox rosters to win a World Series, 1 in 5 were immigrants. Of all the Boston University faculty to have earned the Nobel Prize, all but one were immigrants. Today, 1 in 4 Boston residents were born outside of the United States. Recounting his response to the buses of migrants sent to the Colorado capital by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Denver Mayor Michael Johnston quoted the Gospel of Matthew: As mayor I have to protect the health and safety of everyone in our city. As a man of faith I have a moral obligation to care for those in need. As Scripture says, For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. So thats what we did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not that it was all 2017 again. Clearly, Democrats are no longer comfortable with the vague but well-known term sanctuary city; once claimed with pride, the label was strenuously avoided on Wednesday. The enormous influx of asylum-seekers and other migrants during the Biden administration has also created a significantly different dynamic from that of the first Trump term. Asked repeatedly about Bidens border security record, Wu would only say: I think Washington failed on immigration. But all in all, the hearing was a good test of whether Democrats can replace the poll-driven, bordersecurity rhetoric that Kamala Harris tried out during the campaign by changing the subject to something more positive. On Wednesday, it worked. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Bryan Kohberger is accused of committing an unspeakably evil act, stabbing to death four University of Idaho students in their off-campus home in November 2022. The killings were brutal, and as soon as Kohberger was arrested, some members of the victims families demanded that he should be executed if he is convicted. Kohberger is due to stand trial in August. In the run-up to that trial, his defense lawyers have filed a flurry of motions challenging various aspects of the prosecutions case. Filing such motions is standard in death cases, though in Kohbergers case, the defense and prosecution have done much of that work in secret. One of the most important defense motions was unsealed on Wednesday. Kohbergers lawyers are asking the judge to take the death penalty off the table before the trial gets underway. They cite the fact that he suffers from an autism spectrum disorder as the reason why. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Kohbergers lawyers do not contend that he cannot be found guilty because of his autism, just that if he is convicted, he should not be eligible for the death penalty. As they put it: Like juveniles and people with disabilities, he is insufficiently culpable to be sentenced to death, the aims of deterrence and retribution will not be satisfied by his execution, and he faces an unacceptable risk that the death penalty will be imposed in spite of factors which may call for a less severe penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This claim is unusual, though not unprecedented, in capital cases. Before saying more about Kohbergers case, lets note a couple of other instances in which autism has played an important role. In 2000, Kimber Edwards was sentenced to death in Missouri for murdering his ex-wife, Kimberly Cantrell. Right from the start, his case was plagued by problems. For example, he was interrogated for seven hours and only agreed to make a statement when the police threatened to have his daughter put into foster care. He then told them he had committed the crime. His defense contended that Edwards autistic spectrum mental disorder makes an individual susceptible to suggestion. Still, autism did not help get the statement thrown out or save Edwards from a death sentence. But it did play a role when, in 2015, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon decided to commute his sentence to life in prison without parole. Advertisement Gregory Lawler was not as lucky. Lawler, who was convicted and sentenced to death for killing police officers in Georgia, made autism central to his effort to obtain clemency. Related From Slate Supreme Court Rules the Clean Water Act Doesnt Actually Require That Water Be Clean Read More NBC News reports that Lawlers attorneys pleaded for his life on the grounds that he was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder that most closely resembles Aspergers syndrome, which impaired his social interactions and judgment. They explained that because of his disorder, Lawler was freaked out by his contact with police, could not read the officers expressions, and thought he was about to be killed. To no avail. Lawler was executed in 2016. Advertisement Recently, the issue of autism surfaced in the Texas case of Robert Roberson. His lawyers argue that his autism explains how he reacted when his daughter was injured, a reaction that was misunderstood by authorities and used against him at his trial. Advertisement While there is nothing new about autism playing a role in death cases, Kohbergers motion ups the ante. Rather than waiting until a death sentence has been imposed, they are arguing it would be unconstitutional to allow a jury even to consider it. Advertisement They base their argument on a Supreme Court case, Atkins v. Virginia, which ruled that the death penalty would be a cruel punishment if it were applied to people with intellectual disabilities. The court found that because of their disabilities in areas of reasoning, judgment, and control of their impulses they do not act with the level of moral culpability that characterizes the most serious adult criminal conduct. But the Atkins decision said nothing about autism. Nor did it set clear guidelines to help legislatures and courts determine what should count as an intellectual disability. The result is that, as law professor Sheri Lynn Johnson and her colleagues argued in 2022, the courts ostensibly categorical ban has been far less than categorical, as many other persons that should be ineligible for the death penalty have had their assertions of intellectual disability rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be up to the judge in his case to decide if Kohberger suffers the same fate. His lawyers say that people with ASD, including Mr. Kohberger, exhibit deficits in nearly all the same areas cited by the [Atkins] Court in concluding that it is unconstitutional for people with intellectual disabilities to be sentenced to death because such sentences are not proportional and cannot be reliably imposed. Those deficits, the court explained, involve diminished capacities to understand and process information, to communicate, to abstract from mistakes and learn from experience, to engage in logical reasoning, to control impulses, and to understand the reactions of others. Kohbergers motion also points out that people with ASD cant be deterred by the threat of capital punishment: The repetitive behaviors and fixations that are key diagnostic criteria of ASD mean that, for many defendants with ASD, their offending behavior is compulsive and cannot be curbed by a rational cost-benefit analysis. Advertisement Advertisement If the death penalty serves neither retributive nor deterrent purposes, then it amounts to the purposeless infliction of pain, the very definition of cruelty prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Beyond that, Kohbergers attorneys told the court that when it comes to helping a jury figure out whether a death sentence is appropriate, people with ASD are unable to make a persuasive showing of mitigation in the face of prosecutorial evidence of one or more aggravating factors. Moreover, their demeanor may create an unwarranted impression of lack of remorse for their crimes [and] they are typically poor witnesses. Advertisement It would not be easy for any judge to take the death penalty off the table when the crime is as gruesome as the one with which Kohberger is charged, and it wont be easy for the judge handling his case. But, in such cases, it is particularly important to determine whether a defendant deserves the laws harshest punishment. Because of his ASD, if Kohberger is found guilty, he does not deserve such punishment. Former Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter got it right almost 70 years ago: A shocking crime puts law to its severest test. We will soon see whether the court handling Kohbergers case passes that test. Access is important. Slate is offering 6 months of Slate Plus to current and recently laid-off federal government employees. If you, or someone you know, has been affected, click here to get 6 months of Slate Plus free. In what could amount to a death blow to the Office of Special Counsel, its head, Hampton Dellinger, was removed from his position late Wednesday night, when the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a one-paragraph order, vacated the lower courts injunction that had restored Dellinger to the position after hed been fired on Feb. 7. Update, March 6, at 2:30 p.m.: On Thursday, Hampton Dellinger dropped his lawsuit to get his job back after his loss at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning the case wont advance to the Supreme Court. As head of the OSC, a position hed held for almost exactly one year, Dellingers job was primarily to help enforce laws guaranteeing protections for whistleblowers and wrongfully terminated federal workers. With Elon Musks siege against the federal workers showing no signs of abating, Dellinger, son of the late, legendary OSC head Walter Dellinger, represented the workforces last line of defense within the federal governmentwhich is likely why Dellinger himself had become a target of Musks and Donald Trumps efforts to dismantle the civil service. Dellinger was fired in a perfunctory email from Trump assistant Sergio Gor with no mention of why he was being removed four years before his term was to end, despite the fact that the statute establishing the position permits removal by the president only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dellinger managed to get a temporary restraining order on Feb. 12, which restored him to his position. After a Feb. 26 hearing, Judge Amy Berman Jackson extended the injunction and issued a thorough 67-page memorandum opinion which appeared to anticipate this disputes likely ultimate destination, the U.S. Supreme Court. The D.C. Circuit ruling puts that opinion on ice. The Trump administrations argument wasnt that Dellinger committed a fireable offense, but that the statute authorizing the Office of Special Counsel is an encroachment by Congress on the executive branch, to the extent the statute restricts the president from removing Dellinger for any reason whatsoever. In 2019, the Supreme Court had struck down a similarly worded constraint in Seila Law v. CFPB as a separation of powers violation, specifically a clause prohibiting the president from removing the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau except for inefficiency, neglect, or malfeasance. Advertisement Two years later, the high court followed up on Seila Law in Collins v. Yellen, striking down a provision that protected the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency from at-will firing by the president, also on separation of powers grounds. Both cases signaled a shift by the court toward a more expansive view of executive power, and movement away from the key precedent in this area, Humphreys Executor v. United States, wherein the court upheld a statute limiting the president to only at-cause firing (the same inefficiency, neglect, or malfeasance language) of Federal Trade Commission officials. Related From Slate Supreme Court Rules the Clean Water Act Doesnt Actually Require That Water Be Clean Read More Judge Jackson noted in her opinion temporarily protecting Dellinger that Seila Law and Collins both turned on inquiries into the powers and functions of the heads of the respective agenciesif the official in question performed tasks that were executive in nature, Congress cannot presumptively immunize that official from at-will firing, as a separation of powers matter. Jackson goes on to distinguish the OSC head from the CFPB (in Seila Law) and FHFA (in Collins) heads, a task made easier by the Supreme Court having already done so. In crafting Seila Law, Chief Justice John Roberts cited, albeit as dicta, the OSC as a model of restraint; the line that the CFPB unconstitutionally crossed: Advertisement Advertisement The OSC exercises only limited jurisdiction to enforce certain rules governing Federal Government employers and employees. See 5 U.S.C. 1212. It does not bind private parties at all or wield regulatory authority comparable to the CFPB. Jackson summarized the OSCs inherent limitations in her opinion: He has no power to enforce his own subpoenas or to overcome other agencies objections to his requests for records. If an inquiry reveals wrongdoing, he cannot bring a complaint or call for corrective action himself; he must petition a multi-headed quasi-judicial agency, or the appropriate administrative agency under Presidential control itself, to do so. They are free to turn him down. Advertisement Advertisement In a perhaps telling dissent to the Supreme Courts denial of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessents application to vacate Jacksons order restoring Dellinger to his job, Justice Neil Gorsuch (joined by Justice Samuel Alito) characterized Dellinger, in sharp contrast to Jacksons view, as wield[ing] significant prosecutorial and investigative power as the sole head of a 129-person office. So at least two justices appear poised to side with the three-judge D.C. Circuit panel and allow the president to fire Dellinger. Advertisement The crucial question of what Hampton Dellinger does at work is particularly relevant to this moment because in his capacity as OSC head, Dellinger has been effective in slowing down mass unlawful terminations, for example only on Wednesday winning the reinstatement of thousands of probationary workers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The question of Dellingers role as head of the OSC has a deeper relevance because the OSC, despite having limited prosecutorial reach, will often be the last ordinary line of defense for workers being fired unjustly or whistleblowers calling out abuse. The OSC is explicitly authorized to help enforce the Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Hatch Act, and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and its a busy shop, bringing more than 6,000 cases on behalf of workers and whistleblowers last year alone. If the OSC suddenly ceases to function as Congress intended, workers and whistleblowers arent entirely deprived of options, but theyd be on their own, perhaps with the help of outside counsel. For some actions, workers would have to first wait 120 days for the presumably dormant OSC to decline to respond. Advertisement Advertisement If the Supreme Court ultimately allows the president to terminate Dellinger and whoever comes after him for purely political reasons, its difficult to imagine a partisan replacement standing up for federal workers given how this administration in particular is treating workers, not to mention its inclination to install agency heads for the sole purpose of killing those agencies. Jackson spent a sizeable portion of her opinion combing through the legislative record by which the OSC was established, and highlighted testimony from Republican Sens. Ted Stevens and Charles Mathias that perfectly foresaw the moment we now find ourselves in: To be effective and to enjoy the confidence of the people, the Special Counsel must be insulated from overt and subtle influences of the president and his appointees. The dispute is now likely headed to the Supreme Court, which will either expand Seila Law and Collins to neuter the last of the single-director-led independent agencies. A defeat for Dellinger would be a landmark victory for the unitary executive theory. The court could still recognize the OSC as a unique exception to its recent independent agency jurisprudence, as it had in Seila Law, allowing the agency to fulfill Congress clear intent to provide an enforcement mechanism for statutes premised on the idea of a fair, efficient, and accountable federal government. Until the case makes its way there, however long that takes, Hampton Dellinger will have to wait and watch from the outside, fittingly alongside thousands of fired workers his office was sworn to represent. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. When Project 2025 went viral last summer, it wasnt just because of the extreme policy stances it embraced. After all, things like rejection of abortion rights, cruelty toward the poor, and cheerleading for the fossil fuel industrys assault on a stable climate have become standard fare for the conservative movement. Instead, what was really shocking was the documents detailed plans for how these objectives were to be accomplishednamely, by creating what amounts to an elected dictator who could do the job unimpeded by public opinion or our constitutional system of checks and balances. Russell Voughtcurrent director of the powerful White House Office of Management and Budget and a key Project 2025 architectbest captured this theory of change in his chapter for the document. There, he urged the next conservative president to make aggressive use of the vast powers of the executive branch to return powerincluding power currently held by the executive branchto the American people. It turns out that the conservative legal movement has been hard at work for decades laying the pseudo-intellectual groundwork for something like this vision of an imperial presidency through its development of the unitary executive theory. The precise contours of the theorys stringency and scope can vary, but its essential core is that the Constitution grants the president absolute power over the executive branch, and this has implications for what kind of constraints the coordinate branches can impose on how he can wield that power. Like most bad legal theories, the unitary executive was birthed under ignominious circumstances (most notably, IranContra) and leans heavily on an almost absurdly formalist reading of constitutional text. As such, it has spent most of its life on the fringes of serious legal debateuntil recently, when it became the theory underpinning nearly every element of Donald Trumps approach to the presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, Trump has wasted little time to codify a distinctly radical vision of the unitary executive theory and begin putting it into practice. His administrations purpose is to go beyond what existing law seemingly permits and invite the Supreme Court to ratify Trumps actions through what would amount to a two-branch constitutional convention that would fundamentally alter the balance of powers underlying our governing framework. This is not to say that this basic playbook will work out every time, as shown by the Supreme Courts decision this week in a case involving the Trump administrations efforts to halt the U.S. Agency for International Developments foreign funding programs. Even there, though, the court merely upheld by a narrow 54 majority a lower court order directing the administration to temporarily resume the programs while it evaluated the legality of the funding freeze. The courts decision conspicuously avoided any decision on the merits of the case, nor did it instruct the administration to take any specific actions toward ending the freeze. Advertisement Doing more immediate damage is one of the first vehicles the administration used to announce its maximalist approach, the Day 1 Schedule F executive order, which aims to illegally subvert our merit-based civil service by converting many career employees to at-will status. The Purpose section of that action asserts that Article II of the United States Constitution vests the President with the sole and exclusive authority over the executive branch, including the authority to manage the Federal workforce. Advertisement As this order indicates, debates over control of executive branch personnel have been a favored battleground for unitary executive advocates looking to advance their broader campaign. The earliest fights have involved the presidents ability to fire the heads of independent agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Labor Relations Board, which Congress designed to serve for set terms and be subject to only specified for cause dismissal. Though the Supreme Court seems set on deeming this arrangement unconstitutional, Trump apparently wasnt willing to wait. He has already summarily fired several independent agency heads, including those with the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board. Advertisement Advertisement Nor was Trump content with merely firing the heads of independent agencies as a means to ensure loyalty. In a recent executive order focused on independent agencies, Trump claims the authority to also directly supervise their regulatory decisionmaking, design and enforce performance standards for their operations, make adjustments to how they spend their money, and demand regular consultations regarding their activities. Related From Slate Supreme Court Rules the Clean Water Act Doesnt Actually Require That Water Be Clean Read More Trump has long complained that presidents have insufficient control over the career civil service in executive branch agencies as well. So, through a combination of the reinstated Schedule F order, increased politicization of career managers, and mass firings and other adverse employment actions, his administration has sought to create a culture of fear that would induce the civil service to get in line and stay there. Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations unitary executive vision extends well beyond these traditional concerns of controlling personnel, too. Indeed, this is one of the intrinsic problems with the absolutist position it embraces: Once its assertion of absolute supremacy over the domain defined as executive power has been accepted, the natural tendency is to continually expand the scope of that domain, even to outlandish lengths. Advertisement And so it has been with Trump, most notably through his assertion of authority to impoundor refuse to spendmoney that Congress lawfully allocated. The administration has teed up several impoundment fights with its funding freeze memo and the Department of Government Efficiencyled efforts to shut down entire agencies. One might think that these refusals to implement Congress spending instructions would represent a clear intrusion upon Congress constitutionally granted power of the purse. But through an expansive application of the unitary executive, what was once an Article I power can be transformed into an Article II one. Not to be left out, Trumps implementation of his unitary executive vision has significantly reshuffled the task of how laws are interpreted and applied. To be sure, all three branches have a legitimate role to play in carrying out this task. Yet, the administration has already threatened this delicate equilibrium with its controversial actions to concentrate legal interpretation power within the White House. These include breaking down the unwritten norms that insulate the Department of Justice against improper political interference in its law enforcement responsibilities. Even more troubling, the independent agency executive order also purported to establish the president and the attorney general as the sole source of authoritative interpretations of law for the executive branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Trump has been aggressively dismissive of legal interpretations reached by the judiciary. On Day 1, for example, Trump skirted a Supreme Court order directing immediate implementation of a law banning TikTok in the United States by issuing an executive order that unilaterally paused enforcement based on vague claims of constitutional national security authority. Elsewhere, his administration has consistently disregarded or evaded compliance with court orders issued in response to legal challenges against such actions as its funding freeze memo. And this is all before we get to Trumps Day 1 executive order that unlawfully reinterprets the plain language of the 14th Amendment to exclude birthright citizenship. Of course, nearly every act the Trump administration has taken in furtherance of its unitary executive vision is illegal, if not unconstitutional. This version of the unitary executive has no textual support in the Constitution, and it contravenes the documents general framework of checks and balances, particularly as those were understood in such founding-era documents as the Federalist Papers. Advertisement But its the broader policy agenda of Project 2025 that demonstrates why the Constitution was designed to prevent the radical concentration of power that Trumps vision of the unitary executive demands. Properly understood, Project 2025 is designed to build a durable system of minority rule dedicated to advancing Christian nationalism, a race- and gender-based hierarchical social order, and a Wild West exploitative economy. Advertisement Advertisement If Project 2025 were to succeed, it would mean that independent agencies like the Federal Election Commission and the Federal Communications Commission could no longer be trusted to safeguard our democratic processes or the sources of independent information on which voters must rely. By allowing for the politicized enforcement of antitrust laws, it would spur further concentration of wealth, bringing us closer to an oligarchic form of government that is incompatible with our constitutional order. Its calls for aggressive impoundment would likely lead to the practical termination of worker and consumer protection programs, potentially leaving many Americans too unhealthy or economically insecure to effectively participate in the democratic process at all. Advertisement Advertisement And with the construction of a civil service thateither through fear or loyaltywill implement policies that aggravate transphobia, xenophobia, racism, or other forms of culture-war cleavages, Project 2025 would also threaten to dissolve the bonds of social connectedness and trust without which good-faith democratic deliberation would be an impossibility. Put differently, Project 2025 would disrupt or corrupt the essential supply chains that sustain our democracy. Basic economics tells us that when the supply of something becomes severely constrained, its cost will increaseat least for those who still demand it. Throughout our nations history, the American people have consistently proven their commitment to the ongoing project of forming a more perfect union and their willingness to pay a hefty price to keep that project going. Two questions will come to define the Project 2025 era: Will the public continue to demand democracy, and if so, what price are they willing to pay for it? https://sputnikglobe.com/20250306/frances-recent-military-history-awkward-parade-of-lost-wars-and-war-crimes-1121622044.html Frances Recent Military History: Awkward Parade of Lost Wars and War Crimes Frances Recent Military History: Awkward Parade of Lost Wars and War Crimes Sputnik International With his comments about French readiness to explore extending its nuclear umbrella over Europe and deploying troops in Ukraine, President Macron appears to be shooting for the title of Europes next Napoleon. But his bark doesnt match Frances military bite when it comes to recent history. 2025-03-06T18:49+0000 2025-03-06T18:49+0000 2025-03-06T18:50+0000 military france emmanuel macron napoleon joseph stalin ukraine nazi national liberation front suez canal https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/06/1121622300_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ddb967a173473e0537a6fbc8f1a60413.jpg World War II: despite considerable numerical superiority in troops, tanks and air power and the Maginot Line defenses, France lasted just six weeks against Nazi aggression in 1940, suffering 2M+ losses (killed, wounded, captured). Only thanks to Stalins esteem for de Gaulle was France invited to the table of victorious powers in 1945.1946-1954: Frances attempt to hold on to Indochina against guerrillas cost it 90K troops killed, wounded or captured. France was also implicated in war crimes, from rapes of civilians to the torture of Viet Minh PoWs. Suffering a humiliating defeat to General Vo Nguyen Giap at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in the spring of 1954, France left Vietnam, never to return, handing the conflict off to the Americans.1954-1962: Frances war against Algerias National Liberation Front during the North African nation's war of independence cost it up to 95K troops killed and injured. Up to 1.5M Algerians died in the conflict, which also saw French troops engage in mass executions, napalm bombings, and the destruction of 8,000+ villages, displacing 2M+ civilians.1956: A joint French-UK-Israeli invasion of Egypt over Nassers nationalization of the Suez Canal failed miserably, triggering a humiliating retreat from the region.1958-1961: French campaigns against anti-colonial forces in Western Sahara, Cameroon and Tunisia, killed up to 65K people, but failing to halt the drive toward freedom and decolonization.1969-2008: French embroilment in an on-again/off-again civil war in Chad, with five major interventions over 40 years failing to bring lasting peace. With up to 100K people killed, and allies accused of crimes against humanity, its little wonder that Chadians joyfully expelled all French forces earlier this year.1990-1993: French troops actively collaborated with Rwandan forces that would be implicated in the murder of over 800K people, supplying them with training and equipment.2011: French naval and air power deployed in Libya to help oust Gaddafi. The campaign succeeded, but turned Libya into a failed state with open air slave markets, with France continuing to fuel the conflict, which has killed up to 50K people, to this day.2014-2022: Thousands of French troops were deployed to the Sahel region, ostensibly to fight terror. The operation not only failed, but sparked anger among locals of a sufficient scale to kick France out of the region and create unprecedented new security and economic alliances. https://sputnikglobe.com/20161031/suez-crisis-sixty-years-1046923552.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250131/frexit-in-africa-how-the-continent-is-severing-ties-with-france-1121521067.html france ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov is france a great military power, what wars has france recently won and lost https://sputnikglobe.com/20250306/macrons-nuclear-threats-against-russia-could-turn-france-into-a-giant-chernobyl-heres-why-1121620862.html Macrons Nuclear Threats Against Russia Could Turn France Into a Giant Chernobyl: Heres Why Macrons Nuclear Threats Against Russia Could Turn France Into a Giant Chernobyl: Heres Why Sputnik International France's president has announced plans to discuss extending his country's nuclear umbrella to European allies, and reiterated the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine. Sputnik reached out to one of Russia's most renowned military observers to learn why engaging in nuclear sabre-rattling with Moscow is a very bad idea. 2025-03-06T14:51+0000 2025-03-06T14:51+0000 2025-03-09T18:53+0000 analysis france alexei leonkov emmanuel macron russia chernobyl https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/06/1121620967_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_372663aeabeb5f312e029f2fb9117b47.jpg If France dares to use nuclear weapons against Russia, the response will be nuclear, Arsenal Otechestva editor Alexey Leonkov said, commenting on Macrons belligerent remarks in Wednesday's address to the nation.This could create several Chernobyls as a consequence of the use of nuclear weapons. That is, the territory of France would effectively cease to exist, he said.No One Gets Out UnscathedIn such a scenario, the radioactive clouds would be a million times greater than those generated by the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Leonkov stressed, warning that depending on wind patterns, the fallout would most likely spread to Britain and across the Atlantic to the US and Canada. It wont be pretty.Even a conventional Russian strike using the unstoppable Oreshnik hypersonic MRBM would threaten the destruction of all of Frances strategic military and civilian infrastructure, Leonkov added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250306/macrons-remarks-on-possible-use-of-nuclear-arms-a-threat-to-russia---lavrov-1121619968.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250306/macrons-speech-gives-impression-that-france-seeks-to-continue-war---kremlin-1121620149.html france russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov what would happen if france used nuclear weapons against russia, will france use nuclear weapons against russia, how would russia respond to french nuclear attack https://sputnikglobe.com/20250306/macrons-remarks-on-possible-use-of-nuclear-arms-a-threat-to-russia---lavrov-1121619968.html Macrons Remarks on Possible Use of Nuclear Arms a Threat to Russia - Lavrov Macrons Remarks on Possible Use of Nuclear Arms a Threat to Russia - Lavrov Sputnik International Moscow sees French President Emmanuel Macron's words on possible use of nuclear weapons as a threat, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. 2025-03-06T10:35+0000 2025-03-06T10:35+0000 2025-03-06T10:42+0000 world sergey lavrov emmanuel macron vladimir putin russia ukraine france european union (eu) nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/02/1120756223_0:0:2598:1461_1920x0_80_0_0_16f7d7fbe92863b714f3d4e4d7c3ed63.jpg Of course, this is a threat to Russia. If he [Macron] considers us a threat, gathers a meeting of the chiefs of General Staff of European countries and Britain, says it is necessary to use nuclear weapons, prepares to use nuclear weapons against Russia, this is, of course, a threat, Lavrov told a news conference.On Wednesday, Macron said that Russia had become a "threat" to France and Europe, therefore, it was necessary to open a discussion on the use of France's nuclear weapons to defend the entire European Union.Emmanuel Macron has the opportunity to call Russian President Vladimir Putin anytime, and accusations that Russia is allegedly preparing a war against Europe are unwise, Lavrov said.Russia sees no possibility for achieving a compromise on possible deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, Lavrov said.We see no room for compromise. This discussion is being conducted with an openly hostile purpose. They are not hiding what they need it for, LavrovSuspension of US intelligence transfers to Ukraine confirm Russia's statements that such assistance was provided to Kiev and it helped to carry out strikes deep into Russia, Sergey Lavrov said."As for the current situation with the provision of military assistance and the pause that the US has announced, and the pause that was announced with respect to the provision of intelligence information, this has confirmed what we have always said, our president has repeatedly noted that without the direct participation of the West, the US, the UK, France, Germany, and other countries that provide intelligence data and help use the technologies for using this data to launch long-range missiles at our territory, the Ukrainians could not do this," Lavrov said.The suspension of military aid to Ukraine from the United States may help to quickly end the Ukrainian conflict, Sergey Lavrov said."It has been said many times that former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was right when he said, in his usual manner, that the conflict in Ukraine could be stopped very quickly, within two weeks, if military aid to the Ukrainian government was halted. This is the answer to your question. We agree with this assessment. Another thing that Josep Borrell added was that this should never be done, because first you need to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, and then dictate the terms of peace to it," Lavrov told reporters.The Russian foreign minister noted that Russia is ready for a frank dialogue on the settlement of the Ukraine conflict.In addition, the Russian official said that French President Emmanuel Macron's statement about Russia and Ukraine was nervous and very verbose."Macron, as I understand it, said in his lengthy, rather nervous statement yesterday [March 5] that the war should not be allowed to end with the surrender of Ukraine," Lavrov said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250303/zelenskys-lies-exposed-did-palantir-give-trump--vance-the-real-ukraine-intel-1121614879.html russia ukraine france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International french president emmanuel macron, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov, nuclear arms https://sputnikglobe.com/20250306/macrons-speech-gives-impression-that-france-seeks-to-continue-war---kremlin-1121620149.html Macron's Speech Gives Impression That France Seeks to Continue War - Kremlin Macron's Speech Gives Impression That France Seeks to Continue War - Kremlin Sputnik International The speech of French President Emmanuel Macron creates the impression that France is seeking to continue the war, moreover, nuclear rhetoric appeared in his words, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. 2025-03-06T10:40+0000 2025-03-06T10:40+0000 2025-03-06T10:40+0000 world dmitry peskov emmanuel macron marco rubio russia france ukraine kremlin nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/0e/1093023594_117:390:3063:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_c36ee9f57aa41ed93322830b7e7790d6.jpg "If you read Macron's speech, you get the feeling that France is really looking for a continuation of the war. Moreover, France is ready to use its nuclear weapons for security purposes and so on. This is already such nuclear rhetoric, such a claim to nuclear leadership in Europe, that is, it is very, very confrontational," Peskov told reporters,Russia's reaction to the possible deployment of the French contingent on the territory of Ukraine is obvious to everyone, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out the inaccuracy of French President Emmanuel Macron's statements about the Minsk agreements, saying that it should not be forgotten that Paris had no intention of implementing them."The president spoke about how Russia violated the Minsk agreements. But at the same time, the president forgot to mention that his predecessor, [former President Francois] Hollande, admitted that no one was going to implement the Minsk agreements, that they were concocted in order to give Ukraine time to gather its strength and arm itself," Peskov told reporters.Taking into account Macron's recent statements, it can be concluded that France is thinking about continuing the war in Ukraine, the official said."With all due respect, one can say that there are many inaccuracies there, diplomatically speaking. It says that Russia has become almost an enemy, not an opponent of France. But nothing is said about how NATO's military infrastructure has been constantly building up, even striding in leaps and bounds towards Russia's borders. The president said nothing about this. The president did not mention Russia's legitimate concerns and fears in this regard, and the need for Russia to take countermeasures," Peskov added.On March 5, Macron said that Russia had become a "threat" to France and Europe, therefore, it was necessary to open a discussion on the use of France's nuclear weapons to defend the entire European Union. Moscow agrees with the statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the situation in Ukraine is a proxy war and the time has come to stop the Ukrainian conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.Russia is analyzing all media reports about US proposals on Ukraine, but there are many unverified reports, Peskov added."Listen, there is a lot of information right now [on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine], information mainly with reference to sources. It is impossible to figure out what is true or false, so I repeat once again that we carefully perceive and analyze all the information, but this is not a reason for any assessments and comments," Peskov said.Earlier in the day, Rubio has acknowledged that the conflict in Ukraine is a proxy war between two nuclear powers, Russia and the United States. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250127/us-military-industrial-complex-rakes-in-big-bucks-from-ukraine-proxy-war-1121504393.html russia france ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International french president emmanuel macron, kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov, continue war In honour of St. Patricks Day, Meadowlands Racetrack will host a drivers of Irish heritage race on Saturday, March 15. The winner of the race, which will be sponsored by Mary and Peter Grandich of Freehold, New Jersey, will receive a special Irish Race blanket and trophy. Drivers interested in participating should contact Race Secretary Scott Warren [email protected]. (Meadowlands Racetrack) As he trudged for days through the scorching jungle with about 20 other people following a nameless smuggler, Ashraf Safi felt a tinge of gratitude. There were children with us who had to witness everything we saw, the father of two said. Every time we started walking again, I told myself, at least my children are not here I have to keep moving for them. Safi did keep moving. The former Afghan government employee fled his country after the Taliban swept to power, made it through the Amazon jungle and arrived at the U.S. southern border in 2022. He was hoping for asylum in the country that had occupied his own for 20 years. Now several years removed from his journey and living in Omaha, Safis hope is slipping away. Hes not alone. The Flatwater Free Press spoke to eight Afghans who crossed the southern border seeking asylum and now live in Omaha. They spoke on the condition that their real names be withheld due to safety concerns for relatives still in Afghanistan and concerns about their own status in the U.S. All of them at one point worked for the former Afghan government that the U.S. helped stand up after ousting the Taliban. Two worked on behalf of the U.S., which should have made them eligible for a visa program created by Congress in 2009. But when America withdrew and the Taliban stormed back, they, like the other Afghans who spoke with Flatwater, feared for their lives and felt they had few options. They all made some version of the same journey to arrive at the southern border. Their fates will be decided in Omahas immigration court, one of the toughest in the country when it comes to deciding asylum cases. Two recently had their asylum cases denied and have filed appeals. The others are awaiting court dates this spring. They are all legally allowed to stay and work in the U.S. while their cases are pending. If their asylum requests are rejected, they will have no legal basis to remain in the country and risk deportation. One decided not to wait he left for Canada just days before Donald Trump took office. In the days after his inauguration, Trump unveiled a torrent of policies, including a ban on asylum access at the U.S.-Mexico border, intended to end the invasion across the southern border and deliver on his campaign promise to seal the border on Day 1, according to the White House. None directly impact asylum cases already in progress. But they have sown fear among Afghan refugees and immigrants in Nebraska, even those who arrived legally and have pending immigration cases, according to advocates and the immigrants themselves. Whether or not you fall under this executive order, being a refugee or immigrant means living in fear and uncertainty, said Mohammad Sahil, founder and executive director of the Nebraska Afghan Community Center in Omaha. For Safi, the uncertainty has left him wondering if it was worth it. I had to walk for seven days through the Amazon rainforest. I saw dead bodies, starvation, disease and despair, he said. Who endures the hell of Panama just to end up in limbo and fear in the U.S.? A desperate escape When the Taliban began a door-to-door search for former Afghan government employees and U.S. allies, weeks after their takeover, Safi knew he would have to leave everything behind his home, his family, the life he once knew. Safi, who had worked in the governments law enforcement agency, desperately tried to reach the Kabul airport in the last days of the U.S. withdrawal. Taliban fighters caught and beat him, he said. About a month later, Safi moved his family from his home province to another area and applied for a humanitarian visa. Friends had told him it was the only possible route for someone in his situation. He believed he was eligible, but the process required an interview in a neighboring country. After finding a hiding place for his family, he crossed into Pakistan, where he said he endured mistreatment by border officials. He spent months waiting before ultimately securing an interview and his visa. He traveled from Pakistan to Dubai, then onto Brazil, with the goal of seeking asylum in the U.S. From Brazil, he traveled by bus to Peru, flew to Ecuador, and then to Colombia, where he continued on foot and by boat. Safi said he paid smugglers to guide him through the Darien Gap a treacherous jungle on the border of Colombia and Panama. I remember asking the smuggler, after seeing (the) first horrific corpse on the path, what had happened to them, Safi recalled. He said, Who knows? Maybe they fell down or died from hunger. The group of about 20 people slogging through the jungle came from many different countries, he said. Each person was allowed to carry one backpack. Food was limited. It felt like we were soldiers heading into battle without any training, he said. Two months after leaving Brazil, Safi reached the U.S. and surrendered to the Border Patrol, hoping he could seek asylum and eventually bring his family to safety, he said. He had always seen the U.S. as an ally. He believed he would be welcomed here. But two years later, his asylum case was denied. He has filed an appeal, but if it is rejected, he will no longer have legal grounds to remain in the country. A growing crisis In the year following the Taliban takeover, the U.S. granted humanitarian parole to roughly 76,100 Afghan nationals through Operation Allies Welcome, according to the Department of Homeland Security. This provided temporary protection but didnt grant automatic residency or asylum. Those seeking asylum face a process that takes between two to five years for approval or rejection. In Nebraska, which has resettled about 1,200 Afghans, those seeking asylum face long odds. A 2023 investigation by the Flatwater Free Press found that during an eight-month period, the judges in Omahas immigration court denied more than 96% of asylum applications more than any other immigration court in the U.S. In Nebraska, refugee court is a losing battle, said Alicia R. Ramos Gordin with the Center for Legal Immigration Assistance in Lincoln. I deeply care about my clients but if their case reaches the court, I often advise them to move to another state. The U.S. did create another avenue to help Afghans. Known as the Special Immigrant Visas, the program allows those who worked for the U.S. to apply for lawful permanent residence and the eventual opportunity to apply to become a citizen, according to the U.S. State Department. However, an Inspector General report in 2022 found that the U.S. had issued visas to only 37% of the 59,977 SIV applicants deemed documentarily complete from 2009 through 2021. Applicants must go through a 13-step process and meet a range of criteria to qualify, including having recommendation letters and other documents. From July through September of last year, 8,794 Afghan applicants were denied visas while 1,748 applicants were granted them, according to the State Department. Insufficient documentation is a primary reason for denial. Others like Safi, ineligible for SIV, took more perilous routes. Between 2021 and 2024, Panamanian government statistics recorded 8,294 Afghans crossing the Darien Gap compared to just 98 between 2010 and 2020. Qodratullah Nezami, 48, fled Afghanistan after two decades of working on U.S.-backed projects. Leaving behind his wife and four children, he believed he would be eligible for an SIV. He didnt anticipate how quickly everything would collapse in Afghanistan and didnt have time to gather the necessary documents, he said. Nezami survived the Darien Gap, applied for asylum in the U.S. and ended up in Omaha. His pending application allowed him to receive a work permit and support his family from afar. But in December 2024, his asylum case was rejected, leaving him in a state of legal limbo. Returning to Afghanistan is nothing but a death sentence, he said. The Taliban have been searching for me. My father, brother and I all worked for the U.S. force back in Afghanistan, but now, just because I entered through the wrong route, they want to send me back to my executioners. Would I have taken this risk if the U.S. had successfully evacuated everyone who worked for them? Policy shifts and uncertain futures In its first month, the Trump administration suspended asylum at the southern border, banned refugees indefinitely, terminated humanitarian parole and deployed military personnel to the border. Those and other actions have ripple effects. The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been paused for 90 days, halting the entry of refugees into the United States, leaving many stranded. The SIV program is also in jeopardy after an executive order suspended foreign aid, including funding for refugee resettlement. Veterans groups responded by asking the Trump administration to make an exception for Afghans who helped the U.S., according to Stars and Stripes. Bipartisan consensus has emerged in recent years over the need to reform the U.S. asylum system. A 2024 bipartisan border security bill would have, among other provisions, created an expedited process to adjudicate certain asylum cases and established a stricter threshold for individuals to remain in the U.S. during the adjudication process. A lesser known provision of the bill would have expanded SIV eligibility and permanent residency status for Afghans. While leaders in both parties negotiated and drafted the bill, Republicans ultimately abandoned the legislation after Trump called on them to oppose it ahead of the presidential election. Many of the Trump administrations actions have sent shockwaves through Nebraskas Afghan community, said Sahil with the Afghan Community Center. His organization is trying to respond to the flood of concerns theyre hearing from families. An Afghan family called me yesterday asking if I could request an extra lock for their apartment because theyre afraid of ICE, Sahil said. Another man told me that while driving with his child, the boy insisted on taking a different route to avoid the police, even though they are legal refugees. Many of the administrations actions have already triggered lawsuits. A group of immigrant advocacy organizations led by the ACLU sued to stop the administrations ban on asylum at the southern border, arguing that the action violated laws passed by Congress and calling it unlawful and unprecedented. A separate lawsuit challenging the ban on refugees led a judge to temporarily block it on Tuesday. The Talibans systematic targeting of former government officials, U.S. allies and activists has been well-documented by human rights organizations and the United Nations. While the U.S. does not currently have a repatriation agreement with the Taliban, the Afghans who spoke with the Flatwater Free Press said they feared that could change and they could be deported to Afghanistan. Ajmal Shah used the same treacherous route as Safi, first escaping to Pakistan with his family before securing a Colombian humanitarian visa. After reaching the U.S., he was placed in asylum proceedings and now has a hearing in April. His biggest concern is that his daughters, who had to return to Afghanistan, are barred from attending school. His hopes of bringing them to safety are slipping away. I would rather the U.S. kill me than send me back to Afghanistan, where my children will have to watch the Taliban execute me. Safi said he remains hopeful that his appeal will succeed, but the uncertainty weighs on him. I risked everything to reach safety, but now I feel like Im trapped between two deaths one in Afghanistan and one in this endless uncertainty. Does anyone care what happens to us?